It took a moment for Pearl's eyes to adjust. Once they had, she looked around. She was in a rocky, quarry like place that felt desolate.

"Where am I? Peridot said she would show me how she met Rose and then pulled me into her mind. But, where is this?"

Pearl walked around for a moment or two before she came across a very familiar sight.

"Oh! This is an emergence hole. So, this must be a kindergarden...wait. Peridot said that she met Rose on Crya five, in the kindergarden where she was made. So, this must be Crya. Such a dreary place." Pearl said as she looked around.

Then Pearl heard voices around the nearby bend. She ran over and peered around the corner. There she saw two peridots calibrating some injectors.

"This is aggravating. This must be the fourth time this cycle these injectors have broken down." One Peridot, with her gem on her shoulder, said.

"Tell me about it, 5XD. Hey, where's the runt with our tools?" said the other peridot with her gem on her hip.

"5XD! 5XE!" came a voice from the distance.

"Oh, here she comes. 'Snicker' it's funny to watch her run." 5XD said

"Yeah, it is. Hey, 5XG." 5XE said.

"5XG? So, that's Peridot A before she met Rose." Pearl thought. "She looks just like our Peridot right now."

"Forgive my tardiness. There was a line at the tool depot." The past Peridot A said.

"A line? There's never been a line before." 5XE said.

"It's been happening more and more lately. The machinary keeps breaking down, because we're trying to get gems out of a place that just can't really do it any more. Let's face it, gems. Old Crya is on her last legs. I'm sure we'll be pulling out of here soon." 5XD explained.

"Yeah, probably. This colony's been good to us though. Got quite a few gems out of it. Oh, well, ever forward. Say, did you hear about what happened at that tournament at the Vector colony?" 5XE asked.

"No, what?"

"I heard that a gem from the Earth colony showed up and won it."

"A gem from a brand new colony won the Vector tournament?" Past Peridot A asked.

"Yup. Supposedly, she was hand chosen by Pink Diamond herself to be the representative for her first colony. Her name was Rose Quartz."

"Wow, they are definitely growing them tough over on Earth. Pink Diamond is going to have an amazing army." 5XD said.

"Sure seems that way. They've already made a living legend. Hmm, I wonder if we'll get sent there next."

"Hey, you gems." Shouted a voice.

Around the bend came another peridot with her gem on her left forearm.

"Oh, hey, 5XB. Is something happening?" 5XD asked.

"Yes. The supervisors are calling a meeting. They want all of us there. Come on!"

"You two go on ahead. I'll secure everything here first." Past Peridot A said.

"Okay. Thanks a lot, 5XG." 5XD said.

"You're a star, 5XG." 5XE said as they headed off.

"Yeah, I'm a star alright. The star of their jokes. Just because I'm small, that doesn't mean my sound recievers don't function. And they aren't as quiet as they think." Past Peridot A said, with her eyes lowering sadly.

"Oh, Peridot. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry you had to be treated like that." Pearl said.

"Well, thank you, Pearl. But, this isn't why you're here is it? " Past Peridot A said and turned to Pearl.

"Peridot?! You, you can see me?!"

"Well, of course. This is my mind after all. I can do aything here. That's why everything is in third person as well."

"Right, of course. So, if this isn't why I'm here, then why did you show me this?"

"To give you more of my backstory. I've already deduced yours through a combination of my own experiences and my interactions with my world's Pearl. Now, let's move on, shall we?"

Suddenly, the enviroment blurred and seemed to speed by. Past Peridot also disappeared. After a few moments, everything settled down and Pearl found herself standing in a makeshift camp. Bits and pieces of gem tech were scattered about. Pearl was just starting to wonder what all this was when she heard Peridot cry out. Pearl instinctively ran to the source of the noise. She recoiled when she saw the scene before her.

Past Peridot was desperately holding onto the hand of the half-formed gem she had mentioned before. Pearl knew what this was.

"Oh stars." Pearl muttered quietly as she covered her mouth and tears began to well up in her eyes.

"No! No, please! Don't go! I need you! You're all I have! Please!" Past Peridot said through her tears.

But her begging was all for naught. The half-formed gem's head rolled to one side and her body twitched slightly. Then her body began to break down, dissipating into energy and phasing into the ether.

Past Peridot cried out to the heavens while Pearl tried to stifle her crying.

"Oh stars. Peridot, why did you show me this?" Pearl asked, knowing she could be heard.

"To show you the dark place I was in before she arrived. Speaking of which..."

Peridot trailed off and looked upwards. Pearl followed her gaze and saw a gem ship heading to the surface. Past Peridot took off running towards it, so Pearl followed in hot pursuit. They ran to where the ship landed and the doors opened. And out stepped a gem Pearl knew all too well.

"Rose..." Pearl muttered.

Rose Quartz, dressed in typical quartz warrior garb, surveyed the landscape for a moment before noticing Past Peridot A.

"Oh, hello there. I wasn't expecting other gems to be here."

"Um, hello. Who are you?" Past Peridot asked.

"I'm Rose Quartz. Nice to meet you."

"Wow, Rose Quartz. I've heard about you. I'm Peridot facet..."

"Just Peridot is enough. All that facet and cut stuff is too much to remember. Makes gems sound more like drones than living, thinking people too."

"But how do you differentiate between gems then?"

"I give them nicknames." Rose said brightly.

"Nick names?"

"Oh, sorry. Nearly forgot that you're not from Earth like me."

"Oh, yes, i'd heard that you're from there."

"Yeah. And nicknames is how we differentiate each other there. Oh, and a nickname is either a shortened version of a gem's name or some word that describes a gem's character. Hmm, for you... I think i'll just call you Peri."

"Um, okay. So, what is an Earth gem, let alone a tournament champion, doing here?"

"Well, i was just on my way back to Earth after competing in the vector tournament and i saw this place. Hadn't seen another gem colony for a little while, so i thought i'd check it out."

"I see. Must be nice to be a champion. I haven't had nearly that exciting of a life."

"I've got time before i need to head home. Why don't you tell me about yourself, Peri?"

Past Peridot shrugged and proceeded to tell Rose her story.

"So, they basically left you behind because you were small..."

"Yes. I've tried to keep busy to distract myself, but nothing works."

Rose scooped Peridot up into a tight hug.

"You poor thing. I'm sorry you've had it so rough."

"What are you doing?"

"This is called a hug. It's how we convey comfort to each other on Earth."

"I see. Well, it certainly feels nice. Earth sounds like a wonderful place. I wish i could see it."

"Then you should hop on my ship and come with me to Earth."

"But, I can't abandon my post."

"But, Peridot, your post has abandoned you. And so have your supervisors. But, unlike them, i'll never abandon you. You can stay with me forever if you want. We'll be the best of friends." Rose said, extending a hand to Peridot.

Peridot tentatively took her hand and was led to the ship. Pearl hurried to keep up with the two. The ship took off and Pearl was treated to a rapid montage of Peridot A's memories of the journey. It continued on Earth, Pearl noting how happy Peridot looked to be with Rose. Eventually, however, they came to the gamma kindergarden. The discussion Peridot mentioned before happened and Past Peridot bowed to Rose.

"Rose, I'm just a small Peridot. I'm not capable of much. But, if you'll have me, then i will stay by your side as faithfully as a pearl stays by a diamond."

"Still no offense taken." Pearl muttered with a smile.

"Then welcome aboard, Peri." Rose said, helping Peridot to her feet.

"Now, Rose, i have no doubts that we'll be able to find plenty of recruits with your charisma. But, we'll need information. How do you plan to get that?"

"Well, i have an inside track on that."

"What do you mean?"

"Um, well..." Rose fidgeted for a moment.

"Rose?" Peridot asked.

"Um, well, i guess it'd be easier to show you. Remember how you said you'd stay by my side?"

"Like a Pearl to a diamond. And i mean it. Why do you ask?"

"Well, how do you feel about serving Pink Diamond directly?"

"What?"

Rose sighed and then began shapeshifting. She reverted to her true form.

"Y-you're, you're..." Past Peridot stammered.

"Pink Diamond, yes. Rose Quartz is just a shapeshifted disguise I use."

Past Peridot immeadiately dropped to her knees.

"Oh please, your clarity. Forgive my impudence. I meant no disrespect to you or your lovely colony." Past Peridot said with her arms desperately showing the diamond salute.

"Peri, please. Stand up." Pink said, putting a comforting hand on Peridot's head.

Pink pulled Peridot to her feet.

"There. Better. Now, listen, Peri. Everything i said to you as Rose i meant. I want only a few kindergardens to produce enough gems to call this a colony. I don't want this beautiful place to end up like Crya. But, the other diamonds won't listen to my pleas. So, we'll use Rose Quartz and her fearsome Peridot general to create a ruse that'll let us convince the others to give up."

"Um, okay, my diamond. But, like i said, we will still need information. And i don't believe i will be allowed into diamond meetings."

"You will be, as my Pearl replacement. See, i don't have a Pearl yet. So, maybe we can convince the others to give you a shot."

"Um, if you think it'll work, my diamond."

"It has to, Peri. We need it to. Earth needs it to. Now, let's do this." Pink said, producing a communication device and contacting Yellow and Blue Diamonds.

" 'Sigh' what is it now, Pink?" Yellow asked.

"Listen, you two. I went to the vector tournament to make sure my Rose Quartz did well. She did, by the way."

"Yes, we heard. She won. Congratulations, Pink." Blue said.

"Thank you. Now see, on my way back to Earth, i saw one of Yellow's old colonies. Crya five, I believe. I wanted to see how Yellow did business. Thought i could learn something."

"Nice to see you're trying, Pink." Yellow said with a prideful smirk.

"I picked up a few tidbits and i also found this Peridot." Pink said, gesturing to Past Peridot. "She was left there, all alone, trying her hardest to make more gems with what little Crya had. I pitied her, so i brought her home with me. I know how it feels to be so small."

"Of course you'd play that card. 'sigh' Let's just cut to the chase. What do you want, Pink?" Yellow asked.

"Well, since i don't have a pearl and this peridot doesn't have a colony to work on, i want her to take the place of my pearl. At least until my pearl is ready."

"What?! Preposterous! Stop being so silly, Pink."

"I'm serious. I've talked with her. I can say with confidence that she is the most intelligent peridot i have ever seen. She may very well be one of the smartest gems i've ever met. So, she could easily fill my pearl's role as my assistant."

"Even if she is as smart as you say, it still flies in the face of proper procedure to do this." Blue said.

"Nobody would have to know but us. I stay here most of the time and the few times i leave, i'm with one or both of you."

"Well, that is true. And White did tell us to do whatever necessary to help you while she tried to find the ideal place to make your pearl."

"Blue, you're not really condoning this, are you?" Yellow asked.

"I'm just stating facts, Yellow. And the facts do add up, now that i think about it."

"Typical. You change your tune so freely when Pink is involved, Blue." Yellow said irratably.

"Somebody sounds jealous." Pink joked.

"Be quiet, Pink. 'Sigh' fine. I'm clearly outvoted, so i relinquish command of the peridot to you, Pink. But, only on two conditions."

"Um, what are they?" Pink asked nervously.

"One, nobody ever knows about this but us."

"Okay. Can do."

"And two, since she will be in attendance at court meetings, that Peridot's current form will not suffice and shapeshifting would just be insulting. So, you must poof her and have her reform into a more suitable state."

Pink was at a loss for words for the moment. She clearly didn't want to hurt Peridot.

"My diamond..." Past Peridot spoke to get Pink's attention. "I wish to serve you to the best of my abilities. So, if a change of form is required, I'll take some momentary pain."

"Peridot, are you sure?" Pink asked, still very distressed.

Past Peridot nodded.

"Okay. I'll make it quick."

Pink Diamond pulled a destablizer from her gem. The weapon crackled with it's lightning like energy.

"I know you'll look amazing, Peri. I can't wait to see what you come up with." Pink said quietly before jabbing Past Peridot with the weapon.

Past Peridot poofed and all went blank inside Peridot's mind. A few seconds later, hazy images started to form and then sounds came.

"Oh, here she comes." Said Pink in a muffled tone.

Things became clearer and Past Peridot reappeared in her new form. The yellow diamond on her chest had turned pink and grown larger. She now had a light green short sleeved top with a short dark green cape attached. She also had a dark green skirt, with light green lacy frills at the bottom. A pair of knee high black boots finished the look.

"Peri! Welcome back! You look great!" Pink shouted as soon as Peridot had fully come around.

"Thank you, my diamond. I hope this will suffice for court." Peridot said, blushing from the praise.

"It's perfect. Not even Yellow could complain about that."

"Um, speaking of her, are we still on call with the other diamonds?"

"No. They said they'd check out your new form the next time we were in touch. So they disconnected shortly after you poofed. Shows how much they really care about us if you ask me. Anyway, you've been out for a whole day. I'm glad to have my friend back. And let's establish that right now. To the others, you are my 'pearl', my assistant. But, to me, you're Peri, my friend. Never forget that or think otherwise, ok?"

"Noted and etched in proverbial stone."

"Good. Now, one last thing. If we're going to do this, you need another form for missions with Rose Quartz. So, since i really don't want to poof you again, let me ask this. Peri, can you shape shift?"

"Yes, I can."

"She can? That's one power our Peridot doesn't have. So, our Peridot actually can't get everything she has. Better keep that to myself." Pearl thought.

"Okay, good. Try to whip up a new look with your shap shifting."

"Okay, here goes."

Past Peridot glowed and her clothes changed. She now sported a dark green unitard that reached to just above her knees, with a yellow star on the chest. She also had black, detached sleeves with green bands wrapped around the wrists. Her boots shortended to mid calf to complete the look.

"How's this?"

"Perfect!" Pink said with huge stars in her eyes.

"I'm glad you like it, my Rose."

"My Rose, mmm, i like that. Ok, Peri. Let's get to work."

"Right behind you."

The two began to walk away and everything blurred again. Past Peridot, in her original crystal gem form, appeared with her head tilted down.

"That's how I met Rose. Everything down to the letter. Now, i'm sure there's one more question you're wondering. How did we 'shatter' Pink Diamond? Let me show you. We did it like this."

Past Peridot shape shifted again and turned into a copy of Rose with a closed fist. In the dark 'lighting' the current state of Peridot's mind provided, Pearl could barely tell that this form still had peridot's colors.

"It was dark and storming out when we did it. No one could tell in the poor lighting that my Rose form had the wrong colors." Rose Peridot said, opening her hand to reveal Pink's gem inside.

"You faked it just like we did." Pearl said.

"Yes. And i'll keep your secrets as long as you keep mine."

"Okay. And I'll listen to you more intently now. After all, you basically are me in your world."

"Good. Now, let's get back to the others."

A bright flash of light brought Pearl back to the real world.

"Thank you for confiding all that in me." Pearl said.

"You can pay me back by sorting out how you really feel about Steven and fusion." Peridot A said, leaning in for a hug.

"I'll try. And thank you again. For being my friend." Pearl said, returning the gesture

"Not a problem."

The two began to glow as they hugged. Suddenly, Chrysolite popped back into existence.

"Oh, whoops. Looks like we synced and didn't even realize it." Chrysolite said with a laugh.

"Hey, you two!" Chrysolite heard.

The fusion turned to see Lapis A flying over from the house.

" Whoa! That must've been some heart to heart talk." Lapis A said, noting Chrysolite's prescence.

"It was. And Pearl's feeling chipper again."

"Good. So, you staying like that for a while?"

"Yes. This is feeling pretty good, so I think we will stay fused for the time being."

"Okay. I was just wondering, cause we didn't get to spend a whole lot of time with you last time. I think it'd be nice to get to know all our cross world fusions better."

"An interesting endeavor. I think we should do that as well. But, the mission must come first. Let's go see what all our data mining has turned up."