Chapter 3-Two Hearts

Connie's Room-Beach City

The two nervous teens sat on connie's bed, eyes afixed to the movie on the screen just in front. Although the plot of the film was the last thing on either of their minds as each timidly snuck glances at the other. The situation of being alone together was nothing new to Connie and Steven. However this time was certainly different.

After all the time they had spent fused on an alien planet, a new bond had linked the two that both were aware of but neither could bring themselves to talk about. Pearl's words had definately hit home, their fusion was much more like Garnet's now.

Now in this environment, an empty house where they wouldn't be disturbed, was contributing heavily to the nervousness and shyness that they both felt in their hearts as these newly discovered feelings for one another began to blossom inside them. It was only a matter of time before one of them cracked.

Steven attempted to relax, putting the earlier scene with connie to the back of his mind. She was still his best friend, why was he getting so tense about this? As the boy sat back he moved his hands to support himself on the bed, his left hand resting on top of Connie's right.

The pair jumped simultaniously, their hands pulling away as they did so, mutch to their mutual dismay. "Oh errm, Connie sorry I was just..errm..well.." Steven began to stammer as his cheeks flushed red and his gemstone began to glow faintly, a curious occurance since that'd never happened when he'd been around Connie before. "No, no its fine I..." Connie hesitated for a moment, her head facing down to hide her crimson cheeks.

"..I..don't mind..if you wanna...hold my hand..." Connie shyly whispered, barely audible to Steven but the boy managed to catch it. Steven gulped as he looked at the girl before him, her flowing black locks covering her face as she sat with her hands gripping the hem of her skirt tightly. He slowly reached out and gently placed his hand on one of Connie's arms causing the girl to jump lightly in surprise.

Steven's hand gently made it's way down the girl's arm until it reached her hand, taking it in his own with a gentle grip as their fingers intertwined. Connie smiled a small, hidden smile as she lightly squeezed Steven's hand. The teen looked up straight into the boy's eyes, he was a lot closer than she'd remembered. "Errm Steven...I 've..been meaning to tell you something..." she began to say, once again looking down with a timid expression plastered across her face.

"What is it Connie?" Steven asked, calmly but with a hesitent tone to his voice as his innocence was still holding firm against all of the hints Connie had been pushing through. Connie looked up, her eyes shimmering as she looked into steven's. "I..." She closed her eyes tightly, unable to look at the boy as she spoke "I..Like you!" she practically yelled at him.

Steven sat in shock for a few moments, unable to process exactly what Connie had just said. The young teen's mind going into overload with a million thoughts, scenarios and emotions flowing through at once as he attempted to formulate a response to his best friend's confession. The movie had now faded into obscurity as he focused all of his energy and attention onto the girl before him, her expression a shy smile on bright red cheeks, awaiting the boy's response.

Steven opened his mouth, attempting to tell Connie his true feelings, but nothing escaped his lips. Despite his struggle, his nerves were winning out and he could not form the words to tell the girl that he loved her, he had loved her since he had first laid eyes on her. Nothing escaped the young teen's lips as he witnessed Connie's expression becoming more concerned with his lack of response.

Connie began to feel uneasy, She had just told the boy she cared the most about in the whole universe her feelings and he was...just saying nothing. Steven was a shy boy, she knew this but he'd never stayed quiet for this long before and she was worried. What if he rejected her? What if she'd just ruined their friendship...her only friendship...It would be too much to bear. As these worries plagued the girl's mind, tears began to form in her eyes.

Steven saw the telltale shimmer of teardrops in the girl's eyes and knew he had to say something fast. Taking the girl's other hand in his own, he held both of her hands tightly as his own nerves gripped him. Connie looked towards him, a hopeful gleam in her eyes at Steven's sudden action. "I..I like you too Connie" came the shy, near silent reply from the young teen.

Connie gasped as she heard the faint words, her tears were now ones of joy which began to flow as she smiled up at Steven. Steven smiled back, both teen's cheeks flushed red as they drew closer to each other.

Deep Space-Unknown Location

Lars watched in horror as Onyx stood tall before him. The battle had been so quick he'd barely had time to think, each of his crew poofed before his eyes as their physical forms were torn apart by the blinding speed of this incidious, sadistic gem. Onyx looked down at the thin, pink-skinned human that lay on the floor of the ship, a sickening grin on her face as she held aloft a small, pale orange gemstone.

Padparadscha had been the last of the gem's vitims in the swift battle. Onyx studied the small gemstone that was cradled in her palm, chuckling as she did so. "A crew of defective and off colour gems, can't say I'm surprised that this was too easy" she spoke slyly as she tightened her grip on the gemstone.

"So, let's try this again shall we earthling?" Her tone seemed threatening and annoyed. To Lars, it almost sounded like it was inconvinient for her to still be here. "You will take me to Earth...or alternatively.." She paused, gripping Padparadscha's gemstone tighter making sure that Lars could see the strain she was putting onto the fragile gem. "I could stand here and watch as you clean the shards off the floor.."

The threat was more than clear to Lars as he looked in shock at the eyes of this gem. She, much like many homeworld gems he had encountered, thought nothing of destroying 'off colour' and 'defective' gems this much was clear. But there was something else, somwething in her eyes that scared Lars more than any other gem ever had.

Onyx pressed harder on the gem, causing small sounds of tension to emerge as the pressure from her grip increased. "Clock's ticking Earthling" she said with impatience. Lars looked around him, he couldn't let these gems be shattered, they'd all been through so much together. They'd become like family to the teen, closer than his actual family back on Earth in many ways. But, this gem was after Steven, he couldn't just take this gem to Earth and risk Steven's life?

'Although...what if I?' Lars thought to himself as he processed a cunning plan in his mind, a mind newly schooled in tactical thinking and leadership from his time in space. 'Yeah, that could work' he thought as he turned back to Onyx. "Okay stop!" He said just as the gem was beginning to lose her patience. Lars hung his head in surrender "I'll take you to Earth, just...please don't hurt my crew, I can't do it without them".

Onyx smiled a sickening grin, casually throwing Padparadshca's gemstone towards the pink skinned teen who caught it gently in his hands, inspecting it for damage with a look of concern on his face. "Your crew should reform in a few minutes, in the meantime let's plan our route shall we?" Onyx said with an arrogant tone, gesturing for Lars to follow her to the map screen.

Connie's Room-Beach City

The teens parted for breath after a few moments, their first kiss having been a gentle and yet passion filled sensation that neither had experienced before in their young lives. To an outsider it'd almost look like stars had formed in their eyes as they stared at each other in mutual joyful shock.

"Connie..I..." Steven began before looking down with a deep blush on his face, his gemstone continuing to glow brightly as joy and embarressment flushed through his system. "I..I've liked you for a long time...since we met and.." Steven didn't quite know how to phrase his next sentance as a million different thoughts bombarded his mind at once. "..and I..wanted to ask if...if you'd be my g..gir..".

Steven's nervous stuttering was cut off as Connie kissed the boy again. This time the kiss was softer and shorter but by no means less sweet and loving. "Yes Steven, I've been wanting you to ask me for so long now, of course I'll be your girlfriend" the teen replied with a joyful smile and a cute blush adorning her cheek. She then rested her head on Steven's shoulder as she nestled into him, the two cuddling up as they began to watch the rest of the film in the sweet bliss that can only come with young love.

Crystal Gem Temple-Beach City

A small paper aeroplane flew from Lion's mane, surprising the creature and waking it breifly from it's slumber. The aeroplane flew through the air, catching the attention of the nearby fusion Garnet as she watched it drift gently onto the floor nearby. Curious, she picked up the small plane and inspected it, on the wing it simply contained the message 'SOS:Please read!'.

Garnet opened up the plane to reveal a message written on the page in rapidly scrawled letters that seemed hastily written. The gem could just barely make them out and so turned and called out "Pearl, I need your help with this".

A thin gem wearing a light blue attire with a small star at it's centre came quickly. Her own gemstone in her forehead glowing as she returned the list she'd been organising into her gem for safekeeping. "Yes Garnet, what is it? I was in the middle of the shopping list" she said in a very formal and dignified tone, but with a slight hint of annoyance, as if organising the shopping had been a vastly important job for her.

"Can you read this? It seems important but I can't make out what it's saying" The fusion asked as she handed Pearl the scrawled note. Pearl took the paper and carefully read it, squinting her eyes in parts where the writing was particularly shoddy. Her expression changed to once of shock and worry. "We need to get Steven, this sounds bad" she said as she guided Garnet through the note.

Steven,

It's Lars, the ship has been hijacked by a homeworld gem. She's calling herself Onyx, it's bad Steven, she took down the crew in no time at all. Now she want's me to bring her to Earth or she'll shatter them all.

I'm sorry Steven, but I can't betray these guys after all we've been through, but the least I can do is warn you that she's coming. Even with the ship's speed we won't arrive at Earth for a few more days if my math is right, You need to get ready to defend beach city...

And Steven...she know's you...it looks like she's coming for you...I dunno what she's gonna do but I can bet it ain't good. Please be safe and I'll help however I can...I'm sorry buddy...

...tell Sadie I miss her...

A/N: Onyx is coming, and Steven and Connie are currently unaware. What will she do once this devious gem is on Earth? Will the Crystal Gems be able to fight back? Until next time guys :)

2nd A/N: Sorry for the heavy delay guys, been putting this off while I finished the SVTFOE fanfiction series, but now I'll be finishing this as a priority :)