If you review, you get to see a sneak peek of the next chapter which I have already written. Unless you're a guest, in which case I can't send you anything. Soleana, you get nothing.

This is short, and so is the next chapter, but I'm nearly done with the next chapter so don't worry.

Now that it was apparent what a dangerous position the Crystal Gems were in, Ruby's mind snapped into focus. She needed Sapphire.

Sapphire was the one gem who could calm her down. No matter what gems or aliens they were allying themselves with, how could she have just ignored her? Even if she didn't want to fuse- even if she didn't want to fuse with her.

And now Ruby had no idea where she had gone.

"Sapphire?" she shouted, warping from place to place. But what if she had warped somewhere and then walked out? "Sapphire? Sapphire! Please!"

Eventually she thought of the homeworld warp. Clearly it would be dangerous right now, what with the homeworld gems coming back, and they might try to repair the warp- but even then, if she smashed it again maybe it would get something DONE for once!

She warped in.

It was deadly silent, and Ruby crept back into the shadow of a pillar, a bundle of nerves in the pit of her stomach. "Clearly Sapphire wouldn't have gone here, time to go," she said, shaking it off with a laugh. "Okay, bye now!"

"RUBY!"

There was a horrible cracking sound and Ruby spun around. "SAPPHIRE!"

"The citrine won't come out for at least an hour or two," Peridot said in an attempt to crush Steven's spirit. Steven's spirit was resilient.

"I get to see another gem in only an hour or two?" he said happily, staring at the orange, square-faceted gem and cradling Pearl in his arms. "I wonder what she looks like. Or is it a he?"

"All gems are she's, clod," Peridot muttered, resigning herself to another hour of this.

That was when Lapis straightened and whispered, "Steven! Steven. Steven-"

"Lapis?" the boy said nervously. "Are you okay?"

"Yes! No-" Clara scrambled to the blue gem's side.

"Do you need to say something?" she said gently.

"Jasper called for reinforcements," she said.

"We know. There was-"

"Nonononono," Lapis moaned, rocking back and forth. "Not just gems. Aliens. They were allies in a war, you see, they've always hated Earth- been drawn to it- you have to have seen them at least once, how else could the Earth have survived? Please- no, Jasper- don't hurt them. Please don't hurt them. Please, please, please don't hurt them…"

"SAPPHIRE!"

"I'm okay! Get back, Ruby! Get-" a blue blur pushed Ruby over as a pillar toppled down behind them, then pulled her onto the warp pad just as their pursuer showed its face.

"Doctor," Clara said. "We need your help. Doctor, wake UP!"

"EX-TER-MIN-ATE-"

Oh hey, you know what sounds great? Taking a break. Let's make the next chapter calm and reasonable and keep all the characters out of danger for a little while, huh?

*evil laughter*