Steven Universe Wanted has warmed me up to this theory since its episodes have aired. We are now certain that Rose was NOT the one who truly shattered PD, and that she was framed in some internal politics by one of the Diamonds. This theory is based on the limited information we do have and speculation on my part. The Crewniverse can easily throw a curve ball and shatter this theory in a second, but I digress.



My theory: I postulate that Pearl was originally made for White Diamond, but was given to Pink Diamond as a “gift” for her work on her first planet

(probably because she was ‘defective’ ). Pearl’s true objective was to Spy on PD and to gather intel on how the planet was going, and information on the Rose Quartz situation which had already been underway for some time.





The reason for the spying? White Diamond did not care for PD’s fascination and preservation of organic life. It went against the established order that the three of them had already created before PD came along. On top of that, PD’s gems were becoming particularly willful as shown with Rose Quartz’s rebellion. Rose Quartz in general upset WD, because not only were they geared towards preserving and caring for organic life, they were excellent support units that could heal gems, making rebellions that much more feasible against the Diamonds. PD, WD mused, was going to unravel everything the Diamond Authority had made if it was allowed to continue.

So, WD engineered a plan, a plan that her “gifted” Pearl would carry out for her. Pearl would Shapeshift into Rose Quartz in front of someone particularly impressionable, like a Ruby, and Shatter PD , throw her planet into chaos , and ultimately force the operations to shut down, corrupting any gems left behind and use it to create a theoretical planet sized weapon in the process. ,



During Pearls mission however, right up to the shattering of PD on WD’s orders, she had been racked with guilt and fear over what she was being made to do. It was killing her that she was going to have to assassinate a Diamond she actually liked more than her old one. When she had actually done the deed and escaped, it had left her broken in more ways than one. She had nothing left.





That is when Rose found her, when she had lost everything, racked with guilt and shame over what she had done, and took her in with open arms. Rose didn’t even care that Pearl framed her, it wasn’t her fault Rose would say. Finding redemption and a new sense of purpose in Roses acceptance of her, Pearl zealously turned against Homeworld and WD, declaring she was her own Pearl and she was owned by no one, all the while giving herself to the gem who gave her a purpose when she had lost everything.

She still thinks about it too this day though. In one way that isn’t blatantly obvious is she refuses to shape shift and never has during the show. She probably swore off ever doing it after performing the deed of framing Rose and Shattering PD.

You can even see it in her Hologram copies of herself. Just look at where it instinctively stabbed with its sword.

Right in the body where PD’s gem would have been. It would also explain why Pearl threw herself into the fray, getting poofed over and over again for Rose. The combined guilt of Shattering PD and framing Rose would definitely drive someone to that point to feel redeemed.

It was Pearls past deeds and who she used to be that made her feel like she was nothing, but it was Rose who pulled her up from the brink of despair and guilt over what she had done, and “made her feel like she was everything.”



That’s where I think her near desperation over Rose comes from. Even Now, through Steven, she is still being treated with kindness she doesn’t believe she deserves.

That’s my theory anyway. Like I said in the beginning of the post, it could get debunked in an episode. Still, I think it holds water.