Drowning Ruby

Like a Breath of Fresh Air

In a mere moment they had fallen apart, two gems each falling from grace and into undignified screeching before both covered their mouths and glanced at their own limbs, then back at each other. Lapis felt her limbs lock as she sat on the grass-covered ground with her arms around the knees she'd curled up to her chest. Ruby lay on the ground, hands still cupped over her mouth and frozen in an expression of shock, clouds rolled by in a storming ruinment. The sunny skies darkened midday in a similar way to the moment they'd shared, Ruby was the first to snap from her catatonic state, having less emotional ties to the act than her blue friend. Her body slowly inclined, hands moving to keep herself balanced by use of the ground before she turned to the blue gem in question. Thousands of questions seemed to form in her mind, notebook long since abandoned on the rocks and a single blue bracelet, ripped and broken apart, was lying in two pieces of braids as strings hung from the surrounding branches like a sea-colored spider web had been torn apart. It felt agonizing to the red gem, like everything they once had was lying in a heap like that very bracelet, once a symbol of friendship and now a catalyst. She felt terrified that everything was ruined, it had been her fault, after all, she had been the one foolish enough to offer it at such a terrible time!

Ruby could think only of the stupidity that was herself, frequently stealing glances at her former companion who never moved from her position. She knew better than to approach Lapis now, that would only cause further distress; yet rationality was burned out by how hard it was to let her be. It was all her fault, all her fault! If she could just fix this- pretend it never happened maybe? Yeah, they could simply go their separate ways and forget the whole thing- just let go everything that was making the blue gem, that meant the world to her, uncomfortable. Then it fell apart, that glorious scenario of ignorance and bliss, she wasn't stupid enough to think they'd ever forget who they'd seen; she would haunt their memories for all time. Ruby could feel the despair crawling through her chest and weighing it down, sending out the urge to fall back, lay down, and shatter. Because there was nothing she could do and she knew it, every part of their relationship had been torn to bits like the many drawings she'd made of her friend that just weren't perfect enough. What a fitting end, with her being the same screw-up she'd always been, will always be. The gems must have been wrong, of course there was no way she could be anything else…

As if fate hadn't ruined enough, rain started to pour down, it startled her as she quickly sought somewhere to hide from the frightening liquid. Droplets scattered and shattered upon her skin and flowed down her gem, sending a shiver up her spine as she hid under a rock near the shore of the pond. Flashbacks came at her just like she knew they must have tormented Lapis when they'd… She looked to the blue gem just as she willed away the word, self-deprecating thoughts only growing as she spied her lowered head and, now wet, short hair covering her face just as before. On reflex, Ruby's hand reached out towards her until- that feeling of a splash, the collision of liquid on her finger- no. Another shiver came, followed by a trembling as she refused to pull back her hand despite the awful feeling and slowly, but surely, no doubts in mind besides fear, let her arm cross through that invisible barrier. She felt scared but assured herself it was nothing in comparison to her fellow gem's (friend's?) mass discomfort; continuing despite the trembles and distaste. It felt like hours spent in a cold downpour, stopping several times to catch an unneeded breath for the simply sake of some comfort, eyes blinking away the foul assault on her senses when it became too much; though she was sure some of it might have come from the tears left behind from watching herself slowly drown as muddy water sprayed from the only light she'd ever seen- Just. Push. Through it!

Eons may have passed, she didn't know, only aware of the shallow breaths taken as she half-crawled her way to the immobile gem. She didn't come too close right away, opting to, instead, sit next to her whilst trying, in vain, to ignore the creeping water on her skin. When she touched their wet shoulders together there was no reaction, the same as when her hand took the gem's beside her in waterlogged intertwinement with non-reacting fingers that she gripped between regardless. Unfortunately, the white noise grew as storm clouds crashed and let out bursts of light that made the red gem sick as she attempted to avoid cringing as best she could. She thought of crystalline reflections like those she'd drawn, the fluffy material of her nested blankets and cushions back in her corner, and did her best to ignore what was so clearly bothering every part of her senses. Her mind wandered in any odd direction in order to avoid it, drifting here and there until she thought of who they...became. Her purple fluff of hair and two sets of bracelets easily covering long arms with balancing colors, the little marks of colors that covered each shoulder and their face. It was so different, being...gone, like that, disappearing into a completely new self being something she'd never before experienced. What was she but an era-2 Ruby, the screw-up, the one that's always hiding and asking why they leave so soon? Could she be anything more? Anyone more? It seemed impossible and yet the answer had been right there as she felt them dancing within a brand-new self in a happiness and feeling she'd never quite grasped before; something so new and yet so familiar.

Her gaze shifted back to the blue gem, her eyes starry and coated in water as a hand squeezed hers back, she knew Lapis, didn't she? Ruby's hand gripped hers tighter, pressing her back to her friend's as they sit and lean against each other with purpose in mind. Words were not said and words were not needed as they simply waited, because the skies would clear eventually and let the crawling stop, and the flashbacks would end someday; quit letting in fear and hurt that only dwelled in the past now. They would both move on in time, they just needed to wait this out; hands still curled together in that silent promise 'Don't let go.'

When neither returned the next day it was Garnet that told them all to let them be, that it was a personal matter, one they should let be for awhile. Some protests were made but, ultimately, the pair was let be for quite a while before Peridot and Steven finally decided to see if they were alright. By that time it had been a whole week, during which, it had rained nonstop in a harsh downpour that only occasionally let down an easier sprinkle. They found them in the long grass surrounding the pond where Rose's moss dwelled at times, flowers growing around them in a spring rain and non-magic moss growing close to the two. Their hands were intertwined and it almost looked like a desperate grip, especially on Ruby's part, one full of need and smaller bits of terror that reciprocated on each expression in the deepest parts of their eyes. Expressions did not change, however, one frozen in a position of awe and pointed towards the sky whilst the opposite merely sat with a shadowed face and a small frown. They looked like polar opposites and talking opted no response from either side, no matter what was mentioned. Steven and Peridot traveled there again the next day, this time bringing raincoats for themselves and a big umbrella; they wanted to give it to Ruby but...they recalled Garnet's words and refrained from easing the red gem's suffering. The cycle continued on, at least one of the pair always coming to watch over the two in their vigil and be a pillar of support for them; knowing they'd need it.

The rain continued for the better part of that spring, finally ceasing just two days before the end of that season; just as the 80th day passed.

Ruby could recall feeling like she'd just woken from a long dream, one filled with discomfort but cushioned by the caring gestures of hand-holding and feeling contact through the paining flickers. All had shut down for a long time, hours passing in mere moments as she watched days pass by on fast-forward, plants growing up her legs, eyes seeing past what was likened to be ignored and only catching sight of figures that stood or sat by in bright green or muted pink pigments. She felt tired and yet awake, achingly stiff and yet relaxed and open, face ceasing to feel a familiar sensation that had accompanied a skipped journey with begrudgingly accepted companionship. Until, finally, peace had come and all that had worried her had ceased, leaving her in a state of oddity as her heavy limbs found themselves eerily attached to another's by a sort of stickiness. She, eventually, identified it as the plants encircling limbs and tying them together with a bow just as hands were locked in a strange embrace that refused to be released; not that the ruby wished for this. Lapis had awakened as well, heading swiveling around as their shoulders caught on the same arms where hands lay connected so deeply they may as well have been one. Both blushed and went to pull away until they stared at each other and a sort of epiphany let stars guide both eyes into small smiles as each stood in perfect sync. It was liberating, plants falling off without stems breaking, as it they knew it was the right time, only encouraging the motions more. In only a single motion they were flying once more and looking back towards each other as Lapis swung Ruby around and they laughed just like before.

In a familiar scene a single gem float atop the water of a pond of clear water, holding two hands above herself and imagining each made of two gems and their bonded skin. A wider smile soon followed as Charoite (looking much more of a violet-blue than their previous purple) opened her mouth as she watched the bracelets tumble down her arms from her wrists and said but one phrase.

"I trust you." A notebook lay on the damp ground, completely dry besides the leftover dew that spotted the grass, safely contained, first by an umbrella left behind, then by Lapis' free arm that had been drawn to her chest. Two halves of a bracelet having fallen after the rain overturned their threads and stuck the spares to the mazes of twigs and hung them out to dry. Charoite's own hands now held them after scooping them from the lake and quickly intertwining the strings once more with carefully crafted braids from the limited material as she secured around her neck and simply floated in complete contentment. Soon afterwards, a smile grew wider as it mirrored eyes of shock and intense confusion as many figures stepped through the wooded area from the warp. She gracefully picked herself up as water poured from her body and quickly freed itself from her clothing and skin as it dried. She had no need for wings, feet stepping out onto the water in easy movements as she casually made her way to the edge of the pool and bowed low before proceeding to stand straight with a wink.

"Hi, my name's Charoite." She said with an easy-going expression as she turned around, revealing her components in a confirmation that made quite a few gasps of surprise (or perhaps relief). Garnet looked ecstatic, almost as much as Steven, whom quickly jumped into questioning as soon as the silence ended.

"Whoa! You guys fused?! Is that why you were sitting around so long? Is this the first time? What does it feel like? How'd you know who you were? What can you do? I have so many questions!"

"Hmm…" She decided to humour the young half-gem, "Yup. Something about sleep and memories. No. ...Trust, I guess. It felt right? I wouldn't say I have all the answers…"

"Whoa…"

"My thoughts exactly." It didn't matter that it was strange, that other may have problem, they felt much better than the first time, thoughts flowing freely through their mind over matter in collective harmony. By their gaze, Garnet looked pretty excited, Pearl somewhat apprehensive but still open, Amethyst uncaring with an underlying hint of curiosity, Peridot looked embarrassed but still happy for them. It was something new, something they'd tried to make function through countless hours of simply letting minds sit nearby so as to will away apprehension; though it still plagued their thoughts. In the end it was simple, they just needed a little time, time to feel just a little bit wholer; combining fears so as to keep each other's heads above water. Charoite just needed a little time to feel alive, to keep breathing this fresh air that they'd never known before; though something told her that she'd have plenty of time so she didn't bother to worry.