"An off-color Pearl? What do you mean an Off-color Pearl?!"
These were the first words that the newly made gem heard as they groaned from the hard ground. Opening their eyes, they saw that they were in a cell of some sort, a yellow force of some kind separating them from two figures - a green gem with metallic arms and a much taller blue gem with piercing blue eyes.
"Pearls are common, easily made. Blue Diamond gave us a simple job. Make a Pearl that will serve all of the Diamo - oh my stars it's awake." the blue gem said. The newly made gem recognized the harsh voice as the one that had awoken her from her - sleep? Hibernation? They didn't know how to describe it. All they knew was that they had previously not existed, and now they did. Simple, yet complicated. Pushing themselves up to a sitting position, the gem just stared, having the feeling that they weren't welcome, and that they should listen to the pair.
"What are we supposed to do with it?" The green one said, stepping forward and staring down at the new gem as if it were the equivalent of a lump of dirt. "Well we certainly can't take it to the Diamonds. I mean just look at it." The blue one said, joining her companion and glaring down at the gem as well.
The gem in question awkwardly shifted under their gaze, scooting further back into their cell. The taller gem scowled and barked out a question that the newly-made thought that they would ask herself for the rest of her existence.
"What is your purpose?"
The question seemed to be straightforward, but honestly the newly-made didn't know the answer. Looking down at the floor they racked their brains. What was their purpose? They knew they were supposed to serve, but serve who? They prayed it wasn't the two intimidating gems in front of them. Looking up, they realized the two gems were waiting for an answer.
"T-To serve?" They paused for a moment before continuing. "I don't know who. I don't even know who you two are. Or who I am for that matter." They admitted softly, not meeting the pair's gaze. The blue gem groaned, putting her face In her hands. "It doesn't even recognize an Agate or a Peridot. How badly did you mess this up, Peridot?" She said, turning her fierce gaze to the green gem. Peridot glared back just as fiercely. "Hey it's not my fault Earth has poor growing conditions!" she shot back. "You and I both know Homeworld is running out of valuable places." Looking down at the gem again she scoffed. "We're lucky we even got this one to form."
The newly-made continued to shift awkwardly under their fierce gazes, making a mental note that the blue figure was an Agate and the green one a Peridot. Whatever the hell that meant. "So, I ask again. What do we do with it?" Peridot said as the Agate let the force field down and stepped into the cell. The gem inside attempted to shrink back but was roughly grabbed by their shirt collar and pulled from the floor. "I say we shatter it." the Agate said, ignoring the gem's kicking and squirming. They didn't know what "shatter" meant, but for some reason they got a bad feeling out of it. "N-No please don't shatter me! I swear I'll do whatever you want." They pleaded, trying to squirm out of the Agate's grasp.
The gem barked a harsh laugh. "Believe me, what we wanted was far from what you can provide. We need a perfect Pearl for my Diamond." The newly-made gulped as they were brought to eye-level with The Agate. "You are far from it. For Diamond's sake, your logo isn't even correct." She said, observing the gem for any redeemable qualities. The gem followed their gaze, only now noticing what they looked like. They were wearing a black shirt with a blue, yellow, and pink diamond, the collar a white.
"I'm going to shatter it." The Agate finally decided, shifting her grip from the gem's collar to her neck and starting to squeeze. The newly-made made a choking sound as they began kicking again. They had only just been made, but they knew that they wanted to stay alive, even if it meant suffering the wrath of the Agate. They desperately clawed at the Agate's hands as they started to feel water leak from their eyes.
"Wait! We can't shatter it." The green gem interrupted almost nonchalantly. The Agate paused, her eyes shifting to the Peridot. "And why not? What use could this – thing possibly be to the Diamonds?" They snapped. Peridot rolled her eyes. "As I told you, there aren't many places we can make gems. We're lucky this one emerged. The Diamonds are desperate at this point." She paused, looking at the newly-made who seemed only half conscious. "If we make a better one, then we'll shatter it. Till then, let's just make due."
The Agate paused, thinking for a moment, before dropping the gem to the ground. "You're lucky we're desperate." SHe barked, glaring as the newly-made took deep breaths, their vision slowly beginning to come back into focus. "You probably won't have many millenia So make the most of it." Turning to Peridot, she continued. "You. Train it. You and I both know that this horrid physical form is going to throw off the Diamonds," She glanced at you and sighed. "So we need make up for it in every way we can."
Peridot scoffed. "Me? I don't know anything about being a Pe-" she stopped in her tracks at the gem's fierce gaze and swallowed. "I-I mean I'll do my best." She said. The Agate nodded and huffed as she walked off, leaving the gem and the Peridot alone. The Peridot sighed and glanced down at the newly-made flinched under her gaze and avoided eye-contact, still recovering from their near-shattering experience. "You should probably get some sleep. We don't need it, but this training will be rough." She said before giving it one last disgusted look and leaving, putting the bright yellow force-field up behind her.
Training the Peridot and Agate provided were always rough for the newly-made, but on the bright side they were learning a lot thanks to the vigorous work the gems had them do. Pronouns, for example. They were referred to as it, Defect, or Clod. Holly Blue and Peridot, however, referred to as she. The newly-made didn't understand why, but got the sense that it was to ostracize them. The day started with Holly Blue Agate loudly banging on their cell and saying something like "Rise and shine, you defective chunk of earth" before leading them to Peridot, who taught them basic knowledge such as ranking. They learned that they were a Pearl, the lowest of the low in what Peridot called the Diamond Authority. Apparently, the Diamonds were at the top and were the rulers of gem-kind, and anyone who even had the opportunity to speak to them was among the luckiest of them. And the newly-made had almost been given that opportunity, but they simply were -
"Defective."
Holly Blue Agate, as the Pearl had come to call her, said, crossing her arms behind her back as she paced back and forth. The newly-made opened their mouth but snapped it shut again at the blue gem's gaze. Peridot had taught her all of the basic things about Homeworld, the recent war that had been going on between the Crystal Gems and Homeworld, and how gems were made. Holly Blue Agate was the one who "taught" the newly-made gem how to be a Pearl. Among the first of many things they had learned (and would continue to learn through hard gazes and/or beatings) was that speaking out of line was one of the many things Pearls were not allowed to do.
"Yes, a Defective Pearl. Or an Off-color. Peridot tells me that most of our Pearls are simply that. Pearls. Easily and simply made until we come in with our injectors and make them more. You, however are a Freshwater Pearl, meaning that you are almost" She paused and spat the last word. "Organic." The Pearl stared down for a moment, ashamed. "To our knowledge, you are one of two defective Pearls to exist that hasn't been shattered now, so at least you have some type of title to claim." Holly Blue continued. "I wouldn't call yourself that though. Savor whatever self-worth you have, because that gem turned on us and is now with the rebellion. But that shouldn't be an issue because I'm sure those defects won't last more than a hundred years."
The newly-made flinched. Rebellion? They couldn't imagine. Even talking back to Holly Blue Agate was punishable by shattering. They had to admit though, the concept was nice. They suppressed a small smile as they made a mental note to call themselves Freshwater or Defect Pearl (DP) just to spite Holly Blue. Maybe they would even think of themselves as she. The possibilities of rebellion were endless in her mind, and it was the closest thing to rebellion they had.
"You see, most Pearls aren't special." Holly Blue Agate continued as the lights dimmed and the projector in front of the Off-Color portrayed a bright yellow gem with large eyes, a leotard, and yellow leggings and shoes. "Simple gems with frilly laces and leotards. They are owned by worthy gems, but they themselves are not worry. They are quite cute, however. I've always wanted one. Our Diamonds get fancy Pearls, of course, but what we are going for is the Perfect Pearl. One that is not merely acceptable, but spectacular. Why they want this, I don't know. I don't make the rules, I simply follow them. You, believe it or not, were actually supposed to be that. However, thanks to the fact that we decided to attempt to make you on that useless chunk of rock we call Earth, things didn't go as planned." The next image to appear on the screen was another Pearl, but this one was far different. They were a brilliant white in skin tone and were clad in a frilly green top with the Authority's logo, a rainbow colored gemstone on their eye and bright pink hair that flowed behind them. They also had a brilliantly white smile." The Off-Color gawked at the gem. She was simply beautiful!
Holly Blue Agate chuckled at the defect's reaction before her face turned stone cold again.
"What do you see compared to this Pearl?" Holly Blue asked, gesturing for DP to come closer to the large glass in front of her. The defect stepped up to pane and hesitantly looked up at Holly Blue Agate, unsure if the question was rhetorical. When they didn't get a response, they spoke. "I see -" They flinched as Holly Blue raised a fist. "M-Miss Holly Blue," they quickly corrected themselves, finding it weird to hear their voice for the first time in ages. "I see no frills or laces." They said, continuing when they got a curt nod from the gem. "Trust me, that isn't the only thing wrong here." She paused for a moment. "I need to go speak with Peridot. You will stay here and continue to observe yourself. That is an order."
The Pearl nodded before quickly saluting Holly Blue, not dropping the Diamond symbol they and Holly Blue had practiced over and over again until she heard the clicking of heels fade away.
Returning their gaze to the mirror, they realized just how...wrong they looked. For starters, they wore a black shirt with the Diamond Authority position near the top rather than in the middle, their collar a bright white, on the left a patch of yellow, the right blue, and underneath pink. While their gemstone was located on their eye, rather than it being the dazzling colors of who they were supposed to be, it was simply a bright white. Rather than their other eye being a dazzling sky blue, it was a deep dark blue, almost black and had no iris. Even their skin tone was wrong, as they were a bright blue. The only noticeable features between the two gems were their larger noses and eyes.
The Pearl felt the familiar water return to their eyes and stream down their face before they turned from the mirror, completely disgusted. They put a hand to their face to wipe their tears, but stopped, confused, when instead their world became a bright and vibrant yellow. They moved their hand across their face, confused, before their fingers wrapped around a yellow visor that had materialized. They pulled it off and quickly wiped their eyes, not wanting Holly Blue to have the satisfaction of seeing them cry.
"Nice touch." The newly-made jumped at the sound of Peridot's nasal voice from the doorway and instinctively saluted the Peridot, their visor falling to the floor and disappearing. The green gem gave a small smile before it disappeared. "Where is Holly Blue Agate?" they asked. DP didn't speak and simply stared blankly at the Peridot, who sighed. "You may speak." she said, rolling her eyes. "Miss Holly Blue says I am not meant to know of her whereabouts." they paused. "However, they told me-"
"never be too far from them, ever, so you will always know where they are. You are the only one who is to know this information unless specified by your gem." she explained, glancing up at Holly Blue, who stood next to her, rubbing her temples.
Freshwater held their salute, doing their best not to shake. They were doing their best but it seemed like it was never enough for the gems. "B-But I thought I was designed for the Diamonds?" They asked, confused. Peridot looked like she had just been slapped across the face. "Don't get your hopes up, you clod. If you can barely follow our orders, you won't last long trying to follow the orders of the Diamonds." She said, scoffing before sauntering off and leaving Holly Blue Agate Freshwater to themselves. After what felt like ages of holding that cursed salute, Holly Blue put her hand down before simply turning and walking away, leaving Freshwater awkwardly standing, still saluting the area the gem stood moments before.
Freshwater Pearl paced their cell like a caged animal. After Holly Blue Agate had left, they stood there for about an hour before awkwardly returning to their cell. Surprisingly, when they entered, Peridot never came to lock it and when they had woken up the forcefield was still down. Holly Blue Agate hadn't even came to wake her for lessons that day, and neither had Peridot. That rest of the day and the day after they had been allowed to simply stay in their cell, or wander around the ship. Every now and then Peridot or Holly Blue would walk by and Freshwater would salute them, but she was never addressed or given an order. They were free to do whatever they pleased.
And the newly made hated it.
Without a gem to serve, they felt so useless. They needed orders, structure. Without it, they had nothing. They were nothing. And that didn't sit well with Freshwater. Like it or not, her purpose was to serve, and in not serving she was going against the Diamonds, and the thought of that left a physical pang of hurt in her chest that got worse and worse with every passing hour until they just couldn't stand it anymore.
"Miss Holly Blue." They finally blurted as the Agate walked by their cell. Being beaten for speaking out of line was worth another day in their mind. The Agate stopped and turned. "What is it Defect?" She asked, a small smile tugging at her lips. The gem in question held their salute as they spoke, quivering under the Agate's gaze. "I...I can't do this." They said shakily. The Agate's smile broadened slightly. "Can't do what? You have your cell, access to the ship. You are free to roam as you like. You have freedom." The gem stepped closer, staring Freshwater down. "And you hate it." Freshwater nodded vigorously. Holly Blue straightened up, her grin not faltering. "This. This is what Pearls are made for. Your purpose is to serve. Your existence alone is a direct insult to gemkind, but we're desperate so for now we will train you to be simply average. And lesson number one is this."
The Agate stepped forward, towering over the Pearl. "You be as perfect as you can be for the gem you serve. No exceptions. Mistakes will not (and should not) be tolerated by your master." She growled, raising a fist. "Lesson Number two," she continued icily, summoning her whip from their gem. Freshwater gulped but held their salute, hoping Holly Blue Agate would have mercy on them.. "Your purpose is to serve. That is it. Any time you are not serving, you are not fulfilling your purpose. And any gem who does not fulfill their purpose all day every day is worthy of shattering. Is. That. Clear?" The newly-made nodded vigorously. "Yes, Holly Blue." They said, not dropping their salute.
The gem nodded and stepped back, looked pleased with themselves. "Good. Your lessons will continue tomorrow." Freshwater bowed but held her salute. "Thank you Holly Blue Agate. You are truly merciful to tolerate a defect like me."
The next day picked up as if nothing had ever happened, and Freshwater was grateful as she quickly Readjusted to the training routine. They knew they would never be perfect, but they could feel themselves improving. They no longer felt the need to speak, and even spoke less when they were asked questions. They no longer had to be reminded to walk behind Holly Blue, never beside her. And, best of all, they were beaten far less often due to the fact that they had begun to beat themselves up for their mistakes.
The Pearl was proud of all the progress they had made.
