That night he slept fitfully. Though the cuddle pile he was wrapped up in was warm and soft, he still struggled to sleep. Between nightmares of the monster that snatched him up, and the strange sounds around him he's not used to, the entire night was a struggle for him. While he lay awake he took some time to look around the clearing. It was strange, there were no stars or moon in the sky, however some rocks glowed instead. The lake looks almost like the kind of night sky he's used to, with darkness and scattered light from the glowing stones within. Thankfully that makes the area a little less dark and scary. He spends some time thinking about the creatures he's found himself temporarily living with.
After his conversation with the mom dragon, Silver introduced him to her siblings. Similar to how a gem's name starts with their gem type, the dragons are named after their colors. There's Teal, the smallest, Orange and Gold, who are the largest, and Purple who is about the same size as Silver. Though they don't seem to mind him being around, Silver seemed to be the only one actually interested in him. After introductions the others went back to doing whatever, Teal went back to munch on any leftover monster meat, Orange and Purple curled up together to clean their claws, and Gold went to relax in the last of the day's warmth. Speaking of which, he noticed there really wasn't a "sun", just like there wasn't a moon or stars at night. Just warm light seeming to come from above, and from nowhere at the same time. The longer he looks, the more obvious it is that he's no longer on Earth. The area looks much the same, but the color of the trees is just a shade bluer than similar trees from back home, and the water of the lake isn't just reflecting the color of the sky, but actually IS the same color of the sky, as if it's not water at all… or maybe the sky isn't actually sky? His head hurt just thinking about it. He did ask the mom dragon, dubbed "Momma" by Silver, about that. Where they are, and why this place is so similar to Earth.
"My mate and I created this clearing. It's sealed off, protecting my children from predators, especially Shadow Beasts. We are safe here while my children grow." she seemed to sense his next question, "Unfortunately I am not able to open a portal to Earth from the Abyss for you. Our best chance to get you home would be to find a Shadow Beast as it returns from Earth, and pass you through the portal before it closes."
He glanced down at the blueish green grass, "I'm guessing it's pretty rare for that to happen?"
"...Yes."
Another voice piped up in his head before hopelessness could start to take hold, "Don't worry! I'll get you home!" Silver hops over Momma's back, tumbling head over tail before landing with a little puff of hot air, in front of him. She stands and shakes herself off, feathers fluffing up for a brief moment before settling into a sleek shiny coat again.
"I used to dream of Earth, you know! I would see this beautiful giant stone humanoid with several arms, and something made of wood in the middle of it. Or sometimes I'd see a field full of giant fruit and sharp looking metal. Or sometimes I'd see humans roaming around just having fun playing in the sand! I've wanted to go to Earth since those dreams started!" Steven stares in shock. He recognizes the places Silver was talking about! She'd been dreaming of his home Beach City, and the Strawberry battlefield!
He looks to Momma as she continues speaking in his mind, "My children each have their own destiny that they're instinctively drawn to. When they're old enough, their instincts will drive them to leave the safety of this clearing and find where they're meant to be, and what they want to do. I believe Silver will be integral to getting you home. Until then you're safe here, I'll care for you as I do my own"
He feels himself filled with strength and determination as his mind replays the day's events. He's going to find a way home. Eventually, somehow.
A few weeks into staying with his newfound family Steven's feeling frustrated. Today they're practicing their flying skills, strengthening their wing muscles. Though at first the other siblings didn't show much interest in him, it didn't take long for them to treat him just like another dragon, which means they don't want to leave him behind while they practice. Unfortunately they need to be able to fly pretty high up to get enough space to fly without smashing into each other. His floating powers only get him so far and he can't keep up with their acrobatics. He's grateful for their consideration, but frustrated that he's holding them back. While he pouts a little on the beach of the lake, Silver joins him, shifting to her humanoid form with that, now familiar, sound of tinkling crystal.
'You okay?' she asks in his head. Though the others don't talk much, they all usually don't speak out loud, even in humanoid forms, typically only vocally making sounds like trills and growls. He's also learned that as long as they have the telepathic connection open, he can reply with his thoughts, instead of talking, which is nice, because sometimes he struggles to actually speak the feelings in his head, and it's simply easier to think it.
'I feel like I'm burdening you all and holding you back. Everyone's being so nice to me, but I'm just getting in the way.' He looks away, pouting.
'Didn't you say you're half gem? You told me gems could shapeshift, so… can't you do that too? You should shapeshift into a dragon and learn to fly with us!' He'd spent a lot of time with Silver telling her all about Beach City, the Crystal Gems, and his adventures. She was extremely curious, asking him almost endless amounts of questions.
Steven frowns 'I haven't had much luck with shapeshifting' He then shows her his memory of losing control and turning into a blob of cats. How it'd started with his index finger becoming a cute little kitty head, to all of his fingers, and how it got worse and worse as he panicked, until he lost almost complete control over his body. Barely managing to make it to the car wash to get help from his dad, in the absence of the gems.
When he finished replaying the memory for her, Silver's feathers were completely puffed up, making her look like a vaguely human shaped metallic cotton ball. He can't help but giggle a little bit at the thought. She shakes herself off, making her feathers smooth back down. It still amazes him how expressive she and the others are, purely with their feathers.
Momma, who'd been watching the others practice nearby, walks over and lowers her head to Steven "I have a theory. From what you've told us, gems shapeshift by simply altering their light forms. In your case, it's a bit more complicated. It might be more like when we change. You see, when we shift, we don't just think about it and do it, we have to consciously change the size and shape of our bones, muscles, and organs, carefully so we don't hurt ourselves." She glances back up at the practicing troupe above them.
"We can't even shift at all in our first few years. The first time we do shift is usually very clumsy, and often results in similar situations to your cat blob. Multiple wings, too many fingers or hands. Silver's first time shifting to humanoid she accidentally shifted herself completely bald, and naked!"
"Mommaaaaa!" Silver cries in embarrassment, both in his head and out loud. He laughs outright, a full belly laugh, and her embarrassment quickly melts away. She grins happily at the sound of his laugh.
Thinking it over, Steven considers what Momma said. "Why not meditate on it? I'll take the children to the other side of the lake so you can have some quiet."
'I'll stay with him!' Silver volunteers.
Steven smiles at her, and assumes the meditation pose Garnet taught Stevonnie. Taking careful, deep breaths, he focuses on himself. He lets thoughts come, and go, never holding on to one over the other, just letting it all flow, listening to the sounds around him, along with the sound of someone breathing deeply. Opening one eye he looks over and almost laughs out loud again. Silver is in the same pose as him, but passed out, head leaned back, mouth wide open as she breathes deeply, her small tail supporting her and keeping her upright. Smiling fondly, he resumes his meditation.
Focusing on what he wants, what the dragons all look like, while also focused on his body, what it feels like. Feeling his breathing as it steadies, feeling his heart as it beats. Gradually his focus intensifies, he feels his muscles, his nerves, his very bones, and the light of his gem, coursing through his body, tying it all together. Remembering, for a moment, when White pulled out his gem, how painful it was, being pulled apart like that, but however since then, he's been almost… more connected to his gem. More aware of it as a part of him, like another organ, only instead of digesting food, or pumping blood, it gives him power, strength, healing. He loves his gem, and what he's able to do with it as a part of him.
Soon those thoughts, to, slide away as he meditates. He can feel his everything, his physical body, and his light traveling through it. He imagines as it flows, it changes, and his body changes with it. Imagining never being cold again as his body is always covered in warm feathers. Imagining being able to climb trees and cliffs with his clawed hands and feet. Imagining the feeling of the wind through his feathers, sifting through them like gentle fingers on his scalp, and what it would feel like, the complete freedom of flight, changing direction and speed with the simple tilt of his feathered wingtips and tail.
A gasp has his eyes flying open. He glances over at Silver, who's awake now and staring at him. Her face is filled with awe and joy.
'You did it!'
He runs to the edge of the lake. The reflection that stares back at him has him reeling with excitement. He's covered in pink feathers, standing on all fours, with claws, wings, and pink eyes with diamonds for pupils. He looks just like a pink dragon! Well except for his eyes and the gem on his stomach hidden somewhat by the fluffy feathers, those are all gem. He's even the same size as Silver, just like how she is when in humanoid form. Which makes sense, he figures, they are about the same age. He turns in excitement to Silver.
"I did it! I did it!" He flaps his wings, and hops around. Silver joins in, shifting as she tackles him to the ground. They bound around each other in joy. He did it! He shapeshifted, and he didn't lose control! He's still himself, just himself… as a DRAGON! How cool is that!? Ronaldo would lose his mind if he saw him! The gems would be so proud!
"Now you just need to learn how to fly!"
They spend the rest of the day with Silver teaching Steven how to fly. It takes some time, but eventually Steven is able to take off into the air and glide around. His floating powers come in handy as he learns to gain height, and stabilize in the air. Together he and Silver fly around each other, laughing. When he feels confident enough, Steven and Silver fly over to Momma, Gold, Purple, Orange, and Teal. They're all excited to see him in the air, and play games in the sky, flying in circles and loop-de-loops around each other, while Momma watches from the ground, emanating pride.
The group teaches him everything he needs to know about flying. How to feel the direction of the wind, and how to adjust the angle of certain key flight feathers to maintain flight without having to strain his muscles too much. They show him how hot air can help him gain height in the sky quickly, Silver using her breath to create hotspots and launch him and the others higher into the air.
Eventually Momma joins them, her larger form creating gusts of wind that swirl around them, testing the skills they've learned, and working their muscles. It doesn't take long for Stevens' confidence to match the others, daring to start diving, swooping and doing his own loop-de-loops in the air. He hasn't felt this excited since he finally got the hang of summoning his shield, his body thrumming with energy and happiness.
As the light of day gives way to evening they all head to the ground. Gliding around in gentle circles until landing carefully. Steven comes in a little too fast though, and gets a mouthful of sand as he skids. He sits up, spitting out the sand, and giggles, not even a mouthful of sand can ruin his mood right now. They all settle near the beach, Gold cleaning her feathers, and the others roughhousing in the grass. They all pause, however, to look up.
He hadn't even noticed that Momma hadn't landed with them. Looking up he sees her, extremely high up, diving straight down toward the water. She dives, full speed, into the lake, somehow barely rippling the surface, and disappears. The others go back to what they were doing, but he just watches the water. He's learned that when she dives into the water, that means she's opened a portal into the Abyss, and is tracking a Shadow Beast.
He counted the seconds, which then turned into minutes. Waiting and watching for her return, hoping she'll rush out of the water, tell him to bubble himself, and take him into the Abyss, and back home. When she does finally burst from the water, another grotesque amalgamation of a deep sea creature in her claws, he knows. This one didn't come from Earth.
He sighs sadly, wishing there was more he could do, but resigned nonetheless. She lands with the monster, rips it up into chunks so it's easier for them to eat, and sits back. The others rush forward, happily digging in, while he walks over to her, still in his dragon form, and leans on her. She hums gently, eyes sad and understanding. They don't need to exchange words or thoughts to know what the other is feeling. Silver catches on to his melancholy as well and brings him a large chunk of meat, carefully cooking it for him, and sitting with him to eat her own portions while he devours his.
At the very least he's ecstatic to have finally learned to shapeshift. Plus using all that energy and working his muscles so much has him positively starving. So he eats, even asking Silver for another chunk, which she happily obliges. He'll take what wins he can for now, dreaming of the day he returns home.