Steven Universe, Canon Universe, religion
It was a bit weird after they came back from the mission. Pearl bolted through the Temple Gate the moment they crossed the beach house’s door, leaving Steven behind alongside Connie and Garnet. Amethyst, who’d decided to stay in, lounged on the couch with a pack of crisps, unbothered. “What’s up with her?”
“Yeah, what is up with her?” Connie looked at Steven as she asked it, and then they both slid their gaze to Garnet, who lingered in the entrance as if uncertain about what she should do.
Finally, Garnet spoke, “We... encountered the Crystal Cathedral on our way.”
Crystal Cathedral. So that was what the place was. The name meant nothing to Steven; he ran through the winding maze of his memories, but there was nothing there, at least nothing useful. They’d never been in a cathedral prior to this day as far as he remembered, especially not in any kind of crystal or gem one. Steven didn’t even know they were a thing. And he’d definitely remember that one.
The cathedral they ran into was a mighty building, weathered by time, but still showing the signs of forgotten greatness. The walls that lasted soared into the sky and towered over their heads; sublime. Each little element of its design had to be created with immaculate care and attention to detail like Steven hadn’t seen ever before. When he stroked the stained with dirt and moss, faded-grey stone, he thought to himself: it must have been white. Pearl-white.
Amethyst gasped. “No...”
“Yes.” Garnet shook her head.
“What’s the Crystal Cathedral?” asked Steven.
Garnet and Amethyst exchanged a look. Amethyst was the first one to open her mouth, “Why not tell him?”
Garnet sighed. There was a short pause, pervaded with anticipation, before she found the words. “The Crystal Cathedral was... Pearl’s church.”
“What?!” Steven and Connie cried in unison.
“Well, not hers. Her people. Her... followers. They built it.” Garnet looked into the distance. “You see, even today, people often don’t really understand what gems are, why we’re here. And before...”
“Before, they thought we were gods,” said Amethyst. “When they stopped being scared of us, they started praying to us and leaving dea— sacrifices. In front of our door.”
“We tried to stop them,” continued Garnet. “Explain to them we are not gods. But they wouldn’t listen. We tried to ignore it, but Pearl... She began to enjoy it, and after a while, she leaned into it.”
“Yeah. It was bananas. They treated her like... I don’t even know what! She was wearing all of those weird clothes, accepting their gifts, she even attended their weird services or rituals or whatever they called it.”
“When did she stop?” Connie’s eyes were wide open.
“When they—“ started Amethyst, but Garnet was faster. She closed the distance between the two of them in a swift motion and grabbed Amethyst’s hand. As they disappeared through the Gate, Garnet only slightly glanced over her shoulder and said: “End of story.”
Then, they were gone.