"Wow... just wow..." Nicholas kept on repeating, making the rest of the team want to hit him- but none blamed him... what Julian just told him was world moving.
"I still can't believe it... only thirty teams are left!" Lemon-chan exclaimed, stunned as her friend and boyfriend.
"Yes. We, team leaders, just found out this morning. The first test was so difficult, because they wanted to eliminate as many participants as they could. More than two thirds are gone, only leaving... well, us thirty" Julian told them "I knew that those bastards were planning something! That's why I was so keen on finding a secret weapon to make our café special" he cursed under his breath.
"Managing a café isn't easy guys, what you did was exceptional! You found a theme and exploited it. You made the costumers adore you and want to come back for more. And the sweets were delicious! It was a job well done" Julian congratulate them.
The team and their Sweet Spirits blushed, happy for the praise of their leader. Even Ichigo, who still was mas at him- but was starting to understand his reasons. Those they were going against, are horrible! They had to be stopped, Ichigo couldn't be angry at Julian for just trying to stop them. Could she?
"What's the next challenge?" the brunet patisserie asked, softer than she ever did since she found out the truth.
Julian smiled at that, hopeful that maybe not all was lost with her "It's a treasure hunt" he told them look at him puzzled "You see, they will give us a list of ingredients that we have to find in the Sweets' Kingdom's Forest. Only the first ten teams that finish, will be able to get to the semi-finals" those news made them gulp nervously "Relax, I know that we will be victorious!"
They looked at each other, calmer this time at his excited encouragement, starting to believe that maybe they could make it...
It's a pity it didn't last long…
We can't do this! We just can't! The three of them exclaimed in their heads as their roamed through the forest searching for their Sweet Spirits.
The bastards that they were going against, in the Sweets' Kingdom Court, saw them as a threat- after winning the first challenge with flying colors, and having the prince by their side- so they decided to eliminate them. When they noticed that they finished first- again!, they decided to kidnap their Sweet Spirits. They couldn't cross the finish line without the WHOLE team, counting the Sweet Spirits.
Ichigo and her friends didn't care anymore about the competition, they just wanted their friends back- safe and sound. They were frightened and tired, they just wanted to forget about this whole fiasco and go back home. They've been going though the forest for an hour now, and nothing. Until, Julian finally got the answer.
"I know what to do!" He exclaimed "Shon, get out and give me a hand! I'll need to use you as our personal GPS. You see, spirits, of any kind, can be 'sense' the other and now where to find them. But the difference that each kind has a different frequency, that's why Sho- being a music one- cannot feel our friends. However, if I use my magic- as the Prince of the Sweets' Kingdom- I will be able to change his frequency for a little bit and help us find them!" Everyone cheered at the explanation, and hoped things would work out as they had planned this time.
It did.
They got their Sweet Spirits back in time, and crossed the finish line with all the ingredients. They got in seventh place, much to their displeasure, but were glad they had made it at all- even with their… inconvenient.
At least, now they knew they had to be more careful. Next time, they might not make it through.