"Are you sure of this, my Diamond?" Rose asked Blue Diamond. They were in the throne room discussing an idea to stop the wars between the Yellow and Blue kingdoms for good.

"I am positive," Blue Diamond said. Her voice was very soft and soothing but still a little deep. "This is the best chance we have to stop the wars."

"I just worry about Lapis' part in it," Rose said. "This seems like it would be very sudden and shocking to her."

"I've already thought ahead of that," Blue Diamond said. "The event won't take place until a month after Yellow Diamond and her sons get here. That should hopefully give Lapis just enough time to warm up to the idea and keep Yellow Diamond from getting impatient."

"Is this best for her, though?" Rose asked.

"It's what's best for our people," Blue Diamond said. She took off her hood, stood up from her throne and walked over to a window opening. "I had to do things in my life I was never too happy about to better the lives of my people. Unfortunately, Lapis can't avoid it being next in line to the throne."

"How are we going to tell her this?" Rose asked.

"We'll have to wait for the opportune moment," Blue Diamond said. "You my go, Rose."

"Yes, my Diamond. And good luck," Rose said exiting the throne room.

Blue Diamond made her way up to Lapis' chambers and knocked on the door. There was no reply.

"Lapis?" Blue Diamond asked opening the door and walking into the chambers.

The curtains were drawn so the room was pretty dark. There was no sign of anyone in the chambers.

"Now, where has that girl gone to?" Blue Diamond asked herself with a little laugh.

Meanwhile, outside in the gardens, next to a shimmering pond, there was a beautiful young, blue gem. She was using her hydrokinesis and creating small figures and pictures in the water.

"Lapis?" someone called out. Lapis backed up behind a tree that was close to her. "Lapis? Are you out here?"

"Oh no," Lapis said to herself in a whisper. "It's Rose."

It was true. The person calling Lapis' name was Rose.

"If she finds me out here, she'll definitely tell Mother," Lapis said to herself.

Lapis placed her hand on her teardrop-shaped gem on her back. "Come on, wings," Lapis whispered. "Please don't fail me now."

Lapis slowly sprouted shimmering water wings from her gem. She had always had trouble flying while growing up. She just hoped she would able to fly perfectly at that moment.

Lapis started to flap her wings and lifted herself up off the ground. She made some rustling in the trees before she took off into the air. Rose looked in the direction the rustling noise came from.

"Must have been a bird," Rose said and shrugged it off. "Lapis?" she called again as she continued to look through the gardens.

"I think I've got it!" Lapis happily exclaimed to herself. She was flying smoothly and kept her wings in sync with each other.

Suddenly, there was a large gust of wind that threw Lapis' wing's synchronization completely off. She started to lose all balance and started to topple to the ground. Her wings vanished back into her gem. She couldn't concentrate and couldn't summon them back.

Lapis got closer and closer to the ground with great speed. She closed her eyes and braced herself for the impact of hitting the ground. Surprisingly, she didn't hit the ground. Instead, it felt like like she landed in someone's arms.

"Your majesty?! Are you alright?!" a worried voice said. Lapis didn't recognize the voice, though.

Lapis slowly opened her eyes. She had definitely landed in the arms of someone. She looked to the strangers face but it was hidden behind a soldier's helmet.

"Oh, yes. I'm fine," Lapis said slipping out of the stranger's arms and dusting herself off. "Thank-you for… you know… keeping me from face-planting onto the ground."

Lapis continued to stutter out as the stranger took off his helmet. Lapis nearly stopped talking altogether. The stranger had long, beige hair that stretched down his back. His skin was orange with stripes of red going along his arms and face. He wore a military uniform with a blue diamond on his chest. His eyes were golden-amber color that Lapis could have sworn looked like they shined the sun. And right in the middle of his face, where his nose should have been, was a small, orange gem.

"Well, thank goodness you are okay, your majesty," the stranger said with a bit of a bow.

"And your name is?" Lapis asked.

"Oh, how rude of me," the stranger said. "Jasper, captain of the royal guards."

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Jasper," Lapis said with a bit of a curtsy. "And there's no need for you to be so formal. You may just call me Lapis."

"Of coarse, Lapis," Jasper said with a little smile. Lapis smiled a little back at him.

"Lapis!" the two heard someone yell. "Lapis, come here now!"

"Oh no," Lapis said. "It's my mother. I have to go. Bye! It was nice meeting you!" Lapis yelled and waved as she ran in the direction the voice was coming from.

"Lapis!" Blue Diamond exclaimed embracing her daughter. "Where in the world have you been?!"

"Well, I was… I was…" Lapis tried to say.

"Never mind," Blue Diamond said. "I need you prepare for dinner. Please look your best and show up on time. We are having an important guest tonight."

"Yes, Mother," Lapis said and headed for her chambers. The whole time on her way to her chambers, Lapis couldn't stop thinking about the gem she had met in the gardens. His large mane, his soothing voice, and those bright amber eyes.

While Lapis was preparing for dinner, Blue Pearl was assisting her.

"Pearl?" Lapis asked while Blue Pearl was lacing her corset.

"Yes, mi lady?" Blue Pearl asked.

"Please, just call me Lapis," Lapis said.

"Sorry, mi la- I mean Lapis," Blue Pearl said. "Sorry."

"It's okay," Lapis said. "But, is there a new captain of the guards?"

"Yes, I believe so," Blue Pearl said. "I think he was hired about a week ago. Why?"

"I met him in the gardens today," Lapis said.

"Oh, I see," Blue Pearl said. "Quite charming, isn't he?"

"I'll say," Lapis said staring off into space. "Oh, but Pearl?"

"Yes?" Blue Pearl asked.

"Have you seen Peridot today?" Lapis asked. "I haven't seen her since breakfast."

"Oh, yes, I believe she's been at her lessons with that Steven fellow," Blue Pearl said.

"She's with Steven? Again?" Lapis asked. "She's been spending a lot more time with him lately. I wonder why."

"I'm not sure, Lapis," Blue Pearl said.

The two of them were silent for a little while after that.

"Pearl?" Lapis finally asked breaking the silence.

"Yes, Lapis?" Blue Pearl asked.

"My mother said that there would be a guest at dinner tonight. Do you have any idea who it is?" Lapis asked.

"Afraid not," Blue Pearl said. "There was a rumor around the castle though that the guest will be coming from the Yellow Kingdom."

"The Yellow Kingdom?!" Lapis exclaimed. "I thought we were at war with them."

"Well, yes, but I think that they're trying to form peace between our kingdoms," Blue Pearl said.

"How are they going to do that?" Lapis asked.

"I'm not sure," Blue Pearl said. "I've heard mentions of uniting the kingdoms, though."

"I wonder how we're supposed to do that," Lapis said and went back to getting ready for dinner.

Hey guys!

It's been a little while since I've written anything. I hope you like this story so far. I have some big plans for this story. I'll try and update as soon as I can.

If if there is anything that you might want to see in the future of this story.

Please leave aver a review if you like this story so far.

Catch you later!

~Stevidot4ever