We Need To Talk
The Crystal Gems gathered around the window, watching as Lapis just sat on the beach and stared out into the horizon.
"She's been like that for a while..." Pearl muttered.
"Someone should definitely go check on her," Amethyst said.
"Maybe I should go," Steven said. "We connected a little when she was trapped in the mirror."
Garnet said nothing, listening to them talk for a while before silently walking out. She went down to the beach and carefully approached Lapis, making sure she could see her in her peripheral vision before she spoke.
"May I?" Garnet asked gently.
"Huh?" Lapis said as she was broken from her train of thought, looking up at Garnet. "Oh, yeah. Sure." She looked down at her lap and scooted over, pulling her legs out of the criss-cross position and pulling them up to her chest.
Garnet sat down, not too close to make her uncomfortable and not too far away to make her feel like she was still alone. They sat there for hours, watching the ocean as the tides rolled in and out. A somewhat tense silence filled the air, comforting and stiff at the same time. They needed to talk about what had happened, but neither knew where to start. The sun had began to set, painting the scenery in beautiful oranges and yellows, before Lapis finally spoke.
"Does it always feel like that?" Lapis said, her voice just above a whisper as she looked out towards the horizon. "Does fusion always...hurt? Does it always feel bad?"
"No," Garnet said. "It should never feel like that."
"What does it feel like?" Lapis asked, hugging her knees tighter.
Garnet smiled. "It feels...amazing. Whether it's for power, or for love. You feel big and strong, like you can do anything and nothing can stop you. You're a completely different person, and you're better because of it." She turned to Lapis and put her hand close, resting it in the sand if she wanted to take it. "You'll be able to experience that someday."
Lapis smiled, staring ahead like she had found something across the horizon, something only she could see. "Must be nice, but... I don't think that will happen..."
"Don't be so negative. There are so many possibilities for you, for us. You just need to make the right decisions."
"But how do I know which ones are the right ones?" Lapis asked.
"You think things through, you weigh the Pros and Cons, and you ask friends for advice," Garnet said. "If you don't, you can end up in a repetitive cycle of terrible relationships."
"I could?" Lapis asked, looking up at Garnet in worry.
"Yes. If you rush into certain decisions, especially in a relationship, then you might not see the warning signs that tell you it's a bad idea. Humans call them red flags. You have to pay attention to anything that could be perceived as a red flag in a relationship, whether it's a personal one or a generally accepted red flag."
"That's...understandable," Lapis said.
"It's also important to look for and fix red flags in yourself," Garnet said.
Lapis groaned, putting her head in her hands. "Why is this so hard?" She asked.
"Humans and Gems have been trying to figure out the answer for thousands of years," Garnet said with a smile.
Lapis sighed and gave her a weak smile. "Do you have an answer?"
"I think it's a number of things. Some people have high expectations and never end up with anyone. Others have low standards, and some are so desperate for companionship that they are willing to fuse with whoever wants to stay, no matter how unstable it is. Love is complicated, falling in love is confusing, and maintaining a stable relationship is hard. But with time, it will flow just as easily as the tides onto the shore."
They fell into a comfortable silence for a bit, trying to think of the next thing to say. "You're part-sapphire, right?"
"Yes. Why?" Garnet asked.
"Do you...see a future where I'm happy?" Lapis asked softly, like she was embarrassed by the question.
Garnet smiled and kissed her temple. "Why don't you see for yourself?" She said as she stood up. She left Lapis on the beach and went back inside, seeing Pearl pacing the floor like a maniac.
"Well?" Pearl asked, finally stopping in her tracks. "Is everything ok?"
"Everything is perfectly fine," Garnet said, looking out at Lapis who was laughing to herself. Her future must be exciting.