One Giant Leap (C: Chip, PD)

[Paddy]

As Chip gave his introduction, she let her small smile linger. It dissipated into a neutral aspect when Blue moved to scrutinize the two of them. The small sapphire in the shadow of two Diamonds held her stately poise; her large, perceptive eyes flickering between them as she assessed their words habitually. There might have been a time when she would've been put off by being referred to as strange, but it was true that she was atypical even when compared to other 8 Series padparadschas, and she couldn't very well argue with the assessment of Blue Diamond herself. Padpara felt her pride in being a member of the pink court bolstered by her own Diamond's discourse.

As the elder sister gave her final words for Pink Diamond, Padparadscha didn't take them for granted. Concerning her backdoor research, everything she'd heard inside of this chamber would be invaluable in use. Silently she churned over it, but she felt a creeping chill down her spine; should she even be thinking about such an investigation when she was in the vicinity of the Diamonds themselves? Even if the answer was no, she couldn't stop herself-- curiosity had easily taken the wheel.    

Padpara gave a deep bow as the ghostly ruler withdrew from the room. Internally she wondered if she would ever have a chance to see that mysterious Diamond again, before the tall, regal gem disappeared into the reaches of the moonbase. Then, the sapphire drew back up, holding her shoulder's straight as she turned to regard the Diamond she was made for. Her hands clasped behind her back and she glanced toward Chip as Pink turned her attention. Padpara was more a facilitator for this meeting, standing by to provide her third party information when needed. But for now, she would allow the gem to speak for himself-- he did, after all, have a very interesting story that had managed to capture her empathetic streak, though she wondered if there were more to the story that she hadn't yet been privy to. The Diamond in the room held her attention, but she tilted her head slightly as she awaited the Rising Phoenix's story of survival.  

[Chip the Fire Opal]

Chip had to try really hard not to smirk. Yes, he was really strange and Blue noticed it quite quickly. But he decided not to be scared by her. Pink was willing to listen to him and that was important for him. Pink was his Diamond after all. Her opinion was important for him. She even defended them from Blue.
"I wasn't able to find out what happened exactly, but some information I recovered from the beta kindergarten suggested, that in the rebel attack that shut down my Kindergarten all the Fire Opals were destroyed. Except for me. A big part of my gem got chipped away and with it who I was suppose to be. Other gems used it as an insult, so I took it as a name to spite them. And since I don't know my cut or facet it was as good designation as any." even though he didn't need to breath he felt like he really needed to take a deep breath.
"I became something else then I should be, my Diamond, but I hope I could still serve you." he ended up his monologue.

[Order Of The Diamonds]

She pulled up some data on her screen as he spoke,seemingly trying to find something until he mentioned the Beta Kindergarten "Of course" she muttered as she let him continue to speak and only continued once he was finished "of course logistics was a mess with the Beta garden, that does explain the lack of data i'm getting on Fire Opals." She muttered to herself, she turned away from the screen and looked back at the two gems "Your Gemstone, im sure Euclase's division would be interested in seeing it, yet, I assume through a lack of projectence distortion that the Gemstone was temporarily or permanently repaired?" She questioned,waiting for a answer before continuing onto Fire Opals final point.


She let out a small smile "Can a Gem who never knew its own designation,inherently be held accountable for deviating from said designation, when they neither had the methods or knowledge of the infraction, I would think not" She mused, thinking to herself about the question "Then of course is the other more tangible question" She continued leaning downwards,looking directly at the Fire Opal "Your own unique abilities and powers?"

[Paddy]

Patiently she listened, and remembered something Chip had said when she'd first met the small, but powerful gem. He'd not known whether Pink Diamond was aware of his existence, and it seemed now was the time to see how much was on record about the sabotaged Fire Opal harvest. The gem had to learn much on his own, and his lack of knowledge about Homeworld's culture had been initially nerve racking for her. But as he finished his story, and Pink Diamond began to speak once again, the sapphire could get a compounding sense for the genuine interest in the gem leader's tone and regard for Chip.

Her brows floated upward as it came to light that there was very little surviving information about the Fire Opals of Earth, especially if Pink Diamond herself couldn't retrieve the data. It was somewhat alarming for the sapphire, whose eyes flicked between the screen in front of the leader she served, and the fire opal who was being introduced to her. Where had that information gone, and would it ever be recovered? 

At the more philosophical question posed by Pink, the aristocrat perked and pursed her lips as her penchant for discourse was piqued. She considered her own opinion on the matter where it applied generally, but also where it applied specifically to Chip. On top of that, the words offered by the Diamond showed that merciful nature that Padparadscha had once told Chip about; she beamed, knowing that this meeting was already going better than she had hoped. "I'm inclined to agree, my Diamond-- This fire opal here is a great example of a gem whose commitment to Homeworld transcends designation," She offered, her voice breezy and quick before she redirected her attention to Chip.    

[Chip the Fire Opal]

It was incredible how what Pink said made sense. She was indeed as wise and as reasonable as he imagined her to be. He could tell her, that the lack of data might be the fault of Peridots who wanted to shatter him when they found out he was imperfect, but he decided not to. He didn't want to bother Pink with his hate of Peridots.
"When I emerged, my Diamond, I was too damaged to assume my proper form. I spent several years in this form and it become my form. Even now, when I can shapeshift and project my form at will, this is the form I return to when I get too tired to hold any other." he tried to explain.
Pink and Padparadscha both agreed, that it wasn't his fault that he isn't a proper Fire Opal. It was nice to hear. Pink was interested in his abilities, which was quite reasonable.
"My abilities? Well... I can fly on wings of fire." he opened his palm, igniting a small ball of fire on it.
"I can create fire to both destroy..." he opened his other palm which started to burn with beautiful golden flame. "...or to heal, both organic life and gems." he explained.

[Order Of The Diamonds]

"hmm, distorted form manifestation catalysed by a damaged gemstone, does that mean that there is a inherent causality between gem make up and the Off Colour status, or even that Overcooked gems have inherent interference with their chemical make up that causes them to linger,that though..." She muttered quickly to herself,seemingly lost in a conversation of her own as she drew up files of various gems and their correlating Gem Molecular structures, seemingly trying to find a pattern "we always assumed that defects and gem structure only held a spurious at best correlation effect and not a direct causation,yet...." She trailed off, drawn back into the world infront of her just in time to hear Chip explain his powers. A curious expression on drew on her face as he explained the nature of his abilities.


"That is interesting,not many gems have healing powers outside of the very few Rose quartz models, and to also manifest the purified duality of Fire within their own powers, is unique to say the least" She explained "but then, your strength, do you believe that your abilities are powerful?" She paused, the answer to the question was irrelevant in truth,but still,the boundaries one places upon himself can be interesting to see "muster your fire, the strongest Ignition that you can maintain safely over a long period of time, show me not your brief limit but the true 'default' of your power, for that is a greater gauge to it then any outburst would display." She asked.

[Paddy]

The sapphire's eyes and ears were piqued, focused on every word offered by Chip and her Diamond, but for the time being she would remain on stand by, poised and still as she thought about what had been said. Pink Diamond always had a way with her words, sending the peach sapphire into spirals of thought with the observations, insights, and information she provided. The aristocratic detective was something of an off color herself, and no matter how much she despised the thought of it, her leader's words had stuck with her; just as she had once told the young gem, a place could be found for those like herself and Chip, gems who were willing to do whatever it took to serve the Authority and the empire. 

Was Chip powerful? There was no doubt about it. She had been a bit shaken by that ability to create bolts of thermal energy so dense and hot that it could pierce a gemmic temple hull as if it were nothing but air. Pink Diamond's words called Padpara's attention back to that memory of the fire opal's breakdown back at the temple, and she began to feel her nerves cropping up again. No matter how powerful this gem was, he would be of no use to Homeworld if he refused to use his abilities as they were intended to be used-- or, perhaps, he could find a new niche in the court? 

Again that would be for Pink Diamond to decide and for Chip to tell, she could only offer second hand experience and so let her presence speak for itself; she wouldn't have represented the fire opal if she didn't believe in his ability. But she had an ulterior motive herself now that the Diamond had called attention to it; to what extent did Chip control this firepower? Knowing the level of will the gem possessed would give her an answer as to whether he would uphold his beliefs and loyalty in time. 

[Chip the Fire Opal]

Chip didn't completely understand, what Pink was saying, though it seemed she was speaking to herself. Probably she was just thinking out loud. So he was just waiting, until she started speaking directly to him again. Which happened quite soon.
It seemed, that his healing powers were quite rare, even if she still wasn't quite able to control them perfectly. He was much better with his fire abilities though.
"I would like to think that my powers are quite strong... I fought several really strong gem-monsters, a giant shard drone and even several insane gem criminals." he explained. But Pink wanted to see his power and he couldn't blame her. He was much better at shooting fire, but he couldn't do it here, he would wreck this place. How to present his powers safely? After few seconds of thinking he just jumped in the air, activating his fire wings, as he was hovering above the ground he summoned his solar lance. On its tip a big fireball formed instantly. It wasn't giant, but it was extremely hot. Chip believed he could sustain this fire for hours if needed, yet it was hot enough to pass through most materials. Chip wasn't quite sure, if this was his "default" since he usually just cranked his fire to max and blasted what he needed, but not this time...

[Order Of The Diamonds]

"I would like to think that my powers are quite strong... I fought several really strong gem-monsters, a giant shard drone and even several insane gem criminals."

"impressive" She noted, waiting for him to flare out his powers.

Like a phoenix the gem rose up in the air above her mustering up the corporeal fire of fire as a display of power, the wings constructed from pure fire, the lance and the contained mass on its tip,it was all a very good show all things considered and confidence was good to have, one should not sell short their capabilities,but once should still be aware of other virtues.

"Your fire burns as many of my court does, fire, the symbol of my rein, destruction,passion,fury...Yet also warmth,comfort,rebirth,it is the duality that we stand for, that you stand for, in more then just powers" She began. "You show that you have powers,strength and abilities, but even if you had answered all this question with a resounding no,even if you had struggled to make a single ember it would not of mattered, and I apologise for that,apologise for the trick questions and the deceptions,but I needed to see not what I see,but what you see within yourself" She explained, with a tap of a screen she stood up, the section of floor Chip was on raised up underneath him (as did the section para was on) and brought them to eye level with the Diamond herself "you see a gem can have all the power in the world,yet still be squandered, yet still be useless to a cause, because the powers ones are given do not truly define your worth, but something else does" She raised her own open pal, as if cupping some invisible ball in front of her

"Power....Is fleeting"

"Easily Bestowed" With a swish of her hand the air around Chips Fire balll and wings ignited,causing it to intensely flare up and crackle growing to fare greater sized then what they were. Pink's own powers augmenting his allowing the very air the fire touched to ignite on a whim prematurely and grow.

"And Easily Taken" She closed her hand into a fist causing a bright flash the the air surrounding the his fire to burn up and simmer far quicker then his own flames could consume it,leaving his wings and ball starved for oxygen as her fire had ravenously consumed most of the air in the environment.

"In a moment even the greatest powers can be destroyed, but....potential, can never be removed, a Gem with all power and no potential is irrelevant for when you take their power they will simply cease to function,but a gem with all potential and no power, can adapt, can become powerful in its own right,and if that power is ripped from them,they will simply find another way, a better way."

"If you were to stride up to me" she gestured to herself "and found a way to tear out my power, would I cease to lead, would i cease to be the ruler of this place?"

[Paddy]

Having seen Chip's powers before, she now stood with a quiet admiration for it. The power put on display by both of the other Pink Court gems was mesmerizing for Padparadscha. It seemed that she had been in mind with her Diamond as the leader spoke to Chip. Though she wanted to feel her nerves ease at this revelation, the nature of the words caught her off guard. They were, nonetheless, words that the gem needed to hear if he were going to serve effectively.


She gave a start as the platform underneath her began to rise into the air, but centered herself and again clasped her hands behind her back after she had stabilized herself. Her eyes followed the flicker of fire as the other gems spoke, and she considered whether Chip would be a willing servant to his Diamond if tensions with the rebels got higher. She hoped the fire opal would pick up on what he needed to in order to make it in Homeworld society; in the sapphire's mind, this was simple, but could be made more complicated than needed by rebellious tendencies.

The final words offered by Pink were enough to pull her out of her quiet stance, eyes wide with shock at the question. As much as she knew these words were a vehicle for Pink Diamond's point, she gave in to the impulse to speak,"Of course not," She interjected, her hands fell to her sides and her foot tapped sharply against the tile as she took a small step forward. Though, after she'd blurted the statement, the gears whirred in her mind,"Diamonds were made to rule," She filled the empty space, but continued to grasp for an argument. A Diamond's power was nested in the nature of their role in society; for the sapphire it was paradoxical to even consider that her ruler could have that taken away, "I would go so far as to say that power can't be taken," Unless the Diamond were to be shattered, which Padparadscha found to be an absurd, gruesome prospect. 

Her eyes flicked down as she realized her reactionary response was perhaps toward the core of what her Diamond was speaking about. For a moment her lips hung open, her eyes searched Pink, then Chip; she wondered what the young gem would take away from this. As she focused on Chip, she continued,"All gems were made with intrinsic purpose, ultimately being to serve Homeworld," Carefully her eyes slid back to Pink Diamond,"--to which end we are thoroughly entwined," She hoped her words would bring some more perspective for the younger gem in the room, though she supposed both of them were much younger than Pink Diamond herself.

[Chip the Fire Opal]

Chip listened to his Diamond. She was speaking wisely, but what she said was also... complicated. Chip wasn't one for complicated words, not like Padparadscha. When Pink augmented his fire it felt awesome. So vibrant and empowering. Chip never felt stronger then in that moment. But he also guessed what was coming next. He was prepared not to show weakness though.
He practices his powers for a long time, they weren't given as with other gems, he had to learn them, practise and master them and he was proud to be able to do it. And last few months he was training against the Old one, an ancient gem monster living under water near Beach city. He was fighting it under water. Yes, his fire was using air but it wasn't just fire, it was magic, part of his being. He wasn't called the Eternal flame just because it sounded nice. His fire weakened, but it didn't go out. He was feeding it with his own energy. The same way as his fire wings were able to carry him through space, where the lack of air was a bit obvious.
Keeping his fire strong with little to no air was taxing, but he didn't stop. Not for a moment.
"I understand it. Or I think I do. You are a leader, not because of your powers, but because you are who you are. If you lost your powers, you would still remain a wise leader with vast knowledge and experience." he was keeping his flame strong and blazing. It was obvious, that it was costing him a lot of energy, but he was too stubborn to stop.
"I am sorry, my Diamond. I emerged without powers, without knowing what I should know. Without finding others to help me I would't even be here today. But where some tried to shatter me for being imperfect others helped me. I am afraid I will never be like others, all I can do is being me..." he said. This was all very puzzling to him.

[Order Of The Diamonds]

"All gems were made for a role, for a purpose, to serve a means, yes that is true enough Padparadscha Sapphire, even myself and my sister fall into this very caste" She affirmed,gazing over to the Sapphire present "Yet in a beautiful twist of Irony, how we serve those ends within this court can greatly deviate from the normal" Her hand extended once more as small flicker of flame and light weaving through her graceful pink fingers "We spark the fires of innovation" She flicked her hand rapidly turning into into a dancing flame atop her hand "stocker the furnace of creativity" She her hand launched forwards sending the fire upwards gracefully into what could only be described as beautiful dancing branched of fire, as if a very tree of life was sprouting within the room "And ignite the passion of progress" The flames burst into many different colours now,red,greens,blues and white all at once, striking the rainbow pallet down upon the gems as the branches seem to grow around the room, dancing still but now also interweaving with the gems present in the room,never touching or burning them,but gracefully slithering around them with their brilliant displays of colours.

Her voice seemed draw itself upwards in volume,never once being a yell but instead a great commandment and reinforcement "Do not be sorry for what you were not, be ecstatic for what you can become, your hardships have defined you greater then any exit hole could, your powers learnt and toiled upon were birthed of the very visage of myself and my court. You need not to be like others, for there is many already like that." She pointed her hand at Fire Opal the flame concentrating on him, the many branches flying around his limbs, never once touching him but always present"


"You are Fire Opal Facet Five, Cut Zero Zero 1. Let is act as a mark of your stature, a new beginning to your life, as I welcome you into my Court,into Gem Society once more, you have proven you are as worthy as any 'correctly' formed gem, and although gems have come before you, let the designation stand as a true mark of your origins now" The flames began to break apart and dissipate,returning the room back to its normal light. Pink Diamond turned, gazing out of the doom off, the planet Earth now in full view.

"Besides" she started, turning her head sideways with a rueful smile, "look at the company of the rest of my court" She looked at the sapphire within their presence "a Sapphire that lacks seer properties yet has the skills of a quartz 2 fold, and my trusted manager is none other then a outmoded healing gem who was only ever intended for Field Medic roles. Despite my sister's eternal irritation of it, I never was one who was content with having company that was simply 'like the others'"


With that the platforms rumbled and started to lower back onto the ground "Now of course what to do?" She mused "I think first orders shall be for you to have a proper medical exam, I will not deprive Euclase or her crew of a interesting subject whom shares healing properties and I scant want you to be shattered or damaged due to a miss set crack or a ill protected cleavage plain. Then afterwards, a tour of a facilities should be in order, it is always wise to know of all tools and resources present, and finally after that you may rest if needed, or mingle with the others of the court, orders will come for you eventually, of what nature even I am not sure of yet."


She turned and sat back down within the chair "I must thank you both though,you have saved me from a productive yet rather dull afternoon"

[Paddy]

As Chip spoke, the Padparadscha's eyes fell. The gem sold himself short, but there was something about the words he used that reminded her of herself-- of the gem she was when she had first been selected for the colonization project, and the gem she was now. Perhaps that had been why she was so sure she had wanted to help this gem see the true glory of the Diamonds for himself, to show him the piece that he had been missing from his perspective. For the sapphire, she felt there was no more powerful way to solidify one's loyalty in trying times such as these, than to be in the presence of the gem who she served with every fiber of her being.  

Her attention flicked back to Pink Diamond, eyes slowly widened as she was addressed, the room began to swell with fire. As destructive as fire could be, the calming warmth of the dazzling lights Pink Diamond conjured drew her in. She could sense the sheer energy coursing through the air as it faded from hue to hue. Her eyes traced the intricate, fleeting designs, and she swiveled to watch it burn around them, her skirt flaring as she turned. Then, the moment she had been anticipating came to be. The excitement of seeing the Diamond's power on display, hearing her powerful words, charged the sapphire's giddiness. She tilted her head to look at Chip, and gave a wide smile; of all the fears she'd had, part of her had known that Pink Diamond wouldn't reject this tenacious fire opal, or 5 001 as he had now been named. 

As the leader's attention was put back onto her, and she gave a start. Her admiration for soldiers had climbed tenfold in her time on Earth; even if they were considered below the aristocracy, Padparadscha could only see them as the backbone of the empire. To have her skills come within striking of any true combat gem was something she had aspired to, but never hoped to be praised in such a manner by her leader. She had been so caught off guard, it caused her to flush a bit, but managed to keep her composure as she floated back down to stable land. The mention of Euclase reminded the sapphire of her own scheduling, and she contemplated when she might next speak to the manager. 

Now that Chip had been initiated into Homeworld society, the real test would begin. Padparadscha pulled her attention back to Pink Diamond, and threw up her perfected Diamond salute. At Pink's last words, part of the sapphire was still embarrassed by her arranging of this unplanned meeting, but Pink had entertained it, and a young gem's life had changed forever because of it,"Your eminence, it is gracious of you to share your invaluable time with us. Words simply cannot expound upon my gratitude in being a part of this audience," She gave her beloved leader a deep bow,"I, if it pleases your majesty, will take delegation of these tasks upon myself," Already having memorized the necessary to fully integrate Chip, it would be a simple matter to set her retinue onto the job. She straightened up, and looked to the fire opal.