A New Beginning

Steven's eyes were fixed on Spinel, and as he looked into her innocent gaze, he felt a surge of determination. He had to protect her, to make sure she didn't suffer the same fate as him in his original timeline. But as he stood there, he noticed something odd - Spinel looked younger than he remembered, and her eyes seemed to hold a spark of curiosity that he hadn't seen before. As he pondered this, Steven glanced down at his hands and realized that they looked smaller, younger. A sudden jolt of understanding hit him - he was 12 again. The thought sent a mix of emotions through him, from excitement to trepidation. Spinel, sensing Steven's gaze, looked up at him with a questioning expression. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice still soft and innocent. Steven took a deep breath, trying to think of a way to explain his situation to her. "I'm...I'm Steven," he said, trying to sound confident. "And I think we need to get out of here. Come with me, okay?" Spinel looked at him warily, but there was something about Steven's words that resonated with her. She nodded, and Steven felt a surge of relief. As he reached out to take Spinel's hand, he felt a familiar sensation wash over him - the ability to teleport. He focused his energy, and the two of them vanished from the desolate wasteland. When they reappeared, Steven found himself standing in front of the beach house he had grown up in. But as he looked up, he saw that the house was in disarray - furniture was overturned, and there were signs of a frantic search. As he turned to Spinel, he heard a burst of panicked voices. "Steven! Steven, is that you?!" Garnet's voice called out, followed by the anxious tones of Amethyst and Pearl. The three Crystal Gems burst out of the beach house, their eyes scanning the area frantically until they spotted Steven and Spinel. Their expressions changed from worry to shock as they took in the sight of Steven, looking 12 again, and the small, pink-haired girl by his side. "Steven?" Garnet repeated, her voice hesitant. "What's going on? Where have you been?" Steven took a deep breath, trying to process the chaos that had just erupted. He looked at Spinel, who was staring at the Crystal Gems with wide eyes, and then back at his friends. "I...I think I have a lot to explain," he said, feeling a sense of trepidation. But as he looked at the Crystal Gems, he knew that he had to try. For Spinel's sake, and for his own.