#Mentally Strained (Lapis) | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

sugarmapl · 2 years ago

Text

millennia (xiao birthday fic)

this is an older fic reposted from ao3 while the site is down. please enjoy!

Summary:

Xiao had already lived for millennia. But if it was for Rex Lapis, he could live a few millennia more.

{angst, hurt/comfort, fluff - rated T}

—

Another slash, and the abyss mage fell to the ground with a thud. The earth all around Xiao had already been soaked scarlet from the countless outpour of blood. He had long lost track of the time he spent fighting. There seemed to be no end to the demons and monsters that day, and the yaksha could feel the exhaustion slowly creeping its way through his bones, the karmic debt growing thicker by the moment.

He could see it manifesting in tendrils of black around him, tainting the air and the soil beneath his feet. All nearby grass and glaze lilies wilted due to their proximity to the adeptus. At the moment, he was nothing more than a beacon of destruction, a walking flag of death. He had defended Liyue against demons for centuries, but when it came to defending against his own personal demons, he was useless.

Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his side and looked down. He thought he had finally taken care of all the monsters in the area but apparently he was wrong. His senses had become dulled after hours of overexertion. A spear was currently plunged deep through his torso, though Xiao showed no indication of discomfort. He had long grown numb to such pain. A lone hilichurl stood behind him, looking proud of its work.

In a flash, Xiao’s polearm was summoned again and he swung it effortlessly in a graceful arc, cutting the creature’s head clean off. Its lifeless body plopped down unceremoniously as even more blood stained the ground. Xiao blinked, as if coming back to himself before yanking the spear out of his stomach and tossing it aside. Belatedly, he noted that the moon was high in the sky, though he was pretty sure the sun had just barely risen when he started.

He slumped to the ground, kneeling in the grass. The warmth of the blood beneath him seeped into his clothes but he was past the point of caring. Exhaustion had finally overtaken him. The karma flooded into every vessel in his body, and only then did Xiao cry out. Physical pain he was mostly numb to, but the crushing weight of karma tearing apart his soul from the inside was a sensation that he never quite got used to.

It burned hotter than liquid fire in his veins while his skin was simultaneously ice cold. But worst of all was the mental strain. All genres of horrible images flashed to life before Xiao’s eyes and he was powerless to stop them. He clutched at his head and screamed, but no relief came, only the brief satisfaction when blackness completely enshrouded his vision as he finally passed out.

When Xiao opened his eyes again he was in a beautiful gilded cage. His arms and legs were bound by golden chains and in his back he felt two spots of throbbing pain. There was wetness on his cheeks and Xiao realized that he was crying, salty tears pouring out like a flood as he sank to his knees. The goddess in front of him peered at him through the bars with a sneer.

“It was for your own good, little bird,” she said in a deceptively delicate voice. “We can’t have you flying away, can we?”

Xiao couldn’t even respond, too busy choking on his sobs. It wasn’t like he wanted to reply anyway. He hated that woman more than anything. She had lured him and trapped him, making him commit unspeakable acts in her name. Any innocence the young adeptus had before was lost because of her. And then she had even taken his wings, his last hope of freedom.

The goddess seemed uncaring about his lack of response, coming closer to the cage and sticking her hand through the bars. She held up something in front of his face, small and cube-like. It wobbled in her hand like it was made of jelly.

“Do you know what this is, little one?” she asked him. He shook his head.

“It’s a dream. Have you ever tasted a dream before?”

Again, he shook his head. How could a dream take such a shape? And why would he eat it?

“Go ahead and try it, I think you’ll find that you enjoy it.”

Xiao didn’t trust the woman, and tried to resist. He knew that whatever her true intentions were, they were nefarious, but he was severely lacking in strength. How could a battered and starving adeptus compare to a full-fledged god? As the gelatinous substance got closer and closer, the alluring smell invaded Xiao’s nostrils and he felt compelled to eat it.

It smelled so sweet, so appetizing. The adeptus couldn’t remember the last time he had eaten anything. But no, he had to stay strong. The goddess, having had enough, pried open his mouth with her other hand and shoved the dream inside. Then, she forced his mouth closed and ordered him to swallow it. Reluctantly, he began to chew. It was… delicious. The flavor exploded on Xiao’s tongue and he couldn’t help the satisfied moan that left him. He had completely forgotten the pain and the agony, only chasing after the chewy sweetness until it was gone.

Immediately, he craved more. He needed more. The goddess smiled down at him, a cruel twist to her lips as she said, “I told you you’d like it.”

Thus, the merciless goddess had trained Xiao to devour dreams. And the adeptus was addicted. She had Xiao eat the dreams of enemies and innocent civilians alike, sometimes leaving them mentally scarred, sometimes leaving them brain-dead. Xiao knew that it was wrong but he couldn’t disobey. And he often found that he didn’t even want to. All he wanted was more, more, more. That was how he became known as the bloodhound of an evil god.

Even when Rex Lapis rescued Xiao many years later, he couldn’t forget the taste of dreams. The Lord of Geo had to keep the little adeptus locked up until they were able to wean him off of them. He would feed Xiao bits and pieces of his own dreams until eventually, the yaksha was able to live without them again. But sometimes, and though he never told anyone he suspected that Rex Lapis knew anyway, he still craved the taste of dreams.

It was just another heavy stone in the pile of guilt that weighed constantly on Xiao’s mind. How could he crave such a horrible thing? It was selfish, and cruel, and it reminded Xiao that he was nothing more than a slaughterer at the end of the day, no matter how much the Traveler or anyone else tried to convince him otherwise.

Xiao awoke with a start, once again back in the plains of Liyue. The blood that soaked through his clothes had long grown cold. He must have fallen asleep, the memories he was forced to relive were a consequence of his karma. Though it was all in the past, the sweet taste that lingered on his tongue was very real. Xiao sighed in disappointment.

He really was a broken thing, wasn’t he? How many years had it been? And he still hadn’t changed at all. He had no idea why Rex Lapis was so intent on having him around. Why he had saved Xiao’s life so many times. It made no sense, but it seemed that since Morax had first laid eyes on Xiao, he was determined to take care of the adeptus and keep him by his side. But Xiao knew that he would only ever be damaged goods.

His stomach growled and his mouth began to water. No, no, this couldn’t be happening. Had his karma gotten so bad that he completely lacked control? Or maybe the memories had felt all too real, and Xiao thought he was back in the past. Was it the past? He didn’t know anymore. His mind was fuzzy. Maybe he was still dreaming. The pressure of karmic debt seemed to get heavier by the second.

Xiao really wished his siblings were there. No one understood his suffering like they did, and they always knew what to do. Bonanus would softly pet his hair and tell him that everything would be okay. Indarias would challenge him to a friendly duel to blow off steam. Menogias would rant about his latest outfit designs, begging that Xiao model them for him. And Bosacius would sit Xiao down with a gentle hand on his shoulder and insist they have a talk until all of Xiao’s worries were out in the open.

An emptiness echoed deep in his heart at the thought of their passing. He felt that they completed him, balancing his strengths and weaknesses in a way that was difficult to manage now that he was alone. He had tried to follow after them many times, attempting to make peace, but Rex Lapis never allowed it. The god always told Xiao that it was not yet his time. That he was still needed.

Though he disagreed, Xiao would never question his god. And so, he powered on, if only to fulfill his promise to Rex Lapis. He had tried to open up more recently, to establish new bonds and revive old ones. But moments like now, when he was struggling not to go break into the nearest mortal’s abode and devour their dreams like a glutton, he was reminded why he kept such a distance in the first place. He was not deserving of those bonds.

He stood up, vision blurry, and tried in vain to teleport back to his room at Wangshu Inn. If he could just get back and have some almond tofu, it might be enough to satisfy his cravings for the meantime. But it seemed that he didn’t have enough energy left to teleport, so he began the wobbly walk back on foot. It wasn’t too far anyway.

When he finally made it to the inn’s lobby, Verr Goldet looked up stunned from behind the desk. Xiao was sure his current appearance was less than stellar, but offered no explanation. He merely turned and headed up the stairs to his room.

“Are you alright?” the boss lady called after him once she had broken out of her shock.

“I’m fine,” Xiao said with a waved dismissal of his hand, “Just have Smiley Yanxiao send up some almond tofu, please.”

The adeptus stumbled down the hallway to his room, staggering as he tried desperately to ignore the temptation of countless sleeping patrons tucked away in their beds. He finally reached it, tumbling inside and slamming the door closed behind him. He leaned against the other side, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath as his heart pounded wildly.

“Xiao,” a deep voice said, startling Xiao so much that he jumped in alarm.

His eyes shot open and he saw none other than Rex Lapis sitting on the edge of his bed. The god quickly stood up and walked over to him, examining him from head to toe.

“What happened? You’re injured,” Rex Lapis said, prodding his side.

In all honesty, Xiao had forgotten he had even been stabbed. The pressure of his karmic debt had been much more agonizing, and then the craving for dreams had nearly driven him mad. He wanted to ask what Rex Lapis was doing there, but couldn’t conjure up the words. Recently, the god had been visiting the adeptus a lot more frequently. Ever since the incident at the Chasm, he seemed extra protective of Xiao.

“What?” the adeptus asked instead, still out of it. He would normally never address his god so informally. The pounding in his head was relentless, begging for a sweet taste of ecstasy.

“Your karma…” Rex Lapis trailed off, still examining him.

Xiao attempted to move past him. “I’m fine.”

But as he went to go around the Archon, he stumbled. Rex Lapis quickly caught him, holding him close to his body. It was like instant relief. Xiao’s head cleared up and his senses returned almost immediately. The touch of a god was not to be underestimated. Merely being in Rex Lapis’ presence was enough to ease the burden of his karma temporarily.

The god gently placed Xiao on the bed before kneeling in front of him. “How do you feel now?”

“Much better, thank you,” Xiao confessed, looking to the side in embarrassment. Once again, he had inconvenienced his Archon.

“Xiao, look at me,” Rex Lapis gently guided the smaller’s cheek until the other was meeting his eyes. “There is no need to feel ashamed. I have seen you at your best and at your worst. You can always come to me if you are feeling unwell.”

“But you no longer wish to be the god of this land. I do not dare to burden you with more problems after you have already stepped down,” the adeptus said softly.

“You are never a burden to me. Even though I have retired, I will never go back on my word to protect you,” the god told him seriously. Then, he cradled Xiao’s head into his chest, holding him there.

Xiao sucked in a harsh breath. For some reason, the words and the softness of his touch brought Xiao back to over a millennia ago. When he was surrounded by adepti and gods alike, all crowding around him with joy on their faces and love in their hearts. They ate with him, laughed with him, drank with him, and gave him gifts. Xiao was but a young, nearly feral yaksha, and yet they all cared for him.

Among all who attended the occasion, only Rex Lapis and a few others remained. Xiao didn’t understand how the god had lived on even longer than he had when they both lost so much. “How do you keep going?” he asked, voice muffled in the god’s chest.

“Sometimes it is hard,” Rex Lapis confessed, “but I have my most loyal and beloved yaksha with me.”

Before he could stop himself, Xiao burst into tears. Just like he had been struggling to endure, his god had also been suffering. But he relied on Xiao, and yet Xiao had tried to take that away from him. Archons, he really was such a troublemaker. He finally realized that their reliance on one another was mutual. And for some reason, that was a great relief. He thought no one would ever understand him like his fellow yaksha did, but he was wrong.

Rex Lapis hummed softly and stroked his last remaining yaksha’s hair, just like Bonanus used to do. Xiao only cried harder. The last few millennia had been full of agonizing pain and loss, but if it was for Rex Lapis’s sake, Xiao could live for a few millennia more.

He finally calmed down after a while, and the god pulled away with a smile. “Better?” he asked.

Xiao nodded as Rex Lapis wiped the remains of his tears.

“Good. I also brought something.” The Archon walked over to the lone desk in the room and picked up a plate of food that Xiao had failed to notice earlier.

As it got closer, he realized that it was almond tofu. How did his god know that his cravings had returned? There was a lone candle sticking out of the top of the dessert, and Rex Lapis promptly lit it before handing the plate over to Xiao.

“Eat this, and if you’re still hungry, I’ll let you have a little taste of my dreams tonight,” he said with a smile, as if he wasn’t placing his entire trust in Xiao’s hands. As if he hadn’t been doing that for centuries now.

Xiao looked up at him with shining eyes, appearing uncharacteristically soft despite the dirt and grime that covered him. The Archon made a mental note to give the adeptus a bath after he was done eating.

“Thank you, My Lord,” Xiao said, bowing deeply.

“Just Zhongli is fine,” the man replied with a chuckle. “Happy Birthday, Xiao.”

The yaksha smiled, closed his eyes, and blew out the candle.

#genshin impact #genshin fanfic #fanfic #xiao #xiao fluff #xiao x zhongli #zhongxiao #reposted from ao3

16 notes · View notes

thewitcheslace · 1 year ago

Text

Magickal Brews, Crystals, & Candles.

Here are some quick magickal tips to help you with everyday issues! This is not a definitive list of all the enchanting herbs and crystals there are to use – but just a couple of our top picks!

Making your Witch’s Brew:

Add one or both of the ingredients listed to boiling water, and allow to steep for a few minutes before straining. Stir with intent, and once it is cooled enough, drink mindfully. These brews can also be added to bath water for ritual baths. *Be mindful of allergies

Crystals:

These can be used as a meditation aid, carried with you, placed on your desk, or by the bed, or you can add them to charm bags, spell jars, etc.

Candles:

During candle magick, be sure to imagine your desired outcome as if it were already manifested. Feel the joy and gratitude…. make it real!

As always, a white candle can be substituted for any other colour.

Anxiety

Witch’s Brew: Chamomile & Lavender

Crystals: Moonstone, Rhodonite

Candle Colour: Blue Candle

Self-love

Witch’s Brew: Rose & Jasmine

Crystals: Rose Quartz, Amazonite

Candle Colour: Pink Candle

Protection

Witch’s Brew: Nettle & Rosemary

Crystals: Black Tourmaline, Smoky Quartz

Candle Colour: Black Candle

Good Luck

Witch’s Brew: Cinnamon & Cloves

Crystals: Green Aventurine, Citrine

Candle Colour: Green Candle

Happiness

Witch’s Brew: Orange & Peppermint

Crystals: Carnelian, Sunstone

Candle Colour: Orange Candle

Mental Clarity

Witch’s Brew: Green Tea & Ginseng

Crystals: Fluorite, Lapis Lazuli

Candle Colour: Yellow Candle

Psychic Abilities

Witch’s Brew: Lotus and Jasmine

Crystals: Amethyst, Celestite

Candle Colour: Purple Candle

2 notes · View notes

the-silver-chronicles · 2 years ago

Text

The order of which the Heralds are "taken down" in the AUs

AKA more or less how things occur in the AUs especially with the canon divergences:

Far Cry The Silver Chronicles (Deputy!Silva, kind of main Far Cry 5 timeline) - Silva takes down (but captures and spares in the moment) John first, though she struggles with the morals keeping him alive and essentially lying (by omission) to her allies, trying to decide whether a) she should spare him and risk the wrath of the community she just gained after being alone for so long, as well as keeping a major player of Eden's Gate alive who (in her current opinion) doesn't really deserve to live, but could use as leverage against Joseph, or b) justifiably kill him for all he's done, but also incur Joseph's wrath/accidently help forward his (from her current speculation, since she sees him as a proxy to Adam Omar, a more vile prophet) plans to continue the Reaping, but gets to confirm to the residents of Holland Valley and the GFH that John is gone, but also live with the guilt and regret and shame of killing an unarmed and non-threatening opponent, as well as probably straining her relationships with Kamski (because he started liking John, if only a little bit) and Faith (because John's literally her brother who she cares about, despite how unreciprocated that care is)). Then comes Jacob, who she intends on sparing, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of bending her mind to his will entirely, showing she is stronger than that, and will not play into Joseph's hands. She attempts to carry his wounded ass back to her bunker where John should be (but Kamski took the younger brother to help him out on a little side quest), but they are both intercepted and separated by Oscar Lapis and his Enforcers, who return Jacob to Joseph as a show of good faith. Silva never really fights Faith, though the adopted sister is attacking her in the Bliss, but its more of Silva debating with Faith while avoiding Bliss attacks. And then later Silva goes rescue Faith from Omar's Guard, as well as get out of a about-to-be-bombed Henbane region. Her "final confrontation" with Joseph is really just her rescuing him from Adam Omar.

Far Cry The Judges Duty (Judge!Silva, Silva is the Judge in 2018 during Far Cry 5) - Silva "takes down" Faith first, then they go get John from Paul and the Apostles, Jacob from Malvolio and the Deserters and lastly Joseph from Adam Omar.

Far Cry The Harbinger's Salvation (Alive!Elsa and Harbinger!Silva, the former is the morally-grey protagonist while the latter is a brainwashed victim in an antagonistic role) - Elsa manages to take down the Father and his Heralds rather quickly during a "peace meeting" by blackmailing them to help her kill Paul and the Apostles and save her sister who is currently a nigh-unstoppable killing machine conditioned to slaughter everyone in the county.

Far Cry El Industrial's Reign (Industrial!Silva and AliveBabyGirlSeed!Azriel, Silva is older than most iterations (being 37) and the leader of the surviving Tumultites and the adoptive mother of Azriel (aka Joseph's alive daughter, who is 20)) - Silva and Azriel capture John first, then have trouble with Jacob and Faith, before Alexander saves Jacob from Enforcers and Silva finally convinces Faith to come with her before Oscar and his Enforcers come, leading many people out of Faith's Gate but leaving the Angels behind to distract (and overwhelm) the Enforcers. Joseph and Adam's words towards Azriel do not help her mental state and she captures both Joseph and Silva, and the ending of this encounter can either go a nice bittersweet or really sad bittersweet.

Far Cry The Reverend's Rule (Reverend!Silva, Silva is combined with the Curse and becomes Phillip's new prophet) - Sylvester (soon-to-become Silva) recruit Faith with the help of the Curse and Phillip, then manage to either recruit John or Jacob, before attempting to get the other brother who solidifies his loyalty to Joseph, who loses most of his flock to Silva, John/Jacob and Faith's efforts thanks to Omar's Guard' arrival and Phillip's guidance.

Far Cry The Apostles' Rise (Apostle!Silva, Silva joins the Apostles of Zachariah) - Recruits a spying Faith first before attempting (but failing) to kill the other three. All of their survivals depends on the oneshot story.

Far Cry The Scavenger's Promise (Scavenger!Silva and Immune-To-Bliss!Azriel, Silva is 35 and works with any contract/odd job she can get from Gavin, and is hardened by the death of a 9-year-old (different from the canonically 5-year-old) Persephone, but ends up accidently adopting Azriel, who is 11-years-old and not related to Joseph) - Silva saves Faith from some Enforcers who framed (and about to execute) the sister, and goes to help Jacob and John out (their survival is up for debate), but are unable to get to Joseph in time as he is callously killed by Adam Omar while attempting to protect Azriel.

Far Cry The Inquisitor's Chime (Inquisitor!Silva, Silva is apart of the Yellowjack Mafia family because Omar's Guard murdered Persephone and Irene (the latter canonically died in earlier timelines, and no where near Persephone's death) instead of Paul and the Apostles) - Silva blackmails them into helping the Mafia and the Reaping does not happen.

Far Cry An Assassin's Pledge (Assassin/Hitwomen!Silva, 28-years-old and works for the Yellowjack Mafia) - Doesn't really take down the Seeds and is more hired by them.

1 note · View note

outofthisgxlaxy · 2 years ago

Text

"Isn't it??"

Lapis held Black Star closer, all the while still stunned by what she had learned. How could people use gems to make something like paint? Apparently it wasn't a technique that was used for paint anymore, which was good, but the fact that it had been done at all...

"Some artists really decided 'Hey, I want some super blue paint. Oh, I know, I'll use lapis, an egg, and wine!'" She shuddered. "Why were humans like this?"

"They did what?!?!??!" Screeched the tiny Gem, completely mortified by the randomly dropped factoid. Instinctively, Black Star went to comfort Lapis. Tiny arms wrapped around Lapis's torso while tears formed in Black Star's eyes. "That's.. that's horrible."

#ic #blackstardiopside #Mentally Strained (Lapis)

5 notes · View notes

lilyandthegenshinbrainrot · 3 years ago

Text

My most personal and intimate thoughts on Venti are so incredibly biased and based on myself but whatever

Venti is someone who places his value on his abilities, to care for his people, to keep up his bard’s legacy, to live up to Mondstadt's expectations. He is only as good as what he can give, and so Venti gives his all. His body in honor of the bard who never saw the blue sky, his voice to his children as he plays for them daily, his efforts in both encouraging the heroes into action and keeping up their spirits, and his time is given freely to anyone who seeks it from him. All of his actions are done by for the benefit of others and, maybe, to keep their eyes on him just a little longer.

He is also a character that I can very easily see myself in. A relationship early in life that defines how every other relationship is perceived, a shared grief of being other and alone from the people that used to be there, an imposter syndrome born from having expectations of great and mighty things and then struggling to meet those standards before tossing them for something that is met with little support, a strong sense of justice and free-will to the point of not understanding why certain things are allowed.

Venti is met with scorn and disapproval from most of the characters he's associated with, and whenever he is confronted by such, he flounders. This furthers his identity issues, as he doesn't seem to have lasting relationships on equal grounds, his most influential and positive relationships are with mortals. This relationships are unequal, with the power dynamic and lie that comes with God pretending to be Human. So, Venti is lonely. His relationship with Rex Lapis seems strained, neither of them regard the other particularly fondly but they aren't antagonistic. His relationship with Raiden Shogun is also distant, as they have fundamentally opposing views. He doesn't have friends that he can be emotionally vulnerable with. All his friends that he has been emotionally vulnerable with died after like fifty years. He's so mentally ill.

(It does not help that Hoyoverse cannot decide how they want him to be perceived by the fandom, as he is mocked and met with surprise whenever he is insightful in events but he is held in high regard and with kind understanding in the archon and story quests.)

So let's recap: we have self-worth issues, survivor's guilt, imposter syndrome, depression, and repressed/unprocessed emotions!!

Let's talk about his self-destructive habits. Venti is used as a comedic relief, except a handful of times when he is needed as Barbatos, the humor is found in his alcohol misuse. He is frequently seen intoxicated and looking for his next drink. I will not be going into detail about this as it's gen, but these implications are frequently seen in someone who is unhappy or uncomfortable with their present life, someone looking for an escape. He is a liar, a thief, unavailable, and hedonistic. All under the guise of freedom. I think that he truly believes that he is free in all his ways, and that he doesn't think that there's a better life simply because that life has never lasted for him. It's good for a few decades, and then his favorite human dies and he sleeps away his reopened wound of unprocessed grief. Which brings me to my second point, his frequent naps. Barbatos is known for sleeping for long periods of time, my best knowledge being his recent 500 year nap when he slept away the poisonous effects of Abyssal Magic from the corrupted dragon Durin. He is also known for napping for a long period of time after he reshaped Mondstadt's landscape and set his people free. I would diagnose him with sleeping to avoid confronting his emotional problems.

I see my own flawed coping mechanisms in the way that Venti represses his grief and loneliness, acting like a friend to all without opening up to one. I recognize his patterns of isolation and depression in the way he either makes himself busy or scarce depending on the day. He is wise, and capable of hard conversations and even harder decisions, but he is also afraid of the consequences of his actions. I see myself in the way he is willing to take on difficult and overwhelming responsibilities, but fail to do it correctly alone, as he did with Dvalin's purification in the beginning.

He is very important to me, and I hope that he is treated kindly as the game continues.

#venti #venti genshin impact #genshin impact lore #genshin impact #lily's rambles #character analysis

64 notes · View notes

andrewmoocow · 2 years ago

Text

Little Homeworld Life chapter 18: De-Clustering (originally published on April 24, 2023)

AN: Yeah, this is going to be a pretty heavy episode because we'll finally be bringing back the Cluster by taking it apart and reintroducing some of its components back to society, just as Yellow Diamond promised back in Homeworld Bound. No doubt we'll explore how these Gems will react to the world they'll be brought back into and how they'll react to the whole Pink Diamond debacle, which Black Rutile will no doubt take advantage of to gain new minions. And how will the Crystal Gems deal with this as well, especially when one of their own who was a part of the Cluster will be convinced to join Black Rutile? Not good, I suppose.

Synopsis: The Diamonds pay a visit to Earth to disassemble the Cluster. However, some of the Gems they restore don't take too kindly to the new status quo.

Cast:

Noël Wells as Black Rutile

Della Saba as Aquamarine

Charlyne Yi as Eyeball, Navy, Doc, Leggy, Army

Christine Pedi as Holly Blue Agate

Casey Lee Williams as Cat's Eye

Estelle as Garnet

Michaela Dietz as Amethyst

Deedee Magno Hall as Pearl, Yellow Pearl, Blue Pearl, Volleyball

Shelby Rabara as Peridot

Jennifer Paz as Lapis

Uzo Aduba as Bismuth

Patti LuPone as Yellow Diamond

Lisa Hannigan as Blue Diamond

Christine Ebersole as White Diamond

Sarah Stiles as Spinel

Jinkx Monsoon as Emerald

Hayley Kiyoko as Morganite

Melissa Fahn as Demantoid

Kari Wahlgen as Pyrope

Amy Sedaris as Teal Zircon

Martha Higerada as Topaz

Shanelle Grey as Sally Grove

Matthew Rhys as James Brenner

Jon Wurster as Marty

Christoph Waltz as Francis von Bowling

Olga Kurylenko as Rasputina

Diedrich Bader as Lennie

Wayne Knight as Milton

Andrey Batt as Konstantin

Edward Furlong as Pavel

Seth Green as Leo

Featuring Idina Menzel as Amazonite

Halsey as Tanzanite

Mia Barron as Apatite

Gina Torres as Andesine

And John Mulaney as Flipso

"HAHAHAHAHAHA! AHAHAHAHAHAHA!" the Rutile Rebels laughed uproariously as they sat down to watch an early version of "The Pink Beast of the Bay" sent to them by Marty, and they were in hysterics over the mockery over how Steven's monstrous mental breakdown was depicted.

"I don't see why Pearl refused to participate in this motion picture; this is amazing!" Black Rutile guffawed in delight as she watched the Crystal Gem be an unwilling leading lady and costar to the always overdramatic Christopher Cage. "I haven't had this much fun in ages, not just because of the Steven mockery!"

"Me too!" Aquamarine snickered. "I could watch this over and over again!"

"But didn't that Marty fellow say he needed to return this copy soon?" Holly Blue said as the movie reached the end and the credits began to roll. "Or maybe we could download our own copy of the film." Just then, the Rebels heard a very loud rumbling from outside. "What was that?"

"Oh no, is Teal Zircon getting up to shenanigans again?" Cat's Eye complained while stroking Blake in her arms. "I'm still getting all those bugs out of my hair from last time."

"Uh, guys, I think you need to see this." Eyeball said, looking out the window to find the Diamonds' ship landing near Little Homeworld. "Do you think they're finally coming for us?"

"If so, then finally." Cat's Eye proclaimed. "This is the big one; this is it! Do you hear me, Homeworld, I'm coming for you!"

"Oh, don't be so overdramatic, Cat." Holly Blue rolled her eyes in annoyance. "We should go outside and see what the Diamonds want. Who knows? Maybe they've come to apologize for their unfair treatment of us."

"I highly doubt it." Black Rutile stated as the Rutile Rebels walked outside to find the Crystal Gems talking with Yellow, Blue, and White Diamond. "You there, Gems! What's going on?"

"Oh, Black Rutile, long time no see." White Diamond greeted Black Rutile with a strained smile. "We were just discussing with the Crystal Gems about taking the Cluster apart and giving all the Gems that are a part of it a new lease on life. We feel like it's one of the only things left for us to do to fully atone for our crimes."

"Well, there are still a few crimes against me you refuse to apologize for." Black Rutile muttered.

"Would you like to assist us?" Pearl asked Black Rutile. "We'd like to make this a community effort, so that means you have to join in too."

"Of course I'll help. Just let me confer with my posse for a bit." Black Rutile answered before turning to her minions. "You all see what's happening here, right? We could collect whatever Gems are taken out and convince them to join us! It's brilliant, brilliant, brilliant!"

"Great idea. We just need to lay low until the time is right; then we can convince them." Aquamarine agreed. "I'd say we should start with three. Anyone else?"

"Yeah, three sounds like a reasonable number." Holly Blue said.

"That song said it's the magic number, after all." Eyeball added before the rebellion turned back to the Diamonds.

"We accept your offer." Black Rutile declared, hiding the fact that she was once again plotting behind everyone's back.

"Excellent." Garnet smiled. "We'll get to work as soon as everyone else hears about this."

Later that day, all of Little Homeworld was working together to take the Cluster apart and put the shattered Gems back together, while ensuring they wouldn't accidentally cause the Gem superweapon to be unleashed and destroy Earth. Carefully, they would remove massive chunks of the Cluster, sort which pieces of Gems went together, and allow Yellow to restore them to normalcy. So far, the process was going rather swimmingly, with numerous Gems being put back together.

"Here, I think I found a Gem." Amethyst said as she handed the broken halves of a gem to Yellow. "Recognize her?"

"Oh, I do!" Blue Diamond replied. "That's Amazonite. She was an illusionist in my court. Her shows were the stuff of legends, and I hope she'd be able to do them again!"

"Yes, I am a fan too, Blue." Yellow grinned before she held the gem pieces together, and electricity coursed through the fractures, making the gem like new before it reformed into a Gem with light blue skin, long & unkempt dark blue hair, green robes, and a blue cape with light blue detailing.

"Where am I?! What is this place?! Where's my Diamond?!" the newly restored Amazonite began panicking upon her restoration as she looked around at her new surroundings. The last thing she saw before being shattered was Gems going to war with each other, and now suddenly they're at peace? The Crystal Gems were standing alongside the Diamonds with presumably no animosity? What was going on here?!

"Welcome to the world, Amazonite." Lapis greeted the illusionist, who leaped back in alarm.

"Uh, do I know you?" Amazonite asked Lapis. "There are just so many Lapis Lazulis; I find it hard to keep track of them. Now can someone please explain to me what's going on here?!"

"I believe I can be of assistance here." Black Rutile proclaimed as she arrived with a broken purple Gem in a bubble. "I just found this Gem. You can handle the rest while I bring her up to speed."

"Oh, is that Tanzanite in there?!" Pearl exclaimed as she took the bubble from Black Rutile and admired it. "It's been centuries since we last saw her! Her sacrifice still weighs heavily on me!"

"And you're only talking about her now." Black Rutile murmured disdainfully. "Okay then." She then took Amazonite by the hand and took her away from the Crystal Gems and the Diamonds to get her caught up on the new status quo of Gem society. "First of all, Amazonite, hello, my name's Black Rutile. Pleased to meet you."

"Ah yes, Black Rutile. I think I've heard of you a few times before." Amazonite replied. "Which reminds me, I remember you having a green visor and white cape. Why the change in attire?"

Black Rutile then sighed heavily before she continued. "These represent the chains placed on me by our corrupt society, after I was wrongfully accused of treason when I tried to fix what Pink Diamond broke beyond repair."

"Wait, Pink Diamond?" Amazonite asked. "Wasn't she shattered by Rose Quartz?"

"Well, not entirely." Black Rutile stated awkwardly.

"Come on." Amazonite ordered with her hands on her hips.

"Okay, the Rebellion was started for a few stupid reasons." Black Rutile continued candidly.

"Just tell me one." Amazonite responded, a single eyebrow raised.

"You see, Rose Quartz was actually Pink Diamond." Black Rutile murmured again.

"She was what?" Amazonite gasped, desperate to know more.

"Rose Quartz was Pink Diamond." Black Rutile reiterated a lot clearer for Amazonite to hear.

"Did you say Rose and Pink Diamond were the same this whole time?!" Amazonite yelled in horror and anger.

"Yes, exactly, excellent listening." Black Rutile nodded.

"Our grand opponent was that forsaken child?!" Amazonite added loudly.

"Yes, and wouldn't you know it? She died and gave birth to the same stain on the universe that forgave the Diamonds for all the horrible things they've done to the galaxy!" Black Rutile proclaimed. "Luckily, a few Gems, including myself, are smart enough to see through Steven Universe's lies and form a resistance against his tyranny. However, we have encountered many serious setbacks and are currently recouping our losses after an attempted alliance with an evil alternate-universe version of him."

"So, allow me to recap here." Amazonite theatrically said. "You, Black Rutile, are fighting back against the current status quo because this Steven person brainwashed the Diamonds into becoming his slaves by forgiving them for their actions, thus allowing them to radically alter our society?"

"That is exactly right." Black Rutile replied. "As I already said, a group of like-minded Gems and I are forming a revolution against Steven and the Crystal Gems, and we've acquired some success in increasing our forces through this Cluster project." She then stuck her hand out to Amazonite. "Would you be willing to join me in my crusade, Amazonite?"

"Are you kidding me?! Yes!" Amazonite eagerly agreed and shook Black Rutile's hand. "No one man should have all that power, the way I see it. Count me in!"

"Excellent! I'll have to introduce you to my subordinates later." Black Rutile smiled. "But right now, I must continue the recruitment process. I've already tricked the Crystal Gems into accepting my help in taking apart the Cluster and have plans for some of them."

Speaking of the Crystal Gems, they were restoring their fallen comrade Tanzanite to normalcy. Once Yellow Diamond gave the broken purple Gem a tap, it was made whole again, and suddenly, a purple-skinned Gem with lavender hair, a purple punk attire, her gem being on her bare stomach, and a purple Crystal Gem star on her crop top.

"P-Pearl, Garnet, Bismuth?" Tanzanite muttered as she slowly opened her eyes to see her old friends alive and well. "I can't believe it; you're all here! We won!"

"Should you tell her, or should I?" Bismuth asked Pearl rather nervously.

"Tell me about what?" Tanzanite asked curiously.

"I think she should tell us who she is!" Amethyst asked. "Like, I never heard of her once, and suddenly Pearl treats her like she's so important!"

"You feeling a little jealous, perhaps?" Peridot snickered at Amethyst's expense, making the smaller purple Gem blush.

"Oh, sorry, guess I should probably explain myself." Tanzanite said as she reminisced on her early days as a member of the Crystal Gems.

Before the Rebellion, Tanzanite was a low-ranking but earnest and peppy assassin who carried out her missions with cold precision and grace. However, despite how well she did at her job, Tanzanite felt like she didn't belong on Homeworld under the Diamonds' grasp. Sometimes, she would often secretly go out to planets soon to be colonized and tour the wildlife there.

Eventually, word got out that a rebellion was being formed by an insurgent Rose Quartz rumored to have shattered Pink Diamond, and Tanzanite joined out of morbid curiosity. However, in doing so, Tanzanite would finally find where she belonged as the rebels known as the Crystal Gems began treating her like family. Pearl especially saw her as a daughter and protégé. Unfortunately, those happy days would soon come to an end.

In one of many decisive battles for the Earth, Tanzanite was eager to stand on the frontlines alongside Pearl and the other leaders of the Crystal Gems to get a taste of what it was like. Unfortunately, that would turn out to be a huge mistake.

"Pearl, back me up here; I'm surrounded!" Tanzanite exclaimed as she fruitlessly tried to fend off a squad of Condor Agates and Onyxes with her epee. "Pearl? Pearl?!"

"Foolish little Tanzanite, your beloved Pearl cannot save you now!" the Onyx confidently stated. "Try and fight us while you still can, but you have no hope here!"

"I know, but it won't hurt for me to try!" Tanzanite bravely said as she charged at one of the Condor Agates and clashed her epee with her longsword.

"Impressive, most impressive." The Condor Agate complimented Tanzanite's tenacity. "I see that Pearl has trained you well."

"Yeah, she really did!" Tanzanite agreed before turning to find Pearl facing off with a Lepidolite not too far away. "Look, Pearl, look!" she yelled for her mentor, unaware of the tall orange figure looming behind her. "I'm fighting this Condor Agate all by myself!"

"Oh, that's amazing, dear, you're growing so much!" Pearl complimented her student before realizing that an Andesine was towering over her, flaming sword ready to strike her down. "Oh no! Tanzanite, behind you!"

"What?" Tanzanite asked as she turned around to discover one of Yellow Diamond's most fearsome sergeants ready to attack. "You can't scare me!" she yelled, pointing her epee at Andesine. "I got the power of Pearl by my side!"

"Is that so?" Andesine grinned evilly while raising her sword. "Let's see that power protect you while it still can."

"Tanzy, no!" Pearl screamed as she charged through legions of Crystal Gem and Homeworld armies in a bid to rescue Tanzanite from harm as she dueled Andesine. "Please, Tanzanite, don't do it!"

"I just need to-" Tanzanite began. Before she could say what was on her mind, she felt something pierce through her back and looked down to discover Andesine's sword going right through her chest and jabbing at her gem.

"Now look what you made me do." Andesine coldly declared while pulling her sword back, allowing Tanzanite one last moment to apologize for her recklessness.

"I'm, I'm so sorry," Tanzanite cried as she felt herself literally falling apart from the surprise attack. "for everything."

"TANZANITE!" Pearl screamed in horror as Tanzanite was shattered right before her eyes while Andesine let out a cruel laugh at the former servant's expense. "You won't get away with this!" she yelled at Andesine with tears in her eyes as Andesine collected Tanzanite's remains. "I will avenge her!"

"You will try." Andesine smiled wickedly before ordering the Condor Agates and Onyxes that once overwhelmed the late Tanzanite to seize Pearl.

In the present day, the now resurrected Tanzanite was given a tour of Little Homeworld by Pearl to give her a taste of what she'll expect as a student of Little Homeschool. Despite Tanzanite's excitement at her surroundings, the Crystal Gems were all left wondering how she should be eased into a particular piece of information.

"And here, you'll find the swimming pool we constructed a few months back." Pearl explained, pointing towards the pool. "If you'd like, they're always holding tryouts for new lifeguards, and we're thinking of starting a water volleyball team."

"Wow, this is so cool." Tanzanite gaped in awe of everything around her while Pearl smiled contently at her old pupil being finally back and loving life as always. However, the rest of the Crystal Gems weren't as delighted to see her since; eventually, they would have to tell her the truth.

"How do we tell her?" Amethyst drearily asked her friends.

"Uh, ask her what?" Jasper replied, not knowing what Amethyst was talking about.

"You know, about how Ose-Ray is Ink-Pay Iamond-Day?" White Topaz replied.

"What are you talking about?" Bismuth tilted her head at what White Topaz had just said.

"I think she's speaking in Pig Latin." Peridot realized. "About, uh, you know, She Who Must Not Be Named."

"Who are you talking about?" Tanzanite asked curiously, but Pearl quickly covered her ears.

"Oh, nothing, just talking about a book series!" Pearl laughed, trying her hardest to lie no matter how hard she tried. "Guys, stop talking about her so much. It's not time yet."

"Not time?" Jasper declared angrily. "She deserves to know what happened after she got shattered, especially what we know about Pink Diamond!"

"Wait, Pink Diamond?" Tanzanite asked, barely hearing what Jasper just said through Pearl's hands. "What do you know about Pink Diamond?"

"The fact that she and Rose Quartz were the same this whole time!" Jasper added, stunning Tanzanite and making the Gems very unhappy with her.

"Nice going, Jasper." Garnet growled at Jasper. "Uh, she didn't mean what she said."

"Did you disguise Rose as Pink Diamond to make the other Diamonds your slaves or something?" Tanzanite asked, feeling slightly betrayed at what she was now learning. "Or has everyone been lying to me this whole time?"

"Why yes, we did use Pink to get what we wanted from the Diamonds!" Amethyst declared. "In fact, our friend Steven is her son!"

"I think we need to explain everything here." Garnet declared as she stepped forward and put a gentle but firm hand on Tanzanite's shoulder. "Tanzanite, it's time you learn the truth."

"So let me get this straight." a stout but curvy Apatite said as she conversed with Amazonite later that day. "Not only was Rose Quartz really Pink Diamond in disguise, but she started an entire war that lasted for thousands of years that cost the lives of millions because she was tired of being mistreated?"

"I know, right?" Amazonite agreed. "It's utterly outrageous how we lost our lives and our remains were forced against our will to become part of an all-powerful geoweapon!"

"Frankly, I never cared to begin with." Apatite replied dryly. "I never cared for the Rebellion, and I never cared for whatever was done to the Diamonds to make them suddenly forget all the horrible things they did for our people."

"Well, good to see you're already taking sides in this conflict." Amazonite stated as she ominously turned away from the construction with her hands folded behind her back. "Which reminds me, would you care to come with me to a little meeting later? I've met a Black Rutile who will have all the answers to our problems."

"Eh, I got nothing better to do today." Apatite agreed to the illusionist's offer with a shrug. "Where are we going to, some kind of club?"

"No, it's not just a club." Amazonite proclaimed. "It's an ideal."

Meanwhile, Tanzanite had been reluctantly brought up to speed on everything that had happened ever since she was shattered in the Rebellion. About the Diamonds' accidental corruption of almost every Gem on Earth, Rose giving birth to Steven, the Crystal Gems' many adventures, all the way up to the Diamonds wanting to change their ways, the beginning of Era 3, and the exploits of Black Rutile.

Tanzanite was left increasingly shocked at what she was hearing throughout this entire explanation. The Diamonds willingly surrendering to the Crystal Gems without putting up much of a fight and making a positive change for themselves & others? This cannot be possible! But one part of her old friends' story affected her more than anything else. The fact that Rose Quartz was Pink Diamond, a leader of the enemy, this whole time, and they've been keeping this from her for centuries.

"So that's what she did?" Tanzanite growled angrily at the Crystal Gems, outraged at not knowing Pink was Rose. "She started a war that killed millions just because she was tired of being ignored, and all of you lied to everyone about it, so I was shattered for nothing?"

"Well, technically, Pearl lied to everyone the whole time." Amethyst pointed out, making Pearl scowl at her. "I mean, we all only learned about this when she finally fessed up!"

"And this was how the Diamonds are allowed to roam free with no consequences?!" Tanzanite added, even more furious than before. "Why was just shattering them out of the question?! How could you possibly forgive such cruel and tyrannical monsters for all their crimes?!"

"Hey now, we didn't really forgive them in the way you're thinking!" Bismuth tried to calm the purple assassin down. "It was either get their help in saving the corrupted Gems or leave them to suffer in agony for all eternity! And thanks to Steven, we had no choice but to do the former."

"Whoever this Steven is, he's just like his mother. Never thinking of the consequences." Tanzanite frowned and prepared to storm off. "Black Rutile was allowed to run amok all because she hated him so much, and the worst punishment you could give her was exiling her to Earth! You couldn't begin to imagine what that will do to you!"

"Tanzanite, wait!" Garnet cried out and grabbed Tanzanite's shoulder. "Please, if you'd let us explain!"

"You've already explained enough." Tanzanite snarled as she broke from Garnet's grasp and ran away, crying in disbelief. After a moment of silence, the Crystal Gems knew precisely who to blame for this.

"Jasper!" Lapis scolded Jasper for her outburst that caused Tanzanite's tantrum.

"I accept full responsibility for this incident." Jasper apologized and got down on one knee. "Whatever punishment you shall give me, I will obey anything you request me to do."

"No, Jasper, it's not your fault." Pearl assured the orange warrior. "We should've told her earlier instead of keeping her in suspense for no reason. You were just being a little too honest."

"So, how long before we can apologize to Tanzanite for lying to her?" White Topaz asked the Gems. "As a fellow soldier who believed that her leader lied to her, I can totally understand what she's going through right now."

As Tanzanite ran far away from Little Homeworld and deep into the woods, she continued sobbing and rethinking everything she stood for as a Crystal Gem. She remembered their creed as it raced through her troubled mind. "Fight for life on the planet Earth. Defend all human beings, even the ones you don't understand. Believe in love that is out of anyone's control. And give everything for it!" Yet now, Tanzanite had no idea what she should give everything for now that she's learned of how insidious the Rose Quartz she once looked up to really was.

"What's even the point anymore?" Tanzanite muttered as she sat down at a tree and buried her face in her knees. "My leader's literally no better than the other Diamonds, and my so-called friends encouraged her for centuries. Who am I without a leader? Without a purpose?"

"Oh, I understand exactly what you're going through." Black Rutile's voice sympathized with Tanzanite's plight as she looked up to discover the voice's owner sitting on a nearby branch. "Hello there, little Tanzanite. Name's Black Rutile. I suppose you heard of me before?"

"You're the one who hated the Crystal Gems and Era 3, aren't you?" Tanzanite murmured as she looked up at Black Rutile, who then got down from the branch to lend a comforting ear. "What do you want?"

"I've been watching you since your tantrum at the Crystal Gems." Black Rutile revealed. "In fact, I was the one who suggested they bring you back to life! So basically, you have me to thank for you being here, and you're welcome."

"Why should I trust you?" Tanzanite asked. "You may have helped me, but why are you here?"

"I followed you because like I said, I understand what you're going through." Black Rutile answered as she put on the charm to rope Tanzanite in with her every word. "I, too, had unwavering faith in my great leader, White Diamond in this case. But then she revealed that she allowed me to get this far in life because she found it funny that a Rutile like me thought she could make it as a high-ranking member of her court. I felt so betrayed when White turned her back on her idea of perfection in favor of becoming Steven's slave, and now she views my entire being as one sick joke! Can you imagine how heartbreaking it was for me?!"

"Yeah, I get that." Tanzanite wiped her tears away before the two stood up.

"And that is why together, we can bring our oppressors to justice!" Black Rutile exclaimed, taking Tanzanite's hands in hers. "Come with me; I have an entire army of Gems who feel as betrayed as we are! Perhaps there, you can find a new family."

"I-I guess I can come with you." Tanzanite replied nervously. Black Rutile just smiled with pride as she took the now-former Crystal Gem out of the forest with her. As they say, a sucker is born every minute, and emotionally distressed suckers made easy pickings for an opportunist like Black Rutile.

Later that day, a small congregation of Black Rutile's allies, both old and new, had gathered at the abandoned warehouse outside of Beach City. The Rutile Rebels stood together onstage, joined by Marty, Sally, and James Brenner. Below them were numerous Gems that Black Rutile had manipulated into joining her, like Topaz, Teal Zircon, Emerald, Morganite, Demantoid, and Pyrope. Also present were the supervillains Francis von Bowling and Rasputina, now restored to their human forms after being previously transformed into an owl and a frog, along with Lennie, Milton, Konstantin, Pavel, and Leo.

"She should be here by now." Marty impatiently said to himself while looking at his watch. "I don't want this whole gathering to be for nothing!"

"As much as it would entertain me to see a straight white man like you feel shame, I have to agree." Sally replied.

"I feel like I don't really belong here." Dr. Brenner nervously proclaimed. "But since Black Rutile has been one of my most interesting cases yet, I still feel obligated to come along."

"Quite an eclectic bunch we have here." Amazonite observed the audience below them. "Black Rutile truly has a way with words if she could convince such dear friends of the Crystal Gems to join her."

"Wait, I thought this was like a book club or something." Teal Zircon said innocently. Lennie responded by knocking Teal to the ground, lying on her side with her feet twisted and arms splayed out behind her back.

Just then, Black Rutile had finally arrived with Tanzanite by her side, and she was eager to introduce her new recruit to the fold. "Sorry to keep you waiting, everyone. I was busy finding a new member to join our collective. Allow me to introduce the former Crystal Gem Tanzanite!"

"Whoa, a Crystal Gem?" Eyeball gasped in shock. "You really convinced one of the enemies to join you!"

"But what about Teal Zircon?" Navy asked, pointing to Teal still lying on the floor.

"What about Teal Zircon?" Eyeball sarcastically repeated. "Pleased to meet you, Tanzanite. It's good to see that a Crystal Gem has finally seen the light."

"Yeah, whatever." Tanzanite sullenly replied. "Just get this over with so I can go home."

"It would be my pleasure." Black Rutile responded before she cleared her throat and began to speak. "CAN YOU COUNT, SUCKERS?!" she yelled. "I SAY THE FUTURE IS OURS! IF YOU CAN COUNT!"

"Of course I can count!" Milton exclaimed proudly. "One, two, three-"

"I don't think that's what she meant, Milton." Lennie said to his larger partner.

"Now look what we have here before us." Black Rutile continued her speech. "Our little legion of doom may seem a little small, but nobody else knows that our numbers are far greater than they think. With the help of some dear friends of mine, this gathering is being live-streamed to my followers across all of social media! I consider that a miracle, and miracles is the way things ought to be."

"I don't know why I forgave Aquamarine if she wanted me to come here." Topaz nervously muttered to herself before she picked up the unconscious Teal Zircon and tried to make a break for it, only to be stopped by Doc and Leggy standing guard at the doors.

"If anyone tries to get out and warn the Crystal Gems, there will be consequences. I'm looking at you, Topaz." Black Rutile threatened the Topaz fusion, which caused Emerald, Morganite, and the Garnets to look nervously at each other. "Now, back on subject, I have been trying for almost a year to exact my revenge on the accursed Crystal Gems for attempting to assimilate me to their fascist ways."

She then pulled the torn page of Rasputina's spellbook from her gem. "When I lost Rasputina's grimoire to the Crystal Gems, I was able to steal this page at the last moment. This is everything I need to know about the being known as Flipso. This is an interdimensional imp of great power over chaos and destruction who was sealed away by an interstellar librarian for crimes against all conceivable reality. However, that didn't stop him from manipulating people throughout the ages so that one day, he could finally be free to turn the universe into his playground. Rasputina?"

"It will be my pleasure, master." Rasputina declared before she surrounded her hands in a dark aura surrounding the page as she began an ancient chant. "Ooh-eeh-ooh-ah-ah, ting tang, walla-walla bing bang!" At the last word, a shadowy figure emerged from the page, letting out a maniacal laugh before yawning loudly.

"Oy! Ten trillion years can give you such a crick in the neck!" the newly emerged Flipso yelled as he stretched like he woke up from a very long nap. "Oh man, I haven't slept this good since I convinced that mustached twit to drop out of art school and pursue politics!"

"Incredible!" Konstantin, Pavel, and Leo gasped in awe.

"Well, well, well, let's have a look at the menagerie here!" Flipso said as he got a good once over of all the Rutile Rebels before coming face to face with Black Rutile. "I suppose you must be the schmuck who released me, huh?"

"I am Black Rutile, yes." Black Rutile tersely introduced herself to Flipso. "Would you explain why your physical body doesn't seem to be how I expected it to be?"

"Oh yeah, that." Flipso realized his current status. "Unless you can find a way for me to return to normal, I'm stuck like this for a while. But that won't stop me from doing this!" With a snap of Flipso's fingers, Konstantin, Pavel, and Leo turned into a talking drinking cup, a large fry, and a wad of meat.

"YOU QUESTION THE WORD OF THE MIGHTY JIMMY?!" Konstantin yelled angrily.

"So he can bend reality to his whims, just as she said." Francis von Bowling observed Flipso's powers as the imp continued showing off for the Rutile Rebels, changing Topaz into a pineapple with her face on it, switching everyone's genders, and unleashing beasts with forms inconceivable to any sane eyes.

"Which means we should keep quiet if we want to survive this." Emerald advised the Garnets and Morganite. "Got it?"

"I don't even want to know what he could turn us into." Morganite added drearily.

"I'm scared!" Demantoid and Pyrope yelled as they held onto each other.

"Okay, that's quite enough out of you, Flipso." Black Rutile commanded, stopping the imp's antics so he could listen. "The reason why I unleashed you is that you play a vital role in my grand revenge on the Crystal Gems. Should you obey my commands, I shall find a way to restore you to your true physical form so you can wreak as much havoc as you please. Do we have a deal?"

"Well, with an offer like that, how could I refuse?" Flipso agreed to Black Rutile's deal as the Rutile Rebels cheered. Some were elated that they finally had an advantage, while others were despairing over what they had done.

Meanwhile, the Crystal Gems gathered at the beach house to tell the Diamonds of their situation regarding Tanzanite. Needless to say, the former supreme rulers of Homeworld were not pleased with what they'd been informed of.

"Oh, this is just perfect. Pink screws us over from beyond the grave yet again." Yellow Diamond complained. "I swear, we should start listing how her death has negatively affected us. In fact, Pearl, put that down."

"Yes, Yellow." Yellow Pearl answered. Even though she was free to act of her own free will now, she still felt the need to serve her Diamond when asked.

"So where has Tanzanite gone now?" Blue Pearl quietly asked.

"We don't know yet, but whatever happens, I hope we can still help her." Garnet replied.

"Frankly, I think it should be about time we shut this whole Pink Diamond debacle down and let her rest in peace already." White Diamond suggested. "She made her bed and laid in it, so we should do the same."

"Well, maybe we could if someone didn't treat Pink so badly!" Bismuth declared accusingly.

"What did you just say, you infernal builder?" Yellow growled angrily at Bismuth.

"Whoa, now everyone, time out!" Spinel cried as she tried to calm the two hot-tempered Gems down.

"Though I don't like Bismuth's tone, she raises a good point." Blue Diamond stated. "Our poor treatment of Pink was but one of many things that convinced her to fake her demise and start the rebellion in the first place."

"That said, it's not like you're any better." Yellow coldly added, much to the Crystal Gems' horror.

"Say that again." Jasper grumbled, ready to attack her former Diamond at any moment.

"Jasper, calm down, dearie." White Topaz urged her partner not to lose her cool. "I'm sure Yellow didn't mean it."

"No, I totally mean what I say!" Yellow exclaimed. "I can count on just one finger how many times lately you've tended to his needs when he needed you the most! Heck, I won't even need a finger!"

"Yellow, please calm down, and let's come to an agreement, okay?" Volleyball suggested, even though she'd rather stay out of this argument altogether.

"Yeah, listen to old One-Eye here and chillax!" Spinel agreed with her Pearl friend.

"Please understand, Steven kept us all in the dark about his trauma because he feared getting us worried!" Pearl begged the Diamonds.

"Well, unfortunately, it could've been avoided if you had come to him first." Yellow proclaimed harshly. "Come along, ladies, we got better things to do."

"I apologize on Yellow's behalf. She's just had enough of this drama." Blue said to the Crystal Gems. "And honestly, I'd have to agree."

"Us too." Garnet agreed somberly as the Diamonds parted ways with the Crystal Gems on rather sour terms. While thankfully, nobody became enemies again, it still made the Crystal Gems wonder about how their actions have negatively affected others. Others like Black Rutile, who was now on the verge of rising to power again with an all-powerful cosmic deity by her side and a new band of Rutile Rebels to aid her in getting revenge on her greatest enemies.

Well, that was certainly bit of a downer. A former Crystal Gem joins the enemy, the team is now on uneasy terms with the Diamonds, and Black Rutile has released a being who could turn the entire world into a bowl of ice cream with a wiggle of his toe. How could the Crystal Gems handle such a threat, or how long will it take before he stabs Black Rutile in the back? Find out more as the series reaches its climax, but in the meantime, next time we're hitting the beach! Episode. Next chapter's a beach episode.

4 notes · View notes

outofthisgxlaxy · 2 years ago

Note

I think we're missing an important context clue that the gems in question were not sentient

"How do you know they weren't sentient? They could have just been stuck in their gems and turned into paint! You don't know!"

#ic #Mentally Strained (Lapis)#This is the hill she is dying on right now I'm sorry xD

0 notes

wesimpforxiao · 4 years ago

Text

Say My Name and I’ll Be There: 7.4

Author’s Note: I believe I’ll be doing a LIVE pulling for Xiao tonight around 7:45 PST. Join me if you want to see me cry from happiness or from not pulling him LOL. The link is in one of my previous posts. Before, during, or after this chapter, listen to this song to get a feel of what’s happening! https://youtu.be/ifQ3JRS4gqc

.....................

The voices never truly left you alone after that. You were practically becoming unhinged by the endless whispers that plagued your ears, and the quiet of night only seemed to egg them on further. When you were blessed with their silence, you were plagued the physical pains of the karmic debt and your depression from joining the harbingers. Childe was obviously growing more and more concerned with each passing day; you were beginning to freak him out. The Tsaritsa and the other harbingers, however, found great amusement in your...condition. It was a blessing in disguise; they were manipulating you much easier now that you were exhausted from the sleepless nights.

And it wasn't like you were constantly needing medical care, though you wished they would give you some heavy pain killers. No; whatever damage your body was burdened with would be repaired by morning thanks to Xiao's blood. The pain wasn't nearly as dramatic as the first wave, but it was a constant dull aching that ate away at your bones. Slowly but surely, the pains grew over time.

Xiao made his presence known to you only twice more; he showed himself in the late evenings for brief periods of time to quell your aching heart and mind. At least when he was able to be with you, the dreadful screams would disperse if only temporarily. At least when he was with you, you were granted sleep. Small waves of peace would reclaim you as Xiao watched over your sleeping figure.

But once Liyue's festivities were underway, Xiao's visits became nonexistent and your mind was once again thrown into deeper chaos while he fought off more demons. It was the busiest time of the year for both the inhabitants and the demonic presences of Liyue; it was Xiao's task to fend the latter off since the festivities attracted their attention and strengthened their presence. He felt you slowly shattering, and it hurt him to know he couldn't be with you as often as he wanted to.

One day out of the blue, over a month after you joined the Fatui, Childe approached you with a grand smile across his face. "Ojou-chan! Why don't I show you around Snezhnaya? It's much better than sitting in your room all day."

"...Aren't you always saying we could freeze to death?" Your unamused expression failed to hinder Childe's enthusiasm. "Why would I want to go outside?" The bags under your eyes spoke volumes about your continuous sleepless nights.

"Come on, Mezzetin, it'll be good for you. You could use the exercise."

"Are you implying something?" You're eyes narrowed dangerously, but Childe's grin only widened when your normal quips shone through your broken character.

"Well, if you ever feel the need to put me in my place, I'm more than willing to oblige to a fight," he watched your expression lighten for a moment before urging you. "Come on, I'll show you around."

Sheer cold wasn't an issue for this winter wasteland like it was on Dragonspine, but it had to be at least five times colder here. Childe made sure you were bundled up in a large furry coat before guiding you out of the castle and leading you to a town square that was surprisingly bustling with people despite the frigid temperatures. Stalls lined the streets. People gathered around to buy the freshest local food that included some incredibly large seafood varieties. Others were in line to buy trinkets, house decor, and a variety of other items.

"...A farmer's market?" Your cold breath of a remark caught Childe's attention, and he turned to you.

"Of course! Go ahead and look around. If there's anything you want, I'll buy it for you."

He's trying to cheer me up? You examined Childe's earnest demeanor as he eyed the fish stall with stars in his eyes. Can he just pick a side already?! You rolled your eyes. Still, might as well bankrupt him if he insists. You broke away from him and continued down the rows of stalls for awhile, unaware that the harbinger had rejoined you.

You were busy examining a few intriguing necklaces made of materials you haven't heard of when the whispers of the damned regained their voices. You staggered a bit only to be steadied by Childe's hand on your shoulder.

Childe noted your glowing eyes. "Happening again?" His genuine concern made you relieved that he wasn't a complete monster like the other harbingers. "If you need a break, there's a café over there that we can sit in." Your strained nod prompted him to guide you with a hand at the back of your shoulders.

"Hm?" A strange sound reached your ears, and this time it wasn't from inside your head. Your feet came to a halt before the two of you reached the building, and you tilted your head towards the sound.

It was a light and effortless tune that floated through the open air from yet another building. The melody was slow to build, yet you hung onto its every note. It took you a moment to realize that it calmed the demonic voices from screams to hushed murmurs. You followed the path of the sounds until you found yourself in an extremely outdated music shop.

"Mezzetin?" Childe attempted to regain your attention as he followed after you. He caught onto the childlike wonder glistening in your teary eyes. "Care to explain?"

"The pain..." a tear fell. "It's subsiding." You continued to stare at the harpist that played her tune at the back of the shop, eyes never leaving the fingers that plucked the strings. The voices were gone, and now you were only overwhelmed with a sense of peace.

Childe watched you silently listen to the music for a long while. An idea struck him. "Have you ever played?"

"Huh?" You snapped out of your daze and wiped the tears away. "Um...Granny used to play a lot when I was little. I know a couple tunes, but--" Childe walked to the shop owner without letting you finish, pulling out a large sack of mora while he was at it. "H-hey! What're you doing?"

"If it brings you happiness, then I don't see the problem in buying it," Childe argued back after he had purchased the most expensive harp in the shop and left a considerate tip. The two of you were walking back to the palace now. He had ordered for his subordinates to take the instrument back with them.

"But I haven't played in years! And I said I only knew a few simple tunes--"

"--Then I will ensure you receive lessons." He was not going to budge on this, and he made it obvious with his firm gaze. "The rest of the harbingers made it clear that they do not care for your wellbeing, but I do. Think of this as a gift and a type of therapy. You've been down ever since Xiao left you--"

"I left him," you corrected. And I so regret my decision.

"I'm just trying to prove that you aren't in a prison anymore. If you want to see it as that, then by all means, continue to be depressed. But something tells me you want to see Xiao again and find a way with him, no?"

"...Right."

"Then at the very least accept my apology gift to you."

"Huh? Apology?" You gave him a questioning look, but he either didn't hear you or elected to ignore you.

......................................

Xiao was being as antisocial as ever, but it's not like he would ever turn down an invitation for tea from Rex Lapis himself. Here he was, sitting just outside of Wangshu Inn with his master in the bright of day. Aether probably put the archon up to the task considering how Xiao pushed him away what felt like ages ago, but the yaksha decided to give Zhongli the time of day only because of his deep respect for his savior.

"I've also brought more pain killers," Zhongli handed the yaksha a small jar of other-worldly medicines as he continued to fill him in on the upcoming Lantern Rite. He had yet to bring you into the conversation, most likely to avoid irritating the throbbing wound in Xiao's chest.

"Mm." Xiao gladly accepted the medication and set it aside. This ensured yet another lull in their conversations.

"Will you go this year?" Zhongli sipped at his tea. "To the Lantern Rite?"

"My presence would only hinder the festival. Besides, I'm not great with crowds." The yaksha had yet to meet the archon's eyes, and kept his gaze firm on the teacup in front of him. Truth be told, he would have gone this year...with you, since it was you who had asked him. But now that these circumstances have come to pass, why should he go? "It's just another excuse for humans to discard their trash into the ocean." Why should he go when it would only remind him of his failure to keep you at his side?

Zhongli narrowed his eyes as he pondered whether words of comfort would aid his yaksha. "It would be good for you to experience something new after all your years of living."

"I already have," Xiao clenched his jaw, signaling that the topic was beginning to walk on thin ice. "She--"

"--Is not dead," Zhongli reminded. "Do not mourn for a loss that has not occurred."

"But she's dying," he argued back, finally releasing the emotions he's pent up ever since they left you. Zhongli's look of confusion prompted him to continue. "She can feel the karmic debt bestowed upon me."

"When did this begin?" The archon's usual reserved composure faltered slightly while his eyes widened.

"A month ago. I visited her; she can hear the voices of the damned. She's been in physical and mental pain ever since."

"The bond..." Zhongli set his teacup down a bit abruptly as he thought to himself. "It appears these side effects grow stronger in the other's absence. How intriguing..."

"How do we discard them? Is there a way?"

"Have you not interpreted my words in Qingce Village all along? Or my words at the Dawn Winery? I've already given you the means to act, Xiao."

--Can feel your emotions...emotions cannot be permanently ignored...fall on deaf ears...early grave... Xiao scoffed and downed the rest of his tea before forcefully setting the cup back down onto the table. "You think admitting my alleged feelings for a mortal human would solve the problem?"

"She's done her part, now it is your turn," he straightened. "If you fail to do so, I fear she will perish from your karmic debt in no time at all. If what you say is true, it's a miracle she's still alive. Your admittance would seal the bond, as it would eliminate the side effects altogether."

Xiao's head whipped in the direction of the playing of an instrument note, but was only greeted with the joyful screams of children running around nearby. "Tch. How annoying," he played his mishearing off and returned to his normal sitting position. Another sound reached his ears, but he neglected to react to it. The notes are off.

Zhongli didn't question Xiao's sudden alertness, but that didn't take away from the fact that yet another side effect has revealed itself to the archon. It appeared as though the yaksha was already aware of this side effect.

And man, did this one annoy Xiao the most. He heard the most random of tunes and chords at the most random of times. It would even jolt him awake when he managed to fall asleep on rare nights. It wasn't all unpleasant though; there were times in which the melody struck all the right notes and the result was a beautiful thirty second song before it was gloriously ruined by the musician's hesitance or embarrassment.

He knew it was you. Your constant need to practice was as pestering as your old daily prayers before he revealed to you that he could hear them. At least he only sometimes heard the plucking of strings. As pesky and invasive as it was, your insistence upon playing what Xiao only assumed was a lyre somehow brought a bit of joy to his heart. It meant that you were doing better than the last time he saw you.

He just wished he could hear the end result and not your sloppy practice sessions.

........................

Only on the eve of the Lantern Rite, several days before the celebration, did he come to appreciate the hours of hard work you were putting into practicing the music.

You had locked yourself in your room again after watching the failed experiments Dottore had forced you to witness. How many did you see die today? Fifty? He clearly needed to adjust the ratio of your blood to whatever else he had in that serum he developed. What was worse was that you were beginning to become desensitized to the loss of human life; amused by it, even. Just as the Tsaritsa wanted. Sometime into the fortieth treatment, your pains grew stronger as did the voices of the slain daemons.

You retreated to your room, relieved that Childe had for once allowed you to be without his presence. You sat yourself next to the window and allowed for the evening light to illuminate the music sheets the harbinger had bought for you. Your fingers grazed lightly over the strings as the voices continued to grow louder, absently plucking one of them to ensure that you still had full control over your slightly twitching limbs. You had nearly snapped the strings last time the voices overwhelmed you--

There's no time nor need to reminisce those incidents. You pulled yourself out of your thoughts and began to play, the smooth vibrations of the harp humming against your chest and shoulder as the strings were struck. Unlike your practice sessions, your hands glided over the strings from one position to the next like you had played for a thousand years. No hesitation could be felt from the chords. Finally, it seemed as though you mastered this song.

Xiao. I miss you...your warmth...your embrace... Your infested thoughts soon cleared as your mind drifted to an image of him. I wonder if he too finds comfort in music when the voices overwhelm him? For you knew that when the voices grew louder, he too, was subject to them. The music overcame the screaming daemons, and you were relieved with a sense of peace. Your fingers continued to play through the music and repeated the song for as many times as you felt fit. Your aching limbs continued to throb, but you didn't let that stop you from playing. Your mind now clear as water, you poured your longing for Xiao into your music. You hummed the melody as you played.

One day you'll find your way back to him, or him to you. Was it okay to allow yourself to believe in the possibility that he held the same feelings for you? Did he love you? No--Could he? It was already naïve enough to think he was capable of harboring such intimate feelings after living through hell for over two thousand years. And even if he did, it's not like you'd live as long as he has. Would he push me away again? You shoved that thought out of your mind with another series of chords.

You wouldn't be able to put an end to your feelings no matter what he did. He was too admirable, too strong, too strict, too beautiful. He was too kind, even if he put up a front. You loved him too much; perhaps that would end in your own downfall just as Childe predicted and beat into your head every day, but that was alright with you. If the voices were to eat away at you until all that remained were ashes, you were okay with being true to yourself until the very end. Even if he never thought of you as something more than a companion. And as you thought of him, the longing to be reunited swelled within your chest and overflowed into your fingers.

Your song was your unspoken prayer, your love and dedication were your offerings.

#genshin impact #genshin x reader #xiao x reader #xiao #xiao fanfiction #xiao genshin impact #genshin impact xiao

217 notes · View notes

novantinuum · 4 years ago

Link

Fandom: Steven Universe

Rating: Teen Audiences

Words: 2.2K~

Summary: A series of shorts detailing what might’ve happened in the moments after I Am My Monster, told from six different points of view.

Greg apparently had a LOT on his mind, because this was supposed to be short and instead it’s over 2000 words, ahah. Final chapter!

If you read this and enjoy, I’d greatly appreciate your support through reblogs here, or kudos/comments on AO3. Thank you! <3

Chapter warning: Allusions to past non-canon character suicide.

____

Chapter 6: Greg

Hours pass.

Bismuth makes quick and quiet work of replacing the cracked slider door in Steven’s room while he sleeps, and secures a thick tarp over the open front of the house to keep the coastal breeze somewhat at bay until she can finish her repairs to the windows and siding. She warns that might take a day or two. Garnet, meanwhile, busies herself the rest of the afternoon and evening fielding all of the Diamonds’ frazzled calls, and reassuring them of the boy’s current stability. Pooling their knowledge, Dr. Maheswaran and Peridot make sure to confirm that. Beyond some minor scarring, neither his organic or Gem half seems to exhibit any serious physical health conditions in consequence of what happened today, news which works to ever so slightly lift the air of the household. With no other concrete tasks to complete, Pearl, Amethyst, Lapis, Connie, and Greg all rotate between sweeping debris off the floor, wandering the beach to mentally recuperate, and dutifully sitting at Steven’s side as he rests. It may not sound like a lot, but alas the level of emotional labor demanded by such a situation is immense.

All in all, the sun’s long since dipped below the horizon by the time Greg finally collapses onto the mattress laid out in the back of his van, craving if but a moment of privacy and respite from all the chaos. It’s been... an insufferably long day, to put it lightly. Busy. Tons of cleaning, and intercepting nosy neighbors, and bedside monitoring...

He offered to take the first night shift watching Steven a few minutes ago, but Pearl must’ve noticed the dark circles creeping ever wider under his eyes, because she proceeded to gently overturn his offer and remind him of humanity’s daily sleep requirement. And she’s right, of course. He can’t stay up as long as he used to in his twenties anymore. Plus, he probably deserves some time to himself after everything that’s transpired. There’s plenty of Gems left in the house who can keep watch, after all. Steven will be fine for a few hours. Surely nothing else can happen when he’s asleep, right?

Right??

Exhaustedly slumping against the side wall, Greg offers a glassy, vacant stare at the contacts list of his phone, roughly wiping the damp from his cheeks with his other hand as his thumb hovers over one of the numbers. Does he dare drag someone else into this whole situation? Surely the kinder solution would be to refrain from widening the circle any more, from letting anyone else learn about today’s harrowing events. And yet if he fails to find a proper outlet for the raw emotions all of this has violently hauled to the surface, he fears he just may suffer a mental break himself, repressed memories bursting like a vicious flood through the dam he desperately tried to seal them behind all those years back. Much of this is just... far too familiar.

His phone slips right through his trembling hands as the cruel reality of what he witnessed today finally begins to carve its indelible presence in his mind. A strained sob leaking from between his tightly pursed lips, he buries his head between his knees, clutching at the worn bottom hem of his jean shorts like an infant to a parent’s finger. Small. Vulnerable.

Helpless.

His son... oh stars, his only son, he—

He can’t talk about any of this to the Gems; they wouldn’t wholly grasp the uniquely human nature of his concerns. And he doesn’t feel comfortable discussing these matters with Dr. Maheswaran, especially not after the stern words she dealt to him back at the hospital. He’s burdened her enough already, by this point. No, there’s only one fellow human he feels close enough with to engage in this sort of conversation.

Taking a deep, cleansing breath, he reaches for the phone he dropped on the mattress. Turns it on. Nervously clamps down on his bottom lip as he selects his cousin’s contact and dials.

The passing heartbeats slamming against his ribs are almost nauseating in their needy clamor as he waits, his calloused fingers tapping against the thick rubber of his phone case. Andy’s never been a particularly tech savvy guy, so honestly, it’s well within reason he might not even carry his phone on his person to answer. And that’d be fine, really. In fact, he might even prefer it, since he’s still not confident he’s emotionally prepared to discuss any of this at this precise moment, anyways. But just as he’s beginning to undergo mental preparations for what on Earth he might leave as a voicemail message, his older family member finally picks up.

“Greg?” Andy’s gravelly voice rings through, sounding somewhat tinny through their connection. “Hey, it’s been a while, hasn’t it? How’s the ol’ Universe family unit doin’?”

“Not great, honestly,” he narrowly manages in response, his throat constricting tight. “That’s kinda why I’m calling, if you have the time to listen?”

“Heh. I’m a drifter, you know I ain’t got no schedule. Carry on.”

“Well... geeze, how do I put this. There was, uh... a bit of an incident today. With Steven.”

“An incident?” his cousin questions, marked worry immediately painting his tone. “The kid okay??”

He falls silent for a few seconds upon this question, threading his hyperactive digits through the split ends in his hair on automatic, a stress-induced habit. “Unclear,” he says, a slight quiver making itself intimately known in his words. “I mean, physically, at the moment, yes, but—“

He cuts off once more. It suddenly occurs to him that little of today’s events would make sense to Andy without providing the appropriate context. Or, at least, what little context he’s capable of giving as a father. It’s still terrifying to admit the truth to himself— that he doesn’t possess the full story. That he hasn’t been paying close enough attention. That, in many ways, he willfully blinded himself to all the troubling events transpiring around his son throughout the years, foolishly believing that if he didn’t involve himself... that if he simply stayed out of the Gems’ hair... everything would go to plan, and Steven would finally receive the training he needed. He didn’t expect things would grow so complicated.

He didn’t expect that his teenage son would have to march into battle carrying nothing but his wits and a shield time and time again.

With a weary sigh and a quick apology, to which Andy brushes off, Greg begins to weave a verbal picture of everything that’s transpired across the last few days. First, the hospital call. Rushing home from tour, only to find his son giant and flushed pink, literally filling an entire room with the sheer volume of his trauma. The shattered x-ray in his chart, hinting towards hidden hurts that— before all this— even Steven seemingly hadn’t processed or quantified. Then, the road trip. The unwanted reminders of his childhood. That blasted CD. His expression sobers as he describes the fateful argument they had on the road home, one which lead to his son accidentally breaking the steering wheel and flipping the van. Next... his disappearance. No texts for four whole days, which is so unlike him. He was worried sick. And the next time he saw him, he was eight feet tall, glowing, and painfully manic in behavior, with each new sentence spilling from his mouth revealing an even more heartbreaking picture of the sort of poor mental state he’d spiraled into. It was nothing short of a father’s worst nightmare, propelled into horrifying, vivid reality.

Nothing in this corner of the galaxy could’ve prepared him for the primal surge of terror and anguish he was engulfed within when that nightmare distorted and transformed even further.

His only son... colossal and coated in thick scales and spines, sclera black as night... roughly clawing at this unfamiliar form, smashing his skull against the cliffside, roaring with an inner pain so primal that the sound now haunts the depths of his very soul—

“I- you remember what happened with cousin Jo, back when we were young?” Greg says softly once he’s caught Andy up with the details of situation, his voice frail and unsteady, the tone of a man helplessly marooned amidst his anxieties. “Before she was sent to that mental rehab place? Well, I’m... with the addition of Gem magic, it almost felt like that. I mean, h-he’s fine for now, we have him resting, but... but I’m just so scared he won’t come out of this, like her, a-a-and that one day he’ll—“

A mewling sob bubbles up in his throat, swiftly severing that train of thought. N-no. No, he refuses to even utter that horrible idea out loud! After all, a world without Steven in it isn’t worth envisioning.

Andy’s eventual response— albeit tinged with a justified shade of awkwardness, given the emotionally charged nature of this conversation— is filled with genuine compassion, and for that he’s dearly thankful.

“Aw, hell... Greg, I’m- I’m so sorry. I, uh- I could fly over, if any of ya’ need me? For emotional support, or whatever?”

Upon this kind offer, he inhales deep to steady his breath, and wipes away dewy beads of moisture from the corner of his eyes, desperately hoping that he can mitigate the pitiful wavering of his voice over the phone. He’s gotta fight to reliably keep some form of composure in front of other people, damnit. His kid can’t have his dad breaking down around him too, of course.

“No, you’ve got places to be,” he replies evenly, pressing his thumb and pointer against one of his aching temples. “I couldn’t ask you to do that.”

“You ain’t asking,” he retorts, the eye-roll evident in his tone. “I’m offering. Listen- family takes care of family, y’hear? And I’m only about a day’s flight away, anyways. It’s really the least I could do.”

He sighs. Absentmindedly tugs at a thick strand of his hair. Offers a long, contemplative stare at the rickety age-worn handle affixed to the inside of the van’s back doors. Truth be told— ignoring his deep-seated guilt at dragging Andy into all this to begin with— he’d love having another family member around to embrace, especially a human one who can more deeply understand the crux of his anxieties about this delicate situation. But in the end, he shouldn’t be prioritizing his own feelings and comfort. He’s not the one in crisis, his son is.

Desperately hoping he’s making the right choice, Greg flexes his fingers, and acquiesces to the offer, on one condition: only if Steven consents to having visitors, once he’s awake.

Andy hums in approval. “Understood. Don’t wanna overload the poor guy with any surprise visits, or whatever.”

“Yeah. The last thing I want to do is push him too hard, too fast.”

He pauses, braving waves of parental grief to spend a moment to reflect on Steven’s emotional progression over the past few months... a stray negative comment here, an unusually forlorn mannerism there... All of them events that, in isolation, wouldn’t point to anything more than your standard ‘teenage angst,’ but when observed in strong, unceasing patterns, begin to reveal deeply harrowing truths about the state of an individual’s self-image. How did he never notice? Why wasn’t he there to catch him in his fall?

“I think he hates himself,” he says quietly, his voice hitching up at the end. “He didn’t say so directly, but- but I can sense it. And I don’t know how to help him, I-I... I don’t know if I can.”

“Nonsense,” his cousin scoffs, “‘course ya’ know what to do! What does any good father worth their salt give their sons?”

Unable to evade the momentary temptation of feeling miserable and sorry for himself, he slumps back against the wall, giving a weak shrug that his current audience would never see.

“I dunno, maybe a stable, safe childhood? Not growing up poor as dirt in a van?”

“No, you numbskull,” Andy immediately cuts back, “you love on ‘em and support ‘em just as much as you always have! Y’ show him that you’re always gonna be there for him, and that he can trust you with anything.”

“But I haven’t always been there for him,” he exclaims petulantly. “That’s the whole problem! That’s one of the reasons he ended up like this.”

“Greg,” he says, his voice softer this time. “Listen to me, ain’t nobody perfect, okay? We’ve all made our mistakes with people. Me? More than most. But what we can’t do is let those mistakes cloud what’s happening right now. Y’know, that’s one of the hard lessons I’ve had to learn over the past two years, that you can’t always make things about you. Because right now, it’s about him. He’s dealin’ with some hard feelings, and he needs all of our help. So, let’s help him. Together. We’ll start with one foot in front of us, and we can take it from there. All right?”

Closing his weary, exhausted eyes and pressing his thumb firm against his still-aching temple, Greg Universe gives a long sigh and finally concedes to the reality that— just as he’s not solely responsible for the decline of his son’s mental state— no man should be an island when it comes to the task of supporting one’s journey towards recovery. As with everything, the extended Universe family unit will face the future together, hand-in-hand. Step-by-step.

“Yeah,” he breathes. “Yeah, I think that’s do-able.”

#su #su future #greg universe #andy demayo #su fanfiction #my writing stuff

35 notes · View notes

3nd0fr3gss · 4 years ago

Text

Crystals: A Masterlist of Purposes, Correspondences & How To Use Them

@3nd0fr3gss

⚠️BEFORE I GET INTO THE POST, IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT THIS LIST IS NOT FINISHED⚠️

Crystals starting with “A”

Agate (Banded): is a stone of stability & balance. It can be used for protection, and aids in subtle healing. It is known for being related to the root chakra, and is good for grounding. It can inspire hope, change, and a spiritual connection within oneself. Do not cleanse with salt or sunlight. Moonlight, sound, and smoke cleansing work best with this crystal.

Amazonite: is a soothing stone. It calms the brain and nervous system and aids in maintaining optimum health. Balances the masculine and feminine energies. This stone can help you to see a problem or situation from different perspectives as well as your own. Do not cleanse with water or salt. Any other cleansing methods are fine to use.

Amethyst: is a natural tranquilizer, it relieves stress and strain, soothes irritability, balances mood swings, dispels anger, rage, fear and anxiety. The stone alleviates sadness and grief, and dissolves negativity. It can help activate spiritual awareness, open intuition, and enhance psychic abilities. Do not cleanse in sunlight or by burying it. However, any other methods of cleansing are fine.

Aquamarine: is a stone of courage. Its calming energies reduce stress and quiet the mind. This stone has an affinity with sensitive people, as it can invoke tolerance of others and help to overcome judgmentalism. This gives support to those overwhelmed by responsibility.

Crystals starting with “B”

Bloodstone: is an excellent blood cleanser and a powerful healing stone. It heightens intuition and increases creativity. This is a grounding and protecting stone, as it draws off negative environmental energy. This helps to overcome influences such as geopathic or electromagnetic stress.

Crystals starting with “C”

Carnelian: is a stabilizing stone. This stone can help to restore vitality, passion, creativity, and joy as well as to create stimulating energy in a healthy way. It gives courage, promotes creative energies by giving them an extra boost, and encourages positive changes. It can help motivate physical and mental/emotional changes in one's life. This stone is useful for helping to overcome the trauma following any kind of abuse. Do not cleanse with salt, sunlight, or water. Any other method of cleansing is fine to use.

Citrine: promotes motivation, activates creativity and encourages self-expression. This member of the quartz family can be energising and recharging. The stone also can help to reverse degenerative disease and help balance chemical imbalances in the body. Possibly beneficial in the treatment of diabetes, it can also stimulate digestion, and the functions of the spleen and pancreas.

Crystals starting with “G”

Garnet: is a balancing stone which brings serenity and passion, and can inspire new love & balance. Considered to be a stone of luck, it can be used to bring success in love, wealth, business, and creating change in oneself.

Goldstone (Red): is a motivating stone. Although manmade, this stone is good for a confidence boost, as well as promoting lighter energy. This type of Goldstone is used to aid in creating vitality into one’s life. Do not cleanse with water or salt. Any other methods of cleansing are fine.

Crystals starting with “H”

Hematite: is said to restore energy to crystals as well as help them to boost the other crystals’ effects. Contrary to popular belief, however, this stone will not break because of “bad energy” or plain negativity. Hematite is a metal (which is magnetic), and is very soft. It will break due to poor care for the stone, not due to unpleasant emotions. Do not cleanse with water, salt, or by burying the stone. Most other ways of cleansing are fine, but with sunlight cleansing, it will heat up fast, and can burn the next person to touch it when taken out of sunlight. For this reason, moonlight cleansing (under a full or new moon) is better for this stone.

Howlite: is a calming stone and aids in relaxation. Known for helping to reduce angry emotions in oneself, it can calm negative emotions aimed towards the stone’s owner as well. This stone is also good for reducing anxiety. Finally, it is also known for helping to reduce the effects of insomnia. Do not cleanse with salt, water, or by burying it. Instead, use sunlight or moonlight to avoid any possible damage done to the crystal.

Crystals starting with “J”

Jasper (Red): said to increase emotional stamina, self confidence, self-trust, emotional protection, courage, balance, calm and relaxation- this specific form of jasper can also be used for increasing memory of dreams and also increasing sexual vibrancy. Do not cleanse in salt/salt water. Any other cleansing methods are fine to use.

Jet: is said to help draw out negative energy and lower the effects of unreasonable fears. This stone- known to promote control over one’s emotions, thoughts, and actions; can also be used as a general stone to align the chakras.

Crystals starting with “K”

Kyanite (Blue): is known for helping to align certain chakras, such as the throat, third eye, and crown chakras. It provides the balance of Yin & Yang by allowing the dark to flow with the light instead of against it. Its calming properties are good for bringing tranquility & peace, as well as mental clarity. Do not cleanse with salt, water, sunlight, or by burying it. A preferred method of cleansing this stone is sound, smoke, or moonlight.

Crystals Starting with “L”

Labradorite: is the stone of transformation. This crystal is commonly known for pushing changes, whether this be in energy, habits, or just an appearance. This stone is very helpful for giving some extra strength to its user throughout the day if/when carried. It protects the aura, cleanses spaces of negativity, and transforms “bad” energy into more positive feelings. Do not cleanse this stone with water, salt, sunlight, or by burying it. It is best to be cleansed with moonlight or sound.

Lapis Lazuli: is used to aid in speaking the truth, as it is associated with the throat chakra. This stone inspires confidence, as well as helps to fight against anxiety & depression. It is known for its properties such as: purification, mental clarity, promoting positive energy, and helping to have the motivation to create something new, as well as helping to relieve some symptoms of insomnia. Do not cleanse this stone with water, salt, or by burying it. Instead, cleanse this with moonlight (from the new or full moon), smoke, or sound.

Crystals starting with “M”

Malachite: is the essence of joy, and is known as the "stone of transformation" because it helps reveal and heal emotional pain by absorbing the pain into itself. It is especially helpful in bringing ease during times of change and gives the insight needed for personal growth. Brings you to your highest energy level gently and is best used with a grounding stone. Do not cleanse in water or salt, but rather with noise or moonlight.

Moonstone: is a stone for “new beginnings”. This is a stone of inner growth and strength. It helps to soothe emotional instability and stress, as well as to stabilize the emotions, which then provides calmness & tranquility. It enhances intuition, promotes inspiration, success and good fortune in love and business matters.

Crystals starting with “O”

Obsidian (Black): as a strongly protective stone, it forms a shield against negativity. It blocks psychic attack and absorbs negative energies from the environment. This type of obsidian draws out mental stress and tension. It stimulates growth on all levels, urging exploration of the unknown and opening new horizons. Do not put it in salt/salt water or bury it in soil, but you can cleanse any other way.

Opal: is known as the seductive stone. It can intensify emotional states of any kind, as well as release hidden emotions. Wearing this stone is said to bring about loyalty and faithfulness. It has been said to be extremely beneficial in many physical realms as well, such as in treating infections and fevers.

Crystals starting with “Q”

Quartz (Aura): as crystals of spiritual elevation, this stone is remarkable for its powers of guidance and expansion to the soul. It provides serenity and peace during meditation, helping to deepen one’s attunement to the divine, as well as opens gateways to the angelic realm. It assists in remembering lessons from past incarnations and expands the awareness of one’s spiritual purpose for this lifetime. This member of the quartz family is highly protective during spiritual journeying, and can be an effective aid for conscious channeling & all types of inter-dimensional communications.

Quartz (Clear): known as the "master healer" and will amplify energy and thought, as well as the effect of other crystals. It absorbs, stores, releases and regulates energy. It harmonises all the chakras and aligns the subtle bodies.

Quartz (Rose): is known as a healing crystal and the stone of unconditional love. It's believed by some to emit strong vibrations of love, which are thought to support emotional relationships as well as to help heal and inspire compassion. Good for self love, friendship, family, and love. Do not cleanse in sunlight, but any other method is fine.

Quartz (Smoky): in addition to the generic healing properties of Quartz, Smokey Quartz is an excellent grounding stone. Smokey Quartz disperses fear, lifts depression and negativity. It brings emotional calmness, relieving stress and anxiety. The stone can also promote positive thoughts and actions, as well as alleviate suicidal tendencies. Do not cleanse in sunlight or by burying it. Any other cleansing methods are fine.

Quartz (Unicorn): this stone, made of Clear Quartz bonded with Gold and Titanium, produces vivid multi-colored metallic crystals. This type of Aura Quartz activates all the energy centers in the body, clearing a path for the Life Force to manifest throughout the subtle bodies, bringing in a vibrant energy and zest for life. Do not cleanse with sunlight or salt, but any other way is fine.

Crystals starting with “S”

Selenite: is said to be a powerful healing crystal that has the capability to self-cleanse. This stone promotes peace, calm energy, mental clarity, purification, and health. It is believed that this stone can remove negative energies and help connect its user to a higher realm. Cleansing is not needed with this stone, but if you choose to cleanse it anyways, do not cleanse with water, salt, sunlight, or by burying it.

Sodalite: as it is linked to the throat chakra, this stone helps the vocal cords and larynx. This then helps with hoarseness and digestive disorders. It can cool fevers, lower blood pressure, and stimulate the absorption of body fluids. This stone can help to prevent insomnia, as well as help to lower anxiety.

Sunstone: is linked to luck and good fortune. It clears and energises all the chakras. This stone instills good nature, helps to heighten the intuition, and allows the real form of self to shine through the body happily. It dissipates fearfulness, alleviates stress and increases vitality.

Crystals starting with “T”

Tiger Eye (Golden): is a crystal with beautiful bands of yellow-golden color throughout. This is a powerful stone that helps you to release fear and anxiety and aids harmony and balance. It stimulates taking action, and helps you to make decisions with discernment and understanding, and unclouded by your emotions. Do not cleanse in salt or water (or by burying it in soil), but any other way of cleansing is fine.

Tourmaline (Black): as a member of the Tourmaline family, it is a protective stone which repels and blocks negative energies and psychic attacks. It also aids in the removal of negative energies within a person or a space. The stone will cleanse, purify, and transform dense energy into a lighter vibration.

4 notes · View notes

minijenn · 6 years ago

Text

Same Old World Preview

Ahahahah this was so fucking easy to write and I swear to god its setting a great precedent for the rest of the chapter cause WOW I’m on a damn feels trip already ahahahah yessssss anyway here we go with a bunch of stupid sentimentality enjoy:

At this, the young Gem excused himself, making a clear beeline for the barn, only to be stopped just shy of entering it by none other than Mabel. “Steven,” she whispered, grabbing his hand and pulling him back just a bit. “Do you… do you think he’s ok? That they’re both ok?”

Steven frowned at this, sparing another glance back at the barn. By all accounts, shortly after arriving back to the barn with Lapis in tow, Dipper had seemed to be in immensely high spirits, absolutely relieved to finally have his close friend back from the grasp of the toxic prison of a fusion she had trapped herself within. However, it wasn’t very long after the young Gem had healed his battle wounds, that he had quietly retreated to the barn, no doubt intent on staying by the still-unconscious blue Gem until the moment she awakened. And it was a vigil he maintained even hours still, one that rung far too familiar with both Steven and Mabel to another, much more miring attempt Dipper had made only hours after Lapis had first locked herself away in the lake in the first place.

However, things were different now. Lapis was free, returned to them once more from the unforgiving depths of her and Jasper’s once-shared mind. The thought alone that the blue Gem was finally back was incredible enough for Steven and Mabel, but they could only imagine just how much more momentous it all must have been for someone as close to Lapis as Dipper was.

“Well,” Steven said somewhat diffidently, taking the initiative towards the barn once more. “I guess there’s only one way to find out.”

Mabel nodded, opting to remain quiet as her and Steven slowly peered into the barn. They largely lingered in the door frame, taking in the silent, yet surprisingly calming scene that lay before them. Lapis was still completely out of it, softly resting on a pile of hay the kids had prepared for her as she continued seemingly sleeping. Dipper, however, was wide awake and alert, his back turned to the barn entrance as he sat just a few feet away from the blue Gem, carefully watching and waiting and most of all thinking, though about what was really anyone’s guess. Unsure of what to say or do, Steven and Mabel exchanged a brief glance, though ultimately, the latter was the one who worked up the most nerve to finally speak up first.

“Uh… h-hey, bro-bro,” she called with a gentle smile. “How are you and uh, Lapis, doing in here?”

Dipper flinched, letting out a small, startled gasp as he glanced over his shoulder at them. The briefest hint of a tear was in the middle of rolling down his cheek, though he quickly wiped it away in the hopes that neither of them would notice. Even though they both easily had. “Oh! Uh, I—w-we’re fine,” he said, looking back towards Lapis once more. “We’re fine,” he said once more, this time a bit distantly, not really addressing the pair at all as he repeated himself a third time. “She’s fine…”

The small, frail sob he let out at this was more than enough to prompt both Steven and Mabel into action. Without a second thought, they both rushed over to his side, comforting hands on his shoulders as they prepared themselves to console him, only to find an absolutely elated smile on his face instead, even amidst the still steadily-flowing tears.

“D-Dipper?” Steven asked, equally concerned and confused.

“She’s back, you guys…” Dipper said, unable to hold back a small, joyous chuckle. “After all this time, after everything that’s happened, I-I finally—we finally have her back. It’s kind of hard to believe it, but this is real. It’s not just some dream or wish or something; it’s actually happening. Somehow, through some crazy twist of fate or something, I-I guess I really did keep my promise to her after all…”

“Are… are you gonna be ok, bro-bro?” Mabel asked softly, still gripping her brother’s shoulder supportively.

“Are you kidding? Of course I’m ok,” Dipper shook his head with yet another incredulous laugh. “I mean, this is all I’ve wanted for so long now and I finally got it. It’s just…” His smile finally faded as he trained his sights on Lapis’ listless form once more. “I’m worried that Lapis might not be so ok once she wakes up.”

“What do you mean?” Steven asked.

Dipper sighed, shaking his head sadly. “Lapis was trapped down there with Jasper for so long… I may not know everything about fusions, but that’s gotta have some kind of an impact on a Gem, and probably not a very good one at that. Especially since Malachite wasn’t the most… stable fusion in the world…”

Mabel and Steven exchanged a fretful glance at this, both of them taking on the same sort of concerns for Lapis’ wellbeing in light of this fact. While the blue Gem seemed fine physically, there was essentially no telling what her mental or emotional state would be like upon awakening. What she had gone through as Malachite truly was traumatic, and chances were the mere act of freeing her from that twisted fusion in and of itself wouldn’t completely heal all the anguish she had been through. After all, that was a fact the kids knew far too well when it came to the varied trauma they had been through all their own.

“I see you’re all worried about your friend.” The kids all turned, surprised, to see Garnet, standing in the barn’s entryway and surveying the anxious group calmly.

“Y-yeah…” Steven nodded truthfully. “When I saw her in my dreams, it looked like she was fighting so hard to keep Malachite from escaping.”

“And even back on the island, Jasper just kept pushing her back down into Malachite’s mind over and over again,” Dipper added, his tone making his disdain for the orange Gem quite clear. “It was like she was trapped, unable to even control her own body at all. I know way too well just what that’s like…”

“Its true; Lapis spent an unbearable amount of time fused with Jasper,” Garnet said, adjusting her shades. “The emotional and physical strain of that type of fusion… I can’t even imagine. She’s gonna need a lot of time to recover. So it’s a good thing she has friends like you to help her do just that.”

Upon this reassurance, Steven and Mabel were both quick to perk up in the hopes that they really could help Lapis heal in some way, even if it was only a small one. “Right,” they both nodded, determined to do whatever they could for the blue Gem once she awakened.

“Now, come on,” Garnet encouraged with a small grin as she beckoned them out of the barn. “I’m dying to hear more about what happened underground.”

While Mabel and Steven easily complied at this request and began to follow after the Gem leader, Dipper opted to stay behind instead, something that the young Gem in particular noticed as he stopped short briefly. “Uh… Dipper? Are you coming?”

“No, I think I’ll hang out here,” Dipper said, waving the young Gem off as he turned back to face Lapis. “Just in case she wakes up anytime soon, you know?”

“…Yeah,” Steven nodded, completely understanding Dipper’s reasons for doing so. After all, he had been so long without the blue Gem that it only made sense that he’d want to linger by her side as much as he was able now that she had returned.

“But just a heads up, you’re gonna be missing out on one pretty epic story!” Mabel called as her and Steven left the barn, followed by Garnet soon after. The Gem leader did stop short, however, upon noticing another figure standing just shy of the barn’s entrance, largely remaining scarce so the kids wouldn’t notice he had been eavesdropping the entire time. Yet even so, Garnet, of course, hard.

“Ford,” she spoke up, only briefly glancing over her shoulder at the author.

“G-Garnet!” Ford exclaimed, startled and flustered and quite hard-pressed to explain himself. “I was just-”

“You don’t worry,” Garnet assured with a small, knowing smile. “I have a feeling she’ll be glad to see you again.”

The author said nothing to this, his eyes wide with alarm as he glanced between the barn door and the Gem leader before accepting her foresight with a terse nod and heading off. After all, his reunion with the blue Gem would come soon enough; far be it from him to take that first, most important reunion between her and his own nephew instead.

#hahaha that bit at the end tho #looks like some theories were confirmed #whoop whoop #jen writes #universe falls #uf preview #same old world

18 notes · View notes

witchynyxie-blog · 5 years ago

Text

Crystals and Stones!

One of my favourite parts about witchcraft is the crystals; there are so many different colours, shapes and meanings to each one. My personal favourite, one I’ve been drawn to, is rose quartz; the crystal of unconditional love. All the info I’ve gotten about crytals, including the graph I’ll include at the bottom are taken directly from: https://www.groveandgrotto.com/blogs/articles/gemstones-and-their-meanings

As per the list they have there, this is only a sort of Masterpost of 40 different types of crystals and their uses.

Amazonite: Serenity, creativity and self-expression. Clears self-doubt and is good for performers and artists.

Amethyst: One of the most powerful crystals. Amethyst is great for meditation and for managing the emotions. It calms anxiety and balances fear and excess. Amethyst gently stimulates dreams and visions, inspiring you to become your highest self. There are countless colors and shapes of Amethyst, each with slightly different properties.

Angelite: Formed by millions of years being compressed. Pre-compression, it is celestite. Soothing and uplifting. Can assist in communicating with ancient spirits. Do Not Submerge Into Water!!

Apatite: Apatite is a semi-precious gem that can be found in a wide range of colors, most often green or blue. Apatite is a stone of confidence, truth, and creativity. It is used by energy workers to help balance overactive energy centers and stimulate underactive ones. Apatite is a wonderful crystal for working with the Third Eye and Throat Chakras. It helps awaken and develop gifts of clairvoyance, telepathy, and lucid dreaming. Apatite brings mental clarity and improved communication. It makes it easier to speak to others with authenticity and directness.

Black Onyx: Black Onyx is a glossy dark gemstone that evokes the deep and restful properties of Earth. It is a stabilizing, balancing stone said to assist with mastery of the body's energy. Black Onyx can strengthen determination and willpower, and help bring wisdom in difficult circumstances.

Black Tourmaline:One of the premier protective stones, Black Tourmaline has long been used as a shield against evil spirits and negative energy. A Root Chakra stone, it helps in grounding and releasing stress and emotional baggage. (It is especially useful for empaths.) Black Tourmaline is also considered a lucky stone—rub a piece of Black Tourmaline when you need a little extra boost of luck!

Blue Aventurine: Blue Aventurine is a naturally colored Quartz crystal. Sometimes called "Blue Quartz" it gets its color and shimmer from tiny inclusions of other minerals. It combines the energy-boosting properties of Quartz with the soothing quality of the color blue. In crystal magick, Blue Aventurine is used for stress relief and healing of the heart and mind. It gently enhances communication and stimulates creativity.

Blue Calcite: Blue Calcite is a calming, relaxing stone with an especially high vibration. It is used in rituals of healing and purification, or carried as an amulet to relieve pain and anxiety. Blue Calcite corresponds to the element of Water and the Throat Chakra. It gently amplifies energy and assists in recalling dreams and astral travel. Calcite is also found in yellow, green, orange, and pink varieties—but Blue Calcite is certainly the most beautiful.

Blue Goldstone: Blue Goldstone (or Blue Sandstone) is a dark blue, almost purple stone with tiny sparkles throughout. It is formed by adding copper salts to molten glass using a unique cooling process. This synthetic gem was reputedly accidentally created by Italian monks practicing alchemy, hence the name Goldstone. Despite its laboratory origins, Blue Goldstone is a very popular choice for mystical items. A piece of Blue Goldstone looks just like a midnight sky full of stars! It is an inspiring stone that encourages confidence and courage, and places one’s dreams within reach.

Carnelian:Carnelian is a red-orange, semiprecious stone that has been prized since ancient times for its captivating color. Its bold energy brings a rush of warmth and joy that lingers, stimulating courage and desire. Carnelian resonates with the Sacral Chakra, and is traditionally worn to inspire love and passion. Carnelian may be solid orange or have red and white bands—the banded variety is sometimes called Red Agate.

Citrine:Citrine is a member of the Quartz family of minerals. Golden and sparkling like a drop of sunlight, Citrine is said to bring the solar qualities of warmth and happiness to the wearer. Because Citrine resonates with the Solar Plexus Chakra, it stimulates vitality, willpower, and personal strength. Citrine is said to be one of the only crystals that cannot hold negativity, and experience bears this out. Try to charge a piece of Citrine with crappy vibes sometime and see how long you can keep a frown on your face. Quite a lot of the Citrine on the market is heat-treated Amethyst—the two are chemically similar and are sometimes found together in a stone called Ametrine.

Clear Quartz:Clear Quartz is possibly the most versatile and magickal of all gemstones. Clear Quartz amplifies energy and thought, acting as a powerful aid to psychic perception. It balances and revitalizes the subtle bodies and brings all the chakras into harmony. Clear Quartz makes an excellent “memory stone” because of its ability to absorb, store, and release energy. It may be used in combination with any other stones, enhancing their effects. Clear Quartz is often used in crystal grids to direct and amplify the energy of the other stones. Special designations like Record Keeper Quartz, Lemurian Quartz, and Phantom Quartz are sometimes used. They may refer either to the shape of the crystal or the patterns of inclusions found within.

Dalmatian Stone:Dalmatian Stone (sometimes called Dalmatian Jasper) is a beige stone with black spots like a puppy dog. You might think, then, that this stone is related to the doggy world--and you would be right. Dalmatian stone is used to cultivate loyalty and enhance family bonds. An earthy stone, it helps ground and connect you to the here and now. Some people use Dalmatian Stone to boost communication with canine familiars.

Fluorite:Fluorite is a highly structured crystal that may be clear, green, purple, blue, yellow or a mix of these colors. Green Fluorite is the most common. It has a fresh, clean vibe that matches its spring-green color. Fluorite offers an organized, high spiritual vibration to any person, place, or object it touches. It helps to disperse chaotic or stagnant energy. Fluorite may be used to cleanse and balance the aura, boost mental acuity, and protect the bearer on the physical and psychic levels. Green Fluorite resonates with the Heart chakra and promotes feelings of abundance and well-being. This unearthly stone also helps interdimensional communication, especially with Nature Spirits and Fae folk.

Garnet:Garnet is a stone of love, strength, glory, and devotion. Garnet has been prized since at least Egyptian times, when it was known as the "Blood of Isis." Dark red in color, Garnet is considered to be Root Chakra stone with a protective vibration. Use in crystal grids and charms for psychic shielding. Garnet is said to help balance the energy system and encourage love and loyalty.

Green Aventurine: Green Aventurine is a quartz-based stone colored by mineral inclusions. It is one of the best all-around crystals for prosperity, happiness, and well-being. The name comes from the Italian word for chance, and carrying the stone is supposed to protect a person from bad luck. Aventurine is linked to the Heart Chakra. It promotes creativity, contentedness, and feelings of abundance.

Hematite: Hematite, a natural form of iron, is a strongly grounding and protective gemstone. The ancients noted it for its resemblance to blood, and the name means “blood stone.” Hematite is common in protective amulets because of its mirror-like quality—it is said to deflect any negativity deflected at the wearer. (Some also use Hematite mirrors for scrying.) Synthetic Hematite (known as Hematine or Hemalyke) is often carved into shapes for jewelry. Just about every teenager loves Hematite, and that’s probably no coincidence. It is excellent stone for anyone experiencing mental or emotional strain.

Howlite: Howlite is a white stone with wispy veins of grey. (Howlite is frequently dyed to make imitation Turquoise which is how most people first encounter the stone.) This humble mineral is useful for calming an overactive or troubled mind. It aids in dispelling fear, resentment, anxiety, and anger and replaces them with gentle self-awareness. It is known as a stone of wisdom and compromise. Working with Howlite can help you learn to communicate difficult issues without causes offense. Some also use Howlite as a sleeping aid.

Labradorite: Labradorite is a variety of feldspar known for its iridescent optical effects, or “now-you-see-it-now-you-don’t” flashes of color. Usually green-grey, the stone has spectral shades of blue, green, and copper. In crystal lore, Labradorite brings deep spiritual insight and connection with the other realms. It stimulates mental and intuitive gifts and acts upon the entire energy body. Labradorite is also associated with Faery trickery and portal magick. High-grade Labradorite is sometimes marketed as Spectrolite.

Lapis Lazuli: Lapis Lazuli is a deep blue semi-precious stone that has been prized since antiquity for its rare color. It often includes tiny specks of gold-colored pyrite, which make it shimmer like a sky full of stars. Lapis Lazuli is regarded as a stone of harmony and truth. Its deep, celestial blue remains the symbol of royalty and honor, gods and power, spirit and vision. Lapis Lazuli resonates with the Third Eye chakra, expanding psychic awareness and stimulating attunement to higher wisdom.

Lepidolite: A variety of Mica, Lepidolite is a lilac-grey stone with a subtle shimmer. In crystal healing, Lepidolite is a stone of serenity. It contains the element Lithium, a natural mood enhancer. Lepidolite is said to relieve stress, assist with healing and balancing, and gently encourage spiritual growth.

Mahogany Obsidian: Mahogany Obsidian is a little-known version of the popular volcanic stone. It gets its brick-red color from the inclusion of small amounts of iron oxide. Originating within the depths of the Earth, Mahogany Obsidian resonates with the Root Chakra. It supports integrity and courage, even under difficult circumstances. Use Mahogany Obsidian for protection magick, ancestor work, and underworld journeying.

Malachite:One of the most prized ornamental stones, Malachite is characterized by its green bands and whorls in a variety of patterns. Malachite has a long list of positive effects for the crystal user: Boosting personal energy, stimulating creativity, blocking negative emotions, and transmuting trauma into wisdom. Malachite is an ore of copper, the metal of Venus. As a Venus stone, Malachite guides you to appreciate the beauty of the natural world and engage deeply with its pleasures. Malachite is also associated with wealth—both material possessions and the spiritual wealth that comes with experiences of love.

Moonstone: Found in soft shades of white, pink, and bone, Moonstone is soothing to look and to hold. Moonstone is connected to the magic of the Moon, and is traditionally used as an amulet for travelers, a token of love, and a symbol of mysticism. Moonstone is said to comfort and soften the heart while it stimulates the psychic mind. Rainbow Moonstone, with its iridescent flashes, is especially prized as a stone of Lunar magick.

Moss Agate: Moss Agate, also known as Tree Agate or Dendritic Agate, is a semi-opaque stone with swirls of white and green that look like moss. All Agates are respected as healing and protective stones, but Moss Agate is a special favorite of green Witches. It is especially attractive to nature spirits and can assist you with making a deeper connection to the Earth.

Prehnite:Prehnite is a yellow-green stone that may be translucent or opaque. It often contains needles of black Rutile. One of the best stones for healers and wisdom-seekers, Prehnite helps you confront tough realities with patience and grace. It helps to heal the heart, removing old hurts and blockages from the energetic body. It has the power to “heal the healer” and is a valuable amulet for empaths. Prehnite supports magickal learning at a safe and sustainable pace. It unlocks gifts of empathy and clairsentience. Some users report that it aids in past-life recall.

Pyrite: Pyrite is a cubic mineral often called “fool’s gold” —but only a fool would neglect its magickal uses. Pyrite’s mirror-like surfaces are said to deflect negativity and ill luck when carried as a charm. Its name comes from the Greek word for “fire” —like flint, Pyrite-bearing stones can make sparks when struck together. A mineral of the Sun, Pyrite is associated with all the Apollonian qualities: Logic, success, clarity, confidence, and vitality. Pyrite’s resemblance to gold nuggets makes it an obvious choice for money-drawing magick.

Red Goldstone: Red Goldstone (or Red Sandstone) is a red-orange gem with tiny golden sparkles throughout. It is formed by adding copper salts to molten glass using a unique cooling process. It is a Root/Sacral chakra stone that encourages creativity, confidence, and drive.

Red Jasper: Red Jasper is a strongly protective and healing stone. Historically, Red Jasper has been a talisman of warriors and a token of strength. The red color comes from deposits of iron oxide. This iron resonates with the Root Chakra and with the blood, and aids a person with grounding to the stabilizing energies of the earth. Red Jasper promotes vibrancy, endurance, and stability.

Rhodonite: Rhodonite is a pink gemstone with veins of black Manganese creating a marbled look. All mixed stones are thought to aid in reconciling and balancing opposing energies. Rhodonite is a particularly powerful healing stone for relationships. It encourages clear communication, emotional stability, and releasing of fear from the heart.

Rose Quartz: The sweetheart of the crystal world, Rose Quartz is known as the stone of unconditional love. Rose Quartz emits a calm, peaceful energy. It soothes the heart and helps one to overcome past suffering. Wear an amulet of Rose Quartz to learn to become more loving and more able to accept love from others. Rose Quartz is commonly used in love-drawing spells and charms.

Ruby Fuchsite: Ruby Fuchsite is two minerals in one—precious red Ruby and soft green Fuchsite. It is a popular mineral for healing wands and massage stones. A heart-centered stone, Ruby Fuchsite encourages personal transformation, compassion, and trust in others. Ruby Fuchsite is an excellent emotional healer. It helps with self-integration and balancing the messages of the intellect and intuition. Ruby Fuchsite instills a sense of peace and protects the user from negative emotions brought on by the words and actions of others.

Selenite: Selenite is a variety of gypsum, a mineral related to Quartz. It is known as the stone of clarity, and is renowned by crystal lovers for its high vibrational frequency and peaceful energy. Selenite resonates with the Crown chakra, helping to connect the use with higher wisdom and intuition. It gently opens all the chakras, preparing the etheric body for energy work. It is an excellent choice for meditation, healing work, and spiritual discovery. Selenite is quite soft—softer than most of the other crystals on this list—so don’t soak it in water or let it knock around with your other stones.

Serpentine:With its spotted green and black appearance, Serpentine is named for its resemblance to snakeskin. Sometimes called “New Jade,” Serpentine is found in various patterns in deposits around the world. It was known to the ancients, who used it as a talisman against snakebites and poisons. Serpentine is one of the most psychically active Earth stones, and some specimens contain deposits of Magnetite (natural magnetic stone). Serpentine encourages the unlocking of magickal secrets and observation of the spiritual planes. It is an excellent complement to wisdom-seeking and shamanic practices. Partner with Serpentine for rites of initiation, deep meditation, and working with kundalini energy. Because its powerful energy can be disruptive, Serpentine is often paired with balancing and grounding crystals.

Sodalite: Beautiful, swirly Sodalite is mainly blue with deposits of White Calcite mixed in. It is related to the stone Lapis Lazuli. Sodalite is an excellent stone for promoting mental clarity and self-expression. Because Sodalite’s blue hue resonates with the Throat Chakra, it is said to aid communication. Sodalite helps dispel anger, helping the user handle difficult situations with grace. It may stimulate latent psychic and creative abilities.

Snowflake Obsidian: Snowflake Obsidian is a type of natural volcanic glass, created when grey crystals form in rapidly cooling black lava. Obsidian has long been considered an especially magickal stone. It is strongly protective and cleansing. Use Obsidian to banish negative energy, and to delve deeply into inner truths. Obsidian is a gemstone but not, precisely speaking, a crystal—the molecular structure is amorphous rather than crystalline.

Sunstone: As its name hints, Sunstone is bursting with gentle solar energy. It brings warmth and radiance to meditative or magickal practice. It is a stone of leadership and personal power, as well as abundance and generosity. Sunstone combines the fiery power of the Sun with the grounding Earth energies, making it an excellent stone for manifesting your desires. Use Sunstone to strengthen your resolve, boost charisma, banish doubts, and inject fresh positive energy into any project or relationship. Most consider Sunstone to be a Sacral Chakra stone, but it can also awaken and soothe the Solar Plexus and Heart Chakras.

Tiger’ Eye: Tiger’s Eye is a natural Quartz-based stone that comes in gold, red, and blue varieties. Gold Tiger’s Eye corresponds to the Solar Plexus Chakra. Tiger’s Eye combines the brilliant energy of the sun with the grounding properties of earth and stone. Using Tiger’s Eye is said to improve focus, will, and personal power. Just like the fierce animal that is its namesake, Tiger’s Eye inspires courage and grace—and the ability to act decisively without illusion.

Unakite: This unique stone was first discovered in the Unakas mountains of North Carolina. It is a granite-like stone with mottled green and pink patterns. Its other name, Epidote, means "growing together" in Greek. In crystal healing, Unakite is used to draw off negative energy from the Heart Chakra. It is said to encourage confidence and healthy balance, and to aid in resolving personal differences.

In the future, I’ll most likely make posts more in depth about each individual stone, but for now, this will do.

#magick #baby witch #crystals #stones #grove and grotto #not my property #meanings #divination #witchy #witchblr #masterpost #witch masterpost

5 notes · View notes