Author's Note
Hello, little listeners! How are you all doing? Lately, I've been feeling a bit dizzy; sometimes I get too carried away with writing and it really absorbs me. Even so, I wanted to take a moment to thank you all.
Thanks to the people who upload my fanfic to YouTube, especially to ZuruAudioNovelas, XBravo_13, and Un Fanático Literario. I've already left comments for the three of them because, thanks to you, I can see different opinions, and to be honest, I've really liked several of them. They've even given me a lot of new ideas.
I'm letting you know right now that I plan to wrap up this series around chapter 120, more or less. So, if at any point you notice a somewhat abrupt shift in a scene, it's because I'm already planning that ending. Sorry about that, but I feel that if I drag it out any longer than I already am, it might end up getting boring. I prefer to give it a proper ending and then focus on Silica's story, of which I recently recovered some drafts I had saved on Wattpad.
By the way, for those who don't know, I write on both Wattpad and WebNovel. I work on the drafts on Wattpad first and then transfer them to WebNovel. That's just how I like doing it, even though sometimes I get too lazy to upload them—which you might notice in some theories I leave around here, like the one for Adventure Time: Kenjaku Has Arrived.
Nothing else to say, except that if you see me getting carried away with some descriptions, it's mostly just me trying to forget for a while about the programming code I have open on my desktop.
Thank you so much for your continuous support. Now, I want to give a special thanks to the first ten people on WebNovel who are always leaving their Power Stones:
Deuteragonista
scarlett_monarch
Hayato_Tokisaki
Dr_Gto
Shivani_Khalid
The_Watchman13
N5_400
koshu
Soy_Foraneo
Dave_El_Barbero
Thank you very much for your constant support. I hope it continues until I finish this story, which already has about twenty drafts made just for the hell of it, trying to see how everything fits together.
I truly wish you all the best in life. Thank you for reading.
Let's continue.
"Haven't gotten rusty, have you?" Pearl asked as she moved nimbly across the sky arena.
"Not at all," Connie replied with a confident smile, as both leaped into training and practiced coordinated attacks.
Steven was sitting on one of the bleachers, watching intently, while Garnet sat beside him with an open notebook on her lap, reviewing notes on plant fusion they had been practicing.
"I never thought Ruby would read something like that," Steven commented with a smile, looking at Garnet.
Garnet looked up from the notebook and cracked a small smile. "Heh... it's not her favorite activity, but she'd do anything for Sapphire. Besides, it's always good to learn something new, even if you aren't that enthusiastic about it."
Steven nodded, scratching the back of his neck. "I guess you're right. I... well, I'm just trying to understand this whole fusion thing. It's not as easy as it looks."
Garnet closed the notebook and looked at him seriously. "Exactly. Fusion isn't just physical coordination; it's emotional connection, mutual trust, and understanding each other's rhythm. If you don't understand your partner, even if your power is strong, you won't achieve anything efficient."
Steven looked at Pearl and Connie training, thinking about their movements. "I know... but sometimes I feel like I can't sync up completely. It's like there's something inside me I still don't understand."
Garnet nodded, resting a hand on her notebook. "That's normal. Even I had to learn it with Ruby and Sapphire. That's why training fusion is so important. Not just for strength or speed, but so every movement becomes predictable and fluid."
Steven looked at her intently, feeling the weight of Garnet's words. "So... do you think I should practice more?"
Garnet smiled slightly. "Not just practice. You need to experiment with fusion on a deeper level. Understand how to combine your abilities and emotions with someone else until you become a single entity during combat."
Steven swallowed hard, deep in thought. "And... who should I try it with? Pearl is already training with me, but..."
Garnet leaned in slightly toward him, her tone serious. "Steven... I think you should fuse with Connie."
Steven went quiet, taken by surprise. "With Connie?"
"Yes," Garnet continued. "Your combination with Connie can be more flexible and faster than you think. It's ideal for facing fusion challenges, and it will also allow you two to train coordination, strategy, and emotional control. What you're seeing now, with Pearl and me training, is just a fraction of what a well-synchronized fusion can achieve."
Steven nodded slowly, watching Connie spar in the arena. "It makes sense... if I want to get better, I need to test myself. And I think I could achieve something good with Connie."
Garnet looked at him with a firm yet encouraging expression. "Remember, Steven: fusion isn't just strength or speed. It's understanding your partner, anticipating their movements, and acting as one. If you master that, even the most complex challenges will be manageable."
Steven took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the responsibility, but a spark of excitement grew inside him too. "Alright... I'll train with Connie. I want to do it right, just like you taught me."
Garnet nodded and patted his shoulder. "That's what I wanted to hear. Start with simple movements, coordination, and trust. Then we'll move on to more complex combat strategies. And remember... you're not alone, Steven. There's always someone backing you up, even when you're still learning."
Steven smiled, feeling reassurance. "Thanks, Garnet. I'll give it my all."
Garnet leaned back slightly, watching the Gems train and saying calmly, "Very well. When you two are ready, I want you to fuse alongside Pearl and me. It will be your first big challenge against another fusion... and the perfect way to measure how much you've learned."
Steven looked at the arena with determination. "Then... let's do it. With Connie."
Garnet nodded with a quiet smile, confident that Steven was ready to take the next step in his fusion training.
"Hey, you two! New training exercise!" I said out loud, causing Connie and Pearl to look at me with raised eyebrows.
"Come over, Connie," I said as I walked off to the side.
Garnet walked up to Pearl and stood beside her.
"Huh...?" Pearl said, confused, but Garnet whispered something to her, and Pearl nodded in understanding.
"Ah, sounds good to me," she said while watching me explain things to Connie.
"That outfit looks good on you," I said, making Connie blush. She was wearing her training uniform, which highlighted her frame and matched everything well.
"Thanks," she replied, a bit bashful.
"Alright," I said while briefly explaining what I wanted to do.
"No problem on my end," Connie said as she adjusted her sword, which reminded me of the Gem who had forged it. I shook my head, though—that was something I'd talk to Pearl about later.
"Ready?" I asked as I began a simple dance, and Connie followed my rhythm.
We both danced for a few seconds, moving closer, and a glow began to surround us.
Stevonnie materialized, adjusting their sword.
Garnet and Pearl looked at the fusion, and Garnet nodded in approval.
Quickly, Garnet and Pearl began to dance as well, though to Stevonnie's embarrassment, I noticed this dance seemed... a bit provocative.
With a burst of light, a giant fusion appeared.
"I'm back... as Sardonyx," the fusion said with a smile.
"Wow... this definitely feels different," Stevonnie said, adjusting the sword and spinning lightly on the sky arena floor.
Sardonyx smiled, resting the tip of her weapon on the ground with an elegant flourish. "Yes... every movement feels stronger, more coordinated. It reminds me of my training sessions with Garnet and Pearl, but this is... way more fun."
"I know," Stevonnie replied, moving to practice a quick slash. "At first, Connie and I bumped into each other more than once, and we'd end up laughing over how clumsy we were."
Sardonyx laughed, crossing her arms. "I had my share of disasters too. I remember trying to teach Ruby some moves, and we almost always ended up tripping over ourselves. Coordination doesn't happen overnight."
"Exactly," Stevonnie said, jumping up and landing carefully. "But that's the beautiful part... every mistake teaches us something. You learn to anticipate, to feel your partner... even without speaking."
Sardonyx tilted her head with a playful smile. "It's like dancing... or rather, like fighting while dancing. Every move counts, and if you aren't synced up, everything falls apart."
Stevonnie nodded, swinging the sword fluidly. "That's why I liked this training idea. Dancing before fighting forces us to feel as one, to coordinate strength and timing."
"Yes," Sardonyx said, spinning through the air and executing a clean slash. "That also reminds me of when I used to train with weapons. I would always exaggerate my movements to impress... and end up awkwardly on the ground."
Stevonnie laughed again, recognizing themselves in that memory. "The exact same thing happened to us at first, but with practice, we learned to anticipate and react together. And even though we still make mistakes, it feels good to see how we're improving."
Sardonyx rested a hand on the hilt of her weapon. "And don't forget style. A fusion isn't just technique... it's presence. Every movement should communicate something, showing strength and confidence."
"Exactly," Stevonnie said as they spun gracefully. "Training like this makes us conscious of every action. And it's also... fun. It's weird, but I like training and laughing at the same time."
"That's essential," Sardonyx said, smiling broadly. "Serious training doesn't have to be boring. And most importantly: you always learn something new from your partner."
Both fusions looked at each other, sharing a moment of camaraderie as the lights of the sky arena shimmered around them.
"Well... let's keep practicing. Each time we'll be more coordinated, stronger, and yeah, a bit less clumsy than at the start," Stevonnie said with a chuckle.
Sardonyx nodded, confident. "I hope so. But even the stumbles are part of learning... and part of the stories we get to tell later."
They both laughed as they resumed their training, enjoying the blend of strength, coordination, and fun that only fusion could offer.
Stevonnie raised their shield with determination, feeling the energy of the fusion flow through their arms. "Let's see what you've got," they said, charging straight toward Sardonyx.
Sardonyx, hammer in hand, took a flexible stance ready to dodge. With an elegant spin, she lifted her leg and leaped to the side, letting Stevonnie's initial strikes pass harmlessly above her. "That was close," she remarked with a confident smile, analyzing every movement of her opponent.
Stevonnie floated slightly off the ground, feeling the lightness that fusion granted them. They took advantage of it to grab a nearby piece of debris and hurl it toward Sardonyx. The giant fusion blocked the projectile with her hammer and batted it into the air, preventing it from hitting her. "Nice... I like that you're getting creative," Sardonyx said as she moved fluidly, studying how Stevonnie used the environment.
Stevonnie, without stopping their momentum, grabbed another piece of rock and raised it in front of them as an improvised shield. It's not just about raw power... it's about strategy too, they thought as they threw the rock diagonally, forcing Sardonyx to step back a little.
Sardonyx seized the opening to test Stevonnie. With a nimble leap, she swung her hammer in a wide arc, feinting a strike she had no intention of landing just to gauge the fusion's reaction time. Stevonnie backed off, dodging quickly, and while floating backward, unleashed a series of shield strikes—attempting a combined push-and-sweep attack.
"Interesting... quick reflexes," Sardonyx noted as she blocked the shield with her hammer, deflecting the force while absorbing every vibration. She moved sideways, pivoting to attack with the edge of the hammer, forcing Stevonnie to raise their shield and jump to avoid it.
Stevonnie used the height to float even higher, grabbing several pieces of debris from the ground and launching them in rapid succession. "Let's see if you can handle this!" they shouted, raining stones down on Sardonyx.
With impressive precision, Sardonyx blocked every chunk of stone with her hammer, deflecting them with fluid motions. "Not bad, but you need to mix it up," she said, eyeing Stevonnie to spot patterns in their attacks.
I'm doing that right now! Stevonnie thought, floating upward and taking a larger rock fragment. Holding it in front of them, they shattered it with a swift motion into pieces that spun in a spiral around them like an offensive shield. Sardonyx dodged nimbly, jumping over the fragments, and took the chance to counterattack with a direct hammer strike aimed at Stevonnie's shield.
The impact echoed across the sky arena. Stevonnie was pushed back a few meters, but maintained focus, using their shield to absorb the blow and floating to stabilize themselves. It has to be more than strength... I need to think like her, they muttered, evaluating Sardonyx's posture.
Sardonyx, for her part, remained calm. I like this... it gives me a chance to test every aspect of my opponent, she thought while watching Stevonnie manipulate the debris and use their shield in creative ways. She executed a pivot and swung her hammer diagonally, attempting an attack Stevonnie wouldn't expect.
Stevonnie floated to the side, grabbed a rock fragment, and threw it hard against the hammer, partially deflecting it. "It's not just brute force... it's coordination," they said, spinning around to gather momentum for a downward shield strike.
Sardonyx stepped back, dodging the blow, and used the moment to analyze how Stevonnie utilized their surroundings. They aren't just relying on strength... they look for patterns, they use space, she muttered, immediately testing a combo attack: a hammer strike paired with a low lateral sweep.
Stevonnie leaped and floated above the sweep, spinning in mid-air and kicking a piece of debris toward Sardonyx. The impact forced her to move sideways, but Sardonyx managed to keep her distance. Both were breathing heavily, sizing up each other's strategy.
"This... this is fun," Stevonnie said, smiling as they hovered a few meters above the ground, gathering several rock fragments around them. "I can move freely, control the space... and make every hit count."
Sardonyx smiled back, stepping forward. "Alright... then let's see how you handle this." With a swift motion, she spun her hammer in a full circle, generating a wave of pressure around her that forced Stevonnie to maneuver through the floating debris acting as projectiles.
Stevonnie took a deep breath, enjoying the freedom. I can't slow down... every movement has to be fluid, unpredictable... creative. They grabbed a large piece of debris, threw it in a curving arc, and while Sardonyx moved to dodge it, Stevonnie closed the distance to land a shield bash combined with a push.
Sardonyx backed off, evaluating Stevonnie's power and control. They're learning fast... I need to test their limits, she thought, attacking rapidly with a combination of sweeps, vertical strikes, and side dodges.
Stevonnie floated freely, spinning in mid-air, using gravity to their advantage and manipulating debris to block and attack simultaneously. Every move was a blend of dance, defense, and offense, forcing Sardonyx to move with pinpoint precision to avoid getting hit.
This is incredible... every move is like a chess game, but with speed and strength, Stevonnie thought as they dodged a hammer strike and launched a stone fragment that landed near Sardonyx, forcing her back once more.
Sardonyx nodded, surprised and amused. "It seems your creativity is your biggest asset... and my biggest challenge. This is more than power... it's understanding your opponent, predicting their moves."
The battle went on, with Stevonnie hovering freely, catching debris, blocking, pushing, and throwing, while Sardonyx moved with incredible flexibility, dodging and counterattacking, probing every limit of Stevonnie's capabilities. Both were enjoying themselves, learning, and improving with every strike.
Finally, after several minutes of intense sparring, both stopped to catch their breath, sharing a smile. "Now that... that's training," Stevonnie said, adjusting their shield.
"And fun," Sardonyx added, twirling her hammer gracefully. "Now I see why Garnet insisted on this... every movement teaches you something about yourself and your partner."
Both fusions floated for a few seconds, observing each other, feeling the rhythm and force they shared. The fight wasn't meant to cause harm, but to learn, coordinate, and enjoy the freedom of moving as a single entity, pushing boundaries and exploring strategies that only fusion could unlock.
Stevonnie took a deep breath while hovering a few meters over the sky arena. "Alright... let's try something else," they muttered as their shield vibrated in their hands. With a flick of their wrist, they threw it toward Sardonyx, watching it spin through the air before automatically curving back toward them, lightly tapping their arms as if practicing timing and distance control.
Sardonyx raised her hammer, blocking and parrying the shield's flight path, and with a quick spin attempted to measure Stevonnie's reaction time. "Hmm... this should be interesting," she said, smiling as she awaited the next move.
Stevonnie floated backward, enjoying the freedom fusion offered, and began forming bubbles in their hands. But these weren't standard bubbles: each had small, glowing spikes protruding from it, ready to strike on impact. "Let's see how you deal with these," they said, launching one toward Sardonyx in a diagonal path.
Sardonyx reacted quickly, striking the bubble with her hammer and knocking it off course. Without breaking rhythm, Stevonnie combined this with a shield technique: throwing their shield toward Sardonyx's flank, forcing the giant fusion to pivot to dodge both attacks at once. "Interesting... creative," Sardonyx murmured as she evaluated each action.
If I'm going to fight head-on, I need to practice control and spacing, Stevonnie thought, grabbing another fragment of debris and throwing it at Sardonyx while simultaneously floating up to avoid a counterattack. The giant fusion blocked with her hammer and stepped back, impressed by Stevonnie's speed and coordination.
"Your control over the shield and bubbles... I like it," Sardonyx said, side-stepping and swinging her hammer in a broad arc to test Stevonnie's ability to react from different angles. Stevonnie floated upward, firing another spiked bubble straight at the giant fusion just as their shield returned to their hands.
Sardonyx dodged and parried with her hammer, but noticed that the bubbles and shield were working in tandem, forcing her to calculate every movement carefully. Ah... so you want to test offensive setups, not just defense, she thought, retaliating with a wide hammer sweep.
Stevonnie floated back, spinning in the air to release a wave of bubbles diagonally while their shield returned once more to block a surprise strike. Every action was swift and fluid, forcing Sardonyx to rely on agility and anticipation. "This is different... and effective," Sardonyx said, enjoying the test and rating Stevonnie's creativity.
Without wasting time, Stevonnie combined their attacks: launching their shield toward Sardonyx's right side while a spiked bubble descended from above. Sardonyx leaped and spun her hammer, first deflecting the shield and then shattering the bubble with the tip of her hammer, calculating every second down to the wire.
"You're utilizing the arena very well... and that gives you an edge," Sardonyx observed while floating slightly to maintain distance, assessing how Stevonnie handled multi-directional attacks at the same time.
Stevonnie took a deep breath, savoring the feeling of unrestricted movement and absolute control. If I'm fighting on the front lines... I need to maintain rhythm and variety. Shield, bubbles, rapid movement... everything counts, they thought, generating three bubbles at once and throwing them at different angles while syncing a rush with the shield returning to their hands.
Sardonyx moved nimbly to block and dodge, analyzing Stevonnie's attack patterns. Hmm... this is more than strength... it's anticipation, creativity... and there's still room for them to grow. With a turn, she tapped the shield as it returned to Stevonnie, testing how they would handle unexpected contact.
Stevonnie absorbed the tap, readjusted position, and immediately launched a frontal bubble that grazed Sardonyx's arm and burst in a flash of light, driving her back. "Good timing," Sardonyx praised, raising her hammer in a nod of respect.
Both floated for a few seconds, breathing heavily, gauging distance, rhythm, and skill. "Now this... this is complete training," Stevonnie said, launching another flurry of spiked bubbles while sending the shield toward Sardonyx in a diagonal combo.
"And fun," Sardonyx added, watching Stevonnie control every element of their environment, shield, and bubbles, leveraging every move to test reflexes and foresight.
Finally, after several minutes of synchronized attacks and defenses, both fusions paused, hovering a few meters apart, out of breath but smiling. "This gives me an idea... on how to improve my offense and defense at the same time," Stevonnie said.
Sardonyx nodded, gently spinning her hammer. "And it reminds me that every opponent has something to teach. Your creativity and combined shield-and-bubble control... made me think and react differently. Great training."
Stevonnie smiled, hovering just above the ground. "I think... we can make the next session even more intense by combining everything we learned here: shield, bubbles, debris... and free movement."
Sardonyx raised her hammer and gave a firm nod. "I like your style... and your strategies. This is only just getting started."
The two fusions looked at each other for a moment, sensing the confidence their practice had built, and began moving again—this time with even greater coordination, creativity, and control, enjoying the freedom to float and use every inch of space the sky arena had to offer.
After a few hours of testing each other's limits, both fusions finally wrapped up.
"Man, I'm exhausted," Garnet said, laying back on the ground.
"Was staying fused that difficult?" Pearl asked, holding a hand to her head as she watched Stevonnie, who looked tired and had a few bruises that were slowly healing thanks to the fusion's own saliva.
"How do you hold out for so long?" Pearl asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Uh..." Stevonnie began.
"Well, I guess it's like Garnet. We don't really mind, but Connie cares even less than anyone. Plus, Connie doesn't have to worry about going home, since she's staying here for a week before heading back to her parents," Stevonnie explained.
Pearl nodded in understanding.
Garnet added calmly, "Besides, fusions of three or more Gems are much harder to control."
"Ah... I see," Pearl said, her face filled with realization.
"Well, I'm off," Stevonnie said, getting up and walking toward the bleachers to grab Connie's backpack.
"They're going to stay fused?" Pearl asked, standing up to watch them walk off.
"Yep," Stevonnie called back, walking toward the warp pad.
"Both of them want to figure out what gender I am, honestly... and I'd never really thought about it before, so we'll see," Stevonnie muttered while stepping onto the warp pad.
Pearl stood there with question marks practically floating over her head, looking over at Garnet, who had a faint smile on her face.
"He doesn't have Fabricio," Pearl said with a small giggle.
"Fabricio?" Pearl asked, confused.
"You wouldn't understand," Garnet replied, amused. "And for your own sake—and considering how you view Steven—you don't want to."
End of Chapter 64