Disclaimer: Characters, settings, names from the cartoon television show 'Steven Universe' are creations and property of Rebecca sugar and Cartoon network. Any non-steven universe characters, settings, names, Gems, Gem powers, beliefs, mythology are my own creation.

Author's note: Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who took the time from their day to read, review and critique my story with constructive criticism. I hope to see more of you as I continue to flesh out this alternate Story Line in time. Without further ado, please read on.

Tags: Steven Universe, Connie Maheswaran, Pearl, Amethyst, Garnet, Beach City, Gem Powers, Romance, Adventure, Comfort, Destiny.

Music Inspiration for Chapter: "Ay Jalisco no Te Rajes" by: Mariachi Vargas

Chapter 2: Smoky Quartz

Friday

1, May 2016, 12:30 [Noon]

El Punto Restaurant, Beach City

Clearing out an empty table of plates, silverware and garbage left behind by patrons. Pearl took her time and picked up the silverware first, then the plates which she stacked in a black rectangular plastic bucket. Wearing something else instead of her usual Gem outfit for work. Pearl wore black pants, a sky blue button up long sleeve shirt with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows. A black bow tie and white flats on her feet.

When her black bucket was filled with glasses, silverware and plates, Pearl walked over to the next few tables to make sure nothing had been left behind. Satisfied that she managed to waste little time double and triple checking, Pearl walked over to the kitchen doors and placed the black bucket down on the kitchen sink counter.

Cleaning the dishes, plates and silverware was a young man of 23 years called Carlos Montoya. He was young man who stood five feet tall. His skin tone was olive color, his hair was dark brown and wavy. He wore the restaurant uniform of black pants. sky blue button up long sleeve shirt with white smart shoes. Instead of wearing a black bow-tie, he went with nothing. And a white apron was kept wrapped around his waist, since he was also served as the cook as well.

"My name is Carlos Montoya. I have worked here at El Punto restaurant for more than three years as the cook and dish plate washer. It was only two years ago when Pearl came here to apply for a part time job. How would I describe pearl? Pale skin with a blueish green tint but beautiful, Thin like a crane but attractive. Her hair was peach colored, some of it came down the frames of her face in curls.

But she's more than just beautiful. She's intelligent, controlled, and graceful. She's the kind of person who values reason and thought. I know so much about her, even though when she first started to work here she ignored me completely. I was more than just invisible to her, I mean the chairs, floors and counters got more attention than I did.

Though that all changed when one day last year she caught me before I slipped on a wet floor. I hadn't noticed the wet floor sign she left. Had she told me that she placed it there, I would have been more inclined to look around my surroundings. But regardless, she saved me from a sore butt and ever since then we've started to talk. Little by little I noticed that despite her looking comfortable working, she seemed so un-adjusted to life on earth despite her telling me and sharing with me that she's been here a lot longer than most humans have.

I enjoyed our conversations, even though if it was only during our lunch breaks. Speaking of lunch breaks, ours is set to begin right...[buzzard ringing] now!"

Outside El Punto Restaurant, Beach City

12:45 [Noon]

Taking a seat at an outside table, Pearl and Carlos relaxed back in their seats and looked out in front of them and all around. Carlos unbuttoned the first three top buttons of his sky blue long shirt, revealing a black tank top underneath. He turned over and faced his lunch which he kept wrapped up inside of some aluminum foil.

Pearl saw that he had a plate of rice, beef, red salsa, green chiles and tortillas. She didn't have to take a strong whiff to know what he was eating. her ability to smell was stronger than those of cats and she turned the other way when she smelled Carlos's lunch.

"My goodness Carlos how can you eat something so spicy. Bluck!"

"Because I'm Mexican-American. I always eat arroz with tortillas con chile and Mole. Is it really that strong for you Pearl?"

"Yes it is. I barely tolerate the smell some of the food Steven eats. I don't mind baking sweet smelling foods though, not so much eating them I'm afraid."

"I'm sorry human food repulses you so much Pearl. How do you go about serving food to customers everyday though? except the two days you have off."

"I don't really need to breath air Carlos. But I do sometimes feel like I should what I can to fit in given the circumstances of my situations I might find myself in. so you said you were Mexican-American? I know a lot about the country of Mexico. I remember when the Spanish came and laid siege to the Aztec people. One of their gods, what did they call him...oh! Quetzalcoatl I think it was. He was actually a half gem like Steven. His mother was a Gem called Moldavite. His mother was a part of the first generation of Gems to colonize The Earth"

"Tell me pearl. Out of all this time you and your friends have been here, has no one caught your attention."

"Alot of people and animals catch my attention Carlos. You humans are alike despite you guys liking to separate yourselves based on international lines and invisible boundaries. Or waving different flags."

Carlos chewed some of his food and swallowed the rest of it down it his throat. He raised an eyebrow and leaned back on his seat. He looked at Pearl and admired how beautiful she looked looking out at the sea.

"What I meant pearl, was have you ever been in love with anyone. Has anyone caught your attention."

Pearl looked confused and appeared to be processing Carlos's question in her head. Her cheeks blushed a light blue color. She crossed her arms over her chest and looked away, raising her head up defiantly.

"No human has ever interested me. Besides, there's more risk to us gems if we let our emotions get the better of us. Besides, even if such a situation arose where I might be attracted to a human. It could never work. You humans have such short lives, and even shorter ones due to illnesses, vendettas and natural mistrust of one another."

"But isn't it like that in the natural world pearl? And if I remember, you told me Steven was half human and half gem. What happened to his mother again?" Carlos asked.

A saddened expression came over Pearl's face, she lowered her stiff arms and placed her hands on her laps. Pearl looked over to Carlos and answered honestly about her best friend's fate.

"She was pregnant with a human's child. But she had to give up her form to birth Steven into this world because of that reason. Because we gems can practically live forever, reproduction was limited to one child back where I came from. The parents would unite for twenty four hours to make a new gem. abilities and traits from both gems would be passed down to the new gem. But a Gem and Human relationship was originally thought impossible, yet Rose and Greg proved us wrong."

"So you fear falling in love because it would mean the end of you? If death is what you're afraid of Pearl. Then i got news for you, everything and everyone dies. Planets, stars and galaxies will die eventually. The least we could do is give the opportunity of life to our children."

Pearl crossed her arms over her chest again and stood up when she noticed their break had ended. She pulled Carlos by his arm, leaving his half finished lunch on the table.

"Wait! Mi Tortilla!... Pearl!" Pearl dragged Carlos back into the restaurant despite his protest to get back to his food.

Emerald Hills, Beach City

1:20 [Afternoon]

Walking back to their campsite holding hands, with wet boots and jeans covered in mud. Steven and Connie looked away from each other, blushing and smiling. Hanging down the side of Connie's left hip was a plastic traveling home for small animals and reptiles. Inside of that plastic home were two small turtles which had enough water to keep them nice and wet.

Lion walked behind Connie and Steven, looking to his left and right. He too was wet and covered with some mud, mostly around his feet and the lower part of his mane.

"Thank you for coming with me again Connie. It wouldn't have been as much fun if I had gone with just Lion, no offense Lion." Steven said.

"Don't mention it Steven. Besides, I love turtles. But my parents might tell me to get rid of them. Wait what am I saying, of course their going to tell me to do just that. I even named mine Steve."

Steven saw how much the prospect of having to leave her new friend behind made Connie sad. He thought of something to cheer her up. He pulled his hand away from Connie's grasp and moved his Ukulele to the front to play her a song. Using his power to create pink energy constructs, Steven made three sombreros for him, Connie and Lion. The hats appeared on top of their heads, much to Lion's apparent protest to having something on his head.

"No Lion! Keep it on your head just for a while." Steven told his companion.

Lion growled and showed a little teeth. Hopping to the front of the group, Steven began to strum the strings on his Ukulele.

"Oh Connie, Lion and Steven you have your home in Beach City. A beautiful place, the rarest pearl of all is beach city our home.

And I fancy listening to my dad's old songs, singing with his soul, his awesome songs. I'll fancy hearing them even more eating cookie cats with my rascal of friends.

Oh Lion and Connie, don't back down! A warm cry is coming forth from my soul, I'm opening my entire heart to let this cry out. Oh how beautiful Beach city is made by both of you!

When it comes to girls, Connie you're my only one. As beautiful as the sandy beach and loving as my mom, the loveliest of girls. A beautiful face, only here in Beach City.

In beach city you love the right way, because loving the wrong way is risky. Many fights I hope to win for a certain girl, under the moonlight singing here in Beach City.

Oh Connie and Lion don't back down! A warm cry is coming forth from my soul. I'm opening my entire heart to let this cry out. Oh Beach city how beautiful you are, on my word of Honour! oh Connie how beautiful you are, on my word of Honour! Oonn my woorrdd...of Honourrr!"

Connie loved Steven's singing so much and his skill with his Ukulele, that she couldn't help but dance and twirl around Lion and Steven. Her sadness had left and joy swirled around inside of her. At the end of Steven's song, she twirled and was caught by Steven who smiled and laughed with her. While smiling at Steven, Connie thought back to the words Steven used in his songs.

"Steven, do you really think I'm beautiful."

This question caught Steven off guard and made him drop Connie by accident. " Oh gosh I'm really sorry Connie! I...i...yeah I really think you've gotten...um, beautiful."

Steven rubbed his arm and scratched the back of his head, he was visibly embarrassed and happy also.

"Aww, steven. I think you're beautiful too." Connie said innocently and softly.

"Thank you Connie. C'mon, let's hurry back to camp. I want you to try some hot dogs."

Connie dusted off the back of her yellow dress and the sides of it. She grabbed Steven's hand and ran back to camp with him. Lion followed them.

While Steven reached their camp site first, something caught Connie's attention before she could get out of the forest. Lion stuck with her as she deviated away from the main foot path and walked off into a dense section of the forest. Lion tried to growl at her and teleported himself in front of her, but Connie was to focused to pay any mind to Lion.

Glimmering at the base of an old tree was a brown gemstone. it was already cut and polished. Connie knelt down on her knees and picked it up. She was so amazed at how much it shined despite it's natural dark color. The sound of static, like from a cop's radio emitted from it.

"Huh...hello...are you another Crystal gem..." Connie spoke to it, shaking it beside her ear.

"My name commander Smoky Quartz. The enemies came from their Jupiter outpost. We managed to hold them off at Mars. The armies of the mad Goddess Taaffeite have been repelled. Word is there are Rebel Gem armies on earth who have sided with the rebellion. May The Great Red Beryl watch over all of her children...[Static transmission]"

"Was this some kind of pre-recorded message left for someone here? It sounds really old. Steven should definitely see this."

Connie took the gemstone with her and got back on the foot path with Lion. She ran back to camp excited and eager to show Steven what she had found. Steven had pulled out a small pot and filled it with water. He already lit the campfire and had the water in the pot boiling. Connie saw Steven crawling out of the tent with a cold hot dog halfway inside of his mouth, the other half sticking out between his lips.

"Oh hey Connie! Get over here and have some hot dogs."

"Steven look I have to show you something."

"What is it Connie?"

Connie placed the plastic traveling home she carried the turtles in on the ground and walked over to Steven. She opened up her palm and revealed...

"It's gone? Did I drop it?" Connie asked herself.

Steven chewed his hot dog and stared at Connie's empty palm. "What are you talking about Connie?"

Connie looked all around her and turned to Lion who was licking his paw behind her. She took his bottom and upper jaws and opened it. "Where did you Go!" she shouted inside of his mouth.

Lion took his mouth back and ran behind Steven, he brushed his paw on top of his nose.

"Dang it! I just had it my hand too."

"What did you have Connie."

"I found a smoky quartz gem in the forest, I had it in my hand. Now I think I dropped it."

"Hey Connie, do you have a flashlight in your shirt?" Steven asked connie, pointing at her chest.

Connie looked down at her chest and tugged on the collar of her sky blue shirt. She blushed and noticed that the Smoky quartz had somehow fused on to her chest, just where her heart was located. Connie tilted her head back up and looked at Steven. Steven took a hold of Connie's hands and asked her if she was ok.

"I don't know...But I have a Gem...on my chest now."

"Really? Can I see?"

"NO!"

"Alright. Uh, let's see if Garnet can help us. Lion, take me and Connie back to Garnet!"

Connie and Steven hopped on Lion's back. Lion charged forward and teleported them out of the Hills and returned back to The crystal gem Temple.

- Continued in Chapter 3