Puppet

One Purpose

While she had been right that things would change, Jasper had no idea that the changes would be drastic and awful. It began that night as training for level three started. She and the other Jaspers in her group had been rounded up and shuttled to an airborne fighting arena where, they had been told, they would begin to learn what battle was really like. Jasper was nervous, but yet somewhat excited. She hoped she wouldn't mess anything up. Maybe she could impress her peers enough to make them like her.

"Alright, listen up," Diamond snarled. "You clods don't know a thing about fighting. You don't know a thing about anything. I intend to change that." The Jaspers gazed up at her in a mixture of fear, anticipation, and annoyance. Some shifted their weight, impatient, while others hung back anxiously. "Today I will begin teaching all of you what it's really like to be in battle. It's going to be hard. You're going to get hurt. But there's no other way for you to be prepared, and I'm not about to send a bunch of mindless children to war. So let's get started."

She surveyed the group with narrowed eyes. "You," she demanded, jabbing a finger in Jasper's direction. "You were the one that Blue Diamond told me about. The smart one. Come here." Jasper gulped and stepped forward, passing the group and standing alone before them. "Closer," Diamond said. Jasper shuffled forward slightly. Diamond lunged at her, and Jasper rolled to the side with a terrified yelp. She scrambled to her feet as another blow came her way, summoning her helmet and clenching her fists, waiting. Diamond leaned back for a moment, observing .

"Why are you attacking me?" Jasper asked, a mixture of hurt and confusion in her voice.

"No time for questions," Diamond responded sharply. "Are you going to stop an advancing army to ask them things? No, you're not. You're going to fight them. That's why you were made." Jasper bit her lip, eyes hardening. She stepped back and prepared to launch herself at Diamond. Diamond smirked and shifted her weight, a spear materializing in her hand.

"All I do is fight!" Jasper cried, catapulting into the air and diving into a rolling attack. She crashed into Diamond and attacked her, biting and kicking and pulling her hair. "Maybe I want to do something else! Maybe I don't like fighting!"

Diamond grabbed a fistful of Jasper's short hair and lifted her up, wriggling and fighting. Diamond glowered at her.

"You'll learn to like it, shrimp," she growled. "And you'll start right now." She drew back her fist and then Jasper felt a sharp, jarring pain before her vision went dark.