[Opening: FusionFall Legacy Theme]
FusionFall Infinite
Season 4
Chapter 34: Holiday Hard Knocks
[Orchid Bay, Downtown, The Core]
"I don't know what pisses me off more. The fact that my daughter isn't home for the holidays. Or the fact I have to spend today here." Saki snarled. "Group therapy?!"
At the moment, Fusion Force (sans the junior members, Taeko, and Marie), Fenix, Fenix's half-sisters, and Ryker were all in a group therapy session with the psychologist being…Starfire of all people.
"Yes, this is a joyous way for all of us to discuss our issues and grow to be bette-"
"And how the hell are you a psychologist? Frankly, you're too nice for that." Fenix admitted.
"But I can get people to open up…so Ryker, you start." Starfire commented.
"Hey. I'm Ryker, and I'm here because I'm coming to grips with my team falling apart. Peridot won the election which meant she had to leave the team. Lapis is her vice, and Bismuth took over Peridot's company. They all left…and I feel hurt by this. Connie's planning on bouncing…even if she hasn't explicitly said it. I know Steven's planning on joining her. I knew those two would strike out on their own, I was ready for that. Greg is keeping his distance…it all feels like it's crumbling around me." Ryker said forlorn.
"Dude, I would feel for you, but you did bury your stock in Steven Universe of all shows." Saki said as Ryker glared. "Oh, don't give me that shit. The show was crap since Season 2…heck since Season 1b."
"He has a point." Fenix mused.
"This coming from the guy from the neverending story." Ryker snarked.
"At least it's a good story." Amandee bit back as Ryker had to concede.
"Just considering yourself lucky that you got out of the fandom before it got really bad." Starfire said comforting him. "It's still a miracle that no crazy fans haven't tried to kill you for your relationship with Garnet."
"Please. If they did, they'd have to comdemn the Pearl/Rick fans." Ryker remarked. "But I'm so glad I dodged that bullet."
"Ryker, don't be down on what you lost. You still have your other friends, right?" Starfire asked.
"Lars and his group are their own team. They're willing to help, but they're basically splitting up to be their own thing." Ryker remarked. "But, I still have Amethyst, Pearl, Tsubasa, Pink, Ruby, Sapphire, and technically Priyanka."
"But for how long?" Kevin said as Gwen elbowed him.
"I know the feeling. I've had comrades drift apart in the old days of the war." Saki said sympathetically. "Internal struggles with money, my Re:Fuse issues, and me being a piece of shit at times with my choices burned bridges with good men and women I miss dearly."
"I miss my parents. I know I have the front of looking as tough and cold as my canon self…but I hate having to bury the emotions and vurnabilities down. I know I chide Saki for visiting the grave all the time, but I do the same to the graves in Endsville. I never wanted to admit it because I didn't want to." Mandy said getting it all off her chest.
"Called it." Kevin said only to get punched by Mandy.
"Good, you're all getting all out. Fenix, do you have anything to say?" Starfire asked.
"Well, I recently found out my mother has become a reality warper along with the rest of my family." Fenix said as everyone looked at him. "And she called me yesterday."
"And people bitch about my family issues." Ryker snarked. "What did she ask of you?"
"She wants to reconnect with me and my sisters. She knows where I live…and wants to visit." Fenix said as Amandee and Galette was shaking.
"Damn." They all said in unisonbe a save for Fenix and his siblings.
"You do realize that is going to real disaster." Starfire said bluntly. "And you should tell the cops to prepare for that. I would…but I'm legally bound not to spill about the sessions. Gwen, I know that you and Kevin have been distant from your family. Any comments on that or is it the obvious 'not my counterpart' deal? Because if it's that, I understand."
"It is. Ben doesn't really see it as awkward. They're just happy to have us, but…it's hard. The trauma after what happened with…Elivn…that just sticks with you." Gwen said in a quiet tone. "Accepting another counterpart isn't…that simple and it never will. I doubt if Garnet dies, Ryker will marry another counterpart."
Ryker was quiet once again as Starfire cleared her throat after five minutes.
[Cues: jinsang – Summer's Day v1]
"Frankly from what I hear, the Fusion Force is clinging to this world out of a slight paranoia of losing what you fought for even though all you have to show for it is memories and faded areas of what your world once was. Saki, you're clearly more affected about Taeko and Marie leaving the world behind with Taeko than the other members. You see it as abandoning this world even thought you know better. Gwen, it seems you've kept quiet on your feelings over this. You really should just talk to your family about this, they should know. Family is family, and you keeping quiet on this isn't exactly a good idea in the long run. Mandy, you should just drop the front…for the most part. You've been through a lot, and you deserve to openly show you're not stoic all the time. Considering that no new versions from your world popped up in Zen Kuro, you're going to have an easier time. It's better you do this before one does show up. Frankie, I hate to admit it, but you will be better to move on the moment Elvilitrix is dead and gone." Starfrie said eyeing the group.
Then she moved to Ryker.
"Honestly, you just want to vent to someone. I'm glad you came to me because you clearly hate to admit that the Crystal Squadron is falling to pieces. You feel the setting is the best way to force it out. You have a lingering regret for getting into Steven Universe in the first piece, and you hate the jokes made at your expense. You don't regret meeting your friends, your wife, nor your son. Maybe it's time…to disband the Crystal Squadron." Starfire said as Ryker's hair was over his eyes. "But you…you already knew this was coming."
Fusion Force and the big three of the Red Phoenix Pirates looked on in sympathy as Ryker nodded. Ryker got up and begin to make his leave. Starfire allowed him to leave…not like she was going to stop him.
"Fenix, all I can say to you is prepare for the worst." Starfire said worriedly. "I have to do the same whenever my sister visits. She has a crippling problem with alcohol. You and your siblings can go."
They hurried to leave to which Starfire turned to Fusion Force.
"Ok, Gwen. My advice is to spend the holidays with your family. Now it's the best time to get what I suggested done and clear the air." Starfire remarked. "Notice, I didn't bring this up to Kevin."
"I reconnected already." Kevin said with a shrug. "I just kept quiet on it."
"Moving on to Saki. You need to get in contact with Crusher. Show you support his decision. Mandy, don't stick to giving off your canon front. You're a reality warper. You're allowed to branch away from your canon personality. Frankie, I'm sorry that a robotic shell of Elvin is around. I would suggest that Fusion Force split up for a time to get some time apart, but I am going to ask for one of you to keep an eye on Frankie." Starfire remarked.
"I will." Saki affirmed. "But who called for us to go to therapy?"
"Sara did. She wanted you to attend one end of the year session…if you want to keep your veteran status." Starfire said writing some notes down. "And we're done here…you're free to go."
[Cues: jinsang – Summer's Day v2]
['Crystal Squadron' HQ, Neo Bayview]
Ryker returned home via flight and came inside both quiet and downcast. Garnet was in the midst of feeding Rai, Amethyst was watching TV with Pink and Jasper; Ruby and Sapphire with playing video games, and Pearl and Tsubasa were feeding Jewel. He cleared his throat getting all their attention.
"Ryker, you okay?" Pink remarked.
"No. I'm back from a therapy session…and I've come to a decision to…to disband the Crystal Squadron." Ryker said going to the kitchen to pour himself a glass of whiskey.
"Are you freaking kidding me?" Pink said walking up to him.
"Pink, you of all people knew this was coming, and You know why." Ryker said pushing the glass aside to just drink from the bottle.
"Ryker, I knew this was coming, but if I may make a suggestion. We can form a smaller team under a new name. It's high time we shed the Crystal title completely. After all, this isn't Beach City we're living in." Garnet said as Rai's little hands took off her shades.
"We need a new name. A serious rebranding…" Ryker said before using a burst of warper energy to erase the still mostly full bottle. "I need time to think."
"You going to Peridot's Christmas party?" Amethyst asked.
"Yeah, I am." Ryker said quietly. "I need to go for a walk first. I'm taking my son with me for that."
-=o=-
[Aboard the Queen Mama Chanter V2, Space, Between Universes]
"Honestly, I'm surprised you all agreed so quickly to overthrow your mother." Matias said wiping the blood off his hands. "And those loyal to her."
He had walked into a meeting with a few other siblings who were planning a coup to oust their mother. Seeing this, Matias simply surprised them by personally ousting Big Mom and her most loyal kin himself which meant finally getting to kill Cracker, Perospero, Compote, and Oven. He did not want to kill Anana, but she was going to alert Big Mom. Flampe was shoved in the brig.
"You…just…" Brûlée said shocked along the siblings.
"You really think I'd stay loyal to the queen asshole who can't be bothered to listen to the simplest of advice. She wanted to me to marry Pudding to put me under her thumb. And I got a problem with shitty authority. Besides, I had help." Matias said as Pudding and Katakuri came up behind him. "It serves to treat your people with kidness. Mistreatment really makes it easy to betray."
"He has a point." Katakuri said shaking his head.
"Still, you just took over before we did." Smoothie said crossing her arms. "I assume you ousted the staff as well."
"Had to. And I ask of all of you, if you have an issue with me being leader." Matias said only to get no opposition. "Good, then the first order of business. Selling off the body parts and DNA of the corpses to get ourselves some cash. You have no idea what people will pay for it."
"I don't want to find out." Custard admitted.
"You'll have to soon enough. Either way, we can talk more later. We have to decide on a place to settle for the time being to find some level of work. I have a few ideas." Mathias said taking the captain's chair.
"And Fenix?" Pudding said. "And Flampe?"
"Flampe is in the brig. I plan to hand over to the Loveless Family to…deal with that arrogance of hers. As for Fenix, set course for Zen Kuro. We're going to pay him a visit. With his mother dead, he may be willing for an alliance." Matias said chuckling darkly. "After that, we go onward and find a place to settle. The world's ours and the possibilities are infinite."
(A/N: To be fair, Big Mom would not last as a reality warper in the multiverse. I came to a realization that even a major person like her would be quick to be killed if she's new to warping. Mostly because the warpers already there don't want to entertain the idea of her getting to sixth rank. Regardless, this is probably going to be the last chapter for 2020. If it doesn't, hooray. If it is, see you next year, warpers. Also, the prior chapter was fixed. As for the therapy session, all plot points for the future. By next year, the Crystal Squadron ends and a new group forms.)
