New Mission

Chapter 17: Big City Livin'

A few months later, Jade, Greg, and Steven were on their way to Empire City, so Jade could get a surprise for Garnet. "So, what's this place like?" Jade asked Greg. "Loud, busy, crowded, fun."
"Like Homeworld?" Greg shrugged. "I dunno. I've spent most of my time here on Earth, but if that's how you'd describe your home planet, then sure." Jade looked out the window at the bright lights and sighed. "What's wrong?" Steven asked. "Well, I guess I'm just a little sad. This place is so much like Homeworld, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but I kinda miss that place." Steven looked at Jade with a concerned look on his face. "I understand. Pearl misses space, too."
"It's not just space, it's the entire Gem empire I miss. Sure, Garnet's here, and so are you and my other friends, but I had friends back there, too... I might've even had a Pearl of my own!" Jade took a deep breath. "But, I'm happy here. I have more friends here than I had back there, and I don't have to listen to a tyrant Gem like Yellow Diamond." Greg laughed. "I'm glad you like it here. I've been here forever, but Homeworld doesn't seem like a good place to live." They continued to drive until Steven said, "Ooh! There's the jewelry store! Didn't you need some rings or something, Jade?"
"Oh yeah, I did. Um, if I tell you what the rings are for, do you promise not to tell Garnet?" Steven nodded. "I'm planning to propose to her, so I need to buy rings for Ruby and Sapphire," Jade whispered. "Cool! I'm sure she'll be surprised, as long as she doesn't use her future vision to see it."
"I sure hope she doesn't see it coming," she said as Greg parked the van in front of the store. Greg got out of the van and opened the door to let Steven and Jade out. "Thanks for taking me here, Mr. Universe."
"You're welcome. You're Steven's friend, I'm happy to help you"

Jade opened the door and let herself into the store, Steven and Greg following. "Welcome! Are you looking for anything in particular?" The woman at the front desk asked. "Actually, yes I am. I'm looking for two engagement rings, for my girlfriends."
"Oh! Well then, you should look over here." Jade followed the woman over to the display case filled with rings. "So, were you looking for any specific stones?"
"Stones?" Jade asked. "Right, I hadn't even noticed that you're a Gem. These are gemstones made here on Earth, but they don't have projected forms like you. We have almost all gemstones here for rings." The woman handed Jade a list of gems, cuts and ring styles. "Hmm... Maybe, two cubic zirconia rings, circular cut, and this style. Could you do that?"
"Of course! Let me just see how much that'll cost you." The cashier punched a few numbers into the register, and the price of $100 appeared on the screen. "Wow, that's cheaper than I thought it would be," Jade said. "Would you like to pay now, or after we fit the rings?"
"After. Oh wait, how are we gonna fit the rings if Ruby and Sapphire can't find out?" Steven looked up at Jade. "Can't you just shapeshift your hands to look like theirs?"
"Oh yeah!" Jade proceeded to shapeshift her left hand to look like Ruby's hand. "I forgot Gems could do that..." the cashier said. "You know a lot about Gems, it seems," Greg replied.
"Yeah, my ancestors were friends with a Green Opal."
"Cool! I don't know if I've ever met a Green Opal," Jade said thoughtfully. "So, are you ready to fit the rings?"
"Yep!" Jade held out her left hand, still shapeshifted to look like Ruby's, and the cashier measured her finger. "Okay, I have the measurements for Ruby, now I just need Sapphire's." Jade shapeshifted once again, this time making her hand the same size as Sapphire's. The cashier measured again and wrote down both measurements. "Okay! And can I have a phone number? If you have a phone, that is."
"Um, Steven? Would you mind if I used your phone number for this?" Jade asked her friend. "Of course not! Go right ahead!" Jade gave Steven's number to the cashier. "Thank you! We'll call you when the rings are ready for pickup." Jade smiled and summoned a stack of money from her gemstone. "Thank you!" She said before she left, Greg and Steven following behind her.

"That was easier than I expected," Jade said with a sigh of relief. "Yeah. By the way, where'd you get all that money?" Steven asked. "Um... Amethyst gave it to me. But I'm not sure where she got it," Jade answered. "Oh, okay. So, should we head home, or do you want to spend some more time here? I mean, it's a pretty fun city."
"I guess we could spend some time here, if you want," Jade said to Steven. "Okay! Dad, where should we go?"
"Hmm... Maybe we could go to the hotel we went to once with Pearl? I still have plenty of money left over from that," Greg said to his son. "Okay! Jade, you're gonna love it there! The room we got last time was huge!" Steven said with a big smile. "I'm sure I will," Jade said and ruffled up Steven's curly mess of hair.