But I Did What I Thought That I Had To

New gem for my replace all canon gems with ocs au! Sonora Sunrise!

This is LONG so I’m putting it all under the cut! TL;DR - Very first gem in existence ever, even before White Diamond, crystal gem, and wife to Coral

At the beginning of it all, there were but three gems. Sonora Sunrise was the very first of three gems before the gem empire began, and the only naturally occuring one. She came to life very suddenly one day, and found herself alone on a barren planet.

Sonora wanted company. So, she studied where she emerged from, and crafted the second ever gem. A gem who called herself Pearl. It was just these two for a very long time, learning about their species and the planet they were on.

However, Pearl was a massive creative, who wanted nothing more than to create a gem herself. Like Sonora had created her.  Sonora shared how she had created Pearl, and Pearl then made the third ever gem….

White Diamond.

White Diamond wanted more. She wanted more company. More gems. More everything. And, eventually, she grew an ego for crafting so many more gems than Sonora Sunrise and Pearl.

Sonora and Pearl watched in horror as White Diamond started to enslave gemkind. They were not happy about this, but White simply made stories that they were the bad guys in this tale. Trying to bring down the empire that White so lovingly crafted, out of jealousy that they hadn’t done it first.  

Pearl escaped into her mind and left, while Sonora…. Sonora went to Homeworld. She was treated as royalty, seen as equal to a Diamond. After all, she was the first gem ever. However, they waved off her ideas that gems could be the pilots of their own destiny. That gem kind should not be crafted to be nothing but slaves for the ego of one. No, White Diamond had crafted them all at this point. They would follow her. And, eventually, it was so ingrained in them all that they couldn’t break free anymore. So, Sonora watched as her dream of company turned into a nightmare.

Eventually, after thousands and thousands of years, there were four Diamonds. And, eventually Earth was to be a colony for the youngest Diamond. Pink.

Sonora heard of whispers of a rebellion brewing on the surface of Earth. Gems, fighting for their freedoms to choose their fates. Sonora was so proud! So inspired! She never could fight back as a lone gem, but with Rose leading and able to inspire gems to finally fight back…. They all had a chance.

Sonora Sunrise joined the fight for Earth, and for the freedom of all gems. She became a crystal gem.

She insisted Rose lead, not wanting to lead. Out of fear that if she lead, she would just become like White had. Or, do something worse.

Eventually, Sonora became one of the only survivors of the corruption blast.

She stayed to fight for Earth and try to find a cure for the gems who were corrupted. And, eventually, to help raise Steven.

Sonora is a bit flat affected, not really reacting with facial emotions to things and being mostly monotone. She’s serious, doesn’t get a lot of jokes, but has a hidden passionate side when it comes to the rights of individual gems.

She, eventually, has to cooperate with Coral when Coral is the only one who can help with a threat to Earth that they can’t stop. The two get close, actually fusing when Sonora hadn’t fused since Rose passed away. And, eventually, the two fall in love and wed.

So! I love my characters. I love their designs! I wouldn't change their designs for the world. But, I got to thinking.

What if I designed my characters today? Like, if they were brand new characters, how would my growth in character design shift the way they look? That's what I did today. Designed some of my oldest characters as if I designed them today. Design notes under the cut!

Covah:

Made him look like an actual drow- not slapping a dark skin tone on him and calling him a drow.

Hair in a ponytail cause, let's be honest, his long ass hair would be easy to grab.

I wanted to keep the facial scar that he got when he first questioned Simone. That's such an integral part of his story. But, I edited it a but to look like the slap that it was. Otherwise? All scars Covah got from Simone are gone. Instead, he has small battle wounds dotted all over his body.

Actually, y’know, put a sword at his hip like he probably would have 24/7

Gave him his legs back. Take them. You fool. You poor child.

Gave him some tattoos! Covah always seemed like the type to have tattoos.

Espi:

Gave him more of a greaser vibe instead of the general adult 50s style. He is a young, Hispanic, working-class American who does not enjoy The Man. He is perfect for the greaser style. But, he wouldn't do all the motorcycle stuff that was common or listen to all that rock. He's a book nerd deep down.

Got rid of his glasses. Why does he have glasses? He is blind. He does not need glasses. Take them off. You fool. You utter moron.

Still tub. Let him be tub.

Simone:

I wanted to give her more of a warrior princess vibe.

She has. A nose. It's a miracle.

Made her dress more adpt for the time period she lived died in.

She has a under jaw, much like Alexandrite from Steven universe. She can lift her front face to reveal a larger, threatening jaw underneath.

Eyeball. She felt a lil bear without four eyes so I gave her one under her skirt.

Sinensis:

Total revamp! I wanted him super cartoony and fun.

Originally I was shooting for something inspired by Picasso, but ended up more muppety.

Orange.

I removed his kitty bits! They just feel very extra in his current design but they've been there forever.

He's still a ball of fluff tho. Best boi.

quick re-do of the concept for "cotton candy" Dolomite! Not set in stone of course.

Utterly fascinated by their- her new form, and wanting to show it to the highest gem, White Diamond, to show her the potential fusion has. White kept her close. At first, just in case she decided this new fusion was not worth the trouble. But, after, because this fusion was helpful. And, well, a mystery that not even the great white diamond knows? She had to keep that close.

Dolomite doesn't have her cane yet and does not limp without it in this form. :^) That doesn't happen until Yellow Diamond learns not to insult or injure this fusion that is near White Diamond. Lest there be consequences.

Gem placement guide for my racgwocs au:

Ametrine: Upper back

Angelite: Left cheek (PERMAFROST DEFECT)

Antimony: Forehead

Asterism: Nape of neck

B*tch Crystal: Nose

Brimstone: Right Hip (PERMAFROST DEFECT)

Chatoyancy: Left palm

Copper: Left chest, over heart

Coral: Forehead

Dolomite: Forehead/Right palm

Fairy Quartz: Bottom of right foot

Kunzite: Forehead

Liddicoatite: Right ear

Orphiment: Left hip

Petalite: Forehead

Romanechite: Upper Back

Sonora Sunrise: Belly

Stabbingtonite: Central Chest

Watermelon Tourmaline: Top of Head

Time for Element swap au Twilight Maelstrom, the element of Loyalty, and her lovely future cat wife, Lovely Grace!

Twilight does not talk about her childhood. For, it was a time she’d rather not revisit mentally. She was raised on the streets of Canterlot. She does not know what her family was like, for she was raised initially in an orphanage that had no records of who her biological family was. All she knew was the blood tests, which reveal a mixed heritage of kirin, thestral, and donkey. 

Twilight quickly learned her mixed-blood was not appealing the average Canterlot noble, and went to the streets as a young filly. It was best she learned the ways of the streets now, before she was subject to them suddenly as soon as she became legal. 

She was scooped up by Canterlot’s underbelly and learned the ways of crime. Even if she was a child, the gang she found was mostly earth ponies and pegasi, which were looked down upon in Canterlot. A unicorn was needed for any magic escapes needed. Even if she was a child.

During her time on the streets, she found that the “crime lords” weren’t necessarily “evil” as she had been taught at the orphanage. Rather, they were misunderstood and merely labeled as criminals for their appearance, race, or talents. 

One day, her gang was arrested for “kidnapping” a foal. That foal being Twilight of course. Twilight rushed to her gang’s aid and went before Celestia herself. Spouting the injustices and kindness this gang had shown her more than any other pony had in her life. Celestia was moved by the plight of these ponies and started programs to help those in similar situations not turn to crime, and to eliminate not unicorn racism in canterlot. She knows it will take many generations to undo years of hate, but it will be worth it. Celestia also gave them all jobs in the castle as an apology for her guard’s rashness. 

Including Twilight. 

Twilight was given the duty to watch the underground of Canterlot. For, she seemed to know it best. She helped those who chose a life of crime; whether it be through carefully getting them back onto their feet- or making sure their “crimes” just weren’t harmful to the public at large. Any drugs they had were in a reasonable range, their influence isn’t reaching terrible heights, they aren’t physically or mentally harming anypony, or any other number of things.

This is what her cutie mark represents; her ability to help balance lawful and unlawfulness, and keep things in check. In harmony, if you will. 

Twilight is still sent to Ponyville during the thousandth summer sun celebration because Celestia has a hunch that she was one of the new wielders of the elements of harmony after she found she could no longer wield them. 

Lovely Grace was born in Abyssinia, like most catfolk. She heard tales of Equestria, a place where friendship was magic and things would be better than her harsh, dingy village. She moved there as soon as she had enough coin, and opened a tailor shop in the cheapest spot she could find; Ponyville. She was so happy to be among these bright and friendly ponies, she even changed her name to a more “ponyish” name. She is chipper, bright, optimistic, and loves and trusts anyone. Twilight will end you if you hurt her.

toot toot

There he is! @questionableshadows and I have been planning this for a while- And he's finally here! Ready to be PESTERED BY THE ASKERS. (thank you line tool for letting me finish that drawing when my tablet stopped responding in the middle of lining a;lskdfja;sldfk;;;)

It’s the anniversary of the day my little body decided to yeet itself out of my mother’s womb! Another revolution around the sun! Yippie!

More of the diamonds with not their pearls! C:

Yellow Diamond and CG Pearl make Powellite (fun fact: I started this design wanting to make an aubergine pearl and yellow d fusion but well.... it came out more like it was with cg pearl.)

Pink Diamond Rose Quartz and Lonely Pearl make Redruthite.

Before you inundate me with asks, I’ve made my stance on fusions we’ve seen on the show, but with different component gems (ex a ruby and sapphire but not the cg ruby and sapphire) very clear. I think they would have different names.

I do wanna make fusions with Blue Pearl and Aubergine too, but I’m not sure who with since I’ve done all the diamonds  :V

I'm Terribly Awful

Redundantly evil,

Nauseatingly foul,

Contemptibly vile,

And so vexatious!