Lana examined her form with labored breath, reaching behind to feel the the stone embedded in her back.
"What…happened?"
"Lapis, calm down." Pearl said softly raising her hands.
"Calm down? CALM DOWN!?" she screeched. "How can you expect me to calm down?! Look at me, I'm blue!"
"I'm purple, but you don't see me complaining." remarked Amethyst.
Rose reached out and put her hands on her shoulders. "You're a little shaken up, I understand, it was the same for all of us Lapis."
"My name is Lana." she shook free.
"No, it's Lapis." spoke Garnet covering her bare form in a blanket. "Now that you are one of us you are no longer human. You are a Crystal Gem."
"What the hell is a Crystal Gem anyway?"
All eyes fell on Rose. "Long ago in a time before recorded history, a star fell from the heavens carrying with it the mystic stones you see around you. While many feared it some did not, they approached the star and we're chosen just as you were. The stones granted them great powers and abilities, which they used to make their world a paradise. This is the tale of the original Crystal Gems."
"I'm guessing the story doesn't end there, right?" The now blue skinned girl asked.
"No." Rose frowned. "The people worshipped them as if they were gods, and wanted the power of the stones as well, but given that man's averous and greed led them to dark paths the Crystal Gems hid them from man's reach. As years passed more and more people began to worship them. This made most of them vain and arrogant, soon they began to truly believe they were gods and deserved to be treated as such. Their resentment towards humanity was like a disease that clouded their judgement leading to man's enslavement. It was too much for one who still saw light in humans. She tried to reason with them countless times but their ears grew deaf to her pleas. Unable to take anymore she came to realise what needed to be done and destroyed them."
"Wow." Lapis breathed "That's… wow."
"Yes the history of the Crystal Gems is a dark one, but it is because of this that we remain humble. Mankind has made many mistakes but if we are to interfere we may end up making things worse."
"So do I have powers?" questioned Lapis.
"Yes you do." Rose smiled before guiding her out the door. "We all share similar powers, some are easier for others but some of us have powers that make us unique."
Lapis walked over as they left the building and walked down to the beach. "What powers do I have?"
"Amethyst, show her." The pink haired woman instructed.
"You got it Rose!" the purple gem chuckled before a bright glow enveloped her body before changing into a cat.
Lapis stared at her in shock. "No way!"
"And I can turn into other stuff too." gloated Amethyst. She morphed into a large wrestler, an owl, and finally a crocodile. "See?"
"I can do that too?" asked Lapis in wonder.
"Just gotta practice." Amethyst returned to her original form.
"Garnet, you're up." Rose said to her.
Said Gem nodded.
Rose turned back to Lapis "Another ability we Gems have is that our bodies are incredibly durable and our strength is even greater than a human's."
Garnet demonstrated by picking up a large boulder.
"She just picked that up like it was a feather!"
"Told you." laughed Rose as Garnet dropped the boulder. Causing the ground to shake. "Now, Pearl Will teach you about materialising clothing."
"You couldn't make that the first lesson?" question Lapis remembering her nude state
"I wanted to get the main abilities out of the way. Pearl, if you would."
"Right away Rose." Pearl's form glowed this time. She was soon dressed in an elegant gown. "It's quite similar to shapeshifting only you need to feel the energy surrounding and picture it in your mind."
"That's handy." she was already thinking how much time and money she'd save with that ability.
"Yes but what makes it more difficult is that you must picture it as being separate from your body." Pearl warned changing her clothes back
"Anything else I should know?" Lapis asked her.
"Yeah," Amethyst cut in. "Never try to shapeshift when thinking of a dudes junk."
"AMETHYST!" snapped Pearl.
"Eh, good to know?" Lapis blushed not sure if it was a warning or a joke.
"Just ignore her." sighed Pearl. "Now if we can continue with the lesson; just envision yourself in an outfit nothing too intricate or flashy, just start simple."
Lapis closely the blanket fall and pool at at her feet before she closed her eyes and tried focusing. She thought about when she was younger playing on the beach with her mother. A smile graced her lips.
"Not bad, Lapis."
Lapis opened her eyes and looked down. She was wearing a two piece that was similar to the one she wore as a little girl.
"Nice." grinned Amethyst letting out a wolf whistle.
"Wow, I didn't even realise I was trying to make this." Lapis examined her new outfit
"I can only guess you were thinking of a particularly happy moment?" Rose stepped forward.
"Yes, with my mom."
"Sometime our emotions can affect our abilities. Thinking of something happy can make shapeshifting or materialization that much easier."
"Wow."
"Now we'll move on to the final lesson which is special skills. Ruby, Sapphire?"
"Right." both chorused.
"Ruby and Sapphire here have special powers that are unique to them."
"Which are?" Lapis raised an eyebrow.
Sapphire took a deep breath and As she exhaled the air around them became cold as ice.
Ruby followed up tightening her muscles and the air felt like it just got much much warmer.
"Hot and cold? You two must be constantly at each other's throats constantly."
"Quite the opposite really." Sapphire said wrapping her arms around Ruby's
"They fuck." snickered Amethyst.
"That's it!" Pearl shouted. She grabbed Amethyst and started dragging her back to the building.
"Well that's it for the lessons." Rose said "now let's get you settled in."
"I'll be in later, this is all still pretty new to me and I need some time alone to come to terms with… all this."
"All right dear." Rose nodded before going back inside.
Lapis turned to the ocean and sat down on the sand. "Mom, if you really are watching over me, thank you."