Gem Glow

At the Big Donut, the local doughnut shop, Steven Universe (Zach Callison) is upset to learn that his favorite brand of ice cream sandwich, Cookie Cat, has been taken off the market. The Big Donut employees Lars and Sadie (Matthew Moy and Kate Micucci) allow him to keep the now-empty Cookie Cat freezer.

Returning home, Steven finds his guardians, the Crystal Gems, fighting off acid-spitting centipede-like monsters called "Centipeetles", using weapons magically summoned from the gemstones on their bodies: Amethyst (Michaela Dietz) with her whip, Pearl (Deedee Magno Hall) with her spear, and Garnet (Estelle) with her gauntlets. They destroy the Centipeetles, but Garnet warns that the creatures' mother must be nearby.

After the battle, the Gems tell Steven that they stocked up on Cookie Cats for him when they heard the product was being discontinued. Excitedly, Steven sings the Cookie Cat advertising jingle. As he eats the first one, the gemstone on his belly begins to glow. After the glow fades, he asks the Gems to teach him how to summon his Gem weapon.

Each of the Crystal Gems tries to teach Steven using their personal philosophies: Pearl urges hard work and dedication; Amethyst tells him to let it "just happen"; and Garnet advises him to channel the energy of the universe. Baffled, Steven decides to recreate the circumstances in which his gem started to glow: the Gems stand in the same positions around the kitchen, and he sings the jingle again. Although he is disappointed when his gemstone doesn't glow, the others reassure him that he is still a valued member of the team. When he takes another bite, his gem glows again and manifests his weapon: a pink shield that ricochets around the room. Steven concludes that eating Cookie Cats activates his gem.

Just then, the Centipeetle mother attacks. Although the Gems tell Steven to stay in the house, he loads the remaining Cookie Cats into the portable freezer and runs out to join the battle. He attracts the giant creature's attention, but eating the Cookie Cats does not summon his shield. Steven throws the freezer at the Centipeetle, and the resulting electric shock immobilizes it for long enough for the others to defeat it.

As Steven buries the wrappers of the Cookie Cats, the others gather around him to reassure him that he will learn how to control his shield someday.

• "Gem Glow" on Cartoon Network
• "Gem Glow" on IMDb
• "Gem Glow" at TV.com