Tales of Cookie the Magic Dragon

Part Seven

By Marie Nomad

Greg Universe was used to not knowing what to do. He had dealt with crazy gem stuff since he met Rose at the concert so many years ago. When Steven was born, Greg did all he could to take care of his son. He read all the books and struggled on his own. He wrote to his parents, but he never heard anything back. It turned out that they never even bothered to open the letters.

When Steven was born, he vowed never to let Steven suffer the way he did. The only problem was that now, Steven was lost and confused and felt that Greg never cared for him because he just runs away from the gem stuff. Greg thought about all the times he ran off to leave Steven alone.

"So, are you going to leave?" Mark asked as he crossed his arms sternly. The young man resembled his father, in that strange authoritarian way.

"Are you forcing me off?" Greg asked, feeling defeated. Why didn't he fight harder for his son? Why didn't Greg use Lion to get here instead of just driving? Why didn't he use the law and demand that the Smiths return Steven?

The redhead tilted his head and shrugged. "No."

"Look! I love Steven! I don't want to see him hurt! I know that I had been a bad father to him! I don't know what to do!"

"Be there for him! That's what my dad did when I got hurt!" Jackie said. "I don't know how! I don't know a thing about your relationship other than it's messed up. But, if you want to make things right, think about what he needs."

"All right. I know a gem who can fix that door in a hurry." Greg sighed. "Tell Steven that I'm not leaving until we talk."

"All right. You can stay, I think you should at least stay outside. I don't want you to barge in and make Steve make a hole in a wall to leave." Jackie advised.

"I'll be right here." Greg sat down on the ground.

XXX

Greg's butt got numb as he watched Bismuth fixed the door. "Thanks for fixing the door."

"Hey, it's all good. Part of the whole bismuth!" Bismuth smiled at her own joke. "By the way, any idea on how Steven is? I haven't seen him yet since he ran away."

"I… don't know." Greg just slumped down. "I thought I was a good father, but then he was at the hospital, and then I tried to show him my past and… I feel like I don't know my own son! I spent his entire life running away from gem stuff, and now he's convinced that I won't stay to help him."

"I get it." Bismuth sighed. "I felt the same way after Steven told me that Rose Quartz is Pink Diamond. I mean, wow. I'm sure Steven forgave you. After all, he forgave me for trying to shatter him."

Greg's face paled even more. "Wait! What?!"

"You didn't know?" Bismuth asked. "Everyone Steven met had tried to kill him at one time."

"No! I…" Greg took several deep breaths. How little did he know about Steven's life with the gems? How often did Steven nearly die? How much trauma did he endure alone? He remembered seeing Steven's x-ray, all those broken bones. "What else did I miss?" He started to cry.

"I'm sorry! Really!" Bismuth knelt in front of Greg. "I just thought he might have told you."

"He… I didn't tell me anything." Greg bowed his head down into his hands. "He… he never told me anything. Now, he never will."

"I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do for you?"

Greg sighed. He had spent enough time burying his head in the sand. "Can you tell me about the Gem War? I want to know all the stuff Steven and Rose went through."

XXX

Steven peeked out of the window to see Greg still sitting there. Why was his dad even here? Why didn't he run off? Steven had shown all those horrible things to his father. If Greg had any sense, he would drive back to Beach City and not come back.

"Hey, Steven? You here?" Bismuth asked as she walked through the living room.

The dragon-shaped hybrid looked at the gem. He nodded at her.

"I'm glad you're okay." Bismuth said as she awkwardly smiled. "Are you okay?"

Steven nodded a little too quickly. He didn't want her to worry needlessly about him. He wasn't sure if he should try to communicate using the TV again.

"Hey, I don't know if I ever apologized, but I'm sorry I ever tried to hurt you." Bismuth apologized. "I swear, I'd do anything for you. You know that, right?"

Steven let out a whimper. He had put that event behind him years ago, but why were his spikes itching to pop out? Why was he covering his gem with his paw? He shouldn't be scared around his friend.

Bismuth slumped down. "I understand. I really do. If you need anything, I'll make it for you. Okay?"

There was something strangely odd. Steven was happy that Bismuth actually apologized but the way that she acted, like he was fragile. He was a diamond, and he could defend himself if he needed to. Yet, Bismuth had been there for him at the roller rink. He nodded at her again.

"Also, your dad is worried sick about you. He really wanted to help you. I thought I should let you know."

Steven shoved down fear and walked up to his friend and put his head on Bismuth's shoulder. He owes it to her to try to show appreciation.

"Hey, thanks." Bismuth gently stroked his neck and let go.

XXX

Bloom had kept Steven busy by playing videos on the computer. Of course, he kept himself from playing anything on the electronics. The little girl had done so much for him, and he will not traumatize her with his thoughts.

"If you can play stuff on the TV, can you show all the cool places you've been?" Bloom asked.

He could, but he might accidentally show the time he watched multiple versions of himself die horrible deaths or the times he nearly died.

"It's better if he doesn't. Who knows what might peek through." Jackie said as she and Mark walked in. "It's getting dark out, and Greg's still out there."

Steven jumped up and ran to see his dad still sitting there. Greg looked tired and worn, but he just sat there. Steven didn't know whether to be stunned or horrified.

XXX

Greg was cold and hungry. It didn't matter to him, though. He had to prove to his son that he will not bail on him. Maybe, he could have just simply waited in the van but no. He wanted to make it clear, he will wait for Steven. He will not bail on him countless times before. All he wanted to be was for Steven to get better, and if he could, he could do whatever it takes.

The rain started to fell, and Greg curled up tighter in his blanket. He wanted to get warm, but it didn't matter, he is a father. He had to show Steven how much he loves him. "I should've brought an umbrella." He muttered as he shivered.

Suddenly, the rain stopped, and Greg felt something warm against him. He opened his eyes to see Steven hugging him with a massive shield over their heads. "Son." He whispered as he hugged back. "Thank you."

XXX

Greg drank the hot apple cider as he sat in the living room in a fresh set of clothes. "Thanks for the hot apple cider."

"You're welcome." Jackie glanced over at Mark, then Bloom, and then Steven. "Speaking using electronics seems like a bad idea."

Steven nodded and then just lay down dejected.

"Looks like Steven just has to use my body." Mark offered again as he knelt down in front of Steven. "I trust you."

Steven just looked at the guy. He wanted to accept the offer, but the idea of taking another body just felt wrong. Does this body-switching even with someone consenting to make him just as bad as White Diamond?

"I'll keep an eye on Mark's body. I'll make sure he stays safe." Jackie added, "If anything goes sideways, I'll stop you. I've beaten Mark plenty of times in wrangling matches."

Steven really didn't want to talk to his dad, but he had to move forward. Greg had seen his darkest moments and still stuck around. Finally, he sighed and nodded.

"Good." Mark sat down, and Steven closed his eyes. Steven found himself out of his body, still in his dragon form, but he felt floaty. He hasn't astrally projected in years. Finally, he flew into Mark's body and felt the young man just letting him in.

Steven felt his body jerked, and he gasped. "Hands," Steven muttered to himself as he stared down at his hands, arms, he was wearing clothes. He grasped upward to feel hair. It was smoother than his hair but he had hair. "Hair. I have hair." Steven's eyes watered as he looked up at the other humans. "I can talk."

"Cookie?" Bloom asked hesitantly.

"Hey, Bloom. Glad to finally be able to speak to you." Steven smiled as he picked her up. She was heavier than expected. "Thanks for everything. I don't know anyone who would be so nice to a monster like me."

"You… don't know… anyone?" Greg asking stunned.

"You're not a monster. You're cool." Bloom hugged him.

"Thanks." Steven lowered his friend back to the floor.

Jackie was holding up her smartphone. "Hey, Mark's eyes are looking weird."

Steven glanced at a mirror and stared at his reflection. It felt surreal to see someone else standing there. Steven looked at his eyes to see that other than Mark's green eyes, he saw glowing pink eyes. He didn't remember seeing that when he was in Lars' body or in the Watermelon Stevens. Maybe his power had evolved to the point that now he shows when he posses others. It dawned on him that it was like when White Diamond possessed others.

"Are you okay, son?"

"Do I look like I'm okay?!" Steven snapped as he gestured to the thing on the floor. "I… I..." He started to ran his hand through his hair and started pulling it.

"Hey, easy does it." Jackie grabbed his hands and gently pull it away from his hair. "Why don't we talk upstairs? Bloom, can you keep an eye on Steve's body? Make sure nothing happens to it?"

"I want to come with you."

Steven smiled at the little girl. He was thankful to have someone around to wanted to spend time with him, but he had issues that he didn't want to hurt the girl. "I know that you want to help, but I need you to make sure that my body doesn't do anything weird while I'm away. Can you do that for me?"

"Yeah." Bloom hugged Steven.

The three adults walked upstairs to Steven's temporary room. Steven sat down on the bed, and Greg sat down beside him.

"So, how are the Smiths treating you?"

"Good," Steven answered. "Living in a house where I don't have to worry about getting killed. It feels nice." He shut his mouth and closed his eyes. Even as a human, he just can't keep it in.

"Oh." Greg put his arm around his son's borrowed body. "Hey, I'm here for you. I'm sorry, I wasn't there for you. You can tell me anything, anything you want."

Steven's eyes watered. "But… what if it's bad? What if it's something you don't want to hear?"

"You shouldn't hide anything from me. I love you, no matter what."

Steven clenched his borrowed fists. "I… I..." He didn't know if he should say it. "I don't like Mom!" He let out and just looked away. "She… she lied to you, to the Gems, she made Pearl keep a secret for thousands of years against her will, she abandoned her best friend, she… used me to die! I hate her! There! I'm sorry! I know you love Mom, but I hate her! I hate her for abandoning me with this curse! If you don't want to see me again, that's fine."

Then, he felt a warm hand around his shoulders. Steven looked up to see Greg just looking sadly at him. There was no anger, no rage, only sadness. "You have a right to your feelings, son. I love Rose. I always will, but if you hate her, then, I understand. You had to deal with so much with your life because of her, but don't ever think that I would hate you for not loving Rose. I love you, no matter what. She did a lot of bad things, but if there's one good thing that she had done, it's having you."

"But I'm a monster! I wrecked Beach City and Little Homeworld! I shattered Jasper and nearly shattered White Diamond for nearly killing me!"

"Wait, she nearly killed you?" Greg's face paled, and then he looked angry. "When? How?"

"In her Head Ship. I… lied. I said that we just talked but, she… she pulled out my gem to bring back Pink Diamond and… I was..." Steven started to sob. "I was two people! Connie saved me and brought me back to my Pink self."

Greg's face grew even paler. "Wait, you worked with her for two years after all that! Didn't the Gems know?"

Steven just shook his head. "Just Connie."

"Oh… Steven." Greg hugged him again. "I don't blame you for wanting to shatter White Diamond. I want to shatter her right now!"

"It's okay. It's no different than the other gems who tried to kill me. Even the Crystal Gems nearly killed me a few times."

"Wait. What?" Jackie asked, interrupting.

"Well, I was in a space pod, and they didn't know. Although Pearl did let me fall while I was chasing her because she was sad, and this was before I could fly. And Amethyst did smash me into a rock and- don't be mad at them. I'm a gem, I can take it." Steven pleaded at Greg, who was looking more upset.

"I… I trust them to take care of you! And you're half-human! Rose wanted you to be human."

"Then, why didn't you tell your family about me. Why didn't you tell me about them when I was younger? I didn't even know about Uncle Andy until he showed up! Aren't you ashamed of me?"

"Never! I… I tried to tell my parents. And well, I was getting distant from my family when I left college." Greg looked down. "I am never ashamed of you. I… I just didn't like them. I am never ashamed of you, son."

"Dad..." Steven sobbed as he hugged his father again. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Greg soothed.

"I… ugh." Steven jerked and went limp.

"Steven?" Greg pulled away and shook the body. "Son?"

"Ah… my head." Mark opened his green eyes. "Greg? Did it work?" He brought his hand to his face to feel it wet. "What happened?"

"Hey, Mark. You okay?" Jackie helped Mark to his feet.

"Yeah, felt a little weird, but I'm okay." Mark wiped his face.

"Those Crystal Gems tried to kill Steven."

"I thought they understand how vulnerable Steven is." Greg sighed.

"Jackie! Mark! It's Steven! He's glowing!"Bloom screamed from downstairs.

At once, the adults ran to the living room to see Steven glowing white. "Steven!" Greg yelled. His heart pounded. What was going on? Was Steven getting better? Was he getting worse?

Steven stopped glowing, and he opened his eyes. He felt different. His scales are now pink, but he lost his middle limbs and now had hands and feet. He was still a monster but now looking more like Kaijuzilla than a dragon. At least he was somewhat more human than he was yesterday. What caused this?

XXX

"I see. So, Steven shapeshifted after his heart to heart with his father." Dr. Forest said as he examined Steven at the farm. "Interesting."

"Yeah, I was going to speak to the gems, but I thought, maybe, we could use an outside human opinion first," Greg said. He stood to the side, watching the old man studying him carefully. "Thanks for coming over."

"This is my first home visit in years." Dr. Forest said. Steven whimpered in apology. "Hey, it's okay. Like these home visits anyway. Well, you clearly changed. More humanoid now. Can you talk?"

Steven shook his head.

"Ah, well, at least it should be easier for you to communicate since you can write." Dr. Forrest examined Steven's claws. "Oh, I found a therapist in town, explained to her that you are unique. Gem related. I didn't tell her anything else."

"That's great!" Greg smiled, and Steven just looked down. "What's wrong? Hey, I'm sure the therapist will help you out. And I'll be staying here."

Steven looked around, and Dr. Forrest handed him a pen and notebook. He wrote out, "What about the car wash and you managing Sadie's band?"

"I can get someone to manage the car wash while I'm gone, and I can do what I need remotely. Sadie and Shep will understand." Greg held him. "You need me now. If it's okay with you."

Steven's tail started wagging, and he hugged his father.

To Be Continued...