"Okay monster!" Steven yelled, jumping off the warp pad before the stream had vanished, shield at the ready. "Time to meet your fate at the hands of the Crystal-!"

He paused, realizing that they were back at his house.

"Gems?" Confused, he looked around. "The monster is here?"

"Nope, we're just dropping you off, Steven," Garnet said.

Steven's shield vanished. "Aw, but guys!" he moaned.

"Three missions is more than enough for one day, Steven," Pearl said. "You're more than just a warrior."

"Make some dinner, take a hot bath, and go to bed, please," Garnet said. "We'll see you in the morning."

"See yah, dude," Amethyst waved as they vanished.

Steven sighed, but did as he was told. After a semi-healthy dinner, bath, and a little TV, he got in bed, thinking back on the events of the day. They'd fought a giant, fire-breathing ant, a living mountain, and a 50-foot-long floating serpent. As much as he wished he could still be with them, the allure of a good night's sleep quickly won him over and he drifted off to sleep, excited for whatever tomorrow would bring.

"Cookie Cat, he's a pet for your tummy," Steven sang as he poured whip cream on his waffles. Just as he was about to dig in, the Gems appeared on the warp pad. "Hey guys, how was last night's mission?"

"Oh, fine, Steven," Pearl said, before suddenly giving a yawn, something Steven rarely ever saw her do. "but it took all night."

"It was a gaint bull," Garnet explained. "Armored skin, whirlwind breath, took us forever to pin it down."

"Ha, you should have seen Pearl on it's back!" Amethyst laughed, settling down on the couch.

Pearl put her hands on her hips. "Excuse me, Amethyst, but that thing nearly flattened me!"

"Yeah, and it was hilarious!"

"Well, why don't you guys join me for breakfast and tell me more about it?" Steven said, motioning to the other chairs.

Garnet paused, touching her visor, before saying, "Sorry Steven, but we can't. Gems, there's something heading for Charm City. We need to move."

"Awww!" Amethyst got up from her spot. "Already?!"

Pearl scoffed. "Have some pride in your work, Amethyst!" She waved goodbye as the grumpy Gem joined them on the pad. "Bye Steven!"

They vanished, leaving Steven alone again.

"Come on, Lonely Blade!" Steven cheered on his TV, "End Lord Kogun's reign of terror!"

He was drawn from his show by the sound of the warp pad. "Hey guys!"

Garnet immediately rushed off the pad, heading for the Temple. "Can't talk right now, Steven," she said before entering the Temple.

"There's an ice monster loose up in the Great North," Pearl explained, "We only stopped by so Garnet could grad the Magma Piercer."

"Magma Piercer? What's that?" Steven got his answer when Garnet emerged from the Temple, a glowing broadsword in her hands.

"We need it to break through the beast's ice armor. Okay, bye!" Pearl barely had time to finish before being swallowed up by the war stream.

"Let's work out! One, two, two, two, three, two, four, two!"

Steven followed along with the Korean exercise program. Hearing the sound of the warp pad, he switched off his radio and ran back inside, only to see the stream disappear, with a note floating away from it. He picked it up and read.

Steven,

Banshee attack in New Mexico. Be home later,

Love, the Gems.

"Come on, come on," Steven said, scanning the ground with his Metal Mutt metal detector. It buzzed. "Ooh, please be gold!"

He dug into the sand, only to find an empty cola can.

"Gua-cola? Ew!" He tossed it away. "Who even drinks that stuff?!"

Somewhere, Onion burped.

The boy grumbled, throwing down his detector. "I knew I should have gotten the Copper Kitty Collector."

From inside, he heard the familar woosh of the warp pad.

"Ooh, maybe the Gems got me something cool!"

Unfortunately, the only thing he got upon entering was a look of confusion. All three Gems looked horrible, with their clothes tattered and dirty and their hair in disarray. They seemed barely able to retain their posture, let alone keep their eyes open. His confusion quickly turned to horror. "Guys!"

Pearl noticed him and took two wobbly steps off the warp pad, her face a sickly green. "H-hello, Steven," she said, weakly. "How are y-?" She paused, heaved, and then, to Steven utter shock, threw up.

"Ew!" Steven covered his nose as the rancid smell filled the house. Pearl then fell to her knees and lay on her side, letting out a sickly moan. "What happened to you guys?!"

"Angry...living...tornado," Amethyst slurred, stumbling off the pad and collapsing into a heap.

"Amethyst!"

"I...okay," she gave him a lopsided thumbs up.

"Steven." Garnet began to glow, the bubbled Gem slipping out of her hand. Steven rushed forward, just managing to catch it before it hit the ground. Garnet had fallen apart, with Ruby and Sapphire now laying on either side of the boy. Like their fusion, both Gems were tired, dirty, and extremely worn out.

Tears filled the boy's eyes. "Guys," he choked.

Tapping the bubbled Gem to the burning room, Steven quickly dragged all four Gems over to the couch, placing a soft pillow under each of their heads.

"It's okay. You're safe now."