(Moving the Rock)

January 14th, 1907*

*Iv Plains*

The afternoon wind breezed through the grassy fields as Dorothy struggled to push the rock, trying with all of her might.

"Gosh, this rock just won't move. What is it made of…" Dorothy uttered to herself, taking a few deep breaths as she sat on the ground to catch her breath.

During this, Rose approached Dorothy, hearing the entire question, and she was quick to provide an answer.

"Oh, this rock? It's made from the hardest known metal called Ozmite. It's going to take a miracle for you to move this rock. Remember what Keiko taught you, that's your only hint." Rose explained to Dorothy before turning around to walk back to her home, and this left Dorothy surprised.

"Ozmite? Wait! That's the same type of metal that Dion trapped me with, but if so, why can't I move it? I destroyed it when I unlocked my super form." Dorothy asked Rose, feeling curious yet confused while the girl saw Rose stopping in her tracks.

Soon after, Rose turned around, smugly smirking at Dorothy.

"Oh really? Perhaps Dion summoned some fake Ozmites, hm? Because I can assure you that nobody besides a select few could destroy it let alone move it.." Rose answered, turning back around to head back to the cottage.

After this, Rose continued walking back to her cottage before speaking again to Dorothy.

"I expect that rock to be moved by the end of the week, okay? I believe in you." Rose ordered Dorothy once more before waving her goodbye as she entered her cottage.

Soon after, Dorothy waved back, feeling a bit more confident.

"Don't worry, I will move this rock. I won't fail you." Dorothy whispered, turning her direction back to the rock, ready to push it.

Dorothy soon leaned over, placing her hands on the rock, getting into position as she tried to push the rock.

"Come on, move…" Dorothy groaned, struggling to move the rock before taking a few deep breaths.

*Cottage*

Back at the cottage, Rose, Flynn, Keiko, and Betsy ate lunch in the kitchen, discussing their next move regarding Zorya and Alice.

"So, what does your sister want? Seems like she's insane for wanting to turn the world into darkness.." Rose asked Flynn, taking a bite from her peach while she waited for an answer from the boy.

After hearing the question, Flynn took his time to gather his thoughts before answering the question.

"I'm not sure. She never told me; however, I believe those thoughts slowly came when we were kids, you see, Zorya was pretty lonely, and that scared off people in our village. I guess she wants to have others feel her pain.." Flynn responded, gently rubbing his fingers around the cup of water that he was drinking while Rose nodded.

"I see, well, It seems we have to extract information from that girl, I never got her name but it appears that she works for Zorya." Rose responded, placing her fingers on her chin to think about the situation while Keiko spoke up.

"Well, we just have to wait until she shows her face again, but for now, Dorothy needs to move that Ozmite so she can get her sword. As much as I want to put an end to all of this, it's best to lay low." Keiko chimed into the conversation, speaking in a serious yet formal voice while Rose, Flynn, and Betsy nodded in agreement.

"I agree. I just hope nothing bad happens beforehand.." Rose responded, taking a sip of water from her cup before looking out of the window to see Dorothy struggling to move the rock.

During this, Betsy looked out the window as well, thinking about her friend.

"I should check on her, Dorothy needs at least someone to be there for her." Betsy thought to herself before getting up from the chair to head outside.

*Outside*

Back outside, Dorothy was struggling to push the rock, feeling tired as time passed.

"Damn, not even an inch.." Dorothy uttered in exhaustion, falling to her knees to catch her breath, feeling more tired.

Once she fell to her knees, Dorothy breathed heavily, feeling the effects of trying to push such a large and heavy object.

"I bet Mr Chopper could move this rock quite easily, and I'm sure as hell he won't allow me to give up!" Dorothy spoke to herself, slowly feeling motivated as she got up, remembering the words of her friend.

"Alright, here goes!" Dorothy cried out while getting herself into position so she could push the rock. Dorothy began to let out a cry as she struggled once more to push the rock.

"Come on. Move!" Dorothy thought to herself in frustration while she continued to struggle to push the rock.

Soon after, Dorothy fell on the ground once more, breathing heavily to herself.

"Why can't I move it? I'm the same person that managed to defeat Dion. So why can't I move this darn rock.." Dorothy uttered to herself while she looked up at the sky, viewing the beautiful sun.

The sounds of the lake and critters were peaceful, calming Dorothy down as she closed her eyes to enjoy the peaceful sounds.

"I only have one week to move this rock or Rose won't forge my sword. I refuse to give up here. I have loved ones I need to count on…" Dorothy spoke to herself once more in a low tone of voice, continuing to watch the sky.

After saying this, Dorothy remembered Keiko calling her a disappointment and Rose calling her weak.

Those words stuck to her like thorns from a rose.

Following this, Dorothy closed her eyes, further taking in those words.

"Maybe I'm weak. Maybe I'm a disappointment. I can't even move a stupid rock..." Dorothy whispered, feeling disappointed in herself as she continued to lay on the grass.

Meanwhile, at the entrance of the cottage, Betsy exited the home and made her way to where her friend was currently resting, lying next to her.

"Hey, how are you holding up?" Betsy asked Dorothy, turning her head to face her friend while Dorothy nodded.

"Hey Betsy, and I'm doing good. Just struggling, that's all.." Dorothy responded in a soft voice, gently throwing some grass in the air, some of it falling on her face.

This moment made Betsy smile as she responded.

"I see, and just know that I believe in you. It's going to take time but you will push that rock. You've done so many wonderful things. You saved the world once! And with that, I believe in you, truly I do." Betsy responded, gently placing her hand on Dorothy's face, making her smile.

"Thanks, and that means a lot. It's just I only have a week, and if I don't move this rock then all is lost. I don't want to let my friends down..again.." Dorothy responded in a disappointed yet relaxed voice, mostly feeling disappointed in herself.

During this, Betsy nodded understandably, wishing to do more to help her friend.

Soon after, Dorothy slowly got up, stretching her body as she tried to lift her spirits.

"I feel better, thanks for talking to me, you're a good friend, Betsy." Dorothy spoke to Betsy in a more relieved voice while walking back to the rock; however, both she and Betsy heard Rose's voice.

"Remember, you have a week, and don't worry, you can take a break now." Rose called out to Dorothy from the cottage, sending a sense of relief to the girl.

Soon after, Betsy gently grabbed Dorothy's hand, pointing her hand at the cottage.

"Why don't we get you something to eat, okay? If you want to move this rock then you'll need all of the strength you can muster." Betsy advised Dorothy, smiling at her while Dorothy smiled back.

"That sounds wonderful, and I could go for some lunch at the moment.." Dorothy responded before following her friend back to the cottage.

Right after this, Dorothy and Betsy entered the cottage to eat lunch together, and Dorothy was met with a sense of peace, the peace being the people that Dorothy counted on.

*Night*

The following night arrived and Dorothy was outside, taking a few deep breaths as she attempted to push the rock again, and despite the cold air, Dorothy still felt the motivation to complete her warm-up training.

"Alright, by morning, I shall move this walk.." Dorothy whispered, shivering in the process as she gently placed her shaky hands on the rock, and there, she began putting her energy in hopes of pushing it.

This was followed by Dorothy grunting, struggling to push the walk forward as she breathed heavily.

"I won't give up…I will win.." Dorothy whispered to herself, slowly taking deep breaths before getting back to work.

Of course, Rose, who was still awake, watched everything from her bedroom with a smile on her face.

"You're slowly learning. Now the next step is to put that confidence into power." Rose spoke quietly, sipping some coffee while continuing to watch Dorothy for the time being, and she had faith that this was a task that Dorothy could pass with flying colors.

It was a long road ahead, and Dorothy knew this; however, with the support of her friends, she had faith that she would move the rock.

However, Unknown to Dorothy and her friends, Alice's cat was watching them with a huge grin on his face.

The cat didn't speak at the moment, but rather, chuckled to itself, gathering what he could at the moment before fading away to report back to Alice, and all that was left was his smile before that faded away.