The Next Day...
After Peridot nightmare last night the gems decide to help her even more summon her weapon. They thought that by doing that Peridot would learn the basics and will have more confidence in herself. Pearl was the first one teaching her how to summon her weapon, but instead of telling her about the petal dance she decided to do another thing. They were sitting on the ground.
"All right Peridot, for you to summon your weapon you need to be calm and be a breeze upon everything around you." said Pearl as her gem began to glow.
"When you see this glow, thats when you have to be extremely calm, and slowly feel your weapon being summoned until the point that is already converted into a mass object." said Pearl as the base of her spear was being projected on her gem.
"That object will be your weapon..." said Pearl as she grabbed the base of the spear and pull it out making a spin and then making the spear bigger.
"Thats how a gem weapon is summoned." explained Pearl. Peridot stared in awe as she saw how elegant and softly Pearl summoned her weapon. Is true that she already saw how Pearl summoned her weapon before, but never explained like that or summoned in that manner.
Peridot try to mimics Pearl's ways and took a deep inhale and close her eyes. She exhale and try to focus.
"(All right, Peridot...you have to focus. Just be calm and think of your weapon...)" thought Peridot. She still had her eyes closed and Pearl could notice how Peridot was doing a great work on focusing.
Peridot's gem began to glow much to Pearl surprise...it seems that Peridot will be able to summon her weapon sooner that he thought. Peridot also felt the glow coming from her gemstone, and she opened her eyes.
"I'm doing it! Now what?! Do I need to grab it already?!" said Peridot trying to find her next step.
"Wait Peridot! You need to calm down and focus..." said Pearl, but it was too late. The glow coming from Peridot gem began to fade until it stopped glowing.
"Oh no! I don't feel anything now! Did I do something wrong?" said Peridot.
"Yes Peridot, you lose the focus on your gem. Remember...always be calm and when you feel your weapon already projected into mass then slowly feel it until you manage to grab it." explained Pearl.
"I guess...I did get carried away. But I think that happen because is the very first time that I was very close to summon my weapon." said Peridot.
"Why don't you try it again? Maybe if you concentrate harder then you'll achieve it." suggested Pearl.
Peridot nodded and closed her eyes and began to focus once again. This time it seems that she was having a hard time focusing. She began to sweat seemingly forcing herself to think roughly.
"Rrrghhh...GRAAAAH! THIS IS USELESS!" said Peridot already tired on focusing so hard.
"Peridot...it wasn't necessary to force yourself on doing that. Its very hard to summon your weapon if you force it. We had one kind of situation like that before." said Pearl remembering the time where Steven almost summoned his shield for the first time by eating a Cookie Cat.
"I know! But why do I keep failing?! Thats something I don't understand! Even if I tried my best at summoning its just...doesn't work." said Peridot.
"Hmmm...I think that question can be answered by Garnet. She'll give you the perfect answer for that question." said Pearl.
"Huh? Why? You can't answer it?" said a confused Peridot.
"Its not that I can't answer, but actually she'll give you a better and understandable answer than mine's." responded Pearl while making her spear disappear.
"Hmmmmm..." said an uncertain Peridot.
Nevertheless Peridot decided to follow Pearl's advice and went towards Garnet.
"...And thats why Pearl wanted me to come with you." said Peridot.
"Hmmm, and now you want me to answer that question of yours." said Garnet.
"Yes! Please! I want to know why I can't to summon my weapon! I mean...I know that I never done that before, and certainly the first try is not always the successful. But still...I don't understand! I want to see if theres a faster way to summon my weapon." said Peridot.
"Hmm...your problem isn't exactly not being able to summon the weapon. Your problem is that you haven't yourself lately!" responded Garnet.
"Huh?! Whats that suppose to mean?" asked Peridot all confused by Garnet response.
"You see how each of us summon our weapons that easily right?" said Garnet.
"Yes." added Peridot.
"You know how Pearl summons her spear by being calm, moving swiftly, and sometimes by a dance. You see how Amethyst summons her whips just by doing nothing and just feel it. You see how calmly I summon my gauntlets when the times need them. You see also how Jasper summons her crasher helmet when its time to destroy things or when it comes to fight corrupted gems. And finally...how Steven summons his shield to protect its family and loved ones." explained Garnet.
"Yes. All of that I noticed already. Besides...I'm pretty sure you just told me how they summon their weapons and how they really are mostly of the time." said Peridot.
"Exactly! You just said the answer." said Garnet noticing Peridot response.
"HUH?! Now you just made me more confused! Please explain!" said a very confused and annoyed Peridot.
"You said that how they are mostly of the time! Thats the point! Each of our weapons represents our aesthetics, how we really are and how our personalities are. Thats how we manage to summon so easily our weapons because the we know ourselves and know how we really are." said Garnet.
"Oooooh! I get it now. So that means I don't know everything about me?" said Peridot.
"Probably...Steven didn't know how to summon his shield before not because he didn't know himself, but actually because he only summon it when he really needed to. After each time he summon his shield he became stronger and more capable on controlling his gem powers. Now he has fully dominated his shield because he never gave up and we never stop believing on him." explained Garnet with a smile.
"Well...now that makes it a little bit easier for me. But also a little bit hard." said Peridot.
"And why is that?" said Garnet.
"I emerged from a Kindergarten back on Homeworld like 2,500 years ago...after I got out from my hole, the first thing they do was teaching me about the Diamond Authority, Homeworld...basically their basics and laws. After learning the basics, I went towards the technician faculty center to learn about my position. They didn't tell anything about me...I learn of how I emerged because they told all the Peridots about their missions and jobs, but only that. They aren't suppose to behave like any other gem with their own personalities. Basically...I'm just a Pearl 2.0." said Peridot with a sad face. This got Garnet very quiet, she didn't know how to answer that.
"I mean! Not to offend the Pearl that we know! Is just..." added Peridot realizing that she meant that all Pearls are just servants or slaves and that would apply the Pearl from the Crystal Gems.
"Its okay Peridot. I understand what you meant. One of us already know about that..." said Garnet looking at her hand that has the Ruby gemstone.
"And now you know why I don't know all about me...meaning that I won't summon my weapon anytime soon...or at even never." said Peridot now with a depressive tone. At this point Garnet had thought of another thing to help Peridot.
"Let me tell you something Peridot...I think that you can summon your weapon. You just need the right motivation, and I got the perfect solution for you to summon it.." said Garnet while putting her right hand on her shoulder with a smile. Then Garnet turned around and saw Steven playing his ukulele while Lapis was floating above him and making some dance moves while he was playing, and Lion was simply laying around sleeping as usual.
"Whoa! you want me to teach you how to summon your weapon?!" said Steven with a huge smile and stars on his eyes.
"Yes. Garnet told me to come over to you since you also had some problems summoning your shield when you were younger. And thought that you would have some great advices for me." said Peridot.
"I'm pretty sure Steven would be a great help. Isn't that right, Steven?" added Lapis with a smile.
"YEAH! Oh man! I'm so glad I get to teach you on summoning your weapon. If only there would be some Cookie Cats left on this world...you could eat some of them and mayb even sing the Cookie Cat rap! Maybe that could make your gem glow!" said Steven. Lapis couldn't help, but to giggle a little bit of Steven bizarre way on helping Peridot. Peridot was just confused.
"Steven...I don't think that cookies with ice cream on the middle are the key on summoning my weapon." said Peridot.
"It worked for me! Buuuut...I think that was because I enjoyed them so much and it made me very happy once I got a bite from it that made my gem glow and possibly the reason why I summon my shield...at least the first time of course." said Steven.
"Still...I said that there is something more to that." said Peridot.
"Awww, come on Peri...let Steven had his own ways to teach you." said Lapis with a playful smile.
"Grrr! How many times do I need to repeat you...DON'T CALL ME PERI, YOU CLOD!" said Peridot with an annoyed tone. Lapis just responded back by making a fart noise and then sticking her tongue out to Peridot. Lion couldn't help, but to watch the sudden exchange between the two gems, but he only responded by yawning and return to sleep.
"Whoa guys...this isn't the time to be arguing. Peri, I'm pretty sure that you could summon your weapon just like Garnet told you before...you need the right motivation. And I'm going to teach you that!" said Steven.
"All right Steven. I'll do it!" said Peridot with a little smile.
"Thats the spirit! Lets get started!" said Steven while striking a pose.
"Oh no! Help me! I'm being attacked!" said Lapis while making an act.
"I don't get it Steven...how is this going to help me?" said Peridot confused at Lapis act.
"This is a great situation! If someone of us is being attacked or is in danger then you should be ready when to act!" said Steven.
"But Lapis isn't in danger! She is just saying that she is being attack, but in reality is just Amethyst with a goofy disguise making crazy statements." said Peridot.
"Mwahahaha! I have kidnapped your little Princess, you big nerd! Face me if you dare with an axe!" said Amethyst shape shifting into a big turtle like monster with spiky things.
"I don't which is more sad...Amethyst act or Peridot not being able to summon her weapon." said Jasper seeing all the play of Steven.
"Probably the first one..." added Jade while eating some chips.
"Oh come on Peri! Try to see it as some sort of evil mastermind that had captured 7 magic spirits and is invincible and everyone has lost all hope, but you haven't give up yet and plan to fight until the end and thats when you summon your weapon and it seems that is the most powerful and manage to defeat the main villain!" said Steven with starry and diamond eyes. Lapis was clapping upon hearing Steven's story example.
"Steven...as most amazing that story was I don't think thats actually possible...or that predictable." said Peridot.
"Oh...sorry Amethyst, but the play has to wait." said Steven.
"Pssshh, its okay Stev-man." said Amethyst while shape shifting back into her normal form.
"Besides, I prefer the act of that pork monster. Is my favorite one." added Amethyst with a grin.
"Okay Peri, I know that summoning a weapon is extremely important, and you need the help of everyone. Why don't you do that?" said Steven.
"Do what?" said a confused Steven.
"All this time you have been receiving all of our help and support. Pearl and Connie training you in the arts of the swordsmanship, Amethyst showing you to relax whenever the time needs you, Garnet in showing all of her support when it comes to your past with Homeworld, and the rest of us had been supporting you in teaching you summoning your weapon. Try to combine all of our teachings and focus into one single movement that could make you summon your weapon." explained Steven.
"Combine them all? I...I'll try..." said Peridot.
Peridot was very uncertain on doing that, but she decided to do nonetheless. She closed her eyes and began to focus very deeply on her thoughts.
"Everything begins with your stance..."
"Have courage and your will seek power..."
"Be a warrior, and stand against your fears..."
Peridot was hearing those voices and slowly her gem began to glow. Steven was staring in awe and was about to scream of emtion, but Lapis made sure to keep Steven quietly because it might lose Peridot focus. Much to Steven and Lapis surprise, Peridot gemstone began to project something...a base similar like Pearl's spear. However, the object began to fade away just like Peridot's gem glow. Steven got disappointed at seeing that the glow disappeared. Peridot felt the gem glow fade away too.
"Huh?! NO! Why?! Why did it disappeared this time?!" shouted a frustrated Peridot.
"I don't get it either Peri...I saw that you did well on trying to summon your weapon. Why did the glow faded away?" said a confused Steven also sad because Peridot failed once again.
"She actually was a little bit closer. I saw that her gem projected something. Some sort of big object coming from it." said Lapis.
"Then where did all go wrong?" said still a confused Steven.
"UUGGH! You see?! I AM NOTHING! JUST FORGET IT STEVEN! I will not be capable of summoning anything...it would be better if I just..." shouted a frustrated Peridot, but was interrupted by Steven.
"NO! Peri, don't say all that stuff about you! Ask yourself one thing...if you really think you are useless then does that mean that you know yourself already? Who you are?" said Steven.
"Who am I?" added a confused yet still frustrated Peridot.
"But Steven there has to be a reason why that glow suddenly faded. It was getting so bright that it couldn't just faded like that especially if Peridot still was focusing." said Lapis.
"Hmm...thats a good point. But what could it... be..." said Steven as he took a closer look to Peridot. Peridot was a little bit uncomfortable the way Steven was looking at her.
"Uh...Steven? Why are you staring at me like that?" asked Peridot with an awkward tone. Steven didn't see another way. He was still seing Peridot face until something stroke him.
"THE VISOR!" shouted Steven getting out of the trance.
"Wha?" added a very confused Peridot.
"The visor! Peri its your visor!" said Steven.
"My visor? What does my visor have anything to do with this?" said still a confused Peridot.
"Don't you get it, Peri? Your visor is covering your gem! Not only that, but it could also be obstructing the way of your weapon from being summoned!" explained Steven. Lapis now saw what Steven meant and saw it too.
Peridot hasn't realized that already and never thought about it too.
"Should...Should I remove it?" said a nervous Peridot.
"Yeah! Maybe that way you can summon your weapon for real!" said Steven. Peridot's visor was the only thing that she didn't lost ever since the battle against that rock monster on the hills. In fact, she has never remove it at all since the day she got her limb enhancers for the first time!
Peridot was hesitant, but still decided to do it. Slowly, her hands began to reach her visor and slowly she took it away. Finally...she took out her visor and put it on the ground. Her gem and eyes were uncoverd completely. Steven got huge...no...GIGANTIC stars on his eyes and a huge grin too. Lapis couldn't help, but to blush a yellow color and have little stars on her eyes.
"Oh my gosh! You look so adorable!" said Steven still with stars on his eyes.
"(Whoa...she looks cute.)" thought Lapis with a yellow blush.
"Don't call me that Steven..." said Peridot. She couldn't help, but to blush a little bit by those kind of comments made by Steven.
"Heh, heh, sorry, sorry...All right! Now try to summon your weapon now!" said Steven. Peridot nodded and proceed to close her eyes and sit on the ground. She took a deep inhale and began to focus; slowly she began to hear voices inside her head.
Deep down in some sort of space, Peridot was there and she saw horrible and familiar figures that she knew...Homeworld Gems. She began to saw distortioned and horrible figures of all the gems that she knew on Homeworld except for Jasper.
"You are weak! Weak of WILL!"
"Weak and incompetence! You will put us on risk! It would be better if you just disappear!"
"No...you are wrong..." said Peridot as she try to hide herself and cover her ears.
"You are nothing! You were always a burden among us!"
"You should stop trying...after all you won't be anything to us!"
"You shouldn't be part of us...after all I AM CLEARLY SUPERIOR TO YOU!"
Peridot couldn't take it anymore! More of insults, more words that hurt her especially coming from a distortion figure of Citrine. Peridot snapped...
"NO! NO! All of you are wrong! I am certainly stronger than all of you think! I am not a burden and I WILL NOT TOLERATE ANYMORE OF YOUR WAYS AND LAWS!" screamed Peridot making all the figures to get even more distortioned and finally disappearing with a big glow.
Peridot was very confused...she didn't understand what just happen, but she saw a green light emerging besides her. That green light made figures of the Crystal Gems, and they weren't distortioned or modified in any way. They were beautiful figures seemingly a flashbacks of all the great moments Peridot has been with the Crystal Gems.
"Everything begins with your stance..."
"Have courage and you will seek power..."
"Be a warrior and stand against your fears..."
"Don't be super stressed! Relax and have fun..."
"Chill out, Peri-nerd! After all we always have fun in the end, don't we?"
After the sentences, figures of Pearl, Connie, and Amethyst were shown. Those beautiful phrases and images putted little tears on Peridot eyes, but it wasn't done yet.
"The star is a tie that unites all of us..."
"You have protected the Earth alongside us...don't forget that pride."
"I'll admit it, you did a great fight right there..."
"Calm down...don't blind yourself with frustration or rage..."
"You got a lot of problems...that doesn't make you a useless or annoying gem.
"The past is in the past now...your actions is what matters now."
Even more figures appeared after Peridot heard those phrases. Figures of Garnet, Lapis, Jasper and Jade appeared in front of her with a smile. Peridot was crying not because of sadness, but actually because of the joy she felt at the moment. The best of all is that she saw a huge and glowing light emerging in the center and stopped Peridot from crying anymore. That big light revealed all the beautiful and funny moments that Steven and Peridot had shared together. Not only that, but also it made a big figure of Steven smiling at her and offering his hand to Peridot.
"You are strong Peri!"
"Peri, don't say that stuff about you...You aren't anything of what you said."
"Don't ever give up! When the situations looks bad don't throw the towel just like that! Believe in yourself!"
"Peri, you are special to all of us! Don't forget that..."
"Peri, you are part of my family now. I will not think of you as a burden never in my life. I love you just like I love everyone else."
After hearing all those phrases coming from the images of Steven...Peridot stand up, and turned around seeing another huge figure of all the Crystal Gems in front of her with a big smiles and Steven offering his hand to her.
"Ask yourself one thing...if you really think you are useless then does that mean that you know yourself already? Who you are?"
"Who are you?"
Peridot smiled and the glow began to intensify and get bigger, and bigger each time she got closer to the figure of the Crystal Gems.
"I am Peridot Facet-2F5L Cut-5XG, a number among all the Peridots of Homeworld...a former Homeworld gem and loyal gem to Yellow Diamond...a gem who was going to work on the project of the Cluster...I am no longer that kind of gem, I am not that Peridot anymore." said Peridot getting closer and closer to the figure and now reaching for Steven's hand.
"I am Peridot! A proud member of the Crystal Gems! A proud gem who is willing to become stronger to protect everyone on this beautiful planet! A proud gem who isn't afraid anymore on making decisions without my limb enhancers! Proud student of Pearl's and Connie teachings about swords!" said Peridot still getting closer to the figure. Each time she got closer the glowing was getting stronger.
"I am Peridot...proud member...OF THE CRYSTAL GEMS! I AM A CRYSTAL GEM!" shouted Peridot as she finally reached the figures of the Crystal Gems and held Steven hand with tears on her eyes. Proud and joy tears of a Crystal Gem.
After Peridot reached the figure, the glowing became very strong and powerful that it could have blind half of the world with its intensity. The glowing was a sign of Peridot summoning her weapon. That glow was coming from Peridot's gemstone and it was very strong...Steven and Lapis had no choice, but to cover their eyes at such splendid brightness. Peridot...finally summoned her weapon.
Author's Note: I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!
Only one more chapter to end the Steven Fanbomb 2! Don't miss it out!