Author's note: Short chapter because I'm reviewing other drafts and programming the lore for that thing XD. I'm happy with 39 stars for today, for the next chapter.
Then I said, looking at Lars.
I asked him if things were going well with Sadie or if he was still getting upset about everything. He didn't answer right away. Instead, Lars hit me on the back of the head.
Ow, I said with feigned pain, putting my hand to my head.
Let's take it one step at a time, Lars whispered so Sadie wouldn't hear.
Sure, dude, I said with complete seriousness. As a great sage once said, take it one step at a time. There are fifteen steps, take it one step at a time.
Lars raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.
And what's on the fifteenth step? he asked, his eyebrow even higher.
I looked at him with a meaningful expression, saying nothing more.
"Oh," Lars said, blushing, though a smug smile crept across his face.
"Nah, maybe we'll go for seven," he added, shrugging.
"Perfect," I replied, as we stared at each other, as if we'd just sealed a sacred pact.
After a few seconds of silence, I ordered my coffee. It took Lars a moment to react, until he remembered why I'd come.
"Oh, yeah," he said, turning away.
I just chuckled a little, feeling more at ease.
"It's morning, and it's nice to see someone you know, you know?" he remarked as he poured my coffee.
"Never mind, this coffee's not for me. If it were, we'd be talking the whole time," I said, grabbing a few donuts and paying for them.
I said goodbye, telling him to say hi to Sadie, and walked out of the Big Donut.
I floated peacefully through most of Beach City until I landed gently in the car wash area.
"Dad?" I said as I walked toward the truck.
"Stevo," Greg replied as he got out of the vehicle.
"Are you opening up now?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, although your dad's been pretty busy these days. I recently fixed five tourist engines. Amazing, right?" he said proudly.
"Wow," I replied with genuine admiration.
"Now you've got everything you need for a good coffee, huh?" I added.
"Coffee?" Greg said happily as he took the cup from me. "It's from the Big Donut, isn't it?"
"The real deal," I replied as I sat down in a chair.
I took some fruit out of my bag and left some for my dad to take care of his health.
"You need to eat well. I always tell you you're getting chubby," I said to my father with complete seriousness. He just scratched the back of his neck, unsure how to respond.
We both laughed and started talking. It had been a while since I'd had such a pleasant conversation with him, and it was truly nourishing, not only for my body but also for my mind. The hours passed quickly. I resumed some of what I'd been doing lately; I've always enjoyed spending time with my father, but with all the stress with Jasper, I hadn't been able to. Although, to be honest, that stress wasn't over yet.
"I'm going, Dad," I said as I began to float.
"It's okay, Stevo," he replied as we bumped fists in our usual epic way.
"Goodbye," I said before soaring through the air.
As I watched the ground shrink, I changed direction and headed straight for the house. I landed gently in front of the door and opened it. There was no one there, not even Lapis. The gems had practically dragged her away on a mission.
I shook my head, remembering how that request had been made.
I walked calmly toward the temple door, and it opened by itself. When it closed behind me, my mother's illusion appeared, walking beside me with that calmness she always commanded.
"You're going, aren't you?" she said.
Unfortunately, yes. I trust Pearl, but it's better to have a plan.
My mother's hologram was silent for a moment.
"And Bismuth?"
I stood still.
Silence filled the room.
"You forgot about her, didn't you?"
My silence was answer enough. My mother's image started laughing maniacally.
"HAHAHAHAHA, you really forgot."
"Damn it," I muttered, grabbing my face.
"I'll take her out later, she doesn't feel anything anyway," I thought as I continued walking as if I hadn't heard anything.
My mother's hologram had three lines of sweat on it, but she still walked behind me.
"Well, it's up to you. I can't leave here anyway," she said, ruffling my hair.
Three lines of anger appeared on my forehead.
"Just tell me where that red tube is to get to the other rooms," I said irritably.
"Here it is. And, son..."
"Yes?" I replied as I climbed onto the tube.
"Good luck."
I nodded silently as I descended toward the other rooms.
My mother disappeared as soon as I left the main room. As I descended through the temple, I couldn't stop thinking about what I would say to her. Besides, I felt that even Peridot might be infected, so just in case, before she could fully regenerate, I thought I'd spit on her. If I remembered the show correctly, Steven had wanted to do something similar with Jasper before he transformed, so the theory was there... I just needed to put it into practice.
I went down through different rooms: Pearl's, Amethyst's, and finally, the one I was looking for.
I arrived at the heart of the temple.
I looked around and saw many gems. Hundreds? Thousands? Maybe. There were too many, all encased in floating bubbles. I observed carefully, making sure Garnet wasn't there. She was just floating, walking slowly through the air, while my eyes scanned gems that hadn't even appeared in the show.
...
...
...
My gaze lingered on Jasper's gem. I stared at it for a long time.
Should I shatter you? I said aloud, not addressing anyone in particular.
My gem began to glow softly, as if trying to calm me... and it did.
I shook my head. Even so, I knew I was going to use Jasper somehow. I resumed walking through the air, observing gems from past missions: sand gems, water gems, some with strange shapes, others simply grotesque.
Damn slug, I muttered upon seeing the tenth of those things... and there were still more to come.
Here it is, I said, examining a triangular green gem. It looked clear, but to be sure, I carefully lowered it to the ground and moved it aside from the rest.
...
I stared at the bubble for several seconds, during which the entire place seemed to be waiting for my decision.
"What does it matter?" I murmured as I smeared saliva on my hand and popped the bubble.
The gem didn't wait any longer and began to glow. Before it could fully form, I ran my saliva-covered hand over it. The glow dimmed, became calmer, as if an enormous weight had been lifted from its shoulders.
I summoned my shield as a precaution and watched the gem fall to the ground. I noticed small traces of monstrous transformation still clung to its feet. I remained vigilant, watching the gem before me, staring at the ground.
I slowly glanced around and noticed its face grow even paler as it took in all the trapped gems. When its gaze met mine, I expected fury, sadness, hatred... anything.
But no.
It began to cry and collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Thank you... thank you, thank you," Peridot repeated over and over.
"Thank you... thank you, thank you," Peridot repeated again and again.
"I don't care." I was speechless. The Peridot I knew from the series, arrogant and proud, with all her development, was now practically bowing before me.
I watched her silently for several seconds, letting her cry as much as she needed.
Finally, she looked up and met my eyes.
"Hello," I said with a gentle smile. "Welcome to the world without being a crazy fusion."
I don't think that was the best thing I could have said, because she started crying again. I calmly sat down beside her, watching her. We had time, or so I thought, since the girls were on a mission, and I honestly didn't want to explain why I had Peridot crying her eyes out in the temple.
"Are you okay now?" I asked gently.
She nodded slowly, still with her hands on the floor.
"Do you want to go outside now?" I added. "Just a heads-up, there might be some trouble outside."
She looked up as I watched her with a calm smile.
She sighed.
You wouldn't just drag me out like that, would you?
I snorted.
Nothing's free, Peridot, I said, but I gave her a reassuring smile. Right now you have two choices.
Her eyes lit up with hope.
You can come with me and help me with the Cluster, or you can stay in a bubble.
She tensed at the word Cluster, but she made her decision anyway.
I'll help you, but… she said, looking at a particular gem. Don't drag her out.
I won't, I replied immediately. She doesn't deserve it.
I started walking toward the temple exit.
Are you coming?
Peridot looked one last time at the yellow gem, giving it a glare of pure hatred, and then ran after me.
And just like that, a new chapter began in Steven's seemingly normal life.
End of Chapter 51.