Redreaper1951's World

Sports Festival Competition Pt 3

Round one and two of the Mushroom Kingdom's Sports Competition has come and passed with much excitement from the four girls. Princess Peach is gathering the others: Princess Daisy, Chihiro, and Nekokawa-chan over to the side of the castle where a heavy rope is laying in the grass out of sight. A crowd of citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom has gathered to watch the third and final round of the games. Even Toad and Toadette are there to wave flags and banners for the separate teams.

"This is exciting," Chihiro says. She watches the crowd as a smile stretches across her face. "Are they all here to watch the final round?"

"Yes! I want this to be as fun and exciting as possible!" Princess Peach says. She is happy with her surprise crowd. "We are just about to begin the final round of our Mushroom Kingdom Sports Competition. So far, Daisy and Chihiro won the first round, which was the relay baton races. The second round, the ball toss, was one by Nekokawa-chan and I. This third round will decide the winner of the festival, but no matter what happens, it will be an exciting reveal, and I am proud of whatever team wins!"

"Woohoo!" Nekokawa-chan cheers. "This will be great! What game are we playing for round three?"

"This final round will be the game tug of war," Princess Peach says. She lifts her arm and points a gloved finger towards a rope lying in the grass that the others had not seen yet. "In our teams of two, we will pull until the other team crosses the line in the middle, losing the game. Does that sound good?" Princess Peach asks.

"Yeah!" Princess Daisy says. "I'm ready to go. Let the best team win—good luck everyone!"

The girls get in a circle to high-five each other before running over to their positions. Princess Daisy and Chihiro take one end of the rope. Princess Peach and Nekokawa-chan go to their side.

Chihiro stands in front of Princess Daisy. She picks up the rope and the rough fibers prickle her fingers. She hands part of the end to Daisy. Lowering into a braced stance and spreading her feet, she readies herself for the game to begin. Her short black hair, loose from the day's earlier games, has a few strands hanging loosely over her brow.

Chihiro starts the count off, "Three, two—one!!" she yells, her voice booming across the field. The crowd erupts into cheers as the four girls pull and tighten their grip on the rope in between them. The rope shudders, pulling straight between the opposing forces stretching it in opposite directions. Each girl digs their feet into the dirt, leaning back from their opponents. Hands shuffle and fingers tighten as the rope twists and strains between them all.

The first pull shocks and shakes the four girls. It is a sudden jump of fast motion to frozen strain. Nekokawa-chan gasps as the rope pulls in her hands. She tightens her fists and tries to move backward. Princess Peach digs in behind her and pulls as hard as she can.

"Let's pull back extra hard in three, two, one!" Princess Peach yells. She and Nekokawa-chan put their all into the next tug and the rope trembles, pulling in their direction as Chihiro and Princess Daisy slip on the other end. Princess Daisy scrambles, digging her heels into the dirt as the rope pulls away from her.

"Don't let go!" Princess Daisy shouts to her partner. Chihiro hugs the rope and pulls desperately as she sees the red line in the middle of the playing field draw closer and closer to her slipping feet.

"Back, back, go back!" Chihiro yelps. She turns sideways and tries to march backward, stopping the movement of the rope.

Nekokawa-chan's arms tremble and strain under the effort and pressure. She can feel sweat start to gather on her back and brow. This is harder than she thought it would be. She laughs, the challenge is entertaining, but she can't keep up the hard pull. Princess Peach behind her gasps, and they stumble as the rope pulls away from them and back towards Chihiro and Princess Daisy instead. The red middle approaches them next, and they struggle to avoid it. Nekokawa-chan's toe almost hits the red line. She yells in shock and with a surge of renewed strength, she and Princess Peach pull backward with a hard run, their feet skidding in the dirt and getting almost nowhere