[Spinel tightens her grip on her Rejuvenator, pink energy crackling along its blades.]
Spinel: Here I come!
[She lunges forward, slashing the Rejuvenator straight at Lapis.]
Lapis: Shit, she's quick!
[Reacting instantly, Lapis summons water from the ground. The water gushes upward and instantly freezes into an ice dome that encases her, blocking Spinel's attack just in time. Though the Rejuvenator pierces the dome slightly, Lapis remains safe inside.]
Lapis: Looks like this won't be so easy.
[Spinel wastes no time. She enlarges her hand and smashes the ice dome to pieces with a single punch, leaving Lapis exposed. Lapis instinctively leaps back, putting some distance between them.]
Spinel: Not so fast!
[She launches herself like a spring, the Rejuvenator aimed straight at Lapis.]
Lapis: Tsk--!
[Lapis barely dives out of the way as Spinel speeds past, her Rejuvenator slicing a rock clean in half.]
Lapis: Th-That was way too close!
[Spinel doesn't relent, bouncing off a pair of boulders like a spring to build momentum before launching herself at Lapis once more. In response, Lapis summons her water wings, shaping them into clenched fists.]
Lapis: Let's see how you like this!
[Lapis delivers a strong, wound-up punch into Spinel's face, sending her crashing into a nearby rock. The impact stuns Spinel momentarily, giving Lapis just enough time to slip behind a large boulder for cover.]
Spinel: *rubs her head, groaning* Ugh...
[Spinel shakes off the hit, getting back on her feet as she scans the area for Lapis.]
Spinel: Shit... she got away.
[Behind the boulder, Lapis crouches low, trying to catch her breath.]
Lapis: *thinking to herself* Just great. Hand-to-hand isn't exactly my strong suit. And even if it were, taking on this Gem would still be a total pain in the ass.
[Lapis cautiously peeks out, spotting Spinel prowling nearby with her Rejuvenator in hand, energy crackling.]
Spinel: *calls out in a sing-song voice* Come out, come out, wherever you are~!
Lapis: *thinking to herself* Gonna have to get creative if I wanna beat her.
[She quickly scans the terrain around her, searching for anything to use to her advantage.]
Lapis: *thinking to herself* There's got to be something here...
[Then, her gaze locks on something just ahead. An idea clicks.]
Lapis: Yeah! That's it!
Meanwhile...
Spinel: *searching for Lapis* Where the hell is she hiding? Hm?
[A sudden shout behind a nearby rock catches Spinel's attention. She turns sharply, a wicked grin spreading across her face as she recognizes Lapis' voice.]
Lapis: *from behind the rock* Yo! Over here!
Spinel: What an idiot!
[Spinel coils her legs like a spring and launches herself at the rock, smashing through it in a single strike with her Rejuvenator. A cloud of dust rises, making it hard to see clearly, but Lapis's silhouette remains visible.]
Spinel: Ha!
[Spinel swings her Rejuvenator at Lapis, cleaving Lapis's physical form right down the middle.]
Spinel: *chuckling* Serve you right for--
[As the dust begins to settle, her triumphant grin falters, confusion creeping in. Lapis's form doesn't poof as it should. It wasn't her at all, but a decoy... a water clone.]
Spinel: Wh-what the hell?!
[Suddenly, the water surges toward Spinel, encasing her in a sphere that solidifies into thick ice within seconds, with only her head left exposed.]
Spinel: S-Shit!
[The real Lapis steps out from behind another rock, smirking.]
Lapis: Got you now!
Spinel: *enraged* Grrr! That's cheating, damn it!
Lapis: Cheating? How so?
[She walks up to Spinel.]
Lapis: You had a weapon, and I didn't. What'd you expect? I had to even the playing field somehow, didn't I? Just deal with it, the game's over... for you.
Spinel: Bullshit! The game's not over until I say it's over! Got it?!
[Spinel thrashes violently, trying to shapeshift into a larger form. The ice creaks slightly but doesn't crack, it's way too dense for her to expand and break free. She's totally trapped.]
Spinel: Nngh! Agh!
Lapis: Yeah, that's solid ice, alright. Really solid. Don't think shapeshifting's gonna get you out. But hey, knock yourself out trying.
Spinel: Grrr! Damn you!
Lapis: Yeah, yeah. Cry about it.
[Lapis rolls her eyes, then something on the ground catches her attention: Spinel's Rejuvenator, which she dropped just before getting frozen. Lapis locks eyes on it. Spinel notices instantly and freaks out.]
Spinel: Whoa, no, no, no! Don't even think about it!
Lapis: ...
[Lapis says nothing, just stands there staring at the Rejuvenator, weighing her options. Then, she calmly walks over and picks it up.]
Spinel: *nervously* You're... you're not seriously thinking of using it... are you?!
Lapis: ...
Spinel: Listen, that weapon's no joke, buddy! Put it down or you're gonna regret it! I'm dead serious, PUT IT DOWN!!
[Lapis ignores her, slowly raising the Rejuvenator as if ready to strike. Spinel tenses up, expecting the worst.]
Spinel: *terrified* D-Don't you dare!
[But instead of swinging, Lapis snaps the Rejuvenator clean in half over her knee.]
Lapis: This piece of shit's been nothing but trouble.
[She mutters, tossing both broken halves aside.]
Spinel: *completely thrown off* Wait... I thought... I thought you were actually gonna use it...
[Lapis doesn't answer. She just leans back against a nearby boulder, letting out a tired sigh.]
Lapis: Been a while since I had to bust my ass like that.
[Suddenly, Peridot calls down from above.]
Peridot: Lapis!
[Lapis looks up to see Peridot and Connie descending toward her.]
Lapis: *sarcastically* Oh, hey guys. Nice work. Would've never made it without your help. *gives a thumbs-up* Really. Thanks a ton.
Peridot: W-We were sure you could handle it on your own.
Lapis: Yeah, no shit. Us Lapislazulis aren't exactly famous for our hand-to-hand combat skills, you know?
Connie: We should head back, Obsidian's probably worried sick.
[Lapis, Peridot, and Connie fly back to regroup with Obsidian, bringing their prisoners along: Spinel, encased in a solid ice sphere; Bluebird and Holly Blue, chained up; and Jasper and Mean Lapis, both still unconscious from their forced defusion.]
Obsidian: Hm?
[Obsidian turns and spots them approaching through the air, the enemy Gems in their custody. A wave of relief washes over them.]
Obsidian: There they are!
[Obsidian lets out a relieved sigh.]
Obsidian: It's finally over...
[Their form begins to glow and slowly unfuses, separating back into Garnet, Pearl, Amethyst, and Steven. They all look utterly drained except Steven, who appears relatively fine.]
Steven: Guys?
[Connie's face lights up the instant she sees him.]
Connie: Steven!
[She leaps off the hovering metal plate without a second thought and runs up to him.]
Connie: Are you okay?!
[She pulls Steven into a tight hug, pressing a quick, affectionate kiss to his cheek.]
Steven: I'm fine, really. No need to worry about me.
[Steven pulls back just enough to look into Connie's eyes.]
Steven: But what about you? Are you alright?
[Connie nods, smiling.]
Connie: Yeah, I'm fine.
Steven: *relief evident in his eyes* That's all I needed to hear.