A/N: This is a Steven Universe short story and is told from Pearl's perspective.

______________________________________

We had been training and preparing for years, each day getting harder and harder. But it would all be worth it in the end. I used to wonder about this planet, what she saw in it. But all the thoughts came to an end when I saw the look in her eyes, how they lit up when she saw the wonders of the Earth. Even though she was one of the four monarchs to our planet, to our government, she was always unhappy there.

Her status meant nothing to the other three. All they cared about was making sure their empire was perfect. White never listened to a word she said, Yellow listened but frowned upon anything she did that was against her ideals, Blue seemed to be the only one that cared but even she wouldn't help when the time came.

When finally given a chance to prove herself to the others, she saw that there was more to the planet given to her than what they saw of it. She wanted to save the Earth but they didn't listen, and they didn't care. So she decided that she want going to take the abuse any longer, she needed to protect the planet given to her.

So, her along with me and a few others fled to the Earth and made base there, becoming criminals to our Homeworld and there we stayed for over 5,000 years. Over those 5,000 years, I learned so many things I wouldn't have known if I didn't go with her. I learned how to fight, how to be myself, and finally, how to protect the one I loved, even if I had to lay my life on the line.

Everyone trained for the day we would fight to protect the Earth but I trained to fight for her. Many questioned why I went to such extreme lengths for her any time we were attacked but they wouldn't understand. No one had what we had.

Yes, once I used to be her servant but now I fight alongside her. Everything I ever did, I did for her and I wasn't going to stop then, I knew what I had to do in that war. But no one was prepared for the thousands of gems Homeworld brought on that dark afternoon.

For a while, we thought we were winning. I ended up getting separated from her in the battlefield. Little by little, our friends were going down, their gems were prevailing. As I watched my friends around me fall, I began to make my way across the battlefield, searching for her.

I had nothing but my sword and the promises that were made. How she promised that when we won, it would just be me and her, nothing would come between us. As I ran, I saw her barely standing as she fought.

My eyes went wide as I saw a much larger gem coming up. She was barely able to take down the first one, falling to her knees as the other one began to come up. I watched her with shaking knees stand up, her sword and shield in hand.

“Rose!” I screamed out but she didn't so much as glance at me. That alone was just one of the many marks that made her a great leader, knowing how to block out everything else around you when in battle.

Determination filled me as I gripped my sword, charging at the gem who threatened my future; who threatened her. I knew I wasn't made to fight, I knew that I stood no chance, but I also knew that with her in my thoughts, I could do anything. In one swift motion, I breathed out the phrase that would get me through the wars and battles to come as I moved in front of her.

“I do it for her.”