AQUAMARINE
by savanaugh
A/N: Please review! Thanks for the favorites/follows so far! :3
Disclaimer: Steven Universe and all related characters/entities etc. are property of Rebecca Sugar and Cartoon Network.
CHAPTER TWO: LAPIS AND THE CRYSTAL GEMS
Steven frowned. He was worried about Pearl. She had been gone for hours; the sun had just set. Surely Garnet didn't upset her that much? Maybe she had… fusion was really important.
"Don't worry, Steven. Pearl will be back soon." said Garnet, who had just walked in. Her hair was wet. Noticing his puzzled glance, she explained "I was underwater again looking for Malachite to pass the time. Nothing yet," she added, seeing how he perked up. He slumped back down again.
"I hope Lapis is okay… "
Garnet smiled and patted his head. "She's stronger than me, and I'm stronger than Jasper. She'll be fine. We just need to warn her about the cluster. That way she can unfuse, and maybe help us."
Steven thought for a minute. Would Lapis help them defeat the cluster? After all, she never really believed in earth… but she helped take down Jasper! Did her loyalty now lie with the Crystal Gems, who had imprisoned her in the mirror? That reminded him. He looked up at Garnet tentatively, having the feeling this was another one of those "We'll tell you when you're older" sort of things.
"Uh, Garnet? Why… why was Lapis trapped in the mirror?"
Garnet stiffened. And sighed, running a hand through her hair. "That's a story for when you're older, Steven."
Yep, he knew it. Dang. He knew it would be pointless to try and pry more information out, so he nodded.
"I need to go now, Steven. I'll talk to you later, okay? I love you."
Steven blushed. "Oh, you." Garnet laughed and hugged him. She walked away into the temple, the door fusing shut behind her.
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"Lapis Lazuli- what on Earth are you doing here- where is Jasper? Oh my gosh did you two unfuse? Where is she? I need to get back to the temple right away, Steven could be in danger- oh, stars-"
"Shut up a second, you Pearl! How… how did you find me?" breathed Lapis, too exhausted to do much but sit on the ground, looking defeated.
Pearl swelled up indignantly. "I'll have you know that no matter who 'you used to be,' I will not allow myself to be undermined as 'you Pearl.' Thank you very much." she said curtly, folding her arms. Lapis rolled her eyes.
"Whatever, fine. No big deal. I don't see why I should address you with respect when you literally aided in my imprisonment on this blasted planet for thousands of years!"
Pearl raised her hands up. "Hang on a minute, I had no part of that, and I'm sure Rose Quartz didn't either-"
At the sound of that gem's named Lapis struggled to her bare feet, raising a shaking finger at Pearl. "You- you belonged to her, didn't you? You were her Pearl!" she accused.
Pearl blushed and sputtered, "Well, I-"
"So how could you not have known? She was there, Rose Quartz was there- she imprisoned me, and you were her Pearl! Pearls are always by their masters' sides, you MUST have been there! At the galaxy warp, all those years ago." Lapis seethed furiously. "When… when my gem was cracked, and everything I ever had was taken away from me… She said she was being merciful by placing me in the mirror… But I withered away in there, just like one of your Earth plants she was so fond of!"
"Please, I- I didn't know the gem in that mirror was sentient- I was simply entrusted with the mirror, I was told it would just show me events from gem history- I… I'm really sorry." whispered Pearl. "I never… I never expected Rose to do something like this…" Tears welled up in her eyes. "Why didn't she tell me? Why did she keep such vital secrets from me?"
"Who cares!" spat Lapis. "It doesn't matter any more, we've both been betrayed by her- whoop de do! At least we have something in common!"
Pearl's heart broke… Lapis Lazuli was correct. Rose… was not who Pearl thought Rose was. She felt a tear roll down her cheek. She sniffed and wiped it away. There were things that needed to be done.
"Look, Lapis- we ought to get you back to the temple. That way we can talk."
"No way am I going back there! Last time I was in there, don't you remember? Your permafusion tried to hide me away again from Steven!"
"I understand that you're angry, but we need a plan of action- only you know which direction Jasper took off to, and there's a lot we know now about why they came back in the first place that you need to know-"
"Not happening. You're lucky that I'm so worn out right now, else I'd be flying away."
As she said this, Lapis swayed on her feet and stumbled a little bit. Pearl caught her. Lapis looked away in shame. She was being helped by a Pearl, the Pearl of her most despised gem- well, second most, to Jasper. "I can walk myself," she mumbled, attempting to wrench away, but only managed to fall over some before Pearl stopped her from hitting the ground.
"Lapis," Pearl said in an unusually soft tone. "Let me- let us, I mean- help you. Steven is at the temple, don't you want to see him again?"
Lapis looked up with wary eyes. "Okay. But, I only talk to Steven. In private."
Pearl didn't protest; it would be like Peridot was at first- oh, snap. Peridot!
"Oh, um yes, of course. Let's go." she said hastily, wrapping Lapis's arm around her shoulder. Lapis recoiled from the touch, but was too weak to escape.
Pearl bit her lip as they slowly made their way along the beach to the temple. Hopefully she could keep Peridot and Lapis away from each other until this mess was straightened out- and dang it, Garnet- she was still so mad at her, but there were more important things going on at the current moment- "Oh, boy." said Pearl under her breath. Things were about to get very crazy indeed in Beach City.
