It shot straight past them silently, sound coming a few seconds later as a sky shattering rumble. It was increasingly harder to control the bike in this state. As speed continued to rise, Ace felt lightheaded. He felt wetness on his face under the helmet and now knew that if they went any faster it could be even more dangerous. Fire devoured the open field but was put out by the rain. The skull began to laugh as the bike got closer and closer to the finishing line. Before it hit the finish line, the skull shut, the fire stopped, and the bike turned off. The bike slid for a good 30 meters before Ace stopped it. "I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I JUST SAW! SHOCK, THE REIGNING CHAMPION, BEAT! BY A NEW CONTENDER! LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! BOOOOYS AND GIIIRLS! GIVE IT UP FOR! AAAAAAACCCCCEEE!" The announcer cried as the crowd went wild, cheering his name.
Ace stood up in his seat and raised his hands to the air, milking the attention from the crowd. Harley jumped up and hugged him and she raised her arms too. She cheered and the announcer called "MASTER DRIVER! COME TO THE ANNOUNCER PAD! AND RETRIEVE YOUR PRIZE!" Ace looked at Harley and gave her a high five before jumping off the Archangel. Maya drove up and stopped next to him. She took off her straps and kicked her feet onto the top of handlebars and said. "Fuck that was such a good rush." "Maya, you okay?" Ace said unsure of what he just heard. Maya just chuckled to herself. Shock drove up and got third place.
"FUCK!" Ace heard him yell. "I don't think he likes losing." Ace said before beginning to walk to the announcer pad. He walked up to the announcer pad and a short man was standing on the edge. "I'm here for the prize. Where's the announcer?" Ace asked. "Boy, you're looking at him." The man said turning around. He had grey hair that was very short and green eyes. His face was craggy yet welcoming. "Very funny." Ace said. "I'll prove it." The man said before coughing. "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" The short man said just like the announcer. "How can you do that voice at such an old age?" Ace asked. "Wisdom of age boyo. Here." The man said handing Ace a group of envelopes with the royal insignia of the Dragon. "Tickets granting entry to the royal masquerade. Later tonight is when it takes place. Get going." The old man said pushing Ace towards the stairs.
Ace walked out to where the Kyuubi was and saw Shock had already sped off. Ace held up the tickets and said. "We're going to a royal masquerade. Any of you wanna come?" Maya and Harley both agreed happily. Ace climbed onto his bike and waved to the final people in the stands before turning to Maya and saying. "Meet us back at the Life. Just go up the stairs as soon as you get in." Ace then sped off, racing Maya back to the Ivory Life. Ace and Harley were sitting down on the couch, Harley making her mask still. Ace had finished his and Maya's and she just now walked through the door.
"So what are our masks?" Maya asked. Ace pointed to the group of three masks on the table. They were all different colors. Red as a primary and gold for the secondary was Harleys. Blue and gold for Maya. Black and gold for Ace. Ace's mask was a human face that was without details except for the eyes and mouth being shut and crumbling like stone. The outside of the mask branched along the persons face at random lengths. Maya's would be a wolf with symmetrical designs. Harley's was a porcelain like harlequin mask. "How did you make them that quick?" Maya asked. "Just a quick spell. It made the material in the form of a clay. When you think of what it'll look like, it'll form into it. I was thinking of making you a bikini but sadly I didn't." Ace said. "Sadly? Does that mean you want to see me in less clothes?" Maya asked with a slight smile. Harley punched Ace in the shoulder. "Ow hey what was that for?" Ace asked. "Pervert." Harley said turning back to her mask.
*time skip*
They were now walking up the steps to the manor, Manor Hazlevale. They were all wearing their masks and wearing black, common in Nightshade for royal events. Ace pulled out three bottles of a purple liquid and handed one to both Harley and Maya. "Take this." He said to them. "Why? What is it?" Harley asked. "A vial of jealousy. They don't play fair here. They people in the game will cheat to get an answer so, to become someone totally different, drink this. It'll change your voice and hair. Don't worry I have the reversal at home. The only other way it'll break the spell is if someone finds out who you are and tells you directly." Ace said chugging his. Maya and Harley did the same. "Tastes sweet." Harley said, now with a fruity voice and short blond hair. She was now slightly taller and had more sway to her step. Maya now had modulated voice and medium length brown hair. Maya stayed the same height but now walked with more confidence. Ace's voice was honeyed, like a master liar. His hair now reached his waist and was crimson red.
"Well aren't you a hunk." Harley said. "Your voice doesn't fit that tone." Maya said as they reached the front doors. They each handed over their ticket and stepped through the front door. A large room with white, reflecting marble floors. A massive diamond chandelier hung from the roof. Numerous doors leading to other rooms led each direction. A hazel colored wood of the finest quality made the balcony and pillars of the room. All the patrons stood in this room until the night began. After a short time, everyone had arrived. Ace, Maya, and Harley had all signed the guest book in random places to hide their arrival at the same time. The front doors locked and candles on the balcony lit up with a yellow glow. "Wondrous patrons. I welcome you to the HazleVale estate." The princess spoke, elegantly and orotund voice. "This year's game, will be guessing. You will each draw a name from the box. You must correctly find out who that is by the time the night is over. I wish you all a pleasurable evening." Ace thought she said the word "pleasurable" with a little too much emphasis. "Let the fun begin." The princess said.