(Welcome back. I got my new chapter prepared for you guys. Hope you like it.)

One day during a training session with Steven and Ebon, Steven was being tossed around like a sock by Ebon, "Come on, is that all you can do?" the older gem asked rhetorically.

"Sorry, maybe if I had a small break?" Steven suggested nervously.

"A small break?" Ebon asked in outrage, "There are no small breaks in battle!" he intimidated Steven, and thought, 'Even if I break this kid I will see to it he will become a real crystal gem,' he spoke up, "To be a crystal gem you must push yourself past your limits," he summoned his weapon, "We will make your gem activate to it's fullest." Steven gulped as Ebon attacked Steven with his scythe while Steven could only dodge.

Later that day, Steven came home looking worn out and his clothes practically torn. Pearl upon seeing him went into big sister mode, "Steven, what happened to you?!"

"What, this? It's nothing. Just getting some exercise." he answered.

"You look like you were attacked by an animal." Amethyst stated, as she was kicking back.

"Is everything ok?" Garnet inquired.

"Fine. Couldn't be better." he answered. He fell asleep on the couch.

Pearl spoke to her partners, "Steven's been going off eveyr day by himself longer than usual."

"And coming home all beat up." amethyst added.

"Garnet you don't think Steven's being bullied do you?" Pearl asked in worry.

Garnet answered calmly, "He'll tell us when he's ready."

"Yeah, we'll find out eventually." Amethyst added.

"Oh, I don't know." Pearl said unsure.

"Have faith, Pearl." Garnet said.

Meanwhile, Ebon was in his lair getting a solo work out in, and smirked to himself, "Everything's going just as I planned it," he finished his workout before plopping onto his couch.

"Who would have guessed this was going to be so easy? Why I would have done it sooner had I known," he sang still smirking, while holding his scythe, "Cause unless if I'm very wrong it won't be very long until that boy is my shield. Oh, Rose. If only you didn't foolishly decide to marry a human and have a family. So let him have his fun the little brat!' Ebon sang, with an insane look on his face while swinging his scythe around. He continued singing about his plan to use Steven followed up by laughing loudly and maniacally.

The next day, Steven got up and early before heading out. As he left, Pearl was spying on him, "I'm doing this because I care, Steven." she said to herself, as she followed quietly.

She watched as Steven went further from Beach city to an abandoned area. Steven was waiting, while Pearl looked and saw a gem pad, "Why would a gem pad be out here of all places?" she asked herself, until she looked at the gems on the bottom seeing they were all dark ones, "Wait a minute, those gems," she gasped in realization and saw Steven about to step on it, "Steven, no!" she ran over.

"Pearl?" Steven asked in confusion, as she pulled him away.

"Don't step on that pad."

"You followed me here?" he asked.

"Yes, and I'm glad I did."

"Can't we talk later I got a lesson to get to." Steven said, as he tried to go to the pad, only to be pulled back.

"Steven, have you been taking lessons from a gem called Ebon?"

"Yes. I mean no, I mean... Oh, nuts." he knew he was busted.

"Steven, you must stay away from Ebon." Pearl ordered.

"But why?"

"Because he's a rogue crystal gem. He betrayed us years before you were even born!"

"A rogue crystal gem?" Steven asked.

"Yes. What has he been doing with you?" Pearl inquired.

"Just training me is all."

"He would not merely train you just to make you strong. He has to have ulterior motives," Pearl pondered, "He's a monster, Steven. He may seem kind but he's not."

Before Steven could speak, the pad glowed and appearing on it was Ebon. Pearl went in front of Steven, while summoning her spear. Ebon spoke up, "Steven... And Pearl?" he smirked, "You look well."

"Stay away from Steven, Ebon!" Pearl ordered.

"Or what? Steven, I've taught you multiple tricks and made you stronger. And what has this one done for you? All she's done is hold you back." Ebon tempted him.

"Steven, he's just trying to trick you." Pearl warned Steven, as she still remained on standby.

"Do not listen to her. Stick with me and you can have it all." Ebon continued to persuade him.

"Don't play your mind games on Steven," Pearl spoke up, "Especially what you did to Ivory!"

"It was nothing personal." Ebon brushed it off.

"You took Emerald from her." Pearl called him out.

"Because he took her from me!" Ebon lashed out, as Steven looked at the two.

"She was never yours to begin with!" Pearl argued, "Ivory and Emerald were in love and you took him from her, and lied to us for your own selfish desire."

"I deserved her. I deserved it all!" Ebon continued to lash out.

"On what ground?" Pearl demanded.

Ebon's gem started glowing with his dark aura, "I was always the strongest. I strove to claim it all, but Emerald took what meant more to me than all the gem power in the universe!"

"You're mad, Ebon." Pearl declared.

Ebon summoned his scythe, "And you'll pay for coming here."

"Steven, run for it!"

"But I can't leave you."

"Run!" she ordered, as Ebon went at Pearl and the two fought.

"If you have thoughts about beating me, you're sadly mistaken, Ms. Uptight." Ebon mocked her.

"I don't have to beat you," she began, "I just have to wait until Amethyst and Garnet arrive."

"Ah, yes. How are those two foolish partners of yours?" he asked humorously.

Suddenly, Garnet dropped in attempting to pound him with her gloves. Ebon jumped away avoiding the impact, "Well, Garnet, nice of you to drop in."

"I's wish I'd never see you again." Garnet answered, while glaring at Ebon through her visor.

Ebon was going to attack, but Amethyst's whip grabbed his scythe, "Hey!" he saw the shortest gem, and struggled to keep hold of his scythe before breaking it out of the whip, "and now the trio is complete."

"Still as psycho as ever, Ebon." Amethyst said.

Ebon observed the three, "Such a shame your group became a trio since Rose stupidly gave up her form for a child." he mocked.

Garnet attacked, as Ebon blocked her, "Never talk ill of Rose's sacrifice!"

"Yeah. Thanks to her we made a new ally and friend." Amethyst added.

"The boy? Please, how can you all him an ally when you are nothing but a burden to him? I've truly trained him and made him stronger. What have you three done for him?" he called them out.

The three were silent, but Steven spoke in their defense, "Hey! It's true they may prefer to keep me at home and limit to how much I learn, but they do it because they're family. And family sticks together!"

"Steven." Pearl gasped, as Garnet and Amethyst felt moved.

"And I learn more than just how to use magic from them. I learn a lot of other lessons too. And it it's between them and you, then I'm sticking with them." Steven conldued.

"You're just as foolish as your own mother."

Steven frowned and glared, "Don't you dare talk about my mom that way!"

Ebon looked at Steven's eyes and laughed amusingly, "Hah! Of course! She used to give me the exact same look."

Pearl spoke, as the four surrounded him, "You really think you can take on all four of us, Ebon?"

Ebon looked at them and smirked, "Another time perhaps. And when it comes, I'll be more than prepared." he retreated to the pad and vanished with the pad disappearing as well.

"He got away again." Amethyst sighed.

Steven looked to the three, "What was that all about?"

Suddenly he was embraced by Pearl, "Steven, are you all right? You're not hurt are you?"

"Pearl, I'm fine. And you're crushing me!" he groaned.

"Sorry." she released him so he could breathe.

"We're so glad you're all right." Garnet said.

"What was with all that?" he asked, seeing they all looked guilty, "You know don't you? I know it. I want answers!" he demanded.

Pearl wanted to try and cover up, but Garnet hushed her, "We'll tell you everything, Steven. But first, let's go home." they walked off, with Steven torn and confused over what happened moments ago.

(And there's the chapter. Steven found out Ebon was no good at all, and sees there was history between him, Ivory, and Emerald. What secrets await to be uncovered? See it next time.)