Summary: Robo showdown
Garnet sat with the others, gems ready as they waited, and waited, until finally the stone started to Glow. All tensed as Peridot formed … into a much smaller version of herself. "Aww." Star immediately put her wand down. "Mini Peridot."
"What the…huh…where am…AH! My limb enhancers!" Peridot squealed out, covering herself as if she was naked. "What have you done with them!?
"Oh, so that's what the tech was for." Kelly nodded, looking at the leg.
"Give me that!" She walked up and snatched it. "I'll be taking the rest now."
"Sorry." Amethyst shrugged uncaringly. "Smashed them."
"You clods!" The tiny gem shouted with rage. "I ought to …" She started punching the closest one to her, ie Steven.
"… Is this what it's like when one of us punches you?" He asked Pearl.
"No…it's less sad and pitiable when you four do it." The pale gem explained.
"So this is the gem that had us all scared for over a month?" Kelly looked on with a slightly raised eyebrow. "Suddenly all fear just fades away within one second."
"I have half a mind to let us all die right now." She grumbled.
"Oh yeah, tell us about this 'world ending event' or whatever." Star spoke with focus.
"I'm only explaining it once … where's the red one?"
Marco came in, dragging equipment. "Alright, I've got a white board and markers for visual aids and-" He noticed Peridot's size, moving to grab a chair and place it in front. "It lets you reach higher."
"A simple design for a limb enhancer, but I suppose it'll fulfill its purpose for the meantime." After climbing, she went to use the markers, dragging them across the whiteboard with no results, Marco just pulled off the cap. "Ah …" With a note of fascination, Peridot went to draw the planet. "This is earth, what you crystal clods stopped from being colonized."
"We take great pride in doing so." Garnet said proudly.
"Sure you do." With an eye roll, they went on and erased it after being shown how to. "Since they couldn't use it as intended, they started experimenting with Geoweapons. Yellow Diamond's personal project was 'The Cluster'." Peridot began to draw … them."This is a prototype, two to three gem shards melded together atomically and buried in the ground to help stabilize across the planet."
"Wait, the planet?" Steven asked. "Not just in the Kindergarten!?"
"Well of course not. Has no one of your kind reported multi limbed gems running around?"
"The gem mutants? We've been taking care of most of them ever since they started forming." Kelly went on. "They're actually pretty easy to poof, more than the corrupted monsters."
"I've been … very determined to stop them." Garnet glared at the flinching gem.
"Well like I said, they're prototypes." Peridot drew earth, but not the center. "So they hollowed out and injected the Cluster, which is … I don't have the exact number on hand, but it ranged between five and six million shards."
"Six….Million…" Steven's eyes widened as his skin went pale. "So you're telling me that underground is a giant gem mutant made up of millions of shards?"
"Yep." She drew some more. "The prototypes emerging were the first sign. Then the tremors, before finally the Cluster emerges, estimated size rivaling the solar system."
Garnet couldn't believe it. So many gems were suffering down there, their minds screaming in agony about a fate they didn't deserve. "That's sick…why would Homeworld ever think about such a horrendous idea!?"
"They needed to do something to make up for lost resources after the war, duh." Peridot answered flippantly. "So many gems got shattered, might as well use the still active one's for something productive."
"Was that all they were to you!?" Star shouted. "Resources and tools!? Those lives that were lost!"
"Well yes. If I was shattered I'd expect the same treatment instead of just letting my shards go to waste." She shrugged. "It's only logical."
"There's nothing logical about using a corpse to fight!" Steven was enraged, a slight hint of pink showing off on his face.
Marco held out a hand. "Everyone's angry, and rightfully so, but let's not forget about the current ticking time bomb in the earth." He turned to Peridot. "What's the plan?" They needed a voice of reason at the moment, and she was glad someone was willing to overlook the … sick gem in front of them.
"The plan right now is to use 'magic' to reach and destroy the cluster." The green gem said. "I take it that's the source of the Mewman's technology?"
"Yeah, but I can't just blast the Cluster from here, I'm a princess, not a miracle worker." Star rolled her eyes with an eye roll.
"If distance and location are the only problem …" The gem began making adjustments to the board. "We'll have to drill into the cluster."
"Well, how do you suggest we do that, Peri-dope?" Amethyst said, getting a snicker from almost everyone around her.
"PeriDOT. And obviously I will build it. Shouldn't be too hard with the right resources. I'll just need a lab to work and manpower."
"We're all here, and we all don't want the earth to die, so we're going to help you no matter what." Steven looked around to everyone, who all nodded. "And give me a second on that last one, I might have an idea."
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"Welcome to the barn!" Marco watched as Mr Universe displayed a … well barn. "Belongs to my family, so I'm sure it'll be okay … at least until Andy shows up."
"On the bright side, there's a chance for me to meet more of my human family." Steven said with a slight optimistic smile."
"It's a bit of a fixer upper, but she's lasted." The man patted the side of the barn. "So who's your new friend?"
"It's sizable, and spacious. Plenty of open work area … this will do nicely." Peridot went on, ignoring the man as she observed the place. "Now I just need to set up the schematics and we're good to go."
"Reluctant coworker." Steven muttered. "Just … avoid her and she won't get angry at you."
"I can roll with that." He shrugged. "See ya guys." The man walked off.
"So where do we start?" Marco asked.
"The blueprint obviously." Peridot began writing on the whiteboard once more. "Now we'll just start with the wires here … the power core here …"
"You could try adding a voltage breaker there." Pearl added in.
Peridot paused, looking at the gem. "Are you trying to lecture me on engineering?"
"I have you know I've spent over five thousand years on this planet, I'm far more familiar with the intricacies of how the mechanics works." Pearl responded with crossed arms.
"If I need knowledge concerning this planet I'll ask Marco, they belong here after all." Peridot chuckled. "A Pearl thinking she's a Peridot, how hilarious."
"What's hilarious is you assuming you actually have a say as if you're in charge!" Pearl pointed an accusing finger.
"Hey guys." Kelly came over with the others, bringing a box of parts, as Garnet carried an impractical sized container. "What's the argument this time?"
"Peridot doesn't want Pearl helping for some reason." Steven shrugged.
"Some rea-right, I forget you have no clue about gem culture." Peridot sighed. "Each gem has a purpose. Peridots are engineers. Pearls are a servant gem meant to stand there, look pretty, and sometimes hold things." The gem explained flippantly, ignoring the anger. "They're more of a status symbol than anything else."
"Listen here, you tiny twerp! We're on earth now, where your little Homeworld rank means nothing to no one! As long as you're here, we're equals whether you like it or not!"
"We're equal in the sense that you can drive a spear through me, not intelligence, you clod."
"Well why doesn't she just prove it?" Marco asked.
Star gasped. "With a robot battle!?" Great, now that was going to be their next big thing.
"... Ro … bot?"
"They're just like the marble things you keep sending, but bigger, and you can ride them!" This was an unfortunate case where Steven got caught up in the excitement. "You can make them do races and challenges and a bunch of other cool stuff!" Innocence at its finest if that was all he thought was going to happen.
"Well I suppose it would be a nice quick demonstration." Pearl smirked with pride. "It's not like you could build something better than me after all."
"I built my first flask robonoids within the first hour I came into being! Using archaic and simple technology like this will only take me five minutes!" Peridot ran into the barn.
"I can do it in three!"
"Heck yeah, robo showdown!" Amethyst laughed, getting as excited as the others.
"Yeah, robo-wrestling Let's get it on!" Kelly took out some popcorn that was tucked away in her hair.
"So can you see this ending just as messy as I think it will?" Marco asked Garnet.
"Actually it ends pretty clean." Garnet shrugged. "We need something to loosen up everyone with all the tension. And it's definitely something Pearl needs to do after the whole mess with Sardonyx."
Seeing as how Garnet was all knowing without being an asshole like Glosseryck, he sighed and helped himself to some popcorn. "Do your best, Peridot."
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Ludo opened the spellbook with glee. Finally, a method to learn more spells! Now he could do something other than make lasers, like portals, flying, and … popping corn. He salavated at the last one.
It was absolutely perfect too! He now occupied an abandoned monster temple that the wand told him about, which now the rats were slowly working on restoring to its previous glory, isolated from the rest of Mewni so he was absolutely free to practice magic for however long he wanted.
He opened the book, about to read its secrets, until he was greeted by a blue man inside. "Hello there, Princess."
"Um … hello?" Ludo spoke with confusion. "You're in my book."
"Yes, I am." The blue man bowed. "Sir Glossaryck of Terms. I am your guide through the entirety of this magical spell book." When Ludo thought of a magic book, being actually magic wasn't the first thing that came to mind, but in hindsight it should have been.
"So…what's your angle in this?" He pointed the wand at the tiny man, not willing to automatically trust a stranger offering help, not after Toffee.
"To help train the current princess, if they wield both the book and wand." He pointed to Ludo's wand. "You happen to have both, so now my job is to help you reach your maximum potential…or not, if you don't want it."
"No, NO, I want it!" Someone was actually giving him positive attention for once, he wasn't going to waste this opportunity if it was true! "Teach me a spell that isn't just firing green lasers!"
"Alright, let's start with a simple one." The man flipped through the pages. "Levitato."
"Levi … tato?" Ludo asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, you aim the wand, say the word, and you pick something up."
"That seems very simple." Ludo spoke accusingly.
"Star hasn't managed to do it." And that sealed the deal!
"Haha! Watch out, Star Butterfly! I'm about to master the wand in ways you couldn't ever dream to imagine!" He aimed to wand at a nearby rock. "Levitato." An aura of green energy surrounded it, and it slowly picked itself right up. "I did it…I'm actually doing magic! REAL SPELLS!" He shouted in glee. "TAKE THAT, BUTTERFLYS!"
"Good job." He was being praised! This was the best day of his life! Go through every page. Read every chapter no matter what Glosseryck says. What an amazing idea! It was Ludo's book now, so he was free to read what he wanted!
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"Alright, here are the rules!" Steven placed the chalkboard up with two sides drawn. "You complete a challenge we've cooked up, you get a point! Whoever gets the most by the time the sun sets, wins!"
"I already have the advantage, mine's taller." Pearl, in a blue jumpsuit with a pink diamond on the chest area, said proudly, as her robot looked like a mini rocket with tall and bendy robo legs and arms that had wheels on the ends.
"Like size gives you an advantage, HA! My design has raw power. Those tiny twigs you call limb enhancers could never compare!" Peridot, in her slightly smaller diamond shaped robot with a lot of bulk, two garbage compactors as claws clanging against each other.
"Robots come in all shapes and sizes, so this'll prove who's bot is better at doing stuff!" Star said, from the outside of the board. "Whoever wins gets to take the lead in the gem drill thingy and has to go with whatever the other gem says without complaining!"
"You got this Pearl, make oil fly everywhere!" Kelly cheered with foam fingers on her hands.
Marco looked around. "Well seeing as we're having fun and someone needs to be on both sides … go Peridot!" He waved.
"That's the spirit, Marco, just remember the most important rule of the Robolympics: To have a fun time!" Steven shouted. "Now let's get rolling!"
It's early morning, the sun comes out
Last night was shaking and pretty loud
The first round was balancing, as both bots tried to stand on one limb, Peridot showing off with a spin causing her to fall over, giving Pearl the point. That was probably obvious, given Pearl's whole ballet thing she had going.
My cat is purring, it scratches my skin
So what is wrong with another sin?
The next one was rock crushing, something Peridot completely dominated in with her claws. Pearl struggled with her tiny arms before having the rock land on her, others wincing as a cuckoo clock rang out from within.
The bitch is hungry, she needs to tell
So give her inches and feed her well
This is where Steven and Star began having a little fun with the contests, as the next round was being the best microwave. Pearl, a bit ironically, actually won, probably due to all the times Marco explained earth stuff to her, while Peridot lost when she fired a rocket at her frozen burrito.
More days to come, new places to go
I've got to leave, it's time for a show
After that was jumping. In what seemed like an easy win for Pearl was quickly countered when Peridot displayed springs on her heels as she jumped … and stayed up in the air for a full three minutes.
"Will she just stay up there?" Pearl asked Garnet with a pleading tone.
"What comes up must come down….eventually."
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
Here I am
This next one has them being the best fans, where Star got into a hammock and had them fan her with whatever they had. Peridot crushed the tree branch she was using while Pearl rotated her arms until it blew Star across the field.
Rock you like a hurricane
My body is burning, it starts to shout
Desire is coming, it breaks out loud
After that was a match of speed, which didn't help when Peridot landed on a banana Pearl, all children looking accusingly at a laughing Amethyst.
"Time out corner, no outside interference!"
Lust is in cages 'til storm breaks loose
Just have to make it with someone I choose
After securing Amethyst by having Garnet hold on to her, juggling was next on the list, and Pearl won once again, her skinny limbs being better for the task while Peridot's struggled to keep up with such stiff and bulky arms.
The night is calling, I have to go
The wolf is hungry, he runs the show
Tug of war was next, and Peridot was the winner by a long mile when she accidentally pulled Pearl so hard she flung her over head and over the barn.
He's licking his lips, he's ready to win
On the hunt tonight for love at first sting
Jumping jacks was the next round, and it was another win for Peridot when Pearl's robot ended up tripping trying to outdo the green gem.
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
(Are you ready, baby?)
After that was video games, which Pearl won through the use of having fingers instead of just two claws.
"Why did we even have this as a challenge?"
"Couldn't get past level six."
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
Here I am
The next challenge was a contest of art, where the two would paint a picture of a posing Amethyst. This led to a long series of back and forth between Marco and Kelly about what counted as true art, where in the end, everyone agreed it was just in the eye of the beholder, and thus points were given to both sides for this one.
Rock you like a hurricane
Here I am
After that they played ping pong, Peridot having the advantage by carrying a paddle half the size of her robot and never letting it get past her range. It was eventually concluded after the ball was shot hard enough to break a leg, literally.
Rock you like a hurricane
Rock you like a hurricane
It's early morning, the sun comes out
Last night was shaking and pretty loud
Evasion was next, where Garnet and Star shot rocket gauntlets and cupcakes blast at the two while they tried to dodge. Pearl took this challenge easily, using her ballet-dance style to avoid most of the attacks.
My cat is purring, it scratched my skin
So what is wrong with another sin?
The kids stared as, somehow, the latest event of 'cat grooming' caused Lion to stand over the fallen robot bodies of Peridot and Pearl, licking its paw. They looked at each other before drawing Lion on the board, and giving him a point.
The night is calling, I have to go
The wolf is hungry, he runs the show
He's licking his lips, he's ready to win
On the hunt tonight for love at first sting
The next one was a laser puppy lasso capture challenge, where they tried to round up as many as possible, Peridot winning due to having a vacuum feature on hers while Pearl struggled to hold on to one.
"Victory is mine!" Peridot shouted, even as her robot started to glow red from lasers. "How's it even possible-ow-for organic carbon based life to contain-ow-high amount of concentrated plasma in their optical nerves-ow!!!!"
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
(Are you ready, baby?)
They began to play rock paper scissors, which somehow lasted for a whole minute of ties despite Peridot's claw making two options.
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
(Come on, come on, come on, come on)
Here I am
Rock you like a hurricane
Here I am
The two robots, as well as the riders, laid down on the ground, tired and exhausted from an entire day of challenges, glaring at each other before turning to Star and Steven, who were doing the final count of points.
"We have the results…you tied!" Steven shouted excitedly, although the two gems were far from the level of ecstatic the half human was.
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"How could I tie with a Pearl!" It shouldn't even be possible on a theoretical level! "It would be one thing to lose to another Peridot, maybe a Bismuth, or possibly a Sapphire watching my progress, but a Pearl!?" She pulled her hands up in frustration even as wires sparked. "Maybe earth HAS driven me insane!"
"Huh, usually it's everything EXCEPT earth that drives one to madness." The Marco hummed in thought. "Guess different environments affect different people."
"Crazy or not, you both tied, so you both win." The Mewman cleared the board. "And since this game took all day, it would be better if you two just started on the drill and stopped complaining about each other."
"I am already doing the first, and will never stop the second." Peridot said while coupling a wire. "Pass me the gray sticky substance."
"Duck Tape." The Marco said, handing her some. "Why is it such a big deal anyway?"
"It's a big deal because my entire purpose for living was to be an engineer. If a Gem is incompetent and can't complete their task, they're worthless." Peridot explained, fixing the sparking machinery.
"No one said that you were incompetent." The human kneeled down to her level. "Like you said, we need you to help us with the drill."
"Of course you need my help, that's why you're my assistant." She held her hand out. "Bolt tightener."
"Wrench." The Marco added.
"But she's already doing infuriatingly well for a gem of her race, which should have no knowledge of mechanics whatsoever."
"Well, that's what 5,000 years of experience did for her. Pearl learned how to be good with machines, even if she started with no idea how to do anything like it before. Heck, when humans are born, we start off knowing absolutely nothing at all, except how to breathe."
"That's ridiculous! I knew how to do that when I emerged, and I'm not even required to in order to function!" Peridot was baffled at the ludicrous fact.
"It's just what we do, improve ourselves and learn as we age." The Marco spoke.
"But if you weren't born with any skills, then what's your purpose as a species!?"
"We find our own, and can have as many as we choose to have." The Marco shrugged. "Right now, my main 'function' is to make sure my friends don't do anything too crazy."
"Amethyst!" The Steven shouted. "You don't drink oil, that kills you!"
"Not when you're a gem, just makes you feel woozy, like antifreeze." The Amethyst laughed.
"Boo, I wanted to see oil splattered all over the ground!" The Kelly began smashing one of the bots with the Rose Quartz sword.
"Oh, we can totally take these for a joyride! No more boring bus rides to school!" The Mewman began firing off wheat based byproduct covers in hardened crystallized sugar.
Peridot stared at them before turning to The Marco. "How have you remained sane?"
"Sometimes I scream into a pillow for hours, and sometimes I punch all my frustrations into the nearest living thing that wants to kill me, which happens almost everyday." Sounds therapeutic. "But you do know things have more than one purpose right?"
"... What?"
"Look." He grabbed the screwy thing. "It doesn't just screw things in."
"That's the whole point of its spiral design, what alternate purpose could it possibly serve?" Peridot asked.
"Stabbing things, getting under spots," The Marco used it to move under a plate, popping it with pressure. "And makeshift crowbar."
"But..but those are what they're made for…"
"And yet they can be just as useful." The Marco responded. "To say something, or someone only has one use, in my opinion at least, is illogical."
"... You're the only creature on this planet that makes sense, Marco Diaz."
"Thanks. I guess there's a reason why I was chosen to guide an interdimensional princess."
"Interdimensional?" She blinked. "You claim that … she's from … magic allows one to traverse the barriers of three dimensions?" Peridot knew the technology of magic was strong, but to alter the laws of space time … wow.
"Yep. Maybe someday, when the world isn't ending, we can show you sometime." Her ally-ship with the human was paying off more and more by the day! She'd get to live and prove herself to her diamond by giving them answers to questions centuries old!