It's a Sunny day in Beach City as Steven looks at the fence guarding the temple.

Today Steven feels good.

Irrationally good. Great even. He feels lively, full of energy. He feels powerful. His appetite has increased immensely as well.

"Man I feel good today," Steven thinks aloud, "So full of energy, but also really hungry. I wonder why that is..."

Steven's stomach growls as he looks to the Big Doughnut down the way and shrugs, "Well I guess I should grab a bite to eat..."

Meanwhile Lars kicks his feet up on the counter as Sadie mops the floor of the Big Doughnut. Sadie sighs and requests, "You know, you could at least pretend to work."

"Relax," Lars smiles, "It's 2pm on a Wednesday. No one's gonna come in here anytime soon."

The bell rings as Steven enters, catching Lars off guard. Sadie however, waves with a smile, "Welcome to the Big Doughnut."

"Oh hey," Steven replies, "Nice day isn't it?"

"For now," Sadie shrugs, "But I heard a storm is brewing. Hey you're... uhhh... what was your name? Greg's kid? Live with those Gems?"

"Steven?" Steven asks.

Sadie snaps her fingers and replies, "Ah! Right! There it is! Yeah, where's Spinel? Pink Gem? Haven't seen her for a week."

"Oh..." Steven replies, "That was a week ago already? Time flies. Yeah we're you not at the concert?"

Sadie shakes her head as Steven explains, "Well long story short she tried to kill me and now she's in what's basically Gem jail? I think? It's hard to explain."

Lars chuckles, "Oh yeah. You and your magic belly button. I remember overhearing, that's from your mom right?"

Steven shrugs maintaining his smile despite knowing full well Lars is making fun of his mom. Steven joins in, "To think she was with so many dudes and couldn't handle one kid."

Lars is confused and asks, "Um... you do realize I'm making... fun of her right?"

"One," Steven explains, "I'm in this really weird good mood out of nowhere. I physically cannot be upset right now. Two, I hate her. A lot. So..."

Lars looks at Steven and asks, "What does that mean?"

"I mean I'm just in a great mood," Steven explains, "And no matter what I think of I can't feel sad or angry at all."

"I think that's a symptom of something," Sadie comments.

"You're being paranoid," Lars shrugs, "He's just having a good day."

"But yeah feel free to make fun of Rose all you want," Steven adds, "Just save your best material for when I'm in earshot eh?"

Lars chuckles, sitting upright now, "You know kid you're alright."

"Anyways," Steven elaborates, "I'll have two chocolate doughnuts."

"I'll get it," Sadie sighs, setting the mod down after Lars tries to make some excuse as to why he can't.

Steven asks Lars, "So... what is there around here?"

"Please," Lars chuckles leaning back, "Aside from Funland we're in the middle of nowhere. If it wasn't for Ocean Town we would be the only city for miles in every direction."

Sadie hands Steven a bag with his doughnuts and Steven pays, "Thanks."

"Have a good one!" Sadie replies.

Steven waves goodbye as he exits the Big Doughnut and walks down the street to see Buck and Sourcream tossing a frisbee which Buck misses as it flies far over his head.

"Darn," Buck sighs sticking his hands in his pockets, "Our frisbee is going beyond the stars."

"I got it!" Steven exclaims leaping into the air to grab it.

...

He then keeps going up, higher and higher before coming to a slow stop thirty feet in the air.

"I got it!" Steven exclaims.

"What the..." Sourcream comments.

"Yo little dude!" Buck exclaims, "You're that new kid with the mom from the cosmos right?"

"What about her?" Steven demands lowering at a slightly faster rate.

"Is that why you're flying?" Buck asks.

Steven looks down and notices his situation before commenting, "Huh. I did not know I could do this."

"How are you doing that?" Sourcream asks.

"Well I'm in a really good mood today so maybe it's connected to my mood," Steven shrugs, "What's your names?"

"Buck," Buck replies.

"Sourcream," Sourcream replies, "You need help getting down?"

Steven thinks for a moment and replies, "Well since I'm in a good mood and falling slow and fell faster when you mentioned my mom in gonna say, yes, a hand would be great, yes."

"So it's like," Buck asks, "You can fly when you're happy and not when you're upset?"

Steven shrugs, "I would call it floating but, seems that way until I get a better grip on my powers I guess. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it over time."

"OK I've got this pair of headphones with really long cords," Sourcream explains, "I'll be right back with them. They're the closet thing we have to a rope or anything."

Steven eats his doughnuts as he slowly descends, making conversation with Buck as he descends, "So what's it like around here?"

"It's nice during Winter," Buck explains, "Snow gets heavy though. Summers are great too. Fair bit of tourism rolls around here. Nothing you wouldn't be used to from Ocean Town. I heard that you saved that place. What exactaly happened?"

"Oh just a corrupted Gem," Steven explains, "Kinda like, a Gem who... OK I don't know fully what the deal is with corruption is but it turns Gems into feral beasts. Mom and I fought it off and shattered it so... worked out I suppose. I was real little when that happened. If not for us Ocean Town probably would've been wiped off the face of the map. Citizens there didn't like us all that much though so I'm shocked I'm not being bullied if I'm being honest."

Buck replies with his usual coolness and a thumbs up, "Well you're cool in my book Steven. When we get you down wanna grab some pizza and-"

Buck is suddenly slammed out of the way by a shocked Ronaldo who exclaims, "What?"

"Um..." Steven replies slightly uncomfortable, "Hi... I'm... Steven."

Ronaldo isn't paying attention as he unlocks his phone and starts recording himself, "Ronaldo here with Keep. Beach. City. Weird! You guys are never gonna believe this! This kid is flying in the air! Behold!"

Ronaldo looks up only to see Steven on gone from the skies and exclaims, "What?"

Sourcream and Buck help Steven get back on the ground after he pulls himself down back to Earth along the long cords of a pair of earphones. The three walk away as Ronaldo laments his missed opportunity. The three enter Fish Stew Pizza where the three take a seat. Jenny approaches with a notepad and inquires, "What'll it be guys?"

It's then Jenny notices Steven and inquires, "And who's the new kid?"

"This is Steven," Buck explains, "Pretty chill kid."

"Well nice to meet you Steven," Jenny smiles, "What do you want?"

"Anchoives OK with everyone?" Steven inquires.

"If it's only on half sure," Buck shrugs, "Pepperoni on both sides. Extra cheese too. Is that alright?"

Steven nods, "Sounds great."

Jenny smiles and calls, "Hey Kiki! Orders!"

Kiki looks out from the kitchen as she spots, Steven and waves to him, "Hey new kid! You're Greg's son right?"

Steven nods, "Sure am! I'm Steven!"

"Name's Kiki!" Kiki replies, "Welcome back to Beach City!"

Kiki heads into the back to handle to make the pizza as Jenny inquires, "So... You're Greg's kid? I remember your mom when I was a little kid. Rose was pretty nice but she wasn't around much. You guys remember her any?"

"When I was real little yeah," Buck shrugs.

Steven shakes his head, "Well you guys never knew the real her. Not to say I have but Rose isn't a good person."

"What do you mean?" Jenny inquires.

Steven explains as he smiles, "Yeah I'm in a good mood I can talk about this. I was kidnapped as a baby and raised by people who hated my mother. One of them, Jasper, is more my mom than anyone else. I guess they less kidnapped me and more adopted me, but if I ever say mom I'm talking about Jasper, not Rose. She loved me as her own son. Anyways, Rose is a murderer who's actions led to an interstellar war that killed millions. Beneath our feet is a massive grave of millions of dead Gems in the core of the planet. Makes you wonder if Gems... pass on or not. I would hope so as it would be better for them to go to some afterlife than stay in broken shards but I never asked the Gems such existential stuff. They lied to me about a lot so I don't feel comfortable asking Lapis or Peridot. I kinda trust Pearl but she was the closest to Rose so that makes me trust her a bit less. I got pretty severe trust issues from all the lying. I'm close to Amethyst, but I feel like I'm also kinda blamed by then for Rose not being around and I don't really know Greg even if he seems like he would be a good dad if I let him into my life more. Meanwhile Garnet just feels kinda standoffish so... I don't really have anyone to talk to and can't really trust anyone with the existential questions of Gems and souls and the like. Mom said she would come back to Earth but I haven't heard from her yet and I'm a little worried. Not to mention while she's a mom to me now, at first she didn't seem to like me, thinking I was Rose, and didn't seem genuinely happy with me until she thought I killed a corrupted and basically feral gem but she's great now that she knows I'm not Rose. I blame Yellow Diamond, not Jasper for that. There's also Sea but she doesn't know anything about Rose really so despite her being family to me, like a big sister, she can't help me here."

The trio of teens freeze in shock, eyes wide. Jenny comments, "That's heavy kiddo."

Sourcream adds, "Yeah I wouldn't know how I would be able to handle all that."

Buck remains silent for a moment but then places a hand on Steven's shoulder and explains, "Yo, Steven, I get your trust issues, but feel free to talk to us. You're a chill dude. We're here for you."

"I'm fine," Steven smiles, "I feel great today actually. After all I got three new friends right here."

"That's the spirit Steven," Jenny smiles, "Think positive!"

Jenny spots Kiki taking the pizza out of the oven and goes to get it, returning with it a few seconds later. The trio begin to eat and time passes as the trio exit, talking, Buck cracks a smile at some joke Steven makes as the three enter Funland Arcade where they spend the rest of the day.

Sourcream checks his watch as the stars fill the sky and sighs, "Darn it I'm late for dinner. I'll see you guys later."

The two wave goodbye as Sourcream beat boxes and puts his headphones in as he returns in kind. Steven and Buck walk back to the Temple. Buck looks to Steven with his usual calmness but asks Steven a serious question, "Are you OK?"

"What?" Steven asks, "Oh I'm fine."

"It sounds like you've been through a lot," Buck explains, "Do you consider any of the gems family aside form Jasper?"

Steven nods and explains, "Yeah. I believe family is a fluid and growing thing based in love and that blood is worthless. I love Jasper as my mom, Lapis and Amethyst as big sisters, Blue Diamond is... well she's not on Earth you don't know her but I do care about her even if I wouldn't care her family right now, same with Pearl. Blue Diamond and Pearl are good friends but not family yet. Maybe someday though. Peridot is more a little sister than a big sister to me. Sea is more like... I guess she's like a big sister but more like a big sister who is only a year older than you. You know? Aside from that I don't really know how to interact with Garnet. Bismuth... exists too and she's fine but... you know."

"That's rough man," Buck sighs, "Look dude, you're half space rock, but you're also half human. Don't neglect that side of yourself. I'm here if ya wanna hang out. You're fun to be around and if you never need to talk..."

"As to you," Steven replies, high fiving Buck, "Cya later."

"Have a good night Steven," Buck replies.

Buck walks away as Steven climbs ten fence and enters the temple. Steven walks past Amethyst, who is eating fries and asks, "Hey Steven! Have a good day?"

"You know what?" Steven smiles, "I did. I really did..."