On another beautiful late evening at Beach City, as the golden bright sun slowly goes down, everyone was ready to go home and rest up for the night. Pearl one of the Crystal Gems was walking across the streets, with a sad expression on her face while looking straight down at the floor, thinking about Steven Universe (who is the son of Rose Quartz aka Pink Diamond).
It's been almost three years since Steven Universe and the rest of the Diamonds managed to cure all the corrupted gems after the million-year war on the planet Earth. Thanks to them they brought in a new era of peace on Earth, Homeworld, and the entire galaxy. And ever since Steven left his home for his road trip around the United States, everyone in his family started missing him already. Yes, he does usually call and check things out with them sometimes. But it still wasn't the same without him in person.
Amethyst, Garnet, Lapis Lazuli, Peridot, Bismuth, and herself continue to help and teach all the Gems in Little Homeworld next to Beach City. Greg Universe, Steven's father, still works at his car wash and now lives at the Crystal Gem's beach house. But tonight, he has gone out with some residents for dinner. Connie Maheswaran was still studying when she goes to college the next year.
"Oh Steven, I hope you come back and visit us soon," Pearl said sadly to herself, as she heads back home before dark.
Suddenly, Pearl stops her tracks when she heard a soft whimper, which sounded like an injured puppy, coming from an alleyway between two food stores. As Rose Quartz's former servant and bodyguard for thousands of years, Pearl headed into the alleyway to investigate where the sound was coming from.
"Hello, is someone there?" she asked, looking around in the alleyway filled with dirty garbage pins and rotten food on the floor.
Then, she heard the whimpering again coming from a brown cardboard box, and her eyes were aiming at it. Pearl thought that it might be an injured small animal left all alone and terrified.
So, she kneeled on both legs in front of the box and could see something slowly moving inside it, but the left and right flats blocked it from view. Pearl carefully used her hands to open the flats on the box and didn't expect what she found.
"It's ok little one everything is going to b- Pearl gasped loudly at the glimpse inside the box, revealing that it wasn't an animal.
It was a very tiny and skinny little boy, with messy black hair and glasses on his face. Wearing nothing but ragged worn-out clothes as if he is homeless or abandoned.
Once the boy realized that someone had found him, he quickly buried his face and hugged his knees, shaking and whimpering with fear. Felt afraid that this lady might want to hurt him.
Pearl didn't know what to say in this situation, as there were so many questions running through her gemstone. Who is this little boy? Where are the boy's parents? Is this boy homeless or abandoned? Why he is very skinny and wearing such horrible clothes?
"P-p-please…d-d-don't…hurt me" he whimpered, hearing that Pearl made concerned and realizing that he thought she was going to harm him.
She reached her right hand gently placing it on his shoulder and felt him flinch slightly from being touched.
"Little one…please don't be scared... I promise I won't hurt you." The little boy was still shaking but then his curiosity took over him, as he slowly lifts his head. He saw that this lady was very pale white, pointed, and had a white round gemstone on her middle forehead, but thought she looked pretty.
Pearl formed a smile when she saw his curious expression, with those very wide green, emerald eyes, and though he looked so adorable.
"W-who a-are y-you"? The boy finally spoke with his tune of fear still there. "Well, my name is Pearl," she said kindly, trying her best not to scare the child. "And I could ask your name as well dear"?
"It's frea-Harry P-Potter, miss Pearl" The young boy replied. Pearl let out a gentle laugh from his cute response, as he had such good manners for calling her to miss Pearl, while Harry blinked in confusion. "You have such polite manners for a young man such as yourself."
"But why in the world are you here in all places like this?" Pearl curiously asked. Harry opened his mouth to reply to her question, but then closed it nervously, knowingly if he told anyone then he would be killed.
Pearl saw how his body is frighteningly shaking more and needed to be careful what to ask the poor thing. "Sweetheart …. Were you abandoned here?" Harry still tenses to answer her question by slowly nodding his head.
"I-I did something wrong, and he-he got m-m-mad, and it really, really hurt…. And I-I d-didn't want t-to be with t-them anymore, so I-I run away as f-f-far as I-I could…. And I-I-I…. His last sentence was cut off, through his shaky rumbling, when Pearl gently picked him up out of the box and hugged him close to her chest. Harry felt scared when he was being lifted out of his box and thought Pearl was going to throw him on the floor.
But instead, she was hugging him, as it felt warm and comfortable, and calmly snuggled in closer to her chest. "There, There…. It's going to be okay Harry…. Your safe with me?" Pearl whispered to him.
Pearl concluded that this child was abused probably by his family. She also notices that he was light weighted as if she's holding one of Steven's plush toys.
But that wasn't the time right now when seeing upon his condition she needed to get him back to the beach house. As Harry looks like he needs a wash in the bathroom, some new clean clothes to wear, and something to eat. So, Pearl lifted herself back to her feet with Harry still wrapped around in her arms.
"Harry…. I'm going to take you somewhere safe to get the help you need…. Is that ok with you dear?" Pearl said and smiling at him.
Harry lifted his head to look at her and nervously nodded, as he didn't want to argue with her, since she was the very first person to be nice and kind to him. "Ok then, let's head back home shall we."
After that Pearl finally left that horrible and disgusting alleyway with Harry in her arms, as they travel back to the beach house, where Garnet and Amethyst, and Greg are still living now. While passing through some residents' houses, Pearl noticed that Harry has buried his face in her chest, trying to stay hidden from the world. Pearl thought he looked cute doing that, as it reminded them of how she used to hug Steven when he was having nightmares as a toddler.
After ten minutes of walking, they reached the seafront in Beach City where the sun truly disappeared for the night. As Pearl walked on the sandy beach to the Crystal Temple, after passing by some of Steven's fast-food restaurants that he visits such as Beach Citywalk Fries, Fish Stew Pizza, and the Big Donut.
Then, Pearl finally arrived at the Crystal Temple, where the beach house was in front of the gigantic fusion statue of Obsidian, behind the mountain. "Harry, we're finally here." Pearl gently rubbed the boy's back with her hand to let him know that they are home.
Harry moved his head to the side and let out a curious coo when he sees the house and the Obsidian statue for the first time. Pearl chuckled when seeing his first reaction to their home.
"Are you ready to see our home, Harry?" Pearl asked, Harry a little shaken from her question. "It's… really big…" Harry mumbled "Ahh yes, it is really bi-
"Hi what's up P!" said a familiar voice coming from behind both Pearl and Harry. Pearl turned around and saw that it was Amethyst who was walking towards her, coming back after another late shift from teaching at Little Homeworld.
"Hi Amethyst, working on another late shift tonight?"
"Yeah, I needed to help Peridot with a few gems who want to grow plants for tomorrow's lesson" Amethyst replied, with a laugh. "And since it's my weekend tomorrow, I can finally rest u-
Amethyst paused for a second and looked puzzled upon seeing Pearl holding Harry.
"Hi, who's the little guy you're holding there?" Amethyst questioned, as Harry frighteningly hid his face in Pearl's chest from this new person.
Pearl immediately noticed his frightening behaviour and said "Hi, it's ok Harry… she's one of my friends back at home. She won't hurt you I promise."
Harry slowly turned his head to Amethyst and saw that she has purple skin and long light purple hair. "Harry, this is Amethyst," said Pearl, introducing Harry to her friend. Hi, …. M-Mrs Amethyst"
"Miss?" Amethyst suddenly laughed loudly, which made Harry puzzled about why she was laughing. "You don't have to call me Mrs, little man," she said after her laughter stopped.
"Just plain old Amethyst is fine by me kid." As Amethyst reached her hand towards Harry's head and gently ruffled his messy black hair. Which made Harry let out a small giggle when she was messing with his hair.
Pearl smiled, as she enjoyed hearing Harry giggle and slowly interacting with her and Amethyst.
"So where did you find this little guy anyway Pearl?" Amethyst asked. Pearl's happy face turned into an uncertain look after the purple gem's question.
"I found him in an alleyway inside a cardboard box while walking" she answered, looking down at Harry.
"Ok, then why was he living in there?" "Shouldn't he be with his family or something?
Pearl didn't know all the answers to why Harry was in that alleyway and simply said "I'm…not sure, but I need to get him cleaned up first, and then something to eat before finding answers?"
"Then why are standing around here for, let's get him inside, Garnet is waiting for us" Amethyst immediately said, leading the way up the stairs to the beach house as Pearl followed her.
When Pearl and Amethyst reached the top of the stairs and entered the house, they saw Garnet sitting down on the couch. The leader of the Crystal Gems stood up and greeted the two gems once she saw them return.
"I see you two have arrived late sooner as I suspected," Garnet said, with a smile.
"Well, time does pass by Garnet" Amethyst replied at the fusion.
Garnet turned her attention over to Pearl, who was surprised and noticed that she was holding the tiniest little boy that she had ever seen. As she didn't expect Pearl to bring a child back home in one of her Future Visions.
Harry curiously tilted his head towards the very tall fusion, through shining green, emerald eyes, as they both stared at each other. "Oh, and who's this little cutie pie," she asked, her question making Harry blush.
"This is Harry, I found him today during my usual walks around Beach City" Pearl explained. "I see" Garnet knelt on one knee to introduce herself to Harry and didn't want the child to be scared of her tall height.
"Hello there, little Harry, it's nice to meet you," Garnet said with a smile, as she reached out and gently placed her hand on the boy's cheek.
Harry flinched for a second from being touched, until he stopped and felt the hard smooth gemstone on the palm of her hand and soft fingers on his cheek. As he thought that it felt nice, as her hand was soft and warm.
Harry leaned into her hand and lightly rubbed his cheek against it, like an affection-starved kitten, while three of the gems let out a coo. "Well, I was right, you are a cutie pie." "I-I am?" Harry blinked.
"Of course, you have that adorable little nose and those sparkling green eyes, little one" she commented. This made give Harry the courage to smile at Garnet and say "T-thank you."
Pearl was glad that Harry was interacting with Garnet and Amethyst very well. But Pearl thinks it's time for Harry to get sorted out in the condition he's in right now.
"Alright Harry, since you've gotten to know us, why don't I get you in the bath?" "I-it won't b-burn w-will it" Harry mumbled, nervously.
"E-excuse me, what did you say Harry?" Pearl asked, upon seeing Harry looking anxious made her concerned.
"Don't worry Harry, I promise I'll make sure the temperature is comfortable for you." "O-ok" Harry shyly nodded.
Before Pearl could take him for his bath, she turned her attention toward both Garnet and Amethyst. "Would either of you mind cooking something for him, while I take him for his bath?" Pearl asked both nodded.
"Sure thing, we'll get right on its Pearl," said Amethyst with a grin, gladly accepting the task in any way to help the little guy. As Amethyst and Garnet headed into the kitchen to cook something delicious for Harry, Pearl carried him into the bathroom.
After Pearl set the boy down on the counter, she turned on the bath and made sure the temperature was comfortable for Harry to get in. After turning off the water she approached the young child, ready to take off those worn-out clothes he was wearing.
Harry hesitated a bit when she was about to take off his shirt. "Harry, are you ok?" Pearl asked and Harry nervously nodded.
Just as the gem carefully removed his shirt, she let out a loud horrified gasp and clapped her hands over her mouth, as she was disturbed by what she saw. His entire chest was covered in scars, bruises, and burns, that look they are a week old. It got even worse, as he was so very skinny there wasn't any fat on him. And his ribs were sticking out.
Pearl stared at Harry with horror, her thoughts racing through her gemstone. She knew he was abused, but this was unacceptable, he is an innocent human child. Not even the Diamonds would ever do anything that cruel towards humans and gems.
"H-Harry…Who- Just before Pearl could finish, both Garnet and Amethyst rushed in to see what the matter was, as her loud gasp can be heard everywhere in the house.
"Hi Pearl, what's the-WHATTT!" Amethyst began, but two of the gems were in complete silence when they saw Harry's chest.
Harry was now terrified as he started to feel tenser after they discovered what happened to his body that he wasn't supposed to.
tell. He quickly buried his face in his knees, too afraid that they might hit him.
Then Harry felt something gently placed on his cheek, which caused him to flinch for a second, and thought one of the gems was going to hit him. But when he looked up and saw that it was Pearl with her hand on his cheek, who was looking incredibly sad, with a single tear running down her cheek.
"Harry I-…. I-I'm so sorry… She softly said. "You…should never have been put through this kind of pain…ever" "But I….I deserved it" Harry nervously said, which made Pearl and the others look even more extremely shocked.
This isn't normal for a little boy like Harry to be saying anything negative like that at all. Garnet knew this wasn't good and calmly stepped forward, placing a hand on Pearl's shoulder.
"Pearl, give Harry his bath now. I'm going to collect the first aid. And Amethyst continues making the dinner." Amethyst nodded sadly, as both the purple gem and fusion left the bathroom to do their task.
Pearl wiped off her tear, took the rest of his clothes off, picked up Harry, and gently placed him into the warm bath. He winced when the water contacted his injuries. "Is the temperate ok Harry?" "Yes, it…hurts a little bit" Harry mumbled. "I understand it hurts, but it will make you feel better when you come out. Now, why don't we clean those horrible wounds ok."
Pearl started gently scrubbing and cleaning all of Harry's dirty and battered injuries, with shampoo and a sponge. He just sat in the tub quietly trying his best not to wince from the stings. Pearl gave a sad look and was glad to finally clean the human boy up.
In her thoughts, The Crystal Gem was so desperate to find the one responsible for the boy's condition and give them a piece of her mind. And wished Steven were here to help, as he could have used his healing spit to get rid of those wounds quickly.
Soon enough, Pearl felt she had cleaned him the best she could, after scrubbing his messy black hair lastly. She carefully pulled him out of the crimson red and brown tub and wrapped him in a white fluffy towel. The towel covered his entire body and Pearl laughed when his head peeked out from it.
"Well, aren't you a sweetheart," she said, smiling and cradling the little bundle. Harry blushed and tried to look away from being embarrassed, which made Pearl think he was even cuter. "Come on now dear, the others are waiting for us"
Pearl carried the wrapped-up bundle in her arms into the living room, like a new-born baby. Where she saw Amethyst cooking some soup on the stove and Garnet was on the couch waiting for them, along with the first aid kit beside her
Pearl sat down on the couch as well and placed Harry on her lap, as they were ready to cover his injuries before they might get infected. Pearl slightly removed the towel revealing only showing his upper body.
Garnet opened the kit and carefully covered Harry's bruises, scars, and burns, with plasters and bandages around his body.
"There, you should feel better in time, little one" Garnet grinned. "Thank you, Miss Garnet," said Harry, with a small smile. Garnet then placed her hand on the boy's head and ruffled his hair. "You're welcome, cutie pie."
" Thank you, Garnet, now I can put some clothes on him," Pearl said, looking over at Harry. "Oh, don't worry about that, I already got that covered," said Garnet, as she pulled out one of Steven's old t-shirts beside her.
As Garnet handed over the t-shirt to her, Pearl slipped it onto Harry which covered his entire body completely. Even though it was too large for the boy to wear, this had to do until they find some proper clothes for him.
"How does the shirt feel Harry," she asked. "It feels comfy" Harry happily smiled. Pearl giggled. "Well, we're glad you like it."
"Hi Pearl, here's some soup for the little guy," Amethyst said, as she came over to the others, with a bowl of soup that she made in the kitchen. She handed the soup over to Pearl and Harry looked at it in confusion.
"Alright, Harry let's get some food in your body "Pearl smiled.
"But…. I already eaten this week?" Said Harry, timidly. All three of the Crystal Gems froze in shock after hearing what the boy said. "P-pardon dear?" Pearl asked, concerned.
"I…. I thought that I ate for this week?" Harry replied, afraid that he might have said something wrong. "D-did I s-say anything wrong?"
"Oh no dear, it's just that…. It's not healthy for a young human to eat once a week. You need to eat three times a day…. And I'll make sure you're fed properly from now on…. OK?"
Harry nodded until his stomach started to growl that Pearl's attention, making her giggle slightly.
"Well, it looks like your stomach agrees with me" Pearl smiled, as she scooped up a spoonful of warm soup from the bowl by using the spoon. She gently brought it to Harry's mouth, he hesitated at first but soon devoured it. After he swallowed it, he let out a soft hum in delight when tasting the delicious tomato soup.
"There you go, isn't that delicious," said Pearl, Harry looked up at her and happily nodded. Okay, here comes another one."
Amethyst sat down next to Garnet, while they watch Pearl keep on feeding Harry multiple spoonsful of soup. And they were amazed to see Pearl looking so happy when being attracted to Harry, just like she did with Steven, before Era 3 and the road trip.
"Man, I have never seen Pearl so happy like this, since Steven left," Amethyst said to Garnet.'
"Well, Harry does resemble a lot like Steven when he was a young boy" Garnet replied, seeing a comparison between Rose Quartz's son and Harry.
They both know that Pearl would miss Steven the most since she grows especially closer with him and his mother. After the thousand-year rebellion for Earth and she gave up her physical form for Steven to be born.
"Yeah."
Finally, after gulping down one more spoon of soup Harry managed to finish his meal. "Was the soup delicious, Harry?" Pearl smiled at the child, after placing the empty bowl on the table near them.
"It was yummy" he replied. Then the little boy let out a soft yawn, as he started to look very tired and sleepy. So, Pearl picked him up and stood up to take him somewhere to sleep for tonight.
"Well, looks like someone is getting tired for tonight. Come on dear, let's get you ready for bed" Pearl said. "But I'm not tir- Harry tried to resist and was cut off by another yawn.
But Pearl placed her hand on his head and rested it against her chest while shushing him calmly. She then turned around to face the others. "I'm going to take him up to Steven's room. Hopefully, Greg wouldn't mind if w-
"Hi, don't worry about it P," said Amethyst, taking out her phone from her. "Greg had texted me earlier and says that he's going to spend the night in his van. Since it's going to be a long night with the residents" She explained.
Pearl nodded and started walking upstairs to Steven's bedroom, with Harry held snugly against her chest, while patting his back.
When Pearl entered Steven's bedroom, the moon already shining in the night sky. She firstly pulled the white-cream blanket off the double bed. Gently placing the child on the bed, with his head resting upon the soft pillows, she covered his body with the blanket. Then took off his glasses and placed them on the shelve.
Pearl saw that Harry has drifted off to sleep looking extremely comfortable, under the covers and snuggling against the pillows while breathing quietly.
Pearl smiled as he looked so peaceful and adorable in his sleeping, almost any human or gem in Beach city would hug him to death.
Before quietly leaving the room, she kneeled near the bed and gently stroked his head. Suddenly, she felt something touch her other hand and looked down. She was surprised and saw that Harry was gently holding her hand.
She felt her entire holographic body and gemstone feeling warmer than before by this.
Smiling softly, Pearl gently squeezed his tiny hand back while tenderly looking at him. He was truly a sweet little angel. And she leaned down and kissed his forehead. "Sleep tight Harry…. You're safe with us now" Pearl whispered into his ear.
Pearl also curiously noticed that there was a scar on Harry's forehead, shaped like a lightning bolt. It was strange, she thought that all the wounds were cleaned, when she took him for his bath. Was it was permanent?
When Harry let go of Pearl's hand, she carefully stood up and quietly walked out of the bedroom. She looked back to make sure Harry was going to be ok without her throughout the rest of the night.
But Harry looked comfortable and relaxed where he is now, so he will be fine until the next morning she hoped.
Slowly, Pearl climbed downstairs to the living room and found Garnet and Amethyst waiting for her. "How is he?" Garnet asked.
"He's asleep, but I believe he'll be fine," said Pearl, sitting on the couch now looking angry, thinking about the ones responsible for the boy's injuries.
"I can't believe anyone would ever harm such a sweet child, like Harry. Especially if they are human." Pearl clenched her hands on her leggings angrily, but Garnet calmly placed her hand on Pearl's shoulder with a frown.
"Pearl, when Harry is ready to speak about his past, he will come to us. But for now, he needs rest and healing here until we found him a new home"
Pearl finally released her angrier, as she let go of her hands on her leggings and sighed. "I guess…your right," said Pearl, with concern.
Harry hasn't told them who was responsible for what happened to him. But the Crystal Gems couldn't force him to tell them who, so they will have to wait until Harry is ready to speak.
"Hi, I have an idea!" Amethyst suggested as both Pearl and Garnet turned their attention toward her. "Since Harry is staying here with us, why don't we introduce him to Little Homeworld tomorrow!"
"That…sounds like a fabulous idea Amethyst!" Pearl excitedly, thought Harry could meet Lapis, Peridot, and Bismuth first and then the rest of the gems in Little Homeworld.
He could also meet the human residents In Beach City, such as Greg, Connie, and even Onion. It might be a healthy opportunity for the little boy to make friends, so they can get him out of his shell.
"Then it is settled" Garnet smiled. "We'll take Harry out to Little Homeworld to meet the other gems for tomorrow." Pearl smiled and nodded, agreeing with Amethyst's idea.
Later, both Garnet and Amethyst returned to their rooms in the Crystal Temple for the night. With all the lights turned off. Pearl, however, decided to check up on Harry before going back to her room, as she climbed upstairs quietly again to Steven's room.
When she entered, she saw the young human fully asleep relaxing on the bed, snoring softly. Pearl smiled, as she came over and knelt on both knees while gently rubbing the boy's side without waking him.
But, before Pearl was about to leave Harry in peace for the night, she heard something that she didn't expect to hear.
"Ma-mama?"
Pearl was completely surprised, blushing noticeably light blue across her face, when she heard him mumbling her mama in his sleep. This made Pearl smile once again, thinking how this little boy couldn't be this truly cuter.
So, what Pearl did next was something she hadn't done before in her entire life.
She carefully climbed under the covers on the other side of the bed next to Harry. Suddenly, Harry slowly moved towards where Pearl is and snuggled against her warm body, with his head resting on her chest.
Pearl then adjusted herself and wrapped her arms around Harry comfortably pulling him in even closer.
"Good night, Harry," she said, as she closed her eyes falling asleep for the very first. Both the alien gem and the human child were feeling comfortable and smiling in their sleep. As Crystal Gem's new mission is to protect and take care of this sweet little boy.
