After Peridot explained what exactly the Cluster was to the others, we moved to the Barn. A few interesting developments happened such as finding out that Pearl was some kind of servant without any free will of her own, that Amethyst is apparently defective and how Garnet became well Garnet. Pearl and Peridot had a class over who should lead the building of the machine to get the Cluster, so to solve this dispute Steven suggested a robot fight. As the two of them were tied, Peridot wouldn't allow herself to be seen on the same level as Pearl using violence to solve the problems that she had with her own self image.
Although Pearl did lose, I gained a new understanding for her and found myself looking up to her. Although it seemed that Peridot was officially the winner, Peridot apologized to Pearl and allowed them to be co leads on the project, though if you asked me Garnet always seemed to call all the shots.
Steven, Amethyst, Peridot and I went to the Kindergarten to grab a piece from an Injector and because Amethyst called Peridot funny and enjoyed the mean jokes she made about others including myself, Peridot began to explain that Amethyst was born as a soldier and explained that Peridot was supposed to be the same height as Jasper. Apparently Amethyst came out about five thousand years later than the other Amethysts which meant that she was alone and didn't know who she 's self hatred seemed to be confirmed by Peridot. The part that we took from the Injector went crazy and Peridot saved Amethyst's life from the drill. Peridot apologized to Amethyst through her recorder and called Amethyst "The Best Gem". Amethyst accepted her apology.
It was Steven's birthday when Garnet explained how Ruby and Sapphire met. Sapphire was a diplomatic Gem and was assigned with three Rubies. Sapphire was called to Earth by Blue Diamond so that she could explain the future. Ruby stopped Sapphire from being poofed by Pearl and Rose and they transformed into Garnet. Apparently a fusion between two Gems was too unnatural and Sapphire ran away with Ruby because Blue Diamond wanted to shatter them. Rose accepted Garnet which allowed Ruby and Sapphire to accept each other.
We were taking a break on the drill and Connie arrived with Greg at the barn. Connie wore a beautiful red dress and a white hat with a pink bow around it. "Steven!" "Connie!"
"Happy Birthday!" Connie said, giving him a big hug. Connie explained how over protective her parents were and Greg gave his son a big hug. Greg explained that Steven was fourteen and apparently Connie didn't even know. Connie was twelve and three quarters. Once Steven hit the age of eight he stopped growing.
"So he's not going to grow up." Connie said taking a seat in the van with Greg as Steven hid by the open door listening.
"We'll it's hard to say, he's a gem and gems don't really grow up. I mean, I've known the Gems since I was twenty two and they never changed. They just are what they are, but Steven's not like the other gems he's half human, so I'm not really sure how he's gonna age. We're just gonna have to wait and see."
"Yes, right." Connie said.
"Are you okay?" Greg asked.
"Yeah, yeah…" Connie said looking away.
"Human beings?" Greg said with his hand in the air. Connie smiled and gave him a high five.
"Human beings." She said and they got out of the car and Steven ran farther away so they wouldn't know he's been spying on them. Greg and Connie waved Steven and I over and I followed.
"What up?" I asked, though I knew what they were going to ask.
"Well you're half gem right?" Connie said.
"Apparently?" I said shrugging. "If you're going to ask if I've been growing, yes I am. I'm not sure why, maybe it depends on the hybrid."
"Did you ever stop?" Steven asked nervously.
"I mean not really? My height is only a few inches taller and but my face has always been changing. I've always looked young for my age but that's the same for most humans isn't it?" I asked.
"I guess so." Connie said.
"I'm gonna go help set up the banner." Steven said and walked away. I watched as Amethyst shapeshifted and narrowed my eyes.
"We'll I'm sure he'll figure it out." Greg gave Steven his crown and robe and closed the barn doors. Garnet grabbed the cake and we all said "Surprise-"
"Oh." Garnet said Steven was some inches taller than he was before and I realized what he had done.
"You look older." I told him narrowing my eyes and he looked at me nervously.
"Well I guess I just got taller." He said, his voice was deeper than it was before. I walked over to him and leaned near his ear.
"Have fun, but you can't hold it forever…" I whispered in his ear and walked away as everyone congratulated him. Connie gives Steven her present which was a pink shirt, but he was unable to fit it because he grew taller. I watched as Steven played badminton with Connie, Pearl and Amethyst. It was going well until Amethyst hit the birdie into a tree. Connie runs over to grab it but Steven jumps up onto the branch and gets it down. His hand shrinks and he puts it back to the stretched out version.
"Steven.." I say and he looks over at me sweating. "It's been over two hours man, give it up. There's nothing wrong with not getting older."
"You don't understand!" Steven says angrily. "I… I just want to grow up with Connie… It's not fair that she has to deal with me not getting older.."
"Steven if she can't accept you for the way you are then she's not worth it." I tell him.
"Steven come on!" Connie yells waving him over. He glances at me and runs back over. I sigh and the day continues on, Steven somehow still having the stretch to continuously stretch his body. I felt mixed emotions about what was going on, I was gaining a new sense of respect for Steven, him being half human and able to stretch out his body for almost an entire day… but also I couldn't help but feel worried about him. He shouldn't injure himself just so Connie can feel better.
Steven and Connie danced together but Steven was still sweating bullets. "Steven.." I muttered.
"Why do you keep looking at Steven?" Amethyst asked me and I felt myself blush.
"That's none of your business!" I yell angrily as Connie leans on Steven's chest with her leg raised and a content look on her face. Steven freezes, blushing and looks over at Pearl and Garnet smiling at them.
"Are you jealous?" Amethyst asks.
"Of course I'm not!" I say angrily and stomp away from her. Of course… I'm not… It's not like Steven was my friend first and it's obvious he likes Connie… He's just Steven, nothing more nothing less. I hear crying and look over to see Connie holding… is that Steven? I run over and see baby Steven crying.
"Oh my god! Steven I told you not to do this!" I yell angrily as she passes him over to me.
"We were just talking and then all of a sudden-" Connie says panicking.
"He turned back into a baby?!" Pearl asks freaking out.
"Yes!" Connie agrees.
"Dude… I told you! Stretching your body out for that long is not good for you!" Amethyst says. Steven tries speaking but of course it's just baby talk. Amethyst takes Steven and shows him to Pearl.
"Here you go Pearl!" She says,
"No no! Don't give him to me!" Pearl says leaning away from Steven.
"Hand him over to me Amethyst." Garnet says and her visor disappears.
"Here you go.." Amethyst says and Garnet takes him. Steven stares at Garnet as her red, purple and blue eyes open one by one. She gives Steven a wide smile and sticks out her tongue. Steven stares at her confused and he continues to cry.
"My powers mean nothing to an infant." She says defeated.
"Well he's still Steven right?" I ask. "He still has his memories, didn't he almost age himself to death? Isn't this the same thing?"
"Well whatever it is, this is my area of expertise." Greg says and takes Steven from Garnet.
"What are you going to do?" Connie asks.
"Don't worry I've got this." Greg says and Amethyst turns herself into a car seat and places herself in the middle seat as Greg puts him down. Connie climbs in the front and Greg drives away.
"Steven…" I say. They come back to the barn after a few hours to grab any necessary baby stuffy for Steven.
"Everyone look at this!" I heard a familiar high pitched voice say and run out of the barn. There was normal Steven wearing the pink shirt Connie gave him with a tiny amount of facial hair. I smile as everyone congratulates Steven. He walks over to me and puts his hand on his head.
"Hey sorry about before, I should have listened to you." He says and I give him a small smile and place a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm just happy that you're back to normal." He smiles and runs back over to everyone else. Connie gives Steven a hug and I couldn't help but focus on my aching heart.
It's fine.