👑 || Queen of Hearts

d r e a m i n g

Spinel looked down at her feet to find herself standing in a vast, open meadow with no perceptible end. The soft orange glow of the sunrise glimmered upon the grass, and bees drifted lazily from flower to flower. The sky was crisp, clear, and cloudless, and Spinel was happy.

Everything stays...

Three pink balls suddenly appeared before her. Delighted, she lifted them up, and started to juggle. She barely had to concentrate to execute the feat, and the ease at which she maneuvered the spheres earned her applause from an invisible audience. Enthralled by the fact that her tricks were entertaining, she giggled and tried even harder to impress the faceless crowd. The more elaborate her juggling became, the louder the applause; the more enthusiastic the reaction. This was by far the most fun she'd had in a while.

Right where you left it...

It was noon, now, and the sun was directly above Spinel. Like a spotlight, it illuminated her, and set her apart from the rest of the meadow. The applause reached its peak, and she felt as bright and alive as the star itself. As long as she was loved, and as long as she was adored, she knew she would shine on forever. Spinel didn't have a mirror in that moment, for if she did, she would surely see a different Gem: a pinker, sweeter, livelier Gem.

The Gem that she used to be.

Everything stays...

Hours passed, and the sun began to set. The applause began to subside.

But it still changes...

Spinel didn't notice this, and how could she? The Gem was having fun...making people laugh and clap and smile.

Ever so slightly...

The sun vanished into the horizon, and the audience went to sleep. Only Spinel remained in the meadow, and although they were gone, she was resolute as ever to practice until morning. This way, she would make them even happier the next day, and then the next! As soon as they woke up, they would be eager to clap again! She just had to practice...and wait.

Daily and nightly...

Poor, poor Spinel...

In little ways...

How was she to know the night would last forever?

When everything stays...

👑💕👑

A soft hum beckoned to her in the waking world, and slowly, Spinel opened her eyes. The pebbles had ceased their singing, and a different, solitary voice remained: the voice of a pearl.

Startled, Spinel sat up and glanced in the direction of the singer, only to abruptly look away and sink down to the other side of the platform in hopes of concealing herself. Her efforts were useless, however, for as soon as she tried to hide, the bed descended into the floor. Cautiously, she peered over her shoulder, only to find the pearl staring back. Her pink hair was held up in two buns on opposite sides of her head, and the pale pink pearl on her naval glimmered softly as she observed the strange Gem before her. Spinel couldn't tell from the distance between them, but something looked off about the pearl's left eye...

"Hello," chirped the other Gem, clasping her hands together. "I apologize for any disturbance; I can sing somewhere else if you'd like..."

She stood from her place, and with a gentle swish of her skirt, she departed, leaving Spinel alone. Still dazed from having just woken up, Spinel couldn't figure out how to properly react. Should she let the stranger leave, or pursue her, and inquire what she'd been doing in Pink's room? As far as Spinel was concerned, there had been no other Gems residing there for years. Then again, she had only visited the room once or twice in the past month since her arrival. It would have been so easy to miss the pearl...