"Oh my gosh!" Steven said, clapping as Garnet stared with an open mouthed grin.
"Woah, the Freshwater a few years ago would never fuse!" Amethyst exclaimed with a laugh, punching the fusion in the arm. "What can I say?" Tahitian said, rolling her eyes as she ran a hand through her lavender pixie cut. "Being stuck in a Zoo with a horrible excuse for an Agate has a habit of making gems closer." she said, letting out a laugh as Garnet picked the gem up,tossing her into the air and catching her with a grin. "Just look at you two! My future vision foretold you would be close, but this?" she said, looking from the turquoise gem's outfit (a pair of pink shorts and a black shirt with white sleeves) to her short lavender pixie cut "This is amazing!"
"Ooh, so what's your weapon? Have you two been in a fight yet?" Amethyst asked excitedly. Tahitian nodded with a chuckle. "Oh yeah, you should have seen White's face when she realized the reason we fused was because we loved each other. She was so pissed she sicked Tourmaline on us. Thankfully, though, I was able to pull out this bad boy," she said, grinning as she reached into her gem and pulled out her bright blue sword, "and defend myself." she said, holding it to the light so it reflected off of the bright curved blade.
"Honestly, though…I'm tired of just doing this when Freshwater and Pear need me." she admitted sheepishly. "After we were separated, the only time I've been here was when they needed to write a report." she said, stroking her chin and putting her sword away. "I'm glad to help, of course, but I've only existed for a couple hours by this point, and most of that time was spent trying to survive. I haven't had a chance to actually understand who I am." she muttered, looking up when she felt a hand on her shoulder, cocking her head to the side.
"Trust me, I know the feeling. 5750 years ago, Ruby and Sapphire didn't know anything about fusion, about Earth, about me, or," Garnet said, putting a hand on Tahitian's shoulder as her eyes lit up, "about love."
Tahitian nodded, staring at hands. "You're right." she said. "But…how did you learn?"
Garnet grinned. "By doing what you're doing now." she said, gesturing to Tahitian. "When you two are together, whether it be as a fusion or separated, you learn a little more about each other. In fact, the easiest way to do that is by going on a date. In fact, Ruby and Sapphire haven't been on a date in roughly four thousand years."
"Yeah! You can all go together!" Steven said, his eyes lighting up. "It'll be like a double date!"
"That sounds like fun." Tahitian said, her eyes lighting up. "Sounds fun. Might as well take some time to get to know the new fusion in our crew." Garnet said, affectionately ruffling Tahitian's hair. "Steven, do you need anything while we're out?" she asked as Tahitian headed to the door. The boy shook his head. "No, I'm good! I…actually gotta go get Lion from Connie's place. Jet's been gone for a few days, so I wanna go through Lion to check to make sure nothing bad happened."
Tahitian nodded. "Okay. But if things aren't fine, come back and get someone for backup in case something else goes wrong."
Steven nodded, flashing the fusion a smile. "Of course!" he said, waving. "Have fun, you two!"
…
""So, we hit the arcade, spent a little time on the beach, rode the teacups, took on a few roller coasters…what now?" Tahitian said, looking up at Garnet. "Hm. What about the ferris wheel? We can get a birds eye view of Beach City up there, and it's absolutely beautiful at night." Garnet suggested. Tahitian's eyes lit up as she nodded in agreement, skipping happily next to Garnet as she and the fusion made their way across the boardwalk.
"I still can't believe I'm here. On Earth! Together!" she breathed, a huge grin on her face as she raised her eyes to look up at the setting sun.
"Honestly? I can't either. My future vision has really had a hard time keeping up with the new changes in Beach City. It's overwhelming, but at least something good has happened in all of the chaos." the fusion said, beaming down at the new edition to the Crystal Gems. "How does your future vision work, anyway?" Tahitian asked, curiously cocking her head to the side.
Garnet thought for a moment, pursing her lips. "My future vision allows me to see down the rivers of possibilities, granting me insight into the possible realities that our actions move us toward. But that doesn't mean I can predict everything. For example." she said, a small smirk coming to her face. "When Steven freed Freshwater from that bubble all those years ago and Pearl insisted that we give her a chance and try to have her join our family, I foresaw that she would have a huge impact on our whole family unit."
Tahitian grimaced. "Yeah. She tried to get you all killed."
Garnet shrugged. "To be fair, she isn't the only gem in this family who has tried to kill us. Anyhow, my prediction was correct in an even better way. Freshwater being a part of our family has lead to us having more insight into Homeworld, a tough lesson about forgiveness, a certain gem finally beginning to move on and learn to love again and, now, you!" the fusion grinned, placing a hand on Tahitian's shoulder, the pair coming to a stop on the boardwalk. "You yourself are an experience. Not just two gems fused together. And that beauty is something that not even my future vision could have foreseen."
Tahitian looked up at the fusion, stars in her eyes. "Does your future vision indicate it being a good experience?" she asked hopefully.
Garnet chuckled, patting the fusion on the arm. "As I said, my future vision can only see possibilities." she said, lifting her visor to wink at the gem. "But based on the interactions I've seen between Freshwater and Pearl over the years, it wouldn't surprise me if you two spent many years together being very, very happy."
Tahitian groaned. "C'mon, G., don't be a tease." she said, rolling her eyes.
Garnet laughed. "Sorry, sorry." she said as the pair finally came to a stop in front of the Ferris Wheel. "Hey, sorry you two. No snacks on the ride." Mr. Smiley said, holding up a hand to stop the fusions. Tahitian frowned. "Aw man. Okay, okay." she said, staring down at the cotton candy in her hands, contemplating.
"Do you think we can eat this whole thing in one bite?"
"What? No. Even if we can, I don't want to. You're lucky I even agreed to eating some of it."
"Aw come on, I've seen Amethyst do it a few times. And we wouldn't even have to really eat anything if you think about it. It dissolves in your mouth as soon as you-"
"No."
"Okay, okay." Tahitian said, blushing at the confused look Mr. Smiley was giving her. "Just give us a moment." the fusion said, holding the cotton candy and bubbling it before tapping the top to send it to the temple.
"Al…right then. You two are free to hop on the ride!" The bald man said, stepping aside and allowing the pair to climb into the Ferris Wheel.
"It's okay. Sometimes Ruby and Sapphire have disagreements too." Garnet said with a laugh as the gate to the passenger car closed and started to move. "The important thing is you two have already learned to compromise." she said, beaming at the fusion sitting across from her.
The pair lapsed into comfortable silence, Tahitian becoming mesmerized as she looked around as the ground grew further and further away from them.
"Wow." Tahitian breathed as they neared the top, poking her head out and peering at the sea in the distance. "So this is the beauty you all are fighting for." Garnet nodded, leaning back in her seat as well. "Yes. That, and the beauty of love of course." she said, hugging herself with a smile. "Love for our fellow gems, love for Earth, and the beauty of our significant others."
Tahitian pursed her lips before sitting back as well, closing her eyes and allowing the comfortable silence to continue for a while before the fusion spoke up again. "I can't believe I almost destroyed all of this." she whispered, her voice shaking slightly as she opened her eyes, surprised to see she was now sitting in a bright orange room with a reflective floor beneath her, a lone figure standing in the distance and waiting patiently in front of a warp pad.
Garnet's eyes widened when the fusion across from her stood, immediately noticing the far-away look in her eyes. The fusion was about to fall apart. "Tahitian. Breathe."
Unable to hear her, Tahitian stared off into the distance, hugging herself as she got a better view of the figure - Freshwater.
"You can't keep torturing yourself with this." Tahitian whispered, hugging herself.
"You don't understand. I told Holly Blue Agate and Peridot about you and then I…then I tried to get you all brought back to the Diamonds. They were going to shatter you. And I…I was okay with that." as she watched the scene that played out in front of her and Pearl, eciting each gem as they spoke word for word.
Freshwater jumped when the Warp Pad activated and two familiar gems appeared, Peridot in the middle of a rant while Holly Blue looked equally cross.
"This is starting to get ridiculous. First we get an anonymous message from some clod, and then they don't show up. My Robonoids have been wandering this Kindergarten, and I haven't gotten any reports of any new gems."
"I don't know what you expected. Those little machines are about as useless as those Crystal Gems."
"Well the thought of getting the upper hand was nice for once, but clearly this gem either is just stupid or was apprehended before they could meet us. Let's just forget it and continue on schedule."
"No, wait! Don't go." Tahitian said, flinching as she watched Freshwater's form step from behind the injector and Holly Blue rushed forward and grabbed the gem by her collar, lifting her off the ground. "What kind of sick joke is this?" she demanded, clenching the paper she held in her hands.
"It's not a joke."
Peridot scoffed. "So you joined the Crystal Clods? Man, you really are defective." she spat, looking the Pearl up and down. "Well what are you waiting for, you clod? We can finally make this right and undo this horrible mistake."
"You must have some sort of death wish, baiting us to come back to Earth knowing I'd shatter you on sight." Holly Blue Agate said, ignoring the Peridot as she turned her fierce gaze to Freshwater. Freshwater shrugged, unfazed.
"Staying on Earth is a death wish, Miss. Holly Blue. I don't want to stay here any longer than I have to, and anyway the gems don't give me much of anything to do. Like you said five thousand years ago. I'm a Pearl. I'm useless on my own. I need someone to tell me what to do." she raised her gaze.
"And if it isn't the Diamonds, then I'll settle for anyone willing to take me."
"I would have done anything to get back to Homeworld and fulfill what I thought was my purpose." Tahitian whispered, flinching as the forms in front of them disappeared in a flash of light, dissolving into a pile of butterflies that filled the area around them, flying in her face.
"You were being brainwashed by Homeworld. You were a different gem then. You were desperate for the approval of a lot of gems, and you hadn't had the opportunity to change yet."
"And because of my desperation I almost got you killed." As soon as the fusion uttered the last word, the fusion fell apart in a flash of light just as the passenger car came to a stop at the bottom of the Ferris Wheel and the gate opened.
"I hope you two enjoyed the -" Mr. Smiley's cheer filled greeting was choked off as Freshwater stood abruptly and made her way off the Ferris Wheel with Garnet at her heels, calling after her. "We did. Thank you, Mr. Smiley." Pearl said, starting to follow her girlfriend. "Hey! Before you go. Take this. And please - listen to the rules about no snacks on the ride." the man said, pointing next to Pearl where a dark blue bubble floated. Pearl frowned but nodded, taking the bubble with her and hurrying after Garnet and Freshwater.
…
"Okay, Universe. No expectations." Steven murmured to himself, raising his hand and gently rapping on the front door of the Mahashwaren residence.
"I'll get it!" Connie yelled as she bounded down the stairs, her smile faltering when she opened it and saw Steven sheepishly smiling at her.
"Uh…hi." the teenager said, waving at her. "Look, I know you aren't ready to talk right now, but I just…I wanted to come and go through Lion's mane. Jet hasn't been back in a few days, and I'm getting worried so I wanted to make sure she was okay." he paused, a blush coming to his cheeks. "I…I like your hair, by the way.
Connie blushed, playing with her hair and laughing awkwardly. "Thank you, Steven. Yeah, Jet came by a few days ago and explained everything to me, H11, and D13." the teenager paused awkwardly, studying her best friend's face. "Were you planning on going by yourself?"
Steven looked away. "Honestly? Yes." he said, putting his hands up defensively when he saw the look of hurt that crossed Connie's face. "But not because I'm giving up again or because I don't want you to help me. I was going to go by myself because I wanted to respect the fact that you needed your space. I'm sorry I didn't do it sooner. And…I'm also sorry I gave up so easily. I as trying to protect you, but while I was trying to do that, I let you down. We spent months training together to fight Homeworld, then when the time came, I just turned myself into the Diamonds and gave up. Then, when I got back I just tried to pretend nothing had even happened." he said, wiping the tears that had formed in the corners of his eyes.
"I'm sorry."
Connie hugged herself as the boy spoke, looking away. "Steven, I'm sorry too. I should have texted you and asked you for space, but I…I don't know I just couldn't. I was going to and I wrote something like 'I can't talk to you right now,' but then I realized if I sent it, then that would be talking to you. And it didn't make any sense. I wasn't making any sense. If we were going to talk, I thought 'it's got to be in person.' So I rode Lion to your house, but there was just a sign that said 'Gone on Vacation.' Then, Jet showed up at my place and I thought you would be with her, so I thought maybe you needed some space from me. I…I don't even know what to sayto you." she said, wiping the tears that had formed in her own eyes as she continued. "I'm angry with you, I missed you, I feel like I'm out of my mind."
Steven shook his head. "No, you're not. I surrendered myself to Homeworld, I let them take me away, maybe forever and then when I came back, I tried to act like nothing had happened and it was no big deal. But it was a big deal. I couldn't stand the thought of you being taken away on that spaceship, but then I did that to you. I promised we would always be a team, and I let you down. I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I'm sorry too." Connie said, opening her arms. "Jam buds?"
Steven grinned, wiping the tears from his eyes as he stepped forward and hugged her. "Jam buds. So…Do you want to come to space with me?"
Connie laughed, giving her best friend a squeeze. "Of course."
…
"For a fusion to work, there needs to be balance. An imbalance can cause your fusion to lose touch with reality, see things that aren't there, and eventually fall apart." Garnet said, sitting on the sand on the beach and motioning for Freshwater and Pearl to join her. "That is to say if one of you is falling apart, your fusion will as well."
Freshwater and Pearl exchanged a look before nodding. "I…I'm sorry. I want to fuse with you. I just…" the gem looked away. "Hey. It's okay." Pearl said, taking her girlfriend's hand and squeezing it gently. "I'm right here. And I want to fuse with you too." she said, both gems turning their attention back to Garnet and sitting down on the ground in front of her.
"To find balance, you must understand your feelings. To understand your feelings, you must see them clearly without running from them. First, though, we need Tahitian." Garnet explained.
Freshwater and Pearl exchanged a look before nodding and disappearing in a flash of light, re-joining Garnet in the sand cross-legged and mimicking the way the fusion placed her hands together and following Garnet's words.
"Now, close your eyes. Here, in darkness, everything is okay. Listen to the waves, and let them fade away."
Tahitian did as instructed, allowing her breath to steady and the waves to fade, her breathing becoming slower.
"Here comes a thought."
When Tahitian opened their eyes, they were surprised to see they were sitting in a room that was empty except for her and Garnet, the area around them bathed in a blue light as both fusions continued to hold their meditating positions and Garnet started to sing.
Take a moment to think of just, flexibility, love, and trust. Take a moment to think of just, flexibility, love, and trust.
The fusions turned their attention to the area next to them, Tahitian's breath hitching when she saw Freshwater and Pearl standing a few feet apart.
Here comes a thought, that might alarm you. What someone said, and how it harmed you.
Freshwater flinched as a butterfly flew into her face, its surface showing the furious face of Holly Blue Agate as the gem tore her down emotionally with words of how ugly, pathetic, and worthless she was and would always be, each insult making the butterfly split further and further until a huge swarm was surrounding the gem and separating her from Pearl.
Tears ran down the gem's face as she started to take a step back and turned, freezing in her tracks when she saw a large butterfly staring her down.
Something you did, that failed to be charming.
Freshwater wiped the tears from her face as she watched herself, lost in White's control, poof Pearl and send the gemstone clattering to the ground.
Things that you said, are suddenly swarming.
The gem sank to her knees as the butterfly disappeared into a poof of hundreds of smaller creatures, all swarming around the gem, who reached out a hand to her girlfriend but struggled to get up as the butterflies kept coming, making her feel more and more overwhelmed.
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.
Pearl called out to her girlfriend as a butterfly landed on Tahitian's finger, the fusion staring down at it sorrowfully before it, too, flew off to join the swarm as Pearl made her way towards the swarm in an attempt to save her girlfriend
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 sang, holding two of the butterflies out to Tahitian, who hesitantly took them and contemplated the fusion's words.
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.
Tahitian nodded, turning her attention back to Freshwater and Pearl as she sang.
Here comes a thought, that might alarm me. What someone said, and how it harmed me.
Freshwater hugged herself and rocked back and forth, breathing heavily as all of the butterflies in the area merged together and fused into one giant one, that was depicting her last few memories she had before the Diamonds wiped her memory clean. Now that the area was mostly cleared, Pearl jogged to her girlfriend's side, skidding to a halt in shock at the sight in front of her.
"I'm very sorry for the troubles this defective Pearl has brought you. For Pearls exhibiting problems this severe. Rejuvenation is required." a robotic voice called before a shell emerged from the ground and encompassed the gem. Freshwater pounded on the door. "Please! Let me out! Just shatter me insead. I-I don't want-"
"All this you, you, you. Quite selfish for a Pearl if you ask me." White Diamond's voice said boredly from the other side. "Now, be a good Pearl and stop pounding on that shell. You won't be able to break it." she said, rolling her eyes.
"Honestly, you should be grateful." Blue Diamond said.
"Agreed. After that stunt you pulled, I'd love to see you shattered. But, you're lucky we're desperate you worthless hunk of Earth. Just accept your fate like any perfect pearl would."
"When the process is complete, they will obey you without fail." The robotic voice said as there was a blood-curdling shriek from the shell, the butterfly depicting the graphic scene disappearing into a flash of light and leaving a swarm fluttering around Freshwater and Pearl
Something I did, that failed to be charming. Things that I said, are suddenly swarming. And oh! I'm losing sight. I'm losing touch. All these little things seem to matter so much, That they confuse me. She said, reaching out a hand to the Pearls as the swarm grew larger.
That I might lose me.
Garnet reached out a hand to bring her friend back to meditation, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder.
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.
Tahitian took a deep breath and nodded, she and Garnet resuming the meditation position.
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.
Tahitian smiled gently as she watched Pearl sit next to her girlfriend on the ground, wrapping the gem in a bear hug.
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.
Freshwater nodded, a sob escaping her lips as she hugged Pearl back, burying her face into the gem's shirt and hugging her like she might, too, disappear into a cloud of butterflies.
I'm here.
Tahitian nodded with a smile as the butterflies began to slowly fly away from the area, hugging herself as she watched Freshwater and Pearl lie down on the ground below, hand in hand as they watched the thoughts pass them by.
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.
Tahitian took a deep breath as she took a deep breath in before releasing it slowly.
Take a moment to think of just, Flexibility, love, and trust. Take a moment to think of just, flexibility, love, and trust.
When the fusion opened her eyes, she was surprised to see she was sitting back on the beach in front of Garnet, the sky around them darkening.
"Thanks, Garnet." The fusion said with a smile. "I feel a lot better."
Garnet smiled. "I'm glad. Sometimes thoughts can be very overwhelming. But, as long as you two have each other it's far more manageable." she said, smiling at the pair. "Now, let's get inside." shesaid, standing and offering the gem her hand to help her up. "I'm not sure if food can go bad if it's in that bubble for too long." she said, motioning to the bubble sitting next to Tahitian.
Tahitian nodded, taking the fusion's hand and letting her hoist her to her feet. "Good idea." the gem paused. "Honestly…I still don't understand how I keep screwing up this whole bubbling thing." she muttered. "I think it has to do with Freshwater, since Pearl can bubble gems just fine and send them home. Not Freshwater, though. First they went to Pearl's room, then to the temple, and then back to FunLand? I mean at least if I'm not gonna send bubbles to the right place at least they could be freaking consistent." the fusion said, irritated.
Garnet thought for a moment. "Well…have you considered that your home might not be a physical place for you?"
Tahitian cocked her head to the side. "Huh? I thought a home was a place where gems spent most of their time when not on missions? Kinda like a base?"
Garnet shook her head. "No, that's a better definition for a house. See, a home is somewhere that usually feels safe. Secure. Protected. And, sometimes, some gems don't feel connected to a particular location in the sense they can call it home. Sometimes, a home can be just wherever - or whoever - makes the gem feel at home." she said, winking.
Tahitian blushed and looked away. "Man, that's mushy." she said, rolling her eyes.
Garnet laughed. "Don't believe me? Why don't you test it." she said.
Tahitian nodded. "Okay." she said, rolling her eyes and laughing as she disappeared in a flash of light, leaving Freshwater holding the bubbled cotton candy and Pearl standing next to her.
"Well, get on with it." Garnet said, smirking and motioning for Freshwater to tap the top of the bubble. Freshwater nodded, doing just that and crossing her arms with a smug smirk that immediately fell when the bubble popped up right next to Pearl seconds later, Garnet immediately bursting out into laughter as Pearl took the bubble with a smile of her own.
"Aww, Freshwater. That's cute." she said, taking the bubble in her hands and making her way over to the gem, kissing her on the forehead.
"See? I told you." Garnet said, her chuckling dying down slightly. "Sometimes home isn't about location. But who you're with."