Chapter 6: I learn how to make Christmas ornaments

I cower under the blanket, while outside, the battle is raging. I hear yells, both of rage and pain. I hear what I can only assume to be magic, rushing through the air. I'm pretty sure I heard a Lion at one point. I stare at my hands. I should stay hidden. There is nothing I can do. I may be a witch, like they all say I am, but I don't know how to use magic, not even a simple and stupid spell.

Sadly, I rise my head and stare at Steven's mother portrait. She seems so serene, and yet I have the feeling she must have been one heck of a witch, a strong and powerful one. But, from everything that I had been told since I arrived, I can guess she is more than likely dead.

I once again stare at my hands. All I want to do is cry, but I don't know why. Is it sadness, frustration, or anger? I never asked for any of what is happening to me right now, and I just want to go home, leave it all behind me, and completely forget any of it. But I know I can't. I can't leave them, but I can't help them either.

I suddenly jump when something comes crashing through the door, busting it completely, blasting a part of the wall as well. The portrait above lightly trembles, but doesn't fall. I have now in front of me a big pink lion, with a very fluffy mane. It gets up, shakes its head to make wooden splinters fall off of him and gives me a look which I can only guess means 'don't worry, we got it all under control.' Than it rushes out again with a roar.

I watch it run to the beach, but I can't see much of the battle from where I am, so I get up. I carefully walk up to the hole, my legs lightly trembling under me. I freeze by the doorstep. Things are not going well at all. As I had guessed, the Red Battalion is here, five red big tigers against four cat and a pink Lion. Steven, being nowhere to be found, must be the Lion, that's my best guess for now. He is the only one capable of competing against a tiger. Garnet is dancing around her enemy, wondering how to attack it. Amethyst is mustering all of her brutal force, which is not a lot coming from a Persian cat. Pearl is also dancing around her tiger, but tries to hit it with her claws from time to time. Peridot probably has it worst. She is pinned down under her tiger, and the animal seems ready to bite her head off. In that moment, I stop thinking, and start acting.

I grab a broken plank of wood, and run to the tiger above Peridot. I have a faint hope my attack will be strong enough to push the feline away, and I give it my all. Unfortunately, it barely moves as the slab brakes against its shoulder. It turns to me, and I gulp and shiver when I see its one dead eye, and its other one, blood red, staring intensely at me.

"Lapis! Run!" yells Peridot from under the beast.

I try, but I'm too struck by fear to move. All I can do is let go of what's left of my weapon, and walk backward toward the sea as the animal walks closer to me with a malicious smile.

"We thought we had already dealt with you. Aren't you a strong little human?"

It completely abandons Peridot to focus on me, and as she gets up she runs toward the pink Lion, yelling something which my mind can't seem to understand.

"But there is no running away this time."

I stumble backward on a small dune of sand, and fall into the water, my hands holding me from falling on my back. I can feel the salty and cold water liking my legs, and every wave seems to bury my hands deeper into the sand. I stare in fear at the monster still walking closer and closer, oh so slowly. Yet, the longer I stay in the water, the better I feel. I'm not afraid anymore, I feel appeased. And a voice, a delicate voice, close to that of a goddess, is talking to me. She tells me the water is mine to use. And I listen.

I can feel power surging through me like I had been injected clear water in my veins. Suddenly, the waves behind me are roaring, as five pillar of water rise from the sea. I can see a flicker of hesitation in my enemy's eyes, and I use it to my advantage. The five pillars turn into hands, and rush to collect the five tigers. I can see the water catching them as if they were nothing but toys, and quickly they are imprisoned in water spheres, floating above the sand. I stay focus long enough to cover those balls with frost. My head starts to spin, and I drop the now solid balls. They fall heavily, lifting a small cloud of sand as they do.

I was about to fall into the water, but I feel strong and chubby arms catch me. My vision is blurry for a few minutes, during which I see shapes of divers colors dancing in front of my vision, and hear far away voices echoing into my ears. When I finally feel better, I can see Peridot, Pearl, Garnet and Steven all around me, making sure I'm okay.

"It's alright Steven, you can let me go. Thank you."

He nods with a bright smile, and just as I let me sit on my own Peridot jumps into my arms, almost toppling me in the process.

"Lazuli, you saved me!"

I smile lightly, and stroke her soft head.

"Of course I did. I was not going to let you die."

"What you did was very brave." admits Pearl.

"I know right! This was so cool!" yells Steven. "Can you teach me how to do it?"

I let go of Peridot and finally stand.

"Unfortunately Steven, I don't think I'll be able to tell you how I did it."

This doesn't seem to deter his joy, as he runs from one ice orb to the other, looking inside them with concern.

"Garnet, what should we do with them?" he asks.

"How about we send them into the ocean?" proposes Amethyst.

I walk up to one of the orbs, and through the frost I see a small figure floating inside, probably a young teenager. I can't quite tell whether it's a boy or a girl, only that its rolled up in a fetal position, as if it was focusing.

"We can't. We'll just leave them here, and go somewhere else in the meantime. They'll melt back to life eventually."

No one is opposed to Garnet's plan, and we all abandon the Red Battalion on the beach, and go back inside. Steven quickly empties his drawer randomly in his cheeseburger backpack, and I pick up my jacket, and put it on. There is no way to deny it anymore. Not only am I a witch, a being capable of great magical exploits, but I am in danger. Now that those tigers know I am alive and helping the Crystal Gems, there is only one place to be, with them.

With that thought in mind, I join everyone on the crystal pedestal, which emits a crystalline sound before shining brightly.

A/N: Hi guys! So, what did you thought? I personally very like this chapter, just to imagine the small cats fighting oversized tigers! And about cats, recently I have been asked what was Peridot's breed, by PeriBombX - always a pleasure to hear from you ;) - and by a guest to whom I wish I could have answered personally, because you had a lot of stuff to say, but you were a guest so I couldn't. So I guess I'll do it now, in hope that you will see it!

So, about Peridot's breed first, I did not specify it, but she is a smaller than average European shorthair. Why? Because I used to have an European shorthair, and she was completely bonkers, so I find it fitting for Peridot! Next, the guest review asked me about Jasper, and how it would be more logical to send Jasper against them, rather than the Rubies. And I completely agree with you. Yes, Jasper will be in this fic, but not yet, and everything will make sense in chapter eight (that's Friday, by the way).

Also, PeriBombX, you'll have to wait for Yellow Diamond. Hell no I'm not showing my final boss halfway through XD

So that was everything that I had to say, thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed, favourited and followed so far, and I find myself liking having a little chat with you guys! So see you Wenesday!