after breakfast has been served to everyone, namely steven, spinel and amethyst, you silently turn and wash the dishes, being sure to slow and steady on the tools while you dimly listened to the others converse behind you.

"my, she's really getting around to things, isn't she?" pearl quipped, watching as you scrubbed at a pan, carefully as to not bend the tool out of shape or break it with an approving smile.

"heck yeah! I mean who knew a corrupt gem could make such killer pancakes?" amethyst exclaimed, before downing another pancake, barely bothering to chew it.

you flinched inwardly at the word "corrupt" and grunted softly, swishing your tail slightly in mild irritation, starting to scrub with a bit more vigor, trying to focus your annoyance on the burnt-on batter on the corners of the pan, grumbling almost inaudbly under the running water. unfortunately, garnet was able to catch your temporary rigidity, and crossed her arms. "be mindful of your words amethyst." she states plainly, prompting the gems to look at her quizzically, as she returned her gaze to you. "it might come off as an insult to some." she watched you as you grumbled in frustration at a particularly difficult crust burnt on the pan, scratching at it with your claw, a barely noticeably concerned frown on her face. This peeked the boy's attention as he and spinel exchanged worried looks to one another before steven turned to fully face garnet. "Is... (name) okay, garnet?" garnet looks down at steven, a notably sad frown now fully evident on her visage. "she... hasn't been feeling her best lately." she replied slowly, placing her hands on her hips. "in fact... she's been feeling quite... low lately."

steven and spinel looked at each other, concern etched into their features.

steven then furrowed his brows into a determined pout to which spinel mirrored as they nodded to one another.
~~~~~~~~~~~

later that day, you laid in the living room, sprawled out on the ground, staring intensely at a blank piece of paper while lightly nibbling the end of a (color) crayon. after a moment of intense staring, you grumbled to yourself and faceplanted onto the paper with a grunt. figures I can't think of anything to draw. you sneered at yourself inwardly as you rested your chin on the floor, laying flat like a throw rug, shutting eyes with a sigh. I'm surprised I can even think at all...

"hey there, (nickname)!"

you open your eyes and lift your gaze up to see a familiar pink gem beaming down at you with her signature cutesy smile. "hey, spinel." you tried to muster as much cheer into your voice as possible, but unfortunately, spinel still identified the despair in your voice. she then put on a near exaggerated sad face and knelt down to your current height. "hey now. don't be sad." she cooed in a reassuring yet mildly babyish tone, before stretching her head forward until her nose booped your muzzle. "your two best friends.." her tone took on a soft sing-song chanting tone, making your eye squint suspiciously, before steven suddenly came into view from somewhere, joining spinel in her chant. "your two best friends," it started softly before flooding in volume abruptly.

"YOUR TWO BEST FRIENDS! YOUR TWO BEST FRIENDS, SPINEL AND STEVEN ARE HERE!"

you recoiled as they practically yelled the last verse, pressing their cheeks into yours before laughing and running in circles around you, with spinel doing cartwheels and steven doing more of a prance as you watched with bewildered, unnerved eyes. what is happening, right now. after a moment they stop and steven kneels in front of you and hugs your face. "we heard you haven't been feeling too well lately!" spinel plops herself onto your fluffy withers hugging your back best she can. "and as your best friends, we can't have our best friend in a fog, now can we?" steven jumped to his feet, throwing his arms up into the air with cheer. "sooooo, we decided to have a special friend day! just the three of us!" you lift your head up, a deep, curious hum emanating in your throat, with the faintest of smiles curling the sides of your muzzle, much to his delight. "yeah, there we go!" he hugs your chest, smiling at the faint noise of your purrs emanating from your throat. "atta' girl." he murmured into your chest, sitting there for a moment before breaking away from you to smile warmly at you. "come on, let's get some air." you purred and nodded, rising to your hands and hooves, following him to the door.

maybe air is just what i need...
~~~~~~~~~

yes... this is exactly what I needed.

you spread out across the soft sands of the beach, smiling at the feeling of the warm summer breeze whipping through your mane and the sounds of the waves crashing against the shore. It's... been awhile since I've felt this genuinely relaxed...

"HEY (NICKNAME)!"

you looked up to your young friends, raising your eyebrows in mild surprise at seeing them ankle-deep in the rolling ocean water, spinel just kicking and splashing in the water, while steven was gesturing to you towards them. "come on in, the water's fine!" you tipped your head to the side, a contemplative hum droning in your throat. considering your past experience with water, you were naturally apprehensive about going into it. "ah come on, (nickname)!" spinel called playfully, waving her arms. "it doesn't bite!" you curled your lip, squinting your eye at the word "bite", remembering the grip of your water clone's jaws over your neck. right... steven and spinel must of saw your hesitancy, because exchanged looks with each other before wading out of the water and walking over to your spot. "c'mon, (nickname)! it's fun!" spinel chirped, taking one of your paws into her hands. "yeah! it's a bit cold at first, but really refreshing!" assured steven taking your other paw, squeezing it softly in excitement. they pull you onto your remaining paws and hooves and walk you slowly towards the rolling water. each step you took, ignited a new layer of nervousness in your mind, making you subconsciously start to tighten your grip on the hands holding yours in search of a sense of security. steven took notice and patted your paw gently. "Don't be scared. the water won't hurt you." there was a pause before he corrected himself. "n-not anymore, anyway.." you grunted in response, prompting spinel to hug your arm in comfort and steven to pat your paw softly as you all get up to the water's edge. "here. we'll go on three." he offered, as he took stance to run into the water, with spinel doing the same. "here we go," he starts.

"one..." he starts.

"two..." spinel adds, a note of excitement in her voice.

"...three!"

at once, you all plunged into the rolling waves, letting out a startled yelp as the icy water soaked your belly and seeped into your fur, making you stagger around awkwardly in the water. "I told you it was cold, (name)!" steven laughed, watching your dance of discomfort in the icy ocean. spinel giggled and started dancing herself. "that's a pretty neat dance ya got there, (nickname)!" you pouted comically at the pink gem, puckering your lower lip as you stood awkwardly in the water, shuddering in the coldness of the water, making the young duo laugh in response. you grumbled to yourself, shuffling in the water for a moment, feeling the soft stand beneath your hooves and paws. after a while, you began to grow used to the coolness as it lapped at your arms and soaked your belly and chest fur. you find yourself grinning at the now rather refreshing feeling of the ocean's rolling water, wagging your tail subtly in content. steven beamed brighter than the summer sun at your contentment while spinel hugs your mid-arm with a hum. "yeah, there we go, (name)!" he laughed as he runs up to you and hugs your forearm. "I knew you'd like the ocean!" you gave an amused snort and pressed your muzzle into his forehead. "not without steven or spinel, (name) wouldn't."

in a sudden burst of playful elation, you rise onto your hind legs, plucking the young duo out of the ocean and onto your biceps, steven on your forearm and spinel on your middle arm. steven laughs and hugs your head while spinel giggles, holding your one hand, as you proudly proclaim;

"steven and spinel give (name) strength!"
~~~~~~~~~~

Hai. Sorry for the wait.

But there's gonna be a few pics next chapter, along with a whole

Lot of

💖FLUFF.💖

Sooooo, sit tight and enjoy.