Nora Universe - Chapter 34 - Rebirth
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Nora returned to the temple with Lion and Garnet. They entered the house to see the Pearls hard to work on dinner while Spinel watched them. Pearl instructed them and occasionally reprimanded them when they stepped out of line. Pearl paused when she saw Nora and Garnet.
“You’re back. Where is Rose? And I suppose Greg,” Pearl asked.
“Greg isn’t coming and Rose is making her own way back,” Garnet announced.
“Well, more for Nora then.”
“And she’ll need it. It’s going to be a long night.”
“Agreed. Nora, please take a seat. We have some food prepared that should give you the energy to… what’s first on the list?” Pearl asked.
“Making Mom a new gem,” Nora said as she took a seat.
“Oh? Oh. What will you make for her?”
All the Pearls stopped. They all looked between Pink Pearl and Pearl.
“What about Pink?” Pink Pearl asked.
“I’ll become Pink. At least, that’s what Garnet said.”
Pink Pearl furrowed her brows and looked at Garnet.
“Sorta. Nora will transfer all that was Rose, Pink’s, to the new gem. This will wipe clean Pink’s gem and leave it open for suggestion,” Garnet explained.
“So… she’s not really going to be Pink? Pink will just be Rose now?” Pink Pearl asked.
“Pink Diamond is dead. She has been since she became Rose Quartz. Soon, Rose Quartz will become Rose Diamond. Nora, in essence, will become Pink, but a new Pink Diamond.”
“Then… what about me? I’m Pink’s Pearl. And that human has Pink’s gem, but Pink is going to become Rose. Who will I belong to then?” Pink Pearl asked.
Orchid, Coral, and Platinum Pearls looked away. Pearl took a step forward and placed a hand on Pink Pearl’s shoulder.
“You don’t have to belong to anyone. You can belong to yourself,” Pearl said.
Pink Pearl shook her head as she whirred on Pearl. “Don’t. You may be ok with being some off-color Pearl with delusions of freedom, but nothing can change what you are at your core. What all of us are at our cores! We were made to serve. We were made to obey. What purpose could we possibly have being our own masters?”
“B-but here on Earth, you can be and do anything,” Pearl remarked.
“Does that mean, if we should choose, we can belong to people and gems?” Coral Pearl asked.
Pink Pearl and Pearl gasped as they turned to Orchid, Coral, and Platinum Pearl. Orchid Pearl stood beside Platinum Pearl while Coral Pearl stood in front with her head high.
“Even if Coral should decide she doesn’t want me anymore, is there something wrong with us doing what we were meant to? Especially if it makes us happy? We’re not off color like you, Renegade. We were made to serve. It makes us happy,” Coral Pearl said.
“And you never stopped serving Pink, Renegade. All she did was change faces. I imagine even as Rose Diamond, you will still follow in her shadow. Forever bound to be under her command,” Orchid Pearl added.
“N-no! I was liberated. I belong to myself. Rose has even said so herself,” Pearl countered.
“They did you stay if you are free? Why do you follow her commands still?” Pink Pearl asked.
“Because that is how we are. Unless given to someone else, we follow our masters to the ends of the universe. Rose may have said you were free, but you never have been. She will always hold your tether. Even when she becomes Rose Diamond, you’ll still belong to her,” Coral Pearl hissed.
Pearl frowned and opened her mouth when Garnet stepped in.
“Alright, alright. Diamond Pearls, go get your Diamonds. Uh, Pink’s old Pearl, stay and help Pearl with dinner,” Garnet instructed.
Coral, Orchid, and Platinum Pearl stepped out of the house in search of their Diamonds. Pink Pearl fell silent as she helped Pearl. Nora sat at the counter and ate the different foods when Coral, Orchid, and Platinum Diamond stepped into the house.
“What’s the plan?” Coral Diamond demanded.
“We’re going to make Rose a Diamond gem,” Nora said.
“Oh? What brought this on?” Orchid Diamond asked.
“Uh, Garnet? Could you explain, please?” Nora asked.
“Yes. We’re trying a new plan. We’re going to appeal to Blue’s court of Diamonds to gain an ally,” Garnet said.
“Ally? Ally for what?” Coral Diamond asked.
“What have you seen?” Orchid Diamond asked.
“War. We could still go through with fighting Blue, her army, and Diamonds, but it would leave us in a bad state. Earth would become the focus of the Diamonds’ wrath and they may not be as… merciless… as last time. We need firepower in our corner,” Garnet explained.
Coral Diamond hummed. “I’m liking you more and more, Garnet. How do we get Blue on our side?”
“We’ve done a few things. Nora has her gem turned like yours and Pink’s. Next will be you all making a new gem for Rose. The last step will be getting Jasper under Nora’s command,” Garnet said.
“Is it the Jasper I think it is?”
“How did you manage to capture it? I heard nothing could stop that Jasper. She was the crowning achievement of Pink’s would-be colony.”
“We were captured and put in a ship. The prisons could hold the others, but I was able to get out. I got Aqua out and she took Jasper out,” Nora answered.
“She did? I think that might be a far more impressive Quartz than even Jasper,” Coral Diamond remarked.
“Not to mention the presence of magic in that odd Quartz. Though a little odd she doesn’t already know how to use it,” Orchid Diamond commented.
“Aqua was made at a time when Nora barely understood her own magic. Like Nora, Aqua just needs to be shown how to use it,” Garnet said.
“Why don’t we help her? I know we haven’t used our magic for anything more than party tricks, but if Nora could do all sorts of amazing things, why can’t we?” Orchid Diamond asked.
Coral Diamond hummed. “How much time do we have, Garnet?”
“Only until tomorrow,” Garnet answered.
“We only have this night. We need to prioritize. Are we still falling back to fighting as a backup?”
“Then should we practice fusions?” Orchid Diamond asked.
“Yes. Get comfortable with your assigned partners or groups. As for myself, I’ll practice with you three, if you’ll allow it,” Nora said.
Platinum Diamond clapped in agreement.
“I would have no qualms with that. She does have Pink’s gem,” Orchid Diamond commented.
“And according to the Garnet, Nora will become the new Pink Diamond,” Coral Pearl remarked.
“Is that so?” Coral Diamond asked.
“Apparently, but I suppose we’ll have to see, won’t we?” Nora said.
“Indeed. Until then, join us.”
“What of the Jasper though?” Orchid Diamond asked.
“Let’s see if can get her under control first,” Nora remarked.
“Please. How hard can it be? We’re Diamonds. She’ll have to fall in line,” Coral Diamond remarked.
“Will it work that way?” Nora asked.
“They are Diamonds,” Garnet said.
“Trust me. Leave this Jasper to us and she’ll listen to you,” Coral Diamond declared.
“Right. Uh, could you keep an eye out for Rose? And, Garnet, could you get the staff for me?” Nora asked.
“I’ll get it when Rose gets here,” Garnet said.
“And the Pearls will keep watch,” Orchid Diamond chirped.
The Pearls bowed to their Diamonds and headed out. Coral Diamond stepped out and stood on the deck while Orchid and Platinum Diamond sat on the couch.
“So! If you’re going to be our new Pink, I was thinking, what about new outfits for us? This are ok, but they really were for the old Pink. What would you have us wear?” Orchid Diamond asked.
“Huh? Oh? Oh! Uh, I’m not sure, but why don’t you browse the web. Here’s my phone,” Nora said.
Nora reached into her pocket and took out her phone. Nora opened the browser and held it out. Garnet took it and sat with Orchid and Platinum Diamond as she showed them how to use it. Nora turned back to her plate when Spinel crept up.
“Hey. So, you’re going to be the new Pink Diamond?” Spinel asked.
“Oh, uh, I suppose so?” Nora said.
“Would you like to play games like the old Pink?”
“Like where I would hide and Pink would try to find me. Or I would juggle and do other tricks that made her smile.”
Nora opened her mouth, then shut it. She picked at her food as the games reminded her of what she played when she lived with Greg and Vidalia. Her eyes misted over and a smile tugged at her lips as she remembered when she pestered Sour Cream to play with her, and him begrudgingly accepting.
Nora sighed and looked away. Those days felt like lifetimes ago. Ended far too early when she moved in with the Gems. And here she was about to face a galactic tyrant. Would there be time for games? Did she miss her chance to be a kid? Or did she leave it all behind and couldn’t get any of it back?
“Nora? Are you ok?” Pearl asked.
Nora blinked as a tear fell from her eye. She sighed and looked down at Spinel.
“I can’t promise anything right now. There’s a lot about to happen, and anything could happen. But, if we make it out of this, I’ll play some games with you,” Nora said.
Spinel smiled and hugged Nora. “Make it back safe then, ok?”
“Hey, Rose is back,” Coral Diamond announced.
“Thank you. Garnet?” Nora asked.
Pearl’s gem lit up as the staff and crystal rose emerged from it. Pearl grabbed them and handed them to Nora, who took them.
“Orchid, Platinum, let’s go,” Nora commanded.
Orchid and Platinum Diamond headed out with Nora. They stood on the deck with Coral Diamond as Rose approached the stairs. Rose stopped as she looked at them.
Nora headed down with the Diamond trio and stood in front of Rose. Orchid, Coral, and Platinum Diamond all placed a hand on Nora. Nora took a deep breath as she held the staff up. She closed her eyes and thought of a gem like her own in shape and size, but with a vibrant rosy hue. Magic flowed from the others and herself as it surged from the staff. Everyone gawked as a rosy diamond materialized and hovered in the air.
Rose cautiously reached out and took it. Rose looked the gem over as Nora held out the crystal rose. Rose glanced at it before she slowly took it. Nora smiled before magic surged from the Diamond group and the staff. The rosy diamond glowed along with the crystal rose. Rose’s body faded away until it was gone. The rosy diamond remained in the air as the crystal rose dissipated into light that melted into the diamond.
“This is it. Give it your all,” Nora ordered.
The trio nodded and placed both hands on Nora. Nora took a sharp breath as magic overflowed from them through her into the staff. The staff glowed brightly as Nora focused the excess into the rosy diamond. Nora thought only of fueling the rosy diamond with all the energy it needed, granting it its own magic, and restoring what belonged to Rose.
The rosy diamond glowed bright and brighter until it was a terrible, blinding light. Nora shut her eyes as she kept her focus until she and the Diamond trio collapsed. She let out a breath as the light died away. Fear crept up as she opened her eyes and looked up. She gasped as the rosy diamond lit up and light emerged from it.
Everyone watched as the light took shape into Rosey Quartz. Nora held her breath as the light died away and she saw Rose again. Her eyes widened seeing the new form Rose took. Rose now wore a pale pink-white leotard with a cutout for her gem with a tiered skirt cape like her Rose Quartz dress, but with more vibrant pinks coloring the different layers. Her legs were covered with long stockings with cutouts for her bare feet that had a gradient from pale pink-white to a vibrant pink. Her hair was long and curly like when she was Rose Quartz, but her skin a little more pink than peach. And her eyes weren’t black, but a rich rosy pink with diamond pupils.
“So, what do we think?” Rose asked.
“You look amazing, Pink, Rose, uh, which is it?” Orchid Diamond commented.
“Rose Diamond. You heard the Garnet too,” Coral Diamond remarked.
“I think Rose will still work fine,” Rose said.
“Rose it is then. Oh, Nora? How are you feeling?” Orchid Diamond asked.
“Hungry and tired,” Nora breathed.
“Oh, let’s get her inside. Come along Pearls!” Orchid Diamond called.
The Pearls hurried after their Diamonds as they helped Nora inside. Rose remained outside as Garnet stepped out. Rose watched as Garnet joined her.
“Is this the right path? Is really being a Diamond the best thing?” Rose asked.
“A little late for regrets, isn’t it?” Garnet remarked.
“What about Nora? Is having her transfer all that was me to this new gem the right call? Why not just have her copy everything?”
“Because Nora isn’t you. She’s her own person, and Black and White know it.”
Rose tensed. “What do you know?”
Garnet looked at Rose, then at the sky. “They have a plan, but have an advantage over it.”
“Then you know to keep it secret, yes?”
“Of course. Just as you had your reasons for hiding things, so do I.”
Rose looked away. “I’m… sorry for the deceit. Bismuth was right. I was just throwing another tantrum, wasn’t I?”
“Maybe. Maybe not. What do you think it was?”
“I think it was… running away. Getting away from those that never cared about me. Finding a place I could be happy. Whatever happy even meant.”
“Then that’s what it was.”
“And what about Sapphire? How is she handling this?”
Garnet frowned and looked away. “Now’s not the time. We can deal with all that once we are safe.”
“Then what do we do now?”
“We train until dawn. Then we get Jasper. After that, Blue will be here.”
“You’ll see then. Until then, trust me.”
Taupe Diamond watched the creation of Rose Diamond and read the conversation of Rose and Garnet. She smiled with delight when darkness consumed her room.
“Well?” Black Diamond asked.
“Our job has just been made easier. Little Nora has unburdened herself of everything Pink was,” Taupe Diamond cooed.
“Oh? How did she manage that?”
“They made a new Diamond.”
Black Diamond’s eyes widened as she grinned. “Have they? Impressive. And who is this Diamond?”
Black Diamond laughed. “From a Diamond, to a Quartz, but to a Diamond. Oh, Pink, or Rose, what delight you’ve always been.”
“There is a small problem,” Taupe Diamond said.
“They plan to win Blue over, and we fear that they may be able to do it.”
“How did this plan come to be? Rose wouldn’t dare, and I doubt Nora would too.”
“It’s their Garnet fusion.”
“A Garnet fusion, hmm? Would this be the same fusion that disrupted Blue’s court?”
“Ah. That’s where it is. A Ruby and a Sapphire. Well, there’s a simple solution.”
Taupe Diamond turned to Black Diamond as Black Diamond summoned a bubble with rosy gem shards. The bubble turned black, then faded to normal to reveal a restored Pearl, but the pink replaced with a black color. Black Diamond popped the bubble and allowed the Pearl to take form. It looked like the Rose Pearl given to Nora, but black instead of pink.
“What is that for?” Taupe Diamond asked.
“A test. Black Rose Pearl, your task is simple. Shatter the Sapphire. To complete this task, I’ll give you a special power that will allow you to combat this machine of war,” Black Diamond instructed.
Black Rose Pearl saluted. “Yes, Black Diamond.”
“And just who is the test for? The Pearl?” Taupe Diamond asked.
Black Diamond smirked as she touched the tip of her nail to Black Rose Pearl’s gem. Black Rose Pearl was covered in shadows that changed her former clothes to a full-body black jumpsuit, long gloves, and thigh high boots. The Pearl’s short rose curls became long, poofy hair like Nora’s. Faint vine details formed on the arms, waist, and legs of the outfit where strings would be tied.
“For our dear Diamonds, of course. Shrouded in chaos, a future uncertain, and war on the horizon. We’ll reclaim what is lost, destroy that which opposes, and conquer once again. We will be unstoppable once again and it all starts with this little act,” Black Diamond announced.
Black Diamond snapped her fingers and the Black Rose Pearl vanished. Black Diamond sighed contently and turned to Taupe Diamond.
“Inform me the moment the Pearl completes her task, or if she’s destroyed again. Got it?” Black Diamond demanded.
“As you command, my Diamond.”
