Bouncing Back

"Merida I'm fine, really," Rapunzel insisted as her worried friend ran her fingers over her back. "You know I heal quickly. It didn't even leave a scar," Rapunzel added to try and put her mind at ease.

Merida didn't say anything as she continued to scan her eyes over the fair skin of Rapunzel's back. It was hours after their duel with Astrid. Rapunzel had been taken to the infirmary to get her wounds treated and to deal with the venom from Stormfly's spines. Merida could only sit there, blind as people shuffled about to help her partner. She'd felt so helpless and afraid for her.

Luckily Hiccup was there. He quickly told the nurses all they'd need to make an antidote for the venom and provided Merida with what company he could, assuring her that Rapunzel would be fine. Eventually the venom's effects began to wear off, as Merida slowly regained full control of her body. Even her vision returned.

Following suite once the venom was treated for Rapunzel and she could properly focus, she used her magic to heal herself. The scars along her back disappeared as if they were never there. And she sat up, smiling as if nothing had ever happened.

Merida had rushed to her and threw her arms around her. Rapunzel smiled and hugged her back, assuring her that she was fine. They were dismissed by Aster, told to take the rest of the day to recuperate. They went to their rooms where Merida asked to look at Rapunzel's back to see that she'd healed properly.

"See. Totally fine," Rapunzel said as she lowered her shirt.

"Why'd you do that?" Merida demanded.

"Do what?"

"Take that last hit for me," Merida said sharply. "You're aren't supposed to do that. I'm the Knight. I'm the one who fights."

"We fight together Merida," Rapunzel pointed out. "We're a team."

"But you're supposed to be the weapon Rapunzel. You're not supposed to do that," Merida insisted. "If anyone is going to give blood in a battle, it's going to be from me."

"So I'm just supposed to sit back and let you get hurt?"

"Yes!" Merida cried angrily.

Rapunzel frowned. "I may be the Implement Merida. But I'm a Knight too. And you're my best friend. So I won't accept that," she said in defiance. Merida frowned in response. "You took me from my tower Merida. You showed me the world. You gave me a real life," Rapunzel said, holding her gaze as she spoke.

"So if it ever comes to it, I'll gladly trade my life for yours." Merida's eyes widened at what she'd said. "It's the least I can do."

Merida stared at her. She knew that they'd each do all they could to protect one another. But she'd had no idea Rapunzel's devotion to her ran this deep. She wasn't sure how to respond to it.

Before she could think of anything else to say there was a knock at their door. Rapunzel quickly took her eyes off Merida's to go and open it. They were greeted by Elsa and Anna. The sisters asked if they were ok. Rapunzel gave them a chipper confirmation while Merida remained silent and brooding.

"You guys did pretty good. Astrid usually doesn't have to change Stormfly to her second form when fighting someone," Anna tried to say to make them feel better.

It didn't do much.

"Astrid is strong. She's a tough opponent to defeat. Something Anna and myself know first hand," Elsa said.

The girls perked up before looking to the sisters. "We've fought Astrid twice. We lost the first time, but won the second. Her skills in close quarters combat are quite unmatched. And the venom on Stormfly's blade and spines can stun or paralyze from even the slightest scratch. Also, as you witnessed yourself, Stormfly's lance form can bend and curl around defenses all on its own for a surprise attack," Elsa explained.

The girls' frowned at the mention of their opponent. "Well-uh-try not to get too down guys," Anna said. "You can't win them all, right?" she told them before ushering her sister and herself out of the room so they could be alone.

The girls sat in their room in silence, their first loss weighing heavily on them.

Breakfast and lunch were tense and awkward the next day. While Rapunzel tried to make idle talk like things were normal, Merida was silent. It was obvious to all of them that their loss was weighing more heavily on the red head than her partner. They could practically see the dark cloud hanging over her head as she mechanically ate her food in silence.

Unlike Rapunzel her partner was far more prideful.

So she wallowed, physically fine, but pride wounded.

The others weren't sure what to do or say that would help her.

Jack nudged Hiccup in the ribs with elbow. Hiccup looked to Jack, brows furrowed in confusion. What did he expect him to say? Jack motioned with his head to Merida. Telling him to say something, anything. Hiccup had always been better with words than him.

"So...guys," Hiccup said as he looked to Rapunzel and Merida. "Good job on your duel. You guys did well."

"Thank you Hiccup," Rapunzel said with a small smile.

"We lost," Merida mumbled with a scowl.

"Well...yeah. But-"

"But nothing!" Merida interrupted sharply. "She won and we lost. There's nothing more to it."

"Well I think if try to see it another way then-"

"See what another way?" Merida asked angrily. She immediately stood up and stormed off in a huff. The others watched her go, debating on whether or not they should follow or let her simmer on her own. They settled on the latter.

Rapunzel stayed close by her friend and partner throughout the day, trying her best to just be there for her. She could partially understand how Merida felt. It didn't feel good to lose. And admittedly, after all they'd face they'd probably come to see themselves as unbeatable. But this only served as wake up call, letting them know they both still had much room for growth.

Unfortunately Merida was too busy feeling sorry for herself to see it that way.

What's worse was that Astrid was preening to herself, and the other Berkian teens, save Heather, kept shooting the two of them haughty glances. Rubbing their comrade's victory in, making sure salt stayed in the wounds.

Rapunzel hated seeing Merida so glum, but she had no idea what to do.

In the end, she didn't say anything. Eventually classes ended and the girls went back to their room. They studied and got ready for bed in silence. Merida turned pulled up her blankets and turned her back on her friend while Rapunzel looked on helplessly. In the end she let out a breath and closed her eyes, hoping Merida would come out of her funk on her own time.

The next day Rapunzel woke up to find Merida missing. She panicked for a moment, believing the worst. But she settled don when she saw a note written in Merida's hand saying that she was going for a hike and would be back later.

Merida walked the trail through the forest on the outskirts of the school. She just felt she needed to be alone. It was their off day anyway. She also couldn't bear the looks in all her friends' eyes. They looked at her like she were a wounded animal, pity for her all too apparent.

So she wanted to wallow for a bit? So what? Didn't she have that right?

She carried a small pack of provision on her back, a few of the items she still had from travelling around before coming to the academy. She aimed for nowhere in particular. But was experienced enough to know she could find her way back if neccessary. Her map and compass would make sure of that.

She walked a trail with overhanging branches, sunlight filtering through them before she stopped. She looked up at the sky. Gauging the time by the sun's relative position in the sky when something suddenly flew overhead in a black blur. Merida blinked, having sworn she'd caught of glimpse of something large and winged.

But whatever it was was gone. With her view obstructed by the trees around her she had no hopes of pinpointing it. With a sigh she continued on. She walked and walked, until her legs were tired. She slumped against a tree and drank some water from a canteen. She closed her eyes, enjoying the warm day and the shade of the tree when she suddenly heard an explosion.

Merida leapt up, eyes scanning the treeline before noting the plume of smoke in the distance. Cocking her head to the side and curious she began to make her way toward it.

She eventually cleared the trees, coming upon a meadow with a small pond in it. She walked towards it while scanning the surrounding. She saw the black smoke was still further up ahead when a voice made her stop in her tracks.

"Merida?"

Merida turned her head, finally taking note of Hiccup sitting at the edge of the pond. A sketchbook in hand and Toothless curled up at his side. She frowned, his presence unwanted.

She turned her head without acknowledging him and continued to make her way towards the smoke.

But to her displeasure, he'd decided to follow her.

"Hey Merida. Surprised to see you out here," Hiccup said as he trailed behind her.

"Felt like going on a walk," she said back.

"Ah. Yeah a little fresh air is nice from time to time," Hiccup replied casually. "So where are you going?"

Merida stopped, glancing back and arching a brow. "Didn't you hear that explosion?"

Hiccup stiffened up. "Explosion? Nah. No explosions out here. I mean what could possibly explode in a forest?" he said as he gestured around them.

"That's what ah want to know," she said as he looked around. She scowled as the black smoke had dissipated, leaving her with no way of knowing where to keep going. She sighed before glancing back to look at Hiccup. Her eyes skimmed his form, taking note that he'd brought no provisions along. Only a small canteen.

"Where are your things E-rank?"

"What things?"

"A map? Compass? You know, basic survival tools?"

"Oh. Well dragons have a natural sense of direction," Hiccup said as he stroked his partner sitting on his shoulder. "He could point us back to the school with no problem."

Merida hummed before pressing her back aganinst a tree and crossing her arms over her chest. "No pack then? Or food?"

"Well I don't intend to be out here that long," Hiccup said.

"But we're miles from the school now. You might get too weak if you don't eat anything," Merida told him. She took her pack off her back and began to rummage through it. She pulled out a few sticks of Jerky before offering him a piece. He accepted it before giving it a taste.

"It'll take hours for you to get back to school. You might collapse by then."

"Wouldn't take me as long as you'd think," Hiccup muttered under his breath.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Merida shrugged before sinking her teeth into her jerky and eating in silence.

"So how are you doing?" Merida looked up and arched a brow. "I mean are you ok? You seemed kind of depressed yesterday after...you know."

Merida frowned at him. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Ok," Hiccup said. "But," he added nervously. Merida looked at him. "I just wanted to say that I know losing sucks. Like a lot. But you can learn from it. There's always a greater lesson to be learned in loss than in victory," he told her. "Maybe now you know where you need to improve. Maybe you can think of new strategies in case you come across an opponent like Astrid again."

He'd hoped his words would make her see a silver lining and cheer her up. But he saw that probably didn't happen as she scowled at him.

"I don't need a lesson on loss from a coward who doesn't even fight," she told him vehemently.

"I'm just trying to help," Hiccup said.

"Fine. Then help me understand," Merida began as she stood up. "How come you don't ever fight?"

"Why do you want to know so bad?" Hiccup challenged.

"I asked you first," Merida said insistently.

Hiccup sighed, managing not to roll his eyes. "I just don't see the point," he said with a shrug.

"Well do me a favor and don't go giving advice on loss when you won't even step into the ring and risk losing yourself. Telling me how I can 'learn' from it. Well what do you learn mister forfeits every time?" she spat at him.

"I have my reasons for not fighting," Hiccup said as his patience with her was beginning to wear thin. Toothless growled at her on his shoulder, not like her tone or the way she was hurling insults at his partner.

"Well what are they? Why are you even at this school? Do you not fight because you don't have a proper weapon?" she pressed as she gestured to Toothless, remarking on his shield form. "Are you afraid you'll be great, become more popular with the ladies than you already are? Are you afraid of losing?"

"Me? Popular with women? What are you talking-"

"Or maybe you're just a coward!"

"I'm not a coward!" Hiccup cried. They glared at each other from a few feet away. Hiccup could just not understand how she turned his trying to help her into an argument. Then she had the gall to insult him!

He calmed himself, closing his eyes to take a few breaths. "Fine. You want to know? Well here it is," Hiccup said before opening his eyes and gazing into hers.

"I don't fight, because everyone is watching me," he revealed. Merida furrowed her brows in confusion. "You've heard of the border disputes between the Northern tribes and this kingdom, right?" Merida gave a slow nod. "Well as the future heir of one of the strongest tribes, I'm always being watched."

"Everyone is looking at me. Dissecting everything I do. Trying to determine if they should risk making friends with me, or start amassing an army. They want to see if I'm just a savage like everyone thinks all the other Northern tribes are. So that's why I don't fight," he finished.

"I'm just trying to get by. Fly under the radar and convince everyone that just maybe, we're not all war loving psychopaths. Which is difficult, seeing as our hard headed nature and 'personal honor' insist that we be the best at whatever we do. Including fighting. So now I'm trying to learn all I can about the politics of other kingdoms in hopes that I can make peace with at least some of them one day. Maybe even establish some trade as to make my people's lives better. All while trying to make sure my peers don't kill anyone, or piss off the wrong noble family and start a freaking war!"

At the end of his rant Hiccup was panting hard. He was red faced, hardly believing he'd spouted all of that to her. Merida on the other half was wide eyed. His words resonating with something inside of her. Dredging up memories.

For she knew what it was liked to be watched. To have everything she did scrutinized and judged.

She looked away in shame. All this time she'd misjudged him. All without ever really taking the time to get to know him. All she'd seen was his rank. And because of that she deemed that there was no way they could have anything in common.

"Do you have any idea how that feels?" Hiccup muttered quietly as he looked away.

"Actually...yes," Merida answered without thinking. Hiccup looked to her, scanning her face and finding traces of what looked like empathy.

Suddenly Merida swallowed and turned on her heel. "Well I'm going to go. Goodbye," she said as she began to walk away. Hiccup stared after her, stumped by her sudden change in demeanor. He cocked his head as she came to a stop a few feet away.

"Thank you," Merida said aloud, keeping her back turned toward him. Hiccup was surprised as she turned around. The faint traces of a grateful smile tugging at her lips. "Hiccup," she finished. With that she turned and left him standing there in stunned silence.

Later in the day as the sun began to set Merida entered her shared room with Rapunzel. The blonde perked up, attention taken from her book as the redhead entered. And to her surprise, she was smiling.

"Ah," Merida sighed as she dumped her pack on the floor and jumped onto her bed. She took a deep breath and released a relaxed sigh. "Much better."

"Everything ok Merida?" Rapunzel asked curiously.

"Aye Punz. Everything is grand," Merida said back. She craned her head to look at her friend. "Sorry I've been a little glum. It was totally unlike me," she apologized.

Rapunzel smiled back. "It's ok. Losing doesn't feel good."

"No. It doesn't. But it's no reason to act like a pouting child either. We should use this opportunity as a learning experience," Merida said with a firm nod, a glint of determination in her eye. "We obviously still have a ways to go. From what I gather, all A-ranks can change their weapons to at least one other form. So let's aim for that," Merida said.

Rapunzel smiled. "Sounds good."

"And when we do," Merida's smile widened. "We'll challenge Astrid to another duel. And next time...we'll take her down." Rapunzel held her smile and nodded in agreement. Glad to have her best friend back.

The next school day Merida apologized to everyone for her gloomy attitude. All except Hiccup who was late to breakfast. Merida kept turning her head about in search of him. Wanting to apologize for the things she'd said.

As she was looking down at her plate and eating her food a small blue figure suddenly began inching it's way towards the edge of her plate. Merida glanced up and gasped at the sight of Stormfly standing on the table before her, head cocking back and forth and releasing a hungry squawk.

"Stormfly." The dragon turned to the voice as Hiccup sat down in his usual spot. The small dragon walked over to him as he began setting food of his plate to the side for her.

"What's she doing here?" Rapunzel asked as she pointed to the dragon.

"I've confiscated her from Astrid for a few days," Hiccup said with a shrug.

"I can't imagine she's happy about that," Jack said with a chuckle.

"Well she'll have to suck it up," Hiccup replied unconcerned.

Merida couldn't help but smile as she imagined Astrid's face twisted into a scowl as Hiccup took her partner away. But she made it go away before looking to Hiccup. "Hiccup," she said just loud enough to get his attention. Hiccup looked up at her and nodded for her to continue.

"I just wanted to say...well-I-" Merida stammered awkwardly. Apologies had never been her strong point.

"It's fine," Hiccup said with a shrug. Merida gave him a smile in thanks.

Hiccup may have been a mystery. He may have been snarky and a little annoying.

But maybe he wasn't such a bad guy.

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