Chapter Text
~ Pearl ~
She woke ready and for once without a sick feeling in her stomach. They had a plan and it didn't involve hurting Gem in any way. She wouldn't even notice the difference and then Pearl would leave and in a few days Gem would be free of the corruption!
It was flawless and Pearl only had to do a small amount of lying and betraying towards Gem. But to be fair Gem had done her fair share of that already so Pearl figured they'd be fine once Gem was back to normal.
She met up with Scott who went over the plan again over breakfast. He gave her the potion after lunch and she stashed it away in her jacket. Scott had given her the jacket for security and easy concealment of the potion.
Pearl was filled with nerves for when the time came, there was so many things that could go wrong with the plan. What if Gem didn't get them drinks or Gem didn't drink hers or Gem found the potion.
Scott sat down next to her with a concerned look on his face. "Listen if things go wrong, we have a backup plan" he reassured her. Pearl frowned, she had not been made aware of this 'backup plan'.
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it though, which I have a good feeling we won't" he told her. Peal realised the backup plan would involve either hurting or capturing Gem. That was probably why she hadn't been told.
She didn't mind though, she understood why they wouldn't tell her and it wouldn't even matter because the first plan would work. Speaking of, it was almost time. She looked to Scott for confirmation before they headed off towards the front door.
She glanced at the clock on the way their, most 4 o' clock. She would get to Gem's just on time at this rate. Scott gave her plenty of rockets just in case of an emergency and wished her luck before she set off.
Oh how she had missed this. She hadn't flew since she'd got to Rivendell, she'd forgotten how freeing it was. The wind whistling in her ear and the peace she felt just gliding. Soon enough the crystal cliffs came into view after about 15 minutes. Pearl spotted Gem's main tower and aimed for that.
~ Gem ~
Gem had been waiting, restlessly for Pearl to arrive. She had suspected Pearl would arrive in the evening and she was right. The clock had just hit quarter past 4 when Pearl knocked on Gem's door.
Gem took a deep breath and remembered to act surprised at Pearl showing up. She strode to the door and put on an unamused face. She opened it and allowed for a second or two or realisation before frowning.
"Why are you here?" Gem asked, adding as much suspicion in her voice as she dared. Pearl shrugged and made a move go come in. Gem let her, eyes trained on her as she walked over and sat at Gem's desk.
She looked at the papers, studying them as if they were the most interesting thing in the world. Gem put her hands in her cloak and leaned against the door. "If you're looking for my plans, you won't find them" Gem taunted. "I keep those bad boys all up here" she gestured at her head.
Pearl scoffed. "I'm not here for those" she sighed. Gem opened her mouth but before she could speak Pearl continued. "And I'm not here on a mission or anyth-"
"Then why are you here?" Gem interrupted, she was beginning to get impatient. How was Pearl going to play this? Pearl stood up and walked over to her, slowly.
"For you" she pointed at Gem. "I miss you, is that not allowed?" Pearl implored. Gem narrowed her eyes. This was interesting. She shrugged and went to sit at the end of her bed. Pearl followed and sat next to her.
"I get your sceptical, but I have no clue what they're planning" Pearl insisted. "I didn't even go to the meeting they had, I was too sick" she added. Liar. Pearl shuffled closer to her, unaware of how much Gem actually knew.
Gem noticed the crystal, around her neck and hid a smile. "Well, glad to see you're all better now" Gem quipped. Pearl swallowed and smiled un easily. Gem pretended not to notice. They sat in silence for a bit, Pearl leaning on Gem's shoulder.
After a while Pearl turned to face Gem. "I have missed you, you know" Pearl whispered in her ear. Gem could tell she wasn't lying. Her heart fluttered, slightly. It was sweet that Pearl had missed her.
"I know" Gem met her eyes, not sure of what else to say. "I-im sorry that... we're on different sides" Gem mumbled. Pearl sat up with a new look in her eye, curiosity.
"What makes you think that?" Pearl objected. Gem frowned and waited for her to elaborate. She didn't.
"W-what do you mean?" Gem stuttered. She was never usually nervous around anybody, she didn't like the feeling. Pearl tilted her head and grinned, faintly.
"Why do you think we're not on the same side?" Pearl uttered and leant closer, observing Gem's movements. Gem blinked, her brain malfunctioning at how close Pearl was. For once, she was speechless. Pearl noticed and chuckled, quietly.
"Would you like a drink?" Gem's voice was quiet and taut. Pearl nodded, and let Gem get up. Gem tried to control her breathing as she left the room. Pearl really did like to mess with her head. Had Pearl really meant it? If so, that meant the necklace had worked and she was no longer alone!
But if she was just faking it... Gem's heart sunk, slightly. She had severely underestimated Pearl and she was paying the price. If Pearl was on her side, then she wouldn't add the potion and there would be no need to swap their drinks.
Just in case however Gem would swap them anyway. With their plan, Pearl wouldn't know they had been swapped and then Gem could pretend to be 'better'. Gem decided on making hot chocolate, in identical mugs.
~ Pearl ~
Whilst Gem was getting the drinks, Pearl readied herself, she slipped the vial into her sleeve. She took some deep breaths to ready herself for when Gem came back. Whether Gem was buying her performance she had no clue but she definitely had noticed how nervous Gem had been.
She wondered if that was fake too, maybe Gem was playing her just like Pearl was trying to play Gem. She couldn't know about the plan could she? Scott had assured her, no one else knew about it. She was just over thinking it again.
The door opened and Gem walked in, carrying two steaming mugs. She rested them on a table near Pearl. "Hot chocolate" Pearl observed.
"It won't be as sweet as you make it but..." Gem smiled at her. Pearl couldn't help but think the old Gem was back. "I'll go get some coasters" she hummed, contenly as she walked to the desk and rummaged. Pearls heart leapt, the perfect opportunity.
She uncorked the vial and poured it into the drinks. She hid the vial back in her pocket and rested her hands on the bed behind her. Gem turned back to her and walked over, holding two coasters in her hands. She eyed the drinks and popped the coasters down.
Gem moved the table so it was between them as they sat on the bed. Pearl's head raced to find something to say but Gem beat her to it. "You like my bedroom?" Gem asked as she glanced around. Pearl's eyes drifted up, towards her ceiling.
The stars and crystals that had once lined it had been replaced with red vines and small moon shaped lights. The aesthetic was cute but it reminded Pearl of all the corruption that had once spread across every empire's land.
Now it remained within the crystal cliffs, but it made Pearl uneasy, being this close to it again. "Well?" Gem questioned. Pearl dragged her eyes back to Gem's.
"It's red" Pearl hesitated to add more under Gem's expectant glare. Gem let out a low laugh.
"It is" Gem agreed with her. She reached forwards and grabbed the mug furthest away from Pearl. The mug was slightly askew from where Pearl had left it but Pearl didn't think much of it. She grabbed her mug and sipped it.
It wasn't the worst thing she'd had but it wasn't the nicest. Still, she drank a bit more. She didn't want to offend Gem. She popped the mug back down, ignoring Gem staring at her. Maybe she had tasted the potion, Catherine had said it was tasteless. Maybe she had got it wrong.
"It's not the best thing I've made" Gem chuckled. Pearl objected, politely but it was obvious she agreed. Gem ran a tongue across her teeth. "What did you mean earlier?" Gem said it slowly, sounding out each word as if it was poison.
Pearl's face heated, she had been quite... bold earlier. All that confidence was gone now though, it was replaced with a calm, peaceful sort of feeling. She shrugged and drank some more. Gem watched her carefully as she drank.
After she put the mug down she decided to ask a question of her own. "Why don't u believe me when I say I'm not working with them?" Pearl ventured. Gem, still watching her, thought about it for a second.
"Why else would you be here?" Gem sighed. The words should have stung but Pearl didn't fully register them. Pearl could see Gem frowning and looking at her, out of the corner of her eye. She appeared to be saying something too but Pearl couldn't hear anything.
Her eyes were becoming incredibly heavy and hard to keep open. She could barely suppress a yawn. She felt, distantly, a hand on her shoulder. Even after they stopped shaking her, the room still spun. The lights were becoming dim and her breathing was slowing.
She lost control of her limbs and barely noticed when the world started tilting backwards and then it went black.
~ Scott ~
He was beginning to feel bad for following Pearl. He should have trusted her to do it. It wasn't that he didn't trust Pearl, it was more that he didn't trust Gem. She was good at manipulation. He was about to head back when he heard something that made him pause.
Gem was calling Pearl's name, over and over again. He frowned, what had happened? He decided to investigate, he flew up to the window and rested on the ledge, peaking inside. He saw Gem kneeling over Pearl's limp body.
Silent as a mouse, he crawled inside. He observed Gem's movements, ready if she made a move to harm Pearl. But she appeared to be just as confused as he was. The floor creaked and she whirled around, already leaping at him.
In a blink she was on him, he fell to the floor and she pinned him down. "Did she know? " Gem breathed. Scott frowned, trying to catch his breath. "Did she know?" Gem repeated. Scott attempted to move but Gem was strong.
"Know what?" He asked through gritted teeth. Gem bared her teeth at him before letting go of his arms. He sat up shaking, watching as she stalked over to the mugs.
"That it wasn't just the anti-corruption potion in that vial" she challenged. Scott realised what had happened. "You set her up" she insisted. She walked back over to him. He tried not to show his fear as she towered over him. He made a move to get up but she kicked him back down.
"What was your plan when she realised you'd lied to her?" Gem demanded. Scott backed up against the wall, desperate to get away from Gem. He hadn't realized she cared so much.
"She would've understand, you're corrupted, Gem" he sputtered. She laughed at him. The sound itself shook Scott to the bone.
"You say that like it's a bad thing" she reprimanded.
"It is" he stressed. "You have hurt people and will continue to do so until someone stops you".
"I'm not the only one who's hurt people here" she countered, reaching for the peice of her hair that was still slightly tainted white. Scott flinched, guilt creeping in.
"That was a mistake" he protested. Gem knelt down, face to face with Scott now.
"And look what it caused" she whispered. Scott swallowed, uneasily. He forgot how intimidating Gem had been. He had always tried to stay on her good side, even when he had hurt her, she hadn't been this angry.
When he didn't reply she shook her head and straightened, turning around. "Get out" she told him. Scott faltered at the change in her voice, she sounded almost scared. She refused to turn around. Scott decided to take advantage of her being distracted.
He swung his legs, knocking her to the ground. He got up quickly, readying himself incase she fought back. She turned onto her back, leaning on her elbows. She watched him intensely.
"You don't want to fight" she hissed. Scott peered down at her, wondering why she hadn't gotten up yet.
"You're right, I don't" he admitted. He glanced back at her. "But I can't let you go" he continued. She chuckled, dryly.
"Take Pearl and leave" she meant it as a threat but to Scott it sounded like she was desperate to get rid of him. Scott frowned, why did she want him gone?
"I'm not going to leave you" he objected. She tilted her head away from him. Her eyelids flickered.
"It won't be much of a fight, then" she muttered. He narrowed his eyes, she sounded... tired.
"Pearl's too clever for her own good" she sighed. Scott glanced back at Pearl, still asleep on Gem's bed.
"What do you-" he trailed off as he realised what had happened. Pearl had added the potion to both, just in case Gem swapped the drinks or chose the wrong one. Gem hadn't drank much of hers but the potion Catherine had used was pretty strong.
"Pearl, you genius" he snickered. Gem mumbled something incoherent before she finally fell asleep. Scott couldn't help but smile at his good luck. He sent for back up whilst he secured Gem, making sure even if she woke up suddenly, she couldn't escape.