"I like the way she looks at you."

The remark came completely out of the blue. Pearl looked up at Garnet, confused and pausing her careful folding of Steven's laundry. "Excuse me?"

Garnet grinned, looking out the window. Steven was happily playing volleyball on the beach with Peridot and Amethyst, and Greg had come to referee the game. "You know what I mean," she said, her tone a playful sing-song.

Pearl had a vague idea but quickly dismissed it, setting the towel down and picking up one of the many pink T-shirts. "You're being ridiculous."

"I am not."

"Amethyst, stop shapeshifting!" Steven called, his voice audible through the screen door.

"Maybe she wouldn't have to shapeshift if you weren't so good!" Greg teased back.

The loud thud of the ball hitting the sand much harder than necessary made Pearl jump. She looked out the window over her shoulder. Peridot was on the other side of the net, facing the house. She was intensely focused on the game, but seemed to know immediately when Pearl was looking. She waved and smiled, mouthing something that Pearl was unable to see. Pearl waved back, her chest warm and fuzzy.

"See what I mean?" Garnet asked teasingly.

Pearl rolled her eyes. "She's a good friend and that's all. There's no need to read into it more than that."

"Pearl, you're forgetting. I see everything." Garnet knelt down next to Pearl, picking up a pair of jeans to help her with the chore. Normally, they would have had Steven do his own laundry, but it had been a particularly hard week with missions, and so they let him have the day off from his chores as long as he promised to clean the dishes the following day.

Pearl sighed, running one hand through her pale, pink hair. "Look, I really don't want to talk about this."

"That's fine. I just wanted to let you know that I think she's good for you." Garnet placed a hand on Pearl's back. "And that I think she would say the same thing."

"Peridot?"

"Mm-mm." She gestured up towards the door with her other hand. "Rose."

Pearl froze at the mention of the name. Icy cold guilt filled her chest, threatening to close up her throat. "Don't... don't talk like that. Please."

"It's all right, Pearl."

"No, it isn't!" Pearl replied. She stood up, her stomach in twisted knots. "You didn't know Rose like I did! How would you know what she thought of me, of this?"

"Pearl, calm down."

"I am calm!"

Garnet stood up, gripping Pearl's shoulders tightly and looking her in the eye through her thick shades. "No, you're not. You can't do this every time Rose is mentioned. This isn't healthy." When Pearl continued to shake, staring down at the floor, Garnet softened her tone and pulled Pearl in close for a hug. "I know how much you loved her, Pearl. And I'm sorry that things turned out the way they did. I loved her, too. We all did. But you have to understand that she would have wanted you to be happy."

"I know," Pearl replied miserably, burying her face in Garnet's chest. "It's just so hard with her gone. Everything still reminds me of her... I don't know how Greg does it."

"Ten years is a very long time for humans," Garnet said, using her left hand and rubbing small circles on Pearl's back. "And it's not much at all for us. I understand."

Pearl tugged gently on the back of Garnet's shirt with her fingers. "You... you really Rose would be okay with...?"

"I know it."

Giving her old friend one last squeeze, Pearl let go and looked up. She wiped her teary eyes and gave a weak smile. "Thanks, Garnet. I needed that."

A wide, soft smile spread across Garnet's face. "Anytime."

"Woah, guys, check this out!"

Amethyst's sudden outburst prompted the rest of the Crystal Gems to look out the small kitchen window. A loud rumble could be heard from the ocean, with rhythmic slams on the ground. The splashing of white foam broke the clean sheet of black water in the middle of the night. "What do you think that is?" Amethyst asked quietly, looking to Pearl for answers.

"I hope it's not..." Pearl started, but Garnet finished her sentence for her.

"Malachite."

Pearl looked to Garnet anxiously. "Are we ready to take her on?"

"Ready or not, we've got no choice." Garnet summoned her gauntlets, clasping the fists together tightly. "But this time, we've got something that we didn't before."

"Yeah? What's that?" Amethyst asked. A loud thud and splash made her jump. The sound nearly drowned out Garnet's cool, collected reply.

"We've got Peridot."

"Huh?" Peridot asked, speaking up and blinking confusedly. "Me? What can I do?"

"Pearl's been training you to fight, right?"

"Yeah...?"

"Then get your sword. Training's over."

Peridot bit her lip, looking at Pearl anxiously. "I'm not ready," she squeaked out, her voice a tiny rasp.

"Yes, you are." Pearl clasped Peridot's shoulder tightly. "We'll fight together." They had been practicing fighting side by side for the past few months, once Peridot had gotten a good grip on her solo skills. She wasn't perfect, but she was ready. Pearl was sure of that. And as long as she was around, nothing was going to happen to Peridot. She would make sure of that.

Peridot didn't say anything, just nodded, before running to fetch her sword from under the couch. A real one, a silver blade with a leather handle. It was just her size. Pearl had picked it out carefully and picked it up from a sketchy guy a few towns over. Greg's 'Internet' friends were useful from time to time, it seemed.

Steven hopped out of bed, nearly jumping down the stairs to meet the other gems. "I'm coming too!"

"Steven, I'm not so sure that's a good idea," Amethyst said nervously. "I mean, this is Malachite we're talking about. What if you get hurt?"

"I don't care! I'm gonna help! Lapis is my friend, and I might be able to get through to her! If we all work together, we can get them to unfuse! Then all we have to worry about is Jasper!"

"Lapis did try to kill us," Garnet reminded him.

"No! She won't hurt us if I'm with you." He looked sick and clutched at his gem through his shirt. "The only reason she's staying fused with Jasper is to protect me. I can't sit around and not help her when she needs me. I just can't."

Pearl looked worriedly at Steven and then at Garnet. "He has a point, but still..."

Garnet nodded. "Steven, you can come with us, but try to stay out of harm's way for as long as you can. If it looks bad, don't try to be brave. Run as far and as fast as you can."

Steven didn't look happy with that answer, but he didn't complain. "Fine."

The sound of a loud roar, inhuman and garbled, prompted the Crystal Gems to run out onto the white sand. Covered in tendrils of seaweed across her teal and turquoise body, staring down at them with bright green eyes filled with hate, Malachite stood on the beach. "You!" she snarled, her mouth full of sharp teeth. Instantly, she reached one of her arms down to grab at the Crystal Gems, her fingernails filled with huge deposits of dirt and mud.

Garnet leapt up instantly, throwing punches at the exposed gem on Malachite's face. "Oh, no, you don't!" But her blows didn't make a scratch. Garnet fell back to the ground, readying another charge.

Amethyst summoned her whip and wrapped the crystal-barbed leather tight around one of Malachite's fingers. Steven stayed close by, summoning his shield.

"Hey, Zorros One and Two, you gonna get to choppin'?" Amethyst called out, pulling as hard as she could to hold Malachite's hand in one place.

Malachite cackled, her eyes fixing on Peridot. A wide, sharp-toothed grin flashed cruelly. "Peridot..." she said, her voice the low gravelly tone of Jasper's. "So nice to see you again."

"I'm not here for you, clod!" Peridot shot back. "I'm with them now."

Malachite cackled, waving her arm and sending Amethyst flying. Steven caught her in a bubble, lowering her down onto the sand gently. "Is that so? I should have expected as much. You're just a puny, broken weakling. You're a leech. All you need to do is sink your teeth into someone stronger. That's how you survive, isn't it, Peridot?"

Peridot grit her teeth, gripping her handle tight. "Buzz off, freak."

"You're one to talk. Cozied up to that defective pearl, hm?" Malachite laughed, her voice like stones rattling at the bottom of a sewer.

"Enough talking!" Peridot looked at Pearl, her dark eyes blazing with rage. "Let's cut her to pieces."

Pearl nodded. "Right. Remember, keep your back to mine. No openings."

"You got it."

The two gems, each with their own swords in hand, charged at Malachite. Malachite threw one of her mighty hands down at them, but Pearl jumped up, intercepting the blow by cutting down one of the lines of the enormous palm. A thick, sticky drop of dark blue blood fell to the sand, staining it. Peridot jumped, narrowly avoiding the liquid. Her prosthetic legs made it too difficult for her to use aerial moves like her slender counterpart, so she settled for attacking one of the hands Malachite used as a foot, slicing with one deep, broad stroke at a vein.

Malachite roared angrily. "You'll pay for that!" She balled the hand Pearl had cut into a fist, raising it over her head. Pearl took the opening just under Malachite's armpit and jumped up again in a single leap, striking at the exposed skin. A few more drops of blood came out, but the skin was surprisingly thick here. Pearl tried not to let herself be caught off-guard. She landed back down on the ground and raced towards Peridot. The pair took turns slashing at one of the hand-feet, pressing their backs to each other and moving in circular motions.

"This is way harder than training!" Peridot exclaimed.

"You're telling me," Pearl shot back. "You're doing fine. Stay close to me. I'm not letting her get you."

Suddenly an acrid smell filled their noses, making the two gems gag. Malachite had ducked her head down so that she was staring at them. "Aw, how cute," she growled. "It would be a shame if your dreams were to be-" She reached under her stomach, and before Peridot could react, grabbed Pearl in a tight fist. "-Crushed!"

"No!" Peridot yelped, racing after Pearl. Garnet and Amethyst kept striking as hard as they could at Malachite's face and shoulders, but it seemed to be to no effect.

"Peridot, do something!" Garnet grunted, forcing herself to get tangled up in Malachite's hair so she could continuously punch the enormous gem's forehead.

Pearl squirmed, her face turning blue from the immense pressure of Malachite's fist. Her sword burst into a puff of white light, making Malachite cackle. "Just as I thought. A useless, weak, defenseless pearl!"

Peridot shook, partly from extreme terror and partly from fury. "Get your hands off of her!" she yelled, clutching her sword tight as she pointed it right at Malachite's chest.

"Or what, you'll nick me with a kitchen knife?"

Peridot didn't give her a response. Instead, she darted back under Malachite's stomach, finding the exposed, soft belly. "I said," Peridot grunted, making her stance wide and low. "Get." She stabbed Malachite just above the navel. "Your disgusting-" She began to use gravity to pull her sword towards her. "-Filthy, awful hands-" Malachite began to howl with pain, trying to feel around under her stomach for Peridot. "-Off my girl!"

The sword finished cutting through, and a deep, steady current of dark liquid poured out. Peridot tried to get out of its way, but it seeped through her joints and into her prosthetics. Electric jolts from mechanical malfunctions shot through Peridot's limbs, making her howl with pain. She collapsed to her hands and knees, barely able to hold herself up. Malachite growled and stumbled, dropping Pearl roughly to the sand as she pawed at her gaping wound. It wasn't exceptionally large, but Peridot had cut her deep, and blood was leaving her body at an alarming rate.

"Peridot!" Steven gasped, running over to the screeching gem. He summoned his shield and held it over her, protecting her from any more falling liquid. "Garnet, quick! Peridot's hurt!"

"There's no time!" she called back, clenching her fists tight and staring Malachite in the face.

"Hey, wait a second," Amethyst remarked, cracking her whip. "How come Malachite hasn't used the ocean to fight yet? This is all Jasper's mumbo-jumbo!"

Steven looked up, eyes pleading as he called out to Malachite. "Lapis! Lapis, it's me! Come on, Lapis, you don't have to fight anymore! It's over!"

Malachite grunted. She called back to him, her voice softer. "Steven... I... can't... let go..."

"Yes you can!" Steven shouted. "Don't you see that nothing good is going to come of this? You have to get out of there, Lapis! We can help you! Please, Lapis, just unfuse!"

Malachite shuddered and shook, her hand, foot, and stomach all bleeding. Garnet gave her a hard whack to the forehead, making her yelp in pain. "I can't... hold on..." But her eyes opened wide, flashing with rage. "Quit your whining! We can fight through this!" She shook her head, shutting her eyes again and holding her arms, as though wrapping herself in a tight hug. "No, no... I don't wanna do this anymore! Let me go!"

"Woah, is she really...?" Amethyst said, running over to Pearl. Pearl moaned but appeared to be mostly all right, leaning on Amethyst to stand.

"She's coming apart," Pearl said. "Get ready to capture them."

Peridot struggled to look up at what was happening. Lights on the inside of her visor were screaming at her to check her equipment for water damages, blinding her. She could just make out Pearl's tall, ballerina-esque figure, and the sight of Malachite bursting with blinding white light before she couldn't take it anymore, and laid her head down in the sand.

Malachite burst apart, the tiny-by-comparison forms of Lapis Lazuli and Jasper falling to the wet sand. Lapis looked ragged, clutching at a wound on her stomach, and Steven bolted toward her without a second though. "Lapis! You're hurt!"

The tiny, blue gem looked up at Steven, giving him a weak smile. "I'll be okay, Steven, don't worry about me. You should be worrying about Jasper."

"Got 'er." Garnet's voice showed that she had already gotten Jasper's hands behind her back, with Amethyst scurrying over to bind them with one of her whips. Jasper growled, staring at Lapis with hate in her yellow eyes.

"It's over, Jasper," Pearl said, squaring her shoulders and looking down on the bigger gem. "You are now a prisoner of the Crystal Gems."

"Tch, is that supposed to scare me?" Jasper spat.

"It should," Amethyst said, tightening her hold on Jasper's wrists and sinking one of the crystals into her palm, making her gasp. "'Cause if you don't cooperate with us, we won't hesitate to kick your butt so hard your mama feels it!"

"Steven, you remember what we did with Peridot," Garnet said, and Steven nodded. Without a word, he stepped towards Jasper and captured her in a huge, pink bubble. Garnet then clasped her hands around the bubble, sending her to the temple to be dealt with later.

"Speaking of Peridot," Amethyst said, tugging on Garnet's sleeve, "she doesn't look very good."

Pearl's head turned sharply, gasping at the sight. "Peridot!" She bolted over towards Peridot, picking her crumpled up form in her arms. "Peridot, are you all right?"

Peridot groaned. "Just peachy."

"Peridot, now is really not the time to be fresh with me," Pearl replied worriedly.

Peridot rolled her eyes. "Sorry. Just hurts. I can't do water."

Pearl instantly untied the sash around her stomach and used it to dry Peridot off, focusing mainly on her joints. "There, is that better?" she asked after she had absorbed as much liquid as she could.

Peridot nodded, looking to be in slightly less pain. "You'll have to take them off inside and dry 'em real good though. But thanks. Hey," she added, curling her fingers around Pearl's forearm. "We did good today, right?"

Pearl nodded, absently stroking Peridot's hair. "We were fantastic."

Peridot chuckled, looking up at Pearl with wide, soft eyes. "That means a lot, coming from you."

"Likewise," Pearl said, chuckling. "Can you stand?"

"I think so," the green gem answered. Pearl guided Peridot to her feet, wrapping one of her arms around her shoulders for balance. It clearly hurt, but Peridot was at least able to walk slowly.

Steven used his healing spit on the wound on Lapis's stomach, which helped stop the bleeding and eased her pain. She looked down at him after thanking him. "I can't believe she's with you now," she commented.

"Sometimes things just work out for the better," Steven said. He watched Pearl lead Peridot back to the beach house, speaking to her so quietly that Steven couldn't hear it. He smiled. "And a lot of the time it's the stuff you don't expect to turn out well that does."

"Aren't you ever the optimist?" Lapis asked, ruffling his hair.

Steven giggled. "Isn't that the best way?"

Inside, the Crystal Gems were each helping Peridot dry out her prosthetics. Peridot hated being without them, as was evidenced by her constant commenting of, "I look like a messed up space rock."

"Well, Peridot, you are a rock from space," Amethyst teased. Peridot scowled. "Hey, technically, I'm the only rock here that's not from space, so don't take it so personally!"

Peridot rolled her eyes, keeping herself curled up under the blanket Pearl had tucked her in. "Whatever."

"So, how do these things work?" Steven asked, holding up one of Peridot's fingers and squeezing it.

Peridot gasped. "Don't touch that! I can feel that, y'know!"

"Woah." Steven placed it gently on the table, backing away slowly. "That's kind of weird."

"So are your weird touch-sausages, but I haven't said anything about those."

"Don't be grumpy, Peridot," Pearl said, using a dishcloth to dry the innermost joint of one of Peridot's arms. "We're almost done. You'll be in one piece again in no time."

Peridot simply grumbled, not wanting to argue with her. She curled up as best she could under the blanket, resting her cheek on the soft cushion.

Eventually, the Crystal Gems finished drying off Peridot's arms and legs. "Okay, Peridot, ready for me to take the blanket off?" Pearl asked.

Peridot looked around nervously at the other gems. "Um..."

Pearl nodded. "I think we should give her some privacy. I'll stay and help her back into these."

"Sounds good to me. Steven, why don't you and Amethyst go get Lapis settled in?" Garnet asked, walking towards the warp pad. "I'll make sure Jasper's not getting herself into any trouble."

"Good idea," Steven chirped. He tugged on Lapis's thin wrist excitedly. "Come on! You and Amethyst can be roommates!"

"It's a little messy in there, fair warning," Amethyst told Lapis as Garnet disappeared into the warp pad. The door opened, leaving a bewildered Lapis wondering as to why Steven was laughing so much as they entered Amethyst's room.

When the door closed and Pearl and Peridot were alone at last, Pearl gently tugged the pale brown blanket away from Peridot's body. Her arms and legs were awkward stubs where the joints should have been, and Peridot tried to look away. Her cheeks were hot with embarrassment. "Sorry you have to see me like this," she mumbled.

"There's nothing you should be sorry for, Peridot," Pearl said. "You were so brave today. Nothing would make me think less of you after that." She clicked one of Peridot's arms into place and Peridot's fingers zoomed off the table and back towards the magnetic pull of her metal palm.

"It's just embarrassing," Peridot said, flexing her fingers. "I just feel so... I don't know. Like there's something wrong with me."

"Were you born like this?" Pearl asked, clicking a leg in place.

Peridot wiggled her ankle, twisting her foot in tiny circles to get it working. "I don't remember, honestly. I can't remember too much of myself as a gemling. It's weird."

Pearl stood and ran her thin fingers through Peridot's fluffy hair. "Well, I think you're just fine, if that makes any difference." As she walked towards the table to fetch Peridot's other arm, she heard Peridot say something softly, but couldn't catch what she said. "Sorry, what?" she asked, turning her head back towards the couch.

"I said," stammered Peridot, "that it makes a big difference to me when it comes from you."

Pearl picked up Peridot's arm and leg and attached them swiftly, smiling. "And what do you mean by that?"

Peridot bit her lip, her cheeks dark green with embarrassment. "N-nothing, don't worry about it."

Pearl chuckled. "You know, I couldn't ask for a better partner on the battlefield than you."

"S-stop it! You're just teasing me now!" Peridot covered her face with her hands, groaning and leaning back.

Pearl sat down next to Peridot, unable to keep herself from laughing. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you. But, you know..." She twiddled her thumbs in her lap, and Peridot watched her carefully. A lump formed in Pearl's throat. I guess there's no better time to say it than now, she thought. Taking a deep breath before speaking, Pearl continued. "I have actually grown... very fond of you. And... I think I'd like to spend more time with you, to get to know you better." She looked Peridot in the eyes, feeling her stomach churning. "Is that... is that something you would want, too?"

Peridot blinked, swallowing so hard that Pearl could see the lump slide down her throat. "I've... Y-yeah, I'd... I'd love that."

Pearl chuckled softly, taking Peridot's fingers of her left hand in both of hers, wrapping around them and squeezing gently. "I'm glad to hear it."

Peridot sat motionless, her face hot, and she felt sweat forming on the back of her neck. Okay, there's no way this was happening. She must have fallen asleep when she put her head down. There was literally no way. She had to be dreaming. Testing her reality, she flexed one of her fingers, feeling the velvety softness of Pearl's warm palm. She squeaked, swallowing hard again. This... this was happening?

"You know," Pearl said, giggling, "I should have figured that you would say yes."

"Wh- Was I that obvious?" Peridot stammered.

"Well, no," Pearl replied. She looked at Peridot, a devilish smirk on her face. "But I did hear you call me your girl just about an hour ago."

"Aw, nuts, I said that out loud?!" Peridot groaned and covered her face with her free hand. "Ugh, I am such a clod..."

"You're adorable," Pearl said, and Peridot simply whimpered, making Pearl laugh.

They stayed like that for hours, even after Pearl put Steven to bed. Just sitting there, holding hands and talking. It wasn't much, but it was intimate contact, and for now, that was more than either of them could ever have asked for.