Chapter Eight: Make a Man Out of You
After cleaning up the rice for most of the night, Merida collapsed in a tent that was far away from the other soldiers.
As it got to morning, Iris took Hikari and twisted her wings around until ahe cried out, "WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT?"
"To wake Merida up." Iris said calmly, and it worked as Merida moodily awoke. "Okay, rise and shine sleeping beauty!"
"I don't wanna." Merida groaned as she went back to sleep. Iris simply took her blanket off of her.
"Get your clothes on and get ready." Iris called out. "I already got breakfast for you! Porridge!"
Merida looked at the bowl to see that eggs and bacon were added to make it look like it was smiling at her.
"And it's happy to see you!" Iris called out.
"Am I late?" Merida asked.
"Never mind that." Iris said as she stuffed some of the porridge in Merida' mouth. "Now it's your first day of training, so remember to listen to your teacher and play nice with the other kids unless the other kids wanna fight, then you gotta kick the other kids' butts."
"But I don't wanna kick the other kids' butts." Merida said before she finally managed to swallow the mouthful Iris gave her.
"Don't talk with your mouth full." Iris said. "Now let me see your war face!"
Merida starred at Iris blankly.
"Oh wow, my bunny slippers ran for cover." Iris said sarcastically. "Come on, scare me, girl!"
Merida growled as Iris was flung backwards.
"Now that's what I'm talking about!" Iris called out as Merida sighed and got into her training outfit. "Now go on out and make me proud!"
Just then, Angus put his head in the tent and neighed.
"What do you mean the troops just left?" Iris asked. Being a dragon, she could understand all kinds of animal languages.
"They what?" Merida called out as she rushed off on Angus while Iria rushed after her with Fergus's sword.
"Wait, you forgot your sword!" Iris called out, but it was too late as she began to tear up. "Oh, my little baby's going off to destroy people."
"Oh there, there." Hikari said as she patted Iris's shoulder.
()()()()()
All the troops were in the main training area as Drew went forward.
"Order!" Drew called out. "Order!"
"I'll have a fried fish!" Fishlegs called out as everyone laughed.
"That's not funny." Drew said distastefully as he walked on when Tuffnut nudged Snotloud.
"Hey look." Tuffnut said. "It's Gustav. Looks like our new friend slept in this morning."
Gustav walked up nervously.
"Hello Gustav, are you hungry?" Tuffnut asked.
"Uh… Why?" Gustav asked nervously in his oddly high voice.
"Well because I owe you a knuckle sandwich!" Snotloud shouted before Mahad walked out.
"Soldiers, that's enough!" Hiccup shouted. Everyone got into line as Hiccup removed his shirt. "You will assemble swiftly and silently every morning from now on! Anyone who does otherwise will answer to me."
"Ooh, tough guy." Snotloud said with a smirk.
"Snotloud?" Hiccup asked as he took a bow and arrow, pointed it at Snotloud, and then shot at the top of a pillar. "Thank you for volunteering. Retrieve that arrow."
"I'll get that arrow, pretty boy." Snotloud griped. "And I'll do it with my shirt on!"
Snotloud walked to the pillar when Hiccup stopped him.
"Wait a moment." Hiccup said as he brought out a flat box. "You seem to be missing something."
Hiccup pulled out two weights and attached them to Snotloud, who fell onto the ground.
"The weight on Snotloud's right hand represents strength, and the weight on his left hand represents discipline. You'll need both to reach the arrow." Hiccup explained.
Snotloud jumped onto the poll and began to climb it before he started slipping. He tried to use his teeth to stay where he was, but all that did was make a long wood shaving as he fell down.
Fishlegs tried next and fell, landing on his head.
Tuffnut tried after Fishlegs, but he didn't do any better.
Gustav tried next, but he fell too.
"We've got a long way to go." Hiccup groaned as he tossed staffs to everyone when Snotloud grabbed Gustav's staff and tripped him with it before tossing it at his feet.
Let's get down to business
To defeat… The Huns!
Hiccup easily broke down several target vases with his staff for a demonstration.
Did they send me daughters
When I asked for sons?
Merida tried, but she sneezed at just the wrong moment and ended up knocking everyone else down as Hiccup went over and took the staff from her.
You're the saddest bunch I've ever met,
But you can bet before we're through,
Mister, I'll… Make a man, out of you…
Next, Hiccup demonstrated archery, shooting three tomatoes with three arrows with perfect precision.
Tranquil as a forest,
But on fire within.
Merida might have done okay if Iris hadn't taken the tomatoes and put them on the arrows already while Isis wasn't looking, and Hiccup walked up to her as she smiled sheepishly.
From there, they went onto a Cliff-side as Hiccup put a bucket of water on his head and used his staff to deflect several stones the soldiers through at him.
Once you find your center,
You are sure to win.
Merida tried next, but Fishlegs, Tuffnut, and Snotloud practically bombarded her with stones, and she only managed to deflect three or four before the bucket fell onto her head.
You're a spineless, pale, pathetic lot,
And you haven't got a clue.
At a stream, Hiccup caught a fish in one swift motion. Merida tried to repeat, but she only caught Snotloud's foot.
Somehow I'll… Make a man… Out of you!
Fishlegs and Tuffnut were running through several fireworks.
I'm never gonna catch my breath! Fishlegs groaned.
Say good-bye to those who knew me! Snotloud thought as a firework caught his rear.
Boy was I a fool in school for cutting gym! Tuffnut thought as he slammed his head down on a rock, knocking himself out.
Hiccup and Merida were sparring when Hiccup shoved her back.
This guy's got her scared to death! Iris groaned angrily.
Hope he doesn't see right through me. Merida gulped.
Now I really wish that I knew how to swim! Fishlegs said as he nervously crossed a river on far apart poles.
You must be swift as a coursing river!
With all the strength of a great typhoon!
With all the strength of a raging fire!
Mysterious as the dark side of… The moon!
One week into training, Hiccup sighed as he looked at the arrow, still stuck on the top of the pole.
About two weeks after arriving, everyone was carrying two crates of water per person to increase strength and endurance when Merida fell over, and Hiccup took hers away while starring at her.
Time is racing towards us
'Till the Huns arrive.
Head my every order,
And you might survive.
That night, Hiccup approached Merida and said, "You're unsuited for the rage of war so pack up. Go home. You're through. How could I… Make a man… Out of you?"
Merida was about to go when she looked at the arrow and tried to get it. She made a promise to herself. If she could get that arrow, she'd stay. If not, she'd go home.
Merida then looked at the weights when she got an idea. She wrapped the weights around the pole and used the weight to keep her climbing instead of falling.
You must be swift as the coursing river!
With all the force of a great typhoon!
With all the strength of a raging fire!
Mysterious as the dark side of… The moon!
That morning, when Hiccup got out of his tent at dawn, Merida tossed the arrow at his feet as she sat on top of the pole and smiled.
From that day on, everyone improved. Snotloud gave Merida her staff instead of tripping her, Snotloud easily ran through the fireworks, Tuffnut could break concrete with just his head, and Fishlegs hoped across the river like it was nothing.
We must be swift as the coursing river!
With all the force of a great typhoon!
With all the strength of a raging fire!
Mysterious as the dark side of… The moon…!
A month after arriving, everyone was able to at least challenge Hiccup in combat, and Hiccup couldn't be happier about that. They had made it.
Chaos dose not own Mulan, Brave or HTTYD but she owns Iris, Hikari belongs to WingBladeWeaver1357, and Drew belongs to RedDiEnd.
