It was a beautiful day, but even the beauty of that dazzling perfection had been marred, like the sand, by his blood.
"Alright, you two! Lovely technique!" chirped Pearl. They were training on the beach today, and Connie and Steven were using the sand to their advantage, spraying it into the Holo-Pearls' digital eyes, leaving Connie to deliver the final blow. Amethyst and Garnet were sitting on the sand, the practice fight much to their entertainment.
"Yeah, Steven! Cool moves!" yelled Amethyst as Steven sliced his shield through eight Holo-Pearls trying to surround Connie - from the air. Apparently, someone had remembered to float.
"Alright, you two. Break for lunch." called Garnet, dangling a picnic basket from her wrist.
"Aw yeah! Return of the Jam Buds!" Steven said as he removed a jam jar and two english muffins from the picnic basket. Suddenly, a drop of water fell on his nose, though there wasn't a cloud in the sky. He looked up just in time to see Lapis making a graceful landing, Peridot on her back.
"Thanks for the ride, Lapis." said Peridot.
" No prob, Bob." replied Lapis.
" Lapis! Peri! What are you guys doing here?!" cried Steven.
" We came to watch you train. You guys really know how to make use of your advantages." said Peridot in a matter-of-fact tone. One who knew Peridot would know that this was a sincere compliment. Steven and Connie bit into the jam snacks.
They had just finished lunch when the ocean waves started peaking.
"Lapis, was that you?" callled Steven.
"No, it was THAAAAAAT!!!" responded Lapis, the last word turning into a scream as the object in question- a giant, diamond-shaped warship- descended toward the beach. Peridot's smile drooped into a face of absolute terror.
A diamond-shaped opening appeared on the front.
"Why is everything diamond-shaped on Homeworld?" quipped Steven, desperately trying to lighten the mood. Now was not the time or the place. Nevertheless, Peridot decided she could be as funny, if not more, completely missing the point of the joke.
"Because diamonds are pointy. Like shards."
"Not helpful, Peridot."
The massive quartzes that filed out of the ship were followed by a frighteningly familiar figure who struggled out the large opening.
"Citrine, the next ship had better have a taller exit hatch or I will have you harvested."
The cold voice struck chills down Peridot's spine and terror in her heart. Almost instinctively, her hands formed a diamond shape.
"Yellow Diamond..."
"Weapons out, gems- and Connie." called out Garnet, her voice tense. Instinctively, they were there. Gauntlets. Spear. Whip. Giant water hand. Huge spike of conveniently nearby metal. Sword. Shield.
"That's Yellow Diamond?!!!" whisper-yelled Connie to Steven.
"Yeah, we're gonna need some backup." Steven whispered back, curling up on the sand.
"Wait, what do you mean? What are you doing? Steven? Steven?"
The world around him dissolved as he fell asleep.
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"Ruuurhhh? Ruuuuhhh."
Steven picked up his melon-ey self and ran to where he knew he would find the village and the others.
Thunk thunk thunk.
The village appeared, then the center.
Thunk thunk thunk.
"Ruuuuuuuuuuurhhhh! Ruhr mruhh ruhh ruhh ruhh!"
The watermelons gathered closely under the statue of Baby Melon as Steven began to elaborate on why they needed help.
"Rhaaann rhaaahts rhhhy rhhhhwee mreeeeed grhhhhhhour rrrhhhhhhelp." Steven did his best to articulate.
"Ruhr."
"Ruhr."
"Ruhr."
"Ruhr."
The watermelons muttered their consent.
"RUUUUUUUUHHHH MRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHH!" yelled Steven in thanks.
And he woke up.
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"STEVEN WAKE UP."
"Connie, I'm okay."
"Well, how was I supposed to know? Why were you sleeping, anyway?"
"Calling for backup."
"HOWWW?"
"Oh, right, I forgot to tell you. Wait, here they come!"
Legion after legion of watermelons streamed in.
"HOLY SMOKES. What did I just see? Lapis, is my gem cracked?" Peridot exclaimed in confusion.
"No time to explain, we got some unwelcome company arriving!"
Arm to arm, Steven and Connie rushed head-first into battle.
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Connie's POV
parry block dodge parry thrust parry parry thrust swipe slide block turn block THRUST-
The gem Connie had been dueling exploded in a puff of oddly sparkly smoke. A soft, stubby hand grasped her own, offering reassurance. They moved on.
None of the Homeworld gems they were battling could understand their perfect sync. They kept trying to take down one and not the other as well, not knowing that the momentary shift of focus meant their downfall.
And then it happened.
Connie was focused on parrying off an offending blade when the gem behind it realized that Steven was completely open. She stopped attempting to stab Connie through the chest and made a lightning fast move toward Steven, who was busy helping Peridot.
The cry out of Connie's mouth came one second too late.
The blade thrust forward like an extension of the arm of it's wielder, moving like the wind.
Right through the chest of the universe's only known Gem-human hybrid.
All around, the battle halted completely at the sickening sound of weapon through flesh.
Steven looked down at his chest and gave a small yelp of pain before poofing in a horrible pink cloud with the faintest scent of roses.
And the world went crashing at Connie's feet.
A/N:
Navy: What a turn of events!
Indeed, Navy. I am perfectly happy to crush the hearts of my readers.
YOU ARE READING
The Art of Dancing In The Rain
FanfictionConnie and Steven are the best of friends (and maybe more than that ). But one skirmish with Homeworld changes everything. Can Connie learn to move on?
