Peridot-Terentius Facet-2F5L Cut-5X was a natural peridot, about Connie's height, a distasteful green, but very cute with her angled triangle-shaped hair, neatly fitting visor, an inverted triangle gem set in her forehead. She wore a dark green jumpsuit with a pink diamond on it. But given how she introduced herself, she was originally from Yellow Diamond's planet HD-40307-g. Despite her harsh, no-nonsense personality, Yellow seemed to dote on Steven.

"And who authorized you to be here?" Connie snapped.

"Well…" Peridot-Terentius grimaced but kept meeting Connie's gaze.

Connie liked Peridot and decided she would let her in whatever Peridot's answer was.

"Well, nobody," Peridot muttered with a frown. "But this is an emergency!"

Raising an eyebrow, Connie gave herself a few seconds to think. She was going to let Peridot in whatever she said, but Peridot seemed to be earnest. Connie turned. "Very well," she said. "This way."

Inside Steven's room, Steven had moved from the bed to a smaller version of his throne, which was on a palanquin in the room's corner. Connie walked Peridot over to the throne, bowed, and introduced her.

"Peridot-Terentius, My Diamond, with urgent business," Connie announced.

Steven raised a hand in acknowledgment, and Connie took her place by his throne, leaving Peridot alone in front.

"Peridot-Terentius," Steven said. "What's up?"

"My Diamond." Peridot saluted. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I have urgent news. I'm a Certified Data Archiver and I've come from New Homeworld to warn you of a breach in sensitive files. Now it could be nothing, just corrupted lines acting up. I could fix them, of course! But I don't have a high enough clearance."

"Who does?" Steven asked.

"Nobody! I looked at the administration log to find who to take the issue to, and no one has access to these files. Well, accept you, My Diamond."

Connie saw Steven frown out of the corner of her eye. "Weird," he said. "Connie, do you think while we were looking for Bismuth, she was…"

"I don't know, My Diamond," Connie muttered. "We don't know where she hid the Breaking Point. We have no idea what else is in its hiding place."

Steven hummed and nodded. "Very well. I'll let you in. I'm really tired of his ball, anyway. But I've got to get some sleep first." He turned to look at Connie. "We both do. Peridot could you find the Pink Stars and let Garnet know what's going on. We'll set out as soon as Connie and I are rested."

"Garnet?!" Peridot whispered in excitement. "Yes, My Diamond! Have a good rest, My Diamond!" And with that Peridot rushed off, full speed out the door, and disappeared.

Connie looked at Steven and sighed. "What do you think the file breach is?"

"I don't want to think about it right now. I want to sleep." Steven dragged himself from his palanquin and back to his bed. Connie followed, unsurprised by how heavy she felt. They fell into the bed, on top of the blankets.

"I'm too tired to dissipate my clothes," Steven muttered.

"Me too," Connie said.

Silence overtook them, and within moments, Connie was asleep.

#

By the time they returned to the Throne Room. Even the other Diamonds seemed sick of the ball.

"There you are, Stardust," White's melodious voice said as Steven reentered the area of the thrones.

"Hey, Lily," Steven said. He took Connie around the waist and tapped his foot, sending them both up and into the arm of White Diamond's massive throne. "You look bored," Steven muttered as he let Connie go.

Connie curtsied and said nothing. She kept her eyes down and with nothing to do, listened and waited to be moved again.

"Oh, you know…" White Diamond sighed. "These things can get sooo long. Especially without your mother here to entertain us. Not that we don't love you, Stardust. But your nap was sooo long."

"Lily, I was only gone for three hours," Steven replied flatly. "Anyway," he went on, smiling. "There's stuff up at my place, I'd better go."

"Oh thank stars," Yellow muttered. "I was going to crack if I had to sit through any more of this."

"I could do something else as well," Blue breathed.

"Well, if we're all in agreement," White said.

Steven nodded and slipped an arm around Connie's waist again before stepping off White's Throne and landing by his own. At Pink's Throne, Lacey and Rayne were sat side by side on the chair with the rest of the Pink Stars standing nearby. Peridot had somehow made her way near Garnet and was looking at her out of the corner of her eye with admiration.

"Anything new?" Steven asked as they switched places. Lacey and Rayne went back to the Stars, while Connie took her place by the Throne and Steven sat down.

"Nothing to report," Lacey said softly.

"Peridot is eager to go, though," Rayne said. She glanced at Peridot, who was trying to keep her eyes on Steven but glancing at Garnet. "When she remembers to be," Rayne added.

"Well, we're about to wrap up here. Axelle, go grab Ellie and meet us at the legs."

"Right'o, My Diamond!" Axelle saluted and marched off, disappearing in the crowd of taller gems.

Steven adjusted his position on the throne, frowned, and sighed. "I can't wait to sleep in my actual bed," he muttered.

"Let's get Steven home," Blue muttered. "He's still exhausted."

Blue's lovely pale blue face was painted with worry in Connie's peripheral vision. It amazed Connie that she could look so worried without a single wrinkle or line appearing in her perfect face. It was like she was wearing a beautiful, worried mask. Connie was mesmerized by it.

"Al-right," White said. Then she raised her hands and clapped.

Despite not putting much force behind it, the clap echoed through the throne room, overshadowing every other sound.

"Our loyal subjects!" White said. Her perfect bell-like voice rang out over the room. "Your devotion and enthusiasm have brought a smile to our faces! But it is time now to return to daily life!"

"Welcome all to Era 4," the Diamonds said together.

Steven got up first, marching down the middle of the throne room. The crowd parted for him, saluting as they did. Connie followed him at the approved distance and felt the sweep of Blue's presence behind her. They marched out in a line, Diamond, Pearl, Diamond, and so on until White's dazzling heels could be heard even on the padded carpet.

They stopped eventually in a private area of the palace, and Connie felt the air relax around her.

"Lotus," Yellow said. She was stretching, as if she was stiff. "Go get some sleep. We have to discuss the Jade system soon."

"I know," Steven said. "I'll call you."

"Oh, Lotus," White said, crouching delicately. "When will you be back, Stardust?"

Steven smiled. "Soon. I just have some work to do. I have a surprise for you all later too."

The other Diamonds seemed to snap to attention.

"Oh?" White said. "Well, I can't wait! Go on then. Head back to the New Homeworld. We'll visit soon."

Connie watched the interaction with warmth. She hadn't called her parents in some time and seeing Steven with the other Diamonds made her aware of how much she missed them.

"Pink's Aubergine," a voice said from beside her.

Connie turned and found Blue Pearl and Yellow Pearl beside her.

"Oh. Hey guys," Connie said softly. "You can call me Connie."

"Connie," Blue Pearl said. "I'm Star and this is Sun. Good to meet you. You did well out there."

"Yes," Sun said with surprise, lacing her voice. "You were excellent. I've never seen an organic-pearl in such a role before. But it's so like Pink Diamond to surprise us. He's so like his mother."

"Oh? I've heard that." Connie smiled warmly.

"And your fusion looks so much like her," Sun went on. "You're obviously a good match for him."

"Thank you," Connie replied, then saw that Steven was done with his goodbyes and about to walk away. She waved to her fellow pearls and took her place behind Steven just as he walked away.