Author's Note: And this is chapter 10! Fair warning it gets a bit dark considering what happened with the enemies so sorry about that. So with this done I'm going for the downhill finish in regards to Shades of Pink. There's not much to say other than my concerns over length but this chapter meets what I have planned for it so it works. I hope you like it. I do not own Steven Universe or the Ben 10 series in any way. Reviews welcome. Enjoy!

Shades of Pink

Chapter 10

Flow

Bang! With Connie's strike Jasper flew across the mindscape head over heels backwards. In fact, it was almost rather comical but moments later Jasper righted herself and glared "a puny human thinks to challenge me!"

But Connie wasn't even taking the bait and with an open palm she waved her hand and conjured up bird shaped constructs made of pale pink snow and sent them at Jasper.

Steven watched this starry eyed as he whispered "she's using the frost magic from book three…."

Gwendolyn was quick to catch his attention "Steven!"

He looked at her.

"We need to free Lapis." She said pointing up at the captured Gem and Steven nodded and began to "swim" through the air and Gwendolyn floated after him but still she herself couldn't resist looking back and despite her slight unease Connie was holding her own against Jasper with both magic and sword strike. Gwendolyn muttered to herself "well she certainly does have the talent for this…" Before she flew up and gave Lapis her full attention.

Steven was already in front of her and trying to get her to realize what was going on.

It wasn't working as Lapis seemed to think she was dreaming or was somehow delirious. "No you're not here, I'm not here. I'm Malachite I need to keep myself on the ocean floor."

"No you're not and no you don't" Steven rebutted.

Gwendolyn meanwhile was floating behind Lapis and was examining the ring around her gem.

The sorceress knew that even among other realms and dimensions magic could have different styles, variations, and even rules depending on the state of being but the demon's magic seemed to veer off even the basic path magic usually follows.

But Thought Twister doesn't even follow that. This doesn't feel like anything I've ever known. The rune trap he used on me, Ben, and Kevin used what was common but this feels like something else entirely. Would Bezel even recognize this?

Then what do you want to do ma'am?

Gwendolyn gave a start of surprise as she felt someone else's thought reach hers.

Connie? Gwendolyn thought.

Correct the girl thought as she dealt with a spin dashing Jasper and eventually just swung Rose's sword creating several slices of magic at Jasper getting her to cease moving. And with a charge and swing sent her spinning.

Apparently we're still linked somehow and I'm worried I can't do this forever.

Connie flew off to stall Jasper again.

And Gwendolyn just resigned herself alright I'm just gonna see if I can't wash it way with raw mana.

Gwendolyn lit up her hands and placed both hands to the ring on her back and immediately Lapis picked up on her presence and immediately started thrashing.

Gwendolyn gave more than a start of surprise as the energy ring started vibrating and moving in tandem with her. "Steven" she called "you need to calm her down!"

From his position up front Steven called "working on it! Lapis you need to settle down we're trying to help you."

Lapis still thrashing said "no you don't. I'm helping you, I'm doing what I want, and for once I'm the jailer!"

Steven frowned "no you're not! From where I'm standing well" he looked down at himself and amended "floating it looks to me like you've changed one prison for another and another!"

Lapis actually stilled and if she had been more coherent she probably would have gaped, struck dumb. Gwendolyn meanwhile had placed her glowing hands back on the ring and was focusing.

Lapis asked "but then why would you still be here?"

Steven said "because I made you a promise, I said I would come back for you."

Meanwhile below them Jasper had finally managed to disarm Connie and knock her aside saying "huh like I said pathetic maybe you should get a real sword teacher!"

And before Connie could do anything else Jasper headed upwards.

Meanwhile Lapis had begun to cry even through her closed eyes and Steven quick to reassure said "it's okay Lapis!" And flew up slightly and kissed her on the forehead which started to sparkle.

Gwendolyn meanwhile had been scowling slightly as she focused but when Steven kissed Lapis she felt a shift and suddenly without warning her magic ripped the dark orange rings to shreds as they vanished.

Then Steven and Gwendolyn's bodies flashed in tandem as a pulses of pale pink light swept out from Steven pushing Jasper back which was followed by a brighter pink and the pulses get coming pushing Jasper back further and further until the pulses began to come so fast the place was flooded by the color of the shades of pink that eclipsed all as the scene phased into an endless white and just like that in the real world a battle began and ended in a single moment as in the water the beam of light faded and Stevondlyn walked onto the shore an unconscious Lapis Lazuli in her arms.

Gently Stevondlyn laid down Lapis on the beach making sure to place her above the water line then the fusion heard the sound of rasping breath and splashing and they turned to see Jasper standing in the water.

"Don't… think… you've won. You only beat me… cause you had more people on your side!" She wheezed out but Stevondlyn was in no mood for her insults and was ready to end this.

She did so rather quickly too as she thrusted out a hand and chanted "Mercuta Verditis!"

A beam flew from her hand and hit Jasper straight through her torso and when out right through the other side making her body bulge out like a balloon as she went "ooff." With the pressure building right before…

POOF!

Jasper went up in a cloud of smoke her gem going skywards and Stevondlyn was quick to act as she tossed a mana bolt skywards. Which hit Jasper's gem but instead of damaging it engulfed it and resolved into a bubble and with a wave was sent to the Temple.

And luckily or unluckily depending on the being in question Thought Twister landed on the beach just in time to see this and turned to run but the action attracted the fusions attention and quick stomp of her right foot sent out a burst of lightning and a pulse of magic to seal her trap.

Which became all too apparent when Thought Twister tried to teleport out but found itself blocked.

The demon turned to face Stevondlyn ring of lights burning bright and snarled "WHAT DID YOU DO?!"

She smirked in response "you really haven't been paying attention have you?" The demon went to reply and paused catching sight of the horizon and what was in it… and the demon recoiled at the sight of what Stevondlyn had checked to make sure was present before the start of the battle.

It was the full moon which had now risen into the sky.

Stevondlyn summoned the Staff of Ages back to her hand and raised it skywards making it glow and causing five pillars of light to rise into the sky.

As the base of each was a rune shaped in glass, solidified by lightning meeting sand. The five pillars in tandem spread outward forming a rough pentagon shaped made from Gwendolyn's magical glow while over top Steve's pale pink light formed runes, lives, and curves making an array Thought Twister now stood on top of.

"Turnabout's fair play Thought Twister" Stevondlyn said with a grin referring to the stunt the demon pulled with her, Kevin, and Ben.

Thought Twister for their part merely roared and ran towards them fingers outstretched with the intent to strangle them but the sorceress was already spell chanting.

"Moonlight and runes, tides and dunes, by magics mixed, your power I nix, this seal to you now goes, by power that flows!"

Stevondlyn pointed the Staff of Ages at her charging foe and from the skulls mouth a steam of pink wind which alternated in swirling color between Steven's and Gwendolyn's light that flowered towards and engulfed Thought Twister before he even got close to her.

The energy swirled about it and then the energy from the array below moved and to focus on where Thought Twister was standing and then there was a bright flash and when the magic faded an object dropped to the sand.

But a hand outstretched grabbed it with telekinesis and a beckoning gesture had it hovering to her and Stevondlyn smiled at the little totem hovering there.

Already it's eyes were flashing dark orange as Thought Twister tried to break her spell but the fusion wasn't having it as a slight adjustment of her right hand and the totem was placed in a bubble.

And Stevondlyn grinned even wider seeing the glow fade from the totems eyes but the totem still remained a totem.

As a bubble it still cut off magic but fused like this it didn't cut off Gwendolyn's magic.

Stevondlyn turned to Beach City and again twitched her right hand. From where she had impaled it into the ground Steven's shield rose up dismissing the protection spell she had cast and flew over to her.

Using the Staff of Ages and engulfing both bubble and shield in mana she placed the two together and with a sound like a soda can being crumpled the shield was incorporated into the bubble solidifying it solid and forming a crystal orb shot through with the same qualities as Steven's shield.

With her right hand she felt around the orb and smiled feeling Gwendolyn's symbol pressed into one side and Rose's in the other.

Four layers of protection, first they had to break a protection spell on the orb. Then they have to undo the crystallizing of the orb and with Steven's high defensive capabilities that is no small feat. Then they have to pop the bubble, and undo Thought Twister's transformation.

It may not be much but it was enough.

Stevondlyn let out a breath.