Sunsets were the best part of the day. There was so much color, and so much to look at.

As far as Pearl was concerned, humans took things like sunsets for granted. They waved off things that were so beautiful, and just moved on. When Pearl saw sunsets, she eventually realized that she was only seeing a glimpse of the beauty that was in the earth.

"Hey Pearl! Great job on the mission! That was so cool how you smashed that pillar...and then BAM! You took out those wolves like they were nothing!" Peridot said, jumping up and down excitedly.

Pearl smiled. "Thanks, Peridot. That's really quite kind of you."

Peridot was only about five and a half feet tall, just shorter than Pearl. He had short white hair, light green skin, and green gem located on the back of his head, just above his neck.

"It was alright, really, I think that your sword work could use some work." A third gem, a tall (about six and a half feet), burgundy-skinned man with wide shoulders and spiked black hair walked over.

Peridot grinned widely. "But Jasper, it was awesome! I mean, she moves so fluidly..."

Jasper sighed, rolling his eyes and frowning. "And yet I'm not amused. She was almost stabbed five different times."

"But she's fine!"

Pearl smiled softly. "It's okay, Peridot. He's right. There is always more to improve on."

Jasper raised his eyebrows. "We'll see how far you go."

Pearl sagged her shoulders, and just started on her way back to the temple. Peridot ran up beside her, extremely energetic, leaving Jasper back behind them.

"Hey! How long does Rose want you to be with us, anyway?" Peridot asked, but still smiled.

"Oh, it's been a few years," Pearl said simply. "She wasn't too specific, she just said that I should help you and Jasper until you guys found a new team member, after what happened to Zircon and all..."

Peridot shrugged. "There's practically no sign of any other gems out here. But don't let Jasper get to you. I honestly think that his gem should be on his ass, not his chest. I bet Rose will call you back soon. She only means the best. Remember when we all lived in that temple on the beach?"

Pearl smiled. "Yeah, I swear that your room was the strangest. Your taste is so...erratic." Despite Pearl's words, Peridot knew that she was still being friendly.

"Boy, and you have never seen my room at out current temple...Or else you would probably flip out. Or try to clean everything."

"There is nothing wrong with keeping everything neat," Pearl said cheerfully.

Peridot laughed. "Well, anyway, I'm sure Rose won't do you wrong." He was bright, cheerful, fun, and very relaxed. This was the first time that Pearl had gotten to partner up with Peridot, this arrangement being Rose's idea.

"Yeah...Yeah, your right. Thanks Peridot," Pearl said, visibly brightening as they walked into a gem temple that sat in the middle of a field. Jasper walked in a few moments later, wordlessly entering into his room.

"We have a mission," Jasper stated, pointing toward the warp pad. Peridot and Pearl wordlessly joined him as they warped into a large, dark cavern. The roof stretched at least fifty feet above Jasper's head, and the bottom of the cavern was consumed by blackness.

Peridot leaned over the edge of where the gems were standing, staring down into the darkness.

"Something's down there. Let's check it out."

Jasper nodded, and leapt downward with Pearl and Peridot at his heels.

Pearl looked around, her gem glowing slightly to provide some light. She felt a chill run through her. "What are we here for, Jasper?" she asked seriously.

Jasper pointed to the side of the cavern; there was a low growl that cut though the air, and black beasts began to jump out and attack.

"Jasper! What's happening?!" Peridot asked out loud, pulling a hooked sword out of his gem.

Jasper was knocked onto the ground a few feet away, being piled by beasts.

"No!" Peridot screamed, turning and beginning to try and yank the beasts off with his sword.

"Peridot! Don't get killed!" Pearl shouted.

"He's dead!" Peridot yelled, trying to fight his way back to Pearl. "We have to get out of here...He's dead..."

"Then let's go!" Pearl screamed, grabbing Peridot's hand and running toward the nearest warp pad.

Rose sighed. "I'm going to miss Jasper," she said quietly, looking saddened. Garnet nodded.

"Peridot decided to stay at the temple out on the plains. Thank you for calling me back, Rose," Pearl said quietly, trying to keep it together.

"Couldn't he come and live with us?" Garnet asked quietly, looking over at Rose.

Rose shook her head. "I can't make him do anything, and he's less likely to comply now that he has lost Jasper."

Pearl looked down at the floor. "He just lost his friend. He said that all he wanted to live alone. I think he's given up..."

Rose nodded. "Then it is probably for the best that we leave him alone for now. Let him heal." She paused for a moment before turning to Pearl. "How are you holding up?"

"I...I've never seen a gem die before."

"Don't blame yourself," Garnet said quietly. Every gem turned to face her. "There's something strange about his death. I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with him, but if we could ever get into the cavern, I would want to investigate."

"That's not possible," Pearl said, crossing her arms. "Those things could kill us to if we go back."

Rose nodded. "Then we will find a way, eventually, and at least recover the gem. Pearl, go and rest. You've been through a lot in the past week."

So Pearl went outside of the temple, and watched the sunset. They were definitely the best part of the day. So Pearl vowed to herself that if someone ever came along she wanted to protect as much as Peridot, than she would be sure to point this out to them.