The Trial Begins

Everyone left.

No more princesses', a dainty sight from above for all to admire and adore, their golden-coated thrones were laid bare and empty. The halls were also now empty of a crowd to echo their cheers and jeers within its vast, cavernous walls. 

Everybody, save for a select few individuals that stood side by side one another in an orderly fashion, the chosen few soldiers bearing the shimmering colored crest on either their shoulder or their chest.

As to why we remained, while most everyone else gets to go, well that answer's a simple one -

We were being prepped.

"So, alright, guys and gals," marched Tyler up and down inches from us, his nose in the air along with a drill sergeant's gaze. "If anybody's here allergic to horses, you best bet you better raise your hand up now. No one's dying on me today."

There was a stillness among us champions, nobody backed out, nobody raised their hands.