Opal

My mother's name is Opal. And the ring she gave me was set with one.

I looked at it in awe. It was so beautiful, more beautiful than anything I had ever seen. I glanced up at my mother. "Are you sure?" She smiled, but there was something in her smile that said more than she could say aloud, in front of the Peacekeepers. "Yes. Glimmer, that ring could save you." She glanced at the guards, who it seemed hadn't heard her. She smiled again. "Make sure you come home, ok?"

"Of course I will. I'll make sure you get your ring back."

She hugged me, and while her head was on my shoulder, she whispered to me. "Twist the gem."

As soon as I was on the train, alone, I took off the ring and twisted the gem. I almost yelled in surprise as the opal was pushed to one side and a deadly-looking spike popped out. I carefully capped the gemstone back on, and all of a sudden it was a beautiful, innocent ring again. I smiled as I realised that both opals, the gemstone on my ring, and my mother, were beautiful, but deadly.