Era1 Universe: The Global Appetizer Course

How does your character demonstrate their unique expertise?

"Stop being a baby!" Snowflake yelled as she tried to shove Onyx through the door but the navy blue gem wasn't budging.

"C'mon Onyx! We need you!" Laz begged as she helped try to push the gem through the doorway.

Onyx got her limbs in the doorframe and didn't budge. "You can't make me!"

"Onyx!" Snowflake and Laz yelled in unison.

The only sound that filled the hallway was the sound of rustling dresses and petticoats and the grunting of the two gems trying to push the war-worn gem out the door. It was comically unsettling to anyone who passed by.

"You're the main part of the show!" Laz continued forcefully. Her tone was irritated and sharp, quite the contrast to her usual light and gentle voice.

Onyx remained stiff as a board. She had no intention of being moved.

"Nyx!" Snowflake yelped.

"I'm not going out there!"

"Why?" Laz huffed, taking a break to look the other blue gem in the face as best as she could. She put her hands on her hips and stared Onyx down.

Onyx sighed but remained rigid. "I just... don't want to be on display."

"You keep blubbering like you're going to be out there all on your own. But you literally aren't alone. There's, what, at least five of us?" Snowflake noted.

Laz nodded in confirmation. "And as much as I love you Onyx, you aren't the main part of the show. You're just there to do what you do best."

"Look stupid?" Onyx growled.

Snowflake was done with Onyx's shenanigans and smacked her swiftly upside the head. "Be the fire dancer."

"I don't dance!"

Laz poked Onyx in the side. "You did fine in practice. Would you stop your crying and whining? To put it as Snowy did. You'll be fine."

Snowflake sighed. "Come on Onyx. Please? Just... do what we've practiced, ignore the audience, and have fun."

"Plus! Goldie worked really hard on making you a dress that wouldn't catch fire. That took her a lot of time and effort to make. She'd be sad if no one got to see the beautiful dress."

Onyx sighed but kept herself firmly against the doorframe. Though, she began to contemplate Laz's words. She knew Goldie had worked hard on this magnificent dress. It really would be a shame to let all the practice and this dress go to waste.

"That's it!" Snowflake yelled and rammed into Onyx about the time the gem decided to let go and the two gems went tumbling into the hallway.

Laz helped them both up and fixed their dresses. "I hate to be that person but... if Onyx has changed her mind... can we get going? We're going to be late and you do not want to see the drummer mad. Nana Ziizi does NOT tolerate being tardiness."

Onyx sighed. "Alright... let's go."

Snowflake linked arms with Onyx and dragged her outside. Laz happily followed alone quickly.

The trio joined the other two dancers outside on the patio and made their way down to the beach. The old lapis was already waiting for them with her drum, she looked cross that the youth were so late.

Gems from the district gathered on the beach to watch the dances. It was tradition. Laz knew the tradition best of all growing up there. Snowflake knew best next as she'd spent a considerable amount of time in the district. Onyx had no ties to these ancient traditions but she'd been invited to join so they could start preparing for a bit of a competition that was coming up.

Her fire powers were unrivaled and Laz knew that would add something spectacular to their show.

Onyx numbly couldn't hear anything Laz said as she introduced the group for the afternoon to those gathered to watch. Before she knew it the old lapis began to drum and sing and both Laz and Snowflake pulled her forward.

She froze for a moment. Everything began to come flooding back to her and she swallowed down her anxiety and began to dance like she'd rehearsed with her friends. But unlike Laz and Snowflake and the other two gems she'd barely gotten to know, her dance was just a bit different.

Onyx's gem glowed a little as she effortlessly summoned up her fire and used it in her dance. Her worries began to melt as she noticed some of the younger gems sitting with their parents watching her with wide wonderful filled eyes. That warmed her and gave her the confidence to continue.

With effortless movements she moved her arms and the fire moved with her. It didn't drain her energy or burn her. In a way it was a rare moment in time when she was actually proud of her own fire.