Chapter 23: Trauma from the Mirror Gem Part 2
After explaining his dream to the gems, he called Peridot to come over. Soon she came and wanted to know about Lapis's whereabouts.
Peridot: Where did you say you saw her?
Steven: She said she was trapped in the mirror again.
Peridot: What? How is that possible?
Steven: The Gara Droids did this. This one elite trapped her.
Peridot: Did you see what he looked like?
Steven: He said his name was Reflector.
Peridot: Reflector? I should have know Gien and Viggo would send him to do this.
Garnet: What do you know about him?
Peridot: He conquered planets by absorbing his vicitms into the mirror on his chest. Then he torments them inside his mirror realm until he's bored with them and kills them.
Steven: Lapis is trapped in there. He's torturing her!
Garnet: But what I don't understand is that how come I couldn't see either one of them with my future vision?
Peridot: With Reflector, probably because he sneaks up on his victims and hides most of the time. He's good at covering his tracks. When he abosrbs someone into his mirror that person disappears from the face of the Earth. You couldn't see her because she was in a different realm.
Garnet: I guess that explains it.
Pearl: But where is he now?
Steven: I don't know. He forced me out.
Garnet: Do you think you can sleep again and find out where he's hiding.
Steven: I'll try.
Steven went back to his bed and tried to sleep. But he wasn't tired.
Amethyst: Are you asleep yet?
Steven: No.
Amethyst: How about now?
Steven: No.
Amethyst: Now?
Pearl: Amethyst that's not helping.
Steven: It's not that. I can't sleeep. I just woke up thirty minutes ago. I won't be able to sleep again till way later.
Bismuth forms her hand into a hammer.
Bismuth: You want me to knock you out? I'll go easy.
Pearl: No, no! We are not going to hurt Steven just so he can sleep.
Amethyst: Hold on. I got an idea.
Pearl: What are you...
Before Pearl could finish Amethyst leaves the room. Five minutes later she returns with a glass of milk.
Amethyst: Here Steven. Have a glass of milk.
Steven: How is that going to help?
Amethyst: Just drink it.
Steven: Okay.
Steven drinks the milk.
Steven: Oh man. Why do I feel so...
Steven falls back to sleep.
Garnet: Well that worked.
Pearl: Amethyst what was in that milk?
Amethyst: I put a whole jar of sleeping pills into the milk and mixed it until it dissolved.
Pearl: You drugged Steven with a whole jar of sleep medication?!
Amethyst: Relax it didn't say it would harm him. I think.
Meanwhile Steven was dreaming again. He looked for the black void again. Soon he found it and ran inside.
Steven: Lapis! Lapis where are you?
Steven soon found Lapis. But she was lying on the floor and she was not moving.
Steven: Oh no.
Steven ran to her. She looked hurt. She had scrapes and bruises all over her and her dress was slightly torn.
Steven: ( shaking her) Lapis! Lapis it's me are you okay?
Lapis slowly opened her eyes.
Lapis: S-Steven...
Steven: Lapis. What has he done to you?
Lapis: ( tearing up) It's horrible. He keeps tormenting me. He wouldn't leave me alone.
Steven: Just hold on a little bit longer. I came back because I needed to know where you are at. Do you know where you guys are at now?
Lapis: No I don't.
Suddenly the a light in the mirror started to glow. It showed them the area where Reflector was at. It was dark and hard to see.
Lapis: What's happening?
Steven: Is this where Reflector is at? But what is it?
Lapis: I hear water dripping.
Steven: It's not the ocean or a lake. I see sharp edges and rocks all over as well.
Then he saw a something fly by.
Lapis: What was that?
Steven: I think it's a bat. I think the mirror is showing us that he's in a cave. I know now.
Lapis: You're not thinking of fighting him are you?
Steven: Why wouldn't I?
Lapis: Steven don't save yourself.
Steven: But I can't leave you like this.
Lapis: But that's what he wants you to do. He'll kill you.
Steven: Some people are worth dying for.
Lapis looked at him with tears in her eyes. Steven wiped them off of her.
Steven: I'm getting you out of here. I promise.
Steven was fading away and was about to wake up leaving Lapis alone. Her hand reached out for him as he faded.
Lapis: Please don't.
Reflector enters.
Refelctor: Hahahahahahaha!
Lapis: You showed him where you were at on purpose didn't you.
Reflector: Yes. As much as I love tormenting you, I still have a mission to do. But they won't win as long as I have you in me. Because of you, your friends will die.
Lapis: Stop!
Reflector: But here's the good news. You get front row tickets of me killing them. As for the boy Steven, I will have to keep him alive for my master. But I might cripple him for my pleasure. After that you're mine, forever. Hahahahahaha!
Back at the house.
Steven wakes up.
Peridot: Steven what happened? Did you find out where Reflector is?
Steven: I think so. I was in that dark realm again and this light shined showing me the location. It was dark, but I heard drips of water and maybe I saw a bat. I think he's hiding in a cave.
Peridot: A cave? Where are we going to find a cave?
Steven: Do you see anything now Garnet?
Garnet: I think I might know.
The scene shifts to them warping to a forest. They made their way through until they came across a spiral mountain.
Garnet: From what I was able to see this spiral mountain has many caves around it. Reflector must be in one of these.
And so they walked onto the path that lead to the mountain. Now and then they would pass by a cave, they would look inside but no one was in there. After three empty caves they came across anothe one.
Amethyst: Please let there be something behind curtain number four.
Bismuth: I thought there are only three curtains.
Amethyst: I know, but we've been walking and searching for forty five minutes and nothing.
Steven: Come on guys, we have to focus.
They entered inside the cave. Peridot and Pearl used their gems as flashlights to see. All they were able to find were just water dripping from the stalactites and bats that were resting on the ceiling. They brought their lights down so they wouldn't disturb them.
Pearl: Nothing so far.
Peridot: But we haven't gotten to the end yet.
But just a minute after, a bright light was shot up like a flare. It woke up all the bats and flew out of the cave. The gems were all in the way as the bats kept flying into them. Once they all flew out, they opened their eyes and standing before them was the Gara Elite Reflector.
Reflector: Welcome Crystal Gems! I've been waiting for you to come find me.
Bismuth: Finally we found this uppercrust scrap heap.
Peridot: Where's Lapis?
Reflector: Oh, you want to get straight to the point do you? Behold!
Reflector's mirror chest shined and revealed Lapis in it.
Steven: Lapis.
Lapis: Steven! Peridot! Get out of here, run!
Peridot: Hang on Lapis we're getting you out of here.
Garnet: Reflector, release Lapis Lazuli and leave while you still can.
Reflector: Release her and flee for my life? Hahahahahaha! That would just take the fun out of it. Out of all the victims I've trapped in me, she's my favorite because she can't die that easily. Soon she will be begging me to kill her, but I won't!
Peridot: That's it!
Peridot used her metal powers on Reflector and pinned him on the wall.
Peridot: Guys! Use that Crystal Cannon of yours and finish this clod!
Steven: ( forming his shield) Let's do it guys!
The Crystal gems formed their weapons.
Reflector: I wouldn't if I were you. If you kill me, your friend dies as well.
The Crystal Gems stopped what they were doing.
Peridot: N-No, your lying.
Reflector: Am I? Am I really? Then please, go ahead.
Garnet used her future vision to find out.
Garnet: It's true. Lapis will die if we destroy him.
Peridot: Than what are we supposed to do?
Reflector: Nothing! You've lost!
Reflector breaths fire at Peridot. She gets hit and loses control of him. He breaks free and draws out his sword and stabs Peridot causing her to poof. Her gem falls onto the floor.
Lapis: Peridot!
Steven: No!
Reflector: Come get her if you dare!
Amethyst: What do we do?
Garnet: Maybe it's the mirror. Crack the mirror!
Reflector: DIE!
Reflector charged at them. He targeted Pearl first. She was blocking every attack he swung. Then she tried to slash him, he blocked her attack, but managed to push him away. Pearl fired lasers from her spear at him, but Reflector walked casually to her and blocked all the projectiles. Then he jumped over her and landed behind and slashed Pearl in the back.
Then Amethyst tied him up with her whip.
Amethyst: Bismuth now!
Bismuth formed her hands into hammers.
Bismuth: Don't worry Lapis! I'll go easy!
Bismuth tries aiming for his chest, but with his strength Reflector breaks free. He grabs Bismuth's arm and throws her at Amethyst. Then he fires a ray of needles from his finger at them and were hit.
Garnet was up next. She punched him twice in the face. When she was about to punch him the third time, he ducked and slashed her. He was about to strike her again until Steven tossed his spiked shield at the back of his head.
Steven: Leave her alone.
Reflector: You know what? Since you're the one Gien and Viggo wants, I should only be focused on you.
Garnet: Steven!
Garnet gets back up and so does everyone else.
Pearl: Leave him out of this.
Reflector: I don't have time for you gems. Gara Soldiers!
Thirty five Gara Soldiers teleport inside the cave and kept the others busy, leaving Steven to fight Reflector alone.
Pearl: No, Steven!
Garnet: Hold on Steven!
Pearl and Garnet tried to get to him, but they were overwhelmed by the Gara Soldiers.
Reflector: Aren't you scared boy?
Steven: You don't scare me. I've dealt worse than you.
Reflector: How brave?
The two enganged into combat. Steven blocked most of Reflector's attacks and managed to slash him. After that Reflector got aggressive and started fighting back. Steven tried blocking his attacks. Steven pushed him back and tossed his shield at him. But Reflector dodged it and slashed Steven, but because of his silver vest he was okay.
Reflector: ( in his mind) That vest. It's protecting him. How do I get to his gem?
Steven charged at him and tried to slash him. Reflector dodges and and cuts Steven on his cheek and cringes. With his guard momentarily down Reflector breaths his fire at Steven. Not only does he gets burned by flames, but the metal on his vest was becoming hot and was burning more on his body. Because of that he is forced to take it off.
Reflector:( in his mind) Good, now I have him.
Reflector jumped over Steven and slashed him on his back. Steven reacts to the pain, but kept standing. The mirror on his chest was still on so he could make Lapis see.
Lapis: Steven!
Steven tried fighting back. The cut on his back was effecting him, but he kept fighting. Reflector blocked his attacks and slash Steven on his chest. Steven screams in pain. He fell onto his knees.
Lapis: NO!
Reflector: This is the one who is supposd to save you? He's too fragil and weak to defeat me.
But Steven was trying to get back up. He picked up his sword and summoned his shield.
Reflector: Oh, you want some more?
Steven: I'm... not... g-giving up.
Reflector: I reccomend that you do if you want to stay alive.
Steven: That's not happening.
Steven tossed his shield at Reflector. He gets hit by it, but then charges at Steven, kncoking the sword out of his hand and punching him in the stomach hits him on the head. Steven falls back onto the ground.
Lapis: Stop he's had enough.
Reflector: He brought all of this to himself. I would have gone easy on him if he gave up.
But Steven got back up once more. He was bleeding , but kept walking towards Reflector.
Reflector: I don't get it. How is it that you're still moving? Are you that determined to save your friend?
Steven: Yes.
Reflector and Lapis looked at him with eyes wide open.
Steven: I made a promise to Lapis that I would never let her get trapped again. She already suffered and she doesn't deserve any of this. You can beat me all you want, but I never leave those I love behind. She's my Beach Summer Fun Buddy and a part of my family. I will save her whatever it takes.
Lapis just stood there tears in her eyes. She was stunned that Steven would really save her even if it meant costing his life. She remembered what he said to her before when they were at Funland.
Reflector: That's enough. Let's just finish this.
Reflector grapped Steven by his throat and lifted him up to his face.
Reflector: You'll never save her in your condition. She's mine now and you now belong to my master! But first...
Reflector jabbed his hand into Steven's stomach grabbing his gem. He began crushing his gem. Steven yelled in pain and felt his gem cracking.
Lapis: Steven! Stop it! Leave him alone.
Reflector ignored her, Lapis stood there not knowing what to do. She was scared at first, but then her fear turned into anger. She promised Steven that she would never let the Gara Droids hurt him. After all that he's done for her, now was her turn to do the same.
Lapis: No more...
Lapis with all the power she had in her gem formed water all over the realm and shot it at the mirror. It had no effect, but she kept going.
Lapis: I'll save you Steven! I'll save you like you saved me!
Lapis shot a stonger stream of water at the mirror, soon the glass couldn't handle any more of it.
Reflector continued to crush Steven's gem.
Reflector: This is where it ends. Hahahaha... urgh!
Reflector lets go of Steven, he held onto his mirror chest as he felt pain coming from it.
Reflector: What's happening? Urgh! What are you doing in there?
Lapis: I'm through with you tormenting me and my friends. Now it's your turn!
Reflector kept reacting to a pain and rays of light was shooting out of his mirror.
Reflector: Stop it! Wait! WAIT!
Finally the mirror shattered into pieces and Lapis was shot out of it. She was now in the cave with Steven and everyone else.
Steven: ( weak) Lapis...
Lapis: Steven!
Lapis picked him up. She checked his gem and it was cracked and it looked like a few shards broke off.
Lapis: Oh no.
Steven: ( weak) Lapis it's...
Lapis: Shhhh. Don't speak, save your strength.
She looked up and saw the others being overwhelmed by the Gara Soldiers. She formed all the water in the cave and used it to destroy all the soldiers. Now that they were gone, the others met up with them.
Garnet: Lapis.
Pearl: Steven!
The gems ran to them. They saw Steven badly hurt.
Pearl: Oh no Steven, what has he done to you?
Steven: It's okay, I'm still here.
Garnet: We need to take him to Rose's Fountain so he can heal.
Reflector: Stop!
They set their eyes on him. His mirror chest was shattered exposing his robotic insides. But now he was holding Peridot's gem.
Reflector: You may have your boy, but I still have your friend here!
Amethsyt: Oh great, now what do we do?
Lapis: Guys, get out here. Take Steven and heal him.
Bismuth: What are you saying?
Lapis: I have some unfinished buisness to deal with.
Amethyst: You're taking him on by yourself?
Lapis: I have to. He has Peridot and I'm not letting him hurt anyone else.
Steven: Lapis no. We just got you back, I can't lose you again.
Lapis strokes Steven's hair.
Lapis: I won't lose Steven. I'll be back I promise.
Lapis kisses him on his cheek. Then looks at Garent.
Lapis: Go.
Garnet was a bit hessitent at first, but nods.
Garnet: Let's go.
Everyone leaves and carried Steven out of the cave. Now it was just Lapis and Reflector.
Reflector: How did you do it? How did you break free from my realm.
Lapis: Simple, making me watch you hurting my Beach Summer Fun Buddy made me sick.
Reflector: What?
Lapis: You can hurt and torture me as much as you want. But when you hurt Steven or Peridot, you've crossed the line.
Reflector: Don't think you've won Lapis Lazuli! I'm still here and I'm going to enjoy shattering you!
Reflector charged towards Lapis. He was about to slash her, but Lapis waved her hand which formed some water and blocked the attack. His sword couldn't pierce through the water. Reflector tried attacking her again and Lapis kept blocking it. But she had to knock Peridot's gem out of his hand. So she shot a stream of water at him, which causes him to drop Peridot's gem.
Lapis formed more water and turned them into ice stalactites. She shot them at him, but Reflector melted them using his fire breath. The fire almost hit her, but she dodges and then shot another stream of water at him. The water and fire clash into each other causing a beam struggle. Because there was more water in the cave, Lapis was able to overpower him and Reflector gets hit by the blast.
Peridot's gem started to glow. A light was forming her new body and dimmed down. Now Peridot had a star on her chest and her visors now looked more pointed kinda like part of a star.
Peridot: I'll never lose to you, you mirror...huh?
Before Peridot could finish she saw Lapis fighting Reflector. Lapis formed a water hand and grabbed Reflector and tried to crush him. But Reflector got one of his hands free and shot up to break down some stalactites onto Lapis. Lapis dodges but loses control of the water hand. Reflector fully breaks free and was about to continue, but then he couldn't move.
Reflector: W-What is this?
He looks behind and see's Peridot.
Reflector: You!
Peridot: Do it Lapis! Break this mirror clod!
Lapis: I couldn't agree more.
Lapis formed one more water hand and made it into a fist.
Reflector: Wait, don't you know breaking a mirror is seven years of bad luck?
Lapis: Seven years? Try five thousand years.
Reflector: NOOOOOO!
Lapis made the giant water hand smash Reflector. She pounded the ground five times. After that she puts the water hand away. She and Peridot walk up to the remains of Reflector. Now he was just a bunch of broken pieces.
Peridot: Lapis.
Peridot hugged Lapis.
Lapis: Hi Peridot. Are you okay?
Peridot: I'm fine. What about you?
Lapis: I'm alright. I love your new look.
Peridot: Thanks, I thought I should make it more Crystal gem like. I was so worried about you. We searched all over and then we found out you were kidnapped and then...
Lapis: It's okay. I'm here now. I was scared, but I couldn't let him hurt you or...( gasp) Steven!
Peridot: What? Where is Steven and everyone else?
Lapis: I know where they are. Let's go.
Lapis and Peridot exit out of the cave. Once they were gone Viggo emerged from the darkness of the cave. He walked up to the remains of Reflector to look for something. He found one of his hands balled into a fist, but it looked like he was holding something. He opened it up and just as he expected, it was something he needed.
Meanwhile at Rose's Fountain.
Steven was now fully recovered from the fight.
Pearl: Oh Steven thank goodness your alright now.
Amethyst: Dude, that was one brutal beating you took.
Bismuth: Yeah, that Gara Elite almost had you.
Steven: Guys it's alright, I'm better now.
Garnet: Yes you are. Lapis will be happy to see you.
Steven: That's right Lapis! We have to go back. She needs our help.
But right after he said that, they saw Lapis flying down with Peridot with her. They landed in front of them.
Lapis: Steven!
Lapis ran to hug him.
Lapis: I was so worried about you. You were hurt bad.
Steven: I'm okay, see? Not a scratch or a crack on me anymore. I was more worried about you. But you did it Lapis! You conquered your fear!
Garnet: That's right. You broke free from Reflector's mirror realm so you could save Steven, Peridot and us too. That was truly a brave thing you've done.
Amethyst: Yeah, give it up for Little Lappy!
Lapis: Thanks, but I actually couldn't escape by myself. If Steven wasn't so determined to save me, I wouldn't have the will to use my full power to escape. Thank you Steven.
Steven: No Lapis, thank you. I'm so proud of you.
Steven hugged Lapis again. Then he went to go see Peridot.
Steven: Are you okay Peridot?
Peridot: I am, that was painful when he stabbed me, but that clod couldn't kill me.
Amethyst: Dude, nice look.
Peridot: Thanks, these new visors I have here are my favorite.
Garnet: Now that everyones here, lets head home.
Lapis: Steven is it okay that I hang with you for the day?
Steven: Sure Lapis, it's always fun having you around. You can help me make snack sushi.
Lapis: What's that?
Steven: It's basicall sushi, but I used cheese puffs instead of raw fish. I made it with Lion once.
Lapis: Okay, that sounds like fun.
Bismuth: Just please make sure you use the right ingrediants this time. I can still taste that salty cookie.
Lapis: Don't worry. With Steven with me, I won't mess up.
Everyone went warp pad and head home.
Meanwhile at Gien's Ship.
Gien and the others watched the footage of Lapis destroying Reflector.
Gien: ( sighs) So close. I didn't even get to see the Lapis Lazuli in his mirror.
Acha: Once again the Crystal Gems destroys another elite.
Bomber: Hmph. I blame Viggo for this. I knew this would happen again.
Kocha: Is there anything you know that won't fail Bomber the Great?
Bomber: Of course. If I was down there taking them on. I know I could have beat them.
Kocha: Sure you would.
Bomber: Why you little...
Viggo enters the room.
Bomber: Viggo! I saw everything. The Lapis Lazuli broke free from Reflector's mirror. You're plan failed again!
Viggo: On the contrary Bomber the Great.
Viggo shows them in his hand a shard of Steven's gem. Gien's red eyes opened wide and everyone else were surprised as well.
Viggo: Everything is all acording to plan.
To be continued...
Author's Note: That's it for this chapter. I'm glad I finally got to do this and give Lapis a chance to shine. Also I really liked Peridot's new look and I really wanted to bring it here. Special thanks for Lady Shadow92 for helping on this chapter. Please read and review. Thank you.