Absorbtion: A Steven Universe SI in the body of a young Steven Universe.
A whisper passed by my conscience, speaking of relocations and gruelling work hours. It sighed and waved a hand over my collective 'essence', speaking of an aid and wishing me well in a heavily practiced manner.
I felt the sensation of rapidly resurfacing in a body of water as I woke up and grabbed the bedsheets around me. I sighed after realising I wasn't in mortal danger and opened my eyes to a room I couldn't have seen before and yet felt so familiar. It seemed to be rather late at night as it was pitch black outside.
I wiped my eyes clear of sleep and paused, had my hands always been so small and pudgy? I looked down at the rest of 'my' body.
I wore blue and white striped button up pyjamas and had a bigger stomach than I remembered. I sat up and sat on the edge of the bed as I looked outside and past the window.
My eyes trailed up what seemed to be a statue of a rather large arm and hand. A washing machine and a clothes dryer sat upon the open hand with three shirts hanging over them, pegged onto a piece of rope. Three very familiar shirts, the shirts of a very special thirteen year old, that would one day bring 'peace' to the universe.
Steven Quartz Universe.
I realised why the room seemed so familiar, I was in the room of Steven Universe! But how and why am I-?
My reflection in the window caught my eye as I sat in shock, there I sat. A twelve year old boy that went by the name of Steven Universe. I was so consumed in my thoughts that I didn't even notice someone sit down beside me.
A rather gentle voice interrupted my thoughts and as a slender hand was placed on my shoulder.
"Is everything alright Steven? Did you have one of those," she paused. "Oh, nightmares! Yes did you have a nightmare Steven?" I turned to look at the woman and brushed my nose against her rather long and pointy one. I blushed and apologised, hiding my face behind my arms. I peeked at the woman to see a light blue blush on her unblemished white face and I noticed a Gem embedded in her forehead, a Pearl.
The realisation that I was now face to face with a now not-so-fictional character from my favourite TV show didn't shock me as much as I thought it would, I guess waking up in a completely different body and reality would do that to you.
I fixed myself and sat up properly, turning to Pearl.
"Ah ya, sorry Pearl. Just a crazy dream, you should really try sleeping sometime it's a rollercoaster." she tilted her head in confusion, wondering how a human dream could manifest itself into such a thing as a rollercoaster, but shook it off as she picked me up and placed me back under my covers in a matter of seconds. She pushed my hair away from my forehead as she placed a kiss on it, I couldn't help but letting out a smile. She chuckled and gave a faint "Good night," as she walked down the stairs to the living room-come-kitchen.
The smile faded slowly faded from my face as I thought about my situation. I was in an alternate reality with no manner of returning home. I was now in a body that had amazing potential and younger to boot. I was practically alone and the whole universe was against me, I grinned.
'Guess I'll just have to give it my all.' I thought to myself as I welcomed sleep like an old friend.
I awoke in a cold sweat.
'Well that was something,' I thought to myself in an unimpressed tone. As soon as I had fallen asleep I was forced to relive Steven's life memories up to this point in time and the biggest thing that stood out to me had actually saddened me more than I had expected.
Greg, formerly Demayo, Universe was dead.
He had died in a Gem related incident three years ago when a corrupted Gem cleaved him in half while he was protecting Steven.
I had also found out why I was so saddened over the death of a cartoon character, mine and Steven's intellect had actually fused together into one. Making me incredibly smarter and granting me access to Steven's memories and emotions, while also improving my memory. I hadn't witnessed anything else note worthy while reliving Steven's life, just him making friends with the citizens of Beach City and the odd threat of a corrupt Gem.
I got up out of bed and went down to shower. I changed into the signature shirt and jeans, but I walked barefoot to the kitchen and had a slice of toast and scrambled eggs for breakfast. I had also decided to cut down on all the unhealthy food Steven had been eating, don't get me wrong I'd still happily indulge in a donut every other day but I won't be having them multiple times a day along with pizzas and fry bits. Having such a, um large body was not going to help me when fighting and would actually hinder me in my day to day life.
Garnet exited The Temple and waved to me as she warped away to some unknown location. I got up and slipped on some flip flops as I left the house and made my way for the lighthouse. I greeted Lars and Sadie as they opened the Big Donut, Sadie wished me a good morning and Lars grunted in acknowledgement. I chuckled and jogged the rest of the way up to the top of the hill.
It was a crazy sensation, I had relived someone's life and I couldn't help but feel close to those that Steven knew and cared for. Just goes to show, he cared so much about everyone that its even affecting me after he's gone.
I reached the top of the hill and collapsed of physical exhaustion, Steven was incredibly out of shape compared to me in my past life. Well I guess I mean, I'm incredibly out of shape compared to the old me?
I shook my head free of those thoughts and focused on why I had come up here.
Gem powers.
I wanted to try and test out Steven's, my, capabilities at this point in time before I start training, which I will. I'm not gonna face an entire alien species hellbent on killing me for 'being Rose Quartz' or kidnapping me and making me live on Homeworld with the Diamonds because 'I was Pink Diamond'.
Ya, Steven had it tough. I'll give him that much.
But enough of what could be, I needed to test my powers and to do that I needed to choose on to focus on.
'Bubbling seems like the easiest option seeing as I haven't encountered Lion yet.' I thought to myself as I soon adapted a cross legged position and focused on the image of a pink bubble encompassing my being.
I felt a spark of power from within my Gem, but nothing happened. I tried again to the same affect, nothing. I sat there for hours, my stomach rumbled at me begging for food, but I persisted until finally something happened. The power in my Gem rapidly spread up my arm and into my hand, I pictured the bubble and it took form.
I opened my eyes to see a normal sized bubble used to hold 'poofed' Gems, I sighed and dismissed the bubble. That was a lot more mentally taxing than I had imagined, but I steeled myself and stood up.
It was time for a bagel sandwich!
It had been a month since I had awoken in Steven's, now my, body. I had begun regularly jogging up the hill to the lighthouse and I could proudly say it had become quite a bit easier after all this time. I had also slimmed down a bit, but it had only been a month so I hadn't expected any major weight loss.
After spending countless hours trying to train with my Gem's, magic? I had come to the conclusion that the power that was within the Gem was most probably the life force it had taken in when it was being created. It's strength was also now increasing as, now having a human host, I produced energies of the same kind and they were constantly being absorbed.
But put that to the side for now, I could now summon a normal bubble with ease now! I also could summon my large bubble but that was still a bit difficult, but still doable.
On a whim I had also tried to stall the magic in my arms and hold it there, it wasn't easy. It was like trying to keep a hold on a wet and very much live fish, but I got it eventually and I realised something.
This was how Steven had super strength! The power in his Gem flowed into his body and strengthened him immensely. I tested my strength by attempting to lift a rock half the size of me and increasing the amount of magic used every attempt. It hadn't taken much before I was holding the huge rock above my head and throwing it a few meters away from me. I had promptly passed out soon after though.
So now I sat on the couch in the living room come kitchen, listening and paying attention to Pearl as she tutored me in multiple subjects. It was very easy to follow along as I had increased intelligence. The leasons had been more regular in Steven's earlier life but had started to stagnate as he learned more. The Gem finished the lesson with reminder to never underestimate an enemy.
As Pearl started to walk away to the Temple I stood up suddenly when I was struck with an idea.
"Pearl can you teach me how to sword fight!?" I was filled with excitement as Pearl stumbled and turned to me.
"A-Are you sure Steven? It is a rather dangerous practice." She questioned me but I could see she wanted to teach me.
"Cuz I want to be like super helpful to you guys and I want to be really cool!" I spoke longingly and showed Pearl the peerless eyes of a begging child for five seconds until she broke and smiled.
"Well all right then, follow me." She stood on the Warp Pad and motioned for me to follow, I did so with delight.