You know that moment when you accidentally type your name instead of "(Y/N)"? That happened like 10 times when writing this chapter.

Also: WARNING - Emotions and stuff. Exit stage left if you're emotional, but even if you are, I still suggest you read.

"Alright, everything begins with your stance", Pearl explained to me, straightening my posture. "Remember...".

♫ You do it for him ♫

I raised a perplexed brow, "Are you going to start singing?".

♫And you would do it again ♫

"Oh boy", I sighed.

♫ You do it for her, that is to say,

You'll do it for him ♫

For her?

Pearl began guiding me, cautiously. Almost as if she was anxious I would unexpectedly hit her. But, I don't blame her, considering my confidence was just a facade to cover up the fact that I had no idea what I was doing. Steven watched explicitly from his seat, not noticing how agitated he was getting.

♫ Keep your stance wide,

Keep your body lowered,

As you're moving forward,

Balance is the key ♫

I corrected my posture just as Pearl said. Well, in this case, she sang. She stood in front of me, holding her sword up as if she was ready to strike me. That only filled me up with more adrenaline.

♫ Right foot; left foot

Now go even faster ♫

I followed her instructions, moving my body forwards and backwards, gradually picking up the pace. I glanced over my shoulder, unsure if I was about to run into something. Pearl sent me a rigid look.

♫ And as you're moving backwards,

Keep your eyes on me. ♫

Pearl suddenly replaced herself with Holo-Pearl, which made me a little uneasy. She wanted me to fight it. I wasn't sure if it was me being too focused on the training, or if I actually went insane, but I began to start singing softly under my breath, that barely anyone could hear.

♫ Keep my stance wide ♫

"Good".

♫ Keep my body lowered ♫

"Right".

♫ As I'm moving forward... ♫

"Concentrate!", Pearl sternly interrupted me, with a grave frown in her face. Steven crossed his index and middle fingers together on both hands with anticipation.

"Don't you want him to live?!".

I lost my focus momentarily, glancing at Steven's apprehensive expression. Of course, I want him to live, that's the whole reason I'm doing this. I instantly regained my stance, as Holo-Pearl went in to attack me. Steven's fingers tightened over each other. I tried to think back to my fencing lessons, the strategies I was taught, the movements I learned. I managed to swiftly dodge Holo-Pearl's attack.

♫ Right foot, left foot ♫

"Yes, but put your whole body into it!".

♫ Everything you have,

Everything you are,

You've got to give ♫

~

Despite still being grounded, I came back the next day, determined to improve myself. I was willing to use my time after school to get better. After I arrived, Pearl projected a hologram from her gem, sitting Steven and I down, explaining how she wanted to tell us a tale.

♫ On the battlefield,

When everything is chaos ♫

In the hologram, Pearl was running through the turbulent battlefield, both anxious and confused. She suddenly stopped when she spotted an unknown Gem is about to attack Rose Quartz. I watched it carefully.

♫ And you have nothing but the way you feel, your strategy and a sword;

You just think about the life you'll have together after the war! ♫

Without hesitation, Pearl rushed to defend Rose from the enemy. Even though the holographic screen, I could see how much Pearl valued Rose's life over her own. Steven, of course, was almost in tears at the sight, and honestly, I couldn't blame him. Though, that still didn't stop me from thinking it was a stupid thing to cry over.

♫ And then you do it for her,

That's how you know you can win ♫

Pearl immediately begins sparring with Holo-Pearl as soon as the projection ends. Her sword clashed against her clone's, but it didn't take long for her to successfully beat it. I was suddenly filled with such confidence that I could be that powerful too.

♫ You do it for her, that is to say,

You'll do it for him ♫

It was my turn. I held the mace in my hand tightly. Holo-Pearl came towards me at a moderate, but still swift speed. I wanted to just start swinging the spiky end at her, restlessly, hoping I would get a hit, but I knew if I wanted to get tougher, I would need to think it through. I did a lot of dodging and at times, and would occasionally whack Holo-Pearl's sword out of the way to create an opening for myself.

Come on! You heard what Pearl said, do it for him!

However, I was too caught up in my thoughts to notice Holo-Pearl's sword wedge towards me. I tried to jump back, but I wasn't fast enough as the tip of its sword cut my arm through the fabric of my shirt. "Argh!". Pain shot through my arm as I toppled backwards onto the ground, earning myself a grazed hand. I held onto the cut on my arm, noticing the blood staining the palm of my hand. Pushing against the wound felt like I was applying salt on it, but I couldn't allow it to bleed out.

Steven couldn't hold it in anymore. "(Y/N)!", he called out to me, rushing out of his seat and down to the arena. However, Pearl was quick to react and gripped onto his arm to stop him from intruding the match. His hand tried to reach out to me, hoping he'd somehow be able to reach me, even though he was so far away.

"Don't interrupt, Steven", she said, her eyes emotionless and unfazed by the situation.

" B-But, she's hurt! I have to help her!", Steven protesting in a stammer, attempting to pull out of Pearl's grip. And his attempt failed.

"I said, don't interrupt. I want to see how she will handle this".

I glanced down at my wounded arm. I held in the small impulse inside me to yell at Pearl to pause the match so I could tend to my wound before it got worse. I saw the nonchalant stare she gave me. She thinks I'm going to give up - She wants me to give up. I won't allow myself to give in, at least, not like this. Releasing the cut on my arm, I returned to my proper stance before charging at Holo-Pearl. I was careful to think before just randomly lashing out on it. I knew Holo-Pearl would attempt to aim for my arm again, so I would have to dodge it. But I wasn't going to stop at logic, I wasn't about to hold anything back. As the sword came rushing to my side, I disarmed Holo-Pearl efficiently before coming down with an overhead attack as it poofed out of existence.

Pearl nodded, filled with contentment. I glance down at the minor scratches and skin tears on my hand, sucking in air through my teeth. I couldn't even tell which grazes were from today of previous sparring lessons. Pearl walked up to, holding my injured hand in a comforting manner. She takes a thin fabric of silky gauze from her gem to bandage my cut and to wrap my arm.

♫ Deep down you know,

You weren't built for fighting ♫

She smiled at me, attempting to distract me from the pain of my injury.

♫ But that doesn't mean you're not prepared to try ♫

Steven then walked up to me, holding a tray of juice boxes and orange slices in his hands. I also noticed a small, pink bandage with a cat on it wrapped around his finger and put two and two together; he cut his finger while slicing the oranges. I had to admit, the cuts I suffered made rolling my eyes a challenge.

He offers me the refreshments with a smile as I took the juice box, raising the straw to my lips. But, before I could take a sip, Pearl approaches me from the front, making me pause from my action. Her frown almost seemed like it was criticising me for relaxing my muscles for even after the battle was over, causing me to lower the juice box slightly.

♫ What they don't know,

Is your real advantage.

When you live for someone,

You're prepared to die. ♫

The last word triggered something for Steven. He was in dismay, why would Pearl say something like that? Death wasn't something he wanted to occur, death wasn't an advantage at all. He glanced at me, hoping I noticed the strange thing Pearl sang, and I did. But, not in the way he hoped I would. I placed the juice box back on the tray, declining the drink as I plastered back on a solemn grimace, ready to continue training. "D-Don't you want to finish your drink first?", Steven stammered. My head turned to face him, he noticed the strange aura of impetuousness glowing in my eye, immediately making him uncomfortable. He'd never seen such a vigorous look on me before. "I don't need the stupid juice box", I grumbled, before turning away.

I rolled up my tattered and scrapped sleeves to my upper arm, the spiked mace held tightly in my grip as Holo-Pearl regenerated once again.

♫ Deep down, I know, that I'm just a human ♫

"True", Pearl agreed.

♫ But I know that I won't hesitate to fight ♫

This time, instead of waiting for Holo-Pearl to attack me, I went in to attack it first. A lot of times it would block me, but I wouldn't let it get to me. Just remember what your fighting for. If you fail, he dies.

♫ With my short existence ♫

"Good", Pearl said.

♫ I can make a difference ♫

"Yes, excellent!", Pearl was now grinning as I increased my swiftness and agility. I used the chain of the mace to wrap it around Holo-Pearl's sword and yank the sword out of its grip. I then used my weapon to knock it off its feet, as a victorious grin came across my face once I triumphantly defeated it.

♫ I can be there for him, I can be his knight. ♫

♫ I can do it for him ♫

Pearl and I unexpectedly sang in unison.

♫ You'd do it for her. ♫

(I feel so dumb writing this :p)

"Okay, now do that again", Pearl instructed me and I nodded.

♫ You do it for her, and now you say ♫

I kneeled in front of Steven, renewing the vows I made at the start of my training, not noticing that Steven looked like he was feeling an intolerable agitation. He didn't the playful spark he did when my training began, he felt nervous, disturbed.

♫ I'll do it for him ♫

~

"(Y/N), being grounded means no after-school activities", my mother scolded me through my phone. She only allowed me to have it when I'm going to school, but as soon as I get home, it's confiscated from me. "What are you even doing in the library? I doubt those bruises you keep coming back with are from paper cuts from books. Are you sure you tripped and fell as you said?".

The rumbling sound of the bus moving made it a little difficult to hear her voice. And the additional chatter from the other students around me didn't help either. Though, I attempted to ignore her previous question. "I'm studying for an upcoming test", the lie I told seeped through my mouth so easily, but the venomous guilt still dripped down.

"Then why are you on the bus?", my mother asked, clearly hearing the vehicle's engine in the background. "And, since when do you study?".

"My friend showed me another library nearby, the library at school doesn't have the books I'm looking for", I explained, trying to subtly leave out the name of that "friend" to avoid any suspicion. "And since you always leave me with nothing to pass the time, I don't have much a choice. I could come home right now, but don't blame me if I receive a terrible grade".

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the call. Well, besides from the soft, occasional breathing. In the end, mum sighed with frustration, "Fine, but if you come home late, consider yourself DOUBLE grounded".

I raised a brow in dismay, "What does that even mean?".

"It means, you'll be in a lot of trouble".

Then, she hung up. I lent out all the pent up air I had in through my mouth with relief. I wasn't sure how I managed to convince her, but I did. Now comes the easy part.

The bus came to a slow stop, before opening its doors and allowing students to get out. I have to sneak over to Steven's house without anyone seeing me. If they did, my mother would definitely find out I lied.

Letting his legs dangle off the side of the couch, with an apprehensive expression glued to his face, Steven's eyes scanned over the book gripped unnoticeably tight in his hold titled; "How to Talk to People". He was so caught up in it, he almost didn't see me, sneaking my way into his house. The top of the book fell down slightly so that his eyes could peer over the case and onto me. "(Y/N)!", his voice chirped as he plopped the book on the couch and rushed over to me.

My brows knitted together, almost as if I was prepared for this. I put my hand in front of Steven's face before he got too close to me. "I will break every bone in your body if you try to hug me", my voice snarled in resentment towards a cuddle from him.

Steven plastered on a pitiful smile, trying to conceal the fact that he was a little bit hurt by my words. But covering it up was better than letting me know that. "You don't mean that", he said, rather confidently.

My glare hardened, "Do you want to test me and find out?".

He stood there, his expression blank with a tinge of fear, before quickly shaking his head, declining the opportunity to find out whether or not I was pulling his leg. I walked past him, heading towards the warp pad to wait for Pearl to come. "Wait! I need to talk to you", I heard Steven's voice call out from behind me, causing me to turn my head towards his. My mouth slightly pouted, but the glare I previously had was still fixated on my face, only, it was a little sterner, "Whatever it is, it can wait".

"Please! It's really important and it'll only take a minute", Steven pleaded with me, wanting to reach out and grab my hand to stop me from taking any more steps forward, but immediately shook that idea out of his head, wanting to keep all his bones un-broken!

Before I could respond, I heard Pearl's voice from behind, "Ah, I almost thought you weren't coming".

My focus was completed shifted towards Pearl, that I even ignored Steven's sharp tap on my shoulder, attempting to get my attention back. "We have important training to do, (Y/N)". She walked me over to the warp pad, my stomach filling up with determination.

"She's been making great strides, Steven", Pearl whispered to him as my back was turned, "Even with her rebellious hostility, she still managed to pull it off. She's going to be a great asset to you".

My feet stepped onto the diamond platform, waiting for Pearl to make her way onto it too before we both warped away.

~

The almost deafening sound of my footsteps echoed throughout the arena. I dragged behind the spiked mace, already used to its weight. We both made our way to the centre. My eyes gazed off to the staircases, it felt a little odd, like something was missing. I guess I'm so used to Steven cheering for me from the sidelines.

"Is something bothering you?", Pearl's austere but almost concerned voice pulled me back to earth. I shook my head almost instantly. "No! I-I'm fine!", I shot back at her, my eyes tearing away from the stands. That was so unconvincing...

Nevertheless, Pearl bought it, getting ready to start the fight. But before she did, she looked me straight in the eye with a critical glance. "You've come very far, (Y/N), it would be a shame to lose all your hard work now", the sound of my name rolling out of. her mouth with such recognition made me feel respected. "Remember, (Y/N). In the heat of battle, Steven is what matters. You don't matter".

A timid feeling rushed through my body like a tidal wave. It made me rethink my choices. Are we...going about this the right way? Something about this doesn't feel right. Of course, I don't want Steven to die, but to complete brush aside my own life seems a little extreme.

"(Y/N), repeat what I said so that I know you understand. You. Don't. Matter". My face scrunched into a sour expression, like lemon juice dripping on a fresh, open wound, pain shooting through the veins. It mentally stung me. I inhaled deeply, then sighed, "I don't matter".

"Now... let us... begin!".

Pearl's gem began to glow as clouds amassed into the arena, concealing the battleground. My eyes locked onto the first Holo-Pearl that caught my eye. My feet planted firmly on the ground, I sprinted up to it, the sound of metal chains clinking together.

"(Y/N)!".

My name was heard through the cloudy abyss. It reverberated in the arena, faintly, but still loud enough for me to hear. I shook it off, it must be a trick. Pearl was trying to throw me off guard.

I dodged Holo-Pearl's attack, the sound of clashing metal vibrated the foundation we were stepping on. I still heard the sound of my name and attempted to drown it out, but it got clearer and louder, which made it harder to concentrate. Knock it off, Pearl. I know you're trying to trick me.

I suddenly felt a hand on my shoulder, my instincts immediately kicking in, as I swung my mace around to hit my next target. "Gah! Wa-Wait!". I stopped myself from proceeding with my attacks any further when I noticed Steven, curled up in a small ball on the ground, his arms above his head, braced for impact. "Steven?", my voice sounded unsure if I was really seeing him in front of me. My expression suddenly became relatively serious and a little bitter that he was interrupting my training. "What are you doing out here?".

Steven languidly opened his eyes, his heart violently racing out of terror followed by slight light-headedness. A breath of relief left his mouth as he struggled to hoist himself up from the ground, his body trembling. "(Y/N), I... I don't want you to do this anymore! Not alone!", his voice faltered.

"No, Steven. I understand now!", I shook my head, lifting the mace to indolently hang over my shoulder. "Your legacy, your destiny, you are everything! I can give you my service! And better yet, my temper won't get in the way". Steven's frown deepened, his fist clutched as if he was talking to a brick wall.

"No! I don't want you to!", the tone of his voice sounded hurt and a little frantic. In a bit of confusion combined with irritation, I knitted my eyebrows together, a big frown resting upon my face. Why is he so indecisive. Before, he was so excited to get me into this. Practically begged me to get up to this point. I finally have my fighting skills nailed, I can be a real use to the Crystal Gems and he wants me to quit? What do I have to do to satisfy this boy?

"You're joking right", my voice was tinted with a tone that Steven could only