Steven Universe: Wild Worlds

Chapter 1: Free

It was a dark, rainy day, and the Crystal Gems and Lapis decided to play a game of cards. They all sat on Steven's bed. Everyone was very cramped and it was hard not to peek at someone else's cards.

"Steven...why can't we just play with these on the couch or something?" Lapis asked, attempting to stretch out but hitting Garnet in the face.

"Because," Steven said, examining his cards. "I've always wanted to play with my favorite deck of cards with my favorite gems in my favorite part of the house eating one of my favorite snacks!" He said, and tossed a Chap into his mouth. Lapis groaned.

She hadn't had time to feel truly comfortable around anyone yet. She spent thousands of years trapped in a hand-held mirror, and once she finally broke free, she was still trapped on Earth. Once Steven healed her gem, she felt free for once in her life. Until she was captured and interrogated by Peridot and Japer, who then trapped her on the Hand Ship. And even after that, she had been trapped in an unhealthy fusion with Jasper for several weeks before finally losing her control and letting Jasper go. She had been prisoner to something for almost her entire existence, and she didn't want to feel trapped with her new friends as well.

The group each took turns picking cards and throwing cards down, all staying very silent. The pinging of the pouring rain was the only noise between the awkward silence of Lapis feeling lonely. Soon thunder started to rumble. Lapis jumped, throwing her cards in the air.

"What was that?!" She shouted, alarmed.

"Oh," Steven chuckled. "It's just thunder. It's...nothing to worry about really." He assured her.

"Oh. Okay."

The Gems continued their game, still in silence. The thunder soon grew louder, and much more often. It soon sounded as if lighting struck their house. Garnet had a nervous look on her face.

"You sure that was thunder?" Amethyst asked, a bit confused.

"Um..." Steven looked out the window to see a flash of light. "That was lightning. I think it's thunder." He mumbled, still not too sure. Garnet looked more nervous than ever.

"Garnet, are you alright?" Pearl asked, noticing Garnet's worried facial expression.

"I-I..." Garnet strained to get her words out. A very loud rumble shook the entire house, and different color lights flashed outside. "I don't think that's thunder."