"Fan out!"

you heard garnet call from behind as you all fled, causing your chest to freeze in anxiety.

oh my stars, oh dear star, oh good gracious, this is BAD!! you thought, clutching the mirror in your jaws as you ran down the beach with steven in the lead, taking refuge behind a giant Boulder. Steven pants as spinel bites her fingertips, trembling in your withers as steven snatched the mirror from your jaws, and stared down at it in bewildered fear. "wh-what do we do now..?!" whimpered spinel, hugging your neck. Steven's focus was on the mirror. "what's their problem with you??" the reflection was warping and rippling. "it's trying to say somethin'!" spinel exclaimed.

"away from home!" it exclaimed. you looked down at it, mouth partially opened in alarm. wait... what?

"let! me! OUT!"

let me... out..? you squinted at the mirror from behind your bangs, as steven and spinel stared frantically down at it. "I don't understand!" steven cried out as you mulled the words over in your head. away from home... you wrinkled your muzzle in concentration at the message in the sentence. let me out...

"STEVEN!? SPINEL!? (NAME)!!?"

pearl's frantic voice sounded in a distance, raising more panic within the small duo, as spinel cried out through clenched jaws pulling her pigtails in panic as Steven stared desperately into the mirror. "come on! we wanna help you!" he shouted pleadingly into his rippling reflection, as spinel jumped from you and landed at his side, a fearful glare on her face. "spit it out, would ya!?" she exclaimed, voice raised in a pitch of fearful frustration. you were completely silent as you replayed the plea over and over in your head.

away from home... your pupils quivered as it all began to clear up.

slowly...

let...

coming...

me...

together...

OUT!

something suddenly clicked in your head like a light switch being flicked on. your eyes flew open and a deep gasp erupted from your throat, catching steven's attention. "(n-name)?" he called, shakily. "What's wrong-"

WHAP!!

"HEY!" steven stumbled back as you suddenly snatched the mirror from the boy's tiny hands, your massive paw making him stagger back into spinel who caught him before he could fall over. "what's the big idea?!" she asked sharply, taken aback from your sudden actions.

you didn't even spare them a side glance as you rose to your hind legs, startling steven and spinel into holding each other as you focused on the suddenly familiar mirror between your thumb and index finger, twirling it subtly in your grip. that was when you squinted at the blue teardrop on the back. you glance up at the wide-eyed duo for a moment, your own eyes narrowed into a determined glare, which was very uncharacteristic for your normally friendly, almost dopey grin.

"stay back."

that was all you said to them as you clamped your thumb and index finger over the teardrop into a firm grip. "(n-name)!" Steven stammered in alarm. "w-what're you-" you blocked out his protestations as you started to pull at it.

it was really stuck in there. even for you to take out, as you had to be firm enough not to lose your grip but careful enough not to break it any further. during the struggles, you failed to notice igniting the protestations of the small duo from the duo a couple inches away from you.

"(name)!"

"what are you doing!?"

"something's happening!"

"stop...!"

you tried to ignore them best you could, determined to finish the task at hand. you were dimly aware of water pooling at your hooves, and the raise in volume of the protesting gem and half-gem until--

"Gah!" you cried out in surprise when the gem was wretched free from the mirror's back, shattering it in the process. "WHAT THE-?!" you faintly heard spinel exclaim as the gem in your hand glowed and levitated out of your grip, before flying a few inches away from you, suddenly taking the shape of a lean blue gem, before collapsing to her hands and knees into the sand. you stood in silence, watching as a bewildered steven and spinel ran over to the slumped figure in concern for a few moments before falling back onto all-fours with a THUMP. you slowly approach the trio with slow, cautious strides, standing beside steven as the gem looked up at the boy, with blank white eyes. "thank you..!" she rasped as she rose to her feet.

"you didn't-" she suddenly staggered on unbalanced feet, prompting you to raise your paw to steady her, the gem gripping your wrist instinctively, before lifting her gaze back up to the boy, an incredulous smile on her lips. "you actually talked to me.." she said, almost in disbelief. "you helped me..!" she stood back up, her gaze warm and grateful. "it's steven... right?" steven hums in confirmation and she slides her gaze to spinel. "you're spinel, right?" spinel gives her signature toothy smile and nods. "a pleasure to meet you." she smiles warmly at her before lifting her gaze up to yours. "and you..." she squints slightly in a sudden state of suspicion. "you're... (name)..?" you nod, letting a small, friendly smile curl your muzzle. she stared at you for a moment, as if she were analysing something. but then she returned her attention to steven. "I'm lapis." she introduced simply. "lapis lazuli." your eyes squinted at her name, as you had a sudden shift in your mind. lapis lazuli... your thoughts were halted by lapis' question. "are you really crystal gems?" spinel smiled broadly, wrapping an arm around the boy and pulling him cheek to cheek. "we sure are!" she chirps proudly, as steven giggles. lapis had the look of disbelief. "but... you set me free..." steven furrowed his brow in confusion. "but... w..wha?"

"STEVEN!!"

you stiffen at the sound of garnet's uncharacteristically loud call and whip your head around to see the gems approach, weapons out and ready. "yuh-oh." spinel uttered, as steven ran at them, arms out in defense. "wait!"

"you..." lapis snarled, standing tall, glaring menacingly at the trio. behind her, a sudden mass of water arose from the ocean, taking form of a massive hand. "you three knew I was in there, and you didn't do anything..." she sounded so... betrayed almost. "DID YOU EVEN WONDER WHO I USED TO BE!!?" the hand suddenly came down at the three, pinning garnet and knocking pearl and amethyst aside. "(NAME)!" pearl called fearfully. "GET STEVEN AND SPINEL AWAY FROM HERE!" you stood rooted to your spot, trying to process what was transpiring. "what do you think your doing!!?" spinel exclaimed, pulling at her pigtails in fear.

"I'M LAPIS LAZULI," the blue gem roared. "AND YOU CAN'T KEEP ME TRAPPED HERE ANYMORE!!"

steven looked back at the gems, bewildered and scared at the same time. "they won't let us leave." lapis muttered, turning towards the water for a moment. "leave?" steven uttered, watching as the water parted at her gesture, creating a path. "steven, spinel, (name), come with me." you all looked at her, wide-eyed. "where?" he questioned, causing her face to soften into an almost somber tone.

"home."

your eyes widened. h-home?

steven stammers in uncertainty and takes a step back, as lapis waits for his decision. she suddenly looks up to you, almost pleading of you to accept her offer. You backed up a step, taken aback by the somber plea in her eyes.

It was.. almost tempting to take the gem's offer...

But... i can't... just...

It only took a moment for her to realize the silent refusal and dispel the open path in disappointment. "fine." that was when garnet was able to break away from the water arm and charge the blue gem. uh-oh... "don't trust them, steven. spinel." lapis suddenly advises ominously. Wait, what--? you turned back to the lazuli, just in time to see her hand raise and part the hair covering your eye, staring into it almost sadly. "...(gem)." your eyes went wide at the mention of your gem type as she turns towards the ocean. "...goodbye." she walks into the ocean, a sudden wave rising up then crashing down harshly into the shore, sending steven, spinel, and garnet tumbling backwards and soaking you.

pearl and amethyst run up to them all, pearl embracing steven and spinel. "steven! spinel! are you both okay?" steven nods. "we're okay." spinel wrings out her pigtail staring in the direction of the lazuli. "soooo... that was another gem in there?" pearl sighs. "yes.." she replies. "(name)? are you alright?"

her question never reached you. you just stared out into the direction of the lazuli, the image of her sad eyes not leaving your head. why... did she look so distraught..? there was a sudden nagging feeling in your gut...

go... home...?

the word repeated itself in your head as you mulled it over. home was where one lived, so it really shouldn't bother you. you were home! you lived in the beach temple with your friends!

so... why do I feel so guilty...?

why... does it... feel wrong to have... declined her offer?

Your thoughts were halted by garnet's flat voice.

"you're grounded."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With the other gems coming into view... comes Reader's background.

I may re-write this page when I get the chance, though.