Pearl held their breath.
"A pretty one, isn't she?"
"Nothing too pretty for you, my diamond."
"You have outdone yourself with your newest Pearl designs, Emerald Facet-1T2J Cut-2FU. Such pretty, thin legs. I will see that you are rewarded for your efforts. Now-"
It was then that the pearl before the White Diamond began to wobble on their pretty, thin legs. They shook like leaves in the wind.
"Emerald," The diamond's voice hardened. "What is going on with this pearl?"
"I-I don't- she didn't do this before..."
The pearl, sweating from every pore of their body, suddenly collapsed under the weight of their body and faceplanted into the ground.
Pearl gave a tiny exhale of relief as their mistress turned on the shaking emerald.
"Look at my current pearl."
"I can easily remedy this, my di-"
"Look at my current pearl."
The emerald begrudgingly turned. They looked not at Pearl's eyes, but through them.
"I draw your attention to her legs. Being one thousand years old, her design may be obsolete and in need of replacement but there is one aspect I still find charming."
"A-and what is-"
"She stands! Unlike your..." White Diamond eyed the snivelling Pearl who could not rise above a kneeling position. "creation. Once the Great Diamond Authority agrees to enforce Utilitarian Life, I'll personally oversee her smashing. For now, though, her useless life is protected. Leave her in the streets."
Pearl could feel their stick-legged sister's eyes boring into their face. Cautiously, they looked down and flashed a sorry smile before returning to their original position.
The emerald spoke up. "I have some other designs, if my diamond wishes-"
"No. You have disgraced yourself and wasted my time with this defective pearl. Neither I nor my court shall have need of your services again. My pearl, open the door."
Pearl almost leaped out of their skin to obey.
The emerald's eye twitched, and they forced a smile. "V-very well. Goodbye!"
The White Diamond turned on their heel and stalked out of the door, Pearl following obediently behind. There, three Smoky Quartz bodyguards were waiting; upon seeing them exit, they fell in step slightly behind White Diamond and well ahead of Pearl.
Then they made their way through the Court of White Diamond to their palace. To the untrained eye the place was blinding, but Pearl had long become accustomed to the shimmering crystal decorations. All around, startlingly bright houses home to the most distinguished Gems distracted the observer from the dark alleyways between.
That was where that pearl with the too-thin legs would live out the rest of their millennia. And when White Diamond found a replacement for Pearl, it would be there they would live – at least, they hoped...
Stop. Pearl gulped down the sudden wave of fear, trying their best to not think about the future. Instead, they straightened their shoulders, lifted their chin and fixed their eyes on the collar of the Smoky Quartz soldier marching ahead. They even transferred a little bit of power to their gem, making it sparkle almost like a diamond. Anything to make themselves appear a little more confident than they felt.
This continued until they reached the front gates of White Diamond's palace, where two soldiers held the door open for White Diamond. The three then closed it and stood stoically in front of it, staring straight ahead. Pearl went around the back, where the servant's entrance was, and let themselves in. This was the smallest room in the enclosure, with two doors: one leading to White Diamond's study and the other to the atrium, where a select number of respected Gems were occasionally invited.
Almost immediately, a short bell rang from White Diamond's study. Pearl scurried over to where their mistress was seated, and bowed deeply.
"My diamond."
"My pearl... for now." White Diamond did not bother to look at Pearl when speaking to them. "I shall be expecting a visit from one of my most valued generals. They have returned from a long trip evaluating the planet Earth as a potential colony, and I loathe to present her with such an outdated pearl as yourself. However, as the replacement I was anticipating turned out to be defective, you will have to do. Apologize for yourself when you answer the door."
"Yes, my diamond." Pearl turned to go.
"Also." Pearl turned in surprise to see their mistress actually looking at them with those cold, dead diamond eyes. "I noticed how you walked today, after discovering your replacement to be defective. Confidently. Beautifully."
Pearl's eyes brightened. Was this... a compliment?
"Like you were anything more than a common pearl." White Diamond's eyes narrowed. "Make no mistake. You've outlived your expiration date, and your knowledge of my secrets is grounds for shattering."
Pearl's face twitched. "Yes, my diamond."
"Leave me."
"Yes, my diamond."
Pearl, feeling something rise up in their chest, skipped towards the door and very nearly slammed it behind them. They began to cry then, and hugged themselves, sliding down the wall and curling up into a foetal position, their shoulders rocking as they sobbed silently. Because they were going to be shattered, they were going to die at only one thousand years old...
And there Pearl stayed for a while, until they had run out of tears to shed. Then they picked themselves up, wiping their face. They most likely looked a mess; there was a mirror in the atrium that might help them freshen up before their guest arrived. So, cautiously, they opened the door or the servant's room and stepped out.
The atrium was truly massive, an empty space fit for the conference of even the four diamonds. Decoration - mostly weapon racks - were situated around the edge of the room.
The mirror was at the other end and Pearl wasted no time in getting to it. They straightened out their dishevelled hair and wiped away their tears, and tried for a shaky smile.
Not half bad. Pearl bowed to their reflection and backed away, saying quietly, "I live to serve."
That was when their foot struck a rack, which tumbled to the ground with a loud crash. Pearl squeaked in fear and jumped back before they stepped forwards and picked it up again, casting a nervous eye towards White Diamond's door.
Their mistress didn't appear to have heard. Pearl was just about to sneak off again when they noticed a sword had been left on the ground. It was a sabre; it had a double-edged thin, long blade with a golden hand guard and hilt.
Pearl carefully picked it up, holding it by the grip with the blade pointing away from her. They stayed poised over the weapon rack for a second, caught in a sudden indecision.
They should put it away, now, and run back to their room before anybody was any the wiser. But nobody came in this atrium unless White Diamond wished it, and the only one Pearl had been notified of was the visitor from Earth. They were a pearl, they weren't supposed to use, much less touch a sword. But something about this weapon felt right in their hands, like this was how it was supposed to be.
If they were caught, they would be shattered. But that was already to be their fate. So, with nothing to lose, Pearl stepped out of line, towards the centre of the atrium.
With no formal training in the way of the sword, Pearl tried out a wild slash. It came down too close to their feet and they jumped back, the point scraping against the floor. Steadying themselves, they tried out a slower stab, moving their feet forwards as they did. They felt the power in their thin joints, and it brought a smile to their face.
Stepping forwards once more into a wide stance, Pearl imagined they were battling with some great foe, and pretended to block their attack from above. They thrust again, eyes bright, and then slashed, this time angling the strike so it wasn't aiming for a foot.
Thrown slightly off balance by the inexperienced moves, Pearl jumped to the side, then tucked and rolled to a standing position. How did they do that? They didn't know, they didn't care. They faced their fantasy foe head on, no longer a servant but a fierce, fearless warrior, and kicked before whirling around and-
"Oh, my stars!" Pearl's blade struck something hard, throwing the servant out of their imagination. They cried out, lost their footing and fell onto the ground, the sword having been knocked out of their hand and clattered to the floor a ways away.
Pearl covered their face from where they had fell. "Don't hurt me! I'm so sorry, I-I meant no harm, I got carried away!"
"No, no." A soft voice answered theirs. "Don't worry about me: I'm used to swords flying at my face. You, on the other hand... I think I gave you a bit of a scare, I'm sorry."
Pearl cracked open an eye. "You're... sorry?" They saw above them a great pink lady with a star shape cut out of their beautiful bright dress, in the centre of which was a rose-quartz gemstone. In one hand was a great pink shield, and the other was outstretched towards them. They were smiling gently.
"It's okay." The Rose Quartz Gem cracked a smile. "I'm not going to hurt you."