It was about six in the morning on a beautiful summer day when Steven woke to the gems arguing. He didn't know what they were arguing about but he found out when he eavesdropped. They were trying to decide on whether or not they should bring Steven on their most recent mission. Pearl, as always, thought it would be too dangerous and that he wasn't ready for a mission of this magnitude.
Amethyst argued, "We've trained him he'll be fine. And we'll never know if he's ready or not if we don't take him."
"I'd rather not risk his safety on the chance that you might be wrong," retorted Pearl,"Which is likely and quite often." She muttered under her breath.
The arguing continued for about five minutes while Garnet viewed possible futures to see if Steven was likely to get hurt. Steven always liked to go on missions so he quickly got dressed while Pearl and Amethyst argued.
"We're taking him," Garnet said interrupting both Pearl and Amethyst.
Amethyst yelled,"Yay!" while Pearl worriedly asked Garnet, "What?! Why?!"
"Well it's not likely he'll get hurt and he's already dressed," Garnet replied calmly.
Steven heard Garnet say this and ran down the stairs complaining, "What how'd you know? I was gonna surprise you!"
"It's not easy to do that." Amethyst said, "Dude, I've been trying for years."
Steven giggled, "Yeah, but I really thought I had her this time."
Steven and Amethyst heard Pearl call to them, "Come on you two we're leaving."
They ran to the warp pad and hopped on. As they traveled through the warp Steven thought. He got a little sad when he became aware of the fact that he would miss the morning showing of Crying Breakfast Friends. As he got more and more lost in his thoughts he realized he didn't even know what the mission they were going on was for.
"Hey guys, what's this mission for anyways?"
Pearl replied quickly, "Well Steven, Garnet brought to our attention a corrupted gem that has been running free on an island a few thousand miles from Beach City. We simply need to defeat this gem and bubble it."
"I've gone on lots of missions like that why didn't you want me coming on this one?" Steven questioned.
"Well… uh…" Pearl turned to Garnet and whispered, "Garnet a little help!"
Garnet complied and said, "Steven this corrupted gem we are about to face has powers and abilities we have never seen or faced before. This monster will be more dangerous than any of other monsters you've encountered on missions."
He processed this and thought of a good way to reply. He was excited to face something new but was also a little scared. He didn't want to show his fear since they might take him home if they thought he was scared.
"Oh, well… we can handle it right. We're the Crystal Gems!" he said with a huge grin on his face.
Pearl smiled. She admired his enthusiasm no matter what the situation but in all honesty she was a little worried herself. Not only for Steven but for the rest of the Crystal Gems for all they knew this corrupted gem could be the most powerful enemy they've faced since Malachite.
As the light from the warp faded they all knew they were almost there. When they arrived Steven was struck with an awful, almost sickening, humid heat. He lived on a beach, so yes he was used to humid heat but this, this was different and as he opened his eyes he realized why.
There was a river of lava flowing about twenty feet from the warp pad, but there were lush green trees, grasses, and bushes everywhere how were they not catching on fire?
Pearl noticed Steven look of confusion and said, "The lava is here because this is a volcanic island." She pointed toward a volcano off in the distance barely visible through the thick trees.
"Oh, but how are the trees and stuff not on fire?" Steven asked.
"The trees aren't organic they are holograms with mass created by the corrupted gem that has made this island its home." Pearl gladly told Steven.
"Yeah, these trees are like our bodies" Amethyst said walking over to one and punching it.
"You guys can't create holograms other than your bodies, can you?"
"No, we can't. This corrupted gem is more powerful than we thought." Garnet said showing no outward emotion even though this worried her. These circumstances were leading to a future she didn't like. "We better get going if we want to make it back by nightfall."
They started walking through the brush. Steven staying close to Garnet since there was lava all around them. He saw lots of plants he'd never seen or heard of before. This didn't really surprise him since he never really left Beach City and when he did he never paid particular attention to the plant life. Steven began to feel sick. This unbearable heat wasn't fazing the other gems but Steven's organic body wasn't doing very well and the others started to notice.
"Are you feeling okay little man?" Amethyst asked Steven.
"Yes, you do look a bit sick." agreed Pearl.
"No guys it's okay I'm just a little hot," Steven said woozily.
"We can try to find some water if you need it," added Garnet.
"Over here! I found a pond," Amethyst exclaimed.
"Lets get you over there," Garnet said picking up Steven since it seemed like he was having trouble walking.
They took him to the water and surprisingly but delightfully the water was cool. Steven sat next to the water washing it over his face and laughing at his messed up reflection. The gems stood about ten feet behind him with their weapons drawn in case the corrupted gem decided to attack. As Steven sat at the edge of the pond a ripple formed and splashed him. He was curious as to where it came from so he followed its path with his gaze and found that it originated from somewhere in the center of the pond. He thought as to what would be in center of the pond when the water parted and a massive beast slowly arose from it.
"Guys?"
"Yes, Steven?" Pearl replied without turning her head.
"Guys!"
"What dude?" Amethyst asked still not turning around.
"GUYS!"
Garnet turned to see a twenty foot tall corrupted gem creature that resembled a manticore preparing to sting Steven with its scorpion like tail. Garnet was arguably the fastest of the gems and she knew it. She ran a jumped in between Steven and the corrupted gem. Garnet attempted the put her gauntlet between her and the stinger but the stinger got to her first. It struck her square in the chest and she flew back over Steven.
By the time Garnet was hit Pearl and Amethyst were there to help but the creature was about to sting them as well. Steven formed his shield that was quickly destroyed when it was stung and Steven was thrown backwards hitting his head on a rock. Before he passed out he saw the holographic trees and bushes flickering and Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl fighting the monster. Then…blackness.
