The sun has always been hot, sometimes it was beyond hot, on the old town of beach city. A small tiny place out in the middle of know where, near a beach. It was a small town and the folks there were all very friendly with one another. The Sheriff was even friendly, though at times she would lose her temper a bit, but that's only if there was any trouble in town. Luckily for her and the towns folk it had been rather quiet. Until the day it wasn't so quiet.
"Ruby! Heads up!" A tall curly haired woman with tan skin, ducked as a beer bottle came flying out of "The gem inn. & bar," Her hat being knocked off by the flying beer bottle in the process of her ducking. The woman sighed and picked up her old leather hat before plopping it back on and straightening up. Another bottle flying past her head. She scrunched her brow and bared her teeth before throwing open the saloon doors and roared as loudly as she could over the crowd, "What in hell is going on in this here bar?!" She looked livid, as she spotted the new singer being pinned to the wall by a gruff looking man. The singer's blue eyes meeting the woman's brown. While there were other folks either in mid punch or on the ground bleeding. "I said, what the hell is going on?! Are all deaf?!" She glared deeply at the man holding onto the girl. He quickly released her and backed, away turning to face Ruby and cross his arms over his beer gut. "Whos asking?" He smirked. The blue eyed singer quickly scurried behind a curtain out of sight.
Ruby, pulled out a badge from the inside of her black leather vest. "I am, the sheriff of this town is asking!" She stated. The man looked shocked for a moment before laughing loudly. Three others joining in on the laughter. "You?! The sheriff? What a joke eh leggy?!" A smaller woman gave a very nervous laugh, pushing themselves up off the ground and standing next to the man. She watched as the two others another man and woman stood at opposite ends of the bar, their hands by their belts. The man behind the bar quickly ducking behind the counter as other scurried away. The brown eyed woman seemed unfazed. "Alright yall listen, I don't like to do this but-" BLAM!
Before she could finish she drew her gun shooting both the man and woman on the side square in the chest before taking out the fat man in the middle, lastly was the one called leggy, she saw her fall to her butt before she could shoot. The woman threw her hands up. "N-no wait! Don't shoot!" She closed her eyes tight, awaiting her fate, but nothing came. She peeked out only to see the woman had gotten right up in her face. "Listen here, Im gonna be letting you out of my town… but Im doing it my way." She grabbed the woman by the back of her collar hoisting her to her feet and pushed her to the door. Murmurs from the bar could be heard as the exited into the bright sun.
The sheriff turned to see a few horses tied up on the side. "Which ones yours?" Leggy lifted a shaky hand to a grey old horse, and before she could speak the sheriff had rope around her hands and legs and hoisted her onto the horse, tying her onto the horse like she was a rug being thrown over the saddle. She then released the reins from its wooden post and tied it to her hands before slapping the rear end of the horse, sending the horse galloping straight out of town. She watched as Leggy and her horse were far out of the towns welcome sign, before heading back in. Ruby walked over broken chairs and tables, heading to where the blue eyed singer had run off to. A hand suddenly grabbed hold of her ankle. She jumped and looked down to see it was the man from earlier, "y-y-y-ouuuu'll paayy for this! mm!" He was having trouble breathing. "I swear! Once our bosssss finnddss yoou-u-u uugghhh you're dead-" he fell to the floor dead. The sheriff shuddered and turned away, and shook her head, heading straight through the curtain and down a narrow hall way. At the end was a group of scadaly dressed women as well as, well dressed ladies in their finest opera attire.
A few batting their eyes. "Well! Hi there Sheriff, tie up the bad guys out there?" A very tall woman, Sardonyx jutted her elbow into Rubies side while pulling a rope from her top hat. Ruby rolled her eyes. "Ah come on now Sar, don't think I wouldn't leave you girls alone with that mess." Sardonyx just laughed loudly as she walked away to chat with a few of the other women who were still visibly shaken. "Ah that girls always trying to get a laugh, even after all that…" Ruby looked around the room until her eyes fell upon two women in the far back. The singer had her head on a short haired brunet's shoulder her shoulder's bouncing from sobbing.
"Sapphire!" She grinned widely, making her way through the women to girls. Sapphires head shot up from the other womans shoulder, tears in her eyes. "Ruby!" She lifted the front of her beautiful blue dress a bit as she ran from her spot, meeting Ruby half way and jumped into her arms. "oh my darling! You're safe!" She pulled Ruby's face into hers as the kissed soundly. "Cant you two get a room?!" The woman from behind called. Sapphire giggled, her arms still around Ruby. Sapphire rolled her eye, as her left one was covered by an eye patch, and made a face at Lapis. Ruby gave a snort laugh and kissed her on the cheek. Lapis gave a small eye roll back before staring out the window to smile.
"Hey Sapphy, that guy didn't try nothing did he?" Ruby looked at her seriously, their foreheads touching. Sapphire merely shook her head. "No my love. Im fine." Ruby grinned. "Good!" Ruby decided to leave out the fact she just gunned down three people outside. "Come on Sapphy, lets head home. Ide rather we go pick up Garnet from school together, and then head out to have a bit of food incase trouble decides to come back." Sapphire nodded. "I understand." She went and grabbed a few things as the two exited out the back door. Waving to Lapis as they shut the door behind. Leaving Lapis in the corner of the room by herself. She stood and walked to a window, facing the street. Ruby and sapphire quickly hoping onto Ruby's black horse and ridding off to their home.
She sighed heavily as she turned away, her heart sinking. She had found love once… long ago. She made her way through the small crowed of women and out of the dressing room down the hall and through the curtain. Three men where hauling around junk and cleaning blood from the ground. "I guess they didn't wanna go easy?" Lapis said allowed to the bar owner, Greg. He simply nodded. "Ah, yeah, the usual. They were not too bright honestly." Greg had a slight look of annoyance on his face, most likely from the fact Ruby hadn't come out to help clean, but then again he understood that Ruby didn't get to see her family often. "Hey, by the way Lapis! Steven was wondering when you would like to watch him again?" Lapis brightened at the thought of the little boy. Steven was Gregs youngest and only son. She had known Greg since she was a kid, moving here from her mom and dad's farm. Greg was once married to a rather high class woman, named Rose. She had passed away however, after Steven was born.
She had, had another daughter, one older than Steven, Pearl. Pearl was about Garnets age, seven. Steven was only four. Or as he put it, "Four an a haf!" Lapis giggled at the thought. She loved spending time with the two. "Well Greg, Im not all too sure.." She rubbed the back of her head. "Oh come on Lapis! I know he'd love to see ya!" Lapis rubbed her arm up and down, looking down at her old navy blue dress. "I guess I can stop by and say hi." She looked up and smiled at Greg. "Thanks Lapis." He gave her the best smile he could. "Now go take the day off, ill still pay you for your time." Lapis looked shocked. "What? But Greg what if-" He put his hands up to stop her. "No, no really Lapis, go ahead. Its been a crazy afternoon, stay cool out there." He called making his way to the side kitchen.
Lapis just smiled and shook her head as she made her way over broken chairs and tables and past some beat up men, who kept their eyes to the ground as she passed. Finally she made her way through the saloon doors and out into the hot sun. She could feel the ocean breeze hit her face as the sun beat down on her face. She smiled widely as she ran down the street, twirling in the air now and again. It felt nice to have a day off. Walking the towns little street. Shops all lined up, full of pretty things and places for food and gear were sold. However, reaching the end of the block to the edge of town, she slowed down. There was an old store, one full of old broken clocks. Its windows broken and covered in dust and spider webs. No one had gone near that place in ages not even to steal anythings. Lapis stared at it for awhile, her mind wondering to another place, far in the past. There was once an inventor who lived in the town. She was a bit strange and liked to keep to herself. Though once you took the time to get to know her and annoy her into talking to you, she was a wonderful person to know. "Peridot." The name was haunting to even whisper.
Lapis sighed deeply, she had been close friends with Peridot, well a little more than close. Lapis reached to the top of her dress to feel a leather cord hanging around her neck. She pulled at it, reviling a little sprocket from the insides of a small clock that Peridot had pulled apart. It had been a night that no one would forget. As well as feeling the most helpless she had ever felt in her life. The sheriff had been taken by surprise. A bandit by the name of Jasper, had come into town with her posse and decided to ransack the town. She had taken Lapis and Sapphire as hostages. Ruby and Peridot had teamed up to take down Jasper and her crew. It had almost worked, except for a minor mishap involving Ruby laying on the floor in Sapphire's arms near death. Out of options, Peridot decided to trade herself for the safety of her friends, and Lapis. She had promised to become Jasper's servant for as long as she lived. Jasper, liking the idea of someone calculated like Peridot on her side and took up the offer.
*flashback*
Peridot ran through the cave, tripping an stumbling over rocks and boulders. Ruby had gone ahead of her to get the girls from the ravine where they had suspected Jasper to be hiding out. Peridot had decided to wait until night to rescue the girls, and until then sleep and save strength to rescue them, Ruby however, being the rash and hard headed person she was, went ahead of schedule alone. Peridot felt a numbing sensation when she realized that her friend had gone off to save Lapis and Sapphire, alone. She knew Jasper and the gang would be waiting to ambush her. She finally reached the other side of the cave, leading to the ravine. Gun shots could be heard from the other side of a giant wall, Peridot raced around it, only to have a stray bullet hit her arm. She cried out in pain and rolled to the ground, her back bumping into someone. She scrambled to her feet, It was Lapis, tears in her eyes. She just stared blankley at Peridot, her hand slowly rose, only to slap her across the face. Her blonde messy hair falling into her face.
"You idiot! You let Ruby go alone!" her voice was shrill. "How dare you!" Peridot was in shock, looking beyond Lapis, however, she felt her heart plummet. Ruby was laying on the ground shaking and bleeding from an ambush brought on by Jasper and her gang. She had been shot and beaten, badly. Her breathing had become extremely uneven. "Ruby! Please hold on!" Sapphire was holding Ruby's head on her lap. "Please don't leave me!" Lapis looked away from Peridot, who refused to talk and turned to Sapphire, putting her arms around her, not saying word. Peridot felt her body go numb and suddenly move on its own accord. The blonde picked up the gun, laying by Ruby's battered body, and stood in front of them, the pistol in her hand. She could see the glint of rifles from up above, giving her a good idea on where she needed to aim her gun. Without another thought she raised the gun and fired. It hit its target dead on, earning her cries from her target. Next she took out the other two close by, who had hidden up in the hills surrounding them. She was grinding her teeth and muttering under her breath, "Dammed cowards… attacking her like that… then… uurrrggg CLODS… mmm!" She was getting more pissed off by the second. "COME ON OUT YOU GIANT CLOD! COME OUT AND FIGHT ME!" A shot was fired, swiping the side of Peridot's arm. Peridot winced but shot back hitting her target dead on. Lapis' head shot up to look up at Peridot. She just now realized Peridot had been injured. "You want more?!" Peridot sounded infuriated. "Come out and fight me now! You cowardess clod!" It suddenly became silent. Peridot waited gun by her side, ready for an attack. "Well, well, well!" A deep raspy voice that sent shivers down their spines came from the side of a distant hole in the side of the ravine. Out from the shadows stepped Jasper. Her large form coming closer, towering over Peridot. "You're not too bad of a shot with that little pistol…." She got a bit closer, until Peridot brought the gun up to be chest level with the woman.
Jasper stopped in her tracks. Her smirk disappearing form her face only momentarily, before widening into a full sickening grin. "Sorry pup, but Im afraid you're all out." Peridot pulled the trigger, click, click, click, click… "Dammed!" Peridot through the gun and raised her fists. "Ill fight you then, hand to hand!" Before Peridot could even take a step forward Jasper's fist slammed straight into her nose, breaking her glasses on impact. Peridot flew through the air before smashing into the side of a wall. Lapis screamed as she raced to Peridot's side. "Peri!" She crouched down, only to have Peridot push her out of the way and race towards Jasper again, blood trickling down her nose. Lapis reached out for Peridot but missed her suspenders by a brush of her finger tips. Peridot wasn't a fighter, but she would be dammed if she went down without a fight.
Jasper just smirked again as she easily dodged and smashed her fist into Peridot's ribs, sending her back again. Lapis, again, ran to her. "Peri stop! You-!" But Peridot pushed her out of the way again, heading for Jasper, only this time, when Jasper swung for her ribs again, she ducked, rolled, and grabbed Jasper's pistol, aiming it at Jasper. "I wont let you hurt the people I love!" Peridot, pulled the trigger… click.. click, click, click, click… Peridot just lay there motionless…. It was empty… Jasper turned around, her wide grin still plastered on her face. "Not bad runt…" Peridot dropped the gun and got to her feet as quick as possible, putting her hands up again. "Listen here runt, Ill make you a deal." She motioned her head over to where Ruby, Sapphire, and Lapis were. "Ill take you… and let these three go free…. Hell Ill even give em' my fastest horse… that is if you work for me!" Peridot looked stunned.
"The clock is ticking kid… its either you or them. Remember I can give a signal and all of you could be dead at the snap of my fingers." She grinned wickedly. "You have ten minutes to decide." She turned and walked way to the far ends of the ravine, leaning up against the wall and crossing her arms. Peridot stood in shock for a moment, as Jasper walked back. Lapis ran to Peridot, tears had begun to fall from her eyes. "Oh Peri!" She pulled Peridot close to her, "Peri please don't go with her… oh please… what are we going to do… come on you genius! Think of something! Oh Peri…." Being just slightly taller, Peridot leaned in and silenced her with a kiss to her lips. At first Lapis had no idea they had even kissed, as Peridot pulled away and moved over to Sapphire and Ruby.
Sapphire was crying hard. She had moved to the town a few years ago, and her and Ruby had become so close… Peridot knew she loved Ruby with all her heart and Ruby felt the same. Shakely Peridot knelt down. "Hey Sapphire, Im going to let them give you guys the horse, you need to save Ruby…" Sapphire looked up at her with her beautiful baby blue eyes, full of tears. "I.. Im sorry I let her go alone…" Peridot looked hurt and looked away. "I hope you can forgive me some day." Before Sapphire could respond Peridot stood up and wobbled away, towards Jasper, who stepped from the shadows. "You know you have at least six minutes left don't you?" Jasper gave a wide grin. Peridot nodded in response. "Give me the horses… so I can help my friends…" Jasper's smile disappeared for a moment before going back into a full on sinister grin. "I take it that means you will be joining me then?" Peridot simply looked to the ground and nodded. Jasper gave a hand signal and two horses walked out from the side of the canyon wall with two girls leading them out.
They walked over to Peridot and dropped the reins in her hands. "Go on then…" Jasper sat down on a small boulder and adjusted her large sand colored poncho that hung around her shoulders. Peridot turned and walked towards the three with the horses, not once looking back at Jasper. The blonde haired genius knew that Jasper needed her and didn't care about the other three, but she had the urge to look back once, but ignored it. As she approached, Lapis met the girl half way. "Peri, please, what are you doing?" Lapis whispered loudly at her. "Im saving your lives, Im going to help you get Ruby to safety." Peridot loudly whispered back. "Do you think I want to see my friends killed in front of me before they take me?" Lapis was about to say something when Jasper's booming voice cut her off. "Better hurry runt! Times a wasting!"
Peridot moved around Lapis, but not before placing one of the horses reins into her hands and taking the other towards Ruby and Sapphire. She bent down towards Ruby who was breathing heavily. She looked up to Sapphire who slowly craned her neck up to look at the blonde. "Peridot, I don't think shes going to make it…" tears were streaming hard down her face. "No, no, they missed some majorly vital areas, and it seems the preassure you've put on her sides are helping," She said as she inspected Sapphire quick handy patch work. "She should make it to town." Peridot carefully slid her hands under Ruby, "Okay Sapphire I need you to help me sit her up, slowly.." Sapphire nodded and put her hand under Ruby's head and shoulder and gently pushed her up, while Peridot pulled her into sitting position. Ruby gave out a pained groan. "Ah! Hey there Rubes, Im gonna get you on this horse and get ya to a safer place for you and Sapphire mk?" Ruby turned her head to Peridot, her swollen eye completely shut and her nose crooked from a punch.
She stared for a moment before nodding and readying her legs to help them lift her. Peridot took a deep breath, which almost caught in her lungs because of the hard hit she took from jasper earlier. They carefully lifted Ruby all the way up to her feet then quickly worked on getting her onto the horse and leaning forward, with Sapphire right behind her, holding onto Ruby close and holing the reins tight. "Go save her Sapphire!" Sapphire nodded, "Be safe Peridot." She gave a small sad smile and took off. Peridot watched as they disappeared into the cave, before turning back to Lapis. "Okay Lapis, time to go too." Lapis just shook her head. "No Peri! Please! I… I… I need you so much in my life… every day… just talking, going on walks, being there for me… talking about the stars! And-" Peridot kissed her again to silence her. "Please Lapis, I just cant…." Peridot turned her head away as Lapis wrapped her arms around her and pulled her close.
Peridot rubbed her back, before leaning towards her ear. "get on the horse…. NOW!" The two pulled apart as Lapis jumped onto the horse followed by Peridot who grabbed the reins and snapped them. Sending the horse into an immediate gallop. Jasper jumped to her feet, angered by the betrayal. "HOLD IT RIGHT THERE YOU LITTLE RUNT!" Jasper pulled out a rope from under her poncho, and hopped on a nearby horse. Peridot cracked the reins faster. They were almost to the entrance!
**end flashback**
Lapis remembers the cries as Jasper, lassoed Peridot with the rope, pulling her off the horse and dragging her behind her as she rode her horse into the distance opposite of her. Lapis remembered, she turned the horse around so fast that the horse lost its footing and they both fell to the ground. She could hear the pain of Peridot's cries in the distance, getting less and less. Lapis had run as fast as she could, but soon gave up after she tripped over a rock, landing on the ground with the thud. Lapis quickly turned from the shop, her throat restricting in pain as tears threatened to fall. It had been eight years. Surly she could handle this. She turned a way quickly and walked away from the old forgotten shop, making her way out of the town and towards, Greg's to see Steven.
**Some where far outside of town**
Six figures were hudled around a fire. One of them cracking wise ass jokes to the others. All amused but one, who watched the fire coldly. "Oh come on!" One of them shoved a hooded one. "Ya gotta admit that was funny!" The hooded one ignored and continued to stare at the fire. Until the sound of hooves could be heard and familiar yelling sounded through the desert. All six stood up. "Aye, boss! That sounds like leggy!" Sure enough from around the bend a blood covered woman was being dragged on by her horse, slowly thankfully. Three of the group rushed forward and stopped the horse before setting their friend free. "holly shit Leggy! You look like crap!" One pipped up. "hahaha gee! I wonder why?" Leggy said with a dry laugh. "What happened to you Leggy, and wheres big R and eyeball?" Questioned a woman, who had a strange birthmark on her arm. "Ah, well… Im afraid they met their fate at a bar I visited in the town close by." Leggy squirmed a bit as another one was checking her wounds.
"Oh come on leggy, I gotta make sure you're not gonna get an infection!" "I know Navy, but can you do it a bit easier?" As the group had gathered around Leggy, no one noticed the hooded one of the group walk away and hike up to a cliff side, that over looked the tiny town down below. "Huh, beach city huh? Haven't been there in a while… maybe its time to pay it a little visit."
**Back in town**
Lapis walked up a dirt path walkway to a beautiful house covered in roses and surrounded by all kinds of plants. Out side sat a light brunet haired girl. "Pearl!" Lapis called, waving at her from down the road. The little girl's head shot up from whatever she was doing and smiled, running towards Lapis, arms wide open. "Laaappissss!" She called as she jumped into Lapis' arms. Lapis caught her and spun her around. "Hello to you too Pearl!" Suddenly the door to the house flew open. "LAAAPPPAAASSS!" Little Steven yelled out, his bright smile shinening like the sun as he ran to Lapis, who held Pearl in her arms. He ran, tripping up a bit, before running into Lapis' legs. Lapis almost felt like falling over, dear lord this little boy was strong! Lapis giggled before bending down and scooping up the boy into her arms, along with Pearl.
"Hello you two!" Steven looked up into Lapis' eyes, they were shining bright, like his little smile. "I mished you Lapas!" he exclaimed. Pearl sat up and looked to Steven. "Its 'missed you Lapis' steven." Pearl corrected him before turning and smiling to Lapis. "But that's close enough." She giggled. Lapis rolled her eyes, Steven just grinned on, ignoring Pearl. "Well you two! What shall we do today?" Pearl perked up at this. "Can we go out to the fields and pick strawberries?! Oh! And can we go get Garnet to come along as well?!" Pearl was wiggling in Lapis' arms. "Well…. We can go get strawberries, but sweetheart I think Garnet might be spending time with her parents today…" Pearl looked up at Lapis with big puppy dog eyes. "Can we check? Plleeassssee?" Steven looked over to Pearl then to Lapis, copying his big sister.
Lapis could never say no to these two. "Ooohhh okay! I guess, but you two should put on your boots and hats. I don't want you two to get burns." Pearl rolled her eyes as Lapis lowered the two to the ground. "okay Lapas!" Steven called, running to the house and running back out in an over sized hat and his boots. Pearl let out an annoyed sigh. "Oh Steven! Come on!" She ran into the house and pulled Steven inside. Lapis just giggled, before walking up to the steps of the house and waiting at the top. She never liked to go inside the house, Pearl would get grumpy that Lapis tracked in, "dirt from the out side." She knew that wasn't from Greg's side. Greg was a great guy, but a messy one at that.
She could hear Pearl chasing after Steven inside, something about him wearing his suspenders to hold up his pants while they went out, and it might rain later, to wear suitable boots. Lapis just rolled her eyes again and stared out into the distance. This area out side the city was not super green, but green enough to make an impact on this dry place. She could see rocky mounds of dirt and rocks that surrounded around the town and around the area. She even looked to the furthest of them, but that's when something caught her eye.
A gleam of something shiny, she stood and squinted hard, someone was on top of a far cliff looking out over the town, she could see them moving slightly. Then suddenly, with in the blink of her eye, they had vanished. Lapis stared hard at where the figure was, until she was thrown off her balance from tiny hands pushing on her boots, quickly she caught herself and spun around. Pearl and Steven were all dressed and ready. Pearl, in a long prairie dress and boots, topped with a straw girls hat looked adorable, next to Steve, dressed in his boots, suspenders and cowboy hat.
The two were grinning ear to ear. "Ready to go Lapis!" Pearl said with a small salute. Lapis chuckled, totally forgetting about what she had seen up on the cliff's side. "Alright you two, come on then." She held out her hands and the two latched on to the sides. "Yay!" Steven cheered. "Where gonna see Garget!" Pearl gave a groan. "Its Garnet, Steven!" Steven only giggled. The three then began to make their way town a dirt road path and down a ways to Sheriff Ruby's house. Steven had gotten a bit tired on the way and road on Lapis' back. Sleeping soundly as they trekked down the dirt road for a mile or so, until they could see a beautiful log cabin, with large stones incorporated throughout it.
At this point, Steven was wide awake and bouncing on Lapis' back. My lord this kid was even more heavy when he was awake. Pearl jumped, excited and ran to the house, with Steven clamoring down her back and running after his sister. Lapis watched as Steven ran waddled behind his sister who was at the door and dusting herself off. She then fixed her hair a bit and straightened her back. Then right before she could knock Steven was up and knocking on the door. Pearl looked irritated but her demeanor changed once the door creaked open. Lapis had caught up to the children as the door opened fully to reveille Ruby, in her trousers and a long sleeve button down. "Ah! Hey kids! Here to see Garnet eh?" She looked up, "hey Lapis, haven't seen you in forever," She joked. She seemed much more relaxed from this morning. Shes always been on edge like that after a fight, for fear she might never make it again to see Sapphire or Garnet again. Ruby grinned widely and shuffled them all in. "Come on out of this heat! Relax! Sapphy and I will grab ya something cold." She chuckled as Pearl and Garnet were chasing the family dog, little buttler with Steven trotting right behind.
Lapis giggled and sat down on a beautiful cushioned chair and sighed, turning her head to stare out the window. It was on days like these, and passing the shop that she missed the clock tinker. The way she would wear her pants, which her a bit large for her frame, held up by dark green suspenders.. and her shirt-Her thoughts of the woman were soon interrupted by Sapphire who carefully put down a tall class of sweet ice tea onto the tea table infront of her, before sinking down into a cushioned love seat. Lapis almost jumped a bit. "Oh! Sapphire! Im sorry, I was just spacing out." Sapphire only shook her head, "Not to worry, I know what day it is you know." She gave a knowing nod and took hold of Lapis' hand. Lapis leaned in towards Sapphire and sighed. "I Know you miss her… honestly… Ruby and I owe her our lives…." She paused for a moment and bit her lip a bit. "I know it took us months to recover, but as soon as Ruby got better she left with a team to track them down.. she got all the way to Empire city before losing the trail…. " Lapis noded. "I know Sapphire."
She looked back out the windown. The ice tea forgotten. "I guess I just expect her to come over that hill on the horse and explain herself…" Lapis could feel a small tear threaten to fall, from the corners of her eyes. Sapphire caressed her hand before patting it and rising to her feet. Lapis snapped out of her daze and looked up to Sapphire. "Sapphire?" She looked worried, as her hand was playing with the edge of her dress. "Well I-no, Ruby and I didn't think this wise to show you…. But well…" She released Lapis' hand and walked over to a cupboard at the end of the large hall. Ruby then came from the kitchen, her hands full with a large tray of food. "Sapphy?" She looked to Lapis, then around the room before her eyes widened, quickly she slammed down the tray and ran to the hall. "Sappy!" Sapphire appeared from the hall, causing Ruby to stop dead in her tracks. The two stared intensely as one another.
"Sapphire, are you sure shes ready?" Sapphire hung her head. Ruby put her hands on her shoulders. Lapis got up, shaking. "Show me what?" she tried to put on a smile, pretend it was something that wasn't going to hurt, like she had a feeling it would. "Its… really grotesque Lapis…" Ruby said, turning from her wife. "IM not sure you would want to see… this.." Lapis walked over to the two, quicker then the wind. She looked to Sapphire's hands, a wooden box that smelled of decay and rot. Lapis almost gagged. What if….! Suddenly Lapis grabbed the box from Sapphire's hands. "Lapis! Wa-!" Too late she threw open the box, she felt her heart drop into her stomach, her hands became numb and her ears rang…. In the box… as though fresh from this morning…. Was a hand… and on it, was Peridot's birthmark, in the shape of a leaf. Lapis' world went white.