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Chapter 41 -
Events Before The Final
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Rapunzel prances into the arena and waves to everyone. “Cassandra, (____)! Oh this is going to be so much fun!” She hugs you both.

“Good news, Cassandra! (____) told me this competition is for everyone, now we can all compete together! Eeek!” Rapunzel squeals happily.

Cassandra forces a smile and her eyes look to you, restraining to speak joyfully, “That's SO great!”

You snicker and put her hands on your hips as the announcer speaks, “Ladies and gentlemen! It's time for the first event. The Gauntlet!”

There were giant hammers swinging back and forth. Skull Kicker was first and he ran without hesitation, only to get slammed up high.

“Look, are you sure you want-”

Before Cassandra could finish, you walked toward the Gauntlet. “Lady (____) taking a bold move!” They announced.

Wreck stopped in front of you, but you just went around him and step up onto the platform. You took a deep breath and walked all the way across. You feel your hair blow from the wind of the hammers.

Your feet step down on the other side. Cassandra stares with her mouth open and Rapunzel looks surprised. There were loud applauders and a few kids yelled your name.

“Next up for the Gauntlet, Cassandra!”

Wreck had stopped Cassandra too and said something to her before she flipped through the Gauntlet.

“You just got lucky.” She pokes your shoulder.

You roll your eyes then you two blink at Rapunzel who just danced through. Her and Cass began to talk to each other while you watch Wreck walk through as the hammers just smash to pieces.

Now the three of you are staring with angry expressions at the next course.

On the scoreboard, they moved Cassandra to second place then put your name in fourth place, and Rapunzel is in sixth.

“Challengers! Prepare for the next event!”

It was Archery, but the rules didn't say what the arrows had to be made of. Cassandra went first and hitting some of the targets on top, all a bulls-eye.

She smirks then you pull out arrows made of peanut brittle. “Thanks, Uncle Monty.” You shoot in the bullseye, a centimeter next to Cassandra’s.

Rapunzel hits a target with a guitar and an arrow. She grins and seems self satisfied. The three of you jump when Wreck shoots a giant arrow and breaks the top targets.

Next was the High Jump.

“That's high…..” You whisper and notice you don't have anything to heave you over. This was jumping high without anything to help you.

“Ah, someone's getting scared.” Cass chuckles and runs before easily jumping high over the pole.

Rapunzel goes and gracefully jumps over like a ballet dancer. “How does anyone jump high like that?”

Hook Foot jumps, but his hook gets caught on the pole. You gasp in worry and you were about to help him, but Wreck stomps by you then jumps high before crushing the ground on the other side.

Hook Foot fell and you go over, “Hook Foot, are you okay?” He groans, but nods and smiles at you. Wreck laughs and you glare, clenching your fists.

You back up away from the High Jump. The crowd gets quiet, waiting in anticipation.

“Trust us…...do it…..”

The numbness spreads where your mark is and you run, closing your eyes.

Near the pole, no one had noticed and neither did you. As you go to jump, something comes up quickly to give you a boost up. Your body spins up and over the High Jump.

You stick your landing and you open your eyes to see everyone staring at you. Immediately your face heats up and you walk over to Rapunzel.

The crowd cheers and whistles.

They begin to change the scoreboard again. Wreck and Cass stayed in the same place, but you moved up to third and Rapunzel was fourth.

Cass narrows her eyes at the place you and Rapunzel are in. Rapunzel is waving at the crowd while you're drinking water.

You got in line next to Cass with piles of rocks in a net. All of you pick your pile up over your head and you had a bit of difficulty, but you managed to hold it up.

Cass laughs at your straining form, only to drop her pile when Rapunzel uses her hair to hold up a giant pile, almost like boulders. Unfortunately, to avoid Cassandra's rocks, you tipped over with your pile.

You growl slightly at Cass when Rapunzel’s name is moved in third place while yours moves to fourth.

There were four of you on a log that's on water and you all run, trying to stay on. Cass runs in determination and makes the log move fast. Skullkicker fell off first, but you and Rapunzel stayed on.

Cass go to distracted in trying to make the log faster for you two fall and ends up misjudging her footing. “Ah!” She splashes face first into the water.

Cassandra's weight made you lose balance and fall backwards. You spit out water, then chuckle as Rapunzel jumps and splashes Skullkicker.

You smile more as your name is back in third place and Cassandra's is in fourth since Rapunzel took second, “Yes.”

Cassandra stomps over to the Anchorman and takes his papers, “Do you even know the rules?!” She stomps a foot like a child, “Aren't shoes required for the log roll!?”

You wring out your hair as best as you can and snicker at her.

“UGH! Somebody check the rule book of the Brave! Isn't there also an age limit to compete?!” She whines in frustration.

You laugh and walk by her, “There is no age limit, unless you count the way you're acting.”

Cass stops and there's barely a light pink to her cheeks in embarrassment. “Guys!” She turns to the other competitors, “Am I the only one who has a problem with this?”

She gestures to you and Rapunzel. You sit up on Hook Foot’s shoulders and Rapunzel does stretches. “The Princess and a kid are making a mockery of this competition!”

Hook Foot walks over and smiles, placing a hand on Cassandra's shoulder, “Hey, it's okay, Kid. When you're mad, do a dance-”

You smirk and draw a smile, “-and give that smile a second chance!”

Cassandra snaps, “Oh go eat a turkey leg you two!”

Hook Foot holds his hands up in surrender and you hugs his head before jumping off. Cass grabs your arm, pulling you over toward Rapunzel.

“Okay, you two. Listen up, this has gone far enough. Lets call it a day.”

You pull away, “As if.”

Rapunzel laughs in mockery, “Oh, I will call it a day. The day I won the championship.” She throws her arms down, smirking, “Boom! Trash talk!”

You laugh and glance at Rapunzel, “Oh? When will that be? The next Championship after I have won the championship, that's when.”

Rapunzel narrows her eyes at you, “Oh no, I'M going to win.”

“You know what? Let's see where you two land AFTER the Deadmans Circle.” Cass says, bearing her teeth.

Rapunzel looks between you and Cass,”Yeah, okay. We'll totally see where the three of us land after the Deadmans Circle.”

You all glare at each other in a intimidating moment, until Rapunzel wavers to ask a question, “What's the Deadmans Circle?”

You huff, “It's the finale event.”

“And believe me, your little dances-” She looks to Rapunzel then you, “-and your good luck streak won't save you this time.”

You all walk away from each other while Hook Foot comments a few feet away from where you three were at, “Well this is awkward.”

The disguised Queen gets up once she sees the guards bring someone to the ticket booth. She was relieved that they wore a cloak to hide themselves.

“Thank you for coming.”

They grin shyly, “It's no big deal, Your Highness. Besides, when you're summoned by the Queen herself, it's got to be important.” They grimace a bit, “Though if my dad found out I were here, he'd kill me.”

Queen Arianna chuckles, “Don't worry. I'll handle that.”