Stubby fingers wrapped around the sharp ends of a sword, a face twisted in grief and despair, a gem ready to do what she must have done the moment she was born.

Amethyst didn't know why she went on, why did she hope. She would always be inadequate.

The want of her last sight to be the most beautiful gem she'd ever seen made her eyes trace her form.

She clenched her eyes shut, and rather unexpectedly, felt the sword get off her hold. 

Clink

The blades were thrown carelessly somewhere. The Pearl bent down to see her clearly.

An overwhelming amount of shyness overtook her, and she hid her face. Pearl softly kept her hands on her wrist, unshielding it. Their eyes met each other, and they tried to converse through them. Their gazes were so intense, it was as if they were boring into each others', searching for something. Something intangible...

Pearl cleared her throat awkwardly, presuming she must have scared the gem even more so now, and took a step back, and seated herself to get on the same level as her. Pearl couldn't resist herself from asking-

"Who are...you?"

Amethyst for the first time got some recognition, for the first time someone was interested in her

"I am...an Amet-ameth-am"

"An Amethyst?"

"A defective Amethyst..."she murmured.

Pearl had heard every word, but didn't know how to respond. Normally she would be skeptical of the gems that would invade their territory and attack her, but this one was different. This was was vulnerable, hurt, lost. She was ready to end her existence in the hands of an owner-less Pearl, out of all.

"Well, I didn't see the difference" Pearl said determinedly.

"Huh?" she was surpirsed.

"You certainly are smaller and shorter and a bit chubbier"

"That's exactly what a difference is!"

"I meant..." she cut off, in a hurry. Why did she want to console her?

"I meant that I didn't see any difference in your and their fighting styles. And I must say, it was rather smart how you managed to imbibe some of the ferocity of the natives here. It's always necessary to learn from one's surroundings, use the knowledge around them"

"Thank you..." she mumbled.

"Why did you stalk me?"

"Yes?" she said, shocked.

"You were watching me. Did you want to know our tactics?" she suddenly became defensive, remembering once again that she was talking to a Homeworld soldier.

"Actually, I wanted to see where the noise was coming from. I shapeshifted to a cat" she changed her form again, purring slightly and wrapping herself around her foot.

"Ah, well"

"What are you doing here?" Amethyst inquired.

"Practicing"

"No, I meant super near our Court. Shouldn't you be somewhere a bit, I don't know, far?"

"Hmph, those soldiers are no match for me!" she said proudly. Amethyst was enamoured

"Wow, it must be awesome, being the baddest Pearl!"

"Well, it does come with its side effects" she chuckled wistfully.

Amethyst innocently asked, "Like what?". She sat down closer to her, her eyes showing interest.

"Promise you won't tell it to Rose?"

"You mean that huge lady with the soft dress and soft hair? Of course not!"

"Wait, have you ever touched her?" she asked suddenly

"Yeah, once she came alone, and she took me for a while. I was very scared, but she was so~ soft" she said almost intoxicated

Pearl gave a soft giggle "Yes, that Rose"

"Okay, promise"

"So-wait, what's a promise"

"It means to vow"

"Oh, is it a human thing?"

"Maybe..."

"Anyways," she started, disinterested, then changing to a rather soft voice "the thing about being an owner-less Pearl is that I feel...lost. It feels nice, to be free and untied from the bonds of a servant, but we are programmed to be...under the control of someone. To be dependent on somebody"

"I was once in love with Rose..."

"You mean you wanted to kiss her or something?" she teased

"In not many words, yes. I wanted to be with her...forever. It felt so good."

"That's because you were dependent on her. You loved her because she gave you a road" she said intellectually.

"W-what?"

"I mean, you wanted to get dominated, and Rose is your leader. It's kinda obvious that you would go all mushy mushy with her"

"NO!" she shrieked "I mean...maybe..."

"Well, are you still in love with her?"

"I suppose not. Ever since the Rebellion started we were very invested in fighting. I presume my feelings died then"

"So, no?"

"Most probably"

"Good" Amethyst couldn't understand why she gave a sigh of relief and suddenly felt better.

"You're really mature" Pearl said in admiration

"Nah, I get like this only once in a millennia"

"Oh, then I guess this is a special occasion" she answered bashfully

"Of course, I mean- I came to capture you" she said absent-mindedly.

"You came to WHAT?" Pearl suddenly grew defensive again "I can't believe I let my shield down for you! You...."

"Okay, hear me out, please" she begged when Pearl's weapon was out halfway.

She waited for a few seconds with a suspicious gaze, and then with a defeated sigh pushed the spear back in

"You heard me before, I am not...good enough. I think I just wanted to prove that I am capable of something. So I thought if I caught you people would praise me and junk..." she trailed off.

"I see" she said, looking ahead. The sun had set, and paved its way for the stars. It was a beautiful sight.

"You can see Homeworld's galaxy from here" Pearl said.

"I've never been there"

"You haven't?"

"I've been to other places, but never Homeworld. I was about to, but our ship went off somewhere"

"That's unfortunate"

"Nah, I wouldn't be here with you otherwise" she said, a sudden splurge of confidence going through her.

Pearl, taken aback, had a bright blue blush on her face, but not very visible because of the dark. He tried to stutter something, but instead let her hand slide a bit closer to hers. 

Amethyst noticed it, but didn't want it to be all the more sudden. She slid hers closer too, and paused for a few seconds.

It was like a little game. Their hands glided over the soil, and they were reserved in their actions. There was an air of virginity, an innocence, a shyness. Soon they were at a position where their little fingers were at a reachable distance. Those two digits touched, and almost intertwined. They shared a small smile, and Amethyst whispered "Thank you" Pearl muttered those same words back, with the same amount of passion, when a Quartz cry broke through the air.

The moment was broken in an instant, both gems becoming suddenly more aware of their situation. They shot up, and took out their weapons. 

"AMETHYST 8XM!" came a harsh cry from afar. All the colour drained from her face "You come here this instant if you don't want any more of what I'm already about to give you" 

Amethyst pushed Pearl away, whispering urgently "You have to get out of here. I'm not gonna bail you out, but please get away!"

"What is she going to do to you" she kept her hand on Amethyst's cheek, saying more urgently so.

"Maybe hit me, but you're gonna get it worse. They'll shatter you"

"But you're-"

"I'll be fine!" she pushed her even further away "I'm used to it"

"That's horrible!"

"What can you do about it, huh?"  she challeneged.

"I...um..."

"You're right! You can't! You can't go back in time and make me come out all perfectly polished. Let me at least save your life"

Pearl appeared as if she was deep in thought. She cried,

"Give me your whip!"

"What?"

"Just let me do this for you. Give me your whip" she said sternly. Amethyst was already in a rush, and moreover thought she would use it to maneuver herself to safety, so she gave it.

"8XM!!!" the voice was very, very close now. It was rumbling angrily. Amethyst turned around, and just that second she appeared from within the shrubs. The whip she had was sparkling electricity dangerously.

"Why on Earth are you out when you have to prepare fighting? Why can't you learn how to respect the Diamond you kept your sorry gem in her care? I dont kno- Is that the Pearl?"

Amethyst was horrified. She shook her hands desperately.

"It's not what you think, well, maybe it is but-"

"You, a defective mistake from the Kindergarten, managed to capture our worst enemy?" Agate said, aghast.

"Please I'll- wait, what?" she turned around to see Pearl, wrapped up in her previously given whip. She looked as if she was trying to get out

"I'll never come in the hands of you!" she wailed, though it didn't sound genuine at all.

"I must say Amethyst, I am impressed" she didn't come off of her previous shock, but still cheered joyfully, "You will be awarded handsomely for this! Please proceed with me. Finally after all these decades..." she started ranting on how these 'Crystal Gems' were a pain in her butt.

Amethyst waited for her to go out of earshot, and then harshly and lowly spoke "Pearl why'd you do that? Are you out of your damn mind?"

"I did it for-" she started with a promising smile, but Holly Blue suddenly turned around. They froze on their spots.

'This is it....' Amethyst thought, 'we're doomed'

The Agate however seemed too invested in the victory to even suspect anything"Don't worry Amethyst, I'm sure the Diamonds and their Zircons would be very thorough in their interrogation"

It was pure irony. All those times, she wanted this. She wanted to hold someone like her hostage, to render someone like her helpless. To be given all the praise Holly Blue is droning on she would get from everyone there.

Now, she feels miserable. Like she hadn't won, but lost. Lost something important, something vital. Like she had taken the life out of something.

And looking at Pearl- the beautiful, wonderful, amazing, kindhearted Pearl who had befriended her pathetic form so easily-and everything she might be subjected to, it made her want to disappear into her hole forever.