A week before:

Cass and Eugene are sword fighting.

You and Varian decide to go watch them

"Woah! You two are so amazing!" Varian watches in amazement.

"Can I try?" You ask.

"Uh, are you sure you can do it (__)?" Varian asks.

"What do you mean by that, Varian?" You're slightly annoyed by what he just said.

"It's just they're a lot stronger than you-"

You interrupt him, "I can handle myself, you know! Like with the Stabbington brothers, I handled them pretty well."

"Didn't one of them throw you to the ground and hurt you?"

"Okay, what about Lady Caine!?"

"Didn't she throw you as well?"

"S-so? What does any of this prove?" You cross your arms and huff.

"(__), just admit they're stronger than you."

"There's nothing to admit! I'm just as strong as them." You pout.

"Yeah, yeah (__) you know your stubbornness gets the better of you sometimes..."

"Ugh, I'm going to Monty's sweet shop I'll get you guys something..." you walk off annoyed with Leo perched on your shoulder.

"(__)! Wait, come back!" Varian shouts but you ignore him.

"It's not fair Leo, I try to prove I'm just as strong and I'm left waiting in the wings!" You complain.

"Challenge of the Brave? Looks like some kind of tournament." You overhear a woman say.

"Not just any tournament. I hear the fiercest fighters from all over are coming to compete!" A man says which gets your attention.

"Whoa! Let me tell you, whoever walks away champ will have earned the respect of every warrior in the seven kingdoms."

You run over to the poster, "What ya say, Leo? Then I can prove to Varian that I'm better than Cass and Eugene!" You smile.

Leo tweets shaking his head, "C'mon Leo it might be dangerous but I've been in worse situations! ...I'm doing it."

Present-day

Tents are littered around the fighting arena this was it now, no backing down. Some people were already knocked out since fights are already happening before the challenges begin.

"(__)." You turn around to see Queen Ariana behind you.

"Oh, hello Ariana. What are you doing here? " You smile.

"Can I borrow you for a few minutes?" She takes you to an unoccupied tent.

She sits down on a chair, "Some of your Ruffian friends have informed me you're competing."

"Already? I told them yesterday afternoon! They're worse than the girls in the castle..." you mumble.

"(__), are you trying to prove yourself to someone?" Queen Ariana asks.

"N-no! Okay yes, I'm trying to prove to Varian I'm stronger than Eugene and Cass..." you cross your arms and turn away from her.

"Sweetie you don't have to prove anything to anyone, you've proved yourself more than everyone I know." She puts her hand on your shoulder.

You turn around, "really?"

Ariana nods, "Of course, you remind me of My sister and I when we went out there and competed. Unfortunately, I lost when I protected my sister from getting crushed."

You glance down, "Ariana, thanks for the pep talk but I'm still doing this..."

Queen Ariana frowns and holds your hands, "I know I can't stop you from doing this but please keep being you out there."

"Just remember this, we're not defined by the things we do, but rather by the people we are and by those we love." She chuckles softly, "Show them what it means to be a true warrior."

You watch her walk out in deep thought, that's until you hear Rapunzel's voice from outside the tent.

"Hi! Hello! Good morning! How are you? "

She walks over the Razor blade Mcdoom, "Ooh! Wow! Your teeth are so sharp!"

She runs over to Hook Foot, "Hook Foot! Why so mad? Just do a dance and give that smile a second chance."
She hugs him.

You see the popcorn stand, "Hey one popcorn please!"

You get popcorn and go over to them.

"(__)! Hi! Where have you been?" She asks.

Cass stares at you, "Why are you two here anyway this is the competitor's area."

"Oh, then I'm right where I'm meant to be." You smirk while eating popcorn.

"You got invited too? That's so awesome!" She looks thrilled.

"I want to say good luck to both!"

"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."

You scoff, "Like that's going to help you."

"Huh, what's up with you today?" Cass stare narrows in suspicion.

"Well, I'm 'Getting into the competition head"

That's when she realises, "What? No! This isn't a place for a kid!"

"Maybe this isn't a place for a LADY-in waiting! But look you're here!" You smirk.

Cass gets into your face, "Wanna say that again."

"Oh, I would, but I don't want to waste my breath on you." You flip your hair in her face and are about to walk away.

She picks you up by your shirt, "Don't test me, kid."

You scoff, "Test what? Your handmaiden skills? If it wasn't for the Captain, you wouldn't be here! LADY - IN WAITING!"

"And If it wasn't for the King and Queen, you would be in an orphanage!" She shouts.

You're getting angry at her, "Go back to the castle where LADIES BELONG!"

"YOU KNOW ALL YOUR GOOD AT IS DISAPPOINTING PEOPLE! GO BACK TO A DUNGEON WHERE YOU BELONG!" She screams.

That hits something different in you and you punch her square in the face, causing her to fall to the floor.

"Woah, (__)! Calm down! Guys, what has gotten into you?" Rapunzel holds you back from Cass.

"Lady in waiting got punched by a kid!" Some Ruffian shouts.

They all laugh.

Hook foot takes over for Rapunzel and pulls you away while Rapunzel keeps Cass away from you.

You over to see a cotton candy stand, you quickly grab some, take it off the stick and throw it at Cass.

The stick hits her on the forehead, "Hey! Let me at her!" Cass tries, but Rapunzel keeps her back. "She threw a cotton candy stick at me! Not even cotton candy!"

" What!? I wasn't going to waste perfect cotton candy on you, Cassandra!" You eat the Candy while Hook foot takes you farther away from her and any food stands.

"Hey, it's okay, kid. When you're mad, do a dance! Give that smile a second chance!" He smiles at you.

"Thanks hook foot..." you smile back but keep looking over at Rapunzel and Cass.
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The challenge is about to begin. You look out at the crowd, "I'm doing this to prove my point..." you whisper.

You pull your hair, "Why the heck am I doing this?!"

People are taking their seats, You see Eugene with Pascal and some-one else, Queen Ariana in a disguise but you didn't know.

Some person in a black cloak with a hood up walks over to Ariana, "Thanks for inviting me... though my dad will kill me if he sees I'm here."

"Don't worry, there's something you need to see here."

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"Ladies and gentlemen, take your seats! It's time to meet today's contestants! Give it up for Razorblade McDoom!"

You look out to the crowd, slightly nervous.

"Aw, what's the matter kid getting scared of the big crowds." Cass mocks.

"You should be the scared one, Cassandra! Let me guess doing this to prove how much if a big warrior you are?" You pet her head, "It's okay Cass, once I beat you can go back to being a handmaiden!"

Cass turns away from you, clenching her fists.

"Next up, the unstoppable Wreck Marauder!" wreck roars.

"Can an ex-thief use her skills to crush the challenge? Next up Starlight striker!"

"Seriously, you used your theif name?" Cass crosses her arms.

"What? At least I'm more original, Cassandra!"

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"What the alchemy is (__) doing!? She's going to get herself killed!" The person in the black cloak stands up.

Queen Ariana gets the cloaked person to sit down, "Just watch, I'll think she'll surprise you." She smiles.

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"And finally, the Iron Handmaiden, Caaasan..." the announcer stops talking when a woman walks up to him and talks.

"Wow. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a last-minute surprise entry! Please welcome the Fearsome Follicle, the Heir with the Hair, the Maid with the Braid, Rapunzel!"

"Hey, guys! This is gonna be so much fun!"

"Great more competition! I'm sure that Cassandra will love that!" You smirk.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for the first event! The Gauntlet!"

The announcer presents some giant hammers swinging across a platform.

This is it, no turning back now... Time to prove you're strong, but not to everyone just one person... Varian.