Ezra In Beach City (Book 1)

Frybo

In the beach house, Steven was peering through a pile of laundry in search of something.

"Where are you?" Steven said as he looked around. "Tsk tsk tsk. You're a mess, Steven."

"I know I had eight..." Pearl muttered as she ran toward the kitchen to search.

Ezra came downstairs with a teal jacket over his shirt.

"Hey, Steven, have you or Ezra seen a gem shard anywhere?" Pearl asked. "It's very important."

"No, have you seen my pants?" Steven asked as Ezra and Pearl could see that he wasn't wearing his pants. "They're also very important."

"I'm serious, Steven." Pearl said.

"What's so important about a gem shard?" Ezra asked.

"These Shards have a powerful partial consciousness that has been harnessed by Gems throughout history in order to create..." Pearl explained.

"They weren't in the kitchen either..." Steven thought. "Under the bed! No wait, I looked there too. And then Pearl walked in..."

"... -semi-sentient drone soldiers with the capacity to follow basic orders." Pearl continued as Ezra was paying attention. "Gems once created an army of these drones, but found their obedience waned as the shards overdeveloped inside their uniforms and turned on their commanders. You see, any shard imprinted by any sort of container..."

"Pearl! Oh jeez, she's really explaining something..." Steven thought. "I can't just start listening now, I'd be lost! ... Just like my pants..."

"...could become a monster." Pearl continued. "That's why it's very, very important it's kept away from any kind of garment..."

A pair of pants suddenly came running past Steven, Ezra, and Pearl in the background.

"If you both see it, bring it to me, right away. I'm going to check in town." Pearl said before she left the house through the front door.

"For my pants?" Steven asked. "...I guess I'll keep looking here."

Steven and Ezra noticed the pants behind them.

"That's unusual!" Steven shouted as he chased his pants.

"Oh, good grief." Ezra groaned as he watched the pants chase.

"Come on, we used to be friends!" Steven said. "We used to go everywhere together!"

Steven pounced on them to stop them.

"Gotcha now, pants!" Steven said as he put them on. "I wear the pants in this relationship!"

The pants suddenly began wriggling.

"What's gotten into you?" Steven asked. "Hmm?"

Steven reached in pockets and took out a Gem shard from his pocket, that made the pants cease.

"It's a... thingie." Steven said.

"It's the shard Pearl is looking for." Ezra corrected.

The shard glowed and tugged on Steven's shirt, which he quickly pulled away. He then grabbed a sock nearby and puts the shard inside.

"Ha! Now who's smart?" Steven said in triumph.

The sock animated and repeatedly smacked him in the face.

"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, stop!" Steven said.

The sock compelled to his command.

"Oh... Thanks!" Steven said.