Ooooooh boy, this episode was too amazing and emotional to pass up.


Spinel was aware of Connie's sword-fighting training with Pearl. She was happy that Pearl found someone so willing to learn how to defend herself, even if that one time when Pearl didn't want Steven to help Connie, accidentally calling him Rose. Pearl had learned from that, and Spinel appreciated that.

This time however, she was invited to watch Steven and Connie's lesson about fighting… as Stevonnie. She had always supported Stevonnie, along with Garnet, albeit not for the same exact reason.

Right now, things were going rather smoothly from what she watched. Stevonnie was fighting a giant Holo-Pearl that lasted for a moment, but for some reason, the fusion then shrieked and fell to the ground, unfusing into Steven and Connie.

Spinel rushed over to them, "O-Oh stars! Are you two alright?!"

"Steven! Connie!" Garnet and Pearl yelled in alarm, joining her side.

"W-What happened?" Steven asked, but Connie couldn't speak, only mumbling as she ran away, Steven calling after her. Spinel wasn't sure what happened. Did Connie feel like she was going to mess up? They were doing so well.


"The Fusion Realm?" Spinel repeated. They were leaving the children alone to talk as the day slowly turned into dusk.

"Yes," Garnet said to her and Pearl, "I'm certain Connie was remembering an old memory during that time. A memory she regrets."

Pearl blinked in worry, "Then what do we do?"

Spinel could sense determination from Garnet, "We must teach them the most important lesson any fusion should learn. And with you both here, I could use both your help."

"You mean…" The pale Gem glanced at Spinel. Spinel, wanting nothing more but to help her baby and his friend, nodded. The Gems held hands, felt in sync with each-other and fused.

Peach Moonstone opened her eyes upon forming, knowing what she had to do, "I'm ready."


The fusions took the children out on the beach, the sun setting and the sky now a deep pink.

"For a fusion to work," Garnet began, "An imbalance can cause your fusion to lose touch with reality, see things that aren't there, and eventually fall apart. That is to say, if one of you is falling apart, your fusion will as well. To find balance, you must understand your feelings. To understand your feelings, you must see them clearly without running from them."

"See them clearly?" Connie asked.

Peach Moonstone nodded, "Yes. But we can only show you as long as you're fused."

Steven and Connie understood, and in a pink light, Stevonnie returned. Now the trio of fusions complete, they all sat away from each-other in a triangular position.

"Close your eyes," Garnet told them.

Stevonnie did so, "Okay..."

"Relax…" They heard Peach Moonstone whisper, love in her tone, "Only focus on the waves, then let them fade… and let a thought come to you…"

The moment Stevonnie opened their eyes, they saw they were in a blue realm, joined by Garnet and Peach Moonstone meditating.

Garnet: Take a moment to think of just,

flexibility, love, and trust.

Take a moment to think of just,

flexibility, love, and trust.

Here comes a thought, that might alarm you,

What someone said, and how it harmed you.

Something you did, that failed to be charming.

Things that you said are, suddenly swarming

A vision of Ruby and Sapphire appeared. A butterfly flew around them, Sapphire cowering a bit and Ruby angrily chased it. More butterflies appeared around Sapphire, and Stevonnie frowned as they held a butterfly, when it flew away, followed by a flock of them.

And oh, you're losing sight... You're losing touch.

All these little things seem to matter so much,

That they confuse you...

That I might lose you...

Sapphire was now surrounded by the regretful butterflies, swarming in a swirl-like formation. With her hair out of the way, the blue prophet stared in horror and fear.

With Ruby, she kept yelling and screaming at the butterfly to go away until she broke down into tears.

Take a moment, remind yourself to.

Take a moment and find yourself.

Take a moment to ask yourself if,

This is how we fall apart.

Garnet held to butterflies in her palms, and Peach Moonstone and Stevonnie saw the change in the vision.

But it's not, but it's not, but it's not, but it's not, but it's not...

It's okay, it's okay, it's okay, it's okay, it's okay...

You've got nothing, got nothing, got nothing, got nothing to fear...

I'm here, I'm here, I'm here...

Ruby let out breaths to calm herself down and with confidence, she ran over to the distraught Sapphire. She broke through the swarm, Sapphire became happy to see her, and the butterflies flew away. Garnet nodded to Peach Moonstone.

Peach Moonstone: Here comes a thought, that might alarm you,

What someone said, and how it harmed you.

Something you did, that failed to be charming.

Things that you said are, suddenly swarming

As Peach Moonstone sang, they looked to see a vision. It was Spinel, except she looked entirely different. She was crying, butterflies fluttering around her as Pearl and Rose laughed together and walked away from her. The old version of Spinel fell to her knees, sobbing voicelessly, more butterflies swarming around her, one of them landing on the side of her head.

And oh, you're losing sight... You're losing touch.

All these little things seem to matter so much,

That they confuse you...

That I might lose you...

However, Spinel looked up as she saw Pearl freeze, now horrified. Rose followed a younger version of Greg, and when they kissed, they turned into butterflies and swarmed above Pearl. The pale Gem stared for a moment and then she too fell to her knees and bawled.

Take a moment, remind yourself to.

Take a moment and find yourself.

Take a moment to ask yourself if,

This is how we fall apart.

Peach Moonstone sadly upon the vision, but calmly smiled when Spinel stood up, changing into the current version of Spinel, the butterflies flying away as she walked over to Pearl and hugged her from behind.

But it's not, but it's not, but it's not, but it's not, but it's not...

It's okay, it's okay, it's okay, it's okay, it's okay...

You've got nothing, got nothing, got nothing, got nothing to fear...

I'm here, I'm here, I'm here...

When Peach Moonstone sang, the Spinel seemed to be repeating her words. Pearl stopped and looked at Spinel with surprise, before crying happy tears, turning herself around and embracing the pink Gem back. As the vision faded, Peach Moonstone nodded over to Stevonnie.

Stevonnie: Here comes a thought, that might alarm me.

What someone said and how it harmed me.

Something I did, that failed to be charming.

Things that I said are suddenly swarming

For Stevonnie's vision, Steven and Connie were walking by solemnly, until they encountered a butterfly. Connie glanced away, before cowering with grief. From her backpack, came more butterflies.

And oh, I'm losing sight... I'm losing touch.

All these little things seem to matter so much,

That they confuse me...

Stevonnie reached out for them, as the children were forced to watch Connie's flashback to breaking the kid's arm from the giant butterfly and it burst into tiny butterflies.

Garnet, Peach Moonstone, & Stevonnie: That I might lose me...

Take a moment. Remind yourself to,

Take a moment and find yourself,

Take a moment and ask yourself if

This is how we fall apart.

But it's not, but it's not, but it's not, but it's not, but it's not...

It's okay, it's okay, it's okay, it's okay, it's okay...

I've got nothing, got nothing, got nothing, got nothing to fear...

I'm here, I'm here, I'm here...

Stevonnie felt better, the regrets fluttering away and Steven and Connie breathing to calm themselves down. Steven was able to reassure her and they were able to let it go.

And it was just a thought, just a thought, just a thought, just a thought, just a thought.

It's okay, it's okay, it's okay, it's okay, it's okay.

We can watch, we can watch, we can watch, we can watch them go by.

From here, from here, from here...

The remainder of the visions were Steven, Connie, Ruby, Sapphire, Spinel, and Pearl laying on the floor, watching their regretful butterflies flutter away.

Stevonnie: Take a moment to think of just,

flexibility, love, and trust.

Take a moment to think of just,

flexibility, love, and trust...


The next day, at the Ancient Sky Arena

"Go get them!" Spinel cheered as she watched the fusion fighting the Holo-Pearls.

"Great technique, Stevonnie!" Pearl yelled in pride, ducking with Spinel as a Holo-Pearl flew over them, defeated, "Keep it up!"

"Thanks ma'am!" Stevonnie nodded and they charged towards another Holo-Pearl with their sword forward.

"Hyah!"

Stevonnie then froze as they found themselves in the now orange Fusion Realm, their sword piercing through Bismuth. Bismuth stared at them before poofing into the butterflies.

"Oh no... it's happening again!" Stevonnie backed away.

"Who was that?" Connie asked.

"Bismuth..." Steven answered.

"Steven..."

"Oh no... It's coming from me now!"

"Stevonnie!"

Garnet and Spinel's shout broke them back to reality.

"Oh no," Pearl felt dread, "Steven! Connie! Stay focused!"

"They've got this!" Garnet said to them.

"Honey, it's okay!" Spinel told them with loving reassurance, but Stevonnie began to hallucinate again and Spinel backed away from them, terrified as she cupped her mouth.

"N-No! Wait, Spinel!" Stevonnie cried, reaching out to her, "I didn't mean to! I didn't want to!"

But Spinel didn't listen, almost as if she was horrified by what they've done. Then another orange blur knocked Spinel down to the ground, and Stevonnie gasped when they saw it was Jasper.

Except when Jasper lifted her head, Steven saw her as nothing more than a monstrous being who tried to kill the closest thing he had to a mother. The nightmarish Jasper reared her head back, cackling maniacally as she tightened her grip around Spinel's neck.

Spinel didn't move, eyes wide with terror as Jasper raised a clawed hand up.

"NO!" Stevonnie pleaded, but Jasper slashed right through Spinel, transforming her into the white butterflies.

Blinded with fury, Stevonnie ran and struck their sword into Jasper, butterflies swarming around them and the wind picked up.

Stevonnie, through their tears, struggled to stay on their feet when they turned and saw the five Rubies getting swept away by the wind, screaming for their lives.

"No!" Steven sobbed clutched his head, "I-I wanted to help them! But I couldn't! I COULDN'T!"

Connie answered for him, "No! It's okay! It's okay to think about it!"

Around them, Stevonnie saw the figures of an angry Bismuth holding her stomach, a maniacal Jasper holding a scared Spinel down, and the Rubies clinging onto the floor.

"I thought... I thought I could do it," Steven whispered through Stevonnie, "But it's too much! I CAN'T DO IT!"

Once again, the visions all morphed into butterflies, and from the throng of regrets came a head of Rose Quartz, staring down at them with disappointment. Stevonnie backed away, continuing to cry as they dropped their sword.

"No... no... no... -Ah!"

Coming back to reality, Stevonnie backed from the edge of the arena and fell. Garnet, Spinel, and Pearl all screamed their name as they descended beneath the clouds. In their panic, Steven and Connie unfused.

"Steven!" Connie shrieked, reaching for him.

Steven ignored her, sobbing loudly and hugging his legs, "I can't do anything!"

"Don't say that! That's not true!"

"I didn't want to hurt them! I didn't want to hurt Spinel!"

"What are you talking about- AH!"

In their fall, the giant vortex of butterflies flew around them. Connie got close to the boy to embrace him.

"Face it, Connie! I'm too weak to help them! I'm a burden!"

"Steven-!"

"Spinel says she loves me, but I always get her in danger because of me! Why can't I be smarter, faster, or stronger for her?! WHY DO I HAVE TO MAKE HER BE THERE FOR ME?! TO MAKE HER SUFFER FOR ME?!" He clutched his head in agony.

"It's okay, Steven!"

Steven finally opened his eyes, tears freely flying.

"It's okay to think this way, Steven! You feel bad for everyone because you care! That's what makes you so amazing, Steven! You can move on from this, just like Spinel, like Pearl, Garnet, and everybody else! There's always people who love you! Like me!"

Steven cried even more from her words, "Oh Connie…"

As the regretful vortex dissipated, they fused into Stevonnie once more, using their hover ability to gently touch the soft grass. From above, they could see Spinel's elongated arm searching around for them. It stretched till it touched the ground, feeling around.

Stevonnie prepared themselves and grabbed the arm. The arm coiled around them and with great strength, pulled them up through the clouds and back to the arena, where a panicked Spinel, Pearl, and Garnet were waiting.

"OH MY STARS!" Spinel panted, hugging them tightly, "A-Are you alright?!"

Stevonnie remained quiet, embracing Spinel.

"... I'm here."


I thought it would be nice if Spinel was there for her son and Pearl be there for her student. Plus, during Peach Moonstone's verse, we can see how Pearl and Spinel's relationship was like before Steven was born.

I didn't know how to write the beginning.