Chapter 1 - Doubt

It was a boring Saturday at the temple. Pearl and Garnet were on a mission capturing a corrupted gem that they said had been causing trouble and disturbing humans. Peridot was in the temple because Garnet didn't trust Peridot being at the barn alone unsupervised. Garnet did not trust Peridot just yet.

Amethyst was drinking a cocktail of motor oil and antifreeze while Steven played a video game and Peridot watched.

"Steven, what is the point of this, 'video game'? Period asked.

"Well" Steven started, "it's to have fun when you're bored, or just want to have fun."

"Oh" Period replied, "so humans are just passing the time by challenging themselves and wasting their life away until the day they die due to age?" Peridot cocked her head to the side waiting for an answer.

"That's one way of putting it!" Steven replied and chuckled nervously.

"Geez P, why do you have to be so sad?" Asked Amethyst.

"I'm not sad, I'm just still getting accustomed to the Earth's inhabitants' strange practices and rituals." Replied Peridot.

Time Skip three hours.

"Mmmmmmkayy, I'm going to my room now." Stated Amethyst.

"Okay." Replied Steven.

Amethyst walks out of the temple room leaving Steven and Period alone.

"Eeeeehhh, I think I'm going to get off my video games now." Groaned Steven.

"Why?" Asked Peridot. "You showed no evidence of physical exertion and didn't burn any energy whatsoever! All you did was twiddle your little touch stumps!" Complained Peridot.

"Look, Peridot, when humans stare at a screen for too long their eyes get tired since they are looking at fake light. Well, that's how Dad explained it." Said Steven

"Ohhh, who is this, 'Dad'?" Asked Peridot

"Well, you know Greg? Well, he's my dad." Replied Steven

"Ohhh." Realized Peridot. She looked down in shame after remembering how she shoved him off a roof, nearly killing him.

"What's wrong Peridot? Asked Steven, him noticing her look down in shame.

"What!, Nothing is wrong with me!" Peridot scrambled back in anger.

"Periii, it's okay if you feel bad, it's a normal emotion that people feel. You feel it when you hurt someone, mentally or physically." Steven said while comforting Peridot.

"What?"

"It's okay." Steven repeated. " I feel bad sometimes too. It's a normal emotion. Human or not, most things feel it."

"Oh." Peridot replied."I still feel bad though."

"I know what would help!" Steven exclaimed.

"What?" Peridot asked, curious to know more.

"You could apologize to my dad!" Steven said cheerfully, knowing full well that this could turn out terribly or great.

"Apologize?" Asked Peridot, looking confused.

"Oh, wait a minute" Steven said, as he got off the bed to go grab a dictionary Pearl kept in the cupboard next to the couch.

After waiting more than one minute, as Steven had told her, he brought a big heavy book up and put it onto his bed.

"This is a dictionary, it has all of the meanings of english words and phrases, and how they are supposed to be used." Explained Steven. He opened the dictionary and began searching for the word 'apologize'. He eventually found it and began explaining the definition to Peridot.

"Apologize. To express regret for something that one has done wrong."

"Oh, thank you Steven." Replied Peridot."Now, could you find the definition of, dork?" Asked Peridot.

"Oh, sure." Replied Steven, becoming slightly uncomfortable ."Peridot, who called you a dork?"

"Ohhh, Amethyst calls me that a lot. I don't really know why, but it kind of bothers me whenever she calls me that." Replied Peridot.

"Ohhhh, okay. Here's the definition. a dull, slow-witted, or socially inept person." Steven said as he looked at Peridot."But you aren't that. You always hang out with Lapis, Amethyst and even me sometimes!"

Peridot looked especially uncomfortable when Steven had mentioned Lapis and Amethyst, but had smiled when he mentioned himself.

"Peri what's wrong?" Questioned Steven. You look sad. "Is something going on between you and Lapis that I don't know about?"

Now, normally Steven was a very forgiving and naive boy, but given what had happened in the last year, he was always a bit more suspicious and untrusting whenever talking to gems.

"Well..." Peridot had burst into tears. "Oh Steven it's terrible! She beats me, mentally abuses me, and she wishes I was shattered!" Peridot was tearing up now.

"Shhhhh, Peri... just one thing at a time okay?" Said Steven as he hugged and tried to comfort her. It's okay, I'll protect you. Though the boy was only 14, he knew very well of the immense power that Lapis Lazuli held within her gem. Anywhere near water, Lapis Lazuli was unstoppable.