Chapter Seven: Three Pearls

Back when they had formed an alliance with the Interlopers, none of Zirconium's crew would have imagined that peace with the Diamonds could ever be achieved. And yet, here was a village created by Homeworld Gems and Crystal Gems alike, where the residents appeared to live in harmony. Even the more level-headed of the trio would be lying to say they weren't surprised.

After taking in the scene, Onix was the first to speak. "I…I must say, while I found your claim far-fetched, I was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. That said, I never could have expected things to have progressed to this level. I am truly speechless."

"You don't need to speak," Emerald said. "Take all the time you need to process. Trust me, this is a lot to take in, even for Gems who were aware of what was happening at the time." Given her demeanor, she was clearly speaking from experience.

Topaz was the most skeptical of the three, even after seeing the town, but even she was beginning to come around. Though that isn't to say she wasn't without doubts. "So…what, we're just supposed to live here now? Squatting in this tiny slum so Homeworld doesn't have to deal with us?"

"If you want." Pearl walked in front of the trio. "Homeworld doesn't decide these things anymore. You can live here, you can go back to Homeworld, you can head to your favorite colony…" She spun around with her arms outstretched, illustrating the freedom available in Era-3. "Anywhere you want t–oof!"

Pearl collided with somebody, both of them tumbling to the ground. In no time, Pearl was back on her feet, apologizing to the other Gem.

"S-so sorry about that!" she said, hurrying to help them to their feet. "I wasn't watching where I was going, completely my fault, sorry! Here, let me…eh?" She paused when she realized that the one on the ground was almost a mirror of her.

Another Pearl, and of the exact same color. Their gems were in the exact same spot, even: their navels. Their hairstyle told them apart, the second Pearl having two buns on the sides of her head. "No trouble, really," she said, taking Pearl's hand to help her up. "Actually, I was looking for you."

"You were?" Emerald and the three other Gems had been completely forgotten for the moment. "Well, if there's any way I can help, I'd be happy to!"

On closer inspection, this other Pearl's left eye seemed to be cracked, still blanked out from her time during White Diamond's control. She didn't seem to mind, however–in fact, she seemed happy as can be. "Thank you, but I only wish to talk with you for a moment. You were Pink Diamond's Pearl after I was. I knew her as Pink Diamond, but you knew her as Rose Quartz."

"Oh…" Pearl seemed sad to disappoint her. "I'm sorry, but you must be thinking of the Crystal Gems' Pearl. I…I never got to meet Pink Diamond. I was intended as a gift for her, but then…" She didn't need to explain what happened next.

Pearl placed a comforting hand on Pearl's shoulder. "It's okay. There's no need to be sad, it isn't your fault. Actually, could you help me find her? You seem to know your way around here."

This perked her up. "Yeah, okay! Hey, Emerald, can I go and find Pearl with Pearl?" said Pearl.

"You don't need my permission," said a grinning Emerald. "I'll handle these three, you two go on." They did just that, Pearl leading Pearl around the small town to look for Pearl. "Now, where were we?"

"I think…I'd like to take a look around as well," said Amber. "In the brief time I spent on Earth, I found that it was very beautiful here. The prospect of spending more time here is indeed appealing."

"Huh? I mean, yeah, it's nice and all, but…" Topaz looked between Amber and Onix. "How're we just supposed to start over after everything that's happened?"

"From the look of things, however we want," Onix said. "I would very much like to explore this place as well. Emerald, if you don't mind?"

Emerald nodded. "Please, take all the time you need."

"So…who're those guys again?" asked Onyx. She and Tanzanite were regarding the Crystal Gem Pearl, who was speaking to several humans dressed in black clothing. She seemed to be showing them around the newly-christened 'Little Homeworld' that was in the process of being built. They examined the small collection of buildings, though the two Gems were unsure of what they were looking for.

"Apparently, they represent an organization known as the Bureau of Alien Investigation, Neutralization, and Experimentation," reported Tanzanite. "From what I have gathered, they handle matters on Earth relating to extraterrestrial affairs, such as Gemkind."

"...Huh." Onyx curiously stared at the humans in question. "I wouldn'ta thought humans cared about stuff like that. Too busy with petty squabbles and all that."

"Were we so different?" The two Gems turned around to see that Emerald had returned. "And besides, organic life can change a lot in only six thousand years. Much more than Gems can, at least." She cast a brief glance towards the town. "As a friend of mine once said, we could learn a lot from them."

"Emerald, you seem very philosophical today," Tanzanite noted. "I trust things went over well with our old enemies?"

"I'd like to think so," she replied. "Given some time, I think they'll adjust just fine."

Onyx had suddenly noticed that someone usually always around was missing. "Where'd Pearl run off to? Is she showing them around?"

"Something like that," said Emerald, her eyes on the pair of Pearls approaching the other.

"...and we're making sure that the peace is kept," Pearl told the humans. "Granted, there aren't a lot of Homeworld loyalists around here, but we do want to be prepared in case a fight should break out–oh?" She saw the other Pearls approach. "Hello. I wasn't expecting to see you here so soon."

"Hello again, Pearl!" said Pearl. "I was wondering if you could spare a moment?"

Pearl seemed like she had an idea of what Pearl would want. "Certainly. Do you think you could give us a moment?" The humans from BAINE agreed, going off to inspect the premises on their own. "What brings you out here?"

"I heard of all the good you were doing out here," Pearl replied. "Because of you, Gems all over the empire have been liberated. I know I said something of this nature before you left, but…I suppose I wanted to thank you, for your part in all this."

"Oh, you're too kind, really!" said Pearl, brushing off the compliments. "Really, all of that was mostly Steven's doing. I was being controlled by White Diamond through most of it!"

Pearl laughed. "I suppose that's something else we have in common!"

Pearl, who had been silent throughout their discussion, spoke up. "Hang on, you two know each other?"

"Something like that," explained Pearl. "She was there with the other Crystal Gems when I was freed from White Diamond's control. Our meeting was brief, but how could I forget the Pearl who defied the Diamonds?"

This complement, however, made Pearl blush. "J-just another day in the life of a Crystal Gem! Nothing to worry about, really."

"Well, I think it's impressive!" said Pearl. "You've all done so much good for both Homeworld and Earth! And since you knew Rose Quartz since back when she was Pink Diamond, you've been helping for longer than anybody!"

"And speaking of Pink Diamond, that's actually what I wanted to talk to you about," Pearl said. "If it's alright with you, of course."

"Please, ask anything you like," said Pearl.

Pearl looked around at their surroundings. "Actually, do you mind if we go somewhere first? There's something I've always wanted to do on Earth…"

"It seems I was correct," said Pearl, sitting on the grass beside the other two. "No matter that planet it is, the sunset is always beautiful. And the Earth is no exception."

All three Pearls sat in the grass beside the Beach City lighthouse, observing the sun as it sank below the town. Pearl had only seen the sunset from Earth a few times, though she was sure Pearl had seen it thousands of times by now. Despite this, the Crystal Gem was still enthralled by the sight before them.

"It's times like this when I'm reminded why Rose fought so hard to protect this planet," Pearl said, almost teary-eyed. "It wasn't just for her sake, even ours. She truly did believe that everyone could live in peace together. I…I just wish she could be here to see everything that we've accomplished."

Pearl inched closer to Pearl. "That is what I wanted to say. Thank you, for looking after her all this time. You were there for her, when no one else was…when I couldn't be." She traced her hand over the cracked part of her face. "All of this may have been because of her, but you are the only reason she came so far."

A few tears fell from Pearl's eyes, but she was quick to wipe them away. "T-thank you. You know…she did speak fondly of you. She always said that you would be the first one she would come and find once the war was over. She was devastated when the Galaxy Warp was destroyed–so many Gems she had to leave behind." She looked up at the stars, many of them likely still out there.

"Wow. Pink sounds…really incredible," Pearl said. "Don't get me wrong, I love Emerald, but sometimes I wonder how things would have gone if I'd gone to her instead. I wish I could have at least met her."

"I'm sure she would have loved you," said Pearl. "Even back on Homeworld, Pink was always eager to have a new friend or playmate."

"You would have made a wonderful Crystal Gem," added Pearl. "We always focus on the war, but there were so many of us who never fought. So many Gems who focused on taking care of the wounded, on helping the humans, or spreading Rose's message to whoever could hear it…I'm certain you would have fit right in."

"And speaking of wondering," said Pearl, "I often think of how differently things might have been had I been a Crystal Gem as well. Perhaps miniscule, but…a Gem can dream, can't she?" She pushed the hair out of her broken eye once again, apparently a habit by now.

Pearl had been glancing at her eye throughout the night, and finally worked up the courage to inquire about it. "Um…if it's alright for me to ask, is your eye going to be alright? I've never seen a Gem's physical form do that before, at least not with an intact gemstone."

"Oh, this? It's nothing to worry about." Pearl didn't seem self-conscious about her eye in the least. "In fact, White Diamond has offered to undo any damage she may have done."

Pearl seemed convinced, byt Pearl was still wary, likely due to having more experience with White Diamond. "If you're sure. But if you ever need anything, you can always come back here."

"Thank you, I will. As a matter of fact, I was considering coming to live here…but there is something else I wanted to do first."

"Oh? And what's that?" asked Pearl.

Pearl stood up, looking in the direction of Homeworld's galaxy. "With Gems being set free, everything should be happy now. Unfortunately, as I'm sure you are aware, not every Gem is going through this transition smoothly. Many have pushed back against it, and many have simply abandoned those under them. Countless Pearls are being left with no home, with nobody to depend on. And I am afraid not all of them are as independent as the two of you."

Her encounter with Black Pearl was still fresh in Pearl's mind. "Is there anything we can do to help?" she asked.

"Perhaps, but I do have an idea," Pearl continued. "It's funny, actually, it came from something Pink said once. When she learned that most of the empire's Pearls come from a single planet, she initially took this to mean that it was an entire planet populated by Pearls, complete with its own government. While she and I laughed this off as silly at the time…I think now it may not be so far-fetched."

"You…you want to start an entire planet of Pearls?" Pearl was surprised, but pleasantly so. "That's an amazing idea! It won't come easily, of course, convincing the Diamonds to set aside one of their colonies for such a purpose…"

"There's no need to worry about that," Pearl assured her. "I'm planning on starting fresh, somewhere entirely new. And as for resources, I am still technically White Diamond's Pearl, which gives me a surprising amount of authority. Don't worry, I don't plan on abusing it!" she laughed.

"I-is there anything we can do?" asked Pearl. "If you ever need any help from us, just say the word!"

Pearl grabbed onto Pearl's hands. "Again, thank you so much, but I can take care of anything. Besides, you're still needed here. Pink–I mean, Steven still needs you." She turned towards Pearl. "And I imagine you'll remain with Emerald?"

"Of course!" Pearl stood up to join the others. "I know I don't have to anymore, but I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be…but I'd still like to stop by that Pearl planet of yours!"

"We'd be happy to have you!" said Pearl.

By now, the sun had disappeared, leaving the sky above them full of stars. "So…should we go now?" asked Pearl. "Or do you wanna stay a bit longer?"

"A few more minutes couldn't hurt," said Pearl. She lay back down to fully take in the starry sky overhead. All three of them were at peace, serenaded by the sound of crickets.

"I have always been partial to sunsets," Pearl said, "but what comes after is enjoyable as well."

"It is, isn't it?" replied Pearl.

AN: Wanted to see if I could make it clear who was who while calling them all the same thing. I think I did an alright job, all things considered. Agree or disagree?