Steven Universe Snake Eyes chapter 4: Climbing the Ladders (originally posted on September 18, 2023)
AN: We're just about two chapters away from the end of this story's first half. Afterwards, it'll be non-stop action, revelations, and drama from here on out, and you have no choice but to come along for the ride! Kind of like me for the past near three years now. Look at me, I was only a college freshman when I published the first chapter of Alternate Future, and now I'm a senior writing out the epic finale to this alternate universe. Funny how time flies, huh? I feel so old.
Synopsis: The Gems fight for survival against fellow unwilling warriors from far and wide.
Cast:
Zach Callison as Steven
Estelle as Garnet
Michaela Dietz as Amethyst
Deedee Magno-Hall as Pearl
Tom Scharpling as Greg
Grace Rolek as Connie
Zach Steel as Ronaldo
Atticus Shaffer as Peedee
Jennifer Paz as Lapis
Shelby Rabara as Peridot
Uzo Aduba as Bismuth
Kimberly Brooks as Jasper
Lauren Ash as White Topaz
Noël Wells as Black Rutile
Della Saba as Aquamarine
Charlyne Yi as Eyeball
Gina Torres as Andesine
Barbara Dunkelmann as Amber
Kristen Schaal as Howlite
Avi Roque as Cinnabar
Aurelio Voltaire as King Cobralan Serpentes
Jason Marsden as Prince Nosiop Serpentes
Keith David as Pyth
Kari Wahlgren as Envyrno
Peter Cullen as Titanium
Terrence C. Carson as The Decimator
Beau Billingslea as Sheriff Spiegel
Steven Blum as Deputy Edward
Dominic Armato as Captain Gearfeet
Wally Wingert as Rigby Starglow
Frank Welker as Tungsten
David Kaye as Steel
Corey Burton as Tungsten
Jim Ross as Jiross
Michael Buffer as Michauffer
Peter Linz as Heckler #1
Dave Goelz as Heckler #2
Nicki Minaj as Sugilite
--
Far from where the Crystal Gems were situated in the Ouroborium, the remaining Rutile Rebels had been given their own quarters to rest before they were sent out into the Contest of Champions to fight. While everybody was conversing among themselves about battle strategies and how they could use the contest to their advantage, Andesine was sitting in silence, her hands clasped together as she sat contemplating their current situation before Cinnabar walked over to her. "Andesine, is something bothering you?"
"As a matter of fact, there is," Andesine said as she got up and made an announcement. "It's about Black Rutile! For months on end, her leadership has proven to grow more inept the more time she spent on Earth, but now she just up and abandons us to be abducted by these Snake People! And when she finally comes for us, she teams up with Steven of all people! STEVEN!"
"Actually, I believe they call themselves Slytherohphidians." Eyeball corrected Andesine. "Though I highly doubt you care."
"You're right, I don't," Andesine said. "What I do care about is that she is no longer fit to lead us, which is why I nominate myself to take her place! I have the centuries of experience, the tenacity, the manipulativeness, and the best army I could ever have at my side!" The rebel Gems began cheering for their new leader. "That's what I needed to hear!"
"But what about me, Andesine?" Cinnabar asked the bigger Gem. "I'm just as experienced as you, plus I was Black Rutile's apprentice back in the day!"
"You certainly display your fair share of good leadership qualities, but your numerous failures against those Pearls say otherwise," Andesine replied with a hand on Cinnabar's shoulder. "I on the other hand managed to deceive those Gems into believing I surrendered, and they fell for my lies hook, line, and sinker!"
"Anyone else cares to debate?" Howlite challenged the Rutile Rebels.
"You know, now that I think about it, Andesine is a way better leader than what Black Rutile has become." Aquamarine realized. "I will follow you to the ends of the galaxy, the universe even!"
"Let's hear it for the Andesine Armada!" Amber hollered, prompting the other members of the newly renamed rebellion to start cheering for their new leader.
"ALL HAIL ANDESINE, ALL HAIL ANDESINE, ALL HAIL ANDESINE!" the Andesine Armada chanted in jubilation while Andesine ate it all up, and Cinnabar was left worrying if the attention would get to her head.
--
Outside in the Ouroborium, the crowds began cheering as Lapis was the next Crystal Gem to be forced to fight for her life, though she didn't put up much of a fight as she had to be picked up off her feet and carted into the arena.
"It's looking to be an exciting matchup, sports fans!" the commentator Jiross exclaimed as the arena transformed into a landscape that was freezing cold on one side and hellishly hot on the other. "In this corner, we have a Lapis Lazuli all the way from Earth! This is one tough cookie you don't want to mess with because her opponent is none other than the Magman Envyrno!"
"Okay, fire and water? Do you want me to lose?!" Envyrno yelled as she was dropped on the fire side of the arena. "Very well then, I can work with this." She then transformed into her Escafil disguise and scampered towards Lapis before clawing at the Gem's face. "Hahaha, my standard form may be my greatest weakness, but it has other uses too!"
"Why don't you put them to use, huh?" Lapis smirked before she spread her wings and flew towards the Ouroborium's sky dome.
"You got it!" Envyrno shouted as she grew wings on her back and yelled "LUUUUUUNCHTIIIIME!" The fight quickly turned into an aerial battle between the two fliers as they launched their respective elements at each other like cannonballs, with Lapis conjuring water from her wings while Envyrno drew lava from her own body and her side of the arena.
"Ooh, looks like we got a real dogfight here, folks!" Michauffer cried out as Lapis and Envyrno duked it out, spreading water and fire across the arena that either drenched their audience or set them on fire. "Which one will be yelling man down by the end of the match?!"
"Woo, this is the most fun I've had in ages!" Envyrno yelled as she tried to take Lapis down. "Haven't had this much of a blast since I was captured by these snake pricks!"
"Then why haven't you bothered escaping?!" Lapis yelled back while trying to throw water bombs at Envyrno.
"Because why cut the fun I'm having here short?!" Envyrno cackled. "Getting to incinerate all these unlucky schmucks for their amusement brings me so much joy! I think I may have wiped out a few last of some species too!"
"You're completely insane!" Lapis yelled and formed a spear of water to try and stab her fiery opponent with.
"I know you are, but what am I?!" Envyrno yelled through gritted teeth before trying to take a bite out of Lapis's face, only to suddenly get stabbed in the torso by the water spear before she could pull it off. As the lava composing her body rapidly began to cool, Envyrno felt herself getting heavier, meaning she was about to fall towards the ground. "Really couldn't resist taking me by surprise when I wasn't looking, huh?"
"No hard feelings, I hope." Lapis apologized as Envyrno turned from lava to stone and she dropped to the ice side of the arena, shattering upon impact to the jubilation of the masses as Lapis descended to the broken remains of the Magman. "Oh no, did I kill her?!"
"No, we Magmen actually can regenerate our bodies after a couple of hours," Envyrno whispered to Lapis, even though her mouth was in stone pieces. "But let's just say you killed me since that'll keep the audience happy."
Indeed, Lapis looked around at the cheering throngs of Slytherophidians who were excited to see that one of the Crystal Gems had finally taken a life, while Steven and Peridot looked ashamed that their friend would do something like this. Although Lapis appreciated the applause as she departed the arena with Envyrno's remains in hand.
--
For the next fight, Peridot was forced into the arena to fight Titanium. Even though Titanium was far larger and stronger than Peridot, the fact that he was a Metal made Peridot very confident that she would win. "This will be too easy, I can control metal with my powers! You stand no chance!"
"Do not believe power over my people will earn you victory, little Peridot." Titanium coolly stated while preparing an ion blaster to fire with. "I have been fighting battles for thousands of years, and you will find that I have acquired a particular set of skills over my long military career." He pointed the cannon at Peridot. "Shall I give an example?"
"Okay, that does it!" Peridot yelled. "This should be about as far as I go! If there was ever a time to run for the hills, this is it!" Scampering away as fast as her little body could go, Peridot nimbly dodged every blast Titanium fired at her with his ion blaster. When she proved too fast for him to shoot, Titanium decided to get up close and personal by throwing the blaster away and brandishing an axe instead.
"Okay, now you're just being unfair!" Peridot said as she held her hands out to try and defend herself, only to reflexively push Titanium away from her and into the stands. "Oh my stars, I did it! I won!"
"Well done Peridot, now finish it." Titanium said as he got up and let his guard down, followed by the audience chanting "FINISH HIM! FINISH HIM! FINISH HIM!"
"No, I don't want to," Peridot said. "Besides, I'm way too tiny to land the killing blow!"
"Well, you heard it here, folks, Peridot has an actually pretty justifiable reason to object to killing her opponent." Michauffer declared as the audience muttered in reluctant agreement.
"Well, this is intriguing." King Cobralan said to himself as Titanium allowed Peridot to walk onto his metallic hand.
"You're quite the interesting Gem, Peridot." Titanium complimented his opponent while walking away with Peridot by his side. "You're so small, yet you carry so much potential as well."
"I am also a genius without much competition." Peridot bragged with a laugh. "But I'll be honest, I was in way over my head on this one. I wasn't even sure if I was strong enough to face you in combat."
"It's okay Peridot, I was a little unsure of myself too, but I knew deep down I could make a new friend." Titanium smiled. "You are who you choose to be, little one."
--
Garnet and Amethyst were the next two Crystal Gems to be forced into the fight, this time in a two-versus-two matchup between the alien cowboys of Sergione-29, Sheriff Spiegel, and Deputy Edward. "It's high noon." Garnet declared while adjusting her shades.
"Two against two? Seems like pretty even odds." Sheriff Spiegel said while loading his gun.
"You're not the first members of your kind we faced," Deputy Edward added with a smirk. "so try and keep up, little ladies."
"Only if you plan on doing so, too." Garnet confidently replied before dodging a bullet from Sheriff Spiegel by simply tilting her head to the side. The bullet didn't even do so much as to leave a dent in her hair.
"Don't forget about me!" Amethyst said as she spin-dashed straight into Edward's shins, causing him to fall over and lose his gun in the process. "What in blazes?!"
"Surprise!" Amethyst yelled before turning her head into a crocodile and clamping her jaws around Edward's head. "Jazz hands!" she added with a pair of jazz hands.
"What did I just witness?" Sheriff Spiegel asked before Garnet took him by surprise and punched him in the back of the head. "Oh, wise guy, eh?!" he yelled before firing more bullets at Garnet, but she deflected them with her gauntlets. "Dammit!"
"Someone get this thing offa me!" Deputy Edward scrambled around the arena in panic with Amethyst continuing to bite on his head. "Seriously, we deserve more of a challenge than this!"
"If it's a challenge you want, then a challenge you'll get." Garnet calmly boasted while making her gemstones shine. "Amethyst, to me!"
"Uh, okay then!" Amethyst said as she turned her head to normal before diving into Garnet's arms, and the two fused into Sugilite, standing proud and boastful over the two cowboys.
"HOLY GUACAMOLE, WE GOT ANOTHER FUSION UP IN THIS HOUSE!" Jiross yelled excitedly as the audience began cheering for Sugilite.
"Who be jammin' now?!" Sugilite laughed loudly.
"YOU BE JAMMIN' NOW!" the spectators chanted as Sugilite proceeded to curb-stomp Spiegel and Edward like no tomorrow. "FINISH THEM! FINISH THEM! FINISH THEM!"
"You really had to open your big mouth, didn't you Ed?!" Spiegel said as Sugilite's beatdown continued.
"What, would you rather I get my head bitten off?!" Edward yelled back when it seemed like the pummeling finally stopped.
"Eh, I'm bored," Sugilite said before walking away from the arena, satisfied by what she's done.
"Well, at least we didn't die," Edward said as he got up and straggled away from the arena.
"No, just our bodies and spirits are broken," Spiegel replied while struggling to stand back up. "Hey, can you be a pal and pick me up? I think my legs are broken."
--
"Alright Ronaldo, you've been preparing your whole life for this!" Ronaldo hyped himself up as he was next to be forced out into the arena. Unlike everyone else though, he was excited to fight for his life for the Slytherophidians' entertainment. With a bronze chest plate over his shirt and a katana blade he got at an anime convention, the conspiracy theorist was more than ready for his big moment.
"Well, look what we have here, a human dares to step up to challenge some of the universe's finest!" Jiross said as Ronaldo strutted into the arena with a cocky swagger.
"Humans, huh? How do they do it?" the first heckler wondered aloud.
"How do they do what?" the second heckler asked his friend.
"How do they manage to stay alive after all these eons?" the first heckler replied, his one-liner causing the two to laugh uproariously.
"ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!" Ronaldo yelled at his arms in the air before presenting his sword to the masses. "This sword is a replication of the Shining Finger sword from the hit anime series Mobile Home Warrior Gatha, used by its titular protagonist in his fight against evil superpowered land developers trying to destroy his trailer park home, and I shall use it in his name!"
"Don't get too cocky, because here comes your opponent now!" Jiross declared as the Decimator stomped into view, blades at the ready to fight Ronaldo despite their vast difference in size. "Careful, he bites!"
"Hm, excuse me, little boy, are you supposed to be my opponent?" the Decimator asked snidely while bending over to look down at Ronaldo.
"Yes, I am Ronaldo, the greatest warrior that Earth has ever known!" Ronaldo boasted while throwing double peace signs into the air. "Songs have been written about my legendary adventures, and once I am done here, I shall go down in this planet's history!"
The Decimator didn't say anything in response to Ronaldo's audacious bravado. He had faced many opponents who were too big for their britches before, but this single human with a sword the giant was convinced may not even be real took the cake. Rather than simply using his chained blades, the Decimator attacked Ronaldo by kicking him into the wall. "You have got to be joking."
Upon realizing just what he was up against, Ronaldo let out a shriek of terror and quickly began running back to the inside of the Ouroborium, terrified of the Decimator's sheer might even though he was only dealt a fraction of it. "There is no way my luck is that bad!"
"What are you doing, Ronaldo?!" the voice of Peedee shouted for his older brother, much to Ronaldo's surprise as he looked to the stands to see his little brother among the crowd of snake people who were now laughing at Ronaldo's expense. "Get back in there and fight!"
"Are you kidding me?! This guy is huge!" Ronaldo exclaimed, pointing at the Decimator, who hadn't moved an inch, behind him. "Plus, what the heck are you doing here?"
"I'll explain later, just get back in there and-" Peedee tried to reply, but Ronaldo was already running for his life. "And he's gone."
"Well, that was a pretty good halftime show." King Cobralan proclaimed, trying his hardest to remain composed despite the humorous situation he just witnessed. "I must admit, that Ronaldo is a very interesting fellow. Maybe we should see what the other humans have to offer."
--
"And for our next battle, we got another two versus two match!" Jiross announced as Cinnabar and Andesine arrived on the field of battle. Cinnabar unsheathed her broadsword and pointed it at Captain Gearfeet and Rigby Starglow. Andesine meanwhile struck a pose as she pulled her flaming sword out of her gem.
"Well, don't hesitate on my account!" Andesine grinned evilly as Rigby retaliated by trying to smack Andesine in the face with his guitar. "Oh, what fun! What fun!" she cackled before slicing the guitar in two with her sword.
"Oh, bugger!" Rigby muttered as the Starman raised his legs and began fighting in a capoeira-like style, his calves clashing with Andesine's burning blade while Cinnabar contended with Gearfeet.
"This reminds me of the time I fought for my soul at Davy Jones' Black Hole!" Gearfeet reminisced on previous adventures as his sword, now taking the place of his detachable metallic left hand, collided with Cinnabar's own. "Or when I took on Starbeard for the legendary treasure of Sil V. Erman!"
"As much as I'd love to hear more of your adventures, they are not important right now!" Cinnabar yelled as she got down low and sliced one of Gearfeet's namesake gears for feet off of his leg, leaving him disabled and stumbling over.
"Oh dangit, that was my favorite leg!" Gearfeet complained as he struggled to get back up and started hopping on his remaining leg. "But I won't go down that easily!"
"Oh, will you?" Cinnabar said before grabbing at Gearfeet's sword arm and ripping it off with her bare hands, not even bothering to use her sword again because she was that confident in her abilities. "Looks like you've been disarmed! Get it? Disarmed?"
"I'm invincible!" Gearfeet bragged while continuing to hop on one foot and angrily shaking his remaining fist at Cinnabar.
"You're a looney." Cinnabar shook her head in disgust before turning to Andesine, who was more or less evenly matched with Rigby Starglow.
"For a celebrity, you're actually quite skilled." Andesine complimented her opponent as her sword seared through Rigby's garish costume and his pompadour hairdo.
"Oy, watch the bod, babe!" Rigby yelled as he was literally down on his last legs before being taken down with a searing hot slash to the back. That was when the chanting started again.
"FINISH THEM! FINISH THEM! FINISH THEM!" the Slytherophidian audience ordered Cinnabar and Andesine, who were all too happy to comply with the spectators' requests had it not been for Rigby's quick thinking.
"Oh geez, it hurts." Rigby groaned as he struggled to get up from his debilitating injury and picked up the disabled pirate captain's body. "It's like ashes to ashes all up in here!"
"Hey, thanks for the lift, Rig." Gearfeet thanked Rigby as he limped their way away from the two Gems. "Big fan of your work by the way. Can you sign my replacement leg?"
"For you, Cap'n? Anything." Rigby smiled at Gearfeet as they successfully escaped. Although Cinnabar and Andesine didn't successfully kill their opponents, they still found this a victory anyhow.
"I guess you are more worthy as a leader after all," Cinnabar said to Andesine as the two Gems walked away arm in arm. "Allow me to call yourself your second in command."
"Thank you Cinnabar, that means the world to me," Andesine replied, passing by a very jealous Aquamarine as the duo reveled in their triumph.
--
Meanwhile, Black Rutile was treated to a visit to Prince Nosiop's chambers in the Jormagundr family's royal palace. As expected of a prince, the room was extraordinarily lavish, but there was an air of cynicism and desire Black Rutile could sense in the quarters. "Nice place you have here."
"Thank you, my father before me had this room, and his father before him, and so on," Nosiop said while gazing at a portrait of a king cobra much like King Cobralan. "This is a portrait of my ancestor, King Serpentes I, the original ruler of Serpentes whom our planet was named after."
"Quite the family resemblance." Black Rutile smirked in amusement. "He was the one who started this Contest of Champions, didn't he?"
"Indeed, and every king of Serpentes after him continued that tradition," Nosiop explained. "I'm expected to keep it going once I ascend to the throne, but I have far bigger plans than that incompetent fool I call a father who'd rather keep the people entertained than listen to the good ideas I have!"
"I can relate so much, my friend." Black Rutile agreed with the Slytherophidian prince. "I have so many good ideas on how to improve Gem society, but I'm always treated as the villain while everyone bends the knee to some brat who literally threw the mother of all tantrums to get his way!"
"It truly delights me to see a fellow misunderstood genius," Nosiop said while taking Black Rutile's hands and gazing into her eyes. "Come, let us restore our races together and depose that moronic despot!"
"I'll agree to anything you say." Black Rutile replied eagerly. "But first, we'll need to make a few arrangements first."
--
"Ladies and gentlemen, here comes what will no doubt be one of the biggest events in Contest of Champions history!" Michauffer yelled as the Diamonds were next to be brought into the arena. "On this side of the arena, we have White, Yellow, and Blue Diamond, all the way from the Gem Homeworld!" The spectators immediately booed the three Diamonds. "I can see who everyone wants to lose already. And on this side, it's Tungsten, Chromium, and Steel of the Mighty Metals!"
"So it has come to this, I see." Tungsten mused as he, Chromium, and Steel were brought into the arena as well. "We promise to go easy on you, Diamonds. But if you slay us here and now, it will mean war."
"We'll make good on that promise," White smirked before giving her orders. "Diamonds, attack!" As the fight began with Yellow and Blue Diamond fighting Chromium and Steel, the two trios of monarchs all recollected the first time they signed the Ferrum Accords centuries ago.
--
"And so, we enact the Ferrum Accords." Steel declared as he, the other Metals, and the Diamonds all finished signing what would one day become the Ferrum Accords. "With this bill, neither side shall engage each other in combat in any circumstances that will end in fatality. Otherwise, it will mean another war between our planets, winner take all."
"So glad we were able to reach an agreement, Metals," Yellow replied. "We've already wasted enough valuable resources on this silly war as is."
"And we've wasted enough time talking to you as is!" Chromium yelled angrily. "We've lost numerous planets to you, but Budiansky-84 was where we crossed the line!"
"Chromium, no needless antagonizing." Steel tried to calm his brother down.
"Ignore my two youngers here, we hope you shall honor our little agreement here," Tungsten said to the Diamonds.
"We shall make sure of that, Tungsten." Blue Diamond nodded. "Cross our hearts."
--
Back in the present day, despite the Diamonds being far more powerful, the Metals were far more durable and resistant to their attacks. White fired lasers from her eyes at Tungsten, but he practically shrugged them off while slashing at her legs with his swords.
"Please, don't let this start another war!" Blue urged the Metals as she was brought to her knees by Chromium.
"If it's a war you want, then a war you shall get!" Chromium said eagerly as he fired his laser cannon at Blue's gem, poofing her instantly.
"Chromium, you're out of line!" Steel chided his comrade while fighting Yellow, who was suddenly taken out by Chromium's cannon without even a fight.
"You said this wouldn't start a war!" White gasped as she saw her sisters be taken down to the excitement of the Diamonds' defeat.
"Why? This is way too easy! You've all gotten soft since Era 3 began!" Chromium laughed.
"Chromium, don't do it!" Tungsten yelled as Chromium jumped up and struck White in the head with his cannon, poofing her instantly and causing the crowd to chant.
"FINISH THEM! FINISH THEM! FINISH THEM!" the Slytherophidians chanted more vigorously than ever, eager to see the Diamonds finally get their karma while Tungsten and Steel tried to keep Chromium from shattering them.
"Come on, let me give them one crack!" Chromium exclaimed as he struggled to get out. Unfortunately for him, some Slytherophidians dove into the arena in the nick of time and dragged the Diamonds' gems away in large stretchers.
--
"Did they just poof the Diamonds?!" Pearl barked in alarm at what the Crystal Gems just saw.
"Well, we're boned," Jasper added defeatedly.
"What do we do now?" White Topaz asked, terrified of what could be to come for them.
"Simple, we keep fighting until we can get to the bottom of this," Steven said boldly. "Anyone else with me?"
"I am." Connie declared.
"Count me in too," Greg answered hopefully.
"And me, even though I utterly suck at this!" Ronaldo yelled.
"At least you're honest about this," Peedee replied with his arms folded.
"That reminds me, what are you doing here?" Peridot asked Peedee.
"Dad told me to sneak onboard that snake person's ship to keep an eye on Ronaldo," Peedee answered. "I'm surprised nobody noticed me until now, but I guess all that time watching Iron Gear Solid cutscenes on TubeTube taught me a lot about stealth."
"That would explain everything." Bismuth nodded.
--
"Oohohohohoho, I haven't had this much fun since driving Steven to his breaking point!" Black Rutile cackled at what she just watched with Nosiop and Pyth. "It's always so invigorating to see the people I hate get utterly humiliated, especially after how the Diamonds tried to hide how much organic life they extinguished."
"So, what shall we do now?" Pyth asked Black Rutile.
"Now, we go and see some old friends of mine." Black Rutile sneered, knowing just who she was talking about.
--
Well, if the Diamonds were taken out that easily and not because I kind of rushed this to meet my personal deadline, then there's no telling how the Crystal Gems will fare in the rest of the games. What do Black Rutile and Nosiop have planned together? Tune in next time to find out!
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