Hey guys! Thanks for the reviews so far! To answer the question of one reviewer: yes- Peridot and Lapis will be in the story. As for other citizens in Gravity Falls and Steven Universe remembering Mabel and Steven- you'll find out in this chapter but you'll probably be surprised. If all goes well, I should be able to update on a weekly basis on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays. With that, here's the next chapter and I hope you'll enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I don't own Steven Universe, Gravity Falls, or Rick and Morty
Sapphire felt like her brain was trying to implode in her skull, and could barely make out any other sounds outside the static ringing in her ears. She had felt off the entire morning, but she had begun feeling easy since the middle of last night. But after the gems failed to get a hold of Greg from that phone call, her vision became blurry and eventually degraded into just splotches of red and purple. The immense pain and delirium had forced her connection with Ruby to be all but severed, as her companion could feel her pain but could not identify the source.
Beyond the physical pain of her migraine and white noise static, Sapphire was panicking over the fact that she couldn't see Steven at all. Even before this onset of pain, Sapphire's visions were becoming blurry but even the little she saw had deeply concerned her. She saw a cold and distant Beach City than the one that had learned to coexist with them, she saw Connie becoming timid and wearing glasses again, she saw Greg become something Rose Quartz would not have loved, but most of all- she didn't see Steven. That frightened her... frightened her to the point where she couldn't speak to her fellow gems about it.
Ruby had seen these visions as well, but had assured her they were just nightmares or far-off possibilities that weren't likely to happen. Because of Steven, none of that should have been possible. But without Steven, their reality turned to into the cold future she foresaw. And when she tried to find a future where Steven did exist, she ended blinding herself with a headache and deafening herself with static! For once Sapphire had no idea what was happening, and worse- she had no idea what was GOING to happen.
The reason why Peridot and Laps came to mind is because she saw them helping them in this bleak future- in the moon base or the ocean! Sapphire wasn't sure cause her vision was so blurry, but she saw Peridot, Lapis, and themselves staring at the monitor with Peridot talking about the Gem Wars; she was talking about how this might have affected Steven's disappearance. Really, Peridot and Lapis seemed to be their last hope in finding Steven and she couldn't begin to even guess where Lion was. Maybe he was out by the Sahara Desert again...
/
After slipping the bus driver $50, another perk of being an only child was higher allowance, Dipper managed to convince the bus driver to let him bring Waddles and his parents weren't complaining about having the pig out of their home for almost a week- they even asked him to offer the pig to his uncles. Even though Dipper was sure Mabel wasn't there, in the case she was or that he managed to find her, he knew that Waddles would be the first one Mabel wanted to see.
The bus ride was just as grueling as he remembered it, and it was even worse without Mabel to entertain him. But luckily he managed to get there in one piece, and managed to get there around dinner time due to the EXTREMLEY early departure. If Dipper could avoid waking up at 4:30am for a bus ride again, he would be sure to do that.
Dipper had several strategies in mind for how he wanted to approach this. He was planning on just asking his uncles if they remembered Mabel, but maybe that wasn't a good idea. His plan on getting the journals was going to be difficult, but he figured he could convince his uncles if he convinced them of some supernatural event. He was willing to climb down himself ig he had to!
Bracing himself he forced a smile when he got off the bus as his two uncles greeted him. He also saw that Wendy and Soos were there to greet him as well. "Hey guys!" Dipper went up to hug his uncles.
"Hey there champ! Needed an early break from school huh?" Stand laughed and ruffled his hair.
"Don't encourage bad habits Stan." Ford ruffled his hair as well as Dipper departed.
"Hey dude!" Soos high-fived him.
"How's Middle School treating you squirt?" Wendy laughed and also ruffled his hair.
"It's fine." Dipper smiled and looked down as Waddles oinked. "Waddles sure missed this place, that's for sure!" The pig oinked in response.
"Hey yah useless pork chop!" Stan rolled his eyes, but pet the pig's head anyways. "Let's get you settled at the Mystery Shack, you're spending the weekend helping me make money!"
"Wouldn't have it any other way Grunkle Stan..." Dipper laughed, relieved at the fact that some things never change. "But there's something I want to talk about back at the cabin first."
"Ugh! Whatever it is, make it quick! Time is money!" Stan huffed.
The walk to the cabin, Dipper made sure to take notice of any difference to the town that may have occurred due to Mabel's absence. To both his surprise and relief, the town seemed to be rebuilding the town form Weirdmaggeden. Just be sure he asked: "So how's town's recovery going from Weirdmaggeden?"
"Eh. Same old, same old really. I mean it sucks that we still have to go school and all." Wendy shrugged.
"On the other hand, the supernatural phenomena seems to coexist well in the town." Ford reassured.
"The Mystery Shack is doing well too! Mr. Ford and Mr. pines brought back a bunch of cool stuff!" Soos pointed out.
"That's good to hear I guess..." Dipper nodded, feeling relieved that the events of his memories matched what actually happened. Though he had to wonder how it played out without Mabel.
"You okay dude?" Wendy asked. Dipper stopped when she asked that, and it was also at that moment that he noticed that Wendy still had his hat. This also made him smile, he couldn't wait until the cabin.
"No, I'm not actually..." Dipper got the group's attention, and began his pleas. "Guys, I wanted to wait till we got back to the Mystery Shack but I can't, so please... tell me you guys remember Mabel..."
Dipper was met with silence, so he continued. "Mabel's my twin sister! She helped us beat Bill! Helped me explore the mysteries of the journals!"
"Hey kid! We got rid of those journals remember?!" Stan snapped. "And you're talking nonsense kid! I mean, who would name their kid Mabel nowadays?! Not that the names parents are currently giving their kids are any better... I mean sheesh... one lousy vampire movie and everyone's naming their kids Bella and Edward."
"Stan please!" Ford ribbed him, and looked down at his great nephew gently. "I'm sorry Dipper... we truly don't know who you're talking about. You explored the mysteries of the journals with Soos primarily..." Ford turned to the younger man.
Soos rubbed the back of his head uncomfortably. "Sorry dude... it was just me and you, sometimes Waddles here too. And Mr. Pines a few times but... I don't remember any Mabel." Seeing the boy's reaction becoming more desperate, Soos quickly added. "But then again, my memory is terrible! Wendy?! What about you?"
Wendy was just as uncomfortable as Soos, and knelt down beside him. "Sorry Dipper... I don't remember you having a sister. It was you and me that did most of the but-kicking during Weirdmaggeden, and I'm pretty sure I would've remembered a female version of you."
"How'd I get Waddles then?! Mabel was the animal lover! I wouldn't have brought him home!" Dipper tried to argue, hating to admit that the events could have still happened without Mabel's presence.
Stan answered. "What do you mean?! You brought the useless thing home after that stupid Northwest family tried to roast him at the fair. You'd think that with all the stuff you've seen at this place, that a simple slaughter wouldn't bug you."
"What about the journals?! Ford, there's got a be something in them that would explain this!" Dipper exclaimed.
"Dipper I'm sorry... but even if there was, it's not worth excavating the bottomless pit." Ford tried to reason. "And don't forget... Bill's gone now. Whatever you think happened, did not happen. If we get back to the shop, I can take a closer look at you and we can try to figure this out." Ford tried to place a hand on Dipper's shoulder, but was shaken off.
"No! Mabel's real! She DOES exist! And I'll prove it!" Dipper ran off into the town, hoping to find anyone who may remember his sister. If he had proven supernatural phenomena to skeptics before, he could find proof of his sister!
/
After deciding that the barn was their best course of action, the Crystal Gems were bracing themselves for whatever they were about to find. Sapphire had managed to get to sleep, feeling exhausted from the constant onslaught of noise and pain. Ruby faithfully kept her lover on her back as they wrapped to the barn. They didn't have time to borrow Greg's van, assuming that he even owned a van at this point, and time was of the essence.
Once they arrived at the barn, they looked around tentatively for any signs of Peridot and Lapis. The gems stood outside the bran almost afraid to go inside, afraid that their worst fears would be confirmed.
"Hey guys..." Amethyst spoke up. "What happens if they're gone? Does that mean that Steven never existed?"
"Of course not!" Pearl exclaimed. "He's Rose's son! Of course he exists! Otherwise, Rose would still be here at this point!"
"So what?! You're saying you want Steven dead?!" Amethyst glared.
"No! But what I am saying that if Steven doesn't exist where we are right now, maybe Rose does!" Pearl shouted. "That way, some good can come of this!"
"Would you two shut up?! You'll wake Sapphire!" Ruby scolded.
"It's not like she's useful for anything right now." Amethyst grumbled.
"What was that?!" Ruby snapped. "If it wasn't for Sapphire, we wouldn't have known to come here!"
"Come for what?! To discover that Lapis and Peridot aren't here because they never met Steven?!" Pearl tore some of her hair out. "How does that help us?!"
"Hey what's with all the shouting down there?!" The Crystal Gems were stunned into silence as they looked up towards the upper level of the barn, where they didn't even notice the makeshift balcony that Peridot made. Lapis Lazuli was looking down at them in annoyance, her hair disheveled and rubbing crust out of her eyes- clearly she had just been woken from a nap.
"And what was that about us not being here?" The Crystal Gems looked behind them and saw Peridot coming back from the cornfield, levitating a sheet of metal and... Pumpkin! Absolute living proof that Steven DID exist! The living vegetable crop barked and ran around them excitedly.
Without warning, Amethyst ran forward and hugged Peridot. Stunned, Peridot stumbled back and forced the purple gem to separate from her. "What is with this overreaction? You're acting as though we have not seen each other for some time. Or that's what I believe Steven told me, when in times of chronic separation..." At the mention of Steven, Amethyst brought her back into the hug.
"You remember Steven..." Pearl had tears leaking down, hands covering her mouth.
At this, Lapis flew down to join them with a confused look. "What do you mean remember Steven? Why wouldn't we? He's the whole reason we managed to make Earth our home."
/
Dipper's frantic search through Gravity Falls had been bitter sweet. On one hand, the town's people recognized him as a hero and happily welcomed him. On the other hand, none of them remembered Mabel! They were polite enough about it, and assumed he had met another tourist named Mabel last summer. Probably his lowest point was running into Mabel's friends, Candy Chiu and Grenda. They both still thought he was cute and they didn't remember his sister, awkward painful.
"I'm sorry Dipper, but we don't remember anybody named Mabel with you." Candy shook her head.
"Yeah. We would've remembered a female version of you." Grenda added.
Dipper rubbed his temple, Mabel did not look that much like him. "How did we meet then?"
"At the Mystery Shack party of course!" Grenda cheered. "You were the only person who sat down with us!"
"You shift at the ticket booth ended, and you wanted a place to hang out." Candy recalled.
"Oh. Cause the way I remember it, Mabel was the one who not only sat with you guys but stood up to Pacifica for you." Dipper recalled the night pretty well. One thing he had to to hand to his sister- no fear of public embarrassment.
"Oh! We definitely would've remembered that!" Grenda insisted.
"We're sorry Dipper... we truly don't know anyone named Mabel." Candy shook her head. "We hope you find what you are looking for." Both girls waved at him and went about their way.
At this point, Dipper was mentally and emotionally exhausted. He went over different options of where to go from there, and decided to stop by Greasy's Diner. He knew Lazy Susan would probably give him a free soda if he asked. As he walked towards the shop, he bumped into somebody.
"Hey watch it!" Dipper groaned as he recognized the voice, and looked up to see Robbie and Tambry. While there was no longer any animosity over Wendy, the two boys still didn't like each other. "Oh it's you..."
"Hey Robbie... and Tambry." He waved at the girl, still glued to her phone as he could tell. "Sorry about that... wasn't looking where I was going." He figured it was pointless to ask two people that barely interacted with them.
"Whatever... Hey, where's the female version of you?" Robbie's question made Dipper cease.
"What...?" Dipper needed to know if he heard right.
"Yeah dude. Where's your sister?" Tambry looked up form her phone and noted the absence of the female twin. "Aren't you guys like always together?"
Dipper couldn't believe this! These were the last two people he expected to remember! "Guys please! Don't mess with me! Do you actually remember Mabel?!"
"Duh! She helped me get over Wendy and get with Tambry over here- way better for us by the way!" Robbie and Tambry brought themselves closer to each other. "Not to mention she said fingerless gloves weren't cool! They totally are!"
"First of all, no there not." Dipper repeated his sister's sentiments and continued. "And second, I can't believe I'm about to ask this. Robbie, we've never gotten along and I will be more than happy if we never become friends and Tambry... I honestly just need you as an extra witness, but please hear me out!"
The teens looked at each other and then back at Dipper. "We're listening." Tambry said.
"Please... I need your help! Something happened and nobody remembers Mabel! Not my parents! Not my uncles! Not Soos! Not Wendy! Not ever her friends!" Dipper cried. "So please... help me!"
/
After being thoroughly updated with the situation, Lapis and Peridot were in just plain disbelief of the situation. Lapis was frustrated that they were not contacted sooner, and that they were not already looking for Steven. "Wait... you're saying that Steven's missing and no one knows where he is?" Lapis reiterated.
"It's not just Steven's absence!" Pearl exclaimed. "No one even remembers Steven existing! Not Connie! Not Greg! No one!"
Peridot rubbed her chin in thought. "I'm sorry but this simply doesn't compute. Correct me if I'm wrong, which I doubt I am, doesn't it take two humans to spawn another smaller human?" Peridot had gotten a brief human reproduction lesson from Greg in the past after realizing humans weren't grown in the ground, but still didn't understand the details.
"Yes... you're right. But Greg doesn't remember Steven! And we haven't seen him since last night!" Pearl exclaimed.
"What I was referring to, is the fact that if Greg does not remember making Steven with Rose Quartz... wouldn't that mean that Rose Quartz is alive? I wouldn't see how, considering that this world has been the same since last night." Peridot elaborated.
"Yeah. If Steven didn't exist, then Rose Quartz would have to. Not only that, Peridot and I wouldn't be here if he wasn't." Lapis agreed. "I wasn't exactly keen on staying here, remember?"
"That's not what we're saying!" Amethyst exclaimed. "We're saying that even though Rose Quartz clearly isn't here anymore, Steven's gone and everyone but us forgot him!"
"And we're currently in the discussion in trying to solve this contradiction!" Peridot responded and then finally asked. "By the way, why is the fusion in separate forms?" She pointed to Sapphire's discomfort, who was sitting on the ground clutching her head. Ruby stroked her back, and was trying to soothe her in any way she could.
"She's been like that since this morning." Pearl explained. "Garnet was mostly silent and she seemed to be having difficulty concentrating, and eventually the fusion broke down. I've never seen Sapphire like this, we don't know what's wrong with her."
Frowning, Peridot walked over to her and knelt down beside her. "Sapphire, are having severe headaches and hearing static?"
Ruby bit her lip and looked closely at her lover. Through gritted teeth, Sapphire managed to nod her head enough for Ruby to catch.
"Yes!" Ruby exclaimed. "But how did you know? What's wrong with her?!"
"I've seen this before only a handful of times in Homeworld, most of which occurred shortly before I came to earth for my... mission." Peridot finished sheepishly.
"Wait! You know what's going on with Sapphire?!" Amethyst, Pearl, and Lapis got closer.
"Perhaps. I can't be certain. However, if I'm correct about what Sapphire is experiencing then the situation is much more serious than previously thought." Peridot began. "As everyone here knows, Sapphires are used as clairvoyants for Home World. They are used to erase all uncertainty or doubt in any situation, due to their ability to analyze all possible outcome. Provided that the universe they are in is stable, they shouldn't have any trouble generating or managing their visions."
"But..." Lapis prompted.
"However, if the universe they are in becomes unstable for whatever reason... then their visions begin to shift and can cause... problems." Peridot answered carefully. "I honestly don't know the full nature of this problem, but the only times I see this happen is if a Sapphire's experience in the past contradicts the potential futures they see."
"But that happened when I rescued Sapphire, and nothing like this happened!" Ruby argued.
"That was different." Peridot replied. "What you did was immediate interference of a future event, you didn't contradict the past she experienced."
"What are you saying...?" Pearl's anxiety was growing as Peridot continued her explanation.
"What I'm hypothesizing is... something drastically changed in this universe's timeline." Peridot explained. "I don't know how or why, or if I'm even correct... but that would explain Sapphire's symptoms."
"Then why do we remember Steven and no one else does?!" Amethyst exclaimed.
"I don't know! As I said, my knowledge in this matter is limited and I only know because I overheard higher ranked gems discuss it." Peridot explained. "I recommend reviewing any records you have of the Gem War and anything previously recorded, to see if the documents contradict your memories. Also... you mentioned that Steven's pet Lion was missing?"
"Yeah. Why?" Amethyst asked.
"Nothing. Just another variable to account for." Peridot replied.
After a heavy silence, Lapis spoke up. "So where do we start?"
