Chapter 1: The Battle Starts

Blue light soared into the familiar home of the Crystal Gems. Signaling the usage of the warp pad placed right in front of door to the gems rooms. The soft sound of its activation usually felt comforting to hear, as it had just about always meant that one of the homes inhabitants was arriving home, that a family member was coming back from whatever adventure they had been on. But not today. Not today at all

The blue glow faded away just as fast as it appeared and was instead replaced with a pink light that gave shape to an outline of taller than usual Steven Universe. His height wasn't the only thing that was different, as he was noticeably much more muscular, and overall older looking than normal. His eyes were also glowing pink, and his pupils were now in the shape of diamonds. The exact opposite of what he wanted to look like.

All these changes were entirely unwelcome by him. He didn't want to be anything like a diamond, but his powers were taking shape of that anyway. His powers were doing just about everything he didn't want them to in fact. They were growing way too powerful for him to control as the days went on, they were changing his physical form in extremely painful ways all the time, and worst of all they were making him more and more like the other diamonds. That's what he hated the most, and it was driving him crazy.

Images constantly flashed through his head of recent days… of recent mistakes. The shattered shards of Jaspers gem in his hand as he desperately tried to restore her. The moment when he tried to force White Diamond to slam her own head into a pillar to shatter her gem out of pure vengeful hatred that he didn't even know he had. His argument with his dad which ultimately lead to him crashing the van. And even all the chaos that he caused at Little Homeworld earlier in the day. It was all slowly eating away at him, causing nothing but more excruciating pain.

Ringing started to blast in Stevens ears as negative thoughts continued to intensify. He lifted his hands up against his ears in a desperate attempt to soothe the pain, but it didn't do anything. He groaned in pain, as sweat started to cover his body. It felt as though he was about to burst, as if something from within him was clawing to get out. Whatever it was continued to get closer and closer to finally escaping. Steven clenched his eyes closed tightly trying to fight it. His groaning was growing stronger and was about to turn into a scream.

"Steven!" an all too familiar voice called out from the other side of the house.

The excruciating pain faded away entirely as he opened his eyes to identify the source of the voice. His eyes widened in surprise as he found all three Crystal Gems sitting on the couch looking grim alongside Connie, and Greg. Garnet was on the edge of the couch leaning forward and facing down. Her elbows were rested on her knees and her hands were softly clasped together. Seated behind her was Pearl, Amethyst, and Greg all staring worriedly at Steven. Connie was the only one standing, and she was right beside Greg.

"I knew it! You are swelling and glowing again! I've been trying to call you, but you wouldn't answer all day" Connie exclaimed with concern painfully obvious in her voice.

Stevens stomach just about fell upon hearing this. He clenched his fists in frustration as he desperately tried to put together some sort of an excuse for all this. But Connie wouldn't allow it.

"Steven, what's going on? Something's obviously happening to you!"

"Nothings going on! Its nothing, really. Besides… I don't want you to worry" Steven quickly stated with an obviously forced smile and panic lacing his tone. Beads of sweat started forming around his face as his stress continued to build.

"We are worried!" Connie shouted with her fists clenching.

"Steven, if being like this makes you happy, then we'll support you one hundred percent, but… if you're not happy… if somethings wrong" Greg spoke softly in a pleading manner.

"Nothings wrong! I already told you that nothings going on!" Steven quickly retorted interrupting his father, as his anger started to mount within him. He glanced at everyone and felt hurt by their expressions. They all were staring at him with such judgmental eyes, as if they were disgusted by what he was becoming. That's the way he was interpreting it anyways. The ringing in his ears slowly started to return, only much less painful to start this time.

"Steven… you know you can tell us anything" Greg pleaded once more in a desperate attempt to reach his son. All of this was so hard for him to have to experience. Being a father and watching your child so desperately suffer, but not open up and let anyone in to help him with his pain. He couldn't stand it to say the least. He'd do anything for his son, all Steven needs to do is let him.

Steven on the other hand wasn't having any of this. He felt more judged than anything through all of this.

"It's not that easy!" Steven exclaimed while avoiding eye contact with everyone. He didn't want to see their hurtful stares anymore. He was done with all of this. "You know what, I don't have to deal with this" he stated as he started marching towards the stairs behind the group to leave to his bedroom.

Unfortunately for Steven the group wouldn't allow for that. Connie, Pearl, and Amethyst all immediately moved to block his pathway.

"Holdup dude!" Amethyst stated as she pushed her hands out signaling for him to stop. The worry in her eyes was piercing to Steven as he made eye contact with her.

The ringing grew louder.

"Steven, you have to stop running" Garnet finally spoke as she blocked the pathway to the warp pad from behind him.

The ringing grew louder.

"Please" simply said Greg as he offered out his hand to his son.

The ringing was growing absolutely unbearable, along with his anger. He gritted his teeth and covered his eyes in pain as his feelings worsened. He felt the world around him spinning, and his muscles started to tense up. The sweat on his face spread throughout his body in response to his temperature sky rocketing. This did not go unnoticed by the group.

"Steven… please let us help" Connie pleaded softly while she reached her hand out to place it on Stevens shoulder.

That's when everything slowed down. Suddenly everyone seemed to be frozen in place. Stevens eyes focused on Connie's hand slowly approaching him, and the ringing suddenly became deafening. Whatever was clawing to get out from inside him had returned, and his anger soared along with it. He didn't need Connie's judgement. He didn't need any of this. None of them could possibly understand what he's going through, and yet they were acting as if they could. He was tired of it. Tired of being belittled, judged, and humiliated.

Time sped up again, and with-it Steven slapped Connie's hand away. It was supposed to be just a light slap, just to move her hand away. But instead it sent her all the way back into Amethyst and Pearl, who barely caught her before she could completely fall over.

Everyone gasped in complete shock upon seeing this and looked on in complete disbelief.

"Steven!" Greg angrily shouted in response.

Steven himself let out a horrified gasp as well after seeing the result of his action. He covered his mouth in shock and complete remorse. How could he have done that? Struck his best friend, who even though he felt like was judging him, only wanted to help him? Negative thoughts once again started to consume his mind as everything continued to spiral downhill.

Pearl looked at Steven in complete disbelief as she and Amethyst helped Connie get back on her feet. How could he do this? Their little Steven who would never hurt even an insect, how could he? She knew that he was going through some sort of struggle with something recently, but this was all unlike anything she could've ever imagined.

"Steven… what's going on man?" Amethyst weakly questioned as she noticed the horrified expression on Steven's face. It was obvious to her that he hadn't meant to do what he just did, so she easily forgave him. But it made all her worries for him worsen.

"I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry" Steven continuously muttered while moving his hands to tightly grabbing his hair. He let out a groan of pain as his body suddenly started to swell unnaturally once again. Everyone backed away in shock as they watched the horrifying scene unveil itself. First it was his back that suddenly grew huge then back down to normal. Then it was his head that did the same. He let out another cry of pain that was heartbreaking for the group to listen to.

Nobody knew what to do.

Connie finally gathered herself and looked on to Steven with no anger whatsoever, but only more concern than ever.

"Steven, we should get you back to the hospital!" Connie finally spoke.

"Hospital?!" Amethyst and Pearl shouted in unison.

"When were you at a hospital?!" Pearl questioned, alone this time. Connie looked at Pearl then back to Steven in complete disbelief.

"You didn't tell them?!"

Steven's back once again swelled up and returned back to normal. He clenched his eyes shut even tighter to cope with the surging pain, but it was useless. Everything was falling apart all at once. He couldn't handle all their demanding questioning so fast. He let out one last groan before speaking once again./p
"It wasn't that important you guys!" Steven stated while letting out painfully fake laughter along with a forced smile. "You're making a big deal out of nothing!" he was now at his breaking point.

"Have I done some things wrong? Sure! I trashed the house today. I broke an anvil… but what teenager hasn't! Dad and I had a little disagreement… Th-That's practically a rite of passage… I mean it would be weird if we didn't right!" Steven started to list off as everyone looked on with horrified expressions. "aaaand maybe I've had a not-so-nice thought or two about like you know… slamming White Diamonds head through a pillar, but it's not like I actually went through with it!" he continued to state as he laughed through his words.

"Steven I-" Garnet tried to start speaking before she was cut off.

"I only actually shattered Jasper!"

Pearl let out a terrified gasp and covered her mouth.

"WHAT?!" Amethyst screamed, as everyone else proceeded to let out their own gasps.

"You're… you're joking… right?" Connie asked with a breaking voice out of complete fear from Steven's revelation. He looked at her in complete confusion, with pain clearly visible in his eyes.

"Ohhhh, don't worry! I fixed that too! I can fix anything!" Steven shouted with a crazed look in his eyes. "I can just keep messing up, and fixing things forever! And you'll never have to know or think about any of it!"

"…Steven…" Garnet weakly spoke. It was only now that all his pain was becoming apparent to them. How extreme this problem that he's been going through really was. It's no wonder he's completely breaking down now after he's been going through so much. She reached out to him, but in truth she had no idea how to help him. None of them did. How could they all have been so blind to his suffering? How did they let it get to this point?

Steven looked at the ground feeling nothing but shame. He no longer had the strength to look any of them in the eye. They were right to judge him. They were right to be disgusted with him. He's done so many terrible things to so many people. He doesn't deserve anyone's help. This whole time everyone's always thought of him as Steven Universe! Savior of the galaxy! He can do no wrong! He doesn't hurt people, he helps them! But none of that's true. He's not that person anymore. All he ever does is mess things up nowadays and cause more problems for people rather than fixing them.

The ringing in his ears stopped. Everything was silent now, but the thing that continued to claw from inside him to finally break out was stronger than ever. He felt it throughout every inch of his body. It was finally taking hold of him, and with it came clarity. Clarity in Stevens mind of what he truly is. He's no savior of the galaxy… he's just a…

"How messed up is that… that I've gotten away with this for so long…" Steven stated upon his acceptance of what's within him. "You have NO IDEA how bad I am!" he shouted at the group accusingly, allowing his anger to take over.

"Yo-you think I'm great and I'm so mature, and I always know what to do! But that's not true…" Steven let his arms fall to his side in defeat. "I haven't learned a thing from my problems… they've all just made me worse!"

Everyone started to look down in shame listening to his rant, because deep down they knew that there really was some truth to what he's saying. They all have glorified Steven, so much to the point where they never even considered that he could actually be going through some sort of terrible problem. Steven gritted his teeth in anger. He was seething now. The ringing returned instantly stronger than ever, as whatever breaking point it was all trying to get to was finally arriving.

"You think of me as some angel but I'm not that kid anymore! I'm not the savior of the galaxy! I'm not the great Steven Universe… I'm… I'm a fraud…"

Images of every terrible thing that he had done recently once again starting flashing in his mind. Only this time it was much more vivid than before. Stevens head began spinning as his body temperature started scorching him demanding to be released.

Steven knew what he was. His body started shaking violently as he gave in once and for all. He grabbed his hair tightly and clenched his eyes one last time.

"…I'M A MONSTER!"

The entire house started shaking and threatened to fall apart entirely as bright pink spiky reptilian like skin erupted from Stevens back and imploded right through the front wall of the house. Amethyst, Connie, Pearl, and Greg all barely managed to jump out of the way of the sudden emergence of Steven's corrupting form before it completely ripped its way out of the house. Everyone let out horrified screams as they watched Steven's entire body rapidly mutate into some sort of monster.

Pearl covered her mouth as tears poured from her eyes as she watched Stevens head grow horns and spikes all around it. His eyes turned completely black except for his pupils which now glowed an ominous pink. Bones snapping and reshaping themselves could be heard by the entire group. Garnet fell to her knees, and her visor dissipated. All three of her eyes were streaming tears at the heartbreaking sight of their beloved Steven corrupting himself. Spikes started to form along his arms, back, and neck, as Steven continued to grow until he was taller than the temple itself. Amethyst had fallen over on her butt while avoiding Steven when he first imploded out of the house, and she hadn't gained the strength to get up since everything unfolded. Her mouth hung open in complete horror as she began to sob alongside her fellow Crystal Gems.

Connie was standing completely still, unable to move out of shear fear. Not for her life, but for her best friend. She didn't know much about gems and corruption, but she did know the sound of a human cry when they're in pain, and that was exactly the sound the monster was letting out as it continued to mutate into its final form. She clasped her hands over her mouth as she finally began to cry. "Oh my God… Steven…"

The terrible sound of Steven's corrupted body finally stopped once two last horns finished taking form on his new tail. The beast' facial structure still resembled Steven's, which was most apparent in his nose. His size would absolutely tower over that of the Diamonds, and anything else the Crystal Gems ever faced before. It radiated an aura of pure uncontrollable anger, that was seething to be unleashed on the world, and that's exactly what it planned on doing.

Steven took a single step away from the heavily damaged house that the group were all currently watching in horror from, and that step sent massive tremors across all of Beach City and Little Homeworld. Small pieces of wood that once supported the house started collapsing all around indicating how unstable the structure now was. Creeks and wood slowly splitting echoed throughout the temple. But the group paid it no mind, their only focus was on Steven who seemed to be taking in his new body. He looked down at his now claw shaped hands and felt a sudden surge of power building up from within him.

The groups eyes all widened as they collectively gasped at the sight of every spike on Stevens body start to glow a bright pink. They knew something was coming. Garnet managed to pull herself from her shock, and quickly rose to her feet in a defensive stance.

"Everyone! brace yourselves!" Garnet shouted at the group, as Stevens eyes started to glow a brighter pink as well. Garnet rushed over to Connie and Greg to grab them and pull them behind her to protect them from whatever was about to be unleashed. Pearl and Amethyst both covered their bodies with their arms instinctively as Steven breathed in and lifted his head towards the sky.

The monster let out an inhuman roar that sent pink energy shock-waves across the entire area. The house the group was in rapidly started breaking apart even more than before, and they were all sent flying back towards the door to the gems rooms. The lighthouse that sat atop the hill that overlooked the Crystal Temple also completely collapsed due to the sheer power of the blast. Buildings across Beach City suffered minor damages, but the people were completely knocked off their feet due to the major tremors caused by Steven.

Clouds of debris and smoke filled the destroyed house. Pieces and pillars of destroyed wood stuck out from all angles, and the galaxy warp pad that once resided in Stevens garden was now split into multiple pieces spread across the carnage. Somewhere from within the wreckage, Garnet summoned her gauntlets and waved off most of the clouds with one swing. She managed to protect Connie and Greg almost entirely from the blast, as they both stumbled to their feet while coughing to get dust out of their lungs. Amethyst and Pearl both had to push broken parts of walls off themselves to get back on their feet and regroup with everyone.

"Garnet… wh-what do we do?" Pearl desperately asked with tears threatening to spill while she slowly approached the fusion. Garnets expression was obviously pained, not even her reformed visor could hide that.

"We can get him back right? We can change him back to normal, right?" Connie now questioned worriedly while still slightly coughing. Greg had all the same questions, but this entire time he was completely incapable of finding the strength to say anything. His thoughts were racing faster than ever before, and he couldn't even start to speak without breaking down. This whole time he's been getting images of a younger Steven flashing through his mind… making this whole thing incomprehensible to him. He desperately looked to Garnet for some sort of answer to all this, for some sort of spark of hope. It looked as though she was about to speak until they were all cut off.

"Hey guys…" Amethyst called out to the group with a shaky voice, indicating to them that she was afraid of something. The group who was all standing on the main temple warp pad all turned their attention over to Amethyst, who had her back turned to them. She was looking at something else. Everyone immediately realized what she was afraid of when they saw two menacing pink eyes glowing through the remainder of the clouds of debris. Steven was staring right at them with murderous intent.

Everyone froze in place not knowing what to do. It was obvious that this monster was on a completely different level from any threat that they've ever faced before. Adrenaline coursed through the veins of Connie and Greg. They both knew things were about to get ugly, or much uglier than they already were at least.

The remainder of the clouds all blew away at the massive force of Steven bringing one of his arms back into an attack position. The battle had started.

"RUN!"