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Chapter Text

Steven stumbled before correcting himself and running on, despair pounding in his heart. Breathing hard, the young man veered to the right, his feet screeching as he slid down the glass, sprinting towards a wall where he could see a digital panel as, without even hesitating for a second, he placed his hand - accepted as a Diamond - before going inside. The door disappeared behind him, leaving him in utter darkness.

Covering his mouth with one hand, Steven stood still to better listen to his enemy's footsteps. A bead of sweat slipped from his forehead, waiting for the footsteps to recede before relaxing his shoulders, though still alert. After several years in peace, a new threat arose. A threat that was unexpected for everyone when they saw the silhouette of an unfamiliar pearl with Jasper at her side, a necklace with a thread of light attached to her. A malevolent smile crept into the unknown Pearl, threatening Steven in the videocall he received while outside of Beach City, while tugging at the leash and prompting Jasper to grunt in annoyance. Jasper didn't look terrified but she definitely wasn't in her best as multiple cuts and bruises were littering her body. She looked tired but defiant, showing off her teeth at the Pearl.

"Now, now, be a good pet and smile for the camera. Your Diamond is watching." The Pearl cooed at the giant Quartz. Jasper ignored her, her eyes avoiding looking in the direction of the camera. If there's something Jasper hates is to appear weak in front of others, enemy or otherwise. The Red Pearl tutted at her stubbornness before giving her full attention on Steven. The videocall being watched by the Crystal Gems, too, trying to communicate with Steven - not realising he was already aware of its existence.

That's how he ended up in Homeworld running with his life. After two days of trying to find Jasper, he managed to locate her thanks to Peridot and Pearl's help, the latter feeling responsible for the other Pearl's actions. It's not her fault, everyone had to remind her. Every gem it's an individual so her actions are her own.

"What do I do?" Whispered Steven, his breathing under better control now that he had a few seconds to take a break. The Diamonds disappeared, Spinel with them for all he knows, and Jasper is being tortured by that... that gem! It's hard to believe someone so evil could be a Pearl. That Pearl is red, her short hair hiding one side of her face and what looked like small pigtails at her sides. Her skin is lighter in color compared to her hair, red eye piercing through anyone she looks at. She had puffy shoulder leaves coming out of her darker in color outfit, tailcoat behind her as if is she was in a show and the world her stage. Her round gem is located in the middle of her chest, shining menacingly for anyone to see. How could a gem take so much pleasure on hurting others that their gem is constantly showing it to others by shining bright? Steven felt a shiver travel through his back.

Not only that, the hybrid thought as he recounted what had happened only a few hours ago, the turmoil of what happened spreading farther into his heart.

Peridot and Lapis were at his side as they headed into the last room they thought to look in, White Diamond's room - looking for ang of the Diamonds. They have no idea where they are or what could have happened to them. Maybe they just decided to leave them with the problems? But no, that didn't make sense to Steven. The Diamonds were changing, bit by bit, taking responsibility for what they've done. And even if any of that were true, they couldn't have gone anywhere but their own rooms here in Homeworld. They still dislike being in any other planet, saying they smell off.

"Check inside," Steven asked Peridot, who nodded and said to leave it to her. He signaled Lapis to follow him. The two of them went somewhere else that no one had looked at because they never thought about that possibility until now. His old room, which it currently belongs to Spinel. It was on the opposite side of White's, although far away.

Arriving at the site, the young man wasted no time in opening the door, the panel having no problem letting him in, and found a mess inside. Sheets were torn, what looked like tiny pieces of different toys and plushies broken beyond repair. He didn't have to time to feel bad for Spinel's possessions as he jumped out of the way of a rock falling straight at him. Looking up, he saw the walls where even in a worse state, big cracks running along every side and even the floor, going up and up into the ceiling. Such destruction couldn't be caused by something like an accident. It was deliberate. 

He called for the pebbles, not receiving any response. Then he called Spinel in case she was hiding somewhere. Nothing, only dreadful silence. His mobile buzzed, receiving bad news. 

"Oh no." He gasped. Spinel was nowhere to be found because she wasn't no more. 

"Steven..." Lapis called, her voice off by both exhaustion and sadness as she understood that this must be a great blow for her friend.

"We-we need to keep going. We have to help Jasper and stop Pearl." He cringed at saying the last word, as if he was referring to his surrogate mother rather than his enemy. Lapis shook her head but followed him nonetheless.

That's when they were attacked by several quartz, their eyes completely empty showing obvious signs that they were forced into fighting them. Some of those quartz were Amethyst's friends, which made it even worse for the young hybrid. He didn't want to hurt any of them knowing how much Amethyst cares about them. The worse is that he knows they are aware of their own actions, the control over them unlike White Diamond's powers. 

"Steven, watch out!" Luckily for him, Lapis didn't have such morals, shoving them to the side and taking Steven by the back of his arms, flying away from the East side. As they moved farther and farther away, Steven could still hear their grumbles and moanings. They were hurting so much and he couldn't help any of them. Tears gathered in the corner of his eyes, not bothering on stopping them as Lapis took them to the South Side. He still has to receive message from the Crystal Gems.

Snapping back to the present, Steven took a shaky breath through his teeth, pulling an item out of his jacket pocket. He's surprised that he hadn't dropped it after so much running around. Taking a long look at the familiar item in his hand, his eyes filled with more tears. He had lost them all.

Everything went so wrong after receiving that message. The Diamonds were still missing, Spinel's shards were found inside White's room by Peridot, and the Crystal Gems were first captured and then killed in front of Steven through a screen that appeared in front of him after Lapis left to get Peridot and Bismuth. In the screen he could see Bismuth crying and attacking the red Pearl when she got back the control over her body, - hearing the cold laughter of delight from the Pearl - as Bismuth was forced to attack her friends, aware of the horrified looks from Pearl, Amethyst and Garnet.

Lapis helped her friend with a blank look on her face, not showing her fury for what was done, as Steven kept watching the screen with tears sliding down his cheeks. Powerless despite his gem working perfectly fine. Peridot stayed glued to the floor in shock, petrified.

And Steven? Steven was alone in another side of Homeworld after getting separated from Lapis. He turned pink, destroying everything in his path, anguished at having lost his family. His everything. As heavy blocks got shattered around him in the strong shock wave, he stomped outside, punching the next wall. He broke many of his fingers but he didn't care anymore. He punched and punched, the void inside him getting bigger. How much more could he lose? How much more could he deal with before it destroyed him? He thought he was broken before but he was wrong. So, so wrong, because losing the Crystal Gems felt ten times worse than losing himself. The people who stayed by his side at all time, the people who he considered his friends, his family, who watched him grow, smile and cry. Gone. Just like that. He couldn't even say goodbye to them. Lost, forever, as he still had to find the Diamonds. Where were they when he needed them? If they were here he could fix the gems. He sucked in a breath as the realisation hit him. Is this what happened to Spinel? Was she killed the same way, by the hands of a friend while tied, open for any attack? A sob left his lips, falling apart as he finally understood that he had lost. Steven Universe was finally defeated. 

That's what he believed in his numb heart, until he got inside of one of the may rooms he didn't know existed, his pink powers disappearing at seeing what was in front of him. Inside was full of many gem artifacts as if he was in a museum, some familiar and others completely unknown to him. Homeworld wasn't a place he went to visit enough to know its history. Never mind all that is in there. But of course there would be many gem artifacts, things that could have helped him prevent the loss he just suffered. Stopping his urge to cry, he turned to where he saw something glitter, calling his attention. It was an Hourglass. Stepping closer to it, his hand floating over the object. At least it looked similar enough. He frowned, vaguely recalling a time when he was younger when many versions of himself were fighting against each other because of a wish went wrong. Should he? He's older now, wiser. He hesitated a full minute before touching it lightly. Nothing happened. Not wanting to be caught, Steven left the room with the hourglass inside his pocket. 

Back at the present, Steven inspected closely the object in his hands as if it were a fragile glass, which it is. It's small, round with an hourglass inside. The only difference is that it's completely gray, white platinum surrounding it. There's a small crack in one part of its structure. Could it be broken? Even so, the young man could not ignore the possibility presented in front of him. Being able to stop the red pearl before she takes everything from him... It would be worth any consequences.

I can't go back to Earth with Dad without the Gems. And what about Bismuth? Lapis and Peridot? Jasper? Oh my stars, what happened to Jasper? The rescue mission ended up in a disaster beyond repair. There's nothing left for me. Yes, Connie's waiting for me but she also lost the Crystal Gems. They were really close. I can't do that to her... But I promised her I would come back. I also promised her everything would be okay. Everything is not okay. I can't deal with anymore heartache. I feel like pulling my hair out just to stop the pain but I know that's not healthy. Oh, my therapist is gonna need a therapist too. A pained chuckle left Steven, his shoulders sagging in defeat. A Pearl was all he needed to lose everything he worked so hard to have. It wasn't even his mother's fault this time, how ironic! No more peace, no more gems, no more Dad and Connie. No more.

"I wish I could have stopped the red Pearl from destroying my life." His voice broke as the tears made their reappearance, ignoring the light emanating from the Hourglass. Anything is better than this. And as he closed his eyes to shade them from the bright light, he felt a pull in his gut. No, not his gut, his gem. He was pulled apart. Groaning in pain, he hoped that didn't mean his gem was pulled from his body, again, because he knows that could only end in disaster.

Then everything went black.

As he regained his consciousness, the boy heard voices he never thought he would hear ever again, arguing over him. 

"Garnet?" He croacked out, his tongue heavy. 

"He's awake!" He heard Amethyst. The voices stopped before they appeared again. Amethyst sounded hoarse as if she had been screaming for hours.

"Steven!" Pearl. His Pearl, not the other Pearl. She sounded relieved. Had something happened? He couldn't remember. His head was pounding horribly, stopping him from opening his eyes and see them. How much he wanted to see the Gems. "It's okay, Steven. We're here." Warm hands caressed his hair, lulling him into a deep gentle sleep. "Garnet... Is he gonna be okay?" 

"Yes." The fusion slumped in the sofa where Steven was stretched out, an odd itching inside of her. As she rubbed being her glasses, she closed her eyes. Her vision was blurry at best but she wanted to believe Steven would be okay. He has to. If she had been faster, if she got to him before it... Shaking her head, Garnet opened her two eyes, the third staying close to make the throbbing stay at bay. What is done, is done.

Chapter Text

Amethyst and Garnet were inside of an Ice Cavern, in a snowy mountain, waiting for Pearl to be done talking with Greg. After the disaster in the Sea Shrine, Greg had stayed in the Temple to take proper care of Steven. He still had to wake up after a full night of sleep. Greg didn't say he blames them but the gems sure felt like it was their fault. It was supposed to be an easy mission, after all. 

"Come on, P!" Groaned Amethyst in annoyance, tired of waiting.

Luckily, they didn't have to wait much longer as she stepped inside, ready for battle. They know there's a corrupted gem thanks to Garnet's future vision and they had to stop it and help it. Even if they didn't have Steven at their side to distract them from the seriousness of the situation, or just to know he's alright after the scare from the previous day, they couldn't stop. 

As the a section of the mountain collapsed, Pearl slide to the side, letting Garnet kick the corrupted gem into the wall of the cave, cracks forming around the corrupted Larimar as she crashed into the wall. The Crystal Gems stopped in front of her while icicles fell all around them.

"Alright everyone!" Shouted Garnet in preparation. 

"One more attack should do it." Pearl followed. 

Before they could do anything, an icicle impaled Larimar's arm and causing it to fall off and leaving her even more helpless.

Amethyst grimaced at the broken arm as Garnet prepared her gauntlet to punch Larimar. She jumped over the giant corrupted gem in such force that it caused her to crumble as more cracks formed in her icy body, making her poof after that. As her gem fell from the cloud of smoke, Pearl rushed towards it, catching and then bubbling it away with ease. 

"Now there's nothing standing between us and the Shooting Star." She said as the cavern continued to rumble and crumble. Amethyst looked up with concern.

"This job is really dangerous!" Here voice trembled as a big icicle fell too near for her comfort. Amethyst hissed under her breath, putting her arms over her head in an attempt to protect herself at the quickly falling ice. But it was for nothing as she got buried under a pile of small ice boulders. 

"Wait, I'll dig you out!" Pearl shouted, getting her spear out of her gem and running towards her purple friend. 

Amethyst mumble something unintelligible to Pearl, sounding displeased. 

As Pearl started to cut the blocks to free Amethyst, she noticed more icicles falling and the ground shaking. She had to stop to get a grip and not fall. "We've got to get out of here! Now!" She shouted at Garnet, who approached her to help her. With a singular punch, she freed Amethyst completely who took a quick look of surprise at her before being taken by the scruff of her neck and putting her under the fusion's arm. Pearl took hold of Garnet's other arm as the fusion jumped, creating a hole with a powerful kick of her foot and jumping out of it. The cave collapsed just as they were out, the freezing cold not bothering them.

"That was close..." Pearl mumbled, making sure Amethyst was alright as she checked her over. 

"Uugh, I'm okay." Protested the Quartz, shoving the taller gem away from her. She puffed her cheeks at the open concern still showing in Pearl's face, warmth flooding inside her.

"Let's go back." Garnet interrupted them. Something has been bothering her since the other day. 

Warping back at the Temple, the Crystal Gems separated to do their own thing. Garnet went to the Burning Room to check on all the bubbled gems, Amethyst went to the kitchen to eat something and Pearl climbed up at Steven's room.

"Greg? How is he doing?" She asked quietly to not disrupt the sleeping boy. 

"He woke up for a few minutes while you were out." Was all he said, looking back at his son, a hand caressing his hair as he watched him breath softly. He sighed, tears gleaming in his eyes making Pearl furrow her brow in guilt. 

"I'm sorry..." 

"No, Pearl. We've talk about this already. It's not anyone's fault." Greg shook his head at Pearl's obvious attempt to talk again, gesturing to Steven. "He's just sleeping, that's all. It was probably too much shock for him. But he's okay." He reassured her, a gentle smile on his lips.

She tried to return the smile but it probably looked more like a grimace. 

Just then, Steven's eyes opened again at feeling watched. Blinking up at the ceiling from his old bedroom, he turned his head in Greg's direction.

"Dad..." He called, uncertain about what he was seeing. The last time he woke up he thought that perhaps he was dreaming and didn't give it much thought about how different, how much younger Greg looked. But now... He couldn't ignore it or excuse it anymore.

"Hey, kiddo." Greg smiled encouragingly at Steven, glad to see him awake again, more aware now than he was before. Steven's eyes moved over to Pearl, then, sensing her stare.

"Pearl!" He tried to stand up, getting gently pushed down into the bed by her. She definitely looks different. Or, should he say like in her past self? That's when the memory about what happened and what he wished for came flooding into his mind, a splitting headache making him groan in pain and clutch his forehead in his hands tightly.

"Steven!" He heard both of them shout, their voices sounding muffled.

"I'm- I'm okay." He gritted out, forcing himself to open his eyes to look at them reassuringly. It didn't quite work, - a mistake he wouldn't repeat anytime soon - as he immediately felt another stabbing pain pierce through his head, and then his gem. Sharp and burning. One of his hands reached for his midsection, feeling the unfamiliar heat in his gem, and he doubled up at the agony he was feeling as another groan escaped from him. 

"No, you're clearly not!" Pearl turned to look at Greg in her desperation. "What do we do?" 

"I don't know! This never happened before!" He exclaimed, hands tugging in worry at his hair. He chewed his lower lip in thought, wondering if there was someone that could help them. If only he knew if it was because of Steven's human side or gem side... Maybe then he could have a better idea on what to do and who to talk to. 

"I'll get Garnet!" 

Greg didn't hear her, his attention on Steven who was now openly gasping for breath. He tried to sooth his son's pain by rubbing circles on his back like he did when Steven was younger and got sick. He didn't seem to be aware about any of it, unfortunately. 

It was getting increasingly harder to think, his mind flooding about what happened before he... That's right. I time travelled with the Hourglass. It worked! But why do I feel like this? Thought the hybrid. His eyes closed again at some point, not noticing when Garnet and Amethyst entered. It feels like being split in half, it hurts. He moaned in pain, desperate for some comfort. The gems are here, surely they'll know what to do, right? Except... They don't know why I'm like this, they don't know I'm not their Steven. What have I done? Cold hands touched lightly his forehead, - ignoring his sweat - swiftly moving to both sides of his temple. A familiar feeling flooded inside of him and he fell unconscious at the relief at his receding pain.

"Garnet, what's wrong with him?" 

"I don't know, Greg. There's something wrong with his timeline." Explained the fusion, frowning behind her visor.

"His... timeline?" Wondered the pale gem, taking Steven's hand as a way to comfort him even in his unconscious state. Garnet nodded.

"I felt it the day before but I didn't think... I believe Steven's future is being manipulated and changed, somehow. But I don't understand how is it possible. Changing his future shouldn't affect his past or present." The last part was mumbled only loud enough for her to hear.

"What do we do?" Amethyst interjected, as worried as everyone else. They all simultaneously looked at the peaceful expression in Steven's face.

"Wait. That's all we can do." 

At Garnet's response they all looked down, a forlorn expression on their faces.

During night time, Steven woke up with a gasp. His head wasn't hurting anymore but it was throbbing uncomfortably. At least it was dark which made it easier for him to see without the pain getting worse. As he looked around, the boy saw the calendar in his wall and saw the date marked. His eyes opened in shock and Steven immediately threw the blanket away from him before jumping from the bed and running towards the Temple door. He activated it in a hurry, not thinking on who could be there watching him, and entered inside Rose's room. Ignoring the pink clouds around him he opened his mouth and stated in an authoritative voice to show him the real Bubble Room. As cloudy stairs formed not far from him, he thought back on this day. Nephrite. He needs to help her. And he needs to follow the script as closely as he remembers it to be. Steven isn't sure how much he can change of the future, nor what consequences there could be if he did. He didn't really mean to go back so far into his past. He didn't even know why there wasn't a second Steven with him! This isn't how it happened the last time he used the Hourglass. Well, he stopped to think, I didn't use it. It was an alternative me. But still, his point stands. 

Steven grunted at the effort to go down the stairs, still recovering from whatever he went through. He felt lightheaded. Ignoring his dizziness, the hybrid searched quickly for the familiar green gem, jumping up to get it after finding its location and float down smoothly into the ground. He popped the bubble and waited for it to form. However, when the form went from humanoid to the corrupted version of Nephrite but didn't change after that, he realised his mistake. Centi only turned into a smaller form because she saw me scared! Steven frankly tried to think on what to do, - wondering if he should call the gems or not - when the still forming gem changed into a small version of herself before his own eyes. Uh, I guess my panic was enough. Kneeling down into the floor, Steven greeted Centi in a gentle and reassuring voice. 

"Hey, buddy." His movements were slow and careful in order to not scare the corrupted Nephrite as he crawled closer to her. The gem started to tremble in fear, confused as she grunted and clicked at him in distress. "It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you." He lied further down, his belly flat on the floor. "See? Just relax. Everything's okay." As Nephrite begins to calm down, her hair flattening down, Steven heard the door open. In his panic, he shoot up, scaring Nephrite back into her hissing state, spitting acid towards the floor where he was just seconds before. "Oh!" 

"Steven!" A whip encircled his body, throwing him against Pearl, arms enclosing around him. "What are you doing!?" 

Garnet leaped over and attempted to punch the frightened Centipeetle, which she quickly dodged, backing up. Amethyst followed on a much slower pace to assist at any moment.

"Pearl, it's okay. Centi is just-" He got interrupted before he could finish explaining. 

"Centi!? You named that... that thing!?" Her ams pulled him tighter against her, her protective mode activated. 

"I don't know, I like it!" Amethyst added cheekily. 

"We shouldn't have left him out of our sight!" Then Pearl turned her attention to Steven. "Why on Earth did you let out that awful thing!?" She shrieked. In her fear for Steven's wellbeing, she didn't realise Steven's struggles to be released from her hold.  

"Pearl-" No one listened to him, and he watched as Garnet showed her gauntlet to the terrified green gem, who kept stepping back, closer to the wall. She hissed and her hair was sticking out of her just like a cat. 

"Stop! Just listen to me!" He shouted in exasperation, pushing forcefully against Pearl's arms to the pale gem's shock at how strong it was. He jumped down and run towards the corrupted gem, shielding her with his arms outstretched.

Garnet stopped Amethyst from getting closer, Pearl behind them.

Centipeetle, seeing Steven in front of her, protecting her, started to slowly calm down. 

"Steven." Garnet was giving him the change to explain, he realised. And he took it. 

"Garnet, you can't be serious." Pearl huffed when she didn't get a response. 

"I..." But what can I tell them? The truth? Would they even believe me? Would they trust me? "I accidentally let it out of its bubble. I just wanted to see you guys and the door of the temple opened and... But it didn't even try to hurt me! I promise!" He finally exclaimed, looking back at the trembling corrupted Nephrite. "It's not like the other monsters, she's just scared and confused. Please, Garnet. I'm begging you." He looked at her, pleadingly. Garnet stared at him. 

"I can't say no to that face." She finally gave up, her stance much more relaxed. 

"Excuse me?! But Garnet!" Pearl protested, not quite believing her words. Steven smiled at her words, finding it hard to believe it actually worked despite the changes he did. 

"I think you should try and tame it, Steven." She said nonchalantly, ignoring Pearl's words. Whatever happened to Steven, whoever attempted to change his future, it didn't matter anymore. Things where starting to correct itself. Perhaps it was temporary or it simply didn't work, but she hoped it would stay like that as she didn't want to experience the fear of not being able to see ever again. Really, she's just so glad she can see properly now. 

"Thank you so much, Garnet!" Without thinking, Steven hugged Garnet, only able to reach her leg. Wow, I was really small.

Pearl scowled at them, not really mad but still annoyed at the situation. But Amethyst found it funny and cackled at her. "Shut down by the G-squad!" Amethyst continued to laugh at her expense. 

"Just... let's at least take some precaution." Pearl resigned to the idea knowing there's no way to change their minds. Steven is too stubborn and Garnet... Well, Garnet already made her opinion on the matter clear. 

At the beach, in front of the Temple, Lion, the Crystal Gems and Steven were staring at the increasingly nervous Centi, Greg watching from afar. Centi was struggling against her restraints, chained to a rock. Again, thought Steven in dismay. 

"Alright, Steven, let's see if you can get it to calm down." That was Garnet's way to encourage him, which the hybrid appreciated. 

"Um, perhaps it would be better if we untie her?" He nervously suggested. 

A chain broke apart from Nephrite's struggle to get out which prompted the Gems and Lion to brace themselves for battle. Oh, come on! 

"Maybe you guys could put your weapons away and watch from the house...?" This time his request came out more restrained. Hopefully they'll listen just like they did the first time. But boy were they persistent when they wanted. 

"Absolutely not!" Pearl quickly refused, her spear still in front of her. Lion growled in agreement. 

"Steven can handle it." Garnet said, confident. 

"Garnet!" The other gem exclaimed in disbelief. 

"Pearl?" As the fusion walked away, Amethyst started to smirk, chuckling in amusement as she followed the other two. Lion took longer, staring at Steven for a few seconds before turning around and walking back to the Temple. They all went next to Greg, making sure nothing happened to Steven. 

Steven turned his attention to Centi. 

Things were different. He doesn't even have his chaps with him, still wearing his payamas. But no matter. He will find a way to befriend the smaller gem. Now that he has the advantage of future knowledge, it shouldn't be as hard. He smiled at her in a friendly manner.

"Okay, Centi. It's just us now." He said as Nephrite broke free of the chains. With his hands in front of him to show he didn't have any weapons or intention to hurt her, he lowered his tone of voice. "Calm, calm, calm." He kneeled down to the sandy ground. "Just like before, remember? Just relax and let your hair down." Nephrite started to calm down again, hair softening against her form. "You're doing great." He encouraged her. "Do you think you can get closer?" 

Nephrite moved uncertainly on the spot but Steven waited patiently, a small smile still on his lips. Time is all he has. And as he waited, he saw in amazement as Centi took a small step closer to him. Just one, but one more than she ever did in his previous universe. He wanted to scream in delight but forced it down, his smile widening. Another step followed. Three more, and the Centipeetle was in front of him, looking up at him in curiosity. She titled her head. 

"It wasn't as scary as you though it was, right? You did really well. I'm very proud of you." He beamed at her when she started to click happily at his words. "You understand what I'm saying?" He asked in wonder. He knows she does, but he wasn't certain to what point. She did seem to understand him better in her semi corrupted form, not so much in this one. Maybe he was wrong. 

The corrupted gem clicked happily again in affirmation, making another smile form on Steven's face. He slowly got up off the ground, taking a few steps back in the direction of his home. "Let's show it to the gems, yeah? I promise I won't let them attack you." Centi hesitated only for a moment before following Steven. 

Having seen the scene from the balcony, Greg and the others quickly climbed down and gathered around the kitchen counter while waiting for Steven to show up. Amethyst decided to make herself a sandwich. They were discussing about the Shooting Star when Steven entered the house, followed closely by the corrupted Nephrite and approached them, his movements as slow and careful as at the start. Any sudden movement could scare Centi and he didn't fancy having to calm her down again, remembering the mess she made because of his need to show the gems what Centi could do. Yeah, he wouldn't repeat that. 

"Garnet, Pearl, Amethyst, Dad." He called them. "Do not make any sudden movements." He warned them from where he was standing. 

"Are you sure this is a good idea, Steven?" Pearl did as she was told, not moving from her place, but that didn't stop her from questioning him. Amethyst kept eating her torta as she watch everything unfold. 

"I get it. It's a corrupted gem and we don't know how they work or what could set her off. But that's why we should give Centi a chance! She can understand us, you know? I can't just... I can't ignore it now that I know that. I want to help her." He pleaded at his surrogate mothers. More than anything, he needed their approval on this one thing. If they trust him enough for this, they'll trust him for other things too. It could help him if he ever decides to tell them the truth. Which he will. Tell them, that is. Eventually. 

Pearl sighed, unable to disagree with him. She could now understand why Garnet couldn't say no to his face. He just puts those puppy eyes and they look so sad... "Alright, alright! You can keep her. I mean," she corrected herself at seeing Steven's disapproving stare "she can stay with us?" 

"Centi can help us!" The hybrid added, grinning down at the corrupted gem who seemed curious about her surroundings. He patted her mane affectionately. If he remembers right, it was because of Centi they managed to get further into the cave. 

"Help us?" Questioned Pearl incredulously. 

"Yes! With the missions! She can use acid." He explained, gesturing at the green liquid falling down onto the floor and sizzling at the contact. They all watched as it left a small hole, which made Greg make a disgruntled face. 

"Well, if that means no more holes inside the house, then sure." He shrugged his shoulders. It was gem stuff, so there was nothing he could say either way. 

Pearl sighed and turned to Garnet and Amethyst. 

"Well, what do you say, Garnet? Should we return to the Ice Cavern with Steven's... friend?" 

Amethyst, not wanting to be left out, added her input. "I don't know about you guys, but I can't think of any better way on how we're gonna get through all those ice boulders without causing a cave-in anyway." 

The fusion stared at the saliva from Centi dripping out of her mouth and burning another hole into the wooden floor. "I don't see why not."

After Steven changed his clothes, putting on his pink puffy jacket, they all went back to the Ice Cavern. Greg stayed back with Lion, waiting for their return. Not before making the Gems promise him they would watch after Steven. 

"We will. Don't worry, Greg." Garnet assured him. 

The Crystal Gems stopped in front of one of the blocks stopping their path at the Shooting Star. 

"I don't know if this will work..." 

"It will, Pearl. Just let me talk to her." The hybrid took a deep breath and knelt in front of the corrupted gem, stroking her mane gently. "Centi? Do you think you could spit acid on those walls?" He pointed one of the blocks. 

Nephrite tilted her head, screeching softly at him before using her acid spray, creating a hole through the wall. 

"Great work, Centi!" He grinned at her, caressing her head in praise. The small gem preened at the attention, enjoying the gentle care and words.

"Well, here goes nothing." Whispered Pearl, stepping through the hole while avoiding touching the green substance. She had a hard time believing this could work. Granted, she was just worried for Steven after what happened during their last mission. 

As the Crystal Gems ventured through the Ice Cavern, amazed at the big ice sculptures they were founding on their way, Nephrite kept helping them with her green spit to overcome any of the obstacles, encouraged by Steven. Unbeknownst to him, Garnet had been watching him closely, noting any change on his mannerism or use of words. She couldn’t help but feel Steven's different, more mature and aware. And more patient too, she thought while listening to Steven asking again the corrupted gem to spit in the small hole in the lower part of the icy wall. Eventually, they arrived in the room containing the Shooting Star, ignoring the human skeleton in the entrance of it. Things went smoothly, to her relief. 

The Crystal Gems looked in awe at shining light coming from the ground, the stalagmites and stalactites glittering in its reddish hue. 

"Cool!" Steven's voice took them out of their stupor. 

"There it is! The Shooting Star!" A small crystal was lying at the bottom of the pool in the center of the room. "An ancient elemental, so hot, and so volatile, it can only be contained in ice. Bare skin cannot endure its intensity!" Pearl exclaimed, her excitement obvious in her tone of voice. 

"What do you do with the Shooting Star?" That's something he never managed to find out. 

Amethyst shrugged her shoulder. "Uhh, you shoot it." Right, of course she doesn't know. 

Pearl ignored their comments, her attention on Garnet. "You'll have to use your gauntlets as not to hurt your hands." She advised her friend. Even for gems touching the Shooting Star can be very dangerous. 

Garnet nodded in understanding and summoned her gauntlets, dipping her hands into the pool. Nephrite left their side and Steven rushed to her, making sure she's calm as the gems did their thing. He couldn't let the same thing happen, he couldn't deal with her distress and consequent poofing. 

"Careful." Garnet shook her head at her. She needs to focus on the task at hand and she can't do that with Pearl talking to her. 

"I know." She gritted out.

Meanwhile, Steven was petting Centi's fur. He was sitting in front of her, making sure to hide the fusion's gauntlets from the corrupted gem's view. He whispered softly to her, cooing and praising her while they waited for the gems to be done. It only took a few minutes to finally be done, and hours later they were back at the Temple. For once, a mission went well, no collapses or messes to avoid or clean. They left the ice cave with Nephrite nestled in Steven's arms, safe and sound. 

"How did it go?" Asked Greg, approaching them at the entrance of their home, Lion nowhere to be seen.

"I'm surprised nothing went wrong." Steven rolled his eyes at Pearl's words, not actually mad at her.

"It went perfect. And we should thank Centi. She did all the work." He teased her. Amethyst snickered at the pale gem's expression of disgruntlement. Garnet walked towards Steven, stopping in front of him, crouching slightly to not look as intimidating.

"Thank you, Centi." Steven beamed at Garnet's words. 

"Yeah, thanks Centi!" Amethyst added next to the fusion. They turned to Pearl, waiting for her.

"Yes. Thank you." She groaned, finally adding the last part. "Centi." Well, it was a cute name. And she couldn't say no to Steven. 

Chapter Text

Steven's lying on the couch in the living room of the Beach House, talking on his phone with Connie while petting at a sleeping Centi. Unfortunately, because of the new addition, he couldn't meet with Connie sooner. It didn't help he was still not feeling 100% better, which made the Gems against any visits. 

"So you really can't come?" The news, although not new, were as devastating as the other time. 

Inside Connie's house, Connie was wearing a sporty look with a tennis racket in her hand, the phone in the other. "Steven, I told you, I can't hang out today. I have tennis practice." Steven listened patiently to her, having missed her voice. "And then Mom wants to go out for a family dinner. But she said I could hang out all day tomorrow, and I can come over all the time now that it's summer vacation."

Hearing those last words, Steven stilled his movements in the white fur of Nephrite. 

"Summer vacation? As in, when you're done with school?" Oh, boy. He already suspected he would meet Lapis soon, but not that soon. How is he supposed to get the gems to accept Lapis? 

"Yes. Are you okay? You sound breathless over there." She asked cautiously. She heard from Steven's dad his friend hasn't been feeling well. But she was unaware about what could have happened to him. She didn't even ask! 

"Yeah. Just... Something that came to my mind. Say, you never told me what your parents did for a living." Changing the subject was the only thing that occurred to him to distract Connie. It didn't work well. 

"My mum is a Doctor and my dad... Steven, please, tell me what's going on." Oh, well, she does deserve to know a bit of what has been happening. 

"Uh. Actually, it's nothing serious. I guess I caught a cold. But in our previous mission something did happen and now we have a new addition to our family!" He faked his enthusiasm. Hopefully, she wouldn't notice the difference since they are talking in the phone. "Sort of. It's a corrupted gem, but she's different. More... aware. She helped us in our mission." 

"I... see." The young girl paused for a moment while gathering her thoughts about those news. "I have to go now, but you'll have to tell me more tomorrow. Okay?" 

Steven promised he would before hanging up. He promptly stood up, waking Centi up, and went to find Pearl. 

"Pearl!" His sudden shout made the paler gem let out a yelp and jump. She was in the kitchen, smelling a cup of tea which ended up spilling all over the counter. 

"Oops." 

"Steven, what-" 

"Pearl, I need your help with something." 

She stopped whatever she was saying, startled at the serious expression on Steven. "Of course, Steven. You know I'll always help you. What is it, then? Is it Amethyst?" She wrongly guessed. And maybe, in another Universe it would have been true, but not his time. Steven shook his head in negative. 

"I actually wanted to know if you have a gem technology that could help me learn more about gems?" At her expression, he quickly explained. "Since Centi is staying with us and we are dealing constantly with Corrupted gems, I thought it would be nice if I learned more about them. About me." He added the last part, partly to win her over and to actually get to know more about himself as part of the gems. It's unfortunate, however, that he'll never get to know anything from them. 

Pearl gasped softly at his words. "Learn? You want me to teach you?! Steven!" She got up. "You should have told me sooner!" And as she said that, her gem began to shine as she summoned the mirror Steven knows is trapping Lapis Lazuli. He felt his chest getting tighter as he put his eyes upon the mirror. Don't worry, Lapis. I'll get you free in no time. 

Pearl started to explain as the mirror twirled in mid-air, showing a cracked gem in a tear shaped form. "We found this Gem-powered mirror at the Galaxy Warp. It can capture and display any event it's witnessed in all of Gem history." He wondered if it is true, finding it hard to believe Lapis would ever show anything to anyone unless it was to explain what happened to her and how to help her. Are there more gems trapped in mirrors he doesn't know about? He hoped not. And as the device landed in Steven's hands, his eyes bright at the unshed tears, the taller gem continued. "It'll offer you everything you've ever wanted to know about your fellow Gems and our culture." She had walked behind Steven, her arms over the boy's shoulders as they both stared at their reflection. 

Steven inspected his reflection in the mirror, a small smile on his lips. "I must be incredibly important to Gem culture, then." He knows it to be true, watching from the corner of his eye at Pearl's sudden sad face. 

Pearl scoffed, clearly forced by the way she looked away for a moment to compose herself. "It's just you in there. It hasn't even been activated." She cleared her throat, her attention back on the mirror. "Show us the Galaxy Warp." The mirror remained the same. "Show us the Galaxy Warp."

Increasingly frustrated, Pearl scowled down at the object, taking it from the hybrid's hands. "Oh, come on!" 

Steven let go his hold onto the mirror and forced a laugh to come out of him. It has harder knowing this wasn't something to laugh about. 

"I know you've seen it." She examined the mirror and sighed, turning it over to see the stuck gemstone. "It is in pretty rough shape. It must finally be broken." She let Steven take it back, disappointed. "What a shame." 

"Doesn't seem broken to me!" The boy smiled again at the mirror, feeling sorry for Lapis. 

"Oh well. I guess that's the end of our lesson for today." Excited, Steven looked up at Pearl, still holding the object in his hands. 

"So... you could say School's out for summer?" He joked, unsure if Pearl would get it. 

"Yes. Good, Steven. There are many ways to say the same thing." She frowned, realising something. "Wait, what's a 'School'?" But it was too late, as she saw Steven run out of the house. "At least he's back to being himself." 

Outside Beach House, Steven's running down the beach, focused on only one thing. 

"Hey, Lapis. I know who you are. It's okay." He needs to let her know exactly who he is and how he knows her without freaking her out. "I know you don't, but we've met before. Or, rather I met you before. In an alternative Universe. But you can't tell anyone about this, okay?" As he kept walking, slowing down a bit, he looked down at his reflection, noticing his own tired eyes looking back at him. "It must be really confusing to you. Maybe you think it's a joke, but it's not. I swear. I only want to help you." 

As distracted as he was, Steven managed to bump into Lars and Sadie, who were setting up tables outside the Big Donut. Lars and Sadie exclaimed simultaneously, although in different tones, as one of the tables fell over.

"Sorry!" 

"Ugh, watch where you're going, you little-" he glanced at Sadie before correcting himself "Ssssteven!" 

"Sorry!" He repeated. "I'm just... so excited for summer." He lied in the spot. "Are you excited for summer? I'm so excited for summer!" 

Sadie smiled at his antics, letting out a joyous laugh. "Uh, I think I'm as excited as I can get about setting up extra seating for the summer rush." She said, pointing behind them. "But Lars has big plans." Both of them looked at him expectantly. 

Lars, who seemed more focused on taking something stuck in between his teeth, turned to look at them. "You bet I do!" He smirked wide as he explained. "All those out-of-town summer babes traveling away from home without their boyfriends, if you know what I mean." He moved his eyebrows slyly. Even after all this time, Steven didn't get the older boy. Except, this time he was more clueless about why he would do that when he liked Sadie - for now. Plus, that isn't fair for those other boyfriends. It was mean! 

"...Nope!" The boy ignored him completely after that. 

"Maybe I'll get a few numbers." At least Sadie seemed amused, thought Steven, glad she wasn't taking it badly. Not like they were ever together. Not officially, anyway. Their relationship was always rather... complicated. "Maybe I'll even call one." 

The blonde couldn't contain her glee at annoying Lars back. "Ha! Well, yeah, maybe I'll meet a new friend." She smiled at him innocently as he scowled at her. So, he is jealous. I never thought Lars was the type to be jealous. Although, in retrospect, it's pretty obvious now that I'm older. 

"That's a great idea!" He interrupted them. "A special new friend to have fun on the beach with in the summer. There's never enough friends, after all!" He walked passed them, waving goodbye to them. Only Sadie returned his wave. 

"Next time you see me, I'll be on the arm of a hot woman!" Yeah, I don't think so, Lars. The hybrid snickered internally, having caught on the blonde's disgruntled expression. 

"You can stop talking about it now." He heard her grumble.

Steven kept strolling down Beach City, waiting for the mirror to do something. If he remembers correctly, it was after meeting the other two that she started to show signs she was a conscious gem. She had remained silent during the previous conversation. "Lapis?" 

However, just as before, Steven got too distracted as Mayor Dewey's Van was approaching him. He only stopped when the mirror suddenly activated with the use of Lars's warning. "Watch where you're going, you little!" Which prompted the boy to step aside, letting the van cross without problems and drive off. It was an automatic response, unlike last time when he was too afraid to move.

It's still the Mayor's fault. He shouldn't be driving on the boardwalk.

Looking back at the mirror, he lifted up his hand to properly see it. "Lapis! You did it!" 

Mirror projected Steven laughing awkwardly. Ok, I have to learn to sound more natural. Then, she changed the image into one of him asking "Okay?" 

"I'm okay, don't worry. Thank you, by the way." 

I only want to help you. 

Steven gasped at hearing his own words from her.

Mayor Dewey was giving a speech on the beach, not far from he was standing, so he went there, ready to introduce the fart noises to Lapis. She loved those. His melancholy soon turned into determination.

"Hello, Beach City, my friends! It's great to be here to celebrate the coming season. A warm summer breeze wafts through the air." 

Steven inhaled deeply and put his hand into his hand to imitate fart noises. His confidence grew when he heard the crowd snicker.

"We all look forward to the sounds of the summer season..." Lapis immediately repeated Steven's noise "...the smells of the busy boardwalk..." And Steven's smile got wider. 

Again.

"...the hot, wet ocean wind..." 

And again. 

"...the time to take that pressure that's built up all year and just let it out."

The mirror did it one more time, the crowd laughing aloud at him. 

"You picked that up fast." He snorted. Lapis was definitely a jokester.

Time passed quickly with Steven lying down on the sandy ground near the shore, still playing with the mirror.

PBHT!

Steven laughed freely, more relaxed. "You got a lot of mileage out of that joke. You're pretty funny for a gem stuck in a mirror." 

You're pretty funny for a. Ssssteven. 

Steven chuckled again. "I'm actually a gem too. Well, on my mother's side. My father is a human." He explained. "And don't think I haven't noticed you doing something new." He teased her. 

Lapis. has big plans. 

"Yeah?" 

Ssssteven. A special new friend. only want to help. Lapis. 

"I will help. I promised I would. And... Lapis?" 

Yeah

"I'm glad you consider me a friend."

As he said that, he stood up and took a proper hold on the mirror, turning it around and tugging on the gem. As he's pulling it, the water from the sea started to form the pattern of the mirror around him, not realising the gems were outside, searching for him. Shouting at him. After a bit of a struggle, Steven managed to pull the gem out, an action that cause the mirror to shatter in tiny pieces. The gem started glowing in Steven's hand, levitating in mid-air as Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl finally got to him, the taller of them taking the boy into her arms in an attempt to protect him.

The dark blue gem started to reform back into its physical, humanoid form in front of the shocked Crystal Gems.

They watched as Lapis collapsed onto the sand, exhausted. Free.

Steven broke free of Garnet's grip and desperately ran over to Lapis, helping her up off the ground. He ignored the calls of the gems, his attention solely on his friend. When their eyes met, hers were like a mirror, an unsettling sensation filling him at how unnatural it looked.

"Do you... know who I am?" Despite everything they went through, he was still hesitant. 

"Thank you. Steven." She let go of him, fully stretching up, - she stumbled only a little, receiving help from the boy in front of her - and faced the other gems, who were still in too much shock to properly react. She looked back at him. "You... You actually talked to me. You helped me!"

The sound of disbelief but gratitude in her voice left the hybrid feeling torn. He was hurt at the fact the gems never thought on letting her out, but in a way that means he got to be the first. Her first friend after what she went through during the war and after.

"Yeah." He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding until now. 

"I'm Lapis. Lapis Lazuli." She properly introduced herself. Her next words cut him deeply, however. "Are you really a Crystal Gem?" 

"Yeah." 

"But you set me free." She sounded so incredulous. 

"I know but..." 

"Steven!" Garnet's voice interrupted them. The gems summoned their weapons and Steven ran towards them to stop them from attacking. 

"Wait!" 

It was too late. 

Lapis Lazuli's voice turned menacing as she raised a huge water arm out of the ocean. "You... You three knew I was in there, and you didn't do anything." The shadow of the water arm formed above them. "Did you even wonder who I used to be!" She shouted the last part, slamming the water-arm onto the Gems, trapping Garnet underneath it and knocking Pearl and Amethyst aside. Steven dodged it easily, without thinking, as he run towards Lapis. He ignored the imploring words from Pearl and stood in front of the blue gem.

"Please, stop! You don't have to fight!" 

"I'm Lapis Lazuli, and you can't keep me trapped here anymore!" She was threatening them, he realised, and with horror he looked up at her. The story was repeating itself. His efforts weren't enough. He couldn't stop them. Ugh! Will anyone ever listen to me? For once!? "They're not going to let us leave." 

"I'm not going anywhere." He refused, taking a step back, watching as Lapis parted the ocean in half, creating a path through it.

"Steven, you don't understand. You can't trust them. Come with me." She urged him. 

"But I can't. This is my home." He protested vehemently. 

At his continual refusal, Lapis casted her eyes down in disappointment and dispelled the ocean path, clashing both sides together. "Fine." 

Garnet managed to break free of the water-arm, grunting at the effort, and punched it away. She then charged towards Steven and Lapis.

"Mark my words, Steven. You will regret your choice. Goodbye."

Before the fusion could do anything, a wall of water crashed against them, pulling them under and away from her. The boy gasped for air, inhaling and exhaling harshly as he stared at the retreating form of Lapis walking into the ocean. Pearl and Amethyst rushed next to them in no time, Pearl hugging Steven in her worry. 

"Steven! Are you okay?" 

"Yeah, I'm fine." He clutched her pale arms tightly around him, feeling comforted. He still couldn't stop his tremors. "So... that was another Gem, uh?" 

Pearl sighed into his hair. "Yes." She admitted. 

The Crystal Gems gaze out to the ocean. 

Chapter Text

They were all at the Beach House, a solemn feeling over them as they waited for someone to speak.

"Why didn't you tell me it was a gem?" Steven questioned suddenly, making Pearl jump in fright, and Amethyst and Garnet look at him in shock. Whether it was because of his question, the tone of voice he used or his serious expression, he didn't know. Centi simply watched everything unfold. 

"It's not like we hid it..." Pearl mumbled, folding her arms and looking to the side to avoid her son's judgemental stare. 

"It feels like it, though! I don't understand, isn't she like us?" 

"Look, there's a lot you don't know about Gems, Steven." Pearl turned to him with a dark expression. "How could I-" 

The door of the house suddenly opened, the Crystal Gems turning to look at Greg standing at the doorway, panting heavily as he clutched his stomach. 

"Dad?" 

Greg breathed in deeply before replying, pointing behind him "Uh, you guys better come check this out." 

The Crystal Gems and Steven, leaving Centi behind , followed Greg outside, seeing a lof of the Beach City residents already present and murmuring worriedly. Steven caught Connie's attention, who motioned she needed to talk to him. The hybrid motioned with his hands 'later' . 

Meanwhile, Mayor Dewey was profusely sweating at the front of what was supposed to be the shore of the beach. 

"Wait. What the... Where did it go?" Steven heard from someone in the crowd, as Ronaldo took a photo of the entire ocean gone, many boats and ships left behind stranding on the now deserted ocean floor. 

"The ocean!" I'm not as surprised as the first time but holly molly, Lapis is strong!

Mayor Dewey, having heard Steven, yelled into a megaphone while pointing at the direction of the Crystal Gems and Greg. "Hey, it's those magical ladies!" He stood closer to Garnet, who seemed unbothered by the obvious accusation. "What's going on here?!"

"The ocean is gone, obviously." She stated bluntly. 

"That's right." The man either didn't notice her tone of voice or didn't care. "Now it's just a desert. No one wants to take a vacation to... Desert City!" He kept on using the megaphone while blubbering, "We're gonna lose all our summer business!" Many more citizens complained loudly to the gems, prompting Dewey to say the following "As mayor, I DEMAND you explain this immediate-!" He squeaked when Garnet slapped the megaphone out of his hand. If she didn't do it, Steven would have. The man was getting on his nerves. 

Garnet was internally irritated with all the humans and their whining when there are much more important things happening. Namely... 

"It was Lapis Lazuli." 

"Why would she do that?" Steven called Garnet's attention, distracting her from the human. "Unless she wants to reach the sky with the ocean, there's no reason to take it with her, right?" He hinted at her true intentions. 

"She's probably trying to reach..." Steven turned to look at Pearl, whose hands were slowly moving up, stopping shy from touching her lips and whispering the last words in both terror and wonder. "Homeworld." Seeing as she could talk freely about the place she was created on, Pearl projected an hologram of Lapis next to a broken planet with her gem. 

The gems ignored the crowd of humans as they admired the pale gem's powers. 

"That's Homeworld? Why is it broken? Why does Lapis want to go back there?" questioned the hybrid, moving things along. He watched with some trepidation the hologram, remembering all the bad experiences he had in that same planet. 

"That's her- That's our home. She probably misses it - I know I do." The last part was murmured sadly but Steven heard it anyway. "Which means trouble for us." 

"Then let's stop her." 

They moved all back to the Temple, followed closely by Connie. 

Steven was pacing from one side to the other as the Gems were discussing in the kitchen. He didn't bother to pack anything as he wouldn't be needing it. He ignored Pearl's self blaming, and walked towards the door, passing by Greg and Connie. He waited long enough. He's the one who needs to move things along if they really want to stop her. 

Connie stood up from her seating place, worry shining in her eyes. She already knew but she just wanted confirmation. "Where are you going, Steven?" 

"I want to fix what I did to our home. I was the one who set Lapis free from the mirror." Steven balled his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white. "It's because of me the ocean's gone. So I'm gonna bring the ocean back at all costs." 

"Wait up, kiddo." Greg placed his hand on Steven's shoulder, managing to spread calm over him. His father always had that ability. "I'm coming with you." He assured his son. But those words were the wrong ones, and he tensed up again. 

Connie touched gently his friend's other shoulder. "I want to help, too." 

Steven didn't want that, however. He could still remember when Connie was drowning because of Lapis, or when his Dad broke his leg. None of that would have happened if they didn't come. He couldn't make them go through any of that. He didn't want to go through that. Not again. So, with a heavy heart, he shook their hands off of him and turned back to look at them and stated in a commanding tone, "No, you can't. You two stay here." 

"What, why?" The girl was shocked at hearing those words coming from her best friend. Her and Steven did everything together, so why not now? Now that he needed her the most. 

"Steven, you can't be serious?" 

"Well, I am!" He exploded. He wasn't angry at them but they didn't have that much time and he was so scared of them getting hurt. "You're humans. You can get easily hurt. Or worse, die!" His words reverberated around the house, silence soon following as he left with Lion. 

The Crystal Gems looked at each other and then at Greg and Connie. 

"Sorry, I don't know what came over him." Pearl broke the tension, awkwardly stepping by them. She left, too. 

"He's just worried. Don't take it personally, okay?" Amethyst waved goodbye at them, following Pearl. 

"Greg. Connie." Garnet called them. They looked at her, still affected by Steven's outburst. "Take care of Centi." That's all she could say to them. She gave them a mission, something to focus on as they waited.

"It's not fair..." It was whispered as Connie watched them leave from the window, Greg behind her doing the same as he petted the small corrupted Nephrite that was nuzzled in his arms.

The group headed off into the deserted ocean, with the Gems riding on Lion's back, Steven at the front. Steven repeated mentally his plan, which wasn't that different from the original, but it was important for certain things to happen the same way or him and the gems wouldn't be in the same level. Plus, he did want to meet Peridot. 

Hours passed, getting darker and darker as time went on. They went through the abyssal zone of the ocean, and Amethyst, who was half asleep, snorted loudly. The tension too much for Steven. 

"Pearl?"

"Yes, Steven?" 

"Why do gems fight each other? 'Cause I understand that the gems we bubble were also gems like us. So, why? Isn't there another way?" He couldn't look at her but his voice conveyed enough to let Pearl know how her son was feeling. 

"I'm sorry, Steven. I didn't know you-" She paused, guilt eating her. 

"When did you realise?" Amethyst woke up suddenly and leaned forward, getting Steven's attention as she was the closest one to him. 

"When I put two and two together? They are gems and they are corrupted. It seems logical they were like us before... they changed." He shrugged his shoulder. It did make sense, he was just too stupid for not realising it sooner. 

"That's... very mature of you, Steven." The paler gem commented. Steven winced at her observation. "Yes. You're right." She continued after a few seconds of silence. "And they are broken. That's why we have to take care of them, subdue them, contain them. It's the best we can do for them for now. If we don't, then..." 

They suddenly stopped, a glowing blue emanating from a tower. It was massive, - and very, very tall, reaching passed the sky - a constant stream of water moving up. Silently, the group approached the structure, seeing different ocean creatures swimming inside, not dissimilar from an Aquarium. 

"This is it. Lapis Lazuli is here." Garnet jumped down from Lion's back and took a step closer to the Tower. 

Pearl and Amethyst moved to her side "How are we going to stop her?" 

You shouldn't be here! They heard a voice. Lapis' voice, to be precise, scaring off all the aquatic animals. 

"She sensed us." Warned the fusion, getting ready for a fight. There weren't that many futures were they could calm her without a fight first. It was hard to see the outcome. 

Steven stepped closer to the tower. "Lapis Lazuli! It's me, Steven!" He announced aloud, hoping she would listen this time around. 

The water sloshed from the tower as Lapis' face formed on its wall. 

Go away! Before I make you.

"I'm sorry, but I can't let you do this. We need our ocean back." He told her, back straight, commanding as much power as he could in his short stature and his younger voice. 

Lapis' big water face got closer to Steven. "You're one of them. One of the Crystal Gems." She said threateningly. He heard Garnet calming down Amethyst and Pearl, who seemed ready to throw hands. Steven found it hard to believe, even now, that the gems would ever consciously let Lapis stay trapped on the mirror unless they were unaware of her story. And Lapis had her gem broken before Pearl found her. The gems probably thought she was corrupted or just not as conscious as them. Maybe they thought that was her purpose as a gem. I don't know! 

"You're wrong about them! I'm sure they didn't know-" But Lapis interrupted him as his voice got weaker. Unsure. 

You don't understand. Just leave me alone... She pleaded as she merged back into the water tower.

Groaning, Steven ran towards it, hitting his hands against the wall. "We're not leaving, Lapis. Not until you give us back our ocean!" He cried out when he saw something getting out of the water, a cold and wet hand grabbing him by his collar shirt. Right, he thought in distress. Water clones. How could I forget!? 

The image of a Steven made entirely of water emerged from the tower, still holding onto the hybrid. "I said... LEAVE ME ALONE!" The water clone of Steven lifted the boy up and punched him, knocking him away with its water-arm attack.

Steven yelped in shock. Luckily, Garnet caught him into her arms as more water clones emerged from the water tower. This time it took the forms of the rest of the Crystal Gems. 

"Stand together. Don't let them separate us." Garnet adviced, leaving Steven on the ground as she summoned her gauntlets. Pearl and Amethyst summoned their own weapons. Faster than anyone expected, and ironically, she got punched by her own clone, being the first to be separated from the group. 

"Garnet!" Steven cried out desperately. 

Garnet was sent flying backwards into the ground, groaning in pain as she broke through it. When it stopped, she quickly got up and the battle continued. 

No. Steven's body shook.

The same happened with Amethyst, who used her whip to grab a rock and throw it at water Amethyst, who effortlessly dodged it. Soon, she moved to shapeshifting. 

No! He took hold of his shirt, his anxiety rising. 

Pearl was sparing off with her water clone, splitting it in half. 

It's too much. I can't deal with this. Not again! I don't want to fight!

Lion fought against Steven's clone, emitting several magical roars at it, shaking the hybrid out of his spiraling thoughts. His hands were in his hair, pulling it painfully. He stopped as the truth hit him. Whether he wanted or not... What am I doing? They need me!

Glaring at the Water Steven, who managed to throw off Lion, Steven called Lapis.

"I don't want to fight anymore." However, Lapis wouldn't listen. Frustrated, the boy saw his own water clone create a water ball. As he saw it hurling it at him, the hybrid put one foot in front of him in preparation for the impact and summoned his shield. "I said... I DON'T WANNA FIGHT!" As he said that, the water ball struck his shield, blocking the attack. The impact caused a massive sound wave that turned all the water clones into shapeless forms until they disappeared. Pearl gasped at witnessing Steven's first successful creation of Rose's shield, not counting the accidental one. 

They watched as Steven dispelled his shield and calmly walk towards the water tower. As young as he looked, there was an air of authority around him that demanded attention. Pearl feared what it meaned as she watched him. This is the moment. This needs to happen, thought the boy. I have to do this if we want to stop the Cluster. The gems need to be aware of its existence without losing their trust on me. We need Peridot. 

"Lapis, I'm coming up to see you. Try not to drown me." He weakly joked, tension arising as the other gems started to call him.

Steven ignored their calls, jumping into the water tower while holding his breath. A water hand formed under the hybrid, lifting him to the top of the tower. He saw fishes and sharks swimming not far from he was, leaving him both fascinated and scared. Once atop Lapis' Tower, at the outer atmosphere of Earth, - luckily for him as he couldn't breath in space like the gems - Lapis kept him encased in a water bubble, leaving his head free. Everything was going as it was supposed to go.

"Lapis?" He called. He didn't have time to admire the view, his attention solely on the blue gem in front of him. 

"What are you doing here, Steven?" Her reflective eyes stared down at him.

"I promised I would help you, remember? And I also want you to return the ocean back on Earth." 

Lapis pulled Steven forward, a gasp leaving him at the movement "But I need it, Steven! I need to reach..." Her voice softened at his expression. "Your friends, they don't really care about other Gems. All they care about is the Earth. But I never believed in this place..." Gazing up at the stars, into what the hybrid could identify as the direction of Homeworld, she freed Steven from the water bubble. He landed on his feet, following Lapis as he too gazed up. 

They both took a seat. "I just wanna go home..." Closing her eyes, images of the Planet she calls home flooded her mind. 

"I get it. I'm far from home too." 

"You told me you are from another Universe." It wasn't a question. He clutched his hands together, frowning. 

"Yes. And I lost so much in there. That's why I'm here. I wanted to change things, I wanted to save everyone. But... It's different here. The Hourglass took me too far and everyone is... They are not the same people I grew up with." He swallowed down the rest of the words that threatened to leave him. If he said them aloud they would make everything more real. He wasn't ready to face that reality. Hiding his face behind his hand, he took a deep shaky breath before continuing. "But that's why I'm here. You took the ocean away, and the ocean is an important part of my home. Your home, in the future." 

"My future?" She shook her head in disbelief. She refused the possibility. "I'm only using the ocean because my gem is cracked. If I just stretch it far enough..." Then she stopped. "You said you knew me. You mentioned about my future. That means you know what happens to me after this." He didn't say anything. "Steven, please." 

"I... I can fix your gem." He stared at Lapis as their eyes met, a small sad smile tugging at his lips. "That's what I did the first time I met you." 

"You can? Why didn't you do it earlier?" 

"Because the gems were watching. I changed so many things already. They don't know that I have healing powers." He crawled closer to her "They didn't even mention the possibility, so I couldn't act like I knew when I wasn't supposed to. They aren't here though... So, will you let me help you?"

"I..." She swallowed, nervous. Were my words enough? Steven wondered in worry. "Okay. I trust you." She finally said after a few seconds of hesitation, holding her arms around herself in a soothing action as she turned around to expose her gem. 

"Thank you, Lapis." He beamed at her, relief washing over him. "Oh, uh, and sorry. This might be a little weird." He then warned her. 

"What?"

There was no time to respond to her question. Steven licked his hand, covering it in shining saliva, and put it on Lapis' gem, hoping it would work. She shuddered at the discomfort. A brief moment passed where nothing happened when Lapis' gem started to glow, a pair of water wings forming behind her. When she turned around, Steven saw her eyes had returned back to her normal dark blue color and with no reflection in sight. 

"Thank you, Steven!" 

"You're welcome, Lapis." Despite how happy he was feeling for her, they stared at each other awkwardly. They weren't as close as they were in his original timeline so it wasn't surprising they weren't comfortable in each other's presence. 

When she flapped her wings, ready to take fly, she turned to look at him with an unreadable expression. "If you're right, then we'll meet again. Until then, Steven." at those words, something came to Steven's mind. I almost forgot!

"Lapis!" He called her, noticing how unsteady was getting the floor. She turned around in mid-flight. "Remember the name Bob!" He shouted at her. He heard her say 'what?' but the water tower started to rumble and crumbling, forcing Steven to kneel down to get a proper grip. There was nothing to hold onto, however, and the tower started to brake apart, leaving him falling in the middle of the sky. 

Focusing, Steven slowed down his descent. That's as much as he can do right about now. Opening his eyes, he was left breathless. The view is beautiful despite what happened moments ago. He heard a roar from a distance, turning in that direction. Lion, he thought in relief. Even if Connie isn't here, Lion still chose to help me. That's a good friend. He saw him emerging from a nearby portal, and he tried to reach him. I'm so close. Come on! Lion couldn't extend his paw so Steven had to put more effort into moving his body closer to him, finally reaching him and holding onto his pink mane. They soon returned back on safe ground using another portal, near the gems. The Crystal Gems took a quick relieved glance at him before jumping into Lion as big chunks of water kept falling all around them. A roar could be heard from afar as they disappeared from view under the ocean.

When they appeared, Mayor Dewey was still crying and spraying water onto the sand in a pathetic attempt to get the beach back to normal when he was suddenly surrounded by cold salty water. Lion walked on said water in front of him, which caused the man to stumble back and let out a scream. Steven chuckled at the display. Lion loves doing that, he thought fondly.

Finally safe, he looked around. Beach City was restored to its former self. He smiled widely at the mix of the salty and sweet enveloping warm smell wafting around him. He didn't realise how much he missed it. 

"I can't believe we made it!" Amethyst cheered, shaking Steven from his daydreaming, and sliding down into the warm sand when Lion collapsed down in exhaustion. The group laughed in joy, celebrating and hugging each other. 

"How?" Pearl wondered aloud, too happy to see the uneasiness in Steven's face. He knew he would need to explain everything to them, eventually. He was better prepared to tell the story he had ready after what happened. And, well... They were safe and sound, which is all that matters. So he simply hugged her back in silence. 

Soon, the rest of the residents from Beach City ran towards the group also cheering and laughing. To Steven's surprise, it was his Dad who tackled him down into the ground and lifted him up to embrace him, tears falling down his cheeks. Connie was next to them, holding Centi and smiling widely at him. Amethyst hugged Lion, the closest one to her, who grunted tiredly.

Pearl took hold of Garnet's arm in a half hug, watching fondly at the celebrating humans. Until Garnet said the next words, that is. 

"Something's wrong with my future vision." Garnet admitted softly to Pearl, who lifted her head up at her in worry.

"What do you mean?" 

"I don't know." 

Chapter Text

Exhausted after a full day of using many of his powers and stressing over Lapis' situation, Steven yawned loudly. His body is still young and required more sleep and rest than in the future. 

"I think someone needs a nap." Said Amethyst, amused. They were back at the Temple. 

"No!" He yelled, calming down after receiving odd stares from the gems and his Dad. His attention soon moved to Connie. "I mean, it's still light outside. And I want to talk to Connie." His eyes moved to the gems, pleading. 

Pearl tried to resist, she really did, but Steven somehow managed to make his expression even more irresistible. Those damn puppy eyes! She thought in exasperation. "Aw, fine. But only for ten minutes. Then you're going directly to bed, young man." He nodded in understanding, sprinting towards were Connie had been waiting for him to be done with the gems. He watched as she was talking to the tiny corrupted gem, a small smile on her lips. He couldn't help but also smile. 

"Hey." He greeted, seating down next to her. Centi immediately moved into Steven's lap, chirping happily. 

"She really likes you." Said Connie, her expression softening. 

"Yeah..." They avoided each others eyes, unsure on how to proceed. Aware he didn't have much time to talk to her friend, Steven gathered all the courage and energy he has left. "I'm sorry, Connie. I know I took the choice from you and I know I shouldn't have to." 

"Then why did you do it?" Her voice sounded so hurt that it made the hybrid take hold of her hand in an attempt to silently seek for forgiveness. It was an automatic response, a response he didn't know if she understood the meaning of. 

"I'm really, really sorry. I wanted you safe. I was selfish." 

Connie lifted up her head, meeting his gaze and squeezing his hand. "Just don't do it again, okay? Promise me." 

"I don't know if I can do that." He bit down into his lower lip, uncertainty shining in his eyes. "I care about you Connie. When I said you can get easily hurt, I meant it. Same with Dad. You two are so important and I can't lose you." 

"And what about you?" 

"What about me?" He knew where she was going with that. He feared it. 

"You can get hurt too. You always get hurt. You can't just expect me to... agree with you, just like that!" He shook his head, asking her to stop. It was in vain. He started to pet Centi's mane to calm his nerves. "And you're telling me, what? That you don't want me to be part of your life? Is that it?" 

Steven stumbled with his words, hurt that she thought so low about him. "I-I still want us to be friends!" 

"Then why are you pushing me away? Friends help each other. Friends are always there for each other, Steven. So don't push me away." She got quieter at the end, tears appearing in the corner of her eyes. Steven's hand stopped moving, his other hand still in Connie's. 

"I didn't meant to. I only wanted to protect you. I..." He wiped away his own tears, sniffing. "I can't let anything bad happen to you." 

"Even if that means upsetting me?" 

"Even if that means stop being friends." Admitted Steven, brows furrowing in sadness. Connie wasn't better, releasing her hold on Steven's hand. Centi left them at some point, neither of them aware of when. Steven turned his head to the side. 

"If you're serious about this, then at least look at my face. Say it to my face, Steven. I dare you." Her voice broke down as he guiltily gazed up at her. Tears were streaming down her face, cheeks getting redder by the minute. This isn't what he wanted, this is what he needed. And it never hurt him more than now. 

He swallowed down his emotions and opened his mouth, wetting his lips. "I don't want to be friends if it means you get hurt." Those words weighted heavily on them, as he waited for her reaction. He didn't have to wait for long as she stood up, a sob escaping her throat, and she run, leaving him behind with a hole on his heart and a guilt so deep inside him he doubted it would ever leave him. 

This had to be done. He reassured himself. She'll be safer without me. She'll make friends a-and... And she'll never have to face any more corrupted gems or the prototypes of the Cluster. She'll never have to deal with all of the bad stuff I had and will have to live with. Her parents will be safe. It's better. So why does it hurt so much?

That same night, Steven was turning in his bed, unable to sleep. He woke up around 2 am, beyond exhausted. Connie's heartbroken expression had been haunting him in his dreams. 

The gems had seen Connie running with tears in her eyes and when they asked about it the words wouldn't leave Steven, and so he asked to be left alone. At first Pearl and Amethyst refused but Garnet took each gem under her arms and left. Greg, however, did stay. He ended up taking the sofa to sleep on, his snorings heard through the whole house. Not including the rooms of the gems, of course. 

Sighing, the hybrid turned around for the millionth time, his mind going back to what he told his father just before falling asleep in his father's arms. 

"Are you okay, Steven?" 

"Yeah... No." He quickly denied, his red puffy eyes meeting his father's worried ones. They had the same eyes, he noticed absentmindedly. It was nice to know they had something more in common that their misfortunes. "I told Connie I didn't want to be friends anymore. I made her cry." His face scrunched up, more tears falling down into the mattress. 

"Why did you do that?" There was no scorn or anger in his father's voice, only genuine concern and confusion. 

"I-I did-didn't want, I didn't want her to get hurt." He started to hiccup as he explained. "I c-couldn't promise her I wouldn't do it again so... w-we broke up." 

The time traveller felt the familiar feeling of a hand rubbing circles around his back, slowly calming him down enough to take a proper breath. 

"I'm sure she's isn't angry at you, buddy. She's hurt and worried for you." 

"I know." He sniffed again. You're wrong, she's angry, he wanted to shout. "I had to." His father shushed him, his arms holding his son tightly against him. They stayed like that until the gems returned. They didn't comment as they watched Greg put his son in the bed, tucking him in. 

Two days later... 

The gems made Steven stay in the temple 'taking a break from all the dangerous missions' according to them. And although he had Centi with him to entertain himself, the corrupted gem wasn't a pet and she deserves to spend her time doing whatever she wants. Which means staying in the Lighthouse because Lion wasn't happy with the new addition. Apparently they had a fight? He also had to reassure his father and the Crystal Gems several times that he was fine. And no, Connie didn't call him or text him. 

Steven was getting restless.

He never had to deal with these situation where he stayed for many days trapped in the Temple. He always could get out to buy a donut or visit someone in Beach City. He was always moving around doing something. Sometimes the gems were there to help with his boredom. Not this time. The only reason he was managing as well as he is right now is because his father is with him. Speaking of...

"We can get pizza, if you want." His Dad said from the kitchen. Steven was currently in his bed watching the TV, bored out of his mind. He kept changing channels. 

"I'm not hungry." 

"Or maybe a burger?" His father continued. The hybrid sighed, uninterested. 

"Dad, I'm not hungry." He repeated, slumping down against his bed. Frustrated by how slow the day was going, he turned to his right and watched the waves gently drenching the sand. He wished he could be out there, enjoying the sun. Or smell the sweet smell the ocean, or the warmth or... 

"Schtu-ball." He heard his Dad calling him. "I know you're feeling down but..."

"But what?" He replied angrily. He stood up from his bed, looking down at his father. "I'm tired of staying at home." I'm wasting my time.

Greg sighed, debating on what to do. His son deserves to be able to go outside and enjoy the day like anyone else but the gems strictly forbidden them from going outside in fear it would attract danger. They were worried, as he was. "Well... I guess the gems never said you couldn't get out with me." Surely, if he was with Steven all the time the gems would be okay with it. They couldn't force the kid to stay in the Temple forever. It can't be good for his mental health. 

"You really mean it?" His expression showed hope and he smiled encouragingly. 

"Yes. And I'm quite sure everyone is already wondering where is their favourite rascal." He laughed, imagining the scene. Steven cracked a smile too, pleased. 

"Then let's go!" He rushed to the door in high speed, shocking the man. 

"When did you get so fast?" His question got unanswered, opening the door to follow his son. 

Father and son strolled lazily through the shore, waving at some of the citizens from Beach City. They stopped to get a few donuts, two chocolate ones with chips for Steven, one glazed donut for Greg. They watched some of the seagulls fighting for a piece of bread they found, making voices for them as they moved their beaks. It was fun. They shared some stories about the previous days, Steven talking about the gems and all the things he learned, Greg about his job and all the people that passed by or stopped to get their car cleaned.

As the sun was setting, they stopped to appreciate the view. 

"Steven?" The boy hummed in acknowledgement. "I'm glad we got to spent today together."

"Me too, Dad." He looked up at his father, more relaxed than he ever felt. He saw how genuine was his father's smile, his gentle expression and his dark eyes shining as he watched the sunset. He didn't realise how much he missed his Dad until now. Taking a shaky breath, Steven started to sing, conveying his feelings as well as he could, remembering he did the same time ago in his own universe. 

"Dear old dad, remember when you would sing to me, we could do it again." Greg looked at Steven in wonder, his heart clenching. "Dear old dad, remember how I would sit on your shoulders, well how 'bout it now." They both smiled fondly at the old memories. "Dear old dad, I was wondering why as I get older now, the days keep going on by. Dear old dad, remember this too. In this whole wide world, there's no one like you, ooh ooh ooh." And he meant it. Despite how angry he got with him when he was a teenager, when his powers were out of his control, he still cared and admired his father more than anyone else. "There's no one like you, ooh ooh ooh."

Steven felt his father's hand on his shoulder and looked up at him. 

"My darling son, I remember when I would sing to you, and I would do it again." His grin got wider at hearing his Dad sing. "Beloved child, remember this too. In this world of Gems, there's no one like you, ooh ooh ooh." 

"You ooh ooh ooh.

You ooh ooh ooh.

You ooh ooh ooh."

They hummed together, side by side, until it got too dark to stay outside. The streetlights lit up, then, and they returned back to their home in a higher spirit. The air was still warm and the sound of the waves relaxing, so hearing sharp voices disrupted the moment. They ran up the hill and met the gems at the entrance, arguing about something.

"Guys?"

"Steven!" The three of them exclaimed simultaneously. Pearl ran to the boy and hugged him. "Where were you?"

"Ah." He realized he probably should have left at least a note before they left. "I'm sorry, Pearl. I asked my dad if we could go for a walk. Don't blame him, it was my idea!" He explained quickly upon seeing her face. 

"Dude, it's okay. We are not blaming anyone." Amethyst intervened. "We're actually here to..." She trailed off, her voice getting smaller.

"-we wanted to talk to you about what happened with Lapis Lazuli." Garnet gently put her hand in Steven's hair, stroking it. "Welcome back."

"Thank you." He smiled back at her. "And yeah... I guess it's time." He headed towards the door, looking behind him to see if they were following him. They were. With quick steps, the boy hurriedly sat down on the sofa and waited for the others to take their seats.

He bit his lower lip nervously, aware it has to be done. It didn't make this any easier. "I healed her." The hybrid blurted out the most important part.

"Healed?"

"What!?"

"..."

He got different reactions, not surprised at their shocked faces. He smiled uncomfortably at them, scratching the back of his head. "Wild, right?" He said in a joking manner.

"How..." Pearl gasped. "Unless!" She then kneeled down and took Steven by his shoulders, eyes sparkling with emotion. "Steven, your mother. She had healing tears. Did you...?"

"I felt bad for Lapis. All she wanted was to reach her home." Steven stared sadly at the ground. It wasn't really a lie, he did feel bad for her. And he used his healing powers. "It was an accident. I-I didn't know." 

"Oh, Steven." His eyes got blurry, asking silently for a hug. Her pale arms stretched out towards him and he jumped into them. The gems looked at each other, then at Greg. He gave her a thumbs-up, encouraging her. Pearl turned her attention back to Steven. "It's okay. You can cry all you want." She whispered, tightening her hold on him unbothered by the wetness against her form.