Chapter 9: Restoration
Please know you've inspired me
You've come to be my rock, and when you talked
It lit a fire in me...
Steven's voice choked with tears, remembering that first moment he realized Pearl was gone.
Pearl, though at first she wasn't sure what Steven's song was referring to, wiped her own tears from her eyes. As the song went on she began to understand the story he told. It seemed her gem had been broken during battle, according to the first verse. The last part of the song, though, seemed oddly familiar. But from where...?
Then it dawned on her. She remembered it! She had sung those words herself!
I want to inspire you, I want to be your rock and when I talk it lights a fire in you!
"Steven!" She cried. "I remember that song!"
"You do?!" Steven said. "Do you remember what we were doing that day?"
"I... No, I don't..." Pearl sighed.
"It's okay, Pearl. I'll tell you. The day before, we had gone on a mission to the communication hub, and so Amethyst and Garnet fused into Sugilite so they could destroy the hub. Well, I wanted to be strong like Sugilite so me and dad started a gym!"
"You mean 'dad and I', Steven."
"Yeah, yeah. Well, anyway you were singing this song, and afterwards Sugilite came back, and you had to fight her, and you won!"
"I did?"
"Yeah, you were amazing!"
"Aw, thank you, Steven." A turquoise blush grew on her face.
"Do you remember that now?" Steven asked hopefully.
"A-a little bit... Tell me about some more things we did."
"Okay, well... What about the time Garnet first formed? You were there for that."
"I was?"
"Yeah! Ruby and Sapphire were sent by Blue Diamond, and you and my mom came and when you were attacking, Ruby and Sapphire accidentally fused. They got in trouble with Blue Diamond for it but they escaped to Earth, and they fused again... and then Mom and you found Garnet and let her join the Crystal Gems!"
Steven began to recount stories from Pearl's life. He often asked Amethyst and Garnet for help explaining things. Nothing quite seemed to jog the rest of her memory, but she began to re-understand several of the basic stories that you all know and love.
Later that night, the gems met to discuss how they might go about recovering the rest of her many memories.
"Is there even a way to?" Peridot asked.
"I healed her gem, but it didn't bring back her memories. Do you think I should try healing her again?" Steven asked.
"Would that work?" Amethyst asked.
"It's... improbable," Peridot said.
"But not impossible," Garnet added.
"It would hurt to try," Steven said. "I mean, worst case scenario I get spit on her, ya know."
"True," Amethyst shrugged.
"I'm gonna go try it," Steven said, determined.
"Good luck..." the gems called.
"Hey Pearl?" Steven said. "Can I try something?"
"What is it, Steven?" Pearl asked.
He stepped closer. "Here, sit down and show me your gem."
"Um... Alright," Pearl said hesitantly, but obeyed.
Steven stood next to her, carefully licked his hand and placed it against Pearl's gem. He waited a moment.
"Steven, what are you doing?" Pearl asked.
"I know," he sighed disappointedly, "it's kind of unusual. But I wanted to see if I could heal your memory."
"What? I thought you lost your healing powers. Remember, with the geode?"
"Wait... You remember that?!" Steven shouted. He stood there with a surprised expression.
"Well, of course. It was when your father was staying here and..."
We never told her that story! She remembered it by herself! Steven thought. What else does she remember?!
"Pearl, do you remember what I did use to fix the geode?"
"Duct tape."
Steven was shocked. It worked! Right?!
"Did it work?! Tell me it worked! Tell me... umm... Tell me something about you and mom! Something you haven't told me before!"
Pearl began to tell a story about Rose. As she did, the other gems entered the room, surprised and relieved to see that Steven's plan had worked. Finally, finally, they had their Pearl back. They joined Steven in listening to her story which my creative mind is too tired to make up, and surrounded her in a huge group hug when she finished.
It was the best night they'd had in a long, long time.
AN: You're welcome.
My super depressing stories will have happy endings. This is me trying to make up for giving you terrible awful heartbreaking feels.
Next chapter is called Reflection. It will feature "journal entry" type points of view from each of the Crystal Gems, including Pearl.
~Pikminsanity