Dragon Pendant

Meanwhile, back at the castle, Jason and Steven moved in synchronized patterns, their wooden swords clashing with each strike.

Steven: "Who's the dragon pendant for?"

Jason: *blushes lightly* "No one special."

Steven: "No one special? Are you sure it's not for a certain girl?"

Jason: *scoffs* "....Maybe."

Steven smirked as he parried Jason's strike, his movements fluid and confident. 

Steven: *teases* "Just maybe? Come on, Jason. I saw you kiss her at the ball. You can't fool me. Who is she?" 

Jason: *huffs as he blocks Steven's next strike* "It's none of your business." 

Steven: "Come on, it's not gonna hurt ya to tell anyone!"

Jason and Steven paused their sparring as the sound of Grace's voice caught Jason off guard. He turned his head slightly, catching sight of Grace walking with Jasmine across the courtyard. His grip on the wooden sword faltered momentarily, though he quickly tightened it again to avoid Steven noticing. 

Jason: *softly* "Hi, Grace…" 

Grace: *cheerfully* "Hi!" 

Jasmine shot Jason an annoyed glare, her violet ponytail swaying as she tugged Grace away. 

Jasmine: *grumbles* "Don't waste your time talking to that idiot, Grace." 

Grace: *innocently* "What did he do?" 

Jason: *confused* "What did I do?!" 

Steven: *snickers* "Oh, I think you just exist, buddy." 

As Jasmine and Grace disappeared into the castle halls, Jason sighed, still trying to figure out what he had done to spark his twin's irritation this time. Steven, however, was grinning ear to ear, already scheming. 

Steven: *nudges Jason* "Alright, forget the drama—how much you wanna bet they're heading straight for the kitchen?" 

Jason: *blinks* "The kitchen?" 

Steven: "Yeah. I mean, you know Jasmine can't resist fresh cookies, and I'd bet my sword that girl, Grace, wouldn't mind some either." 

Jason: *chuckles softly* "Well, the chefs do make the best pastries. I wouldn't blame them." 

Steven: "Alright, then. New plan—race you to the kitchen! First one there gets first pick of the cookies!" 

Jason: *smirks* "You're on." 

Meanwhile, in the castle halls…

Jasmine: *curiously* "Where are they going?" 

Grace: *shrug* "Maybe they're done with their training." 

Jasmine: "Or maybe they're up to something. Steven's always plotting something, and Jason loves to follow along with his nonsense." 

Grace: "You think they're gonna raid the kitchen?" 

Jasmine's magenta eyes widened slightly at the thought of fresh cookies. Cookies were her ultimate weakness—soft, warm, and perfectly sweet. 

Jasmine: *huff* "Not if we get there first. Come on, Grace!" 

Grace followed Jasmine as the princess quickened her pace, the thought of warm, freshly baked cookies propelling them both toward the kitchen. 

Jason and Steven burst into the castle, their footsteps echoing as they raced through the halls. 

Steven: *laughs breathlessly* "I'm totally beating you!" 

Jason: "Not if I trip you first!" 

Just as they rounded the corner toward the kitchen, Jasmine and Grace appeared from the opposite hall, skidding to a stop as they spotted the boys. 

Jasmine: *narrows her eyes* "Oh, no you don't!" 

Steven: *smirks* "Too late, Jaz! We called dibs!" 

Jasmine: "Gracie, move faster!" 

The two pairs bolted toward the kitchen doors, the tantalizing scent of fresh cookies spurring them on.

Jasmine: "Flint?"

Flint: "Hey."

Grace and Steven ran through the kitchen doors with Jason behind them.

Jason: *out of breath* "That animal shape shift....that was uncool Grace.... uncool!"

Jasmine: *holds a hand against her chest and mutters* "I'm so proud of her." *ahem* "My idiot brother is right, Grace. That was unfair. You know not everyone can shift into animals like you can."

Grace: "Sorry...I'm still learning to control it."

Jasmine: "Yes. And we need to work on that." *turns her glance to Flint* "Anyways, when did you get here, Flint?"

Flint: "I got here about ten minutes ago. Figured I'd grab some cake before everyone raided the kitchen. Good thing I did, huh?"

Jason shuffled close to Grace, who was standing in the corner of the kitchen, and took out the dragon pendant.

Grace: *eyes widen* "You were the one who got it?"

Jason: "Well actually some other guy originally got it for his girlfriend. But it turned out she was cheating on him so he let me have it. Were you trying to get earlier?"

Grace: "Yeah."

Grace took the pendant. It felt warm to the touch. Just like when she first saw it. It felt as if it had a pulse of its own, a faint thrum of energy that seemed to match her own heartbeat. She stared at it for a moment, her eyes wide with surprise and a hint of confusion. She hadn't expected this moment, but now that it was here, she couldn't deny the odd sense of connection she felt to the pendant.

Grace: *softly* "You really got it for me?"

Jason: *blushes* "Well...yeah. I...I..." *mumbles ever so quietly* "I love you."

Grace: "Oh." *smiles* "Well that's nice."

Jason stood there, heart pounding in his chest, as Grace smiled at him. His words hung in the air, but she didn't seem to fully understand their weight. He couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed, but there was also a strange sense of relief. He had said it—he'd finally said it—but her reaction wasn't what he had hoped for.

Grace: *looking at the pendant* "It's a nice gesture, Jason. Thank you."

Jason blinked, his face turning even redder. He wasn't sure whether to laugh or sigh in frustration. He had been so sure, so confident that his feelings would shine through, but it seemed like Grace was still clueless. 

Flint, who had been quietly enjoying his cake, glanced up at the awkward tension in the room, noticing the subtle exchange between Grace and Jason. He took a casual bite of his cake, leaning against the counter with an amused look on his face.

Flint: "You know, it's a good thing I'm not the one who needs to get a dragon pendant to make a gesture."

Jason: "That's because you've been together with Linda for what? Two years now?"

Flint: *nods* "Yep. And I didn't need a pendant to show her how I feel."

Jason: *grumbles* "Lucky..."

He glances over at Grace who was still holding the pendant and seemed lost in her own thoughts.

Jason: *sigh* "It's just... it's not exactly how I pictured it going."

Steven: *smirks* "Well, it's better than not saying anything at all. At least you tried."

Jason: "Yeah..."