We left to the stage into our groups.
The cafeteria was huge enough to hold the event.
"Tigers and Lions, let us announce the first competition of the Solstice Festival!" said Principal Serena.
The tigers are Serena Academy's mascot and the lions are Aurora Academy's mascot.
"Students you should have atleast a group of six to participate," said Principal Aurora.
"Hey Matthew, we only have the five of us, what now?" I asked.
"What do you mean? Just look, we have eight of us now." Matthew pointed behind me.
The triplets asked with sparkling puppy eyes," Please? It's the first time we've ever done anything together at school."
I looked at Matthew and he smiled. Then I looked at Rita and Shaun and they nodded their heads excessively. Then I looked at Jace.
"Why not? It'll be fun," Jace said.
"Well, since everyone says it's okay then let's go." I said.
"Woohoo!" the triplets hopped with joy.
"The competition will consist of a relay race of three challenges. One partner for each pair will wear a plushie costume. Each pair will do one challenge then the remaining pair will solve a puzzle. For the first challenge, pairs from your team will play catch the flag while doing the barrel. The barrel is when partner A holds partner B by the legs and Partner B walks with their hands. There will be one person who will be the flag, 10 volunteers from the audience for one game. For challenge two, there will be a bean bag toss-N-hop race. Partner A will throw bean bags through a canon into partner B's bag for Partner B to hop towards the finish line. Then Partner B must tag the next pair to advance to the puzzle room. Whoever finishes faster will win! The only rule is DO YOUR BEST AND HAVE FUN!" exclaimed Principal Serena.
"And there you have it! Alright students decide your pairs and we will begin in a few minutes," said a female host.
"Okay so here's my plan. Me and Rita will pair with Shaun for race 1 then Helius and Julian for race 2 and Jace you go with Julia for the puzzle challenge. You've always been great at puzzles. So what do you guys think?" asked Matthew.
The kids pouted.
"No way let us do the flag race and you and Rita can do the bean bag Toss N Hop," said Julian.
"I have to say it Matthew, we're pretty fast. Don't underestimate us just because we're kids." said Helius.
"Haha, I have to agree with them Matthew. The triplets are great at racing, they beat the senior racing team at our school," I said.
"What, no way..well this isn't the same as running, they'll have to do the barrel, plus Shaun is..seems like a normal kid so he might not make it with them," said Matthew.
"Don't worry, leave it to me!" Layla smiled proudly.
"Playing catch the flag and barreling is basically a race with hands and legs, it'll be a piece of pie." said Helius.
"Yeah, a piece of pie Matthew," Rita raised her eyebrows enthusiastically.
"Ugh, okay if we win this I'll treat everyone with pie! Even if we lose I'd still make pie!" said Matthew," Alright since we have our strategy let's do this."
"Pairs at the starting lines for each challenge please. Okay we will now begin the first race. make sure you and your partner are at the starting line. Ready? Go!" the female host announced.
"You guys can do it! Agh! They're so cute!" Rita cheers them on. Shaun and Julian are dressed as fluffy brown bears.
Helius holds Julian's legs and speeds off to the flag. "Wahhh!" the flag person runs for his life because Julian looked like a speedy vengeful kuala. "Hurrrrrrrah! Gotcha!" Julian shows his flag in the air.
"Wow they weren't kidding about being fast." Matthew whistled in amazement.
"Now it's our turn," Layla stretched out her leg and started zig zagging around competitors but Shaun misplaced his hand so they plummetted forward into the floor.
Shaun tears up," I-I'm sorry Layla, I'm so
s-SLOWWWAHHH".
Layla grabs Shaun back up,"We're NOT GIVINGGG UPPPP!"
They speed closer to the flagger, "AHHHHHAHAHAHA you can't get me!" the flagger taunts while unicycling.
"Hey that's cheating!" said a racer.
"Remember the only rule is to have fun and do your best! Volunteers for the flagger can particpate with anything!" saif the female host.
"Okay Shaun, when I Jump you're going to reach for his flag, alright?" Layla said.
"Got it!" Shaun said determined.
"Ha ha aahaha no one can get me!" taunted the flagger.
"We're gonna GET YOUUUU." said all the contestors.
The flagger stopped infront of a pair and gestured his finger to himself. They grunted and reached for the flag until he turned around and speeded away.
"WAHAHAHAHAHAHA Nope!"
"Now Shaun!" Layla jumped ahead of the flagger.
"Wha-what are you doing!? That's dangerous just popping out of nowhere! Hey, I can't stop! Ahhhhh!" screamed the flagger.
They crash but Layla is still standing.
"Ha ha we got it!" squealed Shaun.
"Goodjob Shaun," smiled Layla.
"Heh it was no problem for us," Shaun said proudly.
"Layla..you overdid it..." I mumbled.
"Haha Layla you guys were funny. But too bad, you guys weren't as fast as us." said Julian.
"Psh, we just wanted to have fun with the unicycler," said Layla.
"Hurry up Matthew put on the bag! Shaun and the triplets won the race minutes ago!" Rita yelled to Matthew.
"I'm hurrying!" he replied and hopped out of the dressing room.
"Pftt..that that looks good on you hahaha." Rita laughs.
"Yeah?" He hops around to show his fluffy white tail and fluffy muscles. Matthew was dressed as a rabbit and Rita continued to laugh.
"As soon as your partner is dressed, begin the Toss N Hop!" the female host says.
"You heard her, hop bunny!" Rita laughs as she tosses bean bags into his bag.
"DUN DUN DUNNNN A NEW COMPETITOR COMES INTO THE RACE! Hurry up little rabbit if you want to win against the gopher!" said the female host.
"Come on Matthew!" Rita laughed.
"Augh I-I got it, keep throwing! Man this bag is getting heavier than expected," Matthew huffed.
"Matthew want me to help you?"Rita asked smiling.
"What? Just keep throwing the bags!" Matthew yelled back as a bag hits his face.
"My bad haha!"Rita laughed.
"You did that on purpose didn't you!" Matthew yelled back.
Rita continued, "Hey Matthew! If you win-"
"Come on keep throwing!" Matthew argued.
"Don't you want to know my answer to your question yesterday?" Rita yelled.
"Hah?" Matthew asked confused, "What que-" he snaps and his facial expression becomes serious and hopped farther after every throw. "One hop for a rabbit! One hop to victory! Haaayahh!" He chants until he reaches the finish line and lands on the floor, " Go Jace, go Julia, Go Go Go!" said Matthew as he rests on the ground and gasps for air.
"Geez, you're such a wimp Matthew.." Rita poked at his cheek," but as promised." Rita leaned down and whispered in his ear," My answer is yes, Matthew," and he blushed.
"Rita is so bold," I blushed along.
"Tell me about it, who knew Matthew had the guts to ask Rita out on a date. Come on Julia let's go." Jace says as I walked out of the dressing room as we headed towards the starting line.
"WOOHOOO! PATISSIERE ISLAND HERE WE COME!" we hear Matthew shout.
"That's a cute outfit, I thought everyone had to wear plushie costumes," Jace said.
"Well, the boys wear plushie costumes and the puzzle contestants wear outfits in the dressing room," I pointed at the sign.
"Ha ha I guess it was a good thing I lost at rock paper scissors then," Jace said nervously looking at my bunny china outfit.
"Puzzlers follow the red arrow until you are at your designated door. Staff will wrap a cloth to cover your eyes," the female host said.
"This must be it huh," Jace said as staff members wrapped our heads.
"Then you'll be dropped into the world of Alice! Literally." the host said.
"Literally?" Jace asked.
There was a clicking sound then screaming from us and others because the ground fell apart and we fell into the darkness.