Chapter 26: Building Bridges
(Steven and Spessartine are in the first  room of Waterfall)
STEVEN: This is going to be great! We can pick flowers, or pick up shiny rocks, or we can try out your power.
SPESSARTINE: This sounds fun. But you know… Err…
SPESSARTINE: Gems will still be chasing after you.
STEVEN: …
SPESSARTINE: I feel like such a downer.
STEVEN: Nah, don’t worry Spessa. You’re right.
STEVEN: We have to move onward…
SPESSARTINE: I’ll help you in any way I can, love.  Though I haven’t been combat tested myself, yet.
STEVEN: Don’t worry about it. It’s all about dodging and blocking.
SPESSARTINE: A caltrops and a dagger equals… Oh right! Defencive! I’m sorry!
Steven walks eastward before a random encounter appears.
CONNIE: Twopaz wants to battle.
STEVEN>ACT>CHECK
<3CHECK         QUESTION
 CHEER            CHALLENGE
SPESSARTINE: That’s lovely Steven. Just. Stare at her and make a plan, I guess?
SPESSARTINE: But what do I do here?
SPESSARTINE>ACT>INTRODUCE
<3INTRODUCE   COMPETE
CHASTISE            RELATE
APOLOGIZE
CONNIE: TWOPAZ ATK 40 DEF 72
CONNIE: This warrior is a fusion of two Topazes. She sometimes questions their bond, and her existence.
SPESSARTINE: Hello! Good day! My name is Spessartine!  I was first formed about an hour ago.
SPESSARTINE: I don’t know what I am yet. Or what I can do…
TWOPAZ: Really? I feel the same. Even though I’ve been like this for thousands of years, I just feel sort of… Insecure sometimes. Is this real?
TWOPAZ: Little Rose Quartz. Can you answer these questions for me?
 (Twopaz summons her staff and they ascend from the bottom of the screen to the top)
STEVEN>ACT>QUESTION
SPESSARTINE>ACT>RELATE
STEVEN: Are you sure you want my opinion?  I’ve never fused before.
SPESSARTINE: I know where you’re coming from.  I wonder if we can turn this… Into a game!
TWOPAZ: That’s a good idea! Let’s see who’s the better fusion! And Steven can be the objective judge of things!
(She uses a destabilizer. A direct hit halves speed and zaps from the lightning bolt deals damage)
STEVEN>ACT>CHALLENGE
SPESSARTINE>ACT>COMPETE
STEVEN: How about we see who has a cooler weapon?
SPESSARTINE: How do I compete? I haven’t ever summoned my own weapon!?
TWOPAZ: I’m going to have my work cut out for me.
(Beefy muscley arms ascend from the bottom of the screen)
STEVEN>MERCY
SPESSARTINE>GEM
PAST VISION       SMOKESCREEN
<3WEAPON?
 SPESSARTINE: I can do this Spessa… Caltrops + Dagger =…
(A shuriken flies through the screen away from the battle box)
SPESSARTINE: Shurikens!
(The shurikens cost 8 PP)
TWOPAZ: No way! You’re half Sapphire! Who gave you a weapon that cool?
(Twopaz uses her weapons as inviduals this turn)
STEVEN>ACT>CHEER
SPESSARTINE>CHASTINE
STEVEN: Spessa! Spessa! Spessa!
SPESSARTINE: Maybe you should avoid attacking the Judge?
(With that comment, Spessartine starts sweating. Mixed with the beads of sweat are golden sweat bullets)
TWOPAZ: I’m sorry! Here! Let me make it up to you!
STEVEN>ACT>CHALLENGE
SPESSARTINE>COMPETE
STEVEN: Now. I want to see your other cool powers!
SPESSARTINE: Brilliant! I already got that one down!
TWOPAZ: I can… Defuse and refuse around people… But that makes it harder for you to be objective from the perspective of my chest.
(Arm attacks)
STEVEN>MERCY
SPESSARTINE>GEM>SMOKESCREEN
SPESSARTINE: Time for some smoke and mirrors!... Minus the mirrors.
TWOPAZ: I’ll give this a shot, I guess.
(Nonetheless Topaz defuses for the turn and each of her components attack the bullet box. One is cyan and one is orange) (The screen is coated with a thin layer of smoke)
STEVEN>ACT>CHEER
SPESSARTINE>ACT>RELATE
STEVEN: Spessartine is the coolest guys!
SPESSARTINE: Twopaz, I get what it feels like. Having a seemingly useless power.
TWOPAZ: Is that meant to make me feel better!?
(Fusion attack, but after the attack is compete the two topazes are in the enemy positions)
STEVEN>ACT>CHALLENGE
SPESSARTINE>MERCY
STEVEN: Bonus round! Give me something that surprises me!
TWOPAZ: Surprises!? I have no surprises! I’m exactly what I appear to be!
(Arm attack)
STEVEN>MERCY
SPESSARTINE>GEM>PAST VISION
SPESSARTINE: Twopaz will defuse due to confusion about her identity.
STEVEN: Geez… I didn’t meant to hurt her feelings.
STEVEN>ACT>QUESTION
SPESSARTINE>ACT>APOLOGIZE
STEVEN: This was a bad idea wasn’t it.
SPESSARTINE: I’m sorry, for pitting you against me. I didn’t intend to hurt you.
TOPAZ (MONO): It’s true though!
TOPAZ (STEREO): We’re just boring and lame!
(No attacks this turn)
CONNIE: I believe they might need some time to pull themselves together.
STEVEN>ACT>CHECK
SPESSARTINE>MERCY>SPARE
CONNIE: YOU WON! You gained 0 G, 5 EMP, and 50 G!