Lars was slow to walk to his destination. His steps were measured, his feet purposefully bare to feel the soft grass underneath. After countless years of walking in sand, Lars took every chance he got to walk on something, anything different. He stopped suddenly and sighed for what felt like the millionth time.

Why was he doing this to himself? Why did he think this was a good ide-

Lion bumped his nose against the small of Lars' back, staring up at him silently when Lars turned his attention to the large animal.

"I know, I know buddy."

Without another word or thought, Lars continued to climb up the familiar path. Despite the years and the ever-expanding nature of mankind, this place had remained untouched. Perhaps people just knew this wasn't a place to be messed with. Maybe it was the rumors about flesh eating moss.

Lars had the distinct feeling it was the latter reason, not the former, for humans giving this place a wide berth. The thought made Lars chuckle softly as he approached the entrance to what had once been Dead Man's Mouth.

Every couple years or so, him and Steven would come by this spot. Partially to remind themselves of their first "weird adventure" together, as Lars called it. Partially to make sure the moss hadn't returned.

It wasn't often that they found moss floating along the surface of the small lake, perhaps only a handful of occasions had ever forced them to act. As in all things that he did, over time Steven had found his own, unique way to wrangle and lead the tricky plant to the hill is would blossom on.

As Lars approached the edge of the water, he knew he would have his work cut out for him.

In the two hundred years that Steven had been dead, the moss had been left unattended once more. The lake was so full of it that the water was a deep green color where the moss wasn't floating along the top. He knew, without needing to stick his hand in, that the bottom and sides of the lake was heavily coated in the plant. Body sized mounds of dirt rested sporadically along the edge of the water, no doubt the remains of some poor animal that had come too close to the moss.

He edged a little bit closer, just enough so that the moss would know he was there. Once he saw it begin to twitch, begin to pull its way to shore, to inch and scuttle creepily towards him, Lars sighed once more and closed his eyes for a moment.

Just like everything he had done in his life, Steven found his own way to make things right. Even in something as mundane as helping his mother's moss bloom, Steven had found a way that worked for him. In following with the tradition Steven had set, Lars opened his mouth and began to sing.

If I could begin to be
Half of what you think of me
I could do about anything
I could even learn how to love

When he opened his eyes, the moss was still making its way towards him. But the rigidness of its movements, the creepiness it had only a few moments ago, was gone.

Just as he remembered it doing before, the moss had begun to sway to the beat of his singing.

Turning on his heels, he turned his back to the moss and began to walk, Lion right at his side. He knew it would follow him from here.

When I see the way you act
Wondering when I'm coming back
I could do about anything
I could even learn how to love
Like you

Lars focused on the path ahead of him, the words from Steven's song easily coming to mind. Lion trotted on ahead, the pavement of what used to be a road now nothing but gravel under his large paws. The giant cat looked back every twenty feet or so, making sure Lars still followed.

I always thought I might be bad
Now I'm sure that its true
'cause I think you're so good
And I'm nothing like you

He could all but feel the moss at his heels, pushing small rocks and turf out of the way as it crept, faster and faster, behind him.

If I could begin to do
Something that does right by you
I would do about anything
I would even learn how to love

The hill that had for millennia looked out over the valley Beach City had been nestled in drew closer and closer. As his toes curled in the grass at the very base of the hill, he felt the moss speed up suddenly and all but run past him as he continued to walk. It was older than him. Far older than him. It knew where to go from here.

Still, Lars continued the song, his voice now only just above a whisper.

When I see the way you look
Shaken by how long it took
I could do about anything
I could even learn how to love like you

He watched, still climbing up the hill, as the clouds parted overhead as the moss reached the top. From the dark green mass sprung forth the same soft pink flowers it did the first time he and Steven had brought the moss to the hill. It was just as beautiful, as calming and wonderful, as it had been that very first time.

Lars smiled through tears that had probably been there since he'd begun to sing, watching as the town below was slowly coated in the floating blossoms.

It wasn't Beach City anymore, but that was ok.

He wasn't human anymore, but that was ok.

Steven wasn't here anymore, but it would be ok.

Lars wrapped his arms around himself, his grin growing wider as his tears turned from a bittersweet happiness to pure joy.

He'd learned how to love life because of Steven. He could learn how to do it again. He'd be ok.

Love me like you.