Era1 Universe: The Global Appetizer Course

Your character receives advice that changes their life. What is it?

"Ugh. I'm not getting out of bed today," the navy blue gem groaned loudly from under the lightweight sheet on the bed.

"Oh? You're not?" A familiar warm voice asked from somewhere across the room.

It had been two days since the flame out. Onyx's body was wracked by exhaustion and excruciating pain and agony. No amount of salve the healers gave her touched the pain. No concoction took away the bitter feeling that ate away at her body like a parasite.

Zuli hummed as she quietly put some supplies away in a cabinet. She kept stealing glances to the bed across the room. There was an unmoving lump under the sheet. Onyx. "You really aren't going to fight?"

"What's the point?" Onyx groaned.

Truth be told, Zuli could think of a million. But it had been a long few weeks. It felt like around every corner was a reminder that after centuries the hunt was back on for the mysterious 'Midnight Soldier' to bring her to justice. Which meant there was a lot of angry gems looking for Onyx.

The door burst open and a white haired gem strode in like she owned the place. It was close. Snowflake was all but adopted into the family of lapis' that governed District 9. "Goooooooood morning," she chirped. Her gaze bounced from the old master healer stacking rolls of bandages in the cabinet to the lump of depression in the bed. "Ah. That good, eh?"

"I'm afraid so," Zuli uttered softly.

Snowflake walked over and plopped herself down on the bed, causing the gem under the blanket to yelp. "Still moping?"

"I'm not moping."

Snowflake lifted the blanket to reveal her best friend. "This is moping."

"I'm not moping!" Onyx yelled.

Silence hung in the air between them for a long moment before Snowflake looked over to Zuli. "How's she doing today?"

The old gem paused and turned slightly, ignoring the death glares from the blue gem and focusing on the one she considered a daughter. "Vitals are stabilizing as well as they can. She's in a good deal of pain."

"It's like I'm not even here," Onyx whined. She yanked the cover free from Snowflake and pulled it back over her head.

Snowflake gave the blanket a sarcastic look then yanked it off the gem and without warning poked her in the stomach.

The blue gem let out another loud yelp. "What the hell, Snow?!"

"Oh good, I've got your attention."

"Do you have a death wish!?"

Snowflake shook her head. "Nope. But I wanted you to listen to me. What's going on?"

"My life is over. I'm giving up."

Snowflake blinked. "Sleep much last night?"

"How could I?"

"Hmmm. Figured. Eat anything today?"

"What does it matter?"

"Not since yesterday morning and it was only an orange," Zuli chimed in.

Snowflake again nodded. "You're really giving up, Nyx? You really want to stop fighting?"

Onyx looked up at her friend. "Yes. What does it matter to you? It's not your life. It's mine. I'm done. Tired. Whatever."

"Stop."

"Huh?"

"I said stop. You can't give up. Not on yourself. Not on us."

"Did you miss the last few weeks for the entirely of this planet is after my gem? Everyone wants me dead, Snowflake! Wake up and realize that!"

Snowflake yanked her coat off and threw it on the floor and pointed to the thick black scar that marred her otherwise warm grey skin. "Would you stop acting like you're the only one affected by the war? If half of the government realized I am who I am I'd be dead on the spot. But here I am coming back here time and time again to help and live my life!" She sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose then she lowered her gaze to Onyx. "You can't stop fighting."

"But-"

Snowflake cut her off by putting her hand on Onyx's chin and holding her head so she couldn't move. "Look... I know this whole 'hunt for the Midnight Solider' thing has you freaked out but you can't just give up on us. I understand Lavender was here for you last time and she's not here anymore but you've got something even better now that you have to fight for."

"What do you mean?"

"You've got Peri."

Onyx's gaze softened at the mention of her best friend.

"Nyx... if you give up, Peri's going to be beyond devastated. I don't think she'd be able to continue on without you."

Onyx swallowed hard and tears began to well up.

"If you're finding it hard to fight for yourself... then fight for her. Every day you get up, every day you run into battles, don't do it for you. Do it for her. Let that love you feel guide you. Chase that. Okay?" Snowflake grabbed Onyx's arms and pulled her up into a hug. "Don't stop fighting Nyx... I can't lose my best friend."

Onyx hugged her back and softly cried into her shoulder. "I hate being weak."

"You're not weak. You're incredibly strong. And you've been strong your whole life. Maybe life has you beaten down right now, which sometimes happens, but when you can't stand on your own, lean on us. We'll be right here beside you holding you up."

Zuli smiled warmly, watching the two. She couldn't have said things better herself. After a long moment she quietly walked over. "Onyx, dear?"

"Y-yeah?" Onyx sniffled, looking up and pushing away from Snowflake.

"Would you like a cup of cocoa?"

Onyx weighed her options then nodded softly.

"Coming right up," Zuli warmly noted before leaving the room.

Snowflake looked at Onyx and couldn't help but smile. "Besides... you can't give up."

"Why not? More than what you already told me."

"Because," Snowflake leaned back and looked out the window at the morning sun on the ocean. Her tone had a soft, almost far-away feel to it as though she was lost in a memory, "who else is going to get drunk with me on the front porch and complain about the war for half the night?"

Onyx laughed softly. "Good point."