Morgana had seen plenty a wild sight in his short existence.

Persona users gone astray. False realities. Corrupt Gods. Counselors gone savior complex.

Not to say what he and the other Thieves just witnessed took the whole cake, but it definitely warranted at least half.

"So," Futaba commented at last, breaking the collective stunned silence, "that happened."

"Dude," Ryuji numbly murmured, "I'm not the only one trying not to freak out, right?"

Makoto shook her head, both in confirmation and disbelief. "When you told us this Steven had magical abilities, Futaba, I never thought…my word."

"To think someone could possess such abilities outside the Metaverse," Yusuke marveled, hand to his chin. The fact that same person had become a target only cemented the seriousness of this situation.

Haru nodded, her face solemn yet sympathetic. "The fact they can be affected so much by his emotions as well." She couldn't imagine how much stress he must be under, let alone with everything going on.

Akira turned to his team with a resolute gaze. "He needs help."

Makoto nodded firmly in return, matching her leader stare for stare. "Yes, otherwise he'll be a threat to himself and everyone around him."

Sounded good, except for one thing as Ryuji commented afterward. "And what about the stuff he was saying before he let loose?"

"Yes" – Haru cocked her head, curious – "Based on what Futaba translated alongside what we saw, it seemed as though he were arguing with someone."

Sumire twisted her face in confusion. "But…there was no one there though. No one we could hear anyway."

"Because only he could hear them," Morgana reasoned from atop Futaba's desk. "In fact, even though he'd fainted earlier like the other victims, he kept his memories and autonomy."

I'd almost assume it's because he's half-human, the cat mused, but something in my gut tells me that might not be the case.

"Yeah, but now the guy's apparently got a voice in his head drivin' him batshit," Ryuji sighed.

"There's also the matter of that one Gem before him, the one that went berserk" Makoto added. "She supposedly didn't faint at all."

Futaba flipped through screenshots and videos of past conversations with Connie and (in Ann's case) Steven, the light in her eyes stern. "Yeah, her change was almost instantaneous by comparison. Whatever's messing with people over there, it's getting stronger."

Morgana felt his ears sink. Suddenly his gut-something seemed even more possible.

Varying expressions of grim permeated the group at this revelation…until who else but their leader broke the tension.

"We gotta do something."

Makoto shook her head at him in surprise and dismay. As much as she admired her leader's determination, they had to be realistic here. "There's an ocean and miles of another country in between us and Ann, never mind us and our target – or rather targets apparently." The brunette was still wrapping her mind around the revelation of this Palace having multiple rulers. "We'd need a plane to get there, if not several."

A troubled frown came over Haru in turn, who hung her own head in reluctant agreement. "Even if we were to find a means of getting there, we'd only look conspicuous."

Futaba perked, nearly falling out of her seat from excitement. "Wait, what about Connie?"

"What do you mean?" asked Sumire.

"Yes," Yusuke seconded with arms crossed, "I doubt she would have the means to bring us over herself."

Just then, Akira snapped his fingers in a eureka fashion. "The Gems."

Futaba shot a finger gun in return grinning wide. Count on her big bro to catch on. "Bingo! She's friends with actual aliens! They're bound to have some kind of advanced teleportation tech!"

Morgana thoughtfully groomed a paw as he regarded the screen once more. "Huh, well it sounds worth a shot at least" – his eyes suddenly widened in alarm – "assuming Lady Ann can get within three feet of her again after this."

When everyone looked at him in confusion, Morgana pointed a front paw at the screen.

Sumire gulped right way. "Um, that woman with the afro is staring particularly hard at us."

Judging by what the Thieves could see and the current angle Ann was holding her phone, it did indeed seem as though the dark-skinned lady with the star-glasses were fixing on them all a highly intense look.

"You mean she's staring particularly hard at Lady Ann," Morgana grimly corrected. "She was there when Steven collapsed, right Futaba?"

When their resident tech expert nodded, Ryuji threw his hands up in exasperation. "Oh c'mon, that's lady's already got Ann down as a suspect?! What kinda BS is that?"

Makoto held a hand to gesture her blond teammate to calm himself. "Most likely not. Remember, these incidents had already started before Ann set foot there, let alone knew Beach City existed. I think she's staring because Ann has her phone out."

To communicate with the rest of us, no doubt, Akira mused with a cringe. Real bad timing, Ann.

"Ah, that's right," Yusuke gasped in similar urgency. "The true nature of those towns is meant to remain secret. No doubt that woman suspects Ann may spread word."

Haru put a hand to her chest in concern. "It's also likely since Connie is friends with them, she'll be expected to take part in the investigations going forward, meaning she might not get to help Ann as much after this – at least not without outing them both."

Ryuji merely shrugged and rubbed the back of his head. "I mean is that really a bad thing? Ann's already got most of the keywords, and she's been pullin' her weight just fine so far. 'Sides, the more eyes off of us the better, right?"

That comment earned him a fervent frown from Sumire. "Ann gave Connie her word, Ryuji-senpai! She can't turn back on that now."

"Yeah, well it's not like this Connie chick's a Persona user," Ryuji countered. "Plus, how do we know she ain't gonna tell on us?"

Haru put a hand to her chin, considering that rather valid point. "Now that Ryuji brings it up, I do wonder whether these Gems are familiar with the Metaverse, just not in the same way as us." For all any of the Thieves knew, they probably didn't even refer to it with the same name.

Morgana huffed at the possibility, though not unkindly. "Judging by how helpless they sounded explaining the situation to Steven earlier, I doubt it." Otherwise, they would have likely gotten a handle on the situation a long time ago.

"Then what are we to do?" Yusuke pondered aloud. The logistics of this situation were truly not on their side.

Makoto closed her eyes a moment before looking back to everyone with a firm stare. "Right now, we trust in Ann…and Connie too if possible. Ann's already us sent a message, so all we can do is respond back and tell her about the transport issue; then we can work up from there."

Futaba did a hearty fist-pump as she turned to her desktop once more. "Sounds good ta me! Meanwhile, I can—huh?!"

The tech's shocked change in tone made Ryuji furrow his brow at her. "Huh, what" – then he noticed what she noticed – "the hell?!"

XXX

In the entire rush from the restaurant to here, not to mention distracting that Quartz, Ann had completely forgotten she'd been holding her phone in her hand.

For all to see.

And now Garnet was staring straight at her. Crap.

Before the tall woman could start walking over here, Ann hastily stuffed her phone back into her handbag and barely managed a nervous smile at Connie. "I think it's time I get back to my parents. They probably heard about what happened and'll start to worry about me."

For a moment, Connie looked to Ann in a rare moment of pure bafflement, still shaken by what just happened with Steven. However, she didn't take long to notice Garnet's gaze on them and connect the dots. "Uh, yeah! Yeah! Can I call you later this evening?"

"Yeah, totally!" Ann confirmed with a hasty nod before turning heel and waving. "See ya!"

And like lightning, Ann hauled ass out of there – leaving Connie to deal with any possible interrogations by herself.

Thanks a lot, Connie griped to herself. Luckily, though, Garnet redirected her attention to checking on Greg and the other Gems instead. The girl heaved a relieved sigh.

"Hey." A familiar voice to the left drew her attention to discover Spinel had approached her, wearing an awkward half-smile. "Thanks for helpin' me out there. I wanted ta thank that other girl, too, but I guess she's got a busy schedule ta keep."

Ah, right. Connie waved off the thanks with an assuring smile. "It's no problem, Spinel! I can tell her you said that the next time I see her! Anyway, what brings you to Earth?"

The girl fought back a wince the moment she asked this, hoping the question didn't sound accusatory.

Spinel did not seem bothered at all, judging by her easy shrug. "Eh, the Diamonds are all swamped with requests from Gems. Whole courtyard's teeming wit' em – looks like a neon carpet from way up! I didn't want 'em to hafta drop everything on my account, so I decided ta pop in and hang out here, get to know folks. White says I need to get out more anyway."

Connie pursed her lips. To this day, she still questioned Steven's decision to send the pink jester away to live with three former intergalactic tyrants. However, she kept this thought to herself and fixed Spinel with a faint yet empathetic grin. "You picked a heck of a day to drop by then. Sorry your visit went so sour."

Once again, Spinel shrugged her shoulders. "Hey, what's life without a little risk every now and then?" Although she then proceeded to scratch her cheek with a finger, bashful grin withstanding. "Although I'm definitely takin' a pass on any more punches to the face," she added.

Connie huffed in good-natured amusement. While she hadn't had a chance to familiarize herself with Spinel extensively like Steven had over the years, the girl felt glad for the formerly vengeful Gem who had clearly made progress in healing from her trauma. She only hoped Steven would be able to do similar.

"So, any idea what's up with Steven?"

Speak of the fluffy-haired angel.

A gasp startled out of Connie, who'd found herself lost in thought to the point she had shut out her surroundings. Once again, Pearl would have disapproved for sure.

Spinel blinked and cocked her head, wearing a genuinely concerned frown. "I mean, why was he goin' crazy all of a sudden? It didn't look like you guys were arguin' but even I can tell somethin' was up."

Connie shook her head. "I'm not so sure myself." And from what she'd seen, even the Gems still had no idea. The Phantom Thieves were the only possible means to resolve this escalating mystery. "But I might have found a way to solve it" – only to add under her breath – "I hope."

"Connie!"

Both human and Gem jumped at the sharp tone and swiveled around to find Garnet standing before them with arms crossed, face unreadable as usual behind her star-shaped glasses. Pearl and Amethyst and Greg stood behind her with more readable expressions, their worry (and dread?) plain as sunlight.

Crap.

Spinel shifted her eyes to and fro, alternating between Connie and the adults, before thumbing over to the other Gems off to the side who'd been conversing in curious whispers. "Um…I'm just gonna be over there if anybody needs me."

"Actually Spinel," Pearl spoke up while raising a hand, "we'd like for you to be here for this conversation, too. We're planning to contact the Diamonds about what happened here anyway, so it's only fair you be in the loop."

Hearing this took the jester by surprise, though she managed a touched smile. "Uh, OK! Thanks!"

Garnet gave a stoic nod before regarding Connie once more.

The girl didn't need Future Vision to predict the direction of this upcoming talk. She held her hands up. "OK, Garnet, before you say anything, she wasn't using her camera to record anything!"

"Then what was she using for?" the maroon brawler responded, terse.

"She was just texting her parents to let them know she's OK."

The way Garnet's nose stymied an upcoming sigh indicated the tension before her voice got to. "Connie—"

"That's all she was doing, I swear," Connie insisted in the firmest tone she knew. "She has no intention of outing us or the other Gems. Me and Steven can vouch for her on that!"

Assuming Steven would allow anyone near him enough to do so after such a performance.

Amethyst, true to form, broke the atmosphere when she flipped her hair back in a deliberately flippant manner, even going so far as to fix a chill grin (that failed to reach her eyes). "Yeah, c'mon G! Not like anybody would believe her anyway! Besides, we've got way bigger stuff to worry about."

Pearl sighed, reluctant. "I suppose that's true. It's just that this whole situation has already gotten out of hand; now Steven's been sucked into the middle of it and-and—"

A gentle hand on the shoulder from Garnet helped the slimmer Gem regain her composure – or at least enough to take a few deep breaths to calm herself. Despite the stress of keeping her newfound allies a secret, Connie couldn't deny an inkling of understanding towards the others' paranoia.

Steven had enough to grapple with as is.

"It's OK. I'm OK," Pearl sighed at last, patting Garnet's hand to assure exactly that. "Still, we all need to exercise more caution with how we handle this" – she set a serious though still compassionate gaze on her pupil – "you included. We're not going to interrogate your friend if that's what you're worried about, but she needs to be made aware of how delicate this situation is."

Connie resisted every urge in her body to shout a big resounding 'No', settling instead for a smile that felt more like a mask the Gems could rip away. Lying had come easily for her when dealing with her parents; lying to the Gems felt more like throwing slurs behind their backs.

She never felt so fake.

"Then I'll let her know first thing after we're done here! She's just one person after all, and you saw how she handled Steven after he fell under, Garnet! It won't take much to convince her." Thankfully by the end of her little argument, Connie had regained her confidence, or at least enough to assuage the other Gems if Pearl and Garnet's slight untensing indicated anything.

Amethyst gestured a hand at Connie. "See, guys? She's got this! Now can we please start worryin' about finding Steven? I betcha he hasn't gone far."

The look on Pearl's face detailed sheer doubt, but the taller Gem acquiesced with a sigh before following her violet companion away from the carwash. When Garnet started to follow suit, Connie turned the opposite way to leave.

"Connie."

Only to stop at the fusion calling her name once again. The girl glanced over her shoulder, both curious and a touch wary. "Yeah Garnet?"

For moment, the Gem merely held her gaze. "Be smart."

Anyone who didn't know Garnet would have taken it as simple friendly advice. Connie knew how to read between the lines, however.

Be smart in who you choose to trust.

For all the genuine concern the fusion poured into her voice, Connie felt her stomach lurch for a hot second, like someone had poured burning coals down her throat. What if her faith in Ann and the Phantom Thieves did fall through? What if they weren't the heroes everyone claimed they were?

Or what if they were good after all but had to do something that would put Steven at risk for the greater good?

Memories of years ago, of when Steven surrendered himself to Homeworld to save everyone from Aquamarine and Topaz, flashed back in her mind's eye. She remembered being so angry and disappointed with her Jam Bud for a long time afterward, even after Steven returned – especially after he returned.

Looking back, as much as she still thought to have been in the right at being upset with him acting so nonchalant with everyone's feelings (with her feelings), perhaps there'd been more she could have done to get through to him, made him see that it was alright to acknowledge the awfulness for what it was.

And acknowledgement doesn't equal giving up, Connie thought. Right, Ann?

This very thought compelled her to offer Garnet a smile worthy of a Crystal Gem. "I will. Count on it."

For the first time since Steven's departure, the maroon brawler smiled back before finally departing.

Connie proceeded to do the same. As she did, though, the sound of squeaky footfalls followed in her wake.

The source revealed herself before she even turned to regard her.

"Hey," Spinel shyly spoke up, hands behind her back, "you don't mind if I join ya for a bit?"

"Uh, no. Not at all," Connie responded with a shrug. "I figured you'd be going back to Homeworld to notify the Diamonds."

Spinel rolled her eyes in a so-so manner. "Yeah, well, the others already said they'd be calling them anyway, so I figured why not pass the time 'til then?" She leaned sideways closer while shielding a hand around her mouth in a conspiratorial manner. "Besides, I need a conversation on this planet that doesn't involve a fist to my face."

I can imagine, Connie mused in empathy. "So, that whole thing with Cherry happened not long after you got here, huh? Sheesh."

The jester casually waved off the pity. "Eh, I've learned how to bounce back." A pause followed before she shifted her eyes out of awkwardness, hands behind her head. "More or less. Anyway, enough 'bout me! How ya been?"

Connie could tell her company didn't have much experience socializing with humans, but hey why not throw the rubberhose dog a bone?

"Up 'til everything now? Eh, mundane," she admitted with a shrug. The details she didn't bother elaborating on since she knew Spinel wouldn't understand most of the concepts. "I know I shouldn't complain after all the crazy stuff I'd seen and done, but as awful as this might sound, a part of me's sort of happy to be in the middle of something so crazy again."

The rush, the wonder, even the tension.

Spinel eyed her weirdly, though not in an affronted way. More like a fascinated 'damn you're some other kind of screwy, aren't ya?'

"I know lives are at stake and all," Connie continued, "and I definitely want to help everyone who's affected. It's just…going through each day like a normal human – at first it felt like a relief, which it was…but then as the years went on and me and Steven got swamped with life in general…I guess you can say I got…nostalgic from time to time."

"Ya still practice with that fancy sword o' yers?" Spinel asked, remembering the girl branding it during the whole bio-drill business. Steven had also mentioned during one of his visits how Connie used to train in sword-fighting under Pearl.

A dark blush came to Connie. "Yeah, I've…sort of been slacking for the past year. I've been trying to get back into it to polish off the rust, but…sword-fighting's not the same by yourself. Or as fun."

By then, the pair had made their way back to the boardwalk. Connie took note of the whispers of people, human and Gem alike, passing by. "I think the biggest thing, though," she continued, "might be that I miss helping others the most. Helping people here in particular."

Spinel cocked her head, captivated by the girl's words. "You could do that as a regular human, couldn't ya?"

Connie sighed, shaking her head. "Yeah…except that doesn't feel like enough, like there's more I could do." She looked to Spinel. "Does that sound selfish? Arrogant maybe?"

The pink Gem put a finger to her chin, thoughtful. "Maybe, but what would I know? I'm the Diamonds' court jester/palace-mate. I mean it's not like you're trying to colonize the planet, so maybe being the kind of selfish you're talking about is a good thing."

Selfishness? A good thing?

Connie found herself snorting in amusement at the mere idea, amusement that didn't quite reach her eyes. Did Steven ever wonder the same thing? "If it is," she spoke up, "I might have my work cut out for me."

Spinel chuckled in kind. "Yeah, there's no happily ever after. We'll always have more work to do."

What? Something about that last statement caught Connie's attention, making her pause and regard the Gem with curiosity.

Spinel noticed. "Hmm? Oh, just somethin' Steven told me after the whole…ya know." She faced forward again and tilted her head skyward. "Stories end but life goes on, so we gotta do the same. Otherwise, we're stuck livin' a fantasy."

No happily ever after, Connie thought to herself, the same gears from before in the restaurant turning.

Haru's words from then echoed back. Yes, he hasn't merely healed people. He's made them all happy.

As did Yusuke's. Indeed, it sounds as though your friend might be determined to live out a fantasy.

Connie's eyes, going huge in realization, shot to the hill that hid the house (and possibly Steven) from view. If a Palace depicted how Steven and his family saw this whole place…

"Hey Spinel," the girl suddenly spoke up in a slightly rushed tone as she pulled out her phone, "I need to check something on my phone right fast."

The magenta jester blinked at her, taken back by the abrupt change in mood. "Uh sure…?"

Wait right, abandonment issues, Connie realized as she froze mid-step, remembering last minute what Steven had told her regarding Spinel's backstory. In haste, she fixed her with a hasty (and guilt-ridden) smile. "I promise to be right back. Just swing around to the back of this store if you need me for anything, OK?"

"Hey, hey, I get it," Spinel insisted with a saucy eyeroll and hands akimbo. "Whatever ya gotta do, just do it already. Don't leave the rest of us in suspense."

Well, that was as good of a response as Connie would ever get.

With a relieved smile, she dashed through the alleyway to the back of the nearest store, Beach Citywalk Fries, and checked to find the coast clear. Good, she didn't need anybody snitching on her.

When she opened her phone to check her messages again, though, something caught her eye. Something familiar.

Hang on, haven't I seen this symbol before?

As a matter of fact, she soon realized, yes. Ann's phone had sported the same strange-looking icon back at Fish Stew Pizza.

Connie shook her head regardless. Right now, the goal mattered and nothing else, especially now that she had the necessary tool.

OK, she rattled off in her head. Think, Maheswaran. What sort of place has all three in common: fantasy; healing; and happy ever after?

The first and last ones made sense enough, and so did the second once you considered all the ways you could interpret it: healing the body, healing the soul, healing the mind, healing the heart.

You know what? Fantasy shit so heart it is! Or at least for a good start.

"Crystal Gems. Beach City and Little Homeworld" – Connie rattled her brain for a moment before finishing – "Storybook?"

Conditions have been found.

No words could do the victory in her eyes justice.

"Yes!"

Beginning route to destination.

Then her face fell, confused.

"Wait, route?"

XXX

"Is this really necessary, Garnet?"

"I just need to be sure. Please Peridot?"

At the fusion's soulful plead, a sigh emanated from the green Gem seating in a blue beanbag before she returned her attention to the laptop in her, well, lap. Garnet sat cross-legged beside her fellow Gem, hands on her knees. Both Gems sat within the beach house; Pearl and Amethyst were still outside alongside Lapis and Bismuth, searching for Steven who hadn't returned home like everyone had hoped.

Hopefully, whatever could be extracted here could at the very least minimize potential trouble for their boy.

On the bright side, Peridot hadn't needed much convincing after being recounted what happened earlier. If this 'activity' Garnet asked her to do would help Steven and other Gems, ethics be shards. Just as long as Ann doesn't find out about this. As little time as they'd gotten to know each other, Peridot didn't favor facing the girl's sense of betrayal and violation.

"It's not like peering into human devices is new territory for us," Peridot shrugged. "Well for me anyway."

Ever since that one near-incident with that one tourist, the Crystal Gems had made a point to secretly keep tabs on any communication devices brought in by outsiders. Peridot still found it startling how near effortless it was to infiltrate what constituted networks on this planet. Besides, it's not like humans didn't do worse than this to one another.

However, a thought then occurred to Peridot, making the technician pause mid-type. She shifted a nervous gaze to Garnet. "This…isn't going to require us going into the Dark Web, is it?"

Although she couldn't tell, Peridot had a feeling Garnet was blinking behind her glasses, taken back by the question.

"No?" The fusion responded in a slow (and increasingly wary) tone. "Why do you ask?"

Peridot blushed a deep green before hastily reverting attention to the laptop, resuming her typing. "Nothing, nothing! Anyway, this shouldn't take too long aaaaand…there! We officially have access to one Ann Takamaki's phone data."

Garnet craned her neck to peruse the revealed data. Mostly text messages in what she had a good hunch was Japanese.

"Well, this hardly helps," Peridot snarked in frustration. Seriously, why couldn't humans just stick to one planetwide language?

"Try scrolling down," Garnet suggested.

Fortunately for them, there happened to be messages in English further down – and very enlightening messages at that.

Turns out that girl had been discussing Little Homeworld with others, more specifically the odd goings-on. This didn't bode well, especially with Connie apparently being swayed into these people's fold.

On the other hand, the nature of the messages also got very perplexing.

Palaces, Treasures, Rulers, Nav, Shadows?

Peridot and Garnet shared a baffled look. Clearly there was more to this Ann girl than appearances suggested, same with her supposed friends. What that 'more' entailed was the million-dollar question.

They continued scrolling down – until Peridot gasped at a word that caught her eye: surveillance.

Had…Had Ann been having someone spy on Steven? The green Gem almost didn't want to believe it. Nearby, Garnet balled her hands into fists.

Before either one could comment, all the readings on Peridot's laptop clicked off on their own.

"What the-?" the tech murmured as she tried to get her stats back – to no avail.

"What's going on?" Garnet asked, equally alarmed by what just happened but not tech savvy enough to fully understand.

For a moment, Peridot said nothing. Well unless you counted choked gasps. Then at last, she managed to squeak out the following:

"I…I've been booted out?!"