Switch It Up

Book 2 --- Chapter 3

"Hey, guys," Red said limping down the steps, Parker helping her down one at a time. The group stared at her.
"Where have you been?" Cindy blurted. Red winced as she stood to her full height.
"Nothing," she said casually. "Just got kidnapped," Parker snorts.
"'Just got kidnapped' she says," he murmured. "Yeah, no biggie," Red glared at him and tried to jut her elbow at him, but winced as pain flared inside her. She gave a gasp of pain, yanked her elbow away but gave another gasp at that too.
"Jeez," Parker said, shaking his head. "Did you have to take on the big guy?"
"Hey," Red growled. "If it wasn't for my quick thinking, we would have died there!" He mumbled something else, but stopped auguring.
"Well then," Snow White said. "This guy sounds pretty tough," She turned to King Philip. "Would you please train us at sword fighting?"
King Philip blinked. "Uh," he frowned. "Why?"
"Well," Snow smirked. "We can't fight with out training, can we?"
Ω
For the next few days the Kings taught the Queens how to fight.
"Now," King Charming had said on the first day. "I want you to show me how good you are against those dummies," he snapped his fingers and wide doors swung open to reveal straw dummies. "On my mark," he continued. "One, two, three!"
Red ran forward, unsheathing her dagger as she went. She ran at the same time the dummy ran. At the last second, Red launched into the air and opened her claws. She hit the wall, and before she fell, she dug her nails into the stone. She twisted just in time to see an arrow whiz past her. She looked down and saw the dummy with a bow.
"Whixy Styx!" She mumbled, gritting her teeth. She unhinged her claws, pushing off the wall in the process. She did three flips, dodging arrows, and landed behind the dummy. She punched, ducked, and kicked at the dummy. Red crouched and saw the dummy lift his sword.
"RED!" she heard Parker shriek, but blocked it out. As soon as the sword came down, she opened her mouth and roared. Waves of air flew from her mouth, throwing the dummy's sword backward. Red stood up and sliced the dummy in half. She wiped off the straw and looked at how her friends were doing.
Not surprised, she saw Cindy hiding in a corner as the dummy shot arrows at her. Parker's was wobbling around singing 'Faeries are Real Mom!'. How Parker had gotten his to do that was mind-blowing. Snow kept punching it, but it kept blocking her punches. Mostly everyone was staring at her. Red smiled, nervously.
"Mind if I become an instructor?"
Charming pursed his lips. Then he shrugged. "Sure, why not?" He smiled at her.
Ω
"LOOK OUT!"
Red turned to her right, only to get a mouthful of wood and pain. She fell to the floor. The group was working on building a fort. Cindy and King Charming had accidently shoved a block of wood toward Red. They told her to duck but she was to slow to react.
Ouch.
Quiet! A metallic taste filled her mouth. Red's ears rung. Rapunzel and everyone else was screaming. Red's mouth tugged into a slight frown. Why can't I here anything? Red thought. She looked to her side to see Flynn and King Philip running towards her.
They won't make it. A voice whispered in her ear. Give yourself to me. It said. I can protect you.
That sounded reasonable to Red. Her eyelids slowly started to close. Yes, the voice said in a soothing voice. I can take you to my home. I can heal you there. You or your friends don't have to worry.
All right, Red responded. Take me away.