It all started like any other normal day in beach city. The sun was shining the weather was nice without a cloud in the sky as the waves crashed gently against the shore. Steven and Connie were playing in the sand while Lion slept in the shade of the temple house.
"Steven the gems are back!" Connie said excitedly
Garnet Amethyst Pearl!" Steven shouted hugging them "Did you guys find Malachite?"
"Not yet Steven were going to keep looking though. If Lapis has been keeping Malachite chained in one spot in the water then there's only so much ocean they can be hiding in." Pearl said optimistically
"You really think so Pearl?" Steven asked
"Worst case scenario is that the deep ocean pressures cracked both Lapis and Jaspers gems." Amethyst says "And if that's the case then at least we won't have to deal with Jasper ever again."
"Amethyst!" Pearl shouts
"But that's not what happened... Right Garnet? You have future vision you can tell can't you?" Steven asks worried
"There is a chance that may be the case but it's a very small chance Steven." Garnet reassures "With as big as Malachite is however I doubt that a little pressure would do much to harm them, but I can't see much other than that regarding Lapis and Jasper"
Everyone lays a hand on Steven.
"Steven... We will find lapis. I promise you" Garnet says hoping to cheer him up
"Now Connie and Steven let's get going. For your next training session" Pearl says heading towards the temple house with the children close behind her.
Once they get to the sky arena Pearl turns around and says
"Okay Steven you're great at defense and Connie you're amazing at offense but you both need to be good at offense and defense so Steven I want you working on your shield attacks and Connie work on your dodging speed" Pearl smiles "ready? Begin!"
Meanwhile back at the temple house garnet Amethyst and Greg are setting up ribbons and balloons for Stevens surprise birthday party.
"Alright we have streamers and balloons and confetti now all we need is cake" Greg says
After a few hours of cooking Amethyst and garnet walk out of the kitchen carrying two trays of what look like burnt meatloaf pudding and something out of a horror movie.
"What happened?" Greg asks
"We don't know how to bake." garnet says. "I don't eat and Amethyst shoves hand fills of junk in her mouth."
Garnet presents the burnt meatloaf pudding.
"I was making a strawberry chocolate cake but it caught on fire so I tried punching the fire out and this is what happened." she says
"Well garnet uhm... It was a nice try at least." Greg says "and you Amethyst?"
"I just shoved everything in the fridge into a pan and baked it..." Amethyst shrugs
"uhm i think it just moved" Greg says
"What? No." Amethyst says as the "cake" crawls out of the pan and out the door "okay I might have used a little bit of magic"
"This is hopeless" Greg sighs "let me show you how it's done"
Another thirty minutes and Greg pulls out a beautiful red velvet cake which he covers in pink and white icing sticking in candles. At that moment the transporter activates leaving enough time for Greg to turn off the lights, Garnet to separate into Ruby and Sapphire and everyone to hide.
"what's going on?" Steven asks
The lights then switch on and confetti explodes from all around as everyone shouts happy birthday.
"surprise!" everyone shouts
Greg brings out the cake lighting the candles.
"Make a wish son." Greg says
"I wish Lapis was here" Steven whispers quietly as he blows out the candles and takes the first bite of cake. "Dad this is amazing I didn't know you could bake."
"Yeah Greg where did you learn to make this?" Amethyst asks.
"Well... It was Rose's special recipe..." Greg tells everyone
"But Rose never ate food though" Pearl said doubtful
"Story time!" Steven and Connie shouted rushing to the couch as Ruby Sapphire Amethyst and Pearl sat on either side of them.
"Well... Okay I guess" Greg said sitting in front of the kids. "It was my first birthday after meeting your mother Steven. We had been going out for almost a year now. We went for a picnic on the mountain and to this day I don't understand how she knew it was my birthday. I never told anyone... Anyways she had made a delicious and beautiful cake using the flower petals from the roses that come off her moss when they bloom. The same ingredients I used in this cake. From that day on every year on my birthday she would make me this cake and we sat on that hill and fed each other. When we found out she was going to have you she taught me how to make this cake just for you. So... I guess this is happy birthday from both your mother and me."
At this point everyone in the room had tears streaming down their faces.
"That... That was the most beautiful thing I've ever heard Mr. Universe" Connie cried.
"Yeah dad... Thanks" Steven says hugging Greg.
"Aww kid you're gonna make me cry. C'mon we got presents on the beach for you." Greg laughs
Steven opens several presents thanking everyone when a giant wave crashes on the shore soaking everyone. When the water subsides there on the sand lays Lapis Lazuli.
"My wish came true!" Steven cries with joy
"S...Steven?" Lapis whispers
Steven then rushes over to Lapis picking her up in his arms.
"Lapis what happened to you?" he asks
"He's coming Steven... We are all doomed." Lapis says weakly "When Jasper and I heard I became so frightened that she overpowered me."
"Who Lapis? Who is coming?" Steven asks worried
"Bloodstone… Yellow Diamonds deadliest assassin... And the person who built and ran kindergarten..." Lapis coughed.
And with that Lapis retreated into her gem to heal and Steven looked at the crystal gems and saw pure terror.
End of chapter/episode 1