Sadie double checked her breath, making sure it was fresh. "Alright … it doesn't stink." She took a big gulp of air as she walked down the boardwalk. "I can do this, I can do this…" Could she, can she, would she..?
"Girl, I can feel the nervousness all the way over here." Jackie said from her phone. There was only one person Sadie trusted to talk about this sort of thing. Technically, she also had Marco, but he was her sort of buffer and now she was going after his ex-friend, so she would avoid that awkward train as much as possible. " You can handle a half pipe without a sweat, asking a guy out should be cake for you."
"Yeah, because the last time I admitted having a crush on someone was flawless." She deadpanned, taking the view of the town … the surprisingly empty town. Weird, it was usually more busy at this time of day. "Hey, do you ever recall Beach Creek having a quiet moment?"
"Is that a rhetorical question? Even before Star came, there were still aliens living in town, so no, not really."
"Strange … anyway, I hope you haven't had any romance problems since abandoning the town of drama that is our little beachside view." She joked.
"Just … a really complex love square." The girl groaned. "It's actually been pretty chill for the most part, most people in Paris are friendly, and I actually got to be a legit superhero for a day, so I can cross that off my bucket list."
"Lucky you." She laughed, before seeing the crazy group in front of the store. "Hey, i've gotta go, call you back." Sadie said. "Nice talking with you Jackie."
"No problem girl. Nice catching up with you too. I'll try to swing by sometime soon."
"Looking forward to it." She hung up and approached the shop."Hey guys, what's up?" Sadie asked as she approached the group.
"Just getting a donut, waiting for the Big Donut to open." Steven shrugged. "Since we're living here now, we might as well try breakfast Beach Creek style."
"Waiting for …" She paused, before groaning. "Lars must have overslept. Just because it's his last day working here doesn't mean he gets to come in when he wants."
"Well jerk is a hard personality to wash out of someone." Marco rolled his eyes. "And here I thought something changed when I saw that Ube Roll."
"Who knows, maybe he's preparing or something." Star shrugged. "We know how serious mom can get when it comes to pristine cooking …" She shivered.
"I thought she would chop my hand off after spilling that cup of flour." Steven rubbed his arms.
"And here I was going to pour my heart out to the-" She was cut off by a new voice.
"Sadie!" She turned, seeing the Barringas approach. "Has Lars shown up for work today!?"
"No, he hasn't…" Sadie answered, a sinking feeling now having grown inside of her. "We thought he was still at home.."
"He never came home for two days! We kept calling but it always goes to voicemail!" Mrs Barringa spoke with desperation. "Oh our little boy is missing!"
"Two days!?" How the heck did she miss that?! She wanted to give him space for his new job, but did she really just ignore him entirely that entire time.
"Relax, I've got this." Star aimed her hand in the air. "I su-summon the all seeing eye, to tear a hole into the sky." Star's entire body became encased in black veins as what looked like an ethereal black fire surrounded her body. " Reve-reveal to-to me wh-what is…AGGGH!" The blackness faded as Star collapsed on the ground.
"Star!" Steven and Marco cried out and picked her up. "What the heck happened?!"
"I-I never used that spell without the wand before…It uses a lot more dark magic than I was prepared for." Star gasped for air.
"Okay, no more of that." Steven told her. "We'll do it the old fashioned way. Do you have anything that belongs to Lars?"
"Uh…yes…I'm pretty sure he left one of his old Big Donut shirts in the shop." Sadie answered as she finally opened the door.
"Alright." The boy ran inside, coming back out with the shirt in question. "Lion, ten whole Lion Lickers if you find the guy this shirt belongs to!"
"Grrrr." The pink beast in question looked tired and annoyed at the request, but otherwise did as it was told, giving it a good sniff before taking off to the north.
"Good boy Lion, get on that trail while it's hot!" Steven shouted. "I'll get everyone else we know to start looking for him too, just to make sure we don't miss any corners."
"I … I'm confused." Mr Barringa spoke with bafflement. "Are we following a pink, unchained lion?"
"Don't worry, unless you're my ex-boyfriend, he won't attack wildly." Star waved her hands before twirling in the air, forming giant golden Butterfly wings. "I'll look from the sky. Steven, you caught up with Lion on the ground."
"I'll get Jana and the others. This might be an all hands on deck situation." Marco spoke, running off.
"Wait, what about …" They left before she could even finish her sentence. "Well they're one the case at least."
"Did…did that girl just turn into a giant flying insect?" Mrs. Barringa said, ever confused about what just happened.
"It's a lot more common around here than you'd think." Sadie answered with a sigh. "I'll see if anyone else on the boardwalk has seen him today." She answered them before going off on her own. It was a stretch, but the fry shop was as good a place to start as any.
While she was wondering if Rholdnaldo would even care if Lar's turned out missing, she almost failed to notice a rather large and bulking shadow forming right behind her. "Hello there, are you my dad?" Spoke a childish voice that sent fear down her spine.
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"I don't get it." Marco said as he walked with Steven and Jana, Tom and the gems looking outside of Beach Creek. "Lion can track people through whole dimensions, why does he keep going in circles?"
"Either he buried something around here he really wants to recover, or Lars keeps moving around and around for some reason." Steven said confused, looking at his phone. "Anyone else having luck?"
"He's not at the magic moss pit-ah, another one!." Luz answered while screaming. "Luckily the light glyphs work as well as sunlight."
"Why did we let them go there without anyone experienced in evil moss?" Marco muttered.
"I'm looking in the sky but I'm seeing nothing." Star answered. "And I'm being serious here, I don't think Lars is the only missing guy we have to look for."
"Anyone have experience with murder mysteries or alien abductions?" Jana sarcastically asked into the phone line.
"Been there, done that." Dipper answered next on the line, the sound of page flipping in the background. "We're either dealing with a class one invasion or a class two poltergeist. Have there been any signs of dripping ectoplasm or blood leaking from statues?"
"Nothing, that's the problem. We have no trace of footprints or anything, all we have is Lion chasing a single scent leading us in circles." Steven grumbled.
"Then at least means his within the general area at least." Phineas commented. "At least that's usually the case whenever Perry goes missing everyday."
"This is different though, Lar's is a person, not an animal, and as big of a jerk he can be at times, he wouldn't just randomly drop off the face of earth like this." Marco sighed as his hope began to wane. "Oh the irony, I can't stand being around the guy, yet I'm trying desperately to find him."
"That's just life my dude." Jana patted him on the back. "Don't worry, we'll find him in no time, ain't that right Lion?"
"Ggrrrrr."
"No need to argue that badly." Jana grumbled, before noticing they all stopped, Lion glaring at a street corner. "Guys, I think we finally have a lead!"
"Hold on, I'll be right there in a second." Marco's girlfriend said on the phone before Steven hung up.
"Alright guys, be prepared for anything." Steven said as his eyes narrowed. "Zombie Vampires, Alien Ghost, Doop-Doop…"
"Who the heck is doop-doop?" Marco asked.
"A talking broom handle Star brought to life with magic once and hid away because he had an annoying voice." Steven recounted. "Seems like someone who'd want brutal revenge."
"Makes sense, it's a long list." Marco noted, gloves on as he prepared to punch … a little blue girl. "Why is a child he-" She turned around … showing off a gem in the shape of a tear mark.
"A gem!?" Steven shouted a whisper, clearly just as taken aback by the sight of one as the rest of them.
"Are you my dad?" … Did he sleep with a gem at some point in the Neverzone?
"Ah…no?" Marco answered awkwardly.
The blue gem scoffed with a sign of disappointment, before looking to the other two. "Are you my dad? I really need to find my dad."
"Do gems even have dads?" Jana whispered.
"If they did, then it wouldn't be so dang hard to convince them of 'you-know-what'." Steven gestured to his stomach before clearing his throat. "Ah…no, we're not, but we can help you find your dad…"
"I'm not looking for your dad. I'm looking for my dad." The gem corrected.
"That's what we said?" Marco asked in bafflement. "Why are you looking for them anyway?"
"They're on the list." They shrugged.
"A list?" Jana asked. "What kind of list are you talking about?"
"I have a list of people to look for." They answered. "My Dad, My Friends, and the Beach Workers. My superiors want them off of the earth before it blows up." She looked at them as Steven's eyes suddenly looked freaked out. "Oh, spoilers, your planet's doomed and you're all going to die."
"Well isn't that the nicest introduction to my demise I've ever heard." Marco muttered in sarcasm.
"I … I gave them …" Steven looked like he was about to lose it.
"I've already found a bunch of beach workers, I just need to find my friends and my dad, wherever they are."
"I gave them-"
"Dude, chill." Jana nudged Steven in the chest with a whisper. "As long as she's here and searching, that means everyone else is still here too. We just got to play along and keep her busy." That was right. As long as she didn't have the specifics of who to look for, then they could draw this out for as long as possi-
Star landed in front of them, her eyes scowling as she lit up all six off her hands with magic. "Alright buster, get away from my friends!"
"… Star, your timing sucks." Marco told her bluntly.
"Oh would you look at that! My friends are here, isn't that good news Topaz?" She spoke with a snidish tone to the stomping noise behind them.
"Topaz?" Star questioned as they all turned around…and saw a big bulky yellow gem with a squarish head and two circular gemstones on the side of it. What was the most disturbing aspect about them however wasn't their size, but what they were carrying on them…or rather… in them. "No way.."
Standing right inside of the yellow fusion was Lar's head sticking out of them. Not just him, but Rholnado, Mr. Smiley, Kiki Pizza, and.. "Sadie?!" Marco cried out. Why didn't they take her with them as they were searching!?
She gave a muffled scream, her mouth enveloped inside of the body. "Now, which one of you two is 'my friends'?" The blue one asked. "We don't have much time and I'd rather leave this disgusting organic-ridden planet as soon as possible."
"Oh, you're leaving alright, but it's going to be right now as I blast your butt back into space!" Star shouted as she flew right towards the blue gem.
The little gem sighed, pulling out the ribbon on their head, where it formed a little stick that she pointed directly at the charging Star. "Nope." With a blast of blue light, the girl was frozen in mid air. "Now forgive me, I don't know how much pain it takes until you lose consciousness, so I'm just going to crush you until you pass out, and hopefully, you don't die." And then the love of his life started to scream as she was slammed back and forth against the wall and ground.
"Stop it!" Marco called out, making the gem stop mid smashing. "I'm the one you want, I'm my friend!"
"No!" Steven created a shield, running forward, only to be slammed by the Topaz from the side, straight through three walls.
"Hey, hey, you said you were looking for 'My Friends', right? As in plural?" Jana got in front of the smashed up Steven and confronted the yellow one. "Well that includes me too! We'll come quietly without a fight if you stop hurting them!"
"Don't … you dare…" Star started to glow brighter, only for the light to be sucked away into the stick. "Blue glow … Blue Diamond … damn you confusing magic/gem relationship."
"Hmm …" The gem gave a hum. "The s does imply plurality with your primitive language …" How was she worse than Peridot? "Very well." She raised the stick … sending Star flying into the sky.
"Sta-Star..Star!" Steven cried out one last time before he drifted into the realm of unconsciousness.
"Steven!" Marco cried out, only for Topaz to grab him and Jana on the spot, before briefly splitting themselves apart, and refusing, placing the two of them within their body like the others. "Mpppph!" This was by far the most disturbing use of fusion he had ever experienced.
"That's almost everyone!" The little gem smiled, turned to the exposed Jana head. "I don't suppose you'd happen to tell me where I can find My Dad?"
"Mpph!" That was likely a muffled profanity.
"You could have exposed at least one head, Topaz." The gem grumbled. "I know thinking ahead isn't your strong point, but by stars come on." There was only a grunt in reply. "Whatever, the Steven gave us the list, we'll just ask him."
"Mmmmhh!" They shouted.
"Oh what, did you think we were going to keep your silly little deal?" The tiny bitch smirked. "You're just lucky I exist next to a filthy organic like you."
He couldn't let this happen, he couldn't let Star lose her brother too! He needed to move his mouth. Using all the strength he could muster, he slowly and painfully moved his head upward just ever so slightly, enough to get out words. "Ah can tak you to My Dab!" He shouted with every breath in his mouth.
She smirked. "Good, use your exposed hand to point us there." The pixie bitch came close, gazing into his eyes. "And a small notice, the Diamonds only needed one 'My Friends'. On the off chance you're lying, that's free room to remove one." She tapped her stick on Jana's head a few times.
He gulped, but nodded curly as he pointed his hand towards funland. He'd have to up his BS skills to an eleven, but hopefully he'd buy enough time for everyone else to catch up.
========================================================================
Pearl was absolutely horrified. The battered state of Steven and Star was one thing, but the news of who the kids fought was downright terrifying. "I can't believe it! They sent out an a Topaz on a collection mission! I thought Homeworld was low on resources, yet they can spend some elite gems to do this?"
"I mean I know she hits hard." Steven rubbed the back of his head as they traveled. "But I thought that was just a fusion thing. Are they really that big of a deal?"
"Topaz's are pure brute strength only meant to be used by the absolute best and 'pristine' gems." Garnet clarified. "They're the only cut of gems that the Diamond's ever use for security purposes."
"Great, someone even stronger than Jasper." Amethyst grumbled. "Just what I needed in my life."
"She had nothing on that little blue brat, every second I was exposed to her second rate wand, I felt my magic get depleted." Star grumbled as she rubbed the bruises on her face. "And then she just tossed me in the air like I was a flipping pancake."
"An Aquamarine." Pearl stated. "Intelligent and elite gems that act like snobs as they constantly shove their superiority in your face and belittle you for everything from your posture to your choice in form!"
"...Is there something you want to get off your chest?" Steven asked with concern. "Because we're on a time crunch, so if you need to, please make it quick."
"No, it's fine … I'll just aim it at them." She growled. "So the tracker says they're here?"
"Yeah … are you sure we should stay back?" The intelligent triangle boy asked on the com.
"Just leave it to us Phineas." Star answered back. "If they know we have more friends, they'll probably just try and abduct more people. Everyone else is on back up for now."
"You got it. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for anything, you never know what's around the corner." The daughter of Greg's girlfriend said.
"We've got it … even if Marco chose the worst place for this." Sure, it would be easy to trick them inside of Funland, but now they had an entire park to search.
"Just be lucky I was conscious enough to see where they were heading. I think I added a new crack in my skull." Steve rubbed his head.
"Seriously, see a doctor." Pearl pleaded with the boy.
"Maybe later … Star, can you bring out a magic compass like on the warship?"
"I can try, but I can't guarantee how effective it's going to be." The girl said as she concentrated on her hands.
"You all do remember I have future vision right?" Garnet reminded them.
"Yeah but … when has it ever come in handy?" Steven questioned.
"That time I stopped you from eating expired ice cream?"
"I never ate expired ice cream."
"Exactly." Garnet simply stated as she adjusted their visor. "Now just give me a second and I'll figure out where they're hiding…"
"You're assuming that we're trying to hide at all." A condescending and snobbish voice echoed in the air, and out from the corner came the dreaded Aquamarine and the Topaz fusion, with the trapped humans right inside of them.
"You better back off!" The purple gem shouted out, forming her whip. "We're the Crystal Gems!" She just told them their identity … sure, why not.
"And?" The small blue gem rolled her eyes.
"And … that should at least get something out of you."
The Aquamarine just covered her mouth with a yawn. "Oh really, I should be trembling in my little gem because some motley crew of random gems that can barely function is running around a planet no one cares about? Do you seriously think the Diamonds don't know you exist?" … What? "The only reason the Diamonds haven't destroyed the sun is because we have no evidence Rose Quartz is still around. You're all just a bunch of off colors that will never amount to anything. So just tell us where My Dad is, will you?"
"The only thing we're going to tell you is to get off our planet!" Garnet charged forward, preparing to strike at the Topaz, only for them to simply turn their bodies to the side, where Jana's exposed face was being popped out.
"Mmmhhh!" Garnet stopped at the muffled scream, before Topaz sent her flying through a ring toss booth.
"You know, Blue Diamond never said I had to bring in the humans intact, you know?" Aquamarine smirked. "So feel free to take your fury out on Topaz, I'm sure my Diamond won't mind if a couple of misplaced organic bits get left behind."
"Not if I take you out!" Pearl sent a spear flying at Aquamarine, only for the small gem to block it with her wand, spinning the spear around like a buzz saw and sending it flying back. Pearl had to duck for cover under her own weapon.
"You're not the first disobedient Pearl I've had to slap sense into, and I doubt you'd be the last." Aquamarine sighed as she used the wand to fling her right into Garnet, who was still in the ring toss booth.
"Just shut it!" Steven charged in with his shield, causing the beam to refract off it, only to be enveloped in light. "I'm not going to let an arrogant and egotistical jerk like you tell my friends what to do!"
"Arrogant would imply I don't know what I'm doing. And it's becoming abundantly clear that I'm clearly overqualified for this job." The little gem laughed as she held Steven in place. "So since you've been so helpful in creating the list for us, tell us right now where to find my dad, or one of 'my friends' loses a limb…or was it a head? You human's organic parts make things so confusing."
The buff gem grabbed onto Marco's head, slowly squeezing it. They would crush him. Marco would die. "You don't need him to tell you where My Dad is, because I'm right here!" Star shouted.
"Hmm … a little convenient … but if it gets the mission over with, who am I to argue." They shrugged. "Topaz, do the thing."
The Yellow gem approached Steven's sister as it split, with Star herself walking in between them to let them trap her inside. "Star, what do you think you're doing!?" Steven shouted.
"Chill guys, it's going to be alright." Star sent a thumbs up, though the sweat on the girl's forehead. "I'm here with ALL my Friends. I'm glad they ALL CAME here!" Was there some kind of message she was trying to send? If there was, the girl couldn't convey it anymore as she was frozen in place, her face being the only thing sticking out of the yellow gem's backside.
"Ugh, I forgot how loud and obnoxious these creatures can truly be on the brain. I don't know how Holly Blue does it." Aquamarine groaned. "Come on Topaz, let's get out of here." She pressed a button, the top of the carousel glowing and detaching.
"Star, you actually have a plan, right?!" Amethyst shouted as the yellow gem jumped into the air.
"JUST GLAD ALL MY FRIENDS CAN BE HERE! SO, SO GLAD!" Star shouted one last time before she was forced into the ship.
"I'd say your compliance was appreciated, but I'm not that good at lying." Aquamarine smirked as she spat her tongue at them. "So todo lo. Have fun expiring on this planet!" She mocked one last time before they entered the ship, the sound of engines revving in the air echoing.
Steven stared at the flying ship, feeling his insides boil. "That ship …" She could see pink spikes form along his back. "Is never getting off this planet."
Before Pearl could get a word in edgewise, he jumped with enough force to make a crater in the ground. "How likely is he to take the ship down himself…?" Pearl turned to their leader.
"Contact everyone else, and get ready to form Alexandrite." Garnet responded immediately.
========================================================================
Star was putting her all into the current mission at the moment. "Come on …" She didn't think it would be so hard to blow something up from the inside, but it was so thick she had to put everything just into trying to overwhelm Topaz.
"Ugh, finally, this mission is over." Aquamarine moaned to herself as she flew overhead. "I'm glad this world will be off the star maps. If I ever get called to do another mission on earth, it'll be too soon."
"You know, Earth isn't that bad when you get to enjoy the sights." Star said, trying to buy time. "The lights, the music, the trees-"
"It's all terrible. It's teaming with filthy life that thinks it's worth something." They scoffed. "Honestly the concept of a zoo is laughable, who would want to keep creatures like you alive?" Aquamarine then sat herself on a tiny chair. "But it makes my Diamond happy, so I can bear with it just a little longer."
"Mppph." Marco muffled as he rolled his eyes, gesturing to her. "Mpph hppph?"
"I'm working on it." She muttered. "Just need … more power …" Come on, blowing things up was her number one thing! More power, more magic, exploding rainbows!
"An alien spaceship, I really should be more excited about this." Rhonaldo muttered as he looked around the surrounding area. "Why did I have to leave my phone at home today of all days?"
"MPPPPH!" Lars muffled screamed at the fry-haired boy.
"Hey, if I'm going to be sent to space, I want it to be on a happy note!"
"Mmmph." Marco groaned inside of the body.
"A little more … a little more …" Star could feel herself gaining some more free room, finally pushing against Topaz. "Just….need…a little more juice…" She felt herself dipping down hard, the glow from her marks glowing brighter and brighter.
"Enough babbling, I'm setting the course for homeworld no-AHHH!"
KABLAAM!
The ship found itself jerked violently, making it tilt itself off to the side just a little, which made Topaz lose their balance. Which fortunately for her, provided the perfect opportunity to finally blast ouf. "We're….getting….out…..NOW!" Sending in all the magic she had inwardly, she blasted the distracted Topaz, and managed to split them into two gems again, freeing everyone that was stuck in between.
"Scatter!" Marco shouted. "They can't catch all of us!"
"You heard the man, run!" Jana said, grabbing onto the mailman and pulling him away.
"What in the blast is on the ship?" Aquamarine pulled up a screen … showing her brother, Pink and Mewberty state, punching the side of the ship over and over.
"Give! Me! Back! My FAMILY!"
"Horns are a good look on him." Jana said offhandedly as she ducked under one of the Topaz's big and bulky staffs.
"You're not taking any of us!" Star blasted the giant gem over and over, who merely used their club to deflect her rays of rainbows as she came closer. "... Well if you were this strong why did you need hostages!?"
"We're the best of the best. If there's an easier way, we'll take it every time." The Aquamarine rolled her eyes, narrowing her gaze at her two grunt workers. "Topaz, stop playing around and get them already. And Topaz, help her out!"
"I said…give THEM BACK!" Her brother's shooting shook the ship violently more and more, making wires fall out and sparks fly everywhere, enough to force the door of the ship open, where they were greeted by another slightly scary but also very comforting appearance.
"Alexandrite!" Marco pointed to the outside.
"Jump out, we're close enough to the water for you to survive!" The fusion shouted with effort.
"What!?" Sadie began to question, only for Jana to push her into the ocean below.
"Sorry, I'll apologize later!" Jana shouted as she cannoballed herself. "Look out below!"
"Everyone, go go go!" Star said, blasting against the two Topaz's to keep them separated. "Now!"
"This is the second greatest experience in my life!" Rholdnado shouted as he went.
"I should've never quit stand up comedy!" Mr. Smiley screamed as he plummeted to the ground.
"I was wrong, delivering pizzas isn't the worst thing ever!" Kiki jumped next.
"I need to find a girlfriend, life is short!" Jamie, the mailman, who she admittedly forgot was even their,, went next.
"Is that everyone!?" Star shouted, continuing the stream as the two Topaz finally fused back, now barely affected by her blasts.
"I think so, no time to argue either way!" Marco shouted as he grabbed her by the arm, as they made it to the door. "Come on, lets get out of…"
"HOLD IT!" Aquamarine shouted, and everyone was frozen in a blue light, from Alexandrite to the people in the water. The only one left untouched was Steven, who's rage could barely be contained anymore.
========================================================================
"I SAID LET THEM GO!" Steven shouted, jumping from the top of the ship at the little pixie that froze everyone around them.
"Or what? I have everyone frozen, including that abominable war machine." Aquamarine smirked. "With a simple twitch of my hand, I can send everyone to the depths of Earth's ocean, or to the endless vacuum of space."
"I wouldn't do the later one, anyone we send to space comes back stronger!" Marco shouted.
"Marco, that's the void." Star rolled her eyes.
"I was hoping she'd buy the bluff!"
"It was a dumb bluff!" Jana argued.
"ENOUGH!" Aquamarine shouted. "I really, really hate compromising the mission, but hunting these humans is really more trouble than it's worth. I might as well terminate this batch and look for a fresh, less troublesome collection." Aquamarine squeezed her wand tiger, glaring daggers that pressed deep into his soul. "I don't care how much I need to go through, I WILL complete my mission, no matter what."
"Not if I crack you fir-" He was grabbed by Topaz, slamming him into the ground. He was low on options. They weren't going to stop. Even on the off chance they did, more gems would be sent … because of … "Wait, I can give you something better than your mission!" Everyone stopped.
"Oh really? A likely story."
"Seriously, all you need to do is take one person, and the Diamonds will like you more than taking everyone else here. In fact, they'll love you for all of eternity" He slowly pushed up against the yellow gem. "They wanted my mom more than anyone else that ever existed."
"What the heck are you talking about…"
"Well I'm right here, fresh for the taking! I may not be my dad, but I am my Mom!" Steven lifted his shirt, and showed off his gemstone. "I'M ROSE QUARTZ!"
"No way…" Aquamarine looked in awe, actually deactivating the hold she had on everyone.
Alexandrite defused in an instant. "STEVEN NO!" Pearl shouted with horror in her eyes.
"This is the only way all this crap ends!" Steven shouted down to everyone. "As long as I'm around, everyone will be worse off for it! This way, everyone else can at least live normal lives!"
"Now this is quite the treat indeed." The blue gem smirked. "You'll come willingly, no tricks or escape attempts?"
"As long as everyone else is left alone."
"Steven, don't do this dude!" Amethyst shouted.
"This all started with my mom! It can only end with me!" Steven kept reasoning to everyone.
"Hmm … the Diamonds are strict … but you are the thing they hate most of all." She looked tempted.
"Then why don't I sweeten the pot!?" Star launched at them, only blocked by the small stick Aquamarine held. "I'm a Mewman, I know you guys hate that just as much!" WHAT?!
"Star, what the heck are you..!"
"You're my brother, Steven!" Star shouted right in his face. "I don't care if I spend an eternity in hell! I love you more than anything in this damn fucked up universe, and nothing's going to ever stop me from loving you as your sister, through thick and thin, ice and fire! And if I die knowing that we have each other at the end, then I'll die the happiest girl in the universe."
"Guys, seriously, don't do this!" Marco pleaded.
"Rose Quartz AND a Mewman … alright, it's a deal." The tiny gem cackled giggled. "Topaz, do the thing." The yellow one grabbed on them, and briefly split before merging again, Steven and Star helpless as their face stuck out of the back of Topaz, slowly entering the ship as they saw the horrified and despairing expressions on their friends and family.
"Steven, Star! You don't have to do this! We can find a way, you guys always find a way!" Jana screamed.
"They'll keep sending people, this is the only way!" Steven shouted, turning to Star. "I'm sorry I dragged you into this."
"Don't apologize for this…never apologize for this." Within the confines of their certain doom, the two of them managed to hold each other's hand, enjoying the little comfort they'd have during the trip…because the two of them knew it was probably the last time they'd get to do so.