Chapter 14 - Reunion
The Crystal Gems had decided that Jasper could not remain under the amusement park's platform, and ended up staying under another wooden platform. These, however, were steps. Steps leading to the wooden structure that Steven called 'home', which was located right in front of the temple that served as the base of the Crystal Gems. And someone always had to be watching her for safety precautions. Jasper wasn't surprised, except for the fact that they were letting her stay so close to their base. It made no sense.
But nothing made any sense anymore.
The first gem that was assigned to watch Jasper for a couple hours was Peridot. This surprised Jasper, since it meant the Crystal Gems trusted Peridot that much. For the first hour, they were both completely silent. Eventually, Peridot spoke up.
"You've gotten a lot less talkative," Peridot said, "It's weird."
"If you were me, you'd understand," Jasper answered, "It's not an objective thing."
"Then what is it?" Peridot asked, "What's made you so… not you?"
"Well," Jasper said, "You've changed, too. What caused that?"
"Exposure to human culture and the tolerance and acceptance the others have provided," Peridot said, "It's actually quite nice here once you settle in."
"So what made you decide to stay here?" Jasper asked, "Out of the two of us, you would have the best chance of getting back to Homeworld."
"Not being able to find a way, really," Peridot answered, "I knew I wasn't getting off the planet, so I allied myself with the Crystal Gems in order to stop the Cluster."
"You decided… to stop the Cluster from emerging?" Jasper asked.
"Of course," Peridot replied, "If the Cluster emerged, we'd all be shattered and destroyed."
"So did you do it?"
"Steven and I did. He bubbled it."
"...How do you bubble something that big?"
"I don't know, either," Peridot said, "But he's pretty incredible."
"So you're… friends with them. Is that why you don't want to go back?"
"Well, yes. That and I… called...a…"
Jasper couldn't hear the second half of Peridot's statement, "What?"
"I called Yellow Diamond a clod," Peridot said, "Right to her face."
Jasper paused. Peridot was probably in deeper water than she was with Homeworld's punishments. Though she soon realized that Peridot's actions would have only made Jasper's punishment worse, given she was responsible for the actions of those in the mission.
"Wow." Jasper said.
"I know."
Peridot then returned to her old question, "So what changed for you? Why haven't you tried to get back to Homeworld?"
"I couldn't go back. I'd get shattered." Jasper said, "I was the leader of the mission, and I'm responsible for the failure. Yellow Diamond would never believe what happened, anyways."
"I always thought you'd stay… well, you, even in the face of being shattered," Peridot remarked.
"Well, you were wrong, Peridot," Jasper said, "I have fears too. No one wants to get shattered. And all I have left is that fear, anyways. I can't even do what I was created for."
"Neither can I, apparently," Peridot said. "I suppose we're similar in that respect."
"I guess." Jasper said.
Eventually, it was time for Peridot to leave and for another gem to watch Jasper. As the small green gem left, she looked back at Jasper and said something,
"You know, you're somewhat tolerable when you're being honest. That's a sincere compliment."
Jasper found that she almost smiled, and it was very strange for her.