A/N: hey guys! I'm going to put the AN up here because... reasons. I hope you enjoy the chapter! Don't forget to review and follow to never miss the next chapter! Because god forbid I would keep a normal schedule.

The next day I had woken up early to plan with Rysand the Mario Kart Tournament, hence forth will now be known as MKT.

Even though my body hated getting up this early I know the girls were excited for it. So I had gotten up and started working on the board that will have all the names on it. I also saw this as a test to my skills of remembering everyone's name. There were a few girls that I had forgotten already but for the most part I think I did alright.

After that was done it was time to decide which console to play it on. In my personal opinion, the older machines are the best at playing the game but I don't think every girl would have played the same systems I have. So I stuck to the Play Station, classic enough to feel like I'm playing it when it first came out, but modern enough that everyone knows the controls.

Whilst I was unplugging my machine and making sure I had all the correct wires and the game, Rysand made the box the girls would put their names in as well as the name cards.

"Thanks Rysand, for helping me."

"It is what I get paid for, Sir." Well, he wasn't wrong. It was close to lunch by the time we finished, so I had Rysand move the board and game console down to the woman's room whilst I took the box and the name cards to the dinning hall.

Apart from the staff I was the only one there. So I placed the box front and centre on the family table with the stack of cards next to it. Then I waited.

It took half an hour so the Selected to come in. My parents didn't seem to come today, probably because they had some work or another to do. I got a few looks from the girls, mostly looks of confusion. Mixed with some others that I didn't know.

After they had all taken their seats I stood up from where I was seated.

"Hello, Ladies. Today is the day we ride into battle!" Which is what I wanted to say, but decided against it as it may be to weird. What really came out was just a bunch of mumbles before I got my words right

"Um, Hi. This is for the Mario Kart Tournament. There are indications on the top if you want to play or not. So whenever you want you can place your name from the cards provided in the box. OK thank you." I said before sitting back down. Why was talking to girls so hard? I've talked to girls before. I even did it yesterday! But talking to them as a group seemed harder.

Luana and Lily were the first to put their names in the box, followed by Genevieve. Then the staff came in with lunch. Various sandwiches and cake stands scattered the tables along with various glasses of liquid. I place some ham and cheese sandwiches on my plate before getting a glass of orange juice.

I took my time, as I had to take the box with me anyway. Eventually everyone had put their name in the box before leaving. So I picked up the box and headed towards the woman's room after them. I had caught up with some Selected then. The conversation between us felt... stale. Like when you go into the kitchen to eat some bread but found that it started to go hard. Kind of like that.

Eventually I let them walk in front of me, but I made a note that I need to find them again at some point.

The woman's room seemed quieter than yesterday, but at least they didn't stop talking completely when I walked in. Rysand had set up the board and the console near a TV so that it would be easier to change when each round finished. All I had to do was pair each person off.

After a few moments I felt someone stand next to me so I turned and found Hayden there.

"You need a hand?" he said, gesturing to the pile of names I had in my hand.

"Yeah, that would be great thanks."

we worked in silence. Occasionally bumping elbows or hips but I ignored it because it wasn't long before all the names had been placed. I hadn't noticed the silence in the room until after I turned around to see all the selected looking a me and Hayden.

"We can start now?" The girls continued to stare for a few more seconds before pulling sofas and chairs around the TV so that we all had some place to sit. Since there would be an odd number of players the first two who play, the winner will play someone else before going to the next round.

"Princely-Being-224? What kind of user name is that?" Amanda stated. How did she know my user name? I looked at the screen where the play station home screen was and there it was, my user name. Sat in the corner of the screen, proudly on display.

"It sounds like a 7 made it up to sound higher than they are." she laughed, prompting the laugh of others around her. I quickly found the remote and started the game itself. If Mizz was here here and wasn't lying about it, I hoped she didn't hear that. Or see it.

"Okay, first round is Lily and Hayden." I said, letting them take the middle space on the sofa.

They both seemed to be neck and neck for most of the race, until Lily got the blue turtle shell and blasted Hayden out the way stealing the 2nd place. Hayden took up 4th.

Amaya was up against Lily next. She looked nervous to first start playing. But relaxed more as she got into it. It was clear she hadn't played this game before, as I told her how to use the power ups to try get ahead, but in the end she only got 6th place and lost to Lily.

And it continued like that for the next few rounds. Others had gathered around to watch or cheer. Until it was my turn against Luana.

Now I must admit I haven't played this game in awhile favouring online games rather than play station ones. So when Luana beat me I wasn't surprised. Most of the Selected cheered for her whilst she high fived them. Samantha gave me a sympathetic pat on the back before we switched places so she could play Winter.

Winter won, who managed to get another blue shell, pulling ahead of Samantha and won even when she placed 4th. There were two more tournaments before the final tournament in this round. Genevieve and Bronwyn. Genevieve had a smug face as she sat down and picked up the controller. Bronwyn looked worried. But so would I if I was up against the person who had suggested the tournament in the first place. Eventually she started laughing when the karts around her would slid over the bananas, and it was hard not to laugh along with her. She lost, coming in 8th place.

"Hey, at least I'm not this bad at driving in real life. I hope." She said before excusing herself.

We took a break between this and the next round. Rysand had organised some snacks and drinks to be brought in so we all sat around talking. I managed to find myself in a group with Juniper, Tyla and Freyja. I had started to notice that these three had been keeping together, whether that was because they made friends with each other already I don't know but I wanted to get to know them.

"So, what did you all do before the Selection?" I asked, taking another bite of the small cake I had picked up.

"I was an astrophysics student in Yukon."

"That sounds amazing! What was it like?"

"its hard word but I enjoyed it, I was just starting my second year when the Selection happened." I never thought about the girls who had been studying. Never gave it the time of day.

"Oh my gosh I am so sorry, is there anything I can do to help?"

"What's happened is done. Ill catch up one way or another."

"Well, I'm sure I could find someone to help if you need it."

"Thanks for the offer but I'd prefer to try on my own." I just nodded. I felt bad now, how many others had I taken away from something important.

"What about you, Juniper?" I said, tying to change the subject at least.

"I was an actress. My contract with the show I was in had just ended. So I was excited when I got picked. I even packed as soon as I heard my name on the report." She giggled to herself. I didn't realise people were so excited for this Selection. This was just something I was forced to do but finding out first hand others was … shocking.

"An actress? I don't think I remember seeing you in any shows I watched."

"I work on the stage. I haven't been on TV before."

"That's still interesting! I don't think I have ever been to see a play."

"If I ever go back to it ill make sure to send you a ticket."

"I'll look forward to it." I said. She smiled and turned her gaze away from me. Then I looked towards Tyla, she seemed to be avoiding my gaze. If she didn't want to talk to me that was fine but we would have to talk eventually so I said,

"And Tyla, you worked at a hotel right?" When she heard her name that's when she looked at me. She seemed to take me in before she spoke, looking me up and down before turning her attention to the floor.

"Yes, your highness. Its not far from here." her voice was quiet. I hadn't noticed it before but after talking to everyone today it was noticeably different.

"I think I know it. I have never been but I'm sure its very nice." I didn't know what to say. Apart from a few holidays abroad I had never really stayed in a hotel, or visited one.

"It gets us by." And with the tone of her voice it sounded like she didn't want to talk any more about the topic. So I left it. I got up to get another cake before we started the rest of the tournament.

The rest was mostly the same as the first half. Luana played against Lily and won. Samantha played against Genevieve and lost. So at last it came to the final race. The rainbow race. Luana verses Genevieve.

Whenever I would play this track I would always loose. Or I would get frustrated and quit half way through because I fell off too many times. So I know what the girls might be feeling like. But none of them looked nervous, they looked determined. Almost all of the other selected gathered round to watch, to see who would be the winner.

As soon as Mario said 'GO' the girls leaned forward, fixated on the screen. It was a very tense race. The girls would lean with the karts, trying in vain to make them lean more. I found myself following but caught myself after I did it a few times. Luana got hit by some green shells a few times by Genevieve but she only responded by placing the bananas in front of her for her to slid over.

Then out came the blue shell. I don't know who had it or who won. It was very fast. The room fell into a silence. The cheering died down as the results table popped on screen.

Luana won! Everyone cheered and applauded as she jumped from the sofa to join in the celebrations. Others hugged her as she jumped around. I smiled and went to give her a hug before stopping myself. Instead I gave her a high five. I stood in front of the screen and faced the room.

"I had not originally planned this but as I had no prize prepared I hope this is a close second." I took a deep breath in and let it out as I face Luana. What I'm about to say is more nerve wrecking than when I talked on the report for the first time as a kid. I do not do well speaking in front of others.

"Luana, will you be m first date?" She stared at me for a few second before a huge smile slowly crept on her face.

"Oh my gosh of course!" She said, clearly giddy before hugging me briefly then letting go to gossip with the others.

The rest of the day was playing Mario kart with each other which ended up turning into Mario Party. Which I won, obviously.

Now I had to plan a date.

"Do you really think it will work?" A Male asked. It was roughly 2 am in the morning, dark enough and late enough to conceal this transaction.

"Don't be such an idiot. You should have done something by now, now we have to intervene. Just do as we say and everything will work out." The male nodded at this other man. This male had talked to this guy before. Also in he dead of night. No matter how hard he tried he could never see his face. The only thing he would make out was this man was definitely taller than he was, and larger.

"Quick, a guard is coming." A female said.

"Deliver these. I don't think even you could mess that up."

"I won't. It will all work out." The male seemed to tell himself that rather than saying it to the other two. Then within moments, he two figures had left and the male stepped back inside the palace, papers in hand.