You are about to read undeniable proof that sheer determination can overcome even the most difficult obstacles, whether they are serial killers or your own emotions.
Now if only I could rock a killer British accent. Ha! You gotta admit, that joke was funny.
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Chris' recap: "Last time on Total Drama Everything 2, Mega Man may have received the opportunity of a lifetime when he got a message from the future, instructing him to deliver several objects to his fellow competitors. And Mandy gave Ivy an ultimatum: work with her or leave. You see, that's why I like Mandy. She's nasty. Next, the competitors were all brought to New York City, where they all had to do a series of tasks in order to get to the finish line atop the Statue of Liberty. Oh, I love torturing these people. All eyes were on Yusei and Lammy, as they did their best to be as calm as possible after a rough few days. And just when it seemed they would be okay, BAM! Yusei gets knocked over by a guitar. Ouch. Traumatized by almost killing her boyfriend, Lammy threw the challenge on purpose and was quickly booted off the plane, though one wonders how the voting turned out, considering Toph cast the only vote in Lammy's favor. If that wasn't enough, Lammy then dropped a huge bombshell on Yusei and sent him a heartbreaking message. And I thought those two were something special, too. It almost makes me want to cry. *sniffles* Will Yusei overcome this new heartbreak? Will Mega Man make good use of his newfound mission? Will Ivy work with Mandy? And how will I stop crying after everything that's happened so far? Guess it's time to watch another episode of Total. Drama. Everything 2! *still crying*"
*theme song*
Deadpool and Julie were both in the cafeteria, discussing something of great importance to them.
"Are you sure we'll be able to talk to him?"
"Julie, someone needs to get him out of this funk he's in, and it's gotta be us."
"Still, I don't know. After what happened between me and Ben, I don't blame him for wanting to be alone."
"We both know and understand what he's going through. In fact, we've been where he is. You mentioned what happened with you and Ben. Like him, you've also gone through a recent break up. And I can't forget what I felt last season after you found out about Nom Nom. Believe me, I was devastated to lose my best friend."
Julie smiled. "I'm touched. And you have a point. If we truly know what he's going through, we might be able to get him back on his feet."
"Then let's go, best buddy!"
Both walked back to first-class and peered through the small window on the door. Sure enough, there sat the only person in the room. Yusei. He sat on the floor, leaning beside the wall. Deadpool and Julie both saw how his face looked absolutely miserable, his clothes looked ragged and unkempt, his hair looked messier than it ever had been before, and he sat completely still. The most haunting thing about it was his eyes. First off, there were several bags under them; proof he hadn't slept much in days. And surrounding the usual blue eyes, there was a lot of red.
"I'll go first," Deadpool told Julie. "He knows me better."
Julie nodded as Deadpool opened the door. "Hey, Yusei," Deadpool said cautiously.
Yusei simply looked at him, not saying a word.
Deadpool sighed and said, "You know, it's been a few days since…" He tried not to say New York, for that would have probably made it worse. "...our last destination. I'm sure we're doing another challenge today."
No response. Still, Yusei glanced at him, and he knew he was listening. Sort of.
"And…..we don't know where we're going, or what we're doing. Our challenge may involve mechanics, or hacking skills, or maybe even dueling. I know there's someone here that has awesome skills in all three."
Still no response. Yusei stopped looking at Deadpool.
"Yusei, if we're doing a challenge that involves any of those three talents, us Moons could really use a guy that knows this stuff. Wouldn't you agree, buddy? Wouldn't someone like you be able to take the team to victory if the challenge involved your skills?"
"Deadpool!" Julie whispered from the door. "Is that really supposed to help?"
"I'm not exactly a heartbreak therapist. What did you expect?"
As Julie rolled her eyes, Yusei finally spoke.
"I appreciate the effort, guys. But I need to be by myself right now."
Both sighed in defeat. "Okay," Deadpool said as they both left the room. "Sure. No problem."
As they closed the door behind them, Yusei looked at the door for a second, then turned his head away and shook his head.
"Well that could've gone better," said Julie.
"I know," Deadpool responded. "I thought he would have gotten over it by now. It must have been quite rough on him. The proof is how the past few days have been. TheMasterKat, show the flashback!"
(Author's Note: Fine. I'll show the flashback, but do not tell me how to do my job.)
Flashback:
Two hours after the elimination:
Deadpool was walking past the bathroom, as he went to the luggage room to get something out of it. He was suddenly stopped by what sounded like someone singing, but their voice was cracked and strained with sadness. And the song "Don't You Want Me" was also playing, and the sad voice was singing the chorus.
"Don't you want me, baby? Don't you want me, ohh? Don't you want me, baby? Don't you want me, ohh?"
Deadpool just walked away, looking slightly uncomfortable.
One night after the elimination:
The Moons were all sitting in first-class. Well, one was standing up and talking a lot.
"Who does she think she is? A crazy girl who thinks she can break up with as many guys as she likes? Well, I couldn't care less. I am going to be happy as can be. Can you guys see how happy I am? CAN YOU?!"
"And I thought Deadpool talked a lot," said Leo.
"Why would Lammy do it anyway?" Deadpool asked. "Those two were amazing together. Why would she just get out of dodge, break up with Yusei, and not even give a specific reason?"
Julie looked through the window again. "I guess it truly is rough for him. He's been pushed down a bit before, but never like this. Is he giving up?"
"I don't know, but if he can't pull himself together, the rest of the team will boot him off the plane first chance they get. Julie, we have got to get this guy back in the game. I don't mean the Dating Game either. I'm talking about the 'game' game."
"Then let's do it." She and Deadpool fistbumped.
As they turned, they saw Nom Nom walk through the corridor. "Move it, idiots," he said. "I need to get through first-class because Chris wants me to do something for him."
"You're going to have to go around," Julie said. "There's someone in there who really doesn't want to be disturbed."
Curious, Nom Nom looked through the window and laughed. "He really needs to chill. It was just one girl. You guys should tell him the best bit of advice when it comes to break ups."
"Which is?" Deadpool asked.
"Get over it."
Unfortunately, Julie just got frustrated. "You don't even care, do you?"
"Why should I?"
"Because I don't really believe this is how you want your own rival to be eliminated," Julie snapped. "He just got his heart smashed into a million pieces, and all you can give as help as to tell him to forget he was ever with Lammy in the first place? He needs some time."
"Well, I need a new camera. But we don't always get what we want, Julie."
Julie raised an eyebrow. "What happened to your camera?"
"It was sliced in half a few days ago. Deadpool."
"You're the one who wanted me to take a picture at the top of the Empire State Building."
"Yeah, but then you dropped it and tried to catch it with your sword." He showed the two the remains of his camera, which were two halves connected by a single wire (which was the only thing that didn't get severed by Deadpool's sword).
Deadpool just shrugged. "I'm sure Yusei could fix something like that in a heartbeat."
"Uh, Deadpool?"
"Oh. Right."
Nom Nom shook his head. "Let me know when he grows a brain and gets over it," he told them as he went back down the hall to take the detour. "Oh, and Deadpool, you got a message from some girl." He threw the device to Deadpool as he walked off.
"I forgot to mention," Deadpool told Julie. "I found something in the luggage room." He grabbed something behind his back. "Lammy's guitar? But how?"
"No idea." He looked at the message device. "I'll watch it later."
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"Why would Lammy leave her most valuable possession on the plane?" Julie asked. "It makes no sense at all."
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Nom Nom found the detour to the cockpit, but looked back and sighed. As shocking as it sounded, he truly did care about what had happened between Yusei and Lammy. After all, though he hated them, he thought they were a great couple. Besides, he still had the heavy weight of last season on his shoulders. Nom Nom looked at his two camera halves. No, this wasn't about his debt to the both of them. This was about seeing a former enemy giving up.
Why the heck did Nom Nom start caring about others? He would still be himself, still be the cold koala he once was, if that duelist hadn't shown up in the picture. He couldn't explain it, but last season's bitter rivalry might have intertwined themselves within the show. Like it or not, they were stuck with each other. And one half of that bond was in dire straits.
"Yusei, I hate you so much right now," Nom Nom muttered.
(Meanwhile…)
"Have you made your decision yet?" Mandy asked Ivy as they picked at the slop Chef had just served.
"You said I didn't have to until the next elimination," Ivy replied. "And I need that time."
Mandy just shook her head. "Didn't I already explain the terms? You work with me, or everyone finds out what happened to that stupid panda. Better decide. Chop chop." And she got up and left the cafeteria.
On the other side of the room, Toph had gotten a good-luck message, and was "watching" it at that very moment.
(Toph's message, submitted by MrTempleguy)
(Zuko is standing in a nearby cave looking a bit disgruntled.)
Zuko: Hello Toph. Your friends advised me to leave you a good luck message to prove that I know how to "be a good friend". I know that you and I aren't exactly best mates, but we can at least both agree that some people in this game are too weak!
(Zuko then pulls out a chalkboard with a bunch of people's name on it from the season.)
Zuko: Mandy and Gaz are easy to take out. Just convince them the other has been insulting the other. Yusei is a love sick dog, so just bring up Lammy and he'll be an emotional wreck. Connie may seem tough and smart so you can keep her as a teammate or an alliance member. Double D isn't strong in any way so you can use that. And Deadpool...
(Zuko then pulls out a tape.)
Zuko: This is thirty minutes of a guy saying how much Deadpool is a ripoff of Deathstroke! This should get him depressed! HA! And for Ivy, all you have to do is reveal her for her crimes or convince Chris that she's completely evil. Anyway...good luck.
*end*
Toph appreciated Zuko trying to help, but there were a few things she wasn't willing to do. For starters, she knew how dangerous Mandy and Gaz were, and she was trying to stay out of it. And Yusei was a friend. She would never want to make him any more depressed. He was right about Connie, though. She was a smart girl, and she had that sword. Zuko was wrong about Double D too. He wasn't strong in physical aspects, but he had brains. That counted for something. Deadpool? Ha! It seemed that Zuko hadn't known of the many times Deadpool boasted the fact that he was a Deathstroke ripoff.
But Ivy…
To tell the truth, Toph had been suspicious of Ivy since Egypt. At the end of that challenge, Ivy was the last one out of the pyramid, and she claimed she wasn't able to do anything properly without sunlight. According to her, that's what kept her from finding a statue. Thing is, despite the sand that always made things a little fuzzy for her, she knew Ivy was lying. And if she were to form an alliance with Mandy, the two would become unstoppable.
Perhaps now was the time for Toph to reveal what she knew about Ivy before that happened.
"Attention competitors," Chris announced. "We're about to land at our next stop. Look out the window and feast your eyes on London, England."
Several people looked out the window. Sure enough, they saw things like a big river, a giant ferris wheel, and a clock tower, among other things.
"They're not joking, are they?" Harry asked. "This isn't far from my home. Well, technically it is, but this is fantastic!"
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"First New York, now London?" Julie asked. "This is cool."
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"If we never get to go to Hogwarts, this is the next best thing," Harry said.
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"Ello, govnar!" Deadpool exclaimed. "I have always wanted to do that."
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"Yippee," Yusei said sarcastically, as he still looked down in the dumps.
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After the plane landed, everyone boarded a double-decker bus and drove two hours before arriving in London so everyone could see the sights. Nom Nom just did a facepalm as several people brought out cameras so they could take pictures. He also noticed Deadpool try to get Yusei to see some of the spots, only for Yusei to give him a glare.
"Sheesh, that is one serious depression," Deadpool said, which got him another glare.
After a few minutes of driving around, Chris grabbed the intercom speaker on the bus. "So competitors, what do you think of London?" he asked everyone.
"You have outdone yourself this time, Chris," said Leo.
"It's not that impressive," Mandy added.
"Just tell us the challenge," Gaz demanded.
"If you so insist," Chris announced, "there is actually no challenge. After the drama you guys went through in New York, Chef and I have decided to give you guys a free day. You guys can explore London as you please for the rest of the day."
Double D raised an eyebrow. "What's the catch?"
"No catch. Just go out there and have a blast. All you have to do is make it back here before 8 PM London Time. If you need to know the time, you have a giant clock tower called Big Ben to look at. And I must warn you to watch out on the streets. They can be very killer. Heh heh."
Moka and Mega Man glanced uneasily at each other.
"Don't worry, though. Nothing nefarious. This is your day off. Chef, stop the bus. This spot's good."
Chef nodded and stopped the bus in an empty parking lot next to the Thames, albeit a little too abruptly. A few people had to hold on to their seats.
"That's better. Everyone, you can go explore now. Have fun."
Almost instantly, everyone ran off the bus and outside, ready to explore.
Well, almost everyone.
"Yusei?" Julie asked. "Don't you want to come with Deadpool and I?"
The duelist was sitting by himself at one of the seats. "Thanks, but don't worry about me. You guys go have fun. I'll be fine."
Deadpool looked at him worriedly. "Are you sure?"
Yusei nodded.
"Okay," Julie said.
"See you, buddy," Deadpool said.
As they exited the bus, Yusei looked down and sighed. And Nom Nom looked at both Julie and Deadpool as they walked off.
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"When you see one person down, we all feel it," Nom Nom explained. "That much I've learned since last season. Even those of us who are usually apathetic to others can be affected by something like this. I think it is obvious to everyone here that this is something serious."
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The first thing several people did was climb to the top of Big Ben and see who could make it to the top. Others went to the London Eye, where they all took pictures once they got to the top. And Harry found Moka and Double D and led them down a few cobbled streets.
"Harry, where are you taking us?" Moka asked.
"You'll find out."
Five minutes later, all three came across a simple corner between two shops. Harry and Moka smiled, but Double D looked confused.
"Guys, what are you happy about?"
"Sorry, I forgot," Harry replied. "We're at the entrance to a famous place called the Leaky Cauldron. Unfortunately, I forgot that Double D isn't able to see it. And since I don't know what people in there think of vampires, I'll go in alone and get us each a butterbeer."
"What's a butterbeer?" Moka asked.
"It's this drink the Wizarding World has. Very popular, and very delicious. I have to warn, though, that it has a slight amount of alcohol. Not strong, however. Still, if you guys want something else in there, they have a few non-alcoholic drinks. What will it be?"
After figuring out what the Leaky Cauldron had on its menu, Double D and Moka placed their requests, and Harry stepped inside. Five minutes later, he came back outside with three different bottles; two butterbeers, and a bottle of cherry soda for Double D. He handed the bottles to the others.
"You weren't kidding," Moka said. "This is good."
"And they sure know how to make cherry soda where you come from," Double D pointed out.
Harry nodded. "Where do you guys want to go next?"
Both shrugged. So they just walked off. But as they walked down the street, Double D couldn't help but feel they were being watched.
(Meanwhile…)
Daxter had dragged Jak to White Chapel so they could see a few attractions related to Jack the Ripper.
"So this guy was wanted for killing several prostitutes?" Daxter asked.
"Doesn't look that tough to me," said Jak as they looked at one of those face standees.
Immediately, Daxter climbed up the standee and put his face through the hole. "I will kill you!"
"Nice one. Can I try?"
Jak put his face through the hole. "Wha ha ha ha ha!"
"Now this is fun," Daxter stated.
"I couldn't agree more." Both high fived.
(Thirty minutes later…)
Now Jak and Daxter were touring an old hotel, taking several pictures. "They weren't kidding when they said this place was creepy," Jak said.
"We've handled worse."
"Oh? More like I've handled worse, because it's usually me doing the heavy lifting."
"I steer rockets. That counts for something."
Jak rolled his eyes in amusement. Then he went to check out an old painting on the wall. "Huh, I'm guessing it's another Jack the Ripper thing. Looks really cool."
Daxter also looked at the picture, not noticing a dark shadow that was looming over them. Or the dramatic change in music.
"You gotta admire that beard he has," said Daxter.
"True."
Click!
"What was that?"
"Shut up and take a picture of me and the picture."
Jak grabbed the camera. But as he was about to take the picture, something loomed over the lens. Daxter finally saw it too.
POW!
Their screams echoed through the entire neighborhood. Mega Man heard it as he passed by that same building. Quickly, he ran into the building and up the stairs, but when he got to the top, neither Jak nor Daxter were anywhere to be seen.
"What the heck?"
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"I was pretty concerned," Mega Man said. "Those guys are teammates and friends, so it left me confused."
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Harry, Moka, and Double D found a strange notice taped to a wall in an alleyway. "What's this about?" Moka asked as Double D read the notice.
"Jack the Ripper is back! The Victorian serial killer has made his reappearance. Be on the lookout for a man wearing a dark cloak. Tall, can't see his face, wielding a gun and a knife."
"Interesting," Harry said. "Though highly doubtful."
"I agree," Double D added.
Moka looked at him. "How so?"
"Because if Jack the Ripper came from the Victorian era, he's probably dead now."
"And no magic can bring people back from the dead."
"What about time travel?"
Moka had a point. The boys agreed to that. "Still, there's no way we should be worried," said Double D. "This is probably some joke made by kids."
Then Moka looked at the wall, where a shadow was looming. "Joke, huh? Look at that!"
In response, all three looked behind them to see a tall man wearing a cloak, his face hidden by a hood. All three screamed, "RUN!"
Moka and Double D were able to escape, but the figure grabbed hold of Harry's clothes. And before Moka and Double D could do anything, the man had disappeared. And Harry was nowhere to be seen.
"This is bad," Double D said. "Moka we need to go find Harry."
"No use. He's gone."
"But Moka-"
"He's gone!"
Double D sighed. "You're right. The only thing we can do now is to make sure that guy doesn't get us too."
"Then we had better move before he comes back."
"Good idea."
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"She reminded me of Gaz at that moment," said Double D. "Great! Now I'm thinking about Gaz."
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Deadpool and Julie were walking back to the bus, holding a few souvenirs they had bought. "Ready for Plan B of Operation: Get Our Friend Back On His Feet?" Deadpool asked.
"We really need a better name for that," said Julie.
"I know. That's why you can also call it by its acronym. Operation: GOFBOHF!" (prounounced goff-boff)
Julie laughed at the acronym. "Okay, that is much better."
"I agree."
Julie stopped laughing, sighed, and walked into the bus while Deadpool waited outside. Just as expected, Yusei was still in there, sitting at one of the tables, completely still and completely miserable.
"Deadpool and I bought some souvenirs," she said calmly. "We thought you might want some."
Yusei looked at her. "Put them somewhere."
After Julie put the items in the closet (yes, the bus had a closet), she continued, "There's something else. Nom Nom found something in the luggage room." She held out Lammy's guitar. And this time, Yusei had a solid reaction.
"Keep it away from me! I don't want to even look at it!"
This scared Julie, so she threw the guitar out the window, where Deadpool caught it. "You're scary when you're depressed," Julie said, still freaked out. "Still, I'm not surprised you had that kind of reaction."
"Julie, I don't need this right now. Thanks for the souvenirs, but I just want to be alone right now. Go away."
Then Julie tried one more approach. "Did Deadpool tell you about what happened between Ben and I?"
Yusei nodded.
"See? I know just how you're feeling right now. Add the fact that I'm falling for Leo, and you can see that my mind is about to explode from all of this."
"At least you and Ben had a reason to break up. Lammy didn't say a thing to me."
Julie smirked. "Yeah. That's love."
"Love sucks. A lot."
"It does."
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Chris appeared suddenly in the bus. "Hi, guys! You know what that sound means."
"How did you get in here?" Julie asked.
"Don't ask questions. Just sing!"
Yusei sighed. "As if I didn't have enough to be mad about."
"Do I have to join in?" Deadpool asked from outside the bus.
"You have to have a couple of lines, but this one is mostly a duet with Yusei and Julie."
"Fine."
(Author's Note: One half of the duet is dealing with a nasty breakup that happened before the season, as well as having feelings for another competitor. Another half is dealing with a nasty breakup that happened just recently and for no apparent reason. Recipe for disaster! But it does give us a good song, a true TheMasterKat original. Mid-tempo, and with a rock-vibe, and it points out how much love can bite you in the butt. So this song is called "Love Sucks".)
Julie: If you think all love is easy, you're just plain wrong.
It can easily come back to haunt you, and it has for so long.
Ben and I were happy, and our feelings were so true.
But all we had has faded to black, and so have we too.
I once thought we'd last forever, and we wouldn't be full of woe.
I thought I knew everything, but now I know-
Yusei and Julie: Love sucks!
Julie: It leads to heartbreak, and I saw it with my own eyes.
Both: Love sucks!
Julie: You think it's fate, but then you'll just be asking why…
Both: Love sucks!
Julie: I thought I was acquainted with an angel in disguise…
But now I've come to realize….
Both: Love sucks!
Julie: Yusei, it's your turn. Are you up for it?
(Yusei just shrugged.)
Julie: Great.
Yusei: (sighing) I guess I've learned my lesson about the dangers of true love.
When I think of Lammy, she's an angel sent from heaven above.
Now she's also a heartbreaker and now I clearly see…
That love can lead to ruin, as it was the ruin of me.
I once thought we'd last forever, and we wouldn't be full of woe.
I thought I knew everything, but now I clearly know…
Both: Love sucks!
Yusei: We were together, and our future looked so bright.
Both: Love sucks!
Yusei: But now my broken heart is as black as the sky at night.
Both: Love sucks!
Yusei: I thought I was acquainted with an angel in disguise…
But now I've come to realize…
Both: Love sucks!
Julie: If that wasn't enough, my heart has been stolen again.
Yusei: She didn't give me a reason, and I wish my sadness could end.
Deadpool: I don't see any problem. Love problems, I have none.
Yusei and Julie: Well, then you're one of the lucky ones
Chris: Besides, you don't have love problems? You've had feelings for at least ten different girls, are currently in a dysfunctional marriage with a succubus, have an on-off relationship with Death herself, and you are stalking some imaginary author lady. No love problems? Ha!
Deadpool: Leave TheMasterKat out of this!
Julie: Can we finish our song now?
Chris: Sure.
Yusei and Julie: Love sucks!
Julie: It leads to heartbreak, and I saw it with my own eyes.
Both: Love sucks!
Yusei: You think it's fate, but you'll just be asking why…
Both: Love sucks!
We thought we were acquainted with an angel in disguise…
But now we've come to realize…
Love sucks!
Deadpool clapped in applause. "Bravo. I give that a Grammy!"
Julie laughed. Then she turned to Yusei. "Feel any better?"
"No." And he sat down, miserable again. Julie looked shocked as she stepped off the bus.
"And….he's back," Julie told Deadpool. "Plan B has failed."
"Figures."
Both walked away from the bus, but after five minutes, Double D and Moka crashed into them
"Guys? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"We might have, Deadpool," said Double D. "We need everyone to gather up at Big Ben. It's an emergency."
(Later…)
Everyone (except Yusei, Jak/Daxter, and Harry) had gathered at Big Ben to discuss what's happening.
"Okay, what did you guys see?" Leo asked.
"Jack the Ripper," Double D replied.
This answer left a few people confused, so Moka finished the answer. "We ran into Jack the Ripper earlier. Double D and I got away, but he grabbed Harry and ran off."
"I know what they're talking about," Mega Man added. "I heard Jak and Daxter screaming in White Chapel. By the time I got to the spot, they were gone."
"Did he take Yusei too?" Ruby asked.
"Uh, Ruby?" Deadpool asked.
"Oh, right."
Julie sighed. "What do we do?"
"We find a way to get our friends back," Mega Man said. "And try not to get captured too. And I suggest we go in pairs so each of us has some backup. Everyone pair up."
Deadpool and Julie high fived, Ruby and Sonic paired up, Double D and Moka nodded at each other, Mega Man sided with Connie, Ivy immediately went with Toph, Leo opted to go alone, and this left Mandy stuck with Gaz, an arrangement neither girl was happy about.
"Don't tell me everyone else is paired up!" Mandy exclaimed.
"Do I have to walk around with her?" Gaz asked.
Mega Man shrugged. "Deal with it."
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"Worst arrangement ever," Mandy said.
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"I can't believe I have to walk with that cow," said Gaz. "I think I would rather go back to the bus, wait with the mopey face, and take my chances with the serial killer."
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Nom Nom was looking through the city to buy a bunch of souvenirs Chris had ordered him to buy. And he wasn't happy.
"'Hey, Nom Nom?' 'Yes, Chris?' 'If you could go out and get me a few things from every thrift shop you can find, that would be great.' Ugh, I hate working for that guy!"
As he walked, he came to the bus and stopped at it. He didn't have to have Toph's powers to know Yusei was still in there, still miserable, still heartbroken. Nom Nom had heard about the latest attempt to help him, and even that didn't work. Aside from Toph, Deadpool and Julie were Yusei's closest friends left in the game, and even they couldn't do anything. And Toph didn't exactly have much skill when it came to this.
This reminded Nom Nom of the incident in Louisiana. At the time, he felt he was the only one who could possibly help. Everyone else was too far away to hear Yusei's calls for help after he got himself stuck in quicksand. Still, Nom Nom had seriously considered just getting someone else to help, and he almost forced himself to go. And he did it. Because he had to repay a debt to Yusei, as well as Lammy, since both had saved his butt last season.
This time, it was different. This time, Nom Nom knew, without a doubt, that he was the only possible person qualified to get his old enemy through this. Why? Because he knew the true Yusei, the one still inside that poor guy on the bus. And he knew that because they were rivals and polar opposites. And this wasn't about that debt. This was about getting his rival back.
"You got me in this mess," Nom Nom said. "And I hate you for it."
Of course, he still had to finish his errand with Chris before he could do anything about this.
(Meanwhile…)
Ivy and Toph were exploring the Tower of London, trying to find the missing competitors. "Deadpool told me he once visited this place," Toph said. "And what he did here was…..let's just say he's not allowed to come here anymore."
"I figured," Ivy stated.
At this time, Toph finally found the moment to confront Ivy. "It's a shame Po's not here to see this. Bummer."
Ivy got noticeably nervous, but she managed to hide it before Toph could question it. "Yeah. Bummer."
"I almost wish he didn't get distracted by the smell of roast chicken. That perfume sure was strong."
That's when Ivy stopped dead in her tracks. Toph knew.
"How?"
"You borrowed the perfume from me, remember? Actually, to tell you the truth, I had my suspicions since Egypt. You claimed being in that pyramid without sunlight made it difficult for you to do the challenge? Thing is, even when standing on sand, I can tell when someone's lying."
Ivy's mouth opened in surprise. She had underestimated this girl. "You think you're just so clever, aren't you?"
"And tell me. Were you behind Ash and Pikachu leaving too?"
"Dang it!"
"Just as I thought. Maybe after the challenge, I should tell everyone what you're up to. We've already had to deal with Nom Nom last season, and we are not dealing with you."
Unfortunately, their arguing alerted Jack the Ripper to their location. And he quickly found them.
"Uh, Ivy?"
"What? You going to point out other misdeeds?"
"No! I'm talking about that guy coming right to us!"
Too late.
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Jack the Ripper just shrugged.
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Later, Deadpool and Julie were having a conversation as they looked through Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.
"And that is why I am not allowed back in the Tower of London," Deadpool finished.
"Was the chicken really necessary?" Julie asked.
Deadpool nodded. "Yes, it was."
Both saw several of the statues. "Hey, I found another me!" Deadpool exclaimed as he spotted a statue of himself. "Sure is a handsome devil."
"Maybe with the mask on," Julie said, laughing.
They walked into another room, which was filled with a few Victorian figures. Deadpool ran up to a statue of Queen Victoria. "These all look so lifelike. Victoria looks real, Prince Albert looks real, and even those two Jack the Ripper statues look real."
"They have two statues?" Julie asked. In fact, one looked a bit too real.
Deadpool just smiled. "They must have wanted two. It makes sense."
That's when one of the statues lunged at Deadpool, but he was able to dodge just in time. Unfazed, the killer pulled out his gun and fired. Both Deadpool and Julie dodged in time, but now they were completely alert.
"That is one lifelike statue," Deadpool said, pulling out a small round ball.
"What are you doing?" Julie asked.
"Magic." And he threw it on the ground, and it immediately exploded into a giant puff of smoke. As Jack the Ripper tried to clear it, Deadpool and Julie made a run for it, and didn't stop until they were blocks away from the building.
Julie knelt down on the ground, panting. "Think we lost him?"
"Yeah. He caught us off guard that time, but if we run into him again, we'll catch him."
(Montage time!)
Ruby and Sonic were on the London Eye, trying to spot the killer from the top, but they failed to notice the killer was right behind them, and they were taken.
Double D and Moka were caught soon after, trying to search through Big Ben, only for them to bump straight into the killer as they got to the top.
Lastly, Mega Man and Connie were walking across the London Bridge when the killer jumped on them both, and he was somehow so strong that even Mega Man couldn't escape.
(Montage over)
"Do you know if anyone's left?" Deadpool contacted to Leo through the walkie talkie.
"I can't contact Ruby, Sonic, Double D, Moka, Mega Man, or Connie at all," Leo said. "So either they're too distracted, or Jack the Ripper got to them."
Deadpool huffed in frustration. "And where are you now?"
"White Chapel," Leo replied. "Is Julie safe?"
"She's with me. We're both fine."
"This place is creepy. No wonder he did his dirty work here." All of a sudden, Leo tripped and dropped his tome. "Oh, perfect!"
"What?" Deadpool asked.
"I dropped my tome. Wait, someone picked it up. He's handing it to me. Thanks, sir…..Hold on, is that…...Deadpool, it's Jack! He found me! Protect Julie! Get Chris! Do something, because I-!"
The line went dead right there. "Leo?!" Julie called frantically. "Leo!"
Then she saw the look Deadpool gave her. "Oh, shut up."
Deadpool put the walkie talkie in his pouch, then started pacing. "This is getting stupid. We need to do something now! It's us, Gaz, and Mandy left. Though I have a strange feeling we've forgotten something."
"Me too. I don't get it. We'll just have to get Chris. It's getting late, but I don't think he's at the…..bus….."
Both realized something sickening at that moment.
"Oh no!"
"Yusei's still on the bus!"
"He's a sitting duck, especially in his current state!"
"We gotta get to the bus now!"
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"Lammy, I hope you're happy," Julie said.
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"Thanks to you, your ex may already be Ripper food by now!" Deadpool exclaimed.
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Nom Nom, having finally finished shopping through the city, walked to the bus. "Here we go," he whispered as he walked in. Sure enough, Yusei was still sitting next to the window. And he seemed worse than before. That was one serious heartbreak.
"Do you mind if I put a few things in here?" Nom Nom asked.
Yusei slightly shook his head.
"Okay then." After pretending to put something in the closet, and spotting the guitar, he looked back at Yusei. "You look like a wreck. Personally, I think it's a good look for you."
Yusei just glared at him. "I don't want any of this right now."
Nom Nom nodded. "You're right. I'm sorry."
"It's fine. And know that I don't hold anything against you for….what happened. You only delivered the note."
"Yeah. I know."
Then he climbed up to the top of the seats. "Chris asked me to check a few things in the bus. Pardon me."
He pretended to look through the top of the bus before being interrupted.
"Don't pretend I don't know what you're trying to do, Nom Nom. This is something you just can't fix."
The koala's cover was blown. Still, he kept calm. "Deadpool and Julie failed, and they're your friends. So….."
Yusei sighed. "Do you want to know something about me? I had never had a girlfriend before Lammy. I had never taken a girl out on a date, I had never had to worry about what to give to a girl for Valentine's' Day, and I certainly never kissed a girl before that day in Riftstone Manor. So I have never known true heartbreak until now.
"Lammy was one of the most amazing people I have ever met. She's smart, funny, and just plain wonderful. How many people can you say that about? Not many. In between seasons, we both visited each other's worlds. I met her band, she met my friends, and she even beat my friend Jack in a duel. He still hasn't gotten over it. But now it seems like all that was for nothing. She broke up with me. And what bothers me the most is that I don't know why. I loved her. I still do. But what good is that now?
"When you have your heart broken into a million pieces for no reason, it really hurts. And I don't think I can do this game anymore. Not after everything that's happ-"
Nom Nom just exclaimed, "Stop! Just stop right there. You can't give up now. You're a member of the Mysterious Moons. A team that needs you. You can't just throw that away over a girl."
"What do you know about love? You've never had a girlfriend either."
"So? I at least understand that you've hit an all-time low, and you have to climb back up from that low."
"Is this about the whole debt thing?"
"This is not about my debt. Not this time. I just don't want you to quit for this stupid reason. Yes, Lammy was your girlfriend. Yes, she broke up with you out of the blue. And yes, none of us know why. But instead of worrying about what happened in the past, focus on what's happening here and now, and get back in the game."
Yusei shook his head. "I don't think I can, Nom Nom."
"But Yusei-!"
"I just can't!"
Nom Nom was officially frustrated now. "That's it. My hand has been forced." He climbed off the seats and walked towards Yusei. "Literally."
SLAP!
It took a minute for Yusei to get over the shock, then he rubbed his face. "What was-?"
SLAP!
"Nom Nom, what are you doing?!"
SLAP!
"Duh, idiot. You've lost all sense you had, and I'm slapping it back in."
SLAP!
Then Nom Nom said, "Listen up, Yusei. If you give up on this game, it will be the worst mistake of your life. You have made so many friends here. If you give up, you're really going to let them down. And I *SLAP!* am not *SLAP!* going to let *SLAP!* that *SLAP!* happen!" *SLAP!*
Yusei rubbed his face again. "You slap hard for a koala."
"Good. It would never sink in if it didn't hurt."
Thankfully, it looked like Nom Nom was done with the slapping. "Look at you. You're usually the guy who never quits, and is always there for his friends. Just like you were there for an enemy way back last season during the fortress challenge. The only reason I didn't die that day is you stayed on that bridge and held on long enough for Superman to get us out. And why were you able to keep your calm that day? Because back then, you were you. All that mattered to you that day was someone else. You ran into action, not even thinking of the consequence. You were full of courage, and of pure guts. That's the person that became my greatest adversary, and that's the person I have grown to respect."
He paused a few seconds before finishing, "If only I knew where that person was, because right now, I don't see him."
Silence. "Nom Nom, I-"
"Shocking, huh? You know, our rivalry started when you threw a snowball at me to protect someone you barely knew at the time. Someone I called pathetic. Now, it's clear to me that I was wrong that day. YOU'RE the pathetic one."
This had the reaction Nom Nom was hoping for. Surprise at himself and at Nom Nom.
Nom Nom finished up in a softer tone. "Do you understand what I'm saying? Your team needs you, Yusei. Now are you going to sit here, give up, and let them down; not to mention take everything you have done to get here since last season, and let it all be for nothing? Or are you going to be the fearless duelist everyone knows you are?"
He got up to leave. "Just a little something to think about." And he got off the bus, leaving Yusei sitting there, confused and shocked.
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"What the heck just happened?" Yusei asked.
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Mandy and Gaz were hardly looking at each other as they looked around Buckingham Palace, trying to find the others. And neither were speaking to each other either.
That is, until Mandy said, "You know, I am trying to align with someone right now."
"Let me guess. Ivy?"
"Dang it! How did you know?"
"I'm not stupid. What do you want from her? And why tell me this?"
Mandy raised an eyebrow. "You know why."
Gaz smirked a little. "You really think you could scare me that easily? I don't get scared."
"Yeah, sure you don't."
"Aren't you aware that Ivy might not be the most trustworthy person out there?"
"Oh please. I am completely capable of making her do my bidding."
"Oh, you did a really good job making Nom Nom do your bidding last season."
"He turned out to be a far more cunning strategist than I thought! He caught me off guard!"
"Boo!"
Jack the Ripper had found them, but neither girl screamed. Instead, Mandy pushed Gaz into him.
"YOU JERK!"
"So long, copycat!"
And Mandy ran off as fast as she could, away from the killer. "That felt amazing."
(Later…)
"There's the bus," Deadpool said to Julie.
"I hope we got here in time," Julie said as they ran towards the bus. "Yusei, you in there?"
Deadpool called out, "Yusei, you need to get out of there. Now."
Yusei heard their voices and looked out the window. "Guys?"
"Dude, you need to run," Julie stated.
"Why?"
"Because-"
POW!
"Because of him!" Deadpool exclaimed as he dodged Jack the Ripper's shot.
The killer cracked his neck and pulled out a sharp knife, while Deadpool pulled out his swords. "Get behind me, Julie."
"Can you guys explain to me what's going on here?" Yusei asked.
Julie nodded. "It's Jack the Ripper. Heard of him?"
"Yeah."
Deadpool deflected a blow from the knife. "I don't know how, but he's here, and he's taken most of the others."
"Okay, that's bad."
"No kidding!"
The killer attacked again, and Deadpool blocked. "This guy's good," he told Julie. "Any ideas?"
"I'll distract him. That should give you time to get him."
"You sure?"
"Do you have any other ideas?"
"Good point."
Julie quickly past the bus, hoping to catch the killer's attention. Yusei watched her run, a little nervous for both her and Deadpool.
The killer went after Julie, and Deadpool saw his opportunity. Unfortunately, the killer saw this and slashed his knife at him, and Deadpool only barely dodged. Now he and the others knew how serious this was.
"Deadpool, watch out!" Yusei called.
Sure enough, thanks to the warning, Deadpool dodged another attack, but not enough, and the blade caught his shoulder. Though it healed almost instantly, he was starting to get a little scared.
For starters, he had not prepared to have an all-out fight with one of the most notorious serial killers in history.
Second, where had he seen those moves before? They seemed familiar.
The killer looked at Yusei and aimed his gun. Yusei ducked under the window, sighing in relief. All of a sudden, he doubted the bus was a safe place to be in at the moment.
He heard the commotion outside, the fight between his friends and a serial killer. He knew they needed his help. They were getting destroyed. Still, Yusei didn't know. Could he really do it? He still felt doubtful. Could he really help his friends after everything that had happened with Lammy?
That's when he remembered what Nom Nom had said.
"Now are you going to sit here, give up, and let them down; not to mention take everything you have done to get here since last season, and let it all be for nothing? Or are you going to be the fearless duelist….."
"...everyone knows I am?" Yusei said, finishing what Nom Nom had said.
He heard the fighting outside, and looked at the closet, which held Lammy's guitar. The one she had left on the plane.
Nom Nom was right. Yusei's team needed him, and he couldn't let them down.
No matter what.
And just like that, Yusei's eyes set into a determined stare.
(Outside the bus…)
The killer was starting to wear both Deadpool and Julie out. Neither one could get the upper hand for long enough. In fact, both were starting to get worried.
"I know I saw those moves somewhere before," Deadpool told Julie.
"Maybe you should stop worrying about that and concentrate on beating him."
"Right."
Then the killer saw an opening and side swept Deadpool's legs, making him fall to the ground and drop his swords. Julie helped him get up and he pulled out his gun, only for the killer to kick it out of his hand, much to their surprise.
"Okay, I'm starting to really hate this guy," said Julie. "At least you have a healing factor."
"Yeah, but you don't, so you might want to get behind me again."
The killer readied his knife while Deadpool and Julie braced themselves. Just when he was about to strike…..
…...something hit him in the back of the head, making him stagger slightly. He turned to see what had happened. Deadpool and Julie saw it too.
And they saw a card whizzing through the air and into Yusei's hand, where he put it back into his deck.
"Woah," Deadpool said.
"I know," said Julie.
Yusei looked straight at the killer. "Back off now before this gets worse."
Jack the Ripper didn't seem unfazed. He just looked right back knife ready.
"I guess we're going to have to settle this the hard way," Yusei said. "Deadpool, Julie, you get out of here. I'll take him on." And Deadpool noticed he had Lammy's guitar.
"We're not leaving you," Julie said. "Not a chance,"
"Then find a place to hide. Don't worry. I have this handled."
Deadpool just shook his head. "Yusei, with all due respect, you're not exactly a fighter like I am. Do you even know what you're doing?"
That question made Yusei think for a moment. Deadpool was right. He wasn't a fighter. Yes, he had saved the world before. But that was with his cards. Yusei wasn't known for straight-up fighting. And when he was in Snake's alliance last season, his role was more of the strategic informer. He didn't have Snake's experience, Sam's gadgets, Toph's powers, or even Lammy's guitar.
Well, he did now. He owed it to Nom Nom. And to his friends.
"No," he replied to Deadpool. "But I'm doing it anyway."
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"Now that was a quote," Deadpool squealed. "Make it last, readers!"
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They knew there was no changing Yusei's mind. "Then good luck," Julie said. Yusei nodded as Julie ran with Deadpool to a tree nearby, granting them a good spot to watch the fight.
"Just focus," Yusei told himself. "Think of this as another duel, only with no decks."
He turned to the killer. "I don't know why you're here, or why you're hurting my friends, but I am not going to let you mess with them again. Got that?"
And he held the guitar, ready to fight. The killer threw his knife to the ground and pulled out a sword. And this sword looked awesome. Yusei's eyebrows raised for a second in surprise, but immediately got focused again. "Okay, this just got interesting."
Deadpool looked at the sword. Just like the killer's moves, he had seen the sword before.
The killer started charging, sword ready. Yusei got the guitar, also ready to charge.
"Let's rev it up," he muttered as he also charged.
(Author's Note: For those of you who don't watch Yu-gi-oh, each protagonist has his own catchphrase. "Let's rev it up" is Yusei's catchphrase.)
The sword and guitar clashed for a few seconds, but Yusei was able to eventually slide the guitar free, something that surprised Ripper.
Yusei couldn't help but grin a little. Despite not being known as a fighter, he had received some hand-to-hand combat training in the past. And it was paying off today. The killer charged again, but Yusei did a sideward roll away from the sword. Once he was behind the killer, he swung the guitar behind him, and the while the killer was able to deflect it, he was a bit surprised.
"Surprised?" Yusei asked. "I thought so."
(Behind the tree…)
Deadpool couldn't believe his eyes as he watched the fight. It wasn't the fact that Yusei was actually standing up to Jack the Ripper. It was Yusei himself. He seemed…..calm. And focused. And determined. It wasn't that he wasn't scared. That killer made Deadpool scared, so Yusei was probably scared too. But he wasn't showing it. Deadpool had never seen this side of him before.
Unless….
Of course! This must be what Yusei is like whenever he's dueling someone in that card game. Showing no fear, but remaining focused and determined. Even if he was scared, he wouldn't let that get in the way. Ready for whatever may come his way. And no matter what, Deadpool knew his friend would rise to the challenge.
Perhaps now, he and Julie were getting a glimpse of who Yusei really was.
"Whoo!" he cheered. "Kick his butt!"
(Meanwhile…)
Yusei was startled by how good of a fighter the killer was. He certainly had more experience than he ever would have when it came to fighting. And the fight was starting to take its toll on him.
Still, he didn't let it show.
"Still want me to give up?" Yusei asked. "Not a chance." He blocked another strike with the guitar and side rolled, hoping to catch Ripper by surprise.
This time, however, the killer was ready. As quickly as possible, he grabbed Yusei's ankles and pulled him off the ground. The duelist, now upside down, started trying to escape.
"Hey! Let me go!"
As though he wasn't listening, the killer started spinning around, and as he did, he spun Yusei around by the ankles. Several times, they spun around in circles.
"Hey! Stop!"
Not even that could stop the killer. And poor Yusei was starting to feel sick. Finally, the killer let go and sent Yusei flying, only for him to slam right into the bus, while also slamming his head on the side of the bus. He groaned as he slid off, holding his head.
(Behind the tree…)
Both Deadpool and Julie flinched when Yusei hit the bus.
"Is he okay?" Julie asked.
"I hope so."
It was starting to click for Deadpool and Julie. The weapons, the fighting skills, even how brutal his fighting style seemed to be.
There was only one person who had those weapons, those skills, or that fighting style.
And they knew him from last season.
Deadpool tilted his head. "Dante?"
(Meanwhile…)
The killer grabbed his gun and walked towards the duelist. Yusei looked at the killer, his head hurting. Heck, it was taking a lot of effort not to pass out. And it felt like the killer threw him a little too hard, because his ankle looked sprained. And felt sprained. He knelt on the ground, guitar in hand and breathing heavily.
Despite that, he held onto the guitar the entire time, and he had one last idea. Deadpool had once showed him a neat little move when someone's back was to the wall. Yusei decided now was a good time to try it.
Just as the killer aimed his gun, Yusei took the guitar and pushed it hard against Ripper's legs, causing him to fall to the ground, and both the sword and gun went flying out of his hands. Yusei walked to him, and before the killer could stand, he pointed the guitar at him, doing his best to keep standing up while ignoring the pain in his ankle and head.
Just as suddenly, the killer raised his hands in surrender. Then, also as suddenly, he started glowing and then disappeared just as Deadpool and Julie ran back to the area. Yusei knelt back on the ground, relieved.
"I can't believe it…...I did it….I…"
The pain he felt in his head finally got to him, and he collapsed in Deadpool and Julie's arms…
(Later…)
Well, he was definitely moving. Yusei knew that. Probably on the plane. And he was almost convinced the past few days were all a dream, and New York never happened. He half-expected Lammy to shake him awake and whisper "Wake up, sleepyhead", like she usually would, but then two completely different voices brought him right back down to Earth.
"Yusei? Dude, can you hear us?"
"Earth to Yusei? Come on, buddy."
Feeling a little disappointed, Yusei opened his eyes, and both Deadpool and Julie were looking at him, worried. He also knew how he was moving: he was back on the bus. He was laying on a bench that had been flattened out into a small bed.
"Ha ha! Base, the cadet has returned," Deadpool chimed out. "I repeat, the cadet has returned."
Both Yusei and Julie rolled their eyes. "Are you feeling okay?" Julie asked Yusei.
"Not too bad," Yusei replied. "Other than the fact that my head feels sore."
Julie shrugged, then turned to Deadpool. "I'll get the others." She moved out of the way and went down the aisle.
"What happened?" Yusei asked Deadpool.
"When Jack the Ripper threw you at the bus, you slammed your head and got a concussion," Deadpool replied. "That, plus the effort you put into beating him, caused you to pass out. And also, when he threw you, he sprained your ankle."
Yusei looked to see that his left boot was off his foot, and his ankle was bandaged up. He then lifted his hand and saw a similar bandage was wrapped around his head. "Figures," he said.
"And boy, were you out of it? And you WERE out of it for a full hour, in case you were wondering. However, we called someone to look at your injuries, and they should be completely healed up by next challenge."
"Next challenge?" Yusei asked. "Wait, what about Jack the Ripper?"
Deadpool bit his lip (barely noticeable through his mask). "Turns out, the whole thing was a challenge."
"Huh?"
At that moment, everyone else came to their side of the bus. "Yep, we got you," Chris said. "It was all a challenge. Oh, and I hope you're not willing to sue us for this."
Yusei shook his head. "I think I'll let this slide."
"Thank God, then."
"Has anyone told you that you're even crazier than Deadpool?" Mandy asked Yusei. "Because you are."
Deadpool looked at her. "Hey!"
"Crazy or not, that fight was amazing!" Ruby exclaimed. "Both sides were all like POW!, then BAM!, and when you side swept the killer, that was the best part of all."
"I didn't think I could do that part to be honest," Yusei told her. "Chris, what's this about the whole thing being a challenge?"
Chris explained, "Did you see the Jack the Ripper challenge from World Tour?"
"Yes."
"We decided to bring it back, but with a surprise twist. No one knew Jack the Ripper was chasing them. The goal was to either last the longest or capture him."
Yusei nodded, but he had another question. "What about the killer? If this was a challenge, who was he?"
Chris laughed. "We were going to have Ezekiel do it again, but we decided to use someone a little less feral. I believe you guys recognize him."
At that moment, someone popped up from behind the seat. He was still wearing the Ripper costume, but his face was visible now. And he was a shock to Yusei.
"Dante?!"
"Yep. Chris promised to pay me $5,000 dollars if I went as Jack the Ripper for the challenge."
"So none of us were in any real danger?" Yusei asked.
Dante shook his head. "I was given two guns that look like my trusty Ebony and Ivory, except they shot paralytic darts. The knife is Snake's stun knife, which I borrowed. As for the sword, it was the only real weapon of mine I was allowed to use, and only to scare everyone. After I captured someone, I brought them to a room so they could watch the rest of the challenge on camera."
"You were behind everything?"
"Yep. Oh, and, uh, sorry for, you know, knocking you out."
Chris turned to him. "Speaking of which, I'm cutting your pay in half."
"What? Why?"
"Because part of the agreement was that you wouldn't truly hurt anyone. Did you really think throwing someone into a bus wouldn't hurt that person?"
"I got carried away, okay? It was a fun job, and I enjoyed it too much."
"Too bad."
Dante just sat and grumbled. "So not fair."
Yusei couldn't help but laugh. "One more thing," he asked. "If I managed to capture him, does that mean-"
"Absolutely," Chris said. "You captured Jack the Ripper, a.k.a. Dante, and we said whoever lasted the longest or who captured him would win. So Yusei, since you did one of those two, that means today's big winners are the Mysterious Moons!"
The Moons all cheered, and every single one of them, including Gaz, high-fived Yusei.
"And that means the Shooting Stars are once again going to the elimination room. Time to find out who sucked the worst."
(Later…)
On the plane, in Economy, Ivy found Mandy and approached her.
"Yes, Ivy?"
"I'm in, but on one condition."
"Name it."
(Meanwhile…)
In first class, Yusei had something hidden under a sheet, something he was working on. As he worked, both Deadpool and Julie walked up to him.
"What are you working on?" Julie asked.
"Just a little something I had heard about earlier," he replied. "I can't let anyone else see it, though."
Deadpool shrugged in agreement. "Hey, Yusei, Julie and I want to say thanks for helping us down there. Yeah, he wasn't going to kill us, but still. That was cool. Heck, that was the awesomest fight I have ever seen!"
"No problem," Yusei responded. "And I want to say I'm sorry for how I acted."
Julie nodded. "Out of curiosity, what exactly happened to you down there? One minute, you were moping. The next, you were full-on Boss Mode."
Yusei smiled, choosing his words carefully. "Let's just say that while I was on that bus, something slapped some sense into me, and I learned a few things. I let what happened between myself and Lammy get to my head, and because of that, I almost gave up entirely. What happened between Lammy and I, it still stings. And it may be a while before I completely get over it. But I'm not going to let it overcome me again. I lost myself, but now I'm back in action. I'm going to do whatever I can for my team."
Deadpool jumped up and cheered, "Whoohoo! Our buddy's back!"
"Okay, okay, don't announce it to the entire plane!"
"Sorry."
Julie held up the guitar. "By the way, what do you want to do with this?"
Yusei thought for a second. "I'll put it back in the luggage room. None of us have any idea why Lammy left it here, but I'll return it to her first chance I get."
He, Deadpool, and Julie all fist-bumped.
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"Well, today was a start," said Julie.
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"Operation: GOFBOHF didn't go how we planned, but our buddy's back!" Deadpool yelled. "Oh, and I asked Yusei if he could teach me how to play that game. I've kinda wanted to learn since I got chased around by Stardust Dragon."
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In the elimination room, the Stars saw Chris walking in with the bags of peanuts. "I have to admit, you all look nervous. But whatever. Let's see who takes the Drop.
"Mega Man."
"Moka."
"Jak/Daxter."
"Harry."
"Ivy."
"And Sonic."
This left Toph and Mandy, both looking calm.
"Alright, ladies. Let's get this over with. Mandy, you pushed a member of the opposite team into the killer to save yourself. That was a little too cruel, don't you think?"
"No."
"Whatever. Toph, I don't really know why you're here tonight. But whatever. The final bag goes to…"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"...Mandy."
Mandy caught her bag and gave Toph a smug look.
"Oh, save it," Toph snapped at her.
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"Mandy did give us a good reasoning," said Jak.
"Toph can control Earth, and knows when someone is lying," said Daxter. "Too much of a threat."
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"I'm not about to let you ruin everything for me," Ivy stated.
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Toph put on the parachute. "We're not over water, are we?" she asked.
"Nope. In fact, your parachute has a special feature that won't lead you to disaster."
Mega Man walked up to her. "I hope you know I didn't vote for you," he said.
"I know," said Toph. "I just can't believe it."
"Can I help you with anything?"
Toph nodded, and she and Mega Man hugged. But as they did so, Toph whispered something in his ear so only he could hear.
"Ivy's a witch. She eliminated Ash and Po, and was a major contribution to Snake's departure. And I am positive she had something to do with my elimination. Watch your back around her."
Mega Man pulled away from the hug, surprised. "Got it," he said. Toph nodded and jumped off the plane, leaving Mega Man standing there.
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"'Give Toph a hug'," Mega Man repeated from his message. "'She'll need it.' She needed a hug so she could warn me! About Ivy!"
His eyes opened in realization. "I think I may have an idea about how to use the rest of the items."
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Later, Ivy and Mandy met in the luggage room.
"A deal's a deal," Ivy said. "You helped me eliminate Toph, so I'll form an alliance with you, but I need to make somethings clear. We are equal partners. You're not my boss, and I'm not yours. Also, let's agree not to lie to each other or doublecross each other."
Mandy nodded. "Ditto. I'll help you keep a low profile, and you'll help me eliminate Gaz."
Both girls shook hands. "Now it's official."
What they didn't know was that Gaz was listening.
(Meanwhile…)
"Don't you still have that message to watch?" Julie asked Deadpool.
"Yeah. Thanks for reminding me." He took the device, ran out of the room to watch it, and went into the janitor's closet.
(Deadpool's message, submitted by Storygirl000)
(We open up inside of a warehouse. A teenaged girl with brown hair, brown eyes, glasses, and a pink t-shirt with "TEAM JULIE" written on it is looking at the camera.)
?: Hello, Deadpool! Name's Storygirl000-Story for short-and I have some valuable information for you! Whether or not you decide to share it is completely up to you.
(She clears her throat.)
Story: IVY IS MANIPULATING EVERYONE! SHE'S CAUSING PEOPLE TO GET ELIMINATED! LAMMY (I'm blocking this part of the message; sorry, no spoilers yet)! AND GAZ IS TOTALLY CRUSHING ON D-
?: Ahem.
(Story looks behind her, only to see Cable.)
Story: Um, hehe...guess you're mad I stole your video camera, aren't you.
Cable: Yup.
Story: Well, (bleep). Bye! (Disappears in a puff of smoke)
Cable: (Coughs) Well, since it seems like she was filming this for you...good luck and all that jazz, Deadpool.
*end*
The message ended, and Deadpool sat beside the mops, lost for words.
Was that girl telling the truth?
(Later…)
That night, Nom Nom had just gotten back from brushing his teeth, and was getting ready for bed. He was just about to lay down when he felt something hard on the mattress.
He lifted the bed sheets to find…..his camera.
And it was completely fixed. Good as new! He tested it out, and it worked perfectly. In fact, it worked better than it ever had before. The only way anyone could tell it had ever been broken was that there was a thin line right down the middle of the camera, where it had been broken in the first place.
There was only one person who heard his complaints about his broken camera earlier AND had the skills to fix and improve the camera.
He had only wanted to help, but he didn't expect this.
Nom Nom smiled. Being nice was completely new to him, but somehow, it wasn't as bad as he had thought.
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I said I might not update until after the holidays, but I finished my exams, so I thought "why not?".
Toph revealed to Ivy what she knew, and paid the price. And now Ivy is in an alliance with Mandy. But still, Toph secretly revealed Ivy's deeds to Mega Man, completing the hug part of Mega Man's list and giving him an idea on how to use the rest. Smart.
In the Aftermath, Dante had said he would help out in a future challenge. This was it. He made a brilliant Jack the Ripper, in my opinion. And he captured almost all of them before meeting his match. And it was a shocking match.
Remember when I said that whenever something personal hits Yusei, it hits him hard? If you read the reviews, you know MasterSaixus already mentioned this, but while personal things do hit him hard, he always fights back. Nom Nom was able to help with that by reminding his rival that sitting and moping wouldn't help his team, and that led to Yusei taking down Jack the Ripper (Dante). There's a reason why I like Yusei so much, and this is it. He is awesome! Deadpool and Julie put up a good effort, but it took a koala to finish the job.
Speaking of Deadpool, he got a mysterious message from someone and wound up learning about Ivy's crimes, Double D and Gaz's complicated history, and something about Lammy. Looks like things are getting interesting for him.
All of this led to my longest chapter yet, and a lot of fun.
Next up, the competitors have another interdimensional challenge in Moka's school, Yokai Academy. Here, they have to do everything they can to be scary. However, one student leads to one person showing their true power, and by the time one person can reveal what they know, it's already too late.
So remember to read and review, fav and follow, send in challenge ideas and locations, give me good-luck messages and audition tapes, let me know what questions to ask to the losers, and speculate what Deadpool now knows about Lammy.
Until then, Happy Holidays! Feel free to dig for presents, stuff yourselves with turkey and ham, and thanks to Vegetalucard for the competitor phone calls. TheMasterKat out!