A WHILE LATER
Yellow is piecing the gem shards together, Yellow is careful not to make it worse
While Spinel is sitting beside her, holding the other two cracked gems in bubbled in her arms
Steven comes into Yellow Diamond's chambers
"Yellow?"
Yellow - Steven! Thank goodness you're back.
Steven - I'm sorry I couldn't come back sooner but... something's come up on earth and I had to handle it.
He walks up closer to her
She spreads out her arm as he climbs on her palm
"How are the rubies? Any luck?"
Yellow - "Yes actually. I'm almost finished aligning the fragments of the shattered ruby. I just need a few more fragments arrangedand this will be good as new!
Steven - And the other two?
They look at a saddened Spinel
Spinel *sulks*
Yellow - I was going to get to them after I pieced together the shattered one.
She places Steven down near Spinel
Steven - I got this.
Steven kneels down to Spinel
"Hey Spinel, can I see them?"
Spinel hadns the bubbled gems over to him
"Holy stars... their cracks look terrible"
He examines the damage
"How did this happen?It's like someone wanted to shatter them"
Spinel feels gulity "Can you fix them?"
Steven - I sure can! And I know just the thing!
Spinel looks confused at Steven licking his hand before rubbing his spit on the gems
To her surprise, the craks healed up
"There we go..."
He gives them to her
"Like I said though, they were hit pretty hard, so I wouldn't be surprisedif they didn't form for awhile... but they'll be back. I promise"
Spinel - I hope so...I'm sorry about what I said that time. I was just... really, really mad...a-and... I thought I knew what I was doing, and I just-
Steven - It's okay. Things back on earth are stressful too right now and... I guess it lead me to into making hasty desicions. I shouldn't have forced you to do things when you're not ready to open up either. I'm sorry too...
He turns to her, placing his finger on her gemstone
"Besides... I think there's more important matters right now than holding a grudge. Like the diamonds and I being worried now that we think that there's a rouge gem after you"
Spinel rubs her arm strangely "Oh, um...r-right..."
Steven - Also Jamie told me to send his regards to you"
Spinel - Really? That's kind of him too.
Yellow - As Steven was saying, your safety is our priority Spinel.
Steven - Oh that reminds me. I brought them!
Yellow - DID YOU!?Brilliant work, Steven!
Now she looks at them confused "Find who?"
Steven - Oh the diamonds didn't tell you?...You're going to get new guards!
Her heart sank at that statement as her eyes grew wide "W...what...?"
She clutches the gems in her arms "N-NO! Stven I don;t need new guards! These rubies are my friends! You can't just replace them!"
Steven - Easy there Spinel. They're not gonna be replaced. I won't ever take them from you...but as they are now, they're gonna be out of commission for who knows how long. And with the ball coming up soon, we need to make sure they're safe"
She looks down at her friendly gems, feeling unsure
Steven - So the diamonds and I agreed to assign you a special squad of quartzes to keep you safe while your ruby squad isn't here"
Spinel - I-I dunno about this Universe...
Steven - Well ...why don't come meet them first? Come on it won't hurt to have more friends
He stretches his hand out "What do you say?"
Spinel thinks for a moment befroe giving them to Steven
He bubbles them "Your rubies will be back in no time. We promise"
Steven leads her away to see thenew guards as she looks behind at her bubbled friends "Yeah...I hope so"
Superfan Rose Quartz : So what are we supposed to be guarding?
Ocean Jasper : A "spinel" so Steven says.
Purple Amethyst 8XL : Must be some real fancy gem. I've never heard of a Spinel before. What do you think Jasper?
Jasper - Does it matter? Just followthe orders that my diamond had assigned us.
8XL - You know, you don't have to call Steven that right?
Jasper walks to them in a threatening manner
"It's a sign of respect. If you're not willing to call him by his title-...
Her eyes glare at them "...Then maybe you pathetic quartzes aren't good enough to guard a high ranking gem with respect."
"Hey everyone! Sorry to keep you all waiting."
They looked in relief at Steven, Spinel and Yellow Diamond
Steven - Thanks for volunteering at the last minute, I owe you all big time."
8XL - Hey no biggie! Us quartzes are made for a job like this!
Yellow Diamond - Yes well, thank you very much. I trsut you all will take good care of our precious and beloved gem.
She caresses Spinel "Hm?"
Yellow - Go on Spinel, don't be shy. Your quartz soldiers await you.
She is sweating and nervous a little
Steven - Everyone , this is Spinel, your assignment. And Spinel, these are yourelite quartz soldiers :
Rose Quartz (Superfan Rose),
Amethyst (8XL),
And Ocean Jasper.
Their hands form a diamond "Greetings My Spinel!"
Superfan Rose *star eyes * : OHHHH MYYYY GOOOSH! YOU'RE SO TINY AND-
8XL *smiling* : It's great to finally meet you!
Ocean Jasper *shy* : Huh, we've never seen a cut like yours before...
She blushes a lot 'OHSTARSOHSTARSOHSTARSOHSTARS'
Steven chuckles 'Well there's one last person I want you to meet'
They all look at Jasper, now it's her turn
Steven - Spinel...I'd like you to meet Jasper. She will be the captain of your newly formed elite guards.
Her empty gaze unnerved Spinel a little bit
Spinel - L-look Steven, thanks for tryna look out for me. I realy appreciate it...bt maybe this is a bit much.
Steven - But this way, it'll be harder for a gem to catch you off guard if you have another strong gem by your side. Think of it like they are the eyes on the back of your head.
Spinel covers her eyes with her hands "I can do that too ya know! Watch-"
Steven drops her haands immediately muhc to her confusion "Ew no gross don't do that."
Steven - Anyways...if there's any gemthat can handle this job, it's these quartzes.
Spinel - B-but
Steven - This is for your safety Spinel. The best thing to do now is get along with your new guards until your rubies reform
Spinel looks at Jasper 'Okay then let's try'
Spinel - Um...hello Jasper. It's good to meet you.
She stretches out her hand expecting Jasper to shake it in reponse
Spinel - I-I hope you and the rest will it here.
To her surprise, Jasper didn't shake her hand but instead she kneels down to her
Jasper - Greetings my Spinel. As ordered by my diamond, I will risk my form to guard you.
She tries telling her not to do that "U-UM! YOU DON'T REALLY NEED TO BOW-"
Steven - She can be a little passionate at times... Yellow and I will go see what we can do about your rubies. So do your best to get along with your new guards. I'm sure that won't be a problem...
He looks at the eltie squad "...And I trust you to keep Spinel safe"
Superfan : Sure thing little brother!
8XL : Absolutely! We'll do our best.
Ocean Jasper : Without hesitation.
They look at Jasper "As you wish my diamond"