Black Pearl

Most Gems' reaction, upon hearing the rumours of the Renegade Pearl, was fear.

The very concept was terrifying. Every Gem had her place, her duty, her job. A role she had been built for, optimised for, trained for. If a Gem could just up and choose to do something else, it was as though the entire structure of society could crumble beneath their feet— and then where would they be?

And besides, this was a pearl. A pearl, who not only fought, but was good at it. Horrifyingly good.

Many masters eyed their own pearls, seemingly quiet and docile, and wondered what would happen if they malfunctioned and decided to turn.

One Star Diopside, however, was a little more pragmatic.

Everyone was overreacting about the Renegade. So some Pearl had been ordered to pick up a weapon and fight. If anything, it was simply a testament to pearls' legendary loyalty and faithfulness, that one would follow their master onto a battlefield. The important thing, in her mind, was that pearls could be skilled fighters, if ordered and properly trained. That was something useful.

Star Diopside had been recently been stationed on Earth, and she was very aware of how precarious her position was. She was far away from Homeworld and their carefully enforced laws and regulations. She was on a truly wild colony planet. Rebellion was bubbling under the surface. Blue Diamond was angry. Everyone was on edge. Rebel attacks were becoming more common. Punishments were being given more freely. And behind her, she knew that there were dozens of other Star Diopsides clamouring for her position, who might be willing to take advantage of the chaos and arrange… an accident.

Was she being paranoid? Perhaps. But Star Diposide's continued survival depended on that paranoia.

So when she looked on her own little pearl, dressed all in blacks and greys, she did not react with nervousness or disgust. She did not see a traitor, waiting to happen. She saw possibilities.

"You are going to learn how to fight," she told the pearl.

"Ma'am?" Pearl asked.

"You heard me," she said. "You will learn to fight, and should the need arise, you will protect me. You start tomorrow. There is going to be a Quartz demonstration at the Sky Arena at first dawn. You will attend, and take detailed recordings. Practice begins immediately afterward."

And true to her word, it did.

Soon, every 'spare' moment Pearl had was spent learning to fight. How to hold her feet, her back, her head, her arm. She based her movements off the formations of quartz and rubies and other soldier classes; they were painful and uncomfortable. Star Diopside somehow acquired a sword for her. Like the Renegade's, but larger, heavier. Pearl had carried many heavy loads in her life, but she found the sword weight on her arms like nothing else. Still, she practiced her sets with diligence, and eventually she saw her master's mouth curve into a smile.

No sooner had Pearl begun to feel somewhat at ease with the sword, then Star Diopside said that it was not good enough. "A spear," she said.

"A spear?" Pearl mirrored.

The Rebels, it seemed, had learned some new trick. An ability to summon a weapon from a Gem's very core. These summoned weapons were superior to traditional weapons in every sense. There was no manufacturing cost. They did not wear, or break. If one weapon was lost, the Gem could simply summon a new one, instantly. Already, the Diamonds were training their own troops in the trick.

And so, Star Diopside's Pearl would learn as well. The Renegade could summon a spear; she must be capable of it, as well.

Pearl had no idea how. She felt entirely lost. She was not a fighter. She certainly did not have a weapon waiting in the core of her power.

But Star Diopside commanded it, so she did her best. She pushed herself. Tried again and again to visualise the thing. And eventually, after nearly quarter century, she succeeded. With a beam of black light, a spear manifested itself in her hand, solid and real.

It was very simple. Very plain. A long grey shaft, with a sharp, clean black point on the end. Utilitarian. Efficient. Deadly.

"Perfect," Star Diopside said.

And training continued.

The spear felt nice in her hand. Better than the sword, certainly. Pearl could see the beauty in it, and her movements, the fighting sets she had drilled with for so long. It was like dancing, only with the spear for a partner— or, not, as an extension of her own body, her own will. There was something comforting in the familiar steps. But Pearl could not imagine herself using those steps in an actual battle.

Star Diopside told herself that her pearl would be ready, if a situation arises. Pearl told herself that such a situation would never come.

But it did.

Rebels swarmed into the Mountain Temple. In the distance, there were screams and shouts, and a cacophony of clanging, from warning bells and weapons both. Star Diopside fled, Pearl running after her. Her master came to a stop before a heavy stone door, opening it with a mighty push. Sanctuary. "Stay out here," her master ordered. "Stop anyone who comes here."

Then she closed the heavy door behind her, leaving Pearl on the outside, staring at it.

She made herself turn around. Stand straight. Her gem glowed; the black spear materialised in her hand. She adjusted her grip, positioned her feet, just like she drilled herself so many times before. She waited, hoping that nobody would come here.

Somebody did.

It was a Gem, but Pearl didn't know what kind (or kinds), because they were one of those abominable hybrid fusion the rebels are always using. They were so tall, bigger than a Quartz, muscular, carrying a massive ax in their hands. Fire seemed to burn in their four eyes, and all Pearl wanted to do was run.

The fusion surveyed them. Surveyed the sword in their hands. They were wary. Wary of her.

But Pearl was terrified.

She should run forward. Dodge the inevitable ax swing, plunge the spearhead right through the fusion's chest, just like she'd practiced a million times. Protect her master, just like she had been ordered to do.

But instead, the spear fell our of her hand. Clattered to the floor. Vanished.

"I can't," Pearl whispered.

She expected pain. In her body, or in her very Gem, a killing glow. But it did not come. When she dared look up, she found that the fusion had barely moved. They were watching her, a thoughtful expression in their four eyes.

"Do it," Pearl said, voice quavering a little.

They shook their head. "No," they said. "I don't want to hurt you."

Silence. The distant sound of fighting became less distant. One pair of the fusion's eyes glanced nervously, even as the other pair remained trained on the Pearl. They said, "You don't have to stay. You could come with me. With the Crystal Gems."

Pearl gaped. And then, "I won't fight."

"You wouldn't have to."

Hesitation. Could she really? Could she really leave Star Diopsoide? Their master, the one they were made for?

The one who put a spear in her hand and then ordered her to fight, while she cowered behind a door?

"Do you promise?" Pearl asked.

"Yes," said the rebel fusion.

A strained moment of thought. Then, a nod.

And together, the fusion and Pearl fled.

oOoOoOoOoOo

Author's Note: Just to be clear, that fusion wasn't anyone in particular, just a vague OC. I really love the idea that the Crystal Gems made expert use of fusions (both temporary and permanent) as their not-so-secret-weapon. Homeworld remains horrified/baffled by the whole concept.

Also, star diopside is a beautiful gemstone, and I sure they get used in cannon because they would fit the star theme so well. Almost felt bad making this one such an asshole, but I needed a black gemstone, and I've used onyx and obsidian before.