Lion stands with a shimmy, pushing the ruffles from his fur and the stiffness from his body and mind. Steven hops to his feet, glad they can go. He didn't want to rush his brave friend, who came all this way to get him, but he really needs to find what's left of the Crystal Gems.
"Okay Lion, can you find them like you found me?"
Lion snorts. He doesn't know which that means, but the lack of a portal suggests he can't. He pads forward, instead, down the dark corridor, following a source of light in the distance. Steven runs to catch up with him, clinging nervously to Lion's mane and taking periodic looks around to make sure nothing is going to pop out and kill them.
Lion pulls away as they reach what appears to be a vent in the high part of the wall, leaping a upward and scrabbling at the stone to take a look before Gravity brings him back down. Steven jumps out of the way as Lion hits the floor, rolling off his feet to scatter the remaining force and reduce the amount of noise the impact makes. Shaking himself off, Lion heads for the next light.
...
Amethyst collects the two fallen gems that she'd released from the cells, holding onto them without bubbles. She hopes their eventual regeneration will lead to a friendly interaction and not another altercation- they could use some allies. They sit by the door, listening for any chance to head out into the common corridors. Amethyst worries that they're going to send someone through to fetch them, but Ruby seems anxious to leave. She thinks Ruby's motivations might be a little less strategic, and a little more emotional.
The first noises come, surprisingly, from behind them.
"Ma'am, the ruby has gone!"
Ruby spins around at the mention of her name, echoing softly down from the direction of her old cell.
"We gotta move," she mutters.
"I've found the tourmaline from the door- she's been retreated and put in Stasis."
They duck into a cell, pressing their backs to the wall, facing away from the voices. After a moment, footsteps pad past them. Most are heading perpendicular, away from the cells, but a lagging set of sharp clicks announces another gem heading their way.
An aquamarine walks past their hiding spot, footsteps slowing upon entering the corridor. Ruby risks a glance outside of the cell, nodding to Amethyst to indicate that the way is clear. Amethyst sets the gems in the corner before growing into Purple Puma, grabbing at Aquamarine's face and pulling her, mouth covered, into the cell.
Ruby holds her fingers to her lips, summoning a flaming gauntlet and holding her fist threateningly near Aquamarine's gem on her hip.
Amethyst cautiously moves her arm around the blue gem's neck, allowing her to speak.
"We're on your side," she whispers, "this is a rescue attempt."
"How come?" Ruby growls.
"We know of the Crystal Gems," Aquamarine smiles, "I was too young, but brave gems tell stories. We're of the New Rebellion. Anyone who dislikes the reign is subject for induction."
Amethyst is surprised to see that Ruby doesn't look much happier at this news. Instead, her gaze is fixed on the gem's boots.
"And if you think they'll blab?" She asks.
Aquamarine catches her look, lifting a foot to confirm that there are red-orange gem shards beneath her heel.
"We must keep ourselves hidden," she says, "you should know the cost of war. This was not a potential ally though, do not fear. There were more guards down the corridor. They were likely going to reveal your escape to their superiors. We stopped them."
Ruby snarls. Her gauntlet went out a while ago, but she hasn't lowered her fist.
"Your pearl," she continues, "is in trouble. They can't risk the Pink Beast releasing her- the known existence of such a pearl is too risky. They're going to shatter her."
Ruby's face shifts through a couple different expressions, but she shakes them from her head, clearly guessing who the Pink Beast is, if not how Lion got here.
"Where do I find her? Pearl?"
Aquamarine repeats a set of directions, happy to assist. She pulls a little away from Amethyst, voice wavering for a second as the purple gem refuses to let go, and completes the information relay.
"Thanks," Ruby says, gauntlet relighting.
Amethyst clamps her hand over the gem's mouth just in time for a repeat violent attack from Ruby. This time, she sends her arm through the gem's core, halting any breathing or chance at a scream. Aquamarine's pained expression lasts only a moment before she goes up in smoke.
Ruby bubbles the gem caught with her free hand, handing it to Amethyst.
"I don't know if we can trust her," she explains, "you should probably bubble all three, but I'll leave that to you. I'm going to find Pearl."
"I'll come too,"
"I don't know if we can trust her," she repeats, "bubble her at least, and one of the others. It's best you figure out who our allies are one at a time. Do you think you can handle them?"
"Hell yeah," Amethyst says.
Ruby frowns, clearly hesitant to leave Amethyst alone, but she darts off, following Aquamarine's directions on the sneakiest way to get to Pearl's cell.
Amethyst bubbles two of the three, per Ruby's orders, wondering if any of the gems that passed earlier are going to double back for their friend. She finds herself trusting them a little despite Ruby, and hopes a little that they will.
The chances of them getting out of here are low, Amethyst decides. They need all the help they can get.
She gathers up the bubbled gems, moving the unbubbled third to the strap in her shirt, hoping it stays, and heads quickly down the corridor they'd gone through.
Amethyst slows at the murmur of quiet, excited voices, peeking around the corner as they fall to a hush.
"Woah guys," Steven says, popping through the grate behind Lion, "you don't have to bow- he won't bite."