"Steven! Open this door at once!" Spinel continued to scream, slamming her fists on the door. What got her more scared for her child was hearing his shrill screaming and sobbing. Amethyst had Midnight and Shade tied up in her whip while Garnet and Pearl looked on in concern and confusion.
When the door finally unlocked and opened, Steven shoved Spinel away from him, and from what the Gems could see, Steven had drastic changes to his body. He rushed up the stairs despite the Gems' protests.
He got up to the warp and was about to warp to somewhere else he needed to go, along while holding the still broken pieces of Apache, the Gems were right behind him.
"Steven! What's-" Spinel was about to scream out of anger until she and the other Gems were blocked by a crystalline wall Steven made. Now silent, Spinel, Pearl, Garnet, and Amethyst could only stare in horror as Steven looked back at them miserably, hiding the shattered gemstone in his fist. He didn't want his own family to see that he actually killed someone.
"P-Please... don't follow me," Steven whimpered, "I know you want to help me, but... you can't. I need to get the only people who can. I'll be back when I'm done, I promise..."
"Steven!" Spinel slammed her fists on the wall, "Please! Don't leave me again!"
"... I have to, Mom."
The pink Gem froze in place, tears streaming down her face. Steven looked back at her, eyes lighting with sadness. And before they could anything else, Steven was already gone. Spinel stood up when the wall dissipated, her eyes wet with tears.
"... When he does get back... we need to talk to him," She simply said.
At Homeworld...
Steven arrived to Homeworld, still clutching the pieces in his pocket. He was a little surprised when he saw that it had changed from the last time he visited. But he ignored that, running up the stairs into the main tower. Inside, was the throne-room, along with a small crowd of Gems. Two Quartz soldiers were complaining about which Zircon should they vote for.
Nearest to the thrones, was a tour, lead by another purple Pearl, though she was very different from Iris, "As you can see, this truly was the center of power in the Gem Empire throughout the second era. When you walk through these storied halls, it's easy to feel as if you too have the power of a Diamond. Now, if you'll follow me this way to the gift shop..."
The group of Gems walked away. Steven was nearly startled as someone, sounding almost like his mother, pounced on him.
"OH MAH STARS!" The yellow Gem squealed, "It's really him! The savior of the galaxy! Steven Universe! Club! Come here! Quick!"
Looking up, Steven saw a blue Gem walk over, "Spade, you outta be more careful, I think you hurt him."
The yellow Gem, apparently named Spade, got off of Steven as he stood up, staring at the both of them in surprise. They were almost similar to his mother except... different.
Spade tilted her head at him, "Gee, he looks a lot different than from the others told us."
"Did something happen?" Club asked him.
Steven stepped back, "W-Who... Who are you two?"
"Oh! They nevah told ya?" Spade perked up, "Our wonderful Diamonds created a few more Spinels to add to your Spinel's family! Our other sister's with White."
"Y-You're the Diamond's new Spinels?" Steven questioned, his tail flicking, "When did this happen?"
"About a few months ago, I think!" Spade replied cheerfully.
Club shrugged, "But besides that, what are you doing here? How's your Spinel doing?"
Steven sighed, "She's... doing great, but uh... do you think you two can help me? I've got... a problem. Several, actually." He pointed to the purple splotches, his horns, his spikes, and his tail. He even brought out Apache's shattered gemstone.
Spade and Club stared at the thing with shock, and the yellow Spinel nodded, "Well, maybe my Diamond can help! She's actually experimenting with bring shattered Gems back to life. Follow me!" Grabbing Steven by the arm, Spade took him to where her Diamond was, with Club trailing behind.
Yellow Diamond let out a sigh of frustration when she carefully placed the last piece of the Flint gemstone together from the Cluster Prototype, but like the Chert gemstone, nothing had happened. She was sure with her Diamond strength and abilities, she'd bring the Gems back to life, but apparently not. She might need to get help from Blue and White.
"My Diamond!"
The yellow monarch nearly jumped up from hearing her Spinel's voice, "Oh! Spinel! You startled me."
Spade stepped aside to reveal a worried, shaken Steven.
"H-Hey Yellow."
"Steven?" Yellow Diamond squinted her eyes at him, "Is that you? What happened to you?"
Steven sighed, "That's what I've been trying to figure out, and uh... I need to show you this." He brought out his fist and opened it to reveal the broken, black gemstone.
Yellow Diamond's eyes widened, "Is that..."
"Y-Yes... It's Apache Tears," Steven admitted, "And she got shattered recently. I-I was hoping you'd be able to help her."
"Hm... Well, I suppose I could try," The Diamond responded, bubbling the shattered gemstone and placing it next to the other bubbled Gem Experiments, "I've been trying to fix the Gems I've hurt, but it doesn't look like it's working. I believe only White and Blue can help me now."
Steven gulped in fear, "I hope it works somehow, I... I just wanted to tell Apache that I forgave her."
"Forgave?" Yellow Diamond crooked an eyebrow at him, "Don't tell me, she and her companions went back to Earth?"
"... She did."
The Diamond sighed in annoyance, and even Spade and Club rolled their eyes as Yellow Diamond shook her head in disappointment while speaking, "Those three troublemakers can't even keep a promise."
"W-What... What happened?" Steven asked worriedly.
"Well, it's not too complicated, but ever since we brought Apache Tears to Homeworld, she acted unruly and very ill-mannered to even the kindest of Gems. White thought it was a good idea to calm her down by presenting her with two more Apache Tears, she continued to shout and scream at others. We didn't wish to shatter her, but the other Gems kept giving us complaints about her and we had no choice but to make them leave."
Steven stared in shock, putting her words into images in his head.
"Not to mention," Club added, "Spade and I heard about what she did to you and your mother, so we never liked her from the start."
Spade nodded in agreement, "Yeah, she was the worst! Sometimes, I can still hear her screaming in my head."
The hybrid glowered, "Hey, are you all forgetting the fact that APACHE'S DEAD RIGHT NOW?!" With an angry stomp, he glowed bright pink and the floor crumbled below his foot, surprising Yellow Diamond and scaring Spade and Club into hugging each-other.
Steven sucked the air through his gritted canines, onto to groan in pain as two more spikes grew out from his jawline, almost like tusks. Even his horns, his spikes, and his tail increased a bit in growth.
"S-Steven?" Spade anxiously, visibly trembling along with the blue Spinel.
Steven planted his hands on his knees, panting from exhaustion.
"Calm down, Steven," Yellow Diamond tried to assure him, "Let me try to fix that." Rubbing her hands together to form sparks, she pressed a finger-tip to his head, struggling to restore his corruption. Steven tried to stay still, despite feeling strong pain flow from the energy.
Opening an eye, Steven looked down his body to see he was back to normal. He chuckled aloud in heavy relief, staring at his normal hands, without any splotches or claws.
"There. I'm sure that'll do," the Diamond said, pulling her fingers away.
However, Steven suddenly shouted out of agony and fell to the ground as the splotches, horns, tusks, spikes, claws, and the tail returned all too quickly. Yellow Diamond pulled away, and Spade and Club nearly fell back from terror.
With pained tears streaming down his face, Steven looked at his hands again, shaking visibly at the sight of them. "... No... N-No! Why didn't it work?!" He lifted his head to face the yellow monarch, desperation in his eyes, "WHY DIDN'T IT WORK?!"
"S-Steven, Steven!" Yellow Diamond tried to calm him down, "Please, calm down. Perhaps this strange occurrence has nothing to deal with any psychical problems, but it must be emotional. Try talking to Blue, and if that doesn't work, you can go straight to White."
Steven stood up, sighing in disappointment, "A-Alright then... Thanks for trying..."
Club walked over and touched his shoulder, "I'll take you to Blue. Follow me."
The three stepped inside the blue room, and Steven was taken aback from the sight of pale blue clouds overtaking the place. A few Gems, such as Cherry Quartz, Lepidolite, and Iris were relaxed, laying on the clouds, drifting around the room as Blue Diamond appeared.
"Hello, my darling Spinel," She smiled warmly, "What brings you here?"
"M-My Diamond!" Club approached her owner, "Steven's having a terrible problem, do you think you can help him?"
Blue Diamond glanced over to Steven and gasped at his appearance, "Oh my, what has happened to you?"
Steven explained everything about his monstrous changes, and this shocked her.
"Self-corruption?" Blue Diamond inquired, "That's beyond anything we've heard before. And even Yellow couldn't fix you?"
Steven shook his head, "No, she couldn't, but maybe you can! I haven't been feeling good about myself at all, so can you-" He flinched when a blue cloud touched him, and for a moment, he felt... giddy. He laughed from the feeling the cloud gave him.
"W-What... What is this?" Steven asked, smiling.
"You see," Blue Diamond calmly explained, "Back before you came into my life, I wanted everyone to suffer like how I did. But when you came and ended our tyranny, my tears had vaporized into these clouds, and from a simple touch, it can bring pure joy to anyone, big or small, dull or bright, or troubled souls needed of happiness."
"Hop on one! Hop on one!" Spade gleefully urged, "They'll make you feel better in no time!"
Club grinned, "Yeah!"
Well, if this is able to help me feel better. Maybe it'll get rid of my weird behavior and these awful spots and spikes... Steven thought before hopping onto one. In an instant, pure solace and joy poured itself into his body and he smiled at the nice feeling, even his tail wagged a bit as he was lifted into the air. Spade and Club too hopped onto a larger cloud together and floated up while Blue Diamond began to sing...
Blue Diamond: Cold palace walls
And endless empty halls
Haunted by echoes of laughter
You gave a pull,
And suddenly they're full
You've thrown the gates open after you
And swept in with the throng
Comes this wonderful song!
My little reason why...
I'll never make you cry
Oh I have got the sweetest things
to tell you every day
My little reason why...
You make me want to try
Loving you...
But after a while, Steven stared at his body to see if anything had changed, yet, he was horrified to see that nothing has. No... not even Blue Diamond's powers helped him. Was this happiness and purity all false? Just a tiny creation mended to make someone feel good for a while instead of removing any trauma whatsoever?
"B-Blue, this isn't working!" Steven then shouted, another shot of pain making him fall down from his cloud.
Thankfully, Spade was able to catch him, "I gotcha, Stevie!"
Blue Diamond had the clouds safely float them down to the floor and she asked, "Steven, what's the matter?"
"I-I thought your powers would heal me from feeling bad about myself anymore! I thought my emotions were corrupting me!" He exclaimed, the two Spinels joining his side.
Blue Diamond frowned, "I'm sorry I couldn't help you, I can't do any more for you. Unless you go to White, she might help you then."
Steven scowled at the idea, but knew there was no other choice he had left.
By the time they reached the door leading to White Diamond's chamber, Spade knocked on the door, and after a few seconds, the doors opened and closed to let out a white Gem, who was alarmed by Steven's state.
"O-Oh! Uh..." The Gem, presumably a Spinel as well, awkwardly greeted, "What do you two need?"
"Heya Diamond!" Spade chirped, "Steven needs to see White right away!"
Club gently shoved her away, "Yellow and Blue tried to heal him, but it didn't work."
"I see, then come in," Diamond opened the doors again and lead the three inside. Steven felt fear swell up from the sight of the creator of Gemkind; White Diamond.
"Hello there, Steven. What perfect timing..." She greeted before she noticed what was wrong, "Oh dear, what's happened to you?"
Steven sighed, trying to ignore any fear in his gut, "Believe me, I've heard that question from myself many times before. But White, you have to help me. I don't know why all this happened to me, but you Diamonds are my last chance."
White Diamond nodded in understanding, "I see. I'm happy to help you, dear. I've traveled from planet to planet, giving voice to each little Gem without failure. Hopefully I can do the same for you."
"T-That's... great, but... what are you going to do?" Steven asked, his tail starting to curl under his legs, "The last time I saw you use your powers, you used it to control my family."
From his words, White Diamond only paused for a moment, but brushed it off, "Well, that was long ago. But don't worry, I don't use it to control anyone anymore. I use it to gaze into your psyche. No control over you, nothing. I promise."
Steven blinked, "R-Really? You're able to see what's wrong with me?"
"Yes," White Diamond nodded, "Now, Spinel, I would like you and your sisters to step aside."
Diamond bowed, not even saluting, "Yes, my Diamond." She backed herself, Spade, and Club away from Steven. Steven gulped as White Diamond closed her eyes, then opened them, flashing white as she internally dove into Steven's mind. The hybrid stood still, hoping he wasn't messing up with the Diamond using her powers on him.
Only a few seconds passed, everything was quiet. Steven continued to keep still until suddenly, White Diamond pulled herself out of his mind and stepped backwards, her expression aghast with sheer terror.
"W-What?! What did you see?!" Steven asked desperately.
White Diamond was still shaking, clearly horrified from what she saw.
"My Diamond! What happened?" Diamond questioned, standing close to the frightened teen.
"That... that's not corruption..." The white monarch rasped out a reply, "I... I-I can't even name what it is..."
Steven felt his heart sink even further into his stomach. Dread clawed at his gut as tears fled down his cheeks, missing his tusks, "W-What do you mean...? Y-You can't heal me? You can't take all this away?"
White Diamond stared back, "I-I... I'm afraid we can't do anything for you..."
Diamond was shocked to hear her owner's words, glancing worriedly over to the crying hybrid, "Steven..."
"Oh Steven," Spade rushed over, "W-We're so sorry!"
Club walked to his other side, looking just as sympathetic as her two sisters, "Are you going to be alright?"
"... No..."
Steven snarled his reply, turning pink and using his aura to push the three other Spinels away from him, even slamming White Diamond back, snapping her back to reality.
"S-Steven!" She called to him, "Wait!"
But Steven was already running out of the room, ignoring the crowd of shocked and petrified Gems gasping at him. Yellow Diamond and Blue Diamond appeared as well, having heard the crash.
When he was ran down the hallway to leave the building, another wave of pain overwhelmed him, and Steven fell to his knees, hugging his sides that began to ache terribly. Right behind him, the Diamonds and their Spinels called out his names.
Growling in frustration, Steven stood up and ran outside, leaving behind a sandal when he got to the warp.
"Steven!" The three Spinels cried.
"Let us help you!" Yellow Diamond yelled.
But instead, Steven continued to growl at them, feral thoughts running in his mind and he ignored their pleas, warping away.
Diamond glanced over to Spade and Club, as if trying to think what they should do.
Just to let you all know, Spade, Club, and Diamond all belong to Tomahachi12! Please go check her art on Deviantart or on Tumblr, give her your support!
... Dear Toma, I hope they weren't too out of character ^^;
Also, the song "My Little Reason Why" was too beautiful to pass up.
... Heh heh, weed clouds. I need some of those :)