Chapter Three: Breaking the News
The morning sun rose covering the beach in orange and yellow rays of light. Though the house on the shores remained silent as a tomb. Rose had just sat there on Steven's bed looking upon picture after picture of him and many human friends. Her eyes went misty for she had no idea how she would tell these people Steven had died. Why did he have to die? He was only what eight, ten, how many years had she been gone? Still since the other Crystal Gems were hiding in their rooms, grieving in their own way, someone had to tell them.
Rose got up off the bed and floated down to the door, when the door to the temple glowed revealing her former comrades. Ruby and Sapphire came out still wiping away tears but were not ready to form Garnet yet, Pearl remained emotionaless, her hands fidgting as she walked up to Rose. Amethyst was hiding behind her hair, not looking at anyone. "Oh good you all have come out of your rooms, I was just about to go and break this sad news to all of Steven's friends. Yet, I am unaware of where these people live, perhaps you could show me," Rose said with a small smile. She had lived in Beach City before but by the looks of everything a lot had changed.
Pearl bit her lip and politely said," Yes Rose we can show you, please follow us". She wanted to yell at Rose more, but she had to be the one to tell poor Connie about Steven, she was Pearl's apprentice after all. Sapphre wiped away a tear, as Ruby held her hand, as they all walked outside. Greg, was first on their list yet Pearl kindly asked to tell Connie herself, alone.
"Oh Connie, she was that little girl I saw in one of the pictures, she was Steven's jam bud right?" asked Rose.
Pearl bit her lip and answered, "Yes, yes she was". Then headed to Connie's house trying to keep the tears and her anger from boiling out. She reached Connie's house and rang the doorbell, and within a few moments, Connie's mom answered the door.
"Ah Pearl, what a surprise, how can I help you this morning," she asked politely.
"Hello, I really am sorry to bother you but I um need to talk to Connie, it's important," Pearl said trying to keep herself from crying. Be strong Pearl, be strong, her mind told herself.
"Um okay please come in," Connie's mom said sensing the tension in her. Pearl walked in and Connie's mom called out, "Connie, Pearl is here."
"Coming mom," Connie called and came into the living room. Pearl's heart almost shattered upon seeing the young girl's cheerful face. How can I hurt her like this? Maybe I should wait? No the sooner she knows the sooner she can grieve, please forgive me Connie, Pearl's mind said holding back her tears. "Hey Pearl did I miss a sword practice or did you want to train here, because I have a volley ball practice in an hour," Connie explained happily.
"No Connie, I just need to tell you something important, involving Steven," Pearl said her voice cracking.
Connie frowned not liking the look on her face. "Is Steven okay, he didn't get captured again? I thought once he found Pink Diamond and showed White and Blue that Yellow was the traitor, Earth was off limits," she rambled on.
"Please Connie calm down and have a seat this won't be easy," Pearl said and Connie sat down and Pearl knelt before her.
"Steven didn't get captured by anyone, yesterdsay we went on a mission to capture more currupt gems to help them, but were were overpowered and Steven, Steven, he um he," Pearl tried to spit out but the words clung to her unable to come out.
"He what Pearl, please tell me," Connie said holding her hands.
"He died," Pearl said shedding her tears. Connie's mom gasped in shock placing a hand over her mouth and looked upon her daughter.
"What no that can't be!" Connie cried, tears streaking down her face. Her face mixed with pain and sadness, unable to believe her ears.
"It's true Connie, Steven tried to go inside his gem to regenerate but his human half was destroyed in the process, now Rose, Steven's mom is back, I am so sorry," Pearl said quietly.
"This is my fault, I should have gone with him, protected him!" Connie yelled her body shaking.
"NO, don't say that," Pearl said grabbing the young girl's shoulders. Their eyes locked with each other and Pearl spoke," This is not your fault, never ever think that, it just happened, there was nothing anyone can do," Pearl said the tears falling down her face. Connie cried and latched onto Pearl hugging her tight, the pale skinned gem did the same, and Connie's mom joined the hug, all three saddened by the loss of Steven.
At the carwash
Rose saw the familiar surroundings of Greg's carwash, it seemed his business was flourishing, he had a sign and everything. Speaking of Greg, he had aged from what Rose could tell, and he was washing some cars when he looked up. He nearly dropped the bucket of water, and his face went white as a sheet, once his eyes laid upon Rose.
"Ro-Rose," he said ignoring the car as he walked up to the gems.
"Oh Greg," Rose called hugging him tightly. Tears filled up her eyes as she wrapped her arms around him. Greg also let out a few tears and huuged her back and kissed her lips.
"How are you back, and where is Steven,?" Greg asked unable to comprehend what was going on.
"Greg, we have some bad news," Sapphire siad stepping forward, Ruby still holding her hand. Greg saw the two gems that made up Garnet, and knew whenever they split up it usually meant something was wrong. Before Greg could ask anything Sapphire having no choice just said," Steven died on a mission yesterday, and now Rose is permanently back, I'm sorry," she said bowing her head, ice forming around her.
"What, no, no this is some kind of joke right?" Greg asked taking a few steps back, Greg would not believe his only son was dead after everything Steven had done and gone through, he died just like that.
"I am afriad it's true Greg," Rose said calmly. Greg just fell to the floor tears in his eyes, as his face changed from pain to pure anger. He let out a inhuman yell that pierced each gem not knowing what to do. After a few minutes Greg stood up and began walking away.
"I need to be alone," Greg said walking back over to the carwash.
"Amethyst stay with him so he doesn't do anything rash," Sapphire said quickly. She didn't foresee any future vision of Greg committing suicide but better to be safe than sorry. Amethyst only nodded and hung outisde the carwash keeping a close eye on Greg. "You should stay here Rose, " Sapphire told her,
"What why?" asked Rose.
"We are going to tell Peridot and Lapis, of Steven's death, Lapis was the gem trapped in that mirror we found all those years ago, and Peridot was a modern Home World gem but thanks to Steven's friendship and love, for them both they became Crystal Gems, and if they see you things could go wrong," Sapphire explained.
"Nonsense, I have to go I owe my son that much to tell his friends what happened to him, now let's go," Rose said. Sapphire and Ruby exchanged glances and knew that if things went wrong they needed to be a tad stronger. Ruby twirled Sapphire around and in a flash of light, Garnet reappeared. She didn't speak just led Rose to the barn.
At the barn
"Hey Lapis, where is season four of Camp Pining Hearts, I can't find it," called Peridot.
"Oh sorry Peridot, I think I lost it when I brought the barn back from space," Lapis said rubbing her arm.
"Oh man, I wanted to watch that season so bad," grumbled Peridot.
"I am sorry, hey when Steven visits I'll ask him if he can help us find another copy," Lapis said with a smile.
"True he is good at finding things on the internet, hey let's go see if he's home," Peridot said calling for Pumpkin.
"Yeah I do miss him and it has been a while," Lapis said as they headed outside. Lapis was about to pick Peridot and Pumpkin up to fly them to Steven's house when Garnet and to their surprise, Rose Quartz appeared.
"Is that Rose Quartz?" asked Peridot remembering all she learned about Rose and it didn't make sense, if this was the Rose Quartz, then where was Steven? Though this could be a Rose Quartz from Home World seeking an audience from Lapis and Peridot sense they became ambassadors to Earth, teaching gems from Home World all about Earth. Yet, Blue nor White sent them a message saying a Rose Quartz was coming to Earth, so what was going on.
"Lapis, Peridot, I have to tell you something important, and it won't be easy to hear," Garnet said, trying to stay fused.
"What is going on Garnet, where is Steven, and why is there a Rose Quartz with you?" asked Peridot.
"I am Steven's mother and I am sorry to say this, but Steven died on a mission yesterday, and his human form was destroyed when he tried to regenerate, now I am back permanently, I am sorry for your loss," Rose said wanting to help. Though Garnet knowing what was about to happen formed her gauntlets ready to protect Rose.
"What Steven is dead, but no you're, you're lying!" yelled Peridot tears in her eyes. Lapis upon hearing the statement made a rollercoaster of emotions flood within her. Steven, the boy who freed her from the mirror. Steven, who healed her cracked gem even when she stole water from the Earth. The boy who she fused with Jasper to protect him, Steven, who showed her the beauty of Earth, helped her and Peridot become friends, have her love water again, and saved her from Jasper. No, he couldn't be gone, this was a mistake and she knew who was to blame.
"THIS IS YOU'RE FAULT, YOU'RE LYING STEVEN ISN'T DEAD, YOU HAVE HIM TRAPPED INSIDE THAT GEM, I"LL SAVE YOU STEVEN! I"LL SAVE YOU LIKE YOU SAVED ME!"Lapis yelled forming her wings. The ground begna to rumble and shake as water sprang out forming two massive water hands as they shot at Rose.
"Rose look out!" yelled Garnet pushing her out of the way. Yet, Lapis formed more water hands trying to hit Rose to make her go into her gem, so Steven would come back.
"GIVE ME BACK MY BEACH SUMMER BUDDY!" screamed Lapis trying to attack Rose.
"Lapis stop!" cried Peridot. The attacks stopped as Lapis glared at her,
"Why should I? She took Steven away, I can bring him back, don't you want to help save Steven?" Lapis asked getting angry.
"Of course I do but you and I know that Steven wouldn't want this, we, we learned about death and if Steven truly is gone, he wouldn't want us to harm Rose, please Lapis just stop for Steven," Peridot said tears streaking down her face. Lapis's face teared up as she fell to her knees and sobbed the water hands going back into the ground. Peridot just held her crying her own tears.
"I," Rose said trying to comfort them but Peridot snapped at her.
"GET OUT OF HERE AND DON'T COME BACK YOU CLOD!" Peridot yelled, and her and Lapis went to the barn to grieve Steven. Rose's teared up watching the two gems and their vegetable dog disappear inside the barn.
"Come on Rose, let's go home," Garnet said yet just as the words left her mouth, Ruby and Sapphire were back. Rose took their hands and they headed home.
to be continued...
Author's Note: I know I mentioned Steven saving Earth, I just haven't gotten into too much detail because I didn't want it to be the center of the story, if you want more details I will think of something, hope you all enjoyed this chapter and if you want to see anyone else in this story please let me. Oh Lars and his crew are on Earth and you will get to see them in later chapters, please review,