Pearl

Warp Stream

Pearl reformed to Bismuth's ringing laughter. Landing softly on her feet, Pearl glared icily at Bismuth, who shut up immediately. Pearl heard giggling to her left and saw Garnet smiling at her.

"No hard feelings, right?," the red Fusion laughed, holding out her hand. Pearl resisted the temptation to spit on it. She settled for a contemptuous glance and turned her back coldly on Garnet.

"So," said Pearl in an imperious tone, "What next Rose...?" Pearl's blue eyes met Rose's black ones, and she saw sadness and slight shame in them. Pearl dropped to one knee and bowed. "Sorry, my Quartz." Garnet snickered.

Pearl stood up fast and whipped around.

Jabbing her index finger at Garnet's chin, she put her face inches from Garnet's, anger pulsing through her like fire.

"What's so funny?!," said Pearl in a voice of cold hatred. Not one Gem was talking or moving now. It seemed as though Pearl had frozen everyone in place with her anger.

"Uh- I- You-" Garnet stammered, but Pearl plowed on.

"Why do you have to laugh every time I do something? What makes you so special? Do you think your better than me? Do you think you're stronger than me? Well this is what I think of you!" Pearl didn't know why she was so suddenly angry. All she knew was that she wanted to hurt Garnet as much as possible. She swung her fist back and a few things happened in quick succession.

Bismuth and Rose ran up to try and stop Pearl, but we're too late as Pearl had struck Garnet in the face. Garnet stumbled, and Pearl ran forward, clawing at the Fusion, and then Garnet's hand grasped Pearl's wrist. Their eyes locked for a fraction of a second, and then something very strange happened indeed.

Pearl felt herself... disappating. She was swirling a white glow, and she felt herself growing happier and happier, getting stronger and then-

She disappeared completely.

And giant Gem with an orange gemstone appeared, wearing a tight white skirt that fell sharply to her knees, clasped with black buttons and with sharp shoulder pads. Dainty black gloves stretched up to her middle finger, and she now had long, deep blue boots. She now had four arms.

Pearl looked at herself, but for some reason felt like she wasn't alone in her new body. But she felt so strong, and so stable, and-

Them everything clicked. Pearl had fused. With Garnet.

Wait! said a small voice in the back of her head that sounded familiar. Wait, Pearl I can explain-

ENOUGH!

And with a popping sound and a puff of smoke, Pearl fell to the ground, Garnet next to her.

"Wait," Garnet panted, "Pearl- WAIT!" Tears stung Pearl's eyes as she dashed off into the base.

Pearl sprinted all the way into her small room and bolted the door. She stood for a moment, dazed. Then she sank to the floor, crying. While Fused, she had felt... strong. She felt what garnet was feeling and she saw how badly Garnet wanted to be friends with her. How much Pearl had hurt her. Pearl sobbed harder.

Apologize, came a voice in her head. Apologize. Make it up to her.

Wait, came another voice. Don't apologize. Think about it. Think about Rose.

And then Pearl remembered Rose's face after she had reformed. The disappointment. The shame. The sadness. Rose valued Garnet. She trusted Garnet. She...

Pearl stood up and sniffed, wiping her eyes. She opened her door and looked outside. Rose was helping Garnet up and fussing over her. Pearl's shoulders drooped, and she walked slowly back into her room.

And next thing she knew, she was singing.

If I could
Begin to be
Half of what you think she'll be
I could do about anything
I could even learn how to love.

When I see
What you are,
It makes me want to cry so hard,
Oh I would do about anything
Just to learn how to love,
Like you.

Love, Like you.

Pearl looked out a window and saw Garnet laughing and sparring lightly with several other Gems comfortably. Anger boiled up in Pearl's stomach. Stamping her foot, Pearl continued.

I always thought I might be bad
Now I'm sure that it's true!
Cause you're so good
And I'm nothing like you!

Oh, look at you go,
I see how she just adores you!
I wish that I knew
Why Rose thinks that I'm so special!

Oh, if I could, begin to learn,
Something that impresses her,
I would do about anything,
I could even learn how to love!

And when I think of all the things I lack,
Everything seems to be moving back,
And I would do about anything
Just to learn how to love...

"Like you." Pearl whipped around and started. Standing sadly at the door was Bismuth, holding a sword and scabbard, as well as something else.

"What're you-?," Pearl began, but Bismuth came and sat down next to Pearl.

"I'm sorry," said Bismuth in a somber tone. "I didn't mean to interrupt but... I'm just really sorry that I had to interrupt whatever you and Rose had together. I'm going to leave. I just need to give Rose this. Oh, and I made this for you." She thrust the other thing in Pearl's hands. It was a turquoise fork. Pearl looked at it quizzically.

"It's a trident extention for your spear," said Bismuth carelessly. "Just a little something. Anyways... bye." She turned away, looking small.

"Bismuth, wait!" Bismuth turned. Pearl wished she hadn't spoke. She didn't know how to say what she wanted to, because the only think hm she wanted to say was-

"I'm sorry." Pearl looked at Bismuth pleadingly. Bismuth gave a small smile.

"Ok." Pearl grinned.

"Thank's Bismu-"

WHOO.

Pearl and Bismuth looked out the window. Pearl ran to the window and gave Bismuth a meaningful look.

"Bismuth," said Pearl slowly, "Didn't we inactivate all warp pads within this area."

"Teah," Bismuth said, "But that could've been-" Pearl looked out again, and she felt something she hadn't felt in a long time. Powerless. Feeble. The last time she had felt like that was when she served-

Pearl ran ad fast as she could outside, Bismuth following her, confused. But Pearl wasn't listening.

If her programming was correct, a Diamond was close by.