A/N: Had this one in my database for a couple of years now, so I thought I'd treat you all to the end of summer with a summer vacation treat. Part of this was inspired by The National Lampoon's European Vacation movie along with some other elements such as obviously Rugrats in Paris. Please Read & Review and I hope you enjoy!
It was a bit of a normal summer day and we are shown the Pickles' backyard. Stu was grilling hamburgers and hot dogs to have a barbecue with his sons and wife along with their friends who decided to visit. Raul beamed as he was there, having the time of his life as he was making out with his girlfriend Malina while everyone else did a bit of their own thing.
"We need to get out of the city a bit," Tommy said as he looked at his video camera. "We should explore somewhere."
"Like go to Paris." Angelica smiled.
"Ooh, visiting Paris would be very nice," Lil beamed. "Especially meeting cute French boys~"
"Like they'd wanna meet you." Phil smirked at his twin sister.
"We've been to Paris before though." Angelica told them as she seemed to only remember.
Dil snickered. "If we'd been to Paris, I think we would've remembered something like that, Angelica." he told his cousin.
"We did go!" Angelica glared. "Where do you think Finster got his mom and sister from?"
"I think you're overreacting, Angelica." Tommy rolled his eyes.
"We did so go to France!" Angelica glared. "Ask anybody!"
Didi soon came by with buns to take out into the backyard.
"Mom, I think Angelica's lost it," Tommy said. "She said we've been to Paris... France!"
"Actually, we have," Didi smiled, much to the kids' shock. "You were babies at the time and Angelica was 3, but yes. We went there and that was where Mr. Finster met Mrs. Finster and Kimi."
The kids looked at each other in shock.
"Angelica was... RIGHT about something?" asked Phil. "It's the first sign of the apocalypse!"
"Oh, brother." Angelica rolled her eyes.
They soon all came into the backyard to join the barbecue.
"I still think we need to get out for a little bit," Tommy said as he filmed around the neighborhood. "Explore, ya know. Maybe travel across the country."
"That's pretty expensive." Zofia commented.
"Not if you have the right circumstances," said LJ. "Like if you won it in a contest or on a game show!"
"We could enter Chuckie in a quiz show," Phil smirked. "We'd win instantly."
"Unless he gets stage fright." Lil shrugged.
Chuckie looked bashful and pouted to his friends from that.
"Delivery for a 'Pickles, Dil'?" called the mailman as he came up the street. "Is there a 'Pickles, Dil' here?"
"Pickles Dil... That almost sounds like my name..." Dil said.
The others glanced to him.
"Oh, shoot!" Dil then said before running over. "Right here, man!"
"Congratulations, young man," The mailman replied, handing Dil an envelope that seemed to be slightly bulging in width. "Apparently you won something!"
"Wow! Thanks, dude!" Dil beamed as he accepted the envelope.
"Hope ya have fun." The mailman replied.
"Ah, I sure will!" Dil laughed as he came back in the backyard to show his friends and family.
"So, what's in the mail, dude?" asked Tommy.
Dil opened the envelope, and out of it stuck 28 yellow pieces of paper, along with a note. "Congratulations, Dil: you have won our 'Gross Encounters of the Weird Kind' photo competition with your entry, 'Brain Slugs from Planet X'. As a reward, please accept these passes for an all-expenses-paid trip across Europe!" he read. "Thanks, your friends at Bizarro Magazine."
"Whoa... I guess you weren't wasting your time with that magazine." Tommy chuckled to his brother.
"Oh, how exciting," Didi smiled. "A European Vacation."
"That's just the opportunity we've been looking for!" LJ exclaimed.
"How long would it be?" Stu asked as he put some kerosene in the grill.
"Mm... About two weeks." Dil replied.
"That still sounds great." Didi beamed in excitement.
"Come on, Martin and Jenny, help set the table." Zofia said.
"Why can't Raul do it?" The Mazinsky twins complained.
"Because Raul has company." Zofia said as Raul was kissing Malina while Didi put in more kerosene without knowing that was already enough while Stu looked at the brochure from the contest his younger son had won.
"I think that's a little too much kerosene..." David gulped.
"Guys, come on!" Zofia told Martin and Jenny.
"Oh, guys, can't Malina come along too?" Raul asked. "I can't bare the thought of being away from her for two weeks."
"Also, I've never been to Europe before." Malina added.
"Nice to see you're coming up for air..." Martin remarked sarcastically as he and Jenny helped set the table.
"I'm not sure if it'll be enough for her to come too, but I'd say to call your parents so we can all go on a little European Vacation," Didi smiled. "We used to travel all the time together with the other parents too, not just to Paris, but also on those times to Las Vegas or when we were supposed to go on that Lipschitz Cruise."
The kids all rolled their eyes at the name "Lipschitz", but all went to contact their parents anyway... And to get out of range just in case the overdose of kerosene caused an explosion. Stu soon sat down with the others to eat their burgers and hot dogs, covered a bit in ash from the kerosene explosion.
"Even if I can't go, just think of it as like before we met." Malina soothed Raul.
"But before we met, my life was horrible and meaningless," Raul replied. "Wasn't yours?"
"...Sort of." Malina said mysteriously.
"...I wanna know," Raul replied. "I am all ears."
"It sure was interesting..." Malina replied. "I'm sure it'll be okay though."
Raul sighed softly before they began to eat together.
"Well, our parents said we could come." said LJ.
"Same for our dad." replied Gaz.
"It's still nice," Didi smiled. "A European Vacation. Especially since we haven't been to Paris in a while. I'm sure Chaz and Kira would appreciate that too."
"Maybe," said Stu. "It oughta be fun... And it could gimme some new ideas for inventions."
"Still doin' that, huh, Mr. Pickles?" Zofia asked.
"But of course," Stu smiled. "It's my life's calling."
"I guess everyone's got one." shrugged Dib.
"And that's a yes from my dad," said Nergal Jr. "He said for me to take plenty of pictures while I'm there."
"Well, this trip won't be a total bust then." Gaz said since Nergal Jr was coming along for the trip.
"Maybe we'll even see Felicity and Chip around," Zofia said. "This'll be a nice little vacation adventure."
"Definitely!" LJ nodded as Kimberly and Chrissy came back.
"Well, my mom said I could come if I called her whenever possible." said Kimberly.
"My aunts said the same," Chrissy added. "Especially Aunt Sonata."
"She seems to be the most attached to you." LJ remarked.
"Yeah, out of all of them, she's more of a mother to me." Chrissy nodded.
"Aw... That's sweet," LJ beamed. "Guess this'll be the first vacation I've had with my girlfriends!"
Kimberly and Chrissy then both beamed back.
"Of course, we'll have to go over the map and the schedule," Stu suggested. "Luckily, I have a few things in mind. Now, the plane will fly us from here to London."
"That's Madrid, Dad." Tommy replied as he put mustard on his burger.
"Yeah, you're right, Tommy," Stu then said. "This must be one of those old medieval maps."
"Oh, boy." Angelica rolled her eyes.
"Well, that settles it," shrugged Phil. "Looks like the Rugrats are heading to Europe!"
"Again." Angelica then smirked.
"Yes, again." Phil rolled his eyes from that.
"I just hope I don't gain too much weight," Angelica groaned. "Food in Europe is fattening."
"Hey, wouldn't kill ya to put some meat on your bones," shrugged David. "You gotsa boyfriend or something to stay thin for?"
"Stay out of this, shorty." Angelica shook her fist at him.
"Ah'm just sayin'!" David replied. "This is a limited opportunity! If you're gonna eat, then I say eat as much as ya can! Eat big, eat hearty, and have fun with it, ya know?"
"Hmph..." Angelica rolled her eyes a bit.
David shrugged while tucking into his burger.
"London... I think Mom said we had family down there too." Lil then commented about the European vacation.
"Oh, yeah, our cousins Hedley and Smedley," said Phil. "Those two got you all obsessed with being perfect."
"Smedley." Raul couldn't help but chuckle from that name.
"I think I remember that now." Lil commented as she thought back a little.
"Yep..." said Phil.
"Wonder if we'll see Akito and Estelle and their friends coming with us?" Martin suggested.
"Hmm... That would be pretty nice," Kimberly replied. "Your cousins are pretty interesting."
"I guess we'll find out when the time comes." Zofia said while eating some potato chips.
"Yep..." said LJ. "In the meantime, we have a while to get packed!"
Nearby in the shadows, Despara, in raven form, was listening in. Once she'd finished, she spread her wings and flew back to Maleficent's location. Maleficent sat in her own personal throne, rubbing her hands together a bit as she stared out her window which had a very happy-go-lucky village across from her spot while she was in the dark and gloomy part of town, like many villains such as herself.
"I'm back, Mother," Despara said as she flew inside. "And I have news pertaining to the Schwartz boy."
"Ah, Despara, my favorite child," Maleficent beamed. "What news do you share with Mummy Dearest?"
"Apparently LJ and his friends will be travelling abroad, to a country called Europe." Despara reported, regaining her human form.
"Europe, eh?" Maleficent asked. "Do you happen to know where in Europe?"
"It could be the whole place," Despara guessed from what she knew. "They called it a European Vacation."
"Interesting..." Maleficent pondered.
"Should we follow them in disguise, Mother?" asked Despara.
"Yes, we shall," Maleficent replied. "It's time for a little vacation of our own, but of course, we can't tell your sister," she then glanced out to the happy village. "She's too busy writing her own story and slipping away from being rotten to the core. I guess the apple really DOES fall far from the tree," she then muttered a last bit. "I wonder if I would've had this trouble if I had taken in her brother instead?"
"What was that?" Despara asked from that last part.
"Oh, nothing, dear," Maleficent replied aloud then. "Let's just get ready to go ourselves."
"Right, then!" Despara replied, as she used her magic to change herself into an attractive-looking human teenage girl with jet-black hair with purple highlights and yellow-green eyes.
Maleficent soon changed herself a bit into a very beautiful woman in a slender black dress with dark brown hair with blue-gray eyes, almost like a very beautiful movie star like Angelina Jolie.
"Mother, you look amazing!" Despara complimented. "Nobody would recognize you in that form!"
"Oh, thank you, my dear," Maleficent replied. "And you look quite charming yourself."
Despara grinned. "I think I'll call myself Genevieve in this form, and your name shall be... Clarisse." she told her mother.
"Hmm... Those are interesting names..." Maleficent approved.
"I was hoping you'd like them." Despara beamed.
"I do," Maleficent replied. "Now, let's get going for our own little vacation. We'll follow after this LJ and his family to lure him into the dark side, much like when Atticus Fudo was young and King Sombra was still evil."
"Right!" Despara smiled. "And nothing will get in our way!"
But before they could get packed, they heard someone coming in.
"Hold on a minute, you two aren't going anywhere." A voice demanded.
"Who dares intrude in the home of Maleficent?!" Maleficent hissed.
"That would be... Me." said Mandy DeMisé as she stepped from the shadows.
"...Who are you exactly?" asked Despara.
"My name is Mandy and I wish to go with you in your evil plan against LJ Schwartz." Mandy demanded.
"A feeble little thing like you?" Maleficent asked.
"Yes." Mandy crossed her arms firmly with her eyes narrowed as always.
Eventually, Maleficent looked to Despara before she began to laugh at Mandy, not seeing her as much of a threat.
Despara joined in her mother's laughter as well, finding this wildly funny. "Y-YOU?!" she chortled like a classy Japanese woman. "Last time you tried to seize total power by taking over the Kids Next Door, LJ helped them beat you, not to mention... You're afraid of figure skaters!"
Mandy's eyes widened before turning away in a huff. "That's not a fear. I just don't trust the way they spin is all."
"Sure thing, dear, whatever you say," Maleficent replied. "I'm sorry, but we must go, we have more important things to worry about."
"Oh? Like that time your own daughter turned you into a gecko?" Mandy rolled her eyes. "That whole kingdom across the bridge from where you guys live looks so stupid anyway, and yet one of your own children would rather live there instead of here."
"I don't recall asking for your opinion, little wretch." Despara glowered, blasting Mandy with electric energy.
Mandy yelled out in pain and frustration.
"Now, if you'll excuse us, we have a country to visit." Maleficent told Mandy on the way out with Despara.
"Indeed," smiled Despara. "And if you have any brain in that head of yours, you'll keep out of this. It doesn't concern you."
Mandy growled at them. "I WILL NOT BE IGNORED!"
"Lock up when you're done." Maleficent said as she left with Despara for Europe.
The other villains at home noticed Maleficent was about to leave as they were in their own homes in hiding.
Soon after, a few days later, the group was packed and ready to head to the airport.
"Well, I think that's everything." Zofia said.
"Travel tends to make ya unsure sometimes." Kimberly commented.
"Tell me about it." Zofia nodded to that.
Chrissy was soon coming with her own luggage which was a bit excessive, though still less than what Angelica packed as she came with three young women who were her guardians.
"These are your aunts, eh?" asked Lionel. "Pleased to meet you!"
Cherry's eyes widened slightly.
"Yes, meet my aunts," Chrissy replied. "Adagio Dazzle, Aria Blaze, and Sonata Dusk."
"Does this airport have tacos?" Sonata asked. "I'm hungry."
"Probably," said LJ. "There are a bunch of restaurants around here."
"Sonata and her tacos..." Aria rolled her eyes.
"Well, hello there," Adagio smirked slightly to Cherry, standing beside her. "How nice to see you."
"Quite." Cherry rolled her eyes slightly.
"Mom, I know you and Chrissy's aunts don't exactly have the best relationship," said LJ, getting between them. "But try to get along with them. If not for you, then at least for me. I got them to stay out of trouble, and hopefully it stays that way."
"Hmm... All right..." Cherry replied. "I'll try for you, baby. Just know that it'll take some time for me to adjust."
LJ sighed. "Thanks, Mom. That's all I ask."
"Of course." Cherry replied, even if she didn't exactly smile.
LJ smiled anyway before hugging his mother. Cherry gave a bit of a hug back and patted him on his head.
"Some mother." Sonata commented.
"Hey, she's still a better mother than that lady Dr. Beverly Hofstadter," Zofia replied. "I hear that woman did experiments on her youngest son like a lab rat."
"Yep..." Martin replied. "Might explain some things."
The all grown up Rugrats gang soon came with their own parents in time before the flights would be boarding as they would first go into London which Phil and Lil's mother was a bit excited about since she had family down there.
"Man, I can't wait to see Winnie and Cedric again," Betty grinned. "Feels like I haven't seen those two since the twins were tots!"
"Heh... You probably haven't..." Howard smiled sheepishly to his wife.
"Those were pretty nice times," Betty smiled back. "We had a lot of fun, didn't we?"
Phil and Lil looked unsure about that, especially with meeting Hedley and Smedley.
"Well, we got our tickets, bags and whatnot," said LJ. "Now we just gotta get to the plane."
"They should be announcing us any minute now." Cherry replied.
Raul looked a bit depressed as Malina had to stay home because her family needed her home and the others could tell that he was just going to complain the whole trip about being separated from "his one true love". Eventually, they boarded the plane and made it on time as they soon went down the runway and took off to the skies for their brand new European vacation together.
"Well, look out, Europe: cuz here we come." LJ exclaimed.
"You've been warned, people!" added David.
"I just know you better stay out of my way." Angelica said as she put on some make-up to look presentable for cute foreign boys.
"Sure, sure!" David replied. "I wouldn't dream of getting in your way!"
"Little kids." Angelica muttered.
"Teenagers." David rolled his eyes to himself.
It was a bit of a long flight and most of the kids fell asleep, having their own little daydreams about what it would be like to visit Europe.