Chapter XIV: Crystalline and Black Pearl

"Oh no," Pearl gasped quietly.

Crystalline was a beast, much like a Corrupted Gem, but could be summoned anytime if needed, but would basically sap the life out of you for the next 12 hours. They were known as the Awakened. Every Gem has them, including Steven.

"Pearl, who's that?" Steven asked, pointing towards Crystalline.

"An Awakened," Pearl shuttered in fear.

"What's an Awake-" Steven was stopped suddenly by Amethyst's mouth.

"Shh! She hasn't found us yet!" Amethyst responded.

But to contradict that theory, Crystalline growled, and leaped towards the Crystal Gems with speed and efficiency, poofing three Gems - Lapis, Phantom Quartz and Amethyst - with one fatal swoop.

Pearl was still frozen with fear. She was afraid of the Awakened. She was afraid of her Awakened. She needed it to rebel against White Diamond, her Diamond...She regretted that day, even after she found her preternatural love with Rose Quartz, Steven's mom.

"Pearl, come on! We need to fight her. It's our - " Steven's voice began to drown out. Pearl didn't know what to do. She was still scared of Crystalline. She lost consciousness with the world and kept on spiraling and spiraling out of control in a pit of darkness until eventually she landed into what she recognized as her mindscape.

Her Awakened, Black Pearl - but of human form - was there, as if she was waiting for her to come, just stood there quietly and eerily.

"Hello, Master Pearl."

"Black Pearl, what are you doing here?" Pearl cried out in alarm. "I haven't seen you in thousands of years!"

"That's because you think it's too harsh to save your friends. You didn't awaken me from my slumber during the last Gem War. YOU KILLED BISMUTH'S FRIENDS!"

"STOP IT!" Pearl yelled.

"Oh, really? I can think of many damn reasons why I should be summoned into battle."

"Steven...would be traumatized," Pearl said, weakly. She was crying.

"Oh, did I upset Master Pearl's feelings? Well, too bad, bucko. That's life. Earth life" Black Pearl added that last remark creepily.

"And why the hell do you think I care?" Pearl readied her spear quietly so that Black couldn't hear her with her rambling on about Pearl's weaknesses.

When Black wasn't paying attention, Pearl jumped up, high in the air, back facing Black. She did a graceful 360 in the air, zoomed fast down towards Black, who had her spear ready, and thrust her spear into Black Pearl's gemstone, instantly shattering and killing Black Pearl.

Pearl was breathing heavily after trying to fight off Black. But a voice still echoed throughout her mindscape.

"I'll be back soon."

Then, Pearl exited the mindscape and returned back to the real world, where he found Steven and Amethyst both trying to wake her up.

"PEARL!" they both cried out. "Thank God you're okay!" Steven added.

"He - I - what happened?" Pearl asked, holding her head in pain.

"Crystalline knocked you out, but we fused and defeated her!" Amethyst pointed to where Crystal Quartz lay, her clothes all ripped up and hair all riffled. She was out like a light.

Pearl sighed. "Thanks, you two."