Chapter Text
Steven let out a cry and started. Garnet managed to get ahold of him before he flung himself off the cliff.
"Garnet, she's hurt! Let me-let me bubble myself! Yeah, I can bounce down there without getting hurt!" Tears pricked his eyes and Garnet wiped them away.
"Steven, let me handle it. We can't risk you injuring yourself as well," Garnet said.
Steven nodded and sniffed. Amethyst placed a hand on his shoulder and he looked over at her. Amethyst had a hand over her mouth, still looking at the chilling scene below.
Garnet turned toward the open water, bent her knees, and leapt off the cliff.
Steven buried his face in his hands with a shaky sob and Amethyst wrapped her arms around him
"She's gonna be alright. Pearls a tough nut," Amethyst croaked.
Steven knew that no matter what, he could heal her, but it felt like a rock had laid itself in his stomach. Or maybe the huge gem that had come from the lizard.
With a loud thud, Garnet reappeared with a groggy looking Pearl in her arms. Steven gasped and rushed over to them.
"Pearl!," he cried out,"You're ok-"
Whatever happened to him, it all happened in the blink of an eye, and everything went black.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pearl groaned and tried to sit up. It didn't work out to well when the world spin around her like a merry go round, so she laid back down.
Pearl quickly assessed her injuries. She felt some cracked ribs, a broken wrist, and the worst of all, a chipped gem.
Pearl felt herself starting to hyperventilate. A chip. As in a part of her gem was gone. Even Rose had a hard time with those injuries, that's how most gems died in the war.
She clutched her chest, but winced. Pain shot through her body and she stifled a sob.
Pearl squawked when something heavy landed beside her on the rocks. She moved away from it as quickly as her body would allow.
"Don't touch me!" she wheezed,"I'm injured and you've already hit me when my back was turned you horrid-"
"Pearl," said Garnet in her thick accent.
Pearl relaxed, that is, until she started to break down. Her eyes watered and her whole body shook.
"G-Garnet my gem is chipped! I-I can't-"
Pearl felt strong but gentle arms lift her off the rocks. She whined at the pain coursing through her body. Anxiety flared up in her chest, constricting her words and unnecessary breathing, and she felt herself slipping.
"Garnet I don't think I can hold on for much longer I can't th-th-th-th- think straight anymore," after she finished glitching, she began to twitch violently.
Garnet frowned,"Pearl, Pearl. You've got to calm down, it only makes your state of mind worse."
Pearl needed to flee. Her whole physical form shook. Her eyes felt buggy, and they rolled in her head.
Pearl stilled her fingers by clutching her head. No no no. This can't be happening! She tried to call out, only managing a squawk in her jittery state.
Strong arms surrounded her and she gasped for air. Although she didn't need it, the crispness of it helped to alleviate her pain.
The last thing she could completely comprehend was that Garnet had attempted to hold her tightly, but Pearl shook her head briskly, making incomprehensible hand motions and pushing herself away from Garnet.
Pearl glitched violently and sobbed, even though it sounded more like retching.
It was bad. Her anxiety always got bad when her gem cracked, but never like this before.
Then, she snapped. Her form stilled, and she narrowed her eyes.
"Garnet, I'm fine. Let me go." She pushed against Garnets chest.
"Pearl, stop speaking nonsense,"Garnet wearily took out her gauntlets to better restrain Pearl,"Your gem-"
"It's fine it's fine! Just, just let me go!" She yelled and pushed against Garnet roughly.
Garnet ignored what she considered weak shoves and got a running start before jumping to the top of the cliffs.
Pearl wriggled in her grasp, whining and squawking.
Before Garnet could stop him, Steven rushed over with a delighted, but worried, face. He reached for Pearl and in a split second-
The cracking noise rang out across the clearing and Steven was, thankfully, bubbled and breathing heavily.
Garnet became furious, and Amethyst gasped, taking out her whips.
Pearl had punched Steven.