A/N: First chapters of first fanfiction, yaaay. Just a quick disclaimer thing, the Pearl in this isn't intended to be the Pearl in the show, and her personality is still being worked on. Also don't expect fluff right at the beginning *laughs nervously*.

Life surged through the body. Her eyes opened, salt water filling her mouth as she gasped for air she didn't need. She couldn't see anything. Hands, she had hands. Incredibly place hands. All her limbs were there, all her necessary body parts were there. She sighed with relief. Her hand brushed over her forehead. A complete, oval pearl. Perfect.

Light filled the container she was in, the saltwater draining. She was brought to the ground once it left. Instantly, she stood, glancing round at the other Pearls. They all stood straight, emotionless, only looking forward. The few she saw in front of her all had numbers on the back of their neck. 225, 226, 227, they went that way from left to right. She wondered what her number was.

"It was that one." A monotone voice sad, pointing at her. It was another Pearl, though she worked at the factory.
"211? What should we do about her?" Another voice said, this one belonging to someone who was much larger.
"We could take her to..." Their voices faded out, though the bigger gem nodded in agreement. The factory worker left and returned with more Pearls who approached the defective.
She glanced around, stepping to the back of the container and pressing herself against the glass. The door on the container feel down, arms reaching towards her. They pulled her forward, removing her from the position she tried to hold.
"She's struggling." One of the Pearl's said, no distress or worry shown in her voice or expression.
The bigger gem took a Gem Destabiliser from her waist, stabbing it into Pearl's stomach. Her cries were cut off as her body disappeared into her gem.

"She wasn't still? It that honestly so much of a problem?" Pearl awoke to a voice, presumably talking about her. The gem speaking sat in a chair at a desk in front of her.
"Maybe so, though she could easily be less obedient than the rest."
"Why don't we find out?" A hand reached out to the defective Pearl, showing that she'd reformed. The other person talking nodded, not seeming too pleased with the idea. "Listen, 211, we can't say you won't be useful right off the bat. How steady are you?"
Pearl stood up, almost only then noticing what she was clothed. Black leggings, a sleeveless top and a belt with a diamond in the middle.
"Come on. Walking can't be that hard."
Pearl was unsure to begin, putting a foot forward and gathering that she only needed to repeat. "No, it isn't. I apologise for my hesitation."
"Oh, how formal." The bigger gem chuckled, the one sitting at the desk glaring at her.
"Please, Pearl, summon your weapon."
"How many?" Pearl was quick to reply, raising curiosity in both gems in front of her.
"What?" The bigger gem asked, glancing at the sitting gem.
She smirked. "At once? Try to summon as many as you want. One is the usual if you'd like to go higher."
Pearl smiled slightly, light escaping her gem as two handles began to appear. The bigger gem's eyes widened. She pulled the two from her gem at the same time, balancing them on her hand to show they were real.
"Impressive." The sitting gem reached out and picked up one of the spears, examining it.
"But her emotions will be a problem." The bigger gem added.
"Well then, Pearl, you shall pretend. I know exactly who you can stay with. Just act like you can't feel, and be sure to do everything you are told to do. I'm sure we canvas your gem destroyed. It's easy to do."

PEARL

She couldn't get used to how clean everything had stayed. Clothes were usually all over the floor, Jasper not really caring about how much mess she was making. It didn't bother Pearl, it happened enough for her to get used to it. Jasper would come in, make a mess, sleep or work out or something along those lines and Pearl would clean up. She took little time doing what she was made to do and soon returned to her own pastimes, only devoting an hour or two to her job.

She never really took interest in Jasper's job, though she had mentioned it a couple of times, whether she was bragging about how she was trusted with such important tasks or complaining that she wanted to beat someone she worked with's face. Pearl found it easier to just completely ignore her and leave her to destroy a punching bag or any other training equipment she owned. She was fine to mind her own business and escape to her own world until she could work without getting in Jasper's way.

Unlike many other Pearls, she had her own room. Being so highly ranked in military areas, Jasper had a decent home. It was almost as if they just lived together, except they rarely talked and Pearl cleaned up after her. She could try to enjoy the tasks she had, though it was hard to enjoy what she didn't get much of. Jasper, ordering armies and such, didn't really tell her to do anything. She payed little to no attention to her, and Pearl was fine with that. There were a few smiles or 'hello's exchanged if Jasper was in a good mood. Pearl liked to remind her that she was there, so she greeted Jasper every morning she was there and every night she returned.

Jasper had never seen her room, and Pearl wanted to keep it that way. The room would probably have been dull and clean if she was just another clone, though she liked to decorate it with faded colours and patterns that complimented each other. Though her room did have some form of bed, she wasn't used to idea of sleeping and didn't intend to get used to it either. Jasper enjoyed it though, and usually did only that after returning from long missions. Even though Pearl didn't understand why it was necessary, she found it interesting that someone just completely shuts down their senses for no particular reason.

She sat outside the window. Nothing interesting happened in the streets. Everyone walked in straight lines, not talking or even looking at anyone else. It was no surprise considering the strict routines they follow. Jasper used warp pads to get around. It was definitely a lot easier than travelling through the streets, but it was mostly because the gem thought she was at a much higher level than those who didn't reach her rank, even if they were close.

About an hour had passed since the time she thought Jasper would return. She had been on a longer mission for about two weeks and had said she'd be back three days ago. Pearl had started taking note of the exact time she'd come back after a while so she'd be able to fit everything into a schedule. Jasper being late back did throw the schedule off, though Pearl wasn't about to assume that it was for no reason. She drummed her fingers on the table, one at a time to create a flowing pattern as she stared into the streets.

The warp activated. Pearl shot up, standing straight and leaving her room, making sure to lock it behind her. An agonising shout was hidden behind a few troubled mumbles. As she was about to greet Jasper, the first thing she saw was the larger gem hunched over, grabbing her side with visible cuts and bruises on her face. The thin gem rushed towards Jasper, holding her arm as she guided her to the table, making her lie across it on her stomach. There were many cuts along her back and side, blood drying in her hair. Pearl tried her best to move the thick mane to the side, attempting to get a better view of the cuts.

Four wounds across her back, presumably made in a swiping motion, and three on her right side, these ones probably intended to be deeper. There were two cuts on the right side and under her right eye and one on her left cheek. Her bottom lip also seemed to have split as well as a cut on her chin, following the left of her jaw line. They weren't healing and she hadn't retreated to her gem. Inspecting the cuts, small pieces of an orange-y crystal could be found. She found it strange that the shards weren't even that big in some places, it was mostly just fragments and dust. Slowly, Pearl began to pull them out the pieces, Jasper howling in pain trying to hit her away.

"Stay still ... Last two, okay? ... Ahh, that-that was the last one." Anything Pearl said was met with a groan or pained expression. Shards sat in a small bowl, most still covered in blood. She summoned bandages from her gem and wrapped them around her cut fingers before aiding Jasper. Pearl wondered what Jasper could have done to end up in this mess.

Dabbing a cut on her lip and chin with a wet cloth, she'd occasionally drain the fabric, grimacing a little at the tinted red water. Now that Jasper wasn't making her pain as obvious, she decided it'd be a good idea to at least try to ask.

"That's... That's a lot of cuts." Pearl began, not sure if it was the best idea to even try to ask.

Jasper grunted irritably. "You going somewhere with this?"

Pearl mentally kicked herself. Subtle. "I was just wandering what happened."

"Why does it matter?"

Pearl could tell that Jasper wasn't happy. She figured that she shouldn't question it, especially after she figured that the shards in her wounds were made of different types of jasper. She guessed it was used to intimidate Jasper by whoever had injured her, though it was hard to assume anything though, knowing little about Jasper's military role meant she knew little about punishments or tasks that could have resulted in, well, that.

"I was just... It doesn't matter." She sighed, wrapping her arms around her torso. Pearl was ready to clean up the blood on the table, though just as she hopped off the table she was sitting on, she felt fingers wrap around her arm, not allowing her to leave.

"I failed, okay?" Jasper suddenly burst, not able to look Pearl in the eyes. "I failed a mission that Yellow Diamond really needed me to complete. I failed! And she could of smashed my gem right there. What happens if I fail again? She could've easily just killed me!"

Pearl watched the other's breathing as it began to speed up rapidly. There was anger hiding fear in her expression, her voice, Pearl couldn't blame her for holding back. A silence stole anything Pearl wanted to say as she avoided any eye contact for the longest minute she'd ever lived. Her sigh broke their silence as she looked at Jasper, leaning forward to talk to her.

"It's okay, it'll be-" A hand pushed her back, not allowing her to continue as she was thrown to the side like a toy. Glancing up, she saw Jasper stand, only turning her head slightly to look back at Pearl. The pale gem opened her mouth to speak, though was interrupted before any words could come out.

"Don't talk to me." And then the orange gem disappeared into her room.

Pearl regretted speaking. She discarded the shards, washing the table and cleaning up, though her mind was elsewhere. The area where she had been hit still hurt, though she could only blame herself for asking things that were so personal and knowing that they were. Cleaning never really took her interest, so her mind easily drifted, though the thoughts she had were laced with guilt. Though she hadn't really lost anything, she still felt like she'd made a mistake by being so curious, by caring so much. After glancing over the room, she left to her own.

She could hear Jasper mumbling to herself, probably getting her anger out on a punching bag. For a moment, she tried to listen, curious to hear what she was saying, though decided it'd be best to ignore it rather than hear something she'd wish she hadn't. Her room made her feel a little better instantly. In her mind, beautiful patterns rose from the floor she was turning on. After moving diagonally while turning, she launched herself into a stag leap, turning to face the opposite direction that she'd landed in and arching back. A smile tugged at her lips. Dance was an escape. Even though her technique wasn't on point, she still tried. There was a brief mention of something extremely close gems can do, fusion was what she thought it was called, though she'd never seen anyone do it. One day she wanted to try it, even though she didn't really understand it.