The day in Beach City was nice and peaceful. Until a large cloud of dust and green filled the air. Peridot stood with her cannon pointing at the wall. She shook her head in approval as the cliff side became more open to her.
'Perfect. Now I have a place to build my new lab, away from the rest. And it'll have all the things a lab needs. Like walls...and test subjects. Maybe even a-'
"Peridot!" A loud voice called out. The green gem fell out of her concentration and turned to see Stevonnie running toward her. "Ah great. What do you want?"
Stevonnie stopped in her tracks and rubbed the back of her neck. "Well since you joined us, the others were wondering about getting your own room in the temple."
The green gem looked at the fusion with surprise as she glanced at the hole. "You know that kind of information would be nice if you could've told me, three hours ago. I literally told you that I was working on finding a spot for a lab. Ever since the Malachite attack I've been working on somethings."
Stevonnie's expression went serious. "Like the Cluster." Peridot smirked at the prediction and pulled up her screen. "Of course not. As much as I hate to admit it, my calculations were misguided and the actual date for it to take form should be within several more centuries. So we have time."
"What? But Connie heard you...I...you." Peridot turned her back on the human fusion. "Don't feel too bad and no. I already apologized for scaring your one of your counterparts, but I'm not going to apologize again. Besides how much longer are you going to remain fused? It makes me uncomfortable."
Peridot yelped as Stevonnie grabbed her and hooked her arm around the gem's neck. "Aw, come on Peri. Can you honestly say that?" Peridot nodded yes and broke from her grasp. "Yes, you clod. Now please be very gem-like and let me do my own wor-"
A small boom was heard along with rising sand covering the two. Peridot stuck her head out and spit out sand. "What now?" She was answered by Lapis Lazuli wiping some sand off. "Gems today."
"Morning Peridot. How are you?"
"Fine. Until a fusion told me information too late and another rude gem covering me in Earthly properties!" Lapis scratched her head at the description. "That's weird. Garnet's not here and Amethyst is out on a mission."
"Stevonnie and you, you stupid clods!" Stevonnie's head popped out of her own pile and smiled like a child. "Sorry Peri, but it's been about six months since Malachite's defeat. I'm surprised you're not used to all this."
"Don't be. I, only proposed a small turce to defeat Malachite. I had no intention to stay around until it became simple that this was the only thing on Earth that weren't gem ruins." Lapis rubbed her arm awkwardly as she was in the same situation. Stevonnie sighed and pushed herself free. "Well, it doesn't matter. You and the gems are on better terms now."
Lapis joined in. "Yeah, we both have. Peridot, while we're both on Earth we have to admit that we've had some significant change since the Gems allowed us to stay here." Peridot turned her nose away from Lapis and focused on Stevonnie.
"Only because I'm outmatched by them that I attempt peaceful attempts. I am not part of your rebellious group with exception of major threats. Which is currently nothing! Now if you excuse me, I need to setup my lab."
Stevonnie brushed off the rest of the sand. "In the temple or out here?" Peridot gritted her teeth comically. "I making that decision!" She grumbled away as she left the hybrid with the blue gem.
"She's very stubborn, but I don't blame her. Homeworld's roots run through her like blood through humans. It's very similar to me, but I learned to adjust." Lapis responded. Stevonnie nodded sadly at her friend's analysis. Trust between Lapis and the gems was tough to build up and even now it was still there.
"True, but she'll come around. Now what have you been doing?" Lapis stretched her arms. "Just flying around the world. I want to know the world that I'm going to be living in. Besides do mind unfusing, I have a special gift for the two individuals in you." Stevonnie grimaced to a degree at the request, but complied.
The fusion glowed a soft light before breaking into two. Steven opened his eyes to see him holding Connie close. "Oh, sorry Connie." Connie laughed at his shy expression with little blush on her face.
"It's alright Steven." Lapis smiled at the two and focused on her gem. The two looked at Lapis as her gem glow brightly and a tiny ice sculpture formed before them.
The sculpture was the form of three individuals: Steven, Connie, and Stevonnie. It was perfectly detailed with a sharp look. Steven's shield held executed every detail perfectly. Connie was shown holding Rose's sword with a shiny glint to it. Stevonnie was in a battle stance behind the duo with the sword and shield ready to go.
"Making the figure was easy, but everlasting ice was hard to find. Luckily with some visits to older gem temples, I managed to find the right materials for this gift. Think of it as a thank you gift you two." The two looked at the figurine with stars in their eyes.
"Oh my gosh Lapis, this is beautiful. And you say it'll never melt." Lapis giggled at his expression. "I've tested it against the sun itself and the worst it got was drippy. I think I know how to get gifts right."
"You've got that right. It takes humans years of practice and patience to execute something like this. It's wonderful Lapis." Connie said as she and Steven examined it with excitement. "I hope so." A light shined brightly as Stevonnie was holding the sculpture. "We-I should thank you."
The fusion hugged Lapis as the gem gladly returned it back. Peridot watched from the background and looked away. "How sappy. Now let's see, what to do next." The warp pad inside the house glowed prominently as the Crystal Gems. "And here they are."
"Ah, good morning Peridot. How are you today?" Pearl asked as she swept off some soot. "Where have you been?"
"Oh man, Peridot! You had to have been there! We split a corrupted gem in half. And not only that we encountered several some huge artifacts from the temple. Although Garnet refused to let us go home with any."
"They were locked behind several security encryptions. That alone should speak about how deadly it is." Amethyst waved Garnet off. "Yeah, yeah dangerous items that don't need to be taken home, but still it was awesome to break through all those doors!" Peridot rolled her eyes at Amethyst and walked up to Garnet.
"Anyways, I was informed by the second permafusion that you in fact offered me a room in the temple." Garnet rolled her shoulder off of any remaining soot on her suit. "Yes. You've been very helpful in the town's repairs and our battle with Malachite. Lapis is under similar conditions, but we would like to address you first of having your own position in the temple. If you accept my hand then we can begin."
Peridot's eyes widened at Garnet's offer. Though not to have been around for too long, she knew it simply meant that they were offering her a position among the Crystal Gems. And the green gem knew what they were asking. A chance to join the gems on Earth. To be a Crystal Gem. She reached out to the smiling faces of the gems.
She smiled at the offer, but drew her hand back. Garnet and the others looked surprised at the choice as Peridot backed up. "Th-that was nice fusio-Garnet, but I must decline. The things I helped you with were to satisfy things on my end. To save myself. And repairing the town was a small favor for Steven's father for helping me with the light cannons. I just can't accept being part of your...regime."
She stood silently as she, Pearl, and Amethyst looked at Garnet. She had a small frown on her face as she withdrew her own hand. "I see."
"Garnet...I-" She stopped as Garnet smiled at her. "The offer to have your place in the temple will stand as long as we hold you in our good graces. You've been a valuable ally, Peridot and we'd be honored if you could join us. But if you can't then that is up to you alone."
The Homeworld Gem stood as Garnet walked passed her and left the house. Amethyst shrugged at the condition and walked to her room. Pearl went to Peridot who was frozen in her spot. "Peridot? Are you okay?"
"I'm...I'm fine. Just a bit bewildered. I expected something much harsher to come from her. I basically admitted to using our circumstances to save myself. I thought she would snap." Pearl gave a small agreement. "She probably would've. If it wasn't for the fact she sees something."
"What?" Peridot asked, "What could she possibly see. I told her the truth. I used you to save myself."
Pearl shook her head at Peridot. "Garnet's an excellent judge of character. Probably because she has two minds on her side, but still. She wasn't chosen leader by Rose because she just wasn't strong. Garnet was chosen because she has the most capacity for understanding. Even I will admit, I'm not the best at it."
"That scuffle we had six months ago would agree."
Pearl's smile turned to a small frown. "Anyways, Garnet just carries some understanding with you. Maybe we'll find out what she means later."
"Right, later." Peridot sighed as she walked gem took in some air as she looked to see Stevonnie and Lapis looking at something and Garnet resting on the beach. Despite the peaceful scenario, Peridot felt something was off. It was faint, but there.
'Oh why do I have such a bad feeling about this?'
In the deeper outer reaches of space, a pod flies with one passenger. The soft glow of a gem shines dimly in the dark interior of the pod. A holographic screen opens and Yellow Diamond appears. The figure inside looked up and smiled respectfully at the Diamond's presence.
"Ah, greetings my Diamond. I'm surprised you have called me directly." The yellow gem smiled at the operative. "I know it is, but over a certain amount of time we've discovered some...pressing issues. Do you know what I'm talking about."
"Yes, my Diamond. The missing exploration ship and the missing crew. Apparently a missing Peridot, Jasper, and Lazuli have been sent to the testing grounds of the Cluster."
"Correct. We've been stuck in the dark for too long on the matter and recently there was a recent spike of energy detected from the planet. Not enough to be the Cluster, but equal to a strong fusion." The operative's eyes glinted with with malicious tint. "Fusion? That disgraceful technique? How fitting we detect such a weak power from that pathetic colony. What are my objectives? The Peridot you sent glossed over the details, to prepare my pod."
Yellow Diamond pulled up a picture of the missing crew sent to Earth. "Find these Gems. Update me on the Cluster's status. And most importantly, find the gems responsible for that energy spike and shatter them."
"Earth is also known to be home of the Crystal Gems. And my actions, should I discover them." She licked her lips at the Yellow Diamond's answer. The Gem leader pulled a picture of the last known gems. Garnet, Pearl, and Rose Quartz and with a swipe of her fingers, in bold letters read "EXTERMINATE".
"Understood, my Diamond." Yellow Diamond cut the transmission and the pod once again fell to darkness. The operative in the pod, laughed softly as it grew more and more maniacal. "Oh I haven't been this excited for awhile. It'll be fun."