A/N: That was a heck of a game-ender last chapter, readers! Now time to wrap this special up with the finale!
ToonSchool: Power Rebound
Chapter 8: Heart of a Champion
As the celebration continued in Toon Stadium, the team managed to break away from the crowd and meet up with the rest of the ToonSchool gang, along with Dionne and Charity.
"You won, Tony, you won!," Charity said.
"We did, all of us!," Tony responded. "But Dennis did most of the work."
"Yeah, but I couldn't have done it without you guys, my teammates, supporters, and friends," Dennis replied with a victorious smile. "And by the way, Daryl that was a nice pass back there."
"Yeah, well that last shot was the most anti-climatic moment I've ever seen, Dennis," answered Daryl.
"Yeah, and I taped it all," Tommy said, holding up his camera. "That was one for the history books."
"Are you kidding, this whole game is one for the history books," Ben said. Blossom then stepped up, as she said in agreement, "Yeah, we beat them in the closest most nail-biting championship game this school has ever seen."
"And without our powers to boot," June added.
"Yeah, now that is definitely history book material," Danny finished."A close championship and a perfect season."
"You know, we've done so well that we should probably get started on prepping for next season as soon as possible," Dennis pointed out, still on the high from the championship. The others thought this over for a moment.
"No, it's been a long season. I could use a rest," Buttercup said, with everyone else. "But next year, we're not holding back at all."
"Yeah, and I'm gonna be back with my A-game!," Jake said.
"And me too," Bart added.
"Me three," Daryl said. "I might just get to the main roster next time!"
"Well, I be there too…but not as a player," Darrell said. Everyone stopped and looked at him in confusion.
"What do you mean, D.Q.?," Tony asked.
"Well, it's been a great season, really great playing with you all. But I've been doing some thinking… and I've decided I'm gonna take this opportunity to step away from competitive basketball."
Everyone was stunned. Darrell had been one of the biggest contributors to their season, and now he was leaving the team?! It just seemed so unreal.
"Hey, come on man, if there's any-," Dennis started to say, but Darrell cut him off.
"No! Naw, man, I'm gonna retire right now, and that's all there is to say. Don't get me wrong, I loved playing alongside you, little bro. I really did. But basketball's your thing and music is mine. Beside, this is the best way for me to go out: with a championship, on top, undefeated, untied, etc. That's the way it is."
"Yeah, you know, I've decided I'm gonna retire too," Jimmy announced. Everyone once again was shocked.
"But why, Jimmy?," Bubbles asked.
"Yeah, why Neutron?," Timmy added.
"Because, while I also enjoyed playing with you guys, I feel it's best for me to be who I really am: a scientist and inventor."
"Yeah, and I'm leaving the team too," Gwen put in. "I wanna explore other opportunities with other sports."
"Naba Gisha! Stitch leaving too. I wanna be with Lilo again," Stitch added. The rest of the gang and team were saddened by this news.
"Man, it's not gonna be the same with you guys gone," Danielle said sadly.
"Yeah, but you guys will be okay," Darrell pointed out. "Plus this puts in new room for new players and new talent to come to the team!"
"I guess you're right," Dennis said.
"Hey, looks like Phineas, Ferb, and Mr. Albert are doing post-game interviews," Mac pointed out.
"Well, let's go see about them," Ash said.
"Good idea, Ash," Tony said. "Come on guys."
The gang and team then walked back to the area of celebration. But Dennis, still shocked by the announcements, turned to Darrell, Jimmy, Gwen, and Stitch, and said, "Are you guys sure? About the retirement I mean, are you sure?"
"Yeah, definitely sure," Darrell affirmed.
"Definitely," Jimmy added. Accepting this, Dennis continued to head over to the celebration with the others.
A short time afterwards, Dennis was giving a post-game interview with Marv Albert.
"Basically, Mr. Albert, the keys to winning were teamwork and determination. I couldn't have accomplished such a feat of scoring 42 points making 19 assists, 10 steals, and shooting 38 for 50. It was a tough game no doubt. But no matter how rough things got out there, we just hung in there and kept playing our hardest. And look what it got us. That's all I can say about it."
Dennis left and returned to his friends, as Marv commentated to the TV viewers at home, "And that's the opinion of tonight's MVP, in the biggest game in this league's history. It is of no question that Dennis Jackson, is one of the greatest players of his generation and a possible future NBA legend in the making, and his performance tonight all but confirms this. Once again, the final score: the All-Stars, 87, and the Cosmos 86. This is Marv Albert, signing off from Toon Stadium."
"Nice work on that post-game, Jackson," Tony complimented.
"Thanks, Clark," Dennis said in return.
"Well, all in all I'd say this turned out as a happy ending for everybody," Daryl said. Just then, Lilo noticed something on the other side of the court, that made her cringe slightly.
"Uh, I wouldn't say everybody," she said as she pointed in the said direction.
In that direction at the other end of the court, the Lunar Pacific Academy Cosmos were feeling the heat from the narrow loss. While the players and their supporters were all disappointed, Coach Pete was furious. His perfect plan had failed; even with their stolen powers, the Cosmos had blown a perfectly great opportunity to win a championship.
"Losers!," Pete screamed.
"Sorry," the Cosmos said.
"Choke artists!"
"Sorry again."
"I gave you all the keys to a guaranteed victory over those All-Star chumps and what do you do? You blow it! If you think this season was intense, just you wait until we get back home! You're gonna be running drills until your feet bleed!"
As the ToonSchool gang, the team, the cheerleaders and other supporters arrived at the scene, Pete stomped on Francis' foot in frustration.
"Hey, hey! There's no need for that!," Darrell snapped as he rushed to interfere.
"Yeah, what's your deal?!," Dionne snapped as well.
"Hey, these are my players. I can do what I please with them, see?"
"What is going on here?," a voice snapped. Everyone turned around and saw Mickey and Headmaster Quinn along with many of the Cosmos' supporters and families standing there.
"Nothing is-," Pete said. But A.J. who'd finally had enough of the conniving coach, stepped up and said, "I'll tell you what's going on here. Pete's taking his frustrations out on us, just because his plans to steal the All-Stars powers and give them to us, to win the championship backfired."
"Is this true, Pete," Quinn asked sternly.
"Yeah, so what if it is? I did it and I'll do it again next year, and no one is gonna stop me," Pete snapped. He then turned on the Cosmos. "Okay, party's over. Everyone to the bus now!"
"Bobby, man. How can ya'll take that crap from this guy?," Dennis asked.
"Because he's bigger," Bobby replied.
"He's bigger...," the twins agreed.
"And stronger…," Maylene added.
"And louder…," Harold slipped in.
"Than we used...to be…," Yancy said, before he and the other suddenly realized…
"Wait a minute," the Cosmos all said as they looked at Pete menacingly and angrily. It appeared that the Cosmos finally realized that thanks to the stolen powers, they were now bigger (and stronger and louder) than their coach, and as such, he had no right to treat them this way. Pete, seeing their angry expressions, became quite nervous.
"W-what are you doing?," he shakily asked as the Cosmos reached for, grabbed him, picked him up and carried him across the court. "Hey! Wait! What are you doing? Wait! Let go!"
They ignore him as everybody else watched with interest. They all quickly then tied Pete to a large rocket Harold had just purchased from Wile E. Coyote. They were just about to light it when…
"Stop!"
Headmaster Quinn then approached them and took the lighter from the Cosmos.
"Sir, thank you so much! You ungrateful little skeezes are gonna get it now!," Pete snapped.
"Actually you're the one who's gonna get it, Pete," Quinn said as he lit the fuse, confusing and startling Pete.
"Uh, sir?"
"Consider yourself fired."
"Oh-no…"
The rocket then ignited and blasted off out of the stadium and into the sky with a screaming Pete attached to it, continuing until it twinkled like a star.
Everyone celebrated Pete's firing, in both the figurative and literal senses.
"Y'all had it you guys the whole time didn't you," Dennis asked. The Cosmos could only grin and blush sheepishly at this. Headmaster Quinn then stepped up looking stern at the team.
"Well, I have to say, I'm disappointed in all of you for letting yourselves get talked into such a devious scheme," he said to them. "And I know your parents are as well."
"Yeah, we know, sir," Bobby said as he and the Cosmos turned to the All-Stars and their supporters. "Guys, we're so sorry for everything we put you through."
"Yeah, with the stolen powers," Michael added.
"And the dirty play," Joanna put in.
"It was nothing personal. We just wanted to win," Navid said.
"For our folks," Amy finished.
"And A.J., we're sorry for giving you such a hard time for not taking part in all this," A.D. said to A.J. "You were right about Pete all along."
"Yeah, you were the smart one," Ricky added.
"It's okay, guys. I'm sure you've learned your lesson," A.J. replied.
"Actually, I think you guys did win something," Daryl said. "It might not have been be the game or the championship, but I'd say it's something better: your freedom from Pete."
"Yeah…yeah he's right. We're free, finally free guys!," Bobby cheered as the Cosmos all laughed in delight.
"Uh, not quite. There's still one more thing though," Dennis said as he looked to Jimmy. "Jimmy, you done with that thing yet?"
Jimmy stopped working on the Atomic Vacuum, and said with a thumbs-up, "Yep, the Atomic Vacuum is recalibrated and ready to go!"
"Excellent. Bring it over."
Dennis looked back to the Cosmos and said, "You guys have to give my friends and the others their powers back."
The Cosmos were stunned. They we're just getting used to their powers, and now they had to return them.
"But…we like having powers," Harold said, shocked.
"Yeah, do we really have to give them back?," Francis asked.
"Yes, you do. It was part of the bet Dennis made with Pete. Since they won, all the powers have to go back," A.J. pointed out. Jimmy then held up the giant orblike nozzle of the Vacuum.
"So come on guys, everyone touch the nozzle," Dennis said. The Cosmos hated to lose their powers, but decided they had to honor the bet's terms.
"Oh, okay," Bobby said as the Cosmos all placed a hand on the orb-like nozzle.
"Fair is fair after all," Harold added.
Once everyone's hands were on the nozzle, Jimmy activated the Vacuum's suck setting and all of the stolen powers were sucked out of the Cosmos and into the Vacuum, which glowed, filled with the orbs of powers again.
"Now all those who had powers stolen, you all touch the nozzle," Jimmy said.
"Are you sure this is safe," Ben asked out of concern.
"Don't worry, everything's under control," Jimmy assured. One by one all the players who'd lost their powers, along with Violet Parr, Kick Buttowski, and Mas y Menos all placed hands on the nozzle.
Once everyone's hands were on the nozzle, Jimmy activated the Vacuum's blow setting and one-by-one returned their powers and abilities, making sure to give the right powers to each one.
When it was all done, everyone tested their powers out; Danny and Danielle "went Ghost", Jake "dragon-ed up", the PowerPuffs flew in colored light streaks and tested their special abilities, June tested out her strength and agility, Violet went invisible and put up a force field, Dash and Mas y Menos supersped around the stadium, Kick tested his daredevil endurance and agility, and Manny and Ben transformed using their El Tigre belt and Omnitrix respectively.
Everything turned out smoothly.
"Yeah, we're back, baby!," Danny cheered as the All-Stars celebrated the return of their powers.
"Well, come on guys, let's bounce," Bobby told his teammates. They all started to leave.
"Hey hold up, aren't y'all gonna stay for the trophy ceremony?," Dennis asked.
"Nah, it's you guys' time to shine, we don't wanna impose."
"I guess you got a point."
"Yeah, but don't be so smug, Jackson. Next year, we're going all the way."
"I'll be looking forward to it, Chambers."
With that, the Cosmos and their supporters left the court as the trophy ceremony was about to commence.
Later, on a stage, the All-Stars, cheerleaders, coaches, staff, Sparkle and most of the supporters were gathered, as the evening's awards were presented
"And after a long, hard-fought and historic season, and an even anti-climatic game tonight, we are proud to present ToonSchool its 42nd championship trophy. Congratulations to Mickey Mouse and the whole team and school for this honor," the league head announced to the cheering crowd. He then handed Mickey the large trophy and each player a smaller individual trophy.
"Now of course, every championship needs an MVP. But for the All-Stars tonight, that honor goes to not one person, but two people overall. Both of who demonstrated not only extraordinary talent, but leadership, personality, and attitude on the court. Therefore I hereby present the awards for MVP to Dennis Jackson and Tony Clark."
The crowd cheered as Dennis and Tony stood and walked up to receive the special trophies. Once that happened, everyone onstage lifted his or her trophies high into the air to the cheering crowd.
Later, at the House of Mouse, all the All-Stars players and supporters had gathered for a victory party. As the DJ put on a familiar song, everyone started to dance.
And the bass keeps running, running and runnin runnin'
And runnin' runnin' and runnin' runnin' and runnin' runnin'
And runnin' runnin' and runnin' runnin, and runnin' runnnin' and
Tony and Charity immediately started dancing together, as did the rest of the ToonSchool gang.
In this context, there's no disrespect
So when I bust my rhyme, you break ya necks
We got five minutes for us to disconnect
From all intellect and let the rhythm effect
Soon the rest of the team, the cheerleaders, coaches and team staff joined in on the dancing.
Us to lose our inhibitions follow your intuition
Free your inner soul and break away from tradition
Cause when we be out, girlies pull the heat out
You wouldn't believe how we wow stuff out
Burnin' 'til it's burned out, turn it 'til it's turned out
Act up from North West East South
The teachers then started to dance as the music picked up.
Everybody, everybody, just get into it, get stupid
Get it started, get it started, get it started
Let's get it started, (ha) let's get it started (in here)
Let's get it started, (ha) let's get it started (in here)
Let's get it started, (ha) let's get it started (in here)
Let's get it started, (ha) let's get it started (in here) yeah
Soon all the parents and even the House of Mouse staff got in on the dancing.
Lose control, up outta your soul
Don't move to fast, people, just take it slow
Don't get ahead, just jump into it
Y'all hear about it, the Peas will do it
Get started, get stupid
Don't worry about it, people will walk you through it
Step by step like you're into New Kid
Inch by inch with the new solution
Transmit hits with no delusion
The feeling's irresistible and that's how we move it
Everybody, everybody, just get into it, get stupid
Get it started, get it started, get it started
Let's get it started, (ha) let's get it started (in here)
Let's get it started, (ha) let's get it started (in here)
Let's get it started, (ha) let's get it started (in here)
Let's get it started, (ha) let's get it started (in here) yeah
The music became so loud that the club literarily started bouncing.
C'mon y'all, let's get (coo-koo), uh huh, let's get (coo-koo) in here
Wild out, get (coo-koo), uh huh, let's get (coo-koo) in here
Wild out, get (coo-koo), uh huh, let's get (coo-koo) in here
Let's get it started, (ha) let's get it started (in here)
Ohh ohh ohh, yada, yada, yada, yada, yada, yada, yada
Yada, yada, yada, yada, yada, yada, yada, yada, yada
The party continued into all hours of the night, as the city of ToonTown and continued to celebrate their school team's championship victory.
Meanwhile, outside the House of Mouse, the members Snob Squad, having been denied access to the party (as usual), were sulking outside. But it wasn't because of them not getting into the party that they were upset.
"I can't believe it. You said you were sure that those dweebs would lose without their powers, Vicky!," Dash Baxter growled.
"Hey, how was I supposed to know they'd come back to win without them?," Vicky snarled.
"Yeah, well you know how much money we lost from all those bets against them?," Princess yelled.
"Thousands of dollars, that's what!," Eustace said.
"I borrowed money from my dad for this. He's gonna kill me when he finds this out!," Brad growled.
"All our parents are gonna be furious, genius!," Mindy pointed out.
"Whatever, let's just go home," Vicky growled as the Snob Squad stomped off angrily into the night.
A/N: Well, I guess crime, cheating, and betrayal don't pay or win, as Pete and the Snobs both learned. What a finale, wouldn't you say? But hold it, we still have one last special chapter left, so stay tuned for it, and see ya around.