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   Since the whir, whir of the ship just kept on, giving Peridot a terrible feeling of urgency, she decided to waste no time and creep up the steps of Stevenâs house. âIsnât it obvious?â she asked. âWe leave.â She peeked around the corner of the railing and towards the front door. No one stood before it. Warily, Peridot turned the corner. And then, once she was in front of the door, she transformed one of her fingers into a key. âBut the plan is still processing. Obviously, the Home World will find us; itâs only a matter of time.â After she stuck her key-finger into the handle, the lock clicked. Out of the corner of her eye, Peridot looked at Lapis. âWhen that happens, we will have to move again. Of course, you are not required to stay with me. That would be both imbecilic as well as a waste of time.â
   Peridot stepped into the house. She saw the warp pad instantly. âBut, if that is what you should choose,â she continued, âthen⊠I have no qualms with it.â She said it idly, as if it held no weight at all. But she knew that something had changedâshe knew that if this conversation were to take place before Lapis began her daring quest of friendship, she would have preferred to be alone. In fact, she would have insisted upon it. But, perhaps now, after all this time together, she had gotten used to the other gemâs presence.Â
   Peridotâs feet clanked against the warp pad. âProcessing,â she said. Her eyes were full of numbers; they zoomed across her vision. ââŠDestination found.â To Lapis, she said, âThe path diverges. You have two options: the first is to stay here, in this wretched human colony. You could carry out the rest of your existence safely, with little worry of being attacked. After all, the Home World is not looking for you; I am their sole target.â Peridot paused. She tapped her finger to her chin. âOr, you could come with me, and fulfill my former plan.
   âSo⊠which will it be, Lapis Lazuli?â
   Lapis followed as Peridot moved up the steps, though always lagging a few feet behind her. She followed to the door, too, and stood beside Peridot as she unlocked it. She stood silent, fingers clinging to the sides of her skirt and toes curling against the wood of the porch.
   When the door unlocked, and Peridot entered, Lapis hesitated before stepping through the doorway. Her teeth chattered noisily, memories of being in the mirror flooding back to her and causing her to shake. Sheâd never have thought that this place would create such fear and anger in her. But, the sea inside of her calmed, and her shaking died in a matter of moments. No one was there. There was nothing to be afraid of.
   Lapis stared at Peridot for a moment. She found it hard to believe that she really would not mind her sticking around. Peridot was certainly not the type to actually want Lapis around, so what was the point?Â
   Even so, when the decision was given to Lapisâto stay, or to go?âshe did not hesitate, for once in her life. She hopped up onto the warp pad to stand beside Peridot.
   Her lips pulled up in a small smile. âI have no place here in Beach City. It is not safe here, and it is not safe anywhere else on this planet, for me. Plus, Iâm too afraid of the Crystal Gems to stay here with Steven.Â
        âSo, Iâm coming with you.â











