Opening File: Pearls
Pearls are servants on Homeworld, acting as custom-made Gems with the purpose of serving their owner. They are expected only to serve and be submissive and obedient, simply waiting on their owners and not acting independently in any way. Pearls typically perform tasks such as holding their owners' belongings (which they can store inside their gemstones) and serving as foot people opening doors for their masters. They are expected to consistently exhibit subservience by remaining silent unless spoken to and remaining a few paces behind their superior when walking with them.
It is physically impossible for a Pearl to disobey a direct order from their owner, and are normally dismissed with the phrase 'that will be all' generally followed by the owner clapping her hands twice when they are no longer needed. Pearls also provide simple luxuries such as singing, dancing and visual entertainment by projecting holograms. They are also status symbols on Homeworld reserved for higher castes such as the Diamonds and aristocrats like Sapphires. Pearls may also be earned by committing a significant act of heroism.
Close File
Xxx
"The definition of a servant is person who performs duties for others, especially a person employed in a house on domestic duties or as a personal attendant." TOM began as the file closed. "Servants are meant to do one thing: obey without question. And yet they are treated as disposable by some, invaluable by others. Are servants the real power behind the aristocrats they are meant to serve? Makes you think, doesn't it?"
Xxx
Candy Pearl emerged from the forest, slowly approaching Abby. "Are you all right? I picked up feelings of emotional distress from you?"
Abby snorted, glaring at the Pearl's reflection in the water. "Really now?"
"Yes. Are you in need of something?"
"Actually…I am." Abby slowly stood up. "I need…To find an outlet for all my pent up anger!"
Abby spun and charged at Candy Pearl, leaping up and launching a kick at the Gem's face. Candy Pearl spun and dodged, watching Abby sailed past her. "Do you wish to spar?"
Abby landed on her feet and turned around. "Sure, call it that."
"Very well." Candy Pearl bowed and settled into a fighting stance.
Abby let out a battle cry and charged forward…
Abby jumped up, aiming a kick at Candy Pearl who quickly blocked with one arm. Landing on her feet Abby lashed out, kicking at Candy Pearl with a running jump back kick, but the latter leapt in the air behind him and attempts to land a blow which Candy Pearl blocked. Abby followed up with a series of high jump kicks but Candy Pearl blocked each attack and swept out with Abby's feet out from under her. Abby fell on her back but kicked her legs up into the air, spinning on her hands and did a double back handspring.
The two stared at each other before Candy Pearl decided to charge, only for Abby to strike first forcing Candy Pearl block the first kick with her right arm and the second with the left. She blocked several more before ending the barrage by batting Abby's leg away, creating an opening for her to use an open palm strike. Abby slid back and stopped a small distance away, taking a chance to rub her face. Her Aura was thankfully active so it protected her from being hurt but she cheek felt slightly numb.
"Not bad." Abby muttered to herself. "At least you know how to fight."
"I was programmed with all known fighting styles known to both Gems and Earthlings." Candy Pearl remarked. "Do you wish to continue?"
"What do you think?" Abby asked before leaping into the air.
She spun and brought her foot on Candy Pearl who asked with both arms. She then landed on the ground, dropped to her hands and feet before spinning one leg out but Candy Pearl leapt over, taking a step back. She quickly jumped after the Gem, kicking at her but Candy Pearl blocked away. Candy Pearl then turned, dived and rolled away as Abby continued her spin, swinging her leg up into the air but Candy Pearl moved out of her range.
"We must stop this, My Elemental." Candy Pearl suggested. "Despite your skills you cannot defeat me."
"I…Don't…CARE!" Abby shouted and then charged forward. "AND I AM NOT YOUR ELEMENTAL!"
She lashed out, landing three kicks on Candy Pearl's arms, forcing the Gem back.
"YOU KIDNAPPED ME AND MY FRIENDS!"
Candy Pearl attempted to grab her leg but Abby kicked it away.
"YOU TOOK US FROM OUR HOME!"
As Abby landed a kick on her Candy Pearl swatted her back. Abby landed on her feet and charged again.
"ALL TO PLAY SOME STUPID POWER GAME!"
As Abby once again kicked at Candy Pearl, her golden brown eyes lit up with white and red flames. Candy Pearl's eyes widened as the amount of power coming off the Candy Elemental was growing too much for the gemstone to absorb in time to stop her. From her eyes came green colored tears that flowed into her hands and she fired a stream of green colored liquid. Candy Pearl dodged and watched as the green liquid actually melted a tree behind her.
"WELL GUESS WHAT?! I AM NO ONE'S PLAYTHING!"
Realizing the danger Candy Pearl rushed forward to subdue Abby but fired another acid blast at her, forcing her to dodge. Focusing energy through her gemstone Candy Pearl conjured a series of light clones that charged at Abby who used her Elemental powers to attack, easily destroying the clones but gave Candy Pearl the opportunity to knock Abby on her back.
As Candy Pearl slowly approached she watched as Abby slowly curled into a ball and started to cry. She stopped, the knowledge programmed into her telling her the Candy Elemental was emotionally distraught. That was nothing since from her limited experience the Candy Elemental was emotionally fragile, angry or upset at the most unpredictable of times.
Only her fellow organics seemed able to calm her down.
"Why did it have to be this way?" She heard Abby whimper as she continued to sob. "Why did it have to be me? What do you even want from me?"
"I was made for you." Candy Pearl answered, assuming her Elemental was talking to her. "Because of you White Diamond created me and gave me my purpose. I did not take you from your home and I do not want to make you a…play thing? My only purpose is to serve as your mentor to our laws and customs here on Homeworld."
Abby sniffed, rubbing her face. "And what if I don't care?"
Candy Pearl was silent was she processed this question for a moment. "Then I am deemed defective and would be subject to shattering and my remains would be harvested. Do you…Wish for me to be shattered?"
A period of silence followed as Abby sat up, rubbing her eyes as she stared at Candy Pearl before shaking her head. "…No. I may hate being here but I don't want you to kill yourself."
She wasn't sure if she was being truthful when she answered.
She remembered her parents telling her that she didn't always have to be nice to people who might not be nice to other but she should never fail to be kind.
She remembered the kindness of Monty and Jennifer Uno who welcomed her into their home after her sister had left her there.
It was because of the kindness of others that she was even alive.
So she knew that she would be turning her back on everything she knew if she told the Pearl to shatter herself.
No, she was not that angry and certainly not that cruel.
"Then what do you wish?" Candy Pearl asked.
"I don't want a servant." Abby looked away. "I am not some hair brained princess to be dolled up to look good for the whole planet."
"Hair brained?" Candy Pearl questioned. "I believe this is a form of insult but I am not sure what classifies as a princess."
Abby smirked a bit, rubbing her eyes. "Well, I am pretty much the exact opposite of a princess."
"I see." Candy Pearl said, filing it away for future study. "Though I am still confused as to what you truly wish, My Elemental."
Abby sighed, seeing she might be hitting a brick wall with the Gem. She knew that Pearls were the servant class on this crazy planet but did they have any sense of self respect? She looked at Candy Pearl, seeing confusion, a slight apprehension and…genuine concern for her.
Abby had learned from a young age to tell when a person is attempting to trick her but she couldn't sense any trickery from Candy Pearl. Despite being a member of the alien race that had abducted her and her friends this Pearl was concerned for her.
'I was made for you.' Those words echoed in Abby's head.
She was created for the sole purpose of being a servant to the Candy Elemental.
Without her, this Pearl could not exist.
'Then I am deemed defective and would be subject to shattering and my remains would be harvested.'
"Well, for starters I would like my old clothes back if it's not too much to ask. The clothes I wore when I was brought here." Abby decided to give it a shot, knowing it was likely Candy Pearl couldn't carry out her order.
"Very well."
Wait, what-
There was a flash of light and Abby was back in her original clothes, a long blue shirt with white stripes, black bicycle shorts and white shoes with even her red summer cap back on her head. Abby inspected her outfit, seeing it was perfectly the same.
"How did…" Abby trailed off, looking at Candy Pearl for an explanation.
"When you were brought here the Pebbles took your original outfits and stored them in your crystal along with other outfits that were programmed in. Pebbles are tailers so its natural for them to have knowledge of all forms of clothing on Homeworld and store any new forms clothing from other worlds for storage." Candy Pearl explained, smiling a bit at carrying out her Elemental's wish even if it was a small one.
"That…Wow. So I could have asked for my clothes back any time?" Abby asked and sighed. "Well, I did have other things in my mind so I guess it figures."
"The crystals function like our gemstones." Candy Pearl gestured to her gem. "They project light and energy to form our physical forms and they also act as the storage for our thought processers and can even act as storage units. They were made along with us on the orders of White Diamond."
"Right." Abby sighed as she sat down, looking up at the sky. "So you are just going to follow orders for the rest of your life?"
"It is my purpose. Once a Pearl is made for someone they are mentally imprinted on that person, programmed to follow their orders no matter what unless someone of higher rank such as a Diamond countermands the orders or decides that the Pearl should be given a new owner." Candy Pearl explained.
So this Pearl is essentially like a robot and yet so much more real. She can think, reason and maybe even feel but she's programmed to be a servant in such a way she doesn't even realize that she's pretty much a slave.
Wow, now Abby actually felt a little sorry for her.
Here she was, stuck on a planet light years away from home and somehow she feels like this Pearl and maybe all the others have it worse than her.
'Everyone else seemed to be handling being here better than me. Nigel and his dad even started figuring out a plan, Ed was bonding with Blue Diamond and the others weren't losing it like me.' Abby held out her hand, looking down at it as she frowned. 'But that's just me, isn't it? I've got a boat load of issues going all the back to my childhood, blaming my powers for what happened to my parents, my brother and my sister and when I started using them I ended up here. I can't do anything without losing it because I hated my powers for everything wrong in my life.'
"When an Elemental dies, what you would call its soul self is able to journey through time, observing the many possible futures of its next hosts and picks the best applicant for its next incarnation. You were among millions born in the season of spring to be chosen because simply put you were deemed the best." Chatsberry explained.
'I was picked because I was the best choice but that doesn't mean I'm any better.' Abby closed her eyes.
"…How many do you see each time you try?" Abby asked, seemingly calming down.
"Over fifteen million different futures, each made by the choices of the Elementals and the people surrounding them." Chatsberry answered.
Abby leaned forward. "And how many, in all of those futures, do we actually win?"
Chatsberry finally looked up. "…One."
Abby's eyes widened as Chatsberry then kneeled before her. "One?"
"I know these are not the answers you wanted but its how it is. We've struggled, fought and died trying to keep the world still alive. I wouldn't ask you to continue fighting, I don't have that right and neither do any of the other past lives. I can only say this, if you decide to step aside and leave the fight I won't stop you but if you find in your heart to wish to somehow continue fighting to protect your loved ones then…" Chatsberry looked up, surprising Abby when she saw tears streaming down his cheeks. "Help us find a way to end this madness."
Abby stared down at him, contemplating what he was asking.
She took a deep breath before giving her answer…
'You want my help, then help me save my friends.' Abby remembered her answer. 'Because if we go back to Earth we still have him and the other Fallen to worry about. All this fear of what might happen, being afraid of losing everyone like my family…I let this all define me and I let it stop me from helping my friends.'
Abby closed her eyes. 'Some friend I have been. What's all my issues got me? Out here, not with my friends and trying to beat up a lady who doesn't realize she's acting like a robot…Now I realize I'm acting like a bully.'
"Abby!"
Abby's fox ears perked up at the familiar voice calling for her. "Nigel?"
A second later the Ice Elemental emerged from the bushes, looking relieved when he saw her. "Abby! Thank Glob! I was worried! I was looking for-How back in your normal clothes?"
Abby snickered a bit. "Oh yeah. I figured out how to get them back. Just ask and you'll get your back too."
"My old clothes? The ones I was wearing on Earth-Whoa!" There was a flash of light and Nigel was back to wearing his red turtleneck sweat, grey cargo shorts, brown shoes and even his sunglasses were back while his crystal remained in its necklace form. "…Why didn't I ask sooner?"
Abby chuckled, feeling a little better than she had in a while. "Don't worry. Never occurred to me either till Pearl here told me." She gestured to Candy Pearl.
"Huh…" Nigel shook his head, remembering what he was planning to say to his best friend when he found her. "Look, Abby. I know things have been tough on you lately but I promise you we will find a way home and…I'm sorry."
Abby raised an eyebrow. "For what?"
"For not…Not being a good enough friend earlier. I knew you were upset but I didn't do enough to give you enough hope to get through all of this and-" Nigel was stopped as Abby placed a hand over his mouth.
"Nigel…You've done nothing but give me hope." Abby lowered her hand. "When things were looking bad you always tried to help me, to try and show me that no matter how bad things could get the world wasn't ending for me. If anyone's sorry it should be me for not doing more for you and the others. You all have it bad as me but you all were doing something while I kept on…Being angry at the entire world for everything wrong."
"Abby…" Nigel trailed off, having never expected Abby to say anything like she had said.
"You were my first friend after I lost my family. We've been through so much since we met and we're not even thirteen yet." Abby threw her arms up as she actually laughed. "You have ice powers, I make sweets that can be turned deadly, we're on an alien world and somehow we're still sane even if none it makes any sense. Not to mention I can talk with my past selves when I sleep."
Nigel's eyes widened. "You can do that too?"
Abby stopped and looked back at Nigel. "It's happened to you?"
Nigel nodded. "Yeah. It's been happening a lot lately."
"Figures." Abby muttered dryly. "So what did you learn?"
Nigel started but stopped when he saw Candy Pearl was still standing nearby. "You sure it's okay?"
"Hm?" Abby glanced back at Candy Pearl. "Oh, it's all right. Pearl, could you give us some privacy?"
"Of course." Candy Pearl nodded and walked away, ensuring she was far enough away to still see the two Elementals but not hear what they would be talking about.
Nigel simply stared between the two. "…Did I miss something?"
"We sort of hatched things out." Abby shrugged, gesturing to a nearby log. "Anyways, come on sit down and tell me about your dreams."
Xxx
"So, the old man went and attacked the other Elementals just because they didn't agree with him?"
Nigel nodded, scowling at the memory. "Real nice impression for the first Ice Elemental huh? He does ahead and makes his crown and still it blew up in his face. And that's not even the worst part."
"What could be worse?"
Nigel shifted a bit, looking uncomfortable. "Please don't get mad at me."
"Why would I…Oh right. It's because he made the thing that made Sammael isn't it?" Abby asked knowingly.
Nigel nearly fell over at how nonchalant Abby sounded. "…Yeah?"
"I get why you would be upset at that. A wish granting crown made to make the ultimate evil immortal."
"So…You're not mad at me?" Nigel boldly asked.
"Why would I be mad at you?"
"Well, my past self attacked and froze your past self, made the crown that made Sammael possibly unkillable which led to the creation of the other Fallen." Nigel explained, feeling slightly pained from bringing up all of Evergreen's mistakes.
Abby stared at Nigel for a second and slowly raised her hand…
SLAP!
"OW!" Nigel yelped as Abby slapped him on the back of his head. "You could have just said 'yes'!"
"Idiot. I wasn't angry." Abby replied. "Until you asked that stupid question."
"Huh?"
"You're not Evergreen, Nigel. You may be the Ice Elemental, you may end up with his memories but you're not him. His mistakes are not yours." Abby said, pointing him and then at herself. "Just as I am not Chastberry or any of the other Candy Elementals. So no, I'm not mad but I am annoyed you'd think I'd blame you for anything that happened long before we were born. So do yourself a favor and never ask me that question again."
"So…We cool?" Nigel rubbed his head.
"Is that an ice pun?" Abby asked dryly.
"…No?"
"Then yeah, we're cool." Abby smirked.
Nigel sighed in relief before both started to look up at the sky, even there was only one sun and no stars. "We still need to find a way to get out of here."
"Yep." Abby agreed.
"Got any ideas?"
"Nothing."
Nigel hummed a bit. "My dad and the others are trapped here. If we can't get them out we can't get out ourselves."
"Yeah." Abby sighed. "We're really stuck aren't we?"
"Looks like it."
"Well, I found out something." Abby pointed to the crystal on her forehead. "This thing tried sapping my Elemental powers when I was fighting Pearl but I was giving out too much for it to sap everything away quick enough."
"Really?" Nigel looked interested now.
"So maybe we might have a way to remove them." Abby stood up. "They absorb our Aura and Elemental powers and use them protect themselves so we can't remove them. So what if we used all of our powers, too much for the crystals to absorb in time and too much for them to defend against."
Nigel considered the idea. "A bit of a long shot…" He then smirked. "But it's probably the only shot we've got."
"So should we do it right here?" Abby wondered.
"We should find the others. If we can get the crystals off we'll need to do the same for Ed and then find a way to save that Kevin kid." Nigel suggested. "Once we're all together we can work on getting out of here."
Abby nodded in agreement. "Right. So where are they?"
Xxx
"AWESOME!"
The place in the Special Zone where the Dragons were kept was indeed, for the lack of a better word, awesome. It was a mountain filled with caves, surrounded by tropical forests and near a giant lake where the dragons would find their food. It turned out that Dragons mostly ate fish but they would also eat vegetables and plants which were given to them by the feeders but others preferred to eat rocks or even metals. Inside the mountain was a massive cavern, humid with green tress and various plants stretching as far as the eye could see.
It was breathtaking.
It was amazing.
It was…
"WICKED COOL!" Ed watched as dragons flew above.
It was spectacular sight to the recent arrivals of the Special Zone, all of whom were spellbound by the sanctuary.
"So Dragons truly are real." Nigel whispered, watching the many dragons sleeping, flying, eating or even playing.
"It is a sight to behold, Nigel old bean." Monty patted his son on the back.
Feeders and other residents of the Special Zone were actually interacting with the Dragons, showing an actual bond between them.
"This is amazing, Dad." Nigel agreed. "And to think it's in a place where these people are all trapped."
"They don't see it that way." Monty pointed at a couple of children playing with a few dragon hatchlings. "They believe they have everything they need."
"Yeah, I guess…" Nigel trailed off.
"So, you have a plan to free yourselves and Ed." Monty decided to change the subject as everyone gathered under a large tree.
The Pearls were left at the entrance again, waiting for their charges.
"Yeah. It's a risk but we think we can do it. Abby and I can call on our Elemental powers which are basically unlimited magic, too much for even the crystals to absorb. We're hoping that it will either overload or maybe we can break through the shields these crystals use to protect themselves." Nigel explained.
"Hmm…" Monty hummed. "A bit of long shot."
"I said that too." Nigel nodded. "But-"
"The only shot you have?" Monty asked with a smile.
Nigel and Abby shared a look before looking back and nodding. "Pretty much."
"Then we'll try. We'll find a safe spot for you three to try and remove the crystals." Monty suggested.
"And then what?" Eddy asked.
"We work on getting out of here." Abby answered. "So Ed, you in?"
Everyone seemed to have realized that through the whole conversation, Ed was acting all quiet all of a sudden without a word, which was out of character for him.
"Ed." Nigel said with his arms crossed.
Ed only shook his head in response.
"Ed!" This time it was Eddy's turn only for Ed to continue shaking his head and hands held up as if he had nothing to hide... but still had his lips sealed tight.
"Goodness sake, give it some air, dear boy!" Monty persuaded him and had an obvious idea what he was hiding.
Giving up the charade and all Ed did was open his mouth, sticking his tongue out and there was a small dragon known as the Terrible Terror all soaked up and everyone was amazed the little fella didn't burn his mouth off to escape.
"He's in." Eddy groaned, rubbing his face.