Sunset Aura Quartz sliced downward through the center of the fusion, forcing it to turn back into it's swarming form. They also grabbed the Heaven Beetle and nestled it gingerly into their hair, an impressive feat, given that they were moving at several hundred times the speed of sound.
As Sunset landed, the selenite swarm reformed into a fusion, one notable smaller than the last. That was do to one of Sunset Aura Quartz's special powers, the ability to poof, bubble, and send off, all in one strike. It was do to this ability that they were able to take out a selenite at all, even if it was just an adaptation of Pearl's natural precision applied to Steven's exceptional area control.
On the next slash, the selenites didn't re-fuse, instead chosing to attack in the form of a swarm. This did not pose a threat to Sunset in the slightest. Their speed and grace made them appear, at least across short distances, to merely disappear from one location only to reappear in another, an effect adapted from Pearl's finesse and agility, and Steven's strength and controlling aura. Allowing for perfectly soundless motion and seemingly impossible starts and stops, as if the concept of momentum was taken as a meek suggestion.
The orange samurai's long, straight blade cut quietly threw the snapping screeches of corrupted birds. The selenite swarm failing to move even a single hair on the eight foot tall fusions head no matter how they moved, much to the serene pleasure of the Heaven Beetle, which had taken the opportunity to take a nap.
Soon enough the swarm had vanished, over a hundred corrupted Gems poofed and bubbled in a less than a minute by the silent figure. An unheard breath was taken, and they walked soundlessly to the warp pad.
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Garnet had returned to the temple much earlier than expected, the Earth Beetle turned out to be almost completely unguarded. The only thing she had to worry about was Lava, but that was more relaxing than threatening. Now she was just waiting for Steven and Pearl to return.
Of course, when the warp pad finally activated, Garnet got a second surprise. She had assumed Pearl hadn't had enough time yet to recover from discovering Lion, so had insisted on someone going with her so she would have someone to talk to about it.
She did not expect to see Sunset Aura Quartz.
The reticent fusion was a rarity, but always a welcome one in Garnet's eyes. They always seemed to be poised and calm, like no force in the world could make them move. Pearl and Steven rarely made them, mainly sense they simply didn't talk all that often. Steven had been known to be busy, and Pearl liked to be independent.
Whatever had happened, Sunset stood in front of her now, waiting for her to acknowledge their presence.
Garnet looked them in the eye, and they bowed. Once their head reached her eye level, a white and yellow Beetle with a Gem set on her back poked out of their hair.
Garnet smiled and lightly pulled it out, placing it in a cage with the Earth Beetle, before bubbling it and sending it to her room.
When Sunset stood back up, they began to glow white, and then became cracked as their physical form dissolved into orange cherry blossoms, leaving Steven and Pearl standing in the center of the swirling flower petals.
β ββ ββ ββ ββ ββ ββ ββ ββ ββ ββ
(Just to clear things up, Sunset is willingly mute. They can speak, they just never want to. When they want to communicate, they either do so through action, or unfuse.)
(Next time on Orange Steven AU: Rose is still in her Room, and the consequences of this state).
