Steven Universe: A Bridge Too Far

Chapter 7: Heart to Heart

Steven Universe and Lars slowly open their eyes, wondering what their current predicament is. As they observe their surroundings, for Steven at least is a beautiful looking land, many lush green hills that spread out as far as the eye can see. Thousands of lush looking evergreen trees everywhere with a few gorgeous blue lakes scattered around. When Lars stares for himself, behind them are breath taking blue-ridge mountains complementing sparkling rivers and flowers of many colours.
For a few moments, Steven and even Lars couldn't help but feel at peace here...even a tear drops from their faces for such beauty. As the half-gem glances around, he notices a crater in the distance glowing red. Steven hugs the crystal in his arms, speaking with a strange sense of determination "There it is! The third shard! Lars, we have to head over there and get it!"

Lars quietly stares down at the warp pad, nothing like the one at the Temple? Some sort of stone that feels polished and pristine. He slowly looks at Steven pointing "What?"

"Oh! Sorry! Totally forgot you don't have a clue what is going on! I can explain-"

Lars folds his arms, his expression giving Steven a clear indication of anger "Oh yeah! I'm sure you can explain Steven!"

Steven smiles widely, not realising Lars' mood "Basically we have to collect all the shards in order to make a wish come true-"

Lars yells loudly "I don't give a flying flamingo about those darn crystals or whatever the heck they do Steven!"

The younger boy is taken aback by this, been a very long time since Lars made an outburst on that level "h-huh? W-what do you mean? I-I thought you wanted to know more-"

Lars cuts off the Crystal Gem, not holding everything inside "I want to know more! Just not where we are, what the crystals or whatever! I want to know more about YOU!"

Steven stares at his friend looking so angry and upset, but the boy's expression from worry slowly turns blank. Deciding not to respond but rather stare at Lars, which of course continues the rant "Steven, when I saw you acted out of character and everyone at the Temple clearly knew something is up with you! I may be a selfish, ignorant and a big jerk...but I respect you a lot Steven, but now...what should we all be thinking!?"

For the first time, Steven felt more lost than before. Like being in a corner of a large, dark and cold room. Huddled up in cold fear "Lars...stop..."

Lars's arms start flailing, face becoming red as each sentence riles him up "the Steven I know would have NEVER done something like that! Bursting out towards his family for some stupid dumb thing that MAY grant a wish to bring your mom back! Let me repeat MAY GRANT YOU A WISH! How the heck do you know for sure it'll grant you whatever you want!? Have you ever considered you may have to give up something in return!?"

Steven Universe shifts around, gritting his teeth "I-I..."

"Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl probably loved you like their own! And here you are being a selfish, ignorant, JERK! Why is having your mom back so important to you!? I thought you accepted it all!? You moved on! SO WHY!?"

Steven glares at Lars with pure anger and bellows at him "BECAUSE IF MOM CAN COME BACK! EVERYONE CAN BE HAPPY AGAIN AND I CAN BE STEVEN UNIVERSE AND NOT KNOWN FOR BEING ROSE QUARTZ! SHE CAN MAKE EVERYTHING BETTER!"

Lars holds his glare, taking everything in from the emotional half gem and how wrong Steven was, or maybe not? Lars didn't really seem to know himself anymore if only he couldn't care like before! So why is he caring? "Steven, think...think not for yourself but for others!"

Steven Universe laughs loudly, speaking to Lars in a hysterical and angered tone "honestly Lars! That's what I've been doing for a long time! I've tried to become what everyone wanted me to become! But I've been thinking, why can't I be myself? Why can't I decide who I want to be? Why do I have to be viewed as my mother? If a mother can come back, I can be...Steven Universe...finally free of being in Rose Quartz' shadow...and make everyone know I am me. Is that so selfish!?"