Ruby (Leggy)

**Ruby** is a Homeworld Gem, and an original Gem who appears in *Steven Universe*.

## Appearance

Her outfit is a maroon top with Yellow Diamond insignia, with brown shorts and maroon boots with her gemstone on her left thigh. Her complexion is the darkest of the Ruby troop, being more of a burgundy color.

## Personality

She seems to be the most disoriented and confused, never knowing quite what to do. She is also the most fearful, frequently hiding behind other things. She often forgets what she is doing and even briefly forgot her mission and why she came to Earth in the first place.

## Abilities

Ruby possesses standard Gem abilities, bubbling, shapeshifting, fusion, regeneration, agelessness, and superhuman strength/durability.

### Fusions

* When fused with other Rubies, they make a bigger Ruby.

### Unique Abilities

* **Thermokinesis**: Ruby is able to increase her core temperature.

## Gemology

Gemstone Information

* Rubies are composed of a material known as corundum, the second hardest crystal structure after diamond (9,10 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness).
	+ Since Ruby is a member of the corundum group, it is closely related to sapphire and thus shares some properties with it, such as hardness, composition, and double refraction.
	+ In its pure form, corundum is colorless.
	+ Rubies are the most expensive colored stone, going by carat.
* The word "ruby" comes from the Latin 'ruber' meaning red and, like many other gemstones, the ruby's symbolic meaning is heavily dependent on its coloring.
* Natural Ruby is one of four "precious" gemstones (including diamond, emerald, and sapphire), known for its rarity, monetary value, and hardness (second only to diamond).
	+ Natural Ruby can be distinguished from synthetic ruby by its inclusions; natural ruby typically exhibits inclusions, whereas synthetic ruby tends to be eye clean.
* The color of ruby is its most important quality factor. The most sought after color is a strong pure red to red with a hint of blue, called pigeon's blood.
	+ The vivid red color of ruby means that it is associated with desire, and it is thought by some to be a stone of love with an aphrodisiac effect.
	+ When the color of ruby is too light, it is classified as pink sapphire, but the line between pinkish-red ruby and pink sapphire varies by region.
* The ruby is closely associated with aspects such as vitality, life, passion and fire, all of which can be symbolically linked to the color red.
	+ This shows in Ruby's emotional temperaments and overall emotional/angry attitude as well as her strength.
	+ It is said that rubies can over-stimulate people who are sensitive or irritable.
* Ruby is the traditional birthstone of those born in July and is also the zodiacal stone for Cancer and Aries.
	+ Ruby is also used to celebrate the fifteenth and fortieth wedding anniversaries.
	+ The day assigned to Ruby is Tuesday (hence the Rolling Stones song, "Ruby Tuesday").
	+ The planet Mars is famously known as "the red planet", due to the high concentration of iron oxide (basically rust) on its surface and rubies, along with all of the aspects mentioned above, have been linked with Mars in one form or another.
	+ Ruby is the national gemstone of Burma and Thailand.