Year 1: Gem Glow
Ah... the Delmarva Peninsula. Or as we like to call it, "Beach City". Looks like good vacation spot. Unless you're a Crystal Gem like me.
Name's Marble. I'm sort of the muscle of this team. You see, we gems were put on this planet to protect it and its inhabitants. Our leader, Rose Quartz always believed that beauty and good was found in everything, no matter how gross. But not all of us can see as well as her...
(Pearl, Amethyst, Garnet, and I are fighting a horde of Centipeetles.)
Steven: Hey, guys! you won't believe this!
Which leads us to this little bundle of joy named Steven. Son of Rose, his species is a tie between gem and human. But he knows his way around earth like any kid.
(Steven is suddenly attacked by a Centipeetle.)
(Centipeetle roars, Steven screams.)
Amethyst: *uses whip to yank Centipeetle off Steven* 'Sup, Steven? *grunts*
That's Amethyst, she's the wild card of the gang. She's more carefree and loose than the others.
(Gems fight off centipeetles.)
Steven: Awesome! What are these things?
Pearl: *lifts up Centipeetle, groans* Ugh! Sorry, Steven. We'll get these Centipeetles out of your room. We think they were trying to get into the temple.
Now Pearl is the brains of the outfit, she knows everything about us gems, with moves like a ballerina. She's as graceful as she is a stick in the mud.
Steven: Aw. You don't have to get rid of them. They're really cool.
(The Centipeetle that Pearl is holding spits acid onto the floor. Steven and Pearl look down into the new hole.)
Me: You were saying? (I use my axe and poofs a centipeetle) Hm. No gems on 'em.
Garnet: That means there must be a mother somewhere nearby.
(A Centipeetle sneaks up from beside her as she quickly punches it causing it to poof.)
And Garnet's the strong and silent type. She's known to act without analyzing the situation. She's mellow but fierce, and not one to lose her cool.
Pearl: We should probably find it before anyone gets hurt.
Steven: *excitedly* Oh! Oh! Can I come?! Can I?! can I?!
Pearl: Steven, until you learn to control the powers in your gem, *snaps Centipeetle's neck* we'll take care of protecting humanity, okay?
Steven: Aw, man. *notices a Centipeetle raiding the fridge* Hey! Get out of there! Go on! Shoo! Shoo! Aw! they got into everything! Not cool! *Garnet punches and poofs it as he notices that the fridge is full of Cookie Cats* No way. I-it can't be! Wha-where did you get these?! I thought they stopped making them!
Pearl: Well, we heard that, too, and since they're your favorite…
Amethyst: We went out and stole a bunch.
Marble: "Steal" is such a strong word. I prefer the term, permanently borrowing. *fist bumps with Amethyst*
Pearl: *grunts at Amethyst and Marble angrily* I went back and paid for them.
Garnet: The whole thing was my idea. *retracts gauntlets back to her gems*
Amethyst: It was everyone's idea.
Garnet: Not really.
Pearl: All that matters is that Steven is happy.
Steven: OOHHHH!
Me: And he's gonna sing...
Steven: [sings]
He's a frozen treat with an all new taste!
'cause he came to this planet from outer space!
A refugee of an interstellar war!
But now he's at your local grocery store!
Cookie Cat!
He's a pet for your tummy!
Cookie Cat!
He's super duper yummy!
Cookie Cat!
He left his family behind!
Cookie Caaaaaat!
Now available at Gurgins off Rt. 109! (We burst out in laughter and applause)
Me: *sighs* Kids...
Steven: I can't believe you did this. I'm gonna save these forever! Right after I eat this one. Hello, old friend. *bites into one* Oh, so good! *Steven's gem begins to glow* I like to eat the ears first.
Me: Well I'll be.
Amethyst: Uh, Steven...
Steven: Wha? My gem!
Amethyst: Quick, try and summon your weapon!
Steven: I don't know how! (panicking) Ah, its fading! How do I make it come back?!
Pearl: Calm down, Steven. Breathe, don't force it.
Amethyst: Yeah, and try not to poop yourself either. *I nudge Amythyst*
Garnet: Please, don't. *Steven's gem stopped glowing and we shared a sigh*
Steven: Ah, I was really close that time! Can one of you just explain how to summon a weapon?
Pearl: (singsong voice) Oh, I'll go first!
So for the next few hours little Steven was explained how the gems summon their weapons. But none of their methods feel right to him. Later, I was lounging outside the temple, when I heard the little guy calling me in frustration.
Steven: Maaaaarble!
Me: Why so glum, chum?
Steven: How do you summon your weapon?
Me: Hmm. Well, I think way I can explain is that I can summon my weapon with my thoughts, connects with my emotions. Whenever I feel angry, or when I see my friends hurt, or If I feel like It's necessary, I can summon my weapon like that! *my gem glows and brings out my axe*
Steven: AARRGH! Why is it so hard for me to summon my weapon! Pearl says I should work hard, Amythyst says I should do nothing, Garnet says I should gather power or something, and you say I should use my mind!?
Me: Hey calm down little guy! I'm not saying you should do all of that stuff.
Steven: I dont?...
Me: No. Every gem has a different way of summoning their weapon. You just need to find yours.
The kid thought for a minute. Then he got an idea.
Steven: That's it! Thanks Marble!
Me: No problem buddy.
Minutes later we were all at the kitchen.
Steven: I think my best bet is to recreate what happened the last time my gem glowed. So... *points* Garnet and Amethyst were here. Pearl was next to the fridge. Marble you were standing over there next to the fridge. Hmm. Amethyst, I think your arms were crossed?
Amethyst: Okay, your majesty. *crosses arms*
Steven: And Pearl, your foot was like this. *moves it at the angle it was*
Pearl: I don't think it works this way, Steven.
Steven: And Garnet, uh... *moves her face upward* Yeah. (takes his Cookie Cat out of the freezer) Then I took a bite of this Cookie Cat. Oh, wait! I sang the song first.
Me: Mind if I help you with the lyrics?
Steven: No, no, I got this. Uh, he's a frozen treat, all new taste, interstellar war, now available at Ghurven's. Aww, it was funnier last time. (sigh) Maybe I'm not a real Crystal Gem.
Me: Are you nuts! You were meant for this team!
Amethyst: And you're fun to have around, even if your gem is useless. (Pearl glares angrily at Amethyst) I... mean, you're one of us, Steven. We're not the Crystal Gems without you! (Garnet nods)
Steven: Yeah, even if I don't have powers, I've still got... Cookie Cat! (takes a bite) Mmm, so good. (Steven's gem glows then summons a shield, collective gasp)
Pearl: (amazed) Steven, it's a shield!
Steven: Whoa, what?! I get a shield?! Oooh... yeah! (accidentally launches shield)
Me: Hit the deck! (I hide behind the counter as the shield ricochets around the room, breaking the TV; Amethyst bursts out laughing)
Steven: Huh? Cookie Cat! I summon my weapon by eating ice cream!
Pearl: (picks up wrapper) What's in these things?
Me: Better question is can I have some?
(The house rumbles.)
Steven: What was that?
Centipeetles started to crawl up the temple with one of them bigger than the others. It could only mean one thing.
Garnet: It's the Mother! *leaps towards it*
Me: I should've known! *I summon my axe*
Pearl: Stay in the house, Steven!
Steven: No, wait, I'm coming too! *goes back to grab several Cookie Cats and the freezer*
We stood face to face with the acid spewing mother of all centipeetles. We dodged its attacks and took cover behind a broken hand statue. But it didn't hold down the goop for long. Just then Steven appeared with cookie cats in his hand, still thinking he can summon his weapon with ice cream!
Steven: Cookie Cat Crystal combo powers, activate! *eats a cookie cat and nothing happens* Uh-oh. Aaaah! *retreats further back*
Pearl: We need to save Steven!
Amethyst: Can we save ourselves first?!
Steven: Goodbye, my friends. *eats several Cookie Cats and nothing happens* Why isn't it working? *retreats once more*
Garnet: Steven! *holds back Mother's pincers*
Steven: *sees destroyed freezer, gasps* No... Oh, no no no!... *slowly* Cookie Cat, he's a pet for your tummy. Cookie Cat, he's super duper yummy! *picks up freezer, more aggressively* Cookie Cat, he left his family behind! Cookie Caaat! *chucks freezer at Mother which shocks her, causing her to screech in pain* Now available... nowhere.
Me: That oughta do it.
Amethyst: Yes!
Garnet: Gems, weapons!
The gems and I then bursted out the melted rock with our weapons out. We charged at the beast ready to attack, and then... BOOM! Another monster gem safely bubbled. As for little Steven, guess he knew that eating cookie cats wasn't the best way summoning your weapon.
Steven: Farewell, sweet Cookie Cats. I'll always remember the time we spent together. *stomach rumbles* Shh, hush now.
Amethyst: Are you crying?
Steven: *shouts* Only a little!
Amethyst: Well, I guess your powers don't come from ice cream
Me: Buck up, champ. I'm sure you'll get the hang of it.
Pearl: Indeed, I'm sure some day you'll figure out how to activate your gem.
Garnet: Yes, in your own Steven-y way.
Steven: I'm okay guys. I just- *stomach rumbles* Ugh, I think I ate too many Cookie Cats.
(Gems laugh, Steven laughs anxiously, then retches.)
And there you have it folks. The story of the little kid who could, but couldn't. Steven may not know how to summon his shield, but he's still a valued member to our team. And one day, find his own little way of making his gem shine.
But that my friends is an incredibly different story for an incredibly different time.
