A/N: Hello everyone, I am back with chapter twenty of this story. Here, the Off Colors and Lars train.
Disclaimer: I don't own Steven Universe
It was a beautiful, sunny day in Delmarva. In Beach City, life was going as normal as possible for a town that dealt with attacks from alien gems. Steven was eating breakfast when a knock came on the door. Steven raced over opening the door to find Lars and Connie.
"Hey guys." said Steven.
Steven led the two to the counter.
"Can I get you anything?" asked Steven.
"I'm good." answered Lars.
"I'll have juice." answered Connie.
Steven opened the fridge door.
"Actually, make it two." said Lars.
Steven grabbed two juice boxes and gave them to his friends. They put the straw in and drank.
"So Lars, are you nervous?" asked Connie.
Lars took a moment.
"I'm anxious." answered Lars honestly.
"You can drop out anytime you want." said Steven.
"I can't." replied Lars.
"Why not?" asked Steven concerned.
"I need to do this. There's no wussing out." answered Lars firmly.
"I won't stop you." said Steven.
"It might be hard at first, but you'll get used to it." said Connie.
"Thanks." said Lars.
The two finished their juice.
"The Off Colors are probably at the ruins already." noted Connie.
"Then let's go." said Lars.
Steven nodded unsure.
"Yeah. Let's go." said Steven.
The group headed to the ruins and sure enough the Off Colors where there. Pearl was there waiting.
"Good. It is time to begin." said Pearl.
"Steven, you wanna join us?" asked Connie.
"I'm fine." answered Steven.
Steven took a seat.
"Okay. You are here to train for combat. I will be your instructor and Connie my assistant." began Pearl.
"I've been in your shoes before so if you want to ask me anything, you ahead." said Connie.
"This will not be easy, but if you stay with it then you will become skilled fighter." said Pearl.
Pearl looked over the group.
"Who wants to go first?" asked Pearl.
Steven felt his heart skip.
"Hey Lars!" called Steven.
"What?" asked Lars confused.
"Wanted to say hi." answered Steven sheepish.
"Mr. Barriga, please focus." said Pearl.
"Sorry." replied Lars.
The Rutile Twins shared a nod.
"Pearl..." began Left Rutile.
"Yes?" asked Pearl.
"We'll go first." answered Right Rutile.
"Excellent." said Pearl.
Lars shot Steven a dirty look as Rutile walked to Pearl.
"Here." said Pearl.
Pearl handed Rutile a sword.
"Do you want it?" asked Left Rutile.
"You can take it." answered Right Rutile.
The Rutile twins looked at each other.
"Uh oh." said the Rutile twins in unison.
"Rutile will go first!" gasped Padparadscha.
Pearl rubbed her chin.
"I have an idea." said Pearl.
Pearl pulled out two blades from her gem.
"These are called Butterfly swords. They're meant to be wielded together." said Pearl.
"These are perfect." said Right Rutile.
"Thanks." said Left Rutile.
The Rutile Twins took the blades and trained under Pearl.
"Good start." said Pearl.
The Rutile Twins returned to the others,
"Who's next?" asked Pearl.
Lars began to raise his hand when Steven began to "sneeze" loudly.
"I will go." offered Fluorite.
Fluorite slowly made her way up.
"I don't know if you need weapons." said Pearl.
"That's why I am here." said Garnet.
Garnet walked up.
"Fluorite is next!" declared Padparadscha.
Lars patted Padparadscha on the head.
"Fluorite, I think it'd be best if you used your massive size to fight." said Garnet.
"How so?" asked Fluorite.
"Slam into enemies. Crush them with your body. Use your mass to your advantage." answered Garnet.
Garnet helped Fluorite practice slamming and crushing enemies.
"Well done." said Garnet.
"Um, I am a bit slow." noted Fluorite.
"You have friends here to help you." said Garnet.
"I understand." said Fluorite.
"Let's continue." said Pearl.
"Of course." agreed Fluorite.
"Okay." began Pearl, "Who is next?"
Steven began "coughing" loudly.
"Steven!" cried Lars.
"Rhodonite, you should go next." said Garnet.
"Me?!" asked Rhodonite terrified.
"We do need you to participate." answered Connie.
"You are part Ruby." noted Garnet.
"Oh." groaned Rhodonite.
"Plus, I don't know how well Padparadscha will do." said Pearl cautiously.
"You have a point there." admitted Rhodonite.
"Rhodonite is up next!" declared Padparadscha.
"I'll do it." agreed Rhodonite.
Rhodonite stepped forward.
"Here is your sword." said Pearl.
Pearl handled the sword to Rhodonite who was shaking.
"I'll help you with your stance." offered Garnet.
Garnet walked around Rhodonite.
"You have to keep your shoulders square." began Garnet.
Garnet gently placed her hands on the Rhodonite ad began to caress them.
"Then, spread your legs." continued Garnet.
Garnet put her right hand on the thigh on Rhodonite and slowly moved it.
"Um.." gulped Garnet.
"And keep your hips in place." said Garnet saucy.
Garnet placed her hands onto the hips of Rhodonite.
"Oh my stars." gasped Rhodonite, breathing heavy.
"Um Garnet, I think you're getting to handsy." noted Pearl.
Garnet took a moment and stepped back.
"Sorry. I got carried away." said Garnet.
Garnet backed off embarrassed and Pearl was able to teach Rhodonite.
"That was good." said Pearl impressed.
"It's her inner Ruby." said Garnet.
Rhodonite returned to the others.
"So, I guess we should try and teach Padparadscha.
Pearl nodded his head.
"Padparadscha, come over." said Pearl.
A minute passed by.
"I'm next!" gasped Padparadscha.
Padparadscha came over. Pearl pulled a combat knife from her gem which she handed to Padparadscha.
"Let's begin. said Pearl.
Pearl attempted to train Padparadscha, but her delayed reactions proved too much.
"I am so sorry. Padparadscha." said Pearl.
"It is okay." replied Padparadscha sadly.
"Padparadscha can help in a non-combat role." said Connie.
"That is a great idea!" declared Pearl.
Another minutes passed by.
"I'll do it!" declared Padparadscha excited.
Padparadscha returned to the others.
"Lars, you're last." noted Pearl.
"Finally." sighed Lars.
Lars walked over to Pearl.
"Here you are." said Pearl.
Pearl handed the sword to Lars.
"I'm gonna help you here." noted Connie.
Steven felt his pulse racing.
"I'm ready." said Lars.
"Keep your stance wide. Keep your body lowered." began Pearl.
Steven began sweating.
"Left foot. Right foot." said Connie.
Steven felt his stomach doing flips.
"I'm gonna puke." thought Steven.
Lars and Connie began dueling.
"Hey!" cried Steven.
Lars turned his attention to Steven allowing Connie to knock him over.
"Steven!" exclaimed Lars.
Lars jumped to his feet.
"What do you want?!" asked Lars angrily.
Steven thought for a moment.
"I just wanted to say we've been here a while." answered Steven.
"So." replied Lars.
Steven needed another second.
"You probably need to go home." said Steven hopeful.
"My parents know I'll be gone all day." revealed Lars.
"Did you tell them what you're doing?" asked Connie.
"After coming home a pink zombie, I felt there was no point not telling them." answered Lars.
"How did they react?" asked Connie.
"Worried, but they understood." answered Lars.
"Good to hear." replied Connie relieved.
"I'm sure Sadie would like to see you." said Steven.
"I'd love to be with her. But, I have to do this." replied Lars.
"Um..." began Steven.
Lars stamped his foot on the ground.
"Look, you've been bugging me all day and it's pissing me off!" screamed Lars angrily.
"I..." began Steven, voice breaking.
An emotional Steven raced off.
"Steven!" cried Connie upset.
Connie could only helplessly watch. Silence followed suit.
"Steven is going to run off upset!" cried Padparadscha.
Lars patted Padparadscha on the head.
"What are we doing?!" asked Pearl distressed.
Pearl was on the verge of tears.
"We have to family!" cried Pearl.
Garnet stopped Pearl.
"This isn't our issue." said Garnet.
"How can you say that?!" asked Pearl horrified.
"This is a job for Lars." answered Garnet.
"I know." sighed Lars
Lars took a deep breath.
"I'll talk to him." said Lars.
A/N: That is where we'll end this chapter. I wanted to focus more on the Lars/Steven issue than the actually training and I hope you guys are okay with that. Next time, Lars talks with Steven. Please review.