Steven Universe / The Battle For Freedom

The Calm Before The Storm

It was a beautiful day in Beach City - which any city should be with the name 'Beach' - the sun was shimmering over the over the homes of Humans and Gems alike. The sand sparkled like diamonds under the suns gaze, the sea washing up to curve the sand a somber shade of yellow. Two teenagers sat upon the sand, a blanket shielding their sensitive skin from the itchy feeling of the land below them. "Thank you so much for letting me stay, Steven. I know its kinda stupid but i'm terrified of storms; that's the only reason Mom really let me come." She answered honestly as she scratched her chin. The young boy turned his head to her and let off a goofy grin. "No problem!" his face rested, "And thats not stupid, storms can be super scary. Once my macaroni cheese got blown away by one." he said which earned a laugh from Connie. Steven laughed a little with her and then let off a happy sigh. "I'm actually very happy you're here," he responded in a questioning like tone. She turned her head back to him, getting the signal that he wanted her to listen. "Yeah?" she questioned as she tilted her head. The young teen nodded and opened his mouth, "Yeah, a lot has happened recently and its really nice to finally relax." he answered with a relieved sigh, slumping back and laying down on the blanket with a quiet groan. Connie sniggered and lay beside him. "Yeah, your life is so intense . All that junk with the Diamond's and..new gems and dead Lars? That must be hard for you." She uttered with a more concerned tone towards the end as her look at him was now worried. Steven turned his head and looked into her eyes with a small smile. "I'm getting through it." he said softly but not completely honestly. He had literally witnessed someone die before his eyes. Connie looked unconvinced but she did not want to push him and make him uncomfortable. "Okay.." she said quietly and looked up at the sky; no clouds whatsoever. She froze up as she felt Steven's hand slowly intertwine with hers. It took a moment to process the action but soon she settled down and shook the dark blush from her upper cheeks.

The purple gem turned her head as Steven walked in, an elated expression upon his face but it soon faded as he saw the gems crowded with a worried look. "What's wrong?" he asked almost immediately as he walked closer, now looking as worried as them. Pearl sighed and pulled her hands away from her mouth as she opened it to speak but then didn't. She took a few moments and looked away, silent. Garnet knew she didnt want to speak so she opened her mouth and spoke sternly, "Homeworld will come after us. After you." She said quietly as Steven gulped. The young boy looked down, feeling fearful of what was to come. "I should have stayed on Homeworld, just let them shatter me" he exclaimed as his eyes filled with tears. The tears began to flood down his cheeks as his breathing picked up and he began to panic. Amethyst's eyes widened. "Gee little man, you alright?" she asked. Garnet picked him up and held him close to her chest as she sighed. "He's clearly been bottling up a lot of emotions. He's been through a lot." she said quietly and wiped a tear under her visor. Pearl sighed and wiped a tear also as she sat down and tried to relax as Garnet put Steven to bed. He fell asleep almost in an instant as he hit the bed. He stayed asleep through the small crash that was heard outside only a few minutes later. Amethyst got up. "I'll check it out!" She said quickly as she rushed outside.

There in a crater in the sand lay a small little ball that seemed to be a meteor that had fallen from the sky. She picked it up and chucked it about in her hands. The small "meteor" grew small arms and legs and so to take the look of a robonoid but with much sharper and menacing talons. Amethyst paused to look at it and groaned. "Oh, it'd one of you..little freaky things." She mumbled as she poked it. It looked up at her and raised its hands, digging it's talons into her skin. Amethyst screamed and tried to tug it off. "Ow ow ow ow!" She cried out. It injected a liquid into her, causing her body to slump and she dropped to the floor. The robonoid clicked it's talons out and walked over her body towards the house. Amethyst lay twitching on the floor, a clear liquid squeezing out of the mark in her skin. The robonoid climbed into the open window, the gems not noticing at all. It clambered up the stairs and onto Stevens bed, taking out its sharp talon. Garnets instincts kicked in and she rushed over, faster than light as she grabbed the robonoid and threw it into the wall behind her. Steven woke up to the sound of impact and sat up. "Garnet? What was that?" He asked worriedly. Garnet sighed. "It was like those things that Peridot had..only worse." She mumbled. "Wouldn't have Amethyst got rid of it?" Steven asked and then his eyes widened. He rushed outside. "Amethyst?!" He ran over to her in the sand and held her close as he began to cry. Garnet strolled over and sighed. "This..liquid.." she wiped some onto her fingers. "It's..preventing her from retreating to her gem but..the pressure is so strong, she's stuck between poofing and shattering." She said quietly.
Steven gasped dramatically and cupped Garnets cheeks. "SHATTERING?!" he exclaimed worriedly. Garnet sighed. "Don't worry, it's preserving her in her form. She'll be okay; I think." She uttered the last part under her breath.
Steven wiped his tears and headed back inside as Garnet picked Amethyst up. "Homeworld, do you ever give up?"