The Question

"♫ This ol' Ruby rider, is Ruby ridin' all alone. ♫"

"The Question"  is the 21st episode of the fifth season of Steven Universe, the 149th episode overall, and the third episode in the seventh StevenBomb.

Synopsis
Ruby goes on an adventure.

Plot
Amethyst and Steven arrive on the cliff where Ruby and Greg were eating pizza. Greg tells them that Ruby was telling him about Rose's real identity, and jokes that he never told her that "Mr. Universe" used to be Gregory Demayo. Steven asks Ruby how she's holding up, and Ruby assures him that she's fine, proceeding to offer him a slice of pizza.

Steven is confused as to how she can be OK right now, and Ruby explains that she and Greg talked it out, and that what Sapphire said was true. She claims that she can have a better life on her own, shocking Steven. He tries to change her mind, but Ruby still persists she'll be on her own.

Greg tells Steven that that's what she wants, and that if it's not what Ruby wants, it's not what Garnet wants. Amethyst asks Ruby what she's gonna do and Ruby says she's gonna live free, just like the protagonist in the dolphin comic she was holding. Steven picks up another comic about a cowboy, and Ruby, so dazzled by the idea (and perhaps the cowboy's partner "Sally"'s appearance, which was similar to Sapphire), she changed her mind and decided to become a cowboy herself. Steven supports her.

Greg drives them to an outdoor area, and Ruby dresses like a cowboy. Steven remembers she needs a horse, and Amethyst shape-shifts into said being (somewhat dramatically). Ruby rides Amethyst around the outdoor area, when Steven remembers that they don't have a map. However, Ruby says that she doesn't need one.

They come across a bush, and Ruby goes inside while remembering that she doesn't have Sapphire's future vision to warn of possible futures. She suddenly falls, but luckily lands on a close rock sticking out of the wall of the cliff. Ruby hops back up, getting excited that it was her choice. That night, they go to a camp area while Ruby plays guitar, Greg surprised because she picked it up in only ten minutes.

While everyone is sleeping, Steven tells Ruby that after seeing how much fun she was having, he shouldn't have pushed her into being Garnet again. Ruby then states that it's not true, and that she had fun, but wanted to have more fun with Sapphire. She gets frustrated that she was still thinking about Sapphire, and Steven tells her that she is still the same Ruby, even if she was still thinking of someone. Steven points out that the cowboy in the comic had missed someone too, even if he was on his own. Ruby decides to stay with Sapphire, and Steven shows her a page in the comic that gives her an idea.

Back at the temple, Pearl is comforting Sapphire when Steven comes in, saying that Ruby was outside. Sapphire rushes outside and finds Ruby on horse Amethyst. She apologizes for the horrible things she has said, and Ruby says that they weren't the answer. She gets off horse Amethyst and walks up to Sapphire, proposing to her. She tells her that they can be together even when they are apart, and that being Garnet would be their decision. Sapphire agrees, and they both hug, while Pearl, horse Amethyst, and Steven watch. Steven looks at the comic and it reveals a wedding page.

Characters

 * Steven Universe
 * Amethyst
 * Greg Universe
 * Ruby
 * Sapphire
 * Pearl (non-speaking)
 * Garnet (mentioned)
 * Rose Quartz/Pink Diamond (mentioned)
 * Other Rubies (mentioned)

Objects
TBA

Songs

 * "Ruby Rider"

Instrumental Songs

 * "Reconciliation"

Trivia

 * This is the fifth episode of Steven Universe to air on the day of a national holiday — Independence Day (or more commonly known as “The 4th of July”) — with the first four being "Stuck Together", "The Trial", "Off Colors", and "Lars' Head" on Memorial Day in 2017.
 * Fittingly, Ruby tries to be an independent Gem in this episode, which aired on Independence Day.
 * The title of this episode is a parallel to the second season episode "The Answer", and also a reference to the old idiom of "pop the question", which means to ask a person's hand in marriage.
 * When Ruby asked the question, Sapphire agreed in marrying Ruby and choosing to become Garnet; who, as told by Rose, was the answer.
 * A new title card was shown for the first time.
 * Ruby learning an instrument (as well as her moving in with Greg), were both boxes on the official Cartoon Network Bingo sheet for this StevenBomb.

Cultural References

 * The logo for the comic book "Dolphin Tail" is based off of the logo for Disney’s "DuckTales".

Continuity

 * This episode begins immediately after "What's Your Problem?".
 * Sapphire, using her future vision, sees Ruby being, and questions why she would be, a cowboy. This episode shows her vision coming to pass.
 * Ruby mentioned the occurrence of the events of "The Answer".
 * This episode confirmed that Greg did not know about Rose's past identity as Pink Diamond.
 * Greg brings up his former last name, DeMayo, which was revealed in "Gem Harvest". He reveals that he never told Rose that DeMayo was his real last name.
 * Greg teaches Ruby how to play guitar in this episode using his musical knowledge previously shown in episodes like "Shirt Club".
 * Ruby is shown to be proficient at learning an instrument very quickly (after just "10 minutes"), similarly to how Peridot quickly learns the basics of music in minutes in "It Could've Been Great".

Errors
TBA