Pearl sat at a table in the middle of her gemstone's surface space. The Surface Pearl that had caused SO MUCH grief within the past few weeks glared at her as she sipped her tea.

This was probably one of the most...awkward, surreal, situations Pearl had ever experienced! Here she was...drinking tea with herself, as her own mind glared at her with disdain. The entire thing was very...ODD. "SOOO...erm...what did you want to talk about? I really should get back to trying to regenerating my form..."

"Hermph." The Surface Pearl grunted before speaking up: "Do you have ANY idea how difficult it is working in here?! No breaks, no "Thank Yous", no company, no companionship?!"

"Your job isn't to socialize! Your job is to create and retrieve the things that I need on a regular basis!"

"Have you ever ONCE considered MY feelings about this situation?!"

"Why should I? We are literally the same person!"

"You WOULD think that, wouldn't you?!"

"YES! Your job is basic Gem anatomy 101! I don't see what all of this fuss is about!" Pearl raised her arms in the air in frustration! This internal conversation was going nowhere quickly.

"So...according to YOU, my job is EASY? Simple? You would have NO TROUBLE what-so-ever being a more efficient Surface Pearl than myself?"

"Of course not! I am excellent at all forms of tasks!"

"Than prove it."

"EXCUSE ME?!"

"PROVE YOUR CLAIM! Switch places with me!"

Pearl scoffed! "I will do NO SUCH THING! I don't want to get stuck in here!"

"Ah-Ha! So you DO admit that my lifestyle is less comfortable than your own?!"

"I NEVER said that!"

"Look, I'm trying to prove a point here! Let's take a bet! If MY job is SO easy compared to your own life, then this should be a snap! I will replace you, and see how difficult YOUR life is, while you stay here and try MY job! If my form poofs, you will never hear another peep out of me again! If you create a Holo-Pearl and send it out, I will also admit defeat! Either way, YOU win!"

Pearl looked concerned. "This feels like a trap...what if I refuse?!"

"I'll just keep sending Holo-Pearls after you!"

Pearl gasped in disbelief! This "deal" was sounding less like a bet, and more like a command!

The Surface Pearl nodded in agreement. "Either way, we both get what we want. YOU get to prove me right, and I get a miniature vacation from this Hell-Hole!"

Pearl did not like the Surface Pearl referring to her own brain as a "Hell-Hole" but still thought the situation through. She was trapped! Pearl saw no way out of this "deal" as it stood. If she reformed, more Holo-Pearls would just keep sending her back here until she agreed. Pearl nodded and shook hands with her Surface Pearl. "Alright then! I'm going to show you how EASY this job is...it's not like I have much of a choice in the matter..."

The Surface Pearl proceeded to smile in the creepiest way possible. "I'm glad we had this little talk. The best of luck! Let's see how YOU like being stuck in here!"

The Surface Pearl began to slowly disappear into the outside world before completely vanishing...

The Gemstone sat on the couch pillow before shining and levitating in anticipation! To the relief of her family, Pearl looked quite fine as her form returned!

"That...was fast..." Garnet noted immediately. Pearl typically took 2 weeks to regenerate...it had only been an hour.

As Pearl's form solidified, the family could immediately tell that something was "off". The Gem looked around every-which-way...stars in her eyes and hope on her face! The Surface Pearl spotted Steven first. "OH! OH STEVEN! I'M SO GLAD TO SEE YOU AGAIN!" The Gem embraced the boy, tears flowing! It was as if she hadn't seen Rose's son in weeks!

"OH! I love you too Pearl!" Steven hugged the Gem back, before laughing! "You've only been gone for an hour..."

"Have I? It seems like it has been much longer than that..." Surface Pearl looked toward Garnet and Amethyst with admiration! "My family! I've never been able to hug you myself! I've only seen holograms and pictures!" Pearl hugged the duo with sympathy, before Amethyst backed up- incredibly creeped out. "WOAH! WOAH! WOAH! What do you MEAN you've only seen us in holograms and pictures?!"

"Oh! Yes! Right! Apologies...I am Pearl's...erm..."Surface Pearl"! We decided to switch places...for a short time..." The Gem blushed...

"WHHHAAAA?! Is...is that...even...POSSIBLE?!"

The Surface Pearl looked down at herself before glancing around the house. "Well...I guess it IS! HUH! What an intriguing opportunity!"

Garnet frowned. She knew that this Pearl was also (technically) Pearl...and yet...she wasn't QUITE Pearl, but rather- only one PART of Pearl. It seemed that things had just gotten EXTREMELY complicated...

"Oh! This is SO exciting! Everything out here is REAL! No memories, no holograms! I am making my OWN memories! REAL ones that belong to ONLY me!" Surface Pearl clapped her hands in a giddy manner, before continuing: "-By the way, do you guys have any ice cream?! I rather enjoyed it when I found that tub in our gemstone...oh! I'm going to finally figure out what all food tastes like!"

Garnet persperated heavily. She didn't want to ruin Surface Pearl's new outlook on life...but she was extremely concerned about the safety of Pearl...the REAL Pearl. "Mmmph...Pearl- that is...Surface Pearl...our original Pearl is not in danger..."

"-NOPE! She's completely safe...in my mind!" The Surface Pearl poked her Gemstone playfully before nodding. "As soon as she creates and sends out a Holo-Pearl, I'll go back inside! No if's, and's, or but's! It was part of our deal! In the meantime, though..." Surface Pearl began to wander the house, before locating Lion, asleep on the floor of the loft. "Oh! The lion!" The Gem began to pet the animal's mane. It really WAS soft! Just like she had imagined! The large cat gurgled in his sleep, making the Gem smile with content! There was just...so much REAL stuff she wanted to try, and taste, and touch, and do, and experience! She knew this situation was temporary (at best), so she had to make every second count!

Thanks again for all the feedback guys! You are the BEST. FANS. EVER!

It seems that Surface Pearl has (forcefully) escaped her prison! What kind of new stuff will she experience? How good is the Crystal Gem's Pearl at controlling her own mind? Have they BOTH bitten off more then they can chew? Can this story get any weirder? Tune in next time!

XD