Sally, The Crystal Gem

The Lion

"Water, I need water!" Steven said climbing the sand hill behind Garnet. Pearl and Amethyst walked on either side of Sally.

"Steven, if you stand up it'll be better." Pearl said. Sally helped Steven up.

"Is this the place?" Sally asked.

"Yes." Garnet said, not looking at her.

Sally felt like Garnet didn't trust her, even after all the years they'd know each other. Apparently, after Garnet accused Sally of lying all those years and still working with Homeworld, she hasn't really talked to her that much. It felt as if Garnet felt torn. As if she... was split and couldn't decide whether or not she felt sorry for Sally, or if she didn't trust Sally too well.

"It's building columns with no roofs, stairs that go no where. This is out of control!" Pearl said. Amethyst jumped over Steven and went ahead of them.

They suddenly heard a loud roar from somewhere.

"What was that?!" Steven asked.

"We had better go." Pearl said.

"Steven, Sally, it'd be best if you two stay here." Garnet said.

"What?! What if she gets hurt?!" Pearl yelled throwing her arms out.

"She won't. Now let's go." Garnet said. Garnet and Amethyst jumped away. Pearl looked back at Sally.

"We'll be quick." She said, before jumping away to join them.

Steven sighed and walked over to a sand pillar. He sat down and pulled his shirt up to cool off.

"Man, Pearl sure doesn't want to see you hurt again." Steven said.

"Yeah, I guess not." Sally chuckled slightly rubbing her left arm.

"Do you two have something or what?" Steven asked.

"What do you mean? Like... We like each other? Because if so, then no, we do not." Sally said.

"It sure seems like Pearl likes you in a way." Steven smirked.

"You don't know that. And why would Pearl even like me? Just because she is protective doesn't mean she likes me." Sally said rolling her eyes. She sat down next to Steven and closed her eyes to rest them. She eventually fell asleep.

Steven sat for a moment, wondering how long the gems would take. Steven heard a low growl in the distance.

"What was that?" He raised his shirt to look around, but saw nothing. "Hm... I guess it was nothing..." He said. He pulled his shirt back down. He then heard another growl. He raised his shirt and looked around.

He instantly made eye contact with a large animal.

"Ah!" He yelled jumping up. He turned to Sally and started shaking her violently.

"What is it?!" She said jerking up from her spot. Steven pulled her up and ran. "What are you running from?!"

"That!" Steven said pointing at an animal. Sally turned her head and saw the animal behind them.

They ran into a wall, no where to go. The animal cornered them.

"No, no, no!" Steven yelled crouching down. The animal just yawned and laid down. "Huh?" He got up and slowly walked closer to it.

"Be careful!" Sally said, still crouching down by the wall.

Steven reached for the pink lion, wondering if it would hurt him. It just looked at him and pushed his face into Steven's hand.

"Awe, you just wanted attention, didn't you?" He said petting it. He walked around the lion, looking at it.

"Steven, what if it still tries to attack you?! You don't want to get close to it!" Sally said getting up and running to him.

"He won't attack me. I can tell." He said. He pushed his face into the pink mane. "So..." He turned to the lion. "Are you from here? I'm just here on business." Steven talked to the animal like it was human. "I like your pink fur. You're like the cotton candy of the jungle." He said. "Sally, come pet him! He's so soft!"

Sally sighed and reached for the lion, only to learn that the can and will attack. He growled at her, glaring. Sally backed away.

There was a loud explosion and a burst of sand, knocking Sally down.

She couldn't really sit up. She felt a giant rock above her.

'Uh oh. Pearl's gonna flip if she sees me trapped under here.' Sally thought trying to push it up. She heard the gems voices outside.

"Steven, what is that?!" Pearl asked.

Sally tried kicking her legs around, signaling someone that she was under there, but it didn't work. It was heavy, and hurted. Her mouth was filled with nasty, dirty sand and she did not like it.

'I really just attract danger and bad things, don't I?' Sally thought. She heard Steven's voice.

"It's okay! He's totally tame!" Steven said.

"That's impossible!" Pearl said, still not noticing Sally was missing.

"No it isn't!" He said.

"Yes, it is-- Wait, where's Sally?" Pearl said finally realizing she wasn't there.

"I don't know. She was just here." Steven said.

'I'm under here!' Sally wanted to yell, but couldn't.

"Over here." Garnet said as if she could sense Sally. She punched the rock off and pulled Sally up.

"Oh, you're okay! I was worried!" Pearl said pulling her into a tight hug. "What were you doing under there?!" Pearl asked shaking her shoulders.

"Well, the rock crushed me." Sally said wiping herself off.

"You didn't crack your gem did you?!" Pearl asked.

"I don't think so..." Sally said looking at it and rubbing it.

"Let's go home, guys, I'm tired." Amethyst urged.

"Alright, let's go. But Sally, you stay next to me." Pearl said lacking her arm in Sally's. Sally's cheeks were heating up. She turned to Steven, and saw him smirking with his hands on his hips. He mouthed 'I told you'.

Sally began contemplating on this. Did Pearl really have feelings for her? Did Sally return these feelings? She shook away the thoughts.

She didn't feel like thinking about anything that could make her feel nervous or worrisome right now. All she wanted to do was be left alone and do nothing.

But that would be hard with Pearl following her everywhere.