DANNY PHANTOM: THE AMAZING RACE
CHAPTER 10
Warnings: Possible continuation of D/S and T/V.
Disclaimer: To follow along with the Fast Forward, check out http/www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/pdfdocs/colourmap.gif.
"This is Omaha Beach in France. 61 years ago, this site was where American forces made their first resistance against the Nazis. Now, this historic site is the 8th pit stop in a race around the world. Can Vlad and Dan continue to stay ahead, or will Ember and Youngblood catch up from last place? Vlad and Dan, who were the first to arrive at 9:45am, will depart at 9:45pm."
Route Marker #10.1: Make your way by car under the English Channel by way of the EuroTunnel. On the British side, you will find your next clue. No ghost powers allowed getting there. You have $710 for this leg of the race.
This generous amount of money by the producers eliminates any money troubles for Danny/Sam and Ember/Youngblood, who were penalized early in the race. Within 30 minutes, all four teams head for the French entrance of the EuroTunnel, led by Vlad and Dan, followed by Tucker/Valerie, Danny/Sam, and Ember/Youngblood.
At the EuroTunnel, Vlad and Dan find some disheartening news. The next train to England doesn't depart until 12:00am, 2 hours away. The train is the only way through the tunnel.
"Now everyone's gonna catch up again," Dan says.
"Yep," Vlad adds. "That's really disappointing."
Confirming Dan's prediction, everyone catches up and buys tickets for that one train. At 12:00am, everyone is on the train, and it enters the tunnel. All four teams position themselves for the front of the train. The train arrives in Britain 50 minutes later. Danny and Sam emerge first, followed by Ember/Youngblood, Tucker/Valerie, and Vlad/Dan. They arrive in that order at the next Route Marker within seconds of each other.
Route Marker #10.2: Head to Liverpool and find Abbey Road. Cross it a la The Beatles to receive your next clue. Ghost powers allowed getting there.
Along with the route marker is the 2nd and final Fast Forward available in the race. When a team accomplishes this task, they can skip all remaining tasks in the leg and head directly to the pit stop. However, since Danny and Sam had already done a Fast Forward in Leg #5, they cannot go for this Fast Forward.
Fast Forward #2: Search through the London underground network for 4 Cosmo coins using 4 scavenger hunt-style clues. Once you have found all five, you can give it to the officer at a 5th destination to receive your Fast Forward. Ghost powers allowed getting to an underground station, but no using ghost powers while on the Fast Forward Scavenger Hunt. A map of the underground network is enclosed (like the one on the website listed at the top). Hours of underground operation are 5:00am to 1:00am.
Clue #1: Find the station that connects the most unique routes. Hint: 6 different routes. You must take the train to this station, do not fly or taxi directly to this station.
Danny and Sam, eliminated from this Fast Forward, take off for the normal Route Marker. Vlad and Dan quickly follow them. Meanwhile, Ember and Youngblood fly towards London, ready to attempt the Fast Forward. Tucker and Valerie follow them in a taxi. Ember and Youngblood arrive at what they think is the station next to the station desired: the station at Euston, next to King's Cross St. Pancras.
"I hope this is the right station," Youngblood worries.
"I hope so too," Ember adds, "or this will be it for us."
They take a nap, since it is still 3.5 hours before the underground opens. Meanwhile, Tucker and Valerie taxi to the St. Paul's station, next to the Bank station. Tucker and Valerie also use the opportunity to take a nap. Meanwhile, in Liverpool, Vlad and Dan, who passed Danny and Sam in the air, arrive at the world-famous Abbey Road crossing. They cross the road from one side to another and grab the next Route Marker.
Route Marker #10.3: Make your way to Old Tradford Stadium in Manchester and find your next clue. Ghost powers allowed to travel, hours of operation 8:00am-8:00pm.
It is currently 3:45am. Vlad and Dan growl as they realize that other teams will be able to catch up again. They jet off for Manchester, followed closely by Danny and Sam. As Danny and Sam travel, the sun rises behind Danny. Sam just looks up at him, blushes, and smiles. Both teams arrive in Manchester and take another nap, wanting to have plenty of energy for a possible final stretch run in the final legs.
As the leaders get ready to nap, the Fast Forward teams get ready to go underground. At 5:00am, Ember and Youngblood take off at their station as Tucker and Valerie take off. Tucker and Valerie arrive at Bank first. They look throughout the station. No Cosmo coin! Meanwhile, success has been found at St. Pancras, where Ember and Youngblood have found the first Cosmo coin.
Fast Forward Clue #2: Make your way to a place where the world's biggest stars play on grass.
Ember/Youngblood quickly narrow it down to one of two possibilities. They head for the Wimbledon station. Meanwhile, Tucker and Valerie realize their mistake.
"Darn!" Tucker says.
"What?" Valerie says, frustrated.
"We should've gone to this other station where 6 lines are linked."
"You mean we picked the wrong station? Darn!"
They hurry to the black line and head towards St. Pancras.
As the geek and his new girlfriend head for the correct station, the pirate ghosts arrive at the 2nd station at about 7:45am. They find the 2nd Cosmo coin among a random basket of tennis balls.
Fast Forward Clue #3: A certain teddy bear has a message for you. Head to the station that features his name.
Ember and Youngblood are puzzled by this clue, but decide to head north up the green line, taking a chance. Meanwhile, Tucker and Valerie grab the first Cosmo coin and head for Wimbledon.
Back in Manchester, 8:00am approaches. Danny and Sam fairly let Dan and Vlad go first since they arrived first. Inside, Vlad and Dan find a Road Block.
Road Block #10: Who thinks they can make the World Cup?
Dan agrees to do it, as does Sam.
Road Block #10 Opened: You must take turns trying to score a goal against a top Manchester United goalie. Once you score a goal, you will get your next clue. No ghost powers.
For those who don't know, Manchester United is a soccer club in England's main pro soccer league and is one of the most popular soccer clubs in Europe and the world.
"Wow," Sam says. "Why did I have to do this road block?"
"Because you've only done 3," Danny says, "and I've done 5."
"Oh."
Dan tries his hand at a goal first. He shoots left. The goalie anticipates this move and blocks the shot. Dan grumbles as Sam gets ready to shoot. Her kick doesn't even reach the goal. Sam thinks that this will take a very long time.
Meanwhile, Ember and Youngblood continue to ride the Green Line up in London.
"Next up, Paddington Station," the train conductor says.
"Paddington!" Ember and Youngblood exclaim at the same time as the answer comes to them.
They get off at the station and find the famous bear holding the 3rd Cosmo coin.
Fast Forward Clue #4: Now head to the station where Sherlock Holmes made his home.
Ember correctly guesses Baker Street, 3 stations east. They head for Baker Street as Tucker and Valerie return from Wimbledon with the second coin.
Up in Manchester, the MU goalie has successfully blocked 8 shots each from Dan and Sam. Danny continues to try and motivate Sam, who has the current turn.
"You can do it, Sam!" Danny says.
"Shut up and let me concentrate!" Sam barks back.
She fires a shot left. The goalie misreads the shot and goes into the net. Sam cheers as the ref gives them their next clue.
Route Marker #10.4: Make your way to downtown Inverness to find your next clue. Ghost powers allowed to travel there.
The leaders realize that Scotland is their destination. Danny goes ghost once more as he and Sam take off. Meanwhile, Vlad cracks on Dan.
"Beaten by a girl," Vlad says. "How do you feel about that?"
Dan growls at Vlad as he misses another shot.
Back in London, Ember and Youngblood grab the final Cosmo coin.
Fast Forward Clue #5: Now return all the Cosmo coins to an officer at the station closest to Police Headquarters where you will receive your Fast Forward Route Marker.
Ember and Youngblood mull over where that could be as Tucker and Valerie pick up the coin at Paddington. They then ask a local, who notifies that Police Headquarters, or Scotland Yard as it is locally known, is closest to the Charing Cross station. They head towards that station as Tucker and Valerie head towards Baker Street.
Back in Manchester, Dan gets angry. On his 13th attempt, he zooms a rocket way past the goalie and into the net. They finally grab the clue and head for Inverness. In Inverness, Danny and Sam have found the next Route Marker. It is a Detour, the final one in the race.
Detour #10: Herd em up or Bag em up
Herd em up: Herd 50 sheep into this small pen without touching the sheep and without using any ghost powers.
Bag em up: Grab these 50 bagpipes each weighted to 150 pounds, take them 200 yards to this mule-powered wheelbarrow and guide the mule half a mile to the town's music shop.
Teams that were strong could complete bag em up quickly, despite the physicality of the challenge. Teams that chose herd em up might spend a long time on the challenge, although the challenge is not physically demanding at all.
"OOH! Sheep!" Sam exclaims as her eyes become wide. "Can we try the sheep thing?"
"Eh, sure," Danny says, giving Sam a questioning look.
Meanwhile, Ember and Youngblood arrive at Charing Cross and find the officer. The pirates turn in their four Cosmo coins. The officer, normally still at all moments, gives Ember the Fast Forward.
Fast Forward Route Marker: Congratulations on winning the Fast Forward. Now you may head directly to the pit stop, the shore of the River Ness in Inverness. Ghost powers allowed to travel.
Ember and Youngblood go invisible and take off. Meanwhile, Tucker and Valerie receive some bad news as they arrive at Baker Street.
"Attention," the PA announcement reads, "Anyone in the Amazing Race still racing for the Fast Forward, it has been taken. I repeat, the Fast Forward has been taken."
"Oh man," the pessimistic Valerie bums out, "we're done for."
"Now don't you give up," Tucker says. "We're gonna make it through this!"
Valerie starts to cry. "I don't want to go home when we're this close!"
Tucker tries to control a sobbing Valerie as they get in a taxi and head for Liverpool.
Meanwhile, in Inverness, Danny and Sam struggle with their task.
"Only 3?" Sam worries. "What are we doing wrong?"
"Choosing this detour," Danny says under his breath.
Sam hears Danny and gives him an ugly look. Meanwhile, Vlad and Dan arrive at the Route Marker. They decide to use their strength to their advantage as they try bag em up. They get the bags up rather quickly as Sam and Danny only manage to get 30 sheep in. Unfortunately, Dan and Vlad are now at the mercy of a very slow and lazy mule.
Meanwhile, at a different part of town, Ember and Youngblood arrive at the mat with their Fast Forward.
"Ember and Youngblood, you're team #1!"
They cheer wildly.
"How do you feel about winning your 2nd leg in this race?" Phil questions the leaders.
"It feels great," Ember says.
"Yeah," Youngblood adds. "We're gonna win this race!"
As Ember and Youngblood chat on the mat, Tucker and Valerie have finished up in Liverpool and have arrived in Manchester. A still sobbing Valerie has rendered herself worthless, making Tucker go through the Road Block. He misses his first 6 shots, putting Valerie even deeper into depression.
Meanwhile, an uncooperative mule eventually gets Vlad and Dan to the shop. They drop off all the bagpipes and get the final clue of the leg.
Route Marker #10.5: Make your way to the shore of the River Ness to the next pit stop using any transportation method. Warning: the last team to check in may be eliminated.
They fly immediately to the mat.
"Vlad and Dan, you're team #2."
At the same time, Danny and Sam finish up their herding. They grab their final clue and fly to the mat.
"Danny and Sam, you're team #3."
As the 3rd place lovebirds check in, Tucker finally scores in Manchester. They taxi quickly to Inverness. Unfortunately, quickly means 2 hours, meaning that the team gets there as evening approaches. They decide to go for bag. It takes the pessimist and her new boyfriend 3 hours before they finish the task. They then walk, hands together, to the mat. They each smile at each other, knowing that this is probably it for their race.
"Tucker and Valerie, you're the last team to arrive."
They get the announcement they were expecting. Then they get an announcement they weren't expecting.
"I'm...happy to report though that this is the final of 3 pre-determined non-elimination legs. I must take all of your stuff, including cash and clothes, except the clothes on your back and your passports. You will also start the next leg with no money to your name. But you are still in the Amazing Race."
Valerie's mood is enlightened immediately. She jumps skyward and hugs Tucker quite convincingly. Tucker looks at the camera and smiles.
Unfortunately, they are 5 hours behind 3rd place Danny and Sam. Can they catch up? Find out in our next episode!
ON THE NEXT EPISODE OF THE AMAZING RACE
Our teams make a turn for home. Who will take the turn in stride?
Can Tucker and Valerie make a miraculous comeback out of last place?
And in the biggest and most dangerous challenge of the entire race, who will make a blind miracle to be in position to race for the million?