Life (Lapidot Medieval AU) unedited version. Canceled due to rewrite.

Recovery

"Steven! Are you alright?" Pearl asked the sobbing boy. Rose only placed a hand on Steven's shoulder before rubbing it.

"No," Rose said, a fire igniting in her eyes. "He won't be alright."

"Was... was it Prudens?" Amethyst asked tensely. Rose didn't say anything for a moment, cradling her boy to sleep. "It was, yes," she finally answered.

"I'll kill him! I'll string him up and whip him!" Amethyst exclaimed, anger getting the best of her. "Amethyst, calm down," Garnet said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Why did we let those two escape!? We could have used them as leverage against him!" Amethyst further added before slapping her mouth, eyes wide.

"You let the sorceress and princess escape?" Rose asked, bewildered. The three stared at Rose before Garnet said, "We couldn't do much against them. They were escorting prisoners out of the dungeons. The prisoners would have attacked us if we tried to stop them."

Rose looked like she was contemplating with herself before she finally said, "Great. He's beginning to gain followers."

"Where's Father Gage and Jacob," Pearl asked, looking tentatively. "They're dead," Rose said, letting a hand through Steven's curly hair. "Courtesy of Prudens protecting Steven and his friend from them."

"Prudens saved Steven?!" Pearl exclaimed, expressing everyone's thoughts. "Why?! That doesn't make any sense!"

"I don't know either," Rose said, a concerned look covering her face. "Prudens's mind, if the stories aren't wrong, is like an ever shifting labyrinth. He is always five steps ahead and knows exactly how to twist words and laws to his whim. He is one of the most dangerous enemies to make and a scary one at that too. When he was active 2000 years ago, most of his enemies gave themselves up just to avoid them."

"And those that didn't give themselves up?" Amethyst asked, fiddling her fingers. Rose stared at her, a grim expression on her face. "A prime example of that is behind those doors," she said, her voice slightly wavering at the end. Cheering surrounded them as the sky was filled with colorful lights, oblivious to the massacre in the church.

...

"How are you faring?" Prudens asked, to the annoyance to Peridot and Lapis. "We're fine," Peridot said before taking a bite of her food. They were eating fish. Prudens stared at them, his face unreadable as he scrutinized them before letting out a sigh.

"Forgive my repetitiveness," Prudens asked them, bowing his head. "I've forgotten the limits of people after solitude." Peridot and Lapis looked at each other before nodding their heads. A whimper from the living room had Prudens speed walking his way there.

Spinel was asleep on the couch, her hands twitching as she gave little kicks. She looked as if she were in a nightmare, sweat building up on her forehead. As she turned in her sleep, Prudens appeared and softly placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Yllufecaep peels dna dnim ruoy mlac," he said, his eyes glowing gray. His hand glowed gray as well and Spinel immediately stopped her small movements. She was calm as she slept, breathing deeply now instead of her previous quick and rapid breaths. Prudens lingered in case Spinel had a nightmare again.

From the table, Peridot watched him. She clenched her fists, getting Lapis's attention. 'Bring him in. That's all we need to do now. Just take him and bring him to the Diamonds,' Peridot thought impatiently. As her thoughts piled in her head, she failed to see Lapis raise her hand and poke her cheek. Peridot flinched, a small blush appearing on her cheeks.