Chapter 46: The Royal Rally (Part 2)
After we made our way out of the arena, we followed the people to the next event of the Royal Rally. I still couldn't believe how Candace managed to pull off the win. And I will be honest, I was hoping Gemma would win. Yes, I'm on Candace's side, but I was expecting Gemma to beat her. And it's not because I hate Candace.
…
…
…
I just want the two of them to get along. Especially when we first enter the Mushroom Kingdom in a few days. But I'm not sure how I'm gonna do it though. They've both been rivals for so long and I want that rivalry to be put aside for now. I do not have much time left so hopefully I can become successful at recruiting.
…
Wait… but I also need one more member. I don't want to drag someone into this though as he or she doesn't know how he or she's gonna take it.
…
I'm gonna have to think about this.
"Ugh! This is like a traffic jam, man!" Xavier said in annoyance.
"I know. I can't believe there are that many fans here." I said.
"I knew I shouldn't have gone in the front when I took the chance."
"At least you are happy that Candace is leading the series. I think your support led her to lots of confidence."
"Yeah, but I wish to keep my eyes only on her. I don't want to watch an empty battlefield."
"Battlefield?" I asked.
"That's what people call it in Capture The Flag." Xavier said.
"Oh. That makes sense."
I think I've heard that term that my teachers use in school before. No wonder I forgot about that.
"But aside from that, I hope we're able to watch it live on a big screen so that I won't have to watch just empty space on the battlefield."
"Is it that big?" I asked out of curiosity.
"Well… kinda. More like a… war-like sized battlefield, maybe?"
Now this is starting to remind me of Camp Half-Blood. Where there was this one intense Capture The Flag event. Well… I wouldn't say for sure if it was intense but it was most likely riveting to watch.
…
…
…
But I wonder… I'm not sure if Gemma or Candace pay attention to that type of stuff. Well, it's their business so there isn't any need for me to talk about other things that they like doing besides the Royal Rally or being cute.
"Well… I'm sure you'll get a chance to see her on the field."
"Yeah, but how…"
"Found you!" I heard Wendell say as he managed to find us in a flash.
"There you are! Goddamn! This large crowd is large as hell!" Xavier said with an exasperated look on his face as well rubbing the sides of his head.
"Yeah! Imagine getting through lots of nobodies so that I can be with you! It's literally the most asinine experience ever! I almost got irritated because of the amount of folks that are there!"
A…Asinine? What does that mean?
"But I finally found you so… *sigh* Never mind. How are you, Kaze, if that's your name?" Wendell asked me.
"I'm well. It really is large. Almost like a sporting event. Like soccer."
"Right?! Tell me about it! It's almost as if you're in a concert!"
"Yeah. Much to my dismay." Xavier said with an annoyed look.
"I assume you don't like concerts." I said to him.
"Hell to the no. I don't care what anyone says. It's ear-piercing as hell."
Well… I haven't gotten a taste for concerts anyway. So I'm not sure why I asked that. And it also doesn't fit who I am.
"Yeah it could definitely damage my ears. I wouldn't be a fan of that."
"Well aside from concerts, who thought that Candace was gonna lose that first game. Raise your hand." Wendell said as he was raising his hand.
"W-Why?" I asked.
"Because I want to tally up the number of people who side with me on Candace barely winning that first round."
"Well I thought the same thing. But a win is a win. That's all I care about. Even though I was almost pissed." Xavier said.
"Really? Almost?"
"It's only one game though. So there's no need to be pissed off." I said.
"Woah woah, not you cursing all of the sudden, Kaze." Xavier said, while holding his laughter.
"That really came out of nowhere. I thought you were a gentle and kind human being." Wendell said.
"I-I am kind. It's just that I swear when I'm mad or annoyed. Or on some occasions." I said with a sweatdrop. "But aside from that, it's nothing to be mad about. It's only the first round."
"*sigh* Yeah. You're right. Candace won anyway, so I don't know why I'm reacting badly."
"This match is gonna get even better! And I swear, Candace will definitely win this for sure!" Wendell said. "I know that her reinforcements are intelligent against Gemma and for Gemma, she might run into a wall in mere seconds."
"Yeah, Gemma's gonna get smacked this round." Xavier said. "I know this is a fact. Even though Gemma's athletic. But I'm predicting that her teammates are gonna fail her. This is gonna be an easy 3-0 for us."
"Yeah, Gemma has no chance."
"Your hate for Gemma is really strong, you know?" I asked.
"W-We aren't hating on her! We're just predicting what might happen. People really overrate her as much as I do. And it's almost as if people don't really pay attention to her anymore."
"But to me, I don't find anything from her that's annoying to me."
"No no. I'm not saying that she can be annoying at times. I'm saying that due to poor performances in the Royal Rallies she played in, especially in the do-or-die rounds, people hate her because despite her improvements, she still hasn't been able to defeat Candace. And it ain't even a rivalry anymore. It's just… think of Candace as Gemma's "Kryptonite".
"Yeah, I know that. But… don't you guys think that she's still a kind-hearted but energetic fashionista? Yes, I'm still new to the Royal Rally, but that's how I feel about her."
"Well… yeah. I still like her…"
"I mean, she really is nice, I'll let the cat out of the bag here." Wendell said. "And as we already know, this is the last time these two will face each other. But now I'm concerned. I wonder what Gemma is going to do once the aftermath approaches. Because she's still going to dominate as usual."
"I know she's got a lot left in the tank, but…"
"Alright, Ladies and Gentlemen! Round 2 of this best-of-5 series is about to get under way, so please stay outside the battlefield! The participants will be out shortly! I repeat, please stay outside the battlefield, the participants will be out shortly!"
"I really wanna know where the others are at. Because this is gonna get boring in a minute." Wendell said.
"They all must've gone on the other side." I said.
"I mean, it's like a team game. You can't expect everyone to show up." Xavier said.
"Yeah yeah, I know that, but now that I'm thinking about the environment, it's really kinda boring and gloomy. I just want the energy to spark." Wendell said.
…
"Well, looking at the crowd, it is kinda boring." Xavier said. "But that doesn't excuse the fact that when the celebrities arrive, we become eccentric. That's just… how events work. Like how Kaze brought up sporting events. Fans can become eccentric."
"Well, that's what the crowd should've been. It's enthusiasm. That's why this event was popular. But looking at the crowd, it's kinda quiet."
"Well, they have their own reasons. You can't just expect them to be rowdy because they aren't with their friends." I said.
"*sigh* Well… yeah. That may likely be the case."
"And this game is gonna go our way! And the enthusiasm will surely be there! And I know it will be!" Xavier said with pride.
*CLICK*
"Ladies and Gentlemen! Get ready for Game 2 of this best-of-5 series between Candace and Gemma! The two participants alongside their allies have now entered inside the battlefield! Get ready to make some noise!"
*LOUD CHEERING*
"There we go! About time!" Wendell said as he was following along with the crowd that was cheering.
Well that made him happy at least.
"2-0! 2-0! 2-0! 2-0! 2-0! 2-0! 2-0!" Xavier yelled which caused me to gain a sweatdrop.
Oh boy…
Blue's POV
"I'm sure this is Gemma's favorite. Her confidence and speed is so so good." Aiden said.
"Yeah, but Candace might have stronger troops on her side. It's gonna bring in much more of a challenge for her." Lucas said.
"This is Candace we're talking about." I said. "She really has a lot of heart and pride in this despite Gemma being an athlete. More like a trackstar."
"Is she gonna be all over the place?" Emily asked.
"Offensively and Defensively." Aiden said.
"No wonder how Candace could be more like her." Juniper said, looking annoyed.
We managed to find Juniper after going through a massive crowd. It was really lots of shoving, trying to find our friends. There were other people struggling to find theirs too and I… even heard a verbal altercation that was near me. Aiden, Lucas and Emily were also witnesses of the event. Probably because of someone not paying attention. I couldn't recall what the problem was.
But that aside, we managed to find Juniper, but we still can't find Cheyenne. She seems to be on the other side of the arena. I forgot to ask who she was rooting for.
The part that I should've been asking her. But it was all thanks to other things that prevented me from doing so.
"Well, like Blue said, she is Candace." Emily said. "Whether it's athleticism, fashion or anything that is popular in a way, she just wants attention."
"Yeah, but athleticism is even better than "princessly" laughing and changing into valuable clothes every once in a while."
"You know, Candace is really gonna get after you had she heard this." I said with an exasperated look on my face.
"H-Hey! D-Don't get the wrong idea! I-I-I-I've never questioned Candace's athleticism before!" Juniper said, looking panicked.
"You literally just questioned it just now." Aiden said, siding with what I said.
"Nuh-Uh! Look, to be honest, I've never seen just one match that I've seen Candace use her athleticism to beat Gemma. Gemma's a real psycho in physical stuff."
"S-She's not a psycho!" Emily shouted, upset that Juniper called her that.
"Not like psycho psycho! I meant… she's insane in every physical event that she participates in which leads to Candace having to make a lot of adjustments and training her goons to create a better army. But no matter how hard she tries, her attempts are subpar."
"Are you sure you actually pay attention to the whole Rally and not just the stuff that she struggles with?" Lucas asked.
"Why do you guys think I'm here?" Juniper asked.
…
…
…
"Ok. Whatever." Emily said with a sweatdrop.
"Yeah, I'm not gonna counter once more." I said with a sweatdrop.
Xavier really got one person's attention.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, once and again, get ready to make some noise!"
*LOUD CHEERING*
"We are now starting the second game of our best-of-five series showdown! Let us introduce to you the two teams that will be squaring off!" The announcer said on the mic.
"And I'll prove it to you right here! This ain't no joke!" Juniper shouted at all of us.
"Sure." I said, still having an exasperated look on my face.
"Introducing the yellow territory! Introducing the team wearing all yellow and black, looking tough, buff, and athletic, possibly the strongest team to ever step into the battlefield! Ladies and Gentlemen, give it up for Team January!"
*EXTREMELY LOUD CHEERING*
Oh, we're in for a surprise.
Kaze's POV
"Oh my god. This is so annoying." Xavier said with a facepalm.
"Like, Just look at this! This is not even a contest at this point!" Wendell shouted, disgusted by how Gemma's roster looked.
"Well, all I could say is… that's one energetic team." I said.
"Not just energetic! They look stronger than ever! I hope Candace matches that!" Xavier shouted, still looking surprised.
"And introducing the green territory! Introducing the team wearing all green and white, also looking athletic and stronger than ever, looking to finally capture a win after two disappointing defeats in two games! Ladies and Gentlemen, give it up for Team Maxey!"
"LET'S GOOOOOOO!" Wendell yelled.
"YESSIR!" Xavier yelled.
As we looked on the big screen, in the middle was Candace who was still wearing the same clothes from before along with four guys who were wearing green jerseys and white shorts with green starry lines on the side. They looked really tough to me, I would've said otherwise on Gemma actually winning this event.
"Now that looks like a winnable army!" Xavier shouted.
"So overpowered! Ready to shred the opposing team!" Wendell shouted.
This is gonna be totally chaotic. I hope there isn't gonna be any roughhousing although I never had much experience in this.
"The two teams will now enter their positions on the battlefield! The battle will start momentarily!"
The announcer said on the mic as we saw both teams in their positions.
"C'mon Candace! Show Gemma no mercy! You got this!" Xavier shouted.
"Time to make a statement!" Wendell shouted.
"If Candace wins this game, this whole rally is over! I don't see Gemma winning one game!"
They both aren't playing around when it comes to rooting for Candace to win. They really want Gemma to lose but we'll see if the tables turn.
Candace's Super Quick POV
"Hey, uh… my lady, this is gonna be even tougher than before. Are you sure you have the guts this time around?" One of my teammates asked me.
"Hey, I know what I have to do." I said. "I'm already off to a great start and I don't want to let things go that blonde rascal's way. You guys better impress me this time! And I mean it!"
"Yes, my lady…"
"Excuse me?! Where's the enthusiasm?!" I shouted.
"Yes, my lady!" All of my teammates shouted as I heard manly voices that time.
"Hmph. Good." I said.
Idiots.
Gemma's Super Quick POV
"Don't worry, Gemma! This is gonna be way too easy! I promise!" One of my teammates said to me.
"Just make sure you do your part out there. You desperately need to win this so you can even the series." Another one of my teammates said to me.
"Thanks. Be careful though. These guys look really strong." I said to my teammates.
"I can see, but we still gotta do this for you. We don't want you outclassed again."
"You can do this! Just don't let the negativity impact you!"
"I know, guys. Just trust in me. Everything will be fine if you let me be the Gemma that I am." I said to both.
"Alright, as long as you know what you are doing."
Hopefully I can break out of this slump.
Kaze's POV
"Capture the Flag will now begin in a few seconds! Participants, please stay in your territory! Be sure to check the amount of flags you have before proceeding! Please let us know if you're missing one!" The announcer said.
"This is gonna be so chaotic, man. I'm feeling my heart beating so quickly." Xavier said.
"Well, coming from your excitement, I can already tell." I said.
"You should try feeling excited too, you know."
"I have no experience in this. Once I actually watch more of this, I'll think about getting excited."
"Really? You're just gonna watch and stay silent the whole event?"
"That's the plan."
"Wow. Just boring." Xavier facepalmed.
"You should try getting used to how I am these days."
I said.
"Participants, please take your positions and wait for my mark!" The announcer said on the mic.
"Alright, here we go! Round 2! This has to be 2-0 Candace right here! This has to be!" Wendell said.
"Yeah, I can agree to that!" Xavier said.
We'll see.
"We're ready at 3…
2…
1…
GO!"
We saw the two teams charging towards one's territory as Capture The Flag had officially begun.
I saw Gemma speeding towards the enemy territory with no hesitation with others on her side.
"Look at Gemma! She's a turbocharger! She cannot relax for one second!" Xavier said as he was pointing at Gemma on the big screen.
"She is something else. I don't know if she will be quick enough to get a flag though." I said.
"I hope the teammates pursue her down. She's gonna be an annoyance all game." Wendell said.
"Tell me about it." Xavier said.
Candace's Super Quick POV
"Get Candace! Go! Go!" I heard one of the opposing teammates say as they were aiming for me.
I then stopped and went back to my side of the territory.
"Hey, Hey! Get to the enemy territory!" I said to one of my teammates as he was getting ready to enter the enemy territory.
"You got it!" He said as we were getting ready to steal a flag together in the enemy territory.
"Wait! Never mind! Never mind! There's three of the—"
"I got him!" One of the opposing teammates said as he somehow tagged one of my teammates which led to him going to jail (the outside of the battlefield).
*WHISTLE*
"OUT!" The referee yelled and pointed at the teammate caught by the opposing team which led to me facepalming.
I guess I have myself to blame for this.
"Hey! Candace! Come on! Catch me!" Gemma shouted as she was heading back to her own territory with a flag in her hand. And that angered me. Really.
"Oh, I'll catch you alright! Just you wait and see!" I shouted back.
Gemma's Super Quick POV
*WHISTLE*
"FLAG CAPTURED!" The referee said as I planted Candace's flag onto my side of the territory.
"Candace's Flag captured! 4-2 Gemma!" The announcer said on the mic.
"Nice one, Gemma!" One of my teammates said to me with lots of confidence.
"That's the Gemma I know!" Another one of my teammates shouted with glee.
"Thanks! It makes me very happy when you guys praise me! There's still a lot more to go though."
"Yeah. Just stay focused. Keep going! Keep going!" One of my teammates said to me as I went back to capture the second flag.
And just like that, we're off to a great start. It's still a long ride so we are doing our best to make sure we keep the momentum going. Albeit I'm trailing in this series, I still have a lot of heart and I'm not gonna give up just yet.
Kaze's POV
"Yup. Of course. Just like that." Xavier said, looking annoyed as he pointed at the score where it was in Gemma's favor. "Just as planned. The defense isn't doing anything."
"Gemma's really athletic. No wonder those boys can't catch her." Wendell said.
"Wait a minute! Kaze, you said you beat Gemma in tennis before, yes?" Xavier asked me.
"Yes, that's true." I answered.
"No wonder why she's good at this but not at tennis! You see, this is supposed to be an imagination but it's not. It's reality."
"But I wonder why Candace wasn't paying attention to what Gemma was doing. That was an opportunity for her." I said.
"That's what I'm saying. This is such a bad strategy. I don't know what it is. I'm glad it's only one flag. We need to put Gemma on the ropes. And fast."
*WHISTLE*
"OUT!" I heard a referee say as a teammate of Candace tagged Gemma's teammate, leaving with Gemma four teammates left in the battlefield.
"Four teammates remaining on Team Gemma's territory." The announcer said on the mic.
"YES!" Wendell yelled, amazed at what he just saw.
"There we go! Finally! We're doing something!" Xavier said as he was clapping at what he saw on the battlefield.
"Yup. That was really good." I said as I was surprised.
"That really gave me a confidence booster. I don't care." Wendell said which honestly made me giggle a little.
I wonder how Gemma is gonna respond to that.
Blue's POV
"Why did they have just one person go up to grab a flag?" Aiden asked.
"I have no idea. But at least the number of players on each team are even." Lucas said.
"I'm still surprised that Candace didn't even tag Gemma." Emily said.
"It's her fault. She's not aware of what's going on." Juniper said.
"There's still time left though. Anything could happen." I said to everyone.
"Yeah but aren't you a little upset that Candace wasn't aware of Gemma capturing a flag?" Lucas asked.
"Well… a little, but capturing one flag doesn't mean anything if she only has a few more flags to defend. On top of that, I'm the one who voted for Gemma so I shouldn't root for Candace to go all the way."
"That's true. Especially when we are in the later rounds." Juniper said.
"Oh yeah, the later rounds get way too hectic." Aiden said.
And somehow, Candace wins most of them. It's special for a best friend.
"Right? Candace could be a worldwide star after she's done with Gemma but I'm sure Gemma is going to get lots of recognition as well." Lucas said.
"But she fails to secure a title in the later rounds." Juniper said. "That's the problem with Gemma. There's a lot of criticism regarding her not finishing the job when it matters the most."
"You do have a point, Juniper." I said. "It's not very great trying to become famous to everyone and lose consecutive battles in the Royal Rally, but her effort, kindness, energy, and even the mild teasing towards Candace is what's making her more entertaining and maybe she just wants to win Candace's respect so that the rivalry doesn't get any hotter than before."
"But Candace is also fighting for her fans too. It's a tug-of-war for popularity here in Liverpool and I believe Candace is going to pull the finishing touches on Gemma and call this rivalry quits since, of course, she has dominated her in this. There's no telling that Gemma is the better competitor."
"Oh! Guys look at this!" Emily shouted as she pointed at Gemma going through Candace and her teammate.
"How did she get through them?" Aiden asked.
"I have no clue." Lucas said.
Gemma then grabbed another flag, but this time, she had to run towards her teammate to give him a high-five.
*WHISTLE*
"TEAMMATE SAVED!" The referee yelled.
"Gemma's teammate has been freed from jail." The announcer said on his mic.
"That's unbelievable." Aiden said.
"Bananas! Right?!" Emily asked.
"Yeah that's just unbelievable right there." Juniper asked.
Candace, what's going on?
Candace's Super Quick POV
"Grrr! This is unacceptable!" I yelled. "We are getting overwhelmed by just one rascal because of our asses not getting her to jail and not protecting our flags! We need to get it together!"
"We're trying to get it together but there's only one person in jail. We gotta find a way to get him free." One of my teammates said.
"Well I can't do this whole thing myself! You guys have to help me! Do something! I got a title to defend!"
"Yes, Milady!" All of my teammates said to me.
"How about the two of us can go together and we'll find a way to capture a flag so that we can save our teammate." My teammate asked.
"As long as we pay attention to our surroundings. I want you to stay focused." I said.
"Yes, Milady."
"Good."
Gemma's Super Quick POV
"That was incredible, Gemma." My teammate who I just freed said to me.
"*giggle* I'm just being Gemma." I said. "I gotta make sure you know what you are doing, though."
"Yeah. I know."
"Nice play, Gemma!" Another one of my teammates said to me.
"That was really good!" A third one said to me.
"Thanks! Let's keep going though. We have a lot of momentum and I don't want to lose all of it." I said.
"Right!" Everyone besides me shouted.
I really am in the zone right now.
Kaze's Super Quick POV
"Candace's team isn't doing so hot right now. I wonder what they are planning." I said.
"I don't know. I'm looking at a bunch of participants that don't know what their strategy is. Look at this!" Xavier shouted as she was pointing at three of Gemma's teammates now charging towards Candace's territory, hoping to actually capture the second flag after seeing Gemma free her teammate from jail.
"What are they— oh yeah! There we go! Candace actually saw what's going on!" Wendell shouted as Candace and her teammate were providing backup on defense to stop Gemma's teammates from capturing one or more flags, leaving them surrounded.
"Ok. That's something that will help big time." I said.
At least if they can capture 2 guys of course.
Gemma's Super Quick POV
"They're in trouble! I gotta help them out!" I said as I dashed into Candace's territory to stop the critical moment from three of my teammates.
"Wait! You're gonna get trapped too!" My teammate asked.
"It's a 4 on 3! I have to even it up! You protect that flag!" I then rushed over to the other side to help my teammates from being captured.
But as soon as I arrived, they looked like they were on the brink of being captured. So I said to one of my teammates…
"Hey, switch with me! Switch with me!"
"Oh! Gemma! Right on cue!" My teammate said as we went to switch places to prevent ourselves from getting caught.
Oh boy, we're in a pickle!
Candace's Super Quick POV
"Hey! Protect that flag! That blonde rascal's mine!" I shouted as I pushed my teammate to the back and was getting ready to face my enemy.
"Y-Y-Yes, Milady!" My teammate said as he was going to the back of the territory to protect the two flags that we have.
"I won't fall for your dirty tricks this time. Why don't you just crawl back inside your little cave?" I asked Gemma while taunting her.
"*giggle* Oh, Candace." Gemma said, laughing at me. "Your cheeks must feel red, sweetheart. I was waiting for a scary Candace to come in anyway. I wanted competition."
"For you to be another United Kingdom sensation and still fail against me is such a pain for you. You are still not on my level even if you beat me."
"Well… I can say that's true. But I'm still an entertaining person. I mean, you can have me as your hot chick if you want."
"Wha— No! You know I hate…"
"Oh! wide open!" Gemma said as she found an opening after I was looking away from her.
"H-Hey! Grr! You can't run from me!" I said as I ran as fast as I could to capture her.
Now she's pushing it!
Kaze's POV
"C'mon! Get her, Candace!" Xavier shouted as we saw Gemma sprinting to get another flag.
"Wait. There's a teammate there. Maybe they'll corner her." I said as I then took my eyes on the teammate who was protecting both flags.
As soon as I predicted it, the teammate who was protecting the flag was blocking Gemma's path, making it easier for Candace to capture her.
"Yes! She's stuck! She can't get through!" Xavier shouted happily.
"Oh my…"
*WHISTLE*
"OUT!" The referee yelled after Candace tagged Gemma.
"Four teammates remaining on Gemma's territory!" The announcer said.
"She's out." Xavier said as he was clapping while sighing in relief.
"There you go, Candace!" Wendell shouted as he was happy with what he just saw.
Then the most bizarre sequence happened.
"NO! Protect the— oh my god." Xavier said as he was looking stressed as what he just saw. Gemma's teammate took another flag as he was sprinting down to his captain's territory to officially capture another flag.
But then there was Candace and her teammate racing to Gemma's territory for whatever purpose.
"C'mon, Candace! Go go go go go!" Wendell shouted.
"Beat it out! Don't let him even the matchup!" Xavier shouted.
As soon as they were close to reaching the flag, they were spacing out for some reason. I don't know the cause of it.
"Hurry up! Get their flag!" Xavier shouted at the two.
"What are they…"
And by the time one person was about to make a move…
*WHISTLE*
"FLAG CAPTURED!"
"Candace's flag captured! 5-1 Gemma!" The announcer said on the mic as a teammate
"COME ON! HURRY UP, DAMNIT!" Xavier yelled, urging them to pick up the pace.
"Oh dear…" I said as I was watching Candace's team taking a turn for the worse.
As soon as Candace's teammate grabbed a flag….
"There we go! Come on! Come on!" Which pleased Xavier…
*WHISTLE*
"OUT!" The referee yelled and pointed at Candace's teammate, trying to capture a flag as he was tagged by Gemma's teammate, which made Xavier facepalm.
"Three teammates remaining on Candace's territory!" The announcer said.
"Wow." I said as I was speechless at this bizarre moment.
I then looked at Xavier's displeased face as he might be at his wits' end.
"Kaze, I don't know what's going on." He said to me.
"These teammates really suck!" Wendell yelled.
"Tell me about it!" Xavier yelled. Do you see the difference between Candace's participation and Gemma's participation in terms of physical activity?! It's so unrealistic!"
"I really can't believe it either. Everything's not going in her favor." I said.
I then saw Candace who, which took me by surprise, was running from two of Gemma's teammates on the brink of being captured.
Oh wow… Candace.
Blue's POV
"Look at her! She's lost!" Juniper said as we were looking at Candace who was about to get tagged by the enemies.
I was so shocked at the events that happened. Gemma's teammate capturing a flag, Candace's teammate being captured… There was a lot of chaos going on. But yeah, that's just Candace. She still struggles in Capture the Flag. With three players including her remain in the battlefield and one flag left. It's proof that Gemma is really good.
"Candace can't catch a break, can't she?" Lucas asked.
"I guess athleticism is not part of her game." Emily said.
"It wasn't from the start." I said to Emily. "And it's going to affect her in the long run."
We then saw Candace get back to her own territory with 2 of her teammates standing and are now in a pickle.
"Yeah, I think Gemma's gonna win that. There's no way Candace's gonna win all of that by herself." Aiden said.
"And there's proof of that." Juniper said as she was pointing to all of Gemma's teammates sprinting down to capture the last flag.
"Wait, what are they doing? They are gonna get caught."
"If they are gonna be hesitant to grab a flag, they need to have at least one person defending their flags." Lucas said.
"That's what I was about to say. They all are about to get captured."
All of Gemma's teammates approached the enemy territory, spaced out as they were trying to find a way to get through the last three teammates.
I then saw Candace and her teammate switch places which led to Candace defending the last flag and her teammate blocking the path with her other teammate.
Even though she is serious about her reputation, her effort in this game is just below her expectations due to her not capturing anybody and almost getting tagged a few times.
But then after Candace's team including herself set up their new formation, two of Gemma's teammates that were on the sides of the battlefield, bolted down to the end of Candace's territory, trying to give Candace a disadvantage.
"Are they… trying to make the other two sneak in and try to take the flag? There's Candace protecting the flag…"
"Yeah, Candace might be able to take care of that part." I said, trying to add on to what Emily said.
Then all of the sudden, Candace's remaining teammates were chasing after two of Gemma's teammates, attempting to close any gaps that were open for them.
That led to the last two of Gemma's teammates stepping into Candace's territory, ready to go all out for this one and take the last flag.
"Oh my…" I said to myself as I was shocked at what I was to witness next.
And then… I was unexpectedly seeing the expected.
I then saw one of Gemma's teammates find an open gap and snatch the flag out of nowhere. And Candace didn't even know he was coming from the back.
And the crowd was shocked.
"Woah! What?!" Emily shouted in shock.
"Oh yeah. It's over." Juniper said.
"Wow. He really went through that." Lucas said.
Yup. That's Candace for you.
Kaze's POV
I looked at the crowd and they were extremely silent on what they just saw and I was shocked at what I was just seeing. And even Xavier and Wendell were not pleased with what they were seeing. And it looked like the game was about to be over as no one Candace's team including her was catching him.
Candace is really getting overwhelmed by this. Is it that she's not used to these sorts of things? Because Gemma is really letting her have it despite being in prison.
I looked at a disgruntled Xavier, who still looked upset at what he was seeing. It was a major collapse and Candace was supposed to take control until this catastrophe happened.
"Did that get you upset?" I asked Xavier.
"*sigh* Yup, because this looks embarrassing." Xavier answered.
*WHISTLE*
"FLAG CAPTURED! GAME!" The referee yelled.
"Candace's flag captured! Team Gemma has captured all the flags! Team Gemma wins!" The announcer said on the mic.
"See, this was a one-sided affair." Wendell said.
"Tell me about it." Xavier said while trying to hold in his laughter. "I don't know what the hell I just saw. They were literally playing like a bunch of elementary school students."
"I wonder if there was any communication from Candace's teammates. Because that's probably how a team game works." I said.
"Exactly. It's not like they should be afraid of each other just because they are going to threaten each other with their poor decision-making. That's why their performance is based on how they play."
"No wonder how Gemma's team made it look so easy." Wendell said.
"There was no way it should be that hard. Candace was supposed to be competing. Hell, she could've at least done this all by herself and not worry about her teammates embarrassing themselves if she wanted to. Because this is a disgrace."
"If I was a teammate, I could've been out there activating my leadership mentality because there needs to be motivation and teammates can't just slack off."
"This should've been just Candace vs. Gemma on that one. I don't know what just happened."
"Yeah. It was definitely an embarrassment." I said.
"But the third game will be a different story. Candace knows a lot about fashion so it's clear who the winner is." Xavier said.
"Really?"
"I swear on everything… It's really clear." Xavier said with a big smile.
"Ok. If you say so."
"Yeah, Candace is really creative so she can put Gemma on the brink." Wendell said.
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen! We are now moving on to Picture Perfect! Same directions as last time! Follow the lines and wait for the contestants to appear!" The announcer said as we were getting ready to move on to the next game.
"Gemma's still not gonna win the whole thing. She plays awful in the final rounds." Xavier said.
"Yeah! And I predict it's gonna get even worse." Wendell said.
"You really love dissing her performance, huh?" I asked with a sweatdrop.
"It's the truth! How would you feel if you were ousted by Candace?!" Xavier asked me.
"I wouldn't give up, even though she is talented."
"Yeah, she might be a problem for you."
"I-If you didn't know, I have a lot of confidence in myself and no matter the adversity, I always find ways to create solid performances."
"Guys, we're getting ready to move." Wendell said as he saw the line moving.
"Oh. Excuse me. I don't know why they couldn't move faster the first time." Xavier said.
"Well let's get going before other people get impatient." I said.
*4 MINUTES LATER*
"Man, where is Cheyenne?" Xavier asked as we kept moving up the line.
"She's all the way up in the line. I hollered to meet me and she was going to catch up to me after the round."
Wendell said.
"She's all the way in the front?" I asked.
"Hell yeah. She might've been the speedy one."
Well… that's something. Not to offend her, but I thought she would be too late getting here. I wonder if she had important things to take care of.
"We might not be able to reach her from that distance."
I said with a sweatdrop.
"Yeah, but she said she might reach us. Look here she comes." Wendell said as he was showing us someone who was trying to let others proceed before her.
And it looked like it was Cheyenne that was in the front. And it was odd to me because I thought she would be in the back or something.
"Damn, girl! You wanted some me-time to yourself or what?!" Wendell asked as Cheyenne finally reached us.
"I couldn't find you guys." She said. "I was here early because I took care of a lot of things quickly. I guess you three must've been lost trying to find me."
"Nuh-Uh! I clearly saw you all the way over there! I guess you were on your phone trying to find some cute girls your age."
"N-No I didn't! Ugh… look, what do you guys think of the first two games so far?" Cheyenne asked.
"Gemma's still gonna lose." Xavier said. "I don't care what people say. It's already unanimous since Gemma fails to take over the final rounds."
"Other than that, the second round became a hot mess from start to finish." Wendell said.
"Were you watching how idiotic her teammates were? There was no strategy at all." Xavier said.
"Yeah, I'm not sure what the issue was. But the third round will definitely bring a huge difference." Cheyenne said.
"How do you think Blue and the others are reacting?" I asked.
"I'm still winning my money!" Xavier said. "If they think Gemma stands a chance, they must be out of their mind! They should know that even if Gemma wins this whole thing, Candace is still better than her."
He's taking this bet way too seriously.
"You're really betting on just one event?" Cheyenne asked with an annoyed look.
"Uh, duh! Look what Aidan, Lucas and Juniper set up! If they lose, I don't want to know whose fault it is for picking Gemma!"
"*sigh* You really love taking bets seriously nowadays." Cheyenne said with a facepalm.
"You aren't alone." I said to Cheyenne. "I had nothing to say about it when he first told me."
"Why do you girls don't like to bet anyway? It helps you win money." Xavier asked.
"Helps you win money?" Cheyenne asked. "I'm not risking my hard-earned money on an event. Sure I want to be rich, but if I spend all of my money on one event, who knows what would've happened after that?"
"I understand that, but it's better to bet than to wait."
"Dude, you're only saying that because you want me to lose all of my money."
"No I'm not!" Xavier said.
"Yes you are! I can see it in myself!"
"It would be better to keep your money anyways." I said to Xavier. "Planning to bet is a risky situation as you won't know what might happen, although I understand your willingness to take the risk."
"Yeah, but they picked the girl who hasn't won a Royal Rally event once. That's why I decided this so that they can understand why I chose Candace. It's not hard to understand. Trust me! I'm the only one with a brain!"
"Alright then, brainiac." Cheyenne said.
"Hopefully this pleases you." I added.
We all proceeded to an outdoor theater where there were three mannequins, supplies and a tv on top of the stage. And it got me confused when I was looking at it.
"So… there's just three mannequins there. Shouldn't there be six or…"
"Well you can say there's six, but there's three on each side." Xavier said to me. "Three on Candace's side, Three on Gemma's side. It's just so that they don't cheat when they are designing their mannequins."
"Oh ok. That makes sense."
"But at the end of the decorations, that's when they could see how others did. It'll be shown on that big screen over there." Cheyenne said as she pointed at the screen.
"I see."
"Watch how you see Candace become artistic. It's one of the reasons why she's a true fashionista." Wendell said. "She really has a lot of fashion sense in this one."
"Yeah. You're really gonna be amazed by how she performs. She's really artistic." Xavier said.
"Are you guys really going to give her that much detail on how Candace does in this?" Cheyenne asked.
"Yeah. It's her first time here so I'm gonna give her a head start on all of this." Xavier said. "You should've kept her company as well."
"Well, excuse me. I didn't know she was coming here. *sigh* I guess you are better at explaining this event than I am."
"No wonder you are a loner these days. Maybe you and Kaze should join the No-Friends list."
"You know, you are so not funny." Cheyenne said with an annoyed look on her face.
That's more like what Raffina would do. Just make dumb jokes.
"You must be lucky that Kaze wasn't even offended by that. Aren't you, Kaze?" Wendell asked.
"No, but… I didn't think it was funny either." I said.
"Terrible. Just terrible."
"You know what, I'm tired of you three!" Xavier said. "Telling me that joke wasn't funny! When I find the best jokes in this country, don't laugh now! Because I can joke when I want to!"
"And thousands of people wouldn't care." Cheyenne said with a sweatdrop.
"Ok, aside from this comedy occurrence, it's normal that we teach other folks what this stuff is all about. We have experience with stuff like this." Wendell said.
"*sigh* If you say so."
"But now I find it surprising that you two know about this more than any other girl here." I said. "In fact, when I look at you two, it tells me that you both do something way different than this."
"Well let me tell you, I thought of something different. I asked my mother for some recommendations on what I should do and this is what got me here." Xavier said.
"Yeah, I didn't want to watch it at first, but over time, I was starting to become a fan of it because of how competitive this stuff is." Wendell said. "I really like competitive stuff. It's just I didn't think that it would be THIS competitive."
"And seeing Blue's friend participate in this made it even more shocking for them." Cheyenne said. "Xavier just wouldn't lay off her already."
"That's because she's my number one idol." Xavier said. "And you know what's even crazier? You aren't acting like a fangirl out of all the fangirls here at this event. Because every fangirl wants to see their favorite celebrity go nuts and win their hearts. You, on the other hand, have your own lane."
"Well… *sigh* It's honestly because I feel like everytime I scream at the highest degree, I sound like I feel drunk. I-I really don't want to show it to people. I'll look embarrassed doing that. In fact, I would rather watch stuff virtually than to go out and watch it."
Ahh… so she must be like me. I don't scream that much when I'm watching FIFA with my mom. That's her doing all the screaming when it comes to this stuff.
"Mmm… well isn't that something." Xavier said. "I could've sworn it would be ugly anyway."
"I'll slap you!" Cheyenne shouted, getting annoyed with the teasing.
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen!" The announcer said. "Once you approach the outdoor theater, take your seats! If you are sitting with your friends, make sure you are sitting together and not isolated! Make sure each section is full until the last person is seated!"
"Alright, follow me. We gotta make sure we sit together." Cheyenne said as the three of us were following her to our seats.
Since Cheyenne let most people in front so that she could reach us, it took a whole to find our seats and we actually got to sit together. I'm only sitting next to Xavier since he's also sitting next to Wendell with Cheyenne right next to him as well.
"Why is this chair uncomfortable? Is it just me?" Wendell asked.
"I don't know. It's probably you." Xavier said.
"Well… I can't even sit right. My only option is to get on my knees if I have to."
"Is the seat small for you?" Cheyenne asked.
"Maybe. It's probably me. I guess I'll just suffer having my butt hurt until this is over."
"Someone hasn't lost weight yet."
"Shut up! I'll body slam you!" Wendell shouted at Xavier, looking insulted.
Geez! I find it offensive too, but there's no need to be
vile!
"Why does the stage look so different? I forgot to point that out." Cheyenne asked.
"I don't know. Probably because they're mixing it up with the scenery since people are tired of seeing the same stage over and over again."
"It almost looks stylish." I said as I was looking at the stage. "Isn't that what a fashionista would want?"
"Yup! It's almost as if a princess was living there!" Xavier said. "Wouldn't you want something like that?!"
"Uhh… it's really nice, but I wouldn't want it." I said.
"Why?! You almost look like a celebrity!"
"I know that, and people tell me that all the time, but that doesn't change the fact that I would want something like this."
"Wow, you really don't want to be that famous."
"It's who I am. It doesn't matter if I'm beautiful or not." I said.
"Nah, but the fans realize it. They all are looking at you." Wendell said to me.
I was looking around and there were people looking at me like they were finding me attractive. And I was beyond embarrassed.
"Oh god. Here we go." I said as I was blushing really hard.
"The camera is pointing at you." A girl said as I looked around to find a flying camera that was pointing towards me.
"Oh it's pointing at you!" Xavier shouted! "Damn, Kaze! You are getting all the love!"
"Wait, it's pointing at Kaze?!" Cheyenne asked.
"She's gonna be trending! Goddamn!" Wendell shouted.
This made my face red. Really red. People were really starting to get addicted to how I look. I know I didn't want to be famous, but as soon as I mentioned that I did not want to be famous, what I said made it worse.
This is really gonna be a bother to me. I get it. I should feel surprised about how I look. But to be flooded with so many surprises and compliments. I don't know if I'm gonna be talked about on the news or on social media. I really don't want… actually never mind. I'll just accept my fate.
"You alright, Kaze? You want them to leave you alone?" Xavier asked.
"N-No… They can keep praising me." I said after
calming down. A little. As I looked up, the camera was gone.
"Ok. The camera only lasts for 10 to 15 seconds so it won't point at you for too long."
"Oh. Ok. That conversation really made the fans find me attractive thanks to what you just said." I said with a pout.
"That's because you look like a beautiful cartoon character."
"Xavier!" I shouted with my face still red.
"Alright, alright! I'll stop!" Xavier said while giggling.
"Kaze, did the camera really point at you?" Cheyenne asked.
"Yeah. It was so embarrassing. I didn't even know what it was for anyway." I said.
"It was a "Beautiful Fan Alert!" camera." Wendell said. "That camera finds women who are found really beautiful. It happens at random times."
"And it was aiming for me?! Oh my goodness."
There's gonna be a lot of people talking about me. This is a huge pain even though I let them compliment me about how I look.
"It's not gonna pick on you all the time. That's just how things are around here."
"*sigh* Ok. I guess I'll believe it." I said with a sweatdrop, still embarrassed from what I have just witnessed.
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen!" The announcer said. "If you haven't noticed it already, we have one random person on the "Beautiful Fan Alert!" event! If you wish to see that person, take a look!"
And things have gotten worse from there as the screen was showing all of us a picture of only me in it. I knew this was gonna get out of hand.
Oogh…
"You see yourself, Kaze?" Xavier asked as he was pointing at the screen.
"Yeah. And it's gonna get even worse from there." I said, with my face STILL red.
"Is she really that embarrassed?" I heard Wendell ask.
"Yeah, she doesn't take things that well. It's almost as if she was gonna vomit." Xavier said.
Alright, calm down, Kaze. It's not who I am. It's really not who I am. Hopefully the third round starts already.
"It's gonna be all over, Kaze. It's just for once."
"Hopefully. This is beyond a catastrophe." I said.
"Now, with that out of the way, allow us to present to you the reigning Royal Rally champion, Candace Maxey!" The announcer said.
"Yes! Candace Maxey!" Xavier shouted as we all started clapping as Candace made her way onto the stage.
The worst is over. Thank goodness.
"This is supposed to be easy for Candace. She's definitely an expert in this." Wendell said.
"Tell me about it. I don't know about the fourth game though. Since that game will test her strength." Xavier said.
"I'm pretty sure her teammates will do better. You just have to believe." Cheyenne said.
"Believe?! They were playing like they didn't know about Capture the Flag!" Xavier asked.
"I understand, but I'm thinking she might have disciplined them in order for them to do better. We don't know yet, but you still gotta believe."
"Well… you do have a point."
"And besides, didn't you say that you wanted Candace to win?" I asked.
"Yeah but the problem is that the teammates have to step up. She can't be the only person that has to do all the work even though she is their leader. They have to do their part as well."
"And in case they forgot, communication is also part of team chemistry. It helps them win if they use it more often." Wendell said. "But what did they say? Nothing."
"In fact, now I'm thinking that they should put cooperative events out of the game because of this. It has to be Mano-a-Mano. No teammates allowed."
"You can always provide them feedback on your phone, you know?" Cheyenne asked.
"I would, but every time I say something, nothing happens."
"Because telling them what you really want them to do doesn't mean that they're actually gonna do it. You gotta give them time to look over it."
"But they take so long to do that." Xavier said while facepalming.
"That's you rushing them, not us." Cheyenne said with a sweatdrop.
"And on the other side of the stage, allow us to present to you the challenger, Gemma January!" There were boos heard from the crowd in which I haven't heard since I've got here.
"She's still gonna lose! Still not better than Candace Maxey!" Xavier shouted.
"Just imagine if this game was decided by a landslide." Wendell said.
"Yeah! This debate would be over. I don't care if Gemma's still likable."
This feels similar to soccer fans. They really love creating criticism.
"Cheyenne, why aren't you supporting her?" Xavier asked.
"Supporting who?" Cheyenne asked.
"Candace."
"I'm just watching. I'm not a HUGE fan of her, but I just chose her so that I can watch what's going on."
"Yeah, I can tell she's lying." Xavier said to me.
"Hey, I heard that!" Cheyenne shouted.
"Do you just love teasing girls?" I asked with a sweatdrop.
"Well It's funny to me. Just to get their reaction." Xavier said.
"*sigh* Typical boys." I mumbled to myself.
"Alright, the three judges are now here to watch the performance! These are the three mannequins the contestants will need to copy!"
There was a big screen that popped right in our faces. What it was showing was all three mannequins that looked like humans. Kinda.
The first mannequin had on a brown curly wig, green eyes, silver earrings, and red lips.
The second mannequin had long blonde hair, brown eyes, red makeup, and normal lips.
The third mannequin had black short hair that almost looked like a haircut, blue eyes, blue and purple makeup, and blue lips.
They all look very stunning.
"I don't like the first mannequin. It looks like it goes way back." Wendell said.
"Yeah, me too. It bothers me to this day." Xavier said.
"They need to make it more creative than that."
"Results are determined by the correct order and how neat the mannequins are! The contestants will have 20 minutes! Once they are done creating their mannequins, they will tap their bells to indicate that they are finished!"
"Candace is good at that." Xavier said.
"The game will start on my mark!
3…
2…
1…
START!"
The third event was underway and Candace was getting ready to work.
I hope Candace gets this memorized.
Blue's POV
As Gemma was getting ready to design the mannequins, my heart was pounding a little because it was a crucial game and I have a feeling that Gemma is gonna fall apart again. I watched two Royal Rallies where she had a chance to win the title against Candace and she blew her opportunities. The other game, she struggled. I don't know what happened. She's coming into this Royal Rally and it's gonna be even more doubtful that she's gonna win because I haven't seen her become a fan of fashion and it's gonna become more detrimental to her the next few games.
…
Well… maybe I'm thinking too much. Because the next game isn't gonna involve fashion. As well as the final round.
"Hopefully Gemma remembers what she is doing." Emily said.
"Yeah, I agree. Last time, I don't know what I just saw." Juniper said.
Last time this game was played, Candace won by a landslide. It was just a straight up disaster. You wouldn't want to know about it.
"Well she may not be good at this stuff, but at least she tries." Aiden said.
"But it's crucial to her. She needs to stay focused out there because this is also a requirement for her being a member of the Big Leagues for Fashionistas." Emily said.
"And I have a feeling that it's gonna get even worse from there." I said.
"You don't know that. We have to see." Lucas said.
"I know but I still have the belief that she's gonna mess up big time. And Candace is a professional at this so it's more likely that not only she's gonna win it but she's gonna be a member than Gemma."
"Well she might've learned from those mistakes. It was one game that she laid an egg on so she might have improved from there."
"You really think she's gonna improve in this?" Aiden asked Lucas.
"She received criticism for that bad performance. How else is she gonna win this round?"
Well even if she has improved in this, Candace is still professional in this game. I think she could definitely beat Gemma. But hopefully Gemma could win the whole game because she lost three straight Royal Rallies to her so that she can at least win something.
Gemma's Super Quick POV
"Ok, hopefully I remembered everything. I struggled last time so I gotta do better." I said to myself as I was attempting to make the brown hair curly.
Looking beautiful does sound fun, but to be frank… I've never had experience in fashion. I've always had long hair and people describe me as a cute female like myself. It makes me happy that people support my looks and how I act, but aside from that, when it comes to fashion… I'm… not that good at it. Although I wish to learn about it more often. But thanks to some of my friends that helped me out, I might be able to get the gist of using fashion properly.
I just gotta pay attention more. This is key to success.
Candace's Super Quick POV
I wish I was better off without my teammates. That's the only way I can beat the hell out of that blonde rascal, but instead, the situation still gets worse with having team games. I want this stuff out of here now. I don't want to keep on coaching my team to play stupid games. I'm a three-time champion that needs to defend her title and Gemma is still getting on my nerves.
Luckily this is the stuff that I want to do more. This shows what type of person I am. Ohohohoho!
Kaze's POV
"15 minutes left!" The announcer said on the mic.
"Just look at Candace, man. She is something else." Xavier said.
"Are you sure she's into that stuff? Is that really what fashionistas want?" I asked.
"Yup. The BLF want women who can make celebrities beautiful just in case other women are not around and they need other women who can help the celebrities who want to look beautiful."
"Oh. I see."
"This feels like a waiting game." Wendell said.
"I know." Cheyenne said. "It's almost like we're waiting for the next best thing to happen."
"You still not screaming when Candace wins?" Xavier asked.
"No. Didn't I just say that?" Cheyenne said with a disgusted look but Xavier ignored it.
"You are really getting under her skin." Wendell said with a sweatdrop.
"I-I mean… *giggle* It's funny! What's wrong with it?!" Xavier asked.
"You are my problem, dumbass!" Cheyenne shouted. "See, now you got me using outdoor voices because of you."
"Yeah, I was gonna say we should keep it down a notch." I said. "Other people are watching us."
They are about to give us a warning because we shouldn't distract Candace in her work.
Blue's POV
*10:00 LEFT IN THE GAME LATER*
"Huh. Looks like Gemma's getting the hang of it. A little." Lucas said.
"Yeah. The way she's curling the hair with smooth strokes, how she's taking her time… everything's clicking for her." Emily said.
"But I still think Candace is gonna get this one. She's way more dominant than that even though Gemma is getting the hang of this stuff."
"You don't need to say too much, Blue." Lucas said to me. "You'll get other people's attention although I get what you're saying."
I was looking around to make sure nobody heard what I said. I felt honestly regretful after what I just said to most Gemma fans, but luckily, they didn't hear what I said so I should feel totally fine.
That was close. This one's gonna bite me tomorrow so I have to watch what I say. I guess Lucas's right.
"Yeah, you're right, Lucas." I said before giving up.
"But you do have a point. Candace, overall, is really good at it. So it should be no problem for her. Unless it takes a miracle for Gemma." Juniper said.
"Yeah, it should be no problem for Candace." Aiden said.
"I wonder how Xavier and the others are holding up." Lucas said.
"I don't know. I'm not sure if they linked up yet since I haven't seen them yet." Aiden said.
"Well we're on different sides after all."
"Yeah. I hope we win the bet though. He was asking for this bet."
"Yeah. I agree."
I forgot they betted on each other. Typical.
Candace's Super Quick POV
Alright, that's two down, one more to go.
After putting the finishing touches on the second mannequin which looks stylish, I was getting prepared for the third and final mannequin. Everything has been a breeze for me since I know this stuff, and I know I'm gonna win this for sure. This rascal will finally be out of my life once I'm done with her.
…
But… I'll admit though, she may be the most annoying person I've ever met… but over these past four Royal Rallies that we both fought in, she is resilient. I don't like to compliment people that try to steal the spotlight from me, but… just by telling how energized she is, her urgency, the passion that she has… she has surprised me despite being my worst enemy.
I wonder If I should realize how special she is…
…
N-No, Candace! Stop this nonsense! I need to stay focused! I'm more focused on my dreams!
Gemma's Super Quick POV
Alright, we're getting there. I just need to stay focused.
I was working on the second mannequin and I was trying my best not to mess up on the second one. Like I said, I'm not that good when it comes to fashion, but I wasn't going to give up yet. I was going to prove to the fans why I'm special. I may have not won a single Royal Rally yet, but I have lots of potential so I was still working my way up.
Hopefully I don't spill anything. It was a disaster last time…
Kaze's POV
*6:30 LEFT IN THE GAME LATER*
"Huh. Candace really is good at doing stuff like this. I think this is what I like about her." Cheyenne said.
"Oh… looks like someone's into Candace." Xavier said with a cheeky grin.
"I didn't mean it like that, you idiot." Cheyenne retorted.
"You got a Kaze that is sitting next to you. Mess with her."
"W-What?! Cheyenne!" I said, looking surprised as I tried not to shout so that we don't receive complaints.
"S-Sorry, Kaze. It was that he's always finding ways to get on my nerves."
"She always wants to find them unfunny. That's all." Xavier said to me.
"Again, you brought it upon yourself." I said to him.
That's Xavier for you. Or rather… Raffina for you. They both have lots of guts for doing this.
"It looks like it's getting dark outside." I said.
"I know. It just feels perfect. Hopefully my money is here because Lucas and Aiden messed up big time."
Xavier said.
"Did you three really have to create a serious bet?" I asked.
"Yeah. They voted for a woman who cannot beat a defending champion. They made a big mistake voting for her. Which is easy money."
"Yeah, they truly messed up big time." Wendell said. "A three-time Royal Rally Champion who is literally about a worldwide sensation and almost on her way to the Big Leagues for Fashionistas. This woman is unreal and you still vote for Gemma. She can't win when it matters the most."
"Exactly. She's definitely a straight-up maven and that's why I support her so much. She's my idol."
"Yeah. I see… but you guys don't have to bet over who's gonna win, don't you?" I asked.
"People do that all the time. It's like sports betting if you want to get technical."
"I'm not being technical. I was wondering if it was just a friendly bet."
"Nope. It's serious. And they better pay up after Candace finishes Gemma."
"You're a big risk-taker." I said with a sweatdrop.
*DING* *DING* *DING*
We all heard a bell tapping in which I don't know where it came from. And most of the people were clapping.
"Oh, she's do– you see what I mean?" Xavier asked. "Candace is about to be up 2-1. Hopefully we can put all of this to rest next game. They better give Candace the win already."
"Immediately." Wendell said as he agreed with Xavier.
"That's really good. Really good." Cheyenne said as she was amazed at what Candace just did.
And I'm actually surprised that those mannequins look similar to the ones shown on the screen. But I wonder if Gemma did better though.
Gemma's Super Quick POV
Oh no. Candace's already done. And I'm already on my third mannequin. I got to hurry and get this done, but I've gotta stay focused.
…
I really want to know how much time is left.
"5 minutes left!" The announcer said on the mic.
5 minutes left?! Ok, I gotta stay focused! Everyone's watching. Hopefully I get good results.
Candace's Super Quick POV
I'm now watching the blonde rascal on her third mannequin on the big screen. I was looking at her mannequins and she improved a little but to me, it still wasn't better than my top-quality mannequins. Most celebrities would love me so much. 4 years of kicking this girl's ass has definitely been fun for me.
…
But the two games require physicality now, and I'm right now thinking about my teammates needing to step their game up. I don't want to force a do-or-die round 5. Gemma to me is so annoying and I want her to give up already.
You already lost before it started, Gemma. You need to call it quits already.
Blue's POV
"Hey, Aiden? What time is it?" I asked Aiden.
"Lemme see it's…8:02. Why?" Aiden asked.
"I don't know. I was just wondering why it became so dark so quickly." I said.
"Yeah, I don't know either. I guess it's because we're just having fun."
"Yeah, I guess you can say that."
"Gemma is just slightly improving on copying the mannequins perfectly. If she loses though, I would still give her credit for improving." Emily said.
"I mean, why the hell she couldn't perform like that the first time? It was a lackluster last time." Juniper said.
"I have no idea. But what I do know is that Gemma has all the energy in tug-of-war. I hope she wins though. She's really good at that." Lucas said.
"Well… this is honestly what happens when you don't focus on being healthy and strong." I said.
"Exactly. And Gemma excels in that." Aiden said.
"I don't know what's gonna happen in the final round though. Gemma always messes up at the wrong time. I really hope she stays focused out there if she wins the fourth round."
"You can say that again, Blue." Juniper said. "This is just her choking when it matters the most. I want her to not get too excited and stay focused. She might not know what will happen next."
"Yeah, I agree, but all in all, I loved how she improved her game." Emily said.
"Ok, we get it."
"I-I'm just saying." She said, a little offended.
I'm still surprised why Kaze wanted to vote for Candace. Candace is gonna chew me out for this.
*DING* *DING* *DING*
"She's done." Lucas said.
"That looks pretty good overall." Aiden said.
Hopefully there are good results from the referees.
Kaze's POV
"Alright, the two contestants are now finished with their mannequins! The results are now pending from the referees so please wait in just a few moments!" The announcer said on the mic.
"Hoo boy. My heart is racing already." Xavier said as he was patting his leg.
"You're really saying that aren't you?" Wendell asked.
"What do you mean? This is an easy win. Gemma already lost. And this here is proof."
"I know. But, seriously, your heart isn't beating that fast though?"
"Yes, dummy. The hell?"
"See, now my heart is racing!" Wendell said as he was touching his stomach.
"That's because you're pumped, aren't you? Now it's my turn to ask the questions!"
"Wait, what's the next game? I forgot." I asked.
"Tug-of-War. I hope those teammates step up. I'm not joking." Xavier asked.
"Candace has to pull through in round 4. Her strength is gonna be tested now and we need her to stay focused." Wendell said.
"Yeah because that's where Gemma and her teammates come into play. Her level of energy is just so unmatched and she doesn't give up easily. Candace needs to match her level of energy in the tug-of-war. Last time, Gemma was just taking it to her."
"Well, I heard she's athletic after all so it makes sense." I said.
"Yeah, but Candace needs to be EVEN MORE athletic than her. I want her to make Gemma feel her. Because the next round is gonna be crucial."
"To be honest, I want them to see how they do in kartathlon. It looks really fun. This is perfect for a big finale." Wendell said.
"I agree! Driving in karts and running towards the finish line almost feels like a storybook ending! Just imagine if this was a sport! Lots of people would be so into it! I really want this to be a thing!"
"Tell me about it!"
"Would you try this, Cheyenne?" Wendell asked.
"Ehh… maybe." Cheyenne said as she was on her phone.
"Phone girl." Xavier whispered.
"I think it's time you let her be now." I said to him.
"Yeah. Whatever you say, Kazie."
I facepalmed after he just called me Kazie in which it sounds like he was just doing this on purpose now.
This is gonna keep haunting me for the rest of the night.
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen!" The announcer said on the mic. "The results are now in for all six mannequins! The judges scored the mannequins, 30 to 26, 30 to 27 and 30 to 26. The winner is…
…
…
…
…
…
CANDACE MAXEY!"
*INTENSE CHEERING*
"Yessir! Another win in the books! I told you, this was too easy for Candace!" Xavier shouted in triumph.
"Too easy!" Wendell shouted.
"Well, that's good to hear." I said with a small smile.
"That means Gemma is on the brink. Round 4. I hope the teammates step up. We need to end this Royal Rally off with a bang so that I could win my money."
"If you win, I get my cut too, right?" Wendell asked.
…
…
"*groan* I'll think about it." Xavier said.
"Nah, there ain't no "I'll think about it."! It's either yes, no, maybe…"
"Alright! Damn! Yes you'll get your cut after this." Xavier said, getting a little irritated.
"Thanks. You won't regret it."
"Yeah yeah yeah."
"Are you really gonna make this Royal Rally a money thing now?" Cheyenne asked.
"Yes! I don't know how many times I got to say this. Lucas and Aiden voted for the woman who can't win a single Royal Rally. This is easy money for me. They can't come crying back to me when Gemma loses because they voted for her. So I guarantee Candace wins this whole thing. Gemma always chokes."
"Yeah, but it doesn't have to be serious."
"Says the person who doesn't pay attention to sports all the time." Xavier said.
"Shut up! I watch sports!" Cheyenne shouted at Xavier.
"Name one sport you watch then." Xavier said as he was waiting to hear what Cheyenne was gonna say. But before she could answer…
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen, same instructions again! Look for the door on your left and walk to the next event! The next event is tug-of-war!"
"I'll tell you as we walk." Cheyenne said as she was getting up from her seat as well as us.
"Yeah, and I better have my answer before we arrive." Xavier said.
Those two just love going at it these days.
Author's Note: I cannot believe how long this took. 5 Months! 5 Months! Of getting this extremely difficult ass chapter done! I'm sorry if this chapter felt rushed. I just want to get it over with and move on. At this point I feel like I have writer's block and I just want to get to the Mushroom Kingdom arc already. But I have to be patient and write out more chapters so that I can finally move on. I just want to get the United Kingdom era out of the way. But I need to make these chapters as detailed as possible. I can't rush through this whole thing and move on. I want to give some detail into this whole thing. I'm not gonna say no more about this. This was just too much editing and thinking. ME HAVING TO THINK OF WHAT I NEED TO SAY FOR 999+ HOURS WAS THE REASON WHY IT TOOK SO LONG IN THE FIRST PLACE! But I'm not gonna say any more about it because this was frustrating as hell. Moving on.
Candace is up 2 games to 1. Gemma is on the verge of becoming one of the most overrated Royal Rally participants fans has ever seen in their entire lives. One loss away from losing the whole thing. What will we see next? A twist of events? A heartbreaking end? A new champion? A four-time champion? I don't know. You'll have to find out next time.
If you're enjoying this story, make sure to review/follow/favorite this story. And I'll see you in the next chapter.