Chapter 7.

Annabella had finally hugged Abe back. Abe walk to his collection of knicknacks, sitting on top of a dresser. Abe stooped down, pulled out the lowest droor, and took out a sparkling gold sword. He turned towards Annabella and said, “do you know how to use one of these?”

“No,” Annabella replied.

Abe walked towards her, and placed the sword in her hands. Upon touching the sword, Annabella's name was magically engraved on it. She was in shock.

“I am going to teach you,” Abe said.

“Why?”

“It only make sense for you to be able to defend yourself, if you still choose to enter onto a haunted land, filled with mongrols, a beast, and brainwashed people that want to take you down. In their minds, there is only one seat for a ruler, and that seat is for King Henry.”

Annabella spoke. “I don't care if I become a royal, or even a ruler. I just want a better life for my mother, my community of friends and townspeople, and myself. I just want fairness, for everyone. I just want there to be love.”

Abe affirmed. “...But you are the first, and only person that wants to change things. You're the only living and breathing entity that wants to challenge the king. Something will come out of that.”

Abe reached back into the droor of the dresser and grabbed another sword. He walked Annabella to the back door of his tree house. They pierced their eyes through the glass door to what appeared to be a simulated training ground. They enter the field and begin training.

Suited up in a protective vest and leaping through hurdles, crawling through tunnels, slashing simulated creatures with her sword, Annabella was surprised by her stamina, endurance, and strength. Abe walked to a lever, and cranked the scenery up to level two. This time, Annabella was leaping through bigger hurdles, crawling through deeper tunnels, and slashing larger simulated creatures. Her stamina, endurance, and strength proved their power in her favor. Impressed, Abe cranked the lever to the level 3. The room became pitch black, and a mongrol walked towards Annabella with a sword in its hand. It was a simulation of Abe. “What,” Annabella said in confusion. The simulated Abe began attacking her. Annabella fought, and fought, and fought. She was pushed to the ground, and lost the round. Abe, still standing by the lever, turned the system off. “Are you sure you still want to do this?,” he said.

“Yes,” Annabella replied. “...But why must I fight you, or I mean the fake you?”

“I am the strongest mongrol in this forest. Don't you remember the first time we met?... If you can't get past me, then you have no chance against any of the other mongrols!”

“Oh.”

Moments later, Abe began to teach his fighting style and techniques to Annabella. After the training session, he left the field, and turned back on the simulation to level 3. After a rough and heavy fight, Annabella was pushed to the ground once again, and lost the round.

“I can't beat you up. I'm not strong enough, and I also don't want to hurt someone that I love. It's hard.”

Abe replied, “Life is filled with lots of hard things. That doesn't mean that you're not supposed to do it. If you have the courage to enter into the Mongrol Forest, then you have the courage to fight a mongrol, no matter who it or what it means to you.”

“What about things that are bigger and stronger than me?”

“Use their weaknesses against them. If they stand, you stoop. If they lower, you jump. If they are physically stronger, then you need to be smarter. Be on your toes, and always think quicker.”

Annabella took a deep breath. “Okay.”

Annabella and Abe returned to their training session. “You have a lot of fighting methods,” she said. Once the session was over, Abe left the training field again, and turned the level 3 simulation back on.”

When simulated Abe punched, Annabella ducked. When simulated Abe got distracted and slapped his chest, she grabbed his right leg and tripped him. When simulated Abe ran towards her, her sword was already drawn beforehand, he ran right into it, and the sword had slit his chest. Simulated Abe fell to the ground, squealing in pain. Annabella had won round 3. Annabella patted herself on the back quickly before level 4 had began. This time she was somewhere familiar, from one of her daydreams. It was the inside of a fascinating blue castle with a large golden entryway and a huge ceiling full of chandeliers. Sitting on a huge throne while stomping on a pile of sparkling golden coins and eating a huge gravy turkey leg out the palms of his hands was a furry man with a raw bear, dressed in an embroidered and finely tailored suit, fit for a king. He mercilessly growled orders to invisible people.

Angered, Annabella took off her vest, threw down her sword to the ground, and stormed back inside of Abe’s treehouse. She shouted at Abe, still standing by the lever, “I won't hurt my father! Whatever, weird game you're playing, I don't want to play it anymore!”

Abe replied, “So, you want to dance around in beautiful dresses, fill your stomach with delicious meals, and shop the market for fresh goods, whenever you want - with no care in the world?”

“...Yes. I don't want to face my father with weaponry in hand. I'm not sure I can do it.”

Abe smiled, and turned the simulation off. “No care in the world surely sounds wonderful to me.” 

Abe walked to the kitchen, grabbed pots and pans, filled them with water, and turned on the stove.” Annabella joined Abe in the kitchen, and the cooked together. Moments later, Annabella walked to the closet and picked out a green ballgown. In their best attire, Annabella and Abe laugh at each other's jokes and dance around the living room. Moments later, while still embraced in each other's arms dancing, Abe snapped his fingers. Magically the table was set, candles were lit, turkey was sliced, cranberry juice was poured, and delightful dishes were served. Abe escorted Annabella to the table, and they enjoyed their fabulous, 5-star feast, fit for a royal and her mongrol beast.