Author's Note: On ao3, saltyspacerock gave me the prompt: amethyst is feeling bummed about herself and Pearl tells her how she's improved as a person.

And honestly, this is my jam.

oOoOo

improved

Amethyst and Pearl liked to skip rocks together.

Well, only Pearl liked the actual skipping. She enjoyed seeking out the perfect rock, finding one flat and smooth and just the right aerodynamic shape. She enjoyed the sensation of the perfect wrist-flick. She enjoyed watching it fly across the water. She enjoyed counting each skip, striving to beat her previous best. (Which was currently seventy-nine).

Amethyst liked finding the biggest rock she could and throwing it as far as possible. She liked the splash.

Still, it was something they could do together, and in fact, it was one of the first things Pearl had ever taught Amethyst, before weapon summoning or dancing or even monster fighting.

Amethyst had just found her next piece of ammo— a nice, weird looking boulder nearly as big as her head— and was getting ready to toss it when she noticed the background skipping sound had stopped. She turned to she what was up, only to discover Pearl watching her with the oddest smile on her face.

"What'cha looking at?" Amethyst said, suspicious.

"Oh, nothing," said Pearl. She suddenly seemed a little… self-conscious, but still that strange smile remained. "Just thinking about how much you've grown."

"I haven't grown at all."

"Oh, I don't mean physically. I mean internally." Pearl made a waving gesture at Amethyst. "Thinking back to the little Gem we found in the Kindergarten, and now looking at you… It's really something."

"Oh. Uh. Thanks?"

Amethyst didn't know what else to say, so she settled for throwing her rock.

She watched it sail over the waves until it was just grey dot which fell into the water with a distant, but satisfying, sploosh.

Pearl seemingly wasn't done yet, though, because she came over and laid a light hand on Amethyst's shoulder. "I truly mean it, Amethyst. Seeing you with Steven today, as Smoky… and the fight against Jasper…"

"I— " Amethyst began, but couldn't continue. All her fears, insecurities, guilts rose up, choking her.

It must have shown on her face, because Pearl frowned. "Is something wrong?"

"I… I mean, it was nothing that great." Amethyst hung her head, scuffed the sand with her foot. "It was Steven, mostly."

"Oh, Amethyst." Pearl put her hand under Amethyst's chin, tugged on it so that she had to stare up into Pearl's soft, bright face. "You were wonderful. You've been so brave, and clever, and… and I'm so glad you're here."

Amethyst stepped forward, wrapping herself around Pearl's waist in a sudden, fierce hug. "Same."