Epel’s grandmother calls him home for the weekend to participate in an annual festival and sled race that requires a team of four.
Grim refuses to participate and reaches out to Sebek on Epel’s behalf. Sebek agrees to join after some convincing, while Jade and Idia approach Epel on their own about joining him after overhearing his conversations.
The students go to Harveston Village the following day, dress in traditional outfits and meet Epel’s grandmother, who sews plushies of their choice for them to imbue with magic and pull their sleds in the race.
Epel shows the others around the festival where they have apple juice, apple teas and apple pie.
When it is revealed that the mayor of Harveston will not be able to compete after one of his teammates was injured Epel’s grandmother, Marja, becomes passionate about Epel not letting “a team full of non-locals” win the race, telling that the NRC team that losing is not an option.
Epel teaches the other students how to control their sled-pulling plushies and, during practice, they meet with a group of students from Royal Sword Academy who also intend to compete.
Before going to a welcome party held by the village in their honor the students return to the festival for a “pre-party appetizer” of pancake balls and mushroom soup.
At the welcome party they have a sandwich cake and stew before Marja sends them to bed.
While reviewing the rules of the race Jade and Idia suggest taking advantage of loop holes, such as setting up pitfalls for other racers beforehand, but Epel and Sebek refuse to allow it.
During the race the RSA team takes the lead and the NRC team falls into 5th place when Sebek’s plushie falls apart. Epel sews the plushie’s leg back on and they get ahead of the RSA team, reaching the pit stop at the same time, where Marja reinforces the stitches on Sebek’s plushie.
RSA leaves first but, while in pursuit of them, a tree nearly falls onto Epel. Sebek saves Epel by ramming into Epel’s sled and knocking him to safety, getting thrown off course.
Jade and Idia suggest continuing the race without Sebek but Epel insists that they all search for him together, saying he has an idea.
The group discovers Sebek after he calls out for Epel from the pit he fell into and Epel reveals his idea: jumping over a wide ravine.
Sebek points out that his sled is broken and Epel says they can ride together, as the rules dictate that it is the plushies that must reach the finish line (Idia: “I see you’re all about exploiting the loopholes now!”)
The NRC team successfully jumps the ravine and land on the course ahead of the RSA team, but Epel’s plushie pops its seams and the entire team crashes 20 meters from the finish line.
The students sprint for the finish while carrying their plushies but they are beaten by RSA.
Marja tells Epel that he did well, making it a sledathon to remember.
Twisted Wonderland Reference Note 