"Is that weird?" Ruby Asked, looking down at her feet dangling off of the rock she was sitting on with Sapphire

"No! I think so too."

"Really?"

"Really! We've fused before it's good! We're better that way...something more than just you and me." Sapphire smiled.

"But the last time we fused we weren't together, not really. and people are going to-" Ruby struggled for the words.

"-Does it matter what people think?" Sapphire asked. "all that matters to me is what you think and what'll make us happy...what'll make her happy."

Ruby nodded. "then let's do it." She looked at Sapphire, smiling widely Sapphire smiled and leaned over kissing her gently before letting Ruby hop off the rock and lift her off of it spinning her around-earning a laugh from the blue gem-and setting her down only to dip her, both of them closing their eyes

She opened her eyes and stood up, looking herself over. she could hear whispers of their last words to each other in her ears

"I love you."

"you're wonderful."

"I love me. I'm wonderful." she said, blinking her eyes. She smiled, then laughed.

"I'm Garnet!" She felt perfect. this felt perfect. She started running. not because she needed to but because she could. back toward her home, back toward the gem city Ruby and Sapphire lived in. It was fortunate the pair lived together, Garnet didn't want two homes.

She only needed one home now. One place to work and to live and to sleep if she felt like it and one place for them both and for herself.

Together. and Alone. All the same now. All wonderful.

It should've been that easy. But it hadn't been.

There weren't that many gems on this part of this planet yet. few enough that people knew who Ruby and Sapphire were.

Enough that they questioned why the two of them were fused. Fusion was a way to become stronger. why did they need to be stronger? Besides, given their relationship Fusion wasn't really appropriate, was it?

Garnet didn't get it. Gems who hardly knew one another fused all the time when the extra power or strength or whatever the fusion caused was needed and no one thought twice.

But when Ruby and Sapphire fused it became something else. Something inappropriate for public?

She could've become a recluse. She wanted to become a recluse if it meant that She could be what Ruby and Sapphire dreamed of when they became her.

But they took her home-the home belonging to Sapphire where Ruby lived with her. Garnet came so close to being angry at that and tried to force her way back.

"You can't take this from me! It's my home!" That was the first time she summoned her weapon.

It didn't go well when two gems her own size grabbed her wrists at seeing her about to hit the gem who took care of the building she lived in and who was barring the door.

Other gems joined in in trying to keep Garnet both from entering the building or from walking away, watching, learning what was going on.

Garnet had to listen to other gems say who they thought she was.

'A Rogue fusion'

'two confused idiots'

'A pathetic display'

'Revolting'

'Wrong'

"I'm not!" She tried to hit someone, lashing out now.

She could've beaten a few of them. but not so many. Why were gems so awful sometimes? She ended up with her wrists held again, trying to pry her hands open, to get at her gems

They'll damage them!

What if they damage you!

I'm fine-We're fine!

We're not fine! you come first before Us-Before me!? Garnet knew she was wavering.

She felt herself fall apart, leaving two gems.

Ruby kicked and thrashed and screamed. They weren't trying to hurt Sapphire anymore.

But they were pulling them apart!

"STOP IT! LET ME GO TO HER! LET GO!" Ruby found herself held-more securely know that she was smaller.

"Why? So you can fuse again?"

"You're better separate."

"We're helping you."

"Ruby!" Ruby was fighting the hands holding her and now tears as she looked to Sapphire, too far away-she couldn't reach her!

She saw the edges of a flash of light behind her

Pearl watched quietly As Rose looked over the two gems she had brought back. Apparently the pair-two smallish Gems who seemed very protective of each other-had been basically being mobbed and dragged apart.

Rose took care of that and had given Pearl a bag of gems to place somewhere safe and a good distance away for when they came back.

But it could wait a few more minutes.

"What are your names?"

"Ruby."

"Sapphire."

"I'm Rose, and that's Pearl." Pearl waved timidly. "What happened back there? Are you both alright."

"Yeah, we're fine now. You're okay, right?" Ruby looked at Sapphire worriedly.

"Of course." She smiled and held Ruby's hand, able to feel their gems touching. Sapphire looked up at Rose. "thank you for helping us."

"You're welcome, but I ma still curious-what provoked them to act that way?"

"...I guess we could show you."

Rose looked confused but nodded and watched quietly. So did pearl as the two gems danced. Their dance struck pearl as odd almost. not really a dance and very short. Like they'd done this a thousand times.

Rose saw it and thought of how well they most know each other to dance that way to fuse.

She smiled at the Gem in front of her, meeting the gaze of her three eyes. "And what's your name?"

"I'm Garnet." Rose was told. "And I want to stay Garnet-We want to stay Garnet. Always. We're happier like that."

"Happier?!" Pearl spluttered. "but you-but they-you can't just use fusion as coupley bonding thing it's n-"

"-pearl may I have a moment alone with Garnet?" Pearl nodded and left, hoping she knew what Rose was doing-explaining just what was so inappropriate to that confused pair.

I'm stronger now. If she tells me I'm bad I can get out of here.

"I know I'm not-"

"You're amazing." Rose said softly She held Garnet's hands looking at her gems. "They much love each other very much, don't they?"

Garnet was stunned. She nodded. "Yeah. more than anything."

"I can't even imagine loving someone that much. Enough that you'll give up everything you are to make something even more wonderful than the two of you with them." She looked up at Garnet smiling at her. "How special you are-probably the strongest fusion I've seen."

"Strong?" Garnet shook her head. "not really." she was stronger than Ruby and Sapphire but there were fusions Garnet had seen that were stronger than herself.

"Yes really! What can be stronger than a fusion made of love?" Rose asked her. "you're not just a means to an end like most fusions are. Fusion was a means to an end with you as the End. Your own person. Both of them and everything they are and have together and between them. Is that right?"

Ruby cried easily. Sapphire didn't

Garnet was like Sapphire normally. But she knew she was crying now. Someone understood. Someone knew exactly why she had to be Garnet.

Rose smiled and ran her hands in front of Garnet's eyes, a set of glasses left behind. "Garnet you can stay here. I'd love for you to stay here...but know that it won't be that safe. I'm not really a normal gem. you see...I'm trying to make the gems leave this planet. To stop hurting it."

"...how can I help?"

"You don't have to. I'm just warning that you may be put in the line of fire."

"I want to help though." If Rose could see How Garnet felt about herself then Maybe Rose was right about more things.

And through time and patience and effort Garnet found that Rose was right.

She was Garnet

She was Wonderful

And She loved herself