Steven Universe: In Too Deep

Everything's Always Changing

Steven looks back at Lapis. He tries to help her back up. "Are you okay?" Lapis looks up at Steven, tired and weak. "I'll...be fine. Let me take you back." "You sure you don't want to take a minute?"

Lapis feels the left side of her head. "It's fine." Lapis gives a reassuring smile. "I just wanna get outta here." Steven smiles. "Okay." Lapis's water wings pop out of her gem and Steven climbs up onto Lapis's back.

They take off into the sky once more and they don't look back. A sad silence takes over the flight back to the barn. "For a moment, I really felt like things were different." Lapis looks down and closes her eyes.

She grits her teeth. "But they're not. No matter where I go, I'm trapped." "But you're not. You're not underwater, you're not in a mirror. This time, you're free!" Lapis looks back at Steven.

"But I'm still on Earth." "Yeah, but nothing is still on Earth. Everything's always changing." Steven smiles. "The leaves, the cities, even Jersey changes. My dad says the rest stops used to be pretty gross, but now they have sushi!"

Steven chuckles. "This isn't the same world that held you prisoner, not anymore. And I know it doesn't feel like home, but maybe that can change too." Lapis smiles, looking down.

Steven and Lapis glide down towards the barn. Once they land, Steven climbs off of Lapis after she lets go of him. Lapis's water wings retract back into her gem and she looks at the sunrise, still smiling.

"I know you can't go back to Homeworld." Steven reaches into his pocket for the leaf that was caught in his mouth from earlier. "But if you stay here, it will be your choice to stay here."

Steven hands the leaf to Lapis. She stares at it, frowning. "It's funny. For all this time I spent on Earth, I barely saw any of it." Steven frowns. "That's not funny. That's super sad."

Lapis looks back at the horizon as the sun rises. "I...I wanna see it." Lapis smiles. Steven smiles back. "Yeah?" "I wanna stay here." "Here? Like here here?" Lapis faces Steven, reassured with her decision. "Yeah, here here."

Peridot walk out of the barn to meet Steven and Lapis. "Yes, hear hear everybody!" Peridot opens her eyes. "What are we talking about?" Steven and Lapis stop smiling facing Peridot.

"You?!" Peridot smiles. "Lazuli, nice to see you up and about." Lapis takes a step back. A hint of anger shows in her voice. "What are you doing here?!" Peridot puts her arms and hands up.

"This is my new home away from Homeworld!" Lapis's eyebrows narrow in on Peridot. "No, it's not!" Steven facepalms. "It's mine! Right, Steven?" Peridot and Lapis face Steven.

Peridot is still smiling, oblivious to what's happening. Lapis puts a hand on her chest, frowning, still holding the leaf. Steven nervously chuckles. And turns away. "Oh boy."