Chapter Two: Hope at Last

"W-what?" Connie said quietly. "Are you sure?"

"One hundred percent sure," said Peridot. "I lived on Homeworld for hundreds of years before I came to Earth, and there's no mistaking it. If the sword is to be trusted, which I have no reason to doubt so far, Homeworld and Eternia are one and the same."

"Eternia? Is that anything like Etheria?" Steven, who had been absent for much of the conversation, had just now made his presence known.

"Oh, Steven, you're awake!" said Lapis. "How have you been holding up?"

"Don't worry about me, I'm fine," the youth answered. "A little hungry, though. Okay, a lot hungry."

"Join the club," said Scorpia, who had also been silent the entire time.

"Everyone, don't you understand what this means?" said Entrapta. "I figured out a little while ago that Gems are First Ones tech, which was how I was able to control them with that tower back when, and I-"

"Entrapta," Catra growled.

"Er, right, well, if the First ones' homeworld and the Gems' homeworld are one and the same, then that means the Gems completely overthrew their masters! This could be why the First Ones came to Etheria in the first place! They were looking for a new home!"

Steven shook his head. "Man, why does Homeworld have to destroy everything?"

"That's nothing," Adora said, "none of this would have gone like it did if Mara hadn't gone rogue."

"Mara?" asked Steven.

"It's a long story," Glimmer said. "And the Gems being made by the First Ones is interesting, but how does that help us get home?"

"I'm not sure," said Entrapta. "Maybe it'll come into play later!"

"So...I guess we're going with our plan," Peridot said. "Unless anyone has any better ideas?"

"I wish we did, but no," said Steven. "Good luck out there, you two."

Steven hugged both Gems goodbye. "Sorry to leave so soon after I got here," said Lapis. "We'll try to be back as soon as we can."

"Yeah, don't worry about us," Peridot assured Steven. "I know these colonies like the back of my hand. We'll be fine!"

"I sure hope so," Steven said. "Just be careful out there."

Watery wings emerged from Lapis' back, just above her Gem. She and Peridot grasped each other's hands and rose into the air, and just like that, they had gone past the sky.

"So, how long have we been stuck here?" Bismuth asked. "All the days just sort of blend together after a while."

"It's been a week," Perfuma answered. "At least, I think it has. To be honest, I-I don't know."

"Does it really matter?" said Mermista. "We're all going to starve to death soon, who cares how long we've been here?"

"Don't say things like that!" Frosta cried. "Peridot and the blue one will be back soon, we just need to...to...I don't know…"

"Mom's gotta be so worried about me," Glimmer said. "Even if I do survive, she'll probably kill me when we get back…"

The Crystal Gems, including Bismuth, were the only ones present who didn't need food or water to live, were having what could only be described as pre-survivor's guilt. Pearl in particular had refused to leave Steven or Connie's side after Lapis and Peridot had left.

"Steven, just try not to think about food, okay?" she said. "You won't be as hungry that way."

"So, kind of like what you do, right?" Steven said with a weak smile.

Pearl giggled softly. "Yes, Steven, just like what I do."

"You know," Connie said, "the human body can survive for up to a month without food." She turned towards some of their friends from Etheria. "I'm not sure if you guys are 'human' in the same way I am, but I assume you're close enough."

"So, we're gonna be fine?" said Bow.

"Not exactly," Connie said. "Humans can't survive without water for more than a week."

"Well, great," said Mermista. "And we ran out of water five days ago."

"Don't worry, guys," Steven said. "Once Peridot and Lapis get back, we'll all be able to go back home."

"Well, I sure hope they get back soon," said Scorpia. She was absent-mindedly scraping her claw through the dirt. "I'm used to going without any water, but this is a bit much, even for me. This place is basically a desert, but it's cold, it's dark, there's absolutely nothing for-ugh, I HATE this planet!"

Scorpia leapt to her feet, and began kicking the ground itself. "Rgh, stupid, ugly-This place is the worst! You'd have to invent a new word to describe this planet: craptastic!"

Meanwhile, neither Adora nor Catra were enjoying Denebria, either. Their apparent animosity for one another had taken a backseat due to being stranded together on the same desert wasteland, though they still weren't exactly fond of one another.

"So, I guess you won," Adora said.

Catra's ears perked up. "And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, we're all stranded here, with no way to get back to Etheria. Without She-Ra or the other princesses, the Horde's going to wipe out the Rebellion. You got what you wanted."

"Are you kidding me?" said Catra, sitting up. "Get over yourself! You think you and your little band of misfits was all that? I'm sure the Rebellion's doing just fine without you! If anything, it's the Horde that's in trouble because I'm gone!"

"Oh, come on, the Horde was on their path of destruction way before either or us came into the picture!"

"Well, whatever," Catra said. "Even if the Horde does win, it doesn't matter to me unless I'm there to see it."

Adora snickered. "Nothing but the best for your people, huh?"

"Hey, I earned my place as Hordak's commander!" said Catra. "I didn't just stumble across a magical sword, I crawled to the top from the literal bottom! No thanks to you…"

Adora turned to look at her former friend. "Catra, I-"

Whatever she was going to say next, she was interrupted as a faint rumbling sound permeating the air. Just loud enough to be noticeable, and shake the dust beneath their feet.

"Uh, is that another earthquake?" asked Bow.

"Not this time," Glimmer said. "Wait, look!" She pointed upwards to a streak of light approaching the group.

"Ooh, a shooting star!" said Scorpia. "Okay, I wish that, um, that we could get off this planet and go home! Oh, wait-aw, now I said it, it's not gonna come true!"

"Wait, that's a ship!" Bismuth said. "A Gem ship! Hey, Steven, your friends came through!"

"They did!" Steven said. However, the ship that was approaching, while it was a Gem ship, was one that was quite familiar to him. "Hang on a minute...guys, doesn't that ship look familiar?"

The green vessel came closer into view. "Uh...not really," said Amethyst.

"It's the Sun Incinerator!" shouted Connie. "That's Lars' ship!"

"But how?" said Pearl. "Lars was back on Earth, and his ship was still on Etheria."

Then it must be the off-colors!" said Steven. "I knew they'd come back eventually!"

The Sun Incinerator made landfall not far from the group, who, despite being half-starved, quickly made their way over to the ship. Steven, of course, lead the charge. Once they arrived, the doors slid open with a hiss.

"Guys, you're here!" he yelled. "It's good to-huh?"

Once the steam cleared, it was not the off-colors who were inside waiting for them. Instead, three figures stood in the opening, recognizable to anyone familiar with the Horde as Rogelio, Lonnie, and Kyle.

"Wait, what?" said Connie. "Who are you three?"

"Well well well, look who finally came through for us," Catra said.

"Came through for you?" said Lonnie. "Remind me again why we always have to pick up the pieces after you fail?"

"Ugh, of course it's the Horde!" Glimmer groaned. "Way to get our hopes up for nothing!" she growled at the cadets, before tromping back the way she came. "Come on, let's go wait for Lapis."

"Hold on, Glimmer," said Bow, catching his friend by her shoulders. "I know the Horde are our enemies, but we might not get another opportunity like this."

"What!?" cried Glimmer. "Are you suggesting that we go with the Horde!?"

"And what about Lapis and Peridot?" Steven said.

"I know, but anything's better than being stranded here," Bow said. "As for Peridot and Lapis, I'm not entirely sure they'll be back in time to help us. It's the best option we have right now."

Suddenly, Frosta shoved her way to the front of the group. "Dyaguyshavefood!?" she shouted at the newly arrived Horde cadets.

"E-excuse me?" Kyle said quietly.

"Food!" yelled the small princess. "Do-you-have-food!?"

"Uh, well, we have some ration bars in the back but-" Before Kyle could say any more, Frosta had quickly run into the ship to search for the much-needed sustenance.

"Well, that answers that!" said Entrapta. "I mean-Catra, it's okay if they come with us, right?"

Catra growled. "Look, they're our enemies. I don't think that-"

"Aw, come on, Wildcat," said Scorpia. "We gotta at least let them come back to Etheria with us. They'd do it for us, right?"

After a brief pause, Catra finally relented. "Okay, fine. But we're taking you back to the Fright Zone as our prisoners. Now get on the ship."

"But, Peridot and Lapis…" Steven said.

"We'll come back for them," said Garnet, gently urging him onto the ship. "But right now, we need to get you something to eat."

"She's right, Steven," said Connie. "Besides, they might even realize where we went when we get back."

Reluctantly, Steven got on board the ship, following the rest of the Gems and Princess Alliance. Except…

"Ugh, where's Sea Hawk?" groaned Mermista. "If he fell asleep again, I swear…"

"Don't worry, I'll go get him," said Scorpia. "Save me a window seat!"

The scorpion woman made her way back to where the temporary alliance had made their even more temporary home. Indeed, Sea Hawk had not been woken up when the others had left. Scorpia prodded him awake.

"Hmm? Huh? What's it now?" he said groggily. He looked up to see Scorpia's massive form looming over him.

"Hey man!" she said. "We were just going to get on that big ship over there and get out of here. Wanna come?"