Summary: The Dream Defenders are once again hosting their annual game night at the Ravenswood Manor, each of them bringing in their own game for all to play with and see who is a winner. What exciting moments and unforgettable crazy and chaotic experiences will unfold throughout the evening?

Before you begin reading this chapter, I would like to clarify that any original characters (OCs) that appear in this story belong to their respective creators, including my own OCs. I do not own these characters; they are the property of their original owners. The only OCs that I owned belong to me. Thank you for your understanding.

Enjoy!

Inside Ravenswood Manor, the parlor room gleamed with the kind of timeless elegance that only a Victorian-style aesthetic could provide. The walls were lined with rich, dark wood paneling, adorned with intricate molding and framed paintings of landscapes and the wall featured a Victorian wallpaper featuring intricate floral patterns with a cream background. A few tall potted plants stood in the corners of the room, and a crystal chandelier hung above the center of the room, with candles that were lifted to bring light into this room. The room was spacious, with Victorian furniture arranged in a circle to encourage conversation and camaraderie. A plush, velvet couch sat opposite two ornate armchairs, all of which were covered in rich fabrics with gold trimming. There was a large, polished wood fireplace with a marble mantelpiece, with a warm fire crackling inside, adding a cozy atmosphere to the otherwise opulent space.

At one end of the room was a long oak bookshelf filled with some old tomes and trinkets collected over time. The opposite wall had a set of floor-to-ceiling windows, draped in deep red curtains, offering a view of the well-kept garden outside. Adam had made sure the entire room was spotless—dusting off every surface, making sure all the chairs and cushions were perfectly arranged for their night ahead. The side of the room was dominated by a drawer, on which a spread of snacks had been laid out: bowls of chips, popcorn, pretzels, and candy. He'd arranged a small bar area with chilled drinks—sodas, sprites, bottles of water, and a couple of bottles of wine—just in case anyone wanted something stronger. The drinks were all chilling in buckets, and Adam had made sure to stock up on everyone's preferences.

In the corner of the room, the TV was set up, with a game console next to it, all of it plugged in and ready for a marathon of their favorite multiplayer games. A stack of board games lay on the side, waiting for when they wanted to switch things up from video games. The lights were dimmed just enough to create a cozy, relaxed vibe for the night. Adam stood back, surveying the scene with satisfaction. Everything was in place.

As he finished his preparations, Adam heard the doorbell ring. He smiled, rubbing his hands together in anticipation for a night of fun and laughter. Melanie wasn't home; she had gone to spend time with Jasiri and the others at Logan's house, so Adam had the manor to himself tonight. He made his way through the hallway to the front double doors, unlocking them and pulling them open.

Standing on the doorstep were the members of the Dream Defenders, all of them wearing backpacks with the games inside they'd brought along for the night.

"Hey, Adam!" Gabriel called out, his warm smile greeting his friend as he stepped forward to give him a hug.

"Glad to see you, man," Adam replied, patting Gabriel on the back before pulling away. "Come on in."

Each of the Dream Defenders followed in suit, hugging and greeting Adam before entering the manor. Logan grinned as he made his way inside, with backpack over his shoulder. "Looking forward to tonight, Adam," he said. "You've got the place looking great."

Rachel smiled as she entered, adjusting the small bag slung over her shoulder. "This is going to be so much fun. I'm ready to destroy all of you at Monopoly."

Silver laughed, setting down his game of choice—a stack of board games—for a moment to greet Adam. "You know, I was going to bring something totally crazy, but I figured I'd stick with something we could all actually play."

Toren clapped Adam on the back as he entered. "Thanks for hosting. I've got a couple of surprises up my sleeve tonight. Hope you're all ready to get competitive."

Adam laughed, gesturing for everyone to head into the parlor. "You all know the drill by now," he said as he led them into the room. "Make yourselves at home. I've got plenty of snacks and drinks for the night."

They all made their way to the parlor, chatting casually about their day as they settled into their designated spots around the room. Gabriel, Logan, Rachel, Silver, and Toren all took seats on the plush furniture, while Adam moved to stand at the front of the room.

Clearing his throat, Adam smiled and raised his arms, signaling for everyone's attention. "Alright, everyone. Welcome to our annual game night!" he said with a grin. "This has become one of my favorite traditions of the year. It's always great to get together, have some fun, and—let's be real—kick each other's butts in some games."

Everyone laughed in agreement.

Adam's smile grew wider as he continued. "Now, I know we've had some legendary nights in the past, and I'm expecting nothing less tonight. We've got some board games, some video games, snacks, drinks, and of course—some friendly competition. But no matter what happens, the most important thing is that we're all here, having fun together."

Rachel raised her hand, teasing. "Just as long as Toren's not cheating like last time—"

"Hey! I didn't cheat!" Toren protested, but there was a glint of mischief in his eyes.

"Sure you didn't," Logan added with a chuckle, shaking his head. "I swear you always win when you have an unfair advantage."

"Oh, please," Toren said, rolling his eyes. "You all just can't handle my mad skills."

Silver chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, alright, we're not here to start a civil war like the Avengers over game strategies. Let's just enjoy the night."

Rachel raised a glass of soda. "Hear, hear!"

"Cheers to that," Adam agreed, lifting his own drink.

And with that, their game night began in full swing.

Gabriel:

Game: Chess

The game of chess had begun, and Gabriel, as usual, was determined to show off his skills. He set up the board with precision, arranging the white pieces carefully in their starting positions. On the other hand, Rachel was already grinning as she took her place opposite him, her black pieces lined up neatly on the board. The atmosphere in the parlor shifted to one of intense focus, though it quickly became apparent that this would not be a quiet or calm match.

The rest of the Dream Defenders had gathered around the chessboard, each of them leaning in eagerly to watch the competition unfold. Logan, Adam, Silver, and Toren were all standing around Gabriel, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

"Alright, Gabriel," Logan said, crossing his arms. "This is gonna be good. You're the chess expert here, show us what you got."

Gabriel shot him a side-eye, setting his jaw with determination. "I've got this. Don't worry about me. Rachel's going down."

Rachel smirked, not even bothering to look at him. She was already tracing the pieces on her side of the board with one finger, humming to herself. "You say that, but I don't think you've got anything but trouble coming your way. You should probably be more worried about me taking your queen in two moves."

Gabriel's expression faltered slightly. He reached out to move his white pawn, but then hesitated, brow furrowed. "Wait, why am I even thinking about this? This isn't supposed to be hard."

Toren leaned over Gabriel's shoulder, eyeing the board. "You sure you're not overthinking this, Gabe? Maybe you should move your knight there."

"No, no, no, that would leave me wide open for her rook," Gabriel shot back, shaking his head. "I'm trying to stay one step ahead here. You don't understand."

Adam, standing next to Toren, tilted his head, squinting at the board. "You sure? The knight would block her bishop's path. It's a good move."

Gabriel's eyes flicked over to the board again. "No. No, because that gives her an opportunity to move her queen and attack me from the side."

Rachel chuckled softly. "Please, Gabriel. I'm literally waiting for you to make a move. It's not that complicated."

Gabriel scowled, growing more flustered by the second. He glanced back at the board, trying to decide whether to move his knight or his pawn. "I'm thinking, alright? This game requires some real strategy."

Logan, ever the strategist, leaned in closer, peering over Gabriel's shoulder. "You know, I think you should move your bishop over to f4. That could put some pressure on Rachel's pieces."

Gabriel shot him a look that said, Are you serious right now? "Are you serious right now? That's a terrible idea. She'll just move her knight and block me. You clearly don't understand chess."

Silver, who had been eating the chip from the small bag of chips, perked up at that. "No, no. I think Logan's onto something. Move your bishop to f4, then you can trap her queen when she tries to make her move. You're thinking too defensively, Gabriel!"

Gabriel threw his hands up in frustration. "Trap her queen? Do you guys even play chess before?!"

"I played chess before when I was babysitting the Darling's children," Silver casually pointed out.

Rachel, sitting across from him with a bemused grin, had been unusually quiet up until now, watching the chaos unfold. But now, she leaned forward, her voice dripping with casual taunting. "You know, I'm really waiting for you to make a move, Gabriel. I don't have all night you know."

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to the entire group, Rachel was casually moving Gabriel's pieces while they weren't looking. She had been inching pieces into her own control for the past few turns—without anyone noticing.

Gabriel focused back on the board. "Okay, okay. I'm going to move my pawn here. Let's see how you like that."

"Really? A pawn?" Rachel's voice was thick with condescension. "That's cute, but that's not going to help you. You should've moved your knight to e5. Now you're leaving your king wide open."

Gabriel's face was turning a slight shade of red as he clenched his jaw. "No, no, no. I know what I'm doing. You're just trying to distract me with your nonsense."

Rachel stretched out and leaned back in her cushion, grinning like the Cheshire cat. "Nonsense? I'm just making a helpful suggestion. But hey, I'm not the one who's about to lose all my pieces."

At this point, the rest of the group was practically yelling their suggestions at Gabriel.

"Move your queen!" Logan exclaimed, his arms spread wide. "You can totally take her knight now."

"No, no," Gabriel argued, narrowing his eyes. "That'll just let her get her rook into position, and then I'm screwed."

Toren chimed in, "Come on, Gabriel, you can't be this stuck. Move your bishop! The one on c4! Move it to e2 and protect your king!"

"Or you could just sacrifice your queen," Adam spoke so causally.

"What?" Gabriel shot Adam a look as though he had just suggested something insane. "I'm not sacrificing my queen, Adam! I value my queen! Just like how I value Jasiri!"

The group was now in full-blown chaos, shouting across the room and offering contradictory advice.

"Move the pawn! No, wait, your rook! Move your rook!"

"Why don't you just surrender now? You're clearly outclassed."

"Move your knight! Do you even know how to play chess?!"

Gabriel's face was now a mixture of confusion and rage, his head spinning. "I'm thinking here! Can't you all just give me a second to figure this out? You're all just trying to distract me."

Rachel, meanwhile, was just sitting there, arms casually crossed, enjoying the spectacle. She'd made several moves while they were all distracted, silently and expertly dismantling Gabriel's position. She glanced down at her own side of the board, and her smug grin grew wider. With every passing moment, she was closer to checkmate.

Gabriel's eyes darted across the board as if searching for some solution that could get him out of this mess. His breathing was getting heavier, his mind racing.

"Alright," Gabriel muttered, "I'll just... I'll move this knight here."

Logan shook his head, "Bad move, Gabe. Bad move."

"No, seriously," Gabriel snapped, looking around at his friends who were still giving unsolicited advice. "Y'all are not helping me."

Rachel raised an eyebrow, teasing, "I'm just waiting for you to move so I can finally put you out of your misery."

Gabriel turned to look at his friends, exasperated. "I'm not going to rush this! I need to think!"

Suddenly, something caught Adam's eye. "Wait a second," he said, leaning closer to the chessboard. "Gabriel, do you see that? You left your queen wide open."

Gabriel froze, eyes wide in horror. "What?"

Logan leaned in with a grin. "Yeah, Gabriel, your queen is totally unprotected. I think Rachel just moved her knight into position to snatch it up."

Rachel, seeing the opportunity, casually moved her black knight across the board, taking Gabriel's queen with a satisfying click. She looked up at him, her smug grin growing wider. "Oh, look! Free queen for me. Thank you, Gabriel."

Gabriel slumped in his chair, his face flushed with frustration. "This isn't happening. This can't be happening!"

Toren, unable to help himself, chimed in, "Maybe you should have listened to me, I said, "Move your bishop.""

"Shush, Toren!" Gabriel growled.

Meanwhile, Rachel's hands were folded delicately on the coffee table, "It's not too late to surrender, Gabriel. I'll go easy on you. Maybe."

Gabriel shot her a glare. "I'm not surrendering, Rachel. I'm just... I'm just recalibrating." He looked down at the board once more, trying to make sense of what had gone wrong.

Adam leaned in closer. "You know, if you just moved your rook like I suggested—"

"Stop it," Gabriel squeak, "I'm not moving my rook!"

"Okay, okay," Adam said, throwing his hands up in mock surrender. "I'll stop. But it's clear you're losing, buddy."

Gabriel let out a groan, then took a deep breath. "Fine. Fine, I'll move my knight. There. Happy?"

Rachel leaned back, crossing her arms. "Oh, I'm thrilled. Now, let's see what you're going to do next."

Toren leaned over to Logan, whispering loudly enough for Gabriel to hear. "Do you think we should just call it now? Like, maybe he can just admit defeat before he completely embarrasses himself."

Logan chuckled. "No way. He's too stubborn for that."

As the tension in the room grew, Rachel remained the picture of calm composure, while Gabriel continued to flail. His brow furrowed, sweat beading on his forehead as he desperately searched for a way to claw his way out of this situation. And yet, as he stared at the board, there was one glaring issue he couldn't ignore: Rachel had secretly taken more than just his queen.

Her moves had been so casual, so deceptively slow, that no one had noticed. She'd already taken at least three more of Gabriel's pieces while they bickered and argued back and forth. Every time Gabriel would turn away, she would subtly slide another piece off the board.

Gabriel looked at the board again, only to realize that his defenses had been completely dismantled. "What the—" he stammered. "How many pieces have you taken?!"

Rachel didn't even flinch. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe a few," she said sweetly, her voice dripping with feigned innocence. "I guess you just didn't notice. I mean, you were all too busy arguing to pay attention to me."

Gabriel stood up from his cushion pillow, exasperated. "I can't believe this."

Rachel, without a hint of guilt, gave a smug smile. "It's okay, Gabe. You'll get 'em next time. Maybe."

Logan and Toren burst into laughter, while Adam and Silver tried to hold back their chuckles.

"Alright," Gabriel muttered, shaking his head. "I'll admit it. You're good at chess, Rachel. But next time, you better watch out."

Rachel's smile only widened. "Next time, huh? We'll see about that. Okay, who's next?"

With the chaos continuing around him, Gabriel finally slumped back into his cushion, defeated—but secretly planning his revenge for the next game night.

Logan:

Game: Splatoon 3 - Nintendo Switch

"Alright, alright!" Logan said, clapping his hands together. "It's time for something a little more fast-paced. Everyone get ready for Splatoon 3!" He pulled out his Nintendo Switch with a flourish, holding it up for everyone to see.

"Splatoon?" Rachel asked, sitting up a little straighter. "The ink-splatting game?"

Logan chuckled, setting up the game. "Here are the rule. You have to cover the whole stage in ink and splat the other team. It's chaos, but it's fun. And you're not just squids; you're inkling warriors!"

"We're gonna be warriors, huh?" Toren grinned. "This should be interesting."

Once the Switch was set up and all the players had their controllers ready, Logan explained the rules. "Alright, here's how this works. We're gonna split into two teams: Gabriel and Rachel will be on my team and Silver and Toren will be on Adam's team. It's a three-vs-three turf war. The goal? Cover the most ground with your team's ink. At the end of three minutes, Judd the cat will tally up who covered the most turf, and that team wins. Simple enough?"

"Seems easy enough," Adam said, folding his arms and looking over at his team. He grinned. "Alright, Silver, Toren, you guys ready to crush Logan's team?"

Toren smirked, pulling his Switch up. "Let's go. We're taking them down. Easy."

Silver smiled as he turn on his switch, "Let's do the

Logan winked at his own team. "Gabriel, Rachel, we've got this. Team Logan is going to dominate this match. Team Adam will be crying by the time we're done."

Rachel leaned back with a sly smile. "You say that now, but I'm not so sure about that. I've got my strategies."

Gabriel tapped his controller, getting himself ready. "I'll follow your lead, Logan. We're gonna obliterate Adam and his crew."

Adam raised an eyebrow. "You're gonna need more than that to beat us, Gabe. We've got a strategy."

As the teams separated, Logan motioned for his side to head over to one corner of the room, while Adam's team moved to the other. They all spread out to make sure there would be no sneaky peeking at their screens. Everyone powered up their controllers, ready for the battle ahead.

Once everyone was set, Logan called out, "Alright, everyone ready?"

The group nodded, some of them a bit nervous, others grinning from ear to ear. Gabriel cracked his knuckles. "Let's get this over with."

Logan smirked, pushing the start button. "Game on!"

The countdown began on the screen, and with a ding, the battle started. Immediately, the battlefield was awash in a swirl of ink as the teams began their rush to cover the stage. Team Logan, in blue, dashed across the turf, while Team Adam, in hot pink, followed suit, aiming to spread their ink and reclaim the arena.

Logan was quick to yell out orders. "Alright, Rachel, go up top! I'll cover the middle! Gabriel, keep the left side clear!"

"Roger that, Captain!" Rachel called out as she immediately dashed toward a higher platform on the stage, using her ink to spray a massive swath across the area.

"Copy that!" Gabriel echoed, jumping into the fray and starting to ink the left side, his movements swift but still full of that nervous energy.

Meanwhile, on Team Adam's side, Adam and Silver were working in tandem, spraying their ink everywhere. Silver was quick on his feet, hopping between walls and creating ink trails all over the arena. "Move it, Toren! We're taking them down!"

Toren was more methodical, using his long-range ink weapon to splash ink from afar. "Watch out for the higher ground, Silver! They've got it, and it's a great vantage point."

Logan, seeing the higher ground advantage, yelled over to Rachel. "Rachel! Don't let them control the top! Get 'em from above!"

Rachel, already perched on the high ground, took aim at Adam's position. "On it!" With a quick flick of her wrist, a massive line of blue ink sprayed toward Adam, who had no time to dodge. He got splattered instantly.

"Dang it!" Adam shouted, respawning in a puff of ink. "Nice shot, Rachel!"

"Thanks!" Rachel replied, a smug grin forming on her face as she dashed to a new position.

Silver, watching the chaos unfold, quickly dashed to cover more ground. "You think we can keep up with this?" he muttered under his breath, eyes narrowed in concentration as he carefully mapped out his next move. "I feel like we're at war on the battlefield."

Toren, staying calm, jumped into action, deciding to take advantage of his range. "I'm going to take the high ground. You two keep the turf covered."

Logan turned his attention back to his team, his eyes on the battlefield as he directed traffic. "Gabriel, get the turf in the middle! I'll handle the sides! Don't let them gain any ground!"

Gabriel, now more focused, nodded. "Got it! Keep your head on a swivel!" He rushed forward to cover more ground, while Rachel stayed perched, spraying ink down on the opposing team below.

The battle was intense, with constant splats and quick respawns happening all around the arena. The floor was practically drenched in ink, with patches of blue and hot pink covering the stage like a surreal battlefield.

Toren, who had managed to climb to higher ground, yelled down to Adam. "This is where we win, right here!" He blasted a huge spread of hot pink ink from his spot, targeting Gabriel, who barely dodged in time.

"Not today, Toren!" Gabriel shouted, narrowly avoiding the ink and quickly splattering back. "I'm on to you!"

Logan's team was maintaining a slight lead, thanks to their strategic moves and quick reactions, but Adam's team wasn't far behind. The clock was ticking down, and with each passing second, the tension grew. Each team pushed harder and faster, trying to cover every inch of turf.

"Don't let them get ahead!" Logan shouted, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "Keep pushing, we've got this!"

As the timer wound down to its final moments, Gabriel and Rachel raced across the field, trying to cover as much ground as possible. Adam, Silver, and Toren did the same on their side, each of them scrambling to reclaim lost territory.

Finally, the timer hit zero with a loud *ding*.

The group all stopped, panting and covered in ink, staring at the screens as the game's results were calculated.

Judd the cat and Li'l Judd, who stood on the opposite side with Judd on Team Logan's side and Li'l Judd on Team Adam's side, the two seen to be dancing as the game began to tally up the results.

Li'l Judd was then knocked over and Judd pulled out a flag from behind, announcing that Team Logan had won.

The entire room erupted in cheers. Logan jumped up, pumping his fist in the air. "YES! We did it! Team Logan takes the W!"

Rachel laughed, throwing her arms up in victory. "Told you guys we had it in the bag."

Gabriel, who had been intensely focused on the game the entire time, let out a sigh of relief. "That was *way* more stressful than chess. But, hey, we won. Nice work, team!"

Adam, clearly disappointed, slumped back in his seat. "Ugh, we were so close. I swear we had them for a second."

"Nice try, Adam," Logan said with a grin, giving him a friendly slap on the back. "Better luck next time."

Toren grumbled, shaking his head. "We'll get you next round. Just you wait."

Silver laughed and nodded. "That was a blast, though. I haven't had that much fun in a while."

Logan threw his arms around his teammates, grinning from ear to ear. "Alright, we're the champs for this round. Next game, who knows? But for now, Team Logan reigns supreme!"

Everyone shared a cheer as the game session came to an end, and they eagerly started discussing the next round of the game night.

Rachel:

Game: Twister

"Listen up, everyone," Rachel announced, a mischievous grin spreading across her face, "It's time for something even better than the last game. We're playing Twister!"

There was a collective groan from the group, though no one was really surprised. It was exactly the kind of ridiculous fun they'd all come to expect from Rachel.

"This is gonna be a disaster," Gabriel muttered under his breath.

"Speak for yourself, Gabe!" Logan shot back. "I'm ready to stretch out and show you all my limber skills."

"Limber, huh?" Toren chuckled. "I think you might be confusing limber with 'I'm gonna fall on my face'."

"We'll see about that," Logan said, cracking his knuckles. "Let's just get this over with."

Soon they all begin moving furniture out of the way to clear space. The Twister mat was soon laid out in the center of the room, its colorful dots staring up at them, mocking them before the game had even started. She then turned to the others.

Rachel nodded and began laying out the rules. "Alright, we're going to split into two teams: Gabriel and Adam on one team, and Logan and Silver on the other. You two will be facing each other, and each team needs to keep one foot on a circle. Toren and I will be taking turns to spin the spinner and bring the referees. I'll be spinning the spinner, and when it lands, I'll call out a body part and a color. You'll move that body part to the correct color, and Toren and I will spin the spinner back and forth and we will keep going until someone falls, touches the mat with their knee or elbow, or otherwise loses their balance." She explains as she begins picking up the spinner board.

"Sounds simple enough, right?" Rachel added, grinning like a cat who'd just caught a mouse.

"Simple? You try to stay balanced with a bunch of people tangled up all over the place," Gabriel muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Okay, take off your shoes, everyone. We don't want to get the mat dirty. And, you know, stepping on each other's toes is a little less fun when it's literally painful."

Everyone, albeit reluctantly, kicked off their shoes. The mat's colorful circles now sat in the middle of the room, ready for battle. As they got in position, Rachel announced the teams.

"Team Gabriel and Adam," she called, pointing at the two men who were standing at opposite ends of the mat, "versus Team Logan and Silver."

Logan shot Gabriel a smug look. "Prepare to be out-'twisted,' my friend."

"We'll see about that, Mr. I-Think-I'm-Limber," Gabriel retorted, adjusting his stance.

"Alright, alright, settle down," Rachel said, assuming the role of referee. "Everyone stands at opposite ends and puts one foot on the first circle you see closest to the Twister name."

The teams did so, each team standing side-by-side. Gabriel and Adam took their place at one end of the mat, with their left foot on the first blue circle. Logan and Silver, on the opposite end, did the same.

"Alright," Rachel said so mischievously. "Toren, you're up first. Give the spinner a good spin!"

Toren, who had been sitting in a chair with a drink in hand, smiled dramatically. "You've got it, Boss." He gave the spinner a dramatic flick, causing it to spin and spin before it came to a stop.

"Right foot… red!" Toren called out.

Adam and Gabriel both looked at each other. "Well, here we go," Gabriel muttered, already feeling the tension in his legs.

Both of them awkwardly shifted and placed their right foot on a red circle, trying to avoid stepping on each other's toes.

"Okay, this isn't too bad yet," Logan said, adjusting his stance. "I got this."

But that confidence was short-lived, and the few moments later...

"Okay then," Logan muttered, his grin faltering as Gabriel and Adam's positions shifted slightly. "This is… this is really bad."

This happen.

As the spinner kept turning and the body positions started to get more ridiculous, all four began to stretch in awkward ways. Logan found himself with his left hand on a blue circle while Silver was now perched precariously on his back while trying to focus without his glasses on. Adam was trying to avoid having Gabriel's knee touch the mat, but Gabriel had accidentally placed a foot in a very uncomfortable spot.

"Okay," Logan said, huffing as he twisted his body in an attempt to stay upright. "This is definitely worse than I thought."

"Ooh!" Rachel taunted from her position as referee. "What's wrong, Logan? Can't handle a little Twister challenge?"

"I'm fine! I'm fine!" Logan growled, but it was clear he was struggling. His arms were fully extended, his back bent, and he was trying not to collapse on Silver, who was practically sitting on his back now.

"Dude, get off my back," Logan groaned. "This is like a bad contortionist act."

"I'm trying!" Silver said, trying not to laugh too hard. "Your back is just, like, right there!"

Meanwhile, Gabriel and Adam were tangled up in their own struggle. Gabriel's foot had somehow ended up under Adam's arm, and Adam's other leg was stretched across Gabriel's torso.

"This is not comfortable!" Adam grunted, trying to twist his body so his knee wouldn't touch the mat. "Who designed this game? What kind of sadist—"

"Rachel!" Gabriel shouted, his voice laced with mock outrage. "This isn't even a game anymore! This is a torture chamber!"

"Don't knock it 'till you try it!" Rachel teased as she sang, grinning widely while she watched the chaos unfold. "You guys are doing great! Keep it up!"

Toren, as the co-referee, took his turn spinning again. His spinner spun with dramatic flair, then landed with a satisfying click.

"Left hand, yellow!" Toren called out.

Adam, now trying to balance on one foot while having to stretch out a hand to the yellow spot, let out a groan of defeat. "I'm going to fall. There's no way—"

"Don't say that!" Gabriel said, trying to maneuver his arm around Adam. "We've come this far. We're not quitting now!"

Meanwhile, Logan and Silver were even worse off. Silver had somehow managed to get both of his knees on the mat, which was against the rules. Logan, who was now on his side, was still trying to make it look like he had some semblance of control.

"This game is ruining me," Logan grumbled.

"Aw, come on, Logan," Rachel teased, finally giving in to the laughter. "You're doing fine! Just think of it as… stretching your limits. Literally."

"Ha-ha," Logan said flatly. "You're so funny, Rachel."

"Well, at least we're both in pain together," Silver comment, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "How's that for bonding?"

Adam, struggling to maintain balance, glanced at Gabriel. "How did we even get into this mess?"

"You're asking the wrong person," Gabriel said, his body now twisted in a way that seemed impossible to maintain for long. "I just want to survive!"

Rachel, enjoying the chaos, spun the spinner again, keeping things moving with a mischievous grin.

"Right foot, green!" she sang out.

"This is it," Logan groaned, starting to topple over as he reached for the green circle. "This is the end. I'm going down!"

"I'm not falling for that!" Gabriel shouted. "We're in this together!"

Silver had somehow made it to the green circle, but now he was holding onto Logan, who was half off the mat at this point, trying not to collapse.

"I can't feel my legs!" Logan gasped dramatically. "And now my arm is definitely going to snap!"

"Get your elbow off the mat, Logan!" Toren shouted from his referee spot. "You're about to lose!"

"You're about to lose!" Logan yelled back, though he knew the inevitable was coming. He could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on him as Silver lost his balance and fell on top of him.

In that instant, both teams collapsed in a heap of tangled limbs, everyone laughing and groaning.

Rachel and Toren, now taking a brief break from their referee duties, couldn't stop laughing at the absurdity of it all.

"That was hilarious," Rachel said, still grinning. "You guys were all so close to winning... and then boom—everyone falls like dominos!"

Logan, barely able to catch his breath, just sighed, "This is the worst… I'm never playing Twister again. Someone hand me a towel and a stretcher."

Gabriel, equally wiped out, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I think we've earned a break. My body doesn't bend like this normally. This is… this is abuse."

Silver and Adam could barely speak through their laughter, and Toren, who had been trying to stay out of the fray, finally allowed himself to double over in giggles.

"Well, that was a success," Rachel said, wiping a tear from her eye. "I think we can all agree that Twister is a game of champions."

"Yeah," Logan panted, still trying to get back on his feet, "but maybe next time, we'll do something less physically damaging."

Disney's Wrestling Discipline Center was thick with excitement and the sound of athletic grunts. Situated deep within the Animal Kingdom, the center was far removed from the bustling world of theme parks and magic. Here, in the middle of a clearing surrounded by tall trees, six wrestlers were about to put on a show for their friends—Destiny and Staghart leading the charge in the ring.

Poe, acting as the referee for this match, stood in the center of the ring, dressed in a wrestling singlet that made him look a little too ready to throw down. He raised his arms, preparing to address the crowd, which consisted of just three spectators—Jasiri, Melanie, and Barcus—seated on the bench nearby.

"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, they and them, welcome to the match of the century!" Poe boomed, his voice echoing through the center. "In this corner, we have the wrestling league whale, Destiny!"

Destiny, dressed in a fiery red wrestling singlet, threw her arms out dramatically, soaking in the crowd's reaction. She tossed a wink at Melanie and Jasiri, who both cheered, raising their hands.

"Woo! Go, Destiny!" Jasiri shouted.

Destiny flexed her muscles and waved confidently, her eyes already locked on her opponent, the ever-brooding Staghart.

"And in the opposite corner," Poe continued, his tone taking a mock serious edge, "the stag deer man with gargoyle wings, Staghart!"

Staghart, wearing his black singlet, gave a dramatic eye-roll as he cracked his neck, the sound echoing through the room. He slapped his chest in a "bring it on" gesture.

"Alright, alright," he muttered, his voice dry. "But I'm warning you, Destiny, the bigger they are, the harder they—"

"—fall on their faces?" Destiny interrupted with a mischievous grin. "I've got news for you—I'm ready."

"I'm sure you are," Staghart muttered, cracking his knuckles. "But I don't think your little acrobatics are going to save you from what's coming next."

"Bring it on, deer boy," Destiny teased, giving him a playful shove. "I'll be waiting."

Poe stepped between them, hands on his hips.

"Alright, alright," Poe said, feigning authority. "Remember the rules. No illegal moves, no biting, no hair-pulling, and no sending anyone to the moon."

"Noted," Destiny said with a wink.

"Oh, I'm going to enjoy this," Staghart said through clenched teeth, flexing his arms dramatically.

Poe glanced over his shoulder to the bench where Jasiri, Melanie, and Barcus sat, all eagerly watching. Melanie waved with her handkerchief, mouthing "Good luck" to Destiny, while Barcus gave Staghart a thumbs-up.

"Alright," Poe said, stepping back and raising his hand. "The match starts in three... two... one!"

And with that, it was on.

Destiny and Staghart circled each other in the ring, both trying to get the upper hand. Staghart lunged first, but Destiny nimbly dodged, rolling to the side and quickly regaining her feet.

"You're gonna have to do better than that!" Destiny taunted.

"Oh, I plan to," Staghart grumbled, taking another swing at her. But Destiny was too quick, ducking under his arm and landing a swift punch to his back.

"Hey! No cheap shots!" Staghart whined, trying to turn around, but Destiny was already on the move again, taking advantage of his momentary distraction.

Jasiri, watching from the bench, couldn't help but cheer. "Go, Destiny! Show him who's boss!"

Melanie leaned forward, eyes wide. "Destiny's on fire! This is exactly why Logan's the best coach."

Barcus nodded seriously, but then grinned. "Arf, arf, arf, arf (Staghart's in trouble. He's too slow for her)."

Back in the ring, Destiny had Staghart in a headlock, trying to bring him down to the mat. But Staghart, grunting and growling, managed to twist out of it, pushing her away with a surprising amount of strength.

"Not bad, not bad," Staghart muttered. "But it's going to take more than that."

"Oh, I've got plenty more," Destiny said with a wink. "Get ready for the Destiny Special!"

She charged at him, using her agility to dodge his flailing limbs before she tackled him to the ground, knocking the wind out of him. Staghart flailed, trying to free himself, but Destiny had the upper hand. She clamped down on his arms, holding him firmly on the mat.

"Pin him! Pin him!" Jasiri shouted, bouncing on the bench in excitement.

But before Destiny could make her move, Staghart flipped her off of him, sending her sprawling to the side. Destiny quickly jumped to her feet, frustration in her eyes.

"Oh, no, you don't!" Destiny shouted as she lunged again, this time grabbing his leg and pulling it out from under him.

Staghart crashed to the mat with a loud thud.

"Oof," Melanie winced. "That was a big fall."

Destiny quickly got to her feet, shaking her arms to keep the momentum going. She immediately lunged forward, grabbing Staghart by the arm and twisting it in a swift motion. Staghart stumbled but quickly recovered, trying to break free, but Destiny's grip was ironclad.

"Whoa, okay," Staghart said, his voice a mix of surprise and panic. "This is a lot harder than I thought!"

"Should've trained more, huh?" Destiny said, giving him a wink before pushing him backwards, sending Staghart tumbling toward the ropes.

"Ha! Is that all you've got?" Staghart called back, pushing himself off the ropes to get back into position. He tried to get low and move around Destiny but ended up getting tangled in his own legs.

"Oh no!" Jasiri shouted from the bench, laughing. "He's just doing a faceplant now. Not the best strategy, Staghart!"

Barcus raised an eyebrow. " Arf, arf arf, arf arf (At this rate, he'll be face down the whole match)."

Destiny took advantage of Staghart's temporary clumsiness. "Don't take your eyes off the prize, big guy," she said with a smirk before launching herself toward him. But before she could grab him, Staghart scrambled to his feet and gave a half-hearted attempt to tackle Destiny, missing completely.

Staghart's feet flew out from under him as Destiny nimbly sidestepped, causing him to crash into the mat with a loud thud.

"Well, that was graceful," Poe quipped from the side, already looking like he was getting ready to call an official count.

Jasiri and Melanie were cackling at the sight of Staghart sprawled out on the mat, his face contorted in a mixture of confusion and embarrassment. "C'mon, Staghart dear, you've got this!" Melanie cheered.

"Are you trying to become a human pancake?" Jasiri added, eyes wide. "Because it's working!"

Staghart, embarrassed but determined, managed to get to his feet, albeit a little slower than before. "Alright, alright. I see how it is," he muttered. "I've got some moves left."

Poe gave him a thumbs-up. "That's the spirit!"

Destiny raised an eyebrow, clearly not impressed by Staghart's attempts to shake it off. "Let's see what you've got, big guy." She dashed toward him again, but this time, Staghart had prepared himself—or so he thought.

As Destiny reached him, Staghart made a desperate grab for her waist, attempting to throw her to the ground, but Destiny was ready. She hopped up, grabbing the ropes for support, and swung herself over Staghart's head, landing gracefully on the mat behind him.

"Nice try," she taunted, before jumping to her feet and spinning around to face him.

Staghart spun around just in time to see Destiny taking a running leap towards the corner of the ring. His eyes widened. "Oh no, wait—"

"I've got this!" Destiny yelled, a grin spreading across her face.

"OH MY GODDNESS!" Melanie shrieked.

Destiny climbed the corner, positioning herself perfectly for a high-flying move. As Staghart was turning around, Destiny launched herself off the top rope, letting out a loud battle cry. "Yaaaaaaahhhh!"

"NOOOOO!" Staghart yelled, as Destiny came crashing down onto him with a body slam that shook the entire ring.

A loud "WHAM!" echoed as Staghart let out a comical girly scream, his arms flailing in the air before Destiny's body completely crushed him into the mat.

"Oh my gosh!" Jasiri howled. "I didn't think she was actually gonna do that!"

"I think Staghart is dead," Poe said between fits of laughter. "Someone get him a pillow—he's going to need a nap."

Barcus was rolling on the bench, clutching his stomach. "Arfarfarfarfarfarfarfarf (Staghart's got a new scream added to his repertoire)."

Adam:

Game: Uno

The laughter from Twister still echoed in the air as everyone collapsed onto the sofas and chairs, trying to catch their breath. Adam was already scooping up the deck of cards for the next game—Uno. He shuffled the cards with an exaggerated flourish.

"Alright, alright," Adam said with a grin, clearly relishing his role as game host. "Time to play the game of strategy, deception, and—of course—good old-fashioned card manipulation."

"Are we really playing Uno after what just happened?" Rachel asked, raising an eyebrow as she stretched out on the couch, looking absolutely exhausted.

"Absolutely," Adam said, dealing out seven cards to each player. "This is the best game to let off some steam, and I know you guys are dying to get back at each other."

Gabriel grinned. "Yeah, this is more my speed. No weird contortionism here. Just pure strategy."

"Alright, so the rules are pretty simple," Adam began, explaining the game. "You gotta match the card in the discard pile by either color or number, and if you don't have a match, you draw from the pile. Special cards like Wild and Reverse mess everything up, but that's what makes it fun, right?"

"Sure, sure, we all know how to play, Adam," Toren said, waving him off as he stared at his cards.

"Just making sure," Adam chuckled, taking his seat on the ground.

After everyone got their seven cards, Adam nodded and gestured toward the deck.

"Alright, we're ready to go. I'm starting," Adam said, picking the top card off the deck. It was a red 5. He placed it in the center with a flourish, and the game officially began.

Gabriel was next, and after scanning his cards for a moment, he slapped down a red 3.

"Easy enough," Gabriel muttered, watching the cards pile up. "Your turn, Toren."

Toren was already grinning. "This is gonna be a piece of cake," he said, tossing a red 8 down with a flick of his wrist. "I'm on fire tonight!"

"You're not on fire, you're just playing safe," Rachel chimed in, rolling her eyes as she drew a card.

"Hey, safe is a strategy too," Toren replied with a grin, leaning back into the couch.

Rachel was next. She threw down a red 7. "Let's see how you guys handle this!"

Silver, who was sitting next to her, was already eyeing his hand, trying to figure out his next move. He slapped down a red 2.

"Guys, do we see a theme here?" he asked sarcastically. "It's all red. This is too easy."

Logan, now starting to feel the heat, pulled his card toward him slowly. He looked at his cards—he had a blue, a yellow, and a green. "Uh, yeah, we get it, Silver. Let's just get on with it."

Logan placed a yellow card down, rolling his eyes dramatically. "It's a yellow 4, but I'm guessing no one cares."

"Not at all," Gabriel teased, giving him a wink. "But it's your turn, Adam."

Adam, looking smug, slapped a yellow 6 on the pile. "There, that's how it's done, gentlemen."

The game continued to wind its way around the table until it came back to Logan's turn. By now, his cards were building up, and it was clear he wasn't having as much luck.

"I'm going to lose my mind if this keeps up," Logan muttered under his breath as he checked his hand. No yellow cards, no red cards. All he had were blue and green.

"Alright, alright, let's see what I can do," Logan said, trying to stay calm. He picked up a card from the draw pile. It was a green 9. He grinned, relieved. "Aha! Finally!"

But as soon as he placed it on the pile, Adam smirked, pulling out a reverse card.

"No! No! No!" Logan screamed in frustration. "You've got to be kidding me! I can't believe this!"

"Yeah, I'm afraid it's true," Adam said with a wicked grin. "Reverse. And guess what? You're next, buddy."

"I DON'T EVEN HAVE ANY GREEN CARDS!" Logan bellowed. His face was turning a shade of red that could rival his last card. "Are you kidding me?!"

The rest of the group burst into laughter, and even Toren, who had been rather composed until then, started cackling. "I've never seen anyone so mad over Uno before."

"You're making a scene, Logan," Silver teased. "Who would've thought this game would break you?"

Logan picked up another card from the deck. Another yellow. His face was a picture of pure frustration. "Are you serious?!" He slammed the card onto the table. "It's yellow! AGAIN!"

Rachel was practically crying from laughter, her hands covering her face. "Oh my god, Logan, this is better than Twister. You're going to burst a blood vessel."

"I'm going to burst something, alright," Logan grumbled, his fingers twitching as he drew another card, muttering curses under his breath. "Green. Green. Please. JUST GREEN!"

The next card was… another yellow.

"I hate this game. I HATE IT!" Logan wailed. "I'm going to break this deck. I swear, if I draw another yellow—"

"Just take a deep breath, Logan," Rachel teased. "You'll get there. Probably. Maybe."

Logan, now red-faced and near hysterical, drew yet another card.

Another yellow.

"HOW IS THIS EVEN POSSIBLE?!" he howled. "WHY IS THE UNIVERSE AGAINST ME?!"

"Logan, buddy, I think you're having a little breakdown here," Gabriel said, clearly enjoying every moment. "You've got, what, 14 cards now?"

"Fifteen," Logan snapped, "and I'm going to—"

He stopped mid-sentence as his card draw produced a green 3.

Logan slammed it down onto the table, his face twisting into a look of triumph. "YES! FINALLY!"

The group applauded sarcastically, but Logan wasn't done just yet.

"HA! Take that! I'm a genius!" he boasted, looking smugly at everyone.

"Wow, you really needed all that drama for that," Toren said, shaking his head with a grin.

"Alright, now that that's over, it's my turn." Adam, now clearly feeling the wind in his sails, placed down a blue card. "Okay, we're moving on, people. Keep up."

"I'm mad because I've been drawing cards forever, and now I'm finally free, can't wait to get my revnge!" Logan grinned triumphantly as Adam shuffled through the deck and picked up four more cards.

But as Adam grimaced, he had an idea.

"Revenge, huh?" Adam said it to himself, his eyes glinting. "Well, let me tell you, Logan. It's my turn now." He flipped over another Reverse card with a flick of his wrist, causing everyone to gasp.

"WHAT?!" Logan's face went from red to nearly purple. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" he screamed, his voice echoing through the room.

"I thought we were friends, man! WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?!" Logan continued, practically vibrating with rage.

The others, unable to contain themselves, burst into laughter once again.

"Oh my god, you should've seen your face just now!" she wheezed, clutching her stomach.

"YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! I'M LITERALLY GOING TO EXPLODE," Logan shouted, grabbing his cards and tossing them up into the air dramatically. "I CAN'T EVEN RIGHT NOW!"

"Don't worry, Logan," Adam teased, savoring the moment. "We've still got a whole bunch of cards left in the deck. I'm sure you'll get to draw some more."

"DON'T YOU DARE!" Logan screeched, already preparing himself for the worst.

"Hey, you did ask for a green card," Adam pointed out, grinning like the cat who caught the canary. "I'm just giving you what you asked for."

Logan grabbed his drink and took a long swig. "This is the worst night of my life. If I could just flip the table right now, I would."

Silver, his face still red from laughing, leaned forward. "Yeah, that'd be real mature, Logan."

"I'M DONE," Logan said dramatically, slumping back into his cushion. "DONE WITH THIS WHOLE GAME."

The game was far from over, but with each card played, it was becoming clear that Logan was inching closer to losing his mind. The group continued to play, teasing Logan mercilessly as he drew cards like it was his job, and as much as he wanted to quit, something about Uno—and the chance for revenge—kept him going.

"I swear," Logan muttered, "next time, I'm picking the game. It's going to be something calm and relaxing, like chess. Or maybe just a nap."

But as the game continued, and everyone took their turns with playful shenanigans, it became clear that Uno was the one game that could break even the most stoic of them all.

Silver

Game: Dress To Impress - Roblox

Silver stood up, stretching dramatically, and clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.

"Yay, it's time to turn the chaos up a notch," Silver announced with a mischievous grin. "We're playing Dress to Impress on Roblox!"

"Wait, what's that?" Logan asked, still sulking.

Silver smiled. "Oh, it's simple. It's a game where you style your avatar based on a theme, walk the runway, and get judged. At the end, whoever scores the lowest gets eliminated. Last one standing wins. Basically, it's Roblox meets Project Runway."

"Does this mean I have to, like, be… creative?" Adam asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Yes, Adam, you'll need to use at least one brain cell," Silver answered, pulling out his phone. "Now everyone, grab your devices. Time to slay and make the best model, win!"

The six of them joined a public server, avatars popping into the main lobby. The familiar Roblox graphics greeted them, and the room was already bustling with other players. Some were jumping around aimlessly, others were showing off outfits they probably used from the last theme, others were doing parkour to try to get to the end where the amount of money was at, and a few were just standing still.

Silver glanced around. "Everyone ready?"

"I'm ready," Gabriel said, adjusting his avatar's look. "Let's get this show on the road."

The countdown began, and the random theme for the first round was revealed in bold letters:

Lost at Sea

Logan's eyes widened. "Lost at sea? Are we talking like shipwrecked or pirates?"

"Whatever you want, as long as it fits the theme," Silver said, already darting towards the dressing room. "You've got five minutes. Go!"

The Dressing Room was chaotic. Players scattered like ants, clicking clothes and accessories frantically on shelves, scrolling through different colors and pattern options, and testing out. Gabriel bolted for Lana's Salon, while Rachel meticulously examined each clothing option, muttering to herself.

Logan was lost. "Where do I even start? What does 'lost at sea' look like?!"

"Like you've been stranded on an island for weeks," Rachel called out, selecting a tank top dress and scrolling through the different patterns. "Think tattered clothes, messy hair…"

Logan nodded. "Right. Got it. Tattered... tattered... Uh, do they have 'extremely distressed' as an option?"

Meanwhile, Silver had made his way towards the VIP section. He strutted in confidently, leaving Adam to slam into the glowing yellow force field barring his entry.

Adam blinked. "Uh… Silver? Why can't I get in?"

Silver look at Adam from his screen, raising an eyebrow. "Because you don't have VIP. Only those with VIPs can have access to get in here."

Adam's mouth formed an exaggerated "o." "Can you, like, give it to me or something like that?"

Silver chuckled. "Nope. And don't be that guy asking for VIP access. It's annoying."

Just then, a random player waddled up to Silver's avatar, their avatar's chat bubble popping up: "give vip pls."

Silver sighed, typing a polite refusal in the chat. "No, sorry." He walked off into the VIP room, leaving Adam to fend off the same player, who turned their attention to him.

"vip?????"

Adam's avatar walked away immediately. "Nope, nope, nope."

Toren, meanwhile, was getting to work, frantically trying on an outfit. He was going for a "castaway stranded on the shore" look, something that screamed "lost at sea." Toren was absorbed in his task when, out of nowhere, another player walked up, wearing the same look: ripped clothes, a makeshift skirt, and a sun-bleached appearance.

"Wait a minute hold on…" Toren muttered under his breath, he turned his avatar around, hoping to find something else to focus on, but the player followed him.

Toren huff before typing in his chat box , "Seriously? You're following me now?" He typed.

The random player shot back in the chat, "No, you copying me! I was first!"

Toren's jaw dropped before typing back. "Are you kidding me? I was doing this before you even came here!"

"You stealing my idea! Stop copying!" the player insisted, becoming more aggressive.

Toren's eyes narrowed. "How am I stealing your idea when this was my idea in the first place!?"

On the other side, Gabriel makes his way to Lana's Salon, ready to give his avatar's hair. But as he approached the styling chairs, he noticed a player sauntering out… wearing a full mermaid outfit, complete with a tail and glittery seashell top.

"Wait a second," Gabriel said, furrowing his brow. "Mermaids aren't lost at sea—they are the sea! What is this nonsense?"

He typed in the chat: "How is a mermaid lost? They live in the ocean."

The mermaid-clad player ignored him, walking (or swimming) away from him.

"Unbelievable," Gabriel muttered, shaking his head before continuing his business.

Rachel was perched on one of the plush, overstuffed vanities in Lana's Salon, the soft glow of fluorescent lights casting a warm halo around him as he scrolled through an endless array of makeup options laid out before him. The sheer volume of products was overwhelming; the vanity was adorned with an assortment of eyeshadows, foundations, lipsticks, and highlighters, each meticulously arranged, suggesting a world of possibility yet to be explored.

However, as she surveyed the pretty and luxurious textures, frustration began to bubble beneath the surface.

"What is the point of all this?" Rachel muttered under her breath, her voice barely rising above the soft hum of chatter and laughter drifting from her friends across the room. "How is any of this 'Lost at Sea'?" The very concept felt absurd to her, and Rachel couldn't help but voice her exasperation. "I mean, seriously, who gets stranded on a desert island and decides to throw on a full glam makeup look? It's just ridiculous!"

Her finger danced across the rows of makeup swatches displayed on her screen, each looking more elaborate than the last, showcasing different styles and colors. There were glowing bronzers and shimmering highlighters that promised a sun-kissed radiance, paired with rich, glossy lip colors that seemed far better suited for a night out on the town than for a life spent adrift in the ocean. The more she examined the selections, the more she felt a profound disconnect from the theme she was expected to looks.

With an eye roll, Rachel clicked on one of the options.

"Too glamour," she grumbled, shaking her head in discontent.

Determined to find something more fitting, she moved on to another look.

"Too drag queen…" She muttered under her breath, her brows knitting together.

She clicked again.

"Too glittery," she said, exasperation creeping into her tone.

As she continued her search, she tried another option.

"Too Gothicy," Rachel remarked dismissively.

Yet another click brought up.

"Too kawaii!" she exclaimed in frustration.

Rachel was beginning to feel overwhelmed as she struggled to find a makeup look that fit the theme. "Doesn't anyone realize that being 'Lost at Sea' implies a lack of resources?" She fumed inwardly. "I can't just suddenly conjure up a full face of perfectly applied makeup in the middle of an ocean! It's all so… disingenuous."

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of scrolling, she stumbled upon one option that caught her eye—a soft, neutral makeup look that seemed more relatable to her predicament. It was subtle yet refined, a perfect way to capture the spirit of being lost without sacrificing authenticity. With a small sigh of relief, she clicked on it, grateful to have found something that resonated with both her and the theme at hand.

"I'm keeping this on for the next round," Rachel said before she got her avatar to exit out of the chair and made her avatar walk out of the salon. "Okay, let's get dressed now."

Logan, feeling slightly overwhelmed, walked into Lana's Salon to calm himself down. As he walked in through the left entrance, he was greeted by Lana, an NPC with a light skin tone, almond-shaped brown eyes, and thick, slightly wavy brown hair in a messy bun. She was sitting at her station, waiting for players to sit and get their nails done.

On the opposite side of the room, a hair salon seat sat under a hood dryer, where players could change up their hairstyles. Logan casually ignore her as he walk passed her before immediately sat in the chair under the hood dryer, hoping that getting a new hairstyle would help him feel more "lost at sea" instead of looking like he was ready for a photo shoot.

"Let's see… this one?" He finger clicked on one of the hairstyles but he didn't like how it looked. "No, too dramatic." He deleted the hairstyle before scrolling down to see many different options of hairstyles for him to choose in the women section. "Beach waves? Ugh, too basic. OH, this one! Perfect."

Everyone quickly put the finishing touches on their looks, and as the timer ran out, they were teleported to the runway area. They all lined up, eagerly awaiting their turn to strut down the catwalk.

The crowd cheered as they took their turns. First up was Silver, who strutted down the runway with a confident grin, posing in different angles as the crowd watched.

Rachel, standing off to the side, gave him a thumbs up. "Oh, Silver ate this look. I have to give him 5 stars," she said aloud, but in her voting screen, she gave him only 1 star to secretly sabotage him. "I came here to win!" She whispers to herself.

Next was the mermaid player, who took their turn to shine on the runway, showing off their entire underwater ensemble. Gabriel, still fuming about the lack of logic, shook his head as he tapped 1 star. He then read the chat, where several players complimented the mermaid, causing his frustration to build.

"This doesn't even make sense! What theme are they playing?!" Gabriel grumbled. "Last time I checked, this isn't a Fantasy Theme nor a Mermaid Theme."

Toren was up next, and to his dismay, a player accused him of copying their outfit. He immediately fired back, "You're the one copying me, not the other way around!" But in the end, he shrugged and his avatar walked to the side of the runway.

Gabriel went next, his avatar proudly walking down the runway in a simple, no-frills lost-at-sea look. "This looks perfect," he said under his breath, but one player immediately slammed him with a complaint: "You look boring."

"I don't see any mermaids here, do you?" Gabriel muttered.

Rachel went next, showing off his bikini-style castaway look. "I had to go with the classic beach survival look," she said, smirking as she made a quick pose. She got some mixed ratings, but at least no one was accusing him of copying.

Finally, Logan strutted down the runway, looking effortlessly "disheveled" in his tank top and bodycon skirt in whire color. His messy hair was definitely giving off a "stranded on an island" vibe, and he even gave a dramatic pose.

"Alright, that's a solid 4 stars," Silver said, genuinely impressed.

And then came Adam, wearing simple white shorts and a relaxed beach look. His walk down the runway wasn't anything spectacular. "I did my best," he typed out in the chat.

With the final walks complete, the screen faded to black. The anticipation was palpable as everyone waited for the results.

Then, the screen faded into the podium, and the top three players were revealed.

Third place went to Adam, who couldn't help but give a satisfied smile.

Second place went to Rachel, who looked pleased but tried not to show too much excitement.

But then… the shocker. The player who wore the mermaid outfit took first place. Gabriel's jaw dropped.

"You mean to tell me… A MERMAID got first place? AND THEY DON'T EVEN MATCH THE THEME?!" Gabriel shouted, his disbelief echoing in the room. "THIS IS SO UNFAIR!"

Toren, casually laying on the floor, froze. "What? NO WAY! I'M IN LAST PLACE??" He glared at the screen, furious. "And that copycat got fifth place! This is RIDICULOUS!"

The group erupted into laughter as Toren's face turned an interesting shade of red.

"Oh well, maybe next time Toren," Silver teased. "Better luck with the 'Lost at Sea' theme, huh?"

Toren

Game: Heads Up

Toren sat back in his chair, arms folded, grinning. "Okay folks. My turn to play my game," he announced. "Get ready for some real chaos."

The group all raised an eyebrow. "What's the game this time?" Gabriel asked, casually lounging with a soda in hand.

"Today, we're playing Heads Up!" Toren declared, holding up his phone. "It's a guessing game. One of you will hold the phone up to your forehead, and the rest of us will give you clues to help you guess what's on the screen. You've got one minute, and the goal is to guess as many as you can. Easy, right?"

Logan immediately groaned. "I'm not good at these things. Last time, it was 'penguin,' and I ended up saying 'otter.'"

Rachel laughed. "An otter is basically a penguin with fur! Same thing, right?"

"No! Not even close!" Logan whined, "They're both aquatic, sure, but—"

"Alright, alright," Toren cut in, rolling his eyes. "Enough chit-chat. Adam, you're up first!"

Adam blinked. "Me? Wait—what do I do?"

"You hold the phone up to your forehead with the screen facing outward so you can't see the word," Toren explained. "Everyone else will shout clues. Simple, right?"

"I'm already nervous," Adam mumbled, taking the phone. "What if I mess up again?"

"You will," Logan teased with a grin. "But that's what makes it fun."

Adam shrugged and held the phone up, the screen flashing "Start!" The timer began counting down.

"Alright, let's do this!" Toren shouted as the game started.

The first word appeared on Adam's phone, and he looked confused as the others began shouting out clues.

"It's a country!" Rachel said, bouncing on her heels. "It's right above us—above the USA. They speak a language that sounds a lot like French!"

Adam frowned, furrowing his brow. "Is it... Spanish?"

"NO! NO! THE COUNTRY RIGHT ABOVE US!" Logan shrieked, jumping up. "NOT BELOW US!!"

"I'm sorry! I don't know geography!" Adam said defensively, still holding the phone to his forehead. "Maybe it's Mexico?"

Toren groaned. "Think bigger! Mexico is below us! Think further up—north!"

Silver quickly interjected, "They speak French, but their accent is, like, very different!"

Adam blinked, confused. "Okay, okay! I don't know! Give me more hints."

Gabriel took a deep breath. "Alright, they got Mexico, the US, and..." He trailed off, clearly trying to work out what he was saying.

Rachel quickly sigh in frustration. "Just skip it. Seriously. Just skip."

Adam rolled his eyes. "Okay, next one! Let's go."

Adam, thoroughly flustered, tilted the phone upward and the next word flashed on the screen: Japanese.

"Oooo, this one's easy," Silver said with confidence. "It's not Chinese, but it's another Asian country. Think about their sushi! Think anime, sushi, Godzilla, or... totally different writing style."

Adam perked up, trying to process the clue. "Is it... Japanese?"

"YES!" Silver cheered, clapping his hands. "Finally! You got one!"

Adam tilted the phone down in victory, and the screen flashed green with "CORRECT!" The group cheered.

"Phew! One point," Adam muttered, looking relieved. "Let's keep it going."

The next word appeared: French.

"Okay, here we go," Silver said. "It's not German, but it's... super fancy. Really, really fancy."

"Like... English fancy?" Adam asked, genuinely confused.

Gabriel groaned and smacked his forehead. "No! It's fancy! Like, they speak it in a fancy accent. The language is... extravagant."

Adam squinted at the phone. "Uh, Spanish?"

"No! No! Not Spanish!" Toren exclaimed. "Think fancy!"

Rachel started gesturing dramatically with her hands, making a pinching motion and moving them up and down. "You know, like, 'oui oui! Oui! Oui!'"

"Wait..." Adam muttered, looking confused. "Is it... Chinese?"

Logan yelled, facepalming. "OUI! OUI, ADAM! OUI! OUI!!!!!!" he screamed, practically bouncing off the walls.

"Uhhh... Italian?" Adam guessed, shrugging.

The timer buzzed and the screen flashed:

"TIME'S UP!"

Silver, holding his stomach from laughing, snickered. "It was French, Adam. 'Oui oui, oui oui!' You gotta know your basics."

Adam brought the phone down and stared at it in disbelief. "Wait, really? French? Why didn't you just say 'Bonjour'?"

Gabriel groaned and slumped back into the couch. "He's got a point. Bonjour would've worked."

"Alright, alright," Toren said, trying to compose himself. "Who's next? Someone else has to take a turn."

"I volunteer Logan!" Rachel said, raising her hand with a mischievous grin.

"No! No! I'm not ready!" Logan protested, backing away dramatically. "I've seen what happens when I have to guess things. I get traumatized."

"Logan, it's only fair," Adam said, a little too smug. "You can't let me be the only one who totally messes up."

Logan grumbled. "I'm gonna be terrible at this. You guys have no idea."

"Oh, we do," Toren said, chuckling. "Trust me, we do."

"Okay, okay," Logan sighed, stepping forward. "Let's get this over with."

And just like that, the game continued, with each round more chaotic than the last, as Adam recovered from his embarrassing guesses and Logan braced himself for what was sure to be another disaster.

Hello everyone, it has been one year since the last time we saw the Dream Defenders having game night.

Officially, I had planned to write a special arc for the Christmas season. However, due to time constraints and my current commitments, I won't be able to put the necessary effort to write a holiday arc this year. As a result, I have decided to put this project on hold until next year, when I hope to have more time and the creative energy to bring my vision to life. I look forward to revisiting this idea and hope that it captures the spirit of the season in a way that resonates with everyone.

Anyway, I decided to write a one-shot of another game night for you guys with the games that I remember and enjoyed playing with.

The first game on our list is chess, a old and classical game that has captivated players for centuries. Chess is not just a game; it is a profound battle of wits and strategy, involving two players who move their pieces across a checkerboard with the ultimate goal of checkmating their opponent's king. This pastime can be enjoyed in different forms — whether on a computer screen, displayed in a toy aisle at a local store like Walmart or Target, or seeing it in person to watch a chess match at the park or in the stadium. Many have encountered chess in different contexts, from casual games with friends to competitions displayed on TV's screens.

The second game we will discuss is Splatoon 3, an engaging multiplayer inkling shooter developed by Nintendo. I had the pleasure of owning Splatoon 2, and I had fun playing online with other gamers (before Nintendo Switch Online Service was introduced…..). However, I must admit that my experience with the series is somewhat limited, as I have yet to play its successor, Splatoon 3. To familiarize myself with this latest installment, I turned to YouTube videos, gaming websites, and fandom wikis. Through this research, I hoped to get some better understanding of the gameplay mechanics and features of Splatoon 3. If I have shared any inaccuracies regarding this game, I sincerely apologize and hope you'll forgive me as I navigate this new territory since I am more of a Super Mario gamer (big fan since childhood but I do play Animal Crossing and Minecraft).

Next, we delve into another classic game: Twister, which was first released in 1966. This game requires players to place their hands and feet on colored circles on a large mat, and I have good memories of playing Twister with my cousins during family gatherings. We would contort our bodies to reach the designated colors, often leading to entanglements and giggles (and sometimes pain).

The fourth game on our list is Uno, a fast-paced card game that has entertained families and friends for generations. Although it has been quite some time since I last played Uno, I did recall an experience before about last Christmas Eve when my second oldest sister introduced it to our families. Gathered around the dining table, we had a lot of laughter and moments of lighthearted frustration as we tried to match colors and numbers. The thrill of playing Uno is a lot of fun especially occasionally when someone throws down a Wild card at just the right moment (happen to me before, never forget that).

Fifth on our list is "Dress to Impress", a game on Roblox that was released last year. I happened to stumble upon this game through TikTok videos in late spring, which very slowly got my interest. It wasn't until late August that I decided to dive in and experience this game that got everyone talking about it for myself. From the moment I started playing, I was amazed by the endless possibilities of different outfits and accessorizing options to dress your avatar to fit different themes. The game's frequent updates, including events like the Brat event and the Halloween event, along with the Lana lore, have kept the community thoroughly engaged. I enjoy spending my free time in Dress to Impress, experimenting with new styles and showcasing my creativity in this popular game.

Lastly, we arrive at our sixth game: Heads Up. I have great memories of playing this lively guessing game with my paternal cousins during the late 2010s. Typically played on mobile devices that were free before but now you have to pay for it, we often preferred using a tablet, as its larger screen made it easier for us to see from afar. The objective of Heads Up is simple: one player holds the device on their forehead while the others act out or describe without directly saying it. The challenge lies in the creativity required for us to communicate effectively, leading to moments of hilarity as we attempt them to guess while trying not to say it.

In the end, these six games — chess, Splatoon 3, Twister, Uno, Dress to Impress, and Heads Up — each offer great experiences that make different aspects of gameplay, creativity, and social interaction. Whether through strategic thinking, physical agility, or imaginative expression, these games have brought joy and connection to many.

Anyway, review if you can. I would like to see your thoughts about this chapter so far! The reviews are the best form of motivation! Let me know what you think and see you all for the next one-shots chapter. Thank you. :)