"You've got to be kidding me."
"Sorry Ben, but two weeks are the longest I could take off my studies. The finals are coming up and I've-"
"Come on, screw the finals! You're Gwen, you can learn all that stuff at a glance."
"Gwen-do-lyn." – Gwen sternly corrected him.
"Yeah, what-e-ver." – Ben waved it away. "Come on, we were having fun!"
Gwen sighed. "Sorry, Ben, but no-can-do. Me and Kevin will hang out with you more during spring break, I promise."
"Kevin? Come on, can't you convince her?" – Ben asked him in one last desperate attempt.
"Sorry, Ben. The lady does what the lady wants." – Kevin told him, as if he was sharing some sort of deep wisdom.
"What about you? You're staying, though, right?" – Ben hopefully asked him.
"I also do what the lady wants." – Kevin told him.
"Oh, come on! It can be the three of us, me, you and Rook! A roadtrip with the bros. In space!"
"That's all we ever do anyway, Ben." – Kevin pointed out. "But I've gotta get back to the garage. If I don't check up on there every once in a while, Argit's gonna get some ideas." – Kevin sighed.
"Fine, nobody needed your whipped butt anyway." – Ben snapped at him. "It's just me and Rook on our cosmic road trip now. After all, we ARE the ones that recreated the whole entire universe!"
"Ben." – Rook intervened. He wasn't going, either.
"Oh, for the love of…"
"I'm sorry, Ben, but we must get back to our Plumber duties now."
"You didn't have a problem with your Plumber duties for the past 2 weeks!" – Ben protested.
"Those were my vacation days." – Rook flatly said.
"Can't we go on for a little bit longer? I'm sure Grandpa Max would be fine with it!"
"Ben. I'm a Plumber Magister now. It would be unbecoming of me to miss work for such a reason. And it is unbecoming of you, too." – Rook lectured him.
"Unbecoming this, unbecoming that." – Ben waved his hand, ignoring everything he just said. "Technically, I'm not even an official officer, remember? I'm just deputized."
"While that is true-" – Rook tried to say, but Ben interrupted him.
"And I don't actually have to act like one."
"I would advise you to-"
"I mean, come on!" – Ben interrupted him again. "Look at all the amazing stuff we've seen on the trip so far! You mean to tell me you would have ever witnessed the birth of a to'kustar in a cosmic storm anywhere else? And you wanna call it quits now? Can't I at least keep Zed for a while?" – Ben asked Kevin as he pet Zed on the head and back. Zed playfully licked his face.
"No way." – Kevin told him.
Rook looked at Gwen and Kevin, hoping that they would back him up and help him convince Ben to drop the road trip.
"Forget it." – Gwen shook his head. "When he gets going, there's no stopping him."
"Well, Ben, if you wish to continue on the road trip alone, neither I nor your grandpa can stop you." – Rook finally told Ben with regret.
"So, you're leaving me alone on this?" – Ben asked the three of them.
"Yes, now get the hell off of my ship." – Kevin told him nonchalantly.
"Kevin!" – Gwen bumped him on the shoulder lightly, but sternly.
"Alright, alright, PLEASE get the hell off of my ship." – Kevin corrected himself with a sly grin.
"No! It's late. Ben, we'll drop you off at Bellwood." – Gwen offered.
"No, I don't want to go back to Bellwood. The whole point of the road trip is that I'm supposed to be away from Bellwood. Going back home would defeat the whole purpose of going on a trip in the first place!" – Ben pointed out. "Not that you guys would know." – he commented. "Wait, where the heck are we right now, anyway?"
"Nav says Empire City." – Kevin looked at the ship's dashboard.
"EMPIRE CITY?! Kevin, come on! This is where we met, remember? Don't you wanna retread old grounds?" – Ben turned back to Kevin.
"How could I forget?" – Kevin said with a nostalgic smile. "Didn't we get chased by helicopters after stealing that videogame?" – he reminisced, but then Gwen nudged him with her elbow. "I mean, we can go down memory lane about me trying to kill you some other time."
"You did what with that videogame?" – Rook repeated, slightly alarmed at the activities Ben and Kevin had done, but got ignored.
"Whatever." – Ben said again, annoyed, and got out of the Rust Bucket III, which had transformed itself to look like an RV.
"Bye, Ben!", "Later!", "See ya!" – Gwen, Rook and Kevin waved him goodbye. "Arf!" – Zed barked with them.
"So long, guys! And thanks for NOTHING!" – Ben yelled and turned his back as they drove off. They really left him to go on alone. "So, does Empire have a Mr. Smoothies?" – Ben wondered to himself as he looked around the golden lights of the big city with his hands in his hoodie pockets.
He had been driving for hours. Just a little longer, and he'd arrive at his first destination. Empire City. He had been so anxious about leaving the Gems, he still could barely contain himself in his seat. It's like nervousness was bubbling and boiling up inside him, and three times already he's had to pull over and walk around to shake the feeling off. But even though that was what had him agitated, he'd be lying to himself if he said that he wasn't excited about this. For he was Steven Universe, and for the first time in his life, he was his own man. Nothing to stop him from discovering his true identity. He felt like had been anchored to Beach City all his life, and only now was he cut off to explore the ocean.
Just then, a realization hit him, and it hit him so hard that he lost control of the car and hastily had to pull over to avoid an accident.
He was exploring the open sea, but what if he couldn't swim? What if he couldn't make it on his own? Wouldn't that be embarrassing, driving back to Beach City with his head hung low the very next day because he got lost in the big city? He'd turn into a giant pink monster all over again, this time out of embarrassment.
"Do NOT think about that." – he told himself, as firmly as he could. "Or maybe I should think about it." – he then thought. "If I normalize it, I'll finally stop worrying about it, right?" – he asked himself.
Though, he also knew that that was the last of his worries right now. He was supposed to meet the bed-and-breakfast host in 20 minutes, and if he didn't get a place to stay in Empire City of all places – that'd be the first defeat in his "independent life", and others would be sure to follow.
"Okay, don't panic. Remember the techniques." Steven started breathing heavily and looked around to name all the objects in his vicinity. That usually helped to calm him down.
Oh. There were buildings all around him, and the big ones were just up ahead. He was already in Empire City, just too preoccupied with his troubled thoughts to notice it before.
"Whoa."
He felt anxiety building up again. The city was too much for him. It was almost as bad as the pink energy outbursts, though he had enough self-control not to let them manifest anymore. He felt like he couldn't stay within the small confines of the Dondai, so he unbuckled the safety belt and opened the door. He needed to breathe, and for that, he had to get out. Out, away, and UP!
He was now high in the sky, almost hanging in the air thanks to his decelerated gravity. He thought getting off that seat for a bit would help, but with not even firm ground to stand on, he was feeling completely vulnerable. This metropolis would eat him whole and spit him back to Beach City, and he could forget about all the other destinations that were supposed to come after. The nervousness enveloped him from all directions and he felt himself drowning.
"Oh gosh, I really can't swim!" – he thought to himself. He tried to descend to at least have a leg to stand on, but he found himself unable to do even that. So, the only thing he could do was to watch the city below him.
He wasn't surrounded by skyscrapers from every direction – he hadn't made it that far into the city yet, that would come ahead. Instead, he could see residential buildings all around. Then far ahead, he noticed an explosion. Something was wrong. People might have gotten hurt.
Instinctively, he immediately descended back to his car and forgetting all of his insecurities, drove towards the disturbance. His determination to help others immediately drove all insecurities away.
Soon, Steven saw before him a large rhino-looking creature rampaging on the road, knocking cars around and heading towards his direction. It was decked out with thick armor plates all over its body. People were all leaving their cars and running off the road to get out of its way. Whatever it was, it didn't look like a gem.
"Hey! Hey, you!" – Steven called after it, but it ignored him. Maybe it was like a mutant rhino? As it trampled another car, Steven had no other choice but to summon his shield and throw it at the attacker.
As the shield made contact, the rhino creature flinched.
"Ow! Hey, stop that!" – it yelled at Steven.
"So you can talk." – Steven concluded. "You stop messing up the cars first! You're scaring people and destroying property!"
"I don't care!" – the rhino roared. A laser activated in his horn and blasted another car, which was sent up in the air and toppled over.
"I'm serious!" – Steven tried to warn him, but got ignored. With no other choice left, he ran up to the rhino guy and punched him with a bubble knuckle. He had been somewhat rusty, not having participated in combat ever since that fight with Jasper… but this was enough. The opponent staggered back, which was impressive, given his size over Steven's.
"Hey! I told you to mind your own business!" – the rhino yelled in frustration, then decided to charge at him instead of the cars to take his anger out. A pair of jet boosts activated on his back, propelling him at high speed right towards Steven. Steven summoned a bubble around him, then got knocked away once the bubble was hit. It crashed into someone's car, but thankfully, it was already vacant.
The rhino then activated its horn laser again, this time directed at Steven. Steven had to summon his shield to reflect it away again.
"What are you even trying to accomplish here?!" – Steven yelled from behind the cover.
"I don't wanna talk about it!" – the rhino groaned.
"I'm sure you don't wanna get beaten up, either!" – Steven kept trying to reason with him. He then de-summoned the shield and ran towards the rhino.
"Well, what if I do?" – the big guy responded as he charged for Steven.
"Well, that's really not a healthy way of dealing with wh-" – Steven was explaining, but then got hit in the face and knocked back into the same car again.
"Who the hell are you, anyway, to tell me how I feel?" – the rhino yelled at him after getting up on his hind two feet. "I'm pissed and I wanna wreck something. Either shut up and fight or get out of the way!"
"Well, I can't just let you do it in the middle of the city! People might get hurt!" – Steven kept reasoning while the rhino activated its horn again. "What did they ever do to you to deserve it?"
"Well, what did I ever do to Subdora?" – the rhino roared as it shot another laser at Steven, which Steven deflected right back at him again.
"Nice one, Steven!" – Steven heard someone say from above. A red streak flew overhead and shot green lasers at the rampaging rhino.
"Um, do I know you?" – Steven asked, confused. From their casual tone, it seemed like they knew Steven, but it was the first time Steven was seeing them.
"It's me, Ben." – the flying creature told him as it approached.
"Oh, I didn't recognize you."
"Yeah, haven't used this one in a while." – Jet Ray explained. "Now come on, let's take on Exo-Skull together!" – he said as he kept shooting lasers at the rhino creature.
"Wait, Ben, don't shoot him! I think I was gonna get through to him!" – Steven tried to intervene, but he was too late.
"TENNYSON?! No way am I gonna go back to a Plumber cell!" – Exo-Skull yelled, knocked Jet Ray right into Steven and charged away at full speed. Jet Ray and Steven got knocked back against that same car again, which blew up this time and knocked them both up. A couple minutes later Steven came to and got up from under Ben, who had been knocked back into human form. Ben got up too.
"What was with that guy?" – Steven asked him.
"Alien criminal, goes by the name of Exo-Skull. Big, stupid and charges at things." – Ben quickly explained.
"He seemed upset."
"No kidding. Didn't even look like he stole anything, just went on a rampage."
"So, should we go after him, or…"
"Yeah, hold on." – Ben told him and got his phone. "Hey, Gwen, I- Yeah, I just fought him on- Well, why don't you and Rook go after it, since he wants to be all responsible and stuff? Fine, well maybe I will!" – Ben then yelled into his phone and hung up.
"What was that all about?" – Steven asked Ben.
"It's all taken care of." – Ben said confidently and waved his hand to the side. "The Plumbers will pick Exo-Skull up in no time."
"What's gonna happen to him?" – Steven said, unsure.
"He'll get sent back to HQ. It's all good. That is… until he breaks out of his jail cell and goes on another crime spree."
"Seriously?" – Steven was unimpressed.
"What?"
"You don't see anything wrong with what you just said?"
"Okay, I admit Plumber HQ needs better security, I've been telling them that for the past year, but…"
"That's not what I mean. Maybe if we figure out what he was so upset about, he won't go on a rampage again." – Steven suggested.
"But he will eventually!" – Ben protested.
"If you keep doing it the Ben way, he will. This time, let's try to gonna do it the Steven way. Come on, we'll have to find him before the Plumbers take him away."
"Fine, fine. As long as you don't start singing at him." – Ben told him as he got into Steven's car. Steven rolled his eyes.
Before Ben got into the car, he picked up his cell. "Hey, Rook, it's me. Listen, do NOT engage with Exo-Skull, me and a friend are taking care of it, and it's better if we do it without interference. Okay?" – he said while getting in. Rook complied.
Ben looked around in Steven's Dondai Supremo. It was surprisingly spacious on the inside. Had a funky smell, though. He noticed that Steven had a photo of Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl taped on the driver's side sunblock.
"So what have you been up to?" – Steven asked Ben after they got back on the road.
"Oh, not much. Went to the beginning of time and saved the universe from an evil chronosapien who plotted to recreate it in his own image." – Ben said, completely casually as a humble brag.
"Wow!" – Steven said in awe.
"Something Exo-Skull was an accomplice in, by the way." – Ben said to prove his point. "So, after re-creating the universe, I decided to go on a trip to explore the place. It's pretty cool out there."
"What a coincidence!" – Steven said, surprised. "I'm on a road trip too!" – he pointed out.
"Really? You're going around the gem colonies to help keep the peace?" – Ben asked him excitedly.
"No, not really. This is more like a personal road trip for me. The plan is to go around exploring the United States, and try to discover myself on the way."
"Oh, alright. Wait, what about Little Homeworld?" – Ben inquired. "Don't they need you there?"
"I think it's in good hands with the Crystal Gems. But after the whole… wait, do you know about the incident?" – Steven asked Ben.
"That time you turned into a giant pink kaiju? Yeah, I was there with the Plumbers in their ships, ready to step in if anything got too bad. But, Grandpa Max figured this was more of a personal issue that should stay among your close friends, so we kept our distance." – Ben explained. "But, we did catch a glimpse of the Diamonds themselves from far away. Wait, take that exit." – he then pointed out as Exo-Skull's trail of destruction got off the highway.
"Yeah. So, after that whole thing, I figured it was time for me to leave the gems behind, at least, for a while, and go on an independent journey. But…" – Steven paused, and got ready to admit it out loud. To Ben, and to himself. "…it's kinda terrifying. I've never really been on my own before."
"Come to think of it, I've never been on my own either. I've always had Grandpa, or Gwen and Kevin, or Rook with me." – Ben told him. "I mean, I'd rather have someone to share the memories with, you know, but…"
At that moment, Steven stopped the car. Exo-Skull had left the road completely and now his trail followed the trampled field in the tall grass. Ben and Steven decided to get out of the car. Ben pressed the dial on the Omnitrix and then hit it, turning into XLR8.
"Yes! Exactly who I wanted!" – Ben exclaimed. "Come on. Hop on." – he then told Steven.
"On your back?" – Steven asked, unsure.
They heard a noise overhead, and saw the Rust Bucket III flying high in the air in the same direction as Exo-Skull was headed.
"Yes! Do you want to find him before the Plumbers do or what?" – XLR8 told him. He complied and they were off.
"So, what's your plan? Or is the Steven way making it up as we go along?" – XLR8 asked his passenger.
"He mentioned someone named Subdora. Do you know why would he be upset about them?" – Steven told Ben.
"Subdora? That's his girlfriend/partner-in-crime!" – Ben pointed out. "You think they broke up?"
"Maybe he proposed and freaked her out." – Steven thought to himself, though didn't say out loud. "That must be it!" – he told Ben instead.
"Well, what are you suggesting we do? Send them to couples counseling?" – Ben remarked sarcastically. Steven didn't respond. "Wait, you seriously don't mean that, do you?"
"It beats what you were gonna do, toss him in a cage and throw away the key." – Steven responded.
"I'd rather toss him in a hole and throw away the hole, but yeah." – XLR8 remarked. "Fine, we'll try it your way."
"Alright. Stop for a moment." – Steven told him. He then hopped off XLR8's back and leaped high into the air again to see where Exo-Skull was.
"He's close up ahead." – Steven told Ben after he landed. "Maybe you should wait back here a bit. I'll try to reason with him."
Ben de-transformed and followed, but kept his distance.
"Hey! Exo-Skull!" – Steven called after him. Exo-Skull stopped charging.
"You're that kid again. Tennyson's friend!" – Exo-Skull realized. "Listen, I'm not bothering anyone anymore, so can't you just leave me alone?"
"I just wanna help you! Work with me here!" – Steven told him.
"Forget it! Just beat it till I get mad again!" – Exo-Skull groaned.
"Listen, Exo-Numbskull, Steven here is the only one keeping the Plumbers from hauling away your sorry butt back to prison, so you might want to listen to what he's saying!" – Ben yelled as he stuck his head out from behind the tall grass. Steven facepalmed.
"I thought you were gonna let me do the talking." – Steven whispered over to him sternly.
"Tennyson? I knew it! You Plumbers don't have anything on me! I got released officially! Chadzmuth saw to it!"
"Chadzmuth? One day I'm gonna get my hands on that twerp and I'll-"
"Who's Chadzmuth?" – Steven asked.
"Never you mind. WELL, WHAT ABOUT THE HAVOC YOU CAUSED ON THE ROAD?!" – Ben then yelled over at Exo-Skull.
"I'm sorry, okay? I got a little temperamental, so sue me."
"Oh, they're gonna sue you alright. Who else is gonna pay for the damages?" – Ben yelled back at him, but Steven interrupted him.
"What happened with you and Subdora? Do you wanna talk about it?"
"Do I look like I wanna talk about it?" – Exo-Skull irritably yelled. Steven didn't say anything, but Exo-Skull calmed down anyway. "But I guess I gotta do it sooner or later." – Exo-Skull sat down on the ground, or rather, slammed down.
"Why don't you tell us what happened?" – Steven approached him warmly.
"Let me guess. You're too brutish and she's too graceful and your conflicting methods of criminality or whatever just didn't work together." – Ben theorized. Steven shushed him.
"What? No. We've always made that work. But this time, as soon as we're released from custody, she says: "I want-a to call off the wedding." Out of nowhere!" – he repeated, imitating Subdora's accent.
"WHAT?!" – Ben yelled in total shock. "You guys are GETTING MARRIED?!"
"Ben, be quiet!" – Steven shushed him again.
"What?" – Ben said as if he wasn't doing anything.
"Go on, Exo-Skull." – Steven turned back to the rhino.
"So, she says: "You don't have-a any respect for my art." I told her that I did, but then she said "well why is it-a always "Exo-Skull and Subdora", not "Subdora and Exo-Skull"?" – Exo-Skull went on.
"But if it's "Subdora and Exo-Skull", wouldn't that mean that she's the one that doesn't have respect for your, um… demolition art?" – Ben butted in again.
"Yeah, nice save." – Steven whispered sarcastically.
"That's exactly what I said! Then I lost my temper, because she always insults my intelligence, and I ALWAYS resent that." – Exo-Skull then told him.
"Really? I insult your intelligence all the time and you don't get too angry about it. Well, maybe a little bit." – Ben said, getting a disapproving glance from Steven.
"It's different when she does it, okay? So, we had a fight and both of us decided to call off the wedding and break up." – Exo-Skull grunted.
"Well, if it was mutual, what's got you so upset then?" – Ben asked him.
"BECAUSE I MISS HER, DAMMIT!" – Exo-Skull roared so suddenly that Steven was taken aback. "I wish I never said any of that stuff! It can be her name first for all I care, you can even drop my name completely and just call us "Subdora and her sidekick", I just want her back!"
"And your way of dealing with it is going on a rampage on the highway…?" – Ben muttered, but got elbowed by Steven.
"Well, what are you doing here with us? Tell HER about it!" – Steven told Exo-Skull like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"I would, but what if she still doesn't take me back?!" – Exo-Skull yelled, almost going into tears.
"Oh, darling!" – a female voice said. Ben and Steven looked around to see where it was coming from. Subdora now appeared in front of them. Steven was puzzled, but Ben whispered over "She's like a chameleon." "Ohhh."
"Honeybun! Is it really you!" – Exo-Skull yelled in disbelief.
"Yes, my darling, it's-a me! I've been following you, but didn't dare-a say it first! I will!" – she responded in her Italian accent. Where she could have possibly picked it up, Ben had no idea, but he had gotten used to it.
"You will what?" – Exo-Skull eagerly asked.
"I will-a take you back! I never meant any-a-thing I said either, I hated every word of it! I don't care whose-a name comes first either, it can be you!" – Subdora told him.
"No, it should be you!"
"No-a, you!"
"Oh, boy." – Steven said.
"Excuse me, I believe I know how to break this tie." – Ben stepped in between of them. "So, the two of you are the "smash and grab." You're the smash…" – he pointed to Exo-Skull. "And you're the grab." – the then pointed to Subdora. "So if we go by the expression, Exo-Skull should come first."
"Eh. I'll take it." – Exo-Skull said indifferently.
"Oh, darling! I promise never to insult your intelligence ever again!" – Subdora yelled as they embraced each other. Ben barely ducked out of the way. "Or, maybe sometimes." – Subdora added.
"Aw, okay. But only when I really really deserve it, okay?" – Exo-Skull asked in a cutesy tone.
"Of course!" – Subdora responded and they started making out.
"Bleeeeeargchhhhhh!" – Ben's face shriveled up in disgust. "That's the grossest thing I've ever seen!"
"I think it's sweet." – Steven told him.
"His mouth is bigger than her entire head!" – Ben raised his hands in the air. "Alright, alright, that's enough for you two. Gwen? You can take him away now." – he spoke into his phone. Shortly after, Kevin's Rust Bucket III flew down.
"Wh-what is this?" – Exo-Skull exclaimed as he looked up. "TENNYSON!"
"Just because your love life is back on track doesn't mean you don't have to pay for the damages!" – Ben yelled at him. "I counted like 57 wrecked cars before I caught up to you!" – Ben told him.
"Eh." – Exo-Skull shrugged. "I got back what's the most important for with me, I could care less about a jail cell. I'll be out of there in no time, anyway."
"And I will be waiting for you!" – Subdora told him and kissed him on his massive chin.
"Alright, break it up, you two." – Kevin had stepped out of the ship, followed by Rook, Gwen and Zed.
"Exo-Skull, you are under arrest for-" – Rook started reading the procedure, but Exo-Skull interrupted him.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Just put the cuffs on, redspot."
"I'm surprised, Ben. You managed to subdue Exo-Skull without so much as a confrontation. Perhaps this should be attributed to your friend…?"
"Steven." – Ben introduced him to Rook. "Steven, these are Rook, Kevin and my cousin Gwen" – Ben was saying, but he noticed Gwen's stare throwing daggers at him. "…dolyn." – he finished, and Gwen's face eased up into the polite pleasantness you show when being introduced. "Everyone, this is Steven, one of the Crystal Gems." – Ben then introduced Steven to the others.
"Nice to meet you." – Steven told them as he shook her hand.
"Likewise." – Gwen told him.
"Though, I'm actually taking a, um, "leave of absence" from the Crystal Gems." – Steven explained.
"He's on a journey of self-discovery across the States." – Ben explained to them.
"You're going around all alone?" – Gwen asked Steven. "Isn't it a bit… overwhelming for you?"
"Yeah, it kinda is. I just set off today, and, honestly, I'm not sure if I'm actually cut out for this." – Steven shamefully admitted, though the others saw no shame in it.
"If that's the case, Ben could join you!" – Gwen pointed out.
"Really?" – both Ben and Steven said in unison.
"You didn't wanna go on the road trip alone, did you?" – Gwen asked him.
"Plus, you don't even have a car." – Kevin added. "He's got a nice ride, though." – he said about Steven's Dondai and started eyeing it as if he was about to treat it like a woman.
"A together road trip?" – Steven said. "But didn't you want to explore, like, the entire universe?" – he asked Ben. "I was just going to travel across the country."
"That doesn't sound like a bad idea. And hey, we can do both, can't we?" – Ben suggested. "The road trip can be sometimes personal, sometimes cosmic."
"Yeah, you might even learn a thing or two." – Gwen said.
"Steven does seem to have a positive influence on you." – Rook nodded in agreement.
"Hey, by the way, am I the only one who knows about the whole thing with the Diamonds and Pi-" – Kevin was saying, but he got elbowed by Gwen.
"What do you say, Steve-o?" – Ben asked him.
"Okay. Ben-o." – Steven agreed.
"Alright!" – Ben said with contentment. "But you're gonna have to think of a better nickname for me."
"We can still pick you up till Bellwood if you haven't found a place to stay here." – Gwen told Ben.
"Don't worry, I'm sure Steven has got it under control."
"OH, NO! I totally forgot! I'm late to check in with the bed-n-breakfast host! He'll have given my room away by now!" – Steven exclaimed.
"We'll think of something." – Ben assured him and Gwen as they headed back to Steven's car.
"Good luck, you guys!" – Exo-Skull yelled as Kevin was taking him away.
"Oh! Is the wedding back on with you two?" – Steven asked Subdora.
"Wedding?" – Gwen and Kevin repeated in disbelief.
"Of course! We'll start planning together right after Exo-Skull is released!" – she told them.
"Good luck to you two too!" – Steven told her.
"Of course, you boys will be invited!" – Subdora told Ben and Steven.
"Say, what now?" – Ben said in shocked disbelief. She did not just say that.
"Signori Ben and Steven, you are-a officially invited to our wedding!" – Subdora told them happily. Gwen barely contained her laughter. Rook just shook his head, not in disapproval, but in denial.
Ben and Steven looked at each other in disbelief too. Ben's face was stuck in a half-grimace and half-contorted smile as he couldn't say a word. Steven panicked and yelled "OF COURSE, WE'D LOVE TO!" and drove off without another word.
"Well, it's not the first alien wedding I've been to. There was my cousin Joel that married an alien. And this one other time, I was almost the one that GOT wed. wedded. we-wed. Which one of these is a word again?"
Steven listened to Ben's story about four-armed alien warlord princesses as they drove back into this city. He hadn't even realized that all of the loneliness and anxiety that had him in a panic attack earlier had now washed away. From now on, he'd be taking this journey with a friend.
Alright, let me get it out of the way: I'd like to hear your opinion on it, the things you liked, the things you didn't like, hell, things you wanna see. If you take the time to leave all that in a review, I'd greatly appreciate it.
So the thought of this crossover, with Ben and Steven going on their road trips together, it actually was inspired by DC's Green Lantern/Green Arrow comic series. Well, that, and I really like the road trip vibe. And since both of their heroes went on road trips that were huge for them at the end of their respective series, I felt that they could work very well together. I wanted it to be just Ben and Steven, so Gwen, Kevin, Rook (and sadly Zed) had to go but I still gave them a good 2 weeks of their road trip to not take away from Omniverse's ending. Still, you don't know who you're gonna see team up with Ben and Steven.
I'm not sure on how quick the progress will be on this story, though, since I have other fanfics that I write. Still, I can promise more stuff in the near future. This was just the tip of the iceberg.