Lapis was wrapped in a blanket, sitting up, looking down at the floor. The other gems were sitting around her in chairs. They were all silent, soaking in all the new information that has been supplied by the blue gem. Jasper was out there somewhere, they just didn't know where, or when she'll come back.
"I feel awful… I could've kept her trapped just a little longer. But I failed…" Lapis sounded so broken, Steven couldn't take it. "You didn't fail. You've kept Jasper in the ocean for months! It must've taken a lot of strength just to keep her under water for days. You saved our lives that day we were captured. You're amazing." Lapis gave him a sad smile.
"He's right," said Garnet. "What you did for us was a real courageous thing. You chose our side. We thank you for it." Even though Lapis was proud of her decision she made when fusing with Jasper, she did it for Steven. Not those Crystal Gems. Her anger towards them was still there, even after everything that's happened. The three gems seemed to pick up on her tenseness.
"Listen, Lapis... We're sorry. Steven was right. It was wrong to keep you trapped in a mirror for over thousands of years. But we didn't know if you could be trusted. We didn't even know you were working properly because of your cracked gem. We thought you might have been corrupted or dangerous. But the point is, we should've been a little more considerate."
Lapis gave a more genuine smile this time. "Thank you." She felt the anger she once had for these gems begin melt away, as she finally got the closure she wanted. However, she knew it take a bit more time to fully forgive them. They actually apologized, and had taken care of her for this one short day. It's a start. Steven looked at the scene in front of him. He was so glad he had let that gem out of the mirror in the first place.
"So… What are we going to do about Jasper?" asked Steven.
Garnet leaned back in her chair, massaging her temple. "I don't know if there's anything we can do other than be prepared."
"But be prepared for what though?" questioned Pearl.
"Well, maybe we don't have to worry that much. The worse she could do is come back with Peridot right? I mean, the ship's gone, and there are no remaining, high tech weapons. We could be okay?" suggested Lapis.
"It's more complicated than that." Garnet said, looking away.
"What do you mean?" the blue gem asked.
The four others looked at each other, silently asking someone else to explain what was going on. Pearl took a deep breath. "Well… back in the Kindergarten, we found Peridot's been doing… more bad things." Lapis sat completely still, anticipating the explanation of these "bad things. Pearl continued, "They found the broken gem shards from the first gem war. They re-hatched them as forced fusions. These, unnatural creatures made out of our fallen comrades. It's sick, really." Pearl looked down, unsure how to explain anything else. Lapis was in such a shock, she almost felt sick to her stomach. Garnet also looked unnerved, remembering her first encounter with these monsters.
"No, that isn't right! That's not how fusion works!" Said Lapis, still very shaken about this news.
"No it's not." Garnet said sternly. "What they're doing is wrong. And It's a good thing we stopped it when we did."
"So, there's no way they can try fusing damaged gems again?" Lapis tentatively asked.
There was another moment of silence. Amethyst gave a nervous laugh, "Of course they can't! We poofed all the ones they had! We had bubbled all the extra shards lying around in the Kindergarten. We'll be fine! Right?"
Pearl cleared her throat anxiously. "Right!"
Garnet shrugged her shoulders. "Sure."
Another silence fell over them. Steven turned to Lapis, "Are you going to go back to homeworld again?" Lapis took a deep breath in. She never really thought about it before. But now she realized she didn't need to. "No. My home, isn't my home anymore. It's just too… different there now. I think I'd like to give Earth a try. Make it my new home." She gave a smirk and ruffled Steven's hair, making him laugh. "Beach summer fun buddies?" she asked.
Steven beamed, "Beach summer fun buddies." He agreed. A resolved and content feeling fell over the group, then Steven got a great idea. "Oh! Oh! I know! We should haaaave… A slumber party!"
"Again?" asked Pearl.
"Slumber… party?" questioned Lapis.
"YE-YAH! I love sleep! Almost as much as I love food!" laughed Amethyst.
"C'mon! It'll be fun. You know we can do more at slumber parties than just sleep!" said Steven, excited about his fun idea. This could be a great bonding experience!
"But isn't it just supposed to be about sleeping? Its called a slumber party!" said Pearl, already disliking the idea of another sleeping experience. She still couldn't get over the concept of dreams...
The young boy shook his head. "Yeah but you can do stuff before the slumber to make it a PARTY!"
"Liiiiike what?" asked Amethyst.
"Are these normal human concepts? Cause I still have no idea what he's talking about." asked Lapis.
"You get used to it." replied Garnet with a slight smirk.
Steven gave a pointed look to the tall gem. "I'm serious! This could be awesome! We could eat snacks, tell scary stories, play games…"
"Sounds good to me!" said Amethyst "Pearl?"
"As long as we don't play games as complicated as Kitchen Calamity, I'm all in." said Pearl with a smile.
"WOOHOO! Garnet?" Steven pleaded, looking up at her with adorable eyes. The stoic gem gave a small laugh. "You know I can't say no to that face."
"YES! Lapis? You going to join us?" Lapis looked uncertainly at the group, then back at Steven. "Oh, I don't know. I'm not really comfortable with these human ideas and what not. I'm still not sure I understand what exactly we're doing."
Steven shrugged. "You don't have to understand to have fun!" Lapis still looked like she was going to back out. "Aww c'mon! Don't be a party pooper!" yelled Amethyst.
Pearl stepped in, "You know I wasn't comfortable with Steven's ideas of fun- especially with the birthday parties- but you'll find that some of his rituals really are fun. You're always welcome."
Garnet gave a nod. "Join us."
Lapis gave a small smile, although she had her doubts about this, she still gave in. "Okay, fine." Earning several cheers from Steven and Amethyst.
"-And they say, in the dead of night, you can still hear the ghost of the sea captain moaning, 'WhEeEeRe iS mY rUuUuStY HoOk?! OoOooOOohhh!" Amethyst finished her story dramatically as Steven clutched onto Pearl's arm... a little too hard.
"Steven, that story didn't scare you, did it?" asked Pearl.
"..no…" whimpered Steven. "I-I'm not scared of anything!" he added, trying to sound brave.
"BOO!" Amethyst jumped out at Steven from behind while he wasn't paying attention.
"AHHH!" Steven cried as he jumped into Pearl's arms. Amethyst was rolling on the floor laughing, and Lapis started to chuckle. Which then escalated into full out, gut busting laughter. The hardest she laughed in a long time. Even Garnet and Pearl laughed a little. However, poor little Steven was not amused.
"Haha okay okay! Uh, Garnet, Truth or Dare?" Steven asked with a gleam in his eye.
"... Dare."
"Yes! I dare you-"
"I'm not unfusing Steven."
"Dang it!" Steven yelled crossing his arms.
"Wait- What? What do you mean unfusing?" asked Lapis.
"Oh that's right! You don't know!" said Pearl.
"Don't know what?" Lapis questioned, still very confused.
"Garnet's a fuuuuusion." Steven said in a dramatic stage whisper.
"Woah really!? That actually explains a lot!" said the blue gem, bewildered.
"I'm just that awesome." Garnet replied.
"What'd you think of your first slumber party?" Steven asked Lapis before they went to bed.
"I… I loved it. I'll admit some of the games didn't make sense to me, but I still had fun." She replied honestly.
"Well I'm glad!" Steven smiled happily. "Now its time for bed! Good night!"
"Good night!" repeated Pearl.
"Night." sounded Garnet.
"Good night." said Lapis quietly.
"Don't let the evil sea captain's ghost bite!" Amethyst said in a sing-song voice.
"What?!" cried Steven. The rest of the group just laughed.
A/N: Aaaaand that's a wrap for this chapter! But don't worry, I'll be back again soon! If you enjoyed this and have any questions/comments/suggestions, please don't be afraid to click that review box! and also know I take each suggestion into consideration. (I'm working on some stuff for future chapters, so if it doesn't show up right away... it will) I hope to see in the next chappie! see ya on the flip side!