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One swipe from Padparadscha's blade was all it took to shift everything into perspective for Rutile.
It felt as if time stood still, and soon they decided to reflect the events up until they were in pieces amidst the chaos of their former partner's return to earth.
Rutile had robotically paced the inner workings of the school for several years. Just waiting for a sign that they would come back. As if a miracle would happen and Padparadscha would graciously make an appearance. But, as expected, they never had. At this point, they were secretly desperate for anyone to make an appearance, so they can pin them down until they are helpless and demand answers for their whereabouts on the moon.
Especially if it were that Phosphophyllite. That damn kid nearly convinced them to go, only for them, in turn, to take away Padparadscha. They should’ve left them in that slug’s shell when they had the chance. None of this would’ve happened.
Several thousand years swiped in an instant. All their hard work, gone.
And those thousand years returned in the form of them being shattered into tiny fragments by the one they’ve been trying to fix.
The parts of themselves filled their vision along with Padparadscha’s disappointed look. Rutile could never tell what they were thinking but this? It made sense. Maybe they deserved to be put down in such a ruthless way. They did initiate contact, attempting to disarm Padparadscha with no second thought.
They barely caught onto Yellow Diamond’s face behind Padparadscha’s form. Something they’ve quite never seen before. The look that could’ve rivaled the loss of their first partner, Green Diamond. Except, they were being viewed as the enemy.
Rival.
Traitor.
Turned against their own brothers that they took care of and the ones who looked up to them.
As time began to catch up, Rutile’s shards came crashing into the ground, hard. They weren’t able to witness the rampant havoc behind them that was Bort and Phos’ battle atop the school bell. Before Rutile completely lost consciousness, they tried their best to spectate the rest of the events, their ears filled with the sounds of shattering gems and Yellow’s distressed voice.
“Padpara...how could-!....do that!...”
Their eyes shut to everything around them, silently questioning if they would see the sun again.
The light from the sun narrowly hit the examination room, the illumination reviving Rutile’s inclusions and helping them become responsive once more. They slowly opened their eyes, unbeknownst to their whereabouts. They sat in silence, staring above to the cracked walls of the ceiling, attempting to remember the mayhem of the moon gems homecoming.
It no longer matters now, they thought.
They’re long gone by now.
They took the time to rise from the examination table they were repaired at, looking down to their torn yet frantically repaired uniform. Rutile grimaced, pulling at the black garment. Red Beryl likely hastened to fix it until they could properly repair everyone's else's in due time. Sensei must’ve mended their battered body. It suddenly reminded Rutile that the others were probably in shambles and they needed to be off to fix the rest. Sensei needed help-
“You're finally awake.” A gentle, familiar voice spoke from behind them. Rutile snapped their head to the source.
Yellow Diamond was sat against the large shelf, still wearing the unfamiliar moon wear. Their expression is unsettled, fearful. As if they didn’t belong here.
They don’t belong here.
Rutile felt their eyes were playing tricks. Sensei didn’t place their eyes correctly. Or switched the wrong materials around. Yellow wasn’t actually here. They could just be dreaming. Rutile didn’t know it was possible to feel this sick at the sight of their old accomplice. The one who was so similar to themselves.
“Padparadscha isn't here and neither should you.” Rutile started, turning away from the entity they believed was a dream.
“Rutile…This isn’t- some thing you're imagining.” Yellow pleaded out, standing from where they sat, “I couldn’t go back. Not with all the others looking like..that.”
“If you are the real Yellow then,” Yellow can hear the venom dripping from their voice. It was going south very quickly. “Tell me why you just stood there. And did absolutely nothing. Before I pin you and that ridiculous outfit against a pillar.”
Yellow had to consider their next words carefully. They thought for a moment, their hands balled into fists at their sides, trying not to lose control. Yellow had issues that lied elsewhere that they should be attending. They shouldn't be so concerned about this. But, dammit, if they didn't try to mend their relationship, they might as well be grounded into dust along with the others.
Crack.
The pieces of themself rained down onto the cold floor. Rutile heard it. It was bound to happen again someday. That facade they’ve put up all these years was crumbling right before them. Because they were the oldest of the current group, they had to keep up the persona. They had the heaviest burden out of all twenty-eight gems in this lifetime.
“You attacked Padparadscha.” Yellow exhaled shakily. “Padparadscha shattered the rest. Bort and Phos fought above. W-what could I have done besides make everything worst?” They clenched their arms tightly, their voice becoming hollow. How pathetic.
“So, that’s it? That’s your only solution besides running?” Rutile furiously slid off the examination table, slamming their hands on the edges and gripping it tightly.
Yellow snapped their head up. “...What?” A look of disbelief.
“You decided to side with the enemy?”
“No- that- that’s not it. I wanted to know what happened to all of them. Green Diamond, Topaz, Rub-”
“Only for your selfish desires.” Rutile’s voice was gruff and their stance was stiff, “You couldn’t protect them. All you ever did was run.”
This is it. The old Rutile Yellow vividly remembers despite their faded memories. Pragmatic and outspoken with the truth, no matter how harsh it was. And it hurt. It pierced their dense body with every word. This was far worse than the bombardment of Lunarian strikes from their bows and arrows.
Instead of relying on the strong emotions that were moving all about inside them, they decided to counter with the more heartbreaking yet most practical solution Rutile has evaded. “Did you consider Padparadscha’s condition?”
Rutile’s eyes hardened. “You-”
“I know Lapis brought it up to you once. Have you ever wondered if the Lunarians could’ve fixed them?”
“Shut up- I wouldn’t- I almost had it! I know I did.”
“No...You didn’t. Just admit there’s no solution here, okay?” Yellow slumped, nervously gripping at the ruffled ends of their dress. “They can’t be fixed here. We both know it. You know it most of all.”
“You have nerve going there. You're not the Yellow Diamond I once knew.” Rutile turned away in disgust.
That struck a chord deep within. Yellow needed to get out of here.
“There’s no point in speaking with you. I’m sorry it had to be this way.” They said, sorrowfully. Their heels clacked against the floor as they began to walk from the person they no longer knew, leaving behind every memory spent for better things ahead. For whatever they were headed for. They had no idea what was in store for themselves from this point forward.
Rutile almost let them be on their way. But, they considered the options in their head. Yellow likely had access to a moon ship. A means to get to Padparadscha and raid the moon for their whereabouts. They had to take advantage of it, didn’t they? They never missed opportunities to strike when handed to them. Was it right though? Deep down, they had other reasons for chasing after Yellow Diamond. Not that they would dig it up within themselves. Rutile wouldn’t handle it. And it's best if Rutile never does.
They walked to where Yellow stood, kneeling to claim the broken pieces they had left behind. They inspected it, wondering about the million of inclusions holding chunks of their memories for over three thousand years. This held millions of memories in which Yellow watched as Rutile attempted to fix Padparadscha. Over and over again with no success.
“...Just admit there’s no solution here, okay?”
Rutile clenched the lonely piece in their hand, moving to chase down Yellow Diamond’s trail. They knew Yellow Diamond headed for the place they first left to the moon.
They ran as fast as their legs could take them.
Once they reached the starting slope of the hill, they saw Yellow in the distance and the Lunarian ship unfolded before them. The misted enemy took notice of Rutile’s intense gaze from afar, pulling back their bowstrings and spears in case they made any sudden movement to attack. The fact that Yellow wasn’t the one being hunted down could’ve surprised them at some point. But, it was different. They were seen as a Lunarian now. Not a gem.
The rappel from the ship dropped right down next to Yellow. Rutile watched as they gripped it, pulling it toward themselves, ready to leave at any moment. They wanted to say something. Anything. What else can be said though? Yellow slowly turned around, as if they knew Rutile was standing there, the cracks in their face visible from the breakdown they had earlier.
“Maybe we’ll see each other again. When things are different.” The diamond attempted to lighten the mood, despite the circumstances. They smiled, similar to the one when the world was crashing down onto them and they couldn’t do anything about it except take every blow.
Rutile said nothing. They watched as the rappel lifted them from the hill and onto the ship. They gripped the diamond piece in their hand, attempting to gain some sort of comfort from all this. Imagining in their head that this is some sick dream and they would wake up any second. To another gem disappearance. To another count of Padparadscha’s chunks of material that weren't compatible. To another conversation with Yellow Diamond and their constant regret of being unable to save the others.
Not this.
The ship began to close into itself, obscuring the inside of the ship, taking Yellow Diamond with them. As the ship fled into the distance, Rutile made their way to the edge and stared at the black orb before pulling their arm back and launching the yellow piece from their hand, intending to aim straight for the Lunarian vessel. It traveled in the air quickly before losing momentum, the piece dipping down and into the depths of the sea below, unable to ever reach the moon ship.
They dropped to their knees, the vessel long dissipated into thin air.
Rutile figured it was best if they never woke up to today.