Pearl formed in the air, her light taking on a humanoid form for a moment, before flickering and shifting. Her arms were split into two sets of wings, shell-like growths appeared on her torso and on her head, over her gem. Her feet formed into bird-like appendages, with razor sharp talons at the ends of her 3 toes, a long tail forming from the base of where her spine would be, and a beak forming under her four eyes. The gems gasped, the Quartzes stepping between her and the Diamonds.
"Hurt her and I'll hurt you," he warned, and they blinked, their eyes coming to rest on him. The big Jasper started tearing up.
"Pink Diamond?" They asked hesitantly.
He jumped down and replied, "Technically. Now, fix her."
Pearl turned to him, looking skittish at the sight of the others.
"Fix her? It's unheard of."
"You broke every gem on this planet, other than Lapis an I," he gestured to her as she stepped out of the door. "So, fix Pearl."
He walked forward, trying to calm the terrified, corrupted Pearl.
"Shh, Pearl, just stay calm."
"Just humor her, Yellow." Blue said, and Yellow stepped forward.
"Fine, I'll try to fix your Pearl," she crouched down, staring at her, her hand glowing yellow as she reached out and lifted the pale gem up, her form shifting back to normal.
"There, all better."
Pearl opened her mouth, letting out a high pitched scream.
"She may be too far gone." Yellow told him.
"Gently, Yellow." Blue said, pulling the gem away. Blue pressed her hand onto Pearl's form, and she straightened up and turned towards Steven.
"Rose, have we been discovered?" She asked.
"So, you knew," he accused, eyes narrowed.
"Rose, have we been discovered?" She repeated.
His hand glowed pink as he moved forward to touch her and said, "Pearl, it's me."
She blinked at him, gasping.
"Steven, did you get poofed?" She asked, worried after seeing his new form.
"That was a long time ago, Pearl."
"You know now... and so do the other Diamonds." She said, sadly.
"Why did she do it?!" Yellow demanded.
"She loved the Earth, and she wanted to save it from you. You wouldn't listen to Pink Diamond, but she hoped you would be forced to listen to Rose Quartz."
Blue and Yellow pulled their hands back, and Pearl recorrupted.
"FIX HER!" He yelled up at them.
"How long do you expect us to keep her together, Pink?"
"As long as you can! At least then you'd be good for something!"
"Maybe with White we could make it permanent," Blue suggested.
"White Diamond?" Steven asked.
"That's a horrible idea."
"At least she has one."
"Oh, you be quiet, you've embarrassed us enough." Yellow sniped back.
"Oh, did I?"
The Quartzes watched on, confused, never having seen the Diamonds argue like this.
"Why is there an army of Amethysts on my doorstep? Why would you bring an army to greet your sister?"
"Do you not remember your Quartzes, Pink?" Blue asked him, confused.
"Sorry, Pearl, things might get heated," he said, and a pink energy passed through her body,
poofing her, and a pink bubble surrounded her as she disappeared.
"Try to remember what I'm going to say now: I have no memories beyond 17 years ago."
The Diamonds gasped, looking at each other and leaning towards him.
"You're playing another game, yes?"
"Yellow, I don't think she is. She seems genuine."
"But… 17 years, Blue. We didn't conquer our first planets for the first thousand. That's so young."
The blue aura returned in full, causing a few of the Quartzes to openly sob.
"You don't remember us at all, Pink?"
"It's Steven, and, no." A sob escaped Blue.
"Then we'll have to take you to White, she can fix you," Yellow conceded.
"There's nothing to fix, and, with the corrupted gems, and now this Cluster, I definitely can't leave Earth."
"You're really going to be this difficult?"
"I really am," he affirmed, getting a defiant look in his eyes and grinning.
"I will never allow this planet to die, but I would be willing to take the corrupted gems, all of the corrupted gems, to White Diamond, if that's what it takes to fix them. After we catch and bubble all of them, and deal with the Cluster."
"Yellow, it's better than forcing her."
"I want my Cluster, Blue. We need to gain something from this damned colony."
"You mean Pink Diamond's colony? So, this planet belongs to me, yes?"
"Yes, this was your first colony," Yellow agreed.
"Then, since I'm here, even without her memories, what gives you the right to destroy my planet?" Yellow stared at him before groaning.
"Fine, take your Quartzes and complete your little side project. Pearl, call the Peridot and have her fix the galaxy warp. We'll need the Bismuths and the Era One Peridots to neutralize one of our empire's greatest assets, and all during a shortage too."
"Yellow, it's worth it to get Pink back, even like this."
"Did I say you could bring more gems to Earth?" Steven demanded, causing them to stare down at him.
"Oh, now is when you act like a Diamond." Yellow said, annoyed.
"I'm the most competent person to have this gem," he countered, and one of the Amethysts snorted. A Jasper elbowed her so hard in the side that she fell over.
"I recognize the Amethysts, but what are the rest of you?" He asked, not turning away from the Diamonds. The Jaspers stepped forward, stating their numbers, and the Carnelian stepped forward, stating hers and wiping her eyes.
"Pick two of them, Pink, they're not to leave your side, and you'll need a new Pearl, of course," Yellow said.
The pink teenager thought on it, saying, "Fine, I'll take the big Jasper and the skinny Jasper, I like their stripes. And I don't think I like what you're implying by saying I 'need' a Pearl."
"Every gem of high ranking needs a Pearl by their side, and as a Diamond you get only the very best."
"You'll find that I have a soft spot for Pearls, so tread carefully," Blue and Yellow's Pearls glanced at each other.
"The Amethysts can visit their Kindergarten, I suppose, and I know where you can go but the idiom would be wasted on you."
"We can go to the Moon Base, Yellow, and use the sphere to find the corrupted gems and bring Pink home."
"Of course you have a moon base, next you'll be heading off to your secret volcano lair," Steven said sarcastically.
"On certain planets, yes."
"Supervillians," he sighed, rolling his eyes. "Just stay away from the temple, it's not for Homeworld gems."
He finally looked away from the Diamonds to see the Jaspers still standing and saluting.
"Yeah, you don't have to do that," he said, and their hands moved down by their sides.
"Are we done, Diamonds?"
"Yes, I think we are for now." Yellow replied, turning and walking back into her palanquin.
"I would… like to talk with you. I have so many unanswered questions." Blue told Steven.
"So do I, but I don't have the answers, we need Pearl back for that. She knew Pink best."
"Yes, I suppose she would, we say so much in front of our Pearls. Pink, even if you don't remember us, we're so happy to have you back. Yellow is too, she's just not used to anyone opposing her."
"She'll learn, I have plans for Homeworld." Steven remarked, and, with that, he turned, walking away with the Jaspers moving to walk behind him.
(Shout out to my Amazing Beta Duppet )
