Disclaimer: I do not own Steven Universe.
A/N: Happy belated mother's day to all kinds of mothers and caring individuals!
This chapter is all on its own. You can read "Happy Birthday!" and "Betcha!" first, but they aren't necessary to understand this chapter. This chapter is set during the rebellion.
Beautiful, Intelligent, graceful…
Sapphire might not have been one of the strongest gems physically. But every move she made was impactful.
Her fluid movements rivaled that of Pearl. It made Ruby feel awestruck and a little jealous when she saw the two working together.
Out of those closest to Rose, Ruby often felt out of place.
Maybe that was why she found herself relating to the earth-formed gem Amethyst.
Rough, compulsive and loud.
The two tiny gems got along well, much to Pearl's dislike. Ruby suspected Pearl's feelings stemmed from a deep sense of care toward the purple gem, and a strong disapproval for Ruby. It made for a "you're a bad influence' type of situation.
Regardless, when she and Amethyst would get into their antics, Ruby couldn't help but notice a certain Sapphire smile.
That smile.
Those eyes!
Sapphire's eyes were a blue unlike any other Ruby could remember in her long stream of consciousness.
They were so calm and distracting that Ruby could never look away from them, but she had often found herself fighting their pull.
Ruby had noticed an interest grow within her. She had always regarded Sapphire as a fellow gem, one who had been against the invasion from the beginning. But the more she spoke with the elegant Homeworld gem, the more she found she wished to learn about this teammate.
For some time various members of the team had made passing comments on how compatible the two tiny gems were. These were shot down in an instant, for they implied feelings not often welcomed on Homeworld.
However, eventually even Ruby could not deny what the others had seen.
Ruby and Sapphire had become good friends, almost inseparable.
After the long day, when the sun would set on Earth and the fighting would stop, the two would sit outside the makeshift cave temple. Sapphire would speak with Ruby till the light of another day rose in the sky.
Another day of fighting… but for what?
The possibility that Rose's small forces could win?,.. no
For the possibility of being stranded on Earth?...no
The possibility of being shattered for treason?... no
No.
At least not for Ruby.
Ruby fought for one more night, another night to see if the space would yet again shrink between her and the calm blue gem.
"Ruby" Came a firm voice from behind her.
It was Pearl.
The red gem focused, landing a single hit with her gauntlet into the chest of the Homeworld gem she had been fighting.
The hit made an impact on the squared green gem, fracturing it.
Without a moment to comprehend what was happening, the gem's figure warped into something unimaginable.
Ruby flinched.
"Watch your head."
Ruby ducked as a spear flew right at the green monster, causing it to retreat to its gem.
Poof
"Pearl!" The red gem exclaimed, "That's not the pl-"
"New plan." Pearl stated.
"Rose won't agree." Ruby tried to protest.
"The plan is directly from Rose." Pearl informed, cheerlessly.
Of course Pearl would follow Rose's orders without question, Ruby thought to herself. The red gem also knew that she, in all likelihood, would too. But she was not about to do so without asking, "Why?"
They had been fighting without meditated casualty for almost a year. To change the strategy for no reason didn't seem likely.
"Homeworld has finally realized we're serious." Pearl bowed her head, "And they have begun breaking our own."
"What!" A bead of sweat formed on Ruby's brow.
It has finally begun.
Rose had warned her followers of this, but urged them not to do permanent harm until Homeworld moved first.
"You have done well." Pearl scanned the area, "I'll bubble your gems. You can head back to the temple."
"It's still early." Ruby was surprised, "I can go help Sapphire."
"Sapphire can handle herself by herself." Pearl rolled her eyes, "Get Tanzanite to check on her if you're so worried. You've done enough for the day and that gem hardly enough."
Tanzanite was a quiet gem. Her form took on a simple yet elegant style. Ruby knew her well. Tanzanite was a pacifist and stayed at base tending to the gems who returned. She did all she could and often seemed to be one of the most busy in Ruby's eyes. Because of this, most of the gems had great respect for her and looked forward to that familiar face welcoming them upon return. However others, such as Pearl, took it as laziness and would make snide comments whenever they could.
"Will do." Ruby lied. Instead she took the nearest warp pad to where Sapphire was often stationed.
Feeling her feet touch the platform below, Ruby opened her eyes to see a handful of unfamiliar gems.
"Sapphire!" She called out, not able to make visual contact with the tiny blue gem.
The action earned looks from some of the Homeworld gems who then broke away to engage the new target.
"Ruby?" Sapphire replied, it drew Ruby's eyes to the other gem's location.
Their eyes met.
Though she was small, Ruby skillfully fought her way to the blue gem.
Sapphire was doing a good job against the five-
The blue gem landed a solid hit on a cream colored gem.
Poof
-make that 4, Homeworld gems.
Much like Ruby, Sapphire fought with her hands. But she primarily relied on her mind to create all sorts of advantages that helped compensate for her lack of physical strength.
"You came." Sapphire mused, as the two stood back to back.
"I just felt that-" I wanted to see you. "You might need help."
The two continued to fight.
"Not that you need it." Ruby was quick to add.
"I need it." Sapphire assured. "-but what's this about a 'feeling'. Don't go take my only specialty away from me now." The blue gem joked.
Ruby smiled, "For all I know you called me here."
"I can't do that." Sweet laughter rang through the fighting, "That's what makes it so remarkable that you're here."
A reassurance washed over the pair.
Homeworld gems shot their weapons and fired insult after threatening insult.
Nothing they could throw hit its target. The attacks only reminded the 'rebel' gems why they were fighting. And what they wished to protect the most.
With the two working together, it didn't take long until all of the Homeworld loyalists were retreated into their gems.
Ruby tried to catch her breath as Sapphire bubbled the gems neatly.
So many littered the floor it was hard to keep track.
"Usually it's so quiet at this post." Sapphire explained, "I wonder what's caused this influx."
Ruby knew why, but didn't wish for Sapphire to worry herself about the news just yet. With Sapphire's power, she probably had already guessed what course this rebellion would take.
The red gem aided in the bubbling silently.
"Ruby?" Sapphire began.
"Yes." She stopped her work, watching the blue gem brush long bangs out of her mysteriously captivating eyes.
"After we get back to the temple tonight, I would like to talk with you about something …specific."
"If it's important you should say it now." Ruby insisted, growing anxious. She hated waiting; it provided time for a million uncertainties to run through her mind.
Sapphire smiled, for she could sense that innermost concern.
The blue gem glided over to the troubled red one. Sapphire took Ruby's left hand, cradling it in both of her own.
Ruby watched with interest as Sapphire brought that palm to her lips, kissing it gently.
When both returned their gaze, each gem had the most telling flush on their cheeks.
"Please be patient." Sapphire asked of her friend, "It's nothing negative." She assured.
Ruby looked away.
Sapphire saw this and added, "At least I hope."
The red gem inhaled deeply. "You might already know." Ruby began, "Actually, I'm sure you must."
She could feel Sapphire's grip tighten ever so slightly, it drew red eyes to find blue ones. A smile immediately dawned on Sapphire's face, pushing her cheeks to become round and dimpled.
"I think I might-"
But before Ruby could finish, Sapphire's smile dropped. Her eyes held something, fearful and wounded.
Wounded.
Ruby looked down just as-
Poof
-the hands that held hers disappeared.
Red eyes darted upward to find a regenerated gem. They had the most heinous smirk.
"Sapphire was always a weak one."
"Jet?!" Ruby had known this gem. A cold realization ran though her, she thought she had known this gem.
The matte gem walked slowly toward were Sapphire had once stood.
"Why don't you just leave!" Ruby spat, "There is no reason to do this!"
"Do what?" Jet asked with a false innocence, "I'm just taking out some low grade trash."
Ruby clenched her fist as the midnight gem ran at her. Neither would hold back.
It was instantaneous.
Poof
Ruby saw the frail gem crumble to pieces and fall to the ground, littering the area around Sapphire's gem. It was such a striking contrast.
The red victor's mouth hung open as tried to comprehend that this would be the norm from now on.
How many gems would perish?
"Sapphire"
As Ruby picked the blue gem up, bubbling or destroying was no longer a priority.
"Sapphire!" Ruby called again, though she knew the blue gem could not hear.
Turing the gem over and over in her hands, Ruby noticed something unsettling.
A single gash could be seen in the fine cut.
What had it occurred?
Had Sapphire been so worn that a single fall inflicted the wound?
Would Sapphire return, be trapped in her gem to further fracture or turn into a monster entirely? Whatever the case, Ruby understood the severity.
The fighter took to the warp pad in a panic, running to the only person she knew.
"Rose!" Ruby called as she came to the beach.
The first gem she saw was Tanzanite.
"Tanzi" Ruby asked, "Have you seen Rose?"
The violet gem stood aside, "She's inside the temple." Tanzanite grew worried at the tears that had already begun to flow on her warm hued friend's face, "Are you alright?"
Ruby honestly shook her head as she passed the gem.
Tanzanite wrapped her arms around herself, leaning against the damp cave wall for support. Today had been emotionally taxing on everyone. How many gems had come back to the temple with Ruby's same reaction. Even worse, how many gems did not return at all…
Ruby found Rose inside, just as Tanzanite had said.
Hearing footsteps, Rose turned to the visitor, "Ruby?"
The red gem held out her hands in a wordless plea for help.
"What is it?" And Rose was at her side, shocked by what was in those trembling hands, "Is that…"
"Sapphire, she-"
Pearl, who had been talking strategy with Rose walked over to the sobbing gem. A part of her wanted so badly to reprimand the red gem for not listening to her earlier in regards to going to Sapphire. But another part of her empathized more than she liked to admit.
"Will she be ok?" Ruby choked, asking anyone who would answer.
Pearl looked to Rose, "It's obvious that the gem is significantly damaged, making the prognosis hard to determine." Came the undesirable reply.
"No." Ruby refused, as though the answer was something up for debate.
"I'm sorry, Ruby." Pearl said honestly, turning away from the scene for her own wellbeing. The slender gem looked under the table at a sleepy little Amethyst, before returned to the map she and Rose had been reviewing.
"But. We didn't-" Ruby sunk to the floor, "I and she… she didn't-" the red gem mumbled to herself brokenly, "This isn't the way it was supposed to be."
A high pitch chipping noise emanated from Ruby's hand in response. It confirmed Sapphire's fate.
Ruby quickly drew a breath through her teeth, her mind racing. This is why she didn't like waiting. Sometimes waiting didn't leave you with much time. "I waited till later." The red gem whispered, bringing the blue gem close to her, "I don't know what you wanted to say, and it no longer matters anyway. Before you g- Earlier I wanted to say something too."
Ruby brought the gem to her lips, returning the earlier gesture, "I have come to hold feelings for you. And-" The red gem could not bring herself to finish, because it was no longer relevant.
Had this been a frivolous piece of lore, the 'princess' would have surely awoken better than new at true love's kiss.
Unfortunately, the world does not work on such principles and Ruby knew she did not have magical kisses.
The gem stayed a gem, and Ruby stayed heartbroken.
Rose watched over her friends, like a grand tree watches over a weary traveler, "Ruby." The compassionate leader asked, "May I see her?"
Ruby begrudgingly presented the gem to Rose. Ruby did not look up as the tall woman pressed the blue gem to her cheek with care. The path of tears that had been shed for the pair and those of new ones ran over her friend. It made the gem glisten and glow.
The tears filled in the faults and made it whole.
Rose pulled the Sapphire stone away from her as Pearl gasped in shock, "Rose. You can-?" Pearl was surprised Rose did not know she possessed this power. After all, if Rose had known that this ability was in her she would have told Pearl.
Ruby could not see.
"Ruby."
She blindly stared at the ground, no longer crying and no longer lucid.
"Ruby."
The voice spoke, warm and distant.
She felt her body shift as something took her in its arms, whispering hushed words in her ear, "Everything will be alright now."
Ruby wanted to argue with the voice. How would it be alright? She raised her face and was met with-
Blue
"Sapphire."
Ruby could feel the familiar gem's laugh reverberate though her own chest.
"Wha-" The red gem gently ripped herself away from those arms, sure she must be hallucinating, "How?!" Ruby's eyes widened as she notice something very different, "Your eyes."
Sapphire quickly covered part of her face with her bangs, "I know it's…unflattering."
"nononono" Ruby assured, "It's lovely and mysterious and-" But she knew it didn't matter what she thought. Ruby just hoped that Sapphire would grow to realize herself just how precious she was, "And you're back!"
The blue gem smiled, finding herself in a tight embrace.
Ruby looked over at the other gems, Pearl looked as though she was franticly questioning Rose regarding what had happened.
Noticing Ruby, Rose peeked away from her interrogation, "You should go." She mouthed.
The two unwillingly parted and Ruby helped Sapphire on her feet.
The newly healed gem wobbled at first, but was soon able to walk unsupported. Not that Ruby let her walk for long.
"I'm fine." Sapphire promised, "And we're going the wrong way. The beach is over there." The blue gem pointed over Ruby's shoulder.
She tried to steer the fighter in the other direction, but Ruby would have none of it, "You have to rest."
"I'm healed." Sapphire flailed a bit in Ruby's arms and the red gem put her down. "And I want to talk with you."
"What happened today will never happen again. I'll make sure-" Ruby stated firmly, "We have forever."
The patient gem faced Ruby directly. "Even so." She felt as though part of Ruby's rashness had rubbed off on her as she said, "I can't bear to wait any longer."
"Alright." Ruby nodded, giving all her attention to the blue gem.
Sapphire found it suddenly difficult to express herself. She 'saw' so many paths this moment could take. But surprisingly, only one appeared for her if she were to speak her feelings truthfully.
So she did.
A/N: I try not to create OC gems, but in a 'rough draft' of this I had a whole thing about Tanzanite and Ruby talking. Tanzanite (the stone) is so beautiful! It made me want to keep her in the fic, even if it was just as a random description & cameo.
Jet was chosen because it relates to a toxic past relationship of mine. The individual had a connection to that stone. Also from skim readings about the stone, Jet is very close to coal. And though coal is useful it's not really all that clean and safe.
As promised the next chapter will be fluffy~