Summary: The future of friendship!
"Oh don't worry baby." She petted the messed up … thing. "You'll get better soon." She wasn't quite sure what this was, but Camila never looked away from an injured animal before.
" ... " She wasn't sure if it had eyes….or ears…and as far as she knew it didn't have a mouth, which was concerning to think about. All she knew is that it had multiple limbs and only seemed to move around in the day time or a lit up room. If she wasn't worried about her endangering this creature's life, she'd let her daughter have a closer look. It seemed to be up there on her list of 'fantasy' interests.
Thinking about Luz made her think about the recent rule she had set in place with her little friend/crush. Meeting Steven's family, she could tell there was something…odd about them, given their lack of need to eat and brightly colored skin, but they made her daughter happy, so she didn't judge them.
Then one day she was informed by Mr.Universe that her daughter was in the hospital. That tore every line. She didn't care if the three women were magic, or aliens, or anything of the sort, her daughter's life was on the line. Even when she was miraculously healed by some pink water, she never wanted Luz to be in that level of danger again.
So she made her promise to never go on one of those dangerous adventures or else she couldn't see him anymore. It was rough to argue, but necessary. Just imagine if some stray blade came flying about and hit her in the lung. She could die! That wasn't something anyone could bounce back from.
Deep inside, it still stung. The boy, Steven, he was a sweet and charming child, one that often had the same level of imagination as her daughter, except with a slightly stronger moral compass, though the lack of social awareness at times was a mild concern.
The door opened, dragging her out of the thoughts, although ironically it was the boy in question. "Good morning Ms Noceda." Steven greeted her with a bright smile.
"Good morning Steven. Come to pet the puppies again?"
"Not this time….well, maybe later, if I have time." The boy also had a fondness for animals, something he shared with both her and Luz. " I was out with Garnet letting fate flow naturally without the need for future vision…" There were still some lines that she needed context for, and some that she hoped she didn't get context for. "....when we found these." The boy held up a box of baby cats, all of which stared at the world with hopeful eyes. "They were just wandering the woods together all alone."
"Awwww, precious little angels…poor babies." She picked up one that had a single blue eye. "Aww, you've gone untreated and unloved for too long."
"Mew." The poor baby answered with a cute purr.
"Don't worry, Mama Noceda will make you all better." She took the kitten off to the side. "Thank you for bringing them to me, Steven. Place the others in the shelter section for the moment, I'll be looking over this one for a while.
"Will do mam." The boy gave a playful salute, picking up the box and moving back, pausing as he noticed the curtain. "Are you getting a new exhibit?" He gasped. "Is it a polar bear?"
"No, we haven't been authorized to handle anything that dangerous.." Not for lack of trying. "We found this one on the side of the road about two days ago. We're still not quite sure what it is to be honest."
"Do you think it's a new species? Oh, are you gonna name it after yourself?" Steven began rambling as he placed the kittens down.
"Slow down Steven. My main objective here is to make sure it's treated well. After that I'll place it in a nice habitat far from any poachers or hunters because if anyone tries to harm any creature on my watch, they'll have to deal with me and my chancla!" She pulled out her flip flop to emphasize her point.
"I didn't know sandals could be such a deadly weapon." He said with a glee in his eyes that it almost made her think there were literal stars in it. "Mind if I see it?"
"I wouldn't, they're very territorial. It tends to lash out whenever someone gets close." She warned. "Last night they broke the door down in a crazy fit when one of the doctors got near." She laughed. "Has about six hands all over it's body and none of them can't use a doornob."
"Heh, that is fun.." The boy paused. "Ah….did you say multiple hands all over its body?"
"Yes, it's almost like a strange mix between an insect and a mammal." She noted. "Although I'm not sure how it consumes sustenance without a mouth."
"No…mouth…" The boy looked reasonably freaked out by that. "Mrs. Noceda, I don't want to alarm you, but that's not an animal. That's a gem mutant, which is a alien experiment made out of multiple gem shards like my family has to create a mindless monster that only knows pain and misery."
Camila waited for that information to sink in for a minute. "Steven, if this is one of your games with my daughter, I'm happy to play along, but tell me beforehand." When it came to the real life danger and the imagination of the children, it was hard to tell the difference. "Because saying that out loud would be cause for me to panic."
"I'm not playing, Mrs Noceda. The clinic is in danger the longer the gem mutant is here."
The door opened once more. "Hey Mom, I got the dog food. Where do you want me to-"
"Your mom's been taking care of a gem mutant!" Steven shouted.
".....Okay, that actually sounds a little cool but from the way you're wording it makes me think we need to panic right now." Luz nodded slowly.
"Oh right, you stopped coming on adventures." The boy mumbled as the beast in the back began groaning. "It's um … what was that black and white movie, with the man screaming 'it's alive' really loudly?"
"You mean Frankenstien?" Luz asked.
"Yeah, that's it!" Steven nodded. "It's like that, but with gem shards, and there's hundreds of them constantly popping out of the kindergarten."
"Ah … mom, we need to move." Luz dropped the bag on the ground, grabbing her.
"Luz, I'm not in the mood for a game." Camila tried to tell her. "You need to seperate fantasy from reality."
"Mom, this isn't the time to go parental, this is the moment you need to listen to me-!"
THOOOOOOOM.
Thunder cracked in the air, as the lights went out. "..Great, power blew a fuse." Camila groaned. "Everyone stay still, I'm going to grab a flashlig-"
"No need." Steven said as his arm lit up….and a shield popped out of it from thin air. "My gem can give us enough light."
"Oh …" She stared at it. "I …"
"Brrrrr."
"It's up." He said quietly. "Luz, tell me you have a weapon, I didn't bring the sword." The what?!
"I don't have a sword…but I have this spatula." Luz pulled it out. "Funny story actually, I was walking by the Frymans and this barrel of grease was rolling right towards me, so I flipped over-"
" GRRRRRRRRRRR!" The multi hand creature lunched at them, steven using his shield to block it from coming towards them.
"Story later!" He shouted.
"Right right!" Her daughter went around, jabbing at the creature in the arm, causing it to scream.
"Rraaaaar!"
"Luz, what are you doing!?" Camila called out. "It's dangerous!"
"Mom, I know that! That's why I've been sword training with Pearl!"
"YOU'VE BEEN WHAT!?"
"Okay, this isn't the most ideal way to tell you, but I swear I was going to tell you!" She exclaimed. "You told me I couldn't hang out with Steven anymore if I got involved with danger, so I've been learning for the past month how to get out of it! I've been training everyday to overcome that danger!"
"That meant I didn't want you anywhere near the active war zones!" She shouted. "Not learn how to stab people … although self defense is fine, but sword fighting!?"
"Mrs Nocdea!" Steven shouted, slamming the mutant into a corner. "I know you want nothing more than to keep Luz safe. I want that more than anything, the gems too! But your daughter is also the most amazing person I've ever met! She's strong, smart, funny, and she knows how to fight! I do my best to protect her, but I know that she's doing everything she can to protect me!"
"I am! And I'm going to do my best to protect Steven, and you, and the planet!" Luz jumped ontop of Steven's shield, and held the spatula up. "I may not be a witch, but I can still be a hero, a defender!" And slammed it through the creature. "I am a knight!"
poooof
Camila stared as what looked like a cluster of shards forced together fell to the floor. "What … I-"
"And bubble." Steven walked up, holding the thing in his hand. "Thank you for looking after it, Mrs. Noceda. The gems can take over from here." He tapped the bubble….and it bliped away.
"Did….did that bubble teleport…." Camila asked.
"It's a long story." Luz sighed. "So, what else did I miss?"
"Well, We're becoming friends with Peridot, and the world's going to explode." The boy explained casually. "Oh, and my birthday's next month. Something to look forward to."
"I should get you a good present." … And her daughter took it all in stride.
"I…I need a minute to process this." Camila sat down. "So…magic is real?"
"It's more sci-fi really. The gems are alien's, but their powers are kinda magic, the line's kind blurry there." Luz told her. "So…can I start joining Steven again on the crazier adventures?"
"i…ah…I need to talk with his family on the details before I give my final word." Camila said. "I'm clearly unprepared to give an answer to …. All of this."
"That's fair." Steven nodded. "... Oh no, the kittens!" He rushed back. "I'll comfort you!"
"Wait, there's baby cats here?!" Luz followed the boy. "Let me see, let me see!"
Camila watched the too go back to the kittens. Danger or not, those two were on the same wavelength. Luz truly found someone that understood her….maybe it was time to trust her daughter a little more.
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" Happy Birthday!" Greg shouted with everyone else. Seeing as how he hadn't seen his son within the last few weeks, throwing a birthday at the family barn was more than warranted by this point.
"This is gonna be amazing!" Steven shouted, running around with his crown and cape. The boy never seemed to outgrow it….come to think of it, he never actually outgrew any of his clothes since he was eight. So weird.
"Awww, I knew you'd look adorable in anything, and this just proves it!" His son's friend Luz ran up to him in her own knight outfit, squishing his face. "And any tiny squishy king and cute king always needs their galient and fierce knight by their side."
"Why Sir Luz of Graves Beach, you humble this king with your boldness everytime you grace me with your presence." His son bowed to the girl. "I ask of thee to wield the royal scepter to smite they greatest foe … the three ton pinata."
Luz tilted her head. "Wait, there's a three ton pinata?"
"Amethyst turns into a cheetah and runs with it on her back." Pearl explained.
"I've spent three years stealing enough candy to fill this thing." The short gem herself dragged the dragon shaped pinata over. "Whoever breaks it open gets the first pick on whatever candy is inside!"
"Now that's a noble quest I can get behind!" Luz grabbed her stick and jumped ontop of the giant cardboard beast. "For all things sweet, sour, and savory, I smite at thee in the name of my sweet tooth!"
"You'll have to catch it first!" Amethyst shouted, moving fast as she ran around with the pinata on her back. "No one said it was easy! I've been the victor for five years straight!"
"I will smite the beast in the name of the king!" The girl ran off with Steven, leaving the adults standing next to the tables.
"Are Steven's birthday's always this lively?" Camlia asked with a small chuckle.
"Usually. You have no idea how hard it is to get the gems to tone it down." Greg answered. "Last year they forgot to get the birthday, so they tried making it at the last minute. Amethyst threw a bunch of junk food together, Pearl burned the kitchen down, and Garnet just got a bunch of icing and shaped it like cake."
"Not my proudest moment." Garnet spoke in her usual monotone. "But the boy was happy, so I won that day."
"I still don't know what I did wrong, I put in the essential ingredients." Pearl muttered.
"Yeah, just leave the cooking to the people who actually eat and know what food is supposed to taste like." Amethyst laughed, still running around with the pinata.
"Surprise attack!" Luz shouted, jumping from a tree.
"No, I forgot to look up as I ran!"
"I take it birthdays with Luz are just as energetic?" Greg asked.
"Somehow. It's always just been me and her on each other's birthdays. Usually on those days, we go out and do something together for the whole day." Camila smiled. "One year I set up a whole scavenger hunt for her in the style of one of her fantasy books, and she tried to do the same for me on my birthday, but I got stuck on the first clue when she put it in a pit full of snakes."
Pearl raised an eyebrow. "I'm surprised the snake thing never popped up before. Steven has a phobia for them."
"Do you mean of them?" Camila asked.
"No, for them. He feels sorry that snakes aren't born with arms to scratch themselves or to grab food." Pearl explained.
"What if they're sliding off a cliff and need to hold on?" Steven said with a teary look. "They can't use their teeth, they'll just hurt themselves."
"They roll, like bosses!" Luz shouted as she pounded the pinata, while Amethyst turned to a bull and tried to buck her off.
"She knows how to show restraint, right?" Camila asked worriedly.
"Yes. Although Amethyst is very crass, all crystal gems have sworn to never cause harm or injury to any human for as long as we live." Pearl said a bit proudly.
"Although property damage is still in their moral gray area." He noted.
"It's better for humans to work with human problems." Garnet responded.
"...I'm going to ignore that." Camila turned to him, nothing the scrap book in his hands. "Are those pictures of Steven?"
"Yes. I have a section dedicated to everyone one of his birthdays." He opened it up to show her. "From the day he was born until now."
"..They all look the same." Camila pointed to the picture he took at Steven's eight birthday.
"He hasn't really grown up since he hit eight." Greg admitted. "He's the first half gem, so there's a lot we don't know about how he works."
"Okay Steven, team is what's going to win the day!" Luz shouted as Steven carried her on his shoulders. "I'll go high and you go low! You got that?!"
"I read you loud and clear!" The two kid's charged forward and jumped.
"Seems to me he's just like any other kid, just less afraid to hold onto his childhood." Camila noted.
"He's always been an optimist." Greg grinned as the pinata exploded. "Just … a bright light, you know?"
"Candy!" The kid's swam in the pile of sugar that would likely land them a dentist appointment soon. "You're the best Luz!"
"No, you're the best, Steven!"
"No, you are!"
"No you are!"
"I know." Camila smiled. "I can see it very clearly."
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"Whatever you're planning with that Gem, Jasper, it's not going to happen!" Rose shouted as she and that human raised their weapon at her.
"It's not like you're going to stop me." Jasper growled. "All you've done is get weak Rose. Stuck in that pathetic disguise that serves no advantage whatsoever."
"Seriously, how dense are you rock people!?" The human groaned, slapping her head. "Wait, is it offensive to call you guy's rock people?"
"I mean, it's not inaccurate." Rose replied. "Although according to Peridot, Clod and Pebble are more insulting."
"And you had the gall to corrupt another gem to your side." She growled, spinning straight at them.
"Corrupt? All Steven's done is make Peridot his friend, just like he did with lapis!" The human jumped out of the way as Rose backed up.
"You corrupted them! You made them weak, caring about weaklings and organics!" Jasper shouted, tossing a boulder at them. "Just like with the gems of the past, you're still pulling the same things today!"
"Not everything!" Rose brought the human close to her, spinning her around as they avoided the boulder. "Ready for this Luz!?"
"Sort of, we've never tried Luven in a combat situation like this before!" The human responded.
"First time for everything, and it's not like we could beat her separated." Seper …
"And of course you bring FUSION back to rub it in my face !" She drove straight at the clod.
There was a bright light, and she was met with a shield to the face, knocking her back. "Hey, your relationship problems have nothing to do with me. You're just a terrible match with Lapis." The fusion jumped and slammed their foot in her back, pushing Jasper into the ground. "And besides, the Luz in me still needs payback for the first time you met."
"You mean how she pathetically charged at me like a moron and I knocked her out with a single blow?" Jasper growled, forcing herself back off and throwing a punch at the abomination. "How I proved how weak and pointless her existence was!?"
"Have you ever considered that you're the problem!?" They asked, ducking under the blow and using a bubble covered fist to hit her side. "That caring about people doesn't make you weak?" And then a knee to the chin. "Is any of this getting through that thick skull!?"
"The only thing I understand is that you are beyond deranged!" Jasper counted with a blow that knocked them across the ground. "Strength only matters when it's your own! It proves your worth, it proves your victory, you're usefulness!"
"That's a load of bull if I ever heard it!" The abomination got back up and knocked Jasper in the chest, beginning to swing her sword. "It doesn't matter where strength comes from, it matters how you use it!" The fusion struck jasper across the face.
"How … you dare to say that after rebelling against Homeworld!?" Jasper pulled out their helmet, crashing into the abomination.
"I dare, I dare to say that because…because the people of this world are amazing!" The fusion was forced back, but their shield was glowing brighter and getting thicker. "Humans come up wit so many fun and interesting ideas, ideas that keep getting better and greater the more they work towards them!" They pressed forward. "When a bully comes in and tries to knock them down, they don't just try to be stronger, they aim to be faster, and smarter-"
Shing
Jasper gasped….as the sword pierced her chest. "Like how Luz had the idea to keep you distracted long enough to poof you."
"You … you-"
"Love … doesn't make you weak!" They shouted, pulling the blade out. "It's our love that makes us stronger than you!"
poof
========================================================================
Connie turned on the recorder. "Portal Door, test thirty seven. Attempts to breach the Demon Realm have been unstable, yes, but that is not a reason to give up hope." She spoke, staring at the door. "Without access to titan's blood, the resources necessary to returns are very limited. However, I am hopeful." She looked at Ghost, who rubbed against her face. "I can still access magic through use of my palisman, so the chance to go back still remains in the air."
She looked to her current best friend/technical sister Vee. "Vee still joins me in helping me out. Even though she has no love for the demon realm, she has gone out of her way to help me."
"Think of it as thanks for living your life." She nodded. Vee still occasionally filled in for her at home and school, mainly whenever Connie got too entrenched into her research.
"Occasionally I receive help from she who must not….from Luz.." Connie corrected herself. After everything with Amity, Connie didn't want a potential friend to become an enemy, especially since the crazy girl knew how to use a sword now. "And from her boyfriend Steven Universe…who's apparently half alien…why wasn't I aware of something like this in graves beach before?"
"I have no idea." Vee shrugged. "They have giant fights the beach's fully aware of all the time. Heck, before you came back, I saw them fight an element robot in front of the movie theater."
"Must be an ignorance field or something." Connie muttered. "I can worry about it later, time to begin the experiment." She turned on the car battery. "Electricity is up and running. Ghost, start up the magical generation!"
"Mew."
"Yes, I know most of these end up exploding, but I promise I have you in a safe zone. You'll be completely protected."
"Mew." They sighed, reluctantly running as magic began moving to the door.
"It's running through the glyphs, along with the substitute materials …" Connie muttered as she looked over the thing. "Lack of palistrum wood really makes it difficult. I don't even half have the materials I had when I made a door over there."
"On the bright side, you're not on a time limit to complete this either." Vee comforted her. "You can afford to go at your own pace."
"I know, but I want to at least get the basic concept of a portal down before I graduate college, let alone find the right dimension before I grow gray hair." She responded. "Thanks though." Connie patted Vee on the head.
"No problem. I'm sure that this time we'll get something.
kabooooooom
"Fifteenth explosion this week." Connie noted into her recorder as Vee desperately tried to put the fire out. "Lasted longer than two minutes so some semblance of progress has been made.
She moved over to help put out the flames, before walking over to a tired looking Ghost. "Mew."
"It's fine girl, you can rest." Connie petted her palisman. "The best thing that ever happened to me, and I only got four months to enjoy it."
"Some people don't even get a month, or even a day. That's how it was for the other basilisks." Vee spoke up. "Just let it come naturally in its own time."
"I suppose your right." Connie sighed, hugging the girl. "Thanks for everything Vee."
"Anytime Connie."
========================================================================
"Yes …" She sighed. "Rose Quartz was Pink Diamond." Pearl explained, waiting to hear the expected shock.
"YES!" Luz suddenly shouted. "My theory was correct!"
"Wait, you knew!?" Amethyst asked.
"I mean, I guessed. That's kinda how theories work without concrete evidence." The human admitted. "It wasn't anything solid at first, it first came to me when I looked at Steven's gem hard enough for the first time. I got a geology book to make a comparison, maybe do something for halloween, and I realized that the surface sticking out didn't match either side."
Garnet stared at everything silently, her body shaking. "Keep … going …"
"And then there was the moon, where it was revealed Rose shattered Pink. But if she bubbled Bismuth for wanting to do the same thing, it didn't make much sense. A full on contradiction in morality."
"Yeah, that is weird." Amethyst nodded. "Surprised we didn't let her out afterwards."
"There's the slight chance she might still try and shatter Steven." Pearl explained.
"Afterwards the Trial was where everything hit hard, where they said the swordshattered Pink!" … Luz paused, turning to Pearl. "Seriously, didn't even think about changing out for a weapon not known for never shattering?"
"The enemy didn't know that, and the shock of a diamond being shattered at all was enough to cause mass hysteria amongst the gem kind." Pearl reasoned.
"And then there were the smaller details, mainly given how many powers Rose, and therefore Steven, held in comparison to the other gems." Luz went on. "Floating, shield, bubble manipulation, healing to the point it revives the dead, plant growth so powerful it can create sentience, the dream powers, all of these powers that Steven has that no other gem even comes close to. Heck, Garnet's a fusion and even she doesn't have this many powers. And going by Jasper and Amethyst, Quartz's are meant to be grunts, soldiers known for strength and not much else. For Rose to be as strong as she was, either her line of gem was ALL that powerful, or something was up."
"....That's an impressive deduction." Pearl had to admit.
"Thank you. Hours on fandom forums have finally paid off!" Luz exclaimed.
"... So the reason I'm so powerful is because my mom was part of four space tyrants?" Steven asked.
"A space tyrant that played for both sides!" Luz shouted.
"... Was it all a joke to her?" Garnet asked as the shaking got worse.
"Garnet, it's more complicated than that…"
"What's..complicated….she lied to us…." Garnet shook even more. " All of it….WAS A HUGE FREAKING LIE!" With a bright glow, Ruby and Sapphire defused, falling down on the ground.
"Sapphire, wait-"
"It was a LIE!" The blue gem shouted. "All of it! Us being an answer! We were nothing more than a joke in a sick game!" She ran over to the warp pad, vanishing.
"... Probably should have paid more attention to the emotional fallout, I admit." Luz muttered. "Are you doing good Steven?"
"Yeah, just fine…in the end mom was a huge liar and hypocrite….I already knew that." Steven just slumped on the couch. "And it's up to me to fix her mess as usual."
"No, it's up to US to fix her mess." Luz grabbed the boy by the shoulders. "I've been on this ride the entire way Steven, and I'm not getting off anytime soon. I'm with you till the end."
The boy let out a soft smile. "Thanks Luz … so, do you want the sad Sapphire or the runaway Ruby?"
"Ruby's right her-" Pearl pointed to the spot…only to see she indeed ran off.
"I'll go with the runaway Ruby, I got a ton of questions I want to ask her." Luz smirked. "We'll get them back together soon enough. Who knows, we might end up with a season finale wedding by the end of this."
"As if we're that lucky."
========================================================================
Amethyst smirked as Steven, the officiator, cried as he tried to give the poetic speech. "Life … love … all so beautiful it's hard to look at."
"Hah, totally called it." Luz smirked as she, as flower girl, stood right next to her. "What did I say, season finale wedding."
"Yeah yeah." Amethyst smiled as she looked around. "Surprised you guys got this ready in less than a week."
"Apparently even before we met, one thing me and Steven had in common was owning giant wedding planners filled with ideas for people we shipped in real life." Luz explained.
"Ha, funny." Amethyst grinned. "Did you manage to get one for Pearl and pink haired girl?"
"Duh, don't know how strong the ship is there though." Luz said. "Yeah there's having a type, but is it really healthy to move on from your sorta ex to someone that looks almost exactly like her?"
"I think it's a nice transition considering we live forever." She retorted.
"Oh yeah, then what about you?" Luz asked with a cheeky smile. "Think you could be tying the knot someday?"
"Girl, I don't tie knots, I break them." Amethyst snickered. "But if we're being serious though, I don't think this is the life for me. I thought I might've liked Greg once, but the only thing we bonded over was being lazy and watching little Butler. Then things got weird when I tried shapeshifting into Rose, and we left it at that."
"...." Luz stared at her blankly. "...Ahhh…"
"Yes, it was just as awkward when Steven found out." Amethyst answered her baffled face. "Enough about me and my non romance life, what's cooking for you and Steven? Wedding giving you any ideas?"
"Meh, give it a few years after the whole gem threat dies down, then we'll talk about something serious." Luz responded. "Until then, let's get back to Garnet's day. They're about to say their vows."
"Saphire, before I met you, I was just another Ruby, doing her job, being one out of dozens of rubies, no different than anyone else." Ruby said her's first. "Thanks to you, I felt like someone other than A Ruby, I felt like the Ruby, and I'm glad I have the rest of time to be your Ruby."
"Ruby, I always assumed life was a straight road, with a beginning and end, and that our actions meant very little in the grand scheme of things." Sapphire spoke. "But when I'm with you, there's endless possibilities, endless ideas, endless … fun. I want to spend every moment of my days keeping an eye on you."
"Weddings with puns….this is a dream come true." Luz cheered. "Although there is something I'm mixed about."
"What's that?"
"Usually with big events like this, there's usually something to interrupt it." Luz said.
"What, you think that Jamie guy is going to run up and profess his love to Garnet again?" She asked.
"No, we got him to move on with Sadie's mom … really mixed feelings there." Luz shivered.
"Isn't she like his boss….and also fifteen years older than him..?"
"Like I said, mixed feelings." Luz said. "No, what I'm saying is that usually there is some sort of monster attack or big villain interrupting and or crashing the wedding."
"Don't see anyone that would do that. Lapis, Peridot, Bismuth, AND Jasper are sitting in the front row." Amethyst showed. It was so weird for the bigger quartz to be an ally, then again, she served loyalty to Steven only on the sole fact she was poofed by him and that he was a diamond.
"And the Ruby squad is in space … I guess we're good." Luz shrugged. "Wow, we're normally not this lucky."
"If anyone dares to object to this beautiful and magical moment, speak now, or forever hold your peace." Steven asked with a bright smile.
FWOOOSH
They all stared at the giant ship in the sky. "ALL RIGHT!" Shouted a very pink Steven. "WHO JINXED THE WEDDING!?"
Amethyst looked at her. "Keep quiet and I'll owe you for life." Luz begged.
========================================================================
White stared down at the disobedient little Diamond. "I must question, why is it so hard for you to grow up, Starlight?" She asked, moving her hand down. "So much time was given for your little games, but you still try and ruin everything around you." She had to stretch herself so thin. "I even let you play and keep your defective toy's, and yet you never listen to a single thing I say."
"Well maybe that's because everything you have to say is wrong!" Oh, White almost forgot about that human pet her starlight brought along.
"You should really make sure your toys stay quiet, otherwise I may have to break them." The Pearl spoke, sending forth jabs.
"What are you doing to them!?" Her starlight exclaimed.
"I've purified them the best I could. Be fortunate that you haven't felt the same fate…yet…" No more wasting time. She scooped the immature diamond into her hands. "I only want the best for you, my little diamond, why is that so hard to understand?"
"Because you're hurting my friends! Your stripping them of what makes them special!" They shouted.
"Insecurity, blind devotion, dependence. You would call these things to admire?" She brought the brat closer to her face to make sure he understood just how much trouble he was in.
"You're only focusing on the negative traits, but there's so much great stuff about them too!" The human yelled as she jumped on top of the overcooked Amethyst. "Amethyst is chill and emotionally dependable!" She parried against the defective pearl. "Pearl is more loyal than anybody I've ever met in my life!" She then ducked underneath one of Garnet's fists. "And Garnet's wise and a great leader, and she's not afraid to ask for help!"
"Of course an organic defends flaws." She rolled her eyes. "Your own flaw is existing with your fragile and worthless life."
"…Every gem I've come across always says that…but do you know they all have in common?" Pink said. "They all prefer to live with those worthless humans when they're actually given a choice, because you may spout it over and over for a million years, but your way isn't perfect! You're not Perfect!"
Of all the inane gall, that was the final straw. "Let's see how you feel after I rip you away from that organic shell." She reached for fornthe gem.
"What are you … wait, no, nononono." She ignored the pleads, ripping off that image modifier shaped like a star, grasping Pink. "Don't do this, please don't do this!"
"The game is over, Pink." And she ripped her out, tossing that shell over to the human, dropping them from high enough that they'd probably die on impact like the worthless species they were.
"STEVEN!!!" The girl cried out as the bodies collapsed on top to each other. Finally; she was starting to get a headache from that annoying voice.
"Time to come out pink." She whispered to the gem as it glowed, a bright pink light overcoming the area as Pink finally formed, with Pink….not coming out at all. "What..?"
"Ste…Steven?" The human asked, looming over to the shell, and then to what should be pink..except it wasn't pink that formed..it was the image of the shell. "Is that ..you?"
"Maybe … I definitely feel like a part of me is gone." The boy groaned in pain.
"What are you doing Pink?" She asked, gripping her fists in anger. "Answer me!"
The image paused, looking at her with dead emotionaless eyes." "She's gone." Itstated.
"What are you talking about!? Stop fooling around pink!" It had pinks powers, her memories, her gem, it had to be pink!
" I said….SHE'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONE!" The entire room shook and crumbled, actually making white fall and lose her balance.
"Are we sure that's a part of you? Because that was way too horrifying for our normal adventures." The human asked quietly.
"I..I definitely…feel like shouting…from how often….I'm called my mom." The shell responded.
Pink began walking forward. "Don't take another step!" She continued to walk forward. "That's enough!" She blasted her with energy. It would hurt, but she'd fix the diamond eventually.
It… blocked the attack with a shield that looked much more geometric and lethal than it did before, completely deflecting her power, leaving the gem completely untouched.
"…Are your shields really that strong?" The human asked.
"No…they….are not." The shell fell over. "Okay…this really hurts. I need…I need my gem…back.
"Don't you raise your shield at me!" She blasted her once more, only for the shield to become a dome, completely protecting them from the attack.
"I'm just trying to do what's best for you!" Every vessel began to glow. "If you won't be your true self, I'll be it FOR YOU !"
The beams all fired, all attacking the gem's bubble all at once, this would do, this would finally make her starlight perfect, this would-!
Fwooooom
The beams dissipated as all the gems were forced back and knocked over, White once again on her kness. "How…how!"
"Because what's best for Steven and what's best for you isn't the same thing!" The human yelled as she picked up the shell. "Steven is the best person I've ever met because no matter what, he's always himself, both his gem half, and his human half!" The human struggled to hold the shell up. "Your way sucks because everything you do forces gems to deny their real selves, you make them weaker, you make them defective !"
The shell met with Pink, grasping each other. Soon both of them began giggling. "Stop it … stop laughing …" She told them, only to be ignored as Pi-... it , once more chose to hide within the shell, becoming an organic.
"Faced with this." The human started. "I have to question how close the thread of godhood Diamonds tred. Like, that lightshow felt like my soul was being pushed in and out for a minute."
"I just got split in two, I'm just lucky to be alive." It laughed. "And…I'm me."
"You've always been you Steven." The human grabbed his face gently and connected their foreheads. "I've never had any doubt about it."
"NO!!" She screamed. "This isn't how it's supposed to be! You're PINK!! Stop acting like a child!!" White demanded from this insect!
"…I AM a child. What's your excuse?" The thing responded.
"Wha.."
"Pounding your fist on the ground, complaining that you're wrong, you're the biggest child in the universe." The human added. "I've seen newborns act more mature than you."
"I …" Something was wrong. Her puppets were all displaying flaws. A pink flush obviously caused by the Diamond in question … but they were purified, merely extensions of her will… "They're pink…they're flawed… Because of me!?" How was this possible!?
Not able to process this revelation, White let go of her hold on everyone, on Pink's friends, her fellow diamonds, even on pinks original pearl. "Oh Stars that was horrible!" The Pearl shouted.
"My gem was a puppet to a higher light!" The Amethyst screamed.
"…We're definitely staying a two gem couple." Garnet stated stoically.
"My stars…what happened?" Blue shool her head as she and yellow returned to normal. "Why is the room pink…White?"
"She's..off colored." Yellow said outlooks the awful truth of the matter.
"No, I'm not, I'm perfect, I'm supposed to be perfect.."
"Perfection doesn't exist." The thing that wasn't pink walked up to her. "But that's not a bad thing. You just feel embaressed. That's a feeling eveyone gets."
"I'm supposed to be perfect. They said I was perfect, that I was supposed to cleanse everything …"
"Well maybe they, whoever they are, are wrong." The human said. "People back home tried to make me perfect, and it was miserable every time. You tried to make Blue and Yellow perfect, and that made them miserable. I guarantee life for all gems will be better if you let them be whoever they are."
"You just have to get out of your own head." The thing held out a hand. "Come on, it's easy."
White gently held back…before stretching out a single finger and letting the thing that wasn't Pink shake it. "I still feel ridiculous."
"That's called being human." The human laughed. "Trust me, it's a feeling you'll get used to."
========================================================================
Spinel grinned as she looked down at the earth. "It's go time." She smirked, letting the drill move closer and closer, finally landing down.
"Luz, do NOT tell me you jinxed it again!" A voice shouted.
"Hey, you're the one that started the day singing about having his happily ever after." Another voice countered. "That's basically telling Murphy's law to come crashing at your door."
"I take it Steven Universe lives here!?" She shouted down, smirking.
There was a momentary silence. "Actually, he moved to the andromeda galaxy!"
"Huh?" That didn't sound right. "Then why did that stupid message across the universe say he was living on earth!?"
"..It was a last minute move." The voice responded. "Why don't you go ask White Diamond, I'm sure she'll tell you exactly where to go after you explain your story."
"Nah, that won't work, she and the other's got soft and are all chummy with him, blegh." He got to enjoy the love of three diamonds while she felt the neglect of one. "Eh, guess I'll just destroy the earth right now and deal with him later."
"Could we … not?" They asked. "You know, whoever you are?"
"Whoever I am!?" Spinel shouted. "So you don't recognize me!?"
"You're a shadowy figure on top of a giant drill, why would we know you!?"
"I figured the Pearl would said something…seeing as how Pink took HER of all gems with her instead of me!"
"Oh of course, my Mom messed up again."
"Your mom … SO YOU ARE STEVEN UNIVERSE!"
There was another silence. "That one's on you buddy."
"You thought you could trick me, play me for a fool!? NOT ANYMORE! No one plays around with Spinel, NOBODY!" She jumped down, swinging her rejuvenator around. "No way, I'm not letting you all have this happily ever after!"
"Laser scythe!" That human girl that always followed Steven from what she's seen shouted in excitement. "That would be so cool if it was so deadly towards us!"
"OH, you think it's cool, that it's fun!? Trust me baby, I'm the one who's gonna be having fun tonight!" She cackled loudly. "That's right I heard the story over and over again!" She wiggled her way through their attacks, so slow, hardly fun enough toys. "Gee, it's swell to finally meet her other friends!"
"Oh no, she's singing!" The human called out. "When someone's singing during a fight, that means THEY have the upper hand!"
"Come on, that's exaggerating a little." The defective Pearl rolled their eyes.
"Garnet lost her first fight with Jasper. In her second fight, she sang, and she won!" The human exclaimed. "Coincidence…I think NOT!"
"That's right I heard the story, don't really like how it ends!" While they were moving around and talking like idiots, she would get her point across and utterly obliterate them, stretching her arms out and moving around like a spring, making her leg into a whip and pouncing on the boy from behind. "Gee, it's swell to finally meet her other friends!"
"She has toon force!" The boy shouted. "She can do anything if it's funny!"
"How is any of this funny!?" The tiny Amethyst asked.
"Sick people find the beating of their enemies funny!" Wow Human, that was just rude.
"What did she say about me? What did she say?!" She juggled the Amethyst with her feet.
"What did you do without me? What did you do?!" She used the Pearl as a giant dart and planted her pointy nose into the ground.
"Great, not only is this song catchy, we're getting vague hints at her backstory!" The human tried to slice her from behind, but Spinel backhanded her.
"Did you play games without me? What did you play?!" She enlarged her head and pounded on the fusion like she was a giant nail. "Did you think all this time that I wouldn't find out about you?!" She slithered up to the boy, and made the scariest face she could muster just for the sake of freaking him out even more.
"Yes, because we didn't know you existed! WHO ARE YOU!?" There they go again! Rubbing it in her face that she was excluded from having her own happily ever after!
"That's right I heard the story over and over again!" Time to wrapp this up. The 'other friends' were charging at her like a couple of clods. Which made them the the perfect targets. "Gee, it's swell to finally meet her other friends!" And with a final swing, she cut them all in half, instantly poofing them, resetting them, and thus, useless to help Steven.
"Guys!" The boy screamed.
"Now it's your turn!" Spinel laughed, spinning forward as she swung her blade. "Time to go bye bye, Steven!"
"Hold it right there, looney toon!" She was stopped as the human blocked the scythe. "You're like the tenth or so gem that attacked us because of something Rose did! You clearly can see the difference between pink and Steven, so why attack!?
"Of course I know they're separate people." She smiled, staring deep into the human's eyes. "But since Pink is gone and I can't kill her, all that's left is to destroy everything she loved, you understand?" Spinel cackled.
"So you admit you're just being super petty!?" The human called out.
"There is nothing PETTY about being mad for being left alone for six thousand years with nothing but a decaying garden growing around me!" Spinel exclaimed
"Wait what's this about a garden?"
"Distracted!" She ran forward, swinging right through the confused boy's shield and straight into their body.
"GAAH!!" He screamed.
"Steven, don't die on me….again!"
"I … am … alright?" The boy veins glitched with pink energy, but otherwise they were fine.
"Figured you wouldn't have poof with that thick pile of meat in the way, no matter though." Spinel laughed. "Once my Injector poisons the earth, you're human half will have no defense against it, espcially after what I just did to you're gem!"
"Oh shut up!" The human kicked the rejuvinator straight into Spinel's eye.
She cackled as her brain became erased, happy to finally get the last laugh.
========================================================================
Steven stared at the swirling vortex in wonder. "So pretty …" He slowly moved his hand forward.
"Steven, don't fall into the portal of possible death and or endless darkness." Luz flicked him in the head. "We've had to save you the last two times, one of these days we're not going to be here when you run into another one."
"So what you're saying is that we needed to stay together forever." Steven chuckled. "I think I can manage that."
"I mean, yeah, of course." She blushed. "That's how we roll." Things had really died down after Spinel's attack. Aside from Bluebird being annoying, there really weren't anymore enemies to fight.
"What even is it about portals?" Vee asked. "Even Lion isn't that addicted to them, and he has the power to just scream them into existence.
" Grrr ." The lazy boy weakly growled as he went back to his nap.
"They're just so pretty and mysterious." Steven spoke up. "There's a whole universe of possibilities just on the other side, who wouldn't just jump right through it?"
"He makes a good point." Luz nodded. "If I found a portal to a world full of witches and demon's, I'd jump through it with no hesitation."
"I wouldn't have jumped through it normally, but…yeah, I get what you mean." The glasses wearing girl nodded. "Now that we have that titan blood…"
"You'd think it would've been obvious to find it in a cemetery." Luz brought up.
"...We finally got it stable, all that's left is to just to check if it works." Connie muttered, moving her head through the door … only to be tackled as he head was enveloped by a fuzzy thing.
"CONNIE, YOU'RE BACK!" It shouted.
"King … good to … see you …"
"It's been so boring without you! And Hooty doesn't shut up!"
"Oxygen … can't … breathe …" The spectacled girl heaved out.
"Oh my g...IT'S SO CUTE!" Luz ran up and squeezed the little guy. "It's so cute, it's so cute, are all demons just as adorable as you!
"Now I … can't breath …" It squealed.
"Transfer of problems." The spectacled girl muttered as she took deep breaths. "Just let me catch my-"
"CONNIE!" Another person ran through the portal, this time being woman ran through the portal, squeezing Connie in her chest. "Oh, I've been worried sick! I mean, I know that you're a responsible girl that can take care of herself, and honestly my biggest worry was that you'd turn back into a stick in the mud bookworm, but that still didn't mean I wasn't worried about your well being…"
"Eda…..choking…not….breathing…." Connie coughed again.
"That's just family my friend." Steven assured the girl. "Trust me, you do not want to have Garnet hug you at full strength.
"My arm still creaks from being dislocated!" Luz happily cheered.
"Eda, King, I'm so glad to see you." Connie managed to slip out of their grasp. "I know Belos is gone now, but I left so soon that I didn't have the time to realize just what the collapse of an empire would be like."
"It wasn't too terrible….for two days, but then anarchy reigned supreme." The older woman laughed. "With Belos gone, no one knew what was right or wrong, so there was complete civil unrest for the entire Isles."
"We cut Terra's head off and kept it as a trophy!" … They took a step back from the little guy.
"Then the Blight's started enforcing their own rules on people and used their abomatrons to enforce martial law, so now half the Isles are run by those jackassess." The woman explained.
"Okay, so my next goal in life is to kick Amity's ass, got it." Connie nodded. "Wait, what about the other half?"
"They listen to us." The older woman smirked. "Break the news to the gal, King."
"Oh, get this. I'm a Titan!" The tiny fuzzy thing shouted.
"...YOU'RE WHAT!?" Connie screamed.
"Wait, like the giant skeleton?" Vee questioned.
"Yep, I'm a god … and it's so awkward and weird!" He hugged the girl's leg. "Please keep treating me like annoying family! Lilith's gone into complete servnet mode and I don't like it! I'm not the brains of the Owl House, that's you!"
"I'm right here." The lady raised her hand.
"You're the con artist schemer, not the brains!"
"Guys, guys, don't worry. In fact, now that we know King is a titan, we can keep the portal door open." The girl laughed and patted her head. "Trust me, you're going to be seeing a lot more of me over there. I have big ideas and I need your guy's help."
"Good on you Connie." Steven chuckled. "Lets mark portal door off the checklist." He pulled it out, and crossed out … the last thing on there. "... Wait." He flipped through the pages. "Help the gems, set up little Homeworld, work on restoring colonies …" Steven trailed off. "It's … all done."
"Hm..?" Luz looked over the list.
"Everything I've planned for the future, every goal I've ever had….this was it." Steven said. "I've reach my life's purpose." That … was weird.
"Wait, what about jobs?" Vee asked.
"I'm aSpace ambassador and a teacher, and I don't even need to worry about pay, Dad's rich and the gems always provide everything…." Steven said. "Is… Is this it for me? What am I supposed to do now…just…drift?"
Luz looked at him concernedly and held his hand. "If it's any consolation, I have no idea what I want for my future either. I'm barely passing school and I don't have a long term career planned."
"I've been here for little over a year and I have my entire life planned out." Vee deadpanned. "Given it was a bit borrowed from Connie, but still, you guys never thought about the future?"
"A little hard when gem attacks haunt everyday of your life." Steven justified. He still woke up and expected to see someone punch him in the face. "I guess I could … open a music shop? I do music, right?"
"You're the best…hm…maybe I could start doing art commissions online…" Luz thought it over. "Maybe begin my writing career…"
"I'd stick with art if you want a career." Steven said. "No offense, but you tend to get a little tropey with our lives."
"This coming from the guy that likes the happy ending of the last familiar unfamiliar book." Luz countered with a snort.
"Wedding scenes are beautiful!" Vee shouted.
"Not when it's with what is essentially one's Palisman." Connie deadpanned.
"Hoot?" An owl on the old lady hooted.
"It's weird, and by titan, do NOT watch the movie adaptation."
"Actually I didn't mind that one too much." Luz raised her hand. "Whatever the case Steven, no matter what we choose to do with our lives, we're gonna do them, together."
Together ….No matter what …Luz was apart of his life….she was someone Steven could never imagine his life without… "I'll meet you on the beach tomorrow night!" Steven shouted as he ran off. "I need to talk to someone." Maybe Garnet could give some good advice.
========================================================================
Luz walked along the beach, gazing at the sunset. "Hhmmm …" It was a nice view, full of tranquil waves and a serene atmosphere. "Weird, I live so close to a beach but I hardly spend time actually on the beach." You'd think they'd spare a day on their schedule for a beach day. Heck, they even had a water gem on their side. Imagine the waves they could ride.
Maybe that's why Steven wanted to meet up with her, to give themselves time to make up for all the beach days they had. Though with sunset near, that meant it was just going to be the two of them…alone….sitting in what was the most ideal romantic spot on the planet.
Luz shook her head. Somewhere along the way, the line between Best friend and romance blurred. They never made any official announcement. It just happened naturally without anything being said. Both of them were pretty clueless on how 'normal' dates acted…which was actually great for them. They just allowed themselves to enjoy each other's company, like any other best friend would….expect with small kisses here and there.
She shook her head again. Whatever Steven had prepared she would love, even if it wasn't an over the top romantic gesture. "Welcome, Luz." She turned to the red reg, with two dinners, candles, a vase of flowers, a small tablet with Azura loaded on it, and Steven in a fancy suit.
"...You recreated Azura and Hectantine's first date from book three.." She gasped, not knowing if what she was seeing was a type of subtle heatstroke or not.
"Yep … kinda had trouble with the food though, so I just microwaved nuggets." Now THAT was the Steven she knew.
"Ah, you went for the hight quality meal. I'm humbled at your food selection." She laughed, taking a seat. "And …and you have it set up ontop of the first place we met."
"Yep, when a giant rock was about to smash you to bits." He chuckled.
"And where I learned the town I live in has genuine superpowers." She grinned. "Seriously man, you have a way of making life glow brighter than your gem."
"Thanks…but I think you do a far better job than I do." Steven gleamed. "You're always thinking about me, whenever my powers were failing, you were right next to me, hyping me up, coming up with the most fascinating ideas to get me out of my funk…thought that time you threw yourself off a cliff to help me control my floating was a bit much."
"Powers always activate during a crisis, you can't tell me that's never happened to you, because it has."
He chuckled. "You're absolutely insane, and you make it work." Steven nervously looked around. "Which brings me to my point … I never want to lose the spark you give my life."
"Steven.." She placed her hand on his own. "I'm never going anywhere. You light up my life, I'm never letting go of that."
"I know…which is why there's something I have to ask you tonight." He got up, and picked up a guitar. "I don't have plans for the future…but I know I want you to be apart of mine."
"Steven…" She flushed. He was about to serenade her…what every hopeless romantic dreamed of.
He cleared his throat, and began strumming. " I'd rather be tall, I'd rather be smart, I'd rather be sure you know I care.." He began walking around her. " Wherever you go, Whatever you start, I'd rather be sure you know I'm there."
"Well, you are taller than me now…but I do sometimes miss your adorable short self." She laughed as she felt her entire body's heat flow upward into her face.
"I'd rather I always be apart of whatever you do…" Somehow, this amazing gem of a person (heh) thought she was the most incredible girl in the world. Something she still had a hard time believe to be genuine. " I'd rather be me, with you."
"You're the one that makes me comfortable being myself." Unlike everyone at school, or most of the adults she knew.
"Wherever we go, I already trust," He gave an adorable twirl as he continued strumming. "I'd know what to do if it were us." So many adventures to be had, so many good times.
"I'd know what to say, I'd know how to be, I'd know your entire syllabus…."
"Half the time it's me in detention.." She laughed slightly in embarrassment.
"I can't think of any other thing in the world I would rather do…" He stopped playing, and grabbed her hand. If I could be…" He started kneeling. Was he doing what she thought he was doing!? I'd rather be me, with you…" He looked up at her with those gloriously adorable eyes.
"Steven…"
He pulled out a box … containing a glow ring . "Luz … will you spend forever with me?"
"Steven…are you asking me to marry you!?" She exclaimed.
"I know, I know we're young, and that we don't have solid plans for the future…but I don't have any doubt that I want to live the rest of my life with you." He said. "You…you are my future, Luz Noceda."
She looked back at the box, then at him. "Steven … there's only one thing I could say to this."
"That I probably should have spent the millions of assets I own to get you a gold ring?"
"...Okay two things I could say…" She responded. "...but the most important thing I could say….IS YES!" She jumped at him and kissed his adorable face. "YES! YES! A MILLION TIMES YES! I WILL MARRY YOU!"
"It worked!" He shouted back, kissing her back. "YOU SAID YES!" He picked the girl up and began twirling her around.
This was awesome, spectacular, the absolute best thing that could've ever happened.. She gasped. "Wait, do the people getting married plan their own wedding!? Who should we hire!?"
"Not sure, gonna have to makes a few calls, but right now I don't care!"
"Whoa, whoa, hey, where's the fire?" Amethyst came out, along with the rest of the gems. "Why's everyone shouting so loud?"
"I proposed to Luz, and she said YES!" Steven explained.
"You WHAT!?" Pearl screamed.
"He recreated the Azura date, and brought out the glow ring that brought us together! It was amazing!" Luz grinned.
"Thank you Garnet! Ruby and Sapphire were awesome help!"
The gem appeared baffled for a moment, before smiling. "Any time Steven."
"Why did you help them out!?" Pearl continued to complain. "They're so young!"
"Honestly I'm just as surprised at this outcome as you all. We somehow landed in the least painful timeline." She shrugged. "Especially considering Ruby and Sapphire are terrible giving dating advice."
"....Do you want to question what that says about us or continue living in the happy moment?" Luz asked Steven.
"Happy moment. The last three years were all about angst and drama. Lets focus on our happily ever after."