Chereads / Steven Universe: The Return / Chapter 30 - Found Out

Chapter 30 - Found Out

[A Blue Gem appears behind Stevonnie and the others without warning; they all turns around and gasps in astonishment when they see who it is.]

Amethyst: Guys, look!

Stevonnie: No way, it's--

Peridot: It's Lapis!

[The rejuvenated Lapis makes an appearance, she wears a backless blue halter crop top with a green X, which ties into a blue sash ribbon on the back of her shoulders, as well as puffy dark-blue pants with a blue sash drapped around her waist flowing on the backside and secured by a golden belt with a blue water drop in the center. She also wears blue boots and dark-blue armbands with gold ridges.]

Stevonnie: What's she doing here!? This isn't where she should be!

Peridot: It doesn't matter, she saved us the trouble of fetching her.

Stevonnie: I know, but... this wasn't in the plans! What should we do now?!

Garnet: Easy.

[Garnet says as she places her hand on Stevonnie's shoulder.]

Garnet: I'll get her attention and once she lets her guard down, I'll hold her with all my might and then you'll make her get her memories back.

Stevonnie: Roger...

[Lapis walks up to Garnet and the others.]

Lapis: Garnet? Is that you?

Garnet: Affirmative.

Lapis: You look a little... different. Did you reform by any chance?

Garnet: Yeah, well, I kind of did.

Lapis: By the way, who are these Gems? What are they doing near the conversion room?

Garnet: I need them... for something of the utmost importance.

Lapis: Yeah, whatever, not that I care anyway. I was just sent here to inform you of certain abnormalities that have been going on these days.

[At the same time.]

Stevonnie: *whispering* Psst. Peridot.

Peridot: *whispering* What is it?

Stevonnie: You know Lapis better than anyone, so when Garnet holds her, you should be the one to help her get her memories back.

Peridot: *nervously* A-All right, I-I'll do my best.

[Meanwhile.]

Lapis: I am in the middle of an important mission at the moment, but since you were not present when a written statement was issued, I had to be sent here to let you know.

[Lapis pulls out a piece of paper, clears her throat and begins to read.]

Lapis: "All of our Gems are hereby directed to be on high alert at all times as there appears to be quite a group of Ge--

[Lapis -before finishing reading- notices Stevonnie and Peridot whispering to each other.]

Lapis: Garnet, gimme a second.

[Lapis walks up Stevonnie and Peridot, turning her back on Garnet.]

Lapis: You two! What are you mumbling about?!

Stevonnie: Nothing!

Lapis: What the--? Are you a Gem?

Stevonnie: Of course I am! Just take a look at my gem down here! *points to the gemstone on their belly*

[A wary Lapis stares at Stevonnie's gemstone.]

Lapis: Hmm, it looks authentic, but your appearance is... odd, to say the least.

Garnet: It's okay, Lapis, don't worry about that.

[Garnet says as she approaches Lapis from behind.]

Garnet: I'm just gonna...

[Garnet reaches out her arms and tries to hold Lapis, the latter turns around and notices this just in time, so she quickly summons her water wings and forms fists from them, then punches Garnet in the chest, knocking her backwards.]

Lapis: *enraged* What the fuck was that just now?!

Garnet: Dang, just what I was afraid of. *adjusts her visors* She noticed.

Stevonnie: Garnet, are you okay?!

[Stevonnie unthinkingly rushes to Garnet's aid.]

Garnet: Yeah, I'm fine.

Lapis: *angered* You!! On second glance, none of you Gems are wearing the emblem of the new empire on your bodies.

Garnet: Tch, she found us out.

Stevonnie: That's a really big problem.

Lapis: I see... So you too, huh? Now I understand everything.

Stevonnie: What do you mean "you too"?

Lapis: You won't get away from me!

[Lapis begins to use her hydrokinetic powers, causing the whole area to shake and rumble loudly.]

Stevonnie: *bewildered* Wh-what's going on!? Why is it shaking!?

Garnet: Run for it!!

Stevonnie: Why?!

Garnet: Just do it!

Lapis: Ha! Running away won't do you any good!

[Stevonnie and the others run down the hallway as fast as they can.]

Stevonnie: *running* I think we've already lost her!

[The Crystal Gems keep runing as fast as they can, but stop dead in their tracks when they see the floor and walls in front of them begin to break open and a large amount of water gushes from within.]

Stevonnie: Where is all this water coming from?!

Peridot: From the water conduit system all over the planet!

Lapis: You're not going anywhere!

[All that water gathers in front of everyone, and then a giant Lapis-shaped water clone is formed, destroying much of the palace corridors in the process.]

Lapis: There's no way I'm letting you fucking traitors get away THIS TIME!

[Lapis creates and hurls a giant water ball at the Crystal Gems.]

Stevonnie: Guys!!

[Stevonnie swiftly summons Steven's bubble to protect everyone and succeeds.]

[The impact, however, knocks them hard into a wall, breaking right through it. Stevonnie's bubble falls outside the palace and bounces several times before popping, after which the Crystal Gems take the opportunity to hide behind the resulting rubble.]

Stevonnie: *thinking to theirself* That was a close call-- Wait a minute, come to think of it, what did she mean by "this time"?

Peridot: *in fear* What are we supposed to do now!?

Garnet: *adjusts her visors* Let's fight!

Stevonnie: No way! We can't fight her, she's our friend! Besides, if we fight in the open, everyone on Homeworld will know about us!

Garnet: We have no choice, guys, believe me! If we don't put up a fight, she'll kill us without a word!

Stevonnie: But--

Garnet: Lapis was made with such enormous destructive power, they couldn't afford not to harness it! Her personality is very unstable, though! Even they find it hard to keep her in check! Therefore, the best thing to do is to neutralize Lapis before things get worse!

Stevonnie: Still, there must be another way!

Garnet: There isn't!

Stevonnie: But--

Garnet: *ignores Stevonnie* Amethyst! Pearl! Let's go!

Pearl & Amethyst: Roger!

[Amethyst, Pearl and Garnet leave there to fight Lapis.]

Stevonnie: Hold on!

Peridot: They're already gone.