AN: Well, the new episodes were a bit interesting. I don't like how Lapis treated Peridot though. Also the thing with the rubies...it wasn't good. Rebecca Sugar's running out of ideas.

This chapter takes place during chapter 10 of Homeworld Bound.

Enjoy. ~T. Nerdinator


Opal sat outside Malachite's bubble. The fusion had explained everything: how bad she felt when she was formed, how much revenge and hatred from Jasper had hurt her mind. But she also told of the good memories from Lapis, and the talks she had had with Azurite and Turquoise.

Opal looked at her. "Wow. You are much better than any of us expected. I'm sorry for thinking you were just some mindless thing."

Malachite nodded.

"So...what is it you're feeling?" Opal asked.

"Warm. Fuzzy. It's like I want to be near Azurite all the time. Something's wrong with me," Malachite said, confused.

"No, nothing's wrong," Opal said gently. "You're in love with her."

Malachite flushed dark green. "What makes you say that?"

"Because that's exactly how I felt when I first met Rainbow Quartz. I wanted to stay by her side forever, and I didn't know why. It was the first time two fusions ever fell in love. Now I look out for her, like she does for me." Opal looked at Malachite. "You really scared her."

"I know...I was still reeling from Jasper's janked-up mind. Can you really blame me?"

"Of course not," Opal replied. "I was so influenced by Pearl's mind when I first formed that I tried to clean up the clouds around here."

They burst out laughing.

"It's been nice talking with you," Malachite said. "I think I'm ready to speak with Rainbow Quartz now."

"I'll go get her," Opal said. She stood up and began to walk away, but a flash of lavender light said otherwise.

"Huh, I wonder where she's going," Malachite said.


Some time later...


Rainbow Quartz could not find Opal anywhere. So she decided to talk to Malachite herself.

Malachite had explained everything, ending it with a sincere apology.

"Don't worry," Rainbow Quartz said. "I'm not the revenge-y type. So...now what?"

"I don't know for sure," Malachite said. "I mean, I wanted to do something useful...but Jasper convinced me to try and take revenge on Steven and the others..."

"You're not summoned right now," Rainbow Quartz said. "You can choose to be you now. Independent of what they say."

Malachite smiled. "Thank you."

Footsteps.

Stevonnie panted. "Rainbow! Something really really bad has happened. Opal looks like she's been hurt!"

All four of Rainbow Quartz's eyes widened. "Take me to her," she said.


Opal. Sugilite. Turquoise. Red Quartz. Garnet. They were all lying next to each other, unconscious. It appeared as though they'd been burned.

"Destabilizers," Pink Sapphire said. "I remember when Garnet was subjected to that. And now that I think about it, Malachite had some of those burns too."

"Opal!" Rainbow Quartz wailed. "Oh, Opal, please wake up!"

"It'll be a while until that happens," Rhodonite said, patting Rainbow Quartz's back. "I'm sorry, but we can't do anything to help her."

"Or can we?" Azurite asked. "There's the healing serum that certain clouds here make, or so I've heard. A little bit of that stuff could be a big help."

"But those clouds take years to replenish!" Vesuvianite exclaimed.

KASNAP!

The flapping of wings filled the air.

Malachite landed on the ground near them.

"You won't be needing those clouds," she said.