Steven Universe: Beyond The Mirror

Traitor Gem

The bubble surrounding Steven bursts as a second jet of water sprouts from the surrounding wall of water. The Gems' bounce and crash down to the ground as three more jets catch them off guard. Pearl gets up and she leaps into the air, thrusting her spear down towards Lapis with a yell.

Lapis thrusts her left fist towards her and a water jet sprouts up to knock her out of the air. Steven squints his eyes shut for a moment as he listens to the horrific sounds of the jets colliding with the Gems.

Streams of water fly in every direction they could as the Gems look around, flustered by the predicament they put themselves in. Steven grimaces as Amethyst collides with a jet only to be pounded in the back by another like a pinball.

Steven looks up at Lapis' stolid, monotone expression as she moves her hands around to direct her assault. Lapis' plan is to drive the Gems away from her and Steven by forcing them to retreat through one of the surrounding warp pads.

Unfortunately, the Gems have other plans for they aren't leaving without Steven. Lapis' forehead sweats as she grits her teeth. "Lapis?" She doesn't turn to Steven as she growls. "Steven, stay back!" Amethyst lashes her whip out towards them.

Steven summons his shield to block the ends of the weapon as he leaps in front of Lapis. Amethyst grunts as the crystals at the ends of the whip rebound off the shield. Amethyst retracts the ends as she glares at Steven. "Dude, what are you doing?!"

Pearl and Garnet freeze as they gawk at Steven's traitorous decision to protect the Homeworld Gem. They start rushing towards him as jets sprout towards the places they stood, colliding them against each other with a heavy splash.

Steven's eyes bulge, but he stands his ground as the Gems charge towards him. Steven expands the size of the shield, grunting with squinted shut eyes. He opens them as Pearl hurls her spear towards it. Garnet pounds the shield, causing Steven to reel back.

He extends his left hand out to shield Lapis as he thrusts his shield forward to counter another jab from the gauntlet. "Steven!" Garnet growls. "Put the shield away!" She pounds the shield again, causing Steven to squat as he takes a quick step back. "Steven, I'm not asking you again!"

Pearl and Amethyst stop fighting as they glare on both sides of their leader. Steven takes deep breaths as his face sweats from the heavy blows the shield is taking. Lapis presses a hand to her forehead as she groans. "I can't hold this...much longer!"

The water starts to lose its form as Lapis starts to hyperventilate from her long term manipulation. Steven turns back to Lapis for a second. "Lapis!" Lapis' limbs go limp as the water wall crashes back down into the ocean surrounding the Galaxy Warp.

Lapis takes deep breaths as Steven holds up the shield for as long as he could against his fellow Gems. "Steven! Please! Stop fighting back for me. It's over." Pearl and Amethyst rush towards the shield only to make a turn around it. Pearl points her spear at Steven from his right as Amethyst readies her whip from his left.

"Steven! Put the shield down or-!"
"We'll put YOU down!"
"This is your final warning!"

Steven's eyes well up and he sniffles as Lapis reaches out to him. "Steven, please. It's not worth it." Tears roll down his cheeks as he looks around. Garnet huffs behind the shield. "Gems! On the count of three." Lapis takes a step back with Steven. "One." Lapis puts a hand on his left shoulder. "Steven!" Steven's sweat mixes in with his tears as his body convulses from the horror that he has put himself in. "Two!"

Steven squints his eyes shut before Lapis shoves him to the ground, forcing his shield to dissipate just before the Gems could unleash their assault. Steven sniffles as he sobs on the Galaxy Warp on his hands and knees in front of a worrisome Lapis.

The Gems' weapons dissapate in a flash before they head towards them. Garnet stands over Steven, overshadowing him as he lifts his head up towards her. "Steven, you're grounded." Pearl and Amethyst grab Lapis by the arms.

Lapis growls through clenched teeth as Garnet picks Steven up and hurls him over her right shoulder with a grunt. The Gems step onto the warp pad they came from right behind them and they stand still as light bursts from it to carry them back home.

NOW PROCEED TO THE PUNISHMENT IN VOLUME 2...