Change

Was what she saw in her 'companion'? Even after separating; Lapis could still feel the bloodlust radiating from jasper, but something in her eyes was different. Maybe it was duty or focus, but Lapis was just glad they were not focused on her. She was no longer the forest fire going after any and all things around her, but more like a laser aimed at one target that will burn through anything in its path. Besides all of that the Jasper didn't change, except for the obviously fractured gem where her nose should be.

"Wh…where are we going." The blue gem said meekly. Any confidence she once had in the ocean long since evaporated once on land. Jasper didn't answer and never turned to face the gem she held by the arm. She only looked forward and walked. How long they walked no longer mattered to the orange gem. In her brief eternity in the ocean, she lost her grip on time, yet gained boundless patience. The very thinking of time made her want to break the blue gem right there, but a part of her made her stop those thoughts. She had a plan and needed to stick to it.

"Jasper please tell me where…" Lapis said before feeling the grip of the other gem tighten on her arm. In a quick motion she felt her arm pull forward, hard enough to dislocate. Luckily her body went with her arm as she found herself thrown to the ground. "We're meeting Peridot in the Kindergarten. Talk again and you die." Jasper said in a whisper. Her smoldering eyes stared into Lapis, burning through her.

Panic

Lapis found her body shivering. She was exhausted from the diffusion yet Jasper was completely fine, deadly fine. In these brief moments Lapis learned of the strength she lacked. She slowly tried to stand before feeling the familiar grasp around her left arm, yanking her to her feet. Jasper's eyes found the ground as they walked. She didn't want to admit that this was Peridot's plan in case they failed. Jasper never failed and disregarded anything Peridot did or said, yet here she was. Jasper shook her head and continued on their trek. She could not dwell in the past, as the past is not now. All Jasper has left is the now.

As the ground soon turned to sand and the sand to craggy rock, Jasper slowed her pace; staring at the large drill spires left from the old war. Inactive drills still buried within the once fertile ground. A necessary evil Jasper thought as they passed the endless wholes burled into the landscape. The wholes that birthed the gems destined to destroy the planet that created them. One whole stood out; the top with of the whole in the wall with a slightly triangular shape. Jasper shook her head at the obvious marker and released her grasp on Lapis. "Peridot get out here!" Jasper yelled and waited. Lapis bit her lip and looked at the large gem grow more annoyed by the second. She opened her mouth and felt the gaze of Jasper, sealing her voice away with her sight alone.

Before Jasper's temper could flair; a light poured out from the whole in the wall and slowly opened in the form of an average door. The green gem rubbed her eyes before opening them wide; focusing on her escort.

"Jasper…how!? I thought you…the ship." Peridot said before shutting her mouth as Jasper raised her fist. The green gem quickly closed her eyes, expecting to feel her chin rattle, but instead she felt fingers rub through her hair. A start contrast from what she expected.

"What happened to your foot?" Jasper inquired as she pointed to what used to be a whole leg. A green hue resonating on Peridot's face as she looked away.

"The crystal clods happened. I had to jettison my foot to escape!" Peridot said, half growling with every word, thinking of each incident, especially of the Steven. "Where have you been!? I really could have…" Peridot yelled before really inspecting the Orange Gem. The crack in her gem on full display. "This isn't good. Jasper how long have you been like this. The green gem said and hopped around Jasper, looking for more injuries.

"Nothing happened." Jasper spat fast before picking up Peridot by the waist, holding her under her free arm. "Have you accomplished anything since I have been gone?" Jasper said and walked into the cave. Inside was more like a compound. Test tubes and monitors littered the tables and walls. Peridot, now glowing green, coughed to try to gain her composure (as much as one can while being held in such a way)

"I have been studying the shattered gems left on this planet from the war. They have been reanimating somehow. I had originally believed that gem zombification had manifested…" Peridot let out a sigh when he noticed neither Jasper nor Lapis had been paying her attention. "Corruption. Something about this planet does things to dead gems." Peridot finished finally getting the attention of her companions.

Corruption

"So Yellow Diamond was right. We can't let whatever happened on this planet to reach Homeworld. This planet needs to be destroyed" Jasper said and let Peridot go, her body hitting the ground. "How many destabilizers have you created?" Jasper said and walked around the compound inspecting the many gem fragment specimens.

"This clodding planet is too primitive. I could only make one and even that one only has about one charge." Peridot said before looking over to the blue gem, standing by herself. "Why is this traitor with you? You should have left her on the ship" Peridot's eyes narrowed and her digits slowly spun, forming her canon.

"I'm no traitor!" Lapis spat and turned to look at Peridot. "You don't understand anything?" Her water wings slowly forming, but not enough to give her flight.

"You lied about the crystal gems. For all we know you could have freed the Steven. You could have blown up our ship! You clodding traitor!" The palm of her hand now a whole with light generating from inside.

"The enough!" Jasper yelled, punching of the test tubes, the fragment gems falling to the floor. "As much as I hate that weak thing, she is still a Homeworld gem and will be judged appropriately. We don't have time for this!" The outburst left the green and blue gem stunned. This couldn't possibly be the Jasper Peridot knew. Something was wrong; very wrong.

"Jasper what happened to your gem?" Peridot said as she hopped to Jasper, leaving the blue gem where she stood. Jasper didn't more nor say anything. "Jasper what's going on with you?" Peridot said before gasping at the sight of Jasper. Little fractures covered her hand up to her forearm. "Jasper retreat to your gem." Peridot ordered, touching the orange gem's hand. For the briefest of moment, she forgot she was talking to jasper.

I will never retreat!

Jasper yelled, throwing a punch connecting with Peridot's jaw. In an instant the green gem was the floor. "Don't you dare forget your place again Peridork." Jasper said and moved away. Peridot laid there, gritting her teeth. This wasn't the first time she had to be reminded of who was in command, yet this punch hurt a lot less, which hurt a lot more. Jasper held back…or maybe…

The ground began to shake, making Jasper even more annoyed. "Maybe it's the crystal Gems." Lapis said trying to break the tension in the air.

"Peridot get the destabilizer." Jasper said and walked back to the door of the cave. "If I am not back, use it on the first Crystal Gem you see and get Lapis out of here. The mission comes first." Jasper said and walked out.

"You idiot!" Peridot yelled and hoped to the door, destabilizer in hand.

"Peridot, Jasper said…" Lapis said before Peridot fell from the hopping and slowly got back up.

"That gem is not Jasper. What did you do to her?!" She yelled and punched the ground. Her body still hurting from the punch. "She hits way harder than that. There is no way she can fights those clods. What did you do Lapis!?"

A/N

I wasn't expect people to like this clodding story since it's my first time, but I am glad you guys are. Again all criticism is wanted. I think putting out a chapter every Thursday is a good way to write, edit and revise any ideas for the next chapter. Oh yea and I don't plan on any romance with Lapis right now lol.