Chapter Text
It had been approximately three hours since that weird human left. Their interaction with the Crystal Gems has ended with Lapis Lazuli and Peridot keeping the barn. A pretty good ending, all things considered.
All forms of sunlight had turned into the shining of the moon, complete with an array of stars above Earth.
This was a pretty typical event here, in the middle of nowhere. It was also typical if one were traveling through space, or trapped in a mirror for thousands of years.
Speaking of which, Peridot still couldn't get over that one. All of them had been sitting down at the table, with human nutrients for a supposed human ritual. The table had mostly consisted of Gems, so how were they all supposed to know what to say? Well, what they did say resulted in a joke that Peridot didn't see coming at all.
She was on the shelves of the barn, the second story as Steven had said once. It wasn't really a story, since the middle was completely open to the bottom. One side of the shelves was completely barren, while the other had a television, some rubber things, and more boxes. Eventually, this would become more meep morp territory.
Lapis Lazuli was below in the hammock, Pumpkin resting in her arms. She was participating in the organic phenomenon known as sleeping. From what Peridot remembered, it was a common response to an organic creature requiring more energy, as their inferior bodies can't self-generate their own, like Gems. She didn't know why Lapis did this, but her best guess was to do with that mirror she was stuck in. With no way to move and no one to save her, she had to pass time in some form.
Maybe this was a repeating response. Maybe it wasn't. Peridot wasn't Lapis, and Peridot didn't want to bother Lapis with such an uncomfortable question.
Then again, she was comfortable with joking about her mirror imprisonment at the table. Some things were still a mystery, or an in-continuity, as the two of them had witnessed many times while watching Camp Pining Hearts. Maybe it was that, maybe it wasn't...
Thinking about it only made Peridot think about all the other things that upset Lapis. Would she eventually joke about all of that too? Would there be a moment where Lapis wouldn't go silent upon hearing or, Stars forbid, seeing Jasper? Amethyst had the bright idea to shapeshift into her, but Lapis refused to talk about it. Her expressionless face didn't help in deciphering what was going on in her thoughts.
Peridot's own thoughts were derailed by the noise of Lapis... snoring. It was annoying when Peridot first heard it, but now? It was cute. It was her. It was... unexplainable.
"Guh..." Peridot mumbled. I need to go roll around in the dirt.
So that's what she did. She hopped off the shelves and landed on the floor, then walked outside. The moon was brighter out here, and the soil and crops enlightened the area. Somehow, none of it did anything to distract her from herself.
She flopped on her side, right next to the corn. It was cold and uncomfortable. If it were sweltering, it wouldn't help either.
Because one thing kept circling back to Peridot. One thing that bothered her, one thing that Lapis herself didn't know, but was integral to her in every way.
Jasper was gone.
Shattered? No. She was too good for that. The only reason she didn't get shattered was because the moment absolutely didn't call for it, and Steven 'I don't kill people' Universe was there too. Now, if Lapis had come along with them, then it would definitely be a different story, but that's not reality. She wasn't there. She didn't know.
It wasn't too long ago when it happened. Amethyst had the great need to stand up to, and defeat, Jasper. And for some reason Steven thought it was a great idea to bring this to the barn. What had first seemed like a pleasant visit turned into silence and tension, one that Lapis refused to comment on, for obvious reasons.
In order to give Lapis the safe space she deserves, and to solve Amethyst's issue, Peridot took her and Steven to the Beta Kindergarten. Amethyst tended to beat herself up for emerging after the rebellion, but a majority of the Gems produced on Earth were very similar to her. Therefore, Jasper wasn't as big as she was made to be believed as.
But there were no faults in Jasper.
Out of every single Gem created on Earth, Jasper was the only one to come out flawless. She was the Ultimate Quartz. Amethyst, in a fit of foolish determination, tried to take out Jasper in the Kindergarten by herself. It was only thanks to Steven fusing with her that they managed to do anything.
And that's when everything really started going downhill.
Jasper's spin-attack sent her colliding with the red walls of the Kindergarten. Smokey Quartz's effortless dodge had landed them a safe point, and Peridot's place on a nearby ledge had meant that the two (three) of them got to watch what happened next.
Jasper, apparently unaware that her foes weren't in front of her, continued to spin-dash into the wall. She was practically drilling into it, which was ironic considering where they were. Nonetheless, it caused massive cracks to scale up the wall, reaching the dug-out holes caging corrupted Gems and horrific, Proto-Cluster experiments. In a moment, the wall collapsed, freeing the monstrous prisoners and nearly burying Jasper alive. She narrowly escaped this, but she did get to watch as her so-called soldiers ran away.
"My army!" Jasper lamented, reaching out.
Peridot grinned widely. "Take THAT!" She sneered. She then turned to the bar of metal she was still trying to get out of the wall. "Then take THIS!"
But still, the bar wouldn't budge. Either her metal powers still required training, had limits, or the stupid thing was stuck so well that only another well-placed spin-attack could free it.
One of the corrupted monsters was still in its cage, struggling to chew itself out. For some reason, Jasper started running towards it. Smokey Quartz did something with their whip-shield weapon that slowed Jasper down, but not by a lot. They obstructed her path, but she ran by, almost in a hurry.
"Awww, leaving so soon?" Smokey Quartz teased.
Jasper stopped by the cage, grabbing it tightly. "I... will NOT be beaten by another fusion!"
And then something very strange and very wrong started to happen. Jasper, at first, appeared to help the monster chew its way out by guiding its jaws. Suddenly, the two were engulfed in light as they began to merge with each other. The monster was pulled out of its cage and added to Jasper, effectively, and somehow, fusing with her.
When the light faded, a terrifying creature stood where Jasper was. It looked a little like her, but also not. It had horns. It had another pair of arms and another pair of legs. It had fur and a tail, and it was much, much bigger than before.
The fusion of Jasper and the monster looked at its paws, flicking them out and extending hooked talons. Pleased with itself, it laughed, and turned around to face Smokey Quartz.
The two (three) of them were frozen in shock and fear.
I really, REALLY NEED TO GET THIS STUPID THING OUT!! Peridot's thoughts screamed as she struggled to do just that.
The fusion swiped at Smokey, only to miss as they ducked and rolled away. They pulled out their shield-whip weapon and swung it around rapidly.
"Hold on," they said in the most casual way possible, "I've got a move that will really blow you away."
Yes, their move did create a force of wind that blew the fusion away, but it stood its ground. By digging into the sand and slowly approaching, it gained on them.
"It's cool if you don't like it." Smokey then proceeded to create two more of their weird weapon. "I've already got three huge fans."
The combined reinforcement caused a whirlwind to form, sending the fusion up in a daze as sand blew around it. It was this that made the fusion destabilize, both halves clawing for different things. One for freedom, the other for the former.
"We could beat them!" Jasper yelled. "If we stay together!"
They didn’t. The tornado dissipated, and the two fell as Smokey made a sound-effect to compensate. They then congratulated themselves as Jasper collapsed in her impact site. The monster ran as soon as it landed.
Jasper looked on, half-sitting up and half-laying on her arms.
”Nobody I fuse with ever wants to stay…” she said to herself.
You’re one to talk, Peridot thought. You forced that thing to do it! You forced her to do it! You have nothing to blame but yourself you clod!
But she didn’t say it. Something was very wrong here, and it wasn’t how Jasper started to laugh to herself. Her laughs were deep and haunting, only to be cut off as she winced and shifted around. In view, Peridot could see it. In front of them, Smokey got to witness it close-up.
Jasper’s left arm was different. Her hand had transformed into a paw, claws sunken into the sand. Teal started to spread across it as the same spikes on that Gem monster grew on her. Like a garden out of nightmares.
”Ew that’s disgusting!” Peridot blurted.
Smokey stopped congratulating themselves. Their voice distorted as they split into Amethyst and Steven, who seemed to want to help Jasper. It was only thanks to Amethyst that he didn’t go running.
Peridot would, if she could. Never in any of her reports had she seen anything like this, organic or Gem. It almost reminded her of the blight that threatened to attack the crops back at home.
“Steven, be careful.” She said to him.
”But this just happened! Maybe I can do something!” He cried, stepping away from her. “Jasper, it’s okay. I’m here.”
He slowly approached Jasper, which was an absolutely foolish choice to make. She grabbed at her infected arm. Her hair bristled like a cat with that horrible, deathly disease in the fourth season of Camp Pining Hearts.
”Rose…” Jasper growled, glaring at him.
”I’m not Rose, I’m Steven.” He said softly, almost hurt. “I just wanna try and heal you.”
He licked his hand (gross) and moved in to touch her, but in a swift motion, she stroke. Peridot gasped and, with all her might, tried desperately to unearth the metal rod she’s been dealing with this entire fight. But it wouldn’t move. She would exhaust herself this way, leaving her helpless to help her friends, and herself.
So, she ran. She ran to the end of the ledge and landed on her face, thankfully not poofing. She ran around and back to the others, as fast as her legs could make her.
When she finally arrived, she knew she missed something important. Amethyst held Steven close. Jasper was facing them fully, looking at her right hand as her nails slowly grew longer. Her facial expression was between a frown and a scowl. Her pupils were dilated. Her fangs were sticking to her lips, her teeth became sharper.
Jasper threw her right hand out at Peridot. “Just look at this one! You’ve stripped her of everything!” She stated. “Her limb enhancers, her status… her dignity.”
Peridot frowned and put her hands on her hips. “I still have one of those things.”
But Jasper didn’t get it. “How can you side with Rose Quartz?!” She snapped. “Why? Why protect this useless shell of a planet?!”
”It’s not a shell, there’s so much life, living here…” Peridot gestured to herself. “That’s what I’m doing! I’m living here! I’ve been learning new things about myself all the time, like how I can make metal do my bidding!-“
Suddenly, there was a clang. The long piece of metal she was trying to get out finally decided to do so, and was now sitting on the ground. If metal had a face, this rod would be grinning smugly at her.
”The point being,” Peridot continued. “Earth can set you free.”
She never thought she’d say those words. She’s been here less than she has been on Homeworld. Less than any part of her life. She hasn’t even spent a year on this planet, and she was already calling it home. Her past self would be groveling and spitting.
Steven appreciated her little speech, because of course he would. He’s the reason she’s here. He’s also the reason why Lapis is here, and why the two of them are in a barn.
Jasper, however, still didn’t understand, and it showed. Her focus was on her right arm, which suddenly turned teal, being taken over by the infection as more spikes grew out of her. It spread to her main body, and her legs, which were now becoming bent and misshapen like the monster she fused with.
“Earth… is a prison.” She snarled lowly. “I got out because I’m better than this place.”
“It’s getting worse…” Steven said to himself.
Jasper trembled as she watched herself change, but she pulled away to glare at Steven again. “I only came back to finish you off!”
Not true.
”Try not to move!” Steven cried.
Jasper quickly stood up, managing to balance on her digitigrade legs as she pointed at him. The teal circles and spikes of infection were festering up, towards her gem. They were breaking through her hair, which almost seemed like fur now.
”You can’t manipulate me Rose Quartz!” Jasper screeched.
Steven stammered, hands up in surrender. “I- I’m not manipulating! I’m trying to help!”
Jasper was trembling, now. Her expression was now a mix of clashing emotions, which was not helpful at all. She was angry, she was bitter, she was unstable, and…
…scared?
No, not scared.
Jasper was terrified.
No Gem, besides the Crystal Gems, knew what corruption was. No Gem even knew what corruption entirely was or how it happened, only how it left its victims. Garnet had once described it as a cracked, damaged mental state, but there was more to this. There had to be.
Peridot knew enough, but Jasper didn’t. Even after being fused with Lapis for that long, she didn’t know. Every single thing she did to hurt those around her was coming back to get her in the most unfathomable way possible.
Literally.
“Help? HELP?!” She fell to her knees, then her hands. “I’ve been fighting since the second I broke free of the Earth’s crust!” Jasper clawed at the sand. “Because of what YOU did to my colony!” She slammed her fist into the ground. “Because of what YOU did to my planet! Because of what YOU did to my Diamond!”
Steven looked up at Jasper, confused. “I… Yellow Diamond?”
Jasper’s eyes went wide, and that’s when Peridot noticed tears pricking at them. They were very small, almost microscopic. The only reason Peridot noticed was because of her visor picking up little shines of light. Pitiful, really, but warranted. The teal had finally reached her face, swirling around her eyes, teeth, and lastly, her gemstone.
”MY DIAMOND!” Jasper shouted. “YOUR DIAMOND! PINK DIAMOND!!!”
She screamed as she curled into herself, her spikes frilling out in defense. Steven and Amethyst backed away, but Peridot did not. She watched as Jasper’s shaking climaxed, then ceased. She heard screams turn to hissing and growling. She felt something, but it wasn’t satisfaction from watching Jasper get what she deserves.
Jasper’s head swung back out, but it wasn’t her anymore. Teal spines replaced her eyes, her teeth had fused with her lips, becoming twisted and gnarled.
It lunged at the trio, and what happened?
Peridot closed her eyes, and put her hands out.
She heard the monster’s snarls stop. She heard a tiny gasp.
She opened her eyes, only to see that same metal bar stuck in Jasper. Except it went through her, to the other side. A completely unavoidable fate.
Jasper’s last words weren’t words at all, but a near-silent whimper as she poofed into a cloud of dust. Her gemstone landed on the ground, glistening in the harsh light of the Beta Kindergarten.
Peridot looked at Amethyst and Steven. Not knowing what to do, she smiled.
”You’re… welcome!”
They went home after that. Then the thing with the Rubies happened, Peridot caught her first corrupted Gem monster...
Yes, it was over. Jasper was no more. She was created to fight in a war, hurt the people around her, and fizzled out of rational thought. So then why did Peridot feel so bad?
"Peridot?"
Peridot flinched and quickly sat up. Behind her was Lapis Lazuli, eyes slowly blinking.
"O-oh!" Peridot squeaked, standing up. "Did I disturb you, or..."
"No, no." Lapis shook her head.
Peridot looked around. "So then why are you up?? Shouldn't you be asleep?"
Lapis's arms stretched out as she yawned. "Didn't feel like it. You weren't there."
The smaller Gem wanted to say something, but nothing came out. This simple comment had the strange power to make her fall silent. It also had the power to make her feel a little fuzzy, which was actually a little worrying. Lapis didn't seem to realize what she had done. She was shimmering in the moonlight.
"What are you doing?" Lapis asked.
Shoot, was she staring? Peridot quickly shook her head. "Uh- I um... ermmm..."
Lapis raised a judgemental eyebrow.
"UUUUUUUUUH-"
"Were you rolling in the dirt... again?" She questioned, eyes narrowed.
Peridot felt herself blush. "Mmmaybe." Then she bared her teeth. "What's it to you Lazuli?!"
"Didn't want to wake up and discover you were gone for no reason." Lapis sighed, rubbing her head. "I'll be in the barn if you need me."
"O...okay."
She turned around and made her way back. It was just the two of them, and Pumpkin on the floor of the barn. If anything, this was the moment to tell Lapis some much-needed information. It would be relevant, and maybe she'd get some closure.
"Wait!"
Lapis stopped. "Huh?"
Peridot opened her mouth to speak, but much like how she was stunned by a simple comment, she couldn't say anything again. Even though it was very important. Even though she needed to talk to someone about this. Even if it was the right thing to do.
She couldn't.
"Never mind." She looked away.
"Mkay." Replied Lapis, unaware of the bombshell she missed.
She picked up Pumpkin, and fell into the hammock. Meanwhile, Peridot stayed outside, in the dirt. She decided to lay on her back and stare up at the stars, where Homeworld's galaxy was.
Maybe it was a good thing if Lapis didn't know, at least, for now.