Chapter 13: My Son, Steven
A child's mind is still developing. They are self-aware, but not to the darkness in the world around them. To adults, their ignorance is acceptable. However, when death strikes, it is like instinct: we will cry, we will grieve, and we will mourn. When Steven saw Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl become corrupted, it was like they died, though yet they're still alive. It is not them who are destroying the town. They would never do that. They couldn't—can't—but they are. The overwhelming cries and screams from the denizens of Beach City that climbs over the hill are insufferable. He can make out the distinguishable screams of the Pizza family as Fish Stew Pizza is crushed under Garnet's gauntlets. Beach City Funland is being turned into a junkyard by Amethyst. And Pearl is soaring in the sky, picking her prey one by one as they try to run away from the destruction. A rush of emotions swims through Steven's head. His head fills with the thoughts of everybody he loves dying, crushed under falling and destroyed buildings, being eaten alive, and even being trampled over by the fleeing crowds of people. Why is all of this happening? Why? Why!
Steven starts to hyperventilate and sweat. He holds his chest, feeling the palpitations of his rapidly beating heart under his shirt. He's having a panic attack. He doesn't know what to do anymore. All his life he wanted to do be a Crystal Gem. All his life he wanted to protect humanity like the Gems did, like his mother did. He wanted to be just like them—the refugees from a destructive race of extraterrestrial beings who live to wipe out entire planets for their own personal game of interplanetary domination. How can he be like this? The feeling of this Gem where his belly button should be…Why is it there? Why did it have to be him? What makes him, the half human, half gem hybrid known as Steven Quartz Universe, so special? He can't even protect his friends.
Don't say that. A sweet voice says. It's female. Steven heard it before somewhere. You are special. So, so special. Steven looks around. Everything is pink with white light shining. It has a soothing atmosphere, one that assuages all of Steven's emotions. It calms his panic attack. He slows his breathing, he stops sweating and his thoughts become clear. Steven looks up. There's a large woman in a flowing, floor-touching white dress standing before him holding a motherly smile on his face. She has very long and shiny pink hair with thick ringlets reaching past her hips. There's a gold star on the dress that surrounds her gem, the same gem that Steven adorns on his self. I'm glad to meet you, Steven. It's Rose Quartz.
(Outside…)
Amazonite looks at the pile of Smokey Quartz's remains and then at Steven. He fell unconscious a few minutes ago, probably due to the lack of experience of witnessing this kind of mayhem and destruction. It was too much for him. His bubble popped as soon as he went under. Why Smokey Quartz wanted to kill him is beyond her, but she has no beef with them. Once those traitors have calmed down, she'll go collect them. Amazonite takes a step. A sheering pain cuts her in her leg. She lifts up her pant leg to find holes in her skin. They look irregular and are placed randomly on the skin. She's also becoming corrupted. She can't fight them, not in this state. She might become corrupt as well. Amazonite looks at the boy. He can collect them. For now, she has to wait. The boy will wake up soon.
(Inside Steven…)
M-Mom? Steven asks, looking up at the woman.
She smiles, and with a giggle, says, Yes, Steven. I'm your mother. Steven's mouth quivers. His eyes begin to tear and he runs to his mother, and she takes him in with full embrace. They hug each other the way only a parent and child can. I've always wanted to meet you, Steven. And now I have.
I've always wanted to meet you too. Steven buries his head into his mother's chest. Tears leak from his eyes, staining his mother's dress. This feeling in his chest, the sight of his mother, it's as if every else doesn't matter anymore as long as she's here with him.
Rose kneels down, looking at Steven with her black eyes. She's stopped smiling. She looks at Steven with the tender gaze that a mother would when she's worried about her child. What's wrong, Steven?
Nothing… Steven answers, not wanting to relive the horrors he saw a few minutes ago.
Steven…you can tell me anything. I won't be upset.
There's a pause, then Steven says, Garnet…Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl were corrupted.
Rose doesn't say anything. She only sighs and stands. She looks up in the air. So it's happened.
What's happened?
The day when they become corrupted. When I left you all, Steven, I figured that one day the Gems would return. They're going to take them back to the homeworld in their corrupted states and execute them for treason against the Diamond Authority. Steven, I can't do it because I don't have my physical body anymore. I can't save them. I couldn't save any of them…But you can, Steven! You are part human, and you will be able to do many things! All you have to do is believe in yourself, Steven. I am you and you are me. We can do this together.
But I don't know how to summon my weapon yet, mom. How can I—
It's love, Steven. It's always been love. The love for your friends, family, Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl, Greg, you love all of them and the shield is a symbol of the love you want to defend. My time in this universe has passed now, but you can still live on. All you have to do is believe in yourself and love…
(On the beach…)
Steven shoots up, breathing heavily. Smoke from the burning city fills the air, making it a bit hard to breath. The fire department is doing everything they can to tame the flame, but to no avail as the fire spreads from building to building rapidly. Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl have separated from one another, residing on different parts of the city. Steven, from here, can see Pearl resting on the head of the temple. She's been turned into a giant, light blue bird with small, blue eyes and an enormous, sharp, yellow beak that was once her nose. Steven giggles at the thought. But he stops, realizing this isn't the time to joke around. He has to save his friends and the city.
"So you're awake," Amazonite says, rubbing her hole infested leg. "I can't stop you from saving your friends, seeing how I'm becoming corrupt. Do what you want, I'll be waiting here."
Steven doesn't say anything to the gem. He walks towards Lion. The giant pink feline pick himself up, but falls back down in pain. His ribcage is broken from the hit he took from Amazonite's hammer. Steven drops to his knees and kisses Lion where he's hurting. Lion lets out a groan of relief and stands up.
Steven's gem illuminates underneath his shirt. A circular shape exits the gem, glowing the same light. As it gets bigger, the light break, revealing Steven's shield. Steven takes the shield into his grasp and mounts Lion is a steed. His looks over to Pearl, remembering her words: "One day, you'll be the one to save all three of us." "Let's go Lion." And they're off towards to the temple, Lion running at full speed.