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Note:
speak: Pearl thinks.
speak: Sakura thinks.
speak: other and amethyst think or memory.
Pink.
That was the first thing Pearl saw when she was created. Like every Gems, she stayed right inside the Gem, waiting for the command to step out and showed herself to the owner.
Pink.
Her mind was Pink. A world of Pink ice and snow. Various shapes of Pink, from the baby cream to fuchsia, salmon to powder pink painted a stunning picture.
Pink.
Pearl knew, immediately, that there was something wrong. A Pearl was supposed to be submissive. Accomodating. Dutiful. Gentle. Soft. Silent. Every Pearl knew this the moment they were formed, an instinct from deep down the core, an urge to follow, to bow their head and please their Masters.
But she wasn't.
It wasn't that she is imperfect. No. In fact, Pink Pearl was the most perfect Pearl ever, the other gems agreed on that. Her form was the model every Peark should have, her movements elegant, full of awareness, her Gem a perfect smoothness, and no one could ever deny that her dancing was breath catching. Glorious. Marvelous. A Pearl that deserved the best music box made of golden, silver and jewelries, performed only for the greatest Gems.
But there was something inside her, made her an Off Color.
Her mind, free, independent. Her eyes, a storm of rage, coldness, wildness hidden behind the illusion of innocence. Her darkness, her beast, swirling somewhere inside that made Pearl something more dangerous than any Gems could ever know.
The moment they knew would be their last moment.The first time ever that they let her out, Pink Pearl appeared, landed down with grace, feet flat in the mirror surface, cross to form a respectful bow. Tight pink stockings hid away the soft, cream rose skin, silk dress hung down thighs. She kept her head down (straight back) , her eyes staring at them through the eyelids, secretly, lyrical speech flew out her lips.
"Your exellency."
"My Diamond…." The agate behind her shivered under the gaze of other Diamonds, but her focus was only on the smallest one.
Pink.
Pink Diamond.
"Agate. This is not the Pearl I asked for." Blue Diamond scowled under her cloak.
"Ye…Yes, My Diamond. There was...a problem, you see. That Pearl was overcooked and…. it came out wrong." Pearl remembered the Pearl she saw Holly Blue Agate holding, a deviant shape, ugly and disgusting. She watched it all, from the way blue eyes wrinkled, disgusted, to how Agate's fist tightened around the Gem, shattered it completely.
The sound didn't make her flinch away. In fact, somehow, the chink raised up something in Pearl. A dark, conflicted emotion.
A sick desire.
Pearl stayed still.
"I promise, my Diamond, this Pearl is one of our best Pearl, Cabochon 07. No Gem can compare to her movements and exquisite form." Holly Blue Agate quickly swore.
"That doesn't matter. Her eyes are gree-"
"I want her." The Pink Gem, just as tall as Pearl, called out, her diamond-shaped iris sparkling in joy. "I want this Pearl. My Pearl."
"Pink, patient now. This is unfittable to a Diamond like you. We can give you a better P-"
"No!! I only want this Pearl! She is pretty, and she is Pink. Just like me!"
Blue and Yellow Diamond sighed, but said nothing more.
"Come here, Pearl!!"
Taking that as her first command, Pearl rised up, her hands, covered completely in dark pink gloves, folded neatly in front of her crotch, smooth gem without facets glimmering in her socket. Long legs easily crossed the room, without shaking even if every Gem was staring, Pearl calmly stood in front of her Diamond.
"I listen and I obey, Glorious Pink Diamond."
"My Pearl!!" A pair of solid arms hugged her form tightly, startled Pearl. "Oh, My first ever Gem!! My dear, dear Pearl... I am so happy~…."
The darkness in Pearl faded as the kind words repeated, nonstop. She closed her eyes, calm, peaceful, her cold heart melted down with love.
My Diamond. My Diamond. My Radiant Diamond.
She wished that this moment would last forever….. Safe and sound…..
Pink…Just Pink. Only Pink.
But then, everything crumbled down.The hands that held her suddenly let go, mercilessly. Pearl tried to get a grip on it, but because of her imperfection she was threw away. Into the White hand.
No….Please…."P.. Pl-…." Before White took over her, Pearl heard some meaningless words spluttered out of her mouth, desperately. "Pl…n't….g…"
Sakura wakes up.
It takes her a few minutes to regain conciousness, but the moment she does, Sakura sits up, looks at the surroundings. Dark, not very big but enough for Sakura, Aquamarine-sided child, moves without worry. The space is shaking with clip-clopping of footsteps knocking on the ground, a rhythmic movements. Sakura can see something from the gap between soft, grey veils. Something big, tall with long legs and brown hackles.
If she remembers correctly, those are some organic creatures called….horses? So, this must be a…wagon?
Wave. Amethyst helpfully says.
That's…right. She is on a vacation with her Masters to The Land of Wave, an island near to The Land Of Fire, where Konoha is located. A small trip to get away from all the stress and anxiety.
"Sakura-hime, you're up." Kizashi pokes inside the wagon, smiles kindly. "We are close to Wave, honey. If only you wake up soon, you can see the sea!! Haha, it must cries a lot. Know why? Because the sea feels so blue~"
Sakura blinks. Ah, she understand now. Blue Diamond makes everyone feels blue, the water must have feel that too. Poor water.
"Honey, enough puns for today. Don't you dare to ruin my daughter with all that silly jokes." Mebuki chews on him and scowls, even if eyes full of love and relief.
Of course, the female can also sense it, the tension in their house. How can someone no feel it at all, the emotion, thick like butter, so dense that it weights them down. But now, looks at her husband and her child fooling around, she is relieved.
Maybe everything will be alright.
"Himeeeeee! Your mother is so meannnn! She is jelly!" Hugging Sakura, he ruffles her pink hair and fakely cries out loud
"Jelly?" Sakura is confused. Why is the bouncing material related to Mebuki? Humans are solid, warm, not jelly.
"Yessss~ She is jelly and green because Papa is butter than her~"
"Ooooh!! You start it!!" She growls playfully, rushes over and holds Kizashi down, mercilessly tickles the man, who begins screaming out loud, trying to struggle under his wife's deadly fingers.
"No!! No!! Mercy!!!! Mercy, Mebuki!!! Unbearable!"
Witness the lively picture in front of her, some soft laughters escape Sakura mouth. Her gem feels bubbly, happy, like she has been dancing freely with her song playing in her gem. Sakura smiles. Truly smiles.
Humans are always so loud, so complicated.
But…maybe she can understand why her Diamond was so fascinated by them. Their potential….their emotions, their love…Everything is just…so bright.
There are dark sides, too. Pearl coldly reminds her.
…..I know. Sakura agrees.
Don't be so strict.
I am not. I am just being realistic and reasonable.
"Hey!! We are here!!" The coachman shouts, interupts the family's warm scenes. While her prarents stops their childish actions, Sakura takes chance and peers the view outside.
She gasps, slightly.
Wave is….really something. The country is small, surrounded by the deep blue ocean with several waves kissing the earth wooshing happily. Not the richest or the best, but so full of life and sounds. People shouting, trading their products. Boats and ships line up near the harbour, a significant sight to see.
Winds carry the scent of salt, fish and oil, fluttering her long hair. As a result, Sakura's nose twitches when she stands behind her creators, be careful to not dirty her new purple shoes. This is…new. Not the same scent she has grown attached to in Konoha, but has it own feature.
"How do you feel, sweetheart." Mebuki excitedly asks. "This is such a place, right?"
"Of course." Kizashi chirpping. "Why do you think I choose this place, hn?"
"Oh shut up."
They don't need a hotel, her Father says. They stay in a small house at the edge of the village, not too far away from the center, not too close to be bothered by the living activities of people there. The apartment is normal, one floor contains 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, the kitchen and the dining room is one. Not anything far expensive nor fancy, but neat and comfortable.
"I got this when I was working with a company in Wave. They were kind, don't you think so?" Open the door, Kizashi coughing as the dust flying so thick in the air. "Whale whale, a little dusty, but after a little cleaning, everything will be purrfect."
"Mother, how should I accommodate you?"
"Come to your room, sweety. I will call you for dinner." Looks at the darken sky outside, Mebuki gently shoves her daughter to the closest bedroom. "Make sure to clean yourself, ok?"
"Yes, mother."
Putting the bag in the closet, Sakura takes a short shower (can't let her Masters wait for her), washing dirt and sweat out of her precious hair and body. Dries herself carefully, Sakura then changes into a sunny summer dress, walks out to show Mebuki her work. Her Mother is cooking, fried fish and stew steak rolling in the pans, the knife chopping and slicing the food masterfully as she picks it all up, puts in a large bowl to make a meal named salad.
Smell good. Amethyst hungrily says.
Report.
Flattens her dress, fixes the hair until she doesn't know what to fix anymore, Sakura lowers her head, doing the Pearl stance while waiting for the next order.
"Mother, I am done."
"Oh my, so fast honey." Is she upsetted? Does Sakura make her angry? Is she still not enough? "Your must be very hungry. Dinner is going to be ready, so can you set up the table for me?"
"Yes, Mother." The dishes, cups and other things needed for a meal are in a large cupboard. Doesn't want to distract Mebuki from the cooking, Sakura simply tiptoes to reach the handle, opens it and takes all the tools out. Carries them all on one little hand, Sakura uses a chair to be able to decorates the table, for her height is only two third of that thing. Her short fingers try their best not to drop the fragile necessities.
After she has finished it all, Sakura makes sure there is nothing out of it's place. Satisfied with the sight of well ordered, tidy table, she jumps down and continues to wait.
Are you happy, Mother?
"Kizashi!!! You idiot, get down here right now!!" The female roars angrily the moments she sees the neat scenes. "Why do you let your daughter does everything, you lazy man!!"
"..I am sorry Mother." Sakura whimpers.
Not good enough.
We fail again.
"Hn? Oh right, Sakura-chan, thank you so much! You help Mama a lots!!" Mebuki doesn't hear her daughter's words at all, so she notices not any problem. Petting the small pink head fondly, she turns around to prepare the food.
How merciful her Master is, pities such a subject like her and give her no punishment.
"Mother, let me help." A servant can't let their Masters do this kind of thing.
"It's ok, sweety. Sits down on your seat." Gives her a bowl of rice, steak and vegetable cut in small pieces, she stares up at her husband, frowns grumpily. "And where were you, Kizashi?"
"I was…..looking for something.…" He scratches his head bashfully, shrudders at the heated look of the woman. "I am so sorry, my dear. Please forgive me." The man singsongs dramatically, his hand puts on his heart in an act of a vow. "I swear!"
("I swear to give you my fullest loyalty." Pearl put her hand at the center of her chest, one picked the fabric up, crustied gracefully to Pink Diamond. "I swear.")
Sakura nibbles at her food.
"Next time, and you're done." Glares at him one last time, Mebuki sits down, fills their bowl with rice and food. "Now sit. Dinner time."
"Of course, honey bunny~"
The little Gemling swallows her food, viewing her creators with soft eye far too old, her lips curved gently with rare happiness as she allows herself to relax fully.
Will the world be kind to her this time? Will she get her song back? Will she be able to serve them, those she owes deeply?
At this time, with the boldest mind, Sakura asks herself the forbidden question.
Will she gain her true….Happy Ending?