Well everyone time for chapter 4. I hope my chapters are not too long for everyone when I really get into a scene it's hard for me to stop. :P Anyway if you guys were wondering my puppy's name is Balerion (you know Aegon's dragon the black dread). On to the chapter!

-Ashe/Ahri/Braum-

The group leave Jessie's booth and make their way to the contest sign-up area for the costume competition. When they find an overly excited man sitting at the sign-up table. "Hello and welcome! This is where you sign up for our costume/character contest where you could win $10,000 dollars. Just fill out these forms explaining your name your characters name and what talent you will be showing for the contest. Let me know if you have any questions". Ashe looks over the form, they are going to have to keep with Katarina's lie to enter this contest. Ashe really hates lieing to people however, they also need the money to survive here. She starts filling it out and gets to the line about what your character is from and stops, "Is this line required to win the money? We based our costumes loosely on a game but they are really more of our own characters". Ashe says hoping the answer goes her way.

"No that line isn't required, just check this box for original character and we will announce that instead," he smiles pointing out the box on the form. Ashe lets out a sigh of relief, she won't have to lie for the money. She fills out both Ahri and Braum's forms as well then turns them in. "Very good seems like everything is in order here," he says looking over each of the forms. "All contestants will meet at 4 pm in this area here," he hands her a pamphlet copy of the map and circles an area. "Bring your talent there and we will go over order and safety procedures. There are pictures before the contest and those we can do at any time. If you'd like we can take them right now, we have 3 backdrops over there just for this".

Ashe looks over at the 3 backdrops, "yes that works for us". The three backdrops are a beach, a forest, and an icy tundra. Obviously, Ashe chooses to take her picture in front of the tundra. She walks over and summons her ice bow then poses for the picture. The man looks surprised at first, Ahri did say magic was minimal here. He shakes it off and takes the picture anyway, "All done now your friends". Braum follows Ashe to the tundra backdrop while Ahri chooses the forest backdrop for her picture. Ahri's picture is intense with her eyes looking right into the camera, her body in a seductive pose with a smirk. Ashe took a low archer's stance aiming just right of the camera her hood off and her hair down to her sides. Braum's picture is him leaning on his shield flexing the other arm with a goofy proud smile on his face showing his personality. The guy at the booth lets them look at their pictures and, when he shows them one they approve, he posts it next to the other contestants pictures. "Don't forget 4pm, enjoy the convention!".

The group then wander around the convention looking at all the strange items and art for sale. Ashe, her mind still trying to grasp the value of the money here, looks at things that she might be able to find in her world. Ahri, on the other hand, is only interested in items that might contain magic or art that inspires her. Both girls get stopped often for pictures and questions. Meanwhile, Braum heads straight for the food area. He walks by tasting samples as he goes asking many questions. His warm heart and caring attitude makes him easy to deal with, even if he does ask strange questions.

Ashe finds a posted map showing the convention's 50 different market style booths, 20 art booths, and conference rooms for talks and pictures. She locates the area the man was talking about and goes to get the group together as it is almost time. She finds Braum talking to what she assumes to be a wine dealer, however there are many kinds she has never seen before. "Braum it's almost time for the contest. You ready?" She asks looking at the drinks. "Braum is always ready!" he lifts his hulking shield and finishes the drink in his hand. "Let us go! Mother always said don't lose," he wipes his chin and follows Ashe turning back to the dealer, "thank you for the drink! Braum will give it back in kindness". Ashe can't help but smile, he's such a dork.

He follows Ashe till they reach the art section, Ahri is posing next to a canvas backdrop as a man is in the process of drawing her. Ashe walks up watching the man draw, "Ahri it's almost time are you ready to go?". Ahri breaks her pose, the artist looks to protest when she looks in his eyes he stops. "Thank you for letting me draw you miss Ahri," the kid gives a goofy smile looking at her. "No problem, thank you for buying me that delicious drink" Ahri says walking back to Ashe. "Drink huh? What kind?" Ashe asks honestly thirsty. "It was called orange soda. I've never tasted anything like it and it smelled so good," she smiles, "all he wanted was for me to pose for him. Although if they can make instant pictures I don't know why he would want to draw". Her charm obviously having an effect on the people of this world.

-3:45 PM-

As 4pm approaches they gather reach the designated area. The first thing Ashe notices is that Draven is standing among the other contestants. He is showing off his spinning axes and how skilled he is with them. Ahri speaks the words right out of Ashe's head, "what is he doing here?". "Maybe he is trying to win like us. No?," Braum says fixing his mustache. Ashe looks nervously, "that just means we need to step up our game. No way a guy like him wins a costume contest over us girls," Ashe looks at Ahri. "I've looked over the other contestants and asked about previous winners most are girls with custom costumes and a good talent. I've got my archery, but I was wondering what you planned to do?". Ahri looks around, "you think I could win by singing? I haven't done it in awhile but besides magic it's the easiest to display," Ahri adjusts her stance looking at the competition.

"Yeah that could work, let win this!". The group heads to the staging area everyone is getting ready to show off their talents when called. Braum goes out first in the group. He has a man bring out a scale and sets his massive shield on it. Just setting it down breaks the scale Braum looks worried at first but when the group starts laughing he laughs with them. For his talent he juggles his shield, with his feet, while doing a handstand. The crowd cheers loudly as he finishes. He walks past Ahri lightly bumping her shoulder, "Break a leg!" he smiles eager to watch her like everyone else.

Ahri walks out onto the stage and begins singing though the words are in a different language you can feel the emotions behind the song. While she sings she also dances letting her tails move freely to the song, which Ashe decides is probably about a young romance. Ashe thinks of her fiance back in the freljord, the big muscular oaf better not be goofing off while I am gone. In order to create alliances in the freljord to stop the fighting Ashe had agreed to marry Tryndamere, the barbarian king. And a barbarian he is, muscular and with an unyielding taste for war. He rose to king of the barbarians after losing his whole tribe to what he calls the dark being. Ashe sighs deep in thought and realizes the song finished as people are clapping.

Ahri walks back smiling, "Show them your best Ashe, I'm rooting for you". Ahri makes her way back to Braum who is waiting to the side of the room in order to watch the other acts. There are a few acts before Ashe's including Draven who decided that his spinning axes and good looks would be talent enough. Ashe spots Katarina in the back who's attention is not on the acts but to a nearby window facing the outside. It is now later in the afternoon as the sun has started to set, maybe time flows differently here Ashe thinks to herself. After Draven's act it's finally time for Ashe to take over the stage. Taking a deep breath, she steps out gripping her ice bow. She had asked that the stage be set with small and moving targets.

She makes a silent prayer to Averosa and begins by rolling on stage her arrows flying to each bullseye on the stage she dodges left and right hitting every target with perfect accuracy. she finishes with a volley of arrows and then turns and bows, the crowd is silent at first stunned by the display of archery. She looks up and they burst into cheers amazed. She feels her anxiety and self doubt dissipate as she enjoys the cheers of approval. She bows again and leaves the stage making her way back to her group, "that went over better than I expected, you would think they never saw a true archer before".

"Perhaps they haven't, this place doesn't seem to worried about war. I mean just look at their buildings and technology. These people probably do not use archery anymore," Ahri says looking over the crowd. No archery? Ashe thinks to herself, what would I be without my archery. "All of that aside," Ashe sighs looking back to the group, "do you think any of us have a chance? I get the feeling that the inn Katarina suggested only takes this country's currency". Braum shifts his weight to the other foot half listening and half watching the talents, "no time for worrying," he flashes Ashe his signature smile, "keep your spirits high, you have Braum".

Ahri puts a hand on Ashe's shoulder, "it doesn't help to worry. Braum is right, besides didn't that Katarina girl say that we could exchange our gold coins somewhere? Even if we don't win we should be fine". Ashe smiles knowing her current companions could probably make it through just about anything, "you both right sorry I started to lose heart". The other two smile at her as they get ready to announce the winners.

"Alright it the moment you've all been waiting for . . . THE AWARD CEREMONY! Remember that the winner gets $10,000. Let's begin with our runners up starting with Anna and her D. Va cosplay," a girl walk up on stage and takes a bow. "Our 4th runner up is an original character Frost Tank by Braum, wasn't his strength something else?" Braum's picture goes up on the screen and he eagerly makes his way onto the stage. He shows his shield off one last time for the audience. "Our 3rd runner up is Damon with his Demon Lord Dante cosplay!" A boy walks on stage looking like some kind of demon. "Now for our 2nd runner up who is also awarded a gift certificate to Portillos is . . . Draven and his original character, The Quick Executioner," a large group of girls cheer as Katarina rolls her eyes from her spot in the crowd.

"Now for our final two candidates who were so close we almost thought about calling it a tie are both made their own original characters. Come up here Ahri the fox shaman and Ashe the ice archer! Both girls came up with impressive costumes as well as equally amazing talents." They both make their way onto the stage Ashe freezes her nerves. Ahri looks almost comfortable as the Announcer has one of them to either side. "And now . . . Who will receive the $10,000 and who will get the consolation prize," he pulls out a small envelope. Ashe thinks to herself, honestly it doesn't matter either way we will have the money we need to survive till we find a way home.

"And the winner is . . . . Ahri with her original character Fox Shaman!" the crowd cheers as Ashe and Ahri both take a bow. Ahri is given the check in a small envelope as the announcer raises both their arms, "can we get a loud cheer for both girls and all the amazing costumes presented today!". The crowd roars in approval Ashe can even pick-out Miss Jessie's voice. The group leave and lots of people come up for pictures and to talk. Once it dies down the 3 group up to discuss what to do next, as they still have time before their meeting with Katarina.