Chapter 9: First Fusion

While Lapis and Topaz were sharing their tender moment together as new mates, the Crystal Gems were preparing to go on one of their most important missions: capture both Lapis and Topaz, as well as deal with Peridot and Jasper. Steven, as expected, could not come because of Pearl's concern for his wellbeing.

As the young Gem-human hybrid watched his mother figures get onto the warp pad, Garnet turned to say one more thing to him before they left. "I love you." She smiled as she shaped her fingers into the outline of a heart. As the three gems vanished in a flash of multicolored light, Steven blushed from the praise as he waved shyly at the empty pad.

Suddenly, he remembered that he was supposed to meet Connie for a sword/music practise. He quickly ran up to his room to grab his ukulele when he saw that his TV was acting up again. The screen was flaring with a bizarre combination of colors, before a sudden image flashed onscreen. His eyes widened as he saw Peridot's face, her beady eyes appearing to be glaring at him even though she was not really there.

"Connecting to all communication hubs, this is tech specialist Peridot. I have found my escort Jasper. We are currently on planet Earth and require backup. The bounty hunter Topaz had betrayed us and made off with informant Lapis Lazuli. I repeat, the bounty hunter Topaz has betrayed us and escaped with Lapis Lazuli. Please send backup Yellow Diamond." The technologically talented gem spoke before the screen cut off with a blare of static.

Steven's mind was racing faster than his hunger for Cookie Cat ice cream as he processed the information. Peridot and Jasper were still active, and also broadcasted a distress message to the Homeworld. If Yellow Diamond was actually as cold and evil as he heard of, he knew Earth would be done for. There was only one solution.

Closing his eyes, the young boy turned and rushed into the warp pad, standing still as a flash of light surrounded him. Within a few seconds, he was gone. So much for the practise.

Meanwhile, on top of the cliff…

Topaz and Lapis sat contently next to each other on the edge of the cliff, watching the beautiful sun over Beach City, along with the gentle waves of the ocean and the squawking of seagulls. Lapis had rested her head against Topaz's neck, and her mate responded by looping an arm around her waist.

"I never knew Earth could be so… beautiful…" Lapis whispered. Topaz chuckled softly as he leaned down and kissed the top of her head. "Me either Lapis... but it's all the better with you here." He whispered softly. Lapis blushed as the golden gem leaned to nuzzle her neck.

The two lovers continued to enjoy the serene moment before a sudden explosion rudely interrupted them. Topaz immediately loosened his grip from Lapis's waist as he stood up and got in front of her protectively, a sphere of white energy surrounding his right fist as he prepared his geokinesis. He wasn't going to let her be harmed… no matter what.

Lapis got up as well, but stayed behind her mate, still relatively weakened from the reluctant battle they had had two days ago. Her eyes widened, as did Topaz's, as they realized the explosion's origin. The Crystal Gems were battling Jasper and Peridot on the beach in front of them, blasts of energy and powerful blows echoing through the air.

Jasper had engaged Garnet, while Peridot was desperately fighting with Pearl and Amethyst, attempting to ward them off with her Limb Enhancers and their technological weaponry. Garnet slammed her gauntlets into Jasper's helmet as the two bulky gems exchanged fierce blows, literally shaking the environment around them with the force of the collisions.

Pearl nimbly avoided the bolts of lightning Peridot shot at her, all the while firing her own energy blasts back. Amethyst attempted to entangle Peridot in her whip, but the green gem quickly avoided the whip with a little help from her helicopter fingers, before firing a blast from her arm cannon.

The Crystal Gems had spotted Jasper and Peridot first as the two made their way back from the communications hub, and decided to attack them first. They could deal with Lapis and Topaz later on. However, as Garnet charged in to deal another devastating punch to Jasper, she looked up in shock to see Topaz and Lapis Lazuli standing on top of the cliff, looking down at them with surprised expressions to say the least.

She immediately stopped her charge as she turned to the direction of the couple. "Lapis Lazuli!" The fusion gem bellowed up. Topaz's eyes narrowed as he clenched his fist, the quake-bubble growing brighter as it began vibrating at a faster rate. "You and your friend are too dangerous for planet Earth! You must be bubb-" Garnet was cut off as Jasper slammed her with a head-butt, sending her flying. As Garnet slammed into the ground, Jasper planted her feet into the ground and raised her head to stare at the two gems above.

"Well… it seems the two lovebirds have finally decided to join us." Jasper sneered as she glared up at Topaz and Lapis. "You two will pay for betraying Homeworld. I will see to that." The warrior gem growled as she continued to glare. Topaz growled as he pushed Lapis behind him, holding up his glowing fists as he stared straight at Jasper, who glared just as angrily back.

"Topaz… stop…" The golden gem heard as Lapis placed a delicate hand on his arm gently. The former bounty hunter's tense muscles slowly relaxed at his mate's touch, and the quake-bubble dissipated as he let his fists uncurl. "Lapis…" He growled as she placed her other hand on his cheek and moved his face to stare into hers. Normally nothing could stop the Golden Hunter when he was consumed in the lust of battle, but clearly his feelings for Lapis had completely changed that.

By now Garnet had recovered as well, and both teams of gems had turned their gazes onto the newcomers. Jasper and Garnet both clearly thought of Topaz and Lapis as the greater threats than the other, and decided to deal with them first before turning on each other. Wielding her gauntlets, Garnet punched the ground, causing a massive slab of rock to shoot out of the ground, before punching it towards Topaz with her gauntlets.

The golden gem merely drew a fist to his side before bringing it whirling around, shattering the rock with a quake before it could reach them. He then punched forward again, sending another powerful shockwave towards the enemy gems. Garnet merely aimed her gauntlets forward before firing them, sending the two powerful rockets towards the incoming wave.

As the two attacks collided, creating a massive explosion, Topaz quickly pulled Lapis into his arms before tensing his legs and leaping into the air. As the smoke cleared, he slammed into the ground feet first, creating a set of deep holes in the sand. He then cracked his neck as he let his mate take her place beside him.

Garnet glared up at them, the eyes behind her visor starting to gleam as she cracked her neck and prepared two new gauntlets. Topaz growled as he charged another quake-bubble, but knew that they were both outnumbered and outmatched. There was only one other way to deal with this turn of events…

He quickly turned to Lapis and held both her hands in his own, her eyes widening with surprise. As the other gems stopped to stare at them in shock, he whispered to her softly.

"Lapis, my love… the only way for us to deal with these enemies is to… fuse…"