Andy's Apple Farm: Dolce's Game

SIDE CHAPTER #6: THORNS OF A ROSA (pt. 4)

Premise: As Dolce and Peter prepare to face-off against Rosa for a harrowing battle over domination of the game world, an unexpected "ally" makes an appearance to plead their case for Dolce's assistance...

*A/N: THIS SIDE-CHAPTER IN PARTICULAR HAS A LOT OF "NSFW" SCENES LIKE "VIOLATION" AND/OR "SMUT" THAT JUMPS BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN BREAKS SO BE MINDFUL OF THE WARNINGS WHEN ALL THAT STARTS AND ENDS WHILE READING IF YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT STUFF!!

Andy panted frantically as he urgently raced through the apple woods, axe in hand, with Claus following close behind.

"What could she be thinking, going off to fight Rosa alone like that?! What if Peter's taking Rosa's side too?! As much as she's improved with controlling her powers, Dolce's not ready to take them both on her own! Why wouldn't she at least tell us-or me, about what Rosa was?!" Andy anxiously questioned aloud.

"The only reasonable cause I can think of for her devising such an elaborate scheme was perhaps due to Rosa threatening some form of retaliation should she have come forth with this information to us. Most likely we would have been the ones harmed, therefore Dolce must have needed to seek 'other means' of warning us without being direct while not alerting Rosa of her intentions. In all actuality, that 'word puzzle' of hers was not all that difficult to decipher. I suspect Dolce's underlying motive with that was to delay us long enough to sneak away and confront Rosa herself." Claus deduced.

"Dolce...!" Andy tensely thought to himself.

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They both soon reached the front of the old barn and tried to force open the doors but were unsuccessful in doing so.

"No-!" Andy worried cried out. He proceeded to bang LOUDLY against the door. "Hey! Open up! DOLCE! PETER!"

As expected, there was no response.

"I can't let her go through with this alone. We have to get in there!" Andy declared, readying his axe to chop away at the door.

"-Wait." Claus placed a firm hand on Andy's shoulder, stopping him.

"Why?! Dolce could be in trouble! We CAN'T wait!" Andy protested.

"Which is precisely why you must not go." Claus reiterated. "Think Andy. If you somehow did manage to break in, what could you or I do against such foes?"

Andy tensed, realizing what Claus was getting at.

"Other than your axe, we have no other viable weapons nor combat experience like Dolce's to speak of. If we dived in head first, that will be one more problem Dolce must contend with in ensuring our safety above anything else. There is no way she will be able to fight at her best if she were to be worrying about us through it all. We will only get in her way." Claus's face softened. "I'm sorry Andy, but once again, there is nothing more we can do. We must entrust this task to Dolce and wait for her return-hopefully."

Deep down Andy understood Claus words and concerns. He anxiously glanced up at the barn. "Oh Dolce..."

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Now nearing the lowest levels of the barn, the ground beneath Dolce and Peter felt like they were no longer walking on wooden panels, but rather a congested mass of slithering, thick thorny vines. A frigid, icy wind, chilled the air despite the lack of windows or open source of ventilation around.

"The plant-growth is a lot thicker down here. Feels like I'm walking on someone's guts..." Dolce warily observed.

"We're getting closer now. She knows we're on our way. Better watch your footing." Peter cautioned.