Clashes of weapons echoed in the air around the Gems, they had come on a mission. It was dangerous; many close calls were passing by each of their faces. It would've been a very uneven matchup between them and their targets; though there was a new member on the team. One no one really expected to be amongst them, much less on their side.
Jasper, she felt so alive, this was the first time that she could let loose and just be herself on the battle field. The old battles that she fought before were ordered by a commander, she hated to be told how to do what she knew what to do! Grinning as she punched through the enemy she had before her. There were a few different shaped monsters. Taking it upon herself to take on the ones she felt were more difficult than the others.
Things were going well, the orange colored gem grinned; things were going well. It also presented the opportunity for her to show the Crystal Gems that her strength could be useful to their plans. She still didn't quite grasp how they loved this world, but to have their trust would make life easier. She couldn't go back to Homeworld, not after failing and letting the ship be destroyed. Caught in her thoughts and fighting she hadn't put any attention on the other gems. They were fully capable beings, having been in Rose Quartz's army and survived.
That's what she had thought until the sudden yell broke her concentration. It was the 'leader', Garnet, with one look towards her and following her vision; the cause of her yell was apparent. The slimmest member, Pearl, had been grabbed by two as if she was a wishbone. Pearl's struggling was practically useless. Blue eyes widening as a third had grabbed her dropped staff. Everyone abandoned their own fights to race towards the trapped gem.
Racing forward toward the one that needed back up, Jasper thought they were going to make it. They were almost right on top of them. Just a few moments too late, everyone's eyes widened in horror as the pale gem's own weapon was used to stab through her chest. A scream left her throat, cut short as she disappeared with the puff of white into her gem. Jasper saw red, ramming her helmet into the one that had stabbed Pearl. It was sent flying back away from the gem that had fallen into the jungle grass. Wasting no time, Jasper curled and rolled, one hand easily scooping up the small in comparison gem.
Garnet and Amethyst split the two that had held Pearl still between them. The taller smashing her fists into hers multiple times, almost too quick for Jasper to keep track of. Amethyst used her whip to tighten around the other, before slamming it into the ground. "We need to get back to the temple!" Garnet stated firmly. The meaning becoming clear when Jasper's attention turned to the monsters that they had abandoned turning their attention to the defenseless gem in her hand. Unconsciously pulling it closer to her body, noticing how smooth it felt against her palm and fingers. She couldn't help but gnash her teeth sharply at the thought of fleeing before following Garnet when called.
Though Garnet wanted to carry Pearl's gem, Jasper either ignored her or honestly didn't hear the request for the other gem. Staring down at the white oval in her hand, Jasper seemed deep in thought. "How long does it take to regenerate?" she asked seriously glancing to the leader.
"It can vary from gem to gem and the circumstances, you should know this right?" Amethyst answered frowning some at the muscled one's question.
"No, you either survive or you don't on Homeworld. You wouldn't know that though," Jasper answered through gritted teeth. Gems that were weak and needed to regenerate were never given a chance to. They were merely crushed and new ones took their place. Diamond Authority didn't take kindly to failures or setbacks. The exception, if one managed to hide away before reverting to their gem state. Then they would live the rest of their lives in fear of being found out.
"She'll be okay; she just needs time to recover. I need to see if her gem was injured," Garnet added holding out her hand since Jasper had come back from her thoughts. It took a moment for the other to relinquish Pearl's gem to the fusion. Watching closely as Garnet inspected the pearl carefully. Fingers ran along it feeling for scuffs or cracks, focused intently.
"Well?" Jasper said, a bit of an aggressive tone of demand in her tone, only realizing when Garnet looked at her from over her visor, a firm look in her eyes. The taller's gaze shifted to the side before muttering a half 'Sorry' under her breath.
A soft sound of disapproval left Garnet's lips before looking back down to the gem in her hands. "Her gem looks undamaged. When she regenerates, it should be alright," she replied after the apology, as close as she was going to get from the stubborn gem.
Once back at the beach house, Jasper paced the kitchen somewhat. It was annoying; she couldn't place why she felt so uneased with this situation. Was it that the fact someone who ruined her chance of going home was so easily defeated? No, she didn't that was it. Amethyst had gone about her usual routine of food and then to her room. Garnet never fond of being around Jasper, period, so it left her and Pearl alone in the main room.
There was no doubt that the human-gem child would be upset by this when he returned home. He had been left behind by Garnet with Lapis Lazuli; the fusion had deemed it too unsafe for him to come with them. So Lapis had stayed behind as well, feeling that she was bound to protect him after all he had done for her. Jasper settled onto the couch, looking to the pearl settled into a blanket on the table. Garnet had deemed it was safe enough, knowing that Steven would find her there. The white haired gem figured that she had better things to do then babysit herself and Pearl. Shaking her head, she thought for a while before reaching out and picking up the gem and blanket. "They act like this is completely normal. A gem reverting back to this form, back on Homeworld Yellow Diamond would crush anyone she found out was 'weak' enough to have that happen," she pondered to herself.
The time to herself, allowed her to take a closer look at Pearl, and reflect on events in the past. Jasper felt her eyes narrowing at what had happened since she came to Earth. "How do you continue to confuse me?" she muttered watching as the light shimmered off the surface. "Every time I think that I have somewhat of an understanding about all of you, something else pops up and starts me back at square one."
"Guys I'm home! Amethyst! Garnet! Pear-, "Steven's voice called out as he entered the front door with a big smile on his face that quickly faltered. "What happened!?" he practically cried out running to the large gem. Eyes already watering at the thought of his friend hurt.
"She was outnumbered." Jasper watched as Steven reached out to gently touch the pearl, a small whimper left him. The memories of the last time that Pearl had been forced back to this came forward. "What's the matter? Garnet said that she would be fine," she wasn't good with words, especially ones of sympathy.
"That's not it Jasper," the boy looked down, his hand gripping at his stomach. "She went into her gem before. And it was my fault, it took her a long time to come back," he whispered sadly. "Two weeks, and It was horrible. I didn't know if she'd come back."
This was a surprise, to see this serious and solemn side of the human. He was always so bouncy and all over the place. Thinking over what he said she furrowed her brow; her gaze returning to gem in the blanket. "How about I make a deal with you then? I will make sure that nothing happens to her gem. She means a lot to you right, I can protect her from being hurt until she returns." Unsure why she made that offer to Steven, something just told her to. The reaction she got was Steven wiping his tears away roughly and watching her intensely.
"If you're sure you can handle it," he wanted Jasper's word. He had decided to trust her enough to tell the Gems to let her live with them. So far she hadn't caused any serious harm, asides from some snide arguments between her and Amethyst or Pearl. This was something important.
"I'm sure I can take care of a gem. I'm not a complete machine of destruction. Not to mention I don't really do much around here anyways. I might as well be of some use." The response was a bit flat, but something in her voice seemed to settle right with Steven as he gave a nod. He told her that she was in charge of watching over Pearl until she came back. Giving her some tips on what he did the last time that this had happened, including movies might be good.