Note: Any references that this story makes aside from the universe that this takes place in belongs to their respective owners and should be as such.

Warning: Language, Sexual Themes

Ch.26: The Broken Scholar

"Holy shit that light just now, What was that Garnet?"

Amethyst was still recovering from that first flash of light. Since Garnet was wearing shades it only affected her for only a minute. Her future vision from a moment ago completely changed to a singular. The dark, grim future that was shown multiple times was no longer there.

"He did it."

"No kidding, he beat Emerald?! Hell yeah, that's the Steven we know."

"Yeah he did...but not in the way you would expect. Pearl? You can look now, Steven won."

Pearl removed her head out from the hole she put herself in so she wouldn't go into a panic attack.

"He did?! Where is he?!"

"It seems like he hasn't come back yet. Wait, I feel like he's going to come back any min-"

As if on cue Garnet saw a whitish blue streak of light coming down from the moon and into the Gem house. Sometimes it feels good to be right.

"And he's back, c'mon."

"Right behind you dude."

"Hey wait there's sand in my slippers, wait up!"

Before Pearl could catch up however there was already someone blocking all three of the gem's way despite being all alone. Pearl was the first to speak up.

"You! Quantum."

The three Crystal Gems summoned their weapons knowing full well who they were up against, the insanely powerful foe indeed. But Quantum's back was turned to them, looking off towards the Gem house where Steven was going to come out from.

"I don't know what you want with Steven but we're not going to let you hurt h-"

"Can't you just leave a dying being in peace?"

"Dying?"

"Yes Garnet, dying. Now leave me be."

Quantum hasn't turned to face the battle ready gems as if they weren't even a threat. Though if they were to see his current condition they would've felt...actually no, they would less likely feel pity towards him. By that time Steven was already walking along the beachside with Green Pearl being carried in his arms. The first person that he made eye contact with was Quantum.

"Wha? Quantum?"

"Steven! Get ba-"

One moment Steven heard Pearl's voice, the next her sentence was cutoff suddenly and not in the natural sense. When Steven touched down back home the atmosphere was calm and warm. Somehow it made a complete 90 degree flip to cold and ominous.

When Steven looked past Quantum Pearl, Amethyst, and Garnet were all frozen in place. How is this even happening? Is Quantum doing this? Speaking of Quantum he was the only other being besides Steven that can move at the moment since he was walking towards him. He couldn't even feel nor hear Green Pearl's breathing and her chest rising and falling

"So you *cough* came back? And with Chaos Emerald."

Steven clicked his tongue in a ticked off manner. From what Quantum just said he took offense to that.

"Her name is not Chaos Emerald, she's Green Pearl."

"...I see s-"

"I actually wanted to see you again Quantum. I want some answers from you, even if I have to use force."

"Fine...At least answer my question first before you get your answers. Fair deal hm?"

Sounds fair, Quantum didn't look like he was going to fight anyway, not in the state he was in anyway. Steven nodded to the terms.

"Good, then did you fully understand about what I said to you?"

"...Yeah, my selfishness and desire has caused this shit to happen and damage my responsibilty, my friends, Connie. So what now? Are you going to brag and boast on how you were right? I know now that you knew this was all going to happen from the get go so just say it!"

"Honestly...What transpired was way beyond my expectation."

Steven cocked an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?"

"One of my powers has the same property as your- ahem sorry I meant Garnet's future foresight. I saw that this universe was going to end unless..."

"Unless?"

"Unless I fulfilled my fate as a Shooting Star. But I didn't need to do that in the end since I gave you back the pieces of your great truth and you putting it back together."

It took a moment for Steven to figure out what Quantum meant by that until it hit him.

"You wanted me to force myself to accept the truth about myself, to bring to light my developing flaw that was keeping me from fulfilling my duty and shackled my true power. You weren't really the...no, you're still a bastard and you know it."

"I know, what I have done was inexcusable and hurtful. It pained me to inflict that much psychological damage to someone I cherished for just a short time suffer...sigh I'm the worst, even now I'm lying to myself. Such a great actor to appear normal."

"What?"

"Steven...I guh!"

"Hey!"

Steven without thinking let go of Green Pearl's body in which now was floating in frozen suspension in midair and caught Quantum's before he smacks his head against the sand. He was violently coughing out his own blood by a large amount while grasping his chest. By god his body looked so weak and frail Steven was surprised that he was even standing let alone speaking with him.

"Quantum? Quantum?!"

"I am...okay *cough, cough* hack!"

"Damnit no you're not okay! As much as a complete ass you were I'm not going to leave you like this. I'm pretty sure my spit has gotten even more powerful than before, just hold on okay?"

"Wait!"

Quantum stopped Steven by tugging his arm away from his tongue.

"Eh but why? I can save you man s-"

"Steven, it's okay. Not even your power can save this fool from his fate. I am grateful really I am but you would only be wasting your time and energy...Steven?"

"Hmm what is it?"

"Thanks to the events up til now I am now confidant that I can trust you."

"Trust me? With what?"

"The truth."

Steven thought he already went through this whole full day reflection test already, another would just be tedious. Besides, what else would he need to realise? Unless it wasn't about him.

"Everything started because of your mom. Why I came here, not this situation."

"I don't follow."

"Long before I even thought about making the journey to Earth my Grandfather always told me a story about the future, about the very events that has transpired in your life."

"But you just said that my mom was the one who brought you here, that doesn't make any sense...wait did that include everything that I have done with my life?"

"...And so after my Grandfather finished his story that ended with destructive hellfire to the galaxy-"

"DON'T DODGE THE QUESTION!"

"-something happened that has set the motion."


6000 plus years ago on Homeworld, specifically in the (once before it was destroyed later) massive universal comm center. On that day Yellow Diamond took Pink there in an attempt to teach her about how important communication is in the universe as a Diamond.

Buuut all Pink did was go "ooooo" and "ahhhh" over the shiny buttons. Soon Yellow was called upon by one of the Aquamarine units to report on the status of the 14,326th Ver. 1 Cluster complete planet modification. There was no way that Yellow was going to leave Pink alone and expect her not to break anything...but for once she would have to.

So she did just that, with the supervision of a nearby Peridot unit of course. While the unit was doing their daily routine of system checking Pink was told to not touch anything, in a polite, gentle way since the Peridot didn't want to get poofed for all eternity. Surprisingly Pink cooperated and for once stood still. That was half an hour ago and Pink felt really impatient and stiff in her joints.

"(Ugggghhhhh I'm so borrreeddddd! Mmmm my joints feel stiff. Jeez how long is Yellow going to be working for? She told me that she took me here to teach me something or whatev- oops.)"

Pink accidently leaned her elbow against the nearby console's red button. At the same time the Peridot assigned to watch her left the room through the automatic white crystal double doors. Just so you know the entire facility was made in the inspiration and material coloring of White Diamond.

Anywho a giant screen that was behind Pink switched on, displaying static. She started to panic due to the fact that she broke a promise she just started to keep so her maturity would finally be noticed by Yellow, you know...the baby steps.

In that panicked state Pink tried to find the off button only to get dizzy by the flashing multitude of buttons that could either make things worse or fix things. Well she was going to get in trouble again anyway so what the hell. Shrugging her shoulders in defeat Pink put a hand over her eyes and tapped her finger on one of the buttons, the sound of the static stopped.

This meant good news for Pink, maybe the monitor turned off...is what she wanted to believe happened. However when she removed her hand the screen was black with white letters (of their native language) that read "Establishing Connection Confirmation".

"(...I'm so screwed. Wait Yellow! Maybe she'll know what to do? I'll just tell her that someone was trying to make contact without insinuating that I had anything to do with it.)"

With plan in set Pink was going to run out until that split second, the screen picked up some audio and slight visuals from the other side of the transmission.

"Krcchhhhhhhhh wh- chhhhhh the transmission from?"

Another voice mad itself known as the visuals and audio fixed itself. It sounded like an older individual.

"No need to fret my child, I'll answer it. Probably from the Planet Gallif-..."

It was at this moment Pink made eye contact with an aged looking gem whom has a long white beard. He was donned in white silk with a white crystal that resembles the shape of a star. Pink was not feeling alright at all. The more she looked into his yellow star shaped pupils the more frightened she was. She has never encountered another lifeform that made her feel this way aside from the other Diamonds from time to time.

The long awkward silence wasn't helping either. It was then that the old being tilted his head and spoke first.

"Oh my, a new gem?"

Pink was going to press on anything, just to escape from this conversation. But even before she could twitch her finger.

"Ah my child I apologise if you are frightened of me. Meeting other lifeforms you've never met before makes you really nervous and terrified doesn't it?"

"(How did this being know that?)"

"Basic body language."

"(It can read my mind?!)"

Though Pink was getting a little scared out of her wits this strange old man's presence was warm and gentle. It's very presence prompted her to drop her guard a little.

"Hmmmm how perculiar. What kind of gem are you my child, a Quartz?"

A Quartz? There were no Quartzes, at least not yet but there were barely any planets that has the resources to make one. In other words they were still in the development phase, at least that's what Pink heard before but how did it know about that?

"N-No...I'm not a Quartz. I-I-I..."

Pink looked away from the screen for a sec to collect herself. As a Diamond herself (without a colony) she has to start acting like one, with confidence and authority. So she glanced back at the image with a serious look on her face.

"I am Pink Diamond."

"Pink Diamond?...So the fourth has been pieced together?...Interesting, so the wheels has already been set into motion."

"Huh? What does that mean?"

The old man was deep in thought, shifting his eyes down to the floor. After a few moments he looked back at Pink with the same smile he wore not too long ago.

"Tell me young Diamond, what purpose do you seek in this universe?"

Was that a trick question? The answer is pretty obvious of what Pink wanted as a purpose? The very purpose she was striving for.

"I want to be the Diamond that every gem can rely on, especially the others. I want to make colonies, I want to be strong. My purpose is to be the one that brings Homeworld to it's highest glory."

"Hmhmhmhmhm."

"What's so funny?"

"Hmhm I'm sorry for laughing. The thing is you may have seen your dream while I see a destiny that will make you with no pun intended shine as bright as a diamond."

Pink just remembered when Spinel told her a joke once that had to do that saying and it was hilarious. Even now it was extremely difficult to not laugh from that memory. She wasn't exactly sure if he noticed the peaking teardrop from her eye and quivering lipped half smile.

In all seriousness though what did he mean by that? She knows what her destiny will be, hell she's been trying to get some goddamn recognition so she can have the chance to prove her worth.

From where Pink was she could hear what appeared to be Yellow coming towards the room, in which caused her to panic a bit. The old man instantly became aware of what was happening right now.

"(Hm I understand) Young Diamond I know we just made contact but if you could heed my message to you?"

"Uh uh sure what is it? And make it quick to!"

"Of course...Fear thrives on weakness, yet it makes you strong. It is also teacher."

The moment the old man ended that sentence the screen went completely black. After that Pink never saw him again nor did she know who he was, what planet the communication connected to, and not even his name. That final message also didn't make any sense so she didn't think about it.

It would be years later until that Homeworld incident occured that Pink would have an epiphany of what the message meant...after she split the world in two.


"(Why did I figure that mom would have something to do with possibly everything that's going to happen later down the road?)"

"Why do you look like that?"

"Sorry it's just I'm starting to get used to facing my mom's mistakes that ends up with me always fixing her problems."

Sometimes when Steven figured that alot of these shenanigans that has been happening always points to his mom was getting tiresome. Great, she made contact with another alien race and now this...however something didn't make any sense about it.

"There is one thing that's confusing."

"Hmm?"

"What do you have to do with it? You never met my mom."

"Tr-True, I've never interacted with your mother. But the wheels of fate were turned when my grandfather, the creator of the Altarian race entrusted me to go to Earth with one, simple mission."

"And that would be?"

Quantum pointed his finger right at Steven. It didn't take long for him to realise what he was trying to answer.

"Me? Wait, wait, wait you came on this planet...because of me?"

"And Spinel."

"Okay now you're just trying to confuse me more."

"I was thinking that I wasn't. Originally you two would be the cause of the end of the universe. At some point Spinel was supposed to come onto you more aggressively when she was affected but you shoved her off you."

Well that's technically what happened in a sense. Not sure if he knew about the part when Spinel called Steven daddy. Eugh, that still sends tingles down Steven's spine.

"By the time Emer- Green Pearl killed Connie and you transformed completely Spinel shattered Green Pearl afterward. Finally with the uncontrollable rage and fury both of you had, you two ended up fighting all across the cosmos, destroying everything in your path and I do mean...ever- ry- thing."

There was no way Spinel would be that powerful. As Steven saw when he got back, none of the other Diamonds (except White) was able to defeat him at that state. Naaah he's obviously joking about th-

"Disbelief of the truth of a warning keeps you in ignorance, you die stupid afterward."

"(He's not joking.) Okay I get it. Damn, if I didn't tell Spinel to stay in the closet then the situation would've became dire."

"Oh no, the timeline would still remain the same. I just lessened the impact...which surprisingly worked."

"By?"

"By doing the same thing I did to you, exploiting your flaws back at the sky arena before it was too late."

"Yeah but how you did to Spinel was fucked up."

Steven sat Quantum up along with himself. He thought Steven wouldn't notice but he saw Quantum's hands shaking. What he apologized for earlier must've affected him.

"Telling the truth can be just as painful as telling a lie. Spinel gave me the expected reaction."

Hearing that kind of statement made Steven sick. Even if that was to prevent a destructive future, what Quantum did was fucking horrid. In response Steven grabbed Quantum by the collar of his suit.

"You made her poof!"

"And if I didn't?"

"...Then..."

"Exac- Grrgh!!"

It looked whatever pain Quantum was in intensified, forcing him to cough out more of his blood into his arm. In that instant Steven let him go despite him wanting to at least give one good punch to his face.

"A shame, I don't have that much time left anyway. Steven? As a Shooting Star I can grant you any wish you desire."

"Huh, I don't want a-"

Steven tried to decline the offer but Quantum just cut off his sentence anyway.

"It can be anything you desire, just name it."

"Just hold on a sec. The way you look now there's no way I can do that."

"No! I won't accept no as an answer. Don't you see that I've already granted a wish?"

Why was Quantum getting all desperate about someone granting a wish? Well he was mentioned as a Shooting Star many times but still.

"Wait, who did you grant a wish for before me?"

"Does it matter?!"

"Uh yeah, it does matter!"

"...Fine...After you and your friends defeated Green Pearl back in Sky Arena I offered her a wish. What she wished for was the power to surpass even the three Diamonds. So I did by amplifying the very thing that gave her strength in the first place."

"The Jade Emperor's armor."

"Yes and she relished the title of Chaos Emerald, thinking that she would become some kind of God. Please Steven...tell me what your wish is?"

"But why?"

"Cause as a Shooting Star it is my fate when we appear on a planet. I'm telling you, you can wish for anything. Knowledge, riches as far the eye can see, even greater power? How could you not-"

"I'M DONE WITH THAT SHIT OKAY!"

Quantum was taken aback by Steven's sudden outburst.

"I don't want anymore power! I don't want any money, or fame, or anything! I don't want my blind selfishness to hurt anyone again."

Falling to his knees on the sand Steven tried to wipe away the tears that were forming around his eye. How could he not want to cry after realising that his selfish bull has taken those he loved away from him.

"I...I just want Connie back."

"...Heheh."

For a few moments Quantum was speechless from Steven's wish until a chuckle escaped his throat. He got to his and erupted into laughter. Even Steven was surprised on how someone who looked like they are at Death's door can still have this much energy to stand.

"Hahahahahahah that's it! I knew I could count on you! Your wish is selfless and deprived of greed. You truly see the consenquences of your actions and...ah shit."

Quickly seeing Quantum about to fall forward Steven shot up and caught him before he could even tilt any further.

"Say...I know you might think I don't deserve your help but can you do a couple of things for me?"

Steven can hear the breathing struggle Quantum was going through.

"Hey, stop talking will ya! You're making yourself worse that way."

Despite the concerned warning it would fall on deaf ears. Quantum wasn't afraid to die since he can now say that he finally fulfilled his destiny, helping Steven to save not just his home but the whole universe. If only his Grandfather can see his own grandson now. Hell what is he thinking? Of course his grandfather sees him.

"Please Steven...think of it as my own final wishes."

Definetely stubborn Quantum was. A genius and a dumbass at the same time though. If what Quantum said was true about Steven's power not going to affect him anyway then damnit he's gonna have to. Hopefully it has nothing to do with Spin-

"Eat out Spinel for me."

WHAT THE FUCK?! Just when things couldn't get anymore stupid, it just did. Also Steven avoided Spinel when she was affected, now this jackass wanted him to basically get mauled by a gem?

"Nah just kidding."

"(I swear if he wasn't sick I make him eat sand.)"

"Just thought I could cross off an item from my bucket list which is telling a tasteless sex joke. Ironic isn't it since alot of Gems came from dirt not the sea so they won't taste like fish...I'm on a roll."

"(Yeah yeah laugh it up.)"

"In all seriousness...If you ever encounter Orion say the code 'Dark Nebula'. His programming will understand what that means. Haah don't worry, it's not a doomsday activation code."

That's what worried Steven the most. Sigh the things he will do to keep the universe in balance. Quantum continued with his rambling.

"If you get to talk to the other Diamonds tell them the truth about The Shooting Stars."

"What truth?"

"That we, the Altarians, the Shooting Stars are truly a race of scholars born with incredible power...We are proud to know ourselves as teachers. You shouldn't be the only one to know this, others shoul as well."

Scholars? So Quantum and his race are were teachers...Weird how Steven actually learned from him although the methods were a little unorthodox and tacky. Hey it worked out in the end anyway.

"For so long the stigmatization the Diamonds put out all throughout the universe once upon a time of our race being planet destroyers was blown way out of proportion...except for that planet Orion blew up centuries ago. Other than that we don't go to planets to destroy them. We just love to learn and to teach others."

Yeah Steven is gonna have a serious talk with those three later.

"For me I wanted to save broken individuals through traditional and non-traditional ways, to give them the courage to overcome the darkness they were afflicted with. It was you who made my self worth destiny mean something."

"You're welcome I guess."

"Oh before I grant your wish I'll impart you with my last word of wisdom. Your purpose in life is what you determine it to be. Don't let your purpose that was pre-determined for you be you."

Wow, that's pretty good words of wisdom to pass on...Strangely Steven felt like he heard something similiar to that before. He then felt Quantum wrapping his arms around him.

"If only I trusted you earlier, Void-B."

While still holding onto Steven Quantum extended out his arm to his left. Facing his palms up a milky white substance escaped from underneath his fingernails and floating upward by a couple of inches. The substance then converged into a smooth glowing sphere. With a singled middle finger flick the sphere flew off at a rapid speed towards the direction one can assume that Connie's body was at.

Hovering over the dead body the sphere slowly lowered itself until it entered Connie's body orally. Meanwhile Steven can now feel Quantum's body getting lighter and lighter with each passing minute. Despite the being drastically losing strength Quantum was still able to smile.

"Don't worry about me Steven, this happens to all the Shooting Stars, it's not as bad as it seems. We just turn into beautiful dust when we use up our power...Honestly I thought this would feel more painful."

"Damnit why did you get me to feel bad for you despite the shitty things you did to us?!"

"I think the same God we worship told us about this, about forgiveness."

Steven was going to open his mouth to question that but Quantum already beat him to the punch.

"Yes, yes it is no surprise that we actually worship the same god. Afterall, my Grandfather did come to Earth once...as Socrates."

"(! Did he just say?) Quantum?!"

Quantum's body, starting from his legs began to disappear, slowly creeping up.

"How unexpected...this feels...calm. Can you do one more thing for me?"

"Quantum wa-"

"Tell Spinel...that I'm sor-."

Before Quantum could let out his finished sentence his head burst out into silvery sparkles. However Steven understood what Quantum wanted him to do and he will honor his wishes just like Quantum just did, he hoped.

End of Ch.26