✮Art? Here? Hahahahahhahaha✮

Crowpaw brings his late father's greyhound Hoprunner with him, who Brambleshoot ends up forming a bond with. It's Brambleshoot who leaves the group early (after Midnight, pre-Feathertail's death) to ride Hoprunner back to the kingdoms, to warn of the incoming storm/flood

((in this au the kingdoms are flooded, which forms the lake within the existing forest territories))

Crow and Squirrel are both unknighted and therefore "unnamed", Crow being a young squire and Squirrel having failed her final test (a trial set by Starclan)

Despite Feathertail's best efforts, the others are initially cautious of the young princess's intentions and its Squirrel's brash honesty and humour that initially brings everyone together as friends.

Stormpath admires these traits as being so unlike the insincerity of the River Kingdom's court and he develops a strong, unreturned crush on her (she's aroace, but doesn't get a chance to realise this until late in life)

Brambleshoot wasn't chosen by Starclan, Squirrel was; his insecurity about this, plus his early departure, holds him back from fully connecting with the others

Tawnypelt fights the hardest against bonding on an emotional level, too aware of their eventual separation and determined to keep things professional. She becomes the unofficial leader, working well with Feathertail who handles the more "personable" aspects of a leadership role.

They form mutual romantic feelings before Feathertail dies as a result of a jointly made plan. This devastates Tawny and she’s the first to pull away from the others upon returning to the kingdoms.

The CG's are finally here!! Took me awhile but I think these are pretty solid!

Pearl

Pearl is the most affected by Steven's capture. She felt as if she could've prevented it and saved him from the covenant if she was stronger when in reality, there was nothing she could do. She trains Connie harshly, her practice much more intense than before. She and Peridot are in charge of creating the ship that will get them to Homeworld. When they arrive in the second act, she's horrified at what Steven has become, she's mostly quiet throughout it all. What can she even say to him? Pearl has become emotional and maybe even bitter, like that of her in the early seasons (EX: Rose's scabbard) behind Steven. It's driving her away from the others ever so slightly, but they're working on it.

Garnet (Ruby and Sapphire)

Garnet is still the big leader of the group, forward and precise. She never saw the outcome of Steven being lost, and she blames herself for what happened. If she could've seen it, she could've saved him. She comforts herself by repeating 'What happened, happened' in an attempt to feel less guilt about the situation. She watches over the creation of the ship, helping to predict outcomes and probabilities. Ruby and Sapphire haven't been closer, united by grief. Sapphire feels most of the guilt, feeling her future vision is faulty, Ruby felt as if she could've done more to help. When they arrive in the second act, Garnet is frozen in place. She sees Rose in Steven, in the worst way possible. She is one of the first to beg him to come home with Connie, when she finds it doesn't work, she devises a plan to force him home at all costs. No matter what the stakes are, she knows she needs to get him home as quickly as possible before he loses himself to the covenant.

Amethyst

Amethyst has almost completely lost herself. She was the closest to Steven, her little brother, she lost him and it's all her fault. She was stricken with grief, but never let it show. She was the first one to realize all the corrupted Gems were missing, feeling even more guilt behind her sisters she could've healed. Amethyst has become a bit insecure again, feeling she should've been stronger for Steven. She channels these feelings into helping find materials for the ship, she grows extremely close to Connie who helps navigate her grief and channel it into something she can control. Smashing things definitely helps. She and Connie become really close, both helping their fellow crystal gems in their grief, and in prepping the ship. When she arrives in act 2, she is SHOCKED at Steven. At first, she thinks it's cool he's a glowing pink buff dude, but after seeing how he moves, how he talks so rehearsed and calculated, she begins to see him as a bootlicking pansy. She tries to roughhouse with him like before but it always 'Im too busy. That isn't Diamond like'. She finds him stuck up, Connie constantly having to convince her he's just following orders. It's not long until she sees the scared little kid in him, and vows to bring him home.

Connie (extra notes for act 2)

Connie, having witnessed probably the WORST thing she could've ever imagined, has grown extremely close to Steven, and he to her, but his responsibilities have grown and they seem to spend more time apart. Even if she's brought with him he's stuck in work constantly. She even forgot about the Gems until Pineapple tells her a random dropship was found outside of the human Zoo. She reunites with the Gems and briefs them, but nothing could've prepared them for what they saw. She bands together with them to find a way to convince Steven to come home, no matter the cost

Peridot (Pineapple)

Given to him by Yellow, Peridot is a tech savvy, soft spoken Gem who cares about her Diamond way too much. Given to Steven at 16, helps Steven with his projects, helping him reach Gems to help them, but she's also in charge of his health. She's the only one aware that it's rapidly declining at the rate it is, and she believes she's found the cause. She struggles to find a cure however until Connie comes around.

Jasper

Given to him by Yellow, Jasper has been uncorrupted thanks to Steven's efforts, and has rejoined the covenant as Steven's body guard to 'repay him'. At first, she for sure thought Pink had returned. Given to him at 14, she soon realizes she's quite literally working for her worst enemy. She bullies him a lot at first, but grow close to him in her own way after a few years. She trains him, makes sure he's combat ready incase she isn't there. She's mostly unaware of Steven's health, she doesn't understand that stuff.

Pyrope

Given to him by Blue, Pyrope works as Steven's structure coach. She teaches the young Diamond gem etiquette, good manners, and collaborates with other Gems to give Steven the best opportunities a Diamond could have. Her favorite thing to do is to dress her Diamond, make him pretty. She clashes with Jasper often, she keeps ruining his pretty face with cuts and bruises. She's mostly aware of Steven's health, but tries to work over it to make him as presentable as possible.

Pink Sapphire (Pepper)

Given to him by White Diamond herself, Pink Sapphire very much cares for her Diamond. She's extremely loyal, and gives him insight on his missions to help bring gems to the covenant so he can help them. Thank's to Steven, her eye has been opened to many possibilities, in a way, she sees it as a gift. She does what she wants when she wants if it'll benefit him. She's the most aware of Steven's health, she has her predictions, and she sees a catalyst. She has not spoken up yet, fearing her vision could be wrong, and it could kill Steven in the process.

So...what's going awn?:

Basically, I got bored of my AU. It was kinda going in loops and I wasn't satisfied with it. I've simply cut down Steven's Homeworld time to give way to a newer plot. You guys were so receptive to it!!

Instead of Steven being on Homeworld for 6 years, he's there for 3 and a half, meaning when he leaves, he's 16-17 years old. Connie's 15-16. Lost everything goes the same way.

1st year. Gems are taken away and sent back to Earth, and Connie's arm is nearly severed off from an injury. Steven begins establishing his role as a Diamond. Communion ceremony happens this year as a grand festival rather than later on. Super public, super traumatizing, very scary. He keeps contact with con con thru astral projection. Halfway through this year White fixes his teeth. Lars has made it to Earth and the ship is being repaired. Connie's arm is healed thru Rose's fountain (they're 14/13 respectfully). Given Pepper, Jasper, Spinel, and Pyrope.

Year 2. (15) He keeps up w small communion ceremonies, doesn't get cut open again, and he's given three moon bases. Meets Pinedot!!!! His astral projection is severed by White during this time and Connie (14) trains non stop to save him. The Ship is now halfway complete but needs another year's worth of work. Pinedot tends to Steven's physical state after the first communion and they become close. Blue and Yellow begin to see the wrongs of the empire, being changed by Steven and his gentle nature despite the horrors he's faced already. Steven's mental health takes a nosedive.

Year 3. (16) Steven is now considered a 'full diamond' by everyone else. He's responsible for his moon bases and has become beloved by his people, but a voice in the back of his head is telling him to do awful things. He tries to ignore it. Connie (15) in this time steals the incomplete Ship and makes it to the Zoo after Steven sends her a horrific dream on accident, They reunite hurray!!! There's no more parasite holding his Gem, so he's relatively fine PHYSICALLY. He shows her the wonders of Homeworld but she increasingly becomes worried the longer she stays. The Crystal Gems soon follow behind Connie months later using the rest of the Ship's parts and they all reunite, but Steven is going thru the worlds worst psychosis when they get there because of the experiments White has him going through, and it's only getting worse.

Half of year 3. Steven is now trying to be convinced by the CG's to go home, but he's completely distracted with his duties. Because of his inability to pay attention, Connie and the CG's are captured by White after he falls out of line. Steven tries to reason with her but she turns the CG's on Connie, threatening to make them kill her if he continues his 'little episode'. She shrinks to taunt him until he attacks her, releasing the Gems from her control. Steven rips her face to shreds with his teeth, and her Gem is crushed in the process. Before her form can dissipate, she tries to fuse with Steven, he isn't paying attention, too busy ripping her face apart before Connie pulls him out of the messy, white blob she tried to pull him in. She poofs, but Steven is covered in bloody shards protruding from his body like open wounds. He faints, he's taken home. He doesn't corrupt here, but later on into the story.

Steven wakes up with her shards all along his body, he's become her purgatory, her prison. He now has to deal with her in the back of his head as a constant reminder of what he's done, her mind fractured across his. Her shards act like an amplifier that makes his powers much more powerful than before. His sonic scream can control people, he's pulling thick white branches from his throat. He hates it. She saved herself through attaching herself to him. Steven accepts that he's now her eternal prison and has to learn how to control his powers and get over his trauma from HW while having to deal with Gems who want to abuse White's and his power for themselves.

That's kinda it? I plan to redo the timeline I created as this isn't a 'post-canon' thing, but a genuine part of the story now! There's so much more I could add but i've already typed too much. THANK YALL FOR THE SUPPORT YALL R SO NICE TO ME LMAO. Here's some extra sketches