The night sky was always nice to Peridot. It reminded her of the times she was travelling the cosmos. True this was when she was a definite part of the Homeworld's empire, but she's grown accustomed to the Earth and it's very strange culture.
Thanks to Steven's father, she warmed up to the humanity and the gems. The human male was always busy so Peridot never got to see him as often as she did six months ago, but it didn't matter. The point was that she didn't feel so alone on the planet and the Crystal Gems were more than welcome enough to let her stay.
"It's so strange. Not even a full year has passed by and yet..." She glanced at her limb enhancers. She's only been separated from once from her entire existence and that was when Jasper poofed her. She regained her shape and reluctantly decided to stay with Steven and the others.
Even after swimming in the afterglow of winning a battle, Peridot was very nervous to know what was going to happen next. The fight with Pearl opened her eyes even more to see that the Gems maybe eons behind Homeworld, they can still fight. It occurred to her, that when they offered her room in the temple, she noticed a swell of pride at the offer.
"Hmph, those clods. Of course they would like me on their team. I'm one of the brightest gems they could ever include." Peridot said to herself. "Well it does seem like you're tooting your own horn."
The green gem jolted in surprise as she looked to see Lapis drinking a water bottle. "I am not! I do not possess the horn for such an action!" Lapis's expression told her that's not what she meant.
Peridot sighed in defeat as Lapis sat next to her. "You seem very conflicted today weren't you."
"My performance today was no different from the past few Earth rotations. I don't know what you're seeing."
"Amethyst and Pearl told me how you reacted when you were offered a room in the temple." Peridot looked away as Lapis scooted a little closer. "And you wanted to fuse with Stevonnie. You never showed any interest in fusion."
Peridot shut her eyes tightly, "Alright, I get it! I've been conflicted and confused all day!" Lapis flinched at her sudden anger. "I...I was about to take their offer, but I remember that I am loyal to Homeworld, my Diamond. And the request to fuse was just something that popped out nowhere. I-I didn't mean to...I just-" Lapis put her hand on Peridot's shoulder.
"Calm down Peridot, it's okay. Look we've been stuck on this rock for sometime. It would seem natural for people like us to, you know...warm up to Earth."
"That's the problem! I didn't want to warm up to Earth. This was just a pebble compared to Homeworld, I despised every moment I had to be here. B-but...I gained a friend. I cared about his safety and...I spent time with these gems to prepare a fight with yo-Malachite. It's...I...I just can't help, but feel this way." Peridot mumbled.
Lapis patted Peridot on the head. "It's alright. I'm in the same boat. Although mine was more of, 'I'm trapped in this gem forsaken solitude with someone I hate!' kind of deal." Peridot snickered at Lapis's joking tone and felt more relaxed.
"You're right Lazuli, by far you had it worse. No wonder you don't seem phased by it."
"Allying yourself with the Crystal Gems took great strength and swallowed pride. I could've never seen myself do that if I was in your situation."
Peridot remembered meeting Malachite for the first time. "Maybe, I wouldn't have. Not if it wasn't for your brief control over Jasper. I wouldn't have gotten that extra push."
"I guess you can thank me by coming inside with me. Steven wants to introduce us to a few more of his cartoon shows." Peridot turned her nose at the idea. "Yeah, right. I know other shows that carry more significance than crying processed energy suppliers."
Lapis smiled at her and pulled out her pocket, a small flash drive given to her by Steven. "Here. You might like this then."
The flash drive found its way to Peridot's fingers. "What's this?"
"The entire first two seasons of Camp Pining Heart, given by Sadie from the donut shop." The flash drive almost fell from Peridot's grasp as she briefly squealed in delight. "Ah, really? Steven only showed me one episode and never disclosed the information that he had this! Oh that hybrid is going to pay! I know I'll make him listen to my analytical reports on the entire series. It'll take time, but-"
Lapis cleared her throat to gain the other gem's attention. "What do we say Peridot?" The green gem grimaced at remembering basic manners. "Th-thank you, Lapis. It's...appreciated."
"Alright, well we better get out of here soon. Otherwise…" She turned when the sound of a small chopper was heard. Peridot was slowly rising from the ground. "Lapis, I'm going to still need some time by myself, but thank for the company."
She flew away and Lapis just watched her fly off. "Hmph. Well, I know someone's who's not getting any breakfast tomorrow." She turned in huff, but smiled at the childish grin from the gem's face.
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Peridot landed near some fields where her pod initially crashed. It was only noticeable, but the small crater that was healing like an old wound. Taking the flash drive and sealing it inside her limb enhancer, the gem landed on the ground. She decided to take a small walk.
"Nine months...just nine months and here I am. Still on Earth. I guess it really can't be helped. Maybe I could…" A metallic thunk hit her leg. It was a rifle and it seemed loaded. "Strange, what's a human's weapon doing out here? I know it's value to humans is high."
Her eyes scanned the horizon until it stopped, dead center. A pod. A gem pod was lying against the Earth. Disregarding the weapon, she prepared her cannon. A small ball of green energy took form. Pushing against running, Peridot took a small peek through the grass to see no one.
The pod's owner was gone. She knew it was piloted one too, by the very model it was. The shadow formation inside showed the shape of a manual console, but more importantly it was because of the set of footprints. Not human ones, but foreign ones.
Peridot pulled up her screen and scanned the print. Results were being loaded up, but as it did the green gem's eyes widened to see a dead human with a clean hole through his chest. His expression was frozen in fear and he was cold.
A small picture was pulled up on her screen. Taking one glance at it, Peridot's legs became jelly at the image. "No...no, no, no, no!"
She backed up and felt irrational fear rise from her core. 'I-If she's here, then…'
Something almost overshadowed Peridot. "Well, well, well. A Peridot on Earth."
"Zircon!" She yelped as turned to see the gem. She stood over Peridot as the green gem was shaking like a leaf. "Wh-what brings you to Earth, um Mistress Zircon." The playful smile on Zircon's face went down.
"You're late on updating Yellow Diamond on the Cluster as well as missing both your guard and informant. What happened to them and the ship you were given?" Peridot gulped in her fear and went into the informat stance. "M-my ship, informant, and guard were taken down by the natural occurrences of this planet. A hurricane to be more precise."
Zircon smiled at the Peridot and loomed over her figure till the entire gem was in her shadow. "I know you are lying. You are not the first gem to ever deceive me. After all a runt like you can't possibly believe that our exploration ship could be taken down by this planet's weak excuse of a storm. And you look...different from your form."
She placed her hand on Peridot's gem and began deconstructing her form. The gem felt her being become even more ruined as she reverted to her pre-regenerative state. The glasses became her visor, her hair diamond shaped, and her limbs shrink down in her limb enhancers.
Pulling her hand away, Peridot panted at the forced shapeshift. "Now that you look like a proper Peridot, why don't you tell me what really happened. Because I would hate for you to have a bad time telling me or more specifically Yellow Diamond."
"I-I-I please, let me give away a proper explanation. We...I encountered several other gems on this planet." Zircon raised an eyebrow at her defeated expression, but found the information intriguing. "Crystal Gems."
"Yes. And in an act to defeat the Crystal Gems, my informant and guard...fused. They were unstable and couldn't defeat them." Zircon hummed in disapproval. "I hoped that fusion would be a Crystal Gem fusion, but I guess it makes sense. They would be pretty powerful."
"What do you mean?" Zircon smiled sadly. "I did not wish to be held to such actions to such a pretty gem like Lazuli and General Jasper has been quite the military service for our empire, but orders are orders."
Peridot froze at what she was talking about. "Shatter them? B-but why? They did nothing wrong!"
Zircon glared at the outburst of Peridot and the green gem felt silent as the wind around her seemed to stop. "If two gems from different classes need to fuse to beat the likes of these weaklings, these Crystal Gems, we will not allow such an act to go by. Your crew has been given an order of execution along with the remaining forces of Rose Quartz's army."
The images of Lapis, Stevonnie, Garnet, and the others flashed through her mind. "No please don't! I can ensure you that the Crystal Gems carry no threat to us at all as does Lapis. It is unwise and unjust to do such a thing!"
"Are you questioning the orders given by a Diamond and in turn defy my actions? Listen to me and listen carefully." She walked closer to Peridot with each step as Peridot stepped back in fear. "The Earth carries traitors to our empire. Lazuli and Jasper have shown weakness and disregard to our laws. They will shatter, I will shatter them myself. And I will take immense satisfaction in grinding each their gems to powder and the likes of you will not interfere, is that clear!"
"No! I will not back down from you shattering my friends! I can't do that!" And in the heat of the moment charged her blast and shot a narrow beam into her forehead. The taller gem's head snapped back. Peridot was panting wildly before realizing what she's done. "Z-Zircon?"
"Well I'm very glad that the information on the Cluster is within your armor." She raised her head with a burnt mark on her forehead. "Because I'm going to enjoy breaking your gem between my fingers."
Peridot didn't even get a chance to dodge as she was left with her eyes bugged out and her mouth wide open. Zircon's fist found it lodged deep in her torso. That alone left Peridot on her knees gasping for air. "Pathetic rock." She grabbed Peridot and bear hugged her.
"AH!" She screamed as Zircon smiled at her pain. "Keep screaming. Let me feel your anguish." Peridot felt her body break down as the sickening crunch of her form was heard from being crushed by the pressure.
Zircon focused all of her strength into crushing Peridot that she didn't notice the whistle of something or someone diving down. Until a flash of blue passed Zircon and sent her sprawling across the floor. Peridot fell to the ground and a hand on her. She glanced up to see Steven's crying face and Garnet's relieved face.
"Peridot!" Steven cried as he held her. The green gem barely responded with only an attempt to pat his back. Garnet reluctantly pulled Steven off and checked Peridot. "Peridot, can you stand?"
The gem tried to move her shoulder, but pain was very evident. Garnet understood her condition and gently scooped her up. "Please hold on." Peridot just flashed back and forth. Everything was dancing in her eyes as the ringing in her ears the music. Before blacking out, a flash of blue and pink came, some muffled screams, and the light of fusion coming out.
After that nothing.
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