Learn To Love Again {COMPLETED}

Chapter 10

Steven's P.O.V

It's been some time since Christmas and all's been pretty slow with me. Ever since I gave my girlfriend that promise ring, she's never taken it off once. In fact, Spinel started going without her gloves just so she could show it off to the other gems. Needless to say, I was hassled for weeks by Amethyst about how I did it, but that's not important. What is though is my current mindset and plan for preventing that nightmare I had so many months ago. It won't leave me alone and I didn't know what to do to work towards stopping it at first. Then I came up with this.

'This' being my path through the forest and in the direction of where I know a certain orange Quartz has taken up residence. Yes, I'm going to see Jasper. I had heard that she had isolated herself from everyone after the Diamonds fixed her and I had tried to talk to her about it but she's not exactly the kind of person that prefers chatting over training. Training is just what I'm seeing her for as well. In my mind, in order to not let that dream of that giant monster come to pass, I gotta train like crazy to be strong enough to keep everyone safe, especially my Spinel. While Jasper isn't really a teacher, she'll prove to be a much better presence in combat that Pearl or Garnet.

My path through the trees comes to a clearing and low and behold, a cave-like structure made up of rocks sits all by itself. I walk closer and try to see where Jasper is, since I know she doesn't stray far from this mound of boulders. Something then moves on the top of the pile. A figure then stands up, a cloth fluttering off it and revealing just who I was looking for. She leers down at me, the permanent frown clear as ever on that solid expression of hers. I can tell she's wondering why I'm here. I just hope she'll have enough patience and compassion to listen.

"Ugh, what do you want now?" Jasper growls.

"I just want to talk" I call up to her. She scoffs and hops down, landing on the ground with a 'thud'. I then approach her, wary of her ever-present hostility.

She just chuckles, "What did talking get you last time?". Sighing, I rub the back of my neck and phrase my next words very carefully.

"I'm not here for another smack down, Jasper. I'm here because I need you help". She gives me a half-lidded look.

"And why would I help you?" The orange Quartz growls.

"Maybe because if it weren't for me, you'd be a mindless monster locked up in your own Kindergarten right now. That ringing any bells?" I huff impatiently, not wanting to hear her excuses. Jasper grits her teeth, looking like she's internally debating it. After some back and forth eye flitting and growling, she groans and looks at me.

"Since I'm not in the mood to argue, I won't remind you that I never asked for your help. Just don't make this a regular thing, otherwise I'll make you sorry you asked. Got it?" Jasper spits.

"Crystal" I reply. She doesn't catch onto the joke.

"All right then, listen up. First point you gotta remember: don't ever give your opponent an opening. Save the boasting and smack talk when they're crumbled at your feet and not when you're face to face. Second point: find their weakness. Everybody has one just waiting to be exploited. The trick is figuring out where it is without giving away to your opponent that you're analyzing him" Jasper explains. I nod and she steps back, getting into a charging stance.

"Time to test it out. See if you can find my weakness" The Quartz warns, revving up to charge at me.

I then get into fighting stance as well and as Jasper bull-dashes her way towards me, I step out of the way. She skids past me and takes some time to stop, quickly turning back around to charge again. I squint my eyes at that, picking up on something within her form. Jasper has a hard time stopping all the way after missing a hit. If I can evade like I did, it gives me a large enough window to land a hit. THAT must be her weakness.