For starters, I want to apologise for keeping everybody waiting. It's been… far too long for my liking, and I'm so so sorry. My computer had broken down, and once I had finally gotten it fixed, I was suffering from emotional things. Break ups, n' stuff. After getting over my depression, I developed a writer's block. It's been difficult to continue the story, especially with the new elements in Steven Universe such as the Peridot arc that's currently happening. I've tried my best to shift things around, though!
On a side note; an extremely talented YouTuber known as 'Madaya Wheeler' has been reading my work, along with the work of others, and has been posting her dubs on her channel. Please, subscribe to her and show her some love! Her impersonations are superb~! channel/UC7VZfKpwvzjtGZ6T8OtJMsw
And now, without further ado, I present to you:
The Gem in His Eye – Chapter IV
"Well, this is just perfect!"
Bill rolled his eye as he sat on a broken Warp Pad. He had gotten used to these temper tantrums.
Peridot paced up and down the gray-scaled Galaxy Warp. "I can't wait until my next attempt to try and leave this cruddy planet! Oh, wait, those clods are just going to show up and RUIN EVERYTHING!" She screamed as loud as she could, her fingers stressfully pulling her hair.
Bill crossed his arms as he floated up next to her. "Relax, Peridoodle. Nobody gets what they want straight away."
Peridot grit her teeth. "It's 'Peridot', thank you very much."
"Sure, Peridork."
Peridot groaned. "Ugh, why can't you just… just… zap the warp back together?! What about my Flask Robonoids?! You fixed them ages ago! But now they're all, coincidentally I may add, broken?!" she yelled, her fingers floating up in front of the dream demon and poking him rather forcefully.
"Listen, Touchscreen, the only reason I haven't oh so magically fixed your precious transportation device is because I cannot interfere with your world. I'm stuck between your world and mine, which is why I need your help in getting me here." He said, his eye glaring at her fingers as his cane appeared in the palm of his hand, gently swiping the floating digits away from him as they returned to their owner.
Peridot remained silent as she processed the sentence, the Gem crossing her arms as she returned the glare. "If you are unable to interfere with my dimension, then is it you managed to fix my Robonoids?"
Bill would have pinched the bridge of his nose if he had one. "Have you noticed how none of your machines provided any use whatsoever? How they all broke in less than twenty-four hours? If I, say, managed to fix the… 'Homeworld Warp', then it would simply return to its collapsed state in mere seconds. It provides too much of a direct use to sustain a change so heavily influenced by a being in the Mindscape."
Peridot mumbled something inaudible, as her green eyes returned their gaze on the triangular entity, opening her mouth to reply. Before any words came out, however, Bill immediately interrupted.
"But I'm afraid I have to go, for now. I have a play date with Shining Star, and if I'm going to aid you in your little quest, then I'm going to need to gather some more information." He said, a rather bored and uninterested tone present in his voice. "Welp, I'll see 'ya on the flip side, Touchscreen!"
?!
Peridot's eyes opened as the world had regained its color once more. She sighed to herself.
"That thing gets stranger after every encounter."
?!
Steven sat outside his house. Garnet and Pearl were currently on a mission, and it had surprised him that Amethyst hadn't joined them. She was always the Gem who was most up for a mission, and if a Gem had to stay behind, it was usually Pearl. Something strange was going on, especially since he hadn't seen Amethyst emerge from her room in what seemed like days.
"Lion, do you know where Amethyst is?" the young boy asked, the pink mammal laying next to him his closed, resting eyes.
A quiet roar was all he got in response, Lion not even bothering to open his eyes. Steven frowned.
"Well, I'm gonna go find her. If you get hungry, then there are some Lion Lickers in the fridge! Just… try not to break it like last time!" he said, giving his pet a soft pat on the head as he rushed off to the temple. The hybrid approached the temple door, staring up at it confidently as a pink gemstone present on the top point of a star began to glow, the door immediately opened as Steven stepped into the cloudy, soft room as the door closed behind him.
"Room, I need to find Amethyst! I-I haven't seen her in a while, and I'm starting a worry." He mused.
A selection of fluffy pink clouds in the horizon moved away from each other, showing a door embodied with purple amethyst shards. It was clearly the entrance to her room.
"Thank you!" the boy said as he made his way towards it.
?!
Amethyst stared at the floor. She hadn't seen natural sunlight in three days, and wasn't planning on leaving the comfort of her room anytime soon after the nightmare she had.
But /was/ it a nightmare, though? she asked herself. It felt too… too real. It was like Bill had visited her… Was it a vision? A memory that she had somehow forgotten? she hugged her knees as she let out a sigh.
"Amethyst?" called out a voice.
The Gem in question immediately perked up. Steven? How had he gotten in here?!
"Amethyst, we hate you."
She cringed at the memory.
"Amethyst?" the voice grew louder. "Amethyst?! Ame-" Steven's brown eyes spotted the small Gem crouched in a corner, a gasp escaping his mouth. "Amethyst!"
Amethyst didn't know what to say. Things had been… slow, since the recent mishap with Sardonyx. She knew Steven hadn't been involved, but she honestly wanted some alone time. She didn't want to talk to Garnet. Or Pearl. Or Steven.
But what about Bill?
"H-Hey, Stee-man." She replied, almost choking on her own words. She inwardly cringed.
"Oh my gosh, I've been so worried!" he said, tears forming at the corners of his eyes as he enveloped her in a warm hug, a small smile placed on her lips.
"Worried? 'Bout me? Nah, I've just been," she paused, trying to rapidly rack up any possible excuses. "uh, collecting some more junk."
Steven frowned slightly. "Amethyst, Garnet and Pearl need you on missions! If you wanted some more things to keep in your room, you could just ask Dad if he has any spare things in the van! Just, please… Don't scare me! I thought something horrible had happened." He mumbled, his embrace growing tighter as he buried his face in between her neck. She wrapped an arm around him and pulled him closer, though she didn't bother replying.
I need to talk to Bill again.
?!
Steven's day was much better now that he had been reassured of Amethyst's safety. He had offered her a trip to the Big Donut, but she had refused. He didn't want to push her any further, just in case she was going through some emotional problems. Sometimes, he knew it was better not to ask people if they wanted to talk about it. He knew she had a lot of guilt about her past involvement with the Kindergarten, and while he still didn't understand much about the entire concept of it, he did understand that it was extremely scarring for her.
"Hey Lars! Hey Sadie!" He greeted happily as he pushed open the doors to the Big Donut.
"Hey, Steven," replied Sadie. "haven't seen you in a while. How have you been?"
Steven nodded with a smile. "I've been good! I met a new friend the other day. He's pretty cool, but the Gems don't like him."
"The Gems, huh?" Lars asked, his eyes buried in the magazine he was reading. "Is this new guy some magical creature that your moms know?" he asked with a teasing smirk, though it soon faded as Sadie gently elbowed him.
Steven didn't seem phased by his cockiness. "Uh… maybe? We're not too sure what exactly he is yet." He replied with a shrug.
Sadie leaned in with a smile. "He sounds interesting. So, what can we get you?"
Steven's eyes lit up. "Oh, yeah!" he exclaimed, his hands digging into his jean's pockets as he pulled out a couple of dollars. "A baker's dozen, please. Of the nice, chocolate ones! I'm gonna be meeting up with my Dad and Connie soon."
Sadie nodded gently. "That'll be five thirty." She said, as Steven immediately handed her the money. "Uh, Steven? You've given me ten dollars." She stated with a slight chuckle.
Steven nodded. "Yeah! I figure that, since I haven't been here in a while, I can pay you extra! You can keep the change!"
Sadie smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Steven. Greg and the Gems sure have raised you right."
?!
Open exiting the Big Donut, the young boy hummed to himself as he made his way back to the temple. He knew that Amethyst had declined his offer to come with him, but he wanted to give her some of the donuts regardless. Steven grabbed one of the donuts and stared at it, eager eyes present as he stared at the chocolate coating.
"Mm, you look delicious!" he stated.
"Why thank you, Shining Star!"
Steven gasped as his eyes lit up. "Bill!" he exclaimed happily.
The world once again returned to gray, the yellow dream demon materialising in front of the young boy. He was… stuck between two pancakes?
"Man, the guys at home said I'm tasty, but hearing it from you all but confirms it!" Bill said in a cheery voice. With the snap of his fingers, the pancakes suddenly decreased in size as the triangle shifted them into another chocolate donut, handing it to Steven with care.
"Here, have another one! A lil' gift from a friend, haha!"
Steve smiled as he placed the two donuts back into the bag. "Wow, thanks, Bill!"
"Hah, don't mention it, kid!" He replied, ruffling the hybrid's hair softly.
"So, what brings you here?" Steven asked. In almost an instant, all funny and cheery aspects of Bill's character washed away, a complete stoic and serious expression plastered on his face.
"We need to talk."
?!
"So, a 'Kindergarten' is where… Gems are made, by sucking the life source out of the planet it was made on."
Steven nodded. "I don't really understand all of it that well, but that seems to be the basics!"
Bill returned the nod. "I see. And Purple was definitely made in one?"
"Yeah, but you shouldn't really mention it to her. She feels really bad about it."
Whoops, Bill thought.
A silence remained between the two for what seemed like forever. For one reason or another, however, it wasn't awkward. It felt as if it was needed; and it was. Steven appreciated it, and he didn't know why.
"Hey," Steven began, cutting off the silence as Bill's eye met the young boy's. "Wanna go give Amethyst these doughnuts? I want the Gems to like you just as much as I do, and Amethyst loves doughnuts, so I'm sure she'll appreciate it if you gave her some!" he finished, a happy smile formed at his lips. Bill didn't reply; but he seemed to have considered the offer.
"Sorry, Shining Star, but I have to go. Got places to be, y'know?" Bill responded, crossing his arms. Steven frowned.
And Bill felt… bad?
'What?'
"B-But, hey, give her these." He quickly added, snapping his fingers as a bag full of doughnuts appeared next to Steven, with what seemed like a note on it. "Can't really interact with the physical world that much, but hey, what can 'ya do?"
Steven nodded happily, his frown now once again his trademark grin.
Bill left with content.
?!
Night set over Beach City. The waves got wilder, but the atmosphere was nonetheless that of a much calmer one. Bill stared at the temple from afar, watching as the lights coming from the few windows slowly vanished. Bill let out a sigh as he began to make his way to where he had started spending his nights.
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Peridot cringed at the crumbling walls of the Kindergarten. 'It's been so poorly managed," she thought to herself. The technician walked to the elevator heading towards Facet Five, the loud, metallic stomping of her limb enhancers echoing throughout the abandoned Kindergarten. The elevator blinked a bright green, as it began to lower. Peridot gave one final glance back; specifically at the Warp Pad leading there.
Content with no signs of the Crystal Gems, Peridot's fingers formed her holographic touchscreen as she cleared her throat. "Log Date: 884," she began. "This is Peridot, updating status. Still no signs of a response from Homeworld. Japser and Lazuli's whereabouts continue to remain unknown, and my mutual hatred towards the Crystal Clods has forced me to make a begrudging alliance with an entity known as the 'Bill'. Information involving him is called for, though unfortunately lacking. I just want to get off this cruddy planet…"
Peridot sighed to herself as the elevator reached the floor. "End log." She finished. The Gem stepped off the platform as she slumped down against the cold walls of Facet Five. Her eyes narrowed as she saw the columns attached to the ceiling containing the Gem experiments had cracked.
'The prototypes have already started emerging. It won't be long until the Cluster hatches…'
Peridot hugged her knees as she lowered her head with another heavy sigh. Where was Yellow Diamond? Had she chosen to ignore her? She was just a Peridot, after all. Replaceable.
"Awh, Touchscreen, what's gotcha so down?"
Peridot clenched her eyes shut. "I want to go home."
Bill's eye stared at the slumped Gem. The dream demon slowly floated down next to her. He remained silent.
"I hate this place. I hate not being back on Homeworld. I'm going to die here. I'm constantly on the run from a group who want to hunt me down. I'm in constant danger, and if Yellow Diamond doesn't send help, then I'm going to end up getting shattered." She practically whispered, fighting back tears. 'Don't. Be. Weak. Homeworld would crush you if they saw weakness.'
Bill stared at the ceiling. "I'm sure you'll get home soon, Periwrinkle. Just gotta play the waiting game, is all. I've been doing that for one trillion years."
Peridot shifted in her spot. Her position became a slightly more comfortable one.
"I just… want to go home…"
"I know. And we made a deal, so I'm gonna help you. Life isn't easy, and it surely isn't fair. But you can't let it get the best of you; no matter how much it's bringing you down. Because if you give up, then what were you fighting for?"
Peridot didn't speak a word. She didn't even look at the triangular demon. But Bill understood.
"Now get some sleep," he spoke, lifting himself back into the air as he placed his hands on his hips. "I know you rocks don't need it, but there's nothing wrong in feeling refreshed in the morning."
Peridot muttered something under her breath, but nonetheless agreed as she began to change position. It was rare that her and Bill had conversations like these, but deep down she saw it as a welcomed surprise.
"'Night, Bill."
"Goodnight, Touchscreen."