The hot sun shined down in the desert as a sandstone column collapsed into a pile of sand. The Crystal Gems began to climb over the sand pile, with Steven crawling on the ground.

"W-Water... Water... So thirsty... For water..." Steven says weakly.

"It'll be safer if you stand up and walk." Pearl tells him

"You don't... understand..." Steven says as he keeps crawling. "This... is how... you're supposed to act... in the desert..."

"I think that's just in the movies Steven." Y/n says as he appears on the sand pile himself now with his hand raised to shield his eyes from the hot sun. On his back sat a small back pack.

Steven quickly grows tired of his act and gets up, sweating. "Is this the thing? The place?" He asks now.

"Yes, Steven." Garnet answers and A silhouette of a temple can be seen in the distance by them, as another sandstone column collapses. "The power in the structures have turned aimless.

"It's building columns with no roofs, stairs that go nowhere! This is out of control!" Pearl cries.

"Then I guess we better...!" Amethyst leap-frogs over Steven and end up rolling down the small sand pile. "Roll on over there. Heheh." She jokes.

"That was a bit unnecessary." Pearl comments.

"Nuh-nuh nuh nuh nuh, nuh nuh nuh nuh." Amethyst hums in the way Pearl had said before.

"Excuse me?!" Pearl asks annoyed.

The sound of a roar is heard however and it startles Steven. "What was that?!" He asks.

"Let's go!" Amethyst says getting up.

"It'll be best if you two stay here." Garnet says to Y/n and Steven now.

"We'll be quick." Pearl adds as she and Amethyst begin to walk away.

"Wait!" Steven calls out getting Garnet's attention. "What if something eats me and Y/n?!" He asks.

"Do not worry... Wet One." Garnet says as she wipes the sweat off Steven's face and flicks it back at him. "There's nothing out here that can harm you. "See you soon." She says leaving to join Pearl and Amethyst as they head to the temple.

"We'll be here." Y/n calls out as he turns to Steven. "Why don't we find some shade." He suggests and Steven nods. Steven and Y/n walk down the sand pile to sit in the shade under a sandstone column.

"It's. So. Desert." Steen groans as he puts his shirt over his eyes.

"Here." Y/n says as he opens his backpack and hands a water bottle to Steven. Steven gratefully takes the water and begins to drink. "When the gems said we were coming to the desert I thought it best to prepare." Y/n says as he takes out a bottle of water for himself. The two take a big drink before letting out satisfied sighs.

The moment is short lived however when Steven hears a low groaning. "What was that?" He asks Y/n and scans his surroundings.

"It's okay Steven. It's probably closer to the temple and the gems." Y/n tells him.

"Yeah, Nothing can harm me. I, am the Wet One." Steven reminds himself but Steven then spots a shadowy figure, which glares in his direction and frightens him, and he runs to hide behind the sandstone column.

"Steven what's wrong?" Y/n quickly asks getting up and heading to Steven on the other side of the Column.

"I saw a figure in the desert!" Steven cries worried.

"Hey, hey, It's alright buddy." Y/n says putting his hand on Steven's head. "The hot desert sun can play a lot of tricks on your eyes. Lots of desert explorers experience them in the forms of mirages. They think they can see water in the desert but really there's nothing there." Y/n explains. "It probably was a just a figure of you're imagination. We're going to be just fine Steven." Y/n reassures him but at that moment the column collapses, revealing a pink furred lion behind it. Y/n and Steven falls backwards in fright and Steven begins to panic.

"Ah! No no no!" Steven cries backing away but he gasps as a sand wall erects behind him, trapping him and Y/n who was stood in front of him with his arms blocking the Lion's path.

The lion however simply stands there glaring at Steven. It then yawns and collapses in front of the two, taking a nap.

"What the..." Y/n says confused.

"Huh." Steven wonders when he hears Y/n and he looks to see the napping lion. Steven gets up now and both he and Y/n look at one another for a moment confused.

The two cautiously approach the lion, but Steven flinches when the lion's ear twitches. Y/n continues to inch forward first and the lion gets up to looks at Y/n and then Steven.

Y/n gulps as he reaches out his hand and the lion looks at it then at Y/n. Y/n takes a deep breath before he slowly edges forward and his hand was soon on the Lion's mane. The hair was softer then Y/n had imagined it be but he could feel the small grains of desert sand that gave it some roughness.

"Hello." Y/n says as he begins to stroke the Lion's mane. "I think... he's friendly." Y/n says calmly to Steven as he continues to stroke the Lion's mane gently. Steven then carefully places his palm on the lion's nose.

"Don't bite!" Steven quickly backs off but the lion just looks at him. Steven places his palm on the lion's face again, as it allows him and Y/n to pet it, proving itself to be harmless.

"Aw, you just wanted attention." Steven says as he stroke the lion's body. "Didn't you, didn't you?"

Y/n stops stroking the Lion's mane now so that Steven could have a turn and the boy wastes no time. "Your mane, it's so soft." He says before he buries his face into its mane causing Y/n to chuckle and shake his head.

"So, you from around here?" Steven asks. "We're just here on business." He then climbs onto the lion as it licks its paw. "I really like your pink fur. You're like the cotton candy of the jungle!" The lion tips over, causing Steven to fall off, and he climbs back on again.

"Speaking of the Jungle. Why is it so far away from one?" Y/n begins to wonder.

But Steven was too fascinated with the animal to care. "I always wanted an animal friend. But I thought..." He accidentally falls off lion again. "It would be like a goldfish. Or a dinosaur! But I guess fate had other plans for Steven Universe..." The lion places its paw over Steven, exciting him. "...and his friend Lion."

A explosion occurs in the distance, creating a shock wave and covering Y/n, Steven and Lion in sand. They shake the sand off and see the Gems returning.

"Amethyst, bubble it away." Pearl's voice could be heard saying getting closer.

"No, quit being jealous, Pearl." Amethyst replies and the three can see she is holding a gem embedded in a pillow. "My kill, my keep." She states as she throws and catches it.

"I'm not jealous." Pearl is quick to say crossing her arms. "Just be careful, if you drop it on the sand it'll rebuild everything!"

Steven suddenly gasps. "Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl are coming. Quick, put my head in your mouth!" He says to Lion and tries to open Lion's maw.

Before Y/n can stop him however Pearl notices Lion. "Steven! Y/n! What is that?! What are you doing?!" She cries and the Gems summon their weapons.

"Uhhhh... U-Uh stop! It's okay! Look, he's totally tame." Steen says throwing his hands up.

"It's actually quite friendly." Y/n says defending the lion.

"That's impossible." Pearl states.

"No it isn't! I-I taught him to say "I love you." Steven says as he moves Lion's maw. "I love you." Steven says in different voice.

"That's so sweet! I-I love you too." Amethyst says

Pearl groans and dispels her spear. "Get your hands out of that thing's mouth. We have to get the Desert Glass out of the desert." She says as she tries to snatch the pillow off Amethyst.

"I got it." Amethyst says as she begins to walk away with Pearl following.

"Let's go, you two." Garnet says now.

"Okay, give us a sec." Steven begs and Garnet nods before she walks off to stop Pearl and Amethyst fighting.

Y/n and Steven turn to the lion again now.

"Hey Lion, We gotta go. I had a lot of fun, I feel like you really get me." Steven starts but the Lion stares blankly at them. "Shhhh..." Steven hushes putting a finger too the lion's mouth. "This is already too hard for the both of us." He says before sadly walking away to catch up to the Gems

"Goodbye Lion." Y/n says with a smile as he stokes the Lions mane once more and gives a wave before joining Steven and the Gems.

"Amethyst, that pillow needs to be contained." Pearl could be heard stressing.

"Yeah yeah, I know what to do with it." Amethyst lazily says.

The Lion turns around as it watches the group leave.

It was later in the day and Steven and Amethyst were napping under a pillow fort made with the beach house couch cushions, Placed on top of the pillow fort was the Desert Glass. Y/n was sat near the fort with a book in his hand reading as a calm silence filled the beach house.

The peace is disturbed however when a scratching noise could be heard and Steven slowly wakes up. "What's that sound?" He asks.

Amethyst slaps her hand over Steven's mouth. "All I hear is your mouth." She says not even bothering to open her eyes.

"I thought the Gems didn't need sleep." Y/n asks.

"We don't." Amethyst sighs content. "Feels good though."

The scratching noise could be heard again now and Steven grumbles getting up. "Razzle, razzlerrr. Probably some kid trying to sell me lava insurance." He says reaching the door and the scratching could be heard again. "Hold your britches!"

Steven says as he opens the front door, revealing it to be Lion, and Steven gasps. "Lion!"

"Lion?" Y/n quickly says surprised to hear Steven say the name and he puts his book down. He moves to the door and much to his surprise Lion really was there. "How did he even get here?" Y/n asks confused as he steps outside and starts to stroke Lion's mane.

"Oh my gosh! This is such a surprise! You came all this way to see us?" Steven asks Lion delighted.

Lion attempts to enter the house, but Steven halts him. "Woah, you're fresh." He steps outside and closes the door. "You can't go in there, Amethyst is pretend-sleeping. But whatevs, we're together again. Now we can do everything friends do." Steven cheers.

"Actually I'm afraid you'll have to count me out for a bit Steven." Y/n says.

"Whaaat?" Steven whines sadly.

"I need to go do grocery shopping for a bit otherwise my dad and I won't have anything to eat." Y/n says and Steven sighs understanding.

"Once I'm done I'll come back okay?" Y/n says and Steven cheers back up. "I'll only be a hour or so, Have fun with Lion." Y/n says with a wave to both Steven and Lion as he descends the stairs to the beach house.

Steven was standing a top of a cliff with Lion sitting at the bottom.

"Okay, here I come. I'm gonna jump. Get into position, ready?" Steven calls out but Lion remains still.

"And, catch me! I'm jumping!" Steven says standing still but again Lion still does nothing.

"Catch me! I'm falling! Do it, catch me, I'll die! Eeee!"

Lion just glares at Steven.

"Okay, obviously, you're not into this..." But Steven accidentally trips and falls down the cliff, landing face down. "...game."

Y/n was in the local convenience store as he had several items in a basket. 'I wonder how Steven's getting on with Lion?' He wonder to himself.

Steven was now holding a tennis ball. "Okay, gonna throw this ball. Here it comes!"

Steven hurls the ball and it lands in front of Lion, with no reaction at all.

"WHAAAAAAAAT?! That throw was so good!" Steen cries as he runs over to pick up the ball. "Lion! All you gotta do is catch it in your mouth, see?" Steven then demonstrates, but Lion remains indifferent. "Aw, you don't like that one either?"

Lion begins to walk off, but Steven stops him. "Okay, wait, I've got something you've gotta like!"

Steven had brought Lion towards the pizza restaurant on the board walk.

"Fish Stew Pizza." Steven says lookign up at the sign. "Cats love fish, everybody loves pizza, so you're gonna love this!" He says to lion before he peeks through the glass door. "Woah, this place is jumpin'! Wait here, we're gonna blow some minds."

Steven enters the restaurant. Inside, Onion is eating pizza and Ronaldo is using his laptop.

"Hey guys!" Steven calls out but no one reacts. "I'm doin' okay, you know? Just gettin' some pizza. Kofi, Kiki." He leans against the counter.

"What're you having, Steven?" Kiki asks.

"Large pizza please, extra fishy." Steven says.

"You must be hungry." Kiki comments.

Steven chuckles. "I'm ordering for two."

Ronaldo spits out his drink. "Steven's pregnant?!"

"I don't think so, but I have a giant pet lion right outside!" Steven declares now.

"You're not "lion" are you?" Kiki asks not believing him.

Steven laughs. "That's funny. But I'm not."

"I believe it!" Ronaldo quickly says. "Lots of weird stuff happens in Beach City. You'd know if you read my blog "Keep Beach City Weird"! I also have buttons!" He reveals a set of buttons under a coat.

"Just go outside and see for yourselves." Steven says and Kiki, Ronaldo and Onion exit the place.

"This is amazing!" Ronaldo's voice can be heard crying.

"Mm-hmm!" Steven nods.

"It's invisible!" Ronaldo cries in disbelief.

"Huh? What?!" He says confused and he runs outside to see that Lion had disappeared. "He's not invisible. He's pink."

"Pink?" Ronaldo asks feeling the air aimlessly. "How can he be invisible and pink?"

"There's nothing out here, Ronaldo. Steven was "lion". Sorry for using the same pun twice." Kiki says heading back inside the shop.

"Bet you're not even pregnant..." Ronaldo says as he walks back inside too.

"No, I'm telling the truth, he's real! Onion, you believe me, right?" Steven asks but Onion glares at Steven angrily.

Steven had walked back to his house, disappointed. As he ascended the stairs he could see Lion clawing at the front door of the house. "Huh?" He gasps before he gets annoyed. "Hey, hey Lion! You left me at the pizza place, I looked like a fool! I had to eat a whole pizza by myself!"

Lion breaks through the door and jumps inside the house. Amethyst was still fast asleep under the pillow fort, unawakened by the disturbance.

"Lion, Lion no!" Steven tells him off but Lion glares at the Desert Glass on the pillow fort. "Lion?" Steven asks.

Lion emits a magic roar at the pillow fort, knocking back Amethyst on the couch, and the Desert Glass next to Steven's bed.

Amethyst just yawns still not bothering to open here eyes. "Keep it down Steven." She says before falling back asleep.

"What was that for?" Steven asks but he looks to where Lion was looking. "The pillow?" Stevn runs up to his bed and picks up the Desert Glass. "Is this what you wanted? This pillow? I've been trying to play with you, and feed you, 'cause I thought we were friends. Did all of that mean nothing to you?"

Lion jumps up towards Steven, and Steven runs out of the house. "Fine! I don't care! If you want it, you can have it!"

Y/n was walking towards the beach house when he saw a pillow with a gem on it land near him. "Isn't that...." The beach begins to shake cutting him off and the Desert Glass begins to erect several sand structures all around. Steven runs down to the beach near Y/n to witness the formation, when Garnet and Pearl exit the house too.

"Y/n! Steven! The Desert Glass, it's rebuilding its castle." Pearl cries as Amethyst comes outside now. "Why didn't you bubble it earlier?!" She asks her.

"Welcome to shrug city, P." Amethyst shrugs.

"Don't move, we're coming!" Pearl shouts out to Y/n and Steven.

"Okay!" Steven shouts back but a sandstorm begins to engulf the pair.

Steven with the help of Y/n pushes through into the eye of the sandstorm, where many sand structures had formed. The Desert Glass rises atop a very tall center column with several pillars branching off of it.

"There it is, the pillow!" Steven points out to Y/n.

"Pearl said to not let it touch the sand. We have to get it off the sand." Y/n realises.

"Let's do this!" Steven declares and he and Y/n begin to hop between the many crumbling sand structures towards the center column. Outside the sandstorm, the Glass has erected a massive sandstone wall.

Garnet was landing punches on the wall with no impact. "This wall's not moving!"

"We gotta get through before things get any..." Pearl starts but Amethyst is launched in the air by a rapidly growing column.

Back inside the sandstorm, Steven and Y/n continued to maneuver their way towards the Desert Glass. Just as Steven is about to reach the top, the crumbling sand structures send him falling towards sand spikes on the ground.

"Steven!" Y/n cries out worried.

As Steven is plummeting to his doom, a shadowy figure suddenly rushes in and catches him in mid-air. Steven looks down and sees that it is Lion who comes to his rescue. "Lion!"

Lion hops between the sand structures to safety.

The column Y/n was on began to crumble and he looked for the safest way to get off it.

"Lion we have to help Y/n!" Steven quickly says and Lion sprints forward.

Y/n! Jump!" Steven calls out and Y/n looks down to see Steven and Lion below him. Y/n wastes no time as he drops down landing on Lion's back.

"Dropping in?" Steven jokes.

"Well...It's better the cat puns." Y/n sighs before he turns his attention to the Desert Glass.

"Oh Lion, You didn't come here to steal the pillow, you came here to protect us from it!" Steven says.

Lion growls in agreement, as the Desert Glass builds more walls to protect itself.

"It's putting up more defenses." Y/n calls out over the howling sand.

"But how are we gonna get up there?!" Steven asks.

Lion lets out a magical roar, decimating some obtruding sand spikes.

"Yep, sounds good." Steven says having no more questions.

"Let's go!" Y/n says to Lion.

More sand columns erect to try and block the trio's path. Lion roars again, knocking over the columns and creating a path, and makes a sprint towards the top of the center column.

"Now, Lion!" Steen shouts.

Lion roars, breaking through the final wall, and emerges through it, with Y/n, and Steven who had the Desert Glass in his hand. The sand structures and sandstorm immediately dissipates. Lion makes a rough landing, flinging both Y/n and Steven tumbling in the sand. The Gems then emerge from the sand and Steven chuckles nervously.

Y/n and Steven make their way over to the gems and Pearl quickly bubbles the Desert Glass away. "We should've done this in the first place."

"In my defense, I forgot." Amethyst says now.