Don't let me be alone

Chapter Six Water Witches

Peridot and the others ran to follow the robots, heading directly into the water. Steven made his little bubble with Garnet and they, (mostly Garnet) rolled into the depths. Peridot herself helicoptered over the water, tracking her robots on her other hand.

She wiggled her foot gleefully, happy it was back where it belonged. The Gems had tossed it to her on her way out. She cringed at the thought of them touching it, but at least it was clean. And she was going to go save Lapis, and keep her away from that horrid Jasper. 

Peridot just wanted poor Lapis to feel safe, and happy. The blue gem probably despised Peridot, but if she could be happy then Peridot didn't care. This was something for her. She needed this. Even if it meant that Peridot would never be able to see her again, let alone be with her.

Peridot shook off the love thoughts as her finger pad began beeping. They had arrived at their destination. Malachite awaited at the bottom. Peridot retracted her fingers and dove into the ocean, sinking to the ocean floor.

As expected, Malachite sat there in the mud, in chains of magic water. She hadn't moved, even though everyone was in place.

"Odd. Lapis should have been able to sense us in the water. Maybe Jasper is muddling her mind...I got to get her out." Peridot whispered. When she reached the seabed, she walked right in front of the enormous shackled gem.

"Lapis Lazuli! Can you hear me?! Are you in there?!" She shouted.

"I...We...are Malachite!" She said. She reared to look at Peridot, actually surprised to see her.

"What? How did you get here?" Malachite said. "How did you find me?!"

Peridot could sense mixed emotions coming from the two of them. Rage from Jasper, mixed with a tinge of hope. And fear and frustration from Lapis.

"Don't worry Lapis...I'm not going to hurt you...everything is going to be alright." Peridot said calmly. She wanted to draw the blue gem away from her violent counterpart, hoping to help her gain control by addressing only Lapis.

"Wha...but...we were your prisoner...she...you...hurt us..." Malachite said. She gripped her skull, the two fused gems at war with eachother. Peridot gave the signal for Garnet to shock them.

Garnet burst through Stevens bubble, picked him up, and threw him to the surface. Then she jumped at Malachite, stabbing her in the neck with the gem destabilizer. Malachite shrieked in the voices of both gems, and they both were forced to retreat into their respective stones.

"Ha! It worked!!!" Peridot yelped joyfully. Pearl went to collect their gems, but Peridot intervened.

"Oh no no no you don't!" She said, swiping Lapis' blue gem stone from her and caressing it protectively. "Do you really think Lapis would want to reform to see you, of all gems?"

Pearl moved to speak but then looked at the sea floor sadly. "You're right...I'll let you handle her." Pearl said, depressed. She took Jasper's stone and started walking back home, muttering.

Peridot helicoptered up and out of the water, happily holding Lapis' gem. She had done it! She had gotten her out! She would be safe as long as Peridot was around.

"Don't worry Lapis...I won't let that nasty Pearl lay a finger on you again..."