After lunch, everyone assembled on the grounds for training.

" I can't wait !" Amber squealed, "Hansel said that we might have a mock battle today."

Hazel was not as excited by the idea. "I am a novice compared to these people." she thought.

Hansel stood in front of them, a stern gaze fixed on each individual.

" He looks like he intends to make us run a good ten rounds around the camp." Nate said.

" Oh no ! The morning ones have given me enough pain for a lifetime." Amber sighed.

" You can never be sure with Hansel."

" I hope that Red turns up soon." Amber said, " He is such a shy gentleman in front of her. It's really adorable to watch."

" Hazel, step out of line." Hansel said. Hazel obeyed.

"We must begin your training." he said.

Hazel nodded.

"I cannot pretend to understand the extent or mechanism of your abilities, but I do have knowledge of combat." Hansel said, "In battle, it is important to think on your feet and move as fast as you can. Therefore, I shall take care of your physical training."

Hazel dreaded the idea. She had always hated physical education classes in school.

"Ten rounds around the camp...starting now." Hansel shouted out.

Hazel fell in line with the others.

"I had hoped that I would be allowed to miss training on my first day." she sighed.

"Haha! Wishful thinking, Hazy Smith." Ced said.

At the end of four rounds, Hazel fell to the ground, panting for breath and drenched in sweat. "I... can't."

"You definitely can!" said Cindy, offering her a hand. Nate cheered her on.

Five. Six. Seven. Eight.

"Hazel, stop!" said Red.

"But it's only been eight..." Hazel protested.

"I think Hansel will agree with me when I say that it's been enough for a day." Red said, "The rest of you may continue."

Red offered Hazel some water, which she gulped down gratefully.

"I think I could have completed my rounds if you didn't stop me, Red." said Hazel.

"I have no doubt that you would." Red said, "But all in good time, dear. You would have exerted yourself unnecessarily."

While Hazel knew this to be true, she felt a need to rush her training and make up for the months she had lost.

"I don't want to be a bystander in battle. I don't want to be a liability to my friends." she sighed.

Red patted her on the back. "I can assure you that you won't."

****

The mock battle began. Two groups stood in the field, facing each other. Hazel had been exempted from this session. She stood at a distance, with Red, Hansel and Gretel.

" One of their teammates has been imprisoned by the enemy." Hansel explained, pointing to the trees at the corners of the field. A dummy tangled in a fishing net hung from their branches.
Two people from each team were assigned to guard it.

" The team which frees their member first, wins." he said.

Hazel recognised Cindy, Nate, Edyta and Edina in the first group. In the second, she found Amber and Ced, among others. Amber and Ced in one team , made the whole affair worth a watch.

" CHARGE !" roared Hansel.

Hazel thought the first team to be at an advantage, as it had more experienced members, but the second group managed to keep up with them.

The entire field was filled with booby traps. As the warriors lunged forward , their feet got tangled in ropes and metal.

" LUNGE FORWARD !" she heard someone shout out to Ced. Soon she realised why , when a man running behind him fell straight into a pit.

Amber fenced her way out, ballet dancing on one foot.

Nate had already reached his "imprisoned teammate" and was in combat with the guards, who were giving him a tough time. Hazel thought that he would have to give up, but became hopeful of his success when she saw Cindy running up to help him. However, a girl pushed her away , hurtling her to the ground in the process.

Battles are unpredictable.

Edyta and Edina wielded their swords and moved in perfect synchronisation. There was a beautiful harmony in their thoughts and actions. It was as if they were governed by the same instincts. Together, they were an invincible force. Ced struggled to keep up with their pace, their attacks confusing him.

Hazel saw Amber notice his struggle, but turn away, oblivious.

" Help him , Amber ! He is on your team !" Hazel cried out.

Amber rolled her eyes. Suddenly, Edyta and Edina stopped in their tracks, their expression dazed and confused.

Ced ran past them to his tree. At the other tree, Cindy took aim at the rope from which the dummy hung.

Ced climbed up and cut the dummy off the branch with his sword. The dummy fell to the ground, followed by the first team's, just a second later.

" We won !" Amber said, hooting with joy. Ced grinned like a happy kid on Christmas day.

" They did well." Red said, "Despite being faced with tough competition."

" What a pity ! The others lost by a second." Gretel remarked.

Hansel raised his hand to silence everyone.

"Congratulations Team two! You all may disperse now."

***

As Hazel entered the dining hall, she saw Amber frowning at Nate , with her hands on her hip. " What do you mean by winners can't sit on this table, huh ?" she said.

" Pardon me, I thought that I had made myself clear." Nate smirked.

In the midst of their argument, she saw Ced bring a chair and seat himself at the table.

Hazel took a seat beside Cindy. There was a feast laid out in front of them. Even though it wasn't as grand as the one at the chateau, it looked delicious.

"What is this for?" Hazel asked.

"This is in honour of Ced's birthday." Gretel said.

" His birthday ?" Hazel asked, confused, "Is it your birthday today, Ced ?"

"No. It was three days ago, but we could not celebrate as he was in the human world." Cindy explained.

"What? Why did you not tell me ?" Hazel asked Ced, indignant.

"I didn't think it worth mentioning." Ced shrugged.

"But it was!" she said.

"You both are so...cheesy." Nate remarked. Cindy rolled her eyes at him disappointedly.

Hazel regarded him with a confused glance. "What do you mean?"

Before Nate could reply, he was interrupted by Edyta and Edina. "Princess Snowflake has requested everyone to assemble outside her tent."

"Right now?" Ced asked.

Edyta nodded.

Immediately, they left their dinner to see the Princess.

"I apologise for having interrupted your feast, my friends. Something has come up just now. We have recieved a call for help." said Snowflake.

"Who is it from?" asked Cindy.

"Glinda, the good witch of the South."

"From 'The Wizard of Oz' ?" asked Hazel.

Cindy nodded.

"The West Witch has risen. The good witches cannot match her powers. They need us." Snowflake said, "We must leave for the Emerald City, as soon as possible."

"But they are not ready to fight a battle..." Hansel protested.

"All their training is naught, if it can't be used to assist the folks of this land in times of need."

"Won't we get caught, if we leave Far Far Away ?" Amber asked.

"We might, but it is our primary duty to protect our people. This rebellion is not a group of cowards, who hide from the rest of the world in fear of imprisonment."

Everyone cheered. "Long live the rebellion!"

Hazel was silent. She had a grim feeling in her heart.

War always meant death and destruction.

****

AUTHOR'S NOTE :

Cheesy.