As Lion was outside under the porch giving a yawn before going to sleep, the Gems, such as Pearl, Yellow, Onyx, along with Anaya, Blue, Violet, Jewel, Peridot, Soren, Amethyst, Pink, and Garnet were in Steven and Lapis' room sitting on the floor eating popcorn while watching Lonely Blade IV. On screen, two of the characters confront each other, one of them being the protagonist in the movie while the other, the antagonist. "It was you! You were the one who killed my brother. Cursing me to fight alone forever!"
"Oh Lonely Blade, you so lonely." Steven said with a sadden look at the said hero in the movie. "You think you can defeat me? The President of the Shadow Samurai Government?!" The said Samurai President told Lonely Blade as Steven began to sit on top of Garnet's hair. "What?! The janitor is the evil samurai president?! That's bananas!"
He sounded shocked before Yellow Pearl pointed out. "He's been in the background of every fight. It's completely apparent." After telling them Pearl then grabs the box. "It's not only that, look at this." She points towards the Samurai President. "He's on the cover of the box."
"We barely look at the box." Lapis told them in honesty before they looked back at the movie. "For my honor and for my brother! I will strike you down! Boomerang Blade!" Lonely Blade then throws swords at the Samurai President who jumps up dodging the attack. "Piercing Shadow of a Thousand...Screams!"
As the fight was beginning Steven shouted in chants. "Go, Lonely, go! Do the Boomerang Blade again!" Lapis giggled at Steven's chants as Pearl tells them. "Oh come on, this is ridiculous. Just look at their form, this is nothing like real sword fighting." Steven then tells her after laughing.
"It's just a movie, Pearl."
He and Lapis then grabbed a hand full of popcorn while Pearl told them. "Well, if you ever want to see a demonstration of proper sword techniques, I'd be happy to show you," Steven puts his hand on Pearl's head, staring excitedly. "Now?" She asked as Steven nodded, wanting to learn.
Later
At the training arena Pearl and the others moved to a large open area with tiled ground and marble pillars lining both sides of the area, all of which, is surrounded by low overhanging clouds.
"Alright, in order to give a proper demonstration I'm going to need a sparring partner." Pearl told them while holding two Swords as Steven begins to raise his hand before Lapis lowered it, allowing Pearl to continue. "Luckily, I have the perfect candidate right here."
She then summons a hologram of her, which was named Holo-Pearl, it looks a lot like Pearl but was transparent with blank eyes. "Cooool! Hologram Pearl!" Steven said happily as Amethyst laid on a cloud with Pink Pearl and Soren by her side. "Ah, geez." Holo-Pearl then asked in a holographic like tone. "Do you wish to engage in combat?"
"Let this be the perfect battle." Pearl said before tossing a sword to her hologram who catches the sword. "You've already made a mistake by challenging me!" Pearl's hologram taunted as it poses. "We shall let our swords decide." Pearl said after laughing before Amethyst shouted. "Nerd!" Spessartine and Pink Pearl laughed before being shushed.
Holo-Pearl then said. "Commencing duel." The holograms eyes redden and lunges towards Pearl. Seeing this the Leader blocked several of the hologram's attacks. "Defense rank S. Zero openings detected." Steven smiled and began to cheer.
"Go, Pearl, go!"
Amethyst then cheered. "Go Holo-Pearl!" Distracted by the cheering or mocking, the hologram disarms Pearl. "Opening detected." It then attacks, making Pearl dodge the incoming attack, sliding to her sword and then blocks another attack allowing her to lunge at the hologram, defeating it.
"Match set. Challenger wins." Steven cheered. "Woohoo! Yay, Pearl!" He then ran over to Pearl while her Holo-self asked. "Do you wish to battle again?" Steven began to circle around her. "Pearl! That was amazing, you were so cool!"
She began to blush a light-blue before laughing. "Oh-hoho, well, one does try their best." Steven began to make sword fighting actions while telling her excitedly. "Will you teach me to sword fight like you?!" When questioned the leader laughed before giving an answer. "Alright, but we should start with the basics." She then clears her throat.
"Initiate, training mode." After telling Holo-Pearl, the hologram rised to her feet. "Training mode initiated. Level 1. Begin!" Pearl then looked back at Steven. "I want you to stand back Steven, and watch me carefully, okay?"
He nodded as Holo-Pearl shouts while beginning her basic attack sequence. "Parry! Parry! Thrust! Parry! Parry! Thrust!" She chanted continuously as Steven watched. "Do you see what I'm doing with my feet, Steven? Notice where I keep my center of gravity."
"Aw, can you show us something cool? Like the Boomerang Blade!" Steven asked, losing excitement. "Steven, you know that's not a real sword technique." After telling him he then began to chant. "Boomerang Blade! Boomerang Blade! Boomerang Blade!"
Pearl then turns attention to Steven, and tells him. "Steven, these are real sword techniques. Not those silly things from your movies. It's about waiting carefully for the perfect moment to-" "Pearl look out!"
"Huh-"
Pearl was unable to dodge in time when Anaya shouted as the Holo-Pearl had stabbed Pearl in the stomach area while saying. "Thrust!" The leader looked down at the tip of the sword that's passed her stomach, making her groan briefly.
"Pearl?" Steven asked worriedly yet shocked as Pearl dropped her sword, which hits the ground with a loud clang, earning a couple of gasps and or shocked expressions from the many that saw this. Pearl then began to chuckle nervously before trying to reassure Steven and a few of the others. "W-whoopsie-daisy! Everyone, it'll be okay. I'm gonna be just-"
Suddenly she poofs into a cloud of dust as her gemstone falls before Steven caught it. "NOOOOOO!" He then picks it up. "P-Pearl?" There's no answer except from the Hologram of Pearl who hasn't vanished after Pearl retreated back into her Gem. "Challenger defeated. Level 1 failed."
"Steven!" Lapis and the rest of the Gems shouted as they hurry over to Steven who was upset. "I-I was just...A-and she was trying to-" Jewel then stopped him as she places her hand onto her Mom's Gemstone and her other onto Steven's shoulder. "Steven, it's okay, she's gonna be just fine."
She said giving a worried expression as Anaya became a bit confused and asked. "What does she mean by that?" She looked at Blue and Violet for an answer before Blue told her. "Sometimes, if a Gems body is badly damaged, we release our physical forms and retreat to our gems to regenerate." Steven then asked.
"So she's gonna be okay?" Onyx nodded to Steven who is now relieved as Amethyst tells them. "Don't worry. These kinds of things just happen sometimes. Usually to me." Soren then admitted. "You aren't the only one." Steven began to laugh a bit before Anaya asked curiously. "So, how long will it take Pearl to regenerate? 5 minutes? 10 minutes?"
Two Weeks Later
Back at the Beach House as Steven had placed Pearl's gem into a hand basket, which he and Lapis placed under lamp, hoping to incubate it. "What's taking so long?" He sighed asking that before looking over at Jewel. "Jewel, can't you heal Pearl?" When he asked, Jewel gave a small frown and shook her head.
"Sorry Steven, I promised Mom never to heal her. She told me before that she wants to do it on her own."
After telling him and Lapis, the Warp is heard, revealing Onyx, Yellow along with Pink Pearl, Amethyst, Soren who were floating over to them on the same cloud. "She's still not done?" Soren asked which Steven shook his head.
"Man, she's really taking her time with this one. Gotta tell all of ya though, love what you've done with the place." Amethyst and the others then observed the messy state of the house, trash everywhere, things thrown haphazardly to the ground, and dishes all bunched up in the kitchen.
Steven told them. "Pearl usually helps us tidy up." Amethyst shrugged. "Eh, I say leave it." Steven looked at them. "Hey! If real Pearl can't be here, there's always the next best thing!" Steven ran and Lapis flew over to Holo-Pearl, who stands in the corner of the room with a sheet over her head, which Steven removes.
"Do you wish to engage in combat?"
Holo-Pearl asked as Soren sighed. "Steven, Lapis, cover that thing back up. It's creepy." Steven tells them. "It's not creepy! It's like Pearl. Look at it." They looked before Pink spoke. "Yeah...That's not Pearl." Steven then told them. "Well, maybe I can get it to act like her."
Later
Steven was in his and Lapis' room showing Holo-Pearl it, which is as messy as the rest of the house. "Here we have, a mess. Organizing messes is one of Pearl's favorite hobbies. Here." He bends down and picks up toys. "Pearl likes to organize them by type. Animal, humanoid, miscellaneous. Now you try." Holo-Pearl watched as he picks up a toy with a sword prop.
"You've drawn your sword in vain?!" Holo-Pearl questioned with red eyes, confusing Steven. "What?" Holo-Pearl lunges at him which Lapis noticed and pulled him back when he tossed the toy which is pierced by the hologram. "Challenger defeated."
Holo-Pearl's eyes returned to normal as she went back to stand-by mode while Steven and Lapis looked at one another almost frightened. "Maybe we need to try something else." Lapis told Steven who nodded.
Outside
The Gems, Pink Pearl, Soren and Amethyst stood on the beach while Amethyst held a piece of cloud in her hands while Steven and Holo-Pearl watched from a distance. "I'm gonna do it." Amethyst said with a grin as Pink Pearl asked a bit worried. "Are you sure-?" Amethyst didn't answer and swallowed the cloud, causing her to puff up like a balloon and float upwards.
"We got you." Soren and Pink Pearl grabbed Amethyst by her legs, preventing her from floating off into the sky. Steven and Lapis laughed seeing this. "Pearl always likes to bother Amethyst when she does stuff like this." Lapis told the Hologram who was holding an umbrella and answered. "I won't go easy on you this time!"
Steven tells her happily. "That's the spirit." They soon walked over to the three. "What are you rascals doing over here?" They looked at the two and transparent Pearl. "Draw your weapon, challengers!" She points the umbrella like a sword and opens it. "Ugh, why are the both of you still hanging out with that thing? It's-" Amethyst couldn't finish as she burps out a piece of the cloud.
"We just really miss spending time with Pearl." Soren then told them. "Guys, Pearl will come back to us in time. Just have some patience and she'll be here sooner than later." Pink Pearl nodded. "Plus, stop hanging out with that thing. It's creepy."
Later
At Pearl's Tree, Lapis, Steven, and Holo-Pearl stood atop a hill next to the Cherry Blossom tree, Steven holds a stuffed walrus, Lapis was drinking from a plastic Funland cup through a twisted and looped up straw, and Holo-Pearl holds a balloon sword, wearing a balloon crown. "You had fun at the boardwalk, right?" Lapis nodded happily with a hum.
"Parry!" Holo-Pearl said to them with the balloon sword. "Oh come on, you gotta work with us here. This is Pearl's favorite tree. Don't you recognize it? What's on your mind? Come on, don't hold back." Misunderstanding his choice of words Holo-Pearl's eyes turned red as she switched to combat mode. "Challenge accepted!"
Steven and Lapis looked confused. "What?" They both ducked immediately as Holo-Pearl slices the tree in half with the balloon sword, surprising the two. "Oh no, the tree!" Steven said worriedly as he and Lapis went towards the tree. "Challenger defeated." Holo-Pearl then switches to stand-by mode.
"Real Pearl would never do that! Grr, you're hopeless! Get away from us!" Both Steven and Lapis then left, leaving the Holo-Pearl right where she was standing.
Back at the Beach House
While rain and lighting came down hard, Steven watches the downpour from the window seal while caring for Pearl's Gemstone, nestled in a blanket beside him. While he watched, Lapis, Anaya, Violet, and Blue began to head up the stairs looking at one another worriedly before Blue Pearl asked.
"Are you ok Steven?" He nodded not taking his sight away from the window. "Yes...I just hope that Pearl comes back soon." He looked down at her Gem. "I know it's been a few weeks, but I'm sure she wouldn't stay her Gem any longer than that."
After telling them Anaya then told him. "Don't worry Steven, she'll be back. Pearl's the leader remember. Plus Gems won't stay inside forever. Right guys?" The three nodded to her as Steven began to give a small smile. "You're right," He looked at them and asked. "Guys, can you stay with me and Lapis until Pearl comes back please?"
"Sure Steven." Once told this, Steven smiled and began holding up a box. "Cool, then we can watch this together." He started showing the front of it to them. "It's a copy of the fifth Lonely Blade movie!" While looking at the box, the sound of a beep goes off in the kitchen. "Oh, the popcorn's done!"
He then handed Anaya the box for her and the two Pearl's to read while he goes to the kitchen and takes out the popcorn from the microwave. When he turned around, Holo-Pearl suddenly appears behind him. "Ah!" This shocked Steven which the others noticed and looked. "Do you wish to test your skills against me in a duel?"
"No! No sword fighting!"
Steven then walks up to his bedroom to the others. "Ok who's-" Before he finished the question lightning flashes blinding them a bit before Holo-Pearl appeared beside them and asked. "Draw your sword and fulfill your destiny!" Lapis tells her as she hugged Steven close to her.
"No! Leave us alone!" Steven with his free hand then tosses the sheet back over Holo-Pearl. "Go back under your sheet." After telling the Hologram the 5 then began to watch the movie with Pearl's gem, this time in English. "Brother, is that you?" Lonely Blade asked as he zombie-like brother told him. "Yes. It's me. Your...Brother. Your technique is..."
While the audio plays on in background as Steven said happily. "Whoa, this dub is really good. What do you think, Pearl?" They looked at Pearl's Gemstone before a familiar voice interrupted. "Parry!" Trying their best to ignore the Hologram Pearl, they continued to watch the movie.
"Brother!"
Lonely Blade began to raise his blade. "Just wait a minute...You're not my real brother! Grr, Boomerang Blade!" He unsheathes multiple swords on the undead looking Brother revealing who he really is. "Your technique is impressive. But it won't be enough." During this part Steven began to have a flashback before Pearl was poofed by her Hologram.
Flashback
"It's about waiting carefully for the perfect moment to-"
End Flashback
"Thrust!" Holo-Pearl thrusted the weapon forward, breaking the TV. "Ah, the TV!" They all looked at the Hologram as Steven asked. "Why must you destroy the things we love?" Holo-Pearl asked. "Challenger defeated. Continue?" Steven then tells her. "I hate you, we hate you! You're nothing like Pearl! Pearl's smart, she's our leader, and she always wants to protect all of us from danger."
Anaya then agreed. "Steven's right. All you wanted to do this entire time is fight!" When she said that Holo-Pearl's expression didn't change. "Challenge accepted!" Before Holo-Pearl could attack Anaya pushed her back. "Enough!" This made the Hologram announce as it went towards her with the others getting out of the way.
"Basic attack mode, initiated." She and Anaya then began to fight each other as Holo-Pearl announces each attack or dodge she or Anaya land on each other or not. "Parry! Parry! Thrust! Parry! Parry! Thrust! Parry! Parry! Thrust!" While fighting Steven, Lapis, Blue Pearl, Violet Pearl began to look for anything Anaya could use to fight back before Steven picked up a toy and shouted.
"Anaya catch!" She catches the toy he threw to her and throws it at Holo-Pearl, landing a single hit. "Basic attack mode defeated. Now initiating advanced mode!" Her eyes turned red. "Oh no..." Anaya said as she dodges Holo-Pearl's attack before dodging multiple others until she landed back first into the kitchen.
As she began to get up she said to herself in thought. 'There has to be something I can use without damaging the Beach House!' She looked around before seeing a nearby mop which she picked up. Once it was pointed towards Holo-Pearl she chopped a short part of it and begins to unleash another round of attacks while Anaya dodges them.
"Anaya!" She looked over at Steven who spoke. "Keep dodging and wait for the perfect moment to attack, like Lonely Blade!" Anaya then looked back at Holo-Pearl who raises the sword above her head, revealing an opening, which Anaya gave a smile at. "Got it!" She then launches the mop at the hologram, striking it. "Challenger wins."
This made the Gems sigh in relief before Holo-Pearl questioned. "Do you wish to duel again?" Nearly startled they all shouted. "Noooo!" After that they began to wipe and swipe away the Holograms remaining remnants, getting rid of Holo-Pearl, after doing that the Temple doors opened up revealing the rest of the Gems, including Jewel, Peridot, Marble, and Garnet who stayed wanting to wait for Pearl to reform.
"Steven, we heard fighting." Yellow Pearl told them as Jewel asked worriedly. "Are you all alright?" Peridot who's holding Marble then asked. "What's going on?" Questioned, the 5 looked at one another before Anaya told them. "Holo-Pearl began fighting us and we had to get rid of her."
They then noticed the hologram beginning to regenerate, causing them to gasp before Steven stomped on it before telling them. "You know guys? I might miss Pearl a whole lot, but, sometimes we just have to accept things the way they are before you-" Before he could finish, Pearl's Gem began to glows, surprising some of them.
"She's coming back!"
Jewel said happily as they watched Pearl's gem flies up and hover in the air. While glowing Pearl began to regenerate. Once the glow was gone she landed back on the ground on her feet. "Never mind what I said! Pearl's back!" Pearl took a gasp of air before saying with a smile.
"Ah, that's much better." Steven runs over and hugs her. "Hey, miss me much?" She asked happily as Steven told her. "Ah man, I had this whole thing planned out for when you came back!" Steven said as Yellow Pearl, Jewel, and Onyx hugged her as well. During this she began observing the mess. "Uh...What happened to the Beach House?"
Pearl then looked at the others and noticed Amethyst still in balloon form with Pink and Spessartine holding her by the ankles. "I don't even want to know what happened to you." Pearl said as Amethyst said in a funny voice. "I was hit by an airplane!" Soon Steven returns with his shirt tied around his head, using a pot and wooden spoon as a drum, chanting.
"Pearl's back! Pearl's back! Pearl's back!"
Pearl questioned. "Steven, what are you doing?" Steven continued while Amethyst burps more of the cloud out. "I can't leave you guys alone for a second." Steven then jumps up. "Pearl's back!"