Waking up had never been so disorienting. Steven's head pounded and his eye throbbed. What had-?

His mind started to clear, and he remembered the attack on the beach, and the two gemstones that had fallen onto the sand after Jasper had hit - "Opal!" Steven got to his feet, a little unsteady but he managed. He looked around, the walls were green, except for the weird yellow one that separated him from the corridor. Listening, he could hear someone - or something - groaning and yelling and gnashing near by. Friend or foe, he didn't know.

Steven walked over to the yellow barrier, and slowly he reached out his hand, surprised and delighted when his hand passed right through, the only side effect appearing to be the yellow like veins that appeared underneath his skin. "Whoa." Walking through the field was even weirder, but Steven shook it off quickly, determined to ind his friends.

Gotta find them. Gotta find them. Gotta fin- Oh! Coming to a stop a couple cells down he stared at the unfamiliar Gem on the other side. She was on her hands and knees as she panted, her body trembling.

"Um...hello."

The Gem's head immediately snapped up, light blue eyes wide in surprise. Steven stared, intrigued. He'd never seen this Gem before. She was pale, her features were sharp and pointed, especially her nose and hair. She was thin, and most likely tall, dressed in a light blue sleeveless top with a a sash tied around the middle and and yellow leggings that cut off just above her knees.

Her pale cheeks tinted blue as she pushed herself up so that she was on her haunches. "You got out." She shook her head before he could answer. "No, of course you did."

Steven was about to ask what she meant when a loud howl broke through the air, and the slim Gem was on her feet instantly, her entire being tensed and her breathing becoming a desperately staccato. "No... No, no, no, no." She lunged toward the barrier before crumpling back in pain when it shocked her. "Amethyst. I've got to get to Amethyst!" Steven wasn't sure if she was talking to him or herself as she muttered.

She was a curious thing, he decided, and he wasn't sure what to make of this whole situation. But he knew he had to help, anyway he could. "Here, let me just..." He reached forward before completely stepping into the beam. The opening was smaller than was convenient but the taller Gem managed to maneuver her way through the gap, barely stopping to thank the boy before she took off running down the corridor, Steven on her following suit.

His companions movements were determined, if not a little frantic as she searched. Steven caught a quick glimpse out a hall window of the earth. So he really was in space, he mused. "I'm Steven, by the way," he stated as they both ran through some doors, skidding to a stop when presented with the option of which corridor to go down. "What's your name?"

Either she hadn't heard him or was completely ignoring him as she looked from one option to the other. "What I wouldn't give for future vision," the taller Gem muttered. Steven was about to question her words when she suddenly went down the left path. This corridor ended in another cell, a cell with one lone occupant. The pale Gem narrowed her eyes upon seeing it was not who she was looking for.

"Lapis!" Steven called, glad to see the blue Gem was unharmed.

"Lazuli," his companion growled.

"Pearl," Lapis shot back.

Steven looked between the two before giving Lapis his full attention. "Here, let me get you out of there," he said, beginning to reach forward, but stopping once Lapis almost jumped back, her hand out as if to stop him.

"No, Steven. Just stop. You should just stop."

"But-"

Pearl tapped her foot impatiently as the two conversed. She didn't have time for this. She needed to find Amethyst. She had to find her. Her thoughts were interrupted by another loud howl of pain, and her chest tightened, anxiety beginning to creep up in her torso. Forgive me, she thought as she left the other two to their conversation.

A moment later Steven sighed in defeat as Lapis curled in on herself, the picture of defeat. He was disappointed, but resolute as he told her he'd come back for her, to which he received no reply to as he left. He raced back down the corridors, taking a couple turns before skidding to a stop when he heard voices approaching. He pressed himself up against the wall as Peridot's high voice cut through the air.

"We can't leave yet!" she exclaimed, walking behind Jasper who stopped in front of yet another cell. "The whole point of coming to earth was to check on the Cluster!"

The hulking figure punched the wall. "Quit screaming!" she growled, beyond annoyed at this point.

"Oh, go jump off a bridge," came a raspy reply.

Jasper looked like she wanted to punch more than the wall, but refrained and turned back to the green Gem that had followed her. "No. Rose Quartz takes priority. Get back to the controls and plot a course for Homeworld."

Peridot slumped, looking visibly miffed and muttering to herself as she left the corridor, Jasper walking the other way and out of sight. Steven peaked around the wall and was greeted by the sight of yet another Gem. This one was shorter than Pearl, more round in nature with long, messy, lavender hair and wearing a black tank and jeans with black stars sewn into the knees. She looked pretty rough and disheveled. She glanced down the corridor both ways before her hands curled into fists and she seemed to prep herself before she raised her arms and smashed her fists into the field.

Steven realized that's where the screaming had been coming from, as the Gem fought to hold her position, trying to beat the field away. Her entire image flickered for a moment before she slumped to the ground, breathing hard and sweating, burn marks on her knuckles.

The half Gem decided to step in then. "Hey," he whispered, walking over to the cell. "Are you Amethyst?"

This Gem was slower to react, lifting her head up as if the very movement hurt before her indigo eyes - or at least the one eye that wasn't covered by her wild hair - widened marginally. "How did you... Nevermind how, can you get me out of here?" She was on her feet in an instant as Steven nodded and opened up a small hole that was easier for her to get through than it had been for Pearl.

"Not bad, Ste-man."

Steven's reply was cut off when Pearl's voice echoed throughout the ship. "Amethyst!"

The purple Gem stiffened before looking in the direction the cry had come from. She wasted no time in grabbing Steven's hand and running off with him in tow down the corridor. There were a couple of terms before finally the two stopped outside a large round room, the center of the ship itself. Amethyst looked around before Pearl came into view on the other side. "Pearl!"

Both ran toward each other and Steven watched as Amethyst hugged Pearl around the waist and picked her up, excited and relieved to see her. Once her met the ground again, Pearl kneeled down, looking over all the wounds and bruises and burns that marred purple skin.

"I'm fine, P," Amethyst stated, attempting to put the other Gem at ease.

But Pearl's mouth set in a thin line. "Why you do you insist on getting yourself hurt like this?" she asked, almost as if scolding her but the hand still running through lavender hair was a comfort.

"I had to come find you."

Pearl shook her head before hugging the shorter Gem to her, touching their foreheads together. Both were suddenly enveloped in a bright white light and Steven watched in awe as they took a new form, a taller, very familiar form. Bright blue eyes opened as Opal stood from her kneeling position, looking down at the boy as two of her four hands came together almost timidly, unsure of Steven's reaction.

Steven gaped. "Opal...wait... you're a fusion!?"

Opal smiled shyly. "I'm sorry... I - We didn't want you meeting us like this... We had this whole thing planned out and ..."

Steven suddenly looked unsure himself. "Well... did I at least make a good first impression?"

Opal's smile turned genuine and fond as she leaned over and ruffled Steven's hair. "We already love you, Steven."

"Where is she?!"

Both Gems startled at Jasper's outraged cry and Opal straightened to her full height, brow furrowing in determination. "Go find Ruby and Sapphire, Steven."

"But how do I-"

"There should be another holding area down that corridor," she said, one arm gesturing to her left. "Just turn right and I'm sure you'll find them there."

Steven started in that direction before pausing. "But, what about you?" he said, looking back up at the fusion. Opal grinned, and Steven knew that it was more Amethyst than Pearl.

"Don't worry about it. We can handle this."

Steven nodded and ran off to find the other members of the Crystal Gems.

This is an AU that came more because I really really love Opal than me actually liking Amethyst and Pearl as a couple. I mean, seriously, Opal is sooooooo cute! And we don't see nearly enough of her at all. So this AU wouldn't leave me alone. I've seen this idea done before but I really wanted to try my hand at it. So yeah, not part of the actually cannon of these collections of one-shots but just me wanting more Opal. Hope you can forgive me.

Review please.

I'm out. Peace.