"Aim and fire at the beast and Off Colors! NOW!"
The Destiny Destroyer shifts in the air, moving to aim its cannons right at the group on the beach. The Crystal Gems summon their weapons, preparing to defend the Off Colors, Lars and Greg. A roar sounds behind them, revealing Connie on Lion, sword at the ready. Lion had practically dragged her out of bed, pushed and shoved her around until she was finally ready, scooped her up, opened a portal and off they went. Landing on the beach she takes in the mess around them. Poofed gems and destabilizers are scattered everywhere, a few pink hexagonal panels float in the air. Two Topaz cower together across the beach, near the Sun Incinerator, from the group of familiar gems. Steven stands a short distance from the Crystal Gems and Off Colors with two long hexagonal panels on his forelegs. They're all staring at the giant ship. She recognizes the Destiny Destroyer as it charges its cannons. She quickly puts together what happened, leaps off Lions back, and runs up to Greg and Lars. The gems can most likely protect themselves, but the humans, even pink ones, are at a much higher risk. Her sword, made special for her by Bismuth, should be able to help deflect some of the damage. It would be better to have a shield like Steven's, but it's better than nothing. She runs up to Greg and Lars, sword out, to pull them back, but neither will budge.
"You two, we need to get somewhere safer."
"No!" Greg says stubbornly, "I'm not leaving my son!"
"And I'm not leaving the Off Colors" Lars steps closer to his friends.
Connie growls in frustration, they're being stubborn, she gets it, but with those four cannons charging it would be better to run now! Just because the Crystal Gems won't run… she growls again and stands in front of Lars, Greg and the Off Colors, sword raised.
Static fills the air as the cannons finish charging. Light begins to shine from the end of each one, growing in intensity until everyone has to close their eyes or be blinded. Their hair stands on end as static in the air grows, the ground begins to shake under the rumble of the engines engaging such powerful weapons, until finally a massive explosion of sound, like that of dynamite and a beast's roar, knocks them all off their feet.
Lars is the first to open his eyes. White dots fill his vision from the cannon blast, even tightly closing his eyes couldn't fully protect them from the sheer bright white light of the cannon blast, and there's a loud ringing in his ears. As his vision clears he gapes in awe at the sight before them. Steven is standing on a floating panel far above the beach, stance wide, head held high as he roars and growls in defiance. Covering nearly the entire beach is a wall of panels, several layers thick. The first layer is completely destroyed, pieces falling off and dissipating as they hit the water, the next two layers are in varying stages of cracked and broken, with the next couple layers shining and untouched. This is the power of a Diamond, corrupted or not. Not even the most advanced laser cannons can break a diamond's will.
As the rest of the wall dissipates Steven lowers his head, his spikes, claws and eyes all begin to glow a white-ish pink. Suddenly he lifts his head, letting loose a massive roar like howl, creating shockwaves of sound across the ocean. It cuts through the water like a knife through butter, rips apart the Destiny Destroyers cannons, cracking its hull and damaging the engines within. With the engines badly damaged the ship lists heavily to one side before toppling into the water and shutting down completely, but not before a high pitched "NO!" Can be heard.
It's amazing. Lars knew Steven was strong, but this is simply amazing. He wonders to himself if his corruption made him more capable of this level of destruction. Normally Steven would never consider doing so much damage. Especially when that could potentially risk gems, even his enemies, being cracked or shattered. So he wonders if corrupted Steven doesn't have those kinds of moral inhibitions. The thought makes him glad Steven is still on their side.
As the glow fades from him, a small escape pod releases from the ship and flies off into space. Emerald escaped and left her subordinates behind. Lars scowls at such cowardly behavior, though she's not likely much of a threat anymore. No crew and no real ship? At the very least it'll be a long time before they see her again.
The gems gasp has Lars' attention snapping back to Steven, his head is lowered, he looks like he's gasping for breath, and the panel beneath him is fading away. He tips heavily to one side, and Lars runs beneath where he was floating, just as he falls. Despite Steven's much larger size, Lars catches him easily, being a pink resurrected human has some advantages after all. He carefully rests Steven on the warm sand as the gems, Greg, Connie and Lion gather around.
Pearl places a hand on his side "He's barely breathing." she covers her mouth with her other hand, tears in her eyes.
"Using that much power and energy put too much strain on him. His organic body can't handle it." Garnet speaks, a tremble slightly hidden in her voice. Her visor shines in the light of the sun, "We need to get him to Rose's Fountain. Now!"
Lars doesn't hesitate, he scoops Steven up, who's eyes have closed and breathing become shallower, and begins to run.
"Steven, I'm so sorry. For graduation, and for being a complete jerk to you for so long. I knew you cared, but I didn't feel like I deserved your kindness, so I lashed out a lot. Then at graduation I did it again, I lashed out, and even when I apologized I could tell you were still upset but I just took it at face value and left. I'm sorry Steven," he gasps as he runs, "I'm so sorry!"
The group runs into the beach house, and to the warp pad. Lars can't activate it himself, but Amethyst is right behind him and doesn't wait for the others to send them to the fountain. The rest will catch up. The light barely fades before Lars is off running again, he may be stronger than normal humans, but he's beginning to feel the strain of running with a very large and heavy corruption slowly going limp in his arms.
He practically tumbles into the fountain with Steven. Pausing a moment before carefully lowering his body, while holding his head just above the surface. His breathing is almost non-existent now. The others gather around them as he sits with Steven's head in his arms and body floating in the water.
"C'mon man, you can't go out like this. You're kind, sweet, and strong! You see value in others, even when they can't see it in themselves. The world needs people like you, the universe needs people like you. We- I need you." Lars leans forwards and whispers, "I know the future is uncertain and scary, but… it's okay to be afraid. Please, Steven."
Steven heaves one big deep breath, and sinks out of Lars arms, below the surface.
He feels… cold.
He's curled up into a ball, floating in darkness. He doesn't know where he is, or what's going on. Vaguely, he remembers being on the beach, fighting off some invading gems. Then it went dark, and he couldn't see, could barely breathe. He remembers hearing someone talking, gasping as though they were running at the same time.
"I'm sorry."
What were they sorry for? He doesn't remember.
A sound catches his attention. It sounds like… dripping water? He opens his eyes, but there's only darkness around him. Something glowing catches his eye. It's fluttering just above him, glowing bright in the darkness.
A white butterfly. It flutters weakly toward him, seeming to struggle to remain airborne. He holds out a hand for the poor thing to land and rest on. It rests in his palm, a sensation of warmth in the cold around him, fluttering like a small heartbeat in his hand. Looking closely he can see something reflected on its wings now. An image, a memory of his friends and family, hugging him and looking at him with unconditional love. As he stares at the image he can hear words from each of them.
"We love you Steven!"
"We're here for you, man!"
"You can always count on us!"
"You're not alone."
I'm not alone.
Suddenly the area around him is bright, lit by hundreds of thousands of butterflies. Some larger than others, all swirling around him with memories reflected on their wings. As they swarm the occasional butterfly gets close enough he can touch and see the memory it reflects more clearly. Some are warm, like the first, reflecting happy memories and fun experiences with those he cares about. Many, however, are cold, numbing his hand on contact and reflecting bad memories, experiences and negative thoughts. He lets them come, lets the good and the bad flutter around him, and through him. He's scared but, it's okay to be afraid, so he lets go. Holding out his arms he takes in all of it, the good, the bad, the beautiful, and the ugly. He remembers all of it.
He loves all of it.
He loves himself.
He knows himself.
I am Steven Universe.
Just as everyone is beginning to lose hope, to fear they'd be pulling Stevens corpse from the fountain, it begins to glow. Starting at a small point in the center and expanding outwards until even the statues shine. Lars quickly climbs out of the water and stands with the group of gems, Connie and Greg. Their eyes wide with wonder.
Suddenly Steven bursts from the water into the air! He spins, arms and legs out, eyes sparkling, massive grin on his face. He gently floats down to the edge of the fountain, where he smiles, a little sadder now, at his family and friends.
"STEVEN!" They all yell in unison and practically tackle him back into the water in one giant group hug.
He laughs, they all laugh, with tears in their eyes.
"Hey guys. I'm back!" He giggles
They all just take the moment, enjoying the warmth and happiness. Steven's back. He's himself again, and they couldn't be happier. Steven basks in their comfort and love. He realizes a lot of his fears were that he wasn't needed and was being left behind, but look at this! When he needed them, here they were, they took the time to care for him. He knows now that just because he isn't saving the world, doesn't mean they don't need him, and just because they're living their lives doesn't mean he can't need them, and doesn't mean he can't find a way to live his own life. That maybe, finding out what he wants to do now, instead of being a frightening unknown, can be his next adventure!
He opens his eyes and looks at Lars who looks back with tears in his eyes. He smiles and mouths the words It's okay to be afraid.
Thank you.
-A/N: So that's it. My first fanfic in... well over 10 years at this point, and I actually finished it!
If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask! If I get a bunch I'll write up a little epilogue to answer them as best I can.
My biggest take away from this that I hope came through is that, no matter what he's been through, Steven is still himself. Good and bad, he's still Steven, he's still loved.