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: After Steven and Connie's embarrassing play fight, two days had gone by. Getting a feel of Steven's current progress under his mentorship, Carlos Motoya believes it is time to step into phase two of Steven's training.

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: "Keep your Secrets" by: The Ninetys

Chapter 33: See You in Three Months

Wednesday

May 22, 1:30 [Afternoon]

Beach House, Crystal Temple

Wearing the same track suits that they wore when they started Steven's training, Steven and Carlos wore it again for their departure. Steven came marching down the steps of his beach home with suitcases in hand, a book bag on his back and a rolled up sleeping bag on top of it. Carlos followed behind with three more bags of clothing, footwear, kitchen materials, food and personal items.

Steven made his way to his friends who were waiting for him and Carlos on the beach, while getting there Steven thought back to what he spoke to his friends, father and Lapis about.

Steven's POV

"The night Connie came over to see me. She wanted to challenge me and show me how much progress she had made in her training with Smoky's gem power. I thought we were really going to fight. Remembering what Carlos told me after the Anointing of Whistles, I'm glad and relieved that I did not get into it with Connie. Carlos told me after Connie and me stopped slap fighting and laughing. Commander Soren told him telepathically that Connie's physical abilities alone like her speed, her strength and her enhanced perception would have trumped me in a 'no abilities' match.

But if we were using our abilities and powers to the best of our abilities, I would have still lost. Out of ten hypothetical matches, I would only win two of them. Hearing that made me feel...weak. I felt sad and disappointed. I don't hate Connie, I can't hate her. But she has been working hard, even more than me. That's why I told my dad and Lapis that I was going to Mexico and train with Carlos for three months. Carlos said we would be training under Xibalba, in a special that help me awaken my Master Gem form.

My dad at first told me that it was too long and if there was perhaps another place that was closer to home. But after Carlos explained to him why we needed to be in Mexico for a long time, he came around to the idea and gave me his blessings.

Lapis was a little different about it. Unlike my dad, she seemed to understand why I decided on this course. She told me she was going to miss me, and of course i was going to miss her. I thanked her for understanding."

Steven and Carlos stopped when they approached their friends, partners and dad who were waiting for them on the beach. Carlos noticed Pearl had changed her clothing back to her previous outfit, which was her light blue tunic, sash, mango colored leggings. Pink socks and blue flats on her feet. She looked angry. Her arms were crossed over her chest, her eyes looking out towards the ocean. Carlos went up to her and spoke to her.

"Pearl, is something the matter."

"You're going to be gone an awfully long time Carlos. And so will Steven."

"We'll be ok Pearl. And so will Steven. Where we're going, no one will find us or disturb us. Where no warp pad can reach and no tree roots can dig deep enough. I am going to miss you Pearl. my pearl. My beautiful nimble pearl. The love of my life. Angel face, doll baby, my-"

Pearl turned and pressed her hand on, her cheeks flushing a light blue color. "Ok Carlos, please you're embarrassing me in front of everyone." Pearl begged of him.

Carlos mumbled something behind Pearl's hand. Pearl took her hand off of his mouth, a sheepish smile coming over her face. "I said ok Gorgeous." Pearl looked down at her feet, smiled and looked back up at Carlos.

Greg who was one of the attendees to see Carlos and his son, Steven. Watched Carlos hold pearl close to him, rocking her back and forth slowly in his arms. This brought a sad smile to his face. A pain came over him. He was happy for them, and for his son. His time with the gem he loved came and went, never to return again. That is, unless Steven could do something Rose's half sealed inside of Lion. But for now, this was there time.

Steven held Lapis's hand, watching Garnet give Carlos his Black Heart Artifact, which was in fact his mother. Carlos held the black lantern artifact. It was Obsidian shiny, looked like a Feuerhand Lantern with a tar black human heart beating inside of the glass. Carlos took a look at the heart and hugged it close to his chest. He muttered the words, "mama. I'm right here."

"Que...que...Quezatlcoatl?"

"No mama. I changed my name remember, it's Carlos now." Carlos's voiced softened. Carlos levitated his artifact between his hands. He made it vanish before everyone eyes in a small tornado he created around the artifact.

Carlos closed hie eyes and nodded his head. He inhaled some air and exhaled it out. He smiled and opened his eyes, turning to Greg and bowed his head lightly.

"Mr Universe. If there is anything you wish to tell your son before we depart, I will give you as much time as you want." Greg nodded his head and called Steven over to the side so they could speak in private.

Steven returned back to Carlos when he was done listening and talking to his father. He wiped a tear or two away from his eyes. Steven encased his bags and suitcases in wooden coats and connected them all together with wooden chains. Steven took a spot next to Carlos and waved goodbye to Pearl, Amethyst, Ruby, Sapphire, Lapis and Soren. Bells and his Family said their farewell to Steven earlier. They were exploring their adoptive home, and their first location was The Emerald Hills.

Peridot did not attend the departure, choosing to stay inside of the beach house and learn as much as she could of the earth and it's various cultures through books lying around. And those given to her by Greg.

Carlos surrounded himself and Steven in his Green tornado like aura. Carlos went straight into his tertiary form, turning his skin slightly olive green. His hair flapped upwards, it's dark brown color vanishing in glitter and turning into shimmering polished bronze. Lapis created a large see through wall of water to keep the sand and blowing air from hitting them in their faces. Everyone except Pearl stared wide eyed at the 200 foot long olive green plated feathered serpent coiled around Carlos and Steven. Greg fell back from awe.

Soren did not look at all moved by the display of power. Neither impressed or disappointed. Amazed or worried. He kept a stoic face on most of the time. He did not need to be behind Lapis's shielding wall of still clear water. And Lapis did not care to extend her wall to protect him either. Carlos's air blew around the commander. Seemingly avoiding him.

Carlos extended his hand out above his head, his Guardian looked up towards the sky and took off with them inside of it's head. The take off was loud, creating a sonic boom and small take off crater on the ground. Greg watched the streak of olive green rising up towards the upper atmosphere, then fly south as such a speed it was a blur.

"Heeyy! Waiiitt!" shouted a familiar voice from behind everyone.

Soren turned, saw Connie or Commander Smoky as he saw her, rushing over to the group. Soren bent down on one knee out of respect to his superior's visit.

"Your Stony grace, it is a pleasure and honor to have you visit us again Commander Soren." Soren said with respect and admiration.

Connie stopped in front of him, patted him on the head and walked towards Greg. "Mr Universe, did Steven depart with Carlos already?"

"Yes Connie, i'm afraid you missed them."

"Rats! I knew that surge in power was from Carlos." Connie shared, sounding and looking disappointed.

"What was it that you wanted to tell Steven, Connie." Greg asked her.

"I wanted to wish him luck. To work hard and to take care of himself."

"He doesn't need luck. He's already a hard worked as I can attest from personally training him. And he can take care of himself just fine. he has someone capable above him teaching him now." Lapis said sourly from her spot.

Connie never glanced at Lapis once, choosing to keep her eyes on Greg the whole time.

"Anyways. I also wanted to share with you pearl, Ruby, Sapphire and Soren that. Well Soren you don't know what happened to me, but that's ok. I spoke to my parents about me, Smoky, my run-ins with corrupted gems in Palmyra. I demonstrated my ability to use Smoky's power for the good and defense of Palmyra and beach city to them. I told them this is who I was and what I was. I think they understood that nothing they did or said could change that.

So, I decided that I wanted to join the team. I can help you all out on missions, at least until I start High School in September.

"Only Steven is allowed to make someone an official member of the crystal gems." Lapis reminded everyone.

"Except Steven took off to train with the other hybrid. Which makes me the de facto leader." Soren chimed in.

"That other hybrid who you seem to lack any respect for has a name. And just because you're a commander doesn't mean you can decide who becomes a member of the crystal gems. Connie was here long before you came along. Connie, i always considered you one of us. And now that you are like steven and Carlos, I know rose would have agreed. Welcome to our team, Connie Maheswaran."

Chicxulub Crater, Yucatan, Mexico

Carlos and Steven were flying at Super Sonic speeds inside of Carlos's guardian. Steven saw the gulf of Mexico for a few minutes. Just like saw the State of Flowers and the Caribbean nation to his right. They all were there for a few minutes, then they weren't. Then Steven felt a shift in angle whilst inside of the guardian. Like the many other times he rode a roller coaster at fun land in beach city. Steven held on to Carlos's hand when they made a sharp drop towards the peninsula of Mexico.

"Whoa, whoa, Whooaaa!" Steven yelled, holding on to Carlos for dear life.

As fast as they were several thousand feet In the atmosphere, they were inside the ocean in a matter of seconds. Steven released Carlos's hand and opened his shut terrified eyes. He looked at in front of him at a massive buried ancient crater hidden under the ocean.

"This is the Chicxulub crater, the result of the asteroid that ended the reign of the dinosaurs, which gave rise to mammals. Although the geographical center of the crater in a town called 'Chicxulub' in the yucatan, it is not the entrance."

"Wait! You mean to tell me we're going to go inside of a crater?"

"Pretty much. Now jst hang back little man and let me concentrate. Where is it. Chingas! Adonde estas Perro. Ah, there it is!"

Steven and Carlos reached an entrance that looked like a giant stone snake opening it's mouth. Carlos walked in first, then Steven. He was amazed that no water from the ocean seemed to rush inside of the snake mouth entrance. Was it magic? Must have been. Marching down a long flight of stairs with two of his bags in hand and a book bag on his back, Steven was beginning to show fatigue.

Carlos stopped and turned to check on Steven. Steven was huffing like crazy, Carlos chuckled and shoo his head. He gave Steven a ride on his shoulders.

"Gracias Carlos. Anymore and I was sure i would have fainted."

"it's no trouble Steven. Now Steven, when we get there, please for the love of all that' good don't go anywhere without me telling you first."

"You got it friend. Hey I'm hungry, I'm in the mood for some tacos."

"You're not mentioning tacos just because I'm Mexican are you? Just playing with you. I too am also hungry. I think we should hurry this up, don't you think so also Steven?"

Carlos stopped walking down the stairs, took a charged running position and blasted his way down this seemingly endless flight of stairs. Reaching the bottom of these stairs, Steven hopped off Carlos's shoulders and took in the beauty of what he was looking at.

In front of them both was a one mile wide Garden within what appeared to be an underworld that mirrored the outside world. There was a water fountain as the centerpiece of this underworld garden. In the distance were different houses painted a specific color. True to it's name, Steven saw fields of watermelons, carrots, Blueberries, strawberries Potatoes, Spinach, tomatoes and trees with oranges and apples hanging from them. Except, these fruits and vegetables were giant in size.

"Welcome to Chicomoztoc Steven. For the next three months, this will be your home and where you will master your gem form.

"Wow."

"Yeah. Wow. Well let's get some tents set up."

"Tents? But there are homes over th-"

"Those may look like homes Steven. But they are actually portals into different training grounds."

"Portals? Like Lion's mane?"

"Come on Steven, there's a shed over here."

"Ok. Coming Carlos."

Next in Chapter 34, 'We're Going to need a Montage.'