If you're reading this, hi, I'm Baileyhopper. I can't tell if you're a new reader, or came back from the "new chapter" but either way, nice to see you! I've reamped this story with a vengeance and I'm here to see it to the end. Unless I die or smthin, I dunno.

A'ight lets go cowboys, yee yee.

The cave was cold, damp, and wide. Stalactites were numerous, and all looking wet with water dripping from a few, hitting the Crystal Gems. The Gems themselves marched through the tunnel quietly, Garnet leading the way, and Lapis Lazuli at the rear. Pearl stood near Garnet, her gem lighting the way, while a few paces back Peridot was holding onto her tablet, tapping away.

"I don't think it's here," Peridot said, looking up from the tablet, addressing the group. "I'm not getting any readings for gems, except for us."

"Well that can't be right," Pearl glanced back "With all the rumors surrounding this cave, something must be going on here!" She walked closer to Peridot, dimming the light slightly.

Peridot arched an eyebrow and moved the screen slightly higher for Pearl to see easier. The group stopped as the two discussed something quietly. Steven smiled watching the two speak, it was always nice when they worked together. He unstrapped his cheeseburger backpack and opened the lettuce slot, pulling out two water bottles and a battery-operated lantern. Offering a bottle to Connie, which came with a quick thanks, he went to sit on the ground near a stalagmite. He turned on the lantern and took small sips from his bottle.

They were on the other side of America investigating rumors about a ferocious beast that lived in the caves and had decided to bring the "B" team, as Amethyst has called them. It was meant for training and to get used to a bigger team to see how everyone works together, although that may not happen now if the rumors were false.

Connie followed Steven and sat legs folded while drinking her water. The boy smiled seeing his best friend, to which she returned as they both looked towards the gems. He watched as Pearl and Peridot continued to talk, Lapis gliding over on water wings to ask some questions, and Amethyst telling something to Garnet, causing her to smirk.

"Do you think there is no gem here?" Connie asked quietly, staring and not even glancing at Steven.

"I don't know," Steven responded, "the way people described it, it seemed like there was. But is it all bad if there isn't?" He glanced at Connie, taking another sip of his water.

"I guess not, but," Connie turned to face him, her dark face aglow with the light of the lantern, "I thought maybe I...I could actually fight this time. Prove myself, after that first mission."

Ah, Steven thought, frowning, She never got over that? Connie…

Steven forced a smile on his face and placed his bottle down. "Whaaaat? Connie, you fought Jasper not even a week after that! You took her down in what? Two minutes? That's incredible!" He leaned closer to his friend, his smile becoming genuine.

Connie smiled nervously as she looked away, her cheeks seemingly darker, but maybe that was due to the lantern casting shadows? Steven couldn't tell.

"That was Stevonnie, not me. I had you with me at that time, I didn't really do anything."

"But as much as I am Stevonnie, you are too! I can't sword fight! That's all you!"

Connie looked back at Steven and saw that his expression was genuine. He was smiling, his face and expression always an open book. His eyes twinkled, gaining that star shape that only Steven can really do, and his cheeks slightly flushing as she stared longer at his face. He truly believed Connie was incredible, even if she didn't believe it herself. Licking her lips quickly, Connie opened her mouth but was interrupted when a roar echoed through the cave.

Everyone paused, the chatter that once filled the cave died quickly, as everyone strained their ears to hear the roar again. Connie quickly pulled herself off the ground drawing her sword as quickly and silently as she could. Steven followed after, shield being summoned and water bottles forgotten. That was all that was needed for the other gems to summon their weapons, each of them quickly walking closer to each other to protect one another.

Another deafening roar echoed through the cave, and they waited in anticipation. Soft breathing could be heard from the two humans, and whimpering from Peridot, who soon screeched as the roar got closer.

"Be ready" Called out Garnet, the other nodding or letting out small noises of affirmatives.

The source soon made itself, a big-eared corrupted gem taller than Garnet running on all floors as its sharp claws tapped the ground. Its head whipped left and right quickly, growling low, before charging at the Crystal Gems. Everyone quickly scattered, causing the corrupted gem to miss and skid to a stop a few feet away. Their head kept moving, as if looking for something, while its front leg kept patting its ears, still growling.

The gems charged the creature, and it seemed to notice, despite its lack of eyes. Roaring heartily again, it charged towards the gems, only to be stopped when Garnet grabbed its front paws, keeping it standing and immobile. Amethyst rolled into a ball and moved around the creature's hind legs, tying them together, and pulling it away from Garnet. It screamed when it was slammed down, squirming, and attempting to get back up. The attempt was quickly halted by both Lapis and Pearl throwing water and spears, respectively, it growled at them, as its attempts became faster and rougher, before the whip around its legs eventually snapped. As it stood back up, the gems started to prepare themselves for it to attack once more, only to be surprised as it turned tail and ran back.

"After them!" Garnet called, already running, the other gems following quickly behind.

The corrupted gem skidded to a cave opening on its left, as the crystal gems followed behind. It seemed to know they were behind it, as they kept turning any and all ways they could go. Left, Left, Left, Right, Right, Straight.

The pattern was randomized as the gem panicked, but eventually, the chase came to an end.

The creature crashed into a wall face first, and let out a shriek of surprise. The Crystal gems soon turned the corner, and it turned around, baring its teeth, while still attempting to back as far as it could go. The gems slowly approached on all sides, creating a U shape, and trapping the creature in. Its head whipped around again seemingly panicked until it lunged at Connie and Steven. Steven raised his shield, and Connie slid from underneath. The corrupted gem didn't seem to notice and focused on the shield, clawing desperately. The human knight rushed back at the gem, Rose's sword at the ready, and she sliced. Cut in half, the gem lost its physical form and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Once the smoke settled, an Onyx laid on the ground, harmless. Steven quickly scooped up the gem and bubbled it. He smiled wide at Connie, who smiled back.

"Dang, what a fight," Amethyst stretched, letting go of her whip. "Usually they don't run."

"Is this what you guys do all day?" Lapis asked, walking closer, "Just investigate rumors and fight whatever?"

"Nah, sometimes we go out for Pizza."

"I thought Pearl didn't eat?"

"She don't. I eat her slice."

Pearl looked over at Amethyst, raising a delicate eyebrow, the quartz responded by sticking out her tongue. Garnet walked over between the two and raised her right hand, causing the two to stop before anything could begin. Garnet looked at the two of them, before speaking.

"Look at the wall."

Heads whipped to the dead end, only to see it wasn't one. An arched door stood there, tall and imposing, with rusted engravings decorating its edges with handles that matched. Beneath the door, a light seemed to be slowly emitting, pulsing, as if someone was adjusting the brightness settings. The gems glanced at each other, before walking over and attempted to open the door.

The door provided resistance to the action, but with a strong budge from Garnet, the rust was broken off and it opened with a long creak. For the older gems, they gasped at the sight, while the younger ones looked at them confused, before glancing up at the sight before them.

The room had what looked to be a large square warp pad with columns protruding from the four points, rising high and creating a roof. To the side seemed to be a control panel pulsating with light, and broken wires hanging high above the ceiling, some still connected to the panel. Many more machines laid beyond that; the wall covered in ripped moist posters with smudged words, diagrams, and numbers, cracked tables sitting below with unfinished broken projects.

A few seconds passed, just staring at the room, until;

"Wow, a big warp pad." Amethyst sarcastically commented, expression not changing much.

That seemed to break everyone from their stupor. Peridot was the first to react, whipping around to stare at Amethyst, lips pursed and hands already flying.

"A big- are you kidding me?!" She practically ran into the room, sliding on the floor, reaching the panel faster. "It's an interdimensional warp pad! I have never seen one of these up close! They were scrapped centuries back!"

"I mean, the warp pad isn't a big deal, Peridot, I've seen a few, and all they could get was a few images." Lapis walked closer to her barn-mate, glancing up at the ceiling and clutching her arms together. Peridot froze and turned around to the taller gem, pointing an accusing finger.

"And you never told me?!" Her voice raised higher, as she covered her eyes, "I can't believe it, I've been betrayed. This is just like when you told me you like Jesse! Who likes Jesse?!"

"Jesse and Paulette belong together you heathen-"

"They are incompatible, Jesse almost shattered a man-"

"Please, no Camp Pining Hearts talk on a mission," Steven called out. He and the others wandered over closer, making sure not to touch any stray wires. Lapis and Peridot huffed, before dropping the topic for now.

"So, when you say 'interdimensional', are you saying that Gems were attempting to go to other dimensions?" Connie asked, bringing the topic back. Peridot perked up and began to explain.

"Well, yes and no. It was meant for that, but apparently, the most we could have gotten was a view and limited communication," She slid a finger on the panel and licked. "Calcium… this must have been made before the rebellion."

"Well, that's all fine and dandy, but we should deactivate it." Pearl stepped forward, taking a subtle glance at the glow, before cringing away. The green gem looked back up annoyed at Pearl's suggestion.

"What?! But don't you see the opportunities?!" She gestures to the giant warp "If I can get this running, we could have more allies! Thousands, millions of gems willing to fight for the same cause like us, and strategizes we have never thought of! It's a Duo ex machine!"

"First of all, it's 'Deus ex Machina, and second, it's too dangerous. Imagine if we opened it to a horrible dimension. What if one of their enemies crossed over to our side? Do you have a plan for that?"

"We just get the gems fighting them to tell us their weakness, easy."

"No-"

The gems began to argue, each of them taking a side, and bringing up points. Steven and Connie were left on the outskirts, watching as the gems stepped slowly to their respective sides. Steven glanced to the warp pad, back to the gems, and slowly walked towards it. Noticing the movement, Connie turned, watching as Steven hopped onto the warp pad, the boy looking at the columns and roof.

He tapped the ground a few times, and it made a similar noise as the one back home. Scrunching up his face, Steven had to question how this one was completely different, other than the small changes.

"Steven," Connie whispered, coming closer to the boy. "What are you doing?"

"The warp pad doesn't look too much different from the one back home," Steven jumped and floated in the air as he smacked the roof. "I thought maybe it would feel different, but it feels the same too." Gently landing, Steven turned towards Connie.

"Just because it looks the same doesn't mean it works the same, It's kind of like books, I guess. Same casing, different story." The Indian girl glanced behind her, to the blueprints ruined by water and time, and sighed sadly. How cool would it have been to travel to different dimensions? Oh, the stories that could have been told.

"NO WAY!"

Peridot's nasally voice rang around the room, causing the two humans to look. The gems had sided against each other, with Amethyst and Peridot standing near the panel, and the other three drew their weapons. Peridot was blocking the panel with her body, her body language suggesting she was on the defense. Garnet took a step closer, gauntlets at the ready, making Peridot spread her arms wider.

"Move now, Peridot." The stoic gem commanded, a snarl on her face. Amethyst stepped back, but Peridot shook her head.

"This is a one-time opportunity, and I'm not letting you guys mess it up for any of us!" The purple quartz placed a hand on Peridot's shoulder, saying something low. Peridot whipped her head to her short companion.

"I'm not giving this up!" Peridot slammed a hand on the panel, not looking back, causing the panel to glow a green light.

"PERIDOT NO!"

The warp pad began to glow green, electricity seemingly flying off the edges of the panel. Connie's head whipped to Steven, who attempted to get off the pad, only to be stopped by what seemed to be an invisible wall. He punched the wall, Connie coping his movements from the other side, but it did nothing but emit a low hum with every hit.

Then, Steven was floating. His body seemed to be disintegrating, his legs going first and the ashes flying up. The gems rushed over in a panic, only to make it right as the last part of Steven became ash.

The warp pad let out a few more sparks of light, before completely falling dark. No green glow, no pulsating light, no little boy with a star shirt. The room was silent until a simple word was uttered.

"Steven….?"

Okay, so, this takes place during season 4, after Rocknaldo, but before Room for Ruby. Steven takes the place of Izuku, or he IS Izuku because that's one of my favorite types of stories.

Okay bye.