FYI, this takes place before Steven listened to the recorder.

Spinel dramatically slammed 6 books on the short table in front of Peridot and she asked, "What… are those?"

"They're called books!" Spinel replied, "It's like watching a TV show like Camping Pining Hearts, but instead of being shown what's happening, you have to read the words on the pages to imagine what's going on."

"Doesn't sound fun to me," The green Gem muttered.

Spinel tutted at her, "Oh no no no, reading can be just as fun as watching television. In fact, it's quite healthier than sitting in front of the screen for days."

Peridot stared at the books, picking up one of the books, the words reading, "Fighter Cats: Into the Forest." The picture below showed a orange-colored creature with determined green eyes staring back at her, and the imagery below showed a black, orange, and white creature facing against a gray one. Below, read "By Ellie Huntsmen".

"Fighter Cats?" She asked aloud.

"Yep!" Spinel nodded, picking up another book, "or simply 'Fighters' for short."

"What… is it about?"

"I was getting into that! Basically, these animals called 'cats' all live in individual clans. Each clan has different names; Lightningclan, Torrentclan, Galeclan, and Shadeclan. The cats, known as fighters, have to fight and defend their territory from each-other, but sometimes they do get along. Each clan has a commander, an ambassador, and a doctor."

"Okay…"

"But in the first series, it's about a cat named Ruby joining Lightningclan since she was so fascinated by the idea of living outside."

"Really? Who would want to write that?"

"Pffft! It's fantasy! It's fun to write that kind of stuff!"

Peridot raised a brow, turning the book to a random page and read out loud, "Then by Stellarclan's name, Ruby, your name will be Fiery-Paw- You lied to me!"

Spinel laughed a bit, "Sorry, she gets renamed to suit their rules."

"Rules?"

"Yep, sometimes when a cat outside their clan wants to join, they have to be renamed."

"Any other rules these 'cats' go by?"

"Well, there's one where you can't fall in love with someone from a different clan, otherwise you get kicked out. But the thing is, this only causes more love drama."

"Love drama? Like Percy and Paulette?!"

The pink Gem faltered in annoyance, but nodded, "... Yes. Like Percy and Paulette."

"Oh my stars!" Peridot excitedly flipped through the pages, "I've got to know more!"

"How about we read it together?" Spinel suggested.

Peridot looked up at her, "Really?!"

"Of course!" Spinel happily sat next to the green Gem, "Now, it's always good to start on the first page. Chapter 1. Maroon-Tail led his patrol into the night..."

That night…

"... 'Join me, dear son,' Tiger-Star crooned, his tail curling around the other tom. Prickle-Strike didn't know what to think, but the look from Cold-Bird gave him a surge of confidence," read Spinel, holding on the flashlight.

Peridot scoffed, "What a moron! Can't he see that Tiger-Star's in the Black Wood?"

"Yeah, he should've listened to Flying-Squirrel or Leafy-Sue," Spinel joked just as Steven walked in.

"Um," He awkwardly spoke, seeing the Gems sitting against the wall, now reading a book of the second series, "How long have you been reading those?"

Spinel chuckled nervously, "Several hours…"

"Steven!" Peridot stood up swiftly, "You would not believe what happened! In the first series-"

"Let me guess," Steven deadpanned, "Quick-Paw and Light-Paw were attacked by the dogs?"

Peridot began to cry dramatically, "YES! And Navy-Star gave Light-Paw the worst name anyone could ever give… Scarred-Face. HOW COULD SHE?!"

"How could she indeed…" Steven sighed, "Spinel, why are you making her obsessed with another series?"

Spinel shrugged guilty, pigtails lowering, "Just thought this was healthier. And I just couldn't help myself. Heh heh heh..."

"WHY DID PRETTY-STREAM OR FLAKE-KIT HAVE TO DIE-HIE-HIE-HIIIIIIIIE?!"

"Log Date 7-13-2," Peridot spoke into her tape recorder, "Progress on the cluster drill is going optimal, surprisingly. Though I have a few complaints on the work ethic of-"

"HEEEY!" Amethyst, shifted into Lion, laughed as Peridot was nearly scared out of her wits.

Pearl lifted her welding helmet, "Amethyst, really. This is no time to be fooling around."

"Aww come on. P," said Amethyst, "I'm just tryin ta 'lion' the mood … 'Lion' the mood."

The pale Gem groaned, putting the helmet over her face again.

"Repeating the pun doesn't make it funny," Spinel walked out of the barn.

Peridot looked at her, "Does she always use shape-shifting like that?"

"You mean to be really cool?" Amethyst answered for her, shape-shifting into Peridot, "Pretty much."

Spinel shrugged, "I like to shape-shift as well, but not as often as her."

"But it's such a-" As Peridot tried to find an explanation to rationalize the usage of shape-shifting, Amethyst copied her, "Significant use of energy compared to the output."

The green Gem was surprised, "What was that?"

"I've been practicing my 'Peri-phrasing', pretty impressive in my opinion, but it's hard to beat the original."

Blushing a bit, Peridot couldn't fight back a chuckle, "So, can you shift into anything? Both of you?"

"Yep!" Amethyst and Spinel nodded, the former adding, "Got any requests?"

A bit later...

"Ha ha ha! You can't run away from the greatest Cloudclan fighter forever!" Spinel laughed, shifted as a cat and continuing to chase Amethyst, as a chicken around.

"Oh yes I can!" Amethyst yelled back.

Peridot pointed and laughed at what she was seeing, "So that's what a cat looks like! And I get the joke now!"

Pearl agreed, "Heh yes, well, at least she isn't 'lion' around anymore."

Peridot stood still for a bit, then forced out a laugh. She appreciated Pearl's attempts, finding Amethyst's company entertaining, and even with Spinel, as long as she's on her good side, gave her a sense of relaxation and comfort.

However, when Garnet gave her a thumbs-up, Peridot looked away, eluded.

That night, Spinel brought in more supplies from the barn, nearly jumping back from shock with Peridot as she saw Opal form, lifting the drill head up and placing it on the placement boards.

"That looks great," Garnet nodded, "Let's take a break." And she walked over to sit on a bale of hay.

"Got it!" Spinel gently dropped the stuff and ran off, but not before she snuck behind a tree and overheard Garnet and Peridot's conversation.

"Alright, I'm at my limit!"

"Evening, Peridot," Garnet greeted warmly.

"Explain it to me, fusion!" squawked Peridot, "I can at least make sense of your existence if it's for a functional purpose. But you? You're not using your combined size and strength to do anything!"

Garnet only smiled, "I'm doing something."

"And what's that?"

"Star-gazing."

Peridot groaned, "You can do that alone."

"Don't want to." After a moment, Garnet patted the hay bale next to her, and Peridot begrudgingly sat beside her. "You can see Homeworld's galaxy from here."

Spinel cringed from the word, gripping the tree bark tightly. She hated to be reminded of that awful place.

Peridot gazed up, "... You're right."

"We're very different. I appreciate that."

"Really?"

"If you really want to understand fusion, I can help you."

The green Gem looked uncertain, "... What do you mean?"

Garnet turned her head to the other Gem, "Let's fuse."

"OH MY STARS!" Peridot fell back from her initial shock.

Garnet seemed to understand, "Ha, I get it. You're not ready, that's fair. Another time then."

"NO!" Peridot quickly got up to her feet, "Uh no no no, just… Just give me a sec!" And ran off.

Spinel continued to watch from a fair distance, watching Garnet and Peridot attempt to fuse. But what made her mind ponder was when Peridot wore some buckets on her feet, trying to appear taller.

Then something came to her. Figuring everyone else didn't need help for the time being, Spinel ran off to find a warp pad, hoping they were still there.

Later that night…

"And I have no clue on Spinel's location, or the reason why she is taking so long, but I presume it's-"

"Hey, Peridot."

Peridot nearly jolted at the sound of Spinel's voice, but instantly calmed. Turning to face her, she noticed that the pink Gem was holding a large box in her arms, layered with neon green paper.

She walked up to her, eyeing the box curiously, "What's… that?"

"Your gift." said Spinel.

Peridot was not amused, "Not sure if a 'box' identifies as a 'gift'."

"But that's the beauty of the surprise!" Spinel chirped excitedly while placing down the box, "The box is supposed to hide the gift! It's like Christmas!"

"Christ-mas?" Peridot raised a brow.

Spinel remembered that Peridot was still learning, and she smiled gently, "I'll tell you all about it later. Anyway, go ahead and open it!" Her voice dropped to a whisper, "You're really gonna like it."

Peridot gazed at her suspiciously, but tore through the neon green wrapping, ripped the tape off and opened the flaps… and she gasped.

"My… My limb-enhancers!"

Spinel grinned, "Yep! It's just a gift for all you've done for us. I wanted to give them to you earlier, but… I would be lying if I said I trusted you before you called Yellow Diamond a clod." She giggled again at the memory.

Peridot finished putting on her limb-enhancers excitedly, moving her floating fingers with ease. Her eyes shifted to the pink Gem and they lit up with joy.

"OH THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOOOOOUUUU!" She exclaimed, hugging Spinel tightly.

Spinel, at first was shocked by the reaction, happily returned the gesture. It was clear as the stars outside that she had made a new friend.

AAAAAAND THAT WRAPS UP SEASON 2!

Okay, look. I would never want to ruin Peridot's (or anyone's) character in canon. But hey, this is my story and my AU.

Plus, I've wondered if Peridot ever missed her limb-enhancers.

… and behold, more warrior cats references.