A Tribute's Fractured Vow

I made this surrounding a rp I'm in. A Hunger Games/Steven Universe crossover rp! In both this and the rp, my Pine Pearl gets reaped for the Fracture Games, which are second era Hunger Games.

#thefracturegames

8:40am, District 3, also known as the Crystal Temple District

Tension thickened the air around the cluster of gems in the square of District 3. The Fracture Games were beginning, and the first event was to reap the 24 Tributes. Two from each of the twelve districts. Not many gems volunteered for the games, and that was no different today.

Today, two gems would be picked to fight in a multiple week-long contest of skill, speed, cooperation, and survival. In the end, only one gem would remain. It was, in all forms of the phrase, a fight to stay alive.

Some waited with bated breath and pounding hearts while others joked and traded bets on who’d be reaped, uncaring and distant.

The escort from Homeworld stood on the small stage, a microphone held tightly in her left hand. “Let’s begin!” She cried cheerily, and plucked a slip of paper from the glass bowl with dainty fingers. Unlike the gems surrounding her, the escort was genuinely eager for the terrible event. Her voice was high pitched with innocent excitement as she read out the name.

“Pine Pearl.”

A pearl in the middle of the group froze, her breath hitched in disbelief. Her green eyes widened in shock, then filled with tears. The pearl’s soft green hair rolled and sprawled across her trembling shoulders. Pine took a step forward, her throat and eyes burning fiercely as she tried hard to keep tears from falling. The crowd parted for her, and her stunned numbness wavered.

This was real.

Terror bolted through her, so uncontrollable and overwhelming that she nearly buckled and fell from the weight of it. She let out a loud gasp as the tears streaked down her face. Pine pressed oak and honey colored hands to her forehead, rubbing against her gemstone as she did so. Pity flickered in the eyes of watching gems. Annoyance flickered in the eyes of the more hardened gems. Pine forced her hands down and folded them into the Diamond Salute. The only thing she could think of. With legs that felt like Jello, she stumbled towards the stage. District 3’s escort reached out to help pull the pearl up, but a sudden wail halted her.

“No!”

There was frustrated yells as an Emerald with hair branching out in soft spikes on all sides of her head shoved through the crowd, dashing towards the stage. She was the Emerald that Pine hung around. “Please!” Her voice was raspy and desperate, eyes wild with panic, her heart pounded so loud the sound seemed to echo in her chest. Pine’s heart plummeted as the sight of her friend.

“Emerald,” She spluttered, her voice breaking,”It’s okay. It’s okay, pl-please go back..” Emerald shook her head stubbornly. She pulled Pine into a comforting embrace, and Pine’s strong front crashed immediately. The pearl burst into tears, ugly wailing tears. Emerald held her close, hovering over her protectively. “You can’t have her!” She hissed, eyes flaring with fury. Pine knew she should stop Emerald, but she was so afraid, so desperate not to enter the games, that all she did was burrow deeper into the stronger gem’s arms. The escort’s face wrinkled with discomfort. “Well, uh-“

Slipping away from the crowd, a gem cut her off. “Okay, that’s enough, you two.” Emerald’s girlfriend. Her voice was sharp and annoyed, though her eyes were gentle. She was a buff blue gem with hair such a deep shade of blue it looked black, and her name was Sodalite. Pine sniffled and opened her mouth to speak. Nothing came out. She tugged hard on her green hair as the emotions of horror, shock, and frantic fear rolled in her chest and crashed into one another. Sodalite had a matter-of-fact vibe to her as she separated the two gems. She and Pine disliked each other but they tried to get along, for Emerald’s sake.

“Breathe. Homeworld’s watching.” Murmured Sodalite, tipping her head in the direction of the camera. Emerald’s hand intertwined with Sodalite’s.

“Soda, I can’t-“ The tall green gem pleaded, eyes watering. “I can’t leave her to this....to the games! Please-“ Sodalite cut her off curtly.

“There’s nothing that can be done Emerald. Pine’s been reaped. That’s that, and neither of us are going to let you volunteer to go in her place if that’s what you’re thinking!”

Pine certainly agreed with that. Emerald frowned and Sodalite tugged her close. With unexpected warmth, the blue gem ruffled Pine’s hair.

“Don’t worry about Emerald, I’ll keep her safe. You focus on winning, alright?” Pine oftered her a small smile.

“Thanks.” She tried to pour all her gratitude into that one word. Emerald reached out and squeezed her hand.

“Be brave, be smart, and come back home.” She ordered. A sad smile pushed it’s way onto Pine’s face.

“I’ll do my best.” She promised. Sodalite led Emerald away then, so Pine turned towards the stage. She took a shaky but determined breath, then clambered up. The Reaping slowly continued, but Pine zoned out. Her eyes lingered on Sodalite and Emerald, her heart ached with fear and longing. Tears pooled in her eyes, but her fists clenched tightly, and she silently made a vow to them.

I swear on every last star in the sky that I will come home.