"You were amazing!" Shouting out loud was Steven his eyes stuck staring at me while I sat speechless on this very familiar white sofa, that was for a little while served as my bed.
"I-I uh..." After all that had happened I was stuck still trying to get my head around everything.
(Flashback!)
Everyone stood unmoving just like before, the three women staring down their monstrous opponent with only the ocean waves leaving its gentle sounds echoing on.
As time crept on it was Pearl that made the first move, she shot forward with her spear in hand as the flaming Salamander hissed violently blasting torrents of flames from its back, this had left Pearl only the option to stop before colliding with the monster, yet with this new challenge they're plan did not stop.
Amethyst had gone unnoticed as she looped in from beside the monster as she flung Garnet forward with her full might as the larger Gem held her fist forward as she met her target square on the side, this left the Salamander launching towards the rocky cliff causing a powerful impact causing it to yelp in pain. Pearl had seen this as the perfect moment, the moment to end this before it could get further out of hand, she shot forward with her weapon in hand to slay the beast, but the beast too had seen this as an opening.
Before she could react to it the Salamander had opened it powerful jaws and shot forth a blazing orb of fire as it quickly made its way to Pearl, having only enough time to adjust her weapon she used it to try shield herself with little effect.
"Pearl!" Cried out Garnet, but this was drowned out by the fiery explosion that had sent Pearl flying back leaving her skidding across the beach before she had finally stopped, leaving a sandy trail leading to where she laid. Seeing this both Garnet and Amethyst began a hard pressed attack on the Salamander as it retaliated in full force.
As the battle before me continued I could only focus on Pearl, looking at her I could see that she was visibly struggling to get up, I had quickly ran forward ready to help in anyway I can.
Taking each step in strides I could only hear the sounds of the fight taking place to my right, ignoring it completely I had finally reached my destination as I stared down to her.
"Are you ok!" I shouted panicking, I've never seen anyone take a hit like she just did and yet to my surprise she began to pick herself up from the ground.
"(Cough-cough) yes...but you shouldn't be here, it too dangerous for a human." She groaned out loud, staring at her as she finally stood on her feet I saw that she had several scrapes and black soot marks covering her body but other than that she seemed perfectly alright.
"Pearl!" Cried out Steven as he had made his way to us, on instinct he leapt onto her leg holding as tight as he could. Looking down at him I could see that he was close to tears as he held on to Pearl, this was met with her kneeling down and placing both her hands on his shoulders with a soft smile forming on her face as she looked to him.
"Steven it's okay, I'm okay. But things are too dangerous right now." As if on cue another explosion took place from the fight not too far away, yet with this the smile Pearl wore still was there seemingly unaffected by the turn of events.
"But what happens if you or one of the others get hurt?" A panicking Steven questioned but with an answer was readily given.
"Don't worry Steven, we need you to make sure Matthew here doesn't get hurt and your the only one who can do that, we're depending on you to do this Steven." After hearing this Steven was quiet for just a second staring down to the sand, but just as quick he stared back at Pearl with confidence knowing what he had to do.
"Alright Pearl, you can count on me." Pearl seeing this gave a knowing nod as she stood up she stared strongly towards the monster that had been giving her allies a tough time, she stared at a steady stream of flames keeping the two gems at bay, but the flames were being thrown away from us and she knew she had a clear shot.
She shot forward for a second time with her spear forming once again in her hands as she charged on, except this time it was not met with fire as she hit her mark unchallenged.
"Ryaggghh!" The monster roared out in pain as on collision the spear had hit its mark, placing itself inside the beast as its spewing flames died out, half of its spiralling head was placed in the creature while the rest was held firmly by its wielder.
"Yeah! Pearls got it!" Screamed Steven, his voice filled with excitement, but his celebration was cut short as the creature shook its body furiously causing Pearl to jump back leaving a sizeable distance between her and the creature.
With rage swelling from the creature its flames too began to grow intensely, it's heat was so strong that the base of the flame had been gained a strong blue hue as even the sand around its feet began to melt.
With its sight glaring on Pearl it sneered in anger as its began to spew balls of fire towards her, with each shot fired time after time she had dodged each one, this had left the aimless flaming projectiles hitting empty parts of the beach and the water itself leaving burns and mist covering the area.
Noticing her distress, and the subsequent opening given to them, both Garnet and Amethyst leapt into action with Garnet taking charge and Amethyst following behind.
With a powerful uppercut Garnet lifted the Salamander off its forelegs as soon as contact was made, with its belly shown Amethyst came with her own follow up as she flung a boulder towards both Garnet and the beast but yet without even having to turn Garnet had known what was coming and had quickly dodged leaving a feint trail of sand behind her and the Boulder just barely missing her.
With contact being made with monster was knocked back hitting the sturdy cliff face with enough force that the Boulder that had sent it flying had even broken into pieces and. The impact was powerful enough to shake the entire cliff side leaving loose rocks to fall down to the beach with several falling onto the back of the Salamander, this had left it seemingly gasping for air as its flames seemed to be blocked by the fallen debris leaving only small bursts of smoke able to escape.
Staring at this as realization hit I looked over to the three gems as they stood properly regrouped, they stood ready for an oncoming attack from the creature who's apparent distress had quickly subsided.
"That's it..." I muttered out leaving Steven staring at me questioningly, his confusion drawn on his face.
"What's what?" Without even hearing Steven I closed my eyes tight shut, and with a fear induced sense of adrenaline I ran forwards knowing full well what I was running into, but also what I had to tell the three gems.
"Ahhhhhhhh!" I screamed out fearfully leaving everyone confused excluding the Salamander. Pearl, Amethyst, and Garnet each held a surprised look on they're faces, leaving the Salamanders attention solely on me.
"Its weakness!" I shouted out waving my arms furiously with my eyes now open by this point.
"It's back! You need to plug it's back!" With my panicked screams each gem had looked over to the beast as its flames began to build up as it was preparing to blast flames towards me. Seeing this Garnet had quickly yelled out orders to both Pearl and Amethyst, hopefully catching the meaning of my ramblings.
"Pearl distract it! Amethyst circle around it as fast as you can!" Without hesitation both gems leapt into action causing Pearl to fire out bright blue bolts of energy from her spear causing the beast to switch it's attention from me to her, this left Amethyst free to fully circle it as she apparently spun fast enough that she had looked to be a spinning blur.
Without realizing it I had kept on forward leaving to grow closer and closer to the battle in front of me, thankfully though I had been stopped by Garnet as she picked me up bringing me far enough away from the fight leaving me in relative safety.
"Stay here we can handle the rest." She said as she lowered me onto my feet, she turned around to see that sand had began to surround the creature as it was bombarded by Pearls repeated energy blasts, she lifted her hands as she clenched them into fists as she prepared to charge head first into battle, but before she did she turn her head as if staring at me through her visors.
"You did good." She said with a smile as she leapt forth, I stood there still looking at the fight unmoving.
By this point a small sandstorm had surrounded the Salamander as it had difficulties trying to land any hits on either Pearl or Amethyst, both of which had been spinning circles around the beast. With its attention on both of its attackers the monster couldn't see where Garnet had stood, standing outside the storm she stood readying for her next move.
Clenching her fists tight she swiftly extended her arms out with both fists pointed directly at the Salamander, and for a second she had left her aim on the beast before she instead aimed it above, towards the face of the cliff.
"Amethyst, Pearl!" She shouted out as both gems stopped they're attack on the beast, they looked over at garnet knowing full well what she had planned on and as on cue they leapt out away from the Salamander, leaving it confused as to where they had gone as the sandstorm had left it blinded.
It viciously shook its trying to find its prey, with the storm easing it began to see a lone silhouette, with a low growl it stared on seeing the silhouette begin to take more detail. Within mere moments it had finally realized who it was staring down as Garnet stood ready for what was coming next.
To my surprise Garnet had shot forward, not herself though but her hands, flying through the air like missiles they shot over the Salamander passing it as they sped towards the cliff. With a powerful explosion the entire cliffside shook as entire chunks had been blasted off leaving them to fall conveniently over the monster.
Without time to react the monster began to be bombarded by the falling debris, this left it buried under a pile of rubble leaving only its head and front legs free as it struggled to crawl itself out to little to no success at it was buried gasping for air.
From the rubble came puffs of black smoke as with each gasp of air the flames from its back couldn't truly ignite, seeing this Garnet knew this was it that this was the final blow as a light began to glow from where her hands had been and seemingly from nowhere they had returned with both matching gauntlets.
With one powerful leap she shot high into the air causing her to seemingly shrink smaller and smaller to the point where she looked to be just a dot, but this quickly changed as with a loud boom she rocketed straight down towards the monster with her body straight leaving her fists leading her descent as she came down like a crimson comet.
With little time left the Salamander attempted a counterattack, it's fiery flame orbs that it had tried had instead turned to black puff of smoke as it laid buried under rubble, with panicked shake it tried its last attempt of escape. But this was truly its last attempt as it failed to free itself as it one eye stared at the crimson fists before everything had stopped.
With an impact that could be heard for miles a pillar of dust and rocks had erupted leaving a mix of white and grey smoke trailing off into the wind. As everything began to ease with the smoke clearing I could only see that only a single figure stood as they're victory had been justly won, Garnet stood holding onto what had looked like the eye of the monster as anything else of it had strangely vanished.
After it had all ended I could only stand there as silence took place leaving only the familiar sound of the ocean waves to accompany us, but this was quickly interrupted by sudden shouting from behind me.
"You were amazing!"
(Flashback End!)
Standing before me stood all three women who just minutes ago had fought a monstrous beast with Steven standing to my side with excitement emanating from his being, even his eyes had looked to be literally star struck.
"Nice call Matty, you really made taking down that thing a cake walk." Complemented Amethyst calling me by my new apparent nickname, she stood with a grin that held only excitement with both her arms stretched behind her head.
"Really?" I asked unbelieving, my face stuck with disbelief with the sudden praise that I had been receiving.
"Yes, rather if you hadn't caught onto its weakness when you did things could have truly gotten out of hand." Confirmed Pearl as she stood trying to brush off whatever soot she could from her smoked body, with visible unease she saw that this had little effect and just left it to be as she stood looking at me with a small smile.
Looking over to Garnet I could see that she still held that same smile from earlier as she towered above me.
"Matthew what you did was truly of great help and importance and we will never forget what you did." Looking around I could see that she had meant what she said, from everyone I could see they're smiles and appreciation for what to me seemed to so little when compared to what they had done.
"And with everything I could have seen you do, I wouldn't have thought you'd do what you did." I really didn't understand what Garnet had meant by this but couldn't help but let it slide by as one important question had crossed my mind.
"If you wouldn't mind could I just lay down for a while." I asked looking to nowhere in particular as everyone looked to me slightly confused, this left Pearl to be the first one to respond.
"Not at all."
"Thank you." And with that I had once again collapsed, falling asleep the second my head had landed on the pillow of the small white couch.