36Prologue: Origin of Good and Evil
Long ago, before the universe began…there was only Darkness and Chaos. Time did not exist, not until what scientists call the Big Bang, or as the Crystal Gems call it…The Beginning! An enormous flash of light, so bright the Darkness retreated, led to the creation of Light and Order, in the universe! For an immeasurable amount of time, the two sides observed each other, not knowing what to do about the other. Then, in a moment of dual birth, each side created a magnificent being!
For the side of Light and Order, Mother Goddess came into being! A beautiful pale woman with eight arms, wearing a shimmering dress made of precious gemstone, she moved and worked with the grace of an architect and a ballerina.(1) On the opposite side, from Darkness and Chaos, Father Daemon was born! A dark, fearsome creature, with four arms controlling the elements of earth, wind, fire, and water, he was clad in an armor formed of precious and industrial metals, both glorious functional. The two eventually met each at the border between the borders between the two sides and simply stared at one another unsure of what to do…
Eventually, after an eternity of studying one another…they fell in love! There was truly no other being like them in there cold lonely world, so why not? As they explored the universe together, they realized just how empty it truly was. Use the gemstone from her dress, Mother Goddess formed the stars in the heavens, including our Sun. Feeling the stars should not stand alone, Father Daemon formed the planets and other stellar objects, such as comets and asteroids, with his own mighty hands! From the debris of their creation, the dust would form into new solar systems, making a self-perpetuating universe!
Though please with both their own and their lover's efforts, they still felt that something was missing. This time, Father Daemon was the one to suggest an idea: Life! Intrigued by his notion, Mother Goddess began seeding Life into worlds that could sustain it, such as Earth. However, her system was too gentle and overpopulation caused starvation and suffering! It was only when Father Daemon applied his hand to the work that the system of Predator and Prey truly came into effect! Again, the two celestial lovers looked upon their work with pride!
However, as millennia passed, Father Daemon grew weary of seeing the same cycles and systems repeat over and over in ad nauseum. So one day, he came up with a new project for them: create beings in their own image! Mother Goddess was worried, this was far more ambitious because of what need to add to this new creation: true Sentience! However, Father Daemon was able to convince her to go along with the project, reassuring about any doubts. So they set to work!
As with the other life-forms they had forged, they split the task between themselves: Father Daemon made Man and Mother Goddess made Woman! It took several tries to perfect the form, until Humanity as we know it came into being. Then, the two creators added their own spark, the ability to Create with the ability to Destroy! However, the new beings did not wish to do…anything! They had no reason to build or strive for greatness!
Mother Goddess was just happy with the act of Humanity creation, like a mother joyful at seeing her child play. But Father Daemon was furious! He wanted Humanity to do its best in all things, not behave as children! It was during this time of resentment that a horrible notion came into his mind; their creation truly lacked the one piece of knowledge Mother Goddess swore they would never learn: the knowledge of Good and Evil!
One day, while Mother Goddess was looking after other aspects of creation, Father Daemon slipped to the pair of Humans in disguise. Sources vary wildly on what form he took: a snake, a cat, a bird, or even a fish! But the point was that through some forbidden action, Father Daemon introduced the concept of Sin to the Humans! Mother Goddess returned to find the pair arguing and fighting over the silliest of notions in her mind. This is how she learned of her love's actions!
Needless to say, she was angry! "How DARE YOU?!" she screamed in rage at her husband's act, "How DARE YOU reveal this to our children without my consent!?"
Father Daemon stood there, smug in self-righteousness, and replied, "How dare I? How dare you! They would have done nothing with the abilities we gave them if it wasn't for me! Now they will build as we have! Is not a parent's duty to want his children to succeed?"
"They would have learned when they were ready! Now they and their children will perform pointless acts of strife and destruction, all because YOU were impatient!" exclaimed Mother Goddess. Anger filled Father Daemon, he tightened his fists…and slapped Mother Goddess in the face! Shocked at his behavior, Father Daemon moved to comfort her…only to receive a blow to the face himself! As they continued to fight, millennia passed on Earth, as the two deities struggle took the form of the conflict between Good and Evil, which still rages to this day!
The true tragedy of this tale is that both sides of the argument were at fault. Mother Goddess should have trusted her children, but Father Daemon should not have gone behind her back! Their conflict goes on to this day, perhaps only to be decided at the end of the universe. But this is not the greatest threat. No the greatest threat comes from the fallout of this struggle!
For you see, while Father Daemon and Mother Goddess battle one another, they bleed as would any other being from such angry struggles. From this blood and debris forms many magical creatures, divine and diabolical. The most important of these beings is the Crystal Gems and the Forged Warriors. The Crystal Gems you no doubt already are aware of. Mighty warriors who use magical Gems formed from Mother Goddess herself who seek to protect others from the monsters formed from Father Daemon's blood!
The Forged Warriors are, in many ways, the Crystal Gems opposites. Using enchanted weapons forged from the metals from the Daemon Father's armor, each Warrior named themselves after a metal crafted or found in the Earth. What causes conflict between them and the Crystal Gems is the fact that the Warriors cause conflict and trouble for Humanity, though never for malicious reasons. They believe that they are 'whetting' Humanity through hardship and conflict. Unfortunately this inevitably puts people in danger, whom the Crystal Gems have to save because they are honor bound to protect Humanity.
Needless to say, the two sides came to blows often, whether in street brawls or in massive battlefields!(2) Eventually, the numbers on both sides began to dwindle until, today there are only four Crystal Gems and four Forged Warriors! In our last battle, I was able to seal them in the pocket dimension they used as their headquarters. Unfortunately, it took much of my energy and they will free themselves eventually. That is why I have left this story to you…my Steven.
Firstly you will need to know more about you future foe, starting with…Electrum! An elegant noble figure, he speaks with a classic formal style, he is able to convince many to side with him in an argument. Wearing a shimmering green-gold long coat and wielding an Electrum Sabre, his swordsmanship rivals Pearl's to a startling degree! His speed and grace is unrivaled and he has the tactics and strategies to coordinate his team effectively, making him a dangerous foe on and off the field of battle!
The next foe to face is a stoic powerhouse known as…Ferrum! A towering dark figure wearing a dark red Prussian general's attire, he wields the Iron Fist Gauntlets to devastating effect! Capable of forming blades and shields on either hand, the Iron Fists not only triumph Garnet's fists in power but versatility! A direct fighter, Ferrum nonetheless has a keen mind, able to find the weaknesses in his opponent fighting style and exploiting them. A man of few words, when he does speak, listen, for it maybe the signal for an attack or something equally as important!
Thirdly, we come to a mischievous trickster who will trip you up if you're not careful…Quicksilver! A devious shapeshifter, he uses his quick wit and master acting skills to lull his opponents into a false sense of security…and then strikes! His weapon of chose is the Mercury Chain Whip, which is able to lengthen and move according to his intent. When he isn't in another form, he generally wears a silver and white harlequin outfit. He has also been to play elaborate pranks on the Gem and his own team, making his resemblance to Amethyst more obvious.
And finally, their leader, my counterpart and the most dangerous of them all…Lord Titanium! A ruthless, stern taskmaster, his duty and sense of purpose is made clear in that he wears a knight's suit of armor and never takes it off! Wielding the Titanium War Hammer, his every strike is devastating and he appears to have telekinetic abilities (that means he can move things with his mind, honey)! The only foe I have never been able to beat on my own, I fear for the day you will have to face him Steven! He will stop at nothing to achieve his ends!
You see, Steven, as I wrote previously, the Forged Warriors believe that only through conflict will Humanity rise to their destined role. But with the falling numbers in both sides, Lord Titanium has come to believe that there is only one way to help mankind: by ruling them! Needless to say, the girls and I object this notion and have fought them for many years! Titanium has become desperate to either force us to work with them or be destroyed…as his last battle has shown us.
Our last battle was a few months before you were born, Steven. Titanium appear himself, along with his Warriors, to give me one last chance to surrender. He assumed that my…condition would leave me too weak to refuse his offer and failing that, make it easier to destroy us. Heh…guess the 'good lord' never learned one of the most important lessons in this world: NEVER MESS WITH A MOTHER AND HER KIDS!
The battle was long and hard, but eventually we forced them to retreat. Knowing that they would come back later, I decided to use what energy I had at the time to seal off the entrance to their Realm. He swore that he would return, and 'take from your child what I could not have from you!' That is why I have started writing this letter, Steven! Because I know however much I want to…I will not get to see you grow into the wonderful young man I know you will be.
No, don't you cry Steven! I would do anything for you, that's a mother's job. That why I sealed those…jerks, even though it will cost me my physical form. But know this honey: I will always watch over you!
Yours throughout all of Time and Space,
Rose Quartz
Steven Universe could not help the tears that were forming in his eyes. This was his mother's last message to him before she…. Shaking his head to clear it, Steven knew he had to show that other this letter he found in his mother's room! He knew he wasn't supposed to go in there after what happened last time,(3) today…well it just seemed like a good idea today. Besides, thanks to the Gems giving him more details about it, he was able to find out new details about the room…like this hidden box of letters!
When he first came into the room, Steven just wanted to be alone. Mother's Day…a bittersweet holiday given that his mother 'ascended the physical plane.' Sometimes, Steven felt like the Gems weren't being entirely honest when they called what happened to his mom that. So he entered the room, which as before, looked like it was made out of pink fluffy clouds. A bed appeared when he decided he need to lay down, he sighed and said out loud, "I wish…I just could know more about Mom somehow."
No sooner had Steven said those words when a box appeared in a flash of light! Surprised, Steven touched it to make sure it wasn't like the other things the room created from the clouds…which it wasn't! It was a simple little box, big enough to fit on Steven's lap. The only decoration on it besides the simple latch was a gold plate that said: 'FOR STEVEN'. Opening it, Steven found, including the letter he had just read, a few pictures of his mother Rose Quartz and his father Greg Universe, and scrape art featuring his mother and the Crystal Gems in their various adventures and every day activities. Truly it was one of the best gifts Steven had ever gotten.
But something about the letter felt like more than just a heartfelt message! So, thinking about returning the Gems, Steven entered the magical portal and warped back into the main house part of the Crystal Temple…landing face first! (He really needed to work on his landings.) Sure enough the Crystal Gems were all there, Garnet standing stoic and silent, Pearl looking worried, while Amethyst was laying back on the couch without a care in the world.
"Steven!" exclaimed Pearl rushing over to Steven to make sure he was alright, "You know how dangerous Rose's room can be! Oh I' m just glad you're okay!"
"I fine! Really Pearl!" said Steven in a reassuring tone, while giggling at Pearl's antics. She could be such a worrywart sometimes!
"Yeah, I told her you'd be alright, but does she ever listen? Nooo!" explained Amethyst, just rolling around on the couch.
It was Garnet who noticed Steven had not come back empty handed. "What's that?" asked Garnet simply, pointing to the box in Steven's lap. It was then that Steven proceed to show the Gems what he had discovered in his mom's room. There was happy reminiscing, the Gems recalling what each scrap represented, either an adventure or an embarrassing moment...Amethyst got a kick out of one story involving Pearl and some loved struck fan boy. It was such a happy moment that Steven kept the letter his mother had written to him away from the Gems' eyes. After all; he could always ask them about the Warriors later, right?
STEVEN UNIVERSE
In the dark of the night, at a bluff on the opposite end from the Crystal Temple, a pulsating pink light could be seen. The light keep blinking faster and faster, then suddenly stopped as if it was never there. And then…FOOSH! An explosion of air and light could been seen, with three vague shapes slowly coming to focus in the light! They stood their seemingly frozen, until they came into full view!
The figure to the left was wearing a green-gold outfit similar to how the Three Musketeers looked in their various movies, including the feathered hat and leather boots. He wore a sabre in a scabbard on his left hip, ready to be drawn at a moment's notice. His face was stern with dark green eyes, a pointed nose and closely shaven beard and moustache. This…is ELECTRUM!
In the middle of the trio was a tall, heavily muscled man in a red Prussian uniform. On his hands were metal gauntlets with rubies where the knuckle were. He wore a pair of aviator glasses covering his eyes and a pointed German army helmet. He had dark hair that matched his dark skin and he wore a blank expression on his clean-shaven face. He…is FERRUM!
And finishing off the trio to the right, was a short, thin gentlemen in a silver and white harlequin outfit. Around his waist was a nine-sectioned chain whip, being used as a belt. His posture and appearance were causal, as if he didn't have a care in the world! He had a pudgy nose on his face with silver eyes and hair to compliment his causal look. This…is QUICKSILVER!
"We're here." stated Ferrum simply into an earpiece, with a deep voice.4
"Ah, Beach City, still the same dump as it was when we left it!" said Quicksilver in a mischievous tone, as if dreaming up new ways to torture the citizens.
"Remember we need to keep a low profile until we find out what happened to Rose Quartz." reminded Electrum in a tone saying he would not tolerate disobedience.
"Relax! I got the perfect way to draw them out without spoiling coming attractions!" whined Quicksilver, apparently upset for being reprimanded, before saying, "Oh, I can't wait to see the looks on their faces when they learn…the BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN! AHAHAHAHA-" His mad cackle was interrupted by his cohorts shushing him, as he was making a lot of noises. Upset, but still keeping a smirk on his face, Quicksilver followed his partners to their temporary HQ…waiting for the big show tomorrow!
Disclaimer: I do not own Steven Universe or any characters or elements that are contained in the series. I only own this story and the original characters (i.e. villains) and concepts that go with it. Think of this as an animated movie for Steven Universe, I do hope they have a real antagonist at some point, but until then…I'll make my own version. I made this origin story partial on the idea of Shakti and Shiva, a goddess of creation and a god of destruction in a relationship, however, I did not use their story, just the concept. Please read and review, I would like to hear what you think!
1 In my story, the Crystal Temple is based on her likeness, and there were eight arms at one point, they just broke off.
2 This is a call back to the battlefield in the episode, "Serious Steven"
3 I started writing this before "Rose's Room" so I went back and add new details. Depending on how the show goes, I will either add new details or ignore them. Just a head's up.
4 I should probably say who the voice of my characters will be: Ferrum will be voiced by Michael Dorn, Electrum by Johnathan Frakes, Quicksilver by Brent Spiner, and Lord Titanium will be voiced by Michael Shannon. You can look them up on Wikipedia to know who they played and why I chose them.