My Name is Emerald

Nine

        "So... Jasper and Lapis Lazuli are fused somewhere at the bottom of the ocean, Peridot is nowhere to be found, and... Rose Quartz had a child?" I asked slowly.
        "Basically!" Steven replied brightly. "Garnet's been searching the ocean for a while now, but we still haven't found either of them. We've been looking everywhere for Peridot, too, and we can't find her anywhere. And I'm... Rose Quartz junior, I guess."
        "You're right," I murmured. "That was a lot to process."
        "Yeah," he sighed, looking down and swinging his feet off the couch. I'm kind of worried about what Peridot is doing. We don't know what her plans are, or where she is..."
        "I'll help you find her," I said. "I don't know much about Peridot, but I have a feeling she doesn't share our mutual concern for starting another war." The other gems nodded. I could feel that they still didn't trust me. I wasn't too concerned. I would have ample time to prove myself, I was sure. It grew late as the sun sank beneath the watery horizon, plunging Beach City into darkness. I left the house and spread myself out in the warm sand, gazing up at the stars. I sighed sadly. Everything could've been so simple, I knew. Everyone could've gotten along, if only I had been able to do something last time. This time would be different. I could make sure of that. I could get Jasper and Peridot out of here and no one would get hurt.
        I tossed and turned, shifting positions every few minutes, but I didn't feel like sleeping. I was nervous. Where was Peridot? What was she planning? Was Jasper alright? Could I get her out of this? Could I even get myself out of this? Head spinning with questions, I stood and brushed myself off, wading into the cool ocean water. I had to start looking for Jasper. She was my priority. I couldn't imagine what she was going through; she was trapped in a body that wasn't hers, far from home, with only her captor for company. Everyone gets lonely, and I knew Jasper was lonely often. I didn't know how long she could last down there in the suffocating blackness of the ocean.
        I ducked beneath the water and began to swim, sinking to the bottom and propelling myself along the sea floor. I altered my eyes to allow myself to see-one of the perks of shape-shifting-and set about searching for anything that would direct me to Jasper.
        Hours passed in a blur. The ocean was filled with strange, exotic beauty that I found myself drawn to, and I observed the sea creatures with fascination. As time continued to pass, however, I felt a sense of hopelessness setting in. I had seen nothing to lead me to Jasper. I turned back and swarm towards the shore, resigning from the search. I would try again another time.