The Mysterious Gems :: Chapter 1

art by @kofukune

A little project me and @roselyse write for fun. :3 

“Wait, there’s someone here.”

Citrine had already started running ahead, but retraced his steps to Emerald. “…In the prison?”

Emerald passed Moonstone and Citrine, stepping towards the cell.

The cell itself was completely charred on the inside. The gem had his back to the onlookers. Moonstone squinted and knelt, trying to get a closer look. He attempted to ignore the smell of burnt metal that was assaulting his nose.

“…Hello?” He asked.

The gem didn’t move. There were thin lines scraped into the metal wall he was facing, clearly tally marks. Moonstone turned back to Emerald and Citrine.

“Maybe he doesn’t speak?”

“He doesn’t look like one of ours,” Citrine said. “Why would they imprison him?”

“Who are you.”

The group became uneasy as they heard the stranger’s voice. His head turned, his eyes lurking beneath his sweaty hair as he gave them a cold glare.

Despite the tension in the air, Emerald decided to introduce them.

“We’re gems. Citrine, Moonstone, and I’m Emerald,” Emerald said.

“We’re the enemies of your captors,” Citrine finished for Emerald. “What about you?”

The large red gem huffed and smoke came out of his nose. He turned his face back to the wall, cracked his neck loudly and sat up a little straighter.

“Ruby,” He growled. Moonstone tilted his head to the side in surprise.

“A Ruby? …No. That can’t be right,“ Moonstone said. He stood up and leaned forward to get a better look at the oversized gem. “You’re way too big to be a Ruby. You’re lying.”

[…]

"Rubies produce heat. Especially when they’re angry,” Emerald pointed out. Citrine glanced around Ruby’s singed cell, considering this.

“Yeah. This Ruby has a bad temper,” Citrine said.

Ruby’s shoulders tensed and he punched the wall, smoke shooting out from under his fist. The sound echoed off the walls and down the hallways, making the other gems flinch.

“I’ve been in here for 276 years! ”

Ruby got to his feet, embers shooting from his nostrils before dissipating in smoke around his face. His eyes were piercing as he stared at the others and his chest began to heave with labored and rapid breaths.

Citrine looked on blankly at Ruby’s enraged state. He pursed his lips as Emerald looked at him.

“What should we do?” Emerald asked. “We can’t keep him here like this…”