Author's Note: I want to remind you that this chapter and the previous one need to reach 50 stars before I can bring you the next ones. I gave you three chapters in a row because it was part of the special for the 1,000 views of the first episode and the 2,000 stars accumulated in total.
Thank you for your constant support, it truly means a lot to me <3.
Let's continue.
"So, let me see if I understand. We have an absolutely crazy Jasper who didn't attack them and only took Peridot?"
"Yes," Pearl replied, scribbling on a whiteboard, as if she were designing a military plan and not a totally worrying explanation.
"We also managed to find out a little about something called the Cluster, or so she said before she was poofed."
"That's right," Amethyst added, crossing her arms as if the word meant nothing to her.
"It seems like she's pretty scared of it... I mean, I don't give a damn."
Pearl looked at her with the silent disappointment of a mother watching her child eat dirt in public, but Amethyst didn't even flinch; she couldn't care less, and maybe she'd even get an extra dessert.
"I think that's super important. I say we should investigate something... or someone," Steven commented, dropping the line with a hint of concern.
Everyone fell silent, as if the air had frozen just before a revelation.
"There's a place," Garnet said calmly, looking at everyone.
"Which one?" we all asked at the same time.
"The lunar base."
"What?!" Amethyst and Pearl shouted in unison.
Steven and Lapis didn't care, especially the latter, who at that moment was too busy playing Minecraft trying to keep her virtual cat from dying. The cat seemed to have a suicidal instinct, determined to sleep on Lapis's bed without her permission. Completely focused, she moved the controller with the precision of a frustrated surgeon.
Steven just sighed, watching Lapis play. He'd bought her a new phone himself after the old one was flooded with Tweety Bird pictures and good morning chain messages she sent to strangers on Discord.
Shaking his head, he looked back at the girls, who were now staring at him as if he had the winning lottery numbers plastered all over his forehead.
"What?" Steven asked, confused.
"Do you think you could bring Lion? We need to know if he can go to the moon."
...
Steven glanced over at Lion's bed, where he always slept... but the bed was empty.
"What do you guys think?" he said, his sarcasm so dry it almost crackled as it came out.
The three of them sighed at the same time, as if they'd already given up hope before they'd even started.
"Well," Steven said as he walked toward his bed, his voice muffled and dark circles under his eyes that looked like they were tattooed on. "See you around, I really need to sleep."
"Good night," the three of them said. Lapis just walked behind him, her eyes glued to her phone, Minecraft still open. They would both sleep... well, Steven would sleep. Lapis would be fighting with her virtual cat, trying to prevent its death by feline stupidity.
The next morning, Steven opened his eyes with the sluggishness of someone who hadn't slept at all, noticing a paw on his face.
...
...
He removed it with utter resignation and got up to begin his morning routine.
Training.
Eating.
Showering.
A totally serious routine...
XD.
After that ridiculously exhaustive routine, Steven left his temple room. Yes, the temple, his mother's room, but we won't say that anymore because it sounds like Rose is still alive somewhere in the attic, so it will simply be "the temple."
Still in his training gear, Steven glanced over at where Lion usually slept, and his face went completely dry. Lion was lying there, perfectly calm, with a piece of Peridot tucked between his paws, like a trophy. Steven had no idea how he got it, and frankly, he didn't want to know.
"Where...? Nah, I don't want to know. Want some pizza? I bought one for you," he said, taking a pizza out of the freezer and popping it in the microwave.
Lion roared softly and settled down beside him, as if they'd just had an intellectual conversation.
"You're pretty handsome, you son of a gun. Who's handsome here? You are," Steven said, petting him. Lion, completely indifferent, accepted the caresses like the king he was.
They stayed like that until Steven gave him the pizza. After eating it, Lion stared at him.
"What?" Steven asked, confused.
Male lion roar... :v
"Oh my god, I think I'm going to have a heart attack writing this crap."
"Ruar," said León.
"What do you want? I don't understand you, you jerk."
"Roar."
"What?"
Leon crouched down.
"...What?"
"Roar."
"Should I get on?"
"Roar," affirmative.
"Roar, you son of a bitch, get on," Steven thought as he settled himself on top.
The moment he sat down, Leon shot off, nearly launching him into the air.
"Damn it, Leon, be careful, I'm an actor!"
Steven, on top of Leon, walked across the seas like Moses parting the ocean with a roar of pink.
"Damn it, and I can't even ask you where we're going, because you'll just say 'roar'."
"Roar," Leon said, dryly, without any emotion.
"See? I can't have a serious conversation with you," I said, crossing my arms. Right after, an unexpected jump made me grab onto his mane like it was an extra life in a game. Leon kept running through the water without teleporting, and I had no idea why. Then my phone rang.
"Huh?" I said hesitantly, pulling it out as best I could while dodging splashes and sunlight. I answered without looking at the contact. "Hello?"
"Hey Steven!" Connie replied energetically, almost as if she were exercising.
"Hey, Connie," I said, dodging a bird that seemed to be seeking personal revenge. The wretched thing swooped down on me several times.
"Damn bird," I growled, throwing a rock I'd kept inside Leon. The bird gave me one last indignant look and flew off as if it held a grudge.
"What's wrong?" Connie asked from the phone, worried by my battle noises.
"Nothing," I said, looking suspiciously, making sure the bird didn't return. "It's just... I don't know, you know? Leon's leading me to the One Piece or something."
"One what?" Connie said, completely confused.
"References, Connie. References," I said with absurd pride.
"Well, I hope those references help you with whatever it is you're doing," she replied, completely clueless.
"Oh yeah," I said, remembering something as if my brain were a computer with a slowdown. "How's your trip to Spain going?" I raised a curious eyebrow as the sea seemed to applaud around us.
"It's going well. Being an exchange student is great; I never thought about all the opportunities I missed because of my shyness."
"I loved hearing that," I said sincerely and happily. Steven supported Connie a lot, encouraging her to leave her shyness behind. That led her to make great friends and have many opportunities. Knowledge is power, as the wise say... or maybe it's the internet, I don't know.
"I hope you do well with whatever Leon takes you on. I have to go; I have Calculus now."
"To Calculus?" I asked, practically with a question mark on my forehead.
"I'm making good progress," she replied happily.
"Oh, okay," I said, making an invisible chibi face.
"Well, take care. Love you," Connie said before abruptly hanging up.
"She didn't even let me say goodbye," I muttered, while texting her dad and Lapis, who was the only gem with a phone number. Yes, the only one with a phone. And also hundreds of Tweety Bird pictures and "good morning," but that's another story.
In the distance, I spotted an island that seemed to have a certain beauty, though it was only an illusion; it was almost destroyed, as if it had been chewed up by a hurricane and then spat out. I let out a disbelieving whisper as I looked at Leon, who only responded with a simple nod.
I mentally complained about not bringing the others and, without wasting any time, started sending desperate messages. As soon as we landed, I got off Lion, but he opened a portal and vanished as if he had no responsibility for my survival. I managed to curse him in my head, but an explosion cut short my attempt to verbally curse him. I got into a fighting stance, floated into the sky to avoid any surprise attack, and when I gained some altitude, I froze.
Jasper was standing in front of me with Peridot's gem and two others in bubbles. He looked up, observed me with a nasty smile, and without hesitation, burst Peridot's bubble, forcing her eyes open in terror. I lunged to stop whatever he was planning, but it was too late.
Peridot's gem began to glow, forming her body, but Jasper jumped into the light, merging with it until they became one. For an instant, I saw Peridot trying to escape, but the light absorbed her completely.
A crushing blow slammed into my stomach. I spat blood as if my body had decided to give up on me. I was sent flying, cursing the Lion who had brought me here. I tried to heal the wound by spitting on myself, though the pain lingered as if someone had pierced me with a hot manhole cover. I looked up, and fear chilled me to the bone.
Before me stood a colossal fusion, at least fifteen meters tall, looking down at me with arrogance. Its voice boomed, accusing me as if I were Rose Quartz, and it announced my death with a certainty as absurd as its existence.
All I could manage was a sincere and respectful "fuck" as I summoned my shield. I barely managed to dodge the next attack, as it came at a speed I could only describe as unfair. I jumped to hover, but something launched itself at me from above. I stopped flying, summoned my shield, and was struck by a blow that slammed me to the ground with a deafening crash.
A cloud of smoke obscured the impact. The fusion grinned maliciously, but suddenly its expression shifted. It spoke to itself, arguing. One voice demanded silence, another begged not to fuse. Its face contorted as if trying unsuccessfully to split apart. One part wept, the other smiled madly, fueled by an ancient and twisted obsession.
I hid among the trees while the fusion fought with itself. I took the opportunity to apply more healing saliva, muttering that my luck was utter garbage. The fusion threatened Peridot, swearing that upon returning to Homeworld, it would demand her harvest be returned as defective. Then it erupted in maniacal laughter that echoed throughout the island.
I commented quietly that it was losing its mind, though I'm not sure if I was referring to it or myself. Finally, it decided that if the other gem was useless, it deserved a proper name. It dismissed ideas with childish arrogance until it chose one, which it shouted with absurd enthusiasm.
She proclaimed herself Criscola, repeated it proudly, and, barely having summoned her helmet, began to further destroy the island. I wondered if my bad luck could get any worse, and I received the answer the very instant her voice echoed, finding me.
She shouted that she had found me.
I responded with the most realistic word I could muster in that situation.
Shit.
End of Chapter 47.
Note: Connie will be on her astral journey for a month and a half. Questions in the comments.