Chapter Five: Nighttime Menace
Late at night, Steven awoke to the sound of rustling.
Malachite slept on the couch downstairs, completely oblivious to the scraping sound.
Steven got a flashlight and looked over the edge at Malachite, then over at the door, where a weird thing looked back at him, glowing red eyes and all.
Its claws shone in the moonlight.
Steven yelped, waking Malachite, who was slightly groggy.
He got up, sword in-hand.
"What is it?"
Steven pointed at the creature, which was now scratching the doorframe instead of the windows.
Azurite walked out of his room, setting down a glass of milk which he had literally swallowed as he entered the kitchen.
Malachite looked at him, obviously confused as to why Steven and Malachite were awake s late.
Azurite looked at the thing.
"Steven, stay back. We'll handle this."
Malachite and Azurite leaped out the window, the creature targeting them.
Malachite turned his back on Azurite, spinning on one foot before turning and jumping.
Azurite walked toward him, both arms behind his head.
Malachite did some backflips until he was near Azurite, who was now behind him.
Azurite jumped onto Malachite's shoulders, their bodies glowing blue.
The creature was now attempting to run at them, its stubby arms flailing in the wind.
Kyanite rose, two double-bladed swords in two hands while the two above were on his waist.
The creature was now standing on its hind legs, more than half as tall as Kyanite.
Kyanite tried to slash at the creature but it deflected the attacks with its claws.
Finally landing a hit, the sword cut off an arm, which kind of poofed away.
Wait...
Was this a Serendibite?!
Serendibite were Black Diamond's knights. They could shapeshift like any regular Gem, but with a drawback; they kept that shape for a while.
If one of their limbs was cut off, it would "poof away," leaving the Serendibite without that limb until it regenerated.
Serendibite weren't even the toughest Diamond warriors out there.
Unless Iolite had framed the Serendibite too, there was no logical reason for it to be here.
Kyanite thought about all this.
Serendibite clawed at the sword, cutting off one of the blades.
The sword reverted to the form of Malachite's.
Kyanite swiveled around just in time to block another hit from Serendibite.
He had hit it where its Gem was, on the shoulder, just like Black Diamond's.
Kyanite bubbled it, unfusing just as Steven went outside.
Steven circled around them happily.
"That was so cool! Why don't you two fuse that much?"
The two Gems exchanged looks.
"That's a story for another time."