#ap!spinel

There was nothing in public-accessible document regarding of the news, so she wondered if there's a full version or some special degree for the likes of hers, or something. But not a single memory block she listed through mentioned anything. As if- There still has to be something in the originals then! In the records of- ...an experiment, yes, and she has a so-called 'last wish', too, and others had! Surely that 'freedom' couldn't take away their only right! Right? It would sound too weird if it did.

She wasn't really surprised when the only way to get in was to sneak in, but it irritated her. Patience ran thin. She needs to know what she can do now. She will find the documents, the records and the White Diamond's order, fullfill her only wish in some way possible and-

There wasn't anything that would let her do so. Aside from a very short list of orders sent to each A-Pearl...

...Half of them were dead. Officialy sent on all sorts of missions right after the 'exam', some never returned, never could have in the first place if you read between the lines. And it was done intentionally - AP-013 really tried not to notice this little fact, but failed. Those who survived were cleared out from all possible memory blocks, no mentions, no links, nothing, and in that Galaxy-is-free-whatever connected too. They were all thrown away from history and present.

It seemed like the world itself stopped, blurred and started shaking. “H-how... h-h-h... H-h-HOW COULD YOU?!?!...” — shouted Pink Diamond at White out of chaotic mess of shock, fear, sadness and pure anger. The floor under her feet barely broke.

“...We are doing the best we can to prevent the further lack of resources we already have.” — White's smile faded a little, showing that her usual mood isn't actually as good as usual. The change of emotion on the Greatest Diamond's face also reflected on a small light pink face of a tiny A-Pearl which stood way more close to the Littlest Diamond and which just a few decades ago was just a lovable, innocent Spinel.

Now she was... different, and not because of shades of grey instead of colors. Her hairline and hairstyle changed a little, though her buns (?) still were in shape of hearts; there weren't huge pink gloves and shoes with only patterned ballerinas instead; her normal outfit partly changed to translucent (not as much translucent as real Pearl's though); but, most important, all her body became thin. Abnormally thin, even thiner than Pearls', and the very core of her being, her perfect-cut hot pink gem in shape of heart was now just a little light pink pearl, surrounded by black spot in form of heart, black as abyss, and even White's purest light couldn't lighten it up even a tiniest bit.

It was like Pink was looking at totally different gem, not her dearest Spinel, but the features of her face and the fact of the only Spinel existing in entire universe said otherwise. Pink's gem started stinging awfully.

“H-how could you!!! How could you have done THAT with my best friend?!?!” — now there was a huge crater in the floor. Pink Diamond yelled on top of her non-existing lungs.

White's smile disappeared completely, and if that change on White's face made Pink feel suddenly nervous, the exact same change on face of her only Homeworld friend after Pearl made her feel nauseous and caused even more pain in belly: without a smile, even a dead, facade White's smile, this childish, round face looked unnatural.

“We are fighting a serious war with Earth, Pink. Either way we wouldn't have to.” — White squinted, hinting Pink at what she is leading to.

It's your and your fault only.

Now watch this deadly pale face of your friend with hollow eyes and faint tear tracks on her cheeks frown and lecture you.

“S-Spinel... N-no... I...”

Her best friend couldn't hear her under White's control, but right now Pink haunted even an illusive chance to be heard and forgiven for her unfixable crime. She whispered her sorries, apologies and cried, cried with all of her heart.

“Consider it as one of consequences of your misbehavior, Starlight. At a state Homeworld is now, as long as war continues, drastic measures are justified.” — Pink Diamond wasn't sure if White said 'your' more dry than the rest; White's black eyes never left little Pink spot at her feet, her usual smile at the end of phrase returned.

***

Pink Diamond stormed into her room and grabbed her Pearl, squirming poor servant in very firm embrace as if she could disappear forever any moment.

“...M-my Diamond?” — asked Pearl shyly and confused in such low voice that even one Pebble wouldn't hear her. But Her Diamond heard.

“...The war must be stopped as soon as only possible...” — whispered Pink Diamond, and right at the middle of the phrase Pearl felt few teardrops on her back.

“Are you crying? W-what happened?!”

“Because of the lack of resources Homeworld started turning one Gems to anothers. By grinding their gemstones off, Pearl..!” — her voice trembled and was full of terror. Pearl's shock lasted way longer than she could count in such a state. Her eyes rounded in realization why her Diamond was so worried and winced at fear of what Pink talked about. Saving life on Earth, they sacrificed other gems’ lives here in Homeworld in such a twisted way. Pearl shook her head. Both evils were too big to choose.

“B-b-b-but we can't s-surrender n-now, R-Rose!” — she screamed in whisper, now pulling her short hair, desperately trying to come up with other solution and forgetting that everywhere but on Earth she couldn't call her master that name.

“We're not. There's another way, but I'm gonna need your help.” — Pink said unexpectedly serious and determined, looking right in Pearl's eyes.

She wished she hadn't had to do that. She wished Bismyth’s idea wasn't so actually good. She wished there was yet another way to fix the problem she created herself. She wished Spinel and dozens of other Gems had their original shape...

How much pain she must have been through...

She wished her best friend was fine... but she can't be saved now. Grinned off and controlled by White.