I apologize for not getting this chapter out sooner, i haven't been able to balance my new work hours with my writing times. Man I'm gonna get a lot of hate for doing this episode. Ash has been through a lot during his journey these past twenty years, holy crap it's been that long, but i'm about to do something Ash has never done before: age. *I DO NOT OWN POKEMON AND STEVEN UNIVERSE*
It had been a tremendously slow day at the wash allowing Ash to think about what he had discovered about his friend Clemont. He was deep in thought about how he and the Gems were going to rescue him when a car horn brought him back to reality, and a yellow sports car parked in front of him.
"Give me a wash loser" the teen driver commanded as he stepped out. Ash recognized him as Kevin, Steven and Connie's nemesis. "And go easy on the soap, it'll wreak havoc on the paint" he demanded.
Ash saw him walk over to the waiting area, sipping a coffee from The Big Donut before his phone began to ring.
"Hey what up man?" he asked the other person on the phone "yea i'm at the wash, just got back from that donut place. Have you seen that new girl working there?" he asked referring to Serena "dude she's so hot, like her tits are to die for!"
Kevin's offensive comments definitely got Ash's blood boiling, he began listening in on his conversation with Kevin still not knowing he was being eavesdropped on
"Hell yeah I'm gonna try to tap that sweet ass of hers, maybe later i'll head back and get my smooth talk on her. She'll be on my di-"
Before he could finish his sentence, Ash had grabbed the teen and slammed him against the wall
"Listen here you piece of shit, that girl with the "sweet ass" is a good friend of mine, and if i ever hear you talking about her like that again, i will do worse to you. Got it?" he said letting him go. Kevin turned away and threw a punch at the trainer, but Ash was prepared for it and caught him by the elbow twisting it in his hands
"got it!?" he asked him once again, this time more sternly
"Got it" he cringed as Ash let him go and retreated back to his car, speeding off.
There weren't that many customers following Ash's assault on Kevin, giving him another opportunity to think of how he and the Gems were going to save Clemont from the Diamonds. He sat in front of the wash parking lot for what seemed like eternity, before he heard James shouting his name and bringing him back to reality.
"ASH! ASH!" James shouted as he ran up to him, holding a crumpled up piece of paper "we've got a problem" he said handing him the paper
Ash unfolded it to see he was holding a pamphlet as he read the title out loud "How to Protect Yourself Against Rock People, by Ronaldo Fryman, James what is this?"
"Keep reading"
"Alien entities walk among us, they're adding mind controlling minerals to our water, they change their form to make people love them, they summon weapons from the mud dimension, THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OCEAN DISAPPEARING LAST MARCH!? Where is he? I'm gonna kick his fat ass!"
"He's been outside the Fry shop trying to hand these out to people all day, thankfully me and Steven were the only ones to take one of these and I think Steven set him straight though" James explained "I've got to get back to work, see ya at home!" He said as he ran back the direction he came from
At around three o'clock, Greg came to swap shifts with Ash "close up the wash tomorrow around 2 and get to the Temple as fast as you can, we've got a little something planned for you" he instructed his employee with a pat on the back
Once he made it to the barn door, he saw the door had been closed, and he heard paper crinkling and Lapis and Peridot laughing. He knocked on the door to let them know he was there.
"Who is it!?" he heard Peridot shout from inside
"It's Ash" he announced
"STAY OUT THERE!" Peridot shouted as he heard the two scurrying around in the barn "ok now you can come inside!" she shouted as he opened the door to see wrapping paper and tape laid out across the floor, with the two gems hiding something behind their backs.
"I hope i'm not interrupting anything" he smugly said as the gems shook their heads with wide, plastered on, innocent smiles.
The very next day, after he followed Greg's instructions and closed the wash early, Ash made his way to the Temple, noticing the lights were off.
"SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASH!" he saw everyone shout from inside the house as Lapis ran up to him and kissed him. He saw Greg holding a cake with the number 17 written on it, standing around him were the rest of the gems, Steven, Pikachu, Connie, Greg, Ash's pokemon trainer friends, and strangely Ronaldo with a star tapped to his shirt.
Once Lapis had released him from her lips, Peridot shoved past her and presented a small box to him. "As Ash's first barnmate, Ash should open MY present first!" Ash opened the box to find a small, metal figurine crafted to resemble him.
"Peridot i love it!" he exclaimed causing the small gem to blush. Lapis then presented her gift to him
"It's something to keep me close in case we're ever separated again" she explained as he removed a necklace with a teardrop shaped lapis lazuli pendant on it.
He placed the necklace around his neck, thanking her with another kiss "i love it almost as much as i love you"
Greg delivered Ash his gift after Lapis backed away " i figured you could use one of these and not have to mooch off of Peridot's" he explained as he presented Ash with a new cell phone
Brock presented his gift of a new pair of shoes, James gave Ash a pair of jeans with "Property of Lapis Lazuli" bedazzled into the butt, Serena and Bonnie gave him a new belt to use to use his pokeballs, and Steven and Connie gave him a handmade card with a drawing of everyone together. Garnet then approached him carrying a beautifully wrapped gift.
"This is from all three of us, i picked it out" she explained
"I wrapped it" Pearl boasted
"And i put your name on it" Amethyst exclaimed
As he unwrapped the gift, he looked in awe as he saw that the original gems had given him a sword. He admired the steel blade as he noticed the word "Ach" written on the handle.
"We figured it was time you got a gem weapon of your own" the leader of the Gems told him.
"I will teach you how to use it properly" Pearl added
"Thank you" he said returning his new blade to the scabbard.
Ronaldo came up to him "didn't know today was your birthday Ash, i guess i owe you a gift."
"Uh thanks Ronaldo, what's with the star?"
"I'M A CRYSTAL GEM NOW!" he said excitedly "and i am no longer Ronaldo Fryman, call me by my gem name. BLOODSTONE!"
"Is he serious?" Ash asked Steven who nodded in agreement to Ronaldo's claim.
"Believe me we weren't very fond of the idea either" Pearl explained as Greg began to cut the cake and pass pieces around.
"Want some to Bloodstone?" Steven asked offering Ronaldo a piece
"Nome for me, ever since I became a Crystal Gem I haven't needed to eat or sleep, just like an authentic gem"
"You've seriously haven't eaten or slept for the past two days?" Ash asked with extreme concern
"Bloodstone doesn't need your eating or sleeping. And your gepon, that's "gem" and "weapon" together, is a weak knockoff of mine" he said taking out a green, plastic sword.
Everyone gave Bloodstone an annoyed look before Brock turned his attention back to the birthday boy
"Buck is actually throwing a party for you with all our friends there tonight at his place by the way Ash, if the Gems want to come to they can"
"Thank you, but I think we'll leave the partying to you guys and your friends" Pearl declined
"Speak for yourself, LET'S PARTY!" Amethyst exclaimed as she chowed down on her third slice of birthday cake.
"Funny that you eat when Gems don't need to eat Amethyst, why is that?"
"Because I like to?" Amethyst told him extremely confused
"He's been complaining about all of our "flaws" all day" Lapis whispered to him
"Really?" He whispered back
"Yea he's been trash talking everyone and calling himself "a pure gem" or some crap like that" James whispered to avoid bringing Ronaldo into the conversation
"And another thing," Bloodstone again knit picked "Lapis, Gems don't need romantic relationships, so why do you continue your relationship?"
"Excuse me?" Lapis asked extremely insulted
"I'm just saying, Gems don't need love, so your relationship seems pointless and waste of time"
Ash had enough at this point "you know what Ronaldo?"
"I'm Bloodstone" he snarked
"Shut up," he shouted "you've been calling yourself a "pure gem" all day, yet even i could beat you in battle. You know what? Let's do this" he said slamming his pokeballs onto the kitchen table "pick any one of them and i'll prove you're a shit fighter one-on-one "Bloodstone"
Ronaldo looked at Ash shocked at his sudden outburst before turning to the table and looked at the five pokeballs. After he made his choice, both boys went outside to the beach with the other guests at the party to watch Ash battle the newest Crystal Gem.
"Alright Pikachu, you ready?"
"Pika" he said determined
Ronaldo honestly didn't even know which pokemon he even chose, he just selected a ball at random and threw it out
"SCEPTILE!" the grass type exclaimed
"Alright my beast prove Bloodstone is the fighter he is!" Ronaldo exclaimed as Sceptile looked at him with extreme confusion.
"Just do what he says Sceptile, this'll be over quick"
"BEGIN!" referee Brock declared
"Pikachu quick attack!"
"Sceptile counter!" Ronaldo declared, but because he didn't know any of Sceptile's attacks the pokemon had no idea what to counter with and was struck by Pikachu.
"Punch him Sceptile!" Ronaldo vaguely commanded causing the grass type to once again turn towards his stand in master with a confused look. "You know, punch, kick, bite him"
"Pikachu thunderbolt!"
"PIKA-CHU!" the mouse pokemon declared as he struck Sceptile with his signature attack.
"Sceptile, do what Pikachu just did!"
Sceptile slowly got back up and now looked at the incompetent trainer with a look of fury.
"End this with an electro ball!"
Pikachu summoned the sphere of electricity from his tail and struck Sceptile, knocking him to the ground.
"SCEPTILE IS UNABLE TO BATTLE! ASH IS THE WINNER!" Brock declared.
"Sorry i did that to you Sceptile, but i had a point to make." Ash said returning the pokemon.
After Ronaldo's humiliating defeat, the group got ready to head out to Ash's party at the Dewey household. Ash turned to Lapis before he went for the door
"You sure you don't want to come with us?" he asked her
"Thanks, but i have to get back to the barn to get ready, i've got another surprise waiting for you" she said with a wink
Steven and Connie volunteered to walk Bonnie home so Serena could attend the party as Amethyst shape shifted into a car and drove the humans to the Dewey house.
"I still can't believe you guys let him in the Gems" Ash complained to Amethyst
"Hey don't blame us, Steven convinced us to let him in" she said as Brock rang the Dewey's doorbell.
"Ash my boy!" the mayor exclaimed with great excitement as he embraced his guest in a big hug "happy birthday, smile for the camera!" he said as a photographer took their photo
"Thanks Mayor Dewey," he said rubbing his eyes from the sudden flash, realizing the mayor had turned Buck's party into a publicity stunt
"I'll leave you kids alone now, i'll be upstairs if you need me." he said retreating upstairs.
"Happy birthday Ash" Buck said from the living room, the group walked in to see Buck, Sour Cream, Jenny, Kiki, Jamie, Sadie, Lars and a number of other teens were all waiting for them.
"Thanks guys" he said as the party began. He went from person to person accepting "happy birthdays" before he caught the sight of Jamie staring at something, that something was Serena. "Oh boy, i've seen that look before" he told his thespian friend
"What do you mean?"
"You're looking at her the same way you looked at Garnet the day we first met on the beach. Let me guess, you can't keep her out of your head to?"
"Well yeah," he said blushing "how did you know?"
"It happened to me with Lapis to. You aren't gonna go crazy like you did with Garnet did you?"
"I'm not infatuated with Serena, she's like a sister and besides she's still crazy for you"
Ash saw right through his friend's lie and just patted him on the back before approaching the larger group sitting in the living room.
"So what your girl get you for your big day?" Sour Cream asked.
"She gave me this" he said presenting the necklace she gave him
"Oh my goodness Ash, that's so pretty" Jenny admired
"And you're sure she isn't giving you anything else?" Lars asked with an evil grin appearing on his face
"Well, she told me she has another gift for me once i get home, i have no clue what it is though"
To his confusion, Lars suddenly stood up from Mayor Dewey's couch, pumping his fist in the air "my boy Ash is getting some tonight!" he shouted slapping him on the back
"Lars you're nasty" Kiki remarked
"What do you mean Lars?" Ash asked still clueless
"He thinks Lapis is going to give you birthday sex when you get home" Buck finally explained
"WHAT!?" he shouted causing everyone at the party to temporarily look in the group's direction before returning to their own conversations.
"He's got a fair point Ash, i mean, she did wink at you before we left" Amethyst said eating her fortieth chicken wing.
Ash had to sit down to comprehend all the crazy stuff that had occurred to him recently, how he'd assaulted Kevin, Ronaldo of all people was now a Crystal Gem, one of his best friends was being held hostage on an alien dictatorship, Jamie was now in love with Serena, and now he'd been presented with the possibility of losing his virginity to the woman he loved. He understood the whole Rose and Greg story, and if she did get pregnant because of this. Then he'd lose her forever. As the party dwindled down and he thanked the Dewey's for their hospitality, Ash stepped outside ready to begin his way home to see what Lapis had in store for him. Instead he saw Greg had his car parked in front of the house, with Greg waving him towards him.
"Come with me Ash, there's one more thing i want to give you" he explained as Ash got into the passenger seat and Greg began to drive, eventually reaching a storage unit. Following him inside, Ash saw the remains of the gem drill Steven and Peridot used to defeat the Cluster set in the center of the cluttered mess. Greg walked to the back of the unit before handing Ash a package envelope dated 2001.
"I was going to give this to Rose a long time ago, after she became pregnant with Steven, but it got lost during shipment, and by the time it arrived, she was already gone. I couldn't bring myself to throw it away, so i kept it here all these years. I'm not trying to rush you into this decision Ash, but i want you to have it anyway."
Ash felt the package in his hands and felt a smaller box inside, he then instantly knew what was inside it. "Greg i couldn't" he began to say
"It's alright Ash, besides it's not like i'm ever gonna need it again. Take it, and use it when you feel appropriate."
With that, tears in his eyes, Ash hugged his father figure "thank you Greg"
"No problem kiddo" he said returning the hug
After Greg drove Ash back to the barn, he nervously thought about what Lars had said and anxiously opened the darkened barn door, hiding Greg's gift under his hat, he entered his home not to the sight of Lapis lying down naked in his bed with candles everywhere, but to her standing in front of an object hidden behind a large tarp.
"Happy birthday" she said with a soft smile as she removed the tarp to reveal a hand drawn, framed picture of the two of them holding each other drawn in extraordinary detail.
He embraced his girlfriend and kissed her passionately "i love it almost as much as i love you" he said as he began thinking of places to hang it.
"Are you going to be alright after the whole battle earlier?" she suddenly asked "you seemed really angry"
"He called our relationship a "waste of time and pointless" of course i'm gonna get angry. And if i remember clearly, you were pretty angry to"
Lapis blushed "i give him a week as a Crystal Gem tops" she said trying to change the subject
"I give him until tomorrow evening" he joked as they retreated to bed, Ash hiding Greg's other gift under the bed.