Lapis: *muttering to herself* Where could she be hiding?
Connie: *suddenly yelling* Lapis, watch out!
Peridot: Behind you!
[In a flash, Spinel materializes behind Lapis, her Gem Rejuvenator glowing ominously.]
Lapis: ...?!
Spinel: *with a taunting grin* Gotcha!
[Spinel swings the Rejuvenator, its energy crackling as it slashes through the air, aiming directly at Lapis.]
Lapis: Sh-shit!
[Lapis grimaces as she performs a desperate maneuver, but not before Spinel's attack slices through her water wings, severing them.]
Peridot: ...!!!
[Peridot & Connie shout, their voices mingling with concern and fear.]
Connie/Peridot: Lapis!!
[Lapis plummets toward the ground, her wings destroyed. Despite the rapid descent, she manages to land on her feet.]
Connie: *breathing a sigh of relief* Thank goodness.
Peridot: That thing has to cut right through your physical form for it to have any effect.
[Spinel lands behind Lapis.]
Spinel: Tsk, almost had you there.
[Spinel then stretches her body, preparing for her next assault.]
Holly Blue Agate: *cheering from a distance* You've got this, Spinel!
Bluebird: Yes, rejuvenate her! You're our last hope!
Peridot: You've got some nerve. Do you people have no shame?
Bluebird: What's it to you?! Just mind your own business, will you?!
[Spinel lunges forward, her Rejuvenator glowing fiercely as she spins, her attack aimed directly at Lapis.]
Spinel: Here I come!
[Lapis reacts instantly, summoning water from the ground. The water gushes upwards, solidifying instantly to shield her from Spinel's attack.]
Lapis: Damn, this is proving to be more of a hassle than I expected.
[Spinel swiftly stretches her body around the ice wall and attacks Lapis with the rejuvenator, but Lapis evades her by soaring upwards.]
Spinel: Flying again, huh?
[Lapis then raises a huge water-arm out of a puddle below her, extending it toward Spinel.]
Spinel: ...!!!
[Spinel reacts quickly, clamping the Rejuvenator between her teeth. She then jumps up like a spring and spins quickly, morphing her hands into a drill-like shape. This enables her to drill through Lapis' water-arm, destroying it and reaching the same height Lapis is hovering at.]
Lapis: *shocked* What the--?!!
[Spinel enlarges her hands and performs a double axe handle on Lapis, sending her crashing down into the ground with such force that it creates a deep crater.]
Lapis: *groaning in pain* That... that really hurt.
[As Spinel descends, her hands return to their normal size. Spotting Lapis in the crater, Spinel twirls her Rejuvenator and lunges at her, ready to deliver the final strike. Lapis rolls out of the way just in time, feeling the ground shake as the Rejuvenator slams down where she was moments ago. Lapis then performs a kip-up, springing back to her feet.]
Spinel: Not so fast!
[Spinel bounces off some boulders like a spring, then propels towards Lapis to attack her again with the rejuvenator.]
Lapis: Tch.
[Lapis barely dives out of the way as Spinel speeds through on the rejuvenator, cutting a rock in half.]
Lapis: Th-That was a close call!
[Spinel continues her relentless assault, bouncing off the rocks and charging at Lapis again. This time, Lapis summons her water wings and forms clenched fists from them.]
Lapis: Take this!
[Lapis delivers a strong, wound-up punch into Spinel's face. The blow sends Spinel crashing into a rock, stunning her momentarily and giving Lapis the chance to hide behind the rubble.]
Spinel: *already recovered* Shit, she got away...
[Lapis is seen hiding nearby behind a rock.]
Lapis: *thinking to herself* Great, as if hand-to-hand combat was my strongest suit. Taking on this Gem is a real pain in the ass in and of itself.
[Lapis peeks cautiously from behind the rock, watching as Spinel, wielding the Rejuvenator, searches the area for her.]
Spinel: *sing-song voice* Come out, come out, wherever you are!
Lapis: *thinking* Why bother? I should just...
[Lapis instinctively taps into her water powers, causing the area to begin to tremble violently, a deep, resonant rumble. Spinel stumbles, her eyes wide with surprise as she looks around.]
Spinel: *startled* Eh?! What the fuck is going on?!
Lapis: *thinking* No!
[But just as suddenly as it began, the rumbling stops. Lapis exhales slowly, forcing herself to calm down.]
Lapis: *thinking* I can't just go on a rampage and hope for the best. I need to be patient, stay strong... If I'm going to take her down, I'll have to get creative. This Gem never stays still, though. If only I could freeze her in place...
[Lapis scans the area, her eyes narrowing in thought.]
Lapis: There's gotta be a way to...
[Suddenly, an idea sparks.]
Lapis: Yeah! That's it! I know what to do!
Meanwhile...
Spinel: *bewildered* What was that rumbling just now?
[Spinel's attention snaps to a strange noise coming from behind a nearby rock. Her eyes narrow, a sly grin spreading across her face as she hears Lapis' voice echoing from behind it.]
Lapis: Yo! Over here!
Spinel: What a moron! You're mine!
[Spinel propels herself towards the rock. She circles it quickly, her eyes widening in delight as she spots Lapis, apparently defenseless and standing in the open. Without hesitation, Spinel slashes at her with the Rejuvenator, cutting through Lapis's neck in a clean strike, decapitating her.]
Spinel: Ha!
[Spinel chuckles darkly, her voice dripping with satisfaction.]
Spinel: How stupid do you have to be to let--wait, what?!
[But as Spinel watches, something strange happens. The "Lapis" she decapitated begins to lose its form, dissolving into a puddle of water. Spinel's triumphant grin falters, confusion replacing her glee.]
Spinel: Wh-what the fuck?!
[In that instant, the real Lapis emerges from her true hiding place.]
Lapis: I've got you right where I want you!
[Lapis immediately thrusts her hands forward, and the water from her previous clone surges up. The liquid spirals around Spinel's wrists, solidifying into shackles that yank Spinel's arms downward. Spinel gasps as the Rejuvenator slips from her grasp, clattering to the ground.]
Spinel: No way!
[Spinel swiftly springs upward, attempting to escape. But before she can gain any height, two water hands burst from the ground beneath her. They seize her legs, dragging her back down into the ground, encasing her up to her neck. Only her head remains visible above the surface.]
Lapis: It's over.
[Lapis walks over to Spinel.]
Lapis: You won't be able to move anymore.
[Spinel struggles against the ice, her face contorting in frustration.]
Spinel: Yikes! Why is it so tight in here?!
Lapis: There was standing water just below where you were. I thought it would be poetic to bury you in it, then freeze it solid to keep you immobile. Now, you're not going anywhere.
Spinel: Tch!
[Spinel's form shudders as she desperately attempts to shapeshift, her body shrinking and contorting in a bid to slip free. But the ice remains unyielding, encasing her completely, leaving no room for escape.]
Spinel: What the...?!
Lapis: You can shape-shift all you want, but your gemstone isn't going anywhere. You're literally up to your neck in solid ice, remember?
Spinel: *grumbles* Let me go!
[Lapis sighs, rolling her eyes as she spots the rejuvenator lying nearby. Her gaze locks onto it.]
Spinel: *panicked* No, no, no, no! Don't even think about it!
[Lapis remains silent, pondering on her own. After a moment, she bends down and picks up the rejuvenator.]
Lapis: ...
Spinel: *fearful* Wait, wait, wait, wait! You're not actually gonna use that thing, are you?!
Lapis: ...
Spinel: That weapon's for serious threats, for big Gems! Just put it down! I'm warning you!
[Lapis glances briefly at Peridot and Connie, who are both watching her anxiously. Then, she looks back down at the rejuvenator in her hands, making up her mind.]
Lapis: ...
Peridot: *thinking to herself* Lapis, don't…
[Lapis raises the rejuvenator high above her head.]
Spinel: *in fear* Don't you dare! You'll regret it!
Lapis: *calmly* Yeah, maybe so...
[Lapis then breaks the rejuvenator in two over her knee.]
Lapis: But this thing? It's just not worth the hassle.
Spinel: *confused* Wait, what? I thought… I thought you were going to—
Peridot: Lapis!
[Lapis turns around and sees Peridot and Connie approaching her.]
Lapis: *with a sarcastic tone* Oh, thanks so much for the backup back there. *gives a thumbs-up* I wouldn't have made it without you guys.
Peridot: You said you could handle her!
Lapis: Yeah, well, Lapis Lazulis aren't exactly known for their hand-to-hand combat skills, are they? That's more Jasper's department. You know, rockheads who live for smashing things.
Peridot: Yet you took down Alexandrite and Malachite all by yourself.
Lapis: Trust me, it's easier to take down a giant than to corner a damn sneaky rat.
Peridot: That doesn't quite make sense.
Connie: Well, a giant can't move as smoothly as you'd think. They have blind spots that are easy to exploit.
Lapis: As they say—'the bigger they are, the harder they fall.'
Later...
[Lapis, Connie, and Peridot dig the ice ball encasing Spinel out of the ground. Once they've got it out, they lift it up and start flying towards Obsidian, carrying the rest of the captured Gems with them.]
Obsidian: Hm?
[Obsidian turns around and spots them approaching in the air, a wave of relief washing over them.]
Obsidian: Guys, you made it!
Lapis: Just check this out!
[Lapis hovers closer & shows Obsidian the captured Gems, all shackled and restrainted with her water chains.]
Obsidian: At last...
[Obsidian lets out a sigh of relief.]
Obsidian: It's over.
[Obsidian's tension eases as they begins to unfuse, separating back into Garnet, Pearl, Amethyst, and Steven, their exhaustion palpable.]
Connie: Steven!!
[Connie's face lights up at the sight of Steven. Without hesitation, she leaps from the hovering metal plate controlled by Peridot and rushes to his side.]
Connie: Are you okay?!
[Connie wraps Steven in a tight embrace, her arms around him securely as her lips press a quick, affectionate kiss to his cheek.]
Steven: I'm fine. Seriously, don't stress about me.
[Steven returns the hug, his voice soft and reassuring, a hint of a smile on his face.]
Steven: How about you? Are you alright?
Connie: Yeah, I'm fine, too.
[Steven's smile grows a little at Connie's reply.]
Steven: That's great to hear.