Chereads / Steven Universe: The Return / Chapter 18 - Escape Attempt

Chapter 18 - Escape Attempt

[Steven's friends stand up slightly dazed after taking a direct hit from his destructive shockwave, however...]

Garnet: Amethyst! The others Gems fused, let's fuse too!

Amethyst: Okay, let's do it! It'll be easier that way.

Spinel: What about me?

Garnet: You just wait for the right moment to rejuvenate him.

Spinel: Copy that!

Amethyst: Okay, let's do this!

Garnet: Synchronize.

(Garnet's gemstones begin to glow as she starts to dance.]

Pink Steven: Stop it!

[Garnet and Amethyst perform a fusion dance, fusing together and forming Sugilite.]

Sugilite: Hahahahaha! *laughs and cracks knuckles* How great it feels to be me!

[Pink Steven is stunned, the difference in size is enormous, it's been a long time since he's seen Sugilite in action.]

Sugilite: Well, well, at last we meet, little man. Now, let me introduce you to my little friend.

[Sugilite summons Garnet's gauntlets and Amethyst's whip, and fuses them together to form her flail.]

Pink Steven: *lets out a nervous chuckle* Things are getting more complicated than I thought.

[At the same time.]

[Jasper charges at a three-quartz fusion with a spin-dash, but the fusion easily catches her in her hand.]

Jasper: Tch. Damn you!

[The Fusion lifts Jasper up by the arm, punches her in the stomach and then slams her into the ground, she gets up right away, but instantly more Quartz Fusions surround her.]

Jasper: That's all you petty Gems got?! *beckons at the Quartz Fusions* Bring it on, bring it on! Don't even think that a bunch of puny, dull Gems like you scare or intimidate me!!

[The Quartz Fusions tackle and pile on top of Jasper, crushing her.]

Jasper: *in pain* Gaah! Dammit!

[Meanwhile.]

[Pink Steven is seen running away from Sugilite.]

Pink Steven: I must calm down! I don't want to fight her with this pink form!

[Pink Steven turns around and spots an overwhelmed Jasper, who is having a hard time fighting back; the Quartz Fusions have completely outmatched her.]

Pink Steven: Heck, Jasper seems to be in trouble as well.

Sugilite: Don't run away, you worm!

[Sugilite manages to smack Pink Steven with her flail. The impact sends Steven flying into a wall, smashing right through it and falling out of the palace.]

Pink Steven: *panting* Th-the situation has definitely gotten out of hand, hasn't it? Who knew?

[Sugilite jumps out of the palace, swings her flail and then crushes Pink Steven.]

Pink Steven: *in pain* GAAHH!!

Sugilite: Hahaha!! Gotcha!

[Sugilite crushes Pink Steven over and over again as she laughs maniacally.]

[At the same time.]

(Jasper gets knocked flying across the place in the background and crashes into a wall.)

Jasper: *frustrated* Damn Fusions, I hate them with all my might! Wait a minute, where's my Diamond?! *looks around* No way!

[Jasper spots in the distance as Pink Steven is crushed again and again.]

Jasper: No, My Diamond! NOT AGAIN!

[Jasper flashes back to the moment when Pink Diamond is fighting Rose Quartz. She, in the distance, witnesses Rose slashing her sword through Pink Diamond's gemstone. Jasper then lets out a piercing scream and runs desperately to her Diamond's aid.]

Jasper: My Diamond!!

[That's when Pink Diamond poofs and pink shards of her "gemstone" fall to the ground, and then Rose Quartz escapes.]

Jasper: MY DIAMOND!!!!

[Back to the present.]

Jasper: My Diamond! Not this time!

[Jasper forces herself out of the wall and immediately rushes to Pink Steven's aid, despite still engaging in combat.]

Jasper: Hold on, I'm coming!!!

[As Pink Steven lies in a giant crater on the ground, Sugilite swings her flail, ready to crush him again.]

[Jasper runs as fast as she can to Pink Steven.]

Jasper: I'm gonna save you, My Diamond!!

Sugilite: It's over!

[Sugilite's flail is about to crush Pink Steven, but Jasper manages to pull Pink Steven out of the way at the last second.]

Jasper: My diamond, are you all right?!

Pink Steven: Y-Yeah. *stands up* This pink transformation makes my body much more resistant.

[The fusions run out of the palace and swiftly surround Steven and Jasper.]

Jasper: Damn it, we've been surrounded!

[Pink Steven and Jasper get back to back.]

Pink Steven: I didn't even get a chance to talk to my friends!

Jasper: And their strength increased considerably after they fused! I didn't take into account the possibility of them fusing to fight us! Grrr, that's playing dirty! This is why I hate fusions!!

Pink Steven: Jasper, it was a really bad idea to come to Homeworld without a plan in mind!

Jasper: That doesn't matter anymore! What's done is done, there's nothing we can do about it now!

Pink Steven: You're wrong!

Jasper: Huh?

Pink Steven: There's still something we can do.

Jasper: What is it?!

Pink Steven: Run away!

Jasper: What the--!? You're joking, right?! Look, we just gotta keep fighting to the death! There's no better way to die, am I right?!

Pink Steven: You don't understand! We have to run away and come up with a plan! If we die here, there'll be no one to save the universe!

Jasper: Ha, like I care about the damn universe. I live to fight, so I'll die fighting! Only cowards run away from the battlefield!

Pink Steven: Stubborn as ever, huh?

[Inside the palace.]

Holly Blue Agate: *walks up Spinel* Yo, Spinel!

Spinel: What is it, ma'am?!

Holly Blue Agate: What do you have in your hands?

Spinel: *looks down at her hands* A... rejuvenator?

Holly Blue Agate: Exactly. And what are rejuvenators used for?

Spinel: Well, they're used to rejuvenate Gems, aren't they?

Holly Blue Agate: Yes, that's right. Very good, Spinel.

Spinel: So, uh... what's the point of this conversation?

Holly Blue Agate: You idiot!

[Spinel flinches in fear.]

Holly Blue Agate: Why are you just standing there doing nothing?! What are you waiting for to go and rejuvenate Steven and that Quartz now that they're surrounded?! Come on, get off your fat ass!

Spinel: G-Got it, ma'am. I'll get right on it!

[Outside the palace.]

Jasper: Don't you see, my Diamond? You have incredible destructive powers at your disposal, no one knows better than me what you are capable of! Don't waste your potential, don't hold back, let it out! We both know you can take anyone down in a matter of seconds, don't we?!

Pink Steven: There's the rub! I'd hate to get out of control and actually hurt or even shatter someone! I don't want a repeat of that time, so our only option is to run away!

Jasper: Do you really want to run away with your tail between your legs? What about your honor as a Diamond!

Pink Steven: That has never mattered to me in the least actually!

Jasper: But--

Pink Steven: Jasper, I'm serious! I know you don't give a damn about the welfare of others, but I do! And if you really see me as your Diamond, do as I say and let's get the hell out of here, shall we?!

Jasper: That's more like it, that you speak with authority, my Diamond.

Pink Steven: Oh boy, you never change, huh?

Jasper: Bah, whatever, how are we supposed to escape?

Pink Steven: Well, the warp pad isn't that far from here. We just gotta--

[Suddenly, Spinel pops out from the crowd of Fusions and lunges at Pink Steven, ready to slash through him down with the rejuvenator.]

Spinel: GOTCHA!!

[Pink Steven turns around and spots Spinel approaching.]

Pink Steven: *shocked* What the...!!

Jasper: My diamond!! LOOK OUT!!!

[Jasper runs in front of Pink Steven and then pushes him out of the way of Spinel's attack.]

Pink Steven: Jasper, what are you doing?!

[Spinel ends up slashing through Jasper instead, cleaving her physical form in half.]

Jasper: *groans in pain* My Diamond... goodbye!

[Jasper poofs.]

Pink Steven: NO!!

[Pink Steven watches in shock as Jasper's gemstone falls at Spinel's feet.]

Spinel: It wasn't her I wanted to rejuvenate first, but... *picks up Jasper's gemstone* I guess it doesn't matter.

Holly Blue Agate: *runs up to Spinel* Hand me that Gem! I'll send her to the conversion room to be turned into one of ours.

Spinel: Here.

[Spinel hands Jasper's gemstone to Holly Blue.]

Pink Steven: *shouts out* Give her back!!

[Holly Blue bubbles Jasper's gemstone and sends it away.]

Holly Blue Agate: Whoops! Too late, Steven.

Pink Steven: *enraged* Grrr!

Holly Blue Agate: *turns to Spinel* Now, rejuvenate Steven!

Spinel: I can't! That pink transformation is too strong!

Holly Blue Agate: I see. *to Fusions* Get him!!

[The Quartz Fusions immediately charges at Pink Steven.]

Pink Steven: *blinded by rage* THAT'S ENOUGH!!!

[Steven lets out a big, furious shout and the resulting shockwave sends all the Gems flying through the air, some of them unfusing and others poofing in the process, then they all fall to the ground out cold.]

Holly Blue Agate: *shocked* H-He did it again!