With Black Diamond being dealt with and the war now over, Steven continues to rest. Though he is unconscious, he's visited by an unexpected guest.

...

All he saw was darkness. Everywhere he looked, every direction he stared, there was nothing but the sight of a pitch black abyss staring back.

"Hello?" said Steven, in hopes that someone would respond back. Once nothing was heard, he decided that standing around wasn't doing much good, so he began to walk. As he did, he still attempted to see if he was alone in the darkness. With his movements, he noted that the experience felt like a dream...but at the same time it felt real, as though this were an actual place in reality. As he continued on, he began to lose himself in his thoughts.

'I don't get it...where I am? The last thing I remember...I had been following Black's orders to tear down Homeworld. Then, I wasn't because he...he...'.

Steven stopped as he began getting lost even further in his thoughts as the painful memories resurfaced.

'He...attacked Connie and Peridot.'

The memory of the event was all too clear, as were the emotions he felt when he saw his friends be attacked and injured. Even now, he felt his anger rise as he played out the events in his head.

"And there we go. Hello Steven." The sudden appearance of a familiar voice in the void shook Steven from his thoughts and emotions. As he looked around, he soon found that Black Diamond had appeared not too far from him.

"Black"

"My apologies, this ability takes some time to use, especially since I haven't had the most practice recently. Took me a bit longer to establish myself here than it did to bring you into it."

"What ability? Where are we?"

"My young diamond, we are in a space I created. I was poofed not too long after your sudden outburst against me and was bubbled shortly after. I'm reaching you from that very bubble. I can only assume that your unconscious at the moment, otherwise I don't believe we'd be having this conversation."

"So wait, you were able to use an ability and create this whole space and project it into my head even though you've been poofed and bubbled?! I didn't know that was even possible."

"There are many things you, and everyone else doesn't know Steven. I picked up this trick a few centuries ago during my exile. Without an empire to rule, you find that you have a good deal of free time to improve yourself. Heck, I'm not even sure my sister knows about this little technique. To be fair though...it doesn't have much practical use. It isn't often I find myself bubbled and even then, I need the person I'm trying to bring into this dream like state to be poofed or unconscious, which is a task all it's own."

"Huh. So, what'd you want Black? If you've been poofed, you don't exactly have much else to do except accept your place."

"True enough, though as you earthlings would say, I've come to tie up loose ends."

As he heard this, Steven tensed up as if he were about to be attacked. "Oh relax young one, I don't mean it like that. I'm just taking care of unfinished business is all."

"That doesn't exactly make it sound any better."

"Hmm, yes I see your point. How about this. I just wanted to talk and get some things of my chest or gem rather."

"Alright...then let's hear it."

"Firstly, I wanted to apologize...for everything. Before I continue however, tell me, do you recall what I had said to you before your...change on the battlefield?"

Steven thought back to the event. Yeah, he could remember it all right. Now that he was thinking about it, he could still hear those words on loop in his head...'weak...useless...unhelpful...monster'. As he recalled that and the events that followed, he felt his anger rise.

"Yeah...yeah I remember it all too well."

"Hmm, yes I can't imagine the words I said are sitting too well. But I'm not referring to that part specifically. Remember how I said that I watched as you grew and developed your abilities over time? Well, even after I saw your abilities and your growth, I wasn't too keen on recruiting you. I believed it necessary to the cause, sure enough, but I would have rather avoided it. I saw a good deal of what you had gone through in your childhood. You accomplished so much, at the cost of yourself in the end. All your success and achievements, and it all began wear you down in the end. With all that baggage, I didn't want to add on to the list of events you had experienced. However in the end, I decided it would be best if we continued forth and brought you into the fold. As it was my decision, it is one I must contend with. With that and everything else I forcibly put you through, I wanted to apologize."

"Well, while I appreciate the apology, I can't say that these events aren't something I'm not used too. Besides, it isn't me you need to apologize too...or rather for."

Catching on to what Steven was referring to, Black sighed and continued. "Right...Connie. I can't say much about that. For what it's worth, I do hope that she turns out alright."

Wanting to move away from the topic before he allowed his emotions to get the better of him, Steven changed the subject.

"So, is that all you wanted? Was all this just for an apology?"

"Not just that, no. I also wanted to thank you for everything."

"Really...after everything you said, now you want to thank me for it all?" said a somewhat annoyed, yet surprised Steven.

"Steven...what I said to you before your change, I won't lie to you about it. I did mean what I said. Though, at the time, it was geared more towards pushing you towards your change as I believed that to be the best option for success and/or escape from our predicament and while I may have made it seem like all your actions were done in vain and deserved to be used against you...I cannot hold that same opinion now. What you had done for me and my cause in the short few months you were with us sped up our timeline to the point where we were years ahead of schedule. Recruiting all those gems and setting the field the way you did...not even Red or Earl would have been able to do that in the time you did. Your efforts in the attempt to change Homeworld and it's leadership was amazing, to put it simply. Alongside all that, I also wanted to thank you for what you and your friends did on Homeworld. All of your efforts to change about the structure of the gem empire brought about something I never would have thought possible in my eons alive in this universe. You even managed to convince White to change her mind and actually listen for a change. When I had heard of the changes they've done from you way back when, I was in disbelief. However, when I saw her, and the other diamonds for that matter, in action on the battlefield, how they treated each gem with respect and actually considered their well being, I saw the change you made in action and how it improved everything for the better. With all that change, I will say, that is something I strived for in my image of Homeworld. After all, I did try to keep honor and respect among gems a top priority. It's one of the main reasons I let everyone choose what to call me rather than the 'my diamond' saying that the planet had grown used to. That and why I allowed everyone to have their own identity. Ironically enough, that part was a tactical choice as well. Having to identify each gem based off their facets rather than a name basis is just too exhausting. Regardless however, that is what I wanted to thank you for. All your success...and your efforts during your time with me.

"Well...I guess your welcome then. Was there anything else?

"No, I believe that was all I wished to say before I fully embraced my punishment. I don't believe that I'll be freed anytime soon. Though, I do have my hopes. After all, anything is possible."

"Yeah, it is. So now what? Do you just turn this off like a light switch or something?"

"Something like that. Just say when and I'll send you off."

"Alright...before I do though, I think I have some words for you as well."

Making a notion for the boy to continue, Steven did just that. "Black...I understand your cause and what you wanted...and if you had approached me before I changed White's mind years ago, I might have considered it an actual option. But, after everything, I think that I'd prefer the way things turned out. Everyone's happy and finding their own place in the universe...well, almost everyone. Regardless though, even with these recent events and hearing you come to me like this, I can't accept your apology...not after everything you did."

"No? I thought you were the forgiving type?"

"I am, at least usually, and don't get me wrong, I do appreciate the effort. But I just can't do it. What you did to me and my friends...I can't bring myself to forgive you. I might have been able to if this were before my first transformation, but something I was beginning to realize before you kidnapped me is that I am allowed to not forgive the actions of others. I hold my mother...Rose...Pink Diamond in a similar regard...though I'd honestly still think somewhat worse of her for what she's done. Still though...I just can't Black and I'm sorry for that."

"Oh please Steven, save your apology. I'd honestly consider it odd if you had forgiven me...I can't imagine anyone in the right mind would. I do appreciate your explanation with it though. Seems that your still growing and trying to figure out what's best for you now after all."

"Yeah, I guess you could say that. But with that...I think I'm ready."

"Alright then, stand still. The process takes a second to go into full effect." As he said this, Black's hands began to glow an eerily familiar shade of darkness. With this, he brought his hands down and placed them each next to Steven. With a sudden pulse of dark energy, Steven began to feel the effects take hold as the void he was in began to collapse and disappear.

"There we are then. I wish you the best of luck in your future Steven. And remember, don't be afraid to change yourself as well. You don't need to be so selfless for everyone else's sake. Take your own health and desires into consideration as well. Find your purpose in this universe and seize it" As the void nearly dispersed, he heard one more thing from Black Diamond. "Good bye Steven...please, take care of everyone...and especially yourself."

With that, the elder diamond disappeared, leaving Steven to return to his thoughtless state of unconsciousness.

...

And I can now officially say we are done with Black Diamond for this story. Really glad with how he turned out after these 40 some chapters. He wasn't always the simplest to write out, but glad he turned out the way he did and that he left somewhat of an impact, alongside his two loyal subordinates.

I almost considered adding more of what's to come into the chapter, but it turned out long enough for me to be satisfied, so we'll wrap things up for this part of the story next time.

Thanks for the continued visits all. Happy Saturday to everyone. Hope the weekend is going well and that yall are staying as safe as humanly possible in this ever changing world we live in. Hoping to get the last chapter out tomorrow, but as I said in the previous, I don't promise anything...but I'd really like too still. Regardless, hope to see you all in chapter 42.

Dream On by Aerosmith