Since everyone regularly recasts Dragon Games, I want to do one too. It's unnecessarily long, so sit back and relax:
Requirements: This is a casting for the teams. Not all the special, just those who would play the games. So, in this case, both the character's narrative needs and their aptitude for sports will be assessed. Furthermore, teams must consist of four people + Snow/Evil. So the lineup that featured nine players instead of eight has been cut, but there's an in-universe explanation for this!
Remain from the old cast:
Apple, Raven, and Darling are the three characters from the old cast who absolutely remain because they are fundamental to the plot, and it makes sense that they are there because they are either sports fans or emotionally attached to Evil and Snow.
Maddie is the cut character! The in-universe explanation is that, as in canon, Raven didn't want to participate, but when she saw that Snow recruited Maddie, she stepped in and took her place. Maddie is Raven's best friend and has major trauma related to EQ, so it makes sense that Raven decides to replace her to spare her any more pain.
Hot take: Lizzie could actually stay on the team, in my opinion. Both because it creates a nice contrast with Maddie, where she's overcome her trauma and is ready for revenge, and because Lizzie in the books canonically has military training and knows how to use a sword. So she's a useful asset.
As for the actual lineup changes:
Melody is replaced by Briar: Briar is an adrenaline junkie, so she definitely wants to participate. She's also involved in both sides because she knows Snow well from her friendship with Apple, but at the same time, she knows Evil's secrets well and has acted like her (Thornecoming). So it would make perfect sense for her to join Evil Queen's team.
Holly is replaced by Hunter: Here me out - Hunter is the jock of the group and is good with beasts, so he definitely wants to participate. Plus, his role in Snow White is literally balancing his loyalty to Snow White and the Evil Queen. So Snow would definitely want it, but he, as a rebel (like Raven), wouldn't be thrilled.
Poppy is replaced by Cerise: Here me out 2 - Cerise is canonically a great athlete. But most importantly: She's the daughter of Evil Queen's two school friends!! She probably knows who Cerise really is! So it makes sense for him to take her on the team. So there's drama because she's in conflict with Raven and Hunter, who she's friends with.
I'd probably replace Ashlynn with Daring. Both because he's the most qualified person for this situation, but also because this way the break in the games is more significant, because it happens when (during the break) Faybelle sends Daring into the mirror prison.
Note: Ashlynn will still be a protagonist of the special because she's the dragon handler and narratively serves as a foil to Faybelle. Then she and Maddie would work to figure out what Faybelle is up to during the games.
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