Episode 36: Runaway Gem

Hope. A very strong yet very fragile emotion. It is all that remains when we have nothing left during times of despair and anguish. In life, we all have to make sacrifices when we have to endure times of suffering. We are not special. We are not different from anyone else. Despite how tough it will get there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. You are not alone. There are people who truly care about you and your well being. No matter what happens, hope will always be with you, no matter what.

228

Rain... It began to drop softly onto the land. Thunder crackled through the clouds; Roars echoed in the skies. Lightning flashed from above and struck down toward the land, impacting anything in it's path.

High up on the mountains the Guardian of Mask Island sat down on the wet stone landscape surrounded by five individuals. The time has come... After everything that had transpired, these individuals will now partake in the final test. The three individuals in front of her were male. In the center was a man wearing a white wolf mask, wielding a tomahawk in his right hand. Beside the man were two large men who wore a white condor mask and a eagle mask, but the large man on the wolf's right wielded two tomahawks in each hand. Behind the Guardian were two women. On her left was a woman wearing a white shark mask wielding a long sharp blade while the woman on the right wore a white antelope mask carrying a long spear.

The Guardian uncrossed her legs and stood up. Raising her arms up she slowly placed them horizontally toward her stomach. With her left leg she placed it out alongside her left arm while descending her right arms toward the right side of her waist. "Kaishi!" She announced in Chinese.

Without giving her a response the Wolf ran to her. Raising his right arm he swung his tomahawk at her, but at it was coming to her she quickly ducked, stretching out her left leg more and stretching her arms out from the back. In mere seconds she quickly raised herself up and pushed both of her hands forward, impacting the wolf's chest and pushing him away from her, making him rise into the air before hitting the ground.

Raising her right arm out and pulling her left arm to the side of her waist the Guardian targeted her eyes on Condor and Eagle. Condor stepped forward, raising both of his arms out horizontally and quickly slamming them onto her. Summoning both of her arms Condor's arms collided with her's, making her flinch before he pulled his head back and collided it with hers. The sheer impact caused her to stumble back as Condor jumped into the sky and dived toward his teacher. Raising her head to see Condor coming to her she bent her knees and leaped into the air. Once airborne she began to turn her body until she fired her feet onto Condor's back, making him grunt and crash into the ground.

Getting off of Condor, Eagle slammed his tomahawks together and rushed in at his teacher. Raising his arms into the air he slammed them onto his teacher, but seeing the attack coming the Guardian twirled herself around him and pushed her palms onto his side. A grunt exited from Eagle's mouth, making him fall onto one knee as his teacher pushed her leg forward, kicking his side shoulder and making him tumble down.

Turning herself around the Guardian turned her head to Shark and Antelope. Raising her right arm out she bent all of her fingers twice to them. Pulling her blade up Shark pulled it back as she ran to her teacher and thrusted it toward her. Dodging the blade, Guardian continued to dodge each and every thrust Shark was giving her. Pushing her back more and more Shark pulled her blade back and slashed at her teacher, making her jumped from the attack. However the Guardian's toes soon reached the edge of the mountain, making her tumble ever so slightly and giving Shark an opening. Coming up to her Shark thrusted her blade once more, but as it was approaching the Guardian she rapidly jumped into the air and without giving Shark time to react leaped onto her shoulders before bending her body back until her hands touched the ground and threw her toward Condor.

Regaining her composure the Guardian raised her arm out to her last standing student. Antelope began to twirl her spear and throw it at her teacher. Coming up to her the Guardian twirled her body as she grabbed the spear and threw it back at her student. Antelope moved her body to the side and took hold of her weapon while coming up to her teacher. Thrusting her spear the Guardian merely grabbed a hold of it with one hand and quickly placed her other hand onto Antelope's shoulder. Getting a tight grip she guided her student in front of her before bending her body and flipping her onto the ground.

"Zugou de!" The Guardian announced.

Each of her students groaned as they stood up from the ground. All five of them lined up and sat on their knees as their teacher stood in front of them. Placing her hands on her hips the Guardian looked at each one of her students. How long has it been...? Since they were children? Since they asked to her to teach them? Since they've grown each day under her guidance? Hard to say, but it was truly an experience to help them become the warriors they are today.

"Gongxi! Nimen xianzai shi zhanshi." The guardian spoke. "Zhege cunzhuang xlanzai zai ni de baohu zhi xia."

Her students immediately raised their heads to her. "Shenme?" Antelope asked.

"Ni shi shenme yisi?" Shark added.

"Wo zoule." Their teacher replied. "Wo bixu zhaodao wo de pengyou."

"Ni queding ma?" Wolf asked.

Their teacher nodded. Though it is sudden, she needed to continue her search.

"Women hui baohu cunzhuang." Condor bowed. "Women bu zhide zheyang zuo."

"Xiexie ni wei wo zuo de yiqe." Eagle bowed as well.

Just as the Guardian opened her mouth to speak a loud roar echoed within her ears. Turning around the Guardian could only watch as a large creature erupted within the distance. Summoning her wings she turned her head to her students. "Qu! Baohu ertong he laoren."

Taking flight the Guardian soared into the air and made her way towards the creature. With each flap of her wings she pushed herself further and further through the air, making her way to the beach of Mask Island and stopping herself mid-flight. Right in front of her the creature erected itself from the ocean. It's took the form of a large reptilian head completely made of water with three blue Gemstones centered on it's forehead. It's jaw was large and wide with large water spikes coming down the back of it's neck.

The creature opened it's eyes and directed them onto the Guardian. Opening it's jaw it unleashed a loud ear-piercing roar into the skies.

'Yet another Corrupted Fusion.' The Guardian thought as she raised out her left arm and summoned her staff from her second Gemstone. 'Great spirits that watch us from above. I am about to leave my sacred land. Please watch over my people as I depart for the whereabouts of my dearest friend Lapis Lazuli.'

The Corrupted Fusion pulled it's head back before launching it forward, unleashing a massive quantity of water. Gripping onto her staff with both hands the Guardian pointed it at the upcoming blast. Once it was near her range it suddenly stopped in mid-air. With both hands she lifted her staff and began to twirl it around her body. As she was doing this the Corrupted Fusion's blast began to rotate around her body right until she pointed her staff at the creature.

The blast was soon fired back at the creature and impacting it with great force. Loud monstrous roars left it's mouth as it stumbled in the ocean. Wasting no time the Guardian dived toward the water below and pierced her staff into the ocean. A large stream of ice ruptured from her staff and rapidly began to travel it's way toward the behemoth. Upon making contact the ice started to creep it's way all around the creature, freezing it in place while leaving it's Gemstones exposed.

Flapping her wings the Guardian made her way to the beast. Flying close to it's Gemstones she raised her arm, "From dark to light. Beyond the stars and the universe. Sleep within the core of your existence."

Three dove symbols appeared onto the Gemstones and they were then lifted toward the Guardian while the Corrupted Fusion's formed began to crack and break apart. Watching the parts fall into the ocean the Guardian placed the Gemstones in bubbles and sent them away. She then dismissed her staff and flew away from Mask Island.

"Zaijian..." She whispered as she flapped her wings.

September 11th 2:00 p.m.(Present Time)

At Chopper Hospital in Azurite's office she stood in front of her current patient. Having to turn her head Azurite brought up her otoscope and began looking into her patient's ear. For the most part her outer ear looked healthy, but as Azurite looked deeper she found a rupture in the eardrums. Turning her patient's head to the other side she checked the other ear to find the same results.

What happened? - Azurite asked as she raised her hands flat before pointing them at her patient.

Bully - The patient replied as she raised up an index finger before using her other hand to hit it with her pinky finger while holding out her thumb.

I'm sorry - Azurite replied as she made a fist and placed it close to her chest before making a circle with it.

Me too - The patient said as she held her sideways while holding out her pinky and thumb before moving it back and forth from her to Azurite.

Raising her arms out Azurite brought her patient close to her, wrapping her arms around her body. The patient slowly wrapped her arms around Azurite's waist, pressing her head close to her doctor's chest.

They soon separated as Azurite got down on one knee while looking up at her patient. She then bent her index finger onto her thumb as she grinned at her patient.

Her patient bent her index finger onto her thumb as well. Though she frowned she nodded her head to Azurite as she placed her feet on the floor. Azurite stood up and guided her patient out of her office and into the hallway where her mother was waiting.

"Is she okay?" The mother asked.

"Unfortunately...your daughter has ruptures in both of her ears." Azurite replied as the daughter walked up to her mother.

The mother's eyes slowly expanded as she covered her mouth. Her eyes turned to her daughter as tears began to swell in her eyes. Her eyes slowly narrowed as she removed her hand from her mouth.

"Dr. Evans, I'm not made of money. I can't keep on buying her hearing aids every time those stupid brats rip them out of her ears and throw them away." The mother said firmly as tears fell onto her cheek.

"I understand. Which is why I have a gift for her." Azurite replied as she placed her hands near her Gemstone on her chest. The Gemstone glowed as a small white box came out of it. "Here, Shoki." She gestured to her patient.

Shoki walked up to her and took the box from her hands. Opening the top a small gasp exited her mouth. She then turned her body and raised the box to her mother. Looking inside the box the mother gasped.

"Are...are these..." The mother tried to say.

"I've designed them myself. They'll only work for her and can't be removed unless she removes them herself." Azurite replied as she held her hands together. "I am truly sorry for what your family is going through. I wish to do something, but I don't want to invade into your personal problems, so I believe these'll be something to help your daughter for the time being. And don't worry about the cost, I've already taken care of it."

The mother locked her eyes onto Azurite, searching for something to say... Something...anything...but no words exited out of her mouth. Her knees began to quiver until they fell onto the floor as more tears started to geyser out of her eyes. Sobs started to exit out of her mouth as her daughter dropped onto her knees next to her with tears falling from her eyes.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" The mother yelled as she bowed to Azurite. "You're the angel we needed. Thank you so much for this..."

Azurite looked down at the state the mother was in. Honestly, she didn't expect her to react like this. Getting down on her knees Azurite reached her hands out and lifted the mother up. Before she could even form words the mother lunged herself to Azurite, wrapping her arms around her tightly as she continued to sob. No words were needed as Azurite comforted her with Shoki joining in, regardless of the bystanders looking at them.

September 11th 2:15 p.m.

Returning to her office Azurite felt a collection of vibrations in her pocket. Reaching into it she pulled out her phone to see a Gemstone icon at the center of the screen. Pressing it the icon stamped itself onto a location way up north. Looking right at it Azurite closed her eyes for a moment and sucked in some air into her nose before exhaling it out of her mouth.

'I truly wish it didn't have to be there.' She said in thought as she put her phone away while summoning her Warp Whistle.

September 11th 2:30 p.m.

The Northern Arctic Pole. One of, if not, the coldest places on the planet. Sister to the Southern Arctic Pole, the Northern Arctic Pole rests at the top of the world. Home to many arctic creatures, people from all over come here for either collecting various pictures of animals, glaciers, or the ice sheets while most perform expeditions in search of the many enigmas that lay in the ice.

Arriving at her destination Azurite felt her feet being placed onto the ice and snow. The cold wind blew right passed her, making her braids dwindle in it. As she took a step forward a loud whistle entered her ears. Turning around she saw her sisters Charoite and Lepidolite with Amethyst.

"Hey, Azurite." Lepidolite greeted as they approached her.

"Hello, sister." Azurite replied as they shared a hug.

"What's up, doc? What's been going on at the hospital." Amethyst asked.

"I've gained another visit from Shoki today." Azurite replied as she and Lepidolite broke their hug.

"Who's Shoki?" Amethyst asked, tilting her head.

"She's a really sweet and shy girl, but she's also deaf." Charoite explained.

"Deaf?" Amethyst questioned.

"Deafness is a condition in which a person is unable to hear." Azurite explained. "I have met many others who have the condition as well and at times I've been able to heal them the best I can. However, Shoki has been getting bullied at her school, and the bully has been ripping her hearing aids out of her ears so much they've been ruptured."

Amethyst's visible eye expanded. Wow... a sweet and shy girl dealing with something like that? That's gotta be rough. "Damn. What kinda kid would do something like that?"

"Those who don't know any better. And those who don't understand that what they are doing is wrong." Azurite answered. "For now, let us focus on what is going on in the arctic."

Each of the girls nodded as they began to walk. Coming up to a large gap Azurite raised her hand out, summoning a geyser of water before freezing it to create a bridge. Step by step the girls slowly walked across it until they got to the other side.

"Gotta say, you definitely got an advantage here." Amethyst commented.

"It does not matter if I do, Amethyst. It is if it will be enough to handle the unknown of Home World." Azurite replied. "To be honest, I always believed I would return here, though I wish it was under better circumstances."

"It'll be okay, sister. Whatever happens...we'll make sure it doesn't get violent." Charoite assured.

"I'm sure some of them will forgive you. Please don't blame yourself for what happened." Lepidolite added.

Amethyst looked at the Rainbow girls with a cocked eyebrow. As she opened her mouth to speak the sounds of cracking entered their ears.

The girls stopped in place as the snow and ice began to rupture. The ground started to shake violently with large crack starting to erupt.

"Whoa mamma! What is going on?" Amethyst called out.

A loud gasp exited out of Lepidolite's mouth as she turned her head. "Girls, over there!"

Turning to her direction everyone looked out into the distance to see puffs of smoke on the horizon. Coming up at high-speeds was a large white and gray being covered in large silvered platings and long sharp spikes placed on it's head.

"What the hell is that!?" Amethyst called out.

"Everyone! Grab onto me!" Azurite called out.

Both of her sisters grabbed her hands while Amethyst wrapped her arms around her waist. Summoning her wings Azurite took flight into the air as the being was rapidly coming up to them. Looking down at it Azurite descended onto the rear end section of the being. Just as she and the girls placed their feet onto the being sharp spikes erupted on the bottom of their shoes, allowing them to stick right onto the platings.

"Whoa! This thing is on hyper drive!" Amethyst yelled.

"TIME...TO...END...THIS!" A loud roar screamed, making the girls shutter.

A gasp then exited out of Azurite. "FLUORITE!?"

"YES... IT...IS...TIME...YOU...PERISH!" Fluorite roared as she kept going.

Fluorite. Out of all the Gems that were saved during the War she was physically the largest, but was always calm and wise. A fusion of six Gems, yet a possibility of more if the she ever met the right Gem, but unfortunately...that never came to pass. And as of now, she is under the control of Home World.

"Everyone! We must stop Fluorite before she causes any everlasting damage to the Northern Arctic Pole!" Azurite yelled.

"How are we gonna do that!?" Amethyst yelled.

"I will divert her direction while the rest of you find her Control Collar and destroy it immediately!" Azurite replied.

"Are you sure!?" Charoite asked.

Azurite nodded. Releasing their grip from her the rest of the girls made their way to the front.

Raising her arms out Azurite pushed them forward and balled her hands. In mere moments the ice and snow in front of them began to shift and turn into a set of tracks. Little by little the tracks grew longer and longer the more Azurite pushed her arms back and forth. Luckily for her Fluorite had made her way onto the self-made tracks, but at the speed she was going Azurite needed to keep up as fast as she could.

Step by step the rest of the girls slowly made their way to the front. Up ahead a portion of the metal glowed and raised itself up in a tower-like form. A small red light glowed at the center of it before two other towers erupted at it's sides. Smaller circles formed below them before they fired off large barrages of lasers.

Leaping into the air the girls dodged the attack. Quickly looking back they each saw how much effort Azurite was putting into directing Fluorite and needed to be careful so she wouldn't be hit off guard. Summoning two kunais Charoite crossed her arms as she dashed toward the towers. Each tower targeted her and unleashed another assault of lasers, but each and every one passed right through her as she kept going. Getting up close she slashed at the middle tower before jumping up and throwing her kunais at the other two, completely blinding them as they destroyed each other.

Reaching up to Charoite, Lepidolite and Amethyst followed her as they continued onward.

Straight ahead the girls took notice of a massive glacier coming up, kneeling down they each grabbed onto the roof as large ice tracks began to form upwards.

"Is this heading where I think it's heading!?" Lepidolite yelled.

"Looks like it! Everyone hang on tight!" Charoite yelled back.

"This is gonna be so EPPPIIICCC!" Amethyst added as they rapidly went up the glacier.

At incredible speeds Fluorite blasted straight up the wall of ice, leaving behind large quantities of cracks right behind her, making them fall into the icy waters below.

Pushing her body even faster Azurite brought Fluorite into the air. Curving the tracks she made Fluorite go into a loop, guiding her back to the snow and ice. A very risky move, but worth trying.

Coming down from the air the rest of the girls released themselves from the roof and began sliding down. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" They each screamed as they descended. However, as they were coming down more portions of the armor began to glow. Small parts of it popped up before they summoned out large spikes and began to quickly rise up and down.

Seeing this Lepidolite summoned a fan and quickly threw it at the spikes. One by one her fan sliced off the spikes, though that didn't stop the lower parts from moving, but it didn't even matter. Upon returning to the snow and ice the girls leaped into the air and made their way to the other side.

Making their way forward the girls had made it to the front and the back of Fluorite's head. At the base of her neck the girls found the Control Collar.

"Amethyst! Keep Fluorite busy while me and Lepidolite destroy the collar!" Charoite yelled.

"You sure about that!? I can take care of the collar!" Amethyst replied.

"We trust you! You can do!" Lepidolite yelled.

Looking at the collar and at the back of Fluorite's head Amethyst's eyes narrowed as she nodded to the girls before summoning her whip and gripping onto one of the large spikes. Jumping off of Fluorite she swung herself around and made her way to the top of Fluorite's head.

"WHO...ARE...YOU!?" Fluorite yelled.

"Amethyst Universe! Older sister to Steven Universe! Aunt to Kameron Evans! And a Crystal Gem! Today, I'm the bitch that's gonna stop you, grandma!" Amethyst yelled with a smirk.

A loud growl exited from Fluorite as the spikes on her head glowed. Each one fired off a laser at Amethyst, but she quickly jumped out of the way and was blown into the wind until she used her whip to latch onto one of the spikes. Dangling in the air she pulled herself back to the spike and summoned another whip to latch on the other spike. The winds weren't helping her as she was getting pushed back from Fluorite's head.

"GIVE...UP! A...DEFECTIVE GEM...CANNOT...DEFEAT...ME! YOU...WERE...A...MISTAKE!" Fluorite roared.

'Defective...' Amethyst thought to herself. That word. That one single word. Her eyes narrowed as she gritted her teeth. "YOU DON'T KNOW A DAMN THING ABOUT ME!" She screamed. She then thwipped her whips, adding some fire into them and sent them right at the spikes, breaking off the top parts of them.

With nothing holding her Amethyst was blown away from the back of Fluorite's head. Just as she was high in the skies she shape-shifted her body into a jet and blasted herself toward the head. 'Azurite is giving it her all! Charoite is giving it her all! Lepidolite is giving it her all! I am not gonna be the only one who isn't busting her ass against a giant train Gem! Don't care how tough you are Home World! Earth has always been my home! You ain't gonna do #$%, when I'm gonna rock your asses!' She thought to herself.

Coming up to the head she shifted her body back to normal while curling herself into a ball. Summoning two whips her ball form began to grow in size and become engulfed in flames as she impacted Fluorite's forehead.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Fluorite roared loudly as she lifted her head and started shaking it uncontrollably.

Bouncing off of her head Amethyst unraveled herself as she whipped toward Charoite and Lepidolite. Raising her arm out she lunged her whip forward, aiming it right at the Control Collar and giving it one last attack before it was completely shut down.

With it destroyed the sound of screeching entered the girl's ears as Fluorite was starting to slow down. More and more her speed began to decrease right as they were heading toward the end of a large ice sheet and into a big gap of water. Right at the edge Fluorite's entire body stopped and the armor began to slowly lose it's color.

With Fluorite finally stopping Azurite fell onto her knees. She hadn't pushed herself that much in a long time. Took everything she had to make sure things didn't get complicated, and luckily for her, her sisters and Amethyst were here with her. Would've been a a lot more difficult if she had to take care of this all on her own.

Picking herself up she summoned her wings and flew to the front of Fluorite's head where the others were located. Upon reaching them she had fallen onto her knees once more.

"Azurite!" Her sisters called out as they walked up to her and help her on her feet.

"You okay?" Amethyst asked.

"I am. I'm just a little exhausted." Azurite replied with a tired voice.

"I...am...sorry."

The girls gasped as they turned their heads to see Fluorite, only her color had returned to her. She looked at each of them with saddened eyes. "I...didn't...want...to...fight. I...am...sorry...for what I've said."

Amethyst turned her eyes to the ground and crossed her arms. "Yeah well... You weren't in control of yourself, so we can't get mad at you for it."

"That...is...no...excuse." Fluorite replied. As she attempted to speak her body began to glow. "Thank...you...for...freeing...me."

"You are welcome, Fluorite." Azurite said. "You can now join your friends in the stars."

Fluorite hummed as her body began to glow brighter. "Be...warned. I...am...not...your...final...confrontation. But...please. End...this...conflict. It...is...time...for...it...to...be...put to rest."

Closing her eyes Fluorite's body illuminated itself until she was engulfed by the light and slowly disappeared. All that remained of her now were portions of her armor, her broken Control Collar, and shards of her broken Gemstones.

"Hey, Azurite." Amethyst said, gaining her attention. "I know you guys shatter Gems if you have to, but...do you ever feel guilty for doing it?" She then turned around to face the Rainbow sisters. "I mean, they were just like us. Sure, they became monsters or got brainwashed by Home World to come here and try to kill us. So...I want to know if you're okay with that."

Looking at her Amethyst crossed her arms and adverted eye contact. What she was asking them... Well...it was a very difficult thing to process and formulate a response. They've talked about this before, but hearing from Amethyst on her own... It was clear she had a lot on her mind.

"Of course we feel guilty about it, Amethyst." Azurite responded.

"Remember, it's a choice we make if there isn't another one we can use. We don't want to, but we have to." Charoite added.

"And with what's happening now, it's not our choice to make." Lepidolite concluded.

"Another War is on the horizon. We cannot allow our kind to colonize this planet like they've tried before. It will not be simple, nor will there be an easy way out of it, but we can and will ensure that the planet and it's inhabitants will be protected." Azurite assured.

Amethyst turned her head to them. Though she still was avoiding eye-contact she nodded her head.

"Now, let's take care of this mess." Azurite said as they gazed at the platings left by Fluorite.

End of Episode 36.

Sorry for the delay. This one took me longer to make, but now I'm glad it's finally complete and...we may say our farewells to the final canon Off Color, Fluorite.

Hope you all enjoyed this.

Next Time:

Guardians Part 1