Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Monster Hunter, only how the story goes. The characters and world of Monster Hunter belongs to Capcom. The only thing that I do own are the OC's of the story. I do apologize for any errors in grammar and/or if I was not accurate in reference to something.
A/N: And we continue the Jacob and Ares arc with part two. A bit of making up and the training montage. And like I said, I will explain what happened in the previous chapter later on.
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Chapter Fifty: Master and Apprentice
Part Two – Reconciling and Training
The sun was starting to set a while after Jacob had made his decision. He was still within the forest not too far from Ares' plateau. He had found himself a small meal consisting of edible mushrooms and berries that would hold him over for a little while. The human teen was currently looking amongst the branches for something that would suit him. When he found what he was looking for, Jacob made his way towards the tree.
…
A few minutes and a little effort later, Jacob had managed to cut a limb from the tree. He watched it fall to the ground before carefully making his way down after it. Once his feet touched the ground again and he moved over to the fallen branch laying there. A few of the smaller limbs had broken off due to the fall, but that didn't matter to him. The boy knew what he had in mind for it. Removing the carving knife from its sheath, Jacob kneeled down and got to work on the whittling. He hoped that he could get it as good as he got the first branch.
…
Night soon came and quickly went away on the plateau as Ares was sleeping under the outcrop of stone. Not far from him the Jyuratodus carcass lay, only a small portion of it eaten. As the sun rose in the east and the Glavenus woke up. He gave a yawn before rising to his feet. The Bladed Tail Wyvern gave a small groan as he looked out to the desert. Ares soon caught the scent of something and raised his head to sniff. His eyes widened when he recognized the scent. With a small growl Ares quickly followed the scent to the source.
Ares reached the lower level of the plateau and became surprised at the sight he was seeing. Sitting on his knees on the other side of the level, Jacob had placed his real sword a few feet in front of him while the stick that he had whittled into a makeshift sword sat on his lap. Jacob lifted his head to whom he hoped was still a friend and mentor. The Glavenus gave a growl as if questioning why the human had come back. Not getting up Jacob gave his reason, "I made a vow to help a friend and I intend to keep it.
"And I honestly want to see this through… Master Ares." He bowed his head in respect to the Glavenus. The Brute Wyvern had a bit of a skeptical look on his face as he gave a small roar and took a threatening step towards the boy. As he sat on the ground, Jacob took in a deep breath to remain calm and no matter what Ares did, he planned to stand his ground. With a short roar, Ares jumped through the air and twisted his body to bring his sword tail down on the human. While nervous in his spot, Jacob did not move and did his best to show conviction. Ares' feet touched the ground first with a boom and his tail nearly touched down on the human. But the edge of the bladed tail stopped an inch from the boy's body.
Seeing the boy's determination, Ares' gaze softened and he carefully moved his bladed appendage from the human. Jacob took in a deep breath and said, "I'm not exactly sure what I did yesterday to make you so upset, but I do apologize for it.
"Please, continue to let me be your student." He asked the Glavenus. Ares seemed to be lost in thought as he thought about it and Jacob wondered what the Bladed Tail Wyvern would do. After waiting a moment, Ares seemed to come to a decision as he lowered his head and grabbed the Iron Katana in his jaws. The Glavenus took the blade over to the wall where it had laid previously. Jacob smiled that things seemed to be looking up for them. Ares turned his head back to the human and with a small motion of his head he beckoned the teen to come along. Grin growing wider, Jacob rose to his feet and took the stick with both hands while moving into position. And so, Jacob the human once again began his training with Ares the Glavenus.
…
(Cue Kung Fu Fighting track)
In the beginning of the training, Jacob would mostly focus on practicing his forms while Ares watched from the side. But there would be moments where the Glavenus came up to make a few adjustments by carefully nudging the teen's arms or feet with his tail. Jacob was really glad that he wasn't cut when it happened and worked to do it as his teacher was wanting it done.
Singer: Everybody is kung fu fighting
Your mind becomes fast as lightning
Every now and then, Ares would go through the motions with Jacob. After a while, both master and apprentice swung their respective blade, or stick, together in unison. When Ares took a breather but Jacob kept on going, the Glavenus watched his pupil with a proud look.
Singer: Although the future is a little bit frightening
(Little bit frightening)
It's the book of your life that you're writing
(Life that you're writing)
A few days later, they moved on to where Jacob would dodge careful strokes of Ares' tail. After some time, the Glavenus would go much faster and Jacob did his best to keep up. After one downward stroke of his tail, Jacob came around and pointed the tip of the stick at Ares' head.
Singer: You're a diamond in the rough
A brilliant ball of clay
The more that that they practiced, the more that Jacob was able to dodge or at least block the bladed appendage or the maw of sharp teeth. The teen would get pushed a little back even as Ares tried to not put too much force into the attacks. There were a few times where the stick would be broken in two and Jacob would have to get a new one. It was a tiresome thing, but they managed to make it work for them. And once the new sticks were ready, Ares began Jacob's lessons once again.
Singer: You could be a work of art
If you just go all the way
During the times that they weren't training, Ares took his pupil with him on hunting trips to keep them fed. And while they were further down south near the marshes, the two waited in the shadows of the overhang for their prey to show up. When a small herd of Apceros came down the slope and into the marshes, Jacob moved in to get one away from the herd. He saw an older member wonder away from the herd and thought that they would do.
Singer: Now what would it take to break
I believe that you can bend
Carefully moving around the herd, Jacob removed the shield from his arm and flung it at the Apceros. The projectile smacked into the herbivore's face, causing it groan in shock and in pain. It made the rest of the herd roar and while some assumed a defensive position around the younger members of the herd, the older herbivore tried to run away from the human. Jacob chased after it while the others remained behind. When the old Apceros neared the opening where Ares was waiting, the Glavenus sprang into action with a roar. A little later, they dragged the carcass back to the plateau.
Singer: Not only do you have to fight
But you have got to win
After sometime during training, Ares kicked it up a notch by adding his fire abilities to the sessions. But just about every time, the teen would end up a little burned by the attacks and would have to use the cooling waters of the plateau to soothe the pain while using what Healing Potions that he had to help the injuries. They both knew that they couldn't keep doing this and so Jacob got an idea.
Singer: Everybody is kung fu fighting
Your mind becomes fast as lightning
Singer: Although the future is a little bit frightening
(Little bit frightening)
It's the book of your life that you're writing
(Life that you're writing)
Thanks to a little map reading, Jacob found what could be another path into the village of Astera. The two made their way through another ruined gate and into the town. While Ares remained at the gate for him to come back, Jacob continued on to look for something that could help him withstand fiery attacks from monsters.
Singer: You are a natural
Why is it so hard to see?
After some rummaging around in one of the buildings, Jacob thinks he found something when he found a red cloak in a large chest. He thought that maybe it would be enough to at least withstand the flames. The human took it back to Ares and showed it to his teacher. The red cloak seemed to mostly confuse the Glavenus and Jacob placed it on a rock that had some grass growing around it.
Singer: Maybe it's just because
You keep on looking at me
Taking a step back, Jacob gestured for Ares to blast it with his fire. The Glavenus didn't really understand what the boy was wanting him to do as he only tilted his head. Jacob sighed and hung his head when his friend didn't seem to get the idea. Deciding to do it a different way. They went back to the plateau and assumed their stances.
Singer: The journey's a lonely one
So much more than we know
After a few moves, Ares unleashed a fireball at his pupil. Jacob turned around and yelped when the fireball struck him in the back. While it did hurt as he fell onto his front and he could feel the heat, the human didn't feel burned like the previous times. A moment later, the flames went out. Ares walked over to see if his friend/student was okay. They were both relieved when Jacob got back up and looked to his friend/master with a big grin on his face. It was then that Ares knew what Jacob had found.
Singer: But sometimes you've got to go
Go on and be your own hero
The two continued their training together. On one of the exchanges of their blades, chunks of wood flew as the edges scraped together. They parted and Jacob spun around and moved the sword into what he started calling the Glavenus ready position. Ares moved his tail into the same position to continue the sparring match. A moment later, the two rushed at each other.
Singer: Everybody is kung fu fighting
Your mind becomes fast as lightning
This went on for at least a few weeks. Every day when the sun rose up into the sky they would clash. When they stopped during the day, Jacob went to stock up on a few supplies or do a little hunting with Ares. And during the night as they tried to sleep, they would gaze up into the sky at the stars. And while Jacob was thinking about Earth or something else, Ares would glance at the human.
Singer: Although the future is a little bit frightening
(Little bit frightening)
It's the book of your life that you're writing
(Life that you're writing)
On one particular night, Ares came up the slope to the top of the plateau. He had left the human to practice his forms for a few hours while hunting for himself. But when he reached the top, a surprised Glavenus saw Jacob laying against a tree. The boy was fast asleep with the stick in both hands. Ares gave a small huff, and had a look that was almost like a smile as he looked at his student. The Glavenus quietly moved a little closer and laid down next to Jacob. Ares scooted his head a little closer and made his throat glow red to help warm the human up a little. It seemed to do the trick as Jacob gave a grin from the warmth.
Singer: You're a diamond in the rough
A brilliant ball of clay
The next morning as the sun started to rise, Jacob opened his eyes and found Ares laying in front of him. The teen smiled at close they had become. The Glavenus' eye opened and Ares lifted his head from the ground. Before getting back to work on their training, they went to go get something to eat.
Singer: You could be a work of art
If you just go all the way
Later that day, the two were really going at it as Jacob slid on his knees underneath a swing from Ares' tail. The teen stood up again, raised his left arm and fired the grappling hook of his slinger. The hook caught onto one of the Glavenus' back plates and when Ares turned his body the human was quickly pulled into the air. Jacob landed on the Brute Wyvern's back and Ares tried to get the human off of him thrashing his body about.
Singer: Now what would it take to break
I believe that you can bend
The Glavenus rushed over to the burnt tree from the fight with the yellow Flying Wyvern and turned to smack his side into the tree. Seeing what his master was doing, Jacob quickly moved along Ares' back and held onto his horns. The Glavenus' side smashed through the remains of the tree and the burnt wood scattered across the plateau. With a small thrash of his head, Ares got the human to fall off his head.
Singer: Not only do you have to fight
But you have got to win
Jacob rolled across the ground and rolled a bit before getting back onto his feet. The teen turned around to face the Glavenus while Ares turned his head to his pupil again. Jacob quickly moved out of the way when his mentor jumped into the air and twisted his body to bring his sword tail down. The appendage slammed into the ground and it seemed to get stuck for the moment.
Singer: Everybody is kung fu fighting
(Kung fu fighting)
Your mind becomes fast as lightning
Jacob was quick to act on this by rushing up with the stick at the ready. Time seemed to slow down a bit as Jacob jumped onto the bladed tail just as it ripped out of the ground. The teen held on a moment before having to jump over the appendage. Jacob then quickly moving over to the Glavenus and held up the end of the stick up to Ares' throat.
Singer: Although the future is a little bit frightening
(Little bit frightening)
Ares calmed down, withdrew his sword tail and took a step back from the human. Jacob also calmed down and lowered the stick. Both Jacob and Ares seemed quite content as they gave a small nod to one another. The Glavenus surprised the human by walking up to him and gently placing his head against his own. The two felt even more connected as master and student.
Singer: It's the book of your life that you're writing
(End of song)
On what felt like the last day of their training, Ares had gotten Jacob to sit on the ground at the top of the plateau. The Glavenus turned and went down the slope and was gone for just a few minutes before coming back up. The teen saw that he had something in his jaws and saw that it was his Iron Katana. Ares walked up to the human and lowered his head. When they were eye level with each other, the Bladed Tail Wyvern opened his jaws and let the sword fall to the ground before his pupil. The student looked up to his mentor's gaze as if asking, who gave a small nod to confirm it. Taking this as a sign that Ares felt that he was ready, Jacob picked up the blade with his hands. He smiled as he looked up to his mentor and they bowed their heads to each other.
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Author's Note: I really enjoyed doing this chapter. For the part where they needed to come up with something so Jacob could survive the fiery attacks, I had planned on Ares bringing a piece of a monster so Jacob could make something, but I like the Fireproof mantle too. The next chapter is one that I've been dying to do since I thought of this arc, as are a few others later on. I plan to release the next chapter and the one after that around Christmas time along with a bunch of other things. I look forward to reading your reviews. Be sure to leave a comment either about if I've done something wrong or if you want something specifically to happen. See you all next time.