Chapter 15: Beach City Party
Steven opened up the door to Lars' Bakery a bell chiming right above the door to show that someone entered the Bakery.
Steven was greeted by Lars who was currently checking orders. "Hey Steven. You've come to pick up your orders?", He asked.
"Yeah! I also wanted to check up on you.", Steven smiled.
"Well you are in luck! Bluelace just finished up.", Lars said gesturing to Bluelace Jasper who was putting the cupcakes and one individual large cake on the counter.
They both heard the bell ringing from the door directing their attention to the door. It was a girl with blond flowing hair wrapped into a bun.
She wore a white t-shirt along with black sweatpants with a hoodie tied around her waist and wore blue tennis shoes.
"Hi Sadie!", Steven greeted with a smile. It had been forever since he had seen Sadie. He remembered she had been doing tours with her band, Sadie and the Suspects. He hadn't seen her since then.
"Hey Steven! Hi Lars!", She also greeted with a smile walking up to the counter Lars was stationed at.
"Oh my gosh! I cannot remember the last time we together in a pastry establishment.", Steven said bringing up the memories of when he was younger and would go into the donut shop Sadie and Lars ran together.
"I have your moon cakes right here.", Lars said bringing out a colorful box with a moon decorated on the sides. "Thanks Lars.", She thanked happily.
"No prob! So...How are things going with you and Shep?", Lars asked. Steven was confused by the question.
Who was Shep? Did Lars just ask how are things going on with her and Shep? Did this mean she was in a relationship? This all shocked Steven as he watched the two conversating.
"Everything's been going just perfect between us! Everything has just been so easy.", Sadie responded with a pretty chill attitude.
Steven could tell Lars was affected in some way by her answer. "It was a pleasure seeing you two again, See ya later."
She turned around and waved before heading out the door. Steven hunched halfway over the counter staring directly into Lars' eyes. "What the heck was that? And who is Shep?", Steven blurted.
"Shep is Sadie's new partner. They met each other while Sadie was on tour with The Suspects. It's cool don't worry about it.", Lars calmly responded. "Plus I'm heading back into space anyway, now that the off colors are graduating school."
"But what about your shop? Who will run this place?", Steven asked with a concerning tone.
"I asked Bluelace to take over and she happily accepted, but you understand though right?", Lars asked.
"Yeah.", Steven responded feeling unsure.
"Alright then! See you at the graduation party.", Lars said. Steven grabbed the cakes and headed out.
-3 hours Later-
The party was on the beach right outside of the crystal temple. It was the perfect environment for a party. The sun setting
"We appreciate you inviting us Steven.", Black Widow thanked.
"Yeah we all need something like this right now.", Tony agreed.
Steven smiled heading over to a table where Spinel, and Rocket were seated.
"Is you two enjoying yourselves?", Steven asked.
"Everything is just swell Steven! Thanks for the invitation.", Spinel thanked. "Say you got any drinks around here?", Rocket asked.
"Oh we have punch and water over there.", Steven responded pointing at a table with a container containing a red liquid and bottles of water beside it.
"Any drinks with alcohol?", Rocket asked.
"Don't worry I got ya covered! That's why I came prepared.", Spinel interjected pulling out a flask.
"Oh Spinel, I don't what I would've done if you disappeared too.", Rocket said Spinel getting flattered by his compliment accepting the flask she was offering him.
They guests had all arrived and were seated. Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Black Widow, Thor, Rocket Raccoon, and Spinel had arrived shortly after Steven got finished setting up everything just on time with the help of Peridot and Bismuth.
The off colors including the gems that attended Little homeschool were onstage wearing graduate caps. Steven got onto the stage testing out the microphone.
"Hello everyone I thank you all for coming to the party for the graduation. I know this week has been hard for all of us ever since that day, but I was told by a friend that the thing we all have in common is we're all grieving for the same people and they aren't gone from us yet. As long as we sit back and do nothing they'll truely be gone and they'd want us to keep fighting, but I hope you all enjoy the food and music.", Steven explained everyone clapping from his speech.
"But now let's give an applause to the off colors and the Little homeschool attendees.", Steven added clapping afterwords with everyone clapping on cue Steven noticed Sadie and Shep waiting off stage.
"Now let's also give applause to...What's your band name again?", Steven asked Sadie and Shep who walked onto the stage after the Gems walked off.
"We haven't come up with one yet.", Sadie responded.
"Oh. Well you should've asked me I great with coming up with band names.", Steven nervously chuckled handing Sadie the mic and walking off stage.
"Well...This is just something Shep and I have been coming up with and we really hope you enjoy it!", Sadie spoke nervously. "We welcome any and all criticism after the show!", Shep added.
Steven went to sit down at a table by himself and watch the performance. Shep put the instrument to her mouth and began playing a tune.
I'm Looking Forward
When I was younger and I hated fun
I was always looking back on what I should've done
I used to live my life in fear
Of the terrible performances that brought me, but...
I'm looking forward, I'm looking forward, I'm looking forward now
I'm looking foward, I'm looking forward, I'm looking forward now
Song that plays in this scene:
Return to the Beach/Jasper
Timestamp: 0:30
As Sadie continued her song Steven noticed a bright light sky. As every second sent by the light got brighter and bigger.
This had gotten everyone's attention including Shep and Sadie who abruptly stopped their song to gaze at the bright light.
I ship with a familar design to the stereotypical American UFO appeared hovering halfway above the beach. A small laser machine protruded from a slot from beneath the ship.
The ship charged the laser which a light blue beam burst from the weapon blasting into Steven's house destroying entirely it in a matter of seconds. "MY HOUSE!!!", Steven shouted.
The dust cleared and there was the house was oblitrated, but a huge crater imprinted into the hill where his house once was. Everything he grew up with that was a precious memory of his was in there.
His cheeseburger backpack, the warp pad, the garden ontop his house's roof, his videogames, the crystal gem's room, and most importantly the picture of Rose Quartz his mom.
Loud cackling of two familar voices rang out from about the floating ship. Two short shadowy silhouettes landed onto the ground infront of the onlooking crowd.
The first person was female about half Steven's size with a cherubic appearance.
She had cyan blue skin and navy blue eyes and no nose. She wore cerulean-blue hair worn in a bobbed style.
Her clothing vaguely resembles a prep school uniform, consisting of a blue vest worn over a dark blue dress with a white-collar, white wrist-length gloves, white knee-high socks, and dark blue flat shoes.
The intersection of her vest and the lapels of her collar form a Blue Diamond symbol, hinting towards her superior.
Her teardrop-shaped gemstone was located beneath her left eye, and her water wings are similar to a butterfly's wings. Her outfit, wings and give her the appearance a fairy or pixie.
The second one was also female and was the same height as the other, but just an inch or two taller.
Her outfit consists of the regular Homeworld uniform for Rubies. She had the lightest complexion among the Ruby troops. Her gemstone replaced her left eye.
"Who are these two?", Black Widow asked preparing to fight.
"I don't know, but they're about to get the hell of this beach.", Tony had commented, his suit forming around his body.
Spinel got infront of her furry buddy protecting him also ready to engage into combat.
Stormbreaker flew straight into Thor's palms. He was on Tony's side about this. He two wasn't going to let some strangers come out of completely nowhere and just come and ruin the party.
"I'm Aquamarine!", The blue one replied with a british accent.
"And I'm Ruby!", Eyeball introduced.
"YOU TWO HAVE THE NERVE!!!!", Steven shouted his body glowing a bright pink.
"Oh you think that's bad! That was just a warning shot! This is the real weapon!", Aquamarine spoke.
Aquamarine and Eyeball chuckled menacingly as they merged together forming into one being.
"Bluebird Azurite at your service!", said the fusion with an Australian accent as she drew an Ice cutlass.
Bluebird Azurite was very short in stature with four legs. She had azure skin with red and mint patches, a singular dark blue eye and dark red hair styled in a bowl cut.
She had a long-sleeved shirt that is teal on the left and red on the right with a white collar and a blue tie.
She also wore blue pants and four dark red boots. Hergemstones were located in herleft eye and cheekrespectively.
"One year ago there were two gems, celebrated for taking down one of Homeworld's greatest traitors, but then they were cast out, forgotten. When the traitor had juked all of Homeworld into loving him instead, ever since they pondered what their purpose was in life, but they came across Thanos a being who promised them the recognition they deserved all across the cosmos for their potential, and now they have come to Earth. For their REVENGE!", She spat with hatred for Steven.
"YOUR REVENGE MEANS NOTHING!!! I WON'T LET YOU GET AWAY WITH THIS!!!", Steven shouted his voice booming.
Bluebird swang her cutlass around blasts of ice heading for Steven. He rolled out of the away jumping towards her swinging his shield at her knocking her to the ground making her defuse.
"We have to fuse if we want to beat him!", Aquamarine yelled fusing with Eyeball once again.
This didn't last long as Steven interrupted them midfusion. This was beginning to make them get angry with each other.
"What the heck was that? What are you doing?", Eyeball growled at Aquamarine. "What am I doing? You were the one that was uncorrdinated!", Aquamarine growled back. They tried again but failed. Once more they tried with no luck with fusing.
"Ok that's It!", Eyeball shouted with anger running over to Aquamarine both fighting each other.
Steven shook his head with disapointment and his emotions died down letting him return to normal.
"Are you two serious?", Steven asked unamused. "Did you guys even do any planning before coming here to kill me?"
"So you guys fused just because you hated him?", Tony asked getting a nod from Aquamarine and Eyeball. "If that's the case no wonder you two can't seem to get along."
"And what're all you suggesting exactly?", Aquamarine asked.
"Well there's plenty of other reasons to fuse. Like Friendship, Responsibilty, and Love. Imagine fusing for something good instead of tearing someone down. You're life would-", Steven was cut off.
"OH MY GOD!!! SHUT UP!!!", Ruby groaned getting a headache.
"I CANNOT STAND HIM!!!", Aquamarine agreed. They both realized they both really did have something in common.
"Me too!", They both said in unison fusing into Bluebird Azurite without and complications.
"Are you kidding me?", Steven asked clutching the bridge of his nose.
"Finally!", Bluebird said relieved flying above everyone. She flew towards Steven with speeds he couldn't track.
She swung at his shield which gave him little time to catch himself from the attack as she came from a different directions each time she came in for an attack which made her unpredictable.
"I think we should probably help him.", Natasha said watching as Bluebird slash her sword senselessly at Steven's shield.
"Yeah we should.", Steve Rogers agreed.
Out of nowhere a large shadow appeared over Steven and Bluebird making her stop her assault. They both saw a giant pink gloved fists hurdling down towards them.
Tony swooped in with his suit grabbing Steven leaving Bluebird all by herself.
"Oh no.", She muttered before getting crushed under the massive object.
Spinel brought back her fists bringing it back to his normal size. "You really did a number on her Spinel.", Rocket praised earning a smile from her.
"Thanks Spinel.", Steven thanked walking over to the giant fist printed into the sand where Aquamarine and Ruby laid sprawled out on the ground.
"Oh no we've been defeated! I've learned my lesson.", Aquamarine said with defeat.
Nobody was really falling for this. "I'm so sorry Steven. Please accept my apology.", Aquamarine held out her hand.
Steven got ready to shake it which Aquamarine pulled back her hand. "Gotcha!"
She chuckled picking up Eyeball. "This isn't the end of us! No matter what, we'll be out there.", Aquamarine warned.
"With Thanos planning your defeat! Also you smell!!!", Eyeball added.
They went into their ship and sped off into space, their chuckles still heard as they blasted away.
"Well like they say, you can take a gem outta of Homeworld, but you can't take the Homeworld outta the gem.", Spinel commented.
Steven sighed now those two had came and ruined everything. "I'm sorry you guys. I didn't mean for this to happen.", Steven apologized. Steve Rogers put a hand on Steven's shoulder.
"You're right, you didn't mean for this to happen. You obviously have a lot on your plate right now. In fact, I'll help you build your house back.", Steve promised.
"I'll help as well. I'll have Jarvis send over some security systems to implant into your house so this doesn't happen again.", Tony said. "This is two much you guys don't have to do this.", Steven pleaded.
"No we insist we owe you for a lot of things.", Natasha said. "Me and Rocket can come up with a blueprint for your house.", Spinel suggested which Rocket actually agreed with.
"Oh! Ok thanks!", Steven thanked.
"Avengers assemble.", Steve said everyone now working on Steven's house. Tony was bothered by the fact Thanos now had new lackeys and even more dedicated ones.