Seafloor: Night…
Jason ended up coming to and looked out the window. He would have initially seen that it was the next night; however, the giant pillar of water stretching into space drew his attention. The whole ocean was almost like a desert.
"Lapis…what did you do?" Jason was stunned; however, his phone rang, so he picked it up. "Hello?"
"Jason!" Tye shouted from the other end. "Finally, I've been trying to get ahold of you for ages. The entire ocean is gone and contained in a single area stretching into space. Look, I know we have our issues, but I need you to check this out."
"Oh yeah, I was given a phone without tracking software." Jason just stared at the pillar of water. "I'm already on scene, and I'll see what I can do about fixing this. Just hang tight."
"Alright, but if you can't solve this, call me back." Tye replied. "Earth needs its oceans."
Jason ended and stepped out of the SUV before running up to the pillar. "Lapis!"
The surface of the water rippled, and Lapis' face appeared on it. "Yes Jason?"
"Lapis, what are you doing?" Jason asked sternly.
"I'm going home." She replied. "I plan to stretch the earth's ocean far enough for me to make it back to Homeworld. Don't try to stop me."
Her face disappeared into the water.
"What!?" Jason asked in disbelief. "Even with the entire earth's water supply, she still wouldn't have enough water to make it all the way to Homeworld. I should have set my alarm." He began pacing. "If she drains all the water on Earth, water starved villages, fire ridden forests, cities, and towns…all would be without water."
The soldier ended up looking around, only to spot Steven and Connie on Lion's back, and the Crystal Gems and Greg in Greg's van coming their way.
"Lapis, you must give back the water!" Jason shouted.
"Please Jason." Lapis replied. "I must do this."
"I know you want to go home, but it shouldn't be like this." Jason reasoned. "If you follow through with this, you'll kill countless, destroy cities, and irreparably damage the earth. I can't stand by and let this happen."
"You won't help me?" Lapis asked with a sad look.
Jason gave her a sympathetic look. "Lapis, I get the rebellion is what led to your imprisonment, but Homeworld had a choice. It might have been war, but they didn't have to stuff you in a mirror. I want to help Lapis, but not at the cost of others.
There must be other options. The World Government has been studying and working on gem ships since its founding. They're not quite space ready yet, but it's an option. I know you blame the Crystal Gems, but they must have some way to get you back."
"I'm sorry Jason, but I can't take those chances." Lapis stated sadly.
Her face receded into the water, and Jason was blasted by it, which caught everyone by surprise. He impacted hard into Greg's van causing the vehicle to tip over.
"Jason!"
"My van!"
The others gave Greg an irritated look at his concern for his van over their friend. "Uh, I mean… Jason!"
"Please Lapis!" Everyone redirected their attention to Steven as he began walking to the spire of water. "Don't do this! We're all gems, right? Just let us help you."
"You don't understand." Lapis retorted. "Just leave me alone."
"We're not leaving, Lapis." Steven declared firmly. "Not until you give us back our ocean."
A water hand came out and snatched up Steven by his shirt. "I said..." Lapis voiced as a clone of Jason, made of water, stepped out. "…leave me alone!"
Lapis blasted Steven back to the others, and three more water clones of Jason appeared.
"Greg, kids, stay behind us." Pearl declared. "We'll handle this."
"Sounds good to me!" Greg immediately complied.
He proceeded to hide behind a rock, followed by the kids. The Crystal Gems summoned their respective weapons, but the water clones summoned the gem's weapons as well. One of them pulled out two whips. Another pulled out a longer version of Pearl's spear.
The third one punched its knuckles together to form gauntlets like Garnet's, but these were adorned with blunt spikes on the end of them. The last one summoned twin falchions before brandishing them.
"Ruh-oh." Amethyst cried.
"Stand together." Garnet ordered. "Don't let…"
Before Garnet could finish her statement, the gauntlet wearing clone rushed her prepared to separate her from the rest of her team. Jason ran in between them wielding a military grade shield and with his muscles sparking with electricity.
He yelled as he pushed the clone off before brandishing an assault shotgun with his free hand. "Stay out of this you three." He then walked forward while pointing the gun at the lead clone. "Lapis…please don't make me do this."
This was one fight the soldier really didn't want, but he would if she gave him no choice. All the clones tensed up.
"So be it." Jason muttered.
He shot off four rounds, one into each of them, but that merely slowed the water clones down. He brought his shield up blocking a spear and gauntlets. He summoned his blades and used them to cut the water whips sent his way.
He then turned his arm and used the shield as a bashing weapon against the gauntlet and spear clones nearest to him, pushing them back. His blades flew at the other two clones, slicing them up. He then unloaded the last four shots his gun held into the remaining two clones.
With them stunned, he had his blades come back around slicing them up like the prior two. He surveyed the damage only to see the water clones putting themselves back together. He threw his gun away and grabbed one of his blades to use instead.
"Alright, round two." Jason muttered.
At this point, the gems decided to get involved, regardless of Jason's wishes. Garnet charged the gauntlet wielder which matched her. Their collision formed a crater before the pair began rapidly punched one another blow for blow. Garnet ducked before punching through the clone's head.
It reformed before kicking Garnet into a rock which shattered on impact. The maroon gem stood, cracked her neck, and charged in for more. Amethyst was using her whip to grab rocks and hurl them at the whip clone, which flowed like water to avoid it.
At one point, it even split apart to dodge a rock thrown, making Amethyst frustrated. "Ah, come on!" Both her feet were caught by the water whips, and she was smashed into a grouping of rocks. "If you won't play fair…" She shifted into her wrestler persona. "…then neither will I!"
She jumped into the air and came down for a knee driver. Pearl was engaging the spearman. She blocked his spear before twirling her spear and managing to cleave it in two; however, they quickly formed into two spearmen.
"I should have expected that." Pearl noted.
She summoned another spear, which was something she'd picked up not too long after the Sugilite situation. Jason used his blades to cut down the falchion user, but it merely reformed. Then, it crafted ten floating swords of water.
"Great, another Frank situation." Jason took a deep breath as he let the electricity flow through himself and his blades. "Well, in this instance I do have a few new advantages."
The water clone sent its blades at the soldier, but he had them get close before tearing through the water. Jason then ran in, and shield bashed the water clone before diagonally slicing it in two. Just like with Pearl, it divided with each holding two swords and commanding five each.
"You know, she'd make one heck of a sparring partner." Jason thought.
"You can't win Jason." The two water clones spoke with Lapis' voice. "Give up now and go home."
"Lapis, I never had a choice when it came to becoming what I am today." Jason stated. "I was made a super soldier because of who my parents were and these gems on the backs of my hands. Though, it's funny. When I envision everything I could be, only this feels right.
What I'm saying is, I protect the innocent. What I learned from this whole situation is it can change on a dime in my eyes. Regardless of the change, what remains the same is I will fight for what I care about until the bitter end."
"Then, you leave me no choice." Lapis declared.
The now six clones, gauntlet, double whip, two spearmen, and two swordmen, came to stand before him. Jason brandished his shield, held one of his blades up, and had his remaining four spin around him. Before anything could happen, Pearl and Amethyst joined him.
He looked at them and saw the understanding in their eyes. Despite everything, they didn't hold it against him. Jason gave them a firm nod with a smile. He still didn't want this fight, but he was glad they were willing to fight with him. Then, Garnet, Steven, Connie, and Lion joined them.
"We're sorry Jason." Garnet stated without looking at him. "We should have told you what we knew."
"That's right." Amethyst nodded. "You were eventually willing to trust us with your own truth, so we should have done the same."
"We're sorry, Jason." With a flourish, Pearl brandished her two spears. "No matter what, you are as much a Crystal Gem as any of us, and we should have respected what that meant."
Jason smiled. "Despite everything that happened, I'm proud to call myself a Crystal Gem."
Now, two clones remained in Jason's image, but the other four took on Steven, Garnet, Pearl, and Amethyst's image. The ones who mirrored the gems kept the versions of the weapons they'd been using, but the Steven clone lost his weapon.
"Hey Greg!" The man popped his head out from behind the rock before Jason threw him his keys. "My SUV is armored, so you'll be safer in there."
Greg nodded before jogging over to it and getting into the driver's seat.
With him out of the way, Jason prepared himself. "Let's go!"
Jason let the lighting flow once more before he dashed at the two clones that looked like him. Everyone else took on the clones that looked like them. Jason took on his two clones as he channeled his ruthless nature to give him even the slightest edge he could get.
Their swords danced through the air as the original and clones moved around clashing at several points. Eventually, Jason tossed his shield and snagged a second sword. He now brandished two while three kept up the pace the four had originally set.
Pearl's copy produced another spear and engaged her more effectively than before; however, the white gem was still able to fend off the spear user while getting in strikes of her own. Garnet and her clone clashed even more powerfully than before as their fist were just blurs.
Amethyst retook her wrestler persona and added in the whip to her moves, allowing her to keep up. Lion was trying to hit the water Steven with his roar, but it just kept dodging. It then took its chance to blast the animal into Greg's van, destroying it further.
This prompted Steven to brandish a water gun. "Revenge!"
"Revenge!" Connie agreed.
They charged the water Steven. Connie picked up a rock from the ground and threw it while Steven shot it with a water gun. It didn't hinder the water duplicate, who shot out his arms and caught the duo's heads to trap them in spheres of water.
"Steven, Connie!" Jason shouted as he noticed this out of his peripheral.
His two clones took this opening to fling the water swords into his chest. Fortunately, they didn't cut him, but he was knocked clean off his feet. Jason got back up only to see his SUV plow into Steven's clone, freeing the kids. Both fell to the ground and began catching their breath.
"Connie!" Steven cried out and moved over to her.
Jason jumped back from his clones and took a protective stance before the kids. "Are you two okay?"
"Yeah, we're fine." Connie managed.
"Is this a normal magical mission for you?" Greg leaned out of the window of the SUV. "I'm not so sure how comfortable I am with you going on these any-mo-o-o-re!"
Suddenly, the SUV was picked up by the water Steven and chucked away.
"Dad!" Steven cried.
Jason sent his three swords to buy them a little time with clones before he, Steven, and Connie ran over to his vehicle. True to what the soldier said, the SUV had held up well. They had to check on Greg, so he used the swords in his hands to completely pry off the driver's door.
The soldier then noticed the three clones had batted away his swords and were charging them. "Take care of him!"
Jason rushed in to meet the three clones head on. He began exchanging blows with them while bringing back his other three swords to keep up with the blades in the air. He was starting to feel the lighting coursing through him in a negative way, but the soldier pressed on.
"My speed and strength trump theirs, but I'm facing down two of me and one of Steven at the same time." Jason thought. "I need to figure out a way to keep these things from…"
"Lapis, I don't want to fight anymore!" Steven declared firmly, yet the fighting continued. "I said…" He held out his arm and generated his shield in response to water Steven sending a sphere of water at him. "I DON'T WANNA FIGHT!"
There was a loud, metallic ringing noise followed by a small quake. This completely destabilized every water clone. Steven was now standing in front of Connie and Greg with the pink shield of Rose Quartz on his arm.
"Way to go Steven!" Jason thought.
His shield folded in on itself and disappeared before he walked towards the pillar.
"Steven?" Connie questioned.
"Lapis, I'm coming up to see you." Steven declared. "Please don't drown me."
"Wait, Steven!" Connie exclaimed.
She tried to stop him but failed as Steven entered the pillar.
"I'll go after him." Jason approached the pillar. "Lapis, I'm coming up too!" He looked at everyone who gathered around him. "Stay here."
The water completely enveloped him as he stepped in.
Pillar
It wasn't long until Jason was at the top where he saw Steven encompassed in a bubble of water.
Lapis was right in front of him. "Your friends, they don't really care about other gems. All they care about is the Earth, but I never believed in this place."
Lapis looked up towards space before walking away from Steven and releasing him.
Jason ran over and knelt by his side. "You good?"
Steven nodded before looking towards Lapis. She was sitting down some feet away from both and continued to stare into space. Steven got up and walked over to her.
"I just want to go home…" Lapis lamented.
"I know how important home can be." Steven began. "That's why I'm here…" He glanced back as Jason joined them. "Why we're here. You took the ocean away, and the ocean is an important part of our home."
"He's right Lapis." Jason stated. "I know full gems don't need to eat, sleep, or drink to live but humans do. Earth is imbalanced. Some people aren't getting the resources they need to live. The ocean is more important to survival than you realize."
"I'm only using the ocean because my gem is cracked." Lapis tried to reason. "If I just stretch it far enough…" She gave a defeated sigh. "This is never going to work."
The blue gem hugged herself in sadness.
"We'll find a way to help you." Jason touched her shoulder. "We'll…Wait, your gem is cracked?"
She nodded and turned herself around to show her back. The crack is clear as day. Jason looked at Steven who was smiling because he understood as well.
"Wow…" The soldier suddenly realized he's seen her gem so many times since this all began. "I'm such an idiot."
"Why?" Lapis asked, oblivious to the whole situation.
Jason shook his head. "Potentially everything might have been avoided."
"I can fix your gem!" Steven proclaimed. "I have healing powers!"
"Wait, you have healing powers?" Lapis asked incredulously.
"I know, right?" The soldier replied.
"And you knew?" Lapis asked him.
"Yeeeess." Jason groaned. "I was oblivious to your gem being cracked, and if I just told you he could heal…" He flopped onto his back. "Damnit. How did I let this slip through my fingers?"
"To be fair, the situation was tense." Steven stated. "If it's any consolation, I don't blame you."
"Thank you, Steven." Jason sighed with a smile. "That does make me feel a bit better."
"So, what should I do?" Lapis questioned, turning her back to Steven.
The soldier rubbed the back of his head. "Well, this might be a little weird."
"What?" She asked in confusion.
Steven licked his hand and put it on her back, making Lapis shudder.
"Yeah, not a pleasant feeling I can imagine." Jason stated.
Her gem began to glow and healed itself while Jason and Steven took steps back. When she turned to them, her eyes became what one would define as normal.
"Thank you, Steven!" Lapis exclaimed happily.
"No prob, Bob." Steven replied as he wiped his spit onto his pants.
"...It's Lapis." Lapis retorted.
"It's a metaphor Lapis." Jason explained. "He knows your name really isn't Bob."
Lapis blushed. "Oh, right."
"Well, we should probably be heading home just as you will be." Jason waved the kid over. "C'mon Steven."
"Coming." Steven replied.
"Wait." Lapis grabbed the soldier's arm. "Could I talk to you, alone?"
"Oh, okay." Jason looked at the kid. "Hey Steven, could you chill over there for a sec while Lapis and I talk?"
"Okay." Steven stated before walking off and lying down to look over the edge.
"Alright, so what did…" He was interrupted by Lapis bringing him into a hug.
"I'm sorry, Jason." Lapis apologized sincerely.
"For what?" The soldier asked.
"F-for the fighting." Lapis stated. "I'm sorry I attacked you. You were my friend and I just…"
"Lapis." Jason pulled her off and held her at arm's length. "It's okay. No permanent damage to me or the others." He patted her shoulders. "Water under the bridge." She gave him a confused look. "Another metaphor. It basically means, I'm past the whole thing."
"Oh, okay." Lapis stated with a little happiness. "That's good."
"Yeah, it's all good." Jason assured her.
"I'm still sorry though."
"I know."
"About the fighting."
"Nothing permanently broken."
"About your shield."
"I can get more."
"Betraying your friendship."
"You didn't."
"Wait, what!?" She asked.
"You didn't betray me." Jason stated firmly.
"Bu-but…"
"Lapis, that prison you were in sounded like hell." Jason interrupted. "I don't think I'd be the most rational person after that either."
"But I-"
The soldier raised his hand to stop her. "Lapis, I may not understand the situation you were in, but I can sympathize with it. I'm not going to stop being friends with you just because you're still trying to figure out what you're going to do."
Her mouth opened and closed for a second before Jason let out a small chuckle, "Besides, it's been a minute since I faced a challenge like that. Going up against someone like you, despite the situation, helped me understand just how far I still got to go."
Jason was already thinking of stepping up his and Pearl's spars. Despite how he ended up fighting Garnet at the start of this incident, he would not mind sparing with her either.
Lapis hugged him again, and Jason returned it this time. "I can't thank you enough for your help Jason."
"It's alright." They broke the hug with Jason nodding. "I got your back Lapis."
The blue gem then stepped away while creating water wings. "You know, you could come with me? I have more than enough strength to carry you all the way to Homeworld if you want."
"I'm sorry Lapis, but I can't." Jason shook his head. "Despite my moms being created in a time of war caused by the Crystal Gems, I don't see it as you do. Homeworld would have shattered them given the chance. Even if that weren't a factor, I'd can't abandon my family.
There's also some biological and physical aspects that'd prevent me from going as well. For one thing, I need oxygen, or I'll suffocate. If I don't have something to completely cover my entire body from space itself, my blood will boil me alive.
Not to mention, I have no idea how long it would take for us to get to Homeworld. Food and water would be an issue as well. Let's be honest, Lapis. Even if we manage to get all that sorted, I'll be a massive burden on you the whole way there."
She looked down in hopelessness, so the soldier patted her shoulder. "Lapis, get going. You've been gone for too long. Enjoy your freedom. Don't let me hold you back. Besides, you know where I live. Come visit when you get the chance or send a message. Whichever."
Lapis looked from Jason to space. "Okay, Jason. I don't like it, but I'll go."
"If you really don't like it out there, you'll always have a place with me." Jason nodded. "Right now…"
Jason suddenly froze, all coherent thought left him as Lapis kissed him. The kiss was soft and pleasant.
Lapis soon backed away with a smile and a blush. "Thank you." She then nodded to Steven. "Both of you."
"No problem." Steven declared.
"Uh…yeah." Jason managed through his shock.
"Bye." Lapis stated before taking off.
The two hybrids watched her fly into the void of space.
Jason couldn't help but touch his lips before smiling. "Good bye…Lapis Lazuli." He then suddenly looked around. "Wait, if she made the tower, what's keeping…"
Suddenly, the tower rumbled as cubes of water fell to Earth. Jason immediately latched onto Steven before they fell.
"Jason!" Steven exclaimed before gripping onto him tightly.
"Don't worry, I got you!" Jason declared. "Hold on tight!"
The closest Jason came to stress testing his new durability was taking Sugilite's weapon head on. Considering how bruised that made him, the soldier didn't like his odds of surviving this fall. Especially with the ocean likely to be full enough that it'd act as concrete.
At that moment, a pink portal opened letting Connie and Lion emerge. Jason kept a tight hold of Steven with one arm while reaching for Connie with the other. They connected hands, and Lion opened his portal.
Beach City
Mayor Dewey continued to cry while still attempting to use a hose to fill the ocean. His haggard form made him look outright horrible until water began to splash against him.
"Yes! Babe city, here we…" Lars began.
His dreams of seeing women in bikinis were suddenly interrupted as Sadie simply pushed him into the now returning ocean in annoyance.
Beach House: Beach
A giant pink bubble, made by Steven, slowly floated out of the water. It contained everyone who sat atop the two vehicles. As soon as the bubble was on dry land, Steven dispersed it, and everyone could only laugh in joy.
Even though the vehicles weren't in good shape, Greg's van and Jason's SUV were falling apart, at least everyone was still there. Honestly, Greg was taking it harder than the hybrid. They all then looked down the beach to see a large crowd of people running to them.
Steven jumped off the van and moved to greet the crowd. Mayor Dewey immediately embraced him followed by the crowd. The citizens of Beach City began cheering and laughing at seeing the ocean. Yellowtail helped Greg stand after he stepped out of the back of the van.
Connie laughed a little at the show of affection Steven was getting from the citizens. Amethyst couldn't help but hug Lion. Jason distanced himself from everyone by walking over to the water's edge. He sighed at the memory of Lapis leaving.
"We're sorry." Pearl stated.
Jason turned to see her and Garnet had approach. "We should have had more faith in you."
"Don't worry about it." Jason gave them a small smile. "Fact is, this is the first time we've come to blows, and I think I can forgive you. Especially since you were oblivious to Lapis' prison…" He flashed them a look. "Right?"
"Yes." Garnet agreed.
"We really are sorry." Pearl stated sincerely. "We didn't know you would be willing to leave like that because we wouldn't tell you. In hindsight, we should have known how you'd react given the time we've spent together."
"I may have my father out there, but that doesn't mean I haven't started to think of us as family." Jason stated. "You know, my old man and I didn't get into arguments before I met your guys, but that doesn't mean I haven't seen it. Simply put, families fight.
They also end up forgiving each other." Jason looked to the side and ended up thinking about that as he knew what he had to do. "Though, keeping secrets that could endanger lives is a whole other matter. From now on, we don't keep secrets like that from each other.
Whether ours or others, we come clean. Personal past are something I think we can all understand keeping to ourselves, but if something from our past comes back around that'd hurt us, we come clean." He extended his hand. "Deal?"
"Deal." Garnet agreed and shook his hand. "Speaking of fights, don't think I forgot the one we had before you left. I intend to have a real one, so you're not going anywhere."
Jason smiled. "I wouldn't miss it."
Garnet let go and left to pry Steven from the crowd.
"Listen, Pearl." Jason began. "I'm sorry about…"
"I'm happy you're back Jason." Pearl hugged him, and the soldier returned it. "I don't know if you realize it, but you've made quite an impact on all of us."
They ended up letting go.
"Yeah, I guess I have." Jason agreed before looking at the sky.
Pearl joined him "So, Lapis made it off planet."
"Yep." Jason stated simply.
"What do you think this mean for the Crystal Gems?" Pearl asked.
"We wait and see." Satisfied with the answer, Pearl left the soldier with his thoughts. "Good luck out there, Lapis…Wherever you are." He then pulled out his phone and called up his dad. "Hey, dad."
"Jason, the water's back. You did it." Tye declared proudly. "While there are some minor problems, I've already deployed people to help get things back to normal."
"Well, I wasn't alone…I'll send you a long overdue report." Jason stated sincerely. "While I am calling to report things are okay now, I just wanted to say I've come to understand a lot. Dad, thank you for everything you've done."
"Yeah." Tye stated happily. "Look, I'm sorry you weren't told, but everything I do has its reasons. While I can't tell you everything, I will say the last thing you should know for now is that the Ramos Family has a secret of their own that connects with things going on."
"The Ramos Family?" Jason questioned confused. "What do they have to do with this?"
"I'm sorry, but that is something for them to reveal when they are ready." Tye stated.
"Alright, I understand." Jason stated. "I love you, dad."
"I love you too, son." Tye returned.
"Once everything is settled, and you're ready, give me a call." Jason stated. "I think it's time you met the Crystal Gems."
"For sure." Tye replied from the other end. "At the very least, we should be working together to ensure Earth is protected. Anyways, I got to go. A lot of paperwork is coming in as we speak."
"Go right ahead, but I'll talk to you soon dad." Jason stated.
"Sounds good son." Tye stated.
On my profile, you should find an an important question you can all weigh in on.
In my story, Universal Rewrite, should Steven's mom be Pink Diamond or Rose Quartz? (Do you want Steven's mom to be a genuine Rose Quartz or the canon of Pink Diamond shape shifts into Rose Quartz)
Of course, if you'd like, you can also weigh in through pm and review.
dindagangleader14: Thank you.