There we go, Mirrorshipping is now official and that's exactly what I'm calling it. But Ash's journey is far from over dear readers. We'll be going forward with Ash and Lapis's relationship as well as the Pokémon aspects of Ash's world, and the overall narrative of Steven Universe. I wanted to get this chapter out on Jennifer Paz's birthday, Lapis's voice actress, but school and my depression had other plans. Anyway happy late birthday Jennifer *I DO NOT OWN POKÉMON OR STEVEN UNIVERSE!*
"So what's the big meeting about?" Peridot excitedly asked marching down the beach with her three roommates.
"You'll see Peri" Ash answered her winking at his girlfriend walking next to her. This meeting was orchestrated by him and Lapis to announce their relationship to the group, at the present moment the only person who actually knew was Brock. Lapis walked with Peridot and Pikachu to keep the surprise. Ash on the other hand, walked side by side with Brock, explaining to him his encounter with Rose and Arceus.
"So Arceus has a plan for us to save this world now to?"
"That's what I assume"
Brock took a deep breath in, "well, here we go again."
"Hey, we've been through worse"
"Yea well at least you got a hot girlfriend out of all this" he said annoyed at the fact.
"Shut up" Ash playfully pushed his best friend "don't worry, she's not gonna steal me away from you Brock, you're the only woman for me" he joked. They let themselves into Steven's home to see the Gems, Greg, Connie and Steven were waiting.
"Ash!" Greg shouted embracing his employee in a concerned hug. "How's the arm?"
"Better since Steven healed it" he said shaking his arm around to prove he was all good. "Everyone, could you please gather around? I have an announcement" the group all sat down.
"What's up Ash?" Steven asked
Truthfully, he didn't really know how to tell his friends of his new relationship. He thought for a minute before an idea came to him. "Well, this" he said before pulling Lapis into a gentle kiss. She was surprised at first, but she did return it. When he pulled away, he saw mixed reactions from the group.
"A WHA????!!!" Pearl exclaimed with a hilariously exaggerated, and confused look.
"WHOHOO! Go Ashpis! Or Ashuli. Or Lash!" Amethyst cheered
Peridot just looked around confused "I don't get it"
"They're like Percy and Paulette, except good for each other" Brock explained the the little gem
"OH MY STARS!" She exclaimed finally understanding.
Garnet just gave a thumbs up without a word
"Oh my gosh you two! Congratulations!" Steven said grabbing them both and pulling them into a big hug "I knew you guys would be good together! Oh my gosh, when you guys get married your kids are going to be so cute!"
"Woah, woah, wait bud," Ash stopped his excited friend in his tracks "we only started our relationship yesterday, I think it's a bit early to be talking about all that stuff".
Steven turned to Lapis and started talking to her with Connie, asking her about when she first fell in love with Ash, as she started to explain, Pearl, Garnet and Greg pulled him to the side of the room towards the bathroom.
"Ash, we need to talk" Garnet ordered
"Uh, ok sure"
"Well first things first" Greg started, "congratulations, I told you it was going to all be ok with her. The thing is, as someone who has been in your shoes, I just want to let you know what you're getting yourself into with this relationship."
"It's best you understand that if you and Lapis do ever decide to have a child, it will mean the end" Pearl explained
"Guys, I'm only 16, and Lapis definitely doesn't want children, let alone sex. I appreciate your concern, but I think I've got things from here"
"Very well then" Garnet finished the conversation and turned to the rest of the group, "Alright everyone!" She announced, "since we're all here, I think it's time to have a Crystal Gem vote"
"On what?" Ash asked the leader
She smiled at him "if Lapis and Brock should become official Crystal Gems. Greg, if you could please escort the two outside while the rest of us vote"
Greg obeyed Garnet's wish and lead them outside, Pearl handed small pieces of paper around to the group with the two's names as well as yes/no check boxes. Ash immediately checked yes on both and handed the paper to Garnet who placed it into a shoebox. He looked down to see even Pikachu got a vote, as he hopped to Garnet, who pet him on the head and placed his vote in the box.
"Alright" Garnet said after counting the votes, "bring them back in". Ash opened the door and let them back inside. "Brock, we have voted, and it's unanimous. Welcome to the Crystal Gems"
Ash embraced his best friend "not bad for being here for like four days, they only let me in after I'd been here for like a month" Brock laughed at his friend as Garnet finished counting for Lapis.
"As for Lapis Lazuli, with a vote of 7 to 8, welcome to the Crystal Gems"
Ash practically threw himself at her, spinning her in the air in celebration, a happy smile on her face "congratulations Lapis, welcome to the team"
After the group celebrated their newest members, Garnet and Pearl left to continue their search for Jasper, Ash wanted to go to, but they declined because it was now personal between their feud now, and they didn't want his feelings getting in the way. Greg volunteered to drive Connie to her book club in his "new" Dondai Supremo, and Lapis decided to return to the barn for some alone time, kissing Ash goodbye and taking Pikachu with her. Ash looked into the living room to see Peridot had a grey colored rectangle in her hands now, Steven and Amethyst sitting with her.
"What's that?"
"Just a present Steven gave me" she happily gloated.
"It's just a tablet, got her everything you need, Tubetube, Tweeter, Mybook, all that fun stuff" Steven explained
"Great" Ash thought to himself, "Peridot's on social media now, just what the world needed". An idea suddenly came to him, "hey Peridot, I need to borrow that thing for a second"
"Ok" she said, reluctantly giving it to her friend.
He typed in Sour Cream's phone number, he had given it to Ash the last time they hung out, and texted him to get all their mutual friends to meet them at the Big Donut, he had something to tell them.
"Thanks Peri" he said giving it back to her
"What did you do?"
"I figured that since we're being all open and confessing stuff, I figured my human friends here deserve the truth. You guys wanna come?"
"Nah, me and Amethyst are taking Peri to Funland for the day."
Ash escorted Brock to the Big Donut, he opened the door to see Sour Cream had made good on Ash's request, as he, Buck, Jenny, Kiki, Jamie, Sadie and Lars were all there "hey guys" he said
"Sup Ash, Brock, what's up?" Buck asked them
"Yea, why'd you get all us here?" Lars obnoxiously asked
"Well, me and Brock have something to tell you guys, you guys have all become great friends, and we figured you guys deserve the truth. The truth is, me and Brock aren't from Arkansas, in fact, we're not from this world"
"So, you guys are aliens? Like Steven's moms?" Jenny asked
"Technically" Brock added, "but we're from another Earth, one that has fantastic creatures called Pokémon, that we befriend, train, and battle with."
"So it's like dog fighting?"
"No it's not like that at all" Ash added, the entire process revolves around trust and friendship, and achieving both you and your pokemon's potential. We can show you guys if you want"
"That'd be cool" Buck answered on behalf of the group.
"Great, let's head down to the barn me and Brock live at, we'll give you guys a taste of a one on one Pokémon battle!"
"By the way, how did you guys figure out the Gems were aliens?" Brock asked
"Oh we figured it out awhile ago" Sadie answered "what with the spaceships and the monsters, we figured that those superpowerd mom's of his were either aliens or gods"
"I always thought Steven's dad sold his soul to the devil to get women" Buck suddenly said "every time he gets lonely, a new demoness appears to be his next wife"
Everyone looked at Buck either confused or creeped out at his uncharacteristically odd theory. "Just something I thought about before" he said trying his best to play it off.
"Ok" Ash finally changed the subject, "let's go"
It was Sunday, which meant Big Donut closed at 12. They all waited for Sadie and Lars to close before they all left to the barn. Once they arrived, Ash turned to his friends, "ok, I've just got to make sure battling is alright with Lapis first. If not then we'll just battle in the woods or something" they others stayed outside while Ash walked inside to the sight of Lapis sleeping in his bed again, Pikachu snuggled next to her. It was so cute Ash almost didn't want to wake her up, but then he saw her turn and begin talking in her sleep.
"Don't hurt him! Get away!" She screamed in fear, she was having a nightmare.
"LAPIS!" He shouted shaking her awake "Lapis, are you ok?"
She embraced him, her voice thick with tears "Ash. We were, still on the boat" she cried "and Jasper, she"
"I don't want to hear it if it brings you to this state" he interrupted her, taking her hand "Lapis, Jasper can't get you. And even if she does find you, she'll have to get past me first. I'd give my life to keep you safe Lapis. I love you." He proclaimed as he started to cry to.
Lapis tightened her grip on him "do you promise that you'll never leave me Ash?"
"Promise. I'm forever yours Lapis Lazuli" they sat there for a few minutes before he remembered what he was there to do "hey Lapis?"
"Yes Ash?"
"Would it be alright with you if me and Brock had a Pokémon battle outside? We promised some friends we'd show them one. You can watch to if you want"
Lapis did her adorable "giggle snort" as Ash called it "ok Ash, I think I'd like that" she said causing him to smile seeing her happy.
They walked outside to greet the others "guys this beautiful lady is my girlfriend, Lapis Lazuli. Lapis, these are my human friends, Buck, Sour Cream, Jenny, Kiki, Jamie, Sadie and Lars"
"Nice to meet you all"
"Is this the girl you told me about yesterday Ash?" Jenny asked
"Yes she is"
"Aw, congrats" Kiki told him
"Greetings and Salutations a friend of Ash Ketchum is a friend of mine" Jamie proclaimed taking Lapis's hand and kissing it gentlemanly causing Lapis to back up a little. Jamie saw that it made her uncomfortable "my apologies"
"It's alright. So are we gonna watch a Pokémon battle or what?" She asked
"Alright, Sadie, would you please be our referee?"
"Me?" The shortest member of the group asked nervously "what do I have to do?"
"Just keep watch until you see that one of the Pokémon can't battle anymore and then declare a winner. Alright are you ready Brock?"
"Sure thing Ash," he proclaimed going to the other side of the field "STEELIX I choose you!" He shouted summoning the rock snake Pokémon, who roared an intimidating roar
"Sceptile come on out!" Ash shouted releasing Sceptile from his pokeball.
"Begin!" Referee Sadie announced.
"Steelix use Earthquake!" Brock commanded. The ground began to shake at a heavy rate as Steelix began his attack
"Jump in the air to dodge Sceptile!" Ash exclaimed as his Pokémon obeyed "now use leaf blade!" The grass on Sceptile's arms glowed and sharpened as Sceptile went in
"Intercept with dragon breath!" Steelix exhaled a cloud of sparkling, purple smoke from his mouth. Sceptile was too late to avoid it, and went head on into the cloud. He landed on his feet but struggled to stay up.
"Hang in there Sceptile! Use leaf storm!" Sceptile focused all his energy and summoned leaves from the trees surrounding the barn and flung them at the giant. Because Steelix was so large, he had absolutely no chance of dodging it, and so the attack struck him with full force.
"Iron tail!"
Steelix's tail glowed and he began to bash it around Sceptile's general direction. Sceptile was able to leap in the air and avoid each swing.
"Leaf blade again!" This time, Sceptile was able to hit his target head on causing Steelix to crash to the ground. "Leaf storm once more!" Sceptile again got the leaves into a spiral storm, which then hit the large Pokémon, finishing the duel.
"Steelix is unable to battle! Ash is the winner!" Sadie proclaimed amidst the cheering of the humans and Lapis for Ash.
"Good job Sceptile, return" once the opponents had returned their Pokémon, everyone started clapping and cheering to the amazing spectacle they had just observed.
"That was awesome!" Jenny exclaimed "thanks for that guys, anyway we've got to go get ready for the big drag race tonight. We'll pick you guys up at 7" Ash was amazed how they were all able to fit in the small car, but sure enough, the crowded vehicle was soon leaving back for town.
"You really were amazing" Lapis complemented him
Before Ash could thank her, they heard the familiar yell of Peridot running to them with great excitement
"Guys! Look what I can do now!" She screamed with delight as she began to levitate her tablet in the air
"That's awesome Peri! When could you do that?"
"Just a few minutes ago. Steven and Amethyst helped me see my true power. Also I got this!" She said showing them a toy stuffed alien doll with a bowtie
"That's pretty cute Per" Brock began to say before Peridot ripped the tie off of it and slapped it on herself with a smug grin. She tossed the toy on the floor "what?"
After a few hours of relaxing, with Peridot toying with her newfound magnetism powers to move the silo into the big hole to fix it, Jenny's pizzamobile arrived to take Ash and Brock to the races.
"You sure you don't want to come with us Lapis? It's going to be a lot of fun."
"I think I'm good Ash, but you have fun" she wished on him giving him another goodbye kiss on the cheek "I'll take care of Pikachu for you"
"You're the best" he said as Jenny honked the horn of the car and shouted for them to get in. They drove up to the only hill across town that had a paved road. A number of other young adults were crowded around the bottom with their cars.
"Alright, who wants a taste of the pizzamobile first?" Jenny announced
"I'll have a crack at it" another teen responded, Ash turned to see a tall, skinny boy with dark brown hair and copper skin walking towards him. "But the only thing being tasted will by by you, eating my dust" he said with an arrogant smile. Ash could tell he didn't like this guy, he reminded him of a mix of Garry Oak and Paul.
"Good luck Jenny," Ash wished her as she began heading up the hill
"That loser is gonna need luck bro" her opponent snarked hopping into his yellow sports car, a car he clearly was far too young to own.
"Man, that guy sucks" Brock remarked
"Yea, Kevin is kind of a Dick" Buck added "but man that guy can race"
The race began at the top of the hill, Kevin's sports car instantly got the lead, but Jenny was right behind him. Ash lost track of them once the road bent behind the hill, so the group made it to the bottom to see who will be the winner. After maybe five minutes, headlights appeared from the side of the road, and a yellow sports car crossed the finish line first.
"Damn it!" Jenny shouted stepping out of the car "my practice didn't pay off at all"
Kevin laughed "I know baby, I'm the worst. Think anyone else can take on my Himitsu X-12? Step up!"
In Ash's world, those were battle words, he would've challenged this brat to a battle here and then, but this wasn't the Pokémon world, and he didn't have a car. A few other teens stepped down, including the creepy, overweight kid Ash had seen stalk around town. Ash noticed he intended to race on a scooter.
"I'll take a shot" a voice announced. Everybody turned to see a teen stepping out of an older car. Brock and the overweight kid both approached the driver.
"Dearest lady!" Brock announced taking the teens hand "they say that the road is an unpredictable monster, yet you've managed to park right into my heart. My name is Brock and AH!" was what escaped his mouth as Croagunk poison jabbed him in the back, returning him to the group.
The overweight kid, instead of admiring the newest arrival, was admiring their car. "Is that a 96 Supremo?!" He said with excitement
"Uh I think it's a Dondai"
"A Supremo IS a Dondai!
"Really?"
The look on the chubby teen's face became the most serious thing Ash had seen in this world yet, even more serious than the face Jasper made when he first met her, even more than when Lapis angrily confronted Peridot the day she moved in with them. "Are you saying you don't know the true power of a Supremo?"
Before the mysterious teen could answer, Kevin stepped up laughing "that's why I knew those brats from the car wash! They're you! Your whole "two kids in a beautiful trench coat routine" won't fool me any longer!"
Ash just stared at both this crazy jerk and the new teen whose gender Ash couldn't identify with great confusion. He began to suddenly notice the similarities between this car and Greg's prized new car, and started to become suspicious. As The two began heading up the road to the top, Ash saw it. A bumper sticker that said "dad on board", the same exact sticker Greg had on the exact spot he put it. This teen had stolen Greg's car and was taking it for a joyride for revenge against Kevin.
Ash began chasing the cars up the mountain, Brock following him, but they were too late. The race began with Kevin in a lead, but Greg's car right behind him.
"Crobat! Cut the grey car off at the side of the hill!" Brock exclaimed summoning the purple bat Pokémon. Crobat did as told and attempted to block the car, but this teen was a much better driver than Ash gave them credit for, as they swerved past him effortlessly. The Supremo suddenly stopped in the middle of the road, allowing Kevin to speed ahead past the finish line.
The two trainers ran to the car and began pounding on the doors to let the thief surrender. The driver rolled down the window with a calm expression, despite being angry earlier.
"Alright dude" Ash scolded the driver "you've got some explaining to do, and you're lucky me and him aren't gonna call the police, just step out, give us the keys, and walk away"
The driver looked at them "Ash i'm sorry, please don't tell Dad"
They looked at them with confusion "how do you know my name?"
The driver took a deep breath, "ok, just don't freak out ok?" A glow surrounded the driver, and in their place once the light receded, were now Steven and Connie.
Ash and Brock just stared at them awestruck, this was clearly too much for Brock to handle, as he fainted on the side of the road.
"You guys can fuse!?!"
"Yea, yes we can" Steven confessed "and it was wrong of us to steal Dad's car, we just wanted to get back at Kevin"
"What did he do to you guys?"
"When we first fused, he tried to take advantage of us, we told him no but, he just wouldn't take no for an answer. We got away, but we both just felt so bad about it" Connie explained.
Ash reflected on the situation, Kevin seemed like the type of guy who did something like that, and as he was in love with someone who had been manipulated and used most of her life, he knew exactly what this felt like. "Ok, I'm not gonna tell Greg, or the Gems. But we're gonna have to get you home like now before they find out on their own. Come on, help me get Brock into the car."
Steven and Connie jumped out and fused again into their combined being, taking Brock by his legs while Ash lifted him by the head.
"I'm Stevonnie, by the way"
"Nice to meet you Stevonnie, i'm Ash"
Stevonnie got back behind the wheel while Ash sat shotgun, Brock was now buckled up in the back.
"Is he going to be ok?"
"He's just a little shocked, he'll be fine" Ash answered, "hey Stevonnie?"
"yea Ash?"
"Do you even have a license?"
"No"
"Oh. Good thing there are like, no cops at all in this city then. I do have another question though, if Steven, a gem, and Connie, a human could fuse. Well, does that mean that I could fuse if I wanted to?"
Stevonnie took a deep breath, "you're asking me if you could fuse with Lapis aren't you?"
"Yea. I don't want her to be upset about what she is, and I figure if she fuses with someone who loves her unconditionally, she'll no longer have those nightmares she's been having. I just want her to be happy"
"Well I'm sorry Ash, but it's not as simple as that, Steven can only fuse with Connie to make me, because he's half human"
"So he could fuse with me, but I can't fuse with Lapis"
"Exactly, I'm sorry Ash" by this time, Stevonnie had guided the car to the bottom of the hill, the group was waiting.
"Ash what are you doing in the Dondai?" Sour Cream asked. "Also, what happened to Brock?"
"He'll be fine, and Stevonnie here is taking me and him home, I'll see you guys later"
"Hold on Ash" Stevonnie said approaching Kevin "good race"
"What you trying to kiss my hand with your hand or something?" Kevin said trying to make the stupid quote sound cool.
"You know you were right Kevin"
"I know. Wait, about what?"
"The view was pretty good at the top"
"Hey don't try to teach me a lesson! You lost!"
"Second place isn't so bad, not bad for my first time driving a car" Stevonnie said getting back into the car
"Look at me! Don't just drive away! You're obsessed with me! Do you hear me! Obsessed!" He screamed as they drove off.
"That was pretty cool of you two, or three" Ash admitted "I was ready to punch that guy in the face"
Stevonnie laughed, "well, today I learned people like that aren't worth my time. Hey I think Brock's waking up". Ash looked behind them to see Brock was getting up.
"Morning sleepyhead" Ash explained everything that Brock missed as they pulled up to the barn, Ash saw Peridot, Pikachu and Lapis sitting together reading a book about farming. They wished Stevonnie a good night as they drove off.
"Hey Ash" Peridot welcomed him "I was just teaching Lapis here how to read"
"You have to see what we made!" Lapis excitedly took her boyfriend's arm and dragged him to the edge of the room to see a giant pile of discarded toilets.
"We call it. Occupied" Peridot explained. "Watch, it's a collaborative piece" she said as Lapis levitated the toilet water out into a dancing fountain.
"Uh, it's nice" he said "where did you guys get the toilets?"
"We went to a place called "the dump" Lapis explained
"Well I'm glad you guys are doing this kind of stuff together, with all this awkwardness with Ash's crush and Lapis's hatred of Peridot finally ending, this place is starting to feel more like home" Brock stared.
"Just the four of us" Ash added embracing Lapis "I never would've thought it would be like this. And you're right Brock, this place really does feel like home now"
"Well goodnight guys" Brock said going to the couch he called a bed. Ash also decided to go to bed a little early to, Pikachu and Lapis both snuggling next to him. He went to sleep with Lapis in his arms, happy that the nightmares were finally gone