Lapidot one-shots

.:+ Listen to me +:. ❌

The sun shone lazily as the luxurious evening went on, spilling beautiful pink, orange and rose gold rays over the slowly settling beach city. Peridot was standing silently next to Lapis Lazuli at the site of their old barn location, both of them gazing in upsetting awe at the large, gaping hole that had once used to be their home. Little to nothing remained, just a mess of scraps, old memories and faded happiness.

Peridot's face crinkled with gutting sorrow as she thought of all the damaged meep-morps they had made, the precious times they had shared together; now nothing but a deep gouge in the dirt. Sharp, new waves of grief pricked apprehensively along her back, making the darkening day seem more unsettling than it should ever be.

Lapis hadn't moved or said much since they had arrived at the bedraggled scene in simple hopes of tying loose ends. Instead, her once soft blue eyes were glazed and unblinking, swarming with all sorts of emotions as hideous amounts of resentment radiated off of her shaking form. Feeling just as sickened, Peridot hesitantly reached out to reassure her with a gentle nudge, brushing her hand delicately along her blue shoulder. "Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to come here," she began with a troubled, wavering voice, "we should just head back. We can talk elsewhere.."

To her dismay, Lapis wasn't so eager to leave as she was.

"No.. we should stay here." She rebuked in a stinging hiss that oozed with masked misery, furrowing her brows as she cringed away from Peridot's bolster stroke. Peridot's eyes slanted in pity as she watched the blue gem descend into her own stabbing remembrance. "Lapis, please, let's just go!" She pleaded, clasping her sweating hands around her arm again as a fog of worry swamped her. She knew how easy it was for Lapis to spiral into regret and old upheaval.

She should've known it was a poor decision to bring the lament gem here.

Lapis breathed a shuddering sigh as aged wounds reopened, tainting the air around them with misdoubt. With a quick pivot, she grasped both of Peridot's shoulder's in either hand, compressing them firmly as she spoke. "Peri, listen to me, I know iv'e said this so, so many times but please believe me when I say this; I'm. Sorry." The look she gave her was degrading, droplets of tears bubbling in her eyes.

Peridot stilled and looked down, a mixture of concern and slight fear warping her already befuddled mind. "Lapis, I-"

She was cut short.

"No! Listen to me!" Lapis cried, shaking Peridot harshly as she demanded eye contact. "I'm sorry, ok?! I promise! I'm not gonna leave again! I promise.. I.. promise.." Her voice died to a whisper as she began to sink to her knees, running her hands along Peridot's arms as she went down before using them to cover her face. With a strike of panic, Peridot bent down and strung herself around the lean mourning frame, burrowing her face into her hair as she cooed what she could.

"Lazuli, I don't know what you're talking about, I- we all forgave you a long time ago, you don't need to get so upset! I know you won't leave, I trust you, we trust you! Just- Wah?!" A strong shove caught her off guard, and she tumbled backwards. Dust erupted around her as she fell heavily onto her rear, shaking her head to rid the dizziness. She looked up fearfully.

Lapis had gotten to her feet, although her stance was now different and advert, and.. was that fear in her eyes?

As soon as she had stood, she doubled over once more, grimacing incoherent phrases as she began to breathe heavily. Peridot's eyes widened at once, and she scrambled to her feet as she raced over. "Lapis?!" She cried, gingerly reaching out once more with a trembling hand. Lapis looked up with an anger twisted face. "Peri- go-" She tried to say, but was stopped again by another sudden jolt in her body.

To her horror, her form began to shift, pointed fins emerging from her back as she continued to convulse, clawing at the ground with new, razor electric blue claws. Her shaggy, dark hair became ragged as it formed a matted mane around her neck and chest, enveloping over her eyes. She grew three times her size, morphing onto all fours as a bladed tail grew from her spine, completed with a pair of misshapen liquid wings. It was a gruesome transition to watch, and Peridot was encased in total peril for the gem as she slowly began to corrupt.

Lapis finally stopped changing, and she heaved herself to her hands; no, paws, the now wolf-like corrupted gem stared down at a horrified Peridot with round, blank silver eyes. There was no emotion, no expression of any kind other than blazing fury. She growled, her feral, pointed ears pinned back as she curled her lips to reveal sharp slavering teeth. In a flash, Lapis swung at Peridot with a large front paw, striking her upside the head with such force that she was thrown to the side.

The sudden dazzling bursts of pain and discomfort coming from her gem was unfathomable aas she tumbled head over heels, her form glitching immensely. Her world shifted as strange colorful patterns flitted across her vision, raising a shaking hand to her gem, running her hand along new ridges and bumps.

A crushing force came down on her chest, and she let out a squeak of discomfort as the corrupted Lapis pinned her with a large paw, gazing down at her with its blank, expressionless eyes. There was nothing left to do, nothing that she could do. Out of options, she did that one thing she could.

...

Lapis felt her head fizz painfully as her senses returned. Her body ached, and the sky was now black with patches of brilliant white stars. She was leaning over a crumpled, beaten green gem, and to her fright, came to realize it was Peridot. She reached for the small gem at once, rubbing her shoulder frantically as she shouted her name. "Peridot? Peridot?!"

There was no answer. Only silence.

Trembling, Lapis slipped her arms around her and dragged her close, her mind a mess of racing thoughts and confusion. She looked down at the gem with watery eyes as she examined her triangular green gem, in absolute consternation when she realized it was cracked. She cupped one hand over her mouth to muffle a gasp of shock, floods of tears gushing down her cheeks as she grabbed one of Peridot's cold hands with her own.

She stood without a word, scooping up Peridot with her as she looked around with weary eyes. The ground had become disheveled with scratch marks and gashes. Something had attacked her. She didn't know what, who or how had done this, but she had to get her to safety first. Unfurling her water wings, she gave a brisk thrust off into the night sky, still holding Peridot close.