Steven Universe: The Diamond Legacy

The Scouter's Secret

The clash of swords echoed through the ancient Gem Amphitheater.

I pushed back my opponent with my shield,  slashing at her with my sword when I saw an opening. She backed away and blocked my attack, purple and white blade locked together as we clashed like sparring deer, trying to gain the upper hand. My opponent gathered her might and pushed against  me . She was older and stronger, she would have overcome me had I not felt the surge of power through my veins, causing my sword brighten like the sun. Sparks lit from the blade as I pushed against my foe with a newfound strength. She lost footing and in that moment of recollecting herself I knocked her sword out her hand.

"I have bested you Mother!" I triumphantly pointed my sword at her feet. "Do you yield?"

Mom smiled proudly. "I yield." We clasped each other's hands and shoulder bumped. "Great job Nora. You're really holding your own."

We sat at the cliff eating our lunch and overlooking the Anatolian Mountains rising above the glimmering seas. Mom packed my favorite double jam sandwich ( blueberry and lingonberry)with trail mix and a large canteen of water. When we  finished eating  she wrapped her arm around my shoulder and I rested against her.

Most moms and daughters spend bonding time shopping, or trying on clothes, sometimes even talking about things teenage girls like. Us? We bonded over the clashing of our swords.

"I am so proud of you Nora." Mom said in admiration.

"Thanks." I said, thinking she meant my proficiency with my weapon. "I owe it all to you."

"Not just your fighting skills." She replied. "You've gained so much confidence and self esteem since we first began training. I've watched you grow from a timid child who had trouble holding up her sword hilt to a remarkable young woman who is unafraid to take on the challenges ahead of her."

"That's because of you, Mom. You built me up when I was at my lowest point and showed me I was strong. That I could do anything I put my mind and body to." 

Mom started teaching me swordfighting when I was being bullied in school, to help bring up my self-confidence and skills to defend myself.  Dad was strongly against it at first ( I mean, teaching his ten year old daughter to fight with a sword, who could blame him?) and I remembered them arguing about it  when she brought it up.   To him,  violence was never the answer to confronting child bullies, and I was doing a good job dealing with them  using I-Messages and telling my teachers.

Mom argued it wasn't enough, and those silly I-Messages didn't work as well in real life. He suggested enrolling me in karate classes, but Mom shot it down, saying I'd struggle to catch up with other kids and the instructors wouldn't know how to work with me.

Dad countered saying there had to be places where they teach special-needs children and he would search for one. Mom only needed to bring up my Diamond powers as a perfect counterargument.

"I know my daughter, I know how she thinks and learns. If she hits a rough patch I know how to manage it and help her through.  She needs this, can't you see she is struggling? Let me do this for her." In the end Dad agreed, and I've been practicing with Mom ever since.

"Thank you for training with me today." I said. "I know you're busy with work, but I really appreciate taking your free time to spend it with me ."

"You're welcome. I love spending time with you." She put a strand of hair behind my ears.

"Same." I smiled.

I heard beastly grumbling from behind me. "Bear, leave Lion alone. He doesn't have to share if he doesn't want to."  I turned my head and saw Lion standing up and growling at Bear, who was slowly nosing at a fish he caught from the ocean. Lion only needed to swat  him with his paw for Bear to get the message, and the ursine rested his head defeated, giving puppy dog eyes at Lion.  The two pink beasts got along pretty well otherwise, though Lion was not afraid to put Bear in his place if he pushed his buttons. They watched us spar on the sidelines and now Lion was grooming Bear like a mother with her cub. It was almost if the relationship between the humans  reflected on their animal companions