It depends! Some people figure out their powers right away, but other people find theirs by accident. For instance, I rediscovered my size-changing power by accidentally shrinking Davesprite! But I've also seen people spontaneously set things on fire, or become temporary giants...

[She shrugs. Weird things happen around here a lot.]

And I haven't come across too many monsters, but apparently they attack the town from time to time. It is our duty as gems to defeat them and bubble them! That's the reason the heart brought us here, but for the most part, things are actually pretty peaceful.