Future Buddies

"Thank you so much you two! I'll see you next weekend!" Steven waves farewell to Hank and Danny. He wasn't sure if they were locals, but they definitely seem to train at the local gym. Maybe it was just cheaper?

Whatever the case, he walked back home with a towel around his shoulders, content after a long workout session. He was ready to give it a rest for a day, before...

"WWWWWWAAAAAAAIIIIIIHHHHH!" He heard in the distance with a small rumble, like a sort of sudden earthquake. At first he was caught off guard, wondering if maybe some Gem monster was invading... until it hit him-

"Connie!" He shouts in panic as he starts to jog back towards the beach. He totally forgot she was supposed to appear today! Oh shoot oh shoot! He made his way back, looking around as he huffed before then... spotting her.

Connie Maheswaran, with her white and green sundress, sat on the beach as she read a book she brought, her Dad off working somewhere nearby.

He looked at her in silence for a moment, trying to think of how to handle this. He struggled to remember what he did the first time, other than... trapping her at the bottom of the sea and forcing her to interact with him. Hmm...

But just as he tried to come up with a solution, he heard the cry again, and even louder!

"WWWWWWAAAAAAAIIIIIIHHHHH!" It roared, the ground and hill trembling as cracks formed on the wall, causing part of the temple to fall apart!

"C-Connie! Watch out!" Steven yelled in panic, with Connie startled by both him yelling and the sudden quake, before he jumped on top of her!

Focusing his power, channeling his feelings of protection and care... He summoned his Pink Bubble! Causing the stone to Crash on top of the magic shield, crumbling to pieces as they were saved.

And after a moment, the bubble popped, Steven sighing in relief as he was able to pop it at will this time. He slowly stood up, before helping the shocked girl up on her legs.

"H-Hi." He greeted her, clearing his throat "My name is Steven, Steven Universe."

"...Connie." She replied, still wide eyed as she adjusted her glasses "What... Happened?"

"I made a bubble to protect us. I'm like, magical." He tries to explain.

"So... You did this?" She asks, signalling towards the now broken rubble that would've crushed her.

"I... Y-Yeah, it's one of my powers. I... Actually came here to find you." He explains, hoping this didn't sound Super creepy.

"Oh uh... Me?" She seemed confused, looking at him curiously.

"Y-Yeah. I'm uh... I'm basically a Time Traveler, from like... 4 years from now. And you and me are like, best buds, two peas in a pod, uh... Jam Buddies!" He explains enthusiastically, though Connie seems... less than convinced.

"Uh huh... I mean... you're... Something, but how do I know you're actually a time traveler per say...?" She asked skeptically, narrowing her eyes.

"Well... uhm... Oh! That's easy." He tried to think of everything he knew about her. "I know you're here because your Dad works as a freelance security guard for different beaches, and that that's why you know All about Boats. I know you don't have a lot of friends, so you tend to read a lot of books."

"I uh... Know you go to violin practice, and go to tennis ball practice as well. And I know your parents are..." He tried to remember how their names are pronounced "Doug, and I think it's pronounced... Pri Yan Ka?"

...Connie was silent, clearly... in even More shock as she said details both relevant and personal to her. To the point that... she hesitantly swallowed some air, and tried to... remain calm at the presence of this "Time Traveler" named "Steven".

"Oh! How could I forget! You've Been here before, in Beach City." He says with a big smile. "We saw each other at the Boardwalk Parade last year, where I saw you drop a bracelet."

She paused, thinking Real hard about that year... before Gasping. "Oh! You were the kid in the Car-wash float."

"...you had soap bubbles in your hair." The memory caused her to chuckle a little as she seemed to... get a little less tense.

"Y-Yeah, I was supposed to be a scrub brush." He said with a blush, chuckling as well. "I'm... I'm sorry that this is really sudden, It's just... You were my best friend in my future. And... I-I could Really use a friend right now, one I can trust..."

...it was, Admittedly, a Lot to take in... being suddenly thrust in this position. But... having very little else to do... she... Supposed she could keep the ball rolling and see where it went.

"Right... so... you said you're a Time Traveler?" She asked, curious.

"Yep! It's a... well, Basically, it's a: I'm back in my old body with memories of the Future, type scenario?" He semi explains.

"Ohhh! Yeah, the Mental Time Travel." She corrects. "But wait, then... how old are you?"

"Well, right now? 12. In the future? 16." He answers.

She seems Super confused then, still trying to reason all of this. "So... Time Travel gets invented 4 years from now?"

"Oh no no, it's uh, the Gems have already invented time travel, but they never really used it for much." He paused, then clarified: "The Gems are a race of Aliens with magic powers and stuff. The ones at my house are like my Moms."

"...I uhm... Okayyy... so... your Moms are aliens...?" She asked, finding this harder and harder to comprehend, or even believe. She was sure this was some kind of weird dream.

"Yyyeah, though because I'm from the future, they haven't told me that yet." He tries explaining. "I'm a little worried that, if I tell them I'm from the future, they might freak out and panic 'n stuff."

"Hmm... and, how long have you been here for?" She simply asked.

"Like uh, almost a Month?" He responds.

"And you haven't told Any of them?" She asked with concern.

"I-I... yeah... I'm... worried that they might act all weird and get scared, or even... not trust me." He replies, a bit saddened. "I know I'm dragging my feet on the sand, but... if I could gain their trust quickly enough, maybe when I tell them the truth, they won't be so scared."

She could see some of the logic behind that. Though it begged the question... "So, why tell me then?"

"Oh, that's simple. You don't know a lot of stuff, so... you're not all panicky and afraid." He explained. "When we first met today, I was struggling to pop the bubble from before, and we spent the whole day stuck inside of it. We got to know each other, and even when we got stuck in the bottom of the ocean, and you started crying about not having any friends..."

He then kneeled before her, extending his hand. "I offered to be your friend, so that you could meet the Gems, and see the cool stuff I go through, together."

She... Blushed? Sorta... taken by surprise as the sudden proposal, especially with the context.

"S-So... what happened after that...?" She adjusted her glasses again.

"Oh uh, I accidentally popped the bubble and a Big Gem monster attacked us." He began to stand up. "You can still come with me if you wanna watch me fight it, Or... If you're Really up for it, you could help me defeat it?"

...okay, That really caught her attention. She was afraid of... him, and of all of this alien stuff... and yet... it was just Too enticing, like a story from one of her books. Like if she was the protagonist of an urban fantasy book, where she's suddenly pulled into a magical world full of cool fights and monsters!

...She sighed, deciding it was worth a shot, and nodded. "Alright, I'll bite. What is this monster, and... how do we defeat it?"

Steven grinned, offering her his hand. "I think you'll find my plan to be fool proof."

And as they stepped into the beach side house, they were greeted by the 3 Gems just standing there, looking at them both.

"Oh uh, hey guys." He said, a bit surprised. "What's up?"

Amethyst took the lead, approaching them both. "So... Are you gonna introduce us~?"

Steven blushed as Pearl approached, giving a little smile. "It seems Steven really Likes you~!"

But Garnet didn't hesitate to put a hand on both of the Gem's shoulders, shaking her head. "Let them have their moment. Amethyst, you'll come with me to check on these tremors. And Pearl can stay and keep an eye on the two."

Amethyst, of course, merely rolled her eyes and crossed her arms before Garnet picked her up, and took her outside, leaving the unusually enthusiastic Pearl in their care.

"Ohhh this is so sudden and exciting~!" She said giddily before offering Connie a handshake "A pleasure to meet you. I'm Pearl, one of Steven's sworn protectors. May I ask what your favorite kind of tea is?"

"I uhm... I don't have one." She sheepishly said. "You can make whatever you want."

Pearl nods as she sets some water to boil, making other preparations.

"So... What brings you to Beach City?" She asks, Steven going up to his bed to tidy up as Connie sits by the kitchen counter.

"My Dad is a Cop, well... more like a Private Security Guard." She explained. "It's not as cool as you guys, fighting monsters and such, or at least that's what Steven said."

"Ohhhh I see." With the pot set and the flames on, Pearl left the water to boil as she opened the fridge. "We do protect humanity, yes. Do you want a snack as well?"

"I'm fine, thanks. I can munch on an apple." She said with a shrug, glancing over at Steven. He was in the process of not only making sure his 'Bedroom' was tidy, but also making sure to pack certain... Things, mainly money his Dad gave him as part of his allowance.

"Do you have Parents? It seems awfully strange to see you just with Steven." Pearl comments as she washes an apple for Connie.

"Well... they sorta let me do whatever as long as I keep my phone and tell them where I'm going." She explains. "It's honestly what little freedom I get from my usual schedule."

"Well, that seems... uhm..." Pearl wanted to say 'Naive' or 'Negligent', but she'd rather not Badmouth Connie's Parents. "...nice of them?"

Steven ran down the stairs before passing Connie as he went to the freezer. Upon opening it, she saw a lot of what seemed like cat shaped ice cream sandwiches, and next to it, a glow stick bracelet?

"Like I said, I... saved this since last time, and I wanted to give it back to you, but I never found you." He pulls it out alongside one of the ice cream sandwiches. "The Cookie Cat is just for you. I haven't eaten most of them, so I thought you'd like one."

Not the worst treat, definitely tastier than an apple. She took the 'Cookie Cat' and also took the bracelet, looking at it curiously. It was technically still glowing, but short of getting it in a dark room, it was barely visible. "Well... Thank you, that was nice of you."

"Steven Is pretty great." Pearl comments, trying to wing man for him. "He's very smart too, and he's responsible too!"

"Aww jeez, Pearl~" He said with a blush as he sat with Connie. "You're pretty great too, greater than me at least."

But just as she started to unwrap the ice cream sandwich, the ground began to tremble once more as they heard a louder: "WWWWWWAAAAAAAIIIIIIHHHHH!" just outside.

Pearl paused, before turning off the stove and summoning her spear. "Steven, stay indoors. I'm going to join the others, we should be back soon."

She doesn't give them a chance to reply as she runs outside. Though once he was certain they were alone, Steven let out a sigh of relief.

"Well, that's the monster." He explains. "Its like... a Big worm monster, and it likes to eat glowing things like the glow stick."

Connie looks at the bracelet again, a bit concerned. "So... I'm gonna be bait...?"

"Oh no no no!" He quickly shook his head. "I'm gonna be the bait, but you're gonna help me get its attention. You're also gonna help me carry the supplies."

"Mmm... I suppose there's not much I could do." She comments, examining the bracelet again. "...When does the monster come for us?"

"Around sunset. The glowing stuff will be Way more obvious then." He replies. "So, if you don't mind, I'm gonna take a shower, and then we can go get the supplies."

"You can even watch uh... that Medical show your parents don't let you watch?" She said which caused Connie to pause, giving him a blank stare. He... Knew about Under The Knife...?

"...u-uhm... I mean... Y-Yeah! I'd like that!" She said, suppressing her stunned feelings and trying to instead see the positive of being able to enjoy something for once, other than Monster Hunting of course.

And so, she hopped on his bed with a little smile as she put on the show while Steven got ready for the night ahead, anxious for what was to come.

She was starting to reconsider her choices up to this point.

She was on the beach shore, the sun setting in the distance. She had her arms extended, with glow stick bracelets decorating both of them, with one on her head and one in both hands. If this wasn't the textbook example of being Bait, she didn't know what was.

And there was Steven, swimming with floaties on both arms, calling out for a "Wormie Worm" while shaking her glow stick out in the darkening waves. He had sort of thought this out, though only to a certain extent. He could control his bubble again, finally. All he needed to do was time it right, and get knocked into the beach.

It was quiet... nothing could be heard but the ocean waves all around him... and then...

"WWWWWWAAAAAAAIIIIIIHHHHH!" The Monster cried out as it Emerged from the murky depths with a Pillar of water, Shrieking as it plunges back down on top of Steven as he Yells in Panic! Just narrowly summoning a bubble around himself as the sudden splash Launches him onto the shore, where he lands as the bubble Pops.

"Steven!" Connie yells in panic as she sees the large Worm slithering towards them. Steven, of course, Immediately gets up to start running.

"Drop the Bracelets and Run!" He Yells as she begins running with him, throwing off the glowing decor as the worm paused momentarily to munch on what she left behind.

"Hey! Over Here!" Steven yells, waving the Bracelet in his hand as the monster spots him and Shrieks fiercely, Rushing after him as Connie watches in shock.

He Barely avoids the monster's wrath as he runs under the old pier, dodging and weaving as he runs as Fast as his short legs allow, thankful that he ditched his sandals for some beach shoes so he doesn't risk tripping!

And as Connie stood there in shock, she zoned back in as she realized Steven ran Right towards her before stopping right next to her; The monster was mere Inches from them as its strange, tentacled mouth flabbed about with strange screams and a constant wheezing. All she could do is hold his hand in comfort.

A series of Loud cracks were heard as the old wood Cracked under the pressure of the monster's tangled body pulling on its many supports, before Finally, the old pier collapsed on it as its body went limp and the monster went silent, before it Finally poofed into a cloud of smoke, letting the debris fall onto the sand below.

"STEVEN!" They heard as all three Gems rushed to their aid, Pearl speaking up first.

"Steven? What's going on?! What did you Do?!" She says in a Panic.

"He was Incredible!" Connie suddenly replies, Finally feeling the Overwhelming Joy that was helping fight and defeat a Monster like in one of her Books! Suddenly it felt as if though... it didn't Matter how bonkers the whole thing was. Hear Heart was Beating, Adrenaline ran through her veins, and She had a time traveling best bud who's Magic and would let her Tag Along on his Adventures? That's Awesome!

Steven let out a sigh of relief before handing her back her bracelet. "Sorry I had to use it for bait.. you can keep it now."

"Thanks!" She replied with a smile, as the once simply old glow stick bracelet suddenly became a memento of her first true monster hunting adventure.

"Man Steven, you hittin' it off Wild~!" Amethyst says with a Grin, Pearl crossing her arms and rolling her eyes.

"I think what you mean to say is that Steven caught her attention in a rather Impressive manner." She corrects, before Garnet suddenly holds them both up like Kittens held up by their scruffs.

"Hey," Garnet calls out. "Don't mess with his Smooth Moves." She then proceeded to walk away as she held them, leaving Connie and Steven alone.

"...Smooth Moves...?" She asked curiously, to which Steven merely let out a blush. "Let's just go find your Dad before it's too late, okay?"

Connie nodded of course, smiling a little more now, knowing this was likely the start of something Way too cool to ever pass up.

And just like that, a New Ally was formed. Score One for Steven.