Spinel continued to cover her eyes as Steven guided her, "Are you sure you don't wanna tell me, love?"

"Nope!" Steven chirped.

From the sounds of the seagulls squawking and ocean waves, she could tell they were at the beach, running on a dock when they came to a stop.

"Alright… now open them!"

Spinel lowered her hand, and was surprised to find a yacht, with Greg standing on the deck, waving over to them.

"Wow, you rented a whole boat?" Spinel laughed, "Guess Greg's got a prom-ocean!"

Steven was confused for a second, then grinned, "Yeah, but to be pacific, he's got an accom-fish-ment!"

Spinel laughed at their awful jokes, "Sorry if I'm starting a pun war, I can't kelp it!"

"Oh good reef!" Steven joked.

"Alright, cut it out, you two!" Greg walked down from the boat. He wasn't laughing, but he didn't want to stop their comedic moment. "The ship's all ready to go!"

Steven perked up, "Awesome!" He began pulling Spinel's hand, "Come on! You should come!"

"Actually uh…" Spinel rubbed her arm, "I'm staying to… help out a friend."

The boy tipped his head to one side "You mean…?"

"Yes," She nodded, patting his head, "Now, you and Greg go have some fun. Just don't do anything… fishy."

Steven continued to laugh at her horrible pun, and Greg simply face-palmed, shaking his head.

Back at the barn, Lapis was laying on the top of the silo, hands on the back of her head. Clouds calmly floated across the sky as she reveled in the peace and quiet.

"Hey."

Lapis's eyes shot open, hearing Spinel's voice. She sat up, catching Spinel at the top of the ladder, smiling at her.

"... What are you doing here?" She asked, sounding grouchy.

Spinel responded with a friendly shrug, "Just… wanted to relax with you."

Lapis instinctively wanted to refuse, but something in Spinel's tone and attitude made her swallow her anger. She laid down once again, hearing Spinel lay down beside her at a comfortable distance.

For the first few minutes, Lapis couldn't relax as she felt incredibly awkward. However, as time went on, with Spinel not interrupting her moment of silence, Lapis found herself calming down and nearly fell asleep.

"If you have anyone you want to talk to, you can come to me."

Spinel's words chimed in her head.

"Erm…" Lapis tried to find something she could start, "When you said I can talk to you, does that mean I can talk to you about… anything?"

The pink Gem nodded, her eyes still closed, "Of course."

Lapis sat up, hugging her knees to her chest, "... It's… It's about Jasper."

Spinel opened her eyes from the mention of her enemy. She sat up and stared at the other Gem, "What about her?"

"It's just… I felt like I was both doing the right thing and the wrong thing at the same time. I-I was just trying to protect you and the Crystal Gems. You all saved me. B-But… I forced Jasper into the ocean against her will. I kept her bound to me. And… I almost fused with her."

"Fuse?" Spinel was baffled, "Jeez, didn't think you'd go that far to keep Jasper with you. But either way, I don't think you could keep her underwater forever."

"I know…" Lapis sighed, looking up at the sky, her hair blowing, "But Spinel… do you know what's the worst part?"

"What?"

Tears began to form in the blue Gem's eyes, "I… I almost... enjoyed it."

Spinel whipped her head around to stare at her, shocked.

Lapis lowered her head, hiding it under her legs, "I-It's horrible, I know. But… I was also really angry with Jasper. With them keeping my prisoner, forcing me to give them information. I wanted to take it all out on someone… and Jasper was the one."

Spinel's eyes glittered with sympathy, "Oh Lapis…"

The blue Gem hugged her legs closer to her, her crying muffled. Spinel moved closer and wrapped an arm around the Gem's shoulder.

"I-I'm a monster, Spinel!" Lapis wept, "I stole the whole ocean! I gave them your location! I tortured Jasper for months!"

"I know, I know…" Spinel held her closer, "But you're not a monster."

Lapis swiftly lifted her head and glared at her, "WHY?! Why am I not a monster?!"

"... If you were a monster, you wouldn't be crying about it," Spinel told her calmly, "We've already forgiven you for all that. If we hadn't, you wouldn't be here right now. But you are. And Jasper? She's none of our business. Not anymore."

Lapis sniffled and wiped a tear from her eye, "But she's out there, planning her revenge or something…"

"And when we find her, we'll just poof her and bubble her, so she won't bother anyone anymore," Spinel laughed lightly and stopped, "I promise."

Lapis took a few deep breaths then exhaled when she calmed herself down, "I hope so… But Spinel?"

"Hm?"

"Don't… Please don't tell anyone I felt this way. Not Steven, Peridot, any of the Crystal Gems, or even Jasper. I just want to leave it all behind."

Spinel sat still for a moment, but smiled and nodded, "I promise. I won't tell a soul."

The blue Gem gave her grateful look, "Thanks Spinel. You're an amazing Gem."

Spinel blinked and laughed a bit, "Ooh, Lapis! Ha ha ha!"

After a quick laugh, the two laid back down to relax, basking in the sun and cool weather. Lapis never felt better in her whole life, almost similar to when she was released from the mirror or when the Crystal Gems rescued her.

She knew joining the Crystal Gems was the best decision she had made.

Too short?