She'd lost track of time sitting on the tile floor. "Where does it go?" Peridot absentmindedly asks, watching the toilet flush for about the hundredth time, there was something hypnotic about it. Suddenly she hears the chime of the warp pad and is snapped out of her trance "Aha!" She exclaims, poking her head out of the bathroom only to see the crystal gems enter their respective rooms and Steven step off into the beach house "Steven!" She calls "I've discovered a process to learn more about earth!"
The youngest member of the Crystal Gems turns around, surprised to hear the nasally voice of his favorite green Gem "Peridot?" He asks surprisedly, before shaking it off "What are you talking about?"
"I believe it's called a Shool, from my research it is a government operated institution designed to teach young humans all about the world" Peridot explains, adjusting her goggles to create an air of intelligence.
Steven chuckles "It's called a school Peri, it's where most kids go to learn how to read, and do math, and I think Connie said they teach science and history there too! I've never been though, my dad and the Crystal Gems taught me most of the important stuff"
"Hm... this gives me an idea" Peridot muses.
"That's... probably not a good sign" Steven says quietly.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
"You want to do what?!" Pearl asks, taken aback.
"Peridot thinks it would be a good idea to go to school, so that she can learn about earth like humans do, and well... I want to go too" Steven explains, looking a tad ashamed at the end "You guys are great teachers, but I wanna know what it's like to be a normal kid"
Pearl sighs "Oh Steven this really isn't fair, you know I can't say no to you like this. That doesn't mean I think it's a good idea though" She clarifies, before turning to Peridot "You will be on your best behavior, no use of Gem powers, and do your best to act human, follow Steven's lead" She says sternly.
"You-you mean you're saying yes?" Peridot stammers "I promise I won't let you down!"
Steven looks between the two, stars in his eyes "This is gonna be great I just know it!" he exclaims.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Three days later Steven was awake bright and early. Showered and dressed he picks up his cheeseburger backpack, for the first time packed with actual school supplies. Pearl walks out of the temple, dressed in less conspicuous clothes with an anxious look on her face "Greg should be here by now" She says, beginning to pace as she always did when she was nervous.
"Pearl, calm down" A smooth voice commands, Garnet stepping out of her room. "I'll be coming with you, the overseer of the school is likely to cause trouble" She says, adjusting her sunglasses.
With two quick beeps of the horn Greg Universe pulls his van up to the temple, dressed in his responsible dad sweater "I'm sorry I'm late!" He calls as the two Gems and his son step out of the beach house. "I can't believe it, my little Stu-ball is going to his first day of school"
Garnet takes the passenger seat, not bothering with a seatbelt as Steven and Pearl climb in the back.
Twenty minutes later the van with its sputtering engine pulls up to the barn, Steven hopping out and rushing up to the open doors to get Peridot.
There she stood, in her usual attire and her hair in its pointy as ever shape "Ah, greetings Steven, are you ready for our first day of education?" She asks
"I am... but you can't go like that Peri" He says, earning a confused look "We need to help you blend in, come on, I think I have some ideas" He says, climbing up the ladder to her corner of the barn.
Peridot follows him up, sitting down on the couch and watching Steven intently. The boy looks around, finding a brush in a drawer and picking it up "Hey Lapis! Can you wet Peri's hair please?" He requests, the blue Gem looking up from her book momentarily and sending a stream at Peridot's hair without a word.
"Hey! What was that for?" she asks indignantly
"Sorry Peri, but most humans don't exactly have triangular hair" He explains, running the brush through her hair and straightening it out. "Can I...?" he asks, gesturing to the frame of her visor
Peridot nods, and Steven removes it. With surprising dexterity Steven does her hair, leaving her generous bangs to hide her gem and weaving the rest of her hair into a single braid "There, what do you think?" he asks, blushing slightly, boy did she look pretty.
Peridot lifts up a piece of reflective metal and finds herself pleasantly surprised 'Oh my stars' she thinks "It is acceptable, thank you Steven" She says
"Only problem now is your outfit..." He says "What are we gonna do about that?"
"Oh don't worry Steven, I've been collecting appearance modifiers recently, though I haven't had much of an excuse to wear them" She says, opening the trunk next to her bed
"I'll um, I'll let you get changed" Steven says, climbing down the ladder and walking back out to the van, moving his backpack and the green and white striped one they'd gotten for Peridot aside to take a seat.
Moments later she exits the barn, dressed a white denim jacket, green t-shirt with an alien on it, and white capris with noticeably untied shoes. If it weren't for her distinctly green skin she could totally pass for normal human... until she opens her mouth that is "Is this acceptable?" she asks.
"You look great! Hop in!" Steven replies gleefully, making room for her. She complies with his request and climbs in next to him, tripping on the untied shoelaces
"Let me get those for you" He offers, quickly tying them "Are you ready?" He asks
"Definitely" She replies with a nod.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
So there's the first chapter, be sure to leave a review and I'll try and take any notes into consideration!