Chereads / Steven Universe: The Return / Chapter 54 - The Resonance of Painful Memories

Chapter 54 - The Resonance of Painful Memories

[Peridot and Connie are seen approaching Obsidian, with Connie hovering over a metal plate.]

Peridot: The ground is dangerous, so try not to get too far away from me.

Connie: Yeah, like I can control this thing. Anyway, let's get to work.

Peridot: Alright! *to Obsidian* Yo, guys!

[Obsidian, bewildered, struggles to turn their eyes and gasps at the sight of Peridot and Connie.]

Obsidian: W-What are you doing?! GET OUT OF HERE!!!

Connie: No way! We're here to help! *turns to Peridot* All right, Peridot, it's time. Talk to her!

Peridot: Y-Yeah, okay.

[Peridot says as a bead of sweat rolls down her forehead, her face shows concern and doubt, so she doesn't dare to approach Lapis.]

Connie: What's the matter, Peridot?

Peridot: Nothing, It's just... I can't do it. *she said in a quavery voice*

Connie: What?!

Peridot: I just can't, okay?! It feels too cruel to remind her of her painful past. I just can't bring myself to do that to Lapis... She might never forgive me, and she'd kill me for sure.

Connie: I understand your concern for Lapis. You're afraid you'll hurt her by bringing back those memories, right? However, the past makes us who we are in the present, and sometimes facing it is the only way to move forward. Lapis doesn't remember who she is right now. Reminding her might be tough, but it's necessary to save her – and all of us.

Peridot: I...

Connie: She's about to destroy everything in her confusion. You're the only one who can reach her, Peridot!

Peridot: Y-Yes, you're right, I'll do it!

[Peridot approaches Lapis.]

Peridot: HEY, LAPIS!

Lapis: Oh, it's you again. Came to get crushed too, huh?

[Peridot still isn't quite sure what she's about to do.]

Peridot: This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you. I hope one day you can forgive me, Lapis.

[Peridot says after taking a deep breath.]

Peridot: Well, whatever happens, happens.

[Peridot activates her right limb enhancer, projecting a hologram of a mirror – identical to the one where Lapis was trapped in for centuries.]

Lapis: *visiby confused* A mirror? Is that supposed to mean something to me?

Peridot: *guts up* Yes, that mirror means a lot to you, more than you can imagine! Don't you remember the thousands of years you were imprisoned in it?!

Lapis: Huh?! You're just talking nonsense.

Peridot: They used you as a mere tool and, when you were no longer useful, they abandoned you to your fate!

Lapis: ...?

Peridot: You were trapped in that mirror for millennia! If Steven hadn't freed you, you'd still be there!

Lapis: ...

Peridot: And just when you thought you'd finally got your longed-for freedom, I imprisoned you as soon as you set foot on Homeworld, not to mention using you as my informant!

Lapis: No, no, no! Shut up!

[An apprehensive Lapis shouts as a brief memory of being trapped in the mirror flashes through her mind.]

Peridot: Everyone you came across only saw you as a tool to profit from! And those who didn't, imprisoned you!

Lapis: I said shut up! I'm not a tool, let alone a prisoner, there's no way!

Peridot: Well, so far Emerald and her fellows have used you as nothing more than a mere tool! Besides, you're our prisoner right now!

Lapis: *shocked* Wh-What?!

[Lapis grabs her head with both hands as her body starts shaking violently; memories of overwhelming silence and endless darkness flash through her mind.]

Lapis: Ahh! Stop messing with my head!

[Obsidian manages to push the sphere slightly upward.]

Obsidian: Good, keep it up, Peridot! The force Lapis was using to push the sphere down is decreasing!

Peridot: Tell me, Lapis, don't you still remember that feeling of being a prisoner?!

Lapis: *grabing her head in pain* S-Shut up!

Peridot: That feeling of hopelessness, of not being able to escape no matter what you do?! Do you remember it already?!?

[The memory of dozens of Homeworld Gems interrogating her and glaring at her while she is helplessly trapped in the mirror flashes through Lapis' mind.]

Lapis: AAAHHH!! NO!! PLEASE NO MORE!!!

[A disturbed Lapis cries out in despair.]

Peridot: *in fear* I-I might have gone too far.

Obsidian: Now's my chance!

[Obsidian takes the opportunity to push up hard, then lets out a mighty roar and whose shockwave sends the sphere straight into space.]

Obsidian: Well, looks like Homeworld will have water supply problems for some time.

Lapis: Let me go!!! *she cried out in anguish*

[Peridot disables the hologram of the mirror.]

Peridot: *shivering in fear* OH! MY! STARS! Lapis gonna kill me, please someone hide me!