I am Opal, a bond reborn.
It took nearly two weeks for Pearl to return. When she did, she couldn't even look at Steven without breaking down and running off again. This continued until he was nearly 3 years old.
She then decided that it was her duty to be a "super mom". She got Greg to build a human house around the temple so Steven could live more like a normal human. She cleaned and cooked compulsively to take her mind off her heartbreak. She felt like it gave her something she could control.
Amethyst on the other hand coped by hoarding, eating, and generally making a mess. Of course, this didn't sit well with Pearl. They quarreled and bickered constantly, and only Garnet could calm them down. They took their anger out on each other, causing quite a strain on their relationship.
It wasn't until one day, when they went on one their first missions with Steven, that I saw the light of day again.
Earlier that day, Pearl and Amethyst had been arguing about why they didn't form Opal. When Steven asked what Opal was, the two explained to him what fusion was. The trio then went on a mission to find the heaven beetle. Amethyst and Pearl did their best to ruin the others fun, but Steven kept the peace. When they got trapped near the temple, they tried to form Opal, but they weren't the same in body and mind. I can't be formed out of annoyance, so they fell apart. However, when Steven was eaten by a gem creature, I fused almost instantly. I saved him (and his goat) from the creature. He seemed to be in awe of my form.
"Do you... know who I am?" he asked shyly.
I chuckled. Pearl and Amethyst didn't explain how a fusion's memory worked. Of course he would worry that I had no recollection of him.
"All you wanna do, is see me turn into..."
"A giant woman!"
We made a speedy return to the temple. It felt so blissful, being myself again. Steven asked me many questions, and I did my best to answer them all. When we got back, Garnet was waiting.
"The heaven beetle."
I fell into a state of panic. I totally forgot about the beetle!
"I don't have it!" I could feel myself being torn apart again. Amethyst and Pearl were back, and they blamed each other for forgetting the beetle. As it turned out, Steven had the beetle the whole time. Amethyst and Pearl then knew they were both at fault, but neither would admit it. They had a long way to go, but this was the first step towards facing their problems.
A few months later, Amethyst decided to run away with Steven. While Steven wanted to leave to experience what he read about in books, Amethyst had other motives. She wanted to go back to the kindergarten, mostly for nostalgia. However this quickly turned sour when Pearl appeared.
"Garnet said you'd be here, but I didn't want to believe it. Amethyst, what were you thinking bringing Steven to a kindergarten!?"
"I don't know. We were in the neighborhood." Amethyst retorted.
This bickering continued until Amethyst revealed to Steven that gems were grown at this site.
"Amethyst, he's not ready!" Pearl insisted
"Oh, but don't worry, Steven. Everything's just fine now." Amethyst's tone was heavy with sarcasm.
"Amethyst..."
"It all worked out. We won!"
"Stop."
"And we shut this place down so the Earth would be safe from parasites like me!"
The two began to fight violently, much to Steven's dismay. When he tried to separate the two, Amethyst cast him off to the side.
"Amethyst, stop this. You can't beat me!"
"I don't CARE!" Amethyst's attacks became more reckless, and she latched onto Pearl's spear with two of her whips.
"I'm not gonna let you stand there and remind me of everything I HATE ABOUT MYSELF!" Amethyst sent a powerful attack through her whips, causing Pearl to fly back and fall to the ground.
"I never asked for it to be this way. I never asked to be made!" Amethyst had tears running down her face.
At this point, Steven finally intercepted their fight. However, an old injector they broke during the fight began to fall. Steven protected Pearl in his bubble, while Amethyst ran away.
When Steven found her among the rubble, he made Pearl talk with Amethyst.
"Amethyst, I had no idea you've been upset about this." Pearl began softly.
"WHAT?! You had no idea!?" Amethyst was full of rage "This is, like, my entire existence! You want to pretend that none of this ever happened! You think I'm just a big mistake!"
Pearl gasped. "No, no, Amethyst, you're not the mistake. You're just the by-product of a... big mistake."
Amethyst glared at her, as if asking her if that was what she was sticking with.
"No, that's not- I... I just never thought of this as you. None of this is your fault. You didn't build this place. I-I'm sorry, Amethyst." Pearl conceded.
"I hope you can forgive me. You're the one good thing that came out of this mess. I always thought you were proud of that."
Pearl extended her hand, expecting Amethyst to take it. She led the smaller gem out of the hole. At first, Amethyst wouldn't even look at Pearl, but she suddenly pulled her into a crushing embrace. Pearl was initially shocked, but soon returned the hug. She forgot how great it felt to be in her arms, safe and secure. They warped back to the temple, hand in hand.
That night, Steven decided to go with Greg, and Garnet went off on a mission. Pearl was about to go back to her room in the temple, when Amethyst called to her.
"Um, P?"
"Yes, Amethyst?"
"Can you, uh, stay here? With me?"
"Sure." she replied, a slight smile appearing.
The two snuggled up on the couch in the living room like they did during old times. It was quiet for a while, until Amethyst broke the silence.
"Do you remember how it used to be, Pearl?" she began, "Back before Rose…" she stuttered on the word passed. It was still hard for any of the gems to bring up her death.
"Well, I do…" Pearl began, thinking of her past memories. "I remember how close we were. I remember how we would spend long days by the shoreline, and warm nights dancing with the humans."
Amethyst began to chuckle. "Remember that one time we fused at a dance? All the humans were freaking out. It was hilarious!"
"Yeah…" she trailed off. Amethyst had just reminded her of Opal. She forgot how great it was to be fused with her. Normally, she felt alone, but Opal made her feel strong, confident and independent.
Likewise, Amethyst thought about Opal. She remembered how it felt to be powerful, and smart, and… whole. She felt stronger with her, and not in the way she felt with Sugilite. She felt strong, in the real way.
"Pearl, do you think we could maybe form Opal again? For old times' sake?"
"I don't see why not…" she muttered shyly.
Soon, Amethyst came in for a kiss. It was soft and slow, much gentler than Pearl had expected. The two felt their bodies drawing together into light, and I appeared slowly.
The feeling, the sensation of truly being me again was overwhelming. I ran out to the beach, and started dancing in the sand. In that moment, as the night faded away, I found who I truly was.
I am Opal, whose life is a dance, delicate and graceful and beautiful.
I am Opal, the wind that blows on cool nights, wild and free.
I am Opal, the passion that burns with the intensity of a thousand stars.
I am Opal, the longing that is shared between two souls that holds them together.
I am Opal, the silent promise that is made as I split into light that I will soon be together forever.
I am Opal when I confront Garnet and Steven, telling them that they won't see much of Pearl and Amethyst anymore.
I am Opal when I comfort the young boy, saying that he not losing anything, but gaining something bigger.
I am Opal when I see Garnet's small smile, and she tells me that she predicted this the moment she first saw me.
I am Opal when I feel my soul, two connected gems, forever happy to be together.
I am Opal when the night ends, and the sun clips over the horizon, signifying a new start to my life.
I am Opal, and I am here to stay.
A/N: So that's the end of this fic. I always appreciate feedback, so feel free to leave a review. Thanks for reading, and I hope you have a great day!
- Iamboria