Freshly fallen snow danced across the shores of Beach City. Cold air swept through the streets as the few residents hadn't made their way home yet, did. The sun had set, and the dark night sky had been further blackened by the dense cloud cover of the snow storm. The lights of the board walk storefronts glowed warmly against the frigid night. It was a slow night for Fish Stew Pizza. The Tourist season had ended two months ago and the place was practically deserted. Save for the two kids, dressed head to toe in long thick clothing, sitting in the corner booth. Chatting up a storm and laughing like they hadn't spoken in weeks.

"And that's when the principal showed up and Jeff took off." Connie finished.

"That's *snrk* terrible" Steven said, stifling laughter

"Right? Seriously though, I feel bad for that lunch lady"

"Yeah, who'd have thought spaghetti would cause that much trouble?"

The two stared at each other. Barely holding it together. They soon gave up, and laughed until it hurt.

"Seriously though Connie" Steven said, fighting off laughter "It's great to see you."

"I know" Connie said with a smile "I'm sorry I haven't been able to come around as often."

"It's cool, I know you have school."

"I'm just glad winter break is finally here"

"You've got the next week or two off right?"

"Yea, though I don't think my parents are going to let us spend the entire time together. They're probably going to have me memorize an encyclopedia or something."

"At least we have tonight, right?"

"We should, mom took dad's keys and hid them so he wouldn't try driving here in this weather."

"That's… probably a good idea" Steve said as he stared out the window. It had been a while since it had snowed like this. Not since that time Garnet let him borrow her future vision.

"So how's Andy doing?" Connie asked

"Pretty good, we got him settled into a place here in town."

"He's not staying at the barn?"

"Nah, he wanted to give Peridot and Lapis some room. He did make them promise not to touch his plane though."

"Given how Peridot tears everything apart… that's not unexpected."

The two children grinned. It had been sometime since anything crazy had happened. Aside from Uncle Andy showing up, life had been calm. Peaceful even. The snowstorm outside continued to grow. Flakes furiously skirting across the ground and back into the air. Dancing freely on the wind.

"It's almost like that storm last year" Connie said, staring out the window.

"Yeah, seems different though."

"Well yeah, I mean it is a different storm."

"It's not that Connie… It's…" Steven paused

"It's what?" Connie asked

"I don't know. It just seems a bit darker… ominous maybe?"

Connie and Steven continued to stare out the window in silence. Watching the snow.

"You're probably overthinking it." Connie said with a warm smile.

"Hopefully" Steven said, remembering what happened last year.

He never told Connie what exactly happened. From what he saw, things weren't going to end well unless they left early. Looking out the window at the snow, he couldn't shake this sense of unease that washed over him. And if the past summer had been any indicator, that may be for a reason.

"Pizza's ready!" Kiki called as she walked over to their booth, holding a fresh pizza. The smell of sweet tomatoes and mozzarella filled the air. She placed the pizza on the table and handed out some plates. "You two enjoying yourselves?" she asked with a grin.

"Yea, thanks." Connie smiled back

"You two got any plans for tonight?"

"Yep" Steven said "Dad had some stuff to take care of at the car wash. But he gave me and Connie some money so we could get some pizza."

"Then we're going to go back to Steven's and watch Under the Knife." Connie added

"Sounds like you two are have a fun night ahead of you. I'm going to be spending it here."

"Is Jenny going to be here with you?" Steven asked

"Nah, she at some concert Sour Cream is DJ-ing."

"So you're stuck here all night by yourself?"

"Not all night, just until we close. Besides there's not much else going on anyway."

"Well…" Steven pursed his lips "Hmm…"

"Maybe you could watch Under the Knife with us" Connie suggested

Kiki looked her, surprised, and then amused. "That's a nice offer" She said with a smile "But I'd hate to intrude on you two lovebird's alone time."

Steven and Connie looked at Kiki, stunned. Then they looked at each other, their faces growing flush. Both hadn't thought about how this looked, the two of them sitting alone in a corner booth, until Kiki had said something.

"That's- We're not-" Steven stammered

He was interrupted by the sound of the shop bell chiming at the front door. Cool air and snow blew into the pizzeria as a customer walked in.

"Looks like work calls" Kiki said with a sigh "I'll leave you two to your date."

Kiki rushed off before either of the flustered children could correct her. Leaving the two of them staring awkwardly at the pizza that sat in front of them.

"This totally isn't a date!" Connie blurted

"Mmf!" Steven agreed as he pushed a slice of pizza into his face

"We are just two friends. Getting pizza."

"Mmf!"

"Alone… in a corner booth…"

"…Mmf…"

"Of a nearly empty restaurant."

Steven and Connie sat silently again. Pizza hung limply from Steven's mouth as both avoided making eye contact with the other. Instead of feeling worried, Steven now felt like his heart was about to leap out of his chest. He really hadn't considered how this looked.

"I'm sorry… you wanted what on your pizza?" Kiki asked

Steven and Connie turned their attention to the register. Kiki was talking to the customer who had just previously walked in. They were a tall figure in a long black coat, a scarf tightly wrapped around their face, and an ushanka hat clasped to their head. They had a singular, misshapen glove covering their left hand. Most of their features were left obscured thanks to this.

"Anfofies anf finaffle"

"Antacids and falafel?"

"Anfofies… anf finaffle."

"… Avocados and funnel cake?"

The customer rubbed their eyes with their gloved hand. Annoyed, they rearranged their scarf and tried again.

"Anchovies and pineapple" they said, their voice deep.

"Ok, sorry." Kiki said.

"Three slices and a small Summit Rain"

Kiki tapped the keys of the register "ok… anything else sir?

"No, that should be it, thanks."

Kiki rang up the register. The machine whirred to life, kicking out its cash drawer and spitting out a small receipt. "That'll be $10.56"

The customer handed her a few bills and walked over to an empty table. They settled into their seat and relaxed, waiting for Kiki to deliver their food.

"Anchovies and Pineapple?" Connie whispered

"Doesn't sound too bad" Steven answered "I've had something similar before."

"What? When?"

"This time Sadie, Lars, and I got stuck on an island."

"What! When did that happen?"

"Last summer I think."

"Well… what exactly happened?"

"Ok, so it all started with Sadie and Lars yelling at each other…"

The two continued eating, with Steven regaling Connie with his weeklong adventure on Mask Island with Sadie and Lars. Of the fun nights and camaraderie they shared.

"And then Sadie knocked Lars off a cliff!" Steven said

"Wow." Connie was stunned

"Then the Gem showed up, Sadie used her fish-murdering skills to get rid of it, and we got off the island."

"How have I not heard about this?"

"I don't know." Steven shrugged "No one ever asked about it either. I think they just assumed I stayed inside for the week they were underwater."

"What about Sadie and Lars?"

"They don't really talk about it either. Although Sadie does have a scar from it."

"So that's where she got that!" Connie exclaimed

"Yep. And I think that is about everything that happened on Mask Island."

"It sounds amazing, like Robinson Crusoe."

"Wasn't that the book about a guy who steals money?"

"No that's Robin… Wait what time is it?"

Steven pulled out his cell phone and tapped the screen. The LED display lit up and the time blinked into existence.

"7:55" Steven said

"Under the knife is starting soon. We should get going." Connie said

"Yea, hold on."

Steven picked up the few slices of pizza that were left and bubbled them, sending them on their way.

"Should you really be using the bubbles for that?" Connie asked

"No reason why not." Steven smiled "They'll stay the same until we pop the bubble"

"I guess it is environmentally friendly."

"…Huh I guess so." Steven said

The two children climbed out of the booth and walked across the restaurant. Passing the lone customer slipping their pizza through a space in their scarf to eat. They approached the register and Kiki looked up from a magazine she was reading. "You two heading out?"

"Yep, here you go" Steven extended some bills to Kiki

She looked at them and smiled. "Actually your pizza has already been paid for."

"Really?" Steven asked

Kiki pointed at the customer, who sat turned away from them. "He called me over while you were yelling about an island and offered to pay for you."

"Oh… Cool!" Steven chuckled, he turned his attention to the customer "Thank you!"

The customer didn't turn to answer him. They just raised their arm and flashed them a thumbs up.

"Have a nice night." Connie said as she and Steven braced themselves and walked out the door, hand in hand.

Behind glass, the snowstorm looked beautiful. Beyond it, the storm was harsh and cold. Especially for a town on the coast. The razor wind whipped the flakes in a frenzy. Pelting Steven and Connie as the wind tore through their thick coats. It was as if they'd stepped onto the face of a mountain rather than a beach shore.

"Let's get going" Steven said as he and Connie began trudging through the snow. The wind buffeted and battered them. Slowing them to a snail's pace. The snow that tore at them felt akin to thousands of frigid needles. Stabbing them in pinpricks, then fading.

"Was it this bad when we were inside?" Connie hollered over the wind

"It didn't look like it!" Steven yelled back.

"My parents warned me it was going to be bad but- whoa!"

Connie lost her footing and fell backwards into the snow, dragging Steven down with her. On the ground, the snow felt even colder. A wall a soft ice, waiting to cushion and freeze them.

"Cold!" Steven screeched

"Sorry Steven!"

"It's… cool" Steven winked

Connie let out a deep sigh. Smiling despite herself. "Come on, we have to keep going. The show is starting any minute"

The two children tried again. Dragging each other through the storm… only for the storm to blow them back down. They rose again, took a few steps, and then fell again. This went on for quite some time.

"Argh! We aren't getting anywhere!" Connie screamed into the wind

"Yes we are! We aren't in front of the Fish Stew Pizza anymore" Steven chided

Connie stared at him. "Steven turn around"

Behind Steven the door to Fish Stew Pizza was no more than five feet away. "Aww. How have we not gotten anywhere?"

"It's the wind, it keeps blowing us on our butts"

"Alright… I've got an idea."

The two children righted themselves and braced themselves against the wind. Steven focused his mind and in an instant, the two of them were encapsulated within an iridescent pink bubble.

"That should stop the wind from knocking us over." Steven said triumphantly

"Awesome! But… Won't the increased surface area make the wind pushback even harder?"

Steven took a step forward. The bubble ignored the wind that pushed against it.

"I guess not." Steven answered

"We're breaking the laws of physics to go watch a TV show. Cool." Connie smiled

The Children charged forward into the dark night. Racing down the snowy sidewalk and onto the beach. Even the snow and sand parting beneath them as they raced down the dark shores of the snowy beach.

"You're all caught up Connie?" Steven asked

"On the show? No. Mom wouldn't let me watch the last few episodes." Connie answered

"You want me to give you a quick run-down?"

"Please and thank you."

"So after the Nurse tried to remove the patients legs from their brain they wound up getting their arms stuck in the patient's brain too."

"How'd they manage that?"

"Something to do with duct tape and a needle. They've spent the last few episodes trying to fix everything."

"Cool. Wonder what will happen now?"

"Only one way to find out."

They rounded the bend of the temple and slowed to a halt. In the distance, the temple lights glowed soft and warm. Inviting them out of the cold. They raced towards the hill. Snow crunching underfoot.

"Almost there! We might make it in time!" Connie shouted

They reach the crest of the hill and the bubble burst, the two children bounded up the stairs and through the doors. Locking out the frigid night air. Garnet, Amethyst, and, and Pearl were huddled around the kitchen table. Reviewing some ancient looking papers. Steven and Connie threw off their coats and bounded up another flight of stairs to Steven's room. Connie flopped onto the bed and Steven threw himself at the TV. Falling just short of it and planting his face into the rug. He reached up and turned the TV on regardless, before seating himself at the foot of the bed.

The TV blared as the choral tones to the intro of 'Under the Knife' reached their close. The dark screen slowly glowed to life and the scene to the show was set.

"This is going to be awesome!" Connie proclaimed

*1 viewing later*

"That was terrible!" Connie groaned

"They really didn't have to finish it like that did they?" Steven asked

"Of course there would be a cliff hanger! Why wouldn't they make things simple?"

"At least they got the arms out of the patient's brain, right?"

"But now his face is stuck in there! ... God this show is weird"

"Yeah but at least it makes more sense than that adaptation they made of The Spirit Morph books."

"It's like they weren't even trying!"

"Spirit morph or-"

"Both!"

The two children began laughing.

"Steven! Connie! Can you come down here for a bit?" Called Pearl

"Coming!" Steven called through the laughter. The two picked themselves up and walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. Pearl and Garnet had their arms crossed and were staring at the papers, Amethyst was chugging anti-freeze and balancing another bottle of it on her finger. "What's up?"

"We're going on a mission." Garnet explained

"Where to? Connie asked "I'll grab my gear and-"

Garnet raised her hand and interrupted Connie "Afraid not"

"We're making a trip to the moon." Pearl explained "Homeworld's base-"

"Wait" Connie interrupted. "Wait just a second."

Pearl stopped, curious why she was being interrupted.

"Homeworld put stuff on the moon too? There's a base on the moon? You've been to the moon!?"

"Umm…" Pearl said "…Yes?"

"How did I never hear about this!?"

"Our few trips there haven't been very good." Steven explained "Last time we were there I got thrown into space."

"What!?" Connie was dumbfounded "How have I not heard about any of this!?"

"In any case" Pearl continued "The moon base was the command hub for all of the operations on earth."

"We're going to go see if there is anything else Homeworld might have done to earth we don't know about." Garnet finished.

"That doesn't explain why we can't come along." Connie continued

"Remember how Steven got sucked into space? We never closed the door after him."

"There's no air up there now." Amethyst added

"Basically, yes" Pearl clarified.

"Oh" Connie answered, dejected.

"We'll probably be there until sometime tomorrow" Garnet said "There is food in the fridge just in case."

Pearl finished for Garnet "Brush your teeth, go to sleep at a reasonable time, and please don't break anything."

"Ok" Steven smiled "Have a safe trip"

The Gems hugged Steven and Connie. Then walked out the door into the cold, the wind didn't even bother them.

"Wait…" Connie paused "How are they getting to them moon?"

"They'll probably use the rubies' rocket ship"

"Ruby has a rocket ship!?" Connie exclaimed

"No, there were a group of rubies that-"

"There were more Homeworld gems that showed up!?"

"Yea, after we took care of the cluster a bunch of Homeworld gems showed up"

"Why didn't you tell me about that?"

"A lot of stuff happened this summer."

"Well I'm all ears. We've got nothing better to do anyway."

"I… I don't know how comfortable I am with that."

"Why not?"

"A lot of the things that happened, I'm… not comfortable talking about them."

"Well… alright" Connie gave him a warm smile "Just tell me when you're ready. You promised remember?"

"Yea, I remember" Steven smiled back

The two children walked back up to Steven's room and sat in front of the TV. Steven and Connie clicked through the channels, searching for something to watch. They clicked through a weather report, a cartoon about adventure, and a show about people chasing tornados.

"Does that qualify as adventure weather?" Steven asked

"Does what?"

"Chasing tornados."

"Maybe?"

Steven gave up and turned off the TV. There was nothing good on now. So the two of them sat in silence. Listening to the house creek as the wind pushed against it. Outside the Storm raged on.

"Now it really is like last year" Connie chuckled

"Yea, except dad's not sleeping on the couch"

They both sat next to each other as they stared out into the snow. The house was warm. The bed was soft. And Steven was starting to feel tired. He yawned and rubbed his eyes.

"Did you see that?" Connie asked

"See what?"

"Out there in the Snow" She pointed out into the darkness

"I didn't see anything"

"Look closely, I think there is something outside"

Steven stared out the window intently. Looking beyond the snow and into the darkness. He saw nothing. There was so much snow, he wasn't sure what else Connie could have seen. There was nothing outside.

Then it opened its mouth.

A distance into the darkness, Steven saw it. A faint blue that was encapsulated by the darkness. Almost in the shape of a giant flower.

"What is that?" Steven asked

"I don't know, don't you?"

"I don't know, I-I think… Wait isn't that-"

A large glob a black liquid launched from the darkness and crashed through the window, Coating Connie and Steven.

"-Slinker!"

A massive Tentacle followed after the glob. Smashing through the wall and swiping at the two children. Steven was knocked sideways into Connie and the two went flying. The two flew out of Steven's room and crashed into the common area below. The limb continued to thrash around Steven's room, the sounds of shattering glass and broken wood thundered down from it.

Steven couldn't see, the ink was in his eyes. It was slimy and cold.

"Connie" Steven groaned "I can't see- I got it in my eyes"

"I –ugh- got it in one of mine." She groaned back

The two struggled to their feet. The room felt like it was spinning, both felt pain all over their bodies. But they could not stay still. The beast continued its assault, as it began to tear the roof from its moorings. The house shuddered as it tried to hold itself together. Cold air began to fill the structure. The beast screeched as it rammed another of its limbs through the front door, Connie and Steven narrowly dodging it.

"Of all the times to not bring my sword." Connie groaned

"Forget about that." Steven chided "The gems can't be too far away. We just need to hold out until they come back."

"Alright, ready?"

"Ready."

The two clasped hands and pulled into a hug. A warm light and sensation passing over them. Their forms melded and they fused. Soon Stevonnie stood in their place.

"Just need to survive" They said "Just hold on."

Stevonnie focused and summoned their shield. The shield glowed brightly and warm. Hovering just over their left arm, light as a bird in flight.

The limb that had burst through the front door retreated, and Stevonnie took the chance. Diving through the door and into the snow on the unstable porch. The retracted arm raised and slammed down at them. They jumped from the porch as the beast destroyed it in a shower of wood splinters.

"Stop destroying my house!" Stevonnie yelled

The beast turned its attention from the building and aimed itself at Stevonnie. The Slinker hocked another glob at them. Stevonnie raised their shield and the glob impacted it. Showering the fresh fallen snow with inky blackness. The beast shrieked and launched itself at Stevonnie, spinning and flailing wildly. Stevonnie back-stepped quickly, readying their shield in front of them as the Slinker came crashing down. The impact blew them backwards. Stevonnie landed on their feet, readying their shield for the next attack. It arrived a moment later, as the beast launched a limb straight at them.

"Is that the best you can do!?" Stevonnie asked, straining against the force of the limb.

Stevonnie deflected the limb to the side, spun, and hurled their shield at the Slinker. The shield struck the beast clean on the mouth before shattering and fading out of existence. Stevonnie focused and summoned another shield to their arm.

"Because I can do this all night!"

The beast retaliated, bringing two of its limbs together in a clap motion. Stevonnie jumped and hurled her shield again. Striking the beast on the mouth for a second time. It was not amused. The Slinker hurled another glob at Stevonnie, while simultaneously swinging another tentacle at them.

"Bubble!"

A pink bubble materialized around them, catching both the limb and the viscous blob. The impact of which began to hurtle them towards the ground. Stevonnie focused and tried to slow their descent. But the Slinker refused to allow it, slamming three of its limbs against the bubble and rocketing it into the snow and sand. The bubble held, but the impact sent pain rippling through Stevonnie. The Slinker continued its assault, smacking down on the orb from above and driving it deeper into the ground. Trying to break it.

"OWWwww…" Stevonnie groaned "Ok, maybe all night was an exaggeration."

The beast's assault came to a crescendo. The bubble wasn't going to be able to take much more. Stevonnie focused, listening to the rhythm of the strikes, learning the pattern and the timing.

"Tonight was supposed to be simple. Nothing but a chance to hang out." Stevonnie groaned.

Stevonnie burst the bubble in between strikes. Diving out to the left and hurling her shield at the beast. It caught only air. The beast had disappeared, though its limbs reached back into the distance away from them. They seemed to be rising from… the ground.

Only a second too late did Stevonnie remember what else the Slinker could do. Before they could dive out of the way, the beast burst from the ground beneath them. Seizing both an arm and a leg. It tightened its grip around the fusion and slammed it into the ground hard. Stevonnie Struggled, re-summoning their shield and bashing the rim into the beast's tentacle. The Slinker tightened its grip harder in response. Stevonnie could feel the strain on their arm and leg. The pain was excruciating. It felt as though at any moment they would give and their bones would break. Throwing them further at a disadvantage.

"LET. ME. GO!" Stevonnie articulated, punctuating each word with another strike from their shield

The Slinker responded by flailing Stevonnie like a ragdoll. Flinging them wildly through the air and slamming them down into the dirt again, only to raise them up once more. Stevonnie could barely breathe. Every time they tried, the beast would beat the wind back out of them. Only one chance arose for them to breathe.

When the beast launched them into the air.

The Slinker whipped Stevonnie into the air, released its grip, and sent them flying. They rose, higher and higher into the cold night sky. For a moment the world seemed to slow, and Stevonnie began to wonder. To wonder why the Gems hadn't shown up yet. They couldn't have been that far away when the Slinker attacked. So why hadn't they shown up yet? It couldn't have Poofed them, the last time it tried they had nearly captured it. How could they not have heard any of what was happening? It was so loud it could probably be heard from space. Stevonnie's entire body was crying out in pain.

The Slinker cried out, it screech echoing up from far below them.

It wasn't this strong before was it? Sure, Amethyst kept getting tossed around by it, but it was never this strong. Something wasn't right. The last couple of minutes had plainly demonstrated that.

Stevonnie snapped back to reality, the world picked up speed. For a second Stevonnie felt as though they were floating in midair. Levitating amidst the clouds, cold air, and snow. Then gravity took over. And they began to hurtle towards the ground. Stevonnie turned in midair and saw the ground fast approaching. She also Watched as The Slinker thrust a tentacle upward at them, followed closely by a second.

Stevonnie waited, closer and closer until, it was almost upon her. Then they acted, even as their body protested. They summoned their shield and glanced off of the first limb, slowing their descent. They impacted the second one, slowing more before colliding with the cold ground and tumbling. Rolling across the snow and backed up against the remains of Steven's home.

Then the fusion failed.

The two Children were no longer able to keep together. The pain was too great and the fighting too much. Both lay crumpled next to the house. Steven stared at the Slinker, and suddenly he noticed something was wrong. All along its neon blue interior, splotches of color faded in and out of view, swirling and dancing like a Kaleidoscope. But within that lay something else. Within its Gentian maw hovered another, more gnarled and misshapen mouth. Blackened with spittle and furiously gnashing at the air. Steven stared, wide eyed at the creature. Something had happened to it. Of that he was now certain.

The beast reared back and lunged at Steven. Flying full force it the wounded boy and girl. Steven could no longer summon his shield. His fear was shattering his concentration. The best he could do was create a Bubble around himself and Connie, Just barely big enough to protect them from what was coming. The beast thrashed against the bubble. The ground shook and the beast screeched harder with each strike.

"Are you ok?" Steven asked

Connie groaned. "No, you?"

"No."

Both of them were in pain. Everything either felt broken or ached terribly. Just beyond the barrier of the bubble the beast raged. With each blow the bubble began to collapse inward. The two children began to shake. Too afraid to move or fuse. They could only watch as the beast grew ever closer.

"Connie?" Steven asked

"Yea?"

"We should've done this at your place."

Connie let out a short, nervous laugh "My parents wouldn't have let us"

"I know" Steven laughed back

Finally the bubble broke again. The beast towered over them two children cowering in a corner. It let out a low growl, and raised itself up one final time.

"Connie!" Steven cried as he threw himself on top of her. Shielding her from what was to come…

But it never did.

"Hey!" boomed a voice

The beast stopped. Steven watched in disbelief as the beast turned its attention to the voice.

"You better not touch those kids, f-ugly." The voice commanded

Steven could see the source of the voice. Behind the beast stood a stranger, dressed in a long black, tattered coat. With a hat and charcoal gray scarf wrapped tightly to their head. The wind blew hard, billowing the coat of the stranger. Steven recognized them from the pizzeria.

The beast screeched at the stranger, enraged by the interruption.

"I'm guessing you aren't going to just leave, right?"

The Beast hurled itself at the stranger. It flew through the air hard and fast, but the stranger was faster. They leaped clear over the beast and landed behind it, right next to the children. The beast landed a distance away, turning to face its quarry.

"You kids still with me?" The stranger asked, still facing the beast

Steven focused. He didn't know who this was or why they were here. He climbed off of Connie "Y-Yes sir"

"Then do yourself a favor and stay down. I can't babysit and fight at the same time."

The stranger's left hand light began to shimmer. And from that light formed a sword. Its blade long and curved, its cross guard adorned by roses and sharp thorns. Its pommel was smooth, it curved with the handle of the blade.

"You-You're a g-" Steven began

The beast interrupted him, as it charged the stranger. The stranger leapt into the air again. They soared through the air at the beast and came crashing down upon them, driving his sword deep into their hide. The stranger withdrew his sword and flew backwards. The beast howled in rage. Thrashing wildly at the stranger.

The stranger moved quickly, rolling around, leaping over, and stepping on the limbs of the beast. Hacking and slashing them as he went. Dark liquid poured from the wounds, blackening the snow and sand.

The beast grew ever more furious, yet the stranger kept up his attacks. No matter how fast the beast swung, it was unable to catch him. The beast thrust a tentacle at the stranger. This time they refused to dodge. Instead standing their ground and held their blade in front of them. The impact drove the limb down the edge of the blade slicing it in twain. The beast tried to recoil but the stranger stabbed his sword through the limb. It became stuck and the beast launched him towards itself.

The stranger released the sword and flew at the beast. Summoning another sword he thrust it out in front of himself.

"Say Ahh!" called the stranger

The sword punctured the body of the beast. The stranger twisted it, withdrew it and began hacking at its body. Black liquid began to pour out over the sand as the stranger swung unrelentingly upon it.

"Just. Poof. Already!"

The stranger thrust his word one final time into the beast. With a thunderous clap, the beast released its form. Disappearing into a cloud of smoke and light. The stranger stood there, surrounded by black soaked sand, their sword struck into the sand, and a fist sized aquamarine gem glowing softly on the ground. The stranger released their sword and it vanished. They grabbed the gem off of the ground and wrapped it in a plastic shopping bag. They placed the gem in their coat and kneeled there in silence, mournfully listening to the wind.

"You're a Gem!" Shouted Steven.

The stranger's head shot up. He turned to face Steven. "How do you- Wait, what is that!?" He pointed his finger at Steven.

It was then that he noticed that for the first time that he had re-encased himself and Connie within a bubble. Steven dissolved the bubble and the stranger darted at them.

"Thank you fo-"

The stranger interrupted Steven, Grabbing him by his shirt and hoisting him into the air. Their face was still obscured by their Scarf, but Steven could see his eyes. They seemed to capture what little light there was, refracting and scattering it, making them glimmer in an array of colors. He could see a rage in them. The stranger squeezed Steven's face with their free hand. They looked him over and growled.

"You seem human, but I know you're not anymore. Where are your gems?"

"Let him go!" Connie shouted, trying to rise from the ground

The Stranger turned their attention to her. Watching her struggle. "Stay out of this little girl or-"

Steven head-butted the Stranger. Connecting his forehead with their nose. The stranger released their grip and back pedaled. Steven landed and helped Connie up. The stranger regained his composure and glared at the two children.

"Of course they'd come back." They sneered "Even after all these years, of course they'd come back."

"Just take it easy." Steven said, raising his hands "Whoever it is you think-"

"And of course they'd start those experiments again." The stranger growled, as he backed away from the children and began to disappear into the still raging snow storm. "They never were anything but a group of monstrous cowards."

"What are you talking about!? Wait!"

"Flee back to your masters!" boomed the stranger "Tell them that as long as I draw breath, the Earth will be under the my protection! And they shall never claim it!"

"Wait!" Steven called

But the stranger was gone, they had vanished into the storm.