A/N: Phew! That took forever! I'm really sorry for the wait and thank you all for being so patient! I had a bit of writer's block but the next chapter should come out much faster than this one. I'm in Honors Biology and we just finished a really difficult Biochemistry unit, so I have more free time now. Anyways, I hope you enjoy!

My Red Princess Chapter 6: The Visit

Ruby opened her eyes, squinting. "Ugh...what happened?" She rubbed her forehead and remembered Pearl and Amethyst waking her up after an inability to sleep, leading to an after party till dawn. She realized her hair was sticking up, but was still oblivious to the words 'PARTY GURL' written on her forehead. She looked up and saw Pearl taped to the ceiling. "Woah!"

Pearl waved. "What's up, party gurl?"

Amethyst walked out of the closet with lipstick all over her face. "I don't know what I was kissing in there, but I have no regrets!"

"Pearl falls down now." Pearl peeled off of the ceiling and gently removed the tape. "We should start preparing things. Carnelian said in the carriage today would be a late day, but we don't want to risk it."

Ruby nodded. "That was awesome, girls."

The two left and everyone got ready. Half an hour later, Amethyst called everyone down to the breakfast table. She laid out the dishes and sat down herself. They ate in silence until Green Tourmaline spoke.

"Pyrite and Carnelian had a very successful night at the ball. Pyrite really hit it off with the princess, and met some prospective young women. I've decided to celebrate by taking the two of them on a vacation."

"Father, thank you!" Pyrite exclaimed happily. Ruby, Amethyst, and Pearl all shared a glance.

Everyone finished their meal. Green Tourmaline, Pyrite, and Carnelian ate with victorious expressions.

Amethyst went around collecting the dishes and went into the kitchen to wash them. Ruby's stepfather paired her up with Pearl to clean the marble staircase.

Pearl was wiping down the railing with a rag. Every time she tried to start casual conversation about the ball with Ruby, Pyrite or Green Tourmaline would walk by a doorway or through the hall. Pearl sighed.

Ruby worked her way up the stairs with the broom, and then both she and Pearl grabbed a mop. After they finished, Amethyst called everyone down for dinner. After that, she had to tidy up the parlor and then she went to bed.

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"Good morning, Sapphire!"

The princess groaned and rolled over, and her eyes flew open. Her mother was at her bedside.

"Mom?!" Sapphire remembered she slept nude and quickly pulled the covers up to her neck. "What are you doing?!"

"It's the morning after the greatest event in the kingdom, dear, I want to see how your night was! Especially after you blew me off last night. Did you really have to chase...whoever that was." She gasped. "Oh, was it a boy?!" She waved her hands in the air. "I bet it was a boy! What's his name?! How rich is he?! Did you two dance?! Oh, honey, this is terrific! When is the wedding?!"

Sapphire groaned and placed her pillow over her ears. The oblivious queen kept on rambling.

"Mom!" Sapphire said, shutting her up. "Can I please get ready first?!"

The queen blinked in surprise before breaking into a smile. "Of course, sweet pea! I'll be waiting downstairs with the duchess, we can't wait to hear all the juicy details." She winked. "Oh, this is so perfect, it's so perfect..." She trailed off as she left the room. Sapphire slammed her face into the pillow and screamed into it. What was she thinking?! Now her mother was going to find out. She had to come up with a lie...and fast.

In half an hour, Sapphire emerged down the stairs in a simple blue dress. Her mother and the duchess were waiting expectantly on the couch. Sapphire sighed and sat down. At least she was a good liar.

"So, spill all the details!" Corundum said.

"Well...his name is Granite." Sapphire started. "His gemstone was black, white, gray, and clear. He had this beautiful light gray skin with white and black flecks and dark gray hair with darker and lighter streaks. His eyes were the most sophisticated colors and he wore the most handsome suit. He was perfect! We met after two brothers failed at flirting with me when I tried to avoid meeting with more people. He asked me to dance, and oh! How we danced!" She said poetically. "It was so romantic, we danced in the ballroom, and then we danced down the stairs- he was good-, and we danced into the garden. After that he wanted to take me somewhere private. It was on the bridge where he confessed his undying love. He compared me to the moon and himself to the camellia awaiting the moon and wanted to know when I could see him again. I didn't know and we went back inside. He said he had a knack for reading, he's so intelligent, and I showed him the library. However, it was then the clock struck midnight! He had a curfew set by his worried but loving parents and needed to go immediately. He started to run. I chased after him and almost caught up when you jumped in front of me. I had to catch him, but it was too late. He was gone."

"What about that shoe you picked up?" The queen asked.

"I...huh?"

"You picked up a purple glass slipper. What's that about?"

"Well, um, his father is...a shoemaker. He decided to bring a slipper to give to any girl he met and it happened to be me. He has the other shoe. He, uh, told me the shoes are a thing of lore in his father's shop. They're called Solemate Shoes. G-get it? Solemate? No? Uh, anyway, Solemate shoes are meant to be shared between two people in love. Whoever has the other shoe is your soulmate." Sapphire made up on the spot.

Her mother and the duchess stared at her. Sapphire began to sweat. I hope they don't see right through me.

"That is so ROMANTIC!" Corundum exclaimed. She jumped up and pulled her daughter in a hug. "You said he disappeared?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Then we must FIND HIM!"

"W-what? No, that's not-"

"Sapphire, I'm the queen! If anyone can track him down, it's us! Oh, I already have a plan! Tomorrow, you and the duchess will go into town and search for Granite! We'll find him, I promise! You said his father was a shoemaker?"

Sapphire stood, stone-faced. She really messed up.

💎💎💎

The next day, Ruby was helping Amethyst out in the kitchen with the lasagna. Green Tourmaline was about to leave to meet with his sister in order have her come keep Ruby, Pearl, and Amethyst monitored.

Green Tourmaline walked by the window, and stopped abruptly. The two looked up at him. He stared for a few moments before pivoting. "Amethyst, go up to your room. Ruby, come with me."

The two exchanged glanced. "But the lasagna..." Amethyst said dramatically.

"Now!" He barked. "Pyrite! Carnelian! Come down here!"

Amethyst left and the stepbrothers appeared.

"What is it?" Carnelian asked.

"You three, come with me." Green Tourmaline instructed. As they walked by the window, Ruby caught a glimpse of...Sapphire?! She had to keep moving and they all went up the marble stairs and then the worn spiral staircase up into Ruby's tower.

Ruby went into her room, expecting the others to follow, but the door slammed shut and she heard it lock.

"Hey!" She shouted, banging on it. The gem heard Green Tourmaline speak.

"You two need to guard this door with your life. Listen, I've been having suspicions that Ruby was not where she was supposed to be the night of the ball. The duchess and the princess are going to come here. I don't know what they want, but I need to leave. Pyrite, you go down and Carnelian, watch the door. There's no way under any circumstances Ruby is going to leave."

"Wait, why does Pyrite get to meet them but not me?"

"Didn't you hear me yesterday? Pyrite actually made progress with Sapphire and maybe would've got even further if you didn't intercept, starting that fight."

"What? No, he sta-"

"Carnelian! That's enough! Your job is to guard Ruby! Pyrite actually has a chance, and you already screwed it up! Don't disappoint me again!" He said intimidatingly. There was no response and Ruby heard Green Tourmaline make his way down the stairs.

It was silent. Ruby sat quietly for a few minutes before she heard a faint knock.

"They're here!" Pyrite exclaimed and he ran downstairs. Carnelian sighed. Ruby went over to the window and gasped. Her stepfather had put bars on it! "How..."

She heard Sapphire's distant voice in the foyer. Ruby went up to the door. "Carnelian...let me out."

"What?! Are you insane?! Why would I do that?!"

"Carnelian, please! I have to! You don't understand, please!" She leaned her back against the door.

"I-I can't! The consequences! Do you know what my dad will do?!"

"Please..." She slid down to the floor.

There was a pause, and Carnelian sighed. "You're just lucky you saved my life."

Ruby looked up.

The lock clicked.

💎💎💎

Pyrite answered the door. "Hello, how may I- oh! What a surprise! Princess Sapphire, Duchess Quartz!" He bowed politely as if he wasn't prepared for this. "Come in, come in. I'm Pyrite. Princess, I assume you were enchanted by our encounter last night and just had to come and meet me! How lucky I am! I-"

"Sorry, but that's not the case." Sapphire interrupted cooly, but Pyrite could see sweat forming on her forehead. He blinked.

"Does a Granite live here?" The duchess asked, looking around. "We're looking for a Granite."

Sapphire held up a purple shoe.

"Uh, no, but that doesn't mean you have to go!"

They turned to leave.

"Wait! I know Granite!"

The duchess stopped. "You know him?!"

Pyrite froze, then broke into a smile. "Know him?! Know him?! Why, Granite is one of my best friends!"

"That's great!" The duchess said.

Sapphire scoffed, which made Pyrite nervous. Did she know he was fibbing?"

"Where does he live?" The duchess asked joyfully.

"I, um, he's out right now, but he wanted to come visit here when he comes back! Why don't you two stay?"

"That would be excellent!" The duchess exclaimed.

Pyrite let out a sigh of relief. All he had to do was keep them here long enough for Sapphire to forget about Granite and fall in love with him.

"Wait!"

Everyone looked towards the staircase. Ruby shot down the stairs. "Sapphire!" She said and the gems embraced.

The Duchess's jaw dropped. She was in a state of shock.

Sapphire took out the shoe. "You left this behind."

Ruby reached for it when Pyrite interrupted.

"I got one question for you: what are those?!" Pyrite shouted, leaping at it an knocking it out of Sapphire's hand. The shoe fell to the ground and shattered.

The duchess gasped. "The Solemate shoe!"

Ruby ignored her. "It's okay, I have the other one right here." She pulled it out.

Strawberry Quartz was perplexed. "The other Solemate Shoe..." Her face slowly grew darker. "You." She said. Ruby and Sapphire looked. "You told us...Granite had that shoe.

"What's going on?" Ruby asked quietly. Sapphire started to tremble in fear.

"You lied. You lied because you were spending that night with her!" She shouted, pointing a finger at Ruby. "Is Granite even REAL?!" She lunged at Sapphire, grabbing her wrist. Sapphire cried out.

"Sapphire!" Ruby shouted. She tried to get to her, but Pyrite held her back. "Let go of me!" Pyrite raised his fist, but then Ruby was free. She fell and looked back.

Carnelian punched him.

Ruby was trying to comprehend what was going on when Amethyst suddenly wrapped him up with her whip. Pearl pointed her spear at his head.

"What are you doing?!" He shouted at Carnelian.

"I'm tired of you!" The orange gem yelled emotionally. Ruby looked and saw Strawberry Quartz dragging Sapphire out of the door.

"Sapphire!" Ruby shouted.

Pyrite was yelling at his brother and servants. "Untie me! Carnelian, you don't know what you're doing!"

"What is going in in here?!"

Green Tourmaline was angrier than Ruby had ever seen him. Amethyst's whip disappeared and Pearl lifted her spear. Carnelian backed away while Pyrite stared. Strawberry Quartz slipped out with Sapphire. Ruby stood up and ran after them, but her stepfather intercepted and knocked her back.

"Ruby! Pearl! Amethyst! Go up to your rooms!"

The trio didn't hesitate as they quickly ran up the stairs.

"Carnelian," Green Tourmaline said quietly, "what did you do?"

💎💎💎

After Green Tourmaline stopped Carnelian from going on the family vacation and punished him, he locked Ruby in the attic. This time she had no way to leave, no way to escape the hell that was the life she was trapped in.

Ruby cried into her pillow, worrying about Sapphire more than herself.