Disney University, 2011

"This is not going to work!"

"It would if you would stop acting like a ninny!"

Subira quivered as the bull's-eye she was focused on kept going in and out of blurriness. The bow and arrow in her arms was held poorly and with no confidence. It wouldn't have been that much of a problem if Subira simply lost. She didn't mind losing to Merida even though she could be a bit of a sore winner. What she did mind was Merida standing right next to the target. Subira gulped. "Don't worry your pretty little head lass. You're not gonna hit anybody!" The Queen of magic took one last steadying sigh before pulling back and letting the arrow go. Her eyes snapped open just in time to see that the arrow had landed in the grass, merely a few feet away. A deep burning sensation rose in her cheeks as the sound of high-pitched laughter floated into her ears. She glared at the Scotswoman who had fallen to the ground holding her aching sides in laughter.

"So I'm not good at archery, so what?" said the irate queen as she headed towards the laughing redhead who had yet to stand. "Oh shut up, will you?" she growled pulling the arrow from the ground as the redhead finally found the strength in her legs to rise. She raised her hands in a sign of surrender.

"I'm sorry!"

"Yeah right."

"No, no really. I'm sorry I laughed at you lass," said the redhead as she forced herself to inhale and exhale slowly and evenly. "If it makes you feel better, it was so sweet that you were scared you were gonna hit me!"

"That's it!" That was the Princesses only warning before Subira tackled her. Her fingers sought out every ticklish spot on Merida's frame and caused her to cry out in laughter.

"Stop!"

"I'm sorry, I can't hear you!"

"Mercy! Mercy!"

"I can't understand you, dearie. What were you saying?" Subira mocked in a crude impression of Merida's accent as the two continued to roll in the mud, ticking each other.

"Hello girls!" said a chipper, midwestern voice. Subira gasped as the familiar shadow pasted over them.

"Hey there, Disney," answered Merida, relieved to have been released from her tickle torture. Subira shot up quickly and curtsied.

"Hello sir," she sputtered before quickly motioning to Merida to get up. Merida snorted, began to stand and shook some of the mud from her red mane.

"Ms. Subira," started Disney, "May I ask why two Princesses are rolling around in the mud?"

"'Caus it's fun, duh," Merida snorted as she wiped some of the mud from her face, "and she's technically a Queen." Disney grinned at Merida's high tone but frowned at her mention of Subira's status.

"Merida! We were just finishing up an archery lesson, sir," Subira explained as Disney's eyebrows rose in surprise.

"Were you now?"

"Yes!" Subira exclaimed as the princess in question slung an arm around her dark skinned friend. "Merida's a master of archery."

"Ehh, I am pretty amazing." Both Disney and Subira could not help but chuckle at that.

"Subira, would you mind if I spoke to Princess Merida privately for a moment."

"Of course not, sir," Subira said as Merida followed the man, leaving her alone covered in mud. She sighed and cast a quick clean spell before collect the arrows they had been using. However, she could not help stealing small glances in Disney's direction as he spoke to the red haired girl. She knew that look. Subira averted her eyes and focused on gathering each arrow.

"Hey lass." Subira looked up and smiled to see Merida at her side once again. "What was that about?"

"What?"

"With Disney, you barely looked him in the eye," the archer explained, her hip cocked to the side with her left hand upon it. Say what you want about the redhead but she was perceptive than given credit for. Subira stood blushing all the while with arrows in her arms.

"He's the dean."

"So?"

"So I just …I want him to like me," Subira admitted, her eyes once again glued to the ground. "And I don't think he does."

"Well, you aren't giving him much of a chance. It's kinda hard to like someone who isn't being they," Merida explained as she grab half of the arrows from Subira's arms. The two began to head back to school grounds.

"It won't matter who I am if he likens me to a savage who rolls around in the mud," Subira huffed as the bell rang causing the girls to turn their leisurely stroll into a sprint.

"Oy!" Merida said as she playfully nudged Subira's shoulder, "I roll in the mud, it's fun. You calling me savage?"

"Nah…you just eat like a savage!"

"You better not let me catch you!"

Brave, released 2012