Pearl

The Answer Part 2

Pearl landed on the ship first, and sped forward in a rush of wind. Two large Quartz guards came to meet her. Putting her swords out to the side, she sliced through the Quartzs' bodies and stopped behind them. She smirked as the Quartzs looked down, and then poofed.

With a battle cry, Pearl chopped through two other guards cleanly in half, poofing them immediately. Pearl looked to the side as three Rubies charged at Rose, then stacked onto each other with a cry and phased together in a flash of light, fusing. They roared and reeled their arm back, then swung forward. Rose smiled and caught the fist in the palm of her hand, then turned it to the side and drove her fist straight through the Mega Ruby's stomach before the Fusion could even react.

The three Rubies fell to the floor, but two of them poofed on their way down, exhausted. Pearl dashed forward to the Sapphire that was calmly onlooking the scene. Pearl flashed her sword menacingly.

"It's okay Ruby," the Sapphire said steadily. "You did your best." Pearl readied for a swing, then swung the sword forward for the Sapphire's neck, ready to poof her when-

"NO!" The Ruby flew forward in a red blur and pushed the Sapphire out of the way. They spun, holding each other, and then there was a bright flash and the two small Gems disappeared.

In their place was a Gem with square, puffy hair that was pink and blue, with upper garments to match: a pink and gray shirt underneath a blue dress splattered with rose. The strange Gem had half black, half pink pants, and purple and ebony boots. The Gem looked at her gloved hands.

"What?," said the Gem. "What is this?" Pearl looked at the Gem, stunned. She had never seen anything like this before. Where had the Ruby and Sapphire gone?

Pearl gave herself one more moment of stunned silence, then shook her head and prepare to dash forward with her blades when a hand gripped her pale arm.

"Wait," said Rose. Pearl looked at her. "This is- hm?" Rose looked around. The crowd angrily converged on the two renegade Gems. "Let's go," Rose whispered.

"Uh... bye!," said Pearl, and the two Rebels jumped up and out of the ship and back towards the Earth.

☆☆☆☆

Rose and Pearl landed in the thorn woods, seeking the Crystal Gem base there for refuge. Rose was quiet. Pearl was thinking. What was that Gem. It had appeared out of nowhere- or at least, Pearl thought so.

There's no logical explanation, thought Pearl, Besides-

Pearl gave a small gasp. Rose stopped and looked at her.

"Something wrong, Pearl?"

"Uh- no," said Pearl hastily, blushing slightly, "I was just- thinking about that- Gem we saw." Rose nodded and kept walking. Pearl followed.

"I was thinking about that as well. What do you think that was?" Pearl shook her head.

"I don't know. I've never seen any kind of Gem like that- or was it even a Gem?" Rose looked thoughtful.

"I think it was."

"Then what kind of Gem?"

"A Fusion Gem."

"But a Fusion of what Gems?" Rose glanced at Pearl.

"When that Ruby saved that Sapphire from you, there was flash of light and that Gem appeared. I think that Ruby and Sapphire accidentally Fused." Pearl frowned slightly.

Is that even possible?

"But," said Pearl questioningly, "How come it looked so different- like an entirely different Gem?"

"Because it is an entirely different Gem," said Rose. "When Rubies fuse- they're still Rubies, no different from on another. But when a Ruby and a Sapphire fuse- they don't make a Ruby or a Sapphire. Those two Gems- they made something entirely new." Pearl thought about that. Theoretically, it was possible, but how could two different Gems be in sync enough to become a new-?

There was a rustle in the bushes. Pearl whipped her head around and automatically stood in front of Rose with a sword out. She handed Rose the other. Rose took it.

"I'll go investigate," said Pearl quietly, and Rose nodded. Pearl moved slowly forward, keeping her blade out in front of her.

CRASH! Something had fallen down a slope.

"Ouch," said the thing as Pearl approached it. Without hesitation, the pale Gem threw her sword tip pointing into the Gem's face.

The Gem leaped back in fright, which quickly turned to anger.

"Don't hurt her!," the Gem said, then looked down in confusion. "Don't hurt... me?" Pearl narrowed her eyes, recognizing the strange Gem.

"It's you. The Fusion."

"We didn't mean to Fuse!," said the Fusion in exasperation. "Well, we did this time." The Fusion blushed. "We'll unfuse! W-we'll... we'll..." Pearl moved to side as the Fusion's eyes found Rose's.

"No no. Please. I'm glad to see you again." Pearl moved to Rose's side, her sword tip down, and kept her chin up to the frightened Fusion.

"I don't... upset you?" Rose laughed.

"Who cares how I feel. How you feel is bound to be much more interesting."

"How... I feel?" The Fusion's eyes glanced to the side. "I feel... lost... and scared... and- and happy. Why am I so sure... I'd rather be this, than everything I was supposed to be? And that I'd rather do this, than everything I was supposed to do?" Rose giggled and the Fusion looked up.

"Welcome to Earth," Rose said, and Pearl grinned too.

"C-can you tell me?," said the Fusion hurriedly. "How was Ruby able to alter fate? Why was Sapphire willing to give up everything? What am I?"

"No more questions," said Rose, and the Fusion stopped immediately. "Don't ever question this." She took the Fusion's hands in hers. "You already are the answer."