Author Note: Thanks for all the positive feedback for this story. I really loved the idea of an older Steven and what he'd be doing with his powers once he finally mastered them. Plus, the warp pads are my favorite piece of technology in the whole show, and I wanted to use them as a plot device (like in Warp Tour). Hope you all enjoy!
The gem monster finished regenerating its fiery, sharp spiked form and set it's sights on Steven. It rushed at him. Steven looked at his shield, realizing it wasn't big enough. He returned his shield to his gem and in one fluid motion, summoned his bubble shield. The monster didn't get him, but Steven was flung back to the warp pad. His shield bubble vanished from around him.
"No, no, no, not now!" Steven exclaimed.
The monster recovered from the hit, and clambered back to its feet. The fire monster was only weakened in the last battle from the rain coming down, but now that it was clear night skies, it had more power this time and Steven had to think of something clever before the monster got to him.
Thinking on his feet, he ran toward the monster. He could feel the heat coming off of the flames as the monster ran back toward him. Steven began to jump, and summoned his shield, launched it from his gem, giving him enough thrust to make it over the monster. He kept running, all the way to the shore.
The monster, barreling down the path, almost catching up to him let out a large roar. The fire monster's head went up as he did, revealing the gem on his neck. Steven continued running until the water was up to his knees. The fire monster ran before halting a few yards from the shoreline, trying to stay away from the ocean that would surely extinguish him. Steven smiled slyly.
"You seem angry and stressed. You should relax. Maybe… Go with the flow," said Steven to the monster, "Heh, nice one Steven".
Steven put his hands over the water and put a Rose Quartz bubble around the water, picking up a few gallons. The bubble floated above Steven's hands as he ran towards the monster, he threw the bubble in the air and got it to float above the monster before evaporating, leaving gallons of water to fall on the monster. Steam spread everywhere as the fire gem dropped and clinked all the way to rest at Steven's feet.
"Much more difficult the second time," Steven said to himself while cracking a small smile.
He bubbled the gem and sent it back to the temple.
"That's it!" Steven exclaimed, "I can bubble myself and send myself back to the temple!"
Steven closed his eyes and focused again and managed to surround himself in a Rose Quartz bubble. He laughed.
"Now then, so send this gem back to the temple," he laughed more.
Nothing.
"What? Why won't it work?"
He tried again.
"Oh… I have to be on the outside to send a bubble back," he said, defeated.
The Rose Quartz bubble vanished. Nothing left to do except walk to the warp pad and see if the Gems fixed the warp pad at the Temple. Steven looked around at the various trees and things that were damaged during his fight with the fire monster. Scorch marks on the ground, trees toppled over, and a chip in the warp pad.
"A chip in the warp pad?!" he thought.
"No! That's not possible!"
Steven thought back and remembered his shield bubble hitting the warp.
"Stupid!" he thought, angry with himself.
What was he supposed to do now?