Steven Universe: The Diamond Legacy

The Rainbow Cave

Mom and I were having a friendly spar on the beach. I wanted to keep my sword sharp and my  skills sharper for the time when Turquoise is ready to train me. Mom had become  more open to using my powers but I only used them defensively, blocking her sword with barriers or pushing back with a pink wall. I didn't want to hurt her by accident, though she was strong she was still human and nowhere as durable as a Gem.  She told me that was one of the reasons she  accepted Turquoise's offer.

"You were open to changing your mind." I noticed. Mom nodded. "When I saw you fight on Mask Island I knew you were capable. All I ask for you is to be responsible, don't do anything out of your league."

"I promise I won't." I said. "I wish Dad could see the same way."

"He said yes, honey."

"Only because Aunt Garnet convinced him, otherwise he never would've gave the okay. He's still stiff about it, he doesn't like I'm going to do this."  I heard distant thunder rumble in the clouds. "We should head back." I glanced up at the sky. "It's going to rain soon." Bear chuffed almost in agreement, laying on his bellow allowing me to sit up on his back. I offered my hand and helped Mom sit behind me. Bear rose on his paws and loped the opposite direction of the temple.

"Bear where are you taking us?" I dug my fingers into the hump on his back. "Nora I thought you said he was trained!" Mom protectively wrapped her arms around my waist. "I did! But he's also an animal with a mind of his own!" It started to rain, and Bear picked up speed, bolting into a crack within the beachside cliffs. When he stopped I dismounted, helping a Mom down. "Are you okay?"

Mom brushed out her hair. "I'm fine. Are you hurt Nora?" "Not at all." I crossed my arms at my ursine companion. "Bear what's the big idea? Why'd you bring us here for?" Bear shook his fur like wet dog. "Hey!" I brushed of my now wet clothes. Bear nudged me with his nose lumbering further into the cave.

"Is this your den?" I followed him with Mom. Bear led us into a  small cave littered with plastic food wrappings and bones  (apparently he was a big fan of BBQ chicken and pork). "Yes it's definitely a bear's den" Mom picked up a torn Bear Bars wrapper. "Have you been feeding him this junk?"

"I haven't fed him any of this." I rummaged my foot through the food wrappings. Bear Bars, beef jerky, frozen pizza, donuts!? "Bear what is all this, have you been stealing food?" Bear gave me an innocent puppydog look.

"Bad bear! Don't pretend to act innocent I see your face!" Bear groaned and went to drink from the large  underground stream running  along the side of the wall. Outside I head the rain pour against the stone.

I was about to reprimand him further, until I noticed the rocks at the bottom of the stream glimmering  against the the reflection of my photon orb, like the scales of the sea serpent. I kneeled down, a familiar sense stirring in my brain, and reached into the stream, picking up a handful of rocks.

Beneath my photon light, the rocks appeared in different shades of blues, purples, yellows, and reds. So rich in their color. I dropped them back into the stream, my orb casting light over the shimmering bed. The entire bottom of the stream was covered by these  rocks. "Mom." I said, Deja Vu creeping up my brain like parasitic vines. "Did Grandma ever come here? Sometimes I get a weird sense of Deja Vu  when I'm in places where she's been."

Mom already knew which grandmother I meant. "I don't think so," She answered quietly, gazing around the cave and its stream with the same sense of familiarity in her face. She made eye contact with me, "but  I know for sure you did."

"What?" I scratched my head. "When? I don't remember being in this cave." Mom sat against the wall and gestured me to sit next to her. "You were very young." Bear lumbered over and lay on his belly next to us.