Steven Universe: Behind the Scenes Chapter 59-Getting New Friends.
March 3, 2014
Steven was biking to Burbank, he had on his earbuds as he approached the gate, Snitzhel was standing at the gate.
"Rada rada," he said, extending a hand out, Steven grabbed his ID so he could scan it.
"Hey, Snitzhel, where's Buttercup?"
"Rada rada rada." He said.
"She's not coming back?"
"Rada."
"School? But, it's the weekend," he said.
"Rada."
"Man… I didn't know her much but, I'll miss her working here… Thanks for letting me know, Snitzhel."
"Rada, rada," he said, handing him his ID badge back and opening the gate for Steven so he could peddle in.
Steven went into the soundstage, the set had been changed to an outside scene.
"Hey, guys!" Steven said, opening his backpack and pulling out his script for the episode.
"Hey, Steven!" Sadie called out. She was talking to some new kids that he's never seen before. Steven walked towards Sadie and the group of new teens. "Steven, I would like you to meet, Buck Dewey, he's going to be playing the Mayor's son, Jenny Philips, she's playing Jenny Pizza. And you've met Sour Cream already."
"Hi," Steven said.
"Hey, So you're the kid with the superpowers. super cool, so, you're like Superman." Buck said.
"Um… thanks." Steven smiled and took that as a compliment.
"Hey, where's Rebecca?" Amethyst asked, looking around. It has been ten minutes and they should've started five minutes ago. Then, someone walked in.
"Hey, J.G!" Steven waved.
"Alright guys." he said putting a strand of hair out of his face, "Rebecca is a little bit sick today, so she'd asked me to fill in."
"Bummer, dude." Sour Cream said.
"Alright, guys! get into your positions!" J.G. told the cast, that Steven and everyone else got into their places.
"And… Action." J.G said.
"Lars And The Cool Kids, scene one, take one."
On the edge of a towering cliff, the Crystal Gems stood in silence, their gazes fixed on the sprawling expanse of a moss-covered swamp below. The air was thick with tension, and the sun struggled to penetrate the swirling mists that clung to the landscape.
"This doesn't look good at all," Pearl said, her voice laced with concern.
"Whoa! Cool!" Steven exclaimed, hopping excitedly from one rock to another, drawn to the vibrant green moss that carpeted the swamp.
"No, Steven, wait!" Amethyst shouted, her playful demeanor shifting to alarm.
"Don't go near that stuff!" Pearl added urgently, but it was too late. The moss, as if sensing Steven's presence, began to slither toward him like a living entity.
In a swift moment of instinct, Garnet grabbed a nearby boulder and hurled it toward the rock where Steven stood. With a surprising force, it catapulted him into Pearl's waiting arms.
"WHOA!" Steven cried as he landed with a thud, grinning up at Pearl. "Steven's here!"
Pearl set him down gently, her expression a mix of relief and frustration. "You have to be careful, Steven!"
"Why?" he asked, his curiosity piqued. Just then, a duck waddled into view, attempting to sit on a floating log. Without warning, the moss surged and engulfed the log entirely.
"What is that stuff?" Steven wondered aloud, his eyes wide with intrigue.
Garnet, standing tall and stoic, responded, "It's the moss that Rose Quartz raised on the hill."
"My mom planted this stuff?" Steven's voice softened, a hint of sadness creeping in.
Pearl nodded, her eyes distant as she recalled the past. "Rose Quartz used to climb that hill every spring and tend to the moss at the top." A hologram of Rose materialized above them, a vision of her nurturing the moss with love and care. "But now that Rose is gone, the moss is on the move!"
"It's lost," Steven murmured, a frown forming on his face.
"It's not lost. It's gross," Amethyst chimed in, her tone playful yet serious.
Pearl sighed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yes, but Rose loved it anyway. She saw the beauty in everything, no matter how gross." With newfound determination, she declared, "Fortunately, I know just what to do in this situation."
The Gems descended from the cliff, gathering on the ground as they watched Pearl prepare for her plan. With a dramatic flair, Pearl struck a pose and began to dance, her gem glowing with energy.
"Twooooh! Haaaaaah!" she exclaimed, channeling her magic. A small glowing object emerged from her gem, landing in Steven's hands. He looked down, surprised to find a roll of yellow tape labeled "POLICE LINE."
"Is this… police tape?" he asked, eyebrows raised in confusion.
"Isn't this great? This way, we don't even have to use magic. Humans will just see this and walk away," Pearl explained, her excitement palpable.
Garnet, perched on a rock, slammed her fist into her palm, a clear signal of encouragement. "Don't hold back."
Amethyst grinned mischievously. "I never… do!" She tossed the roll of tape to Garnet, and together, the Crystal Gems began wrapping the entrance to the swamp in the bright yellow tape.
"La la-la la-la~ Perfect!" Pearl sang as she tied the tape into a bow, stepping back to admire their handiwork. "Now we can come up with a plan to move the moss back to its hill!"
As the Gems gathered, Steven's stomach grumbled, breaking the moment of focus. "Who wants to get some lunch?" he asked, looking around at his friends. They turned to stare at him silently, and he shrugged, a playful smile on his face. "Just me, then? …Nice."
"Action."
"Lars And The Cool Kids, scene two, take one."
Transitioning from the swamp, the scene shifted to the bustling boardwalk at Fish Stew Pizza. Steven walked along, humming a cheerful tune to himself.
"Gettin' me a pi, gettin' me a -zza. Gettin' me a p-p-p-p-pizza!" he sang, his spirits high. Just then, he spotted a familiar face in the crowd.
"Lars!" he called out, excitement bubbling within him.
Lars groaned in response, rolling his eyes. "Why now?"
With a burst of energy, Steven sprinted toward him, arm raised high. "Got a high five for you from way downtown!"
As the two friends came together in joyous anticipation, the adventures of the day unfolded, filled with laughter and memories yet to be made.
Lars stood against the wall, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, trying to exude an air of nonchalance. The sun hung high in the sky, casting warm rays that felt almost too bright for the mood he was trying to maintain. A sudden burst of energy broke the calm as his friend Steven sauntered over, a mischievous grin plastered on his face.
"No, Steven! No high fives!" Lars hissed, his voice a low whisper-yell, as he instinctively raised his hand to block the enthusiastic gesture
"Mmmmm, okay," Steven replied with a cheeky smile, only to high-five his own chest. Lars couldn't help but smirk as he playfully smacked Steven's hand away.
"Steven!" Lars exclaimed, rolling his eyes.
He laughs "So… how come you're not at the Big Donut?" Steven asked, tilting his head curiously.
"I don't spend my whole life at work," Lars replied, casually flipping a jacket over his shoulder. "I do... other things."
"Like standing against this wall?" Steven teased, a glint of mischief in his eyes.
"What does it look like?!" Lars shot back, trying to maintain his cool.
"Looks like you're doing a lot of nothing," Steven quipped.
"That's the plan, Steven," Lars said, flipping his jacket again. "Just playing it cool today, you know?"
"We are so much alike," Steven stated, a sly smile creeping across his face.
"Excuse me?" Lars raised an eyebrow, intrigued yet wary.
"You want to get a fresh pizza right out of the oven, but you don't want to seem too desperate, right?" Steven explained, his voice animated. "Well, there's no need to be ashamed. Just walk right in and ask. That's what I always do."
"Ah, uh Steven, don't go in there right now!" Lars warned, panic creeping into his voice.
But Steven was already peering through the windows, his curiosity piqued. "Oh, hey!" he exclaimed, spotting the trio of cool kids lounging inside the pizza joint, with Kiki standing behind them, looking effortlessly stylish.
"Jenny opened the door, and there was doggy-doo everywhere," one of the kids said, her voice dripping with dramatic flair.
"That's nasty. I don't like nasty stuff," Buck chimed in, making a face of disgust.
Sour Cream, meanwhile, was busy devouring a slice of pizza, oblivious to the conversation around him.
"Isn't that Kiki's sister and her friends?" Steven asked, excitement bubbling in his voice.
He whisperers "Jenny, Sour Cream, and Buck Dewey," Lars replied, his heart racing a little.
"Oh, you know those guys?" Steven asked, his enthusiasm undeterred.
"N-not quite, but I'm sure we'll hang at some point," Lars stammered, feeling a mix of admiration and nerves.
"You should go in and talk to them," Steven urged, his eyes gleaming with encouragement.
Lars started to fluster, his cool facade cracking. "T-T-That's not how these things work, Steven! The plan is to keep it cool and let them come to me." He leaned back against the wall, desperately trying to regain his composure.
Just then, the door swung open, and Jenny, Sour Cream, and Buck emerged from Fish Stew Pizza, laughter spilling into the street.
"Here they come," Steven whispered, a grin on his face, as Lars braced himself for the moment he had always wanted but never dared to seize.
Lars felt his heart race as he spotted Steven, his friend, standing awkwardly near a group of cool kids. Desperation clawed at him as he hissed, "Aah…! Steven, turn around! Act natural!" He quickly averted his gaze, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
Meanwhile, Jenny, a confident girl with a determined stride, leaned into Kiki. "Tell Dad I'll be back later," she said, her eyes set on the horizon as she walked past the group, leaving her mark on the scene.
Steven, oblivious to Lars's panic, reassured him, "I don't think they saw you." But all Lars could think about was the fact that Steven was blocking his escape with his wild hair. "Aah! Steven, your hair!" he exclaimed in frustration.
"Sorry! I'll go tell them to look over here," Steven said, his enthusiasm bubbling to the surface as he ambled toward the cool kids.
"Steven, no! Don't go over there! I hate you!" Lars whispered desperately, but his protests fell on deaf ears as Steven approached with a grin.
Buck, a charismatic member of the group, was animatedly discussing muffins, gesturing with his hands to emphasize their size. "Muffins that are like, this big," he exclaimed, spreading his arms wide.
Jenny replied with a playful roll of her eyes, "Those things are too sweet for me."
Steven, not one to miss a moment, chimed in, "Hi! My name's Steven!" He raised his hand high, eager for high-fives.
"High-fives all around!" Buck declared, slapping Steven's palm, followed by Sour Cream, who introduced himself with a grin. "They call me Sour Cream."
As the introductions continued, Lars, hidden in the background, watched in horror, his hand clasped over his mouth. "Aah, he's gonna wreck everything! What are they saying? I can't hear them!" He caught a glimpse of Steven waving enthusiastically, and his heart sank. "Ugh! Why is he dancing?! No-ho-ho! My life is horrible!" Tears threatened to spill over.
"Hey, Lars!" Steven called out, breaking through his spiral of despair.
In a desperate attempt to appear unfazed, Lars snapped into a "cool" pose. "Yo," he replied, trying to sound nonchalant.
"They invited us along for a ride," Steven said, his excitement palpable.
Lars's mind raced. "Huh? W-Wait a minute, they—you—? …Steven, you got lucky! So don't ruin this with any of your lame schtick."
With a mischievous glint in his eye, Steven pretended to shoot his fingers like a toy gun, "Pew pew! You got it!" His laughter echoed, but all Lars could do was face-palm in disbelief.
As if sensing the moment, the whole group began to move toward Jenny's car. "Hop on in, guys," she called, her voice inviting and warm, as the adventure beckoned. Lars reluctantly followed, his heart pounding with a mix of dread and excitement, wondering what this day would bring.
The lively group of friends piled into the car, each with their own vibrant personality. In the back seat, Steven let out a playful cheer, "Aw yeah, middle seat!" He was flanked by Buck and Lars, while Sour Cream settled into the front passenger seat. Jenny, the designated driver, took her place behind the wheel.
"Where'd you get that rad shirt, Steven?" Buck asked, admiring the unique design on Steven's shirt.
With a sheepish tug at the fabric, Steven shrugged, "I have no idea where any of my clothes come from."
Buck grinned, "Yeah, man, living free. I like it."
Lars chimed in, eager to show off his own shirt adorned with a striking snake design. "Hey, check out my shirt!" he said, proudly pointing to the snake.
Buck raised an eyebrow, feigning disgust. "Oh, that snake is nasty."
"Oh," Lars replied, putting on a mock laugh, "Yeah, I hate snakes!" Buck chuckled back, "Oh, what? That's too bad; some snakes are pretty cool."
As the conversation flowed, Jenny started up the car, prompting Steven to remind everyone, "Sounds like it's time to buckle up!"
"Quit being lame, Steven," Lars shot back, but Sour Cream interjected, "Hey, man, there's nothing 'lame' about seatbelt safety."
Jenny nodded firmly, "Car does not move 'til we're all buckled up." With that, Steven and Lars reluctantly obliged.
"Yeah, now let's get some spaced-out beats up in here," Sour Cream declared, tuning the car radio to an electrifying electronics station. As the rhythmic beats filled the car, he swayed his arms slowly, lost in the music.
Turning to Jenny, Lars remarked, "Hey, this car is really cool, Jenny."
She shrugged, a hint of sarcasm in her tone. "It's just the delivery car for my dad's lame shop. Makes me smell like pizza. Where to, y'all?" With that, she pulled out onto the road.
"I don't even know," Buck admitted, glancing around as if the perfect destination would jump out at him.
"Oh, can we stop by the Big Donut?" Steven piped up, his eyes sparkling at the thought of sweet treats.
Jenny raised an eyebrow, skeptical yet intrigued. "That old place?" she asked, steering the car toward the familiar sight of the Big Donut, its whimsical shape looming ahead. The adventure had only just begun.
The group of friends found themselves driving through the bustling streets, each one brimming with excitement and anticipation. Buck glanced out the window, his expression sour. "Man, that place is a drag," he muttered, eyeing the local hangouts.
Steven, ever the optimist, chimed in. "But that's where Lars works—" His words were cut off by a sudden fit of loud coughing from Lars, who waved his hand dismissively. "Quiet, Steven! he coughs
"Need some water?" Steven offered, concern etched on his face.
The car continued its journey, weaving through the lively town until they spotted a familiar landmark. "Funland Arcade is the best! Let's do that!" Steven exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with enthusiasm.
Sour Cream leaned back in his seat with a grin. "Man, I beat all the 'G's' in there like three million times."
"No way!" Steven gasped, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Yeah, me too," Lars added, trying to sound impressive.
"No way!" Steven repeated, his excitement palpable.
Sour Cream chuckled, shrugging. "Honestly though, I'm just exaggerating to sound cool." He glanced at Lars, who felt a bit sheepish about their bragging.
"Hey, I appreciate your honesty," Steven said, giving Sour Cream a friendly pat on the shoulder.
As they drove closer to the city park, a familiar figure came into view. "Hey, Buck, isn't that your dad?" Jenny pointed out, her voice laced with curiosity.
Mayor Dewey stood on a makeshift stage, gesturing animatedly to the crowd. "Another reason you should re-elect me… I love babies! Will you look at that, a baby!" He leaned down as his aide held a baby toward him and planted a long kiss on its forehead, prompting applause from the crowd.
"Huh, I like his policies on babies," Steven mused.
Buck sighed a hint of bitterness in his tone. "Man, he never kisses me like that."
"That's rough, bro," Lars replied sympathetically.
Buck shook his head. "It's not rough. The lack of daddy kisses in my life made me who I am." Lars looked away, a bit uncomfortable with the conversation.
Suddenly, Jenny's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Oh my gosh, guys. We should check out Dead Man's Mouth!" She leaned forward to shift the car into gear.
"What's Dead Man's Mouth?" Steven asked, curiosity piqued.
Buck shrugged, trying to remember. "Oh, it's this lake where some dude died, or it looks like a mouth? I forget the specifics."
"Dead Man's Mouth, here we come!" Jenny declared, her foot pressing down on the gas as the car sped off, excitement buzzing in the air.
"Cut!" The bell rang and they got to get something to eat. Everyone was talking. "Hey, Steven. You were great out there!" Jenny told him, grabbing a plate of fruit. Steven grabbed a plate too as he smiled.
"You think so?" he asked.
"Yeah! And I also like the new Schedule for the show, and we get to be on the HAR HAR THARSDAYS block!" Steven exclaimed, raising his arms in the air.
"Okay, that's cool," Buck said
"Isn't it cool! And we all have Noods! well, just the Crystal Gems and I—I don't know when you'll all get yours yet."
"That's okay, Steven. We'll get there someday." Buck said.
"But aren't we going to get Noods too, Steven?" Lars asked.
"I don't know, maybe later in the series."
Then, J.G. interrupts them.
"Alright, places guys!" he said, walking back to the director's chair and he sat.
"And… action!"
"Lars And The Cool Kids, scene three, take one."
Once they arrived, the group piled out of the car. "We're here," Jenny announced triumphantly.
But as Steven took in his surroundings, he noticed the police tape left by the Crystal Gems. A sudden realization hit him. "Y-You know what? I know this place may seem cool, but it's actually a lot less cool than you think. W-Why don't we just go have some more fun at the boardwalk?" he suggested, his voice slightly anxious.
The group exchanged glances, caught between the allure of the mysterious lake and the thrill of more familiar adventures.
The group of friends stood at the edge of a swamp, the air thick with anticipation. Lars, his eyes sharp with determination, glared at Steven. "Steven, stop being lame!" he exclaimed, his voice echoing in the stillness. Turning to the others, he added, "Let's check this place out."
With a shared sense of adventure, the group followed Lars toward the entrance of the swamp. Murmurs of excitement filled the air as they approached, but Steven hesitated, anxiety creeping into his voice. "Oh, pfft, the police tape!" he laughed, though his laughter felt forced.
The group paused, their eyes drawn to the police tape that surrounded the entrance like a warning. Sour Cream broke the tension, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Huh… Police tape," he said, ripping down the tape with a flourish. "Awesome!" Steven gasped, watching as Sour Cream boldly walked through.
Buck chimed in, a grin spreading across his face. "I'm above the law," he declared, tearing down more tape as if it were a mere obstacle. Jenny, with a playful smile, posed a question that hung in the air. "Who wants to go for a swim?"
As the others began to shed their coats, a wave of unease washed over Steven. He stared at the thick moss, his agitation palpable. Sour Cream, ever the jokester, gleefully converted his pants into shorts. "Pants become shorts!" he announced proudly.
With a swift motion, Lars stripped off his shirt and took a confident step toward the swamp. "Lars, don't go in there, it's dangerous!" Steven pleaded, his voice rising in alarm.
"Steven, you trying to scare us?" Jenny shot back, her excitement undeterred.
"Build an atmosphere, I appreciate that," Buck added, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
Sour Cream danced around, swaying his fingers and adding to the playful chaos. "Oooooh!" he sang, caught up in the thrill.
"Wait!" Steven's voice cracked with desperation as Buck, Jenny, and Sour Cream leaped into the murky waters. Lars attempted to join them, but Steven grabbed his arm, panic etched across his face.
"Hey, what are you doing, man?!" Lars protested, trying to shake free.
Tears brimmed in Steven's eyes as he sobbed, "Don't!"
"Steven… what… is… your… deal?" Lars gasped, confusion mingling with frustration. In a moment of hesitation, he pushed Steven aside, only to freeze when he noticed a chilling sight. The laughter of their friends turned to terror as they were suddenly engulfed and dragged underwater by the creeping moss that seemed to come alive.
Fear gripped Lars as he stumbled back, his heart racing. The swamp, once an invitation to adventure, now loomed like a dark mystery, pulling them into its depths.
Once upon a time, in a mystical swamp where the air was thick with secrets and shadows, two friends, Lars and Steven, found themselves in a peculiar predicament.
"Ah!" Lars exclaimed, jolted by the sudden movement around him.
"Oh no!" Steven shouted, panic rising in his voice as a small patch of vibrant green moss clung to his foot. "Aaah!"
"What's going on?!" Lars asked, bewildered.
"It's some kind of magic moss my mom planted!" Steven replied, trying to shake it off.
"Wait… your mom?" Lars echoed, confusion etched on his face.
Just then, from the depths of the murky water, Jenny, Sour Cream, and Buck emerged, their bodies completely covered in the same eerie moss. They crawled towards the edge of the swamp, collapsing in a heap as the moss enveloped them entirely.
"Guys, hang on!" Lars shouted, rushing to their aid.
Together, Lars and Steven frantically tore at the moss, but it grew back faster than they could remove it. In a moment of clarity, Steven glanced at a distant hill, its peak silhouetted against the twilight sky.
"Lars, I know what we have to do!" he declared, determination in his eyes.
"This is all your fault!" Lars cried, tears beginning to brim. "I knew if something went wrong today, it would be because of you! Now I'm never going to be friends with these guys—all because of your weird mom!"
Steven's expression shifted to one of shock and anger. "What do you know about my mom?!" he shouted, poking Lars in the chest. "I didn't even get to know her! But I do know she saw beauty in everything—even in stuff like this!" He gestured at the moss, his voice filled with passion. "And even in jerks like you!"
J.G. wanted to keep the cameras rolling, but one look at Steven's face said it all.
"Cut!" he called out as the bell rang. Steven looked at the ground and sniffled. Garnet rushed to him, She knelt to his level. "Steven?"
"I want to be alone," he said, running out of the soundstage and he sat on a bench looking at his feet. He brought his legs up to his knees and rested his chin.
"Stupid, Lars…" He sighed and glared at the ground.
"Steven? Are you okay?" He heard a voice say. Steven lifts his head and sees Darwin standing in front of him.
"Oh…Hey, Darwin… And no… stupid Lars…"
"What happened?" he asked.
Steven sighed and scooted to the side, so Darwin could sit next to him.
"We were filming this scene for a new episode and something in that scene upset me, and–" Steven stops talking and sighs.
"And what?"
"Lars… said something about my mom…" Darwin stayed silent for a moment.
"What'd he say?" he asked.
"He called my mom weird and… I guess that I overreacted and ran off the set without even thinking."
"Steven, it was just for a show."
"I know! I feel so dumb!"
"Steven… You can't say that about yourself, you have to give yourself credit," he said Steven nodded. He hugged his friend and smiled.
"I feel a lot better, thanks, Darwin."
"No problem, Steven." he gave a cheeky grin and saw him walk back to the sound stage.
"Oh, hey. Steven, are you feeling better?" Sadie asked him, Steven stood in front of her and smiled.
"Yeah, I'm fine… Let's get the episode finished," he said.
"And… Action!" J.G said.
"Lars And The Cool Kids, scene four, take one." the clapper leader announced.
Lars turned away, feeling the weight of shame settle on him. Steven sighed, the tension easing slightly. "Now help me get them to the car," he urged.
With a newfound resolve, they dragged the moss-covered friends toward the car, carefully buckling them in for the ride ahead.
"Lars, hurry! This moss belongs at the top of that hill!" Steven pointed, urgency in his voice. "Come on, what are you waiting for?"
"Uh, Steven… I don't know how to drive a stick shift," Lars admitted, glancing nervously at the vehicle.
"I'll work the stick, you just keep us on the road!" Steven instructed, taking the lead.
"Okay, alright, let's do this. Ignition!" Lars called out.
"Stick power!" Steven shouted, shifting the gear as the car lurched forward into the swamp.
"Steven, no, put it in reverse!" Lars yelled, realizing their direction was all wrong.
"Is that the one with 'R' on it?" Steven asked, confusion washing over him as he shifted again. "Aaaaah!"
The car jolted backward, racing off into the road, and Lars finally took control, steering toward the hill as moss began to engulf the back of the car.
As they sped towards their destination, the two friends were united in their mission, determined to face whatever challenges lay ahead, moss and all.
Once upon a time, two friends, Lars and Steven, found themselves on an unexpected adventure. As they approached the top of a steep hill, panic set in for Lars.
"Jenny's gonna kill meeeeee! What's going to happen when we get to the top of that hill?" he exclaimed, his voice filled with dread.
"I don't know!" Steven replied, his own apprehension bubbling to the surface.
"You don't know?!" Lars echoed, his anxiety growing.
"That's just where the moss wants to be!" Steven shouted, his words barely escaping his lips before the moss began to creep ominously toward them, enveloping the front of the car.
"Aah!" they both cried out as the green tendrils spread, their panic rising alongside the moss.
With a sudden jolt, Lars and Steven momentarily lost control of the car, veering off course until they collided with a large truck. The impact left a dent in the truck but surprisingly straightened their path, leaving them in a state of shock.
"We made it!" Steven shouted triumphantly, though his relief was short-lived.
"We're almost there," Lars said, his heart racing as they parked the car near the summit. "What do we do now?"
"We gotta get up there. Hurry!" Steven urged, determination in his voice.
With renewed vigor, they began dragging the bodies of their friends up the hill. But the moss was relentless, progressively engulfing them as they struggled to move forward.
"I'm… getting stuck!" Lars yelled, panic rising in his chest.
"No, don't… give up!" Steven replied, fighting against the creeping moss.
But it was too late. The moss completely engulfed their bodies, leaving only their faces exposed, rendering them immobile.
"Lars…?" Steven managed to say, his voice weak.
"What?" Lars responded, his frustration evident.
"This sucks!" Lars groaned, just as the moss completely enveloped him.
"Laaaaar—" Steven's voice trailed off as he too was consumed by the moss.
All seemed lost as the moss-covered bodies lay still on the hill, trapped in nature's grasp. Just then, the clouds began to part, and sunlight poured through the sky, illuminating the scene. Pink flowers blossomed all around, sprouting from the moss and floating gently away.
Suddenly, the moss released its hold, and the group gasped for air, freed from its clutches. Steven and Lars, still bewildered, watched as the pink flowers filled the sky, a beautiful spectacle that marked the end of their ordeal and the beginning of a new chapter in their adventure.
In the warm glow of the setting sun, the air was filled with a sense of wonder as the group of friends found themselves at the edge of a hill overlooking Beach City. The vibrant colors of the flowers danced in the gentle breeze, creating a mesmerizing spectacle.
"Look at that moss," Steven remarked with a hint of admiration. "It's just trying to bloom."
Jenny, a bit disoriented, turned to him. "Ughh, what happened?"
Sour Cream, always the jokester, chimed in with a dramatic flair, "I think I died."
"Guys, look!" Jenny exclaimed, her eyes widening as she rushed to the edge. The others followed suit, all three of them gasping in unison, "Woah!"
Together, they gazed out at the breathtaking view of Beach City, the flowers swaying gracefully beneath the golden hues of the sunset.
"You can see all of Beach City from up here," Sour Cream said, his voice filled with awe.
Buck nodded in agreement, his eyes sparkling. "It's beautiful."
"But… how did we even get here?" Jenny pondered aloud, glancing at the others for answers.
Lars stepped in, eager to explain. "Well, Steven thought that—"
"Lars drove us here," Steven interjected, cutting him off with a grin.
The trio of Jenny, Sour Cream, and Buck murmured in unison, "Oh yeah, Lars! Super cool."
Feeling the infectious energy of the moment, Sour Cream declared, "I can totally rave to this…"
"Go, go, go!" Jenny and Buck urged, and without hesitation, Sour Cream began to rave, their cheers echoing around them—"Sour Cream! Sour Cream!"
Amid the laughter and excitement, Steven attempted to give Lars a high five, but in a comical twist, Lars accidentally high-fived his chest instead.
"Yeah!" Steven laughed, catching the moment's humor. He followed suit, mirroring Lars' awkward gesture.
As the star iris zoomed in on Lars' face, the moment became even funnier. Feeling a bit embarrassed, Lars chuckled and said, "Okay, that's enough."
As the sun dipped lower, casting a warm glow over the hill, the friends felt a sense of unity and joy, savoring the magic of the moment together.
"Cut, that was perfect guys!" J.G said. Stepping down and fixing his hair. Steven walks off the set and sees Lars talking to Sour Cream, probably about going to the movies or something.
Lars saw Steven approaching. "Hey, listen… no hard feelings in that scene… it was in the script, where cool, right?" he asked. Steven nods, Lars crouches down and hugs him, and Steven hugs him back.
Steven was with Gumball, Darwin, and Anais, Steven was going to meet their parents for the first time. Well—he's met them in the show, but in person, that's a whole different experience.
He sees Darwin's bike. "Where biking to your house? isn't it like.. five hours away?" he asked.
"We moved because of that reason, and before you ask, no we do not shoot on location."
"Good to know but, I wasn't thinking about that at all," he said.
Gumball walks out and the three of them are headed to his house.
They went to his house located in Burbank Wahington. Steven got a text from his mom, Steven stopped his bike and saw the text.
Steven read it and replied. He peddled with the Wattersons.
They go to their house, then he sees it.
A two-story house with gray siding and a dark gray roof. The house features a large, covered front porch. There are multiple windows on both floors, and the entrance has double doors painted in a contrasting blue color.
The house is surrounded by a well-maintained lawn, and there is a gravel road in the foreground. The sky is partly cloudy, adding a bright and airy feel to the scene. He sees a two-story house with gray siding and a dark gray roof.
It features a large, covered front porch with several rocking chairs and hanging plants. There are multiple windows on both floors, and the entrance has double doors painted in a contrasting blue color. The house is surrounded by a well-maintained lawn, and there is a gravel road in the foreground. And the sky is partly cloudy.
They all get off their bikes and open the door.
Steven walked in with his friends, Steven saw a blue cat and a pink rabbit.
Nicole greatly resembles Gumball, who is, like her, a cat, but taller and slenderer than her son. She has light blue fur, Her head is shaped similarly to Gumball's, except Nicole's whiskers are shorter than her son's, and she has visible eyelashes.
Richard has a similar appearance to Anais. They are both pink rabbits. Richard is extremely obese. He has short, black whiskers on both sides of his face, and unusually long eyelashes.
"Oh, hi! you must be Steven!" Nichole said
"Yeah. can I… pet you?" he asked, staring at her.
"No."
"Oh… okay then," Steven said. Gumball went upstairs, Darwin also, Steven followed them and they went into one of their rooms. Gumball and Darwin share a room like in the show but, their sister Anais has her own room.
Steven sees a huge water bed instead of a fish bowl for Darwin to sleep in. Steven also saw that his water bed was at the bottom.
"Who built this?" he asked.
"Our dad."
"Really?" Steven asked.
"Yeah," Darwin replied
"Alright." Steven looks around and sees a gaming computer with a tower.
"You guys have a gaming PC?" he asked the brothers.
"Yeah, we play Tomb Raider, Minecraft, and other games," Darwin said.
"Cool!" Steven said.
He then saw a t-shirt hanging on the back of his chair. It was a checkerboard t-shirt with the CARTOON NETWORK classic logo on the front.
"Hey, cool shirt," Steven said.
"Oh, that's my uniform shirt," Gumball said.
"Ohh, okay. Cool. Do you have to wear it?"
"No, it's optional. But. I like to wear it in and out of school." Gumball said.
"Out of school?" Steven said.
"Yeah," he said. It's comfortable and soft too." he said.
"What's your school called?"
"The Cartoon Network School of Excellence," he replied.
"Woooah." his eyes went starry now. "Sounds awesome…" he said then thought of something else. "What do you do at this school?"
"It's like any other school. But we have classes for actors and upcoming Hollywood stars," he said.
"Coool! Like what?" he asked.
"Training, vocals, music classes."
"Traning?"
"Yeah, sword fighting. learning how to use your powers if you're a superhero or—A half-alien, they also have Pokémon training classes." Gumball answers.
"Dude, that's sweet!" he said.
"Yeah, it is!" Gumball exclaimed.
"Let's play video games," Gumball told them. They all walked downstairs.
Gumball, Darwin, and Steven were on the couch playing on their PlayStation. They have a system in the living room like they do in their show.
Then, Richard walked in and sat on the couch. Eating a sandwich.
"What are you guys playing?" he asked.
"We're playing NBA," Gumball said, pressing X to pass the ball to Steven. Darwin was sitting and watching them play.
Nichole brought out some snacks for them.
"Thanks, Mrs. Watterson."
"Oh, you can call me Nichole, Steven."
"Okay, Nichole." he grinned as he took a granola bar, that was already unwrapped and ate it.
"Mom! Have you seen my shirt?" Anias called out.
"Which one?" she called back.
"My uniform! I want to wear it tomorrow for school!"
"It's in the closet!" she said.
"Thanks, Mom!"
"No problem!" she called back.
"Your school sounds awesome!" Steven tells them.
"It is, we found it through a friend of ours when we were starting out acting for our show, we even moved so we could commute to the studio, home, and school faster, our old route would've taken us five hours," Nichole explains.
"Oh, so that's why you're not living in Elmore anymore," Steven said
"Yeah, all the bumpers you see on TV, it's all on the set. We take pictures of them—like Emore Jr. High and our house, then record our voices and use them." Darwin explained.
"Ohh, makes sense. Like our show. We do that also." Steven said.
"Cool!" Gumball said.
Steven picks up a granola bar and eats it. Nichole stood as he was talking to his friends.
"I have an idea." Steven piped up. "Let's go outside and play."
"Yeah!" Darwin said. They all go out the front door. Steven got on his bike and they were all riding bikes and playing together.
"Darwin, Steven! check this out!" Gumball said, peddling towards a makeshift ramp he and Darwin made two days ago.
Steven and Darwin looked at him as Gumball peddled fast towards the ramp.
It all happened so fast, Gumball came in too hot, and he crashed his bike.
"GUMBALL!" Steven and Darwin said as they ran towards him.
"I'm okay!" he said, getting up, unhurt.
"Woah, thank goodness you're okay," Darwin told him.
"Thanks," he said. "If I broke anything, that would've been bad for our careers," he said.
"It would," Darwin said. Steven nods in agreement.
Steven got a text from his mom. She told him that they were going to have dinner with Connie's parents.
Steven went home. Rose was preparing dinner, they were having it by the pool, and Greg was getting dressed. Steven went upstairs to take a shower.
Steven stepped out of the shower, dried himself, and then put on a fresh pair of clothes which were a pair of jean shorts and A white Nirvana T-shirt.
Steven decided to turn on his PlayStation and start to play for a little bit until they got here.
Greg and Rose were preparing the food, it was baked ziti, since Steven doesn't eat meat.
Hopefully, it doesn't bite him in the butt later on. Rose thought.
They ring the doorbell, Lion is lying by the door, Rose goes to open it, Rose bends down and pets Lion, maine. She smiled and opened the door.
Doug, Priyanka, and Connie stood there, Priyanka started getting uncomfortable by Rose's appearance. Rose wore a pink long-sleeved crop top which showed her gem, a white button-down shirt with a pair of oversized jeans and boots.
"Nice outfit, Rose. I like it." Priyanka told her.
"Thanks. I got it on sale."
"Oh, I thought you would thrift," Connie said.
"I do."
"Doesn't it get cold though?" Doug asked.
"I'm used to it," she said.
He nods.
She invited them inside and went to the kitchen.
"Smells good, what is that?" Connie asked, draping her jeans jacket on the back of a bar chair.
"That's Baked Ziti baking in the oven, and for dessert, I made chocolate chunk brownies."
"That sounds incredible, Rose," Doug said
"It is."Connie agreed with her father.
"Let's go outside," she said.
The Maheswaran's went outside. Her parents see the back for the first time.
A speaker sat on the table, Green Day was playing through Greg's phone that was connected to the stereo.
"Mrs. Universe? Where's Steven?" Connie asked.
"Oh, he's in his room. You can go up." Rose said.
Connie went upstairs and then went to his bedroom, his door was open. The air was still warm from the shower. She saw him in bed, playing PlayStation, Mordecai, Rigby, Clarence, Jeff, and Sumo were all on a call with him, playing video games.
"Hey, Steven," Connie said. Steven turned his head to see his friend, standing in the doorway. He set his controller down and hugged her.
"Hey! I'm glad you can come!" he said, smiling. He grabbed his phone and told them that he could play later, but he could still talk to them.
Green Day still played outside as they were eating and talking.
"Connie! I'm so excited for HAR HAR THARSDAYS!" he said.
"I know you are, buddy. You couldn't stop talking about it all week." Greg chuckled.
"That's how excited I am though!" Steven said.
"Well, I'm happy for you, Steven," Connie told her friend, as she ate her food. Steven took a sip of his water and then continued eating.
Dinner that night was a success.
A\N: Hi guys, I am so happy that you are all enjoying this story so far, I'm almost to chapter sixty!
I can't believe it. All the tears since the past year and everything going on in my life right now…. And dark thoughts of wanting to sh*tter myself… I've found an outlet through all of this and thank you so much for accepting this AU.