Steven Universe: Beyond The Mirror

The Warp Ahead

The last things Steven felt in the norm were two hands. One was reaching out to grab ahold of his shirt while the other one pushed him back and out of harm's way...into a void with a temperature as frigid as what was experienced before.

Steven desperately wraps his arms around his shirt, clinging to the fabric as he grits his teeth. He convulses as a form of chilling gas escapes from his mouth. His mind numbs as his body starts to stiffen him for the fate of a human popsicle floating deep within a network of transport in the realm of space.

Steven never imagined his life turning out the way it did from revealing the mirror's awareness to his fellow Gems. He really thought about his life taking more of a gentle breeze than it would a storm such as the one surrounding him.

Had things taken the contrast in the turn of events, Steven would be in his room right now--with the mirror in his possession--with Lapis inside it. Better yet--she could've been outside of it anyway. Oh! A new member of the team! Oh how exciting it could've been!

But it was never meant to be, wasn't it? It was all because of Homeworld! What did Homeworld ever do to the Crystal Gems to cause them to ban together and take the existence of an innocent Diamond?! Why does he have to suffer with that legacy riding on his back every step of the way through his very own?!

He wants to be rid of that burden. He wants Lapis to make peace with the Gems...or for them to make peace with her. Perhaps everyone making peace with pretty much...everyone. A lightning strike pierces at his eardrums as his nostrils inhale the chill.

Steven doesn't dare open his eyes, resisting to gaze upon the billions of stars around him. What's funny about this fate is that Steven is more content with it. His gemstone isn't eating out from inside him...and it's not going to be a corrupted Gem attempting to tear him to shreds for once.

All this is...is a gradual, slow death. Just a chill as chilling as the poles of the planet. There is no oxygen, but he can breathe out whatever energy he has left as he holds it inside him for as long as his resistance would allow.

And once he's gone, after he loses consciousness of reality, he will just be floating peacefully as he would from whence he would drown in his mother's fountain or the ocean itself. But what will become of his beach summer fun buddy? Have the Gems already caught her throughout his daze?

Is this all that is truly left for him now? Should he just suck it up and be done with it? But...Lapis. Is she okay? Is she in trouble? Where is she...and where are the Gems? Steven only knows where he is: entering death. So this must be it then, right?

Because at the end of the day, there is nothing but a slight chill left for Steven Universe to grasp from untimely, unfortunate luck. Steven's teeth breaks out into a low chatter as his eyes squint in their eyelids. How much more of this could he possibly take?

Just open the mouth and...stop. Here comes a thought. Take a moment and think about it. Should it end here and now...or should he hold on just a little bit longer? Is there still hope that he could be saved? Is there a reason for him to suffer other than fate? What about destiny?

Is there still a chance to fix these mistakes? There has to be. There needs to be a way to set things right and restore the norm. Steven contemplates through his thickening skull about an escape plan to get him out of the void before the chill rests in his heart.

What should he do? He can't do anything other than wait or accept his fate. But perhaps there may be a way to get out of there alive? Didn't he enter it from a warp? Why not let another warp take him back in? Ah! Here is one now!

Steven gasps as the sound of a warp tunnel thaws out his ears--his nose--his eyelids--his mouth--his lungs. Yes! It's coming back again. He bulges his eyes open and he gapes at the warp that answered his plea of a second chance. But how is he back? Who is in here with him?

Raising an eyebrow, Steven turns around...and his eyebrow raises to the utmost extent. A Gem didn't activate the warp...for floating right in front of him is a blueish green mechanical sphere. A slot opens at the core, revealing a small canon aimed directly at him.