(The author is in his slightly repaired office with a Santa hat on.)
Yoshi3000: Before, we go on. Allow me to explain something, you'll need to read A Blackthorn's Rhapsody as it serves as the last chapter before the editorial's true ending
(Tatsuya enters the office asking if he could do the disclaimer.)
Yoshi3000: Go on.
Tatsuya: This is a fan based take on Steven Universe to which its characters, locations, and canon tales belong to Rebecca Sugar. Other OCs not owned by me belong to their respective owners. The others belong to Toriyama, DC, Laird and Eastman, and Ken Akamatsu, and so forth. This author owns the OCs, so enjoy, like, review, and share this. The characters from HuniePop belong to the HuniePot Company. Please support the following release and the official material. Go Project Blackthorn!
Yoshi3000: Cue the opening theme!
(Steven and the Squadron are at their instruments.)
Steven: 1, 2, 3, *strums his guitars*
(Now this is what it's like when worlds collide
Now this is what it's like
Now this is what it's like when worlds collide
Now this is what it's like)
What is it really
That's going on here
You've got the system for total control
Now is there anybody out there
Now watch us suffer here cause we can't go
What is it really that is in your head
What little life that you had just died
I'm gonna be the one that's taking over
Now this is what it's like when worlds collide
Are you ready to go
Cause I'm ready to go
What you gonna do baby, baby
Are you going with me
Cause I'm going with you
That's the end of all time
(A/N: Yeah, it's shortened as per the tradition. You'll have to look it up for the full version. ^w^')
Steven Universe Blackthorned
Season 4 – Arc 1 (Breather Arc)
Episode 31 – "2017's Rhapsody – Ryker Reflects"
For once, some normalcy of dealing with canon was a relief after the ordeal of that trip through the worlds beyond. Yes, I am still reeling from it. It has really got me to think over how I do things. With the reveal of more shady things occurring behind the scenes, it's gotten me all the more on edge. At least, I can push it aside to try to relax. I was just glad to wake up late in the morning and not have to worry about anything. Yes, I know I'll have Homeworld on my ass and, with what's to come with the newer episodes, I won't be doing the canon jig for long. I get up and shower in silence before deciding on what to wear. I had a new design for my gi that I wanted to implement to replace my old one which is rather run its course. My BlackTab had the gi ready for me, but I wanted to save it for when I was training. So, after slipping on the usual underclothes (along with the weighted undershirt), I get on a black V-neck t-shirt with a purple Irken skull on it, blue baggy pants, the same black boots with green in-lining I had first worn when I first arrived in Beach City, and weighted studded blue armbands with the studs being black. With putting Harbinger in it's sheath and on my side, I take up my BlackTab to check the news on Earth Prime.
It's…surprisingly good. I noticed that it's December in the real world and past Ace's birthday. He would be 20, if he was here. I could only sigh.
"Happy birthday, Ace, wherever you are." I said clipping my BlackTab to my left side.
I look into the full-length mirror deep in thought. According to the date in Earth Prime, it would about close to two years since I left to become a warper. I still remember that March 20th when I dove in all those two years ago. Back then, I was headstrong and made an impulsive choice. When I became a warper, I started a small blog to catalog my adventures in a Tumblr blog. To people on Earth Prime, I was just some storyteller. It was a way I kept sane on my off time. Now that I look over the reviews of my "work", I do see many positives, but a few negatives. It's all gotten me reflecting on my choices. I walk out of my room to see Garnet with a hefty plate of bacon strips, hash browns, and pancakes with bananas in them on the coffee table.
"Morning, and yes the plates for you. I had a feeling you'd want to sit and reflect." Garnet said slipping off her shades. "And don't worry about Steven, he's dealing with Kiki as we speak."
I sit on the couch and started wolfing my food down. I do not know if she cooked it, but I'm always glad for Future Vision.
"Where's everyone else?" I asked with hash browns in my mouth.
"Pearl at Bayview with Tsubasa, Amethyst is "taking the day off" in her room, Jasper's off training on Mask Island with Lapis oddly enough, Rose and Greg working down on at the car wash, and Peridot's in the lab decommissioning the Sadie and Lars droids. As for your students, probably out or at home." Garnet said rolling it all off the tongue.
"I almost forgot about those robotic duplicates. Sadie probably wanted to deactivate hers seeing she'll end up quitting the Big Donut in the prime timeline." I said finishing my meal. "But that's not really what's on my mind at the moment."
I sigh.
"Times like this, I wonder if I made the right decisions or hell, if I am the hero I claimed to be. Looking back, I realized that I was a misguided teen with an anti-social view of the world. I started a blog to catalog my adventures, and it's a two-way street. One recent review called me a sociopath." I said a bit fearfully. "Citing my actions against the thugs I fight way back then….and my early devil may care attitude."
Being called a sociopath tore at me. I never thought of myself as one. Hell, I was even called an egotist. I had stints being cocky in my earlier days, but I never really thought highly of myself. If anything, I had bouts of low-esteem back then mostly due to being pessimistic.
"Ryker, with all due honesty, reality warpers in general are bound to have issues considering the infinite potential of what they can do. Considering, what I've seen so far. You're relatively handling it ok." Garnet said to me.
"That's not good enough." I said with a sigh. "My hands are still stained in blood."
I think back to that spy I mercilessly killed in the past. While yes, she was an issue, what was stopping me from using my warper powers to wipe her memory of working for the UGA? Aside from not having a proper grip on my warper powers, nothing. Thinking over things, I realized I could easily have ended up like Cherie Rose Loveless which gets me to shudder. While she was our "ally", it was vitriolic at worst and neutral at best. I had explained to Garnet about one of the comments calling me out on handing over a mook to Cherie for sexual slavery.
"Wait a second, but that was Cherie's idea. Secondly, she had information you needed." Garnet pointed out.
Garnet had a point. BlackTabs were useful for information gathering, but not truly on strategy to fight an enemy. That's where Cherie comes in as she was an expert. Hell, I might even have to call her again to see some more materials on fighting style from the OP universe, considering she texted me that my skills were Six Powers were mediocre.
"Yes, that's true, but I don't want to be like her. I want to be a hero or at least an anti-hero at the very least. There's only one thing I can do, work harder to improve myself. That and explore the lore that's so mysterious." I said. "So many questions I have?"
"That you may or may not get all the answers to." Garnet pointed out to me.
"That's true, but my brothers, sister, and cousin will help. I have a feeling we'll all get piece of the puzzle. Hell, for one I'd like to know about this Battleworld that apparently my sister, Katsumi, and Tatsuya know about." I said curiously.
"Shouldn't you be concerned with that prophetic new evils that are emerging?" Garnet remarked looking over something on her BlackCommunicator.
"I am more concerned and worried about Katsumi and Evie." I said taking my BlackTab into my hands. "Maybe I should call."
I was hoping things will not get any worse, but, who am I kidding? Conflict's bound to happen, but I will buck up and ready myself for what's to come.
On a plane set for the Virgin Islands, Normandy leaned back. It was hellish to get a private place and escape Brazil as this plane was not even his. Add to the fact, his arms were covered in blood. All because of a misunderstanding, Normandy had to flee Brazil. What was his chances of a drug kingpin having a heart attack in front of you and his grunts come up to think you killed him. It was traumatizing and a nightmare, but he was glad he got to that kingpin's plane. This all did come at a price. He had to use "Sakura" as a human shield, but he was not too torn up about it. Naru's body would unite with her soul at least.
"At least, I gave her a proper burial. Besides, if anything, there's one woman I should focus on." Normandy thought.
While he was right to think that she was no longer a problem, that did not mean the end for her. All the way in Bayview, Motoko shivered feeling something in her spine. Gerald had asked what was wrong.
"Something terrible has happened. I don't know what…but I feel like a thorn that was once removed was slammed back into me." Motoko remarked.
Others would have those feeling as well.
With the end of the Frost Clan, this led to many good things. However, while Ryker did bring a semblance of "peace". His actions had equal harm on the multiverse as well. With the Frost, there was a bit of a rush for a new clan to take its place and old haunts. The smaller clans were brawling it out with each other for the shot to fill the Frost's shot. Akira and Genevieve may had crushed the Frost the first time and drastically dropped their numbers back then, but the Frost was able to go on. This time, the royal line of Frost was wiping out completely out and the would be heirs promptly broke away. Add to the effect of the actions of Ryker's younger brother, Ryder, helping to inadvertently set the stage for Kage clan to raise from the Tenin Clan's ashes. All and all, the multiverse was a nightmare if you wanted to raise your clans' standing. Among those, was an enraged mother. Kitami Ashikaya had many reasons to be livid. Being stuck in the "fields of filler" had her unable to communicate with anyone on the outside. Now that she was free, her warpPad had updated and she would have blown up the space pod she was in. Currently, she was drifting at space wanting to catch her breath.
"Just great! Apparently, I've been stuck in practically statis for close to a damn year!" She fumed.
Leiko being dead was merely insult to injury. No money, no more favor, and the loss of an old friend. She could not even avenge her because of the fact she in no way wanted to go gung-ho on the deadly couple.
"Well, at least there are new forces available to work for. Lord Metarex? Too crazy. Pinkamena? Like hell, I'll go near her. Dimensio? Pay's lousy for starter positions. Rebecca? So, she's out of the council and somehow cheated Death? That's insane, but it's a no. Guess, I'll go for the Black Rose. I doubt that Loveless bitch will take me on." Kitami said redirecting her course. "Maybe I should pay my wayward son, a visit. I'm surprised got such a high bounty. And maybe I'll hunt down those traitorous maids too!"
Her space pod roared with life in the engines and rocketed up for another part of the multiverse.
I was surprised to see Steven getting a grip on his Gem powers with a bit more ease this time. Then again, warper powers makes mental abilities a bit easier to learn. I found him out on the beach looking up at the sky.
"I can now dream with my eyes open." Steven said confidently.
"Try not to overdo it, Steven. Warper powers are pretty messed up." I admitted.
"It's all right. I know the powers aren't all great, but I try to think on the positives of everything." Steven remarked to me with goofy smile. "It's really put all this in perspective for me."
I wish I had still that innocence and ignorant bliss. Then again, my childhood innocence was torn up by my own actions and the world naturally a perverse place either way. At least, Steven's got less baggage then me, and I want to keep it that way.
"By the way, how'd you deal with Jenny and Kiki?" I asked.
Steven explained to me he took Jenny aside and explained he was rubbing her out raw with all those favors.
"Figured, I'd do like you and deal with it right away. That way I can relax after…you know." Steven said referring to our last adventure.
"That war was hell. I'm sorry you had to see that." I said earnestly.
"With all due respect, Ryker. Considering what went down in Homeworld, you practically prepared me." Steven said. "And it's taught me to appreciate all the down time I have."
I nod appreciate and walk away. After ignoring Ronaldo, I head over to the Big Donut. While it was closed, it was rather easy to mundanely use my BlackTab to spawn a skeleton key to open the door leading to the break room. Why here? For one, it was quiet. Secondly, I'd rather not have Amethyst interrupt my call. Plopping down on one of the chairs, I ready my BlackTab to make the first call to Cherie Rose Loveless. I should have selected audio call, but I hit video call by mistake. Shit!
The image projects out on a holographic hard-light screen, and I turn off the lights in the break room. I wanted to pray she was decent when she answered the phone. But this was Cherie. The infamous pirate woman picked up and images showed she just rolled out of bed.
"Well well, I did not expect you of all people to call me. This a booty call?" Cherie said.
I shake my hand.
"No! I need your help. I need advice on how to properly improve on the Six Powers. Hell, I might even want to get my mitts on Rokugan too!" I explained.
Cherie sighed and tied her robe tighter sparing me the sight of her body (not that it was unpleasant thought).
"Ok, the Six Powers, I could help. Rokugan, I cannot. While I have the Six Powers under my belt, I can't teach you Rokugan due to the fact I did not fully master all of the Six Powers myself. Least I can do is send you some reading materials for you to practice." Cherie said. "But it will cost you…"
She had that lewd look on her face.
"Cherie, I am getting you another person for your slave harem!" I said annoyed.
That robe was being untied slowly by Cherie. Oh great. Before I could say anything, Garnet calmly opens the door and walks up to me.
"And he's not pimping himself out." Garnet said clearly.
Cherie pout and re-tied the robe saying we were no fun.
"Guess I got no choice to come down to train you myself." Cherie said getting me and Garnet to tense.
Oh hell no. I beg for Garp or hell, the CP9 to teach me, but Cherie's adamant on teaching me herself. She said she'd see me soon and hung up on me.
"I see in the near future she'll be the upmost tease about it or her training you raw. Either way, it's not good for you." Garnet said sympathetically.
Well, shit! At least, it'll take her a while….or merely 20 seconds seeing she tore open a portal. I forgot she can do that too, except better than me. Cherie was more of a magic user than a physical combat fighter, thus her combat clothes differ than my own. Thus, she wore a white jacket with a dark grey interior, brown pants, black gloves, and black and white boots with very high heels. Under her jacket is a brown corset, curved in the middle and at the bottom, exposing her hips. She was twirl her war hammer, Mjolnir, had her own tablet device clipped to her side, and wore several gold necklaces.
"Hey, you raid Neapolitan's lately? Figured, since you're both….gahhhh!" I said before she smashed Mjolnir on my groin.
Damn it, the pain! I held my family jewels writhing in agony, but Garnet gives the look that said, "You walked into them up."
"We are not all gifted in height, but I can still kick your ass." Cherie said smugly.
"Couldn't you have just used your fists?!" I wheezed out.
Cherie has the nerve to tell me to grow a pair, and Garnet snickers at this. Cherie tells me to get on my gi and I force myself up. Using the clothing app on my BlackTab, a green glow comes over me changing my outfit to my new gi. It's the third version of my gi, and I called it my Lighter Shade Gi.
Ryker's new gi unlike the previous gis, this gi is somewhat lighter in color being closer to a very dark gray, lacks an inner shirt (as the weights were applied through seals within the clothes themselves), and features a slightly different ocean blue obi with "耐久" (Taikyū) marked on the left end of it (it is also tied at the right side). The blue boots he wore clasp together on the front of his shins, and the matching armbands are studded with small black spikes. It does not have a symbol on the front, it retains "黒" (Kuro) insignia in the back like his previous gis. The baggy gi pants were customized to have many pockets similar to cargo pants.
"And you call me out for raiding Neo's closest? Akuma called and he wants his black back." Cherie said snidely.
"Oh come on! Nearly possible color was taken by someone. Black's my family color!" Ryker argued. "Plus, blue's a personal favorite color of mine."
Cherie rolled her eyes, and Garnet was thinking that purple would have suited him better this time. Either way, Cherie hauled Ryker and Garnet off for training. It would be the most grueling half-hour of his life. To compare would be the training sessions with his mother and siblings. They both left him ragged, doughy, sweaty, and begging for the mercy. Ryder was on the ground a distance away from the barn panting. Garnet was in a slightly better state with the permafusion wearing a similar gi to Ryker's except having the secondary color as purple. Cherie was just fine chuckling at the two's exhaustion. She walked up and sat on Ryker's lap just to troll him.
"You did pretty well." Cherie cooed.
"You magic blasted us with those Final Fantasy spells for nearly forty minutes with no warning!" Ryker said too tried to get up.
"I screamed "Dodge!" didn't I? Sucks that I used my Warper's Will to cancel out Garnet's future vision while I'm near her." Cherie said teasingly.
She had a clone of herself she formed with the Multi-Form plop down on Garnet's stomach to keep her still.
"You're insane." Ryker hissed a bit.
"You're lucky you're cute or I'd gut you for that. Besides, we're all a bit crazy." Cherie said.
With the clone and real her laying her hand on Ryker and Garnet, the exhausted couple got more knowledge on the Six Powers. Ryker was tempted to ask why the hell she could not just do that and be done with. The glare Garnet gave Cherie was screaming it at her. Cherie's clone dispelling and Cherie used Curaga to heal the two.
"That should be enough for now. Hope it helps." Cherie said tearing open a portal to return home.
As she was about to step in, both Garnet and Ryker kicked her into open getting payback. As the portal closed, the couple had a satisfied look on their faces.
"She's going to get us back for that." Garnet said regaining her stoicism.
Ryker's response was to kiss her telling her it was totally worth it.
(Hell, Other World)
Naru's soul had reunited with her old body to fully complete her. However, this lead to a bit of a defect due to the body having another "soul" in it. The two beings had ended up merging and Naru had to fight "Sakura". Whether it being a lapse in her judgement or the universe wanted to get rid of another Naru, she lost the bid become forcibly apart of this new self. Thus, Naruka was reborn as she was mysteriously revived.
(Unknown location)
(Cues: Dragon Ball Z (Bruce Falconer's Tracks) – Perfect Cell Theme)
Naruka found herself on a spaceship and confronted by a mysterious person in a cloak who eyed her down.
"I have revived you for a purpose, to serve me."
Naruka bowed before them with the submissive part of her taking over. Su's machine had reprogrammed her to the ultimate submissive servant.
The cloaked figured smirk as it seemed his Warper's Will on the girl was working as well. He hauntingly turned to the "fourth wall".
"It may not be my time yet, you better watch out "heroes". I am coming, and I'm not alone!"
Behind the cloaked figure were pairs of glowing red eyes in the darkness all laughing along with the twisted metallic laughter from the figure.
"I bid my servitude to you…Lord." Naruka said before he finished the Naruka's sentence. "Metarex."
(A/N: Oh yeah, another villain. Don't worry, he won't be showing his face for a long time. But I promised TheDisplacerofEquestrias that I would set him up, so here he is. On that second note, I wanted to address some of those issues that serial anonymous reviewer kept painting up. So, I figured a good way to do so instead of the tutorial was for a slow chapter focusing on the reflections of his past. I want to thank all of my viewers because this fanfiction has hit 20,000+ views! (Then again, Sekirei Blackthorn has double that.) This may be the last chapter for SUB for 2017, maybe. Also, go check out Cherie Rose Loveless's work.)
Ending Theme: It's the End of the Year as We Know It – Micheal Stipe, Stephen Colbert, and James Franco