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Chapter 40 -
Challenge of the Brave
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Tents littered all around the fighting arena with dangerous competitors wandering around and waiting for the Challenge to start. Some had been knocked out since there were fights outside and before the event started.

You walked around with popcorn in your hand and not seeming to be bothered by anything. This actually felt normal. The smells, the rough housing, it was like the Snuggly Duckling but more bigger.

“(____).”

You stop and turn around to smile, “Hi, Queen Arianna. What brings you here?”

The Queen walks up to you with two guards then pulls you inside an unoccupied tent. “I heard from your Ruffian friends that you will be competing.”

You groan, “I swear they're worse than girls when they chatter.”

Arianna sighs, “(____). What's wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong.” You cross your arms, but switch it the other way.

“Are you trying to prove something?”

You sigh, “Yes.” Your hand rubs your sore neck, “It's just Varian said I wasn't strong like Cassandra and Eugene. I see the way he looks up to them and-” You didn't want to finish.

Arianna smiles warmly and places a hand on your cheek to have you look at her, “Sweetie. You have nothing to prove and believe me, that boy does look up to you more than you know.”

She sighs, still smiling softly, “I know no one can stop you from competing, trust me, I've done the same thing to prove to my sister that I am stronger than her.”

You stare at her in surprise, “Really?”

She laughs, “Yes, I did. Unfortunately, I lost, but it was because she was in danger and I had to protect her.”

You glance away, “I'm still going and I am going to prove to everyone that I am stronger than I look.”

Arianna frowns then holds your hands, “(____), just…...just don't lose who you really are.”

“How can I lose who I am when I don't know WHO I AM?” You say in frustration.

She hugs you close, “(____). My point is we're not always defined by the things we do, but rather by the people we are and by those we love.” Arianna chuckles softly, “Show them all what it really means to be a true warrior.”

You watch her go out and rub your arm in thought, then you realize something. “Where did my popcorn go?”

“Hi! Hello! How are you? OH!” Rapunzel's voice passes by.

You walk out and see Rapunzel examining Razor Blade McDoom’s metal teeth. “Wow! Your teeth are so sharp!” She gasps, “Hook Foot!”

“Why so mad? Just do a dance and give that smile a second chance.” She giggle and hugs Hook Foot as he smiles.

“Probably not the best place for hugs, Raps.” Cassandra pulls Rapunzel away.

Your eyes light up once you see the popcorn cart go by, “One please!” You get one and eat it happily.

“(____)! Hi! Where have you been?” Rapunzel asks and Cass raises a brow.

“Yeah, what are you two doing down here anyway? This is for competitors only.”

You stare at Cass and give her sassy answer, “Well then I'm where I'm supposed to be.”

Rapunzel gasps and grins happily, “You got invited too! You're so lucky, I guess I can cheer both of you on! Also now I can wish you two good luck.”

Cassandra narrows her eyes in suspicion at you, “Yeeah, thanks, but I don't need luck. I need to use this time to get into the competitions head. You know, sike them out with some trash talk.”

You scoffs, “As if that's gonna help you with anything.”

Cassandra groans, “What is up with you today?”

You eat your popcorn, “Nothing. Just ‘getting into the competitions head’, is what's up.” You grin.

“You're COMPETING?!” Cassandra looks shocked and huffs, “This is no place for a kid.”

You glare, “And this is no place for a LADY-in-waiting.”

She goes up to your face, seeming irritated, “Might want to run that by me again?”

You smirk and flick a popcorn at her forehead, “You heard me because if you didn't, you wouldn't be in my face right now.”

Cass growls and holds you by the collar of your shirt, “Don't test me.”

“Test what? Your handmaiden skills, please, if you weren't the Captain's daughter you wouldn't be here.”

“If I hadn't been your bodyguard, then you wouldn't be here either! Maybe all you do best is forget!”

“Maybe you should go back to the castle where ladies belong!”

“Maybe you should go to the orphanage where kids who are forgotten belong!”

That struck something in you and you punched her in the face. Cassandra falls back and you hold onto her head as she tries to pull you off. The other competitors were getting a kick out of the brawl.

“Look guys! The Lady-in-Waiting just got handed a punch by a kid!”

They all laughed.

Rapunzel separates you two in concern, “Whoa! Guys, stop it. What has gotten into both of you.”

You and Cass point at each other, “She did!”

Hook Foot comes over and gently pulls you away. You grab a meat leg from the stand near you and threw it. The leg hits Cassandra’s head and she turns around to stomp toward you, but Rapunzel pulls her back.

“Let go! (____), threw a leg at me!!”

Cassandra fans her face when popcorn scatters on her and the box hits her face, “You little IMP!” Rapunzel continues to drag her away. “I will beat you on the final round!”

You yell still, “Come at me now! I was hoping for a battle of wits, but it would be wrong to attack someone who’s totally unarmed!!!”

You pant and every other competitors slowly back away in awkwardness. You yell in frustration, “What am I even doing!?”

The seats in the arena were filling up and Eugene was sitting in the front with Pascal. You didn't notice, but the Queen had on a disguise next to Eugene.

You run a hand through your hair, letting out a anxious breath and look back to the competitors. “I have to do this. I will not let Varian or anyone else think that I can't handle myself.”

“Hey! Good luck out there okay?” Rapunzel appears beside you and hugs you tightly.

You chuckle and hug her tightly, “Thanks.”

She smiles and hums a you're welcome. Before she walks away, you grin and shrug, “You know, this whole competition is where anyone can compete. You don't need no invitation, that's why I'm here.”

Rapunzel blinks, “Uh…..I don't think so. Cass said-”

“That's Cassandra. Have you ever asked anyone else? If you don't believe me, go ask Eugene.”

You hear a very loud horn blow, then rub your ear and spot Eugene being escorted to the highest seating.

Rapunzel laughs nervously, “I should go try to catch up to him then.”

“Ladies and Gentlemen, take your seats!”

You walk on with other contestants inside the arena and to be honest, you felt slightly nervous, especially with all the people watching.

“Look who's nervous. Scared that you'll fail in front of everyone?” Cass said from next to you, smiling smugly.

You glare, “I could say the same for you. Or is that your dignity is wavering?” You gasp and look at her in fake concern, “Is that why you're here? Poor Cassandra.”

She clenches her fists and turns away.

“It's time to meet today's constants! Give it up for Razor Blade McDoom!”

Razor Blade yells menacingly, “Aaaah! The razor is gonna carve ya like a turkey!”

“Next up, the unstoppable, WRECK MARAUDER!”

Everyone cheers loudly and Wreck Marauder roars, showing off his muscles, “ARRRRRR! Wreck has three words for you!” He smirks at the scared contestants, before turning to you and Cass. “You're gonna get Wrecked!”

You and Cass roll your eyes, speaking at the same time, “That's four words, Genius.”

Wreck frowns and growls at you two.

“Up next, is the Iron Handmaiden, Cassandra!”

Cass smirks as people cheer for her.

“And finally, her nickname given by the Ruffians of the Snuggly Duckling! Lily of the Valley, Lady (____)!”

You grin shyly as you got cheers and very loud yells from excitement from a group of your Ruffian friends.

Cass rolls her eyes, scoffing.

The announcers eyes widen when he's handed a paper, “Wow! We have a last minute surprise entry! Please welcome, the fearsome follicle, the heir with the hair, the maid with the braid!”

“No.” Cass dreads.

“Raaaapunzel!”