Slowly his eyes opened, his head now being in a daze as he tried to rub his eyes to clear his vision. His hands felt course and rough, as if he had just touched the sands back on the beach. The beach, he thought, he could now hear the calming sounds of the ocean wash over him, waves crashing on the shore as he heard seagulls in the distance.
"Home", he now thought, as he smiled.
His eyes now clearing, he began to make out the image of the shifting waves, glistening with the light of the exploding sun from the horizon.
He sat up, shaking his thick mop of spikey hair clear of sand as best he could. After a while, Goku stood up and looked around, now noticing, that the beach house was missing. He looked far and wide, yet it was nowhere to be seen, no signs of rubble or prints in the sand where it once stood. The only thing that remained with the temple itself. However, there was something else that bothered him more so. At first, he thought it was just his blurry vision, or the tinge in the way the sun touched the sea at twilight. Yet now, after walking around and being awake for so long, he noticed that something was definitely wrong. Everything he saw, touched or felt, had its hue slightly altered in shades of pink. The sands of the beach resembled a colour closer to that of salmon. The waters of the ocean were blush, the rocks mimicked a rosy shade and the clear skies seemed to be tinged in flamingo.
It all felt surreal to the young boy's eyes as he looked at his surroundings in awe, that is until he saw a figure standing far out in the distance. From where he was, Goku could barely make out the silhouette of the figure, his vision being obscured by the pinkish tinge of the atmosphere and the winds being brought in by the warm sea breeze.
Curious, he approached. Now getting closer, he could see that the figure was tall, towering over him in fact, with elongated large curls sprawling from the top of their head now blowing in the wind. A hint of recognition crossed his face that made him quickly pause in his tracks, yet he couldn't quite place who this just was. He looked closer noting the shape of a sword in their right hand and a shield in their left hand protruding outwards from the silhouette.
His eyes now widened, and his face painted with disbelieve as it finally clicked. The picture above the entrance of the beach house. The Giant Pink Lady.
She now appeared before him, standing only a few feet apart, her head bent, eyes closed as she raised her sword towards him.
Goku didn't move, not sure how to react in this situation, facing an odd feeling he only recently had to tackle, uncertainty.
Rose's eyes slow opened and she now lifted her head. Her expression was cold and unmoving, nothing like the image of grace the portrait displayed within the beach house. She seemed what Goku's young mind cold only interpret as angry. For what? He didn't know.
"Ah, H-Hello Giant Pink Lady. Are you alright?" he asked her naively.
Suddenly, upon hearing his voice, a light appeared in Roses eyes and her expression immediately softened. Her sword lowered a bit as she looked on at him in silence.
Goku looked back at her, keeping his silence, unsure of what to do and feeling confused at her sudden change in expression.
"Hehe." Awkwardly he let out a small laugh and put his right hand behind his head, trying to break the tension.
Rose continued to look at him in silence, now lowering her sword completely as she slowly approached him. Her face contorting into a concoction of shock, confusion and disbelieve.
"You're only a child." she now said aloud, her voice soft and laced with hints of pain as she spoke.
"And your Steven's mom. It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Goku!" he said smiling at her with a wide grin and extending his hand to shake hers.
"T-This doesn't make any sense." she said while staring down at him.
The young boy smiled and nodded his head in agreement, "Yeah, I know! Why is everything so pinkish-like all of a sudden? Where is everybody? Have you seen Steven; he'll be so happy to see you!"
Rose looked at him, unsure now of how to act, "What did you say your name was again?"
"Goku." he simply responded.
"Goku. You are a Saiyan, correct? I see your tail?" she asked him with caution whilst gesturing towards it.
Suddenly Goku's happy demeanour changed as he answered her, "Yes, I am a Saiyan. But I don't plan on hurting anybody."
"You don't plan on hurting anybody?" she said, repeating his words back to him.
"Why did the Saiyans send a child? Have their situation really deteriorated to such a state that they would resort to such drastic measures?" she said with a hint of horror and pain in her voice.
Goku looked up at her, now putting his best foot forward in trying to quell her worries, "Nobody sent me. My grandpa found me in the fields here on Earth when I was still a baby. He raised me before he went away."
Rose looked at the boy now with an even more shocked expression than before, her eyes now so wide that Goku thought they might just pop out of her head, "Y-You were raised here on Earth? By a human? How is that even possible?" she paused, trying to gather her bearings as she now crouched down to Goku's level, looking at the young Saiyan eye to eye, "It seems so much has happened since Steven came to be. I'm not even sure how much time has passed since then. I can hardly believe it."
Goku's eyes lit up at the mention of Steven from Rose, "Wow, so you really are Steven's mom. That's amazing. His such a great guy!"
There was a slight pause before she continued, "The way you speak of him, you seem… familiar with Steven?
"Yeah! My best friend!" Goku said proudly
Rose now with stars in her eyes, looked at the boy. Unsure of what to say to him, unsure of how any of this was supposed to make sense. It felt like a dream, yet, this place, her, even being, was in and of itself, like a dream. She felt the tears build up in her eyes as she looked at the confused and almost frightened boy. She could see the innocence and naivety on his face written so clearly. This was no attack, no invasion of Steven and his gem by the Saiyans. She wasn't sure what this was, but she was happy for it. It was a glimpse into life after her fact. A chance that no other would ever get to see.
Looking at the now shy boy, she asked him, "Do… you want to sit by the beach and watch the sun set with me?"
Sometime had passed. How much exactly, Goku couldn't tell. To him, it felt like hours, days and only a few minutes all at once. He didn't mind too much, he kept his gaze fixed on the setting sun, its citrus-coloured lights now bursting forth with the likeness of an aurora that radiated from its blush-tinged core that melted into the crashing waves. It was calming and peaceful, a surreal experience that one could only capture with the naked eye.
They sat beside each other in silence, words now not being needed after the many they had exchanged while watching this eternal sun stuck between an infinite dawn and dusk.
Slowly now, Goku leaned over and rested his head on her arm, pushing his spikey black hair upwards as he smiled.
Still facing the sunset, he now heard the calming serene voice of Rose Quartz speaking to him, "Isn't it beautiful? This is what I love so much about this world. From its forever changing landscape to its vibrant and dynamic people. Earth is a wonder, shining brighter than any of the countless stars in this infinite universe. You, being here, being with Steven, calling him a friend, you have no idea what that means to me. What that could mean for everyone."
Goku now lifted his head, turning to look at her as he questioned what she meant by her words, "Huh? Does me and Steven being friends really mean that much?"
She lightly chuckled at his messy morning look as she answered him, "Oh, it means everything. In you I see a kind hearted boy, a pure and free soul struggling to find his place in the world, yearning to be acknowledged and accepted. It's like looking in a mirror. From all the stories you've told me about your adventures with Steven, I know all of this to be true. One must be fair and fine to ever hope to sit upon the Nimbus cloud. When I look at you, Goku, I see something I could never reclaim. You, my sweeting, are truly incredible. And if my Steven is lucky enough to have found companionship in the likes of someone like you, that tells me all I need to know about him. " She looked down at the boy, smiling as tears began to fill her eyes.
Goku looked at her with awe, astonished by her words and the emotional weight behind them, "Y-You don't see me as…a monster? You really think I'm good?"
Rose chuckled, "Good? Oh my sweet summer child, you are simply perfect just as you are."
Goku continued to look up at the Giant Pink Lady, unblinkingly for a brief moment, not realizing tears were now slowly falling from his eyes.
"There is no need to cry." Rose said softly as she raised her hand to swipe his tears way
"Crying?" he said, as he quickly looked down, now in a fruitless attempt to wipe the tears with his hands as he began sobbing even harder, now being self-aware of his weeping.
Now opting to hold his hands to his face, the boy began to sob uncontrollably, now finally letting the tears he had been hold back all this time, freely flow. Allowing himself the privilege of being weak.
The riverbanks in her own eyes began to overflow as Rose took the boy into her own arms, rocking him back and forth as he continued to cry.
"Hush now." she whispered, "It's alright, you'll be okay. Everything will be okay." she repeated the words to him, still gently rocking back and forth until the wailing died off into soft whimpers and eventually, into the quiet snores of a deep long sleep.
Hour's past, Rose marvelled at the Twilight storm from the shore of the Beach City Bay. She looked down at the coddled child and smiled. She thought herself lucky. She always knew, from the moment her and Greg decided to have a child, that she would never get the privilege of watching them grow, to see them flourish into their own.
But this boy… she thought, "This boy, he will never know what a gift he has bestowed upon me. His eyes are like a gateway to my Steven. He has grown so much in such a short space of time. To befriend a Saiyan child…Greg and the Gems have done such a fine job of moulding him into what must be an incredible person. At his tender age, he is already changing the world. This young bud of friendship and trust, shall one day blossom and unite not only Saiyan and Gemkind, but also all of humanity. An echo of Rose Quartz I may be, but I'm glad some semblance of her got to witness this. Even if it is just from the view of a tiny fogged window. Everything we have been fighting for, the last five thousand years that she bared on shoulders, finally baring fruit, starting right here. With this sleeping child."
It was then that he woke up, slowly at first, as he just opened his eyes while his body remained unmoving, watching the ocean greet him once more as it left seashells at his feet.
"I'm glad to see you're awake Goku. It may be a little selfish of me, but I didn't want to spend these last few moments with you, alone." she said calmly as he now got up from her lap.
He turned to look at her, her image now emanating the same energy he felt from the portrait within the beach house, "Last few moments? Are you going away soon?" he asked her innocently.
Rose lightly chuckled as she responded, "I am only but an echo. Just a piece of the full puzzle. The true Rose Quartz…" she paused, taking a moment to look at the now very confused Goku before going on, "S-Steven's real mother, is long gone. This place, is just the last conscious piece of her that's left. But it can't last forever, like her, this too my eventually fall away. Making way for Steven to grow. This is his space now, for him to fill however he sees fit." she said, her gaze now cast towards the coral skies.
Goku stared at her for a moment and then towards the salmon-coloured sands before saying, "That's a shame. I wish Steven could have been here. I know he misses you really bad, even if he doesn't say it much. I know he would have loved to say hello and give you a big hug." he said with a saddened heart.
"You can give him one for me. Can't you? Would you do me that favour? Give him a nice big hug and tell him his mother loves him very much so. Tell him… - she paused for a moment as she smiled to herself- there is no porkchop in this universe, quite like him."
Goku looked at her once again being confused, but instead of questioning it, her simply gave her his widest grin and a thumbs up as he declared, "Okay, I will. That a promise!"
She gentle smiled back at him, taking his small hand into his own before saying, "Now, are you ready?"
"I think so." responded the boy.
"Now then, close your eyes and take a deep breathe in."
Silently, Goku did as she instructed, now closing his eyes while breathing in the full capacity that his lungs could handle
"And breathe out." as she said this, the boy let out a deep sigh, "Good, Goku. The next time you open your eyes. I will be gone, and you will return to your own world."
"Before you go, I want to thank you Goku. Meeting you has been a truly remarkable experience. It is a privilege the last of me will forever cherish. I may not be there to see the wonders you will bring into this world, but with these final ambers of me that are still aflame, I am all but certain, that they will be nothing short of spectacular. Just the fact that someone like you can be, reassures me that it was all worth it. I hope that one day soon, you will be able to realize the raging sun that burns so bright within you."
Rose leaned in, placing a tender kiss on the young boy's forehead, catching him by surprising as he suddenly opened his eyes, his vision now greeted by what he thought was her pink locks, this time feeling more like fur than her soft bouncy hair. The hair moved, soon revealing the dense yet soft mane of Lion who was now staring down a slightly bewildered Goku, who was suddenly caught off guard, right as the big cat proceeded to lick this face.
Goku laughed, hugging the felines face as he turned his head side to side in succession, trying to escape the huge tongue of the cat.
"Hehe, hello to you too, Lion. You've never been this friendly before, nice to see you finally warming up to me." he said as he began sitting up and scratching inside the mane behind the feline's ear
Lion looked Goku in the eye, staring at the boy for a moment before turning his head forward.
Goku responded to this, turning his own head forward, now looking directly in front of him, surprised to see the Gems, Connie and Greg all huddled together with worried looks on their faces as the glared down, Garnet in particular now shaking her arms and seemingly screaming at someone below.
Confused and slightly concerned, Goku got up, looking back at Lion then ahead again. Suddenly the crowd moved, as if making away for someone.
Steven. Goku saw him sitting up, looking slightly dazed. Steven looked around then looked directly at Goku. There was a pause as the crowd turned to look at Goku, nobody saying a word between them to break the awkward tension.
"Goku…," said Steven. "You're alright. I'm so glad. I was really worried." he said now tearing up.
Goku looked at him for a moment before responding with his own question, "Are you okay, Steven?"
Steven slowly got up, the others around him now cautious as he did so, "I-I'm alright, just kinda blacked out there for a minute. I'm not sure why. One minute I was so worried about you, next thing, there was this bright light that came out of nowhere and then…nothing."
Goku got up. Now making his way to Steven and the others. Now being closer, he took note of Steven's condition, seeing his friend worse for wear, looking far more beat up than he expected. His T-shirt was ripped at the star, he had scratch marks and deep bruises on his arms and legs that were still bleeding and a painful looking black eye on the left side of his face.
"What happened to you, Steven? You all beat up!" he asked, his voice laced with both concern and curiosity.
"Hehe, remember that mission the Gems and I left for? Well, it turns out we got caught up in a little bit more than we bargained for." he said, pointing to the green foot now sticking out of his hamburger bag back. "But never mind that. Seems like you had your hands full as well. That blue gem, she back, isn't she? Luckily we arrived from our mission when we did, if you were left even a moment later sinking in that spire, you could have died."
Goku paid attention to his environment now, turning his attention away from Steven and noting the Oceanic Heaven Tower still standing just a few feet away from them all, now remembering everything that just happened.
His eyes widened at the thought, suddenly whispering the words, "Lapis Lazuli…"
"Huh?" asked Steven confusingly.
"Her name. That's what she told me. She's strong Steven, incredibly strong. I-I didn't stand a chance." he said, his face and tone now more serious than Steven has ever seen before.
Steven didn't say anything, unsure of what he should say in this moment.
Suddenly Pearl spoke up from behind Steven, "A lapis Lazuli? This is bad. This is really bad. They are terraformers Steven. Capable of transforming any water-based planet as they see fit. His lucky to still be alive if he truly went up against something like that."
Steven turned to face Pearl, panicking about the situation, "What do we do then Pearl? Garnet? We're just got back from fighting Peridot. We don't have the strength right now for this. If it's really as bad as you say it is, then how to we win?" -Steven looked up at the tower and thought for a moment- "Maybe I can talk to her. I mean… we were beach summer fun buddies after all."
"No, I can win." said Goku, now also looking up towards the Tower.
"Dude, what are you talking about? You almost freaking died. If not for Steven and Lion teleporting up there to pull out of that tower, you would have been toast!" exclaimed Amethyst.
"I can't really explain it. But I'm stronger now. I can feel it. I just need to… roar."
"Zenkai." said Garnet. "You had a near death experience. It's only natural for a Saiyan to become stronger after surviving such an ordeal."
"Yes, but how much stronger could he really grow?" questioned Pearl. "Even if he has gotten this zenkai boost, what chance does he really have against something like her?"
"None at all. It took the combined effort of the Crystal Gem Quartz and a battalion of Saiyan elite warriors to capture me when I first arrived on this planet. Certain death awaits the Saiyan if I had to exert even an iota of effort into killing him." the voice came from within the tower, getting louder and closer to them as it travelled down the water column.
Soon the water near the base of the tower began to contort. A portion of it in the shape of a sphere now breaking off from the tower, and began moving slowly towards the gems. The sphere of water started to take shape, until it finally shone a brilliant blue hue, revealing the form of the Lazuli.
"Steven." she said, her body posture now somewhat relaxing. "I'm sorry. I came here to save you, but that too seems impossible. With the way I am now, even if there was a way to leave this planet, I don't have all my strength to break you free from these Crystal Gems."
Steven looked at her for a moment before responding, "Lapis? That's your name, right? I'm sure there must be a miss understanding here. Can't we just talk about this before things get even uglier than they are now?"
Lapis gritted her teeth at his remarks, "Ugly? Ugly?! I am already hideous! No Diamond would never accept me into their court the way I am now! And it's all thanks to them! I am unsightly, a gem unfit to fulfil her purpose!" there was a slight pause before she continued in a calmer manner, "I can feel it you know, the cracks spreading, cutter deeper into my Gem, tearing my form and mind apart from the inside. Each time I exert myself, I feel parts of my being slipping. It takes all I have to stay whole. Those damn Saiyans and Crystal Gems. They tortured me, trapped me in that damn mirror and invaded my gem countless times over. I-I will never be the gem I was once because of them. So, no Steven, I don't think there's any more words left to say. On your behalf, I am truly sorry for that. However, before I completely Shatter, I can at least exact a small fraction of my vengeance and anger upon those who served me such injustice!"
Suddenly from the tower walked out four figures, each one of them being a water copy of the Crystal Gems. Lapis turned her back to Steven and proceed to return to the tower.
Just before re-entering she paused, saying with her back still turned, "I won't hurt you, Steven. We are after all, beach summer fun buddies. But do not get in my way. I will have this."
With that she walked into the tower, her body becoming one with the water as her cracked gem floated in the Ocean surrounded by marine life; pausing for a moment before it quickly ascended to the peak of the rise.
The water figures now rushed them, Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl jumped forward, summoning their respective weapons as they did. The water clones copied them and did the same. They clashed, Garnet and her copy in particular creating a massive shockwave as their gauntlets smashed against each other, pushing everyone away, particularly Amethyst and Pearl whom were close by, in opposite directions along with their respective clones. The two titans attacked other now with impressive force, leaving the others in awe at the battle as fist clashed against fist in perfect unison. The ground beneath them began to break from the pure weight of their force. Eventually, the water clone succeeds in breaking through Garnets defences and smacked her hard against her jaw, sending her flying through the air and eventually burying her in the soggy wet seabed.
"Greg and Connie, get inside the van. It's not safe for humans right now." said Pearl as she prepared for the attack of her clone that was now in the air. The clone jumped down as it held her spear above her head to strike.
Greg in comedic fashion quickly responded, "You don't have to tell me twice!" as he scurried off, racing towards his van faster than ever before.
Connie looked at Steven, unsure of what she should do, not wanting to abandon her first friend in time of need. Before Steven could say anything, they were approached by the Steven clone. Both Steven and Connie looked wary but the clone appeared not to be hostile in its approach. Calmly stopping as it looked at the pair of them.
"It's… not attacking?" asked Connie as she looked at Steven.
Suddenly the clone responded, its voice a perfect copy of Steven but it spoke as if it was Lapis herself, "I said I won't hurt you, Steven. What I will do however, is keep you at bay. I don't need you interfering.
On the other side of the battlefield was Amethyst, struggling a little harder than her counterparts against her own clone. Close by was Goku, who was taking in all that was happening, seeing the gems fight seriously for the first time and truly analysing what each of them where capable of. His excitement boiling as his love for battle reached its peak, finally feeling as if he was on a real gem mission for the first time.
The clone then caught Amethyst in its water whip. It then proceeds to swing her round and round in the air, before sending her crash landing into the side of Greg's van, causing the van to tumble as Steven then called out for this dad and rushed to his aid with Connie by his side.
The Amethyst clone having temporary put its target out of commission turned and looked at Goku. Starring at him for a bit before turning its attention away and proceeding to make its way towards its mark.
Goku had a bewildered look on his face, his interaction with one of the gem clones finally confirming why he was the only one without a clone of his own to fight. She wanted him for herself. His Saiyan instincts kicked in as a genuine smirk of pride and anticipation appeared on his face as he now looked up towards the tower once more, his eyes glistening with unbridled determination.
He now walked over to Steven, going pass the clone that was guarding Steven as it turned its head slowly to follow the young Saiyans movements.
"Dad, wake up! Are you alright?!" Steven asked worryingly as he and Connie pulled him out of the van.
"Don't worry, Mr Greg will be fine. I can still feel his energy strongly." said Goku as he approached.
Steven sighed a breath of relief, turning around as he looked at Goku with the one eye he could still open. "I don't know what we can do Goku. The gems, they may not tire, but after fighting as much as we did earlier, they aren't as sharp as they'd usually be in a fight. Everyone is barely hanging on and Lapis won't listen to reason."
Goku smiled as he placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "It will be okay. She's waiting for me. And as much as I do feel stronger, I know I will need your strength to win. I just need you to help me get up there. After that, I can take care of the rest."
Steven looked at him, unsure for a moment before he continued, "You really think you can do it?"
Goku smiled, "I got this. Just need my best friend by my side."
Stars lit up in the eyes of Steven as he heard the words 'best friend' leave the lips of Goku, "Okay! But… she won't let me interfere. She has that clone there watching my every move. And I'm pretty sure it can do everything I can do-"
Suddenly as Steven was still speaking, Connie could be heard screaming at the top of her lungs, "ATTACK!"
Both Goku and Steven turned, surprised to see Connie on top of Lion, charging at the Steven water clone, Steven himself wondering when exactly did she slip away from his side.
Lion immediately pounced on the unsuspecting clone from behind. The clone reformed itself, making a Steven body that was now facing head first against Lion and Connie that were on top of it.
Before giving it a chance to react, Connie yelled, "Do it now!" as she spoke, Lion roared, sending a shockwave over the clone as a pink portal appeared sending it away to and unknown location.
Both the two boys were flabbergasted by what they just saw. Running over to Lion and Connie as she hopped off the feline. "Connie that was amazing!" exclaimed Goku in excitement.
"Yeah, well, now Steven has nothing holding him back from assisting you. Also, you now have Lion to aid you as well. So, you're welcome." she said proudly.
"Hehe, don't forget about yourself!" said Goku as he placed his hand behind his head laughingly.
Connie simply smiled at him as Goku then turned her attention to Steven, "So, are you ready?"
Steven nodded; words now not being needed as they readied for battle.
They waited on Goku, ready to act as soon as he did. After a few moments passed, Steven who was now a bit confused and sweating asked nervously as he laughed, "Hehe… ah, Goku?"
"Hold on Steven. Just waiting on the riiiggghhttt…. moment!" he said as took a deep breath and leaped forward with incredible speed that shocked both Steven and Connie.
Within less than a second, he was near the centre of the tower, instantly grabbing onto a dolphin's fin as it swiftly swam past going up the tower. He kept his eyes open and mind alert, as Lapis formed countless hands within the water tower to get a hold of him. The dolphin however, skilfully dodged all of the lazuli's attacks as it continued along its path, much to the pleasure and surprise of Goku. Moving out of the way at the last second, curving around each of the water formed hands as they came raining down from above in waves. Coming into sight now was a bale of turtles. Goku smiled at the view, now taking advantage of his buoyancy within the tower as he pulled on the fin of the dolphin to flip his body up and over it as it moved, landing on its skull before ever so slightly pushing off with his feet with his one arm stretched out to reach the bale.
Midway through his ascent he suddenly found himself stuck, now frozen in a section of the water that lapis crystalized and turned into an ice burg. Unable to move and his skin now burning from the cold, Goku knew he was in trouble. Feeling his lungs have reached their max capacity as his face turned blue, he come to a realization he was barely halfway up the tower.
The pressure from the weight of the ocean and now also being trapped in the massive cylindrical ice burg proved too much for the young warrior as began to bleed, blood seeping from his skull into his black hair, eventually pooling into the white ice. Staining the icy sheet like a blood rose against a white carpet of snow.
"He needs our help, Steven! H-His going to die!" said Connie hysterically.
But before Steven could reply, he felt Lion's snout knock him back, flipping him over onto the cats back as he picked up Connie with his teeth and through her over his back as well; just before roaring and opening up a portal straight to Goku.
The young warrior however, was not about to get defeated so easily once again, with his rage pent up, he let it out all in a massive roar of his own, shattering his frost prison and freeing himself. Now being outside the column, he allowed him a moment to catch his breath, feeling his strength quickly waning from his climb up the tower.
He began to panic, knowing that exiting the water tower meant free falling, losing all the progress he made. It was then that the portal opened in the air just below him and Lion jumped through with Steven and Connie, bringing a smile back to Goku's face.
"Steven, I need a lift!" shouted Goku as he straightened his body and raised his arms in the air, falling towards them in a needle drop fashion.
Connie was alarmed at this, her anxiety now beginning to build. "His going to crash right on top of us!"
Steven stood up on Lion's back, understanding exactly what the assignment was as he thought back to his first fight with Goku back on the beach all those months ago. With the last of Strength, he summoned his shield once more just as Goku was about to hit. Positioning his shield at an angle heading straight upwards and into the water spire. The moment Goku's feet touched the Rose crest of his shield, Steven used all he had left to launch him while Goku simultaneously jumped, his arms now beside him as he moved like a speed bullet right back into the column with yet another deep inhalation as he held his breathe.
On entering the tower once again, Goku landed right on top one of the turtles he saw earlier, now using each of them as a stepping stone to continue his climb up the tower.
Suddenly, as if it came from inside his own head and all around him at the same time, he heard the voice of Lapis speak to him, "Fine! Since you are so persistent in wanting to reach me, let me lend you a helping hand!"
Just like that, he felt the water all around him form into a giant hand that began pushing him upwards through the tower at an incredible pace, faster than he could have ever climbed it alone.
He knew that this was it, it was now or never. Lapis was far stronger than himself, he would only have one shot at doing this and he had to make it count.
Suddenly in his line of sight, the view of the stars became visible once again, just like it did the first time he climbed the tower and also, directly above him, Lapis.
He clenched his fist and cocked his hand back. Lapis smiled as she saw him rising and preparing to attack her. She was going to enjoy this. She wanted to beat him down make him feel as broken as she was right before taking his life.
She raised her hand, allowing a small bit of water to float up towards her and pool right below her finger tips. The water began taking shape as it then crystalized and hardened into an ice katana. The finest she could forge in her current state.
Goku, not waiting for the hand to push him out the top of the Oceanic Heaven Tower, opted to jump, attempting to catch her off guard with his attack.
Lapis, however was no fool. She struck her sword down with as much momentum as her body allowed, eager to cut off the boy's arm.
Goku outstretched his closed hand, but instead of going for an attack like she thought, he opened his palm and threw a starfish that latched onto her face, blinding the gem as she missed her mark with the Katana.
Goku grinned as he dove straight into the water prison that housed his Nimbus, releasing the cloud and disconnecting the prison from its stalk.
But it was not time to celebrate just yet, he then raced with the cloud further up just beyond the Earth's atmosphere. From there, the nimbus did an almost ninety-degree angle drop as it sped down towards Lapis with ferocious speed right before pulling away from Goku at the very last second.
Lapis freed herself from the Saiyan's diversion and regained her sight, opening her eyes and searching frantically for where he might have escaped to.
Suddenly she heard a voice call out to her from above, "It's over Lapis! I have the high ground!"
She swiftly snapped back her head, seeing the Saiyan making a clean nose dive directly above her with tremendous speed and momentum. She saw him let out his first, Goku putting all his strength into his final attack as he roared aloud, showing a hint of his primal saiyan instincts. From Lapis' point of view, a giant apparition manifested behind the boy, in the shape of a wild Oozaru beast, its face roaring at her with unbridle Saiyan rage.
Fear struck deep in her as flashbacks of the war came flooding into the forefront her mind, seeing the Oozaru beasts transform in front of her and crush her with all its might. Destroying her form and nearly shattering her gem.
Now frozen in fear and unable to move, lapis stood still, muttering the only words she could, "N-No not again. P-Please, someone, anyone… save me!"
Goku struck the Lapis Lazuli fist on head, his momentum and raw strength creating enough force that he tore through her physical form, instantly poofing and reverting her back inside her Gem as he shot through the Water tower like an unstoppable force.
It only took a moment before the tower began to shake, slowly at first then uncontrollably. Instantly falling apart without Lapis there to keep it standing. Amethyst lashed her whip but before it made contact with her clone, her copycat fell apart into a puddle on the floor. She looked up, her tired eyes widening as she noted the tower was about to collapse right on top of them.
"Ah guys…I think we need to get out here!" she said with a high pitch to emphasis the urgency of the situation.
"To the van!" said Garnet out loud as she grabbed pearl with one hand and began running to the vehicle. Catching the usually prim and proper Pearl off guard as she screeched.
Lion hopped on top of the roof, with Steven and Connie still boarded on his back. Amethyst, her weapon now acting as a grapple hook, cracked her whip onto the side mirror of van and launched herself forward. Ripping off the side mirror as she flipped herself mid-air onto the roof next to Lion, Steven and Connie.
"Let's go!" yelled Garnet as Pearl attempted to turn on the ignition from the driver's seat.
"Wait! Where's Goku?!" asked Steven as he frantically moved his head looking for him.
Connie looked up, her facial expression morphing to that of fear and awe as she witnessed a massive wave of incomprehensible size about to wash over them.
"S-Steven." she screamed as she raised her hands, turning her head while blocking her face just as the mega wave hit the already damaged van.
From the view of the beach city, its citizens could be seen standing near the shore line now running back in fear as the ocean came back in force.
"Quickly everyone, to the shelter!" yelled Mayor Dewey, trying to direct his citizens to safety.
After a while, a pink bubble arose to the surface of the now returned beach. Its contents containing a probably damaged beyond repair dodge van, an unconcious elderly man, three gems, a young boy and girl and a pink Lion.
Now being on the safety of land. The bubbled popped much like someone blowing pink chewing gum. Steven sighed, exhausted by how much he had to push past his limits today.
"Where is he?" asked the huffing and puffing Steven.
There was a silence in the air, as if all sound had disappeared, until a soft ruffling sound could be heard in the distance. Connie turned around, smiling with tears in her eyes as she spotted the pink nimbus cloud slowly making its way towards them.
"Goku!" she yelled excitedly with relief in her voice.
Steven and Amethyst also turned around at saw the cloud inching closer towards them. The purple gem smiled while Steven closed his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief.
With the Nimbus now resting near the rooftop of the van, Goku cloud be seen sprawled out across the cloud, exhausted and bruised as he looked at everyone aboard the van and gave them all a thumbs up while grinning as wide as his tired body would allow.
"What happened to Lapis? asked Garnet as she stepped out the van.
Goku, raised his arm, representing the cracked Lazuli tear drop gem between his thumb and index finger.
Garnet taken aback, absolutely stunned that Goku actually managed to beat her, her own voice now echoing her surprise, "Y-You actually won. Unbelievable." she said, her voice shaky as she took the Gem from the boy's fingers and proceed to bubble it.
Suddenly, taking them all by surprise, the tires of the old van gave up and collapsed, bringing the body of the vehicle in contact with grainy sands of the beach floor. Giving Pearl and Greg a bump on the head for good measure whilst the steering of the van also popped off.
Greg finally woke up from the pain of even more additional trauma being done to his body.
"Ow!" He said as he awakened rubbing his head whilst opening his eyes to Pearl.
"What happened to my van?!" he said with horror now seeing the fair gem with his steering wheel in hand.
Pearl uncharacteristically chuckled, "Hehe well, what's that thing you always say about the porkchops and the hotdogs?"
Everyone laughed at Pearls response to Greg, all feeling at ease now that the danger had finally passed. Everyone except for Goku, who had just been reminded of something important by Pearls words.
"Oh, that's right!" he said with a hint of remembrance in his voice, "Steven! The Giant Pink Lady, she wanted me to tell you something. She said…" -he paused for a moment, scratching his head as he tried to remember it word for word as best he could- "…she said that there is no porkchop in this universe, quite like you." Goku smiled, proud that he made good on his promise to Rose.
There was a brief pause for a moment as the laughter around them came to a slow but quiet halt as everyone looked at him. Steven in particular staring at Goku with a blank expression on his bruised face, confused by what he was on about, "Goku… what are you saying? What are you talking about?"
Goku now also confused as to why the mood had changed so drastically, looked at Steven and innocently responded, "The Giant Pink Lady in picture, she's your mom right? I promised her I would tell you that since she was unable do it herself."
Steven studied Goku's expression with widened eyes. He looked confused, and Goku was not the type to make up stories and lie, in fact, when he thought about it, Goku was the purest person he had ever met. There was no question about it, this was happening, he was telling the truth. Goku had spoken to Rose Quartz.
"Goku, are you telling me… you met my mom?" Steven asked, his voice beginning to break as he did so.
The gems all stared at him in disbelieve. Amethyst at a loss for words, Garnet's visor dematerializing in disbelief as she looked on at Goku with tears in her three eyes. Pearl…
Her body began to shake, unable to take the news that this Saiyan, somehow spoke with her beloved Rose. Tears filled her Jealous and rageful eyes as she stared daggers at Goku.
"Impossible…how? Why? Why YOU?!" Pearl screamed at the boy, despair and envy etched deeply into her words
Goku looked at the all of them, feeling a deep dread build within as he began to lose his own voice amongst all the eyes that watched him now with conviction. Fear and an unearned sense of guilt laced his words as he looked at Steven then back at Pearl, "I-I thought that this was a good thing. That I was helping her. W-What did I do now? I'm sorry…Pearl."