AN: At long last, the war is over and the story is ending. I cannot say this enough, but thanks for sticking by me since last December through all the laughs, tears, and other emotions felt throughout this story. It's been such a wild ride, I don't think I have time to type out the cast list here like I did with the past 31 chapters and will instead save it for the end. But now, it's time to close the book on this story once and for all, featuring quite possibly the most special of special guests.
Synopsis: Steven is ready to move on.
Steven Universe: Alternate Future
Part 4, Chapter 8: The Future
"Oh, everything hurts." Black Rutile groaned as she woke up lying splayed out in the sand, freshly defeated once and for all. "What happened? The last thing I remember was that other fusion tearing me in half." Her eyes widening in realization, the Rutile scrambled to search for her two remaining comrades in the sand. "Aquamarine, Ruby, where are you two?!"
However, all Black Rutile was able to find were their inactive gemstones, leaving her the official last surviving member of the Rutile Rebels. "Wake up you idiots, your master demands it!" Black Rutile yelled, shaking the gems together in her hands. "Please, we have to flee immediately before the Diamonds-"
"Before the Diamonds what?" White Diamond boomed as Black Rutile discovered her massive shadow emerging from behind and turning to discover the Crystal Gems, the Diamonds, Hessonite's team, Lars and the Off-Colors, the Little Homeworlders, Spinel & friends, and the Gems' Earth friends all looking down on her. And none of them were happy in the slightest.
"Look at yourself Black Rutile, all alone with no one to back up your lies." White sneered.
"I thought she was your best soldier." Yellow Diamond responded. "Frankly White, and no offense, you have horrible taste."
"How pathetic." Blue calmly jeered.
"Horrible taste, pathetic?!" Black Rutile screeched angrily. "I have been training my entire existence to be the best servant I can be and this is how I'm treated?! I only wanted to make Homeworld a better place!"
"For you." Steven stoically objected to Black Rutile's claims as Blue lowered him to the ground. "You only wanted to make Homeworld a better place for you."
"You!" Black Rutile shouted at Steven, tossing the gems of her two flunkies away and marching towards her. "This is all your fault! I've lost everything, my armies, my bodyguard, my status! And you took everything away from me!" In a fit of rage, Black Rutile then tackled Steven and began fruitlessly slapping at him, but the boy barely reacted in comparison to his archnemesis's pathetic flailing and crying until he summoned his shield to push her away, the shield now looking like it always did.
"Please, just stop," Steven ordered the Rutile. "You've already humiliated yourself enough, and I don't even know what happened here." He continued, looking at the damage done to Beach City from Pietersite and Orange Moonstone's fight, catching Jasper & White Topaz gathering up the poofed gems of the Lapides, Garnets, and Emerald, before turning back to Black Rutile. "If you think you can still stop me, then you need to think again. We both refuse to grow up and move on, but I'm far more mature about it than you'll ever be, and more loved too. Heck, I even finally forgiven my mom while I was a monster!"
"You, mature?" Black Rutile mused before letting out a croaking laugh. "Let's not forget how you love shoving your stupid ideals down everyone's throat and go ballistic at the slightest hint of others thinking differently than you!"
"Again, just like you." Steven declared. "So tell me, why do you keep antagonizing me?"
"I wanted you to hurt, to witness everything you've ever worked, fought, and hoped for die." Black Rutile replied before beginning another rant. "I had a dream! A dream of a perfect society ruled by actions, not words! Ruled by strength, not compassion! Where power is in the hands of those that truly earned it, not those who think peace and love are being forced onto everything while those who object are punished! You and your empire are diseased, rotten to the core, and I selected myself as the cure!"
"And some cure you turned out to be!" Jasper barked as she and White Topaz approached the Crystal Gems with their bubbled saviors in hand.
"It's okay guys, no one can hurt you anymore." White Topaz whispered to the bubbled gems while gently stroking the bubble they were contained in before glaring at Black Rutile. "So, how does it feel to be proven horribly wrong?"
"Don't you dare side with them you mongrel!" Black Rutile snapped at her former sidekick. "So, what do you all plan to do with me?"
"I say we keep her bubbled." Garnet stoically suggested.
"Nah, bubbling is a little too light for a psycho like her." Bismuth replied. "I say we just shatter her and show her how she made us feel!"
"Now now everyone, we don't want to vindicate her." Pearl stated when she got an idea. "How about we force her into Little Homeschool?"
"What, you want me to enroll in that kindergarten and live your warped view of happily ever after?!" Black Rutile exclaimed fearfully and dropped to her knees in desperation. "Please my Diamonds, give me another chance! I can even instantaneously forget all the horrible things I did to you all to prove I can change!"
"No, you won't ever get off easy." Connie boldly rejected the Rutile's pleas.
"Well, what is almost everyone here still doing?!" Black Rutile asked. "It's all because of them that Steven is suffering and they all get away with it, but I'm the bad one here?!"
"I think that's enough out of you," Jasper stated as she grabbed Black Rutile by the neck. "So Paz, care to do the honors?"
"With pleasure." White Topaz beamed and summoned her brass knuckle gauntlet.
"Come on Topaz, you wouldn't hurt your bestest friend ever, right?" Black Rutile asked with a sheepish grin as she struggled to break out of Jasper's grasp, but her begging fell on deaf ears.
"How many times do I have to tell you this?" White Topaz responded. "You're a bad friend."
And with a single punch to Black Rutile's gem, her reign of terror ended at long last. Jasper opened her fist to reveal the evil Gem's gem in her palm and encased it with an orange bubble.
A few months later, Beach City was in the middle of a slow recovery process. Repairs and reconstructions were made to the parts of town destroyed during the battle. The Crab Shack was completely remodeled, the water tower was rebuilt, the Big Donut had a new sign, Funland was closed for repairs, but the biggest change was that Dewey Park was now known as Crystal Park. In place of the statue of ex-Mayor Dewey, a statue of Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl, and Steven was built to honor the heroics of the Crystal Gems. The beach house was also undergoing reconstruction, with the face of the Obsidian statue now resembling its current incarnation.
Outside the beach house, a now cured Steven pushed play on a stereo and began to do some stress-relieving exercises while thinking back to the immediate aftermath of Black Rutile's downfall.
"So all this happened while I was turned into that monster?" Steven asked the Crystal Gems as soon as he was brought home and got a fresh change of clothes.
"Yeah, you should've been there!" Peridot exclaimed. "We were all wham bam shang-a-lang, meanwhile Jasper and White Topaz were like boom, pow, slam!"
"That reminds me, hey, I'm White Topaz." White Topaz introduced herself to Steven. "You may remember me as one of the Gems that tried to kill you, but then I changed my ways."
"Some things just never change." Steven grinned and shook the Topaz's hand. "Welcome to Earth, you're gonna love it here."
Outside, Jasper relaxed on the roof she had bashed holes in, gazing up at the sky in contemplation of what to do with her life now. The Earth and her Diamond were safe once again, but what was left for her to do?
"So, where are you gonna go after this?" Lapis asked Jasper, flying up and lying down next to her. "I'm going to assume you'll keep on sulking in that cave, right?"
"You know, I'm not sure." Jasper replied pensively. "I finally got a good fight, but then what? The Diamonds are no longer in power, so I doubt they'll be needing my services at the moment." She then turned to gaze at the Diamonds as they helped Steven get caught up. "Maybe I could leave Earth and go find myself on another planet somewhere."
"Or you could stay here and finally come to Little Homeschool." Lapis suggested. "Next time something this big happens, the students are gonna need to learn how to fight. What do you say?"
Jasper took a little time to think. On one hand, she definitely needed to take a load off after fighting for her life against Black Rutile and her subordinates. But on the other, she had continuously rejected invitations to Little Homeschool time and time again. However, this time she decided to change her mind at last.
"Okay, you win. I'll come." Jasper declared, turning over on her side to face Lapis. "But we'll need to set some ground rules first. First, no begging for me when I'm not interested. Second, my space is my space, make no mistake. And third, I think I might need some help getting over this whole Pink business."
"Okay, we'll be here for you when you need it." Lapis said and held out her fist.
"Are you trying to punch me?" Jasper asked, not understanding that Lapis wanted to fistbump her.
"It's called a fistbump." Lapis explained. "Kind of like a handshake, but you know, with fists. You know you love your fists."
"That's true." Jasper replied and returned the fistbump.
Downstairs meanwhile, Steven had just been caught up on everything that happened while he was in his monster form. But now he had no choice but to say his piece in return.
"So Steven, were you really in control of yourself while we tried to save you?" Amethyst asked.
"I don't think so," Steven replied. "This, like, evil side of me took control and forced me into this creepy sitcom world in my head where I was a normal human, and you guys were too."
"Wait, a sitcom?" Pearl wondered. "Why is that?"
"That's a pretty loaded question, but I'll just keep it brief." Steven responded sadly. "It was because of what I said to Dad on our road trip, about how I wished I was human in a world where the Gems never existed, and I even saw my mom in there too. Both Rose Quartz AND Pink Diamond."
"WHAT?!" the Crystal Gems, Connie, Greg, White Topaz, Lars, the Off-Colors, the Diamonds, Spinel's gang, and the President all cried out.
"Steven, is this true?" Yellow asked.
"This is because of all of us, isn't it?" Spinel added.
"Yeah, pretty much." Steven looked down at his feet in regret. "I've said some pretty nasty things these past few months, but I think that was where I crossed the line."
"Well, you know what?" Greg stated. "It's about time we get you a therapist."
"Excellent idea good sir." President Suarez agreed. "This boy has suffered so much for someone his age. Anybody younger would've completely cracked!"
"Already got some state doctors on the horn." Vice-President Maxwell stated as she started talking on her phone. "M'yello? Oh Lily, so good to hear from you again! How's the kid's transition going?"
"No, I don't think any big government shrinks will be needed here." Connie declared. "I think I know just the person to help out."
Not too long after, Steven was now sitting in the waiting room of a psychologist's office, where other people who had no doubt suffered similar conditions to his. Scared children nervously holding onto their parents, traumatized adults reading newspapers & magazines, and senior citizens gently fiddling with their hands all waiting for their appointments, and Steven was no different.
"So, what are you in for?" an older man with a long, stitched-up scar going across his face, an orange vest with black stripes, and some gold rings on his fingers, asked Steven.
"I was a monster for a little bit, along with tons of other problems." Steven replied. "What about you?"
"We all feel like a monster at some point in our lives." The man sagely stated. "Me? I just saw some things I wished I'd never see again. In fact, you want to know how I got this scar?"
"I don't know, but it looks pretty bad." Steven mused about the scar.
"Big pile-up a few years back." The man revealed. "I was lucky to get out alive, but now I can't get stuck in traffic without getting paranoid." He then pulled out a box of cigarettes and offered one to Steven. "Want one?"
"Sorry, but I'm almost seventeen, sir." Steven kindly rejected the offer. "Plus, you know this is a no-smoking zone, right?"
"Sorry 'bout that." The man awkwardly replied and put the cigarettes away.
"What about the rest of you?" Steven asked the other patients. "Why are you all here?"
"I just got out of divorcing my abusive husband." A mother answered. "He kept picking on my little one like one of those fratboys in the movies, and the pain still lingers."
"Me? I'm just worried I'm gonna die alone and no one will remember me." An elderly gentleman stated.
"And you said you felt like a monster?" the mother asked.
"Well, I literally turned into one." Steven stated. "Pretty sure it was all over the news, and it made the government arrest my family after they were manipulated by a psychopath who's been plotting to destroy me."
"You're kidding, right?" the pile-up victim asked. "You're telling me you actually turned into a giant monster? How is that even possible?"
"That is a long story." Steven answered just as the door opened.
"Mr. Universe?" a doctor's assistant asked for Steven, who then got up off his seat and walked towards him. "Dr. Rebecca will see you now."
"Thanks, mister." Steven nodded before turning back to the other patients. "I'll be back to tell you more!"
"Don't be a stranger." The old man grinned while Steven was led to his new therapist.
"So, what is a therapist like?" Steven asked the man as he was led through a hallway of many doors.
"Well, a therapist is someone you can talk to about your problems, what's been eating you, and all that." The assistant said. "They in exchange offer some helpful advice and train you to become more well-adjusted."
"Kind of like how I was." Steven compared himself to the idea of therapy when the two arrived at a door with a plaque reading "DR. REBECCA SUCROSE" on it, and the assistant knocked.
"I'm coming." a woman's voice called and opened the door, revealing that she wore glasses and had her hair shaved on both sides of her head while the top was very curly. "Oh, you must be the boy Priyanka and her kid told me about. I'm Dr. Rebecca Sucrose, and I'll be your psychologist for today."
"You're gonna love her, she's really dang good." The assistant gave a thumbs up before leaving Steven to be shown into Dr. Sucrose's office. The office gave Steven the vibes of a gentle woman who was always willing to lend an ear, and he could also see pictures of the doctor with a ukulele much like his own, getting married to a black man, and spending time with a brother that looked a bit like him for some weird reason.
"So, Steven was it?" Rebecca said as she sat down on an office chair. "As I said, my old friend Priyanka recommended me to you at the suggestion of her daughter and your friends. Why don't you tell me a bit about yourself?"
"Okay, but I think you're gonna need to hang on because things get a little weird." Steven stated sitting across from his new therapist as he began his story. "You see, my mom is actually an alien matriarch from another galaxy from a race of gem-based lifeforms who have been colonizing worlds across the universe, but she didn't want to because of how much she valued organic life which earned her scorn from her fellow matriarchs and some subordinates. Eventually, after a lot of whining, she was given her own colony, which happened to be Earth. My mom then grew attached to the planet enough to fake her death and take up a new identity as a freedom fighter who was framed as the one who killed her-"
"Whoa, slow down!" Rebecca exclaimed, stopping Steven's story in its tracks. "Gosh Becky, you really found an award-worthy patient today." She whispered to herself before going back to Steven. "Sorry for interrupting you, I just wanted to know about you. Not your mom or the alien race she fought against. Just you, and that's that."
"Just me?" Steven muttered. "Well, alright. I live in Beach City with my friends the Crystal Gems, who are alien warriors that fought to protect the Earth thousands of years ago. My mom died giving birth to me, as in she gave up her physical form to give birth to me, and I grew up never actually knowing her outside of everyone telling me she was so amazing."
"Mother issues, got it." Dr. Sucrose responded while writing down in her notepad. "What else?"
"Well, not too long ago, I learned that she shattered one of the leaders of their people known as the Diamonds, but then it turned out she was a Diamond herself." Steven continued. "You still following this?"
"Always will be." Rebecca said, continuing to write.
"Anyways, I was then forced to clean up all the messes my mom made in addition to helping my friends," Steven said. "Stuff like trying to help her servant fix her eye, convincing her former playmate to not destroy Earth, and trying to make peace with the other Diamonds even when they tried to kill me."
"So in other words, she forced all this onto you?" Rebecca asked.
"Kind of, but it wasn't what she wanted." Steven said. "She told me this herself, she didn't want to cause all this trouble but had no other choice for the good of Earth."
"Wait, I thought you said your mother was dead?" Rebecca asked.
"That is another long story." Steven declared.
As Steven continued exercising, he suddenly heard Lion roaring as the undead big cat emerged from one of his portals with Connie on his back. "Morning Steven." Connie greeted. "One last routine before hitting the road?"
"Yeah, I'll be sitting a while." Steven answered and turned off his stereo before going into the beach house with Connie
"Any updates on Black Rutile?" Connie asked as she pulled out a map and her laptop.
"She still believes being forcibly enrolled in Little Homeschool is a fate worse than shattering, but she hasn't posed that much danger since we defeated her." Steven answered while the two walked up to his bedroom. Steven took the map from Connie's hands and began examining it on his bedsheets while Connie began typing on her laptop and Lion rested next to them.
"I'll be in Charm City for Sadie & Shep's concert, then I'll meet up with you and Lion at Providence Island while you're touring schools, and then I'll catch up with Lars on our weekly space hangout." Steven explained to his best friend. "After that, I think I'll go and see Beckham Jordan again at Empire City to shoot a few hoops together with the local kids."
"I'll add them all to your Boogle Maps doc." Connie declared. "So, how is everyone taking the news?"
"Well, I told everyone in town, plus my dad, and they're all bummed to see me go but still wish me the best." Steven answered. "Now all that's left is to tell the Gems."
"You mean you haven't told them yet?!" Connie exclaimed. "Steven, you have to! Besides, didn't that evil inner self call you out for keeping secrets from everyone?"
"I know, but I just have no idea how they'll take it." Steven sighed. "Everyone's been so protective of me these past few months since my meltdown, now I wonder if there's a way I can let them down easy."
"Like Rebecca said, you should start putting yourself first for a change." Connie responded, looking back on how Steven got the idea to begin with.
"So, I think I can come to a conclusion here." Dr. Sucrose said to Steven. "The monster attacks, the disappearance of the ocean, the repeated invasions, that Cluster thing, and the monster meltdown all happened somewhere around Beach City, correct?"
"Yep, and that's not even accounting for what happened off-world." Steven nodded. "What are you saying by that?"
"Well, I think maybe it's time to perhaps see the world outside Beach City." Rebecca revealed. "You ever gone traveling before, on Earth to be precise?"
"Yeah, I've been to a few places." Steven said. "I been to Korea to learn more about my mom, I went to Empire City a few times, Keystone, Ocean Town, just places pretty close to home."
"Well, what I suggest is that maybe you should start going outside your comfort zone, maybe take a trip of the country to find yourself." Rebecca replied. "Make new experiences."
Steven's face started looking nervous and he shifted in his seat. On one hand, he couldn't bear to leave everyone in Beach City behind after all he's done for them and vice versa. But on the other hand, he's done enough putting others before himself and being a shoulder for everyone to cry on.
"Are you okay, you need to take a break?" the therapist asked Steven. "Was it something I said?"
"No, you're fine, I just," Steven stuttered before taking a deep breath. "I just can't decide what to do here. I mean, while a lot of bad stuff has happened to me in Beach City, that shouldn't ever outweigh all the good stuff either. Maybe I need some time to think."
"Okay, give it some thought and we can talk about it again." Rebecca said. "Same time next week?"
"Sure, same time next week." Steven nodded and shook his psychologist's hand. "Thanks, doc."
"Please, just call me Rebecca." The doctor said.
Back in the present after Connie decided to leave, Steven sat patiently at the kitchen table and faced the Warp Pad, waiting for the Crystal Gems to return. He had a special surprise waiting in a cooler sitting next to him on the table, and he was eager to show the Gems.
"Man, zipping Black Rutile's lips will always make me smile!" Amethyst sighed as the Gems returned from the Warp Pad. "Oh, hey Steven."
"Were you waiting for us?" Pearl asked the boy.
"I sure was." Steven announced, opening the cooler to reveal his favorite dessert inside, Cookie Cats.
"Whoa, Cookie Cat!" Amethyst gasped and ran over to grab one for herself.
"I thought they stopped making those." Pearl grinned nostalgically at the frozen treats.
"They still did, but now I made my own." Steven explained, holding up a deformed-looking Cookie Cat to demonstrate. "You can kinda tell."
"You still gave it your best shot." Garnet smiled and took one out of the cooler to eat. "They're still delicious nonetheless."
"Mmm-mmm!" Amethyst moaned in delight after chomping down on hers.
Pearl meanwhile took a very small bite out of the ice cream bar's ear. Amazingly, she liked it. "Scrumptious!"
"Oh man, these take me back!" Amethyst exclaimed. "Back when you were just the plucky sidekick whose biggest issue was not being able to get a Cookie Cat. Hey, remember the song?"
"Yeah, those were the days, huh?" Steven replied. "Maybe we should sing it again."
"If I may." Pearl declared and cleared her throat before beginning to rap. "OOOOHHHH, he's a frozen treat with an all-new taste!"
"'Cause he came to this planet from outer space!" Amethyst added, copying Pearl's dorky dancing.
"A refugee of an interstellar war." Garnet performed her solo.
"But now he's at your local grocery store!" Pearl yelled excitedly.
"COOKIE CAT!" Amethyst exclaimed.
"He's a pet for your tummy!" Pearl sang.
"COOKIE CAT!" Amethyst continued.
"He's super duper yummy!" Pearl continued while rubbing her stomach.
"COOKIE CAT!" Amethyst yelled.
"He left his family behind." Garnet deadpanned.
"You're right, he did leave his family behind." Steven declared proudly.
"Hey, that's not how it goes!" Amethyst complained. "Speaking of which, you ever noticed how eerie it is that the Cookie Cat song lines up with Pink?"
"I think Cookie Cat ran out of ways to grow on his home planet." Steven mused, gazing at his Cookie Cat. "And even though it was hard, and he suffered a lot of struggles home, and he loved his family so so much, he decided that maybe it was time to start moving forward."
"And this has to do with ice cream because?" Amethyst asked with eyelids lowered, a way for Steven to know it was finally time.
"Everybody, I've got an announcement to make." Steven declared. "I'm gonna move out!" The Gems gasped in shock at the boy's decision, but they let him explain himself anyways. "I have a very comprehensive plan to visit the entire country before deciding where to settle down, and I can still video chat with Dr. Rebecca while hitting the road. Don't you try to stop me this time!"
"We won't talk you out of this," Pearl said. "but that leaves the question of when you're gonna leave."
"Tomorrow, I guess." Steven replied nervously.
"Oh, so soon!" Pearl exclaimed. "Well, all human adolescents have to become more independent eventually." She then gave Steven a hug. "I'm just so happy for you."
"Yeah bro, we're gonna miss ya!" Amethyst exclaimed, getting a turn to hug Steven as well. "Peace!"
"You guys know I might never come back, right?" Steven said before Garnet placed her strong hand on his shoulder.
"We know Steven." Garnet smiled. "This will be an exciting new chapter in your life."
Despite Garnet's kind words, Steven was still left confused at how well the Crystal Gems were taking it. "That went well, right?" he asked aloud before shrugging and heading to the Warp Pad to tell everyone at Little Homeworld.
As soon as Steven left, the Crystal Gems gazed at the barren Warp Pad with varying degrees of concern and sadness on their faces, proving that their prior encouragement of Steven's decision was all an act.
"So, we're gonna tell him eventually, right?" Amethyst asked.
"I guess so." Pearl resisted the urge to cry. "We just got him back, and now he's gonna leave us again."
"Don't cry, Pearl." Garnet gently stroked Pearl's hair. "But now how is everyone else going to take it?"
Meanwhile, at Little Homeworld, Steven had decided to tell the Crystal Gems' B-team of his departure. How did they react?
"YOU WHAT?!" Bismuth roared in shock atop the whirly-bird tower. Combined with Peridot's heartbroken expression and Lapis's angry face, Steven assumed they didn't react too kindly to the news. "What's the matter Steven, are you mad at me? You still holding a grudge for what happened in the Forge?!"
"Of course I'm not mad Bismuth." Steven answered. "And besides, everyone else has tried to kill me before, so the Forge incident is just another day for me." Suddenly, Bismuth brought him in for a tight hug.
"Then don't leave!" Bismuth began to cry while holding Steven in her arms. "Oh no, am I smothering you?" she asked while letting go and backing away. "I get it, you need some space."
"Bismuth." Steven said.
"How's about I build you a nice vacation home right outside Little Homeworld?!" Bismuth suggested while turning her hand into a hammer while Lapis marched up to Steven with arms and wings spread out in irritation.
"Listen to me Steven, you can't just run away from yourself!" Lapis yelled at her beach summer fun buddy before her wings disappeared, and she started pointing at him. "Wherever you go, you'll be there. Trust me, I know what that's like."
As for Peridot, she was left a sobbing mess on the floor. "But you promised you'd never leave us when Pumpkin died!"
"Take it easy Peridot, I'm here." Steven said comfortingly to Peridot while taking her face in his hand.
"Where am I going to find another Steven as good as you?" Peridot asked in-between sobs. "I love this one so much!"
"I know a Steven as good as me. Here." Steven answered while presenting Peridot with his old pink shirt.
"My very own Steven shirt?" Peridot gasped elatedly.
"Be the Steven you want to see in the world." Steven said, causing Peridot to start wailing again and blow her nose into the shirt. Steven then walked over to Lapis, who had her arms crossed and eyes closed before holding up a gift for her. "Here Lapis, for you."
"What the?!" Lapis gasped after opening her eyes, discovering that Steven was going to give her an art kit. "142 pieces, 60 crayons, 24 oil pastels?! And it even has watercolors?!"
"You like it?" Steven asked the touched terraformer.
"I love it!" Lapis began crying as she took the kit from Steven's hands. "Thank you so much, Steven, for everything!"
Steven then walked to Bismuth last, who was a bit nervous to receive what he was going to give her. "Stay back Steven!"
"Bismuth, I can think of anyone who's more of a Crystal Gem than you." Steven said before handing the frayed Crystal Gem flag to Bismuth. "So I want you to have the original Crystal Gem flag."
"Oh, Steven!" Bismuth began to cry just as hard as Lapis and Peridot as the three brought Steven in for a group hug. "If it weren't for you, none of us would be who we are today! You make me so proud to be a Crystal Gem and a friend!"
"Why did you have to put it so well Bismuth?!" Peridot kept bawling.
"I'm going to use my tears to make a watercolor painting of you!" Lapis said between sobs.
"Peridot, Lapis, Bismuth, I love you all!" Steven began crying, touched at all the kind words they gave him in exchange.
"WE LOVE YOU TOO STEVEN!" the three Gems kept on crying.
While Steven left the B-team to let all their sadness out, there were still a few Gems that he left unaccounted for. One of whom was more than happy to see him leave.
"Well well well, Steven Universe." Black Rutile snarled. Ever since her ultimate defeat, Black Rutile had now lost everything, and the only things she had left were her sword, a new red visor in the shape of a V, and Aquamarine & Holly Blue as her remaining followers. Her cape and white diamond symbol were also missing from her new appearance, signifying how White Diamond has effectively disowned her. "Leaving all of them behind, are we? My point still stands, you're just like your mother."
"Hi, Black Rutile." Steven casually greeted his archnemesis.
"Let me finish boy!" Black Rutile yelled. "You may think you've earned your happily ever after, but I'll always be there to haunt you no matter what! You can never escape me Steven, my ideals and I are as unstoppable as a Diamond!"
"Bye Black Rutile." Steven said goodbye to Black Rutile just as casually, much to her outrage.
"Hey, where are you going?!" Black Rutile kept yelling. "I haven't finished my vow for revenge yet!"
"Hold it!" Jasper barked and grabbed Black Rutile by the neck. "You've already done enough. When are you just going to give up?"
"I'd rather be shattered than give up!" Black Rutile said defiantly.
"I wish I could arrange that," Jasper threatened by summoning her crash helmet. "But I don't think you even deserve death, you pathetic bully." After dropping Black Rutile to the ground, Jasper made her crash helmet disappear and spoke to Steven. "Heard you're leaving, Steven. Well, guess what? I'm coming with you!"
"Jasper, I think I'm gonna go this alone." Steven stated.
"But who will protect you?!" Jasper exclaimed. "You're my Diamond, I should be the one to save you from harm!"
"I can protect myself, y'know." Steven said. "Besides, you can let go of Pink now and spend time with all the new friends you can make here, like White Topaz."
"Yeah, like her." Jasper sighed in disappointment before giving Steven a small smile. "See you around Steven."
Jasper marched on over to a self-defense class she was teaching to her fellow Quartzes, who were eager to see how a veteran fought, and a reluctant Holly Blue Agate served as her training dummy.
"Now, the first step to landing a strong punch is to put all your strength into either one of your arms, like so." Jasper instructed, winding up her left fist and slugging Holly Blue in the face, knocking her over and making the Quartzes cheer.
"I hate everyone." Holly Blue groaned angrily.
"Nice to see Jasper finally making a change." Steven said to himself just as Black Rutile got off the ground.
"Like I wanted to say, I will always be watching you, Steven, waiting for the day to see you crack and become my thrall!" Black Rutile yelled angrily, but Steven paid her no mind. "Where are you going, get back here!"
"Is something the problem here?" Emerald, now having traded her shoulder pads for a simple chest piece that looked like a tank top, asked as she backed Black Rutile into a corner. She was accompanied by Morganite, the Garnets, and the Lapides. The latter pairs also had new forms created after Pietersite poofed them all.
Demantoid had a dark green vest on with matching light green shorts. Pyrope let her hair down and switched her regal attire for a casual sweater, a long skirt reaching to her knees, and flat-soled boots. Laz had a shoulderless top with a yellow star on it, a gold choker, a matching armband on her right bicep, a gold belt holding up a skirt with a similar design to Lapis's top over a pair of shorts and blue & gold boots. Zuli had a similar colored attire with her ponytail held up by a gold scrunchie, gold bracelets on her wrists, a crop-top that also resembled her best friend's top, a pair of shorts with stars on both legs and a gold belt, and matching sandals.
"Hey everyone, long time no see!" Black Rutile greeted her former minions sheepishly, though they didn't greet her back. "We're all still friends, right? Why don't we go plot against Steven just like old times?"
"You want us to keep running with a loser like you?" Laz scoffed and walked away. "No thanks."
"After the way you treated us in the invasion and your battle with Jasper, why bother?" Emerald added, just as disapproving towards her former master.
"Yes, you're all alone on this one." Pyrope rolled her eyes in disgust.
"Catch you when you finally decide to ditch your petty grudge." Demantoid declared and joined the other Gems in abandoning Black Rutile.
"What about you two?" Black Rutile asked Zuli and Morganite. "Do you want to reform the Rutile Rebels with Aquamarine, Holly Blue, Cat's Eye, and I?"
"Yeah, not happening." Zuli said and began following Laz. "Hey, wait up!"
"After the way you left me to get arrested, I'm having second thoughts about your plans." Morganite stated. "Besides, Earth has a lot of creative opportunities, surprisingly."
"No please, don't go!" Black Rutile begged on her knees as Morganite turned away. "I'm nothing without any of you! Exile has been so lonely!"
"But what about me?" Aquamarine, now wearing a denim blue sundress, asked Black Rutile.
"Shut up." Black Rutile growled at the tiny Gem.
"Whoa, even Jasper's upset I'm leaving." Steven muttered as he walked around Little Homeworld, examining the repairs to the damage he caused as a monster. Morganite and the Ruby Squad were restoring the Cubic Zirconias' house, Orange Spodumene assisted the Lapis twins in fixing the swimming pool, Teal Zircon and the Nephrites replanted some flowers in the greenhouse, and everyone else was cleaning up the rubble.
Suddenly, Steven discovered the shadow of his monster form appearing on a nearby wall, making him let out a loud scream. Then he began to hear laughter, and White Topaz and Larimar emerged from the bushes chuckling.
"See Steven, I told you I'd make you scream!" Larimar chuckled. "White Topaz helped with the shadow puppets."
"Oh, hey White Topaz, I see you're making friends." Steven greeted the former bodyguard of Black Rutile when suddenly, White Topaz picked him up and hugged him tightly.
"Oh, thank you so much Steven for teaching me what friendship could be!" White Topaz squealed. "Thanks to you, I've made so many new friends who can share the magic with me!"
"Don't mention it." Steven responded as he tried gasping for air while looking at Black Rutile, pacing around with Aquamarine floating behind her. "And who knows? Maybe once Black Rutile gets her act together, maybe you two can become friends again."
"Eh, maybe, we'll see." White Topaz replied. "I still can't believe you have this much of an effect on people."
"Kind of reminds me of when I first came back from my therapist." Steven replied, beginning to reminisce one last time.
By the time Steven returned home from his first visit to Dr. Rebecca, the afternoon began giving way to twilight. Stepping out of his Dondai Supremo, Steven was immediately swarmed by news reporters, paparazzi, and his friends in both Beach City & Little Homeworld. On the deck of the beach house, the Crystal Gems stood alongside President Suarez, his vice-president, the cabinet, Major General Grant, and General Waller, who was recovering nicely from being stabbed in the kidneys.
"Whoa, what are all of you doing here?!" Steven exclaimed, pushing his way through the excitable crowds to make it back home.
"You made it just in time Steven!" Greg approached Steven with a proud smile on his face. "They're celebrating you all for what you did for Earth!"
"Wait, really?" Steven gasped in shock.
"Yes really, Mr. Universe." Lawrence Abrams announced into his microphone and handed it to Steven. "Any words to say about this high honor, young sir?"
"I don't get all the hype, I was the monster here." Steven spoke into the mic.
"That doesn't matter." Lawrence declared and took back the microphone. "Now up you go. It's time."
The crowd began clearing the way for Steven to meet up with the other Gems at the front of the beach house like he was a king or something. Walking along, Steven could see that everyone had come out for such a special occasion. Connie's parents, the Diamonds, the Pearls, Spinel, Lars & Hessonite, the students of Little Homeschool, everyone was here. Even Black Rutile was among the crowd, though she had on a nasty scowl compared to the others' smiling faces.
"And here is the man of the hour!" Eduardo exclaimed, presenting Steven to his eager audience as the half-Gem boy took his place alongside his rebel family. "If it weren't for Steven and his friends, I wouldn't be standing here giving this speech to you, my fellow Americans." He declared. "These Gems have been living among us since the dawn of man, guiding us through the darkest of hours. And recent events have proved no different. Even when we held them captive, the Crystal Gems refused to give up on their dear friend Steven Universe against impossible odds. And it's to this that we award them the highest honors possible, not just for rescuing us from the insidious Black Rutile, but for all their good deeds from over the years."
Theresa presented each of the Crystal Gems with a gold medal, congratulating each of them for their part in saving the world. As the crowd continued going wild and chanting the Gems' names, Steven couldn't help but keep himself from crying at being celebrated as one of Earth's mightiest heroes.
"So, how are you liking the heroes' welcome?" Connie asked as she and Steven got their medals.
"I couldn't have asked for anything more." Steven declared gazing out at the crowd, before he found a familiar face among them. There, standing among his Beach City friends, stood what seemed to be an exact duplicate of himself, but his voice seemed all too familiar to him.
"You earned this." Negative Steven declared with a thumbs up. Steven quickly rubbed his eyes, only to find that Negative Steven had disappeared. Or maybe he wasn't there to begin with and was just his imagination. Regardless, Steven believed he really did earn this.
"Steven, just between you and me amigo," Eduardo said, kneeling to Steven's height. "good luck on the recovery process."
"Thanks, Mr. President." Steven smiled.
Meanwhile, Black Rutile continued glowering among the throngs of excited humans and Gems, silently furious at how Steven was being hailed as a god despite barely doing anything while she was treated as the villain. She then scoffed at an uncontrollably crying Greg before walking away.
When Steven returned home from Little Homeworld, he found Amethyst sitting on the couch looking bored. "Oh, Amethyst!"
"What up Steven?" Amethyst asked Steven.
"I have a gift for you. Wait here." Steven said, racing upstairs and coming back down with a big box in his hands. "Want to know what it is?"
"Is it food?" Amethyst asked as she took the box from Steven's head and bit into one of the contents of the box.
"No, it's-" Steven began before Amethyst realized she nearly ate one of Steven's game consoles. "I was gonna say it's my video games."
"Ah, dude!" Amethyst laughed. "You better kiss your high scores goodbye, and your save files too! I've been waiting ages to play Golf Quest Mini for myself!" She then began to depart with the box in hand. "Why the heck would anyone play a game with one save file anyways?"
Although Amethyst was elated to receive such a gift, Steven was left a little dumbfounded at how she reacted. "Uhhh…"
Later outside, Steven approached Pearl as she relaxed in a chair playing her bass guitar. "Hey Pearl."
"Oh hello Steven, how are things?" Pearl asked. "Do you need any help packing?"
"Not quite," Steven answered before he presented Pearl with a certain instrument he held near and dear to his heart as a boy. "It's my old ukulele. I'm giving it to you now."
"Oh, how thoughtful!" Pearl exclaimed as she took the ukulele from Steven and stored it in her gem. "Thank you for the present."
"You know Pearl, it's okay to be sad I'm leaving." Steven said, on the verge of tears.
"Don't worry Steven, Connie told me what happened." Pearl replied. "I agree with Rebecca about how this can be a great learning experience for you to explore the world. Nothing to be sad about."
"Yeah, nothing to be sad about." Steven repeated sadly as he walked back inside. As he left, Pearl quizzically tilted her head at her hybrid ward, and wondered if keeping their true feelings a secret was a good idea.
Meanwhile, Garnet did the day's laundry atop the temple hand when Steven appeared on the Warp Pad carrying a big scrapbook in his hands. "Garnet!"
"Well bust my britches, it's Steven Universe." Garnet chuckled lightly. "What do you have there?"
"It's a very important and sentimental gift I'm giving you before I leave." Steven answered. "Getting Ruby and Sapphire married after the whole Pink Diamond reveal was so amazing, and I hope one day you can help plan mine." He smiled while revealing the book to Garnet, and it had "DREAM WEDDING" written on the front.
"Thank you, I'll take very good care of it." Garnet smiled as she took the album.
"Okay Garnet, level with me here." Steven said. "You used your future vision, saw everything would turn out fine, and told the Gems not to worry, right?"
"Steven, I don't need future vision to know you'll be alright." Garnet answered soothingly before beginning to leave the laundry hand. "Besides, part of the fun of leaving is learning to figure things out on your own."
As soon as Garnet disappeared from the Warp Pad, Steven began to cry alone.
Later that night, Greg was helping Steven pack up all his belongings into some suitcases, leaving his room now completely barren. As Steven closed the last of his luggage, he let out a heavy sigh.
"You doing okay Schtu-ball?" Greg asked calmly.
"Yeah, it's just-" Steven began.
"Just what?" Greg interrupted his son.
"Well, I told Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl that I was leaving earlier, but they don't seem that sad I'll be gone." Steven vented his worries to his father. "Heck, even Jasper is more sad I'm leaving, and she's tried to kill me tons of times!"
"Isn't that a good thing?" Greg wondered. "I mean, you're finally moving on from all the horrible things that happened to you and growing as a person, they have every right to be happy."
"But I thought they were going to beg me to stay." Steven replied. "I mean, you think that's a little petty?"
"I don't think so. You're allowed to have these kinds of feelings, even petty ones." Greg remarked before he gave Steven a hug. "The Gems still love you, I think they're just trying to be supportive."
"Thanks, Dad." Steven smiled softly when he realized he forgot something. "Oh wait, I should give you your gift!" He then jumped onto the bed and placed a poster of Kerry Moonbeam above the pillows. "Here Dad, you can move in here now. And it's also my way of saying sorry for that car crash."
"Wait, for me?!" Greg exclaimed. "I accept the apology, and I already said sorry for making you mad, but don't you think this is a little too fancy for me?"
Steven then laid down on his former bed and motioned for Greg to lie next to him. "Try the bed Dad, you're gonna love it."
Greg then laid next to his son on the bed, and he got a good idea of why Steven wanted to give him the room. "Whoa, this is some mattress! I don't think I want to get up!"
"I knew you'd like it." Steven declared. "Hey Dad, we're pals, right?"
"Always, Steven." Greg smiled. "Seems like the Gems are swapping one Universe for another, huh? You know, you leaving home and me getting to move in, well, I feel like this is kinda my reward for fathering the savior of the galaxy."
"Yeah, if you put it like that." Steven grinned. "You finally got a place to yourself and a good roof over your head. Which reminds me, what about the van?"
"I'll think about what to do with it some other time," Greg answered before pointing at one of the glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling. "Hey, one more thing. Every time you look at the stars at night, just remember that the Gems will always be there for you, and so will I."
"Love you Dad." Steven sniffled at the touching words.
"Love you too Steven." Greg smiled.
The next day, it was finally time for Steven to leave home for his cross-country trek, with Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl, Greg, Connie, Lapis, Peridot, Jasper, Bismuth, White Topaz, and Lion were all there to see him off one last time.
"Bye Connie, see you soon." Steven said goodbye to Connie with a hug and a kiss.
"Call me when you reach a bed and breakfast." Connie replied. "Don't breakfast without me."
"You got it." Steven obliged before moving on to say goodbye to Greg. "Bye Dad."
"Aw, I'm gonna miss you Schtu-Ball." Greg said as he and Steven hugged. "But I'm so proud of you too."
"Thanks, Dad." Steven gratefully thanked his father, then he began to give Pearl a goodbye hug of her own. "Goodbye Pearl."
"Goodbye Steven." Pearl replied before Steven walked over to Garnet.
"Bye Garnet." Steven said to the fusion while giving her a hug.
"So long Steven." Garnet declared as Steven hugged Amethyst last.
"Bye Amethyst." Steven said to his sister figure.
"So long tiger." Amethyst bade farewell. "Don't you forget about me, alright?"
"I won't." Steven answered. "Well, I guess this is goodbye."
"Have a safe trip." White Topaz waved farewell.
"Don't be a stranger." Jasper smirked.
"Bon voyage." Bismuth said. "That's what they say, right?"
"We're all gonna miss you." Peridot added.
"But we'll all still think of you." Lapis stated. Lion simply nuzzled Steven and gave him a lick.
"I hope so." Steven sighed before getting in the Dondai Supremo and driving off, watching his friends wave goodbye from the rearview mirror. But something told him this wasn't right. Why were they still not sad he's leaving? Pearl especially would normally go hysterical. As soon as the Gems were out of sight, Steven put the car into reverse, skidding back to the beach house and bursting out of the car in tears. "What's wrong with you guys?! Why aren't you sad I'm leaving?!"
With the jig finally up, Amethyst proceeded to cry ugly tears while Garnet let out a jet blast of sadness from behind her glasses.
"Oh man, I can't take this anymore!" Amethyst kept bawling.
"We tried to be strong for you." Garnet stated. "Pearl can definitely agree on that." Pearl turned to face Steven, her eyes big and watery while being rendered unable to form coherent sentences. Out of all the Gems, Steven felt his departure affected Pearl the most.
"You guys!" Steven cried and ran towards the three Gems to give them all a big goodbye hug.
"I was just kidding dude!" Amethyst exclaimed. "I'd never delete your save files; I could easily buy my own copies online!"
"And I'll never play anything except your ukulele!" Pearl added.
"I'd be overjoyed to plan your wedding," Garnet said, trying to remain calm like she always is. "In fact, I've already done it more than 300 times."
"Why didn't you guys tell me this?!" Steven yelled. "I mean, even Jasper seemed more bummed I was leaving!"
"I'm sorry Steven, but I couldn't resist peeking into your future." Garnet explained. "There were too many possible futures where we were so sad, you decided to stay to keep us happy."
"We didn't want to hold you back!" Amethyst added.
"But I also saw many paths ahead of you that we were a part of." Garnet continued while taking off her glasses. "Wherever you go, if you need someone to talk to, to listen, and to be there for you, we'll always be there."
"Til the end of the line, right?" Steven finished for Garnet as he began crying tears of joy.
"Yeah, to infinity and beyond." Amethyst replied. Greg began shedding a few tears before Connie put a comforting hand on his arm. Bismuth meanwhile began crying hysterically again as Lapis, Peridot, and White Topaz raced to comfort her. Jasper had her back turned the whole time and bowed her head in sadness, only for Lion to nuzzle against her.
"We all love you, Steven." Garnet declared.
"I love you guys too." Steven replied while wiping tears from his eyes before returning to his car and driving away, this time for good.
"Check your rear left tire before you hit the desert!" Garnet called with a single tear running down her cheek. "It's nothing too serious, but just in case before it becomes too much of a problem!"
"Later, brosalino!" Amethyst held up a peace sign.
"Bye Steven!" Garnet yelled farewell.
"Have fun!" Amethyst added.
"Bye!" Connie, Greg, Lapis, and Peridot called out.
"Happy trails." Bismuth kept on sobbing into White Topaz's arms.
"Be well, my Di-" Jasper began before she stopped herself. "Be well, Steven."
"Goodbye!" Pearl cried out as Steven began getting further and further away.
As Steven turned the corner, he passed by the restored Big Donut as it was surrounded by his friends from Beach City and a few visitors too. They all cheered as he passed by, holding up a banner saying "GOODBYE STEVEN", and Onion gave the Dondai a thumbs up while carrying Steven's old cheeseburger backpack.
"Hey Steven, don't forget to come back to Empire!" Beckham Jordan called out for Steven with Makoto and Matt by his side.
"I'll give you a call when I pop the question!" Sheena added.
"Gems of all courts, we have a surprise for everyone!" Aubergine Pearl announced to Gems from all the Diamonds' courts. "Today is a most momentous occasion. To celebrate the fall of Black Rutile, we present to all Homeworld and beyond with this!"
A few Aquamarines pulled off a tarp revealing a massive statue of Pink Diamond beneath, one the Diamonds and Spinel were happy to see be given such overwhelming praise by their subjects.
"Let this statue serve as an eternal reminder that though we may try our best to prove otherwise, nobody's perfect." Aubergine Pearl continued.
"Pink would've been so happy to see this." Yellow wept openly.
"And she would've been even happier to see how far we've come." Blue added.
"Indeed." White began to sniffle.
"Aw, come here you big lugs!" Spinel laughed as she bounced up and wrapped her arms around the Diamonds for the biggest hug she could offer.
"Well 00014, it seems our services are not needed at the time." G said to Bane Jones as he closed his lab for the night. "What do you say, drinks on me?"
"Stirred, not shaken, Geoff?" Bane smiled back at the WDA's gadgets expert as the two walked through the hall.
"Exactly." G declared.
"Oh, you know me so well." Bane laughed while the two passed by B making a report to the president's cabinet.
"Mr. President, I have a report to make on Black Rutile's current status." The leader of the World Defense Agency stated. "She is currently being held in Little Homeworld, but satellites tell me she's plotting to get her revenge."
"Thank you, Beverly." President Eduardo nodded. "We'll keep an eye out." As the transmission ended, B began racing after her two subordinates.
"Hey boys, don't forget about me!" B exclaimed.
"Okay, you're going to love this pitch!" Neil Michaels declared to some Hollywood bigwigs as he and Christopher Cage presented their next film. "We call it, The Pink Beast of the Bay!"
"Starring me, of course." Cage confidently said.
"Mommy, look what I just made!" Chloe exclaimed as she raced towards her mother with a drawing of the Crystal Gems in hand. "Look, I drew Steven and all his friends! I think they'd love it if I sent it to them."
"Oh, that would be so nice of you Chloe." Yvonne replied. "They live in Beach City, right? Maybe we can take it to the post office."
"Yay!" Chloe cheered.
"So Mr. Bowling, what do you suggest we do now?" Lennie said to Francis von Bowling as they and Milton sat behind bars in prison.
"Simple, we start planning revenge like a supervillain would do." Francis confidently said.
"But still, those Gems are mighty strong." Milton declared. "What can we do this time?"
"Get some help." The leader of P.H.A.N.T.O.M stated. "Excuse me, guard? I'd like to make a phone call."
"Okay, who's it for?" the guard asked while opening up Francis's cell and leading him away in handcuffs.
"I'd like to get the word out to an old chum of mine from Russia." Francis smirked. "I think The Sickle and his cohorts should do nicely."
"That's right Steven, you better run and never come back." Black Rutile grimaced while watching Steven drive past Little Homeworld through her new visor's binocular function. "It's a good thing you found these when all my assets were seized Holly, they're far superior to my old ones."
"Oh, you are too kind!" Holly Blue accepted the compliment.
Suddenly, Black Rutile's view was obstructed by the unexpected appearance of a massive banner that she could only see the back of, carried by Laz and Zuli. "Hey, you're blocking my view!"
"Don't bother, they won't pay attention." Cat's Eye purred while standing alongside Holly Blue and Aquamarine as the newest member of the Rutile Rebels. Or at least, what's left of it.
"So where do we go from here, my Rutile?" Aquamarine asked.
"Oh, it's quite easy." Black Rutile declared, turning to her last remaining colleagues. "Someday Little Homeworld, the next day everything else."
As Steven passed Little Homeworld on his way out, he caught a glimpse of the Lapis twins carrying a massive banner saying "THANK YOU STEVEN", no doubt the Gems of Little Homeworld's way of expressing their gratitude for all Steven's done for them. Just then, his phone began to ring, and he picked up to see Pearl's name on his screen before taking the call.
"Sorry Steven, I just wanted to check in!" Pearl said on the other end of the line. "So, is everything going good so far?"
Taking a deep breath, Steven slowed down the car while popping his head out the window to discover that clouds in the shape of his mother's dual identities hanging above him, as if Rose and Pink would always be there to watch him. Pulling his head back inside, Steven had one single word for an answer.
"Yeah."
STEVEN UNIVERSE: ALTERNATE FUTURE
BASED OFF THE HIT CARTOON NETWORK ANIMATED SERIES BY REBECCA SUGAR
STARRING:
Zach Callison as Steven, Cactus Steven, Topiary Steven, Onion, Pumpkin
Estelle as Garnet
Michaela Dietz as Amethyst, Famethyst, Blue Lace Agate, Ocean Jasper, Crazy Lace Agate, Chert
Deedee Magno-Hall as Pearl, Yellow Pearl, Blue Pearl, Volleyball, Aubergine Pearl, Mega Pearl, Black Pearls, Morganite's Pearl, Shell
Grace Rolek as Connie
Tom Scharpling as Greg
Shelby Rabara as Peridot, Squaridot, Demantoid's Peridots
Jennifer Paz as Lapis, Laz, Zuli
Uzo Aduba as Bismuth
Kimberly Brooks as Jasper, Cherry Quartz, Rose Trio, Angel Aura Quartz, Zebra Jasper, Skinny Jasper, Carnelian, Biggs Jasper, Flint
Dee Bradley Barker as Lion, George the Light Prism, Elaine, Cosma
Charlyne Yi as Ruby, Eyeball, Navy, Doc, Army, Leggy, Morganite's Ruby
Erica Luttrell as Sapphire, Padparadscha Sapphire
Della Saba as Aquamarine
Patti LuPone as Yellow Diamond
Lisa Hannigan as Blue Diamond
Christine Ebersole as White Diamond
Susan Egan as Rose Quartz, Pink Diamond, Rosemary DeMayo
Sarah Stiles as Spinel
WITH:
Amy Sedaris as Teal Zircon, Blue Zircon, Yellow Zircon
Matthew Moy as Lars
Kate Micucci as Sadie
Mary Elizabeth McGlynn as Priyanka
Crispin Freeman as Doug
Indya Moore as Shep
Natasha Lyonne as Smoky Quartz
Larissa Gallagher as Bluebird Azurite
Ted Leo as Steg
Nicki Minaj as Sugilite
Alexia Khadime as Sardonyx
Aimee Mann as Opal
Rita Rani Ahuja as Alexandrite
Alastair James as Rainbow Quartz 2.0
Shoniqua Shondai as Sunstone
AJ Michalka as Stevonnie
Andrew Kishino as Kevin
Reagan Gomez Preston as Jenny, Kiki
Zach Steel as Ronaldo
Brian Posehn as Sour Cream
Colton Dunn as Mr. Smiley
Indya Moore as Shep
Toks Olagundoye as Mayor Nanafua
Joel Hodgson as Bill Dewey
Eugene Cordero as Jamie
Ashly Burch as Rutile
Kathleen Fisher as Fluorite
Enuka Okuma as Rhodonite
Lamar Abrams as Wy-Six, Buck
Cristina Vee as Jay-Ten
FEATURING:
Noël Wells as Black Rutile
Lauren Ash as White Topaz
Hayley Kiyoko as Morganite
Olivia Olson as Citrine
Jinkx Monsoon as Emerald
Kari Wahlgren as Pyrope
Melissa Fahn as Demantoid
Christine Pedi as Holly Blue Agate
Aparna Nancherla as Nephrite, Nephrite's Crew, Lemon Jade
Ian Jones Quartey as Snowflake Obsidian, Bixbite
Michelle Maryk as Larimar
Auli'i Cravalho as Orange Spodumene
Kimiko Glenn as Blue Chalcedony
Tara Platt as Heaven Cubic Zirconia, Earth Cubic Zirconia
Tara Strong as Grossular Diopside
Phillipa Soo as Chrysocolla
Anika Noni Rose as Watermelon Tourmaline (fusion), Watermelon Tourmaline
Aimee Carrero as Moonstone
Esmé Bianco as Malachite
Catherine Tate as Lepidolite
Billie Eilish as Turquoise
Susanne Blakeslee as Pietersite
Jessica Nigri as Orange Moonstone
Casey Lee Williams as Cat's Eye
Avi Roque as Cinnabar
Kristin Chenoweth as Sheena Synstylae
Hugh Laurie as Doctor Laurie
Neil Flynn as The Officer
Pierce Brosnan as Bane Jones
Christoph Waltz as Francis von Bowling
Andy Serkis as Neckbearded Collector
Larry Thomas as Soup Salesman
Hugh Jackman as Beckham Jordan
James Monroe Iglehart as Coach Matt Monroe
Karen Fukuhara as Makoto Fuji
Michelle Creber as Chloe
Kacey Musgraves as Yvonne
Lin-Manuel Miranda as President Eduardo Suarez
GZA as Major General Wade Grant
Tim Curry as General Lloyd Waller
Wendie Malick as Vice President Theresa Maxwell
Keith Olbermann as Kent Whitmore
Steven Ogg as J. Edgar Hoover
Ray Chase as George Ikari
David McCallum as G
Paget Brewster as B
Casey Robertson as Neil Michaels
Richard Horwitz as Christopher Cage
Diedrich Bader as Lennie
Wayne Knight as Milton
Laura Post as Gloria DeMayo
Maurice LaMarche as Thomas DeMayo
Dave Willis as Andy DeMayo
Alex Hirsch as Lawrence Abrams
Mike Pollock as Harry S. Truman
John Hodgman as Finn Ward
Phil LaMarr as Benson Quintel
David Tennant as Ben Darwin
Ashleigh Ball as Tulip Dennis
Gary Cole as Clarence Page
Alan Tudyk as Craig Levin
Ryan Reynolds as Benjamin Rouleau
Brenda Song as Juniper Winick
Sam Marin as Steve Peters
Jeff Bennett as Edward Daniels
Lily Tomlin as Beatrice McHale
Romi Dames as Chloe Chong
Ben Diskin as Nigel Warburton
Jimmy Smits as Victor Molano
Clancy Brown as Eugene Quartey
Ron Perlman as Negative Steven
And Rebecca Sugar as Dr. Rebecca Sucrose
ADDITIONAL VOICES BY: Ashley Johnson, April Winchell, Bill Farmer, Brian Bloom, Bob Bergen, Corey Burton, Cissy Jones, Chris Parnell, Christopher Swindle, Cristina Vee, Cree Summer, Chris Edgerly, Chris Jai Alex, David Kaye, Dee Bradley Baker, Daran Norris, Darin de Paul, Dan Castellaneta, Eden Riegel, Erica Lindbeck, Eric Bauza, Frank Welker, Fred Tatasciore, Grey DeLisle, Greg Cipes, Jeff Bergman, Jeff Bennett, John Eric Bentley, Josh Keaton, Jim Cummings, Jim Conroy, Jon Bailey, Kari Wahlgren, Keston John, Kevin Michael Richardson, Mona Marshall, Mela Lee, Matt Chapman, Mick Wingert, Matt L. Jones, Nika Futterman, Nolan North, Patrick Seitz, Phil LaMarr, Roger Craig Smith, Richard McGonagle, Sean Schemmel, Stephen Root, Troy Baker, Tom Kenny, Yuri Lowenthal, Zeno Robinson, Zehra Fazal
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Jack8090
TheCurryAstute/Devil Dragon Stand User
Brydav-Massbear
My friends, family and teachers
The Lapidot Café Discord server
And readers like you
Thank you
"I hope to represent people who have felt a lack of representation, but I hope to also show people who have felt represented that they can also relate that are not heteronormative, and to families that are not traditional, maybe even moreso than the more generic characters and families that they've been seeing on TV."
-Rebecca Sugar
"Around here, however, we don't look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we're curious. And curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."
-Walt Disney
"I love being with people. That's the most incredible thing in the world. That world may change and evolve, but the one thing that will never change, we're all part of one big family."
-Stan Lee
No joke, I nearly cried writing these credits, especially the quotes. This story has truly been an experience for me that I'm pretty sure only comes once in a lifetime, as a writer, a Steven Universe fan, and as a young adult just like Steven. At the time Future finally ended, the COVID-19 pandemic was in full swing and college was on the horizon, which meant I had to leave home just like Steven did, so writing this chapter in particular means a lot to me. But while this universe has lots more stories to tell, I'll just leave you with a little hint for one of the next big stories to follow this one.
As Steven drove further and further away from Beach City and was about to leave Delmarva behind, it seemed someone was watching him from the shadows. The Officer kept an eye on the boy from his squad car, taking extra care to not blow his cover, and smiled.
"You finally earned a true happily ever after." The Officer nodded before his pupils turned into slits. "But I can tell your adventures aren't done yet."
Picking up the police car's radio, the Officer began to show more and more of how snake-like he can be as he spoke into the transmitter. "This is deep-cover agent Aescul reporting." He spoke into the radio. "Yes, Universe is safe. Make preparations for the contest ASAP. His majesty wants a word with that boy."
THE END