Summary: A little dream jumping
Garnet looked at the current rock formation, not seeing any footprints. Meaning wherever Malachite was, it wasn't in the Mariana Trench. "Still no luck with anything." The fusion groaned, disappointed. Kicking the ground, she floated back up at rocket speed to the surface, where Star was busy playing in the water. "She's not here."
"We gotta keep looking." Steven said, staring at the water. "She's gotta be here, she's gotta be suffering."
"I promise Steven, we'll find Lapis and Jasper no matter what it takes." Pearl offered her reassurance to the boy. "With how unstable their fusion is, it's a wonder that they haven't resurfaced yet."
"I've seen a lot of futures." Garnet spoke. "Lapis is strong, but the moment she loses control, they'll destroy everything in sight until nothing left remains."
"Yeah, that's terrible." Star said as she spat water out of her mouth like it was a fountain. "Almost like Sugilite, but with fifteen bags of sugar."
"More like crystal meth." Marco muttered, trying to stand still even with heavy gauntlets on his arms. "How are they even functioning? Aren't you supposed to diffuse when you disagree or don't see eye to eye?"
"Not exactly. Under normal circumstances, that would be the case, but Lapis's sheer hatred and frustration is overwriting whatever will power Jasper has inside of her." Garnet explained. "If she keeps it up, eventually she won't even be able to tell the difference between herself and Jasper, and Malachite themselves will have complete control without any form of mental restraint."
"So at the bottom of the ocean is a ticking time bomb." Steven grumbled. "With my friend trapped inside of it … just great. Trapped in a mirror, trapped in a cell, why can't she get a moment's peace?"
"Don't despair now, Ste-man. We can do-do-we can-look for.." Amethyst spoke woozily, her eyes barely looking like they had the strength to keep themselves open."
"Hey Amethyst, are you okay?" Steven asked. "Do you need fountain tears?"
"No..I'm just exhausted." Amethyst yawned. "We've been looking for Malachite for about a month by this point, and we've been searching the sea floor for a week straight without break…there's a reason why I sleep, guys." She looked at Pearl in particular. "Unlike some people."
"Wait, you don't sleep? Like, ever?" Marco asked. "How do you function with so many hours of uninterrupted mental processing?"
"The hours where it's mostly me by myself I spend organizing everything that I've stored within my gem, making sure it's alphabetized and keeping the mental constructs I've conjured within myself in line in case they get any funny ideas and rebel."
"... I'm sorry, did you just admit to having thoughts in your head that literally have their own ideas and rebel against their owner?" Tad asked her.
"They don't think about anything too serious, occasionally they just try to hoard momentos from the past all to themselves, like the first flower Rose ever picked. It was two weeks before I got them to comply." Garnet could relate, especially the time Ruby tried to set fire to that one stuttering moment. It was cute.
"Well, Amethyst has a point. We've been going at this without stopping." Star said, looking at Steven. "You're about to conk out any minute now."
"No way, I'm completely-." Steven stopped in the middle of his sentence, falling asleep as his body crashed into the ground.
"Does that happen all the time?" Kelly asked.
"Half the time. Mom's curfews when we were younger sort of put him on a schedule he has a hard time breaking." Star said as she picked her brother up. "Come on, bro, let's get you somewhere comfortable."
"All of us should head back." Marco said. "I don't really trust us to sleep on a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean with our weird luck."
"There are ten different futures where you all drown because you're so exhausted and you walk off the boat, and two futures where we're swallowed by a giant whale." Garnet agreed with Marco.
"Please stop telling us how we're going to die." Kelly groaned.
Garnet just shrugged as Star opened a portal with dimensional scissors. "Well, goodnight everybody. Hopefully whatever we dream about tonight is a heck of a lot better than this." Star waved off before entering.
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"Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for the one and only show that can appeal to the hearts of all. Steven Quartz DaMayo Universe Butterfly!" There was clapping and cheering as the curtain was drawn back.
Upon opening, it showed off a black and white world where Steven found himself putting on a pretty fancy suit, where his mom and aunt Pearl were arguing about what tie color would look better on him. "Raven pitch is clearly better." Aunt Pearl showed off her tie.
"Midnight Onyx is surely to get the girl's heart." Mom argued back.
"Guys, they're both black." A laugh track occurred from Steven's sentence. "I really need to hurry, Kelly is going to be here any second, and I want to be better than her last boyfriend."
"Dude, you already are the top dog." Star came in, riding on a skateboard shaped amethyst.
"Heck yeah, you'll roll over the competition." The audience laughed at Amethyst's clever joke.
"Star! What did I say about you doing your holigin shenanigans around the house?!" Mom's ears were poof steaming.
"Do not do them while standing under your roof, when I'm clearly skating." Star winked at the audience.
"And Amethyst, I clearly made it abundantly clearly I wanted you to stop shapeshifting into anything with wheels after you crashed a monster truck into the house!" Pearl chastised Amethyst.
"Can't ground me if you can't catch me!" The duo laughed, making their way into the kitchen.
"They certainly are pretty lively." It was weird that his two families were living with each other now, but it's what made it home.
"Sup everyone, what am I missing?" From the front window, his cool jacket wearing big brother figure Marco was standing, wearing sunglasses during midday like all chill people did. The audience whooped and hollered at his arrival.
"Just getting ready for the dance." They held up two ties. "Black or black?" The audience was howling in laughter.
"This might sound a bit extreme, but why not a white bow time, spice things up a bit."
"Marco, you always live on the edge." Steven laughed, placing the bowtie on his neck, hearing the door knock. "She's here!" Steven ran up to the door, opening it to reveal Jana.
"Hey Quartzy, Marco." She smirked as the audience clapped and cheered. "Surprised you're not in a suit."
"I'm just too good for it. Nothing can top how chill I really am." Marco replied coolly.
"Then what about you taking me to the dance?" The audience 'ooooed' at this new revelation.
"Jana, I never knew you felt like that!"
"Really, it was super obvious." Steven pointed out. "She follows you around a lot, takes your stuff without asking, collects pieces of your hair for those strange little dolls she makes of you."
"I thought that was just the VooDoo doll collection she has for everyone." The audience laughed at the shrug.
"I may want to control everyone, but there's some people I could never do that to."
The door was knocked on once more. "Oh, that has to be Kelly." Steven went to the door, and opened it. "Welcome Keeeeee…"
"Wooohooo-hoo-hoo-hoo-" Like a scratched record, the audience cheer was glitched and looping over and over as the blue Lapis Lazuli stood there, water pouring out of all her orifices.
"Lapis?" Steven found himself completely taken out of the weird earth sitcom setting he was playing as he was confused by what was happening. "Are you okay?" He reached out to his lost friend.
She said nothing, Steven could hear a bathtub filling as he looked down, seeing the water rise up to his knees. "Lapis, you have to stop, you're hurting yourself!" He shouted to the gem.
"Stay…away…" An ominous threat echoed in the air, one that was dark and full of rage. The water continued to pile up.
"I can't, I want to help-" He was cut off as the water got to his mouth, removing his speech and oxygen all at once.
"Stay … away!" With a swing of chains, Steven was sent tumbling down a stream of water, trying and failing to swim back to her. He just wanted to help.
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Jana smiled as she sat on her throne of human bones as a pink fluffy bunny with rabies served her every whim. "A perfect day in paradise." The skulls were covered in roses, the river of blood tasted like cherry, and her army of ocrams were ready to give up their lies for global conquest.
There was one thing, or rather, one person that would've made this place even more perfect, but on the off chance a brain parasite snuck its way into her head, she didn't want it learning all her most valuable secrets.
She looked up as clouds formed, forming a small drizzle in a single spot. "Get the water cans, we should store what we can." She told her rabid bunny butler. He nodded as the water increased in power, until a boy came tumbling out, destroying the bucket.
"Intruder!" The bunny shouted. "I shall feast on your bones!"
"Why am I dreaming of scary bunnies!?" A familiar voice shouted.
"Wait, Steven?" She asked out loud. Jana was certain Steven didn't show up anytime when she was dreaming…at least not when they were lucid.
"Jana?" Steven asked. "Weren't you on a date with Marco, what's with?" They looked around after placing a pink bubble around the bunny. "... Is this my subconscious?"
"No, this is mine."'Jana got off her throne and helped the boy up. "This is pretty much what I dream about every night."
"Wait, dream…but how can it be your dream when I'm the one dreaming?"
"Isn't it obvious man?" She smirked. "It's just like that one spongebob episode. Something got you free from your own dream, and now you're walking through everyone else's."
"I can enter dreams!?" Steven yelled, falling back on the plush human limbs on the ground. "At this rate, I'm going to have enough powers to fill my own spell book and match Star's."
"You should probably write it down." Jana shrugged, sitting down next to him. "So, what did you dream about?"
"Black and white sitcom … at least until … Lapis!" Steven's eyes widened as he stood up. "I can reach her, try to help her from her mind!"
"Freaky…but awesome." She didn't think dreams could get more exciting. "So focus on trying to find her. If she suddenly appeared in your dream, then her mind must be in a vulnerable state where anybody can enter it."
"Got it. Find Lapis. Find Lapis." He closed his eyes, and nothing happened. "Oh come on! I get the most useful power I get in a while, and it suddenly stops!"
"Maybe I can help." Focusing her ability to Lucid dream, she yanked on the ground and pulled out a star shaped door. "Let's try this."
"You're weirdly more well informed about this stuff than I…than I probably should've expected you to be."
"Isn't the first time I've tried dream walking before, it's just really hard to do. Takes a lot of control." She opened up the door for him. "Come on, let's see what's on the other side."
Inside…was Star's school, particularly Star's math class where said girl was intensely writing down everything on the board, looking more serious than all the times she's read through the spellbook. "Is this Star's dream?"
"Really thought there would be more cotton candy clouds pouring chocolate milk with flaming rainbows." Jana looked around. "Didn't take your sister to be a nerd."
"She might be having a nightmare." Steven spoke. "But that's normally Saint Os."
"Star Butterfly." Miss Skullnick came up to her desk with a paper in her hands. "B+. Keep up the good work."
"Yay, hard work paid off!" Star shouted, before looking at them. "Steven!? What are you doing here? Did mom send you to earth school too?"
"Okay, Star, this is gonna seem a little weird but, we're dreaming."
The boy's sister laughed. "Come on Steven, if we were dreaming I would be able to barf rainbows into the cosmos with Aoshima the multi armed dolphin."
"Oh really?" Jana smirked. "Then explain how I can do this?" Jana took the floor below her, crumbled it up, and folded it into a unicorn. "Or this." She stretched her face out like they could do as Quana.
Star looked at the display of absurdity, before blinking. "Woho, i'm dreaming! Let it rain, cookie cats!" Nothing happened. "Come on! Shouldn't something be happening!?"
"Yeah, I think you might actually like this setting more." Jana giggled. "You actually like school."
"... I have Stockholm syndrome."
"Oh you actually do! You totally do!" Steven got in on the teasing. "You even gave yourself a B instead of an A, you want to be good at math! The universe didn't get almost obliterated for nothing after all!"
"Shut up! I may not be able to leave school but I still have power, it's my dream … right?" She asked, confused. "Like, what's the situation here?"
"I have the power to enter people's dreams, and I got knocked out of my own while hearing Lapis." Steven explained. "She's yelling alot and trying to keep me away, so Jana's been helping me navigate.
"I'm thinking with your magic mojo combined with his, it might give us the magic push we need to break through."
Star looked at the door in question, before taking out her pen and writing 'Lapis' on the door. "There you go."
They both stared at her, then the door. "It can't be that easy, right?" Steven asked.
"Only one way to find out." The two of them turned the knob…and were met by a flood of water.
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"You are strong, you are a chain, you are her jailer. You are strong, you are a chain, you are her jailer. You are strong, you are a chain, you are her jailer. You are strong, you are a chain, you are her jailer. You are strong, you are a chain, you are her jailer. You are strong, you are a chain, you are her jailer." Lapis kept this mantra constant. She needed power, she needed rage, this was how she kept the gem locked down. As long as her concentration wasn't broken, she would be fine.
"It really was that easy!" No, no, NO! He couldn't be here! WHY WOULD EVEN BE HERE!? "Lapis!"
"Quartz! What are…!?" She turned, almost losing her grip as she turned towards her only friend in this dimension. "What are you doing…who the hell is that?!" She gestured to the presumably human figure that was next to him on the water they were all standing on.
"Jana. Friend. Steven talks about you alot." The human figure gave a small wave of the hand.
"Hey Lapis." Star waved. "I know we haven't talked much but-"
"Get your brother out of here!" She shouted, feeling her arms sink a bit. "I need to concentrate, I can't worry about you too!" She pulled harder, trying to gain some leverage while the boy was at risk. "It's taking the entire weight of the earth's ocean just to keep her down!"
"We can help you! You don't need to keep yourself trapped like this!" Quartz as he tried to reach out to her.
"No, stay away…stay away…stay awaaaay…." Lapis fell beneath the water and then resurfaced….as Jasper. "What…where…where.." She was confused, she's been trapped for so long underneath the water, that damned Lazuli kept pushing her down, kept trying to get her to break. That gem was absolutely ruthless.
"Jasper!?" The soldier turned her gaze to see her mortal enemy, standing right before her.
"You …" She began to crawl forth. "You …"
"Mega Narwhal Blast!" Nothing happened from the princess. "What do you mean magic doesn't work in brains!?"
"You…you…!" She growled, ignoring the shackles trying to drag her back down into the water. "This is all your fault, Rose Quartz! You and your damn Mewman pet's fault! Every tragedy, every single piece of suffering Homeworld faces is all on your hands!"
"You all suffered!?" Rose screamed at her. "You're trying to kill us all, how have you suffered!?"
"You dare to ask me that!?" Jasper screamed, getting close. "After what you did to her!?" The chains pulled her back. No! "I'm so close, just a little longer … a little longer!" Jasper was submerged, as Lapis resurfaced. "Quartz …" Lapis panted in exhaustion. "I can't keep this up, you're in danger while you're here!"
"If you tell us where you are, we can defuse you and beat Jasper back!" Star shouted. "You don't have to do this alone!"
"Yes I do!" She shouted. "I'm too dangerous like this … you can't save us." She felt the malice converge. "We're Malachite now." They were brought under, as the hate filled the entire space, only one being stood in place.
Anger, hatred, suffering, despair, release, power, insanity, ruthlessness, adoration, monster. They stared down at the children, feeling love and hate for all of them. "LEAVE!" The malice screamed with all of its being.
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Star felt herself drowning again, this time in something much thicker, gooey, and darker than water. Star could see a strange landscape, gold and greenish muck all over. She tried to swim to the surface, find the others, and figure out who's brain this was.
She made her way to the top, noticing decaying horses and crystals breaking as the gold and black met. "Steven, Jana! Where are you!?" She shouted out. They were all together before, did they get launched into different dreams by … it?
Malachite was something she didn't want to process, in that water she could feel everything. So much negativity she could feel herself close to snapping. How was Lapis holding out like she was? How was Jasper not giving up even with all of that despair?
"So many questions, yet so little time to answer."
"What the … who's?" Star looked around, finding no one.
"You're here far too early, little butterfly." Something moved around her feet, something in the muck. "That little diamond may be accelerating the process a little too well."
"What the heck are you talking about! Where's my brother!? Show yourself!" Star cried out as the muck tried to force her down.
"Feels horrifying, doesn't it? Drowning in all the fruits of your labor, dying by the very legacy your family claims such pride in."
She tried to take as many breaths as she could. "What … What are you after!? What do you want!?"
The muck grabbed her face, shoving her down into the unbreathable and cold depths, an eye of almighty hatred and insanity gazing into hers. "I … want … MY … FINGER!"
"STAR!" Star woke up, gasping in her bed, being shook awake by Marco, Steven, and Jana surrounding her. "You're up! Where'd you go!?" Steven looked at her with horror for her.
"I … I don't know." She admitted. "I had this crazy dream where I was at school, then you guys showed up, and we went after Lapis."
"That was all real, Star. We actually went inside your head." Jana reaffirmed what she didn't want to hear. "When Malachite shot us out, Steven came running to your room, but you were still out of it and convulsing.
"I had to slap you awake." The boy admitted, which explained the stinging sensation at least. "What happened?"
"I um …" She tried to remember. "There was muck and … a voice …" Why was it so foggy? "It felt like a nightmare that could actually hurt me."
"Are you gonna be alright?" Marco asked her as he gave her a comforting back pat.
"Yeah..just…don't leave me alone. I need the company right now." After all that, isolation was now her greatest fear, right above Saint Olga's.
"You got it." Steven hugged her from the front as Marco hugged her from the side. "You gonna join?" Steven asked Jana.
"Sure, why not." The girl moved on top, putting all three of them in a hug. "Now Marco gets to say he slept with two women at once."
"You just had to make it weird, didn't you?" Marco sighed as the rest of them laughed. Star couldn't do any of this alone, and she was grateful she didn't have to.