Pearl knew that they would have only one chance at this, and she was determined not to waste it.

As they had planned, she and Lapis waited out from the coast for what felt like an eternity, but certainly couldn't have been more than an hour, judging from how the sun crept up the horizon behind them. From their position, they were hidden beneath the waves, but were still provided a good view of the Crystal Gem base.

And the cage that held Steven.

Lying next to Steven was Greg. The two woke up, and Pearl watched them go through some crude pantomime of a morning routine, with changing and Steven brushing his teeth by spitting into a bucket. The urge to come and rescue them right away was nearly overwhelming.

Pearl fought the desire. Even if they escaped unnoticed, the first place the Crystal Gems would check was the Palanquin, which Steven still could not activate. They could abandon it, and go on the run, but it would only be a matter of time before they were rediscovered.

They waited.

Eventually Greg ambled down the beach, presumably to get breakfast. He was so close Pearl could have called out him. But it was better that he would be out of the way for this.

So they waited.

Eventually, the Temple door opened, and Rose Quartz and her Pearl came out.

Lapis shifted, clenching her fist. Pearl squeezed her hand, silent restraint and reassurance both. It would be cleaner to take all the Crystal Gems out at once.

So they waited.

… but no one else came out.

Pearl grew concerned. Rose Quartz was simply sitting on the floor, the Pearl at her side, the two in apparent conversation with Steven. Pearl had no idea why, or how long they would do so. It was possible that the other Crystal Gems would come join them eventually; it was equally possible that the two rebels already there would leave before that could happen, and Pearl and Lapis would be left waiting a very long time indeed. Taking out the Crystal Gem leader and her second-in-command would be better than nothing.

Pearl nodded. Under the cover of a wave, Lapis brought them up on the beach. They moved quickly, pressing themselves up against the cliff face where they were less likely to be spotted. Lapis flew, and Pearl walked with the lightness only a Pearl could muster, and so the two of them made almost no noise on the shifting sand.

There came a slope which lead up to the Crystal Gem base, and the pair stopped at the bottom of it. Pearl tapped the side of her head, indicating that it was time. Then she closed her eyes and concentrated.

With a mental push, she felt her physical form shift, her ears sealing themselves off and vanishing. Instantly, all the beach sounds— the crash of the waves, the call of gulls, the distant murmur of conversation from the cave— died. Lapis's brow furrowed as she too cut off all hearing.

Pearl took a moment to center herself.

She did not want to attack the Crystal Gems. Not really. It was true that their rebellion had sown much strife, but despite what Pearl had taught Steven in Homeworld's name, she did not believe they were evil. Simply misguided. She much would have preferred to leave them alone.

Her hand touched the hairclip which was keeping the bangs out of her eyes for the mission. It was shaped like a little gold star. Greg had bought it for her years ago. On her wrist was another gift. The plastic bracelet that, even when locked away, Steven had ensured was returned to her, along with a message: "love you."

If it was a choice between the Crystal Gems and Steven, then it was no choice at all.

Pearl closed her eyes, and summoned an object from her gem. Lapis raised her hand, and pulled a giant globe of water from the ocean, casting a dark shadow across the beach.

Long, slender, and finely carved, the object Pearl held was a flute. She raised it to her lips, and began to play. She could not hear the music, but she could feel the vibration in her lips and fingers, thrumming through her form.

So armed, Pearl began up the hill, Lapis following in her wake.

They reached the cave's mouth.

The second they noticed, all three of the cave's occupants were on their feet. Steven, his face equal parts surprise, joy, and confusion. Rose Quartz and the Pearl, instantly wary. Everyone was talking, their mouths opening and closing, but Pearl could hear nothing of what they said.

Lapis stepped forward, and the water streamed through the air around her, rushing at the Crystal Gems.

The rebels dodged out of the way, but just barely. Their movements were sluggish, their expressions vague.

If Pearl's mouth hadn't been otherwise occupied, she would have allowed herself a small smile. The flute had been designed as an aid to relaxation. Long ago, back when Blue Diamond had still held celebrations and balls for her Court, Pearl had often been instructed to play it for the guests' amusement, which left all who heard it amicable and content. A reward for new colonies founded and battles won.

These were no revellers looking for a chance to unwind. They were warriors, defending themselves, and they would not fall under the music's sway so easily. But they couldn't resist it completely either.

The Pearl lunged at Lapis, but she was slow. She came close to stabbing Lapis in the abdomen with her summoned spear, but she was not alert enough to predict Lapis flying out of the way. The Pearl made a few jabs, but they were all off. Lapis easily shoved her away with a jet of water, slamming her into a wall.

Out of the corner of her eyes, Pearl saw Steven on his feet, swaying a little as he fought the music's effects. He waved his arms, mouth moving as he called out to her. Pearl knew he must be so scared. For now, the only reassurance she could offer was a nod.

As she was distracted, Rose Quartz snatched the flute away.

Or nearly did. Pearl's reactions were sharp, and she twirled on one foot, twisting the instrument out of Rose Quartz's grasp. The Quartz jumped into the air, floating easily above Pearl's head as she tried to grab it from above, but Pearl ducked out of reach.

The other Pearl came to her Master's aid, bearing down on Pearl with her spear. It grazed Pearl's shoulder, pain striking up through her arm, nearly making her lose her grip. She gasped, and the music stopped.

The other Pearl shook herself, and grabbed the flute.

Water smacked into both Pearls, sending them tumbling. It was a bit of a surprise, but Lapis had judged the force well. While it slammed the renegade to the floor it didn't hurt Pearl at all, giving her a chance to readjust her grip and resume playing.

The renegade had been struggling to get up. But at the music, she stopped bothering, her expression melting into a contented smile.

Water collected into the air, and Lapis froze it into a blade of ice.

Lapis sent it flying right at the renegade.

The renegade blinked at it, not bothering to move.

Rose Quartz jumped in front of her Pearl, raising a shield just in time.

There was a shock-wave as the ice hit, sending shards flying in every direction. Pearl felt a few stab into her skin, but ignored the pain. She had to keep playing.

Rose Quartz staggered back. Her shield was gone, and she hadn't summoned another one. She looked dazed.

She didn't even flinch when the second blade of ice plunged into her chest.

She exploded into pink smoke, her gemstone falling to the stone floor.

Even without hearing, the scream was plain on the Pearl's face. Horror cut through the music's euphoric effects, and she pulled herself to her feet, rushing to grab her comrade's gem— only to be buffeted away by a wave. Lapis pinned her to the wall, and this time left her there, frozen in ice.

Two enemies down. Pearl itched to release Steven.

She had barely had the thought when the Temple door opened, and out rushed reinforcements. The fusion and the Amethyst.

It became immediately apparent that they weren't dazed by the music. Their eyes were too sharp, their movements too fast, their attentions completely focused. The sapphire-fusion must have predicted the tactic, and so both she and the Amethyst had removed their ears before attacking, just as Lapis and Pearl had.

That hardly mattered.

Amethyst lunged at Pearl with her whip, but the cave was filled with water. Lapis easily picked the runt up in a massive liquid fist, and any threat the Amethyst posed was gone. The fusion lasted a little longer, but Lapis clearly had her in hand as well.

Pearl stopped playing. The music was unnecessary now. She stored the flute away, and pulled out a laser knife from her gem.

As Lapis set herself to squeezing the Amethyst until her physical form was destroyed, Pearl waded to Steven's cage, and got to work cutting through the bars.

She was so focused on her task that she'd cut through two of them when she realized Steven was waving at her, trying to get her attention, mouth moving, his expression panicked.

Pearl released her shape shifting, and let out a sigh of relief.

"— ARE YOU DOING?" Steven was yelling, and that relief evaporated.

"Rescuing you, my Steven," Pearl said. She readjusted her grip, and began cutting through the third bar. "Do not worry, I shall have you out soon."

Steven said something else, but his voice was drowned out by the crash of waves. A repetitive thud, thud, thud, thud, as Lapis slammed the fusion into the wall, again and again and again.

"Stop!" the renegade Pearl was screaming. "Please! Let her go!"

For a moment, Lapis stopped.

She said, "Like how you let me go?

She slammed the fusion against the wall.

"Like how you let Steven go!?"

She slammed the fusion even harder, cracks spreading across the wall from the impact point.

Pearl cut through another bar. Almost there. Soon Steven would have enough room to escape.

There was a flash of light from behind her. A double scream, from a Ruby and a Sapphire, a wave of heat and cold.

The fusion must've broken apart.

"Stop!" Steven cried, and he was on the brink of tears.

Another bar clattered to the floor. Pearl smiled. Her Steven was free.

He barreled past her.

Pearl spun, and the image which greeted her was unpleasant.

The Ruby stood on unsteady feet, only a few steps away from the warp pad, but refusing to flee, despite the rebel Pearl yelling at her to run. She was clutching a blue stone to her chest. Her face was a mask of fury. The air around her was thick with steam, and the water at her feet was boiling.

Left unchecked, Lapis's weapon would evaporate.

The cool expression on Lapis's face made it clear she had no intent of letting that happen.

She pulled up a long, thin strand of water into the air, twisting it and twisting it, faster, and faster, until it formed a drill.

She raised an arm, and brought it down towards the Ruby—

— and Steven jumped in front of it, a living shield.

"STOP!"

Lapis just barely managed to stop the water from drilling through his head. She recoiled, wings flapping furiously. "Steven! What are you doing?!"

"What are you doing?"

"Saving you!"

Lapis looked equal parts angry and confused, but Pearl was neither. She should have expected something like this. Steven was not an experienced Diamond, accustomed to battle. How many times had he brought injured animals home to the Palanquin, everything from baby birds to wild lynxes, begging Pearl to help heal them?

But surely even he had to realize that was different from actively protecting the Gems who'd attacked and imprisoned him.

"Look," Steven said, glancing at the Ruby, who was staring wide-eyed at this turn of events. "This is all unnecessary."

"Unnecessary," Lapis repeated, the water in the cave roiling white. "They locked you up!"

"I know," Steven said, "I know—"

Her Steven was kind-natured and sentimental, but not willfully foolish, Pearl knew. If he was defending the Crystal Gems, he surely had a reason. She came to his side, and asked him to explain.

"It's just— Well, I've been talking with the Crystal Gems, and they're actually… kinda… nice. I know they've made mistakes—"

("Oh, please," the other Pearl began.

"Quiet," snapped the Ruby.)

"— but they actually apologized for what they did to me, and they were talking about letting me go when you came in here and I don't think you should hurt them!"

There was silence.

Then Lapis said, "I can't believe this."

"Lapis," Pearl said, quiet.

Lapis didn't even glance at her. The water drill began to spin again, this time twisting around Steven to come at the Ruby from the side.

"I said stop!" Steven cried.

"Sorry, Steven," Lapis said.

Steven drew himself to his full height. "Lapis Lazuli! Am I your Diamond?"

And again the water stopped, this time less than an inch from the Ruby's face. She didn't dare move.

Lapis opened her mouth. "Yes, but—"

"Am I your Diamond?"

"Yes."

"Then stop."

Lapis sagged. The water dropped to the floor with a splash.

The Ruby took a step towards Steven. Very softly she said, "Thank you."

The other Pearl was still frozen to the wall. Pearl tapped Steven on the shoulder, and silently pointed this out.

"Her too," Steven said.

Lapis scowled, doing nothing.

"Lapis!"

Lapis glanced at the ice and it began to melt, dropping the Pearl to her feet.

"Thank you," Steven breathed.

"Of course," Lapis replied, an icy edge to her voice. "My Diamond."

The Pearl didn't say thank you, however. Instantly, she set to finding her fallen comrades, Ruby joining her. With all the water now streaming out of the cave's mouth, it was not an easy task, but they managed it. Eventually the Pearl came up, clutching a pink stone in one hand, and a purple in the other, horror and grief etched across her face.

She said, "They're cracked."

Steven's eyes opened wide in horror, as Pearl herself tightly pursed her lips. Her intent hadn't been for any of the Crystal Gems to get cracked.

"No!" The Ruby cried as she ran over to the Pearl. "Rose! Amethyst!" She gritted her teeth as her grip on her fusion partner's gem tightened. "Can they be healed?!"

The other Pearl ran her thumbs across both gems. "Yes, I believe so. The cracks don't look too bad."

"Then what are we waiting for?!" The Ruby yelled as she ran towards the warp pad. "Let's go! What's the hold up?"

The Pearl didn't answer directly, only letting her gaze slip from the gems in her hands to Steven and back again.

"I'll go with you," Steven said firmly. "You won't have to take your eyes off of me."

The Pearl still didn't say anything, her eyes now darting between Steven, Lapis, and Pearl herself.

"We'll all go," Steven added, sensing the Pearl's unasked question. "We won't try anything." He turned to face the two of them. "Right?"

"Of course, my Steven," Pearl answered, even though she wasn't sure about this. If the three of them were to leave now, it was unlikely the Pearl or Ruby would try to chase after them. And the time needed to heal and let their companions regenerate their forms meant that they would have an advantage in time as well.

But regardless, she followed Steven's lead, as she always did.

Steven looked over at Lapis who said nothing, only returning his steady gaze, before finally nodding curtly. Pearl was glad. She didn't want Lapis to try anything... rash.

"Okay. Let's go," Steven said to the two remaining Crystal Gems.

Ruby practically leapt to the warp pad, tapping her foot impatiently and stroking the sapphire she still held to her chest. The Pearl's brow furrowed as she hesitated before moving. She clearly didn't like this arrangement. She knew just as well as Pearl did that they had the advantage. That Lapis could, at any moment, choose to resume her attack, and defeat them even more thoroughly. But she must have known how limited her options were, as she slowly nodded before carefully walking back to the warp pad.

Steven, Lapis, and Pearl followed her. When all of them were in place, the Pearl activated the warp pad and they were swept away in the stream.


It felt weird being back at the Fountain. As soon as the warp stream disappeared, Steven could see the grey walls and the star-shaped archway. His stomach began to twist and turn.

This was where all this had really started. And now they were back.

The five of them tread silently down the short path through the garden. The sweet smell of flowers in bloom followed them into the Fountain, creating an odd disconnect between the pleasant smell and the dire reason they were there.

The other Pearl walked over to the Fountain, Steven stopping a few feet behind her. Lapis and Pearl remained even further back, near the archway. The Ruby stood next to the Pearl, half her attention on the three of them and the other half on Amethyst and Rose Quartz's gems.

The Pearl leaned over into the Fountain and submerged the two cracked gems. She visibly relaxed looking, her shoulders slumping as she muttered something under her breath.

"They're healed." Her voice wavered as she spoke, wiping the corner of one of her eyes. "They're going to be okay..."

"Good, good," the Ruby breathed, her form slacking against the Fountain. She buried her head in the Pearl's waist, and the Pearl responded by stroking her hair, a surprisingly tender touch. "We just gotta wait for them to regenerate."

"So... They're going to be okay?" Steven asked, taking a few cautious steps forward.

The other Pearl and the Ruby turned, looking surprised, as if they had forgotten Steven was there. The Ruby nodded curtly. "Yeah. They are."

Steven let go of a breath he hadn't even been aware he was holding.

They were going to be okay. That was good. While his opinions on the Crystal Gems were still rather mixed, he had been afraid Pearl and Lapis's attack had done—

He stopped, his train of thought instantly derailing. He hurriedly turned around, almost tripping over himself in the process.

Pearl and Lapis had come to rescue him. They were here.

Now.

With barely another thought acknowledged, Steven rushed over to the archway, over to them. His arms were outstretched when he broke into a run. He tripped on his way up the stairs and fell into Pearl's embrace, crying uncontrollably.

"Y-you came— You came for me..." he sobbed, futilely rubbing at his eyes to try and clear his vision.

"Shh, shh... It's okay, it's okay," Pearl cooed softly into his ear. He could feel her gently kiss the top of his head. "I am here now, my Steven." Her voice began to quake and tremble. Steven could feel the gentle drops of her tears landing on the top of his head. "I am here," she repeated softly. "Everything is going to be okay now."

They pulled away from each other, though Pearl kept her arms around him. She was smiling, bigger and wider than Steven had ever seen before. He also noticed her eyes were red, and that tears were still rolling down her cheeks. But he also noticed something else.

Steven smiled. "You look really nice with that hair clip."

"Of course," she replied, her smile seeming to grow even larger. "I needed to look my best for when we were reunited."

He laughed, and then felt one of Pearl's hands move to rest on his shoulder. Realizing what she was asking, Steven nodded at her. Pearl carefully pulled down the neck of Steven's shirt and examined his gem. She gently ran her fingers over it, checking for any cracks or other imperfections.

It felt a little odd, as it always did, when someone touched his gem. But it also felt comforting, the easy press against his facets, the gentleness when her fingers occasionally slipped off and touched his bare skin. It reminded him of when he was younger, when he would fall from the monkey bars at the park or lose his balance on a freshly mopped floor in the apartment. Pearl would rush over and check over every inch of his gem, to make sure it was alright.

When she was done, Pearl removed her hand and put it back around Steven, before hugging him close once again.

"Oh, my Steven..." she said softly. "I am so glad you are safe. We both are."

Steven pulled away again, this time looking at Lapis, who was noticeably not looking at him. Instead she was just staring off into the distance, lips thinly pressed together, her eyes narrowed and focused.

A little unsure what to do, Steven said, "Hey, Lapis." Her eyes flicked over to him, but her expression did not change. He gulped before continuing, "Thanks for coming for me."

She continued to look at him, before her expression softened. She didn't smile, but she did put a gentle hand on Steven's head and tussled his hair. "Yeah. It's good to have you back, Steven."

"You have been eating well, yes?" Pearl said, drawing Steven's attention away from the perturbed Lapis. "And you have been sleeping regularly?" She paused a moment, before adding, "You have not been bathing. I can smell that."

Steven chuckled, unable to really believe that Pearl was bringing this up now, of all times. "Yeah, I didn't really have much of a chance to do that lately."

Pearl nodded and smiled, wiping the corners of her eyes. "Of course. Then when we return to the Palanquin, I shall draw a bath for you. I think that would be rather nice, yes?"

Before Steven could respond however, another voice broke in.

"You're not going anywhere. Any of you."

Steven felt Pearl's arms tighten around him with every step the other Pearl took towards them.

"Pearl..." It was the Ruby, who was still holding onto her fusion partner's gem. Her eyes kept moving from the other Pearl over to the three of them. "Don't do anything rash."

"I'm not," she replied simply, her eyes never leaving them. "I'm just telling them that they're not going anywhere. Not before Rose reforms."

"You cannot keep us here," Pearl said. "We are leaving."

The Pearl waved her hand in front of her gem and her spear was back in her hand.

Lapis stepped forward, watery wings sprouting from her back. "Don't make me regret letting you go," she intoned.

"You don't have any weapons here," the other Pearl said. She smirked, "Unless you want to try using the healing water again."

"I could bring an ocean here in a matter of minutes."

"I'd love to see you try and get off the ground before I got you."

"Pearl!" the Ruby shouted.

"Lapis!" Pearl hissed sharply.

Before any of them could say anything else, bright light flashed behind the other Pearl. She turned around and Steven saw what— or rather who it was: Rose Quartz's gem had risen into the air, glowing. She was reforming. First her towering figure. Then her mane of giant pink curls, now tied into a loose braid. Finally her dress, hugging around her form then flaring at the hips. It seemed to have a lower cut on her now visible back, compared to her old form.

The light faded, and the newly regenerated Rose Quartz floated gently to the ground.

Slowly, she opened her eyes and turned to look at all of them. First Steven, Pearl, and Lapis, her expression unreadable. Then, at the Crystal Gems, relief washing over her. She strode over to the other Pearl before laying a hand on her shoulder.

"Hi," said Steven, struck by a sudden shyness and unease. He gave a small wave.

"What's going on?" Rose simply asked

"Steven let us go," the Ruby said. "Then we brought you here for healing."

"I'm making sure they're not leaving," the Pearl answered. "Not until you'd reformed."

"And she's reformed," Lapis said. "So we're leaving."

However, none of them moved.

No one at the Fountain did. They just looked at each, all equally unsure what came next.

Finally Rose took a few steps closer to them. Pearl hugged Steven tighter, but Rose didn't summon her shield. She just kept her gaze focused on them. It made Steven feel more than a little uncomfortable.

"You've risked a lot," Rose Quartz said. "All to rescue him."

"Of course," Pearl said simply.

"Why wouldn't we?" Lapis retorted. "We don't abandon our own."

Rose nodded shortly, before turning her gaze completely on Pearl. "You care about him deeply."

"I care about him more then anything," she said firmly. "He is... my Steven. My family. "

A full minute of silence followed as they all just watched each other. Again, it was Rose that broke the silence.

"Let's go back to the Temple. All of us." She nodded at them again. "I think it's time we all talk."