i'd rather be you | steven universe

. preface .

BANG!

The loud shockwave sent a rumbling noise and shake throughout the beach house, causing Steven Universe to look up from his TV. Weird. He didn't expect the Diamonds to show up today, and certainly not any other guests from Homeworld. He stood up, looking at the Warp Pad as if he was expecting the others to appear any moment in concern or worry.

But no one showed up. He assumed they were out doing something for Little Homeschool, or maybe at another planet taking care of something. He didn't really feel like going anywhere today. Taking a few steps forward, and peering out through the door, he spotted what seemed to just be a black ship. Weird. He hadn't seen any black ships when he last visited Homeworld. Maybe from another planet? Someone might be wanting to see him for help?

Opening the door, he makes his way down to the beach, his shield appearing on his forearm. He takes a few cautious steps, before watching someone tumble out of the ship and into the sand. When his eyes focus, he realizes it's a girl, a few years younger than him. What caught his eye the most was how she looked nearly human... except for the black gem sitting directly ontop of her chest. His breath catches in his throat. Another gem/human mix? How was that possible?

Shield dropping, he rushes to her side and slides beside her, lifting her head and placing it on his thighs. Her hair was sprawled out, and by the looks of it, not taken care of at all. It reached down to her feet, tangled and now covered in sand and beach water. He brushes his fingers along her gem, surprised when her eyes blink open for a moment.

She doesn't jump in fear, nor does she scream out. She smiles.

Steven has to catch his breath for a moment. Her hand reaches up to his cheek, feeling the coldness of her fingertips brush against his warm skin. "It's you." she murmurs. "Pink Diamond's son."

And then she falls limp again.

Steven's yet again caught by surprise. Pink Diamond's.. son? No one ever referred to him as that, he was more frequently known as just Pink Diamond himself. Moving his hand underneath her legs, he lifts her up in a swift scoop. With a horrifying thought, he realizes just how frail her body is. She's barely got any fat on her, just skin and bones. Where did she come from? Where was she kept? She looked almost as if she was a porcelain doll in a cabinet, only kept for collection and browsing.

When he enters the beach house, the Gems are already there. "Whose this?" Pearl asks with a questioning glance, looking up and down. Her eyes fall onto the gem and she takes a step back, hand covering her mouth. "It.. can't be." she whispered in fear.

All eyes glanced to her with concern and questionable looks. "You know her, Pearl?" Steven questions, looking to the girl in his arms, and then Pearl. "I don't know.. her. But I know her gem." she mumbles worriedly, her hand coming to touch the gem on the girl's chest, but then stopping midway.

"That's Black Diamond's... gem." she whispers out, terrified. Steven rears back and almost drops the girl. "B-Black Diamond?" he asks. Garnet's stiff in her seat and Amethyst has her mouth hanging wide. This seemed.. insane. Another diamond? How was that possible? All eyes now trained on Pearl, she looked between them all with a nervous expression.

"I-I only heard rumors from Rose- Pink Diamond, nothing to actually prove anything. Black was practically White's sister, they both were supposed to rule Homeworld together.. But, when White got power hungry, and shut everyone out, Black went rogue. She was never heard from again, and the colonies she had owned were given to White..." she bit her lip.

"But how is she human? How is she my age? This doesn't make sense!" Steven exclaims in a fit of panic. She stirs in his arms, and he stiffens, going quiet. Her eyes open slowly, blinking a few times before she lands on him. "I can explain this all to you, if you would be so kind and be a little quieter." she hums.

She slides gracefully out of his arms, though when her feet press onto the ground, she wobbles slightly. Steven reaches out to grab her arm, but she holds her hand out to stop him. "My name is Y/N." she stands straight, curtseying. "You must be the Crystal Gems, correct? My mother adored you all. At least what I can tell from her journals..." her eyes land to Steven for a second, and they lock eyes. Her posture straightens and a light blush seems to arise on her cheeks.

"I'm sure you must all have a lot of questions. Please, sit and I will do my best to answer them with what knowledge I have." she smiles.