Trigger warnings- Fake dating mention and violence (shown)

Two weeks later, the Champions were getting ready for the tour.

As their dad was still in hospital, Finley and Cadence were still staying at the Lynch's estate. Now that each set of twins had been given a stylist to prepare them for the tour, Cadence was taking advantage.

Finley and Cadence's stylist was a girl who looked around fourteen.

Finley had tried to strike up a conversation with her to ask her name, but Cadence wasn't interested.

"Why exactly do we have to wear blue?" Cadence asked.

"It's to match your necklace, miss, the one your boyfriend gave you," the girl replied.

Oh, the necklace that was supposed to be Finley's. Kaiden had been made to give it to Cadence to keep up the facade that they were dating. Cadence hated the idea just as much as Kaiden and Finley did.

—------

"So, what's your name?" Raven asked their stylist. A boy who didn't even look like he was thirteen yet.

"I'm not telling you. I'm only here 'cause of my stupid brother."

"Look, we're not asking for much. We only want to know what we should call you?" Kaiden added.

"Idiot....Phia...I don't care."

"Ah so you're from Phia," Raven replied.

"Fuck. I wasn't....and I said a swear word! Please don't tell anyone. If my brother finds out...."

"He won't do anything," Kaiden snapped. "If your brother torments you so much that you're afraid of him, why don't you talk to your parents."

The boy was quiet for a while. "I-I can't. They're dead."

"We're so sorry," Raven apologised. "How old is your brother? Do you have any other siblings you could talk to?"

"He's sixteen."

Kaiden and Raven looked at each other.

The boy continued, "and I have eight siblings. Three older, five younger."

Kaiden and Raven decided to quickly change the subject.

—-----

Cadence ended up in a long blue dress which had clearly been specially designed to match the necklace. She wore a blue headband with silver hair extensions which made her blonde hair look like it was decorated with streamers. Finley hated to admit that she looked amazing.

Apparently, he and Reina were going in a yellow theme. His outfit was inspired by the one he'd worn in the celebration for the Champions'. His white shirt was accentuated with a yellow tie. He had a yellow cloak which was a lot shorter than the one he'd worn previously. Finally, he had a fake sword attached to his belt. It reminded him of a children's Halloween costume.

When they met with the others, it was clear that most of the budget for their outfits had gone on Adrielle and Raven's outfits. They were dressed in red. Adrielle's red hair complimented the dress perfectly. The mini tiara she wore further proved that they were the favourite couple.

Raven had a black shirt and trousers with a red tie and belt. His outfit was accompanied by a crown covered in red gemstones which made it look like she was on fire.

Kaiden's outfit matched Cadence's quite well. A blue shirt with a black jacket and a cyan coloured cane to match. It was evident that their outfits had the least effort put in.

They were now only waiting for Reina.

"Our stylist said that the last segment of her outfit was a surprise," Adri explained.

Their stylist, a girl of about sixteen, opened the door and all of them gasped.

Reina's dress was yellow, but it had an embroidered skirt with hundreds of patterns in all different shapes and sizes. There were swords and knives, and something which was clearly supposed to be a lake and some mountains. In short, she looked incredible.

"You're leaving in a few minutes," Adrielle and Reina's stylist explained. "There will be cameras and journalists at the station, so make sure to be presentable."

—-----

When they were onboard the train, they were left alone.

They were in a carriage which had an array of food and drinks available when they wanted.

"Well, these are going to be the worst two weeks ever," Kaiden complained.

"It won't be that bad," Raven replied, "at least we'll get to see the rest of the kingdoms."

Just then, a man entered the room. He was dressed in a flashy, white suit. He was accompanied by two guards.

"Good morning," he said, "I am Antonio. I will be your chaperone during the tour. If you have any problems, or any questions, come to me. Now for a few notices. If you'd all like to take a seat.

Antonio had a slight accent which sounded a little spanish.

The Champions took a seat at the large table. Antonio sat down at the head of the table, the two guards stood by his side. It was only now that Kaiden realised they were both carrying large sticks. Maybe they had to use walking sticks too?

Antonio cleared his throat, "now, I do not watch the Ceremony. I prefer to know nothing about the Champions before going into this. So I don't know your names. I've just been issued a list. I don't really care what you do while you're on this tour but there are a few rules. So, rule one, no one says anything in their speech which hasn't been approved by me. Two, one of you will make the speech in each kingdom and the rest of you will stay quiet. Three, what I say goes, there is to be no answering back or arguing with me. I have punished Champions who haven't followed these rules in the past."

"Punish them? How?" Reina asked.

"Simple," Antonio replied. He took one of the sticks from one of the guards. He looked at his list with all of their names on it. "Now then, which one of you is...Raven?"

Raven raised his hand. He was seated at the opposite end of the table. Antonio stood up and walked down the length of the room. His footsteps echoed as he walked.

"Stand up," Antonio said.

Raven did so. "Have I done something wrong?" He asked nervously.

"Not yet," Antonio remarked, "but I need to use someone as an example. Could you show me your hand?"

Raven lifted his left hand, and held it out, palm facing up. Unlike Kaiden, Raven was left handed.

Antonio lifted the stick high into the air and brought it down with a slap against Raven's hand. Raven clutched his hand and cried out.

"What was that for?" Kaiden asked, standing up.

"Like I said, an example," Antonio replied, coldly. "Also, speaking to me in that manner is not acceptable. Who might you be?"

"Kaiden. Raven's brother."

"Ah yes, the one who came up with the ridiculous idea in the finale. I've been warned about you. Regardless, we must continue. Let us decide who will make the speech in each kingdom."

Raven and Kaiden looked at each other. Raven sat down and nodded in Kaiden's direction. Kaiden reluctantly sat down.

"Now then," Antonio said, sitting down again, "Kaiden is going to speak in Halei, and Finley in Astra. So who should speak in Ronera?"

""Why does Finley get to speak in Astra?" Cadence complained, "the Champions usually choose which kingdoms they want to speak in, don't they?"

"Indeed, but I had already been told that those two were going to speak in those kingdoms. Did you have a specific one in mind?"

"Yes, I wanted to speak in Astra. It's the best one."

"Alright, as you're so enthusiastic about it, you can speak in Astra. Finley can speak in Ronera." Antonio explained.

"O-ok," Finley replied, nervously.

"Raven can do Phia. Reina, Lavea and Adrielle can speak in Kyrah." Antonio said. He stood up, "I'll give you some time to work on your speeches."

He left the room.

The six Champions stared at each other.

"Are you ok Bird?" Kaiden asked.

"Yeah," Raven replied, "that thing really hurts though."

Kaiden went and looked at Raven's hand. An angry red mark had appeared.

"I'll kill him if he does that to anyone else," Kaiden scowled.

"Don't let him hear you say that," Finley muttered.

"He can do it to me all he likes, but he's not laying a finger on any of you."

"What exactly should we say in our speeches then?" Adrielle asked, changing the subject.

"Well, I had an idea," Raven explained, "the only problem is, it might get us into a lot of trouble."

""Not sure I like the sound of that, but we can at least listen to your idea."

"Well, there's been riots in Halei and Astra, people wanting the Ceremony scrapped and all that. What if we incite the rebellion and lead the charge for everyone else to follow?"

"Are you out of your mind?" Cadence blurted out, "we'll be executed for treason!"

"It only takes one of us to do it. One of us reads a speech to incite the rebellion in one kingdom and the rest of the country will see it and the rebellion will start."

"It could change the way the world works," Adri said.

"It'd mean the Ceremony would be gone forever," Reina added.

"No more Champions showing off about winning," Kaiden put in.

"And no more unnecessary deaths," Finley concluded.

"I'm in," Adrielle replied, and the other three agreed.

"I'm not joining in with this. Whoever does it will be arrested or executed. The rest of you will probably go to prison for conspiring against the Ceremony. It'll be a huge mess." Cadence explained.

"Cadence, we all know that you hate us," Raven replied, "but think about what scrapping the Ceremony would do. Everyone will be equal, people won't look down on us for having a twin. Everyone will have as much food and money as they need. We'd be heroes, we'll go down in history."

Cadence's eyes lit up, "alright, I'm in."

—-----

Over the next couple of hours, the Champions devised a plan and wrote out a speech that they could use to incite the rebellion.

"There's just one question we have yet to answer," Reina said, "who's going to read it out?"

"Well the fairest way would be to choose at random," Kaiden suggested.

He walked over to the side table and grabbed a sheet of paper and a pencil. He wrote down each of their names and ripped the paper into six pieces. He folded each one a few times.

"We need something to put them in," he said.

"How about this?" Finley asked, holding up a decorative pot.

"Perfect," Kaiden replied, dropping the papers into it. "Now who's going to choose?"

"Well it was Raven's idea," Adri stated.

"Alright, I'll choose," Raven said. He rolled up his sleeve and put his hand into the pot. "Sorry to whoever it is. You'll be risking a lot."

He pulled out a slip of paper and was just about to open it, when the door opened and Antonio walked in.

"What are you doing with that pot?" Antonio asked, looking at Kaiden. "That is for decorative purposes only. Give it here."

Kaiden pulled out the papers and handed him the pot. Like the others, he failed to notice something important, Antonio however, didn't.

"Ah good, one of you has written your speech," he said, walking over to the table where they had stupidly left the speech they had written.

As Antonio picked it up, the six of them looked at each other nervously. They knew that someone was going to have to take the blame.

"What is the meaning of this! This is not what I meant and you know it!"

With Antonio being as angry as he was it was no surprise that no one stepped up and took the blame.

"Very well, I will have to punish one of you at random then, guard!" Antonio shouted.

A guard stepped into the room. He handed Antonio the stick and gave a salute.

"Yes sir?" He said.

"Please turn around," Antonio instructed.

The guard did as he was told without question.

He turned to the Champions. "The six of you, get in a row. Now!"

They also did as they were told, wondering where exactly this was going.

"Now, Jacobs, choose a number between one and six," Antonio snapped.

Jacobs pondered for a few seconds. "Number four," he said at last.

Kaiden quickly switched with the person next to him. He was now in position four.

"You weren't there before," Antonio said, turning around and glaring at Kaiden.

"Yeah I was," Kaiden replied.

"Don't lie to me!"

"You can't prove anything."

Originally Kaiden had been third in the line. He'd switched with the person next to him so they wouldn't be forced to take the blame.

"Step forward and hold out your hand," Antonio ordered. Kaiden did so. Holding out his left hand, so his right one wouldn't get hit.

The other five looked away, no one wanted to watch this a second time.

After the third time, Raven spoke up, "how many times are you doing it?"

"Ten," Antonio replied, "five for writing that speech and five for being insolent."

"That's not fair!" Finley exclaimed.

"If you two want to argue with me you can become acquainted with this stick too," Antonio snapped.

Raven and Finley both went silent.

At last, Antonio was done.

"Now, rewrite that speech. If any of you even think about handing that in, you will be reported to the Cadets." Antonio scolded, and he left.

"Kaiden, are you ok?" Finley asked.

"Yeah," Kaiden replied, rubbing his hand, "I'm fine."

"Very clever to use your left hand instead of your right," Adri said. "You didn't have to do that though."

"I contributed the most to the speech so it was only fair," Kaiden explained.

"Nothing about this is fair," Reina muttered, "we're not even allowed to have an opinion without being punished for having one."

"Maybe this isn't a good idea," Raven added.

"No," Kaiden snapped, "how is the Ceremony ever going to end unless someone does something about it?"

"Well, why does it have to be us?" Finley asked.

"Well, you, Adri and I are already seen as cheaters for how we won in the first place. Raven is great at speaking to people. Reina's super smart and Cadence is great at getting people to do what she wants. Why shouldn't it be us?"

"What's your role in this then?" Adrielle questioned.

"I guess considering I'm the one everyone hates, and the one you keep looking to for answers, that makes me the leader."

"I can't believe you did that," Cadence said out of nowhere.

"Well, we're a team, we're all in this together."

"I can't believe you did that though. When that guard said four, I thought..."

"You thought we'd all stand back and let you get the blame," Kaiden finished.

"Yeah. I never expected you to switch places with me. Finley maybe, but not you." Cadence was quiet for a while, as if she was considering what to say. "Thank you," she said at last.

Kaiden smiled, "you're welcome. Anyway, Bird, whose name did you choose?"

"Are we all still sure that we want to do this?" Raven asked.

They all nodded.

"How do we keep the speech hidden from Antonio?" Finley asked.

"Easy," Cadence replied, "we show him a fake speech and put it into our pocket alongside our speech. Then when the time comes, we pull out the speech we wrote. Antonio can't do anything once we start reading it."

"Excellent idea, Cadence," Kaiden replied, "you're actually really smart."

"Thanks...Kaiden. Now whose name is on the paper?"

Raven started to open the paper, but his hands were shaking so much that he couldn't.

He handed it to Kaiden.

Kaiden opened it and sighed.

The others crowded around him, expecting to see his name on the paper. What they didn't expect to see was Finley's.

Well, that went well. Anyways, as you can tell, we're on tour now! Don't worry it's not as boring as it sounds. So, how do you feel about some of our characters choices? Kaiden is starting to take the fall for the others a lot right? Will the tour go as planned? Will our Champions be able to lead the rebellion?

Find out in Chapter 20!