Steven Universe © Rebecca Sugar/Cartoon Network

Kingdom Hearts © Disney/Square-Enix/Tetsuya Nomura


At the Beach House, Pearl explained in detail to Bismuth about the fallout of the Gem War,
the origins of the Corrupted Gems...and, Everything Else that recently happened.

..Needless to say, Bismuth was left utterly shocked at this.

"holy shale.." said Bismuth, Finally. "so..those Monsters that I saw on my way back here?"

Pearl looked down. "yes..alot of them are our old friends." said Pearl, sadly.
"Even Rose couldn't heal them..So, we had them bubbled for both their own, and everyone else's safety."

"But, thanks to Victor, we have to hunt them down and re-bubble them all over again." said Garnet.

"Whoa, SLOW DOWN, Garnet..This is all ALOT to take in all at once!' said Bismuth, holding her head.

"my apologies..take all the time you need." said Garnet.

"shale.." muttered Bismuth, gripping her head. "All this because Pink Diamond was shattered."

Pearl grimaced at this..even Steven looked uncomfortable.

"I..I guess Rose had the right idea when she had me poofed, and bubbled." mused Bismuth.
"Crack, I never should've made the Breaking Point. This whole thing is my fault."

Lapis scoffed at this, still eyeing Bismuth like a hawk.

"Don't blame yourself, Bismuth." said Pearl, softly.
"None of us expected the Diamonds to do something like this...not even Garnet."

Garnet looked down. Still feeling regret as what she considered her 'greatest failure'.

"Why don't we talk about something else." spoke Steven, wishing to lighten the mood.

Bismuth looked up "You mean like those..what did you call them again?"

"The Heartless." spoke Garnet. "They are like Gems, only with bodies made of Dark Matter, instead of Light."

"Which means they can seriously harm our light forms." said Pearl.
"We are as vulnerable to them as humans are to..well, Everything."

Bismuth frowned. "that bad, huh?"

"The WORST." said Amethyst.

"Well, maybe I can make a weapon that can-"

"I'm afraid it isn't that simple." said Zach, he finally stepped up (much to Lapis' concern.)

Bismuth looked to the new human face. "Oh, your..umm.."

"Zachery Ligero." said Zach, as he extended his hand to Bismuth. "but, just call me Zach."

Lapis tensed up as Bismuth gripped Zach's hand (which was rather 'tiny' compared to the gem's.)

"Nice to meet you, Zach." said Bismuth. "So, what did you mean by-"

"Those creatures have an advanced regeneration ability." explained Zach.
"even the upgraded weapons that you last made for the Crystal Gems only poofed them temporarily."

Bismuth raised an eyebrow. "then..how can we-"

"With this." said Zach, summoning his Keyblade.

Bismuth stared with starry eyes at the weapon, awestruck. "my stars.."

"I don't know where this came from.." spoke Zach, moving the Keyblade around.
"but, it's the only thing that can destroy those creatures."

"And, to make things even more complicated: only Zach can use it." said Pearl.

"What!?" exclaimed Bismuth. "but..HOW?!"

Zach extended his arm out to Bismuth. "Try and take it, and see."

Puzzled, Bismuth reached out and took the weapon from Zach's hand.
She then smiled as she examined it, admiring the shape and structure of the key-shaped sword.

..even mildly envious that she didn't forge such a weapon herself.


(*SHIIING!*)


"WHAT TH-!?" Bismuth gasped as the weapon disappeared in a flash of light..

..and, reappeared in Zach's hand with the very same light.

"See what I mean?" said Zach.

Bismuth was awestruck at what just happened.

"It's..almost as if the weapon CHOSE Zach to be it's wielder." mused Pearl. "It will accept no other."

Bismuth stared blankly. "incredible.."

"Yeah, well..unfortunately, we have an enemy who has the same kind of weapon." said Zach.
"So, despite me not really being a skillful at fencing, I..k-kinda HAVE to fight."

Bismuth scowled. "so..we have more to worry about than Homeworld, and the Diamonds."

Garnet frowned. "I fear these Heartless are far worst than the Diamonds.
If left unchecked, they could very well destroy us, AND what is left of Homeworld."

"shale..never thought I'd see the day where Homeworld, and the Diamonds
weren't the worst thing that we all had to worry about." spoke Bismuth, stunned.

"AHEM.." Everyone looked to Lapis, who rose up.
"Well, this has been real..something. But, we REALLY must be going."

Lapis then grasped both Peridot and Zach. "let'sgobacktothebarnnow." said Lapis, rapidly.

"Oh, YEAH! that's right.." spoke Peridot. "I still need to start building Zach's house!"

"YES, I we need to be quick about it, too." said Lapis, trying to leave the room.
"Zach is facing eviction from his apartment, and I don't want him thrown out onto the street."

"ooh..that's rough, buddy." said Greg, as he looked to Zach.

Bismuth looked puzzled. "I'm sorry, what are you talking about?"

Much to Lapis' chagrin, Zach turned back to Bismuth.

"It's complicated..See, most people on my planet have to pay currency to maintain living quarters.
But, I fell a little behind on my payments, and I'll be forced out very soon."

Bismuth frowned. "That..sounds like something the Diamonds would do to other gems.
You should be free to live wherever you want!, and not be told you have to leave your home."

"I..suppose that's right." mused Zach. "But, it's no big deal..I was planning on moving out anyway."

"To here?" questioned Bismuth.

"No, to where Lapis and Peridot live at" said Zach.

Bismuth glanced at the Blue and Green gems standing afar.

"You mean..they don't live here, either?" questioned Bismuth. "Aren't they crystal gems, too?"

Lapis scoffed in response.

"Actually, we're more like "Crystal TEMPS." said Peridot, with pride.

"All the same, this Beach House isn't very big." explained Pearl as she approached.
"They live on a farm that belonged to Steven's Father's family. It's big, and has plenty of wide open space."

Zach smiled. "And, since I recently got married to Lapis, I really should live-"

"Married?" said Bismuth, confused. "what's that mean?"

Zach grimaced. Feeling like he was speaking to a very tall, buff child.

"pearl..garnet. help me out here." muttered Zach.

Garnet approached Bismuth. "Marriage is a Human Ritual here on earth." began Garnet.
"It is like Fusion. where two people with a strong bond exchange vows, and become life partners."

Bismuth pondered for a moment..and, then it clicked in her mind.

"OHH!..So, Zach and that Lapis over there are like Ruby and Sapphire." mused Bismuth.

Garnet smiled. "That is a good way of describing it."

Bismuth then shook Zach's hand. "I'm so happy for you two!
You must be someone special to have bonded with a Lapis Lazuli."

Zach raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Well, everyone knows Lapis' are Terraformers." explained Bismuth.
"They travel from planet-to-planet, shaping it's landscapes to-"

"OKAY, we REALLY need to go." interrupted Lapis, as she grabbed Zach and dragged him away.

"Hey, why don't I help?!" spoke up Bismuth. "I used to construct buildings on Homeworld, so I could-"

"NO!" snapped Lapis, suddenly.

Everyone froze as they looked at Lapis.

"We..can do this on our own." spoke Lapis, forcing her tone to be softer. "We don't NEED your help."

"Are you SURE, Lapis?" spoke Peridot. "Progress might go faster if-"

Lapis cast a glare at Peridot..which left the gem stunned.
Zach stroked his chin..and, then took Lapis' hand. "We'll go on home." began Zach.

"We have a mess to clean up, and you all probably have some catching up to do, anyway."

Pearl stared. "I suppose.."

"Great. Let us know if something else comes up." said Zach,
as he, Lapis and Peridot stepped onto the Warp Pad. "Don't be strangers."

Bismuth waved. "BYE!..Nice meeting you."

Lapis avoided eye contact as a beam of light rose up, and warped the trio away.

Bismuth then scratched her head. "Is it just me..or, did that Lapis seem irritated to you."

"That's usually normal for her." said Pearl. "Though, she wasn't like that earlier..I wonder what's wrong."

Garnet made a soft sound as she adjusted her shades.


((*SHIIIING!*))


In a flash of light, Lapis, Zach and Peridot appeared atop the Warp Pad near the Barn.

As Peridot walked off, Lapis watched with a sad look on her face.
She regretted the glare she gave her friend earlier the moment she saw her reaction.

"You gonna tell me what that was all about?" spoke Zach, as he approached Lapis.

Lapis looked at her husband. "I..don't know what you mean."

One look at Zach's face made it clear that Lapis couldn't brush this off so easily.

"You don't like Bismuth, do you?" said Zach, noting the obvious.

Lapis said nothing..she just looked away.

"It's understandable.." continued Zach. "She made a weapon that can shatter gems,
and tried to kill Steven once. It's perfectly reasonable for you to not trust her."

"that isn't the MAIN reason I don't trust her." said Lapis, finally.

Zach looked at Lapis. "then, what is?"

Lapis turned and faced Zach, looking directly into his eyes.

"The Great Gem War..Six Thousand Years Ago." began Lapis, her voice shaky.
"B-Bismuth. she..She's the one, who..p-p-poofed me. and, then homeworld-"

Lapis then choked, unable to finish her sentence.

Zach's eyes widened at this. "are you sure?"

Lapis nodded her head, tears present in her eyes.

"I can never forget her face." spoke Lapis. "it was the last thing I remember..before-"

"oh, honey..(hugs Lapis) i'm sorry."

Lapis accepted Zach's embrace, rubbing her head against his like a cat.

"it was so hard..being in the same room with her." spoke Lapis, still in Zach's embrace.
"I wanted to..I..I don't know what I would've done. But, I wanted to do..SOMETHING."

Zach pulled away enough to look at Lapis. "I'm proud of you for restraining yourself."

Lapis wiped away her tears. "I don't want her anywhere NEAR me..or Peridot. And, Especially not you."

Zach breathed out softly. "lapis..I don't think that is possible. Not when we're all on the same team.
And, besides. What if Peridot is right, and we may need Bismuth's help to build our house."

Lapis took note that Zach referred to the house as 'THEIRS' this time, and not just 'HIS.'

"we don't need her help. We can do it on our own, all THREE of us."

Zach took a moment to look up at the barn that Lapis and Peridot called their home for many months.
While the modifications they made seemed 'normal' to them, it was a malformed mess from Zach's perspective.

"riiight.." spoke Zach, his tone saying it all.

"We CAN do this, Zach. Trust us." said Lapis, desperate for Zach to side with her.

"I trust you and Peri with my life.." said Zach. "but, I can't say the same for my landlord.
Who is libel to evict me earlier than he is suppose to at the drop of a hat!"

Lapis frowned at this.

"I understand how you feel about Bismuth." spoke Zach, looking at Lapis.
"and, the Last Thing I want is to put you in a situation that worsens your anxiety.

But, building our house could take Weeks, perhaps even MONTHS.
and, unlike you and Peridot, I cannot physically live in a barn for more than a day."

Lapis growled as she looked down. Not liking where this conversation was going.

"lapis..I'm sorry." said Zach, as he looked at his gem wife. "But, if things get bad,
you may need to 'tolerate' Bismuth being here just long enough to finish our house.

I mean..It's not like she's going to move in with us."

Lapis looked at Zach..then, let out a sharp sigh. "fine..she can help. but ONLY if we absolutely need her.
And, if she IS going to have to be here..I won't be." said Lapis, her tone cold.

Zach sighed. "okay..if that's what you want."

Lapis smiled weakly. then, hugged Zach before flying off somewhere.

Zach then looked..and, saw Peridot peering from a hiding spot.

"How much of that did you hear?" said Zach.

Peridot emerged from her hiding spot, and approached. "enough." answered Peridot.

"shale, I haven't seen Lapis this angry since we caught Jasper stalking the barn one time."

Zach breathed out sharply. "she can't avoid this forever.
Eventually, she'll have to confront the source of her anguish..and, make peace with herself."

"I think we should postpone that encounter for as long as possible." said Peridot.

Zach rubbed his temples. "god..it feels like everything I did to help Lapis is becoming undone."

"Not entirely.." spoke Peridot, as she approached Zach.
"She held herself back, remember? This is bad, sure. but..it could've gone alot worse."

Zach looked down at Peridot. "I can't deny that you have a point."

Normally, Peridot would feel proud at being right..but, she was more concerned for Lapis.

"So, what are we going to do about this?" asked Peridot.

Zach bore a stern expression. "Well, the next chance I get, I am going to talk to Bismuth.
She needs to know the extent of what she did, and maybe..Maybe she and Lapis can resolve this peacefully."

Peridot looked uncertain. "That's a mighty big "MAYBE."

"I don't expect this to be an easy fix." said Zach.

There was a long silence.

"ahem.." began Peridot. "would you..like to look over the plans I made for your house so far?"

"sure." said Zach, welcoming the much needed distraction from the current drama.

[End of Part 26]


[Author Notes]

Originally, I was going to have predictably Lapis lash out at Bismuth in this chapter.
But, I decided against it, and thought it would be better for Lapis to just avoid Bismuth like the plague.

Something I am not going to make easy as revealed in this chapter.

Apologies in advance to SU:F fans who have grown used to Bismuth
being the unofficial third to the Barnmates team, but Again, I felt this is a drama
that needed to happen in the show. So, Bismuth's gonna have to earn Lapis' trust.

..and, not just rush into it on account of White Diamond.

I felt it was also important to show that while Lapis is a better person than she was before,
that doesn't mean her character has changed completely.

Old habits are hard to break, and can relapse back into them.

Afterall: You can train a Lion to do tricks on command, BUT it can still eat you if you forget to feed it.

(I don't know where that came from, but I wanted make some kind of metaphor that makes sense.)


[EDIT]

After going back to the Steven Universe Wiki, I found I made a slight error in lore.
Turns out, Bismuth only poofed Lapis, but didn't crack her gem

(that happened from a random Homeworld Gem stepping on the mirror that held Lapis' gemstone.)

STILL, this won't change how Lapis feels about Bismuth.
So, apart from altering certain dialogue, the Lapis/Bismuth plot is still ongoing.