She is being insane.

Definitely insane.

So if she was insane, she should be a good obedient Pearl and report it so she could be shattered, while a new Pearl replaces her to serve Pink. Then again... there was a pearl before her. She was replacing that one... Were they insane too? They definitely did not do this.

Not doing this…

So… why was she doing this?

Because it will make Pink happy, not because it made her feel like her whole light projection was twitching in anticipation.

It felt…

Horrible.

Insane.

Nervous.

Anxious.

Failure.

And…

And…

So good!

Nearly as good as being praised for her service by her diamond… no, it felt maybe on pair with it.

Pearl stopped at the warp pad. Righting her posture, and forcing her grin into a polite smile down and looking at one of the gem walls.

"How do I look?" She asked the closest wall. Who looked a bit surprised. Then again they were both things. On occasion, it was fine to talk with each other. Especially when no other gem was around. The pink wall gave her a critical look.

"You look like a Pearl with an important task to do." The wall responded in a whisper. Pearl nodded, as it was what she aimed for Pearl stepped on the pad. The wrap light activated and in a flash, she was exactly where she planned to go.

Walking down the path took her to the barracks. Countless Amethyst, Jaspers and Rubies were hurrying around. Pearl felt like her light projection would just poof at any second as she with easy and light steps went onward, going towards the rubies section. She spended the last few cycles reading all the reports and collecting all the available data on this. She knew where she had to go.

It was a blessing Pink was too busy with the trial and afterwards with her court to want reports on the mysterious pearl.

She didn't believe she could tell any.

It was horrible.

She couldn't function properly. She found herself doodling the mysterious pearl during the trial!

Blue Pearl found the doodle cute.

Blue Pearl didn't tell on her, for being distracted. Yellow Pearl wouldn't tell on her either, but she would have been smug about it, grinning at her mistake.

The ruby commander greeted her, caught off guard that a diamonds pearl was within their humble walls.

"That what I said, "Perl repeated herself. " I am here to inspect the status of your armoury. To take a few representative weapons out of your armoury. That can testify of your armoury state. You are to show me weapons used by gems whose natural weapon capability are not adequate enough for the most combat situation."

The ruby commander blinked at her rapidly. As if trying to prove to her eyes she would not vanish. Pearl did not move. The second in command ruby leaned closer.

"I think she means to look at our swords, in storage."

"Right, right. Must be because of that incident. I understand completely." The commander nodded. "Would want to make sure her court is protected with the best we have, even by our less skilled squad members! Pink diamond is truly impeccable and so radiant!"

The ruby started to lead her. It took all her control not to try to dance her way after the ruby.

The door opened and she was shown a messy room.

Clean it all.

Sort it all.

Collect it all.

Keep it all.

She didn't do any of it.

Her fingers twitched and she looked down at her feet. The ruby noticing her avoiding to look at the mess cleared her thought and awkwardly spoke. "Um… sorry about the mess we didn't await you… and the inspection..."

She nodded. There was an awkward pause where the ruby stared at her and she stares politely at her feet. Slowly she looked to the side to meet the ruby eyes.

"...Maybe, you could show me some presentable items, in here?" Pearl offered.

The ruby jumped onto the task.

She left the barracks with two axes, one sword, two knives, one spear and one whip stored in her gem. She walked with purpose as she kept on attempting to sense the weapons inside her pearl.

She needed to summon them, she felt like at any moment she would be called by someone and demanded to explain herself. No, as they would just shatter her on the spot, things do not get trials. She had to hold them in, she felt dizzy. Slowly blinking she focused, to empty her head of any thoughts.

Familiar empty.

Broken by the unfamiliar weight and shapes.

Just familiar enough.

She returned to her diamond side. It was all good.

Not even a tenth of the cycle passed and her diamond was going to visit white diamond.

That was great.

Visits to white diamond would always take so long. One time she and Yellow pearl were waiting outside white diamonds room for so long that they started talking about nonsensical and unimportant things, that how long it lasted. It was an odd conversation filled with words that did not matter.

This time it would be just her.

The big white door was just in front of them.

"My diamond," Pearl called bowing deeply. Her diamond stopped, turning to look at her, as she was about to tell her Pearl to wait here. Pearl hurriedly continued. Waiting she couldn't do. The weapons were so heavy inside her gem.

"May I prepare the report about mysterious pearl while you are with White diamond, my diamond?" She offered. A no would... would ... would be bad.

"Sure! That's a great idea! Do that!" Pink hummed and the white door opened causing Pink to jump up and float through the door.

Pearl waited till the door slammed shut before she righted herself up.

Her fingers twitched. Not a no, but a do that. So dizzying.

If her diamond actually knew she was about to use the weapons she hid in her gem, would she still say to do that? Would she be saying it if she knew that Pearl tricked Rubies to give her weapons claiming she was doing an inspection for her diamond.

She didn't exactly claim what her diamond ordered an inspection.

She is doing this for her diamond... And even if it wasn't order till now…It was more like she just did it a bit ahead of time. She simply allowed them to assume the most logical reason, allowed them to concluded from her belonging to Pink diamond that she did it at her diamonds explicit order. Because what else was there in a Pearl case? Things d not think for themselves, or act on their own. But things can do things for their diamond ahead of time, right? Right. There is nothing else for a Pearl then obey and be honest.

And apparently omitting facts.

Pearl slowly blinked her eyes closed, feeling the weapons inside her pearl.

Calling them nearly out before she pushed them back.

Just as slowly she opened her eyes and turned around. She picked a spot already. She had to go there now.

She walked with determination. A spot where no walls could see her, no gems patrolled during their routines.

No one asked her where she was going as she warped out White diamonds complex. No one stopped her as she walked out onto the street. Several gems were hurrying here and there, while several pearls looked at her as she passed them. Some with their masters some alone on fetching tasks.

Pearl knew each of the pearls would consider this cycle to be a good one, a lucky one now that they saw a diamonds pearl up and close. Like a good omen.

She never did meet their glances, as it would be inappropriate to do so.

And storing weapons in your gem without your diamond explicit approval, is not?

That did not count, Pink diamond said I could prepare the report.

And not telling her that preparing it means you going to hide in an old kindergarten swinging weapons is not inappropriate?

She turned left and she was alone. Blinking slowly she looked around. Still no one.

Maybe it was inappropriate... but it made her diamond happy. That was more important. That was her reason she was given to Pink. To make her happy.

And sure it doesn't have to do anything with that you want to know how it feels...

She blinked deliberately.

Her mind became blank as she found the tunnel opening. It was smaller than recorded, as half of the opening was covered with rocks. She carefully climbed in. Pulling her wide dress closer to her body to not get caught on the edged corners of the rocks. SHe was faced with darkness.

Her gem lighting up to show her the way in the dark.

It was making her feel odd, she never realized how it never truly was silent. There were always the walls, the pebbles and countless gems moving, if not talking always pouring through the windows and doors. Now there were only her own steps.

She stopped moving.

Now there were not even her steps.

Silence.

This was silence.

She took it in.

Why?

If Pink diamond asked why would the mysterious Pearl take in the silence ...what would she say?

Her gem glowed, a projection of the mysterious Pearl standing in front of her. Silent just like what was surrounding her. The black was tinted by blue light because of her projection.

The mysterious pearl took a step towards her.

It scared her.

She dropped the projection.

Why?

In silence, one's doubts are so much easier to hear.

With an answer to at least one why, she made it deeper into the tunnels, stopping at one hallway that ended with an exit hole. Left and right solid walls with other exit holes of smaller gems. It would do.

She summoned the weapons and placed them on the ground in an orderly fashion.

She took them in. Eyes roaming the shapes, the colours.

She felt watched. She could imagine the other pearl watching her, arms crossed over her chest waiting for her to pick a weapon already. Pearl felt her lips tug into a smile at that.

Slower than she had to, she went down on one knee in front of the various weapons and carefully picked up the sword one.

The other pearl nodded.

Pearl nodded herself.

Standing up she moved the sword aimlessly around, it did have a weight to it. And when she moved it faster it would cut the air and make a sound. Such an odd sound.

"What ya doing there?"

Pearl jumped letting go of the sword, seeing it starting to fall and reaching to catch it somehow ending up hugging the weapon in both her hands.

Eyes big and wide she looked up. There was a thin Jasper staring at her. Just several feet away from her.

She didn't know what to do.

Panic.

Pearl's eyes saw what wasn't there, the other pearl launching herself at the Jasper and slamming her sword down on her. Poofing her.

Pearl's legs moved, springing after the other pearl, trying to do it, swinging the sword down onto the Jasper.

There was never a poof.

The Jasper held the sword in her hand, blocking her attempt.

Pearl was staring.

Did she really tried to...

Why did it felt so...

Why is she feeling happy she tried!?

She failed! And as the thin Jasper eyes went to her chest studying her dress, there was no mistaking she realized whose pearl she was. If she just belonged to a lower gem, if she just was one of many...

Or actually hid her clothes and face, as other pearl does.

Another why answered.

For next time she had made a black outfit.

As if there will be a next time.