There was silence. The room waited with bated breath for White Diamond's verdict.

Pink Pearl stood nervously in the center of the room. It wasn't her fault Pink Diamond was shattered. She was scared. Would the diamonds believe a puny pearl?

"Innocent," White Diamond called.

Pearl let out a sigh of relief.

"Now Pearl, you may leave. You are now to serve the morganite outside," White demanded.

Pearl nodded and hurried out of the room to see a gem waiting impatiently for her.

"You must be my new pearl," she said. Her voice was high pitched, yet agressive.

Pearl nodded.

Next to the morganite stood a ruby guard. She was so small, her head barely reached the waistline of Morganite's pink skirt. Her gem was on her naval.

Their eyes met and Pearl looked away blushing. Damn, she's cute... Pearl thought.

"Come pearl," she demanded, and the two gems followed behind her, avoiding each other's eyes.

*   *   *

Pearl placed a destabilizer in its hold.

Morganite had tasked her with cleaning and organising the weaponry of her private army.

The doors hissed open and Pearl turned in time to see a small figure slip into the room before the door shut.

"W-who's there?" Pearl called out tentatively.

A small square head popped up from behind a shelf. It was Morganite's ruby.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" She appologised, standing up to her full height and walking over to stand near Pearl. "I didn't know that you were here."

Her voice was sweet and whispery. Pearl felt her face flush and attempted to hide the pink blush spreading across her face.

"I-it's ok. I was just cleaning the weapons," Pearl stammered.

"Oh! I can help you! I don't have anything to do now, so it's no trouble." Ruby offered.

"You would do that?!" Pearl looked at Ruby excitedly and she nodded.

Pearl let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you so much!"

The two then sat down and began polishing.

"So what do you think about Morganite?" Ruby asked.

Pearl paused.

"Can I be totally honest with you?" She asked tentatively.

"Of course," Ruby replied.

"And you promise not to tell anyone? Especially Morganite?" Pearl lowered her voice.

Ruby gave her an encouraging nod. Pearl took a deep breath and lowered her voice even more.

"I hate her. She's so cruel. She keeps yelling at me because I'm not opening the doors fast enough! That's ridiculous!" She let out an exasperated sigh.

"Yeah, she is really mean," Ruby agreed. She then stood up and began to imitate Morganite. "Rubies, do this! Rubies, do that! Rubies, move faster! Out of my way, I'm a pretentious, arrogant prick who thinks I'm better that everyone! Pearl open that door faster than possible by gemkind!"

Pearl laughed. Ruby joined in.

"That was pretty accurate," Pearl praised.

"I've been practicing." Ruby sat down smiling.

The two sat in silence staring at each other.

Suddenly, the door slid open interrupting the moment.

"There you are 2XN! What are you doing here? You should be with the other rubies, not disturbing my pearl's work!" Morganite yelled.

Ruby jumped to her feet and made a diamond shaped gesture with her hands.

"I apologize, your clarity," she replied in a scared tone before exiting the room.

"As for you, Pearl,"

Pearl winced, prepareing herself for the inevitable scolding.

"Hurry it up! You're much to slow! How did Pink put up with you for so long?"

Morganite huffed to herself and left the room, leaving Pearl shaking alone in the dark.

"Why did I have to end up with her?" Pearl whispered to herself.