"Okay, everything's going to be okay." Matthew chanted as he made his way to Steven's home, the sound of sand getting stepped on with each step he took keeping in a steady monotonous rhythm as he neared the house.

Looking down to his wrist he saw the time had just turned to 11:00, knowing that his training would be starting at noon Matthew wanted to be early, to set a good first example for Pearl, Steven, and especially Connie whenever she would be arriving.

Thinking on just who Connie was left Matthew curious, would both he and her become just as friendly as everyone else, would he say or do something to annoy her?

Pulling himself away from such worries Matthew couldn't help but needlessly adjusting his backpack, the small snacks and drinks that he brought for himself was a good distraction as he kept on getting closer to his destination.

After a few more minutes of walking Matthew saw the small dirt path as he cleared the rocky corner and was surprised to see that Greg's van was parked just beside the pathway.

As he walked past the van Matthew let out a relieving breath as he knew that another friendly familiar face would be there. As he jogged up the hill and stairs Matthew made his way towards the door, but was surprised when he heard the voice of Steven and Pearl talking with a third unknown voice.

As he slowed his pace down to a halt Matthew stood beside the door, taking a deep breath in and then out Matthew drew on whatever determination he could muster and reached out to the doorknob.

Gingerly opening the door Matthew was greeted by excited faces as Steven and Pearl stood there with a younger girl.

"Matthew, hey buddy!" Called our Greg who was sitting off in the kitchen on the stools.

"Uhh, um...hi." Matthew greeted awkwardly, looking to Greg and giving him a light wave hello he looked towards Steven and who he guessed was Connie.

"Hi Matthew!" Steven called out as he waved, his excitement visible for everyone to see he ran to the baffled insurance salesman with Connie fallowing just behind him.

"I'm so happy that you two finally get to meet, Connie this is Matthew!" Steven said introducing her to Matthew,

"And Matthew, this is Connie!"

Looking down to the girl Matthew's first response was one that he had used many times in the past.

"Hello, my name is Matthew Corals." Matthew said rigidly, to everyone else this readily apparent that something was wrong, but to Matthew plenty of thoughts ran through his head.

'I hope I don't mess this up.'

'What if I embarrass myself?'

'If she's been training longer than me does that make her an assistant manager?'

As these winding thoughts spiralled out of control and no one in front of him knew what was happening it was Greg who stepped up from his seat and made his way to Matthew.

"Whoa Matthew, what's wrong?" As Greg made his way to the young, nearly hyperventilating man, he placed a hand softly on his shoulder and looked to Matthew with concern.

"I-I..." As Matthew stood there, lost looking for what to say next, he looked down to Steven and Connie, and then to Pearl before taking in a deep calming breath.

"I'm, I'm sorry." Matthew said shaking, his voice still racking in its sense of nervousness, he looked to Pearl before continuing on.

"I'm not entirely sure if I'm ready for today, I was planning on being as much of a positive influence I could be by showing up early..." trailing off Matthew's shoulder fell as a sense of defeat began to form slightly.

"But I really shouldn't be trying so hard on my first day...I'm sorry." As Matthew let out his worries for the room to see his torso fell forwards as he stood in a floor facing bow, the weight of self-defeat pulling him down as he waited for someone to speak up, even to possibly chastise him for making a fool of himself.

After several second of silence as Greg stood behind the poor man, not sure as what to even tell him about Gem training or even true Gem etiquette all he could do was stand there speechless.

"It's okay." Hearing this everyone except for Matthew looked to who spoke up.

"I know how nerve racking it can be to be involved in all this." As Matthew heard this heh began to lift his gaze to see that it was Connie who spoke up, a friendly smile catching Matthew off guard as he stood there in an awkward bow.

"I know that it feels like this is all too good to be true, and that it feels like that everything's happen all at once." As Connie stood there, pausing for just a moment as if thinking what to say next Matthew began to stand up fully, pulling himself up to his full height he looked down to Connie as she spoke up once more.

"I know that it feels like you can't do this, and that this is all too much for you to handle, but it's not." As Connie stood there with Steven standing beside her Steven's expression change from deep worry to cheerful confirmation as a generous smile formed.

"I'd have to agree with we her Matthew." Greg piped up giving Matthew a weighty pat on his shoulder, being taken by surprise Matthew looked to Greg as he shared the same smile that his son wore.

"Yeah, after everything that I've seen happen yesterday I just knew that you'd be amazing if Pearl taught you have to actually fight!" Steven cheered lightly giving a playful left hook through the air.

"I-I..." Pausing for a moment to fully realize the amount of support he was receiving Matthew took a second to compose himself, the constant self doubt that he felt for himself for so long slowly lifting, though not entirely disappearing it receded into the back of his mind to hopefully stay forever.

"I'm sorry...I guess this really wasn't the ideal way to start off the day, and I'd hate to let you all down by giving up before I'd even started so..." trailing off Matthew let out a deep breath as his shoulders eased as his gaze fell to the floor.

But before anyone could speak up Matthew took in an excited breath as stood up to his full height, his shoulders rose with confidence and a cheerful adamant smile was clearly shining on his face as his eyes shone like stars.

"Lets get rolling!" Hearing this Steven and Connie cheered on with Matthew's newfound vigor, while Greg who stood behind the young man this entire time let a relieving sigh as whatever was bugging Matthew had thankfully passed, but out of the friends that stood there with him it was Pearl who still stood silently.

Noticing this this Matthew looked to where Pearl stood and he saw her standing there, her hands clasped together speechless and wide eyed, clearly taken back at what had just happened she finally spoke up.

"That was wonderful, the dedication and heart that you both have shown makes me think, no, makes me absolutely certain that the both of you will be fantastic students!"

After hearing this Matthew looked at Pearl with a shared expression of excitement, with this though Matthew clenched both hands into fists and stood confidently keeping his gaze on the Gem.

"I promise that I'll try and make you proud, all of you." As Matthew made his pledge shared an confirming glance with Pearl, both knowing full well that he had meant everything his focus what change as soon as another voice spoke up.

"Me too!" Looking down he saw that Connie shared his determination as she stood with an aura of confidence.

"I know I might be a little further along than Matthew, but that doesn't mean I'll be slowing down." As Pearl stood there overflowing with pride in her two student she caught her voice in her throat, narrowly catching it before she could choke up her words she steadied herself and looked to both humans and clearly spoke up.

"Ohh I just can't wait, I am absolutely confident that you'll take to your training like a moth to flame." Cheering excitedly Pearl turned around and began to make her way to the warp pad.

"Hurry you two, we can't let such a perfect day go to waste." She called out to her two student, hearing this though Connie and Matthew perked up after being called upon and made their way to Pearl's sides.

As the three made their way onto the platform Steven quickly rushed up to them calling for Pearl to wait for him.

After making t onto the warp pad with the rest of them Greg waves at the four as Pearl looked around to make sure everything was in order before looking to Matthew, and giving him a nod.

Wordlessly Matthew nodded back as he knew what was about to happen.

Then as each of them stood there the same same high pitch noise that the warp pad made started up as light began to surround them, but before the wall of light could block out the world around them Matthew looked to Greg and gave an energetic grin before returning a wave back to him.

"Have fun!" Greg shouted out to them as a blinding light fully surrounded them and took them away.