Author's Note
Hello, dear listeners, how are you? Lately, I've been feeling a bit overwhelmed; sometimes I get too caught up in the 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 ZuruAudioNovelas, XBravo_13, and Un Fanático Literario. I've already left comments for all three of you, because thanks to you, I can see different opinions, and I really liked several of them. You've even given me a lot of new ideas.
I'm letting you know now that I plan to end this series around chapter 120, more or less. So, if you notice a slightly abrupt change in any scene, it's because I'm already planning that ending. Please excuse me for that, but I feel that if I drag it out any longer than I already am, it might end up being boring. I prefer to wrap this up properly and then focus on Silica's story, for which I recently retrieved 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 first on Wattpad and then transfer them to WebNovel. That's how I like to do it, although sometimes I'm too lazy to upload them, and you might notice that in some of the theories I share here, like the one about Adventure Time: Kenjaku has arrived.
Nothing else to add, except that if you see me getting carried away with some descriptions, it's mostly me trying to forget for a while about the programming code I have open on my desktop.
Thank you so much for your continued 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 so much for your constant support. I hope that continues until I finish this story, which already has about twenty drafts written just for the hell of it, trying to figure out how everything fits together.
I wish you all the best in your lives, truly. Thanks for reading.
Let's continue.
"You haven't gotten rusty, have you?" said Pearl as she moved nimbly across the celestial arena.
"Not at all," replied Connie with a confident smile, as they both launched into training and practiced coordinated attacks.
Steven sat in one of the bleachers, watching intently, while Garnet stood beside him, with an open notebook on her lap, reviewing notes on the fusion of the plants they had been training.
"I never thought Ruby would read something like this," Steven remarked with a smile, glancing at Garnet.
Garnet looked up from her notebook and offered 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're not 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 seems."
Garnet closed her 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 watched Pearl and Connie training, thinking about their movements. "I know... but sometimes I feel like I can't quite synchronize. 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 that every movement is predictable and fluid."
Steven looked at her intently, feeling the weight of Garnet's words. "So... you think I should practice more?"
Garnet smiled slightly. "Not just practice. You need to experiment with fusion more deeply. Understand how to combine your abilities and emotions with someone else, until you become a single entity during combat."
Steven swallowed, thoughtful. "And... who should I try it with? Pearl is already training with me, but..."
Garnet leaned closer to him, her expression serious. "Steven... I think you should fuse with Connie."
Steven was silent, surprised. "With Connie?"
"Yes," Garnet continued. "Your fusion with Connie might be more flexible and faster than you think. It's ideal for facing fusion challenges, and it will also allow you to train coordination, strategy, and emotional control. What you're seeing now, with Pearl and me training, is just a glimpse of what a well-synchronized fusion can achieve."
Steven nodded slowly, watching Connie spar in the arena. "That makes sense... if I want to improve, I need to test myself. And I think with Connie, I could achieve something good."
Garnet looked at him with a firm but encouraging expression. "Remember, Steven, fusion isn't just about strength or speed. It's about understanding your partner, anticipating their movements, and acting as one. If you can do that, even the most complicated challenges will be manageable."
Steven took a deep breath, feeling the weight of responsibility, but also a spark of excitement growing within him. "Okay... I'll train with Connie. I want to do it right, like you taught me."
Garnet nodded and patted him on the shoulder. "That's what I wanted to hear. Start with simple movements, coordination, and confidence. Then we'll move on to more complex combat strategies. And remember... you're not alone, Steven. There's always someone who has your back, even when you're learning."
Steven smiled, feeling reassured. "Thanks, Garnet. I'll try."
Garnet leaned back slightly, watching the Gems train and saying calmly, "Very good. When you're ready, I want you to fuse alongside Pearl and me. It will be your first real challenge against another fusion... and the perfect way to gauge how much you've learned."
Steven looked at the arena with determination. "Then... let's do it. With Connie."
Garnet nodded with a reassuring smile, confident that Steven was ready to take the next step in his fusion training.
"Hey, you two, new training method," I said loudly, causing Connie and Pearl to raise an eyebrow at me.
"Come on, Connie," I said as I walked to the side.
Garnet walked over to Pearl and stood beside her.
"Uh...?" Pearl said, confused, but Garnet whispered something to her, and Pearl nodded in understanding.
"Ah, that sounds good," she said as she watched Garnet explain to Connie.
"That outfit looks good on you," I said, making Connie blush. She was wearing her training uniform, which accentuated her figure and went with everything.
"Thanks," she replied, a little embarrassed.
"Well," I said, briefly explaining what I wanted to do.
"I'm fine with it," Connie said, adjusting her sword. It reminded me of the gem that had created her, but I shook my head; that was something I'd discuss with Pearl later.
"Ready?" I said, starting a simple dance, and Connie followed along.
We danced for a few seconds, getting closer, and a glow began to surround us.
Stevonnie appeared, adjusting her sword.
Garnet and Pearl watched the fusion, and Garnet nodded approvingly.
Quickly, Garnet and Pearl started dancing too, though, to Stevonnie's embarrassment, I noticed that this dance seemed... a little vulgar.
With a flash, a giant fusion appeared.
"I'm back... as Sardonyx," the fusion said with a grin.
"Wow... this really feels different," Stevonnie said, adjusting her sword and spinning slightly on the celestial arena.
Sardonyx smiled, planting the tip of her weapon on the ground with an elegant spin. "Yeah... every movement feels stronger, more coordinated. It reminds me of my training with Garnet and Pearl, but this is... a lot 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 at 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. Coordination doesn't happen overnight."
"Exactly," said Stevonnie, leaping and landing carefully. "But that's the beauty of it... every mistake teaches us something. You learn to anticipate, to sense your partner... even without speaking."
Sardonyx tilted his head with an amused smile. "It's like dancing... or rather, like fighting while dancing. Every movement counts, and if you're not in sync, it all 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 rhythm."
"Yes," said Sardonyx, spinning in the air and demonstrating a clean cut. "It also reminds me of when I used to train with weapons. I always exaggerated the movements to impress... and ended up clumsily on the ground."
Stevonnie laughed again, recognizing herself in that memory. "We went through the same thing 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 also presence. Every movement should convey something, show strength and confidence."
"Exactly," Stevonnie said, twirling gracefully. "Training like this makes us aware of every action. And also... fun. It's strange, 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."
The two fusions looked at each other, sharing a knowing glance as the lights of the celestial arena twinkled around them. "Well... let's keep practicing. It'll get more coordinated, stronger, and yes, a little less clumsy than at first," Stevonnie said with a giggle.
Sardonyx nodded confidently. "I hope so. But even stumbles are part of the learning process... and make for stories we can tell later."
They both laughed as they continued their training, enjoying the combination of strength, coordination, and fun that only fusion could offer.
Stevonnie raised her shield with determination, feeling the fusion energy flow through her arms. "Let's see what you're made of," she said, charging straight toward Sardonyx.
Sardonyx, mace in hand, assumed a flexible stance, ready to dodge. With an elegant twist, she lifted her leg and leaped to the side, letting Stevonnie's first few blows pass over her. "That was close," she commented with a confident smile, assessing her opponent's every move.
Stevonnie floated slightly off the ground, feeling the lightness the fusion granted her. She took advantage of this to grab a nearby piece of rubble and hurl it at Sardonyx. The giant fusion blocked the projectile with her mace and sent it bouncing into the air, preventing it from reaching her. "Good... I like that you're creative," Sardonyx said as she moved fluidly, analyzing how Stevonnie used the environment.
Stevonie, without stopping, grabbed another piece of rock and raised it in front of her like an improvised shield. "It's not just about strength... it's also about strategy," she thought as she threw the rubble diagonally, forcing Sardonyx to retreat slightly.
Sardonyx used the opening to test Stevonnie. With an agile leap, she swung her mace in a wide arc, simulating a blow she wasn't actually going to deliver, just to gauge the fusion's reaction. Stevonnie backed away, dodging swiftly, and floating backward, unleashed a flurry of shield blows, attempting a combined thrust and sweep attack.
"Interesting... you've got quick reflexes," Sardonyx said as he blocked the shield with his mace, deflecting the force and feeling every vibration. He moved sideways, pivoting to strike with the mace's edge, forcing Stevonnie to raise his shield and leap to dodge.
Stevonnie used the height to float even higher, scooping up debris from the ground and hurling it in rapid succession. "Let's see if you can handle this!" he shouted, unleashing a hail of rocks at Sardonyx.
Sardonyx, with impressive precision, blocked each piece of rubble with his mace, deflecting them with fluid movements. "Not bad, but you need to vary your attacks," he said, watching Stevonnie, searching for patterns in his attacks.
"That's what I'll do now!" thought Stevonnie, floating upward and grabbing a larger shard of rock. She held it up in front of her, and with a swift motion, shattered it into pieces that spiraled around her like an offensive barrier. Sardonyx nimbly dodged, leaping over the fragments, and seized the opportunity to strike Stevonnie's shield with a direct sledgehammer blow.
The clash echoed through the celestial arena. Stevonnie stumbled back a few feet, but remained focused, using her shield to absorb the impact and hovering to stabilize herself. "It must be more than just strength... I have to think like her," she murmured, assessing Sardonyx's stance.
Sardonyx, meanwhile, remained calm. "I like this... it gives me a chance to test every aspect of my opponent," she thought as she watched Stevonnie manipulate the debris and use her shield in creative ways. She spun and attacked diagonally with her mace, attempting a blow Stevonnie hadn't anticipated.
Stevonnie hovered to the side, grabbed a shard of rock, and hurled it at the mace, partially deflecting it. "It's not just brute force... it's coordination," she said as she spun around, gathering momentum for a downward shield attack.
Sardonyx moved back, dodging the blow, and used the opportunity to analyze how Stevonnie was using her surroundings. "She doesn't rely solely on strength... she looks for patterns, she uses space," she murmured, and immediately tried a combo attack: a sledgehammer strike and a side sweep.
Stevonnie leaped and hovered over the sweep, spinning in the air and slamming a piece of rubble toward Sardonyx. The impact forced her sideways, but Sardonyx managed to maintain her distance. Both were breathing rapidly, assessing each other's strategy.
"This... this is fun," Stevonnie said, smiling as she hovered a few feet above the ground, picking up various fragments of rubble around her. "I can move freely, control space... and make every attack count."
Sardonyx smiled too, taking a step forward. "Okay... then let's see how you handle this." With a swift motion, she swung the sledgehammer in a full arc, creating a pressure effect around her, and forcing Stevonnie to maneuver through the fragments that floated like projectiles.
Stevonnie took a deep breath, enjoying the freedom. "I can't stop... every move has to be fluid, unpredictable... creative." She grabbed a large piece of rubble, hurled it in a spinning arc, and as Sardonyx tried to dodge, Stevonnie seized the opportunity to close the gap and unleash a shield bash combined with a shove.
Sardonyx stepped back, assessing Stevonnie's strength and control. "She's learning fast... I must test her limits," she thought as she attacked swiftly, combining sweeps, vertical strikes, and sideways dodges.
Stevonnie floated freely, spinning in the air, using gravity to her advantage and manipulating the rubble to block and attack simultaneously. Every movement was a blend of dance, defense, and attack, forcing Sardonyx to move with precision to avoid being hit.
"This is incredible... every move is like a game of chess, but with speed and power," Stevonnie thought as she dodged a sledgehammer blow and hurled a fragment that landed near Sardonyx, forcing her back slightly.
Sardonyx nodded, surprised and amused. "It seems your creativity is your greatest advantage... and also your greatest challenge to me. This is more than just strength... it's understanding your opponent, anticipating their moves."
The battle continued, with Stevonnie floating freely, grabbing debris, blocking, pushing, and throwing, while Sardonyx moved with incredible flexibility, dodging and counterattacking, testing Stevonnie's every limit. Both were enjoying themselves, learning and improving with every blow.
Finally, after several minutes of intense practice, they both paused for a moment, breathing heavily, with shared smiles. "This... now this is training," Stevonnie said as she adjusted her shield.
"And fun," Sardonyx added, gracefully twirling her sledgehammer. "Now I understand why Garnet insisted on this... every movement teaches you something about yourself and your partner."
The two fusions floated for a few seconds, observing each other, feeling the rhythm and strength they shared. The fight wasn't meant to hurt each other, but to learn, coordinate, and enjoy the freedom of moving as a single entity, exploring limits and strategies that only fusion could allow.
Stevonnie took a deep breath as she floated a few feet above the celestial arena. "Alright... let's try something else," she murmured as her shield vibrated in her hands. With a swift motion, she hurled it at Sardonyx, watching it spin in the air before automatically returning to her, gently tapping her arms as if she were practicing timing and distance control.
Sardonyx raised her mace, blocking and deflecting the shield's trajectory, and with a quick turn, tried to gauge Stevonnie's reaction. "Hmm... this will be interesting," she said, smiling as she waited for the next move.
Stevonnie floated back, feeling the freedom the fusion gave her, and began forming bubbles in her hands. But these weren't ordinary bubbles: each one had tiny, shimmering spikes, ready to strike on contact. "Let's see how you handle this," she said, launching one at Sardonyx with a diagonal motion.
Sardonyx reacted quickly, striking the bubble with her mace, sending it bouncing to the side. Without missing a beat, Stevonnie combined this with a shield move: she threw her shield to Sardonyx's side, causing the giant fusion to spin and dodge both attacks. "Interesting... creative," Sardonyx murmured, assessing each move.
"If I'm going to fight head-on, I need to practice control and distance," Stevonnie thought as she grabbed another piece of rubble and hurled it at Sardonyx, hovering at the same time to avoid a potential counterattack. The giant fusion blocked with her mace and stepped back slightly, impressed by Stevonnie's coordination and speed.
"Your control of the shield and bubbles... I like it," Sardonyx said, moving sideways and spinning her mace in a wide arc, testing Stevonnie's ability to react from different angles. Stevonnie floated upward, launching another spiked bubble straight at the giant fusion, as the shield automatically returned to her hands.
Sardonyx dodged and blocked with her mallet, but noticed that the bubbles and shield worked in tandem, forcing her to carefully measure each move. "Ah... so you want to try offensive combinations, not just defense," she thought as she countered with a wide sweep of the mallet.
Stevonnie floated back, spinning in the air and launching a series of bubbles diagonally, while the shield returned to block a surprise attack. Each movement was quick and fluid, forcing Sardonyx to move with flexibility and anticipation. "This is different... and efficient," Sardonyx said, enjoying the test and assessing Stevonnie's creativity.
Wasting no time, Stevonnie combined attacks: she threw her shield to Sardonyx's right side, while a spiked bubble came down from above. Sardonyx jumped and spun the mallet, deflecting the shield first and then shattering the bubble with the mallet's point, carefully calculating every second.
"You're using space really well... and that gives you the advantage," Sardonyx commented as she hovered slightly to maintain distance, assessing how Stevonnie was managing attacks from multiple sources simultaneously.
Stevonnie took a deep breath, enjoying the feeling of free movement and absolute control. "If I'm going to fight head-on... I need to maintain rhythm and variety. Shield, bubbles, quick movements... it all counts," she thought as she formed three bubbles simultaneously and launched them at different angles, timing a push with the shield returning to her hands.
Sardonyx moved nimbly to block and dodge, assessing Stevonnie's every pattern. "Hmm... this is more than just strength... it's anticipation, it's creativity... and she still has room for improvement." With a spin, she gently struck the returning shield, testing how Stevonnie would react to an unexpected hit.
Stevonnie absorbed the blow, adjusted her stance, and immediately launched a frontal bubble that grazed Sardonyx's arm and exploded in a burst of light, forcing her back. "Nice timing," Sardonyx said with a smile, raising her mace in a gesture of respect.
They both hovered for a few seconds, breathing rapidly, gauging each other's distance, rhythm, and skill. "This... this is a real workout," Stevonnie said, launching another series of spiked bubbles and sending the shield hurtling toward Sardonyx in a diagonal combination.
"And fun," added Sardonyx, watching as Stevonnie controlled every element of her environment—the shield and the bubbles—using every movement to test reflexes and anticipation.
Finally, after several minutes of coordinated attacks and defenses, both fusions paused, floating a few feet apart, breathing rapidly but smiling. "This gives me an idea... of how to improve my offensive and defensive coordination at the same time," said Stevonnie.
Sardonyx nodded, gently twirling her mallet. "And it reminds me that every opponent teaches you something. Your creativity and control of the bubble shield... made me think and react differently. Good training."
Stevonnie smiled, hovering lightly above the ground. "I think... we can make the next training even more intense, combining everything we learned here: shield, bubbles, debris... and free movement."
Sardonyx lifted her mallet and nodded firmly. "I like your style... and your strategies. This is just the beginning."
The two fusions gazed at each other for a moment, feeling the confidence that practice had given them, and began to move again, this time with more coordinated, creative, and controlled movements, enjoying the freedom of floating and using all the space the celestial arena offered.
After a few hours of testing each other out, they finally finished.
"I'm so tired," said Garnet, lying on the ground.
"Was it so hard being together?" asked Pearl, putting a hand to her head as she watched Stevonnie, who was tired and had a few bruises that were slowly healing with the fusion's own saliva.
"How did you last so long?" said Pearl, raising an eyebrow.
"Uh..." replied Stevonnie.
"Well, I guess it's like Garnet. We don't care, but Connie cares more than anyone. Besides, Connie doesn't have to worry about getting home, since she'll be here for a week before going back to her parents," Stevonnie explained.
Pearl nodded, understanding.
Garnet added calmly, "Also, fusions of three or more gems are much harder to control."
"Oh... I see," said Pearl, looking surprised.
"Well, I'm going," said Stevonnie, getting up and walking toward the bleachers while grabbing Connie's backpack.
"They're going to be fused," said Pearl as she stood up to watch her walk away.
"Yep," replied Stevonnie as she walked toward the portal.
"They both want to check out my gender, to be honest... and I've never really thought about it, so we'll see," she muttered as she stepped through the portal.
Pearl stared at Garnet, question marks hovering above her head, as she watched her friend, Garnet, who was wearing a small smile.
"She doesn't have Fabricio," Pearl said with a giggle.
"Fabricio?" Pearl asked, confused.
"You wouldn't understand," Garnet replied, amused. "And you don't want to understand, for your own good and because of how you see Steven."
End of Chapter 64