Steven Universe: Chipped [Pearl x OC]

Chapter 1-8: Steven's Lion

We walk through the desert looking for the Desert Glass as it has begun to malfunction, its columns growing and collapsing at random, posing great danger for anyone passing by.

Steven crawls on the ground, groaning, "W- water... Water... So thirsty... For water..."

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

Steven keeps crawling, saying, "You don't... understand.. This... is how... you're supposed to act... in the desert..."

I grow tired of his act and pick him up by his shirt collar, setting him down on his feet.

He asks, "Is this the thing? The place?"

Garnet says, "Yes, Steven." A silhouette of a temple can be seen in the distance as another sandstone column collapses, and she adds, "The power in the structures have turned aimless."

Pearl adds, "It's building columns with no roofs, stairs that go nowhere!"

I add, "It's like if an M. C. Escher painting came to life."

Pearl exclaims, "This is out of control!"

Amethyst says, "Then I guess we better..." She leap-frogs over Steven, finishing, "Roll on over there. Hehe."

Pearl says, "That was a bit unnecessary."

Amethyst mocks Pearl, "Nuh nuh-nuh-nuh nuh nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh."

Pearl exclaims, "Excuse me?!"

A roar is heard in the distance, and Steven worriedly asks, "What was that?!"

Amethyst runs off, exclaiming, "Let's go!"

Garnet says, "It'll be best if you stay here, Steven."

Pearl adds, "We'll be quick."

He asks, "What if something eats me?!"

Garnet responds, "Do not worry... Wet One." She wipes some sweat off of his face and flicks it back at him, then adds, "There's nothing out here that can harm you."

I add, "See ya, Stevie!"

We head off to investigate while Steven finds shade under a sandstone column. We quickly locate the gem-embedded pillow on top of an ever growing column surrounded by a blowing sandstorm. Garnet launches Amethyst through the roaring winds at the column, and she grabs the pillow before landing, the columns collapsing soon after, sending a shock wave that collapses all of the sandstone columns in the entire desert. As we start heading back, Amethyst keeps throwing and catching the pillow.

Pearl says, "Amethyst, bubble it away!"

Amethyst says, "No. Quit being jealous. My kill, my keep."

I ask, "What 'kill'? There wasn't even a monster to fight, you just grabbed the pillow!"

Pearl says, "I'm not jealous! Just be careful. If you drop it on the sand, it'll rebuild everything!"

When we finally got back to where we left Steven, he tries to stuff his head in a pink lion's mouth.

Pearl exclaims, "Steven, what is that?!"

I ask, "What are you doing?!"

We summon our weapons, and Steven pulls his head away, saying, "U- uh, stop! It's okay! Look, he's totally tame."

Pearl says, "That's impossible."

Steven says, "No it isn't! I- I taught him to say 'I love you'." He moves the lion's mouth to mimic what he's saying, ""I love you'."

Amethyst and I dispel our weapons, and Amethyst says, "That's so sweet! I- I love you, too."

Pearl groans and dispels her spear, saying, "Get your head out of that thing's mouth. We have to get the Desert Glass out of the desert."

She tries to snatch the pillow from Amethyst, but Amethyst says, "I got it."

Garnet says, "Let's go, Steven."

We start heading back toward the Warp Pad, and Steven says 'goodbye' to the lion.

I say, "Amethyst, you've got to bubble that thing soon. You know that, right?"

Pearl adds, "That pillow needs to be contained!"

Amethyst says, "Yeah, yeah. I know what to do with it."

We warp back to the house, and Amethyst makes a pillow fort in the living room, the Desert Glass pillow on top. I slip into my room, playing a fangame for a game I really like. After around 2 hours, I feel the temple shaking, and I exit my room and look out the window to find sand structures being built on the beach, Pearl and Garnet following me outside where we find Steven and the pink lion.

Pearl exclaims, "Steven! The Desert Glass; it's rebuilding its castle!" Amethyst comes outside, rubbing her eyes, and Pearl exclaims, "Why didn't you bubble it earlier?!"

Amethyst shrugs, saying, "Welcome to shrug city, P."

I yell to Steven, "Don't move! We're coming!"

Steven yells back, "Okay!"

A sandstorm begins to engulf him, and he pushes his way to the eye of the sandstorm, where many sand structures are being built around the Desert Glass, the pillow rising atop a very tall center column with several pillars branching off of it like earlier.

Steven exclaims, "There it is; the pillow! I have to get it off the sand!"

I yell, "No, Steven! We'll get it! Just stay where you are and be careful!'

He ignores me and begins to hop between the many crumbling sand structures toward the center column. Outside the sandstorm, where the other Gems and I are, the Desert Glass has built a massive sandstone wall, blocking us from getting to Steven. Garnet punches the wall with her gauntlets, but there's not even a dent on it.

She exclaims, "The wall's not moving!'

Pearl exclaims, "We've gotta get through before things get any -"

Amethyst is launched in the air by a rapidly rising column, and we run back to get her. After a few minutes, the sandstorm dissipates and the sand structures crumble. Steven makes a rough landing on the ground on the lion's back, the Desert Glass pillow in hand.

Pearl immediately bubbles the Desert Glass away, saying, "We should've done this in the first place."

Amethyst says, "In my defense, I forgot."

I say, "'In your defense'? That statement isn't helping you at all."

Steven says sadly to the lion, "So I guess this is goodbye. We had some good times, but I'm sure you have other magical stuff to smash with other magical boys." He moves the lion's lips, saying, "'I love you, Steven. I want to stay with you forever'!" He gasps, asking, "Really? Guys, you hear that?"

I say, "I'm pretty sure he didn't really say that, but sure. Why not?"

Pearl asks, "Are we really going to let him keep that?"

Garnet responds, "We kept Amethyst."

Pearl laughs hysterically, saying, "'Kept Amethyst'. Oh Garnet, that's priceless!"

Steven exclaims, "Yay, lion!" He makes it wink, adding, "Wink!"

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