Chapter 1: A New Beginning

The Crystal Gems had left, finally. From this moment on, it would be Lapis and Peridot, Living alone in the barn together. At least, Peridot thought, she would have someone to talk to. However, it seemed that Lapis was in no mood to do so. She sulked around the barn in her usual fashion since her newly proclaimed freedom. For the first twenty minutes or so, Peridot was okay with it, but after that, the looming, watery gem made her feel highly uncomfortable.

"Alright Peridot," She spoke to herself, her quirky, high pitched voice peaking. "Just make for small talk. Get each other on comfortable terms." She sighed. Usually, she would say these things into her recorder, but Lapis Lazuli had crushed it in her bare hands. Part of Peridot wanted to be angry, infuriated at Lazuli for breaking her one and only true possesion, besides the TV and some old VCR tapes, but another part of her saw reason and sympathy for her actions. She knew that if she were in the water gem's shoes, she wouldn't have just crushed the recorder.

She began to practice her lines.

"So, what do you say we get to know each other, eh Lazuli?" She said quietly on the couch. "I'm Peridot, although you already knew that, just as I know you are Lapis Lazuli! Now, I know our arrangements may still be a bit... cross, but I assure you that we can become good friends in ti-"

"Why are you talking to yourself?" Lapis Lazuli questioned, now standing in front of the green gem.

Her sudden appearance made Peridot jump back in what was half surprise, and half fright with a bit of a screech.

"LAPIS," The green gem started, taking a few deep breaths. "You shouldn't sneak up on me like that!"

"I didn't... sneak." Lapis said back, her facial expression still keeping to her usual, almost gloomy look. "I just walked up here. You shouldn't get so lost in thought."

"Yes, well, Ahem... since you are here, engaging conversation with me, Peridot-"

"I know who you are."

"...Yes, as I know who you are, Lapis Lazuli. Now, I realize that our arrangements may still be a bit... Cross, but I assure you that in time we could become-"

"You still worried about that, Peridot? Seriously, You didn't seem too worried when I saved you from those Rubies, or when you were telling me about Yellow Diamond."

"That was simply because I was anxious! I acted without thinking, therefore the consequences of such-"

"Peridot, relax, we're cool, okay?"

"Cool?"

"Oh, It's a human slang. It means... Interesting, but, the way I'm using it now, it means that there aren't any bad feelings between us."

"Really? Even after I locked you in a cage, was somewhat to blame for your fusion with Jasper, and almost got everyone killed by a gigantic fused Ruby?"

"Do you WANT there to be bad feelings between us?" Lapis said, her face twisting a bit more toward the angry side, and her voice raising slightly.

"N-no," Peridot answered, rubbing her arm and looking downward, obviously somewhat intimidated by her. Without her limb enhancers, Peridot was practically harmless, and an easy target for an angry Lapis.

"Then you'll keep what's in the past, in the past. I'm giving you a second chance because all the other gems believe you've turned over a new leaf."

"A new leaf?"

Lapis sighed. "More slang." She said, "It means to start over, in a way, become a better gem."

"Right..."

"I'm going to go relax, but I wanted to tell you that. I figured if you called Yellow Diamond a Clod to her face, you're in my good book." Lapis said as she walked downstairs, heading outside of the barn. Peridot did not say anything else, nor did she look in that direction. Instead, she stared at the ceiling, letting out a sigh.

"Great Job, Peridot..." She mumbled to herself. "You sure made for an amazing conversation."

"Great Job, Lapis." Lapis Lazuli muttered to herself as she sat down on the silo. "Great way to set the record straight. You totally didn't make things more awkward."

She layed back, looking out into the shifting landscape. This country, this land is what she had wanted when she told Steven where she wanted to live. It took him convincing her to live with her former captor, but it was worth it. The peace, the quiet, and with just a little bit of company.

Lapis wasn't sure if she could be friends with Peridot. However, Peridot only did what she was told by the Diamonds themselves. And a millennia ago, she herself was doing the same thing. And now, again, they were following the same, strange path. Stowing away on Earth, away from the influences of Homeworld, secret guardians of the plant.

Well, guardians was overdoing it. That was the Crystal Gem's job. All she wanted to do was be free, live here, and live happily. No more confinement, no more orders, no more judgement.

No more Homeworld.

She let out a happy sigh, a smile slipping onto her lips as the wind began to blow. "No more Homeworld." She muttered to herself. "I've never been happier to think of that."

Hey guys, So I'm back, and writing more fanfiction! This Chapter is EXTREMELY short, but I promise chapter 2 will be longer. I just needed to get some ground to stand on while I write the next chapters. Please follow the story and tell me what you think about it honestly. I'm trying to improve my writing.

Thank you all!