"When his Diamond powers suddenly begin to manifest way outside his control, 16-year old Steven Universe is forced to face the worst aspects of himself head-on, all while trying to navigate the world after happily ever after. The aftermath of Spinel's attack on Delmarva was just the beginning of his problems. Steven now faces not only the growing turmoil within himself but an army of obstacles from both human and gem forces alike that have set their sights on the Crystal Gems and Little Homeworld. In the end, establishing lasting peace across the universe may have proven even more fragile than Steven ever could have imagined, especially when the biggest threat of all might be himself."
— Fanfic summary
Pink doesn't really exist and other existential truths
is a Steven Universe fanfiction by bamfguy.
Tropes in Pink doesn't really exist and other existential truths include:
- Armor-Piercing Question: In chapter 31, Connie gives this to Steven's "ghost form".
"You always believe the best in other people. That part's always been easy for you. What I want to know is, when did you stop believing in yourself, Steven?"
- Calling the Old Man Out: Steven gives a massive "The Reason You Suck" Speech to the Crystal Gems in chapter 27.
- Clingy Jealous Girl: A Rare Male Example with Governor Buddy Budwick.
- The Corrupter: White Diamond secretly planted protonic crystals around Beach City to do this to Steven.
- Create Your Own Villain: White Diamond uses protonic crystals to affect Steven's mind and body, leading to his empathy getting suppressed over time. He finds out after the process has been completed, and Spinel Taking the Bullet and getting poofed, plus him deciding against it, is the only reason that he didn't kill her on the spot.
- And to a lesser degree, half the reason that Evil!Steven is so antagonistic after White Diamond is done with her protonic "empowering" is because of the many times the Gems and Greg left him alone growing up, plus all the trauma most of the other cast members put him through and the many cases where his issues or wishes were ignored or dismissed.
- Our Ghosts Are Different: The "ghost" of Steven's original self appears after Evil!Steven briefly kicks him out of his body.
- Parents as People: Greg and the Gems genuinely love Steven, and he's aware of that. But it's also made clear that having to deal with their issues for them has left Steven with colossal psychological issues.
- Sanity Slippage: Steven's slowly losing it over the course of the story.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Yellow Diamond and Blue Diamond decide to just flat-out abandon White Diamond after they learn she brainwashed Steven.
- So Proud of You: The Gems tell this to Steven in the first chapter, and also that they can take care of things without him for a while.
- Villain Has a Point: Evil Steven, when he makes accusations/statements, all of them have a measure of truth to them, or are entirely true and were just never brought up before.
