I am Lapis's smirking revenge.

"Blood of the covenant is thicker than water of the womb" - Anon.

...

It's sad. So sad. It's a sad, sad situation. And it's getting more and more absurd.
It's sad. So sad. Why can't we talk it over? And it seems to me, that "sorry" seems to be the hardest word.

These are the horrible thoughts eating me alive inside and out as I sit sullenly on the field facing the sternly frowning love of my life whose ocean blue eyes seethe with deadly impatience.

Try as I might, I know that to look directly into them would turn me into literal stone, or peridot crystal in my case. Not even Jasper in her crudest moments, could match the raw rage silently being conveyed to me by the peaceful and serene Lapis Lazuli. Poor Lapis. Even a pacifist as nonviolent and understanding as Lapis had to have a breaking point.

It was a point I crossed long ago when I cruelly captured her in my imposing spaceship. Back then when I thought myself perfectly logical, but was in fact completely insane with power while in over my head. All I cared about was war and glory for myself. Reinvention was not on the past me's agenda. Peace was no option. All my life I had been told what to do, what to say by none other than the head honcho of warfare, yellow Diamond herself. No one showed me until I met dear Steven and later lovely Lapis, that there might be some other way.

Of all the things I could build as a master technician of Homeworld, a time machine was sadly not one of them. Yet in my dreams every night which border on nightmares, I still vividly envision transporting myself back to the moment before I boarded my fully armed spacecraft equipped with cutting-edge Gem technology to shatter the younger me with a pickaxe. It would mean no invasion and that I never threatened Earth, though Yellow Diamond would eventually have taken matters into her own hands anyway. It would mean I could pass away at ease, knowing I did not die a monster undeserving of any forgiveness whatsoever.

But then I'd never have met Steven and Lapis, heard his melodious Ukelele and seen her brillaint smile bright enough to melt even the icy dwarf planet Pluto into a steaming puddle.
Never have learned the lyrics to the beautiful song that still keeps me going in my darkest hour. "Life and death and love and birth and peace and love on the planet Earth" I still remember every word to the first song to ever grace my hallowed senses as if it were just a second ago.

Earth wouldn't be able to share in all the wonderful inventions I had brought to it in my crashing spaceship, which was taken apart and carefully searched for any useful scrap remaining after my attack thankfully failed. Perhaps even then deep down, I wanted to be stopped. Maybe that was why each motion I made to fight back against Steven and his motley group was half-hearted and not backed with the full effort of which I was capable.

Fuel cells, a fertilizer that more than tripled farming yields everywhere it was applied and a welding kit that could fix almost any metal with the greatest ease were just some of the salvaged masterpieces that arose from a killer spacecraft sent to with the sole intent to waste the Earth. Truly amazing how tragedies could become great blessings with luck.

But none of it mattered now. It was the past and as I'd learned from Steven's adopted mother Pearl in the past few days, the past was not something you held onto if you truly respected the heroic sacrifices made by those unsung heroes who'd given their lives to forge it.

"Lapis. I' I..." I gagged out, each breath feeling like fire in my throat.

"You're what? Huh? Cat got your tongue Peridot?" The blue skinned, short blue haired beauty viciously spat crossing her arms and thankfully briefly glancing away from me.

"I haven't got all day. Say what you want to say to me and say it quickly. I'm seriously considering never talking to a jerk like you again after this you know. You really are just an awful waste of my precious time."

It was this fearful ultimatum that finally granted me the last bit of courage I needed. I heaved painfully as I clenched my little green fists together so tightly I felt as if they might snap under the pressure. "I'm sorry." I finally managed, sweat pouring down my forehead with every syllable as my eyes nearly bulged from their sockets. "I'm sorry Lapis. For everything. For capturing you and insulting you so meanly when you were on my ship. For not giving you space to recover after we ended up here on Earth together. I'm sorry Lapis. I'm sorry."

I began to weep with the last sorry, which did not go unnoticed by her. "You have a right to be angry at me Lapis. If you don't like me, I won't force you. I just want you to be happy Lapis. That really is all. Really. Just please understand that I..." I sniffed "I don't want to cause you any more suffering than I already have."

It was then and there that for the first time since I'd ever seen her following her capture on my spaceship, Lapis's expression softened the slightest fraction. Her eyes softened enough that I could finally look her in them and she held out both her hands to hold mine in them.

"If you truly are sorry Peridot. Then prove it." She gently requested as a ghost of a smile came to her lips then left quicker than the speed of light itself. "Stop Yellow Diamond from taking Earth for herself and I'll really believe you've actually changed. I appreciate your apology, but talk is cheap."

I gasped, hand over mouth. Was this truly happening? Was I truly receiving a second chance to repent for my crimes?

"You and you alone can stop her. Peridot. You know her strengths and weaknesses better than any one of us. Do it for me and for Steven if no one else. She will come for you soon and then it will be up to you." Lapis continued. "Prove to me and Steven as well as the others once and for all, that you are not evil. That your time on this blissful utopia away from Homeworld has really changed you for the better."

She continued to hold my hands. "Please Peridot. Please say you can and you will. I believe in you and so does Steven."

It was here that I felt I could finally breathe again. I remembered each and every horrible thing I'd done in my entire existence and allowed the shame to give me strength.

"Yes Lapis. I can stop Yellow Diamond from activating the cluster and destroying all you and the other crystal Gems hold dear. But I will need your help and everyone else's too. Yellow Diamond is not negotiable and I see that now, so we will need to take very drastic actions."

The moment I expressed my agreement to her request to prevent Yellow Diamond from enacting her evil plan, Lapis enveloped me in a hug which nearly took the wind from me.

"I was wrong about you Peridot. Please forgive me. As for my help. Absolutely anything."

...

A few minutes later and we were in the barn where we had laid out a large pile of soap and lye. As both I and Lapis had discovered during our time on this planet, these two seemingly harmless cleaning agents could have very interesting properties when mixed together with a third catalyst commonly seen in most human households.

The third ingredient known for its mildly irritating properties which caused a light itch when applied to the human skin in large amounts as well as its sour taste, was vinegar and it was kept in a third pile well away from the soap and lye. We did not want to blow a hole in the homely abode that dear Steven had been so generous to provide for us after all. The explosions would come later. A slight tweak to the formula involving the addition of crystal salts that only I knew how to make as a certified technician, would amplify the resulting blast to be several times more powerful. Even the most solidified gem structure would not withstand the makeshift bombs we were now in the process of finishing.

We had gotten the reluctant go-ahead from Steven and the others. They too had grimly acknowledged that in this one instance, their adversary was not a redeemable pushover such as myself and did not have the chivalry in their stony hearts that I had to make a peace talk possible.

We remembered the conversation we had with the wise Fusion Garnet which put us up to this idea in the first place three days ago when she had a little time for me.

It went something like this:

...

"But why would yellow Diamond not see the value in such a brilliant planet?" I had incredulously sputtered following the failure to get my overbearing commander to see my side of the story of why Earth deserved her mercy.

"The culture, the artistry, the great stocks of life and fuel that will all be wasted if she just destroys it along with all the patient people like Steven who helped me see the light? I just don't understand it Garnet. It just isn't logical."

"With respect master Peridot, perhaps Yellow Diamond is a woman you don't quite understand either." The ruby and Saphire fusion sagely replied, with a slight hand gesture to exaggerate her effect. I knew from the faint glow in those all-knowing eyes that I was in for one heck of a story and I was all ears as I sat down on a bale of hay with my hand on my chin. The first time Garnet gave me such an honorary nickname too. This had to be important.

"A long time ago. I was in a place called Burma." The fusion began "My friends and I were working for the local Government" I at least knew what a "Government" was having been the unknowing victim of a particulalarly dictatorial one that had used me for land development. (That wasn't nice)

"We were trying to secure the loyalty of local tribal leaders by bribing them with precious stones." The black and pink fusion held up a finger as she paused briefly. "But these stones were being raided in a forest near Rangoon by a bandit. So we went looking for the stones, but in six months." She put her finger down and turned her expression more serious.

"We never met anyone who traded with him."

She sighed wistfully. Even she was not immune to sentiments at the most emotional of times.

I was simply puzzled. Such a great profit awaited that lucky bandit and he just...

"Then one day. I saw a human child playing with a ruby the size of a Tangerine" Garnet sadly continued, cutting off my train of thought and throwing it completely off the rails. "The bandit, had been throwing them away!"

She finished, sounding almost as surprised as I was now as my brain struggled to make sense of even a fraction of the mess I'd just heard. That lucky mean clod was just going to toss his great fortune away like that!?

"So, why steal it?" I asked, my voice far softer than I intended as I clutched my dizzy head.

"Well. Because he thought it was good sport. Because. Some men aren't looking for anything logical like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with."

Garnet's frown deepened alongside the lines on her face. It was as if both parts of her were sizing me up simultaneouslty and the effect unnerved me deeply.

"Some men. Just want to watch the world burn."

"Um. Right. Thanks for the story Garnet" I gratefully replied as I tried and failed to keep my mouth shut and to withdraw as modestly as I was able.

"You look like you have something left on your mind, Young Peridot. You should probably say it."

Garnet sharply pointed out. Oh right. Sapphires saw the future and...

I sighed. I did not want to bother her any more especially when there was work to be done in preparing for the soon to come invasion from Homeworld.

"Well um. Did you catch that bandit?"

"We did eventually" Garnet solemnly reported, the slightest of sobs erupting from her. Something very rare for a gem so resilient.

"How?" I could not help but continue to ask, wishing I could slap myself in the mouth for being so obnoxiously curious about everything. I had grown to detest the bandit so badly that I just had to know if his completely illogical atrocities were successfully curbed in the end. I just had to.

It was here that the fusion gave me a look so deep it seared through my skin, mind and soul.

"We burned the forest down" The Saphire and Ruby inside of her quietly intoned, pure sorrow dripping from every word.

...

I looked at Lapis and she looked back. It would be a divine miracle if this worked. It was here and now that yet another memory, this one involving her came surging back to me in all its clarity. It was the reason I now felt no fear. Of death, of pain, or of any of the common anxieties plauging both humans and Gems alike. Japser had given her the idea during his inhumane handling of her and Lapis had made it into something big...

...

"So as you all know, the threats from outer space threatening Earth have been getting worse. So here, once again are the rules of this new club I've established to help us shape up our skills so that we'll be ready for them. The blue haired gem in all her radiant beauty one day reported as the rest of us watched her including Steven's human girlfriend Connie with a shared look of encouragement and pride. She stood on top of a crate to elevate herself above us all.

"The first rule of fight club is...you do not talk about fight club." She sternly stated, crossing her arms as she looked each of us up and down to ensure we fully understood the magnitude of her words.

"Second rule. Same as the first rule. You do NOT for whatever reason, talk about fight club."

She repeated with a light stamp on the wood of her crate which gave it a shake and nearly threw her off.

"Third rule of fight club. Someone yells stop. Goes limp. Taps out. The fight is over."

This relieved me to high heavens. Lapis had not been made into another barbarian by her fusion with Jasper. This still was the loveable symbol of purity I had come to look up to and respect in all her integrity.

"Fourth rule. Two guys to a fight. Fifth rule. One fight at a time fellas."

This made sense. It would be complete chaos otherwise and would destroy more of Steven's property than we already had with our carelessness. "Perfectly logical" as i would put it. I gave a knowing little giggle along with the others.

"Sixth rule. Clean shoes, clean shirts." Of course Lapis didn't like dirt and blood. Both were gross and reminded her of her time with Jasper and in prison. I had no desire to do either.

"Seventh rule. Fights will go on as long as they have to."

Lapis said this with strong determination. It would certainly take all the willpower we could muster up if we were to stand a chance facing down Yellow Diamond's elite troops with technology far more advanced than my own as a mere pawn in her little game. What better time to start readying ourselves than here and now?

"And the eighth and final rule."

Lapis gave a relieved little smile as she playfully waged a finger, a little out of breath.

"If this is your first night at fight club."

She clapped lightly.

"You have to fight."

As she pointed at Garnet and Pearl who nodded knowingly and produced their weapons as they began to practice sparring against each other with fierce aplomb.

What a terrific idea. Even if our aims were peaceful, our enemies were clearly not and we did indeed need to consolidate our combat abilities so as not to be as Amethyst put it "rusty" when the big threats arrived. At least Jasper gave Lapis one good idea, though I attributed it more to her intellect than any good on Japser's part. Just another reason the blue gem was so perfect in all her entirety for little old me to admire.

...

The day finally came. I teleported back to Homeworld through a portal that this time the other Gems and Steven helped me repair. I motioned for them to do their thing while I stepped up to confront my commander personally. I had traded my completely out of season outfit out for some Earthly outfits of a dark green hoodie with an alien symbol and black jeans. Far more comfortable too.

I had managed to communicate to her once more through another communicator that Steven and the other gems let me have this time, with the implication that I had made great progress in awakening the cluster.

It was true. The cluster would be firmly on Earth's side and not that of the callous dictator who didn't even treat her own people well even when they were not at fault.

I stepped fearlessly through the halls as if I had every right to be there, and confidently waltzed into Yellow Diamond's personal chamber.

I understood the magnitude of what I was about to do and I swallowed my fears with a single gulp. I cracked my knuckles ever so slightly in anticipation.

"We need to talk" I immediately ordered, without waiting for her to give me permission.

She was immediately taken aback at my rudeness, but somehow managed to compose herself enough not to raise her voice just yet.

"Okay." She softly but dangerously hissed back. "Where to begin? With With your constant absenteeism? With your unpresentable appearance? You're up for review..."

"I am Lapis's complete lack of surprise" I snapped back, determined to get this over with as quickly as I could.

It was here that I looked down for a brief fraction of a second to once again remind myself of the tragic fact that on a large enough time scale, everyone's chance of survival dropped to zero. This included the diamonds, the so called "gods" among us Gems. Today I would show the Gem society that even a "god" did not reign forever. Today I showed them all how to kill a god. A humble peridot against the goddess of war herself. Bring it here and now.

"Let's pretend." I calmly continued, with a hand in the air somehow all without breaking down before the domineering commander who'd held me in her iron grip so long. "Your the department of transportation. Someone informs you that this company installs front-seat mounting brackets that failed collision tests, brake linings that fail after miles, and fuel injectors that explode and burn people alive. What then?"

"Are you threatening me?" She demanded, miraculously not yet stepping on me to turn me back into a gem.

"No." I civilly replied.

"Get out of here, you're fired" she grumbled back, somehow still not raising her voice. I expected her to hold up a lot less well than this. Somehow I was still in one piece."

"I have a better idea" I suggested, finding my courage in a sea of fear. Knowing Lapis and my new planet depended on me. "Keep me on payroll as an outside consultant. In exchange for my salary, I'll keep my mouth shut. I won't need to come to Homeworld. I can do this job from Earth." It was necessary for me to continue being paid. The Homeworld inventions I'd already brought to Earth had been making life there so much better and curing so much poverty and starvation so as to make me and my sweet Lapis shed tears of joy.

"Just who do you think you are, you little insignificant clod." She shouted, finally losing her temper as she dialled up a communication device. "Security..."

"I am Lapis's smirking revenge" I proudly announced and before she could ask who Lapis was and what I meant, I gave myself the hardest punch to my face as I was able.

"What the hell are you doing?" My commander sputtered as I landed on my back on the shining yellow floor.

"That hurt." I simply stated, immediately straightening myself up. "Why would you do that?" as I then managed to kick myself in the shin, slamming myself into two shelves of valuable artefacts, breaking them both. "What are you doing?" I asked as my commander took a step back in fear. Ha. The fearless yellow Diamond afraid of me.

"Oh gosh no. Please, NO!" I then gripped myself in the chest as I threw myself back.

For some reason, I thought of my first practice fight with Lapis. She really had trained me well.

I hit a large shelf full of trophies and photo's. One of them being a group photo of all four diamonds together as their countless subjects were forced to grovel before them or face death.

My entire face was covered in cracks by the time I crawled back to the furiously fearful Yellow Diamond.

Under and behind and inside everything Yellow Diamond took for granted, something horrible had been growing.

"Now look" I asked, no demanded once more with my hands gripping her legs. "Just give me the pay checks. And you won't ever, see me again."

It was then at our most excellent moment together, that she lifted her big foot to crush me as a swarm of armed Gem Guards flooded the room pointing their devastating blasters at us both.

I dropped to my knees as I held out my thoroughly broken hands in great appreciation.

"Oh thank Goodness. Please don't hit me again." I pleaded to the now thoroughly cornered yellow Diamond in genuine gratitude as the sound of fiery explosions filled the air. It was true, Yellow Diamond had really inflicted such severe emotional trauma as to will me to harm myself to such a degree as this. I would need several Gem weeks in a hospital to have any hope of recovery.

Lapis really had done her part well as the guards almost as large as Yellow Diamond pulled her away and the rest went to check on the commotion.

There were no Gems in those armoires, banks and Spaceship Hangars. Not a single Gem life would be lost, my precise calculations made certain of that even taken into account the sheer amount of debris and flame that would be thrown around. I was no murderer for that was against everything Lapis and Steven stood for. But the loss of weaponry and transport would hinder any further attack by Homeworld on Earth for quite some time, especially since I had told the Crystal Gems to shatter the well-hidden portal on their way back to Earth as they did before . I would find my own way of getting back.
The loss of currency would also make the rich Gems quite a bit less richer and the poor Gems quite a bit more well off. It had to be done.

Knowing I had a bit of time before I too was taken away to take responsibility for my new role as the first godslayer among Gemkind, I quickly used the control pad to type one final message of hope to all citizens of Gemworld to let them know their salvation was at hand thanks to the lessons learned by me from Lapis, Steven and the other Crystal Gems. I had not been strong enough to slay Yellow Diamond but I had been smart enough to use her own brutal strength against her and caring enough to actually take a stand against her for her horrific crimes at long last.

My message: "Did you know? You can use old motor oil as Fertilizer."

It wasn't much, but it was a start. A start to completing the revolution that would bring actual lasting change to the livelihoods of all those unappreciated slaves that had been forced against their will to break their backs for uncaring tyrants for far too long now.

...

Thanks so much for reading. First Steven Universe story. Please review and I hope you like it. I always thought Peridot and Lapis were underused as characters since they have so many interesting traits.