Hey guys! After a small break, I am finally ready to write chapter four. A big thank-you to .94 and PrincessOfTheNight01 for liking my story, and Lady Shadow92 for helping me a bit on this chapter! As for you, flying ducks298, I am still working on the story you requested – hopefully the first chapter will be up soon! Onto the story ~.
Chapter Four: Training Alexandrite
After doing quite a bit of research, Steven was sure he was ready to train Alexandrite. He knew he had to train her somehow, and eventually. He had ordered a dog training book from Glamazon, and he had got some treats to reward the puppy with when she correctly followed a trick. Now he was gathering a jar of treats along with a training book. It was time to get started training.
"Alexandrite," Steven called. He sat on the couch, waiting for a response. A few seconds later, he saw a puppy bounding toward him. Her ears flopped as she ran, and Steven couldn't keep himself from laughing. When she reached him, Steven giggled and gave her a small pat on the head. "Alright," Steven said, smoothing out the book. He set it down and the jar of treats next to him. "Today I am going to train you!" Alexandrite smiled a goofy, doggie grin and drooled as she eyed the treats. Time to train her how to sit, Steven thought.
"I am going to teach you how to sit," Steven said, and while carrying the jar and training book with him, he walked over to her and sat down on his knees. "To sit down, you will push your rear end to the ground, like this. Sit!" He gently pushed her bottom to the floor, making her in a sitting position. "Okay," Steven said, "that was practice, so you'll get a small treat." He gave a small piece to Alexandrite. She gobbled it quickly, and Steven could tell she loved the treats.
Before he could continue training Alex, Pearl walked out of the Temple door, smiling at Steven. Surely she didn't really approve of having a pet idea as much as Garnet or Amethyst, but it was sweet to her to see them bonding together and training. "Hello, Steven," she said, smiling a bit harder. "Would you like help training?" "Sure!" Steven said. "Please." Pearl nodded and joined him, sitting next to him. "OK, Steven, what trick are you teaching her?" Pearl asked. "Well," Steven said, "she's just learning how to sit. I'm trying to teach her how to come to me, too, but that's for later." "Alright," Pearl said, smiling at the eager little puppy. As soon as it smiled back at her with heart-melting eyes full of curiosity, her heart might have as well shattered in many pieces.
Steven found it very amazing how fast Pearl bonded with Alexandrite. He was very proud of her, too, and it was simply heart-melting to see bonding between a human being (or gem in this case) and an animal. "OK, Pearl, just tell her to sit, and if she sits, you give her a treat. But if she doesn't, try helping her, like this." Steven gently pushed her bottom to the floor, making her in a sitting position once again. "Wanna try?" "Sure," Pearl said, smiling nervously at him. She didn't have much experience with animals, other than seagulls, but it was worth trying.
"Sit," Pearl said softly. Alexandrite wagged her tail, but she didn't sit. Pearl tried helping her, doing it the same way as Steven had done. "Good!" she said. "Sit," she said once again. Alexandrite wagged her tail harder, and sat down. "Good girl!" she said, stroking her ears. While she opened the jar, she glanced at Steven, who was giving her a thumbs up. She held a treat in one hand and the closed the jar with the other. "Here you go, Alex," Pearl said. She suddenly blushed when she realized what she had called the dog. But Alexandrite just barked happily and accepted the treat, licking Pearl's fingers in the process. Even though Pearl had cringed a bit from the saliva, she took it as a compliment and buried her face in the dog's fur.
Steven was more than pleased to see what was happening before him. It was quite pleasing and heart-melting at the same time. The dog was trying to lick Pearl even more. It seemed as if Alex liked Pearl immediately. Steven tried joining in the hug, and thankfully it worked. They looked like a happy family, and it was such a sweet sight, you would tear up. "I love you so much," Steven told Pearl and Alexandrite. Pearl blushed, Steven blushed, and even Alexandrite looked as if she blushed as well. "I love you so much too," Pearl said, feeling as if she couldn't breathe (I know gems don't need air but this would sound great to put in with the emotion going on in the story). Her voice sounded muffled as she spoke, but only because her face was buried in the dog's fluffy fur. Alexandrite barked, and it sounded like as if she said, "I wuv you so much too!" She suddenly lifted her head from Alexandrite's golden fur, and smiled sweetly at Steven and Alex. "I think maybe we could teach her some more tricks."
The next day, Steven and Pearl met again, to try to train Alex how to come to them. It was very easy to teach her. Each time one of them said "COME!", the next thing they would see is a fluffy puppy running towards them, looking as if she had felt free after World War II, and they would instantly be knocked down by the strong dog. Alexandrite licked their faces, and even though Pearl admitted to herself it was a little gross, it felt like such an honor to work with an animal and her baby (nickname for Steven). Pearl laughed alongside Steven, and Alexandrite was barking, as if laughing too. Alexandrite smiled at them.
Ever since then, Pearl had been training Alex to do many things.
It's finally done! I hope you guys enjoyed it – there will definitely be more gem and puppy bonding ;), but I must ask you an important question – should I write a chapter where the Gems and Steven housebreak Alexandrite? I think I might, for chapter five, but please tell me what you guys think. I'll see you again when I update chapter five!