Episode 3: Hit the Diamond
As played out in the previous episode, the Gem and Monks gasped at something. It would be revealed that there was a ruby on board, Its gemstone was in the eye. They were somewhat distant from it but still saw the ruby. "What the...Ruby?" Steven said. Just then, Garnet grabs Steven, the Gems and Monks to hide out in the barn. Just then, the Eyeball Ruby got out of the ship and began searching. Just then a few more hopped out. One of the ruby, with the gem on her chest, took command. "Alright, fellow Rubies, we need to find those gems that the scanner locked on to. We need to spread out and find them around this area." she said. The rest of the rubies nods as they began to fan outward.
Steven and Omi peeks out to see them. "Wow, look at them all." Steven said. "Oh yes, that is a couple of rubies." Omi added. Peridot, on the other hand was freaking out. "I knew it! I knew it! They're hunting for me! This is it for me!" Peridot said in a panic. "Man, you weren't kidding, Peridot." Lapis said. "Yea, I really told Yellow Diamond that she's a clod… to her face." Peridot bemoans. "Don't you call everyone a clod?" Raimundo quips back. "True but not everyone has command over all the homeworld armies waiting for the word to shatter me!" Peridot said as she puts a box over body. Steven walks over. "Peridot, we won't let them get to you. I'll assure you of that." Steven said. "but I already caused enough trouble for you guys in my lifespan as a gem…" Peridot said. "True, but it's our sworn duty to protect anything that calls this planet home. And that does includes… clods like you" Garnet said. "That my word…" Peridot said to herself.
Garnet then formulate a plan in her mind. "Alright, Monks and Gems, I do have an idea… or should I say… we have an idea." Garnet said as she defuses into Ruby and Sapphire. "Hello, everyone." Sapphire said with a warm tone. Just then, Steven runs up and hugs Ruby and Sapphire. Sapphire and Ruby chuckles from the hug. "Alright so, what's the plan?" Raimundo asked. "Well, Ruby will try to diverge the other rubies elsewhere." Sapphire said. "Sounds reasonable." Clay said, finishing rubbing his back to elevate the pain. "Alright, you got this, Ruby, Just act causal." Sapphire said with a kiss on Ruby's cheek. "Yea… causal." Ruby said as she heads out.
"You sure this would work, Sapphire?" Raimundo asked. "It's one of the many paths that could be ahead of us. There's at least hundreds of options that could benefit us." Sapphire said. "That's interesting to hear" Kimiko said. Lapis walks over and leans next to a pole. Omi notices that but doesn't mind it. "So, what would happen if she fails a bit?" Raimundo said. "Well, there is one reality where we do play a sport. It's unlikely but it's possible." Sapphire said. "What sport are we talking about? Soccer? I could be very valuable in most sports, whatever it be soccer, American football, baseball, maybe even a bit of basketball. Though Omi would be more valuable at basketball when he won a showdown with Jermaine." Raimundo said. "Wait...who's Jermaine?" Pearl asked. "Oh, he's a friend of Omi when he got lost in New York. If I recall, it was a fair bit away from the Empire City burrow that we ran into for a bit." Raimundo said. "How was it?" Steven asked. "It was most interesting. I even changed into some street clothes that he gave me." Omi added. "I kinda wish I would meet him." Steven said.
Just then, Ruby return looking a bit anxious. "They're wanting to search the barn!" Ruby said. Peridot didn't take it that well. "I'm scared!" Peridot said. Just then, Amethyst grabs a bat. "Maybe we could use this to ambush them!" Amethyst said. Steven takes the bat away. "No. No we don't need to do get someone hurt. We need to be sensible." Steven said. Ruby bites her finger in a bit of a panic. "What do I do now?!" Ruby said, stressing out. Omi then steps up. "Just tell them that this is a place where us humans live." Omi suggested. "That's what I was thinking." Sapphire said. "Yea, not only that, I can come with you to be your backup and prove that I'm one of the resident." Steven said. Ruby lets out a sigh of relief. "Alright, let's go." Ruby said as both head out with Steven holding a bat.
The monks and Gems began to look from afar. Raimundo began to realized something. "I'm starting to believe we might need to play a sport...specifically baseball." Raimundo said. "It is a possibility…" Sapphire said. Raimundo gestures Clay, Kimiko, and Omi over to make a quick huddle. "Alright so, considering we are likely are going to play baseball, we need a plan in place to represent at least 2 of us." Raimundo said. "I'm looking to hang back because I have not played this "baseball" sport yet." Omi said. "I think I'll sit this one out as I'm thinking Clay could be a valuable asset for a baseball player." Kimiko said. "You sure, Kimiko? My back is hurting a lot." Clay said. "I know that, but I think you can persevere through it." Kimiko said. Clay nods. "Alright, I'll give it a shot." Clay said.
A bit later, Steven returned with Ruby and told them what happened. Ruby was facepalming. "Well, I did saw this as a possibility, but I'm more surprised that we're taking this path." Sapphire said. Just then, Steven interjects. "Okay, so my knowledge of baseball will help us into victory. Consider it an unofficial Xiaolin Showdown. We just need to go out there and pretend to be humans…well, maybe except Peridot." Steven said. "I think to make it more convincing, we need to include at least 2 of us." Raimundo said. "That's right, you guys are fully human, you can help out the game." Steven said. "Which 2 are partaking?" Pearl asked. "That would be Raimundo and I." Clay said. "Okay, so Lapis, you think you can hang back on this one? Omi and Kimiko would be with you looking over Peridot." Steven said. Lapis chuckles and just nods. "This plan is going to suck soon or later." Lapis said. "Well, okay then." Raimundo said.
A bit later, The Rubies, including the Crystal Gem Ruby, face off against Steven, Raimundo, Clay, Pearl as Earl, Amethyst as Ames, and Sapphire as Sophie. Steven gave the Rubies the summery of how baseball plays. The Crystal Gem Ruby was up first and she struck out, angering one of the Ruby, Army. Army picks up the bat and swung at Steven's pitch and hits it into the sky. Army successfully got a home run. This made Raimundo and Clay a bit nervous. After 2 more outs, the Rubies and Human swap sides. Raimundo was first up to plate. He quickly got in a hit and managed to get to second base with his speed and a bit of his wind ability. Amethyst would not only get the next hit, but bring both Raimundo and herself back home. She didn't need to use her spin dash in this one. Next up was Clay and he managed to get a powerful hit on the ball but was not that fast as he only managed to get to second base before slow to get up from the slide. Next up was Sapphire. Clay was slowly becoming more confident about getting to home base if Sapphire can get him home. However…Sapphire and Ruby was busy flirting and accidentally got her struck out.
A bit later, Steven and Pearl struck out and Rubies were on the offense again, leaving Clay stranded on base. The Rubies scores a few more runs, with one of them accidental from the Crystal Ruby after Sapphire accidentally cheered her on. When it was the Monks and Gems turn, Clay barely got a hit in and only made it to first base but was in a bit of pain. Sapphire failed again, Steven managed to hit the ball but Clay tried to stretched it to third base but was tagged out. Pearl struck out and groans a bit. Soon, one of the rubies broke the bat and Steven quickly got another one. Clay notices Sapphire and Ruby flirting some more and drawing unwanted attention towards it. This made Clay uncomfortable and losing confidence out of Sapphire.
Soon, it was bottom of the ninth, score was 7-6 in favor of the rubies, Raimundo was on second base, Amethyst struck out and Clay was next up. Steven walks over to Clay. "Alright, Clay, we're in the bottom of the ninth, Raimundo is on second base and we have one out down. You think you can get him back home and trust Sapphire to get you home?" Steven asked. "I don't know." Clay said as he points towards Ruby and Sapphire flirting some more. "Don't worry, I'll resolve it." Steven said. Clay nods as he slowly makes his way to the plate. Steven walks over to Ruby and Sapphire and still gives them their pep talk. Clay takes in a deep breath as he was getting prepared for a potential game winning home run and doesn't need Sapphire's help. The first pitch comes in, he swings and misses. He gets out of the box and stretches out his back some more. He gets back into the box and gets ready. The second pitch comes and he swung harder. Nothing, Strike two. Clay's back was aching some more and Steven looks over to see Clay looking in pain. However, Clay stayed in the box and tries to end it right here. The Chest Ruby threw a heatmaker towards Clay. Clay clutches his hands and swung with all of his might. He misses, strike three, he's out! Just as he finished his swinging motion, Clay fell backwards and landed on his now severely injured back. He screams in pain and agony. Not only did he failed, now they have to rely on Sapphire to get Raimundo home and even herself back home. Steven, Raimundo and others help Clay up and managed to lie him down near the barn. His back was toast for the most part.
Clay could only watch from afar. Sapphire got up to the plate and managed to hit the ball down 0-2 and managed to hit a home run. Clay smiles a bit. Maybe he was wrong on losing his fate on Sapphire in baseball. However, after Raimundo score, Sapphire came to the plate and accidentally tackles Ruby and fused back to Garnet, causing the Rubies to realize that this was a sham. Before any fighting could happen with the Rubies fusing into a giant ruby, Peridot intercepts and tries to defuse the situation. They managed to tell the rubies that Jasper was on Neptune. The Rubies were fooled by it, defused and went to their ship. They managed to get it out of the ground and flies off to space. "Man, we should have said…well, Uranus." Raimundo said with a chuckles. Amethyst laughs a bit. "Yea, those rubies must be really easily fooled." Amethyst said. Garnet would still comment that not all rubies are dumb. Whew, a close call for the Gems, sure, but now they know that they need to regroup and tend to Clay's injury. The main question now becomes…where and how to get to Jasper?
End of Episode 3