Steven
The Crystal Gems stood in the beach house. Outside Steven was playing on the beach. Garnet did not look happy.
"Gems I am calling you here because of Steven's lack of progress. Pearl while in your care Steven has shown no signs of using his powers or had his memories of Rose awakened. Care to explain?" said Garnet.
"That's right blame me. I'm the one washes his clothes, cooks his meals and teaches him. It's not like you two do anything to help," replied Pearl vehemently.
"You were the one who knew Rose best. So explain why Rose hasn't awakened."
"I don't know maybe because we're not allowed to talk about the war or take him to gem sites or even demonstrate our powers," said Pearl.
"She's got a point Garnet," said Amethyst.
"Amethyst you aren't helping," said Garnet through gritted teeth.
"And neither are you. Honestly it would help a lot if you both got involved in the household chores," said Pearl.
"We both know that's all your good for," snapped Garnet.
"Guys," said Amethyst.
"What did you say?" hissed Pearl dangerously.
"I said that a low down Pearl is only good for housework," said Garnet forming her fists.
"Guys! Greg's at the door with Steven," shouted Amethyst. Pearl crossed her arms. She wasn't going to budge. Amethyst sighed, "Fine I'll go get it."
When the door opened Greg stood with Steven beside him. He looked angry, "I caught my son playing in a set of swimming trunks. Care to explain?"
"Ah that's what you're supposed to wear at the beach?" said Amethyst.
"Not in the middle of November you aren't," snapped Greg.
The gems looked at each other. They had screwed up.
A few days Amethyst sat on the couch doing something she truly hated- thinking. Rose for all her kindness cared very much for her personal comfort. She never would have stood by and let someone make her feel uncomfortable. Yet Steven in near freezing weather let the gems put him outside in nothing but a set of swimming trunks. Pearl thought thought that he could use the light to strengthen his gem but that did not change the fact that Greg brought him in blue and shivering, clearly uncomfortable.
Amethyst decided to test Steven or more like play a practical joke. As she set to work the Purple gem almost hoped that Steven would fall for it. She set up her trap.
One dark morning while Pearl was buying groceries Amethyst called up to Steven.
"Hey Steven, you want some really cool powers like us?"
Steven little head popped out from the loft "Do I? Of course. What do I have to do?"
"You see Steven the problem with you is that you're not color coordinated. What you really need to do is to change your coloring. I've got a tubful of dye to help with it."
The little sucker raced down.
A couple of hours later Pearl came back with an armful of groceries. She saw Amethyst sitting at the breakfast bar.
"What are you smirking about?" asked Pearl as she set down the groceries.
"I've got a surprise for you," Amethyst called out. "Hey Steven come on down and show Pearl your new look!"
Steven came rushing down from the loft. Every inch of his body was a bright pink even his hair had a pinkish tinge. Pear numbly. The room was silent except for Amethyst's snickering.
"Hey Pearl, Amethyst says this will give me gem powers," said Steven brightly.
"No it won't!" snapped Pearl. "Amethyst how could you do this? Come with young man we're going to scrub this off right away."
A couple of hours later, Garnet peered down at Steven. He was even redder than before thanks to Pearl's attempts at scrubbing off the dye. Standing beside Steven were Amethyst and Pearl. The permafusion was furious.
"Gems I do not need to tell you how serious this is. If Greg sees Steven like this he will take him away," said Garnet the cold fury in her voice. "And Pearl I am very disappointed in you. Where were you while Amethyst dyed Steven pink?"
"I was doing my job oh great leader, buying groceries. Why don't you blame Amethyst for this entire mess?" said Pearl.
"Ah guys when will my powers come in?" asked Steven.
"Sorry dude I tricked you. Our powers don't work like that," laughed Amethyst.
"You mean I look stupid for nothing?" Steven started to cry.
"Steven, don't cry we'll figure something out right Garnet?" asked Pearl.
Garnet glared at Amethyst, "That was very cruel of you Amethyst why did you trick Steven like that?"
"To see if he was Rose. Rose was smart man. She would have never fallen for a trick like that," replied Amethyst.
"Amethyst you put Steven in danger," said Garnet with clenched teeth.
"Acting like Steven's Rose is putting Steven in danger. Look I love Rose put she is never coming back. What we have left is Steven!" shouted Amethyst.
"Do you mean you only loved me because you thought I was my Mom?!" cried Steven. The little boy ran right out of the Beach House.
"Steven wait, you can't go out looking like that!" cried Pearl as she raced after him.
Garnet watched them leave. She turned to Amethyst, "I hope you realize how much you upset Pearl with this stunt. Now her dreams of Rose returning to us are shattered."
"No, Pearl accepted Rose's death first. The only one in denial is you!"
"Shut up Amethyst!"
"Who do you think I am Pearl? No Garnet, you need to accept that Rose is never coming back. Steven is his own person. I know it. Pearl knows it. It's time for you to know it too. Steven is not Rose. Treating him like that will only hurt him." Amethyst glared up Garnet her gaze was firm.
"You're smarter than you look," Garnet slumped against the post. She dissipated her glasses. "What do we do now?"
"Hey that's Pearl's job. We just have to remember we have a Steven not a Rose. And we should probably take him someplace sunny so that he can get a tan."
Peridot
Over the next few days Peridot worked hard at her lessons. In the day shift Omega Bismuth gave her small assignments such as processing the lambs' fur, fixing some ancient kindergarten equipment or even tending the silk worms. In the evening her teachers made her take gymnastics and read what they were permitted to about Earth. But it was their next door neighbor that taught Peridot her most important lesson.
One day when Peridot was at home with her teachers she heard a loud explosion.
"What in the star is that?" cried Jet nearly leaping up.
"It came from next door," replied Emerald. "Peridot stay right here."
The two older technicians left leaving Peridot alone. For a while Peridot stayed then getting bored she followed them. In the hallway she could hear the sounds of welders and drills. Peridot followed the noise to a door a few meters down. Not bothering to knock she opened the door only to see the strangest sight in her entire existence.
Crawling over the components of a half assembled pleasure craft were dozens of tiny, brightly colored, furry bipeds. They had large ears, spoke in squeaky voices and had what looked like Pearls embedded in their foreheads. Watching over them was an Apatite and her teachers.
"Peridot I told you to wait at home!" scolded Emerald.
"It's no problem. Hey Peridot welcome to project Pearl," shouted the Apatite.
"Project Pearl?" asked Peridot as she walked over.
"Yes, as you know resources are running low on Homeworld. And there are only so many gems that can to be made except for one the Pearl," boasted Apatite.
"But Pearls are only good for serving," countered Peridot.
A green biped slipped. It dropped to the floor with a thump. Another biped struggled with a blowtorch. Somehow despite their clear incompetence Peridot wanted one.
"That's right but their malleability is their strength. I got this breed of Pearls from the gemetic archives with some modification I was able to make these little engineers," boasted Apatite.
Peridot sat down. She poked one of the little bipeds even picking one up.
"Er tell your Peridot not to interfere with their work," said Apatite uncomfortably.
"Peridot cease and desist now!" shouted Jet.
Peridot dropped the biped. She scurried back to her teachers.
"Your Peridot has quite the will. Why did you ever make her?" said Apatite.
"Hey it's not her fault these look like training robinoids," snapped Jet.
"What Jet means to say is that we were assigned to care for this Peridot. She has an important mission to complete for Yellow Diamond," explained Emerald.
"Hmm I heard. I doubt that a brainless Peridot could master running a Kindergarten,"said Apatite.
"Hey our Peridot is plenty smart. Besides she is doing much better than your weird little Pearls at building whatever that is," snapped Jet.
"It's an interstellar pleasure craft! Building and piloting it is the ultimate intelligence test. Once they do that they'll validate my findings!"
"Oh really? Nobody is going to take your walking toys seriously! Come Peridot, we're leaving," said Emerald as she grabbed Peridot's arm.
Just as they were about to leave the room. Jet noticed something moving in Peridot's jumpsuit. A little fuzzy head poked out.
"I can't breathe in there," squeaked the little green Pearl.
"Peridot, give back the mutant Pearl now!" ordered Jet.
"You are in so much trouble when we get back home young lady!"added Emerald.
When they got home they gave her a long lecture on stealing and exactly what she was permitted to own but the real lesson came months later. It was the beginning of the annual inspection and everyone seemed tense. The governor a disgraced Zircon had everybody Peridot knew line up in the landing bay while a troop of Quartzes and very important looking Hessonite strutted out of a large ship.
"All right you clods, the only reason you misfits are still alive is because my Diamond still has some use for you," announced Hessionite. She walked down the line until she came up to Peridot.
"Why aren't you shaved, Peridot?"questioned Hessionite.
Peridot stammered"Why you see- I'm a .."
"Not you, your owners," snapped Hessionite.
"Peridot has been created to oversee the Cluster. Because of that she has special status," explained Emerald.
The Hessionite sneered. She walked down the rest of the group paying special attention to Omega Bismuth. Never had Peridot seen Bismuth so afraid as she answered Hessionite's questions. She must have given the correct answers because Hessionite broke off the questioning. She walked back to the front of the group.
"All right you pebbles listen up. I don't want to be here and you don't want me here either so to make my life easier I want you all to give me a presentation on the projects you've been working on. In the meantime my team and I will be going over all your logs and personal files. You have one week to prepare. Dismissed!"
The scientists all scrambled away. As Peridot was heading back to work Bismuth came up to her.
"Little Peridot, I think it is time you visited the kindergartens on the other side of the planet," stated Bismuth.
To keep Peridot busy Bismuth had Peridot assemble an overland transport safely out of sight. She could not protect her during the off hours though. Her trainers did that much to Peridot's dismay.
"But everybody's going to the assembly why can't I?" whined Peridot.
"Because it's not safe. Peridot you are too different. Your very existence is controversial and Hessionite's job is to reduce controversy. Best keep out of sight in the meantime," said Emerald.
"Can I go feed at the light chamber then?"
Emerald nodded. Taking this opportunity Peridot raced out the door. She took the service tunnels like a typical Peridot to the assembly hall. When she got there she waited at the back with the Peridots and the other laborer castes. In the front stage the show began. After polite clapping Apatite and her mutlicolored Pearls stepped up front. Years later Peridot would recognize that they looked like teddy bears.
"Thank you very much for coming here. As you all know resources are scarce on Homeworld even with the advent of the inferior Era 2 gems," The audience grumbled most of them were Era 2's. "There can only be so many gems made of any caste. Except for one the Pearls."
In the front Peridot could see Hessionite fidget. Apatite continued oblivious, "But Apatite Pearls are only servants you say. Well I say this the very malleability that matches them to their owners' desires is their very strength. I searched the gemetic archives and modified their templates and made these Pearls you see before you. With the correct breeding and training they can take over even the most complex tasks.
To prove my point I have made them assemble this pleasure craft," The curtains parted revealing the ship in all its glory. The audience was silent. "Your Clarity Hessonite, I invite you to come up on stage and inspect this craft to your satisfaction after which you are welcome to observe my Pearls in their flight maneuvers..."
Peridot felt a large meaty hand clamp down on her shoulder. She let out a squeak as she was pulled around.
An angry Bismuth loomed down, "Little Peridot do you not know how dangerous it is? I think it is time we went to the Zeta kindergarten now!"
They did a quick stop at Peridot's quarters. Her trainers looked so disappointed as Bismuth explained what happened. Then it was onto the overland transport. Bismuth downloaded the coordinates to Peridot.
"You have far too much free time. The journey will take 3 days. You will drive us there with no breaks. Do you understand?" said Bismuth firmly.
"Yes Omega Bismuth," replied Peridot.
Outside on the surface the landscape was harsh and foreboding. At night they passed through harsh jagged peaks and in the day they took shelter in any caves from the harsh sun. Inside the cabin the mood was uncomfortable Bismuth only spoke to Peridot to give orders.
Finally they reached the Zeta site. Bismuth ordered Peridot to park the vehicle inside a cave. When they got inside Peridot was speechless. There inside was a vast wall filled with exit holes. Peridot could not see where it ended either right of left or even down. But it was the inhabitants that interested Peridot the most.
Low grade Nephrites gathered any Ruby that popped out a hole. They gathered them into a small pen where the Rubies stood. One of the Nephrites turned and waved Bismuth over.
"Bismuth how goes it? The harvest of Rubies is the healthiest I have ever seen. We even got a Sapphire," said the Nephrite.
"Nephrite 1HR let me introduce you Peridot 5XG," said Bismuth.
"So the rumors are true. They have created a Super Peridot," Nephrite looked at Peridot as if she were a pile of tailings.
"Nephrite you will show Peridot the same respect as a fellow Kindergartener. Now Peridot I want you to build a drill that will allow us to tunnel to the spaceport."
"Why can't we just build warp pads?" complained Peridot.
"Because of this sun's radiation, now get to work," ordered Bismuth.
Sighing Peridot went straight to work. Bismuth seemed to ignore her she was constantly looking at her files while rouge Rubies ran around shouting. Peridot was just putting the finishing touches on the drill when Bismuth ordered her to stop.
"Peridot stop what you are doing. Go with Nephrite 6HR and package the Rubies," ordered Bismuth.
"But I'm just about finished," said Peridot.
"Now!"
The look Bismuth gave Peridot had her scurrying. Packaging she found out was poofing the Rubies with a gem disruptor and placing the gems in a box. Peridot earned several kicks to her face as the Rubies weren't cooperative. When she was finally done Bismuth called to her.
"Gather the packages and get inside the vehicle. You've suffered enough," said Bismuth. Once they were inside Bismuth turned to Peridot. "Do you know why I was punishing you?"
"Because I disobeyed an order from my trainers," replied Peridot.
"That too but it was mainly to do with something else. This annual inspections are meant to route out anybody who is too different. Which you little Peridot are. The Diamond Authority is a dangerous place and stick out too much and you'll be purged. You'll understand when you get home."
This time Bismuth drove the way back. Peridot frightened Bismuth as when she fell asleep. Still the trip went much faster and by the end of the next day they were home. When they finally parked their vehicle Peridot raced off without looking back like the youngster she was. When she finally got near enough to her quarters she noticed how quiet Apatite's quarters were.
There was no sound of drills or screams and crashes. Peridot knocked gently on Apatite's door. Instead her trainers door opened and Emerald stepped out.
"Apatite and the Pearls were shipped off the outpost. Her findings were too much against the Order of the Diamonds. Come inside you must be hungry," said Emerald.