Warning: for both mental and physical abuse, and death.
oOoOo
Cranberry Pearl
The first time it happened, it was slight, and quick, and Pearl knew she deserved it.
She was a newmade, fresh from Inspection, and still rather overwhelmed by, well, existence. There was so much to see and know and learn and do, and she couldn't help but be distracted.
But Pearls were not meant to be distracted. They were meant to be attentive, completely focused on their Masters' desires. So when Pearl ended up taking a wrong turn, became separated from her Master Red Zicron, and lost for nearly a full quarter-Cycle-
- well, Red Zicron's ire was fully deserved.
Pearl received a sharp hair pull, and was told to make sure it never happened again.
"It won't," Pearl promised.
She kept her promise, too. She struggled with it, sometimes, but she paid careful attention to her surroundings, took care to keep her eyes locked on her Master's feet, never dawdling or straying.
She made other mistakes, though. Not often, but often enough.
She'd forget to record one of Red Zicron's appointments. She'd accidentally address a Gem with the wrong designation. She'd fumble with a secure door code and almost set off the emergency alarm.
"What's the point of even having a Pearl this incompetent?" Red Zicron would sneer.
And then she'd hit her.
The first time, it was a sharp slap across the face.
The second, a hit to the shoulder which almost threw Pearl to the crowd.
The third, a blow so hard that she cried out in pain.
The fourth, Red Zicron slammed Pearl's head onto a desk so violently that she felt the reverberations in her gem.
Pearl stopped keeping track after that.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Pearl would stammer out, shivering and shaking.
"Oh pretty Pearl," Red Zicron would say. "I'm sorry too."
Red Zicron was sorry. Pearl could see that sorrow on her Master's face. She could find it in how her Master always helped her back to her feet after she fell. She could feel it when Red Zicron held her close and caressed her bruises.
She'd try to be better, Pearl told herself each time. She would be better.
But still she made mistakes.
One was worse than every other before it. In the middle of an important presentation, Pearl got distracted, and flustered, and projected the wrong information- not the required graphs, but rather the private fashion recordings Red Zicron had had Pearl make at a recent gala.
Pearl realized her mistake almost immediately, and hurrying to correct it, when the slap hit her across the face.
It was not bad, as far as these things went. It didn't so much hurt as sting. Pearl didn't even grimace.
But still a gasp went up through the crowd.
Touch between Gem castes was an uncomfortable subject. Traditionally frowned upon, especially when there were large disparities between ranks- but still permitted in certain circumstances. Cases of practicality, such as combat or mortal danger, for instance. Corporeal punishment was accepted, especially among the warrior castes, though the use of specialty equipment was preferred. And of course, to be Touched by a Diamond was considered the greatest honour which could be bestowed upon a Gem.
Pearls were among the lowest ranking of Gemkind, but they were also lovely and delicate and coveted, so it was understood that behind closed doors some Masters might indulge in their property.
But for a Red Zicron to hit a Pearl? In public ?
Scandalous.
Pearl regained her focus and projected the correct information. Red Zicron shot her one last dark look, then turned to the crowd and carried on as if nothing had happened. But something had happened, and it could not go unmentioned.
"Keep that sort of thing in private, can't you?"
"With how rare pearls are, you could stand to be a little more careful with yours."
"Yes, I know they're not very bright, but they deserve some patience."
"You could be reported for that kind of behaviour, you know."
Red Zicron nodded and murmured apologies and said she "just didn't know what came over me" and promised it wouldn't happen again.
When they got back to Red Zicron's private quarters, Pearl was given the worst beating yet. Afterwards, her body seemed not to be built of light, but pure pain. The smallest movement left her trembling. Red Zicron apologised, but even the light caress of her hand on Pearl's back was excruciating.
"I'll make the hurting stop," Red whispered. There was a sharper, purer pain between her shoulder blades, and then everything disappeared as Pearl released her physical form.
When Pearl regenerated, two Cycles later, her Master greeted her with a smile.
Red Zicron never hit Pearl in public again.
In private, the beatings became more and more frequent.
They were never as bad as the one she got after the projection incident. Pearl was grateful for that. She was grateful, too, for when Red Zicron allowed her to dissipate her form. For the release, the relief, it gave.
In her gem, it was quiet. No chores. No duties. No mistakes. No pain.
Pearl could never stay too long. Her Master needed her.
oOoOo
The Cycles wore on, and on. They turned into CentiCycles, which turned into MilliCycles.
Pearl spent a lot of time in her Gem. Thinking.
Thinking about how no matter what she did, it was never good enough.
Thinking about how no matter what mistakes her Master made, she never received the same kind of punishments she gave.
Thinking about how every regeneration brought her body back beautiful and unblemished.
Thinking about the other Pearls she saw at parties, wondering how many of them had been hurt the same way as her.
oOoOo
Red Zicron never expected war.
Almost no one did. Very little was expected to come from the trumped up Earth 'rebellion'. The so called Crystal Gems would be captured, or killed, or else give up and come crawling back to their Diamonds for forgiveness.
Instead, the Crystal Gems charged.
Pearl did not know why they charged. Such political insight was not shared with the likes of her. Maybe their attack was for information, or power, or revenge, or simple madness.
Whatever the reason, the Crystal Gems had no interest in the targeted temple's private quarters. Pearl huddled beneath Red Zicron's desk, arms over her head, trying to block out distant cacophony of war.
Over the din there was the sound of footsteps, heavy and fast. Pearl heard the sound of doors opening, and pressed herself deeper beneath the desk, hoping that whoever was there would leave, that they wouldn't see her-
"Pearl! Pearl!" Red Zicron's voice snapped. "Get out here and help me!"
Pearl flinched, but crawled out.
Her Master looked terrible. There was a bruise of darker red all down the left side of her face. She was limping. And there was a knife sticking out of her throat.
"I got away," Red gasped. "But they might try and follow me… they're looking for informants… they'll torture me…"
Red's body was flickering. Pearl stared at it.
"But they won't take you," said Red Zicron. "They like pearls, they'll leave you be…" Her voice was truly desperate now. "Hide me. Don't let them get me-"
And she poofed.
Red Zicron's gem hit and the knife the floor with the tiniest of clatters. Pearl regarded the gem for a long moment, eyes wide. Then she stepped forward and picked it up.
It was so small. So light. Weighed barely anything.
It didn't seem dangerous at all.
Pearl remembered Red Zicron's orders. Her grip tightened. She raised the gemstone up above her head.
"I'm sorry," Pearl whispered, and summoned all the strength she had.
Then she threw her Master's gemstone to the ground.
Just one more good soul shattered by the Crystal Gems, everyone would say later. And Pearl would not correct them.