"The Answer" is the 22nd episode of the second season of American animated television series Steven Universe, which premiered on January 4, 2016 on Cartoon Network.

The episode received a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for Short-format Animation and was adapted as a best-selling children's book.

5,750 years in the past, the Gem Homeworld is in the process of colonizing Earth, but a group of rebels is halting progress.

Ruby refuses to accept this outcome and leaps towards Sapphire, saving her but unintentionally fusing with her and forming Garnet for the first time.

The crowd of diplomats stares in surprise and disgust at the confused Garnet, and Rose and Pearl flee during the distraction.

Garnet immediately unfuses, and Ruby takes the blame for the failure of Sapphire's prediction and the illicit fusion.

Blue Diamond sentences Ruby to be shattered, but Sapphire grabs her and escapes, jumping down to Earth's surface.

[4] The episode also features several instrumental songs by Aivi & Surasshu: "Happy Birthday, Steven/5,750 Years Ago", "Blue Diamond", "The Rebels/Garnet's First Fusion", "Escaping the Colony/Feelings of Love" and "The Answer".

It was published by Cartoon Network Books and written by Rebecca Sugar, with art by Elle Michalka and Tiffany Ford.

[12] Like Fusion, PBS's report described the book as "part of a larger, changing story about how cartoons portray LGBTQ characters for kids.