The Rose and the Pearl

The gallery was long and hollow, an ancient chamber that was brightly lit as if to conceal the dust and dankness that had slowly built up over centuries. The footsteps of the Gems preceded them down the long gallery: one set quiet and purposeful, the other quick and hurrying.

"Thank you so much for gracing us with your presence this glorious day!" The Goshenite exalted, bowing her rectangular head so low it nearly scraped the floor. She quickly snapped upright and jogged to keep up with his customer as she continued walking. "We were ever so pleased when we received word that you yourself would be making the selection!"

The other Gem chuckled. "I'm sure you were, Goshenite. Now please, the Pearls?"

The lower Gem nodded enthusiastically. "Just this way, my Lady Rose Quartz." She pressed her gem — located at the hollow of her throat — and the door before them opened in a blast of blue light. "This is the waiting room for our main batch, I'll be sure to separate out the ones made especially for you."

They walked down a short ramp and into a large antechamber lined with floor-to-ceiling mirrors. Crowded into the space were about a hundred or so identical Pearls. As Rose and the Goshenite manager watched, the Gems below all raised their arms in synchronization, bending slightly at the waist so they curved into perfect crescents. As one, they danced en pointe, twirling effortlessly in the space with a swish of skirts. The mass of identical Pearls shifted and stretched like a great wave, mesmerizing in its movement and purpose. Rose watched with tight eyes, a thin smile on her face.

The Goshenite clapped her hands together sharply and the dancers froze. A hundred identical heads all shot up to the new arrivals.

"Batch number 4128 Pearls please come forward to be inspected." The Goshenite barked, none of her pleasant nature coming through in the orders. "The rest of you scatter, do not disturb Rose Quartz as she selects her Pearl!"

The Pearls obeyed without question, such was their nature. About thirty came forward to the center of the room and lined up in a straight line, the others mingled about the edges of the room, staring blankly at their faces in the mirror.

Rose stepped onto the floor, the Goshenite proceeding her to make sure everything was perfect.

"As you requested, here are the generated Pearls for your inspection, my Lady."

Rose examined the line of identical copies, each one staring politely past her as she walked by. The Goshenite followed her, nearly tripping over herself to explain the inventory.

"Made to order, every single one a dancer! Just like you requested."

Rose paused in the line, examining one about a quarter of the way down. "What about the other attributes I asked for?" She inquired, inspecting the Pearl's long nose, pure white skin and spherical gem set high in her forehead.

"Ah yes," Goshenite continued, snapping her fingers at the Pearl she was watching until it came out of line and bowed low. "I can assure you they are all polite, clean, organized, and clever. With all due respect though your Diamondness, I fail to see how that last one is useful."

Rose watched the prostrate Pearl with little interest, ignoring the way the Goshenite was practically panting to anticipate her next demand.

She turned away from the line and her gaze was drawn to the edges of the room. All the differently batched Pearls were staring blankly at their reflections in the mirrors, waiting for their next set of orders from the Goshenite to free them. Rose's attention moved gradually around the edge of the room, growing increasingly bored, until a flicker of movement caught her eye.

The Pearl in the furthest corner of the room, the only one with two mirrors to gaze into, wasn't looking at her own reflection. The Gem's head was fixed pointedly at the floor, her eyes closed tight like she were trying to disappear entirely.

"What about that one?" Rose heard herself asking, interrupting the Goshenite's tirade about just how flexible this particular batch of Pearls was.

She followed her gaze and chuckled.

"Oh, you don't want that one Rose Quartz…she's defective, doesn't follow all the orders she's given."

As the manager spoke, the Pearl in the corner noticeably stiffened, her fist curling up into a tight ball.

Rose was intrigued. "What else?"

"What…else?" The manager seemed confused.

"What else is so 'wrong' with her?" Rose asked, taking a few steps closer to the defective Pearl.

The Goshenite stumbled after her, leaving the batch of Pearls standing uselessly behind her. "Well…what else matters?" She asked Rose. A Pearl who didn't follow orders was a useless toy. "She was originally meant to be part of your batch but when we noticed she was defective, we thought it best not to present her with the others." Her hand fluttered as if to grab her arm and stop her movement towards the cornered Pearl but she thought better of it mid-action. "We can easily make more!" she assured her, rushing to stand in front of the advancing Quartz, her hands up in an accommodating gesture. "she'll just take her place working the Incubators or in the Caverns. Most of our defects end up in the Fractured District…especially those who cant follow orders…"

The defect was visibly shaking now. In the reflection, Rose swore she saw a single tear fall from its eye.

She turned her brightest smile on the manager. "I will examine her." She said in a voice that held no room for questions.

The Goshenite jumped in surprise but made a good change by not questioning her demand. She turned on her heel and gestured at the curled up Pearl. "Defect! You there! Come here."

The defective Pearl turned around slowly, her off-white skin coloring a slight blue under her cheeks. Rose tilted her head slightly at this. Pearls were meant to be pure white. The Pearl unfolded herself and took slow, graceful steps over towards them.

"Present yourself before Rose Quartz!" the Goshenite hissed at her out of the corner of her mouth, smiling widely at Rose.

The Pearl bowed her head, her fists clenched loosely at her sides. "Your Diamondness." She murmured quietly, in a chipped voice.

Rose examined the Gem's stone. It was set high in her forehead, much like the other Pearls lined up behind her, but rather than protruding from her body in a circular shape, this one's gemstone was smoothed and oval, rising only slightly off her skin. Her form was lither than the others, her hair coming to a stubborn point at the back of her head rather than the high ponytails typical of Pearls.

"She wasn't cooled properly in the Chambers." The manager said, sounding like she were apologizing. "The Incubators in the ocean sector have been acting up lately, we don't know why. She was the last one made there that was capable of holding her form, the others just crumbled to bits."

The Pearl was shaking again, her fists closed tightly even as her gaze remained focused on the floor at Rose's feet. Rose dipped her head slightly to look at the other Gem's face. She was startled to see tears gathering in the corners of the Pearl's eyes.

Pearls did not show emotion. They were not made capable of processing such concepts.

Maybe that was why she did it.

"I'll take her."

The Pearl looked up, her eyes wide and disbelieving.

The Goshenite visibly jumped. "Ma'm?"

Rose Quartz smiled at her again. "I like things that I can fix." She admitted. "It's kind of my thing. I heal them."

She pretended not to notice the way the Pearl's gaze hardened and her form tensed.

The manager stammered a bit before beginning her rebuttal. "Your Diamondness…I must insist, with the reputation that this establishment maintains and the quality of stock you demand, this model will not fulfill your expectations…there is so much wrong with her my Lady, that I fear you will not…"

"I will take this one, Goshenite." She interrupted.

She could not argue with that voice. She bowed low. "alright, if you're sure." The Goshenite snapped at the Pearl, making her stiffen and turn towards her.

"Defect 4128, you are now the property of Rose Quartz of the Diamond Authority." She said in an unsympathetic voice. "Do you understand the role and duties you are now being given?"

The Pearl bowed stiffly. "I do and I am glad to serve." She said in that same chipped voice.

The Goshenite nodded.

"Do feel free to return her for a full refund if she causes you any trouble whatsoever." She murmured to Rose as she left, loud enough that the Pearl could hear.

The Pearl blushed furiously and stared at the floor.

Rose left the studio full of perfect copies behind, her new Pearl trailing after her.

Outside the dealer's studio, Rose felt a small tug on her arm and turned to the Pearl.

The defect's eyes were down. She knew it was shameful to address her master without being acknowledged. "Wh…why did you do that?" She asked, tears pricking the corner of her eyes again.

Rose just smiled.

"Come with me." She told the smaller Gem. "You'll be my Pearl."