This excerpt is my favorite of the ones that were on that poll, and mainly because I had the most fun writing the scenes with Blue in this story as a whole. (She's my favorite Diamond after all)
Excerpt from the Chapter: "Misguided Counseling" (not yet released) from Onyx's story.
Enjoy!
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"Onyx, I'm too busy to play with you!" Yellow Diamond exclaimed, "Go bother Blue!"
Despite having only just returned to Homeworld, Onyx was already disappointed. She figured Yellow would've wanted to talk to her longer than that, especially since she had been missing for over a year. Then again, she was actually busy monitoring a batch of Citrine that had just been created. Maybe Blue would be happier to see Onyx.
The Palace was as quiet as it ever was. Almost no Gems spoke while ing through the halls, and everyone was all business as usual. Onyx was the only one around here who had changed really. She was much happier than she was before she was abducted, and this time around she had George to keep her company, so she'd never be lonely. Yet, despite this, Onyx still felt like there was something wrong, that her return to Homeworld as a whole was wrong.
Upon reaching Blue's quarters, Onyx was greeted by Blue Diamond's Pearl, who showed her the way to the extraction chamber.
"My Diamond awaits at the top of the stairs," Blue Pearl mumbled, "please leave your Prism here for the time being."
George looked over at Blue Pearl angrily when she mentioned Onyx had to leave him behind during her audience with Blue Diamond. Onyx pat the Prism on his head and smiled at his grumpiness.
"It'll only be a moment, George." she said.
George backed away and floated on Blue Pearl's left as he watched Onyx traverse the staircase-like platforms on her own. When she got to the top, there was her Aunt Blue, combing her hair with a living comb.
After a short while, Blue finally noticed her presence. "Ah! You're here..! Please, come in." she said, putting her comb away.
"Okay, Aunt Blue!" Onyx shouted, diving into the water headfirst.
"Please, Onyx..." Blue scolded slightly, "Don't make light of yourself. After all, we don't want other gems to think poorly of you, now do we..?"
"Oh, of course not, Aunt Blue..." Onyx replied, sitting up on Blue's knees, soaking wet.
"That's alright." Blue smiled, "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself..."
Onyx smiled back at her Aunt. Blue had always been the Diamond she knew she could talk to. Blue Diamond was less strict than the other two, and she was very good at clarifying to Onyx what was precedented and therefore allowed in the Palace.
"So, tell me how you are feeling being back on Homeworld," said Blue Diamond, "it must've been scary being all by yourself on Earth."
"Oh, not at all!" Onyx responded, shocking Blue, "Everyday was such an adventure! Steven and the others taught me many wonderful things, not just about Earth but the whole world."
Blue raised an eyebrow, "Oh..?"
"Pearl taught me everything, from Earth culture, to Gem History," Onyx beamed, "Oh! Garnet taught me about Gem powers, and Amethyst taught me about shapeshifting..-"
"Onyx... You sound as though you enjoyed your time on Earth..." Blue interrupted, sounding disheartened.
"Huh..? Well, I did enjoy it a little..-"
"... Did you... miss us..? A-At all..?" Blue began to tear up, forcing Onyx to cry with her, "It was so quiet after you left... W-White wouldn't speak to anyone anymore... Not even her Pearl... Yellow was always breaking out into tantrums or crying to herself at her control room.... And I... I just couldn't bear to come here anymore.... Not without you..."
Blue's words stabbed at Onyx's metaphorical heart like a thousand knives. She really didn't realize how badly her disappearance had affected her family, and now she was talking about her new friends as if she never took one second to think about them.
"A-Aunt Blue..." Onyx kept trying to wipe the tears out of her eyes, "I did miss you... All of you."
Blue Diamond's aura began to grow stronger. "Then why do you speak so much about these Crystal Gems..? It's hurting, Onyx... To see you praising rebels after everything we've done for you..." she sobbed, "Do you have any idea how much it pained us to read that poem, only to find out you were taken from us..? By one of our own Gems..?!"
Blue's aura was becoming overwhelming for Onyx as the tears fell faster. Onyx felt herself getting weaker and weaker the more this aura surrounded her. Was Blue seriously trying to gaslight her..? For enjoying the time she spent on Earth..?
Am I wrong to think the Crystal Gems are incredible..? They were nicer to me than most Homeworld Gems... and they actually taught me plenty of helpful things. Maybe I did enjoy my time on Earth more than Homeworld.
"Onyx," Blue began again, "can you please try to understand how this must feel to us..?"
"I... I understand, Aunt Blue." Onyx sighed in defeat, making Blue smile.
"That's my sweet little gem." she praised, "So answer my question from before, are you happy to be back on Homeworld..?"
"Well..-" Onyx hesitated answering until Blue Diamond gave her this frighteningly discontent look, "I-I couldn't be happier..! I missed Homeworld more than anything..!"
Blue smiled, "That's good to hear. I hope you understand that we're merely trying to steer you away from Pink's horrible influence. She's made a mockery of us more than once."
"Mockery..? Oh, I don't think Steven would..-" Onyx stopped when Blue looked down at her with disappointment, "I mean... Yes. I understand."
Onyx felt aggravated. Even Blue Diamond wasn't letting her voice her own opinion or defend her friends. It was like her happiness really didn't matter to them. "After everything we did for you"..? The only thing the Diamonds ever did was nag her for all the things she did wrong. All she wanted was to see the outside world.
"My Diamond..?" Blue Pearl suddenly intervened, "I apologize, but your next appointment is due shortly..."
"Ah, yes, of course." said Blue Diamond, lifting up Onyx in her hands as she got out, "I'm sorry Onyx, but it looks as though we don't have the time to be playing with you. It's a shame really... White has even ordered you not partake in any more of our court hearings."
"She what..?!" yelled Onyx, "Why? I thought I was doing well in assisting you with those!"
"She has deemed them too stressful a weight to put on your little shoulders." Blue giggled, patting Onyx's head carefully as her niece pouted angrily.
"So what am I supposed to do around here..?! Sit and act pretty..?!"
Onyx's sudden tone of voice made Blue Diamond gasp, "Don't take that tone with me, little one... We have something planned for you, don't you worry. It'll be the best thing that has ever happened to Homeworld... White promises that."
I'm not sure I like the sound of that...
Blue Diamond put Onyx down on the ground gently, a smile across her features, "I look forward to speaking with you again, dear..."
As Blue marched away, George flew by to nuzzle Onyx excitedly, having gotten anxious from being separated from her for longer than five minutes, especially after noticing Blue's aura materialize from the bottom of the stairs.
"I'm okay, George. Truly." Onyx reassured him.
George still didn't seem convinced, but he at least gave Onyx some space. They decided to go back to Pink's room to check on Steven and the others, since they hadn't spoken to them since their arrival on Homeworld.
"Hey everyone!" Onyx greeted upon reaching the room.
"Onyx!!" they all beamed. Lapis gave her best friend a tight hug as soon as she walked through the door.
"Where have you been..?!" she asked.
"I was just in audience with Blue Diamond." Onyx's words sent chills down Lapis and Garnet's spines, "What have you all been up to..?"
"Trying to avoid getting into trouble..." Peridot scowled, "The palace is crawling with Gems who despise us!"
"No kidding..." Connie acknowledged, "There were three Gems here earlier that were asking about George. The red one was looking at Steven and me with disgust and horror."
Pyrope... It must've been her, Demantoid, and Hessonite.
"Are you alright, Onyx..?" asked Pearl.
"You look really upset about something, dude," said Amethyst.
Onyx stayed quiet for a little while. She couldn't help but feel discontent. Her friends meant the world to her, yet so did her family, and now that she was back on Homeworld, she had to choose a side. It was a terrible feeling, knowing she couldn't have both.
"I... I don't know," she said, "I thought if I came back to Homeworld with you guys, everything would be wonderful and I could finally have a normal life... but..."
"But..?" asked Garnet.
Onyx sighed, "I don't feel happy. I feel like my life just got more miserable when I got back. I was so homesick and desperate to return to Homeworld during my time on Earth..."
She placed one hand solemnly over her gem, "So why does my home suddenly not feel like Home..?"
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That's all she wrote. If you're wondering what Lapis and Peridot are doing on Homeworld with Steven and Co., they don't get poofed in Onyx's story, not until the incident at the ball.
Lemme know if you guys want to see an excerpt of what happens during the battle against Yellow and Blue Diamond.
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