trapped ⌈ malachite ⌉

Chapter 1: Underwater

  Lapis Lazuli smiled. "I demand you release me!" cried Jasper. Lapis' smile faded. As Jasper crawled towards her, she had to put quite some effort into holding Malachite down. The water chains she had been holding down Jasper with weren't very light at all. But it was okay. She's strong, and it's okay. She can hold Malachite down as long as she wants to. Right? Jasper was crawling closer and closer to Lapis, who was lost in her thoughts and didn't pay a single bit of attention to the quartz. It's going to be okay. It'll be okay. She could do this. This time, she wouldn't fail, just as she did in everything else. This time, she won't give up so easily. Because this time, she isn't weak. A single tear ran down Lapis' cheek.

  Suddenly, she got back into reality. Jasper was just inches away from her. Quickly, in seconds, she pulled Jasper's chains back and made her partner fall deep in what seemed to look like water. Where was this place, anyway? Lapis thought for a second. They were inside Malachite, yes, but otherwise, she didn't know much. Around her, it was all dark and green. And what she was standing on, seemed to be water, assuming Jasper is somewhere deep in there. Drowning... helplessly... alone... lost... Lapis held on to her chains a bit tighter, trying to push back the deep thoughts. But it wasn't working. Lapis' vision started getting blurry as she had a flashback.

  Gems were running around her. Complete chaos. Explosions everywhere. The sky was dark and gloomy. She was running as fast as she could, desperately trying to escape. She turned around in fear, and checked on the gem chasing her. She was getting closer to being poofed. Lapis ran as fast as she could, but not fast enough. And then-

Black.

  Lapis Lazuli found herself sobbing and crying furiously, as she was curled up in a ball inside Malachite's watery mindscape. She promised herself not to think about this! The war was in the past, things were different now! Lapis could feel hot tears running down her cheeks. Things didn't have to be this way! She didn't have to end up... here! Lapis felt horrible pain as she let out a scream. And so she cried. For seconds that turned into long, hopeless minutes, and each second she felt more and more pain.

  Meanwhile, Jasper who was pulled down by Lapis' chains into what seemed to be water was fighting every second. She could naturally stay without air for quite a bit, since gems don't really need it. But still, she was determined to get to Lazuli, and to get control. She tried swimming up, but the chains were surprisingly strong. She pushed with all her force, but the blue gem kept on holding. Jasper stopped and looked up. She couldn't even see the light from the top anymore. She was that deep.

  Suddenly, Jasper felt the chains loosening. She started swimming up, with questions all over her head. Why did she stop all of a sudden? She wouldn't just... There has to be a reason... Finally, the quartz saw a small stripe of light in her underwater prison. She sped up. The stripe started to extend, and soon, it became bigger and bigger. Finally, after about fifteen minutes, Jasper had reached the surface. But what she saw, surprised her. The gem who held her in chains few minutes ago was now sobbing, screaming and crying.

  Jasper looked at Lapis in surprise. The blue gem didn't seem to notice her at all. She thought for a second. I should help her. She needs my help, I've gotta help her! But her other half refused. Why help her? What could she give you in return, she's your enemy! Besides, she probably won't want your help. That day, Jasper, in the first time after long years, did something a Homeworld solider with a reputation would never do. She stood up, and the chains fell off. She slowly and unsure walked towards Lapis, who was no longer screaming, only crying quietly. The quartz wrapped her arms around Lapis Lazuli and said the most unexpected thing.

"I'm sorry."