Hey, everyone. Mystery Critic here back with a new chapter of Gift Of A Rose. I'm sorry about that cliffhanger, but as any of my fans know, cliffhangers are one of my specialties. Tee hee. Anywho, it's birthday party time! I do not own Steven Universe, nor any of the rights to it. Those belong solely to the incredible Rebecca Sugar. Well, sit back and relax Chapter three of Gift Of A Rose.
Chapter 3
Steven's P.O.V
I stare at the sight of everyone I know there, wishing me a happy birthday. All of the gems, my dad, my friends, even Mayor Dewey are all there with a smile on their faces. I slowly walk up, completely dumbfounded at the sight of them all.
"Oh my gosh, everyone!" I yell, running up and hugging my dad and the gems.
"How did you have time to get everyone here without me noticing?!"
"There's this thing called a phone, Stuball." My dad says,chuckling.
"It wasn't too hard to call people."
"What do you think of your party, Steven?" Pearl asks, gesturing behind her.
"I brought all the things from when you gave us our birthdays."
"It's incredible, you guys!" I say, hugging her tightly. I move on to Garnet and Amethyst afterwards, giving them hugs just as big.
"I can't believe you did this just for me."
"It wasn't just us, dude." amethyst says, hugging me back.
"A lot of other people helped pitch in."
"My family and I made the pizzas." Kofi said, pointing to the ten pizza boxes on the table.
"Just for the occasion."
"And I baked the cake!" Lars says proudly, just before Sadie elbows him in the ribs and glares.
"Well, I helped Sadie bake the cake."
"That's better." She says, smiling and taking his hand.
"Oh my gosh, did you two finally get together?!" I ask, putting my hands on my cheeks.
"Well…" Lars says.
"That's not important right now." Sadie chimes in.
"Today is about you, and we're going to celebrate you."
"That's right!" Pearl says, placing a party hat on my head.
"Today is all about you."
"Happy birthday, baby!" Connie says, hugging me from behind.
"I'm going to be here for the best day you've ever had."
"That's impossible, Connie." I say turning to look at her.
"Why is that?" she asks, her face turning sad.
"Because the day you asked me to be your boyfriend was the best day ever." I explain, kissing her nose.
"And only a few days in my life could top that."
"Oh, Steven." she says, giggling and kissing me.
"Okay, you two lovebirds." Garnet says.
"Break it up and let's get this party started!"
"Yeah!" I yell, rushing over to where everything is.
Third-person P.O.V, a few hours later
After playing games and having fun, people start going home, wishing Steven a happy birthday as they go. When all that's left are Connie, Greg, and the gems, they all sit down in the sand to relax. Steven is laying in Connie's lap while she strokes his hair, and Greg is playing the guitar nonchalantly. Peridot is tinkering with a machine and the rest of the gems are doing their own things.
"Today was so much fun, guys." Steven says, sighing happily.
"Thanks for everything."
"Hey, no problem, dude." Amethyst says.
"You deserve it."
"Nothing could end this day on a bad note." Steven says, closing his eyes.
Steven's P.O.V
My eyes shoot open when a blast of energy hits the beach with a deafening boom. I look up to see a small light blue ship hovering above us. I get up and summon my shield, staring up at the menacing threat looming above us.
"Lion!" I yell, having him pop up almost immediately.
"Connie, get the sword."
She nods and pulls out the sword from Lion's mane, unsheathing it and taking a stance. Garnet summons her gauntlets, and Pearl brings out her spear, and Amethyst pulls out her whip, growling up at the ship.
"What is it, Garnet?" I ask.
"It's a homeworld ship." She says as it descends to the ground. Once it lands, the door to the cockpit pops open and three Pearls with a yellow diamond on each of their suits climb out.
"We are Yellow Diamond's personal Pearl Brigade." One of them says, glaring down at us.
"We are here to destroy the rebels known as the Crystal Gems!"
"Everyone, get ready!" Garnet says.
"Greg, get back!"
He nods and runs away from the imminent battle, probably going to go let the city know to evacuate.
"This is all my fault!" Peridot screams.
"I'm so sorry, Steven. If I hadn't called Yellow Diamond a clod, none of this would be happening now!"
"It's not your fault, Peri." I say, smiling at her.
"It was bound to happen anyway."
"Steven's right." Garnet chimes in.
"They've been trying to destroy us for centuries."
"Today, we shall succeed." The Pearl from before said.
"Today ends the rebellion of the Crystal Gems. Pearl Brigade, advance!"
Third-person P.O.V
The Pearls split apart and each advance towards a different set of the heroes. One goes towards Garnet, another towards Amethyst and Pearl, and the final one to Steven and Connie. As the first one arrives in front of Garnet, she summons a dual-sided spear, twirling it around before brandishing it at her. She charges forward, swinging with expert strikes and precision. Garnet struggles to block each blow, but still manages to keep up. Pearl and Amethyst surround the one that proceeded towards them, and start attacking in turn, trying their best to trip up the skilled warrior. The last one that had approached Connie and Steven looked at them, seeming somewhat amused. She draws a blade and chuckles maliciously.
"You now, this will hardly be a challenge." She says.
"If you surrender now, as young ones, Yellow DIamond may be merciful on you."
"We'll never surrender!" Connie yells, charging forward with me right on her heels. She swings the blade quickly and accurately, surprising the evil Pearl with her skill. As Garnet finally finishes poofing and bubbling the Pearl, she turns to see Steven and Connie fighting another Pearl in a battle of their own, their skill and teamwork very evident in their synchronization. Amethyst and Pearl finish of their battle, and rush forward to help Steven and Connie, only to be stopped by Garnet.
"Garnet, what are you doing?!" Pearl demands.
"They need our help!"
"No, they don't." she responds.
"Look carefully."
What are you talking about?" Pearl says, looking over to see them pushing the Pearl back.
"They're doing it…"
Steven and Connie fight together in perfect synch, each one complementing the other's skills. The Pearl swings low, only to have Steven turn Connie around and knock her form loose once the blade bounces off Steven's shield. Connie jumps over Steven and charges for the killing blow, but Steven notices the Pearl beginning to swing another sword out from nowhere.
"Connie, NO!" Steven yells, jumping forward with the speed of a true gem.
Steven's P.O.V
Connie jumps over me to rush in and finish the Pearl off, but I see her start bringing out another sword.
"Connie, NO!" I scream, dropping my shield and jumping forward as fast as I can to save her. When I open my eyes again, I see the Pearl gone and everyone staring at me in horror.
"Guys, what are you looking at?"
I feel a barrage of pain in my chest, and I look down to see the other blade she summoned sticking out of where my heart is. I look up at them and drop to my knees, the world starting to go dark. I fall on my back and faintly hear the screams of terror of the gems and Connie as the rush to my side. I put a hand to my chest and raise it up, blood covering it.
"I guess I don't poof after all…" I say weakly, coughing.
"Steven, don't talk!" Pearl says, fumbling over me and trying to stop the bleeding.
"Steven, don't go!" Connie screams hysterically.
"Please don't leave me! I love you, Steven! Please don't die!"
I feel her lips on mine again and again, and her tears fall on my face. I can tell I won't last much longer, so I push Pearl away.
"It's too late, Pearl." I say, coughing again.
"Tell my dad I love him. He's the best dad anyone could have. Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl, I'm glad you guys raised me. I know my mom wasn't around, but I don't think she could have done a better job than you. Connie, you're the best girlfriend anyone could ever have. I promised I would cherish what I have with you, and I will, even if this is it for me. I love you more than anything, Connie. I love you all more than anything…"
"Steven, don't talk like that!" She screams hysterically.
"Baby, please don't go!"
"I'm glad I got to have this life, no matter how short it is. Because I got to meet all of you, and be with all of you. I'm happy, because I got to have the best time with all of you. The best part about this, I finally get to see mom. Goodbye, everyone. I love you…" I say those last words as my world fades into a bright, light; heading to a better place.
Wow… That chapter even hit me, and I freaking wrote it. I hope you guys don't hate me for this, but I have to write it. It's the story, so please, don't be sad. Keep reading to find out what happens. This is Mystery Critic, signing off.