Crazy trouble with love part 8
Malachite and Steven
Series: Steven Universe
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"AAAUUGGHHH! Free me Lapis, let me go!" Roared Jasper tugging on numerous chains binding her while in what looked like the ocean itself, but with a black sky and the water looking a tinge of green while Lapis herself was far away from her and straining to hold the other ends of the chains together with Jasper struggling. "You can't keep us down here forever!"
"Yes...I...can!" She groaned, trying to stay concentrated. "You won't be free…. You won't hurt him!"
Jasper didn't know how long they had been like this, but every time she had a bit of control over Malachite, Lapis would drag her right back down. She tried to strain her body against the chains, but felt them tug in different directions which caused her to lose focus and stopped struggling to take a moment to catch her breath while Lapis panted and felt her body losing more and more energy.
"Why do you keep this up, why do you want to protect rose, in your report you said that she kept you trapped willingly in that mirror for over five thousand years!" Yelled Jasper who took a moment to rest and glared at Lapis who didn't respond because she was more focused on catching her own breath. "You have just as much a reason to get revenge back at her like me."
"No, I don't! Steven isn't Rose Quartz, he's different! He's special, he freed me even when the crystal gems wanted to trap me!" She yelled out with a glare at the quartz. "He talked to me, listened to me, and that's something those ...Homeworld gems, didn't bother to do. All they did was treat me like a Crystal Gem. I couldn't get them to listen, and then they forgot about me too. They were no different than those three."
Jasper growled and gave a tug on the chains with one arm, only for it to instantly get tugged outward making her groan and release some tension while just floating there and looked down at the dark bottom to their mind. 'She can't hold this forever, I WILL break free and shatter Rose Quartz.'
Lapis went quiet as well while keeping her eyes on Jasper before looking down at the bottom as well.
"It's all this planet's fault…" Muttered Jasper, which Lapis picked up on.
"What does the planet have to do with this?" She questioned, but Jasper didn't bother looking at her.
"If it didn't exist, then everything would have stayed the same...the way it should have been." She muttered in anger. "My diamond would never have been shattered here, she would have been safe, I could have been made on a better planet, one that isn't seen as THAT planet on homeworld."
Lapis was confused and raised an eyebrow. "You mean Yellow Diamond, don't you?"
"Feh, of course not." She frowned at Lapis. "You really think I was made as her own gem? I was made ON this wretched planet, to be used as the perfect soldier for the diamond who was unlike the others. Pink Diamond." She said with a sigh. "She was so perfect, so kind, when she could she would visit the kindergartens and great her soldiers, she called ME perfect, she was perfect." She sighed wistfully.
"So you mean, you were moved to Yellow after…what happened, right?"
"You mean when one of Pink's own gems stabbed her in the back? That's right." Scowled Jasper. "That no good Rose Quartz, she should have done her job like all the others, but what does she do? She betrays her diamond, she betrayed her role in life, and she took away the kindest diamond of them all."
"Well, if you miss her then...Steven seems to be a lot like her, he's kind, he cared enough about a random gem stuck in a mirror enough to go against the crystal gems to free me, he even healed my cracked gem." Spoke Lapis looking away while getting a somber expression. "Besides, trying to hurt him will only make things worse ...for all of us."
"Why? Why would that be worse, we would get glory for killing Rose Quartz!" Yelled Jasper tugging on the chains snapping Lapis out of it and tugging against them. "What do you think the other diamonds would do if we brought back her own shattered remains? We'd get the glory and respect for avenging Pink Diamond. We'd be seen as heroes, we might even get our very own Pearls."
"So what, why would I want to go back to homeworld, they betrayed me! They poofed me, stuck me in a mirror and refused to listen to me! And once I was free they betrayed me again!" Scowled Lapis. "For someone who respected Pink, you know absolutely nothing about her and how she treated her OWN Pearl."
"Don't you dare say that!" Growled Jasper giving the chains a firm tug making Lapis yelp in pain. "I was her ideal gem! The kind of gem that had no faults whatsoever! If she was around, I'd gladly shatter every single one of those traitors and offer their pieces to her like what I was made to do!"
"Because she wasn't heartless!" Glared Lapis. "You don't even know that her Pearl is STILL around! The same one who helped her with her plan!"
"...What? I thought she was killed by the crystal gems!"
"No you idiot, that pearl IS her pearl! She's a crystal gem!" Spoke Lapis who took a moment to inhale and looked Jasper in the eyes. "Do you wanna know the truth? The entire truth?"
"What truth, that her pearl betrayed her?!"
"No, that Rose Quartz, the so called traitor, IS Pink Diamond."
"...ok, now you're just talking nonsense, Rose shattered Pink!"
"That's what she wanted the other gems to think." Frowned Lapis. "I know that because when I was in that mirror, who do you think last had me after the interrogation was over? It was Pink, and I heard and saw EVERYTHING. Your precious Diamond came to Earth to make her own colony, but when she found the kind of life on it, she had second thoughts." She growled. "While I was stuck inside her Pearls's storage area I found myself viewing her memories unwillingly, I saw EVERYTHING! She pleaded with the diamonds to leave earth alone, but they refused, so she took matters into her own hands and faked her death!"
Jasper stared at Lapis with disbelief before slowly looking furious and made a move to lunge at Lapis who managed to 'swim' out of the way. "It's a lie! My diamond would never do something like that!"
"If Pink is so kind, then why would she willingly stick with a system that forces gems to only do one role? Didn't she show genuine kindness to you? Did she EVER treat you like a replaceable gem like Yellow or Blue?"
"No...she didn't, but...you could be lying!" she denied as Lapis frowned and tugged on the chains.
"I'm not, and I can prove it!" She said as her gem glowed before a hologram appeared from it showing Rose and Pearl on the palanquin.
Jasper was momentarily caught off guard seeing Rose on the palanquin who was talking to Pink's pearl and it was clear as day.
"I know this is something we can't go back on Pearl, which is why I want to ask you one more time. Are you willing to go through with this?"
"Yes Rose, I am, but are you sure about this? If this works, you'll lose everything, your status, your authority, you...you can never go home."
Rose gave Pearl a smile and nodded with her eyes closed. "I'm aware of that Pearl, but I've had a long time to think about it. Sometimes tough decisions like this are made to make a difference. I just can't imagine taking away the life of this planet when it has so much potential to grow into something even more beautiful." She said with a happy sigh before she began to glow and change, she grew taller and thinner as her gem rearranged itself until Pink Diamond stood in her place, making Jasper gasp in shock.
"My...my diamond…."
Pink herself took some shards and put them in her mouth as Pearl morphed into an exact duplicate of Rose Quartz who slowly brought the sword out with tears in her eyes. "I know it's hard, but I know you can do it." She said as she walked towards the entrance, making sure she was in full view of the gems in front of the palanquin. "I believe in you Pearl."
Pearl herself seemed to take a deep breath and brought the sword out before steeling herself and lunged, causing the sword to stab Pink, making Jasper gasp, before Pink poofed and seemingly 'shattered'. Pearl quickly grabbed the gem and ran off, leaving the pink shards on the ground.
"Oh god...it's true, she wasn't shattered, Rose was Pink Diamond...oh god, I attacked my diamond!" Cried out Jasper in shock and horror as the hologram turned off. "All those times of wanting to crush Rose, all that wait, and then...seeing her in that form….it was Pink Diamond ...what kind of a Jasper am I?"
"One who was tricked like the rest of the galaxy, even the other diamonds were tricked." Lapis said as she tugged on the chains. "But that's just it, you and the others don't understand how humans work. They're different than gems, I don't have all the answers myself, but what I do know is that Steven and Rose are two different people. Yes he has her gemstone, but he's his own person."
"So… he's the new Pink Diamond?"
"I'm not sure about that, but now that you know the truth, what will you do?" Asked Lapis firmly. "If you still insist on hurting him, I'll keep you here. I care about him, and don't want to see him get hurt."
"I...I can't now, I can't hurt my diamond." She said as she shook her head. "I was made to be loyal and reliable, that's why I can't finish my mission to shatter Rose, no matter what Yellow orders."
"So… you won't hurt Steven or the other Crystal Gems now?" Lapis asked hesitantly.
"No, I won't...so now what?" She asked. "Are you going to keep me trapped here?"
Lapis looked at Jasper and around them before looking at the chains. "Well...no, I don't want to be like the others and keep you here against your will, but you left me no choice." she looked at Jasper firmly. "If you can guarantee you won't harm Steven, then...I'm willing to try and give Malachite a try."
"Really? That's great! I swear I won't hurt him, I will never let anything harm my diamond!"
"Steven." Spoke Lapis. "He's not Pink, nor Rose, but Steven. Humans each have their own unique names here, and I think he'd be more apt to react if you use his name."
"Well, if that's what he wants ...then fine, I'll call him Steven." Replied Jasper while Lapis slowly began to make the chains vanish, giving Jasper a chance to rub her arms and sighed in relief. "Much better."
"Just keep in mind, the moment you try to run wild, I WILL drag us back in here, forever."
"Fine, fine, now let's go find my Steven!" Spoke Jasper in a rush while Lapis closed her eyes.
"Then let's stop fighting, and let our minds truly become one."
"Alright, let's do this." Jasper said with a nod as she closed her eyes.
Both their gems began to glow, along with their bodies as they slowly floated over together before making contact and started glowing brighter while outside, Malachite's body stiffened up with all eyes blinking before looking down at her hands.
"We ...are...Malachite!" She let out which shook the water up as she felt ...whole. "Is...is this how fusion is supposed to feel? It feels amazing, I feel strong, powerful and complete!" She laughed as the water chains holding her down dispersed. She gave a wide grin and easily moved through the water like a fish and licked her lips. "Now I can finally do something besides stay down here. STEVEN!" She roared out which shook the waves and scared away fish before she began to swim through the water in a random direction while we cut back over to the temple itself.
"Steven, where are you? Me, Garnet and Amethyst have to head out and look for Peridot, she ran away from the barn."
"It's Amethyst's fault." Garnet said as she approached the warp pad.
"Aw come on, it was an accident."
"You upset her by calling her stupid."
"She didn't know what an apple was!"
"Ugh, anyway we'll be gone for a bit, there's food in the fridge Steven."
"Alright, can I order a pizza?"
"Sure, there's money in the drawer, bye!"
"Don't go partying without me!" Called Amethyst.
With that the gems teleported away, leaving Steven alone in the house.
"Yes, pizza time!" He cheered with his fists up and went to grab the phone and dialed in Kiki's number. As he waited for her to pick up he felt the ground begin to softly shake. He looked around confused while noting some of the dishes shaking and even the windows. "Huh? Is there an earthquake?" He said in confusion as the shaking got stronger.
"Hello, this is Fish Stew Pizza."Came the woman's voice over the phone.
"H-Hey Kiki, could I get a pepperoni Pizza? Also are you guys still delivering during the earthquake?"
"Of course, if it's anything short of a typhoon, we'll still get it to you." Kiki responded. "I'll get it to you in a bit Steven, see you then."
"Thanks Kiki." He ended the call and put the phone down, but felt the shaking got stronger and swore he heard a sound outside. He moved to the door and opened it and saw the waves at the beach getting stronger. "Whoa, I really hope we don't get a tsunami, I wonder how strong the earthquake is?"
That's when a big water spout was seen in the distance making him turn and saw something on the horizon moving towards the beach.
"What's that?" He squinted his eyes and swore he saw….white hair and arms? "Wait…"
"STEVEN!"
"AAAAAHHHHH! Malachite!" He cried out in terror. He saw the fusion getting closer and closer as she swam before he looked around and darted back inside. "Oh man, Malachite's back, which means Jasper must be in control. Oh why did the others have to leave now?" He cried as the terror swam/ran towards the temple. "I-I have to get out of here! Wait, if I leave she might get mad and destroy Beach City!"
"STEVEN!" Roared Malachite who began to reach ground under her lower half and loomed up from the water when she spotted the temple and grinned. "There's the temple, I knew it was around here."
'Oh no, she remembers the temple!' Thought Steven as he hid behind the counter. He felt the shaking slowed down and grew more nervous when he swore he heard breathing coming from the door.
"Steven...where are you?" Called Malachite as she reached the shore and kneeled down to peer in through the windows. All four eyes squinted when she didn't see him and let out an annoyed growl before raising her hand over and tapped against the door. "Steven! Are you in there? If you are, come out!"
'Why would I do that? Ok, what do I do, if I keep her waiting she might get frustrated and attack the city, what do I do, what do I do?!' he thought with his mind racing. 'I could try and stall her until the others get back, but it might take too much time.'
"Steven, are you in there, are you sleepi- whoops." Malachite called as she tapped once too hard and broke the door. "Sorry!"
Steven slowly peered around the counter and saw a finger trying to wiggle around inside.
"Ugh, this is taking too long." Growled the fusion to herself. "I might as well smash this stupid place up if he's not here, then again, would he get mad if I woke him or wasted time?" She muttered confused.
'Hmm, she doesn't seem like Jasper, maybe Lapis is in control. Which means I should give it a try and talk to her.' He thought as he hesitantly stood up.
"Then again he might get mad if I break his home, what do I do?" She pondered before looking back inside and saw Steven near the counter, making her perk up and yell out too loud. "STEVEN!"
"Ah! H-Hi Malachite, um ...how are you doing?" He asked nervously.
"Glad to see you! I thought you were either sleeping or not around." She remarked while moving her finger out.
"Y-Yeah, well, here I am, so ...what are you doing here? And um...who's in control?"
"I am." She replied like it was obvious. "I came here to try and find you and make sure you were safe."
"O-Ok, um ...well I am...and how are you doing Lapis?"
"I'm not Lapis."
"...Jasper."
"No, it's me, Malachite!"
"Wait, did you...are you working together?" He asked in surprise.
"Yes! Why? Isn't it good?"
"Y-Yeah, it is, it's just, last time I saw you two, you were...you know…"
"Fighting for control?"
"Yeah." He nodded looking away. "But that's great news. Truth is, me and the others were trying to find you two...I mean you, but we couldn't find you."
"The bottom of the ocean is a big place."
"Yeah, so, um… why exactly are you here? What made you two decide to work together?"
"The truth." She replied looking at him. "About Rose."
"Mom? What truth?" He asked in confusion.
"It's ...complicated."
"Oh, ok, I guess she kind of is ...so what are you two going to do now?"
"Protect you." She smiled while laying down on the slope beside the temple.
"Wait, what?" He cried out in surprise. "What do you mean protect me?"
"I mean, now that I'm complete and my own person, I'm going to make the most of who I am and keep you safe." She said with a smile as she tried to wiggle her fingers through the door again to grab him.
"Well I'm not sure you can do that outside." He joked moving over and patted one of the fingers. "Want me to come outside?"
"Yes please, or I could just tear away this wooden structure?"
"I don't think the others would like that." He sweatdropped before the fingers moved out and he walked outside. "It takes some time to rebuild the front of the temple."
"Fair enough, but if you are in trouble I will destroy this place to save you." She gave a gentle smile, which just showed off her sharp teeth.
"Hehe...ok." He said before she picked him up. "So ... uh…. What do you wanna do?"
"Protect you of course, keep you safe." She said as she rubbed him against her cheek affectionately. "Nothing will ever hurt you."
Steven blushed at the move and didn't stop her before she laid back down and held him in her arms closely. "Well, right now there's nothing going on. Besides the others heading out to try and find Peridot, everything's calm and normal here."
"Peridot…. So, she's still on the loose? I wonder if she's taken care of the cluster ...cluster ...OH NO, THE CLUSTER!" She cried out in panic while standing up with Steven caught off guard.
"Woah woah woah! Easy does it!"
"The Cluster! It's going to wake up, destroy the earth and you along with it! We have to go, now!" She spoke with a growl. "I'll find that Peridot and make her build us a ship to get off this planet!"
"Whoa, whoa, just calm down, please! I know about the Cluster, and we're working on a drill to stop it, Peridot just got mad and stormed off for a bit."
"What? She's helping you?" Malachite looked confused. "But she was just here to check it's progress, that's all."
"Yeah, well, after your ship got destroyed she's kind of stuck here so she doesn't really have a choice, but I think we're becoming friends!" He said happily.
"Friends?" Malachite looked surprised. "With that Peridot? How?"
"Well we spent some time together, I freed her after the gems poofed her and destroyed her limb enhancers, and the-"
"You destroyed her limb enhancers? Ha! Now she's a shrimp!" Laughed Malachite, unaware of the figure running towards them holding a flat square box. "I'd love to see her running around, she wouldn't even fit inside my hand!"
"Heh, yeah, she is kind of small now, but she's still really smart, in fact we're almost done with the drill." He smiled. "With it, we can go down to the Cluster and see if we can stop it from waking up."
"Interesting."
"Yo, Steven, where are you?" Called a voice behind them. "I can't see much around here with just two eye holes."
"Huh? Kiki, is that you?" Steven called as Malachite frowned.
"Yeah, I got here as soon as…" She looked up and saw the fusion holding Steven giving her a death glare and swore she went completely pale. "Um ...Steven? Is this uh...your friend?" She asked as Malachite growled. "Is she like your lion?"
"Well kinda. Malachite, this is Kiki. Kiki, this is Malachite."
"What is your purpose here human?" She growled as she bared her sharp teeth.
"P-Pizza d-delivery."
"What is...Pizza?"
"I-It's food, Steven ordered it!" She cried out as she held out the pizza box.
"Oh yeah! Malachite, could you put me down?"
"...Do I have too?" She asked in annoyance.
"Please?"
"...Fine." She muttered in annoyance as she set him down.
Steven walked over to the nervous Kiki with the money. "Thanks Kiki."
"No problem, good luck with...whatever it is you're doing." She said before running away.
"Huh, wonder if she's dealing with an early lunch rush." He guessed at the speed and opened the box and smiled at the pizza. "Ah, fresh pizza out of the oven, the smell never gets old."
"So...what do you do with this pizza you got? Is it a weapon?"
"No, but you sound like Peridot when you ask that?" He smiled before grabbing a slice. "It's food, which is what we humans need to eat to keep going all the time."
"Food...may I try some?"
"Sure thing." He saw her crouch down as close as she could and held the slice out. "You chew it with your mouth and swallow it."
"Ok." She said as she opened her mouth wide. "Toss it in."
Steven reeled his hand and tossed the slice in before Malachite bit into it with curiosity.
"Interesting...not bad, I like it!" She said as she gulped it down.
"Want another slice?"
"Sure!" She said as he smiled and tossed another slice in. She pulled it in with her tongue and ate it with a hum while Steven started eating his own piece. 'This is delicious, I want more!' She thought as she chewed with her eyes closed as she shot her tongue towards where the pizza was.
"Woah!" Steven let out as the tongue grabbed the box whole and pulled it into her mouth before she bit down with gusto. "Wow, guess we found out your favorite food." he joked.
"It's good, it gets the taste of seawater out of my mouth." She said with a chuckle. "Now then, are you finished?"
"Well that's all the pizza, so I'd say yeah." He said before she grabbed him and pulled him close again. "Hey! You don't have to hold me so close if you don't want too."
"But I want to." She said, unaware of the figures warping back into the temple. "This way I can make sure nothing bad can happen to you."
"Aw come on, what could happen to me in the temple?" He asked as she just shook her head.
"It's not that, I just don't want you to get hurt anywhere. That's why with this power and this form, I can do anything and face anything that would bring you harm. I'd even put my life on the line to make sure you're safe." She declared, making Steven pale.
'That's kinda what Connie said when Pearl was training her!'
"Steven? Where are you?" Called a familiar voice from inside the house.
"Pearl! I'm out here!" Called Steven before said gem opened the door, and went wide eyed and pale when she saw Malachite.
"STEVEN! Garnet, Amethyst, get out here, Malachite has Steven!"
"Say what?!" Amethyst and Garnet rushed out while said fusion narrowed her eyes at them.
'So, the crystal gems are back, and they want to take MY Steven away?!' She thought as the gems brought their weapons out.
"Hold on Steven!" called Garnet.
"Whoa, guys, calm down, I'm fine, everything is fine!" Spoke up Steven with his hands up. "Put your weapons down!"
"Steven, what are you talking about, that's Malachite!"
"The nutcase fusion!"
"She is an unstable fusion Steven, she needs to be taken down."
"Could an unstable fusion do this?!" Growled Malachite raising her other hand up causing several fists made of water to do the same. "I will protect my Steven, even from you!"
"Guys, please, she's good now!" Spoke up Steven louder. "I promise, she's stable and together now!"
"You're wrong Steven, she can't be, why would Lapis and Jasper suddenly get along?!" Pearl called.
"Because I learned the truth about my diamond!" She declared, making Pearl freeze. "And I know that YOU know too!" She pointed at Pearl who reeled back with Garnet and Amethyst confused.
"Pearl? What is she talking about?"
"I-I don't know?"
"Liar! I saw it with my own eyes!" Declared Malachite. "Tell them or I will!"
"Pearl? What's she talking about?" Asked Amethyst.
"I-I can't say!" She cried as she covered her mouth.
"Then I will!" Malachite declared. "Rose Quartz was Pink Diamond!"
All of their eyes widened and it went quiet with Pearl swearing she could hear a pin drop.
'No...it wasn't supposed to come out like this, how did she even know?!'
"W...W ...WHAT?!" Steven let out and held his hair. "My mom was a diamond?!"
"Yes, she was my diamond! And now so are you, and I will protect you forever!" she declared before Garnet turned to Pearl with a hard frown.
"Pearl, explain, now."
"W-Well, you see...it's complicated."
"Pearl, is she telling the truth or not?"
"..." Pearl looked away with a nervous expression and didn't speak.
"Pearl, is it the truth or not!?"
"I ...can't say."
"Why not?! Why can't you tell us Pearl?!"
"BECAUSE I WAS ORDERED NOT TOO!" She cried out while looking close to tears. "I WANT TO TELL YOU, I REALLY DO BUT I CAN'T, I'M SORRY!"
Amethyst, Garnet, and Steven took that as a sign it was true with Garnet picking Pearl up by the shoulders and carried her into the temple.
"We're having a long talk, no questions asked."
"O-Ok...but what about Steven?"
"I don't see any future where he is intentionally hurt by Malachite." She dragged Pearl into the temple while Amethyst stayed and saw Malachite let the water arms drop into the ocean and glare at her.
"Are you going to try and take MY Steven?"
"He doesn't belong to anyone, so no, but don't you hurt him, got it?!" She warned with her own glare. "You mess up one hair on his head, and I'll mess you up."
"Like I would ever harm my Steven!" Scoffed Malachite.
"Good...so, mind if I come up there to talk to him?"
"...put the whip away and I'll consider it."
"Deal." Amethyst said as she made the whip disappear. "Hey Steven, how ya doing?"
"Overwhelmed and wanting answers, other than that, just dandy." He remarked in a dry tone.
"Yeah, learning that your mom, and technically you were a diamond? That's rough buddy." She admitted looking down while Malachite used a finger and lightly patted Steven on the head.
"There there Steven, it will all be ok." She said as she tried to comfort him. "Do you want a hug?"
"I ...maybe? Yeah...I think I could use one." He admitted before finding himself moved down Malachite's arm before she held him close while trying to be careful.
"There we go, hows this Steven?" She asked as she held him closely.
"It helps a little bit." He said with a sigh, making her beam happily.
'I'm helping!' She thought in joy while Amethyst saw her cheeks turn a little darker than her skin.
'Is she blushing?' She thought as she watched closely. 'Is she enjoying this? Wait...oh man, this is too funny to be true! She likes him!'
'Huh, I never imagined a hug with Malachite could feel so nice.' Thought Steven as he hugged her back. 'She feels ...good.'
Malachite sat down on the sand and got comfy while letting Steven stay where he was. 'Ah, I feel like I could stay here forever~'
(Later)
Steven looked up at the night sky while his mind still raced, but he managed to stay relaxed and keep it together where he laid. 'So mom was Pink diamond, and she faked her shattering? Wow ...does that mean that the other diamonds are my aunts?'
"How are you feeling Steven?" Malachite asked as she tilted her head up so she could look at him.
"I...I could be doing better to be honest." He replied while gripping his hands together. "I don't know whether to be upset, sad, it feels like my minds in a jumble."
"Mmmm, well you did just learn you're a diamond, that's pretty big news." She admitted before Steven yawned. "What's wrong?"
"Just feeling sleepy. It's getting pretty late, so it's probably getting close to bed time."
"Bedtime? Oh yeah, you like to sleep, right?"
"Yeah, which means I better get to bed." He said as he sat up, making her frown.
"Why?" she asked. "What's wrong with sleeping out here?"
"Well it's not that I don't like resting here, but it's warmer inside than out here. It can get a bit cold when you live right next to the water."
"Oh, that's all? I can solve that easily." She said with a grin as Steven began to get a bad feeling.
"What do you mean?"
"Well it's simple, you can sleep in my hair, or I could hold you tightly, or I could put you in my mouth, that would be warm, right?"
"I'm not sure that last one is safe." He sweatdropped.
"Why? I won't chew you up, I promise!"
"It's not that, well...at least not all. I just mean I'm used to sleeping on a warm dry bed, not a wet and warm mouth. It doesn't exactly happen that often." He said as he rubbed the back of his head. "And no offense but I'd rather keep it like that."
"Well ...what about my chest? Would that keep you warm?"
"Um, I don't know, I uh…"
"Well, let's try it out and see what you think." She offered moving her hand to her top and pulled it open and then picked Steven up and held him over it with him looking down and blushed when he saw two mounds.
'W-Wow, her shirt must be pretty tight, they look bigger now!' He thought before he was dropped in. "Whoa!"
Malachite let go of the top with Steven landing between the mounds and found himself stuck there and turned more red. "How does this feel?"
"I-It's s-soft and warm!" He called out, his voice a bit muffled.
"So do you think this spot will keep you warm through the night?"
"M-Maybe, but I would really prefer my be-"
"Well that's good enough for me, goodnight Steven~" She smiled before laying on her back with her hands on her stomach. "You get some rest, I'll stay on guard while you sleep."
"W-Wait, I never said I was ok sleeping in here!" He got out, but it came out in a muffle. 'Is she listening, or is she just ignoring me, d-do I have to sleep here tonight?!'
"Sleep tight."
'I don't have a choice!'
(Later)
"Zzzzzz."
"M-Malachite? Hello? I'm up?" Spoke Steven to the fusion who had somehow fallen asleep and it was getting to be morning. "Hello? Are you awake? Come on, do I have to try and crawl out? I'm not sure what way it is to go out right now."
"Zzzz ...my….Steven…."
"Y-Yes, it's Steven, so please wake up?" He pleaded while hoping she'd wake up so he could get free before anyone saw him in this position.
"Zzzz ...Steven…..Mine ...forever~" She muttered with a smile with Steven feeling flattered, but due to his movement, it started to stir her. "Mmmm...Steven? Are you awake?"
"Yeah." He spoke up while she yawned and rubbed her eyes. "Did you sleep alright?" He asked, surprised she would go to sleep since gems didn't need it.
"Yeah, sorry I did that, it's just that you looked so happy being asleep I thought I could give it a try." She said with a yawn, showing off all her large sharp teeth. "I had no idea that it would feel so refreshing. I should do that more often."
"Yeah, it's great. So… can you pull me out? I have to get dressed for the day."
"Oh alright." She pouted before pulling her top open and pulled him up before setting him on the sand. "I'll be right here until you get back."
"Great, I'll be back soon!" He said before racing inside.
Malachite stretched out her body with a hum and stood up while cracking her neck. "Now to patrol the area for any problems." She said as she turned towards the town. 'I wonder if there is anything in there that could hurt Steven, maybe I should keep anyone from coming to the temple?'
Inside Steven headed up to his room to grab some fresh clothes, but when he reached his bed he saw Amethyst snoring on it and drooling. "Hey, Amethyst, what are you doing in my bed? You have your own room."
"Zzzzzz."
"Come on, get up, I gotta change so you have too leave." He spoke giving her a shake with the gem snorting and groaning.
"Buzz off Pearl ...too tired…"
"It's Steven, come on Amethyst!" He called, making her groan and open her eyes.
"Steven? Oh hey, when'd you get in?" She yawned sitting up.
"Just now, so go, it's time for me to change." He said as she got up and began to walk towards the temple room door.
"Ok ok, just so you know, after last night, things are kinda tense between Pearl and Garnet."
"Oh ...the whole mom being a diamond thing?" He asked nervously as memories of the declaration came back.
"Big time, got so stressful Garnet split into Ruby and Sapphire, so I wouldn't bring it up around them for now."
"Wait, really? Where are they now, are they ok?"
"In their own rooms."
"Wait, Sapphire and Ruby have their own rooms?"
"Duh, what else were the red and blue dots on the temple door be for?"
"I...fair enough. I better talk to them later."
"STEVEN! Are you still busy?" Called Malachite's voice making Amethyst turn her head.
"Wait, is she still out there?"
"Yeah, she's been out there all night, I better get changed and see what she wants."
"Well just remember what I said, and maybe I should stick with you, just in case." She said as she looked out the window and towards the massive fusion warily. "Who knows what she can do."
"I'm sure she won't mind." He said with a nod as he got dressed. "I bet she would love to see you, you were made on earth, just like her!"
"Well, Jasper was, I dunno about Lapis." She remarked with a shrug. "But if she gets all nutty, I'm getting you out of there."
"It'll be ok Amethyst, I think she's honest when she says she's whole."
"If you say so...you done yet?"
"Yep, lets go."
The two made their way out just as they saw Malachite moving around the water with her head out and looking around.
"So far everything's good." She muttered before spotting Steven and smiled, but when she spotted Amethyst she lost it and frowned before making her way onto the shore. "Steven, what's she doing here?"
"She wanted to see you, now that you're not trying to kill us we can all get to know each other!" He smiled with Amethyst noting Malachite narrowing all her eyes at her.
"Uh...yeah, sure." She said as she looked up at Malachite. "So...how's it hanging?"
"We're not hanging, we're standing." She remarked flatly.
"It's just a saying. So ...what are you planning on doing now?"
"We were going to guard Steven today. Make sure he's safe from anything around here."
"Ok ... then what?" Amethyst asked, getting a bad feeling. 'Ok, this won't end well, she's too big to follow him into town safely and if he goes away on a mission… I don't even want to think about the hissy fit she'll throw.'
"What do you mean?"
"I mean you can't guard him forever, you know that, right?" She clarified the gem making the fusion bare her teeth.
"Says who?"
"Says me, what if Steven wants to go into town? Are you going to follow him?"
"If she doesn, I'm sure she could fit." Spoke up Steven, trying to keep things calm and not get out of hand.
"Steven, look at her, her hand is bigger than that donut place you like and half the town is built on a boardwalk, if she goes into town she'll break it." Deadpanned Amethyst with Malachite looking at her hand and Steven realizing she's right.
"Well...you're not wrong." He said, making Malachite freeze.
"W-We can be careful, we'll just avoid that part!"
"And what if Steven wants to go to that part of town, then what? That part has funland built on it, one of Steven's favorite places to go."
"Well, technically she COULD move near there." spoke Steven. "I mean, if she can swim, and she's worried about me, she could go in the water. If anything happens, I could call out and she'd be there in an instant." He said, feeling like he'd finally come to an agreement.
"And what if you're somewhere like the arcade and she can't hear or see you?" Amethyst shot back. "She can't protect you twenty four seven."
"And like you could?" Growled the fusion leaning down to glare at her. "I've got more strength in a finger than you do in your entire body."
"Maybe, but at least I'm not trying to protect Steven like he's a baby, the dude can take care of himself for the most part, right Steven?"
Steven saw the gems turn to him and he felt like a deer caught in the headlights. 'Oh no… how did it come to this?!'
"Well Steven, can you protect yourself or are you a helpless baby?" Amethyst asked as Malachite frowned. "Do you really want someone following you around and acting like you can't protect yourself?"
"I know he can, but it's my job to protect him, he's a diamond and my Steven, I will protect him, I will not let him get hurt again!" She growled while closing her eyes and turned away. "I...I just don't want to lose him…"
"Then act like his friend, not his overprotective servant." Huffed Amethyst."Just talk to him honestly and ask him what he thinks."
"But… what if I like protecting him, making sure he's safe? All my life all we've done is hurt others, hurt him, but being by him, keeping him safe, it ...it feels nice." She admitted looking down with her cheeks looking darker than the rest of her skin color.
'Oh no, she's like Pearl.' Amethyst inwardly groaned. 'She's all lovey dovey for him already!'
"Malachite, is that ...is that how you really feel?"
"Yes." She admitted while not looking him in the eye. "I like being around you, you were the only one to ever be nice to us...or at least you used to to Jasper a long, long time ago and you freed Lapis, how could we not like you?"
Steven blushed hearing that and looked down himself rubbing the back of his head with a smile. "Well...thank you."
"Yeah, so ...let's hang out." She said as she shot her arm forward to grab Steven.
"Woah!" He spoke as she picked him up and put him on her shoulder.
"Hey, be careful with him!" Amethyst called out.
"I was just giving him a comfy spot to sit on, that's all." Remarked the fusion. "This way he can get a higher view around."
"Well, she's right, I can see everything from here!"
"See? He likes it!" Smirked Malachite with Amethyst rolling her eyes.
"Just watch where you step, things aren't as durable as they might be on Homeworld, and we don't need anyone getting squished under your...arm legs? Leg arms?"
"Appendage, and fine, also do you mind if I make a moat around the temple?" She asked. "I think I could make it work to my advantage if I'm not close to the ocean."
"What? Yeah, of course I mind, why would you want to do that? What's next, a wall?!" She called in disbelief. 'Oh god, she's like Pearl when we first met Greg!'
"Hmm, well I COULD make one with all the water…"
"Easy there, I don't think we need one." Spoke up Steven patting her on the side of the head. "Besides, I feel like that's something to talk to the others about first, but...right now they need some time alone."
"Fine, I'll do it later, though that wall idea ain't half bad." Malachite said as she rubbed her chin.
(Later)
"Alright Lion, you ready?" Asked Steven holding a ball to the cat who was laying on his belly with his eyes closed and looked like he was ignoring his owner. "Ok, you're ready, now ...fetch!" he called as he threw the ball into the air.
Lion didn't bother looking as the ball came down and bounced barely when it hit the sand before he let out a yawn and rolled on his side.
"Aw come on Lion, you have to work with me here, I throw the ball and you fetch!" Explained Steven walking over to get the ball. "It's a lot of fun, if you just give it a chance."
"Steven? Are you out here?" Called Pearl from the house.
"Down here Pearl." he called back. "How are you doing, any news on Garnet?"
"Actually yes." She spoke heading down. "There's some good news, and...slightly bad news." she replied looking to the side and looking guilty. "The good news is that Ruby and Sapphire have calmed down and fused back together AND are willing to forgive me, but…"
"What is it Pearl?" Steven asked, getting a bad feeling. "Are they mad at Mom?"
"Let's just say they're hurt and disappointed, but that's not the bad news."
"Then...what is it?"
"From now on they want me to tell them about anything I've done for a day, for the rest of my life. I'm not allowed to leave a single thing out." She said with a sigh. "I am to hold nothing back at all, no matter what."
"Yeesh, that's kind of extreme, isn't it?"
"I guess so, but ...Steven is that a moat and a wall?" She asked seeing the moat and a wall made of sand on the outer part of it.
"Yeah, Amethyst told her to wait, but… she got bored." He said with a sigh.
"Who? Wait...Malachite?" Asked Pearl.
"Yeah, she said she wanted to protect me after she saw Ronaldo 'interrogating' me about her, maybe you could talk to her?" He asked with a sigh.
"Well of course, but where is she?"
"She said the sand was weak and it was just temporary and said she was going to get something stronger from the bottom of the ocean."
"Alright, I'll go wait for her and try getting her to relax, although I must say she works fast. I couldn't get our first fence up this nearly as fast." Said Pearl as she looked at the large sand mound.
"Pearl, the fence is bad, remember? How am I supposed to leave to go to town, and see my dad?"
"Well even if it's tall, you could still climb over it or dig through."
"I tried, but it's too steep to climb and it almost collapsed on me when I tried to dig through it."
"Well I can fix that." Pearl moved over and grunted as she picked Steven up and tried raising him over her head. "Sorry, you may wanna brace yourself."
"On it." He curled up before Pearl reeled back and threw him over the wall and went rolling down the other side.
"Did you make it?" She called before the ocean exploded as Malachite popped up, dragging a sunken ship with half her limbs.
"Ah. This is gonna be just the thing. That wall is gonna be perfect." She chuckled before seeing Steven on the other side of the wall and moat. "Steven? How did you get over there?"
"Pearl helped." He waved getting up with said gem managing to jump over the wall which made Malachite frown, but at something else.
"I see." She muttered getting out of the water and dropped the ship. "Steven, do you mind if I talk to her, alone?"
"Sure." He said before she picked him up and put him on top of the cliff, out of earshot.
The fusion turned to Pearl who felt deja vu with Sugilite as Malachite leaned her head down near her. "You and I have something to make very clear."
"About what, the fence? Because there is no way you are putting that wreck on the beach."
"No, it's about Steven." She whispered/growled while crouching her body down to keep her voice down. "Or should I say about him AND Rose."
"Oh… what about them?" She asked, now on edge.
"Simple. You had your chance with Rose, and stuck by her since the beginning, so I have an idea how you might have been with Steven, but keep this in mind. I'm going to make it clear that Steven is mine."
"...Excuse me, but did you just say he was yours? He doesn't belong to anyone!" Snapped Pearl with the fusion snarling.
"What I mean is simple. I care about him, a LOT. The kind of caring that those two gems that make up Garnet feel for each other."
"How?! You've only known him for a few days and half of that time you were trying to shatter him!"
"Jasper's pure devotion to her diamond, and Lapis' feeling extremely grateful for his kindness of course." She remarked crossing her arms. "That's why I'm going to say this once. Get in my way, and I'll show you just how much power I have in one hand."
"No, you listen here, I have helped raise him, taken care of him and protect him for over fourteen years, and you think I'm just going to abandon him so you can hog him?!"
"No, you won't leave him, that's how you are, and in a way, I'm envious of it." Remarked the fusion. "But I didn't say you had to abandon him. I'm just making it clear that I'm going to do what these humans do and 'court' him." she air quoted with Pearl looking at her in disbelief.
"Where did you even get that word from?"
"Amethyst."
"Why am I not surprised, if that's the case just calm down, I see Steven like a son, I'm not going to 'court' him if that's what you're worried about." spoke Pearl shaking her head with a blush.
"Then why do you watch him sleep?" She asked bluntly, making Pearl's eyes widen.
"What are you ...AMETHYST!"
"Is it because you were Pink Diamond's Pearl and had to watch over her?"
"I only do that out of caution! I mean, we didn't know what to do when raising a human, so we were all unsure what to do. So I just felt like keeping an extra close on him...without him knowing." She said as she looked away. "And it payed off, Lion almost suffocated him one night and would have if I wasn't there."
"Well I just wanted to make my intentions clear. Apparently this 'courting' thing involves talking to either 'guardians' or 'love rivals', but I didn't know which one you were."
"Guardian! And so is Amethyst, Garnet, and Greg." Spoke Pearl with Malachite nodding.
"Alright, now that it's out of the way, I need to get back to work on fortifying this place. At the very least it needs a stronger wall or it'll go falling down."
"Ok, before you do that maybe stop? Steven doesn't want the wall, you know that, right?"
"Hey! It's not my fault that annoying human was bugging him."
"Oh, Ronaldo? He's harmless, we made sure of that, but Steven might grow to dislike you if you keep him trapped here."
"I am not...am I?"
"You built a moat and a wall, it keeps people out but also keeps him in, you do know that, right?"
She looked embarrassed and looked to the side. "I didn't wanna come across that way…"
"Well, then a good first step would be to destroy the wall and moat, ok?" Smiled Pearl. "Sometimes trying too hard to protect those we care for might push them away."
"I...you're right, I'll get rid of it right away." She raised her hand up and caused a huge pillar of ocean water to rise up as well, which easily shadowed them and made Pearl go wide eyed.
"Uh, maybe try something-AH!" she let out as the pillar crashed down to the wall, washing it away and causing Pearl to get swept away as well. "MALACHITE!"
"Good, all the trash is gone." Smirked the fusion. 'That's for keeping Lapis in your gem!'
(Later)
"Malachite, I have a question for you." Spoke Garnet to the fusion who was currently holding a sphere of water and looking at fish swimming around it with wonder.
"What is it?" She asked as she watched the fish intently.
"You said you were whole right? You don't feel like splitting apart into Jasper and Lapis, right?"
"Yes, I feel better like this, more complete, why?"
"Well, I thought I'd ask you something. Does your hair ever get in your eyes when you swim around?"
"Well a little, but it's nothing. I wouldn't be strong and powerful if I let some strands get to me."
"Well, have you ever considered a pair of shades?"
"Shades?" She looked at Garnet. "Do you mean like yours?"
"Exactly." She said as she adjusted them. "They might help you out."
"...Why? I don't see the problem or the need to wear glasses." She remarked while bringing another sphere out. "Name one good use of them that doesn't involve keeping my hair out of my eyes."
"Well, they help keep the sun light out."
"Like I'd let that star bug me."
"They do help make a fashion statement."
"I don't bother with that 'fashion' trash."
"Plus Steven always seems to like them." Replied Garnet with Malachite blinking and going silent. "He thinks they're cool, and I agree."
"He does?"
"Yup, but if they're not your thing, I completely understand." She turned and started walking away. 'All signs point to her wearing shades.' She thought with a small smile.
"Hold up." spoke the fusion as Garnet stopped and turned. "Uh...say I DID wear shades, uh...how would I go about doing that?"
"Well, you could make some like mine, but I just so happen to have a magazine full of different designs on my." She said as she pulled said magazine out of her gem. "Wanna take a look?"
"Well it'd be helpful, but...I kinda mean...how do you make them form?" She asked looking away. "I...don't know how to make anything form besides Jasper's crash helmet and Lapis' wings."
"Ah, ok, lean down and I'll show you, I'm guessing they don't teach stuff like this on homeworld, huh?"
She shook her head and leaned down near Garnet. "Never, so, how does this work?"
(Later)
"Steven, where are you?" Malachite called with a large grin. "I have something to show you."
"One sec, I'm busy!" Called Steven from the house.
"Well come out when you're done." She called as she tapped her feet impatiently. "I have something to show you!"
"I'll be out in a minute!"
"Come on, what are you doing that's so important?!" She groaned. 'Please don't let it take too long.'
"I'm folding laundry!"
"...I don't know what that is." She muttered confused. "What's that?!"
"It's my clothes, I'm folding them and then putting them away, I have over a hundred of them so it might take awhile!"
She groaned and facepalmed while punching the ground with the other hand. "Just come outside, that can wait!"
Inside Amethyst was on the couch and hearing all this with a chuckle.
"Sure sounds like it's big Steven."
"I know, I better go see what it is." He said with a sigh. "Can you continue the laundry until I get back Amethyst?"
"Sure, but I will throw it into a large pile. "She chuckled as he headed towards the door.
He headed out and looked at Malachite. "What's up? Is something the matter?"
"Notice anything different?" She asked smugly.
Steven looked at the fusion and noted two things. One was the fact her white hair looked like it was done up in a bun, making it look more together, and the other was the fact she had on see through shades that were similar to her skin tone, with four points jutting out to the sides. "Whoa, you look awesome!" He cried out with stars in his eyes.
"I know I do." she smirked crossing her arms. "I figured a little change here and there couldn't hurt, and you get what you see before you."
"Well I personally love it!" He said, making her cheeks heat up.
'Note to self, thank Garnet for this idea later.' She thought while said fusion was watching this from the shore and gave a little nod.
'Now this might help move things along easier.' She thought with a small smile. 'I'm glad this future happened instead of the other possibilities.'