Steven was sitting on the Spire's roof, staring out over the sea, when his pocket started to glow. He stood, pulling the gem from his pocket and letting it float up, where it formed into a pink clamshell.
"Please state your name."
"Steven Universe."
"Please state your customization preference."
"You can pick whatever you want to wear," he stated and it didn't move.
"Come again?"
"What you wear is up to you."
The clamshell opened, a figure rising from within it, forming for the first time. A Pearl with dark, short pink hair and light pink skin emerged wearing a magenta colored singlet that had translucent hip frills oddly similar to Pink Diamond's. The last piece of her outfit appeared as ballet shoes.
"How do you do, my Steven Universe, thank you for bringing me into the world," she sang. "I'll be at your eternal service, welcome, to your new Pearl."
Steven took in her appearance, immediately noticing her height. She stood taller than the other three Pearls he had met before. He could see her observing him too, her eyes resting on the bright star on his shirt.
"Welcome to Earth." He said, holding out a hand for her to sit in. Steven lifted her up gently and started walking down and through the Spire.
"If I may be so bold as to ask, what kind of gem are you, my Steven Universe?"
"I'm a Pink Diamond," he told her, and her eyes widened.
"Oh, my apologies, my Diamond." She said, holding her hands up in a diamond salute.
"None of that, I'm not the original Pink Diamond and I prefer to be called Steven."
"Yes, my Steven."
"Just Steven." He corrected as he came down the stairs, seeing Jasper telling the story of her fight with Holly Blue Agate, the others cheering.
Steven waited by the door, letting her finish the story before he stepped into the room. Jasper's eyes darted towards him, Skinny walked over from where she had been leaning on a wall from afar.
"I'm leaving, you can stay here if you want." The teen announced, moving past them and heading towards the ship. He noticed a crack along the side of the building and it wasn't hard to conclude what exactly had caused it.
"The famethyst doesn't know how to fly, do they?" He asked, knowing Skinny was walking with him.
"Not...well." Skinny admitted, grimacing.
"Maybe they'll get rid of the lunar base." Steven said jokingly, walking into the ship and setting Pearl down. He shrank into the pilot's seat, pressing his hands into the console and closing the door behind Jasper. They took to the air, a map of the planet in his mind, as he flew just under the speed that would cause the ship to warp reality.
Steven set the ship down on the beach besides the van and opened the door.
"Welcome to my home." He told Pearl, making his way out the ship's door and into the snow that was currently falling, Pearl staying close to him.
"I'm going into town, you two can tag along if you play nice." He addressed the other two gems as he opened the back of the nearby parked van and climbed in. Pearl followed him and stood primly back until he crawled over to the driver's seat. Once he settled, she moved to the right of his seat, and climbed in as well. The Jaspers went in after them, closing the van's door, and Steven started it up, driving down the beach and into the city. Steven parked the van beside the carwash, a bittersweet sight.
"Why did we drive?" Jasper asked, crossing her arms.
"Van's old, don't want to let it sit for too long." He replied, turning it off and stepping out. Everyone else did the same, climbing out and following after him.
"We're going to Fryman's, it's one of the two restaraunts in Beach City."
"And...what exactly is a restaurant, my Steven?" Pearl asked, curious.
"It's a place for humans to get food, which keeps them from dying. But it also tastes good so gems like it too." The hybrid answered, walking down the street and towards the boardwalk. They reached the boardwalk, and Mr. Smiley glared at Steven from his arcade.
"I'm banned from there 'till the end of time." He explained offhandedly, causing Skinny to snort and for Jasper to glare back at Smiley for Steven, sending him running inside. They soon reached the Frystand, the smell of grease filling the air.
"Peedee," Steven greeted.
"Steven, are you going to order off the menu?" The blond asked, leaning on the counter.
"Are you going to start selling something other than sides? No? Then give me the bits."
Peedee sighed, going over to the fryer and skimming out the burnt, fried bits of leftover food that had been left in the heated greaser for the past few hours.
"Finally," Steven said, handing over the necessary money and taking the bags.
"Now you can leave and make room for people who actually want to buy our products."
"Maybe your grandchildren will be more accommodating." Steven said, shrugging, before handing the bags to Skinny. The group turned to walk away, an odd sight among the white landscape.
Peedee leaned out of the booth, confused, "What does that even mean?"
"Want to try something, Pearl? Skinny likes to eat and Jasper thinks it's a waste of time."
She looked over to see Skinny picking at the bits, who looked disgusted at the grease on her fingers before licking at it, her eyes widening.
"No, my Steven Universe." She replied, suppressing a shudder at the thought.
"Fair enough." He said, leading them up to the top of the hill that overlooked the ocean. He took one of the bits bags, moving to sit on a giant stone.
"Look at that," Steven said, watching the waves as they hit against the beach and pushed back the snow as the tide swept back and forth.
"It's always so calm this time of year, enjoy it while you can."
"It is very nice, my Diamond," Pearl agreed, looking down at the ocean from Steven's left.
"It's a rough time to come into the world, we're on the eve of something big and the planet is at risk. If you wanted to leave and go somewhere safe, I wouldn't stop you, and the Jaspers wouldn't either." He sideyed them as he said this, and they hesitantly glanced at each other.
"Why would I want to leave? I exist to serve you."
"And you don't see how wrong that is, to have no reason for your existence but to serve a Diamond or to serve another gem who serves one of us?" Steven asked, frustrated at the whole concept.
"Your radiance, Diamonds are perfect beings, it is our honor to serve you." She tried to reassure him, misunderstanding his point.
He scoffed, "Whoever said that's a clod."
Pearl gasped, placing a hand to her chest, and looked scandalized. Jasper and Skinny shared a look, now used to his less than Diamond-like behaviour. They sat in silence for a few minutes, Steven's hands resting on his knees.
"The Pearl who raised me could store items in her gem, can you?"
"Of course, all Pearls can."
He hummed, thinking, "What's it like inside?"
"...empty." She finally decided for an answer, voice low.
"Can I go in there?' He asked, dead serious. Her entire face seemed to light up in embarrassment along with the Jaspers'.
"T-that would be improper." Pearl stuttered out.
"Is that a no?"
"Yes."
"Okay, had to ask," he shrugged and they sat in silence again. The only sounds being made were from Skinny and Jasper as they finished off their bits while he ate his.
"The Temple below holds many rooms, one was made by a Pearl. Would you like to see it?" Steven offered, finally breaking the silence.
"I would, my Diamond." He held out his hand and she walked over, standing on it, before Steven threw himself over the edge. They fell far slower than he usually did, and he quickly made his way to the Temple. Steven opened the door to Pearl's room, walking through before slamming the door behind him. This place wasn't for the Jaspers, not yet. He set her down and she walked onto the water, spinning in a circle.
"Amazing!"
"It really is something." The teen agreed, walking effortlessly along the edge. Pearl had done something to the structure, her fountain only held him up on occasion, and he didn't want to talk to Pearl through the water.
"This Temple has been home to the Crystal Gems for a very long time. I think a fusion of the five Crystal Gems was around when it was made."
"Oh, what types of gem were they?"
"A Pearl, an Amethyst, the permafusion Garnet, who was made up of a Ruby and a Sapphire, and Pink Diamond herself."
She looked at him, shock written plainly on her face.
"That's," she furrowed her brow. "That's forbidden."
"Is it? And who makes the rules?"
"The Diamonds do...," she trailed off.
"And who are the Diamonds to decide what gems are for? Even with all her flaws, Pink knew that!" Steven exclaimed, his speech quickly falling into a rant.
"The Diamonds are infuriating! 'Oh, Pink, it's so good to have you back!' or 'You're being childish Pink.' Pink this, pink that." He rattled off, getting more and more agitated.
"Why won't they just listen to me!? I'm NoT Pink!" Steven yelled, and with that, the world around him exploded.
(c
