[Lapis thrashes desperately in Obsidian's grip, her face twisted in fear.]
Lapis: *in fear* L-Let me go!!!
Connie: Lapis hasn't reverted to her old self yet, right?
Peridot: No. She hasn't glowed or cycled through her past forms.
Connie: Tch. That means there's still one crucial piece missing. But what could it be?
Peridot: I-I don't know. Nothing's coming to mind.
Lapis: *desperate, her voice breaking* Please! You have to let me go!!
Obsidian: Calm down! I told you, I'm not letting go until you're back to yourself.
At The Same Time...
[Atop a crumbling gem structure in the distance, Bluebird, Mean Lapis, and Jasper watch the battle unfold.]
Jasper: She's done for. No more fight left in her.
Mean Lapis: Yeah, well, she can go straight to hell for all I care.
Bluebird: You still don't get it, do you?! She's way too dangerous to have as an enemy! Keeping her on our side is hell of a lot more convenient for us!
[Mean Lapis crosses her arms, clearly irritated.]
Mean Lapis: So what? Weren't you the one saying you'd rejuvenate her once she was defeated?
Bluebird: And how the fuck do you expect me to do that, genius?! Can't you see that damn monster's got her now?
Mean Lapis: Well, dug! What made you think you'd ever get the chance to rejuvenate her in the first place?! That monster was never gonna just let her go!
Bluebird: I figured she'd at least weaken them enough for us to finish the job, but she barely even scratched them. *clenches her fists* Damn it... this is a mess! If she gets her memory back, we'll have TWO monsters to deal with! What are we gonna do if that happens?! Have you even considered that?!
[Mean Lapis falls silent as realization starts to dawn on her.]
Mean Lapis: ...
[Mean Lapis scoffs, frustration and understanding both taking root.]
Mean Lapis: ...Tch.
Bluebird: So, we've got no choice. We need to save her sorry ass from that monster... and then rejuvenate her once again.
Mean Lapis: Easier said than done.
Jasper: Yeah… maybe if we combine our strength to fight, but even then, it might not be enough.
Bluebird: "Combine," huh?
[Bluebird smirks, an idea forming in her mind.]
Bluebird: Might just be worth a shot.
[She says, casting a sly glance at both Mean Lapis and Jasper.]
Jasper: Hm?
Mean Lapis: Azurite, what are you thinking?
Bluebird: Well...
Back At The Battleground.
[Lapis struggles fiercely against Obsidian's unyielding grip, desperation etched across her face.]
Lapis: L-Let me go!!
Obsidian: What are we leaving out?
[Connie glances anxiously at Peridot.]
Connie: Please hurry, Peridot! We're running out of time!
[Peridot furrows her brow, deep in thought.]
Peridot: Hmmm… it's right there, just on the edge of my mind…
[Suddenly, her eyes widen as realization strikes.]
Peridot: *gasps* I've got it! I can't believe I forgot!
Connie: What is it?! Tell us!
Simultaneously...
[Bluebird finishes laying out her plan to Mean Lapis and Jasper. Both react with clear reluctance.]
Mean Lapis: *visibly disgusted* What?! You've gotta be kidding me!
Jasper: *outraged* No fucking way I'm doing that!
Mean Lapis: Same here! Not happening!
Bluebird: *furious* And why the hell not?!
Jasper: That's a coward's move you're proposing! It goes against everything I stand for, so I refuse! I'd rather be shattered than stoop that low!
Mean Lapis: I just don't want to do it. It's... inappropriate.
Bluebird: *snapping*This isn't about what you want, it's about what needs to be done! Can't you see this is our only chance?! We busted our asses to make this new empire thrive, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to protect it! Why aren't you?! It's damn simple what you have to do!
Mean Lapis: No... it's not simple at all.
Bluebird: Lazuli, didn't you say you wanted to save your Lapis partner?!
Mean Lapis: *softly* I-I did.
Bluebird: And Jasper, you love fighting, right?!
Jasper: Fighting is my life. That's what I was made for!
Bluebird: *exasperated* Then why the hell are you refusing?! Lazuli, this is the perfect chance to save your partner. And Jasper, this could be the most thrilling fight you've ever had! It's a win-win for both of you!
Mean Lapis: I... I'm not so sure about that...
Jasper: *grunts* Hmph.
Bluebird: *furious* Fine. If either of you have a better plan to take down that monster and the other Lapis, now's the time to speak up. Come on, I'm all ears.
[Jasper and Mean Lapis fall silent, unable to argue further.]
Bluebird: Thought so. Time's running out! So stop bitching and get moving, NOW! That's an order!
[Mean Lapis and Jasper exchange resigned glances, knowing they have no choice.]
Jasper: *grumbling* Tch.
Mean Lapis: *disheartened* This can't be happening...
Meanwhile...
[Lapis struggles fiercely, her desperation clear in every movement.]
Lapis: Let me go!
Obsidian: Lapis, calm down!
Peridot: It's Jasper! She's the missing piece! Lapis, you still don't remember the day you fused with her, right?!
[Obsidian's eyes widen in realization.]
Obsidian: Of course... Malachite. It's been so long, I nearly forgot about her.
[Lapis blinks, visibly confused.]
Lapis: Who...?
Obsidian: Well, she was your--
[Before Obsidian can finish, a giant turquoise Gem crashes into their back with a spin-dash, sending them sprawling across the ground.]
Obsidian: *startled* What the--?!
[The sudden impact causes Obsidian to lose their grip on Lapis, accidentally releasing her. Wasting no time, Lapis summons her water wings and soares into the sky.]
Lapis: *excitedly* Yes! Sweet freedom!
[Obsidian groans, pushing themself off the ground as they glare at the newcomer.]
Obsidian: Well, well... look who's back.
[The newcomer grunts, barely catching her breath.]
?????????: Grrr...
Obsidian: Honestly, I never thought I'd see you again.
Up In The Air.
[Lapis hovers, glancing back at the scene below.]
Lapis: *thinking* That Gem just saved me… I've never seen her before, but there's something eerily familiar about her that makes me--
[Her thoughts are abruptly cut off as an unsettling feeling creeps over her. A vivid memory flashes through her mind the moment she recognizes the Gem.]
Lapis: N-No... it can't be...
[Her voice quivers with disbelief, her entire body trembling.]
Lapis: Th-That's... Malachite!
[A flood of memories crashes over her: the day she fused with Jasper, the long months fighting to hold Malachite down beneath the weight of Earth's ocean.]
Lapis: *clutching her head, overwhelmed* Ahh--!
[As those traumatic memories resurface, Lapis begins to glow, slowly returning to her current self.]
Lapis: ...
[Upon hearing the word "combine," Bluebird instantly got the idea to force Jasper and Mean Lapis to fuse—and so they did. The result was a new Malachite, whom we'll call Malachite 2.0. Naturally, there are some clear differences from the original Malachite, such as Mean Lapis' curly hair and Jasper's new pair of horns, which remained even after rejuvenation.]
Back On The Ground.
[Obsidian straightens, brushing off debris.]
Obsidian: We don't have to fight. I mean... just look at the height difference.
[Hypothetically, the difference in their heights would be like seeing Jasper and Amethyst standing next to each other—only on a much larger scale, of course.]
Malachite 2.0: That means nothing!
Obsidian: *sighs* Yeah... figured you'd say that.
[Without warning, the new Malachite lunges at Obsidian.]
Obsidian: Well, here we go again.
[Obsidian braces for the impact, ready to battle.]