Chapter 2
Pearl paced around the valley for about an hour, trying her best not to look too conspicuous, all the while sneaking glances at the gem sitting silently in the distance . . .
. . . sitting silently, almost as if she were . . . waiting.
"What's wrong with me?" The slender gem sighed. "What am so I afraid of?"
Finally, after much delay, Pearl took a deep breath, stiffened her shoulders, and made the seemingly long trek towards Garnet, who stood to greet her as she approached.
"Garnet," said Pearl, "I was wondering if I could-"
"It's about time you showed up." Garnet spoke in her deadpan tone.
"Wh-what was that?"
"You wanted to ask me about fusion, if it was possible for you to fuse with Rose, and what you would need to do to make it happen, right?"
Pearl stood there stunned for a moment, her eyes wide in shock and disbelief.
"Well . . . Yes, but how did you-"
"There were several possibilities where you would have come to me the moment Rose had left. However, you decided to wait and gather your courage." Garnet stood there, a beacon of wisdom and serenity. "Honestly, I'm surprised you waited as long as you did. It was beginning to become much more likely that you would hesitate until morning or even longer before coming to me."
Pearl cursed herself in her ignorance. Of course Garnet knew what would happen; her fusion contains a gem who is capable of seeing the future!
"Oh, right. I-I'm sorry. I-"
"There's no need to be sorry, Pearl," Garnet spoke. "In fact, that's part of the problem."
Pearl's head jerked in surprise, "What do you mean?"
Garnet sighed, "You're too nervous, too afraid, too timid when it comes to fusion."
The fused gem placed her hand on Pearl's shoulder, hoping to ease her tension. "When we fuse, we give ourselves fully to another gem. Our emotions, our joys, our anxieties, our fears and trepidations; they all merge to form . . . whatever it is we're meant to be. You need to be willing to open up to Rose. You need to let her see the real you, the you that you hide behind the warrior, the swordsman, the Crystal Gem."
Pearl quickly backed away from Garnet. Afraid? Her? She was one of Rose Quartz's most skilled and dedicated soldiers. What would she ever have to be afraid of?
"I'm not afraid," declared Pearl. "I haven't been afraid of anything since this war began. I put my faith in Rose Quartz and she has never led me astray. Why would I be afraid to open myself to Rose now?"
Garnet lowered her head and sighed. "Because you're afraid of what would happen if she rejected you."
All at once, the Pearl's greatest anxiety, her worst fear, was laid bare before her. She had devoted her entire life to Rose Quartz's teachings. Never once had she wavered in her devotion. Why was that? Would Rose be as devoted to her as well? What would happen if Pearl put herself out there, only for Rose to-
No! She couldn't even think it!
"Are you saying I'm not a warrior, that devoting myself to Rose, to the sword, isn't "the real me"?"
Garnet paused for just a moment, desperate to find a way to make Pearl understand.
"It is an important part of who you are, but it does not solely define you in Rose's eyes."
Garnet stared at Pearl. "You are so much more than just her knight. You mean so much more to her than that. You need to understand, you are not just another Pearl. These . . . Crystal Gems . . . are not just some band of lawless rebels. You, all of you, are unique, special, unlike anyone or anything that has ever existed."
Garnet's words hit Pearl like a bolt of lightning. The swordsman began to laugh even as tears started to form in her eyes. "How can you be so sure? You and I barely even know each other."
Garnet held Pearl close. "Because when I came to you all, a fusion who had jumped the track of fate, cast out by her own kind, when I had nothing, you all accepted me. You took me in. You gave me a home, and something I could believe in."
Garnet smiled, "Not even I saw that one coming."
. . .
"Are you sure you're ready?" asked Rose. "We can wait until-"
"No," replied Pearl. "I'm ready now. Don't worry . . .
. . . I know what I have to do now."
The two gems sized each other up and began to dance, a swirling cascade of beauty and wonder. They inched closer and closer to each other, their hands intertwining, their bodies drawing closer and closer to one another until, finally, they were once again engulfed in a bright and beautiful light.
. . .
Rose?
. . .
Can you hear me? It's Pearl.
. . .
I don't know if you are listening, but there's something I need to say, something that's been on my mind for a long, long time.
The truth is, Rose . . . I'm afraid.
. . .
Not of dying. I've never been afraid to die. I'm not even that afraid of being caught or captured by the enemy. No, the truth is, I'm afraid of what would happen . . . what would happen if I ever lost you.
. . .
You've been the single most important thing in my life for so long, I don't know what I would do without you. I don't know how I could go on, how I could even function without you to guide me.
. . .
I put up this brave front. I thrust myself headlong into battle, and I fight with everything in my being, and I'm glad to do it because . . . because I know that it's to protect you. Every hit that I take is a strike intended for you, and I worry that, if I stop for just one second, you might-
. . .
I can't lose you. I'm not strong enough. You're the only thing in this whole universe that matters to me. Rose, I . . .
. . .
I love you.
. . .
. . .
Pearl, you don't have to be afraid. Remember, you are my sword, and that makes me your shield. I will always be there to protect you.
Don't say that you are not strong enough, because you are strong.
Don't be afraid of losing me, because, no matter what, part of me will always be with you.
Please, don't allow yourself to get hurt on my account. Don't act as if your life doesn't matter. You matter more to me than you could possibly understand.
You are your own gem, and the truth is, well . . .
I think you're pretty great.
. . .
. . .
Together, we are strong.
Together, we are more than if we were apart.
Together, I could be . . . amazing.
I could be brilliant.
I could be . . . I could be . . . I am . . .
I am . . . alive.
I am alive.
. . .
"I am Rainbow Quartz."