Far into the distant future, long after the start of Era 3 and the redemption of the Diamonds, after Steven and Connie got married and started a family, after the Crystal Gems raised many generations of Universes, Steven decided to make one last change to Gem society before finally leaving this life in hopes of the return of a new Pink Diamond.
This change was to restart the practice of Gem Colonization, but only on planets without sentient organic life. in his final years, Steven and the Gems started the first Era 4 colony on Titan. instead of armies and drop ships, Titan was colonized only by the Crystal Gems, each doing their own part. Peridot still a certified Kindergartner, Lapis back to terraforming, even Bismuth brushed up on her construction skills years after the completion of Little Homeworld. Everyone contributed in their own way, with Steven overseeing everything from his home Diamond Base. He passed away shortly after the first gems emerged.
The first gem was a new type of gem called Jet, Formed from coating organic wood with gem goo. She had the appearance of a black Sapphire, though more masculine in appearance. She came out in a Leine tunic and an asymmetrical grey-scale kilt. Her gem was faceted to replace her single eye, like all sapphires, hidden under deep bangs. though unlike sapphires who see into the future, Jet can see into the past. She can receive visions of a place at will, and visions of a person, or gem, by contact. Knowing the past, objectively, Jet can help people get past events that may be colored by emotion and time.
Along with Jet's emergence, was a Black Pearl. Clad in a similarly asymmetrical tux, this pearl was made just for Jet, though not in the same way pearls used to be made for gems. Instead of a servant, she was customized to be more like a therapist, a healer of the mind. Working with Jet's past sight, she could help many people through traumas and complex emotions. She has the same hologram ability as any pearl, which can be a great aid in her purpose. She is a perfect confidante not only to Jet as a lifelong friend and partner, but to gems whose memories were still haunted by the Gem war, or the abuse from the old Authority.
These first gems were one set of many, each deployed to old colonies for the aid in the continued healing as the new era begins. This Prime set became instant Crystal Gems and made their home on Earth. They settled in just as Steven prepared to pass away, slowly aging back to the same age Connie was when she passed away. At his request, his Aunts, the Diamonds, helped remove his Gem. Yellow and Blue held him gently, as White used her nails to gingerly pull the diamond from it's place. Pink Steven appeared moments later, after brightly cycling through forms, similar to his first arrival. Pink, Rose, Young Steven, even his fusion forms, Stevonnie, Steg, Smoky, Rainbows 1.0 and 2, finally Sunstone then a flash, and standing there was an adult Steven, looking very similar to Greg when he met Rose. He walked over to his organic half and held his hand, "You can rest now, I'll give them the message. Say hi to Connie and Dad." With a smile, Organic Steven passed away.
Pink Steven turned towards those assembled around him on the beach, The Diamonds, Pearl, Garnet, Amethyst, Lapis, Peridot, Bismuth, Lars and Lion(both aged but still very recognizable), and the new Jet and Black Pearl. "I've been working with Peridot and Pearl, sorry, my mom Pearl, about what to do and what could happen when we did it. What we found is this: First, removing my gem was the only way my organic body could die, the strength of the diamond and the emotional aging would have kept me alive as long as any gem. Second, the energy left in my gem once removed isn't stable, I will poof, and it will take about 5000 years before a new Pink Diamond will form." "Five thousand, six hundred thirty-two, give or take a decade or two" Peridot interjected. "We do know They won't be me, or Mom, or Rose" he continued, " but because I'm properly poofing, they will have all of our memories. One final discovery, Pink can come back quicker with one of two techniques, the math was fuzzy even for the smartest gems, but you can shave off two centuries by charging my diamond in a cure pool like the one we used for the corrupted gems, just take the gem in with you and make sure all four touch the water. The other way is fusion. Any combination will help, but the stronger the fusion, the lees time it'll take. we've determined the appearance will be as if I were still "Steven", just Pink, but the mind will be almost entirely the remaining gems. For example, say you charged my gem with Obsidian... she'd know she was Obsidian, but she'd act like Alexandrite."
Peridot interrupted again, "Steven, you don't have much time, please hurry" "Right, which brings me to my last request, I only used Obsidian as an example, I don't want the Crystal Gems to fuse for me. Diamonds, I want to spend the next three millennia with you." Ignoring the incredulous looks he received from everyone, he continued "A fusion of the four Diamonds would be the strongest fusion ever, and thus the fastest way to bring Pink Diamond back. You'll know when it's time for their return because your, our, appearance and personality will change immediately, and you'll unfuse. I'm so sorry, but all four will be poofed, only for a short century, so I'd prep your Pearls and Zircons to oversee anything going on at that time. I'm aware this is shocking and a lot to process, which is why I had Jets and Black Pearls made, these two to help the Earth gems, and Homeworld gets their own pair. Garnet, I'm going to need you to help our new friends in their adjusting, you know why, and before I fuse with the diamonds, have Jet hold my gem. Jet, you need to see the whole past of my gem, Pink, Rose and my lives need to be seen by someone. you'll know what to do when you see about 50 years ago. I have to go now, I love you all"