Summary:
A great power indeed!
She couldn't believe what she foresaw … it was so depressing. And just when they met someone nice too. "I predict that Lars … will cease to move." She hated to bring such terrible news to her friends, both old and new, but that was her duty, whether she was in service or not.
"You're alive!?" Steven yelled as Star began poking at Lar's body weirdly.
"Why are you two so close to me … WHY AM I PINK!?" [ Lar's hue changes with Steven's tears. Begin breathing once more]
"I predict that Steven's tears will cause something spectacular to occur within Lars!" Paparacha shouted eagerly. Yes, yes, good things actually COULD last within the dark little world she found herself living in.
"Okay but … why am I pink!?"
"Your tears healed him?!" Star screamed, freaking out, obviously excited by the sheer miraculousness of the situation.
"Yeah but … does it count as healing? His heart wasn't beating and-"
"My heart wasn't WHAT!?" Lars shouted. "Am I a zombie!?" [Lars was being cuddled by his friends] Such a good vision, there was no immediate need to announce it.
"Ah…no, that can't be it.." Steven began to sweat. "If you were a zombie, you wouldn't be able to talk and move as well as you can…"
"Steven, I died! Everything went cold and now I'm alive! I'm a Pink Zombie!"
"Look, you guys are overthinking it." Star waved off. "If he was a zombie, he wouldn't have a heartbeat." She pressed her head to the boy's chest … sweating a bit. "Ah…ah…" The sweat became more prominent, before she took a breath of relief. "It's….a really slow heartbeat, but it's there." [Lars in fear of his current new form.] Oh dear, it must've been his first time poofing.
"I'm sure we can figure out if you're alright, Lars." Paparacha reassured him. "No matter what color you are."
"Good, he's not a zombie. What's a zombie?" Rutile said and asked.
"Is it not normal for humans to turn pink?" Rhodonite asked.
"Not like this…although I guess if they get embarrassed or hot they turn red, or blue if it's cold." Steven explained.
"And if they don't feel well, they turn green." Star added.
"So what does pink mean? Will he explode!?" Rhodonite screamed in fear, jumping back.
" Maybe he can reform after he explodes. Maybe he can transform." Rutile suggested.
"I'm sure … whatever form they become … it'll be fit for them …" Fluorite smiled.
"Am I really going to explode!?"
"No, no, of course not! You're just pink…like my magical pink Lion…." Steven eye's widend. "Wait…is THAT why Lion is pink and magical!?"
"Do you have magic abilities?" Star asked. "Like portal roars, or super strength? Can you feel something new?"
"I … don't feel anything." They noted. "I haven't eaten all day…but I don't feel hungry, and I don't feel tired at all despite all the running and fighting." [The gems thought Lars would explode.]
"I'm sure what's happening to Lar's is perfectly normal." Paparacha reassured her friends.
"I hope so…I mean…aside from being freaked out, I don't feel too different." Lars sighed.
"Yeah, sorry, I didn't mean to do this…I mean, I didn't know my powers could go this far, and you didn't really have a say in whether or not you wanted to come back and oh geez, I've hit another limit breaker on my existentialism." Steven wheezed
"Hey, don't worry. You're with people as weird and strange as you are." Rhodonite patted the boy's head. "Even if we're wrong, we're wrong together."
"Heh, wrong together. That shouldn't sound right, but it does." Lars weakly chuckled as he felt his head. "Even my hair changed, it's a lot more poofy."
"Just how deep do these changes go?" Steven asked as he reached his hand out to Lar's head, a bright pink glow emerging upon making contact with it. "No way, this too?!"
"Steven, why is my head glowing?" Lars asked with trepidation.
"Okay, so you know I have a pink Lion that likes to eat out of the dumpster behind the big donut, right?" Steven asked the human, who simply nodded. "He has this thing where I can store things in his head even when it's bigger than it should be."
"… Steven, I don't think my hair can fit you …" Lars spoke. "No offense but I have a small head and you're kinda … round."
"There's only one way to know for sure!" Steven shouted with determined eyes, taking a few steps back before rushing at the boy.
"Hey, hey, hey, stop! You're going to..!" Steven jumped right on top of Lars….and promptly disappeared into it. "...To completely defy every natural law I bothered to learn."
"Hang on bro!" Star shouted, started to run. "I'm following you everywhere!" She began to charge…and slammed right into the boy instead. "Oh come on! I went inside Lion before … wait, that was only when Steven took me with him…" She paused. "Maybe I need to turn on the pink."
"Can we please stop trying to get inside my head!? At least until I can process why that's even possible in the first place?" [Steven enters a pocket dimension inside of Lar's head]. Oh what spectacular news!
"I predict that Lars' hair shall lead somewhere fascinating, new, and far away from Homeworld!"
"A little late to the party … but thanks Padparadscha." Star complimented. It was so nice to be able to help out such interesting and kind beings.
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Pearl cried in her corner of the newly constructed house … one that had gone to waste. "He's gone … again…" Just like when Rose vanished, never to be seen as she gave birth to Steven. "I couldn't do anything …" Again, just like Stelly said, useless Pearl.
Any time there was a fight Pearl wasn't able to play her part. Most of the fighting went to Steven, who shouldn't even need to be involved in live combat. Especially against such dangerous opponents.
"I'd this just it?" She asked the night sky. "Endless disappointment and failure over and over?" The war was lost, her leader was lost, and now a boy she cared for and swore to look over … all lost over and over.
If she went to Garnet, she could have a shoulder to cry with, their tough and fearless leader feeling just as powerless as they felt right now, struggling to find any sort of bright future. They sadly didn't share the boy's optimism with overwhelming odds. Amethyst was just trying to stay with everyone else and ignore the problem entirely, helping them cheer up and try to improve the situation.
Moon and River had each other to rely on in this situation, as well as Eclipsa to share in the grief. The pain was most definitely hitting the Butterfly parents the hardest, actually having the blessing of getting to see the children grow up. Pearl couldn't tell if it was more cruel to have known and cared for them for so long only for them to be ripped away.
Marco had just spent his entire time trying desperately to build a ship, even with Peridot's discouragement. His latest attempt had him awake for three days and blew up twice in his face. The constructively minded of Steven's new friend group kept reassuring them they'd have something ready on standby, though that was a huge lie with the Plumber's constantly shooting down every attempt at getting off planet.
And then there was Greg…who was taking the pain much more maturely than she had anticipated. Pearl found herself envious of the man once again for two main reasons. He had obviously known from experience how difficult the pain was, and had learned how to process it well. And if that wasn't enough…he had someone to emotionally support him this time around with his current romantic partner, something Pearl sorely lacked. He was able to move on…and she continued to struggle.
Now it was just her, all alone. With the pink Lion Rose never told her about, gazing at the night sky as she cried out. "All this because I can't say anything … what's wrong with me!?" If she had just said something … maybe this would have been fixed … maybe there would have been hope.
"Nothings wrong with you Pearl, you're just you." Steven's voice called out.
"Great, now I'm so guilt ridden I'm hearing his voice." She groaned, wondering if she should just indulge herself in the fantasy. Anything was better than the constant fog of misery and despair her head kept swimming in.
"Knock it off." The voice whacked her head. "You can talk to me about mom whenever, remember?"
"I wish it was that simple. Every second of every day I'm just screaming internally to tell the whole world what needs to be heard. I made a promise to keep quiet, but there's no point in keeping it, especially when it just keeps hurting those I care about." Pearl sighed. Maybe if she yelled really loud and fast, she could get past the order and finally admit the secret.
"Then say it while I make a sandwich and put some water in some bottles, I need food for me and Star."
"Now that's just ridiculous. I don't eat, and why would I make food for Star and you when they're…" Pearl paused for a second. "Not…" She turned around, almost afraid that what was behind here was some kind of illusion or mirage, or some kind of trick.
"You may not eat, but me and Star haven't eaten for a couple of days. Luckily, Amethyst stored up a couple of juice boxes." The boy that shouldn't be there spoke, grabbing them out of the fridge. "Oh, and some bacon too. Should probably cook it first."
"Steven …" She began slowly walking to the boy. "It can't be … is it really …" She touched him, just to see if she was still sane.
"Since when are you so touchy feely?" Steven asked her skeptically. The skin was soft and warm, he was here, he was here!
"STEVEN!!!" Pearl wasted no time to grab the boy into her arms and squeeze him tight, afraid that he would disappear the moment she let go. "How's this possible!? This shouldn't be possible!! Oh who the star's cares how this is possible, you're here!"
"Yeah, I'm happy to be here too." He patted her back. "Do you mind letting me go, I need to go back to Homeworld in a bit." Steven replied as if he WANTED to return to the hellscape!!
"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND!? WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU EVER RETURN?!"
"Because Star is still there with Lars." He shrugged. "Pass the bread?"
"Steven, you need to think about this for a second…"
"I have. I've been thinking long and hard about it, and I'm thinking that I need to get my sister and friend food before they collapse from starvation, and then bring them back through Lion's mane so we can finally put this nightmare of a week behind us."
"Through Li-… How!?"
"Oh, Lars kinda died, and then I brought him back pink with portal hair…" Steven paused, turning to the feline that stared at him. "… I'm sorry…" The lion closed it's eyes and brushed it's head against the boy's hand, almost as if to say 'it alright'.
"You brought back….Rose could bring back…AGH! I hate being the one having to ask these kinds of questions!" Pearl groaned.
"Now you know what it's been like to be me for the past year and a half." Steven groaned as he placed a couple of sandwiches into plastic bags before placing them in his cheeseburger backpack. "I have a lot to unpack both mentallly and emotionally, but right now, Star and Lar's wellbeing takes priority. Feel free to tell the other's we're okay if they come by."
"Wait!" She held him close once more. "Please … please stay safe."
"I…I promise." Steven let out the first sign of true emotion that wasn't irritation when a light tear fell from his eyes, returning the hug in full force.
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Star devoured the sandwich in one go, washing it down with a single gulp. "So good … so needy …" She would never take food for granted ever again.
"Lars, are you sure you don't need one?" Steven asked worriedly, insisting that their friend have something. The fact he wasn't devouring the food like a wild animal was starting to freak her out.
"I mean, I can try…" Lars forced a few chips down. "Hmm …" He twitched. "It feels …" He began coughing, before barfing the food right back up. "Ugh … it's like my stomach says it's already full …"
"I guess magic, or whatever power gem's run off on gives you is enough to sustain you." Star guessed. And while what happened to Lar's was tragic, she was grateful in this one moment that it was him and not her. She couldn't imagine not eating her favorite food whenever she wanted.
"It would explain why Lion keeps throwing up on my bed…" Steven mumbled. "So, your hair is a portal back to earth, sorta, we just need to get everyone inside and we're good to go."
"How am I supposed to fit inside my own head?" Lars asked.
".....Excuse me for one second, there's something I need to do." Steven said with a forced calm smile, before jumping up really high and entering one of the gem holes, where the sounds of muffled screaming could be heard, along with a mild shaking that was followed through by a bright glow of pink from her brother's spot.
Star finally finished her meal with a satisfied sigh. "Maybe we can go Starry Quartz, boost up our magic enough to punch a hole through to earth even with how weak I feel here." Plus magic was always better on a full stomach.
"Alright, just give me a second. We haven't fused since Meteora's attack." Steven came down from his brief storm of anger and stretched himself out. "You sure you're up for this? This could be more exhausting for you."
"We're literally seconds from getting off this nightmare planet, I'm going for it." Star waved off her brother's concern as the two of them got into the groove. Steven had definitely improved over the past few months, if only from the constant repetition.Maybe she should give music a try again, see if she can get the guitar down.
With everyone watching, she gave her brother a spin and brought him closer to her, and the bright lights were forming…only for them to fizzle out and force each other back when the merging was supposed to occur. "Oh come one!" Steven yelled in frustration. "Why is that all of sudden all messed up!?"
"Magic…it's all because of my magic…" She looked at her hands. "It's too messed up on this planet. Yellow and Blue Diamond's presence on Homeworld must still be in effect." Not to mention that giant White statue … that thing just gave her the heebie jeebies just looking at it.
"I guess you'd need a diamond boosting your power to work it out here." Steven grumbled. "Okay, new plan. Every gem through Lar's hair. Me and Star will stay with him as we try to take a ship. Once we're out of orbit we 'should' be able to magic him off."
"No, no, you guys have to get out of here too." Lars argued. "I saw how crazy those giant broads are, the longer you two stay here, the more likely you'll die."
"But …" Star hesitated. "No offense but you're a human in a world of super powerful immortal rock ladies …"
"Yeah, and during that trial thing or whatever it was, they didn't care about me. Same with those drone doohickies." Lars continued, looking at everyone. "You're all being hunted by this planet, I'm not. I get it, this is…this is just what I need to do." He pointed to his head. "Everyone just…climb into my head so you can enjoy the earth and everything that I took for granted on it!"
All the Off Colors looked at each other, clearly having mixed feelings on Lar's sacrifice. "Well, if you insist." Except for Rhodonite, but a nudge in the arm from the Rutile twins stopped her from stepping forward.
"We…..won't do…it….not if…it means…leaving you…behind." Fluorite insisted, planting their numerous feet firmly on the ground.
"No, really, I don't mind! I wasn't doing much on earth anyways!" Why did this jerk choose now of all times to play the selfless hero. "It's a really beautiful and rare act of kindness from me."
"Even if you're unseen by the drones, you still need a way to navigate the tunnels. You'll need a guide through the caverns. We've been here for eons. We know all the best hiding spots." The Rutiles insisted.
"We can't leave without Lars!" She was really starting to prefer this orange sapphire over Garnet. Not only did her powers come in handy more often than not, she was also WAY more precious.
"You guys …" He looked touched, before turning to them. "But you two still need to go. They want the two of you no matter what."
"I can't just leave you here!" Steven shouted. "I promised to get everyone home safe and-"
"Steven." Lars placed both his hands on the boy's shoulders. "I spent the past year and a half of my life finding you and your sister freaks because I was too insecure to actually show myself to the world. I'm an asshole who doesn't know how to keep his friends. And despite all this you brought me back to life …" His eyes had a pleading look. "Let me show you it wasn't a mistake."
"Lars…." Steven wiped his eyes, before slowly nodding his head. "Fine, but we'll keep coming back. We'll bring whatever you'll need…just..please stay safe." Star didn't need to look at Steven's face to know the cruel irony those words had over them.
"I'll be fine. I don't need to eat …" He paused. "I'm an immortal zombie … who's pink for some reason."
"Hey, the coolest people I know don't care what color they are. They just jump in and kick ass like you did back there." Star weakly laughed and sent a playful punch into Lar's shoulder. "To think this is what it took for us to be friends…heck, for us to actually have a conversation longer than two minutes."
"What a crazy world …" He paused. "I guess a crazy universe …"
"Technically crazy multiverse." Steven laughed, giving a happy sigh. "... Good luck Lars."
"Yeah, you too. Tell my folks and Sadie I'm fine…and tell Marco I'm sorry." Star would be happy to finally fix that mess of a relationship. If only it didn't come at a cost like this.
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Steven pulled his sister out of Lion's mane, the two of them taking deep breaths. "Fresh air!" Star shouted. "Oh how I've missed thee!" He knew the feeling the moment he came back himself.
"STAR! STEVEN!" The moment was ruined as they were tackled by their parents, both Butterfly and Universe alike, hitting the wooden floor. "YOU'RE ALIVE!"
"Yes…alive….and…barely breathing now…." Steven managed to mutter from the tight grip the trio of parents had them in.
"I can't believe it! I really didn't believe it when Pearl said you popped out of Lion's head, though given the amount of crazy I've been through, I shouldn't have been surprised!" His earth dad said as the hug he was trapped in only got tighter.
"Mommy's here now! I'm never letting go of my babies again!" Mom upped the ante by squeezing the life out of them.
"I would have taken on that whole planet if it was an option, I'm just happy you're safe!" And their Mewman dad increased the squeeze further to 'impossible to breath'.
"Mommy..Daddies…everything's…going…dark…..the lights….coming closer…" Star choked out as their faces were starting to turn blue. "Stay….away….Mr.Koala…"
Garnet walked up, prying them apart, placing them down as they finally caught their breath. "... I'm so relieved!" Before repeating their previous predicament by powerfully removing their lung's ability to inhale.
"When they say….too much love….I wonder if this is what they were….talking about…" Steven said as he started to see pretty colors spread everywhere.
"Oh don't go hogging them now, Garnet, I need a turn!" Amethyst was next, using her whip to take them out of Garnet's hold, where she had Star in a chokehold and him in the prime position for noogies.
"Thank you… for letting us … breathe." Star said to the purple gem. "I'm not sure how much more affection I can take…" She was stopped in the middle of her sentence by a fast approaching Marco, who gave a quick hug to Steven, turned to his sister and … removed her ability to breathe with a … very PDA kiss.
"If I wasn't so exhausted, I'd be hurling exploding bubbles right now." Steven narrowed his eyes, slightly amused but mostly annoyed. He hated being the third wheel.
"That makes two of us." … A very familiar voice spoke … Steven turned to see the luscious green locks he dreamed about on top of the head of a brown skinned angel. "Nice to see you kicking again, Mr. Quartz Demayo Universe Butterfly."
"Ke-Ke--Kelly!?" Steven was taken aback, falling on his back in shock. "How, why, when, what, who…?!"
"About three days ago, about a few hours after you and your sis pulled the old disappearing act." He wondered if she was aware of the irony of those words coming from her mouth. "I leave for a couple of months and you're still the same crazy bleeding heart…I'm glad."
The blush on his face couldn't have been redder. Even if he was annoyed by the dear john letter, his heart still raced at a hundred miles an hour over this girl. "I'm glad you're here too." He said, walking up with his arms extended.
She ducked under his attempt at a hug, ruffling his hair. "Come on now, you just came back from the enemy. Let's all go grab some goblin dogs on me."
She never avoided hugging him before. What was the big deal now….oh crap, they were still broken up, weren't they? "Yeah, that sounds…great." For every good in the universe, there was always something bad waiting for him, wasn't there?
"Glad you think so. Your new friends were starting to get really antsy." Kelly chuckled.
"Alright!" Ladybug came through the door. "Maxwell finally got coordinates, and I got the Horse Miraculous. Let's prep up and …" She paused when she saw Steven. "We did all that work for nothing, didn't we?"
"Who cares, the bad stuff is over now!" Luz cheered, before running over and giving him her own bone crushing hug. "Can't have my new little brother dying on me so quickly!"
"Oh, so you adopted someone while I was gone?" Kelly asked his parents, who were all crying tears of joy.
"No…I'm dating her mom…and it's getting really serious now." His earth dad said with a nervous chuckle.
"Romance just infects everywhere in my life, doesn't it?" He muttered, idly glancing at Star and Marco, who were now rolling on the ground. Again…he hated being the third wheel.
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Blue Diamond stared at the sleepy spider between her fingers, careful to keep her powers at bay. Anymore and it would be absorbed completely, reducing the creature to non existence. "Have the drones picked up anything?" She asked Yellow, who was standing right beside her as she sat on her throne.
"No. And while it may prove difficult, magic from the Mewman gives Rose Quartz a factor of unpredictability." Yellow sighed in annoyance and anger. "There's a chance, slim as it is, that she made it off the planet by now."
"If she did, it's obvious where they're going … Mewni." She muttered, staring at the little creature resting in her palm. "If I investigate this…thing, I may be able to track her down based on an energy signature."
"I'm glad you're using your head…It could've been useful hours ago."
Blue paused, turning to Yellow. "You know I would never accuse you, and I know you miss Pink just as much as anyone." She stated. "But that Blue Zircon had a point … how did she get so close … how did her Pearl not see it coming?"
"You know how unprepared Pink truly was to handle her own colony. I wouldn't be surprised if she let all of her guards wander off to who knows where. We both know how...liberal she was with her original Pearl." Sadly Yellow had a point there. Pink, as sweet as she was, was probably the most irresponsible sentient being in the universe.
"True … not that we don't give our own Pearls liberties …" She idly glanced at her own Pearl, watching her with covered eyes.
"We also don't allow said liberties to be noticed by the entire planet, under the watchful eye of 'you know who'." Both Diamonds shivered at even the mere mention of White. Even when she was stuck in one place for thousands of years, their leader always managed to shake the both of them to their very cores.
"So, what will you be doing in the meantime?" Blue asked, placing the spider inside of a containment unity.
"I'll await the emergence of the Cluster. If Rose Quartz has been roaming on the planet for as long as I think she has, she is most likely the cause for its delay." Yellow responded determinedly. "If it doesn't emerge soon, I'll personally go down to that wretched planet and force it to activate, even if it's with my bare hands."
While she wasn't attached to the idea … if magic could truly bring back pink … then she wouldn't need Earth's memory anyway.