To everyone's utter shock and surprise, Dr Maheswaran would not allow their daughter Connie to assist in the poofing of a homicidal fusion monster. This resulted in something like an argument between the two, which cumulated in Greg, Steven, Peridot (and Onion, I think) getting kicked out of the house.

"I can't take this anymore." The woman had told them at the door. "I'm sorry, but you three have to leave, now."

Peridot didn't really mind about this. They did mind returning to Beach City, and dragged their feet as they looked for small, white-haired centipeedles that they might be leaving behind.

"Peridot, you coming?" Greg had called, and with a final glance around they jumped in the van. And there they stayed, staring silently out the window as Greg ad Steven chatted fondly about the Crystal Gems.

"And you remember that time when Pearl, Amethyst and me formed Secret Team to pick up these Gem shards?"

"No I don't, bud. I don't think you told that to me."

"Really? Ah, man! So Pearl and Amethyst broke this bubble that had loads of Gem shards in it..."

The green Gem tuned out, deciding that these strange stories were of no use to them. They continued staring out at the environment, sullenly counting trees. The father and son had tried to include them earlier on in the conversation, but enough monosyllabic answers made them take the hint they wanted to be left alone.

And alone they were. It was like the first few days they had been stranded on Earth; scared, in a hostile environment, missing home. And then they found the Crystal Gems, and – after a couple of skirmishes – started to feel a little better about themselves.

But then they tried to contact Yellow Diamond, and that blew it for them. After that they had the centipeedle, but now something they had done had ruined that as well and here they were, back where they started: scared, in a hostile environment, missing someone.

Before they could ruminate on that, however, a flash of white caught their eye as they sped down the road. They sat up straight and looked back but it seemed they either were moving too fast, or the Gem was going slightly crazy.

"...And then Garnet was like, 'We're all part of one team: the Crystal Gems! And then we all ripped up our pizza vouchers."

Greg cast a quick glance at their son. "Oh, that's a good one! It sounds just like Garnet."

"Yeah! I can't wait to see her again!"

Peridot narrowed their eyes at the back of Steven's seat.

"Look, the sign!" Greg pointed at a large roadway poster reading : 'Welcome to Beach City!' "We're pretty much there. Peridot, have you got-"

"The harpoon?" The green Gem shifted the heavy weapon forwards. "Yes, I do have the harpoon."

The three drove on, slowing down as they came into the town as the streets were still filled with debris. Greg pulled up on the road right next to the beach, and there he stopped.

"Okay kids, I think this is my stop." They took the key out of the ignition and turned around to look at Peridot. "Though maybe I could help carry that big old thing?"

The green Gem glared, and stood up. "No! No, I don't need your help. I can..." They reached down and grasped the harpoon. "I can... carry... this... Nyah, stupid thing... on my own!"

"Alright, but if you need somebody, I'm sure Steven would be happy to help."

Steven gave a thumbs up, which only further infuriated the Gem. "I told you, I'm fine! But, Nyuh... Can somebody open this door now?"

"I'll get it." Steven jumped out of the van and opened the door, watching concernedly as Peridot struggled out, their knees knocking as they attempted to support the harpoon on their own. Then they looked back at their father.

Greg moved over a seat and ruffled their son's hair, their eyes a little misty. "Be safe, bud. Don't let your old man run fresh out of family, okay?"

"I won't, dad." Steven reached up and hugged their father tightly. "I'll call you when it's finished. Peridot and I will bring the Gems right back, won't we?"

The small Gem snorted, adjusting their grip on the harpoon. "Can we get moving? We don't have... time for emotional goodbyes."

"Alright." Greg withdrew and sat back in the driver's seat. "Good luck, guys. I'll see you later!"

The van started up again, and began to reverse. Steven and Greg continued to wave at each other until they were quite a distance away, at which point Peridot nudged them with the point of the harpoon.

Steven looked over. "Okay! Let's go, Dot!"

The two stepped onto the beach and began walking towards the Temple. Peridot struggled on slowly with the heavy harpoon, causing their companion to slow down and walk silently next to them.

Peridot glanced up. "I don't... I don't need your help... Steven."

"Okay." Steven spoke evenly. There was a pause, and then they started again: "I was just wondering if you're okay."

"And why would you be concerned about that?"

"Because we're friends." The boy answered simply. Peridot huffed in response. "I think something's really bothering you, though. Do you want to talk about it?"

"Nothing... seems to be bothering you." The Gem muttered. The ruins of the Temple loomed closer.

Steven frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Peridot shot a glare at the boy. "What am I talking about?! It's like... you haven't even noticed those Crystal Gems are gone...you pebble!"

"What?" They stopped dead in the sand, then rushed to catch up to the green Gem as they struggled up the slope to the house. "Wait! Peridot, what do you mean?"

"Like... you don't miss them." They puffed. "When you miss somebody... you feel... small... and you can't stop thinking about them... But you... you're still smiling and... happy!"

Steven vehemently shook their head. "No! That's not how missing somebody works."

"It's how... it works for me. How can you be happy... when you're missing someone?" The Gem struggled into the house, followed closely by Steven.

"Everyone's different, Peridot!" Steven sniffed, tears running down their face. "I miss Garnet and Amethyst and Pearl so much. I was just... really happy that now we have a chance at rescuing them. Do you understand?"

"You are crying." The small Gem noticed. A sinking feeling in their chest weighed them down heavier than the harpoon ever did. "Did... did I hurt your... feelings?"

Steven wiped a tear away with the back of their hand. "Well, yeah."

The green Gem gripped the harpoon a little tighter. "I don't understand."

"Well, you were asking me about whether I missed my family. It was kind of- ohhhhhh..." The boy placed a hand on the harpoon. "I know why you're acting strangely. You're missing something!"

"What?" Peridot backed off sharply, panting as they held the harpoon with difficulty. "I don't... 'miss' anything. I'm... a Homeworld Gem; your strange... strange human emotions mean... nothing to me!"

Steven stepped forwards. "But you do. Do you miss Homeworld?"

"No!"

"Then what?" They held out their hands. "Come on, Peri. We're friends! You can talk to friends about stuff like this. Please?"

Peridot eyed the human suspiciously, to which they responded with a smile. Slowly, grudgingly, the Gem turned to face them and placed one end of the harpoon in their hands.

Everything felt much lighter.

"Wow!" Steven's eyes widened as the two of them began moving towards the escape pod. "This is really heavy. How long have you been carrying it around for?"

"You have no idea."

~Line Break~

Peridot twisted in the last screw, firmly securing the harpoon to the top of the escape pod. "So then - you named them the 'centipeedle', correct? – the centipeedle jumped up onto the wall and ran away. It was not the correct response."

"She probably didn't want to get tied up." Steven was tying a replicator to the back of the harpoon; that way, they wouldn't run out of harpoons at the first shot. "Pearl chained her to a rock once, and she didn't like that."

"But what was I supposed to do instead? The Dr Maheswaran would not let me in the house otherwise."

"I don't know." Steven slid off the pod. "Maybe one day she'll come back? And then you can say sorry and make up. Yeah, that'd be really great!"

"Nyehhh..." The green Gem climbed down and into the escape pod. They activated it and moved their hands, testing the response. Despite the damage, it moved perfectly well. "Ahem... the pod is operational. Test the harpoon."

Steven clambered back up to behind the harpoon, and fired it. It punched through the air, arcing up and down and plopping in the ocean a long way away. They then activated the replicator, and another harpoon spear appeared in the firing device.

"You know." A worried crease formed between the boy's eyebrows. "I'm not sure if I feel comfortable shooting this at anybody."

Peridot stuck their head out of the pod to glare at Steven. "What are you talking about? This is the only way to defeat Malachite!"

"Maybe if we talk to her, she'll see how many people she's hurt and she'll release everyone."

"Pfft. That will never happen, you clod!" They withdrew into the escape pod. "Besides, you can either drive or shoot in this pod. And you can't drive it! Nya-haha!"

"Actually-"

A deep, ocean roar bellowed out from the horizon, causing the Green Gem to squeak in terror and the boy to fall off the top of the pod. In the distance one could see a large hump of ocean, much higher than the surrounding water. It appeared to be moving towards them.

Peridot recovered their composure. "It's Malachite, Steven!"

"On it!" Steven hopped up onto the top of the pod. "I'm ready to do this!"

The green Gem moved their hands, and walked the escape pod to the edge of the house. There they stood, on the precipice of battle.

They were ready, and so was the centipeedle.