Epilogue: Inconclusive Results…

The next day…

Steven was sitting on his bed think about what happened on his previous mission. Onyx was such a contradictory foe that Steven really did not know how he should feel about her. On one hand, she was an arrogant mad scientist willing to experiment on people to get what she wanted! On the other hand, the main reason she went crazy was because someone near and dear to her had been transformed into a monster. There was also her accusations about Steven's mom, Rose Quartz, abandoning Onyx at her time of greatest need…

"Steven." Said Garnet suddenly appearing next to Steven's bad, before leaning down and putting a hand on his shoulder, "Are you okay?"

"Not really. I just can't get over Onyx. I mean she did some really bad things but she did it because she lost some she loved. Does that really make her a bad guy?" asked Steven desperate for some advice.

Garnet sighed before she tried to answer him, "A lot of people have fallen into the thinking that 'the ends justify the means.' That as long as you have good intentions, it can justify any means to achieve it. But the truth is there's a point where you can't really justify said means. When she started experimenting on humans, Onyx went way over the line! Maybe you can get her to see that someday…but right now we need to stop her!"

Steven nodded sadly before something Garnet said made him asked, "There's another thing I don't get…why was she experimenting on humans at all?"

Garnet thought long and hard before she answered, "There is a theory about Gem corruption called the Gaia Theory.(1) Essentially the Earth is a living creature in and of itself, and thus has a sort of immune system like humans. Given what you've been taught on that subject, what would be the closest analogy for Gems if that turns out to be true?"

"Viruses?" replied Steven somewhat hoping he was wrong, only for Garnet to nod her head confirming he was right.

"It's possible that Onyx thought that by studying humans she could find some way to stave off or even reverse the corruption of her fellow Gems, especially Jade." Garnet finished explaining.

Steven had a thoughtful look on his face before he asked his next question, "Is that why mom wanted me…because of this Gaia thingy?"

"Oh Steven no!" exclaimed Pearl, having overheard this conversation and where it was leading, "Never think that! I truthfully never fully understand why Rose wanted a child, but it could only have been for love not as some…science experiment."

"Yeah Stevie." chimed in Amethyst hearing the same warning signs Pearl did, "Besides you got us and we're never gonna leave your side!"

"Really?" asked Steven in childish hope as the Gems began giving him a group hug.

"Face it kid, you're stuck with us…through thick and thin." remarked Garnet in a joking tone. This caused Steven to laugh, his mood lightening from the previous conversation. It's always nice to know that no matter what problems came his way, he was never alone!

STEVEN UNIVERSE

At the Maheswaran residence, Connie's bedroom…

Never in all of her life had Connie felt more alone. The previous adventure seemed to illustrate the strain her new status as a half-Warrior, half-human had put on her relationship with Steven and his family. The Gems were always uncomfortable around her now, like she was a time-bomb or more accurately an angry dog waiting to pounce on Steven. Steven seemed to take it in strides, but the real problem came from the fact that she had no one to help her learn her new abilities! Anything she had been able to do now was just instinct, with no understanding of how or why!

In a fit of anger, Connie grabbed a nearby model ship and threw it into the wall! Gasping at her actions, Connie listen to find out if her parents had heard…luckily it seemed they didn't. The worst part was that her parents didn't know…couldn't know about any of this! Whether it was her restored eye sight or any other ability, Connie had tried her best to hide it from her parents. Though the Gems rescued Connie, her parents were still distrustful of them and they did not even know about the Gems' connection to Steven! Every lie Connie told seemed to be piling up with no end in sight…(2)

Suddenly Connie heard a tapping at her bedroom window. Looking at the window, Connie saw a little black bird (possibly a raven, she could not be sure) tapping at the window with a look on its face asking to be let in. Connie was hesitant, her mother gave her more than enough lectures on how wild birds could carry diseases or parasites. Shaking her head, a strange feeling urged Connie to let the bird in…so she did.

The little black bird fluttered inside, careful not to knock anything over. Finally the bird landed on the floor in front of Connie…and beams of light shot out from its eyes! Shocked, Connie stepped back and covered her face, only no explosion came. Pulling her hands away from her face, Connie looked down at the bird to see that it was projecting a hologram…specifically of Lord Titanium, Master of the Forged Warriors!

"Hello, Constance," simply greeted the massive form of Lord Titanium, "it has been quite some time. I hope that you do not still hard feelings about the last time we met."

"What are you doing here?!" exclaimed Connie, quietly. She did not want to wake her parents it was the middle of the night…but to be honest, yes she was still made about the last time they met. He had effectively captured all the Gems and Steven along with herself in order to give a history lesson, along with a confession on attempted murder!(3)

"Yes, perhaps I was a little forceful in pointing you to the direction of the Echidna Project. But Steven also needs to learn that his actions, good or ill, all have consequences." explained Titanium, "But that is neither here nor there. I simple 'stopped by' to ask: how are you feeling?"

Connie looked shocked by the question, before growing suspicious of his motives. But finding no fault in answering his question (and having a desire to vent some of her frustration) Connie replied, "Honestly, it mixed bag. Being able to follow Steven on his adventures is great! But…it seems like the Gems either don't know or don't want to answer any questions I have about my new abilities. I just wish…"

"You wish to have what Steven has: teachers to help guide you in this unique transition your life has found itself in?" Titanium finished for Connie, "I can help you in that."

Now seeing where Titanium was going with his line of questioning, Connie furiously replied, "Why should I accept any help from you?! You killed nine people to give me theses powers in the first place! Not to mention that this whole adventure (where Steven almost got experimented on by the way) was your doing!"

"Because only through me will you get any form of training in your abilities at all!" replied Titanium equally angry, "You are right…the Gems will never be able to help you! Either because they know next to nothing about your abilities or because they view you as a threat on Steven's life!"

Connie quietly pondered the Warlord's retort…and could find no fault with his argument. Even before she gained these abilities she felt isolated from the Gems, who did not see a close relationship with a human working out. Instead of removing the pressure, her new hybrid state seemed to increase her problems. Sighing in defeat, Connie asked the hologram, "What would I have to do?"

With this Titanium grinned and explained to Connie what she must do…

STEVEN UNIVERSE

Later that night on the beach…

Connie snuck out of her house and went to the location Titanium told her about several hours later. Among her new abilities was not needing to sleep for more than an hour a day, and being able to go without sleep for much longer than a normal human. The place she was going to was a cave on the other side of the beach from the Crystal Gems Temple.(4) Upon reaching the cave, Connie saw the Warrior Mercury standing in the cave!

Looking up Mercury notice Connie and grinned before standing up, summoning his chain whip and saying, "Well then. Let the training…begin!"

THE END…FOR NOW!

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 monsters) and concepts that go with it. Whelp, this took long than usual. Anyway, onto my next story, which is a SheZow/Steven Universe crossover called, "The Day The Music Died" which will be feature in a more canon timeline. Let's just say a favorite OC of mine is paying Steven a little visit… Read and Review everybody!

1 Based and inspired partially by a concept in du911's story, "Big Brother Hellboy"

2 To be clear for those who watch the show, this particular story takes place before "Fusion Cuisine". I believe that the added strain of keeping her own magical secret along with Steven's would lead to some early trouble.

3 This is reference to my last Steven Universe story, "Illumination".

4 This same cave was seen in the first of this series "The Forged Warriors."