Chapter Four: Gifts

Rose Quartz found it hard to put exactly what she loved so much about human beings into words.

There were so many things that attracted her to them. The way they looked so like Gems, yet exhibited a variety of appearances and personality that far exceeded anything within her own species. The way that every single one of them was unique, bound to have a completely different experience from anyone else. The way they grew and changed, from a baby to a child to an adult. The way they were able to accomplish so much in such short time. But perhaps the part she liked most was the 'being'. Human being. Humans didn't come into the world without any intended job or specific purpose. They just had to exist. To be.

What exactly did she love so much about Mr. Universe?

Well, there was his creativity. She'd always adored human artists, and Mr. Universe's songs were so vibrant and energetic.

And he was kind! He'd been so gentle with Amethyst's new human friend Connie. He'd never even met the child, but he'd still given her food and clothes, and sat with her until the (rather unnecessary) human medics had arrived.

He was humble, too. It had been so, well, cute, to see him perform in front of hundreds of humans, all screaming and cheering his name, and then the moment she'd come up to him, he'd gotten bashful and blushing.

Rose would have almost thought he was scared of her— which wouldn't have been particularly unusual. It was a common reaction of humanity to Gems. That, or worship, which was almost worse. But if Greg Universe had been scared, he had pushed through that fear enough to give her gifts, and talk to her, and spend time with her.

And Rose was so glad of that. He was a very interesting human, who'd lived a very interesting life. He'd seen so much of the Earth. So had Rose, of course, but it was always lovely getting to hear about it from a human perspective. And he was curious about her life in turn— what the Crystal Gems did, how their magic worked, where their missions took them, where they had come from.

Some of the questions treaded on painful memories, and Rose could not help but avoid answering them. But others she answered as truthfully as she could, and the genuine interest than rang in his voice was more than enough to make up for any discomfort he may have inadvertently caused.

Rose Quartz was just telling Mr. Universe about what the sun looked like from space, outside from the shielding of the Earth's atmosphere, and it was such a joy, seeing the way his eyes glittered like stars themselves.

"I wish I could see it," he remarked.

"Well," Rose mused, "maybe you can…"

Mr. Universe tilted her head at her in curiosity.

She could take him into her room, of course. Generating a model of the sun would be a bit difficult for it, but not impossible. However, her room had a tendency to do strange things when she was distracted… and she found Mr. Universe rather distracting.

Thankfully another solution occurred to her. She opened the door to her room, and called into the Temple, "Pearl? Could you come out?"

"Coming!" said a voice from in the distance.

Rose closed her door, and a moment later, Pearl's door re-opened. She stepped out, an eager smile on her face— one which faltereda bit when she saw Mr. Universe.

"Yes?" Pearl asked.

Rose smiled at her. "Didn't you once pick up a mirror at the Galaxy Warp?" Pearl nodded. "Did you keep it?"

"Of course!" said Pearl. She fell into a stance and let a high pitched kiai shout, launching into one of the most elaborate and unnecessary summoning dances she'd ever choreographed, the one that never failed to put a ridiculous grin on Rose's face. Out of Pearl's gem floated a mirror, forged from silver and glass, a cracked tear-drop shape on its back. Rose plucked it easily from the air.

"What is it?" Mr. Universe asked.

"A mirror, obviously," said Pearl. "But one most likely designed to record every place it's ever seen, and allow the user to replay those events."

"Woah," breathed Mr. Universe.

"Isn't it wonderful? Now you have the chance to see the sights of the universe for itself, Mr. Universe," Rose Quartz trilled. She leaned over the human, tilting the mirror's face so that the both of them were reflected in its surface. "Show us the the sun!"

Nothing happened.

Mr. Universe started in anticipation. Rose repeated the request, and still nothing happened, she drooped a bit in disappointment.

Pearl came over, shaking her head. "If it was made on planet, it's probably never seen the sun." She took the mirror from Rose and said, "Show me the galaxy warp!" Still nothing happened. "Show us the galaxy warp! Oh, come on, I know you've seen it!"

"It's alright, guys, don't worry about it…" Mr. Universe was saying.

"I suppose it's damaged," Rose said, taking the mirror back from Pearl. She turned it around, inspecting the lapis lazuli stone embedded there. Rose ran a finger down the jagged crack which had nearly split it in two. It was a shame, really. A Gem, a person, had been sacrificed to make this mirror… no doubt her consciousness was long gone by now, and now that it had been broken, that sacrifice had been for nothing. But… "Maybe I can fix it."

Pearl laid a light hand on her arm, a slight warning there. She suspected that Rose's tears wouldn't do the job— not for a a gem so badly broken, not for a gem with its powers so constrained.

"I still think it's awesome, even if it doesn't work the way it's meant to," Mr. Universe said. "After all, if every porkchop were perfect, we wouldn't have hot dogs."

Rose and Pearl exchanged confused glances.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Pearl asked.

"It's a metaphor," Mr. Universe said, rubbing his arm and explaining about pigs, and pork chops, and processed meats, and it really was a lovely analogy— even if it did make Rose's mouth water. (It made Pearl's cheeks turn a little blue, but then, she'd never quite been able to tolerate the sensation of eating).

"So this mirror is a… hot dog?" Rose asked.

"Yep!" said Mr. Universe. "A very nice one, too."

"Well then." Rose grasped Mr. Universe's hands, and pressed the mirror into them. "Why don't you keep this as a gift?"

The human gaped. "What? Seriously, for me?"

Rose Quartz laughed. "That's what I said!"

Pearl muttered something under her breath Rose didn't quite catch. "What was that?"

"I— I was just saying, are you sure that's a... wise idea, Rose?" said Pearl.

"Of course it is. That mirror deserves to be with someone who appreciates it!"

Mr. Universe was shaking his head, staring at the object in his hands. "I just— wow. I don't even know what to say! Thanks!"

"You're very welcome," said Rose, patting him on the shoulder, taking care to be gentle.

He stumbled through a few more repeated apologies, which were delightful to watch, then excused himself, citing 'paperwork'. Rose watched him go, a smile playing on her lips all the while.

As soon as he was gone, Pearl came up to her, mouth pursed. "I'm not sure that was a good idea. What if the mirror is dangerous?"

"Do you think it might be?" asked Rose.

"Not… really, no."

"Then it's silly to worry," Rose said. "It made him happy. And this way, it won't take up space in your gem. It's a 'win-win' for everyone, as they say."

"I suppose…" Pearl said.

She still didn't look particularly happy, so Rose reached out, cupped her face in a gentle hand. Pearl looked up, eyes crinkling into a smile, as Rose bent down and pressed a light, sweet kiss onto her lips. Pearl leaned in, giving a little sigh as their bodies pressed together.

When the two were done, Rose straightened, and made her way to Temple. She had work to do in the burning room. Experiments. Another theory on how to heal the corruption… a bit of a long shot, perhaps, but it had promise. With any luck, it would work.

In Rose's memory hung the menacing image of the Red Eye drawing towards Earth.

It had to work. It had to. Who knew how much time they had left for experimenting?


"Empire City! Let's go to Empire City!" Steven sang, rather off-key, bouncing up and down on the hotel bed, thoroughly destroying its neatly folded sheets and perfectly arranged pillows.

"We're already here," Pearl pointed out, with a faint, amused smile.

Steven grinend. "Yeah, I know!"

"Doesn't matter where you are," Greg chuckled, setting his guitar case in the corner, "the music will still flow. And there aren't many cities more musical than Empire City! Home of jazz! Birthplace of hip hop! Land of musical theatre!"

Pearl found herself smiling despite herself: the pair's enthusiasm was infectious. She didn't have much of an opinion on Empire City, herself— from what she'd seen of it so far, it seemed much like any other human settlement, albeit bigger than any of the others she'd visited. And noisier, and smellier, and more crowded…

It gave her pangs for Homeworld, and its cities— each of them a hundred times larger than anything on Earth, each of them built of shimmering stone, perfectly clean and perfectly organized, where no one would ever bump anyone else in the streets.

But it didn't matter how she felt. What mattered was that this was the perfect place for Steven and his father to meet up. The trip between Beach City and the nearest (safe) warp pad was a long one, and by necessity, any visits there had to be short ones. But Empire City was a halfway between the two places, significantly reducing travel time. Furthermore, it was on neutral ground, far beyond the jurisdiction, as it was, of the Crystal Gems. This meant that Steven and Greg could spend a full 'long weekend' together. It would certainly be delightful.

Pearl helped the pair unpack their things, while Steven excitedly pored through the dozens of tourist pamphlets he'd spread out on the hotel room's desk. "Where should we go first?" he asked. "Should we go to Stonegalla Centre? Or maybe a museum? Or walk through Middle Park? Or see Times Circle? Or, ooh, we could go on a river cruise!"

"Woooooah, slow down there bud," said. Greg. "We can do whatever you like. But first, your old man's got something for ya."

Steven's eyes filled with diamonds. "What is it?! What?!"

Pearl stifled an amused grin as Greg rifled around in his duffle bag, then pulled out something extensively wrapped in the shiny, coloured paper customary for human gift exchanges. Steven tore through it into a layer of bubble wrap beneath, which he immediately began popping. Pearl warned him against this, advising that if the object was fragile, it would probably require that protection during the trip back to Korea.

"Oh, right," Steven said, pouting a little, but proceeding more carefully. Slowly he unwrapped something silver that glinted in the light. "A mirror!"

"That's right!" Greg said. "Do you like it?"

"It's so pretty!" Steven squealed.

Greg chuckled, exchanging a fond look with Pearl. "I'll take that as a 'yes'."

Steven was peering delightedly at his reflection, and began to recite a passage Pearl recalled from one of his animated films. "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest one of all?" When he saw his own reflection, he giggled. "Flatterer!"

What a lovely gift, Pearl thought, beginning to turn away—

— and then she saw the gemstone on the mirror's back.

Something like an electric jolt shot through her core. She stood straighter. "Mister Gregory Universe," she said, "may I discuss something with you in private?"

"Uhhhh… sure," said Greg.

"With the mirror," Pearl added.

Greg frowned, but nodded, and went to take the mirror back from Steven. The boy didn't want to relinquish his gift. "But I only just got it!"

"Steven," Greg warned.

That single word was all it took to make the boy let go and give a mumbled 'sorry'. Pearl could have shook her head. How does he do that?

(By not being a Pearl.)

Pearl led Greg to the room's bathroom, careful to close the door firmly behind them. Thankfully it was a large space which left them plenty of space. Pearl hesitated a moment, gathering herself, then said, "Where did you get that?"

"From the Crystal Gems."

"What? How?"

"Rose Quartz gave it to me as a gift."

Pearl snatched the thing from Greg's hands. "Why?"

He shrugged. "I dunno, really. I thought it was pretty, and she said I might as well have it. I think she's kinda trying to pay me back for the merchandise I gave her, back at that concert."

Pearl was torn between staring at the human, and the object he'd brought with him. "It could be dangerous."

"I… don't think so, Pearl," said Greg. "It didn't work for Rose Quartz or the other Pearl. They said it was broken. And when I took it home, I like, triple checked it myself. I mean, if you really think it's a threat, obviously we'll do something about it… but I just figured, it's something from Steven's heritage, y'know?"

She let out a small huff of air through her mouth, a human habit that Pearl was ashamed to admit she'd picked up. Greg was not wrong. Steven had precious little that had belonged to his mother. The stone on the mirror's back was even a lapis lazuli, a gem which fell under the purview of Blue Diamond's court. By all rights, it should belong to Steven.

But… "What if it is a trap?"

"That's… a possibility, I guess." Greg rubbed his arms. "But the Crystal Gems think I'm just a random guy. They wouldn't have any reason to give me a trap. And..."

Pearl waited for him to finish the sentence, but he seemed to be struggling with the words. "Yes?" she prompted.

He sighed. "I just think… maybe… maybe the Crystal Gems might not be as bad as we thought?"

Pearl said nothing. She just stared.

"It's just— look, I know what Rose Quartz did, and the war they started. But these guys, they really don't act like soldiers. They're… pretty nice, really, for the most part. They keep the town protected from monsters, and a few weeks ago they saved this kid's life… Do you think Blue maybe got something wrong?"

For a moment, Pearl saw a flash of memory— the Rebel Pearl, face sharp, sword in one hand, the other open and extended towards her. "Come with us," she said, "please."—

Pearl blinked the image away.

"Blue Diamond was not mistaken," she said.

Greg ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah," he said. "I guess you're right. It's just… Maybe they've changed, you know?"

Pearl thought of Steven, hunched over on the ground, body sparkling with lightning as he was forced to live through the moment of Pink Diamond's shattering, again and again.

"I am not willing to risk Steven's life on that," she said.

Greg flinched.

Pearl nearly flinched as well. That was not an insult she had intended to give. She knew how completely dedicated Gregory was to his son.

"My apologies—" she began.

"No, no, it's alright," Greg said, raising a hand. "You're right. We need to be careful. We can just... get rid of the mirror. Not sure how, and I know Steven will be disappointed, but I should've talked to you before giving it to him."

Pearl turned the mirror over and over in her hands, considering it. Aside from the cracked gemstone its back, it looked and felt like a completely ordinary mirror. There were no sparks of light, no signs of magical influence. Perhaps she had been hasty in her judgement. Panicked.

"I will look it over," she suggested. "Check it myself for signs of danger. If I find none, we can return it to him."

Greg smiled. "Really? Okay, that's a great idea, Pearl. Thanks."

And then he hugged her.

Pearl stiffened a little at the unexpected physical contact. It was a common experience with Greg. In the time that she'd known the human, it still hadn't gotten any less strange. Pearl suspected that if she asked, he would stop, but Pearl never did. The hugs weren't entirely unpleasant. Just a little overwhelming.

When he pulled out of the embrace, Pearl said, "I'll get started on the analysis immediately."

"No need to do that. It can wait. Come on, join us for a little sightseeing."

Pearl gave him a faint smile. "It's quite alright."

"No, seriously, we'd love for you to come!"

Pearl pressed her hands (and the mirror) to her chest, bowing her head. "Very well."

Greg paused, his enthusiasm fading a little. "Wait— Pearl. If you really don't want to come, you don't have to. I just don't want you feeling left out."

"... Are you certain?" Pearl asked, after a pause.

"Yeah!" said Greg.

"Then I believe I would prefer to stay here," said Pearl.

"Okay then," said Greg, smile returning to his face. "Whatever you want."

Oh. If only it was that simple.