Looking down as the ground getting closer, Mandy could already imagine what was going to happen to her. It might not kill her but, she knew that she will have a huge injury from it. How could she carelessly fall from that height of all place she could be.
"Mandy!" her friends shouted, even if they shout she could not hear it. Fear already succomb to her eversince she survived and came out from the infirmary yesterday's incident. Her ability to fly, to harden herself and to breath underwater were all gone. She just discovered it eversince she practiced earlier, thats the news she haven't told to them. Accepting her fate, she close her eyes waiting for the impact thats what she thought.
She was lying to herself, when infact she was thinking that at the last moment she hope someone would help her. When all of a sudden, she stopped from falling when a pair of strong hands hold her. It guide her to hold onto the hard surface of the mountain side.
"That was very close, you are lucky I am near where you are falling." said by the creature who saved her.
"Thank you, I was very indebted to you." She breath heavely while saying her thanks to the creature. Her attention was also caught by the creature who looks at like a gorilla and much bigger than her. If she hadn't heard its voice she would expect her to be a guy.
"Its no problem, anyway I'm Penelope. Penelope Prime. You can call me PP." she offered her big hands.
"Oh, thank you PP. Mandy, Mandy Frost." she accepted the hand of Penelope.
"We should be going if we don't want to be left behind." she said before continuing to climb. Mandy just nod and followed her. Throughout the course of Mandy, Penelope help her. Until they reach the top of the mountain, they side by side get down to the foot of the mountain again. Her friends approached her as soon as they step foot the ground.
"We are so glad you're fine Mandy." her friends embraced her.
"Guys we should take that moment aside later, there still a race we have to finish." Chris interjected them. The group nodded towards Grace, who is the next member to race. She was about to complain but she thought it would be unfair if she would not continue to race.
Showing her determination to continue the race, she just nod and look at Mandy. Grace immediately take the ribbon from Mandy to continue the race.
"You can count on me guys, I will do my best" Leaving Mandy and the others behind, while Chris went to the final stage of the race.
"Jul and Heart, this is Penelope. Penelope, meet my friends Heart and Julie. And the who just left are Grace and Chris." Mandy started to introduce the life saviour who saved her to her friends.
"Oh, very nice to meet you girls." she just waved at them and gave them a huge smile.
"Oh, we are very thankful to you Penelope. Although we are racing you showed us how sportmanship you are." Julie can't stop herself and hold the hand of Penelope.
"Yeah, we are very glad someone like you were there." Heart added showing a grateful smile towards Penelope.
"No worry, Anyone would be doing that if they were in my place." she scratched the back of her head, feeling a little awkward in their praise.
'I have no idea how I did that earlier' Penelope thought to herself. But, at the moment she knew how Mandy was a kind hearted creature which contradicts the rumors about her, so she just help her for the rest of the race.
The race continued, they cheered and watched until the end. After the race they were instructed to gather for the awarding ceremony.
"Thank you for all who participate in the race. Now, for this moment we have our victor of the race. Five group will be given a consolation prize from the race aside from grand price for the victor group." the crowd of creatures shouted.
"Ahh! We are so close earlier to win." Grace can't help herself to feel disappointed for not winning the race.
"It's part of the race Ace, we can't always be the winner." Chris pointed out.
"Sorry guys I hold you back there, we should have a great chance of winning if I hadn't-" Mandy was cut off by Grace, when she held up her hand.
"Its not that Mandy, we are more grateful that nothing bad happened to you earlier. Don't blame yourself, I should be the one to apologise for pushing you to participate in the race." Mandy thought about how she end up to that situation, indeed it was Grace who listed them all. But the incident made her know that there are other creature who are kind, so she was still grateful she attend.
"No, I'm very glad you invited us to this event Ace. I still have a great time with you guys and we actually made a new friend." Mandy tried to lighten up the mood.
"Speaking of that friend, I've heard she's one of the group victor." Chris said to them.
"Really? That's so awesome." Grace was very enthusiastic to hear it.
"Well, they really deserved it. I saw them very competitive and very eager to win." Julie stated
Mandy felt glad too that they won the race. Even though she hold back Penelope for always helping her through out their course of the race, they still made it to win.
"Each group should have representative to accept the reward in the front stage, which will be given by yours truly. And the grand prize for the victor will be given personally by the yours truly Rulers..." One by one, the group who made in the top 5 was called. The group rejoiced as they received their each prizes. Even though its just a consolation prize, it was still extravagant to them. A gift check for each of the member of the group was given to them and an invitation to attend in the festival's grandball held by the main place of the Rulers. No student from MA has ever entered their lair, except being invited. In every festival a party has been take place their, inviting some of important guest.
"...the fifth of them is the group of construction comittee." Grace jump up as she heard their group was called. She was already expecting it since the host said there are five consolation prizes. She run to the stage and received the gift check as well as the one invitation.
"Uhm, can I ask a question Mr. Host?" Grace whisppered to him as she received the invitation. The host nodded to sign she could continue to ask.
"Why is it only one invitation?" she got curious since one invitation means one person only could go from the group.
"Oh that, I have not mention earlier that only one fr8m your group could go the the main place of the Rulers. It was to not make a disturbance for the invited guest, specially there were few known personalities would be there." he explained. Grace could only nod, while they were gathered to have pictures.
Mandy on the other hand could only careless on what decision they will make on who would go. The last thing she wants was to be away from that five Rulers.
Walking towards their dorm, her friends never stopped talking who would get the invitation. They were also intrigue on what it looks like where the place held for only the Rulers, so they tried to make a childish game to determine who should go. Even Chris gave up from their childish antics, he leave them still on that little game.
"I'll be ahead of you guys, I'm already tired so I want to rest already. Hope you guys already decided by tomorrow. Bye." she waved at them, but no one take notice she leave.