Greg opened his eyes and yawned. As soon as he turned his head, a sudden crack of pain was felt. 'Gah! It feels like I slept on a rock!'
He looked around until he found a pair of blue eyes looking down on him. "Ah! Pearl, what the heck?"
The gem was taken back at his outburst and realized what she was doing. "Sorry, I was-Well you know sometimes I…" The blank stare on Greg's face broke her defense down. She stood up and crossed her arms. "I was conducting an observation on humans. Sleep has always been something that I've wondered for years, but never had any true idea. I thought to pass the time I would conduct my experiment."
The human stood appalled by the claim and stood up. "That's creepy and I'm going to go that way." He walked away from Pearl, who blushed at his claim.
"It is not as creepy as it is, you human! Besides, where do you think you're going? We have to go this way to get out of here!" Pearl angrily said. Greg stopped and moved his sights toward her. "Wait, what? You know a way out of here?"
"Of course I do. I've traversed similar forest near Rose's fountain and I have an ideal map to get out of here." Her gem glowed and projected a holographic map. "See, we're right here. Rose's fountain is approximently 255 kilometers. If we continue on the path I've coordinated, we should arrive at Rose's fountain within the next couple of days."
"You had this map the entire time! How come you didn't tell me about this? I thought you were as blind as me!" Greg exclaimed.
Pearl smirked and leaned in. "That's because you didn't ask. Besides it took you time to ask. Humans follow the more powerful so easily and not question that."
"I only followed you, since I thought we needed to stick together and you kept me quiet. I was going to ask you, but that stupid bull got in the way and I forgot."
"Excuses." Pearl said as she walked out. Greg growled angrily, but followed. His frustration with Pearl and her pompous attitude was getting to him. It also didn't help that she seems to hold his position of a human as a meaningless organism. Seemed a bit hypocritical, since he knew what she was on Homeworld.
Pearl hummed at his aggravated state and continued cutting a path. She wasn't exactly proud of what she said, but some part of her relished to talk down at someone. Amethyst doesn't count since she's a fellow gem and would technically outrank her. Greg was someone that she could look down on and not feel as bad about it.
After watching humanity for thousands of years, nothing seemed a surprise to Pearl. Their attitude, their bizarre habits, and what they claim is correct. It was very hilarious actually. But what caused her to both laugh and rage is Rose's lovers. Greg isn't the first one to charm the leader of the Crystal Gems.
Young humans, some with ranks of powers like kings or generals, would temporarily charm the gem leader. While it aggravated her to see some many humans try to charm the larger gem, it was very hilarious to see how their relationships ended. They either grew too old to continue or bore Rose.
Greg seemed to be the one to bore Rose. At least at first. However he managed to do what no other human has ever done. Interact with the others. Whenever he planned something, Amethyst or Garnet were his go-to friends. And with Pearl, despite the obvious tension between them, did change the normal pace of things at the temple.
Never before has Pearl been the most irritated at humanity and yet not as bored with it. He's come and changed things and helped the gems come further out. And that's what Pearl does not like about him. 'He's...something. We never had any direct contact with human unless it's just the gem itself alone with them, yet still.'
She glanced behind him and found Greg swiping bugs away. She looked at his left arm and noticed the purple blot on it. The bruise from saving her yesterday, from the bull was hurting his arm. She never did give him a proper examination. And she couldn't risk a beaten human to drag them behind.
"Greg."
"Hmm." The human responded as he swiped away another bug. Pearl walked towards him and gingerly pressed her finger against his arm. The pained yelp confirmed the injury and help add fuel to one of the most ridiculous ideas she's had in some time. "It's just a bruise Pearl. I swear it's not that serious."
"Of course it isn't. I just wanted to be sure." Greg averted his eyes. "You know I never seen you care for my being before. I thought you'd leave me."
Pearl moved her hair and turned to him. "Well I can't be a guardian of Earth if I didn't care. True, I don't care as much as the others, but I do care for humanity. My personal feelings will not play against you unless you really do something to set me off."
"Oh, okay. Um...so what-" A loud roar cut him off as Pearl summoned her spear. 'Of course somethings out here. Why not.'
The two stood quietly as everything went still. Greg went behind Pearl, who was collecting everything for her senses. "Pearl."
"Ssh." Greg covered his mouth before feeling something wrap around his leg. "Pearl!" The gem turned to see Greg upside down. "Greg, hold on!" Clicking noises bounced around her as Pearl tensed up.
Before moving an inch, Pearl felt the wind leave her body as fist shot her right in the gut. She coughed out some spit and fell to her knees. An image shimmered in front of her before finding the creature. It was humanoid with black wisps of hair and green eyes. It had a long tendril holding Greg and it had multiple fingers curled into a fist.
"Ah, damn it." Pearl said before the creature kicked her in the face. She flipped into the air and landed hard against a rock. The humanoid hissed at her and threw Greg. Pearl got up before falling into a crumpled heap with Greg. The human and gem went rolling across the ground.
Once they stopped, Greg opened his eyes and found his arm around Pearl. "Hey Pearl...you okay?" The gem opened her eyes and clenched her stomach. "Pain."
"That sums it up." The creature looked at Greg and gave him a weird eye smile. "Ah, Pearl. If anytime was right to get up, it'd be right now!" Pearl didn't answer him as she tried to get up. Finding her spear, Greg reached for it and grabbed the shaft.
The second he did, a knee found its place right into Greg's gut. The rockstar felt himself lift off the ground. Then it slammed him in the back and smashed him against the ground. It flipped Greg on his back and placed its four toed foot on his chest. Greg grabbed its leg and tried to lift it off.
It didn't let up and began to put weight on its foot. Greg screamed as he felt his chest begin to give into the pressure. It hissed softly before a spear tip broke through its skin and almost impaling it. Lifting its foot off Greg, it turned around to see Pearl standing behind it with another spear.
"Get away from that human. It's just going to be us, Gems." It tilted its head in confusion before looking down at Greg. "Don't you lay a finger on him."
It glanced at Pearl before lifting his foot off Greg. The man gasped at the sudden loss of painful pressure on his chest. It hurt his breathing though. Pearl got into a stance and waited for the first move. The creature didn't avert its eyes off Greg and kicked the human toward Pearl.
"Greg!" She said as he landed on the floor. "P-Pearl." He said in pained gasps. That distraction was good enough for Pearl to turn her back and leave her vulnerable. The gem felt it grab her hair and pull her up. She almost screamed at the pain and discomfort, but kicked the underside of its chin.
Greg got up with pain raking his body. "Ow, ow." He looked and found Pearl trying to free herself from their enemies grasp. "Pearl, give me a weapon!"
Pearl didn't question it and summoned a small saber from her gem. Grabbing it, Pearl sliced the hand off of her. The creature hissed in pain and watched Pearl scurry to Greg.
"RAWR!" It roared as wind gusted from its power. Greg and Pearl were being pushed back as it leaned forward and launched itself. It's second claw was cutting through the ground as it looked at Greg and with a quick bit of effort moved it up.
A sickening slice of the claw cut through the air as Greg found himself on the ground. Pearl stood in front of him with her head turned up. A few seconds passed before Pearl clutched her face in pain. "Ah! My eyes!"
The corrupted gem spat in her face and small wisps of steam rose. Pearl doubled over as she tried to get her sense of ground. The Crystal Gem never got the chance as her opponent threw a solid jab and sent her flying into a tree. The sword in her hand fell as she made a solid landing against the bark.
Greg scrambled out of its way as the creature walked toward Pearl. It ignored Greg as it pushed itself toward the gem. Pearl removed her hands from her eyes to reveal an ugly burn mark that covered just her eyes. It hissed with pain and steam as Pearl raised her hands in defense.
The gem lunged forward and with its freshly regenerate hand, grabbed Pearl by the throat. The breathing construct in her throat disappeared as she didn't want to choke. And with its other hand, it rested a single claw against her gem. With a quick slash, a noticeable cut was left behind. Pearl screamed in agony as she shape quivered and shook. If she looked with a damaged gem, then she might as well be dead.
The claw then placed itself inside the crack. Pearl's toes curled and she simple shed a few tears at her fate.
"No Pearl!" A loud thunk of a sword impaling something was heard and Pearl fell to the ground. Blind as she was, her other sharp senses told her that Greg came to the rescue. The sounds of thrashing and swinging swords could be heard as a loud poof was heard.
"Greg? Did you just defeat a corrupted gem?" Panting was heard along with a handle of sword being given to her. "Yeah. I think I killed that..."
Her vision provided little, but her hearing told her it was reforming. "No way!" Before Pearl could say anything, Greg picked her up and ran. Pearl didn't question it as she held on tightly. She still hadn't adjusted to blindness and it seemed she wouldn't be given the chance.
She clutched Greg tightly as she felt him run through the forest. The cold wind beat her down until everything became cold and wet.
0-0-0-0-0
Well finally. First update for the New Year. I feel great for another year of writing to begin and I'm currently watching Steven Bomb 4. No spoilers but I am thoroughly enjoying it. Now before we end I have want your opinion. What should I name the creature. If you could tell by my 'subtle' writing I need a name for that thing. I look forward to your answers and I'll see you soon.