#So my first ones were Blue and Pink named after the theorized Blue Diamond and Pink Diamond (which I DELIGHT in turning out to be canon!)

[beyondthetemples-ooc]

I worked at a vet office, and there was a dog there named Lil Ho. Just like that, specifically “Lil” and “Ho”. I wish I was making this up.

do vets judge the nicknames given to pets? my cats name is athena but we at some point started calling her garbagesmell as a joke and now i'm pretty sure she hears that more than her actual name....

Anon. My cat’s name is Trash Bag.

- Ferox.

[sneezefiction]

sleep over? please.

Akaashi x reader - scenario

prompt: Sleep over? Please.

a/n: Akaashi has my heart, y’all. i thought i’d write from a prompt this time around and i’m about to hit 100 followers, so, being me, i must celebrate with fluffy feels. i love this community. thanks for inviting me in so warmly <3 

warnings: slight cursing

wc: 1440

---

It wasn’t unlike you to be up late. Dim lights on in your room, phone in hand, mind fuzzy and tired.

It wasn’t unlike Akaashi to try and figure out the reason you’re still awake.

Somehow he always knew when you couldn’t sleep. Sometimes he knew by way of instinct and other times you just made your social media scrolls a little too apparent.

Tonight, it was Twitter that gave you away. Your late-night likes, retweets, and posts weren’t exactly incognito, so you expected to get a text from your boyfriend scolding you for still being up, rolling around in your bed sheets.

However, the text you received was far from nagging… 

12:53 am - Akaashi: Saw you on twitter. I can’t sleep either.

12:53 am - Akaashi: If you don’t want to, it’s fine, but I have a proposition...

12:53 am - Akaashi: do u want to sleep over?

12:54 am - Akaashi: Please.

---

12:55 am - Y/n: Give me 10 minutes

You’re not sure why, but his text surprises you. Akaashi has always been self-sustaining, not usually asking for much from you, his friends, or family. So the needier tone in his text gets you wondering if he’s actually okay.

You know better than to ask him ‘what’s wrong’ over text. In-person conversations are more comfortably suited for him. So you slip on some sneakers and swing a jacket over your shoulders, tugging the sleeves up and onto your arms making sure to be as quick as possible.

You pat yourself down for one final check - keys, bag, and wallet... all here. Nodding to yourself, you set off.

As you pull up to his house, you notice that Akaashi is already standing on his front porch waiting for you.

He’s wearing a textured, gray hoodie you gifted him a few months back and some name brand joggers. Akaashi always manages to be unintentionally fashionable, especially when it comes to lounge-wear.

As you make your way up the walkway, you notice his slightly unfocused expression. A clear sign that he’s feeling a bit off. Akaashi only ever got that way under major stress, usually relating to school or volleyball.

He lets out a breath, reaching his arms out toward you and wrapping them around your neck. A hand shifts behind your head, entangling your hair in lithe fingers and pulling your face gently into his chest.

“Sorry for asking you over so late.” He sighs, almost as though he’s disappointed in himself for being needy.

“I always tell you to let me know if you need something, Akaashi. I’m glad you texted.” You muffle out into his hoodie, drawing your arms around his back.

“Let’s go inside, I’m sleepy and I know you are too.” He states.

As if on cue, you let out a big yawn. This guy is something else. A prophet? A mind reader? Just super intuitive?

Ah, whatever, you give up thinking about it. He just is what he is… and now it’s my turn to figure him out.

You head to his bedroom, familiar with its colors of deep blue and crisp white and, as per usual, completely spotless. You’ve spent many a day and night theorizing, studying, and laying next to your boyfriend in this room. It’s a bit of a sanctuary in its own, quiet way.

Akaashi lets you crawl into his bed first so that you can claim your space under his covers. You feels the bed shift slightly as he joins you. He’s relatively silent, but not in his usual manner. It’s as though he’s trying to say something, his mouth barely opening and then closing right after.

So you let him process his words before they inevitably tumble out. In the meantime, you both study the ceiling above you, not making physical contact yet in order to minimize distraction from his thoughts.

“Y/n, do you like me?” He breaks the bubble of silence around you.

“Hm?” A silly question, you think.

“You know I do, Akaashi. I’m dating you, aren’t I?” You chuckle, turning your head to the black-haired boy. His face is entirely serious, eyes still fixed above.

“What do you mean exactly?” You question, matching his seriousness this time.

He runs a hand through his hair, then shifts his head toward you, reaching an arm under the blankets to grab your hand.

Rubbing your hand with his thumb thoughtfully, Akaashi clarifies, “I mean, why are you with me? What benefit do you see in being around me?” He pauses, taking a breath before his next question.

“Do you really see a future with me?” His cheeks are tinted pink, but the question isn’t cute or lighthearted.

It’s anxious.

You can practically feel the self-doubt in his whispers. A masked vocalization of his fears, probably stemming from the beginning of your relationship, spilling out.

You move closer to his body, pulling him into your chest, deciding that physical contact would be the best way to convey your answer.

“Akaashi… remember when we talked about college and plans awhile back?”

He nods. 

“And how we discussed long distance?”

He nods, but clearly the topic was more painful for him, his eyebrows furrowing slightly.

“You know it’s only a couple of hours, baby.” You remind him gently, “We have every weekend… every slower day… any school break to see each other again.”

“I know, I know.” He sighs, “But, do you really want me? Do you want to drive and wait for me?”

You unlink your hand from his to run your fingers along the outline of his slim jawline. It’s the first time he’s ever expressed his hesitance of your feelings for him.

He needed confirmation and confidence that you care for him. That you want to be by his side.

Throughout high school, he’d had the luxury of being a vital part of his team. They needed his skills. His team relied on him and trusted that he could follow through as a setter. Without Akaashi they would’ve been lost and, at the least, much weaker.

But you were a different issue entirely. You didn’t “need” him per se. His critical thinking and intellect could only get him so far in a relationship. Something he didn’t see himself being in for years… yet here he is, you in his bed, listening to him sort through his problems once again.

You see him flipping through the thoughts in his mind, so you bring him back to the real world, pushing his hair back to place a delicate kiss to his forehead.

He meets your eyes.

“I know you don’t see it my way, but Akaashi… this relationship is more than just some cost-benefit diagram.” You smile, eyes lighting up with humor.

“I am choosing to be with you because…” It’s your turn to blush, debating whether or not this is the time to say it.

And it really is time. He needs to know how you truly feel.

“... dammit, Akaashi, I love you.”

His heart jumps. Those were 3 words he wasn’t expecting.

You continue, “Yes, you add something to my life. You make me laugh and think deeper than I’m used to. You teach me perspective. You treat me so kindly but…” He’s listening so intently now,

“You are so much more than what you give. You make me want you. To hold you, text you, and call you if you need anything. To just lay here with you… you make little things so much more beautiful.”

Akaashi may not speak much, but this is a new level of speechless.

It’s like you’re confessing to him all over again.

But this time, it’s from the basis of love.

Nothing cute or made-up. Just... sincerity.

“So, please, if you ever think I don’t care about you or want you around, even if we’re fighting with each other or managing too much at one time, just call me. I’ll drop everything to get to you. I promise.”

It takes him a moment to handle everything. To grasp these abstract feelings and apply them to your relationship.

But after a minute of stillness he finally understands.

He feels the same. And he has for a long time.

It’s why he cares so much to hear it from you. To know that you don’t just like him, but that you are actively willing to seek him out. That you want his presence, his rough edges, and his faults in your life.

“I… love you too, y/n.” He manages to respond, unsure as to how he can answer to everything else you’ve just said.

So you bury your face in his hair, letting the flush slowly fade from your own face and breathe in the perfume of his cedar scented shampoo.

“Thank you for trusting me.” You whisper.

“Thank you for coming over.” He murmurs in reply.

“I love a good, emotional sleepover, baby. You should know that much by now.” You quietly jest, eyes closing.

“Yeah,” He hums, “I appreciate them too.” Mumbles Akaashi.

You both drift off into a serene sleep, releasing your hesitations and inhibitions into the tranquil midnight air.

---

From this day forward, you both refer to this moment as “Akaashi’s Therapy.” 

Since then, it’s become an inside joke, but only you two remember how monumental of a turning point this conversation was for your relationship. 

It’s why you both made it through your last year of high school together. It’s why, even with weeks (sometimes months) of distance, you both consistently went back to each other. Study nights, weekend trips, and Christmas parties.

And also why you’re here now, admiring the glimmering diamond engagement ring on your finger. Hand-in-hand with your best friend, now fiancé, at a summertime festival. It feels like a dream, but the many long years apart remind you that it’s very real. That you both made it.

No cost-benefit analysis or prophetic parable could’ve gotten you both to this point. No war strategy and not an ounce of magic could’ve held up...

But a sleepover? Hell yes.

[uno-san]

Thoughts on Pink Pearl and our Pearl

After watching the movie I believe that I may have an idea or two about the story behind these two. Hopefully what I’ll write will make sense. In the least, I hope you enjoy reading my speculation! 

First things first, I’ll address what happened to Pink Pearl and how it may have lead up to the events of Spinel. 

In flashbacks from past episodes, we’ve heard Blue comment to Pink, “White is very unhappy with you. If this keeps up, she’s going to take away your Pearl”. Many have assumed that that was indeed the case. Pink Diamond acted up, a prank went wrong perhaps, and her Pearl was taken away. 

But what if Pink Pearl was the one who acted up? 

In the flashbacks, we saw her laughing and playing along with Pink Diamond. Telling jokes and making silly faces. It was only when the Diamonds were around that Pink Pearl acted “Proper”. Pink Pearl was acting out of her intended purpose as a servant to the Diamonds. White Diamond had to correct Pink’s Pearl because Pink Diamond encouraged her Pearl’s “Defects”. 

The Diamonds couldn’t have gems straying away from their singular purpose. If they allowed anarchy, their perfect empire would be jeopardy. But if Pink Diamond had been so desperate for a friend then they’d give her what she wanted. They built a gem whose purpose was to be Pink’s best friend. 

Spinel. 

She was literally made to be a friend. A playmate. Spinel was only capable of being silly and doing tricks. Just like what Pink Diamond wanted from her Pearl, right? The distraction that the Diamonds made for Pink worked at the beginning but things were sure to fall apart as time went on. 

Pink Diamond wanted a colony, to be taken seriously as a fellow Diamond. Due to Spinel’s purpose as a playmate, her silliness only humiliated Pink in front of the diamonds (Note her frustrated glances towards Spinel while she’s having a call with Blue and Yellow). It didn’t help that Spinel was a replacement as a friend when Pink Pearl was taken away, which may have added to Pink Diamond’s eventual distance from Spinel. 

When it came time for Pink to leave the garden and head towards Earth to begin her colony, I believe she felt she had to leave Spinel. Spinel was too goofy to take with her on her mission to prove herself. And as White Diamond proved to Pink, it was impossible-- wrong, for a gem to change and grow. 

And if Spinel did manage to grow past her original purpose? White would only step in again to correct her like she did Pink Pearl. 

While Pink was growing out of Spinel, she also wouldn’t have wanted for Spinel to share the same fate as her Pearl. To spare the both of them trouble, Pink simply left Spinel behind. Making sure to leave Spinel happy by telling her that they’ll be playing a game. What Pink did to Spinel was selfish and wrong on all levels, but this may just put a little more insight into the way she did things. 

(And before ya’ll crawl your way into my butt, screeching “ROSE IS A HORRIBLE PERSON, DON’T EXCUSE HER ACTIONS”, let me just say: No. I’m not excusing her actions, only putting thought into why she did them and how she was feeling. That being said, I honestly don’t think she’s a horrible person. I think some of you may just be looking for someone to hate. I won’t get into why I believe Rose is good, but if anyone is interested to hear please mention it and I’ll make a post on it!) 

By putting my thoughts on Pink Pearl to a close, I’ll move on to Pearl and what I believe her origins are. 

There was a time where everyone theorized that Pearl was originally White’s. I believe that Rebecca Sugar turned down the idea but Steven Universe: The Movie gave us an important hint. The song “System/BOOT. PearlFinal (3).Info” is the answer! 

After being hit with the Rejuvenator, Pearl reformed while prompting the name for the name of her new owner. It struck me as strangely...generic. The same message you’d get when booting up a new computer. It got me thinking. 

When Pink had her original Pearl, why was it so significant that she’d be taken away when the Diamonds were just going to give her another Pearl? 

Because Pink Pearl was made specifically for her. Think about it. Why is it that all of the Diamond’s Pearls resemble their respective Diamond, while our Pearl looks different and even has a mix of colors?

It’s because Pearl is from a different production line of Pearls. Ones that were meant for high gem society, but not for the Diamonds. It’s why she prompted as to who was her owner instead of immediately requesting for Pink Diamond. 

Note that Spinel immediately latched onto Steven. She was made to be Pink’s best friend, and Steven has her gem. Spinel didn’t need to ask who she was made for because she already knew. 

This was how Pearl was able to fight alongside Rose without being recognized as belonging to Pink Diamond. Because she looked like any other Pearl (Although a fancy once, according to Peridot). 

Aight, that’s all I got. If you have any questions or want further discussion, feel free to message me! 

[anythingstevenuniverse]

*SU Spoiler* How Steven Will See Pink Diamond’s Past

Since new Steven Universe episodes are coming very soon, there was a theory that has been on my mind since “Legs from Here to Homeworld” from July. So it has been stated from Rebecca Sugar that fans were very spot on about White Diamond’s personality from just a short introduction (article: https://www.thewrap.com/steven-universe-showrunner-rebecca-sugar-fans-on-point-about-white-diamond/). The article stated, “Sugar also hints that as Steven learns more about White Diamond, fans will also learn more about Pink Diamond’s past before she faked her death and disguised herself as the rebel Rose Quartz.” We are not only going to learn more about White Diamond but also Pink Diamond’s past on Homeworld as well as her relationship with White Diamond.

Now one must wonder how will we know about her past? Well famous Youtuber, Awestruckvox (highly recommend watching his video), did theorize that Steven will probably use his mind powers to see Pink Diamond’s memories. It is highly possible and here are a few reasons.

1) “Legs From Here to Homeworld” gave a major hint

Rebecca is known for foreshadowing. Since Blue and Yellow Diamond know Steven is Pink Diamond, they think he literally is Pink Diamond even after lots of explanations. After Steven explains he does not have Pink Diamond’s memories, Yellow Diamond says, “Hm. I am sure your memories are in there somewhere Pink.” That literal sentence is what got me to theorize that Steven will be able to gain Pink Diamond/Rose Quartz memories. It basically foreshadows Steven looking into the past through Pink Diamond’s memories and we will see lots of things about Pink Diamond we have not known.

2) It has happened before.

Steven has technically accessed Pink Diamond’s memories before. The first to occur was “Jungle Moon” when Stevonnie was stranded on a planet. Because Stevonnie is a fusion of Steven and Connie, we see Pink’s memory of her and Yellow Diamond as Stevonnie and Connie’s mom. We can see Pink Diamond wanted to have her own planet but was refused because Yellow Diamond believes Pink Diamond is not ready. This happens again in “Can’t Go Back” when Steven falls asleep on the moon base. We see more of a silhouette version of Pink Diamond, Yellow Diamond, and Blue Diamond. It seems Pink Diamond is complaining on colonizing Earth and Blue Diamond is giving her advice (not very good one) to basically stick her ground and continue because she is a diamond. Two times Steven was able to access Pink Diamond’s memories and it likely it will happen again on Homeworld.

3) Steven’s powers are growing and still developing.

Throughout the whole series, Steven has been developing new powers. First it was his shield and bubble which are more defensive moves. Then it was healing spit, organic based life animated powers (watermelon Stevens and Pumpkin), dream powers, levitation, dream powers, and psychic powers. In “Reunited” we see his psychic powers develop further as well as a new power emerging: the pink aura. Now that Steven is on Homeworld, he will have to use those new powers. His organic powers will not work on Homeworld and his defensive powers might not par with the technology. The healing spit may help physical damage but will not help the mental damage (White Pearl comes to mind). So only 2 powers will help on Homeworld: psychic powers and dream powers. His dream powers will help him understand Pink Diamond and her past and his psychic powers will help his battle with White Diamond in the upcoming episodes.

4) New promo shows Steven having a dream about Pink Diamond/Rose Quartz memory

The new promo clip for the upcoming episodes shows Steven dreaming. It is not very clear, probably to not show spoilers, but it shows two important details: white shine shaped like a diamond and Steven puking out Rose’s curly hair. Before we could see anything, Steven wakes up like he saw a ghost. That clip is probably Steven dreaming of Pink Diamond’s past, specifically related to White Diamond.

Now it has only occurred twice that Steven was able to access Pink Diamond’s memories. However, why only twice? Steven’s dream powers started to emerge in “Chille Tid” and has grown stronger since. But it seems Pink Diamond’s memories are special and must be triggered by something. Then it hit me: there is something both those memories have in common: Both memories popped when something is familiar to that memory. In “Jungle Moon” Stevonnie was trapped on a remote planet that turned out to be colonized be an abandoned Yellow Diamond colony.

This is where we see Pink Diamond and Yellow Diamond fighting. Then it happened again in “Can’t Go Back” as the moon base was Pink Diamond’s.

In this memory, Blue Diamond is giving some strict advice to Pink Diamond about handling her colony. In both times Pink Diamond’s memories popped up in Steven’s dream, it happened in areas similar to the memory and have negative attachments. Now with Steven on Homeworld, there are areas that have ties to Pink Diamond and lots with bad memories of White Diamond as well as her memories of Homeworld.

In “Legs From Here to Homeworld” White Diamond casts Steven to Pink Diamond’s room. This is important because Pink Diamond probably spent a lot of time in that room. However, the new episode about to come “Familiar” is probably going to show more areas of Homeworld, triggering Steven to see more memories of Pink Diamond. Hence the episode name “Familiar” as places on Homeworld will be familiar to Pink Diamond’s memories.

We shall see tomorrow!

[love-takes-work]

Rose Quartz and Pink Diamond Discussion

Lots of spoilers for “Can’t Go Back” and “A Single Pale Rose”!

I was never a strong "Rose Quartz = Pink Diamond" theorist. If you'd asked me before the reveal to declare a position, I would have said I did not believe Rose Quartz was secretly Pink Diamond, but I also would have said I did not believe it was impossible or improbable.

Ultimately, I thought we really did not have enough information about Pink Diamond to compare her with Rose Quartz, and most of the information we did have about her either came from Steven in altered states of consciousness or came from secondary sources that contradicted established content (mostly referring to Garnet's simplistic telling of the Rose Quartz story--which irritated me because I thought it did not make sense for Rose to have been made on Earth).

Mostly, though, I leaned toward thinking they were not the same person because of stuff the Crewniverse said outside the show.

My lengthy discussion of this topic is below. I outline past theories, review a few pieces of information that came from the Crew, identify common fan criticism that I don’t think is valid, identify common fan criticism that I DO think is valid, and share some lists about what the reveal has changed as well as what I still hope to see explained. Also, it has pictures.

Okay, see, I don't really do much theorizing because I prefer to base my understandings of plot on my understandings of character, and mystery for mystery's sake is not my bag. The closest thing I had to a theory about Pink Diamond's alleged shattering was that Rose may have used the mental transference Steven has demonstrated with Lars and the Watermelons to bring Pink Diamond into a compromising position where she could strike her. (If in fact she had that ability and it isn't just Steven's; that's also a possibility.) Now that we know this ability was not involved, I'd still really like to see that ability be important in some vital aspect of Rose's dealings, because it's accessed by dreaming and most Gems wouldn't think to try sleeping, so using an organic Earth practice to bring down mighty Gems seems like the kind of thing that would fit with the narrative of the show.

I thought the answer to the shattering mystery would turn out to be something like that because I pay attention to what the Crew says about their work, and Susan Egan once said in an interview that she was appalled by what Rose did--that she was still trying to swallow it. So I knew it was something morally indefensible on most levels and extremely questionable.

That brings me to this. I mostly take my cues for what I think will happen from how people act. Meaning both characters in the show and creators outside the show. Now, Ian Jones-Quartey has expressed that "Can't Go Back" and "A Single Pale Rose" are the culmination of one of their earliest plans, so according to him, they had always planned this.

But if I had had to create a list of evidence AGAINST Rose Quartz having been the same person as Pink Diamond, high on that list would be an old Twitter quote also from Ian, wherein he explicitly misled a fan who was questioning Rose's status.

I mean, he didn't straight up say Rose IS a Quartz, but the way he said it, he implied it was very silly to believe otherwise. This isn't just talking around it. He threw the fan off the trail, so from this, I see that intentional misdirection is always a possibility when they talk about the show. 

Also, Matt Burnett once laughed dismissively at the concept of a Diamond being poofed, but we just saw it.

Now, though, I have to reconcile some of these other elements that don't quite fit right. Mostly, I'm just thinking of Rose's words in "Rose's Scabbard."

"Pearl." "Yes?" "I'm going to stay and fight for this planet. You don't have to do this with me." "But I want to!" "I know you do. Please, please understand. If we lose, we'll be killed. And if we win, we can never go home." "But why would I ever want to go home, if you're here?" "My Pearl."

This scene is portrayed by Pearl in an honest setting that looks like a replay of actual events--I don't believe it is edited for content by Pearl, because it came forth in such an authentic reveal of her pain. Looking at it now, knowing we're supposed to accept Pink Diamond is stating that she's going to stay and fight for the planet, you have to do a little bit of dancing around to get that to make sense. It sounded like it was the first time Rose was proposing rebelling, and Pearl was choosing her over Homeworld. But if Pink Diamond was already transforming into a Rose Quartz and pledging herself to the cause of fighting for the planet, you know her other attempts to save Earth had failed by now. I guess we'll need to know more about the actual process of Pink developing a rebel army in the first place before we know how much sense it ultimately makes.

The scene on the cliff LOOKS like it was Rose telling Pearl about the moment she decided to defect and save Earth, but it could have been after Pink Diamond's ruse to create a rebellion wasn't enough to get Blue and Yellow off her back about completing the colony on Earth. But if this was always meant to eventually make sense as Pink Diamond saying this to her Pearl, that means Pink and Pearl initially thought they'd be going back to Homeworld eventually, and that they wanted to spare the Earth without necessarily putting down roots there. I can basically rewrite the meaning of that scene with current knowledge and essentially get it to make sense, but emotionally it's hard to read right now--plus I don't really have a feel for when this conversation happened and why Pink Diamond would assume she'd be killed if they failed. It sure does explain why Pearl was kneeling to Rose like she was royalty, though.

I did start to think they were definitely moving toward presenting Rose as secretly Pink Diamond as soon as they showed us what Pink Diamond's Gem looked like. I knew a gemstone on its side like that could look like the face of Rose's Gem, and it did bug me for a couple reasons:

1. The shape didn't match what we'd been shown before in representations of Pink Diamond, though the shape of the Diamonds' Gems was always depicted really simplistically in their murals. I can excuse that due to the simplicity.

2. It brought to mind the shirt Surasshu was wearing in the soundtrack's promo videos, suggesting its design was not just a really weird choice for depiction of Steven's/Rose's Gem. It was a spoiler in plain sight.

When I saw that, I thought . . . if Rose is going to turn out to be Pink Diamond, this was a really trollish choice of clothing for a piece of media that will be seen by many fans. After all, we'd already seen Rose Quartz Gems in the Zoo, and we knew they were supposed to have identical hemispheres like Amethyst. "They wouldn't do that . . . would they??" I thought. They wouldn't straight-up show us the Gem they went out of their way to hide right there on a shirt, would they? Yeah. They did. Yikes.

So most of the reason I would have said Rose Quartz was unlikely to be Pink Diamond was based on interpretations of the Crew's behavior outside the show. The evidence within the show is at least usually not explicitly contradictory. (More on this later.) To review: Ian strongly implied that Rose WAS a Quartz because of her name. Matt laughed at the concept of a Diamond poofing. And especially, Surasshu wore a shirt that's so spoilery it seems in retrospect that it shouldn't have been released. We shouldn't have been allowed to see any official depictions of the back of that Gem.

Because, after all, Steven can't get poofed due to having an organic body. So that was a convenient way of us never getting to see the back of his Gem. The only other time we see the shape of Gems at all is when the characters are fusing or shapeshifting. Usually when Steven and Connie become Stevonnie or Steven and Amethyst become Smoky Quartz, there's some kind of reason why you don't see the actual fusing process very well, but you know what? Rainbow Quartz's fusion demonstration is unobstructed, and it seems like if Rose's Gem was actually pointed at the back, we should have been able to see it. We can't.

Gems do become really indistinct and circle-glowy in other Fusions, and I guess we don’t really have a way to know what it would have looked like if we could see the whole shape of the Gem, but why would it just glow on the very surface? The way the shape looks, it looks like it’s the same on both sides. I'll say more on this later, but this makes me wonder whether this is a) an accident; b) intentional misdirection; or c) a suggestion some of the writing did NOT take the actual identity of Rose Quartz into account in places where it probably should’ve.

And I want to say that intentional misdirection isn't really the same thing as a straight-up mystery. For instance, I dislike most of M. Night Shyamalan's movies because they mislead instead of tricking you by building on expected assumptions; they explicitly tell you something that's not true, through the narrative, not through the perspective of another character, and then when they pull the rug out from under you, they pat themselves on the back for hoodwinking you. But you can't put actual previous-century dates on a tombstone in an intro and then claim you just let us THINK it was set in the past. That's deliberate misdirection. That's not just tricking the audience; it's telling them the wrong information so you won't be able to find the right information. So in the case of Steven Universe, if you actually show us Rose's Gem during a fusion and indicate that it doesn’t have a pointed back, we will assume it doesn’t have a pointed back. We will not have the tools to assume it's actually a totally different shape but being obscured without explanation through an unprecedented process. It would have been much better to just sneakily not show us her Gem during fusion instead of showing us an image that would make us conclude it's round and symmetrical on the other side.

But before I pick this apart too much, I will say this: I don't mind if every detail of this plot point or any other revelation in this show wasn't planned since the start. Stories evolve and authors learn new things about their characters. It's part of writing, and it's not BAD writing when your initial plan shifts based on how you and your story change over time. Television writers don't have the privilege of composing their entire story in full before beginning production of the first episode, and we've certainly seen things in the first season that don't make sense given current lore (why does the Heaven Beetle have a tiny temple; what the heck was that smoke monster in "Together Breakfast," why is there a "moon goddess" reference in "Cheeseburger Backpack," why are Gemstones presented as so unbreakable with a SWORD if they can literally be broken by falling onto a rock or getting stepped on, etc.). I'm not defending or explaining away inconsistencies if I say I can accept that they happen in television writing. I don't know which category this reveal is in, and I realize there are also more pieces of information we don't have about Pink Diamond's decisions, but if it's not perfect or there are aspects that ultimately don't make sense, I just accept that the story and its tellers aren't perfect, and I still like the heart of what they're doing.

Things that do NOT read as inconsistencies to me:

The size of Pink's Gem vs. the size of Rose's Gem: Gemstones absolutely do change size in canon. It "shouldn't" make sense, because it's supposed to be the one part of their body that stays the same, but look at the size of Sardonyx's hand Gems vs. Garnet's; look at the size of that Pearl on her head. Amethyst's Gem appears different sizes when she shapeshifts, too. It got super small when she became a bird.

The color of Pink's Gem vs. the color of Rose's: We've seen Pink "for real" exactly never. Never. The flashbacks seem accurate enough, but if you look at how different Gemstones look in different light, it varies a lot. We have also been looking at a part of Pink's Gem that Rose doesn't show, at a different angle. It's okay with me if they deliberately put her in lighting situations where the color of the Gem would look really different. It's not different enough that I have a problem. I've seen Amethyst's Gem look yellow, you know? It doesn't bug me that the shades of pink don't quite match.

Pink Diamond shapeshifting to pose as Rose Quartz for extended periods before she staged her shattering: There seems to be a common misconception that Gems can't hold shapeshifting for a long time. That's literally never shown to be true in the show. The only statement about shapeshifting that refers to a time limit is when it involves "stretching yourself out." We've seen Amethyst say she can't hold her arms like that all day; we've seen Steven start to glitch when he made himself bigger; we've seen Amethyst's endurance give out while playing Jasper. Shapeshifting is detrimental when it forces your body to be bigger. It has not been shown to cause any problems at all if the Gem is getting smaller or rearranging their existing size. (That's also why I think Rose shouldn't have had trouble shapeshifting a womb for nine months.)

Pink Diamond reforming permanently in a Rose Quartz shape: There is no reason she shouldn't be able to do that. We have not been told it can't happen. Permanent forms are usually pretty similar to previous "natural" forms, but we have no evidence that drastically different permanent forms can't be chosen. The statement about Amethyst's weird lopsided form in "Reformed" being "not sustainable" (as stated by Garnet) could easily have been, again, about forcing her form to be larger than it naturally is, which requires resources she doesn't have and can't sustain long-term. I see no reason a Gem can't rearrange herself the way Pink did, especially since the main problem Gems seem to have with impersonating each other is color scheme (and Rose essentially shares a color palette with Pink).

The orientation of Pink's Gemstone being different from Rose's: I don't quite understand why some folks think Gems can't change the orientation of their Gem. We haven't seen anyone need a reason to do so before, but that doesn't mean it's impossible for them. Yes, the area of the body where a Gem's Gemstone resides doesn't change with different forms (though clearly during shapeshifting they can actually move it; Amethyst does so when she makes the weird amorphous shape she does to pose for Vidalia, and Garnet hid her Gems on her hands during "Secret Team"). But since the Crew has suggested the LOCATION of a Gem's Gemstone on their body says something about their personality, I believe where it is on their body is the important part. The positioning of the Gem at the fixed location on the body seems like it could be rotated if they wanted to, and since Pink is said to have MADE Rose Quartz Gems, perhaps she even did so with the plan already that she could impersonate one if she needed to.

Rainbow Quartz being a called a Quartz: Rainbow Quartz was part Diamond and part Pearl and therefore isn't a Quartz at all. That doesn't actually matter in Steven Universe. Garnet the gemstone is a silicate despite that both her components are corundum type. Opals are not part quartz. Many of the Fusions we've seen bear no resemblance (on a molecular level) to the Gemstones they come from. And once while answering a fan question, Rebecca Sugar claimed that Fusions have to "decide" their names. Rainbow Quartz can call herself whatever the heck she wants.

Smoky Quartz 1.0 not being able to tell she was part Diamond: The Steven/Amethyst Fusion known as Smoky Quartz demonstrated familiarity with an Amethyst memory that indicated Amethyst has fused with Rose Quartz before. And yet Amethyst couldn't tell from that interaction that Rose wasn't a Quartz. Some think that makes no sense, but I have no problem with it. The Sardonyx arc made it clear fused Gems don't have unrestricted access to their components' memories that transfers back to the components when unfused, and Pearl has now shown us an incredible capacity for compartmentalizing. Amethyst has no context for what fusing with another Quartz should feel like and has no reason to be suspicious.

Things that DO read as inconsistencies still:

Pink Diamond's size: Unless Diamonds grow, Pink punched a glass wall at a level that Stevonnie was able to easily reach. She's then shown to be much larger than Pearl. But since we've also seen hugely different variations in the sizes of other characters (Yellow Pearl in "Message Received" vs. Yellow Pearl in "That Will Be All"; the size of Smoky Quartz in Steven's kitchen, etc.), that doesn't seem like a problem particular to this issue. It's just there in the show in general.

Pink Diamond having a ridge around her Gem some times but not others: It definitely doesn't look like there's a rim there when she's walking around. But then it does look like she has one when Pearl is holding her.

The shape of Pink Diamond's Gem while shapeshifting: We really only see the front of it glow for some reason. This is related to my complaint above about why Rose's Gem shape did not look pointed at the back when we saw it glow during her Rainbow Quartz fusion, which just means the problem occurs consistently. I do not know why only the front of Pink's Gem would glow when it's being activated.

Rose's language talking to Pearl in "Rose's Scabbard": but perhaps it will be explained and put into context later.

Things I very much like seeing explained or given context by this reveal:

Pearl being bound to not reveal the truth is a somewhat sneaky, slick way to get around having her mention Rose's identity--and it helps explain why Pearl had such a violent reaction to not knowing Rose had a Lion--if you'd shared THAT much with someone over the years, it makes sense that you'd be baffled that she had secrets she didn't share.

Why Pearl said vague things like "When I served . . . Homeworld," and why she saw the Zoo herself.

Why Rose had so many powers; we don't really know the extent of Diamond abilities, and Rose seemed awfully overpowered for a plain old Quartz soldier (healing abilities, plant armies, floating, bubbling, shielding, super strength, reflecting energy with the shield, resurrection, PLUS if she also had the dreaming and possession abilities Steven has). It makes sense that Diamonds would be able to do more.

Rose Quartz was notably absent in the shadow presentation of Garnet's "Pink Diamond was a villain" speech in "Gemcation." Garnet's representations as presumably visualized by Steven can't be taken as canon obviously, but it's interesting.

Rose's consistent trait of finding humans amusing and novel blends well with how Pink is portrayed. Rose loves humans but she truly does not understand them, and doesn't appear to feel love for them the same way she seems to feel love for the idea of them. She's inspired by them and manages to make her enthusiasm sound authentic, but even with some of the presentations of Greg, she seemed to think of him more like a pet than a person. An inexperienced Diamond being given her first colony, then realizing the creatures she's going to kill with her invasion are so cool and funny, is something I could see working well narratively, for a character whose cruelty is mostly born of obliviousness.

Why Rose's shield could protect a small group of Gems from a Diamond attack.

Why Rose said it was a good thing that Greg didn't know her very well.

Why Pearl had a pink diamond on her spacesuit, of course.

Why Peridot assessed Pearl as being "fancy."

All those times Pearl covered her mouth when the context for talking about Pink Diamond popped up, which I assume goes back as far as her displaying that gesture in “Rose’s Scabbard.”

What we got undid the contradictory aspects of Garnet's story. I was really irritated that according to Garnet, Rose had been made on Earth and never saw Homeworld. It didn't fit--Rose had referred to Homeworld as home before and implied she'd been there; had expressed that Earth's creatures were so fascinating to her compared to what she was used to and that everything on Earth seemed fast to her; it didn't make sense for Pearl to claim Amethyst was the only good thing to come out of the Kindergarten if Rose was also made there (so that would imply Pearl wasn't told something Garnet was told); it didn't make sense for Rose to not comfort Amethyst with messages about being from the same place if that would have calmed her insecurity. Rose being made on Earth clashes with sentiments she's expressed. Even though the current story revelation also contradicts a couple things (or seems to), it makes far more sense than Garnet's story.

Why Stevonnie felt they recognized the Moon Base during "Jungle Moon," why Steven gets Diamond dreams in connection with places Pink Diamond has been, and why he says he felt such a strong connection.

It provides the answer to "And where was her Pearl?"

Pearls clearly are not necessarily made with their Gems in the same place as the Gems they serve.

Stuff I now really want to see addressed:

Steven's feelings about it.

What other layers exist in Rose’s backstory.

Whether Pink actually had a Crystal Gem rebellion going before she claimed to Blue and Yellow that she did.

How and where Diamonds are made.

What the Diamonds' "family" dynamic is.

Whether there is actually a hierarchy of who's officially in charge in the Diamond Authority (since Pink seems like she at least feels she has to answer and justify herself to Blue and Yellow, so you'd think the fourth unseen Diamond might have that relationship with them).

Why Pink Diamond was hanging out at the Moon Base on the Jungle Moon in that dream, and why Yellow Diamond seemed surprised she was "still there."

Whether Rose had the dreaming and possession abilities.

Whether Rose has ever fused with Garnet or whether she thought that might be risky.

How Rose found Amethyst and what version of the story she gave to her.

Similarly, what version of the story Bismuth had--she, like Garnet, seems to have believed Rose was made on Earth.

Whether Pink Diamond ever hung out with Rose Quartzes and what their voices actually sounded like.

Whether Pink Diamond felt any affection for the other Diamonds despite her perception that they did not care about her, and whether she objected to Bismuth's desire to take the war to Homeworld.

What Pink Diamond's relationship with Pearl was like at the beginning and how they became more than just Gem monarch and servant (though that troubling dynamic has remained throughout their relationship and has always complicated what their love is).

Whether the Diamond Authority has so much military force because they have enemies beyond random organics on worlds they're invading.

Whether Pink Diamond's Zoo was intended to preserve humans from the destruction of their planet, or to give other Gems the opportunity to see humans were worth saving, or for some other reason. (Garnet's assessment that the humans were "trophies of her conquest" seems inaccurate now.)

Whether Pink Diamond's ability to heal was unique among Diamonds. Eyeball saw healing powers as evidence of Rose Quartz's involvement, and Rose's armies being able to come back from being shattered was a tremendous advantage, so I'm thinking that was an uncommon power.

What did Rose do when she experimented on healing corrupted Gems? What did the failure look like?

The story of the Temple--since Amethyst came after the war but seems to be represented in the Temple's Fusion design, was the Temple built after she joined the team? Did this Fusion ever happen with our Amethyst? Or did they have another character with a chest Gem who used to be part of the Crystal Gems?

Whether Bismuth and Garnet are gonna form a "Rose Quartz was a Lying Liar who got all my friends murdered" club.

[bluekayanite]

Observations: Contradictions in “Familiar”

I’m not dead!  Life was just kicking my butt hard and kept me from having much in the way of spare time, and it sent me into burnout, anxiety, and depression.  I tried to push through and still work on blog stuff, but it seemed to have a pretty bad impact on the quality of my work.

I’ve had some time to recover now - just in time, too, because I’d hate not to get a theory/observation post out before Diamond Days releases.

(Yes, I know I’m cutting it close.  I’m just trying to get it at all right now.)

Okay, did anyone else notice that Familiar felt a bit off?

(Besides Steven, that is.)

To the point: Part of my main theory has long been that White has been using mind-control powers on everyone, including Blue and Yellow.  Right now, that includes the idea of making everyone think that Rose and Pink are the same person.

I expected to see at least one contradiction in this ep - probably while Steven talked to Blue or something - but really, this ep is littered with them.  Even if you weren’t actively looking for contradictions, I bet a lot of people still noticed something that was strange.

First, the most obvious one:

Yellow says that the sauna/extraction chamber is new, i.e. Pink and Pearl wouldn’t have known about it because it was made while they were away.  And yet...

Pearl somehow knows about it, and even knows how to help Steven prepare for it.

Perhaps the next most noticeable oddity: It’s pretty obvious that Pink is Blue’s favorite, to the point that she would sneak away to think about her, neglecting her duties.

Instead, Blue seems to now be neglecting “Pink” for the sake of her duties - a complete reversal.  In fact, she doesn’t even seem to bother drying off when she leaves the pool, like she’s in a hurry to get out of there.

In fact, you’d expect Blue to be the first Diamond to want to be with Steven, but instead, Yellow beats her to it.

My theory on that particular detail: You know how in LFHTH, Yellow said that Steven should let her do the talking?  And how she was more willing to approach White than Blue was?

I think there’s a good change that Yellow did talk to White shortly after Steven.  And as such, White affected her, before Blue, and Yellow was the first available.

Getting to more subtle notes, you remember this part?

This is the first one that really stood out to me.  Pearl never says “Thank the Stars,” or anything like it.  Instead, she seems to favor Earth expressions when exclaiming things.

I was even under the impression that she had abandoned Gem theology.  And yet, here she is, thanking the s/Stars.

(No, I’m not counting when Sardonyx greeted Steven.  Along with it being hard to tell how exactly personalities affect a Fusion, there haven’t been any non-fused references to the stars like that - from Pearl, Garnet, Ruby or Sapphire - so it’s not a good data point.)

There’s more moments where the Pearls seem to be out of character.  You probably remember this part:

I don’t think that Yellow Pearl would normally have a problem with something like a name.  She’s normally shown a lot of personality - i.e. not limited to a few tasks.

And she’s emoted at Steven’s nonsense before.

But now, not only does she seem to not realize that Steven’s being silly, but he somehow risks breaking her with it?

I’m pretty sure that she’d be able to handle something like a name, especially since Steven didn’t even make it complicated  Heck, part of her job seems to be working with names.

Blue Pearl also has moments.  When Steven heads to see Blue, I noticed this:

This is the first time we’ve seen Blue Pearl with her hands behind her back.  Normally, she keeps them clasped in front.  Having the hands behind the back is more of a Yellow Pearl thing.

I also wonder about her “Welcome back.”  I mean, come on, she was there when Pearl helped Rose make an attack at the Cloud Arena.

I know we don’t know her very well, but I still wonder why she’d welcome Pearl after that.

Also: Have you really listened to her when she says it?  It’s kind of creepy. o.o;

Speaking of which, if I’m not mistaken, Yellow sounds a bit flatter than usual when she talks.  Blue might be a bit off, too.  To me, they both give off a sort of “hypnotized” vibe, as do the Pearls (all three of them).

Regardless of their tone, they both seem too calm for everything that just happened, at least IMO.  Really, they go from “worried about dealing with White” to, as Steven puts it, “spa day,” in what seems like a matter of minutes.

I’m thinking that White basically told them not to worry.  In fact, it might be why Yellow laughs at the idea of failing to get White’s attention, instead of getting angry.

Pearl herself is also oddly calm, or even weirdly happy about a lot of... less fortunate things.

I know she likes Pink/Steven, but liking Pink and Steven is exactly why I’d think she’d be more upset about Yellow conquering planets, slaughtering countless people, and having Gems sucking the life out of the ground after the fact.  Not to mention the idea of Pink helping celebrate such things.

Speaking of, that’s another thing that Pearl probably shouldn’t know about: If the murals are any indication, Yellow probably only had nine colonies when the Earth colony was just started, i.e. the last time Pearl would’ve been in touch with Homeworld.

And now she has hundreds.  And the way Pearl talks, it sounds like she somehow knows about them all.

“Yellow Diamond oversees all aspects of Gem production on every single one of her colonies.”

On the other hand, Pearl talks about Yellow often being off with her army - singular - whereas Peridot said in Hit the Diamond that Yellow has control over “all the armies of Homeworld” - plural, and probably very many.  So it’s like Pearl knows about the newer colonies, but not the new armies.

And unless the Diamonds are normally friends with the Gems in their courts, it also feels like a stretch for thinking of Pink’s court to remind her to get Steven’s friends.

If you ask me, it seems like Pearl’s mind is so filled with active contradictions that she’s the Pearl most likely to break.

Maybe not too unlike a certain other Pearl that I bet White worked her magic on.

Anyway, since I mentioned odd grammatical usage, Blue has a couple moments:

Grammar is one of my strongpoints, and in this context, “you and I” is nonstandard, or even considered incorrect (I checked - it often comes with hypercorrection).  But more strange is how she turns down Steven’s suggestion to play a game.

I’d think that, now that Steven’s here, and White is obviously glad for it, the Blue would think that idea of playing the game again would be wonderful, and that it might be a good way for the Diamonds to get together again.  Instead, she talk about how no one wanted to come when Pink wasn’t there.

Okay, so either of those on its own seems like a stretch, but two odd word choices seem like a pattern to me - like a little hint that something is wrong.

And if you think about it, Blue doesn’t really answer either of Steven’s requests.  Along with turning to the past and not the present, she says nothing about talking to White.

Pearl also seems to have some odd responses to what Steven says, not always answering the real question.  (You could probably count Yellow, too.)  And there are a lot of oddly convenient interruptions.

Also, both Blue and Yellow seem to have a lot of focus on wanting to be with White, especially if they’re afraid of her.  It almost seems like White might want them to, well, want to be with her.

I don’t think I’ve mentioned, but I’ve long theorized that White actually fears loneliness, but is very selective about who she lets in.  This could be evidence of that.

I do suspect that the singing underwater game is actually canon.  It seems a bit too specific when White seems to be missing a lot of details.  It also suggests both intelligence and a degree of creativity on Pink’s part: things that would help if she wanted to lead a rebellion in secret.  I also think there’s a chance that the Pebbles can’t be affected by White’s powers.

Speaking of which: Why would the Pebbles accept “Pink,” but run from her Pearl?  Unless maybe they knew that she’s not actually the Pearl that belongs to Pink. ;3

Anyway, I know I’ve been all over the place with this post (esp. toward the end here), but there were a couple more things that I wanted to mention: You know the new “Love Like You” recording in the credits?  The one that doesn’t quite sound like it’s being sung by Rose?  I noticed that it was heading towards the line “What makes you think I’m so special?” and in Familiar, it got to that part.  Not only that, but it really emphasizes the word “special,” making it sound a bit strange.

I was thinking that it would make sense if they played that line right around the time of a “Rose ISN’T Pink” reveal, and considering that Diamond Days has its own trailer - one that’s on the dramatic side even - it seems like that ep is probably going to be important.

Maybe Steven’s going to find out that something is very wrong, and maybe even question whether Rose was Pink after all.

If so, then it would be sooner than I expected. 83

Connie also seems to be giving the CGs a somewhat-strange look, possibly on the concerned side.

Have they all been affected?  Has Connie noticed that something’s off?

I’m curious to find out.  I suppose that will be soon. =3

And yes, there is a lot more I could talk about here, but I think I’ll leave it at this for now. XD

[sanctferum]

Steven Universe – Can’t Go Back reactions

OK, time for the latest episodes of Steven Universe!

Jeez, Peridot, that looks uncomfortable.

The face Steven makes when Ronaldo is shouting for him is me whenever Ronaldo is on-screen.

“There’s something on the moon!” OK I know from that one trailer what it’s gonna be, but I bet that’s gonna be the second thing Ronaldo finds. The first is gonna be the moon base or something we already know about.

Haha, yep. That’s the moon base alright.

“I have so many questions” OK I can’t fault you for this Ronaldo, if I was in your place I’d be the same way.

Yup, he also found the barn.

One Lion-based portal later and we’re on the moon base! Yeah, that��s probably better than going directly to the barn. On account of the barn not being built to have breathable atmosphere.

Oh my god, Steven’s getting around that via his bubble, and he’s bouncing the bubble to the barn. Nice.

No Lapis at the barn. Weird.

Back at the moon base, someone is humming?

That’s Lapis, in a room that looks eerily like Rose’s room at the temple, staring at a projection of Earth with noticeably jagged continents.

Whatever this room is, she turned it back to normal after hearing Steven call her name.

“I got distracted…” “By this orb thing?” Wait a second. That orb sure was what Earth was being projected onto a few seconds ago. And we’ve seen two separate moon bases, including this one, with a weird giant orb that is clearly important. I’d previously theorized that it’s where Pink Diamond’s shattered shards were, but after Jungle Moon I figured that couldn’t be right. Not if every moon base constructed by the Gem empire has one of its own.

Are we finally gonna find out what it is?

Lapis activates the orb and…the room changes again. Instead of the background of Rose’s room, it’s the boardwalk from Beach City, complete with some very Cool Kids walking through.

The orb is an “observation device”. So that’s very interesting. With it, someone on the moon base could privately view any place on Earth they wanted to. I’m…kinda surprised Pink Diamond didn’t use it to track down Rose. Or, if she did, that Rose somehow kept escaping. This thing would’ve provided her with a huge advantage. Did Rose and friends somehow manage to, I dunno, jam the signal or something?

Lapis has been using the orb to keep tabs on the Crystal Gems…and on Peridot.

“I wouldn’t call it spying, because that would make me feel bad.” Lapis, for fuck’s sake

Lapis actually made it out of the galaxy with the barn. But with how lonely she felt, she ended up turning back.

“What if something bad happens?” “Well, what if something good happens?!” Steven…never change.

SONG TIME SONG TIME SONG TIME! FROM LAPIS!

That was really good! I didn’t expect Lapis singing, but that was good.

But yeah, she wants so badly to enjoy her new life on Earth, but at the same time…the war, the mirror, everything that happened the first time she came to Earth…her past, combined with a very credible threat to the future. She’s terrified. Who wouldn’t be in her situation? And now she’s got neither a home on Earth nor a place to run to when the Diamonds come. All she has is this orb.

“It’s like I’m back inside the mirror…except, I put myself here.” Woah. That’s a heavy statement.

Steven falls asleep, inside a moon base, and suddenly it’s Jungle Moon all over again. Only, it looks like his dream this time isn’t as him as PD, but him witnessing a conversation between PD and BD. BD is chastising PD for not being able to handle having even a single colony. Yeah, gotta say, PD, you kinda fucked that up. Must’ve been the shoujo laugh you gave Rose. Yeah, that’s definitely what prompted your downfall.

YD is there too, with her back turned to the other two.

“First there were too many organics. And then, their cities were too difficult to dismantle. And now, these Crystal Gems…” So this isn’t even the first time PD called for help from these two? Wow.

“As long as you are there to rule, this colony will be completed.” Well you weren’t wrong, Blue. The colony was not completed because Pink was no longer there to rule.

The Diamonds leave. Enter Pearl, with Rose’s sword and scabbard…? And she draws the sword from the scabbard and Steven wakes up in a fright. Interestingly enough, she certainly was our Pearl. As in, she had the gem placement our Pearl does. And she didn’t shapeshift into Rose before drawing the sword, which is the Big Theory about what really happened right now. But aside from that, this sure seems to point to Pearl having been the one who shattered Pink Diamond.

Steven freaks out about his dream, and in turn, Lapis freaks out too. After hearing that Steven dreamed about the Diamonds, she’s convinced they’re just around the corner, and panics. She opens the moon base door, which almost sucks Steven out until Lion grabs his hoodie, saving him. Steven begs Lapis to stay, but Lapis says she isn’t like Steven or his friends. She can’t move on from what happened to her. She has no choice but to run from the Diamonds and her trauma both, as far as she can. Even if it means being alone forever.

And Lapis flees again. This time, she doesn’t even take the barn with her.

Steven collapses, upset and saddened. Then he stands up and asks Lion to take him back to Earth. To Pearl.

Sounds like he has some questions to ask. And so do I! That vision-dream has some weird stuff about it. What Ruby and Pink’s entourage saw was Rose, shattering Pink with her sword. But what we just saw was clearly Pearl. Our Pearl. And not only did she not shapeshift, she had Rose’s sword with her as a weapon. Which is super weird, since we’ve established that Rose’s sword CAN’T shatter gems, that’s a huge part of the “Pearl did it” theory.

Onto the next episode, and quickly!

[beyondthetemples-ooc]

I got very rambly thinking about this, but tl;dr what if I named my therapy pigeon after Arella?

I’m definitely getting a therapy pigeon when I move out. I super doubt my parents would let me get one right now, and my room is too crammed with boxes (not to mention super tiny) so I wouldn’t be comfortable keeping a pigeon in here, even if they were full-time out-of-cage... (And the shelves are jam-packed and a lot of trinkets are out in the open and there’s not much space for a pigeon to roost, and I just.... don’t think it would be a good place for a big old bird to hang around right now.)

But the breeder I’d like to obtain them from was talking about naming them. Apparently they raise the birds with the name the owners give them so they respond to it. And I thought about naming them. And for the past 5ish years, all of my birds have been given fandom names.

I would feel reeeeally awkward calling out “Raven” because of Nexus stuff... (Talking to Blue would be a lot weirder if he didn’t already have that name for YEARS before Nexus stuff got involved around Blue Diamond. Like, now I definitely wouldn’t name a bird after Blue!)

It started with the wordplay joke about the diamond doves being named after the then-theorized Diamonds, Blue and Pink and then White. I followed the SU/mineral-based naming conventions for Silver and Ametrine. (Ametrine was almost named Phoebe, but when he started showing his adult colors and behaving like a boy, I decided to fit him into the pattern.) And then when I got Soda (who was initially named after my first dove, Fizzy, because she almost shares his coloration), her full name at work went from being “Soda Pop” to, when I took her home, being “Sodalite”.

Danny and Jericho were, of course, named after Teen Titans (specifically, New Teen Titans / New Titans) characters they reminded me of, Danny being a very tiny and talkative finch named after the very tiny and talkative Danny Chase, and Jericho who had a big scar on her neck and only ever sang very quietly being named after Jericho, who had a scar on his neck that rendered him mute.

So, fandom names for birds has become a bit of A Thing.

I had an impulsive thought to name the bird Arella and started smiling SO HARD. I mean.... Arella’s around all the doves in Azarath in the cartoon, and they look to be more inspired by pigeons than actual doves. (They’re small like ring-neck doves, but their feet are super vivid dark pink, their beaks are short and orange, and they had soft purr-like one-note coos in a very low register, very much like pigeons rather than doves.)

I’m not naming a bird Raven (as funny as that would be now that I think about it, and possibly fitting too if it’s a black one-- it would still be awkward to call “Raven” across the room), but I haven’t named anyone after Arella yet, and she’s super emotionally important to me! She’s my very favorite character, right behind Raven! (Well, maybe tied with Jericho.)

And a therapy bird? Someone who’d always be with me, come with me to the store, comfort me when I’m struggling? Someone who’d be open to cuddling and comforting? My primary love language may be Words with humans, but touch is also High Up There for me, and I just know that I’m going to fall SO HARD for that bird! A name for a character that I love so much would be fitting, wouldn’t it?

I prefer to know an individual’s personality before giving them a name, but I have a feeling I can ask the breeder for a pretty accurate read on their behavior. I suppose Danny and Jericho were named for rather physical traits, come to think of it. (Throat scar and being talkative.) And the diamonds were all named for their looks. But with my ring-necks, I always named them by their personalities. Fizzy was energetic and bubbly. Serena was calm and still. (Vladamir wasn’t named by me, though he was probably my most aggressive.) Orion was named for the constellation because she was the dark color with white markings, and she always seemed to try flying upwards and out towards the stars.

Arella (the character) is simultaneously serene and ballsy, thoughtful and action-oriented, and she overcame a lot to get where she was. She’s very protective of her daughter and compassionate enough that she joined the fight against Trigon both times, even after he traumatized her. She’s just such a strong character, and I feel like naming a bird after her would be both an honor and a blessing, like a prayer for that bird to help me be strong the way the Azaratheans helped Arella.

If the name doesn’t Fit or doesn’t Feel Right for the bird, I won’t name them Arella... but who knows. I might stick with it.

Just a thought that I kind of want to keep juuust in case!

All else fails, I can maybe name the bird after Eda or Luz or Gus or someone else with a very Distinct Personality in The Owl House. (Especially if I wind up getting a bird with Chinese Owl in their ancestry; wouldn’t that be funny? Chinese Owl is a breed of pigeon, for the record. But Owl... The Owl House...... maybe......)

I dunno I’m planning like WAY ahead, because aside from needing to move out first, I’d also want to take a road trip to pick up the bird instead of putting them through the stress of being mailed. I know it’s usually safe enough, I know how it works out fine most of the time, but especially with how utterly fucked the mailing system has become, I still.... don’t want to take that chance, you know? If I can make life easier on the animal, I’ll go to great lengths to make it so. Besides, my mother and I haven’t done a road trip in awhile! Would just have to make sure she’s okay with having a bird in her car.... promise to vacuum the car afterwards, maybe. (I hate vacuuming with a terror-induced passion, but I’d do it to make sure the bird gets home safe.) Get a cage cover for the travel cage too, maybe.

I mean, when she moved, she had a cat in the car, I’m sure? (She was pet-sitting a friend’s cat at the time.) All this to say, after I’m settled into the new house/apartment, I’d have to find out when my mother’s available to drive, or else start driving by the time I’m ready to pick up the pidge. Doubt the latter will happen, though, and I’d much rather be able to attend to the bird while I’m on the road than have to focus on driving.

[gemproduction]

Your affinities ≠ what’s best for a show

I’ve been thinking about this a lot while doing some introspection on what I’d love to see from su, and I’ve come to a few conclusions. I think what a lot of fans of the show need to understand is that just because you have an affinity for something doesn’t mean that that’s what is best for the narrative.

What I mean by this is like Opal, for example. She’s obviously a fan-favorite fusion who rarely appears, and a lot of her popularity inevitably stems from that rarity. I’ll admit as well that I’d love to see her again and learn more about her! I enjoy her design and she holds a lot of nostalgic value for me being the first example of fusion from the show. But just because I want to see her again doesn’t mean that’s what makes the most sense for the story. Opal as a fusion exists exclusively for functionality because of the chemistry between Amethyst and Pearl. Yes, they’re family and care for each other, but outside of fanon about the romantic aspect to their relationship, they work best as individuals and not a single entity. So, demanding a singular episode just dedicated to learning about Opal as a character (like I’ve wanted in the past), and getting frustrated with the crew for not pandering to the fans by centering the story on her out of the blue, is not only unfair to the story but also incredibly entitled. Some characters don’t need to be main stage characters. Not all characters are created equal, and that’s just the reality of any story! You can’t feel betrayed when you incidentally fall in love with a character whose roll isn’t as big as you think it should be, or who you personally think “deserved more” in terms of the narrative.

Frankly, the same line of thinking is true for Bismuth. It really doesn’t matter that you liked her character; she was a dangerous figure in relation to Steven at the time of their encounter and had troubling ideologies that conflicted with everything the Crystal Gems have been fighting for in Rose’s name. It was clear that just “talking things out” wasn’t going to solve her radicalism, as when Steven told her he disagreed with her ideology she attacked and nearly killed him. Trying to “fix” Bismuth isn’t something the Gems were in the position to do at the time, and even now they have bigger issues at hand. Bismuth’s bubbled presence is a reminder of what Steven could let himself become. She came into his life to solidify his pacifism and non-violent/non-murderous approach to conflict resolution (along with give insight of the Crystal Gems in their prime, Rose, and the rebellion). That was her character’s purpose. She came, and she fulfilled her role. Just because you like Bismuth and think she deserves a bigger role in the show doesn’t mean that’s what makes the most narrative sense, nor what her character was ever destined for!

Honestly at the time when she debuted, it was abundantly clear from the first leaked clip that she was a one-off character for her special. It was absolutely perplexing to me to see some people legitimately think she was going to instantly rejoin the Crystal Gems and become a main-stage character after one episode, despite this going against everything the show has done to develop its characters over the seasons. To this day I still haven’t figured out if it was purely ignorance or gullibility. Some people just gotta come to terms with the fact that she was never meant to be a permanent character. And they have to stop being furious about that, for their sake.

Just for the sake of argument, I’ll analyze the same way with something I really want to see in the show: Steven and Pearl’s fusion. Rainbow Quartz is one of my favorite fusions in the show. Do I want to see her again? Of fucking course I do! Do I want to see what version of Rainbow that Steven and Pearl would make both to answer questions I have about fusion and just for the hell of it because they’re two of my favorite characters?? Absolutely! But I’m not mad that I haven’t yet. Having Pearl and Steven fuse out of nowhere makes no sense for the current narrative. Additionally, would I like to see the Zircons again? Sure! But I understand what their characters were meant to do and I accept the purpose they served in the story.

When the “Wanted” arc was about to finally air, I was incredibly excited. Finally, we were going to see Homeworld! And it made sense as to how and why! I was giddy as can be, theorizing about what we were finally going to be shown, which I had never done before. I made up an entire fucking list on my phone listing all my “predictions” about what I was sure awaited us in those episodes. The list was RIDICULOUS: white diamond’s appearance, the final and absolute truth about Pink’s shattering and her appearance, an entire council of new and unique types of Gems, Rose’s origins, Steven and Lars’ fusion, Steven being chased and nearly killed by the Diamonds, Pearls’ roles explained in detail, the entirety of the Gem caste system explained, etc etc etc with all these outrageous demands for those THREE episodes. And when I sat back and watched as “Lars’ Head,” ended, and suddenly the episodes were over, I was obviously disappointed. I spend a good time hating those episodes and sitting there not feeling right because NONE of my “predictions” came true. It was only after I looked over my list again that I thought, “Man, I’m a fucking idiot.” I don’t know why I had these impossible expectations. Maybe it was because of the excitement, and maybe it was because they were all things I had an affinity towards. I realized that if we were shown all of this stuff at once, not only would it be plot and sensory overload, but the story would have very little left to show! The things on the list were what I was excited about and what I misguidedly thought was the “right” course of the show. I felt for the first time what I assume so many people who oppose the show have felt over and over again; I had these unrealistic, self-serving expectations, and when they weren’t met I was frustrated, disappointed, and even a bit angry. But the things that I wanted didn’t make sense in the context of what was actually happening in the story. They were my fantasies, and frankly nothing more.

We’re the audience, the observer. We don’t dictate the canon, we consume it. The sooner each of us accepts that we have no control over the story, the better the experience will be. You can’t go into something with a whole page’s worth of demands based on what you have an affinity towards, because you’re going to be disappointed when they aren’t met. Ultimately, when you believe you can control something, and you later realize you actually can’t, that’s when you start to turn on it. You create this deep, hollow grudge because you didn’t get what you fantasized about. What you fell in love with, became obsessed with, for whatever reason. What your personal perfect fantasy-canon dictated. But at the end of the day, the story isn’t yours to control. You can stare vitriolically at your screen as the credits of an episode scroll by, but no amount of intimidation or bitching or furious vendetta will change that it’s out of control. Thinking that you alone knows what is best for someone else’s art is incredibly self-centered and arrogant. If that isn’t something you’re willing to accept, then perhaps the consumption of media isn’t your strong suit.

But you know whose work you do have control over? Your own! That’s why fanon and headcanons and fan-works exist. You can pander to whatever it is you like best from a show and it can be all about you! And it’s fun and self-rewarding! I’ve done it many times, and there are countless examples of it in every corner of the internet. But it’s essential you remember that your fanon/affinities ≠ canon, and no one viewer’s fantasy is what is best for the course of someone else’s story.

[immortalbumblebee]

Pink Diamond Theory: Pearl Did It

In the latest episode leaks of Steven Universe: the issue of Pink Diamond's demise has been a major plot point. And in the last few minutes of The Trial, it was brought to the audience's (and the Diamond's) attention that it doesn't make sense that Rose Quartz actually killed Pink Diamond like we've though for the past couple seasons. The fandom has been placing the blame mostly on Yellow Diamond due to her rashness during the trial, and her stubbornness and anger when Zircon began to bring up the flaw in the story. Other blame has been placed on Yellow and Blue Pearl because of the highly suspicious looks that they gave each other when Zircon was finished making his statement. But I don't believe it was any of these. I want to look at something Zircon said. "Why didn't her Pearl call out?" And that got me thinking... We don't know anything about Pearl's backstory before she came to Earth to fight with Rose in the Gem war other than she was 'defective'. It's been assumed that she was Rose's Pearl, and also theorized that she was the mysterious White Diamond's Pearl...but what if she wasn't? What if she was Pink Diamond's Pearl? What if the reason 'the Pearl didn't call out' was because the Pearl was Our Pearl, and Rose Quartz had convinced her to be a double agent? I mean, Aquamarine mentioned that Rose had lured gems to her side. Or at least, that's how the Homeworld views it. But this is just a theory, and is a pretty big leap. Let's take a look at some facts and actual quotes from the show. In The Trial, Steven guesses how Pink's killing happened to a furious Blue Diamond. But in doing so, he gives us a big tip. He says that Rose 'probably used the Breaking Point' because he knew that Rose's sword couldn't shatter a gem, as proven in the eipside Bismuth where everyone's favorite rainbow-dreadlock-wearing gem clearly states that Rose's sword would 'destroy a gem's physical body in a second, but never the gem'. But after Steven's 'explanation', Blue Diamond screams that Pink was shattered with a sword. Pause. Replay. Freeze-frame. Something's not adding up, huh? Well when I made this connection, I started thinking: what other gem, that we know of, wields a sword? (Excluding Stevonnie because she wasn't around quite yet) One answer: Pearl. In the episode where Pearl is training Connie, we clearly see that Pearl fought with a sword during the battle. Coincidence? I think not! And these two facts aren't even touching on the fact that we know for. A. Fact. That Pearl would have done ANYTHING for Rose. One of her songs is literally named "Do It For Her". So what's my theory exactly? Well here we go. Pearl was Pink Diamond's Pearl in the very beginning, just like Yellow and Blue's. But one day while Rose Quartz was recruiting gems for her army: she meets Pearl. Rose convinces Pearl to secretly join her side, and to go all double agent and spy on Pink Diamond. The war comes around and after time, Pearl begins to fall in love with Rose. With her 'programming', her love immideatly turns into a need to protect her [see the aforementioned song for proof]. Then the time where Rose gives Pearl the talk about "if we win, we'll be exiled. But if we lose, we'll die" speech and Pearl makes the plan to kill her Diamond so she can stay with Rose on Earth forever. She sneaks into Pink's carriage and tells Pink that she must step out. This would explain why none of Pink's Agate's would have done anything. But then why does everyone say that Rose killed Pink? Because of Yellow Diamond. This is just another theory, but it's my reasoning for why Yellow got all up-in-arms about the whole Trial thing. Yellow was the first to hear of Pink's death. But Yellow, being the bitchy genius that she is, knew that if word got out that if word got out that a PEARL defeated a DIAMOND, it would spark revolution after revolution. So, to stop that from happening: she instructed that anyone that saw the killing either stay quiet, or be shattered. To everyone else that didn't see the battle, they were simply told the words that Yellow had spoke. That the evil, revolutionary, but highly dangerous Rose Quartz murdered Pink Diamond.

[igotmyselfacitrusfriend]

Steven Universe Theory

Okay everyone can agree with me here when I say Wanted threw our theories to the ground. But I have something that may be uncalled for, but makes sense.

Steven isn’t the first half-gem.

This itself isn’t very significant, it has been theorized for the last season or two, it was even foreshadowed this last Steven Bomb before Wanted. (After meeting Aquamarine, Steven is doing sketches with the gems and Connie. After stating that Aquamarine had asked “are you my dad?” there was total confusion. Amethyst says gems don’t have dads Connie replies “Steven is a gem and Steven has a dad,”. Garnet says there is no other gem like Steven, to which Connie replies “are you sure”)

I will say something that will confuse you, maybe anger you, but please hold on.

Pink diamond was the mother of the first half-gem.

Think about this. Pink diamond starts to colonize Earth. She finds the humans. She falls in love with one. She makes the human zoo to protect the one she loves and his kind. She can shapeshift to human size. She has kid. She dies.

This can very well solve some things that don’t add up in the series. First of all, how does Rose know at the time of her pregnancy that she will die, if this is the first time it has happened. She had tapes to explain how much she wanted him. She knew she would be gone.

Now for the shadiness of the past few months, mainly Wanted.

Pardon my wording, but the first half gem was most likely an accident. Pink was in love with a being whom she couldn’t fuse, so she tried what their lover’s kind did when they were in love.

A child between a diamond and a being from a mid-colonizing planet would be scandalous and damaging for the Diamond Authority. After learning of her sister’s mistake, which gem seems like the most likely candidate to cover it up.

Yellow Diamond.

We all saw how snippy she was at the trial, not because she shattered Pink, because she totally covered it up.

Yellow learns that Pink is pregnant. She knows that Rose likes this planet “Earth”. So for a deal, Yellow stops the colonization, and Rose takes the child to care for. She likes humans right.

When Pink gives birth, she stops her palankeen and gets out, has the child and dies. As soon as Yellow finds out, she changes the deal. Rose takes the fall for her sister's death, the child is kept hidden. Homeworld scoots in the cluster to give a reason for the end of the colonization. She pays off all the gems preset. Eyeball, pretty messed up over seeing her diamond die, fully believes what she saw was Rose shattering Pink.

Thousands of years later, Rose wonders what a half gem could be like. Did the first already die? She wants to have her own. She names him Steven.

In a giant spaceship, Blue misses her sister deeply. Yellow sing her a song asking “what’s the use of feeling, Blue?” This references sadness, grief (of the death) and love, of another besides her sisters. To keep her safe.

Yellow Diamond doesn’t want the Diamond Authority to come crashing down, what could happen to her or her sisters? She hides it all. And when there is a trial,

She can’t keep it together.

[sk-salazar]

Could White Diamond be some kind of goddess or mythical mother?

So, at first, I theorized that White Diamond could've been a fusion. Reasons why that theory works: -She is never mentioned when Blue and Yellow are talking. And apparently, Gems don't talk about fusions unless they need to use them. (With the exception being Garnet, of course.) -Pink (a color related to red), Yellow and Blue are (basically) primary colors. Mixing them in different combinations can create all the other colors of the rainbow. And all the colors of the rainbow come from refracted white light. (And what are Gems, if not beings of light?) However... Reasons why that theory does NOT work: -There is only one Gem and it's not placed anywhere that could indicate a fusion. Unless fusion works differently between diamonds, that's one of the biggest factors. -The current Great Diamond Authority insignia excludes Pink Diamond, since she is a defunct leader. So why wouldn't they also exclude a defunct fusion? Without Pink, Blue and Yellow could only fuse to create a Green Diamond. -I assumed that the White Diamond Moon Base mural contained all the diamonds' planets, including Homeworld. But then I looked at her mural to count her planets and moons. When matched up with the other diamonds' conquests, it's not quite right. There are too many moons and none of Yellow Diamond's solar systems. Then it dawned on me that all this evidence could point to something different. White Diamond could be some kind of goddess or just a great, powerful creatrix who originally created her diamond "daughters" out of love (because NOW we know that the diamonds actually have feelings, apparently) and created Gems to serve and glorify them. (If you'll allow me to use Christianity as an example throughout this post, I'll explain the ways in which White Diamond MIGHT be a goddess.) Think of it as White Diamond being God, the diamonds being humans (like Adam, Eve and Lilith) and other Gems and aliens from conquered planets being nothing more than animals and plants, made to serve the prime creation. Maybe Yellow and Blue don't talk about White together because it's been eons since they've last seen her. (I'll come back to that later.) Maybe her power and understanding goes beyond death, rendering her reaction to Pink's death somewhat irrelevant. In Christianity, we call God our Father, because we believe He authored all of our creation. BUT, unless they're highly zealous, you don't see Christians using God's name as a household name. When grandma dies, we don't talk about how God is shaken up with her death. We don't talk about how God dealt with her death. This is because we know that her end has brought about her return to Him. Perhaps Gems (or at least the diamonds) believe that the light that composed their being (a soul) escapes its materialistic shell (the gem itself) and returns to the creatrix in some cosmic life cycle. But if that's the case, why leave her on the Great Diamond authority insignia? Just because God isn't a household name, doesn't mean that predominantly Christian nations keep Him out of their governmental affairs altogether. You still see His praises and Judeo-Christian imagery on currency and government buildings. We don't really think about it being there, yet the government keeps it there as a reminder of who we owe our true obeisance to. Similarly, Gems may not think of Mother White every second of their lives. But they know they owe their existence and purpose to her. Going back to the diamond colors, let's revisit what I said about refracted light. White light filtered through a prism creates rainbow light. There are two main components to a Gem's full being. The light that creates their projection and the physical crystal or gem that houses it. Mother White's own white light, which we can consider a kind of cosmic DNA, has potential to create Gems of every possible color. If we're going by my goddess theory, Mother White wanted some little ones to keep her company. So she authored their creation by filtering her light through her physical gem vessel (basically a prism) into Homeworld's mantle and birthed beings of light in primary colors. (And those beings would go forth to author the creation of beings of secondary colors and tertiary colors, as well.) The only problem with this theory is of course, Pink. If Mother White put forth diamonds in the primary colors, why not create Red Diamond instead of a Pink Diamond? Well, maybe Pink had a bit more of Mother White's light-DNA than her sisters. But still... And finally, I answer this question: What's the deal with White's mural? If I claim that she's a creator goddess, why destroy planets to create beings who will be nothing more than servants? Well, creator goddesses can sometimes possess a dichotomy. Aside from having a penchant for creation, they can also be capable of destruction to foster the act of creation. Her diamond daughters were brought forth for love and companionship. But that's where her direct tenderness for another being ends. She may have used seeds of her own light to bring forth new Gems, but they were created through some crude, inferior womb in the mantle of another planet. They were meant to be differentiated as servants, not as her chosen creations. Scientists have recently discovered planets made largely of diamond. Perhaps Homeworld is one of those diamond planets. But because the diamonds themselves are so large, their birth took a massive toll on Homeworld. From that point on, they had to protect their planet by birthing Gems on other planets. After leading by example for so many eons, Mother White probably retired from conquering planets and told her own daughters to "be fruitful and multiply". From that point, Yellow and Blue ruthlessly created their own variations of Gems, while Pink probably hesitated. And like mother and father goddesses of so many different myths and pantheons, Mother White probably decided to ascend to some higher throne to leave her daughters to learn from her and manage their collective empire themselves for thousands of years. I dunno, you guys. I know this theory is trippy and bizarre, but I'm tired and it just bugs me WHY no one in the show has mentioned White Diamond at all. Please bombard me with your own theories and/or corrections to my theory. :3

[thembofriendslut]

Spoilers for the SU Leaks

steven universe theorizing under the cut because i think i stumbled into something

Okay so gem colorization rules who owns the gem in question. 

Rose Quartzes were owned by pink diamond as we’re told in the last episode of the leaked bomb. We’re also introduced to a new gemtype in Holly Blue Agate, another quartz. So with two quartzes shown to be in important positions I’m going to make a jump and say that each diamond has an Important Quartz. Yellow’s is probably Citrine, a yellow quartz obviously, and White’s is probably just regular Quartz or some variant with a fancy name. 

additionally i think that this can lead into a discussion surrounding the color of gems meaning the gems who own them. the distinction would have been so much more important when Pink was alive. I think that Amethysts would have been collaboratively owned by both Pink and Blue, thus leading Blue to keep them at the human zoo. I also think that Blue keeps the other earth gems because she still misses Pink and also because Yellow wouldn’t want any of the weak Jaspers that she and Pink would have collaboratively owned. Jasper Jasper, the first jasper i mean, would maybe have been the only one she wanted or would have taken the mission to earth to try to prove herself. both of those things fit with who Jasper was when we first see her. Also, Peridots being green would fall collaboratively under Blue and Yellow’s courts. 

Bismuth and other bismuths would have been jointly owned by every diamond. Because Pearls can be customized to an extent, each pearl varies by court. these two are exceptions that i can think of off of the top of my head and they fit into this theory with those contexts. 

[[ i also think that the closer in clarity you are to a diamond, the more important you are. but that’s just a feeling i get. in looking at gemstones, you look at color, cut, clarity, and carat. in gem society carat obviously correlates to the size of the gem’s light projected body form and could be thought of as a measure of power. color determines what court you’re in. cut might determine your actual caste as far as importance goes. this would directly contradict Holly Blue Agate’s teardrop shaped cut if she was blue diamond’s fighter type quartz as i posited her in an earlier paragraph. in that case I would guess that Blue Quartz is a quartz we haven’t met yet. because it’s also formed primarily through inclusions of other minerals and therefore would have a terrible clarity rating, i think that Blue Diamond’s court and status would probably be on the bottom of all of the diamonds. Yellow Diamond’s behavior towards her certainly reflects some kind of superiority and so I could also see this as a viable theory for the diamond hierarchy.  All of this is speculation, but I will also say that Pearls in this show are Never Cut at all. to me that says that there’s something to the cut theory, at least. bismuths are also not cut but simply because they form that way, so that doesn’t tank my theory here either. 

all of the rubies shown have the circular cut to them, and so does Carnelian (the red gem with the amethysts) the same way that Amethysts and Rose Quartzes have. Because all of them would have fallen under Pink Diamond’s court, I feel like the cut of a gem also might indicate what caste they are on a Court by Court Basis, rather than an overall truth. I don’t trust that Skinny Jasper tanks my theory because all of the jaspers who aren’t Jasper are said to be incorrect, so I can believe a wrong cut would be a physically shown defect for a gem. How this would look to me would indicate that Quartz’s and Lapis’s are on the same caste level, but considering that Lapis’s are supposed to be teraformers I wouldn’t doubt that classification. Sapphire throws me a little here, but I think that she would be more important than a Quartz or Lapis in gem hierarchy, so her cut would be above theirs.

Ergo in Blue Diamond’s Court- Round, Pear, ???, ???, ???

Pink Diamond’s Court- ???, Round, ???, ???, ???

Yellow Diamond’s Court- ???, Briolette, ???, ???, ???

White Diamond’s Court- Princess (What I believe the diamond’s to be, as the most common cut for a diamond), ???, ???, ???, ???, ???, ect UNLESS White Diamond is the Exclusive Princess cut and the others are square cut diamonds. Wouldn’t surprise me.

TLDR; This is one of the theories I have about the importance of cut in gem courts. Theres another one next.

The other theory I have after talking about this with @trans-karkat is that the Cabochon status of a gem is what indicates servant status in a sub-caste kind of way. As in, Holly Blue Agate and Lapis Lazuli both have the pear cut, but Lapis is a cabochon. Lapis’s are teraformers, and therefore useful to all courts. Peridots are also useful scientists and researchers and engineers, so they also have the cabochon cut to them. Holly Blue Agate is NOT a cabochon. All Pearls Are Cabochons, making them the lowest Cabochon class in existence. The only issue with this is that Quartzs might be lower ranked in the hierarchy than I think, and therefore the rest of the theories I have surrounding Cut of gems is probably wrong.

I think this second theory might be more correct, but im still not sure. All of this in brackets is complete speculation. ]]

on top of this i feel like White Diamond has rule over all three courts’ and their gems. White would be able to give orders to any gem and expect them followed. This might be why the mural image of the fight between Rose Quartz and White Diamond is so important. A Lowly Quartz who no longer has a court standing up to the Supreme Ruler of all gem society would have been a powerful piece of Crystal Gem empowerment. All of that is speculation too, though. 

 And I still think White Diamond is going to be the Only Princess Cut Gem we see in this series.

[shimakaze]

Steven Universe up coming eps theory

STEVEN UNIVERSE possible upcoming Episodes season 4 (& 5) working titles?/ possibly made up titles (for some of them) “leaks”

no proof. just speculation, and theorizing on what they could be about whether fake or not. based on what info is available so far… so, if you haven’t seen the "mistakenly released” Bomb recently, SPOILERS cause i reference them here and there in some cases… they aren’t really in any particular order but i did group some by if i think they might be related to each other

~~Aired/confirmed~~ Kindergarten Kid

Know Your Fusion

Buddy's Book

Mindful Education

Future Boy Zoltron

Last One Out Of Beach City

"Onion Gang"

Gem Harvest

"Three Gems and a Baby"

"Steven's Dream”

"Adventures in Light Distortion"

"Gem Heist"

"The Zoo"

"That Will Be All”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Space Rubies" = them collecting the rubies from space.. i think this one will come next...

"Lion 4: The Prequel" = how lion became! is the only thing i can think of, from Steven’s lion where they meet in the desert where in buddies book rose was for what ever reason, to lion 2 the movie where upon Steven's ‘I’m not TRAINED very well" Steven and Connie are taken to roses armoury, to lion 3 straight to video where Steven finds the pocket dimension in lions mane after wishing he could know his mother more a place with a whole lot of questions and a video his mom left for him. or story of what lion was up after rose and before Steven.

"Unbubbled" = who? Jasper? Bismuth? the corrupted gems? the cluster? the rose quartzes at the zoo? or something else?

"Mindception" = More of Steven using is consciousness powers like in "the new lars”. but on himself? connecting with roses mind in his subconscious.

"Steven's Army" = Water mellon Stevens? or other produce animated by Steven or just referring to the crystal gems ..like a charlie angels type of thing? every one on Steven's side.

"Gal Pals" = hmm hard to decipher …as the gems art human but use female pronouns …and the only other females in the show besides kiki and who are related don’t talk to each other much and the only 2 pals i can think of is amethyst and Vadalia …tho this could bring back "the mystery girl” or could have to do with the “cell mates” ep.

“Cellmates" = ??? its possible it could come after the episode “court date” or be about a friendship formed in one of the kindergartens

"Court Date" = i think this has to do with what happened in last one out of beach city, they did leave the car on the side of the road and didn’t stop for the police and I’m sure the car had a license plate just saying… or court as in home world upper class?

"Gem Grade" = ??? like purity level? or more lessons with pearl? the hierarchy? Gem Glow = first ep everyone, Gem Drill = the cluster, Gem hunt = corrupted gems? no new intros except the 2 corrupted quartzes who may be different types of jaspers, Gem harvest = pumpkin dog and uncle andy, Gem heist = the humans the amethysts and jaspers and carnelian and holly blue agate… i think we may get another introduction.  

"Keep Beach City Weirder" = more Ronaldo beach city theories uh i mean conspiracies!!

"Monster Crew" = centipeetil she has her crew …hummm a group of corrupt gems? a wild crew causing mischief?

"Monster Meltdown" = something happens with centipeetil or other corruption i.e jasper (the monster titled ones usually have to do with her centipeetil)

"Camp Pining Gems" = lol lol lol drama? i really hope this is an episode for pure laughs at what it could be. new gems vs old gems or them all trying to get along better or something? maybe having more to do with depending on where such an episode would fall peridot, lapis, jasper? and maybe the rubies?

"Oceangate,” = Lapis episode?? or there is a literal warp gate or something in the ocean.??? or someone protesting against going in the ocean. and anything from the ocean..

"Save the Whales" = a lapis ep? she did spend a lot of time under the sea as malachite or this title will change and they will save the ppl and gems in the zoo (i mean that last bit is just a secret wish of mine).

"Capture The Wag" = not sure what a “Wag" is but my brain says it has to do with dogs… pumpkin dog? dog coppter?

"Home Run" = someone jasper or the rubies trying to get to home world? something similar to 'hit the dimond' in a way?

"Kindergarten K-625" = honestly think this might be "the rose quartz" kindergarten as we only know that there were definitely 3 types of gems made on earth for pink diamond Jasper, Rose and Amethyst ..tho this could be one homeworld and the gems didn’t know about?

"Steven's Sister.” = the only thing i can think of, is that there is a rose gem found somewhere that wasn’t taken off earth ..or lion?

"Gem Thief" = someone kidnaps a gem? i think we may get another introduction.

"Growing Pains" = Steven actually grows? or Connie does and Steven get upset over it which somehow triggers him to grow?

"Doctor Steven" = he has healing powers lol he makes a practice out of licking or putting his saliva on ppl lol lol lol

"Mom for a day" = who? it would be weird if Steven's gem glitches and he literally became his mother (physically) for a day like some freaky Friday shit. or someone is babysitting someone or thing?

"Era two" = home world gems? or a story about the start of era 2wo? and the end of era one...

"Crash Landing" = uncle andy? home world gems?

"Howlite Of The Hour" …hmm a homeworld gem? or a Pearl fusion? perhaps with who, idk, the mineral and crystal for don’t give any clues but that it could be a multi gem fusion or with one of the new crystal gems i say pearl cause they both have calcium in common.

"Escape To Mask Island" = unsure of why either something happens to the watermelon stevens and they have to escape like a gem monster or someone accidentally get stuck there someone without a gem to activate the portal some how ..oh wait no it got damaged in the malachite fight… and the island is split but someone is still there, stranded.

"Soleless Survivor" = no shoes? no feet? no footwear? maybe having to do with being trapped on mask island?

“Shattered" = will some one be shattered? TT someone we’ve invested feels into?? or more about Pink Diamond?

"The Promise" = like the answer? another deep thing or what ever pearl has been avoiding telling “us”.. or someone promised Rose something.

"Onion Steven" = was probably "Onion Gang" unless Steven fuses with onion or something …weird. or onion emulates steven as young kids do.

"Tiger Philanthropist” Tiger Millionaire come back (now the son of an actual millionaire) doing some good and such? more wrestling?

"Beach Sorts" = ?? a day at the beach enjoying it"

"Hurricane Season" = ??? no clue desert glass type thing maybe? or geode? angry or sad lapis?

"Lar's Car,” = a more responsible lars? but that spelling makes me go who is Lar cause shouldn’t it be Lars’? you wouldn’t drop the ’s’, to make it a belonging to, no??

"Breakfast or Bust,” = ??crying breakfast friends or everything breakfast type thing?? no clue...

"Flower Tower,” ??? more pink diamond stuff? Steven makes flowers grow? no clue...

"Free Pizza" = this pizza is probably the prize to some event or contest in beach city or gotten for some good deed done without asking

"Homecoming Dance" = the older teenagers graduate school?

"Gem Parade" = ???

"The Heartbreaker" = lol greg? or in relation to the "camp pinning gems” ep or the older teenagers drama?

"Buck to the Future" = hmm so many ways a title like this could go but the obvious would be like the beach city drift episode buck ends up time traveling or dealing with future vision or he moves out of beach city?

"Dream Team" = another kiki’s pizza delivery type thing? where steven is helping someone battle their dream demons? but not by himself?

"Fool’s Gold" = hmm does some digging "The mineral pyrite, or iron pyrite... Pyrite is usually found associated with other sulfides or oxides in quartz veins,” hmmmm…”The name pyrite is derived from the Greek πυρίτης (pyritēs), "of fire" or "in fire",[7] in turn from πύρ (pyr), "fire".[8] In ancient Roman times, this name was applied to several types of stone that would create sparks when struck against steel;” peridot? jasper? they have to do with iorn … bismuth? is a heavy metal and black smith… unless this could just be that sort of "all that shimmers isn’t gold" or something type of thing, like they/or someone finds something they think is meaningful/valuable but “its a wash” (info on fools gold from the wiki page.)

“Milky’s Way" = ?? no clue maybe the geode

"Mystery Market" = sounds suspect, no clue?

sources: http://www.movienewsguide.com/steven-universe-season-4-leaked-episodes-for-seasons-4-5-rumored-hiatus/283324

https://www.reddit.com/r/stevenuniverse/comments/4x6m0w/possible_list_of_season_4_episodes/

http://steven-universe.wikia.com/wiki/Season_4

[shinneth]

Gem Ascension Tropes (Sphalerite-specific)

Primary General Post ✰ Full Article ✰  Primary Peri Post 

Animal-Themed Superbeing: A Type 2 for cats. In theory, since she wields Peridot’s willpower, she could potentially be a Type 4. However, given her very small amount of active time in the GA continuity so far, it’s best to say she’s a default Type 2. While her name has nothing to do with cats, her freckles (a trait shared with fellow fusion Iridescent Diamond and the Alter Ego of Peridot) resemble spots where whiskers would be (she doesn’t actually have whiskers, though), she retains Peridot’s catlike smile, wears a cat-shaped visor, her feet look similar to a cat’s due to retaining Steven’s sandals – and most notably – she has Odango Hair in the form of two triangular hairbuns that resemble cat ears (as well as the edges of Peridot’s angular hairstyle).

Aura Vision: Confirmed to retain this ability of Steven’s in This is Who I Am.

Beach Kiss: Sphalerite’s First Kiss with 5XF takes place on one.

The Cameo: The last few lines in GA are her speaking. However, she’s not visibly seen and her name is not revealed. She has a proper introduction in My Time is Now.

Cat Smile: Retains this trait of Peridot’s.

Catgirl: Since Steven and Peridot independently have an odd affinity for cats (or are often associated with them), Word of God decided their fusion should be based on this.

Cats Hate Water: Outright admits to 5XF that she has issues with getting too deep into water, but wants to work towards overcoming this phobia. Considering how heavily cat-themed Sphalerite is, the logical explanation for her aversion to water in the first place seems obvious…

Deep Sleep: After Steven and Peridot fused into Sphalerite to recover from their near-death experiences, the fusion herself was there for 5XF in their place. She took the Peridot to a safe place and the two started to explore the world and get to know each other… then Sphalerite abruptly fell unconscious and remained so for 14 consecutive hours. It’s theorized this is a side-effect of just how exhausted and pushed-past-their-limits her components were, though they remained dormant well past the point Sphalerite woke up. There’s just as good a chance this is part of Sphalerite’s animal motif, as cats are prone to sleep for long periods of time.

First Kiss: Has hers with 5XF in Chapter 6 of This is Who I Am.

Improvised Platform: While Sphalerite can fly, she has a lot more fun propelling herself via hard light star-shaped platforms that she can conjure just beneath her feet that act as miniature trampolines. They disappear as soon as they’re used.

Living Lie Detector: Sphalerite admits she isn’t sure if she’s as adept in this skill as Steven (who she inherited this ability from), as she seems to have trouble controlling it. Either that, or 5XF’s strong feelings of love towards her are just too powerful to ignore.

Manic Pixie Dream Girl: A gender-inverted variant for 5XF.

Mismatched Eyes: Retains this trait of Peridot’s. However, like Iridescent Diamond, the blue and hazel has changed to pink and lime green.

Multicolored Hair: The base is Peridot’s light blonde and streaked with Steven’s dark brown (aside from the hairbuns, which are purely blonde).

Odango Hair: Deliberately styled to resemble cat ears (and somewhat mimics Peridot’s angular hairstyle).

Official Couple: With 5XF, as of This is Who I Am Chapter 6.

One Head Taller: Sphalerite is by no means a towering fusion, but she nearly doubles 5XF in terms of height; that’s more on Era 2 Peridots like 5XF being very short.

Overcome with Desire: Since Sphalerite inherited Steven’s Living Lie Detector skill, she’s figured out 5XF has a crush on her long before 5XF will admit it to herself. While at first Sphalerite attempts to be sensible and find a way to bring her down gently, she soon finds what she honestly wants is the opposite of that, as her words soon contradict what’s on her mind. Unable to bear hurting 5XF after everything she suffered through and unwilling to hold back on what she wants, Sphalerite is quick to clear the air between them. Immediately after affirming their mutual attraction for each other, Sphalerite teleports herself and 5XF back to their vacation home (only doing so to avoid the annoyances inherent with sand, as they were previously on a beach). Mere minutes later, Coitus Ensues. For 41 consecutive hours.

Quirky Curls: Somewhat retains this trait of Steven’s hair, although the curls are far more chaotic than his.

Romantic Fusion: A fusion of Official Couple Steven and Peridot.

Sexy Cat Person: Sphalerite is decisively cat-themed, and 5XF certainly finds her sexy.

The Simple Gesture Wins: While Steven and Peridot went above and beyond to welcome 5XF to Earth and frontload her with tons of information about the circumstances of her new life that ultimately ended up backfiring on both of them hard, all Sphalerite had to do was assure 5XF she’d do better than offer just a safe place to sit down and think over everything: most importantly, she’d find a place where 5XF could relax and live comfortably for the first time since coming to Earth (and probably her entire life). That alone made 5XF realize how much Sphalerite genuinely cared for her despite the many horrible trials she put Steven and Peridot through… and soon after that moment, 5XF found herself falling in love with a fusion.

Star-Crossed Lovers: With 5XF. Romance with a fusion is hard enough; Sphalerite happens to be one of two individuals 5XF can’t stand, as well as ones they took advantage of during their first outing as a couple. If Sphalerite could be a perma-fusion like Garnet, this would be a much more stable relationship. However, Steven and Peridot rightfully want to keep their lives and individuality. Even if they did agree to signing off their identities for Sphalerite’s sake, they realistically couldn’t, considering their vital importance to maintaining a post-GA society on Earth. It was a fluke how Sphalerite managed to dominate control of her fusion when she and 5XF first got together; future appearances will have her at Steven and Peridot’s mercy, and her prior actions have her and 5XF currently on their bad side. Despite this, Sphalerite’s just as unwilling as 5XF to completely give up on their relationship; it’s just going to be very hard for them to get opportunities to see each other. Status Quo is God has been defied many a time in GA’s continuity, but for this, it will be played straight.

Talking to Herself: Most of Sphalerite’s dialogue was this in her initial appearance, primarily because her two halves aren’t properly in sync, hence they’re both overwhelming the fusion with questions and ideas of their own.

Teleportation: Retains this ability of Peridot’s.

Walking Spoiler: Literally does not appear until the final scene of GA. She’s not given a name or a description until My Time is Now.

Who Wears Short Shorts?: Steven’s pants either shrink or are rolled up into shorts for this fusion.

Youthful Freckles: Oddly enough has these just like Chartreuse Diamond and Iridescent Diamond, though this time it’s to simulate whiskers for her cat motif.

Zettai Ryouiki: Grade A

[2idiotsprod]

Who Actually Shattered Pink Diamond?

I figured I would publish my notes from this week’s episode on who really shattered Pink Diamond here’s a link if you haven't seen it: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaKtnb3o2B8

So the huge bombshell in the hour long Steven Universe Wanted special was the possibility that Rose Quartz didn't actually shatter Pink Diamond. In the episode “The Trial” Blue Zircon reviewing the actions of Rose Quartz concluded that it was extremely unlikely that Rose could have shattered Pink Diamond, before the trial even begins Zircon is talking to Steven about his case and that every gem knows the legend of Pink Diamonds death that she was shattered by Rose Quartz in front of her palanquin and that her entourage which seemingly included Eyeball the Ruby saw her get shattered. When the trial begins Steven confesses to shattering Pink Diamond and Blue Diamond demands she specifies in extreme detail how Rose shattered Pink Diamond, Steven then say’s “I did it on Earth in front of Pink Diamonds Palanquin  I was probably like stop and she was all like no so we fought I think and she probably did some cool moves I probably did some cool stuff to some jump kicks and stuff but I was most likely deeply conflicted about deciding to shatter her definitely crying I probably had to use the Breaking Point to do it” - (Steven Universe, The Trial) at this point Blue Diamond freaked out saying it was a sword Yellow Diamond calls a recess.

Durning the recess Steven admits to Zircon that he actually does not know how Pink Diamond was shattered Zircon then concludes that the reason that the Diamonds want details on how Pink was shattered is because the evidence they have does not make any sense we return to the trail were Zircon presents to the Diamonds saying that even though it makes all the sense in the world that Rose would want to shatter Pink Diamond is it actually possible for Rose to have shattered Pink Diamond witness to the shattering stated that Pink stepped out of her palanquin and Rose attacked her from the front Zircon points out however that at the point of Pink Diamond’s shattering Rose had already been a known threat for hundreds of years there where no Rose Quartz soldiers with Pink Diamond (At this point they were most likely poofed and bubbled in the zoo) so how did a Rose Quartz get so close to Pink Diamond surely had Rose shattered Pink Diamond her Agate Guards would have seen it or her Sapphires predicted it much like our Sapphire did for Blue Diamond in “The Answer”  Yellow Diamond states that “They Were with her of course they saw the whole thing” Zircon rebuttals with than how did none of them see Rose Quartz approaching Yellow Diamond points out that Rose could have slipped past the Guards but again Zircon she also points out that Pink’s Pearl also should have called out warning Pink Diamond if Rose had managed to sneak past Pink’s guards, at this point Yellow Pearl looks fearfully over to Blue Pearl, Zircon then theorizes that whoever shattered Pink Diamond had to have been close to Pink Diamond and had the authority to ask to stop her palanquin and have her exit it someone with enough power to cover up everything afterwards someone like a Diamond after Zircon makes this accusation Blue gasps in horror and Yellow freaks out poofing both Zircons (who probably got shattered after this by the way) Blue then tries to calm down Yellow Diamond asking why she is doing this Yellow responds that they don't have to listen to this they can shatter Rose and be done with this they start arguing on whether or not this trial is even has a point Blue obviously wanting to get to the bottom of things and Yellow wanting to shatter Rose and put this behind them and move on, Steven and Lars than hijack Blues Palanquin and escape ending the trial.

   Now this is a lot of very interesting information this episode pretty much proves that there is no way Rose Quartz could have shattered Pink Diamond it just doesn't make any sense even if we build a scenario where our Pearl was Pink Pearl and was working with Rose to shatter Pink Diamond it still wouldn't add up why would Pink stop her Palanquin and step out of it as the eye witnesses stated also both Eyeball and Blue Diamond stated that Pink Diamond was shattered with a sword however Roses Sword the sword that is currently in Connie’s position and was made by Bismuth cannot shatter gems Bismuth stated herself in the half hour special “Bismuth” that “I Designed this sword for a fair fight it can cut through a Gem’s physical form in an instant destroying the body but never the Gem” and sure Rose could have used another sword but in theory at least most Crystal Gem weapons shouldn't be able to crack Gems or else why would Bismuth have to create the Breaking Point  even if this detail was just misreported Rose still would not be able to shatter a gem with any of her or Bismuth’s weapons because when Bismuth showed the Breaking Point to Rose she poofed and bubbled Bismuth and left the Breaking Point in Bismuth’s forge an area only Bismuth can access, so now that we ruled out the possibility of Rose shattering Pink we can get down to the who done it lets review the Suspects

   The First of Which being Yellow Diamond now a lot of people probably think Yellow shattered pink based on her reaction to Zircon’s accusation but personally I find Yellow’s reaction totally normal and in character Yellow is a very emotional gem but instead of dealing with her emotions she bottles them up and pretends they don't exist we saw that in the song “Whats The Use of Feeling, Blue” so for Yellow to suddenly burst at the idea of someone accusing her and what are basically her siblings of killing their younger sibling why wouldn't she act this way imagine if someone accused you or one of your family members of murdering another member of your family while you were still grieving wouldn't you get mad wouldn't you find the idea so absurd that you might even lash out at the person accusing you of such that's simply what Yellow did, so no I do not think Yellow Diamond shattered Pink I think her actions in “The Trial” where completely understandable for someone in her position, now I'm not ruling out the possibility of Yellow Diamond knowing more than she lets on but I do think her actions make sense for her character  

   Now Zircon made it very clear that a Diamond had to have been the gem do shatter Pink Diamond so what about Blue now I know this seems unlikely but hear me out obviously Blue didn't shatter Pink diamond of her own will but what if Rose had the same astral projection power that Steven has. After all we have seen Steven control, Lars, now what if Rose used this power to shatter Pink Diamond, and Pink’s court in an attempt to save their Diamond created the story of Rose shattering Pink wouldn't that explain a lot it's the reason why Pink’s gems seemingly ended up in Blues Court because they were protecting her, If Blue did shatter Pink it also explains why Blue is so emotional about Pink deep down she feels guilt but doesn’t know why, and it’s the reason why Yellow Pearl looks over to Blue Pearl in such distress both Pearls know Blue shattered Pink Blue Pearl saw everything and I it is likely that Yellow found out and helped ensure that the truth remained under wraps and that's why she poofed the Zircons so they wouldn't reveal something and have Blue figure out that it was actually her who shattered her beloved Pink Diamond who knows what that revelation would do to Blue Diamond

It’s also possible that Rose had nothing to do with the shattering of Pink Diamond and that Blue simply got so emotional that she accidentally shattered Pink and does not remember anything because she “blacked” out during the whole thing I mean Blue does have one of these emotional eruptions in “The Trail” when Steven gets the weapon that shattered Pink incorrectly Blue emits this blue light that makes everyone begin to cry if she managed to do that just by getting mad at Steven imagine what she could do when she gets out of control now as for what set off Blue Diamond I'm not sure maybe Pink decided to leave the Earth alone and was going to join the rebellion  and blue just freaked out but personally I find it more likely that Rose used Blue to Shatter Pink Diamond

   Another Possibility is that White Diamond shattered Pink Diamond now we don't know anything about White Diamond, in fact, they have never even referred to that her by name but she seems to be the highest ranking Diamond and in command of Homeworld in its entirety, Zircon mentioned that Rose had been a threat for hundreds of years at this point so Pink’s shattering most likely came towards the end of the war and might have actually been the reason why the Diamonds evacuated Earth and corrupted everyone left behind, we also know that Homeworld is very low on resources so what if White Diamond Shattered Pink and blamed it on Rose to end the war on earth so what little resources they had left could be saved it’s definitely a strong possibility however like I said we don't know White Diamond so we can't really judge if she actually would have done this I had another theory that Rose and Pearl could have worked together earlier on during the rebellion to make it look like Pink Diamond  had joined the rebellion and set up White Diamond to shatter her but again we don't know anything about White Diamond and even though it seems likely that Pearl belonged to White Diamond we don't know that for sure so I can't really back up the idea that White Diamond Shattered Pink Diamond because we have no evidence to back that up at this point.

   Some people also speculated that Pearl was the one to shatter Pink Diamond based on her horrified reaction in “Back to the Moon” but honestly I find it more likely that she was either in shock because she had no idea that Rose had shattered Pink Diamond it’ s possible that Garnet was the only one she told it’s also possible that she didn't want Steven to find out about this or the idea of a being she is literally obsessed with murdered someone…Yeah that's definitely a strong possibility

   So to wrap everything up I think that Blue Diamond shattered Pink Diamond Rose Quartz used the astral projection power Steven is shown to have to take control of Blue and Shatter Pink and either the Courts of Blue and Pink Diamond covered up the entire thing and blamed it on Rose to spare Blue Diamond  

~ Victor DeMattos (6/1/2017)