"I wonder how long Lars will take to find Earth." Connie's voice echoed in Steven's head, he had explained to her before the new technology that the trip had taken fifty years. Now, it would be any day if the crew could find their way among the stars, but the only comforting thing was always being connected through the pocket dimension that Lars and Lion now shared. This conversation took place in the afternoon and Steven was fighting his racing mind and haunting thoughts to achieve a peaceful rest for at least tonight. He rose and rubbed his eyes are he heard the front door to the beach house open and close, he became more urgent as he felt Lion leave his bed. "Lion?" he called as he followed the wild cat to the door; Lion pled for him to open the door and he complied and spotted Garnet standing on the water's edge. Lion exited first and Steven followed and once his foot crossed the threshold Garnet was aware of his presence and turned, but only had enough time to call out his name.
Steven was thrown into the door by a wave of ocean water and he was stunned by the impact, but Lion remained at his side and aided his composure. Steven felt Garnet's hands help him to his feet, "W-what was that?" he asked and Garnet remained silent until he opened his eyes and looked up at her. The front door flung open and Garnet protected Steven was from being struck again, but the remaining three gems stormed the deck as they asked similar questions.
"Lars is back." Garnet said softly to Steven as she placed him on his feet and he was stunned once more. "L-Lars!?" Steven started as bubbles rose from the depth of the ocean and popped once they reached the surf. Soon a pod emerged, it's red color apparent in the morning glow, it bobbled a bit before beaching itself and the reflective window hissed and opened to reveal a confident Lars still sporting his captain's outfit. "Lars!" Steven cheered as he and lion rushed the beach as Lars jumped from the pod unto the sand to give Steven a hug, but Lion stopped short as Lars connected with his gaze. Lion slowly approached Lars as the Gems followed Steven to greet Lars and admire his new coloring, but Steven discovered a stranger form rising from her seat in the pod. "Where is everyone else, Lars?" Steven asked with concern which drew Lars out of the frenzy, the stranger left her arms and dark bubbles floated out of from her grasp. Once they were over the sand they popped and the gems reformed into the Off-Color crew.
The aliens were fascinated with the sand and water before curiously pester the Crystal Gems, but Steven was still heavily suspicious of the stranger who had neglected to the leave the pod. She eyed him with her glowing red and yellows that held square pupils "There wasn't enough room to fit them all." She said softly and Steven was disarmed, but her words again signaled Lars. "Steven, this is Princess Halley." He introduced before she made the effort to leave the pod, which closed itself and retracted back into the ocean. Halley was as tall as Garnet with dark purple skin with red and yellow vein like details. She looked regal in a light silky and sparkly blue ball gown with a silver chain crown on her forehead, with a gem shard mounted in the middle. The shard was black like her long hair that bleed into a purple, red, then yellow ends. She seated herself on the sand in front of Steven before offering him a thin hand that had long sharp black nails, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Steven." She said sweetly as the Gems looked on.
Peridot shivered which Amethyst noticed, but before she could inquire Peridot pointed a figure at the stranger "P-P-Princess Halley!" she screamed before fainting, this placed the remaining Gems on alert and Steven backed away before taking the Halley's hand. "Why are you wearing a gem!?" Steven demanded as he back peddled further away from the stranger, but Lion stopped him before joining his said. Steven looked at his companion with confusion before Lars spoke up, "We passed Halley's comet and they offered to help us return to Earth. We had to leave the sun incinerator on the comet so Emerald couldn't track us back to Earth. We trust them and you can too, Steven." Lars explained as Lion bowed his head to Halley who softly smiled and patted the big cats head. "I still have so many questions, who is they?" Steven began, but as Halley touched Lion's mane the shard on her crown glowed. Garnet's glasses dissipated "Obsidian?" she began and Halley looked surprised, "You knew her?" the whispered before Garnet summoned her gauntlets. "Why are you wearing her!?" she demanded as the Off-Colors crowded behind Lars. Pearl summoned her spear, but Amethyst, who was still holding onto Peridot became frustrated, "Why are you doing this!?" the young gem shouted before Lars joined her protest "Yeah! Didn't you hear me!? She helped us to return home!" Lars's words made the Off-Colors regain their confidence. "Obsidian was a part of the Crystal Gems! She was shattered in the strawberry field!" Garnet continued as she clenched her fists tighter.
Halley was speechless and looked visibly hurt, but because of the commotion no one had noticed the pod resurfaced and opened to reveal two new individuals. The loud bang from a metal boot stomping down on the rim of the pod that drew everyone's attention to the new opposing figure that was posed straight-backed. This new undaunted figure adorned red plated armor and this being looking human with her red angled bob and pale skin, but the red shards arranged into a star was imbedded in her chest began to glow brightly before she summoned a bastard sword from them and point it at Garnet wielding the large weapon with one hand. "Where is your leader? Where is Rose Quartz?" this new stranger demanded. "Who are you?!" Garnet barked back, but before combat could ensue Lars and Lion placed themselves between them, "Stop-!" he began, but the woman in red cut him off, "I am the mother of the girl your threatening which I do not take kindly too!" she answered as she jumped from the pod, bragging her sword threw the sand as she approached Garnet. "I am Queen Anais, I am an ally to the Crystal Gems and I need to speak to Rose Quartz."
