"She's coming back!" Steven announces excitedly as the gem floats out of his hands. He, Connie and Peridot watch, sitting on the grass, as a bright light blooms from it and forms into Amethyst, who drops to the ground.

"Sorry I took so long, guys. It wasn't easy to get this tear the exact same," she apologises, indicating to the bottom of her top.

"It was only about ten minutes," Connie points out, remembering Steven telling her about Pearl taking two weeks.

"That's a long time for Amethyst," Steven explains.

Peridot glances at Amethyst and then down at her boots, thinking about how angrily she had fired that shot. It wasn't necessary. She shouldn't have felt so good about poofing her friend.

"You alright, Peri?" Amethyst says, seeing her expression.

"Yes. I'm fine," Peridot says shortly, "are you okay?"

"Yeah, except that I could eat a horse," Amethyst answers. Peridot gets to her feet.

"I can go and get some food," she offers, thinking it will make her feel better, "what do you want?"

After everyone has told Peridot what they would like, she sets off towards The Big Doughnut. She plans to get something extra for Lapis as well, for when she eventually rejoins the group.

"This is your last warning," Pearl says, gripping the broom like she would her spear, "just come down from there."

"Make me," Lapis replies, crouched on the rafter, wings raised and ready. For a moment they stare at each other, each waiting for the other to make the first move.

Suddenly Pearl lunges at Lapis with the broom, who skips backwards just in time and takes off. She lands further along the rafter at a junction between two beams, giving her plenty of options to escape Pearl's next jab at her. Narrowly avoiding the plastic bristles again, she runs lightly along the wood towards the warp pad, thinking she can warp to the crater where the barn used to be and fly back over to town. But her plans are thwarted by a holo-pearl jumping up and landing in front of her.

Stopping short, she instinctively reaches for her training sword before realising that she left it stuck in the cliff outside. Kicking herself, she turns to see Pearl approaching looking very pleased with herself, still holding the broom. Lapis leaps to the beam parallel to the one she was on, but her progress along it is slowed when she has to step around the rope tying the rafter to the ones on the ceiling. This gives the hologram plenty of time to block her off there too, forcing her to run back to where she started, dodging Pearl's broom as she goes. As the bristles almost knock her foot out from under her, she makes a mental note to never compare Pearl to a bird again.

On the floor, Pearl sees Lapis pause at a junction between the beams to work out her next move. While the blue gem's back is towards the door, Pearl takes her chance and backs off towards the foot of the stairs. Raising the broom over her shoulder, she takes aim and throws it into the air.

Lapis feels the broom head slam into the back of her knees and stumbles forward, right over the edge of the rafter. She uses her wings to slow her descent, landing in the kitchen. Just a few steps from the sink. She hears Pearl's running feet behind her - she's realised her mistake. Taking her chance Lapis lunges forwards, grabs both taps and yanks them forward. Pearl can only watch as the hydrokinetic gem drags a watery chain from the sink, a smile on her face.

After an unsuccessful search of the town, Garnet returns to find the door ajar. Large pools of water cover the floor. Pearl is sitting on the sofa, soaked through, staring at the floorboards with her hands on her forehead.

"Steven needs to stop picking up these stray gems," she mumbles, not looking up.

Garnet briefly adjusts her visor before replying.

"He will never stop."

Peridot has never been to a shop on her own before, let alone bought anything herself, but she's seen it done enough times and figures that she can handle it.

"Well hello there," former mayor Dewey greets her, "you're one of the Universe boy's… friends. Right?"

"Yes."

"Well then, what can I get you?"

The small gem places her order, which doesn't take long to prepare and hand over. She pauses for a moment before turning to leave.

"Aren't you forgetting something?"

She turns back around, narrowing her eyes. She had felt like she was forgetting something just now, but couldn't quite figure out what it was.

"Am I?" she asks, confused.

"Yes. That'll cost six dollars."

Peridot pauses again, until she remembers what 'dollars' are.

"I don't have any money," she tells him, and once again turns to leave.

"Hey, hey, you can't just take that for free!"

Peridot turns for the last time.

"Why not? I'm a Crystal Gem," she says, pointing to the star on her chest, "I protect your planet and your species on a daily basis! You owe me!"

Dewwy raises his eyebrows.

"Look kid, I don't know what you think you're talking about, but you need to either pay for that or give it back."

Peridot takes a step back, slightly unsettled by his tone.

"I'm warning you," he continues, "I'll- Why is your head glowing?!"

Peridot raises her free hand to her gem, unaware up to this point that it's started to emit a faint light. As soon as she touches it, she feels the now familiar handle of her gun and once again instinctively grips it, pulling it out in plain view of the alarmed man. Seeing his expression, she begins to explain:

"It's just my gem weapon, it materialised reflexively."

"Hey, I don't want any trouble!" Dewy says, slightly panicked, "I'd appreciate it if you just put those donuts on the counter and left."

"Because of this?" she asks, holding up her pistol to show him, "don't worry, I've never shot a human."

Dewey wipes the sweat off his forehead.

"I- I'm going to call the police if you don't leave right now!"

Peridot lowers her hand.

"The what?"

Author's Note: I have put a few doodles I did whilst writing on my deviantart (link in bio). At some point I might do some more high-effort illustrations. Or not, I don't know at this point. Thanks for reading!