Fusion Gems

"First, you need a gem at the core of your being. Then you need a body that can turn into light. Then you need a partner who you trust with that light." "Fusion Gems" are the product of two or more Gems (or, in a special case, a half-Gem, like Steven Universe, and a human, such as Connie Maheswaran) who fuse together, creating an entirely separate entity. Fusions are commonly formed in states of emergencies and used as a last resort, except in cases like Garnet, where Ruby and Sapphire decided to stay fused forever as a sign of their love.

Description
When Gems fuse, both their bodies and minds become one. This creates an entirely different entity, as opposed to two minds sharing a single body. Some dominant features in Gems can occur in their fusions, such as Pearl's nose shape. Malachite, Garnet, and Alexandrite, showed that one component Gem can take control of the fusion. It is also possible for different Gems to take control of different parts of the fusion, as proven by Lapis Lazuli's control of Malachite's hydrokinesis while Jasper was in control of the body. For Malachite and Alexandrite, the Gem in control's voice was layered over the fusion's voice to show control. However, for Garnet, this was not done; it was only the fusion's voice, although it is unknown whether this is intentional. As seen with Sugilite and Malachite, certain fusions will cause the loss of individuality between their constituent Gems if fused for long periods of time. While all fusions require consent, a fusion of hatred is inherently unstable. Memories made before and during a fusion can be held over, as Opal, Sapphire, and Sardonyx recognized Steven despite him never meeting them personally. However, Gems who fuse together don't automatically share their memories with each other. For example, the second time that Garnet and Pearl fused into Sardonyx in "Cry for Help", she did not know that Pearl had secretly repaired the tower.

Formation
In order to fuse, Gems must to be in perfect sync mentally, physically and emotionally. Fusions are formed when Gems perform a synchronized dance. Each fusion's dance is different. If successful, Gems transform into an amorphous mass of energy before fully transforming. During the process of fusion, the Gemstones of the participating Gems are visible. However, Sardonyx was the first fusion Gem not to show Gemstones during fusion. If unsuccessful, Gems will be ejected before finishing the entire transformation, and 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 that Gems turn into light and have to be trusting of the other Gem(s) with their light. During Fusion, each gemstone from the fusing Gems are visible and seen shifting into place while the mass forms into a body. However, in "Cry for Help", when Pearl connected with Garnet, both Gems and Gemstones disappeared before the mass of energy appears. Even when Sardonyx is fusing, the Gemstones are not visible until Sardonyx fully fuses.

Fusion order does not matter for multi-Gem fusions. The same Gems will produce the same fusion regardless of which order they combine in. For example, if Opal fused with Garnet, or if Pearl fused with Sugilite, or if Amethyst  fused with Sardonyx, each resulting fusion would still result in the formation of 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, allies or even enemies.

De-fusion
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 at all times. However, in "Cry for Help", Sardonyx was the first fusion not to have Gemstones during de-fusion.

Stable
A stable de-fusion occurs when the participating fusees 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 out of each other. 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.

Unstable
An unstable de-fusion occurs when the fusees have a very high conflict of opinion. This is shown by the fusees 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 forcing them to de-fuse. This is also with Alexandrite arguing over a bit of shrimp, causing de-synchronization and un-fusion, and with Garnet defusing caused by Sapphire and Ruby's conflicted feelings due to Pearl's deception. Similar incidents nearly occurred with Malachite as she was being pulled to the bottom of the sea and Garnet when she was faced by a Cluster Gem.

Damaged
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 killer head-ache' unless they are dealt in contact with a great amount of physical damage, or a Gem destabilizer, the fusing gems will retreat into their gemstones to compensate for the damage to the fusion.

Another example of a damaged de-fusion 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. It is unknown how the Gem destabilizer is capable of doing this, or how it is engineered.

Appearance
Fusion Gems combine the designs of fusees. Gemstones appear in the same locations and are the same cut of the Gems are composed of, but the type of Gem changes. The exception would be Stevonnie, whose single Gem remained as Steven's. Should two Gems with Gemstones in the same location fuse, the Gemstones would be side by side on the resulting fusion. Each Gem involved in the fusion often contributes an additional pair of arms, showing that multiple pairs of arms are a common trait among fusions. However, Garnet, Stevonnie, and Rainbow Quartz do not display extra arms, so the appearance of extra limbs may indicate some instability in the fusion. Another common trait among fusions is having more than two eyes. Many fusions so far have had as many eyes as all of their constituent Gems put together. Opal, Stevonnie, some of the Cluster Gems, and Sardonyx have had fewer. Alexandrite's eyes have yet to be seen, since they were covered by a visor during her appearance.

Stable Fusions
"♫ Can't you see that my relationship is stable? ♫"

A fusion is marked stable when the fusing gems remain a strong synchronization, while also keeping a strong bond between each other. Some fusions are stable due to how close in connection the Gems fusing are, such as Garnet, due to the fact that Ruby and Sapphire are so romantically involved.

Unstable Fusions
"Garnet, think about this. You and Amethyst can be a little... uh... unstable when your personalities combine."

Some fusions can be unstable due to the way their participants' personalities combine. In "Coach Steven", Garnet and Amethyst lose themselves in the Sugilite fusion, going on a rampage and refusing to split up. It is assumed that both Ruby and Amethyst were the dominant personalities in Sugilite, overshadowing Sapphire's; because of their desire to stay fused, Sugilite began to lose her rationality.

"We're Malachite Now..."

While most unstable fusions fail upon fusing or during the fusion, Malachite is the only example of an unstable fusion remaining fused. This is due to the pure will-power of Lapis Lazuli, as we see in Chille Tid she is holding the fusion together with all her strength, while fighting Jasper to keep the fusion together. However it is unknown if both the fusing gems have lost their sanity and now truly identify as Malachite.

Hostile Fusions
"She had control when she used her power to drag their fusion into the ocean. But a fusion like theirs is unstable, bound together by anger and mistrust. If that bond snaps, their anger will take over, and destroy."

In addition to the usual co-operative fusions, it is also sometimes possible for two opposing Gems to successfully fuse with each other, and then struggle for control without defusing. However, this type of fusion is especially unstable, and fusion participants run the risk of becoming overwhelmed by their shared anger and losing control.

Malachite is the only known example of a successful hostile fusion. In this case, both participants had similar motivations but conflicting goals (Jasper wanted revenge against Garnet and the Crystal Gems after her previous defeat; Lapis Lazuli wanted revenge against Jasper for imprisoning her and to protect Steven).

Forced Fusions
"They were forced together... they were forced to fuse... This is wrong!"

Through being buried underground and fusing due to extensive pressure, it is possible to force Gemstones or Gem Shards into fusing. This method of fusion is usually incomplete, simply binding Gemstones together on the edges instead of changing their colors, as shown in complete fusion. The Cluster Gems are a result of a forced fusion, and in "Keeping it Together", it was shown that Gem Shards could be forced to fuse. The physical bodies of these Gems usually embody the incomplete fusions, with limbs being stuck together at seemingly random places. More forced fusions examples were later shown in "Nightmare Hospital". In "When It Rains", Peridot referred to the process that created them as "artificial fusion".

Realms
The hostile Malachite fusion has an internal fusion realm where Lapis Lazuli and Jasper struggle for control. It is not known whether this is a general property of fusions, an unusual property of Jasper and Lapis Lazuli's hostile fusion, or Steven's perspective on Malachite as viewed in his dream.

Another instance of a similar concept is when Garnet seems to converse separately as Ruby and Sapphire before or after starting to de-fuse in "Keeping it Together" and "Keystone Motel", giving light to their opposing opinions.

Culture

 * Fusions are frequently pictured, especially as statues, throughout the abandoned Gem monuments in the show, (e.g. The Lunar Sea Spire).
 * The Crystal Temple has the appearance of a typical fusion. The Gem placements suggest that the temple is a fusion of Rose, Amethyst, Garnet, and Pearl.
 * In "Jail Break", Jasper derides fusion as a "cheap tactic to make weak Gems stronger", while Garnet states that she is a symbol of love.
 * In "Catch and Release" Peridot refers to Garnet as a "war machine".
 * Garnet refers to Earth as 'The place where I'm free, to live together and exist as me', implying that Homeworld denied her the freedom of remaining fused as an embodiment of Ruby and Sapphire's love.
 * Pearl implies fusion is rather intimate in "Coach Steven" and "Alone Together"; she tries to cover Steven's eyes while Garnet and Amethyst perform their dance, and says Stevonnie might be considered "inappropriate". In "We Need to Talk", Pearl says fusion is the ultimate form of bond between Gems. Garnet has also stated in "Keeping it Together" that fusion is considered sacred and to her, it is a choice.
 * According to "Guide to the Crystal Gems", when Ruby and Sapphire first fused with each other, it was unusual for Gems of different types to fuse with each other.
 * On the Gem Homeworld, fusions are primarily used only in battles and as weapons. Being fused outside of a fight is seen as disgraceful, as Peridot is constantly uncomfortable around Garnet, calling her a perma-fusion and a filthy war machine.

Abilities
The abilities of Gem fusions vary based on the two Gems who fuse. Whenever a Gem fuses to make a weapon, they combine their own original weapons to create a new one composed of those two or more weapons. If a Gem possesses significant other abilities, such as Sapphire's future vision, that may also be incorporated into the fusion's abilities.

Weapons
Fusions may wield the weapons of the Gems that compose them, but can combine them into a singular weapon. These weapons typically harness the abilities of the weapons that were fused, an example being Opal's weapon, a longbow. Pearl's spear not only makes up the longbow, but the arrows are visually similar to the energy blast the spear can emit, and the spear itself. Meanwhile, Amethyst's whip acts as the bowstring. Sugilite's flail uses Garnet's gauntlets as a mace head and Amethyst's whip as a rope. Sardonyx's war hammer is composed of Pearl's spear as the handle and Garnets's gauntlets as the head.

One-fourth

 * Stevonnie
 * Steven
 * Connie

Double

 * Garnet
 * Ruby
 * Sapphire
 * Opal
 * Pearl
 * Amethyst
 * Rainbow Quartz
 * Rose Quartz
 * Pearl
 * Malachite
 * Lapis Lazuli
 * Jasper
 * Unknown Fusion Gem
 * 2 Unknown Crystal Gems

Triple

 * Sugilite
 * Ruby
 * Sapphire
 * Amethyst


 * Sardonyx
 * Ruby
 * Sapphire
 * Pearl

Quadruple

 * Alexandrite
 * Ruby
 * Sapphire
 * Pearl
 * Amethyst
 * Hand Cluster
 * 4 Former Crystal Gems

Trivia

 * First demonstrated in the episode "Giant Woman", as of "Nightmare Hospital", all Gems mentioned in the show except Peridot and Yellow Diamond have been shown to fuse.
 * Only nine fusions are currently known: Garnet, Opal, Sugilite, Alexandrite, Stevonnie, Malachite, Cluster Gems as a whole, Rainbow Quartz, and Sardonyx.
 * Stevonnie is the only known hybrid-fusion.
 * Fusions with more participants appear to be larger and more powerful. Garnet, a two Gem fusion, is only seven feet tall, while Alexandrite easily towers over all other known fusions. However, the more the Gems, the more the risk they run of losing their individualities.
 * It appears that the more hostile the fusion, the larger and more monstrous it becomes. Malachite, an unstable two Gem fusion, was formed and held together by anger and mistrusts and easily towers over the stable Garnet, who reaches up to a fraction of her forearm. Sugilite, a three Gem fusion, was easily large enough and powerful enough to destroy the rebuilt Communication Hub with a single punch.
 * The statue forming the Crystal Temple appears to be a fusion of the Crystal Gems and Rose Quartz since it shows their respective gemstones, and has the most of any fusion shown thus far.
 * Forehead/Pearl
 * Chest/Amethyst
 * Left palm/Ruby
 * Right palm/Sapphire
 * Navel/Rose Quartz
 * It is the fusion depicted with the most arms, though some are missing due to the temple's age or the damage done to it (the Centipeetle Mother in Gem Glow destroys a hand with its acid spray). However, in all episodes except for the Pilot, which is non-canon, Rose Quartz's gem has not been shown due to its location being either the entrance to the Beach House or the Crystal Temple itself.
 * The "Fusion Dance" displayed by Gems, is very similar to the Fusion Dance shown in the anime, "Dragon Ball Z". However, the Gems actually dance to fuse, rather than complete a set of poses like the Fusion Dance in Dragon Ball Z, in order to become one.
 * Fusion Gems can be separated by suffering heavy damage (Sugilite), or when one of the Gems fused disagrees with the other (Opal, Alexandrite, and Garnet).
 * Stevonnie seems to be an odd exception, since they separated while they were dancing in an attempt to embarrass Kevin.
 * This could mean that fusions can separate when both or one of the components to the fusion become emotionally overwhelmed/compromised.
 * Also, Garnet almost split apart one time for the same reason.
 * It is unknown whether or not Stevonnie, Malachite, Alexandrite, Rainbow Quartz, and Cluster Gems have signature weapons.
 * Since Connie is not a Gem, thus having no weapon, it is assumed that Stevonnie's weapon would be Steven's shield.
 * Malachite is the only fusion with 6 arms, 4 of which acts as legs.
 * Alexandrite is the only fusion with six arms and two mouths.
 * Alexandrite is the only fusion whose dance wasn't shown
 * However, part of her dance is glimpsed in Attack the Light.
 * A brief fusion dance is later seen in the Classroom Gems Fusion short.
 * Steven is capable of fusing with humans as shown in "Alone Together", although only Steven can do this as he is half-human.
 * With the exception of Malachite and Alexandrite, all fusions are voiced by musicians, Garnet by Estelle, Opal by Aimee Mann, Sugilite by Nicki Minaj, Stevonnie by AJ Michalka, and Sardonyx by Alexia Khadime.
 * It is unknown if Rainbow Quartz is voiced by a musician or not as she has currently not been heard talking yet.
 * Garnet, Stevonnie, Rainbow Quartz, and Sardonyx are the only known stable fusions.
 * However, Garnet has an extra eye and Rainbow Quartz and Sardonyx have 2 extra eyes.
 * Fusions tend to combine the complexions of the Gems that form them. However, there are exceptions; for example, Alexandrite is redder than Garnet or Amethyst, Rainbow Quartz is darker and more purple than Rose Quartz or Pearl, and Sardonyx is redder than Garnet.
 * Fusions with more Gems tend to be larger. Sugilite and Alexandrite are larger than any known two-Gem fusions.
 * Malachite seems to be an exception. This may be due to the size of Jasper, the hostility between Jasper and Lapis and the stability of their fusion overall.
 * More stable fusions like Garnet and Stevonnie tend to be more compact and humanoid, while more volatile fusions like Sugilite, Alexandrite and Malachite tend to be larger and more monstrous.
 * It is discovered by Steven and Garnet in "Keeping it Together" that the Homeworld Gems are using unknown methods to physically fuse the remains of destroyed Crystal Gems, a process which Garnet refutes as fusion due to there being no consent between the involved Gems. The process appears to involve leaving the Gems in extensive pressure and waiting for them to incubate and form a fusion.
 * According to the Guide to the Crystal Gems, fusion of two different Gems was seen as rare until Ruby and Sapphire formed Garnet.
 * So far, only four fusions have shown their weapon: Garnet, Opal, Sugilite, and Sardonyx.
 * In "Cry for Help", Pearl was able to keep her activities a secret from Garnet when they were fused for the second time, implying that fusion does not mean that the link between the Gems that make up the Fusion Gem share everything while under one mind.
 * According to the Guide to the Crystal Gems, if Gems of the same gemstone fuse, they will simply create the same Gem. Only Gems of different gemstones can fuse into a different Gem. Peridot has stated that there are multiple Pearls on Homeworld in "Back to the Barn"; it can be assumed that if Pearl (the Crystal Gem) and another Pearl were to fuse, they would then form a Pearl. If Pearl (the Crystal Gems) were to fuse with Amethyst, for instance, they would form an Opal.
 * Fusions can travel on Warp Pads without needing to un-fuse.
 * According to Rebecca Sugar, the reason why the Gems fuse can determine height of their fusion. Since Amethyst and Pearl fused to save Steven, their fusion was small, perhaps slightly taller than Garnet, while Malachite's reason for fusion was to destroy the Crystal Gems, which would make her slightly shorter than Sugilite.