White Pearl entered the room without a chime, simply floating through the door. How inappropriate, Pearl found. It was only a bit more than a single cycle since Pink Diamond and Pearl saw the white gem in the archive. A single cycle where everything felt right. Just her and her diamond. A cycle where Pearl pleased her diamond as a proper Pearl should.

White Pearl interrupted that.

White Pearl announced.

"White Diamond has a message for Pink Diamond."

Pink stood up from the pillow they spent the cycle on. Pearl followed suit, standing beside her diamond. It was a nice cycle. Pearl liked this cycle a lot. It was so … relaxing. Recovering. It started with Pearl giving her diamond the gem line data, but soon enough it turned into Pearl telling and retelling the Renegade story, till it was simply them talking about Renegade and so much more. Simply filling their time with their voices. Unburden and light.

Now...

Now Pink was saying that she was ready to hear the message from White Diamond to White Pearl.

White Pearl opened her lips, but the voice that left her was of White Diamond. Strong, powerful, unwavering, the symbol of perfection. It made Pearl think of fear. Shivers running down her light body. The diamond that shines like a light. The diamond that was like the light itself unchanging perfection. Eternal.

"What were you thinking Pink? Of course, you didn't think. You never do before you act. "

The diamonds voice was having the intonation of caring but...it didn't feel like caring to Pearl. Pearl saw Pink body twitch at the words of her fellow diamond delivered through her Pearl. Yet Pink keeping herself still. Pink diamond was trying so hard not lash out. Instead, she said in a small voice.

"I was not playing a game..." Pink tried to say more but White kept on talking cutting the words short. White Pearl was not moving an inch. Her lips didn't even move as the voice was leaving her. It was eerie.

White was in a dangerous mood.

Pearl simply knew. Pearl kept the saluting pose keep on looking from the corner of her eye.

"Well, at the very least you did try to learn about a diamond responsibility, even if you tried to do it all wrong and so late. "The voice kept on talking, never stopping feeling cold to Pearl. "Pink you should have done this several centuries ago. Ah, yes you couldn't because you only wanted to play games back then."

Pink flinched like she was hit, Pearl bit her own lip to not wince in sympathy.

"You liked my games...back then..." Pink diamond was not looking good, mumbling her response, they were so happy when it was just them on the pillow. But now White was here and all warmth was slipping away. What should she do? There was nothing she could do now... If she said anything does anything she would be destroyed, PInk would be left alone and ... sad...

Definitely couldn't do anything now...but she could do after... Pink just had to hold out a bit longer...

Pearl hoped to luck, Pink could hold out a bit longer.

"Starlight, I love you. Never doubt that." Pink nodded eyes closed. Her hands moving to wrap them around herself. She was hugging herself.

" I only want what is perfect for you. That's why I will be teaching you." White words didn't change in tone, but Pink reacted to them as if they did. The hands dropped out the hug, hanging in the air in disbelieve. Eyes opening, making a step closer to White Pearl.

"Really?!" Pink was shining with happiness. Pearl shyly looked at White Pearl, more directly.

"Are you questioning me starlight?" White Pearl didn't move. So perfectly still. Pearl's fingers twitched as if to prove they could.

"Sorry White, it just I am really ha..." Pink was starting to swing on her feet, holding herself still but barely avoiding to burst into motion. Jittery.

"Yes, yes. "Pearl could easily see in her mind white waving her hand as she kept on speaking cutting Pink words of excitement short. "Every cycle my pearl will bring you a lesson. I await you to study it with great care. Every tenth cycle I will await you in my headship. I will test you on how well you understood the lessons. So I can adjust your next lessons to how well you progress."

Pink eyes shined, pure joy was all but rolling off the diamond in the room. Pearl could see the pebbles peeking out, even in herself she felt like she could dance for her diamond. Seeing her so happy... Eyes once more focused on White Pearl... No reaction. Her lips were still parted. White had more to say.

"Good, now what do we say?"

"Thank you, White Diamond! You are as perfect as always! I love you! " Pink jumped closer about to hug White Pearl, yet stopping herself with arms wide open. Something passed her diamonds expression... Reluctance and sadness. The voice continued on and PInks hands dropped by her side.

"Good, good. I am sure you will not disappoint or waste my time. " With that White diamond message ended, white pearl closed her parted lips and left the first white screen with the lesson. The Pearl floated to the door and oddly waited for the door to open before floating out appropriately. Pink eagerly started reading it. Pearl waited for white Pearl to float out the door before she started to move. Watching for the door to close after her. With just them, Pearl looked at Pink who was absorbed in the lesson.

She looked so happy…Pearl didn't want to intrude. She left the room and organised the duties ahead of time. Another cycle came and went. The sun raised and set.

Pearl didn't speak a single word with Pink in the next cycle, either. She watched silently as White Pearl hovered in giving another screen and leaving. Once more not chiming, but at least waiting for the door to open.

The third cycle came and went. White Pearl came and went. No chime either, simply entering a diamonds room. Like it was nothing.

Pearl, didn't speak with Pink that cycle either. Her diamond was so focused on reading and studying. She couldn't just interrupt her…. She tried to be a good object and just stand in one place by the door…

Except it was so hard...

As the fourth cycle started the morning sun flowing in the room, Pearl approached her diamond. She couldn't resist.

"My Diamond... I ... I adjusted the court activity to be held after your test with White Diamond, after that the extraction can be done, allowing you more time to study White diamonds lessons."

Pink didn't look at her as she nodded, she was so determined. Pearl… felt the need to be in the darkness. Away from this lonely yet not alone. It didn't help that she had trouble simply standing around like an object. An object she was. Pink was happy, that all that mattered… So why not stand in a corner like a pretty ornament, Pink didn't need her… so why couldn't she just be content with waiting?

So why not turn herself off… blankly staring ahead. Empty… Why the need for motion, her fingers twitching wanting to hold the sword again… why did she keep imaging herself in the kindergarten swinging her weapons around in training... Swinging the sword filled with her ... worry. Absurd. Yet she was worried.

Why was it now so hard? It never was before… what was making Pearl so worried...

Worry…

White Diamond.

That was it, wasn't it…

Pearl felt it was too easy… She felt that something dangerous was happening right in front of her eyes… but she didn't know what… What was the perfect white diamond doing to the precious Pink diamond?

Will, it hurt Pink diamond?

Nothing bad was occurring, though. Maybe it truly was just White giving lessons to Pink to help her be a better diamond… Pearl wished Yellow or Blue diamond were around. Pearl had to leave, just long enough to sort it out in her own gem. Maybe she was simply...

Its already sorted.

Stir-crazy.

She was probably just overreacting… Probably had to look at something else than this four walls. White said she loved Pink. So that is the truth.

White loved Pink.

It was just the odd think of being just an unneeded object that was causing her trouble. SHe got simply too used to Renegade. To going out and do something. Being Renegade would give her something to do, a purpose… Clam her down, calm down the spinning storm inside her.

Pearls fingers twitched longing for a sword. So she asked, completely aware it was inappropriate... or that she was running away in a sense.

"... May I go prepare the story my Diamond? Or would you wish me to stay in case... you want to access the archive information in my gem?" Pearl offered. Her Diamond looked at her, really seeing her for the first time in a few cycles.

"You can go, I don't need to read everything from the archive." Pink beamed happily. So happy. So shining, so warm... " White is sure to have a system, you know. Pick what is important and teaching me in the best order and all that."

Pearl smiled back at her beaming diamond, watching as Pink was placing to the side the white screen she read over and over again. "She is actually trying! Doing something she doesn't have to! For me! "

Worry.

Nothing to worry.

Everyone adores Pink, even White.

" So I mean something to her! "Pink was standing up. "They will treat me as a real diamond in no time, maybe I will even get a colony! " Pink giggled and Pearl felt at easy. Relaxing.

"Imagine the two of us building a colony! On our own planet."

"I can imagine it my diamond if you want me," Pearl responded, her diamond rolling her eyes.

"I bet she has just a bit of trouble seeing past failure with me, because of my past record. All the bad mistakes I have made..." Her diamond moved closer to her Pearl, her smile turning sad... Pearl reached out with her hand. Wordlessly Pink hand found its way to hers. "But I have a chance to prove my self! " Pink continued to talk. "And it wouldn't have happened without you!"

"I didn't do anything my diamond."

Pink shook her head and pulled Pearl easily closer to herself hugging her. Pearly blinked in surprise, but she didn't mind. It was nice and warm. Pearl breathed deeply in, taking in the smell of her diamond for the first time. This was good, this was what she craved. Pinks free hand caressed her hair.

"So do whatever you want. You earned it!" Pink diamond was in such a high spirit pulling away from pearl and Pearl smiled at her. Missing the touch already. It wouldn't do to distract her. Her chest felt so warm now. Fluttering feelings spreading in every bit of her projection. She felt like she could float if she just jumped hard enough. Tha will have to be enough for her. Enough to hold her over.

"I am so happy for your joy my diamond." Pearl beamed back, telling her she will prepare the renegade story.

So she left.

The Renegade Pearl soon emerging from under the big water pipe. Sun high in the sky.