Chapter 1: Paz
Steven Universe.
Paz held onto the piece of parchment with the two words on it. Before her there was a house up on a cliff where the broken remains of a statue was. The wind rushed by and blew through her light pink hair creating it to go in every direction, during this moment the paper in Paz's hand slipped and flew towards the house. She took a deep breath as if to prepare her and headed towards the location. The sand sunk beneath her bare feet and caught onto her pants. Paz took a moment and stopped to stare at the sea that was before her. Beach City was a beautiful place with few people. On her way to this side of the town Paz had run into a few of them. They waved at her, started a conversation, and helped her find the house she had been looking for.
Paz began to walk up the stairs that led to the front door that was wide open. Inside Paz could see a small boy making something in the kitchen. He had black curly hair that looked like a puff atop his head.
" And when the gems return we'll play cat island and watch some shows, "He sang to himself. Paz knocked on the screen door and he looked up. "Hello!" He beamed and rushed over to open the door. "Who are you?" He asked with stars in his eyes.
Paz looked inside the house before looking back at the boy. "You must be Steven Universe." She realized. "I'm Paz. Is Garnet, Pearl, and Amethyst here?" She asked once more scanning the house to see if they were inside.
Steven's stars were blinked away. "No. But they'll be here in a little while. Why do you need them?" He asked. Paz let out a long breath that she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
Not like you need to breath anyway Pink.
"I was hoping to see them. We're kind of friends." Paz gave a half smile at her lie. "Are you waiting for them? Could I join you?"
Steven opened the screen door all the way. "Sure. Are you hungry? I'm making corn chips burritos. Amethyst really likes them."
Paz looked at the food he spoke of. It looked like mud with yellow chunks on a white paper. "No I'm good. But thank you." She sat down on the couch and looked around. It was a cute house. To the left their was a gem portal along with a door behind that with 5 gems in a circle. It must have been Pearls, Garnets, and Amethysts room.
"So how did you become friends with the gems?" Steven sat down with his food and stared at Paz.
Paz felt her heart stop. Quickly she stood up and pointed to the kitchen. "You know, that burrito sounds good. Could I maybe still get on?" She changed the topic. Steven got up and happily grabbed her one. "Thank you." Paz forced a smile and looked at the neatly rolled food.
"I like your shirt. It has that, 'Wise and Crazy' thing going on." Steven started another conversation.
She looked down at her shirt that said 'Time is an Illusion' it had been picked it up somewhere in Rhode Island. "Thanks. I like your's too. It simple but flashy." Paz returned the complement talking about his red shirt that had a star on it.
"You know my mom had pink hair too. But it was darker." Steven pointed at a picture of a women with super curly hot pink hair. Paz's hand reached up to her chest as she stared at the familiar face. "Oh...did you know her too?" Steven asked after he realized the tears streaming down Paz's face. "Maybe you can tell me what she was like, how you saw her." Steven suggested.
Paz wiped her face and tried to stop crying. "Rose was amazing. She saw the worth in everything. And I mean everything. She saw the worth in me and tried so hard to protect what she loved. Although she had her faults like anyone. Rose trusted the wrong person, and I think she realized that." Paz looked at Steven. "If she's your mother then you must be all her and whoever she loved. What an amazing person you are already."
Steven's cheeks went red. "Wow. You must of really loved her too. To talk so highly of her."
Just then a bright light came from the portal and Amethyst, Garnet, and Pearl had returned.
"Steven you wouldn't believe what happened!" Amethyst rushed over to him. "Garnet threw me up into the air and this plane was flying and-"
"Steven get back!"Pearl yelled and jumped in front of him, her staff in hand pointed at Paz.
"Pearl what are you-"
"Steven do as Pearl says. You too Amethyst." Garnet ordered. She had her gloves on and looked ready to hit Paz really hard. The two did as they were told.
Amethyst for the first time saw Paz. "Whats the deal? Who is she?" She asked in a loud voice.
Paz looked unfazed at the two gems reactions to her. She hadn't expected anything less.
"Wait, shes your friend isn't she? Why are you acting like this?" Steven intervened as he ran in front of Pearl and threw his hands up to stop the two gems from attacking Paz.
"FRIEND!? PINK TOPAZ OUR FRIEND!?" Pearl shrieked. She looked crazed and ready to slice into Paz.
Garnet looked at Steven. "She is not our friend. She's a gem traitor to Rose and the rebellion." Steven looked lost and confused. His hands lowered slightly as he looked back at Paz.
"Your a Gem?"
Paz looked away from Steven and the rest of the gems. "I...I didn't come here to fight." Was all she managed to say. She couldn't say they were lying because they weren't.
"Why did you come then? You know how we feel about you." Garnet replied coldly. She walked past Pearl and Steven to loom over Paz. "You know you're not wanted here. If your looking for forgiveness,"
"NO." Paz yelled suddenly. She felt small. Her gut felt like lead, her mind tried to speak of clever words to say but none appeared in her strained state. Seeing Pearl and Garnet was harder than she could have ever prepared for. "I don't want your forgiveness. I did betray you..I ran when you needed me most. I couldn't handle the thought of shattering Pink Diamond...but I didn't run because of her."
Pearl snarled. "And you expect us to believe you!?"
"Hey hear her out Pearl. She obviously has something to say, why else would she be here?" Amethyst intervened.
Reluctantly Pearl lowered her weapon and put it by her side and Garnet put away her battle gloves and sat on the couch. Amethyst sat on the ground beside her and Steven sat next to Amethyst. Pearl stayed standing as she glared at Paz.
Paz took a breath.
Are you sure you want to tell them Pink?
"During the war...when gems were fighting gems, there was a human girl also there. Her name was Aurelia." Paz knew her hands were shaking as she spoke the name. "I loved her. She was there because she had to make sure I wouldn't be shattered. It was stupid of her. Rose saw her and told me. I ran and tried to get her somewhere safe but she refused. We faught and then a gem...humans aren't like gems, when their bodys get harmed they don't regenerate. But...I tried to save her, If I could fuse with her then she could regenerate with my abilities. When that failed I ran." Paz finished. She left out huge details but the memories were fresh in her mind and she couldn't...not right now.
Pearl didn't believe her. "Why didn't you come back? After all this time you expect us to believe that!?"
"Aurelia lived. I used my ability to keep her alive and we spent so many years together. However she passed not long after Amethyst was found. I did come back..but Rose thought it best that I grieve and explore the world that Aurelia never got to see."
Garnet stood up abruptly. "You always made rash decisions based on the excuse of love. You loved Pink Diamond because she created you, you loved Rose because she saw the best in you, you were torn the minute the two were on different sides. Your abilities don't work if you feel no love. So," Garnet walked over to Paz. Paz flinched ready for anything Garnet would do. Cast her out, hit her, bubble her. However she didn't expect the gem to wrap her hands around in a crushing embrace. "I believe you. Not once since I've known you have you lied to me."
In the moment Paz felt the unwanted relief wash over her. She grasped Garnet and fell to her knees with Garnet doing the same. She cried silently in Garnets arms. Awkwardly sitting in the same spot Amethyst and Steven watched the scene play out.
Pearl turned on her heels and opened her bedroom door and dissapeared.
