Connie and Steven leapt on Lion to Steven and Greg's van, after a successful training session. Steven hopped off and helped Connie down with a little, "My liege!"
Connie gave a tiny smile.
Steven tilted his head, "What's wrong?"
The girl shook her head, "I just can't get her words out of my head, Steven."
"Pearl…" Steven whispered knowingly. Connie had told him about the near-death experience. "It's okay, Connie! I'll protect you! I'll give her some of this!" He kicked to his left. "And a little bit of this!" He made a motion to shove, "And some of my boomerang shield!"
Connie smiled.
"Gee, I sure wish I could practice here." Steven sighed, "Then, when any Homeworld gems come, I can protect you and the Earth right away! I'll be ready!"
Connie had a sudden idea and turned to Lion, "Lion, may I please get something really quick?"
Her pet lowered it's head and Connie inhaled. She leapt in and soon came back out with a metal shield. She had polished the thing from the day she had found it along with her mother's scabbard. She knelt to Steven, "Hold your right hand up."
He did slowly.
"Now, repeat after me, I, Steven Demayo,"
"I, Steven Demayo,"
"pledge to protect my friend and jam bud, Connie Universe,"
"pledge to protect my friend and jam bud, Connie Universe,"
"as well as myself, when danger comes to Earth."
"as well as myself, when danger comes to Earth."
"I shall be the shield of Stevonnie, using this sacred item as it."
"I shall be the shield of Stevonnie, using this sacred item as it."
"This, I promise you."
"This, I promise you." Steven said truthfully. Connie smiled, "Then, I proclaim you my knight!"
Steven had stars in his eyes as he accepted the shield.
"It's from a fallen solider of my mother, it's very ancient and special, I want you to have it!" Connie explained, "You can practice at home now."
Steven gave a tiny squee in joy but then tried to hand it back, "No, I can't! It belongs to you."
Connie shook her head, giving it back, "We have to be ready for anything! Pearl, Sugilite… Those horrible fusion monsters,"
"If you insist." Steven blushed. Connie then held her hand up, "Now, repeat that pledge for me, replacing your name with mine, and shield with sword!"
Steven was about to start, when they heard a humming, "Caribbeana! Caribbeana!"
The boy gasped and shoved Connie into the van. "We can't let my dad find this shield!"
Connie gave a cry, not seeing her pet anywhere, "Lion? Where's Lion?!"
"No time!" Steven cried. He hopped in and slammed the door shut.
Greg soon opened the van to see Steven playing ukulele and Connie tapping her knee to the rhythm.
"Oh! Hey stuball!" Greg said happily, "I see you brought Connie along too!"
Connie smiled happily, "Hello, Mr, Demayo!"
Steven grinned, "Hello, daddyo! I was just showing Connie a new song I made, want to listen?"
"Oh, that sounds interesting, bud, but I'm pretty tired out today." Greg said, hanging his coat obliviously on the sword which Connie had propped up and covered in a hat. Steven sat nervously on the shield, "Long day at the carwash?"
"Oh yeah. This car I got to clean up today was huge!" Greg said. "But, I can't really find who dropped it off…" The man frowned, seeing the nervous children, "You kids okay?"
They nodded in unison.
"Okay…" Greg said. He then realized something, "Wait… when did we get that shiny chair?" He walked up and Steven shifted on the shield. "Son, are you hiding something from me?"
Steven laughed, sweat coming to his face, "No! I mean… uh…." Connie glanced it him. Steven gave a moan, "Dad, it's a shield! I'm sorry!" He showed the shield and Greg gasped, ""By jove! Steven!"
Connie bit her lip.
Greg shook his head, "Kids, swords and shields are really dangerous! Steven, where did you get this?" His phone suddenly rang and he answered, "Hey, I can't talk right now… I know! I promise I'll-... Okay, I'll be there soon." He hung up and looked at the kids. "Connie, I'm afraid you have to go home, I have a work emergency."
"Whhhhaaat?!" Steven gasped while Connie hung her head, "Understood, sir…. May I at least have my shield back? Please? It's very important."
The father hesitated, "I-I'm going to have to get a ok from your dad before I can, Connie. Surely you understand?"
"I would under any other circumstance, but I can't go home, it's so valuable to me."
Greg sighed, "Well, you're going to have to keep away from it for today. I'll call your dad tonight, sound good?"
Connie glanced at a sorry Steven, "Yes." She opened the van doors and hopped down.
"I'll walk you home." Steven said, going after her.
They waved goodbye to Greg as he closed the doors.
The kids sadly watched him drive off until a wet nose nuzzled Connie's arm. She turned to see Lion, "Lion? Where were you?!"
Steven gently pulled Connie away, "Sorry. Dad gets scared if I'm in any danger… even though I'm not here."
Connie nodded. "It's okay… I better get going home anyway, the Temps are probably worried-" She heard a gentle growl and turned back to Lion.
"What is it?" Connie asked.
The lion gave moan and seemed to look determined about something. He shoved his nose under her hand and he bent down so she would hop on.
"... Lion, I can't get the shield back until Dad gives the ok, you know that. Greg said to go home and I can't disobey-"
"Random lion ride!" Steven cried, hugging Lion before hopping on. Connie hesitated before getting on as well. Lion roared and transported them to the car wash.
They soon jumped down and Steven halted Lion before he tried to walk, "Whoa, buddy. If my dad was scared of Connie's shield, he'll have a heart attack seeing you! So, can you stay outside? Please?"
Connie was surprised to see Lion obey and lay down. He then looked at her with begging eyes and she gave a laugh, "Okay! Okay! You can have some Lion Lickers, but you gotta stay here!" She threw some Lion Lickers out of her pocket and Steven gave a gag, "Ew! Lion Lickers!?"
Connie gave a laugh, "It's the only thing he gets to do what I want, despite the irony of it."
Steven gave a mumble in agreement.
Connie giggled until she gave a sigh, "Remeber what we're here for, my knight. It is time to get serious." Connie said, putting her hands straight.
"Right, serious." Steven repeated, also doing the hand gesture. Connie got her sword from Lion and they ran up to "It's a Wash" doors.
"Yikes…" Steven murmured, as they walked in the visitor center. "I forgot how spooky this place can get after dark…"
They heard a sudden moan and Steven gasped, "What was that?!" He instinctively tried to grab Connie's hand but she already held her sword. She blushed, "Sorry, I just feel like I've heard that kind of moan before… and I don't think it's friendly." She sheathed her sword and took his hand, squeezing it for reassurance.
They suddenly heard a distant singing, and knew it must be Greg. Connie made a hush motion, and pulled Steven with her. They saw a gleam of light suddenly fill the room and ran to the window, seeing Greg try to move a covered car. Steven then gasped and pointed at the shield, which was leaning against a bucket full of soapy water.
They saw Greg struggling and sweating, still not able to move the thing. He gave a sigh and walked up to the glass door to the visitor center, not seeing Connie and Steven sneaking past him.
The two attempted to grab the shield many times, but the sudden moans from the car kept stopping them.
The door then opened and Greg ran in. He ripped the shield away, "Steven! Buddy, what are you two doing here? I know this shield technically belongs to you, Connie, but your dad is so concerned about safety, I can't even let a shield near you." He turned to his son, "Stuball, you know how much I need to look like a responsible parent, and I'm really trying…. I just wish your-"
They heard another moan and Connie unsheathed her sword, pointing it at the open garage door which had a shadowy mound darkening it.
"Connie! This is even worse!" Greg cried.
Connie stepped in front of the Demayos. "I'm sorry, but that thing is not a car, it's a fusion experiment!"
"A what?!" Greg gasped.
The monster had a beam of moonlight shine on it and Greg fell back in shock, breathing hard and trying not to faint. Connie saw the button to shut the door and slammed on it swiftly. The monster moaned in pain as it was pushed to the ground.
"That takes care of that one, for now." Connie huffed. She turned to see Greg had stepped in front of Steven, looking at Connie with worry, "I want to belevie you're good, but-"
"Dad! Connie is good! She and I are a team! You gotta gimme that shield!" Steven begged, pulling on it.
"Steven! Please, don't make this harder!" Greg moaned, "I'm trying to protect you!"
Steven made a pouty face when suddenly, the covered car started to move. Greg looked at it with suprise, "What the.."
Connie pointed her sword, Steven already standing firm behind her.
"Think it's a gem mutant?" Steven asked.
"I know it…" Connie said through gritted teeth. Steven gasped and ran from Connie who called out for him to wait.
"Dad! Dad, get away from there!" Steven begged, sliding in front of it.
Greg was about to uncover it, "What? Why?"
"PLEASE!" Steven cried, tears in his eyes.
The monster suddenly rose up behind him and Connie gasped as it grabbed Steven from behind.
"Steven!" Greg cried. Connie was suprised her hands didn't glow with power, but ran to the monster, sword drawn, "Get away from my liege!"
She tried to hit it with her sharp blade, but it threw her aside, making her hit a metal wall and nearly go unconscious.
Steven tried to run to her aid but he saw the other fusion monster had escaped and was going for his dad. Steven ran to his father who already beared a hose. Greg sprayed, keeping the thing away. Steven turned back to see Connie reaching for her sword as the other lurched to her.
"Dad! Connie's in danger! I can save her!" Steven yelled.
Greg tilted his head, "Since when?!"
Connie gave a strained yell, barely blocking the monster with her sword, "Mr. Demayo, your son has been training! He knows how to block a sword, monsters like these, he knows how to block the most skilled swordswoman I know!"
"But, I don't understand!" Greg cried.
Steven gave a sigh, "You're right, you don't! Did you even notice when I broke my arm a few months ago and the next night, I was able to grab my ukalale off it's hook?"
"I… I did, but I thought I was dreaming!" Greg insisted, "I… had to be! You're my son! I have to protect you! You're all I have! How would it even heal?"
"Because Connie has magic healing spit, Dad!And I drank her juice box!" Steven cried. Connie blushed behind him. "Ever since I've met Connie, she's been my best friend! She's super cool and has magic powers and can sword fight and has a lion! I didn't think I could help her, but I can now! Let me protect her! Let me protect you! So give me that shield!"
Greg sputtered and Steven tore the shield away. Connie gave a cry as she couldn't block it any longer, it crushing her to the wall. Steven slid in front of her, and blocked. Connie took the opportunity to stab it and poof it. Steven then flung his shield like a frisbee, and it slashed right into the other gem. Connie ran up and bubbled them both, sending them away to the temple.
A few minutes later, Connie, Steven, and Greg walked away from the wash.
"So you two have been trained to fight those monsters? That's… interesting." Greg whispered. He suddenly nearly walked into Lion and gave a yell. Steven ran to the animal and hugged it. "This is Connie's lion! He's so soft and he likes to get his belly rubbed! He's a cutie, isn't he?"
Greg gave a numb nod.
"Sorry I lied, Dad." Steven sighed. "It's just… when mom died, I was all you had, making us have such a strong bond…. I didn't want to break it by revealing how much I lied to you… I just didn't want you to be scared of this magic gem stuff, or worse, of Connie, and not let me be with her."
"It scares me more that you couldn't find it in you to tell me!" Greg cried. "Buddy, you're my world, and if… this," He gave the shield to Steven, "and that," The man pointed at Lion, "and… her," Connie had jumped at a slight noise and pointed her sword at a bush in instinct. "are part of your world? They're part of mine too. I love you, son."
"I love you too, daddio."
Connie glanced to her sword and then at her chest. She hugged herself.