Steven Universe: Beyond The Mirror

The Strawberry Battlefield

Steven and Lapis wander through the field of strawberries as Steven explains his serious mission to his partner. "So we were inside this inverted pyramid thingy, and Pearl was all panicky and then we were all panicky."

The aroma of fresh wild strawberries tickle his nose as his lips curl up. "So I was yelling that it was just like the teacup ride back in Funland, but then I realized that the pyramid was just like the teacups! It was spinning us around and around with every path we took so that we would end up right back in the center!

"Garnet then punched the floor and then we were on top of a bunch of other smaller pyramids all circling around a statue with a corrupted Gem! So I leaped onto that thing and I pulled it right out of the statue. Then everything went crazy and it shut down and then-!"

Steven makes an explosion sound with his mouth. Lapis giggles as she wanders alongside her friend. "Wow! That must've been so intense for you!" Steven's teeth gladly pop out into his grin as he nods. "It sure was!" Lapis sighs as her lips curl downward.

"I wish I could've been a part of something like that. I mean, my missions are just a bunch of demands to reshape a part of the planet I was assigned to." Steven's lips curl down just the same as he turns his head up to his right. "Aw, Lapis, no one said you can't be." Lapis' eyes droop down on Steven to her left. "What about THEM?"

Steven stops in his tracks as he puts his hands on his hips. "Well, maybe if we're lucky, we'll find one to catch here!" Lapis casts her eyes down on the ground, turning her head back to the pathway ahead. "Doubtful." The ground starts rumbling as Lapis stops next to Steven.

"Wait!" Steven puts a hand up in front of Lapis to block her as he hears the ground rumbling beneath him. Steven gapes at the ground along with Lapis as the ground cracks a few feet away from them. "Something doesn't sound right."

Another part of the ground cracks behind them as Steven and Lapis stay as close to each other as possible. Steven rolls his eyes towards Lapis to his right with an eyebrow raising. "I--uh, think today is your lucky day."

Sure enough, the ground breaks through to their left as a monster pops out of a strawberry. Bits of the strawberry fly in their direction, attaching to Steven's shirt and jeans. Steven and Lapis turn in the direction of the beast as they listen to it screech.

Their eyes bulge with a grimace, taking an abrupt step back with their left foot. The beast appears to be a giant bluish black beetle with two horns sticking out of its head from the front. It has four legs and a rough shell on its back.

Lapis gasps as she gazes at the rectangular, rainbow colored gemstone embedded on the chest. She grits her teeth as a memory flashes through her concious. "I--I was there! On this battlefield! I remember seeing that gem...before-!"
"Watch out!"

Steven lunges into Lapis, pushing her out of harm's way as the beetle charges past them from where they stood. They grunt as they crash onto the dirt. Steven gets up from Lapis, staring at the beast. Lapis looks straight up towards Steven. "Steven! I recognize that gemstone!"

Steven turns his head to his right towards Lapis as the beetle charges towards him. "What do mean?" The beetle rams into him, knocking him right into a strawberry about the size of him. He grunts as the strawberry bursts upon impact, covering him in its juices and aroma.

The beetle charges towards him once more as Lapis springs into action. Her water wings pop out as her teeth clench towards the beetle. She leaps into the air and she swoops down in front of Steven.

She lands on her feet and the water wings retract back into her gem just as the beetle rams her into Steven. Steven lands back onto his back with a grunt. He groans as he sits back up, covered in strawberry juice. Lapis' dress is somewhat stained with it as she struggles to get back up.

The beetle screeches as Steven and Lapis whimper for a moment. Lapis takes a step back as she casts her eyes down on the juice surrounding her. "Steven, is there water in this stuff?!"
"I don't know!" Steven shakes his head, staring at the beetle inching towards the duo.