Notes*
I'm incredebly sorry for the big mess that just happened with the chapters. I tried cheating and just copy-pasting straight from AO3...
I now know that these two websites don't go together AT ALL. Everything should be fixed so my bad lol
As dawn crept over the clear sky, Steven and the gems warped to the desert.
In front of the warp pad was a gigantic glowing tower, made up of what looked like hundreds of pillars. At the base of the tower was a white crystal heart, that had thin pipes running into different pillars.
"Woah! What magical place of mysteries is this!?" Steven was the first to say, holding his hands up to his face.
"Well-" Pink started to say, but was cut off by Pearl. "Oh I'm so glad you asked!"
"This was once a communications hub for gem kind! Lately, it's been reactivated and transmitting random bursts of electromagnetic interference." Pearl droned on as she walked up to one of the pillars and rested a hand on it.
"What's that mean?" Steven asked as he messed with strings on his hoodie.
"It's hurting television." Garnet said from behind, making him scream. "Noo! I'll save you television!" He quickly tried to kick and push a nearby pillar, causing no damage.
Amethyst grabbed him with one hand and held him up, "Sorry, but we're gonna need a Steven at least this strong for the job!" She shapeshifted into a larger, more buffer Steven, making him gasp.
"It's all the me I could be!" He put his hands on his cheeks as he looked at her in admiration. Amethyst put him down and began punching the pillar, only managing to break off a little rock.
Pearl caught the rock with two fingers, "Amethyst, we could be here all day taking out each of these pillars individually."
"Unless we had another Steven to help!" Pink cut in before shapeshifting into a similar buff Steven.
"Even more me!" Steven said with stars in his eyes. Pearl shook her head, "We need to stop messing around and get this started already."
"Ugh… you're right," Pink shifted back to her normal form before smiling at Pearl. "How about we fuse into Morganite and cut this thing down?"
"What we need is Sugilite. " Garnet said, making the short gem scream in excitement.
"Oh yeah! Let's mash it up! Bigger! Better! Hahaha!" Amethyst clung to Garnet's arm as she began laughing.
"Hold your horses!" Steven said before pointing at the two, "Are you two gonna become a gem fusion?" Amethyst excitedly screamed in response, and Steven shortly joined her.
"Wait! Garnet, think about this." Pearl said, lowering her voice and holding up her hands. "You and Amethyst can be a little… unstable… when your personalities combine." She quickly closed her hands into fists.
"We need to be careful! Fuse with me instead!" She put her hands up to her chest, and her voice was on the verge of begging.
"I think Pearl has a point. Sugilite's a bit reckless... sometimes." Pink said as she crossed her arms and frowned, glancing off to the side.
"Sugilite can bring this tower down faster than the others. We'll only be fused for a short while." Garnet explained, turning to walk away.
"Oh yeah! Let's wreck this joint!" Amethyst yelled as she joined Garnet, running away from the others. Steven watched in anticipation as Pearl turned away and stuck her nose up to the sky.
As Garnet started her dance, moving her hips while holding her hands up, Pearl covered Steven's eyes.
"Pearl! C'mon, I wanna see!" Steven tried to take her hands off his face, peeking through her fingers. As Amethyst charged at Garnet, the two fused and let out a dark light. It faded away when Sugilite formed, putting on a long pair of purple shades.
Sugilite cackled and cracked her knuckles, "I forgot how great it feels to be me!"
"That's Sugilite?!" Steven asked out loud as he looked up at the large fusion.
"You got it baby! Hey Steven, wanna see something cool?" Sugilite bent down on her knees and smiled at Steven.
"Yeah!" The boy yelled in excitement as he raised his hands in the air. The fusion stood up and held out her hands. Two gauntlets appeared and lifted up into the sky, and she formed a whip and latched onto it.
The newly formed flail crashed into the ground, making Steven gasp and hold his head.
"Are you gonna smash stuff with your wrecking ball thingy?!" Steven asked as he pointed at the large flail.
"That's the plan, where should I start?" Sugilite asked, and the boy quickly pointed at a pillar.
"Do that one!" Steven said as he pointed. The fusion quickly swung the flail around, hitting the tower and causing rocks to fly everywhere. Some flew past the others, and Pearl groaned in frustration.
"I think we should go." Pearl said angrily as she grabbed Steven by the shoulders.
"No way! This is awesome." Steven countered as he frowned.
"I think Pearl's right. This is kinda... dangerous!" Pink said, raising her voice in surprise as a large chunk of rock landed nearby.
"Watch it!" Pearl yelled as she kicked away a rock, but one flew past her and hit Steven in the eye. The boy landed on his back and held his face.
As Pink ran over and helped Steven, Pearl turned and snarled at Sugilite. "Uhh! You're just… too much!"
"Maybe you're just too little!" The fusion snarled back, still destroying pillars.
"Come on, we're leaving!" Pearl said frustratedly as she marched to the warp pad. Pink picked Steven up and carried him under her shoulder.
"But what about Sugilite?" The boy asked as he covered his right eye.
"She can find her own way home!" Pearl yelled as the warp lit up and sent them away. A second later, a large boulder crushed the warp pad, shattering it into pieces.
Later…
Lars and Sadie were lounging around in the Big Donut when the door swung open and revealed Steven. He was wearing a red tank top with a star on it. Gauze was wrapped around his right eye, and over it was a sharp pair of sunglasses.
"Sup." He said, lifting his head. Sadie ran from behind the counter and stopped next to Lars.
"Woah, Steven! What happened to you?" She asked as Steven walked up and leaned against the table Lars was at.
"Oh, just a lil' battle damage from our last mission!" He smirked as he took off his sunglasses and hung them from his top.
"Like what?" Lars asked, making Steven smile. He lifted the gauze up and revealed his right eye, which was dark purple. Some of it was already healed, but did not blend well with the rest.
Sadie and Lars winced as they saw it, and Sadie spoke up. "Jeez… does it… hurt?"
"Only a little, but I got some of it healed. It should be gone by tomorrow." Steven said, putting the gauze back over his eye. "But I need to get tougher." He put a fist on his chest and frowned.
Lars chuckled and picked up a jar of herring, "Well Steven, If I wasn't so modest, I'd whip out my six pack and show you… what… a real man… looks like!" Lars struggled to open the jar, and quickly gave up. Sadie stepped up with a smile, looking away.
Lars sighed and handed it to her, and she quickly popped the lid off. He took it from her and frowned, "I'm not saying thanks." After Sadie punched him, Steven gasped and had an idea.
"That's it! We all need a work out!" He jumped up and spread his arms out. "Let's do it! Let's work out together!"
He pointed at Sadie, "You can beat up Lars!" Then he pointed at the lanky teen, "And you don't have to starve to death if Sadie divorces you!"
"Hey! We're not married!" Lars said angrily, making Steven smirk, "And I know just the guy to help us out!"
Lars and Sadie looked at each other skeptically as Steven put his hands on his sides.
Steven, Sadie, and Lars stood on the beach in front of the boy's house. The two workers were now dressed in gym clothes, along with Steven. In front of them was a crudely made work out area. A set of planks barely resembled a bench, and a barbell was set above it. A few tires were placed around, and a ladder sat on two bookcases and two stacks of random objects.
"Woah, this looks great." Steven commented with a smile. They walked up to a workbench, where Greg was asleep on a piece of wood.
"Hey dad!" Steven said, waking Greg out of his sleep.
"Woah? Wha…" The piece of wood fell off as he looked around, then saw Steven. "Oh, hey Steven! Do you like it? It was the best I could do on such short notice."
Lars picked up a stick with two empty paint cans attached, and it broke apart in his hand, "No kidding."
"Well, I might join you kids, show you how it's done." Greg said, trying to flex his arm. If there was any muscle, you couldn't see it.
"Sure! The more, the meatier!" Steven said, swinging an arm around. "Oh! We'll need sweatbands!" The boy ran up to the beach house, while the three others began their exercise.
As Greg was lifting up a dumbbell, Pink walked by and stopped a few feet away. Greg looked over at her and smiled.
"Hey Pink Diamond, here to check out some buff studs?" Greg asked jokingly, smiling at her.
"Hmm… nope!" The pink gem shrugged with an innocent smile, and walked away to the house. She saw Steven standing on the porch, looking down at her.
"Hey Steven, what's all this junk?" She asked as she stepped up and pointed at the makeshift gym.
"We're starting a gym! I'm gonna get super strong! Like Sugilite!" Steven said as he held up his arms. Pink frowned slightly, but quickly replaced it with a faux smile.
"That's great Steven. Although why with… what're their names... Larry and Sarah?"
"You mean Lars and Sadie?" Steven asked. Pink nodded, "Yeah! Those guys."
"They just agreed to join me! They wanna get strong too." Steven said, before the front door opened and Pearl stepped out.
"Oh, hello. I was wondering if you've… seen… what is that?" Pearl stopped herself as she pointed at the albeit, trashy workout area on the beach.
"It's a gym!" Steven exclaimed, "I'm gonna get strong like Sugilite!"
Pearl glanced at Pink and frowned. "Well, Steven… this might not be a good idea."
"What? But I want to be strong, and useful to the team!" Steven explained as he held his fists up.
"Steven, there are different ways… of being strong." Pearl said as she held her hands close.
"But I wanna be strong in the real way! C'mon, let's get beefy!" Steven took out a sweatband and put it around his head with a pumped smile.
Pearl frowned angrily and turned to the door, "I'd rather not." She walked inside and quickly closed it behind herself.
Steven frowned, but looked back to Pink with a smile. "What about you? You wanna get beefy?!"
"Um… sure Steven!" Pink said before a sweatband appeared from light on her head. "Let's get beefy!" She giggled slightly, smiling down at him.
"Alright!" Steven yelled as he stuck his fists up in the air. "Let's go!" He ran down from the porch and towards the gym, Pink following right behind him.
Inside the house, Pearl watched from the window with a sad look in her eye. She quickly gritted her teeth and turned away.
" Why do you have to look up to her?
Aside from in a literal sense~
Don't you know that a power that big~
Comes with a bigger expense~
And can't you see that she's out of control!~
And overzealous~
I'm telling you for your own good and not because I'm-~
I can show you how to be strong… in the real way~
And I know that we can be strong in the real way!~
And I want to inspire you~
I want to be your rock~
And when I talk~
It lights a fire in you!~"
Pearl was standing in the kitchen by the time she stopped her song. After a short pause, she looked back at the window, "Lights a fire in you." She muttered before slowly walking towards the temple door.
Later on the beach, Steven put down a stereo and held up a megaphone. "Who's ready to get buff? I don't wanna see your gut! I wanna see your guts!" He yelled as he held up a fist.
As he walked around and talked through the megaphone, Sadie spoke up. "Hey Steven, maybe you can work out a bit, too?"
"I have been though." The boy said, lowering the megaphone.
" We've been working out! You've just been yelling through that thing." Lars said, clearly annoyed at him.
"But you're doing a great job at pumping us up! Well, most of us." Greg said as he glanced over at Pink, who was putting a crab in a tire.
"Thanks! But I need to get strong, too. That's why," Steven went and put four tires over himself. "I'm switching to four-wheel drive… ahhh! Crab!"
He began running around frantically as the others looked on in surprise. Greg quickly chased after him, "Slow down son! Let me help you!"
While the two were running around, Pink nervously laughed and rubbed the back of her neck. "Hehe… uh oh."
One day later
Steven groaned as he laid in bed. All of his body was hurting, probably because of a viscous crustacean attack.
"Steven, come on! We're ready to get started! We can't work out without you!" He heard Sadie yell from outside, making him slowly lift himself up.
"Be there in a sec!" Steven yelled, pushing himself off the bed. Groaning in pain, he slowly stepped down the stairs, holding the wall for support.
Once he made it to the door, he heard the temple door open up. Looking back, he saw Pearl and Pink walk out, and Pearl frantically waved her arms.
"I don't understand! I tried to warp back and check on them, but nothing happened!" Pearl said worriedly, and Pink frowned.
"You don't think they-" She was cut off as the house suddenly shook, and the others could be heard yelling outside. Steven, Pink, and Pearl quickly ran outside and saw Sugilite approaching from the ocean.
Once Sugilite arrived on the beach, everyone ran away in fear. "I'm bored!" The fusion roared angrily.
"It's Sugilite!" Steven said while smiling. Pearl and Pink quickly ran down to the beach and approached the fusion.
"Y-You're back!" Pearl said while holding up her hands timidly. Sugilite pointed down at them, "You two left me behind!"
"We just thought you didn't need help!" Pink said, glancing at Pearl anxiously. Pearl nodded quickly, "Yes, now why don't you separate and we can all relax?"
The two gems were met with a backhand from Sugilite, sending them flying backwards. "No!" The fusion yelled as Pearl and Pink landed on their backs.
"Listen to me! You two have been fused for too long! You're losing yourselves!" Pearl said as she sat up, sneering at Sugilite.
"I am myself! And I'm sick of being split up! So you better get used to me baby!" Sugilite pointed at her before lifting a foot. "And get this junk off my beach!" She brought it down onto the makeshift gym, smashing it to bits.
"Why is she wrecking dad's gym? Why is she hurting you guys?" Steven asked as he approached Pearl slowly.
"Steven… get out of here!" Pearl grabbed the scuff of his shirt and threw him back. He landed on his stomach and groaned, "I can't move!"
Pink stood up and summoned her sword, while Pearl pulled out her spear. "What? You lookin' to fight!?" Sugilite yelled angrily.
"You'll thank us later!" Pink yelled as she and Pearl leapt at the fusion. Pearl managed to get a swipe in before being slapped away. Pink watched Pearl crash into the beach, which caused her to suffer the same fate. Sugilite punched her away as Greg rushed over to Steven.
"C'mon kid!" Greg said as he grabbed onto Steven, holding him up. "Dad! No! The gems!" The boy said as he reached a hand out to them.
Pearl stood up and leapt in from Sugilite's side, hitting off the fusion's sunglasses. Greg and Steven gasped at the act.
"You think you're something?" Sugilite said before headbutting the gem. "You!" She punched Pearl up into the air. "Ain't!" Jumping up, Sugilite brought two fists down. " Nothing!"
Pearl crashed into the beach again, sending a cloud of sand and dirt into the air. Pink rushed over to the white gem, but was thrown back slightly as Sugilite's flail crashed down next to them.
Steven and Greg slid in the sand, and the boy whined, "My muscles…"
"Steven!" Pearl yelled as she grabbed her spear and looked back. Her knees fell from under her, and she supported herself with her spear.
"I'm sorry, S-Steven," Pearl muttered. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you. I'm not strong enough to take her down." Tears slowly climbed down her cheek.
"I'm not strong enough to do anything." She whimpered as Sugilite stepped closer. The fusion didn't hesitate as she swung her flail over her head and down on Pearl.
"Nooo!" Steven cried in horror as he watched, a tear forming in his eye. The flail smashed down on her, but a loud ringing made them stop. A large, pink, interlocking shield hovered over Pearl, with tiny thin cracks running down it.
Pearl looked up in confusion before a hand laid down on her shoulder. She glanced over and met eyes with Pink, "W-What?"
"C'mon Pearl. Don't give up." The pink gem said as she gave her a kind smile.
"B-But I'm not strong enough to protect… anyone." Pearl muttered as she closed her eyes.
"That's not true Pearl," Pink said as she frowned sadly. "We may… or may not be strong enough, but I definitely know who is." The pink gem held out a hand to her, and Pearl stared at it with wide eyes. The implication was glaring at her, and she slowly stood up with effort.
Pearl felt a smirk start at the edge of her lip, and she took the hand. Pink smiled widely before quickly spinning her hand around and bringing Pearl closer.
They both glowed white and exploded in a light pink cloud. Sugilite growled and stepped back, while Steven's mouth fell open in awe.
The interlocked shields dropped and disappeared. The clouds blew away and revealed a new light purple fusion standing with four arms stretched above her head.
Her hair was untamed, and it still fell back into wild points. It was a mix of light pink and cream, and had highlights of purple and white.
She wore a buttoned up pink and white vest, small floating white balls mimicking buttons. A cream colored blouse with poofy sleeves sat under her vest, and her four arms shared her sleeves. Puffy light pink shorts, star cut out gloves, and a pair of short boots finished her form .
"Crikey, it's been a while since I've had a go!" The fusion said with a smile before placing her hands on her hips. She looked up at Sugilite and her smile faltered, "So you're the dog givin' us a hassle."
"They really think you can beat me!?" Sugilite questioned as she held up her flail intimidatingly.
Morganite summoned Pearl's spear and Pink's sword, then spun the two around before connecting them. Together, they transformed into a large javelin, which was nearly twice the height of herself.
"I don't know, but I'm gonna be shovin' this thing in ya' chest by the afternoon!" Morganite said with a smirk as she pointed at Sugilite with a finger gun.
Sugilite finally had enough and punched at the rival fusion. Morganite easily dodged the punch, jumping up and spinning backwards. Sugilite yelled angrily as she readied her flail to attack.
Morganite drew her javelin back with two arms and waited for Sugilite to swing. As the flail curved around and headed straight at her, she charged forward and threw the javelin. Sand flew up from the force of the throw. As it soared through the air, a light pink trail tailing behind it.
It struck the flail and shattered it into pieces, sending it across the beach. Sugilite snarled and charged at her. Morganite brought two of her lower arms up, and a pink cloud appeared around her. It became larger and thicker, and soon they couldn't be seen anywhere.
Sugilite punched at the cloud, which barely reacted to her at all. She heard a loud cough from above her, and she looked up. Morganite was floating above, her hands behind her head. The clouds disappeared as Morganite smiled, "Fell for that one, didn't 'cha?"
She reached out two arms, and the javelin she threw zoomed back to her hands. "Sorry, but I'm winnin' this fight!" She aimed the javelin at Sugilite and began spinning around. Her javelin glowed a bright white, and shined a pink light.
Sugilite backed up in surprise, rushing to summon her flail. It was too late. Morganite smiled and threw her javelin, causing a loud explosion-like sound.
Sugilite froze as a large hole replaced her stomach, the javelin having gone straight through. She exploded in a cloud, leaving Garnet and Amethyst on the beach.
Morganite landed slowly and unfused with light. Pearl quickly ran over to Garnet and Amethyst, "Are you two alright?" She yelled in concern.
Garnet wheezed, "Yeah… Sugilite just... overworked our forms. It's… a little painful."
"My stomach is… on fire." Amethyst moaned as she lifted a hand.
"That was so awesome!" Steven cried as he was held by Greg. "You guys were epic! Who was that!?"
"That was Morganite!" Pink said before pumping her fists up, "Gosh, I'm feeling pumped!"
"Me too! How about we all go on a mission!" Pearl said excitedly as she put her hands on her hips.
"Yeah! Let's do it!" Pink exclaimed happily as she wrapped an arm around Pearl and laughed.
As the two excitedly rambled on, Amethyst sighed, "How long are they gonna keep this up?"
"We deserve it, take it like a gem." Garnet replied as Sadie and Lars walked over.
"What the heck just happened?" Lars questioned as he looked at them in confusion. "Drop and give me twenty!" Steven yelled as he raised a fist.
The sky became a faint orange as they stood on the beach, and the clouds circled, quite literally, overhead.