Snow learns more about fusion and is curious to learn more about it, but recent revelations force her to shuffle her priorities.
They won with the faith they had in each other. Garnet was not only impressed with Stevens growing strength, but the growth of all the gems and Connie.
Life hadn't been the same since, but it was in a good way. For one, she was glad the dilemma had been sorted with the Diamonds and the war that they had fought for millennia had ended, leading to tears of joy and relief with Pearl, who had been on the fence about fighting their fallen comrades, with them finally being cured of their corruption.
As with the others, she'd been on missions with certain gems that were still trying to find their place in this new world they found themselves in and the humans that were going to having to deal with the fact that some were going to stay and Garnet worried on whether they were going to be treated right.
It was gonna take time to get it right. She wouldn't have expected such major changes to happen over night as the differences between gems and humans were like night and day. It will need a lot of hard work to get it balanced enough but Garnet was content to help with those changes. It would be what Rose would have wanted. Rose? Pink?
It didn't matter. She would continue to fight for the planet that was her home.
But seeing the Snow Quartz for the first time triggered a multitude of visions. She seemed friendly, far friendlier on first contact from than anyone from Homeworld. She sensed this one was made in contrast to most they were used to encountering. Pearl even mentioned on how wise she was, with the thing that stood out the most was her human based perspectives temporarily that almost made Pearl forget she was a Gem!
To Garnet, it made no sense on how a Gem could connect to others so easily. Steven's was easy to figure out, given his status.
The worst part was the vision Garnet had included an entirely different Snow Quartz. This was not the one. Meaning, the one on this world was still here, somewhere.
Garnet hid in the shadows as Snow read the story, enamoring the audience around her, seeing all the expressions to Snow's incredibly worded structure and emphasis and characterization. This Snow was not the same. So she had to find out more from her.
Even from sitting next to her on the stage, in this quiet room, Snow had humanoid like vibes from her manner. From what Garnet knew about these types of Quartzes, there was a power they possessed to adapt to their given worlds surroundings. But in this case, it was their nature that became human.
"How are you finding Earth so far?" Garnet queried.
Snow smiled warmly.
"I'm enjoying it. So much potential from meeting the people. I'm excited to learn more." She said with a gleam in her eyes.
She sounded like Rose almost. The bastion of words she used were too similar for Garnet to feel comfortable with.
Snow then blushed as she covered her face.
"I'd love to learn from you. I mean, you're one of the most famous fusions out there from recollection...and from what the records state."
Famous fusion? She didn't need her ego boosted like that, as if its an appeal to her to open up.
"I'm not famous. I'm a controversy to Homeworld. A symbol of the love they only can be envious of." Garnet said. She was more than content to be herself, if it proved to point to those around her. It left Snow flustered and stammering.
"Um I sorry. I mean, well, you're talked about I mean." Snow said.
She knew she was a conversation.
"I'm hoping to garner insights of this wondrous environment. It's rare to see two distinct species act so well. Especially with Steven and his friend Connie."
That grew ire from Garnet's instincts. If Snow did anything to hurt them...
"You leave them alone." Garnet warned, her voice cool but tense.
"They've gone through enough, than to let a high ranking Gem to butt their noses in their business again."
Garnet felt their unspoken pain and while on the surface they were calm, there were issues the two had yet to sort out, especially with what happened on homeworld.
Snow frowned, resting her hand on her chest.
"I understand you're close with them. I can respect that." She said to the fusion.
"You also have a job to do as their Guardian and family member. I'm not going to jeopardize the hard work you all have done in recent times. I'm beyond that."
She admitted again, that Snow was good with her words, trying to convince Garnet that she was on her side. But her visions compromised her belief in this...Recon Gem. The darkness that followed. The voice was sincere and not filled with any malice or in-depth context. Garnet wanted to trust her...but the darkness kept coming back. This time with Steven and Connie in the middle of it.
"Reality is a complicated place." Snow said.
"My mentor, Milky, said our gem development was behest of Pink Diamonds suggestion and was a joint effort of all four Diamonds. Yellow Diamond could see the soldier in us, Blue Diamond saw the practicality in our knowledge and even White Diamond saw us a perfect Quartz that was able to multitask. But over time, there were problems. Pinks influence of Independence caused some of us to go rogue, choosing to defend the planets we adapted to. Which at first, it was suggested that they scrap the production and shatter us, but Blue vetoed and developed the Labradorites to keep us in line. If we strayed too far from the path, they were commanded to intimidate us and even destabilize our forms."
It was like they were slaves too. Some desired to break free. It explained why they were spread so thinly. To prevent a revolt.
"So the Labradorites...are higher than you?" Garnet questioned.
Snow chuckled.
"No no...it does seem like it. They're just part of the contingency plan. For example, if we ever tried to attempt to fight off our own kind, Dori here would...attempt to kill me."
That...horrified Garnet. To allow such a thing to occur would be immoral.
"After...Pink's supposed shattering, it became more important to keep gems in line. We not only would return to Homeworld in a bubble, but we would be instantly shattered."
The Labradorite with Snow lingered nearby. It made Garnet more concerned for the gem in question, even if circumstances had changed.
"Do you desire for that freedom?" Said Garnet.
"Do you envision a better life?"
Gems going rogue wasn't new...but Rose/Pink wouldn't stand for a horrible policy like that to take place.
"Sometimes." Snow admitted.
"But I don't need to fight. Not often. Our power is rooted in our words. Semblances in our phrases meant to calm others. Peace is preferred over conflict. I like it that way."
Just like Steven. To negotiate with their enemies has proven difficult but mostly successful. Garnet could admit it. Ruby was to err on that front but Sapphire saw the benefits.
This Snow Quartz however, lives and philosophically breathes optimism. No wonder why Pearl couldn't stop gushing about her. But Garnet couldn't help but think about what she saw. Whether or not this was the Quartz. Or another that may have been here. She wondered, if she should be honest with her about her sight and that it could either help or hinder with things to come. For all what she could see, was that this Snow Quartz did not have an ounce of hostility radiating from her.
We need to tell her Sapphire, Ruby thought.
I want to, said Sapphire.
The darkness was strong and maybe Snow's wisdom could account for what she saw. There was further pain and anxiety left in the wake of what ever future she could see...Steven, Connie...Stevonnie...a lab...and this...this Snow Quartz. Garnet couldn't grasp it. Unless from what Snow was saying, that rogue Snow Quartzes existed and one was on the planet, unbeknownst to everyone. Buried there for goodness knows how long.
Last thing Garnet would want, was bringing harm to these maturing children. Not after everything they've been through.
"Snow..." Garnet said, breaking their moments silence.
"I haven't told anyone this, but there is a bleak future ahead of us. Full of darkness that my sight can't peer past through. One with Steven, Connie and another Snow Quartz. But you are not the Snow Quartz. I can't explain it, but..."
It was then Snow froze up. Her eyes became distant and her face blank as she gripped the side of the stage tightly. She knew something. Definitely.
"Snow I need to know...are you here to hurt us? You can trust me with the truth."
There was so much that must have been going on in her mind with that revelation. The Labradorite wasn't hostile however. So Snow had to be here on a peaceful mission from Homeworld, if there was such a thing. But for the protection of the planet she had to know.
"I...I have been having my own ideas. But nothing that would hurt the planet." Snow said.
"I...I have come to the belief, the original Snow Quartz, the one I mentioned earlier, Milky, was still here. She should have evacuated when the Diamonds attacked Earth, although evidence has come up of her returning to the planet, going against orders. Why she would do this, I aim to find out."
In a way, Garnet was relieved that this one was definitely not the one she saw then.
"But the darkness you mentioned, I'm much more worried that. I know of one race, that uses the darkness as their veil and can often blind the light of our gems...one we have fought before. The Lillim."
The Lillim? Garnet had heard of them once before, back when Sapphire was part of Blue Diamonds court. Several gems had chatted about a mysterious race on a planet that only just been cleared for colonization and it took them ages to try and rid of the race but it took the might and sacrifice of many gems to do it. It sent Snow into a panic as she got up and dug her fingers into her scalp.
"Oh no...they must...they must've..." She stammered, fearful. "How did they..."
Garnet rested her hand on Snow's shoulder.
"Relax...tell me what you know..."
For someone previously calm about it, it took this to change Snow's once charming manner into a fit of fear. If it had her worried, then they needed to do something about it.
Snow explained how she and Milky once fought the Lillim on their planet. Snow could have made up a heroic story, but with her telling to Garnet, it evolved into a more horrific tale of survival and wit, as well everything they knew on how to fight those who could not be reason with, especially when it came to infecting others. It sounded like corruption, but on a more abnormal and abstract level. And Corrupted Gems were like this in general. Garnet told Snow what she had seen and when it came to mentioning the lab, it had Snow confused and worried.
"It might be where she's set up her post." Snow suggested.
"I need to see her. I have a general idea of where she could be thanks to Lapis, but...I need to go..."
Garnet lowered her head. Something this dangerous...she'd advise against going alone.
"You'll need our help." Garnet stated
"Who knows what we'll face."
Snow was stunned as to how Garnet quickly came around to help out. She didn't expect to see her routing the others to investigate this issue. She called in an official mission for them all. It took a while to prepare as the Fusion informed the remaining Gems of their next vital quest. She endeavored to have Steven and Connie join, since her visions called for them to be part of it. She didn't want to risk them getting hurt but at the same time, Garnet mentioned she couldn't see anything past the darkness. So it could mean anything at all.
But Snow took in the opportunity, not only to find Milky's location, but to see the Crystal Gems in action.
They rendezvoused back to the Temple, where they discussed their plan. Snow had to explain the specifics of the Lillim and their powers. They had the chalk board there as Snow drew a picture of the race, which basically looked like a blob of nothing.
"We're looking for puddles?" Amethyst wondered.
Snow shook her head.
"No...Lillim are formless...they could appear as puddles if they felt like it." She said.
"But they can also hide themselves very well. Hiding around corners or crevices, ready to strike. Which I may remind everyone to be on guard whilst in the lab. The Lillim will intend to infect your gem. Once the darkness infects you, it may only take a few minutes until it overwhelms you...in that case, you no longer are a normal Gem. You become a Lillim Gem."
The group gulped in response. Snow had seen many fellow gems fall victim to such a fate, forcing her to shatter them. They weren't recognized as fellow gems by that point so Labradorites wouldn't attack their partners.
"You said they're a parasite that constantly feed on light? As natural projectors, you're the perfect source of their sustenance? " Connie questioned.
A reason Snow only had in theory, but yes. She was glad they learned from her story.
"Indeed. They can sense the aura of a gem and will stop at nothing at hunting one down. One weakness they do have however...they don't like too much light. Ironic right?" Snow said.
"Any light really. It burns them. Their consumption of a Gems light allows them to get a balanced diet of it, then they take control of the Gem entirely. That gems original personality is gone."
Another gulp. Snow wanted to warn them now, for she did not want them to suffer for anything that was generally hers to deal with.
"Is there anyway to cure the infection?" Steven wondered, curious and in his own way, concerned.
If there was, Snow would love to know about.
"Lillim Gems cannot be cured. It's always resulted us in having to the shatter the gems." She revealed, a sadness aching in her chest.
They were to plan their mission for tomorrow, as Steven slept on the couch, with Connie sleeping in his bed and the remaining Gems remained in preparation in their rooms. The group was nonchalant about how critical and dangerous this was going to be. It made Snow paranoid, as she stood out on the balcony and looked out into the ocean and the stars that reflected in them.
While it was calm and refreshing, it would be what Snow needed to embrace...since had not hoped to encounter the Lillim again. It drew on bad memories of the fights on their planet, the fact that she was forced to kill gems that weren't identified as proper gems anymore, it was like their identities had been stripped away and left as shattered shards all over the battlefield. She clung on to the railing, wrapping her fingers around it and hung to it tightly. Milky had to be safe, surely. She was considered the best of them, always getting results...
But as now the tips recover from the scaling, it left Snow in deeper regret than she believed.
"Worried about tomorrow?"
It was the young human Connie, dressed in her pajamas as she stood next to Snow. Her aura was strong.
"Yes..." Snow told her.
"The intel I have collected...I'm hoping everyone is ready for a fight."
Connie smiled as she held an air of confidence around her.
"Of course we. We're the Crystal Gems! We'll be as ready as we'll ever be!" She claimed.
It should have brought warmth to Snow, but...she forced a positive expression.
She was small. She was fragile. But she had guts. They had accepted her as one of their own, even though she wasn't a gem. But her aura, her radiant, blooming aura could have fooled Snow, if she hadn't clicked to detect if she had gem on her persons. Several times even.
The effects of her fusions with Steven worried Snow, as to how Connie had a similar aura to his. She was keen to study this organics cellular composition and structure, after repeated effects of merging two biologically similar constructs, moreso on Steven's side than Connie's. It prompted Snow to remind herself to ask the other gems with their opinion on this.
But seeing Garnet and knowing how her fusion works, made Snow believe that there was something deep down within Connie and Steven's relationship that she couldn't help but ask.
"Connie walk with me..." Snow requested.
Like with Pearl, Snow walked alongside the girl up the beach as they continued to chat. Humans needed to know if they could have the others confidence in them, the trust in keeping secrets from others. Seeing her interactions with Steven, reminded her humans do this on a natural basis, especially for the survival of their species.
"I have learned a lot from humanity." Snow told her.
"But the topic I am most...fundamentally confused about is love."
Connie blinked twice, trying to reap in and understand where Snow was getting at.
"Uhhh about...how two people show affection to one another?" Connie wondered.
Technically speaking, yes.
"What about it?"
Personally, Snow's never experienced it first hand. Or she has and she just didn't know about it. But if what Garnet said about herself was correct, with the words repeating themselves in her mind repeatedly, then it created interesting context from the whole fusion process. It spoke volumes about the nature of the reality that gems and humans were getting themselves into and into the basis of a mortal's interpretation. She dared not to tread the topic too much with Garnet, who was highly defensive of the idea, but if anyone could open up more about the complex nature of fusions, it was those who walked the line plenty of times before.
Fusion was a hot topic, as Garnet noted in the controversial climate. Two of the same gem would fuse to become stronger, but two different gems became a far more interesting story. Ruby and Sapphire, were her whole make up, bonded through experiences, for that Snow could presume. So then it came to Stevonnie, perhaps a similar set of default protocols made their fusion work, even if it was beyond what either race could explain. But if Snow could find the main crux of it, it would explain a lot more to her. She felt like she was going into personal territory but...thats why Snow loved intimate conversations with people one on one. She could take them in, no matter how distant they were and read nearly everything about them like an open book, then she could close the book...and reserve its knowledge with herself.
"Well, I am...going to be keeping this in strictest confidence. On my honor, I will not tell another soul." She told her.
"But...are you in love with Steven?"