Hello everybody! Welcome to the beginning of Season 3 of Crystal Rainbow.

Without wasting any time, let's get this Season rolling.

Episode 41: Aftermath

October 1st 10:00 a.m.

Three hours... It's been three long hours ever since the battle had concluded. The Rainbow Gems and the Crystal Gems had managed to overcome the odds and claim a victory, but not without paying a heavy cost. Before the Home-World ship crashed Peridot had managed to escape and Jasper had been send far away from the area by Lapis. Both of their whereabouts are currently unknown, more so as the Gem App had not been going off for some time. However...that alone was just the beginning.

At the Evans Residence in Kameron's bedroom, Lapis laid herself down onto his bed. Her head placed onto a pillow as her eyes were closed with small snores exiting out of her mouth. On the carpet floor next to the bed Kameron had his head on the edge of the mattress while small breaths exited his mouth. Right next to him Steven wrapped Kameron's arm around his body while his head rested on his shoulder. Small breaths exited his mouth as Kameron unconsciously pushed him closer, making Steven softly rub his head on his shoulder.

At the bedroom door Christie and Greg quietly watched the three from the entrance. Though both father and mother held concerned expressions from seeing the brutal impacts on both of their son's faces, they were very relieved to see them getting some rest. As for Lapis, they didn't question it at all. The poor dear had been through enough and deserved the most rest. Slowly exiting out of the room Christie grabbed the knob and slowly closed the door on their way out.

Heading downstairs they entered the living room to see the others taking some rest while watching the news.

"Good morning denizens of Destiny City. This is your host, Danielle Fryman, and today...we've got a hell of a story to unfold. Last night a massive hand had arrived within Earth's atmosphere near our beloved home and it's sister city. As with everything else that relates to space, the Evans family and Universes went toward it to investigate and stop this invasion of their kind. Several hours later as Mayor Dewey and Mayor Rachel had brought the citizens back...tragedy had striked." Mrs. Fryman began.

The screen then changed to the Beach City Board. A massive portion of it had been decimated and had reached over to a corner of Destiny City, destroying it as well. "The devastation... The chaos... And a wreckage of Gem technology scattered all over. Once again another cost at the hands of Gem kind." Mrs. Fryman said as she began walking. "I am not villianizing the Rainbows nor Crystals as I am fully aware of the good they've done around the world, but as a reporter and a mother I need to know how long must this continue? How much more destruction awaits the world? When will the end of the world happen? Please, Rainbows and Crystals. Whatever you need to do to end this, please end it already." She added.

Just as Mrs. Fryman continued her report Pyrope reached for the remote and immediately shut the TV off. Putting the remote down his sight turned to the carpet as he grabbed his head with both of his hands. His teeth started to grind themselves as his fingers clenched into his head. Small breaths left his mouth as his eyes glared at the carpet. However...just as he increased the tension he was placing on himself a soft pair of hands were placed on his. His hands were removed from his head, making him look up to see his mother looking at him with a soft concerned expression. As he opened his mouth to speak his mother raised him from the couch, making him stand up before she wrapped her arms around his body, pulling him close to her.

"Shh..." Christie whispered into his ear. "Honey, it's okay. It's not your fault. It's not your fault. Calm down." She softly added.

"Mom...I'm a little hot right now." Pyrope replied.

"I don't care. My son is hurting as it's my job to make sure he doesn't beat himself up." Christie said as she slightly pulled away before pressing her lips against his cheek. "I've seen you angry many times, but when you get like this I want to stop that fire from igniting. Understand?"

Pyrope slowly nodded as his mother pressed her lips onto his cheek again. Once she pulled away he walked away form her and went into the kitchen.

"The same is with the rest of you. You all did the best you could." Christie said to the others.

"Thanks, Ma." Amber replied.

"Still..." Charoite began as she held her hands together. "Looking at Kameron and Steven after what happened..."

"We couldn't have known Jasper was going to be equipped with a weapon capable of poofing all of us at once." Green replied as he looked at his daughter. "The boys will be okay. But as of now there are other matters we must attend to."

"Peridot and Jasper could be anywhere in the world." Pearl said as she held her arms. "The boys... Lapis... All of this is too much for them."

"It is too much for all of us." Azurite replied as she intertwined her hands together. "But no matter the obstacles, we must continue onward. Despair has fallen upon us, but we cannot allow it to cloud our minds and consume our souls. For now, let us repair our home as much as we can and take care of the debris from the ship."

"I'll call my boss." Citrine announced. "We'll take care of it. Should take us maybe a couple of hours or a day." He then turned his head to Bismuth. "I know you wanna go after Jasper and Peridot, but I'm gonna need your help first. Please?"

Bismuth nodded. "This is my home now too. But Jasper is so asking for the Breaking Point when I see her again."

Amber soon stood up from the couch, "I'll join ya, but I gotta call mah boss first." She said as she pulled out her phone.

"Me too. But I gotta check on my girl." Pyrope added as he pulled out his phone.

"Me and Charoite will check on everyone to make sure they're okay." Lepidolite said as she and her sister stood up.

"Then I shall begin our search for Peridot and Jasper." Onyx said as he opened up a portal next to him. "Crystals, what are your intentions?"

"I'll stay here." Pearl informed. I want to be here when the boys and Lapis wake up."

"As will I." Green added.

"That's fair." Amethyst said with a shrug.

With everyone knowing and understanding what they were gonna do they started going out of the house or staying behind.

October 1st 12:00 p.m.

Small mumbles exited from Steven's mouth as his eyes began to twitch. His eyes slowly opened themselves up and began to blink. Turning his head he saw Kameron right next to him with his arm around his body. His lips slowly stretched into a grin at the sight of his brother, but then it quickly went away at the very sight of his brother's newfound scar.

"Psh. Psh. Kameron?" Steven whispered as he slowly rocked him.

Kameron mumbled a little and slowly opened his eyes. Turning his eyes he looked over at Steven and removed his arm from him. Picking himself up from the carpet floor he began to stretch his arms out with small groans leaving his mouth. As he turned around Kameron watched Steven getting up right as his eyes were then placed onto a sleeping Lapis. Without a word he approached her quietly with Steven standing next to him.

"After she left us I thought there would be a chance we'd see each other again, but...not like this." Kameron whispered.

"Me too." Steven replied quietly. "She's gonna be okay, right?"

"That's hard to say." Kameron said quietly.

Suddenly...small mumbles exited out of Lapis' mouth as she turned her head. Her eyes staring twitching as she slowly opened them. Her vision was blurry, but slowly began clearing up. As it did the sight of the boys standing near her caught her attention, making her blink.

"Hi, Lapis." Steven greeted.

Raising herself up small groans exited her mouth as she stretched her arms out. Placing them down she turned her head to the boys again. She opened her mouth, but no words left them. What could she say to them right now?

"Um...hi." She replied as she adverted her eyes from them.

"You get enough sleep?" Kameron asked.

Lapis slowly nodded. "Thank you... Usually Gems don't require sleep, but...I really was exhausted."

"You deserved it." Kameron said, making Lapis look at him. "If you need more we'll leave to give you space. I'm heading downstairs." He added as he turned to his bedroom door.

"Wait!" Lapis said, making Kameron look at her. "Umm... I'll come too. I need to talk to Green Diamond."

Kameron blinked at her. There was a plethora of things he needed to ask his father about, but so did Lapis. As much a he wanted to ask her what it was, it was best for her to explain it herself.

Raising his arm he gave it to Lapis. She stared at him from a moment before descending her eyes onto his hand. Without a word she raised her own hand and placed it into his, helping her get up on her feet before releasing it from him. Turning his head Kameron reached out for his bedroom door and opened it, having Steven and Lapis walk out first before he walked out last.

October 1st 12:10 p.m.

Going downstairs Kameron, Steven, and Lapis entered the living room to see Azurite and Pearl drinking tea while Green, Christie, and Greg were watching the news. Upon making their presence known all eyes were placed on them.

"Steven!" Greg cried as he got up and rushed over to his son. Wrapping his arms around him Greg squeezed his son as much as he could, making Steven chuckle as he wrapped his arms around his father.

Once Greg was finished nearly suffocating him he released him from his grasp as Pearl stepped up to them. Her eyes trembled while her lips quivered. Without speaking Steven stepped up to her, wrapping his arm around her body. Pearl wasted no time doing the same with small sobs exiting her mouth.

Kameron turned his eyes onto his parents. Without a word his mother walked up to him, wrapping him in her arms. "Mi bebe." She whispered in Spanish.

"No llores, mama." Kameron whispered back. "Estoy bien."

Pulling away from his Christie saw the scar on his face, making more tears fall from her eyes, but she then placed her lips onto his cheek and kissed it softly. As she released herself from him Kameron turned his head to see his father approach him.

"Kameron. I am sorry." Green said softly. "I-"

Before Green could continue his son wrapped his arms around him. "Dad. It's okay." Kameron said.

"It isn't." Green replied as he hugged his son.

They soon pulled away as Kameron looked at him. "I'm still alive, aren't I? That's what matters the most."

Green didn't smile, but he nodded.

Lapis walked to Azurite as the tall Gem approached her before bringing her in for a hug.

"I am glad you're okay, Lapis." Azurite whispered.

"Thank you. I'm...glad to see you again." Lapis replied. As they separated she turned her attention to Green, "Green Diamond. There's something I need to give you."

Green looked at her as Lapis' Gemstone started glowing. A small sphere of blue light erupted out of it before floating up into the air and slowly descend into Lapis' opened hands. The sphere soon disappeared, revealing a small mechanical sphere within it. "While I was imprisoned on Home-World I was approached by Blue Diamond. She gave me this the next time I was able to see you. I don't know what it is, but I am certain it's something she wanted you to have."

As Lapis handed Green the sphere he merely took it from her and stared at it. Blue Diamond... That was a name Green hadn't heard in a long time. Just the name alone made him narrow his eyes at the contraption, but...it also made his curiosity ignite. However...now wasn't the time for it.

"Who's Blue Diamond, Green?" Steven asked.

Green lowered his hand that held the contraption. "As the new generation would say, she is... an "old flame" of mine." He then placed the contraption into his Gemstone. "I shall look into it at another time. Thank you Lapis. As much as I would prefer to not ask you of this, would you please tell us what you plan to do as of now?"

Lapis locked eyes with him for a brief moment. Her eyes then turned to Azurite, making her soften her expression. As she then turned her eyes onto Pearl they soon narrowed. Her hands then clenched into fists. Turning them away from Pearl her hardened expression turned to Steven and Kameron, making her expression soften again. Closing her eyes she sucked in some air and released it through her nose.

"To be perfectly honest...I still harbor retribution for what the Crystals had done to me. I still don't want want to be on this planet. But...now, I don't know." Lapis said as her fists softened and unraveled. "The Off Colors are gone. If I even try leaving this planet again I'll just end up like I did before. I'm a prisoner again." She added as she tilted her head down.

"No you're not." Steven replied. "You're not trapped, Lapis-"

"Oh, really!?" Lapis snapped, making Steven gasp. "What do you know?! What the hell do you actually know about me, Steven!? Do you know what it's like to be trapped for a thousand years!? Do you know what it's like to return to your home and become a fugitive!? Do you know what it's like losing those you began to care about and have them ripped away from you!? DO YOU!?"

Steven took a step back at Lapis' tone. He then narrowed his eyes at her. "I do know what loss feels like! It's true that my mom is responsible for trapping you in that mirror, but I never got to know her when I was born! I was only told about her by my family and that's the only thing I have that's close to knowing her!" Tears began to form in his eyes. "I'm sorry for what happened to you! You want to have your retribution, then take it out on me! If you want to leave the planet and never come back, we're not gonna stop you! I don't know you personally, that's true, but I want to help you, Lapis."

"Help me?" Lapis questioned.

"Yes!" Steven yelled as tears fell onto his cheeks. "I want to help you! Kameron wants to help you! Azurite wants to help you! We all want to help you!" He then tilted his head down. "But...if you don't want our help...that's fine. I understand. I'll stay out of your business."

"Steven-" Lapis said.

She was then interrupted by a collection of rings entering everyone's ears. Reaching into his pocket Steven pulled out his phone to see Connie calling him. "I need to take this." He said as he walked out of the room and went upstairs.

The atmosphere then shifted as Lapis lowered her head. Her hair covered her eyes as she held her arms.

"Lapis." Kameron said softly.

"I...didn't mean to yell." Lapis replied as she tightened her grip on her arms.

"Lapis." Pearl said, making the blue Gem look at her. "I've apologized to Azurite for what we've done, but...now I'm going to do the same for you." She then walked up to Lapis as she placed a hand on her chest. "I...am...so, so sorry. You should've been freed the moment I found the mirror. But I didn't free you. You can hate me if you want. You can resent the Crystal Gems. But...don't take your anger out on Steven."

Lapis' eyes widened as Pearl narrowed hers. "Yell at me. Shout at me. Hit me if you wish, but I will not stand here and watch you take it out on Steven. Understand?"

Lapis turned away from Pearl, but slowly nodded.

"Good." Pearl replied as she went upstairs.

Lapis then turned to the others who merely looked at her. She tilted her head to the floor before a sudden feeling was placed on her shoulder. Raising her head she saw Azurite. Without a word they both went upstairs.

"Um... I'm gonna go find my relaxing music." Greg said as he went outside.

"I need some air." Kameron added as he followed him.

End of Episode 41.

Hope you all enjoyed. I understand that this maybe shorter than my previous craft, but this episode is as it's title.

Next Time:

Reunion