There was a shootout at a mall as two kids leaped in with their Pokémon and fought them, taking them down pretty easily.
"All in a day's work for Akito and Estelle!" Akito says.
Joe was reading a news article about them. "They're going to be on TV on America's Next Hitmaker. I gotta see them in action. They're the greatest heroes of all time!" Joe says.
Aria was packing for the ANH tour. She was packing lots of costumes and clothes and other things. Chalice comes in with a blue box in her hands.
"Aria, this gift is from me and your daddy." Chalice says.
Aria opens it to reveal a golden locket with an A on it. Inside the locket is a picture of Luke and Chalice winning in Season 12.
"This is to show you that me and Daddy are always on your side, cupcake." Chalice says to Aria.
Aria smiled and nodded as she hugged Chalice. Chalice then held out another box as Aria opened it.
"Your old dancing shoes, Mama?" Aria asked, surprised.
"Yeah, they're yours now." Chalice says with a smile. "I have lots of different shoes to wear now."
"I love them!" Aria says to Chalice.
"You make me and Daddy so proud…" Chalice says to Aria.
Jackson was packing for the ANH tour as well. He had packed several costumes that he carefully chose from. He also packed some casual outfits, 3 swimsuits, 8 pairs of shoes, some books, his Dirk Dangerous action figure and all the accessories that go with it, his drawing supplies, and of course, his Dirk Dangerous plush toy. He doesn't sleep without it.
Mugman comes in, smiling at him. "Hey, sport. Are you all packed?" He asked Jackson.
"Yeah, Daddy." he says.
"I have a gift for you. But I gotta know something. Are you ready to live dangerously?" Mugman asked, a smirk on his face.
"Yes!" Jackson says.
"These helped me build confidence in myself. Now you get to have some just like mine!" Mugman says as he gives Jackson a pair of Dirk Dangerous goggles. Jackson squealed and hugged Mugman.
Soon they head to the studio. Aria felt a little nervous.
"What if we lose? What if they like my dad better than they like me?" Aria says, shaking.
"Then we go down with honor." Jackson says. Aria can't help but worry. She knew they would expect her dad to perform instead of her. That is what's making her nervous.
"And that's why I don't watch this show anymore. I mean his daughter is performing, only for her father to beat her. Where's the scene where she crushes him and proves she has talent?" Lucas says, walking by.
"You know, that boy has a point. Just because he's your father, doesn't mean you'll lose." Tori says.
Aria heads in and gets ready. Jackson could see the look on her face. Jackson holds out the goggles and shows them to Aria.
"What?" She asked.
"My daddy says these helped him be confident, like Dirk Dangerous." Jackson says. "Try them on."
She wears them.
"It's nice to be guest judges. We could perform, but with villains around, we can't. " Estelle says.
"Yeah, whatever challenges the universe throws at us, we can handle it." Akito says as Joe spies on them, getting giddy.
Cuphead and Mugman were getting prepared as they saw Beau.
"You got back with Lisa?" Cuphead asked. Beau shook his head.
"I entered with Beatrix this season. She was interested in performing with me." Beau says.
At home, Lisa wasn't working on anything; she lost motivation and became an emotionless shell.
She decided to not talk to Beau or anyone.
With Luke, he felt a little nervous himself. He was scared of competing against his own daughter.
"Are you nervous? I mean we can drop out…" Chalice says.
"I'm nervous because of our daughter, Chalice. The fans will want me and not her. Honestly, I know that she's nervous." Luke says.
Soon, the show was starting as Gemma and April came on stage.
"Hello, San Antonio! And welcome to our 16th season!" April says.
"This is a very exciting season already! We're going to go to so many places and see so many people…anyway, the prizes this season are going to be a slight bit different. Why, you ask? Well, we're celebrating our Sweet 16th season, of course! And to celebrate, our top prize will consist of 16 million dollars, a recording contract from Crystal Tower Records, an all-expenses-paid trip to any place of the winner's choice, a tour of their very own, and the chance to meet up-and-coming actress Alina Golding and her co-star, Melvin McShane!" Gemma says. Beatrix loved Alina.
Fans started chanting Luke's name.
"Coming up to start this season off…" April started.
"Cuppy and Mugsy! Cuppy and Mugsy!" Fans cheered.
"That's right! Cuphead and Mugman!" April says as they come out. "I gotta get Michelangelo a gift for next week…"
The cups smiled at the crowd. "Hello, San Antonio!" Cuphead says. The crowd cheered as they soon performed "That's What I Like" by Bruno Mars.
Fans cheer as the cups dance and sing.
"Well done!" Estelle says.
Backstage, Luke had fainted. Everyone was concerned, so they had to delay the show since Luke couldn't compete.
Leni checks on Luke.
"Daddy?" Aria asked.
Chalice fanned his face as he slowly regained consciousness. Luke groaned.
"Honey, are you okay?" Charity asked her son. Luke nods.
"You're okay, sweetie…" Charity says. "Why are you nervous?"
Luke explains why. Charity holds his hands.
"You know she's talented. It's time for her to shine just as bright." Charity says. "And if you face elimination in any capacity this season, you'll be by your daughter's side regardless, being an encouraging father and helping her unlock her potential and helping her shine like the talent beacon she is. If anything, that's honestly all she wants and needs at this moment in her life. An encouraging father and a loving mother."
Luke sighed. "You're right. And I see it as an opportunity for my daughter to win, just like me and her mother did. I know she's nervous because of me…" he says.
"Coming up next is the duo of Beau and Beatrix Yates!" April says.
The sibling duo appears, smiling at each other. They then do their dance to "Better When I'm Dancin" by Meghan Trainor. The crowd cheered for them.
Soon, Beau and Beatrix finished.
Soon, Aria and Jackson got ready.
"Coming up next, the son of Mugman, Jackson Roberts and the daughter of Luke Huntington, Aria Huntington! This is their big debut here on America's Next Hitmaker, and tonight, they have a performance that is just super!" April says with a smile.
The two of them appear on a city-themed stage set, and they do their routine to "Kaboom Pow" by Nikki Yanofsky, pulling off the moves they practiced.
The crowd went wild for them as Aria smiled.
Jackson smiled as well
Akito gave them a 20 out of 19
Estelle laughed at her twin brother.
Fans cheered for them, but most of them were waiting for Luke, which made Aria feel less confident about winning. Jackson pitied her as they walked backstage.
"Coming up next, Connor and Carol Pingrey!" Gemma says.
Connor and Carol did their routine to "Watch Me" by Nick Jonas.
Fans cheered for them.
Aria and Jackson sat in a dressing room. Aria looked down as she removed her shoes and then covered her face with her hands.
"I knew they wanted my dad more than me…" Aria sniffed.
"Of course they did…" Edwin says and walked into the shadows.
"Why am I even trying? My dad's just going to steal the whole show…" Aria says.
"Or you can crush him instead." Edwin says, appearing out of nowhere.
Aria sighs, still feeling down.
"Coming up next are the true stars of the show, Luke Huntington and Mrs. Chalice!" April says as fans cheer loudly.
Aria watches her parents from backstage.
They do their routine to "Need You Tonight" by INXS. The two of them dance and stay in step.
"Luke and Chalice, Luke and Chalice!" The crowd chanted. April pressed the platinum button.
Aria looked down, jealous. She then walked off.
"Aria, you did great! Anyway, we got to go, so, later!" Akito says.
"Aria!" Lynn says.
But Aria was gone.
Lynn looks for her. Aria was feeling angry and jealous of her parents for once.
Lynn finds her. "Are you okay?" Lynn asked.
"LET THEM WIN!" Aria hissed.
Lynn gasped, never seeing Aria have an outburst.
"LET THEM HAVE THE BEST OF ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING!" Aria sobbed.
Lynn holds her. Aria tears off the locket and screams.
"They're just gonna win! They'll get the best of everything…they'll just get it all while I get nothing…" Aria sobbed.
"Well, that's how it's always been. Sadly, Luke would never let anyone win and the one time Beau and Lisa won, he lost it. He can't stand losing. But I think you'll win." Lynn says.
April and Gemma soon come out to announce who would move on. All the main teams were still in.
Aria was away from the studio as everyone gushed over Luke and Chalice's marvelous performance.
Meanwhile, Joe looks for his heroes.
"Time to get some autographs…" He says only to see a mind-controlled Akito and Estelle.
"Hey, can I get your autographs?" He asked.
Soon, he, Lucas, and Alya was tied up.
"Really? I just wanted an autograph!" Joe says.
"What happened? It's like we lost our budget…" Lucas says.
"School is over, so the Cosmic Buddies are back in business." Alex says.
"But, first, let's get my adopted kid." Savannah says as they arrive at the studio and see everyone gushing over Luke as Alem tuber looks annoyed.
"Of course they're gushing over Luke and Chalice. That's the only thing people do during ANH season." Alem tuber says, crossing his arms.
"Where's Joe?" Angry Luigi asked.
"You make a horrible father." Bill teased as Emila senses him. "He's close." Emila says.
"Let's go!" Savannah says, running ahead.
Soon, the Cosmic Buddies are tied up.
"At last, I have you all where I want you. Soon Atticus fudo will be in my grasp and you Cosmic Buddies…..Have nothing to do with my plot." Drella says.
"Ouch…" Bill says.
Suddenly, the lights turned on as Atticus had freed the Cosmic buddies and used a spell, setting things right.
"Atticus fudo!" Angry Luigi says.
"Enough!" Drella says and looks at her stone army. "Get them!" she says.
"All right, let's do this!" Alem tuber says as one tries to punch him, but Alem tuber ducked as Akito punched it, breaking it.
Angry Luigi shot crystals and used a crystal hammer, whacking into them as Atticus smirked and punched one.
Delta spin dashed into some.
Meanwhile, Aria was heading home as Lucy finds her.
"Edwin says you're upset." Lucy says.
"It's always about my parents! It's never going to be my turn!" Aria sobbed. "That's all anyone seems to care about in ANH! How wonderful my parents are!"
The stone monsters crashed.
"Pile up!" Bill says as the Cosmic buddies send more flying.
"Yeah!" Alex says.
"None of you have seen the last of me!" Drella says and teleports away.
"Wow, it's been so long since we've had a fight…" Savannah says
"Yeah, I'm out of shape." Angry Luigi says.
"School did a number on us and all people seem to care about is Luke and Chalice." Alem tuber says.
"Well, we don't need to be heroes for fame." Savannah says as Chrissy sighed.
"Bye." Akito says.
Estelle goes to Aria.
"Hey, you're going to be all right. You'll win for sure. You just don't really know it yet." Estelle says.
"Thanks. At least someone noticed my potential." Aria says sadly.
She then went into the house and refused to join the family for the Season 16 post-first episode dinner. She stormed up to her room.
"Aria, don't you want to eat?" Luna asked.
"I'm not hungry." Aria says coldly. She then slammed her door.
Later, Lisa was still alone. she noticed Aria, but ignored her.
"Aunt Lisa, how did you win? How did you beat my father?" Aria asked, wanting to beat Luke. Lisa saw how hurt Aria looked.
"They will always want him! They'll never want me!" Aria sniffed.
"Trust me, it's best if you don't win. When I won, my life was a mess and on graduation day, my life fell apart. Just leave me alone." Lisa says.
"Bu-" Aria stammered.
"Just go, you don't want to be a life ruiner." Lisa says, broken.
Aria just runs off, sobbing. She shut herself in her room, hurt by Lisa's words.
Lucy finds Aria. "Aria, listen…Lisa wasn't trying to be mean. She lost everything. she's been through a lot and you're actually leaning towards her path. I hope you can find loyal friends, because I know you can win. You need to stay strong, stronger than Lisa." Lucy says. She knew if Aria didn't get the fans on her side, Aria would be an outcast. Beating Luke can be the thing that sets you for life or the thing that ruins it.
"Sorry…" Aria says.
"It's okay. Lisa doesn't hate you. She just has issues with Beau." Lucy says.
"How do we fix that?" Aria asked.
"Why would you do that?" Lucy asked
"So Beau and Lisa can teach me how to be better and not just a copycat of my dad's skills." Aria says.
"Okay, tomorrow we'll find Beau and try and get him and Lisa back together tomorrow, but you need to eat." Lucy says.
"I don't want to look at my parents right now." Aria says.