Chapter Text
Today didn't start out the way Steven wanted it to be.
Steven went to the Big Donut with bright eyes and his big cute smile on his face craving his favorite snack cookie cat...only to learn that they were all out due to being beaten out by lion lickers. That's always been a strange concept to me, it kinda reminds me of how Homeworld works in a way. If something isn't good enough it's deemed inferior to the other and thus it must be thrown to the side like it's nothing. But on Earth, even the most "inferior," organic or otherwise, is seen with some worth yet there are those who follow Homeworld's mentality when it comes to certain things despite what others say. So would those who make these frozen treats consider cookie cat "inferior" to lion lickers despite what people who enjoy cookie cat say? It's all very confusing to me.
Regardless of how I view this though, it still upsets Steven and one of the employees were very mean to him. Teasing him about being upset is one thing but how dare you disrespect his gem, especially when you fill his head with ideas of using it to make more ice cream...then again that does sound amazing...what am I thinking?! At least that girl Saddie was considerate to Steven and let him have the tiny fridge. It was a little strange but it was a lot better than how Lars acted, I don't hate the boy but I wish he wasn't so rude to everyone.
Then when Steven got home he was attacked by not only a corrupted gem but a baby from a corrupted gem?! I didn't even know that they could do that, to begin with, but they were everywhere! The centipetals as Pearl called them were in Steven's room, the kitchen, and they were trying to get into the temple of all places! Not to mention spitting acid everywhere melting whatever it hits, I still get nervous thinking about what would've happened if any of that stuff hit Steven.
Things weren't so bad afterward when Steven found a pleasant surprise in the fridge. Yup, the gems went out and bought him every last cookie cat...after Amethyst attempted to steal them all(good thing Pearl went back and paid for them all)...it still worked out though. The best part of this moment though was the most amazing thing I've ever seen, after Steven sang that funny song his gem, his gem began to glow like from when he was a baby, only it was all on his own. But as quickly as his gem began to glow it dimmed itself disappointing Steven, unable to summon his weapon. I still believe that his disappointment wasn't just about his weapon but for the feeling of not owning up to being a Crystal Gem as everyone expects and what he wants to be. I wish I could've been there to help him, though I probably wouldn't be the best to do so. I'm not as elegant and coordinated as Pearl, as relaxed and straightforward as Amethyst, and I'm certainly not as intelligent and confident as Garnet. But I wanted to at least help, I want Steven to be able to help the Crystal Gems as much as he can, just like he wants.
Now Steven is trying to reenact the moment his gem glowed, honestly it's a little strange to do so. "I don't think it works this way, Steven." I feel the same way Pearl, there's no way that this could possibly work...or could it? You and the others have your own way of summoning your weapons so maybe this could work for Steven. Now sing your song Steven "Uh, he's a frozen treat, all new taste, interstellar war, now available at grocery stores." Aaaaaand...nothing's happening. I was hoping that it would work this time, he did it exactly how he did it before, so why didn't it work?
"Maybe I'm not a real Crystal Gem." Oh, Steven, that's not true, "Don't be silly Steven, of course, you are." Yeah, Pearl's right Steven, it doesn't matter if you can summon your weapon or not, a true Crystal Gem isn't determined by their weapon but by their actions and fighting to be anything they choose to be outside of their "intended purpose." I wish I could be there to help you though, we could've bonded over it. I can imagine it now, we'd be on the shore, you'd look at me with those big beautiful eyes filled with curiosity and excitement(just like your father), and I would show you my methods. I would close my eyes and think about the ones I love and want to protect. They were always my motivation when I'm fighting, the Crystal Gems, the Earth, Greg, and even you. Yeah, maybe that could work, after all, you are the most loving and caring person on this planet, maybe even the universe.
Wait something is happening. Stevens gem. It's glowing again! "Steven, it's a shield." My shield! You inherited my shield! I can't believe you inherited my shield, oh I'm so proud of you my little hotdog! You might want to not launch it inside next time, don't want to break anything else in the house but who cares?! You can summon your weapon now! And all it took was- "I SUMMON MY POWER BY EATING ICE CREAM!" What? Did the cookie cake really do that? Well, whatever works, as long as you can summon your weapon I'm happy for you.
Why is the ground shaking? Is it an earthquake? No, this isn't a natural earthquake, there's something big outside. "It's the mother!" The mother? Hold on that looks like those small centipetals, that's how big the mother is?! "Stay in the house, Steven!"
"No, wait! I can help!" Yeah, Pearl let him help, he can summon his weapon now so nothing can stop him! Gather those cookie cats Steven and make them proud! Make me proud! Eat that cookie cat and summon your shield now! ...Now! ...It should be out right about now! ...Why isn't it working?! Steven watch out for the acid! Quick eat more cookie cat maybe it's the quantity of cookie cat! Steven move! Oh thank goodness it stopped shooting acid, are you hurt? Did any of that acid- "Oh no. Oh no no no no noooo!" Oh, no...your cookie cat fridge. I'm sorry Steven I- "...Cookie cat...he's the pet for your tummy..." Steven? Are you okay, "Cookie cat...he's super duper yummy!" Steven, you're starting to scare me. What are you doing with the fridge? "Cookie cat! He left his family behind! Cookie caaaaaaaat!"
Steven did you just throw the fridge?! I can't believe that worked! Oh my goodness, Steven, you did it! You saved the Crystal Gems! Steven? "Well, I guess your powers don't come from ice cream."
"Of course they don't come from ice cream." Yeah, guess it was a little foolish to think that huh? But how did he summon it? How can he summon it again? "Don't worry Steven, I'm sure someday you'll figure out how to activate your gem."
"Yes, in your own Stevenie way." Yeah. They're right Steven, whatever you did earlier has nothing to do with the ice cream, whatever you did to do it will come to you again. And it'll happen sometime soon, just do it at your own pace, my little hotdog.
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Today was...very eventful. Steven summoned his weapon and he defeated his first corrupted gem...without it. Eventually he'll figure out how to do it again, but for now, he should be sleeping, not sure why he isn't now though. I wonder what's wrong. "Hey, Mom." Is he talking to my portrait? "I summoned my weapon today, I thought I could do it with ice cream. Isn't that silly?" Don't worry, we're both the silly ones here. "I wish I knew how I did it though, I bet you knew. Maybe even have helped me." Oh trust me, Steven, I didn't have an easy time either, I'm the last person you should ask. I couldn't even fly a ship on my own without Yellow or Blue's help...then again I was playing with it more than just actually flying it.
"Did you ever have problems with your gem?" Heh, problems is an understatement, you should've seen me when I first tried to. I wasn't really made for battle and Diamonds don't really need things like that, we're supposed to be too powerful for them. But I was Rose Quartz, the leader of the Crystal Gems, so I had to learn at some point. Heh, I remember when I was sparing with Pearl once that I almost poofed her, it was kind of like when you summoned your shield, luckily I missed her, unlike your TV. She was panicking so much I had to beg her to calm down so Garnet wouldn't see me screwing up. I really wanted to look good for her, she was apart of my inspiration. Then there was that time against a corrupted gem my sword flew out of my hand and it ended up poofing them in the process and Amethyst actually believed I planned that. She would talk about that fight for days about how cool I was when it was my clumsiness that won the battle. If you saw me then, you'd probably be rolling on the ground, laughing at your goof of a mother.
"Haha! I bet you didn't, you were an awesome leader who kicked monster butt! Right?" ...I knew you would say something like that. No, Steven, I'm nothing special. One day you'll learn that and I wish for now you wouldn't see me in such a positive light, I don't deserve to be looked up to or remembered as a hero. In all honesty Steven, I want to be forgotten, forgotten by everyone. Especially by you, you should pretend that I don't exist, it'll be better for you and to live your own life instead of trying to live up to my legacy. So please, don't praise me for all of the people I've hurt and all the trouble I've caused. Let Rose Quartz disappear, for good. "Well, good night Mom, sweet dreams." Good night. And sweet dreams to you too, Steven.