Author's note: You know what, I'm uploading this early because it's driving me crazy to wait. Have fun.

The Return

"Here you are." Peedee said, placing two bags on the counter. "Two orders of fri bits for the kind man and the lovely lady."

"Why what a gentleman you are." Connie said with a grin.

Steven smiled happily at the interaction between the two before looking up to the sky. His smile saddened and he felt his heart ache as he laid his eyes on three stars. His thoughts stopped abruptly as he noticed something strange.

"Hey Connie!" He called.

Connie, who had been laughing, turned to her brother, smile still plastered across her face. "What is it Steven?" She asked.

Steven pointed towards the sky. "Is that...what I think it is?" He asked.

Connie squinted in the direction that Steven was pointing. "That's...a giant, green hand?..." Connie grabbed Steven's hand and began to run back to the house. "Sorry Peedee, gotta go!" She called back to Peedee.

"Okay, see you..." Peedee peeked out of the establishment to look at what Steven and Connie were looking at. "That's peculiar."

"Guys!" Connie called to Ruby and Sapphire, the two standing on the beach next to a telescope.

"Hey." Ruby called nonchalantly as Sapphire was peeking through the telescope.

"Do you guys see the giant hand too?" Steven asked as he and Connie came to a halt.

"Oh we see it." Sapphire said.

"Well, what is it?" Connie asked impatiently.

"It's a giant green hand, duh." Ruby said.

"No, I mean, what's it doing here?" Connie asked.

Sapphire looked at Steven and Connie. "We're...not entirely sure."

"But what we do know is that it's bad!" Ruby said. "...probably."

Opal's grunting was heard, earning the attention of the group. "Which is why these two sent me to get this." Opal said, holding the Quartizine Trio above her. With another loud grunt, she dropped the light cannons on the beach.

"Wow, we have more canons?" Connie asked.

"Yep, found it under the ocean after the Lunar Sea Spire fell." Sapphire said.

"We're gonna need all of them?" Steven asked as Opal hopped away.

"Yep, we're even getting the forth one." Ruby said. The red gem rubbed the back of her head awkwardly. "I'm not gonna lie, we've never actually seen or heard anything about this hand thing so we're not entirely sure how strong it's going to be." Ruby said with a thoughtful look. She gave a confident grin to the twins. "But I bet it won't be anything we can't handle."

"We're hoping that it'll go down as easy as the Red Eye, but just in case, we're going to use everything we have to defeat it." Sapphire said. A small grin appeared on her face. "Of course we're going to need you two for what comes next."

Steven and Connie looked at each other, excitement brimming in their eyes. "Aw yea! Light Cannon: Part Two!" They exclaimed, high fiving each other.

Sapphire crossed her arms and gave an amused expression at the twins' enthusiasm in the situation.

"Alright guys, you ready with that last cannon?" Steven asked.

Ruby watched as Opal finished adjusting the last one, the latter giving Ruby a thumbs up. Ruby turned to Steven. "She's A-okay."

Connie walked up with a walkie-talkie in hand, looking at the sky. "We're gonna knock this thing out of the sky like Dogcopter destroyed those alien ships from dimension 12."

"I don't remember that in the movies." Steven told her.

Connie gave him an exasperated sigh. "That only happened in the books." She said matter-of-factly. "You know, let's just forget it. Are you ready Steven?"

Steven gave her a nod.

"Alrighty then. If every pork chop were perfect-" Connie began seriously.

"We wouldn't have hotdogs." Steven finished.

With that, the cannons lit up, firing four pink beams of light into the sky. The beams formed into the shape of Rose, three surrounding the largest of the four.

As the lasers were about to make impact, the hand opened, catching the beams in its palm effortlessly. After finishing, the hand closed, resuming its descent.

Steven, Connie, Opal, and Ruby gawked at the sight.

"Alright, that's it! We're done!" Ruby exclaimed, grabbing her head and walking away.

Opal stared at the hand with her mouth wide open. "How..."

"It doesn't matter." Sapphire said. "It looks like whatever this thing is, we're not going to be able to stop it before it reaches Beach City."

Steven nodded, turning away from the group and pulling out his phone.

"What are you doing?" Connie asked, peeking over his shoulder.

"Calling someone to help." He said as he reached a picture of Buck in his contacts list, tapping the photo.

Steven and Connie watched as Buck and Dewey drove around Beach City in Dewey's van, the vehicle warning the people to evacuate.

"That thing's never gonna stop being creepy." Connie said as she watched the van drive on.

"Alright," Vidalia said, holding up a list. "we have your food, water, luggage, Onion, Yellowtail, Sour Cream, anything I miss?" She asked herself.

"Wait...our luggage..." Steven said.

"We're not staying?!" Connie asked, looking to Ruby, Sapphire, and Opal for an explanation.

Opal looked away awkwardly as Sapphire casually floated away to check on the light cannons.

Ruby looked at her fellow Gems and groaned. "When did I become the one who had to tell them this kind of stuff?" She asked herself. "Listen guys...if we're being honest, we don't really know what's going on or what's going to happen when that thing gets here. We've never seen anything like this before. Its power alone is something to behold if it took four Light Cannon blasts, four of 'em." Ruby looked over to the approaching object. "All we really know for sure is that, whatever it's or whatever it's doing here, it means business." Ruby looked back to Steven and Connie. "Business that we need to handle."

"But we can help!" Connie exclaimed. "We've gotten so strong, getting ready to protect our home from whatever come its way! Now, when something does come, you say we can't do it?!"

"Listen, it's not like that... We know you're strong, we know you're capable, but we're not the ones who need you right now." Ruby nodded towards the town. "They do. They need someone strong, someone to guide and lead them, and, call me crazy, but I don't think Wet and Deer driving the one thing more disturbing than the hand is going to cut it."

Steven and Connie looked at the town and then each other before nodding.

"Good." Ruby said. As Steven and Connie jumped into the crowded van, squishing in between Onion and Sour Cream, Ruby looked at Vidalia. "Keep 'em safe."

Vidalia smiled. "Will do Red."

"Geez, whatever made that thing has some issues they need to work out." Vidalia said, looking out the window to the green hand.

Connie gave a tired glare as Onion continued to poke her and touch her face.

"Hey Connie?" Steven said with an expression of worry.

Connie turned to her brother, ignoring the urge to strangle Onion. "What is it Steven?"

"Do...you think that thing could be Peridot's?" He asked.

Connie gave a thoughtful expression. "Now that you mention it, yea. It could be Peridot's. She doesn't really know that we captured all of them."

"Well, if it is hers...do you think it's my fault?" Steven asked.

"What?!" Connie exclaimed, shocking everyone with the volume of her voice. "Why would you think that?" She asked, quieting herself.

"Well...I let her know that I was there...I kept her from being able to just check on the clusters there and be done with it. If I hadn't done that, she wouldn't be coming at all..."

"Hey, don't beat yourself up about it." Vidalia said. "Even if it is your fault, remember, if every pork chop were perfect, we wouldn't have hotdogs."

Steven slouched even farther into his seat. "Well this hotdog sure as heck isn't perfect..."

Vidalia thought for a moment. "Did your Dad ever tell you about how your Mom came to Earth?" She asked.

"Came to Earth?" Steven asked.

"I thought they told you...oh well, what better time to learn than the present." Vidalia said with a shrug. "Well, when the Gems first came to Earth about, oh, five thousand years ago, they weren't coming to be nice. They were coming to take over the planet...your mom included. Somehow though, your mom and a few other gems ended up seeing the beauty in this world, they saw the evil in what they were doing to it...so she turned on her kind." Vidalia looked back to see the twins giving looks of curiosity as they accepted the new information.

"Even then though, people and gems died. If it weren't for her shield, it could've been much worse." Vidalia sighed. "Point is, even with all of her flaws, she was a great gem, and she sure as heck made a lot more mistakes than you have bud."

Steven straightened slightly. "I guess..." Despite the comfort that Vidalia had tried to give him, something inside of him was bugging him even worse than his previous problem.

"Well, when the Gems first came to Earth about, oh, five thousand years ago, they weren't coming to be nice."

"Even then though, people and gems died. If it weren't for her shield, it could've been much worse."

"Listen guys...we don't really know what's going to happen when that thing gets here. We've never seen anything like this before. Its power alone is something to behold if it took four Light Cannon blasts." Ruby looked over to the approaching object. "All we really know for sure is that, whatever it is, it means business."

"Everything was almost destroyed back then..." Steven said.

"Yep." Vidalia said solemnly.

"...and they knew what was coming..." Steven continued.

"Come again?" Vidalia asked.

Steven took Connie by the shoulders. "Everything was almost destroyed when they knew what they were dealing with, when they could fight back!" Steven exclaimed with fear, scaring everyone, even Onion.

Connie backed away a little. "Steven, you're kind of scaring me."

"Don't you get it?! They don't know what's coming now! They can't fight back! The only thing that saved them before was Mom's shield and we're here!"

Connie's eyes widened. "Vidalia, turn this thing around!" She shouted.

Vidalia stiffened, regretting her choice in telling the twins of their mother's past. "Sorry kids, but if they really haven't been able to do anything to it yet, then I'm not letting you two get anywhere near it."

"Please!" Steven begged, leading to Vidalia and Yellowtail looking forward, refusing to respond. Steven's expression became one of defeat and he slouched back in his seat.

Connie shared in his feelings. The Gems were going to die...and they couldn't help them...

A small tap on Connie's shoulder earned her attention. She looked to see Onion staring at her.

"What?!" Connie snapped.

Onion gestured for Connie to lower her voice.

Connie begrudgingly complied, leaning close to him. "Alright, I'm listening...or looking."

Onion pointed to the door.

"Yea, that's a door."

Onion stared at her for a second before pointing to the door's handle.

"Alright, I'll play along." Connie said with a tinge of annoyance. "Door handle."

Onion did a pulling gesture.

"Pulling. Pull the door handle? But it's locked."

Onion gave the door a slight bump with his elbow, the door giving a barely audible click as it unlocked. He put his finger to his mouth.

Connie stared at the boy in a newfound sense of admiration. Connie turned to Steven. "Steven?" She whispered.

"Yea?" Steven responded sadly, becoming confused by the look of determination on Connie's face.

"We're gonna get out of here." Connie said. "Will you follow me into battle?" She asked dramatically, offering her hand to her brother.

Steven gave a small smile. "If you'll take me." He told her, accepting her hand.

Connie nodded and turned back to Onion. "Ready Onion...and thanks."

Onion gave the slightest hint of a smile. With a yank of the handle, the door flew open.

"Now!" Connie said, pulling Steven's hand and jumping out of the car. Before they could hit the ground, Connie surrounded them in a protective bubble. "Alright, let's go help our family." Connie said, dismissing the bubble. A screeching sound stole her attention. "And we better do it quickly." She said as Vidalia stopped the van.

Steven and Connie made a dash across the land that separated them from the Crystal Gems, seeing the hand getting close to the beach.

"We're not gonna make it!" Steven said, sounding exhausted.

A roar and a pink glow made the twins come to a halt. They turned around to see Lion emerge from a pink vortex, running next to the children.

"Yes we will." Connie said with a smile, hopping on their guardian's back, pulling her brother up next. "To the Gems!" Connie commanded, pointing forward.

"Please." Steven added quickly.

Lion took off even faster, leaving Vidalia behind.

"Kids!" Vidalia called, ready to give chase until a comforting hand was placed on her shoulder. She looked over to see Yellowtail, the man shaking his head. Vidalia didn't want to, but she nodded in understanding. She looked to the sky. "Rose, Greg...keep those two knuckleheads safe."

"Ready, aim, FIRE!" Fire Opal cried as she shot one of her bulky, flaming arrows at the hand, the single arrow splitting into a barrage of them.

The hand didn't even slow down as it took the hits.

"No..." Fire Opal said before she split into Ruby and Opal.

"It was worth a shot." Sapphire said, putting a comforting hand on Ruby's shoulder.

"Thanks." Ruby said before turning back to the hand. "Whatever this thing wants, it's sure not giving up."

"I'm not gonna lie...I'm scared." Opal admitted.

"Same here," Sapphire said. "But at least-...nevermind."

"Guys!" Steven and Connie cried, running towards the group.

"Steven, Connie?!" Ruby and Opal exclaimed.

"Y-you have to get out of here right now!" Opal told them. "This thing could be dangerous."

"We know that, but isn't that what you've been training us for?! To protect our home?!" Steven asked.

"St-"

"It's too late." Sapphire said.

The entire group looked over to see the hand hover over the waters, creating light ripples on the ocean's surface.

"Whatever this thing came here to do, it's doing it right now." Sapphire said, readying herself.

The hand turned over and uncurled its massive fingers, letting them touch the beach with a loud crash. A ball appeared on the palm of the hand, rolling to the hand's index finger before stopping.

"Well it sure is anticlimactic if it came here to destroy everything." Ruby said, confused by the machine.

The ball opened up, shocking the Crystal Gems with what was inside. Two gems stood before them, Peridot and a new, massive gem.

"Gems." Ruby growled, summoning her weapon as an image of the war came to her mind.

"It was a ship?" Opal asked herself quietly.

The new gem had a bulky build and was a light orange, dark orange stripes on her arm and across her face. She wore a brown v-neck that made a yellow diamond on her chest where the two sides of her collar met.

Peridot looked up from her screens to the Crystal Gems with a bored look. "Rebel squad and base have been located." Peridot said in a robotic tone.

The large gem looked down at the Crystal Gems with a bored expression. "This is it?"

"No Jasper, it's somewhere else and these three standing in front of us are just a bunch of strange humans." Peridot answered sarcastically.

Jasper gave a slight glare to her subordinate, but resumed looking at the five gems below her.

"This is pathetic." The large gem muttered, jumping down. "All that's left is puny, hotheaded guard, a traitorous diplomat, and a shameless mix of a slave and warrior?" Jasper sneered. "Even a peridot could take this group down."

Peridot jumped down next to Jasper, nudging the warrior's arm and showing her something on her screen. Jasper looked at it and gave an amused grin before taking a step back.

"I was expecting something much more threatening than this sad group of rebels. Let's just blast them with the ship and get this over with." Jasper said, crossing her arms.

Peridot gave an expression of uncertainty to Jasper as she made the hand lift up and take aim with the pointer finger. Peridot made a wide circle on her screen before tapping the middle, the ship beginning to charge up its power.

"Steven, Connie, get out of here now!" Opal commanded. "This isn't your fight!"

"Yes it is!" Connie responded. "This is our home!"

"You're our family!" Steven added.

The ship fired a beam of green light at the team.

Steven and Connie began to run between the Gems and the giant hand. "We're Crystal Gems too!" Steven and Connie said as they jumped in front of the group, their gems glowing brightly. Quickly, their bodies became masses of light, merging into a singular form.

As the beam reached its target, Rose's large shield formed in front of the new figure, blocking the attack. As the Steven and Connie's light faded, it revealed a teenage form. They were somewhat chubby and had a tan skin tone with long, pink, curly hair reached down to their thighs. They wore Steven's jeans as cutoff shorts and pink shirt that reached their stomach. In the shirt's center, there was a dark pink Rose Quartz symbol with a small blue star replacing the pink triangle at the symbol's center.

The fusion became engulfed in light once more and separated, leaving Steven and Connie collapsed on the ground as their shield fell.

Jasper and Peridot took a glance at each other and grinned evilly before facing back towards the group.

"So, it is him." Jasper said. She leaped over to the fallen twins, the children looking up at her with terrified expressions. "You're the one she was after." Jasper said, picking Steven up by his collar, ignoring Connie completely.

Steven gave the warrior a confused look. "Wh-what?" He exclaimed.

Opal, observing the scene, quietly summoned her bow and arrow, taking aim on Jasper. As she was about to fire, a green ball of electricity shot through her torso. She looked down at the smoking hole in her chest, and then to her attacker, finding Peridot, wearing her bored look, with her arm aimed at Opal and her fingers in the shape of a blaster.

Opal poofed into a cloud of smoke, two gemstones, one a smooth white, the other a faceted purple stone, fell to the sand.

"Peridot, get the other one. I'll take care of our "guest"." Jasper said cruelly, summoning an orange helmet atop her head. "Come on Steven. We don't want to keep our prisoner waiting." With that, she slammed her helmet into Steven's face, rendering him unconscious.

Author's note: What did you think. There are going to be two new chapters coming in the next update. See you then.