Pearl

Part 2: Undercover

Weeks passed. Pearl and Rose passed through any human villages despite Pearl's protests. Rose made friends with many of the humans, drinking in the culture and knowledge of human behavior like water. But Pearl found the humans... slightly repulsive. There was no order to how they acted. The structure of their society was weak. They were fragile, and they had very short lifespans, as she and Rose found out when they attended a small funeral.

Every human Rose came into contact with seemed to make her more and more infatuated. She loved them. But Pearl didn't feel the same way. She just wanted Rose to be happy, and she was, so Pearl was pleased as well. But deep inside, she missed Homeworld. She missed the order and perfection of it. But she loved Rose more.

The humans knew the two Gems simply as Rosy and Pearlia, two mysterious travelers traversing deserts, mountains, and snowy poles. Weeks became months. And soon, they had been on Earth for nearly eight months. Then, just when Pearl was starting to think maybe Homeworld had given up on Earth, they saw it.

A squad of Bismuths were working on a large, tall spire, seemingly instructed by the Elites of Blue Diamond's court. Pearl and Rose hid behind a nearby slope and watched the Bismuths hard at work.

"Do you think there's more of them?," Pearl asked anxiously.

"We'll have to be prepared for that," said Rose.

"So what do we do?" Rose thought for a moment. Then she looked at the Bismuths. Then at her gem. Then at Pearl. And then she grinned.

"They won't know we're wanted," said a smiling Rose, "Because they're too low-class. If we can sneak in there, maybe we can find out some of Homeworld's plans. Find put if we can stop them." She paused. "Or at least annoy them." Pearl thought for a moment. It was extremely risky. Exposing themselves in the open like that. But...

"Fine," said Pearl reluctantly. Rose gave her a reassuring smile and held out her hand.

"C'mon. Let's go." Pearl took it, slightly confused, then almost screamed as Rose sprang like a bullet up into the air, high above the half-completed spire. Once she was in the clouds, Rose descended, carrying Pearl in her arms. They descended quickly at first, then gradually slowed until they were falling like a balloon.

A Bismuth looked up, saw them, then hit another Bismuth and pointed. Soon, they were all looking at Rose and Pearl, the former which was descending upon the builder Gems like an angel, the light glowing softly off her. The Bismuths seemed unsure, but they we n't back to work, hammering away at the spire. Rose landed like a feather on on a pillow and let Pearl gently down. Pearl immediately scrambled to Rose's side and kept her head down.

"You," said Rose with as much spite as she could muster; it wasn't very convincing, but the Bismuth still looked at her and bowed her head. "What is this building for."

"It's for the members of Blue Diamond's court," said Bismuth. Rose's head tilted slightly to the side.

"So Blue Diamond authorized this?"

"Yes." Rose looked around at the other Bismuths, their hands turned to hammers that were pounding the building into shape.

"So it's just the five of you building this?" The Bismuth looked at Rose curiously.

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

"I was just wondering what you want to build." The Bismuth's face changed to one of confusion and... something else.

"W- what I want to build?" Rose grinned.

"Yes. Is this really what you want to do?" Bismuth gulped.

"I'm afraid I don't understand your question." Rose smiled sadly.

"You do. Thanks for answering my questions. Send Blue Diamond our regards." Rose was about to jump up when Bismuth shouted.

"Wait!" Rose looked at her.

"Yes?" The Bismuth looked down.

"This... isn't what I want to build," she said in a quiet voice. "I want to build weapons and armor and... stuff like that." Rose walked up to the Bismuth and held her shoulder. The builder looked up. "We can help you build that. Me and Pearl... we're rebels. Former members of Pink Diamond's court. We want to finish her work. To make Gems... different. Their own people. Not machines. Not computers."

The Bismuth looked at Rose and Pearl, the nodded. "I'm in," she whispered. "But how are we supposed to get away?"

"There's a human village over there. Tell them you're one of Rosy's friends." Bismuth nodded.

"But what are you going to do?"

"Distract them." Bismuth tip-toed off.

"Alright Pearl. Let's start-"

"There you are!" Pearl and Rose turned, then gasped. Twenty yards away from them, grinning evilly with brown stripes all over her face, stood Jasper.