Chapter Text
“Find something better to do with your life."
The shattering had been less painful.
As her Diamond fled, his order seemed to root Jasper in place. It was an alien feeling, to one such as her. The presence of a higher being to guide her always put her mind at ease. Even when she had... failed, their presence gave her hope to carry on, to thank them for their mercy by striving to better herself for the next mission.
That wasn’t the case this time.
Even when the hexagonal barrier of pink disappeared from her sight, Jasper knew it would be wrong of her to rush after St- her Diamond. She was given a direct order not to follow him. He had addressed her by name. Certain things were sacred, no matter what she felt.
As the lesser gems ran off to discuss what to do next, or where he might go, she knew better than to question him. A smugness filled her, allowing her to distract herself from these strange, new feelings. Amateurs. He would know where to go, or what he needed, better than they could ever imagine.
Jasper would be good. She wouldn’t hold him back. She’d do as he asked.
Still, she allowed herself a moment to linger. This was a hallowed space… her Diamond’s quarters. Organic life forms - likely a type of ”grass" - had invaded it, but she knew enough of her Diamond’s priorities not to attempt to expel it. They were allowed by him. She would accept them.
There wasn’t much in the room. The “grass” yielded no secret messages, no quests for her to partake in. There was just silence. There was just her.
Her mind turned to what to do next.
She wanted to wait for him. She knew that would be wrong.
She was given the order to do “something better”, but there was nothing here.
Nothing in this room had answers. Nothing inside her told her what something better would be. There was nothing higher in life than obeying one’s Diamond… nothing. She had nothing.
She had to do this right. This was her new Diamond’s first order.
Think, you idiot, Jasper’s mind yelled. Her Diamond wouldn’t have given her an impossible order. If she couldn’t make it happen, that was her own fault.
She thought back. What would her Diamond consider “better”? He had terrible confidence issues, despite his greatness. She had known that much.
Afraid of his own power, afraid to be strong…
But she had no place to judge him now. He had SHOWN her. He had been the strength she needed, all along. When the other Diamonds turned their back on the world, when Yellow Diamond released her… he, in his greatness, was there.
Back then, she had been annoyed. The sheer arrogance… but she didn’t know his true self yet. He’d refused to leave her alone, cycle after cycle. For two earth years, he’d come to see her. Update her on his projects. Ask her to come back with him.
The runt - Amethyst - had come too, at first. She gave up eventually. Had she seen how it pained her Diamond, for Jasper to reject him?
Perhaps she was protecting him. That would’ve been honorable.
He’d seen the power in her, surely, and come for her. He seemed troubled to watch her decay… and now, he was expecting great things from her once again.
What had he wanted from her back then? Jasper's mind raced, repeating his every word in her mind for the answer. The last time he came into her territory - his territory, really - she’d had the nerve to stop him, in her foolishness…
But wait. He had told her his desire.
“Little Homeschool…” she said out loud, to the empty warp pad, as if it would carry her realization to her intended audience.
Jasper had no idea what those words meant.