*Woo chapter 1!*

Pearl looked ahead of her, wind blowing through her long hair as she rode on her white stallion. She had curled the front and put the rest in a pony tail, today was a sad day…it was the day Garnet had died. As rode, she felt tears swell in her eyes, the memory of a terrible event entered her mind as she past the old village Garnet lived in (which was now burnt to crisps and ruins.)

10 years ago…

"Why does your mistress want you back so early?" Pearl sighed; Garnet was called to leave early and return to work. "Well, I have duties to attend to. But, I was lucky enough too able to stay last night." Garnet smiled, "Don't worry, princess." She took a hold of Pearl's chin gently lifting it, "I'll be back."

Pearl felt as though as she was flying in the clouds, she wrapped her arms around Garnet and hugged her tightly, "You promise?" Garnet hugged her back, "I promise." Their moment didn't last very long until a maid entered, "Garnet? Your mistress is waiting outside for you." Garnet broke the hug and turned to the maid, "Thank you, I'll be right out." The smiled and nodded, soon exiting the room. Garnet left as well, leaving the princess to herself.

Pearl was upset her best and only friend had left. But, she knew Garnet had to work for a place to stay, and for food. Then an idea hit Pearl, 'That's it!' She ran as fast as she could to the throne room, "Father!" A strong, noble king smiled at his daughter and said, "Yes, my little girl?"

"Father, may I request something?"

"Anything you wish for, my daughter." The king was a little surprised that his daughter had finally wanted something. The last she had wanted something, it was a huge feast for her birthday and the whole kingdom was to be invited so that the poor could eat. 'She is so much like her mother.' Thought the king every time the young girl tried to do something noble, or just to be nice to the poor souls that went without things.

"Will you please allow Garnet to stay in the palace?"

"Who?"

"Garnet, the girl who stayed with me last night. She's my best friend and I want what's best for her."

The king sighed happily, "Well, alright. But, she will have to work as a servant." Pearl jumped with joy, "Oh, could she be my personal servant? Please?" King laughed, "Alright, alright. I will have a messenger sent to their home and Garnet will be brought back tonight, okay?" Pearl nodded, and ran off to her bedroom, 'With Garnet as my personal servant, she will practically live as a princess with me!' Pearl sat on her bed think of all the things she and Garnet would do together, but, her enjoyment didn't last long.

A maid burst through the door, she panted and barely breathed out, "Hide, princess!"

"W-what?! Why?!"

"Pirates!" Pearl gasped and ran straight for her closet, she sat in silence, until she heard the utility of the pirate's cannons. She prayed the firing would cease. After what felt like forever, the gun fires stopped. "Princess, you may come out now. They have left."

Pearl came out, but she noticed the maid had a very sad look on her face, and she seemed to be holding back some tears. "What is wrong?"

"The village…it is…destroyed…the Red Pirate has attacked, and I'm sorry to say, but, we have found no survivors…"

Pearl felt her heart break, "G-Garnet…she's…" Tears were now streaming out of Pearl's eyes, "No! No, t-this cannot be! Please, please t-tell me that this is not true!"

"I'm sorry your highness…"

Pearl felt warm tears rush down her face, 'It should not hurt this bad anymore…' But Pearl knew something no one else did, she knew why it hurt. She was in love Garnet, that whole time they were friends, Pearl felt something more. God, how she just wanted to see that smile one last time. 'Why? She was just an innocent young girl?'

Pearl stopped her horse at a small hut, which seemed to be untouched. She smiled; this was Garnet's first home. This is also the place that Pearl had first met Garnet…

A young princess skipped merrily through the small village, saying hello to everyone who was anyone. As she was helping an older woman carry a basket back into her home, she noticed a small, dark girl digging through a trash bin. 'Oh, that poor girl!' Pearl helped the elder and immediately ran to help the young girl, but she was gone. 'Hmm, now I wonder where she has gone.' Then Pearl noticed a dark shadow in a small alleyway, out of curiosity, she followed the shadow as it ran down the small ally.

When the shadow stopped, she noticed it was the same girl. "Excuse me, but, I was wondering if I could help you." The darker girl jumped, "U-uh, y-your majesty!" Pearl giggled as the girl stuttered, "It is alright, I will not harm you. What is your name?"

"My name is Garnet, princess."

"Just call me Pearl, now, you seem to be very hungry, Garnet. Would you like some food?"

Garnet nodded, "Yes, I would indeed!" Pearl smiled and dug through her small bag for the food her servant Mimi had packed. "Here you go!" She handed Garnet a thick piece of bread and an apple, "Thank you, miss!"

"You are very welcome! Now, I was wondering if you would like to come spend some time with me tomorrow. I would be very pleased if you did!" Garnet thought a minute then said, "But, you live in the palace…"

"So? I shall wait for by the front gates, and I would like it if you showed up around noon." Garnet nodded, "As you wish, princess."

Pearl smiled, her face stained with tears as the memory played over and over again in her mind. 'I should have saved you sooner…' After a few moments, Pearl turned her horse around and slowly trotted back towards the new village (it was built shortly after the old one was destroyed) just as she was drawing nearer to the village; she heard shrieks of children and women. She halted at the nearest woman who seemed to be running for her life.

"What is going on?!"

"Pirates!"

Pearl gasped, 'Not again!' She rushed her horse through the village trying to get to the castle, but before she knew it, she fell to the ground along with her horse. "Oof!" She rubbed her head and looked over at her horse, "No! C'mon Llia! Please! Please get up!" The horse lay on the ground, barely breathing; an arrow had gone through her neck. "No…" Her last friend had died, the only joy she really had left in the world died, 'Just like Garnet…' Rage filled her heart, "Those damn pirates!" She was about to stand when she felt someone pick her up.

She gasped as they lifted her up over their shoulder, "Put me down this instant!" But the kidnapper didn't respond they simply started walking towards a ship. When Pearl was sure she was their ship, the kidnapper put her down, allowing her to see who her kidnapper was. "You have some nerve tak-" Pearl stopped in mid-sentence when she saw who had taken her.

"G-Garnet?!"

"Aye, princess. You missed me?" Pearl was still dumbfounded that her best friend, whom she thought she lost, was back, and was, a pirate?! "Y-you're alive?!"

*Cliffhangers, one of my favorite things!*