Author's Note:
Hello! I just wanted to say that this type of story, the ones that don't get much support, will be updated from time to time—at most twice a month—unless they receive strong support.
Thanks to the people who always wait for it. With nothing more to say…
Let's continue.
"Here you go, babe," Bismuth said as she lifted two gauntlets.
"I was wondering when you were going to give me the gloves," Garnet said while looking at her hands.
"Pfff," Bismuth scoffed.
She quickly presented the gauntlets, now with some new finishes. Much better, honestly.
"Take a look," Bismuth said.
She placed the gauntlets on what appeared to be an experimentation platform.
"Observe the gloves that have challenged everything I've done so far," she declared proudly.
I examined them, noticing how they looked more like the ones from the show, though these seemed sturdier. Either that, or I was seeing them in ultra 4K—watching the show doesn't compare to this.
"So what do they have?" I asked, wanting to know what I was up against.
"Glad you asked, my dear fusion," Bismuth said, striking an elegant pose.
"If you look closely, they have sharpened spikes to destabilize a gem's physical form much faster. Also, they already had heat and cold resistance, but I modified them with some materials I had lying around. You won't feel them tighten in the cold or get uncomfortable in extreme heat. So do whatever you want, babe. I think near the planet's poles you might have a tiny bit of trouble—but just a little. You won't feel much."
I nodded like a little kid.
"Well," she said, showing me all the upgrades I'd asked for and more, "that's everything. Any questions?"
"Not at all. Completely understood, wey."
"Wey?" Bismuth asked, confused.
"Future stuff."
"Ah… right. The future," Bismuth said, as if pondering something.
"Hey… in this war… can we win?" she asked, looking at me expectantly.
I fell silent as countless futures unfolded in my mind—rivers of different choices and possibilities.
"If I tell you, it won't happen," I said after a moment.
"I understand," Bismuth replied, slightly worried.
"The only thing I can say," I added calmly, "is follow your instincts. That will be your best future."
"My instincts?" she asked, confused.
"You'll understand when the time comes," I said.
She nodded, but before we could say anything else—
"Hello!" came Rose Quartz's voice.
"What's up," I said, already prepared thanks to future vision. But Bismuth—
"AHHH!" she screamed, summoning two massive fists.
When she realized it was Rose, she dismissed them and sighed.
"Oh, come on, girl, don't scare me like that."
"Sorry, but we have a quick mission. Want to come?"
"Quick?" Bismuth said.
"Nah… although…" she glanced at me.
Rose followed her gaze and smiled.
"Oh yes. Garnet, your first mission."
"Huh?" I said, snapping out of my thoughts.
"You're coming with me now," Rose said, grabbing me like a sack of potatoes.
"Do I get a say?"
"Nope," Bismuth and Rose said at the same time.
"Whatever," I muttered, letting myself be dragged—though not before grabbing the gauntlets and storing them in my gem.
After a few minutes of Rose talking nonstop about every single thing we passed, I realized something.
"Where's Pearl?" I asked.
"Huh?" Rose replied, not expecting that.
"She… stayed behind. Working. On a mission."
I stared at her through my glasses.
Worst liar ever, I thought.
Eventually, we arrived.
"And what are we doing here?" I asked, avoiding using future vision.
Rose turned serious.
"We're removing the Kindergarten machines."
"Got it," I said, noticing a few gems around. Though if you looked closely, the Kindergarten hadn't started yet.
I quickly activated future vision. In one timeline, everything went smoothly. In another, the Zetas showed up out of nowhere.
Watafak.
I shook my head and kept scanning possibilities.
Pearl was observing the area, though glancing sideways at the rebel fusion beside her.
This fusion is strange… but because of my Diamond, I see her differently. Should I be worried about that? My Diamond wants to fuse with me… but we haven't managed it yet…
"Hey, Pearl, pay attention. Even my ex listened more," I said dramatically.
"Huh?" Pearl blinked.
"Do you need something, Garnet?" she asked, clearly distracted.
…
…
…
"You good?" I asked after explaining I'd found a good future.
"Okay…" she said, finally serious.
"You ready, Garnet?"
"Wait, wey," I said before explaining the plan.
"Are you sure?" she asked afterward.
"No idea. My future vision isn't exactly perfect today, so let's assume yes."
She nodded and looked down: two Jaspers, five Amethysts, two Quartzes.
No Agate in sight—though in most futures she showed up out of nowhere and poofed Pearl. In about seventy percent of timelines, Pearl got poofed. In those, I had to unleash a fire explosion and bubble everyone.
"Pearl, you know the drill," I said.
"Understood."
"3."
"2."
"1."
"Go!"
We split in different directions.
I reached the two Quartzes first and slammed them into the ground with both fists. Instant poof.
"Good start," I muttered, bubbling them immediately.
Pearl fought three Amethysts while two tried to fuse.
"Lead, bitch," I muttered as my gauntlets shot forward like projectiles, smashing into the fusing pair and sending them flying.
They returned to my hands as I rushed to Pearl.
Then the Jaspers fused.
Great.
A larger Jasper fusion formed, wielding a combined energy weapon.
I activated future vision and started dodging like crazy—energy blasts, arrows, reforming Amethysts.
"Damn it," I muttered, ducking behind a dirt wall.
Then—
Agate landed right where I'd been standing.
"Defective fusion," she sneered, summoning a whip.
Five against one.
Where the hell is Pearl?
Seconds later, she would finish her side.
The only viable scenario: I fight frontline alone. Pearl covers me.
The whip cracked.
The Jasper fusion charged.
I blocked, the impact cracking the ground.
Strong. Too strong.
Three futures.
Two with Pearl poofed.
One with me impaled.
I chose the fourth.
I yanked the whip, slammed Agate back, deflected arrows midair, forced openings.
Then—
"Now," I whispered.
Pearl's spear shot across the battlefield, forcing the archer to dodge.
She landed beside me.
"You took your time."
"I was busy."
Five against two.
"As always: I handle Agate and the fusion. You cover me."
She nodded.
The fusion charged. Energy blasts everywhere.
I leapt, igniting my gauntlets—not wild flames. Compressed pressure.
Agate tried to retreat.
Too late.
"Now!" Pearl shouted.
I crossed my fists.
Released.
The explosion wasn't chaotic—it was directed.
A blazing shockwave tore through the ground.
First impact: the fusion. My flaming gauntlets punched through her defense.
She destabilized, splitting back into two Jaspers before poofing midair.
Second impact: Agate.
Direct hit.
Blinding flash.
Silence.
Two gems fell.
Flames faded from my gauntlets. Smoke rose from cracked earth.
Pearl landed beside me.
"That was… excessive."
"Necessary," I replied, bubbling them quickly.
The field fell silent once more.
End of Chapter 4