Steven stood outside, basking in the sun, taking in the few moments of peace on earth before having to go out to space to deal with whatever Aquamarine had planned.
Connie had helped alleviate his fears, and talked to him about what to do going forward.

It all seemed like a great idea now, but when things start to actually change, he had no idea how the gems would react.
He didn't even know how he'd be able to talk down the Diamonds from attacking their own people.
And he knew there was no easy way to stop Aquamarine.
Things weren't going to be easy, but they never really had been had they?

Steven stared off In the distance, noticing a small shimmer of light above the horizon. The light flickered, growing larger, before an enormous ship plummeted toward the beach house.

Steven vaulted over the balcony, drawing his shield and preparing for the worst, Pearl, Amethyst and Garnet landed at his side in formation, readying themselves for the potential for.

The ship plunged into the sands, displacing the water around it and causing the sand to billow out in clouds.
Steven watched the door to the ship spring open, holding his shield to his face, ready to fight.

A pink boy stepped out of the shadows, looking around confusedly.

"We made it!" He exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air with glee. Steven lowered his shield, recognizing the invader.

"Lars?" The pink boy turned and ran toward him, wrapping his hands around his arms and shaking him frantically.

"Steven!" His voice cracked as he said the name, "some gem has your friend! They are going to attack Homeworld!" He stopped shaking him, but his fingers were still tight around his arms.

"They're what?" Steven pulled away from his friend, taking a shocked step backwards. This didn't make sense, why would they attack homeworld, again?
Unless...the diamonds aren't there. He turned back, addressing Lars as he watched his reformed friends exit the ship.

"What all do you know?" Steven asked, glancing at Garnet while she patiently waited for an answer. Pearl seemed to be working thinks over in her head, while Amethyst attempted to comfort her.

"Not much," lars answered, helping Padparadscha out of the ship. "Some gem named Jasper tricked us, we got captured by Emerald. I don't know how she got this ship, or how she got so many soldiers but-" he shuddered at the thought.

"They're building an army."

Steven's head reeled at the thought, jasper and Emerald working with Aquamarine? Building an army to take over homeworld?

"How did you escape?" He turned back, Lars sighed.

"Your friend helped us." He muttered, forlorn at his failure to bring her with him. Steven's eyes lit up, despite Lars's dissatisfaction.

"Spinel? She still on our side?" His voice brightened at the thought. Perhaps, she wasn't going to turn on them after all. Lars nodded, but didn't seem to join in the joyous information. He glanced at his feet before looking back at Steven who seemed overjoyed.

"Yeah, but I think something is wrong with her?" His words caused Steven's smile to fade.

"What do you mean?"

Lars bobbed his head from side to side, trying to come up with an explanation. He hadn't really seen the gem in a while, so he wasn't entirely sure she was off, but he didn't think she was perfectly fine either.

"She's um..melting?" His voice turned up, unsure if he used the right words. Steven blinked in confusion, unable to understand his friend.
The only gem he has seen melt was Antarcticite, and he was pretty sure that was because she had hydrokinesis. Could gems even melt?
What would make them melt?

"What?" Pearl gasped, pulled from her short panic over the ensuing war.

"So that's not normal?" Lars questioned, committing the information to his memory.
Pearl shook her head.

"Gems forms are made of concentrated light particles, there's no way they would deteriorate in such a way, not unless the gem itself is causing it." She held her hand to her mouth, pacing as she tried to understand the conundrum.
None of it made sense, they would have to examine the gem to be able to tell what was wrong, and there was no way to do such a thing.

Steven nodded, though he didn't want to get caught up on his friend, over the news Lars brought from space.
They needed to go to Homeworld, and stop Aquamarine, then deal with the Diamonds.
Spinel would have to wait  just a little longer.