Backstage Protection
A Steven Universe Fanfiction
Chapter 6
A/N: I now have a schedule for this. I plan to be done in mid-May, with a one-shot between each chapter that will be posted separately. Also, thanks for 70+ follows; this is the most attention any of my fics has ever gotten!
The sun rose with a red sky the next morning, and Lapis and Peridot were in the air again before much time could pass. The blue gem seemed to be far stronger after a night of rest, and it was easier for her to cross the Earth's atmosphere and move towards Beach City at a productive pace.
"About how long until we get there?" The green gem asked, looking up at her companion curiously. She wasn't intending for it to be a bratty question.
"We should be there by midday." Lapis answered, making a small estimate based on their current distance from their destination. "Not too long, I think. Six human hours, maybe."
Though Peridot had no clue how long an hour was, she nodded and accepted the answer, watching the horizon. There seemed to be nothing interesting as far as she could see, and not much water either. She wondered how Lapis's strength would hold up this far from her main power source.
Hours passed, conversation and a few stories passed between the two gems. It seemed that the longer they flew the better they got along; almost to the point each could consider the other a friend.
"So we're staying on Earth?" Peridot asked after some silence had taken over their conversation.
"Like I said, I am. Whether you do is up to you." The ocean gem responded, taking note of some dark clouds gathering over them and covering up the previously bright sun.
"Where on Earth?" The green gem spoke again, this time with a slight stubborn edge to her voice. Yeah, she was probably going to stick around as well.
"Peri, this isn't really a vacation destination. This planet is stuck in the minds of the Authority as a place where traitors go. If you stay, you won't ever be able to go back home." Lapis spoke, trying to keep her voice calm and firm.
"I know." The green gem responded, still looking up at her.
She sighed heavily and spoke again. "I don't know, I could probably find a shipwreck or something and shift the water around it so that there's an air bubble so your machines don't break."
Peridot nodded once more, satisfied with that answer.
By now, both of them were aware of the dark gathering of threatening clouds above them, and worry was starting to build. Neither of them said a word, however. Lapis had flown her way through space; she would be able to make it through a little storm.
Right?
"Maybe we should land until the storm passes." Peridot spoke nervously, feeling the first few drops of rain lightly splatter onto the skin of her physical form and the gem on her forehead.
"No, we don't have enough time." Lapis answered stubbornly, and it almost seemed like she had started to fly a bit faster.
"We'll have even less time if one or both of us gets hurt."
The ocean gem ignored that warning, continuing on her way to Beach City. She wasn't willing to stop when she was so close. There were just a few hours' worth of flying ahead, and she could see clear skies just a little while in front.
Water began falling from the sky in thick curtains, completely soaking both gems before either had the chance to react. Lapis let out a small growl of frustration when she noticed she couldn't see as well. The most clear image she got was of a long streak of something bright – most likely lightning – striking a tall tree ahead of them.
Oh, perfect, she thought to herself, and prayed to whatever higher power there was that she would not be hit. It couldn't kill her, of course, but water was a good conductor of electricity, and that was exactly what her wings were built of.
"Lapis, please," Peridot pleaded, nervously eyeing the clouds above them, "you have to land. It's too dangerous."
She still didn't listen, but within moments she would wish she had.
There was a bright flash, and she suddenly felt an intense burning in her back that spread through her entire body. She heard someone scream, and with a sort of shock realized it was her. Her companion was shouting too, of course, but she didn't hear it very well over her own voice.
Everything went dark as the two began plummeting to the ground.