Author's note: There's only one reason I made this (poorly written) chapter, but I still hope you like it. I can't wait to get to the more interesting chapters. Maybe Opal will play a bigger role in something or Ruby will actually be serious about something. As always, constructive criticism is appreciated! Enjoy!
Serious Steven
Two short, red gems kneel before a pile of red gem shards, tears staining their faces. They never thought about what true loss felt like, they never thought they would have to experience it…especially not like this. They hated the feeling, it was worse than being stabbed, smashed, and ripped apart entirely. They just wanted it to end.
One of the red gems looked over at a blue gem about their size, a look of disbelief on the former's face. "How…how could you?"
Present:
"Wow!" Steven and Connie exclaimed in unison.
A large pyramid sat before them, built into the side of a mountain, a gaping, square hole drilled into it.
"It's so big!" Steven said.
"Are you sure this is the best place for our first serious mission?" Connie asked.
Sapphire gave her a smile. "Don't worry about it. I think you're ready."
"I know you think that...but…" Connie looked over to Steven, her brother still staring at the cave entrance in awe.
"He's ready too." Sapphire assured. She clapped her hands, earning her comrades attention. "Alright, lets get this mission done before sunset!"
Steven saluted playfully. "Aye aye, captain!"
"Man, this place's huge." Steven said, scanning the room curiously.
"It's going to take awhile to find the gem powering this place." Opal commented.
"So, why is it so important we be careful in here?" Connie asked Opal. "You gave us a pretty big lecture about staying close to you guys while we're here."
"Well, this underground temple isn't ordinary, it's very dangerous." Opal answered. "There are supposed to be booby-traps all over the place. We can't just wander around here aimlessly."
"Ah, lighten up." Steve commented, leaning back against a wall. "You guys said no one's been here in years, what's the worst that could happen?"
The square Steven's hand was resting on sank into the rest of the wall, Steven jumping back. A loud rumbling sounded around them, the cave beginning to shake.
Opal sighed. "You just had to touch something, didn't you?"
Different squares on the room's walls changed to red before slowly opening up.
Connie didn't need to see they were going to do to know that they were bad. "Run!" She shouted.
The group began to run, Steven in the lead, further into the temple. As they did, small cannons emerged from the openings, shooting orange balls of light at the group. Steven jumped over one before picking up the pace. The rest of the group acted similarly, frantically trying to dodge the attacks, save Sapphire, who avoided each simply by moving slightly to the side or by stopping altogether as it passed by.
Ruby cried out as one grazed her arm, a wild look appearing in her eyes before she hit an oncoming one away. At first, this outburst had satisfied her...it didn't when the ball of energy collided with top of the doorway. The large entrance's top was blown apart, the rock collapsing...and Steven didn't see it.
Steven was headed straight for the collapsing rocks, too busy worrying about the balls of fire being shot at them to notice. He kept running, adrenaline his only fuel.
Ruby groaned. "I'm gonna hate myself for this in the morning." She said. "Opal, throw me at Steven!" She said.
Opal didn't hesitate, summoning her whip and wrapping it around Ruby's wrist. Using the whip, Opal threw Ruby forward, the red gem flying forward at Steven.
Steven coughed, standing up slowly. "That could've gone better." He said. Standing up, he looked in the direction of the collapse, finding rocks in the path. Steven cupped his hands. "Guys!" Steven called, his voice echoing back at him the only response he received. His arms dropped to his side. "I don't think I'm getting back to them this way." He groaned.
"Hey."
Steven jumped at the sudden voice, turning around. His hysteria died down as his eyes fell on Ruby, a concerned look on her face.
"Are you alright kid?" Ruby asked, concern visible on her face.
"Yea, even better now that you're here." Steven answered, breathing heavily. Soon, he began to laugh lightly. "But you almost gave me a heart attack, Ruby." He said, giving her a playful shove. His smile fell as Ruby gave him a look that was a mixture of confusion and concern. "I-I was just joking. I'm fine, see?" Steven spread out his arms to show he was okay.
Ruby still seemed confused, but less so than before. "R-Right..."
Steven turned to the wall. "I guess we should start looking for a way back to the Gems." He said. Turning back, he found Ruby staring at him oddly. It was weird. Not the way she was looking at him, but that it was Ruby doing it. She seemed so different, so calm, serious even...and when he thought about it, she kind of looked a little different too, but he couldn't place his finger on how. "Well, better get a move on if we're going to get back to the rest of the group." Steven said, walking down the corridor. As he took a glance back, he found Ruby following him, but still eyeing him warily.
As Steven continued on, he found himself admiring the ruins depicted on the ceiling, showing tall figures fighting. He thought it looked awesome.
"Hey k- bud, don't you think we should be a little careful?" Ruby asked. "I mean, who knows what kind of-" She yelped as a stone door closed behind her. A light rumbling sound turned her attention in front of her, Steven unaware of the closing door and the panels beginning to glow around the room.
"Hey, that one kind of looks like Mom." Steven said, still looking at the ceiling. The moment he stepped on one of the panels that wasn't glowing, the white panels turned red.
"Look out!" Ruby leaped at Steven, tackling him onto one of the glowing red squares, Steven's previous platform falling.
Steven turned back and watched as the platform plummeted into a flaming pit below them. Before his mind could turn to anything else, he felt Ruby pick him up and jump to another of the red platforms, not stopping as she moved to the next ones. She jumped to the final platform, dropping Steven next to her. She put her hands to her knees, panting heavily. "That was a close one."
Steven looked to the room behind him, still processing what just happened. "That was…" A bright grin appeared on his face. "awesome!" Steven exclaimed.
Ruby gave Steven a confused, almost stern look. "Awesome?! You almost died! Do you have any idea what could've happened to-" Her face fell at the shocked expression she was met with. "H-Hey, it's okay bud. You…You're just gonna have to be careful around here, okay?"
Steven nodded nervously.
"Okay..." Ruby gave Steven a reassuring smile. "Lets move."
Ruby groaned, thoughtfully looking at the area around her. "Ugh, we should be getting close to the other exit by now."
Steven raised a brow. "Exit? Aren't we supposed to find the gem powering this place?"
"Huh, mission?...Oh yea, um…well, I don't think it's safe for you to go on this mission anymore."
"What?" Steven exclaimed. "I thought you guys said that we were ready for this one."
Ruby's expression became one of confusion for mere seconds before the red gem shut her eyes and crossed her arms. "Sorry bud, we're getting out of here and that's final."
Steven crossed his arms childishly and huffed. "When did you become such a killjoy?" Steven took a step forward, a stone door slamming closed behind Ruby.
Ruby took glances around the room, eyes widening as she laid her eyes on the ceiling. Ruby grabbed hold of Steven and pulled him back, just in time for a trail of flames to pass in front of Steven, almost burning him.
Steven and Ruby's eyes widened as the ceiling opened up and more flamethrowers were activated, each shooting fire periodically.
Ruby sighed. What she was about to do was going to earn a lot of screaming from the human in her arms.
Steven was hyperventilating, his heart beating against his chest. Ruby couldn't help but feel a little guilty at the state she had put him in. It only made it worse that she was going to have to ask him to keep moving, but she needed to get out of there before something really bad happened.
"Come on bud, we've got to get a move on."
"At least…let me…catch my breath." Steven said between deep breaths.
Ruby gave an impatient look. Not two seconds later, she hoisted him onto her back in a single movement before continuing to walk down the corridor. Ruby wasn't going to wait for something to come along, she was going to take him all the way if she had to.
"Oh, come on!" Ruby shouted angrily, finding a pile of rocks before her. She groaned. "Great, just great! The only other way out of here and it's shut off too! Stupid temple with its stupid booby-traps! Now what are we gonna do?!"
Steven looked at it tiredly. "We could finish the mission."
Ruby gave him a confused look.
"Remember back at the house when Opal was talking all about how this entire place was made by the gem powering it?" Steven asked. He didn't wait for an answer. "Well, if we get to the gem and take it, then this place will disappear and we can get out easily.
Ruby gave it some thought. She wore an expression that could be taken as fear, but she reluctantly nodded. "Alright then."
Steven and Ruby, burns on their skin, rushed into the final room of the temple, the red gem closing a stone door behind her just as fire reached it.
"Man, this place really has a fire problem." Ruby commented, wiping her forehead.
Steven smiled at this. This was the attitude he was used to from her.
Ruby looked forward. "Well, here we are, the heart of the temple."
Steven's eyes widened as they fell on a tall, rectangular obelisk with yellow markings about it. The markings near the top resembled features of a human face, floating above it a large, glowing, yellow gemstone. Around the obelisk were floating, rectangular platforms, each staying perfectly still in the air.
Steven couldn't tear his eyes from the sight, the imposing figure sending chills down his spine. Despite this, Steven worked as much courage as he could, stepping forward, only for Ruby to put her arm in from of him.
"Not this time kid. You're gonna wait right here." Ruby said.
Steven wanted to object, but, after the look she was giving him, he knew that it was for the best. He had made a lot of mistakes today. He nodded sadly.
Ruby looked forward, that seriousness that had been so foreign to her returning. She took a step forward, almost immediately having the markings on the figure turn red. "Alright, let's just get on with it."
A stone slab detached from the giant, firing at Ruby. The red gem simply summoned her gauntlet and punched forward, shattering it.
Steven's mouth fell open. This was the gem who had accidentally made an entire army of clothes terrorize Beach City, the same one who blasted Connie and Peedee into the ocean a week ago.
Slabs of stone shot from the walls and statue, Steven ducking as Ruby dodged each skillfully. That wasn't all though. As one of the slabs that came at her got near, Ruby hopped on top of it, using it as a step to the fourth platform floating around pillar. Ruby never slowed for longer than a second, not even stopping as she avoided the stone, continuing ever closer to the top. She reached the top quickly, throwing herself at the yellow gemstone with a battle cry.
Steven felt himself tense up in anticipation for her to grab the gem, only for it to move to the side. Ruby's expression became one of shock. She flew passed it, helpless as one of the flying stone tablets smashed into her face. The red gem fell to the ground, face down.
"Ruby!" Steven cried, running to his fallen friend, ducking under the stones flying about.
Ruby groaned, sitting up. "Didn't see that coming." She said. Ruby looked to the gemstone above, deep in thought.
Steven noticed the expression on her face, doubt showing in her eyes. "Come on Ruby, you can do it!" He cheered.
Ruby was shocked by this sudden burst of energy, but it quickly shifted to a sympathetic smile. "Thanks bud…but I'm never going to be able to get that thing. It's just going to move when I try to get near it again." She looked down. "We're just going to have to find some other way out of here."
Steven gave a troubled frown.
Ruby looked down, still trying to regain her energy. "Don't worry, I'll get us out of here." She heard no response. "Bud?" She looked up, shocked to find Steven, standing on the secons platform, taking a running start before leaping to the third, barely making it.
Steven jumped back, barely avoiding one of the flying tablets.
"Kid, what are you doing?!" Ruby shouted.
Steven jumped at Ruby's question, but quickly turned and gave her a determined glare. "You may not think we can do it, but I do! If you think we can't, then I'll just have to prove it!" Steven said, ducking under another of the projectiles before running and leaping to the next platform. He barely got on, spinning his arms to regain balance. As he did, he saw a stone tablet flying at him, the boy jumping to the side to avoid it, only for a second to pass by his head from behind. Steven jumped at this, taking it as a sign to move to the next platform. As he was beginning to run, one of the slabs crashed into the platform he was standing on, making him lose his balance as he leaped. He missed it, watching helplessly as he began to fall. He waited for impact. Instead, he felt something grab him by his shirt and pull him back. When Steven was placed down, he turned to find Ruby looking at him.
"Man, you don't know when to quit, do you?" Ruby asked, pulling him up. "Alright, if you're gonna risk your life to get this thing, I may as well help, but we're doing this my way, got it?"
Steven smiled and nodded. In all honesty, he had known she was going to help him. He knew she wasn't going to let him get hurt.
Ruby grinned. "Right," She pulled him onto her back. "let's do this!"
Ruby leaped to the next platform, ducking under one of the flying stones before standing up and punching another. She jumped to the next, pulling a similar move, and the next, until they finally reached the top.
Ruby gave a troubled look. "Now what?" She asked, stopping and staring at the gemstone, crouching to keep from being hit.
Steven thought for a moment. "Jump at it!" Steven commanded, pointing to the gem.
"You've gotta be kidding me. That was your plan, to try the exact same thing that failed last time?" Ruby asked. "I hate to break it to you bud, again, but it's just going to move when I get near it."
Steven smiled. "Trust me."
Ruby sighed. Why not? Ruby leaped as fast as she could as the rock. With how this had been going so far, she began to almost wonder if the boy's determination alone was going to keep the gemstone in its place. It didn't, however. The moment Ruby was about to touch it, the rock moved to the side, Ruby flying passed it.
"Now, throw me!" Steven shouted, voice full of enthusiasm.
Ruby's muscles moved faster than her mind did, the red gem throwing Steven back immediately without any thought. To her, the world began moving in slow motion as she looked on. She watched Steven fly at the already moving stone, Steven crossing its path and hugging it tightly.
As Steven began to fall, the gemstone gave no form of resistance, coming with him. Steven laughed happily as he held the gemstone, feeling pride that his plan had worked…until he realized he was falling. Steven yelled in fear, shutting his eyes in preparation for the impact. Before he could hit the ground, Ruby jumped to him, catching him midair before gently landing.
Steven cracked one eye open. "Am I still alive?"
Ruby chuckled. "After everything I've had to save you from today, you really think I'm just gonna let you fall?" She joked.
Steven laughed, it fading quickly as he noticed the gemstone he held beginning to glow brightly.
The temple around them began to do the same, the stones that had fallen to the ground dissolving into particles of yellow light before being absorbed into the yellow gem. The gem began to grow brighter and brighter, the temple walls doing the same. A bright light washed over Steven and Ruby before the temple itself exploded.
Steven groaned as he pushed himself on the ground. His eyes fell on the yellow gemstone laying next him, his eyes widening as the memories of the events came back to him. "O- Oh my gosh!" He said in disbelief, looking around him to confirm that what he remembered wasn't just a dream.
A large crater surrounded him, a forest around it. It wasn't a dream.
Steven grinned. "Whoo!" Steven cheered, holding the gemstone in the air. "We did it!"
"Steven!"
Steven turned to the source of the noise, only to be tackled into a hug by his sister.
"You're okay!" Connie said, arms wrapped tightly around him.
The two were soon picked up by Opal, the tall gem hugging them tightly with her four arms. "We thought we had lost you!"
Sapphire floated up to Steven, wrapping her arms around his neck. "You sure did give us a scare. We couldn't get through that cave in no matter how we tried."
"But that didn't matter because my awesome brother went and found the gem himself!" Connie said, making him blush.
"Aw come on guys, it wasn't that good!"
"Not that good?!" Ruby asked in disbelief. "Steven, you found and took the gem we were looking for on your own, and that was only your first mission. I wish I had done something even remotely cool after I made a mistake on a mission."
Steven struggled to turn in his family's embrace, looking at her with a confused expression. "What are you talking about? You were the whole reason we finished the mission."
Ruby scratched the back of her bashfully. "Well, yea I saved you from the cave in, but you did everything else."
"What, you did much more than that. You were awesome" He said. He turned to the rest of the group. "Guys, you should've seen her. She was so serious and cool. She was almost like an entirely different gem." He looked to find the three gems hugging him give him confused looks. "What?"
"Steven...Ruby's been with us the entire time." Opal answered.
"No way, she's been with me the whole time." Steven continued. "She saved me from all sorts of stuff. She even threw me at the gem so that we could get It when it tried to move away from us.
Ruby's look of confusion remained. "What do you mean dude?"
"What do mean what do I mean? You were there."
"No, I wasn't. I guess you just imagined it then." Ruby said. "Because, while I am as awesome as you said I was, I don't remember any of the stuff you just said."
"Yea...you've had a long day today, Steven. I think you need some rest." Opal said, placing down Connie and Sapphire and beginning to cradle him in her arms. She gently took the gem Steven held in his hands, putting a white bubble around it before making it warp away.
"But she was..." Steven looked disappointed at first, but nodded reluctantly, allowing Opal to I carry him back to the warp.
A small, red figure watched from the top of afar, a blank expression on her face. "So, I did feel you," She clenched her fist and let out a short growl. "Sapphire..." As she did, a faint glow emanated from the large ruby on her right shoulder.
Author's note: No OCs were harmed (or shown) in the making of this chapter.