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: With Lapis Lazuli now a member of The Crystal Gems, she gets settled in with her own room Steven builds for her. Pearl watches Steven form his mother's form in front of Lapis. Carlos pays pearl a visit and is introduced to Garnet and Amethyst. Over to Connie, she manifests Smoky's main weapons. And lastly, in space a new Gem is making his way to Earth.
Tags: Steven Universe, Connie Maheswaran, OC's, Lapis Lazuli, Pearl, Amethyst, Garnet, Beach City, Gem Powers, Romance, Adventure, Comfort, Destiny.
Music Inspiration for Chapter: "I'm Real" By: Jennifer Lopez ft Ja Rule. (I'm a 90's kid.)
Chapter 9: Earth Sworn
Tuesday
5 May, 2016, 10:00 [Morning]
Crystal Temple, Beach City, DE
Standing inside of his small tube like shower. Steven kept his eyes closed, neck cocked back and enjoyed the warm water sprinkling down on his face, neck, shoulders and on the rest of his body. In his mind he thought back to the tender night he spent with Lapis. No, Lapis and he never engaged in anything other than exchanging jokes and holding hands. Lapis's eyes captivated him. Her light giggles made his heart flutter, and her body... the way she clung on to him sprung forth feelings inside of him which he was unaccustomed to feeling.
"Lapis has been through so much. more than I could ever understand. She sacrificed her new found freedom to make sure Jasper would never see the light of day. I owe more to her than just making her a crystal gem. But what more can I give her."
"Steven, are you done?" Pearl asked from outside the shower door.
"Almost, pearl." Steven responded.
Steven turned the faucet off and closed the water. He wrapped a towel around his waist and stepped outside. Pearl wasn't around, and Garnet and Amethyst left outside to go find Peridot and Jasper. Lion returned and laid down on Steven's bed.
"Get off Lion, my favorite shirt's under you." Steven told his friend.
Lion flicked his ears and rose his head to yawn. He stood up on his legs, Steven reached his arm under Lion to grab his black short sleeve button up shirt. But a hand made out of Ice grabbed it and extended his shirt to him. Steven looked over to his window and saw Lapis smiling at him. From her hand was a blue glow which she manipulated water. Steven took his shirt and placed it on, he waved at Lapis who blushed and looked away.
Lapis brushed off her feelings and waved her hand at him, gesturing to him to come outside. Steven made sure his jean button was buttoned up. His sandals were on, and that his hair was combed.
"I never really cared about how I looked before. but since Connie and I grew up and since Lapis returned to us. I don't know, I just feel the need to look...good around them."
Walking outside on the deck of the beach house, Lapis stopped and placed her hand on the wooden railing and looked out below to the sandy beach. There was the jungle gym that she stopped by last night to sit on. The stone hands that jutted out of the sand which belonged to the statue above her. And the ocean itself.
Landing on the beach house deck, Pearl noticed Lapis looking out toward the ocean. Her back was turned, but not her guard. One on one, Pearl stood no hope to take down a powerful gem like Lapis. What on earth did Steven see in her.
"I know you're right behind me Pearl. I gained the ability to sense gems from a 5 mile radius. I can also sense half gems too."
"I don't know what kind of game you're playing Lapis. But I swear on Rose's good name that if you try anything, you hurt Steven and i'll-"
"Suspicion. Mistrust, skepticism and just all out fear of other gems who weren't part of your small clan. This is why hated you pearl, Amethyst and those two little jerks who I won't dignify by saying their names. Rose was the only mother figure I had while I was here. I loved her, like a mother. Everything I did up to this point I did for Steven, I could care less what happens to you other gems."
"Me, Garnet and Amethyst and Greg went through so much raising Steven to be who he is. We did more for him than you could ever do."
Lapis turned around, her countenance going soft yet serious. Furrowing her brows, she asked Pearl a question.
"Tell me pearl, if jasper had fused with you to take her revenge on Rose. Would you do everything to protect her? Even giving up seeing her face and the light of day? Your Freedom."
Pearl needed a moment to think about this. she knew Lapis had proposed to her a difficult 'what if' question. But before she could give the blue gem an answer, Steven walked outside on the deck and looked for Lapis. The blue gem's expression went soft and happy when she saw Steven look over to her and coming towards her. Lapis walked over and bumped her shoulder against Pearl's. On purpose.
"Hey Lapis, sorry I took so long. Lion wanted me to rub his belly."
'That's Ok Steven, I waited a long time to see you. I could afford another five minutes."
"Well...race you downstairs!" Steven told Lapis excitedly.
Steven raced down the stairs of his beach house, Lapis laughed and flew downstairs to the sandy ground.
"No fair Lapis, you have wings!"
"It's just the way I was born Steven, can't help it." Lapis replied.
Pearl followed Steven and Lapis to the edge of the shoreline. She kept her distance at the Jungle gym. She jumped on top of it and sat down, crosslegged. She wondered what Steven and Lapis were talking about.
"He lets her sleep with him, but he won't allow me to watch him sleep." she told herself.
The Beach, Crystal Temple
11:10 [Morning]
"The last time you saw me I could barely bring forth my mother's shield. But these last two years under the training of Garnet, Pearl and Amethyst I was able to absorb my mom's sword into my gem and do this."
Lapis sat down on the sand, legs crossed and her hands resting on her dress. She watched Steven taking in a sharp breath of air and releasing it. He was surrounded by his pink aura that flickered all around him like fire. It was like a pink vortex to Lapis. Steven formed two large pink arms and hands. The left arm wielded his shield and the right hand held Rose's Sabre. Using his own hands as the controls, Steven raised the Sabre over his head and brought up his shield.
"That's amazing Steven. But where, or who exactly do those extra arms belong to." Lapis asked, curious.
"Hold on, give me a second. This will make sense in just a few...seconds."
Pearl watched intensely at what Steven was trying to do. "I know this was the extent of Steven's gem abilities. The manifestation of two ethereal arms weilding the sabre and shield of rose. What's he trying to do."
undergoing several changes externally. Steven's skin took a light pink tone. His black hair started to shine like obsidian under the sun. his black hair grew black ringlets that framed his side, taking up after his mother. The edges of his hair and ringlets glowed with a pink hue. The flaming pink aura grew taller and taller. Lapis had to lean back on her hands to see just how tall Steven's aura had rose. Stabilizing his power, Steven's aura started to form a body, a dress, a head.
Lapis stood up on her feet to see clearly what she couldn't believe who was in front of her eyes. Pearl off in the distance jumped off the jungle gym to see for herself what she was seeing. First the dress formed, then the arms, head and hair. The eyes and the familiar face came last. Rose Quartz, an ethereal version of her formed around Steven Universe. She was a lot taller than she was when she alive. This form stood fifteen feet tall. She looked happy, but only because Steven was smiling.
Pearl, like Lapis shed a tear when they saw Rose in all her former glory. Unlike a hologram which disappeared when it was touched, this was no hologram. Steven looked to be in slight pain, but he held out to do something for Lapis. Coming out of the sand, wooden branches and plant vines wrapped around Rose's arms. For several seconds, Steven clasped his hands together and spoke in his and his mother's voice.
"Quartz Family Technique: Generous Second Home"
Shooting out of the sand near the mountain the crystal temple was carved into, wooden branches snaked out of the sand and rose up along the mountain. Connecting next to Steven's beach home, a second addition/ room was being constructed alongside it. Pearl couldn't believe what she was seeing. Never before has she seen a technique like this, Rose's ability when she was alive extended to controlling large amounts of plants.
The element of wood was something she could manipulate, perhaps what garnet told her long ago was true. Rose kept many things secret, especially from all of them. No less under fifteen minutes, Steven was done constructing Lapis's bedroom. But Steven overdid it, Rose's face and hair vanished. Then her hair, arms, dress and left only Steven's pink aura burning around him.
Lapis went over to Steven and manipulated some water from the ocean. She wrapped the water around Steven that covered his body. It glowed with a light blue color. Steven felt his strength returning, his breathing stabilizing and his thoughts focusing.
"Lapis...thank you."
"No problem. You didn't have to go that far Steven."
"I just...wanted to impress you Lapis. Hey Lapis, I never knew you had healing abilities."
"I don't. the water covering you is infused with my energy. Because i'm fully gem, I never run out of stamina or energy. I'm just transferring some of it to you. It was amazing to see Rose Quartz again, it brings great joy to me."
'" never knew my mom," Steven started. His pink aura disappearing. the color of his skin and shape of his hair all returning to normal. "all I know about her is what Pearl tells me, what I seen on a video tape and what I dream about her."
Lapis took the water covering Steven back and returned it back to the ocean. She helped Steven up to his feet and held on to his left hand.
"You're mother, you're mother was an extraordinary Gem Steven. She would be very proud of you. Hey, want to go surfing?"
"You surf? Heck yeah I want to go surfing." Steven told her.
"Alright, first let me change my attire."
As Pearl looked on as Lapis regress back into her stone, Steven caught her stone and held it close to his chest. A sound caught Pearl's attention, she turned around and walked around to the side of the mountain and saw Carlos tugging on the gated fence the crystal gems had placed back up. Pearl's countenance went soft as a smile took over her face. She rushed over to let Carlos inside.
Carlos walked through the door of the fence and hugged Pearl when she closed and locked the door. Pearl hugged Carlos back and blushed when he kissed her on her cheek.
"Sorry for taking a while to notice you Carlos." pearl told him, bringing her hands behind her back and looking down at her feet.
"You look so cute when you blush Pearl." Carlos complimented the embarrassed Gem.
"Carlos stop it, I do not look cute."
Carlos chuckled and wrapped his arm behind Pearl's back and walked with her back over to Steven and Lapis. On their way back over to Steven and Lapis, Carlos spoke to Pearl about work.
"You know we got work tomorrow, but Thursday we got off. I was thinking of maybe doing something together. Nothing to big, nothing to serious."
"Carlos I...i cherish your companionship and you as a person. But I do have duties I have to fulfill, one of those is the defense of this city and the creatures of this planet. I've been missing several important missions. One of these days we will go on a date, I promise."
"Sounds great Pearl. I don't want you to feel like I'm rushing you into something you're not comfortable in. I'm just happy for every moment I can spend with you. That's all that matters to me."
"Carlos..." Pearl said with soft tenderness in her voice. She tip toed slightly to press her lips on Carlos who closed his eyes and pressed his lips on Pearl's.
The sound of laughter broke Pearl's focus on Carlos long enough to pull away and see who was laughing. Carlos and Pearl went over and saw Steven holding Lapis up by her sides. Lapis was wearing a two piece bikini suit of the color navy blue. Pearl blushed intensely and decided to go over to Lapis to tell her to choose an attire that, would stimulate Steven in the wrong ways.
"Pearl don't, let them have fun."
"But don't you see what she's wearing, that's highly inappropriate of her, especially around Steven."
"Her intentions aren't evil, a little mysterious but not evil. And Steven can look past the surface."
"How can you tell?" Pearl asked him, doubtful of his words.
"I just can." Carlos said. As he did, Lapis stopped laughing and looked over to Carlos, her smile slowly vanishing as she and carlos looked at one another.
A Beam of light shined through the windows of Steven's house, indicating Garnet and Amethyst were back. Garnet stepped out of the house and noticed Pearl and Carlos standing closely together. She jumped off of the beach deck and landed several feet away from them. Amethyst shape shifted into an owl and flew down towards Carlos.
Amethyst landed on Carlos's shoulder and introduced herself to him.
"Hey there pal, my name's amethyst. What you doing here with Pearl."
"Amethyst! get off of Carlos right now." Pearl demanded.
"It's alright Pearl. Hola amethyst, my name is Carlos Montoya. Pearl's boyfriend."
"Whoa, Pearl. A boyfriend, what would Rose think."
Pearl's cheeks went sky blue and her arms went stiff with balled up fists at the end of her wrists. "Rose had a powerful connection with Greg. I like Carlos, he isn't like other humans, he seems to understand what we gems go through. Besides, i'm sure Rose would approve of Carlos."
Garnet came walking over and walked past Carlos. She grabbed Pearl by her hand and pulled her over. Carlos tried to follow them, but Amethyst shape shifted back into her normal form and told him.
"Whoa, whoa wait a second there. Let those two talk first, Garnet's not very comfortable around new people."
"Pearl, is it true. Is that human your boyfriend?"
"Yes Garnet, he is. Do you have an issue with that."
"We are the guardians of this world. We can't afford to start forming relationships with human beings. Rose, her life be remembered is no longer with us because she fell In love. Jasper is no doubt going to return with more home world gems, more ships. And Peridot is still on this planet, that is If we believe what Lapis is saying is true."
"I'm not doing anything with Carlos that's going to jeopardize myself or my form. We are taking precautions and baby steps in our relationship. Do you see me saying something about Ruby and Sapphire relationship? No. I would appreciate it if you never bring up my relationships again."
Garnet watched Pearl walk back over to Carlos with her always quiet and stoic countenance. Garnet looked over and saw Lapis surfing on a surfboard made of water. Steven was also on that surf board with her. Lapis kept her arms around Steven, keeping him from falling off.
Garnet titled her down, looking down at her feet and walking back over to the temple.
Palmyra, Maheswaran Residence
1:00 [Afternoon]
Standing outside in her backyard, Connie stood in the middle with her hands pressed together almost as if in prayer. She breathed in and out in softly and calmly. Inside of her mind, Connie went through the memories of Smoky Quartz. Through meditation, Connie had managed to descend down into the mind of the Smoky Quartz which lingered inside of his gem. Inside of the gem, Connie came up against a list of 'Earth Methods' which were basically Offensive, Defensive and Supplementary techniques used in combat.
For each Method, there was an image, like a five second video. There were circles which symbolized the difficulty level. One circle was for rookies, five were for battlefield experts. Connie looked upon an image of a sword, the instructions on how to manifest it were on the video. Back in the real world, Connie opened her eyes and punched the ground, well more like tapped her fist on the ground. Her hand sunk in, almost like the earth was sucking her arm in.
"C'mon...i know...i can...DO IT! AAAHHHH!" Connie yelled. Pulling a sword grip out of the earth, Connie used both hands and all of her strength to pull a sword out. Almost like Smoky's gem was responding to Connie's need for strength, her hands and arms were covered in stone which amplified her normal strength times ten.
When Connie pulled out what she wanted, she was amazed at what her eyes were gazing up at. A Sword grip made of Obsidian. Cross guards made out of Titanium, a Smoky quartz encrusted pommel. And the long six foot blade, made out entirely of Diamond. It's sparkling magnificence was only matched by its ability to cut through anything.
Connie brought the blade down and rested the tip on the ground, holding the obsidian grip with both of her hands, she made a sworn oath to Smoky Quartz.
"I Connie Maheswaran, inheritor of Commander Smoky's gem, promise to defend the world from all forms of evil. Be they gems, monsters or aliens. I promise to put my family, friends and planet first before my self or needs. Do you hear Me!"
Outer Space, Kuiper Belt
Entering a region in the solar system known as the kuiper belt. A metallic sphere held a Gem inside. He was a male gem who had Orange skin. Black Greaves, sabatons and knee guard armor. Black gauntlets on his hands. His left arm was covered in mostly black armor plating. Leaving his right arm mostly exposed. He wore a red and black hooded Poncho with a red flame insignia in the middle. Underneath that he wore black leather armor. He wore no helmet. Leaving his head exposed.
His face was entirely orange with a red bar going down his neck and black pigmentation around his eyes. The color of his eyes, yellow. His hair was like fire, wisping up and around. A portion of it, a bang covered his left eye and face. His hair let off flickering embers. He sat down on a seat, his arms crossed over his chest and his eyes closed.
Who was this gem? Was he an enemy? Friend, Neutral party. Only time would tell when he lands on earth.
- Continued in Chapter 10, 'Men is Suits.'
(!) "I want to thank Dante Watterson for sharing with me the idea of a creating an OC. All credit goes to him."