~Steven Universe~ Return From Corruption

Chapter 4 "Cold Winter Sea"

Steven put on his jacket and zipped it up, Pumpkin ran around his feet while barking excitedly, nearly tripping him several times "Wow, calm down Pumpkin!" Steven giggled as he grasped a hold of the doorknob. Peridot picked up Pumpkin, Steven smiled "Thanks!" Peridot nodded "You're.. Welcome? Is that what you're suppose to say?" Steven nodded "Yeah." The two stood around for an awkward second before Peridot spoke "So, where are you going?" Steven replied "Oh, I'm just going to go get a pizza for lunch." Peridot shrugged "Okay." Steven opened the door and was about to walk out when Pumpkin jumped out of Peridot's arms, Peridot stumbled backwards and tripped over her own feet, letting out a high pitched squeak as she fell. Pumpkin ran out of the house and down the stairs, Steven helped Peridot up

"Wow, she really wanted out." Steven chuckled lightly, Peridot groaned "Eh- PUMPKIN GET BACK HERE!!" Peridot ran out of the house and accidentally tripped over the railing, Steven managed to catch her foot before she could fall to the ground, Steven pulled her up. Peridot's face flushed with embarrassment "Euuah- Tha-Thanks." Steven nodded "Yeah, no problem, well- Should we find Pumpkin now?" Peridot nodded eagerly and began to walk quickly down the stairs, Steven followed.

Steven and Peridot searched the beach while calling Pumpkin's name. Peridot grumbled in annoyance "Uuugh, we'll never find her..." Steven sighed "I'm sure she's somewhere around here." Steven narrowed her eyes as he saw something orange splashing around the sea's shore "Uh-" Peridot yelled "Pumpkin! Get over here!" Peridot ran over to Pumpkin and picked her up, Pumpkin squirmed in Peridot's arms but Peridot managed to keep hold of the orange vegetable. Pumpkin let out a defeated groan before licking Peridot's cheek, Peridot patted Pumpkin's head "Yeah, yeah, let's get you back to bar- I mean, back to the temple." Steven waved his hand as Peridot walked back to the temple with Pumpkin in her arms. Steven then walked over to the boardwalk.

Steven opened the door to Fishstew Pizza as he walked in, the door-bell jingled and Jenny looked up "Oh, Hey Steven." Steven smiled "Hey Jenny, I'd like to order a medium pepperoni pizza please." Jenny smiled back "On it." Steven sat down on a table and waited patiently. After about twenty-five minutes, Jenny called Steven over and Steven quickly payed for the pizza and walked home.

Steven made his way home and went inside the temple, he placed the pizza box on the counter as the temple door opened and Amethyst walked out "Ooooh- Is that pizza?" Amethyst sat on one of the chairs. Steven smiled "Yeah." Amethyst grinned and reached for the box, Steven managed to pull it away "Hey! Don't steal my lunch!" Steven grinned back. Amethyst teasingly groaned in annoyance and flopped her arms on the counter "But I'm huuuuungry." Steven placed the box back down "Okay, fine, but you don't get to eat all of it." Amethyst let out a fake whimper "Fiiine." Steven opened the box and Amethyst snagged two pieces. Peridot then walked over and sat on the chair next to Amethyst "What are you doing?" Steven replied "Lunch." Peridot echoed his words "Lunch?" Amethyst nudged Peridot "Yeah, humans need to eat, remember?" "Oh! Right- I forgot."

After lunch, Garnet gathered up Pearl, Amethyst and Steven for a mission. As the group stepped on the Warp, Peridot hopped of the couch "Waaiii-" Peridot fell on her face but quickly scrambled to her feet and ran over "Wait for me!" Peridot jumped on the warp and ended up pushing Pearl into Garnet, Pearl growled in annoyance and used Garnet as support as she pulled herself up again. Amethyst pulled Peridot into a choke hold "Alright! Peri-mission!" The group warped off.

Steven let out a surprised gasp as he realized where they had warped too- The Beta. Garnet looked around and stepped off the warp. Pearl looked around nervously "So, what are we doing here?" Garnet replied "My future vision predicted a corrupt might be here." Amethyst and Steven shared a nervous glance, Steven hoped the corrupt wasn't who he thought it might be. Peridot used her ability to hover a twisted metal pole over to her, Pearl was about to say something when Garnet interrupted "Sssssh." Steven held his breath as Garnet walked ahead and peered from behind one of the Beta's many rocks.

Garnet summoned her gauntlets and whispered "Get ready." Pearl summoned her spear and Amethyst hesitantly summoned her whip, the group slowly approached Garnet, Steven managed to sneak just a little further ahead and had to hold in a nervous yelp as he saw the corrupt. The all too familiar orange, fluffy corrupt paced around the Beta, glancing around every few moments. Garnet interrupted his panic "Ready... Now!" Pearl and Garnet jumped out of hiding and attempted to attack Jasper, Jasper sneered and swiped Pearl into a wall with one clawed paw, Garnet managed to hit Jasper in the back leg, the corrupted gem let out a hiss in pain and quickly turned to face Garnet, who punched corrupted Jasper in the face, just barely missing her gem. Corrupted Jasper stumbled back and hissed as Pearl barely scratched Jasper's hind leg with her spear.

Steven yelled "Wait, guys!" Pearl and Garnet turned their gaze to Steven quickly, Jasper swiped at Garnet and managed to push Garnet over, the corrupted gem then let out an annoyed sneer before trying to run off, Pearl tried to run after the corrupt but Steven called her "Pearl, wait!" Pearl gave Steven a confused glance before glancing at the corrupted gem who was running off. Amethyst ran to Steven's side, followed by Peridot, who was still holding the twisted metal pole.

Garnet looked at Steven as she put her gauntlets away "Steven-" Peridot interrupted "Wait!- Was that Jasper?!" Amethyst slapped her hand on Peridot's mouth, but not in time. Peridot let out a muffled squeak and looked at Amethyst with a confused and surprised expression. Garnet stood still, she glanced behind her in the direction Jasper had ran off into.