Chapter 6 : Training
Well this one may be a week late but at least I finished it... Right?
Anyway I hope none of you hate me for this. Enjoy
'Man it's actually been amazing how that I've regained a bit of my old memory... Although it has only been two days. Nevertheless they have been really, really fun'
'I've been teaching Jasper about Earth and so far she doesn't want to destroy it, I just hope nothing pisses her off. Lapis' teachers are Steven and Connie it was the logical choice she felt more comparable around them than she did with the rest of us'
'Anyway I gotta get going I've got the day off and the gems went to train at the sky arena or whatever they called it, see ya later'
At the ancient sky arena Connie and Pearl were sparing as Garnet, Amethyst, Peridot and Steven were in the stands watching them as they... Sang.
'You do it for him, and you would do it again'
'You do it for her, that is to say you'll do it for him.'
'Keep your stance wide, keep your body lowered"
'As your moving forward, balance it the key'
'Right foot; left foot, now go even faster'
'And as you're moving backwards'
'Keep your eyes on me'
'Keep my stance wide, keep my body lowered'
'As I'm moving forward, balance is the key'
'Deep down you know you weren't built for fighting'
'But that doesn't mean your not prepared to try'
'What they don't know is your real advantage'
'When you live for someone, your prepared to die'
'Deep down I know, that I'm just a human'
'But I know that I can draw my sword and fight'
'With my short existence, I can make a difference'
'I can be there for him, I can be his knight...'
Suddenly the song was interrupted by a large breaking sound and as everyone looked over to where the sound originated to see Sam with his fist imbedded into a crater in the pillar beside him. His eyes glared at Pearl and Connie which seemed to rattle them and as he walked down to the arena everyone could tell he was mad, but they had no idea why?
Me and Jasper, who has decided to follow me most of the time, had arrived at the arena to hear singing coming form the inside "oh my Diamond, what is that sound" Jasper cried out as she covered her ears "oh don't worry their just singing again, this happens a lot so you better get used to it" I say with snicker as we enter the arena
As I stood in the entrance I'm finally able to make out the lyrics of the song. I'd heard them all before but this time it seemed to annoy me?
'Deep down you know you weren't built for fighting'
Ok that's not right
'Deep down I know, that I'm just a human'
What.
'With my short existence, I can make a difference'
Excuse me.
'I can be there for him, I can be his knight'
Oh that does it.
Before I knew it I had slammed my fist into a nearby pillar out of pure rage. I looked down at he spear freak and Connie in anger and jumped down into the arena, picking up a cutlass like sword on the floor as I walk over to speary mcgee and pointed the sword straight at her
"Pearl, I challenge you to a duel!" I say shocking everyone especially "What!" Pearl. "You heard me I challenged you to a duel" I say again still steaming with anger "why should I" she replies trying to walk away but I've been here long enough to know her weakness
"Because if you win you get to decide my fate" I smiled as she stopped walking "be it bubbling me or breaking me, if you win its your choice" at this point Pearl had turned back with a curious look in her eyes "and what if I win?" she asked as I smiled knowing she had already accepted
"If I win I take over training for Steven and Connie" I say with a smirk as Pearl draws her sword "ok then, I accept your challenge" she said with a stern look on her face
"Garnet, can you be the ref?" I ask and in reply she gives a small nod "good now for the rules, number one we can only use your sword skills that means no gem weapons or abilities" I say as we both walk to either end of the arena "and number two we cannot in anyway damage the other, the battle will only end when one of us either admits defeat or collapses from exhaustion"
Pearl nodded in agreement to the rules and got into position, as did I "Good, now then let's Fight" I say and as I do Pearl charges for me as I close my eyes ready to fight
Everyone in the stands was still in shock at Sam's challenge to Pearl but when the fight began they were more shocked than anyone thought they would be, because Sam was winning while his eyes were... Closed!
On the battlefield Pearl kept swinging her sword at Sam aiming for what seemed like his weak points but with every swing Sam countered her attacks, as if he could truly see what was happening even without his sight
After about fifteen minutes of constant swinging from Pearl she finally gave up on that tactic and backed away waiting for a chance to attack. Then she seemed to have an idea "how can you see my attacks without your sight?" she asked Sam trying to get him to lose focus
"I can hear you, every swing, every step, every breath I can hear every last move you make" Sam said with a smirk as Pearl's anger seemed to grow as she charged ones again for him but this time she was more aggressive aiming for his vital points this time, she really wanted to kill him now
Nevertheless Sam still held strong but soon he opened his eyes "well I think this has gone on long enough, don't you?" he said as he pushed Pearl back finally making his attack "but first let me analyse that 'song' of yours" he said as he glared at her with pure rage in his tinted red eyes
"Firstly the whole idea that humans aren't built for fighting it entirely flawed" he said as he swung at Pearl causing her to be pushed back with every swing "humans may not look it but we are built to fight, every generation has to fight their own battles be it during a war, a depression or a natural disaster" he said as Pearl fell to the ground
"Humans fight every single day of their lives. They fight for their lives and ever other life they care about" he said with his sword pointed in Pearl's face which had beads of sweat streaming down it, her eyes were shaking with shock that was until she kicked Sam in the stomach forcing him to fall back as she stood up, ready to fight once again
She charged for him slashing more ferociously then ever but Sam was still able to keep her at bay "Well it looks like my words are finally getting through to you" he said almost laughing at her as she slashed at him
Pearl didn't seem to be able to say anything more, she was so filled with rage she couldn't even let out a whisper as Sam continued his rant "now for my Second point, it doesn't matter if your 'just a human', humans are far greater than any gem I've met" he said as their swords clashed once again
The two swords clanged together with force, holding themselves in place as the two swords people pulled themselves closer "A Gem is Far Greater Than Any Human" Pearl said with anger but it only fuelled Sam's resolve. "I bet that's exactly what you thought when Rose first met Greg" he said with a smirk
Those few words seemed to freeze time within the arena, not a sound nor a single movement was made for what seemed like forever. Then finally the gears in Pearl's head started turning and her rage grew exponentially as she resumed her assault finally managing to scratch Sam, but unfortunately this just caused him to get serious
"I think I've said enough on that one so I'll skip ahead to another" he said as he knocked her sword out of her hand and into the air "so my final point for you is this you say that a humans life is nothing but a 'short existence', unfortunately your completely wrong there a humans life may be short in your eyes but that short time they can do amazing things" he said grabbing the falling sword and pointing it towards Pearl
"They make friends, family, they fall in love, they fight, they live, they laugh and eventually they die. All that time is not spent so... Irresponsibly" he said as he slowly walked towards Pearl "they use their short time to prove that they made a difference and each and every human makes one in their life weather they know it or not!" Pearl fell to the ground once again as Sam approached her with both swords in his hands
He flipped one in his hand, holding the blade and pointing the handle to Pearl "take it already, I have my honour" he said as she took the sword and he turned his back for a moment "now then I think I've made my point quite.." as Sam turned back he saw Pearl jump at him, screaming at the top of her lungs as her sword came so close it almost sliced his ear off
"You Useless Human, You Know Nothing Of Honour, You Know Nothing Of Power, You Know Nothing Of Rose, You Know Nothing About Me" she shouted as she relentlessly slashed at Sam, who just stood there dodging each swing just enough for it to miss his body "You Are Nothing But Useless, Irresponsible, Worthless HUMAN!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, but even with those words Sam didn't look any different he still stood strong ready to fight
Sam began to retaliate once again. He pushed back Pearl's blade causing her to fall back until their blades clashed together with equal power, forcing them to move closer together "ya know, I'm so glad you said it like that because you forgot one thing" he said he pulled the two of them closer together "I'm not a human" he whispered with a blank face and a glow in his eyes
Pearl's eyes began to widen.
She realised what she had said.
She fell backwards into the ground. Dropping her sword as she fell.
Her body began to shake.
Her hands covered her face.
Tears began to flow from her eyes.
Pearl had finally been broken.
'Well that worked better than I expected...'
'That maaaaay have been a Tad too much'
I look down at the shaking, weeping spear freak and calm myself. I extend my hand down to her "it's ok, we all get angry and obsessive its part of life and you don't have to hate yourself for what you've said" as I spoke she reached out and grabbed my hand
"but if you want to, you can change how you see humans. Try to see them as she did, as Rose did" I say with a smile that she replicates within seconds.
I lead her over to the stands where she lays down to rest. After I make sure she's ok I return back to the arena and pick up the swords "with that over and done with I just have one more thing to take care of" I quickly turn throwing a sword straight towards Connie.
As the sword flys through the air I notice Steven, without a second though he jumped in front of Connie and summoned his shield and as he did a large 'ting' sound echoed throughout the arena.
"I think this proves my point" I say with a smile as Connie stands up with a glare in her eyes "What Point!? What Were You Thinking, Steven Could've Been Hurt!" she screamed at me but it made no difference "my point is that you want to be Steven's knight but it's obvious to everyone but you that Steven doesn't want to see you hurt even a tiny bit." I say calmly but she is still frozen yogurt my words
"So do you really think he wants you to be his knight, to watch you die for him when he doesn't want to see you hurt. He'd die for you than watch you die for him" as my words reach her she turns to Steven with tears in her eyes and in seconds they hug. That was until Steven glared at me "How Could You Throw A Sword At Connie!"
I was surprised at his anger but when I thought about it I knew why "Stevie take a look at the sword" I say with a smile as I see him look down to see the sword I threw embedded in the stone stairs below "but how did it get there?" Connie asked as she looked at the sword
"I never aimed for Connie, I just made it seem like I did" I say happily "what do you mean?" both Steven and Connie asked in unison, which made me chuckle a bit "I used just enough power to make the sword arch down the closer it reached to Connie" I saw with a smile as I walk towards them
"But why would you..." Connie tried to ask but stopped, fell to her knees and covered her face to hide her blushed cheeks "I did it to prove that Steven cares about your life more than his own." I begin to say as I kneel down in front of her, placing my hands on both of her shoulders "He wants you to be his friend and partner a whole lot more than his knight" I finish saying with a smile
Connie begins to tear up but then she flung her arms around my neck, pulling herself closer and as she does I can faintly hear the words "thank you" coming from her to which I hug her back and say "your very welcome Connie, very welcome indeed" after a minute or two we release each other from our holds and that was that. My rant was over but now I had something else to take care of.
After Sam had finished his four pointed rant he went back down to the arena bringing Steven and Connie with him "Hey Jaspie come here will ya" he said as he entered the arena, this surprised everyone why would Sam ask Jasper to help him and why would Jasper even listen to... "Yes Sir" Jasper shouted from the top of the stands shocking everyone who heard her
As Jasper approached Sam and the kids she tried her best not to make eye contact with anyone on her way. "Ok you two Jasper here will be training you in close combat from here on" Sam said with a smug grin but everyone, except Garnet, replied with a "What!" Each one of the was shocked at his statement but he just smiled
"It's been proven multiple times that Jasper has superior fighting skills compared to almost everyone here so she is the best person to teach you close quarters combat" he said facing the still shocked Steven and Connie "of course I'll be teaching you how to fight with weapons but only when Jaspie feels you know how to fight without those weapons appropriately" he said as he began to leave the arena
Suddenly Pearl sat up and turned to him "so you won't teach them how to fight with weapons until they know how to fight without them... That makes no sense" she said still groaning from pain.
Sam stopped and turned to her with a comforting face "yes for a gem their weapon is everything but for a human it's different" he said bringing out his dual bladed sword "for a human a weapon is nearly a tool that is if you have no knowledge of fighting without one, once you know how to control your body perfectly adding a weapon becomes easier" he said as he swang his sword around
With each swing they could all tell he knew how to use a sword skilfully, quickly and elegantly "the weapon becomes part of your body, you know where it is and what it can do. But for a gem their weapon has always been a part of you so you have always known how to use it" he finished saying as he returned his weapon to his gem "that's the difference between humans and gems when it comes to weaponry, that's why they must learn this way." Sam had finished and he began to head in the arenas stairs again
Before he could leave Connie spoke up "Wait, how long do you want us to train with her" she said looking at Jasper who was still trying not to look anyone in the eye "well until she's satisfied with your abilities" he said as he left, his words causing Jasper to gain back her creepy grin when suddenly
Sam poked his head back through the archway "oh and Jaspie just because your teaching them Does Not mean you get to hit them, you can show them how to fight and train with them but please don't hit them head on" he said with a cheeky smile.
His words made Japser's grin diminish significantly but she straitened herself up and began to train the two kids while by the portal Sam smiling with his eyes closed as he was teleported away.
Well this is one of my longer chapters but i still enjoyed writing it and I know many of you will try to point out that the events of 'Sworn to the Sword' contradict this chapter but that's not the case
you see Connie never said she wanted to stop being Steven's knight and Pearl only learnt to see Steven as himself not Rose but she still didn't see humans the way the others do, so that should save a few rants
Anyway I hope you enjoyed Pearl getting her obsessive ass whooped and I'll hopefully see ya next chapter