CHAPTER 3: LONLYNESS

While Amethyst and Lapis stomped away and entered their rooms, unable to bear the presence of the gem who imprisoned and tried to kill them, Garnet laid Peridot on the couch, then she leaved the room, leaving Pearl and Peridot alone. Before leaving, Garnet reassured Steven, saying that Peridot would be okay, but that Pearl needed to concentrate so, maybe he could have gone to Greg, or called Connie to spend some time with her, and maybe talk to them about Lapis and Peridot, since both of them still didn't know about their presence in Steven's house. Steven slowly nodded and went out the house. Pearl silently materialized out of her gem some of the tools she used to help Greg fixing his van, after all the times she helped him, she decided to keep some tools for her, especially after Greg forgot them during the last three times he asked for her help. Pearl kneeled down beside her and began to work. After some hours, Pearl managed to attach the robotic limbs to Peridot, also fixing the broken components. As she was going to finish her work, fixing the last broken cables in Peridot's left arm, she raised her gaze and saw the green gem looking at her with wide eyes.

'How can she be so capable in this kind of operations?' Peridot thought looking at Pearl with bewilderment in her eyes.

"So… am I still a clod?" Pearl asked giving her a teasing smile as Peridot looked away and whispered something.

"I'm sorry… I think I didn't hear you…" Pearl said as Peridot clenched her teeth.

"I said… thank you…" Peridot whispered as she heard the white gem slightly chuckle.

"Well, you are welcome…" Pearl replied keeping her gaze and hands on the still not functional limb.

"How can you even comprehend this kind of technology?" Peridot asked with curiosity as she stared at the white gem who was now near to finishing her job.

"I'm just basing myself over what I apprehended from the technology of your pod, after we found it I began to study it…" Pearl replied as Peridot began to move her fingers.

"You… fixed my damaged body parts…" Peridot said as she looked at her in bewilderment.

"Of course… is it hard to believe?" Pearl asked as a small smirk formed on her face.

"I didn't think that archaic drones like you could even comprehend modern gem technology… neither that a defective one could do it…" Peridot replied calmly as she looked at her fixed body parts, but soon, her calm composure changed into an alarmed one as she felt a cold blade on her throat.

"Listen carefully Peridot… you are here only because of Steven… whatever he sees in you… for me it's not clear… but be careful about what you say… just because Steven is only half gem, that doesn't make him weaker, just because Amethyst was'n born like the other Amethysts, that doesn't mean she is a mistake, just because Garnet is a fusion made of love, that doesn't make her an abomination, just because Lapis fought alongside us and refused to be part of Homeworld, that doesn't make her a fool and just because of my origins and what I did, that doesn't make me less of a gem, that doesn't make me a brainless servant or a defective one… and you Peridot? Does the fact that you are incomplete make you less of a gem? Does the fact that you betrayed your masters when the purpose of your creation was to serve them make you a defective gem?" Pearl said as slowly she retracted her spear from Peridot's neck, who was staring at her with wide eyes.

"You are not allowed to leave the house… that until you'll earn our trust… Steven trusts you… don't disappoint him…" Pearl said as she walked towards the temple's door and disappeared into her room.

"Pearl wait!" Peridot tried to call her, but it was too late, the temple's door shut behind the white gem, leaving her alone in the house.

Meanwhile, on the boardwalk:

"Hi Connie! Good morning Doctor Mahaswaren!" Steven greeted Connie and her mother as he reached them near her car.

"Hi Steven!" Connie greeted him happily as she walked towards him, followed by her mother.

"What happened here?" Dr. Mahaswaren asked as she looked around, noticing some debris still popping out from the surface of the sea and on the beach… since the crash of the ship, Connie's mother had never had the occasion to know what exactly happened there.

Steven looked at Connie and then at her mother, he knew how much Connie feared that her mother could discover about them doing magical stuff and about Steven true life, probably, well more certainly, she would have never let Connie see him again.

"Uhm… well… a… a satellite crashed near the teSmple! Me and my family are already working to remove the pieces…" Steven said trying to sound convincible.

"Mmmmh… well… I'm glad you and your family are all safe… have a good afternoon… I'll come to pick you up at six Connie…" Dr. Mahaswaren said before driving away.

"So… ehm… there is something I have to tell you…" Steven said avoiding Connie's gaze, during this days, when Connie or his dad came to see him, Lapis has always been in her room, he didn't want them to freak out… however he knew that sooner or later he would have had to tell her about Lapis and Peridot, but he wasn't sure about how she would have reacted.

"What is it? Is there something wrong Steven? Did something bad happened to the gems?!" Connie asked becoming worried.

"No no no, it's… well… it's just that… maybe it's better if I just show it to you…" Steven said as he gave her a nervous look.

"Ooook…" Connie was unsure about this, however, she followed Steven as he walked towards his house, needless to say, she wasn't prepared to see what he was going to show her.

Meanwhile, in Steven's house:

Peridot was still sitting on the couch, still stunned by what Pearl said to her when, suddenly, the temple's door opened revealing a tall, blue gem standing on it, Lapis walked towards the living room without noticing Peridot.

"Steven! Are you-" Lapis began to say but became silent when she saw Peridot, who was looking at her.

"Oh… ehm… hello…" Peridot greeted sheepishly.

"…" Lapis remained silent as she stared at the green gem, she folded her arms and gave her a dirty look before turning around and walking towards the temple's door.

"W-wait!" Peridot yelped as she stood up from the couch, it was strange, she never felt anything like this, this kind of feeling, it was new for her, but, it wasn't beautiful like the one she felt near Steven, when she was still a Homeworld's servant, even when she was alone, she never felt this way, but now, now that Steven showed her what love and compassion really were, she understood something new, without people that made her feel that warm feeling that the dear, little hybrid taught her, she felt… lonely.

"P-please d-don't… go…" Peridot said as Lapis suddenly stopped walking.

"What… did... you… say?" Lapis said still not facing the green gem, clenching her fists to her sides.

"I… I…" Peridot muttered as Lapis turned around and began to walk towards her.

"What? Do you feel lonely Peridot? Are you asking me to stay here?" Lapis hissed between her teeth as Peridot began to take some steps backwards.

"Lapis I-" Peridot tried to speak but Lapis cut her off.

"Shut up! Do you think I would really stay near to a gem like you? And after all what you did to us, after all what you did to me, you still have the courage to ask me to keep you company?!" Lapis yelled as Peridot lowered her gaze and remained silent.

Lapis looked at her for some moments and turned away from her, she began to walk away but, suddenly, she stopped as she heard something.

"I'm sorry… I'm sorry… please… forgive me…" Peridot said as she kept her eyes low.

That was it, Lapis turned around and stared at her, what she saw in those green eyes, those eyes that she remembered being cold and emotionless, were filled with sadness, shame, regret… and tears. She saw the spots that had been repaired on her robotic parts, and the memory of what Peridot had done for Steven, came to her mind, her hatred made her blind, but not anymore. Now, Lapis saw Peridot in a complete new light, she wasn't a heartless being, no, she was a gem capable of loving and caring for others, she was just afraid, afraid of what gems more powerful than her could have done to her, but Peridot would have never had to suffer that kind of fear again. Lapis rushed towards her, which made the green gem tense, but then, as she reached her, she embraced her tightly.

"I… I'm sorry too, it's true you… you have hurt us… but… you changed… and risked your life in order to save Steven… that is all what matters now… let's leave the past in the past…" Lapis said as Peridot became less tense.

"T...thank you…" Peridot whispered.

"Don't worry Peridot… you are safe now… you will no longer have to be afraid…" Lapis said as she felt a pair of arms embracing her tightly and drops falling on her shoulder.

That was the moment when the door shut open and Steven remained motionless, staring at the two gems hugging each other with stars in his eyes and a bright smile on his face. But the beautiful moment didn't last long when Connie entered the house.

"Steven?! What is Lapis doing here?! Oh my… is that Peridot?!" Connie shouted in disbelief.

Hello guys! So here ends chapter three, we hope you have enjoyed and we apologize for the delay, thank you again for all the appreciation you give us and we really hope you'll like how we planned our story to continue, also, I wanted to ask you something… is the picture of the story visible? I mean, do you see the image of my profile or the picture I drew with all the gems facing the antagonists? Let me know in the comments, bye!