What should have been a simple life in the desert sand and stars becomes anything but. Haunted by dreams of a life of violence, and seeking answers as to why, Peridot and her friends find themselves caught in an ancient battle between Light and Dark...and find that the cost of being a soldier is higher than they might have ever thought.
Peridot: I'm gonna knock his teeth in! Pull his balls through his nose!!
Fern: Whoooo boy.
Peridot: Parsley came to the diner while we were there and he ordered me to make him a coffee and when I told him to get out he threatened to have the place shut down by the safety inspector and--
Fern: Take a breath! Parsley came to the diner and...wanted a coffee? Even though the closed sign was up?
Peridot: yes!
Fern: Okay...and were you making coffee?
Peridot: I was making coffee for the four of us, not patrons!
Fern: Oh, I know that. I'm just surprised you know how to work that monstrosity--not the point! He came in and asked--
Fern: So you kicked him out?
Peridot; Yes! I yelled at him and he ran off and oooooooh I should have kicked his balls into his empty skull!
Fern: I....don't think that would help, Peri. That boy...
Citrine: What is going on out here? I heard screaming!
Citrine: Peri?
Fern: Ah, babe? You might wanna call Clover. Parsley could try to bring hell on the diner.
Peridot: ...fudge...'m sorry, I didn't...I didn't mean for that, I just...
Citrine: Slow down. What happened? Are you okay?
Peridot: ...I'm not hurt, I just...
Fern: Parsley was being a bully again. This time at the diner.
Citrine: He what?! Oh....
Citrine: That boy...he's just like his father.
Fern: Starting to think he's worse. At least you and Pep didn't have to deal with Basil after those first couple years...this guy comes back like a bad penny.
Citrine: Don't let our Penny hear you say that...
Citrine: *sigh* Peri, please tell me you didn't hurt him.
Peridot: I didn't. I don't think...he took off running like it was nothing and I just grabbed him by his coat, not his neck...
Fern: He's fine. But you really, really shouldn't do that again.
Fern: I would not put it past Parsley to cry wolf and say you hurt him. Or for Basil to try that.
Citrine: Ugh...he would, too.
Peridot: ...I'm sorry. He just...he gets under my skin like nobody else!
Peridot: I don't even know why! He's never done anything physical...words are just words, they shouldn't rile me up this bad!
Citrine: he's a jerk who's gone after you and your friends for years--everything has a breaking point, honey. That's yours.
Fern: The important thing is that you didn't turn around and break him. Not that we'd have blamed you, but...
Citrine: Self-defense only goes so far. *sigh* Even if knocking the stupid out of him would be great..
Fern: Cit, sunshine, love of my life, don't tempt her.
Peridot: *wet, snorting laugh*
Citrine: I really do hate to say this, considering I decked his father twice when we were kids, but...keep your distance. You've got two years of school left and then you're out and away from him. You can all make that.
Peridot: Yeah, I just...*heavy sigh* Fudge I hate him.
Fern: That's fair. Just don't act on that hate and it'll be fine.
Citrine: ....No one's mad at you, honey, really. You don't have to beat yourself up for it.
Peridot: That's not it...I just wish there was something I could do...
Peridot: Something that'd make him stop!
Fern: Bullies only respond to their own medicine, kiddo. He's not worth going down that road.
Peridot: ....
Peridot: ...yeah, you're right. I know that. Still...
Citrine: It still sucks. I shouldn't be surprised that any kid of Basil's is the same way he was, but...*sigh* Well, here we are.
Fern: Here we are. Push come to shove, kiddo, remember your lessons. You kids can handle yourselves against one schoolyard bully...even if I wish you didn't have to.
Peridot: ...me too, Ma. Me too.
That night....
Peridot: There you are.
Celestial: Here I am. I said I'd be here, didn't I?
Peridot: Oh, sure, but with all those things you're juggling I didn't know if you'd show or not.
Celestial: Peri, that's....okay, fine, that's a little fair.
Peridot: A little? You missed the last thing entirely, you've missed three months of school this year because of your Dad, and you're dodging questions left right anc center! I think it's more than a little fair!
Celestial: There's a lot of moving pieces right now, that's all.
Peridot: And you won't explain any of them!
Celestial: I don't want you involved in this.
Peridot: A little late for that! I am up to my neck levels of involved now, Cel! And I want answers!
Celestial: And that's what we're here to get.
Peridot: Not just about this! About what you're doing--what can't you tell me?!
Celestial: Lime--
Razz, from inside: Are you kids gonna yell all night or are we gonna do this thing?
Peridot: ....
Celestial: We'll talk later. Come on.
Peridot: *low growl*
Razz: Not to interrupt the...riveting teenage drama, but I think you're gonna like this one, Lime.
Peridot: I'll like them if they give me answers.
Fruity: That's the idea, kid! But you gotta win 'em first!
Celestial: Wait, that voice--
Razz: Yep! Fruity's come back into the fold, for one night and one fight only!
Peridot: Should that mean something to me?
Razz: He's only the best, most friendliest fighter you ever did meet.
Razz: And he's got his fingers in three dozen pies. If anybody knows who hired those three, it's him.
Fruity: I don't have that many fingers, Razz.
Razz: Eh, you know what I mean!
Razz: Oh, and Lime? Win this one and I'll owe you one.
Peridot: That simple?
Razz: That simple.
Fruity: Simple doesn't mean easy, kiddo. Hup--so, we doin' this?
Peridot: We're doing this.
Fruity: So--what's a kid like you--want with info like this?
Peridot: My business is my business.
Fruity: Ah, come on. No friendly banter?
Peridot: Talking a fight--fastest way to lose your tongue!
Fruity *laugh* Somebody taught you well! Alright, let's shut up and fight.
*LOUD thud*
Fruity: HOLD!
Fruity: I give up, I yield.
Peridot: ...what?
Fruity: *heavy breathing* Can't...tell you jack if I'm out cold, kid.
Razz: *laugh* Told you you'd like him.
Peridot: You threw the fight.
Fruity: Eh, it was for habit more than anything. I heard what you did to the other two. No thanks, I don't want a concussion! My partner would kill me.
Peridot: ...I could have been gentle.
Fruity: And now you didn't have to be. Let me up a bit and we'll talk.
Fruity: Quick question first: you ever consider doing this for a living. Bodyguards get paid well...
Peridot: in this town? Nah.
Fruity: Ah, come on. This town's too small to waste your gift on it.
Peridot: Gift, huh? like my gift of getting you to talk? Info for a fight, remember?
Fruity: Haaa...admittedly I was trying to knock you off that, but...okay. Fair's fair.
Fruity: The hit on Citrine Crystal was put out by Fennel Herb.
Peridot: ...what?
Fruity: That's who hired my guys for the hit.
Peridot: Your guys?! They worked for you?!
Fruity: Sure, until they showed up dead in the river a week later. I don't know who took them out--still digging. But the hit itself was from a Miss Fennel Herb. What, she not like a review the journalist write?
Peridot: ...no...I think it was to cover a lead to her husband.
Fruity: Her...husband oh shoot. The mayor put out a hit on a journalist.
Peridot: Tell me you kept records.
Fruity: Photographic memory. I burn all that stuff day of.
Fruity: Sorry, kid, I've got no way to prove it. Guess for that you're on your own.
Peridot: It's more than I had before. Thank you.
Fruity: Don't thank me, kid. You're walking headlong into a nest of vipers. Once politicians get involved, things get...dicey.
Peridot: I can handle it.
Fruity: Yeah, well, if you hit them as hard as you hit me? I bet you can.
Celestial: ....
Celestial: We're done. This stops tonight.
Peridot; No it does not! This is the first lead we've actually got! Like fudge are we stopping now!
Peridot: If the Herbs are connected to this like he said, then--
Celestial: Then this just got a lot more dangerous. You don't understand what sort of man Basil Herb actually is!
Peridot: He can't be any worse than Parsley!
Celestial: Oh yes he can! Because Basil actually has the power to back up his talk--he's the mayor and he's got the ear and arm of every officer on the force! D'you know how easy it would be to make anyone disappear?
Peridot: If this is you trying to get me to back off, it's not going to work.
Peridot: If Basil's involved with the hit on my mother, that means he's involved with the thefts and the robberies of stuff for a big ritual and stopping him means stopping that too!
Celestial: ...what ritual. What are you talking about?
Peridot: That doesn't matter now--what matters is finding proof Basil had his wife call the hit!
Celestial: Ugh--stop for a second! yes, it does matter, because big rituals aren't done for no reason! This is bigger than just your Mom getting attacked for digging too deep, Per, it's more dangerous than that!
Peridot: Uh, yeah, I know! That's why we can't stop now! We already know too much so we have to see it through!
Celestial: no, you have to back down now while you still can!
Peridot: I am not going to back off or back down!
Both: hmph!
Celestial: Why. Why, on everything the Watcher ever created, do you have to be so stubborn?
Peridot: Because stubborn gets the job done, and no one else is going to do it.
Celestial: You are going to get yourself killed if you keep this up. You know that, right?
Celestial: Dig too deep and you may as well pull the hole in behind you!
Peridot: Well it's a good thing I've got you to look after me, isn't it.
Celestial: I am trying! But you won't let me!
Peridot: Getting me to stop is not looking after me, Cel, it's being scared of something! Something you won't tell me about!
Celestial: Uh, hello? I just did! if Herb did this and he finds out you're looking, it's your head and I can't protect you from that.
Peridot: I don't need you to protect me from everything, I need you to have my back. I need you to let me have yours!
Celestial: I don't want you involved--I don't want any of you involved in this.
Peridot: It's too late for that. Do you remember when we made these necklaces, Cel? We promised we'd always look after one another!
Celestial: We were kids, Peri! That doesn't mean anything now.
Celestial: Don't. I trust you all with my life.
Peridot: But not with the truth about what you're up to.
Celestial: Who says I'm up to anything?
Peridot: Don't. You wouldn't have known about this, about Razz, without being neck deep in something. Six moving things to juggle at once? What are you into, Celestial?
Celestial: ...I'm not going to tell you. The less you know, the safer you'll be.
Celestial: because I know what I'm doing, and you don't!
Peridot: You--ugh. *frustrated sound* Dammit, Cel. All that talk about looking after eachother was just talk, wasn't it.
Celestial: No, Peri--
Peridot: Then why won't you let me help?!
Celestial: Because it's so dangerous I don't know if I could keep you safe and still get out at the same time.
Peridot: But it's not so dangerous you can look after yourself, huh?
Celestial: One person, not two. I...look, I...
Celestial: ....*sigh* Dad's into some deep, dark stuff. I'm trying to pull him out of it but it's not...if you got involved he wouldn't...*sigh* I can't.
Peridot: Because I'd be in the way.
Celestial: ...yeah.
Peridot: You know, you could have just said that? I don't need all the details, Cel, just a reason.
Celestial: ...yeah. Come on. It's getting late--we should go.
Peridot: ...yeah. Okay.
The next day...
Cinnamon: All is well? You are both very quiet today.
Peridot: Yeah, it's fine.
Celestial: Just...dealing with some stuff, is all.
Peridot: We can handle it.
Scarlet: ...Uh-huh. Well, handle it without the awkward, please, you two never fight!
Edelweiss: is there anything we can do?
Peridot: It's fine, Edie, really. Don't worry about it.
Candle: Too late for that...
Royal Cola: ...ah, everyone decided internships, yes?
Raven: Yep! Business for us two, science for you two...Peri, Cel?
Peridot/Celestial: Athletics.
Cinnamon: ...high competition. Will not be easy.
Celestial: We can handle it. So long as Parsley doesn't try, too.
Scarlet: Knowing your luck, he probably will.
Raven: I will be. So glad when we don't have to deal with Mr. Better Than You anymore.
-
Dawn: Something's wrong with them.
Edelweiss; Leave it. They need to sort themselves out.
Celestial: Eh, he's...annoying but we can ignore him. We're gonna have bigger fish to fry soon enough anyway.
Royal Cola: Yes...internships and duties. Not looking forward to them.
Peridot: We've always had duties, Royal. These are just...bigger ones now.
Cinnamon: ...not the biggest duty ever. Could be worse.
Peridot; Ha, I hear that.
Royal Cola: ...suppose so.
Peridot: Anyway, I think Parsley's going into business or politics with his stupid Daddy Knows All. The court will be ours.
Celestial: Thank the Watcher.
Cinnamon: Pff. Thank Mayor Basil, not Watcher. She is not involved here.
Celestial: I dunno about that, man. For us to get this far, she'd have to be involved somehow.
Royal Cola: Peridot, what happened? You two never fight.
Peridot: Just a...difference of opinions.
Royal Cola: Is stupid.
Peridot: Oh, I agree with that! I just don't know how to make him see it.
Royal Cola: Cannot. Agree to disagree, but apologize for fight. Be friends again.
Peridot: Oh, Royal, we never stopped--
Peridot: --oof!
Parsley: Watch it, freak!
Peridot: You bumped into me!
Parsley: I did not! If you had a working brain you'd have seen me!
Celestial: Uh-oh.
Royal Cola: Go for teacher?
Celestial: Nah, I got this. Get to class.
Royal Cola: Mm. Good luck.
-
Peridot: Oh, I'm sorry, did I crash into your big ego?!
Peridot: Maybe if you learned to rein in that attitude of yours people would actually be nice to you!
Parsley: Excuse me? You can't talk to me like that!
Peridot: Oh yes I can! I am so, so sick of you, Herb! You don't have a nice bone in your body!
Parsley: Nice? To you rabble?! Why should I be? You're all worthless!
Peridot: Oh, why, because we're mixed or Sixam or Verni? Give me a break!
Parsley: You don't understand--how can you? Your parents are just as bad!
Peridot: Excuse me?
Parsley: You heard me! Your mother had the utter lack of sense to mate with a dirty mixed and--
Peridot: Ha! At least that meant the inbreeding hadn't gone to my head!
Parsley: You--What did you say?!
Peridot: You heard me! The only way your precious pure lines go so long is because someone made sure they would! How many are left, huh? A few hundred? What do you think happens when a population gets that low, Parsley?
Parsley: You absolute--
Celestial: Whoa! Stop it, both of you!
Parsley: You will take that back!
Peridot: Or what, you knock my teeth in?
Celestial: Peri, enough!
Parsley: You have no idea what you're messing with, Crystal. When my father has his way--
Peridot: He'll what?! Exile all mixed berries to some deserted planet? Ha! Don't make me laugh. Your father will never have his way, Parsley.
Parsley: Just you wait and see, Crystal. You think you're safe? You'll see how not safe you are soon enough.
Celestial: Parsley, enough! You're talking nonsense!
Parsley: The hell I am. And if you don't want to go down with your...precious girlfriend over here, you'd better pick a side fast, Peak.
Celestial: ...
Peridot: Was that a threat? Because I'm about to show you who's going down!
Celestial: --Enough, both of you!
Parsley: Fudge this. We'll see if you're still singing that tune when my father's done with you, Crystal!
Peridot: When my father's done with you, when Daddy gets done with you, blah blah blah! Ugh...can't have an original thought in his head, can he!
Celestial: Peri...
Celestial: You need to stop picking fights with him.
Peridot: He started it!
Celestial: I don't care who started it! If he's in as deep as his dad is, you cannot keep this up!
Peridot: I am not going to stand here and let him badmouth my family, or my friends! He could have been saying the same things about you and I'd still get him for it!
Celestial: Words are just words, Peridot. You don't have to fight the world for no reason!
Peridot: I have a reason! I will always have my friends backs, even if they don't want to let me!
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