The festive atmosphere was overwhelming.

Greg couldn't believe how many Gems were on the boardwalk that day. Every shape size and color, many new to him, packed together like the little town was the world's most popular amusement park. Most of them had never even seen a human in person before, and they showed it with their curious stares. He took it in stride, knowing he'd want to stare too, but being the center of attention made him a little uncomfortable. It might have surprised people who knew him as a rock star, but performing in front of a crowd is different than existing in front of a crowd. Like wearing an outfit you put together yourself versus being naked.

It was a relief when he saw three Gems he actually knew. Amethyst gave him a nonchalant wave on his way over, but Pearl and Garnet were too absorbed in an argument to notice him coming.

"… just a meteor," Garnet finished firmly.

"Then why didn't it break up on its way through the atmosphere?" Pearl countered.

"Very dense. Either way, we didn't pick up any Gem readings. Relax." At that point Garnet finally turned to the man standing there. "Greg," she said in a tone that would have come off as businesslike to a stranger, but Greg knew that was a friendly greeting by her standards.

"Hey," Greg said with a sheepish smile. "Talking about Gem stuff?"

"No. Not Gem stuff," said Garnet, looking at Pearl pointedly.

Pearl sighed, quickly accepting defeat. Then her face brightened. "Hello, my Um Greg Universe."

Greg laughed, a little tensely for the first second before Amethyst and Pearl joined in. It was such a relief that the incident she was making reference to was far enough in the past that they could joke about it, and that Pearl didn't have any hard feelings. Out of the Crystal Gems she was the most awkward at humor, but she nailed that bit perfectly.

"So, enjoying the festivities?" Greg asked after the laughter died down.

"Aww yeah, you know it! I'm teaching everybody how to eat food AND how to throw it up after a ride!" beamed Amethyst.

"Within reason," assured Pearl.

Garnet just shrugged.

"Well, that's… good to hear. It kinda of reminds me of a music festival I played at once. Boy, that was a disaster." He realized they probably wouldn't understand what was so bad about Guy Fieri and Kid Rock doing an acoustic set together, so he didn't go any further into detail. "-Anyway, have you guys seen Steven? I can't find him anywhere."

"Hm… no, I don't believe so," said Pearl.

"Did you check the high striker at Funland?" Garnet asked (rhetorically?), and adjusted her visor (knowingly?).

"Nope, great idea! I'll go do that right now. See you guys!" Greg was already waving and walking away before he finished talking. He always tried to leave conversations as quickly as possible when they might otherwise stall and get awkward. Plus, he really did want to see how Steven was doing. Maybe he was being mobbed by his fans and Greg could give him an excuse to step away in private.

As he made his way there he noticed that the city's old loudspeakers, which had been providing tunes for the event, were playing Scarlet Begonias. It came out after Pigpen died, but they honored his memory by making sure it was still terrible. Yeesh. This was how Earth's music and culture was being represented? He should've been consulted. He was bankrolling the whole thing, after all. He'd laid down a couple million to be distributed to Gems as they arrived, since they wouldn't have currency to participate in all the fun otherwise.

He was glad he did it, even if the festival wasn't exactly his scene. Funland itself was even more packed and chaotic, but luckily the high striker's tower was tall enough for him to find it easily, even through the storm of multicolored banners, streamers and confetti in the sky. And wouldn't you know it, Garnet was right. Steven was right there, getting ready to give it a shot.

The Gems weren't crowding Steven like Greg had expected. They were keeping a respectful, maybe even reverent distance. Greg had been thinking Steven was like a rock star to them, but this made him realize Steven was more like a religious leader or king. Former king. Either way the only people close to him were Mr. Smiley and… oh, Connie.

Steven was already rubbing his hands and testing the weight of the mallet to get ready, so Greg decided not to greet him just yet. Wouldn't want to distract him and jinx it. Steven gave the crowd an impish teenage grin, then Connie shouted something that was unintelligible over the din but clearly cheering him on, which made him turn more serious. Maybe even slightly embarrassed.

Steven slowly and dramatically raised the mallet above his head, then even further back, staring down the lever like it all that stood between him and his destiny. Finally he swung down in a lightning fast arc and hit that lever like a bomb. The puck rose up, struck the bell, then kept going until it was sailing into the sky. Yep, that was Greg's boy alright. Everyone cheered, but Mr. Smiley didn't look particularly surprised, and the puck was caught by a flying gem that had been circling overhead. There must have been a lot of Gems completely clobbering it today.

It was time for Steven to get his prize, and he deferred to Connie, who pointed at one. Mr. Smiley took it down and handed it over with total resignation. Greg recognized it as Leatherfreak, a horror movie slasher who cannibalized his victims and sewed their skin to his body, which was covered with different shades of patches all joined with coarse stitching. Except this one had a huge head and eyes with a little grumpy mouth, supposedly to be cute. Jeepers creepers, something wasn't quite right with kids nowadays.

Watching Connie cradle that thing, it hit him. His Shtooball was on a date. This would be the worst possible time to talk to him. Just the purest style cramping. He was pretty sure Steven hadn't seen him, so he maturely and graciously turned to go. He'd have plenty of time to see Steven later and congratulate him on that hit.

But after a few steps of wading through the crowd, Greg felt some arms squeezing his waist from behind. It wasn't a Gem confused about Earth greetings. He'd know that hug anywhere.

"Hey dad," said Steven's bright face after Greg turned around.

"Hey buddy."