It's Becoming Crystal Clear (Jasper x Reader)

The morning went smoothly and uneventfully. Jasper took Pinky out in the yard to play while you tidied up inside. As you were wiping down the countertops in the kitchen, you got a text message. You smiled when you read it. You finished what you were doing, then went out to find Jasper.

You found her out back, holding a tennis ball while Pinky leapt up at it.

"You could try throwing that and getting him to catch it," you suggested as you approached.

"I did try. He's too small, though. It won't fit in his mouth."

"That's what she said! But uh, I just got a message. The others are having a picnic later. Do you wanna come?"

"(Y/N), I appreciate what you're trying to do, but you shouldn't force them to be around me."

"On the contrary, they're the ones asking."

"Well, I guess I did make that remark about joining them someday... oh, go on then. Sure, I'll come."

"Hey, don't worry," you said, rubbing her shoulder. "I'm sure they'll be okay. They're very accepting people... err, gems. The only reason they weren't before was because you have to admit you never really gave them the chance."

"Yeah, you're right. It's going to be hard to learn to see them as friends, but I will learn. Now that I know the only reason I hated them was a lie."

"That's the spirit!" You lifted Pinky up to lick Jasper's face. "So I guess we'll be seeing them around noon."

You did indeed. Shortly after noon, you reached the top of the hill atop which the lighthouse sat and into which the Temple was built. You saw the picnic blanket spread out and the other gems sitting around it. Most of them came over to greet you both.

"Hi, Steven," Jasper said calmly as he hugged her leg. "(Y/N) told me... about what you found out... I'm sorry. I hope I didn't do you too much harm."

"Don't worry about it. Everything's forgiven. You uh, do have a really hard head, though," he said, rubbing his eye. They both laughed.

"I wish I could tell Ro- your mother how sorry I am."

"I'm sure she heard you," he replied, lifting his shirt to expose his gem. "And I'm sorry for, uh, how I... uh, when..."

"Relax, buddy." Jasper smiled and tousled his hair. "You didn't do anything wrong."

While everyone else flocked around both of you, saying hello and asking how you were doing, Amethyst hung back, looking worried. Jasper noticed, striding calmly over. She looked down sadly at Amethyst, who didn't look up at her. She dropped to her knees, causing the ground to shake, and hung her head in shame, staring at the ground. You couldn't tell from your angle, but it looked like Jasper might have been crying. Amethyst stood frozen as if in shock, in a position like she meant to back slowly away. They both remained motionless for several minutes, Jasper's breaths deep and shaky, while Amethyst seemed to be holding her breath. Eventually, everyone had turned to watch and it was rather awkward. Suddenly, Jasper reached out her arms and threw them around Amethyst's shoulders, pulling her close. The smaller gem trembled in terror, her pupils shrinking to dots, and tears like those in the eyes of a doomed prey animal running down her chubby cheeks, even as Jasper stroked her hair and softly shushed her panicked, gasping breathing.

Eventually her breathing did slow, and although she continued to stare off into space, her pupils dilated back to normal size and her tears dried. Her arms rose, almost imperceptibly slowly, hovered uncomfortably for a moment, until she finally returned her sister's embrace.

"I know there's nothing I can say," Jasper whispered. Amethyst shut her eyes and hugged Jasper tighter.

Once you were all sitting down, Jasper looked around at everyone.

"I want to join your rebellion," she declared.

"Oh! Wh- where did this come from?" Pearl asked, confused by the suddenness of Jasper's statement.

"You're a bunch of renegades, defectives, a fusion, some sort of hybrid, but you're good people. You're honourable, you're strong, you show a camaraderie I've never known, and, maybe because of that, your dedication to your cause is at least as strong as my own. A lot of things have happened, and I know now that you aren't my enemies, and you never should have been. The Diamonds aren't just tyrants, they're traitors to their own kind. Your fight is my fight now. (Y/N) taught me a human expression: the enemy of my enemy..." - she paused and looked up at them with a timid smile - "... is my friend."

"Of course." Garnet placed a hand on Jasper's shoulder. "We can be your friends. That was always an option."

"What do you mean? Are you saying you saw this coming, like a sapphire?"

"I always saw a small chance."

"A new Crystal Gem! This is just like in my fanfictions!" Peridot squealed.

"Or maybe two new Crystal Gems," you said, raising your right hand to show your gem. "I'm not sure what your policy is on semi-gems."

"Dude," Amethyst said, "admittedly we were just humouring Steven, but we let that fry guy Ronaldo have a shot. You definitely clear that very low bar."

"Cool! Thanks! ...I think."

"I guess I'll have to switch to a star on my uniform," Jasper commented. "Wait, how come you two don't have one?"

"I'm not a Crystal Gem," Lapis explained.

"And I'm physically incapable of shapeshifting," Peridot answered.

You ate in silence for a while. Jasper kept pausing to look around at everyone and smile.

"It certainly is a lovely day, isn't it?" Pearl remarked.

"It's perfect," Jasper replied, tilting her head up to feel the sun's warmth on her face. You leaned against her, resting your head on her shoulder.

"I'm glad to see you happy like this," Steven said. You weren't sure who he was speaking to.

"Which of us are you talking about?" you asked. He smiled.

"Both of you."

You and Jasper turned to look at each other, then leaned in, resting your foreheads together. You gave her a peck on the cheek.

"Get a room, you two!" Amethyst said with a laugh.

"We already have an entire house!" Jasper shot back.

"Touché."

"I'm really enjoying this," Jasper said a few minutes later. "Can we do more stuff like this? All of us, together?"

"Hmm," Garnet said with a smirk, "I think we can manage that."

Well... only one more left. It might be a while, just because I have to write two three-page papers by Wednesday which I have not started, and I have to write a ten-page one by the end of the month, and then exams start. But I'll definitely have the last chapter out by Christmas at the latest.