Chapter Text
Morganite was a high ranked gem with an important job. Her job was to create Palanquins for the Diamonds. And a crucial gem needs guards to protect her. Morganite had a Ruby and a Pearl. Their job was to project and serve her every need.
Pearl was anxious, and always worried about something. She was pink, and her gem was located on her chest.
Ruby was impulsive and reckless. She, like every Ruby, was short, stubby, and red. Her gem was located on her stomach.
Today was special. Pearl needed to make sure everything was perfect, and most importantly she needed to keep Ruby in check. Ruby wasn’t worried, if today went bad there was no way her and Pearl would get blamed for it, right?
Pearl was carrying all of Morganite’s notebooks and ideas. Today they were going to be presented to the Diamonds. She was to bring them to Morganite at once. Pearl was holding a lot, and had almost dropped a few, but this was her job. Ruby on the other hand wasn’t carrying anything. She would never offer to help, and Pearl couldn’t just ask for help. This wasn’t Ruby’s job. It was Pearl’s.
Pearl had a thought. What if the notebooks weren’t properly organized. She had spent hours making sure everything was organized and ready for today. But, what if she had messed up. What if-
Pearl didn’t have time to finish that thought before she walked face first into a wall, causing her to fall and drop the notebooks.
“No, no, no, no, no.” Pearl cried.
“Hey, it’s alright.” Ruby said.
Except it wasn’t. The only reason they weren’t in trouble was because they were alone in an empty hallway. With no one around to see their failure.
“No, it’s not alright. Everything is supposed to be perfect. I’m supposed to be perfect.” Pearl said, sharply. “Maybe if you would have helped me this wouldn’t have happened. How hard is it to offer to carry some notebooks or tell me when I'm about to walk face first into a wall.” She yelled.
Ruby was too shocked to speak.
“I’m sorry.” She muttered.
Pearl didn’t respond. She started to gather all the notebooks.
After a moment of standing there awkwardly, Ruby started to help Pearl.
“Done.” Ruby said excitedly, after she had finished stacking notebooks.
Pearl looked over at Ruby. She wanted to scold her for messing up yet again, but instead she softened her voice. “No, No, No. You’re doing it all wrong,” She said before going on a rant about how they needed to be organized properly. She explained the correct order that they must be organized in.
“Do you get it now?” Pearl asked, but she knew she was asking too much from a Ruby. Of course she didn’t get it. It wasn’t her job to.
“Huh?” Ruby asked. “Oh sorry, I wasn't listening.” She admitted.
Pearl groaned.
“I’m sorry my Pearl. I will try to listen better. I was just distracted,” Ruby said.
“What could you have possibly been distracted by?” Pearl asked, irritated, but also confused.
Ruby looked flustered, and like she didn’t expect to be asked that. She mumbled something so quiet that Pearl couldn’t hear.
“Can you please speak up,” Pearl said, “I didn’t hear you.”
“I said you. I was distracted by you.” Ruby blurted out.
Pearl looked at her, confused. “I don’t understand what you mean,” She said.
“You are the most beautiful Pearl I’ve ever seen.” Ruby said.
Pearl blushed then looked around to make sure they were alone. “You can’t just say stuff like that. What if you are overheard?” She said.
It was just then that they heard footsteps.
Pearl and Ruby froze. No one could see them like this, Pearl on the floor gathering notebooks, with her face as red as a Ruby’s. If she were found, she would be rejuvenated or worse, shattered.
“Ruby! Pearl!” They heard Morganite call.
Suddenly Ruby grabbed Pearl’s hand. “Pearl, quick, follow me.” she said, but without waiting for a response, she dragged Pearl to another room.
Pearl tripped, and fell on top of Ruby, causing their forms to change until Pearl and Ruby were fused as one. This new gem felt like both Pearl and Ruby, but at the same time she was someone completely different. Gems weren’t allowed to fuse like this. Ruby’s could fuse with other Ruby’s, but they weren’t supposed to fuse with Pearls. And a Pearl wasn't supposed to fuse ever.
The new gem stood up, and looked around the room. It was a small office and was completely empty except for her. She saw a desk covered with files and junk that would have made Pearl’s skin crawl by how unorganized it was. On the desk, partially covered by papers was an old looking compact mirror. The gem walked over to the desk and picked up the compact mirror. She was dark pink, she had dark hair, four eyes, two arms, and was really tall.
A sudden thought occurred to her. She didn’t have a name. She wasn’t Pearl or Ruby, but her own person. She thought about it, and decided on the name Rhodonite.
“Rhodonite.” She whispered to the quiet room, seeing how the name feels when said aloud. Out of nowhere Rhodonite started to laugh uncontrollably. The situation she was in was so scary that it was almost funny. “Stop, Stop.” she said to herself, but it only made her laugh harder. “Ruby, take this seriously,” She said. “Sorry, my Pearl,” she wheezed.
That’s when she heard Morganite’s voice get louder, “Pearl and Ruby, I know you are here, show yourselves,” she called.
Rhodonite stopped laughing, and walked towards the door of the office, trying to see Morganite through the cracks in the door. She was able to see her walk away. And Rhodonite, deciding that it was safe, left the office. She ran, not sure where she was going. That’s when she bumped into someone, causing her to unfuse.
Pearl and Ruby looked up at the gem they just bumped into, and with horror saw that it was Morganite.
“A pearl and a Ruby fusing? No this can't be happening.” Morganite said before rejuvenating both of them.