Chapter 7
Amethyst and Connie landed in the empty beach house, the open windows showing the darkening sky outside. Connie was lost in her head, coming up with countless ideas for bringing Pearl back to herself. Amethyst had told her on the way over that Pearl was very against the idea of fighting in any manner, but she was sure that if Lapis told her to, she'd participate. Her hope was that Pearl would enjoy herself and she'd get a sense of her old personality back. She was the most skilled sword fighter Connie knew, and if that didn't work, she didn't know what would.
Stepping off of the warp, Connie's eyes were drawn to a small white square on the wood floor. Frowning, she crouched and reached for the photo, expecting to find the updated one she had given Steven before she'd left. To her surprise, she flipped it over to find a thirteen-year-old version of herself sheepishly looking up from the polaroid.
"Amethyst, why is this out here on the ground?"
Amethyst snapped from her thoughts, hopping off the wap pad to Connie's side. "Lion brought that down to the beach. After the fight, and when we were all out looking for Steven, things got kinda crazy. I kind of…forgot that you were out of town, until Lion reminded me. I'm really sorry."
She felt embarrassed and guilty telling her this, but she felt like she needed to explain why Steven had been gone for five days before she had been contacted. She grimly looked out of the windows, where the sky had turned a heavy black, and she realized it had now been nearer to six days.
"It's okay, Amethyst, I get it. Thank you for coming to get me. Now that I'm here, I can help you guys." She placed a small, warm hand on the purple gem's slouched shoulders. "We'll get him back, don't worry."
She stepped away from Amethyst, holding the photo between her fingers. She cast a wary glance up the stairs to Steven's bedroom, her heart sinking. She solemnly crept up the stairs, leaving Amethyst behind. The purple gem watched her disappear with sad, understanding eyes, before she turned and went into her own room, deep in the temple.
Connie's footsteps seemed louder than usual as she stepped into the surreal quiet of Steven's room. A heavy sense of dread filled her fluttering chest as she approached his desk, gently setting her photo down on its smooth surface. The stale air seemed to press around her, overwhelming her with a sense of unease.
Steven is gone. Like a frigidity shielding her emotions, her shock began to melt away as she stood in the center of the empty room. Steven is gone. She turned from the desk to face his bed, its off-white duvet disheveled from the last time he'd sat there. The last time they'd sat there, she reminded herself. She had been here with him, just hours before he was taken.
She hesitated before gently lowering herself to sit on the edge of the mattress, her mind filling with images of her and Steven together on that day. He had held her face so near to his, and her instinct had taken over. She really loved him, and now she wished she had told him, then. She gripped the wrinkled duvet in her fists as her face crumbled, tears streaming down her cheeks.
He was so upset that she was leaving him for the whole summer, but she left him anyway. If she hadn't left, would things have gone differently? With her help, could the Crystal Gems have beat the attacker, or at least have kept her from taking Steven? The venom of her guilt spread and ate away at her as she looked over to Steven's pillow; she imagined he'd be sleeping soundly there, right now, if she had stayed. I could've saved him.
She tentatively laid her head on the pillow next to his, still envisioning his curly-haired head next to hers. Hugging the fabric of the pillow closer, she breathed in his scent.
It was too much. Her life had skidded to a crash at the news that the love of her life had been snatched from them, and reality was sinking in, hard. She wept into the cool pillow, wishing against everything that she had been there to save him. She'd trade her own life for his in a heartbeat. She couldn't bear to think of the horrors that had occurred to him just outside of his own home, let alone what he may be experiencing while she lay curled in his bed, without him. She bit down on her fist to stifle her cries of anguish, as she let her body run itself to exhaustion. Her sobs slowly diminished along with her vitality, until she fell into a light, fitful sleep.
…
Spinel watched the half-human roll over and mutter in his sleep, before he settled back into still silence. She stood and quietly picked up his glass bottle, not wanting to wake him up. She blocked most of the light from the door with her body as she slipped out, climbing up the ancient ladder and lifting the trapdoor to the outside. Her eyes peered out of the crack, checking the coast before fully exiting the bunker. The small, dark-flowered tree returned to its upright position as the door swung shut behind her, the grass perfectly shielding the door from sight.
She marched through the desolate, decayed park towards the very edge, holding her breath as she let herself drop off the short wall that barricaded the floating garden. She found herself in a freefall for a few short moments before she began to float in zero-gravity. Moving her arms in a swimming motion, she guided herself nearer to the bottom of the island, her eyes scanning. There, she saw her robonoid nestled in the cosmic roots of the garden far above.
She approached the vessel, pressing her free palm to its smooth surface, and she climbed inside. She mumbled to herself absentmindedly.
"Better make this quick, Spinel."
…
He pressed his back flat against the wall, holding his breath. He clapped a gloved hand over his mouth to stifle an excited giggle as he steeped in anticipation. Just around the corner, he heard a high, singsong voice calling him.
"Spineeeel? Where aaare youuuu?"
He squeaked out a short, inaudible laugh of joy. His chest alighted as Pink Diamond stepped closer to his hiding spot, dramatically humming in thought. Her pink, gloved fingers wrapped around the edge of the wall as she pulled her head around to peer at him, and her face lit up in surprise.
"There you are!"
He fell to the ground, laughing heartily.
"My Diamond, you're so good at this game! It's your turn to hide now!"
Pink Diamond pursed her full lips down at him, mocking a frown with her hands on her hips. To Steven, she almost looked like Yellow when she did that.
"Spinel, we've talked about this! Just call me Pink! All that 'My Diamond' stuff is way too formal between best friends!"
He frowned, remembering something. "But, Pearl calls you that, and she's known you for way longer than me!"
Pink rolled her eyes. "Ugh, Pearl is always trying to be formal. Blue gave her to me, hoping that a more sophisticated Pearl would make me more serious, but it's not gonna work! I'd much rather hang out with you. You like me for who I am, not just my status. I love you for that, Spinel."
Pink cupped his cheek with a hand, smiling down into his wonderstruck eyes. His breath caught in his throat as he tried to reply.
"I-I love you too, Pink!"
Pink Diamond gave his face a loving stroke with her thumb before pulling her hand away, smiling cheekily. "Now, turn around and count to ten. I've got a great hiding spot, you'll never find me this time!"
He turned and counted, listening to Pink's slippers tap away on the solid stone floors of the hallway. He turned and scanned the room for her, his hand shielding his eyes from a nonexistent sun for theatrical effect. He dramatically searched high and low in the entry hall, acting out and calling for her just as she did while looking for him.
He stood in the center of the walkway after some time, scratching his head and humming. He really was at a loss as to where Pink could be hiding. He moved his hand above his eyes, readying himself to scan the hall again, when the colossal door to the throne room swung open suddenly. A pink blur fell from the crack at the top of the doorframe, and Steven threw his arms across the room as fast as he could to catch her.
Pink Diamond landed in a heap on a cushion made of his own tangled arms, at the godly feet of Blue Diamond. The giant woman's motherly voice boomed and echoed in the long hall, exasperatedly shouting down at the two pink gems as her eyes squinted in annoyance.
"What were you doing up there? Why- don't even tell me, I don't have the time. If you can't play safely, you won't play. Go to your room, now!" She pointed her immense hand to a door at the end of the hall, which led straight to Pink's palace.
To be banished so quickly was definitely a harsh punishment, but Pink knew better than to talk back. She stood, blinking tears of anger out of her eyes, and stomped to the door. Steven deftly stepped in behind her before she could slam it. She reared her fist back and punched the solid wall in front of her, leaving a gaping crack in the stone, before sinking to the floor with her arms wrapped over her face.
Steven knelt down next to her, not knowing what to do. When Pink got upset, there was no helping her. She was an untameable storm, an earthquake that could swallow you whole if you got too close. He gingerly placed a hand over one of hers, squeezing.
"Hey. That was a really, really good hiding spot, Pink. I would've never found you! You won that game a hundred times over!"
Pink's arms dropped from her face, and her teary, frustrated eyes met his. She gritted out angrily, "Blue doesn't approve of anything I do! No matter what, she sends me away or punishes me! I can't do anything right!" Her shoulders slumped, and she hopelessly cried into her palms.
Steven stared down at her pink slippers, then back up to her weeping eyes. His best friend didn't deserve to be treated like this, or to feel this way. He needed to fix this.
He reached out a hand, wrapping his fingers around her large wrist. He gently moved her hand from over her eyes, and she silently watched his actions, confused. With her face cleared, Steven placed both of his hands on either side of his Diamond's face, resting his forehead against hers. He whispered to her, his breath blowing across her stunned face.
"Blue diamond doesn't matter. All that matters is you. You ARE good enough, she's just too lost in herself to see it. All of the other Diamonds are. Please, don't ever think of yourself that way." He pulled away enough to catch her diamond pupils with his, and he finished, "You're fun, they aren't, and they can't understand that."
Pink held his gaze for a long time, her breaths coming out shallow. She seemed too stunned to speak, so Steven spoke for her, holding her face tighter in his palms.
"Now, let's go play somewhere nosey Diamonds won't bother us."
They stood and entered her palace with their fingers entwined, swinging their arms together. Pearl greeted them at the door to her private room, her face darkening at their closeness. She glared daggers at him as he stepped into the room with Pink.
….
Steven blinked his eyes open, the dream replaying in his mind. The whole interaction between Spinel and Pink after Blue Diamond had yelled at her seemed so…healthy. Spinel was honestly trying her best to help Pink cope with her mistreatment from the other Diamonds. What had gone wrong? Pearl had seemed pretty upset at Spinel, but surely she couldn't have done anything to hurt her. The idea barely skimmed across his mind before he dismissed it entirely. Pearl could be jealous and irrational when it came to Pink, but she was still a good person.
He turned to his right to see that his water had been refilled, and there was another handful of the blue peach-pears thrown into the sack.
Spinel sat in the corner, her knees pulled up to her chest, watching him with glowing eyes. In his head, Steven listed the differences between this Spinel and the one in his dreams, from the past. Her hair used to be tied in neat, heart-shaped buns; now, her pink locks were shocked straight out in wild tufts on either side of her head. Her face used to be clean and shining rather than streaked and brooding. Her tall, pointed boots used to be cute, rounded shoes that squeaked when she walked. The most shocking change, however, was in her gem. The shining, heart-shaped spinel that had once adorned her chest had gone dull, losing its luster and flipping downwards. Her entire demeanor and mindset seemed to have changed, and Steven couldn't help but wonder what had wrought such a change in her. The pink gem seemed uncomfortable as she watched his eye scan her.
"Thank you. For the food…a-and the water." Steven forced a small smile towards Spinel, getting an imperceptible nod in return. He awkwardly looked down. When it was just him in the prison cell, he could stretch out and try to be comfortable; now Spinel's eyes burned into him as she stared incessantly.
Now was his chance to work their closeness to his advantage. So far, they'd had one interaction that didn't end in violence. Well, almost, up until Amethyst and Connie showed up. Before that, though, there had been a tentative peace. He thought hard on what to say next, to keep the peace going. He felt that he had to say something, because this awkward silence was getting really uncomfortable.
"Spinel? Can I ask you a question?" Her eyes flashed up to his at the sound of her name, and she quietly waited for him to continue. He cleared his throat before speaking.
"Can I ask… Where are we?"
Her mouth twisted into a grimace as she whispered, "You don't remember? How? How do you know my name, but you don't remember this place?" She stared at him, her eyebrows creased in confusion.
Steven wasn't sure how to respond. He couldn't tell her he dreamt of her memories every night, or she might get scared and leave. He resorted to shrugging his shoulders noncommittally. "I only have a few of my mom's memories. I-I don't know why I know your name."
Spinel looked at him darkly for several moments. She seemed conflicted as several undecipherable emotions flashed across her face, before she finally stated, "We're under a garden."
From her tone Steven could tell she wouldn't elaborate. He looked around the cell, absentmindedly observing the twisting roots weaved into the stone walls, just out of his reach. His gaze fell on the roots tangled over his sore, dirty feet as he thought hard on what to say next; there wasn't much they could talk about, and he had to be wary not to set her off again. His chest fluttered with anxiety as he decided his next question for the gem.
"Um…How do you know Pearl? It's just, she seemed like she recognized you."
Spinel's eyes widened at his inquiry, shocked at his boldness. It was obvious Steven had caught her off-guard. She seemed flustered as she stuttered out her answer. "She was, um, just… a friend of a friend, I guess. I never knew her well. Now, stop asking me questions." Her voice turned from bothered to stern at the end, and Steven knew she meant it as a command.
He nodded at her before looking over to the food and water she had brought him. That was one more interaction that ended without violence or threats, and Steven counted that as a win. He picked up an alien fruit, scanning its smooth blue skin before taking a bite.
Spinel continued to contemplate him from the corner, an unnerved gleam in her eyes.
…
Little Homeworld was bustling with activity as Connie and Amethyst appeared in the town's center. Lapis and Peridot greeted them, with Pearl standing just behind them holding a dainty white parasol to shade the blue gem's eyes from the overbearing sun.
Amethyst nodded to Lapis, pointedly looking in Pearl's direction. Connie had called Peridot that morning and told her their plan, and Lapis had since been informed.
Lapis nodded back before turning to Pearl, who watched her expectantly. "Pearl, I need you to do something for me today. I need you…" She looked over to Connie, who smiled reassuringly. "I need you to sword fight with Connie today, if you don't mind." Her voice showed her discomfort at giving orders to her friend, but she knew that Pearl didn't mind.
In fact, Pearl was overjoyed at finally having an order to follow. She gasped and clapped her hands together, smiling broadly. "Of course, my Lapis Lazuli! Anything you command." She swept into a graceful bow, her gem pointed to the ground. She straightened, looking around. "Do you need me to go to the armory and find us some weapons?"
Connie cut in, holding two swords up above her head. She held the blue star-pointed sword that Bismuth had made her in one hand, and one of Pearl's wood-handled training sabers in the other. Amethyst had ventured into Pearl's room that morning to find it.
"I've got the swords here already, thank you though." Pearl nodded, turning back to shade Lapis from the sun.
Connie set the swords down, looking around for someone. She turned to Peridot and asked, "Where is Bismuth? Didn't she say she wanted to come with us today?"
Peridot chuckled, pointing to a nearby building. "She didn't want to leave Ruby and Sapphire here, so she's trying to take them with us. I told her, 'Good luck, they've been cooped up in there all week!' but I don't think she'll listen. She's over there now."
Connie walked over to the building and peeked into the cracked door. Bismuth stood in the center of the office, waving her hands in front of her and frantically trying to convince Ruby she meant no harm. Ruby was only put more on edge by her desperate performance, as she stood in front of the small blue gems chair, shielding her with her body. Connie decided to step in, interrupting the trainwreck.
"Hey, Bismuth. Let me try." Bismuth seemed relieved as she stepped past her through the door, and Connie was left alone with the two small gems. Ruby looked her up and down, and perceived that this young human was no threat. As she dropped her defensive position, Connie spoke up pleasantly, waving.
"Hello, I'm Connie. It's nice to meet you! I was wondering if you'd like to come with us today. We're going somewhere to help our friend, and we'd like it if you two could join us."
Ruby squinted at her, flinging her arms out to the side, "She's not going anywhere with you!"
Sapphire's serene voice floated up from her spot on the cushioned chair, chilling the air around her with each syllable. "Actually, I do see us following them to the Sky Arena." She jumped down from her seat, stepping in front of Connie. She held a small gloved hand out for Connie to shake, continuing, "It's nice to meet you too. Let's get going, it'll rain here soon."
Ruby ran after them as they exited the office, shouting. "Never mind! We're going."
.
The group warped into the Sky Arena, an ancient, pale-bricked colosseum floating miles above the Earth's surface. Chunks of the encompassing stone pillars had been torn away and left scattered across the fighting pit, leaving the ground split and littered with craters. A few rows of ornate stone benches rose up on one side of the arena, overlooking the whole thing. The mixed group of gems filed into the benches, while Connie led Pearl into a clear spot below.
The gem's eyes were glued to Lapis, who settled into her seat next to Peridot. "Pearl, look at me. Are you ready to begin?"
Pearl's eyes snapped to her, and she nodded. Connie planted the wood handle of the sword in her palm, watching her eyes for any sign of remembrance. Pearl only stood there, limply holding the blade down at her side. Her pale eyes drifted over to Lapis again, noticing her blushing with laughter as Peridot spoke in her ear with a low voice, mischief written in her green eyes. It was obvious that she was taking full advantage of her first time alone with Lapis since Pearl had regenerated.
Connie snatched her attention back. "Let's start. To begin, you need to get the stance down. Here." She moved her own feet apart, crouching lower to the ground with her weapon brandished in front of her. Pearl followed suit, copying her position perfectly. The small crowd of gems watched excitedly from a distance.
"Now, when you move forward, focus on balancing and keeping your upper body still while your feet carry you." She exhibited the movement she was trying to explain, and Pearl mirrored it flawlessly. She then showed her the different types of parries and thrusts, and their names. Pearl soaked all of the information in instantly, and Connie perceived that she was ready to begin sparring.
She moved in front of Pearl, and warned her, "I'm going to swing at you, and you just need to block me. Okay?" At Pearl's nod, Connie moved forward to strike. Her broad sword sliced through the air, her aim perfectly calculated to be easier to parry. Pearl's eyes went wide as she swung her weapon back, clashing the metal blades together between them.
"Yes, perfect!" Connie cheered Pearl on, excited to see a small glimmer of something behind her old instructor's eyes.
Pearl perked up at the encouragement and looked over to see if Lapis had been watching. To her dismay, her master's attention was entirely absorbed on the small green gem at her side as they spoke in hushed tones. Lapis's cheeks darkened as Peridot brushed her green hand over her cheek, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Pearl visibly deflated at the display, a desolate expression crossing her pointed features before she quickly wiped it away. She redirected her eyes fiercely at Connie, flourishing her blade in front of her threateningly.
"Let's go again."
Connie chuckled nervously at her aggression, but decided that it could only be a good sign, that maybe she was starting to remember.
She lunged at Pearl, careful to go easy on her. To her surprise, the gem's sword fighting skills were just as good as ever, and even better, she seemed to be starting to enjoy herself as they clashed and danced around each other.
Across the stadium, Ruby eyed the flashing blades with wariness. She positioned her stout body protectively in front of Sapphire, shielding her.
Sapphire piped up behind her, her icy breath skimming across Ruby's nape. "You don't need to worry. Nothing will harm me today. Sit back and enjoy the fight." She patted the spot next to her with a satin-gloved hand, smiling gently.
Ruby stared at her in amazement for a moment before hopping up to sit on the proffered bench. She bluntly asked Sapphire, "How do you know nothing will hurt you? Those swords are sharp!"
She watched as the gem smiled beneath her long bangs, answering simply with, "I can always see what's about to happen. For example, that Pearl is about to become distracted from the fight, and she will be hurt."
Ruby looked around to see Connie and Pearl circling each other, taking turns lunging and spearing their weapons forward. The human girl was oblivious as Pearl's eyes flashed over to the stands, and the edge of her blade swept across the gem's arm. A thin stripe of red appeared as Pearl clapped her hand over the cut, eyeing Connie fearfully.
Connie rushed over to comfort her as Ruby turned back to Sapphire, beaming. "You were right! What will happen next?"
Sapphire hummed thoughtfully. "The Pearl will decide to go back to the Lapis. An argument will ensue."
"I shouldn't be all the way out here anyways, I should be with my Lapis Lazuli!" Stepping away from Connie, Pearl made her declaration and marched over to the benches.
Peridot wrapped her hand in Lapis's as she saw Pearl turn towards them. She squinted her eyes at the approaching gem in annoyance. "She doesn't need anything from you, Pearl. You can go back to sparring with Connie."
Pearl glared up at the green gem, and indignantly hissed, "I don't take orders from you, Peridot." She spat the name out like an insult. "My Lapis Lazuli, can I assist you in any way?"
Lapis cringed at the confrontation which was occurring around her, and over her, she realized. "Um, no thank you, Pearl. I appreciate your concern, though. You can go back to Connie now. You're doing great." She smiled awkwardly down from the bench as Pearl gave a bow, and turned to leave.
Sapphire's voice whispered softly towards Ruby, "Watch carefully, the Peridot will taunt the Pearl. The Pearl will attempt to fight the Peridot in her anger."
"I told you, she doesn't need you."
Pearl's head whipped back around, anger flashing in her narrowed eyes. "Excuse me? I am her Pearl. My purpose is to serve the needs of my Lapis Lazuli." She held the wooden handle of her sword tighter in her fist as Peridot stood, blocking Lapis from her sight.
"Her needs? She hasn't needed a single thing from you the whole time you've been here! You literally serve her no purpose! All you do is hang off her side and annoy her!" She eyed the blade pointed in her direction with amusement. "What're you going to do? Fight me?"
Lapis sat back, warily watching her two friends fight over her attention. She felt flattered that Peridot was defending her so staunchly, but she really wished she wouldn't. After all, it wasn't Pearl's fault that she was like this.
Bismuth and Amethyst exchanged worried looks at the quickly escalating situation unfolding before them. Amethyst whispered nervously, "Maybe this is good! Pearl is definitely the jealous type. Maybe that's one of her pieces?"
Connie awkwardly approached the benches, leaning on the wall separating them from the arena. She cast a look up at Amethyst, who was biting her nails. She hoped Amethyst's theory had been right, but they'd have to wait and see.
Pearl shot back at Peridot, crouching into a defensive stance. "I serve my Lapis Lazuli faithfully, even when she's independent. It's up to her whether or not I'm useful, not some Peridot who has no business being anywhere near her! She doesn't need you at all, so you should just leave."
Sapphire leaned over, her cool body pressing against Ruby's as she spoke. "The Peridot is about to use her magnetic powers, and pull the sword from the Pearl's hand."
"You don't know how to use that thing, so I'll just take it before someone gets hurt." Peridot lifted her hands up in the air, her stubby fingers splayed as she reached her powers out. She felt a tug, and she grinned as Pearl's arm was yanked forward, her grip loosening on her weapon. The sword hung in the air between them, and Pearl jumped forward to snatch it back. Peridot deftly moved the sword away from her, swinging her arm out to the side.
Ruby gasped as the shining blade came flying at Sapphire's face, while the blue gem still leaned up against her. It came to a stop right next to her ear, barely touching her hair.
Peridot moved her hand in a wide arc, throwing the sword high into the air. The weapon shrunk in their sights, growing smaller and smaller until it disappeared in the clouds.
"See? Nothing to worry about." Sapphire calmly moved her body away from Ruby's, having effectively dodged the accidental attack.
Ruby gasped at her, "You're amazing! What will happen next?"
Sapphire's smile dropped in shock as she bluntly stated, "The sword will continue to fall. The Peridot didn't calculate her trajectory in her anger. You will try to stop the weapon, but…in your efforts, you will be shattered." Her hands raised to cover her mouth in horror, and the entire audience of gems whipped their heads around, alarmed. Peridot gasped, reaching for the metal projectile flying down at impossible speeds, though she knew her efforts were wasted; its descent couldn't be stopped.
Connie jumped over the short wall, tripping over herself to get to the two small gems. She watched in terror as Ruby's hands flew up to cover her face while the sword reappeared in the sky directly above them. Her deep red gem sparkled in the sunlight, the reflection of the incoming blade mirrored in her facets.
Sapphire fell back on the bench, stuttering. "I-I told you you wouldn't last the week-"
Connie tackled both of them, their bodies colliding with the paved ground just as the sword landed, point-down, on the stone bench. Bits of metal rained down on the shocked audience as the blade shattered loudly on impact.
Sapphire disentangled herself from Connie and Ruby, moving her bangs away to reveal a single blue eye, wide in shock. "That-that was supposed to hit you. You…" She looked at Connie. "You weren't supposed to do that! She was supposed to be shattered, that's what I saw!"
Connie sat up, lifting a traumatized Ruby to her feet. "I wasn't just going to let that happen! If you could see it, why didn't you try to stop it?!" She stared in bewilderment at an equally confused Sapphire, who seemed to be frozen.
"It was supposed to happen…If I saw it, it was going to happen…everything's so messed up now, I-I don't know what's going to…I don't know, anything could…" She stuttered herself into silence as her feet froze to the floor, large icicles forming along the hem of her skirt. Her bangs fell back to cover her eye, and she stood there, unmoving, her mouth hanging open and her hands splayed out at her sides.
Connie stood, brushing shards of metal from her torn jumpsuit, frowning. Her knees and forearms were scraped and bloodied, and they stung painfully. She looked around to Pearl and Peridot, who had forgotten their argument in the action, and were now staring back at her anxiously. She forced every drop of her anger into her voice as she glared at them disapprovingly.
"We are done here."
.
The stunned group warped back to Little Homeworld in silence, and they were met with a raging thunderstorm. Sapphire was comforted by the fact that at least one of her predictions came true as they were all pelted with heavy raindrops.
….
Author's note: Longer chapters from now on :) Thanks for reading!