Army Training
"Hyah, hyah! Take that, Boggan!" The little five-year-old in play armor said. He was running around his room, waving a sword made out of tree bark. His name was Lucius, with short light brown hair, light tan skin, and bright light brownish-blueish eyes. He waved his sword around like a real weapon as he stabbed his stuff animals all around him, throwing them to the ground and pounding them with his fists. Suddenly his play time was interrupted when there was a knock. Lucius saw his father, Ronin, and eyed him.
"Son, what did I tell you about throwing your toys around? Your going to ruin them," Ronin said.
"Boggan," Lucius said.
"Boggan?" Ronin asked.
"You're dead meat, Boggan! I'm Lucius, champion of the leafmen!" Lucius said raising his sword. He ran at his dad with his play sword pointed and Ronin looked terrified, well not really. "Oh no! Stay away from me!" Ronin said, running around his son's room.
"Get back here, Boggan! No one can escape me!" said Lucius.
"Oh really? Well how's this for size?!" Ronin asked. Lucius gasped and started running as Ronin started to chase him with arms wide open. Suddenly, Ronin snatched the boy in his arms and started to toy with him. "Now you're done for, leafman!" Ronin said, twirling his son in his arms.
"Ok, I give in!" Lucius said, laughing.
"It doesn't work like that! Come here!" said Ronin. He started to tickle his son, making him laugh even harder. Before the little boy knew it, Ronin fell to the ground with him still in his arms, giving him a noogie. Lucius laughed as Ronin continued to tickle and rub his scalp. Suddenly, their fun time was interrupted when they heard the clear of a throat. Turning around, Lucius and Ronin saw Queen Tara with arms crossed and a curious look on her face.
"What are my two generals doing? Shouldn't daddy be at dinner now?" asked Queen Tara.
"Look, son. There's another Boggan there. I think we need to take her down," Ronin looked at Lucius.
"Take down mommy!" Lucius ordered. They both charged at Queen Tara, who looked on with surprise. Ronin cornered Queen Tara, who was laughing and protesting. "Ronin, don't you dare!" Queen Tara ordered, but Ronin swept the queen in his arms and spun her around, while Lucius was jumping with his sword in the air.
"Ronin, put me down!" Queen Tara laughed.
"Now son! Take her out!" Ronin ordered. He plopped Queen Tara down on the bed while Lucius climbed up on the bed, pointing his wooden sword at her face. "You're mine, mommy!" Lucius said.
"Ok, you got me…but I've got you!" Queen Tara hopped up and picked up Lucius, spinning him around in her arms. Lucius started laughing as his mom threw him lightly in the air. Ronin joined in the fun and threw him up in the air a couple of times, making it look like he was flying. Lucius continued laughing as his parents finally decided to let him go.
"Dinner's ready, you two," Queen Tara said. Ronin and Lucius looked at each other as they followed Tara out of the room, with dinner awaiting them.
Ronin and Tara ate together side-by-side while Lucius decided to use his utensils as toys. He playfully stuck his fork in the mashed up berries and stabbed at them like they were the enemy. Then he scooped them up and stuffed them in his mouth and swallowed. Queen Tara and Ronin smiled at him as he continued to play with his food.
"Lucius, the food's for eating, not playing," Ronin informed him.
"Ah, but I was destroying Boggans," Lucius said with a frown.
"Sweetie, you can focus on that later. Eat your food," Queen Tara said. Lucius sighed and stuck his fork back in the berries, taking a bite. "Hey, mommy! Do you think I could help daddy with army training tomorrow?" he asked eagerly.
"Ah, son, it's a huge responsibility," said Ronin.
"Ah c'mon, daddy! Just this once! Please?" Lucius asked, giving his dad the old puppy-eyed face. Ronin stared at his son for a moment and sighed. "Alright," he gave in. Lucius laughed victoriously as he continued to eat food. Queen Tara giggled while Ronin continued to eat peacefully.
The next day, Ronin and Lucius traveled to the leafman base where soldiers were doing all kinds of exercises. Lucius ran around and saw everything in sight. Ronin tried to keep watch of him but the little boy was running all over the place, looking at weapons and touching shields. Ronin saw his officer who greeted him as he came up.
"Is it bring-your-kid to work day already?" he asked.
"No. My son wanted to help out," Ronin said. He saw Lucius with his favorite toy sword waving at other soldiers, who looked at the little boy with confused looks on their faces. "Face me, Boggan!" Lucius said. Ronin sighed and hurried over and grabbed his hand before he made anymore scenes of any kind. Ronin's officer smirked as he got back to his station to continue sword exercises.
"Alright, this exercise is simple. All of you will twirl your swords in the air, catch them, and put them back in their holsters! Understand?" Ronin asked a line of soldiers. Lucius watched in amazement as they finished the exercise with swift movements and quickness. Lucius was determined to get the exercises right this time. He looked down at his wooden sword and threw it in the air, making a twirl. Lucius smiled and rose his hands over his head, but all he got was a bonk on the head!
"Ow!" Lucius rubbed his aching head. He picked up his sword and tried it again. This time it did not hit him in the head, but it fell on the floor. Lucius grew frustrated and tried it again, but got the same result a second time. "C'mon! Catch it!" Lucius complained. He tried again and again, but got the same results. Ronin watched him with as the scenery started to shift towards his son. Suddenly, Lucius threw it again in the air, this time catching it with the swift move of his arms.
"I did it! I'm a leafman now!" Lucius cheered. Ronin smiled at the sight of his son, but quickly changed his expression back to a serious tone when his officer noticed him.
Ronin reared his bird and flew straight back towards home. He noticed Lucius was still waving his sword around which was quite distracting in case you are trying to fly a hummingbird. "Son, will you please stop? It's distracting my movements," Ronin said.
"Sorry, daddy," Lucius said, quickly putting his sword away. Ronin smiled and continued to fly his bird.
"Daddy, I have a question. Why are you always strict with your men? Why aren't you treating them like you do me?" Lucius asked.
"Because they're not kids, Lucius. They're soldiers and I have strict rules about training them," said Ronin.
"But you weren't like that with me. Seeing you so serious makes me feel scared sometimes," said Lucius.
"Why, son?" asked Ronin.
"Because you're usually a nice daddy who always has fun with people," said Lucius. Ronin smiled at his son and ruffled a hand through his hair. "I'm only doing my job, son. It's what every sergeant does. They may look like they're mean and tough, but deep down some are nice and caring, and some are just plain mean in general. But it doesn't mean they're like that wherever they go." Ronin explained.
"So you're not always like that?" asked Lucius.
"Only when I have to be, son," said Ronin.
"You were nice to most of them, but when it came to exercises, you grew serious," said Lucius.
"I only got serious because it was an exercise. I'm only hard on people who purposefully slack off and they choose not to do their best. I'm not like that with others who mess up but want to try," Ronin said.
"Did I do good today?" Lucius asked.
"You did, son," said Ronin, ruffling his hand through his hair again.
"Can I come to work with you again, daddy?" Lucius asked with a huge smile on his face. Ronin smiled even wider and nodded. Lucius smiled widely as the hummingbird took them both home, where Queen Tara was waiting. When they landed, Ronin picked up his little boy and carried him on his shoulders, making their way into the home.
Ronin smiled proudly at Lucius, knowing that he would make a fine general one day himself.
FIN
There ya go! This is AU, but this is what I thought of if Ronin and Tara had a son. I honestly thought Ronin's eyes were green, but then I saw a picture of him and his eyes are light blue. Whoops! Anyways, edited the eyes on the son! :D
If anyone wants to do fanart for this fic, go right ahead. Since it's my second popular Epic fanfic, you can go ahead and draw some fanart. However it must be appropriate and you must notify me if you decide to do a piece. :)
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