Amethyst rushed into the kitchen of the clubhouse, her face brimming with excitement to find a certain red fusion. As luck would have it, said fusion had was leaning against the counter doing what her purple team member could only assume as staring off into space. Then again, when has Amethyst ever thought twice about interrupting important thought.

"GARNET!" She nearly screamed bounding into the kitchen "You've gotta help me Garnet!"

Startled slightly, Garnet struck a battle pose "What seems to be the problem Amethyst."

"I need your help on an April fools prank!" The shorter Gem replied sticking out her lower lip and giving her best puppy dog eyes. "Pleeeaaaassseee."

Garnet sighed and smoothed down her armor, although it really didn't need it. "Amethyst, aren't you too old for this earth holiday?"

Amethyst laughed thunderous and short " You're funny Gar but this is my jam. I'm rocking it forever." She smirked as she pointed to her teammate "And I am on fire today Momma G, so either help me or be my next victim."

Garnet smirked and the sunlight from the nearby window gleamed off her sunglasses as she coolly stated "Just try it."

The purple one stuttered slightly "o-okay maybe not you, but still" she composed herself "I want to get Pearl really good this year." Images of victory danced in her and she smiled wider than a crocodile.

Garnet shrugged "I'm already helping Pearl.." Amethyst's heart stopped as her fearless leader continued. "With the dishes. She wanted to take Steven to the boardwalk and then she was headed to the market so I said I'd cover this for her. Besides Amethyst, you've been doing this for centuries, shouldn't you give it a rest?"

"Rest?! At a perfect opportunity like this?! P has completely forgotten it's the first of April and is out of the house! G, it's time to strike!" The shorter Gem scuffed "Besides, I don't see any dishes being done."

It was , who had been silent this whole time, had been soaking in the sink for the past hour trying to get off the unphasable blue ink from the exploding computer mouse Amethyst mixed with her gear earlier. She was still too shocked (or mad) to comprehend being asked to move, so Garnet had to be more creative with her plate washing. Which, would explain the powdered remains of clay that coated the floor where the fusion now stood.

Garnet shrugged again. The younger Gem was not wrong, but it still puzzled her why her small violate friend would put so much effort into pranking Pearl year after year. "Amethyst, Pearl has anxiety as it is. Why do you make it worse?"

Amethyst averted her eyes and dragged her foot on the floor. "Aww boss, a little shock never killed her. And besides, her face just keeps getting funnier and funnier every time! Just let me get her good one more time big G, what do you say?"

Garnet nodded, one final time seemed like a fair enough request. "What's the plan?"

The wildcat grin returned to Amethysts' face.

MEANWHILE: AT THE BOARDWALK

"Steven! Don't eat out of your hands! You don't know what might be on them!" Pearl instructed quickly grabbing a napkin off the counter for the young half gem to hold his doughnut in.

Steven laughed lightly "It's okay Pearl, see, I'm fine! Not sick, I'm perfectly healthy! I'm healthy and happy because you asked to spend time with me." The curly haired boy smiled innocently staring up at the nimble yet sturdy structure of his teammate.

Pearl sighed, she wished she could share the young boys enthusiasm but the dull aches in her head were getting stronger by the hour. It seems that three months had expired and she'd now need to go into meditation soon. But not until she finished this one last task. She bent down to Steven's level. "I'm thrilled as always to have your company Steven, but I've asked you out here to help me with a secret mission." The alabaster Gem smiled knowing what to expect the reaction to be.

Steven's eyes grew wider. "A secret mission! I'd love to! I'm really good at secrets and missions! What are we doing?! Does Garnet know?! Are we going to fight something?!"

Pearl steadied Steven's energetic body gently. "No Steven, Garnet hasn't a clue to my knowledge, this is just something for you and me."

Steven nodded unsure " Okay, you and me. Got it."

Pearl returned his nod. "Right, now Steven, are you aware of what Earth holiday it is?"

Steven thought for a minute "Umm…..oh yeah! April Fools Day! Full of pranks and fun with friends!"

Pearl blinked. "Yes...fun" she shook her head from her funk "Anyways, Steven do you want to help me perform a practical joke on Amethyst this year?"

Steven threw his head back "Ha! That's a good one Pearl, you don't prank!" Steven stopped and lifted his eyebrow. "Am I being pranked?"

The taller gem shook her head. "You're right Steven, I don't normally resort to such childish antics of revenge. But this is different, Amethyst has scared me every year on this date for a far too long a time. I thought that possibly if I was to use human terms 'gave her a taste of her own medicine' she might realize it's not such an amusing event." Pearl frowned at memories of pranks past.

Steven nodded "Sure Pearl, I understand." the half-ling chuckled "Besides, this could be really fun! So, what do you have planned?"

A hint of mischief gleamed in Pearls eyes as she removed a fabric bag from her sash and then an oval shaped object from that bag and held it in her palm. "Steven, are you aware of what this is?"

The small boy looked shocked "Pearl, where'd you get a second gem stone?!"

The motherly Gem chuckled lightly "No no, Steven. This is the dormant stage of offspring to the Earth species Gallus Gallus Domesticus more commonly known as the chicken. Now here's what we're going to do with it..." the rest was left in whispers with Steven nodding.

Half Hour Later Back At The Beach House

"Right, got this G?" The animated cake that was once the human form of a small purple Gem chimed."You pull me out of the oven when Purly gets home and offer her a slice. She'll probably decline seeing as like most things I like, she's too good for food. But, Steven will definitely want some, and prissy Pearl can't resist making portioned slices. She'll get the knife and will begin to bring it down and I'll open my eyes and scream. It'll be priceless!"

Garnet rolled her three eyes under her sunglasses "This is the last time."

Steven stood outside of the beach house door and took a big breath. His performance was going to have to be really believable, but lying about such a earth shattering thing to his friends and loved ones was going to be super hard. Pearl had explained to him though that it would all be alright, and he trusted Pearl to always steer him in the right direction. Staring down at the oval object in his hand he swallowed and quickly opened the door

"Guys? Hello! Garnet, Amethyst, Peridot!? Someone?!" Steven bellowed through the house in a shaky voice. Garnet, holding the violet cake with eyes turned in Stevens direction and stated calmly. "Steven, you're back early. Where's Pearl?"

Steven held up the white object timidly. "R-right. Right here."

The artificial hearts of the Gems dropped at the sight of the object and Amethyst switched out of her cake form and rushed over, closely followed by Garnet, and even Peridot made some attempt however slowly to make her way over.

Garnet stooped to Steven's level "What happened Steven?"

The small child gulped, Amethyst was practically breathing down his neck trying to touch the white object but he had to shield it from her, and Garnet looked so concerned. Okay, focus. "I...I was walking with Pearl on the boardwalk, I ran off to catch a stray cat and give it some of my doughnut..there was a loud noise and a flash of light and ..and when I came back there were broken boards everywhere and water puddles and no Pearl...and that's when I saw her gemstone..but no sign of what attacked her."

Amethyst felt as if her life had shattered. How could this have happened? This wasn't supposed to happen! Not to a Gem like Pearl. Little miss perfect, strong, know-it-all. The one who was once her best friend and mentor. She felt as lost as the day Rose left, maybe even the days she was stuck in Kindergarten. She fought to hold back tears and her fear turned to anger. "You shouldn't have left her Steven! Now how are we going to know who did this!? Pearl could be gone for months, maybe even years and I have no idea who to beat up for it!"

Steven coward and Garnet placed her hand on Amethysts shoulder. "This isn't his fault Amethyst, we must focus on the present. It appears the gemstone in intact, Pearl will return. In the meantime we can find what caused this and put a stop to it."

No sooner had those words come from the crimson Gem's mouth then a small crack appeared on the object in Steven's hand. Everyone jumped back. Everyone but Garnet, who unknown to the rest had just seen Steven and Pearls plan in future sight, knew the reasons for it, and decided to let what came to follow happen.

"She's going to die in there!" Amethyst cried out. "We're losing her! Give it to me Steven!"

Garnet pushed the feisty Gem back. "No Amethyst, Steven is her best hope right now. Steven, I know you're in too much shock to cry, but maybe if you spit on it, it will heal the crack."

Steven nodded, slightly surprised at how calm Garnet was compared to Amethyst. He sucked back on his saliva and projected it onto the oval object. Silence filled the room, the crack wasn't healing. In fact, more cracks were appearing and the object was shaking slightly.

"No!" Amethyst gasped and barreled her way past Garnet snatching the object from Steven and kneeled on the floor clutching it close to her. "Pearl…" the tears could no longer be held back, the shape of the object was not improving as she rubbed her thick thumb over the cracks. "Please hold on...please stay here….don't leave me."

Peridot looked on in disbelief from hall, this was not in Amethyst's character at all, and why weren't Garnet and Steven nearly as shaken up? The cracks were deepening and the shaking was getting worse, and just when it appeared all hope was lost there was footsteps in the doorframe.

Pearl stepped in carrying a grocery bag and looked around at the scenery as the egg in Amethysts' hands hatched into a yellow fluffy chick and started chirping at Steven. Smugly the tall Gem commented "Ah, studying the incubatory habits of Earth creatures I see. It's really a shocking experience isn't it?"

Garnet smirked, Peridot rolled her eyes, Steven held his laughter as Amethyst slowly looked up at Pearl with a mixture of confusion and relief desperately trying to dry her eyes. "But...you..and...gemstone..and...what?!"

The lanky Gem turned to Steven and then they turned back to Amethyst and exclaimed in unison "April Fools!"

Steven bursted out laughing at Amethyst's dumbstruck face as Garnet patted him on the back. Pearl stalked into the kitchen with pride and placed the bag down. But, she lost her footing as a sharp pain rang through her true gemstone heating up her body and forcing her to lean against the counter . She had had her revenge, one she hoped Amethyst would never forget, now it was time to pay attention to her condition. She needed peace, quiet, and time just as she had many times before. There was no time to put away the food or attend to the mess she realized Garnet had made of the dishes, she needed to go now. She refocused, gathered her strength, and walked to her room like a proud lioness after a kill. She locked the door behind her and went to meditate in the water.

Amethyst was going through a rush of emotions. Relief, anger, betrayal, surprise, embarrassment. It went on and on. Pearl would not get away with disrespecting her inner affection as she did. Without a word to her teammates, she balled her fists and rose to her feet. Pearl was going to have to listen to how she had wronged her, here and now. Amethyst marched down the hall to Pearls door.