"Congrats on winning TPOT, Fanny. You made DEATH P.A.C.T. Again proud." Congratulated Black Hole.
Fanny gave Black Hole a firm, but genuine smile. "Oh, yeah a-uh, thanks." She replied.
"Come outside guys! Hurry up! Don't you hear that noise?" Pin rushed the Death PACT gang.
"Why, what's going on out there?" Tree asked curiously.
"Yeah, what's the big deal?" Questioned Black Hole.
"Just come out!" Needle shouted from the hallway.
Everyone came out to see a big blue van before them, and the driver being an old, but familiar host of theirs.
"Oh my candy store! If I have to be in that hot-boxed van for one more hour, I'm gonna shove my fork repellent down Four's throat!" Lollipop grumbled.
"Tell me about it. The Sun was cooking me and Leafy." Balloony complained.
"Oh, Four, how's it going?" Two asked, seeing the rest of the Final Fourteen, and some others, walking out of the van. "Oh, I see. Are you giving me your contestants as a 'Thank You' for letting you stay here?" Two teased.
"Two! I'm not giving you anyone, and I don't have time to explain this to you. Five's the new host, and that means I'll finally get a permanent break from these hooligans." Four replied.
"Ohh. Is that why everyone from the EXIT are here too?"
"Yeah."
"And I'm gonna be an announcer for the teams! Yay! " X cheered, holding a juice box.
"No X. We're supposed to stick together. Remember?" Four reminded him.
"Oh right."
"Well, alright everyone." Two started to everybody after they've reunited with each other. "Five is coming soon, so I guess that means I'll need to see what team they'll be putting you on." Two pulled out a notepad and pen.
"Hey, I'm already here!" Five shouted from the backseat of Four's van and trotting out to the other Algebraliens.
"You're here? why didn't you say something before?" Asked Two.
"I did, but none of you heard me." Five complained. "Hand me the clipboard, please?"
"Oh, of course." Two said as they gave the microphone to Five.
Then, Five thought for a moment, smiling. "Actually, let's make this more interesting. I'll assign a team leader, put all the contestants names into a hat, and that will be your said team. Understood?"
After everyone equally agreed, Five soon had a huge fishbowl with many names in it, and 11 leaders on stage. Leafy, Firey, Lollipop, Flower, Taco, Donut, Fanny, GB and TB, Tear Drop, and Pencil.
"Each of you will take turns taking names out of the bowl until none are left. Whichever amount of contestants you have, it will stay as is. You all have until tomorrow when competition starts for a name." Five explained. "Any questions?"
Eraser raised his hand. "Uh, yeah, are there gonna be any new contestants?"
"Yes. In fact I suggest you introduce them to how this battle works, as it's their first time." They responded back.
"Um, Five?" Fanny asked. "What exactly is the prize this time?"
"This!" Five pulled out a platinum sculptured trophy of their respected number, and a blank box for a name waiting to be formed on it by the winner. As expected, everyone gasped and even took photos with their cell phones, whispering excitedly.
"Not only do you get a platinum trophy, but over a hundred perks to go with it. Yep, so if there's no more questions, See you all in the morning!"
The Next Day...
"Looks like we've got some familiar people here, and some new ones." Lollipop stated warmly to her teammates. "Hopefully with enough cooperation we'll win this season."
"Anyone come up with names yet?" Gelatin asked. "I have one, but I don't really like it."
"How about The Sleepers!" Puffball suggested happily. "'Cause sleeping's good for you."
"Eh, I don't know, Puffy. We're obviously not gonna be sleeping this whole competition." Fries replied.
"He's right." Needle agreed. "It will make our team sound like we're lazy."
"I guess that's true." Said Puffball. Then she gasped. "Guys, look! It's Spongy!"
"Hey guys!" Spongy smiled as he waddled over to his new team.
"Oh that's right. I couldn't find you in the crowd, I was starting to think ya walked out on me." Lollipop joked as she nudged him with her elbow, making Spongy giggle.
"Oh yeah, I was looking for you guys too. And somehow I got mixed in with Fanny's team. Did you guys name your team yet?"
"No. But we're getting there, just throwing ideas around." Answered Lollipop.
"I was thinking more like 'Super', and add something else to it." Said Shampoo.
"I'll put a pin in that. What do you think TV?" Lollipop asked.
TV responded by showing a clip of Pencil saying "Ha, Ha, that's so hilar!"
"How about Soup!" Gelatin beamed.
"Is that what you want for dinner or something?" Fries asked.
"Nah. I just thought of it." Gelatin admitted.
Salt Lamp suddenly gasped, catching his team's attention more than he thought. "SOUPERZZZZ! Get it? Like soup and catchin' z's?"
"Okay, I'll take it!" Lollipop and everyone else happily approved.
•••
Taco squeezed Blocky around his waist as they walked together to meet their team. "We're on the same team together Blockdude, isn't that great?"
Blocky hadn't realized she was talking to him at first. "Yeah. Yeah it's pretty cool."
Taco stopped walking, causing a shift in the mood with her concerned face. "What's the matter?"
"Nothing. Nothings the matter."
"You haven't said anything to me since we got here."
Blocky changed back his original thought first before wanting to say anything else. "I dunno. It's probably 'cause I haven't seen my friends all day. I think I was the only one who hadn't."
Taco looked at him skeptically. "Oh relax, B. We're probably gonna see them before the competition starts. And Blocky, I'm serious. I don't want any fooling around, no pranks, no endangerment to others. It's not nice."
"Yeah, yeah I know." He nodded.
"But what were you saying?"
"I thought I was gonna see them yesterday, but I couldn't." He sighed. "You don't really get it. I can't just not say 'What's Up' to them."
"Hon, I know you miss them, but focusing on that doesn't help us win." Taco actualized. "And didn't you video chat them when we were with Four?"
"It's not the same." He sighed.
"Hey dudes." Taco greeted to both Balloony and her now-battling group.
"Taco!" Clock smiled, running up so Taco could hug him.
Nickel chuckled. "How's it going Taco? Feel like I haven't seen you in forever."
"It has been forever, Nick."
"Look who's on our team. Or more like… what." Whispered Clock, darting his eyes over to Bracelety, screeching Ice Cube's name and holding a light blue sign with so many mini ice chunks.
Used to this type of behavior, Taco turned back to her boyfriend, giving him supporting eyes. "See? We'll make new friends on this team. VHSy seems nice, plus there's Black Hole, Rocky…"
Great. Ol' Vomit Machine, Blocky thought.
Things were adequate enough for each team. Pencil had her iconic FreeSmart members with her again (good thing she was able to make a deal with Fanny to get Bubble), Fanny was already stating rules for her Vam-Pack crew, while Basketball took notes on who's abilities would be the most useful for their team by the type of competition.
Teardrop figured it would be a while before she'd get fully used to her team. But between Naily and Loser's minor bickering, and Battery forgetting not to wander off, she knew this would be tougher than being on her own.
"Don't worry, T.D.," Profily exclaimed. "Even though we don't really know each other, I'm sure we're gonna win! Then our whole team will be remembered! I'll help you through this."
Teardrop smiled, though there wasn't a real one on the inside.
And Flower? Well, she wasn't doing much.
She waited for her team to settle on a name, leaning on the outer hotel wall, scrolling through her phone, and she was called for her opinion.
"How about Sneak Seats?" Bell suggested.
Ruby smiled at her. "It was something that rhymed, and Bell said "Why not?' You know?"
"That sounds alright. Wait, gimme one minute, okay guys?" Flower asked. Ruby requested a team that would prioritize strategies other than straightforwardly trying to win. She remembered Pencil told her not to be so impulsive.
But the plant had something quite better for herself in mind.
She ambled her way over to the Wack Tackers, specifically Blocky and Taco with a small, but forced grin.
"Hey Red-Man." Flower joked.
"Hi Flower." Taco neutrally greeted.
"Hey. Anyway, Blocky, I was just wondering if you wanted to maybe join my team? I was thinking of a contestant that's a little….'off the rails', well- you know what I mean right? To win?"
"Wait, are you sure? Is that allowed?" Blocky asked.
"Yeah, Flower," Confirmed Taco. "Five said the amount of team members you have stay that way."
"They never said we couldn't switch team members, and I have a good reason, anyway." Flower dissented.
Just before Blocky could walk a step to her, Taco grabbed his hand gently, pulling him to the side. "But…. I thought we'd be on the same team, Blockdude. It'd make everything easier."
"Tacster, chill." Blocky replied. "I'd actually like to use my best factors on the team than having to adjust so rapidly."
Taco's eyebrows furrowed. He wasn't serious. He couldn't be.
"Was it something I said?" She whispered passively, but begging for a definite answer.
"What are you talking about?"
"You said you wanted us to be close during this whole thing. What happened?"
"Flower'll take care of me, don't worry. When she really cares about her teammates, she's completely different. I promise I'll come and see you when I can."
"...Fine." She caved. However, the pit of Taco's stomach opposed the very decision her brain had. It temporarily faded when Blocky kissed her on the cheek, and went to his current leader.
"So… is it a yes?" Flower asked innocently.
"Heck yeah it is!" Blocky answered confidently. "Oh, we get to have some kinda freedom in this team, right?"
Flower giggled. "Yeah, yeah, 'Course you would."
"Oh cool. So who else is on it?"
"Oh, I got Ruby and some others. But Blocky?"
"Yeah?" He spun around.
"I know you didn't get to see your friends yet, I saw them looking for you when I was on stage. I felt kinda bad. You can ask them to join if you'd like."
Blocky smiled wider than they both thought he would. "Really? Ah- thanks, Flower, your-your awesome!"
"It's no problem! We'll wait by the hotel for you."
•••
"Yoooo!" Blocky called out to Pen and Eraser.
"DUDE!" Pen laughed as he took him in a bear hug.
"How've you been bro? We haven't even seen you in the crowd." Eraser said, dapping him up.
"I know, I was getting dizzy looking for y'all."
"I mean we're happy to see you too, but shouldn't you be on your team?" Eraser asked.
"Yeah. That's what I wanted to ask y'all about." He huddled the two so they would only be audible to each other. "Taco was my original team leader, and it was honestly hell on earth for 5 minutes. Had no one fun I could be with. So I got asked to be on a new team. You bros wanna join?"
"Yeah, duh!" Pen laughed. "Who's the leader?"
"Okay… so don't get mad... But it's Flower."
"Oh. Cool, cool- WAIT FLOWER?!" Eraser complained.
"Her? Out of all people?" Pen asked.
"Yeah, I know it sounds bad at first but hear me out. She said she wanted a strong team that can ruin the other teams' abilities to win. Well that's how she basically said it. The only person left to ask is SB."
Pen turned to Eraser. "He has a point."
"There's no way SB's gonna want to listen to Amanda Wingfield over there, Block Bro." Eraser admitted.
"Well, I don't know, he just popped into my head. And we haven't hung out with him in a minute." Blocky replied.
"We'll never know if we don't ask, Eraser. It's a win-win situation if you ask me." Pen added.
"Uhh, I guess we can try to ask…" Eraser agreed. "Sure, I guess there's no reason not to."
•••
"Can't believe you two showed up." Flower smirked. "Let me guess, he paid you a hundred dollars each?"
"Nah, Pen's just a good convincer." Eraser said, smiling at Pen humorously.
"Uhh, I guess we can try to ask…" Eraser agreed. "Sure, I guess there's no reason not to."
•••
"We thought he didn't want to join unless you tell him yourself." Blocky explained.
"He's over there, guys, with some of the newbies and Firey Jr." Pen pointed at the group."
"Hey there SB. Think I can borrow you for a minute?" Flower asked cheekily after walking over to the uncategorized group, to which Snowball nodded nonchalantly.
"What do you want?" Snowball questioned in his usual annoyed tone.
"Join our team." Flower stated.
He looked over to his friends. "Who's the leader?"
No words were spoken. Just the point of a finger.
"No." Snowball responded bluntly.
"Come on SB! I promise she's not that bad." Pen protested.
"Ha. Yeah right." Snowball chuckled.
Eraser walked up to him slowly. "SB, please?" he begged sweetly, pretending to make him feel bad, but Blocky and Pen bursted with laughter.
"I have something to change your mind, and blow it too." Flower professed.
"Oh really? What could possibly make me wanna-"
Flower gently tossed a huge duffle bag filled with Win Tokens.
The boys couldn't believe it. Even Snowball didn't want to believe it at first.
"Where'd you get those from!?" Blocky whispered.
Flower made a 'shushing' gesture with her finger. "Announcers basement." She mouthed before quickly re-zipping the bag.
"In case we do lose, we won't get eliminated if we always have Win Tokens." She turned her head back around to Snowball. "So your with us now?"
Snowball shrugged, shaking her hand as if he was joining the Mafia.
"What's even the name of this team?" Snowball asked.
"Sneak Seats. She made it while we were still separated." Blocky explained.
"Flower! Where are you?" Ruby called out, with Boom Mic and Bell behind her.
"Over here, Rubes." Flower answered.
"SB? Why are you here?" Bell asked.
"Doesn't matter. And who's this wimp?" Snowball mocked, referring to the microphone that crept closer to Bell out of fear.
"SB! That's not nice. For Gem School's sake, you just met him." Ruby defended.
"Hey, clam your mouth would ya? The contest is starting." Flower ordered.
"Rise and shine, contestants!" Announced Five, too suddenly if you asked the contestants. Today's challenge is to see who can train these aggressive animals the best. The team with the most reckless animal will be up for elimination. Go!"