Chapter Text
Four Months Later
April
Two Days Before Beach City Pride
Little Homeworld
Outside the Gem Gym
This really is a lovely town, Lapis mused, inhaling the salty air blowing off the ocean deeply. She tucked her hands behind her head, lounging back in the comfortable deck chair, eyes closed behind her sunglasses as the warm sun shone down. Tucked under the chair, her phone was open to TubeTube, playing a medley of Calypso music to really fit the mood. From the Gem Gym, just in front of her, the slightly muffled sounds of walls rumbling, shouts of exertion, and a cracking whip. Perhaps the occasional tiny explosion.
“Ahhhh… this is the life.”
From her left, Peridot glanced up from her tablet, cross-legged atop a large plastic cooler. “You do know you don’t have to tan, right?”
Lapis shrugged. “Feels good. Makes my pores feel all tingly.”
“I’m not entirely certain that Gems even have pores.”
“You hush.”
Behind her, the sound of the Warp Pad lighting up. A familiar click-clack of flip-flops. “G’morning, Lapis! Morning, Peridot!” Came Steven’s wonderful, welcome voice. He had wrapped the sleeves of his pink jacket around his waist, allowing his upper arms to enjoy some sun.
Grinning, Lapis slid her sunglasses off of her nose. “Hey, buddy!” She wrapped Steven in a hug from her spot on the deck chair, ruffling her fingers through his dark curls.
From inside the Gem Gym, a voice shouted “MOKO TAKABISHA!!!” There was the sound of a massive energy blast as the windows at the top of the walls lit up brightly for several seconds. As the light died down, the sounds of fighting continued from within.
Lapis glanced to her left. “That’s another one. Peridot?”
Looking away from her tablet for only a moment, Peridot leaned forward and plucked a piece of chalk from the ground next to her. She added a tally mark to the 25 others scattered around her in groups of five. The mark having been made, she hopped down from the cooler, reached inside, and produced a pair of cold cans of lemonade.
“Steven, catch!”
Smiling, Steven gladly caught the two thrown drinks as Peridot resumed her spot atop the cooler. He passed one to Lapis, cracking his own open as he looked up at the Gem Gym.
Inside, there was the familiar high-pitched whine of a Quartz Spin attack kicking into gear, followed by the loud CLANGS of said attack ricocheting off several walls.
Attached to the front doors of the Gem Gym, a piece of paper held up by the world’s most valiant strip of scotch tape proclaimed “TEMPORARILY CLOSED DUE TO FRIENDLY BRAWL.”
Steven whistled. “Dang. They’re still goin’ at it, huh?”
Lapis nodded, sliding her sunglasses back on. “Sure are. Still haven’t let up.”
“How many days has it been? Six?”
From his right: “Seven, as of today.”
Steven turned, observing Bismuth on the same bench she’d been slouched on for the past three days. Chin in her hands, Bismuth glared at the Gem Gym with an anger that had long subsided into a tired resignation.
With a sound like the combination of Amethyst yelling and a large beast of burden bellowing, a distinctly buffalo-shaped dent suddenly sprung outward in the wall above the gym door. A pair of very purple horns stuck out through the brickwork, before withdrawing back into the fight.
Steven winced. “Hoo boy.” He plopped down on the bench next to the blacksmith, giving her a gentle pity-pat on the back. “You’re, ah, still mad, huh?”
Bismuth gave him a deadpan look. “I asked Peridot to run some calculations for how long it’ll take to fix the damages those two knuckleheads are racking up in there.” Bismuth raised her voice, calling over to Peridot. “What did you say the result was?”
Peridot held up her tablet in one hand, open to a calculator app. “The calculator laughed at me, that’s what the result was.”
From within the gym: “FIST OF THE WEAPONIZED FIRE EXTINGUISHER!” CLONG. CLONG. CLONG. CLONG.
Bismuth, audibly gritting her teeth, slowly sat upright, massaging her temples with her fingers. “I am calm… I am relaxed… Woosah… Woosah…”
Lapis eased herself up from her suntanning session, holding her still-closed can of lemonade. She sauntered leisurely over to Bismuth, pressing the cold can to the back of her neck. “Cheer up, Bismuth. At least you’ll be able to rebuild the gym even better than it was before.”
“Not. Helping.”
Snickering to herself, Peridot waved Steven over. “So, Steven! Pride is just a couple of days away. Any plans for this year?”
Grinning broadly, Steven flashed a thumbs-up. “Sure are! Sheena’s actually gonna be coming over later to help me with a Thing. Plus, here’s something cool! Connie’s long-distance girlfriend is gonna be coming on a bus! They get to meet face-to-face for the first time!”
Lapis smiled as she eased back into her deck chair. “That’s cool! I’ve been wanting to meet this long-distance girlfriend of hers I keep hearing about. If she’s been able to impress Connie Maheswaran, Defender Of Earth, then that’s someone I gotta meet!”
Steven nodded. “I’ve talked to her a few times over video calls. She’s super cool! And she gave me permission to let you guys know, she’s nonbinary and her pronouns are she/they.”
Lapis nodded, pumping a fist. “Rock on. Actually, what’s their name? I don’t think either of you have told me.”
“Oh! Sorry, her name is-“
Peridot raised a finger. “Hold that thought, Steven. Has it gotten quieter in there all of a sudden?”
All present paused, listening. Indeed, the ruckus inside the Gem Gym had finally died down, for the first time in a week. The sound of debris settling rattled the walls.
Steven squinted his eyes, trying to peer through the frosted glass from several feet away. “Should we go check on them?”
As if on cue, the doors to the gym burst open outward. Their arms around each other, Ranma and Amethyst came staggering into the sunlight, both howling with laughter. Both were covered in bruises, clothes torn, hair frazzled in every direction.
Bismuth immediately rose from her spot on the bench, hustling quickly past the two and into the entrance of the ruined gym. Hands on her head, she shrieked in horror. “MY GYM! MY BEAUTIFUL GYM!!!”
Still cackling like a hyena, Amethyst hugged Ranma closer to her. “Oh my gosh, Ranma! I haven’t had that much fun in a fight in… HA, ever!”
Giggling giddily, Ranma hugged Amethyst back just as tightly. “I’ve never been able to just let loose with all my skills in a for-fun match! Amethyst, you are so freaking cool!”
Smirking, Lapis rose from her deck chair once more. “Looks like you two had a ball.”
Catching her girlfriend’s eye, Ranma nodded enthusiastically. “Oh man, Lapis, it was so fun!”
Angel Aura Quartz’s familiar rumble of a laugh signaled her arrival to the scene. She looked over the two with a fanged grin. “I think that’s the first Quartz Fight Club match to keep going after the usual end time, much less for a full week. Who won?”
Amethyst snapped her fingers into a finger-gun with a wink. “Wouldn’t you like to know, blondie!”
Chuckling at the two’s contagious enthusiasm, Steven raised an inquisitive finger. “How the heck have you guys not collapsed yet?”
Ranma and Amethyst blinked, looked each other in the eye, blinked once more, and then proceeded to almost melt onto the pavement.
Ranma lay on her back, her arms and legs splayed wide. Amethyst plopped forward, lying on her front, her face pressed against the ground. “Shteven… call Connie… tell her to come here and poof me. Just for a while.”
Peridot sat down astride Amethyst’s back, and began to massage and knead her shoulders. Amethyst moaned at the sensation. “Aw, Peri… you’re an angel…”
Lapis crouched down, smiling, and leaned down to kiss her girlfriend on the lips for the first time in a week. “Missed ya.”
Ranma chuckled exhaustedly. “Missed ya too, Lapis.”
“Are you gonna let Steven use his spit on you this time?” Lapis queried, surveying Ranma’s impressive collection of bruises.
Ranma shook her head, still grinning. “Not a chance. Healing up from this is gonna hurt so good.”
“Are you gonna be able to get up to the apartment so you can rest up?”
Ranma nodded. “Oh yeah, sure.” She tensed her hands, preparing herself. “Se, no…”
Ranma’s heroic effort to spring to her feet was cut short by a sudden sound of a slide whistle as her legs gave out on her, causing her to SMACK into the ground face-first, her thumb, index, and pinky fingers extended. “BLERGLE!”
Lapis, having not moved from her crouch at Ranma’s side, sighed dramatically, before easing one arm under Ranma’s collapsed form. With a single grunt, she rose to her feet, Ranma’s limp form held over one muscular shoulder. “I’m gonna go take this one home so she can collapse for a week.”
Ranma rose a single finger. “Not true. This is a 3-day rest-up at most.”
Steven offered a wave in the middle of his helping Peridot haul Amethyst to her feet. “See ya later, Lapis!”
Peridot waved as well with her free hand. “I’ll be home later, Lapis! See you guys then!”
As the two groups went their separate ways, Angel Aura sidled uncomfortably behind Bismuth, who was glaring into the wrecked gym, fists clenched. A metal air vent fell to the floor with a loud clatter.
“So, uh… when do you think this place’ll be fixed up?”
Bismuth gave her a vicious glare with the strength of a solar flare. “Die. Die right now. Die, and on the third day rise again, so you may die once more.”
Chuckling, Lapis strode evenly into the Barn’s lobby, her girlfriend sprawled over her shoulder.
“Aren’t you supposed to carry a poor damsel like moi in both arms, in front of you?” Ranma snarked.
“Are you telling me you aren’t enjoying the view you’re currently getting?” Lapis dryly remarked back, adding a sashay into her step as she entered the waiting elevator.
Ranma hummed thoughtfully, looking down at Lapis’s beautiful Gem and her delightfully muscular, exposed back. “Got me there, Blue.” She lazily traced one finger over the Gem’s sculpted back muscles.
Lapis giggled at the ticklish sensation, pressing her cheek into Ranma’s hips, held atop Lapis’s shoulder. “I know I’m having fun with this.”
Lapis gave the button for their floor an agile hip bump, and the elevator began to hum its way upward.
Ranma giggled, awkwardly pressing her own upside-down cheek against Lapis’s back. “Were you really waiting for me out there all week?”
“Sure was. I’m a Gem, you develop patience when you’re a few thousand years old.”
“Yeah, I know, it’s just…” Ranma hummed softly, feeling the gentle caress of sleep begin to prickle at the edges of her consciousness. “That means a lot to me, Blue. Thank you.”
The elevator doors dinged as they reached their floor. Lapis smiled. “Love you, Ranma.”
“Love you, Lapis. I missed you all week.”
“Me too.”
Lapis’s Gem glowed blue as she approached the door to the apartment/studio. The lock hummed, and she nudged the door open. Pausing just inside, she used her free hand to slide Ranma’s shoes off, letting them clunk roughly to the ground. She slid her own sandals off as well, as had become the custom these days, feeling the cool hard floor of the studio under her feet.
In the past four months, the studio-living room space had seen some changes. On the far right, in the corner, a decently sized home gym and dojo was set up on a rubber mat. A punching bag hung from a chain, along with a bench and a selection of weights.
On the stretch of wall between the doors to the bathroom and Peridot’s Evil Lab/Bedroom, the Trans flag that had been hung up for Candlenights had been moved and hung, next to an orange and pink Lesbian flag.
The apartment’s kitchen, which had rarely been used by Lapis and Peridot, was now filled with various foods and ingredients, for when their new roommate felt like cooking.
On the sculpture podium in the center, a plush cushion now sat to the side, where Ranma would occasionally sit and join Lapis as she worked, just to enjoy each other’s company. As she passed the podium, Lapis ran a finger over the red Chinese shirt, hung over the back of her easel’s chair.
The DVD shelf next to the Couch With The Good Texture now had an expanded collection of cheap kung-fu films and anime, that had been contributed to the shelf with Peridot’s approval.
A blanket, red fleece, had been tossed over the back of the Couch, where it was shared on quiet evenings.
Also, a string of fairy lights had been hung up around the ceiling. That one had nothing to do with Ranma, it had been Peridot’s idea, but it was nice.
Carefully adjusting her grip, Lapis began the climb up the stairs to the loft bedroom, which she now shared on a permanent basis. She nudged the curtain aside with her spare hand, allowing it to fall closed behind them.
In her and Ranma’s bedroom, a large bed poked out into the center, an impossibly comfortable thing that one could easily get addicted to. The carpet, plush enough to lose your feet in, rustled under her as Lapis gently plopped Ranma onto the mattress.
Ranma, already half-asleep from exhaustion, feebly groped one hand at the dresser. “Hang on… lemme change…”
Lapis shook her head as she lay down next to Ranma, pulling her close. “Mm-mmm. No. You sleep now. I haven’t cuddled you in a week, darn it.”
“ ‘m all sweaty n’ gross tho…”
Lapis nuzzled into Ranma’s shoulder. “Don’t care.”
Ranma laughed as she conceded defeat. She hugged Lapis close. “Mmmine.”
“Mine.”
“Yours.” They chorused.
Late That Afternoon
The Temple
Steven wrinkled his nose. “Holy Gosh, that stuff smells so bad.”
Sheena gave a sympathetic shrug, as she continued to work the ammonia-stinking slime into Steven’s dark hair with her gloved hands. “Yeah, this stuff’ll clear out a room. Trust me, though, you’re gonna look so good when we’re done.”
Sheena stepped carefully over the cheap towels she had laid out around Steven’s chair on the kitchen floor. “This color should last you about two, three weeks, or seven washes. However you want to space it out.”
Despite the acrid scent of the dye burrowing into his nose, Steven managed a smile. “Thank you so much for helping me with this, Sheena.”
“It’s no prob, my dude. I love doing this for people. Thank you for letting me help you with it.”
Satisfied at the coating over Steven’s hair, Sheena carefully removed her plastic gloves, discarding them into the trash can. “And with that, the hard part’s over. Let that sit for about an hour, then rinse.”
Steven flashed Sheena a thumbs-up as he stood, stretching his arms over his head, carefully avoiding touching his hair with his arms. “Y’wanna do anything while we wait?”
Sheena shrugged, setting a one-hour timer on her phone. “I’m good for just chilling if you want.”
“Sounds good.”
55 Minutes Later…
Time passed.
Steven and Sheena sat, idly relaxing on their respective phones.
Steven was just clicking around on a word game he was fond of, when the Warp Pad suddenly lit up brightly.
Garnet’s smooth voice called out. “Paging Doctor Universe.”
Steven glanced up. “Oh, hey Garnet! What’s-“ His eyes widened. “Hoo boy.”
Garnet, Pearl, and Bismuth had warped in together. Garnet was holding up Pearl, who looked like she were about to pass out. Her jacket appeared to have grown two sizes, and was slowly increasing in size on her lithe frame, growing like kudzu in a rainstorm. Though Garnet was as cool and collected as always, Bismuth was looking increasingly worried.
In the center of Pearl’s forehead, her Gem had a thin, jagged crack tracing through it.
All business now, Steven hustled over to the Warp Pad, followed by a concerned Sheena. “Tell me what happened.”
“They were helping me clean up the mess from this morning,” Bismuth contributed. “A big, heavy ceiling light fell, and clocked Pearl a good one.”
Sheena reached out, gently clutching Pearl’s cheeks. “Pearl? Baby, are you okay?”
Pearl looked Sheena in the eye, opened her mouth, and emitted an ear-piercing WAAARK, like the world’s loudest songbird. She immediately clapped her hands over her mouth, looking embarrassed.
Ears still ringing, Sheena looked to Steven. “Steven, you can fix this, right?”
Steven nodded. “’Scuse me, Sheena…” He slid in front of her, facing Pearl. “Ready, Pearl?”
“Wark.” Pearl warbled softly, nodding. With a smile, Steven craned his head upward, kissing Pearl softly on the gem.
Within seconds, Pearl’s gem lit up, the cracks unwriting themselves until the surface of the gem was smooth again. Pearl’s shifted jacket glowed as well, shifting smaller and smaller until it was the immaculately fitted size that Pearl preferred. Bismuth leaned against the wall, sighing with relief.
Pearl hummed, testing her voice. “Testing, testing. She sells seashells by the seashore.” Her face brightened. “Perfect! Thank you, Steven!” She wrapped her son in a tight hug, giving him a kiss on the cheek, carefully avoiding his dye-coated hair. With a smile, “Sorry to interrupt your salon session, you two.”
Sheena instantly wrapped Pearl in an enormous hug. “Don’t you worry about that. I’m just glad you’re okay.”
Garnet squeezed Steven’s shoulder with a smile. “Nicely done, Doctor Universe.”
A shrill beeping noise suddenly pinged through the living room. Sheena’s phone, left on the couch, had reached the end of its one-hour timer.
Sheena flashed Steven a wink. “Alright, time’s up. Go ahead and rise that gick out of your hair, and we’ll see how it looks.”
Steven flashed a thumbs-up. “Gotcha! Give me just a minute.” With that, not yet knowing of the significance of what had just happened, Steven headed into the bathroom.
A few minutes later, Steven grunted, his hand on his knee as he got to his feet, shutting the bathtub faucet off below him. Using one of the Junk Towels from the cabinet, he toweled himself off, eyes still closed. He didn’t want to spoil any of this for himself before he could look at it in the mirror properly.
Eyes closed, he sat on the toilet lid, fumbled for the hair dryer until he felt his hand close around it, and clicked it on. He angled it around his head in various directions, feeling the hot air blast his scalp, making him itch briefly.
Hoo boy. This is it. You’re either gonna love it or instantly want to shave your head. If I see Diamond pupils, I may do that anyway. Ai-yi-yi. Was this a bad idea? Probably. Too late to back out now, though. At least I’ll know. Okay. Here we go.
With one last deep breath, Steven sat the hair dryer down, stood, and looked into the mirror.
There he was.
He and no one else.
His curls weren’t nearly as voluminous as Rose’s had been, but the spirals of pink that now twirled around his mop were downright beautiful.
Pink was his favorite color. Always had been (barring a two-week period when he was eight when he decided his new favorite color was teal, but that hadn’t lasted). Throughout the years, even through Diamond revelations and truth after ugly truth about Rose Quartz, his love of pink had always persisted.
He’d always wanted to try dyeing his hair pink, but one reason or another had always gotten in the way. Fear that he couldn’t measure up to Rose. Fear that they might make him try to anyway. Dread that he might anyway. Spite. Fear. Anger.
And now, only now, Steven had finally gotten the courage and will to bite the bullet and actually do it.
It was perfect.
He loved it.
Giggles bubbled out of him in a fountain of relief, as a few more layers of stresses faded away and disappeared into the abyss.
He pushed the bathroom door open, revealed his new be-pinked hair to everyone present, who had collectively moved to the couch while they waited. He gently fluffed his curls with one hand. “What do you think?”
As Garnet golf-clapped politely, Pearl rose from her seat with an eager squeak. “You look so pretty, Steven!” She carefully thumbed through his hair, eliciting a giggle from Steven as she flashed a smile in Sheena’s direction. “Phenomenal work, darling!”
Even Bismuth, whose reaction Steven had been most worried about, was clearly impressed by it. “That look really suits you, Steven! Nice choice!”
Sheena raised an inquisitive hand. “Did you still want to maybe add the undercut, like we talked about?”
Steven shrugged, running a finger through his hair. “Maybe. Still not sure. Let me give this a test run, and I’ll get back to you in a day or so.”
Sheena flashed a thumbs-up. “Roger Dodger.”
Steven turned, heading for the Temple doors. “I’m gonna go show Amethyst!”
Pearl paused. “Actually, where is Amethyst?”
Steven’s Gem glowed under his shirt as the Temple doors opened. “Conked out in her room with Peridot. We brought her back here to rest up after her fight-a-thon with Ranma.”
Bismuth rose from her seat as Steven stepped into the Temple. “Tell that purple lil’ travesty I know where she lives! Those two darn well better help me rebuild that Gym.”
Steven chuckled, nodding as the Temple doors slid shut behind him.
9:47 p.m.
Steven’s bedroom
The buttons on Steven’s phone screen clicked softly as he texted. The covers were pulled to his stomach, head propped up by an extra pillow, as he idled away the last few minutes until sleep took him.
From: Steven
You’re sure it looks okay?
From: Connie!
I promise it does! You look super pretty!
From: Steven
Okay, good. I really like it.
From: Steven
Any word on when yer gf gets here?
From: Connie!
Her bus will arrive in Empire City early morning on Pride Day. Then she’s gonna take another bus to Beach City, and we’re gonna meet at Pride.
From: Steven
That’s so cool! I love that you finally get to meet!
From: Connie!
I can’t wait <3 <3 <3
From: Steven
You two are so adorable.
From: Connie!
You hush :P
From: Connie!
Alright, Im about to pass out
From: Steven
I can tell. Your text grammar gets worse and worse every time.
From: Connie
True tru true okay gonna go to bed nowww nighhxxxbbbbbbb
Steven chuckled to himself, screencapping the conversation for future teasing purposes. He nestled his wonderfully, wonderfully pink hair against his pillow, relishing in the feeling.
Just one last thing to check up on.
He opened another text conversation, tapping out another message.
From: Steven
How’s Ranma doing?
From: Beach Summer Fun Buddy
Yo, dude. Doing good. Still sleepin.
From: Beach Summer Fun Buddy
(Image Attached)
Steven thumbed the attachment, loading the image. It was a selfie- Lapis, flashing a wink and a raspberry to the camera, snuggled up against a sleeping Ranma, who going by how wide her mouth was, appeared to be doing an impression of logs being sawed.
From: Steven
Lol I can tell you guys missed each other.
From: Beach Summer Fun Buddy
Yeppers. I did get her out of bed earlier so she could eat something and shower.
From: Beach Summer Fun Buddy
She still hates them cold showers. Woke her right up, tho. Then she went right back to sleep again mid clothes-change.
From: Steven
Oof oof. That sucks.
From: Steven
Glad she’s doing okay tho.
From: Steven
K I’m tired now, gonna go nite-nite
From: Beach Summer Fun Buddy
Night buddy
Steven clicked the screen off, plugging his phone in to the charger dock on his nightstand. He pulled the covers further up his form, lying in bed, arms splayed to each side.
Ranma. What a year it had been for her. And he was so happy for her… but her still felt bad for her.
Having to spend your whole life walking on eggshells, constantly afraid you’ll come in contact with the wrong temperature water? It was hard to imagine. Steven certainly couldn’t. He still thought the whole thing was a fascinating concept, being able to swap bodies more or less at will, but not if one of them was actively painful or terrible to be in.
Steven had certainly struggled with dysmorphia. It came with the territory of spending several years being constantly equated, by yourself and others, to your mom. Both versions of her.
That was in the past these days. He had walked though that Hell and come out singing, filled with a greater self-love than ever before.
And he could tell Ranma had, too. She seemed so much happier, open, joyful than she was just a few months ago.
Still. He wished he knew a way to help her.
Steven gave one last troubled sigh as he turned onto his side. He was asleep within seconds.
Early the Next Morning
Sheena Miyuki-Marquez’s House
One Day Before Pride
Stretching her arms high, humming satisfyingly as her back popped, Sheena slid out of bed. She slid her worn old bathrobe over her arms as she glanced back at the bed, smiling fondly.
Sprawled atop the California King sized bed she had made the wise decision to invest in was Jasper, snoring loudly. Curled up on top of her knees, breathing softly, was the pink puffball that Volleyball spent so much time as these days.
Sheena chuckled softly. The two of them had honestly adapted to the whole Sheep Curse thing quite well. Jasper would never admit it, but she very clearly enjoyed her time in sheep mode, having the excuse to indulge her subbier side. Volleyball, meanwhile, would go days in sheep mode, apparently barely noticing the difference. Her life had changed approximately 0% from the curse.
There was only one who hadn’t been able to find much enjoyment in their newfound fluffiness, and she was conspicuously missing from the bed.
Sheena paused as she opened the bedroom door, easing it back and forth, open and closed. The hinges no longer creaked.
Hoo boy. It’s one of those nights.
Sheena stepped across the hall into the bathroom, and stopped in the doorway, bemused.
A long pair of legs ending in a pair of flats stretched out from the open cabinet under the sink. From within, the sound of various clicks and clinks could be heard.
Smiling, Sheena leaned down, peering into the cabinet. “Morning, babe.”
Wrench in hand, Pearl paused in the middle of adjusting the attachment on the sink’s U-Bend. “Good morning, Sheena! Don’t mind me, just making some adjustments.
Chuckling, Sheena sat cross-legged on the floor, her back to the wall. “I see you had one of your cleaning-spree nights, huh?”
Pearl shrugged sheepishly as she tapped at the pipe with one finger. “I’m afraid so. After that whole debacle yesterday with my Gem getting cracked, I was too restless to fall asleep. So I decided to make some repairs around the house, including this leaky pipe down here. Apologies for not asking permission, I didn’t want to wake you.”
Sheena grinned, squeezing Pearl’s foot softly. “It’s okay. Thanks for fixing that creaky door.”
“Of course! T’was quite a task, fixing that loud door without waking anyone, but I am a determined Pearl at heart.”
“Just be careful down there, doing stuff with the sink. I know you’re not really a fan of getting wet these days.”
Pearl rolled her eyes. “Ugh, don’t remind me. I’ve had quite enough of being a sheep, after that incident with the corn syrup in February.”
Sheena winced sympathetically. “Yeah… that sucked.”
“Being covered in sticky wool should be listed as a corporal punishment and outlawed, and you may quote me on that.” Pearl gave a final nod as she gave the pipe attachment one last tighten. “Alright, we’re looking good! Sheena, can you be a dear and turn on the faucet, so we can test it out?”
Sheena hauled herself to her feet with a smile and a salute. “You’re the boss, Pearl.”
What happened next happened very quickly.
Sheena reached forward, wrapping her hand around the cold knob on the faucet.
Pearl attempted to adjust her position within the cabinet to something more comfortable. As she rose, her shoulder collided painfully with the handle of the pipe wrench that was still wrapped around the pipe.
Sheena pulled the handle forward.
The pipe wrench rattled and fell to the floor of the cabinet, the U-bend coming loose.
Sheena jumped backward as cold water sprayed her bare ankles, the sounds of Pearl’s angry sputtering coming from within as water drenched the inside of the cabinet. Sheena quickly darted forward, turning the handle back to off.
“Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh, Pearl, I’m so sorr-“ Sheena abruptly cut off as she knelt down, seeing what was inside the cabinet.
A thoroughly drenched Pearl wiped water from her eyes with her hands. “Confound it! I spent forty minutes on this pipe, and this is the repair job I have to show for it?! I must have Clod written across my Gem!”
Sheena’s jaw dropped. “Pearl.”
Pearl froze, realizing exactly what had just happened. She stared, wide-eyed, down her dripping, decidedly non-sheep form. She slowly ran her palms down her face. “Testing. Testing. The sheep says Baa.”
She looked out of the cabinet at her girlfriend, neither daring to move. “I’m not a sheep.”
Sheena shook her head. “No. You aren’t.”
Pearl suddenly began to struggle out from under the cabinet. “Quick, splash me again-“
Another stream of cold water spurted from the broken sink pipe again, Sheena allowing the flow for only a few seconds before turning the faucet back off.
Pearl, now twice-drenched, sat on her butt, soaking wet and not caring one bit.
“Sheena. Sheena, I’m not a sheep.” Pearl began to giggle, not-quite-hysterical laughs bubbling out. “I’m not a sheep. I’m not a sheep. I’m wet and I’m not a sheep!!!”
Sheena thrust her hand out to grab Pearl’s, hauling her to her feet before lifting her into a tight, spinning hug, the two laughing with relief.
Sheena shook her head as she set Pearl down. “How?! Why?!”
Pearl’s mind was racing. “I-I have no idea! We haven’t had access to any of the curse cures Ranma mentioned.”
“Did it wear off or something?”
Both Sheena and Pearl froze where they were, looking into each other’s eyes.
Jasper scratched her stomach in her sleep, mumbling softly. “No, Yellow Diamond, you walk the plank… think you’re so... mblmmm…”
Her dream was suddenly cut short by Sheena’s loud voice. “JASPERWAKEUP!!!”
Jasper sat bolt upright on the bed, bleary-eyed. “Hmmm? Sheena, whuzzit-“
The ever-so-gentle caress of approximately a gallon of cold water snapped her into full wakefulness.
Sheena and Pearl stood by the bed, staring down at Jasper. Pearl, soaking wet, was holding a large bowl from the kitchen, which was dripping water onto the carpet.
On the bed, a very large, very angry orange-cream colored sheep glared daggers back at them.
At the foot of the bed, Sheep-Volleyball popped her eye open. “Baa?” She asked softly.
Pearl offered an awkward smile. “I. Would like to start. By saying that mistakes were made…”
Sheep-Jasper took a deep, deep breath, her wool spiking on her back like an angry dog. Sheena preemptively plugged her ears with her pinkies.
A few seconds later, the newly-fixed door was blown off its hinges by the sonic force of the enraged BAA that echoed across the countryside.
Two Hours Later
The Beach House
Steven, still clad in his pajamas, sat cross-legged on the couch, eyebrows raised. “What do you mean you aren’t cursed anymore?”
For the dozenth time that day, Pearl upended a cup of cold water over her head. There was still no change. “See?!” Sheena handed her a towel, motioning wildly between her and Steven with her other hand.
Volleyball lounged on the end of the couch in Gem form, her bell-bottomed legs crossed demurely before her. “Steven, all I know is that Jasper and I woke up, and Pearl wasn’t cursed anymore. We still are, though.”
Sheena and Pearl winced in unison. “And then we… may have gotten a little ahead of ourselves.” The two turned their gazes to Jasper, sitting on the other end of the couch, arms crossed, eyebrow lethally raised. “Jasper, sweetie, we’re so sorry-“
Jasper raised a single hand. “This is not the time for Cute Lil Subby Jasper talk. I’m still mad at you two.”
Pearl shook her head. “We weren’t going to do the Subby Talk, dear.”
“Much.” Sheena smirked. Pearl roughly elbowed her side.
Steven hummed contemplatively, his be-pinked hair still mussed from sleep. “This is awesome, don’t get me wrong, but it’s weird that it would come out of nowhere like this. Pearl, walk me through what’s happened between the last time you sheeped out, and this morning. What did you do that was unusual?”
Pearl sighed, sitting down on the edge of the coffee table. “Honestly, Steven, nothing comes to mind. I’ve been running over the past few days in my head all morning, and I can’t place anything.”
Jasper raised a finger. “Now, hang on. Didn’t your Gem get cracked yesterday?”
“Yes, but that’s nothing new. I’ve been cracked before, and it’s never affected my shapeshifting.”
“Maybe, but this isn’t shapeshifting, remember? This is an ancient curse.” Jasper’s voice rumbled as she explained, glancing between Pearl, Volleyball, Sheena, and Steven.
Pearl hummed. “Even then, I don’t see what one could have with the other. I got cracked, my voice destabilized for a while, and then…” Pearl’s eyes widened as she trailed off. “And then… Steven… healed me.”
Pearl and Steven’s eyes met. Both their eyes were enormous. Volleyball could almost see the fireworks going off in their heads.
Steven lunged forward, pointing at Pearl. “DID I HEAL YOUR CURSE?!”
Pearl’s hands flew to the side of her head. “Of course! Your healing abilities can fix or stabilize any foreign problems! Greg’s leg, Connie’s astigmatism-“ She slapped her own torso for emphasis. “Steven, I think you healed my curse!”
Steven leapt to his feet, his face close to Pearl’s. The two hugged each other tightly, hopping in place, screeching with excitement.
A shrill whistle from Sheena broke the festivities. “Not to be a downer here, but I don’t think it’s cured, so to speak. Pearl, remember what happened under the sink? That whole bit with the pipe and you hitting the wrench?”
Steven blinked rapidfire, unsure of where Sheena was taking this. “Okay? So?”
“So, that’s exactly the kind of water-attracting garbo we’ve been dealing with for months! Weird coincidences, all tying together to cause water to splash all over you when it’s least convenient? Sound familiar?”
Pearl nodded a confused agreement. “That may be true, but I’m still not transforming anymore. So why is water still attracted to me?”
Steven took a step back. “That’s a good point. Maybe… I dunno, maybe this is a new stupid Gem power from Mom? It wouldn’t surprise me at this point.”
Volleyball raised a hand. “If I may? I think it’s more likely you’ve just stabilized her form. She still has the curse, but beyond getting wet at random intervals, it won’t affect her like it used to.”
Steven sat back down on the couch. “Huh. I’m not gonna lie, Volley, that seems like kind of a stretch. This isn’t Corruption, like me only being able to heal Centi halfway.”
Volleyball blinked. “Well, why not?”
The living room was silent. Steven, for the life of him, couldn’t think of a good rebuttal to that statement.
Okay. So. Apparently Corruption and Jusenkyo Curses are similar enough that I can stabilize them, if not cure them. I mean, it feels pretty close to a cure for me, but I guess being modelocked is a good second pla-
Steven froze mid-thought.
Oh my God.
As Pearl watched, an enormous smile slowly spread across Steven’s face, like a beam of sunlight… or hope.
“Steven? What’s happening?”
If I modelocked Pearl, then maybe I can do it again, and if I can do it again…
Steven suddenly bounced to his feet. “Sorrygottagobye!” He babbled as he sprinted full-tilt for the front porch, the screen door slamming shut behind him, leaving a thoroughly confused polycule in his wake.
Still barefoot, he stumbled down the porch stairs two-by-two toward the sand, fishing his phone from his pocket. He clicked it on, checking the time.
It was 8:30 a.m. He grinned.
Perfect! Lapis and Ranma should be finishing their morning run right now!
Beach City’s Boardwalk
“ALL OF THE BIRDS DIED IN 1986 DUE TO PRESIDENT MONDALE KILLING THEM, AND REPLACING THEM WITH SPYBOTS. THE BIRDS WORK FOR THE BOURGEOSIE.”
On an overturned, half-crushed cardboard box halfway down the boardwalk, Ronaldo Fryman stood, a cheap plastic Dollar Store megaphone held in his hands, shouting to any passers-by who wouldn’t listen, which was all of them.
From his spot in the window of Beach Citywalk Fries, professional fry peddler Peedee shook his head, giving a long-suffering sigh. “Who gave him a megaphone?”
Outside the service window, Ranma chuckled as she munched on her croissant, spilling crumbs everywhere. “He’s not wrong. Kodachi once sicced a flock of trained attack toucans on me.”
On her left, Lapis snorted, a gigantic iced coffee from the Big Donut in hand. “Don’t encourage him.”
Peedee nodded his assent. “Still not the most annoying thing he does these days. He keeps posting old pics of Gem Corruptions and claiming they’re new Cryptids.”
Ranma shook her head incredulously. “That nimrod is gonna get his shit pushed in one day.”
“The last time Steven told him that someone was a Gem, not a Cryptid, Ronaldo yelled and threw his phone in the fryer.”
Ranma gave him a look. “He did not.”
Holding her gaze, Peedee reached below the counter and fished out a small baggie containing what appeared to be a plastic rectangle, coated with a layer of potato fragments and grease. “Gives new meaning to Frying Your Phone, huh?”
Lapis immediately doubled over into a gigglesnort at the atrocious pun, as Ranma’s eyes rolled back into her head. Any attempt at a rebuttal, however, was interrupted.
“IIIIINCOMIIIIIING!”
Looking up, Ranma’s eyes widened as a pink-haired Steven came floating down out of the sky in his pajamas. His attempt to land into a run caused him to flub the landing, as he lost balance and tumbled over, bouncing lightly a few feet before stopping, lying on his side. “Ow.”
All present blinked in surprise. Ranma raised a hand. “Uh. Hiya, Steebs. Love your hair.”
Steven pushed himself halfway up, looking at her with huge eyes and a matching smile. “RANMA!” He stumbled to his bare feet, rushing over to her. He took a deep breath, trying to calm down and center himself. “Ranma, I need to try something. Do you trust me?”
Ranma blinked. “Uh. Yes?”
Steven took a long pause. He was being too loud, too overbearing. That had to stop right now.
“Ranma. What I want to try involves your curse. I think I might have a way to modelock you.”
The silence was palpable enough to cut with a knife. Ranma stared at him, uncomprehendingly. “I’m sorry do what now?”
Steven placed a single hand on her shoulder. “If I’m right, we’d have to test it with hot water. You know I wouldn’t ask this of you unless I was absolutely certain. I’m not gonna do it without your permission, though.”
Ranma couldn’t understand. Steven was trying to tell her he could modelock her curse in girl mode permanently, but that didn’t make sense because that wasn’t possible, and she had already consigned herself to dodging hot water for eternity, and if what he said was true, she wouldn’t have to do that anymore, and that wasn’t possible because she was Ranma Saotome, things this good didn’t happen to her, not this good, not even a wonderful, amazing, beautiful new life coming to pass could convince her of that, even from her friend the Heir Apparent to a Galactic Space Empire who won the freaking superpower lottery-
Lapis snapped her fingers in front of Ranma’s face. “Ranma? You okay?” Lapis’s own eyes were huge, she herself trying to reconcile what Steven had said.
Ranma, blinking rapidly, trying desperately to quash the rising hope in her chest, stuttered over her words. “Y-y-yeah, I just, there’s, there, Steven, y-y-you can’t-“
Steven squeezed her shoulder. “I think I can, Ranma. Do you trust me?”
Ranma didn’t have a word for the rising maelstrom of feelings rising within her. Joy, fear, hope, terror, determination, cowardice, all swirling together into a massive cloud of What If?
For just a flicker of a second, a great black mass slithered from the bottom of her consciousness, a darkly chuckling cloud of dysphoria that snickered and cackled with the voice of Happosai in the back of her head, mocking her for thinking that something that good could happen.
Then, something ignited within her.
With a spark and a fiery explosion, the dysphoric cloud was snuffed out in an instant by a new shape, incomprehensible, messy, and resplendent. It reached into every corner of her being, every crevice of her soul, set her heart pumping with determination, and screamed two words within her.
BE.
BRAVE.
Ranma eyes hardened, her free hand grabbing Steven’s, a familiar cocky grin decorating her face.
“I trust you, Steven. Let’s do this.”
Steven nodded back, his face just as determined. “Okay. Cool.”
Lapis, hardly daring to hope for Ranma, glanced back and forth between them, eagerness filling her face.
Peedee stared at the melodrama playing out before him. “Ho-kay, I’m completely lost.” He called over his shoulder as he closed the window. “Dad! I’m taking my fifteen!”
Ranma steadied herself for whatever was about to happen. “So, uh, do I need to like, say the magic words, or-“
Steven gently took Ranma’s hand in his own. He raised her hand to his mouth, offering a chaste kiss on the back of her hand. There was a quick flash of white sparkles, and the deed was done.
Ranma blinked, more confused than anything. “Uh. I’m super flattered, Steven, but I’m also taken. And, y’know, gay.”
Steven smiled. “And done.”
“Wuh.” Ranma sputtered. “Wait, that was it? I don’t feel any different.”
Lapis hummed, looking her over. “Weird. When Steven healed my Gem, I got all tingly? Maybe it’s a gem thing.”
“Wait, was that the healing spit?!” Ranma looked down, just in time to see the last of her remaining bruises fade from view. She slumped. “Aw, man! I was really lookin’ forward to that sweet, sweet healing ache!” She looked at Steven, confusion evident on her face. “Are you sure it worked?”
Steven paused. This was the part he’d been dreading. “We won’t know until we try.”
Ranma stopped in her tracks, turning her head to look behind her.
Tucked in the alley behind Beach Citywalk Fries and Fish Stew Pizza was the Boardwalk’s surprisingly clean public bathroom. Behind that closed door, a working toilet and sink.
With hot and cold water.
Her croissant abandoned on the Fry shop’s counter, Ranma stared transfixed at the bathroom door.
She took a single, tentative step toward it.
Then another.
Then, Ranma broke into a sprint, running for the bathroom door with a desperate hope.
She reached the door in a heartbeat, flung it open and entered. It was unoccupied, or that would have been an awkward wait.
The tiny bathroom’s sink was right in front of her. She grabbed the hot handle, and before she could give herself a chance to hesitate, pulled it forward and thrust her hands under the stream.
Warm water pooled in her cupped hands, and as she flung them up to meet her descending face, she had just enough time to glimpse her own form, red hair and blue eyes, reflected in the warm water rising to meet her.
Splash.
Ranma stood there, hands over face. Water still running in the sink. Spare droplets pittered on the bathroom tile floor.
Ranma could hardly bear to look. Cures for Jusenkyo curses, real and fake, had made their way into Ranma’s life before. That was nothing new. So worst case scenario, no change in the current situation, right?
Right?
Through the open door, Ranma a familiar voice.
“Ranma.” Lapis, her voice so soft, almost a whisper.
Ranma’s hands, trembling, crept downward, revealing the mirror.
Through the strands of red hair that hung down in front of her eyes, she saw her own face. Wide, blue eyes, set in a soft, round face.
There she was. There was she.
“I’m me.” She whispered, hardly daring to hope.
In the mirror, Lapis and Steven’s faces were reflected over her shoulder, both cramming into the open doorway of the bathroom. Lapis looked like she’d seen a ghost. Steven’s face had a small, happy smile inching across it.
The hot water was still running. Her hands darted downward, and she brought another handful up in a messy splash.
She was still short. Her hair was still red.
Another splash of hot water, even quicker and messier.
No change. Red hair, short, tank top increasingly drenched.
“I… I’m fixed. I’M FIXED!” She shouted at the mirror, the widest, happiest smile Lapis had ever seen Ranma smile blast across her face. Ranma spun, grabbing Lapis and Steven’s hands, happy tears leaking from the corners of her eyes as she hopped in place in excitement. “GUYS! GUYS! I’M FIXED! I CAN BE ME NOW!”
Lapis, unable to restrain her excitement for Ranma any longer, flung herself at her girlfriend, wrapping her arms around her tightly. “RANMA! I’M SOOOOOOOOO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!” Ranma, cackling deliriously, hugged Lapis back just as tight.
Steven, for his part, breathed a deep sigh of relief. He had been so afraid that it wouldn’t work, that he had gotten Ranma’s hopes up for nothing, but now… she was so happy, it had been worth it.
Laughing, Ranma released Lapis from the hug. “Oh my gosh, the freaking healing spit! I could have been cured this whole time!” She froze, blinking suddenly. “I COULD HAVE BEEN CURED THIS WHOLE TIME?!!?” She roared at the ceiling, an enlarged vein popping from her forehead.
She turned, grabbing Steven by the shoulders. “STEVEN! WHY DIDN’T YOU MAKE ME USE YOUR HEALING SPIT MONTHS AGO?!” She yelled at him, teeth made temporarily sharp by ki-induced rage.
Steven, taken aback by the sudden rage, felt his own impulsive anger bubble up from within, along with his own Gem canines become more prominent. “Wh-RANMA, YOU’RE THE ONE WHO WAS TOO STUBBORN TO LET ME HEAL YOUR STUPID WOUNDS!”
“GEE, I DUNNO STEBEN, MAYBE IT’S BECAUSE THE IDEA OF DRINKIN’ SOMEONE’S SPIT FILLS ME WITH A DISGUSTING FEELING DEEP IN MY SOUL!”
“JUST DRIP IT ON YOURSELF, DUMMY!”
“NOT MUCH BETTER, YOU DONUT!”
As the two hollered at each other, Lapis was doubled over against the bathroom wall, shaking with deep belly laughs at the ridiculousness of it all. Happy laughter tears floated away from her face in two different directions.
Ranma, overwhelmed by emotion, felt her anger dissipate just as quickly as it came. Unsure of what else to do, she lunged forward, nabbing Steven in an enormous bear hug. Steven gasped for air as Ranma squeezed him tight, lifting him several inches off the ground. He felt several bones crackle as she squeezed her own love and gratitude into him.
Eyes hot and wet, incredulous laughter shaking her, Ranma whispered. “Thank you, Steven. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”