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: A Growing control over his gem power. An inter-species family crash lands on earth and a secret Carlos wants to share with Pearl, so much will happen in so very little time.
Story Tags: Steven Universe, Lapis Lazuli, OC's, Connie Maheswaran Pearl, Amethyst, Ruby, Sapphire, Bells, Whistles, Citrine, Peridot, Beach City, Gem Powers, Romance, Adventure, Comfort, Destiny.
Music Inspiration: "Internet Crush" By: Hex Cougar
Chapter 24: Family and Secrets
Wednesday
May 15, 2016, 10:40 [Morning]
Crystal Temple, Beach City
Seated on the couch below Steven's bedroom area was 'Bells.' The name of the anthropomorphic black cat from the planet mars. His martian gem wife, Citrine sat next to him. And lastly, was their inter-species child, 'Whistles.' Citrine tenderly and lovingly cradled her child in her arms. Whistles had with him a pacifier in his mouth which he slowly suckled on the glowing yellow nipple. The ring of the pacifier blinked with a red light. The guard was lit with a blue light.
Amethyst sat backwards on a wooden chair. her forearms resting on the top of the back rest. Soren was leaning back against one of the support beams of the beach house. His arms were crossed over his breast plate and poncho. He kept his face lowered and his eyes closed. He listened to everything Bells and his wife had to say.
Pearl stood next to Carlos who decided to hang around a little bit longer for something important. Pearl kept an arm wrapped around his own and listened to Bells. Ruby and Sapphire both sat on the floor in front of the inter-species family. Steven sat down on the floor also, with Lion resting behind him. Lapis chose to stand behind Steven and Lion. Steven had the happiest grin on his face accompanied by stars in his eyes. He couldn't get the fact that Bells looked a lot like Cookie cat.
Bells ran his gloved hand over the top of of his baby's head. He smiled down at his sleeping child and moved his muzzle left to right rapidly. Citrine smiled at him and looked over at Soren who kept his face down.
"My name is Admiral Bells," Bells finally spoke, but spoke with some heartache in his voice.
"I was an Admiral of a Fleet of Martian Orbital Fighters. I commanded 200 brave martians and gems when I was on Mars. Me and my Native Martians brethren are what humans call 'Cats.' before Gems came to either Mars or Earth, we Martians called this planet Plan Azu; The Blue Planet. We had visited man when he was in his early stages of evolution.
We left and came back a few thousands years later and helped influenced civilizations like the Sumerians, Kush, Yuezhi and more. We taught them the art of war, farming, construction and secret teachings of the solar system and universe. We returned back to Mars when we learned that another extra-terrestrial race called 'Gems' had came down to earth and immediately started to claim large swaths of it as theirs.".
My great ancestor, 'Uxor' formed an alliance with the earth gems. The conditions were that those gems on earth would not violate Mars's Sovereignty by flying their Star ships and 'Star surfers,' or colony ships in Mars's low earth orbit and would not migrate to Mars. Both sides agreed to work together as brethren planets. In time the second condition of the treaty would be dropped, and earth gems would be allowed to live on Mars."
Bells looked over to Citrine. She smiled down at whistles and handed him to Bells to hold. Citrine flattened the wrinkles in her shorts and placed her hands down on her laps and continued where her husband left off.
"I was not among the first generation of earth gems who immigrated to Mars. instead I was made on mars by my fellow ancestor gems. When I formed into being six thousand years ago, Gems and Martians were already living peacefully together. However, I did not know that Mars had already been conquered by Homeworld by proxy through Commanders. The only reason Martians were still around was because of the mercy and protection of the legendary commander smoky showed after he, and warrior gems came from home world to conquer my home planet.. He and the other senior commanders were essentially In charge of Mars. protecting it and making sure martian life kept moving along for everyone and everything as it was supposed to.
Nine hundred and ninety nine years after I formed. I met Bells who was only one hundred and eighteen. Actually, he looked relatively young despite being born only eight hundred and eighty one years after me. Martians, I learned from dating Bells, age relatively fast after being born. After one hundred years their already at the age humans would call teenagers. From there, aging is decelerated so much that they age by one year every half century.
Then Commander Smoky had the whole Martian colony assemble around the castle he and the other commanders lived and worked in. he announced to all of us to prepare to defend our home from the approaching Armada of the Jupiter Outpost. He said if we did nothing, Mars was going to be turned to into an inhospitable wasteland. I still remember Smoky slowly raising his hands up to the light blue sky of Mars with a confident grin on his face. We all watched as he created a ring of Asteroids around Mars to destroy Homeworld battle cruisers and dreadnoughts.
After the battle for mars ended. me and bells along with a few gem and martian survivors came out wearing protective suits to a planet which lost most of it's atmosphere, culture, iconic blueberry colored grasslands and sparkling lakes and snow capped mountains. Cities and towns were razed, gems were completely turned to dust and the bloody bodies of martian men, women and children were littered everywhere.
Using martian and gem technology, we established underground Bio-Domes under the North and South Poles, where there were still large reservoirs of trapped underground water. The domes were heated to counter the year round extreme cold that made everyday life difficult."
Citrine then took whistles back from Bells when she was done speaking. Everyone's attention was focused solely on the happy family which was sharing everything they've been through up to now. Bells removed the white winter vest off and stretched his arms out. He yawned and unintentionally displayed his large feline fangs to everyone.
"I trained hard and long. Proved my self to all my fellow martians at the academy for Mars's Self Defense Force program. It was a tie between me and a Gem called White Zircon on who would become admiral of Mars's fleet of Orbital Fighters. The academy took a vote, and chose me. But my position as 'Admiral Bells' was short lived. Me and Citrine wanted a child, she explained to me the process she was going to go through and what was going to happen to her in the end
Citrine said she lived a long life, and wished she could live with me after our child was born. But without a donation of half of yin and yang energy to supplant her own that she was going to give up to create our child; she would be dead hours later after birthing my boy. I resigned my position as Admiral to white zircon. spent time with my beloved and...a few days later whistles was conceived.
Citrine and I did not want our boy to grow up on Mars. So we set our sights on Earth. I took our ship, said goodbye to Mars and headed to earth. The journey was anything but smooth. Citrine endured painful labor pains, shouted in agony and cried more than I ever heard from her. Upon entering earth's powerful atmosphere, the ship's hull started to brake apart, catching on fire. I was expecting to say goodbye hours later after crash landing here...but thanks to this planet's commander over...there, I get to live with my two loves and joys."
Bells pointed his claw over to Soren. Everyone turned around and looked over at him. Steven wiped a tear away from his eye as he smiled happily at Soren. Pearl looked over at Soren and thought to herself many things. Steven hopped up to his feet and walked over to Citrine who showed him baby whistles. The way Steven smiled and wagged his finger playfully at the hybrid child made her entertain the misleading questions Ronaldo asked her earlier on the boardwalk.
Pearl looked over to Carlos who walked over and squatted before Steven who was holding whistles in his arms. The way he offered his finger for whistle's tiny hand to grasp filled her with a foreign and alien feeling. First she looked at Carlos, then whistles and Steven. And lastly over to Soren who was looking outside the window of the beach house. Arms still crossed and silent through all of this.
"A commander who shares some of himself with a common gem, to save her and her hybrid child is now his disciple." Soren spoke stoically and firm.
Steven returned whistles back to his mother and father. His cheery and happy demeanor suddenly became unsure and worried.
"Commander?" Citrine said nervously.
"You see that boy that was holding your child just now. He's also a hybrid. his mother was a Gem noble called Rose Quartz. she was in the running to be considered Pink Diamond in Homeworld. But her decision, like that of Smoky's and past commanders, lead to her name, respect and honor to be expunged from the annals of Homeworld history. He nearly killed me on multiple occasions during our battle after I landed here. For a moment, he and his mother were one. Such power, enough to rival mine is something that will come in handy later.
I came here on message Red Beryl shared with me In my dream while I was still serving my leader. That boy is the shield of humanity. until he has complete and fluid control over his gem's power, consider this planet under my guardianship. You and Bells will accompany me and the crystal gems on missions."
"I understand Commander. You gave me something all gem parents never receive. A second chance. You gave me my life back." Citrine stood up from the couch, walked over to Commander Soren with whistles in her arms and stopped in front of him.
"Would you...anoint my child...Commander." Citrine asked.
"What does your wife mean by Anoint, Bells?" Carlos whispered at the Black Cat who had stood up from the couch and kept his eyes on his wife.
"Hybrids are rare. But when their around, especially In the presence of a commander. The child may be sprinkled, doused or smeared with water, oil, wax or marked by the commander if he chooses. It's the highest honor for gems and their hybrid children. It also, by gem culture makes the commander the third parent."
"Like a Godfather." Carlos muttered.
"Like a what?" Bells asked. Carlos waved his hand, gesturing to the martian to forget it.
Commander Soren smiled. It was neither cocky or filled with pride. It was one that came from relief. He uncrossed his arms, turned around and placed his armored hand on Citrine's shoulder. He nodded lightly. Citrine's eyes filled with tears as she hugged her baby close to her chest.
"When would you like to anoint our son, commander." Bells asked him.
Soren looked over at him and said, "Saturday. I'm honored. Most junior commanders like myself are considered to young to anoint someone. But is anyone here complaining?"
"NOOO!" Shouted the whole house.
"Then it's a Party!" Amethyst yelled excitedly.
Citrine curtsied before Soren and walked back over to her husband, bells. Steven approached the happy family and offered them an early anointing present.
"Mr. Bells, Mrs. Citrine." Steven said. Bells and Citrine turned their attention from their baby over to Steven who kept his arms behind his back, he kicked at invisible rocks.
"Yeah Steven?" Citrine replied.
"I've been training with Lapis here for a while. And one of my specialized abilities is to control and create lumber into many different shapes and sizes. I created a home for Lapis here and...i was thinking, would you mind if I built you your own home."
Bells turned his face back over to Citrine and raised an eyebrow. Citrine nodded her head. "No, we wouldn't mind Steven. Martian homes are built with stone and metal though."
"Stone?" Steven said, scratching the back of his head. "Connie." he thought to himself.
"Lumber would do just fine Steven. Something like this home would be just fine." Citrine chimed.
"I got something even better!" Steven declared enthusiastically. He went running out of the beach house. Carlos and Lion followed after him.
On the east side of the Hill that overlooked the Crystal Temple. Steven changed his arms into lumber and created several serpentine pillars that snaked into the sand below and rose out and slowly created the foundation and framework of an American craftsman style home. Carlos watched and couldn't believe the level of control and precision Steven had over his Elemental power or "Specialized" ability.
Back inside of the beach house, Pearl walked over to Soren who resumed looking back out the window. Ruby and sapphire took turns holding Whistles and gently caressing his silky black fur. Lapis was more shy and kept her distance, choosing to simply look from a comfortable spot.
"Soren." Pearl started.
"Yes Pearl, what is it."
"Are you going to tell Steven about Peridot?"
"I am. Everything in due time pearl. She's not my prisoner, she's yours. More specifically, Steven's. Her fate is in his hands. Was that all?"
"No. why did you do it. Why did you bestow some of your energy to Citrine."
"i see you still remain suspicious of me. That's fine. I deserve all of your mistrust, anger and bias. I've committed multiple atrocities across this galaxy and in others in the past. Coming here to help the shield of humanity, showing mercy to a gem who just became a mother...redemption has to start somewhere for me. I know how you feel about your human mate pearl."
"E-excuse me?" Pearl stuttered, sounding and looking embarrassed.
"Don't feel ashamed. Take a look at those two over there. That's what I wish Homeworld was like. Otherwise I wouldn't have come over. Everyone over there is like a robot. It's never a dull day. Workers work till they drop. scientist like Peridot develop the habit of mumbling to themselves from all the work they do. Soldiers goosestep for hours in military parades for Yellow diamond.
Seeing them reminds me of the family I left behind. The family I condemned to death by leaving them. Excuse me, I'm going downstairs to be alone with my thoughts...and Peridot. She hasn't said much since being locked up."
Pearl watched Soren walk over to the center of the beach house and walk down the steps leading down to the area with jail cells. It also served as his bedroom and living quarters.
"Hey Bells! Citrine! Come outside!" Steven's voice rang from outside the beach house.
Bells and Citrine walked out to the beach and followed Steven who looked like he had worked up a sweat. Steven lead them around to the side of the hill on the east side and presented to them a large and beautiful wooden American craftsman style home.
"Wow! Steven, it's gorgeous." Citrine expressed with a smile and hearts in her eyes.
Steven blushed and skipped over to bells who was scratching his chin unsure of how to feel or think about the home. He felt Steven tug on his gloved hand. He looked down and looked at Steven's grinning happy face. He raised an eyebrow and got down on one knee.
"Thank you for this...gift Steven."
"Aah it was nothing. Actually it was super hard. Also, if you're going to be living with us, would you mind if I called you...um..."
"Go ahead Steven. Don't be afraid."
"I want to call you Cookie cat. Please let me call you Cookie Cat! Oh pleeaasse!"
"Ahahahahaha." Citrine laughed.
Bells blushed and chuckled a bit. "Can I ask why?"
Steven closed his eyes and smiled, then he opened them and spoke, or sang.
"He's a new friend with an all new beat! Cause he came to this planet from outer space! A refugee from an interstellar war!
But now he's hear with me and my friends! Cookie cat! He's a new friend for me and Earth! Cookie Cat!
He's super cool and speak a little funny! Cookie cat! He came with here with his family! Cookie Caaaaaat!"
Bells was taken back a bit by the little song. But he smiled and pressed his gloved hand down on top of Steven's head. "Sure Steven. Call me Cookie Cat."
Gem Battlefield
12:10 [Noon]
Steven walked down a dirt path in between a field of flowers and giant strawberries. He held his hands up to the air to feel the fluttering of butterfly wings. Butterflies were absolutely everywhere. Behind him was Carlos and Pearl who walked alongside him, her arm wrapped around his own. Pearl looked a little worried, nervous almost.
After Bells and Citrine walked into their new home. Pearl came out to see what Steven had made. Carlos came up behind her and whispered into her ear that he wanted to share something very important with both her and Steven. But it would have to be just them three, no one else. So many thoughts ran through her head,wondering what it was Carlos wanted to share with them.
She figured he had something to give them from his trip to Mexico. Or maybe it was the location of a corrupted gem. Then, he started to speak to Steven.
"Steven, on a scale from one to ten. How good of a teacher would you say Lapis is in training you on using your gem powers."
"Uuh, it's hard to say. She's taught me how to create more Wood Methods. Uuh, oh! She's taught me how to concentrate on my breathing when my gem aura is active. I can create energy constructs from my aura like giant hands. And she's helped me keep my shield and sword around much longer. I say she's at a solid 8."
"Impressive. I bet my Pearl had something to do with your earlier progress before Lapis came around. Right pearl." Carlos winked at pearl. Pearl blushed and looked down at her feet.
"But there's something Lapis can't teach you. You know why Steven? because she isn't half human. Like both of us."
Steven stopped walking and turned around. Pearl pulled her arm out from around Carlos's arm with a shocked looked on her face. "What did you you just say-"
"Carlos. Are you a...uuh, what are you doing?" Steven asked him.
Carlos unbuttoned his black long sleeve shirt. He removed it along with his white tank top and tied them around his waist. Steven ran over and stood next to Pearl who took a spot behind him. She saw Carlos's flexing the muscles of his back. On the base of his spin was a bump. Something began to melt away, flesh. Located on the base of his spine was a small rectangular Moldavite Gemstone.
Steven gasped and became wide eyed. Pearl on the other hand, blushed, hung her mouth slightly open from shock.
Carlos balled up his hands into fists and tightened them. An Oliver green aura twisted around like a small tornado. His luscious hair rose and whipped around from the air rotating around him at high velocity.
"I have been around for over 1400 years. I was born in Mexico before the Spanish came and conquered the Aztec empire and all of Mesoamerica. I was born in 600 AD to a Human Father and Gem mother. Pearl, this is what I wanted to show you."
Steven looked up at pearl who kept her hands pressed on her mouth. She had tears flowing down her cheeks.
"Steven. When your Gem Aura surrounds your body, it's called The Primary Stage. You can enter it with minimal physical and mental training. This stage will amplify your existing physical strength, speed, reflexes, elemental and magical abilities by a significant amount."
Carlos's spinning Olive green tornado like aura became larger. Steven created latches of wood that brew around the top of his shoes and kept him anchored on the ground. Pearl held on to Steven's hand as she watched, speechless of what was happening in front of her.
Carlo's Rotating Aura grew four muscular arms whose hands wore padded fingerless gloves. "This as you may know from your own power, Steven, is The Secondary Stage. Your aura can create constructs like weapons, arms, armor. Anything you can imagine and put into form using just your aura. I can manifest a sword, spear, Round shield and a dark green sphere of air charged energy. I know you can manifest your mother's sword and shield which is impressive. In this stage Steven, our physical, magical and elemental abilities are boosted by double. Making us even stronger. And now..."
Steven created a wooden log that rose from the ground that wrapped itself around Pearl's waist. It kept her from being blown away from from the sudden burst of Air and energy being released by Carlos.
Carlo's Tornado like aura grew taller until is surrounded both Steven and Pearl. Both of them covered their eyes to keep the violent rotating air from sending soil, plants and strawberries from hitting them. The olive green aura stabilized. Steven and Pearl lowered their arms and hands away from their faces and gasped as the same time.
Both of them stood in the presence of Carlos's Guardian which took on the form of a 200 foot long Olive green see through snake that had feathers around its head and face, like a headdress. Its body was armor plated and it's eyes glowed a yellow color. Carlos's skin had turned slightly olive green, his dark brown hair shimmered like polished bronze in the sun. Pearl was practically drooling over her boyfriend at this point.
"This Steven, is The Tertiary Stage. I call this Mode Quetzalcoatl, my birth name. As mentioned before, all of our abilities receive a triple boost to our already amplified power. But in our third stage, our aura form forms a protective guardian, whose defensive capabilities are truly a wonder to behold."
"Carlos, that's the only stage I can enter so far. I've been trying to go past it, Lapis said I could enter my Mastered Gem Form. Is it true?"
"Yes Steven, you can. But training alone will not bring it forth. Only a special place in my ancestral homeland can help you. Speaking of a mastered gem form. The Quaternary Stage, as I call it is something that took me over seven days without sleep to fully master it. Just watch."
Carlos breathed In and out. He raised his hand up to his chest and brought them down. There was a burst of air that radiated out from Carlos's guardian. The guardian started to be sucked into Carlos's body that slowly underwent a change. Pearl hugged Steven and looked on with amazement with him.
"AAAAGGHHH!" Carlos yelled and the ground rumbled with him.
The butterflies which plagued the gem battlefield, flew as far away as possible from Carlos who was the epicenter of the shaking disturbance. Carlos's pants and shirts flapped upward wildly.
From his gem located on the base of his spine, a pure blackness emerged from it that covered his entire torso, his neck, upper arms and upper legs. His extremities shined like polished black marble. His forearms and shins however, glowed and shimmered a bright Olive Green. His hands black though and so were his feet. His entire face shimmered an olive green with black around his eyes and his irises glowing olive green. His dark brown hair lost it's shimmering bronze look from the tertiary stage and became jet black, it too took on a shiny appearance.
"This is...the Quaternary Stage or...the Mastered Gem Form. The black and the olive green color represent the balance of dark and light my mother gave to help make me. Steven, if it's ok with you. I would like to be your mentor and teacher.
Steven, as amazed and excited as he was, was worried about what Lapis might think about all of this. He looked up at pearl for advice. She was fawning over Carlos who had returned back to his base form. Pearl looked at Steven and grinned happily at him.
"Pearl should i-"
"Yes Steven! Oh please accept his offer. There is no one better qualified on this earth than Carlos who can make you the best gem as you can be." she pleaded fervently.
"is it ok if I talk to Lapis about this. She's been great with me, I don't want to leave her wondering what happened."
"Absolutely Steven. Take as much as time as you want." Carlos responded. He came over and wrapped his arms around Pearl's back. Pearl leaned her face in and indulged in a long and passionate kiss with her newly revealed hybrid boyfriend.
Steven walked back over to the warp pad alone. He placed his hands inside of the pockets of his pants. He lowered his face and thought to himself.
Crystal Temple, Top Right Arm
1:40 [Afternoon]
Laying down on the remaining hand of the crystal temple statue. Steven rested the back of his head on his hands which were situated behind it. One leg was raised while the other was crossed over it. Steven needed a place to be left alone with his thoughts.
"Garnet, Pearl and Amethyst helped me get to my primary stage and a little bit of my secondary stage. Connie helped me get in contact with the consciousness of my mom. Lapis helped me get better control of my second and third stage, including helping me create many Wood Methods. But Carlos said no amount of training would help me step into my Mastered Gem form.
Never mind the fourth stage, I still have difficulty maintaining my Guardian Mother Form. Connie's not a hybrid like me. She's just able to use Commander Smoky's powers. Carlos is a hybrid, like me. Maybe...maybe I should train under him. He's been around a long time. Wait! Am I going to be around that long too? Can I?"
"Shield of Humanity, Steven Universe." said a deep and calm voice. Interrupting Steven's thinking.
Steven opened his eyes and looked up. He saw Commander Soren levitating above the statue's hand. He floated down and settled down on the hand.
"yes Soren, what is it."
"I need to talk to you about your prisoner."
"My prisoner?" he asked confusingly.
"Peridot." Commander Soren answered.
Continued in Chapter 25.