Steven's first swimming lesson
Chapter 4: Drowning
"BOOM! SNAP! SLICE!"
The Gems are hard at work fighting the cloning monster its shape is humanoid with an elongated head and sharp claws it has a glowing gem of Aventurine on its head at roughly the same position as Pearl's the monster seems to clone at only the right time and its clones lack gems and seems quite intelligent its more Humanoid shape might suggest it has only recently corrupted.
Amethyst grabs a clone with her whip and throws it against the ground damaging a pillar, which had ancient gem writing.
"Be careful Amethyst! This place is sacred!" Said Pearl slicing a clone in half.
"Oh!" Amethyst said angrily "You care about ancient temples but not about my safety?!"
"Amethyst!.. Just focus on the monsters we better get back to Steven and teach him!" Said Pearl worried about Steven's wellbeing and secretly wondering if the saying "Died from boredom" is actually true…nah.
While fighting Garnet suddenly froze up as images of a Pale dead Steven in the water flood her third eye. A monster approaches her and Pearl throws her spear at it.
"Garnet!, Garnet?! What's wrong?" Asked Pearl worried.
"I-its nothing lets just get back to the mission but we better hurry." Said Garnet.
Back at the Pool Steven was completely submerged in deep water having what he thinks to be the time of his life.
"Gmmmm…"
Exclaimed Steven wondering if he can lift himself up, the water was cool and he shivered a bit but he got used to it.
He pushes down on the tiled floor of the pool and floats up slightly he kicks his legs, water swishing as he tries to put his feet on the ground and walk but ends up pushing himself 360 degrees backwards in a non-tucked in summersault type way.
"Woah" he thought, finding it funny how he had almost no control and almost laughing as he moves his arms and legs trying to gain some kind of hold of something and sinks down back to the bottom of the pool as soon as his feet touch the ground he slowly fell backwards and caught himself holding himself up with his arms he pushed himself and managed to stabilize into a sitting-type position as he looked around.
Everything was so blurry the reflection of the water's surface covered the area and his body.
He found it amazing he finally is exploring the world that is underwater.
Some bubbles escape from his nostrils as another is stuck.
It had been a minute Steven could always hold his breath longer than Kids his age it might be something to do with the fact that he is half gem perhaps being half human meant he didn't need as much oxygen but that did not mean he did not need it.
Steven wanted to explore the slight hill on the other side that might be the border with the shallow end and deep end but as he swished his hand around the water he knew moving is hard in this "Realm" if only he could-,
Suddenly, Steven felt a discomfort in his chest region and Blushed from lack of air. It came to him.
"No air here." He thought worrying.
He wasn't going to try to breath underwater he remembered a time when he thought that was a good idea during bath time and quickly rose himself up and had a bad coughing spell for 5 minutes as Pearl obsessed and worried and lectured.
"Mmmm."He exclaimed.
Making a worried expression on his face he looked around for something that might help him go up for the air he needs! He could barely make out a silvery shiny object in the shallow end a ladder and another closer to him and a bit more detailed at the wall of the pool which stood a few feet away as he drifted forward when sinking.
He tried to move but could not control his movements he lifted himself off the bottom again slightly and kicked and moved his arms but he could not control himself he just did not know how!
Suddenly he had the urge to gulp.
And felt a bigger pressure on his stomach as it involuntarily contracted.
"Gmmmmm!" He exclaimed wanting to breath but cant he wishes someone would save him, he wishes he had just… stayed put…. Maybe Garnet said that for a reason.
"What if she could see the future!" wondered Steven in his thoughts before a contraction brought him back to his dire situation.
"Gm. Gm. Gck."
Each contraction trying to force him to breath suddenly,
"Blublbublbublbubl!"
He exhaled, large bubbles escaping his mouth. He felt better before another contraction happened he covered his mouth, bubbles streaming out of his nose.
He tries to Jump but doesn't make it very far he extends the one hand he has left to use trying to grab the ladder but its too far. In desperation he tries crawling to the other side it works…kind of he manages to push him self to the middle of the pool as bubbles leak out of his nose, he cant let his air escape he pinched his nose with his other hand and stayed there sinking back to the bottom on his side making a pained face, eyes closed forcefully with hands covering mouth and nose as some bubbles leak out he is motionless, shaking, his skin grows slightly pale and his contractions get worse.
"Hglep!" he managed to say uncovering his mouth trying to speak underwater large bubbles rising to the surface, as his blush gets darker he wishes he stayed put he wishes the gems were here how can he be a Crystal Gem if he…drowns.
His body pleads for a breath he cant take it he grows lightheaded.
"Gaaassp!" "Cohlug"
In desperation he gasps big mistake he coughs feeling the water enter his lungs large bubbles rise and he grabs his neck he coughs and gasps only worsening his situation he stops coughing and almost as if he breaths normally he begins to lose consciousness.
"Am I gonna…die forever?" He thought. His eyes were closing.
The Gems came through the Warp pad while Steven was Drowning.
Garnet freezes images of a pale Steven, Paramedics a Heavily Sobbing Pearl, and a loss of a team member dance in her mind she is suddenly thrust back into reality and notices a Tear come down her face and wipes it off.
"Gems! Steven is in trouble we must hurry!" she says Jumping many feet into the air building for building.
"Garnet wait!" Pearl said wondering what happened as she follows.
"Where's the fire G?!" Said amethyst also following they got to the Building and ran by the Hallway Pearl notices a poster and stops. Horrified.
"Don't leave your child alone in the pool it could leave a lifetime of regret."
An image with a child half submerged with hands raised up is shown.
Pearl realizes what Garnet saw and runs after her tears forming in her eyes while amethyst remains confused.
Steven's eyes were closing he suddenly heard a familiar voice.
"STEEEEVENNN!" It called out it was Pearl.
Steven lifted his arm towards the surface before he lost consciousness.
The Gems returned to the pool to find Steven face up bubbles leaking from nose, eyes closed no expression.
The Gems gasped Amethyst's was significantly louder. Garnet shape shifted her arm to drop into the water and pick Steven up before gently putting him down at the edge of the pool.
Pearl let out a horrified shriek.
Amethyst ran up to him and checked his pulse it was slow almost slowing but there.
A slight feeling of Joy filled her, "He's alive! Barely. But alive!" She checked for breathing, "He's not breathing!"
"Oh! Oh!" Pearl said, hands shaking with fear. "I-I know what to do", she said in desperation she shape shifted lungs and took a deep breath before preforming CPR on his slightly pale body.
"What are you doing!" Said amethyst creeped out and confused as Pearl did compression on his chest.
"Saving his life what does it look like im doing! I read about it!" Said Pearl furious.
"How is that going to save him!" Said Amethyst.
"Don't Question me you!...YOU! Obnoxious…Parasite!" Said pearl before realizing what she just said as Amethyst gave her an Infuriated look.
"What did you call me?! You Uptight! No fun-" Amethyst tries to think of something that would insult her but fails and pulls out her whip and ties it around her.
"No!" yelled out Pearl as she was separated from Steven and looked angrily at Amethyst.
"STOP!" said Garnet forming her Gauntlets.
Nothing….suddenly noise, …fighting?
Steven suddenly started Coughing up water and Gasping deeply for air the gems suddenly stopped fighting and Amethyst's whip dematerialized as she had a surprised expression.
"Steven!" said Pearl rushing to his aid tilting his head forward and looking at him worryingly.
To be continued.