Pearl was nervous.
Not for herself, of course- with the amount of rehearsal she had poured into her role, it was inconceivable to her that she would make even a single mistake. But, looking around at her present company, she started having... doubts. It was the night of the play- the one that Steven had so painstakingly prepared- and all four of the Crystal Gems were assembled backstage. The murmur of an unseen crowd gathering for their performance drifted from the other side of the flimsy wall of cardboard they were calling a 'backdrop.' Greg was with them, having volunteered, with no small amount of pride, to run sound and lighting. But, at the moment, he was trying to fit a blue sphere of cardboard adorned with a minus sign over Steven's head. Both of the Universes were struggling with the endeavor; Steven because he couldn't see through the cardboard covering his face, and Greg because Steven wouldn't keep still. Amethyst, who was snug inside her own red, cardboard sphere, was leaning with a mischievous little grin against one of the stage's supports. An action that Pearl wasn't entirely sure was safe, given the stage's questionable structural integrity.
Did she even rehearse her lines? And that smile- oh, she better not be planning anything disruptive!
Fussing about with the microphone in her grasp, Pearl jumped slightly when she felt a hand on her shoulder. A large, firm, reassuring hand.
"Don' worry so much. They'll be fine."
Pearl released a tense breath she didn't know she was holding. Her entire body soon followed suit, loosening up considerably and making her feel much less like a towel someone had twisted up and pulled taught. Shaking out her limbs to get the last drops of stress out of them, the Gem threw a thankful, though still slightly worried, smile over her shoulder.
"Thanks, Garnet. We should get started soon, shouldn't we?"
With a simple nod, Garnet removed her hand and straightened the over-sized magnet that was sitting snugly over her hair. Then, she disappeared into the dark space underneath the stage. Pearl took the chance to initiate a calming series of breaths. Then, hearing a small 'pop!' and the sound of cardboard ruffling clothes, Pearl turned to Greg and gave him a hurried series of hand signals that she thought for sure meant 'go start the opening sequence of the show.' Greg, in return, stared at her blankly for a few seconds. Then, when Steven waddled past him with his arms sticking straight out of his stiff costume, Greg snapped his fingers in realization and jogged over to the light and sound board.
The one he keeps bragging is his own 'custom job.' Or, whatever terminology he used.
Pearl slipped her way to the right wing of the stage and scanned the audience, waiting for the main lights to come on. She could still feel a flutter of apprehension, which had worked its way into her hands in the form of a slight tremble. Grasping the microphone tighter, Pearl resolved to keep her idle mind from worrying by analyzing her audience.
Hm. Seems that the whole town is here, regardless of how... underwhelming the population is. Lars, Sadie, the mayor's son, those Pizza girls- quite the youth turnout. And- oh! I see Steven invited the Maheswarans. Connie looks rather excited for this educational play. What a refreshingly intellectual young girl! Though I suppose she could just be giddy to see her friend bounce around on stage and be ridiculous. Let's see... the Frymans? Oh, I hope the youngest Fryman isn't too upset about the other day. I didn't mean to glare at him like that, it was just- ugh, those donuts! Huh, looks like the mayor showed up, too. Though, on second thought, of course he'd be here. It's not like he has that much of a town to run. And there, in the back... is that-?
A pre-recorded drum roll interrupted Pearl's thoughts. She straightened herself, looking for the tell-tale signal that her first line was due.
Okay. Enter stage right, pivot, address the audience, introduce the play. This is it, Pearl; the opening moments of any performance establish its reputation. And I will have a reputable performance.
With the crash of a symbol, the main lights rose and illuminated the haphazard background that the entire play would be set against. It was- or, rather, was supposed to be- a night sky, filled in dark blue paint with uneven, very visible splotches and nonuniform brush strokes. Bright yellow stars were scattered about the scene, sharing the same hue and intensity as the star on Steven's shirt.
Taking one last, deep breath, Pearl entered, stage right. Poised proudly and properly, stepping with grace and efficiency, the Gem took center stage. With a light tap on the wood flooring, she pivoted to face the audience. Then, with a smooth, practiced motion, she raised the microphone to a precise, calculated spot in front of her mouth.
"Ladies, gentlemen, and Onion! I welcome you!"
The audience tittered apprehensively at the joke, unsure how amused they were permitted to be at this stage of the performance. Through the glare of the stage lights, Pearl could just barely make out Onion on his father's shoulders, staring blankly at her.
Well, don't look at me. It was Steven's idea.
"Tonight, we shall regale you with a tale. One both intriguing-"
Pause for effect-
"-and informative. A story of attraction and separation. Of forces and fields. My dear audience. It is my pleasure to present to you..."
Pearl took a large step upstage, preparing for her co-stars' scheduled entrances.
"Charged With Attraction!" With the title announced, the lights above Pearl dimmed, leaving the entire stage dark save for two spotlights pointed at either end. From stage right, the black, curly tufts of Steven's hair popped into view. Then, reacting to a very obvious push from behind, the rest of Steven stumbled onto the stage, eliciting a small spattering of chuckles from the audience.
"Greet our young hero, audience-"
"Hey, Steven!" the crowd yelled in near-unison, causing the boy in question to bring an arm to the back of his head abashedly.
Well of course I didn't mean actually greet him. Oh, why must they be so compliant?
"He is known as Electron in his neck of the universe-"
"Yeah, of the Steven Universe!"
Pearl stumbled with the rest of her line. When she glared out into the small gathering to the find the offender, she saw Sadie her with hands cupped incriminatingly around her mouth and the people around her laughing quietly to themselves.
S-Sadie?! You're the last one I expected to-! No, we mustn't get distracted.
"-and he's quite the negative fellow," Pearl continued. On cue, Steven crossed his arms- as best as he could in his bulky outfit- and attempted to scowl. The act drew a scattered 'Aw!' from the audience, as well as one or two from backstage.
Oh Steven, you're just too adorable to look negative.
"But he is not alone on this warm night. For you see, dear audience, there is another. One to whom young Electron is inexplicably connected."
Amethyst popped her head out of the right wing of the stage, causing both Pearl and Steven to turn their heads in surprise.
Amethyst! Stage left!
With a series of frantic eye-motions, Pearl successfully communicated Amethyst's mistake to her. Making a silent 'oh' shape with her mouth, the purple Gem ran, very noisily, to the left wing and sauntered into the spotlight. Small bits of laughter combined to form a gentle, collaborative giggle from the audience.
"This night, Proton happened to be wandering through Electron's local space. Upon nearing each other, they felt something that they could not resist. A mutual electrostatic attraction; one born from their elementary charges."
Of equal magnitude and opposite sign, of course.
"My looove for that Electron's makin' me move," Amethyst coo'd, beginning an extravagant, slow-motion run towards Steven with her spotlight in tow.
"Yeah! Mine too!" Steven laughed. He took on a thespian's air and held his hand out dramatically, starting his own spotlight-trailed slow-motion run. "Oh Proton, you're the only one for me."
"Oh Electron, my old childhood friend from whom I have been separated for twenty long years!" Amethyst continued, throwing a slow-motion hand over her heart.
Wait- that's not in the script. Unless...
"Proton, my old crush! Any time apart from you is time too much for my subatomic heart!"
A wave of cheers and hoots issued from the crowd, with the sole exception of Connie, who was standing on her tip-toes and yelling "don't do it, Electron!"
T-they changed their lines! Without informing me! Oh Steven...
Pearl allowed herself to fume in place for a split second. Then, recomposing herself, she picked up where Steven and Amethyst had presumably left off. "But wait, audience! All is not well for Electron and Proton. For, unknown to either of them, there is a third presence here tonight."
With a loud crack, a shower of splinters, a new spotlight, and a surprised yell from the audience, Garnet burst through the floor of the stage.
Hm. Those weren't the breakable boards Greg installed.
Garnet landed with her hands on her hips, facing Pearl with a small smile. Pearl slapped her own forehead with a quiet 'ugh,' drawing a confused look from the large Gem before her.
"Oh, righ'." With a stage-shaking stomp, Garnet turned around to face the audience. "I am a magnetic field!" she announced loudly, pounding her fists together with a resounding thump.
"Oh no!" Pearl exclaimed in mock fright, "those charged particles are moving with a magnetic field facing forwards! Whichever direction will Electron and Proton be forced?"
"Forward!" a voice called excitedly from the audience.
Pearl smirked. Not quite, Mr. Maheswaran.
"Oh, of course not, dear. It's up," a steadier female voice corrected.
Pearl's smirk turned into a satisfied smile. Very good, Dr. Maheswaran!
"Yeah! Up! Up! Up!" Connie chanted happily. The sentiment spread quickly through the small audience until they were all contributing to the chant, each of them raising their hands into the air with each 'Up!' that was collectively yelled. Garnet scanned the crowd with an unreadable expression. Then, without warning, reserve, or any prior planning, the Gem slammed the stage with an open palm, sending her fellow performers tumbling into the air.
They say that time slows down during moments of sufficient duress. Pearl knew that wasn't entirely true; the phenomenon of time dilation occurs when a large amount of data is committed to memory over a relatively short duration, extending the moment temporally on reflection. But in that moment, the air seemed to hold Pearl longer than it should have. And in that extra time, Pearl took the opportunity to look at her fellow Gems, trapped in the stasis of their mutually duress-filled moment. Steven had on an unsurprisingly surprised face; mouth wide, eyes staring blankly in front of him, and one eyebrow raised in question. Amethyst looked like she was about to break out into laughter, though her body language suggested that she was bracing for impact. Garnet was as unreadable as when the ordeal began, though it seemed like she was monitoring Steven's progress through the air. It was always hard to tell, what with her glasses and all. And finally, in the dim reflection of an inactive stage light, Pearl saw herself. Annoyed, straight as a board, and very much upside-down.
All three landed with varying degrees of grace. Steven, surprisingly, landed directly on his feet, though through no effort of his own aside from the liberal application of pure luck. Amethyst plopped down sideways, rolling a short distance downstage until she caught herself with one arm and flipped upright. And Pearl, the least prepared and the most unamused, was propped upside-down against the backdrop. She stared at Garnet for answers, who shrugged her shoulders unhelpfully.
"Sorry Pea'l. I panicked. Tha' crowd was too demandin'."
Pearl struggled upright, ignoring the urge to say something very rude to her friend. But before she could wrest control of the situation from the grip of disorder, Amethyst very loudly took center stage.
"You see that, Electron? That field's never gonna let us be together! There's only one solution."
To Pearl's dismay, the purple Gem leaped over the backdrop and disappeared.
W-wait, she doesn't have an exit until the end of the play! And it's supposed to be stage right!
A purple flash of Amethyst-colored light plumed from backstage. But what jumped back on stage wasn't Amethyst. Well, Pearl was sure that it was Amethyst, having known her for so long. But she looked much more like-
"Pur-ple Pu-ma!" Lars screamed from the audience, jumping up and down in his uneven, lanky way. His excitement caught Sadie, whose excitement then caught Kiki and Jenny. And so it spread, bouncing from person to person, until everyone joined Lars in whooping for their favorite Beach City underground wrestling champion.
"We gotta wrastle!" Amethyst declared with a growl.
"Oh, right!" Steven said, pulling his cardboard sphere over his head. After a short series of hurried arm movements within the secrecy of his sphere, Steven threw his costume off. But what appeared on stage wasn't Steven. Well, Pearl was sure that it was Steven, having known him for so long. But he looked much more like-
"Ti-ger Mi-lli-o-naire!" Lars yelled, getting louder with each frantic syllable. This time, the crowd was prepared to greet a Beach City wrestler. And, with as resounding a cheer as their small population could manage, they did so. Steven shook his pink suitcase in front of him, laughing as bourgeois as he could to their applause.
Is that why it took so long to get his costume on? He was holding all that... nonsense in there?!
"C'mon lil' tiger, let's get her!"
Amethyst sprang into the air with a giant smile, hollering into the open night. To the great delight of the crowd, and to the notable disapproval of Pearl, the Purple Puma came down on Garnet knees-first and wailing. Without moving so much as an arm, Garnet caught the descending purple hunk like she was stopping an errant paper airplane. Then, still moving nothing more than the same arm, she tossed Amethyst straight upwards. And thus, the Purple Puma disappeared.
"Revenge!" Steven shouted, running towards Garnet in the wake of his partner's defeat. Closing the last few feet with a large, overly-dramatic leap, Steven planted his feet, threw his suitcase aside, and began swinging at the large Gem.
Hm. I guess Garnet's training really is paying off. He's keeping his eyes open, staying steady, putting his weight behind each strike, recovering to a controlled, neutral position- it's like Steven actually has a grasp on very basic combat technique.
Garnet blocked Steven's slow punches with the back of her fist, still refusing to turn away from the crowd. Then, very good-naturedly, the Gem let one blow tap gently against her leg.
"Oh no, I am defea'ed."
Garnet tipped slowly, falling to one side while somehow maintaining her posture. Shortly after, Amethyst returned from her exile into the night sky, plummeting straight down above Garnet. The stoic Gem- exhibiting the same paper airplane-style ease as before- caught her falling friend with an outstretched arm and set her gently on the stage.
"Whooo, thanks Big G," Amethyst whispered. She recovered to a victorious standing pose, grabbing Steven's hand on her way up. He dangled in the air just as victoriously, throwing his arms and legs out and soaking in the crowd's wild cheers. Both of the not-so subtle wrestling personas glanced over their shoulders, waiting for the narrator's official contribution to the events that just transpired in what was once Pearl's carefully planned play.
I-if they think I'm going to condone this sort of... reckless deviation from all of our preparation then-! Then... oh, but Steven looks so happy. And I guess this isn't the most preposterous thing Amethyst has done. And Garnet seems to be on board with it, too. Hmm. I guess I can...
Pearl hoisted her microphone back up, spreading out her stance in a much more referee-like fashion. "A- and thus the... the magnetic field was, um- was defeated! Haha! Yes! She forgot that a magnetic field can do no work on an isolated charge and, so, Electron and Proton could not be stopped from meeting!"
Well, it would change the direction of their velocity such that their trajectories would resemble a helix, which probably would have interrupted their meeting, but... that doesn't sound particularly in line with our enhanced narrative. I suppose I should just... end the play here?
Pearl stepped back into the light of center stage, eyes closed and arm gesturing towards the Gems gloating in fictional triumph. And, of course, the Gem lying in fictional defeat. "And so ends our tale of Proton and Electron. Who were apparently, ahem... Purple Puma and Tiger Millionaire. Masquerading. As subatomic particles."
The crowd rose in another jubilant cheer, causing the wrestlers in question to wave their limbs about more energetically. Pearl stopped herself from slapping her forehead again. Ugh, those ridiculous names... but I suppose one exasperated forehead slap is sufficient for the night.
"Thank you for watching, dear audience! And always remember, electrons are negative, protons are positive, opposite charges attract, and the force on a charged particle moving through a magnetic field in which a non-zero component of the particle's velocity is perpendicular to the direction of the field is perpendicular to both of those vectors! Have a wonderful night, audience!"
All four Gems managed to form a straight line on stage. Hands clasped, they raised their arms in unison. Then, they brought them down with a large bow, bringing the stage lights down with them and exciting the audience into one last, parting wave of cheering and ovation. The four scurried off-stage, removing their costumes- or shape-shifting back to their normal forms- before they had to walk out and met their adoring public. As they walked the flimsy, wooden staircase leading down the stage, Pearl felt a small, familiar hand grab hers.
"Thank you so much, Pearl!" Steven beamed, staring up at her with stars in his eyes. "I know we didn't tell you we were gonna do that because we, um... didn't know how you would handle it. B-but you just ran with it! And you even made it educational, right 'till the end!"
Pearl sighed, closing her hands around Steven's in return. "Oh, Steven. It was my pleasure. But, next time, you really should tell me." Steven nodded enthusiastically, giving her one last thank-you hug before running off to talk excitedly with Connie.
Going off script is not my favorite activity. And it's not like I would have outright denied a request to introduce a wrestling scene into this... educational children's play. Hm. I see your point, Steven. Well played.
Pearl wandered about the edge of the crowd, all of whom were swarming Garnet, Amethyst, Steven, and even Greg with congratulatory pats and yells and laughing gestures. Pearl even got a high-five from Kiki Pizza, which the Gem was certain was just going to be a slap until her open-palmed blocking hand received the brunt of the blow. Through the excited clamor of the freshly entertained Beach City populace, Pearl heard a peculiar sentence touch, very barely, on the edges of her aural perception.
"Haha, yeah! These actin' skills are gonna be great for Steven when he starts school on Monday!"
Hm?
Pearl peered into the clump of people, spotting one balding, long-haired, Steven-looking human in particular whose mouth was now clamped shut by her fellow Crystal Gems. Garnet and Amethyst looked frantically left and right, trying to determine whether Greg's breach of secrecy had any effect. Their search halted upon seeing Pearl's long, disbelieving face.
Hm?!
The flustered Gem struggled with a few exclamations. She managed to start a sentence, abandoned it as it devolved into a series of confused noises, then forged ahead with a new one that managed to survive the disruptive surprise enveloping her. "Steven's going to school?!"
Amethyst decided to start explaining through the torrent of amused fans interacting with her. "Haha, yeah, funny thing about that- hey man, glad you liked the show!- so, funny thing is we all- aww shucks, you're awesome, random guy!- we all decided that Steven should go ta school and junk."
"And who exactly is we all?!" Pearl demanded, eyes darting between Garnet, Amethyst, and Greg.
"We all is kinda... us three, Pearl," Greg explained, entering a very long hand-shake with Mr. Smiley. "We just thought it'd be the best for him, ya know? And what with how gung-ho you were for teachin' him and... anti-gung-ho you were for our public school system..."
What?! I'm not that unreasonable! I- I can be bargained with! And it's not like I was that against public schooling, I just very vocally described it as-
Pearl sighed.
-as 'quite frankly, horrifying.' Perhaps my language was a bit strong, but... but that's no excuse for leaving me out of the loop like this! Especially when it's such an important loop.
Overhearing the exchange, a young, concerned voice cut out from the center of the crowd. "Wha-? You guys never told Pearl?"
Steven jumped up on Greg's shoulders, eliciting a small chuckle from the man as he grabbed his son's legs and steadied him. "You shouldn't do stuff like that! We Gems- and non-Gem affiliates, sorry dad- we gotta be open with each other. After all, we're friends, right? And we're all on the same team! So whatever you have against tellin' Pearl stuff, just... talk it out next time. Like... like I should have done with the wrestling thing."
Steven took on an apologetic look of his own. "I'm sorry, Pearl. From now on, I won't avoid speaking with you about somethin' just because I think you won't like it."
Seeing Pearl's silent frustration, Garnet walked out of the packed crowd around like she was parting a ball-pit. Upon reaching Pearl, she placed her hand on her shoulder. It was the second time that night, and it was just as large, just as firm, and just as comforting.
"We're sorry for not speakin' about this with you. Steven's righ'. It was wrong. But it's not like we're not gonna teach 'im anymore. He jus' needs a bit more than we can give."
Pearl smiled warmly at her friend, nodding her head in acceptance. "It's alright, Garnet. I probably would have made some sort of... fuss about it or something. B-but I promise I won't be so... anti-gung-ho about an idea in the future just because my first impression is that it is- well... slightly unwise. So, yes. Apology accepted. And... thank you."
And thank you, Steven, Pearl thought with a smile, waving Garnet back into the crowd of Beach City residents eager to begin one-sided conversations with the verbally reserved Gem. You always know what to say, even if you don't quite know how to say it.
Pearl continued her way around the crowd, managing to work her way to the back without garnering too much attention. There was someone she thought she saw- someone she was hoping to find. And someone who she, admittedly, hoped wasn't actually there.
I would just have no idea what to say to him after that... that affront to theater! Oh, and after I made that big deal about making him my apprentice yesterday, I-
Pearl stopped. To her pleasant surprise, and abject dismay, she found him. Standing in the rear, arms wrapped tightly around himself, and neck craning to see over the crowd was-
"Alan."
Oh, no, don't draw his attention! Now he's going to-
"Pearl! Hah- hello! That was... quite the performance. Was that really all in that textbook, Electricity and Magnetism, For Kids!? I can't image- well, I suppose I can imagine, it's just also highly unlikely in my imagined version of the book that all of that... excitement was in the original script."
Your instincts were correct, my young apprentice. That was, in fact, not as the play was presented in the book. It was, in fact, not as the play was presented to me just minutes before it was performed, either.
"Not... quite, no. It wasn't verbatim to the book's version. The main lessons were maintained, I suppose, but the rest was somewhat... altered."
But what is he doing here, anyway? I suppose he would have known about the event, what with Steven coming to the car-wash all the time, but...
"Why did you come out tonight?"
Alan seemed to struggle with the question, pulling his arms tighter around himself. "I just..."
"And is it really that cold?"
Alan looked down, noticed that he was approximating a boa constrictor around his waist with his arms, and loosened his limbs with a timid chuckle.
"Oh, right, that. No, I just- well, I don't really know anyone here. And I heard that if you exhibit closed body language, strangers will be less inclined to approach you, so... yeah. It's not actually that cold."
Doesn't know anyone? I know it's only been a week, but he's at least met Lars and Sadie and Steven and Greg and I. Oh, but we were all in that large clump in front of the stage. I suppose I know how it feels- plopped in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by strange sights and scenes and... beings. But back then, I had Rose. Alan? What does he have? A question? A mission? Those won't keep you company when all around you is... strangeness.
"At least you know us," Pearl said, gesturing to herself and the Universes, who were still stacked on top of each other and were now entertaining double high-fives as a father-son duo.
Familiarity. Everyone needs a place to land. And of course it doesn't come from nothing; nobody knows everything when they start anew. But, that foothold- those first few, sure steps that you take... when you go somewhere new with someone you know, you always have that. There's always someone there to walk with you, to hold your hand and watch your back and tell you when the path you're taking is uneven. But when you don't know anyone- when you don't know each other... each step is an exploration.
Alan smiled. It was small, and it was mostly to himself, but Pearl noticed it. "Yeah. Yeah! I do. I... thanks. I just came out here to..."
Each step is an exploration. And here I am. Here we are. And one of the first steps he saw me take was across from stage right, backwards upstage, up into the air, plummeting upside-down, and around a crowd of people he can barely recognize.
The young physicist shuffled the sand at his feet, almost bringing his arms around himself again but managing to force them behind his back.
"...to see who I was entering an apprenticeship for."
Oh dear.
"And? Who is it?" Pearl asked, masking her apprehension by playing with the corners of her tunic.
Oh, where's Garnet when you need a reassuring hand?
Alan's smile widened. It was now something that Pearl would, very barely, categorize as a visible smile, meant for more than just Alan to himself.
"Someone nice."
Nice?
"And, um... very quick on her feet," Alan said, taking a small jump and pointing to his feet in reference to her tumbling act in the middle of the play.
A respectable pun. Though one which I will not humor with a chuckle. Despite her resolve, Pearl grinned, though only ever so slightly.
"So... did you enjoy the play?"
"Yes!" Alan said with a sudden burst of energy. Realizing how jarring his change of volume must have sounded, he brought his voice back down to a conversational tone. "Yes. It was funny. And surprising. And quite informative! Though I noticed you didn't mention the helix each particle's trajectories would form-"
"Oh!" Pearl exclaimed with a small, surprised laugh. "Haha, you noticed that? Oh, I was hoping it would just fly over everyone's heads but- well, yes, I meant to say it. I was just a tad... distracted."
"You mean by the impromptu wrestling scene?" Alan corroborated. "Hah- yeah! I imagine it might be a bit jarring for someone's concentration. You know, when your proton turns into some sort of purple cat-person and your electron into a, um... other type of cat-person."
"Ah, well... anything for Steven."
Alan's eyebrows rose at the comment. It was something that Pearl hadn't given a second thought, and probably wouldn't if it happened again in the foreseeable future.
"Yeah. I think I'm starting to see that."
Pearl let out a tense breath of air. One that she, once again, hadn't known she was holding. And, as before, her entire body soon followed suit, freeing her of the mental concerns that were stressing her physical form. Pearl was pleased with herself. She had chosen someone who would not only watch her messily execute a ridiculous play for her friends, but would congratulate her on it afterwards.
He's also someone who needs guidance. No, not just needs- someone who is seeking guidance. Actively. Searching for it like it was his... his duty or something. Guidance in knowledge, guidance in discovery. And guidance in Beach City, though I'm certain he doesn't know that yet. And I shall be the one to grant it to him. Hah! How exciting- a chance to actually use this enormous pool of knowledge that's just swashing about in my head all day! And it's not... well, it's not like he's the only one who needs guidance. Once we start, then maybe, finally, I can glimpse at what you saw on this little planet with these little people, Rose.
Pearl started away from Alan, giving him a cordial wave goodbye. As was human custom. But before she was too distant, Pearl had one last thought.
"Tomorrow morning, at precisely nine o'clock, in front of the beach house. It's apprentice business- please be there, Alan!"