Steven Universe: Time Split

Chapter 54: Letting it all out

Y/n opened his eyes and found himself on top of brooding hill as many in Beach City call it. It was strange as the last place he remembered being was at the car wash.

"Y/n ..." A familiar voice called out.

"Yes?" Y/n responded, looked around, but seeing no one.

"Remember the promise you made ... The Crystal Gems can help you; I can help you." The voice said, mimicking Katherine's.

"I remember ... But who are you?" Y/n asked, trying to find the source of the voice, but finding nothing.

"I am someone who will help you ... All will be revealed soon enough." The feminine voice said, different to Katherine's voice.

Y/n sat down on the hill, and looked out at the scenery in front of him. The hill stood tall over Beach City, giving him a good look at the peaceful town he had come to know.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" The voice said, still not having a physical form to come from, but this was a dream after all.

"Yes, it's definitely something worth protecting." Y/n commented with a nod.

The was suddenly silent as Y/n stared out, looking at the entirety of Beach City, soon, a flash of light came from the side of him.

Once it died down, Katherine was sat next to him. "You've made yourself quite at home here, haven't you?" She asked, resting her chin on his shoulder.

Y/n didn't respond straight away, unsure of what to do, he wanted to cry as he couldn't see the real her again, but at the same time he couldn't. "I guess I have ..." Y/n nodded. "The gems are interesting ..."

"They are, aren't they?" Katherine smiled. "Protectors of Earth, defenders of the weak ... But even then, they need help every now and again."

"Tell me about it ..." Y/n laughed. "Lapis and Peridot are the main handful."

"They seem to be attached to you the most though!" Katherine cooed. "Especially when they kissed you!"

"Ah! You know about that?!" Y/n groaned. "I don't think it meant much ..."

"Are you kidding?" Katherine questioned. "You've were the one that saved and helped them!"

"Yeah, but ... What about you?" Y/n asked.

"What about me?" Katherine questioned back.

"You're my wife!" Y/n yelled in disbelief. "I can't just date someone else!"

"Y/n ... Sweetie ..." Katherine sighed. "I'm gone ... You'll need to move on eventually."

"But ... Greg hasn't moved on! He still misses Rose!" Y/n shot back.

"Yes, he still misses her, but he's moved on ... They all have." Katherine calmly told, pulling Y/n into a hug.

Y/n accepted the embrace, quietly leaning into it, but even the embrace couldn't stop him from shedding a few silent tears as he remembered it was just a dream, that Katherine was truly gone.

"You have a long way to go, Y/n." Katherine whispered as she hand her fingers through his hair. "It will be difficult, but you have a load of people to help you through it ... This isn't like before, you have people to talk to, you have friends that care about you ..."

"I just ... I miss you ..." Y/n cried, sniffling to stop his nose from running.

"I miss you too ..." Katherine said as she separated from the embrace. "I know you don't want to, but it's time to wake up."

"Can't I stay here a bit longer?" Y/n whined.

"No, you're needed by an excited young boy." Katherine giggled.