Chapter Text
Wilbur had enough food and clothes packed for Tommy for the short trip back to Homeworld. It only took about one earth day for the whole journey there, but the Diamond wanted to show Tommy around his home.
It was quite beautiful, Wilbur believed. Citadels that touched the atmosphere, crystal clear waterfalls that flowed across the planet, gems of all kinds roaming and completing their assignments. Colors so vibrant Wilbur was sure he hadn’t ever seen anything like it.
It was strange. How he began to view earth was changing his perspective of everything. Before, the beauty of Homeworld was a testimony to the Diamond’s glory. Built up according to their standards to prove their own architectural prowess.
But now, as Wilbur watched the world come into view, he couldn’t help but see it as a testament to life itself. Nothing owned by them. But rather, buildings crawling to the sky in an effort to display the beauty in all that they had found.
Wilbur hummed, lifting Tommy’s bubble closer to him. Tommy had tuckered himself out with all that bouncing, now sleeping peacefully in Wilbur’s hand.
The bubble was a good decision. Wilbur was sure the boy would break his own bones if he allowed Tommy to ram freely into the walls of the ship.
Over the trip here, Wilbur’s emotions had calmed slightly. He was much more aware of exactly what he would be asking of the other Diamonds. This would not be simple. But Wilbur hoped they would listen.
The gem was one of the four main leaders, and his opinion held weight and value here. Surely, they would at least hear him out. At the very least, Wilbur would simply say that he loved Earth and wanted to keep it as it was, and they would leave him alone. Perhaps they’d strip him of his rights to gem mining equipment for further endeavors, but Wilbur would be fine with that.
Techno closed his screens, turning around and looking up at Wilbur. “A landing deck is being prepared for us, my Diamond. We should land soon.”
Wilbur smiled. “Excellent.”
Just as Techno was about to spin back around, Wilbur scooped him into his hand. The pearl stumbled, letting out a small yelp but quickly quieting as the Diamond brought Techno to his face.
“When we land, I want you to stay here while I speak with the Diamonds. We will be going back to earth soon after I have stated my case. Keep the ship warmed up.”
Techno nodded, slightly unused to being randomly picked up. “Yes, Sir.”
Wilbur then grinned, genuine joy spilling from him. “Oh, Techno. I can’t wait to take you back to Earth. I’ve been so focused on Tommy, but once I convince the other Diamonds about the beauty of Earth, I’ll be able to show you around! You’re going to love it there, I promise.”
Techno hummed, lips quirking up. It was nice to see Wilbur so happy, even if Techno himself did not understand where this sudden glee and change of plans came from. Techno had a feeling Wilbur was over exaggerating. That the Diamond expected far too much of Earth and its beauty. Techno had walked around, and he was not too impressed.
However, he would indulge his diamond. He hoped the other Diamonds did as well.
Wilbur set Techno back down, letting the pearl complete communications with Homeworld in order to open a landing pad. The pearl altered their trajectory, preparing for entry.
Wilbur held Tommy’s bubble securely to himself as the ship shook slightly. The atmosphere was much thinner here, so it was not as bumpy as the exit from Earth.
Wilbur felt giddiness rise in him, smiling down at Tommy as he began to wake from the noise. Tommy was going to meet the other diamonds! His… family?
Wilbur wasn’t quite sure what to call them. The human word of family would describe their association, but not necessarily their relationship. They were the rulers of their nation, a monarchy. They were related by rank. They had a laugh together from time to time, but overall Wilbur did not get along with them in the way he did Phil or Tommy or even Techno. Techno understood him more than the Diamonds, but he supposed that was to be expected given his pearl was always by his side.
Typically, the Diamonds came to him when there was an assignment that needed to be completed. No more, no less.
Still, Wilbur was happy to introduce them to a new way of life. To his son. They had given him the rights to the earth and he would show them that he found something of so much greater value than simple expansion.
They were such large parts of his life, how could he not be excited to present his most precious finding to them?
Or perhaps that was anxiety.
The ship began to slow to a stop, landing gear extending. Wilbur watched as they were lowered onto the platform, eyes glistening with anticipation. A small thud signaled their landing.
Outside was a long walkway that extended through the air to a large citadel. The largest on Homeworld. The citadel of the Diamonds.
Wilbur took a small breath in, releasing it. He understood why humans did this so much, it was quite relaxing.
He then lifted the bubble, smiling as Tommy stretched with a large yawn.
“Hello, sunshine. We’re here.”
Tommy blinked sluggishly, sitting up and looking through the ship’s window. The boy’s eyes lit up as he squished his face against the bubble, trying to get even closer to the window. Wilbur chuckled, standing up. “You will soon see this up close.”
Tommy flopped down, staring up at Wilbur. “Hurry up, old man! I wanna see!”
Wilbur just shook his head fondly, ignoring the appalled look Techno gave him.
“You do not speak to a Diamond that way—“ Techno began, Wilbur quickly waving him off.
“I allow it. I appreciate your concern, Techno. But he is free to treat me as such, as he is my son.”
Techno’s mouth snapped shut, but he nodded anyway.
Wilbur had never harmed Techno. Even when the pearl occasionally made a witty comeback or otherwise did something Homeworld deemed punishable by shattering. Techno would consider himself the luckiest of the Pearls. He was glad he was under Wilbur. He had seen other Diamonds shatter their pearls out of simple annoyance or a mistake.
Wilbur had never done such a thing. Wilbur treated those under him as if he was responsible for them. Their mistakes reflected on him, and while he was strict, he never did shatter any of his gems.
Wilbur found it unnecessary and slightly grotesque, but he was not one to ever question what other Diamonds did with their underlings.
Techno remembered when he made the biggest mistake of his life. He had spoken back to another diamond. They had asked him to do a task, and he had said no as he was busy with an assignment from Wilbur.
Techno was destabilized in an instant. He felt his pearl crack, splintering as he tried to reform. His mind had been foggy, body unable to reanimate. His limbs felt like jelly and his thoughts came in few and far between. He woke up to Wilbur holding him in his large palms with tears running down his face.
Techno did not know all that happened while he was gone, only that it was discovered that Wilbur had healing tears through him. Wilbur told him he had been cracked, but he was fixed now. The other Diamonds had never asked Techno for anything again.
To put it simply, Techno was glad Wilbur was his Diamond. He respected Wilbur and did not appreciate when others spoke so disrespectfully to him. But he supposed, another was added into the list of Wilbur’s closest. The ones allowed to speak to him in such a way.
Wilbur began to walk away, Tommy in hand. “I will see you soon, Techno. After I speak with the Diamonds, I will show Tommy around. Afterwards, we’ll return to Earth and I’ll take you to meet Phil. I think you’ll like Phil.”
Techno nodded, preparing to stay in this position for as long as it took for Wilbur to return.
-/-/-/-/-/-
Wilbur stepped down the halls, smiling fondly at the way Tommy watched each and every gem they passed. The boy’s eyes were sparkling, marveling at the architecture.
Wilbur had to go a slightly different way due to his size, entering the bottom of the citadel and stepping onto a large platform. There was a quiet thunk, then the plate began to lift. The elevator had a glass wall, revealing the entire city below. Tommy gasped, nearly rolling out of Wilbur’s hand as he tried to get closer to the glass.
The city sparkled below them as they rose higher and higher into the sky. Blues, pinks, and greens all mixing together to create towering buildings with floating fixtures.
“Do you like it, Tommy?” Wilbur asked.
Tommy nodded so fast Wilbur feared he would get whiplash. “Uh-huh! It’s so sparkly!”
Wilbur giggled. “I’ll take you for a walk if you’d like. Once we finish our original task.”
Tommy sat back in his bubble. “What exactly is our original task? And what do I need to do?”
“Well, you see, this will be something I mostly need to do myself. All you have to do is be your cute and lovely self.”
Tommy’s cheeks puffed out as he stood, face turning red. “I am not cute!”
Wilbur raised a brow. “You are being cute right now. Look at your little face turning red. Humans turning different colors was unexpected but quite endearing.”
“Hey!” Tommy squawked.
The platform slowed to a stop, nearly sending Tommy off his feet. Wilbur kept Tommy secure to his chest, stepping into the large room.
The roof was a dome, inclining to a steep peak with glass at the top. Light from the stars above sprinkled down, filling the room with a cool glow.
There, in the center of the room, talking amongst themselves, were the Diamonds.
Blue Diamond, also known as George, was on the side, arms crossed and eyes half-lidded. Yellow Diamond, referred to as Sapnap, had his arms waving from side to side, loud voice complaining about something Wilbur did not bother listening too as usual.
In the middle of them was Green Diamond. Dream. There was no official hierarchy between the Diamonds, however, Green Diamond was most certainly the one in control. He was the one Wilbur needed to convince the most. If Dream said something, the others followed.
Simple as that.
Wilbur let his posture stiffen, holding Tommy as tight as possible without popping his bubble.
The three went silent at the sound of Wilbur’s footsteps, turning to look at him. Dream’s expression was unreadable, hidden behind a veil. Two holes where his eyes were and a curved line for a smile.
Wilbur knew the Diamond was judging him.
“You summoned us?” Sapnap said, already seeming to be irritated. Though that was the standard for him.
George yawned. “Aren’t you supposed to be on Earth, anyway?”
Wilbur nodded, bowing his head slightly to show respect. He needed to win them over, so he needed to do what he could to be in their good graces. But, he also needed to be firm and confident. He straightened as much as he could, standing taller than the others. The only one taller than him was Dream. Even if Wilbur could potentially be taller than the Diamond, Wilbur knew he would take it as a sign of disrespect.
Wilbur kept his chest puffed out. “I am here to say I will be ceasing the mining on Earth.”
The three stared at him, silent for a moment. Wilbur forced himself not to shrink into himself. He needed to be firm, despite the growing anxiety with the lengthening silence.
Sapnap broke the quiet with a growl.
“You begged and begged to be allowed your own planet and yet you are so quick to pawn off your responsibility to one of us? Did you get bored?”
Wilbur shook his head. “I am not giving anyone else the responsibility. I am ordering the machines to stop after our first round of gem collection due to how far along the process is. Earth will become off limits to gem mining under my command.”
Dream tilted his head, but did not say a word. George stood up straight from where he was leaned against the wall.
“Why?”
Wilbur cupped the bubble in his hands, anxiety washing away at the sight of his very confused little Tommy.
“Because I have found something far more precious that we must not destroy.”
“A pet?” Dream questioned, voice smooth and yet sharp.
Wilbur nearly growled, but he had to remind himself that they did not understand yet. They would. Wilbur would show them.
“Tommy is not a pet. Tommy is my son.”
“Your… son?” Sapnap questioned, brows squishing together.
Perhaps such an introduction was a little too quick. The jump from pet to son was quite the mental leap of understanding for the Diamonds. But Wilbur would not allow Tommy to be disrespected here. Tommy was Wilbur’s son, and it was good they knew that.
They knew better than to disrespect him and what was his after what they had done to Techno.
“I found him on Earth. After our meeting, Tommy showed me all that the planet had to offer. What humanity had to offer.”
George squinted. “And what does it have to offer?”
Wilbur grinned. “So much. Fun! Excitement, discovery, cursiority, delicious food, a new meaning to life, joy in every little thing, love. To know what love is, is to know what it means to live!” Wilbur protested poetically, spinning once. “What humans have to offer is living simply to live. Once you experience it, it simply cannot be taken away.”
The three Diamonds looked at each other, clearly disbelieving. Wilbur could see them communicating with each other with their eyes. He knew he was losing them already. It took Wilbur a month to learn about this, it only made sense that a short introduction would not affect them.
Wilbur opened his mouth, hoping to convince them further.
“Humans are so intriguing. They live such short lives and yet make such a big deal of them! And perhaps, if we lived that way too, we’d find more joy!”
Dream tilted his head. “You are speaking like a mortal, Pink. These creatures live in such a way due to their short life spans. All this ‘joy’ you are speaking of is fleeting. It’s a moment for us. We cannot live like mortals because we are notmortals.”
“See, that is the way I thought too!” Wilbur said, smiling, emotions stirring back up. The joy he had found on earth pouring out of him. He hoped to flood this room in the warmth of the sun he had in his hands. “But I allowed myself to truly feel it, Green. They do things despite being entirely hopeless! They were designed to die yet they choose to live! How come they are living so much more than us?”
Sapnap growled. “Pink, you are so weak. Bringing a pet here and acting as if it had any right to be in our presence. This is why we never sent you on these assignments. You allow yourself to lose sight of our mission and our purpose so easily.”
Wilbur hissed back, setting Tommy down. The Diamond bent down, whispering to the nervous boy. “Go on and play over there. I’ll handle them.”
Tommy nodded slowly, letting himself roll towards the other end of the room.
Wilbur stood back up to full height, glaring down at the two. “I will not take such disrespect. Think of me and my views on earth as you will, but I am to be respected. The earth is mine and I will not allow you to strip me of my right to it.”
Sapnap’s lips curled, George placing a hand on his shoulder.
“Listen, Wilbur. You’re allowing emotions to get to your head. You should take a nap instead. You could take a nap as long as Tommy’s lifespan and wouldn’t even notice it, anyway.”
Wilbur glared. “I would stop speaking of him in such a way, if I were you.”
Wilbur had not intended for this to become an argument, but he supposed he should have expected it. They were never one to treat his opinions as worthy of being listened to. Not unless he made them listen to him.
“Oh, the gem who couldn’t even run one expansion mission without becoming a useless pile of emotions is threateningme?” Sapnap snapped.
Dream turned slightly, quiet as ever as he observed Tommy. The boy was watching them argue, awkwardly fiddling with his fingers from across the room.
Wilbur paid no mind to the silent Diamond, focusing his energy on the two who were currently arguing with him.
“I am not making a threat. You are speaking of my child poorly and I will not allow you to disrespect what is mine. As you would not have me disrespect what is yours.”
George rolled his eyes. “You are allowing your emotions to blind you, Pink. Why don’t you just trust us as you always have? Even you are aware you’ve allowed emotion to take over your logical thinking.”
Wilbur felt anger bubble up in him. He knew they would be difficult, they always were. Why had he ever tricked himself into thinking this would even be possible? Of course they would be so full of themselves that they wouldn’t listen to him. They never listened to him.
Perhaps he truly was blinded by fruitless hope in his fellow Diamonds.
“Because humanity has taught me that logical thinking is not the most important thing to existence! They defy all that should be! Their survival should be of utmost importance, and yet they risk themselves for pleasures and joys. They grow and learn and develop. And I have found a human that I will be able to watch go through these things. I have never felt such a way before, and perhaps that is more valuable than what we are doing now. What is the point?”
Tommy locked eyes with Dream, shrinking back at the glowing green eyes behind the veil that cut right into his soul.
Sapnap pinched the bridge of his nose. “This illogical emotion you are feeling is fleeting. This human you found and wanted to watch die will be gone in a blink, and you will realize the uselessness of such a thing. Once it’s gone, you simply won’t care anymore!”
Wilbur sighed. “The joy of watching humans is in the fact their life is so short! Watching them live with a clock over their heads is so fascinating. There is beauty in the way they choose to ignore it. They wear it like a crown and are not afraid of it. I am aware Tommy will leave me one day, but the lessons he has taught me shall not. I would have gotten to watch the most beautiful thing in the universe flash before my eyes. And even briefly, it is so worth it.”
There was a flash of green light as a spear formed in Dream’s hand. Wilbur’s head snapped over to the larger Diamond.
Dream’s hand flew forward, spear launching through the air. The sound of a bubble popping silenced the room.
In a moment, everything was still. The room went cold. Wilbur heard his own heart pulsate in his ear, rushing over every thought, hushing them. The planets had stopped moving, and the galaxies had stopped spinning.
The very universe itself held its breath.
Then, a blood curdling thud echoed through the quiet room.
And just like that, it was all over.
Wilbur could only stare as the spear disappeared, disintegrating into light before evaporating entirely. Leaving only a dead star lying on the floor.
Dream waved his hand. “See? Blink of an eye, and it’s gone. You got to see it die. No point in waiting for the inevitable.”
Dream’s footsteps echoed through the room as he made his way to the large elevator, signaling for the others to follow. They brushed past a still Wilbur, not paying him any mind.
“Clean up your mess then we’ll discuss this later,” Dream said, pressing a button. The elevator closed, thudding as it began its descent.
Wilbur was left alone. Entirely alone.
His throat was closing up, face entirely still. Stuck in nothing but parted lips and a hand reaching out at no one. His mouth was dry, yet his face was not.
His mind was blank and yet so full. Every feeling was so much louder than any thought. The feeling of the tears on his cheeks, the slight breeze on his face, the feeling of his clothes against his skin, and the emptiness of his hands.
It was all so all consumingly empty.
The gem regained some semblance of control over his body, legs shaking beneath him as he stepped to the other side of the room. Slow, one after the other. Each step more disbelieving than the last.
Then, he collapsed. His knees hit the floor as he stared down at Tommy’s body. Every thought was wrapped in suffocating emotion, being pressed into the very back of his mind. Wilbur blindly reached out, hoping to grasp even a single one. To unwrap it like some awful gift.
There was blood on the floor. It was outside Tommy’s body, it wasn’t supposed to do that. He needed a bandaid.
Where… where was Phil? Phil had the bandaids. He would need a really big one. He hoped Phil’s pockets could hold one.
Wilbur looked around, eyes searching the room for a familiar bucket hat. Phil would— Phil would know what to do. The man always knew what to do. Where was he?
A memory unwrapped itself.
Oh, Phil wasn’t here. No one was here. Just Wilbur.
Wilbur looked back at Tommy, trembling hands scooping the boy up into his palms. His eyes bore into Tommy’s face. One grey eye stared past him, the other simply… gone. That wasn’t right.
None of this was right.
“Kiss my boo-boo better?”
Tommy’s voice played in his mind, repeating in the quiet.
Right. Kisses. Kisses helped.
Wilbur curled closer to the boy, lips pressing against Tommy’s face. Tears dripped down his chin, falling into the wound and mixing with the red.
It was so familiar. Like rinsing Tommy’s chin of strawberry juice with sink water.
But this wasn’t strawberry juice.
He pulled back, heart still beating loudly in his ears. Tommy did not move, body lax in Wilbur’s palm. Like he was sleeping in his favorite soft place.
Wilbur’s eyes landed on Tommy’s chest, waiting for that glorious rise and fall.
Wilbur had healing tears. He knew this. He knew this from when Techno had been cracked. And kisses were healing too.
Why couldn’t Wilbur feel Tommy’s heartbeat?
Wilbur felt his own constrict, the beating suddenly matching Tommy’s.
Completely still.
Tommy had been right. It was such a comforting sound. So comforting it was addicting. And suddenly, Wilbur couldn’t live without it.
Wilbur bent over, guttural screams leaving his parted lips. The glass of the building shook as he began to wail, an emotion heavier than Wilbur had ever felt before taking over his mind.
Wilbur had his physical form destroyed only a handful of times before. A few sparring matches with the other Diamonds led to him being destabilized.
But it did not compare to this.
Pure, agonizing, grief.
Wilbur screamed louder, fingers digging into Tommy’s back as he began to shrink. How could he hold a form so large when he felt so small?
His insides were being ripped out of him. His skin was being stretched and pulled and snapped and cut and ripped. A hand gripped his heart, forcing it to a complete stop. It squeezed, collapsing it entirely. His lungs fell apart, constricting until they were nothing but shriveled up piles of unheard screams.
Was this what dying felt like?
Wilbur pulled Tommy’s body closer, nose burying into golden hair.
Wilbur failed him. He brought Tommy here only to die. A tiny body so full of life extinguished in an instant. Wilbur promised he’d be safe. Wilbur promised.
Sobs wracked his body, tears falling like a waterfall down his face. He wheezed out pained howls of agony. Homeworld itself shook with his voice, the very core of the planet vibrating with his grief.
His sun. His star. His life. His universe. Taken from him in an instant. His future. His joy. His happiness. His love. Stripped from him without a second thought.
Wilbur wanted to be angry. He wanted to be filled with so much rage that he became a mindless monster of mass destruction. He wanted to become a weapon. To order every gem under each of the Diamonds to tear them apart. To sit and watch as their own people became mindless, hatred filled beasts. Wilbur wanted to be so angry that he’d chip away pieces of their gems so agonizingly slowly.
He wanted to sharpen himself into a blade that would cut through this planet’s core and watch as everything they’ve ever built was destroyed in a light so bright it would blind the universe.
Wilbur wanted to be angry.
But he couldn’t.
The grief was all consuming. The mere thought of letting go of Tommy’s body sent another wave of anguish through Wilbur’s body that was somehow worse than it already was. Letting go of his boy was not an option. This was his little one. His son. His very heart.
Wilbur trembled. This must be what it felt like to shatter. He could feel it. His heart. He could feel it. It was cracking, splintering into a million pieces. But he was still here. And didn’t that make it so much worse.
Wilbur sobbed into Tommy’s hair, screams still leaving his folded up lungs. The universe cried with him at the loss of its brightest star.
There was some sick part of him that was waiting for Tommy to poof. For Tommy to retreat back to the safety of his gem where Wilbur could hold him and keep him safely tucked away on a comfortable cushion.
But Tommy was not a gem. He was a human. Vulnerable, weak, fragile, so easily broken.
And Wilbur let him shatter.
The boy who held his heart. He understood it now. The idea of giving your heart to someone else.
‘It hurts so you know just what you’re willing to go through for him.’
Phil’s voice played in his mind. Love. Love fueled grief that ate away at him. Wilbur wondered how he was still alive. His heart was gone. His lifeforce was drained right before his eyes in merely a blink of an eye.
If only…. If only Tommy had been a gem he crafted from the earth. If only Wilbur was strong enough to save him. If only his tears could heal human flesh.
Wilbur hiccuped, squeezing Tommy impossibly closer as he sobbed. If only he could give his life for Tommy.
Wilbur paused in his wails for only a moment, a single thought forming in his mind. A single solution pushing through the layers of emotions like a sharp stone.
Wilbur pulled away, staring into the pit of Tommy’s face.
If only he could truly give Tommy his heart.
What if he could?
Wilbur felt his heart beating in his ear again, the noise rushing through him like a waterfall crashing into his head. What if— What if Tommy was a gem? What if—
Wilbur put a single hand to his gem, sucking in a breath.
It didn’t make sense. The likelihood that a human body could be attached to a premade gem was so far fetched it was beyond any logic.
But what if it did? What if by some miracle, the gem would reform Tommy’s face?
It was nearly impossible. There was no study or science behind this. There was absolutely no evidence this would work. Wilbur knew what the other Diamonds would say. It was illogical for a being of such high value to risk his life on a human that was meant to die in under a century.
But Wilbur had chosen the life of an illogical being the day he picked Tommy up. The day he spared Tommy’s life. Thebest day of his life.
Wilbur gently laid Tommy down, eyes frantically bouncing from side to side. His breathing was labored and his body was shaking. His hands trembled as they made their way towards his gem.
He knew he was blinded by grief. This was dangerous. He didn’t think it through. He didn’t even know if it would work.
But he didn’t care. His baby was gone. His heart was already shattered. The very thing he promised to protect, the little creature that had entrusted him with his safety, was dead.
Tears trailed down Wilbur’s face as he placed his hands at the top of both sides of the heart.
Tommy was dead and it was because of Wilbur. His heart, his love, his life, all gone in an instant. But despite being gone all Wilbur could hear was his little voice.
“Thanks, Dad.”
Wilbur’s face twisted as he began to pull.
Wilbur gasped in pain as his gem began to crack. A pained scream slipped past his lips, Wilbur quickly silencing himself. He readjusted his hands, putting as much force as he could. The diamond split further, Wilbur’s form beginning to destabilize.
The gem fell forward, hands stretching out to catch him.
This pain was unlike any physical pain he had ever felt before. It pulsated, sending hot flashes of pain through every ounce of his being. Yet it could not compare to the grief he was feeling.
Wilbur grit his teeth, forcing himself to sit back up. His hands gripped the sides of his gem, ripping.
The diamond growled, voice distorting as his form began to glow. His body lost all detail, becoming a pure pink light. His fingers began to merge, losing all grip.
All of this pain and misery meant nothing. Tommy was dead. And it was all his fault.
Pink beams of light fell from his face, hissing as they hit the ground. Wilbur focused, form wobbling as three fingers began to form. He gripped his gem. A scream shook the universe, glitching and monstrous.
Crack.
Wilbur slammed half of his gem down, sobs ringing through the room. A stabbing sensation ran through his body as his form shifted and shook. He lifted Tommy off the ground just slightly, leaning down. The light focused, forming drooping lips as he pressed them onto the gem.
“Kiss my boo-boo better?”
That was all Wilbur could hear. Not the sound of his own groans or murmurs as his voice boxes glitched in and out of existence. The tears sliding down his face was all he could feel. Not the sensation of his body fighting just to keep its form.
“Kiss my boo-boo better?”
Wilbur pressed harder, desperation his only emotion. Wilbur pleaded with the universe. He begged the stars themselves. Let Wilbur gift his heart. His life-force. Let him heal what he broke.
Let Tommy live.
The tears dripped on the gem, small bits of lightning beginning to dance across Tommy’s face. The gem lit up, cracks beginning to glow across Tommy’s face. Wilbur pulled back, begging.
Please.
Please.
The gem brightened, enveloping the entire room with pink light. Wilbur didn’t dare look away. Homeworld itself was blanketed in the glow, every gem glancing at the tallest tower.
Before anyone knew what happened, it was over.
The light disappeared, leaving Tommy in Wilbur’s deformed hands. Skin pulled over the wound, cracks filled with a gentle pink tint spread from the gem. Half of a heart embedded where an eye had once been. Wilbur glanced down, entirely breathless as he watched, waiting.
Tommy’s chest rose and fell.
It worked. It worked. It worked.
Wilbur began to laugh, only to bend over himself as his form glitched. There wouldn’t be much time. Wilbur had to get Tommy off of Homeworld. He had to get back to his ship.
Wilbur forced himself to stand, carrying Tommy in one hand. His form suddenly shifted, turning into pure light as it started to return into his gem.
And Tommy began to fall.
“N̴͈̭͛̓̌͝O̷̝̎̀͒.”
Wilbur threw himself forward, blob of light stitching back together to form some kind of cushion. Tommy landed on top of him. A limb stretched out of the light, wrapping around Tommy. Fingers extended out of Wilbur’s body, clawing at the floor.
He couldn’t try to walk. He couldn’t risk dropping Tommy.
Wilbur groaned, voice stretching out and lowering in octaves before suddenly rising into a squeak. Wilbur's mind was jumbled. A once completed puzzle suddenly dropped and shattered. The pieces flew every which way, Wilbur moaning in pain as he tried to remember what the full picture even looked like.
Tommy was— Tommy was hurt. Wilbur was hurt. Wilbur pulled himself forward, razed blades for nailed piercing through the floor as he roared.
They were hurt. Wilbur had to get them to safety. Where was safety? Where was… where was Wilbur? Wilbur wasn’t— Wilbur wasn’t here. Everything was wrong.
Footsteps echoed somewhere in front of them, Wilbur forming a single eye. It squelched as it opened, focusing on the figure ahead. There was… another.
Wilbur knew this one. Wilbur knew he did. Who… who was that?
They looked so terrified.
Wilbur rolled over, covering Tommy with his body. But he felt— he felt as thought he could trust this one. This one was good.
This one was—
Tech—
Wilbur’s gem throbbed, body glitching.
Techno.
Wilbur threw a limb forward, reaching out towards his pearl.
“Ṱ̸͔͖̖͎̒̐ͅe̷̥͓̖̥͆̿̋͐̚͝C̸̙͕̬̭̭͋̌̎h̸͉̏̓̋̿̈͝n̶̛͕̟̞̗͂͆Ô̷̡̓̈͝-̴̖̠̘͔̽͗”
Techno stepped towards them. “Wil…? My—My Diamond?”
Wilbur pulled himself forward as his form began to melt, limb dropping to the floor with a thumb.
“t̸̢̛̛̛̗̭̟̳̻̦̘͐̄̀̆̓͘͜͠Ǫ̷̡̱̼̙̠͙͎̲͎̈́͑͌̈́͗̚m̶̟̺̗̝̺͕̀̿͐̉̄̾͌̍̽̓̿̾̀̓̽ͅͅm̶̛̘̘͇͙̲̐́͑̎̾̐͗̀͆͑̽̚͜Y̸̖̜͆́̈́̅̆̌̽̐̽͝.”
“Tommy? Where— where is—“ Techno began to walk forward, holding his hands out as if that would somehow comfort Wilbur.
The diamond shifted, letting his form slide away to reveal the boy. His boy.
Techno sucked in a breath. “What did— What happened? What do I do—“
Wilbur slammed into the ground, crying out in pain.
“P̵̨̡̛̞̱̺͍̖̬̱̑̈́̄͂̓̽̾́͂̿̄̚̕͝͝h̸̙̩͕͂̈Ȉ̵̡̧̞̭̮̈́̊͒̂̀l̴̢͇͙̥̱̱̣̗̦̦̥̲̝͉̖̝̭͂.”
Techno’s eyes danced across Wilbur’s form. “Ph—Phil? I don’t— I’m not—“
Techno didn’t know what to do. Wilbur was— Wilbur was broken. Techno had never seen it before.
Wilbur was a Diamond. Unshattersble. Unbeatable. Strong.
And yet Wilbur was right in front of him: broken.
Wilbur wasn’t supposed to be broken. Techno couldn’t— Techno was just a pearl. A Pearl couldn’t do anything without their Diamonds command.
“t̸̢̛̛̛̗̭̟̳̻̦̘͐̄̀̆̓͘͜͠Ǫ̷̡̱̼̙̠͙͎̲͎̈́͑͌̈́͗̚m̶̟̺̗̝̺͕̀̿͐̉̄̾͌̍̽̓̿̾̀̓̽ͅͅm̶̛̘̘͇͙̲̐́͑̎̾̐͗̀͆͑̽̚͜Y̸̖̜͆́̈́̅̆̌̽̐̽͝.”
Techno’s eyes bounced across Wilbur’s form. He supposed that was a command. Wilbur… Wilbur needed him. Wilbur was hurt and gave him an order.
He was in pain. And Techno could fix it.
Techno forced a determined expression on his face, marching towards his Diamond. He got to one knee, eyes meeting Wilbur’s singular. The light of Wilbur’s form shifted, glitching in an out of existence as a screech of pain shook the windows. Wilbur’s eye shot to the roof, bouncing between every direction as a limb wrapped around Tommy.
Techno reached forward, hand gently cradling the side of Wilbur’s cheek. The diamond’s eye snapped to him, scared chatters leaving him as he wheezed.
“I’ve got you.”
Wilbur stared, unblinking. The noises of distress stopped, silence falling over them. Techno then reached out with the other hand, cupping Tommy’s chin.
“Both of you.”
With a final shriek, Wilbur’s form collapsed. Decomposed into pure light before shrinking back into what was left of his gem.
Techno reached out, catching it before it could hit the ground. He pulled it closer to him, holding it in his open palm.
There he was. Techno’s Diamond. Wilbur… Wilbur trusted him. This was greater than any task Techno had been assigned before. Techno was holding Wilbur’s gem.
Techno pressed it close to his chest, ignoring the tear that ran down his face.
Now… now what?
Now what happened?
Techno needed to find… Phil? Who was Phil? Wilbur had mentioned him before. Was Phil a human? He must have been. He had to be.
What could a human possibly do in this situation? Techno was Wilbur’s Pearl and even he didn’t know what to do.
Techno was broken out of his thoughts by a high pitched whine. His eyes snapped over to the boy on the floor, sucking in a breath as he began to open his eye.
Tommy’s eyelids shook as he forced them open, barely able to even turn his head. The boy opened his mouth, a wheeze the only thing that could get past his lips.
“Wwwww… wwwwil…”
Techno crawled over beside the boy, leaning into his field of view. The boy whined once more.
“Can’t… can’t open…” Tommy forced a trembling hand up to the right side of his face, pawing at the gem now embedded in his skin. “Can’t open…”
Tommy’s hand dropped to the ground, blood now coating his fingertips. Techno didn’t know much about humans, but he was fairly certain that their blood was supposed to remain inside their body.
Techno quickly pulled the bandana off of Tommy’s neck, tying it around the boy’s head. The gem appeared to have healed most of the wound but hopefully this would keep Tommy from getting anymore blood on his fingers.
Techno then held Wilbur’s gem out, frowning.
What happened here? Who… killed Tommy?
It had to be one of the other Diamonds? The thought nearly made Techno sick. The Diamonds had never fully respected Wilbur. They used him for his powers, and treated him as an annoyance the majority of the others. But Techno knew Tommy was important to Wilbur. Anyone who looked at the gem holding Tommy in his hands could see it.
Techno thought Wilbur had gained some respect after he stood up for his Pearl.
But clearly, it wasn’t enough.
The hissing of doors made Techno snap his head over, eyes wide. Footsteps shook the room as a blue figure walked in. The Diamond wiped at his eyes, yawning.
“Are you done with your little tantrum now? Really, I’m trying to nap. I could put you down for one if you’re going to keep—“
Techno stared at George, George staring back.
The Diamond’s eyes slowly shifted downwards, landing on the half of Wilbur’s gem in Techno’s hands.
“What…” George had started, gaze bouncing between Techno and the gem. Suddenly, the Diamond’s face hardened, lip curling upwards. “You.”
Techno scrambled up, lifting Tommy into his arms as he began to run.
“Hey! Stop!” George yelled out after him.
Every instinct in Techno’s being screamed to do just as he was told. He was Wilbur’s Pearl. But he still had to listen to the others. When he didn’t, he was crushed.
The Diamonds were the authority. He had made the rash assumption that Wilbur hadn’t done anything to prove the others. He was assuming they did not have his Diamond’s best interest at heart.
They were his leaders. His superiors.
He couldn’t just defy them off of a few distorted words from his broken Diamond.
And yet…
He did just that.
Techno picked up his pace, rushing through the smaller doorway. George got to his knees, hand reaching through the tunnel. The hand slid in front of Techno, starting to close around him. The pearl leaped forward, squeezing through the diamond’s fingers before rolling to the other side.
“You useless Pearl! How dare you harm Pink! You will be shattered for this!”
Techno gulped.
So they… didn’t know how Wilbur was shattered?
Which confirmed Wilbur shattered himself. Wilbur had broken himself to save Tommy. Of course he did.
Techno shook his head, ridding himself of these distracting thoughts.
None of that mattered now. The only thing that mattered was getting to this “Phil.” Which meant Techno needed to get back to Wilbur’s ship.
Lights began to flash above him, an alarm blaring above him.
“PINK DIAMOND'S PEARL IS ON THE LOOSE. EVERY GEM IS TO HUNT THEM DOWN AND SHATTER THEM. BRING US BACK OUR PINK’S GEM.”
Techno shivered, eyes widening as the doors in front of him beat close slowly. The pearl’s feet slammed against the cold ground, echoing through the long hallway before he dropped down into a slide.
The door slammed shut behind him, Techno quickly throwing himself onto his feet and stumbling forward. A long walkway laid ahead, railings keeping them from falling off the edge. The gem skidded to a stop, eyes widening at the sight.
A small group of gems at the end of the platform turned to him, growling.
“Traitor!”
The pearl glanced down, gritting his teeth. He couldn’t get his weapon like this. One hand had Tommy, and the other had Wilbur. He couldn’t do everything.
Techno set Tommy down, gripping the Gen in his left hand. He then summoned his sword, charging at the group. The three gasped, getting on the defensive as Techno began to attack.
Lucky for Techno, Wilbur had allowed him to train. Techno wanted to be able to protect Wilbur to some extent if the time ever came for it. Other Diamonds may have seen this request as disrespectful. To imply they would even need a measly Pearl to protect them was insulting.
But Wilbur had just chuckled, thanking him and giving him his own room to train. Techno had no one to train with. But his efforts clearly paid off.
Techno sliced through the final gem, watching them poof as their gems hit the ground.
The pearl then turned back to Tommy, falling to his knees. The boy could barely sit up, rocking back and forth like he was about to fall over.
Techno had to find some way to the ship. Going through the elevator probably would not be an option. Surely they’d be watching it.
This hiss of a door made him jump.
Another group of gems replaced the others, summoning their weapons. Techno stood, gritting his teeth and growling as he gripped his sword. Only to hear more footsteps from behind.
No.
Techno glanced back, stepping closer to Tommy. He was surrounded on both sides of this skywalk. There was no way that Techno would be able to keep them off Tommy. If Tommy’s covering fell off and revealed his eye—
Techno growled, quickly untying the bow on his back. In one swift movement, he hoisted Tommy into the air. He wrapped the silk around his and Tommy’s body, creating a makeshift sling.
Tommy’s fingers twisted into Techno’s shirt, a high whine leaving him. In that moment, Techno could somewhat understand why Wilbur protected this little creature. Something so weak clinging so desperately onto him.
Techno then leaped on top of the railing, ignoring the shouts of the other gems. Techno spread his arms, eyes locked onto the ground below.
That was… quite the leap.
No backing out now.
Techno dove, plummeting. Tommy squeezed his eye shut, burying his face into Techno’s chest. The Pearl summoned his sword once more, thrusting it into the wall. Wires sparked and metal creaked as it cut through, forcing him to a stop. Techno gripped onto the sword with one hand, the other wrapped around Tommy’s back to keep him secure.
Another walkway sat just to the right of him. If he could just… swing over there. Techno looked up, the figures of the other gems too small to make out any details.
The pearl sighed, carefully moving his hand away from Tommy. Techno clutched Wilbur’s gem half tightly, bringing it to Tommy’s face. “Tommy, was it?”
The boy glanced up at him, nodding slowly.
“I’m gonna need a favor, Tommy,” Techno requested, fingers curling around his sword handle. The metal creaked and groaned, sword shifting under his hand. The pearl gulped.
Just needed to hold for a few moments.
Tommy didn’t respond, simply staring at him with patted lips. Techno revealed the gem in his hand.
“I need you to hold onto this. Don’t let go. Do you understand? You can’t let go of it.”
Tommy’s small palm landed in Techno’s, gripping the gem. The boy’s hand couldn’t even wrap all the way around it.
“This is… Wilby’s?” Tommy questioned, holding it to his chest protectively.
Techno froze. What exactly did Tommy know about them? The boy seemed quite out of it. Did he remember getting his eye removed? Did he even understand that Wilbur was…
The sword bent down, sliding slightly. Techno quickly gripped it with both hands, kicking his feet back and forth.
There wasn’t time to think. All he could do was act.
Techno threw himself forward, hands reaching out desperately for the archway. He slammed into the side as his nails dug into the metal. His fingers wrapped around the ledge, peering down to make sure the impact didn’t injury Tommy.
The boy just whimpered, holding Wilbur’s gem closer.
The pearl heaved himself over the ledge, rolling onto the floor before getting back to his feet. This area was darkened, very few lights above him. It was lit up by the shine of Homeworld through the archways as it connected to a larger spire.
Which lead to the ship.
Techno hummed, crouching down so he wasn’t visible through the windows as he made his way towards the edge of the hall. Footsteps echoed above and below him, shouts of anger echoing from different spires and walkways.
Techno slipped into the spire, keeping himself low. He stilled at the sound of voice, quickly ducking behind a control panel.
Perfect.
The voices died down, giving Techno the perfect opportunity to open up the controls. A screen appeared in front of him as his fingers flew across it.
He just needed to get the landing ship cleared for launch. Techno’s eyes jumped along the screen as he opened the landing pad. He set off an alert a few buildings over to get the gems on the landing pad to move away.
The shouting of orders confirmed they received the alarm, footsteps marching in the distance. Techno quickly readjusted the sling before rushing through the hall. He skipped down the stairs, taking multiple at a time.
He didn’t know how long that distraction would last, so he had to be quick.
Techno burst onto the landing pad, sighing with relief.
“Hey!”
Not yet.
Techno pushed forward, feet slamming against the ground as he summoned his sword. The landing gear was out, ramp open to the entrance of the ship. The pearl leaped inside, flinging his sword at a panel inside the ship. The panel buzzed, wires sputtering out electricity as the ramp slammed shut.
Curse this ship and how big it was. Techno took every shortcut he could, jumping onto the armrest of Wilbur’s chair. He threw his hands up, multiple holographic screens appearing in front of him.
Wilbur should have been in that seat.
Techno’s fingers flew across the screen. The ship suddenly thumped, Tommy whimper as it began to shake.
“It’s alright. We’re— we’re getting out of here.” Techno tried to soothe as he slammed his fist on the final button.
The ship lifted into the air, engines shooting out behind them as they rocketed into the atmosphere.
That was—-
Techno’s knees gave out as he hit the floor. He undid the sling, eyes still wide as he took in all that just happened.
He— he disobeyed the Diamonds. He ran away from Homeworld. The order they had built up was destroyed in a matter of seconds. All of the gems believed he was the one that broke Wilbur.
There was no going back. Techno was alone. No Diamond to tell him what to do. No instructions on how to find anyone who would give him some.
And what if…
What if he misunderstood? What if he had stolen Wilbur and that was never what he was being asked to do?
Techno rubbed at his face, expression riddled with confusion and doubt.
He didn’t know what to do. He just didn’t know what to do.
“Where’s Wilby?”
Techno looked up, fisting away the tears in his eyes. Tommy was on his knees, holding Wilbur’s gem in his hands. The boy had tracks of sticky tears down his left cheek.
The boy’s lip quivered, breathing starting to stutter. “Did… did Wilby leave me?”
Oh no. Oh no no no.
Tommy hiccuped, a waterfall flowing from his eye as he began to sob. “He promised! He promised! I don’t wanna be alone! I want my daddy!”
Techno cringed, stepping to the boy and kneeling down. He placed his hands on Tommy’s shoulder, shaking him slightly. “He’s not gone. He wouldn’t leave. He wouldn’t…” Techno gulped. “He wouldn’t leave us…”
Tommy wailed. “Then where is he?! He’s gone! He left me! He abandoned me!” Tommy choked on a sob, chest heaving as he was thrown into a coughing fit.
Techno grabbed Tommy’s hands, unfolding them from each other to reveal Wilbur’s gem. “He’s not gone, Tommy. He’s right here.”
Tommy’s eyes trailed down to the broken heart in his palms. “Wha—what?”
So, Wilbur didn’t tell Tommy about this. Okay, Techno could try to explain to this child how gems worked. That, he could do.
“This gem… It’s Wilbur’s main life source. It’s what our species comes from,” Techno explains. “And our bodies are projected from inside the gem, which is how we get our powers and weapons.”
Tommy sniffled, wiping at his eye. “But—but why is it broken?”
Techno sucked a breath in through his teeth. Right. That part…
“Well… half of it is here. And the other is…” Techno pointed to Tommy’s face. The boy brought a hand up, touching the bandana. Underneath, he could feel the shape of a heart.
The boy gasped. “B—but where’s Wilby?! Where’s Dad? Can— can he come back?”
That… Techno couldn’t answer. Techno didn’t know. It wasn’t unheard of for shattered gems to reform body parts. But they were always malformed and just… wrong. They didn’t know who they were and—
Techno gulped. Would he have to see Wilbur as some kind of beast? Would Techno have to poof Wilbur?
No. No. Wilbur— Wilbur would be okay. Wilbur was a Diamond. He was a master of form and incredibly powerful. If anyone could survive such a shattering, it was him.
Techno gripped Tommy’s hands. “He will be back. He will. He’s coming back for us. I know it.”
Tommy leaned forward, falling into his chest once more. The boy gripped him loosely, eyelid closing against his will. And just like that, the ship was completely silent.
The boy was out in an instant, breathing softly.
Techno assumed the brief period of being awake was due to adrenaline. The boy’s body most likely needed more time to adjust to the gem, and for the gem to properly integrate into him.
Techno ran a hand through his hair, laughing humorlessly.
Only his Diamond would cause such a mess. Only his Diamond would somehow combine a human and a gem. Only Wilbur would sacrifice a diamond for a mortal child.
Techno laid back, staring at the ceiling.
His Diamond left him here, with basic orders about Tommy. Techno didn’t know what that meant or entailed. He didn’t have a specific list of chores or things he knew he had to do.
He was on his own. Wilbur trusted him to be on his own. To let him rest.
Techno could only hope he wouldn’t disappoint.
By Bubvy:
By Fractal:
