And with that, we go back to Ash. The Rubies have returned and they're not happy. This is an heads up that i will be taking a small break from the story for mother's day weekend and work, so i might not be updating the story for a little bit. I will be working on the next few chapters, but i've still got a little bit of school and work to get done before i can do this story full time during summer. I'm gonna try to get two chapters out on the same day sometime next week to make up for the lost time so you guys will have that to look forward to. When i first started writing this, i never imagined the amount of good reviews and support for this story i'd get. So to all my readers and followers, Thank You. "And that's all i have to say about that" to quote Forrest Gump. *STEVEN UNIVERSE AND POKEMON ARE NOT OWNED BY ME*
"YOU LIED TO US ASH AND BOB!" the leader Ruby shouted as the five surrounded himself, Lapis and James.
"Who are these guys!?" James asked cowering behind Lapis
"You're worst nightmare!" the Ruby with her gem on her arm shouted as she began to charge. Lapis took immediate action and trapped all five of them in water spheres.
"I don't think that that's a "Bob" at all" the leader shouted in her bubble, "i think that's a Lapis Lazuli!"
"Oh, you're the smart one i guess" Ash remarked "is that why you're the leader?"
"Who are these guys!?" James once again asked, still hiding behind Lapis
"They're a scout team from Homeworld, they came before you and Brock did looking for "she who must not be named" Ash explained "they aren't that bright, so we were able to trick them into going to the planet Neptune. Now it looks like they're back" he ran into the barn and grabbed Peridot's tablet and called the Temple's phone number. He didn't even need to say anything to Garnet before she told him that she and Pearl were on their way.
"The Rubies are back?" Pearl asked from the warp pad
"Yep, Lapis has them wrangled up nicely" Ash complimented her work
"Thank you Ash, James please stop hiding behind me" Lapis told them, James finally stepped away from behind Lapis into the open.
"Seeing them up close they're actually pretty adorable" James stated. "Can we keep them?"
"No" everyone said at once.
The warp pad then flashed, indicating the others returned from Peridot's little field trip.
"What's going on!?" Brock asked as they all approached them
"The Rubies are back?" Steven asked
"They showed up in their little ship acting very angry, so i put them in a time out" Lapis explained
"I thought we were done with these guys." Steven said "what do they want?"
"Let's release one and ask" Garnet ordered
"Can i pick?" Steven asked excitedly
"Go for it"
"Ok, let's talk to Leggy" he said
"Leggy?" Ash asked his little buddy confused
"Yea, i named them after where their gems are located, there's Leggy, Army, Navy, Eyeball and Doc. Leggy seems like the easiest to talk to"
"Leggy, come on down" Lapis declared dropping the small gem, if Ash's memory was correct Leggy was the one that was confused about everything.
"Hi i'm Steven, what brings you and your friends back to Earth?"
Leggy looked around nervously, like a lost puppy, before finally answering "I, don't know"
"Oh it's ok, i forget why i go on missions all the time" Steven reassured her.
Not sure of what to do next, Leggy stood up "guess i'll just go over there then" she said as she walked a little bit into the distance before sitting on the dirt. Seeing his chance, James ran over to her and squeezed her in a big hug.
"She's so cute!" he declared
"James!" Pearl shouted at him to return to the others
"Let's take a chance on Army" Ash suggested as she seemed the most professional of the group. Lapis dropped Army without a moment's notice.
"Good afternoon!" Steven told her trying to be hospitable. Army was having none of it however and screamed a war cry before charging at him.
"I'll tear your limbs off!" she screamed before Garnet lifted her off the ground with one arm.
"Hey!" she scolded the Gem "don't be like that" Army struggled in Garnet's grasp, squirming and screaming at her before Garnet tucked her under her armpit
"Let's try Navy"
Lapis dropped Navy, the flamboyant one who seemed to enjoy everything. After Steven asked her, she seemed to begin to cooperate with them
"If i remember correctly, we were on Earth to, uh" she paused looking at the audience. Even though her skin was red, Ash could see she was blushing, she tried to hide herself behind her arm "oh geez, this is so embarrassing" she said before covering her eyes and ran off to join Leggy.
"Can i please?" James asked Pearl like a little kid
"Ok but make it quick"
James gave his gleeful, horse-like laugh and ran over to Navy, giving her a big hug which she gladly returned laughing with him. Ash couldn't tell if the sight was cute or creepy.
"Let's try Eyeball"
"I ain't telling yall nothing about nothin!" the gruff Ruby stubbornly stated.
"All that's left now is Doc i guess, Lapis if you'd please"
Lapis dropped the leader Ruby, who started angrily stood up and began yelling "Where's Jasper!? Last time we came, you guys tricked us into playing that stupid game! Then, you told us she was "on Neptune" well she wasn't on Neptune! Or any other planet in this solar system! Tell us where she is right now! No games! No tricks! No clever disguises!" she barked as the other freed Rubies assembled around her.
"HEY!' Amethyst shouted from behind them. Everyone turned to see she had shapeshifted into Jasper. "I'm right here" she told the Rubies in a poor imitation of Ash's least favorite Gem's voice.
"Is she serious?" Pearl asked "there's no way that's going to work"
"LOOK IT'S JASPER!" Doc shouted as the Rubies crowded around her.
"Jasper" Eyeball told Amethyst "I am Ruby 1F4 Cut 4ND, i fought in the war for Earth. It's an honor to finally meet you!" she said giving "Jasper" a salute
"At ease" she told her
"I was on the ground in Facet 6 when i heard the tale of the Kindergarten Quartz that could. They said you popped out of the ground with your helmet on, and took out 80 Crystal Gems before the sun even went down! When i found out this mission was to look for you i nearly dissipated my form! It is an honor to finally meet you" the scariest Ruby fangirled to "Jasper".
"Yep!" "Jasper" answered her biggest fan "That's me! Always huge, never small, all the, all the time since i was made" she stumbled over her words with a nervous smile
Eyeball then got a closer look at her, examining her up and down with a suspicious look "you look different than i thought you would"
"Oh here it comes" Pearl thought outloud, Ash nodded in agreeance with her as he also knew Amethyst's plan was never going to actually work, no matter how stupid the Rubies could be.
"oh, you must mean my tan!" she exclaimed hastily "you know, from the sun!" she said pointing up. Eyeball looked at her suspiciously, but eventually did buy it.
"Stupid Earth sun!" she exclaimed kicking the dirt "i hate this planet!"
"Curse this planet!" "Jasper" agreed and kicked more dirt. The other Rubies ran over to them and began kicking dirt and screaming things like "curse this planet!" or "i hate you Earth!" Pearl facepalmed at the utter stupidity happening right in front of her, the others stared in awe that Amethyst's plan was actually working.
"These guys are who the Diamonds trust on missions?" Ash leaned in and whispered to Peridot, who nodded.
"It's a good thing we found you then," Doc announced "Yellow Diamond is awaiting your return. We'll take you back to Homeworld right away."
"NO!" she shouted breaking character, returning to her Jasper voice, Amethyst quickly recovered and improvised a solution "i mean, I, Jasper, have decided to stay on Earth"
"What!? Why!?" The Rubies all asked in union
"Because, i uh, gotta stay here with these guys!" she referred to the other Gems and pokemon trainers "yep, i gotta keep 'em prisoner for the Diamonds"
Lapis rolled her eyes.
The Rubies looked in awe at "Jasper" before they all started clapping
"Such devotion" Navy remarked with respect
Doc approached her, tears in her eyes from the emotion she felt at "Jasper's sacrifice". "Well, Yellow will definatly wanna know about this. You'll have to file a report at the nearest Diamond base"
"Where's that?" Leggy asked as confused as ever
"I think we passed it on the way here?" Navy questioned
"You dummies!" Doc scorned her crew of imbeciles "it's uh, uh, hm" she said realizing she didn't know either
Eyeball groaned in annoyance at her companions stupidity, "it's there!" she exclaimed pointing to the half moon, which was visible as the sun was beginning to set.
"I GOTTA HOLD THIS ALL THE WAY TO THE MOON!?" Amethyst loudly proclaimed once again breaking character, she quickly composed herself and returned to her Jasper impression "hold this, uh, hold these prisoners! I gotta bring these rebel prisoners if we're going to the moon. Can't leave them unsupervised here!" she said nervously
"Very well" Doc agreed "to the ship!" she ordered as the other Rubies began boarding as "Jasper" approached her "prisoners"
"What are you doing? This isn't going to work no matter how dumb they are!" Pearl stated
"You can't hold this form forever" Garnet added
"I can do this!" Amethyst said "we'll go to the moon, come back, and they'll finally leave us alone. Just play along" she said slapping Pearl's butt directing her to the ship. Garnet, Pearl and Steven boarded before Ash turned to see his group hadn't followed
"Aren't you guys coming?" he asked
"Yea, don't you wanna be prisoners to?" Amethyst asked Ash's roommates
"Not really" Lapis answered her, avoiding eye contact with her, Peridot gently grasped her arm in an attempt to comfort her, Ash knew that even thinking about Jasper could set Lapis on edge.
"I think i've had my fill of Jasper for a while" Brock said, still wiping blood from his face
"Let me guess" Ash said to his best friend "you guys went to the Beta and found Jasper?"
Brock only nodded
"And, despite knowing all the horrible things she's done to all of us, you professed your love to her?"
Brock again nodded, this time looking at the ground in shame
"And then she broke your nose?"
Brock gave no response, he just stared at the ground as Ash already knew his answer
"You horny little bastard" Ash stated wrapping his arms around Brock in a hug "i'm just glad you're ok, what happened to Jasper?"
"She was gathering more corrupted gems, then Steven and Amethyst fused to stop her, desperate, she fused herself with another corrupted quartz and became corrupted herself," Peridot explained, "then i, with my incredible magnetic powers, poofed her and we bubbled her up"
"Wait, Steven and Amethyst fused?"
"Yep, it was incredible, Smoky Quartz was incredible!" Peridot fangirled harder than Eyeball did over Jasper.
Ash couldn't think of any response, on one hand he was happy the Jasper nightmare was finally over, on the other, he was remorseful for Jasper to, nobody deserved her fate, but he also felt angry knowing that he was o for two against Jasper, but Peridot of all things was able to defeat her in battle. "Well good riddance then" was all he could say
"Jasper!" Doc shouted from the ship "are you coming or not?"
"One moment please" she said "alright last chance, you guys coming or not?"
"I am" Ash said as he turned and kissed Lapis goodbye "stay strong Lapis, and don't let these three idiots accidentally kill each other" he told her referring to his other roommates "I love you", was the last thing he told her
"I love you to" she answered embracing him
"Come on Pikachu, let's go" he said as Amethyst directed Ash and Pikachu into the pod. The ship itself was much more roomy and open than it looked from the outside and there was enough room and more for everyone.
"Woah, it's huge in here!" Steven proclaimed "i thought it'd be super cramped"
"Hey!" Eyeball shouted "this ain't no pleasure cruise!"
"Yeah show some respect, you Crystal, GERMS!" "Jasper" commanded
"Yeah you tell 'em Jasper!"
"They probably got those germs from Earth!"
"Aw curses!" Garnet played along "i can't believe we've been caught, and by none other than Jasper! I'm so cross over it"
The others caught on and also played along
"Uh huh, that sure is Jasper!" Steven exclaimed "The one that caught us. Harumph"
"You're despicable Jasper" Ash told her off
"Of ALLLLLLLLLLLLLL THE INDIGNITIES!" Pearl dramatically overacted "do what you want! I'll never talk!" she leapt to the floor pretending to weep
"Heh, i wish" She joked to Pearl causing all the Rubies to laugh
"Wow, Jasper's so funny and strong!" Navy told Leggy
"This is fun" Ash heard Amethyst tell herself
"Jasper!" Doc shouted from the front of the ship
"Ah! I'm Jasper!"
"Please feel free to take my seat at the captain's chair, it would be an honor"
"Uh yeah, sure thing" she said taking her seat in the small chair
"I hope it's to your liking"
"It's alright"
"You can go ahead and head towards the moon base when you're ready"
"Uh, of course" she said nervously, even from the distance Ash was from her now, he saw Amethyst was worried and clearly had no idea how to pilot the ship.
"uh, listen. I'm Jasper, and I'm too worn out from catching rebels to fly, so how about i sit in the seat, and you pilot us from my lap?" she asked Doc
"Of course" she said as she took her seat in Amethyst's lap. Ash looked and saw Eyeball looking over at Doc with a look of heartbreak and a single tear fell down her cheek.
"Looks like someone has a crush" he whispered to Steven causing him to chuckle.
Doc piloted the ship, and Ash felt completely weightless, indicating that they were now spaceboud.
"Let's see" he said to Steven "i've been to lost underwater cities, met an alternate version of myself from another parallel universe, been to the afterlife, the realm of pure darkness, and once or twice even traveled through time, but i've never been to space, this should be exciting!"
"NO! STAY AWAY FROM US YOU BRUTE!" Pearl once again overacted in a cringe worthy manner as Amethyst approached her
"Cool it Pearl, that one over there wants to throw you guys into space" she said referring to Army, who menacingly punched her palm
"Sorry, i guess i got carried away" she apologized
"Are you ok Amethyst?" Steven asked, you've been holding that form for forever now"
"I've got it under control" she then turned back to Doc "my seat better still be warm" she said sitting back down.
There was a small impact and Ash felt heavier, he knew they had landed. They exited the ship to see darkness, Eyeball and Doc illuminated their way by using their gems as flashlights. Ash looked up to see enormous carvings of four women in triumphant poses, he recognized one as Yellow Diamond, the other three also stood out, there was a blue colored one with a cloak over her head, she looked contempt and calm. A white woman stood above them with multiple planets surrounding her, she looked determined. The lack of gravity caused Ash, Steven and Pikachu to begin floating away, but Garnet quickly grabbed them and held their hands to keep them on the ground.
"Look at this place, frozen in time. An Era-1 base" Eyeball spoke directing her light on the final carving, it was of a pink colored woman with a single planet that she extended her reach for, her tone in the carving was hopeful and enlightened. "Her Era-1 base. It was a tragedy, what happened to her"
"Who is that anyway?" Leggy asked
"Were you made yesterday!? That is Pink Diamond! Jasper, maybe it's best you explain"
"What, me? No. no, you do it. I'm like, too messed up about it"
Eyeball placed her hand on Amethyst's arm supportingly "i understand, she was your original diamond afterall" the Gems were lead up the staircase past the Pink Diamond mural while Eyeball explained the tale of Pink Diamond.
"Earth was Pink Diamond's colony. Everything was going smoothly at first. Kindergartens were incubating their first soldiers. Big, warm pieces of quartz, like this mountain over here!" she said referring to Amethyst making everyone uncomfortable, "were being created from it's rich minerals with great success. Then BAM! One of Pink Diamond's own quartz soldiers started a rebellion and took it too far." she turned to Amethyst "where were you when it happened?"
"Oh you know, around"
"Well i was there when it happened. I saw it with my own eye. I watched the leader of the Crystal Gems, Rose Quartz, shatter Pink Diamond"
Everyone froze. Ash had no idea how to react to this new information. He had met Rose when he encountered Arceus and she didn't seem like the person to murder another living being. From what he'd been told Rose seemed to value all life no matter how vile and despicable they were.
"No" Steven said from behind him, Ash turned to see he was tearing up "Rose Quartz would never do that. And sure she had to fight, but she'd never shatter someone!"
Ash saw Pearl had started shaking and holding her hand over her mouth, her tell tale sign she was struggling to hold in tears. Garnet only starred in the distance, expressionless as always.
"Hey we've got a problem!" Doc shouted from the top of the stairs. The group entered a large room with what appeared to be a destroyed throne behind them. "The panel is broken. And the communicator is gone! There's no way to contact Yellow Diamond from this hub. We'll have to file a report in person.
"I can't!" Amethyst shouted, struggling to keep her form "i can't go! You guys know me, do me a serious favor, and file the report for me" she said patting Eyeball on the head, exploiting her infatuation "i'm trusting you soldier"
"Of course!"
"well, that settles it!" Doc decreed "back to the ship!"
They all climbed down the stairs again, Steven making a point not to look at Pink Diamond, and the Rubies all said their goodbyes to Jasper as they flew off. As soon as they were all gone, Amethyst exhaled and returned to her normal self.
"Great job Am!" Ash said embracing her in a hug
"You really held it together" Garnet complimented
Before the celebrations were over however, the ship returned and Doc stepped back out
"Hey you need a ride back to Earth? I could sit in your lap again if you wan WHAT!?" she exclaimed seeing Amethyst as herself again.
"I'M STILL JASPER!" Amethyst shouted
"We've been tricked? Again?! Rubies assemble!" the five Rubies all leapt on top of each other and fused into Big Ruby again.
"WE WON'T LET YOU TRICK US AGAIN!" she shouted as she slammed her fists to the ground
"Pikachu thunderbolt!" Ash declared
"PIKA-CHU!" the pokemon shouted as he shocked the fusion. She took a step back, but before Ash could land another attack, Steven thought of a solution
"Hey Rubies! It you're gonna fight, take it outside!" he said slamming his fist into the wall, pressing a switch opening the door, the vacuum of space sucked the Ruby through the door, but she persisted and held on. Ash and Pikachu both were sucked into the wall next to Steven, as they held on for dear life.
"YOU CAN'T GET RID OF US THAT EASY!"
Ash looked to see Garnet and Pearl quickly dance and fuse into another giant woman holding a hammer and appeared to be wearing a bowtie with a cheeky smile on her face. Amethyst sat on the fusion's shoulder.
"No, but i bet SHE can!"
The fusion spun her hammer and slammed it into the stomach of the Ruby Fusion. The impact caused Big Ruby to unfuse and be sucked through the door, unfortunately Eyeball grabbed onto Steven as she was pulled. Ash, with Pikachu on his shoulder tried to pull him back in, but the force was too great, and both boys were pulled out.
"STEVEN! ASH!" was the last thing Ash heard Amethyst scream as he saw a pink bubble cover them.
He held on tightly to Steven and Pikachu "I'M NEVER GONNA LOSE YOU GUYS!" he screamed as a bright light suddenly encircled both him and Steven in the bubble. Then everything went black.