THE AMAZING RACE DANNY PHANTOM EDITION – CHAPTER 9

Disclaimer: Cote d'Azur information courtesy www.riviera.fr. Danny Phantom characters property of Butch Hartman, Nick, and Viacom.

Warnings: Gambling, Danny/Sam and Tucker/Valerie moments.

"This is Rome, Italy, one of the most historic cities in the world and the home to the center of the Catholic faith. And in the center of town, one of the most historic landmarks in the world, the Colosseum. This was the 7th pit stop in a race around the world. Teams arrived here at the end of the last leg for a mandatory rest period. Ember and Youngblood, who arrived here last, were not eliminated because this was the 2nd of 3 predetermined non-elimination points. But they were stripped of everything they had except for the clothes on their backs and their passports. Will this setback stop Ember and Youngblood in their tracks or will they persevere through this punishment? And, will the high school teams continue to get closer to the top working together? Jazz and Lancer, who were the first to arrive at 5:14pm, will depart at 5:14am."

Alert for Leg 9: This is a no-ghost leg. Ghost powers may not be used throughout this leg.

Route Marker 9.1: Make your way to Cote d'Azur on the French Riviera and find Eden Casino. At the entrance, you will find your next clue. Four teams have $99.99 for this leg of the race; one team has $0 for this leg of the race.

As Jazz and Lancer get in a taxi and take off, Ember and Youngblood, whose time to leave is still an hour away, beg on the streets.

"Can you lend us any money?" Youngblood asks a local.

"Not to you pirates!" the local reacts.

Ember sighs. "Let me do it."

She walks up attractively to an American visitor.

"Excuse me," Ember says, with puppy-dog eyes, "could you loan me some money? We got mugged last night."

"Sure," the American reacts. He gives the group $30.

"Thank you, good sir." She returns to Youngblood. "Man, was that degrading."

As Ember and Youngblood beg, Vlad and Dan, Danny and Sam, and Tucker and Valerie, in that order, have all departed from the Colosseum. Danny/Sam and Tucker/Valerie decide to stick together since this is a non-ghost leg. Besides, this new foursome seems like a perfect fit.

As their time to leave approaches, Ember and Youngblood count their money. $200 is more than enough to get started on this leg. They get Marker 9.1 and head towards the Riviera.

Meanwhile, a race has ensued on the roads. Due to good tipping and a fast taxi driver, the taxi carrying Danny, Sam, Tucker, and Valerie have passed the taxi of Vlad and Dan, propelling the high school teams into 2nd. They can then see Jazz and Lancer in the distance. Lancer notices them.

"Fast and the Furious, they're gaining quick on us!" Lancer exclaims. "Can't this driver go any faster?"

"Since we have no motivation for him, no," Jazz responds, referring to the dwindling cash reserves of the duo. They barely have enough to get to the Riviera.

As a result, the four teenagers are able to pass Jazz and Lancer for the lead. They get to the Riviera first and encounter the 9th Road Block.

Road Block #9: Who's ready for Gambling?

"We'll do it!" Danny and Tucker exclaim. They always had a thing for gambling.

"Meh, men." Sam and Valerie say simultaneously.

Road Block #9 Opened: Win 13 blackjack hands.

The two guys enter the casino, as casino entry guidelines are a lot more lax in France than in the United States. Lancer enters slightly afterwards, doing the road block for his team.

Inside, Danny and Tucker each win 3 hands quickly before Lancer arrives. As soon as Lancer arrives, the dealer hits a hot streak, hitting 21 after 21.

"Why did you have to bring bad luck to the table?" Danny questions Lancer.

"Don't start with me, Fenton," Lancer says, disgruntled.

As the cold streak continues, Vlad arrives to attempt the Road Block. Suddenly a lucky streak hits Danny and Tucker. Danny hits a blackjack, then Tucker. Wins just keep coming and before Vlad can get his 3rd win, Danny and Tucker complete their 13 wins.

Route Marker 9.2: Make your way by overnight train to Normandy, France and the beach where US soldiers stormed the beaches in 1944. At the D-Day Memorial Museum, you will receive your next clue.

The teenagers head for the train station. Meanwhile, the bad luck continues for Lancer, although Jazz doubts if it is indeed bad luck after all.

"You have 17, sir," the dealer says to Lancer.

"Hit me," Lancer reacts.

"26."

Jazz shakes her head as Youngblood arrives to attempt the casino Road Block. After all, gambling is second nature to pirates. It is also second nature to Vlad, who has picked up his 13th win. He and Dan head for the train station.

Dan and Vlad arrive 10 minutes later at the train station to see that Danny/Sam and Tucker/Valerie have already grabbed tickets for the first train out.

"Lucky you got here," Danny says to his older self.

"Why is that?" Dan questions.

"Because there are only 8 tickets reserved for racers," Sam informs. "The last team here will have to get on a train that departs 1 hour later."

"Wow," Dan reacts.

This fact unbeknownst to the other two teams still at the casino, Lancer and Youngblood race to become the 4th team out. Suddenly, Youngblood exclaims at the sight of a Blackjack. It is his 13th win. He and Ember race to the train station. Meanwhile, Lancer is stuck at 11 wins. Luckily for him, the dealer is able to bust twice in a row, giving Lancer 13. Jazz and Lancer race off to the train station, but it is too late for them, as Ember and Youngblood grab the last tickets for the first train.

At 6:00pm, the first train departs, carrying all the teams but Jazz and Lancer. Inside, each team gets a room by themselves, a welcome respite for the two budding relationships of Danny/Sam and Tucker/Valerie.

"Yes!" Tucker exclaims. "Finally some alone time with you, Valerie."

"Quite," Valerie responds. "But don't try anything stupid."

"Don't worry. I am quite the gentleman."

Valerie smiles. She and Tucker kiss in a way neither never thought they would before. Each can truly tell the other one is crazy over them.

Meanwhile, in the room next door, Danny has taken the opportunity to get some sleep in. Sam sits by him, rubbing his chest, looking out their window.

"This was the closest I had ever gotten to him on that train ride," Sam informs in her confessional. "And it just felt, so good, that I had to kiss him right there."

She does just that, kissing Danny with a passion she had hidden in herself for so long. Danny wakes up and sees Sam's beautiful face locking lips with his. He decides it's better to not interrupt and go with the flow. Sam notices this and this only ignites her passion even more. Danny and Sam make out for about 15 minutes when the train conductor walks by.

"Tickets, please," the conductor says.

Danny, lips still locked, reaches into his pocket and shows the conductor the tickets.

"Oh, ok," he responds. "I won't bother you."

He leaves. Sam then stops for a moment.

"Wow," Sam says, with a beaming smile.

"What?" Danny responds.

"This is the first time we haven't been totally embarrassed when someone discovers one of our moments."

"Yeah, it is, isn't it? You know what that means, right?"

"I think so," Sam answers, blushing a bit now.

"Here, let me show you," Danny responds.

He starts to make out with Sam again. Sam feels like she is in heaven as she and Danny continue to make out.

The romance is put on hold temporarily as the teams arrive in Normandy. The D-Day Memorial is still a mile away, and all four teams decide to race on foot. Vlad and Dan grab the lead with their superior athletic power, followed by Danny and Sam, Tucker and Valerie, and Ember and Youngblood. Jazz and Lancer are still on the train, an hour and a half away.

Vlad and Dan arrive at the Memorial first to receive their next Route Marker.

Route Marker 9.3: Carry this 10-foot long American flag through the marked path through the D-Day Cemetery and place it in one of the flag holders. Then, run to Omaha Beach and the next Pit Stop. Warning: last team to check in may be eliminated.

Vlad and Dan grab the flag. It is quite heavy, but they can easily handle it. Tucker and Valerie, however, not so much. Tucker drops it after 10 feet. He worries about being emasculated in front of Valerie. Valerie, however, is so much in love with Tucker that she gives a look as if she's saying 'Don't worry about it.' This motivates Tucker to go even further, at the very least to stay ahead of a fast-approaching Danny and Sam, who have motivation of their own. After all, $1 million would do a lot for their budding relationship. A great race then develops in 2nd between the allied teams of Tucker/Valerie and Danny/Sam. Meanwhile, back in 4th, Ember and Youngblood labor on, likely stuck in the position they are.

At the front, the heartless Vlad and Dan stick their flag in the slot and move on, not even caring about the history and dedication of the soldiers who fought here. They then find the mat quickly on Omaha Beach where Phil is waiting.

"Vlad and Dan, you're team #1!"

They high-five each other in celebration. Phil doesn't announce a prize, since all the teams now know that there will be no more prizes at the end of legs.

Meanwhile, back at the gravesite, Danny/Sam and Tucker/Valerie stick their flags in simultaneously.

"It's gonna be a race to the mat," Tucker urges. "I've got an idea, hop on my back."

Tucker, trying to earn his masculinity back, carries Valerie piggy-back style and runs towards the mat. Danny and Sam, banking on the fact that Tucker probably couldn't make it, both stay on foot. However, Tucker is able to persevere all the way to the mat.

"Tucker and Valerie, you're team #2."

"Danny and Sam, you're team #3."

20 minutes later, the fourth team arrives as last place Jazz and Lancer step off the train.

"Ember and Youngblood, you're team #4."

Now knowing they are last, Jazz and Lancer grab the flag. They take a minute at the cemetery to take in the history and the nostalgia of the site. Lancer especially enjoys it, knowing that he will have one heck of a story to tell to his class when he returns to Amity Park. They walk together to see Phil.

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

"That's ok, Phil," Jazz says, starting to tear up. "This was the most amazing experience in my life."

"And believe me," Lancer adds, "This will be the most unbelievable story to tell my students. Who's cool now, Amity Park?"

Jazz and Lancer smile as they leave for home.

And now 4 are left. Who will be eliminated next? Find out in the next episode.

ON THE NEXT EPISODE OF THE AMAZING RACE

Adventures in England give Vlad and Dan chances to try tricks on the other teams.

A soccer challenge against one of the premier players tests the will of the teams.

And who will grab the final Fast Forward in the race to gain the advantage as they get ready to head for home?