This is based on two things: the clip where Steven sees Lapis in his dream and an animatic I saw by Prisniss.

Connie looked around her surroundings and saw nothing but black all around her. Beneath her feet, the surface rippled like she was standing on water. But her socks didn't feel the slightest drop of liquid.

Her head turned to look at the sight in front of her, and her heart started to thump loudly. Her best friend was in front of her, his curly hair disheveled as his arms were in shackles and the chains led into the water. His grunts sounded painful, like he was in pain.

"Steven?" she called out, making her attention visable. His head quickly turned, his eyes wide. "Connie?" he asked before crying out in shock and dropping to his knees. The chains were pulling down harder.

Days Before

"I'm fine." Steven reassured her with a smile. Connie sinked her teeth down her lower lip. The clock above her ticked to remind her that time is passing and her break will be over soon. She stared at the boy one last time his dark eyes looking at her desperatly behind the screen.

"Okay." she whispered, "I believe you." Steven smiled at her as he ended their call. Right after, Connie's alarm went off to shout at her to get back to studying. But it felt...wrong.

Groaning, Connie leaned her head back as her rolling chair rolled back from the impact. "Why are teenage boys so...difficult?" she asked herself, staring at her ceiling.

She was doing the right thing...she hoped. If Steven wanted to be alone, it wasn't any of her business to interfere.

A minute passed, and Connie still hadn't touched her books. Studying wasn't as important as Steven's well being.

But she knew deep down that Connie was the last person he would want to hear from. Not after the whole 'proposal' incident. Once again, he told her that he was fine. But then came the swelling and turning pink at the hospital.

Connie sighed deeply. "I can't take this anymore." she said before she jumped out of her seat and ran out of her room.

Her short dark hair flowed behind her as she ran down the stairs hopping to put her sneakers on. "Mom! I'm heading to Steven's!" Connie yelled out to her mom while running out the door and pulled it closed.

Present

"Steven!" Connie yelled in concern for her friend. Steven breathed loudly, clearly tired from containing something from the other side of the water floor. "What...what are you doing here?!" Steven breathed out.

Connie swallowed hard, flinching from the harsh tone. "I-I don't know. Steven are you oka-" before she could finish her sentence, Steven cried out as the chains on his wrist pulled him down even further.

"Get out, now!" he yelled before his whole body dropped in the water.

Days Before

Lion's paws hit the sand making the tiny grains fly around. The relaxing sound of ocean waves filled the air. More piles of sand flew as Lion made an abrupt stop in front of the house.

Connie jumped off Lion, stroking his light pink mane. "Good lion." she whispered to the pink lion. Her eyes shifted over to the house above as she stepped on the wooden stairs.

The wood creaked beneath her shoes. Her feet tapped on the stairs while she got closer to the top. As she reached the door, her breathing quickened from the exercise.

Her dark-skinned hand pounded on the door. "Steven?" she called out, her breath decelerating to it's normal speed. Through the glass door, she could see Pearl walk towards the door to let the girl in.

"Connie, what a suprise!" Pearl smiled after she opened the door. "Hey Pearl, is Steven available to talk?" Connie asked, peaking over Pearl's shoulder to check. As Connie placed her vision onto the gem, she saw how Pearl's demeanor changed. Unlike her cheery greeting, Pearl's light blue eyes looked away and her grip on the doorknob looked tighter. "He doesn't want to talk to anyone right now." Pearl said.

"But I need to talk to him! Has he been acting...strange lately?" Connie asked in a desperate attempt. Pearl's attention immediately got grabbed. "Connie, come on in. I think we need to have a discussion about Steven." Pearl said, moving to the side to let the young girl in. The Maheswaran inhaled deeply and set foot in the Universe house.

Inside, Amethyst was sitting on the couch drinking a soda until she moved onto eating the whole can. "Yo." she greeted when se spotted the young girl come in. Garnet was sitting next to her with her legs crossed and sent Connie a little wave. "Sorry, dude. Steven's not here right now." Amethyst said with her mouth stuffed with the can.

Connie sat down looking at her shoes, "I know, I wanted to talk to you guys about Steven. Has he been acting...strange?" As Connie looked up, she saw her words grabbed everyone's attention. The mood of the house changed drastically to a gloomy atmosphere. "We don't know if this is a human-thing. But he has been acting...odd." Pearl said, placing a hand on Connie's shoulder.

Amethyst looked away, playing with a strand of her long hair. "Yeah, we...even had a fight today. We barely fight." she said remembering the screaming and the many pink outbursts. Connie sighed, "I don't know what's wrong. I wish he could just talk to me...I just wish he wasn't so...broken." Connie said.

Unknown to all of them, Steven stood outside glowing pink. He had heard everything.

Present

As Steven sunk down, his pink self popped out behind her. Hearing the water, Connie slowly turned trying to steady her heart. Pink Steven slowly turned as well, looking straight at the girl with dead eyes.

He wore the same emotionless expression as he did the first time she met him. "How could you do this?" He asked, the chains around him jingling as he turned, "Are you really my friend?"

Connie stepped back, shaking as she did so. "Y-Yes, I am." she said, her voice shaking and tears starting to come.

"LIAR!" He yelled, his whole body turning. Connie fell back in fear as she started to back away. The pink Steven then looked down as he sank down back to the floor.

Another sound of water made her head turn. Behind her, the real Steven coughed out as remaining water fell out. His clothes and hair were all wet and his face looked as tired as ever. "Connie..." he said between coughs "LEAVE!"

Days Before

"Thanks for everything!" Connie called to the gems. She walked back down the steps, preparing herself to go home. As she looked up, Steven stared at the waves as the sun slowly went down the horizon. "Steven! Where were you, the gems were so worried!" Connie said, walking closer to him.

He didn't look back, just kept staring at the sun. Connie stratched the back of her head in the awkwardness. "Um...are you doing okay?" she asked.

"How long?" he asked. Connie stared at him, her head tilting, "How long, what?" she asked. Steven looked back at her, his eyes a mix of hurt and anger. "How long have you felt that about me?!" he yelled. "Steven, you need to calm down." Connie soothed, reaching to touch his arm.

He pulled away, "You think I'm broken. I'm not Connie, okay." Steven yelled, his voice calming a bit. Connie couldn't help but just stare, speechless. "How could you do this?" Steven asked, starting to turn pink, "Are you really my friend?"

His dark eyes looked at her so desperately. "Steven, of course I am—" "LIAR!" Steven yelled, turnin g fully pink. The yell's impact broke a ground as the air almost knocked Connie off her feet.

His eyes stared at his until it slowly morphed into shock when he realized what he did. Lion ran to Connie's aid, running in front of her in protection from his own owner. The pink in Steven slowly faded away. Shaking hard, he ran off without a word.

Back at home, Connie looked at the books neatly stacked on her desk. The room was dark, the window open letting the cool night air in.

With an angry swift of her hand, the books fell onto the floor with a hard thud. His words were so haunting. How could she do this?

Tears flooded her eyes as they fell down her cheeks. The pain was unbearable as she cried out. She wanted to know. She wanted to know so badly what Steven is going through.

A loud thud came, catching Connie's attention. Coming in through her window, Lion climbed in squeezing through the tight space. "Lion! What are you doing?" Connie yelled, wiping her tears as she tried to push Lion out, "You know you're...not allowed...in the house!"

Pushing himself harder, Lion managed to come in Connie's small room and knocked her over as a process. "Lion! Mom's gonna kill me if she see's even one pink fur!" Connie said, getting up.

Lion stared dead in her eyes. Time went by as the two stared each other down. Then, Lion's eyes started to glow. Connie's eyes widened as she wanted to step back. But her eyelids suddenly became heavy. The drowsiness became too unbearable as she dropped down fast asleep.

Present

"Steven! You need to talk to me!" Connie said, running over to him and grabbing his shoulders, "Where are you right now?!"

The chains pulled down as Steven fought against it, sweat dripping down him. "Steven, where are you right now?!" Connie repeated. Steven looked into her eyes, his last bit of strength gone.

"Woods." he said before a wave of water consumed him. A large roar filled the room as Connie kneeled down and covered her ears. Her eyes widened and a cold sweat dropped. After the roar was over, Connie turned and saw a giant replace the pink Steven's area.

Steven was gone.

Connie jumped awake on the cold floor. She sat up and calmed her breathing, everything seeming to crash down on her. "The...the woods..." she said between breaths. Her eyes shifted towards Lion looking at her with his emotionless eyes.

Connie sat on her knees and looked back at Lion with a stone-cold glare filled with determination. "The woods...Lion, bring me to Steven."

Steven felt like he was drowning, every resistance and fight left in him gone. He was gone.

Water filled his lungs as he sunk deeper and deeper into nothingness. He looked up one last time, one last spark of hope inside him.

"Connie."