Oh boy, did this chapter take forever, and it's right around the time of SUF'S Finale!
I just want to say, thank you Steven Universe. Through the last 4 years, you have been a bright spot in my life. I've gotten into animation, story telling, and fanfiction because of this show, and when it's gone, I don't think there will be another one like it for me. As sad as it is for me, I'm greatful to finally see it at it's end.
On a brighter note, now that it is ending, I can carve out even more ideas for fics, so I'll never be low on content.
I own nothing.
The rest of the week pass by as slowly as possible at the very worst time. With Moon, Star, and the now newly Dub Steven uncertain, angry, and just unsettled in general, the next 6 days proved to be pretty taxing.
With the argument staying fresh in both the Princess and Queen's mind, Steven hardly felt comfortable in his own home, no matter where he went. It probably didn't help that River was the last one to figure out exactly what went down, with both Moon and Star unwilling to talk. "So, she finally told you the truth?"
"More like we figured it out." Steven admitted facing downward. Well, now he knew his dad knew about it, and didn't say anything about it. Then again, secrets were like popcorn around here, you're never satisfied with just one. "So, why can't I say I'm the Rose Guard's son?"
"You're mother, eh, Moon that is, knows the Commission all too well. They wouldn't, take the news of you're mother, the Rose one, having a kid very well. You still want to be a kid, right?"
"Of course." Star was in no hurry to grow up, so there was little incentive for him to do so as well.
"Then when you're ready to be an adult, then you can tell everybody. Does, does that make sense?"
"Yeah." Not many people give his dad enough credit. A bit of a barbarian, but no one else remained level headed through any of this. "Dad, when you married Mom, was it weird for you to take up her name?"
"If by weird, you mean my family telling me marrying her was a mistake and completely ostracizing myself from them for 4 months, thus leaving me the only Johanson at the dinner table whenever we hosted Moon's side of the family, then yes, it was very weird."
"Weirdly enough, that actually applies to my situation." Steven realized. "How'd you deal with it?"
"Well, first I remembered that they always go for the legs, so I had to increase my cardio workouts , and then like any good hunter, I made sure to be aware of my prey's moves..." Steven didn't even have to make a face. "That's not what you're worried about, is it?"
"Not if I can help it."
"Sorry Quartz.."
"Steven."
"..but if you've learned anything from any family reunion, you know that the fight is inevitable, and their will be pain. It just up to you if you let the pain linger, or if you get back up and try again."
"So prepared to get hurt, but don't stop trying. Again, that weirdly applies." Steven smiled. "Maybe you should start giving actual speeches. I think people would start listen if the knew what you had to say."
"My dear boy, if I did that, then the bog beast would win, and I will not let that happen! Speaking of which." River took out a spear and ran out of the room "Give my love to Star!"
"You sure you want to do this?" Star, waiting patiently on the other side of the portal at the beach. It was agreed they would meet with the Crystal Gems on the Beach, much to Star's chagrin. She would've protest her mother's decision, but that would've required her to confront her mother, and that just wasn't going to happen. "It's not like we can call them. All we need to do is just never show up and they'll be none the wiser?"
"Star, while I don't agree or disagree with running away from problems, what's there to runaway from?" Steven could actually think of a few things, but he wouldn't give credit to Star just yet. "All they did yesterday was tell me the truth. Mom didn't even do that."
"Not like it's hard to out do her.." Star grimaced. She didn't need any more reminders of her, mother. "Quartz, this is weirdness, like, unknown weirdness. Serious weirdness. Not the kind of weirdness I like to go through."
"Then why are you coming with me?" He asked. "And it's Steven."
"Hey, last time either of us started a new chapter in life, we got separated for two months. I'm not going to take any chances this time around." That, and she didn't trust them as much as she could throw them. Although, maybe she could throw Amethyst. Plus she had the wand. How was this an analogy? "From now own, whatever we do, we do together."
"How is that any different from what we do now?"
"Because now there's three suspicious women in your life now and I won't risk them splitting you in half of something. I'm here to be an extra shield of meat surrounding you. Doesn't that sound cool? Having a meat shield?"
"True, that would be cool. But a sword can easily get through a shield of meat." He made his own shield. "Mine doesn't actually break."
"Yeah but, I'm your sister. It means more when I protect you."
"But I can protect us both.."
"But me protecting you would be a sacrifice.."
"A sacrifice you don't have to make..."
"Don't I Quartz, don't I?"
"No." Both laughed. It felt nice just to talk endlessly about nothing. It proved that all the worry, all the unneeded drama didn't affect what they had. "And it's Steven."
"Right, right, sure thing, Quartz." And with that, the adopted Prince's positive feelings about today took a bit of a nose dive. "Do we even know where we're going?"
"Mom said they live here on the far end of the beach. So I guess we keep walking." He shrugged, ignoring Star ignoring his name for another time. "So do you think she retired or something?"
"What?"
"My mom. Or Rose Quartz. Man, weird that I have three ways of referring to her now." He pondered. "I was thinking, Why leave Mewni? Why did she want me to be on Earth? Why didn't the Crystal Gems ever come to Mewni? Why don't we know more about them? What did she smell like?"
"I don't know, but I'm sure they'd be willing to tell." She couldn't help but roll her eyes. "You'd be excited about this even if the Rose Guard wasn't you're mother.."
"Yeah, but, now I know she is. Now it's like, I have to know more about her." Steven determined face did little to soothe Star's mood. "Everyday I walked by her painting, and I looked up at her. Imagine that. I saw my mother's face every morning of every everyday, and I never connected those dots."
Now she felt like a jerk for being so sour. Of course he'd see the brighter side of all of this. Of course he'd embrace it, and as his supportive sister, she'd be there to back him up.
But why so soon? "You know, Star, you can't stay mad at Mom forever."
"Watch me. We already have beef with each other whenever we talk now, so why stop such a fun tradition." She loved sarcasm more than anything else at the moment. "And what about you, mister high and mighty? You aren't angry?"
"Nope!" He seemed a little to loud for such a small answer. "Okay, maybe a little, but it all worked out?" Now he was remembering what the mirror told him, but he decided to keep that to himself.
Oh great, now he has his own secret to keep from everybody. He wasn't sure if Star or Moon were to blame for that.
Not questioning the uncertainty in his voice, Star dropped the conversation, allowing them to walk in peace for a moment. It ended once they reached the end of the beach at a hilltop where a lighthouse sat. On it's side was a cave opening, and surrounding it on it's side was a old and cracked statue with 6 arms, half of which broken off and become one with the sand below. "Whoa, giant woman." Steven said with a little awe.
"Wonder how we could've missed that coming here the first time." Star said without really questioning it. Really, the only question on her mind now was 'how long was it going to take to convince her brother that this was a bad idea?'. "Do you hear that?"
From within the entrance of the cave, echoes from three distinct voices could be heard form the outside, three loud, angry, and worried voices. "Amethyst, I you stop storing the swords in that trash heap!"
"That wasn't a trash heap, that's where I sleep. And it's not like I'm stealing it. The water in your room is constantly flowing into mine!" The short gem talked back to the white gem.
"Your lucky I took the time to clear everything, Steven deserves better than what we have."
"What!? I have a system!" Amethyst ran into a door with 5 gem symbols, one of them glowing once she got close enough, allowing her to enter. The other quiet, almost invisible gem said nothing, letting her go without stopping her.
"Can you believe it? After all this time, Amethyst still can't take anything seriously!" Pearl complained to Garnet. "What if Steven get's the wrong impression of who we are?"
"We're already on thin ice here. Mewmans have never been the most rational people to deal with." Garnet said in a neutral tone. "And you should be easier on Amethyst. She was the one that mended a bridge between us. It's only possible because of her."
"You bet your gem it is." Amethyst flew out of the door, smugly rubbing it in Pearl's face. "And you totally ruined what I had going. Luckily, you didn't mess up the surprise I had for Steven."
"Any surprise from you is either too worn out for practically use or too expired to consume." Pearl rolled her eyes. "Second chances don't come, not for situations like this, but by the stars, we have one. We can't afford to mess things up again."
"Something tells me insulting his mom wasn't the best way to start things off." Amethyst snorted.
"She's not his.." Pearl started, before breathing in. "Just, try to be professional but friendly. We go that?" Everyone nodded. "Good, now have to prepare."
"Good, because they're here." Garnet stated, to Pearl's panic. The two siblings had been watching the entire time. "Welcome Steven. I'm overwhelmed to see you."
"Are you sure?" You look like your about to punch his face in." Star immediately pushed herself in front afraid the afro gem would. "Not sure it this was said earlier, but I'm Star Butterfly, and I'm going to be watching you, very, very closely."
"Good, because I will be watching you, very closely as well." Garnet said without so much as flinching, or showing a hint of sarcasm, making Star shrink back a bit. "The Butterfly's were a noble ally for us for years. I'm honored to have that chance again."
"Great, glad to be here!" Steven answered back with great earnest, eagerly shaking Garnet's hand. "I literally have a million questions that I've always wanted to ask the Rose Guard, and I, well, sorta always knew I'd never get to ask them, but then you guys show up and now I get to ask them!"
"I'll be more than happy to tell you everything you'd like to know. I was her close confidant, you know." Pearl drew closer to the boy, purposely excluding the Butterfly girl from what she had to say. "What would you like to know?"
The boy had a hard time processing what was about to come out of his mouth. He never prepared for this situation, and it was stuff he was apparently suppose to know by now! How could he call himself the son of the Rose Guard if he didn't know a thing about her? "Why didn't we know about you guys? I'd imagine an entire team of Rose Guard's would be amazing!"
"Yeah, why is that?" Star got into Pearl's face, to which she push aside easily.
"Well, am I safe to assume you are aware of the book of spells?" Steven nodded. "Most of our earliest efforts were made before the reign of Skywynee. When the fire's broke out, Skywynee did everything in her power in order to restore order. When she did this, she believed Mewni was better off depending on it's own power, saying the people needed to be strong enough not to rely on a symbol that 'didn't represent them'. We started visiting less and less, until we eventually stopped going altogether."
"Whoa, favorite Queen fort the win!" Star cheered, getting funny looks from the gems. "I mean, that's why no one remembers you. With most of that history lost, Quartz's mom stood out because she was just that Iconic to the Mewmans."
"Probably. It's not like you had a lot of geniuses back then either." Amethyst shrugged. "Why I don't get is how you guys didn't know Rose sooner. Steven asked has her gem. He shield. Kinda obvious, don't ya think?"
"What do you mean?" Steven raised a brow. "She never had a shield, or a gem, not in any pictures I ever looked at. It was always her sword that people feared."
"I can answer that." Garnet took over. "We're capable of many abilities due to our gems. We have many enemies who know this, but in Mewni and other worlds, we have many who don't. Rose took extensive measures to hide her strengths and weakness from others, including hiding her gem and relying mainly on her sword."
"Whoa, so we didn't even know what she was like at full power?" Steven awed. "This, I, really.."
"Guys, can we get this over with?" Star warned. "I don't think my brother's brain can physically take anymore." The foam forming around the centers were really starting to freak her out. "Ew."
"Don't listen to her, Steven. Your enthusiasm and determination are admirable and necessary." Pearl kneeled down to him. "And trust me, you're going to need it for what we have plan. We're going to test you in ways you have never been before.."
"Is the point of this to test my patience?" Star whined as she and Steven sat high in a lifeguard chair. Below them, Amethyst and Pearl were in the middle of a checkers game. "Because you were doing such a bang up job earlier." She rolled her eyes. Garnet had left them rather quickly before Steven could ask any more questions, disappearing on some sort of shiny circle, leaving them with the other two, specifically leaving Pearl in charge. Yay.
"You know, this training is for Steven specifically." Star could see her face, but she could feel the smugness oozing out of Pearl's mouth. "If it's too boring for you, then you can always leave."
"Hah, not at chance!" She scooted closer to her brother, as if to widen the already wide gap between him and the gems. "We're staying side by side, and we wont take this dull excuse for training any longer, right Quartz!?" Star hoped Steven would back her up, but he seemed weirdly invested in the game.
"What's Amethyst going to do. It's an equal match now, but Amethyst keeps falling into corners! That's not going to be very good in the long run." He commentated.
"Noo! I've lost you! I lost you..." Star moaned in defeat. She knew her mother's boring habits would rub off on him someday.
Steven however, rolled his eyes and patted her on the back. "Don't be like that Star, checkers can be fun.."
"Yeah, such excitement can be found in moving circles forward!"
"We can always make things more interesting." Steven held up a water balloon he had been hiding, and Star grinned evilly.
"I don't know P, the girl has a point." Amethyst lazily laid on the sand, looking over an extra black checker piece, before throwing it into her mouth. "Wouldn't it be better if we played that game with the horses and funny looking castle pieces?"
"You mean chess?" Pearl answered. "A game that forces dozens of like minded pawns to preform the same moves and duty for a tyrannical higher power thus leaving no free choice or will to do what must be done!?" The titled heads pointed her way made her blush a light blue. " I find Checkers is less, restrictive in strategy."
"Whoa, checkers is more hard core then I thought." Steven awed.
"Boo. Now you made two game boring. That's a penalty." Star through a water balloon at the pale gem."
"What the..., there's no water balloons in checkers!" That earned her another balloon."
"Talking back to the referee is also a penalty! We're going by street rules!" Star answered.
"HAHA! She got you good, Pearl." A water balloon was tossed her way, not that the purple gem minded.
"No laughing at the other player's expense!" Steven called out. "We should commentate at more games. We're great at this!"
It went like that for the next 15 minutes, far too long for a game about circles in Star's tastes. Her brother seemed happy enough, but there was only soo much tedium the girl could take before her boredom outweighed the love of her brother. Fortunately, Amethyst seemed to share the same mindset, as the purple lady quickly glanced down at her options, and made a move, actually taking one of Pearl's pieces. "Hah, take that!"
"Wow Amethyst. I'm impressed." It sounded like a compliment, but the way she held her face made it difficult to judge the sincerity of it. She was taken out of her somewhat pleasant mood when Steven threw another water balloon.
"Your move Pearl." He said with cheer, though Star had a more malicious glare in her eyes, happily bouncing her balloons in her hand.
"Steven, are those really necessary?"
"Of course. That way, every move you make matters."
"It's checkers, the moves already matter!"
Another balloon was thrown her way. "No talking back to the ref!" Star was too happy to throw that one. "Unless you want to get really messy right now."
"Girl's really speaking my language right now." Amethyst agreed. "It just sounds like your a sore loser."
"And that's why I hate you the least!" Star sent her a thumbs up.
"Yeah, wait what?"
Too frustrated to let any off this drag on any longer, Pearl took off the kid gloves and easily ate away all of Amethyst's pieces without a second thought. "I can't be a sore loser, if I just won the game!" Another balloon was thrown at her. "What was that for?"
"I don't like you." Was the only answer Star was willing to provide, making Steven sink deeply in his chair, chuckling with disbelief. Seems like Star wasn't going to make this any easier, on an emotional level that is.
"Hey, I'm the one who lost!" Amethyst pointed to herself. "You know what to do." Shrugging, the siblings summoned an entire basket of balloons and tossed them on her, to which she completely embraced and enjoyed. "Ah, it feels good to lose."
Insulted, Pearl got up with a humph. "I certainly hope that's not the attitude you have going into battle."
"Geez, lady, do you ever loosen up, like at all?" This was who her brother wanted to work with? Even her mother would've told her to lighten up.
"Don't get too offended kid, she's been like this forever, even before Steven disappeared." Amethyst explained, not that Pearl was grateful.
"Amethyst, I don't need you to explain my story.."
"Because your too busy being salty to the one person that could take Steven back.."
"You only like her because she's just as troublesome as you.."
"And you'd know that insulting her is the last thing we need to do!" Amethyst crossed her arms. "You're no fun anymore. This is why we don't form Opal."
"Opal?" Steven turned to his sister, who was just as clueless?
"WE don't form Opal because you're difficult and a mess!" Pearl shoved her finger in her face.
"Opal?" Steven still waited for a explanation.
Amethyst was quick to get up in Pearl's face. "WE don't form Opal because your uptight and.."
"GUYS!" Star shouted as she and Steven jumped between them, pushing them apart. "As much as I don't want to interrupt such a lovely conversation that I am in no way against, but what the heck is Opal?"
"Oh, ah.." Pearl struggled to say the words. "That's a little advance for Steven, Fusion shouldn't be discussed until we get done the basic's.."
"Oh please, you've seen him fight! He's ready for anything!" Amethyst waved off. "Opal's just me and Pearl mashed together!"
"Excuse me! But is water just Hydrogen and Oxygen, 'mashed together!'
Steven and Amethyst had no idea how to answer that. "I always assumed water was just the tears of angry space giants that are super sensitive to any insults aliens give them." Star offered her answer.
"Analogy wasted." Pearl huffed. Guess it wouldn't hurt to explain it, after all, Steven was denied all of this for the last 9 years. Maybe speeding things along was what they needed to do. "Look here, Steven.." She pointed towards the ground, where she was able to control a few silicates of sand that created mini versions of her and Amethyst. "When we're properly synchronized, our forms can combine and create a new Gem named Opal." The two figures danced together, until they formed into one slightly bigger figure.
All were impressed, save for Amethyst, who quickly stomped on the figure. "Except you know that's not how I dance."
"That wasn't the point I was trying to make." Pearl responded, unsure of why her teammate was being extra critical of her teachings today.
"Whoa, that's so cool!" Steven ran up to Amethyst. "So what's Opal like!? Is she super powerful?"
"Heck yeah, she's this rock hard, stone cold betty, that part's all me." Amethyst bragged. "Oh, and she's also, kinda tall. That part's Pearl."
Despite the less than stellar explanation, Steven seemed to be content and enthused about it. Even Star had to admit the whole thing sounded pretty cool. "What Amethyst is trying to get across is that Opal is an amalgamation of both our physical and mental attributes, fused into a single entity." That earned her another water balloon. "Would you stop doing that!?" Star whistled.
The star's in Steven's eyes could not be contained any longer. "Wow, so you'd be super strong, like twice as strong as before! Does that mean you guys are able to read each other's minds when you together like that, like if one of you want's to eat a pizza and the other wants ice cream, does one thought out way the other, or do you compromise and get cake instead? Would that count as mind control.."
The two gems felt a bit overwhelmed by the sheer load of questions the kid was able to spit out in a matter of seconds, to the point they felt a little dizzy listening to it. Luckily, Star was there to slap a hand on his mouth to contain him. "Quartz, just say what you really want to say first, and get the rest later."
He nodded as her arm was removed from his face. "So can you guys do it right now! Come on, form Opal!" Neither Amethyst or Pearl were on board with that idea. "Did I just stumble into an awkward situation again?"
"Nah, Pearl's just not my first choice as a partner." Amethyst scoffed to Pearl ire.
"Fusion's a serious matter, and we only form Opal when it's absolutely necessary." Pearl corrected.
"AKA, you're too much of a tightwad to have any fun." Star rolled her eyes. "How's that suppose to teach anyone anything! I got magic that can do anything. Watch." A pogo stick fused to a snake was created. "See? Awesome!"
"The ability to do whatever you want is futile if you don't know what you need! How's a snake fused to a pogo stick suppose to be of any help?"
"It helps lift the boredom you created." Star pointed to Steven hopping around on the thing with Amethyst chasing after him. "Star one. Bird lady, 0."
Before Pearl could argue even longer, a very distinct glow and 'shing' came from the entrance of the cave, signaling that Garnet was back. Everyone went back inside, and Garnet held a small smile. Big enough to be noticeable, but small enough so that it didn't look unnatural on her. "I'm back. I got you a gift, Steven."
"Oh really! What is it?" Garnet calm placed a stone in his right hand. "A rock!" Steven's did his best to be as enthusiastic as possible. "Is it magic?"
"No."
"Does it have historical relevance?"
"I stepped on the spider that was sitting on it."
"Oh." He seemed almost guilty holding on it now. "Thanks?"
"In what universe did you think he would've enjoyed that?" Star had to question.
"Clearly not the one we live in." Garnet said honestly, readjusting her visor. "I could've sworn this was the right timeline.."
"Huh?"
"So was your mission a success?" Pearl asked their leader.
"I've successfully located the whereabouts of both geo beetles of heaven and earth. We're going to have to split up into teams of two."
"Great! I'm going with, not Pearl." Amethyst cleared up.
"That's fine with me. I wouldn't want to be paired up with grammatically incorrect people anyway!"
"Is Pearl talking about me?" Steven asked as tried to chew on the rock, a tactic that his dad had been teaching him since childhood. You could never know when a rock turned out to be a piece of gold, or at least edible.
"You two.." She pointed to Amethyst and Pearl, before pointing to Steven and Star." Will be taking those two with you. I go alone."
"What, why?" The tall and short gem said simultaneously.
"The earth beetle is at the bottom of the boiling lava lake, and only I can swim in Lava." A brightly light stretched out from her hands, revealing it to be a pair of swim googles that she put on quite quickly.
"Hey, I can stand a little lava!" Star complained.
Garnet actually thought about it for a good 5 seconds. "No. You'll be able to find the heaven beetle at the top of the sky spire. It'll be safer."
"You mean boringer." Amethyst corrected.
"You mean more boring." Pearl double corrected.
"Oh, so you agree with me."
"Is this what it looks like when me and mom fight?" Star whispered in her brother's ear, not sure how to look at the situation. "I'm not sure who's right in this situation."
"If there both fighting, then no one." Steven sadly replied. He thought this was all going to be about learning how awesome his 'real' mother was and learning to be like her. All he was getting was argument after argument. Maybe it was best history didn't remember these three.
"Garnet, are you sure about bringing, them along for this?" Pearl worried. "I know living in Mewni mean's he at least knows how to handle himself, but this is a delicate situation already."
"Hey, Star takes me on more dangerous outings on a weekly basis. This actually sound pretty tame compared to what we do." Steven butted in.
"Yeah, Quartz and I could even handle the gem bug all on our own!"
Garnet simply looked at Pearl. "We've already extended our hand to them. The last thing he needs is for us to push him away."
"But we were suppose to ease him into this life.."
"And now he's ready for more than what we had planned." Garnet replied. "Do your best to keep it together. And get along better with his sister. It's clear they care about each other more than anything."
"That's what I'm afraid of." Pearl sighed. "Fine, let's go." Pearl and Amethyst grunted as Star and Steven followed them to the shiny circle. "Come on."
"Steven." Garnet called out the boy, much to his confusion. Now that he really thought about it, he found the situation a bit weird, or at least, a different kind of weird than it already was. He felt like these people should be familiar, that he should be fully used to him calling him Steven, that he should've been more excited about a rock. But, when he looked at them, all he saw were strangers. Powerful and cool looking strangers, but strangers nonetheless. "This is your first Crystal Gem message. I'm counting on you to keep the harmony."
"That I can do!" He cheered up a whole lot more. A simple task on a simple mission. "Don't worry Garnet.." He joined his sister and the other two on the circle, not noticing the bright glow surrounding them. "..today's going to be all about harmony..!"
In a flash, light encased them, sending them upward while at the same time making it feel like they were falling. "Whoa, this is new." Star said outload, giggling as she felt the weightless of her body. "Is this what it's like for you to float?"
"Pretty much." Steven floated higher and higher, flipping slowly as he enjoyed himself. "I've never teleported outside of lion and dimensional scissors. What is this?"
"This is a warp pad, one of several placed all around the earth." Pearl stated very matter-of-factly. "Nothing as fancy as dimension travel but just as functional. Now you shouldn't have yourself float so much, otherwise.." The glow ended, place them on a rocky and ground. Amethyst and Pearl were fine, but Star, about five feet above the ground, fell face first. "..that happens." They waited for Steven, who floated safely without a scratch. "I see you mastered Rose's, your MOTHER's, gravitational control."
"You mean my floating powers? Yeah, ever since I was a baby." He said bluntly, making Pearl mentally slapping herself. "Hey Star, you alright?"
"What's the point in growing wings if I can't use them?" She moaned, peeling herself off the ground. "Would make this trip a whole lot more fun."
The group got a better look of the area. It was definitely one of the more peaceful and serene places Star had ever visited, even rivaling a few dimensions she had visited. It made her wonder why Earth was more or less unknown across the universe. "So is this where the heaven beetle is?" Steven asked.
"Looks like it."
"All the way at the top." Amethyst and Pearl were reluctant to move, making sure to avoid eye contact with each other.
"Soo, when you guys form Opal, do you guys turn into a giant woman, or a regular sized giant woman?"
"Not now Steven." Amethyst headed off while Pearl did her best to ignore everything.
"Come on, this is very important information! Does one of you control the right arm and the other control the left? If one of you needs to use the restroom, does Opal need to go as well?"
"Steven! Too much information!" Pearl berated him.
They all headed up some stone carved stairs, and while Steven would usually be one to question the environment. "Boy, these are a lot of stairs we need to cover. If only you guys could form Opal, then you could give me a piggy back ride!"
"No!" It seemed this was the only the two agreed on, much to his disappointment.
"Don't sweat it bro, that's why you got me around!" She scooped him up on her own shoulders, but he didn't seem to be as into it as she wanted him to be. "Quartz, this is what you love! Don't let them get you down."
"I know, but if they formed Opal, they could've given both of us a piggyback ride." He looked forlorn as he rested his chin on her hair. "I'll never get to see a giant woman."
"At least I know you definitely have a type." She chuckled, not really sure of how serious that statement was. "I can hunt down a troll for you and dress it up like a woman."
"Thanks, but I want to see them become a giant woman! Just think about how many questions that raises! Like if they ate a hot dog, who's stomach would it go to, or would they share the same stomach? That would be gross."
"Yeah it would." She was just as excited to see something so cool, but she was too suspicious of the gems to ever give them credit for it. One they reached the top of the stairs, some bush rustling made them stop in place. Amethyst summoned her whip while Pearl summoned her spear, leaving Star to grab her want, making sure to look as cool as possible to give her brother one heck of a show..
Only for it to be a mountain goat, presumably lost. "Beh."
Amethyst and Pearl were not impressed, but Star immediately knew what her brother wanted. Pretending cluelessness, Star 'stood up' to the goat, and 'accidently' dropped her wand. "Oh no! It's goat powers surpass my own! I'm helpless..."
"You got to save my sister!" Steven hopped off and ran to the gems. "Hurry, use your fusion powers before the mountain guardian destroys us all!"
Pearl slapped her gem, really disappointed and irritated by this point. At this rate, Steven's training would be stunted forever. "Steven, we only fuse for deadly situations." She walked up to the goat to move it out of the way, getting Star's attention. "And you, stop encouraging this childish behavior. Honestly, does this look like a deadly situation?" The goat bit her hand. "Hey! Bad goat!"
"Naaah."
Amethyst laughed as Star picked her brother up. "I did my best, dude. No go."
"Dang it. I'll never get to see them fuse." He pouted, keeping his head down. Looking at her wand, Star smiled and started poking him with it. "Huh? Really?"
"You know you want to." Star said knowingly.
"Steven, what are you.." Pearl stopped herself, briefly blinded by the light before looking at the transformed wand. "You have training with that.." She was stopped again by the shape of the changed wand. "Why is it an instrument?"
"I feel like singing." He said like it was the only answer he could give.
"Come on, play it for us. Quartz! Quartz! Quartz!" Star cheered.
"We don't have time for this, Amethyst, come on.."
"Steven! Steven! Steven!" The purple one's cheer overlapped with Star's.
"Oh boy."
All I want to do, is see you turn into, a giant woman, a giant woman!
The gems were differently surprised by the choice in lyrics, but one glance at Star told them that it was probably best if they just let this play out.
All I want to be, is someone who gets to see, a giant woman.
The journey continued onward, with the goat tailing right behind them, though that, and the singing in the background, help ease the tension between everyone. For it seemed with every step forward physically, Pearl, Star, and Amethyst would do whatever they could to send everyone 5 steps back.
All I want to do, is help you turn into, a giant woman, A Giant Woman!
While climbing on a rock ladder, Pearl would 'accidently' kick dirt in Amethyst face, only to be met with a foot in hers every time Star would 'slip' anytime she felt like they were messing up Steven's song.
All I want to be, is for someone who gets to see, a giant woman.
Pearl seemed to get angrier and angrier any time Star or Steven used their own magic. Like when they were crossing a like, Pearl would carefully cross over, tiptoeing on the stones, only for Star to use her magic cloud to fly over, or Steven, who simply jumped across.
Oh I know it'll be great, and I just can't wait, to see the per-son you-are together
It really didn't help that Amethyst would prank Pearl by shapeshifting into a shark, or even occasionally indulge in Steven's silliness by carrying him on her own shoulders, which got under Star's skin.
And if you give it a chance, you could do a huge dance, because you are, a giant woman!
Running ahead, Steven and Amethyst came across a rope bridge, and starting jumping up and down when they were in the middle of it, making it shake all over, and almost making Pearl and Star fall off. Pearl started yelling at Amethyst while Star tired to push Steven out of the way.
You might even like, being together, and if you don't, it wont be forever-
Steven pulled his sister to the two arguing gems, and pulled every together for a group hug, making the shouting stop, replacing it with immense awkward feelings.
But if it were me, I'd really wanna be, a giant woman, A GIANT WOMAN!
Steven rode the goat, now dubbed Steven Jr., as the walked uphill again. Steven's optimism was as high as ever. Everyone else's, not so much.
All I want to do, is see you turn into, a giant woman.
"NAAAAAAAAAAH" Steven Jr. Fled away from the group, galloping across some floating rocks, reaching their destination on the other side.
"Hang on Steven Jr.!" Steven leapt forward, only to be pulled back by Pearl.
"Steven, wait! Those rocks aren't stable!" Pearl panicked. "I'm not certain you'll be able to make those jumps."
"Really Pearl, really?" Star groaned. "HE CAN FLOAT."
"He's never been able to do it properly.."
"What part of 'ever since he was a baby' did you not understand?"
"You know Pearl, your right!" Steven exclaimed, making Star's heart sink a little. "Then maybe you should form Opal! Use her giant woman's arms and legs, and lay across the rocks like a bridge."
"We don't need Opal to get across." Pearl affirmed.
"Can't you do it anyway? It'll be easier and faster. I know you guys want to get this done as quickly as possible."
Star and Pearl turned their heads in shame, realizing they weren't being a subtle as they thought about it. "Steven.."
"If that's what you want, then try this!" Amethyst plucked the boy off the ground and threw him right in the middle of the path, joining him shortly afterward.
"STEVEN/QUARTZ!"
"IT'S GINE GUYS! I'M A-OK!" He clarified. "Whoa, that was a smart idea Amethyst."
"Yep, just one of many. I'm full of them!"
"Children! I'm working with children!" The white gem let out. "I can't take this. I literally can't physically take this anymore!"
"Come on, bird lady! You're not even given it a chance. I see it, Quartz sees it, maybe we're not the problem." Star began hopping on the floating rocks. "Maybe it's just yo.."
CRACK
slip
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" The wand was out of her hands and her wings were useless.
"Star!" Steven plunged towards her without hesitation, speeding down like a bullet.
"STEVEN!" Both Pearl and Amethyst cried. Mentally reading each other, Pearl jumped after him while Amethyst wrapped her whip around her mid-fall. For a brief 20 seconds, those two where on the same wavelength like it was instinct.
"Don't worry Star.." Steven swam through the air and latched on to his sister. "I got you!"
"And I got you!" Pearl grabbed ahold of Steven leg as the whip made them bounce right back up."
"Oh wait!" Star narrowly grabbed on to her falling wand. "That's a conversation I rather I never have." Everyone was safely on stable ground, with Pearl and Amethyst clutching onto Steven like Star would do. She wanted to get angry at this, but seeing them this affectionate made Star pause. They were acting almost like her in this situation.
"Steven, that was totally reckless!"
"Dude, stop trying to lose us! We've can only take so much."
Almost.
"Guys, that was amazing! I didn't know you two made such a great team." Steven congratulated them both. "Why don't you act like this all the time?" Another pause for silence. First they looked at each other uneasily, before looking at him uneasily. "Oh."
"It's not that, we swear." Pearl tried to save the situation. "Me and Amethyst have known each other for lifetimes. Somethings you can't get over even after a hundred years."
"Then why stick together for so long if you don't get along?" Star pressed on, but that was clearly the wrong thing to say, as they stomped off without saying anything else. "And now I just realized they didn't even ask about me after falling. Rude."
Steven couldn't get it out of his head. Was losing Mom that bad for them? It made him feel all the more guilty about not knowing about her soon. At least he had a mother, an entire family before realizing the truth. Once mom disappeared, they had him, and they lost that too.
At least for the moment, he didn't see anything, villainous about them. Immature, definitely, but who wasn't? At the most, they were just loud and uncooperative at times. Nothing to be alarmed about, nothing like what the mirror warned him. Maybe it was just wrong or misremembered?
He tried not to give it anymore thought as they cleared the path quite easily after that. Once there, it was a rather tedious walk up a flight of stairs, leading to a rather well designed stone 'house' leading a mini version of it surrounded by water. Star wondered about many thigs at the moment. Exactly who created this? How did the rocks float if earth didn't have magic? But most importantly, why was she still carrying her brother?
"Okay bro, this is where you get off!" She slid him off her shoulders. "And don't complain. You don't want to waste how many of those you have left."
"Fine. Fair enough." Steven rolled his eyes. "Ooh, tiny temple!" He ran towards it with up-most giddiness. "Aw, it's soo cute! This is where the beetle lives?" He had to admit, it had great taste. "There's a little beetle bongo! Little beetle bed! Even a little beetle baby book!"
"..And a little beetle..tv and gaming system?" Star peeked. "But wasn't this built a few hundred years.."
"There's no Beetle!" Pearl pushed Star aside. "It, it just wouldn't leave here, would it? It could be anywhere!"
"Oh, sure, freak out." Amethyst rolled her eyes. "Because that's definitely going to help things."
"Like you're doing anything to help." Pearl accused.
"What are you saying?" Amethyst's mood soured.
"I'm saying you're slouching over here while I'm doing all the work!"
"Like what you do is difficult! All you've done is hate on me for ever. Single. THING. I. DO. just because you're too scared to admit thing's aren't peachy!"
"It would help if you took any of this seriously..!"
"I wasn't the one who lost Steven!"
"I never said you wer.."
"Yes you do! You say it to my face every day with that high and mighty, self righteous face look you always give me! I'm the one who found him! All you've been doing now is squawk in my face!"
"Don't you dare do that now!"
"SQUAWK! SQUAWK!"
"It isn't any less annoying when you do it!"
"SQUAWK!"
"I really hate being right about this stuff." Star cast her gaze to her brother, who only looked more and more uncomfortable as the situation escalated. He looked down at his feet and sighed. "Quartz.."
"Why don't you call me Steven?" Steven's big eyes were impossible to ignore.
"I.."
Fwoosh!
A giant bird flew out from the surrounding water, and immediately swallowed Star up in one gulp.
"STAR!"
"Quick, inside!" Amethyst stretched out her arm and pulled Steven into the temple, holding him close as Pearl summoned her spear, which the bird swallowed as she threw it.
"It ate my spear!"
"WHO CARES! IT JUST ATE MY SISTER!" Steven blurted out, and the duo gems immediately felt a new form a fear they never expected to feel from the 9 year old. "SAVE HER!" Amethyst kept her hold on the kid tight as the bird monster tried smashing it's way through the entrance, with only it's massive beak making it's way through. "You gotta fuse!"
Silently agreeing, Amethyst put him down and her gem started glowing alongside Pearl's. The two began dancing, though trouble already began brewing when Pear'ls ballerina movement's began to clash with Amethyst's more freestyle and random steps. Pearl kicked Amethyst in the face, Amethyst hit Peark's head on the floor, and they started growing bigger, sinking into each other and glowing brighter, until it fizzled out and threw them in opposite directions.
"Can we do that again?" Amethyst sarcastically spat. "Because I don't think you hit me in the face enough times."
"It would've worked if your movements weren't so erratic and formless."
"So it's my problem you can't sync up? You know how I dance by now!" Shoving and glares were all these two were willing to give, and it looked like an all out brawl was about to begin.
"STOP!" Steven shoved them apart. "Today, I wanted today to be great! I thought today would be the day my life would get slightly less confusing, but it's been terrible!" His tears were pretty much punches to the gut for them. "You say you care about me, but you've been looking over Star all day, and now when she's in trouble, you get back to arguing?" Steven started to walk away. "She got eaten by a giant bird! And if you don't use you're awesome fusion powers, the same's going to happen to me!"
The two still looked uneasy at each other. "Fine! I'm going to save my sister. Sit back if you want." Steven prepared a running position.
"Steven.." Pearl called. He leapt at great speed and charged at the monster's mouth. "STEVEN!"
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" In one gulp, the boy shot himself into the bird's beak, which flew away.
"STEVEN!"
"Bad idea! Really, really bad idea!" Steven stumbled his way into what he assumed was the bird's stomach. It was actually a lot cleaner and less slimy then he thought it would be, aside from the skeletons and other trash spread around. "Huh. Guess this is life now."
"Yeah, and btw, the goat skulls are all mine." Star shot up from a pile a garbage. "Guess we should be glad this thing doesn't chew it's food."
"Star." He smiled, realizing he should've known better his sister would've been harder to knock down. "So, not the best day ever, but.." He laughed, but it was forced from his mouth. "Who am I kidding, today's been a disaster."
"Hey, it ain't over yet." Star sat beside him. "We got all the time in the world, apparently. About as much time a bird's stomach allows." She forced a laugh to. "Corn above all, I wish I actually found this funny."
"It is pretty ridiculous when you think about." Steven adopted his best dramatic voice. "One, a Princes, capable of destroying an entire dimension with her smile, the other: a son of the universe's greatest hero! Somehow, they both met their match, eaten by a bird!"
"ahaaahahaha, people are going to be giggling at our funeral."
"Wonder what the tombstone's will say?"
"I know: Star and Quartz Butterfly-Wanted to see a giant woman."
"Yeah. Thanks for that." Steven hugged her."
"No problem." She hugged back.
Silence.
"I don't want to die angry at them." Steven confessed. "I, I want to make some sort of connection with them before.."
"Hey, hey, I know we've been joking, but I'm not to let this bird be the death of us." She waved out her wand. "Ready to get weird?"
"When am I not?" He raised a shield.
The next few seconds were dedicated to smashing everything the two could set their sights on. Getting in sync, their cheek emblems glowed as they bashed their way through the bird's 'guts'. A punch in the side here, a quick slice there, a rocket monkey down there, and a shield banging everywhere.
The two really began enjoying themselves defeating the beast from within, as with every punch, kick, stab, e.t.c, the bird shook more and more violently. Bright cracks formed from within the 'walls' of the stomach, making the two kids stop their brutal assault. "Quick question, do birds spontaneously combust?" Steven asked.
"I don't think their capable of burping, but why.." The 'walls' disappeared leaving the two standing on air. "Oh." And the descent began again. "NOT AGAIN!"
"I got you this time!" Steven wasted no time, clamping onto his sister like flypaper.
"Yeah, but who has that!?" Star pointed towards the now multiple monstrous flock swan diving towards them. "We really got to plan these attacks better."
"Not now." A calm but fierce voice entered there ears, and before they could find the source, the siblings found themselves incased in giant arms, holding them closely to it's person. The three(?) flipped through the air, before speedily charging for the temple staircase, sliding along it's rails without ease. Star and Steven easily forgot about the ferocious flock following their every move and enjoyed the ride, especially when the towering figure carrying them jumped an entire 50 feet and landed pretty gracefully.
"Who's that?" An honest question was asked between the two, finally getting a good look at their savior. She was around 8, 9 feet tall with a sleek and slender body. Her skin was a light blue, and her clothes were akin to hunter garb that Star herself could imagine wearing. "Opal?"
Said Gem didn't answer at all, her complete focus being on their flying enemies. Like true birds of a feather, they flew as one, providing an excellent single target.
To the royal's surprise, out of her head, she pulled out a spear like Pearl, and like Amethyst, she also pulled out her whip. Bringing them together, a brief flash of light created an elegant bow. In awe, the two marveled as Opal slowly drew back the string with two of her arms, summoning a beautiful arrow beaming with energy.
With a simple flicking of a finger, she released it, creating a small boom that almost blew the two back. The birds however stood in place, seemingly frozen in mid flight, until the spears revealed themselves, piercing their bodies till they disappeared, leaving strange little rock shards incased in bubbles. How that happened was unknown to the Butterflys, but in their minds, there was a much more pressing matter.
Steven cautiously walked up to her, even more unsure how to approach the fusion. She almost seemed like the exact opposite of how Amethyst and Pearl acted today. Did that me she was new to the situation. "Ah, so do you remember me? Do you know who I am?"
Opal laughed lightly, gently grabbing his hand into her own. "All you want to do, is see me turn into.." She quoted.
"A giant woman."
It was nighttime by the time the three(?) of them made it back to the temple. Right as they entered, Garnet was waiting for them, steaming hot from her little Lava dip and wiping herself dry with a towel like she just got home from the pool. "We're back!" Steven announced proudly, as Opal looked on with a prideful look.
"The heaven beetle?" Garnet asked.
Fear immediately erased the proud look on Opal's face. "I don't have it!" The face became twisted and distorted, becoming more and more uncomfortable, until the two factions of Opal repelled each other, leaving Amethyst and Pearl back where they started.
"Amethyst, you got distracted!"
"Your they one that forgot! You were the one getting carried away with all those fancy backflips!"
"And here I was thinking we'd go the rest of our lives not hearing your voiced ever again." Star sighed. "At least Opal was kind enough to carry both of us back home." She scratched something out of her hair. "Huh, little green bug?"
"The Heaven Beetle!" Amethyst and Pearl confirmed in disbelief.
"Guess it must've crawled on when we were in that bird." Steven guessed. "You did it Star! MVP!MVP!MVP!"
"I'll take that." Garnet plucked it out of Star's hand's and placed it in what looked like a little box for lizards, before placing it in a bubble for some reason. Inside it was another beetle, except more black in color. Star had to admit, it looked pretty cute. "Good work. Both of you. You found the beetle, and managed to get your teammates to fuse."
Amethyst and Pearl couldn't have looked more defeated, realizing the situation their leader put them through. The didn't know if they should feel more betrayed or glad.
"And all we had to do was get eaten by a bird!"
Garnet showed no disappoint or approval of this statement. "Your empathy for others is your greatest strength, Steven. You'll be great a fusion yourself someday."
"Huh?" Star didn't know what to think about that.
"I CAN DO THAT TOO?"
"HE CAN DO THAT?" Star picked her brother up. "Bro, we got to figure this out now! Imagine all the things you could do fuse with! Like Lion! Or a dragon!"
"Or you!"
"Or me! Let's dance and try!" Star was eager, though it soon got awkward when they both realized Pearl and Amethyst were still with them. "You're still here?"
"We live here, ya dope."
"Right, right. Thought something felt off." Star walked off the warp pad. "Well, we'll go now, hope you enjoyed it, I really didn't."
"Wait!" Pearl stopped them. "I, I, I'm sorry." Pearl pushed the words out of her tongue, and Star knew that those were words she probably didn't say too often. "Your his sister, and you were able to work better together than Amethyst and me."
"Of course. He works to protect me, and I work to protect him." Star stated. "When you two worked together to save HIM.." Pearl tried to interrupt. "..and don't deny it, it was FOR HIM, you were good. Try working on that."
"I, I guess I will." Pearl agreed. It was her job to protect all life, humanity, mewmans, e.t.c, yet she really didn't find herself enjoying them, at least not to the point of her former leader. "I, hope we can work together better in the future."
"Yeah, don't push it." She waved to her brother. "Come on Quartz, let's.."
"Wait!" Amethyst had something in her arms. "I still got something for you, Steven." She revealed it. "It's less of a gift from me, and more something your father would've given you if you, you know."
"Really?" Steven's eyes lit up like stars. "Star mind giving me some cover?" Star wordless agreed, letting her brother get behind her to change. Revealing himself, he came out, armor completely off, and coming out wearing a plain reddish-pink shirt with a large star in the middle, plan blue jeans and pink sandals. "So, how do I look?"
"Great." Star looked at him. It's probably the most casual thing her brother has ever worn in his life, and it fit him completely. "You look very human, Steven."
"Hey, you finally said my name! Took a while."
"Yeah. My brother, Steven Quartz Universe Butterfly."
"Should we tell him about his middle name?" Amethyst asked Pearl.
"Save that for his birthday."
"Thanks you Amethyst!" He ran up and hugged her again. This time, it was returned, and felt a little less forced.
"You're welcome, dude. Just avoid giant birds from now on."
"I live in Mewni."
"Then make sure to have us on speed dial or something. Can't risk you jumping into any stomachs."
"I guess I will." Steven waved one final time, walking out with his sister. "So, what you think?"
"This people are crazy. They're messed up. They've put us in danger, and we almost died."
"So you want to come back?"
"Duh. You'd think I'll let them have all the fun?" Star laughed. "Seriously though, they're, a lot to handle. But the fusion thing was awesome, and Amethyst wasn't too bad when she didn't get loss in the arguing. But all in all, I think we can trust them."
"Really?"
"Yeah, in any case, they seem to care about you especially. If that means they'll watch out for you, then can't be too bad, can they?"
Star actually acknowledged that? He figured she keep them at a pole's length at best. He just met them.
But he also just met the mirror too..
So confusing.
For now, he'd go with his gut and trust Star's judgement.
NEXT TIME: Royal Pain.