//------------------------------// // Sleep Is a Curse // Story: Universe and Sparkle // by King Xeno //------------------------------// Steven finished brushing his teeth, and quickly spat into the sink, before he brushed out his hair, and cleaned his ears, he sat down on the closed toilet and lifted his shirt up, exposing his Gem. With a white cloth, he wiped the Gem, polishing it until he was able to see his reflection, giving a smile he hopped off and exited the bathroom. Even if he was in another dimension, that wouldn't ruin his nightly routine, something he'd been doing for years now. He looked at the two beds in the room, one was for him, and the other was for Connie, who was currently getting a pair of pajamas, although they were originally made for ponies, Rarity quickly modified to be used for them, until she was able to get them custom made clothing. He walked across the room, but stopped and began to squeeze the soft carpet between his toes, he chuckled and climbed onto his bed and began to think about the moments that had passed. Pearl was in disbelief, having recently been told just how Steven got there. "Well, first of all I'd like to thank you for saving Steven and Connie..." Pearl said, and Twilight smiled, but noticed Pearl's own smile starting to fade and become replaced with rage. "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!? THAT 'SPELL' COULD HAVE JUST PICKED ANYBODY OF THE STREETS! YOU'RE LUCKY IT WAS THESE TWO AND NOT SOME HUNTER OR EVEN SOME KIND OF DESTRUCTIVE HUMAN! WERE YOU EVEN THINKING ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED!? WE THOUGHT THEY WERE MISSING, STARVING, FREEZING, POSSIBLY EVEN DEAD ALREADY! I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO SCARED IN MY LIFE! PERIDOT DIDN'T SCARE ME, JASPER DIDN'T SCARE ME THIS BAD, AND EVEN MALACHITE DIDN'T COME CLOSE TO THE FEAR I FELT!" Pearl shouted, and she would have continued, but felt a hand grasp her shoulder. "Pearl, calm yourself. She was just excited to use her magic, its not like she wanted to leave them stranded there." Garnet said, looking down at them, before she went silent, thinking about what they could do. "You say Lion won't take you back? What if it's because he can't. Maybe he isn't just being lazy for once." Amethyst suggested, and this worried Steven and Twilight, but their eyes widened as they noticed something behind the Gems. Lion sat there, staring at the holograms, with what Twilight would say was a smirk, perhaps the only facial expression they'd seen beyond indifference. "Um... Guys..." Steven said, pointing behind them. When they turned and saw Lion, Amethyst sighed and looked back. "Okay, so maybe there is something there that he needs done... But what?" Amethyst asked, and Lion quickly disappeared into a pink portal, returning to Steven. "Maybe we should save this for another time... It's starting to get dark, and I suppose you're all exhausted." Garnet smiled, and quickly added something. "Try to get some sleep, we can talk again tomorrow, and Steven..." Garnet moved onto her knees to be eye level with Steven, lifting a hand to her face, she removed her shades exposing her three eyes, which startled Twilight although Garnet ignored this. "...We love you." With that, the hologram began to fade, before the image disappeared completely, leaving the Crystal Gems standing in silence, although Steven and Twilight could still hear them speaking. "Garnet...?" Pearl asked, getting her attention. "Do you... Do you think they'll be able to come back?" Pearl asked, now on the brink of tears. "I do." Garnet replied, but this only prompted more questions from Pearl. "How? How could they possibly do it without our help?" Pearl asked, and Garnet began to chuckle. "It's just like with the cat fingers, he solved that problem on his own." Amethyst said, and Garnet nodded. Garnet placed her shades back onto her face, and grinned at her friends. "You just need to have a little more faith in Steven." Steven's thoughts were broken by Connie entering the room, she had her glasses held in her right hand, wearing a simple purple night gown that stopped just at her ankles, even though it was nothing special, in Steven's opinion, she still managed to make it look amazing. "What?" Connie asked, raising an eyebrow at Steven's staring. "N-Nothing! Nothing at all, just looking at what Rarity got you..." Steven lied, although Connie knew it was a lie, she ignored this and looked at what Steven was wearing. He wore a light pink flannel shirt, with a matching pair of pants. "So, uh... Ready to go to bed?" Steven asked, and Connie shook her head. "I kind of want to explore, I've never been in a castle before..." She said, looking around the rather large room. Steven felt the same way, but he actually was exhausted, and wanted to sleep at the moment. "We can explore tomorrow... Well if Twilight says it's okay... At the moment I just want to sleep..." Steven said, suddenly getting washed with a heavy feeling of sleepiness. "Sleep is a curse, yet it is a curse that I need to live..." He yawned and soon heard Connie yawn too. "Tired now?" Steven asked, giving a sly grin. Connie laughed before throwing one of her pillows at him, it bounced off his face and he threw one back. Despite the overwhelming sense of tiredness, this got them into a laughing fit, which led to Twilight investigating. "Is everything alright?" Twilight asked, and the two nodded. "Good, but you should stop being so rowdy and get some sleep. Okay?" Twilight asked, and they nodded. "Hey Twilight?" Steven asked, just as Twilight was about to exit the room. "Yes?" "Do you think... That we could explore the castle tomorrow?" Steven questioned, and Twilight smiled and nodded, allowing them to sleep in peace and silence. "Spike, prepare to send a letter to Princess Celestia." Twilight said, looking as the tired baby dragon unfurled a scroll and picked up a quill. "Dear Princess Celestia, In an effort to test the limits of my magic I recently attempted a spell designed to create a pathway from our dimension to another, and it was a success, for I was able to bring two creatures from another dimension here. They are humans, who go by the names of Steven Universe, and Connie Maheswaran. Although the spell fizzled and they fell into the Everfree, they suffered no... Lasting damage... However it seems that they are stranded here, for in my hastiness I had forgotten to search for a spell to return them home. I would like for you to meet them, and speak with Steven's..." Twilight paused and tried to think of the appropriate term. "Guardians. Please respond soon. From, your fellow princess, Twilight Sparkle." Spike sent the letter, and quickly left to sleep himself, while Twilight waited for a response from the Princess. Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle, I am glad that you have decided to test your new magical capabilities, but next time please try not to do something so reckless. As to your request to come and meet them, I would be delighted to, I should warn however that I will be joined by Luna, Cadance, and your brother, mostly because I am sure that they would like to meet these creatures just as much as I would. On a more serious matter, I will assist you in finding a spell to return 'Steven' and 'Connie' back to their homes. Until then, Princess Celestia.