Storytime with Onyx!

Hello everyone! I feel really bad for not having posted any chapters to my story in an obnoxiously long time. Homeworld has gotten really really busy now with Era 3 being more prominent and successful than it's ever been before.

Since I haven't shown anything from my story as of late, perhaps you'd all like to hear a story that didn't quite make the cut into a chapter..?

I have plenty to share, but I think I'll start with a pretty interesting one.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Have I ever told you about the time...

of Homeworld's very first Christmas?

Now I understand you humans might've gone through your earthly holidays a while back now. What was the name of that month again..? It was the twelve month in a single year for you or something... anyways! Steven thought it would be a bright idea to tell the Diamonds about this human tradition. Let me tell you, it was NOT the smartest idea he's ever had.

Now of course, this was around the time that Homeworld was just getting used to weather, so of course not all Gems appreciated having something new thrown at them out of nowhere, but knowing my family, I was in for trouble. Mother and Aunt Blue especially love to spoil me, and the stars themselves forbade that Aunt Yellow would let me sit out from any special occasion. What can I say? She likes everything in order.

I the day like it was yesterday.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was showing Steven some of the new changes that had begun to flourish on Homeworld, unfortunately the Winter weather had already taken its toll on our planet and a lot of Gems were adjusting to the sudden change. Hessonite, who had recently gotten back to Homeworld, was not fond of ice. Listen here, Gems may not be affected by Gravity, but we are still influenced by slippery surfaces, and Hessonite is no Pearl. I'm afraid balance isn't her thing...

We got about as far as the changes to the new Training Arena when Steven brought about his little Earth holiday, the one the Gems were kind enough to introduce me to that I absolutely adored. He asked me if I wanted to tell the Diamonds about it.

"Err, Steven, I don't think that's really a good idea..." I had told him, "Mother and the others... Well, you know they can be a little over the top..."

"Aww, come on... Don't be like that. You loved Christmas when you were on Earth." He had interjected, "Besides, Christmas is a time for fun, family, and togetherness. Don't you think you'd love it more if your family were to partake in the festivities..?"

"Steven, they're the same Gems who tried to promote me to a Diamond through force to their subjects without my consent on either half." I reminded him.

".... Point taken, but I'm sure they'd still be happy to know about it."

*sigh* Of course, my cousin didn't listen to me and just walked off to go do Steven business. I tried to stop him all the way to the Palace doors before I gave up and followed him inside. We were greeted at the door by Emerald who was sent to let us know the Diamonds were looking for us. Now you might be thinking, "Oh isn't that wonderful?" No, no it is not. Mother may be an absolute sweetheart now, but back when Era 3 just started? She was no more peachy than she was when they lost Pink Diamond. If I left the Palace without her know-how, she would turn the place upside down until she found me, thinking I was playing Hide and Seek.

When we got to the Throne Room, things went exactly as I had expected. Mother burst with excitement as she immediately scooped me up into the palms of her hands and began to nuzzle me. Ugh, you haven't known anything worse than having your mother affectionately nuzzle you in public. It is humiliating. Especially when you can hear the chuckling sound of laughter coming from your cousin.

"Hey White! Hey Yellow! Hey Blue!" Steven greeted.

"Oh, Steven!" Aunt Blue was taken aback by his surprise visit.

"We weren't expecting you... Do you like the changes we're making?" Aunt Yellow had asked.

Steven nodded in response, "You guys are making great progress under Onyx's direction. I also noticed winter has finally hit your world as well."

"Isn't it awful!? Its cold and wet and impossible to get around!"

"Mother, don't be so dramatic. It's not that bad..." I rolled my eyes.

"You know I'm not the one who spent an entire year and a half on Earth..!" she whined.

Steven started chuckling again. At that point, I was hoping he'd forget what he was going to tell them. I shouldn't have trusted my luck, because he did not...

"By the way, have you guys ever thought about taking a day to relax from the stresses of daily work routines..? Like a holiday of sorts..?"

"Steven... I'm afraid Gems don't exactly follow your earthly customs." Aunt Yellow protested.

I was getting a little excited on the inside. Like 'Yes, yes, continue following that motto... Don't..-'

"Well, what if I told you there was a Winter holiday that involved giving gifts to the people you love..? Kind of like a secondary birthday without aging a whole year..?"

Mother and Aunt Blue SQUEALED with excitement when they processed this information. I wasn't sure at first how Aunt Yellow was taking the intel, but as soon as she looked over at Aunt Blue, I knew she was definitely on board with the idea... much to my dismay. If you don't already know by now, it had been exactly one month and seven days before Aquamarine arrived on Earth, the day you humans label as April 4th. That day was my 'birthday'... or, rather, the day I was created. Since I was still missing, the Diamonds had decided they would honor the day that I was created by leaving gifts for me in my room. When I got back to Homeworld, there was an entire pile of gifts covering two-thirds of my whole room! 60% of the gifts were from Aunt Blue alone. 35% was from Mother, and then the last 5% were from Aunt Yellow.

You can see now why I wasn't too thrilled about Steven telling them what Christmas was like.

"Oh, and this holiday was one of Onyx's favorite days when she was on Earth with us..-"

"STEVEN..!" I glared at my cousin, but the Diamonds already heard what information they needed.

"We must decorate the Palace for this! Immediately!" said Mother.

"I'll go start thinking about gift ideas. Yellow, you're going to get Onyx more gifts this time 'round..." Aunt Blue told her.

"W-What?!" before Aunt Yellow could input her opinion, she was dragged away by Aunt Blue.

Now you might be wondering, just how bad did things turn out..? Well... For one thing, I wouldn't trust Pyrope to decorate anything for Non-Gem relevant holidays. The decor was absolutely atrocious compared to what Steven and his friends did. Everything was frilly and pink, and it just didn't feel like Christmas. She might've done this to get on my last nerves, but it's Pyrope. She's about as predictable as a snowstorm in October.

Oh, and did I mention EMERALD and HESSONITE of all Gems decided to get in on the gift-giving part? Yeah, you humans probably have never seen these sides to them but they're both total softies. (Don't tell them I said that though... Please)

By the end of the day, I couldn't even enter my own room, and what's worse, it was only Christmas Eve! Steven forgot to mention what day the actual holiday was! That it wasn't that day, it was the next day over!

When Steven had realized the amount of presents I had gotten, he tried to apologize to me but I wasn't having any of his excuses.

"Now do you see why I told you NOT to tell them..?" I asked.

"Point very well taken..." said my cousin, who was still in shock of the amount of presents clustered in my room.

"Mother, where am I supposed to rest up tonight?!"

"Oh, Starlight, you know Gems don't need to rest..." I knew that excuse all too well. She was trying to get me to stay up so I could spend time with Mother dearest. Unfortunately, she knew as well as I do that sleeping every night has made me stress out less about Era 3.

"Mother, you know that sleeping helps reduce stress no matter who or what you are..." I tried to reason with her, but then she grovelled before me... again.

"But my little baby......" she whined, pretending to cry as she sorta 'embraced' me.

"MoTHER!" I protested.

"Oh, Steven. That reminds me! We got you gifts as well!" Aunt Blue interjected.

Steven's eyes and mine shot open when we heard that. They also got gifts for Steven. Yes! This was my chance at revenge!

"Uh... Thanks guys, but I think I hear Pearl calling..-"

"OH NO YOU DON'T!" I immediately squirmed away from Mother's grasp and stopped my cousin before he could reach the Warp pad, "YOU. OWE. ME. FOR. THIS."

My response made Steven gulp nervously. He decided to make it up to me by staying on Homeworld for the rest of the day. It made the Diamonds pretty happy and all was well. Unfortunately, Steven didn't get as many gifts as I had expected him to get. He got three from Aunt Blue, including one big one; one giant present from Aunt Yellow, and five decently sized presents from Mother.

If there's something in this world that Steven and I love/hate, it's receiving presents from the Diamonds.

Now I know what you all might be thinking... "Onyx, they're your family, be more appreciative."

I don't happen to like the presents they try to get me! Aunt Blue loves to get me really childish gifts. Things that young Gems would absolutely love or things that are meant to distract young Gems from hard work. Aunt Yellow generally gets me technological related gifts to allow me to monitor Homeworld from my room, that way I don't have to leave the Palace. Do I even need to tell you what kind of gifts Mother tries to get me..? Basically every extravagant looking Princess dress imagineable! I hate dresses so badly, I just want to burn them..! But they are gifts from my mother so I can't do that! Now do you see? The Diamonds may seem like they care a lot... but they're not the best gift givers... (I seriously hope they don't find out I told this story)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I suppose that's all I have for this interesting tale... I hope you all enjoyed my little storytelling. Again, apologies for the delay on the actual story, but if you absolutely wish, I'd be happy to tell more fun little stories like this one.