Steven Universe © Rebecca Sugar/Cartoon Network
Kingdom Hearts © Disney/Square-Enix/Tetsuya Nomura
It was nightfall at the Gem Barn, and Peridot was finishing up sweeping the last bit of junk
that was left over from the apparent 'Heartless' attack that occurred earlier that day.
*whew..* Peridot let out a sigh of relief, and then returned to the Barn.
Inside, she found Lapis over at the couch where they would watch episodes of Camp Pining Hearts together.
Upon closer inspection, Peridot found that Zach was laying across the couch.
The human male almost looked dead..But, he was just in a very deep sleep.
Lapis was currently covering his body with a blanket, and fluffing the pillow where he head was.
Lapis then knelt down..and, gently touched Zach's face.
she drew her fingers over his facial features. her gaze locked onto him.
Finally, the gem leaned over and planted a soft kiss on him.
"he's asleep?" spoke Peridot, as she approached.
"yes. he almost passed out as soon as we returned home." explained Lapis.
"he's...been through more than any human should handle. I'm amazed he endured this much."
"he's alot stronger than he looks." said Peridot.
Lapis smiled as she looked at her friend. "I guess you would know, Peri.."
Peridot then blushed. Having a good idea on where this conversation was headed.
"tell me.." spoke Lapis, as she sat on a chair before Peridot. "what was it like...Fusing with him?"
Peridot looked flustered, unsure how to answer this question.
"it's...d-difficult to describe." said Peridot, as she also sat in a chair.
"TRY, peri. I really want to know." said Lapis, hanging onto Peridot's next words.
Peridot exhaled sharply as she tried to think back to when she fused with Zach.
"It was..Similar to when I fused with you." began Peridot. "and, yet..so very different."
Lapis listened intently.
"Our minds meshed together so perfectly..I almost forgot we were a fusion." continued Peridot.
"Almost, because..our bodies were also one. and, I now know what it's like to be a Gem hybrid like Steven is.
..to have a body of flesh, and to feel those sensations that I now realize are only imitated by us."
"You did look different." said Lapis. "I mean..ALL fusions look different in their own way,
But when you and Zach fused, it was like..like you became a human variation of yourself."
"It felt like it, too." said Peridot. "Even though..it wasn't all me. I still had lungs that could breathe air.
and, a heart that pumped actual blood through my body of flesh and bone. I..I truly felt..ALIVE."
Lapis fell silent for a moment. "I hope you don't mind that..I feel a little jealous."
Peridot looked at Lapis. "huh?"
"Zach is my husband..yet, you managed to fuse with him first." continued Lapis.
"I'm not mad, but..I really hope to have the chance to experience what you did myself."
"oh, you will!" said Peridot, anxiously. "and, when you do..I bet you'll be as strong as Garnet is!"
Lapis smirked. "oh, I don't know about that..You and Zach were pretty strong."
"yeah..but, I know you'll be stronger." said Peridot. "Zach is only my friend..but, YOU love him."
Lapis couldn't suppress her smile as she looked at Peridot.
She then stood up all of a sudden. "wait here. I have something for you."
Peridot gave Lapis a look..but, stayed seated as she glided away for a moment.
Lapis quickly returned..holding a small box with a green ribbon on it.
"what is that?" asked Peridot.
"a present." replied Lapis. "a gift to you..from ME."
Peridot paused as she looked at the small box in Lapis' hands. "but..it isn't my "Incubation Day."
"Just open it..you'll understand." said Lapis, her tone soft.
Peridot reluctantly took the box in her hands.
Finding the box was just a ribbon pasted to the lid, she pulled it open..
..and, then froze at what was inside.
Lapis fell silent as Peridot pulled out a micro-cassette recorder from the box.
"it..It looks just like my old audio recording device." spoke Peridot. "Like the one that Steven gav-"
Peridot then froze as an old memory flashed back in her mind.
((*I don't want..your garbage.*)) rang the voice of a much different Lapis from the not too distant past.
Peridot looked at Lapis..who was averting her gaze.
She then reached over, and pressed the PLAY button on the tape recorder.
Peridot listened as audio began to play.
(("..I never did apologize for this.")) began the pre-recorded voice of Lapis.
(("i'm sorry, peridot. I'm sorry for destroying your treasure..and, for not giving you a chance.
you've been a good friend to me..which is more than I deserve after how I initially treated you.
I know you don't blame me: I hurt you because you hurt me once.
but, as Zach taught me: 'Two wrongs don't make a Right.'
Even when someone hurts you, you shouldn't try to hurt them back.
and..that's all I wanted back then: To get back at those who hurt me.
But, I was wrong to think that way..I never want to hurt you again.
So, please accept this gift as token of Remorse, and Forgiveness.
I want to forget who we were before..and, put it all behind us.
I'm..so very sorry, Peridot. forgive me for being so cold and heartless."))
(*CLICK!*)
a long silence swept over the interior of the barn. Lapis didn't look at Peridot..she just waited for her response.
And, she got it. When Peridot walked over and hugged her. Lapis teared up, and returned the embrace.
"i'm so sor-"
"hush." said Peridot. "it's all over now..let's just forget it ever happened."
Lapis smiled as she tightened her embrace. "okay. from now on, we'll think only of the Future. NOT our past."
Peridot smiled..Then, Lapis pulled away to look at her. "Remember when we were fused into Turquoise?"
"yeah..I liked doing that." said Peridot, a content smile on her face.
Lapis then grinned. "our bodies..and, MINDS. were merged into one." continued Lapis,
who then leaned over to where Peridot's 'ear' was, and began to whisper.
*I 'know', peridot..I know about the promise you made to Zach.*
Peridot froze, her face becoming pale upon hearing this. "you..d-do?"
"yes. and, though I wished you both had told me about it..I think it's very sweet." said Lapis.
Peridot looked down, nervously tapping her fingers together. "ss-sooo..you're..Okay with it?"
Lapis paused for a moment..which worried Peridot.
"I wasn't sure how I felt about it..at first." began Lapis, finally. "but, when I watched you nearly die
trying to protect Zach..I realized at that moment that I love you. JUST as much as I love Zach."
Lapis paused again, a tear present in her eye. "..and couldn't bear to lose either of you."
Lapis then smirked as she looked at Peridot. "and, I won't lie..I found 'Zacidot' to be VERY attractive."
Peridot blushed hard at this..then, Lapis touched Peridot's chin.
As Lapis moved Peridot's head to look at her..the green gem froze still.
"lap-MMPH!" before Peridot knew it..Lapis planted her lips against hers.
Peridot's eyes were open wide..but, soon relaxed and eventually closed.
Lapis deepened the kiss, clasping Peridot's head with her hands.
After a full minute, Lapis finally broke from Peridot. Smiling as she looked at the goofy expression on her face.
"that..felt great." said Peridot, looking intoxicated.
Lapis smiled at Peridot. "I think I understand what you meant before: It's similar. and, yet..Different."
"You two look like a couple of parrots fighting over a grape." spoke a voice.
Lapis and Peridot quickly looked to see Zach looking at them from the couch
(although, he was still laid down as Lapis left him, having only turned his head.)
"OH!, uhhh..Zz-Zach!, I didn't-I mean, we thought-, ohhh.." Peridot felt very embarrassed, and nervous.
"relax..i'm okay with this, remember." said Zach, his voice calm.
Lapis and Peridot looked at each other..then, back to Zach.
"I'm sorry, we shouldn't have done this behind your back." said Lapis.
"I'm glad you did..makes me feel better." said Zach, as he turned his body over. "now..I can sleep."
With that, Zach closed his eyes and fell back to sleep once more.
Lapis and Peridot looked at each other once again..and, they both smiled.
It was a relief that Zach was so open minded, and wasn't the 'jealous' type.
[Meanwhile..]
"whoa.." spoke Greg, stunned. "That's quite the story, Pearl."
Pearl continued to look down at her feet, not making any eye contact with Greg.
"I feel like such a failure. I wanted to rescue those gems SO BADLY.." began Pearl.
"I'm glad they are safe, but I wish we could've saved them without releasing them all."
Greg looked at Pearl. "This is about Rose, isn't it?"
Pearl's eyes grew moist..she then silently nodded. "I know..we always planned to heal them eventually." spoke Pearl.
"But, for me..each of those bubbles were a memory. a memory of HER, of fighting alongside her.
I know we can always recapture them, but I still feel like I lost something that I'll never get back."
Pearl breathed out sharply as she stared up at the night sky.
Pearl then closed her eyes. "surely you must understand how I feel, Greg." said Pearl.
"Afterall, you have a garage full of what appears to be junk, but is significant to you alone.
As every item you have..is a memory of Rose. To part with just one is..next to impossible, right?"
Greg exhaled from his nose. he didn't want to admit it..but, Pearl had a point.
Even if he was offered BILLIONS of dollars, Greg didn't feel he could part
with so much as an old, tattered t-shirt that Rose used to wear.
"yeah..like removing one of my fingers." said Greg, finally.
"Exactly!" exclaimed Pearl, elated that someone understood her plight.
"but..even if I lost everything I had. I still have my memories of Rose." said Greg.
"That is the one thing that can never be taken from me..Or, YOU."
Pearl sighed as she looked down at her feet again. "I miss her..so much."
Greg nodded, also frowning. "I miss her, too."
"How do you cope with the loss?" spoke Pearl. "I know you loved her as much as I did..yet, you are always so cheerful."
Greg tried to smile as he looked at at the starry sky. "Because in my memories of her..she'll live forever."
This made Pearl look at Greg, stunned at hearing something so simple, and yet profound from him.
Pearl then looked away, feeling something else nag away at her.
..a different type of shame..and, guilt.
"greg.." spoke Pearl.
Greg looked at Pearl. "yeah, Pearl?"
Pearl hesitated..as if unsure what to do next. "can we..g-go take a drive together?" spoke Pearl, finally.
"just you, and me..no one else. I..I want to remember better times."
Greg found this request mighty odd (in fact, everything about Pearl's current behavior was strange.)
but, he couldn't bring himself to object, and so he got up off the open rear of the van.
"Okay..I have nowhere to be right now."
Pearl also got up, and closed the van's rear doors tightly.
The two then walked over to the front of the vehicle, and got in opposite sides.
Pearl sat in the passenger seat, while Greg started the engine.
Upon starting, the Van's radio began to play some random retro 80s music.
Already Pearl found herself back. Back to a simpler, happier time.
Rose was alive, and still leader. Greg was young, and wooing her with his music.
..And, Pearl. she was..she-
Greg then began to drive off at a steady pace down a road leading somewhere.
Pearl laid back in the seat, and began to silently mouth the words of the song playing.
"sweet dreams are made of thiiis. who am I to dis-ahh-greee.."
As Greg's van drove away..a shadowy figure watched the departing vehicle from afar.
The figure had a single eye that gleamed a bright golden yellow in the darkness.
..a sly smile slowly forming across it's face.
[End of Part 20]
[Author Notes]
This is more of a Lapidot chapter where I address one common criticism against the pairing.
yeah..Lapis smashing Peridot's tape recorder was pretty mean.
and, while she never gave an on-screen apology, I like to think it'd be something like this.
(and, it stands to reason that Lapis has what some might call an "Open Marriage")
I won't confirm, nor deny that some "Greal" situations may or may not occur later.
(Frankly, I would be more concerned over the "mystery character" appearing again.)