Chapter 8: Let Sleeping Lions Lie

Summary:

In which Blue meets a familiar face.

It was dark. Blue found herself alone within her palanquin. No Pearl, no Amethyst—just her and the deafening silence. She rose and stepped out. "I will make them suffer for their betrayal," she said coldly, her voice cutting through the stillness as she approached the edge of the arena.

Blue soldiers surrounded her, their expressions unreadable as they looked down at the Earth below. From their great height, the planet seemed fragile, insignificant.

"Leave this planet. We don't need casualties," a commanding voice said beside her. She didn't need to turn to know—it was Yellow. She would recognize that booming tone anywhere. Tears glistened down their faces, unspoken anguish etched into their expressions. Pink had been shattered. By a Rose Quartz, of all gems.

Blue's resolve hardened. She would ensure that those responsible, the so-called Crystal Gems, paid dearly for their defiance. Behind her, another presence approached, its weight palpable. Around them, the gems hurried to evacuate. Earth was no longer safe. Everything would end now.

Rage, regret, and vengeance boiled within her. Blue and the other Diamonds stood in unison, their hands raised, glowing with raw, destructive power. Blue's glowed with a deep, ominous hue; Yellow's shimmered with a dark, searing gold. From the center, a larger hand extended, radiating a blinding light that overshadowed the others. It didn't matter. Together, their powers merged, intensifying into a deafening, catastrophic blast.

Blue woke with a startled gasp, her chest heaving. She had heard the stories a thousand times before, but this was the first time she dreamed about it—or was it a memory? A fragment passed down from her mother, the Diamond they shared?

Slowly, she lay back down, her gaze fixed on the ceiling. The memory of that overwhelming hatred and destruction made her feel sick. That blast had been meant to obliterate every traitor, to erase them from existence.

Her somber eyes drifted to the side, where the bubbled gem of a corrupted figure floated, suspended a few feet away.

Yet it hadn't. The gems had survived—though most, now, were like this. Corrupted. Broken. Steven had survived because it had all happened long before he was born. But how had the Pearl and the other gems he'd told her about escaped the blast?

Blue sat up again, this time swinging her legs over the bed and standing. She walked toward the bubble, her fingers hesitating before finally gripping it. What have they done? she wondered mournfully, her thumb tracing the smooth surface of the gem.

What could be done about the corruption? Could they ever be turned back? Was it even possible? Her mind drifted to Steven. Would he know? Could he somehow fix what had been broken? But what could a Rose Quartz do against damage of this scale?

Blue sighed and returned to her bed, the bubble still in her hand. The weight of despair settled over her. It felt hopeless.

As night gave way to day, Blue went about her mourning routine before leaving her ship. She floated down into the Kindergarten, her form trembling slightly in the brisk air. The Earth's weather was growing colder, and she vaguely wondered if her current attire, even with the poncho, was suitable for this chill.

She paused to survey her surroundings. No corrupted gems this time—not like the last—and she continued onwards to the warp pad. Blue used it to travel to Steven's abode, her movements cautious. She hadn't been caught using the pad alone yet, but she remained vigilant.

One moment she was in the Kindergarten, and the next, she had arrived at her destination. Warmth enveloped her, and she closed her eyes, savoring it. For a fleeting moment, she hoped no one would go outside today so she could linger in this comfort. Humming softly, she stepped off the warp pad, her eyes now open.

Her soft hum turned into a startled yelp. A large pink creature loomed in front of her, and in her shock, she stumbled backward, landing unceremoniously on the ground. The creature, awakened by her sudden arrival, lifted its head lazily and stared at her with a blank, disinterested expression.

Blue froze, uncertain how to react. It didn't seem hostile, nor did it move toward her with any particular intent. The pink beast yawned, revealing rows of sharp teeth, before slumping back onto its belly. Its snout was now mere inches from her feet.

Tentatively, Blue adjusted herself, moving onto her knees. Her hand reached out, trembling with curiosity, and she rested it gently on the creature's snout. Its cautious, squinted eyes followed her every move, but it remained still. The texture was soft, much softer than she had imagined. Slowly, her hand glided upward, brushing into its lighter, puffier fur. It was even softer there.

"Oh, stars," she whispered, her voice tinged with wonder. Her initial hesitance melted away as both her hands became lost in its fur. A soft giggle escaped her, and she moved closer, petting it with growing enthusiasm. "You're so endearing," she cooed, letting herself relax as she nestled against the creature's large pink mane. It didn't move, allowing her to stay nestled in its warmth.

She was so engrossed in the moment that she didn't notice Steven emerging from the house, his hair still damp from a shower. Drying it with a towel, he stopped in his tracks at the sight before him. A fond smile crossed his face as he watched two of his favorite people getting along so well. Blue's laughter, soft and unguarded, filled the space and lifted his spirits. He almost didn't want to interrupt.

The warp pad activated suddenly, and Garnet appeared. She froze mid-step, her gaze locking onto Blue.

Blue looked up at the sound, her expression shifting to one of stunned recognition. Her body went rigid. Time seemed to stop as the two stared at each other. Blue's mind raced. She knew this gem—not personally, but from her dreams. The silhouette, the unmistakable hair, and the gems embedded in each palm. It was her, the fusion of a Ruby and a Sapphire from eons ago. There was no mistaking it.

"Hey, Garnet. How'd the mission go?" Steven asked, walking toward her, oblivious to the tension in the air.

Garnet said nothing. Her fists clenched, and her usually calm demeanor cracked under the weight of some unspoken emotion. Steven stopped, confused, looking between Garnet and Blue.

Blue ducked her head in shame, fully aware of her appearance. To Garnet, she likely looked just like her mother, the original Blue Diamond. The last time Garnet had seen a Diamond, Blue's predecessor had likely ordered her shattering. Blue couldn't blame her for the reaction.

Forcing a sweet smile, Blue tried her best to soften Garnet's impression. "Hello," she greeted softly, her tone gentle and apologetic.

Garnet's lips tightened, her arms visibly trembling. Steven raised an eyebrow. "Um, Garnet, this is Blue," he said awkwardly, gesturing to her. "The girl I've been talking about."

Still silent, Garnet turned sharply and walked into the burning room, the door closing firmly behind her.

"That was… weird," Steven muttered, scratching his head.

Blue didn't respond. She stared down at Lion's mane with a doleful expression. "She doesn't like me," she said quietly. Her voice was low, but in the tense silence, Steven heard every word.

He raised his hands in an attempt to reassure her. "N-no, I'm sure it's nothing, maybe—"

"Steven," she interrupted, her tone firm. He blinked in surprise. She had never sounded so commanding before. "I'm not a fool."

Her gaze met his, intense and unwavering. Her usually bright, sky-blue eyes seemed darker, more like the depths of the ocean. There was an edge to them that made Steven take an instinctive step back. "Do not try to trick me," she said, her voice softening into something more pitiful. "And do not blame her for her behavior either."

Blue's hand returned to Lion's mane, absently stroking it.

"Do… do you know Garnet?" Steven ventured cautiously.

"No," Blue replied, standing slowly. "But she knew my mother." Her answer was honest, but it left Steven with more questions.

Before he could press further, his phone buzzed with an alert about an incoming storm. When he looked back at Blue, her expression had turned pleading, silently asking him not to dig any deeper.

Steven sighed. "Did you have breakfast?" he asked instead, changing the subject.

Blue's lips curled into a grateful smile. "No," she replied softly.

He leaned back against the wall with a heavy breath, pulling the woman closer to him. "How dare you," she accused, trying to sound intimidating, though her voice wavered into a shaky whimper. The man reached up to his face, grasped the edges of his skin, and pulled.

Blue gasped, covering her mouth in shock. The woman on the screen gasped as well.

"I thought he perished!" Blue exclaimed, her wide eyes glued to the TV.

Next to her, Steven chuckled. "He faked his death to save his wife," he explained, clearly amused by her reaction. He had seen the twist coming a mile away, even though this was his first time watching the movie too.

For the past hour, they had been on a movie marathon in Steven's room. The pouring rain outside made it the perfect excuse to stay indoors—not that Steven needed much convincing. After their recent fight with a corrupted gem, he had been looking for something low-key to help them both relax. Blue didn't seem to mind at all; she was fully engrossed in the movie as they ate their breakfast.

Not exactly the kind of "movie date" Steven had envisioned, but he'd happily take it.

Blue leaned forward on the pillow Steven had provided, her focus intense as the two humans on-screen embraced. Their faces inched closer, and they kissed deeply while wrapped in each other's arms. It reminded her vaguely of what she had seen during the "mating process" at the human zoo. For a fleeting moment, she thought about Steven doing that to her.

Steven, meanwhile, watched contently until his face slowly turned red. The two characters began stripping off their clothes—wait, what kind of movie had Amethyst given him? He had asked for something romantic, not that!

His face grew hotter by the second as he tentatively glanced at Blue. She wore a small, amused smile, her cheeks pink. Slowly, Steven started to get up. "Uh, okay, I'm gonna skip this—"

"Why would you do that?" Blue asked, her curious gaze stopping him in his tracks.

His expression told her everything, and she giggled, reaching for his sleeve to gently tug him back down. "Oh, don't be like that, silly. They're mating. It's perfectly natural for mates to procreate."

Steven sat back down, face still red. "Have you not seen mates do this before?" she teased.

"You have?!" he squeaked, his eyes wide as his blush deepened. Sure, he'd seen things in those videos during puberty, but he was shocked to hear she had as well.

Blue laughed lightly. "As part of my education. Though my elder didn't see much point, since she had no intention of choosing a mate for me."

Steven furrowed his brows, curiosity piqued. "Wait, choose?"

Blue hummed in confirmation, her eyes still on the screen. "It's common for people to be chosen for each other." She paused briefly before adding, "But my mother chose her own mate."

Steven blinked. Arranged matches? That was still a thing? He was grateful Blue didn't have anyone forcing her into something like that. The thought made him smile.

Thankfully, the scene on-screen had passed, and the movie returned to its main plot. Blue leaned against Steven, and he smiled down at her, feeling the warmth of her presence. It was only their third date, but it already felt like they had been together much longer.

"I'm glad I get to choose my own mate," Blue muttered absentmindedly.

"Me too," Steven agreed, wrapping his arm around her shoulders as they watched the protagonist's victory unfold—a classic, satisfying ending to the story.

Steven stood up, stretching before grabbing the dishes. "I'm going to the bathroom. We can look for another movie when I get back, 'kay?"

Blue gave an affirmative hum, and Steven walked away, placing the dishes in the sink before heading to the bathroom. As he went about his business, his thoughts wandered back to the movie—and to Blue's rather unusual upbringing.

First of all, calling sex mating was… technically accurate, but still odd in the context of people. And second, what kind of education did she have to know about sex but not phones, movies, or even basic common knowledge? He shook his head, finishing up. Maybe he was overthinking it. Connie once mentioned that some cultures approach things differently—like that one country in the East where meat is avoided for religious reasons. Maybe Blue's upbringing was rooted in a culture where technology was taboo for some reason.

After washing his hands, Steven stepped out of the bathroom and found Blue sitting on the window nook, gazing outside. Lion's head rested on her lap, and she gently stroked his mane, humming a soft, calming tune.

"Aww," Steven beamed, pulling out his phone to snap a quick picture of the serene moment. He walked over and sat down nearby. "Is this your first rain?"

Blue shook her head. "No," she replied. "We make it rain briefly to help grow fruits faster in the zoo. But nothing like this."

Steven nodded, joining her in watching the rain streak down the glass. A loud crack of thunder lit up the sky, and they both jumped slightly, caught off guard, before relaxing back into their shared view.

Behind them, the temple door creaked open, and the three elder gems entered the house.

"Hey, guys!" Steven greeted, waving.

"Hey, Steve-o!" Amethyst replied, grinning. Pearl offered a wary "Hello," while Garnet remained silent, her usual stoicism thick with tension.

"How was the, uh, movie?" Amethyst asked, her sly smile betraying her intent. She waggled her brows for good measure.

Steven's cheeks burned at the memory. He shot her a stink eye. "It was fine."

"I enjoyed it," Blue added simply.

Steven's head snapped toward her in disbelief, and, predictably, Amethyst burst out laughing.

"HAHA, priceless!" Amethyst cackled, nearly doubling over.

Blue giggled too, clearly amused by Steven's modesty. "You're so silly," she teased, her voice light and carefree.

Watching them interact, Garnet's gaze shifted subtly behind her visor. Blue Diamond would never laugh like this. She would never sit casually with others, let alone with someone who bore Rose Quartz's gem. Blue Diamond was a shatterer, a tyrant, a towering force of control—certainly not a childlike being like this.

But this girl… she looked just like her.

Garnet's fists trembled at her sides, conflicted. Pearl had confirmed that this girl bled. Human blood. That was enough proof, wasn't it?

"Let's go," Garnet said sharply, striding toward the warp pad.

The tension snapped back into the room as Amethyst quickly straightened and followed her, Pearl trailing after with a quiet, "We'll be back by dinner."

The warp pad activated, leaving Steven and Blue alone once again.

Steven turned back toward Blue with an encouraging smile. "I'm sure Garnet will come around."

Blue hummed softly, her eyes fixed on the rain. "Perhaps," she said, though her tone carried no conviction.

Garnet had held onto this grudge for more than a thousand years. Blue doubted she would let it go so easily. She wouldn't force it, though. That would only make things worse. Sometimes, it was best to leave things as they were.

Without another word, she resumed her quiet rain-gazing, stroking Lion's mane as the storm continued outside.