Jasper had been assigned to train Morganite in one-on-one combat. The almost princess barely came up to her shoulder, and something about her candy pink hair and enormous eyes made the instructor experience emotions that didn't have names.

"Stop."

It was perhaps the eighth time that Jasper had to adjust her stance. With an index finger, she moved Morganite's arm upwards and bent it at an angle. "Again. Then we'll spar."

"What?"

"We're going to spar. Do it again."

With her thin arms, Morganite threw a few punches that were decent enough, but wouldn't really hurt anyone. There wasn't nearly enough force. Glancing at the heart-shaped gem present on her chest, the dial that controlled Jasper's irrational hatred was cranked a little further to the right by one or two notches.

"I don't think I'm ready to spar with you."

"It doesn't matter if you're ready. If you ever get into a real fight, your opponent is never going to ask you if you're prepared to take them on. It just happens. Again."

Punch. Punch. "But Jasper, you're so much bigger than I am."

"You think you'll never have to fight someone bigger than you? Again."

Punch. Punch. Morganite was quivering. Those spindly, noble arms shook like paper inside a breeze and there was a crooked smile forming on the larger gem's face.

"Once more."

Punch. Punch.

"Okay. Go stand over there."

Morganite made a good ten feet between them and stood in one place, her heavy, intelligent brows knitting themselves together while her lips coiled inward. She was trying not to shake; not to pass out from fear. But even in that, there was a sort of determination in her ink-stained, multicolored pupils.

She took up the stance she was just in and let out a breath.

Jasper's shadow reached over and lapped at her feet.

"I'm not going easy on you. If you ask me, your entire life is too easy."

"I know you won't." Her quaking got worse, now that her arms were extended. If anything, it was at least more apparent. "Alright. I think I'm ready."

Kid, you'll never be ready.

"Good." Jasper charged at her, and as Morganite attempted to block, one of those powerful legs sent her flying into the grass. "You thought too much about it! What's even the point of practicing? Get up!"

She did.

"You left yourself wide open. Let's try it again."

Her legs wobbled like drunk gelatin. The internal earthquake of her anxiety moved from six to seven. Yet, Morganite took up the same stance, and this time, when Jasper came at her, she instinctively started to run away. The larger of the two grabbed a handful of her hair and threw her back on the ground.

"You can't be serious! Did I just see you run?!"

"Sorry, sorry!" Morganite could hardly get up, but she did anyway. "I was frightened. Let's try it again."

"Tch."

So they did. Again and again and again. But no matter what, the smaller of the pair kept getting back on her unsteady feet only to be kicked or punched or head-butted yet again into gravity's clutches. Morganite had collected various bruises and had tears in her eyes, but had eventually stopped shaking.

During one exchange, some of her fingers brushed past Jasper's gem.

And with the new information those few short milliseconds provided her, she stood back up and looked her aggressor in the eyes.

"Why do you resent me so?"

There was a stillness that made everything feel frozen. Jasper did not answer, and she didn't change her expression. The two of them were caught between two intense stares. Somehow, Morganite was winning. Her resolve was unwavering, even though she had started to cry.

"I'm sorry I'm frustrating you, and I'm sorry you don't feel this is worth your time. If it were up to me, I would be in my room, reading or producing artwork. But I'm still here, trying my best. I apologize for not being good at this, but do you have to hate me too?"

Finally, Morganite let her out from underneath her stare.

"I don't hate you, Jasper. Even though I probably should."

She took two steps forward and fell back into the grass, finally crossing the threshold of what her body could take.

Jasper held out her tangerine hand. "Sorry. Let's call it a day."

It required a second for Morganite to trust her. But eventually, she allowed her instructor to pull her to her feet. After a few deep breaths, they warped back to the palace together.