Lapis was curled up in a ball in the corner of their cell. They weren't sure how to feel about Jasper and their accusations. It wasn't really their fault, everything that happened. Everyone trusted Rose Quartz, their betrayal had been unthinkable and Lapis could have ended it immediately if the warriors hadn't been such idiots. It was their fault, really.
They had failed completely and their deaths were their own fault.
But their fate was Yellow diamonds. They were glad Jasper didn't know about that.
Lapis stared hollowly at the wall.

They perked up as they heard the angry footfalls echoing down the hall. Far too light to be Jasper.
Lapis rolled over into a sitting position, dusting themselves off.
Their eyes brightened even more as the footsteps stopped just outside their field of view.
Lapis strained to listen carefully as they arranged themselves into a nonchalant posture, was that laboured breathing? It sounded like Peridot was coming in even less prepared than last time.
When they finally walked into view Lapis smiled. Their hair was ruffled and the red circles around their eyes made it clear they had been crying. It looked like the foolish gem was to be a welcome distraction. Lapis settled back as Peridot began their tirade.

"Alright you worthless pile of organic waste matter! I have had enough of your treacherous non-compliance! You said that you would tell me everything you knew about the 'Earth' and I demand, no I order! You to tell me immediately or I will be forced to-"
"PHBBBBBBBBBBT!" Peridot was cut off by the loud, wet sounding raspberry.
"What? Don-"
"PHBBBBBBBBBBT!" Lapis regarded Peridot amusedly
"You will refrain from-"
PHBBBBBBBBBBBT!"

Peridot flailed their fists helplessly "SHUT UP!"
"Or what?" Lapis lounged on the floor casually "you'll get big bad Jasper to come and shout at me for you again?"
"What? I didn't… You spoke to Jasper?" Peridot froze, suddenly looking worried
"If by spoke you mean got screamed at? Yes. And you're lucky I didn't spill all of your pathetic little secrets"
"Thanks. I think" Peridot looked away awkwardly, Lapis effectively disarming their flash of anger.
"You're welcome" lapis replied blithely "I guess you have to have someone on this ship you can trust"
"It's not like that"
"pffft" Lapis snorted "You really think you're in charge here. If you knew all the things they aren't telling you..."
"Then tell me!" Peridot stamped their foot in frustration

Lapis rolled over onto their stomach, resting their chin on their hands "nope. That's no fun. Why don't you tell me what's got you so worked up instead?"
"None off your business!" Peridots cheeks flushed
Lapis just stared at them silently, wiggling their feet.
It didn't take long for Peridot to crack, throwing up their hands "Okay, fine! It's Jasper. They… didn'twanttofusewithme"
"What?"
"I said they didn't want to fuse with me" Peridot looked at their feet, squirming awkwardly.

Lapis held in giggles for a second before breaking out into peals of laughter
"Shut up!" Peridots face was now positively glowing red "You don't understand, they were being all romantic and they told me I looked beautiful but then they just shut me down completely!"
Lapis laughter intensified "You are, such a child! A stupid, naive, child"
"No! It's not like that!" Tears started to well in Peridots eyes, the flood gates threatening to reopen. "They just… they just don't do fusion that's all"

Lapis laughter stopped instantly. Peridot nearly falling over as the sleight blue gem threw themselves forwards, almost pressing up against the containment field. A mischievous grin gracing their face.
"Is that what they told you?"
"Well, not precisely but-"
"Oh-kay!" said Lapis in a sing-song voice, twirling around and clapping their hands happily "New choice! Either I tell you all about the Earth and its dirty secrets orrrrrrrr… I show you that Jasper lied to you"

Peridot stared at Lapis incredulously for a few seconds "What? You… What! How can you… Aaaaaaarrrgh!" Peridot tore at their hair in frustration "Fine! Tell me about Jasper then..."
Lapis smiled "I thought so. Now…" They looked down for a second their gem illuminating the cell behind them with a bright glow. When they looked back up their eyes were as flat and reflective as a mirror "look into my eyes"
Peridot couldn't have looked away if they wanted to, feeling themselves tipping forwards as Lapis eyes seemed to grow, expanding to fill their view. Their reflection tumbling towards them as they plummeted into the silver lake. Just before they could break the surface, everything went dark.

When Peridot opened their eyes they were sitting at some kind of desk, stacks of paper in front of them, covered in dense writing.
[Is that organic matter?] Peridots voice echoed strangely in their head
[It's called paper, easy to make on Earth. We used it for records and filing]] Lapis voice echoed back
[What is this? What did you do?] Peridot asked nervously as their head swung around involuntarily to look at the door of the small gem hut they appeared to be sitting in.
[[You're in my memories idiot. Now pay attention]
"Enter" Lapis voice rang out, Peridot feeling their mouth make the sounds as Lapis voice also echoed over inside their head. It was all very confusing.

The door slid open and a tall Gem ducked into the room. They were easily 8 feet tall, wearing only a baggy pair of camo print pants, showing off their extremely dense musculature. Their skin was a stunning mix of green, orange and red stripes and a huge mane of flowing white hair reached all the way down to their knees, drawn back into a high ponytail.
It was their face that interested Peridot the most, at the same time familiar and unknown, Jaspers gem in place of a nose and a large, green, eye-like gem where their left eye should be.

[Is that?] Peridot started to ask.
[Yep!] Lapis chimed in instantly [[Jasper and Chalcedony. They were inseparable, literally]]
"Ah, Captain Carnelian. How did the recon of the Northern continent go" Past Lapis spoke in an exceedingly bored tone of voice.
"Excellent!" Carnelian boomed, Peridot could feel the vibrations in their, Lapis? Chest.
Two large, insectoid creatures trotted in through the door, one of then rubbing their head affectionately against the imposing fusions leg, the other, lapping at the huge, serrated sword that Peridot only now noticed Carnelian was dragging behind them, its surface was covered with clotted chunks of red blood. Some sort of acidic liquid dripped from the creatures jaws but it didn't seem to bother the huge gem.
"There are multiple favourable Kindergarten sites and lots of Organics. Or at least there were" Carnelian chuckled, reaching down to scratch the creature behind its mane, quite reminiscent of their own hair.
"No! No!" Peridot felt their arms wave frantically in front of them as Lapis talked "leave those things outside, they ruin the floors! And you know we were told to leave the Organics alone"

Carnelian frowned, letting out a sharp growl that made the creatures raise their heads and then quickly trot back outside. They then walked closer to Lapis, already towering over the seated gem, dragging their sword behind them. Scraping it along the floor with a teeth shattering shriek.
Once they had crossed the floor they lifted up the sword, stabbing it into the floor with a loud crack and leaning on it casually.
"I know. I just don't see why. I also don't see why we haven't actually started any more kindergartens yet. We've already been here for far too long"
Lapis looked down to regard the ruined floor dejectedly. Sighing dramatically before replying "I don't like it either but that's just orders, this is a big project, I guess they want to do it right. And please, stop slaughtering the Organics, I have to file reports"

The vision started to fade, everything once again going black.
[So. Speechless with anguish?] Lapis voice echoed in the dark
[Mixed emotions… Honestly, I'm kind of distracted by how hot they were]
[URGH, you are hopeless. Well, how would you like to see how they treated their 'friend'?]
[Is this going to be sexy?] Peridot asked half-jokingly
[I guess that depends on how you find… Betrayal!] Lapis replied dramatically, as they spoke, images burst forth before Peridots eyes.

With the sensation of sight came a feeling of complete paralysis, not the same lack of control as before but complete restriction. Peridot only narrowly avoided the rising wave of anxiety as the realisation of what it was they were looking at hit them just as hard.
This viewpoint seemed to be from a low hill, overlooking a huge battlefield, discarded weapons were everywhere and gem shards covered the fields like grass.
Arrayed against them was a ragged collection of Gems, apparently in a state of retreat. They quickly spotted Carnelian, standing at the front of the fractured army. They looked like they were shouting orders, waving Gems back, a small horde of the creatures they saw before standing around them.

Peridot would have jumped, if the vice like grip that held their body would allow it, as a voice suddenly boomed forth. It was feminine but strong, the voice of a queen or an empress "This is over!" The voice carried across the fields "All of you, leave Earth now and you will be spared!"
[who?-] Peridot started
[shush, listen] Lapis quickly silenced them
"We are the Crystal Gems and Earth is under our protection!"
A great cheer came up from somewhere behind what Peridot could see.

Then, a second boom made everything vibrate, this one Peridot recognised immediately. A ship entering atmosphere too fast.
When their vision stabilised Peridot saw that the sky was now filled with a gigantic yellow diamond, hanging in the sky like a second sun.
"No, they wouldn't dare…" The voice spoke again, this time a worried whisper.
Conversely the Gems standing down in opposition of what Peridot supposed with apparently 'their side', were celebrating, some jumping into the air and cheering, others turning back from their retreat and starting to rush back towards the hill.
Carnelian they noticed, stood silently, raising their sword in salute.

The giant diamond began to glow, a sickly yellow light focusing along its edges and gathering in the centre. The charge of the opposing gems slowed, some of them looking in confusion.
"Everyone, get behind me! Hurry!" The voice rang out, fearful but defiant and Peridot could hear the sound of many Gems moving at once.
Carnelian was waving their sword in the air, shouting commands once more as they picked up smaller Gems, throwing them away from the battlefield.
Peridots stomach sank as they realised what they were saying
"Run! Run for your lives!"

The light was becoming unbearable, Peridot could feel their strength draining away a deadening numbness settling over their mind like a fog.
Then, with a beautiful chiming sound a pink barring burst forth in front of them, spreading to cover their vision, it looked kind of like a shield, delicate thorn patterns spiralling around it.
Through the semi-translucent barrier Peridot could only just see Carnelian. They dropped their sword, clutching their head as it warped and distorted, they were unfusing, Peridot realised as their body broke down into a bright glow.

Then, a blinding yellow light blanketed everything, whiting out Peridots vision completely.
As the searing light started to clear they realised that their ears were ringing, some noise having deafened them before they could even hear it.
The pink barrier was gone and they were facing up towards the sky. The giant Yellow Diamond still hanging there, now silent and static.
[Lapis… what happened?] Peridot thought groggily
Lapis didn't reply as their view rocked back and forth, slowly straightening up, allowing Peridot to see the devastation before them.
Everything froze, suspended in time [There] Lapis voice carrying a distinctly satisfied air [[look]]

The fields before them was covered in bodies, not gems, but bodies.
[I don't understand] Peridot was confused, but then they saw Jasper, midway through standing up, leaning on the body of the large green gem motionless in front of them.
[They used them as a shield] Lapis barely contained glee echoed in Peridots head
[No, they wouldn't… Show me more!]
[Nope! You're all out of answers! Just accept it, they don't care about anyone] Lapis giggled as their vision started to fade away.
As the disturbing vision faded to darkness Peridot wasn't sure if it was intentional or not but the last thing they saw was Jasper, a tiny spot of light amid the blackness, their hair obscuring their face.
[NO! JUST LET ME SEE-] Peridot shouted, trying to hang onto the vision.

"-I have to-" Peridot fell to the ground as feeling returned to their body.
They groaned groggily, lying on the hard floor. It's solidity a welcome signifier of reality.
Slowly they became aware of a strange vibration running down their arm, opening their eyes they saw that they had fallen forwards, their hand passing into the containment barrier of the cell.
They regarded it foggily, the glowing lines rushing down towards their elbow.
Then the pain hit them.

Peridot screamed, rolling away as fast as they could. Their forearm flickering and glitching like a broken hologram.
Tears flooded down their face as they hugged their arm to their chest, cracks now seared into it like a delicate tracery. It was worse than anything they had ever experienced, they half expected to just involuntarily retreat into their gem but there was no such solace.
Once they had recovered enough to open their eyes without it feeling like someone was jamming knives into them, Peridot looked up at Lapis.
They were sitting cross-legged, regarding Peridot intensely.

"You know you're kind of cute, all curled up and pathetic like that" Lapis grinned in a way that momentarily reminded them of Jasper. It wasn't pleasant.
"Go… Jump… in the ocean" Peridot gasped for air, trying to focus some of their pain into anger but only getting exhaustion.
Lapis just laughed at them "Well, Earth does have lots of Ocean. That's why I was sent there after all."
"Just show me what happened after, I need to see what they did" Peridot tried to force the weakness out of their voice, steadying their breath.
"Hmmmmm…" Lapis stroked their chin, looking up at the ceiling "Beg"
"Please! I need to know what happened!" Peridot struggled to their knees, bowing their head

"NOPE!" Lapis feel back, holding their stomach and laughing "Ahhhhh… I'm tired now, maybe if you're lucky I might give you some more questions later"
"WHAT?" Peridot glared at them "Gems don't need to sleep you ass!"
Lapis shrugged "There's not much else to do when you're trapped in a mirror. Besides, it's fun. Making you wait that is." With that Lapis lay back and closed their eyes, a broad grin on their face.

"No! You can't do that!" Peridot shouted. Lapis just let out a loud snore.
"Argh!" Peridot slammed their fist on the floor, letting out another, even louder scream as pain shot up it sending white sparks bursting across their vision.
Lapis let out a long, drawn out snore, louder than the last one.

Peridot picked themselves up and straightened their goggles with their good wand, clutching the other close to their chest. "Stupid, vague, goblin" they muttered, turning and walking unsteadily back towards their quarters.