Training at Camp
It was an interesting first day in the Shepherds for Donnel. He'd proven his worth to Chrom, their leader, by saving him from a brigand's axe in the assault on Donnel's village.
I got so lucky, Donnel thought, that I managed to impress Chrom. Now I can be a Shepherd, fighting with the prince! I'll have so many tales to tell everyone back home… what a lucky day for you, Donny!
As a new member of the Shepherds, Chrom and his pack were still watching Donnel carefully, making sure he was safe, and getting better at combat. Often they'd invite him to spar.
"Come at me!" Sumia called out.
Donnel watched the graceful girl twirl her training lance in the air, flying atop her pegasus. He held his spear ready, scrambling his brain for ideas on how to fight someone in the air. He clenched his training spear when he thought up his first idea. Then, he ran forward, and at the apex of his speed, chucked the pole at Sumia as hard as he could.
Sumia watched as the training weapon came hurtling up, only to stop short of her, and it fell down to the wayside. Donnel was now wide open without his weapon. She charged down and struck him across the chest. The farmhand fell to the ground from the impact.
"Ow," he complained, "ya didn't have to hit that hard!"
"Sorry, Donnel, but you've got to be ready. Don't throw your lance, especially if you're going to miss."
"Right, right, let's try again."
"Maybe you should spar with someone else. I've won every time. It could be that you're havnig trouble with an aerial opponent?"
"Maybe," Donnel said, looking around. "But I think I shoulda been able to beat a fella in the air, so I'm gonna beat you next time!"
"Hehe, I like your spirit," Sumia said. "Good luck!"
Donnel looked around the camp. Most others who wanted to spar were already sparring. He noticed Lissa watching on.
"Hey, Lissa! Up for a fight?" he said.
"Fighting's not my job," Lissa said.
"Oh," Donnel sighed.
"But you know what? I'm bored. Sure, I'll go for a round."
Lissa picked up a wooden axe and beckoned for Donnel to attack her. He picked his pole up off the ground and ran ahead at full speed. Lissa watched him sprint, and dodged to the side before he could make contact. Panicked, Donnel tried to stop and turn, but ended up facefirst in the dirt. Lissa casually walked over to him, tapped him on the back with her axe, and declared-
"Ha! I won!"
Donnel groaned in lamenting his loss.
"What's that?" she asked with a sassy tone.
The farmhand laid still, but pulled his arms forward to rest his head on them. He was still sore from losing to Sumia, and now he lost to a cleric. Was it really just luck that he killed the brigand attacking Chrom?
His thoughts were interrupted by Lissa kicking at his side.
"Do you want to fight again?"
"I'm not sure, Lissa, sorry…"
"Well, you've got to keep training one way or another. I've got an idea that might help you."
"Oh yeah? How's that?" Donnel asked.
His question was answered when Lissa, without hesitation, walked over Donnel and sat on his back.
"I'm gonna ride you like a horse!"
Donnel tried to push her away, but she kicked his hands. Her legs being on either side of him made it impossible for him to fight her without getting up, and Donnel wasn't ready to leave the ground.
"Come on, Donny!" she exclaimed.
"How's this supposed to help?" he asked, unhappy with the weight on his back.
"It'll make you stronger, I think. Plus, I think it'd be fun," she explained.
"Maybe fun for you, but do you think that'd be fun for me?"
"Sure it would! Quit complaining and mush, dummy!" She patted his sides to gesture him up.
"No way," Donnel said.
"Too bad," Lissa replied snappily, "I'm not getting off until you give me five laps."
"That's ridiculous!" Donnel said, "I can't carry your weight on me!"
"Are you saying I'm heavy?" Lissa said.
Donnel realized his mistake. Lissa was Chrom's sister, and he couldn't afford to offend the royal family just after he'd joined the Shepherds.
"N-no, Lissa."
"Then giddy up already," she said.
Donnel let out a begrudging sigh, and lifted himself up off the ground. He felt Lissa adjust herself so that she was balanced on top of him, sitting carefully on his midsection. Her hands grabbed his shirt's collar, holding onto him for support. Her knees bent so that her legs went behind her, and from there, she used her foot to kick his side.
"Go!" she commanded.
Donnel went forward.
"Now turn, over here!" she said.
"Are you having fun yet?" Donnel said.
"Maybe. Run faster," she explained.
Donnel attempted to pick up the pace.
Lissa smiled with glee. She was so glad she came up with this idea! She'd gotten Donnel to carry her around the camp on his back. It was ridiculous, but she made sure to point out the ridiculousness of the situation to the others.
"Hey, Frederick! Look! I'm breaking in a new ride for us!" she called out.
Donnel looked away in embarrassment, and started crawling away from the others.
"Hey, I didn't tell you to go that way!" she chided, "C'mon, Donny, back over there!"
Donnel felt his sides being kicked in protest.
"Don't embarrass me, Lissa," he said.
"It's not embarrassing, it's training."
"You said five laps? I'm doing them now."
"Fine!" she said, pouting.
The two were in silence as she rode him around the camp. It was a confusing sight to some, seeing Lissa jockeying Donnel, neither saying a word. Two of the five laps were completed, when finally-
"Sister, what's going on?" Chrom asked.
"Stop, Donny," she commanded. When he stopped, she looked her brother in the eyes and said, "I'm training Donnel."
"By treating him as a horse?"
"Yes."
Chrom crossed his arms. Donnel didn't say a word, but wondered what the prince was thinking of him, seeing him under Lissa.
"Alright then," he said, "if he agreed, that's fine, I suppose..."
"I didn't agree!" Donnel exclaimed.
"Hey!" Lissa barked back. She leaned forward, close to his ear, and whispered, "I bet you don't want Chrom to know you lost to me."
The farmhand quickly revised his statement. "I mean to say, I did agree, but she was pushy."
"That's my sister," he joked, "good luck with her, Donnel."
Lissa kicked his sides and resumed her ride around the campsite.
After the third lap, the princess noticed Donnel was starting to get slower.
"You're slowing down. Getting tired, are we?" she commented.
"Yes," he explained.
"Good!" she said, proud of herself, "That means this exercise is working."
Donnel sighed and Lissa kicked him again.
"But you've gotta move faster if you want to get strong."
"Do I have to?"
"Move it!" she said, pretending to whip his collar.
The man let out a huff and sped up. Lissa smiled as he resumed his prior pace, making it a much more satisfying ride. He managed to keep this pace for her until halfway through the fifth lap around the campsite.
"Come on, Donnel! I'm almost at the finish line! You just need to take me a little further!"
Donnel huffed and tried to keep his arms strong. Her weight was beginning to really push on his back, unbeknownst to the happy rider atop him. Her butt really sank into his midsection, making it hard to keep her up. With the princess's command, he pulled through.
"We're almost there, just a few more steps!" she commanded.
The man reached where they had started, and stopped right there.
"That was fun," Lissa said, "Can we go for one more lap?"
"You said only five," Donnel responded.
"Fine," she agreed. "Fair's fair."
Lissa kicked her legs out and stood up. Donnel laid down, in the same spot he had been when he fell from his reckless charge, exhausted.
"That was quite a workout, huh?" she asked him.
"I… guess…" he agreed.
"And it was fun! We can do another one tomorrow, if you like!" she said.
"I think I'll be fine without…"
"Really? But what about the fact you lost to me? I can tell Chrom, or…"
"N-no! Fine, I'll do it," Donnel agreed.
Maybe this would not be a terrible idea. He did feel like he was getting stronger. But perhaps this was his way of making peace with the fact that he couldn't refuse the princess's demand. She walked away with a smug smile, priding herself on how well she'd won him over.