The Sky Arena was aglow underneath the light of the setting sun.

"Come on, Pearl, please! Just one more try!"

Pearl sighed. "Steven, I think we have had enough training for one day. You're not ready yet."

"Maybe . . . Maybe I just wasn't thinking the right stuff. Please!" He scrambled to his feet. "I think . . . This time I'll be ready! C'mon, Pearl — I know you really wanna be Rainbow Quartz again!"

Pearl stopped, and Steven saw his opportunity. "Pleeeaaasee! They'll be amazing! I promise." He put on his most cajoling tone. "Your fusions are always amazing."

Pearl turned, ready to scold him. But once she locked onto those soft brown eyes, she could see that in his mind at least, he was telling the truth.

She felt a warmth bloom in her chest. All she had ever wanted was for Rose to need her as much as she needed Rose — and once she had gone, Pearl had vowed to prove herself to her son; in the hopes that maybe — just maybe — Rose could see her . . . and she would be proud of her.

Gazing at Steven's open face, she knew that she didn't need her approval anymore. She had earned Steven's, and his respect, love and dependency along with it — which, she knew, was more than Rose could ever give her. And, for the first time, she felt just fine with that.

She sighed again, trying to look annoyed. She couldn't quite pull it off. "Okay. Just one more time."

Steven's face lit up. "Woohoo!" He ran forward and smacked into her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Thankyouthankyouthankyou!"

Pearl let out a soft laugh. She couldn't help tousling his bouncy hair. "Okay, okay. Come on, now."

Steven let go of her and ran back to his place, extending an arm and sweeping into a low bow, grinning.

Pearl mirrored his stance, a small smile on her face. Her gem lit up, bathing her face in a pale white light.

The two straightened, locking eyes, and Pearl spun delicately across to Steven as he met her at the midpoint. Setting her hands on his shoulders, Pearl stepped behind him and clasped his hand, twirling his body once (much to Steven's enjoyment, as he closed his eyes and laughed). Next, Steven stepped to the side and held out his hands. Pearl gracefully leapt into them and without much effort Steven lifted her slender body above his head, turning the two of them around and then gently setting Pearl on her feet.

The arena was silent.

Pearl sighed, disappointed. She turned to Steven, about to dismiss him for the day, but stopped when she saw something flash across his face. Suddenly, without warning, Steven then jumped forward and flung his arms around her, squeezing her tight.

The effect was instantaneous.

The familiar bright glow radiated from Steven's gem and washed up and over their bodies, his pink light mixing with Pearl's white glow — the combined energy expanded, incandescent, as their forms dutifully combined—

Their two eyes blinked open. And then, uncertainly, the other two.

They gazed down at their curvy body (much like Stevonnie's, they thought absent-mindedly), and at the star sported on Steven's shirt. Hints of Pearl's outfit could be seen poking out from under the shirt, and a blue ribbon wound around their torso, loose ends trailing down past their navel, where their second gem was in full view. They still wore Steven's shorts and Pearl's leotard stretching out from underneath, but whereas Pearl's socks reached to their knees, their feet were bare — pink sandals were lying discarded beside them.

Cautiously, their hands moved up their body, exploring their reunited form. They lifted their hands to their face, feeling over a pointed nose, up to their forehead gem, and over and through short, tufty hair. They crooked their knees unsteadily, and, wondering, they carefully drew themself up to full height, despite their wobbly legs.

"I'm. . ." They felt so different. They were so different. "We're . . . back."

Rainbow Quartz.

They let out a nervous giggle. What was this bizarre feeling?

On shaky legs, they started forward. A lock of pearlescent hair tumbled over their forehead — streaked through with a soft, coffee-like brown.

Of course! — Steven. Oh, so different.

"I'm so different from Rose Quartz," they breathed. Feeling their polar components inside them, they smiled. "I'm so . . . amazing."

Steven's excitement bubbled through them. "We did it!"

Then, a still, warm calm settled over them, and they wrapped their arms around themselves. "I missed you . . . me . . . so much."

The calm was lifted by an inner realisation. Some core part of them had shifted.

"What am I . . . ?" Their arms loosened and they gazed down at their hands, at Steven's gem. "What are we made of?"

They sunk into thought. Between Pearl and Rose Quartz, it had been love — but the relationship between Rainbow Quartz's components had undoubtedly changed.

Pearl had quietened. Suddenly nervous, Rainbow Quartz listened for any input.

Finally Steven piped up.

Different.

Rainbow Quartz shook their head. It was obviously different. But how?

Different love.

Different love? . . .

Of course.

Rainbow Quartz had originally been fused upon a fleeting romantic love — but this . . . this was much stronger. Much more sustainable.

Familial love.

Within the fusion, Pearl was glowing. Steven really was so impossibly, immeasurably different from Rose. Rainbow Quartz held form around them, feeling for all the world like one of his warm hugs. Feeling the boy's consciousness brush against her own, Pearl knew he would never leave her like Rose once had. He would always love her as the friend, mentor and parental figure she had become to him.

Rainbow Quartz was the most stable they had ever been. Inside them, Pearl's steadfastness and determination still lingered, but Rose Quartz's recklessness and impulsivity had dissipated. Inside them, two compassionate forces coexisted in a comfortable, stable tranquility. Pearl would never take a step too far for Steven, and Steven would always make sure that Pearl was happy and comfortable before acting; giving Rainbow Quartz their own sense of fulfilment and confidence — finally.

Once again, Rainbow Quartz wrapped their arms around themselves, closed their eyes, and smiled. "I did it." They sighed happily. "We're perfect."

Their four eyes flew open, their arms tensed. "No. We're not perfect."

A moment's silence.

"We're perfect . . . for us."

Slowly, they sank to the ground, legs crossed. They were still wrapped in their own arms.

They sat like that for ages, thinking, feeling comfortable in their own presence. Eventually they let their arms down, laced their fingers in their lap, and breathed out. Rainbow Quartz closed their eyes and their form set aglow, dissipating as Steven and Pearl stepped apart. Opening their eyes, the two gazed at each other, smiling.

Steven rushed forward and hugged her.

Pearl laughed and set a hand softly on his back.

"They were amazing."

Pearl's gaze dropped down to Steven's warm, brown eyes. She smiled wider. "Yes, they were."

"Pearl?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

Her eyes stung with tears and she hugged him tighter. "Thank you."

From beyond the arena, the warp pad chimed.

Pearl sighed. "That will be Garnet."

Steven let go and spun around, eyes sparkling. "We need to go tell her!"

"You can go and tell her, Steven. I want to stay here for a little longer."

"Okay!" Steven rushed off toward the entryway.

"Steven."

He stopped and looked back at Pearl.

Her eyes were sparkling.

"I like the new Rainbow Quartz much better."