The Moissanite Feint: A Steven Universe fan fiction.
Interlude Two:
The bottom of the planet Earth's oceans were dull. The sand was sandy, the waves just waved, and the fish were so... predictable! They weren't even fishy. Malachite was confined, not so much resting there as being forced by sheer weight of water to look relaxed. It was another day of dull surroundings and inner screaming.
Jasper no longer thought. Lapis Lazuli no longer thought. Malachite thought and then re-thought Every decision re-analysed till any action had no worthwhile consequences. Get up? Why bother getting forced down again? Solidify her fragmented thoughts? Who's impulses should have control? She'd had nothing to do except rest, and without dreams even that was getting old. Though Lapis Lazuli had tried to block Steven's dreams to destroy Jasper's tactical advantage, her desire to see her friend again nagged at her for different reasons. Suddenly in the back of her mind she heard Steven calling.
"Malachite? Malachite?" It was faint, yet getting louder. "Found her Borax!"
Steven was wrapped in what looked like a white cloak. From the cloak formed a familiar face that soon drew it's own form beside Steven, linked by silvery strands. Malachite found Lapis Lazuli's memories rushing in.
"B-Borax?" She was stunned. She'd had no idea that he'd even been alive after she left, let alone this long... "Am I hallucinating? Is this Jasper's impulses using my thoughts against me?" A genuine tone of anguish crept into her voice. "Isn't it enough to know that I'm stuck here too?"
What surprised her were the looks on their faces. Jasper didn't know enough about compassion to simulate those expressions, or know just when and how to apply them. The voice she heard took her breath away.
"Her current state is fusion with hateful gem soldier?" His worried look cracked into confidence. "Eh, will be laughing off temporary set-backs soon, you will be seeing," The silicate turned from Steven to Malachite. "Is way to split gem fusion waiting at Beach City. Will be dragging self there, yes?"
"... no. I'm going to stay here. It's too dangerous to give Jasper the opportunity to escape and contact the homeworld" Her tone deepened to regret. "or harm you ."
"Thinking you may say such things." Borax grinned. "Fortunately have made distraction to be using Plan B. Will see you on other side of warp pad." He threw Steven's arms up before they both disappeared into a dispersing cloud.
Malachite's four eyes snapped open. A question seized her mind: Is realising that someone hijacked your consciousness worse than finding yourself seeing chunks of glowing rock floating down around you?
The minute she tried to grasp them with the water they flared with blinding light and suddenly she felt herself in the terrifying freedom of the open air.