A Taste of the Flaring Ocean

Chapter One: The Unexpected Rendezvous

It was a beautiful day outside the temple. The sun was shining and warm, the sand felt great under feet, and the ocean breeze made this day perfect. Well, for everyone but Garnet. She was in the temple observing the bubbled gems, trying to figure out what to do to them. Sure, she could just destroy them all in a matter of seconds, but she didn't. Rose had always told her that each Gem, no matter how broken they seemed, had a life before their gems got cracked or they became corrupted.

Sighing, the tall Gem summoned the bubble if the centipedel, smiling just a bit. That had been Steven's first bubble. That was also the gem that Steven had tried to befriend. Letting go, Garnet watched it fly up to the top of the ceiling.

"Don't worry." Garnet whispered. "I'll make you better again. I don't know when or how I'll fix your gem, but I am trying…" Despite being quiet around most others, the Crystal Gems and these bubbled gems were here to listen. Though she talked more to the bubbled gems as they never told her how to be. Sighing, Garnet was about to make another bubble come down when she heard the door to her room. No one came into her room unless something was really good or really bad.

"Garnet! Garnet!" Came Steven's voice surprised Garnet even more. How had he gotten into the temple? Had he finally figured out on how to use his gem to open doors to the temple? Walking towards Steven, Garnet bent down to his level so he didn't have to stare up at her.

"Steven, you know you're not allowed to be in the temple, especially by yourself. You know my room is very…fragile." As she said this, she looked at the bubbles just floating with monster Gem inside. Her face showed no emotion but she felt bad for all of them. Being trapped in a bubble, no Gem form, just floating, waiting to be free once more.

"Garnet?" Steven said her name so quietly that the taller Gem didn't hear it. "GARNET!" Well, he could get her attention that way. Garnet almost jumped as she was brought out of her thoughts.

"What is that I can help you with, Steven? I was just checking the bubbles." Well, that was half true. She had been lost in thoughts of the past, of her first bubbled Gem. It hurt to even remember it, but she didn't show it on her stoic face. Before he said anything, Steven grabbed Garnet's hand and dragged her through the temple, out of the house and to a secluded corner of the beach. Garnet followed with when she saw a certain Gem.

"Lapis Lazuli…" Garnet said and glared thought her glasses. Summoning her gauntlets, Garnet ran over to the blue Gem, about to attack but was stopped and put his protection bubble around them. Even as strong as Garnet was, she could not break the bubble. "She's a traitor, Steven! She tried to use the ocean and put all of us in danger. What are you doing?!"

"Garnet, please!" Steven said as he gently picked Lapis, who had mirror eyes again. Lapis looked frightened and frail. Putting her weapons away, Garnet slowly walked over to the pink bubble, staring at Lapis. She sighed and looked at the two. Steven looked like his mother, always wanting to protect and love those who didn't deserve it. Lapis was one of those people who didn't deserve the ground they walked on, but something about Lapis seemed different. Maybe it was a plot? Maybe she was trying to learn about them only to fly home and give Home World an advantage.

Without a word, Garnet walked over, grabbed Lapis, through the thin Gem over shoulder and began to walked back to the house. If Steven could find goodness in this Gem, maybe she could. Maybe. When in the home, it took a moment for Pearl and Amethyst to realize Garnet was holding something over her shoulders. Not a what but a who. The other two gems got into an attacking stance, pulling out their weapons. Garnet help up a hand, indicating that it was alright.

"She's weak and was on our beach." Garnet said as she gently laid Lapis on the couch. She scanned the other for some kind of injuries and she was glad she had. Lapis' body was covered in deep bruises, a few deep cuts, and most of her face had bruises. Frowning, Garnet placed her hand on Lapis' arm, which was obviously broken. She had to set it back into place. Taking a deep breath, Garnet used one hand to put Lapis' shoulder back in while the other had taken a hold of her wrist, knowing that it would hurt and she knew this would wake Lapis up.

"This is going to loud, Gems. I suggest you back up and get ready." Giving the other Gems a chance to back off, Garnet took a deep breath and shoved the socket with a loud
POP! And Lapis' eyes went wide, tears filling her eyes

"That hurt!" Lapis said as she tried to pull her wrist away, but Garnet was too strong. Grabbing Lapis' forearm, and tugged until the wrist popped into place. Lapis screamed at the pain. Garnet didn't move as she examined the body. Lapis' clothes were torn, her hair full of coral and seaweed. Lapis had obviously been in a deeper part of the ocean. Reaching out to try and get some on the mess out the other's hair, Lapis shook head rapidly and going to the corner of the couch.

"D-Don't touch me, you brute! You're the reason that I'm so hurt and beat up. Do you have any idea what it is like to trying to escape Home World?!" Garnet listened and looked at Steven, nodding in Lapis' direction. He didn't get it at first, then it just clicked and he went to Lapis' side.

"Lapis...it's alright. They won't hurt you, promise. If you just give us a chance, please? We want to help you." Steven gently rubbed Lapis' arm and smiled when she nodded. "I think you need to be taken care of by Garnet, just for a bit." Steven smiled and grabbed Garnet's hand, putting it on Lapis' arm and she frowned. The girl was cold. Getting up while carrying Lapis, she turned to the other's

"I'm taking care of her. Do not disturb me unless you are dying, fighting that needs me, or if you three bring me a gem or for food. I don't know if she eats." With that she turned and walked into the temple, to her room of course. Her room was the hottest in the temple but not to the point it burned. Looking around, she had found a bed. She didn't usually sleep, but Rose got this bed for her just before she…well…

Shaking her head, she set Lapis on the bed, looking at her tattered clothes. They would fix that tomorrow. Garnet sat on the bed, looking at Lapis. What was she supposed to do? Lapis had ratted them out, stole their ocean, and now she wanted to get help? Sighing, she looked back at Lapis who was already asleep. Getting up, Garnet put a sheet on top of the colored the blue Gem . Tonight, she would watch the other and tomorrow . But tonight, Lapis Lazuli would rest.