Annoyance flashed within Pearl's mind. Lizzie looked up from her plate and stared at Pearl inquisitively. 

"You good?" the axolotl hybrid asked, her blue gaze shimmering.

"Yeah," Pearl lied. She didn't want to worry her friend with the bad thoughts clouding her brain.

"Of course," Gem muttered sarcastically. "Everything's fine." She frowned and then, in a softer, kinder voice, she added, "We know you're not okay, Pearlescent."

"I hate that name," Pearl flashed. "I hate this fortress! I hate everything to do with the Watchers! I hate them. I hate them so much."

"Me, too," Lizzie said, poking her grilled salmon with her fork, or dinglehopper as she called it. "They killed my brother and stole me from my-" She cut herself off, looking away in silence.

Pearl felt another flash of frustration. She didn't want to lie to Lizzie, but she couldn't bring herself to tell her the truth. How would Lizzie react to Pearl finally telling her what really happened? How would she react to Pearl's lies? Would she want nothing to do with her anymore if Pearl told her? 

Pearl bit her tongue, silent pleas to her heart and brain to keep silent.

"Why did it get so quiet all of a sudden?" demanded Gem, spearing some tomatoes onto her fork in one quick motion. "Come on, guys! You know how much I hate it when you make awkward silences during meals!"

Pearl rolled her eyes, but said nothing.

"Come on, you two," a voice said from the doorway. "Let Taylor have some comfort, at least."

"Not her," moaned Lizzie, swishing her tail. 

"Yes her," the girl said, approaching their table. "What, Elizabeth? Do you hate seeing me?"

"Kind of," Lizzie replied simply.

"Sorry, False," Pearl said. "She's just in a mood."

"I get it," False laughed. "Not everyone needs to like me. But come on, Liz! You don't have to have that much attitude!"

Gem giggled softly. 

Pearl smiled. She liked it when Gem laughed like that. She didn't want to admit to it, but she did.

"Why are you four grouping without me?" demanded another person. A tall young man in a well-worn suit neared them, his brown eyes flickering with amusement.

"Mumbo!" Lizzie gasped, standing up. 

"So she likes Mumbo and not me?" False asked, confused. "How did that happen?"

"Mumbo just gives her good vibes," Gem pointed out. "She said he reminds her of an old friend, but I don't understand."

"He just reminds me of my smallish beans," Lizzie explained, sighing and sitting down again.

"In what way?" chuckled Gem. "You said he was short."

"But I'm taller than everyone either way," Lizzie objected. "Everyone's short to me!"

Pearl watched the two continue their mock argument while Mumbo shifted uncomfortably.

"Anyways," Mumbo said, cutting into the two girls' conversation. 

Lizzie and Gem fell silent, looking at him with interest in their different gazes.

"The, uh, Watchers told me to tell you guys, well...." Mumbo trailed off, looking out the window awkwardly. 

"Get to the point," Pearl said hurriedly. Anything than involved the Watchers wasn't good.

"They said they've made an experiment," Mumbo said finally. "They included a lot of people with great meaning to some of us and others just for the fun of it. Pearl.... They've included some old friends of yours...."

"Don't tell me," Pearl said, looking away.

"Er, yeah," Mumbo muttered. "Xe-"

"I know," Pearl sighed, refusing to let him finish the word.

"Well, they've added other people, too," Mumbo said, taking account of what Pearl's expression told him. "Such as...." He turned to Lizzie. "Your 'smallish beans.'"

"My Shrek rip-off?" gasped Lizzie, hope and horror clouding her clear blue gaze. "They wouldn't dare!"

"They would dare," Gem hissed. "They stole me from my brother. They would dare."

"They found some of my old friends, too," Mumbo murmured. "Such as Ren and Cleo. I know for a fact they don't know one another, but they both know me. And that's why the Watchers took them as well."

Gem growled. Her voice came in a low rumble. "If they touch one of my friends-"

"They got Impulse," Mumbo interjected, cutting her off. "And a few of his friends."

Gem gasped with terror. "Not Impulse!"

Mumbo nodded grimly. "I'm sorry, Taylor."

"Why did they want you to tell us?" demanded Lizzie, her eyes hardening.

"They're planning on putting us into the games, too," Mumbo choked. "At some point, we'll all be in their game. In a death match. Forced to fight old friends. And there's nothing the Watchers love more than blood and betrayal."

Word Count: 727