(Ok, apparently alerts for the site weren't working so I didn't see anything like say for example on my email for inbox messages…anyone else having/had that problem? God that was annoying. Anyways, sorry for the late update. In this chapter I will do my best to write a certain dialect…though I'm not sure it will be good, please tell me if I did it incorrectly, I don't wish to present stereotypes.)

Noble Six: Thanks.

Chapter 13: The Drive of Strength

(Adirondack Park, the next day)

Connell stood with his arms crossed, standing before his next instructor awaiting his newest lesson. The spirit of William Wallace eyed him carefully, the man eyed the young man, measuring him up.

"Well lad, are ye ready for yer lesson?" The spirit of William Wallace asked, his Scottish accent mixing with the slight rumble to his chuckling.

Connell nodded in response. The spirit held his hands to slightly to either side of him, his left was armed by the appearance of an ethereal, medieval, triangular shaped shield with round edges. The young man focused and repeated the spirit's actions.

"What's the plan?" Connell asked.

"Plan, lad? The plan is: stand tall!" The spirit chuckled as he walked then rushed towards his pupil.

Connell grunted as he rushed forward. They both moved their shields in front of them, bracing themselves as they burst towards one another. When they slammed into one another, Connell fell on his back after the impact. The young man grunted and grumbled, his teacher let out a hearty laugh.

"C'mon lad!" The spirit said, taking a few steps back and readying for another 'fight'.

Connell grunted as he got onto his feet, his shield before him. They both shouted as they ran forward, the impact sent Connell to the ground again. He grunted once he hit the ground.

"Hahaha! Again!" William Wallace laughed.

Connell grunted as he got back onto his feet, shield before him. The two yelled as they ran forward, their ethereal shield hitting first. Connell hit the ground again, cursing himself under his breath.

'Dammit Connell, you pathetic, weak bastard.' The young man grumbled in his mind, laying on the ground.

"Something wrong, lad?" The spirit asked.

"Just me being weak…that's all." Connell grunted as he got on his feet.

"Weak?" Wallace grunted, his voice having a slight hint of confusion and surprise.

Connell grunted as he rushed forward, as did his mentor. The young man fell to the ground again after they collided.

"Haha! Again!" William Wallace ordered, amused by the sight.

Connell grunted as he got back on his feet again. They both charged forward, the young man falling again. William Wallace chuckled again, motioning with his free hand for Connell get on his feet again. Connell and William Wallace repeated the collisions again and again, with the same results, and with Connell continuing to get back up…everything repeating continuously.

"Heh heh heh heh, so lad…learn anything?" William Wallace chuckled, somewhat.

"Maybe, though I'm not sure if it's what you wanted me to realize." The young man replied.

William Wallace sighed, despite the spirit's light chuckling.

"Aye lad, something is meant to be learned of this." The spirit stated.

"One's strength?" Connell grumbled under his breath.

"Right, lad." The spirit replied.

Connell grunted as he cracked his neck to the side and then cracked his shoulders, moving them forwards. Then he placed his hands on his back then pushed forward, cracking it as well. He grunted as he adjusted himself as best he could.

"You're stronger than me, proved by you knocking me on my ass repeatedly. Despite me trying again and again, I failed every single time." Connell grumbled lowly.

"Did ye?" William Wallace chuckled.

Connell's right eyebrow raised in curiosity and confusion.

"The point of this wasn't victory, but your own strength. True, if ye had won, I would hae been most impressed. Still, this was about your passion." The spirit stated.

Connell took a moment to ponder on this, his contemplation not lasting long as he turned back to the spirit.

"My time fighting ole' England was difficult…Ah dinnae ken if our fight would truly last…but from every battle, every struggle we kept ganna. Ye showed me that just now, lad." The spirit stated, his voice rising and falling with different emotions.

"Perhaps, though you weren't aiming to truly hurt me. S.H.I.E.L.D. won't be so considerate in a fight." Connell replied, unconvinced by the spirit's statement.

"Aye lad, still, yer passion for the liberation for those oppressed. Again and again, fighting for what needs to be fought for. While it wasn't the same, ye stood up again and again." William Wallace elaborated, his voice calm like the wind.

Connell sighed, turning around, the shield in his hand disappearing like a rising mist.

"S.H.I.E.L.D….the government…and their armies…none have dared challenge them…not since the heroes were slaughtered by them years ago. I know England was stronger in military might than Scotland was at your time…but today…things…are worse…despite the honor you all have bestowed upon me and I am grateful for this…I'm not sure if I can defeat them…even if I complete my training with every one of you…even still, my chances seem a million to one." Connell said, his voice and heart flowing with despair and doubt, hanging his head low.

The spirit approached him, his movement sounding like a strong breeze flowing through the air. He placed a calming hand on the young man's shoulder.

"Aye lad, it does seem that way. It felt that way during the war so long ago. Yet still, I never lost hope, not even when they took my head." William Wallace stated.

Connell understood that, and respected that tenacity of the spirit's drive during his rebellion against England centuries ago. Yet Wallace was a man seemingly larger than life, every one of the spirits was, Connell didn't have that. He was just some regular, less than regular guy…trying to prepare to battle the most powerful, most dangerous country/organization on the planet. He truly wanted to fight them, to the very end if needs be…but part of him…believed that he had no chance…a less than simple human against the most powerful people in the world with an army of Thor clones and Sentinels, along with law enforcement, armed forces, etc. He felt overwhelmed and he was still training.

"Aye lad, it does seem that way. But remember why ye kept standing back up to face me, because ye wouldn't give up. Against those daft tyrants, ye need to fight the same if not harder. Understand lad?" The spirit said, trying to comfort him and push him in his morale.

Connell considered those words, and his emotions & thoughts filled with why he chose to go down this path. He remembered watching Humphrey die before him, slaughtered by the bigoted, fascist monsters who were the country's 'protectors'.

"Alright…let's go again." Connell said.

The spirit laughed in encouragingly, as he patted the young man's shoulder a few times emphasizing his mood. He walked a yard or so away from Connell, who manifested his shield again. The spirit raised his as well. They shouted as they both charged forward, slamming their shields into one another.

To be continued…

(Again, sorry for the late update.)