The Temps stood in complete silence after Peridot and Connie had explained it all.
Blue Diamond hadn't been herself the day she was 'shattered'. The only way to protect everyone, including Blue Diamond herself, from the one controlling her was to poof her and store her away in a place no one would ever be able to check: Yellow Diamond's own gem. The two Diamonds' Pearls had acted out the shattering scene while Peridot had escaped with the two Diamonds.
Connie and Peridot glanced at each other nervously in the silence.
A sharp laugh penetrated it.
"You got us for a second, right, Lapis?!" They looked to Jasper who was laughing to near tears, slapping her knee.
Lapis didn't respond, still as a statue when Jasper punched her arm. She looked wordless and expressionless at her before flying out the door.
"Lapis! Lapis, don't be a baby! They were joking!" Jasper yelled after her. She looked back to them. "Hope you're happy… Seriously guys, what kind of sick joke is this?"
"Jasper, we're not-" Connie started.
"You know, I don't know what horrible thing we did to deserve for you to screw with us this badly…" Jasper panted, looking up at them. "Whatever it was, I don't deserve to be looked at like I'm an idiot, okay?! You really think I'd believe that garbage?! It's s-so convoluted and messed up on so many levels! And granted, she was messed up in so many ways but Yellow Diamond wouldn't have sent literally everyone she cared about into a war zone on a lie like that!"
Her, Peridot, and Connie stared at each other for a few agonizing moments in complete silence as her face melted from a smile… to worry and then horror before she slowly put her head in her hands.
"Jasper, I know you don't normally feel comfortable with it. But if you need to-" Connie slowly sat down beside Jasper on the couch and felt tears come to her eyes hearing the muffled sobs. She wrapped as much of her arm as she could around Jasper before the gem completely broke down. "Let it all out…"
Peridot stood in stunned silence, glancing between Connie and the hunched over Jasper for a few minutes before the big gem finally looked up.
"If I'd just… If I'd used my head for once in my life for something other than violence, maybe I could've figured it out… Maybe I could've gotten everybody out before she led them to be shattered…" Jasper glared up at Peridot through tears. "But I didn't know… YOU DID. YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD US, YOU SHOULD'VE TOLD THEM, THE GEMS YOU LET SHATTER!"
"Jasper, Peridot couldn't-!"
"I should've." Peridot interrupted Connie. She shook her head in regret. "You're right. I should've told everyone from the very beginning… But… I was a coward… Heh, I still am a coward… I was afraid of what they would think of me, what you would think… What if you all hated me? I'd be better off shattered if no one could stand me… again…"
"When I emerged… I was the first ever gem to come out defective, at least, the first reported one since it was such a public Kindergarten."
A tiny Peridot stepped out of her hole to find herself surrounded by much taller versions of herself in different shades of yellow, orange, and green, their hair all in different shapes.
They whispered amongst each other feverishly in the same voice with only slight differences in tones and inflections.
"It's disgusting…"
"How could she be the singular one to come out wrong? Was there some kind of miscalculation on her nutriants?"
"Little clod can't even process what's happening…!"
"What do you think they'll do with her?"
Peridot stepped forward, shaking slightly but found herself tripping over her own feet, landing flat on her face.
Some of her sisters laughed, others looked unamused and disgusted while less seemed to pity her.
"You there, what is your identification?"
She turned to see another tall Peridot with a eight sided updo and frowned slightly before getting up and saluting. "P-Peridot Facet-2F5L Cut-5XG."
"At least you're not completely brain dead." It sniffed, typing in a few things to her keypad that appeared out of thin air, apparently a power she had. "Since you are our first defective ever, I'm unsure what she'll do with you."
"If you're lucky, maybe she'll let you gaze upon her for a few moments before she destabilizes you." One Peridot laughed.
Another gave a scoff. "Our Diamond cannot stand for mess ups, she'll shatter it right away!"
"Our Diamond… shatter me?" She repeated. She knew her Diamond, of course. A beautiful and radiant gem they all had in their minds from the moment they emerged, she'd helped give them life by taking over this technological planet. She only just now realized she could easily take that life away… And by the way they were talking, she was surely going to…
"42B, exactly what are these new gems doing chattering so annoyingly?" A sudden voice boomed.
The gems all made the Diamond salute which they must've learned earlier as it took Peridot a few seconds to copy them.
The leader who'd just spoken to Peridot saluted as well.
There she was, Yellow Diamond. She towered majestically over the gems, her power and grace on full display as she glared down upon them all.
"Where is the defect?" Her sour-looking Pearl asked sharply.
Peridot slowly stepped forward, sweating immensely. "H-Here, My Diamond."
"Ah." Without another word, Peridot was struck with a powerful beam of destabilization and poofed at once.
She reformed in a glow of green light and found herself in a pale yellow room decorated with miniature models of various machines and planets along with large weapons lining the walls. She felt pale. Was she about to be harvested?!
"Oh, you've reformed."
"Ghaa!" Peridot fell over in fright and then peeked up to see Yellow Diamond's Pearl glaring down at her.
"Come along, My Diamond wishes to speak to you, for some reason." She scoffed in disgust, leading over to the large golden warp pad.
They appeared in a base that had many stairs with murals of the Diamonds lining the walls around it.
"Yellow, it's my planet, let me watch it!" Pink Diamond whined, pulling on Yellow Diamond's skirt.
"I understand, Pink. I just need to find whatever disturbance the Quartz found the other day, give me time."
"I'm gonna tell White!" The youngest Diamond called, stomping off.
The two Pearls nearly knocked into one another heading out.
"My Diamond, the Peridot you requested."
Yellow Diamond glanced down to see the two and frowned. "I was hoping you'd turn out average-looking after all that tweaking I tried on your form and yet… here you are."
She probably didn't have enough light to stabilize the form her Diamond must've worked hard on. "It is an honor to be worked upon by you, My Diamond, that you had faith I could be normal…. I'm… terribly sorry I didn't stay in such a form."
"Oh, I don't care much about it, I just thought you might like it since those others were so rude about it."
"What?!" Peridot peeped in shock. Her Diamond… didn't care about her defectiveness? She wasn't going to shatter her?! "B-But I thought-!"
"You're perfectly stable in mind and body, I don't see the need to shatter a gem that's a bit smaller than her peers." Yellow Diamond explained bluntly.
"I-I see." Peridot whispered. She wondered if the soft spot came from the fact Pink Diamond was smaller too.
"Yell-Oh. I didn't realize you were in a meeting… with a lowly Peridot… S-Should I come back?" They turned to see Blue Diamond standing in the doorway, looking quizzically at her fellow ruler.
"You're perfectly fine coming in now, Blue." Yellow muttered, gesturing for her to stand beside her.
The blue Pearl joined her sister gem, not bothering to even look at the Peridot.
"Peridot, I gave you life. Please don't waste it worrying about what other gems think of you." Yellow Diamond suddenly said.
"Y-Yes, My Diamond." Peridot stuttered with a quick salute, smiling nervously.
Yellow Diamond seemed confused by her expression before giving a small cough. "Ah…You may go."
Peridot mumbled her thanks and apologies as the yellow Pearl had to practically start dragging her away.
Yellow Diamond turned back to the screen and gave a sigh. "Here's the issue. It's an organic city that's been spying on Pink's kindergarden."
"Oh, how bothersome." Blue Diamond muttered, clasping her hands. "We'll have to eliminate it, I suppose?"
"Of course we will, Blue. I thought you were over your organic-loving phase last era."
"Why are you getting rid of it?"
Everyone turned to Peridot in surprise, the little gem herself had quickly covered her mouth, it seemed she also couldn't believe what came out.
"Wh- How dare you question Your Diamond!" Yellow Pearl growled after gasping in horror.
"Not only yours…" The Blue Pearl whispered, looking up to her own Diamond.
"I-I-I mean no disrespect, My Diamonds! I j-just… um… well, I just thought-"
"Spit it out, Peridot."
Peridot looked up to her Diamond's glare. "I-I thought if you could spare someone as pathetic as me who wants nothing but to exist…. Why couldn't you do the same… for the organic lifeforms? Don't they deserve a chance too?"
The room was completely silent as the Diamonds looked to each other in suprise.
I was just spared… now I'm going to be shattered again! Peridot thought. She tried to remain quiet but her heavy breathing wouldn't stop, she felt like she was choking even though she didn't need air, perhaps this was like her gem trying to pull her in, and her will pushing herself back out. She felt like collapsing inside her gem. What she wouldn't give to do so.
She suddenly felt a hand take hers and looked up to see the Blue Pearl.
The Diamonds had walked away to discuss the matter, so she'd taken the opportunity to interact.
"Wh-Wha-?!" Peridot asked between breaths.
The Pearl silently placed Peridot's hand to her gem placed squarely on her chest. "Breathe with me in, 2, 3, 4, hold, hold, out, 2, 3, 4… Again."
They repeated this rhythmic chat until Peridot had stabilized. "T-Thank you… How did you know how to do that?"
"Yellow gets fits like those whenever she thinks something's not perfect... And so, I found a method to calm her. I believe what you experienced is your gem's way of responding to stress." Blue Pearl explained softly.
"Blue! Why don't you share your own problems next time?!" The yellow Pearl hissed, flushed with embarrassment.
"There's no need to feel ashamed, it's just the way your gem works…"
The Yellow Pearl glanced at Peridot. "But since you know… it took me a while to figure it out but just get it in your brain that those don't last forever, just feels like they will. If they get really bad, you may need to rest in your gem for a bit, but that attack won't be happening again when you reform."
"Oh." Peridot peeped. She'd never thought these gems would speak to her, let alone comfort her like this. "Wh-Why did you two say those things?"
"It would be a hindrance to our Diamonds if you couldn't function when they were giving your sente-"
"You needed help. And we don't get to talk to other gems often anyway… it's lonely." Blue Pearl stated truthfully, making Yellow Pearl blush.
The Pearls heard the thundering steps of the Diamonds and quickly went back to their previous positions, giving a salute as they walked in.
"We've come to a decision regarding your… outburst." Yellow Diamond announced.
"A-Ah… When's my… shattering date?" Peridot whispered out.
"Not today. In fact, we decided to test your little theory."
"Huh?!"
The Diamonds shapeshifted down to be a few heads taller than their pearls that stared in shock.
"What made you wish to go to Earth, My Diamond? If you don't mind me asking…" Her Pearl asked while the yellow one was speechless, having to be dragged by her.
"I always was fascinated by organic life before being taught it was improper…" Blue Diamond explained to them as they walked to the nearby warp pad. "A chance to see it again is quite exciting…"
The four turned to Peridot then.
"Well, come on then. This was your idea, aren't you brave enough to see it through?" Yellow Diamond asked, putting her hands on her hips.
Peridot felt a blush come on before frantically nodding. "Y-Yes! I'll follow you anywhere!"
"It all started… because they'd never thought to see organic life before?" Connie asked.
Peridot nodded. "They'd never truly seen it. They were simply told that organic life wasn't needed, that it was too imperfect and flawed for them to bear."
"But imperfections are what make us… us." Jasper said bluntly. "Didn't they already know that?"
"No, not even a little. In a 'perfect' society like Homeworld, flaws are disposed of the moment they emerge. The only way you get to stay is if you find favor with a Diamond like Amethyst and I did…"
They warped onto Earth and beheld the Beta Kindergarden together. Yellow Diamond pulled them all behind a pillar, hushing them. "We can't get spotted by any of Pink's gems, once they tell Pink, she'll tell her right away."
"Look, the first gem's emerging…" Blue Pearl announced.
A large Jasper slammed out of the earth with a mighty cry, landing in front of the presiding Peridot with trapezoid-shaped hair.
"Greetings, you are the first of your Kindergarden to emerge." The Peridot told her.
"Alright then. Guess I've got to be the one to set example around here." The Jasper said pridefully.
The Peridot scoffed before turning away.
They watched the unusually large Jasper greet her sister gems as they emerged.
"Look at the size of that soilder…!" Blue Diamond gasped softly. "Pink will be so proud!"
"Pink Diamond gets a Jasper like that while my Diamond's stuck with a little Peridot like you? How ironic." Yellow Pearl huffed.
Peridot flushed in embarrassment and glanced to her Diamond to see if she felt the same but found she was chasing after the other Diamond and her Pearl.
They eventually found the two sitting in a valley of sunflowers, having chased after a small winged creature.
It landed on the Pearl's nose and Blue Diamond giggled in delight.
The group explored the planet together. Yellow Diamond and Blue Diamond chatted quietly, getting to bond in a way they hadn't in thousands of years, while the Pearls, and Peridot picked flowers.
The Diamonds were torn away from conversation when their pearls offered them bouquets of forget-me-nots and sunflowers. Blue Diamond gently placed one of her flowers on Yellow Diamond's breast plate. In exchange, Yellow Diamond put one of hers in Blue Diamond's hair.
Yellow Diamond placed one in Peridot's hair as well, likely noticing she was jealous. Yellow Diamond chuckled at how flustered she got.
The Pearls held hands as they gazed up at the clouds, not minding the flowers tickling them.
Peridot reported every single creature she saw to the others who observed them in wonder. From a ladybug to a deer, Peridot noticed Yellow Diamond was having trouble keeping any around her as opposed to the rest of them.
She nervously suggested a gentler approach and Yellow Diamond was shocked to find it actually worked, a butterfly having landed on her helmet.
Lastly, they saw lifeforms that looked quite similar to themselves gathering nuts and berries. The only difference was they had no gems, of course. They hadn't been spying on Pink's colony at all, they were just curious as to what was killing their closest food supply.
The Diamonds couldn't help but feel uneasy at the sight of them.
"Well, that was a rebellious escapade but I believe we've had enough for the century, isn't that right, my Diamond?" Yellow Pearl waited for a response before turning to her. "My Diamond?"
The two Diamonds stared at earth as rain began to pour.
"I don't want Pink to-"
"We shouldn't let her colonize this planet, or any other one with living organisms..." Yellow Diamond agreed softly. "It won't make up for all the lives we've already taken… but it's a start…"
Peridot saw the two's clenched hands when the lightning lit them.
"So, they'd never actually seen… the people and things they were taking life from?" Connie asked in shock.
"No. All they knew is that they were stealing life from the planets, they never realized it came from organisms that each led a life, just like gems did." Peridot muttered. "Pink Diamond was already brainwashed to believe the same things they had been and taking her down to Earth would put their youngest at risk. All they could do was go to the one who'd started it all, who'd told them organic life wasn't needed."
"Well, why didn't Blue Diamond go with Yellow? If they were together when they tried to stop the colonization, maybe it would've worked." Jasper grunted.
"… My Diamond wanted to do it alone, if she could. She couldn't bear it if Blue Diamond was punished for it as well… Besides, someone had to be around for Pink if one of them… didn't come back."
"You mean…?" Connie asked.
Peridot nodded. "There was always the looming threat of possession from… from her…"
Yellow Diamond tried to persuade her higher up but fell silent when she only laughed at the idea. She yelled in anger before a bubble of white encased her, silencing her.
Blue Diamond and her Pearl appeared at Yellow Diamond's chambers to find the Pearl and Peridot organizing various battle plans and strategies.
"She didn't take it well, then."
Yellow Diamond glanced at her before nodding. "She didn't… but I refuse to give up. She's never listened to us or Pink, she won't accept any one's opinions but her own…! It made me realize… we've been doing the same to our own gems. I'll change my ways, but she has to change hers as well!"
"What do you plan to do about it?" Blue asked softly.
"I thought it was pretty obvious;" Yellow sighed.
That very night, at one of Pink Diamond's many balls, Yellow Diamond rose from her throne. "Gems of Homeworld! Aren't you tired of obeying orders?! Well, I am tired of giving them! I say you should choose your purpose, go against your oppressors! If you do go against me, no harm shall come to you… but if you believe in me still, I offer you a purpose worth emerging for: protection of the planet Earth!"
"Yellow, what are you doing?! You're trying to steal my planet at my very own ball!?" Pink Diamond cried in rage.
Blue Diamond glanced up to see the head Diamond seemingly ever-present smile… turn into a frown.
"This is all just some joke, right?! It has to be! Everyone, calm down, there will be no rebellion on our perfect Homeworld!" Pink Diamond called desperately.
"Perfect?! Nothing about this world is perfect! We want equality! We want to be heard!" Peridot screamed as loud as she could. Slowly, more gems from Yellow Diamond's court joined her, even gems from the other Diamonds rose up. The ballroom was soon filled with cheers for rebellion.
"No, stop!" Pink Diamond wailed. She turned to find Blue and Yellow were gone and only the leader remained. "They won't listen to me! My ball's ruined!"
"Don't worry, starlight. Yellow will soon apologize and see her mistake, then you can have fun again."
"But-!"
"Shh, everything will be perfect soon…"
"Yellow Diamond, your presence is demanded." A white Pearl announced with a smiling face.
"Of course. I'll be there momentarily." Yellow Diamond sighed.
Yellow Pearl closed the door in the other's face before she turned to see Peridot and Blue Pearl watching the Diamonds discuss, Blue Diamond had gotten out of her hiding spot.
"Yellow, let me go in first, I'll convince her to go easy on you…" Blue Diamond pleaded. "If this works, we can save both the Earth and fix our broken home."
Yellow Diamond gritted her teeth in discomfort. "But what if-?"
"If the worse happens, please let my Pearl join the rebellion so she shall be safe. Pearl, is that alright with you?"
Blue Pearl took Yellow Pearl's hand as if to show how willing she was. "Yes, My Diamond, I will be perfectly content staying with them."
"My Diamonds…"
They looked down to Peridot who hadn't spoken once that night.
She saluted them. "I didn't mean for it to go this far, to the point of you breaking your ties with the other Diamonds… I'm so sorry."
"There's no need. Don't apologize for seeing what we couldn't, showing us how trapped and unhappy we truly were." Blue Diamond smiled, tears coming to her eyes.
Yellow Diamond wiped away her own that had been made with Blue's power.
"Well." Blue Diamond smiled then before turning to look at the white ship in the distance. "I hope we'll meet again soon…"
"Blue Diamond wasn't shattered that night… But she was still lost to us forever." Peridot whispered. "Yellow Diamond refused to let it happen again. She wouldn't let any gem in her rebellion-"
"Feel like a mindless soldier to our master..." Jasper muttered in realization. "Just like I used to be."
"Exactly." Peridot nodded.
"... Yellow Diamond didn't start the war for us… And we didn't start fighting for her…All that pain, we chose to go through it ourselves because it would be worth it ..." Jasper grunted. "Everything we've done, everyone we've lost… all the pain we went through for this war… It'll all be worth it in the end… won't it?"
"It already was." Peridot assured her. "After all, if we didn't go through it, we wouldn't have Connie."
"And Dad, and Pearl, and Amethyst, and of course…"
"Lapis?"
Jasper walked over to the window before throwing open the door, running out as a large shadow covered their home. Connie and Peridot soon joined her to see a water replica of the giant white ship Connie had seen on Homeworld.
They slowly looked up to the highest point of the structure, feeling eyes on them.
Lapis narrowed her eyes before diving down to meet them.
