Connie and the Crystal Gems
was a Steven Universe fanfiction that follows the premise of "what if Steven didn't exist, and Connie was the protagonist?" It (thus far) follows the beats of the series, but explores alternate scenarios that result from Connie's involvement or Steven's lack of presence.
Sadly, it seems as of at least 11/6/2020, the entire story and the Tumblr page it was posted on has been deleted, meaning it cannot be seen by anyone else.
Tropes present in this work include:
- Adaptational Nice Guy: Sugilite is less violent than in canon, with her Cool Big Sis traits emphasized more alongside a more reserved and sensitive side (the fight between her and Pearl is replaced with a personal talk).
- Adaptation Expansion: The story makes a point of bringing out the Crystal Gems' fusions more often, allowing their personalities to be more fleshed out.
- Adaptation Species Change: Technically; while the Desert Glass is still a Gem, its Corrupted form has been changed from a pillow to a glass dome with legs.
- Adapted Out: Steven was never born in the world of this story. Greg is also removed from several plots he was previously involved in, though he does eventually appear.
- All Part of the Show: Upon coming to the conclusion that Connie's parents are not all ready to find out what they really do, Garnet tells Priyanka that they're performance artists, Connie has been helping them out, and what they saw was a one time show.
- They try pulling it again with Mr. Facet in "Fusion Curriculum," but it doesn't go as well, necessitating an alternate explanation.
- Anachronic Order: In relation to the original show—some episodes are rearranged (one notable example is Bubble Buddies, which is chapter 22 compared to episode 7 in the show).
- Awesome Aussie: Tektite has an Australian accent.
- Brick Joke: Connie's fight with the Robot Shooty Thing leaves the road a wreck, but besides Jane asking if they were going to clean it up, they don't pay much mind to the damage... Until Connie and Peedee exit the movie theater to find police tape covering the street and policemen sweeping up the debris. Thankfully, the police believe that the robot is a satellite that crashed into the street, and the two are able to leave the scene without much suspicion.
- Season 1 ends with the Maheswarans moving away after Connie's parents get fed up with how much danger Connie is put in. Connie doesn't reunite with the Crystal Gems for four years, by which point she's 16.
- Composite Character:
- Connie retains her canon personality, but is given Steven's role and and a few of his traits, like an appreciation of Cookie Cats.
- A giant Corrupted beetle serves the role of the Heaven Beetle and the Giant Bird, being both what the Gems are after and the episode's antagonist.
- Friend to All Living Things: Nadine is capable be talking down and befriending a corrupted Gem, calming it to a greater degree than even Centipeetle. To the point where it returns the next chapter to rescue her and Connie from the bubble they're trapped in under the seafloor.
- Fusion Dance: As with canon, the Gems can Fuse with each other to create a new Gem that shares their traits and abilities.
- Gender Flip: Instead of being male, Sour Cream is genderfluid.
- Great Big Book of Everything: Before meeting the Gems, Connie receives a book written by B. Budwik about Gems and monsters. Subverted, however; Garnet and Pearl claim that the book isn't very accurate in what it details, and Connie later finds that several pages have been torn out, and that the pages aren't even numbered correctly... Though it does still hold some meaning, as it allowed Connie to access Rose's Room.
- Fix Fic: The author has been very open about not liking the newer seasons of the show, and that they are writing this fic in response.
- Heroes Prefer Swords: Connie still comes into possession of Rose's sword.
- In Spite of a Nail: Despite never having to sacrifice herself for Steven, Rose Quartz is still missing for unknown reasons.
- Luckily, My Shield Will Protect Me: In his first appearance, Lion gives Connie a bracelet that can generate a weaker version of Rose's shield. Pearl explains that Rose made them to help humans during the war, and Connie and Peedee later find a few similar trinkets in Rose's armory.
- Masquerade: The Gems pretend to be (relatively) ordinary performers as a cover for their odd looks and monster fights so that Connie's parents don't try to cut her off from them out of fear.
- Missing Mom: It's heavily implied that Mrs. Fryman is dead, leaving Peedee and Ronaldo without a mom.
- Nadine's mother is outright stated to be dead.
- Original Character: Nadine Abayan, introduced halfway through season one and adopting Connie's original role from that point. There is also Mr. Facet (Connie and Nadine's teacher) and Nadine's father Danilo.
- Tektite half counts, being a fusion between two Gems who haven't fused in the show (Peridot and Amethyst).
- Pragmatic Adaptation: In addition to the original stories, many episodes/chapters are rearranged or combined.
- Race Lift: In a manner of speaking—Rose Quartz's skin is colored pink in this universe, making her look more like a Gem than a human.
- Red Herring: It initially seems like the story is hinting at Rose being trapped in Buddy's book, but when Pearl removes the gemstone on the cover in chapter fourteen...nothing happens.
- Spared by the Adaptation:
- Cookie Cats are still in production, unlike in canon.
- Despite her being missing, Rose is (supposedly) still alive due to her never giving birth to Steven.
- Stations of the Canon: The story is effectively a rewrite of the original show. Some chapters are closer to the original episodes than others, and there are original chapters and episodes that are not adapted.
- Sudden Eye Colour: Inverted. Amethyst's eyes are dark blue in canon, but black here.
- Take That!: "Know Your Fusion" sees Sardonyx make a jab at the original show being 100% constrained to the perspective of Steven.
- Time Skip: Season 2 picks up four years after the season 1 finale.
- Unusually Uninteresting Sight: Downplayed. There is at least one book written about the Gems and related oddities.
- Wham Episode: "The Last Straw," the final episode of Season 1. Connie's parents refuse to let Connie stay with the Gems after her getting put in mortal danger, and the Maheswarans move away.
YMMV:
- Heartwarming Moments: "The Good, the Bad, and the Weird" beats out "Horror Club" in terms of a heartwarming resolution to the Lars/Ronaldo conflict. Lars's reasoning for destroying Ronaldo's picture was that he was realizing he was a trans boy and didn't want anyone to see him as a girl. When Ronaldo realizes this, he immediately apologizes for acting so insensitive.
- Hilarious in Hindsight: The Time Skip between seasons 1 and 2 ended up being replicated by the show itself for The Movie.
Trivia
- Milestone Celebration: Sort of — the planned 69th episode was about fusion, and the actual episode ended up being a Shipping episode about Ruby and Sapphire's relationship.
