He Did It For Me: Steven's Legacy

Chapter 10: Confessions

Connie couldn't move. Every instinct screamed at her to roll out of the way but couldn't. It was like she was paralyzed by what she saw and heard. The younger Connie continued to scream in rage as she thrust her blade forward. But her hand was then ensnared by Amethyst's whip. The purple Gem heaved as she tossed the attacker away, then asked the older Connie, "Why are you just standin' around?!"

"Because she knows she deserves it." The hostile Connie snarled as she got up. "She deserves all of it and more!" She made another charge at Connie, and Amethyst cracked her whip again. But the adversary this time grabbed the lash and had enough strength to yank Amethyst towards her. She grabbed the purple Gem by the neck and told her, "Stay out of this!" before she flung her aside. The younger Connie returned her attention to her older self and strode forward.

The young woman still couldn't move, no matter what she did. Her younger self was already in front of her now. What came next was the excruciating pain of her stomach being impaled by a sword. The blade angled a little bit above Steven's gemstone and continued to drive itself deeper. The agony was enough to bring the young woman to tears. She gasped for air but just coughed up blood. "You let him die!" The girl cried. "Why didn't you save him?!" The blade went deeper, and more blood leaked until her shirt, pants, and the ground below was soaked. "You were supposed to protect him! He gave you everything, and you let him down! And even with his Gem, you continue to let them down! Garnet hates you! Amethyst hates you! Pearl hates you! They all hate you!" Connie continued to cough more blood, and her breaths became fainter. "You know I am right. Why else are you letting me end this?!" Connie's sight and hearing started to fade. Her body was slowly becoming cold. Blood and tears continue to drip from her face as she loosened herself and accepted her fate.

"Connie!" Amethyst screamed as her whip wrapped around the girl's neck and was thrown away once more. The Crystal Gem ran over to the young woman and pulled the sword out of her gut. "Connie! You need to wake up!" The young woman remained unresponsive. Amethyst clutched her fist and told her to "Wake up!" as she punched her in the face.

Connie jolted awake and breathed heavily as tears streamed down her cheeks and pain in her jaw. "Connie, are you all right?" Pearl asked the young woman. There was a bright light as the pale Gem turned to where the amnesiac Amethyst was and saw her revert to her normal self. "Amethyst!" Pearl ran over and gave the purple Gem a big hug. "It worked. You're back."

"Connie?" Amethyst called out to the young woman. Connie hiccupped and sniffled as she got off the couch and ran out of the house. "Connie!"

She ran down to the beach, dropped to her knees and wailed. Her tears fell onto the sand as she continued to weep.

"Connie!" Pearl called out as she and Amethyst ran up to her.

"Leave me alone."

"Amethyst told me what happened..."

"Please, leave me alone."

"Not after what happened in there!" Amethyst replied. "You were just goin' to let... whatever that was kill you!"

"Connie, please tell us the truth," Pearl begged.

Connie began to choke as tears rolled down her cheeks and told the Crystal Gems, "He told me that every moment that I lived. Every moment that I loved myself. A part of him would be with me. Loving me back. But I don't feel it, Pearl! I don't feel it at all!"

"But why?" Pearl asked as she and Amethyst kneeled next to the young woman.

"Because I... I... Because I hate myself!"

Pearl and Amethyst were agape at Connie's words. "W... what?"

"I came back to Beach City to gain some closure. To try and feel better. But all this had done is just remind me that Steven's gone and it's all my fault. He should've been the one to live! Not me!"

Connie was then embraced by the Gems, and Pearl told her, "Don't ever say that."

"But it's the truth. Steven and I were supposed to protect each other. I failed him."

"Connie, if there is anyone you should hate, it's me."

The young woman looked at her former mentor. "What?"

"I was the one who stabbed you." Tears began to swell in her eyes. "My apprentice... I hurt you..."

"But White made you do it."

"But it was my spear. With your blood on it."

"Is that why you couldn't summon it before?"

The pale Gem nodded. "Every time I try, all I see is red. I love you, Connie, like a mother, would a daughter."

"Why didn't you tell Garnet or me?" Amethyst asked as she broke the hug. "Have you really been letting this eat you up this entire time?"

"I'm ashamed of all it." Tears began to stream down Pearl's eyes.

"But it wasn't your fault, Pearl." Amethyst looked over to Connie. "And it's not your fault either. The only one to blame is White Diamond. And she's gone. Steven wouldn't want either of you to blame yourselves." She placed a hand on the young woman's shoulder and looked her in the eye. "He did it for you because he loved you. And blaming and hating yourself for it is insulting that sacrifice. I know that's not what you want."

"No, it's not," Connie replied.

"I know how hard it is to lose people you love. But it'll get better. If you let it get better." Connie, Amethyst, and Pearl hugged each other again. Then were happily joined by Spinel, who Amethyst quickly noticed. "You!" She jumped away. "What- W-What are you doing here?!"

Connie tried to say, "Amethyst, let us explain..."

But she and Pearl are grabbed by her whip and pulled over to safety, as she told Spinel, "Get away from them, you monster!"

"A monster?" Spinel looked around. "Where is it? I don't see it?"

"You're it!"

Spinel's smile grew wider. "Oh!" She jumped over and tapped Amethyst on her head. "Boop!" She giggled as she ran away from the three of them. But stopped once she realized they didn't follow. "Oh, I forgot to say that you're it!" She stretched her hand over to and touched Amethyst's shoulder. "Okay, tag! You're it!" She giggled again and ran farther away.

Amethyst looked over at Connie and Pearl, and asked, "What in the heck is this about?"

"We'll fill you in as we head to the injector," Pearl said as she and Connie looked over at it. There was a pinkish smog that surrounded it now. "I hope Peridot found a solution. Because it looks worse than before."

Then, Spinel appeared behind the trio and asked, "Hm? You guys don't know how to play tag?"