Steven continued to cry on the couch while Spinel told the other Gems everything.

"Why is Homeworld stealing humans from the boardwalk?!" exclaimed Pearl.

"I-I don't know!" Spinel yelled, "But we do know that Aquamarine and Topaz were the ones kidnapping Connie and everyone else!"

Garnet clenched her fists, "If it's them, that means they've been sent personally by the Diamonds."

"Not just that," Spinel looked away, "They were after me too."

Pearl's eyes widened, "Oh that's right... Blue Diamond was trying to find you. And now she sent those Gems here. Now that makes sense..."

Spinel sniffled, thick tears spilling down her face, "T-This is all my fault. I shouldn't have tried to escape, then these little monsters wouldn't be here."

"Oh Spinel, no..." Pearl hugged the pink Gem tightly, "Don't blame yourself. We're going to fix this. Trust me, we're going to end this, and everything will go back to normal. We won't let you or Steven get taken away."

Spinel looked up at her partner, "Y-You promise?"

"I promise," Pearl vowed, holding her hand to her chest.

Suddenly, Steven felt his phone vibrate and he picked it up, gasping, "I-It's Connie! I know where they are!"

"Then we're going there!" Amethyst proclaimed.

But Spinel frowned, "You guys go up ahead. I'm going to find something."

"Find what?" Pearl asked.

"Back-up."


At the Barn...

"Aquamarine and Topaz?!" Peridot shouted in panic, "Capturing humans?!"

Spinel nodded, "Y-Yes, and we need your help in saving them. Steven and the rest of the Gems are already out at Funland, since Connie texted him from there!"

Lapis was shivering, "Homeworld's back?!" She clutched her head. Pumpkin whined and nuzzled against her leg.

"They're not after you!" The pink Gem told her, "They're after the humans and me!"

"Why you?!" Lapis continued.

"Because I escaped from them! Blue Diamond took me away from Earth, but Steven and the Gems saved me! But now, the Diamonds must be looking for me, and we need your help!"

Spinel saw dread appear on Peridot's face, "W-Wait... what humans did they capture?"

"Connie, Lars, Sadie, Jamie, and Onion."

Peridot's face warped into sheer horror, "O-Oh no... they're using the list of humans Steven named that I made! Back at the Prime Kindergarten months ago!"

It was at this moment Spinel almost felt time stop. Boiling with anger, she grasped Peridot's shoulders, screaming, "YOU WHAT?! HOW COULD YOU?!"

"I-I was only doing my job!" Peridot told her, fearful, "I-I-I didn't know they were going to do this! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

Spinel continued to glare at Peridot for a few more seconds until she dropped the green Gem, tears spilling down, "P-Peridot... I'm so sorry... I just..."

Peridot felt her own tears slip down her cheeks, rubbing her floating fingers over them to wipe them away, "I-It's alright. I understand your behavior. I... I should've never done it. But I was loyal to Homeworld back then, I-I never suspected them to come back after you for those humans."

Spinel sniffled, rubbing her tears away, "We... We don't have much time left. We need to find the Gems at Funland. Will you help us?" She held a hand out for them.

Peridot instantly took the pink Gem's hand, "O-Of course! I'll do anything to take back for what I did!"

"... Lapis?" Spinel glanced over to the blue Gem.

Lapis looked very unsure, "I-I... I don't know. I don't want to get caught up in another war."

"It's not a war," Spinel told her, "They're not even after you. This is just a problem we can fix we all work together. I promise, Lapis, we'll all be there to protect you and this planet."

Silence filled the air of the barn, not even Pumpkin made another whimper. Lapis shifted her hand away, eyes glancing downwards in thought. She had thought about what Spinel, Steven, Peridot, and everyone else she had met done for her.

With a hesitant but determined frown, Lapis took Spinel's hand, "A-Alright... I'll help."

Spinel's eyes glistened, "Thank you, Lapis. It'll be over before you know it."


At Funland...

By dusk, Spinel, Peridot, and Lapis had arrived. The city was deafeningly quiet, but that didn't ease their worry. They heard yelling, and before they were seen, hiding behind the stands, they watched Topaz fighting against Pearl, Garnet, and Amethyst. Steven was standing way back, afraid and cowering. Seeing Steven like that made Spinel's chest swell with anger. Now she wanted to hurt Aquamarine and Topaz more than ever and she stood up, gritting her teeth.

"Wait," Lapis stopped her, "If they're after you as well, shouldn't you stay hidden?"

"But I've got to be there for my baby!" Spinel protested, her pigtails bristling.

Peridot was as concerned as her barn-mate, "Lapis is right. We don't want you to be in risk of being captured as well. We'll take down that Topaz, free those humans, and we'll all gang up on the Aquamarine."

Spinel felt her anger deflate, and after a few seconds, she caved in, "Fine. But please, you two promise me you won't let my son get taken away by those monsters."

"We promise," Peridot and Lapis replied in unison.

The pink Gem felt immense trust in the Gems she befriended. Nodding, the two ran to join the fight, trying to avoid harming the trapped humans trapped within the fusion. She almost smirked with pride as the Topaz looked slightly unnerved from how many Gems were around her. However, another thought came to Spinel; where was-

"There you are~"

The cooing voice make Spinel jump back, back against the wall as she stared into the smug eyes of the tiny blue Gem.

Aquamarine grinned, "Oh dear Spinel, we were looking everywhere for you. Now..." Her face darkened, "You're coming back with us to Homeworld. Blue Diamond means no harm~"

"NEVER!" Spinel screamed, preparing herself, ready to fight.

Frowning impatiently, Aquamarine pulled out her wand, "You are a feisty one, aren't you? No problem, my wand will put an end to that attitude- ACK!" A fist grabbed her and Spinel blinked in surprise to see who is was.

"... Get away from her..." The newcomer snarled before tossing the tiny blue Gem away, holding the wand in between her fingers.

Spinel's eyes bulged, "J-Jasper?!"

Jasper turned to look at her, her amber eyes no longer filled with malevolence or revenge, "Are you alright?"

The pink Gem nodded, "Y-Yeah, but how did you-"

"I saw the ship approach from the Kindergarten a while ago," Jasper explained, "And I figured you all needed some extra muscle." She then crushed the wand in her clenched fist, opening it to let the remains fall to the ground.

"Oh Jasper..." Spinel's eyes glittered with light, "Thank you so much..."

Aquamarine got up, fluttering her wings angrily, "What is the meaning of this?!" She then saw her broken wand and the two Gems glaring at her, "AH! My wand!"

"Looks like you can't freeze anyone anymore," The orange Gem mocked, with Spinel raising her fists up, "What'cha gonna do now?"

The tiny blue Gem scowled, but Spinel could see fear in her eyes as she yelled, "Topaz! We need the humans into the ship now!"

The yellow fusion obeyed, leaping onto the merry-go-round and forcing open the hatch of the door and entered as Aquamarine flew in as well. Before it could close, Spinel held the door open with her elongated arms and struggled to keep it open.

The pink Gem looked over to Jasper, "Quick, get the humans! Do anything you can!"

"Spinel?!" Steven yelled, "Why is she here?!"

The other Gems also glared at the orange Gem and got ready to attack.

"We... don't... have time... to explain!" Spinel struggled to speak. Jasper took the message and ran up to the ship, heading inside. Spinel finally let go and fell to the ground, panting.

"Well..." Garnet spoke with subtle anger, "Now you can."

Spinel saw the look in everyone's eyes, even Steven was wary. Hanging her head, she told them, "Look. I wanted to give Jasper a second chance."

"She tried to kill you!" Amethyst spat.

"I know!" Spinel lashed back, standing up, "I knew you would react this way if I told you I released Jasper so she could make her own choices, but no! She wanted to stay and fight and talk with me! I never told you because I knew what you were going to do, and I never wanted that for her. She suffered just like we did, so please, let's just give her one chance. I've talked to her, she understands. I promise."

But she saw nothing but hesitance in their eyes.

"Please... you can trust me, and her too."

Steven glanced away, and the Gems looked at each-other in thought.

Pearl stared at her sternly, "Are you sure she's not out to get us?"

Spinel nodded, "I'm sure."

Garnet sighed, "... Alright, Spinel. We trust you. But if she tries anything, be sure we are bubbling her again and you won't stop us."

Spinel gulped but agreed, "U-Understood."

There was still a doubtful look in Lapis's eyes, but Peridot seemed a bit more open. From above, they saw the hatch open and Jasper, holding the humans in her arms. She leapt down from the merry-go-round and released Connie, Jamie, Sadie, and Onion onto the ground.

"That Topaz got me really good," grunted Jasper with a smile, opening her fists to reveal the two yellow round gemstones, bubbling them together.

Spinel's eyes brightened, "Wow, you saved them! We can't thank you enough!"

Steven slowly walked to the tall orange Gem, trying to give her a weak smile until he noticed someone was missing, "W-Wait, where's Lars?!"

"There was another human?" Jasper gasped slightly before they all looked up to see Aquamarine at the hatch, her face twisted in a dark scowl.

The boy's face turned serious, "I know what I have to do."

"NO! STEVEN!" Spinel cried out, but Steven leapt up to the hatch of the ship.

"I'm not leaving without bringing back what the Diamonds wanted, complete with that Spinel," The tiny blue Gem told him angrily, "So, if you want what's best for you, give them back to me."

Steven shook his head, keeping his determined expression, "Actually, I'm someone the Diamonds would want more than any of these humans or Spinel."

The pink Gem gasped, and Pearl and everyone else tensed.

"Impossible." Aquamarine narrowed her eyes.

"I'm not just Steven," the boy lifted up his shirt, "I'm my mom! I'm Rose Quartz!"

Just as Aquamarine became shocked, Spinel shrieked and jumped up to Steven's side, grasping his shoulders, "N-NO! Please! Steven, don't do this! They're going to kill you!"

"I have to!" Steven's eyes welled up with tears, "I don't want to let them take you or my friends! Rose wouldn't have wanted this!"

Aquamarine rolled her eyes, "Can we hurry up? I can't stand waiting any longer."

Steven pulled away from Spinel was ready to head inside, but as if something crossed Spinel's mind, she screamed, "NO! Wait! Aquamarine, this is a big misunderstanding! Rose Quartz isn't who you think she is!"

Pearl realized what Spinel was doing and cupped her hands over her mouth, "Spinel... no..." The Gems shot her a confused glance.

"What are you talking about?" Aquamarine glared at the pink Gem, "I know a Rose Quartz gemstone when I see one."

Spinel didn't need to see Steven's expression. Fear continued to pound in Spinel's gemstone like a drum, her body trembled as she cupped her mouth with her hand, her other arm coiling around her side. Within her, came a battle between the promise to her friend and the love for her son.

"Please… let's never speak of this again. No one can know."

say it.

Spinel bit her lip, the barrier in her throat keeping her from speaking, only allowing soft whimpers.

Say it.

Aquamarine groaned, "Come on, we don't have all day. Spit it out."

SAY IT.

Steven couldn't move a muscle, wondering what Spinel was struggling to say.

Behind them, the other Crystal Gems stared at them, bewildered out of their minds. Pearl kept frantically shaking her head, briefly shouting, "SPINEL! DON'T SAY IT!"

"I... No, I can't... I-"

SAY IT SAY IT SAY IT SAY IT SAY IT SAY IT SAY IT SAY IT SAY IT SAY IT SAY IT SAY IT SAY IT SAY IT SAY IT SAY IT SAY IT SAY IT SAY IT SAY IT SAY IT SAY IT SAY IT SAY IT SAY IT SAY IT SAY IT SAY IT SAY IT SAY IT SAY IT SAY IT!

Finally, the barrier shattered and it released, "ROSE QUARTZ IS PINK DIAMOND!"

Time froze for everyone around her. She clutched her pigtails as she heard the gasps from her enemy, her friends, and especially her baby. His eyes wide with horror and another emotion Spinel didn't want to name. They stared at each-other.

"S-Steven... I never wanted to keep it from you... I should've told-"

"I HATE YOU!" Steven screamed, his voice ringing in her head as tears fled down his cheeks.

... Spinel could almost hear her heart shatter into pieces. No amount of pain could compare to this. Not watching her Diamond get 'shattered', not Pearl ignoring her, not Rose disappearing forever, but this. An ache like no other stabbed her as she stared into the boy's eyes. Full of anger... betrayal... It almost shattered her.

No... My poor baby... You didn't deserve this...

"Are..." Aquamarine narrowed her eyes at Spinel, "Are you sure...?"

Spinel finally looked at the fluttering Gem, "... Yes."

Unexpectedly, the tiny blue Gem nodded in understanding, "Alright then. But, if this is so, you're both coming with me."

"N-No... Please spare his life! It's me the Diamonds should want!"

"Well... the Diamonds originally sent me to catch a group of humans and you, you'd be coming with us either way. But now you say this is Pink Diamond, wouldn't it be reasonable to bring her along as well?"

Spinel's throat burned. Aquamarine was right. Horribly right. What had she done?

Silently, Steven stepped into the ship and the blue Gem gestured Spinel inside. She obeyed and slowly walked inside. All the Gems below desperately called out their names in horror, but the hatch closed and silence filled the air in the ship.

"Since that stupid Topaz isn't here," Aquamarine grumbled as she flew up to her seat, "I expect you two to behave while I set course for Homeworld."

"... Of course." replied Spinel.

As the two were left alone, they heard stumbling as they saw someone crawl up the stairs, groaning as the side of his head bled.

"L-L-LARS!" Spinel screeched, running over to him.

"Miss Spinel...?" The teen croaked as she pulled him up, "W-What happened? I-I was trying to save Sadie, but that freaky yellow lady punched me..."

Spinel lifted him to her lap, only for Steven shove her away and drag Lars away from her. Spinel stared after them as Steven licked his palm and patted Lars' head, healing the wound. He didn't look at her, even when he explained everything to Lars.

My dear baby... You never deserved to lied to... I should've done better, I should've told you earlier. I'm sorry... for not being a good mother, she thought miserably as she hung her head, hoping she had not made a terrible mistake.


And since thing's got serious, I'm not gonna make a joke this time.

All I can say is: Spinel loves Steven too much.