Chapter 6: First Third: Sadie
"I've got you, Sadie!"
Steven was grabbing tight to Sadie's arms, hauling her up from the weird basement in the Fryman family's restaurant.
"I'm go-" Sadie began, but stopped as a loud crack echoed from deep within the building's foundation, and her eyes widened in fear, her grip slipping.
Steven just gestured for her to hurry.
"I'm falling! Steven!" Sadie wailed, bits of the ceiling raining down on them as the restaurant began to crumble.
"Just… hang… on!" Steven yelled, pulling her up with a sudden burst of energy.
The two clung to each other as the structure around them began to collapse. Support beams snapped like toothpicks, metal pipes rent in two.
"Steven, use your bubble!" Sadie cried, but Steven shook his head and stood up, heart pounding.
"It's just a dream!" He said confidently, arms on his hips as dust exploded all around him. "It can't hurt us!"
Sadie crouched in terror, her fists clenched as she tried to process his words.
With a final rumbling sigh, Beach Citywalk Fries crumbled into clouds of thick, sooty dust, a sudden wind tossing the ashes into the blackening sky. Sadie stood up; not a single scratch on her body.
"wwwwOW!" Sadie yelled after a moment, her eyes glowing with excitement. "It just… like, imploded, and didn't hurt us at all! You CAN control this dream!"
Her mind flashed back to the terrified people back in town; Mayor Dewy and Mr Smiley. They were screaming and sobbing over NOTHING! A dark pressure that had been crushing her heart loosened.
"C'mon, I know exactly where we can find some people!" she called.
Sadie lead Steven to the Funland Arcade, or what remained of the dream world's Funland Arcade. The mayors crazy van was sitting out in front of it, the Mayor himself crouched by the giant plastic replica of his own head, face in his hands.
Sadie saw the distinguished Mr. Smiley on his knees, as if praying to the charred ruins of his arcade. She'd worry about the Mayor first; she'd already heard his sob story.
"Calm down, Mayor Dewy." Sadie spoke in a gentle voice as she crouched by the crumbled man next to his crumbled van.
"But I'm NOT the Mayor anymore!" he howled, tears rushing down his face.
"Yes, you are!" Sadie insisted. "And you're a pretty good one too. What you did controlling the crowd during the evacuation was great. You're dreaming, Mayor. Wake up!"
Steven watched as both the man and the van vanish in an instant. Sadie gave a breathless laugh, heart soaring with relief.
"Wow, great job Sadie!" He observed, "I guess you don't have to shout it loud. But I like to."
"HEY MR. SMILEY!" Steven roared, making his point. The big man lifted his head, looking anything but Smiley in this darkest hour. Steven raced over to him, holding out his arms.
"I love your arcade. And guess what, I can go to it anytime! Because this is fake," he gestured to the burned out building, "but you're real. Just asleep."
Mr. Smiley disappeared before he could even manage a surprised stare. The arcade sighed into dust, and Sadie and Steven watched in self-satisfied awe.
Chapter 6: Second Third: Steven Universe
The duo trekked through the town, finding and freeing as many citizens as they could. Now that Sadie seemed confident again, it was easy to fight off any dream-monsters or problems that might be bothering them.
They quelled a massive storm for Yellowtail, comforted a grieving Mr. Universe, reminded Jamie that he wasn't in Kansas anymore, and Steven rather awkwardly let Sadie's mom know that her house wasn't actually being robbed…
It seemed to Steven that there was no end to the dreamers, but they worked methodically and watched the town crumble in their wake with each successive rescue.
Steven felt like the two of them were some top-quality heroes, even if it was "just a dream." Sadie had seemed really sad that she couldn't wake up herself, but she wanted to aid Steven in his quest to help the town. He was very glad to have her.
The gems had tried to go with him, but even when they forced themselves to sleep (Pearl in particular was loathe to let him go alone), they never managed to find this huge mutual dream. It seemed only humans– or part-humans- got drawn into it.
The false town had quieted down quite a bit as they passed through, like a healing rain over a parched desert. The huge fire at the arcade was gone, the cries of people suffering from lost jobs or lost friends or lost pants fading into nothing. Steven reflected happily that as the dream world became lonelier, the real world must have been livening up!
Eventually they doubled back to the pier. As they approached, Steven's heart gave a jump when he spotted a familiar silhouette standing on the edge of the bridge over the water.
Connie! He had been so worried about finding her here.
"Connie!" He called, deeply relived to have finally located his closest human companion. He raced ahead, leaving Sadie struggling to keep up.
"Steven!" Connie replied sharply.
She was wearing her slick sword fighting outfight, sword in hand. Her hair was braided back, glasses removed. This was Connie in her fittest fighting form. Steven suddenly wondered what the heck she was doing out here, dressed like that. It didn't really make sense, but his joy overwhelmed the confusion.
"Connie, I'm so glad to see you! You-'" Steven began, but Connie screamed at him.
"You can't be here! I told you to go away, it's not safe!" Her voice was edged with fear, and Steven felt himself sway on the spot. Connie swept her sword at him as a warning, and he backed away in alarm.
A deep rumbling was shaking the pier. Suddenly a huge, tapering worm creature exploded from beneath it, sending sharp chunks of wood flying.
It was the monster from when Steven and Connie had first met.
Steven's mind was flooded with memories of that day, of the ferocity of the creature and the intense awkwardness between he and Connie, a sensation that right now seemed unfamiliar and unwelcome… he had really goofed things up that day…
"STEVEN!" Connie's horrified voice rang in his ears, and he noticed too late that the giant worm monster had slithered around from behind and was headed straight for him, its round, fanged mouth poised to swallow him whole.
He felt strong arms push him out of danger. Connie rushed forward and plunged her sword through the worms flesh and up through its head. As she did, the creature closed its razor teeth around her torso, shaking her back and forth violently. Both girl and monster screamed in pain.
Steven had forgotten that the dream world was a fake.
He only saw Connie, a person who was truly beloved to him, being torn apart as a direct result of trying to save his life. He saw a nightmare play out before him; a sacrifice that he thought he would never, ever allow.
He floundered in the sand, darkness all around him. He got Connie involved in this. He knew he should have pushed her away before it came to this. This was all because of him and his deadly gem heritage.
"STOP THIS!" A voice sounded out from the darkness, and a human figure rushed forward with incredible speed.
Sadie punched the worm so hard that its soft flesh rippled outward like water disturbed by a tossed stone. It burst into a million drops of water, scattering like a sudden rain into the sand.
Amazed, Steven shook his head to clear the awe from his mind, dashing towards Connie's still form on the ground. Her sword laid next to her wounded body, the falling water causing a delicate play of light to illuminate the ugly scene.
He fell to his knees and cradled her in his arms, huge tears sliding down his face. "C-Connie…" he blubbered. "W-hy…"
She turned to face him, a slight smile on her bruised but still beautiful face. "It was…" she coughed. "Worth it."
Steven felt his heart break in two.
"GUYS!"
Sadie was facing them, hands on her hips, staring them down with determination. A heroic wind ruffled her messy hair, her fists clenched.
"It's just a nightmare! You're asleep. YOU'RE the one who taught me that, Steven! C'mon!" She braved a smile, but Steven noticed that she had tears in her eyes too, even while her gaze was fierce. "Wake up you two. You're ok. Please wake up."
Steven gasped. It was fake. The entire world, this whole tragedy, how did he forget?! He was so stupid! His concern for Connie had made him forget! If it wasn't for Sadie…!
"I fell in too deep." He stuttered, blushing with embarrassment.
Chapter 6: Final Third: Steven Universe
Steven jerked awake, his body coated with sweat. He was back in his bed, the soft light of the moon lying across his legs. What a nightmare that dream had become.
"What is it?!" Pearl's concerned voice filled his bedroom; she had been watching him sleep. This time around, Steven was actually ok with this unsettling habit of Pearls.
"I… uhh…" Steven rubbed his head, still embarrassed. "I woke up?" He flashed an appeasing smile.
"Did you wake everyone up before coming back? Are you sure you're ok?" Pearl was flustered as usual.
"I'm not sure if I got EVERYONE, but we where making progress!" Steven said, cheering up as he remembered how much good he'd done in spite of his failure.
Pearl continued to look concerned. "I think the Mayor woke up and is trying to coordinate a way to make sure we know who is awake and who isn't… Also, who's "we…?" Pearl asked, tilting her head.
Steven opened his mouth to explain when Amethyst burst into the beach house with fanfare.
"Hey guys!" She called gleefully. "We foooooouuuuund it! And you're gonna wanna see this."
"I'll explain later." Steven said hastily to Pearl, immediately dying to know what Amethyst and Garnet had found.
The trio headed out, ready to see the next part of this mystery solved.
As Steven raced alongside his gem companions, he silently sent thanks to Sadie. He hadn't been able to express his gratitude before he had hurtled back into the waking world. Hopefully, he could thank her in person soon enough.
