Why'd You Have To Go? // Steven Universe (Pearlmethyst)

Chapter 2: Same Gem, Different Pearl

Amethyst backed up from Pearl's gem. Already? She's never reformed this fast before.

Pearl's gem bathed the temple in a bright light as she began to take form. Amethyst helped her stand up as she shakily fell to the floor.

"Pearl!" Amethyst grinned brightly, hugging her tight.

"Oh uh...hi..." Pearl trailed off unsurely and pulled away from Amethyst with a confused look on her face. Amethyst was confused too when she saw Pearl's appearance. For not spending much time in her gem she looked completely different.

Her hair was a complete mess and stuck up everywhere. She was still wearing the same light blue/green top with a star on it but over it was a light pink jacket. She didn't have her sash anymore and she was wearing a pair of jeans too.

"Wow Pearl," Amethyst laughed a little, "That's a look."

"Right..." Pearl looked around the temple, taking everything in.

"Are you ok P?" Amethyst asked unsurely. She was acting weird.

"Hm?" Pearl looked at her nervously, "Oh, well...this might sound strange but where am I?"

"What?" Amethyst laughed unhumorously. Her smile dropped as did her heart, "What do you mean where are you?"

Pearl stared at the person in front of her unsure of how to answer.

"Pearl, do you remember who I am?" Amethyst stepped hesitantly closer to her.

"I'm sorry," Pearl sighed, looking conflicted, "I don't really remember anything if I'm honest."

Amethyst looked away. This had to be a joke right? A sick way to get back at her for getting Pearl poofed?

"I mean I know a few things," Pearl rambled slightly, "Like my name's Pearl, but you were the one who told me that. I think I got knocked out? I remember this kid...I think he was crying?"

"You're serious?" Amethyst asked.

"I'm sorry," Pearl sighed, sitting down on the couch and putting her chin in her hands, "My mind's just...blank."

The two were interrupted by the sound of footsteps.

"Hey Amethyst, I bought you a doughnut anyways," Steven and Garnet walked in the room, "I figured you might-" Steven dropped his bag of doughnuts when he saw Pearl.

"Pearl!" Steven grinned and ran over to hug her.

"H-Hi," Pearl once again didn't know what to do. So many people were happy to see her and she didn't even recognize them. She couldn't help but feel guilty.

"That isn't Pearl," Amethyst said quietly. Steven and Garnet turned to her. She was now leaning against the counter with a darker expression on her face.

"What?" Steven asked. Amethyst didn't answer and just walked away, into her room in the temple.

"I guess she's pretty upset," Pearl stared after her before bringing her attention back to the others, "This is hard to explain but I don't really...remember...anything. Including who you guys are. And who I am." Pearl stared slightly behind them, deep in thought.

"But we healed you..." Steven shook his head, "You should-"

"You should get some sleep," Garnet placed a hand on Steven's shoulder, "Pearl and I have a lot to talk about."

"But-"

"No but's," Garnet smiled at him, "We'll deal with all this in the morning."

Steven looked at them skeptically but went upstairs to his bed anyways as Garnet lead Pearl into the temple.

"I'm not some kid," Steven grumbled. He sat up on his bed looking at the temple door, "I can help too."

He stood up determinedly and lifted his shirt, showing his gem, "Alright door. I need to get in my room."

The door obeyed and allowed Steven entry to the bright pink, clouded room. Steven used his room to sneak into Garnet's. Garnet was standing in front of Pearl who was sitting down, leaning against the wall.

"So I'm a Crystal Gem?" Pearl said the words as if they were completely foreign.

"Yes," Garnet explained calmly, "We protect the Earth from creatures and gems who plan to harm its inhabitants."

"Like superheroes?" Pearl asked quizzically.

"Yes," Garnet sighed, dragging out the word. She had a lot of work to do.

"So I have powers," Pearl stared at Garnet unsurely, "Like summoning swords and teleporting?"

"A sword," Garnet corrected her, "And you need a warp pad to teleport."

"Wow," Pearl breathed, resting her head on her knees, "That seems like a lot."

Garnet studied her. Steven wished he could see under her sunglasses to get a glimpse of what she was thinking.

"So you really don't remember anything..." Garnet said out loud, "The War, Rose, its all gone."

"Is there any way I can get it back?" Pearl asked.

"I've never heard of a gem getting amnesia before," Garnet put her hand on her forehead, rubbing her temple, "None the less recovering from it. It's more of a human thing."

"Humans," Pearl repeated the word, "That kid from earlier-"

"Steven."

"Yeah him," Pearl said causing Steven to freeze. Did she see him? She didn't seem to as she kept talking, "Is he a human?"

"Half," Garnet answered short and simple. Explaining his existence was difficult enough with full gem knowledge, Pearl might get overwhelmed.

"I saw him before," Pearl said, "Before I passed out. He was standing over me and he was upset." Pearl looked up at Garnet, "Did I upset everyone?"

"It's not your fault," Garnet placed a hand on her shoulder. There was a moment of silence.

"Let me show you your room," Garnet helped Pearl stand up. Steven scrambled behind a pillar to hide. He noticed Garnet's tough facade drop for just a moment when she thought no one could see her, her shoulders dropping and a sigh escaping her lips.

Steven was the last one out of the room that night.