Connie had already packed all the things she needed for a day of fun in the sun. Sunscreen, books, plenty of water to keep her hydrated, and snacks. She came out in her two piece blue swimsuit, her long hair put up in a ponytail, and twirled. "How do I look?"

Amethyst glanced up from a magazine and frowned. "Uh, fine?"

Connie was surprised. "Is something wrong?"

"I dunno, it's just… more a bit revealing than what you usually wear, but I'm not judging." Amethyst shrugged, turning back to her article.

Connie blushed, and quickly put on her yellow cover up dress. "Oh! Er, no! I forgot that you've never seen a swimsuit! This isn't for regular town wear, dad and I are going to the beach! And I wear this over it if I'm in town."

Suddenly, the door opened, and Doug came in with only a towel, and his trunks and shorts. "Ready for this beach day, you two?"

Amethyst glanced up in surprise, looking at him. "Um, who are you and why did you just come into the house? More importantly, I'm not going on the beach."

"Amethyst, this is my dad, Doug." Connie said, stepping to him.

He offered a shake and Amethyst gently punched it. "Are we training or something?"

Doug nervously pulled his hand away. "Er, no. You may not remember me, but I was in that car that you threw when you were a wrestler and took away the ocean?"

"Huh. I do vaguely remember a car, and Connie being really upset I threw it..." Amethyst said softly, mostly to herself. "Welp, good to see you again, I guess."

"You too." Doug smiled, unsure what else to do. He glanced at Connie, who shrugged, and then tilted her head to the door, signaling that she'd handle this. "Well, I'll see you two down there!"

Amethyst rolled her eyes. "Whatever you think, bud."

"Please come with us!" Connie begged. "I know why you don't want to go!"

"Uh huh. And why's that?" Amethyst murmured softly, pretending like she didn't want to spend time with Connie. She did, just not on the beach.

"You don't want to because that's where you and Garnet fused and we're stuck as Sugilite." Connie answered sure of herself. "Come on, you'd love the beach, it'd be so much fun for you, I know it! Besides, you haven't been talking to me, or Pearl, or really anyone since those Jaspers mentioned Garnet. Jasper forced you to talk to her-"

"And there was nothing to tell." The other gem grunted. Connie had still noticed that Amethyst's eyes widened for a split second at the mention of Garnet, and she peeked out the window at the beach. She then gave a small chuckle. "I told you many times, Sugilite isn't some big ol' weight on this gem. Kid, it's just me, I don't need your pity."

"It's not pity!" The hybrid insisted. "Come on! For me?"

Amethyst frowned, and glared at Connie.

The girl looked heartbroken, and gave a huff. "I guess we can't be summer friends anymore!"

"Wait, what?! No! That's not true!" Amethyst protested, immediately getting up. "What's your problem?"

"I mean, summer friends hang out at the beach all the time… I thought you'd be up for the challenge…"

Connie only had to wait a single second after her foot touched the sand before Amethyst barred into her.

Connie laughed as Amethyst pretended to wrestle her. "Fine! You got me down here, now what do you want?"

The girl got up, then brushed herself off and pointed to the ocean. "I want to swim!"

"Then let's do it!" Amethyst yelled, putting Connie on her shoulders and running to the ocean.

The gems were soon in a splash fight, Amethyst clearly was winning while Doug watched them with a content smile on his face.

The two friends were glad to be in each other's company, and did all sorts of things. Connie taught Amethyst how to blow bubble in the water, which the gem thought was incredible. In return, Amethyst taught Connie how to catch a fish with her teeth after shapeshifting into a wolf. The girl tried to shapeshift, but of course it didn't work.

Amethyst still didn't like to be on the beach, however. She hated the memories that it brought back.

The girls still had lots of fun, splashing each other, and playing all sorts of games.

Doug watched them as he himself relaxed laid out on a towel.

But soon enough, the sun was starting to set.

"J-Jee, time sure flies when you're having fun!" Connie shivered in the cold water. They hadn't gotten out all day. Of course, Amethyst hadn't noticed, seeing as she was made of light, therefore couldn't feel temperature that well.

"Yeah, that was pretty fun." Amethyst smiled.

"Maybe we should… hang out on the beach?"

Amethyst immediately stopped smiling. "I told you, I don't want to."

"But Amethyst, please? I need a break." Connie moaned.

Amethyst turned away in anger. "Then just get out and leave me!"

"No! I brought you out here to overcome your fear of the beach!" Connie protested.

"I'm not scared of a beach, Connie!" Amethyst growled, getting even angrier.

"Nothing bad's going to happen, I promise! And if something does, I'll protect you-"

"I don't need protection!"

"Just trust me!!" Connie yelled in anger.

"Do you honestly think I can even trust any of my friends again?! How can I trust anyone?!" Amethyst suddenly shouted, her voice ringing out as she whipped around.

Connie looked shocked, but Amethyst didn't stop, she was angry.

"You say it's safe, but I've heard it a million times! Garnet said she was going to keep me safe, she said she'd always protect me from all those gems who wanted me gone, because we were a team, we were friends. And then I'm stuck under the sand, for who knows how long, fighting that...that… liar! She didn't stop herself, she didn't even try to reason-!" Amethyst was sweating in fury now, and glanced up with upset eyes at Connie, who couldn't say anything at all. The older gem sniffed. "She made me feel worthless, like I'd be nothing without her. Heh…She's a liar, isn't she….?"

"Y-Yeah." Connie said weakly. "But… if we just…" The girl trailed off. What was she supposed to say? If we just pretend it didn't happen, it'd be fine? Or a even worse solution, at least for Amethyst wishes, we talk about our feelings?

They then were both silent besides the tiny splashing of water.

"I miss her." Amethyst admitted.

Connie's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, what? But that's- That's crazy! Why-?"

"Don't even ask me why! It's dumb!" Amethyst growled, mostly angry at herself.

"Amethyst, that isn't dumb, it's something we need to talk abo-!" Connie cried, her fists pounding into the water.

"I don't want to!" The gem yelled back, they were now both determined to get the opposite thing, practically glaring at each other. "Just… leave me alone, okay? Before I start wrecking stuff in anger."

Connie's glare softened to one of worry. "I didn't mean to upset you, I just wanted a fun day at the beach…"

"Just go home, Connie, I'll be up soon." Amethyst whispered sharply.

The girl slowly walked out of the water, looking back at Amethyst one last time before running off to the house.

Doug looked after her, and got up to follow, but Connie held out a hand as if to say, "Please, not now."

Amethyst gave a sigh, and walked out too, and slumped down on the sand. She shuddered slightly, she hated the beach. No matter how hard Connie could try, she'd never like the beach, nothing could keep her on that beach any longer, or so she thought. The gem rose to her feet when she suddenly heard Connie yelling her name, Amethyst had never heard her friend so desperate and frightened, it scared her.

"Connie!" Doug gasped. He started to run, but Amethyst sped past him.

The gem immediately started to run down the beach, not caring that the sand was getting in her face or her hair, not caring that she still felt like she was sinking and would be trapped under for good, all she cared about at the moment was her friend who needed her.

"Connie! Where are you?!" Amethyst yelled, she was wondering if there had been so much fog before, she could barely see in front of her. "CONNIE!"

"Amethyst!" The girl yelled again, she was closer!

Amethyst kept following the voice, she was getting closer... Suddenly, Connie's voice abruptly stopped mid call, there was a audible sound of breath being knocked out of her. "Connie?! Why'd you…" The gem then saw a small silhouette collapsed on the sand in the fading sunlight. It was her!

Amethyst slid to a stop, and quickly picked Connie up. "Oh no, no, no, no… Connie, wake up!"

"It took you long enough…"

Amethyst's eyes widened in fear and shock, her heart nearly stopped and her body went cold. That voice…

The gem looked up to see the towering shadow over her. "G-Garnet!"

"Hello, Amethyst." The fusion whispered coldly with a smug smile on her face.

"I should've known you'd be after Connie!" Amethyst growled, standing up, trying not to let her voice shake. "News flash, you're not laying a hand on her!"

"I've forgotten how dull you runts are. I didn't come for that other freak, I came for you." Garnet chuckled, circling the two gems.

Amethyst formed her whip, guarding the unconscious girl. "Don't call her that! You-!"

"Mistakes like you were made to serve me! Ha, you're so pathetic even the so called terrifying Yellow Diamond took mercy on you!" Garnet hissed coldly, and then snatched up Connie before Amethyst could even react. Garnet held the girl by her wrist, mocking what was once a fearless leader and now merely a small girl. "… I honestly don't know why your Diamond even kept you alive, you would be dead if Rose hadn't stepped in."

"Shut up." Amethyst growled. "A-And put Connie down! She had nothing to do with what's between us!"

Garnet released the girl. "That's fair. I only grabbed her so she'd call for you like the weakling she is… There's no power that she or any other gem can inflict that will stop me from hunting you down. I want you to fuse with me again."

"Are you kidding?!" Amethyst growled. "Never! I'll never fuse with you again!"

"Do you really think any of these other gems care about you?" Garnet growled, glaring down at the small gem. "Tell me, have any of them besides Yellow Diamond accepted you?"

"I-"

"Even your fellow quartz still thinks you're hiding something." Garnet smirked. "She's been interrogating you, am I right?"

Amethyst looked away in shame.

"Of course I am." Garnet whispered. "Now then, do you want to do this the easy way, or the hard way? There are many other paths between that, but I suggest you easily give yourself back up to me, and we'll finally help your Diamond finish colonizing this planet with Yellow Diamond and her servent shattered. It's the most probable future."

"No-" Amethyst was suddenly lifted up by her neck, and slammed to the rock wall, choking.

"Heh, I knew you'd say that too… And now, you'll give up hope, because you know a mistake like you never stood a chance against me."

"Put her down!"

Garnet released Amethyst at once, flipping around to see the night was illuminated with yellow light from Connie's hands, her hair was also flowing around her.

"Yellow Diamond… I foresaw you maybe coming into play… However, you won't last long. After I poof you and fuse with Amethyst, do you know what I'll do? I'll smash that little shack that you reside in, and I'll make Jasper watch as I shatter you right in front of her eyes."

"Y-You're a manic!" Connie cried, her glow was fading in fear.

Garnet shrugged. "Maybe, but I prefer being called a conversation, and every part is saying to shatter you!" The gem lunged towards Connie, her gauntlet about to hit dead center on both Connie's gem and near human heart, when suddenly, she was stopped.

Amethyst was pulling her back with her whip around Garnett's waist, tears slipping down her face. "You are going to regret trying to shatter my friend!!"

The gem gave a yell, and slammed the fusion into the rock wall. "That's for making me feel like a dummy!" The gem rolled up and punched her. "And that's for knocking out Connie!"

Connie watched in surprise as Amethyst kept punching hard.

"This is for treating Pearl like she's nothing! And this is for obeying Rose and her orders to shatter the Temps! And this! This is for all the times I thought you cared about me, that were all FAKE!" The gem screamed, and angrily punched at Garnet, but she only hit the rock wall, Garnet had leapt away from her. Amethyst long ponytail blew in the wind, and she glared up at the darkness. "COWARD!"

Her yell echoed around the beach...

The gem took a breath, and turned to her friend. "C-Connie…"

"Yeah?" The girl was suddenly hugged so tightly, the air came out of her.

"Thanks…"

"C-Connie! I'm sorry, I-I couldn't… keep up! I forgot how fast you could walk, and don't get me started on running!" Doug panted, wiping sweat off his brow. The man had just arrived. He looked up to see them embracing, and Amethyst holding the girl like she was afraid to let her go again.

Connie hugged Amethyst tight back, and stared into the darkness, wondering if Garnet was still watching her…

Sorry it has been so long! So much stuff to do, and I was having trouble reaching my usual word count on this chapter!

SPOILERS!!

After seeing the Diamond Days trailer, I am so excited and hyped to find out more about both the diamonds and White Pearl (and why Steven was throwing up Rose's hair, that was a good ol' dose of gross nightmare fuel)