A/N: HEY EVERYONE! WELCOME TO THE FINAL RACE OF THE DOUBLE DASH TORUNAMENT!

I'm CirciFox81314, your MC here, to present the final cup of the Double Dash tournament, the one, the only, MK: DD Special Cup!

Oh, and I know somebody's going to love the Rainbow Road track. (You know who I'm talking about.)

TheLegendaryBladeFalchion: There will be Mario Kart Wii, Mario Kart 8 and possibly Mario Kart DS.

Anyway, I own absolutely nothing but Penelope.

SOOO, here's chapter 8!

-Special Cup-

Chapter 8: Final Team Race!

As Penelope and Joshua arrived at the start of the Final Double Dash Racing tournament- Wario Colosseum, Penelope had one thing to say to Joshua.

"Listen. We MUST win this. Especially considering the last course is Rainbow Road."

Joshua's eyes lit up. "What? They have a Rainbow Road?!"

"They always do. Though it sucks that it's over a city, but yes. Why?" Penelope asked.

He smiled. "Oh nothing. I'm excited now that I know this."

"Rainbow-obsessed idiot." Penelope mumbled under her breath.

Joshua looked to the back of the kart with a look of suspicion and annoyance on his face. "Pardon?"

"Did I say something?" Penelope asked. Joshua sighed, mad that Penelope wasn't answering his question.

"You pull the same thing with me, Mr. I-don't-tell-his-partner-his-strategy-for-the-last-race-of-the-friggin-cup." Penelope pointed out.

"Oh, now you're holding a grudge against me?" Joshua asked Penelope.

"No! I've always held a grudge against you!" An argument sparked, annoying a lot of the racers, especially Bowser.

Despite Mario and Luigi were his nemesis', it didn't mean he'd argue with them before a fight! Those two were ridiculous.

"Do you two really need to argue?!" Peach asked them.

"Yes!" Both Penelope and Joshua replied before going back to their argument.

"This-a makes-a me wonder how they are able to-a work together in these-a races." Mario commented.

Lakitu arrived and everyone went quiet except for Penelope and Joshua.

"Welcome to the Special Cup of the Double Dash Tournament! I'm Rosalina, your MC here with Toadsworth and…what the? Wait, is one team arguing?!"

Lakitu used a Sound Horn, silencing everyone, and made Penelope and Joshua glare at him.

"Lakitu just used a Sound Horn to quiet everyone down. That's surprising. Why didn't he do this before?"

Lakitu said, "Alright guys, no fighting. This is the last race, meaning the games are over!"

"…And you never said a thing about fighting until now?" Joshua asked.

Lakitu frowned. "I especially don't want a peep out of you two! It's surprising how you work together so well yet you don't get along."

"And now he's pointing out two of the racers, who were just arguing…"

"I'd appreciate it if you'd stop narrating my actions! Anyway, 3…2…1…GO!" Penelope and Joshua performed a Double Dash and got themselves a good start. Penelope expected to see Wario or Waluigi on the course, but they weren't in the roster this race (Good job, Wario.).

"Ooh! The Wario Bros. aren't here. Joshua. You're going at the same speed as the start of Sherbet Land, speed up won't…"

Peach and Daisy made a bigger dent into the Parade Car with a red shell. Joshua glared at them in irritation and a white aura surrounded him.

"HOW DID THEY NOT FIX THIS DENT?!" Penelope yelled in panic. Joshua immediately switched into his Composer form and Peach and Daisy as well as the other racers nearby's eyes widened.

"I have a sliight feeling a speed boost is about to HAAAAPPPPEEEENNNN!" Joshua sped up majorly and caught up to Bowser and Bowser Jr., who were in the lead and Bowser stared at Penelope (he was on the back of the Kart while Bowser Jr. was driving).

"Who's that?!" He asked her.

"My partner." Penelope replied before Joshua took a ridiculous lead. Whenever a blue shell tried to stop him, he broke it with a Jesus Beam and eventually, when he calmed down, the both of them were so far ahead that it was nearly impossible to catch up.

In fact, no one did, meaning this was practically an automatic win for the two.

"What just happened?" Rosalina asked.

"I have no idea. That might've been the fastest race ever." Toadsworth answered.

"It appears that Penelope and Joshua have won the first race! However, will this continue?"

-Results-

1st- Penelope and Joshua-10

2nd- Bowser and Bowser Jr.-8

3rd- Petey Piranha and King Boo-6

4th- Baby Mario Bros.-4

5th- Mario Bros.-3

6th- Toad and Toadette-2

7th- The Princesses-1

8th- Yoshi and Birdo-0

-SECOND RACE-

Upon getting to the second race, the other racers knew they had to dent the other side of Penelope and Joshua's Kart not the already dented side or else they'd lose miserably by a sudden speed boost.

"The second race of this cup is Dino Dino Jungle! However, there's only one Dinosaur here, and it can be quite the obstacle- if it steps on you."

"I'll drive again this time." Joshua told Penelope.

"Okay. Just don't get distracted by the dinosaur." Penelope replied to her partner.

Lakitu actually arrived on time this time. "Okay! There wasn't a long line today, thank gosh."

Nobody said a word as they were waiting for the signal. "The second race of the last cup is starting…"

"3…" The teams awaited in patience.

"2…" Penelope looked at Joshua with trusting eyes, mainly because if he did get distracted, she was going to kill him.

"1…" Everyone began to rev up their engines.

"GO!" A few teams got a Double Dash start, one of which was Penelope and Joshua.

And MAN, were Bowser and Bowser Jr. out to get them. Especially when they got the Bowser Shell item. Which Joshua sent back at them, but still, it's deadly. The shell also hit the Dinosaur and upset it.

It caused absolute terror for the other six teams because they were trying to avoid an enraged, yet adorable dinosaur that was now trying to kill them because it got scratched by the spikes of the shell.

Who was to blame? The one who threw the shell, duh.

I mean, Bowser Jr. threw it forward, but then Joshua threw it back…WAIT. We can't blame Joshua can we?

"The Dinosaur of the track is currently on a rampage. At least is isn't a tyrannosaurus. That would be awful."

"But Rosalina, we don't have a Tyrannosaurus in this world. We have dinos." Toadsworth began to tell her.

They began to argue as Penelope and Joshua got on lap 2. It halted the race, but it was hard for racers to get past the danged dinosaur when they got near it and Joshua?

He mocked the racers by driving by with ease. "Are you kidding me?!" Toadette asked.

The rest of the racers began to dart by that Dino and sped after them. However, because the Dinosaur halted the race, Joshua and Penelope were a lap ahead.

So, practically, it's obvious who won the race yet again.

-Results-

1st- Penelope and Joshua- 20

2nd- Bowser and Bowser Jr.-16

3rd- Mario Bros. -9

4th- The Princesses-5

5th- Toad and Toadette- 5

6th- Petey Piranha and King Boo-8

7th- Yoshi and Birdo-1

8th- Baby Mario Bros. - 3

-THIRD RACE-

Considering the same team had gotten first twice in a row, which scared the other racers in lower spots.

It wasn't fun for someone to just easily get a perfect score when the other racers tried so hard to win too.

Bowser and Bowser Jr. wanted to win this time. Especially since they were on their own turf this time.

Penelope and Joshua had actually switched this time (Penelope wanted to mock Bowser on this course.).

Unlike previously, our friend Lakitu arrived quite late. "How'd that line happen?!" He asked.

"You're LATE." Penelope hissed at him.

A spiny shell hit her and Lakitu was not amused when she looked at him.

"I know. There was a line at Starbeans and I couldn't leave." He explained.

"Okay. But was it REALLY necessary to hit me with a Spiny? I mean, its not trying to kill me, but really?"

Lakitu called the Spiny back as sighed. "3…2…1…"

"Hey look! Lakitu's back!" Rosalina shouted.

"YOU RUINED MY CUE!"

Overall, the race was very intense. Penelope and Joshua didn't get first this time. In fact, Bowser and Bowser Jr. did.

So, that meant it could be bad in the final race.

-Results-

1st- Bowser and Bowser Jr.-26

2nd- Penelope and Joshua-28

3rd- Mario Bros. - 15

4th- The Princesses- 9

5th- Baby Mario Bros. - 6

6th- Petey Piranha and King Boo- 10

7th- Toad and Toadette- 6

8th- Yoshi and Birdo-1

-FINAL RACE OF THE DOUBLE DASH TOURNAMENT-

Initially, Penelope was going to drive, considering that when they arrived, Joshua was asleep, but then Bowser roared after Penelope insulted him and woke him up.

And Joshua's eyes lit up upon seeing the course. "Penelope…? Is this…?"

"Its Rainbow Road. I hate how its above a city though." She told Joshua.

"Its beautiful…" Joshua sighed.

"Good for you. I'll drive…"

"NO. I'M DRIVING." Everyone jumped. Joshua almost never raised his tone.

"What? Why?"

He was about to say a specific catchphrase of his until Penelope said, "Okay, you can drive though you've driven for two races and I wanted to drive so you wouldn't have…"

"WHY ARE YOU TWO CARING ABOUT EACH OTHER?!" Lakitu asked in panic.

"WHAT IS GOING ON?!" Toadsworth asked.

"ITS NOT A BIG HEADLINE!" Penelope yelled.

Everyone was getting in position and Penelope and Joshua nodded at each other.

"Let's finish this race strong." Penelope told her partner.

"Right." It got quiet as Lakitu got up to the front.

He took a deep breath before saying, "It's the last race of the tournament, everyone. Its sad to see that we all aren't going to be in pairs, but maybe it'll be quieter. Still, who's entering in the Mario Kart Wii tournament after…Why am I asking questions?"

Penelope sighed as she was about to raise her hand to answer his question.

"Anyway, good luck to you all! Especially to you two newbies. This course gets rough…"

"I know. Rainbow Roads were always hell for me." Penelope interrupted.

"But I've never seen you race until now…" Lakitu began until he was interrupted again.

Pointing at Joshua, Penelope said, "Its his fault I'm here."

Nobody understood. "Are the MCs ready?" Lakitu asked.

"Ready. Hello everyone! This is the final race of the Special Cup of the Double Dash tournament! I'm Rosalina, your MC, who will be appearing in the next races as your competitor, racers down there!"

"I'm Toadsworth, who will continue being an MC and one of the Racers down there is switching with Rosalina for the MC Spot, which is Petey Piranha."

Petey Piranha waved hi.

"So far, there's been an intense rivalry in the Special Cup between the Koopa King and his son and out Newbies! Who knows why? If our newbies get second and the Koopa King and his son get first, there will be a tie and fate will determine if either won!"

"I'm not getting second. Right Joshua?" The Composer nodded.

"I also invited some friends to watch the race here. They'll be seeing us, but we won't see them." Penelope didn't understand.

So…At Penelope's house, Neku and the others along with Mr. H were watching the race.

"Why the hell is Penelope in a Cart-Racing game?" Neku asked.

"Who knows? Let's watch the race." Mr. H replied.

Neku sighed. "It's a video game…"

"Neku, quiet!" Everyone yelled at him.

Back in the Mario world, the race was now starting, as Rosalina had pointed out.

"Final Race! Here we go. 3…" Everyone ended their happy conversations, as things were about to get serious.

"2…" Those who weren't in position made sure to get in position now or they'd potentially mess up the race and Penelope checked if the dent was fixed, just so Joshua wouldn't get all upset again and luckily, it was.

"1…" Everyone began to rev up their engines.

"GO!" Bowser and Bowser Jr. got a Double Dash start as well as Penelope and Joshua.

They were neck to Bowser and Bowser Jr., Penelope asked, "Hey Joshua, not to be a distraction, but should I give you a heads up?"

"Its fine." He answered as they were starting to get ahead.

"I'll give you a quick description. This course is one of the longest and most treacherous courses of the Double Dash Race. It's a wild ride, especially because of the fact it has these hypnotic curves and stomach-turning drops."

"Drops? Interesting…" They kept going through curves and dash panels until a Spiky Shell was coming for them, and Joshua wasn't expecting it.

In fact, it was too late to destroy it since it just hit them. "Nngh…" Penelope hung off of the Parade Car and was dazed, as this happened when they were hit by an item, but it was rare for Penelope to fall.

"Penelope?" Joshua noticed she was lagging behind as he was driving and he saw Bowser and Bowser Jr. get ahead as well as the Mario Bros.

"I don't usually apologize, but sorry for this." Upon speeding up and managing to get to an item box, Joshua got a Triple Mushroom power-up and a red shell before he sped after the Mario Bros.

Oh, and he shelled them, and stole second as Penelope woke up.

Because she had never "fallen" off of the kart before, she had to idea how to get back up and thank gosh Rainbow Road was smooth cause if it were asphalt or something, her legs would be bloody.

Then again, its Mario, but Penelope was very self-conscious about blood. So, while Joshua was driving extremely quickly, Penelope was stuck, sliding against the ground in irritation.

Bowser just happened to notice as Joshua was getting closer, as he was the one not driving.

"Hey Penelope's Partner?"

"My name is Joshua." He indicated rather rudely.

"Whatever. Is your partner dead?" Bowser asked.

"I'm not…I can't get up…" Penelope groaned.

Bowser began laughing at Penelope, who eventually managed to get up as they were getting to the second lap, still neck in neck with Bowser and Bowser Jr.

"I'm up!" Penelope shouted.

Joshua didn't reply to Penelope as he got a double item box, with triple red shells and triple mushrooms.

"Um…Josh?" She asked.

Joshua still didn't reply. When she shelled Bowser and Bowser Jr. and got them in first after speeding up, Joshua didn't reply.

"Joshua. Really." Joshua was still using the silent treatment on her.

"Composer Yoshiya! What the hell are you using the silent treatment on me for?!" Penelope yelled at him.

"What? I'm trying to focus." He told her.

"You were clearly ignoring me!"

Despite it seemed like it was the worst time to argue, especially during the final race in a tournament that encouraged teamwork, surprisingly, and their arguing was making them do much better. Especially considering they got a sudden speed boost when anyone got too close.

"Are those two arguing again?!" Toadsworth asked.

"Yes…and they're winning?" Rosalina asked.

Lakitu, who was following along with the racers and keeping a close eye, said, "I hate to admit it, but they must do better in the race when arguing!"

Eventually, it was third lap time and that was when the race started to heat up.

It began to get extremely competitive, which was one thing Joshua noticed, so he quit arguing with Penelope.

"Penelope, listen. Now that the other racers know our little "secret", we're going to have to devise a strategy, especially because if someone messes me up on my favorite course, I will go on a killing spree." He told Penelope. Penelope didn't want to picture Joshua killing any Mario characters, though she didn't get one thing he said.

"It wasn't a secret that I hate you." She said rather monotonely.

"No. Only Peach knows you hate me. You said it out loud in her Castle in Paper Mario, remember?" Penelope huffed at what he said, mainly because he got her there.

"Still, what's the point of devising a strategy?" Penelope asked her partner.

"You see, Bowser and Bowser Jr. are out to get us and you and Daisy are in an intense rivalry. Then there's Mario and Luigi, who want to win too."

"Uh-huh." Penelope replied, though she wasn't listening very intently.

As they were continuing their conversation, Joshua avoided a red shell and blasted it with a Jesus Beam. Penelope's eyes widened upon realizing that happened.

"Holy…We need to keep a close eye!" She yelled at him.

"That's your job, Penelope. I'll keep an eye in the front and the sides. You keep an eye on the back and the sides. That way its even."

"Couldn't I just keep an eye on the left and the back and you keep an eye on the right and the back?"

Penelope saw Joshua turn and glare at her, his eyes glowing white and his face dark. "Are you disobeying a direct order from me? You are well aware I am the boss of you, Reaper Officer White."

The girl swallowed a lump in her throat and shook her head. "N-n-no…Your strategy was just fine, Sir."

Joshua went out of being all scary and smiled at her before going back to driving. "Good. I was thinking you were trying to object."

Penelope was shaking but snapped out of it. "I'll just pretend that didn't happen."

At Penelope's house, once again, everyone watching was silent.

"Mr. H?" Neku asked, trying to not let his voice crack.

"Yeah Phones?"

"Has Joshua ever acted up like that before?"

Mr. H went to thinking for a moment. "That's probably the first or maybe second time."

Shiki gripped tightly onto Mr. Mew. "Remind me not to get him mad."

"Josh really isn't the type to act up like that. He was probably trying to intimidate Penelope there."

Neku, Shiki, Beat and Rhyme looked at each other. "What? Why?"

"You know how rebellious she is and how she's willing to object, right?" Mr. H questioned them.

"Oh." It pretty much hit all of them…except Beat.

"What?" Beat asked.

"Just keep watching the race." Neku told Beat.

"But Phones…" Beat began to object until Rhyme said, "C'mon Beat! Don't ask. Let's just enjoy the race, okay?"

"I don't understand though…"

"WATCH THE RACE BEAT!" Neku shouted at Beat.

Back in the race, it had gotten intensely competitive as the racers were nearing the goal, with Penelope and Joshua still keeping their lead, and shelling or bombing whoever got too close.

Though Penelope felt like her strategy would be better, it got bad as they were nearing the goal, because Bowser and Bowser Jr. were ahead.

"Joshua! We might not win at this rate!" Penelope told him.

"Then I have to choice." Joshua snapped and Penelope's Reaper Wings reappeared.

"Switch into your noise form!" He ordered.

"My noise form will fall off the cart if I do that!"

"No, the true form!" He yelled as he was switching into his Composer Form.

Penelope tilted her head to the side. "What true form?!"

"Do what I say!" Penelope began to focus her energy when transforming and became a bigger version of her noise form, but was like Sho and Konishi in a way.

"Hold on! Its going to get really fast, right about…NOW!" They conveniently got a double item box and got six triple mushrooms, plus a speed boost, which allowed them to quickly change back to normal (Penelope lost her wings in the process and used the speed boosts to catch up.

Then the last two were used to get ahead and cross the finish line.

"Did we win?" Penelope asked.

"After an amazing surprise from our two newbies, just as the Koopa King and his son were about to win, Penelope and Joshua snatched first right from them! Isn't that right, Toadsworth?" Rosalina asked.

"I couldn't agree more. Those two make a great team- but sadly, this is the last Double Dash race, meaning they will be unable to be a team, unless they do a Time Trial or compete in the All-Cup Tour, but most of the racers aren't doing that." Toadsworth explained.

"After this next Awards Ceremony, I will see all 11 racing teams at the after-party that will take place before the Mario Kart Wii tournament! See you there!"

Penelope and Joshua smiled at each other and they hi-fived each other.

-Final Results of the MK: DD Tournament-

1st- Penelope and Joshua- 38

2nd- Bowser and Bowser Jr. - 34

3rd- Mario Bros. - 21

4th- The Princesses- 13

5th- Petey Piranha and King Boo-13

6th- Toad and Toadette- 8

7th- Yoshi and Birdo-2

8th- Baby Mario Bros.-6

-MK: DD After-party-

After the Awards Ceremony, Penelope and Joshua went to the After party of the Tournament at Peach's Castle, and guess who they saw there?

"Hey zeroes. What the factor took so long?" Sho asked. Penelope's eyes lit up.

"Sho!" The female Officer tackled into him with a hug before slapping him, which was so loud that it echoed in the room.

"Ow…what the factor…?" Sho asked, rubbing his cheek.

"WHERE WERE YOU? YOU MADE IT SO I WAS STUCK WITH THIS IDIOT FOR THE REST OF THE RACES!" Penelope yelled, knowing Joshua was right behind her.

"I'm right here, Penelope. No need to be so…"

"I KNOW YOU'RE THERE. DON'T INTERRUPT." Penelope yelled at him.

Joshua crossed his arms and frowned. "You're so nice to me, Penelope dear." He said rather loudly, in fact, loud enough for everyone at the after party to hear.

And everyone began to laugh at her.

"Joshua…I'M GOING TO GET YOU FOR THAT!" She began to chase Joshua around the room.

The rest of the part was fun, but during the next morning, a few days before the next Mario Kart race tournament started, Penelope was filling out the registration sheets with Sho by her.

"You're not entering this time around, Sho?" Penelope asked as she was filling out the forms.

"Yeah. I'll be rooting for you though, zero." Penelope smiled at Sho before saying, "Or you're going to be doing one of your art projects during the race?"

"Maybe." Sho replied. Penelope chuckled at this before finally finishing the forms and turning them in.

"See you in the Mushroom Cup, Toadsworth." Penelope told the elderly Toad before her before leaving with Sho following.

"I'll be seeing you too."

Afterwards, a specific person also entered, surprising Toadsworth, who also expected it.

"Hmm? You?"

"Why, of course. Besides, I want to be able to compete with Penelope every once in a while." The person replied.

"Are you sure about this, Joshua?" Toadsworth asked.

Joshua smirked before saying. "Of course I am. I'm dead serious about this tournament."

"Okay then. Just be careful."

-MK: DD Tournament-

-Fin-

A/N: Before we end this part of the Mario Kart Arc, I'd like to apologize for not updating as quickly, as this chapter took a while to write.

ALSO, Joshua won't start entering the Mario Kart Wii tournament until the Flower Cup. The reason? I'm not telling.

I'm excited for the next part!

Question of the day? What was your favorite part of the Double Dash part of the Mario Kart Arc? Also, you can still answer what your favorite course in the Mario Kart series overall is.

We know mine is Rainbow Road from MK: Wii and I explained my reasoning a bit.

Anyway, review if you'd like, and don't flame. Instead, please leave constructive criticism and tell me what I can fix to improve my writing.

I will see you all in the next tournament!

Ciao!