Ezra In Beach City (Book 1)

Steven's Lion

At a desert, a sandstone column collapsed into a pile of sand. The Crystal Gems climbed over the sand pile with Steven crawling on the ground.

"W-Water... Water... So thirsty... For water..." Steven said, dramatically.

"It'll be safer if you stand up and walk." Pearl advised.

"You don't... understand..." Steven explained as he kept crawling. "This... Is how... You're supposed to act... in the desert..." Soon, he got tired of his 'act' and got up, feeling sweaty. "Is this the thing? The place?"

"Yes, Steven." Garnet answered.

A silhouette of a temple was seen in the distance as another sandstone column collapsed.

"So, all we're doing is just destroying a really big sand castle?" Ezra questioned.

"The power in the structures have turned aimless." Garnet said.

"It's building columns with no roofs, stairs that go nowhere!" Pearl added. "This is out of control!"

"Then I guess we better..." Amethyst stated as she leap-frog jumped over Steven. "... roll on over there. Heheh."

"That was a bit unnecessary." Pearl muttered.

"Nuh-nuh nuh nuh nuh, nuh nuh nuh nuh." Amethyst mocked.

"Excuse me?!" Pearl questioned.

Ezra groaned in annoyance at their bickering. Suddenly, a roar was heard out of nowhere.

"What was that?!" Steven asked.

"Let's go!" Amethyst declared.

"It'll be best if you stay here, boys." Garnet said to Steven and Ezra.

"We'll be quick." Pearl added.

"Aw, come on!" Ezra complained. "Stay here?!"

"What if something eats us?!" Steven asked, fearfully.

"Do not worry... Wet One." Garnet said as she wiped the sweat off Steven's face and flicked it back at him. "There's nothing out here that can harm you. See you soon."

"Okay." Steven nodded.

The Gems head off to investigate, while Steven and Ezra find shade under a sandstone column.

"Man, could this get anymore boring?" Ezra asked sarcastically. "Waiting for our friends in the middle of a scorching desert."

"It's. So. Desert." Steven added as he put his shirt over his eyes.

Suddenly, they both heard groaning.

"What was that?" Steven asked as he lifted his shirt and scanned his surroundings.

"I don't know, but stay sharp." Ezra replied as he summoned his shield in defense.

"Nothing can harm me. I, am the Wet One." Steven said.

"Okay, stay sharp, Wet One." Ezra joked.

Steven spotted a shadowy figure, which glared in his direction and frightened him. That made Ezra turn around, but Steven grabbed his arm and ran to hide behind the sandstone column. The figure approached the column.

"What is it?" Ezra asked.

"I don't know, but I don't want to be eaten." Steven replied. "Good thing this column was here."

"Wait, isn't this a sand column?" Ezra asked suspiciously as he looked at the column.

The column collapsed and revealed a pink furred lion behind it. Steven fell backwards in fright and began to panic as he hid behind Ezra, who didn't move or show any fear.