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Chapter 37-

Extreme Gopher Grab

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You skipped into the Sweet Shop and see Monty looking annoyed. “You alright, Uncle Monty?”

He smiles, “(____)! I'm so relieved it's you. At least it wasn't the Princess bothering me again.” He has a few paper suns in his hands and hangs one up.

“Oh?” You take some and help him.

“At first she made me this flashy is green scarf, then she made that.” You look to see a chocolate replica of Monty's head with one eye missing. “Finally she tried painting the shop sign.”

You hum and wonder if Rapunzel will let this whole thing blow over. The bell to the shop rings and a young lady comes in, “Good afternoon, Sir!”

Suddenly, she trips over Chocolate Monty and luckily the real Monty catches her. “Oh, I'm so sorry. Are you alright?”

“Oh don't worry about it. I'm fine.” She says in a slight deep voice.

There was something about her and you take off your glasses. A faint golden hue was around her and you immediately knew who it was. Rapunzel.

“I got that thing as gift and I'm trying to find some use for it.” Monty looks down at the chocolate head.

“Yeah, dumb and totally useless thing.” She scoffs fakely.

You go to sit on the counter and see her kick the head, “I sure hope the foolish, but clearly well intentioned person who made it regrets it.”

“Even though it probably took her….or him, who knows? Hours to-” She clears her throat, “-get it just right.”

Monty raises a brow in slightly suspicion, then smiles, “Yes, right. Well what can get for you Miss…..um…”

Rapunzel glances around in thought and speaks slowly, “Uh, Miss…..Missy….Misty….” She grins and holds her hands together sweetly, “Miss Misty.”

“Well, Miss Misty. Would care for some jellybeans today?” You suggested, raising a brow.

Rapunzel looks at like she barely notices you and she smiles nervously, “Yes, jellybeans. E-every kind, but green.” She crosses her arms in fake disgust, “Because I hate….I hate green.”

Monty laughs, “A girl after my own heart. I'll tell you what, I've got a personal stash where I already picked out all the green ones.”

You giggle as Monty prances toward the back happily, “Let me get them. (____) keep Misty company until I get back.”

The two of you watch him walk out of the room and you stomp over to Rapunzel/Misty. “Soooo…. Misty.” You air quote “Misty” and narrow your eyes.

“Why are you doing this?”

Rapunzel groans, “Ugh, I want to find out why he hates me. Possibly find how I can get Monty to like me.”

You blink then sigh, “Monty's stubborn and you don't have to disguise yourself to find out, besides. He's still a truthful man.” You take her hand, “Sooner or later you have to accept not everyone will like you. Don't hurt Monty too much, he may be mean to you, but he's still a kind hearted man to others.”

“Good Luck, ‘Misty’.” You chuckle. “Just a suggestion, you two should participate in the Gopher Grab. It probably won't change Monty's mind on you, but he'll appreciate it.”

“Spread Good Will today!” You yell to Rapunzel and her face is surprised as you laugh, “The Irony of today, especially for Monty and Rapunzel.”

Back at the tent, Cassandra was changed into her dress and you watch he try to pull the bowl of berries away from Gregorio. “Wow. You are a little hungry guy, aren't ‘cha?” She laughs.

“So was I.” Eugene says beside you and you roll your eyes.

Something smells sweet like bimberries and you realize it's coming from Eugene. You grab his hand to see purple stain marks on your fingers, “Eugene.” You say with warning.

He grins, “What?” There were purple stains on his teeth just as Cassandra walks out with Gregorio in his castle carrier.

“Did you eat Bimberries?”

Eugene laughs, “No. Of course not. See there's still berries in the bowl.” He points to the bowl.

You walk over and take a berry then eat one. It was slightly sweet yet sour and you facepalm, “Eugene, these are DIMberries. These cause hyperactivity in rodents!”

Eugene hums, thinking then grins nervously, “Uh, yeah. Who doesn't know that? I just thought… You guys undermined this whole Gopher Grab thing and decided to make it more…..”

He waves his hand trying to think of a word then you two hear Cass scream in surprise. “Exciting!” He laughs sheepishly.

You two run out and go into the small arena. You duck with Eugene as a very hyper Gregorio flies over you head then runs around crazily.

“I don't understand, why would Gregorio act to Bimberries like this?”

“Eugene ate the Bimberries!” You accused Eugene.

“Wha- no I did NOT! She's lying.”

“Then he put Dimberries in the bowl.”

Cass yells and looks angry, “WHAT?”

Eugene turns to you and points, “Tattle Tale!”

You glare, “I'm just being honest, beside I'm not the one who has berry stains on my teeth!”

There's a growl and Gregorio runs by with a piece of rope from a banner, then knock you and Eugene over.

You both groan then freeze. Gregorio is panting heavily and has crazy eyes, standing a few feet away.

“Why is he looking at us like that?” Eugene is afraid to ask.

You smell berries as Eugene speaks then your eyes widen. “You do realize you smell like Bimberries.”

Eugene gulps, “Ooooooh…..I get it.”

Gregorio growls loudly and runs straight for you two. You guys scream and get to run, only to stumble while doing so.

“Legs are tied, this is bad!” Eugene yells.

Cassandra jumps for Gregorio, but he goes right under her and other competitors dog pile on her.

Both your left legs are tied and you try to keep up with Eugene's strides. You're both are now yelling comically and managed to go over the walls of the arena.

“INSANE GOPHER CHASING US!” Eugene summarizes to the shocked Stan and Pete.

“Come on, Misty! Let's show these youngsters how a gopher is really caught!” Monty's voice is faintly behind.

Unfortunately, Gregorio's crazy screech is louder and close behind.

“What did I do to deserve this!?” Eugene exaggerates.

“You were stingy with the berries, Your Dim-Wittedness!” You say and both of you jump over a bush.

“Now you're acting like Cassandra!”

“And you're acting like Eugene!”

“But I am Eug- OH BE QUIET!”

You laugh, but squeak in panic when Eugene stops you two from going into a river.

“Trust me and hang on.” Eugene says and you cling to him as he jumps across on some stones to the other side.

The both of you tumble through a bush and land in a big flower patch. You pant heavily, but Eugene covers your mouth and peeks through the bush.

You look and spot Gregorio panting crazily, but he's resting on a stone, seeming to lose you guys.

Eugene unties the rope from around your legs and pulls you up quickly, “Go, go, go!” He whispers.

Running through the forest, you two circle around and make it back to the Gopher Grab arena. You go up to the stage now next to Cassandra who was waiting with Gregorio's carrier.

“There you are! I couldn't find you, (____).” Cass said and mainly looking giving you concern.

Eugene stands next to her and pouts, crossing his arms, “I'm fine too, FYI.”

You giggle, “Thanks, Eugene. I'm glad you're okay.”

Eugene blinks then smirks, “Thank you, (____). I have found another person who likes me, Cass-AN-dra.”

Cass rolls her eyes and smiles when Rapunzel runs up. You grin and take Gregorio from Monty, placing the gopher back on his carrier.

“Alright, alright. As you all know, the Gopher Grab is sacred tradition.” The King announced to get everyone's attention.

“So, Rapunzel, are you feeling about how you let things with Monty?” You ask, grinning.

She grins happily at you, Cass, and Eugene, “Yeah, I mean you guys were right. I just had to accept that not everyone is gonna like me.”

King Frederick unrolls the parchment paper, “And the winner of this year's Gopher Grab is…” He speaks warmly, “...Good Old Uncle Monty!”

Everyone cheers and applauds as Monty goes on stage. The King holds out the ribbon.

“BOO!” Rapunzel boos Monty.

The King, Eugene, and Cass stare at Rapunzel in shock. She blinks and chuckles, “What?”

You giggle and smile softly because Rapunzel finally learned something new today.

“Not everybody has to like everyone, you know?”