[Video/Action] The Return

[agemofchange]

[Action]

[Steven finds himself quite literally dropped back into Wonderland.

Specifically, he falls into a patch of flowers in the garden. He quickly panics as he notices the flowers he's inadvertantly crushed.]

Whoops! I- I got this! [With that, he starts to... kiss each crushed flower individually. But with each kiss, there's a sparkling effect, and the flower is restored back to perfect condition.

After a few of those, he freezes up as it finally hits him.]

...Wonderland. I'm back in Wonderland!

[One can find him while he's fixing up those flowers in the garden, or while he's on his way back to the mansion in search of his friends.]

[Video]

[And eventually he'll make contact over the network. He beams at the video feed and speaks.]

Hello, Wonderland? This is Steven... Steven Universe! Remember me? Because I sure remember you! [A confused blink.] Am I supposed to remember you? ...Well, I do anyway! I guess I'm here again. It's... kinda been a few years for me back home, since the time that I was last here. Anyone know how long I've been gone in Wonderland time? What's been happening - solve any more mysteries? How... has everyone been doing, in general? I'm - okay, I wish I was back home, but it's still nice to be here!

Comments

Video

[teamfun]

[Holy shit, Steven has a neck!!!]

Steve-O! You're back! I mean... I'm pretty sure things are going to hell in a handbasket pretty damn quickly so you've probably come back at the worst time, but it's still pretty fucking awesome to see you.

You got bigger! Peri didn't mention that part. [Because of course she didn't. ]

Video

[agemofchange]

[NECK HAS BEEN DISCOVERED]

Louis!! [He cries out excitedly, a bright smile on his face. It feels like forever since I've seen him.] It's so great to see you again! [Then, carrying the same tone over:] But the timing sounds so much less great!

[He blinks as he thinks over the last things he said.]

Yep, I'm finally a growing boy! Wait, what about Peridot?

Video

[teamfun]

[He's so proud of you and your neck, Buddy!]

Likewise! You, Good Sir, have been very much missed. And I guess puberty had to catch up to you eventually.

[He snorts.]

She came back from home not too long ago- talked about you guys winning that battle against Homeworld and whatnot. She didn't mention you'd got older.

Video

[agemofchange]

[He chuckles and gives a soft shrug.]

Yeah, even with a gem-induced delay!

[Then he listens to the rest of Louis's words with a smile, and he shakes his head softly.]

Oh, is that it? Well, are you sure she's from the same time as me? Because for me, it's been two years since the whole conflict with Homeworld ended. And that's the year I got taken from last time I was here in Wonderland! Sooo, I think she might not know...

Video

[teamfun]

Even then!

[Oh. He hadn't even of thought that possibility.]

I mean, maybe? This is Peridot so it's always a fifty-fifty split if she even noticed at all. She did say stuff about the Diamonds?

Video

[agemofchange]

That makes sense. The Diamonds were a big part about everything that went down! I'll just have to ask her when I see her to make sure.

Anyway... um, how've you been, Louis?

Video

[teamfun]

Yeah, clear up any confusion for the rest of us. And by the rest of us, I mean me.

I'm good? I mean, I'm still here, but so's Clem so that's gotta count for something. [A pause.] There's a lot of people who have gone home, though.

Video

[agemofchange]

Don't worry, I'll make it easier for you to sleep at night. [He'll get the answer to that burning question.]

So Clementine's still here too? That's great! I'm - I'm really glad you two still have each other here. [Then he rubs at his head as he goes on more somberly.] ...A lot of people, huh? Even aside from me...

[teamfun]

You're the hero we all need, Steve-O

So am I. I think I'd be crawling the walls around here if she was gone. [His smile grows a little more strained.] Yeah. Michonne, Other Steve, Connor- lots of folks just... straight up vanished.

[agemofchange]

Aw, shucks. [He bats a hand humbly.] I'm just trying my best!

[Steven gives an understanding nod as he listens to the names. They're not people he knew personally, but... he knows this is important to Louis. And he knows more people were disappearing, even before he went home.]

I'm sorry, Louis. Is there any kinda... reason it's been happening more? Or is this just Wonderland being random?

[teamfun]

Doing your best matters a hell of a lot when everything's going to shit.

[And he knows Steven would go above and beyond for his people...hell, for everyone. Because that's just the sort of person Steven is.]

Maybe? The Jabberwock is out and free again. It turns out it was hiding as the White Queen this whole time.

[agemofchange]

[His eyes widen.]

That's... not good. No, that's not good at all! So that must have been what happened with that one weird entry a few months back... [The Jabberwock was undoing its disguise, not doing something to the White Queen.] What has the Jabberwock been doing now that it's out and about?

[teamfun]

That's pretty much it, yep. It's all been smoke and mirrors for who knows how long.

[He frowns.]

Aside from fucking around in our dreams, not a lot. The Mirrors are really squirrelly, though. Clem's Mirror even staged a coup to try and get out- but the Red Queen gave them a little more free reign and that seemed to chill them out a little.

[agemofchange]

Messing with our dreams doesn't sound too great as it is... but wow, really? Well, hopefully that helps them to calm down. Without the Queen of Hearts around, the Mirrors and us should have less and less reasons to be against each other.

[teamfun]

You'd think that, wouldn't you? But nope! Some of them are still assholes.

[agemofchange]

Yeesh. Sorry... Hopefully more of them will see reason with more time.

[teamfun]

Maybe? I've always hoped they could see we're all on the same side. That we don't actually want to hurt them, y'know?

[agemofchange]

Exactly! I'd never want to hurt my own reflection. I've known him all my life! [He exclaims, and then he shakes his head.]

But as much as we try... It's up to them to make a change.

[teamfun]

Well, I'm pretty sure your regular reflection isn't exactly the same, but I get it.

Yup. They change or they don't. We can't force them. Maybe all this Jabberwocky shit will bring them around, who knows.

[agemofchange]

I know, I know. I was joking a little. But the point still stands!

[He nods along.]

...Yeah. As much as I don't like having to go against anything, having a common enemy might help us to really get along.

[teamfun]

Exactly! Enemy of my enemy, and all that. It'd be better working with each other than letting the Jabberwock destroy everything.

[agemofchange]

Exactly. I hope they can understand that much. And that can be the first step towards learning to trust each other...! We can only hope.

[teamfun]

[Oh, Steven, always be this guy. ]

I can see how you managed to make peace throughout the cosmos, my dude.

[agemofchange]

[He scratches at his head sheepishly.]

H-hey, it's not like I did it all on my own. It was a team effort! I never would have accomplished anything without every single person who was helping me to get there.

[teamfun]

Yeah, that's fair. Cog in the machine and so on, I get it. But every group needs someone they can rally around- someone they can put their faith in, y'know?

[For his group it's Clem. Absolutely and unanimously. ]

You just happen to be that someone.