Laser Light Surprise

"Yaaaawwwnn..." He rubbed his eyes before looking around. Still here... Great. He took a moment to relax on his bed, wondering if he should go back to sleep. But no. He can't. He has today and tomorrow to work on himself before the Red Eye comes to Beach City. Connie won't be arriving until... Two weeks from now.

He looked at the freezer and smiled. He got up, doing some small stretches before slipping into his sandals and heading to the kitchen. Opening the freezer, he pulled out the glowing bracelet for a moment. Man... If it weren't for his innocent mentality back then, this would've been creepy.

He smiled briefly before putting it back. Was he too slow with her? He felt like he wanted to be with her. But it seems like it took him Way too long to confess any feelings.

...well, no, no-no. Now's not the time. Closing the freezer, he looked around before preparing himself for a healthy breakfast. He didn't worry too much about his health when he was younger, buying all the greasy, salty fry bits he wanted, whenever he felt like it. So now, washing an apple and biting onto it, he got dressed in more athletic wear and took out an old boom box his dad gave him before stepping out to exercise.

"Steven? Steven, are you here?" Pearl looked about, clearly concerned. The small child had a habit of running off into the human town to get his sugary 'Donuts'. But by now, he's usually back. That's when she heard an excited giggle, and looked out, spotting Amethyst watching something.

She stepped outside, looking at her. "Yo P! Check it out!" Amethyst points at a familiar figure on the beach, and the rather loud music in the distance.

"...Steven?" She was surprised. Steven was doing some sort of exercise with Gymnastics music playing in the background. Even Garnet was there? She seemed to have joined Steven, giving him encouragement as he worked on the sand, doing such things as push-ups, squats, and so on.

"...what on Earth?" Amethyst just chuckled at Pearl's surprised tone. This was too perfect.

"Come on Steven, don't give up," Garnet says, arms crossed as she looked out at the ocean. "Your biggest enemy is yourself. Are you going to let yourself be defeated?"

Steven, however, was just trying to workout in relative peace, and was slightly concerned by her tone.

"Uhh... Garnet? I'm just here to exercise." But she shook her head.

"This is more than that Steven. You woke up and decided enough was enough. So you cannot give up. You have to give it your all." She exclaimed stoically.

He was... Perplexed by her choice of words, and yet, he felt kinda motivated?

"Ah... Future vision, of course." He thought to himself. She probably realizes he'll try harder if she's supportive and pushes him into trying harder. How nice of her. Well, he wasn't stopping any time soon. If he's gonna make some changes, he's gotta get ready.

After a long session, Steven called it quits for today. He can't force himself too much, he's still in a 13-year-old body. So, he stepped inside and got ready for a quick shower. He kinda glossed over breakfast and that's no good.

Garnet merely walked back inside with him. Pearl looked at him rather curiously, and Amethyst was enjoying Pearl's attitude Way too much to question this.

He got his stuff ready and entered to take a shower, turning on the water and closing the door behind him.

"He won't answer, Pearl." Garnet said, startling Pearl.

"Won't answer... What?" Pearl looked at Garnet, but she merely kept her arms crossed.

"He'll say he is merely doing exercise. And I know you won't like that answer."

Amethyst was still holding back giggles. Oh, snap, Pearl is getting called out!

"I-it's not what you think." She quickly says "I'm just surprised, is all. I've never seen him do that before."

"Well, it is very likely he'll keep doing so." She adjusts her shades. "And I think he should. It's healthy for him."

Pearl couldn't deny that. She had met humans who could be considered to be in "Peak Shape". Still, she never thought Steven would be one. But otherwise, that was really his choice. And she saw no need to fuzz over it. So eventually, they all left him alone, off to do another monster hunt while he finished showering.

Slipping into his sandals again, he adorned the towel like a toga as he stepped out of the bathroom. He felt sore, but he knew he had to keep this up if he was going to improve his health.

And as he dried himself, he thought about Lapis. How soon could he try and communicate with her? Should he let her go off to Homeworld? Peridot is helpful and very good and all. But... She was forced here, and only after being bubbled and then kept in the barn for a while did she actually try and help...

...but he still needs to deal with the Cluster, which won't come along until after his 14th birthday. And it isn't even Summer. And then, besides Peridot's intellect, there's also her knowledge that would bring solid proof of the Cluster's existence. Not to mention the Robonoids that bring back the machines and warp pads, and so on and so forth.

It just seemed like he couldn't just say "I'm from the future and I know everything." But he also can't just pretend to be in the dark forever. He's gonna need the Gems' help, especially later on.

...Pearl... Yes, Pearl! Amethyst is also too in the dark to help, and Garnet may be cool and collected, but too much drama or conflict and she splits in half. But Pearl's seen it all and knows more than anyone else. She knows of Pink Diamond, Her Mom's different things like her armory, garden, and so on.

It just makes sense, at least for now. But he can't tell her yet. She might get scared and not hand him the mirror. Perhaps after the Spire? She'll probably respect him if he doesn't forget the statue this time.

...it's settled then. He'll speak to Pearl first. And once he deals with Lapis, he goes with Pearl for a "Talk". For now, he must prepare for the Red Eye.

The next day was rather uneventful. He also did more exercise, with the Gems watching for a bit out of curiosity, before heading off to continue their search. He did go out to eat, but as opposed to his usual purchases, he instead went off to buy the healthy stuff and cooked at home. Makes him feel older and responsible, even if he still has to be around the same size as Amethyst.

Though, during his shopping trip, he did buy a length of rope for... Reasons. It was the day after that when things got interesting.

This day he had originally gone off to get fry bits, so instead he headed off early to get his dad, rope slung over his shoulder. He got up on top of the car and began jumping as loudly as he could.

"DAD! WAKE UP! I NEED YOUR HELP!" He kept jumping and jumping until the car alarm went off as Greg would wake up, startled, holding a waffle iron as he opened the back door. "Who's there?! I got a waffle iron!"

He smiled, even chuckling. He had already missed the guy as he came down. "Dad, it's me!"

He just blinked, looking at him, confused. He turned off the alarm. "Steven?" They then both approached each other and hugged, Steven, hugging him especially hard. "I almost waffled your face! What are you doing up so late?"

"What do you mean? Its just barely past noon." This conversation gave him Major deja vu.

"Ohh... Heh..." He was a bit embarrassed. "Sorry, its been a slow day here at the car wash..." He then grinned and put a hand on his shoulder. "Anyways, what's up? Just needed to see your old man? Pal around, learn some lessons about life?"

"No no, I need your help. I need the laser light cannon, the one mom gave you?" Steven asked.

Greg thought for a moment, confused. "It's really important. It's for... uh, Gem stuff!" Steven clarified, confusing him even More now, even making him a little worried.

"Wait. Is that a magical thing?" He even raised his hands in concern. "The Gems told me not to get involved with magic stuff. Besides... I could end up losing what's left of my hair." He doesn't hesitate to rub his bald spot.

"Dad, don't worry. I promise it's for a good reason. And, so what if your hair gets a little shorter? After all... If every pork chop were perfect..." He had a cheeky grin, only augmented by his puffy cheeks. "Uhh... Oh!" Greg snaps his finger. "We wouldn't have hot dogs! You remembered?" He smiled with a small blush, a little happier now.

"Of course Dad. You're pretty smart!" He always wished younger him gave his dad more praise, for sure. Guess this is his chance to do so. "Aw shucks Steve-o, that's an overstatement. Let's just go get your thing then. Do you know where this cannon is then?"

It was eerily quiet. Granted, not absolutely quiet. Greg could still hear the town around him, and the sounds of Steven crawling inside the storage unit.

"You good in there, Steven?" He calls out in concern, tugging slightly at the rope in his hands.

"I'm good!" His muffled voice rings out as he heads in deeper. It was weird being back in here. Seeing all the junk his dad has hoarded, maybe some of it has some history? Old dad tales from his time traveling perhaps. Of course, speaking of history, he found it!

"Hey Dad! Found the copies of your old CDs!" He yells, to which Greg chuckled.

"Ohh man, I couldn't give those things away. You know before I ran the car wash, when I was a One Man Band I traveled the whole country!" He reminisces "When I came to play a concert here on Beach City no one showed up except your Mother. And we were always together after that, until she gave up her physical form to bring you into the world."

He sighs, knowing Steven is probably bored of hearing the same old story. "I don't know what a magic lady like her ever saw in a plain ol dope like me."

Crrrrr-

He froze, then Very carefully moved his knee back. It was the photo with Dad, with a mouth full of Hot-dog, and Mom... just... Happy and pristine as always. He was lucky it didn't break again, if only barely. He put it to the side, before muttering: "If every pork-chop were perfect, we wouldn't have hot dogs."

The cannon lights up. Huzzah! He walked up to it, smiling, and starting to tie up the rope around it.

"Uhh... Steven? It's supposed to be Sunset, right?" Steven paused, then flinched with fear. "Do you see a big eyeball!?"

"Uhhhhhh, yeah...? Is that a bad thing?" Greg asks as Steven rushes to finish the final knot before starting to crawl back out. "That's what I need the cannon for! Get the car ready, we're gonna have to pull it out!"

"Look at the size of it... I had No Idea these things were so Big!" Pearl exclaimed, looking at the distant Red Eye looming over them, gazing menacingly over Beach City like a second sun.

Garnet, calm and collected as always, she looked at the large eye with a blank expression, even as a certain purple Gem came into the scene, on high alert.

"Garnet! Pearl!" She seemed worried, though Pearl wasn't surprised.

"We saw. Some of us are trying to protect humanity." She lightly scolds. "Where were you?"

"Eating fry bits. Steven loves them." She says nonchalantly.

"The only thing powerful enough to destroy it," Garnet explains "Is a light cannon that belonged to Rose Quartz."

Amethyst just groans, already knowing what this means. "If Rose were here, this would be So easy..."

Pearl just... sighs, with a sad look on her eyes. "I know. But she's not, and the cannon is missing. We'll have to find another solution..."

That was when a rather LOUD engine whirring became clear to them, accompanied by a rather cheerful set of lyrics: "Let me drive my van into your heart! Let me drive my van into your heart~!"

"And if we look at a place-" Steven promptly turns off the radio and steps out in a hurry. It was much earlier this time. The Red Eye was still huge, but the sky wasn't as bright red as last time.

"Is that..." Amethyst just looks in disbelief.

"Wha... They have it Already?" Pearl seemed confused.

Garnet, however, just grinned and put a hand on both of their shoulders. "Come on Gems, Let's help Steven."

They would all get together. Though they didn't know how it worked, Steven didn't waste time uttering the words: "If every Pork-chop were perfect, we wouldn't have Hot Dogs!" With triumph as the cannon opened and powered up.

They hold it in place, bracing themselves as the rose shaped cannon expanded, charging and whirring with Potent energy, before... The Red Eye was no more.

The lasers Shot Out in a Beautiful Spectacle as the Red Eye shattered into Huge chunks, thankfully far enough this time that it all landed in the ocean. And once the threat was gone, Steven let go of the cannon before cheering, a bit exhausted from having to rush this to avoid any further damage.

Pearl, however... Was in utter disbelief. "What was that? H-How did you get it to work?!"

Steven, playing dumb, just shrugs and says: "I just said that thing Dad always says about the pork chops and hot-dogs."

Greg... Had noticed. He teared up a bit, looking at the cannon, just... Amazed that Rose cared so much about a little catchphrase he thought was interesting.

Pearl wasn't convinced, but Amethyst was too busy picking up Steven and parading him while going "WOO! WOO! WOO!" Like an overly excited chimp.

Steven could only try and object as he tried not to just fall face-first into the sand. Overall, the day was saved once more.

He brushed his teeth like usual, getting comfy in his PJs as he lied down, once more listening to the ocean waves outside.

...He felt a little ecstatic. Things were going well. If he was lucky, he could improve everything soon. Next was... The Sea Spire.

He was always curious since the Gems mentioned it would be for him, what would he even be able to do with it if he Did save it? Secret Base? Cool House? No... Maybe just a cool place to visit, or a place to practice stuff. Whatever the case, the better he does, the sooner the Gems will trust him, right?

Oh, shoot! Wacky Sacks! He has to order his backpack soon. Maybe... Something that isn't the burger backpack. It suits young him, but he shouldn't have to force himself too much to act younger, right?

Whatever the case, he just closed his eyes... Trying not to think about it all. It was a good day, and tomorrow's gonna be equally good. He's just gotta believe...