It seemed that Hibiscus had absolutely no negative thoughts about this new world as a whole! Even bad smelling stuff- like dumpsters, at least SMELLED real! The Gem was in heaven! Nothing could ruin this day! This place was PERFECT!
"Hey shtuball!"
Hibiscus froze. A sudden fear overpowering her. T-that voice...it couldn't be...
"Hi dad!" Steven waved at his father as he approached the car wash. The boy embraced his father, before beckoning toward the Pearl.
"OH! Hi Pearl!" The old man waved sheepishly.
Steven giggled. "Dad! I want you to meet someone new! This isn't Pearl...this is Hibiscus!"
"Wha?" The man seemed confused as he scratched his head. "Sure looks like Pearl to me...but whatever you say kiddo! Hello there Hibiscus!" The man grabbed the terrified Gem's hand and shook it in greeting...
...
...before Hibiscus snapped, and quickly yanked her hand back in fright! She took a step backwards-shivering uncontrollably.
"Hibiscus! That wasn't nice!" Steven scolded the Pearl. He would have to teach her about common greetings later.
The Pearl began to cry. She glared at the man that stood in front of her, hatred in her eyes. "YOU! It was YOUR fault she disappeared!"
"Wait...what?" Greg was incredibly confused. Who was this new Gem talking about?!
Steven suddenly came to a grim realization. Rose...was Hibiscus referring to his mom?! The small boy looked back and forth at both adults in an awkward position.
The Pearl continued: "The LAST one...the VERY last one! I had to put her away because of YOU. She was in SO MUCH pain...BECAUSE OF YOU!"
Alarms blasted! The entire area began to pixelate like a broken video game!
"WHAT THE STARS?!" Pearl grabbed onto the brain's monitor, and held on for dear life!
The entire area was warping! What was going on?!
...
The dust suddenly settled.
"Mercy!" Pearl let go of the screen before turning around- incredibly spooked.
She jumped!
Two other Surface Pearls had appeared behind her!
"OH! Hello! Thank the stars! I thought I was the only one in here!" Pearl approached the duo enthusiastically! Both of her counterparts were staring at the brain's screen-seemingly mesmerized.
"H-hello? You-hoo!" Pearl waved her hands in front of her new friends-desperately attempting to get their attention.
The two Surface Pearls walked forward, fear on their faces- before completely walking through the Crystal Gem!
"WHAT THE-?!" Pearl finally looked behind herself. As she saw what was on the brain's screen, her pupils became small in shock!
It...it was HER! Or, (more specifically), a past version of her! The screen displayed a younger Pearl- crying by her lone on the beach as she simply stated: "Sh-She can't have a BABY!"
Pearl remembered this- it was when Rose told her that Steven was on the way...that the love of her life would soon be no more.
This was a memory-a hologram. She was seeing her own past unfold from the point of view of her Surface Pearl!
One of the two Surface Pearl holograms suddenly collapsed on the floor! Clutching her hands to her head, she wailed in pain! Her form was fluctuating horribly! The sickly-looking Surface Pearl yowled to the heavens!
Her holographic sister ran to her ill friend in desperation! "No...NO! Not YOU TOO! Y-you're the only one left! I can't do this by myself!"
The sickly Surface Pearl continued to whimper in pain. Her speech suddenly became forced: "S-she can't have a BABY!" The ill Surface Pearl was fluctuating more now-she looked upon her healthy sister, tears in her eyes. She was in PAIN...SO MUCH PAIN! The duo cried and embraced! It could not be helped! This was just the way things were...
...the host wanted to repress this memory. She wanted to bury it- deep deep down where no one could go.
Thus meant the sacrifice of a Surface Pearl- one of the last two Surface Pearls left.
The healthy one stood up and wept. "I-I am so sorry I have to do this. My friend- my ONLY remaining friend- I shall remember, and miss you always..." a bright light emerged from the healthy Surface Pearl's gemstone. It surrounded her sickly sister, before beaming her into a safe spot...
...the Surface Pearl was now alone.
...
The Crystal Gem cupped her hands around her mouth in the most shocking of manners! The memory began to disintegrate and immediately disappeared all around her. Pearl wept, and nearly collapsed onto the floor herself.
It...it was her own fault! By repressing her memories instead of talking about them, SHE had caused her own Surface Pearl into a life of solitude!
Pearl curled up into a ball- incredibly disturbed and alone. What had she done?!