DANNY PHANTOM: THE AMAZING RACE LEG #8
Disclaimer: Butch Hartman/Nickelodeon/Viacom own all Danny Phantom characters. References for route markers from www.vesuvioinrete.it and www.romeguide.it.
"This is Olympia, Greece. For nearly 1000 years, this was the site where ancient Greeks came together in the spirit of sport. Now, this ancient site named the Bouleuterion was the 6th pit stop in a race around the world. Teams arrived here at the end of the last leg. Will Valerie's newfound respect for Danny's ghost powers help both groups stay up top, and will Jazz and Lancer be able to rebound from last place? Tucker and Valerie, who were the first to arrive at 3:15pm, will depart at 3:15am."
Route Marker 8.1: Make your way by boat across the Adriatic Sea. Then travel using any method to Vesuvius National Park where you will receive your next clue. You have $27 for this leg of the race.
"That's not much money this leg," Valerie says, "and that's just after we gave Danny $100 last night!"
"We'll be fine," Tucker reassures. "We've got plenty saved."
As they take off, Danny and Sam aren't far behind in 2nd. They call for a taxi to the nearest seaport 20 miles away, the same one Tucker and Valerie are heading to. Back at the pit stop Vlad/Dan and Ember/Youngblood depart within 10 minutes of each other. But Ember and Youngblood wait.
"Wait," Youngblood says. "Why are we waiting here?"
"I like this alliance with Jazz and Lancer," Ember responds. "Besides, we can outrace them to the finish line."
This is exactly what they do, waiting 10 minutes for last place Jazz and Lancer to depart. They get in a taxi and head to the boat station.
By the time the last two teams get to the port, they are relieved to see the other three teams waiting for the first boat out at 7:15am. The 5 teams are together again.
Everyone is anxious as they get on the boat. The boat departs. Most of the teams take the chance to get some shut-eye in. But one racer has to get something off her chest. She wakes Tucker and takes him to the front of the boat.
"You know, with everyone revealing secrets on this trip," Valerie says, "it's about time I revealed a secret of my own."
"Shoot," Tucker responds.
"I have always thought men that could help me out with my iPod were so attractive. And I want to go out with you when we return to America."
Tucker looks skyward. "Thank you."
They kiss with a sunset in the background. Valerie walks back to the seating area of the boat with a smile on her face as Dan wakes up.
"What do you think she's smiling about?" Dan says to Vlad, who is still sleeping.
"Toadstool...Peach...both the same person..." Vlad says. He is apparently having a strange dream.
8 hours later, the teams arrive on the eastern coast of Italy, an hour's drive away from Vesuvius. But only 20 minutes if you fly. Vlad and Dan power out of the coast in the lead. The Ember/Youngblood/Jazz/Lancer alliance comes out 2nd, followed by the Tucker/Valerie/Danny/Sam alliance in last. 20 minutes later, Vlad and Dan arrive at the Route Marker and open the clue. It is a detour.
Detour 8: Excavate or Elevate
Excavate: Walk over to this digging site where paleontologists are trying to discover what happened to the ancient culture in Pompeii. You will be designated 500 square feet of the ancient site and you must dig up the clue somewhere in that 500 square feet.
Elevate: Fly or walk up to the top of Mount Vesuvius where you will notice a cord over the caldera of the active volcano. You will then harness up and fly over the active caldera. Once both team members get over to the other side, you will get your next clue.
Excavate isn't scary at all, but it could take a long time if teams are unlucky. Elevate is perhaps the most frightening experience yet on the race, and it will be extremely hot on the mountain, but teams will be able to finish quickly.
Vlad and Dan opt for Elevate. 10 minutes later, Ember/Youngblood and Jazz/Lancer arrive at the Detour decision. Both teams decide to try out Excavate. As those teams head for the dig site, Vlad and Dan get to the top of the mountain. They look down at the lava pit as the lava starts to bubble.
"Are you sure this is safe?" Vlad questions the safety technician.
"We're checking now," the technician answers.
He sticks a monitoring device into the rock of the volcano and runs a test. As Vlad and Dan impatiently wait, the other two teams are able to start immediately on the dig. Ember and Youngblood immediately find a piece of paper. They are hopeful that this is the clue. Instead, it turns out to be an ancient note from the city of Pompeii.
"Eureka, what a discovery!" a nearby paleontologist says.
Ember just scoffs and returns to her task. Meanwhile, Tucker/Valerie and Danny/Sam arrive. Both teams decide that they are here for the adventure of the race and go for Elevate. They fly up slower and slower, the heat getting to them more and more the higher they go. At the same time, Jazz and Lancer, the paleontology buffs they are, are getting through the site quickly. They find the Route Marker as Vlad and Dan discover the results of the technician's test at the top of the mountain.
"It's still OK," the technician says. "Let's get you hooked up, Dan."
Dan is relieved but sweating still with the 110-degree temperatures around the lava pit. He gets in the harness as Jazz and Lancer open up the Route Marker.
Route Marker 8.2: Make your way to Rome and find the ancient site of the Circus Maximus where you will receive your next clue. Ghost powers allowed getting there.
Jazz and Lancer get in a taxi and head for Rome. Luckily for them, the driver knows where they are going. They head to Rome as Dan heads across the volcano. Vlad isn't far behind and they take off for Rome in 2nd. Danny and Sam get to go next. Sam goes first and is taken away by the experience.
"This is something you only get to experience once in a lifetime," Sam says in her confessional. "The Amazing Race just gets better and better."
After Danny arrives, the lovebirds grab the clue and wait for the other emerging lovebirds. Tucker and Valerie get across quickly and leave with Danny and Sam tied in 3rd. This leaves the struggling Ember and Youngblood as the last team by Vesuvius. They finally find the clue 45 minutes after the previous teams departed. Frustrated, Ember and Youngblood take off. In the meantime, Jazz and Lancer's taxi gets them to the Circus Maximus quickly. After giving the taxi driver a huge tip, Jazz and Lancer encounter a Road Block.
Road Block #8: One person must get in this chariot and complete a lap in under a minute to receive their next clue.
Lancer decides to go. He puts on ancient Roman armor and gets in the chariot. Jazz takes a picture of the goofy-looking Lancer.
"Just wait until this gets back to Casper High," Jazz thinks, giggling out loud.
Lancer has no time to make a rebuttal as his chariot takes off. As he approaches the first turn, Vlad and Dan arrive. Vlad agrees to go. Lancer's chariot nearly runs him over as he gets in his chariot.
"The Great Gatsby!" Lancer exclaims. "I can't even control this thing!"
The time backs up his point. His first run finishes in 87 seconds. He must now wait until Vlad tries his run. In the meantime, Danny/Sam and Tucker/Valerie arrive. With their partners having already completed 4 Road Blocks, Sam and Valerie have to go for the Road Block. Meanwhile, Vlad's chariot is fast even for the unskilled driver. Vlad has hit luck once again as they finish the course in 50 seconds. They receive their final clue of the leg.
Route Marker 8.3: Make your way to the next pit stop: The Colosseum in Rome, Italy.
You must get there on foot, no ghost powers.
Warning: Last team to check in may be eliminated.
Vlad and Dan run off. It is Lancer's turn to try again. He watched Vlad's run attentively and he feels like he is ready to make this a perfect run. He takes the first turn a bit wide, but his extremely fast speeds on the straightaways more than make up for it. He completes the course in 57 seconds, getting him and Jazz out of Circus Maximus in 2nd. A nervous Sam gets in next. She puts on a safety helmet and gets a hug from Danny for good luck and reassurance. Sam, smiling, starts. She is holding on for dear life at first as she attempts to grab the reins.
"Wow, this chariot is outta control!" Sam exclaims.
She finally gains control just in time to reach the first turn. Once she grabs the reins, the rest of the course turns out pretty simple. She completes the course in 59.5 seconds, getting her and Danny out in 3rd. Next up is Valerie. The course turns out pretty easy for her. After all, she has learned to balance quite well on her hoverboard. Valerie finishes in 46 seconds. They leave in 4th.
Near the Colosseum, it has turned into a footrace between Vlad/Dan and Jazz/Lancer. Jazz and Lancer show unwavering determination, as they have finished 2nd in 4 legs so far. Suddenly, a pop is heard. Vlad has suddenly injured his knee. He can still walk, but his running is shot. Dan tries to use his ghost powers to reach inside Vlad and pop his knee back into place, but by the time Vlad returns to normal, they can see Jazz and Lancer at the mat with Phil.
"Jazz and Lancer, you are team number ONE!"
Jazz and Lancer cheer, happy that their team has finally won a leg.
"As winners of this 7th leg of the race, you have won a European Adventure compliments of Air France, and you can enjoy that after the race."
A few minutes later, Vlad and Dan limp in, not wanting to take any more chances.
"Is your knee alright?" Phil asks.
"I'll manage," Vlad responds.
"Ok, well, Vlad and Dan, you are team number two."
The two high school teams arrive shortly thereafter, and, in a true showing of what appears to be a strong alliance, they step on the mat together.
"Danny and Sam, Tucker and Valerie, you are teams number three and four."
As those two teams check in, Ember and Youngblood finally arrive at the Road Block. Youngblood agrees to do it and finishes in 58 seconds. They then consider their situation.
"We don't need any more clothes, do we?" Youngblood questions Ember.
"Nope," Ember responds, "We're a strong team, we'll take any punishment they dole us."
A strong-willed Ember and Youngblood team checks in 15 minutes later.
"Ember and Youngblood, you're the last team to arrive." Phil pauses. "The good news is that this is the 2nd of 3 pre-determined non-elimination point, and you are still in the Amazing Race. Unfortunately, that means I have to take everything from you except the clothes on your backs and your passports and you must start the next leg with zero dollars to your name."
"That's ok, though," Ember says. "We will still win this race. Nothing can stop us."
They may be confident now, but their situation for the next leg might test their confidence. Will they recover from this setback? Find out in the next episode!
ON THE NEXT LEG OF THE AMAZING RACE:
Our teams go gambling. Will any of our teams bust out?
A touching memorial affects our teams in Normandy. Will the emotions get the best of them?
And, the final four will be decided. Will new-found relationships help or hurt teams as they race to avoid elimination?