Chapter Text
Pearl walked down the street quickly, glancing at the other gems that walked in the opposite direction of her. She had been out on a errand for Her Diamond, one of the few times she was allowed outside White Diamond’s care. It was always nerve-wracking for her to be outside Her Diamond’s comfortingly strong presence, the feeling of security Her Diamond gave her. Out here in the open it was common for Pearls to be stolen, since they were worth so much to their owners. Even the knowledge that no other would ever steal White Diamond’s Pearl and test her wrath gave little comfort.
She knew the way from White Diamond’s Palace to the place she needed to go like the back of her hand, but she couldn’t help but stray a few times while walking. Organic life on Homeworld was so rare, she couldn’t help but stop and admire the things in the windows called “flowers.” They apparently came from planets they were colonizing while they till had life on them; there was also a rumour that the high ranking general Rose Quartz had an entire garden filled in her home and she would take some back from the planets she conquered. And there were other things like “trees” and “animals” on those planets, but flowers had always fascinated her the most. How did they get so much color into the living petals of an organism? All the gems that were made had color injected into the stone, or at least, that’s how it was for Pearls most of the time. Some were the rare cases of actual colored pearls, and they never looked as frilly or doll-like as other pearls. They were called Natural Pearls, and they looked like regular gems.
Or at least, that what she’d been told.
The only other Pearls Pearl had ever seen were the ones belonging to the other Diamonds, like the Blue and Yellow Pearls. They were okay people, but they weren’t Natural Pearls. Yellow Pearl tended to act snobbishly, and during the rare occasions Blue Pearl spoke, she would whisper so quietly Pearl would have to lean in to hear her. Pink Diamond’s Pearl, well... Pink Diamond didn’t bring her Pearl to visit often. Apparently, she liked to stay home, and the few moments she did come she was hiding behind Pink Diamond. So Pearl never really got to meet her.
Pearl had always wondered what it would be like to meet a Natural Pearl. Would they act the same as other Pearls, or would they be more rebellious and independent? Are they kind Pearls, or snobby like Yellow Pearls? She had so many questions pent up in her head, but she knew the likelihood of meeting a Natural Pearl was slim to none.
She didn’t realize she’d stayed staring at the flowers in the window so long that it had been twenty minutes passed. If she was late, she knew White Diamond would punish her somehow. Quickly, she started walking again, this time at a faster pace. The nervousness from before was definitely overshadowed at the fear of being late for Her Diamond, so she paid no heed to any of the other gems on the street.’
That is... until a gray figure walked into her path and she slammed right into them.
Pearl fell to the ground from the impact, but the irritated, large Smoky Quartz in front of her barely budged. Her eyes were pinned on the tall and intimidating gem, fear coursing through her. Would the soldier hurt her? “Oh dear!” she heard another voice say from the side as they knelt near her. “Are you alright?”
Slowly Pearl peeled her eyes away from the Smoky Quartz and to the other gem kneeling by her. Her face was shaped exactly like Pearl’s, except she wasn’t as brightly colored or frilly as our own Pearl was. Her hair was braided down the side and dull golden, only a few shades darker than her skin tone. Her dress wasn’t as shear nor revealing as the other Pearls; it was just a simple cocktail dress with a full skirt. And when she saw the dulled, soft golden gem embedded in her wrist, Pearl gasped softly in realization at what kind of Pearl she was.
She was a Natural Pearl.
The Natural Pearl held out her hand to Pearl with an apologizing smile, and Pearl tentatively took it and let her help her up. “I’d like to apologize on the behalf of Blai- Smoky Quartz,” she corrected herself quickly, and Pearl had to wonder what she was actually going to call the soldier gem. Pearl looked over to the white-haired gem, who only grunted a little in response. Pearl shriveled back and looked again at the Natural Pearl. “I’m Champagne Pearl, and you are...?”
“W-White Diamond’s Pearl..” Pearl whispered. This was the first time she’d ever talked to someone outside the Diamond Authority and their associates. Champagne’s eyes widened, and Pearl noticed even Smoky Quartz tensed silently.
“Wow... White Diamond’s Pearl. I never thought I’d meet a Pearl of the Diamond Authority!” Champagne said, her eyes lighting up. Pearl’s spirit lifted at seeing the friendly expression, and her lips curled up in the ghost of a grin. A blue blush was crawling up her cheeks.
“Well, I-I never thought I’d m-meet a Natural P-Pearl!” She replied, and Champagne’s cheeks flushed dark orange as she let out an embarrassed giggle.
“Now that I think about it... I think I’ve seen you before,” Champagne said, squinting as if trying to remember something, “Wait, that’s right! You were accompanying White Diamond at one of our performances, weren’t you?”
Pearl did remember going to the theatre to see a performance with Her Diamond a little while ago, but she couldn’t remember what she’d gone to see. “I do remember going to a performance last week...”
“Yes, that’s the one!” Champagne exclaimed, her eyes shining like stars, “I was one of the performers! You went to see Charoite and the Rainbow Pearls!”
When Champagne mentioned that name, the memory hit Pearl instantly. It was performance of a famous songstress gem Charoite and the four Pearl dancers that would perform with her, each one a different color. Charoite’s voice was incredible, but if a gem was as rare as she was, one would have to have an incredible talent. White Diamond had even talked about requesting a private performance from them for the entire Diamond Authority. Then she remember one of the performers in the back, with the same dull golden hair as Champagne...
“But wait, you were wearing such a frilly outfit then! You looked like a Yellow or Peach Pearl!” she said.
She laughed. “I have to modify my dress for all performances. Most gems prefer to see all the bright and frilly Pearls instead of duller ones like me. Nobody besides you and the rest of the performers knows that I’m one of Charoite's Pearls and a Natural Pearl.” Champagne winked at her, hinting at their own little secret.
Suddenly, Smoky Quartz put her hand on Champagne’s shoulder. “Sierra,” - Pearl noticed the strange name she gave Champagne and wondered why she called her that- “I believe we’ve held up this Pearl for long enough. It’s time for her to return to her Diamond.”
The cold fear crept up on her again. If she wasn’t late before, she definitely would be late now. Pearl looked over to the Natural Pearl and guessed her expression mirrored Champagne’s. Even as a performer instead of a servant, she knew what would happen to Pearls if they disobeyed their masters.
“You need to go, like, now--” Champagne said as she grabbed Pearl’s hand and started walking. She pointed down an alley and shoved Pearl in. “There’s a shortcut to the palace if you take two rights then a left. Go quickly! And I hope to see you again someday!”
Pearl waved to Champagne before she ran down the dark path. She took the exact directions the Natural Pearl gave her and found herself outside a door with the Diamond Symbol on it. Relief flooded through her as she pushed open the door and found herself inside one of the sitting rooms, and she recognized it as the one closest to the Throne Room. Luck was definitely on her side today.
As she entered the Throne Room, she was only slightly nervous when she saw White Diamond. She was reading a document sent from Yellow Diamond about the most recent gem colony and the Kindergartens. “Earth,” she believed it was called.
“I have arrived, My Diamond,” Pearl said as she made the sign of the Diamond. White Diamond glanced at her and gave her a small smile. “Here are the log files you requested.”
“Thank you, Pearl,” White Diamond said as she took the portscreens from Pearl’s hands, “Did you enjoy your time out?”
“Oh yes,” she replied as she took her place next to her Diamond, “I met another Pearl while walking back. She was one of the performers for Charoite!”
“Really?” White Diamond said as she looked through the portscreens. “Did you mention anything about that private performance I was speaking about?”
“No, but if I see her again, I will ask her.”
White Diamond set the portscreens down on the arm of her throne. “Thank you again, Pearl. You may leave now.”
Pearl’s spirits sunk a little, but it couldn’t overwhelm the joy of meeting Champagne Pearl. A real Natural Pearl! And part of a famous group, at that! As she was walking down the hallway to her own quarters, she tried really hard not to smile too brightly when walking past any of the other gems. But the light in her eyes refused to disappear.
She knew she would see Champagne again.