CHAPTER 20: TRUSTING AN ENEMY

"I'm glad you want to protect him Jet… thank you… and… even if you think it's not important… remember what those two gems felt for one another… I think… I think it's what allowed you to be as you are now and… I think it's what really gives you power…" Garnet said smiling as she put back her visor.

"Guys… I think I saw her but… do you think I could go talk to her alone?" Steven asked as he turned towards Garnet and Jet.

"We'll wait here for you two Steven…" Garnet said as she leaned against the rocky wall.

"Thank you Garnet…" Steven said as he began to walk towards the hole leading to the Kindergarten's control room.

"Peridot?" Steven called as he reached the control room and saw the green gem curled up against the control pod.

"S-Steven?! W-what are you doing here?!" Peridot yelled in surprise as she saw the young boy approaching her.

"Well… you did run away from us… I came looking for you and-" Steven was interrupted by Peridot.

"Y-you wasted your time… I… I'm not worth your time…" Peridot whispered gritting her teeth, tears forming in her eyes.

"What are you talking about?" Steven said he kept walking towards her until she raised her tears stained face.

"P-Peridot…" Steven muttered in disbelief, he wasn't used to Peridot showing this kind of emotions.

"I… I could have hurt you… I… I was just afraid… e-everything on this rusty planet is so… s-so weird b-but if there's something that makes it worth to stay here and fight it's you… you helped me even if sometimes I still wonder why a-and… I c-could h-have… hurt y-you a-and then you would have abandoned m-" Peridot didn't manage to finish talking, before she could do it, Steven ran in front of her and hugged her tightly… she ran away because she was afraid of what Steven would have told her… she was afraid that he would have abandoned her…

"Peridot no! I would never do such a thing! You are part of my family! There are lots of things we could be afraid of but being abandoned by the people we love shouldn't be one of them! You just wanted to protect me and that's what's important…" Steven said as Peridot hugged him back.

"I... I don't understand how you can be so nice to me even after all this... you earthlings are really weird... caring about someone who could have possibly killed you..." Peridot said chuckling slightly.

"Well... that's what friends do right?" Steven said as Peridot could hear his own sniggering.

"T-thank you Steven…" Peridot said as she buried her face in his hair.

"I love you… always remember it…" Steven said as Peridot's eyes widened before she shut them, tears still streaming down from them.

"I… I love you too…" Peridot muttered as they held onto each other until Peridot's sobs stopped.

"Peridot… Jet isn't an enemy… she may be a cluster gem but she was a Crystal Gem… well ehm probably more than one but that's not important… she just wants to protect me… please don't try to hurt her…" Steven pleaded looking straight in the technician gem's eyes.

"I… okay… if she really isn't a threat… then… I won't try to hurt her… and… I suppose… I should apologize to her for ehm… trying to disintegrate her?" Peridot said, even if it sounded more like a question.

"That's right Peri!" Steven said smiling as he helped her up.

"Oh please… not that ridiculous abbreviation…" Peridot said as Steven snickered.

"Come on, I'll introduce you to her!" Steven said as they both walked out from the control room.

"Peridot…" Garnet said as she saw her and Steven approaching.

But as soon as Jet saw them, her eyes got wide as she stared for a moment at Peridot, she didn't notice the first time they met, but now she could see it clearly, that horrible… yellow diamond on her outfit… it was one of the few things she remembered… she remembered it being on the soldiers who shattered the gems of her memories… she didn't hesitate a single moment, as soon as the gem on her chest began to glow, she pulled out a long halberd and pointed it towards Peridot.

"You… you're one of them!" Jet cried angrily.

"Jet no! Stop!" Steven yelled as he got in front of Peridot.

"W-what? Steven? What are you doing?! Move away! I'll end that filthy excuse of a gem!" Jet said tightening her grip on her halberd.

"Please Jet you don't understand! She's not an enemy! Peridot saved my life and the ones of my friends too!" Steven said as Jet's eyes widened in shock.

"W-what?" Jet muttered in disbelief.

"She was a Homeworld's technician but when she came here and found me, I immediately understood that she was on their side just because she was scared… she never received any love or appreciation from Homeworld but I helped her… I cared for her and she understood that what she was doing was wrong, she turned against Yellow Diamond and saved us all… she's one of us now…" Steven said as he waited for a response.

"I… I can't trust her yet… but I trust you Steven…" Jet said, her halberd disappearing as Steven sighed in relief.

Meanwhile, on the Beach:

"Pearl…" Lapis said as she approached the white gem, who was now sitting on the ground, face hidden between her knees, she could hear quiet sobs coming from her.

"Pearl… I'm… I'm so sorry… I didn't mean to say those things... you know I don't believe that... you are your own gem... it doesn't matter what Homeworld wanted you to be..." Lapis said as she kneeled down behind her.

"No… it's all my fault… y-you just wanted to help me… b-but I just couldn't see it… always blinded by my bad feelings… all what's happening during these last days… i-it's a lot to take in… I wish I was strong like you… or Amethyst or Garnet or Steven… but… I'm nothing like you… I'm… I'm such a wreck…" Pearl said as suddenly she felt a pair of arms around her, holding her tightly.

"Pearl! Don't ever speak of yourself in this way again! You're not a wreck! You are one of the most amazing gems I know, you're strong, kind and passionate, you learned how to fight so that you could be able to protect the ones you love and you do that every day with Steven… if he is the wonderful child he is today… it is also thanks to you…" Lapis said as Pearl's sobs got quieter.

"Do you really think I'm not afraid? I am… I don't know what will happen between us and Yellow Diamond and I don't know if we'll be able to destroy the cluster… but… I lived most of my life being scared… then I met Steven… he taught me what is like to be loved… to know that there will be always someone ready to help you and that no matter what will happen… together with the ones you care for you'll always be able to overcome any obstacle… Steven taught me that believing that is the way to live a full life and believing that is what allows me to go on without being scared… you just have to remember that we'll always be there to help you…" Lapis said, taken a little aback when Pearl suddenly turned around and embraced her.

"T-thank you Lapis…" Pearl muttered, a slight smile on her face.

"You're welcome Pearl…" Lapis said closing her eyes, as she hugged her back.

"I… I think we should get back now… they'll be back soon…" Pearl said as they both stood up, but as Pearl started to walk towards the house, she felt a hand on her wrist.

"What's the hurry Pearl? You know… I'm… still quite curious about discovering what our weapon looks like…" Lapis said extending her other hand towards Pearl, who slightly blushed as she took it.

"A-alright!" Pearl said as they both got closer to one another and began moving, a bright light coming from both their gems.