A/N: Hello. Good news. I managed to finish this chapter for my latest Infinity Train story. And more good news? Two more of my looney tunes stories to celebrate Bugs Bunny's 80th birthday are also coming soon later today. Isn't this exciting? :) For now, let's enjoy what this chapter has to offer, shall we?
Infinity Train: Book Two: Return to the Beach City Car
Chapter 6: The Lucky Cat Car
Tulip, Pink Steven, Atticus, One-One, M.T., Jesse, and Alan Dracula just arrived on top of a hill.
"Whoa. It looks beautiful.", Tulip spoke in wonder.
"Yeah. Almost makes you want to do a documentary about it, huh?", Pink Steven agreed.
"Knowing One-One, I know he would. Matter of fact, he's doing it right now.", Atticus agreed just as One-One just got started on another train documentary labeled "TRAIN DOCUMENTARY #89100034".
"Okay. I definitely wanna get in on this.", Pink Steven spoke before joining in the documentary just as One-One started.
"Welcome. I'm your host, and reinstated conductor, One.", Glad One spoke before Sad One added on that.
"One...", Sad One added.
"And I'm Steven Universe.", Pink Steven greeted.
"Why, hello, Steven! I didn't expect to see you here in this documentary.", Glad One spoke.
"Well, I just noticed you doing a documentary and wanted to join in.", Pink Steven spoke.
"Well, glad to have you with us today, Steven. Anyway, today's program, Train Documentary #89100034. We're here to show you all the places on the train that might help you on your journey of self-discovery. Every train car holds a special kind of wonder. Looking out on these peaceful hills, a song fills my heart.", Glad One spoke as the paper he tossed out to the wind inadvertently hit a nearby bird behind him in the distance.
"It's more of a dirge.", Sad One commented.
"Point is, you can learn a lot about yourself just by being one with nature and alone with your thoughts to help get yourself straight if you're falling apart. It's the best way to get down to your core.", Pink Steven added.
"Yep. Thoughts, thoughts, thoughts. Like, why does wind only make sound when it moves other things? Why doesn't wind make sound on his own? It could be going 'toot', or 'burble, burble', or 'vrrrr'.", Glad One agreed as he jumped and did a flip on that last sound effect.
"Uh, yeah. Like that.", Pink Steven spoke.
"This is what it's like when I'm alone in my thoughts? This is terrible.", Sad One commented before a wind blew by, blowing the leaves across the sky.
"Maybe, but for the most part, it's actually peaceful.", Pink Steven spoke.
"Oh! I saw a bird in the distance! I wanna look closer!", Glad One spoke.
"Where is it?", Pink Steven asked before the camera was turned to show a bird making a landing.
"Uh, why does it look like it's heading toward us?", Pink Steven asked.
"It probably wants my autograph.", Sad One spoke before the bird instead began attacking both One-One and Pink Steven as it seized Sad One with its talons.
"One-One!", Pink Steven shouted before going after him with a dashing jump as the bird flew away.
"Hey, get your birdy nubs off me.", Sad One urged before Pink Steven then grabbed him from the bird.
"Sorry, bird!", Pink Steven shouted before the bird cawed angrily and then dive down toward Pink Steven, even zooming past Glad One, knocking him back before he, Sad One, and Pink Steven were sent rolling down the hill with the bird following in hot pursuit with their screams and grunts not going unnoticed as a Tulip noticed what was happening nearby.
"Oh, no. They're in trouble.", Tulip spoke before she then slid down the hill just as the bird was about to grab Glad One.
"Oh, no, it's back!", Glad One exclaimed before Tulip then roared at the bird, blasting it a great distance in the sky before she then crouched down to provide cover for Pink Steven and One-One as they stopped rolling with Sad One groaning a bit.
"Are you guys okay?", Tulip asked.
"Yeah, Tulip. We're just fine.", Pink Steven responded as Glad One set the camera upright.
"What just happened?", Tulip asked.
"We has a run-in with that bird who attacked us.", Pink Steven responded as Atticus, M.T., Jesse, and Alan Dracula catch up.
"It turns out, in this car, birds don't want your autograph. They just don't like littering, which is reasonable.", Glad One added before another voice spoke up.
"Wowee. You guys okay?", the hill asked.
"Uh, yeah. I guess.", Tulip responded before One-One noticed a broken passenger door as it was torn all into pieces.
"What the?", Tulip puzzled in surprise.
"Guys! You might want to come down and see this!", Pink Steven asked before the rest of the group slid down and saw what Tulip, Pink Steven, and One-One saw.
"What is it, guys?", Jesse asked before he and the others turned to notice the door broken in pieces.
"Whoa! Okay, who wrecked the door?", Jesse asked.
"That's what we're trying to find out.", Pink Steven responded.
"It looks like someone had the audacity to tear down that door in such a vicious manner. But the question is, who?", Atticus asked.
"Oh, I don't like this.", Glad One spoke in worry.
"One bit...", Sad One added.
"Yeah. How could that door be broken? And for that matter, who would be able to do that?", Pink Steven puzzled.
"Doors should be more like doors and less like holes.", Glad One spoke.
"It's the whole point. Why aren't the denizens of the train respecting my work?", Sad One groaned in complaint.
"Maybe it was a passenger.", Glad One guessed.
"Well, whoever it was who did that wasn't very good by the looks of it.", Pink Steven guessed.
"Well, at least we found the exit.", Jesse spoke.
"Hey, it's not polite to stare.", the hill spoke, trying to cover the exit.
Later, the group of 7 entered into another hill car, only this one had a giant, mechanical Chinese cat meowing as it moved its arm up and down.
"Hi, I'm Jesse!", Jesse greeted.
"It's not alive, ding-dong.", M.T. responded.
"We don't know that.", Jesse responded.
"And frankly, neither does Atticus, that's for sure.", Tulip concurred as Atticus ran toward the cat, barking quite furiously.
"Eh, fair point.", M.T. spoke before picking up the grass from the ground and then clocking her tongue while calling Alan Dracula.
"Come on.", M.T. spoke before Alan Dracula fired lasers from his eyes one time with Jesse narrowly dodging them before Alan Dracula and the others simply walked forward toward the car, even Atticus, who slowed down and became embarrassed upon realizing that it was not a cat, but instead an entrance to a sort of festival and had to make himself presentable as he cleared his throat before then walking in with the others to notice a wonderful sight.
"Wow. It's a huge carnival!", Tulip spoke in awe.
"Yeah. Kinda like Funland back home. My favorite part is the arcade.", Pink Steven agreed.
"Nice. My family goes to pow-wow at our county fair everywhere. One time, Nate wrapped his whole head in cotton candy and...", Jesse began before bearing a guilty look on his face.
"Hey. You'll make things right with him when you get back home.", M.T. assured.
"Yeah. Knowing him, I'm guessing that he's probably looking around for you right now.", Pink Steven assured.
"Yeah. Totally.", Jesse spoke.
"I went to the carnival every year, too.", Tulip spoke.
"You go here, too, Ms. Tulip?", Glad One gasped in surprise.
"Yup.", Tulip nodded.
"The only part I ever got to experience was the house of mirrors. But with the Flec situation, let's not tempt fate.", M.T. advised.
"Exercising caution is a capital idea.", Atticus agreed.
"Yeah, fair point. The house of mirrors might not be in this carnival anyway, which is a good thing.", Pink Steven responded.
"Hey. When you go into a house of mirrors, there's a bunch of reflections. Does that mean you have a bunch of reflections stuck in the mirror world?", Jesse asked.
"No. All the reflections are me.", M.T. responded.
"Whoa. How does that work?", Jesse asked.
"I don't know, it's like...I do...I don't know! Do you know how every part of your body works? Like, why do your blood cells look like tiny inner tubes?", M.T. asked in response.
"An excellent question.", Glad One concurred.
"It's too bad I didn't get to ask that, though.", Sad One added.
"Because they're in a liquid and that's how they float?", Jesse guessed.
"They don't...wait, is that true?", M.T. puzzled as Alan Dracula was walking away.
"Yeah. Wait, isn't it?", Jesse asked.
"Well, yes and no. There's actually a lot more to it than that.", Tulip responded.
"Uh, guys? Look.", Tulip spoke, pointing to Alan Dracula, who is now walking toward the crane game, fixated on the grass inside with several items laying on top of it before trying to get in.
"A.D., what are you...?", M.T. spoke before she And Atticus noticed what Alan Dracula was trying to do.
"I think he's trying to get to the grass inside that machine.", Atticus guessed.
"Oh. That's not real grass, buddy.", M.T. spoke before Alan Dracula turned back to her for a second and then back to the crane game, still trying to get in.
"So, how do we play the games?", Jesse asked.
"Well, back at Funland, we used to get tokens to be able to play games.", Pink Steven stated.
"What do they use for money around here?", Jesse asked.
"Points. You gotta use 'em to win 'em, friends.", a familiar voice spoke before the source of the voice turned out to be Kick the Toad, who is now wearing a red cape that says, "The Toad" in the back.
"Kick? You're actually here?", Pink Steven spoke in surprise.
"Hey, it's you.", Jesse spoke.
"And you're getting kicked again?", M.T. puzzled.
"Oh, it's not like that. I operate this booth myself. Now people pay to kick me. Uh, please pay to kick me.", Kick requested.
"Oh. Congratulations?", Jesse spoke puzzledly.
"Yeah. That's a nice business you got.", Tulip added.
"Let me give you youngins some game cards to get you started.", Kick spoke, handing said game cards to Tulip, Pink Steven, M.T., and Jesse.
"Y'all get 2 points each.", Kick stated.
"Seriously? No game card for me?", Sad One puzzled.
"Now, go take a gander at the prize booth in the center of the carnival.", Kick advised.
"Thanks, Kick.", Pink Steven thanked.
"As thoughtful as the name is, please call me 'Terrence'", the toad requested.
"Wait, your name was Terrence the whole time?", Jesse asked.
"Nope. Although Kick is still being used as a middle name.", Terrence responded.
"Again, thanks.", Pink Steven spoke.
Then, Tulip paid a visit to Nancy at Nancy's Pasta Grata just as Nancy had already offered her pasta to a couple of denizens passing by.
"Hi.", Tulip greeted, taking Nancy slightly aback.
"Tulip? Is that you?", Nancy asked.
"Who else would I be?", Tulip asked.
"Wow. Look how you've grown! And into a giant monster, no less.", Nancy spoke in surprise.
"Well, I don't normally look like this. I'm currently in the process of changing back to normal, actually. As for why I look the way I do, it's kind of a long story. So, how's your restaurant doing?", Tulip asked.
"It was actually going great. The customers actually like my pasta. I guess it's true what you said back then. I really have come a long way in my pasta-making.", Nancy spoke as she was making more pasta.
"Yeah. And as long as I'm here, can I have one for the road?", Tulip asked.
"Of course. On the house.", Nancy responded while handing a plate of it to her.
"Bon appetit.", Nancy spoke.
"Thanks. Let's meet again sometime. Oh, and Atticus says 'hello'.", Tulip spoke as she then took her leave.
"Wait. Atticus is here, too?", Nancy puzzled.
Meanwhile, the rest of the group passed by a stuffed animal rabbit, holding a purple cylindrical squeeze toy as Tulip caught up.
"Hey, Tulip. Where were you?", Pink Steven asked.
"Well, I had some catching up to do.", Tulip responded before she then slurped up the pasta via noodle.
"Really? With who?", Pink Steven asked before Tulip finished the pasta.
"With Nancy. The pasta maker I told you about.", Tulip responded.
"Oh, yeah. It was back when we first met when you told me about her, huh?", Pink Steven realized.
"Yeah.", Tulip nodded.
"Did you tell her I said, 'Hello'?", Atticus asked.
"Yeah. Just as I was leaving actually.", Tulip replied just as the group passed a Crystal denizen from the Crystal cat dancing on a game ironically called, "Dance or Else", before arriving at the prize booth just as a red light flashed and beeped twice before a certain entrepreneur arrived, stepping out of the curtains.
"Hello, dearies.", the cat spoke before Tulip, M.T., and Pink Steven gasped as did Atticus before One-One did.
"Why are we gasping?", Glad One asked.
"Anything here that catches your eye? Maybe one of these unusual musical instruments? I call it a buzzle toot.", the cat spoke as she held a kazoo before playing it.
"Uh, technically, it's actually a kazoo.", Tulip commented before the cat quickly widened her eyes in shock and yowled in the same manner, making her jump up before clutching onto the wall of the prize booth.
"Tulip! What are you still doing on the train?! You've given yourself quite a m-m-monstrous makeover, kitten.", the cat commented a bit nervously.
"Aw, thanks. And for the record, I'm actually in the process of turning back to normal, believe it or not.", Tulip assured.
"Yeah. And right now, we're trying to get me back home to Beach City and trying to lower Jesse's number so he can go back home.", Pink Steven added.
"It's a group effort when you think about it.", Glad One added before the cat gasped and spoke a french phrase in surprise.
"The conductor?! And Steven, too?! Not to mention a reflection! I've never seen one of your kind in the prime world.", the cat spoke.
"How did you know that I...?", M.T. asked before the cat clocked her tongue a few times.
"Now, who is this tom cat you have with you?", the cat asked.
"Hi, I'm Jesse.", Jesse greeted.
"Jesse, meet the cat. The cat, meet Jesse.", Tulip greeted.
"I got to know her when I was still attached to Tulip. She's a world class con artist.", M.T. explained.
"That's nothing. She was actually an agent for Amelia when she took over the train. Didn't exactly end very well, but the cat pulled through nonetheless.", Atticus explained.
"And even then, I'm a world-class entrepreneur, thank you. Now, let's cut the chit-chat. How many points do you have?", the cat asked.
"We each have 2 points.", Jesse replied before the cat chuckled a bit.
"Doesn't matter how many points we have if the prizes are trash.", M.T. commented.
"Uh, not all of them.", Tulip retorted after noticing what might be the prize on top.
"Ah, keen eye, kitten. I think we all know what a handsome, young passenger like Jesse might need.", the cat spoke as she then climbed up to Jesse by the shoulders with the cat then pointing up to the exit door in the cage on top.
"Wanna exit? Have to win. Only those with 1,000 points are allowed access and I must warn you: you all have a competitor.", the cat spoke, gesturing to a cloaked being with a black robe and a mask.
"And she looks like she plays to win.", the cat added.
"Wow. She looks really tough to beat.", Pink Steven commented.
"So? If she wins, we'll just keep playing and go through the exit later.", M.T. spoke.
"Oh, silly me. I forgot to mention. There can be only one exit winner a month.", the cat spoke.
"What?!", Tulip and Pink Steven exclaimed.
"And that's the con artist side of her.", Sad One commented.
"Who made that rule?!", Jesse spoke frustratedly.
"Wouldn't be a game without stakes.", the cat responded.
"This...isn't a GAME!", Pink Steven snapped, causing a shockwave that shook the entire car, causing the ground to spike up a few precipices. near the prize booth, once again frightening the car as she yowled and leapt up out of fright, especially near the booth that the being just so happened to be at, catching her by surprise.
"What the...?", the being puzzled.
"This is a matter of life and death! And if you can't understand that, then so help me, I'll...!", Pink Steven spoke angrily as the shockwave continued.
"Steven, stop! We have a time limit, so there's no use taking it out on her.", Tulip spoke, calming Pink Steven down.
"Oh. Yeah. You're right, Tulip.", Pink Steven spoke before the shockwave ceased across the car, things finally calming down.
"Sacre Bleu! Never have I ever seen such destructive anger!", the cat hissed.
"I know. And that's part of why we need to get to the exit as soon as we can. We only have about 12 hours right now and if we don't get back to Beach City before time runs out, I could die.", Pink Steven responded.
"Oh, my. That is quite the conundrum.", the cat gasped.
"And what's more, we can't get Steven back to his human body until he learns how to really move on.", Tulip added.
"And I take it that's the reason your current form is monstrous?", the cat guessed.
"Well, yeah, but how did you know?", Tulip asked.
"I've only seen records of an event like this ever since our last encounter, but I never thought I'd see the results with my own eyes. That said, I'll tell you what. If you four can win a combined score of 1,000, I'll give you both access.", the cat assured.
"Really? Thank you.", Pink Steven spoke.
"Well, I couldn't have one of kitten's friends dying on the train, now could I? Noblesse oblige and all that. And the dog king and ball are welcome to help if you like.", the cat spoke.
"Sure. They can lend a hand.", Tulip grinned.
"Trois magnifique. Now, that that's over with...", the cat spoke before lowering a microphone with a tap on the wall and speaking through it.
"Attention, patrons of the lucky cat! We have four new competitors for the door. Let the exit games begin.", the cat spoke as it then showed a stranger appearing on top with Tulip, Pink Steven, Jesse, and M.T. appearing in that order in terms of rank with the score being 47 while the rest had 2.
"Better get a move on.", the cat spoke.
"Right. We're on it!", Pink Steven responded before he and the others ran to the first game nearby with the game being interstellar skeeball as a ball then gets sucked up into a black hole for points before the 4 slots all said winner.
"Awesome! Just like a skeeball game.", Pink Steven spoke before he, Tulip, Jesse, M.T., Atticus, and One-One looked up to see that they both have 25 while the being had 100 points before the points went up to show that while Tulip has 43 points, Jesse has 44 and both M.T. and Pink Steven have 37 points each.
"Why didn't we get the same points?", M.T. puzzled.
"Well, at least we're pulling ahead.", Pink Steven spoke.
"And a good thing, too, because look at that girl over there. She's scoring troll baskets every time.", Atticus spoke as the being made three baskets, getting her high score up to 65 in the game while in the main event, her points went up to 127.
"Yep. We're still pulling ahead, but we better hurry. She's catching up.", Pink Steven spoke.
"The exit games are heating up! If you like to place bets on the contenders, please see the betting booth.", the cat spoke as the being did a sarcastic bow before leaving.
"How dare she insult us with that sarcastic bow!", Atticus growled.
"Easy, Atticus. We're still ahead. We just have to make sure that she doesn't catch up before we win.", Pink Steven assured.
"Where'd Alan Dracula go?", M.T. asked.
"Where else?", Glad One spoke before later, the group was trying to get Alan Dracula away from the crane game.
"It's not real grass!", M.T. grunted.
Later, the group were now filling the water balloons up as best they could as one of the balloons then popped with water bursting out.
"We have a winner!", Randall announced.
"Yes!", M.T. cheered.
"Great job, M.T.", Pink Steven congratulated as the scoreboard showed that while the stranger had 302 points, Tulip has 94 points, Jesse has 95, Pink Steven has 63, and M.T. has 62 before the score gets updated to show that both Tulip and Jesse have 106 points each (adding up to 212) while Pink Steven and M.T. each have 68 points (adding up to 136), both scored adding up to equal 348, which is 46 points higher than the stranger's.
"Ugh. Randall! I know I just win that game.", M.T. snapped frustratedly.
"Hm. I don't know. He must've actually won.", Randall fibbed.
"Oh, no. M.T. won this fair and square. We all saw that.", Pink Steven argued.
"I know. Look, I have to give more points to anyone with a number. Passengers get preferential treatment because of their greater need to exit the car.", Randall whispered.
"Oh. Well, that explains it.", Pink Steven spoke.
"I just wish it was fair for everyone...", Sad One sighed.
"Personally, I'd run my business differently.", Randall assured whisperingly.
"And I'm sure you would, Randall.", Atticus responded.
"Ooh, while we're in the subject of commerce, wanna buy a donut holder?", Randall asked, holding out a pipe, only to earn M.T.'s frustrated groan as she then stormed off with Jesse and Pink Steven following her as well as Alan Dracula in the form of a pickle jar.
"M.T.!", Jesse shouted, chasing after her.
"Wait up!", Pink Steven shouted.
"What about you? Would you like a donut holer?", Randall asked.
"No thanks. I have one back home. Thanks for asking, anyway.", Tulip responded as she, Atticus, and One-One follow her.
"Your business' future doesn't look very bright.", Sad One commented before taking off.
"Guess not.", Randall spoke.
"Came out a bit strongly, mate, to be honest.", the water ballon spoke to Randall.
Meanwhile, Jesse, Pink Steven, Tulip, Jesse, Atticus, and One-One finally caught up to M.T.
"M.T., slow down. Come on, where are you going?", Jesse asked.
"I don't know! I'm just...going! What's wrong with this place?!", M.T. responded.
"Hey, it's okay.", Pink Steven assured.
"Yeah, it's still 4 to 1 in our favor.", Jesse added.
"That's not the point, Jesse. The point is that everything and everyone on this train wants me to fail.", M.T. responded.
"What?! Don't even say that!", Pink Steven reacted, taking M.T. aback a bit before Pink Steven sighed.
"I mean, look. We're on the train and we don't want you to fail.", Pink Steven responded.
"Well, he's not lying about that. And he doesn't even lie about anything. And who cares about them? Once my number gets to zero, we're all leaving anyway.", Jesse spoke, surprising the group, M.T. most of all as she blushed.
"What?", the group puzzled.
"What 'what'?", Jesse puzzled.
"I-I don't...I mean, uh, I didn't think...you want us to come with you? You want me to come with you?", M.T. puzzled.
"Yeah. You're my friend. I'm not gonna leave you here with the flecs chasing after you.", Jesse responded.
"And neither will we.", Tulip assured before Jesse's number glowed and then went down to 4.
"See? Even my number knows you should come back with me. It wouldn't have gone down if it wasn't the right thing to do.", Jesse grinned.
"He does make an excellent point.", Atticus grinned.
"And love does conquer all.", Glad One spoke.
"Even if it's to the bitter end.", Sad One added.
"Wait, love? What do you mean?", Pink Steven puzzled before he understood his point.
"Oh, I think I see what's going on here. But we'll talk later. Point is, M.T., you may think you're destined to fail, but that's not really the case. Believe it or not, a song that Dad showed me taught me that much.", Pink Steven spoke.
"Really?", M.T. puzzled.
"A Song? That sounds awfully nice. How does it go?", Glad One asked.
"Well, you see, the song goes something like this.", Pink Steven responded before he started singing and even dancing as near the end, Jesse gasped as he widened his eyes excitedly before he started singing as well before Tulip's gem on her belly button started to glow brightly, suddenly giving her a sort of idea to sing the last verse with the two.
Pink Steven: Looking for your place in the universe
Don't you know the universe is looking too
Looking for its place in you
And now it's coming through
Your dream is coming true
Pink Steven & Jesse: Welcome to the party Mr. Universe
We're so glad we are a part of you
Meet the rocks and flowers
The seconds and the hours
The splinters, winters,
Apples, chapels, teardrops, temples, cats, and castles
Anything that you can be
The things you see and cannot see
Are Mr. Universe
Pink Steven, Jesse, & Tulip: Mr. Universe
"DUUUUDE! You didn't tell me you knew that song!", Jesse exclaimed in surprise.
"Wait. You know that song, too?", Pink Steven asked.
"Heck, yeah, I do! That's my favorite song of all time!", Jesse responded excitedly.
"It is? Well, I didn't exactly like it because I didn't have any good memories with it back then.", Pink Steven responded.
"Oh. Sorry to hear that, Steven. Still, the song altogether may seem a bit slow, but the message about chasing your dreams is really upbeat, don't you think?", Jesse asked.
"Well, yeah. I guess.", Pink Steven grinned a little before realizing something.
"Wait a second. If you and I both know this sing, then, then that means...", Pink Steven began.
"It means that the Beach City Car is in the same pocket dimension as the Earth that the passengers get picked up from and dropped off to when their numbers reach '0'.", Glad One replied.
"What?!", Tulip, Jesse, and Pink Steven spoke in surprise.
"One-One..., that's great! So, if we get to Beach City, it practically means that Tulip and Jesse are going home, too. And even M.T.!", Pink Steven shouted with joy as M.T. smiled before Pink Steven then turned to Tulip.
"But how did you know that song, too, Tulip?", Pink Steven asked.
"I don't know. But something about that song made me feel as though I've heard it before.", Tulip responded.
"Maybe that's just how magical the song is.", Glad One guessed before M.T. then spoke.
"Well, if your number thinks so, I guess I should.", M.T. responded, still blushing a bit.
"Duh. So, who cares if they give passengers more tickets. There's still 4 of us and we can still get that door.", Jesse spoke.
"Make that 6, including me and One-One.", Atticus spoke.
"Yeah. If we can get Alan Dracula to play, then there'd be...", M.T. began.
"No chance in limbo. The deer turned tail to eat the grass.", Sad One interrupted having noticed that he left.
"I'm gonna smash that crane game to the ground.", M.T. spoke.
"Hey, if there's gonna be any smashing, I'm gonna be the one to do that. Especially with the damage up to a minimum.", Pink Steven responded.
Later, he and the others were trying to pry Alan Dracula away from crane game seemingly with no success.
Then, in the "guess your weight" game, Jesse let M.T. step up into the scale, breaking it as it overheated from the pressure before M.T. and Pink Steven's points shot up to 100 for the former and 99 for the latter, adding up to 199 while Tulip's points were at 150 while Jesse's points were at 151, adding up to 301 before they later tried to get Alan Dracula away from the crane game again.
"Spells?", the wizard spoke.
"Try reflective shooting.", Atticus suggested before Jesse fired at both the targets and at M.T's body to reflect the laser toward other targets as Pink Steven then fired with two guns to shoot the same targets, bringing the points up to 533 (adding Tulip's 266 points to Jesse's 267 points altogether) for Tulip and Jesse while Pink Steven and M.T.'s points were now at 401 with M.T.'s points at 201 with Pink Steven's points at 200 while the stranger is at 477 points.
"Nicely done, Steven. You're quite a marksman.", Atticus complimented.
"Thanks. I guess I do make a great sharpshooter with lasers, don't I?", Pink Steven grinned.
"Spells...?", the wizard spoke suspiciously before it then noticed that Jesse was apparently cheating.
"Grrr, spells, spells, spells, spells, spells!", the tiny wizard shouted, chasing after the group.
After that, as Alan Dracula scratched his back against the porta potty while Atticus and One-One looked on, the stranger was having a race with the group of four as it started with a man dashing forward on the board before the group then pressed hard on the buttons as fast as they could before M.T. beat the stranger, making her groan in frustration and defeat before the score went up with Tulip and Jesse's points at 600 (300 each) and Pink Steven and M.T.'s total points at 395 (197 for P.S. and 198 for M.T.) before the score gets updated, getting the stranger's points up from 889 to 902 with the total points for the group of four now being 659 (330 for Jesse and 329 for Tulip) and 425 (212 for Pink Steven and 213 for M.T.) with the total amount added now being 1,084 points, which is 182 points farther than the stranger's total point count.
"We did it!", Tulip grinned.
"We have a winning gang with a combined score of 1,084! If you placed a bet in their favor, then...", the cat began before the security guard bear appeared and whispered to the cat.
"I'm being told that no one bet that they would win. So, all losers, please report to the debtors' prison booth.", the cat spoke.
"How do you like that?!", M.T. smirked.
"So, you're just gonna leave without your deer, then?", the stranger asked before the group realized where he went.
"Oh, no. Don't tell me.", Pink Steven realized.
"Aw, Alan Dracula!", Jesse groaned.
Then, the group arrived at the crane game.
"Where is he? Where is he?", Jesse asked.
"Uh, I don't know. Is there some green cotton candy around? Oh, what other dumb thing that would Alan Dracula think is grass?", M.T. panicked.
"Uh, guys? You might need to take a look at this.", Pink Steven urged worriedly, pointing to the fact that two badger-like people were near the crane game.
"Ooh, look, Mommy! That toy is moving. I want him, I want him, I want him.", the little badger urged, pointing to Alan Dracula, who was now small and eating the grass inside the crane game.
"Agh! Of course he'd shrink down and eat that.", Pink Steven groaned in frustration before the alarm went off, showing that the stranger now has 1,007 points.
"And our mystery competitor has reached 1,000 points! It's a race to the finish line! Patrons who reported to the prison booth may now return to the carnival. The lucky cat is not obligated to return any valuables already surrendered at the debtor's prison booth.", the cat announced.
"No, no, no, no, no! This is not happening!", Oink Steven panicked.
"We need both our cards to win the exit. Play the crane game.", M.T. spoke before they went over to it with Jesse then swiping his card.
"Sorry, Sorry!", Jesse apologized as he cautiously pushed the badger kid aside and then tried to get Alan Dracula only to fail, frustrating him and the others before swiping his card again and trying again.
This time, it was successful as he successfully grabbed Alan Dracula, who snorted at them, and then dropped him at the prize hole, allowing M.T. to grab Alan Dracula.
"Great job, Jesse. Now, everyone hold on to your hands. This is gonna get really fast!", Pink Steven warned before they made a run for it as to them, everything started to get slow as Pink Steven's pink aura of many facets appeared as he and the others ran.
"Moommmmyyyyyy! Theeeyyyy tooook myyyy prrreeeeccciooouuusss littllleee deeeer.", the boy cried in slow motion as Pink Steven looked back with a sad look.
"Aw, what am I doing? I can't leave him sad like this.", Pink Steven spoke before noticing a nearby stuffed animal resembling a deer.
"Wait. That's it!", Pink Steven spoke before then heading out for it.
"Steven, what are you doing?", Tulip puzzled.
"Making things right.", Pink Steven spoke before taking off and then placing said stuffed animal deer into the child's hands before heading back to the others as time seemingly went to normal with the child then getting puzzled before his mother spoke.
"Please do be quiet, Arnold.", his mother requested.
Then, Pink Steven caught up with the others.
"All right. Now, let's get to our exit.", Pink Steven spoke before he and the others ran again only to notice the stranger giving her card to the cat.
"No!", M.T. and Pink Steven shouted.
"Sorry, my little chartreuse. A win is a win.", the cat spoke before pressing her paw on the wall, causing the crane to lower the exit door to the ground before the cat then pressed her paw on the lock, allowing the cage to be unlocked.
"Well-played, madame. Thank you for patronizing the Lucky Cat.", the cat spoke.
"Might not want to thank me just yet.", the stranger spoke before then turning the knob and opening the exit.
"Wait. What are you doing?", Pink Steven asked before sure enough, four savage kids burst in from the exit, taking even the cat aback even worse than Tulip's monstrous appearance and Pink Steven's destructive temper.
"No! You little apex brats!", the cat hissed as she climbed up the shelves hastily.
"Sorry for the disguise, but...", the stranger spoke before taking off her black cloak, unknowingly covering One-One in it, to reveal herself to be one of the passengers that Tulip remembered seeing once from the monitor in the engine.
"I didn't think you'd give me access to the door if you knew who I was.", the passenger responded.
"Wait. That's one of the passengers I saw on Amelia's monitor.", Tulip realized.
"You horrid, little...!", the cat hissed.
"Wah, wah, wah!", the passenger quacked as he clapped with one hand before one of the savage kids took cotton candy from the concession stand as the rest stole as much as they could, all except two, who were noticeably paying for what they would need responsibly, giving the two booth owners no reason to fear them while the passenger, who was an apparent leader, walked over to the corner dog stand, prompting the seller to duck for cover I fear before the passenger just took a corn dog, practically infuriating Pink Steven just as much as M.T. as they both stormed over to her with the rest of the group following the two.
"So, you opened the door just to let in a bunch of rabid kids?", M.T. asked.
"Agh, Sorry. Didn't realize you're like super precious about this car.", the passenger retorted.
"It's not like that! You're making things worse for the denizens in that car!", Pink Steven snapped.
"Yeah? Well, let me give it to you straight. We're passengers. We do what we have to to survive. Plus, I wanted a corn dog.", the passenger responded.
"That's no reason to cause a riot over something like this. You could've at least paid for that.", Pink Steven retorted.
"Yeah, that's true, except, oh, look. No money.", the passenger responded.
"Well, at least these two had the right idea.", Pink Steven spoke, gesturing to the two beings who respectfully paid for their provisions.
One of them was a girl with blonde hair with a purple tip at the end of her bang while another was a young man with messy, yet elegantly majestic hair as they both stepped forward to the passenger.
"Well, these two are lucky. We can't all afford to be experts in commerce. Hey, kid, what's your number at?", the passenger asked, taking a look at Jesse's hand.
"4? We'll have to fix that back at my base. Come on.", the passenger spoke.
"We're not going anywhere with you.", Tulip refused.
"We don't even know who you are.", Atticus added.
"Look, first off, my name is Grace. And secondly, I don't care one way or the other, but you were trying to win the door, so, ta-da. Door.", Grace spoke, gesturing to the door.
"Yeah, well, we still don't trust you.", Pink Steven responded before Jesse then placed his hand on Pink Steven's shoulder.
"This car was cheating you. I think she's okay. She's letting us use the exit and she doesn't really have to.", Jesse responded.
"Yeah, I know. But still...", Pink Steven began before M.T. spoke up.
"Fine. Let's just get out of here.", M.T. spoke before the cat hissed.
"This isn't over, Grace.", the cat warned.
"Try me, 'the cat'.", Grace responded with a smirk before she snapped her fingers with one of the apex turning to the two apex kids near her.
"Lena? Damien?", Grace began.
"Yeah?", Damien spoke.
"One, take this corn dog. Two, bring them back to the base.", Grace requested.
"All right. Let's get a move on.", Lena spoke.
"Kitten, I really have to warn you. Those Apex are not to be trusted.", the cat warned.
"I know. I'll be sure to remember that.", Tulip assured as she, M.T., Pink Steven, Jesse, Alan Dracula, who regrew back to normal size, Atticus, and One-One, who was still covered with the black coat on top of Atticus, followed Lena and Damien through the exit as Grace took off her glove, showing that her number is very long before getting out a portable makeup mirror, feeling her lips while looking into it, and then smirking before closing the portable mirror.
A/N: And there we have it. The Apex arrive, this time, with two more recruits, and I'm talking about the ones named Lena, voiced by Kimiko Glenn, and Damien, voiced by Matt Lanter. Are they good or are they bad? Who can say? We'll just have to find out in the next chapter next week. Until next time. :)