"Morning guys!" Greeted Steven, heading downstairs to make pancakes and bacon.
It was a generally pretty bright and peaceful morning. You were quietly watching everyone go about their day, curious about all the things you saw around you. "You want any, Tanzanite?" Steven asked, looking in your direction.
"What is it..?" You asked, walking up and looking at it curiously. "Just some pancakes."
"are they dangerous?"
"What? Haha, no! They're just really good food that we like. Here, I'll make you a plate, too." He offered, finishing serving all the plates and handing them out to everyone.
You looked at the soft golden pancake nervously and poked it before taking a bite out of it, your eyes lighting up in amazement. "Woah..!"
"You like it?"
"I-it's amazing!" You responded, quickly digging into the rest of the meal. "Steven, What kind of magic did you use to make such an amazing thing?!" "Haha, it's not magic. You just mix all the ingredients and spill it onto the pan until it takes shape." he answered, setting his plate in the kitchen sink.
~~~~
The rest of your day was quite an experience. You got to explore Beach City and see all of the amazing things you never knew about before. Arcades, public events, and then there was that weird Ronaldo guy. It was so bright and lively in this lovely city!
"Hey! Tanzanite!" Called out a familiar voice. Before you knew it, Peridot was in front of you.
"Oh, hey, Peridot."
"Hey," she responded, a bright smile plastered across her face, "you good after yesterday?" She asked.
"Yeah, i'm okay now." You responded with a small smile, Peridot returning the smile. "That's good. Hey, I was gonna ask if you wanted to come over to my barn and meet Pumpkin, mine and Lapis's pet?" "Yeah, that sounds great!" You agreed with a cheerful smile.
~~~~
You and Peridot made your way to the barn. "Lapis isn't here right now, so it's just us." she explained, opening the door as she was immediately tackled to the ground by Pumpkin, laughing happily as the small animal gave her puppy kisses. "Ah, haha! Pumpkin!" She continued laughing, grabbing the pumpkin-dog and sitting up, setting it in her lap. You knelt down to their height and smiled at the two. "Aww, it's so cute!" You complimented, letting Pumpkin sniff you. After confirming you were safe, Pumpkin let you pet her, a happy expression across her face.
"So, Tanzanite. How have you been liking it here?" "It's been.. Really fun, to be honest. Everyone is just so bright and lively!"
"That's good. How has it been with the Crystal Gems?" "Really nice. They're super welcoming, and Steven showed me this amazing thing..'pancakes'! How did no one on Homeworld think of such a perfect dish?!" "Haha,Steven makes great pancakes." She agreed, chuckling.
"Hey, Peri. Oh, hey, Tanzanite!" greeted Lapis as she returned to the barn, a warm smile.
"Hey Lapis!" Waved Peridot as she came over and joined you two, Pumpkin crawling into her lap as she pet her. Then, she got up and went up to watch TV.
"Hey, you seem to blush a lot around Lapis. Did you catch feelings?" Peridot asked, making you blush in confusion. "H-Huh..? Wh-what do you mean?"
"You know! Love!"
"I don't.. Huh..? Wh.. What is that..?"
"You mean to tell me you don't know what love is?" She asked, you shaking your head no in response. "Okay, how about any emotions at all?"
"No, i'm sorry.."
"no, no, it's okay! we can help you understand emotions and what they are!" She offered. "You can?" "Yeah! Like, for example, um, happiness. Um.. How do I explain this.. Okay, let's say when Pumpkin tackled me as we walked in here. She was happy to see me. That's a example of happiness."
"so.. How do I know if I'm feeling it?"
"Well, let's say when your face does this," she made a smile, "that can help you know." "I.. Don't get it.." "oh, well, um, don't worry. I'm sure you'll understand it soon!" She encouraged with a confident smile.
"Hey, maybe you could try talking with Lapis more. She's been talking about how nice you seem. You two should try and be friends." Peridot encouraged.
"A-are you sure?" You asked, nervously fidgeting with your fingers.
"Positive!" She responded, shoving you inside the barn, giving a thumbs up. You looked around, and were soon met face to face with the blue gem. Caught off guard, you jumped back a little, making her giggle at your reaction, causing you to blush as you quickly became flustered.
"Hey!" She greeted, a cheerful smile. Oh jeez, there was that warm feeling in your cheeks again, what was it again? Oh, duh! Peridot said it was 'blushing'.
"H-hi." you responded.
"Need a hand?" She asked, holding her hand out as you took it, getting up.
"T-thanks."
"no problem. So, do you like what me and Peri did with the place?"
"It's very creative and suits your styles perfectly. I like it!" You complimented. "Thanks. Hey, wanna go for a walk on the beach?"
"Sure!"
~~~~
And so here you were, walking side by side with Lapis, the quiet waves stunning as ever. "Hey ,wanna see something cool?" Lapis asked, turning to you.
"Sure!" You agreed.
Lapis smiled and turnt to the waves, lifting her hand and using her powers to form shapes with it. Star, cat, Pumpkin, all the crystal gems, and..
"A rose?" "Yeah, they're quite lovely, wouldn't you agree?"
"Uhm.. I guess.." you mumbled under your breath. "Hey, you good?" She asked, shifting to face you. "Huh? oh, yeah!" You smiled reassuringly.
"So, how about you?" She asked.
"Huh? What about me?" You asked tilting your head in confusion.
"C'mon, you know! Your abilities!"
"My.. Abilities? I, uhm- don't really have any, ha ha..But I like yours! It's so cool!" You cheered. She blushed a little and smiled happily, giggling at the compliment. "Ha ha, you're too sweet for your own good, Tanzanite!" She giggled, patting your head, making you blush as you focused your gaze elsewhere.
(Flashback...)
"My Diamond! I swear I got it right this time! See?" You eagerly announced, performing your current act you put up for her: Balancing on 6 balls at once.
"Alright, Tanzanite. Let's see it." Yellow commanded. You got on top of the balls and begun to focus on your balance, only to fall backwards, hitting your head against the ground. "O-oww...". Yellow started laughing, which made you smile. You loved it when you found a way to make her happy. She lifted you in her hand,
"You're adorable, my Tanzanite."
"Is that a bad thing?" You asked, tilting your head as you looked up at her. She simply laughed and patted your head.
"Oh, Tanzanite, my clueless Tanzanite.. Never change."
(End of flashback...)
You felt yourself begin to cry, immediately earning a confused look from Lapis as she put her hands on your shoulders. "Hey.. Are you okay, Tanzanite? D-did I do something wrong?" She asked worryingly.
"Why... Why, Lapis.." you asked.
"Huh..? What..?" "W-why.. Why are you so much like her..?"
"Her..?"
"You remind me so much of her.. You're caring nature, the strange feeling I get from you that I got from her.. You're just like her.. But..I know you're not her.. You're not Yellow Diamond.."
"Yellow Diamond? Did you know her..?"
You sighed and looked away. Lapis grabbed your hands and looked you in the eyes. "Tanzanite, please.. You won't feel better unless you talk about your feelings with me."
"Feelings.. I just don't get them.. I don't even know what they are.. All I know is that they make me feel so... weird..." You cupped your face in your hands.
"Hey, hey, it's alright. You'll understand them soon. I'm sure of it." she reassured, giving a small smile. "Now, please. Just let me help you.."
You sighed and nodded, looking up at the blue gem. She led you by the hand towards the ocean as you both sat on your knees, the calm waves getting them soaked in water.
"It.. I-it was a long time ago.." you began, "long before I knew Pearl, I served Yellow Diamond.. At first, it was just her and I. I told her jokes and was always coming up with new tricks to perform for her, and even when I messed it up, she gave me a smile and a laugh.. Heh, I miss her smile.." you went off, smiling sadly remembering your time you spent with Yellow. It hurt so much remembering all you had, only to lose it all. You would've given anything to have it all back.
"Tanzanite.."
"I-i'm okay.."
"Do you think you can handle telling the rest of the story..?" "Y-yeah.." you nodded.
"So, later on, another Tanzanite came along. Me and her performed acts for Yellow together, but by that time, Yellow began to change from the Yellow I knew.."
"she 'changed'..?"
"Well, you see.. When I knew Yellow, I always saw her as a sweet bright gem, but.. She started to get more serious ..mean.. So, one day, me and the other Tanzanite decided we were ready to try performing fusion for her ..and it backfired.."
"Like it did with us..?"
"Y.. Yeah.. Like it did with us.. I-I guess i'm just not meant for fusing, huh..?" You smiled, tears pricking your eyes.
"So, after failing, Yellow excuses the failure and.. I find out i'm being given to her sister, Pink Diamond.. I get this weird feeling in my chest, but I don't know what it is and all of a sudden I feel little droplets of water building up in my eyes that turn to streams of water, and I tried to convince her otherwise.. I.. I didn't understand why she was giving me up.. We were such good friends, and.. I.." you sighed, letting the tears glide down your cheeks,
"L-looking back at it now, I wonder if she even cared about me like how I did for her..".
Lapis gave you a sympathetic look as she took in what she learned about you.
"You loved her.. And she gave you up..".
You looked up at her a perplexed, "Um.. I-is that what you call it? 'Love'..?" You asked, to which Lapis giggled and placed a hand on your shoulder.
"Yes, love. It's when someone makes you smile and feel good, like all of a sudden your life has meaning and you feel at peace. That's love." she explained, a small smile across her face. You smiled back and grabbed her hands gently, making her blush at the sudden action.
"I-if that's love, then.. I-I love you as my friend, Lapis..!" You hugged her tightly, tears still flowing. "W-we are friends,right..?" You asked, looking up at her. She gave a slight surprised look but smiled and placed a hand on your head gently. "Yes, we're friends, Tanzanite." You looked towards her in awe and smiled as you hugged her again.
"Hey, Lapis..?"
"Yes?"
"You.. You won't leave me like Yellow Diamond did, r-right..? P-please don't get rid of me.."
Lapis then returned the embrace, "Don't worry.."
"This time you won't be hurt.. You'll never have to feel the pain she caused you again.. I promise.."