A/N: Hello everyone, I am back with chapter twenty-two of this story. Here, the gems plan to rescue Sapphire while Steven deals with his guilt.
Disclaimer: I don't own Steven Universe
The wedding had turned into a disaster. The gems brought Steven home hoping to regroup. Connie waited until the humans returned so she could explain what happened to Greg. Connie and Greg then went to the house where they found Steven sitting on the couch. Ruby was lying next to him.
"Hey Steven, how are you buddy?" asked Greg.
Greg sat down on the opposite of Ruby.
"I did nothing." answered Steven.
"Stu - ball, you can't beat yourself up." said Greg.
"If I had done something, maybe we wouldn't have lost Sapphire." replied Steven.
"You don't know that." said Connie.
"Sapphire would." said Steven.
This caused Ruby to flinch.
"It's okay Ruby. We'll get her back." said Bismuth.
"They're probably shattered her already." said Ruby sadly.
"They aren't going to do that." stated Topaz.
"How do you know?" asked Ruby.
"The mission is to capture all gems and we where told not to shatter any." answered Topaz.
"Would they actually listen to that?" asked Amethyst skeptical.
"It came from Yellow and Blue Diamond." answered Topaz.
"Oh my stars!" cried Peridot.
"This is getting out of hand." said Pearl worried.
"They're probably gonna shatter us on Homeworld." said Lapis down.
"I assume so." said Topaz flatly.
"But, if Sapphire is still alive we can save her." noted Ruby hopeful.
"We don't know where they are." said Lapis.
"They might tell us. And use Sapphire as bait for their trap." warned Pearl.
The couch began to smolder as Sapphire being used for bait enraged Ruby.
"Ruby!" exclaimed Amethyst.
Ruby realized what was happening and calmed down.
"Sorry." said Ruby.
"It's fine." said Bismuth.
The others couldn't help but notice one member wasn't as cheerful.
"I know you feel down..." began Greg.
"No!" cried Steven.
The others stepped back.
"I did nothing and Sapphire got captured! I just sat there and didn't move a freaking muscle!" exclaimed Steven.
"Steven, you can't beat yourself up. Trust me." said Lapis.
"Yeah dude, remember when Jasper made me feel crappy because I was overcooked?" asked Amethyst.
"No one else sat by while their friends battled or let one be captured." said Steven.
"Listen Steven..." began Pearl.
"No!" cried Steven loudly.
The scream was so loud it shook the house.
"Whoa." said Amethyst impressed.
"Steven, you have to stay calm. You have a lot of power and it could be dangerous." warned Pearl worried.
"If I'm so powerful then why did I do nothing while Sapphire was abducted?!" asked Steven angrily.
"Trauma is serious." answered Connie.
Steven jumped up and raced to the warp pad.
"Steven! Wait!" cried Connie.
"Just leave me alone!" declared Steven.
Steven warped off.
"Steven." whispered Connie hurt.
Pearl placed a hand on the right shoulder of Connie.
"It'll be okay Connie. We'll figure something out." said Pearl.
Connie marched over to the warp pad.
"I'm going to find him." said Connie.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" asked Ruby.
Connie stepped onto the warp pad.
"Yes." answered Connie firmly.
Connie stood there, but nothing happened. Being human, she could not activate the warp pad. Pearl and Amethyst joined Connie and they took off. They looked around and around for Steven. They reached the strawberry battle field and began looking. Finally, Pearl noticed Steven on the same floating island he found her once before. Steven was sitting and holding his knees just like Pearl had done. The trio reached Steven and where cautious.
"Hey Steven..." began Connie.
Steven didn't reply.
"I wanted to see how you where doing." continued Connie.
Connie sat down next to Steven.
"We're worried about you." added Connie.
"Great. I'm making everyone worry." said Steven flatly.
"It's been a while since we've been here." noted Pearl.
"I'm not in the mood." huffed Steven.
"Dude, you gotta pick yourself back up." said Amethyst.
Steven turned to face them.
"Did either of you ever cause someone to be captured?!" asked Steven bitterly.
Amethyst and Pearl didn't answer.
"I thought so." said Steven.
Steven hung his head once more.
"This will be even harder than I thought." mused Pearl worriedly.
"Just leave." requested Steven.
"We can't do that dude." replied Amethyst.
Steven began shaking.
"Steven, are you..." began Connie concerned.
"Leave me alone!" screamed Steven.
The three shared a worried look.
"I'm afraid we cannot do that." stated Pearl.
"You need help and you're gonna get it." added Amethyst.
Steven let out an annoyed groan.
"You have a serious mental disorder Steven." said Connie.
"I can get over it." replied Steven.
"No you can't." said Connie firmly.
Steven was surprised how Connie's tone.
"Trauma, whether physical or mental, is a serious issue." explained Connie.
"Yeah. That's why you go to your doctor." agreed Amethyst.
Steven was thinking and didn't reply.
"I know you feel bad over what you did, but you have a serious problem. You can't help it." said Connie.
"And what's beating yourself gonna do?" asked Amethyst.
Steven didn't answer.
"It'll make you feel even crappier than you already do." answered Amethyst.
Steven remained silent.
"Remember how bad we both felt after our battle with Jasper on the beach?" asked Amethyst.
Steven winced at the mention of the beach.
"Sorry dude, but I had to so you knew what I was talking about." said Amethyst.
"It's fine." muttered Steven.
Connie wasn't so sure.
"He's trying to convince himself." thought Connie.
"When did the same thing and remember how we felt?" asked Amethyst.
Steven stayed silent.
"Steven, you need to answer me." stated Amethyst.
"We felt crappy." answered Steven.
"And do you remember how we started feeling better?" asked Amethyst.
Steven again didn't answer.
"We trained and improved." answered Amethyst.
Steven was lost in thought and didn't answer.
"I don't know." groaned Amethyst.
Pearl walked up to Steven.
"Steve, do you remember the last time we where here?" asked Pearl.
"You ran off after you found out about Lion." answered Steven.
"Oh yeah, I was kinda annoyed at the time. But, I totally get it now." noted Amethyst.
"I was the only know who knew the truth about her identity." said Pearl.
"I remember that." muttered Steven.
"Amethyst, you remember when I tricked Garnet into forming Sardonyx?" asked Pearl.
"Yeah. I've never never seen G. so pissed." answered Amethyst.
"I felt so weak and helpless as a Pearl." said Pearl.
"But, you're awesome. You thought me to sword fight." noted Connie.
"On Homeworld, Pearls are nothing but servants Nothing but obedient drones with no freedom of their own. If it was for Rose, I'd still be in that position." said Pearl.
"And if she didn't become Rose we'd all be better off." said Steven.
"You're going through a lot and I get that." said Pearl.
Pearl knelt down right in front of Steven.
"But, you have to remember that you aren't alone." said Pearl.
"We'll be with you whether you like it or not." said Amethyst.
"And we'll always be there for you." added Connie.
Steven smiled.
"Do you mean that?" asked Steven.
"Of course!" declared Amethyst.
"Yes." answered Pearl.
"Here's my answer." said Connie.
Connie kissed Steven on the lips.
"Thanks guys." said Steven grateful.
Steven stood up.
"I guess we should head back." said Steven.
The others got up.
"They'll be here for out too.
The four returned to Beach City. Steven apologized for his outburst, but the others where just glad he was okay. Once all that was done, everyone sat around together. Their goal was simple, find the two Homeworld gems and save left to let Mr. and Mrs. Maheshwaran know she was okay.
"First, we have to find them." said Pearl.
"There's a good chance they'll try and lure us into a trap." noted Connie.
"Then let's fall for it." said Steven.
"Isn't that kinda dumb?" asked Peridot confused.
"We'll act like we've split up and one of us might run into them." said Steven.
"They've got to be close if they're attacking so often." said Bismuth.
Topaz had her eyes widen as large as saucers.
"That area outside town!" exclaimed Topaz.
"What area?" asked Amethyst.
"The one with all the large brown things...um...trees." answered Topaz.
"Are you talking about the woods?" asked Steven.
"Yeah. That's where Aquamarine was when we split up." said Topaz.
"Then that's a good place to start!" declared Bismuth.
"The woods are vast and often plenty of places to ambush." warned Connie.
Steven balled his fists.
"I'll be the decoy." said Steven.
As expected, this led to a wave of protests.
"I'm the main target so I'll be the one they're most likely to come after." said Steven.
Nobody could deny the fact he had a point.
"I'm make noise right away so you know where I am." said Steven.
"Okay." agreed Connie.
"What about Sapphire?" asked Ruby worried.
"We'll free her. Don't worry." answered Steven.
"By the way, the couch is smoldering." added Amethyst.
Ruby realized the seat under her was beginning to smolder so she jumped up and put it out.
"Sorry." said Ruby embarrassed.
"We'll probably need long range attacks considering who we're up against." said Connie.
"Hey Steven, sounds perfect for Smoky Quartz." said Amethyst.
"Yeah it does." agreed Steven.
"Of course, our main goal is saving Sapphire." noted Connie.
"Yeah it is!" declared Ruby.
"But, I'm sick of Aquamarine and Emerald." continued Connie.
The others voiced a similar sentiment.
"We really should try and bubble those two." said Connie.
Connie glanced over at Steven.
"For all of our sake." said Connie.
"We'll go tomorrow." vowed Steven.
"Why not now?!" asked Ruby distressed.
Steven pointed outside where the sun was setting.
"It's getting late. We need daylight." answered Steven.
"I understand." sighed Ruby.
"Don't worry. We'll save Sapphire." promised Pearl.
"Let's end this." thought Steven ready.
A/N: That's where we'll end this for now. This story only has four chapters left so the end is coming. Next time, the hunt for the Homeworld gems and the mission to save Sapphire. Please review.