Hey, everybody. Ellis here.
This took a little bit longer than usual, but it's all good.
On to Part 5!
Penelope slapped Jasper's hand away from the strawberries, "I know Gems probably can't get sick either, but I do! So, let me wash them."
Jasper groaned, but waited patiently for the strawberries to be deemed edible. Once so, she immediately grabbed a strawberry and popped it into her mouth. Penelope giggled at the sight, despite Jasper telling her to shut up.
"There was something I was meaning to ask, though." Jasper said, catching Penelope's attention, "Most humans your age are supposed to have older humans accompanying them, right? So, where are the older ones that live with you?"
Penelope stared at her with an empty look on her face. It would later remind Jasper of the look of other Homeworld soldiers. She almost thought Penelope wouldn't talk about it till she heard, "Those humans... They're called 'parents'... And I don't have any..." She paused, grabbing a knife to cut the strawberry tops off, "I was found abandoned, shortly after I was born. I never met my parents and I probably never will. I don't care either way... It's not like they'll ever come back for me." She let out a dry laugh as she chopped a strawberry top a little forceful than it should be, "...Nobody ever wants me..."
She stared at the cutting board as tears started to well up in her eyes, the knife was stuck in the board. She felt a big hand touch her shoulder and just hug the buff orange woman. She buried her face into her uniform and began to crying her eyes out. After a moment, she felt two muscular arms hug her back, surprisingly gentle for someone like her. It wasn't much, but it helped eased the pain she felt for her parents. She knew Jasper didn't have so much as a "motherly" bone in her body, but she was, at least, trying to comfort her. In a way, Penelope considered her more of a long lost military aunt that had been away at war for so long, she didn't know how to act "normally". And that was okay, cause she was still here.
As time passed, she stopped crying as she held Jasper. "Sorry. I got your uniform messy." She said, pulling away to wipe her remaining tears. She still remained close to her, though, afraid for this to be just a dream that she didn't want to end.
Jasper shrugged, "It's disgusting, but I don't care right now. I have those 'comfy clothes' I can wear again. You good, Pinky?"
Again with that nickname, she smiled, though. "Yes, Auntie." She sniffed.
"'Auntie' now? Is it another human snack?" Jasper asked, confused.
She laughed, "No! It just means you're like… an older relative; a member of the family. It's similar to being a parent, but I'm not your child."
"Oh…" Jasper was silent for a moment, "…Gems…"
"Don't have families, do they?" Penelope finished for her.
Jasper nodded, "I know some Gems called themselves sisters, but that's as close to a family as we can get." She chuckled and ruffled her hair, though, "You amaze me, Pinky."
She giggled from the affection, "So, are all Gems considered females, then?"
"You got it. Though, we really don't have a specific gender." Jasper confirmed.
"And Gems are made?" She asked, cautiously.
"Right again, Sister."
She stood there in silence, 'Then how is it that I exist, if my mom was a Gem…?'
She must have been silent for too long, cause Jasper looked concerned again. She shook her head to clear the thought, "Ah, it's nothing. Just thinking is all." Though, the thought still lingered in the back of her mind.
Then it hit her, "You called me 'Sister'."
Jasper blushed, "Yeah, what about it?"
"So, I'm not Pinky, anymore?" She asked, excited.
"No, you'll still be Pinky. I just didn't feel like calling you that at the moment." Jasper stated with a shrug, but grinned at her.
"Ahh~" she whined, playfully. They laughed until both of them heard noises outside in the Garden. Penelope eyes widened and ran out the door to find a monster in her garden that resembled a panther of sorts, except with six legs and a split tail. It was trying to eat the fruit off her trees.
"Another monster? But, none of them ever venture outside of the ruins!" She said, shocked.
"You call that worthless thing a monster?! That's a Corruption! They're merely Beasts." Jasper sneered, as she came up behind her.
"Corruption? You know what, explain later. I'm gonna take care of it!" She said, quickly as she summoned her gauntlets.
She quickly and quietly snuck up the so-called corruption and tried to take by surprise. It noticed her before she could land her hit and dodged. It was pretty crafty, but this wasn't the first time she handled one like this. She just had to think fast to outsmart it and land the hit!
It pounced and she rolled out of the way into a defensive crouch, trying to find an opening. She remained on defense, dodging the creatures attacks till she got caught off guard by the corruption's split tail whacking her back into a tree. She felt her head hit rough bark of one of her fruit trees and winched at the pain that came as her vision blurry slightly. When it return, she saw the corruption lunged for her and put her gauntlets over her face, preparing for the worst.
But, the attack never came as she heard it yelp in pain. She looked up to find that Jasper had grabbed the corruption's split tail and threw it to the ground which gave the perfect opening. She, immediately, got up to rush over to jump and land her strike right in the corruption's stomach. The corruption was poofed instantaneously, leaving behind an odd blackish gem that she bubbled after catching her breath.
"That… was a bit too close for comfort…" Penelope said, walking back towards the house.
"You think? That weak thing looked like it was going to shatter you in one hit. What were you thinking letting yourself get thrown like that?!" Jasper yelled, following her into the house.
"I didn't expect to get hit by its tail! I was careless, I know! I'll be more prepared next time!" She argued back, letting the bubble drift towards the ceiling with the others, "It's not my first time fighting these… Corruptions! I've been fighting them off my territory for a couple of years now! That one just tripped me up is all!"
"Your form was weak and your defense needs work! I'm surprised you lasted this long fighting those miserable weaklings!" Jasper criticised.
"Then, teach me how to fight better!" Penelope yelled, standing her ground.
"I— What!?" she was shocked at the demand.
"Teach me how to fight better. What is it that I lack and how can I make so that I don't end up getting hurt or worse?! I, mostly, self-taught myself how to fight from nothing! You, on the hand, are a more experienced fighter and can give me advice on how to improve myself. So, please, teach me! I'll do anything you ask!"
Jasper seemed skeptical, "Anything?"
"Yes, anything." Penelope replied without a moment's hesitation.
Jasper thought for a moment, before sighing, "Fine. I'll help you. But, fair warning, I will not go easy on your sorry gem!"
"I expect nothing less." She replied, seriously.
"Heh, You're a tough one, aren't you, sister?" Jasper chuckled, ruffling Penelope's hair again, "We'll get started in the morning. Just get a good night's rest for now, I suppose. You're going to need it."
Penelope smiled wide, "Yes, Auntie!"
So, have I peaked your interest yet? Please, review.
Fun fact: I was, originally, going to make another Jasper (eye) be Penelope's guardian in the original drafts. She had an "eye" for building things!
Laters,
Ellis Alpha