A/N: Wow it's been a while! Hopefully you guys aren't too upset about waiting this long. I have been really focused on school nonstop and now Summer Break will be here soon so I can finally relax :'). Thank you for your patience and your support through reviews!

Replies:

StevenSquid - I'm so happy you liked it :) ! Hope you like this one too!

Tatopotato - Ah im glad you think so ! :) I feel that Jasper would swear a lot, considering her personality in this universe hahaah

XxAquamarinexX - Thank you! I try to make each chapter pretty lengthy. At least about 5k words per chapter, because honestly 1k is not enough especially if readers are waiting so long :( . I won't really be discussing about the OTHER Steven in this fic, however I'm making a separate fic soon about how the other Steven is doing with Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl :) also I like your username :)

lesbo geek - :D yes a Jasper fic for you! I'm glad you liked it and I'm so sorry it took so long :( I'm not gonna abandon this fic... i hope ahahah

CH 8: Fate

"Mm…" Steven groaned, with his eyes shut and tucked in a fetal position. He tried to get comfortable, but the act was in vain. He was in pain. Horrible, gut wrenching pain that made him want to vomit.

His body was aching again, but it was intensified by ten fold. Not only that, but he felt burning sensations on his face, stomach, hands, back, and knees. Like he was thrown into an oven, and fell flat on his face. But his back especially felt like it was in the most intense pain. It felt as if thousands of bees stung him from his lower shoulder blades, to his lower back. He didn't know why, it felt like that, but oh man did it hurt.

Steven weakly raised his hand and blindly reached at his back. With eyes still clamped shut, Steven let his fingers wander to the most accessible part of pain located. When his index finger merely grazed the border where the pain started, Steven instantly hissed at the contact; flinching his hand away and grinding his teeth together. It felt like an opened wound, however, he didn't feel any blood or wetness coming from his back. It felt more like a scab that was ripped off too quickly and the flesh was exposed.

It stung!

Panting a little, Steven uncurled himself from his position and tried to get up. The pain was so intense, he could barely stand. Steven rolled over on his stomach and squinted open his eyes. He was in a little translucent, orange, bubble, hovering above numerous of other bubbles with Gems inside of it.

Steven looked around, not quite remembering how or why he was in a bubble. Last he remembered, he was...with…

"Jasper!" He gasped, raising on his hands and knees. He was on a mission with Jasper, fighting a giant snake-like creature... and he ended up here...? He was in an orange bubble, which would make sense that Jasper most likely bubble him back to the Temple.

But was she okay? Did she need help? Should he tell Peridot to go and help her? Or was Peridot still busy? Maybe Lapis? No, she was busy too.

Steve grimaced, unsure what to do to help. He wasn't even sure how long he had been unconscious for. What should he do?

"Gotta… get help," he mumbled, striking his fist at the bubble underneath him. He needed to get out. He needed to either find some help or go help Jasper himself. She couldn't possibly handle that giant creature by herself! Especially when it can constrict and bind her for it to do its bidding! Steven struck the bubble again, hoping to pop it. As his breathing became labored, Steven stubbornly continued to strike again, and again, until the bubble gave way and combusted.

Not bracing himself for a landing, Steven fell from 10 feet, crashing into bubbled Gems and even grabbing one on the way down. Steven landed hard on his injured back, and yelled out in pain, rolling over on his side and flinching. After composing himself and a few deep breaths later, Steven rose slowly from the floor, wincing in agony.

He turned his head and was immediately faced with a blue bubble, floating innocently in front of him.

"Huh?" Steven mumbled confused. He gazed at the bubble for a few moments before concluding that he must have grabbed it on his way down from the fall. Steven closed his eyes for a moment, then lazily opened them back up, tiredly. He was so physically drained, that he couldn't will himself to get up and move. He wanted to help Jasper, but he really couldn't. He felt like collapsing on the floor and staring at the ceiling for hours, and eventually fall asleep.

The idea was tempting; so tempting that Steven closed his eyes again and nodded off, while sitting. His body wobbled forward and his head slumped over as he drowsily went to sleep. As his head went forward, his forehead lightly butted the blue bubble, startling him awake. He momentarily forgot where he was or what he was doing. He mumbled a little, and wrenched his eyes opened, hoping he could stay awake long enough to remember.

He rested his head on the bubble, squinting his eyes and noticed something quite familiar inside. There was a circular blue shaped Gem inside, but it was cracked down the middle, nearly broken in half. Despite the crack, there was clear signification that its facet was triangular.

Steven's eyes widened, then narrowed in suspicion, "...Sapphire…?" he questioned. A rush of excitement pounded in his chest. He had only met her once, but he knew who she was. He especially knew what Garnet's right hand concealed, and after the events of his Jasper and Peridot, poofing her, and watching both red and blue Gems falling on the sand, he knew what Sapphire's gem looked like.

Steven inspected the bubbled gem for a few minutes longer. He used his previous memories to conclude that this gem did look pretty similar to Sapphire's gem. They looked downright identical, despite the ugly crack down the middle.

If it was Sapphire, why was she in a bubble? He could hardly imagine that Sapphire was a malicious, evil, Gem. In fact, his last impression of her was that she was nice and polite. Even if it were only a few minutes that he interacted with her, he knew that she was pretty harmless (despite her being a Crystal Gem and knowing him all his life).

Perhaps her being in a bubble was a mistake. Maybe she was cracked and someone bubbled her to keep her safe? And since his Mom's healing fountain was basically broken, no one could spare the time to take her to Rose herself and have her healed.

Steven wondered if he should release the bubble, just to make sure it was her. He wasn't stupid. At this point, Steven knew that even if he freed the Gem, she wouldn't know who he was. He was in a different world, of course, and the chances of Sapphire knowing him were very very slim. The question still stayed.

To release, or not to release?

He could hardly weigh any bad outcomes if he did release Sapphire. In fact, he could only think of the good she could do once he released her. She could help him see the future of how and when he could go back home. She can help Peridot to get him back home. She can be a Crystal Gem around the Temple! What bad could come out of any of these possibilities? He would free her, then heal her, then she can help him.

Steven weakly grabbed the bubble, and squeezed it. With enough effort, he popped the blue bubble and the round Gem fell on the floor.

A minute passed, another minute...and then another. A grand total of five agonizing minutes ticked by and the Gem was still unresponsive, sitting on the floor.

What was wrong? Usually any Gem that was unbubbled would immediately reform. But Sapphire's Gem was just sitting there. Steven observed the Gem quietly, on all fours. He examined the harsh, sharp edges of the Gem where it was horribly cracked down the middle. How did she even get cracked like that? Sapphire didn't appear to be the aggressive type, and Steven assumed that she wouldn't have been actively fighting during the war. Did she accidentally hurt herself like Amethyst did before?

Vast questions swam through his mind, trying to figure out exactly what what wrong with Sapphire.

Steven waited and waited, and the Gem didn't look like it was going to do anything any time soon. Steven deflated, then sighed pitifully and mumbled, "C'mon, Sapphire…"

First, there was a flash of light, then a glowing pulse from the cracked Gem. Steven perked up, noting the sudden change. The damaged Gem started to slowly levitate in the air. It flashed again, but this time, the light got brighter and brighter and was shapeshifting into a form.

"AAUGH!" Sapphire screamed out in pain, as she reformed. She staggered on her wobbly legs, and eventually collapsed on the floor.

Steven watched, stunned at the sight of Sapphire. She was more or less the same, but she had a completely different outfit from before. She had a dark blue frilly tutu dress with dark blue long sleeves and a deep cut v-neck. Her legs were visible with white stockings and small flat shoes.

Her labored breathing filled the atmosphere. She gasped for air as if she had just ran a marathon nonstop.

She didn't seem to acknowledge Steven's presence. Steven wasn't sure if she was ignoring him or she really didn't notice him. Steven inched closer to her; her back still facing him. Steven reached out cautiously to gently touch her back, and he whispered, "Sapphire?"

Before Steven even actually touched her, Sapphire swiftly turned around falling on her rear. She scrambled away from him, "Wh-Who's there?!" she yelped, looking around frantically.

Steven flinched at her distress, "You can't see me?"

"L-Listen!" she ignored his question, "I am on your side! I will do whatever you say! Please! Don't hurt me!"

Steven's eyes widened, "I'm not gonna hurt you," He assured, creeping closer to her. Why would she think that she was in any danger?

He reached his hand out to touch hers. Sapphire immediately flinched at the contact, drawing her hand to her chest, and cradling it with the other, "Which side are you on?"

"Side?" Steven tilted his head to the side.

"Are you a loyalist or a...rebel?" she asked, whispering the word 'rebel' as if it were forbidden.

"Uh… a rebel, I think," he answered, "A Crystal Gem."

Sapphire's lips parted slightly. She swallowed a heavy lump in her throat, "I - I swear to you, I am not a part of Homeworld! Please, let me leave!"

"No one's keeping you hostage," Steven replied. Despite only her lips visible, her expression faltered, "You can do whatever you want."

Sapphire frowned, "Wh- Who- Who-" she began glitching, uncontrollably. Her body fazed from her rapid glitching and started to scoot away from Steven, recognizing her faulty glitching, "Lea-Lea-Leave…me b-be-be-"

Her glitching sped up even faster and she curled herself into a fetal position, laying her head on her knees, "I-I- will shatter-shatter-" she said defeated.

"I can help you!" Steven exclaimed scooting closer to her, "I can heal your gem!"

Steven struggled to move closer to the twitching Gem. She did not flinch at his presence, nor did she respond. Could she really not see him? Just to be sure, Steven reached for the thick bangs covering her face and brushed them aside.

This time, a flinch came from Sapphire, as her eye was revealed to him. Steven lips parted slightly. He had never seen what was under Sapphire's bangs, and he was shocked. Not because it was just a singular eyeball, no, (he figured she only had one thanks to Garnet's third eye) it was the fact that she had no iris. No pupil.

"You...really can't see." He commented.

Sapphire reeled backwards, away from him, "Wh-Wh-What're you-"

"Sapphire," he grunted her name, still very much in pain, "I know you don't know me, but I think I can help you."

Sapphire hesitated. She opened her mouth, but she was interrupted by a painful looking glitch and said, "Em pleh uoy nac woh?"

Steven blinked once, "Um, sorry I

… I don't understand…"

Sapphire repeated herself, but groaned afterward, and covered her face with her hands.

"Do you want me to help you?" Steven asked, not sure if she could understand him, "You can just nod yes or no. I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable…"

Sapphire removed her hands and stared blankly towards Steven's direction and tilted her head.

"If you keep your gem like that, it's only gonna get worse," he pointed out, briefly reminding himself of his own predicament, "What do ya got to lose?"

Sapphire's plumped lips parted and then slowly gave Steven a small, soft smile. She finally nodded once in consent.

Steven smiled back, even though he knew she couldn't see it, "Okay, let me see your gem."

Sapphire cautiously displayed her right palm. Steven peered at it, staring at the damaged gemstone.

"Od ot gniog ouy era tahw?"she asked quietly.

Even though Steven didn't understand her, he thought it was best to inform her, "This is going to feel a little weird, okay?"

Sapphire frowned, "Tahw?"

Steven licked his own palm, praying that this would work, then slapped the saliva onto Sapphire's gem.

Sapphire yelped, the shivered at the sudden and strange contact, not really prepared for it.

Suddenly, Sapphire's gem made a pulse, then a flicker of light. The light brightened around her Gem until finally around her whole body. She glowed a bright light, that nearly blind Steven. And as soon as it happened, it quickly vanished.

Sapphire's pupil finally appeared in her baby blue eye. She squinted, not used to the light, for being blind for so long.

Her eye darted quickly to her right palm, and examined her gem. Sure enough, her gem was completely healed. No threatening crack down the middle, no split, not even a small blemish. Sapphire brought her left hand to touch it. Her fingertips grazed the gemstone delicately, as if it were in danger from the slightest touch.

"Everything okay?" Steven asked, partially groaning in discomfort. It seemed as though his body felt even worse than before.

Sapphire's eye immediately snapped over to the mysterious person who healed her, "Yes! Thank you-" she paused. She looked at his form, identifying what species he was, "You're a human," she gasped in disbelief.

Steven nodded, "Yeah, something like that."

"How?" she asked, gesturing to her gem, "I wasn't aware humans had the ability to heal?"

"Oh, um. Well...I'm part...Gem and part human," he said and lift the hem of his shirt to reveal his gem, "I have Rose Quartz' gem."

Perplexed, Sapphire asked, "How?"

"Ah...it's...complicated," Steven waved off, "She's my mother and she passed her gem to me. Though...I guess you already kinda knew the answer to that, huh? He gave a small smile.

"What do you mean?"

"Uh…" Steven scratched the back of his head, "Can't you...y'know, see the future or something?"

Sapphire blinked once. Steven identified her expression as someone who was deeply puzzled, "...Yes...I can, but…".

"But…?" Steven tilted his head

Sapphire squinted her eye at him and leaned forward to inspect him, "I...I can't quite see you…"

"You can't?" Steven eyebrows rose to his hairline.

Sapphire shook her head, "You are a blindspot in the complicated natures of fate."

"Oh…" Steven groaned. He kneeled over and wrapped his arms around himself. His back was still scorching in pain, "That's not good…" he said, not directly talking about Sapphire lack of future vision.

"Are you alright? Sapphire asked, moving close to him. She placed a gentle hand on his back. Steven loudly hissed out in pain and Sapphire immediately recoiled, keeping her hands to herself.

Steven was panting now, trying to keep cool, but the pain on his back was burning!

"M-My back really hurts…" Steven groaned. Though, that wasn't all what was wrong. It felt like someone kicked around in his insides, then to top it all off, elbowed him hard in the gut. And that's not even mentioning the blistering pain on his back! He reached over his head and started to pull his tattered shirt up, hoping that would make it feel better.

He heard a small gasp from Sapphire.

"What?" Steven asked.

"I thought that your face was bad, but your back is much worse."

'My face? What's wrong with my face?' He thought. Before he could ask, Sapphire was kneeling before him; her left hand hovering over his back.

"Please, try and stay still," she said. Steven complied, not really knowing what Sapphire was going to do next.

There was a sudden icy chill that touched his back. Out of natural reflex, Steven flinched and twisted his body around, facing Sapphire.

Sensing his shock and mild discomfort, Sapphire answered him before he had a chance to speak, "You have a rather large burn trailing your backside. I thought that icing it would relieve the pain."

"A burn?" Steven mumbled.

"Yes. It tore through the skin and it looks painful."

Steven closed his eyes, briefly remembering how he got the burn in the first place. After the monster that he and Jasper were facing flung them, Steven recalled landing harshly on his back and tumbling on his stomach. If his back was so extensively injured. He could only imagine what his face looked like, seeming that he fell face first on the smoldering floor.

"You think icing it would help?" Steven asks, giving her his back.

"Yes," Sapphire answered, "Though it is not perfect, this method has been proven to be quite effective."

Steven gave her his back, "Do what you think is best," he said with a small smile, "It hurts so bad, I would do anything for it to feel better."

Sapphire smiled slightly. This human was quite interesting, "I will begin the icing now," she said, pressing her palms on his back. Steven shifted uncomfortably; squirming at the small stinging sensation. Her hands felt a little cold, but after a few minutes, it became a relieving chill. Moments later Steven was sighing and leaning more into her touch.

"Does it feel better?" Sapphire asked quietly.

"Yeah," Steven smiled. Sapphire moved her hands to the middle of his back where the burns were the worst. She hadn't done this for anyone else, except for…

"May I ask for your name, human?"

"O-oh, it's Steven" he said, slightly hissing at the pain in his mid back.

"Steven," Sapphire repeated, "I would like to properly thank you for healing my gem."

"S'no prob, Bob," he gave a small grin.

Sapphire frowned at his unusual phrase, "I am Sapphire."

'Oh boy, dejavú,' Steven thought, remembering he said the same thing to his Lapis back home, and the idiom completely flew over her head too, "Ah, yeah, I know," he chuckled, "It's an Earth saying, don't worry about it Sapphire."

Sapphire frowned harder as she continued icing small areas on his back, "You said you knew me?"

"..yeah." Oh boy, how to explain this one.

"I have acquainted with humans before, but I have never introduced myself to one, let alone a hybrid like yourself."

"Oh, yeah. I uh.. it's kinda complicated, how I know you." Steven said, focusing his vision on his toes, "I met you in another universe...or something like that… and in that universe we are actually friends...kinda…" he said. Well, he's only met Sapphire once before, but as Garnet said, Sapphire and Ruby apparently already loved him through her eyes.

"Another universe?" Sapphire inquired, "Are you a Universe Traveler?"

"Huh? No." Steven frowned and pondered on that idea, "Is...is that real thing?" he asked.

"Is what a real thing?" asked Sapphire.

"A...Universe Traveler?" he clarified.

Sapphire pursed her lips. It took her a moment before answering, "I've... heard legends of some Gems gaining that ability, albeit, I've never met one."

"Oh." Steven frowned. 'Legends of Universe Travelers?' he thought, cataloging that information to ask the Gems later.

"I suppose it was fate that we would meet in two separate universes," Sapphire mused rhetorically, not sounding so sure about her statement.

Sapphire continued to soothe the last of Steven's burns on his backside. He would have been lying if he said he didn't feel any better. The ice truly helped.

Steven purred at the sensation of Sapphire's icy touch, "This feels really good," he hummed, "You said that you used this method of healing before?"

"Yes."

"Hn. It must have felt great. Who'd you try it on? Quartz soldiers or something?" Steven asked out of innocent curiosity. As his back was facing her, he missed the grim look that she made.

She hesitated for a moment then replied, "No. Not Quartz. Ruby soldiers…"

In immediate interest, Steven turned around to look at her, "You know Ruby?" he gasped. What were the odds that this Sapphire from a separate universe knew Ruby.

"I...know a lot of Rubies," she answered, clearly uncomfortable about something.

"There's more than one Ruby?" Steven rose his eyebrows in shock and in fascination.

"..Yes. Rubies are common soldiers, though, they aren't as strong as Quartz soldiers." she answered, "You said you only knew one Ruby? From your other universe?" she asked.

"Yeah. Actually, you and Ruby were my guardian." Steven smiled.

Sapphire's iris widened in shock, "Which Ruby was she?"

Steven blinked, then scratched his chin in thought. Did Rubies look different than other Rubies? Maybe his Ruby had a specific look while other Rubies looked completely different. If that's the case, he should just describe her, "Well..she's about your height. She's got this... boxy looking hair. She has dark red boots and-"

"You're describing any general Ruby," Sapphire stopped him, sounding annoyed.

Steven gave a sheepish look, "Oh," he stared at the floor in embarrassment, "S-sorry...it's just...I've only ever met one Ruby before..."

Sapphire stared at him, then sighed, "My apologies. I shouldn't be frustrated with you, considering that you are not familiar with common Gem customs," she paused briefly, "What I meant was, what was her individual facet?"

"Facet?" Steven rose a brow.

"Her… gem placement, if you will," She clarified.

"Oh, it was," he held out his left palm, "in her left hand like this."

"That's her!" Sapphire gasped in excitement and in shock, "You say that she and I were your guardians? As in...together?"

Steven smiled, "Uh-huh."

"What an odd coincidence that Ruby and I would be together in another universe and rebels at that…"she mused, looking off to the side.

Steven shrugged, "Maybe it's fate?"

Sapphire gave a light chuckle, "Perhaps you are right. Ruby has changed my fate a few times before. I believe it's because of her that I couldn't foresee the future that is now."

"What do you mean?" Steven asked.

Sapphire looked down subconsciously at her gem, "Once before Ruby was assigned to me, I knew my whole life ahead of time. My future vision allowed me to see my original fate and how I was going to live my life. After years of serving me, on a random act of impulse, Ruby came up to me and told me how she felt about me…"

"What did she say?" Steven asked curiously.

Sapphire's cheeks turned a darker shade of blue, "She… she said many things. Things that made me question myself and my own feelings. Feelings I never had before," Sapphire looked down at the floor, feeling slightly flustered, "It...it was a new feeling. I wasn't quite sure what it was but...I liked it. I liked being around her. I liked holding her hand. I liked talking to her. I liked dancing with her. I just liked everything about her. And...before I knew it, my fate that I had always seen and was so sure of, began to fade away."

Steven smiled sweetly at her, "Did you know what the feeling was?"

Sapphire tensed and shook her head.

"It's love," Steven grinned.

Sapphire's face got hotter and bluer, "O-oh." she stammered, looking away to hide her face.

Steven laughed. He looked above him searching through the sea of bubbles above him, "Well where is she? If she's here then I can open her bubble."

Sapphire hesitated then shook her head, "She must be back on Homeworld. I wouldn't doubt that she is trying to figure out a way to escape and come find me."

"That's nice," Steven commented. If Ruby would come back, she could fuse with Sapphire and turn into Garnet! Oh to see his precious Gem again would make him leap for joy.

"And when she does, we will immediately escape this planet and travel endlessly across the galaxy" Sapphire added.

There goes that leap of joy…

"What? Why?!"

Sapphire lowered her head and looked at her gem, "She and I are fugitives. I ran away from the Royal Diamond Court alongside Ruby after our… union."

Steven blinked, "You mean your fusion?"

Sapphire tensed and nodded once.

Steven frowned, "I don't get it. How does fusion make you a criminal?"

"Fusion between Gems is strictly for battle only and it is only for an absolute emergency. What Ruby and I did-" Sapphire blushed, and looked away "...it was for our own satisfaction. We will most likely be shattered for our crimes and betrayal."

Anger rumbled in the pit of Steven's stomach, "So just because you two liked to fuse together, Homeworld thought you guys should be shattered for it?" he spat.

Sapphire nodded. She glanced down at her hands, "What we were doing was completely unprofessional. She would seek me out when I was alone, and then we would become...intimate… and eventually fuse. A Pearl found us fusing and decided to report us to Blue Diamond personally…"

"That's ridiculous!" Steven exclaimed, "You guys love each other, there shouldn't be a punishment for love!"

Sapphire blushed at the word 'love' again, "You… have very interesting vocabulary…"

Steven frowned, "It's not fair!"

"Well what would you do?" Sapphire prompted.

"Huh? What do you mean?" asked Steven.

"If...if my Ruby and I were here on Earth, and you saw us...and you knew that we betrayed you, what would you do?" she pegged.

Steven looked at her, puzzled by her question, "I wouldn't do anything."

Sapphire's iris widened in shock, "You wouldn't?" Steven shook his head and she asked, "You wouldn't give us an alternative punishment, or banish us, or-"

"Sapphire, this place isn't Homeworld. This is Earth. Most of us Earthlings are accepting to change. We would do anything for the ones we love, and you and Ruby are no different." He said. Sapphire could only stare, with her lips slightly parted, and he continued, "And...even though you said you guys would run away, I can promise that you and Ruby are always welcomed here on Earth."

Those words made Sapphire's breath hitch and Steven added, "It beats running away forever. You guys can finally call a place your 'home'."

Sapphire glanced down to her feet. She slowly looked up at Steven's abnormally colored Gem and said, "You really must be the infamous Rose Quartz."

"Huh?"

"There were rumors about the rebel, Rose Quartz. How she was cold and ruthless, yet kind and understanding. Even after shattering Pink Diamond, the rumors of her pure hearted nature were true." Sapphire smiled, "So I am grateful for your compassion."

Steven chuckled and scratched the back of his head, "Aha, I mean, I'm technically not Rose but, thanks-" he paused and his eyes widened, "Wait, you said she shattered who-?"

Suddenly there was a swooshing noise above them. The door above them, the entrance to the Crystal Gate, was unceremoniously swung open. The light was bright and there were only two silhouettes, perfectly outlined at the door. Steven squinted to see the two better and he heard a shriek scream of his name.

"Steven!" Peridot's voice rang through his ears. Suddenly the second silhouette jumped down to Sapphire and Steven to reveal Lapis (and not too happy by the looks of it). She had her arms slightly raised and controlled blotches of water around her. She glared daggers straight at Sapphire.

'With that look, this can't be good…' Steven panicked. Afraid of a brawl unravelling before him, Steven tried to prevent it. He stood up and defensively stood in front of Sapphire with his arms spread, "Lapis-!"

"I assume you want to capture me again,"Sapphire said, slowly backing away.

Lapis' eyes narrowed. Her voice sharper than the ice crystals forming slightly under Sapphire's feet, "I told you before, I'm not letting a single Gem from Blue Diamond's court to escape," she glared, "And that includes you."

Peridot finally made her way down to the floor level. She was a few feet behind Lapis and said, "Steven, come towards me!" she held out her robotic arms, motioning for him to obey.

Steven looked between all three Gems and their tense standoff. A part of him wanted to go with Peridot, while a part of him wanted to stop Lapis from doing whatever she planned to do with Sapphire. He was split between helping his family that never known him and going with his family from a different universe.

"Steven," Peridot urged, not really wanting to get in between the two blue Gems.

"Wait! Lapis, what-" Steven cried.

"She's going back in her bubble," Lapis coldly replied, narrowing her eyes at Sapphire like a predator watching their prey intently, "And this time she'll stay there."

"Lapis Lazuli," Sapphire spoke, trying to hide her nervousness, "I am not a part of Homeworld. I-"

"Of course you're not." Lapis spat. "You're just loyal to Blue Diamond, right?"

"I am no longer," Sapphire urged, "I told you before, I have no allegiance to her! I am a deserter…"

"You said that last time," Lapis took a step forward, and Sapphire took a wary step back, "And then you almost had me shattered." The water that Lapis manipulated around her, grew bigger. It swirled around her threateningly, making her hair wisp behind her, "Isn't it funny what people say when they're trying to survive?"

"Lapis!" Steven tried, "Don't-!"

"Steven! Come here!" Peridot pleaded.

"Lazuli…" Sapphire trembled, "have mercy…" she begged.

"I'll say what your precious Diamond said to me," the water swirled around her and formed a pair of giant hands in the shape of fists, "Mercy is for the weak."

"No! Lapis!" Steven yelled. He ran up to her, grabbing her waist, hoping to stop her. Lapis hesitated, and frowned at him. She opened her mouth in attempt to tell Steven to move out of the way.

As soon as Lapis glanced down, there was a blue blur that sped past her. Lapis cursed under her breath. She had forgotten about Sapphire's super speed. Lapis hurled water in the direction Sapphire was headed. It was too slow, as Sapphire dashed upwards, scaling the tubelike structures of the Boiling Room and towards the exit. The water attack instead hit Peridot right in the face, slamming her into a nearby wall.

Lapis grit her teeth, annoyed that Sapphire had gotten the best of her, 'She did that on purpose!' she realized, as Sapphire ran in front of Peridot so she could accidentally hit her instead.

"Peridot!" Steven shouted, rushing to her aid. Peridot was coughing and wheezing heavily as most of the water intruded in her unsuspecting nose and mouth.

Lapis spared Peridot an apologetic glance before summoning her wings to chase after Sapphire, whom was already out the Temple, thanks to her incredible speed.

"Peridot, are you okay?" Steven asked.

Peridot shook her head, shaking the water from her flaccid hair. It only took one good look at Steven before she shrieked, "WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR FACE!?"

'Oh boy…' Steven thought.

A/N: It took me so long to make this chapter. I had separated it into about 4 parts. I will make a better chapter next time I swear. Anyway always review :) I appreaciate all your comments! Much love! (Wow 138 Reviews and 238 Favs!? Thank you so much you guys!)