A/N: So... "Story for Steven" finally aired and I've yet to watch it. I bet I'll work in some elements from that episode if I ever get around to watching it; hopefully, that'll be fun. Anyway, here's chapter 13 of Young and Beautiful, everyone.
A few days later, Carole and her children were at the funeral parlor to say goodbye to their beloved husband and father Jared. Sitting beside them were Greg, Rose, Jared's parents Erin and Leroy, his sisters Priscilla and Dorothy and Barbra, and his brother Carlton. Neither Zirconia nor the rest of the Gems were present, for they'd gone on an important mission concerning giant Gem slugs.
"I'd like to welcome you to the memorial for Jared Zimmerman." said the funeral director. "Saying a few words on behalf of the departed will be his widow Carole."
Carole slowly got up out of her seat and trudged her way to the podium. As soon as she was directly facing everybody still seated, she took a deep breath and began.
"What can you say about my husband?" she asked aloud. "What the hell can you say about my husband? I will admit that he wasn't the most considerate person I'd ever met nor was he the smartest or even the most talented, but he was the most committed husband and father ever. He'd... he'd always try to find time to spend with the girls or Parker because he knew, he knew that he had to be there no matter what. He especially knew that with me. He stood up for me when no one would and I'll always be grateful for that. Thank you."
With that said, she went back to her seat and sobbed quietly.
"I'm sorry this happened, Carole." Rose murmered. "I'll tell you what: next time Zoisite comes around, we'll get him."
"How do you know that?!" Carole snapped. "How do you know that he won't just go off killing more and more people than he did before?! How do you know you'll be able to stop him?"
"We know because Garnet can see into the future and because one day... I hope Zoisite realizes that everything he's ever said about the human race is wrong."
"Rose, did you even see what'd happened to Jared?"
"Yes, but there's still hope I think."
Carole shook her head and sighed. So far, the Gems hadn't done much to stop him but maybe they would then.
Sure enough, a week had passed and Zoisite was back for more; like last time, he'd brought along Lemhi and Rodalquilarite for the ride. The trio once again made their way to Eureka where the Crystal Gems were waiting, and the showdown seemed inevitably closer now.
"Hi, guys!" Amethyst yelled out. "Where ya been? We were starting to think you were dead or something." She then guffawed not a minute later. "Just kidding. C'mon, Z, what are you waiting for?"
"I'm waiting for you to shut up and just throw the first punch." Zoisite snarked. "Or throw the first whip, spear, umbrella, whatever works."
"You got it!" Jade shouted right before summoning her hammer. With the weapon now in hand, she now darted her eyes towards each of the trio and asked, "Who wants to go first?"
"I volunteer!" Rodalquilarite cried out fearlessly.
"Roda, no!" Lemhi yelped. "Let us handle this! Don't you remember the last time we had to rescue you?"
"Who cares? This is my chance!"
Lemhi sighed hopelessly, knowing that she was too stubborn to be persuaded any further. "Do as you wish, then."
Rodalquilarite wiggled her butt fiercely and summoned her rampuri from her crack. With the blade now in hand, she glared with confidence at her equally-green opponent and struck first. The rampuri clashed against the base of the hammer and flew right out of her hand. Pearl was next to summon her weapon and soon the rest followed.
"Have at thee, succubus!" Pearl cried as she slashed the long spear at Zoisite's head. However, when he managed to dodge it, it aggravated her to no end. "C'mon, Zoisite! Take it like a Gem!"
"Tut, like that's supposed to scare me!" Zoisite taunted at his former child bride. "You can do better than that, can you?"
Before Pearl could retort anything, Garnet stepped in and whacked the Chancellor across the face and into a nearby wall. He immediately got back up and spat out any grayish-white blood that'd seeped from his mouth.
"Hey, you didn't even give me a chance!" the pure white Gem yelled as the remaining blood dribbled down his chin.
"You never had a chance!" Garnet yelled back.
"Oh yeah? Challenge me then!"
"You want a challenge? I'll give you a challenge. Just try me, bitch!"
While Zoisite and Garnet prepared to duke it out, Lemhi and Rodalquilarite went after the rest of the Crystal Gems (mainly Amethyst, Pearl and Jade). Lemhi utilized his hatchet to the best of his ability by whacking Amethyst's whip away until it was nothing, then lifting her up in the air like she was nothing and tossing her Pearl's way. Amethyst got back up straight away and went into a spin dash attack, paving the way for several bounces off the walls in a style resembling a pinball and three times a kick in the head.
"This is intense!" Rodalquilarite announced to her companions.
"Yes, we know, Roda!" Lemhi sighed in exasperation. He really didn't have time for this shit. "Now could you please just focus on Jade? She's about to charge you."
Rodalquilarite turned around and sure enough, Jade was coming right at her at full speed. With just barely enough time to think, the little green Gem threw her rampuri at Jade's shoulder and watched as the blade made its mark and dug through her skin and muscle tissue.
"Gahhh!" Jade roared as she felt her opponent's rampuri in her shoulder. "Goddamn, that hurt!"
She wrestled with the decision on whether or not to pull it out for a bit before deciding to just go with it and continue fighting.
Jade then smirked and yelled, "Hey Roda, heads up!" before underhandedly throwing the weapon into Rodalquilarite's chest gem, severely cracking it.
A/N: Alright, readers! Now's the time to vote on whether Rodalquilarite will live or die in the next chapter. (By the way, I'll most likely end this story on chapter 15 because I'm starting to run out of patience and I'm sure most of you have gotten tired of waiting as well.) So until then, have fun!