Solace

The consequences of dissatisfaction

Garnet didn't dare let a word escape her mouth until the door to her room was securely shut and locked. She then stormed to the furthest corner of the spacious area and began pacing across the cool flooring. "Does she have any idea how long I've been waiting for her to catch a damn hint?!"

Stop acting so immature about this, Ruby. We need to see if Garnet can handle this situation on her own.

But we're letting Garnet take control and do whatever she wants! What we really need to do is interfere and take charge.

When are you going to realize that it's not all about what you want?!

She doubled over and clutched her head as a pounding ache coursed throughout her brain. Ruby and Sapphire were back. They had been bickering more often ever since her relationship with Pearl had first started.

Do you remember the first time we ever let Garnet make her own decision? She immediately chose to be by Pearl's side. I saw this coming thousands of years ago. We've had plenty of time to accept their fate.

I don't know about you, but I've had plenty of time to forget about fate! Why can't you remind me of these things more often?!

I've tried; believe me...

Nearly 4,000 years ago

"This is Garnet, our newest trainee." Rose Quartz announced to the gathering of rowdy gems that stood in front of her. The crowd instantly silenced when they heard their leader's voice ring through throughout the room. "I expect all of you to make her feel welcome, since she hasn't had the greatest experience on Earth so far. I can already tell you that she is quite a powerful fighter and has proved herself worthy of being a Crystal Gem. She defied Diamond authority without hesitation, running away and daringly leaping off a cliff when she heard that she was going to be shattered for mistakenly breaking an ancient law." Garnet, who had been standing behind Rose, nodded timidly. "Should I use singular or plural pronouns for you?" Her question earned murmurs of confusion from the assembled Gems. "You can use singular pronouns." The murmurs crescendoed into a hubbub of vocalization. "What's this all about?" An unidentified voice interrogated. "I should let you explain this." Rose whispered to Garnet. "Very well then." She stepped in front of the assembly and inhaled a steady breath.

                    Just breathe.

She concentrated on separating the two aspects of herself apart by closing her eyes and changing her state of mentality.

        I am no longer a single being.

       I am Ruby and Sapphire, the two rebellious lovers who are directly opposite of each other.

Her form emitted a brilliant glow that illuminated the room in flashes of red and blue.

The fire and ice must reach an equilibrium.

A hush fell over the stunned crowd when Garnet's form dissipated into two smaller gems who's fingers were interlocked. "She's a perma-fusion?!" A single awestruck voice muttered. The pair of gems now had their foreheads pressed together lovingly."we probably shouldn't stick around for all the questions." Ruby whispered. "Agreed." Sapphire responded. With a simple peck on Ruby's lips, their bodies began to shine in multicolored hues once more. The boundaries that divided their differences were increasingly blurring until Garnet's heightened form appeared. The previously silent assortment of Gems had become raucous once again.