The Gem Tortoise is a strange Light Creature that holds a big resemblence to a Corrupted Gem, or Gem Beast.
Physical Appearance
The creature is as large as an elephant. Its skin is bright orange to match the Beta Kindergarten desert. The back of the animal is all one, huge, crystal casing to make up the shell, and one large crystal making up the eye. It stood on four sturdy legs, the front pair having crystals on the knees. While the shell is extremely hard, the skin is elastic, similar to a trampoline in texture.
Personality
While not shown too much of, The Gem Tortoise is pretty calm when facing the Crystal Gems, not seeing them as too dangerous, and brushing off most of their attacks. One attack of which Fluttershy translates to him saying he thanks them for getting the knot out of his back.
History
Steven Universe, Amethyst, Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, and Applejack came across him while he was eating some bushes. He ignored Amethyst's attacks and words, not feeling much pain from any of it, and only responding with a burp before going off to a desert pool for a drink. He got knocked onto his back in a combined attack, but he stated that only got the knot out of his back, if anything at all. When Peridot and the Tongue Monster showed up the next day, he got peeved and laid on them both, poofing the Tongue Monster in the process. Through Fluttershy, he explained that he was a Light Creature, not a Gem Beast, and that the picture Garnet gave them didn't match him, before being allowed to leave.
Abilities
Enhanced durability
The shell on his back is durable enough to endure all of Amethyst's attacks and a full-blown kick from Applejack. His underbelly too showed to be durable enough to make AJ bounce off it.
Trivia
- While called a Light Creature in the story, it's known in the canon series as a Prism Light creature, an "Orange Light" to be exact, the species altered from true show canon, to story canon.