Steven skipped through the fields of corn and other crops, careful not to step on any. He quickly approached the barn and walked inside.
"Peridot? Lapis?"
"GIVE UP PERIDOT!"
"NEVER!" Steven ducked as darts flew over his head and he dived under the hammock. From his view he could see Peridot hiding behind one of her meep morps, wielding a nerf gun. How she got the nerf gun was beyond him, and he was confused.
"Peridot what's going on?"
"Lapis will not admit that Percy and Pierre are clearly the superior couple!" Steven watched as another dart was shot, this time from Lapis.
"Percy and Paulette are together on the show!" Another volley of darts was fired from both sides and Steven pulled out his phone.
"Connie? Can you come to the barn?"
"Why? What's going on?"
"Just meet me outside." Steven surveyed the "war zone" around them then made a bolt for the door. He could hear more screeching and crashing from inside.
~
Steven watched Connie running up the hill with Lion following close behind.
"Steven, what's joining on?" Connie asked as the noise from inside continued.
"I don't know! Lapis and Peridot are fighting over who Percy should date." Connie pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Let me handle this. But we've got to go to your house first."
~
Steven and Connie stood outside the barn. "Armor on?"
"Yep."
"Nerf stuff ready?" Steven shuffled around a bit.
"Yeah." They ran into the barn.
"HOLD YOUR FIRE."
"NOT UNTIL SHE ADMITS PERCY AND PIERRE ARE SUPERIOR!"
"THEY AREN'T!" More of the foam bullets were fired, and Connie waved Steven over.
"New plan: Hug attack."
"What?"
"I hug Peridot and you hug Lapis. They won't be able to move. They'll be forced to surrender." Steven grinned and they turned so their backs were pressed together.
"Three, two, one..."
"CHARGE!" They lunged at their victims and quickly latched on. Steven attached himself to Lapis's legs and Connie caught Peridot in a bear hug.
"Steven! What are you doing!"
"Surrender!"
"CONNIE LET GO THIS INSTANT!"
"Never!" Connie signaled to Steven, pointed at the hammock and mouthed "could you get her over there?" Steven nodded and looked up at Lapis.
"Lapis? Could you walk over there?" Lapis looked down at Steven and relaxed.
"Sure but I have to move you so I can walk." Steven let Lapis picked him up and she held him to her shoulder and went to sit in the hammock.
"Peridot you've got to move with me."
"No! I refuse to give in."
"I'll take away you Camp Pining Hearts." Peridot compiled and they shuffled over the hammock. With everyone seated, Peridot and Lapis refused to look at each other.
"Can one of you tell me what your disagreement is about?" Connie asked.
"Lapis won't admit how much better the relationship between Percy and Pierre is."
"Percy and Paulette are actually together!" Connie took in a deep breath.
"Do you think you can move past this and get along?"
"I can if Peridot stops bringing it up," Peridot grumbled in response.
"Peridot?" Steven asked.
"I don't understand how she can't see it!"
"Lapis, could you try to listen to Peridot's views?" Lapis shrugged.
"If we leave would you two get along."
"Sure," Peridot said and Lapis nodded. Steven and Connie got up, waved goodbye and left.
"That was something. I'm gonna take a nap." Lapis yawned and laid down.
"Me too." Peridot laid down next to Lapis and wasn't pushed off despite the battle that had occurred.
