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Chapter 42 -
Deadmans Circle
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“Weapon…...what weapon should I use.” You ask yourself then sigh, “Maybe I don't need one.” The cart of weapons is pushed by you and the man looks at you questionably.

“I don't have a weapon, sorry.” You smile sheepishly.

He shrugs and continues on.

There was a bench near you, so you lay down on it and look up at the orange sky, “Is this a bad idea?” You remember when you punched Cass and grimace.

“One golden haired wig for you!” Eugene places a wig onto the Bee Beard woman.

You sit up, “Eugene? What are you doing?”

“Selling wigs to get a ticket.” He grins, tossing up some gold coins.

You look at him confused, “What happened to your seat?”

“I lost it when they put me in VIP seating.”

“There are no VIP seat-” You suddenly laugh and fall back onto the bench, “You got to sit with the V-ery I-mportant P-ig!”

Eugene points in annoyance, “That is NOT funny!”

“I can't help it.” You laugh in your hands, “Well good luck getting back in.” You head toward the arena.

“So, did you want me here?” They were going to take off their hood, but Queen Arianna pulls it back on.

“It's best to keep that on until after the final. You don't want (____) seeing you.”

Sky blue eyes look at the Queen in confusion, “What does this have to do with-” His eyes widen when you walk out onto the circle with Cassandra and Rapunzel.

Rapunzel narrows her eyes, ready to run when the horn went off, but she glances at Cassandra and you. She sighs, glancing down sadly and walks over by Cass.

“Hey, um….I know today's been a little weird, ugh….. I just….I wanted to…” She rubs her neck, “I don't know, I just wanted to say, Good Luck.” Rapunzel smiles warmly and Cass looks at her.

“And I know you and (____) aren't in good terms right now, but…. She's still our friend.” Rapunzel goes to hug Cassandra then stops herself, especially when Cass moves away, “Right, Right! Sorry, sorry. There's no hugging. Gotta remember that.”

Cassandra feels guilty and sighs with a frown, glancing to you. “Raps, I just wanted to say-”

“It's now time for the elimination round!”

You get ready, narrowing your eyes in determination.

“Now remember folks, once someone steps out of the ring they are out! The last one standing is our champion!”

Cassandra turns to you, looking sorry, “(____), I just want to say-”

You glance at her as she gets cut off by Wreck who steps between you two. He grins, “Are you ready for this? ‘Cause it's gonna get ugly in here.”

You and Cass glare at him before getting in your stance to run.

“Ready! Set!........BATTLE!”

Wreck runs and takes his weapon, hitting a contestant out to the crowd. Cass get hers and fights Skullkicker. You see Wreck following you as you run, noticing Rapunzel trying to look for something.

“Wait! Has anyone seen a frying pan!?”

You make a sharp turn toward Rapunzel and she yells, ducking when Wreck goes past and he ends up ramming Skullkicker out of the ring.

Wreck growls and eyes you, smirking, “Quite the little mouse you are!” Three competitors jump onto him.

You step back as an axe perches the wood in front of you. The guy with the skull mask keeps swinging at you and you keep backing up. With a grin, you step to the side when he swings then trip him. A ding goes off as he rolls out of the ring.

Cassandra accidentally back into you. You two have competitors running at you and the both of you dodge their hits, making them spin each other out of the ring.

“Whoa!” You step back when Cass swings her bow at you. Your hand lands on a spear and you take it, hitting her bow back.

There are three more dings by Wreck. Cass yells and you keep watch on her every move.

“Do actually think this will prove anything? You're going to get hurt!” Cass swings toward your head, but you hold up the spear to block it.

“Yes and I don't care! I can be as good as you and Eugene!” You knock her side and she slams into the wooden part of the ring. The spear is raised high and you bring it down.

Cassandra’s eyes widen and she rolls every time you hit. “Be as good as us? (____)! It took us our whole lives to get us where we are, you still have time!”

You jab the sharp end, but she hops up and flips over you. “No! This is the perfect opportunity to prove that I am strong! That I am more than just this lost and misplaced kid!”

Cassandra pants and keeps backflipping away from your fast swings. Suddenly Cass remembers the small talk you and Varian had a week ago.

“(____)! This isn't going to show Varian how strong you are! You're losing yourself right now!”

You growl, “I need to prove to him that I am strong for him! You already lost your head! Trying to stop Rapunzel from being in this tournament, leaving her frying pan out so she can easily get eliminated!”

“Rapunzel! Rapunzel! Rapunzel!” The crowd cheers.

You get distracted and Cass pulls the spear from you. She knocks you to the ground and sticks the spear through your shirt, “Stay.”

You pant and struggle in frustration, noticing Cass had pinned Wreck to the wooden pole by arrows. Now she was heading to Rapunzel.

The mark glowed under your gloves and your hand snapped the pointed part of the spear. You got up and took the wooden part of the spear with you as a weapon.

“That all you got?” Rapunzel grins with her own bo staff.

Cass swings when Rapunzel does, but your staff now knocks them both backwards after colliding with theirs.

The three of you were now in an intense and slightly brutal battle between your staffs. The wooden weapons making loud clunks from hard forces you three put into it.

Every now and then, one of you would either flip back or jump.

Suddenly, Cass spins and kicks out, knocking you far from them and luckily not out of the ring. You groan from the pain in your stomach.

Rapunzel gasps, “Cass! What has gotten into you?” She now tries to block Cassandra's harsh blows.

Cass kicks Rapunzel’s staff after she uses it has a shield, making Rapunzel slide very far close to the ring line.

“Whoa, whoa, WHOA! Wait, stop! We're supposed to be friends!” Rapunzel says a bit devastated.

“Friends wouldn't be so oblivious or stupidly persistent!”

You glare at her. “You have no idea what this contest means to me. Rapunzel, you're a princess and have got nothing to prove. To you, this was just a fun way to blow off a Saturday!”

Cass points hef staff at you, still looking at Rapunzel, “And you! You're just trying to prove something you already have just to ONE person! You have respect, even by those Thugs!”

She gets sentimental and stares at Rapunzel “To me, this was a chance to show everyone that I am more than just your Lady-In-Waiting.” She clenches her fists.

Your eye catches movement and its Wreck. He struggled to reach and pull at the arrows.

“And just when I thought I might even be getting the slightest bit of respect….” Cass huffs, “...... Nevermind.”

Rapunzel sighs and looks at Cass, “Respect? Cassandra, I respect you more than you could possibly imagine. (____) does too, you two are like sisters.”

You now felt guilty. Cass actually was like a sister and the way you were fighting here, was just dumb for both of you.

“I mean I look up to you. Why do you think I wanted enter this thing in this first place?” Rapunzel runs her hand over bo staff, “You are my friend and as your friend….ugh… I should have realized how important this was to you.”

Rapunzel drops her staff, “I'm so so sorry.”

Cass slowly smiles softly and drops her weapon, strolling up to Rapunzel.

You panic when Wreck breaks free and takes the opportunity to charge with his weapon high, “AHHHH!”

Cass and Rapunzel’s eyes widen see the spiked weapon a foot away from their heads before it flies back to hit Wreck in the face. He stumbles back by his own force hitting him. The crowd gasps.

You pant after using your staff as a bat to knock Wreck’s weapon back.

Wreck yells angrily and runs at you. You run at him too and jump, raising your staff to smack the top of his head.

Unfortunately, your staff breaks and you take Cassandra's that lays next to you after you landed on your back.

Wreck begins to fall forward. You use the staff to hold him up and use both your legs to launch him off you.

Wreck screams as he flies up and hits the ground, crashing right on an empty section of the cavea.

Your body rolls over after you pushed him and you're kneeling on the other side of the ring. There are two dings.

The crowd awe’s in pity and you felt your eyes water. Sure you saved Cass and Rapunzel from being wrecked into the ground, but you couldn't help but feel completely embarrassed that you got out of the ring in front of everyone.

A pair of boots step into your view and you look up to see Cassandra. A ding is heard because she stepped out of the ring to come up to you.

Her hand is held out and she smiles warmly.  You don't take her hand, but you stand to hug her tightly.

“I'm so sorry, Cass. I didn't…..I'm sorry.” You hold onto her and she sighs.

“Hey.” She kneels down, smiling proudly, “I forgive you. We both lost our heads and we sorta hurt each other, but all this doesn't mean that I don't care for you.” She rolls her eyes, chuckling, “Though, I have to admit. You throw a very good punch.”

Rapunzel comes over with a caring expression, “Seems like we're all okay.”

Cass frowns at her then holds up Rapunzel's hand and the cheers erupt. Rapunzel is handed a trophy and she giggles, “I don't think I deserve this.”

She hands it to Cassandra and you smile, “You deserve it, Cass. Fair and square.”

Cass stares at her reflection before grinning, handing it off to the other contestants, “Nah. I think I deserve a hug.” She holds her arms.

Rapunzel squeals, “GROUP HUG!”

You're pulled in between them and grunt as they hug tightly, “Too much, too much!”

They pull away and laugh.

You pout, then laugh with them. You happen to glance at the crowd at the wrong moment and pale.

Varian stood in the front row with an expressionless face.

The disguised Queen says something to Varian before he jumps over into the arena.

Rapunzel and Cassandra blink in confusion as you run off, then get more confused as Varian runs between them to follow you.