Moonlight Phantom

by Wolf of the Black Rose

What if Varian discovered he had powers at a young age and tried to figure them out on his own? This isn't about making Dad proud anymore. This is about the fate of the Kingdom and, later, the fate of the world. Varian knows what has to be done, and he's as ready as he'll ever be to fight for what's right.

9. Chapter 9: Challenge of the Brave

I don't have an introduction this time, so here we are with the next chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Tangled. I only own this story idea.

It was a new day in Corona as news spread about an upcoming event in the kingdom. A couple of citizens stared at posters for the Challenge of the Brave while Cass walked past them with laundry.

"Challenge of the Brave? Looks like some kind of tournament," the woman smiled.

"Heh, not just any tournament," the butcher corrected beside her. "I hear the fiercest fighters from all over are coming to compete."

"Whoa!" she gasped in wonder as they walked away. "Let me tell ya, whoever walks away champ will have earned the respect of every warrior in the Seven Kingdoms!"

A little boy ran past Cass, bumping into her and causing her headdress to fall over her face. Annoyed, she blew it away and looked closer at the posters, a smirk spreading across her face.

After that, Cass began training tirelessly for the competition, squeezing in training sessions between her handmaiden duties. She started her day by running across a training clearing. She jumped onto a log in the pond and then onto the grass, rolling into a crouch before taking off again.

Later, she scrubbed clothing in the castle, suds flying everywhere. Suddenly, the maids gave her even more clothes to wash, making her groan irritably as her veil ended up in her face again.

Back at the clearing, she ran again, jumping onto a sail-like sheet with Owl flying above her. She climbed to the top, where a zipline awaited, before sliding down. As she descended, she smirked as she pulled her bow from across her shoulder…

She then carefully threaded the needle, mending one of Rapunzel's dresses. Hearing marching, she glanced out the window and watched her dad inspecting the guards. Cass sighed wearily before returning to work, fixing the hole in the dress.

Training again, Cass focused on her archery. She pulled back three arrows in her bow and fired, each hitting the bullseye.

A woman cried out in town as her purse was stolen. "Stop! Thief!"

Cass was walking nearby when she heard the commotion. Seeing her opportunity, she spun around and smirked, tossing aside her headdress just before a guard stepped in front of her. "Stay back," Pete said, grabbing the thief as he attempted to run past him. "We'll handle it."

Cass walked away dejectedly. She returned to training, running as she pulled out her sword. Tossing it into the air, Owl caught it while she continued running toward a high fence with a scarecrow set up behind it. Smiling determinedly, Cass spun around and backflipped over the wall gracefully. Without breaking her momentum upon landing, she caught her sword and swung it around to chop off the scarecrow's head, the straw-filled head rolling away as some kids watched her. They flinched when Cass stabbed her sword into the head, posing as Owl landed on her arm.

"Whoa…" one of the kids said, causing Cass to smile, thinking it was about her. "It's Princess Rapunzel!"

Cass and Owl appeared confused, the warrior turning slightly to see her friend standing there. The kids cheered as they rushed toward the princess. Rapunzel hugged them and playfully tugged at one kid's hat.

Cass frowned a little. She thought they were impressed by her…

"Wow, Cass," Rapunzel said, standing up and gazing at the obstacle course. "What is all this?"

"Nothing. I'm warming up for the Challenge of the Brave this morning," Cass explained, sheathing her sword. "It's just a competition to find the toughest warrior in all of Corona. No big deal."

"Ooh! Sounds exciting! Where can I sign up?" Rapunzel asked eagerly.

"Yeah, like I said, no big–" Cassandra started to reply when it sank in what she had just asked. "Oh, sorry, what?"

"I wanna sign up!" Rapunzel repeated, gesturing to herself.

"You mean compete?!" Cass asked, both confused and shocked. Did she not understand her when she said about the competition?

"Let's do it together!" Rapunzel smiled at her, and the kids supported the idea.

"You could be princess and the most 'reverdest' warrior!" one of the boys said.

"Aw," the princess chuckled.

"That would be fun…" Cass looked away. As much as she liked and respected Rapunzel, she felt it was best to keep her out of this so she wouldn't get hurt. Plus, the handmaiden wanted to win this and prove herself, and Rapunzel would just get in the way. "But I'm not so sure that's the best idea."

"I'm brave," Rapunzel gestured to herself. "And I'm always up for a challenge!"

"But the–the thing is, the challenge is by invitation only, so you can't do it," Cass lied through her teeth, hoping Rapunzel would forgive her if she ever found out. "Oh man, ugh. Rules are rules."

Owl narrowed his eyes at her, seeing through her lies. Cass shot him a slightly guilty look before Rapunzel started talking again. "Aw," Rapunzel clicked her teeth in disappointment. "Okay… but you can always count on me to cheer you on."

Cassandra smiled warmly at her support.

(Later that night)

In addition to training around her lady-in-waiting duties, Cass also did some night training for extra practice. She was sacrificing sleep for this, but it was a sacrifice she was willing to make to succeed.

She was training under the moonlight when she heard something nearby. Gasping, she held her sword at the ready and waited tensely. Moments later, a familiar figure with goggles entered the clearing where she was training.

"Varian?"

"Whoa!" He gasped when he realized he wasn't alone, especially with a sword pointed at him. "Oh, whoa, hey, Cass, heh. How's it going?"

"Fine," she replied, sheathing her sword. "What are you doing out here?"

"Just some, uh, nocturnal research," Varian said as he recovered from his surprise. "I'm looking for places where ingredients I need grow so I can find them again later."

That's what he claimed. Really, he was going to train with his powers, and the clearing Cass was using was his usual practice ground. "What are you doing out here?"

"Training."

"For the Challenge of the Brave, right?" Varian guessed. "I saw the flyers around town."

"You got it," she smirked confidently. "And I'm gonna win it!"

"Just remember to get some sleep, Cass," the alchemist advised. "It's not good to stay up so late."

"Now, isn't that the pot calling the kettle black?" the warrior joked.

"Maybe, but I'm not about to fight fifty people for honor and glory in a few days."

"Touche."

The duo chuckled a bit at their joke before Varian spoke again. "Well, I'll leave you to your training. Just remember to hit the hay when you're finished."

"Same to you, kid," she replied with a slight smile before returning to practice. "But, yeah, I'll turn in after a few more drills."

"I'll do the same once I find the moonflower I'm looking for," he said as he headed out of the clearing. "'Night, Cass."

"Good night, Varian."

Cassandra became so absorbed in her training that she didn't notice Varian melting naturally into the shadows. Nor did she see a flash of moonlight as the Moonlight Phantom took to the sky behind her.

(The day of the Challenge)

Soon, it was time for the Challenge of the Brave. A stadium had been erected for everyone to watch the competition. "Welcome to the Challenge of the Brave, where you will see skilled combatants from all the lands compete in a series of death-defying challenges that culminate in the main event! The ultimate melee!" An announcer spoke as the citizens gathered, milling about outside the arena or finding seats in the stands. "Only one will walk away with the respect of the Seven Kingdoms!"

Meanwhile, the competitors gathered in their own spot for some last-minute warm-ups. "Today's favorite is the world's most renowned warrior. Some say he's the meanest, most ruthless fighter the world has ever seen: Wreck Marauder!"

Giant footsteps shook the ground as the crowd erupted in cheers. The other warriors were frightened by the presence of the person those stomps belonged to, with one competitor's teeth falling out in his terror. One of the female competitors had smeared honey on her face to attract bees, but the bees fled in fear. Everyone scattered as a hulking man approached, his face covered by a boar hood. An usher also ran away but accidentally ran into the man, falling to the ground. He trembled as the warrior loomed over him before removing his hood to reveal a man with long black hair and an eyepatch.

"Boo."

Wreck laughed as the usher ran away screaming, bolting across the field and leaping into the bleachers. "Whose house is this? This is Wreck's house!" he roared, tossing the boar cloak into the crowd. Several people lunged to catch it, but it landed on Shorty.

Sitting in the front row and wearing a black cloak, Varian rolled his eyes. He could tell this guy relied more on intimidation and physical strength than actual brains. The alchemist cringed when Eugene yelled beside him, waving a wooden hand with Wreck Marauder's insignia. "Whoo! Yeah! That's my boy right there! Wreck Maraudeeeer!" Eugene received a few annoyed glares from the people around him as he turned to the guy beside him. "I have seen that guy fight all over the world. He's undefeated!" He then posed and started singing and dancing, with Pascal squeaking backup vocals as he danced along. "Challenge of the Brave! Challenge of the Brave! Everybody, come on!"

Ruddiger facepalmed with his paw while Varian covered his face with his hands, sighing. "Alright, the beard of bees lady!" Eugene stopped dancing and raised a hand, but the competitor simply walked past him. Pascal caught a bee with his tongue, holding it in his mouth until it fought its way out.

"Oh, yeah!" Eugene hugged Varian with one arm, who gently pushed him away slightly. "How about these seats, huh, buddy? If we were any closer to the action, they'd be scraping my face off of Wreck Marauder's knuckles!" He placed his wooden hand on a kid's head before picking up a trumpet and blowing it loudly. The alchemist and his raccoon covered their ears in pain while Pascal turned multiple patterns. The audience also covered their ears; even Shorty couldn't tolerate the noise.

"Uh, sir?" The usher approached him. "Some of the competitors are requesting we move you to a new seat."

"Oh, you see that? Moving this superfan to the superfan section. Ha!" Eugene bragged to everyone around him as he made his way up the stairs. "I wish I could say this has been fun, but I respect you all too much to lie to your faces!" The usher glanced at the teen in the cloak, wondering if he was with him.

"I've never seen him before in my life," Varian quickly denied, and he left. Sighing, the teen alchemist got up and headed in the opposite direction. "I should probably tell the Princess where her boyfriend is. Ruddiger, save my spot, okay?"

The raccoon jumped down and saluted as his human left to find Rapunzel.

(Elsewhere)

Meanwhile, Cass stood in the competitors' area, warming up for the challenge. With three arrows on her bow, she pulled back the drawstring and fired, earning another triple bullseye. With a smug look, she placed her bow around her shoulders.

"She's just here 'cause she's Rapunzel's lady-in-waiting," one of the competitors sneered. A group of fighters laughed, and Cass looked disheartened as she lifted her bow off her shoulders.

"Hi, hello, good morning, how are you? Ohh!" Speaking of the princess, Rapunzel was strolling through the area, greeting everyone she encountered, when something caught her attention. She approached one of the female fighters who had razor-sharp teeth. "Wow! Your teeth are so sharp!" The woman smiled in response to the compliment. Rapunzel gasped sharply when she spotted someone she recognized. "Hook Foot? Why so mad? Just do a dance and give that smile a second chance!" She laughed as she hugged him, the man grinning brightly at the warm embrace.

"Probably not the best place for hugs, Raps," Cassandra said, pulling her away so they could talk privately. "What are you doing down here? This is for competitors only."

"I came to wish you luck!" Rapunzel chirped.

"Thanks, but I don't need luck. I need to use this time to get inside the competition's head. You know, psyche 'em out with some trash talk," the lady-in-waiting smirked, crossing her arms.

"'Trash talk?'" her friend asked, unfamiliar with the term. "Like talk about garbage literally?"

"What? No, that's… not even close," Cass shook her head. She glanced past her with a sigh before walking off. "Watch this."

A steak was placed in front of a competitor wearing a bandana, who lowered it to swallow it whole. He turned to leave and found himself face-to-face with Cassandra. "Hey, you. You do realize when they put the call up for the strongest warriors, they weren't talking about breath," she taunted, waving her hand in front of her face as Rapunzel watched with mild disapproval. "Right?"

However, instead of being intimidated, he breathed his foul breath in her direction, causing her to recoil in disgust, almost gagging. "Why don't you go back to the castle, lady-in-waiting?" He laughed as he walked past her.

"That wasn't very nice, Cass," Rapunzel approached her.

"Yeah, that's the point," Cass replied.

"Either way, I don't think that's gonna work here," Varian walked over to them.

"Oh, hey, Varian," Rapunzel greeted him.

"What do you mean?" Cass asked.

"A lot of these guys are hardcore. I wouldn't be surprised if most of them have criminal records. They're not going to be intimidated by trash talk. It's just gonna make you look like an amateur."

His friend frowned as she wrapped her arms around herself, realizing he was right. Maybe this was a mistake. She wasn't fooling anyone.

"Cass," Varian said, catching her attention. "I've seen you fight off pirates with a candlestick and go toe-to-toe with Lady Caine. You don't need trash talk. You're strong enough to take these guys down without it."

"You think so?"

"I know so," he nodded with a confident smile.

Cassandra smiled silently, feeling her old confidence return as she breathed deeply. "Thanks, Varian."

"No problem. Now, we need to catch up with Rapunzel because she's gone."

"What?" She turned around and realized that the princess was missing. Groaning, Cass ran off to find her, with Varian following closely behind. "Where did she go now?!"

"Ohh, I love your tattoos!" Rapunzel exclaimed, talking to a heavily tattooed man.

"Rapunzel!" Cass and Varian called out upon finding her.

"Sorry, sorry, I just had to get a closer look!" Rapunzel explained, glancing back at the tattoos. "I mean, did you see the lettering on Skull Kicker? Wow!"

"What about it?" The man towered over her, glaring at the woman while showing off his pecs.

"Ah, it's lovely," Rapunzel said with a smile.

He raised an eyebrow at her before appearing a bit sad. "Yeah, well… it-it was my mother's name."

"Your mom is really special to you, isn't she?" She placed a hand on his shoulder. He nodded silently, prompting Cass to facepalm while Varian looked away sympathetically. "Well, I think she'd be really proud of the menacing goon you've become." He smiled slightly, appreciating her words, until they noticed the competitor Cass had trash-talked was sniffling behind them.

"I'm gonna go see my mom!" he cried as he ran off, sobbing. Cass pouted, not wanting to be around this kind of talk in the first place.

Suddenly, Wreck Marauder came through, growling at the warrior handmaiden and alchemist. Rapunzel turned around and nearly ran into him. "Whoa! Look at you! You're a big guy, aren't ya?" she said in surprise as he snarled at her.

"Oh boy," Varian muttered as Cass approached her.

"Come on, Rapunzel," she said, grabbing her hand to lead the princess away from Wreck.

"What do we have here?" the man taunted, causing Cass to tense and grit her teeth. "No one told me they were letting table scraps compete."

"Scraps?!" She whipped around to glare at him, looking up at the man. "You're the one that's gonna walk out of this in pieces!"

"I look forward to makin' everyone who ever loved you cry their eyes out." He pointed to his eye, cackling.

"Whoa," Rapunzel stepped in between them. "Listen, mister, trash talk is one thing, but that was just mean!"

"Rapunzel…" Cassandra hissed, urging her to stop.

"Cassandra has feelings, you know!" The princess continued, protectively holding her friend.

"Aww, poor baby," Wreck mocked, clasping his hands together. He snickered while Cass looked away, embarrassed.

Varian glared as he stepped forward. "At least Cass has the self-respect to act like a real warrior instead of a schoolyard bully." Wreck ceased laughing and glared down at the smaller male. Unfazed, the alchemist returned the glare. After all he had seen and endured over the past two years, almost nothing scared Varian anymore.

After a tense staring contest, Wreck clicked his tongue and walked away, losing interest in the confrontation. The other fighters exchanged glances, stunned into silence, unsure whether Varian was brave or crazy for standing up to the champ like that.

Cassandra felt similarly but recovered quickly as she pulled Rapunzel away from the fighters. "Okay, let's go, guys."

"I'm gonna grab some snacks," Varian said before heading in the opposite direction.

"Alright."

Cass heard the competitors murmuring as they left. Once they were out of earshot, she rubbed her temple with a long-suffering sigh. "Listen, I have to warm up, so…" She glanced at the other fighters and then back at Rapunzel. "Why don't you find Eugene in the stands? You can cheer me on from there… way back there."

"Yeah… yeah, sure. Okay, I got it. I got it. You need to focus! No distractions!" Rapunzel understood, though she looked disheartened. She smiled and waved as she made her way to the stands. Cassandra turned back to the fighters, trying to appear tough when… "Oh! Sorry!" Rapunzel rushed over and hugged her from behind, causing Cass to cringe with a surprised grunt. "I forgot a good luck hug!" She held her tighter before recalling what Cassandra had said earlier and let go. "Oh, right. It's not a place for hugging. I'm sorry…" Rapunzel said, patting her on the head. "Good luck."

The contestants laughed at the display as Cass watched the Princess walk away obliviously, actually leaving this time. The other fighters walked away, still laughing, causing her to look down dejectedly just as Varian returned with popcorn, meat, and cotton candy. "If it helps at all, Eugene got moved to a seat near the top of the stands," he offered.

"Thanks, kid," Cass said, though her voice was flat. She blinked when she saw how much food he had. "Hitting a growth spurt?"

"My raccoon eats like a pig," he replied with an eye-roll, eliciting a slight laugh from the older woman. Varian smiled at her as he said, "You've got this, Cass. You'll make them eat their words when they see you in action."

"Thanks, Varian."

"Go get 'em, Cass!" the alchemist encouraged her before returning to his seat.

Feeling slightly renewed, Cass stood tall and took a deep breath. With her confidence restored, she resumed warming up, ready to show everyone what she could do.

(In the arena)

Varian returned to his seat just before the challenge began. "Thanks, Ruddiger."

The raccoon chattered happily before grabbing some popcorn from his human. Varian glanced around and spotted Rapunzel heading up the stairs to join Eugene. Good, that means he's on his own. As much as he liked Rapunzel and Eugene, he wasn't sure how much more of Eugene's obsessive fanboying he could endure without dying of embarrassment.

"Ladies and gentlemen, take your seats!" the announcer exclaimed excitedly, holding a list of competitors. "It's time to meet today's contestants! Give it up for Razorblade McDoom!" He pointed to the woman with razor-sharp teeth, who let out a roar.

"The Razor's gonna carve ya… like a turkey!"

"Hah! McDoom! More like McDone For!" Eugene stood up from his seat at the top of the bleachers, which was empty except for him. He sat back down with a chuckle, with Pascal perched on his shoulder. "Am I right?" Rapunzel sat next to him, panting and breathless from the climb.

"Hey, Blondie, you got the deluxe seats too, huh? You know, they put you up here so you can see all the action."

"Really?" Rapunzel replied, straining to see anything below. "It's kind of far. I can't even see Varian."

"Guess the seats were just for us," Eugene mused as his girlfriend attempted to catch a glimpse of the younger teen.

"Next up, the unstoppable Wreck Marauder!" The announcer gestured to the man, who flexed his muscles with a roar, his hair flying wildly as he did so.

"Wreck has three words for you! You're gonna get wrecked!" He intimidated all the competitors except Cass, who simply rolled her eyes.

"Anyone wanna tell him that's four words?" Varian asked no one in particular. Ruddiger shrugged and took another bite of popcorn.

"Hey… If I didn't know any better, I'd swear that guy down there looks like… Cassandra?" Eugene remarked, surprised and confused to see her there.

"That is Cassandra!" Rapunzel exclaimed, shaking his arm excitedly before turning to Cass with wide eyes. "Wow, I've never seen Cass look so nervous."

Cassandra cracked her neck, not nervous at all. "Ohh…" Eugene couldn't really tell since he couldn't see her.

"I guess I can't blame her. I mean, she worked so hard to get invited to this competition…"

"Invited? No, you don't need an invitation to compete. You just have to be dumb enough to do it. Like Cassandra," Eugene laughed before standing up to cheer again. "Ha ha! Whoo!"

"Anyone can compete?" Rapunzel asked slowly, smiling as she realized the implication. "We can do this together!" She kissed her boyfriend on the cheek. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!" The princess hurried off eagerly to join in.

"Oh, oh, oh! Hey, Blondie, if you're making a snack run, I'm all about the popcorn!" Eugene called after her.

Rapunzel grinned at him, catching Varian's attention as she passed by.

"Now, where's she going…?" he wondered.

"And finally, the Iron Handmaiden," the announcer said, pointing to Cass as she posed for the audience. "Cassandra–!"

His announcement was suddenly interrupted when a woman approached him. She whispered to him and handed him a new piece of paper. He stared at it in astonishment as the woman walked away. "Wow! Ladies and gentlemen, we have a last-minute surprise entry!"

The crowd gasped as Cass raised an eyebrow. "Please welcome the Fearsome Follicle, the Heir with the Hair, the Maid with the Braid, Raaaaaaapunzel!"

Rapunzel dashed into the arena, shocking all her friends. Varian even spat out his drink in disbelief. "Yay, Rapunzel!" cheered a little girl.

"Oh, boy," Varian muttered, dreading how this would unfold.

She waved cheerfully to the crowd before running over to hug Cass. "Cassandra! This is gonna be so much fun!"

"Oh, Blondie, what have you done?" Eugene slowly shook his head as Pascal slumped onto his shoulder.

"Did I not bring enough of the popcorn?" a Viking with long blond hair, sitting next to the former thief, asked.

"The King's gonna go on another rampage!" Varian said, holding his head in panic.

"Good news, Cassandra! We can compete together! Isn't that great?!" Rapunzel squealed happily.

"That is so great…" Cassandra smiled widely, obviously fake to anyone but her best friend.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for the first event: The Gauntlet!" The announcer gestured to a large contraption with six massive hammers swinging across a narrow walkway. Skull Kicker was the first contestant. He took a leap and was sent flying by the first hammer, his boots flying off as he screamed. The two women watched him soar over the arena, cringing as he crashed out of sight.

Cass placed her hands anxiously on Rapunzel's shoulders. "You sure you wanna do this?"

"Sure do!" Rapunzel replied excitedly.

"Next up for the Gauntlet, Cassandra!" the announcer shouted as Eugene hurried down the stands.

"'Scuse me, coming through, emergency! Naive princess making horrible life decision. Pardon me."

Cassandra walked toward the gauntlet to take her turn when Wreck stepped in front of her. He bent a pipe he was holding until it became all misshapen.

"What's that supposed to be?" she asked.

"It's a knot, as in you're 'knot' going to win." He laughed at his taunt. Unimpressed, she walked past him. "It's a thinker."

Cass climbed up the stairs, standing before the first hammer. "Whoo! Go Cass!" Rapunzel cheered, making her friend glance at her before looking ahead. Cass then ran, rolled, ducked, and jumped around the hammers, landing safely on the other side.

"Way to go, Cassandra!" Cass opened one eye to see the little girl cheering with excitement. "Woo-hoo!"

"Next up, Princess Rapunzel!" the announcer called as Rapunzel approached the hammers and waved to the crowd.

At that moment, Eugene stopped near Varian. He covered his face and pleaded, "Please don't get smashed with a hammer, please don't get smashed with a hammer, please don't get smashed with a hammer!" Pascal opened his mouth anxiously as Varian gripped his seat in anticipation.

Rapunzel closed her eyes, listening to the hammers as a melody formed in her mind from the sound. Finding the rhythm, she danced along the walkway, effortlessly dodging the hammers and reaching the other side unscathed.

"Eugene, look!" Varian tugged his arm as the crowd began cheering, causing the older man to glance up.

"Ohh, yeah! That's my girlfriend right there!" Eugene shouted, boasting to a spectator next to them. He then noticed the smug expressions on Varian and the two animals. "What? I wasn't worried. She's got this. Whoo!"

"Sure you weren't," Varian smirked at him knowingly.

"Yay, Rapunzel! Whoo!" The little girl cheered for the princess.

Even the competitors joined in the cheers, making Cass frown as she walked away. Skull Kicker, now recovered, drew Rapunzel's name on his arm, smiling.

"Cassandra, did you see that?!" Rapunzel bounced down the stairs excitedly, causing the warrior handmaiden to stop in annoyance. "I told you I could handle myself!"

She scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Nice dance, Rapunzel."

"Uh, thanks?" The princess felt puzzled by the sudden change in tone.

"Not sure that routine will do much good against Wreck in the Dead Man's Circle." Cass continued as Wreck casually walked through the obstacle, hammers shattering as they struck him. "But, hey, maybe you'll get lucky again." She then walked past the hammers, leaving Rapunzel even more confused.

"That wasn't luck…"

Rapunzel positioned herself between Cass and Razorblade. "Challengers! Prepare for the next event!" the announcer called as the friends stood with determination.

A man adjusted the names on a scoreboard, placing Cassandra in second place after Wreck. Rapunzel was further down in sixth place. The next task was archery, featuring bullseyes mounted on a spinning device that moved them around. Cass fired four arrows and hit all four bullseyes in succession, pumping her fist. "Yes!"

Meanwhile, Rapunzel struggled with her bow, having never tried archery before. Deciding to improvise, she tossed the bow aside and grabbed her guitar. Using it similarly, she fired and hit a bullseye like her friend. Seconds later, however, the top of the contraption was destroyed by a giant arrow. The girls stared in shock before turning to Wreck, who had made the shot. Eugene looked around for his horn, realizing he didn't have it.

"Ugh, where'd it go…?" He didn't notice Varian hiding it behind his back before turning to the kid beside him, offering the horn and some cotton candy.

"Get rid of the horn, and the cotton candy's yours." Having experienced the noise, the kid agreed and took both items before running off. A couple of the other spectators gave Varian a thumbs-up, appreciating his actions.

The next challenge involved a high pole jump without using a pole vault. Skull Kicker, Cass, and Rapunzel managed it effortlessly, with the princess soaring like a ballerina. Hook Foot, however, got his hook stuck on the pole. Wreck Marauder made the final jump, crashing to the ground upon landing and freeing Hook Foot.

The scores were adjusted again as Rapunzel moved up to fourth place. Cass noticed the change and then turned to the princess with a slight glare while the other girl waved to the crowd. Eugene and Pascal had wooden fingers like Wreck's, painted gold, with Raps in purple. The chameleon was about to blow his own horn when Ruddiger stopped him, shaking his head. Eugene and Varian glared at the lizard, who just looked back sheepishly.

After that, the challenge was to lift heavy bags of rocks. Wreck easily lifted a bag with one hand while the competitors next to him struggled. Cassandra managed to lift a bag over her head, although hers was smaller. She was startled into dropping her bag when Rapunzel lifted the larger one next to her using a system of pulleys she had fashioned with her hair. This shifted the positions again, placing Rapunzel in third place below Cassandra. The crowd began to do a wave, which Eugene joined in.

Ruddiger waved a small Rapunzel flag in his paw while Varian cheered for his two friends.

Then came a log-running challenge: the competitors balanced on top of a log floating in the water. Cassandra held on, accompanied by a shorter opponent in armor, Skull Kicker and Rapunzel. The two men slipped off, leaving just the two friends. Cass gritted her teeth, sweating in concentration until she finally fell, conceding victory to Rapunzel. The princess cheered before cannonballing into the water, splashing Cassandra as their rankings shifted on the scoreboard. She laughed while engaging in a water fight with Skull Kicker as Cass growled and sank into the water.

"Do you even know the rules?! Aren't shoes required for the log roll?!" Cass exclaimed in frustration at the announcer, snatching his scroll. "Ugh, somebody check the Rulebook of the Brave!"

The announcer grabbed his scroll back and walked away before she turned to the others. "Guys, am I the only one who has a problem with this?! The Princess is making a mockery of the competition!" She gestured to the girl behind her, who was stretching.

"Hey, it's okay, kid," Hook Foot said as he touched her shoulder. "When you're mad, do a dance! Give that smile a se–"

"Oh, go eat a turkey leg, Hook!" she snarled, and he left silently.

"I think things are starting to get ugly," Varian commented, having read their lips from a distance.

"What do you mean?" Eugene asked, sensing trouble was brewing.

"Well…"

The teen pointed at Cass as she stormed toward her friend. "Okay, listen, Rapunzel. This has gone far enough. Let's call it a day."

She chuckled, placing her hands on her hips. "I will call it a day… the day I won the championship. Boom! Trash talk~" she said triumphantly, crossing her arms over her chest.

The lady-in-waiting fumed, arms crossed as she glared at her. "Let's see where you land after the Dead Man's Circle."

"Yeah, okay, yeah, we'll totally see where we land after the Dead Man's Circle." She glared back, trying to appear aggressive before pausing. "And what is the Dead Man's Circle?"

"It's the final event. And believe me, your little dances won't save you this time."

The two glared at each other fiercely before storming off in opposite directions. "This is awkward..." Hook Foot looked away slightly.

Having seen everything despite not actively hearing it, the boys exchanged worried glances. Without needing to say anything, they split up to talk to the girls. Cassandra had reached the competitor's area when Eugene caught up to her.

"Cass, hold up! Everything okay?"

"What do you think, Eugene?" she huffed.

"Look, Cass, I can't hear what's being said, but I think one or both of you are letting this get out of hand. From what I could see, it looked like you're deliberately trying to upset her."

"Maybe I'm trying to get her to take this seriously like I am!" Cass spun around to face him. "Maybe I'm trying to get her to drop out before she gets hurt because, believe me, these guys wouldn't hesitate, princess or not!"

"Cass, come on. You know Rapunzel can handle herself," Eugene said sternly. "Plus, it sounds like you're taking this too personally. Isn't Rapunzel your friend?"

Cassandra frowned. "Yeah, isn't Rapunzel my friend? Then why did she join the challenge, knowing how much it meant to me?"

She stormed away from him, leaving Eugene worried about the girls' friendship when this was over. Regardless of how this ends, they will lose something if they don't resolve this.

At the same time, Varian found Rapunzel sitting alone, her expression disheartened. "You okay?" he asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.

She sighed. "I don't know. I thought this would be fun, but... Cassandra is just... so mad. And I don't understand why."

"Well, for one thing, she's probably worried about you getting hurt," Varian suggested. "Like I said earlier, many of these guys probably have criminal records. Wreck, in particular, isn't going to care that you're a princess. He will hurt you if he gets the chance. However, the biggest issue is probably that this isn't a team challenge. There can only be one winner, and Cass wants it to be her. Rapunzel, I found Cass training at night. She was sacrificing sleep to win this. This isn't a game to her."

"The other fighters were having fun with me."

"That's because they don't have anything to prove."

"What do you mean?" Rapunzel asked, her confusion evident.

"Everyone already knows these guys are tough or at least people you don't wanna mess with. Cass doesn't have that kind of reputation. Some of these guys were actually making fun of her earlier, saying she was just here because she's your lady-in-waiting."

"What?" She gasped. "Why didn't she say anything?"

"Because she knew you would try to defend her like you did earlier, and they would still laugh at her. It would've made her look weak to them."

Rapunzel looked down in shame, realizing she had embarrassed her best friend all day. No wonder Cass was mad at her. "What do I do now?"

"Well, if you drop out of the competition, that will only make things worse. She'll either think you're pitying her or feel guilty because she'll think she bullied you out of the Challenge. I think your best option now is to give the final event your best shot," Varian suggested, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You guys will work things out somehow. After all, you're friends."

She smiled at him. "Thanks, Varian. How do you always know exactly what to say?"

"I'm a thinker and planner," he shrugged. "I prefer to watch and observe before deciding what to do or say. It's the scientist in me."

Rapunzel chuckled before glancing at Cassandra and sighing. "Any ideas on how to talk to her? I mean, she's so angry with me right now…"

"Right now, I'd recommend waiting until the competition's over and giving her some space to cool off. You'll work it out after that." He patted her shoulder before returning to the stands, giving her space to rest and warm up.

"Time for the final event!" the announcer called. "The Dead Man's Circle!"

Cass tested her sword a few times to ensure it was ready before placing it in the cart of weapons a man pushed by. "Each warrior will battle to the finish using the weapon of their choice!" Razorblade and another competitor tossed their weapons in as the man listed them on an item sheet.

Rapunzel scanned the different weapons when she noticed a frying pan on someone's horse. Making her choice, she grabbed it and set the pan in the cart, Cass looking at her as she did.

"Hey, Blondie."

Rapunzel turned to see Eugene had come over to see her. "Eugene!"

"Just making sure you're alright." He hugged her and kissed her softly before gently cupping her cheek. "You are okay, right?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," she assured him. "We're about to fight, though, so I'll see you later, okay?"

"Alright," he said with a smile. "Good luck. Varian and I are rooting for you." He squeezed her hand lightly before walking away. Rapunzel smiled, grateful she still had her boyfriend and friend right now.

Cassandra sat on one of the benches, trying to get her head focused on the competition. The man pushing the weapons cart walked past her, hitting a rock that caused Rapunzel's frying pan to fall by Cassandra's feet.

"Hey, you dropped the–" she started but abruptly halted. Gazing at the frying pan, she contemplated how much she wanted to win and Rapunzel's lack of seriousness regarding the competition.

Having made her choice, Cass slid the pan under the bench with her foot. She then made her way to the arena, glancing back at the pan with a trace of guilt before departing.

All that mattered now was her goal… even if it meant sacrificing her friendship with Rapunzel.

(After the break)

It was time for the final challenge. All the fighters gathered around the edge of a large circle, their weapons positioned in the center.

Eugene took a bite of popcorn before glancing at Varian. "Who do you think will win?"

"Hard to say," he rubbed his chin. "At this point, Wreck, Cass, and Rapunzel are the top contenders. Wreck is the largest and strongest competitor, but he doesn't really fight. He just intimidates his opponents into submission. Cass, however, isn't intimidated by him at all. She's also smarter and faster; from what I hear, she's been training with the Royal Guard since she was a kid."

"What about Blondie?"

"While Rapunzel may not be a trained warrior, she is adaptable. She knows how to leverage her surroundings during a fight, as demonstrated in the coronation fight. She's just as smart and strategically minded as Cass and also unaffected by Wreck's intimidation tactics."

"On that topic, what's this I heard about you stepping in between him and Cass earlier?" Eugene asked, concern evident in his voice.

"Eugene," Varian sighed, lowering his voice. "After living the double life I have for two years, nothing scares you anymore. Besides, I can handle him."

"Correction, the Moonlight Phantom could take Wreck," Eugene whispered. "Varian, if he wants to keep his identity secret, will stick to sniveling and running away."

"You're not exactly helping my self-esteem here," Varian shot him a glare.

"I'm just calling it like I see it," the older man shrugged. The competitors waited for the start below. Cass glanced at Rapunzel before looking back toward the circle. Rapunzel looked at her and sagged her shoulders sadly. She knew what Varian had told her, but she felt compelled to say something now…

She walked toward Cassandra, Hook Foot switching places with her so she could speak to her lady-in-waiting. "Hey, uh…" She took a deep breath. "I know today's been… weird. I just–I wanted to… you know, I guess I just wanted to say… good luck." The princess gave her a genuine smile.

Cass glanced back at her before focusing on the ring. She recoiled when Rapunzel attempted to hug her again, only to notice the look on the woman's face and step back.

"Right, right, sorry! Sorry, sorry, no hugging… gotta remember that." She looked away with a glum smile.

Cassandra looked away, feeling guilty as she recalled what she had said and done to her friend. "Raps, I just wan–"

"It's now time for the no-holds-barred elimination round!" the announcer shouted as everyone cheered. "Remember, folks, once someone steps outside the ring, they are out! The last one standing is our champion!"

"I just wanna say–" Cassandra began, but Wreck Marauder interrupted again as he moved between them.

"Are you ready for this?" he taunted. "'Cause it's gonna get ugly in here."

Cassandra glared up at him, fists clenched.

"Ready… set… battle!" the announcer called.

Everyone rushed toward their weapons. Wreck picked up a club and swiftly knocked someone out of the ring. Cass grabbed a bow and clashed with Skull Kicker and his bo staff. Meanwhile, Rapunzel searched for her frying pan but couldn't find it among the various weapons.

"Oh! W-Wait, wait, wait! Has anyone seen a frying pan?" she called out, glancing around anxiously and catching the boys' attention.

"What's wrong? What's going on?" Eugene asked as he turned to the alchemist.

"Rapunzel can't find her frying pan…" Varian murmured, his gaze shifting to Cass. As much as he didn't want to believe it, his instincts suggested that Cass had something to do with it.

Wreck leaped toward Rapunzel, causing the boys to gasp. "Whoa!" the princess cried, ducking out of the way just in time.

Behind her, Cass and Skull Kicker were locked in combat until Cass was knocked down to the sand. She wasn't out of the ring but had lost her weapon. "Ha ha ha ha!" Skull Kicker taunted as she glared at him. "Looks like I got the drop on you."

His gloating was interrupted when Wreck suddenly charged into him, sending him crashing into the wall and declaring him out of the competition. The large man turned his attention back to Rapunzel, who gripped her hair and ran forward.

Cass dueled a familiar man wearing a skull mask, disarming him. "Hyah!" she grunted while throwing him out of the ring.

Three competitors, including Hook Foot and Razorblade, jumped on Wreck together. "Is that all you got?!" he taunted before throwing all three off and out of the ring. "You fools take on Wreck–!"

"Ahem!" Cass cleared her throat, prompting him to turn toward her. Growling, he gripped his club as they circled each other. The competitors glared at one another, poised to end this. The crowd gasped in anticipation as they prepared to strike each other…

Before they noticed, Rapunzel twirled around. She dodged an attacker, causing him to fall out of the ring. After that, she dropped into a split, making two competitors bump into each other and knock themselves out of the boundaries.

"Wow! What a poetic move by Rapunzel!" the announcer declared as she stood up, and the crowd cheered for her.

"Yeah! That's my girlfriend!" Eugene pumped his fist, with Varian clapping nearby. Rapunzel waved to the crowd as they began to chant her name.

"Rapunzel! Rapunzel!" Cass looked up slowly, hearing the name repeated, especially from the young girl, before gritting her teeth in jealousy.

"That chirpy little hairball is mine!" Wreck growled, clenching his fists.

"Not if I get to her first!" Cass quickly loaded her bow with three arrows and shot at Wreck, pinning him to the pole by his shirt. "Hey, Wreck, stick around." She smirked at him before heading over to Rapunzel.

As Rapunzel turned back to the fight, she halted when an arrow struck the ground in front of her. She looked up in confusion to see Cass aiming her bow at her. "Uh, that was close."

Cass said nothing as she lowered her bow and picked up a staff. "Well, looks like it's just you and me." She charged toward the princess and leaped into the air with a battle cry. Rapunzel dodged just in time as Cass slammed her staff into the ground.

"That all you got?" Rapunzel smirked as she spun around, grabbing her own bo staff. She swung at Cass, who blocked the strike with her own staff. Cass then countered with an attack, but Rapunzel backflipped out of the way and landed safely. The handmaiden lunged in again, and Rapunzel gritted her teeth as she blocked the blow. She spun her staff and tried to knock Cass off her feet, but Cass blocked it and counterattacked vigorously. "Cass, what's gotten into you?"

While they fought, neither woman noticed Wreck break free from the arrows.

"Oh no," Varian murmured when the boys noticed it.

"Girls, watch out!" Eugene shouted, but Cass was too focused on trying to defeat Rapunzel.

The lady-in-waiting kept up her offensive, using her staff and feet to outmaneuver the princess. "Hey!" Rapunzel called as her friend swung at her head, ducking just in time. She managed to block Cassandra's kick with her staff, but the impact was so strong that she nearly slid out of the ring. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Wait, stop! We're supposed to be friends!"

"A friend wouldn't be so oblivious, Rapunzel," Cass said firmly as she walked towards her. "You have no idea what this contest means to me! I mean, you're a princess; you have nothing to prove! To you, this was just some fun way to blow off a Saturday, but to me… it was a chance to show everyone that I am more than just your lady-in-waiting!"

Neither of them knew Wreck was hiding behind the pole, grinning with his club in hand.

"And just when I thought I might get even the slightest bit of respect…" Cassandra sighed and shut her eyes. "Never mind."

"Respect?" Rapunzel echoed, recalling what Varian had mentioned earlier. "Cassandra, I respect you more than you could possibly imagine. I mean, I-I look up to you."

Cass opened her mouth in astonishment, taken aback by the princess's words. "Why do you think I wanted to enter this thing in the first place? You are my friend, and… as your friend," she said, looking at the pole in her hands. "I should've realized how important this was to you…" She gripped the pole and lowered her arms. "I'm so…so sorry…" Rapunzel dropped the pole to her side.

Cassandra was silent for a moment, unsure of what to say or do. However, the decision was taken out of her hands when, suddenly, a growl echoed. She turned to see Wreck charging toward them. He was heading straight for Rapunzel, raising his club to strike her.

"Look out!" Cass shouted as she pushed her out of the way just before the club hit the ground. The man turned to her with a snarl as she slid beneath him. Using the center pole for leverage, Cass leaped into the air and kicked him squarely in the face, leaving a boot imprint on his nose. When she landed, she swept her leg out and knocked him over. Planting her pole into the ground, she used it to kick and throw the larger man over her. The man let out a feral yell as he was hurled into the air, landing twice before skidding out of the ring and into the bleachers.

The crowd gasped in shock as the now-former champion managed to sit up. A small butterfly landed on his head before he toppled over, the bell signaling that he was out. "Hey, Wreck! Looks like I'm not 'knot' going to win," Cass chuckled slightly at the pun. "It's a thinker."

The crowd cheered as Cass turned to her friend with a smile as another bell rang. Rapunzel's eyes widened as she glanced at her left foot, which Cass noticed had stepped outside the ring. Everyone gasped, and she frowned, lowering her head as she walked toward her friend. Cass stared intently at the princess before grabbing her arm and lifting it into the air, flashing a small smile. Rapunzel smiled back as the crowd applauded her.

"Congratulations."

"I didn't mean for this to happen, Cass," Rapunzel said, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly. "I just thought it would be fun to compete…"

Cass sighed lightly. "Doesn't matter."

"I should've realized how important this all was to you…" The announcer walked over with the trophy and handed it to Rapunzel. "I don't think I'm the one who deserves this," she said, passing the trophy to Cass. The crowd erupted in cheers as her friend noticed the other competitors grinning at her in her reflection. Skull Kicker wrote Cassandra's name on his left arm, flexing his muscles to showcase both names.

"Yay, Cassandra! Woo hoo!" the little girl cheered. Hook Foot suddenly lifted Cass onto his shoulders and walked away with the other competitors while the shortest one held her trophy. Looking back at her friend, she jumped off the pub thug and returned to her, stretching out her arms to Rapunzel.

"What, no hug?"

Rapunzel happily gave her one, and the two walked away together as the boys watched from the stands.

"Glad to see they've made up," Eugene smiled at them.

"I hope they don't fight like that again. They're miserable when they do," Varian said as he stood up. "Well, it's getting late, and my dad's probably looking for me right now. I should head home. Come by and visit me sometime, okay?"

"You got it, kid," Eugene promised. "I'll tell the girls you said 'bye' and 'congrats,' okay? Have a safe trip back."

The alchemist nodded. "See you around." He walked away, Ruddiger hopping onto his shoulder as they blended into the crowd of departing spectators.

After Varian left, Eugene exited the stadium and joined the girls outside the arena. "Congratulations, ladies."

"Thanks, Eugene," Rapunzel smiled at him. "Where's Varian?"

"He had to head home," Eugene explained, a slight knowing smile on his face. "Something tells me he didn't tell his dad he was here, and now he has to dodge the authority."

The girls laughed good-naturedly. "I'm sure he'll be fine," Rapunzel reassured them.

"We'll know for sure if we don't see him for three weeks," Cass added.

(Near Old Corona)

After finding a private spot, Varian warped back to the woods near his home, knowing everyone was returning home by now. He walked through the trees, reflecting on the day. Varian was pleased that Rapunzel and Cassandra's friendship managed to weather the storm and hoped they wouldn't fight like that again.

"Now, we have to get home and hope Dad thinks I've been in the lab or the woods all day," he said to Ruddiger, cringing slightly. He knew his father wouldn't have allowed him to attend the Challenge of the Brave, so he snuck off. (Which is easy now, given his abilities)

As he made his way to the village, something caught Ruddiger's attention, and he hopped off Varian's shoulder. "Ruddiger?" The alchemist followed the raccoon until they reached where he had seen the new black rocks during the Goodwill Festival. Today, however, he discovered that the rocks had increased in number.

"It's getting worse…" Varian frowned, looking at his reflection in the rocks.

"Varian!" his father called in the distance, searching for him. Varian glanced back at the rocks before heading to meet his dad. He would leave it alone… for now.

(That night)

After dinner, Varian pretended to go to bed as if he were taking his dad's advice about getting more sleep. Once he was sure Quirin was asleep, Varian changed into his phantom costume and snuck out beyond the wall. He planned to deal with the rocks, but he didn't want to risk being seen, so he decided to head to the Sundrop Monument, which seemed to be the center of everything.

Using his powers, Varian summoned moonlight platforms to reach the monument safely. His hair would glow as he passed by the black rocks scattered throughout the landscape. When he reached the spot, he walked up to the damaged stone. He placed a hand on the monument, barely glancing at the rocks as they lit up.

"Here we go…" He gripped one of the rocks around him with his left hand before reaching for a rock on the other side. The air seemed to respond as his cape billowed around him. His hood slipped back slightly, revealing his hair, which turned blue with a white stripe running through it. Varian closed his eyes, tightening his grip on the rocks as he tried to focus.

"Come on…" Varian gritted his teeth. "Go back…" He channeled his power into the rocks, trying to force them back into the ground, but it felt like pushing against a brick wall.

Soon, visions began again. They included the previous ones but also new images. He saw a group of warriors standing inside the castle before a king clad in dark armor. Then came an explosion from the castle, obliterating nearly everything around it. The next image resembled two drops of light falling from the sky, forming a stone and a familiar flower.

The Sundrop?

Varian wanted to hold on and learn more, but he could feel his strength slipping away. As he loosened his grip, the glow from his hair and the rocks gradually dimmed. Once he stopped using his magic, he dropped to his knees, feeling dizzy. He panted heavily, and his reflection revealed that he seemed paler than usual. "Maybe I'm just not strong enough yet…" he murmured, leaning back until he sat fully on the ground. "Still, I think I got results I wasn't expecting…"

If that last image showed the creation of the Sundrop, it wasn't alone when it fell from the sky. Perhaps the stone is the source of these rocks… along with his powers. Given his expertise in legends, he should consult Xavier about it. "For now, though… I need to get home." Varian rubbed his tired eyes. "I don't think I'll make the walk… Hopefully, I have enough energy to reach the Wall."

Pulling himself together, Varian focused his remaining energy before sinking into the ground. However, what he didn't see reflected in the rocks as he descended was a tall figure with a sword on their back, watching from the ledge above. Once he was gone, the figure retreated back into the woods.

With that, we can move on to the next episode. I'll be back soon while working on The Owl Family and Outcasts of Corona.