Episode 2: Joy Ride
The Gems and Monks are busy digging up debris from the crashed warship. Steven digs up a small piece of the debris. "Do we have to get every single piece?" Steven asked. Just then Clay managed to pick up a fairly large piece with ease. "I think so, Steven-roo." Clay said, carrying said debris to Garnet who then puts it on a big pile with Pearl. "That is correct, having a wrecked ship lying around is way too dangerous. We have to take care of it…all of it." Garnet said. Pearl was sorting out the pile. "Plus we need to start looking for Peridot's escape pod. Once we find it, we will most likely also find Jack, Jackson, and Wuya." Pearl said. "Then there's Malachite we have to search for." Raimundo added. "Yea, that's a lot on our plate, and that's not even mentioning all the activating wus." Kimiko said. Steven remained quiet, picked up a small debris and place it in the trash. "Well, we'll be able to do it as we are on it." Steven said. He began walking to the other side of the beach. Raimundo began to walk as well with Steven.
Raimundo began to think a bit as well as Steven as they dig for debris. Just then, Jenny, Sour Cream, and Buck arrived. This snaps them out of their thinking phase. "Hey, Steven." Jenny said. "I see Raimundo returned." "That I did." Raimundo said. "You did looked a bit zoned out for something." Sour Cream commented. "Well, yea, it because I think Raimundo and I have a lot on our minds." Steven answered. "Well, if you guys like, you can chill with us in the parking lots and freak out some squares." Buck said. "We like to…but we got a lot of stuff on the plate for today." Steven said. "Yea, I really wouldn't mind it but we need to clear the beach." Raimundo said. "Gems order." "Aw..." Jenny bemoans. "Well, we'll see you later then." Buck said. "Hope the beach is cleared soon." Sour Cream said as the three of them walked away. Raimundo sighs. "What's wrong, Raimundo?" Steven said, picking up a good chuck of debris. "It's just…if Peridot is on Earth, she could be trouble. If she with Jack, Wuya and Jackson, she could become a major threat. However, if we capture her, it would be a weight off our shoulders." Raimundo said. "We still have Malachite and a few other things to get by but yea, it would be a weight off our shoulders." Steven said. Raimundo nods as Omi walks over. "Still cleaning up while taking, I see?" Omi said. "Yea, it's a lot of work and we have a lot on our mind." Raimundo said. "It's best to get some ideas out and about without going crazy with the idea." Omi nods as he walks away. Raimundo ponders something but decides to store it for later.
That evening, Steven, the monks and gems were back inside the beach house. Steven was in his bed, moaning in soreness. Raimundo was stretching out his body. "Man, we really need to stretch out our bodies before working." Raimundo said. "Who knew those things were heavy?" "Yea, I feel like the calluses on my hand got calluses." Steven moans. Raimundo softly chuckles. "Sorry but it's a bit humorous." Raimundo said. Just then...THUMP! Something hit on Steven's window. They look to see what hit it. Just then another THUMP is hit and it was a pizza. "What the? Pizza?" Raimundo said he looks down on the window to see...Sour Cream and Buck. "What are they doing here?" Steven said. "I don't know, but we got to ask them." Raimundo said, rushing to the door.
They exit the house and approach Sour Cream and Buck. "What brings you two here?" Raimundo said. "Well, we wanted you two to hang out with us." Buck said. "Wait, wait…you want us to hang out with you guys?" Raimundo said. "Isn't it a bit late as it's close to dreaming time." Steven said. Raimundo on the other hand thought a bit. He remember the time he hung out and found out the Stevonnie fusion. "Well, maybe a good hang out before bed would be good." Raimundo said. "Wait, Raimundo, you want to hang out with the cool kids?" Steven said. "Well, yea, I hung out with them when you and Connie fused, remember?" Raimundo said. "Oh, that's right." Steven said with an awkward chuckle. "Well, okay, I'll join too." "Nice." Buck said. "Alright, but first we have to deliver the rest of the pizza to Mr. Smiley." Sour Cream said. Raimundo could only chuckle from that.
A bit later, they were out of town in Jenny's car. Steven was riding shotgun while Raimundo was sandwiched between Buck and Sour Cream. The wind was blowing into their faces. "Whoo! Feel the wind in your face is what I'm talking about." Jenny said. "Breath deep you two. That's the smell of freedom." Buck said to both Raimundo and Steven. Both of them takes in deep inhales. "It's smells like pepperoni" Steven said. "I take it's that car smell?" Raimundo quips. Jenny just laughs. "Right in the ball park, Rai." Jenny said. "Yea, but there is one smell that isn't freedom…that is fish." Sour Cream said. "What's wrong with fish" Steven asked. "Oh, boy here we go." Jenny said. Sour Cream still goes into his talk about how nothing is wrong about being a DJ, but his step-dad wants him to be a fisherman and that he can't rave in a raincoat. Buck would mention about how his dad is the mayor and he has to listen to him. Jenny would also mention about how she has a sister and how she shouldn't be asked to do homework while at a metal concert.
"Man...that's a lot to take in." Raimundo said. "Family stuff is tricky." Steven added. "Well, a few months ago, my dad and the gems grounded me from TV for 2 years." The cool kids were surprised to hear that. "Well, then I found out that the Gems were from a distant planet and rebel against other gems who want us dead because they think we betrayed them. They took me and the monks hostage. They thought I was my mom…and I think I am but I'm not sure." Steven added. "I feel like I want to talk to the Gems about it but I feel like they blame me for my mom not being around." There was a silence for a bit. "Wow, that's heavy." Jenny said. "Well, Raimundo, I wonder why you left Beach City?" Buck asked. "Well, it's nothing too much when compared to Steven's tale. I lost to a guy named Jack Spicer, a self-proclaimed evil boy genius, when he's looking like he's in his teens, in a Xiaolin Showdown." Raimundo said "Xiaolin what?" Sour Cream said. "Basically a competition for a shen gong wu." Raimundo explained. "And Shen Gong Wu are powerful mystical objects. Does that answer your question?" Sour Cream quietly nods.
"Well, this shen gong wu was really important as it would form Mala Mala Jong. You know a good amount, as Beach City was evacuated for it to make sure it doesn't do damage in the city and we had to go to the barn to hide out with the wus. Unfortunately, I felt responsible for the mess I got us in and I wanted to fix it so I returned to the house…only to see the Gems getting their butts handed to Mala Mala Jong and Wuya." Raimundo added. "Mala Mala Jong then proceed to toss me like a ragdoll and Wuya found out the location by phasing though my head…she was a ghost at that time. After that, they managed to beat it with the Golden Tiger Claws and all but me got promoted to Xiaolin Apprentice. To that, I had enough, took the Golden Tiger Claw and went back to Brazil." Raimundo then sighs. Another moment of quiet was felt. "Wow, that's a lot as well." Jenny added. "Yea, I would have taken up fishing if that happen to me with tha-THAT!" Sour Cream as he scream while pointing. Jenny quickly stops. "What, what happened?" Jenny asked in a panic. "Glow…" Sour Cream said pointing to a wheat field with a glowing green aura. "We got to check that out." Sour cream suggested. "I'm down with that." Buck said. "Like we got any other choice." Raimundo said. "Alright, give me a second." Jenny said as she drive the car into the field.
A bit later, they got out of the car and began to arrive to the source of the glowing. "Man, it's like 600 very bright glow sticks." Sour Cream said. Raimundo looks around and then sees…Peridot's escape pod. Raimundo gasp. "That is Peridot's escape pod!" Raimundo said. "Peri-who?" Buck said. "That thing looks empty." Jenny said. "No, he didn't mean the escape pod, he mean Peridot herself. She could be around here somewhere." Steven said. They slowly walk up to the escape pod. They sees its open and its empty. Sour Cream hits it with a rock as Jenny pulls out her phone. Raimundo takes in a deep breath. "Okay, so Peridot may not be around but she could still be on earth...somewhere." Raimundo said. "Hey, Rai, Steven, like to take selfie with this thing." Jenny asked. "Uh…I guess." Raimundo said with an uncertain tone. Steven thinks a bit.
A montage shows Steven and Raimundo partaking in selfies with Jenny, Sour Cream and Buck. Steven was nervous at first but got comfortable soon after. Raimundo was still a bit uncertain, even with his fake smile as he is certain that Peridot is somewhere. Jenny was happy with these pics. "Man, you guys look fly in these pictures." Jenny said. Raimundo chuckles. "Thanks. Now we better get this back to the Gems." Raimundo said. "What...I wanted to have Steven take a picture inside of it." Jenny said. "I don't think that is wise." Raimundo said. "Just one photo, please?" Jenny said. Raimundo groans. "Fine, one photo then it's being brought back to the gems." Raimundo said. Steven began climbing in and the during the picture taken, Steven accidentally activated it. "What the?!" Raimundo said. Steven starts to control the pod. "No way, you can control it?!" Jenny said. "Cool!" Sour Cream said. For Raimundo he slowly backs away and began to lightly jog away from it. "Raimundo, where you going?" Buck said. "I'm going to take a quick jog!" Raimundo said.
A bit later shows Raimundo jogging as fast as he can. A lot things were rushing through his mind. Some were worst case scenarios. 'This is not good' Raimundo thought 'what if Steven sends out a signal and the Gems arrive. How would they feel about attacking Steven unintentionally? What about Steven would he survive the attack in that damaged pod' He thought some more. 'What about Peridot? Where would she be? If I can find her, well then that would mean that Jack, Jackson, and Wuya would not likely be far. What are they planning for their next attack.? This is becoming more and more like a chess match and it's going to be an uphill battle.' Just then, a sudden bright light appears. He looks up to see a big flare signal. This made Raimundo groans as he began to run back as fast as he can.
Just as Raimundo arrive, The Gems and Monks arrive. "I knew it!" Pearl said. "That flare allowed us to the escape pod." "That yellow belly Peridot must be in there." Clay said. Pearl sends a spear through the pod, just barely missing Steven. "Peridot must be damaged from that crash landing. Hold nothing back." Pearl said. "You got it." Kimiko said as she pulls out the Star Hanabi. "Star Hanabi FIRE!" She said as she launches the star hanabi and does significant damage to the pod. "Seismic Kick EARTH!" Clay said, slamming his Texans boot on the ground fling it up in the air. Amethyst ensnares it with her whips. "Now for the icy finish." Amethyst said. "Omi, you brought it?" "Most Correct, Amethyst. Orb of Tornami ICE!" Omi said, launching an ice barrage to freeze the ship. Garnet grabs the whip and began pulling it down. "You think you can take refuge here, well think again, you lost!" Garnet said as she summons her gauntlets "Now, Stay of the planet." Garnet about ready to attack when Raimundo step in front of the Gauntlet.
"WAIT!" Raimundo said. Garnet stops just short of Raimundo's face. "Steven is inside the machine." he said. Garnet looks to see Steven, cowering and preparing for a massive hit. Garnet realized this and breaks the pod open. "Steven?!" The Monk, Pearl and Amethyst said. "What the heck happened?!" Kimiko said. "You guys founded the escape pod and didn't report back immediately?" Pearl said. "Steven, this is unacceptable. I am very disappointed in you." Garnet said. Steven was tearing up. However, Raimundo found the courage inside of him. "Look, guys. I may have returned just a while back but you guys seem to be harsher on Steven than before." Raimundo said back. "And I'm not talk about the Monks, I'm talking to you 3." Raimundo added pointing at the Gems.
"What on earth are you talking about?" Pearl said. "Okay, yes, Steven should have brought it back but we all have a lot of stuff on our plate, especially Steven, and get this…he's a kid." Raimundo added. "Yea, besides from what we heard, him being abducted, being his mom, and what not, Steven got a lot on his mind and we wanted him to relax and have some fun." Sour Cream added, standing up with Raimundo. Jenny and Buck follow suit. "I'm sure whatever this thing is important but sometimes you need to cut a break on him." Jenny added. "Yea, and like Raimundo said, He's just a kid." Buck added. Raimundo smiles at the three of them. Pearl sighs. "I guess we were a bit harsh on Steven." Pearl said. "He and Raimundo did help us break out of the warship jail." Amethyst added. Garnet thinks a bit and finally has an answer. "Steven… you are ungrounded from TV." Garnet said with a slight smile. Steven runs up and hugs her.
A montage of photos later, we arrive back at the Beach house. The Monks and Gems help bring back the escape pod. Pearl began welding the two pieces back to one. Raimundo is taking a drink outside with Amethyst. "Man, I can't believe you stood up for Steven and in front of Garnet's gauntlet none the less." Amethyst said. "Sometimes, you got to roll with the…punches." Raimundo quips. Amethyst laughs a bit. "You got a good punch line there." Amethyst said. Raimundo chuckles. "Well, I was wanting to bring it back but the Cool kids convinced both of us otherwise. I apologize for that." "No need to." Garnet said walking outside. "Besides, it's good to stand up for yourself and Steven." She added. Raimundo smiles a bit. "Yea, I kinda want to make sure that Steven and I are comfortable with you guys and have great chemistry, even it mean calling out orders some time." Raimundo said. Garnet nods. Amethyst gives Raimundo a pat on his head. "You and I are going to be good friends, Raimundo." Amethyst said. "Well, to be honest, you were one of the reasons I came back." Raimundo said with a big smile. Amethyst blushes a bit. "I don't just care for Steven, I also care for you." Raimundo said. "In fact, I knew Wuya would not accepted you as an ally, same with Steven so I went on to decline Wuya's offer." Amethyst was taken aback from the and blushes from some more. "So… you care for me." Amethyst said. Raimundo nods. Amethyst hugs Raimundo and Raimundo hugs back.
End of Episode 2