New year means a new arc of Bayley's Universe! And I have a feeling that this is going to be an arc that...it's going to be a journey of learning (in a way), that's for sure.

Now, at the end of the last arc, I asked you guys which arc you'd want to see brought to life next, and I got a Guest review asking for the arc where Bayley learns about Natalya. ...And I felt that was pretty great to leap into next. After all, storytime with the Gems could be a great way for Bayley and Sasha to learn about Natalya (in Sasha's case, learn about how Natalya was able to conceive Bayley in the first place). I hope you guys enjoy this next arc, aptly named 'The Story of Natalya'. =)

Even though her class presentation for Mr. Regal was a fair amount of time behind her, Bayley still felt fairly curious about the ocarina Seth and the others let her take to school. While she had been told that it was something that had belonged to the person that raised the older three Gems when they were younger-and possibly Sasha too, from what she's heard-there really was something that felt oddly familiar about the pink instrument. 'Maybe if I just ask the guys about who this belonged to, they'd tell me. Can't hurt, after all,' Bayley thought. Nodding at this idea, Bayley climbed off of her bed and headed downstairs in the hopes of trying to find one of the guys and ask. She had just reached the bottom of the staircase when she heard...

"And why is it that you guys haven't told Bayley about Natalya yet?" Sasha questioned Seth.

"Sasha, we're just waiting on the right time to tell her. After all, it hasn't exactly been the easiest thing in the world really letting Bayley know about her Gem heritage," Seth ran a hand through his hair.

"I'm sure it probably isn't, but... I don't know. Don't you think she might be feeling curious about Natalya's ocarina?" Sasha asked. "After all, it seems like for the past few weeks now since Christmas, she's been quite curious about it."

"I know, Sasha, I know. And, we're going to tell her. We just...we just have to wait for when we think Bayley can take learning the news and hearing the story," Seth reasoned out.

Stepping forward as she cleared her throat, Bayley soon got the attention of the other two Gems before saying "I, um, I think I'm ready for this story."

"Bayley? Are you sure?" Seth asked, feeling fairly surprised to hear Bayley say this. "You don't...have to hear it if you don't want to."

"But, Seth. I-I want to," Bayley insisted. Holding up the ocarina, Bayley asked "This has something to do with this Natalya lady you two are talking about, right? Well, who is she? Is she someone that saw me when I was a baby?"

Sharing a bit of an uneasy look with Sasha, Seth took a breath in before letting it out. "In a way...Yeah. She did."

"Really?" Bayley asked. Seeing the two-toned Gem nod, Bayley said "Well, that...that's great! Do you guys know where she is today? I'd really like to meet her," a smile starting to cross her face at her growing excitement about meeting this woman.

"Well, Bayley. That's just the thing," Sasha started before stopping. While the magenta-haired Gem was just questioning Seth about why he hadn't told Bayley about the woman that gave birth to her, the woman who was technically her mother, she was now beginning to see that maybe telling Bayley wasn't the wisest thing to do; after all, seeing Bayley seem so excited to meet Natalya was making Sasha question just how they could even go about telling Bayley what happened to her.

"What? What is it, Sasha?" Bayley asked, wondering why Sasha said what she said. It wasn't until she really looked at the expressions on the magenta-haired and two-toned Gems that she began to feel that something wasn't completely right. An uneasy feeling starting to settle over her as her smile dropped, Bayley asked "Guys? What is it? What's wrong?"

Sharing a look with Sasha, Seth took a breath in before letting it out. "Bayley. Perhaps...perhaps it'd be better if we all sit down so we can tell you. This is a pretty long story."

Hearing Seth say all of this, Bayley nodded her head in understanding. Walking over to and taking a seat on one of the chairs in the living room area, Bayley sat down on one of the couches with Sasha taking a seat beside her and Seth taking a seat in one of the chairs next to the couch.

Seeing Bayley having settled into the couch and getting a nod from Sasha that he could begin, Seth took another breath in before again letting it out. "OK, Bayley. Let me and Sasha tell you the story about Natalya. If you will, let me take you back a few years..."

Short start, yes. But, I feel as I progress in this arc, I could always get a bit longer with the chapters (especially with some of what I have planned to come in the arc). So, for now, I hope you guys enjoy this start to my 'The Story of Natalya' arc. Don't forget to R&R please. =)

(*insert le shiki94 fangirling here* Oh. My. GOD! The coming StevenBomb episodes are already released online! The temptation to watch them is too STRONG! ...Although, since I've seen a clip of one, I feel it's now my duty as a Steven Universe fan to watch them online, and then again on Cartoon Network. =3 )