A Stone’s Throw
Part I: Shattered
“Hello?! Let me out!” I screamed as loud as I could, banging on the interior walls of the holding cell. Zircon hadn’t shown up yet, and the only others I saw before being placed in isolation was the Topaz that arrested me. “Please! Let me out! What is going on?” I kept shouting, but nobody heard me, or maybe they just didn’t care. In between my shouts, the only thing I could hear was the slight electronic hum of the room. I don’t remember what happened. It all happened so fast. Loud shouting, gems running through the halls of the complex, and then a flash of light... Emerald?
Behind me, I heard the whir of the door open, with Blue Zircon stepping through, her head low. “My, my...this is just terrible,” she muttered, barely looking toward me. “Zircon, what is happening? Why am I here?” I could barely contain myself if I’m being honest. She sighed, pulling out some data from her sleeve. “Kyanite Cabochon-3A7C Cut 7RM, you are hereby resigned of your presence in the Court while the investigation is underway with your accused crime. Your Pearl has been placed within your ship and has been given orders to remain there until further notice. Do you understand?” I shook my head. “N-No, I don’t understand. What happened to my entourage? Why was I assaulted and put here against my will?! Who gave you permission to order my Pearl?!” “You are currently being investigated for your accused crime. Your entourage has been reassigned, and your pearl was moved by order of Blue Diamond.”
I slapped my bare hand down on the floor, the whole room shuddering with the force. Had it been a more calm situation, I probably would have taken pleasure in Zircon’s reaction to the noise. “What is my accused crime? Why am I here?!” I shouted. Zircon tilted her head to the side, looking me over from the far edge of the chamber. “You are accused of high treason and the shattering of an Emerald.” Everything stopped. The room stopped humming, the blue tinge in Zircon’s hair dulled. Treason? Shattering? This was all happening too fast. Nothing made sense. “W-Who am I accused of shattering, Zircon?” Zircon looked at her panel briefly. “You are accused of shattering Emerald Facet-4B8H Cut 8LO.” I shook my head and began to pace, a nervous habit I had acquired while waiting for hearings in the past. “No..no no no no. That doesn’t make sense!” I shouted. Zircon sighs, looking over the information again. “It is entirely accurate.” “No, I mean..Emeralds can’t be shattered! I didn’t...I don’t..” Zircon stopped my stuttering with a scoff. “The only gems that can’t be shattered are the great Diamonds, you fool.”
I couldn’t do much but stare at her before a slight tone came from the panel at Zircon’s sleeve. “Your first hearing will begin now,” she stated simply, the door opening again. “Do I stand before the Court?” I asked. I expected to face my jury, the peers I worked alongside with who could see reason in the madness that was my accusation. “No,” Zircon spoke cooly, not looking back to me. “You stand before Blue and Pink Diamond.” The room went black.
