[The Crystal Gems, having remained fused for an extended period, are visibly drained. Amethyst slumps against a nearby rock, her breaths ragged and uneven.]
Amethyst: Man, I-I'm wiped out. Feels like I'm about to pass out any second.
[Pearl, equally worn out, clutches her side as she pants heavily.]
Pearl: *breathing heavily* S-Same here. That was incredibly taxing. H-Honestly, if we'd stayed fused for even a minute longer, we'd be dead right now, no question.
[Garnet, her usually composed demeanor marred by fatigue, nods in agreement.]
Garnet: We-we pushed ourselves too far this time. We shouldn't have overextended like that.
Steven: Are you guys really that wiped out? I'm feeling pretty good, actually.
Garnet: Don't gloat, Steven. You're half-Diamond. It's natural for you to have more stamina than us.
[Steven's face flushes slightly with embarrassment as he takes in their state.]
Steven: Oh, sorry, didn't mean to sound like I was bragging. If you need a break, we can totally take one before we-
[Lapis' voice interrupts the moment as she lands beside them.]
Lapis: Yo, Steven!
Steven: *turns to Lapis* What is it?
[Lapis sets the chained Gems and the ice ball encasing Spinel onto the ground with a soft thud.]
Lapis: So, what now? What am I supposed to do with these guys?
[Lapis gestures to the captured Gems, who are struggling hard against the water chains, their movements frantic and desperate.]
Steven: First things first-are you okay, Lapis?
Lapis: *with a small smile* Yeah, I'm good, thanks to all of you. I owe you one.
Steven: *smiling back* Glad to hear it--
[Bluebird's voice cuts through the moment like a knife, enraged and shril.]
Bluebird: Listen up, you clods! I demand my immediate release!!
Steven: Sorry, Bluebird. We can't let you go. None of you.
Bluebird: Would you at least have the decency to ask your lackey to unchain me? This is humiliating!
Lapis: *glances at Steven, unsure* What do you think, Steven? Should we...?
[Steven thinks for a moment, then shakes his head slightly.]
Steven: No, I think it's best not to, at least for the time being.
[Lapis nods, turning back to Bluebird.]
Lapis: You heard him.
[Bluebird shouts, her voice shaking with rage.]
Bluebird: You're the absolute worst, Steven Universe! I swear, I'm never gonna stop hating you!
Steven: It's kinda ironic, you know. Your hatred for me... well, it seems like it only makes Aquamarine and Eyeball love each other more, doesn't it?
[Bluebird blushes, her anger momentarily giving way to embarrassment. She stammers, her voice losing some of its edge.]
Bluebird: That's not... that's not true, you imbecile!
Steven: Hey, it's okay, Bluebird. No need to hide from your true feelings. The sooner you accept them, the better you'll feel. Trust me.
Bluebird: SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!
Steven: Whoa, whoa, take it easy. I didn't mean to-
[Out of the blue, a group of Quartzes rushes onto the scene. It's the Famethysts.]
Amethyst 8XL: *waving* Yo, guys!
[Amethyst's face lights up with relief as she turns to the Famethysts.]
Amethyst: *relieved but concerned* Famethysts! You guys alright?!
Amethyst 8XL: Yeah, we just barely made it out before that nutty blue Gem wrecked the whole place.
[Lapis, standing to the side and folding her arms, looks kinda offended.]
Lapis: Hey.
Amethyst: Glad you made it out.
Steven: Perfect timing, too.
Amethyst 8XL: *tilting her head, confused* For what?
Steven: Could you check on the Gems from the ships we crashed earlier? We need to make sure they're all okay.
Amethyst 8XL: Got it, no problem. We'll handle it.
Steven: Excellent. Now then, we'll give you some gem scanners so you can get the rejuvenated Gems' memories back. *to Connie* We still have a few of those left, don't we?
Connie: Sort of. We have five left to be exact.
Steven: Neat, could I have two please?
Connie: Sure thing.
[Connie takes two scanners out of her backpack and hands them to Steven, who hands them to the Famethysts.]
Steven: Here. The more Gems we get back to normal, the more help we'll get. We're counting on you.
Amethyst 8XL: No worries. We'll get it done!
[The group of Amethysts heads off to take care of their task.]
Connie: Alright, here's the situation. We've got Bluebird, Holly Blue, Spinel, Jasper, and two Lapis Lazulis. Bluebird and Holly were acting on their own from the start, but the others were rejuvenated. So...
Steven: We need to help them get back to normal asap.
Garnet: You guys take care of that. We need to rest for a while before getting back into action.
Steven: No problem. We've got this. You guys rest up as long as you need.
[Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl slump onto a nearby rock, visibly tired and ready for a rest.]
Steven: Let's start with Spinel; she seems like the easiest to help.
[Steven walks up to Spinel, her eyes widen in terror as she starts to scream, her voice trembling with fear.]
Spinel: Stay away! Don't come near me, you monster! You shattered Pink Diamond!
Steven: Wha? I never-
[Spinel's voice breaks as tears start to streak down her face.]
Spinel: I was made to be her best friend, and you... you shattered her!
Steven: Who told you that?
Spinel: They did.
[Spinel's tear-filled eyes dart towards Bluebird and Holly Blue Agate.]
Steven: They're lying to you, Spinel. I never even met Pink Diamond
Spinel: *confused* But--
Holly Blue Agate: Don't fall for it, Spinel!
Bluebird: Yeah, don't listen to him! He's just trying to confuse you to control you!
Steven: *enraged* Oh, really!? Look who's talking about control. Maybe you two should keep quiet.
Holly Blue Agate: And if we don't, Steven, what are you gonna do, make us!?
Bluebird: *laughs derisively* Go ahead, try to make us quiet! It'll be a waste of time, though-none of you can quiet my gorgeous voic-!
[Bluebird's taunt is cut off abruptly as Lapis raises her hands and encases Bluebird's head in a water bubble. The bubble distorts her furious face into a comical mess.]
Steven: Huh?
Lapis: Gorgeous voice? Yeah, right.
[Bluebird's shouts are muffled by the water, her eyes widen in helpless rage.]
Lapis: See? Way better.
[Lapis quickly encases Holly's head too. Bluebird and Holly's muffled protests are barely audible now.]
Lapis: Now we can't hear a word from them.
Steven: Thanks, Lapis.
Spinel: Hey, stop bothering my friends!!
Steven: Spinel, they're not your friends. They've been straight-up lying to you and controlling you this whole time. Real friends don't pull that kind of stuff.
Spinel: *confused* Wh-what?
Steven: Spinel, a true friend wouldn't lie to you. They wouldn't hurt you... and they definitely wouldn't just leave you behind like you didn't matter.
Spinel: ...!?
Steven: That's what Pink Diamond did to you, Spinel. She abandoned you. She left you alone for thousands of years in the garden she made just for you.
Spinel: Th-The garden...
[Spinel whispers, a bittersweet smile briefly flashing across her face before degrading into a destroyed frown.]
Spinel: NO!
Steven: You're remembering it, aren't you? The garden... how she left you there?
[A cold, sharp gasp escapes her as panic wells up inside. She shakes her head wildly.]
Spinel: No, no, no, no! Stop it! I'm not gonna let you mess with me like this! She'd never leave me!
[Images of the garden flash through her mind-bright, colorful flowers swaying in the breeze, Pink Diamond's laughter echoing in the air. Spinel remembers running through the garden, playing hide-and-seek with Pink, surprising her with funny faces, and hearing that wonderful laughter.]
Spinel: Pink wouldn't... she wouldn't do that to her playmate! She-she wouldn't!
Steven: I know it's hard to believe, but... she did.
Spinel: No... no, that can't be right! She wouldn't do that to me! I... I meant something to her! I was her playmate! I made her laugh!
Steven: You did make her laugh, Spinel. But that just wasn't enough for her.
Spinel: ...!
Steven: You waited for her for six thousand years, and she never came back. I don't get why she did that to you; maybe she didn't fully realize how much it would hurt you. But still, that doesn't make it right. And I hate to say it, but... she wasn't the friend you thought she was.
Spinel: I...
[Spinel's voice cracks, tears streaming down her face Her memories flood back in painful waves: Pink's laughter, the joy she felt from making her friend smile. But then, Pink's laughter fades into silence, and her presence slips away. Thousands of years go by, and there she is, still standing still in that lonely, deserted garden, just waiting... waiting for Pink to come back.]
Spinel: I remember now... I waited... I waited for so long. And she just... never came back.
Steven: I know. And it wasn't fair. You didn't deserve that. But you don't have to wait anymore. You don't have to hold onto what Pink did to you. You deserve friends who'll stay.
[As if reacting to his words, Spinel begins to glow, her gemstone turns around into an upside-down heart. Slowly, she reforms back to her current self.]
Steven: You're back!
Spinel: Yeah! Thanks to you!
[Spinel glances down at the ice still encasing her, her grin fading slightly.]
Spinel: But uh... maybe now you could help me get outta this ice? It's, uh, kinda freezing my butt off here.
Lapis: *awkwardly, rubbing the back of her neck* Yeah, about that... I can freeze water, but I, uh, don't exactly know how to thaw it. Sooo, you're kinda stuck for a bit.
Spinel: Wait... what?!
[Steven chuckles and walks over, placing his hand gently on the ice encasing her.]
Steven: No worries. I got this.
[Steven taps the ice, which cracks and shatters like a fragile shell, freeing Spinel effortlessly.]
Peridot: Seriously? Just like that?
Steven: Yep. Pretty much got a handle on my powers now.
[Without warning, Spinel flings her arms around Steven, pulling him into a tight hug, her grin wide and full of warmth.]
Spinel: Steven... I don't... I don't even know how to thank you. You didn't just save me-you gave me back me. I thought I was... I thought I was gone!
[Steven hugs her back.]
Steven: Don't sweat it, Spinel. That's what friends are for.