"Okay guys, we gotta stick together...! We could get lost here, well, separated," Steven said, glancing back at the other two Gems.
Ruby sighed, crossing her arms and looking around the crowded area. "You said there's a food court?" she asked, and the boy nodded happily.
"Yeah, definitely! We can eat there later!" he replied.
"Which shop do you wish to visit first, Steven?" Sapphire asked calmly, and the boy took a moment to think.
"Oh, how about the video game store! I don't think I'll buy anything, but games are really cool to look at! Or the bookstore! Yeah, let's go to the bookstore first!" Steven stated, beginning to head forward and waving his hand for them to follow. Ruby and Sapphire quickly followed after him.
'I better not get lost; there's too much people here. Why did there have to be so much people here on Steven's birthday?' Ruby thought uneasily, glaring back at the people who gave her weird looks as they passed by, as if confused at her short height.
"Stop worrying, Ruby," Sapphire reminded, and Ruby rolled her eyes. Stupid future vision and Sapphire knowing what she was about to complain about.
"We've never really gone out of Beach City before...why couldn't Steven just pick somewhere there?" Ruby began, and Sapphire glanced at her before turning to watch Steven run into a store called 'Barnes and Nobles', a name which she didn't really understand.
"Just have fun Ruby, and try to act like you're enjoying yourself when Steven is near."
"Fine..." Ruby sighed, and the two of them entered the store, a cold breeze of fresh air swishing past them as they did so.
They passed the register counter, and there was a young woman there, who caught a glimpse of them. Ruby caught the surprised look on her face, to which she rolled her eyes and continued to keep up with Sapphire.
Steven rushed up to the kid section of the books, searching for books appropriate for his age. He smiled up at all the new colorful books. So many to read! Yet he likes the good books, not boring ones. There were books he never understood. Slowly walking to the left beside the shelf as he observed each book cover, he hadn't realized he had wandered too far off to the adult section of the store. Sapphire glanced over to Ruby for a quick moment before watching Steven, her as well not noticing he was in the adult section. She walked up to him as he picked up a book, turning it over to see the cover, which looked really weird.
"What...? Hey Sapphire, why are they naked?" the boy asked as Sapphire reached his side, to which she glanced down at the book he was holding. Gasping, she quickly grabbed it from out of his hands and stepped back, hiding the book.
"It's not important," she quickly said, heading around him and putting the book back. She quickly led Steven back to the kid's section.
Ruby mulled about the children's section, looking as miserable as ever until Steven caught her gaze. She immediately put on a wide smile, waving to him as he passed, but as soon as he was out of sight, she huffed and continued to scowl at the large shelves in front of her. She hated being upset during Steven's birthday, but something was just setting her in a terrible mood. Sniffing, she picked up one of the books and quickly flipped through it. Groaning as she didn't understand most of it, Ruby placed it back on the shelf and pricked her head as Sapphire headed up to her.
"Keep an eye on him Ruby, he wants to spend time with you...and keep him out of the adult section, he's too young for that," Sapphire said, pausing as she noted Ruby's mood. "Don't get upset, okay...?" she reminded, and Ruby blinked, glancing away.
"Yeah yeah, I know..." Ruby breathed, turning back around as Sapphire nodded and headed away to wherever she was going to. Not that it was important, Ruby supposed.
"Ruby, Ruby!" Steven called, rushing up to the red Gem, a book in his hands. She turned around, facing him as he neared up.
"Yeah Steven?" she answered, blinking as he held a book up so she could see the cover, at the same time stepping up next to her side.
"Which pony do you like the most? I like that one!" Steven stated happily, pointing at the black, tall pony, with a long horn on top of its head and wings on its back. It seemed to be wearing armor of some sort, and there was purple glitter rising from the top of its body, surrounding it.
"Oh-uh..." Ruby started quickly, squinting her eyes as she scanned the different animals on the cover.
"Those three look cool," she finally said, pointing up near the title words, gesturing to the three Siren creatures that illuminated three different colors.
"Ohhhh the Sirens! Nice!" Steven said, holding the book down. "I read the backstory thing and...their names are..." he quickly opened the book, looking inside it. "Adagio is the yellow one, Aria is the purple one, and Sonata is the blue one!" Steven informed. He quickly turned around and headed back down the aisle, placing the book back. "I'll try to get that book next time! It looks cool, though!" he said happily.
"Yep..." Ruby replied, watching him run around to the other side. Following him, Ruby blinked as he tried reaching up to a higher shelf, glancing at her for a moment.
"Here, let me help..." she started, stepping up to him and leaning down, allowing him to climb up onto her shoulders to get what he wanted. Once he stepped back down, she tried looking over his shoulder to see what it was. However, before she got to look, Ruby's head pricked as she heard quiet laughter coming from somewhere. Who was that-were they laughing at her?! Quickly stepping away from Steven, Ruby headed down the aisle, glaring at all the people who continued to look at her strangely. Passing the corner, she huffed as she didn't see anyone, and turned to go back to Steven, blinking as she realized he was gone.
"Steven?" she called some what quietly, rushing up to the end of the hall which was halted by a wall, and she turned the corner there. She sighed in relief as she spotted him there, observing the book he had in his hands. The boy glanced up as he noticed her, and he joyfully went up to her.
"Look! There's this villain in the book who can shape shift, just like you and the others!" he said, handing her the book. Ruby tilted her head, opening the book, noting the colorful pictures that displayed the villain's shape shifting.
"Wow," Ruby said, giving it back him. "That's neat," she finished.
"Yep!" Steven said, continuing to read the back cover information. Ruby suddenly paused as she heard more giggling, this time coming from behind her. She whipped around, to which the giggling abruptly stopped.
"Hey-who's there?!" she demanded, walking forward and passing a few more aisles. She froze as she saw three kids there. Well, they didn't look like kids, actually...more or so teenagers.
"What? Can't mind your own business?" the teen in the red shirt said, glaring down at the red Gem. The other two teens were wearing a green and yellow shirt, who looked just as annoyed.
Ruby blinked in surprise, narrowing her eyes at them. "EXCUSE me?! How about YOU mind your own business?! I can hear you laughing at me from all the way over there!" Ruby deadpanned, clenching her fists in mild annoyance.
"Listen, midget. You don't tell us what to do. Especially when we're stronger and obviously bigger than you," the teen in the yellow shirt snapped back, taking a step forward, causing Ruby to jump back.
"Wanna bet?!" Ruby hissed, gritting her teeth angrily.
All three teenagers suddenly began to laugh, glancing at each other.
"There's nothing to bet, stupid! Can't you see, we are CLEARLY stronger, and CLEARLY bigger. You blind?" the teenager in the green shirt pointed out.
Ruby blinked, her rage increasing. "Oh ho ho, you don't know who you're messing with. There's so much to bet. I am clearly stronger and bigger than you," Ruby growled, about to explode.
"Hah, yeah right. That boy you're with over there said you can shape shift. What a lie! Prove it," the teen in the red shirt seethed.
That's it. She was DONE!
"Oh, I WILL PROVE IT! I WILL DEFINITELY PROVE IT!" Ruby suddenly screeched, taking a step back as she stomped on the floor. Her body suddenly flashed white, her form zapping as it grew bigger and bigger, until her back hit the ceiling. The teens gasped in shock and horror, stumbling back and staring wide eyed up at the creature now standing there, glaring down at them in great anger. Ruby hissed, baring her teeth, flicking her tail as smoke puffed out of her nostrils, narrowing her eyes into slits.
"You were saying?! I CAN SHAPE SHIFT, I can be as BIGGER as you three idiots will EVER be, and I am STRONGER than you!" she roared out, taking a stomp forward, to which the three teens screamed out in terror, whipping around and fleeing the store.
"YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT!" Ruby growled, flexing her claws as she sat back, her head higher than the book shelves. It took her a moment to notice all the horrified looks she received, to which she blinked widening eyes, flinching back a bit. She looked up at the surveillance camera, which was aimed directly at her. She wasn't supposed to reveal her powers out here, and she just did.
Crap.