In The Future (Steven Universe)

○Lazuli's Punishment●

By mylilsapphire on instgram☝️

Fifteen minutes in the room alone and Spinel found herself playing in a meadow with Steven. Well... her own imagination of Steven. Spinel stretched her arm and picked up the prettiest flower she could find, a rose. She plucked it out of the ground and handed it to Steven.

"Aw, that's so sweet, thank you," Steven said, a wide smile on his face. "I wish the other gems could see what I see in you."

"What?" Spinel blushed a bit, hiding it by looking the other way.

"They all treat you so badly. You don't deserve that. You deserve to be a Crystal Gem, like us," Steven added.

Spinel faced him and blushed even harder. "Haha... thanks. That would be nice. Wouldn't it?"

Suddenly they all appeared around her. Pearl, Amethyst, Garnet, Peridot, and Bismuth. She didn't care much for Lapis. "We forgive you, Spinel," Pearl said.

"We are so sorry for what we put you through," Amethyst added.

"Pink Diamond was no better than you for what you did, so we should forgive you too like how we forgave her," Garnet said with a small smile.

"Yeah! You'd make a great Crystal Gem! You can help Steven save the planets with your stretchy powers!" Bismuth said.

"And you seem smart enough to help me with my inventions!" Peridot said making the, :3 face.

Spinel felt hot tears in her eyes. She didn't bother wiping them, none of this was real anyway. She didn't want to leave, she didn't want to leave.

Steven stepped closer beside her. "Are you okay?"

Spinel looked around her. All the gems were proud and happy for her. It was beautiful. "Y-yup!" Her voice cracked. "Never better... I just wish this was real..."

"What do you mean? We don't matter to you?" Amethsyt asked below her.

"Nonono that's not what I'm saying! Don't be mad! I just- you're not real. You're just my imagination..." Spinel sighed.

"But don't you want this? All of us to accept you for who you are?" Pearl asked.

"Yeah! What's the difference if it's your imagination? Peridot asked. "For all we know your whole life could be fake!"

"Yeah! Stay here with us, Spinel! Why not? You're life can be perfect here!" Bismuth said, stretching out her arms out wide. Behind her the entire beach city appeared. People walking around all with smiles on their faces.

Spinel felt herself laugh. It was odd, it's been awhile since she laughed from being so happy. She jumped like a spring and into the fake city, enjoying the welcomings from the fake people. She waved back, jumping over the buildings and laughing with the others following close behind.

"Hey! Let me out!" A familiar voice called while Spinel was in mid air.

Spinel looked down and saw a blue gem behind bars in a small cage. Spinel smiled and landed right in front of the cage. "Hello Lapis Lazuli."

"I- Spinel?"

Spinel laughed evily. "Yes, it's me. It's so nice to see you like this. Especially since after what you did to me."

Lapis shook her head. "Spinel! Please, just listen-"

"Shut up!" Spinel kicked the cage and it fell over. The Crystal Gems all standing behind Spinel clapped, cheering her on. "I know this whole thing isn't real, so it doesn't matter what I do?"