It was a normal morning for the Bagge family. They had just finished breakfast, but they were still at the dining table. Muriel was reading a brochure, while Courage curiously looked on and Eustace impatiently waited.
"An actress contest?!", Muriel exclaimed, "A contest is being held, in the Nowhere Movie Theater, to find the best actress in town!"
"Big deal!", Eustace scoffed, "It ain't worth our time!" He got up from his seat and began to walk to the living room.
"Oh, Eustace!", Muriel cooed, "They'll be offering cash prizes for those who come in 1st, 2nd and 3rd! 3rd place gets $5,000, 2nd place gets $50,000 and 1st place gets $500,000!" Eustace abruptly stopped and dollar signs appeared on his glasses. He walked back to the table and sat down, with a big smile on his face.
"Oh, Muriel!", Eustace smiled, "You gotta get in that contest! You were born for the actress life!" Courage enthusiastically nodded his head.
"You boys are so encouraging!", Muriel smiled, "It says here that the actress must perform a comedy routine and a musical number."
"Then let's get started!", Eustace argued, "We'll get the musical stuff out of the way!" Soon afterwards, the family was outside of the house. Eustace and Courage were helping Muriel practice for the contest.
"Alright, now what songs do ya know to heart?", Eustace asked.
"I do remember when I was the lead buttercup in the middle school flower pageant", Muriel smiled.
"Muriel, please!", Eustace groaned, "No professional will want to hear songs about buttercups! There has to be a better song that you know".
"Well, I can sing a few tunes from my 'Vanities' album", Muriel wondered. Courage smiled, but Eustace wasn't having it.
"NO, PLEASE!", Eustace pleaded, "Anything but THAT!"
"Oh dear!", Muriel frowned, "I haven't listened to a lot of music in a long time. I must be getting too old for this thing!" Courage whimpered sympathetically.
"Come on!", Eustace argued, "You can't give up! That $500,000 is counting on you!" Then, the Bagge family began to notice the area around them begin to darken.
"A storm must be coming", Muriel wondered before looking up, "Hold on!" The three looked up to see a familiar ship descending towards them. It had a white head and torso, a blue arm, a yellow arm, but with no legs. The Bagges screamed and ran towards the porch of their house. They successfully made it to safety as they watched the ship land in front of the farmhouse.
"Haven't we already had enough alien invaders?!", Eustace barked.
"The Diamonds must be stopping by for a visit", Muriel pondered before smiling, "That must also mean that Spinel's come back too!" Muriel began to sprint as fast as she could towards the ship, with Courage eagerly following her. But Eustace remembered what he learned about the Diamonds, and was horrified.
"The Diamonds?!", Eustace spluttered before chasing Muriel, "Wait, stop! You don't know what you're doing?!" As the Bagges were running, a small hole opened on the bottom of the ship. A stretchy pink figure emerged from the hole. Spinel had come back.
"Yoo-hoo!", Spinel shouted, "Guess who's back!" Muriel and Courage ran over to Spinel and tackled her to the ground in a hug.
"Spinel!", Muriel cried, "Oh, we've missed you so much!" Courage tearfully smiled as he nodded his head. Spinel blushed as she hugged them back.
"Oh, great!", Eustace groaned, "The lunatic is back!" He then noticed a bubble descending down from the ship and landing right nearby. The bubble dissipated to reveal the 3 Diamonds. Eustace gasped as he immediately went down his knees and bowed before the Diamonds, who were genuinely surprised at this.
"Great Diamond Authority!", Eustace stammered, "We humble organics appreciate your unexpected arrival! Your wish is our command!"
"Hello, ladies!", Muriel greeted, "It certainly has been a while. Things going well in Homeworld?"
"It's been splendid, Muriel!", White Diamond exclaimed, "So much progress has been made! And may I say that it is wonderful that we get to visit Earth under 'pleasant' circumstances."
"It seems we're not the only ones who made some changes", Yellow Diamond remarked as she noticed Eustace, "Did you get yourself a servant, Muriel?"
"Oh gracious, no!", Muriel responded as she helped Eustace on his feet, "This is my husband, Eustace! He got crushed under your ship."
"Oh dear!", Blue Diamond gasped, "We're so sorry if we caused you any harm! We try not to inflict anymore damage on vulnerable lifeforms. But I must say that you're a very blessed human, Muriel! You seemed to have married a hospitable man!"
"Actually!", Spinel chuckled lightheartedly, "I'd say that Eustace is anything but hospitable!"
"You trying to get me killed, ya loon?!", Eustace spat.
"Well!", Yellow Diamond huffed, "Spinel did mention something about a cold-hearted curmudgeon." Eustace gasped, and he took off his hat as a sign of respect.
"Forgive me, great Diamond!", Eustace pleaded, "I'm a poor farmer! I don't have much to give! Take whatever you want! Just please spare my life!" Eustace began to cry. Muriel and Courage shook their heads, while Spinel looked confused.
"Yellow, you're scaring him!", Blue Diamond scolded before she turned to Eustace, "Oh, Eustace! We're not going to harm you! That's not what we do anymore!"
"Indeed!", White Diamond agreed, "You have the wrong idea of who we are today. We're not the same overbearing rulers we used to be. We've changed so that Gem society can truly flourish. We've become better people!" Muriel, Courage and Spinel all clapped and cheered at this, but Eustace was just confused.
"What?!", Eustace frowned as he put his hat back on, "That's not the Computer said!"
"Computer?", White Diamond asked, "What computer?"
"We did need something to tell us more about the Gems", Muriel shrugged.
"Wait here!", Eustace shouted, "I'll be right back!" Eustace ran back into the house as soon as he could.
"This computer told you everything about us?", Blue Diamond asked.
"We only needed him to tell us about Spinel", Muriel explained, "And to take us to the garden. Eustace did apparently looked more into the other Gems, such as yourself. That must explain why he was so afraid of you."
"But wait", Yellow Diamond interrogated, "How could you have sent that message if you knew so little about us?!"
"That's the thing", Muriel revealed, "I don't remember sending you all a message". The Diamonds gasped in surprise. Courage and Spinel held each other tightly in worry.
"What?!", White Diamond exclaimed, "But we got the message in your name!"
"That's strange", Muriel wondered. "Who could've sent that message?" Eustace then walked back outside with the Computer in a wheelbarrow.
"Why am I out here?!", the computer demanded, "Put me back inside right now!"
"I know who!", Eustace yelled, "The computer sent y'all the message! He tried to trick y'all into coming here so he could poof ya and sell your gemstones for a profit!" Everyone else gasped at this.
"WHAT?!", the computer spluttered, "NO! You double-crosser!" Yellow Diamond picked up the wheelbarrow and held it in front of her face.
"Really, now?!", Yellow Diamond growled.
"NO, PLEASE!", the computer pleaded, "Don't destroy me! I'll tell you what really happened! I'll tell you where Rose and the Crystal Gems are hiding! PLEASE!" But Yellow Diamond shut him off by using the tip of her finger on the power button.
"Be quiet!", Yellow Diamond ordered, "We'll talk later." She then placed the wheelbarrow on her shoulder.
"We're so sorry for what happened", Muriel frowned, "I hope you're not too offended by this!" Courage began to whimper loudly.
"No, it's perfectly alright!", White Diamond smiled, "Circumstances aside, the trip was still certainly worthwhile. We found our special little companion and we made ourselves friends with some wonderful locals!" Muriel and Spinel blushed, while Courage and Eustace sighed in relief.
"Oh, you're too kind!", Muriel blushed, "But then, why are you all here?"
"Spinel talked about how much she loved being with you all", Blue Diamond explained, "And we have been making some very important renovations back at Homeworld. So we figured that it'd be best if she spend her time here until the construction is complete."
"Yeah", Spinel grinned, "I've been waiting to come back here and make it up to you guys. That is, if you want me to be here." Courage noticed that Spinel looked a little sad, so he hugged her. Spinel blushed with appreciation and hugged him back.
"Of course, Spinel", Muriel smiled, "We'll make ya feel nice and welcome! Right, Eustace?!"
"Yeah, yeah!", Eustace pouted.
"In the mean time", Yellow Diamond huffed, "We'll be taking this computer with us for some questioning! Don't worry, he'll come back in one piece!"
"We'll come back for Spinel once the renovations are done", Blue Diamond smiled, "In the meanwhile, enjoy yourselves!"
"Take care, Spinel!", White Diamond exclaimed, "We've got something special planned for you when we come back!"
"Bye, Diamonds!", Spinel smiled.
"Take care!", Muriel waved. Courage and Eustace respectfully waved as well. A bubble formed around the Diamonds, which sent them back towards the ship. The ship then took off into the sky. Spinel shed a few joyful tears as the ship flew off the planet.
"Ya know what?", Eustace smiled, "Those Diamonds weren't bad at all!"
"I know!", Muriel agreed, "I don't know how anyone could hold any ill will towards them!"
"So guys!", Spinel grinned, "What will we be doing first?!"
"Well, I have been meaning to go to the store", Muriel explained, "How about you and Courage go visit town? You can take Eustace's truck."
"What?!", Eustace barked, "They ain't touching my truck!"
"Do you want to take them then, Eustace?!", Muriel growled.
"Whatever!", Eustace vented as he walked back into the house.
"Me and Eustace have some things to settle out", Muriel smiled as she gave Courage a list, "Here's everything we need. Show Spinel as much as Nowhere as possible. Just come back before sunset!"
"We will!", Spinel smiled, "Come on, Courage! Let's go on a ride!" Courage nodded as he opened the truck door and hopped onto the driver's seat. Spinel sat beside him, and Courage began to start the truck. Once the doors were closed and they had their seatbelts, Courage began to drive the truck towards town.