Hey guys! So this chapter's fairly long, but it will finally bring the two universes together. However don't expect any real interactions until next week. However, some of Steven's behavior will be explained in this chapter. Also, thanks for the reviews, I always appreciate them but if you guys could... could you please use somewhat accurate grammar when you write them? I get that trying to sound like Rick is cool and all, but I can barely read them or understand what you guys are saying- so please use clear sentences.
Also, Rick is still not appearing for another few chapters but there is a good reason for this- Rick is so f-ing awesome that he takes over the story, so I need to time his entry perfectly- and I promise it'll be worth the wait. In terms of the time-travel concern someone had, don't worry, there are issues with timelines in this story but there is no actual time travel involved. As for the VHS tapes and Pacifica, it'll be explained later on too.
Without further ado, here's the next chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own Steven Universe, Gravity Falls, or Rick and Morty
Bill had never really questioned his existence much. He was created by a man who wanted to see his intelligence and madness personified. He recalled the man stating something along the lines of: "Seriously?! This is the illustrated-concept of my mind?! A fuck(burp)ing cheap Illuminati reference?! Gah! I need to stop taking bets when I'm drunk... on second (burp) thought- no I don't."
This man, who single handedly created sentience and had the power of life itself had the nerve to complain about his physical makeup. Seriously, Bill didn't ask to look like this. But he couldn't complain about it either, the simplicity of his form made people trust him. Bill remembered opening his eyes in a glass flask, and initiating conversation with the man named Rick Sanchez:
"Hey buddy! It's not like your a work of art either!" The triangle snapped. "So the greatest mind in existence creates a God, and all he has to say is that I'm a cheap cultural reference? Don't make me laugh!"
"Watch it! You're not just a God! You're better than that- you're supposed to embody my knowledge and potential or (burp!) whatever!" Rick rolled his eyes. "Which is why you should be like Godzilla or something! Or an undiscovered wild alien species! Just really- a triangle! If I ever do this again, I'm creating a sketch first."
"So the great Rick Sanchez doesn't like looking at his reflection! You know I'm only like this, cause of you right?" Bill argued. "The form I take now is what you are buddy- an unsolvable puzzle unable to let anyone in, while keeping a God's eye on everything cause of severe trust issues!"
"Shut up! You're annoying me... And I'm like this cause I'm awesome bitch!" Rick walked over, to adjust some kind of weapon- most likely an anti-matter gun.
"So that's it? You're just gonna destroy a God without taking it for a test drive?" Bill rose a brow.
"Hell no." Rick said. "To pass the time I experiment with shit, to pass the time and to tell authority figures to fuck themselves. Besides... I want to see how it'll go. You're my potential... right? So I want to see how Rick, I really am. Also, you're name's Bill- too lazy to come up with anything else."
Afterward, the man released Bill without a word and they haven't spoken since. In fact, before he met Ford Pines- Bill hadn't met any other humans period. Sure, he had made friends with various characters across the multiverse. Like Ford Pines, they didn't take him seriously due to his cartoonish appearance- Rick had sketched him arms, legs, a cane, and top hate for good measure before releasing him from the flask. But they learned fast, and Bill soon learned that he could take advantage of people very easily.
As much as power as Rick gave Bill, there were certain limitations the scientist implemented that drove the triangle mad. Such as the limitations regarding humans, while he had endless access to anything even half human through their dreams, Bill couldn't actually influence anything unless if he could convenience them to let them into his world, and even then there were limits! For example, he couldn't take over someone's body unless they made a deal and he couldn't leave Gravity Falls!
Of all the questions Bill had for Rick, that was the primary one. Why would a man who created him to be a reflection of his potential want to limit himself? Had Rick implemented a safeguard in Gravity Falls? Or had that been Ford's doing? And what about the Zodiac? Was that an odd formula Rick came up with, or was it someone else? Bill didn't know, but he would soon- he would find Rick soon, but for now- he could contend with revenge.
After Bill was fried inside Stan's brain, he thought he was a goner- Rick would probably dismantle him himself if he knew that Bill lost to such a simple man. Bill knew Rick had created a back-up version of him, but he had no idea Rick had stored him in cracks between the multiverse. It was essentially throwing him down an icy crevices in Antarctica, knowing there was no way he could get out on his home. It took Bill awhile, but he managed to emerge. But he'd be ready- he came upon a wonderful opportunity in the form of Steven Universe:
Bill had been in enough dreamscapes to know he was in one- it was the first thing he could pull himself into after clawing his way out of the deep butt-cracks of the multiverse (another thing Rick was going to pay for). While Bill knew he was in another version of earth, he had no way of determining which one it was until he entered a dreamscape. And boy was he surprised when he came across this one! According to the mental catalog Rick stored in his mind, this universe's version of earth had been nearly overtaken by an alien race called Gems, and the Gem War had driven Homeworld out.
Bill knew Rick came here a lot for the advanced technology of Homeworld, so it was a relief to know this universe contained humans. But he wasn't in the mind of just any human- it was the son of the Rebellion Queen herself- Rose Quartz.
Wondering through the fairly intense dream, the boy seemed to be having a nightmare, he found the half-human called Steven confronting the dream version of his mother- along with several other figures that seemed be haunting him.
"Please! Tell me what I'm supposed to do?!" Steven shouted. "We're scared and I don't know how I'm going to save everyone! I'm not you! I don't know what to do! Please come here! They're coming! Homeworld's coming!" The boy was crying in hysterics at this point, with the sky darkening at the same time- spaceships then appeared and were preparing some kind of weapon. Bill recognized it as one of the Diamond's ships- Yellow Diamond specifically.
Sighing, Bill approached the boy and did a quick wave of his hand to dissipate the nigthtmare. "Hey now Steven! It's not the end of the world yet!"
"What?!" Steven snapped out of his gaze, to look at a cartoon-like triangle creature look at him. "W-Who are you?! Oh geez- are my nightmares making money come to life?! Dad has those occasionally! I just need to spend you before the world ends!"
As Steven tried to pick up Bill, the triangle slapped his hands away. "The world's not ending you dolt! Look!" Bill presented Steven with a clear sky, with them now in front of a calm and quiet beach similar to one at the Crystal Gems' beach house. "Honestly! We're inside your mind! Take more imitative!"
"W-Who are you...?" Steven asked again, getting to his feet. "And why are you inside my dream?"
"The name's Bill! And you're Steven Universe- the man whose going to save Earth! But I'm getting ahead of myself!" Bill shook his hand.
"How do you know my name?" Steven asked hesitantly.
"I've entered your dreamscape Steven- I know all of your immediate thoughts!" Bill answered. "And what I'm here to do- is make your life easier!"
"Are you another creation by my mom?" Steven inquired.
"Oh no! I have a completely different origin!" Bill answered.
"So what are you doing in my dream?" The boy asked.
"Like I said- to make your life easier!" Bill repeated.
"How? Are you here to help fight Homeworld?" Steven asked.
"Not exactly." Bill couldn't care less if he was honest. "I'm here to help you specifically, since you're the earth's last hope!"
"W-What do you mean?" Steven asked nervously.
"Don't worry, it's not a Chosen One prophecy! I just simply want to help since you're the only one in the Crystal Gems I can communicate with!" Bill explained. "I can only interact with organic life forms like humans."
"Why?" Steven asked.
"Because organic species like humans put stock in mythical being like Gods, while Gems really don't have much use for those sorts of things!" Bill explained.
"Okay... so are you in contact with any other humans?" Steven asked.
"Nope! You're my only client!" Bill replied cheerfully. "Now! Want me to help you with your Homeworld problem? All you have to do is make a deal with me!"
"...I don't know. I know this is a dream and everything, but Garnet says I shouldn't talk to strangers- even in my dreams!" Steven explained hastily.
"Oh... what if I were to prove to you it wasn't a dream?" Bill asked.
"How?" Steven asked.
"In order for me to do anything in your world, you have to make a deal with me. You get something, I get something- sound good?" Bill asked.
"I guess... but what are you gonna ask for?" Steven asked.
"In this case?" Bill put a finger on his non-existent chin thoughtfully. "Hmm... how about you agree to visit me tomorrow night? We'll play any game you want! One game and you go home! Win or lose! Sound good?"
"I guess... so what do I get?" Steven asked.
"Since this is the proof-of-concept stage- better start out small!" Bill answered. "Take food for example- is there a discontinued snack food your mouth waters for?"
"Well... there was a flavor of Cookie Cats that was canceled." Steven answered thoughtfully. "Ok! I'll come and see you if you get me a bag of Green Tea Cookie Cats!"
"You know that I know that flavor never existed right?" Bill asked exasperated.
"I know. But it sounds delicious!" Steven smiled and held out his hand. "So do we have a deal?"
"It's a deal!"
Even though the deals Bill granted started out very small, they built up over time and it only took him a month to gain Steven's trust. The sheltered life he lived had prevented him from learning any valid life experiences, which may have made him more street savvy. Bill almost considered it pathetic that Steven trusted him- the boy's desperation was near nauseating. Then again... the gullibility attached to hope and desperation is what Bill loved about humans- it made them so easy to trick.
When the time finally came to abduct Steven, Bill was shocked at how easy it had been. For Bill did not offer for Steven to come with him- Steven asked if he could.
/
Pearl kept taking deep breaths as she and the other Crystal Gems walked through the Moonbase, ignoring the imposing figures of the diamond pictures as they walked. She remembered going up these stairs with Steven with that particular Ruby, who was sent to Earth looking for Jasper, where it came out that Rose Quartz shattered Pink Diamond. Even thinking back to that time made Pearl feel what humans described as nausea- while she held no resentment towards her old master, she was certainly happy to be empowered by Rose Quartz. Really, the only regret was how the Gem War started.
"You okay Pearl?" Ruby asked, who was still balancing Sapphire on her back. "We know this place is hard for you and all..."
"I'm fine. Thank you." Pearl smiled sadly. "We need to focus on finding Steven."
"Agreed. Which is why this database will be most helpful." Peridot concurred.
"So, what are we looking for exactly?" Amethyst asked.
"Peridot said something about the Earth's atmosphere being disrupted or something." Lapis tried to recall.
"If I can determine when and where the atmospheric data shifts, I can confirm when Steven was abducted." Peridot clarified and smiled at seeing the familiar control panel. "Here we are!" The short green gem wasted no time and began typing in keys, while the Gems eagerly waited for the Peridot's answer. After a few seconds, Peridot spoke again, "I'm canvasing data going as far back as 60 days or 1440hrs, and I'm seeing the Earth's data shifting at the 30 day mark. At this point, the Earth's atmosphere seems to be... splitting." Peridot frowned in confusion as she watched the animation on the screen.
"Splitting? Like the earth split in two? Wouldn't we have felt that?" Amethyst scoffed.
"Not physically but..." Peridot typed in more data to get a closer look. "In analyzing the exact hour and seconds the shift started, my data shows that the Earth's rotation temporarily slowed for approximately five whole seconds."
"So?" Amethyst asked.
"You don't understand." Peridot frowned. "The Earth's entire existence is based on its rotation- this allows for natural phenomena such as weather, waves crashing in the ocean, gravity, seasons changing, and even the flow of time. If the Earth really would've slowed its normal rotation, we would've felt that and catastrophic disasters would most likely have occurred across the planet."
"So what does it mean then?" Lapis asked.
"It means that something, or someone, had interfered with the Earth in such a way that it caused permanent infractions with the planet's existence. Which means my initial theory about time-line disruption was correct. This may have produced consequences that may not even be theoretically possible," Peridot continued, clicking away form the animation and pulling up a different file.
"You thinking the human Sapphire saw did this?" Amethyst asked.
"I don't know... I'm going through this planet's archives to determine if any such human was present on Earth during the time in question." Peridot explained.
"What about Steven?" Lapis asked, getting impatient. "I thought we also came here to look up where this Gravity Falls place is?"
"I can pull up a different screen, Lazuli." Peridot made a hand motion, and a map of the United States was soon visible. After a moment of searching, the map came up with an inconclusive result.
"Hey Peridot." Ruby spoke up. "There's something wrong with the map."
"Hm?" Peridot looked and was surprised to see the map stating 'ERROR', indicating there was no such place as Gravity Falls, Oregon. Peridot frowned and focused in on the map, and was baffled to see that there was a something called the 'Oregon Vortex' and there was a town called 'Big Foot', but no Gravity Falls.
Before Peridot could investigate the map further, Pearl yelled, "Peridot! Look!"
Quickly shifting her attention back, Peridot and the other Crystal Gems were stunned to see a certain archive file. Peridot had left the thing to automatically sort through different files and had landed on this one, Peridot quickly tapped the file before it could be passed. "Um... Pearl, Ruby, Amethyst, and Sapphire, if you can hear me... does this file seem right to you?"
As the Gems were reading it, they couldn't help but allow their shock to overtake their faces- this file stated Rose Quartz was the leader of the Crystal Gems but that she was SHATTERED in the last battle for Earth. Pearl remembered that battle- that was the fight where she went to the landing pad in the ocean where she found Lazuli's mirror. She remembered going back to her beloved Rose Quartz and confirming Homeworld forces were gone. Rose Quartz lived happily with her and the others until she met Greg, which ultimately resulted in Steven. There was no way thousands of years worth of memories were false!
"Peridot... this isn't right. This is most definitely not right! What is this?!" Pearl shrieked.
"I don't know! I'm seeing this archive file for the first time as you are!" Peridot stated.
"Peridot! I was there in the last battle! Garnet was in the last battle! And most of all- Rose Quartz was in the last battle! It was through her leadership we saved Earth, so don't you dare let this piece of gem tech tell me that Rose Quartz died in that battle!" Pearl exclaimed.
"Pearl... Peridot's not doing this on purpose." Amethyst said gently. "Open the file, maybe it'll tell us something useful."
After a moment, Peridot sighed and opened the file and noticed a video clip. "Do you... wish to watch it?"
Ruby looked at the others and nodded. "We need to."
Rose Quartz sighed as she cut through different enemy gems and felt herself growing weary. This was the final frontier, the battle for Earth- she could feel it! She could tell Yellow Diamond was pulling all the stops for this round, as some of Homeworld's most elite warriors were here. While she was exhilarated, she was tired and she had been separated from her comrades. Cutting through another wave of weaker gems- mainly Rubies- Rose Quartz leaned on her sword to catch her breath and took the opportunity to look around herself.
Just then, two Topazes rushed her and sent her flying into a nearby tree. Rose Quartz felt the impact crack the stump, but quickly recovered and stood up. Suddenly putting her shield in front of her, she swung her sword at the Jasper that took the second rush.
"Rose Quartz... I've been looking forward to this." Jasper growled, and swung her fist at the gem leader.
"Can't say I feel the same. So many admirers, so little time..." Rose Quartz smirked.
"Ugh!" Jasper swung again, put Rose Quartz parried and pinned Jasper to the ground. Noticing the enemy had her sword pointed at her nose, Jasper growled. "Do it! Shatter me like you did Pink Diamond! I'll be an inspiration to Homeworld like her!"
"Inspiration? That's amusing... I didn't think the Diamond Matriarch allowed for such free thinking?" Rose Quartz was about to stick her sword through, but was suddenly shoved off of Jasper and found herself restrained by the two Topazes from earlier. Even with their strength, Rose Quartz knew she could overpower them-
"I wouldn't do that if I were you Rose Quartz..." The pink gem shuddered in recognition of that particular voice. This war was really forcing Homeworld to call upon their best if an Aquamarine was on this planet. Glaring, she glanced up at one of the smallest gems Homeworld had to offer. Looking closer at where Aquamarine was pointing her enhancer wand, her eyes widened considerably. "No..."
"Oh yes... while you put up an impressive performance. Your comrades are not so experienced..." Suspended in mid-air were the gems of the Crystal Gems: Pearl, Ruby, and Sapphire. "They put up the good fight, especially the fusion, but they ultimately allowed their emotions to get the better of them. Shame they were so careless really. Then again it's your own fault... letting a Pearl fight."
"Pearl is not weak." Rose Quartz stated.
"Come off the sentimental feelings... I too am a gem not meant for battle, and I accept it. My role is tactician and support for the Diamond Matriarch, while Pearls are decoration for the higher gem classes. It's nothing to complicate matters over." Aquamarine waved her hand. "Speaking of complicated matters... I suppose this one's resolved. Guess we'll be taking you back to the Diamonds."
"No!" Jasper suddenly jumped in. "Rose Quartz already shattered My Diamond! We can't risk her shattering the others."
"True, but regulations dictate there must be a trial." Aquamarine stated. "Besides... the Diamonds have already ordered her capture."
"Trial?! She shattered Pink Diamond! We're beyond trials at this point!" Jasper shouted and turned to Rose Quartz. "I'm going to shatter you... but not until after I shatter each and every one of your Crystal Gems. Hand me the Pearl- she seems to be Rose Quartz's favorite."
"NO!" Rose Quartz nearly threw the Topazes off. "Please! Let them go! Shatter me and let them go!"
"Interesting proposal, but holds benefit for us." Aquamarine shrugged. "You're not in a position to be making offerings Rose Quartz."
"...But think of the praise the Diamonds will give you upon your arrival!" Rose Quartz pleaded. "If you return to Homeworld with me or my Shards- you will be forever in the Diamonds' favor. This planet and the rest of the Crystal Gems... they'll mean nothing in comparison to the Diamonds."
"I still fail to see why we can't just shatter your comrades along with you," Aquamarine replied. "In fact... I've always wondered what that felt like to shatter a gem. I've always hatred Pearls for their luxurious positions as companions- while I have to actually perform duties." In a simple motion, Aquamarine manipulated the Pearl gem into her hand and examined it. "Real delicate isn't it?"
"NO!" Rose Quartz suddenly broke free in a burst of fury, jumped on top of Jasper, and swung at Aquamarine. While she missed the small gem's body, she break the enhancer, which resulted in her comrades being dropped. In another motion, Rose Quartz ran over to them and picked them up. Whistling, she ran forward from the enemies and awaited for faithful pet to appear.
In just a matter of seconds- the wormhole appeared and Lion jumped out. "LION!" Rose shouted and threw the Crystal Gems to him. The big cat managed to jump and catch them in his mane. "RUN! GO!" The big cat seemed hesitant, until the Topazes caught up with his master and held her down once again. With a growl, Lion turned its back and ran back into the wormhole.
The relief Rose Quartz felt couldn't be put into words, and barely felt it when the Topazes lifted her from the ground and marched her towards their commanders.
Aquamarine was still reeling from her enhancer being destroyed, while Jasper was seething as essentially being used as step stool. After a moment, Aquamarine spoke: "It seems as though you were right for once Jasper. Rose Quartz is too dangers to bring to Homeworld. The Diamonds will surely understand certain decisions had to be made."
"Heh... I'm going to enjoy this." Jasper smirked.
"Topaz... hold Rose Quartz in place." The two did as they were told, and had Rose Quartz arms sink into their side- effectively holding her in place on both sides. "And be sure to catch the shards... I don't want any remaining." Turning to the lager gem, she said: "Whenever you're ready, Jasper."
Without another word, Jasper walked up to Rose Quartz and looked at the two Topazes. "Make her kneel. I want to see Rose Quartz truly defeated before I shatter her!" Doing as they were told, the Topazes lower Rose Quartz so that she was forced to bend the knee. Using her finger to make Rose Quartz look at her, Jasper said: "Tell me one thing before I shatter you... why did you shatter Pink Diamond?"
"...She was going to shatter Pearl." Rose Quartz answered.
"Tch! Even your excuse is deplorable!" Jasper motioned her fist backwards and swung. A sickening crack was heard throughout the mountain range they were fighting, and time truly did seem to stand still.
Even though the impact hurt. Nothing hurt more Rose Quartz more, that she could not confirm that she liberated Earth.
After a few minutes, stunned silence was the only response the room after the video ended. Peridot quickly scanned the text with the video for context, and was surprised to see that the Diamonds had backed off from Earth after Rose Quartz had been supposedly shattered. This seemed uncharacteristically forgiving of her previous Yellow Diamond mistress. Apparently the Diamond Matriarch deemed Earth a lost venture after the Gem War, and that the planet's resources had been completely depleted already. Did that mean there was no Cluster under the Earth anymore?
"That's not what happened..." Lapis spoke up, her voice was also shaky. "I may have been trapped in a mirror, but there's no way that's correct! I heard Homeworld War Council Meetings, I was interrogated over this- the Gem War did NOT end this way!"
"I don't doubt your account Lazuli. As I said- the time-line infractions most likely caused these upsetting changes." Peridot nodded and looked at the others. "What is your take away...?"
"This is messed up man... I don't even know where to begin." Amethyst was fisting her hair in frustration.
Meanwhile, Ruby was too busy worrying about their other comrade. "Pearl... are you okay?"
"Pearl... I'm just a Pearl..." Pearl had tears streaming down her face as continued to mutter. Seeing Rose Quartz being shattered in such away... practically because of her, was too much to bear. It reminded her of what kind of gem she was- a gem meant for decoration, to be seen not heard, to be nothing but a status symbol for an elite gem. While Rose Quartz helped her through that mentality, seeing this video practically reverted her.
SLAP! "Pearl! Snap out of it!" Amethyst's hit was enough to snap Pearl out of her daze. "I know this stuff is bad, but it's not real! If it was- then Steven wouldn't even exist and we never would've met Lapis or Peridot!"
"...Right..." Pearl nodded.
"But what does it mean?" Lapis asked. "Peridot...?"
"The archives state that this file is indeed true... which leads me to believe we are all either suffering some kind of delirium or we are in a time-line of Earth in which Steven never existed." Peridot concluded. "Considering it's unlikely for us to be all conjointly suffering the same hallucinations, we can conclude we entered an alternative time-line! This would also explain Sapphire's condition!"
"Ok... if that's true, why does Greg remember Steven?" Amethyst pointed. "We also still have Steven's stuff in his room!"
"I don't know! I'm sorry everyone! But I truly don't know why this is happening! I don't know how to explain Steven's disappearance or any of this!" Peridot clutched her head.
"Peridot..." Lapis put a hand on her shoulder. "We'll figure this out somehow... You're the reason we got this far."
"Guys! Something's happening!" Ruby suddenly spoke up, sounding happy. "Sapphire's starting to feel better and she's saying something!"
Intrigued, Pearl managed to ask: "What?"
The two gems suddenly merged into Garnet, who was still holding her head but was definitely better than she was previously. As much as the Crystal Gems all loved Garnet- none of them cold remember a time where they as happy to see her as they are now.
"Garnet!" Amethyst smiled. "You're okay now?"
"To a degree..." The tallest groaned. "We have company..." Garnet suddenly turned towards the teleportation pad in the Moonbase, causing the others to do so as well.
Suddenly, a bright spec of light appeared in the center and started growing steadily. Eventually the spec of light became a circle, and morphed into a group of three human-like forms. When the light settled, the Gems were surprised to see three humans- one child and two adults, all males. As the two groups stared each other down, neither party was sure what to make of the situation.
The humans seemed to be just as perplexed as the Crystal Gems, with the boy hesitantly asking: "Uncle Ford... are we in the right place...?"
AN: For anyone upset about the Crystal Gems flashback scene, please note that they are still trapped in the ALTERNATIVE timeline in which Rose is shattered- it's necessary for the story. If you have any questions, leave it in a comment or review! Thanks everyone!