It was discovered that Peridot had been visiting Topaz for days on end, practically since she and Steven had had their talk. Peridot was eventually found-in the mayor's basement (flyers and posters had been passed around proclaiming the threat of giant green rats and for their extermination as they'd scare away tourists; Mayor Dewey sported a neck brace for a whole week!)-and when she was confronted with the evidence against her, she spilled her guts.

When told that she could come and go as she pleased, Peridot had no shame in saying she'd been doing that all along. But, now, without having to be secretive about it, she bullied everyone into helping her pack her things. Peridot was moving out.

And Topaz's conditions fell through.

"But how can they take me seriously if I don't go through with what I say?!"

Peridot replied saucily, "You expect me to carry all my things by myself?"

Topaz slunk the most repugnant stink-eye over to Steven and the Crystal Gems, as if her eyes could smell them, as if they were the smelliest, most rancid tin of anchovy paste that dated back to 1952. Amethyst smiled like a snake.

"Just this once..."

Topaz led the way. Around several bends in the canyon and through a glen revealed a hidden nook with a hole bored into the side of the cliff, large enough for two Garnets to fit through comfortably, with a small set of stairs carved out of the rock leading up to it. Steven was so dumbfounded that he nearly forgot what he was doing.

He followed everyone inside, deciding that the layers of warm colors from the rock, freshly carved and more vibrant, made Topaz's home beautiful. The walls weren't flat nor was the hole circular. It was oblong and the ceiling was well out of Steven's reach, unless Garnet held him up on her shoulders.

It didn't take long to reach Topaz's den, which was just a single room. It had about as much floor space as Steven's loft, only, maybe twice as wide. It was cool in here, away from the hot sun, and it was dim, and Steven could've bet money that the room was completely empty.

Topaz's Gem lit up. "Just put it anywhere."

Steven wasn't entirely mistaken. Topaz's room was fairly empty. All that was there was a bed, a guitar and amp, and a stack of boxes behind that. That was it. Also, the bed didn't have a pillow or blankets. Only a spartan bed frame.

"Nice place," said Garnet.

If not for the guitar, the best way Steven would describe Topaz's room was jail cell, minus the sink, and the toilet, and window. As he put down one of Peridot's boxes, he also couldn't decide whether Topaz's hole was cozy or creepy. Cramped would likely be the best term for it once Peridot was moved in.

On their way out, with his hands free, Steven ran his fingers along the wall of Topaz's "foyer." It wasn't smooth, but faceted, leading Steven to imagine how many swings it took from Topaz's sword to hollow out her home. Steven would've thought it was impressively feng shui if he wasn't certain that Topaz was quite deaf to harmonic energy.

Topaz's gift still lay at the bottom of the canyon.

Only Peridot was near her when everyone got on the warp pad.

Back home, more of Peridot's hoard remained in the barn, so Topaz followed her inside. They passed Lapis laying on her lawn chair. Topaz eyed her as she walked inside. Steven caught Lapis' gaze; Topaz must've been the one who actually smelled like anchovies. Steven shrugged to her sheepishly.

Steven grabbed two whole boxes this time, which was a feat for him considering they were stuffed with metal!

Garnet grabbed another ten boxes...

On the way out, boxes in hand, everyone walked by Lapis again, but Topaz, still staring, stopped short.

"Hey," she said. "Why don't you help."

Steven's heart skipped a beat.

"Leave me alone," clipped Lapis.

Topaz turned to Peridot. "Is she defective? What's her problem?"

Steven's jaw dropped. He had never seen Lapis curl her nose up like she did. He dropped his boxes and scurried over to her. In a desperate motion, Steven rapidly patted her cheeks like a ninny. Lapis recoiled from him, giving him her attention. Steven took her face and looked pleadingly into her blue eyes. She sighed hard and dropped her shoulders. Lapis got up from her chair and went someplace else.

Garnet was the only one still waiting for Steven. He heave-ho'ed his two lead weights and lugged them over to the warp pad.

"Crisis averted," said Garnet.

Back in the desert, Topaz spoke with Garnet about her "subordinates."

"Why not have the Lapis Lazuli work? With her abilities, moving would be much faster."

"I do not command Lapis."

"Yes," said Topaz, "I get that none of you are soldiers, and that those under you aren't your servants, but they're your followers, yes? You're their leader, they do as you say."

"The Crystal Gems aren't below me, nor are they my followers. We live independently of our own free will. Only when it is required do we work together as a team. Only then do I lead."

Topaz gibed, "So, what you're saying is, the Lapis Lazuli is left to her own devices, free to do as she likes, with no repercussions for her actions, especially at not wanting anything to do with your team... Hm!-there's an idea!"

Peridot snickered.

"What?..."

"It's just," she replied, "you're so recalcitrant."

Topaz regained her composure. "Yeah." She shifted her eleven boxes she shouldered before continuing. "A leader should be respected. The way that Lapis Lazuli was behaving, seemed like she respected no one."

Garnet said, "She respects Steven."

Topaz looked skeptically over her unburdened shoulder. "You're implying the Quartz is your leader?"

Garnet peeked behind her and smiled. "In a manner of speaking." Steven smiled, too.

"Never met a leader so weak."

"Down," commanded Peridot. "Bad dog! We do not insult the indentured labor."

Topaz looked down at her.

"What? A brilliant mind has to expand her vocabulary. Luckily, Earth language is rife with expletives! There's a deluge behind these lips! But, if you're ever feeling nostalgic..."

"Only for high cliffs..."

"Stop joking about that," she scoffed. "Let's move it while we still have radiation beating down on us directly from the nearest star!"

Amethyst gave Steven a wrinkled look. He knew why, but he saw all of this as progress. Topaz was having a conversation with Garnet-non-threateningly, unforced, with zero danger. It was horribly one-sided, but, still, yesterday Topaz had wanted to kill everyone.

Maybe wanted was too strong a word. Provoked might be better? Steven was unsure. He'd have to double-check with Connie (he could look it up on his phone, but, then again... he also couldn't).

Peridot seemed to be in a great mood, and Steven thought about what Connie said to him over the phone; she and Topaz must want this bad enough.

There wasn't much talking after that. Only the seemingly endless stream of Peridot's bits and bobs-things that might find a use one day, or might not-kept them company until it got dark and cool in the desert. By that point, all that remained to be moved from the barn was Peridot's old foot, but she was thinking of leaving it for Lapis as a memento of her and their time living together and to kiss in place of her real foot.

Topaz waited over by the warp pad while everyone said their goodbyes.

"I'm gonna miss you," said Steven.

"I must admit," sniffled Peridot, "your nuisance was most welcome." Steven invited her for a hug. "Oh, I suppose I can momentarily revoke my personal space." She leaned in and hugged Steven for the first time.

"Will I see you again soon?"

"I gotchyo numbuh. I'll set up a tower. I'll call on you." They pulled away from their embrace. "Really, you can come visit anytime."

"But..."

"Oh, don't worry about her," said Peridot. "That dog is all bark."

Steven said, "She's got a pretty mean bite, too..."

Peridot chuckled. "Yeah."

Then Peridot left. Steven watched her go until the warp pad beamed her and Topaz away.

...