Title: Out of shape
Fandom: Magic Knight Rayearth
Rating: PG
Length: 800 words
Content notes: None
Author notes: Snippet set a few years after the end of (manga) canon. Umi and Ferio. (Small small hints of Ferio/Fuu and Umi/Clef in the background) - set in a particular universe but it doesn't actually matter, I think?
Summary: The apprentice guards train every morning before breakfast. It's rather a shock to the system when they start.

oOo


Ferio whistled for the end of the drill session, and watched with no little amusement as the entire group of trainees proceeded to drop to the floor – most, but not all, managing to land on the padded sparring surface. It was only three weeks since the seven people before him had been signed up as apprentices to the Guard; there were two other groups, but this set had been gifted to him as their Captain for the first few months of training.

He sheathed his sword – a blunted practise blade, but there was no need to treat it badly – and pushed damp hair back from his face, then wandered across to stare down at the closest of them. She was flat on her back, practise sword still clutched in one hand as she fought to catch her breath, face flushed almost scarlet from the exertion. She also hissed something uncomplimentary-sounding under her breath as Ferio’s shadow fell across her face, and he had to stifle a laugh.

“I’m sure you were in better shape than this a few years back.”

Umi opened her eyes just far enough to glare up at him, still gasping for breath. “I’ve had school! Exams!”

“Afternoons drinking tea with the Chizetan Princesses, or running about in the gardens with Hikaru and all the children who’ve slipped out of lessons, or bothering Clef-”

The red flush darkened a shade or two further, but all she did was fling a hand over her eyes. “At least the running about was exercise… I think you’re just trying to kill us so you don’t have to get up early.”

“…Tempting, but I’d rather not risk Fuu’s reaction if I did.” Ferio told her. Umi snickered agreement, then let her arm fall back to her side again. Around them, some of the other apprentices were beginning to get to their feet, pulling each other up; Ferio reached down to help haul Umi up, her hand grabbing his elbow. She staggered slightly as she reached horizontal, and Ferio kept hold of her arm, watching carefully – no matter what he might say, the intent here wasn’t to push any of the trainees beyond what they could handle. Training was meant to be intense, but not punishing.

And she was the youngest person in the room, by several decades, even if there were a couple of others whose form appeared younger.

Umi waved off his concern before he could say anything. “Headrush. Going off. Just- pretend to be a statue for a moment.”

“Well, I can just imagine someone wanting a statue of me in their gardens – so handsome, so knightly…” Ferio laughed when Umi thumped him gently on the shoulder. “Come on. All of you-“ He raised his voice to address the room, and the six other men and women turned to him a lot more readily – and wearily – than they had done even a week ago. “Go and wash up, and the dining hall will be serving breakfast by the time you make it down. It’s puragu scones this morning, I’ve made sure enough will be held back so you’ll all get some as long as you get there within the hour, so get moving!”

A chorus of thanks and waved hands greeted the statement, and even Umi stood upright. “I like those. I think?” She frowned, staring vaguely in the direction of the kitchens. “…If they’re the thing I think they are, I like them.”

“Well get a move on and see if you remembered correctly.” Ferio steered her towards the doors. There was no doubt whatsoever in his mind that Lantis and LaFarga had purposefully ‘forgotten’ to tell him who was in his new group until he turned up that first morning, but he didn’t mind. His other trainees were finding it hard to be in awe of Princess Emeraude’s brother while he was being laughed at and used as a leaning-post – and were finding it just as hard to be frightened of the legendary Knight who was sweating alongside them while she spent half her time teasing their instructor.

…He suspected that they’d actually done it because neither of them wanted to try and tell Umi what to do, but then they both avoided the area if she and Clef were arguing over something. Explain why you wanted Umi to do something, and she was usually happy to do it. That or they’d understood better than Ferio just how much Umi was not a morning person. But she hadn’t accidentally summoned Selece on the rest of them yet, after three weeks of crawling out of bed at six o’clock.

Either way, he didn’t mind. She was a quick learner, and not so far out of condition as she probably thought she was right now – a few more weeks and she’d probably be doing better than half the others. Once she did… well, Ferio was looking forward to some more interesting mornings, this year.

oOo