Library. What a mysterious place, full of wonders and secret knowledge. Eh actually, it's quite boring there. Unless you know where to look. Steven and Pearl didn't, so they quite naively tried searching on the local PC for "glasses 1800". But everything they found was a collection of pictures of antique eyewear. After this unsuccessful attempt, Steven offered himself to go and get Bismuth. Which was another pointless attempt. When it came to Bismuth, Pearl was the gem who had priority, and she let the world know that. Load and clear to be added. Everybody in the room turned their heads when she yelled, "I WILL GO, YOU STAY HERE!" Sometimes she could get a bit overzealous. It got Steven thinking. Things are looking good with those two. But they could use a little nudge. Just perhaps, he could propel the things forward. Without them knowing. Let's say.

But back to the things at hand.

Steven tried a few more searches when Pearl took off. Things like: "old glasses", "glasses worn by naval officers" and "glasses worn by creepy space dudes who want to kill your friends". It wasn't like he expected to find something useful, but one never knows, right?

Why did he even go to the library in the first place, now it seemed like a dead end. But there was still this indescribable feeling in his gut. Something deep in his memory. Something he saw that one time he visited here. But what was it? What. What. God damn it. What was it?

And then it came. A flash. Silhouette of captain leaning on the helm. But that was all. What to do with this information, he didn't know. But Connie, Connie would surely know. She always knew. Some unconventional thinking. That's what they need! And this idea wasn't far fetched either. Connie studied at university on the other side of the states but this summer she came to visit her parents. She arrived in the city not even two days ago and his house and library were usually the first two places she checked in. It would be really funny if-

"Hey, Steven! Long time no see!" Yeah. Unexpected but welcomed turn of events. Finally, somebody who could shed some light on their problems... Hopefully. But Steven didn't care. Connie was here and that was what mattered.

"Connie!" Steven almost knocked over the chair. He ran towards her, lifted her up and gave her a proper spin, a tight hug and a brief but lovable kiss.

"Ahaha, hi." She giggled and was about to say something, perhaps how much she missed him, but then she stopped and looked down instead. " Err Steven? Weren't you a bit taller last time we met?"

Steven blushed. This was embarrassing. Not in the way that men are usually taller than women, no. but because of the sudden and unexpected change.

"I-is it really that obvious?"

"You totally shrunk! What happened to you? Is this some prank?"

"No, not a prank. Not in the slightest. This basically happened ten minutes ago. It's hard to explain." Steven shrugged and put her down.

"Does it have something to do with the glowing sky this morning?"

"Well yeah. But as I said, it's hard to explain. Heh, enough about me. What about you? Gosh, we haven't seen each other for two years!"

"Steven, it was last Tuesday we talked on the phone."

"Well y-yeah but I don't know what you did since then."

"What do you think I did. I spent all day traveling and then sleeping and today I wanted to visit you but then Nana declared an emergency. Normally I would rush in and help you but you know how my mom gets when I meddle with gem stuff. She would let me go eventually but I didn't want her to worry. Besides, I figured you and gems could handle it. The sky isn't growing anymore so I believe you were successful? Ha of course you were. After lunch, I wanted to finally visit you, but I had to return some books first and then I ran into you. Lucky me! Now you. Need something to read to relax after trouble this morning?"

"Not exactly. See, this is where the problem is. I'm still, ehm - how to say it - in trouble. That's why I'm here."

"And what kind of trouble is that?"

"Gem trouble."

"Are you changing again?"

"No, no. I'm fine. It's about other gems."

"Are they giving you a hard time? I understand it must be difficult to get used to their mindset again after spending two years without them. You can talk to me if you want."

"No, it's not about that."

"Then what is it about?"

"All right. Ehm… uh… This might take a while."

"Don't worry." Connie gave him a reassuring smile and sat next to him."I have time."

"I don't even know where to start." Steven scratched behind the ear. "So first I met a mysterious guy in my dream. Captain or something like that. I woke up and didn't think much of it. I had breakfast and then I saw the rift outside. Other gems were already at it. We spent the entire morning trying to figure out what it was. In the end that mysterious guy from my dream turned out to be real. He said, 'I will extract the essence of all gems,' or something like that. So we whooped his butt. Then he, in turn, whooped our butts. Obsidian's nose broke off in that chaos and it almost crushed our house and my dad with it. But he saved both the house and dad. I have no idea why but… You know when somebody who you love almost dies, it makes you think. I needed some time alone so I ran off to the temple. Pearl followed me, of course. We ran into the 'captain guy' yet again. We got his glasses and he wanted them back. There was a fight… kinda… so we broke the glasses... He disappeared. He isn't exactly open about his motivation or origins, but he looks and behaves like a human. He even looks like one. There was something written on the glasses. Something told me we could learn more about him in the library so we went here. I'm not sure how but, him, the glasses and the library. They seem connected to me. So we ended up here. Pearl ran off to get Bismuth because she was the one who got a good look at the glasses and maybe knows what's written on them. Then you showed up aaaaand that's pretty much it."

"Oh."

"Oh?"

"Well, it looks like your morning was more interesting than last year of my life."

Steven looked down to his lap. "I know it sounds stupid and like I'm making it up but-"

"No, no, it's ok. I believe you." Connie reassured him. "And hey, the library wasn't a bad idea at all. Before the age of the internet, people came here to search for information just like we do on the wiki. And half the books here are written by Buddy Buddwick and if there's any human who knows something about gems - besides Ronaldo I guess - it's him."

"Yeah but that's not why I'm here. I mean. That 'captain guy' I was talking about, I'm sure I saw his face here. Somewhere in the library. But I can't remember where."

Connie supported her ching and thought for a minute, but then she said, "So, you saw his face here in the library before."

"Yeah."

"Dressed up like a captain?"

"Yes."

"Wears glasses."

"Yep."

"And isn't his name, by any coincidence, Abraham Monroe?"

"Yeah, exact- WHAT? How do you know?"

"Well, first, it's called logical thinking. Second, I always liked to sneak around the library, and third, your description of 'captain guy with glasses I saw somewhere in the library' perfectly fits the painting of Abraham Monroe that hangs in the attic."

Steven's eyes opened wide, "Our library has an attic?"

It was a magical place. All in dim shadows cast by the mountains of books. It was like entering another world. Air had a specific scent, a specific taste and a specific colour (probably because of all that dust) but there was something sad and nostalgic about this place. All those forgotten books... Oh and also the attic was a forbidden area, because most of the books available in the library were just copies, meanwhile the attic held the originals, some of which never got published. Steven felt like a little boy again. Like if he was discovering the ancient gem sites all over again. The sense of adventure, the danger. They had to steal the keys and sneak around the librarians and security guard. A task that was and wasn't easy at the same time. The gard was asleep but he had the key on his belt. Connie obviously had some experience with sneaking. All the kids with nosy parents have. Steven was astonished when Connie nicked the keys by one skillful flick of the wrist. It looked like a trick performed by a magician. Just snap and the keys were suddenly detached in one fluent motion. She then led the way through the librarian's office to the back room and up the hidden ladder and suddenly they appeared amongst dusty mountains of books and drawings. These drawings depicted everything from people to objects and some of them even gem sites but they all had Buddy's signature on them. That guy had some serious talent. Steven would like to stop and enjoy them but he had to keep up with Connie who was navigating through the books swiftly like a weasel. Steven was more like a bear so he knocked down a book now or then.

The thing they were looking for was located in the furthest corner of the attic. A large painting hanging from the beam.

When Connie pulled down the white sheet covering it Steven gasped. He recognized the person depicted on it almost instantly: Older gentlemen in blue naval uniform with white hair who was leaning on the helm of a ship. He even had the wire-rim glasses that Steven and Pearl broke and that self-avere smile. Buddy Buddwick's ornate signature was visible in the down right corner.

Steven stared at the painting but then he turned to Connie and said: "This doesn't make any sense."

"Really?" Connie frowned, "Think. We have William Dewey who was saved by 'eight-armed sea goddess' aka Obsidian, from the 'sea monster' What if I told you that Ocean City has a similar myth about pirate Abraham Monroe, who supposedly had supernatural powers. Hey, let's presume that he is a gem-

"But he is a guy!"

"Gems can shapeshift."

"Yeah. But… he is something different. Don't ask me how… I just know it. I felt it. Especially when Garnet smacked him and he regenerated all creepy like with tentacles, snapping bones and all. Besides, Garnet would know if there was another gem running around."

"She didn't know about Bismuth and Lapis."

"That was different."

"Well, Buddy Budwick surely knew about Monroe," Connie retorted, "definitely enough so he could paint him."

"But how?!" Steven's frustration was reaching new levels all over again. "How did Buddy know him? Why is he here now? Why does he want to hurt us?" Steven's voice broke. "I came home to be with my family. I want to spend the summer with my dad, my friends and you! I don't want… this!"

"It's ok Steven." Connie tried to soothe him."Everything is going to be fine."

But Steven couldn't be reasoned with, "Yeah, but it's always something. Once we deal with one crisis, another one arrives. I just want it to be over... Over!" He yelled at the painting.

You hear me?!"

Silence.

Monroe didn't move a muscle. He was just smiling.

"Yeah, just you wait," Steven growled. "I'll wipe that smirk out of your face. Just like this!" He punched the painting, fast and hard, but instead of the sound of the torn canvas, the place where the blow landed, glowed with white light and his fist disappeared, "What the..."

He wanted to pull it out but the painting held him tightly. "Um, Connie?"

Connie didn't hesitate and grabbed him by his other hand. They pulled as much as they could and managed to win half an inch back. But that was all.

As if painting had enough of this petty squabble, it sucked them both in and the surface closed behind them, revealing again the smiling Abraham Monroe leaning at the helm.