Steven's Lion

[Open The Desert]

(A sandstone column collapses and forms a pile of sand. The Gems begin to climb over the pile.)

Steven: W-Water. Water. So thirsty. For water. *crawls on the piles of sand*

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

Steven: You don't... understand. *crawls* This. Is how. You're supposed to act... in the desert. *sweaty, stands up* *groans* Is this the thing? The place? *faces Garnet*

Garnet: *hands on hips* Yes, Steven. The power in the structures have turned aimless.

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

Amethyst: Then I guess we better... *jumps over Steven* ... roll on over there. Heheh.

Pearl: That was a bit unnecessary.

Amethyst: *mocking Pearl* Nuh-nuh nuh nuh nuh, nuh nuh nuh nuh.

Pearl: Excuse me?! *roaring sound comes out of nowhere*

Steven: What was that?

Amethyst: Let's go!

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

Pearl: We'll be quick.

Steven: *worriedly* What if something eats me?!

Garnet: Do not worry, *wipes sweat off his face and flicks it back at him* Wet One. There's nothing out here that can harm you. See you soon.

Steven: Okay. *walks over to a pillar*

(Gems head off to investigate, Steven finds shade under a column.)

Steven: It's. So. Desert. *puts shirt over eyes, hears growl* What was that? *scans surroundings* Nothing can harm me. I, am the Wet One.

(Steven spots a shadowy figure and runs behind the column.)

Steven: Good thing this column was here.

(The column collapses, revealing a pink furred Lion, Steven falls in surprise and begins to panic.)

Steven: Ah! No no no. *a sand wall erects behind him, gasps* No, no! *flinches*

(Steven prepares to be attacked but Lion simply yawns and lies down in front of him. Steven cautiously approaches him.)

(Lion's ear twitches.)

Steven: Huh! *backs away* Don't bite! *Backs away again*.

(Steven quickly learns he is seemingly harmless and begins to pet him, which Lion allows.)

Steven: Aw, you just wanted attention. *pets* Didn't you, didn't you? Your mane, it's so soft. *buries face in mane* So, you from around here? I'm just here on business. *climbs on Lion* I really like your pink fur. You're like the cotton candy of the jungle! (Lion shifts, Steven falls off and climbs again.) I always wanted an animal friend. But I thought it would be like a goldfish. Or a dinosaur! But I guess fate had other plans for Steven Universe (Lion puts paw over Steven, whispers to self.) ... and his best friend Lion.

(A blast of sand covers them and they can hear the Gems approaching with the Desert Glass.)

Pearl: Amethyst, bubble it away.

Amethyst: No, quit being jealous, Pearl. My kill, my keep.

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

Steven: *gasps* Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl are coming. Quick, put my head in your mouth!

Pearl: *alarmed* Steven! What is that? What are you doing?!

(The Gems summon their weapons.)

Steven: Uh, stop! It's okay, look, he's totally tame.

Pearl: *weapon still drawn* That's impossible.

Steven: No it isn't! I-I taught him to say "I love you." *moves Lion's lips* "I love you."

Amethyst: That's so sweet! I-I love you too.

Pearl: *puts away weapon* Get your hands out of that thing's mouth. We have to get the Desert Glass out of the desert. *glares at Amethyst*

Amethyst: I got it.

Garnet: Let's go, Steven. (Gems walk away.)

Steven: Okay, give me a sec. Hey Lion, I gotta go. I had a lot of fun, I feel like you really get me. (Lion stares blankly.) Shh, this is already too hard for the both of us. *joins up with others*

Pearl: Amethyst, that pillow needs to be contained.

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

[Trans. Int. Beach House]

(Steven and Amethyst nap under a pillow fort topped by the Desert Glass, a scratching sound at the door.)

Steven: *wakes* What's that sound?

Amethyst: *half asleep, puts hand over mouth* All I hear is your mouth.

Steven: I thought Gems don't need sleep.

Amethyst: We don't, feels good though. *scratching sound*

Steven: *grumbles* Razzle, razzlerrr. Probably some kid trying to sell me lava insurance. Hold your britches! *opens door, Lion appears, gasps* Lion, oh my gosh! This is such a surprise! You came all this way to see little old me? (Lion attempts to get through the door.) Woah, you're fresh. You can't go in there, Amethyst is pretend sleeping. But whatevs, we're together again. Now we can do everything best friends do.

[Trans. Ext. Crystal Temple]

(Steven stands atop a cliff with Lion sitting at the bottom.)

Steven: Okay, here I come. I'm gonna jump. Get into position, ready? (Lion remains still.) And, catch me! I'm jumping! *motions to jump, but doesn't* Catch me! I'm falling! Do it, catch me, I'll die! Eeee! (Lion continues to sit still, Steven still doesn't jump.) Okay, obviously, you're not into this&mdash; *actually falls down cliff, face down* ... game.

Steven: *with ball* Okay, gonna throw this ball. Here it comes! *throws ball, Lion remains still* Whaaat?! That throw was so good! Lion, all you gotta do is catch it in your mouth, see? *demonstrates, Lion remains indifferent* Aw, you don't like that one either? (Lion begins to walk off, but Steven stops him.) Okay, wait, I've got something you've gotta like!

[Trans. Ext. Fish Stew Pizza]

(Steven and Lion walking towards restaurant.)

Steven: Fish Stew Pizza. Cats love fish, everybody loves pizza, so you're gonna love this! *looks inside* Woah, this place is jumpin'! Wait here, we're gonna blow some minds.

[Trans. Int. Fish Stew Pizza]

(Inside, Onion is eating pizza and Ronaldo is using his laptop.)

Steven: Hey guys! *no one reacts* I'm doin' okay, you know? Just gettin' some pizza. Kofi, Kiki.

Kiki: What're you having, Steven?

Steven: Large pizza please, extra fishy.

Kiki: You must be hungry.

Steven: *laughs* I'm ordering for two.

Ronaldo: *does spit take* Steven's pregnant?!

Steven: I don't think so, but I have a giant pet lion right outside!

Kiki: You're not "lion" are you?

Steven: *chuckles* That's funny. But I'm not.

Ronaldo: I believe it! Lots of weird stuff happens in Beach City. You'd know if you read my blog: Keep Beach City Weird! I also have buttons! *shows buttons to everyone*

Steven: Just go outside and see for yourselves. (All rush out, sans Kofi and Steven.)

Ronaldo: This is amazing! (Steven nods to self.) It's invisible! (Steven, confused, runs outside.)

[Trans. Ext. Fish Stew Pizza]

(Kiki, Ronaldo, and Onion wait for Steven to reveal Lion.)

Steven: What? He's not invisible. He's pink.

Ronaldo: Pink? How can he be invisible and pink?

Kiki: There's nothing out here Ronaldo, Steven was "lion". Sorry for using the same pun twice. *walks back inside*

Ronaldo: Bet you're not even pregnant... *walks inside*

Steven: No, I'm telling the truth, he's real! Onion, you believe me right? (Onion glares angrily.)

[Trans. Ext. Beach House]

(Steven walks to his house, disappointed, but sees Lion scratching at the door of the house.)

Steven: Huh? *gasps* Hey, hey Lion! You left me at the pizza place, I looked like a fool! I had to eat a whole pizza by myself!

(Lion breaks through the door and jumps inside.)

[Trans. Int. Beach House]

(Lion walks in, Amethyst still asleep under pillow fort, unawakened by the disturbance.)

Steven: Lion, Lion no! Lion? (Lion emits a magic roar at the fort, knocking back Amethyst.)

Amethyst: *yawns* Keep it down Steven. *falls back asleep*

Steven: What was that for? The pillow? *runs and picks up Desert Glass* Is this what you wanted? This pillow? I've been trying to play with you, and feed you, 'cause I thought we were best friends. Did all of that mean nothing to you? (Lion jumps up near Steven, Steven runs out of the house.) Fine, I don't care!

[Trans. Ext. Crystal Temple]

Steven: If you want it, you can have it! *throws pillow on the beach*

(The beach begins to shake and the Desert Glass begins to erect several sand structures all around, Garnet and Pearl appear.)

Pearl: Steven! The Desert Glass, it's rebuilding its castle. (Amethyst appears.) Why didn't you bubble it earlier?!

Amethyst: Welcome to shrug city, P. *shrugs*

Pearl: *to Steven* Don't move, we're coming!

Steven: Okay! (A sandstorm surrounds him.)

(Steven pushes through into the eye of the storm where many sand structures are erected and the Desert Glass rises atop a very tall column with several pillars branching off of it.)

Steven: There it is, the pillow! I have to get it off the sand.

(Steven begins to jump off many crumbling sand structures towards the column, outside the sandstorm, the Glass has erected a massive sandstone wall, the Gems attempt to break through.)

Garnet: *punches wall unsuccessfully* This wall's not moving!

Pearl: We gotta get through before things get any- (Amethyst is launched in the air via an erected column.)

(Inside the eye, Steven jumps several more structures getting close to the Glass but falls while near the top, whilst plummeting towards his death, Lion suddenly appears and catches him mid-fall.)

Steven: *gasp* Lion! You didn't come here to steal the pillow, you came here to protect us from it! (Lion growls in agreement, the Glass raises more walls.) It's there! It's putting up defenses, how are we gonna get up there?!

(Lion lets out a magical roar, decimating obtruding sand spikes.)

Steven: Yep, sounds good. Let's go.

(Lion roars again and creates a path to the top, and sprints to the top.)

Steven: Now, Lion!

(Lion breaks through the final walls and Steven takes the Glass, the sand structures and storm immediately dissipates, Lion lands roughly and Steven is flung forward with the glass, the Gems emerge from the sand and Steven chuckles nervously.)

Pearl: *about to bubble Desert Glass* We should've done this in the first place.

Amethyst: In my defense, I forgot.

Steven: *to 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. *moving Lion's lips* "I love you Steven. I want to stay with you forever!" *gasp* Really? Guys, you hear that?

Pearl: Are we really going to let him keep that?

Garnet: We kept Amethyst.

Pearl: *laughs hysterically* Oh, oh ho ho, "kept Amethyst", oh Garnet, that's priceless!

Steven: Yay, Lion! *makes Lion wink* Wink!

[END]