Steven Universe: Pink Moon

Chapter 8: A Passionate Remembrance

Pearl recalled the first time she fused with Rose on Earth. It was the best feeling she had ever felt. She felt so close to the one she loved, so strong and so confident.

In fusion, two minds and gems combine to make a beautiful new form. Any gem can fuse, but it is harder for some than for others. Especially Diamonds. Which is why Pearl was amazed that she fused with Rose so easily.

(Going back some thousand years)

Rose and Pearl were lying perfectly still, relaxed and tranquil in a field of brightly coloured petunias that stretched for what appeared to be miles. Rose held Pearl close in her soft arms, and had her lips pressed on top of Pearl's head. Pearl felt very comfortable, and lay back into Rose's chest, taking in her sweet and floral aroma. 

"Mm. Pearl?" Rose's slightly muffled voice came, as she didn't lift her face from Pearl's hair. 

"Yes?" Pearl gazed back at Rose. It was hard to make eye contact in this position, but she tried anyway. 

"I don't want this to ever change. I wanna stay like this forever." She sat up and helped Pearl get onto her lap.

Pearl shared this sentiment. This new life was infinitely better than her old one. Only on Earth could she truly be this free. And she could never have imagined having this sort of relationship with a Diamond, especially since she didn't feel like this towards her back in the Diamonds' Palace. 

"Me too." Pearl replied. Rose giggled softly and kissed Pearl's lips. 

Then, she took Pearl's hands and stood up. "I want to try something." she said excitedly. "I hope you do too. Just follow my lead, oke?"

Pearl looked at her with eyes wide. Was Rose going to try to fuse with her? This was literally everything Pearl had ever dreamed of. She couldn't believe that Rose asked her that question. It felt unreal. Like she was still dreaming, or Rose was kidding or something. But it was clear that Rose was not kidding, as she looked into Pearl's eyes with a gaze of tenderness, comfort and pure happiness.

They started to dance. They were both barefooted, and the flowers felt light and soft as the two gems guided each other in a unique dance that one started and the other knew exactly how to finish. Yes, fusion was a most beauteous phenomenon.

Pearl felt closer to Rose than ever now. She was literally fusing with her. How was this real?? It didn't feel real at all. 

When, at last, the fusion was complete, she opened her eyes. "Pearl, we did it! We fused!" the fusion said. "Oh my stars, this feels amazing! Who are we? What can we do?"

She took some steps forwards. Then backwards. Then she walked over to the nearby lake, which was still and full of very clear water. She took a look into the lake.

"Wow! It's us! Me!" Gazing back at her through the water was a tall gem with four eyes, two blue and two black, and very long white hair. "I knew it! Rainbow Quartz." "I look great, I'm so happy!" "That's because I'm together." "I'm the perfect combination! Thank you, Pearl!" 

Rainbow Quartz kept talking to herself for quite a long time. She was exploring her new skills, and her new perspective on life now that she was together. 

"I will try unfusing. I want to see each other's faces again." Rainbow unfused, then Pearl and Rose were left standing in front of each other with hands intertwined, just like how it was before they fused.

"That was incredible. Why haven't we fused before? We have known each other, like, forever!" Rose was talking excitedly to Pearl, her eyes lit up with enthusiasm. "And Rainbow Quartz is so cool!" 

Pearl looked nervously down at the ground, and said "Well, I would have asked, but I was so afraid that you would say no or get freaked out by me or something. After all, you are...a Diamond. And I am still a Pearl." 

"Ohhh, why so serious, my love? We did great together. You have nothing to be afraid of anymore. And you know just how much I adore you." Rose took Pearl in her arms and cuddled her, kissing the gem on her forehead. 

"I do now!" Pearl laughed, and Rose stared at her with her mouth wide open in comical fake shock, which made her laugh even more. She picked a petunia from the grass below her, and carefully tied it into a lock of Rose's thick, curly hair. Her hair was very beautiful, Pearl admired its bright pink hue and how it was entirely styled in perfect ringlets. It was just one more perfect thing about Rose.

(Back to the present day)

"Happy Birthday, Steven!" Pearl smiled at the young man, who had just woken up. Pearl had spent all of the previous day being taught by Nanefua from Fish Stew Pizza how to cook. She hated food, but she loved Steven more, so she wanted to surprise him with a cake. It was extremely hard and disgusting at first, but the result ended up being rather pleasing in her opinion. 

She had asked Amethyst and Garnet to keep him out of the house all day, so that he would not find out, if she also bought him a present which was what humans did for their birthdays. Before coming to Earth, she didn't know what a birthday was, being an uncut rock.

So, equipped with cooking skills, a cake, and a new video game carefully wrapped in paper for Steven, she decided everything was ready. 

"Pearl, it's only, like, 06:00! I wanna sleep longer..." Steven drawled, very tired. Pearl didn't pick up on this. Sleep was also not something commonly performed or understood by uncut rocks. 

"But I made you a surprise. Don't you wanna come see what it is?" Pearl persisted. 

"Ohh, oke." Steven dragged himself out of bed and donned his housecoat. Pearl took him down to the kitchen, where sat on the countertop a pile of waffles topped with cream and fruit, and the birthday cake. 

"Woww! Pearl, you made these? I thought you hated food?" Steven looked at the confections on the countertop in pleasant surprise and excitement. 

"I do. But I love you much more than I hate it, so I learned how to cook one of your favourite breakfasts. I hope you like it." Pearl patted his head affectionately. 

"I love it! Thank you, Pearl!" 

"We also got you this video game. I know you and Amethyst like those, so here is another for you two to have fun with." Pearl presented him with yesterday's purchase.

"Pearl? This is, eh, not a video game." Steven held up the box, which turned out to be a very old looking tape, marked "Pearl and Rose" . "Is it yours? And is my mom in it?"

"Aha, yes. I don't know how that happened." Pearl blushed and took the tape from Steven. That was probably the tape of their last interaction. Just Rose and her. She didn't want to explain it to him just yet. But maybe soon, he did just turn twelve today after all. How did this replace the video game she bought? What happened?