Steven awoke slowly, his eyes, puffy from illness and fatigue, opening against the dim light of dawn. He felt like he had barely slept at all. He stared up at a ceiling that took a moment to register as not being part of the beach house. Memories returned slowly of the night before, half-remembered and blurry.
The air on his face was cool, but his body was quite warm. He made to sit up and found a light pressure on his chest. He lifted the blanket and looked down, seeing a brown arm laying across his body. His eyes went wide. He peeled the blanket away and found Connie curled up against him, asleep.
His face flushed a deep red. Carefully, trying not to wake her, he lifted himself off the couch, slipping out from under her arm. She rolled into the place he had vacated, nestling into the warm spot his body had made, and snored softly.
Steven found his heart was hammering and he was sweating slightly. He chalked it up to his illness and turned to make for the ladder down from the barn's loft. He found Pearl seated against the wall, watching.
"Uh, morning," he whispered.
"Good morning," she said. "Is Connie still sleeping?"
"Yeah. How… how long have you been watching?"
"All night," she said, looking slightly embarrassed but also smiling. "You two were adorable."
Steven found his flush deepening until his whole face seemed on fire. "Were we like that all night?"
"No," said Pearl, near laughter. "You were head-to-foot to start. Connie was squirming a lot in her sleep, though she stopped once she snuggled up to you."
"And we're done talking about this," said Steven, jumping quickly over the side of the loft and floating down. He heard Pearl chuckling from above.
"Did you sleep well?" asked Peridot, who was standing right behind him as he landed.
"Not really," he answered honestly out of surprise. "I'm feeling better, but I'm still kind of lightheaded. Should Connie and I be sharing a couch? I don't want to get her sick."
Peridot shrugged. "Learning about human biology would be a poor partitioning of my time. You would know that answer better than I would."
"I guess," he said.
"For what it is worth, Connie did not seem the least put off by your illness. She was more than happy to share a sleep space with you." Peridot cocked her head. "You're turning red again."
"I sure am," said Steven. "I should go talk to Garnet. Oh, and good morning."
"It's alright," said Peridot as Steven walked away.
Garnet, Ten, Amethyst, and Lapis were talking in hushed whispers near the barn door, though in the small space the voices carried easily across the barn so that even Pearl sitting in the loft could follow along.
"…and when I got there," Lapis was saying, "only its shattered gem was left. Morning, Steven." A chorus of good mornings were exchanged.
"What are you guys talking about?" he asked.
"Lapis has just been doing some scouting for us," said Garnet.
"Wow, Lapis, you're helping us?"
"With her ability to fly, she was the logical choice," said Garnet.
"Yeah," said Amethyst, "and she was more than willing after we told her that those Onyxes were liable to hurt you if they found us."
"Isn't that emotional blackmail or something?" he asked.
"Iunno," Amethyst said with a shrug. "Who cares? So long as none of us have to get shattered keeping an eye out for these stupid Onyxes."
"What was that you said about a shattered gem?" he asked Lapis.
If Lapis cared at all about being used, she hid it well as she explained. "It was an Onyx. Long story short, I saw one running across a field and decided to track it. It ran into a forest where I couldn't follow as easily, but then I heard it yelp so I dived in to check it out. Turns out there were a bunch of those mutant gems in the forest and they took care of that Onyx for us."
"How many were there?" asked Garnet.
"I'd say about twenty. It looked like they were trying to hide."
"Hmm," said Garnet. "We need to take care of them."
"Now?" came Pearl's voice from above. "It hardly seems the appropriate time to be hunting cluster gems."
"It's part of our duty as Crystal Gems," said Garnet. "Besides, we can't let those horrid abominations wander loose in the region."
Amethyst and Ten exchanged looks. "Is this a fusion thing, Gar?" asked Amethyst.
"It is our duty," she repeated testily. "Let's get ready and take care of this quickly. The sooner we get back to the safety of the barn, the better."
"Can't this wait until after we take care of the Emeralds and their Onyxes?" asked Ten.
"No. We don't know how long we'll be butting heads with the Emeralds and we can't put everything on hold while we deal with them. Besides, these things live tortured lives. The sooner we bubble them, the better it is for both them and us."
"Can I come too?" The group looked up to see Connie squatting near the ledge of the loft.
"You haven't even eaten breakfast yet." She pointed to a crate off to the side of the barn. "We snuck out last night and took some eggs from a nearby farm. Sorry there's not more variety."
"You didn't steal the eggs, did you?" asked Connie.
"We don't have any money, and you two not starving is more important than a human being short a few eggs."
Steven and Connie exchanged frowns, but said nothing. Garnet was right, but they didn't have to like it. "So you're just leaving us behind again?" asked Steven.
"Steven, can we have just one mission where we don't have this argument?" asked Garnet, exasperated.
"I'm sorry, but when you leave me behind, you make me feel like I'm not part of the team, like you think I'm a liability.
"We don't think you are a liability, Steven. We know you can help, but—"
Amethyst jumped in. "Dude, when's the last time you ate?"
"What?" Steven's stomach made a horrendous gurgling sound. "Now that you mention it, I haven't eaten much in the past two days."
"Then stay here and eat. We're just going to fight cluster gems. We already know you can handle cluster gems, so you're not missing out. You can complain when we try to stop you from going after Emerald, okay?"
Now that he thought about it, fresh eggs were sounding tempting and getting into a sweaty, exhausting fight markedly less so. He turned to Connie and they shrugged at one another. "I guess breakfast doesn't sound so bad," he said.
"Sure, I'll cook," said Connie, climbing down. "It's the least I can do for giving me a place to sleep. I don't suppose you guys have any milk or butter or salt?" Garnet shook her head no. "I'll make do. Don't get into too much trouble," she added, pulling Steven toward the crate of eggs.
Garnet sighed in relief. "Good work, Amethyst."
"Hey, I was getting tired of arguing, too," Amethyst said.
The gems gathered together at the barn door and waved goodbye to Steven, Connie, Lapis, and Peridot, then made their way outside. Garnet pointed them toward where Lapis had indicated in her report, and started moving that way.
They were only a short way from the barn when Ten put a hand on Garnet's shoulder. "You can't protect him forever, Garnet," she said. "If it isn't an Onyx or an Emerald, someone else is going to come to this planet. Armies might come. A Diamond might come. What are you going to protect Steven with then?"
"My life, if I have to," growled Garnet.
"I don't think Steven would like that kind of talk," said Ten.
"He is precious to us and we want to protect him."
"So? Pearl and Amethyst are precious to you, aren't they? I don't see you demanding they stay back."
"It's not the same. They're warriors—"
"Pearl wasn't made a warrior, and look at her now." Pearl was pleased at the compliment. "Steven at least has a quartz. He's practically half a warrior already. Besides, he can protect you with his shield—you know, the thing that is specifically designed to protect people? Out of everyone here—aside from myself, that is—Steven needs the least protection. Coddling him is an insult to his abilities."
Garnet turned abruptly. "I don't need you telling me what is best for Steven."
"You sure seem to think you know what's best for him," said Ten. "Did you ever think he knows that better than you?"
"Don't you dare—"
Amethyst let out a roar of annoyance, startling the others. She stepped between the two arguing gems and pushed them apart. "I SO don't care about this right now! If we're gonna do this, let's do this."
"I'm with Amethyst on this one," said Pearl. "Steven fights us enough without you arguing on his behalf, Ten. And Garnet, we're not going to be able to hold him back forever."
Garnet nodded begrudgingly, then sighed. "He's growing up," she said.
"Okay?" said Ten, not understanding
"Humans get rebellious at a certain age, right around where Steven is. It will become harder and harder to make him listen."
"Maybe it's about time you guys listen to him instead."
"You don't understand how limited his experience is. Humans are helpless the first years of their life and he has only come into his powers recently. We've all fought thousands of foes each so it makes sense for us to be as confident as we are. Steven hasn't earned that confidence in his abilities yet. He forgets he even has half of them. It's not about him gaining experience; it's about keeping him from thinking he is more experienced than he is because we both know what happens to warriors that think that way."
Ten nodded gravely. "I don't disagree," she said, "but we also both know that experience doesn't just happen without action. Keeping him out of battle isn't the solution. You need to protect him as much as possible, but you also need to let him face real danger. If he is going to be anything like Greg when he gets older, than he better get good now before it is too late."
"We've been training him," Garnet protested.
"And you can only train him so much." She looked at Pearl and Amethyst, who looked ready to interrupt again. "I've said my piece."
"Something tells me this won't be the last piece I hear from you."
"Not by a mile," said Ten. "You might be wise, Garnet, definitely wiser than me, but sometimes I think that makes you miss what's right in front of your face."
Garnet was not pleased with that remark, but she let it slide. She did not want to continue this conversation.
They continued walking for nearly an hour, using cover as they went to avoid any Onyxes that might be snooping around. The stand of trees they were looking for appeared in the distance, growing in the place where three separate fields met. They approached cautiously, drawing their weapons as they reached the shade of the first tree. Garnet waved them forward and they entered, peering in every direction for signs of their targets.
As they delved deeper, the sound of wildlife faded away. The intrusion of the cluster gems had scared off all of the birds and critters. Knowing they were close, the Crystal Gems crouched, moving toward the heart of the small woods on high alert. A shuffle ahead caused them to pause. Pearl moved carefully toward a band of trees, peering around it. She waved for the others to join her. She pointed with her free hand toward the group of gathered cluster gems, specifically toward something at their center.
A question passed between the Gems with a look: what is that? From all appearances, there was a gem console in their midst, humming quietly, it's many lights and buttons flashing. The cluster gems were surrounding it, watching it as if hypnotized. They made no threatening gesture as the Crystal Gems moved into the clearing.
"They don't seem to notice us," observed Pearl.
"Should we just poof 'em?" asked Ten.
"Hold on," said Garnet. She moved toward the nearest cluster gem, waving a hand in its face. It didn't react. She waded through the crowd, but none of the clusters made any attempt to stop her.
"This is creepy," said Amethyst, moving to join Garnet in the middle. They both looked at the console. Pearl and Ten joined them. "Any idea what this is, Ten?"
She shrugged. "These panels all kind of look the same to me. Maybe deactivate it?"
"It looks like the panel is placating the cluster gems," said Pearl, looking around at the surrounding group. "Turning it off might make the clusters attack us, but I suppose they are nothing we can't handle."
"This doesn't feel right," said Garnet, who nevertheless reached forward and tapped on the console's main panel.
A screen on the panel lit up. The Gems leaned forward to look.
"Is that the barn?" Pearl looked at the others. "Why is this console showing us the barn?"
There was movement on the screen. A face filled up the entire view, a dangerous smile and narrowed, hungry eyes.
"Emerald!" Ten screamed, flinging herself away from the panel and out of sight.
"Hello, Crystal Gems," said Emerald. She moved out of the way and directed her hand towards the barn. "Looks like you've made a mistake leaving your pitiful little base unprotected. We were going to eliminate you all out there in the forest after you bumbled your way into our trap, but I suppose splitting the group and crushing each half is just as good, don't you think?"
"Don't you dare lay a finger on them!" shouted Garnet.
"But I so wanted to," said Emerald with a fake pout. "Well, shoot. Guess I can't. Better let them take care of it instead." At that, twenty Onyxes appeared from the edges of the screen, moving toward the barn and completely surrounding it.
"Emerald! Don't! What do you want from us?"
"I just want your little half-breed abomination to die."
Pearl put a hand to her mouth. "They're not after Ten. They want Steven!"
"And we will get this 'Steven.' Shortly, it seems. You're all just collateral damage. No hard feelings."
"Oh, there are plenty of hard feelings," said Amethyst. The sound of movement off to the side caused her to turn and see Onyxes slinking out of the woods, another full twenty, and the Gems were surrounded.
"Well, those hard feeling won't last long. I would say 'see you later,' but I'd be lying."
There was a rumbling in the background on the monitor. Emerald turned, and with an unobstructed view, the Gems saw a giant hand of water flinging an Onyx over the horizon.
"Well, that's different," said Emerald. Whatever else she was going to say was lost as Garnet gripped the console and flung it into the nearest Onyx, destroying both the Onyx and the Console. Then the Onyxes charged and the cluster gems started shrieking.
Ten moved close to the others, really wishing she had Rose's glorious sword, but knowing she would have to make due with only her shield. She put up her bubble shield, surrounding the other three gems, and willed the bubble to change shape, becoming spiked and barbed. She threw out her hands and the bubble expanded, the Onyxes and clusters hitting it head on, some getting caught in the spikes. She had hoped so keep them at bay for a little while, but the Onyxes quickly bit through the bubble, popping it and leaving the Gems exposed.
"This might be it," said Amethyst. She lashed out with both of her whips, hoping to stop at least one or two before they got too close, but her whips couldn't crush their hardened gem bodies, serving only to cause pain and slow those she struck.
Garnet moved to her right, putting herself between Pearl and the nearest Onyx, prepping herself to defend. The Onyx leapt for her and Garnet put a fist right through its open mouth. Instead of launching backwards, however, it was thrown sideways as a pair of cluster gems tackled it to the ground and started tearing at the gem on its head.
"What in the world?" cried Pearl. "Are they fighting with us?" Another cluster gem jumped at her, nearly pulling the spear from her hand before she was able to kick it away into a pair of Onyxes that were worrying a fallen cluster. "I guess not. First, clusters don't attack corrupted gems, now they do? I have no idea what's going on!"
"We'll worry about that later," said Garnet. She looked at the chaos the forest clearing was quickly becoming. When the cluster gems started attacking the Onyxes, the Onyxes had mostly veered off and started attacking the clusters in turn. There were an even number on both sides but, despite the ferocity and deadliness of the Onyxes, the clusters were able to hold their own.
Ten watched an Onyx chewing on the arm of a cluster mere inches from its gem, but instead of biting and destroying the gem as they tended to do, it tried to shake the arm in its grip as if trying to tear it off. Ten was struck with a realization. "I don't think the Onyxes can detect the gems on the clusters!"
"That's exactly what it looks like," Garnet agreed. "The clusters can distract them long enough where we might actually defeat them all, but we don't have that kind of time to waste. We need to get back to the barn."
"Go, Garnet," said Pearl. "You're the fastest. We can take care of things here."
"I can bring one of you with me without getting slowed down too much." She looked between them. "With Emerald at the barn, Ten has to stay out of the way here. Amethyst can't destroy the Onyxes, so Pearl, you stay here with Ten and bubble these things. When you're done or if things get too hairy, hurry and catch up. We'll need all the help we can get."
"Right," the others said. Garnet reached out and Amethyst took her hand, then she started to run.
Amethyst had only run with Garnet once before, but she knew she had best hold on as hard as she could as the speed caused her feet to trail behind her in the air. She risked a look back toward Pearl and Ten, but they were already lost behind the trees. "Good luck," she said, her words carried away by the wind.
They made incredible progress. In minutes, the barn was in view, the large watery hand sweeping back and forth as it knocked Onyxes in every direction. Emerald stood a short distance from a hovering Lapis, just out of range of the hand, observing with mild interest, her hands folded behind her back. She noticed Garnet and Amethyst approaching with displeasure.
As they slowed to a halt, Amethyst landed on her feet, dizzy from the run. "I'll take care of Emerald," she said. "You can actually hurt those things."
Garnet nodded. "Just be careful," she said. "We don't know how powerful she is." She dashed over to assist Lapis.
Lapis saw her coming. She was sweating and looked tired, but said, "I don't think I've ever been happier to see a Crystal Gem. Peridot is inside. Can you help her real quick, then come back here?"
Garnet did as she was asked, opening the barn door to find Peridot's gem laying on the floor between Steven and Connie. Steven stood. "Garnet!"
"We don't have time. Bubble Peridot and send her to the temple. We need Stevonnie."
"You mean we get to fight?"
"Don't sound too excited. I can't bubble all these creatures alone and Lapis can only fight for so long. We have no choice. Just be extremely careful." She turned and went back outside.
Emerald was still not interfering, seeming content to just watch as the Onyxes charged uselessly at Lapis, who sent them flying away over and over again. Amethyst came up from behind Emerald, lashing at her with her whip. Much to Amethyst's amazement and frustration, however, Emerald dodged the attack without even looking. Amethyst whipped again, but Emerald shifted out of the way each time, floating and bobbing away from the attacks with apparent ease.
Though astonished at the alacrity and dexterity Emerald displayed, Garnet didn't have time to waste watching Amethyst. She leapt into the air, catching one of the Onyxes as it was blasted away from Lapis, and tore into it with her fingers. The creature nipped at her shoulder, but she got her fingers under its skin before it could do much damage and wrenched it apart. She caught the gem as it fell through the air and turned, seeing Stevonnie appearing from the barn wearing Steven's shirt over Connie's nightgown, her sword and shield ready, looking up at her. She tossed the gem to Stevonnie. She didn't wait to see if they caught it, but turned to look for another defenseless Onyx.
Stevonnie bubbled the gem, then ran to Lapis. "Need some help?" they asked, trying to sound cool and collected.
Lapis looked over her shoulder. "Wha? Who are you?" She turned and unleashed a vicious slap to an approaching foe.
"It's us! Steven and Connie. We're fused!"
"Oh," she said. "I was kind of trying to protect you, but if you can do something about some of these Onyxes, that would be great. Sorry I can't do more; I don't have a lot of water to work with."
Stevonnie sighed inwardly, clearly out-cool-and-collected by Lapis. "That's fine, just keep them distracted so Garnet and I can do what we need to do. And can you keep an eye on Emerald for us? She might try to do something while we're fighting." They both looked over to where Amethyst was still trying to catch Emerald. Amethyst's face was flushed in embarrassment as Emerald soared above her with her legs kicking rhythmically as if she was taking a leisurely swim.
"Poor Amethyst. Poor Amethyst? Poor us! Steven, our whole body feels like it's on fire! Just how sick were you?" They jumped in and dug their sword into the side of an unaware Onyx. "I'm feeling fine. Steven, you can't lie to me, I can feel it. When this is over, you need to take some time off to recover." The hand of water splashed down behind them, crushing an Onyx into the grass. "Aw man, we didn't even see that one. We probably would have if we weren't so light-headed. Okay, I get it, but no point complaining about it now. We have to fight!" The gem from one of the poofed Onyxes began to glow and reconstitute. "Whoa, are you kidding?"
"You have to bubble them quickly!" shouted Garnet. She leapt rapidly backwards as three Onyxes rushed her. "A little help, Lapis!"
"Yeah, yeah, I see you." A column of water slammed into their midst, scattering them.
Stevonnie waited until the gem started to take physical shape, then struck it in the head, causing it to destabilize in the middle of repair. Before they could grab it, another Onyx snapped its jaws inches from their hand. They pulled back and put up their shield. "Shoot, we can't get to it. At least we still have our hand. I don't even want to know what would happen to our bodies if Stevonnie gets hurt." They shivered at the thought.
Suddenly, a high-pitched whistle split the air. The Onyxes turned about and ran toward Emerald. Amethyst's eyes went wide, and she turned to run, but was suddenly yanked back as Emerald reached out and grabbed her whip. She tumbled to the ground as Onyxes swarmed over her.
"Amethyst!" shouted Garnet. She rushed forward to help, but stopped when she saw the Onyxes sweep past Amethyst, leaving her unharmed on the ground, though curled into a terrified protective position, arms and legs covering her gem.
"You'll stay there," said Emerald, peering down at Amethyst. She walked away from Amethyst and the Onyxes, taking a wide arc around Garnet, Lapis, and Stevonnie. "You know, you've put up a far better fight than I would have guessed," said Emerald as she walked. "I shouldn't be too surprised: two fusions and a high-class aristocrat. So far, you've done considerable damage to my Onyx reserves. The mere fact that you're here suggests some level of success escaping my trap. I wonder if your allies were so lucky?"
"Why are you attacking us?" Garnet yelled at her. "What is the point? Are you just a lackey of the Diamonds, blindly following orders like every other gem we've run into?"
"Please," said Emerald. "We're all created knowing what we are to do. Those of us who excel at our tasks do them for love of a job well done. Failures, like a Sapphire that can't predict the future or a Ruby who couldn't protect her charge, those are the ones who abandon their duties."
Garnet's fists clenched. She knew she was being goaded into doing something rash and she would not let Emerald have the satisfaction. She looked back over to where Amethyst was lying, surrounded by Onyxes and too frightened to move. A movement from Emerald made her turn back. Emerald brought her left hand from behind her back, the large green gem on her palm shining. She raised it palm downwards. A construct of light fell from the gem and she caught it. It was a short, dagger-like weapon, and as its form solidified, it was clear that it was not a normal weapon. The blade was long and edged with strange ridges on the back side, like chunks of the blade had been dug out, leaving it with deep teeth. The pommel was large and heavy looking, clearly meant for bashing. The weapon was not fancy-looking, being of a dull gray color. It was utterly utilitarian.
"You might want to keep your eyes on me," she said, twirling the weapon in her hands. "I'm impartial to fighting if I'm honest, but I will make short work of you if necessary. As for you," she pointed her weapon toward Lapis, "you've caused more than enough trouble for me. Perhaps you could sit the rest of this battle out while I settle my dispute with the fusion and the abomination. If you do, I will spare you when this is over. I have no need to shatter you."
"Pass," said Lapis. "I'm not letting you hurt Steven."
"A pity," said Emerald.
There was a cracking sound, and suddenly a whip was around Lapis' neck. She looked surprised for a moment before she was jerked from the air and slammed into the ground. Stevonnie and Garnet turned in shock, seeing Amethyst with an equally nonplussed look on her face. "What the…?" she said, then jerked her whip, crushing the neck of the struggling Lapis. Lapis destabilized, her gem settling in the grass.
"Amethyst!" cried Stevonnie. "What did you do?!" Their body began to glow.
"We have to keep it together!" said Connie. "We can't lose concentration now!"
"Sorry," said Steven, "I-I'm trying." Slowly, they relaxed, their body resolidifying.
"The Amethyst Emerald," said Garnet, taking a defensive stance. "When did we lose Amethyst?"
"As soon as you arrived," said Emerald. She looked pleased at their surprise.
"What? But how?" said Amethyst. "I can still talk. I was fighting you!"
"'Fighting' is generous," said Emerald. "I let you think you were your own gem for a while until I had some use for you. Besides, the reactions are always so priceless afterward." She let out a chilling laugh. "I assure you I had more than enough control to bend you to my whims. But I digress. I've had my fun." She raised her weapon, causing the Onyxes to stand and Amethyst to brandish her whip. "I think it is time I finish my job."