Chapter 4:

You were just a Phase…

When Pearl hastily exited the temple, she took notice of the living room, and saw that Connie was waiting patiently on the couch, and she was dressed in her training wardrobe. "Hi Pearl!" She exclaimed. "Are you ready to…" But before she could finish speaking, she immediately began gazing up and down at Pearl's demeanor, then became a little concerned as she asked, "Is everything okay!? You look a little flustered! Why is your hair wet!?"

"Oh," Pearl replied, as she looked herself over. "I hadn't noticed. I just came from my room, so that explains the moisture." When she ran her fingertips through the ends of her hair, she closed her eyes and her gem began to glow, then in an instant her appearance was normal again. "So how can I help you, Connie?" She asked, as she walked towards her.

When Pearl sat down, Connie watched as she crossed her legs, then she began fiddling with her fingernails. She stared at her, and tried to figure out why she was behaving so oddly, but all Connie could see was that Pearl was smiling and she began to adjust the bow on the back of her tunic.

"Well," Connie uncomfortably said. "Aren't we going to train?"

"Umm," Pearl murmured, "Well Connie, I'm glad you're here because that's what I've been meaning to talk to you about. Do you ever feel like this Gem business is beyond you? I mean after all, you're just a human. There's certain aspects about our culture that you may never understand, and I don't expect you to, but maybe you would be better off with your own kind." With that Connie's heart skipped a beat, then she simply bowed her head, and began to sigh a little.

"Sometimes I feel that way," she whispered. "Sometimes I feel like I don't even belong here with any of you." Then she looked up at Pearl and asked, "Do you mind if I talk to you about something?"

To which Pearl nervously replied, "Umm, Sure! What is it!? But make it quick please!"

After hearing her response, Connie raised her eyebrow at her, then she quietly replied, "Well, it's about Steven. I'm not sure how to say this, but yesterday we kissed each other, and I felt my self-resisting. It felt really awkward. I mean I really like Steven, but only as a friend! And I'm not saying that we wouldn't be together someday, or that we wouldn't be a couple, but should I have let him kiss me?!"

"NO, NO!" Pearl shouted, as she placed her hands on Connie shoulder. "You should always trust your instincts! If it didn't feel right, then you were right to say no!" Then Pearl quickly stood up from the couch and said, "Well now, that was a pleasant talk! Take care Connie!"

"But I'm not done!" Connie exclaimed. Then she became startled, as she saw Pearl leap to the top of the loft to retrieve Steven's clothes, then she leaped down into the living room and began briskly walking towards the temple door. "Bye Connie!" Pearl replied. "It was nice seeing you!"

"WAIT A MINUTE!" Connie shouted. "Where are you going!? I thought we were training today!?"

Suddenly Pearl stopped, then she turned to face her and said, "There will be no training today. In fact, there will be no more training at all. We've decided as a group; Garnet, Amethyst, myself, as well as Steven, that we will no longer train with you anymore. We believe it's too dangerous, and we're concerned for your safety, so we've decided to discontinue. I hope you understand, bye…"

In not waiting for a response, Pearl turned, and began walking towards her bedroom door. But before she could get any further, she suddenly felt the sensation of Connie's hand touching her shoulder, and by the momentum of her arm pull, she was once again facing her.

"Why are you ignoring me!?" Connie angrily asked. Then she glared at Pearl and continued. "I want to hear it from Steven! I don't believe you! Where is he, and why do you have his clothes!?"

Then Pearl became frustrated as she replied, "Trust me when I say, we care for your safety! We don't want anything bad to happen to you! Steven is with Greg right now! These are some of his dirty clothes, and I plan on washing them! Now if there isn't anything else, I believe we're DONE HERE! So please see yourself out! BYE!"

As Pearl tried to walk, Connie once again stopped her and replied, "I just saw Greg! Steven's not with him, you're lying! I don't trust you Pearl! But if Steven's not man enough to tell me himself, then I'll make that determination on my own!" Then she paused for a moment, as she became emotional, then she continued, "Fine! You don't want me here anymore, then I'll leave, I won't come around! But I'm leaving on my own accord!"

As the two were staring at each other, Pearl looked at her confused and asked, "Okay, I'm afraid I don't understand! What is that you want!? What are you trying to say!?"

"I want a match!" Connie snapped, as she got right in Pearl's face. "I want to take you on! If you defeat me, then I'll leave and I won't ever come back! But if I win, then I'm staying, and I want to talk with Steven!"

"Then you'll see that you're wrong!"

With that, Pearl felt a chill running through her body as she began to process Connie's request. She found it difficult to prevent herself from laughing, as she looked back at her and replied, "I think your definition of DEFEAT, differs from my own! Normally when I defeat an opponent, they cease to be in existence! Now if you're asking to challenge me, then I'll oblige your request, and the results will be upheld…"

As Pearl confidently smiled at her, she suddenly felt the sting of Connie's hand hitting her face, then her eyes became wide with shock.

"I hope you were a good fuck for him!" Connie whispered, as she glared at Pearl. "It's nice to know that Steven can get things CHEAP around here.." After she finished her words, Pearl held the side of her face, in shock, then she could feel her blood boiling inside.

With that Connie stepped onto the warp pad and finally said, "FYI Pearl, you might want to learn how to conceal those RED BLEMISHES on your neck!" After she finished speaking, a beam of light came down upon the warp pad, and Connie was gone.

In that moment, Pearl's body began tingling, as she struggled to keep her composure. She quickly entered her room, then Steven's voice echoed as she tossed him his clothing, and she just as quickly she exited her room as well.

Ancient Sky Arena

When Pearl stepped off the warp pad, and marched into the arena, Connie was already standing before her with her sword drawn. "Are you ready to begin?" Pearl sternly whispered, as she summoned a spear from her gem. "Remember your training and you might stand a chance." In not saying anything, however, Connie simply lunged at Pearl and began her attack. Loud sounds echoed throughout the arena, as the steel from Connie's sword struck against Pearl's spear.

"I think you may have taught me too well!" Connie exclaimed, as she gracefully wielded her weapon. "All of those years of training! I know everything! You made a big mistake!" But Pearl ignored her words, as her eyes were fixated on her opponent's blade, and she easily dogged the attacks. When Connie thrusted her sword, she was caught off guard, as she saw Pearl leap high into the air, and she was now standing on top of the blade itself.

"Almost everything," Pearl replied, as she gazed down at Connie. "You have a lot to learn, but you won't be learning it from me. I apologize, but these are Steven's wishes." Connie's mouth dropped, as she looked at the neck of the blade and saw Pearl's feet. She was amazed at how light the blade felt, even with Pearl standing on top of it, and she observed how balanced she was. "Why don't you take a fencing class at the community college?" Pearl insited. "You're 18. I'm sure there are other students who share the same interest as you, and they're probably more closely related to your skill set…"

With that, Connie became enraged as she aggressively swung her weapon, and she tried her best to injure Pearl. In doing so, she closed her eyes for a moment, then she opened them, and when she did her opponent was gone. "We don't have to do this!" Pearl's voice echoed throughout the arena. "Just go home and move on with your life! I don't want you to get hurt!"

But Connie was defiant, as she too shouted out, "Bring it on Bitch! I'm not afraid of you!" Suddenly, Connie could feel her blade releasing from her grip, as she felt a sharp blow to the center of her back, and she had the wind knocked out of her. As she went rolling across the arena, out of the corner of her eye she caught a glimpse of Pearl kneeling down to retrieve her weapon. When she finally came to a stop, she immediately began holding her abdomen, as she struggled to catch her breath, then she saw Pearl walking towards her with both the spear and the sword in hand.

"I could have killed you," Pearl exclaimed, as she held the sword towards Connie's throat.

"So why didn't you!?" Connie angrily asked, as she slowly began to breathe normal again.

"Oh, I don't know," Pearl replied. "I guess I don't want your death on my conscience. Also, I know Steven would be really upset with me if you died… you know with you being his FRIEND and all…"

Then she kneeled down in front of Connie and finally said,

"Sorry dear, but you were just a phase…"

"Steven has a new lady in his life, and I can take care of him in ways that you never could! I'll be there for him whenever he needs me, I'll tend to his every desire, and I'll NEVER SAY NO…"

"Also, I'm sorry honey but I think he finds me to be a little more appealing!"

When Pearl finished her remarks, suddenly a large shadow slowly engulfed the two, then Connie looked up and began to smile a little. As Pearl turned to see who it was, all of the strength that she had was instantly drained from her body, then she immediately cried out, "GARNET!? WAIT! PLEASE LET ME EXPLAIN!"