He Did It For Me: Steven's Legacy

Chapter 07: No Matter What

Connie couldn't believe her eyes, but there it was. The spiraled pink shield decorated with thorns and the rose in the center of it all. She never thought she would see it again. Then, cracks began to spread across it, and the young woman gasped as she began to struggle with the weight of the debris. Suddenly, Spinel's arm wrapped around her, Ruby and Sapphire and quickly pulled them away just as the shield was about the shatter.

Spinel whistled cheerfully as she reeled the three of them in as if she were fishing and said, "Well, look at what I caught?" She giggled again as she let them go.

"Are the three of you okay?!" Pearl called out as the Crystal Gems rushed over to them.

"I... I don't understand..." Sapphire said. "M-my prediction was wrong."

"Hey, hey, hey," Ruby repeated as she crawled over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "It was just one mistake. It happens."

"How do you know?" Sapphire put both of her hands on her head. "How can this be? What else have I gotten wrong? Are all my other visions false, too? Am I defective?"

"What, no!" Ruby told her. "You're not defective."

"How can you be sure of that?"

"I... I can't. I just know. For some strange reason, I just know. You're the smartest, coolest and most beautiful sapphire I've ever met." She clasped the blue Gem's hands. "And if your prediction being wrong means I can spend another moment with you. Then I'm glad it was."

Sapphire blushed deeply and stuttered out, "Th-th-thank you."

Bismuth sniffled a little bit with some tears in her eyes. "These two sure know how to tug on the heartstrings." She stated as Spinel shapeshifted her hand into a hanky and offered it to the Gem. She accepted and used it to wipe her eyes.

"It didn't bring back Garnet, but I think they're starting to remember." Connie guessed as she hopped to her feet "We could be on the right track."

"Um, can we take a moment to talk about what just happened?" Lapis asked the group.

"Talk about what?"

"I dunno? Maybe the fact you were able to summon Steven's shield!"

"That's actually the first time that ever happened."

"So, you've never tried that before?" Bismuth asked the young woman.

"No, never."

"But it would make sense." Pearl chimed in. "There was nothing that said Connie couldn't inherit Steven's abilities."

"We can talk about this later. We have a lead with getting Garnet back." Connie looked down at her tattooed arm, all the way to her hand, and clutched it. "We should..."

"Uh, Bis..." Another voice interjected as a tall, bulky Gem with a spikey with mane and a brown-orange, tri-horned quartz approached the group.

"Oh, Snowflake. Biggs." Bismuth addressed. "Sorry about all that, we..."

"There's no need to explain," Biggs spoke. "We just wanted to let you know that the purple lion that came in with you ran away."

"What?!" The Crystal Gems all screamed as they turned to where they last left Amethyst, only to see that she wasn't where she should be.

"All the commotion must've scared her." Pink Pearl guessed.

"She shouldn't be wandering on her own." Pearl panicked. "She could get herself, or someone else hurt. Or worse."

"Lion!" Connie called out and whistled. The pink beast let out a huff as he slogged on over to the young woman. "I know I'm asking a lot from you today. But I'll pay you back with some treats later." She turned her attention back to the Gems. "I'll go find Amethyst, can you guys look after Ruby and Sapphire."