Fusions

**Fusion Gems** are the product of multiple Gems (or half-Gems, who can fuse with both Gems and humans). Fusions are formed when the participants are emotionally harmonious with each other. This state can be spontaneous, but it is usually achieved deliberately through a synchronized dance. When Gems fuse, their bodies and minds become one. This creates an entirely different entity, as opposed to two minds sharing a single body. Fusion will cause the creation of a new Gem; however, this does not necessarily mean that this Gem does not already exist. A fusion of multiple types of Gems is referred to as a Gem type other than those of the components. Existing non-fusion type Gems will look different to that of a fused Gem. For instance, the fusion of Ruby and Sapphire is named Garnet. However, single-Gem Garnets can exist without being fusions, and individual Garnets (like Hessonite, Demantoid, and Pyrope) would look different from the fusion Garnet, as well as Obsidian and Snowflake Obsidian. The same is presumably true of other Gem types that have only been seen as fusions so far. As seen with Sugilite, certain fusions will cause the loss of individuality between their fusing Gems if fused for long periods of time. A fusion of hatred is inherently unstable. Fusions retain all standard Gem abilities, such as fusing, shapeshifting, bubbling, and even more. Common memories from the fusing Gems are carried over to the fusion, such as Sardonyx, Sugilite, and Opal knowing who Steven diamond was. However, Gems who fuse together do not automatically share their memories with each other.

garnet

mega pearl

bluebird azurite

fluorite

rhodonite

turquoise

moonstone

Lemon jade

opal

obsidian

rainbow quartz

smokey quartz

alexandrite

sugilite

sardonyx

sunstone

stevonnie

paragon diamond

To fuse, Gems must be in perfect sync mentally, physically, and emotionally. Fusions are usually formed when two or more Gems perform a synchronized dance, though this is only optional, as seen with Smoky Quartz. Each fusion's dance is different. Same type Gems are able to fuse by physical contact. If successful, Gems transform into an amorphous mass of light before fully transforming. During the process of fusion, the gemstones of the participating Gems are visible and will morph into their corresponding locations from their fusing Gems. However, Sardonyx was the first fusion Gem not to show gemstones during fusion. If unsuccessful, Gems will be ejected before finishing the entire transformation. An example of a stable fusion (and de-fusion) was shown in "We Need to Talk" when Rose and Pearl fused into Rainbow Quartz. Garnet gives Greg a more literal explanation of fusing in a romantic sense, that the Gems turn into light and have to be trusting of the other Gem with their light. This isn't always the case, as Lapis lazuli fused with Jasper , whom she did not trust; but fused with a purpose to stop her. Although it's seemingly impossible for a human to fuse with a gem, Steven, being part human and part gem, has the ability to fuse with both gems and humans, the first human fusion being Stevonnie. However, it took a great amount of training and focus for Steven to be able to perform fusion, and it's shown that with his training and progress halted by Spinel's  Gem Rejuvenator, fusing with his father proved extremely exhausting and damaging for the gem hybrid. Additionally, it appears as though it is the gem that holds the fusion together; this is demonstrated when Steven is drained from fusing with his father, yet Greg is completely fine when defused. With Steven, however, especially Steven and Connie , this formation is slightly different, as when a participant is a human or half-human, the gemstones aren't visible, and instead, Steven's gem melds the physical bodies together. Smoky Quartz is possibly a fusion where Steven's body melds with Amethyst's light-based form. Fusions are capable of fusing with other Gems, first exhibited in "Coach Steven", in which Garnet fuses with Amethyst to form Sugilite. The same Gems will produce the same fusion regardless of which order they combine in. For example, if Opal fused with Garnet (Ruby and Sapphire), or if Pearl fused with Sugilite, or if Amethyst fused with Sardonyx, or if Garnet (Ruby and Sapphire), Amethyst, and Pearl all fused together, they would always form Alexandrite. Each fusion embodies a relationship between the participants. While some fusions like Garnet embody romantic relationships, fusion is not inherently romantic, and other fusions can embody other sorts of relationships such as the social relationships between friends, family, allies or even enemies.

As of the events of "Change Your Mind", it has been revealed that fusion can occur while one or more of the participating gems has been poofed and retreated into their gemstone. However, it appears that one of the participants of the fusion must be physically formed and in contact with the retreated gem for fusion to occur. Fusing with a retreated gem "unlocks" their physical form, and they will gain their body back upon de-fusing (instead of retreating back into their gem).

De-fusion is a process in which a fusion splits into its component Gems. During the de-fusion process, fusion Gems will reverse the fusion process. The fusion will turn back into a mass of light before splitting back into its original participating fusees. During the de-fusion, the gemstones of the participating Gems are visible (with the odd exception of Sardonyx de-fusing in "Cry for Help").

### Stable Edit

A stable de-fusion occurs when the participating Gems have a mutual agreement on de-fusing.

This is shown in "We Need to Talk", when Pearl and Rose Quartz de-fuse from Rainbow Quartz, they smoothly shift apart. Another example of a stable de-fusion is in "Cry for Help" when Sardonyx de-fuses into a flash of light, leaving Garnet and Pearl holding each other. As well as that, in "Hit the Diamond", when Garnet figures out a plan to send away the Rubies, Ruby and Sapphire slowly fuse out of each other, holding hands.

### Unstable Edit

An unstable de-fusion occurs when the fusees have a very high conflict of opinion or one or all is experiencing an overwhelming emotion, causing a stand-out individual and the fusion to fall apart.

This is shown by the components being thrown out of the fusion. The first example of this is shown in the episode "Giant Woman" when Pearl and Amethyst argue over the Heaven beetle , causing the fusion to become un-synchronized and forcing them to de-fuse. This is also shown when Alexandrite argues over a bit of shrimp, causing de-synchronization and de-fusion. Similar incidents nearly occurred with Malachite as she was being pulled to the bottom of the sea and Garnet when she was facing a Cluster Gem. Whenever a fusion with a smaller, more stable fusion as a component undergoes an unstable de-fusion, the smaller fusion briefly de-fuses as well but can still hold themself together once the larger fusion has broken apart. This is seen with Ruby and Sapphire in Garnet when the latter is ejected from Alexandrite and Sardonyx.

Another unstable de-fusion through conflict was shown in "Keystone Motel". When Garnet's component Gems are arguing over Pearl's betrayal of their trust, Ruby ends the fusion by speaking through Garnet, saying "Then you can just go." This ends the fusion and ejects the fused Gems.

In "Mindful Education", Garnet explains that if at least one of the fusees is emotionally unstable during the fusion, it can cause the fusion to become "unbalanced" and lose touch with reality, hallucinate, and ultimately defuse. This was demonstrated when Stevonnie began hallucinating during a training session with Pearl, and it explained previous instances of Stevonnie hallucinating in "Alone Together" and "Beach City Drift". During Stevonnie's training, Connie is reminded of an event she is upset about, resulting in Stevonnie defusing. This occurs again in the episode, this time as a result of Steven's feelings to similar memories he has. He can re-fuse with Connie after she offers him perspective and understanding about the incidents.

### Damaged Edit

A damaged de-fusion occurs when the fusion takes on severe physical damage, as shown in "Coach Steven". When Sugilite is injured by her flail, she "poofs" back to Garnet and Amethyst. During a damaged de-fusion, the original Gems do not retreat into their gemstones to regenerate. However, the damage caused to the fusion will be carried on to the component gems, as Garnet and Amethyst were unable to move and had "a monster headache". Only if they are dealt in contact with a Gem Destabilizer, or a similar attack from Yellow diamond  the fusing gems will retreat into their gemstones to compensate for the damage to the fusion.

An example of this is when Jasper stabs Garnet with a Gem Destabilizer, causing Garnet's body to fall apart. She poofs back into her original Gems, Ruby and Sapphire. However, unlike Sugilite, the damage caused to Garnet's body also caused severe damage to both Ruby and Sapphire, forcing them into their gemstones to regenerate. The Gem Destabilizer effects share common traits shown by Yellow Diamond's energy blasts.

An additional example is seen when Obsidian de-fuses into Steven, Pearl, Garnet, and Amethyst after being smashed into a large wall by the Diamond Mech, and when Bluebird azurite  de-fuses into Aquamarine and Eyeball after being smashed into the ground by Alexandrite.