Andy's Apple Farm: Dolce's Game

CHAPTER 25: THE TRAINING (pt. 1)

The soothing sounds of the spring birds singing echoed serenely through the apple woods. Rays of sunlight peered through the tree branches above. On the ground, Dolce was out on a stroll through the woods as the weather was good and the past few days were surprisingly peaceful. No one knew when Peter or some other unknown worst threat would emerge so the residents of the countryside tried to enjoy such times of tranquility whenever they could. They certainly knew better to take such moments for granted.

After having walked for some time, Dolce saw a nice tree ahead where she could sit and relax under its shade.

Smiling to herself, she walked over towards the tree and sat in the cool shade and leaned back against it. She saw a small yellow butterfly fluttering in her direction and kindly held out her hand where it gracefully perched itself on her finger before flying away.

After admiring the natural scenery around her, Dolce let out a content sigh and closed her eyes, relaxing at last...

...Until one of her dog ears twitched...

She immediately TELEPORTED out of sight as three shadowy-knives SHOT out of nowhere and embedded themselves in the tree where she rested.

Re-appearing not to far away, Dolce looked up and saw what appeared to be Claus standing in the trees above her, except he was clad in the same, black-green futuristic style of armor as Dolce's.

Keeping his stoic composure, he manifested several more shadowy-daggers that hovered around him before sending them flying at Dolce with a motion of his arm.

Scowling, Dolce leapt out of the way and took off fleeing through the woods. As she did, a black, crescent shaped boomerang SOARED through the air directly at her. Spotting the incoming object, Dolce extended one of her shadowy "hands" to grab a nearby branch to pull herself up into the trees where another boomerang narrowly ZIPPED past her head but then spun itself around, heading straight at the dog-girl.

Dolce quickly materialized a ring-disk and threw it at the boomerang, where both collided with a loud CLANG, deflecting it away.

She then turned around upon hearing the rustling of leaves to see a hook attached to a long, black chain coming at her. Dolce quickly jumped as the hook SMASHED through the branch she stood on.

Sensing someone behind her, she turned to see Felix, also wearing the same type of black-green armor, LAUNCHING himself right at her with extended metal claws from his webbed armored gloves.

Dolce instantly teleported out of sight, leaving Felix to catch his balance on a nearby branch.

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Dolce emerged back into view in a forest clearing. As soon as she did, she hastily ducked, evading a hard swing from a MASSIVE warhammer wielded by Margret.

Putting some distance between them both, Dolce found herself surrounded by all her armored friends, all wielding shadowy weapon constructs (Minus Andy who gripped his wooden axe tightly.): Melody with her moon-shaped blades, Felix swinging his chain and hook, Margret and her warhammer, and Claus with his floating, homing knives.

Dolce materialized her armor and brought out her shadowy "hands," ready for face off against her friends...

Several days earlier....

"Alright...I'm gonna ask you guys again..." Dolce calmly spoke with seriousness in her eyes. "Do any of you know the first thing about 'Self-Defense...?'"

Andy, Melody, Margret, Felix, and Claus stood silent looking clueless at Dolce's question.

Dolce facepalmed herself and sighed, but deep inside, she knew she couldn't be too mad at them. "Guess I shouldn't expect less for those who consistently live in 'peaceful' times...Like, why would you need to protect yourself if there's nothing out to get you...? It's not like there is a terrifying, omnipresent, evil, pumpkin presence that's been out to get you this entire time!" she sternly included at the end.