Burnout: Summer Rush
By RichieD.
(A/N and Disclaimer: Third chapter coming at ya. Bit of a split in this one as we focus on a couple of different characters. But they'll all be connected soon, so hang tight. Once again the character of Shorty is mine. Binks/Stealth XL belongs to MHZ and any other character is Cartoon Networks and/or their rightful and respective creators. Also LemGambino wrote the second half of this chapter, so most of the author credit goes to him for this one.)
"The city of Townsville…" The narrator begins as usual "…looks like it's going to be rocked soon by the likes of Puffy AmiYumi for the summer. The reason for this came about when Ami, Shorty, and Yumi tried to ditch Blair's henchmen in the woods after finding about the faith of Townsville's lake. But although they were able to get a couple of successful shots in, the thugs managed to turn the tables and threw them, literally, out of the forest. Luckily a friend of Shorty's and non-evil Rowdyruff Boy, Binks, saw their flight and managed to cut what would have been a very messy landing. Seeing that violence was probably not the way to go (or at least putting that option on hold for the moment) the four came up with a solution to beat Blair at his own game: hold a charity concert and raise enough money to keep stop Blair's demolition. However with a money hungry manger like Kaz, is something like this even possible? With a hope that the day may be saved this time, let's continue the story!"
-Intro, see first page-
"Ugh, Kaz!" Both girls yelled as they wiped the dust off of them, Shorty and Binks doing likewise. All four glaring at the growth deprived manager.
"Heh, sorry. Need work on the breaks." He chuckled nervously. "But seriously what was that about money?"
"Typical, he waits until the last minute to schedule tour dates. But can't run fast enough when the word " money" involved." Yumi thinks annoyed then tells him "Its not for profit Kaz. It to save the lake over in the woods, were gonna be holding a benefit concert here to raise money for to keep the Townville Lake from being destroyed."
Kaz exclaimed something Japanese in a disapproving tone before saying "WHAT! Since when did you decide that? But more importantly, SINCE WHEN DO WE WORK FOR FREE?"
Chapter 3: Starlight, Star-Fight!
"But Kaz its for a good cause!" Ami pleaded
"Good cause does not put money in our pocket much less mine!" Kaz huffed "Am sorry girls. But were too important to do a…" He shudders as he tries to choke out the words. "F-F-Free show!"
"PLEASE!" Ami and Yumi said doing the best cutesy anime expression they could muster with their eyes. Kaz fidgeted under their puppy dog eyes and strained to look away. But eventually couldn't resist and sighed saying some words in his native tongue before telling the group in English. "AIH-YA! Oh Alright! Alright! Turn off the chibi modes and you got yourself a concert. But only if you let ME monitor the money."
This snapped Puffy back to their original forms but then they both sweat dropped once Kaz stated this term. "Can you excuse us for just a moment" Yumi told him then cried "HUDDLE!"
Question marks appeared over Shorty and Binks' heads as Yumi grabbed them then pulled them and Ami together. "Geez, I knew there would risks to this idea but nothing THAT high!"
"Wait, whats the matter letting your short bald friend do it? He seems like a nice guy." Shorty asked. But the expression Ami was giving her said otherwise "That bald friend of ours is our manager and when it comes to money, let say he not the greatest person you wanna trust it with."
"But we won't be able to do the concert if we don't let him do it." Binks says "And besides if you guys made it this far with him. Why start doubting now?"
"Trust me, we've always been in doubt." Yumi counters
"Err I can hear you, you know?"
The four look down and see that they had their huddle right above Kaz without knowing. "Oh! Hehehe. Hi Kaz, how long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough to consider pulling out of this crazy plan of yours." Kaz answered, raising an accused eyebrow at his two moneymakers.
"-Sigh- Alright, fine. You can oversee the money." Yumi conceded. Kaz jumped and clapped his hands like an excited child in toy store.
"But…" Ami added, "Shorty will be watching over you to make sure you don't do anything fishy just in case. You will won't you?"
Shorty smiles at her as she cracks her knuckles "Be my pleasure, I also baby sit part time. So this'll be a walk in the park. Um figuratively speaking of course." Kaz crashed to the ground after hearing that "Aww, AIY-YAH! No fair! I don't need a babysitter and… oh, some leftover steak sauce on my fingers!" He proceeds to put them in his mouth and started sucking on them.
"Tough, we've agreed to your terms. So its only fair you have to swallow ours" Yumi says with a triumphant look on her face. Both she and Ami turn to one another smiling before they high five one another. "Lets put on a show and stop that dumb Blair!"
"Um, what do you guys want me to do?" Binks asked, "I could also help Shorty look after Kaz?"
"Nah I got it covered. But I do have a job for you." Shorty tells him "While were getting the concert set. We need someone to keep an eye on Blair and his cronies. And I hear tell you know someone that's just perfect for the job."
Binks eyes widen "Wait? You mean…"
"Yep." The shadow on her face darkens and suspenseful music suddenly kicked up out of nowhere on the next words "Stealth XL."
Everybody save for Shorty blinked and looked around with confusion "How did you do that?" Ami asked.
"Do what?" Shorty asked, prompting question marks to appear on over Puffy and Kaz's heads. Yumi shook it off and then asked, "Ok then, whose Stealth XL?"
"Um well he another superhero of this town." Binks explained "A puff like me and the PPG. But he very low key, only dealing in small things like bank robbers and gangster activity."
"Also unlike the girls, He's like this masked, mystery detective or something like that." Shorty added "Kinda like a Powerpuff Batman, only with shadow powers.
"A Powerpuff Batman?" Yumi asked as she tried to imagine the Dark Knight with a small, deformed body and a big head. "Freaky, but in a cool way."
"Thank you. Um, uh, err, I meant to say he hears that everyday…which I would know…being a friend of his and all." Binks said nervously, though Shorty rolled her eyes at this response. Luckily the others didn't pick up on this.
"Heh, riiiiight. Anyway, do you think you can contact him and ask to him to keep an eye on Blair? Maybe even snoop around and find something of "interest"."
Binks quirked an eyebrow "Interest, huh? Sounds like something up his alley. Though it going to take me awhile to get in contact with him, you sure you guys can get the concert going on your own?"
"Positive, and tell him I said thanks and good luck." Shorty winked.
Binks nodded then said his good-byes to his friends before flying off. But he didn't go far, once he was sure his friends didn't see him. He quickly swooped into some bushes.
"Something right up my alley indeed." He grinned then dug through his pockets and pulled out a capsule. He then clicked it and threw it to the ground where it exploded in a puff (no pun intended) of smoke. When the smoke cleared, where Binks once stood, now was a being wearing a costume that consisted of a black cap, dark sunglasses, and a black scarf that hid his face. He also wore black t-shirt, pants, and shoes.
"Beware crooks of Townsville, Stealth XL has now punched in. And you're about to be punched out. …Ugh, I have GOT to work on better superhero lines."
And with that he went off to the lake to find anything suspicious.
(-Eyecatch-: Binks sitting underneath a tree in the park, sleeping. When a fruit falls from the tree and hits him on the head. He wakes up brief albeit sleepily and looks around then shrugs, sees the fruit, eats it in one gulp and instantly goes back to sleep.)
"Space...the thing up in the sky that holds all the stars and planets.
These are the voyages of the Starship M2. As members of the Galactic Guardians, it is the continuing mission of these young heroes to protect the galaxy from any and all evil villains. Not to mention get a decent bite to eat..."
"Uh, Sparky? I don't think that's how the story goes."
A green skinned boy, no doubt an alien, wearing a gray space outfit, looked up at he commanding officer. A young red-haired girl dressed in a mostly pink and white space wear. To most of the Earth's resident at her home she was just plain ol Betty. But to various sections of the galaxy and many of it inhabitant, she and her team were widely known as one of the Galactic Guardians best. She was Atomic Betty!
"Can I help it if I have four stomachs?" Sparky replied reading S-Force Issue #34: Arrival of MEGAS, though it wasn't helping his craving. Having not had even a nibble for all of the forty minutes they traveled so far. "Next planet we pass by, we get something to eat!"
X-5, a highly advanced squared and mostly yellow robot as well as the brains behind the trio, turned around in his chair "We'll be passing the planet Pop Star in about 1.5 hours. They should have something to satisfy your quadrupled appetite."
While Sparky contemplated what foods Pop Star had, Betty noticed something in the far distance. It wasn't a star, nor was it a flaming ball of death sent by some disgruntled hooligan to smite Betty in her crew.
Scratch that. It WAS a flaming all of death, a sun to be exact. "The heck? What would a sun be doing flying through space at such a high velocity?" Betty asks though started to consider if she mistook it for a meteor or a burning shipwreck.
"X-5, zoom in on coordinates 34-96-84," she ordered. The robot carried out Betty's command without question as the screen enlarged to show the burning object.
No, it wasn't A burning object it was MULTIPLE burning objects! Well, only one of them was burning. It, along with another crescent-shaped object, was carrying a third object along, resembling a large pink gumball.
"Zoom in again, X-5."
It was around this point that things now were getting weird. As it was then she notice the two objects had arms, legs, and faces! One was shaped like a crescent moon; the other was a glowing ball of fire that resembled the sun. Now that Betty had a better look at the trio, she could see the pink puffball was unconscious or asleep, and the two were carrying it towards...somewhere. Where, Betty didn't know.
However, what she did know was that the three of them were on a collision course with Betty's ship.
"Sparky, evasive maneuvers!" Betty called out her helmsman.
"What?" he said, snapping him out of his daydream about pizza, "OH! On it chief!" He said and quickly turned the ship hard to starboard.
The phrase "OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR" really saved Betty's bacon this time. X-5 reported that judging by the speed of the trio, the sharpness of the moon's points and the temperature of the sun, the ship would have incurred serious damage had it connected with them.
"What may I ask, was THAT!" Sparky interjected.
"I'm not sure, but our orders were to investigate any and all suspicious activity in this sector," Betty replied. "X-5, can you determine where they're headed?"
"Analyzing..." X-5's eyes lit up with binary code as he calculated their destination before responding. "They seem to be heading towards the black hole at the center of this galaxy. Probability that their business there will result in negative consequences: 97.3."
"Sparky, prepare all engine to maximum thrust. " Betty said while she strapped herself in. "Were going after them!"
"Aye aye!" Sparky would normally complain about not going to grab lunch, but seeing as he had some Candied Slug-Worms in his quarters he decided to overlook it.
The M2 did a one-eighty and blasted off in the direction of sun and moon. Betty pondering what business would those two would have at the Centauri Black Hole?
Within minutes, Betty and her crew caught up to the odd couple and their puffball captive. The sun glanced back at their pursuers and did a double take; whatever they were doing, he somehow knew Betty would bust him for it.
The sun made a hand signal and held the puffball in both hands. The moon disbanded from his partner and turned to face Betty and her teammates.
"Looks like they spotted us!" Sparky said, stating the obvious.
He was about to get out of the way of the moon when the moon held up its hand and produced a blade, shaped in an identical likeness of himself. The moon then tossed it like a Frisbee directly at Betty's ship!
"YIPE!" Sparky cried out as he did a hard bank to port in an effort to evade the moon's weapon, and succeeded in preventing the ship's wings from being clipped.
Sparky's brief victory only lasted five seconds, as the ship leveled out and the starboard wing fell right back into the blade's path of destruction. Next thing they knew, Betty, Sparky and X-5 were sent into a dizzying tailspin.
"ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!" they all cried out as the ship dove out of the sight of the moon that attacked it. Smiling maliciously, the moon recalled and dismissed its blade, then flew off to join his comrade.
T.B.C. flashed across the screen before they of course shaped into the words everyone hated when all stories ended on a cliffhanger: To Be Continued.
"Darn it!" The frustrated voice of the narrator called out "Just when I think were going somewhere. We got business in space now, and whats that shadowpuff, Stealth XL up too? Gah! Were getting more questions then answers. And it giving me a headache, where that machine I saw around here. I need an aspirin or two or ten or whatever going to get me through this increasingly long haul of a tale I unwittingly find myself in. Sheesh."
-Outro, see first page-
Next chapter
Stealth: Freaky, I've never seen the moon and sun together like that before. Must be an anomaly or something concerning the equinox or something along those lines. And did my eyes deceive me or did I see a spaceship with some kinda pink gum wad next to it flying around in the air. Ugh, I've been living in this town for far too long. But back to the business at hand, keeping track of Blair and his flunkies. Though whats this my super hearing picking up from where I left Shorty and Puffy, something about the charity concert now being a battle of the bands between Puffy and…WHO? No way!
Next chapter: Starlight, Star-Fight pt 2 and the Rockers' Challenge.
Stealth: Bah, enough distractions. Time to go to work!