I know this episode is considered one of the worst episode in the series, but bear with me on this one :)

"Pearl, I'm sure you can take care of a Corrupted Gem by yourself."

"I know! I just... want you to be around to see it."

Spinel pinched her nose, "Pearl, I've seen you, Garnet, and Amethyst poof thousands of Gems before. Even more than me. Now, if you excuse me, I'm gonna go and help my new friends become friends. See you soon."

"But-"

When she ended the call, Spinel sighed in annoyance. She couldn't understand why Pearl would want her to come along on a mission she wasn't even needed for. Garnet on the phone said it herself, and even she sounded confused why Pearl wanted Spinel to come along.

Shrugging it off, she wandered back into the barn, seeing Steven draw a line on the floor with a purple marker.

"Sweetheart, what are you doing?"

Steven lifted his head, "Oh! I'm just suggesting that Peridot and Lapis would have separate sides of the barn!"

Spinel frowned at the idea, "I... don't think that's gonna work."

"Thank you! I've been telling them that!" said Lapis, still sour about living in the barn with Peridot.

"But why?!" exclaimed Peridot, still holding onto the tape recorder, "Your side has all the good stuff! You've got the propeller and the paint cans! You could do tons with those!"

Lapis dismissively glared at the green Gem, "I don't care about the paint cans. That's not the problem."

Peridot was left confused as Steven asked, "What's wrong, Lapis?"

"... It's her."

Spinel stared at the blue Gem with concern, "Lapis, I know things in the past weren't… the greatest, and I understand why you're acting like this, but Peridot's changed while you were away."

Lapis scowled at her, "You don't think I've seen that? I just can't stand the thought of looking at her, she was the one who dragged me here!"

"Hey! It wasn't my idea!" Peridot protested, "I was headed to Earth and I needed an informant! It should have been a simple mission. Things didn't exactly work out for either of us."

"You used me like everyone else did!"

"But it's not like that anymore! It's different now, I'm different!"

Spinel couldn't bear to watch them argue anymore, "HEY!" When she stopped them, she calmed down, "Lapis, why don't you go outside to relax, huh?"

At first, Lapis felt angered by Spinel's request, but still knew what she meant and left bitterly, flying up to the silo.

Steven rubbed his arm, "Geez, she's really got it that bad..."

"But I've sabotaged my own mission!" Peridot insisted, "I contributed in stopped the Cluster and saving the Earth! I even called Yellow Diamond a clod! A CLOD! How am I not appreciated for that?!"

"I appreciate you for that," said Steven.

"Here. I'll talk to her." Spinel stated before she walked out of the barn, following the blue Gem on the silo.

"Hey... Lapis?" The pink Gem mumbled, "I'm sorry for what I said back there. I... just don't like conflict. Trust me, I do that with the other Crystal Gems too."

Lapis didn't lift her head, "Then you don't have to drag yourself into this."

"Lapis..." Spinel sat close to the blue Gem, not too close though, "Like I said before, I understand your frustration. Heck, I hated Peridot when I first met her. But you know what, after that whole fiasco was done, I wanted to reach out to her."

"Why?" She almost scoffed at her.

Spinel let a soft smile appear on her face, "Because I knew there was much more to her than what meets the eye, so to speak. Like, what did you think of me when you saw me? Even like this?" She pointed at herself, gesturing to her appearance.

Lapis finally looked up at her, "I... don't really know. But I wasn't... scared of you. You did try to help me, and you and Steven did."

Spinel then laughed lightly, "And wow, I changed a whole lot the last time you saw me. Luckily, I'm still the friendliest, gentlest Gem in the galaxy!"

"But what are you trying to say?"

"What I'm trying to say is, it's okay to remember the past, but we shouldn't dwell on it or else, you'll never be able to move on. And it never hurts to give someone who doesn't want to hurt you anymore a chance. Even a little one."

Lapis was quiet for a moment, her navy hair blowing from the wind.

"I'm… gonna head back to Steven and Peridot. Will you be okay on your own?"

"... Yes…"

Spinel nodded, "Alright. I do want you to think about what I said, but I want to remind you that whatever choice you make, none of us are going to stop you. I promise."

Lapis glanced at her once again as Spinel made her way down the silo. She looked back up at the sky and sighed to herself.

Spinel opened the card and read it, "Aww, that's so sweet of you two..." Then she became stern, "But... I don't think forcing your kindness onto her is the best way to go.

"What?!" Peridot exclaimed, "But how would she know I want to show her my sweet?!"

Spinel let out a sigh and placed the card down, "I'm glad that you want to build a friendship with Lapis, especially after what you did to her. But if I learned anything about friendship, it's that you can't go to her and shove kindness into her face. You've got to let her come to you."

"But what if she never comes?" asked Steven nervously.

"Then... I guess she'll choose to live somewhere else." Spinel handed the the card, "Peridot. Steven. We must respect Lapis and the choices she makes. She'd been through so much, lived her life a certain way that is different than ours. She needs time to open up to us, especially you, Peridot. If she leaves, don't throw a fit and follow after her. Do you both understand?"

Peridot and Steven, who new felt crestfallen, nodded in understanding.

"So, we're just going to leave Lapis alone for the whole day?" Steven asked.

Spinel nodded firmly, "Yes. In the meantime, why don't we play some games or read more Fighters, how does that sound?"

The rest of the day went by quietly. Lapis remained on the silo, peacefully left alone as Spinel, Steven, and Peridot played in the fields or in the barn. Every so often, Spinel would glance up to the silo, silently hoping that Lapis would come join them. But still, she would never be mad at Lapis for her decisions.

The only thing she was mad at was that Pearl called her again to make sure she and everyone else was okay and if they needed any help. Spinel obviously refused, reassuring the pale Gem that they were just fine.

Eventually, dull gray clouds blanketed the sky, threatening them with possible rain and thunder, so the trio stayed inside the barn.

"Lapis sure is taking her time," Steven commented, being held in Spinel's lap.

Peridot kept impatiently pacing back and forth, grumbling her growing frustrations into her tape recorder. "There has to be something I can do for her! Something, something, something ..."

Steven got an idea, "Maybe a gift!"

The green Gem stopped, "A gift? Like how Spinel gave me my limb-enhancers back?"

"Yes…" Spinel seemed to approve of the idea, "Maybe when Lapis stops by, we'll surprise her with something…. And no, not water."

"Why?" Both Steven and Peridot asked. Spinel gave them a certain look, and they got the message after a moment of awkward silence.

Peridot tapped her recorder to her cheek in thought, "Maybe she'd like Fighters? Cats could be appealing to her."

Spinel considered it, but refused, "I don't think Lapis knows what cats are. And I doubt she'd want to read books about cats k-... fighting each-other. "

"Then... my Camp Pining Hearts DVD?"

"No." Spinel deadpanned.

Steven nodded in agreement, "Things became trash in Season 5."

Peridot groaned in annoyance, continuing to record, "There just has to be something... Uuughh..." She slumped to the floor on her back, "At least I have you, tape recorder..."

But then, the green Gem stared at her recorder.

"Aaaaand, done!" Peridot finished wrapping the ribbon around the gift, holding it up triumphantly.

"And the blue ribbon's such a nice touch!" added Steven.

"But remember," Spinel held a finger up, "We are only giving Lapis our present when she's present."

"What present?"

Spinel yelped and jumped back after hearing Lapis's voice. "O-OH! Lapis! Ha ha ha, you scared me!"

Lapis shrugged, "Sorry. I couldn't help it."

Peridot became excited and cleared her throat, "Lazuli, I'd like to present you… with this." The floating fingers kept their hold by the ribbon as it guided it over to the blue Gem.

"Oh oh!" Steven handed her the card as well, "And this too!"

First, Lapis took the card and read it aloud, "Dear Lapis Lazuli, I'd like to sincerely apologize for my past actions. I swear to the core of my gem that I will never do such horrible deeds ever again. Compliments to you, Peridot."

Peridot and Steven almost pretty much beaming at this point, and Spinel was happy as well, though she looked a little anxious yet hopeful.

Nodding slightly from the card, she took the gift from the fingers and gently ripped the paper open to reveal… the tape recorder Peridot would use.

"I thought that maybe you should have it instead," Peridot confessed, "I've already got my limb-enhancers back, courtesy to Spinel, and think of it as a machine to contain your most personal thoughts."

For a moment, Lapis didn't reply, trying to figure out how to use it. Spinel stretched an arm out and pressed the red button, beginning the recording. The blue Gem held it up and simply spoke;

"... Thanks..."

Peridot stared, and almost as if her world lighten up, smiled and giggled gleefully, blushing a deep green. Lapis blushed as well, nervously glancing away.

Spinel blinked in surprise, "Wait, Lapis... are you...?"

"... Yeah. I am." Lapis gave her a kind smile.

As quick as lightning, Spinel coiled her arms around Steven, Lapis, and Peridot, holding them up and in for a hug, "Yaaaaaay! Welcome to the family, Lapis!"

"You're gonna have so much fun!" Steven added.

Lapis almost felt herself lighten up even more, "G-Gee, thanks guys-"

They heard a loud noise, but not thunder or rain. In fact, a yellow glow appeared and the clouds dissipated to reveal a large red pod with a triangular eye looking around. The group screamed and ran for cover in the barn.

"What is that?!" Steven asked frantically.

"It's a Roaming Eye, a Homeworld tracking vessel!" Peridot answered, her whole mood becoming fearful, "Like I said, I'm public enemy number 1!"

Through the wooden ceiling, the pod's beam shone through the cracks, causing Peridot to gasp, but Spinel kept her arms wrapped around them. At first, it seemed like the Roaming Eye didn't notice them and floated away.

When they sighed in relief, the light shone upon them, revealing that the Roaming Eye caught them through the giant gap in the barn. Panicking, they all ran outside, but the giant pod caught them once more, it's light staring straight at them.

"All of you!" Spinel spread her arms out to block Steven and Peridot, "Stay back!"

Peridot cowered behind her, "Don't let them wipe my precious grin off this planet!" Steven hugged Spinel's leg out of fear.

However, Lapis stepped out, her hair blowing in the wind, "Spinel! Is there any kind of water source?!"

Spinel tried to think of one, but the Roaming Eye was already heading towards them. Steven realized what Lapis meant and ran over to the barn, taking out the water hose and turned it on, water pouring out.

Lapis used her powers and managed to create a giant water fist and flicked the Roaming Eye before it could hit them. Then she made the fist slam the pod right into the ground, the area around the impact creating two white diamonds outlines.

The blue Gem released the water as Spinel, Steven, and Peridot embraced her, cheering and laughing as the other Gems ran over.

"Steven! Spinel!" Pearl called out.

Amethyst saw the smashed pod, "Holy smokes!"

Spinel finished laughing, "Don't worry, Pearl! We're all fine!"

Pearl sighed in relief, "Oh good…"

"Yeah!" Steven outstretched his arms in excitement, "Lapis saved us... but I think Homeworld's after Peridot."

Peridot let out an "Eep!" before turning to Lapis, who gave her a gentle smile. Peridot felt reassured and grinned back.

Spinel saw their silent interaction, satisfied that they finally got along. Sadly, the happy moment ended when they heard something from the smashed Eye. A hatch opened, and a Ruby soldier emerged from it, turning to their direction with her gemstone settled in her left eye.

Oh... STARS no...

Dang, Spinel's got some great advice about friendship.

And OOOOO here come the fuckin' Ruby Squad