Connie clenched her fist, open and closed as she had for so many years. It was something she picked up from years of playing tennis. The pressure that built in her palm from the calluses she earned would sometimes assure her.
She had worked for this, she had trained, she could do this. Usually these calluses still assured her, of her training with Pearl. Of her capabilities with the sword.
...Rose's sword.
Connie glanced up at Steven, the lower half of his torso enveloped by a pink glow as he stared forward. Guilt gripped her chest. She couldn't believe she'd lost it. Lost the sword and broke her promise.
She had promised to stay by his side! She had promised to keep him safe. She had promised to keep the sword protected, intact. Yet in the end she'd failed him.
Of course she'd stayed by his side but Connie felt as though she'd been of hardly any help. For all of the ten seconds she was truly a part of the battle she'd managed to get caught and shatter one of the few ties Steven still had to his mother.
Connie felt terrible! After that whole debacle Steven ended up simply saving himself.
"Breathe."
Connie's stomach did a flip and her skin crawled with goosebumps as a hand gently squeezed her shoulder. She looked up from her lap to find Garnet peering down at her, her face set stiff.
"But-."
"Breathe." Garnet advised again, her voice incredibly quiet.
Connie squeezes her palms again, replying with a whisper. "Could...couldn't I have done more?"
Garnet silently pulled the girl closer. "This, is the best possible outcome. Everyone is alive, thanks in part to you."
"But the sword-."
"Swords are weapons and weapons can be replaced. Rose's sword was indeed special, but so are you. And I think we can all agree that between you and the sword, we'd rather have you."
Connie couldn't help the small smile or the warm feeling in her chest that chased away her insecurities. As usual, she could count that Garnet was right. Connie squeezed the Gem's arm in thanks and laid down on her side, resting her head in Garnet's lap.
They had another long journey ahead of them.