Summary: Family sticks together, even in insanity
Moon watched as the monster … her son , battled Toffee. It was mostly bites and stomps of massive power, all of which the damned lizard just regenerated and cackled. "He's gone … he's lost in rage and madness …"
"Maybe he'll rip Toffee apart to the point where he can't grow anything anymore.." Marco looked down dejectedly.
"Marco." Mr Bugolyubov said in a blunt tone. "He regrew his body from a finger."
"No..no please…don't leave me…don't leave me alone.." The only one who's agony could possibly reach Moon's level was Kelly, who could only watch helplessly as the tears kept flowing out. "I can't be alone again…I need you…I need you…"
Moon looked at the wand, grasping it as she grasped the black sand. "Please … please don't leave me to." She can't lose both her children on the same day.
"RAGGH!" Lion came into the fray, joining her son in fighting Toffee.
"Oh, the transportation has come to its master!? Sorry to say he's gone to-" It may not keep him down, but it was still cathartic to see him stomped to the ground.
"Okay…as much as I love seeing this guy get what's coming to him, what can we realistically do?" Marco asked, doing his best to not let the tears overwhelm him.
"There's only one option I can think of..and I have no idea if it will even work.." Moon began picking up the destroyed wand bits piece by piece. "If I can find every piece, maybe I can put it in Rose's fountain and…and.." she stopped herself, feeling snot running down her nose from all the hysteria.
"Here." Kelly handed her a tissue from inside her hair.
"Thank you." Moon accepted it. "You best all run along now, I don't know how much longer Quartz's attention will be on Toffee, and more monsters will come eventually when they see the kingdom in ruin."
"No …" Marco walked around, picking a few black pieces of dust himself. "If we want to fix the wand … let's be sure to do it right."
"Here, let me." Mr.Bogolyubov kneeled down and picked up his own piece. "Don't want to lose track of this bit."
"Every piece counts." Kelly added in, picking up another handful. "We … we need them back." Kelly used her arm to wipe away more tears. "They defy the impossible almost everyday, they will come back…they have to."
"Yes..yes of course." Her children were strong, they inspired their friends to hold on to hope even when it was all gone. "Please, please corn above all, please let me be naive and hopeful for once, and please come back…"
========================================================================
Star woke up, coughing up some more. "How does this stuff keep getting in my mouth? Absolutely disgusting." She whined.
"I dunno, it tastes kinda good with vinegar." Star was silent for a moment, slowly turning her gaze to the tiny blue man stirring a pot. "But then again, that might just be personal preference."
"Glossaryck!" Star shouted. "But Ludo said you were dead…oh corn, that means I'm dead…Im dead…and I'm stuck here with you!" She groaned in horror. "I have to be stuck with a jerk like you for the rest of forever!"
"Hey, I take offense to saying I'm dead." The asshole of a teacher said with cross arms. "And to think I went out of my way to make soup for all three of us."
"You would make it no matter …" She paused. "Three?"
"He absolutely would make it no matter what." A voice she only heard once spoke. "I don't eat it cause it's too chunky."
Star slowly turned her head, almost scared to see what she would find, but nonetheless looked up, and saw an eight foot figure with pink skin and curly hair that just flowed all the way to the floor. "Ro-Ro-Ro.."
"I believe the word your looking for is Rose." The absolutely SHOULD be dead figure alone with a laugh. "And yes, I am Rose Quartz. Or Guard. Whatever you prefer."
"... I really am dead." Star muttered.
"Again, I take offense to that." Glossaryck spoke up.
"Just because you can't be revived doesn't mean your dead. People have an afterlife you know, even gods." The pink lady argued. "Death from everything I've seen in many universes can more often than not be a beginning, sometimes you can only truly live after you die."
"Great, getting existential life advice from my bro's dead alien ghost mom, that's exactly how I pictured my day going." Star groaned.
"I kinda pictured it would have pudding, but at least we have soup." Glossaryck stated. "So since you're going to be staying with us, might as well show you around."
"Around…around!? There's nothing around! We're in the middle of nowhere!"
"Untrue." He argued. "We have a pot, and a patch of land."
"Oh shut up! My brother was right about you, you apathetic jerk."
"You mean you didn't figure it out on the first meeting?" Rose giggled. "You must have the patience of a saint."
"Oh, don't even let me get started on you, lady, I got my own list of grievances." Star pointed accusedly. "Do you know how much baggage there is for Steven, just because he's your son!?"
"Yes …" She stated sadly. "I didn't want him to get involved in any of this, but I guess that's what I get for having a kid … still won't regret it though." She looked up. "His smile is amazing."
"Yes it is. He's just so positive and helpful, and when he believes in you, you feel like everything will be okay." She sighed. "Being his sister…it's probably the best feeling I have…had."
"Why are you saying it with past tense?" Rose asked, with the gall to give it a curious tone.
"Uh, because I'm dead now, and I can't be there for him." Star sighed. "And now he's probably lost in his own head going full animal, so yeah, I've lost everything that matters the most to me."
"You say that like there's no hope." The gem raised her hand to the black goo, pulled out a rose petal from the depths … a pink one. "When a queen loses hope that's the end … but you all can do some amazing things … even before Lyrica."
"Hah, amazing, like anything good came from being a Butterfly." Star scoffed. "We lie over and over again, and it screws people up, which is probably why you like them so much."
The gem laughed, clutching their stomach. "Star, if I liked people for lies, screwing people over, and secrets, I would have married Glossaryck instead of Greg."
"Maybe if your hair was blue instead of pink." Glossaryck shrugged.
"I like the Butterflies because you can choose to be good or bad, even when your ancestors and when the commission tries to dictate otherwise … it makes you beautiful." She smiled. "Just like all of life is."
Star sighed, feeling an odd mixture of relief and concern at the same time. "So…you're aware of everything happening on the..other side?"
"You can see everything from here. It's how Toffee knew so much after spending his time here." Glossaryck stated. "Like how you kids disobeyed your mother, how Peridot became a Jackalope, and how that music guy got kicked in the nards by your friends."
"Hah, good times." Star laughed.
"Indeed. I've also seen Moon, River, and you do everything you can to make Steven a part of your family…in a way, I probably prefer it to be like this then with the gems." Rose sighed. "I put too much pressure on my friends to expect them to know what to do when it came to raising a kid."
"And here I thought rocks loved pressure." The asshole joked.
"I will spill your soup I swear to the stars." Rose sent her a smirk. "Just tell my friends that I'm sorry, and tell your mom she did a great job, because both of her kids are amazing people."
"Will do." Star smiled, feeling a bit better about everything. "So … how do I get out of here?"
"You can't." "Find a way." … The two, probably the oldest people in existence, looked at each other.
"If she focuses and finds a way, she's bound to get out of here."
"We're here and there's nothing she can do."
Great … Now they were arguing with each other. What was she supposed to do now? Just stare at the soup forever…!? "Oh …" She chuckled. "I see what you're doing."
"Yeah, arguing. I thought it was obvious." Glossaryck deadpanned.
"Oh no, it's all riddles and metaphors with you … and one I remember well is the difference between being a skimmer … and a dipper." The answer was obvious.
"Wait, Star, that's boiling!" The blue man tried to dissuade her.
"Well guess what, book man! I am a dipper! And this dipper is going to dip dow-Aggggg!"
"Star, you really should..!" Rose reached into the pot as well, her entire body glowing pink.
"DIIIP, DOOOWWWWNNNN!" She shouted, feeling energy of primordial nature flow into her arms as she pulled the chunk out.
"Ahh … here we go again." The asshole spoke as she formed creation itself.
========================================================================
The beast roared, clawing at the foe that would not die. "Just give it up, you haven't made any progress!" They spoke their strange words.
"Rrrrrrgh!" The beast didn't care, just seeing the guts of this enemy spilling out gave him an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.
"You really are a freak of nature." The thing laughed. "Oh as soon as you pass out from exhaustion I'll see what I can do about ridding this world of your existence!"
"Rrraaagh!" The pink cat thing tried to strike, only to be batted away. The beast landed another bow on the foe that would not die, head butting it.
"It feels good, doesn't it? All those years of pacifism just completely shattering as you embrace your primal urges." The scaly enemy just kept smiling as another arm was ripped off and regrown. "This is what living things do with each other you beast! They fight and fight! Peace between people? A lie to keep themselves safe, it's everything for themselves!"
"Rggggrrrg!" They began to glow a dark pink, feeling energy coursing their their body, letting it explode like a shockwave. "Skreaaaaaaa!!!!"
"She called it corruption, but that's inaccurate!" The lizard's skin was constantly being ripped off and regrown with every pulse that hit him. "This is the true face of your kind, whether human or gem! Nothing but complete and utter savages. The only difference between you and me is that I actually have the means to survive!"
"You're wrong!" A voice shouted, the beast turning to a bush. "He's kind, he wants to find the best in people, deep down he's a good person." The beast began walking to the bush, growling.
"Oh, and I bet you're just willing to stake your own life on it, pet his pretty pink forehead and get him to calm down?" The lizard said from behind him. "New flash, you brainless burte, he's no more sapient than that mangy cat he keeps around. In fact he's probably worse than said feline, at least IT can recognize friend from foe!"
"Quartz, please." It stared down at the tall woman, looking at it with wet eyes. "Please come to your senses!" The beast opened its jaws to devour.
"This is irony at its finest! Being killed by your child AND old friend at the same time!" The lizard kept mocking.
"Quartz, I know you're in there, please!" She pleaded, as the beast went in for the bite. "PLEASE!!"
The beast saw them tremble in fear, along with … "Grrrr." Something bright … something warm.
"Steven…please…come back to us!" The bush yelled. "If not for us, then do it for STAR!" Star…Star…why did that word bring such comfort to him
The beast shook off their pleading, shaking their head, before going back to staring at the bright warmth that the tall woman had, as it began to move from her grasp. "The wand!" A red one shouted.
"What's it doing!?" A dark green one cried out as the glow shined brighter and brighter. The shiny broken piece of rock flew in the air, as it mixed around with a bunch of black bits of dust.
"Oh what Deus Ex Machina bullshit is this!?" The lizard shouted from somewhere.
"I want to say the power of love, but I don't know if that would be too cliche." The red one muttered.
The completed star flew stayed where it was for a few moments … before flight straight into the beast's body. At first it scared them, trying to scratch it out, but it filled their body with warmth. "Grrrrr." It felt nice … and cozy … and thought provoking … Steven accepted the embrace as all became color.
========================================================================
In a void, not quite a dimension but not quite a mind, two siblings stood. The realm was covered in a dark green muck, darkened purple crystals poking out as pillars and islands, and black butterflies flew around and rested through the realm. Two siblings stared at each other, one covered in muck, the other in scales.
"I've gotta be honest." The girl sang as a piano began to play. "Something's been on my mind this whole time. Something has been bugging me for a while now … now I need to tell you … I'm a bit of a problem."
The music picked up, lighter as trumpets began chorusing. "Come on, you're gonna lie to me? Right here and now at this very moment?" The boy asked. "Just say something completely untrue, here and now."
"I think I'm a bit of a problem."
"Nah that's not true at all." Steven began to reach out to her.
"Yes, I'm a bit of a problem." Star walked out of reach.
"Nothing you can say can prove your point."
"Everything I touch just kinda starts to fall apart." She stared at some muck in her hand.
"Everything you touch becomes more and more fun." It began to take on a golden glow.
"I don't know where I'm going." Star kept her distance.
"I'd love being lost with you." Steven kepting following, every step clearing the muck just a tad with a golden hue.
"I can't even clean a closet."
"I put everything in a lion's head."
"I just keep on attacking every little villain that I meet."
"And You keep me safe when I'm too slow to fight back."
"Could we just stop playin around, and admit I'm a bit of a problem …" She spoke, looking at the now golden sea.
"Well you know … I think I'm a bit of a problem." Steven admitted, stopping his chase.
"Hey I'm the one singing, get real here."
"Yes, I'm a bit of a problem."
"Stop lying already, you're an awesome bro." It was now reversed, Star chasing Quartz.
" I cry for snakes because they don't have arms."
"You care for every critter we come across." She tapped a crystal he looked into, clearing the purple darkness for a pinker hue.
"I'm overweight and have ice cream weekly."
"Who doesn't love some yummy sweets in their tum?" She asked, every crystal they passed glowing brighter and brighter.
"I messed up a relationship because I was selfish."
"Have you seen me? I can't even keep a single guy around."
"How about we just stop, messing around, and admit I'm a bit of a problem?" He asked, looking at the islands of bright pink quartz.
"I think that we disagree on a lot of separate things, except one." Star said, holding out her hand.
"I admit we don't see eye to eye, but I know something where we can meet." Steven took it with a smile, as they started to spin, the black butterflies shedding their paint and becoming white.
"I love you and see the bright shining gem you are."
"I love you and see the amazing soaring star you are."
"We may be a bit of a problem, and that's completely fine!" They shouted, spinning with golden magic, pink quartz, and white butterflies in a tornado.
"We're a bit of a problem … and that's completely fine … I'm a bit of a problem … and I'm fine with that."
========================================================================
Toffee spent the last thirty years planning every detail, every step of the way. He was meticulous, he was thorough, he was patient, he had WON! He had destroyed magic, he had ruined Moon, he had corrupted the gems … So why was Quartz glowing with the wand inside of his stomach!? "What the Hell is going on!?"
The monster that was the former adoptive butterfly started glowing pink and yellow all over, shifting and shaping itself into something smaller, before being surrounded by sparkling lights that looked like rose buds just before they went into bloom, before a shockwave of yellow energy engulfed the area.
Kelly's hair exploded, the bubbles popping as the gems started to shine, revealing … their humanoid forms. "Guys, you're back!"
"Wha…huh..what happened?" Amethyst rubbed her head.
"I don't…why do I feel like flying south for the winter?" Pearl looked around her area like a confused animal.
"Ruby!" "Sapphire!" The two lovers immediately fused back together. "... Well this is a surprise." The fusion stated, looking at the glowing mass.
"They're back! But the corruption was put out, the fritz…" Moon was practically choking on her tears of happiness and relief. "Star…Quartz…is that you!?"
"NEITHER!" The lights faded, revealing a strange figure, golden pink light emanating from their scaly armored skin, wings shaped like a dragonfly, six arms ending with claws grasping at the accursed wand which now carried a crystal star design. "Don't you know!?" The abomination asked. "I'm Star … Steven … shoot they both start with s t." They tapped their chin with one of their many hands before shrugging. "Starry Quartz!"
"Starry Quartz…that name is terrible…that's definitely Star and Steven fused together!" Marco called out in elation. "They're back!
"I will deal with you later, mr." They waved to Moon. "Hi mom … where's Toffee?"The thing asked in a demonically angry tone.
"Over there….sweeties?" She pointed to him while looking confused by how to approach the abomination.
"Alright, so what's the deal here?" He asked, utterly infuriated and annoyed. "You manage to use Moon's spell on my heart, killing me and learning war, or shall you-"
They simply raised their wand at him, holding it with every hand as their wings shifted into an X position, the wand hovering over the gem within their stomach. "Die." Suddenly everything was blinding sparkles and pain beyond anything he had ever felt in all of his existence.
"GRRAAAAAAHHHH!!!" He tried to push against it, his body regenerating … and regenerating … on top of regenerating … on top of it … he could feel it giving out, seeing cracks out of the corner of his eyes. Eventually the light faded, as he was nothing but brittle and cracked bones and mush.
"Seriously, you really need to learn to stop talking." The abomination laughed at his state of all things. They flew down, as they jumped. "Group hug everyone!" They shouted with naive happiness … as if everything was better!
"Do you really…think…that's going to be the end of it…after so many years of planning!? " He yelled at them, reaching out a dead and decaying arm at them. "I've been making moves long before you were born, only I know how everything will turn out."
"Yeah, yeah, you're a big master planner, praise your ego or whatever." The fusion rolled their eyes. "You know Toffee, you planned a lot, but the one thing you didn't count on was just how much Steven and Star love each other. You made us family….so you only got yourself to blame for the mess you're in."
He laughed. "You think family was the answer? … This isn't over … even when I die it won't be over" He crawled forward, feeling his body break apart. "Soon you'll see I was correct … that my plan was the only way … I'm the one who sees how it all ends!"
"And it ends with you crushed by me!" He turned and saw Ludo throwing a pillar at him … wow, he almost wished he didn't crawl forward for his threat … meh, they'd suffer either way.