Doug walked quietly down the road from the Temple. The sun was setting over the horizon, casting it's beautiful light all over Beach City. Steven had invited him to watch it with him, but he said he had to head home. But...looking at it now, it looked so calming.

With the waves coming up and down the shore, the seagulls cawing noisily, and the sky a beautiful mixture of orange, violet, and blue. The sudden honking of a horn startled him and he saw Greg's van pulling alongside him.

"Hey there Dougie! What are you doing out here on this fine evening?" Greg asked, in his usual cheery voice.

"Oh you know. Just thinking." Doug said, as he lowered his gaze, mindlessly kicking aside a pebble.

"Oh? What're you thinking about?" Greg asked.

"Oh you know...stuff." Doug replied.

"I have a kid too you know. I can tell when you're a little flustered about something. Hop in, maybe we can think together." Greg said, as he opened the passenger door for the boy.

Doug glanced up at the man before climbing inside the car. They drove in silence for a few minutes before either of them spoke.

"Cobalt?" Greg asked

"Huh?" Doug looked at the man, puzzled.

"What you're thinking about. You're thinking about your mother, right?" Greg said.

"You could say that." Doug said.

"I know how you feel. You're just a little unsure that you'll live up to being a Crystal Gem." Greg said.

Doug sighed as the man pulled the van to the beach, parking a perfect distance from the water. They both climbed out and circled around back. The boy could see the temple someways away but you could perfectly see the sunset from here.

"Rose and I used to visit here all the time. Then, when Steven was born I started taking him. We'd just come here and talk or we'd just watch the sunset." Greg said, as he opened the back of the van and sat down.

Doug did the same. The sound of the tide coming in and out was so calming. He closed his eyes and started humming a gentle tune.

"What song is that?" Greg asked.

"Huh?" Doug asked, opening up his eyes, "Just something I wrote a while back." He said.

"Really? Well it sounds pretty good." Greg said.

"I-I'd play it for you but I don't have my guitar." Doug said shyly.

Greg smiled warmly. "Well you could use mine for the time being." He said, as he reached behind him and handed the boy the guitar.

"You...wanna hear it? Like, really?" Doug asked.

"Of course! If anything, you're just as good as your dad." Greg said.

Doug sighed as he started listening to the waves again. Then, his fingers started to play a simple tune.

Ocean above,

The sky down below,

Will I be good enough, that, I don't know.

I never thought it would be this way,

A way that I've never seen before,

All along I never knew what life had in store.

Although we just met, you would've already known me, all along with all the anger and sadness you've shown me.

I don't want to be her,

I don't want to be an enemy,

Maybe things will change and you'll be friends with me.

I'm not her, I'm just me.

Greg could see a single tear roll down the boy's cheek as he played. Then it all clicked into place.

Something must've happened at the temple. He knew that Pearl and Cobalt had some problems all those years ago. But he listened intently to the song.

Earth all around,

The wind's graceful dance,

I've never met her, but you have though,

But how can I be different, so,

I don't become the same person,

Just thinking about that makes me feel worse and,

I just...want to be me.

I don't want to be her,

I don't want to be an enemy,

Maybe things will change and you'll be friends with me.

I'm not her, I'm just...me.

Doug sniffled before he dried his eyes. "I'm sorry, you shouldn't have to see this." He said.

"No, it's okay kid. Did...something happen at the temple?" Greg asked.

"My mom was a good person right?"

"Huh?" Greg asked.

"Garnet told me how Pearl resented my mother by hanging out with Rose. And Steven and I got along so well, just like my mom and Rose..." Doug said.

"So you think that Pearl sees history repeating itself." Greg said.

"I guess. I just...want to be different from Cobalt and I want Pearl to be happy." Doug said.

"Well I think trying to befriend Pearl is a great idea. Just...don't expect to much too soon, okay?" Greg asked.

Doug nodded as he set the guitar down and threw his arms around Greg. The man just smiled and patted his back.

"Thanks Uncle Greg." Doug said.

"You can talk to me whenever you like kid, you know where to find me." Greg said.

With a quick hair ruffle, Greg sent the boy home to his father.

Doug awoke the next morning to a familiar cheerful voice at his bedroom door.

"Doug it's me, Steven! Are you up yet? Hello?!" Steven said.

Doug chuckled as grabbed his glasses and he walked to the door and opened it with a yawn. "Hey Steven, what are you doing here so early?" He asked.

"Early? It's 2:30 in the afternoon." Steven said.

"Really? But still, what bring you by?" Steven asked.

"Your dad asked me to show you around Beach City! So today, I'm your tour guide!" Steven said proudly.

Doug chuckled, "Tour guide huh? All right, just let me get ready and I'll meet you outside." He said.

"Okay!" Steven said.

Doug quickly changed out of his pajamas and into his normal outfit. Then, he found the bubbly boy raring to go.

"All right! To the boardwalk!" Steven said, pumping his fist in the air.

Doug just chuckled and put an arm around Steven's shoulders as he lead the way, "Anything you say buddy."

Steven showed Doug all his favorite hangouts like the Big Doughnut, Fish Stew Pizza, and the arcade while telling him all about his adventures with the Crystal Gems.

Steven was enjoying a popsicle while Doug munched on popcorn. Both were sitting on a bench on the boardwalk facing the ocean.

"Wait, so what happened to Jasper?" Doug asked.

"Well, after Connie and I came back, Garnet and Pearl have been looking for her since." Steven said.

"Jeez...you have any idea what she's after?" Doug said.

"Not a clue. But...now that you're here, we can probably have a better shot."

Steven smiled as he watched his friend hop off the bench, "I'm gonna get some more popcorn, you want anything?" Doug asked.

"Nah, I'm all right. Thanks for the offer though." Steven said.

Doug started walking towards the popcorn stand where he purchased another bag of the savory treat.

When he turned around he was surprised to see that all the people that were previously on all the rides were running in different all kinds of different directions, screaming like maniacs.

He turned to the direction the people were running from and his blood ran cold.

In the center of all the chaos, the thing chasing everyone out of the facility...

Was a corrupted Gem.

Doug cringed. What would one of these possibly be doing in Beach City?! His father told him stories about Corrupted Gems and he wasn't quite fond of any of them.

The creature was almost the size of an adult human, and was in the twisted form of a black and green tarantula.

It's mouth leaked a noxious, green fluid which burned through the wooden platform it was standing on. The corruption had turned it's blood toxic. It's eyes shared the ominous green color, scanning the area for victims.

And they landed right on Steven nearby.

It started walking towards the boy, the toxic liquid leaking from it's fangs.

Steven started backing away from the beast, but found his back meeting the edge of the wooden platform, right above the ocean.

If he fell down there, into the water, the beast would have no problem tearing him apart.

Steven looked back to the monster. He had nowhere to run, and his shield would be useless in this situation. What could he do?

Nothing.

But someone could. Doug.

He was a Gem, he could stand a chance against this thing. He didn't have a lot of experience with corrupted Gems, but he'd be darned if he didn't know how to fight.

Half him wanted to run, leave Steven to fend for himself. But...what would the Gems say if he told them that? And what about Greg? They'd all despise him for leaving Steven to his death.

'All right, here goes nothing!' Doug shouted, as he ran towards the beast.

Steven's back touched the railing of the boardwalk. Now he was fully trapped between a rock and a hard place. He was fully unprepared for when one of those sharp clawed legs lashed out at him, knocking him to the side and cutting into his side.

The monster hissed as it towered over Steven, still dripping it's toxic acid onto the platform.

"Hey!"

Steven saw that Doug was standing a few feet from him and the beast glaring at it.

"Doug? What are you doing, you need to get out of here!" Steven warned.

"Fat chance, I'm not just gonna sit around and let you be spider food!" Doug said.

The tarantula snarled as it started walking towards him, "Yeah, that's right you eight legged freak, come and get me!" Doug shouted.

Steven tried to get up, but cried out in pain when he felt a crippling pain in his side. He looked down and saw what appeared to be a deep, long cut into his side that was bleeding profusely.

Great, now he was useless.

Doug stayed rooted to his spot taunting the monster. Soon, he was face to face with it. He knew this would save Steven, he knew that this is what the Gems would do.

The boy didn't notice his Gem begin to glow.

'This is my choice. The right one. But I need to make sure you don't hurt anyone else!' Doug thought, as his Gem glowed brighter.

The beast opened it's fangs, ready to claim it's victim...

Steven saw the glowing stop and assumed that Doug had been killed. But that changed when he saw lightning sparks.

The tarantula stared down at the blue sword that was stuck in it's mouth and to the hand that was holding it.

Doug had finally summoned his weapon.

The sword had a long, blue blade, a curved lighter blue sword guard attached to the navy blue handle. It was almost identical to Rose's sword.

Steven looked in awe and amazement.

Doug tore his sword from the beast, sending it's blood splattering. Then he leapt onto it's back, finding the hourglass shaped Gem right under him.

"Leave...us...alone!" Doug shouted, as he sank the blade into the beast. When he did, electricity surged from him, through the sword, and into the tarantula. The beast shook and writhed in pain as blue lightning crackled around him before it vanished in a puff of green smoke.

Doug fell on his back and his sword clattered next to him. He groaned as he curiously picked up the hourglass shaped Gem and tucked it into his pocket.

Then he eyed the still form clad in red, "Steven!"

Doug ran over and knelt down beside him, panicking. "Steven?! Are you all right? Say something!" He said.

Steven's eyes fluttered open, "Ugh...Doug?" Is that you?" He questioned.

"Yeah, it's me Steven. Do you feel okay? You're hurt." Doug said worriedly.

"It hurts too much...I...I wanna go home." Steven croaked.

Doug was about to try and lug Steven all the way back to the temple, but he didn't have to.

"Steven!" Three voices cried.

Doug and Steven looked up and saw Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl running up to them.

"Oh my, what happened?" Pearl snapped at Doug who jumped and put his hands up in a defensive way.

"Something attacked Steven and I, a Corrupted Gem." Doug said, pulling out the hourglass shaped Gem.

"You took it down? But you said you can't even summon your weapon!" Pearl said.

"He did Pearl. He saved Steven from certain death." Garnet said, as she gathered the injured boy in her arms.

"Then hand over the Gem, Doug." Pearl ordered.

"All right, all right." Doug said, but as Pearl reached for the Gem, a blue bubble surrounded it, shocking everyone.

"Whoa, nice bubble D." Amethyst said.

"W-what do I do?" Doug asked.

"Something good. Now just tap the top." Garnet instructed.

Doug did so and watched in awe as the bubble vanished into the air.

"Would you like to come with us? I'm sure that Pearl wouldn't mind." Amethyst said.

Pearl just huffed and stuck her nose up.