Author Notes:I have a serious announcement about this story. So far I've been using tracks and challenges from the video game Jak X. Well, no more. From now on I'm using my original ideas. This will help better my horizon for being a better writer. It will also be more exiting for me if I prevent my original ideas. The challenges that I used so far will still be used for the races, but other then those, it will be own ideas.
Normally I should have done this in the beginning. As everyone can see, the theme for this story is friendship. I'm going to try and expand that theme more, but not to much. I might remake this story later on in the future, it heavily deserves it. Also, this will be my first original challenge.
Now to respond to recent reviews:
PRIVATE Corp: You already know what's going to happen? You must be sharp. Also, your guest appearance will appear in the next act.
theinsanitymaster:Nah, I don't think I'm going to make a sequel to this, but, like I said, I may be going to make a remake of this.
Now on with the story. I do not own Ed, Edd, n Eddy, Johnny Bravo, PowerPuff Girls, Code Name Kids Next Door, Billy and Mandy, Freakazoid, Samuari Jack, Fosters Home For Imaginary Friends, Courage The Cowardly Dog, and Dexters Laboratory, they belong to their respected owners.
Chapter 23:Act 1:Before The Checkpoint Challenge
Last Time:
Unknown to the car, Freakazoid and Ed were at the exit of the cave charging there weapons, while Edd and Jack distracted the car. Freakazoid was charging his laser, and Ed was charging his new built laser that Dexter built for him as well. They both fired at the same time. Jack and Edd also fired there machine gun at the car as well. The two lasers, the two machine gun bullets, plus the giant missile that the car shot out collided with each other, causing a massive explosion, mostly impacting on the bronzed car. A big cloud of smoke covered most of the exit of the cave. Everyone in the crowd couldn't see a thing.
"Talk about suspense! Who in the world survived?" Bob said...
Now:
The cloud of smoke was like a curtain, and the crowd were like people waiting for that curtain to open, to reveal the final act of the show. It seemed like minutes, but it was only for a few seconds. When the smoke cleared, Edd and the other heroes kept driving to the finish line. A lot of the people in the crowd stood up and cheer, while some were disappointed that they lost their bets to a bunch of kids, a blue superhero, and a man with a white robe. The robot droid was smashed and destroyed, nothing but parts remain at the end of the cave.
"Well, so much for that menace," Freakazoid said.
"Yeah, now it should be easy to cross the finish line now, with no one else-"
Before Edd could finish his sentence, he looked in his rear view mirror to see that the robot parts were reassembling again. It wasn't long before the announcer was announcing this.
"The car is being reassembled again!" Bob said in surprise.
The crowd looked at the moving parts, moving by themselves like some kind of ghost. People didn't expect for the reassembling to start talking.
In the name of Aku, you will be destroyed, you will be-
Before the parts could finish it's speech, and even before anyone can react to it talking in the first place, a missile came from the cave and impacted on the parts, causing for an explosion and for all the parts to become nothing more then debris. It happened so fast that some people in the crowd didn't know it talked.
"Hey guys, miss me?" the voice of Eddy said.
Sure enough, Eddy drove through the smoke that aroused from the debris of the parts and joined up with the other three heroes.
"Eddy, where in the world were you?" Edd asked.
Eddy looked at Edd like he was crazy. "What do you mean? I've been fighting off those crazy drivers back there! What were you guys doin, twiddling with your toes?" Eddy asked.
"I tried doing that Eddy," Ed said.
Ignoring Ed's comment, Edd looked in front of him to notice that the finish line was close. He also noticed that Jack was way in front of the team, and was getting to the finish line before them.
"Hey, how come Jack left without us?" Ed said, noticing that Jack went ahead without them.
"I don't know, let's go see whats wrong with him," Eddy said.
The team agreed and accelerated their speed to get to the finish line. Jack crossed the finish line first, followed by Edd, Eddy, Ed, and Freakazoid.
"And the winner of this race is Jack!" Bob said.
The crowd of people cheered Jack's name, but Jack wasn't paying them no mind. In fact, it like he was in a completely different word. The cheering, the noises around him, were all gone. All that remained in his head was the past. Jack drove out of the track before one of the race reporters could get an interview with him.
"I wonder what's Jack's problem?" Eddy said.
"I don't know, but something has been bothering him..." Edd said.
Soon the reporters came to interview the runner up, due to Jack not being there...
1901 Haven City Building...
When the Eds and Freakazoid went back to their hangout, they noticed that Jack was nowhere to be seen.
"We haven't seen Jack since the race ended," Josh informed them.
"I wonder where he is?" Blossom said.
Later on, the whole team began looking around the city for the lone samurai, and since the city was big, it wasn't that easy. Since the PowerPuff Girls can fly, the team would think that it would be easier the expand the search, but to no avail, not even the three girls could find him...
Haven City Park...
The park of Haven City was somewhere far off to the east of 1901 Haven City Building. Today was a beautiful day, the sun was expanding to the horizon, making the sun look like a big orange circle in the sky. On the far side of the grass, Jack was sitting by himself on a lonely bench. Nobody payed him any mind, children were playing tag, people were laughing and fishing alongside the wooden foothole, and two lovers were sitting together in a nearby bench, looking out at the sunset and enjoying their anniversary of them being together. Yes, it was a peaceful day, although Jack wasn't enjoying it, thinking about the responsibility that he was placed with. Now that he was here back in the past, why is he wasting time here with these people, while he could be helping his people with Aku, especially if that robot droid said that Aku was to destroy his village soon...
"It's a lovely day isn't it Jack?" a voice that Jack wasn't familiar with.
Jack turned to his right, and saw a figure shrouded in nothing but a cloak; not even his face could be seen.
"Who are you?" Jack asked.
"I'm the guy that's gonna help get what you want," the cloak figure said simply. Jack was confused by his words. As if the cloak figure knew what Jack was thinking, he said, "I want to help you get back to China, so you can help your people."
"You will?" Jack asked.
The cloaked figure shook his head. "All you have to do is leave the CIA's team and team up with me."
Jack thought about this for a moment. "No...I can't do that."
"Oh?" the cloaked figure said.
"I don't know how you know about the team, but they are racing for a good cause, and I want to help them," Jack said.
"Are you sure that's what you want?" the cloaked figure asked. Jack looked like he wasn't sure. "Your people need you Jack, after all, Aku might be killing your family as we speak." This comment made Jack get a worry look on his face. "And have you ever thought about this, what if the guy was lying, what if he's not in the CIA, just some bum that wants to collect the prize money for himself, have you ever thought about that Jack?"
Jack shook his head honestly. "No." Underneath that hood of the cloak figure, he was smiling very evilly.
"Then join me and my team. All you have to do is race for me, and I'll bring you back to your hometown," the cloaked figure said.
"But how do I know that your telling the truth?" Jack asked.
"That's a very good question," the cloak figure said. He then got up from the bench and began to walk away. Before he was completely out of view, he turned around and said, "It's up to you Jack, believe what you wanna believe. I'll be waiting."
And then the cloak figure just walked away, out of Jack's view. The atmosphere of the other people around felt relief, like a great evil has just been dropped.
"Jack, there you are!" another familiar voice said. Jack turned around to find the three Eds in the back of him. "Where you been samuari?" Eddy asked.
Jack got up from his seat to meet the three boys. "Nothing, just thinking." Jack responded.
"Does it have something to do with that robot in the race?" Edd asked.
"Yeah, it does. I'm just really worried about how China is holding up," Jack said.
"You really need to let that stuff go man," Eddy informed him.
"It's true Jack, if you worry to much, then most likely something bad will happen," Edd informed Jack as well.
"Yeah, just like how ketchup doesn't get along with pickles," Ed said. The two Eds and Jack looked at the tall confused boy. "What?"
"Nothing you big lug," Eddy said, not wanting to continue the weird conversation with Ed.
Jack realised that the Eds were right. He even shook his head while the Eds weren't looking; he was worrying to much. He also laughed a little at Ed's confusing remark.
"Well, you ready to go back?" Eddy asked.
"Yeah," Jack responded.
The three Eds and Jack walked back to 1901, looking like brilliant silhouette with the sun setting behind them. The three Eds and the samurai started laughing and joking around, making their silhouette look even greater. Still, what the cloaked figure said earlier still hunted Jack. Speaking of him, the cloak figure was watching the whole scene unfold behind a tree. He smiled evilly as he walked away...
The next day, in 1901 Haven City Building Garage...
The next day in the garage of 1901 Haven City Building, the Grim Reaper was under his car with a screwdriver, tightening up his screws so the under of the car won't fall.
"This is your car Numbuh 3? Man, that's weak!" the voice of Numbuh 4 said, an operative of the KND.
Grim just got through tightening the last screwdriver, and got up from his place and looked at the two kids. One was wearing an orange hood, had yellow hair, and was pretty short, also had an Australian accent. And the other kids was a girl, with black hair going down in the back, a green shirt, and and white and black shoes. She also had a Japanese look to her.
"What are you talking about Numbuh 4, my car is awesome!" Numbuh 3 said to Numbuh 4.
Grim got a glimpse of 3's car. It was long, but kind of small. The color was green all over, is really shiny. The car had no roof, so the weapon was in front of the car instead of top. The wheels were spinning as well from what Grim could see. Grim had to admit, the car didn't look that tough, but it looked like it was very speedy.
"Yeah well, I know my car is going to beat all others!" 4 said.
4's car was big. It had a tough looking armor on it, had two machine guns on the front bumper, and another weapon that Grim couldn't see on the top. The wheels had spikes on them, making it look even tougher. Grim had to admit as well, the car looked tough, but it looked kind of slow as well.
"Your never gonna get anywhere with that car Numbuh 4, it's kind of slow," 3 informed him.
"True, but your car looks weak, even though I have to admit, it's pretty fast," 4 said.
The garage door opened and Josh walked in. He walked up to Grim.
"Hey Josh, how's it going?" Grim asked.
"Nothing much Grim. I came to tell you that you and Numbuh 3 and 4 are competing in a new challenge soon," Josh informed him.
Grim didn't like the sounds of that. Sure the KND looked like a good operation, but those two kids would probably drive him nuts. And he didn't need that, those two kids back at home already gives poor Grim a hard time.
"Er, can someone else team up with me, or can I be in another challenge?" Grim asked.
"No, I already signed you up for it," Josh said. Grim groaned in disappointment. "Don't worry Grim, it'll be over before you know it."
"I sure hope so," Grim said. "So, what's the challenge, you said it was something new."
"Yes, this challenge is called a Checkpoint Race," Josh said.
"Sounds easy enough," Grim said.
"Yeah, the challenge is like this. All you gotta do is to reach five checkpoints before you can reach the finish line," Josh explained.
"Well, that should be easy enough, if those two kids don't get on my nerves that is," Grim said, implying to the two KND operatives.
"Don't worry Grim, it'll be over before you know it," Josh said. Grim nodded. "I've got some business to take care of. Good luck with your challenge."
With that said Josh left the garage to take care of his business. Grim went over to the two operatives, who were still arguing over which car was better.
"Hey you two, we have a challenge today," Grim said, ending their argument.
This made Numbuh 4's eyes light up. "Finally some action! So, what is it, is it a DEATHMATCH?" 4 said excitingly.
"No, it's just a Checkpoint Challenge," Grim said simply.
Numbuh 4 eyes suddenly went to dull when Grim said that sentence. "Aww, I thought it would be something more exciting!" 4 complained.
"Stop complaining 4 and let's go," 3 said with her usual cheerful self.
She hoped into her green car, revving her engines and ready to go.
"Oh well, at least I'll show off my tough new improve car!" 4 said as he hopped into his car, revving his engines.
"Oh please, with that slow thing you'll probably be in last place," 3 said.
"Oh yeah?" 4 said.
The two kid operatives drove out of the garage, still arguing about who's car is better. Grim began to rub his eye sockets.
"I hope these two don't give me a hard time like the other two," Grim complained as he hopped into his car and drove out of the garage. "If I recall, the gate number is 12..."
Gate Number 12, starting line...
"Whoa, I like the looks of this track," 4 said, noticing the view of the racing track they were about to compete in.
The track had sort of an ancient feel to it, that's probably because of the ruined buildings and everything. The track sort of looked like old reminisces of Haven City, sort of like what would Haven City be like if it was bombed. Even though it looked like that, the track still looked challenging, mostly because their were many paths a driver could take, leasing to finding the checkpoints more harder them Numbuh 4 realized.
"But still, did they had to make it look like a maze, how are we supposed to find those checkpoints?" 4 complained.
"I guess that's the challenge of this challenge," Grim complied.
"All right ladies and gentleman, it's about time we get this show on the road!" the lady announcer said.
The fans in the audience cheered for the 12 drivers competing, waiting for a "mechanical" thrashing, as Blitz would say. Meanwhile in the audience, the three Eds were there, just to see how Grim and the two kids would do.
"It looks like people are pretty excited for this," Edd pointed out.
"Yeah, so am I. I've got my money on Grim, he's a pretty good driver," Eddy said.
Edd gave Eddy a stern look. "What?" the short Ed asked.
"Eddy, are you betting again?" Edd asked.
"Well...maybe," the short Ed responded.
"But that's illegal," Edd pointed out.
"Your right, but I already placed my bets on Grim before I decided to quit".
"Really?" Edd said.
"Really!" Eddy replied. "So I might as well go through with it. Besides, it's my last one."
Edd looked at his watch. The three Eds got here a little early, so the challenge probably won't start for a little while. The drivers were getting their car's oiled up and ready for the challenge, so it should be a little while.
"Well, I'm going to look around this track, it looks like it has an ancient history about it," the smart Ed said.
The two other Eds decided to come with Edd. After all, looking around a track before a challenge isn't that bad, as long as they won't disturb the drivers. The three Eds took off out of the stands, but if they were paying attention, they would have noticed that a man with the cloak who talked to Jack earlier was behind them, following the three Eds...
Once on the track, the three Eds noticed that the track really looked like someone bombed it. There were ancient buildings that looked like it was destroyed many years ago, a few dead plants here and their, plus, the weather was really cloudy, making the scenery looked even more dark then it is.
"This place feels like the setting from 'Zombie Mutant Attacks:Part 89'," Ed said, recalling from a comic book.
"Feels more like a dump to me," Eddy said. "What do you think Double D. Double D?"
The smart Ed was spacing out for some reason. He was looking out at the worn out buildings, the dead plants, the dead grass, everything, as if he couldn't believe he was standing here.
"Double D, are you okay?" Eddy asked.
"Oh no, the Zombie Mutants have devoured Double D's brains!" Ed exclaimed.
"No Ed, he's just spacing out," Eddy explained.
"Guy's, I've been here before," Edd said, finally snapping out of his trance.
"Really, was this your hometown Double D?" Eddy asked.
Honestly, Edd himself didn't know weather to tell his friends about his experience in the library or not.(Remember that experience in Chapter 6?) Because this place, all the ruins and everything, kind of reminds him of that flashback. But, Edd really didn't know weather to call it a flashback or a dream.
"Well?" Eddy asked.
"Guys, remember that time we've been in the library to look on information about the Paramount Emerald?" Edd asked.
"Yeah," Eddy said, recalling the time they've been to the library.
"Well-"
Before the smart Ed could finish his sentence, the three Eds were suddenly surrounded by a bright light that made them blind. This bright light came out of nowhere.
"What in the world is going on?" the greedy Ed said.
"Why in the world the author turned on the lights?" Ed asked.
"I don't think it has anything to do with the author Ed, this kind of thing happened before," Edd explained.
Before either of the two Eds could say anything, a big, booming voice came out of nowhere and said, Soon, their torment will be freed...
The three Eds were stunned by this voice, it just came out of nowhere. Before the three Eds could react to the voice, the white light suddenly disappeared as soon as it came. The Eds were stunned by this.
"What the heck was that about?" Eddy asked.
"Well, I guess you guys are going to believe my story now," Edd said.
Edd started explain what happened at the library and what happened when he and Jack went to go see the Paramount Emerald. He also explained about the questioning he gave to the librarin Mrs. Gale.(For information on all this go read Chapter 7 and Chapter 8.) After Edd got through explaining all this, the two Eds just stood there, getting the information that they have just recived in their heads.
"So you mean to tell me that this big and huge white light engulfed you and saw a..." Eddy said, pausing the last statement to get the smart Ed's answer.
"I don't know what that was Eddy, but if I had to guess, I say that it was some kind of flashback," Edd explained.
"But when do those flashbacks occur?" Eddy asked.
"I don't know, when I went to the library, the...let's just call it an image, happened when I read the letter from Casimiro. It happened again when me and Jack went to go see the Paramount Emerald, and then it just happened again now," Edd explained.
"You think it has something to do with the Paramount Emerald?" Eddy asked.
"It probably could Eddy, because the letter that I read has something to do with the emerald."
"Well then what about now, how come a voice came out of nowhere and talked to us?" Eddy asked.
"I'm having a hunch Eddy. Remember the flashback I had in the library?" Edd asked. The two Eds nodded. "Well, at some point in the flashback, I told you that their was an explorer that found the dust. I think this is the same place."
"So in other words, everything connected with that emerald will cause us to have flashbacks?" Eddy asked.
"It would seem like it Eddy. But what I don't understand is why is this voice saying 'their torment will be freed.'" Edd said.
"Beats me Double D," Eddy said.
"I haven't a clue in the world," Ed said.
"You never have a clue Ed," Eddy said.
The smart Ed looked at his watch to see that the Checkpoint Challenge was about to start soon.
"Well, let's hurry and get our seats, we'll figure everything out later," he said.
The other two Eds nodded and went back to the stadium to watch the Grim Reaper and the two operatives compete in their challenge. If the three Eds would have payed attention, they would have known that the cloaked figure was watching them from behind a bush. Behind the shadowy figure of the cloak, the person inside it was smiling very evilly.
"Just as I thought..." he said in an evil monotone...
Author notes:I can see that this chapter is better then the other chapters I put in so far. Hopefully I can keep this up, this formula is really helping me. Originally, I wasn't going to have the cloak figure in this chapter, but then these ideas popped in my head, also with me going back to a few chapters about the mysterious Paramount Emerald. Just what is with this Paramount Emerald, why is the cloak figue watching the Eds. The answer to this questions...I'm not going to tell you!
Anyway, the challenge in the next chapter is a challenge I came up with, but I've got to tell you, coming up with originall challenges aren't easy. Originally the challenge was supposed to be a strategy challenge, where the driver would have to go do a certain thing that involves using your heads, but then I thought that wasn't so exciting, plus I couldn't come up with any strategy's, hopefully coming up with challenges wll be easier later on.
Well, that's all I have to say. R&R!