332 days until final report.

Steven sits in his room, thinking about the lion. Ever since he found it, he's been feeding it two lion lickers everyday, and taught it to hide under the boardwalk. However, the lion would constantly try to lead Steven somewhere. A place Steven was told to never go, Beach City.

Jasper had always been adamant about staying far far away from Beach City. So every time Lion tried to offer Steven a ride and head towards Beach City, Steven would bail.

Steven begins to become more curious about why he can't go to Beach City. He was never given a real reason, just told he couldn't, no matter what.

"Steven!" A voice exclaims. Peridot dashes into the house, holding numerous parts and tools. She still has her limb enhancers, making look tall and slightly intimidating.

"Hey Peridot," Steven smiles, "what are you working on?"

"So," Peridot explains enthusiastically, "you may recall out gem destabilizer was broken in that fight with the Centipeetle we shattered a few years ago."

"Yeah," Steven replies, "I remember."

How could he forget? It was the only time his gem glowed. Jasper, Lapis, and Peridot were cornered. Steven was young, but he couldn't sit idly by. He summoned a sheild, a pink shield, which he used to poof the monster. Lapis was the only one to see him do this. She told Steven to never summon the shield in front of Peridot or Jasper, no matter what.

Steven tried to ask why, but Lapis wouldn't answer. Since then, the two had silently agreed to not speak of it. His gem hasn't glowed since, and according to Lapis, if it does, he should hide it. Even if it means someone dies. No one can ever know he has magic.

"Well," Peridot smiles proudly, "I managed to make a new one with this Earth technology! Come on!"

Peridot takes out an odd looking tazer. It's covered in extra wires and small batteries.

"Let's test it out!" Peridot smiles.

Peridot and Steven head outside. It's a beautiful day outside, the sun is shining, there's not a cloud in the sky. The boardwalk is bustling with activity from tourists and locals alike. It would be a nice day to enjoy the beach if one wished to do so.

The duo head to a nearby warp pad. "There are rumors of a corrupted gem in the dessert," Peridot explains, "it's very fast, so be ready."

Peridot warps to the desert, the Kindergarten that Jasper came from. The corrupted gem spots the two and dashes at them. It's an odd gem, moving on two legs, much like an ostrich, and a blue-green color. It constantly waves its many tounges in the air in an odd fashion, almost as if communicating.

Peridot tries a blast from her limb enhancer, but is knocked down and misses. Steven wants to protect Peridot, to stop the monster. His gem begins to glow. He hides the glow with his left hand and picks up the new gen destabilizer with his right. He turns it on and shocks the corrupted gem, poofing it instantly.

Peridot gets back on her feet.

"Nice work Steven!" Peridot exclaims, "I knew it's work!"

Steven picks up the gem. Jasper always shattered those they defeated, but she wasn't there, so who was gonna shatter it?

"I'll let you do the honors," Peridot smiles, "shattering a corrupted gem is an immense honor for a gem. Enjoy it."

Steven looks at the gem. He doesn't want to shatter it. He wants to protect it. He wants to help the gem.

His own gem begins to glow again.

"Could I have a moment?" Steven asks.

"Sure," Peridot replies, "I'll be back for you in five."

Peridot leaves via the warp pad. Steven's gem glows brightly through his shirt now. He looks at the gem, and then back at his own. Then back at the gem, as a pink bubble appears.

Steven tries touching the bubble on its top, but it dissapear apon contact. His gem stops glowing. He decides not to mention this to anyone, not even Lapis, and awaits Peridot's return.

Meanwhile, Peridot is telling Jasper about the incident.

"He's gonna shatter it?" Jasper asks.

"Yeah!" Peridot exclaims, "just like we were ordered to. Shatter all corrupted gems here."

Jasper smiles.

"This I wanna see," she explains.

She goes with Peridot to the nearest war pad and warps to the dessert.

Steven sees Jasper and Peridot arrive. "Hey," he greets Jasper with a shocked but sincere tone, "how are you?"

"Did I miss it?" Jasper asks.

"Yup!" Steven lies, "shattered it into itty bitty pieces."

Jasper walks ou to Steven, and for the first time, she smiles at him. For the first time, she accepts Steven for Steven.

"Nice work kid," she smirks with approval, "I'm proud of you. Come on then, let's head back to Ocean Town."

The three get on the warp pad and head to Ocean Town. The gem though, goes to Steven's real home. The bubble goes to a place he doesn't even remember. The bubbled gem, goes to the temple...