Oh my stars...

what stood before you was a massive, almost bird shaped ship with 2 massive wings on its sides, perched on four wheels.

She actually managed to do it. Not bad.

"Presenting the brand new, ballistic flight capable.. Universe Mach 3!"

"SPACESHIP!!" steven and spinel exclaim in unison as they excitedly ran over to the ship looking over in elation as you just blinked in awe. "Careful!" you cautioned, lumbering into the barn to inspect the machine yourself. "And keep your voices down." pearl reminded following after. spinel and steven were already climbing the ladder that was leaned against it, pausing to look at the logo. "Whoa! it's even got the logo from the van!" you craned your head, squinting your eye at the familiar design, before tipping your head to the side. It looked exactly like... "Hey..." you shoot a questioning glance at pearl who looked nonchalant. "And if he asks, just say we borrowed it." your eyes narrowed and you pursed your lips. I thought I heard odd noises come from the van...

You watched as steven and spinel get into the vessel, before feeling a tug at your fur. "Come on, then. I made it big enough for all of us." she almost ushered you into the ship and you find that it is substantially spacious enough for you to have a seat. After getting situated, you gander at all the buttons, your eyes glittering in a foreign excitement.

"So many buttons..." you hear spinel mutter, settling herself into your lap, to which you instinctively wrap your midarms over her abdomen, lacing your fingers into a makeshift seat belt, smiling at her little giggle as she laced her own hands over them. "I must press them all.." steven added, mesmerized by the shiny, flashing lights. "if you want, guys, we can take her out for an engine check." pearl states, shifting into a more space like attire. "it'll be quick." you blinked and tipped your head slightly.

hm. what's the harm in a little test run?

pearl got in and took her seat in the worn couch, and after pressing a few buttons, the ship hummed to life, giving you a jolt of excitement.

Well.. no turning back now.
~~~~~~~~~~

Steadily rolling out of the barn, you feel spinel jittering in her seat in excitement. "oh boy! here we go, (name)!" she excitedly slapped your hands in a rhythmic manner. "isn't this exciting?!" you smiled down at her, lightly nuzzling the top of her head. "Yes, very exciting." you replied, honestly feeling more of a sharp anxiousness then excitement, as you feel the slight turbulence as the ship left the ground, and within minutes, you all were gliding over the ocean.

"Wow! look guys! you can see the temple from here!" steven exclaimed, pointing out the windshield excitedly. spinel stretches her head and squints her eyes out, before smiling brightly. "oh yeah! look at how small it is now!" you however, didn't move. not only did you not want to see how far you were from home... but you were also fixated on how pearl was acting as she adjusted the ship controls.

she seemed incredibly focused on this trial run... almost determined looking...

"HEY, CAN YOU HEAR ME?!" a familiar voice rang out from the radio transmitter, snapping you back into attention. "WHERE DO YOU GUYS THINK YOU'RE GOING?!"

Greg..!

You had almost forgotten about him and his firm order to stay on the ground. Oh he isn't going to be pleased when we get back... "hey dad, guess where I am!" steven excitedly replied, clearly not aware his father's dismal fear. "I know where you are!" he affirms sounding frantic. "it's where you're GOING that worries me!" spinel perks up, stretching her head over to the transmitter, smiling sweetly at it, like she were looking at him to reassure him. "Oh no worries, mr. greg!" she chirps lightly and reassuringly. "It's just a quick test flight." pearl nods, smiling dismissively. "This will be perfectly fine," she assures. "just a pop over to the nearest star system."

Wait what?

"I'll give him back in 50 years."

...whAT!?

your eyes widen and your mouth falls open as the younger gems look over at her, quite taken aback by the sudden change in plans. "50 years??"

"WHAT?? 50 YEARS?!" greg exclaimed, completely floored. "I'll be DEAD in 50 years!" he was now in full panic mode. "Pearl, you bring him back right now or I'll--" his voice was cut off as pearl simply reached over and shut off the transmission. "Pearl.. I'm not supposed to go." steven reminded the gem, but she didn't seem to listen to him. Spinel suddenly looked worried at pearl's lack of response. "Pearl?" she was lost in her own mind now. "Oh, this is so exciting!" she squealed, apparently unconcerned by the child's protest. "Steven, you're going to love it." she starts fiddling with keyboard buttons, activating the boosters. "and you two will as well." she smiles in blind delight at the pink gem, who returns her smile nervously. "hang on tight!"

once it all sank in, the realization struck you hard.

this was no mere test run.

spinel's head snaps back into place, her eyes bouncing around like googly eyes for a moment as she sunk back into your chest, cowering under your paws, gulping nervously. "(Name)... should I be worried?" You looked down at her, mouth still slightly ajar in shock. "Uh-"

That utterance was all you could get out as the ship kicked into overdrive and zipped across the ocean and hurtled into the sky, making it all the way to earth's atmosphere.

oh stars, we might actually manage to make it into-

CREAK!

Your eyes widened as you snapped your head to the side and watch with horror as a piece of scrap metal fly past the window. Spinel must have seen it to, because she suddenly turned around and wrapped her arms around you tightly in poorly hidden fear. "Aha...(Name), what was that?" You stared at the window in horror as you clutched spinel tightly to your belly, feeling ice spread throughout your chest.

Suddenly a light starts flashing in warning as another piece flies off...

Then another...

And another...

"Oh no!" You blurted as the realization struck you hard.

This thing's gonna come apart before we even hit the stars!