Chapter Text
Light shone cheerily through the leaves of what Steven called "The Magical Island" trees. The four gems had gone out to eradicate another corrupted gem that had been wreaking havoc in the ecosystem as of lately. They walked along the jungle floor, cheered on by the pleasant weather.
"Hey, Garnet?" Steven called from the back of their parade,"Are we almost there yet?" He pulled at his sweat coated shirt to get some ventilation going.
Garnet nodded,"Only a mile or two to go," she answered. In the back, Steven groaned and visibly deflated.
Pearl looked at him pitifully,"Why don't you stop here, Steven? We can go on ahead and come back for you when we're done. I know that heat gets to you even if we can't feel it like you."
Steven stiffened and pushed his chest out with false bravado,"No no, let's carry on. I'm fine." Pearl shrugged, and Steven sagged once she turned around.
Amethyst shoved Steven lightly,"Come on, Steve-man, push through it." He nodded weakly and wheezed.
The jungle was eerily quiet. No sounds of birds or bugs. Even the distant lapping of waves against the shore was unsettling the group.
Then. Then it happened. Garnet put her arm out to stop the group. Amethyst and Pearl had been arguing about the usual nonsense, but stopped as they heard and felt something out there.
It took Steven a moment, with his less sensitive hearing and feeling, but he heard it as well.
It was a steady boom boom boom, shaking the earth beneath their feet. It must've been closer than Garnet had thought.
The gems drew their weapons, except for Steven who took a defensive stance that looked apart from his scared looking face. The young boy got distracted by the rocks around them moving at least and inch or two into the air with each vibration.
Steven gulped, this one was going to be huge.
Pearl, Garnet, and Amethyst drew their weapons. They all looked fierce and protective, but Pearl looked slightly anxious."We shouldn't have brought Steven," she said aloud.
Steven shook his head,"Nuh uh! I'm going to be great!" He had his hands out and at the ready to form a bubble around them. He only hoped he had enough control to make a bubble that huge.
Suddenly, a huge beast crashed into the clearing. It towered over them, only the tall jungle trees jutting over its head. It looked like a huge lizard mixed with an ape. It rocked forward on its front knuckles and swung a thick tail covered in spikes. It's eyeless head was smooth and round, except for the spikes jutting off all around it. Most likely to protect the gem on its massive forehead. The gem roared at them, and the group all got a good look at its dozens of rows of slimy black, but still needle sharp, teeth. And a good whiff of its rancid breath.
Steven gasped and the three other gems stood in a row in front of him. Garnet spoke in hushed tones to the other two, who nodded solemnly.
Garnet and Amethyst ran back past Steven, disappearing into the forest coverage. Pearl scooped Steven into her arms and took off at a speed so fast that Steven couldn't track her legs with his eyes.
Oh man he wanted to hurl.
"Steven they're going to form Sugilite again. I...I know what happened last time was bad but that thing is ginormous! If worst comes to worst you need to bubble yourself and find the warp pad as quickly as you can. Do you understand me?"
Steven shook his head,"I'm not leaving you guys!"
Pearl held him at arms length in front of her, shaking him slightly and keeping up the quick pace,"Steven this is no time to-"
Pearls face twisted up in surprise and fear as something struck her in the back. She tripped over a thick laying root, but kept her grip on Steven and hugged him to her chest.
Pearl squeezed herself tightly around Steven as they skidded across the forest floor. Steven yelped in panic as a roar sounded behind them.
Once they lost momentum, Pearl stood and pushed Steven behind her.
"Steven you have to run,"She turned to look at him and he forced himself to ignore the red burns on the side of her face,"Now!"
Steven planted his feet,"No!"
Pearl grit her teeth and took Steven in her arms before throwing him into the heavy underbrush,"Stay low and stay bubbled!" She turned away,"it's not like there's time for escape anymore." She heard the faint sound of a bubbled Steven bouncing in the underbrush.
The giant...thing...ripped into the clearing, black saliva dripping from its mouth. Pearl pulled out her spear and stood her ground, biting her lip in determination.
Pearl gave a battle cry, which sounded like furious screeching to Steven, and charged.
The monster roared in her face and used its giant tail to sweep Pearl out of the way. She hit a rocky cliff face, and Steven swore he heard something break.
The monster moved away and let Pearl slide to the floor, leaving a large crack in the stone wall.
Pearl got on her hands and knees with a groan before standing."You,"She wheezed,"You think you can defeat me, you overgrown lizard!"
She charged but the lizard was ready. It effortlessly swatted her aside. Pearl yelped as she was tossed into the the thick jungle.
Steven waited anxiously for her to reappear, but she never did. Another figure came from the forest, though.
It was Sugilite! She roared in the lizards face, and pushed against it. The lizard was caught off guard, and dug its feet in the ground.
Sugilite shoved and hit at it, forcing it against the rocky wall. It's feet dig tracks against the dirt floor as Sugilite won out.
In an amazing spectacle of agility, she leaped high into the air and brought her fist down into the face of the lizard.
It took mere seconds for the lizard to dissolve and with a pop, it's gem went flying across the clearing.
Steven waited for Garnet and Amethyst to un-fuse before walking out and popping his bubble. The two gems turned to him, panting heavily.
"Where's Pearl?" asked Garnet.
Steven pointed out to where she disappeared,"She landed over there."
The two other gems stiffened."Theres only a cliff over there!" Amethyst cried."
The three ran over to the brush, moving carefully so as not to fall over the cliff that was revealed when they moved some underbrush aside.
They looked down and there, between the rocks and soaked with water, was Pearls injured and twisted body.