Welcome to my first story for Houseki no Kuni (Land of the Lustrous)! Given the ongoing sacrificial struggle for respect and durability that Phos goes through, I wanted to interpret a different path taken with a different form of elemental assistance, and after a bit of research, I present this jumble of words that branches off from episode 6, 'First Battle'. This story begins after Phos discovers super-speed thanks to the Agate/shell legs, and continues through the upcoming year's end hibernation. Also, the Gems are referred to with feminine pronouns and stuff, cause its kinda confusing to refer to them as masculine when they're really quite beautiful, and a majority of them seem remarkably female in my opinion ... Androgyny confusions aside, have fun!

Standing on an open stretch of shoreline, watching the endless motion of ocean waves drawing close and teasingly receding, two gems of very different age remained still, eyes peering towards the deep blues of the distant horizon.

"Are you sure it was in this direction?"

Head turning, her glistening teal-blue locks of hair moving in gentle motions from the coastal breeze, Phosphophyllite looked up to her elder beside her.

"I'm sure. I washed up near the cliffs. That way."

Eyes following her pointed arm, Rutile studied the land formation, rising into the air in the distance, only to drop sharply into the water below.

"The ocean's waves can take anything wherever it pleases."

"Even a huge snail shell?"

"Never underestimate the power of water, Phos. There's a reason we're both coated in anti-salt resin."

"I know. Honestly I'm surprised Master Kongo allowed us to enter the ocean again."

Looking down at the spiral patterns of Phos' recently fabricated Agate legs, Rutile smiled.

"He trusts that I'll bring you back intact. That's the only reason."

Looking down at her dark feet, lifting them from the damp sand one by one, Phos stepped forward, watching as an oncoming wave coursed towards her and splashed around her ankles.

"And if you don't?"

"Then you'll be lost to the waves, forever."

Pausing from the cryptic statement, she blinked, staring at the clear water drawing away from her feet again.

"At least this time, we won't be lured into a trap by a deceptively friendly sea creature."

Stepping into motion besides the young gem, Rutile observed her forward stride, pushing through the water with visible ease.

Her legs are certainly stronger... Additional agate might be worthwhile. If we can even find it.

"Even if we do, I'm sure you'll know better by now than to talk to living creatures."

Listening to the splash of footsteps joining her own, Phos' arms crossed together.

"Right?"

Peering back to Rutile, her expression changed from impatience to interest as the gem doctor slipped off her white coat and tied it in a knot around her waist.

"Yes."

"Good. With that in mind, the only thing we have to worry about is the movement of the sun. We only have half of a day until it sets, and it would probably be best to be back on dry land before it grows dark."

"You sound like you're afraid of the ocean, doctor."

"Not afraid, just uncertain. Its been a long time since I've been submerged for an extended duration... And nobody truly knows what is out there in the far depths around us."

"I do."

Wading deeper into the water, clothing dragging behind from the pull of the waves, both gems began leaning forward, their feet cautiously plodding along the sand beneath the waves.

"Perhaps... But you came out here without permission. Lost your legs while you were at it."

"They gave me replacements."

"And you're fortunate your inclusions accepted the agate so readily. So far you're been operating on luck alone, Phosphophyllite."

"Luck granted me speed and strength."

"Relying on luck is reckless."

Turning away, Phos' vision wandered towards the distant cliff side nearby.

"Why are you helping me find the shell anyway?"

"Because the discovered compatibility with your structure is significant. Bolstering your inherent fragility is something you've always been seeking, is it not?"

Head tilting as the ocean water coursed around the sleeves of her black shirt, glinting reflections of her hair met her eyes.

"It is."

"Believe it or not, Phos, I am around to do more than repair you."

"Yes. I know I'm fragile."

"And that's why we're both going to fix that. Possibly. If we find this shell you speak of."

Peeking ahead, searching the lapping waves of the horizon with uncertainty, she squinted from the fuzzy memory of an enormous white spire rising out of the ocean.

Maybe it fell over. I hope its still there. I'd hate for this to be a wasteful trip. But then again... We're back in the ocean, and this time I'm not entirely defenseless.

Looking back towards the doctor, the white cloth of her coat trailed behind, floating along the undulations of waves passing them. Beneath the surface, a sheathed obsidian sword slowly drifted along behind her legs.

"I think Red Beryl was onto something with that waterproof uniform."

"I doubt any of us will be in water enough to necessitate purpose-made outfits for everyone. Think of the material we would need for that."

Shoulders slipping beneath the water, blinking as a wave splashed directly into her face, Phos' head tilted.

"She tailored the prototype for my body, but... Maybe you're right."

A single laugh left Rutile's nose.

"Maybe?"

"That's what I said, quack."

Diving forward with a strong push of her legs, Phosphophyllite submerged, finding herself sinking into a downward run along the sloped sand beneath the waves. Moving through the thick envelopment of water, her teal locks of hair drifting back behind her ears, she smiled from the notably easier movements of her body.

A little different. These legs are heavier... Almost feels like they're helping pull me through this strange blue world.

Drawing to a halt, clouds of sediment slowly drifted from her feet as the tips of her shoes buried themselves into the sand. Turning aside, she watched as Rutile drifted down through the water towards her, arms held together in front of herself, and both her coat and sword drifting along behind. Conserving movements with elegant simplicity, she drew alongside Phos, bringing herself upright and gently settling onto the ocean floor beside her, with hardly a disturbance arising from her shoes. Arm reaching back, she collected the obsidian blade behind, pressing it against her side, and then smiled, noticing Phos was admiring her movements, mouth and eyes open and brimming with curiosity.

One day, Phosphophyllite... You'll find your stride. You're only three hundred years old... But I know you're capable of great things. We just have to work on your fragility first.

Looking out into the endless expanse of the ocean beyond, she watched as Phos stepped into motion again, head slowly turning left and right in constant observation of their surroundings.

"How far into the ocean was the shell?"

"Couldn't have been too far... I feel it may have fallen over. Part of it was above the surface... But it obviously isn't anymore."

Vision rising to the undulating waves above them, watching rays of sunlight permeate the surface and reach towards the sand below, Rutile's vision then lowered to the gentle drifting of Phos' teal hair ahead of her.

Even if we don't find what you're looking for... Perhaps this adventure of yours will be a learning experience.

Standing on the edge of a rocky shelf, Phos stared down into the unforgiving darkness of an oceanic chasm in front of them both.

"Sure wish I could float."

"Buoyancy is like flight. We gems simply can't do either because of our mass."

Peering along the side of the cliff face, searching for an unseen passage among the rocks, her lips pressed together firmly, arms crossing.

"I don't even remember coming across this."

"What do you remember about your encounter with the living?"

"We didn't go this far when I was captured."

"Assuming we've even gone in the right direction. We don't have the sun as a source of navigation down here."

Vision rising to the hints of sparkling waves high above their depths, both gems stood still, watching a school of fish wander past in a mysterious silhouette.

"Phosphophyllite."

Slowly looking towards Rutile, her elder's eyes showed a hint of sadness.

"I don't wish to upset you, but... I feel your memories of where the shell was located... May have been lost with your original legs."

Hands curling tightly, her head sank, tucking aside into her shoulder.

I didn't even consider that.

"Maybe we just went in the wrong direction."

"You were very adamant about which way to go to. That memory is intact. But if we've found obstacles you don't remember encountering..."

"Maybe it fell into the chasm...?"

Hesitating from Phos' desperate grasps of explanation, Rutile slowly blinked, eying the jagged rocks adorning the cliff's edges.

"If so, how do you plan on getting to it?"

Cautiously peering down into the great expanse of darkness beyond, imagining herself descending helplessly into the depths of an eerie, unknown realm, she shook her head, stepping back from the edge.

"I don't know."

Arms drooping down, fingers gripping the hem of her black shorts, she closed her eyes, letting the muffled roar of the ocean fill her mind.

I don't know... And I barely remember now. Maybe this was just a waste.

Eyes flitting open as a pair of arms drew around her in an embrace, her head turned to the side, seeing Rutile's dark crimson hair floating just beside her face.

"Why don't we head back for today. There may still be sunlight by the time we surface again."

Head tucking back against her elder's shoulder, Phos slowly blinked, comfortable with the unexpected closeness.

"Alright."

Clouded with unrelenting thoughts of uncertainty, Phos stared ahead, marching silently along the stark landscape of rippled sand.

I don't know. I don't know and I don't understand... Where did it go? How does something so massive disappear so easily? Maybe that snail's brother took his shell back. How would he move something so big, being so small? He was huge until he became small. How do you even change sizes on command like that?

"Living things are so strange."

Blinking from Phos' errant statement, breaking a long period of prior silence, Rutile discreetly smiled.

"What prompted that realization?"

"I think the snail's brother took his shell back."

"Brother? Are you remembering more about your capture?"

"He was black, and strange looking. At first he was really big, and then... He turned small."

"His shell was from when he was large, I assume."

"Yes, very large. Probably as big as the school."

Staring at Phos' sparkling hair with mild alarm, Rutile's mouth drifted open.

"You were around something of that size? How did you return as intact as you were?"

Peeking back towards the doctor, Phos' mouth opened, but her eyebrows furrowed, drawing a blank from an apparent gap in memory.

That's a good question...

"I don't know. They gave me those two sections of the shell after letting me go... And I guess I washed ashore. Cinnabar was there."

"With the living creatures?"

"No. On the shore. Beneath the cliff, actually. I think she found me. Or I found her. Something."

"Interesting. That must have happened before we searched for you."

"Probably."

Vision meeting Rutile's eyes, pierced by her pointed expression, Phos turned away again.

"I've already gotten my share of lecture and ridicule from that."

"All of it being well deserved."

Shoulders hunching, her fingers curled into fists again.

"You went against Sensei's wishes and put yourself into danger."

"And lost my legs. I'm aware of the consequences of my actions."

"Make sure you don't repeat them."

Shaking her head, Phos shut her eyes in a momentary grimace.

"Then why are we here in the ocean again?"

"Because I'm here to help you this time."

"We haven't even found what we were looking for."

"That may be true, but bear in mind, Phos, your search is only limited by your determination... And the time of day."

"And any of the dangerous things I seem to attract."

Gripping the hilt of the obsidian sword on her side, Rutile watched the young gem's movements as they began into an uphill ascent.

Phos... You're far too young to let so much worry you. You may have lost your legs, but some of us have lost entire friends and partners to the Lunarians.

Head turning, and eyes closing in a wistful expression, she paused, picturing her partner Padparadscha, lying still in another century-spanning slumber.

Perhaps its fortunate... She can't be taken away if she's not fighting them...

Eyes opening after witnessing a medley of memories, she looked ahead, noticing the teal-colored gem was standing still, looking down at an indiscernible object embedded into the sand.

"Phos?"

"Rutile. Come here."

Hurrying into motion and gripping the sword tightly, she drew closer, only to slow her pace again, realizing Phos was staring at a dark rock, lined with veins of something shiny.

"Do you know what that is?"

Kneeling down in front of the rock, pockmarked with unusual circular cavities, her gloved hands drew close, touching it in several places. Fingers dragging along the ridges, she then prodded the shiny metal material, confirming its density.

"Its solid... The rock itself is strange, but it appears to be lined with platinum."

Settling down onto her knees, Phosphophyllite hesitantly touched the unfamiliar object, fingertips dragging along the shiny metallic deposits.

"Platinum?"

"Its a form of metal... Fairly rare, too."

"Is it usable for anything?"

"Platinum on its own can be easily manipulated."

"Meaning...?"

"Its ductile. Malleable. Weak."

"Oh."

"Allow me to demonstrate."

Reaching into a previously unnoticed satchel behind her back, and withdrawing an ever-familiar hammer and chisel, Rutile tucked the chisel's tip against part of the platinum, and Phos shrunk back with a quick movement of her legs, seeing the hammer rise in the doctor's grasp.

*CLANG*

Wincing from the muffled impact, Phos' eyes peeked back open, discovering Rutile was staring at the rock with great surprise.

"Did it break?"

"No."

Peeking towards the chisel in Rutile's hands, Phos' eyebrows rose.

"I thought you said it was weak."

"I did. But this is far tougher than I expected."

"Is it not platinum?"

"It certainly is, but..."

Setting aside the tools, her gloved hands began digging into the sand surrounding the rock, and Phos hesitantly joined her effort, unearthing the rock and discovering increasingly larger deposits of the metal on its surface. Pulling it out of its position and rolling it over, both gems inspected the shiny underside, lined with more of the strange circular pockets.

"Are those holes from erosion?"

"I don't think so. Ocean currents would have made the surface smooth."

Palm sliding across the gaps, Phos knelt closer, inspecting the silvery-white veins of metal, and Rutile sat upright, looking between the mysterious platinum rock, and the glistening teal locks of the young gem beside it.

Platinum... Has a hardness of 3.5. Just like you. If this is truly platinum, I wonder...

Grabbing the hammer and chisel, and stowing them into the satchel, Rutile's arm extended, settling upon Phos' shoulder.

"Are you able to lift objects without fracturing?"

Head turning, Phos blinked from the prompted question.

"I... What?"

"If I asked you to help carry this rock... Do you think you'd be able to?"

Blinking, and sitting upright, her eyes rose from the silvery object, to Rutile's expression of interest.

"My legs are stronger. Not my arms."

"Do you even know how much you can lift?"

"I can lift swords without breaking."

"Right, but a rock as big as your head, is not the same as an obsidian sword blade."

"How heavy are our swords anyway?"

"Fairly dense. My question remains, Phos. Would you be able to carry this back to school?"

"If you helped me, yes."

"Obviously. Here... Position yourself on that side."

"Why do you want to take it back?"

"For curiosity's sake. There's a large amount of platinum present on it. At least I assume it to be platinum..."

"You want to dissect a rock, huh?"

"I want to know what this material truly is."

"Quack."

"Platinum has the same hardness as you, Phosphophyllite. Three and a half."

Eyebrows slowly rising, she sat back.

"What are you implying?"

"We came out here to find agate, but... If this is platinum, or at least similar... Your inclusions might accept it. And given its apparent hardness..."

Eyes meeting, both gems eyed the other with interest.

"Maybe we can strengthen that fragile body structure of yours with it."

Breaking through the surface of the ocean and wading along, slowly rising back out of the depths of the water, both gems paused, discovering the sun was very low on the horizon behind them, painting a brilliant array of colors onto the distant clouds.

"Seems our timing was good. Nightfall hasn't fully begun yet."

"Ugh, this thing got heavier."

Watching Phos' expressions cycle through various grimaces of exasperation and effort, Rutile attempted to shift more of the weight to herself as they slowly waded through shallow water, shoes sinking into the damp sand as the last of the ocean's waves receded from around their feet.

"Are you doing alright?"

"Its just heavy. As long as I don't move my arms too much I shouldn't - Gah!"

Gasping as a hairline crack spread along her upper arm, Phos watched as Rutile stared at the newly appeared fracture.

That weakness... Is exactly what I want to rectify.

Peering down at the platinum-bearing chunk held between their arms, ocean water trickled off of it, sloshing out of the pockets from their movements. A far brighter shine glistened from the metal, reflecting the light of the distant setting sun, and a sense of anticipation spread throughout Rutile's being.

Ordinarily we have little use for Platinum, but whatever you contain is not normal... And I need to know.

"Hang in there, Phos. Just focus on the load bearing. The sun may be setting but the others should still be on patrol."

"I am... Focused. Its just so -"

*CRACK*

"...Heavy."

"If I break you, I'll immediately fix you. Zero complaints. I promise."

Attempting a faint smile, Phos stared at the doctor, flustered from the effort of lifting.

"That's your job, isn't it?"

"Yes. Thankfully you're not the only one that breaks themselves around here."

"Do you keep track of how many times you've fixed us?"

"I do."

Trudging into the thick grass of the inland plain, Phos eyed the cracks on both of her arms, rolling her eyes a moment afterward.

"Should I dare to guess how many times you've repaired me...?"

Watching a humored, sincere smile spread across Rutile's features, Phos' head sunk back, looking up into the deep purple sky.

"Less than you're probably thinking. Even the hardest of your fellow gems need frequent fixing... With all the combat they engage in."

"Yeah?"

"Yellow diamond for instance... She's over three thousand years old."

"Ten times my age."

"And over five thousand repairs."

Eyes shooting open, a single laugh left Phos' mouth.

"Really? Even with her speed?"

"Even that. Consider the number of battles we fight, and subsequent repairs in a single year."

"A few dozen, at least."

"Exactly. Multiply that by our ages."

"Wow."

"In your three hundred years, Phosphophyllite... You may think you've been fixed often, but it hasn't been until recently that you've really gone out and damaged yourself with regularity."

"I honestly thought I was the one keeping you busy."

Winking at the young gem as they trudged sideways through the grass, Rutile smiled.

"Not in the slightest."

Head turning from the rapid approach of footsteps hustling through the grass, the pair drew to a halt, and a groan of fatigue left Phos' throat.

"Rutile! Phos!"

"Jade. Good evening."

"Whatcha got there?"

Squinting as the dazzling sparkle of Diamond's hair appeared beside her, expression calm and friendly as ever, Phosphophyllite blew a puff of breath in an exhale.

"Isn't it obvious?"

"Is it a new friend?"

Expression flattening from the innocent remark, Phos watched as she inspected the metal-encrusted object in their arms.

"Its a rock."

"Is it a friendly rock?"

"...What?"

"You were talking to that snail the other day. It seemed friendly... Besides eating you."

Hearing two different sources of laughter, already thoroughly exasperated, Phos glared into the darkening sky beyond the doctor's shoulder.

"I assure you that this rock won't eat anyone."

"No? Why's that?"

Heads turning to Rutile, the doctor adjusted her arms with some effort.

"We found it on the ocean floor. The metal you see may be platinum... Or something similar."

"Is that why you're carrying it?"

"That's correct. We're bringing it back for evaluation."

"Your arms look a little stressed there, Phos."

"That's because this thing is heavy!"

"Too bad they aren't as strong as your legs, huh?"

Mouth and limbs clenching tightly with frustration, Phos shut her eyes.

"Can we set this thing down or something?!"

*CRACK*

Eyes remaining shut, Phos didn't bother to look at the increasing damage to her arms, and the others remained silent as she stood still, locking herself into place.

"Jade, and Diamond."

"Yes?"

"Would you two be able to assist with delivery of this sample?"

"Oh, of course!"

Exhaling with relief as the weight of the rock suddenly vanished from her fractured limbs, a smile lifted Phos' lips, and as her eyes drew open, she looked aside.

"Thanks. That thing was awfully h-."

Mouth drooping as both of her fellow gems hustled through the grass, carrying the rock towards the school with remarkable swiftness, a sigh of defeat left her nose.

"...Of course. Should have expected it to be easier for them."

"Both Diamond and Jade are quite sturdy, Phos. You know this."

Looking down at her arms, inspecting the webs of cracks coursing along the length of them, she crossed them carefully, chin turning aside indignantly.

"Yes. But I carried it out of the ocean. They're making me look weak."

"Which is precisely why I wanted to bring it back to the school for evaluation."

"Yeah? You said Platinum is the same hardness as myself. How does that help if its not even as tough as my agate legs?"

"I'm simply assuming it is platinum. Its durability against my iron tools was much harder than I expected... I'm beginning to believe something else is mixed into its elemental structure."

Her eyes peeked open with interest.

"Mixed in?"

"An alloy."

"Is that important?"

Head turning again, seeing a confident smile on Rutile's features, Phos' arms lowered to her sides, and she blinked from several small crunches of fatigued, splitting material in her limbs.

"On its own, Platinum is weak. But with another element to stabilize it... It is given strength."

Stepping closer, and gently bringing both of Phosphophyllite's fractured arms into view, she inspected the numerous fissures and several large splits present, revealing hints of her body's teal interior.

"Lets get ourselves home, and get these arms fixed."

Laying beneath a blanket, tucked into the bed inset into the wall of her quarters, Phos tiredly gazed at the nearly featureless wall across the room. Listening to the faint hum of unseen insects, singing in the grass under the darkness of the night sky, simple thoughts wandered across her mind with ever-decreasing frequency.

Platinum. Not tough.

Slowly blinking, she watched the ever-slow progression of the moonlight cast through the nearby window.

Platinum as an alloy... Tough.

Bringing the blanket over her nose in a small movement of her newly repaired arms, her eyelids closed.

Too bad I can't turn myself into an alloy. Then I'd be tougher.

Legs shifting, she then rolled onto her backside, her teal hair spreading outward onto the pillow behind her head.

I guess that's Rutile's plan. Apparently. But not with my own material... She must be planning to experiment on me with that metal we found. Normally that would scare me. But after that adventure today... I think the doctor actually intends to help me with my own physical shortcomings.

Picturing the unexpected embrace shared by the underwater chasm, a hint of a smile curled the corner of Phos' lips.

That's nice to know. I guess.

Watching further imagery of the day's travels project themselves beneath her eyelids, she lay still, drifting into an awaited slumber.

Been all kinds of interesting surprises today, actually.

Sitting on the edge of a wooden crate-turned-bedding, surrounding her partner lost to a seemingly eternal slumber, Rutile gazed silently at Padparadscha. With several small repeat motions, her bare fingers gently drifted along the expanse of her red hair, peacefully twinkling under the light of the stars.

My dear friend... At least at night, your resting seems normal.

Lifting a tuft aloft, dragging her thumb along the smooth, translucent surface, the calm, wise voice of a fellow elder echoed across her memory.

"...Two hundred thousand times? You're not one to give up easily..."

Setting the lock of hair down, her arm moved over, hand drifting up along the smooth features of her chest, fingers curling around the unnatural, curved ridges of several holes. Cautiously drawing within, her digits slid around the perfectly smooth interior of the cavity, prompting a shudder from the gem doctor.

Not the first time... But you still feel so strangely close.

Head turning with a hint of shame, her palm rested in a fold, fingers remaining in the structural void.

"Now I'm up to three hundred thousand attempts."

Peeking back, bashfully looking at the calm expression adorning Padparadscha's face, a smile broke through her solemn composure.

"...And no, I'm still not giving up. No matter how you feel about it."

Eyelids lowering, her chin sank into her shoulder.

"How is little Phosphophyllite...?"

Eyes flitting open, she looked at her friend with a start, but the silent, still expression on her face remained exactly the same as before.

Head sinking, Rutile's mouth drew open, thinking about the sparkling youth she spent most of the prior day with.

"She's a little stronger... After we replaced her legs. But still fragile as ever otherwise."

"Take care of that one. She's a lovely little gem."

"I will."

Squeezing her hand firmly, holding onto her distant friend tightly, a confident grunt left Rutile's throat.

"I might have figured out how to strengthen her further. You just wait and see."