Varie is in the Training Simulator.

J.D., Luna, Jessie, Starfire, Terra, Volcana, Lucy, Laney and Lisa are in the control room.

The simulator activated, and Varie finds herself in the Steven Universe world in Beach City, California. This is Varie's favorite show.

"Wow. I'm in Beach City. But where is everyone?" Varie was walking around town when she noticed everyone was on the beach and the ocean had disappeared.

Varie gasped. "Where is the ocean?"

She then sees a van and a pink lion driving and running into the vast desert.

Varie's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "I'd better follow them."

Varie spread her wings and flew after them, and to her surprise, it was her friends Steven Universe, Connie, and the Crystal Gems Garnet, Pearl, and Amethyst.

"Hey, it's been a while," Varie said with a smile.

Garnet nodded. "Varie. It's been a very long time."

Amethyst gave a big grin. "Neptune Varie! It's been a while!"

Varie smiled at them. "It's good to see you again Amethyst, and you, Pearl."

"Things have been different without you, Varie," Pearl remarked.

"I know," Varie said softly, and then she noticed someone and asked, "Who's that with you all?"

Garnet smiled as she looked over at Steven. "That is Steven Universe. He's the son of Rose Quartz, and with him is Connie."

"Wow," Varie exclaimed. "I missed out on a lot." But then she wondered about something and had to ask. "Where is the ocean?"

"This is all Lapis Lazuli's work," Garnet explained.

Varie let out a gasp. "Lapis? She's still alive?"

Garnet nodded. "Yes. I'm assuming you and Lapis are very close."

"We're very close, Garnet," Varie explained. "We're like sisters, and I'm so glad she's okay."

"Well, her gem is cracked, and we're on a mission to get the ocean back," Pearl explained.

Varie was worried about her old friend. "Oh, no! I'm going to do everything I can to help her."

"We'd really appreciate it, Varie," Garnet said, nodding in appreciation.

Varie took off and flew over to Steven. "So you're Rose Quartz's son?"

Steven gave her a curious look. "Yes, I am."

"My name is Varie Knudson. I used to be a member of the Crystal Gems before I left."

As he looked at her, Steven's eyes were filled with stars. "It's a pleasure. I'm Steven Universe. I'm a Crystal Gem in training."

"You've inherited your mother's powers, and you've already become very strong. I can feel it," Varie explained.

Steven blushed slightly at the praise. "Thank you, Varie. Are you from the Gem Homeworld?"

Varie shook her head. "No. I was born on Earth. I was born in the ocean as a mermaid, but I have very special powers. I joined the Crystal Gems before you were even born."

"Wow," Steven said in awe. "That's amazing."

"I didn't know you were a Crystal Gem Varie," Connie commented.

Varie nodded. "Yes. Lapis is like a sister to me. We met when I was a little girl a long time ago."

Flashback to Varies Past

"My parents were killed by two mermaids from the legend's dark side. I was able to survive and escape, and I ended up on a beach. That's when I met Lapis Lazuli, and we became very close. We did all sorts of good deeds and our bond became stronger and stronger. But then the time came when she had to return to the Gem Homeworld."

Lapis held Varie's hand and looked her in the eyes. "Varie, you are much more than my best friend. You're like a sister to me. I'll keep them close to my heart forever."

Varie smiled at her. "Me too, Lapis. I'll never forget you."

Lapis then hugged her. "Me neither."

"I promised to always have a special place in my heart for Lapis Lazuli."

End Flashback

Varie had a sad expression on her face. "I never saw Lapis again after she went back home. It's been nearly 11 years since I last saw her."

"Wow," Connie exclaimed. "I had no idea you two were so close."

Varie nodded. "Yeah. I'm going to try to help her in any way I can. She saved me from my pain, and now it's my turn to save her."

"I know you can do it, Varie," Steven said before asking, "But why does she need the ocean?"

Varie thought about it for a moment. "My guess is Lapis is trying to get back home to the Gem Homeworld by using all the ocean water as a pillar to try to reach it. But the Gem Homeworld is 5 light-years away from Earth, and getting there with so little water would be impossible."

Steven gaped at that. "You're right."

Varie then wondered about something. "Steven. If I may ask. How did you find Lapis?"

"Her cracked gem was in a mirror I found at home," Steven explained, "and I pulled it out and freed her."

"Hmm," Varie pondered. "That's weird."

Varie, Steven, Connie, and the Crystal Gems arrived 20 minutes later at an enormous column of water that went far into the sky.

"Whoa," Varie exclaimed in awe, looking at it.

Connie was staring at it as well. "Whoa. It's like an aquarium."

"Lapis is here," Varie said, her eyes narrowing, "I can feel it."

"You shouldn't be here!" yelled Lapis from somewhere in the water.

Garnet narrowed her eyes. "She sensed us."

Steven ran up to the pillar and yelled out, "Lapis Lazuli! It's me, Steven!"

Lapis's face formed from the Water Column. "Go away! Before I make you."

"But we're beach summer fun buddies," Steven pointed out.

Lapis cried out using Steven's voice. "Nooooo!' Her voice then returned to normal. "You're one of them. One of the Crystal Gems.'

Amethyst and Pearl growled, and Garnet held hers back.

"Easy," Garnet said, trying to calm them down.

"Her gem is too cracked, and it's warped her mind," Varie thought to herself.

Steven was confused as to what Lapis meant. "What do you mean? We're all Gems, right? Just let us help you."

Lapis shook her head. "You don't understand. Just leave me alone."

Steven approached the column. "We're not leaving Lapis. Not until you return our ocean."

Steven was grabbed by a water hand, and a Water Steven appeared.

"I said, "Leave Me Alone!" yelled Lapis through the Water Steven.

She threw Steven at Garnet, who caught him.

A Water Pearl, Amethyst, and Garnet appeared, and a fight began.

"I'm going up to talk to Lapis," Varie told them.

Garnet nodded. "Okay. Be careful."

Varie nodded and jumped into the water column, where she transformed into a mermaid and swam up. She swam up for miles until she popped up on top of the column, changed to her human form, and stood on top. The column extended into the upper atmosphere, and she noticed Lapis Lazuli.

"Lapis," Varie called out to her.

When Lapis turned around, she noticed Varie.

Varie looked at her, smiling. "Lapis? Do you remember me?"

Lapis looked confused as she looked at her. "Do I know you?"

"It's me, Varie. We met 11 years ago," Varie explained.

Lapis gasped. "But you can't be Varie. She's a little one."

Varie smiled sadly at her. "Lapis, I've grown up since those days. But I kept you very close to my heart. You once taught me that a true friend must always look after, protect, and treat their friends as if they were family."

"Even in times of great peril, danger or sadness," they both said together.

Lapis had a flashback and recognized Varie right away. "It is you. Varie!"

Lapis and Varie then hugged and were reunited for the first time in over a decade.

"I thought I'd never see you again," Lapis said, smiling.

Varie smiled back at her. "I'm glad you're okay, Lapis, and I'm going to help you. Your gem is cracked, and I might be able to fix it."

"How?" Lapis demanded.

"I have healing powers," Varie explained.

Varie poured some water on Lapis's gem on her back, and it glowed, and pure water wings sprouted from her gem.

Lapis flapped her wings and smiled. "Thank you, Varie."

"Anytime, my sister," Varie replied, glad she had her back.

Lapis hugged Varie once more.

Varie then had an idea and hoped she would accept it. "Lapis, I don't want us to be separated again. Will you come with me to where I live with my friends?"

Lapis grinned broadly and was relieved that she had inquired. "I'd be honored."

"But first, can you return the ocean to Earth?" Varie asked.

Lapis then let go of the water column, which began to collapse.

"Shall we help our friends?" Varie asked her.

Lapis nodded. "Let's shall."

Varie and Lapis flew down the collapsing tower, creating a ball of water that encased the Universe Van with Lion, Connie, Steven, Mr. Universe, Garnet, Pearl, and Amethyst inside and rescued them as the ocean began to fill up.

Back in Beach City, the mayor was sobbing as he futilely attempted to refill the ocean with a garden hose. But the ocean came back in, and Varie and Lapis had the van in tow and placed them back on the land.

Varie let out a sigh of relief. "Well, I'm glad the ocean is back, and the best part is that I'm now reunited with my best friend."

Lapis nodded in agreement. "Me too."

A dimensional vortex appeared as Varie and Lapis waved goodbye and sucked them in.

The exercise came to an end, and Varie revealed everything and more.

THE END