So, You Wanna Fight, Huh?
Kidverse-SilMil-Siobhan et al
The week after the fight between Tuon and Siobhan had been one of silent avoidance. Siobhan could no longer tolerate Tuon’s “girls are icky” attitude, and Tuon could not deal with the fact that a girl had bested him in a fight. Karan and Nascha were amused by the silent cold war--and thankful for the silent aspect of it, but their refusal to speak to one another was clearly upsetting Endymion who could not understand what the problem was.
That Friday had started like every other day. They ran, with Tuon almost overtaking Siobhan in the last few lengths. However, they were all told that they would not be showering before taking breakfast in their suite.
When they reached the suite, Endymion was seated at the table, a plate full of fruit and eggs in front of him. He looked up, beaming, a bit of scrambled egg on the corner of his mouth. “Hi! I keep telling Dad it’s time for me to start training with you guys. Maybe I get to today. So… any idea what’s going on today?”
Karan gently tossed a napkin at the prince. “Don’t talk with your mouth full, and you’ve got egg on your face.”
“Oops!” He chuckled as he carefully dabbed it off.
Despite the tension between Tuon and Siobhan, none of the four could help but smile at the prince’s exuberance.
After making sure his mouth was clear he pouted slightly as he looked to others, “But it’s really not fair. I’m older than Tuon and Siobhan! I should be training. I mean, training with you guys.”
Nascha smiled and ruffled the young prince’s hair. “Soon enough, kiddo. Besides, you’ll be the High King. There are ways you need to train that don’t include all of us.”
Endymion wrinkled his nose as he stabbed a piece of fruit with his fork. “But I need to know how to fight and protect myself.”
Siobhan frowned slightly, “Isn’t that our job?”
“Ugh, yeah, but…”
“But it’s noble for Endymion to want to learn to fight alongside us. The High King should be a part of the team.” Karan’s smile as he spoke was full of pride.
“Yeah, that!” Endymion beamed up at Karan and then turned to Siobhan, “See! Karan agrees with me.”
“Well, then, I apologize, Endy.” Siobhan winked at him, “I’ll be glad to fight alongside you.”
“Oh, look, she can admit when she’s wrong!” Tuon’s tone of voice had every eye looking to him; Siobhan glaring.
Karan shook his head while Nascha groaned. “Seriously, the two of you, need to grow up. Sooner rather than later.”
Siobhan said nothing, and the rest of breakfast was consumed in silence.
They had barely finished eating when Kunzite entered, “Gentlemen, Lady, you’ll be coming with me this morning.” At Endymion’s wide-eyed expression, the Shitennou smiled, “Yes, Endymion, even you.”
The five youngsters followed him, with one of them positively bouncing as he did so.
Once they reached the Salle, Kunzite gestured towards the bench. “Endymion, Tuon, Siobhan, take a seat. I would strongly suggest that the two of you behave.” The look he gave Tuon and Siobhan was severe, and even Endymion found himself recoiling a bit.
“Yes, sir.” The response was simultaneous, but both managed to refrain from glaring at the other under Kunzite’s scrutiny.
The older man nodded and turned to the remaining two boys, “Karan, Nascha, with me.”
“Yes, sir!” The older two saluted smartly and followed Kunzite.
Tuon and Siobhan managed to sit quietly beside an anxious Endymion for the five minutes that Kunzite spent talking with the other two. When they returned, Nascha grabbed Tuon by his elbow while Karan did the same with Siobhan.
Siobhan frowned but did not resist as Karan drew her over to a line of wooden weapons. “You have no weapons training yet, so I would suggest the staff. It has a longer reach and can easily switch between offense and defense.”
Her frown deepened as looked at the staff that he held out to her, taking it from him as he simply raised an eyebrow. “I don’t understand.”
“You will.” Selecting a leather padded helmet, Karan placed it on her head and tightened the straps for a secure fit. “Endymion has been training with the Golden Crystal, but I’d prefer it if the two of you did not make him use it. Try not to break anything--yours or his.”
She looked down at the staff in her head and then over to Nascha and Tuon, who seemed to going through the same exercise she and Karan were. “Oh…”
Karan nodded slightly, “Yes, oh. If the two of you have any sense, this will be end of this childishness.”
Siobhan grimaced at the note of reprimand in Karan’s voice and nodded.
Once they were both outfitted, the two were walked into the center of the salle.
Kunzite once again spoke, “Salute each other and then commence. I will decide when the fight is over. If the two of you insist on fighting, then you will fight. On my terms.”
Nodding, the two mumbled “Yes, sir”s and then turned to salute each other.
Neither knew what they were doing, though like many kids they had played with knights with sticks. Unfortunately, play was nothing like the real thing, and most of the blows that landed were accidental and self-inflicted. However, both managed to land a few lucky strikes.
Kunzite was not the one who called the fight to a stop; Endymion did.
“Stop! Enough!” Though the young prince’s voice was a bit shrill, there was a note of command and authority in his tone, enough that the two stopped and turned to face him.
Kunzite simply smirked, but did not reprimand the two for stopping despite his instructions.
“Can’t the two of you just stop fighting?!” Endymion stood and approached the two bruised opponents, both of whom awkwardly dropped to one knee. “I get that bonding doesn’t necessarily happen immediately, but this has gone far enough. Hate each other. I don’t care. But stop fighting!”
Neither said anything, but remained kneeling.
“Tuon?”
Nodding, Tuon looked up at Endymion and nodded, “Yes, Highness.”
“Siobhan?”
Taking a deep breath, Siobhan also nodded, “Yes, Highness.”
Having received assurances from both of them, Endymion relaxed slightly. “Good. Because I like you both. You’re both my friends, and even if you cannot be friends with each other, I don’t like it when people fight with my friends.”
A slow clap was heard as Kunzite stepped forward. “Very good, Endymion. Tuon, Siobhan, I hope you’ve learned a lesson today. Now, all of you, go shower. If you discover any real injuries, report to the infirmary, but I do suspect you’re both fine.” He smiled, “And then, if you can manage it, you’ll have an early start to the rest day. However, one hint of fighting, and all four of you will be back in training. Have I made myself understood?”
All four answered with an “Yes, sir!” and as Kunzite turned to leave, Karan and Nascha moved to the two, helping them to their feet.
“Make me lose an extra day off, and I will make you both regret it.” Nascha waited until helmets had been removed and then smacked them both in the back of their heads.