A/N: Hello everyone, I am back with chapter seventeen of this story. Here, Steven continues to try and hide the truth while the Homeworld gems make their move.
Disclaimer: I don't own Steven Universe
It was a cloudy day in Beach City. The weather and, in particular, the cloudy skies seem to fit at the moment. Connie Maheshwaran was again coming over to spend time with Steven Universe. Luckily, it was once school let out. This normally happy event was overshadowed by the threat of CPS arriving and removing Steven from the care of the Crystal Gems. As Steven thought of what to do, Amethyst walked over.
"Hey Steven." began Amethyst.
"Hello." replied Steven flatly.
"You worried about Connie coming over?" asked Amethyst.
"Yeah." answered Steven worried.
"Worried about what?" asked Pearl confused.
Pearl had overheard them and Amethyst filled her in.
"I see." mused Pearl concerned.
"I don't want her to worry." said Steven.
"I'm not sure keeping her in the dark is a good idea either." said Amethyst.
"Some things are best kept hidden." said Pearl...from personal experience.
"I'm so confused!" cried Steven frustrated.
"Hey, don't freak out." said Amethyst.
"Indeed. It is best to stay calm." agreed Pearl.
Steven used the breathing technique Garnet taught Stevonnie.
"I might tell her...later." said Steven.
"There is no reason to rush yourself." said Pearl firmly.
"Um, thanks." replied Steven surprised.
"She might find out and it's better she find out from him." said Amethyst.
"Amethyst, don't worry Steven." said Pearl.
Amethyst rolled her eyes and noticed something.
"Here comes Connie." said Amethyst.
"Oh man." groaned Steven.
Connie came through the door naively happy.
"Hey Steven." said Connie chipper.
"Hey." said Steven, trying to seem normal.
Connie came over and they kissed.
"So, what do you want to do?" asked Connie.
"Not sure." answered Steven.
"We could go to Funland." proposed Connie.
"Been there a lot." noted Steven.
"Mask Island." said Connie.
"The Watermelon Stevens." noted Steven.
"What about them?" asked Connie.
"Things might get...sticky." answered Steven.
"The moon base." said Connie.
"Nothing to do." shrugged Steven.
Connie squinted her eyes.
"What's wrong?" asked Connie.
"Nothing." answered Steven alarmed.
"I know you and I know when you're hiding something." began Connie.
Steven began to sweat.
"Plus, you aren't a good liar." added Connie.
Steven shot a glance toward Amethyst and Pearl looking for help.
"Say Connie, how are yous studies going?" asked Pearl.
"Fine." answered Connie unsure.
"Is there anything interesting you'd like to mention?" asked Pearl.
"No." answered Connie firmly.
Pearl was surprised by Connie's tone.
"Oh man." said Amethyst surprised.
"I don't mean to be rude." sighed Connie.
Connie turned her attention back to Steven.
"Look, I know something is wrong." said Connie.
"Steven was planning surprise for you." said Garnet.
The leader of the Crystal Gems walked over.
"He didn't want to spoil it." said Garnet.
Garnet lowered her visor slightly and winked with her third eye.
"Oh." said Connie surprised.
Connie let out a relieved laugh.
"Man, you really had me worried!" laughed Connie.
Steven, Amethyst and Pearl where able to relax.
"So...what is your surprise?" asked Connie curious.
Steven gulped worried.
"It's really special." answered Steven.
"Okay." replied Connie.
Steven thought as Connie waited.
"Steven..." began Connie.
Finally, a thought came to Steven.
"It's where we're going!" declared Steven.
"Where are we going?" asked Connie.
Steven chuckled.
"You'll have to wait and find out." answered Steven.
Steven got up.
"We'll need the warp pad." revealed Steven.
"Sounds good." said Connie.
Connie went to the warp pad.
"Thanks for the help guys." said Steven.
"No problem." shrugged Garnet.
Steven headed to the warp pad.
"See you guys!" called Steven.
Meanwhile, life was going on as normal at the barn. Peridot was using the tractor to tend to the crops with Topaz lending a hand when need be. Lapis was seated in a chair relaxing with Pumpkin on her lap. She was reading a magazine with her right hand while petting Pumpkin with her left hand. Suddenly, the corn began splitting as someone came through it.
"Peridot!" called Topaz.
Peridot stopped the tractor upon seeing the movement.
"What's that?" asked Peridot.
Lapis heard the tractor stop and looked up.
"What's up?" asked Lapis.
Suddenly, a Ruby staggered out of the corn.
"Where am I?" asked the Ruby confused.
"You're one of those Rubies that kept harassing us!" exclaimed Peridot.
"Steven named her something." said Lapis flying over to the others.
Lapis noticed her gemstone was on her stomach.
"Navy." said Lapis.
"Oh yeah. That was crazy." said Navy.
"Why are you here?" asked Lapis firmly.
"I crash landed." answered Navy worried.
Peridot leaned over to Topaz.
"Do you believe her?" asked Peridot.
"I haven't met her before." answered Topaz.
Peridot chuckled with embarrassment.
"Oh yeah." said Peridot blushing.
Navy tapped her chin.
"I can prove it!" cried Navy.
Peridot shook her head.
"How?" asked Peridot.
"I can show you the crater I made when I landed." answered Navy.
Lapis, Peridot and Topaz shared a glance.
"I guess we can take a look." said Topaz.
The trio would follow Navy uneasily. Pumpkin stayed behind as they wanted to make sure she was okay. Navy led the way with Peridot behind her and Topaz behind Peridot. Lapis flew overhead feeling this added a bit more security. Navy led them to a Homeworld ship lying on the ground. Navy stopped suddenly causing the Crystal gems to do the same.
"Where'd this ship come from?" asked Peridot confused.
Navy began laughing.
"What's so funny?" asked Peridot confused.
Suddenly, the laughter seemed to echo.
"Who's there?" asked Topaz.
Doc emerged to the right of the group.
"We are." answered Doc.
Army emerged to the left of the group.
"The rest of our outfit." said Army.
Leggy emerged next to Army.
"I didn't think you'd fall for it." admitted Army.
Army elbowed Navy clearly unhappy with her confession.
"This time..." began a sinister voice.
Eyeball emerged next to Doc.
"We aren't alone." concluded Navy.
The ship door suddenly opened.
"You five did a grand job." cooed a voice.
Emerald emerged from the ship.
"Oh my stars. An Emerald." gulped Peridot.
Emerald chuckled in amusement.
"Are you the same Emerald the other fought on Homeworld?" asked Lapis.
"The same." said Emerald.
"I'm surprised you weren't shattered." admitted Topaz.
"Probably had to get on her knees and beg." snickered Peridot.
Emerald sneered angrily at this.
"Enough!" screamed Emerald flustered.
"We really touched a nerve." mused Lapis.
Emerald calmed down.
"You three aren't exactly in a position to make cracks." said Emerald.
"I'm sure we can defeat you." said Topaz.
Emerald pulled out her de - stabilizer.
"Are you sure?" asked Emerald.
"We aren't going to back down." answered Topaz.
"So cocky." came a voice.
Topaz felt a chill in her body.
"Aw, aren't you happy to see me again?" asked Aquamarine.
The three Crystal Gems turned around to see Aquamarine behind them.
"In case you don't realize, you are totally surrounded." noted Emerald cocky.
"Topaz, please tell me you have an idea." whispered Peridot worried.
Topaz was frozen in place.
"I'll make it easy for you...surrender now." said Emerald.
"Why would we do that?" asked Lapis unsure.
"If you come quietly I can try and convince the Diamond Authority to have mercy." answered Emerald.
"The Diamond Authority doesn't know the meaning of that word." spat Peridot.
"You have already forgotten that they mercifully gave me a second chance." replied Emerald.
The three Crystal Gems stayed silent.
"I have an idea!" declared Aquamarine.
"Not now." said Emerald.
Aquamarine scowled.
"You three can better your chances." said Aquamarine bitterly.
Aquamarine and Emerald shared a contemptuous glare.
"How would they do that?" asked Emerald.
"Help us lure in the others." answered Aquamarine.
The Ruby Squad voiced agreement with this.
"If you get the others here and even help us defeat them, you might get a pardon." explained Aquamarine temptingly.
The three Crystal gems shared a glance.
"To use a human expression: you can take your offer and shove it!" declared Peridot.
Peridot laughed while Emerald smirked.
"I wonder where "it" is." mused Peridot.
"Well Aquamarine it seems your offer hasn't worked." cooed Emerald arrogantly.
Now it was Aquamarine who was sneering in anger.
"Since you won't join us, there is only one things we can do." said Emerald.
Aquamarine managed to calm herself down.
"We will have to shatter you." said Aquamarine.
Topaz began to shake.
"Now I won't have to hold back." said Aquamarine happily.
Aquamarine noticed Topaz shaking.
"You're right to worry." said Aquamarine coldly.
A/N: That is where we'll end this chapter. So Steven got some help from the Crystal Gems, but the big story is our trio of heroines begin ambushed by the Homeworld forces. Next time, we'll pick up where we left off. Please review.