"Water… I need water." Connie said, crawling on the ground.

"Connie, it'd be safer if you stood." Peridot groaned.

"But I'm one with nature!" Connie huffed.

They were in a hot desert cover with dunes, but structures were being made from the sand, and that couldn't happen.

"Is this the place?" Connie asked as they saw a castle made of sand.

"Yes." Jasper said. "The power in the structures have grow out of control."

"It's building columns with no roofs, stairs that go nowhere, it must be stopped." Peridot said.

"Let's go! This lack of water is spiking up my nerves." Lapis said.

There was a sudden roar and Connie jumped. "Did… did you guys here that?!"

"I did, but it would still be safer if you stay out here." Jasper said.

"But-"

"We'll go as fast as we can." Peridot said.

"There's nothing here that can hurt you, Connie!See you soon." Lapis said, ruffling the girl's hair. They then left.

Connie sighed and sat down next to a pillar. "It's. So. Desert." She said, putting her head in her arms. There was a sudden roar. "What was that?" She looked around. "Nothing can harm me… Nothing can harm me…" She whispered again and again.
She suddenly spotted a figure with glowing eyes and squealed. She hid behind a column.

"Good thing this was here…" The column disintegrated. She saw the shadow once more and heard growling. A bright, very bright yellow lion approached her. "No… no! No! No!" Connie cried. She backed into a solid sand wall. Connie prepared to
be attacked but the lion simply yawned and laid down. Connie slowly walked to it. "D-don't bite me…" She whispered. Her trembling hand grazed the lion's nose and she realized it was harmless, or it didn't want to harm her at least.

"Aw, you just wanted attention. Didn't you, didn't you?" The girl laughed, petting him. "Your mane, it's so soft." She buried her face in his mane. "So, you from around here, I guess. I'm just here on business." She climbed on Lion. "I really like
your yellow fur. It so bright, you're like the sun!" Lion shifted, knocking Connie off. She climbed on again. "I always wanted an animal friend. But I thought it would be like a goldfish. Or a dog… But I guess fate had other plans for Connie Universe."
Lion put his paw over her. "... and her best friend Lion." Connie whispered.

There was a sudden blast of sand covered them. They heard voices.

"Lapis! Bubble it, now!" Peridot cried.

"It's mine now! I destroyed the monster guarding it." Lapis said, holding the Desert Glass.

"If you drop it, it will rebuild everything!" Peridot growled.

"Jasper, Peri, and Lapis are back! Look professional!" Connie whispered.

"CONNIE! THERE'S A LION BEHIND YOU!" Peridot screeched. The gems summoned their weapons.

"Stop! He's tame! I promise." Connie cried.

"Huh, impossible!" Peridot huffed.

"Are you okay, kid?" Jasper asked. "Cool lion, by the way."

"Thanks! Look, I taught him to say "I love you!" Connie moved Lion's mouth with her hands. "I love you!" She said, pretending it came from Lion.

"That is adorable!" Lapis squealed. "I-I love you too, Lion!"

"Gross. Get your hands out of that thing's mouth. We have to get the Desert Glass out of the desert." Peridot glared at Lapis. "I got it." The woman sighed.

"Come on, Connie." Jasper said, motioning for her to come. "Okay, give me a sec." Connie whispered. The gems walked away.

"Hey Lion, I gotta go. I had a lot of fun, I feel like you really get me." The lion stared at her blankly. "Shh, this is already too hard for the both of us!" Connie said with tears in her eyes.

Connie was back at home, Lapis was asleep. They were in a pillow fort with the Desert Glass at the top. There was a sudden noise and Connie sprung up. "What was that?" Lapis shoved Connie over. "Hush, Connie, all I can hear… is your mouth…"

"I thought gems didn't need sleep." Connie whispered, going closer to Lapis.

"We don't… but I like it." Lapis yawned.

Connie heard the scratching again and got up. She went to the door and opened it. Lion was there!

"Lion?! How… This is such a surprise! You came all this way to see me?" Connie gasped. Lion tried to go in but Connie blocked his path.

"Whoa! You can't go in there! Lapis is pretend sleeping." Connie explained. "But that's okay, we're together again. Now we can do everything best friends do."

Connie stood at the cliff while Lion was below her. "Ready, Lion? I'm gonna jump! Get in position!" She was about to jump but hesitated. Lion made no move to catch her. "Catch me!" She yelled. "I'm falling!"

The lion didn't move. "Lion, I'm gonna die if I keep falling and you don't catch me!" Connie cried. "Ugh. This isn't gonna work."

Connie had a ball in her hand and threw it. Lion didn't move. "That throw was so good! Lion, all you gotta do is catch it in your mouth!" Connie cried. "Aw, you don't like that one either?" Lion began to walk away but Connie blocked him. "Okay,
wait, I've got something you've gotta like!"

They were at Fish Stew Pizza.

"Fish Stew Pizza. Cats love fish, everybody loves pizza, so you're gonna love this!" Connie cried. "Wait here, we're gonna blow some minds."

She went in and saw only Onion and Ronoldo. She walked to the counter. "Hi Kiki! I'm just getting some pizza! Large, extra fishy pizza, please!"

"Wow, you're hungry, aren't you?" Kikilaughed.

"I'm ordering for two." Connie blushed.

Ronaldo did a spit take. "Connie's pregnant?! You're too young!"

Connie frowned. "Um… no. I have a pet Lion outside though!"

"You're not "lion" are you?" Kiki asked with a grin.

Connie giggled then shook her head. "Nope!"

"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!" Ronaldo showed off his buttons.

"Just go outside and see for yourselves." Connie shrugged. Everyone ran out and Connie nodded in approval. "Amazing! It's invisible!"

She then ran out and saw Lion was gone. "What?! He's not invisible! He's bright yellow!"

"How can he be really bright yellow if he's invisible?!" Ronaldo growled.

There's nothing out here Ronaldo, Connie was "lion"." Kiki sighed. "Sorry for using the same pun twice." Connie watched her go inside. "I bet you're not even pregnant…" Ronaldo stomped inside. "No, I'm telling the truth, he's real!" Connie
cried. She turned to the little boy Steven had introduced her to. "Onion, you believe me right?" The glare the child gave made shivers go down her spine.

Connie ran back to the beach house and saw Lion scratching at the door. "Lion! You left me at the pizza place, I looked like a fool! I had to eat a whole pizza by myself!"

Lion suddenly broke open the door. "Lion! Stop!" Connie yelled. Lion saw the Desert Glass and a wave came from his mouth that slammed Lapis and the glass back. Lapis awoke and gasped. "Connie?! What is that lion doing here?!" She cried.

"Is this what you want, Lion?!" Connie yelled, grabbing the pillow. "I've been trying to play with you, and feed you, because I thought we were best friends. Did all of that mean nothing to you?!" Lion came closer but Connie ran out the
door. Lapis stared for a moment in shock then got up. "Jasper! Peridot! We need help!"

Connie ran out and suddenly tossed the pillow onto the sand. "Connie, no!" Lapis screamed, but it was too late.

The sand on the beach started to shake and build the structures again, just as Peridot predicted. The other Crystal Temps ran out. "No, no, no! The Desert Glass is rebuilding its castle!" Peridot cried. "Lapis-"

"All I can say is I wasn't thinking clearly, I'm really tired…"

"WE'RE COMING, CONNIE!" Jasper yelled. The girl had ran to the beach immediately after she saw her mistake and was now caught in a sandstorm…

She pushed her way to the point and saw the Desert Glass. "I gotta get that glass!" Connie jumped from many pillars, each crumbling as she leapt away.

"We have to get to Connie, but this wall is indestructible!" Jasper cried in anger.

Lapis made her wings appear and glanced back at her friends. "I'll find her, and I'll bring her and the Desert Glass back!" She flew away.

Connie almost slipped on one hearing a familiar voice call out, "CONNIE!" She looked up to see Lapis flying over her. "Grab my hand!" Lapis cried, shoving her hand out. Connie jumped for it but she couldn't reach. Connie went tumbling to her doom
but something caught her.

"L-lion?!" She cried. The lion nodded up to her after saving her. "You didn't come to steal the glass! You came to protect us from it!" Connie gasped in surprise. "The glass is over there! We have to get it, but I don't know how." Connie whispered.
Suddenly, the lion roared his magic roar and some of the sand spikes disappeared. "That'll work!" Connie laughed. Lion created a path and sprinted up it. "Go! Go! Go!" His mistress cried. "We're almost there, boy!" They broke through the final wall
and Connie snatched the glass away.

The sand structures disappeared almost immediately and Lion landed roughly. Connie flung off, right into Jasper's arms.

"Hi Connie, you have some explaining to do." Jasper said with a eyebrow raised.

Peridot took the Desert Glass and bubbled it.

Lapis blushed. "Sorry…"

"You are… pardoned." Peridot sighed.

"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 girls." Connie sighed to Lion. She then moved Lion's lips, "I love you Connie! I want to stay with you forever!"
Connie gasped. "Oh, really?! Well, that's great! Guys, did you hear that?" The gems looked at each other.

"Are we really going to let her keep a lion?" Peridot sighed.

"We kept Lapis." Jasper teased.

Peridot took a second then realized the joke. "Ha, ha, ha! Kept Lapis!" Peridot laughed loudly while Lapis glared. "THAT WAS AMAZING!" Peridot cried, rolling on the ground with tears of laughter.

"Yay, Lion!" Connie squealed. She made the lion wink. "Wink!"