I'm going to be completely honest with you guys, I'm making most of this up as I go along. I have a bit of an idea of where I want to go with this but other than that this is off the top of my head. Now that you know that on to the chapter!
Episode: Mirror Gem
It has been a week since my encounter with Spectra and I still have not spoken with either the gems or Steven since then. To be honest I was surprised they hadn't come by to check on me since I hadn't given them an explanation for my absence from them and I doubt Connie would break her promise to keep my encounter with Spectra a silent matter between the two of us. Thus I was left to my own devices and thoughts as I tried to piece together what I knew about the gems in order to come up with a logical explanation as to why it appeared as though they didn't care about gems once the became corrupted. What made it worse was that I also hadn't seen clockwork since the time travel incident. To afraid of what he might say in case he was disappointed in me. But as much as I wanted to patch things up with him that wasn't my biggest worry as my attention was mainly on the Crystal Gems.
Yet as hard as I tried I could not find one, there was no solid answer as my mind fell short of a complete understanding of the gems routine. And without the input of the very people I had been avoiding I doubted my mind would even develop one. Therefore, unable to put it off any longer I came to the decision to return to the temple in order to get the Gem's side of the story. To try one last attempt at easing my conscious and fully dispelling any discomfort that developed due to Spectra's words. So I forced myself to put my mind on pause before it could continue its spiral of memories and thoughts in trying to come up with an answer ,that simply wasn't within my ability to grasp just yet, and headed towards the temple.
Of course, fate seemed to have other plans as before I could even make it to the beach I ended up running into Steven as he was talking to Lars and Sadie at the Big Donut. And despite my want to finally resolve my inner conflict over the Gem's position on corrupted gems I was unwilling to simply ignore Steven in order to do it.
"Danny!" Steven greeted me warmly as I walked over to him, his smile a welcome sight as he gave me a small hug in greeting.
"Hey Steven," I greeted him as I could already feel my mood brightening as Steven seemed to just have that effect, "how have you been?"
"I've been great! School's out for the summer and Pearl let me have this cool mirror!" Steven explained as he showed me said object. An elegant silver mirror in his hand with a gemstone on the back, yet it appeared as though the gem was cracked.
"That's nice Steven but I have to go talk to the gems actually," I told him, for I was eager to talk to them.
"Aww, but I haven't seen you during this entire week," Steven complained as he frowned.
"Oh, alright I'll tell you what. I'll hang out with you for half the day, and then I'll go talk to the gems, okay?" I proposed.
"Okay!" Steven agreed, his mood considerably brightened as he grinned at me before directing his attention to include Lars and Sadie, "I'm so excited for summer, are you guys excited?"
"I think I'm excited as I can get about setting up extra seating for the summer rush," Sadie admitted as she pointed to the extra tables behind her, "but Lars has big plans."
"You bet I do! All those out of town summer babes travelling away from home without their boyfriends, if you know what I mean," Lars spoke suggestively as he waggled his eyebrows.
"Nope!" Steven admitted cheerfully.
"Believe me Steven that's a good thing," I spoke as I ruffled his hair affectionately before turning my attention to Lars, "besides if they don't have their boyfriends with them they'll likely either have their parents or friends."
"Eh, I could still get a few numbers," Lars spoke optimistically as he shrugged.
"Yeah, well maybe I'll meet a new friend," Sadie spoke up, drawing the attention away from Lars.
"That's a great idea, a special new friend to have fun on the beach with in the summer," Steven interjected, his face scrunched up in thought, "maybe if I keep using the mirror to guide me I'll walk backwards into my own beach summer fun buddy!"
"And I'll walk next to you normally to make sure you aren't run over by a car," I added as I followed after Steven who had picked up his pace. No doubt eager to find his beach summer fun buddy.
"Don't worry, I'll be careful," Steven told me, though his statement proved to be false as we turned the corner and right into the path of the mayor's car.
"Watch where you're going you little!" I thought I heard Lars' say as I grabbed Steven and flew us to the other side of the boardwalk and out of the car's path. For despite being in human form I was still able to use my ghost powers to a certain extent.
"What just happened?" Steven questioned.
"What just happened is that we almost got ran over after you said you'd be careful," I told him simply, only to hear Steven's laughter in response. Looking at him to see it wasn't Steven laughing but the mirror he was holding using a clip of Steven's laughter earlier.
"You work!" Steven spoke joyfully as he held the mirror higher up in joy, "Danny, Pearl said this mirror was a gem artifact that could show places and people. But when she tried to use it earlier it didn't work which is why she gave it to me, but it turns out it really does work!"
"That's great Steven," I spoke truthfully as I turned to the mirror in his hand, "so, you can repeat previous events you've seen?"
"Yeah!" The mirror responded, again using a clip of Steven to do so.
"Hello Beach City my friends!" a booming voice interrupted, drawing the attention of me and Steven. Turning towards the noise I was greeted with the sight of the mayor standing on top of his van as he was no doubt about to address the citizens with another re-election speech. And since it couldn't hurt Steven and I walked over to better hear what he had to say.
"It's great to be here to celebrate the coming season, a warm summer breeze wafts through the air," the mayor spoke, though my attention was somewhat diverted as STeven suddenly emitted a raspberry into his hand. Causing me and a few others to chuckle at his antics.
"We all look forward to the sounds of the summer season," Mayor Dewey continued, undeterred by the noise even as I and the mirror repeated Steven's actions to the laughter of the others gathered to hear the mayor's speech, "the smells of the busy boardwalk. The hot, wet ocean wind. The time to take that pressure that's built up all year and just let it out."
I could see him getting frustrated as his speech continued but I couldn't help but laugh as the mirror continued the noise. It was hilarious and the timing for each emission of noise was perfect in my opinion as I wasn't the only one having a giggle fit over it.
"Wow you pick that up fast," Steven complimented the mirror as I struggled to compose myself.
"That is hilarious," I told the mirror in between my laughter as the mayor drove away in a huff. The crowd dispersing as it left the beach to me and Steven.
"Yeah!" Steven agreed as we both shared a look, "you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"That we use the newfound hilarity of the mirror to terrorize beach city with it's noise making powers?" I questioned as I gained a devious grin.
"Exactly!" Steven agreed hastily as we both took off to find other places where the mirror could disrupt the calm day with hilarity. Both of us instinctively taking off towards Funland as that would be where the most people were and as such, the place that we could cause the most mayhem at.
Although it was only thanks to Steven's friendship with Mr. Smiley that we didn't end up being completely banned from Funland as attendees of the theme park weren't hesitant to voice their complaints once we let the mirror carry on for a bit to long with the gag. Although our daily ban from the park didn't stop us in the slightest as we simply made our way to another establishment on the boardwalk. Hitting up the Big Donut, Stew Fish Pizza, and Fryman's all in one nonstop giggle fest extravaganza! As Steven and I so lovingly decided to call it.
Though my part in the extravaganza had to be cut short as I realized that most of the day had gone by quite fast due to our fun and as such I did need to meet with the gems now if I wanted to have my chat with them.
"Hey Steven," I spoke, grabbing his attention, "I'm going to go see the gems okay? I'll catch up with you on the beach once I'm done."
"Okay!" Steven agreed cheerily as he bid me farewell and I found myself making the long trek across the beach and towards the temple alone.
Maybe it was the fact that I was taking the trip alone, or that I knew the conversation was likely to result in a truth I didn't want to hear. But the entire walk I had a heavy sense of foreboding weighing on me like a cloud filled to the brim with moisture and ready to give birth to a full on rain storm. Okay, maybe not my best analogy but it was the best one I could come up with.
Without letting myself have the luxury of pausing at the temple's door I simply walked right in. Slightly amazing to find all three gems on the couch as though they were waiting for something, or someone.
"Uh, hi," I spoke lamely as I was caught off guard.
"Danny," Garnet greeted me simply as she gestured to the open armchair, "have a seat, you have something you wish to talk to us about don't you?"
"Yes," I spoke slowly, unsure of what to make of the situation as I sat down, "but how did you know that?"
"Call it a hunch," Garnet spoke, giving me nothing else as she gestured for me to speak.
"Okay, well, I wanted to talk to you guys about bubbling gems," I started off, easing into the conversation rather than rush into accusations, "and what happens to them gems in the temple?"
"Why, they're bubbled of course," Pearl spoke, "I thought you already knew that."
"I do," I spoke, a bit more forcefully than I would have liked as I could already tell that this conversation would not end well, "but that's not what I meant. What I mean is what happens to them after they are bubbled and sent to the temple? Do they just stay in the bubbles until you find a place for them or do you let them out to try and find out how to help them?"
"Oh goodness no," Pearl spoke again before Garnet or Amethyst could, "the corrupted gems stored within the temple are far too dangerous to let out. And even if we did let them out relocating them would only cause destruction to the area they would be sent to. It just isn't safe for them anywhere else but inside the bubbles."
"But don't you want to help them? How can you do that if you just leave them locked up?" I questioned earnestly, trying to control my panic at the downward spiral the conversation seemed to be taking. My gaze switching between the three gems as I struggled to keep my composure, though my hands had started to tremble at the implications of their words.
"Of course we want to help them," Garnet spoke, this time interrupting Pearl before she could continue, "it is simply that we do not no how. Not even Rose could find a way to help them no matter how much she wanted to. It is simply safer to keep them locked away where they can do no more harm to either themselves or the Earth."
"But Steven helped them! He managed to connect with Centipeetle and even became friends with her!" I protested earnestly.
"Yeah but that's because Steven's Steven, he just has that connection with people and gems a like," Amethyst spoke.
"Besides, that was one corrupted gem, we have no idea if the others kept within the temple will be able to calm down as well. And it isn't worth risking Steven's safety nor does he have time to try and calm each and every gem into a safer state," Pearl continued, "that is just the way things are."
"So that's it then?" I questioned, turning my gaze to the floor as my heart sunk at the news, "and if one of you became corrupted, would you do the same thing? Just lock them up and forget about them?"
"Danny that is completely different," Pearl began, yet I didn't let her finish.
"Why? Why is it different? Because you actually care about each other? Because the other gems in the temple aren't worth your time or patience unless it is one of you?" I continued, almost to the point of yelling as my voice rose. Wanting to convey my point yet my emotions caused my state of mind to be a bit hazed.
"Danny listen to yourself," Pearl spoke simply as though I was a child, "as much as you seem to dislike it what you say is correct for the most part. But to answer your question of course we would try to help each other should one of us become corrupted but if it became clear that there wasn't a cure. And if the damage they caused became too great, we would have to bubble the other within the temple. There simply wouldn't be another safe option."
"Because then the corrupted gem would no longer be worth your time right?" I practically snarled, my pent up emotions over the past few days coming through full force.
"I don't quite like your tone," Pearl spoke simply while Amethyst looked uneasy.
"Why? Because I'm not agreeing with you, because I want some clarification? Or is it because I realize you don't care about the bubbled gems?!" I yelled, and despite how childish it might make me seem I realized I didn't care at this point. I was angry, disappointed, and just plain sad at how quick the gems seemed to be willing to turn on each other.
"Why do you care so much?" Pearl questioned.
"Because I might-" I began to yell as I stood up before the door opened.
"Guys! Wait 'till you see!" Steven cried out as he opened the door, saving me from continuing my shout and revealing my potential future, before taking in the scene, a confused look on his face as his smile fell, "what's going on?"
"Nothing Steven," I spoke, regaining my composure for his sake as I put on a smile and walked over to him, "we were just talking, what is it that has you busting in here all happy?"
"Okay," Steven accepted before turning to the gems, "I fixed the mirror!"
"Excellent work Steven!" Pearl praised as I took my chance at the topic change to go over to Steven's side as I ruffled his hair affectionately.
"You didn't tell me it's like a person," Steven spoke, causing the gem's faces to morph into shock and horror as they stared at him.
"Didn't you know that when you gave it to him?" I questioned, suspicion in my voice, "it can repeat noises and words with what it sees."
"Yeah! Say hey!" Steven spoke as he held out the mirror so it faced the gems, "little buddy! Um, excuse us."
Turning both Steven and I looked at the mirror as it didn't say a word. Confusing both of us as we knew it could. And although I didn't voice it my suspicion was that the silence was due to the gems' presence.
"Come on you want to come out don't you?" Steven coaxed the mirror, "you have so much to say. And funny noises to share from across the ages."
"I promise I won't let the gems hurt you if that's what you are worried about," I added as I looked at the mirror.
"Beach summer fun buddies?" Steven tried, which gave him a result as the mirror repeated the raspberry sound that had started the day as Steven and I laughed, "just couldn't help yourself huh?"
"Just, for, you, Steven," the mirror spoke with different clips as it began repeating one of Steven laughing.
"I didn't know it could do that! That is so cool!" I spoke in amazement as I stared at the mirror in wonder.
"Thank, you, Danny," the mirror spoke before continuing to laugh using a clip of Steven.
"Steven," Garnet spoke as she approached him.
"No!" The mirror yelled out and I turned, tensing up despite myself.
"You should just give us back the mirror, it'll be safer where we can watch it," Garnet spoke earnestly.
"You mean safer where you can bubble it up and forget about it," I snarled, hostility in my voice.
"No!" the mirror echoed as soon as I mentioned bubbling.
"Danny now is not the time," Garnet spoke plainly as she held out her hand, an edge in her voice, "Steven, don't make me have to take it from you."
"Steven," I whispered, "you can't."
"It doesn't want to go with you, can't you hear it screaming?" Steven spoke as he backed up and I placed myself in front of him.
"It's just a mirror you two, a tool," Garnet insisted, yet I didn't buy it, as she tried reaching around me for the mirror, "it can't want anything."
"It wants to be with us!" Steven spoke firmly as he reached forward, hitting Garnet's glasses off of her face, revealing her face morphed in anger.
"Time to go!" I yelled as I grabbed Steven, transforming into Phantom as I flew down to the beach, taking shelter behind a rock as I placed Steven down.
"What are we going to do?" I questioned aloud.
"I don't know, I don't understand why they don't like you," Steven spoke, first to me and then the mirror which he stared at, "are you trying to say something?"
The mirror showing various clips that I couldn't make sense of until the last few, "let me out!"
"I don't understand," Steven spoke anxiously as we could hear the gems searching for us.
"Please, just tell us what we need to do to help you," I urged as I stared at the mirror in Steven's hand.
The mirror forming something completely new in an effort to show us what we needed. Giving us an image of the gem on the back of the mirror as it distinctly showed a figure pulling the gem free.
"I'll hold, you pull," I told Steven as I took the mirror from him, holding it as Steven gripped the gem on the back and pulled. The ocean itself responding to our actions as it formed a pattern at out feet with us in the center as the gem came free and the mirror shattered.
Steven and I watching in awe as the gem glowed, pulling itself from Steven's hand as it floated above the beach before taking shape, into another gem.
Steven and I rushing forward towards the figure as she looked up at us with clear eyes that were devoid of pupils.
"Thank you," she told as as she tried to stand up, almost falling over before Steven and I grabbed her to prevent that, "you both, actually helped me, both saved me! It's Steven and Danny, right?"
"That's us," I told her as we all smiled.
"I'm Lapis, Lapis Lazuli," she told us, "are you both really Crystal Gems?"
"Of course," Steven told her happily.
"But you two set me free," Lapis spoke, confusion lacing her voice.
"Does that mean-" I spoke in horror as I realized the implications as that one sentence. Yet I didn't have time to finish my questions as the gems found us. Their weapons forming as they glared at Lapis.
"Wait!" Steven urged them as it ran to stand in between them and Lapis.
"You three knew I was in there," Lapis spoke, a cold demeanor overcoming her as a wall of water came up behind her in the shape of a hand, "and you didn't do anything. Did you even wonder who I used to be?"
"Run!" Pearl urged as she and the others were hit by the water hand, Steven being safe as he ran back over to me and Lapis.
"What are you doing?" Steven questioned, though I knew that if what Lapis said was true she was in the right in attacking the gems. And so I made no move to stop her from doing so.
"I'm Lapis Lazuli, and you can't keep me trapped here any more!" Lapis yelled out in anger before turning to me and Steven, "they're not going to let us leave."
"Leave?" Steven questioned, still in shock over Lapis' actions as she made a path in the ocean.
"Steven, Danny, come with me," Lapis urged.
"Where?" Steven questioned in surprise.
"Home," Lapis spoke, sadness in her tone as she stared at us.
"But I-" Steven began before I cut him off as Lapis looked downtrodden.
"I'll go with you," I spoke, shocking Steven, and even myself a little but I just couldn't stomach the thought of staying with the gems. The gems who bubble other gems and forgot about them, who didn't try and help them for what they deemed a safer method. Maybe it was just the anger and disappointment I still felt from our previous conversation but I just couldn't stomach the thought of staying with the gems and leaving Lapis all by herself.
"Very well," Lapis spoke as she gave me a small smile, which ended up falling as Garnet broke free of the water hand's hold on her, "don't trust them Steven, goodbye."
With that Lapis grabbed my arm, pulling me with her as a wall of water crashed over us. Separating us from the gems and Steven as we descended into the ocean, A pocket of air surrounding us as Lapis controlled the water to create a bubble shape as we walked further away. I didn't know where it was Lapis wanted to go, but the one thing I did know was that there was no going back.
Haha! I'm not dead yet! Sorry for the delay in getting this new chapter out but by now you all should know I don't keep a stable updating schedule. Anyways, keeping this short today the only thing I want to get across now was that I do not ship Danny and Lapis together. Their relationship will be strictly platonic, now onto the reviews!
Gamelover41592: Fears have come up and resulted in this. Thank you for your support.
YouCanOnlyPretend: Yes I did, thank you for the question. It is answered in the special chapter which will be posted right after this.
MorganicOrganic: Thank you! Pairing answered in the special chapter, as for the gem it is an Emerald.
Drift219: Exactly, his insecurities hit quite hard.
Kimera20: Thank you so much!
Lecta Jr: While the bond is getting stronger than does not necessarily mean he needs to be adopted. He has Clockwork as I stated previously and therefore adoption via Greg is unneeded. I appreciate your input though.
Juniper Forest: Updated, question will be answered in next chapter. And I agree that it is an interesting concept.\
PhantomFeaver: Don't worry, unless I explicitly state that I've abandoned the story I will update eventually. And I don't plan on doing that. Life just gets in the way sometimes.
Guest: I fixed the chapter so it now says that the flavor is strawberry.