LEG 3

Phil introduces the audience to the next leg.

"This is Hiroshima, Japan. In 1945, it was the site where the United States ended World War II. Now, at the site of the impact, it became the first pit stop in a race around the world. Teams arrived here at the end of the last leg for a 12 hour mandatory rest period, allowing them to eat, sleep, and mingle with the other teams. The 9 teams waiting here have no idea what's in store for them. They have to figure out for themselves how to get to the next yellow and white route marker by finding clues they'll find in sealed envelopes."

"Can the teams with ghost powers continue to use those powers to their advantage? Will Sam admit to Danny her true feelings? And will Skulker and Technus recover from last place?"

"Ember and Youngblood, who were the first to arrive at 3:08pm, will depart at 3:08am."

Ember and Youngblood open the clue.

ROUTE MARKER 3.1: Fly to Sydney, Australia and find the world-famous Sydney Opera House. You may not use ghost powers to fly to Sydney but once you hit the city limits, you may use ghost powers to your heart's content. You have $309 for this leg of the race.

"Let's go!" Ember says.

They figure that Tokyo will give them the most flight options. They get in the bullet train and head for Tokyo as Tucker/Valerie and Vlad/Dan receive their clue in Hiroshima. Tucker looks at his PDA and finds a flight departing in 5 hours from Osaka.

"Let's go out of Osaka," Tucker says to Valerie, "That should get us a good lead."

"I agree," Valerie says, "and you know those punks Vlad and Dan will try for Tokyo."

But unbeknownst to Valerie and Tucker, Vlad was watching the PDA while invisible. He and Dan, who is also invisible, get on the same train as Valerie and Tucker and head for Osaka.

Meanwhile, Danny and Sam and Dash and Paulina get started. They head to a travel agency in Osaka and find that flight. They each head to Osaka on the same train. During the ride, Danny and Sam comfortably sit close to each other, a motion that Dash finds unusual.

"Geeks!" Dash scoffs.

"Blegh, I could do a lot better than that, Sam," Paulina adds. "But I guess that's why you're Sam."

Sam just glares back.

"I hate them," Sam says about Dash and Paulina in her confessional, "I wish they would just go out in this leg."

Jack/Maddie, Jazz/Lancer, Spectra/Desiree, and Skulker/Technus depart within the next hour, also spotting the Osaka flight. Meanwhile, Ember and Youngblood wind up in Tokyo, 2.5 hours before the Osaka flight departs. They see the Osaka flight and curse themselves.

"Can we get back there in time?" Youngblood wonders.

"We're going to darn well try," Ember responds.

They rush back to Osaka, making it with mere minutes to spare. All 9 teams wind up on even footing on the same flight to Australia.

16 hours later, the teams land in Sydney. The city limits are still 20 miles away, meaning no ghost powers yet. Danny and Sam get out of customs first and grab the first taxi. They debate whether or not to use ghost powers.

"Let's just use the taxi. Traffic doesn't look that bad," Sam argues.

"But...ghost powers...fly invisible!" Danny says.

Sam ignores him, perhaps trying to play hard-to-get with him. Danny sits there, disappointed.

Meanwhile, the other ghost pairs get in taxis and head for Sydney. Vlad/Dan, Ember/Youngblood, Spectra/Desiree, and Skulker/Technus try to catch up to the high school best friends in the lead but to no avail. Then the other four teams hit the limits. The teams take off and search for the Opera House. In the taxi, Danny's ghost sense goes off and Sam sees it.

"You win, Danny." Sam says in humility.

She covers Danny with her body, letting him change into Danny Phantom. The taxi driver is shocked at what he sees in his rear view mirror.

"What a pair of lovebirds," the taxi driver says.

"We're not lovebirds!" Sam responds.

"Believe me," Danny says in his confessional, still naïve of Sam's intentions, "it was a fake-out make-out."

Danny then turns invisible and takes Sam with him. They then fly out of the taxi. Back by the airport, traffic has gotten worse, much to the dismay of Tucker/Valerie, Dash/Paulina, Jack/Maddie, and Jazz/Lancer.

"Look," Jack says to the taxi driver, "I'll give you $100 US more if you can get us out of this traffic."
"Jack," Maddie worries, "we need the money."

"Stop your nagging!"

Jack gives the taxi driver more money, propelling them into 6th place. Back downtown, Vlad and Dan reach the Opera House first.

ROUTE MARKER 3.2: Make your way to the Manly District. Outside Red Balloon Days Parasailing, you will find your next clue. Ghost powers allowed to get there.

Vlad and Dan take off for the Manly District. Ember and Youngblood reach the Route Marker shortly thereafter and head after them.

Danny and Sam are able to go faster now that they are in the air. They reach the route marker in third. Spectra and Desiree and Skulker and Technus arrive simultaneously in fourth place.

Meanwhile, Jack's strategy seems to have paid off. He and Maddie reach the opera house in sixth place as Vlad and Dan reach RBD Parasailing. They open the clue to reveal a Detour.

DETOUR 3: Through the Air or Through the Sea

Through the Air: Take this parasail out to 2000 feet up and parasail down to a target area 5 miles away where you will receive your next clue.

Through the Sea: You must water-ski through 5 gates arranged in a slalom pattern. Once you complete it, you will be taken to the target area where you will receive your next clue.

Ghost powers may not be used for either challenge.

"Would you like to try the air?" Vlad suggests.

"Might as well," Dan responds. "We're there all the time."

As they head off for the plane that will take them up, Danny and Sam get ahead of Ember and Youngblood by flying invisibly. They get to the Detour in second place and choose air as well. Ember and Youngblood arrive third and go for sea, given their experience on the ocean.

Meanwhile, Jazz and Lancer arrive at the Opera House in seventh. Dash and Paulina arrive eighth and Tucker and Valerie arrive last. All of these teams get back in their taxis and head for the Manly District.

Above the target area, Vlad and Dan begin their descent. It is an exhilarating experience. Vlad begins to force the parasail down. It crashes, meaning $100 US comes out of their pocket to fix the parasail. After they pay up, they receive their next clue.

ROUTE MARKER 3.3: Head to the beach nearest the Great Barrier Reef to find your next clue. Ghost powers not allowed, you must use one of the SUVs provided to drive there.

Vlad and Dan head for the beach. Meanwhile, Danny and Sam are next in the air, and Sam finds the trip to be romantic.

"Ah, that was so dreamy," Sam says in her confessional. "Just him and me, with the sun in the background, like that time when we were investigating Ember."

Note: Fanning the Flames reference there

They land safely, receive the clue, and head for the Reef. Ember and Youngblood arrive shortly thereafter, with salt water in their eyes from the stunt work on the sea.

"Maybe that wasn't the best idea," Ember says. "That salt water really stings."

"Yeah," Youngblood responds, "and I'm normally used to salt water!"

They grab the clue and head off. As the leaders head for the reef, the other two ghost teams arrive at the Detour. Spectra and Desiree head for the Sea, while Skulker and Technus head for the air. Back on the roads, a good taxi battle develops for the last four positions between Jack/Maddie, Jazz/Lancer, Dash/Paulina, and Tucker/Valerie.

"The Fast and The Furious!" Lancer exclaims. "We need to get there before them."

"Don't worry," Jazz responds, "We have plenty of money to give to the taxi driver."

"We have only enough to pay this taxi driver, not give any extra incentive!" Jack exclaims.

"Well, maybe if you didn't waste the money beforehand..." Maddie scolds.

As a result, the married ghost hunters drop behind. Jazz and Lancer accelerate into sixth place at the Detour and choose air.

Shortly behind, Tucker and Valerie arrive 7th and choose sea. Dash and Paulina arrive 8th and choose air.

Meanwhile, up by the Great Barrier Reef, Vlad and Dan reach the next Route Marker. It is a Road Block.

ROAD BLOCK 3: Who wants to swim along the fishes?

"You do it," Vlad suggests.

"Ok."

ROAD BLOCK 3 OPENED: You will scuba in the middle of the reef amongst a field of deadly jellyfish. You will be wearing full body protective gear, so there is no risk of stinging. Among this 1 square mile area are 50 Fenton Thermoses. Only 15 contain your next clue. If you open an empty one, get up and try again. No ghost powers allowed.

"This should be simple," Dan confidently says.

He swims out to the target area. As Vlad watches from the shore, Danny and Sam, invisible sneak up on Dan. Sam decides to have a little fun with Vlad.

"BOOO!"

Dan jumps a dozen feet in the air as Danny and Sam, now visible, laugh uncontrollably. Danny then turns back into his human self and grabs the clue. Sam decides to go through the Road Block, given her love for animals. Ember and Youngblood arrive shortly thereafter and Ember chooses to do the Road Block.

Back in the Manly District, Spectra and Desiree get through their slalom course. They grab the clue and head for the Reef. Skulker and Technus land shortly thereafter and head for the Reef. As Jazz and Lancer prepare to land, Jack and Maddie arrive in last place at the Detour. They choose to take to the air. Meanwhile, the teacher and star student land at the target zone and take off for the reef.

Back at the Reef, Sam, Ember, and Dan all swim amongst the area, their body parts swimming dangerously close to the jellyfish. Suddenly, Sam spots a thermos. She hopes she's lucky enough to find the right one. She opens it. There's a clue inside.

"Yes, we got it!" Sam exclaims.

"Better than what I can say," Dan disappointingly reacts, as he has found an empty Thermos.

Sam races back to shore and opens it alongside Danny.

ROUTE MARKER 3.4: Make your way to the next pit stop, 3 miles down the beach at a campsite. You must run there with your heavy backpacks on, no ghost powers allowed. Warning: Last team to check in may be eliminated.

Danny and Sam race for Phil while in the water, Ember has also gotten lucky with her first Thermos. She races back to shore and joins Youngblood for a race to the finish.

Back in Manly, Dash and Paulina arrive at the target area. They call for a taxi and head for the reef. Tucker and Valerie arrive shortly afterwards and race Dash and Paulina. Meanwhile, the troubles for Jack and Maddie continue as a sudden updraft has come in, keeping them in the air longer. After 15 minutes of frustration, Jack and Maddie find the target area, land, and set off for the Reef.

But in the meantime, their son is in a good footrace with Ember and Youngblood.

"Sam, let me carry you on my back!" Danny says to the tiring Sam.

"Are you sure you can handle it?" Sam wonders aloud.

"Believe me, there's nothing to worry about!" Danny says.

He picks up Sam and he uses all of his human strength to get to the mat ahead of Ember and Youngblood. The ghost pirates stomp their foot in the ground as Phil welcomes the winners.

"Danny and Sam," Phil says, "you're team #1!"

They cheer and hug. Then they both blush.

"Now I've got some good news for you. As winners of this third leg of the race, you've won a European Excursion thanks to our friends at British Airways which you can enjoy after the race."

Then he welcomes the runners-up.

"Ember and Youngblood, you're team #2."

Ember and Youngblood high-five each other, knowing that first-second in the first two pit stops is not a bad result at all.

A few minutes later, Dan, who finally found the right Thermos while Danny and Ember were in the footrace, arrives at the pit stop with Vlad.

"Dan and Vlad, you're team #3."

Back at the Road Block, Skulker and Technus get there a few minutes ahead of Spectra and Desiree. Skulker and Desiree volunteer their services in this Road Block. As they swim off, Jazz and Lancer, helped by a fast taxi driver, arrives. Jazz, being the younger of the two, agrees to do it.

"Now I wonder which Thermos I would hide in if I was a clue," Jazz ponders to herself. She then notices a jellyfish hovering around a Thermos. "Well if this isn't a sign, I don't know what is."

She opens the Thermos. A clue is indeed inside. As Jazz rushes back to Lancer, Desiree finds the clue as well. They both start their race for the pit stop. As they run down the beach, Dash and Paulina arrive at the Road Block. Dash is pretty much forced to do it, considering that Paulina had already done two. Dash then notices Jazz running down the beach. Dash watches dreamily for a second before Paulina snaps him out of it.

"Don't you realize that she is a geek?" Paulina says.

"Oh yeah," Dash responds. "Thank you for reminding me. Geek!"

"Loser!" Jazz shouts back.

"Ow," Dash responds, "my pride."

Dash splashes into the water just as Skulker returns with a clue. They race for the pit stop but have no chance to catch up to the foot race for fourth. At the last minute, Lancer's legs give out on him.

"Seabiscuit!" Lancer exclaims, "I can't run any farther."

"Yes you can," Jazz responds, trying to encourage him.

But apparently, no he could not, as Spectra and Desiree reach the mat about a minute ahead of their competitors.

"Spectra and Desiree, you're Team #4."

Then Jazz and Lancer limp in.

"Jazz and Lancer, you're Team #5."

Back in the sea, Dash finds his clue after several unsuccessful attempts. The misses by Dash have allowed Tucker and Valerie to reach the Road Block. Like Dash, Tucker is forced to do the Road Block since Valerie has already done two. The two pass each other on the beach as Dash and Paulina head for the mat. Luckily, the athletic team covers the 3 miles in no time flat, but not fast enough to catch up to Skulker and Technus.

"Skulker and Technus, you're Team #6."

"Dash and Paulina, you're Team #7."

Back in the water, Tucker, afraid to get near a jellyfish, goes for the Thermos farthest from the concentration of man-o-wars. The Thermos has a clue. He heads for the shore as Jack and Maddie, cursed by having a lame taxi driver, finally arrive. Maddie agrees to do it. She gets in the water as Tucker returns.

"Don't give up, Maddie," Jack encourages, "we can still catch them."

But it's all for naught as Tucker and Valerie find the mat as Maddie finds the clue.

"Tucker and Valerie, you're Team #8."

Now Jack and Maddie know they are in last place. They use the time to have a romantic 3-mile walk on the beach. They know that even though they made mistakes, they were still in love with each other. After an hour-long walk, they finally reach the mat where Phil gives them the inevitable news.

"Jack and Maddie, you're the last team to arrive. And I'm sorry to tell you that you've both been eliminated from the race."

"That's ok, Phil," Jack reacts, "we had such a great time. If only one of those ghost teams don't win, we'll be ok."

"Besides," Maddie adds, "the people in Amity Park need us to fight ghosts right now."

They kiss and head for the airport and home.

And that's Leg 3. Where will they head next? Find out next week.