The next day, Leo, Twilight, and Steven were thinking of the riddle that Mikey, Pinkie and Amethyst got from Dusk Quartz.
"'Who am i behind the mask?' That was riddle." Leo said.
"Anyone have any ideas?" Steven asked, confused.
"Maybe we could ask Lady Achuta if she knows." Twilight said.
"Great idea." Leo said. "Know where we can find her?" He then asked.
"She set up shop at the Prime Kindergarten, and she said to meet us there." Twilight said, then she remembered something. "Oh and Steven, she said we should bring a tape that has your name on it. Do you know what she is talking about?" she asked
"Yeah i do." Steven said before going to the tv to get it. It's a VHS tape with cursive writing on it that reads "For Steven". "Ok i got it, lets go."
Soon they reached the Prime Kindergarten. They find that Lady Achuta had built a base here with weapons, gadgets, and the strangest thing of all, a TV and VHS set.
"Ah good your here and you brought the tape." Lady Achuta said when she saw them.
"Yeah, um what's all this about?" Steven asked.
"I will tell you later, but first, can you tell us how Rose Quartz met your father?" She asked.
"Well my dad was doing one of his concerts back in the day and my mom was the only one who saw it." Steven began.
She was just standing there clapping when my dad finished.
"Thanks for coming everybody, I'm Mr. Universe. If you like what you just heard go check out our merch table!" Greg said, pointing to merch table "My manager Marty can hook you up with CDs, and t-shirts - Oh, wait, he's not there... I guess I'm going over there now..." He then went there and sat down.
Rose walks over to the merchandise table and picks up a CD. "Space Train to the Cosmos..." She said, reading the cover of the CD.
"Yeah!" Gred said before singing "One way ticket and I'm ready to ri~ide!"
Rose was laughing before she asked "How will you get back?"
"Back?" Greg asked
"Back to Earth?" Rose said, answering his question with another question.
Greg sits back as he answers with a cool tone "I'm NEVER coming back."
"Oh! That's awful!" Rose said with a few giggles "This is your home." She then picked up Greg's CD in her hand.
"Uhh... you want that?" Greg asked "You can have it..."
"Hm?" Rose said.
"Oh, and it comes with a free t-shirt!" Greg added as he pulls out a small t-shirt. "You'll probably need a bigger one... I've got an extra extra large in my van! Stay right there!"
"So my dad got a t-shirt for my mom but when she turnd around she was gone so he walked down the boardwalk looking for her, approaching a gate at the beach with a sign that says 'KEEP OFF BEACH'. Below is a sign that reads 'Please' in neat cursive. Greg looks past the gate." Steven said.
"Maybe she's over there?" Greg asked. Just then an owl hooted at the top of the gate. "Ah, - just some giant mysterious lady with enormous pink hair." He jokingly said. "You haven't seen anyone like that around, have ya?"
That owl turns out to be Amethyst as she answered Greg's question. "Sure have, pal!" She said.
Surprised, Greg gulps and asked. "W-where...?"
Amethyst chuckles and turns around "Well, uh... If I told you any more I'd have to KILL YOU!" she then flies towards Crystal Temple hooting "Hoo, hoo, hoahahaha!"
"Hey! WAIT!" Greg said as he tries to catch up and climbs the fence "Hold on a sec-Whoa, oomph!" Greg falls over the top of the fence, landing on the other side. He runs after Amethyst, up towards the temple entrance where Pearl is standing with Amethyst perched on her arm.
"This long-haired human was talking to me over by the fence!" Amethyst said.
"It spoke to you?" Pearl asked.
"He was asking about Rose." Amethyst added before she turned her head 180 degrees. "Look, there he is!"
"Yo~" Greg said. Amethyst flies off towards Greg, hitting Pearl's face.
"Ugh, Amethyst, wait!" Pearl said.
Amethyst shape-shifts back into herself and scares Greg. Her appearance here is very reminiscent of a toddler's. "It's YOU!" She said as she crawls around Greg and lifts up his shirt. "I've never seen this one around here before... Aww... I really like your hair!"
"Amethyst! Leave him be! You don't know where he's been!" Pearl said picking Amethyst up, who struggles to touch him. Pearl then turned to Greg "I'm very sorry about this... umm... you." Just then the warp pad was activated. Garnet warps in, bubbling away two gems before seeing Greg.
"Pearl, Amethyst, you're with a human." She said approaching him.
"He followed me over the fence!" Amethyst said happily.
"What should we do?" Pearl asked.
Garnet's shades reflect Greg's face "State your purpose." She ordered.
"Uhh... I was kinda looking for the mysterious pink lady. Kinda really tall... lots of big curly hair?" Greg explained nervously
"See, he's talking about Ro— mmphhh" Amethyst started but Pearl puts her hand over Amethyst's mouth to muffle her.
"I don't know how to make him go away." Pearl said to Garnet
"I'll just throw him back over the fence." Garnet said
"Huh?" Greg asked, and before he knew it Garnet picks him up in attempt to throw him over the fence. Greg moans in protest as he's carried off.
"Excellent idea!" Pearl said "Humans should stay on the other side of the fence like the sign says."
"PLEASE!" Greg pleaded "No Throwing!"
"Wait!" Rose cried, hurrying out of the temple. "Mr. Universe?"
"It's you - Whoa!-" Greg said as Garnet drops Greg and blushes."Ow!"
Rose jumps and lands gracefully in front of Greg, reaching out a hand to help him up. "Are you alright?" She asked.
Greg takes her hand; the two of them look at each other for a moment until Pearl comes into the frame. "You know this human?" She asked
"He was playing a concert on the beach, and I couldn't help myself." Rose explained, blushing slightly
"No one can ignore the Universe." Greg said, whipping his hair "Oh! I brought you this." Greg held out the t-shirt "It's the free t-shirt that came with the free CD!"
Rose takes the shirt "Why, thank you!" She said as the other Gems crowd around Rose to look. "His gimmick is space!" She whispers. Pearl chuckles a little bit.
"Hey, play something, music man!" Amethyst said smiling
Better make it good. Garnet said before summoning a gauntlet
"Ah, man, I'm working on this awesome new set, it's gonna kill at my next show." Greg said before realizing how late it is. "Next show! Aw jeez, what time is it?"
"N... ight... time?" Pearl said.
"Yeah, Marty's probably looking for me." Greg said "We're supposed to hit the road... Big show in a big city... and I didn't drop out of community college for nothing!"
"What?" Pearl said
"Well, you better hurry." Rose said with a smile "You don't wanna miss your space train to the cosmos."
"Okay! I'll see you later" Greg as he begins to run off, then stops, turns back for a second to call back "Uh, I hope the stars will align for us to meet again!"
"I'm sure they will!" Rose said
"Bye~ music man!" Amethyst said as she waved. Greg waves back then exits while Rose looks at the shirt.
"I can sing!" Pearl said sounding somewhat jealous. Rose smiles; Garnet begins to laugh as Amethyst joins her. "What?" Pearl said as she puts hands on hips while blushing.
"But soon after my dad realized that my mom was everything he had ever wanted so he left his manager Marty and went back to be with her." Steven finished.
"Why did you ask that, Lady Achuta?" Twilight asked
"Well you see-" Lady Achuta began but just then an explosion came through the front door, and then Kraang Subprime and Dusk Quartz entered the scene.
"How, How did you find me?" Lady Achuta asked, shocked to see him.
"Do you really thing that this world is unique?" Dusk Quartz asked back. "You built a base in the Prime Kindergarden in our world too. And while you escaped your end in our world, you will meet your end here, with pain and suffering." He finished his sentence with a punch to Lady Achuta's face sending her flying near the tv.
"I don't know who you are, breaking into someones based, not a cool move." Leo said.
"Who cares if you care, aslong as you die!" Kraang Subprime said laughing.
"Acually, I think you all should care who i am." Dusk Quartz said, to Kraang Subprime's confusion. "See, every version of the spawn of Rose Quartz is a hero, saving the earth many times, except one." and before he finished, he removed his mask revealing a grown up version of Steven's face with a scar over the eye. "ME!!!"
Everyone was so shocked to see this, that before they could say anything, Dusk Quartz, or Evil Steven continued his story.
"In my dimension, the earth was nearly destroyed, humanity was on it's last legs, and when the Gem Homeworld invaded, mankind were more than ready to defend themselves. But Pink Diamond made peace with the humans and promised not to destroy their planet." He began while fighting Leo, Twilight, and Steven, who had recovered from their shock and tried to take him down, but to no avail. "When the other diamonds learned of this, they deemed Pink Diamond a traitor and pronounced her death sentence, but by then, it was too late. She had wed a warrior king and had a son, me. I grew up in the a war with the Diamonds armies, who were unable to destroy us. But then, the diamonds blasted us with beam that destroyed all the gems and humans of earth, including my father, all but I, Lady Achuta, and three of Pink's followers survived, a pearl who served Pink Diamond, an Amethyst smaller then the others, and a Ruby and a Sapphire who fused in to something new, all three transformed in to the monsters your friends faced." At this time, our heroes had been subdued. He had turned to Kraang Subprime, who had trapped them with his goo gun. "OK 'partner' you know what to do." he said
"Sure thing." Kraang Subprime answered and pushed a button on a remote. Unfortunately at this time a huge boulder started to fall right toward him. It was only when it was too late did he see it "AWW KRAANG!!!!" And with that the boulder landed on top of Kraang Subprime, crushing him in the prosses.
"Do you think that he's-" Steven started but Leo stopped him
"Nope, he'll be back, he always comes back." Leo said
"It's true." Twilight added.
"Besides, he did his job, and half of my revenge is complete." Dusk Quartz said smiling.
"What do you mean, um Steven?" Steven asked.
"It's Dusk Quartz to you, and to answer your question, when the Kraang invaded the Gem Homeworld in my reality, I thought that all my years of planning my revenge on the Diamonds was for nothing." Dusk Quartz said, a bit sad only for a moment. "Then when i learned that there was a reality where Homeworld still stood, I knew it was destiny calling me to this universe. I planned it so that i could get revenge on the Diamonds for destroying my home, and Kraang Subprime for robbing me of my revenge on the Diamonds for destroying my home."
"And you think that will bring your people back?" Leo asked.
"No, but they will be avenged." Dusk Quartz answered. "That button that Kraang Subprime pressed initiated the charging sequence for 5 signal towers. it may take a while, but when they are fully charged, they will emit a signal that opens a portal to Dimension X right over Homeworld, leaving it for the Kraang Armada to do with as they wish."
"You can't do this to them, our Homeworld accepts that Earth is great just the way it is Steven." Twilight said, only to be answered by a growl by Dusk Quartz.
"I TOLD YOU, IT'S DUSK QUARTZ!!!!" He shouted, and continued as angrily "And my mother use to hope that MY Homeworld would do that, but her hope was in vain." He then released Steven for Kraang Subprimes goo before he continued. "So now we will see which son of Pink Diamond is better." He drew his stood ready to fight.
"That's not fair, Steven's just a boy and your a fully grown man." Twilight said, but Steven reassured her.
"It's OK Twilight." Steven said, ready for a fight. "I can take him."
"ENOUGH TALK!!!" Dusk Quartz shouted. "Come boy, show me why your earth was protected while mine was fated to be destroyed." He then picked up a battle ax. "SHOW ME WHY YOU ARE THE BETTER SON OF ROSE QUARTZ".
And with the who started fighting with ferocity to the sound of a radio playing a song that Steven might sing later. The two circled each other before Dusk Quarts swung first. Given Steven's short stature, He dodged many of Dusk Quartz's blows. But Dusk Quartz had the advantage in speed and power, so he could catch Steven off guard be for he could react. Soon the two drew swords and fought with them, and while Steven gave it his all, But Dusk Quartz was too much for him. When Lady Achuta woke up and saw this she knew she had to act fast. So she checked on the tape to see if it was damaged, when she saw it wasn't she knew what to do with it. By the time she put it in, Dusk Quartz has the ax aimed at Steven's head.
"And now with your death, no one will stop me from avenging my planet." Dusk Quartz pronounced. But before he could land a blow, he heard the TV running he saw the beach with A younger Greg dances across the screen, with Rose Quartz holding the camera and chuckling.
(Play this from 0:05 to 2:15)
'What are you doing?" Rose asked with a smile.
"Steven, that voice." Twilight said astonished.
"Is that her?" Leo asked sharing Twilight's astonishment.
"Yep." Steven answered before slipping out of range of Dusk Quartz's ax before it dropped.
the shot changes to Greg napping on the beach, snoring with a seagull on his stomach.
"Greg made a friend." Rose said as she chuckles some more. The seagull squawks and flies off, waking Greg up.
"What?! Ah!" Greg screamed before panting, while Rose laughs some more.
"What are you doing, Lady Achuta?" Dusk Quartz asked, feeling something he had never felt before. "Stop it!"
"Look at it Steven." Lady Achuta said. "Look at what you're suppose to be."
Another shot changes with Greg looking nervous "Go on..." Rose said with antisipation.
"Sorry, I'm getting stage fright here." Greg said rubbing his neck.
"Tell us about yourself." Rose said, acting curious.
"Well, let's see here... My name is Greg. No, no, no! This is all wrong!" Greg said before the shot changed again. "Okay, go! They call me..." He paused to strum his guitar before continuing "Mr. Universe! Get ready baby, you're gonna have the coolest dad this side of the cosmos!" He then mimics guitar riff before turning to Rose "Press the button, Rose!"
"Oh, right!" Rose pushed a button, and a colorful stream washes over the screen "Was that the right one?"
"Uh... maybe?" Greg said, unsure himself.
"Oh, what does this one do?" Rose pushed another button which cued a star iris over the screen.
"No! No! Turn it off!" Dusk Quartz pleaded before falling on his knees, with tears in his eyes as he continued to watch it change to a shot where Greg is seen on the beach playing the guitar.
"Isn't it remarkable, Steven?" Rose asked "This world is full of so many possibilities. Each living thing has an entirely unique experience. The sights they see, the sounds they hear. The lives they live are so complicated... a-and so simple. I can't wait for you to join them."
"Mother..." Dusk Quartz said with his voice breaking as Rose turns the video camera around at her
"Steven, we can't both exist." Rose explained "I'm going to become half of you. And I need you to know that every moment you love being yourself, that's me, loving you and loving being you. Because you're going to be something extraordinary. You're going to be a human being."
"Hey, Rose!" Greg called
"Take care of them, Steven." Rose said before one final Shot change shows Greg and Rose standing together as they lean in for a kiss.
"I get it now." Dusk Quartz said to Steven, who turned to him while he was freeing Leo and Twilight from Kraang Subprime's goo. "I get why you where the better out of the two of us. It's because you have her heart and compassion, because you care about those you love over everything else, even your life." He then turned to Lady Achuta. "Connie my old friend, I have been so foolish."
"Wait, SHE'S CONNIE IN YOUR WORLD!!!" Twilight shouted after being freed from the goo, then she regained herself when she notice everyone stare at her. "Sorry, this is all a lot to take in."
"Anyway, I know you don't want to be with me right now, but--" He was inturrupted by Lady Achuta when she kissed him which made Steven think about his future with Connie.
"I wanted to be with since we were children." Lady Achuta said with tears in her eyes "I just didn't realize it until we lost our home."
"But it's too late, i've done everything wrong, in 5 days the signal towers will pull Homeworld into Dimension X, and only an attack on the power core can stop it." Dusk Quartz said before looking at his gem "I blew it! Everything was different, and I didn't believe it."
"Everything is different!" Steven said "We had a fight, so we can make up, right?"
"If the power core it the only thing that can stop it, then let's use it to our advantage." Leo added.
"Huh?" Dusk Quartz asked.
"Yeah, there's 5 of them, it takes 5 days for them to charge, so we can fix this before any real damage is done." Twilight said.
"Hm. Spoken like leaders." Dusk Quartz said.
"No. Spoken like friends." Steven corrected.
Just then, Twilight noticed a drone with a small camera just over the door, on the side it has the turtle shell on it. "Everythings ok here Donnie." Twilight said, knowing Donnie sent it to check on them. "Will meet you back at the house." And with that the drone left for home.
Suddenly the boulder started to crack and fall apart, revealing a chest with the mark on Sunset's Geode on it. All five of them look at the mysterious chest.
"What's in it?" Twilight asked, confused "And why is it for Sunset."
"'You will need 8 pieces to assemble the key to this chest. Master Eon' That is what it says." Leo said.
"I do not know where these pieces are, but i feel that we will find them as we search for the towers." Dusk Quartz said.
Soon they all warp back to the house with the chest. The rest of our heroes are gathered on the couch, hoping that they will be back soon.
"Hey everyone." Dusk Quartz said, nervous of what will happen. He decided to add a joke "Did you guys...'Bis-miss-th' me?"
"Ha! I told you they'd be fine." Peridot said before changing the subject "Also, less importantly, what's with the chest?"
"It's for Sunset Shimmer." Leo said walking to her.
"For me?" Sunset asked, confused as to who would send this to her. Soon she put the chest down and went to Dusk Quartz
"Listen, uh i just want to say-" He stopped when Sunset hugged him like a child hugs her mother. "Hey, what are you-" Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy joined in with tears in their eyes, knocking Dusk Quartz to the ground. to the floor. Garnet knew that Ruby and Sapphire would like to share their condolences
"We couldn't believe what you've been through." Sapphire said as Ruby joined in the hugginh "I'm so sorry! We should've-"
"It's ok, in all my years alone, i forgot why Pink Diamond decided to protect earth." Dusk Quartz said "I guess Steven just reminded me of that."
"So what is in this chest." Rainboom said, curious.
"I guess we'll just have to find the key pieces and see." Sunset said, feeling that it may answer some questions.
"Oh! Ruby, Sapphire, I have something for you. My worlds Garnet use to wear these." Dusk Quartz opens her hand to reveal two necklaces, each having half of a heart, one red with the letter R on it and the other blue with the letter S.
Ruby and Sapphire gasp. "I was supposed to give them to you earlier, but that was when we were enemies." Dusk Quartz said.
"WE LOVE THEM!!" Ruby and Sapphire yelled after putting them on, hugging Dusk Quartz tighter.
END OF ACT 1