Episode 1: Part 1

     Gippal stood alone in the middle of a giant desert. Sand swirled around in the air and collected in large waves. The sun hanged brilliantly behind him and several small cactus people known as cactuars ran around at his feet.
     "I'm standing in the middle of the Sanubia Sands on Bikanel Islands," Gippal announced. "This seemingly barren desert was formerly home to the glorious race of people known as the Al Bhed. During the time of High Summoner Yuna, the Al Bhed helped summoners to give up their foolish quests and look for other alternatives to defeating Sin. From this glorious location, twelve teams will embark on a race around worlds for one million gil in the second season of the critically noticed Amazing Final Fantasy Race. This season has new twists and turns, including an additional team, totaling twelve teams of two, each with a preexisting relationship. Sand gliders are transporting the teams to the starting line. The twelve teams are:"
     Twelve large machina drove toward Gippal's location. The machina were large fan boats capable of gliding atop the soft, hot sands. Each held an Al Bhed driver and two racers.

     "Celes Chere and Cid Del Norte Marquez: test subject and researcher from Vector in the Fantasy 6 verse."
     Celes, a slender young woman with long blond hair wearing what is best described as a general's outfit and a bathing suit, stood on a beach beside Cid, an elderly man wearing a yellow slicker. The waves behind them rode up the shore and to their knees before washing back out to the sea
     "Cid made me what I am, and I owe everything to him," Celes said. "He raised me since I was two and infused me with the gift of magic. I would not have become the woman I am today without him, and that bond is what will guarantee us a victory.
     "I also would not be where I am without Celes," Cid explained. "She helped care for me when I was ill and was the reason I-"
     Celes quickly reached into the water beneath her and yanked out a fish. She handed it to Cid.
     "I'm fine now, Celes," Cid said. He tossed the fish back into the water. "Oh whatever. I have the brains to get us through and she has the power and speed of a warrior. She catches fish with her hands for God's sake!"

     "Queen Brahne Alexandros and Princess Garnet til Alexandros XVII: mother and daughter from Alexandria in the Fantasy 9 verse." 
     Garnet, a young woman with short black hair wearing an orange spandex outfit that hugged her slim figure tightly, stood beside her mother, Brahne, a large blue woman wearing a golden opera helmet and elegant robes which should not have hugged her tightly, yet did. They stood on a balcony with the entire city as their backdrop.
     "I'm technically not from Alexand-" Garnet started.
     "Nobody cares, sweetie," Brahne said to Garnet. She turned her attention to the camera. "We were absolutely thrilled that this show chose to use us in their little game. I so wanted to when I saw the last season and-"
     "We were picked out of pity," Garnet informed the camera. "My mother was originally rejected because of her size and inability to move without assistance, but she cried so loudly and for several hours until they finally gave in and allowed her to race on the condition that she shapes up. That will be our biggest asset, I believe. She still appears to be unfit to race, which will cause teams to count us out as a threat. But we will surprise them with our skills."
     "It's a preemptive strike!" Brahne declared with a clenched fist. "We'll overwhelm them before they even know they are under attack and cripple them to the point where they must give in to our every demand and-"
     "Mother please!" Garnet screamed. "Remember your therapy."
     "Yes, sweetie," Brahne said. She took a deep breath and began chasing a colorful butterfly.
     "We can win," Garnet said. "It may be difficult though."

     "Freya Crescent and Sir Fratley: reunited lovers from Burmecia in the Fantasy 9 verse."
     Freya, a large female rat walking on hind legs with white, human-like hair, wore her standard red armor and helmet. She stood beside another rat, Fratley. He wore standard traveling clothes and hid his long blonde, human-like hair under a large brown hat. Both stood in a city that was built in a large tree. Behind them was a sandstorm that constantly circled the perimeter of the city. Both leapt into the air higher than one should ever be able to leap and landed on a tree branch above. They sat on the branch and Fratley put his arm around Freya.
     "Fratley left me to see the world," Freya explained. "He said he would return one day, but never did. I prayed he was safe, but felt he had left me forever, but one day he returned. Unfortunately, he suffered from a horrible case of amnesia and could not remember anything. Not even me."
     "I remember little of my adventure," Fratley said. "But something pulled me back to my old world. I barely remember Freya, but I know there is something between us that I have to discover."
     "We decided that this race might be the best thing for us," Freya said. "We sat at home and talked for days, but it all seems like made-up stories to him."
     "If we race together, I hope that my memory will return in full," Fratley said. "By experiencing her in her element, and me in mine, I just pray the connection can be made again. I hope by the end I know who she is again. And if I can't remember how I used to love her, then maybe this race will bring an all new love."
     "We can only hope," Freya said. "And if not, then there's always a million gil to look forward to."
     "I'm optimistic for both," Fratley said with a smile.

     "Reno and Rude: partners from Midgar in the Fantasy 7 verse."
     Rude, a tall bald man with a goatee wearing a dark suit and equally dark sunglasses, stood stoically behind his partner, Reno, a redhead with the same attire only his sunglasses sat in his unkempt hair and his suit looked as if a drunk blind man had dressed him. Behind them in the distance was a large metallic reactor, which spewed bright green chemicals from the top. Reno addressed the camera while making exaggerated gestures to emphasize his points.
     "Rude and I have already won the race and started the after party," Reno said. "We're Turks. Turks play hard. They play tough, y'know. We'll get everything done fast, then life is going to be sweeter than triple sec."
     Rude grunted in agreement and nodded.
     "Nobody stands in the way of the Turks y'know," Reno said. "If they know what's best, they'll just step aside. We stop at nothing and nothing stops us. Or, wait. What am I trying to say?" Reno looked to Rude, who simply shrugged. "Whatever. We're winning, y'know."

     "Reina Tycoon and Faris Scherwiz: sisters from Tycoon Castle in the Fantasy 5 verse."
     Reina, a petite young lady with pink hair wearing a tan tunic, stood beside Faris, a tall woman with long purple hair wearing elegant male pirate clothing. They both sat on the ledge of the aft of a pirate's ship.
     "We be everything a team needs ter win," Faris said. "She's got the twinkle in her eye and I got the spit in me gullet."
     "We're partly in this race to try to understand each other," Reina said. "I love my sister, but even after saving the world, I... I have no idea what she says sometimes."
     "Aye."
     "We're just hoping this race will bring us together so that we can finally be a family. I won't leave the castle, but she won't leave this ship, and we're just hoping we'll come together by the end."
     "It are also about the booty," Faris said.
     "She keeps saying that," Reina whispered to the camera. "I'm worried."

     "Biran and Yenke: friends from Mt. Gagazet here in the Fantasy 10 verse."
     Biran, a brown-skinned, yellow-haired Ronso, folded his arms beside Yenke, a blue-skinned brown-haired Ronso, who was doing the same. Behind them were the tall snow-covered peaks of Mt. Gagazet.
     "Biran watch show first season," Biran said. "Biran was surprised. Biran watch whole show and never see any brothers."
     "Whole show only have hornless goatlings," Yenke said. "No Ronso anywhere."
     "Not even little Kimahri," Biran added. "Biran was sure little Kimahri would be there with hornless humans."
     "Biran take Kimahri's horn. Biran have two horns! Two horns!"
     "Biran does not brag," Biran said. "Ronso have the biggest horn anyway. Little Kimahri barely a Ronso. Only has small broken horn."
     Yenke looked slightly to the right of the camera, then moved over to tap Biran on the shoulder. "Biran. Hornless man with camera want us to talk about not Kimahri."
     "Hornless cameraman is only jealous. He not have horn like Ronso."
     "Hornless! Hornless!" Yenke taunted.
     "Biran and Yenke will win hornless game. Show whole world that Ronso are better than hornless humans."

     "Dona and Barthello: summoner and guardian from Kilika here in the Fantasy 10 verse."
     Dona, a darker-skinned woman wearing a complicated and revealing outfit of several colors, stood beside Barthello, a large muscular man with a flat head and haircut, wearing a pair of colorful pants and a cross of leather straps across his bare chest. Behind them was a small town composed of many straw houses.
     "It was horrible watching last season," Dona explained. "High Summoner Yuna couldn't even win this stupid race, yet she was able to barely defeat Sin. I always knew that if I hadn't given up my pilgrimage I could have defeated Sin, and although I can't prove it, I'll prove that at the very least I can win the race she failed to win. Right, Barthello?"
     "But High Summoner Yu-" Barthello started. He stopped when he felt Dona's hand caressing his shoulder. "Yes. We will win."
     "Good boy," Dona said to Barthello. She looked back to the camera. "There's nobody that can stop us. We have a bond like no other. Both of us were prepared to give our lives for the other. Both of us are strong. He has the muscles, I have the rest." Dona began eyeing Barthello up. "Mmm, and if I ever wanted the muscles, I could have those too."
     "I think the camera is still on," Barthello said to Dona.
     "That's okay with me," Dona said.
     "We're sure to win," Barthello addressed the camera. "Can you leave now, please?"
     "Oh get over yourself, Barthello," Dona said. She lightly pushed Barthello away and walked off screen.

     "Zone and Watts: resistance fighters from Timber in the Fantasy 8 verse."
     Watts, a young man wearing a blue cap and a yellow vest over a white t-shirt, pulled Zone, a young man with black hair and a loose-fitting blue outfit, to his feet from his former crouching position. A yellow train with a decal of a skull with "RAIDERS" written above it slid to a noisy stop behind them. 
     "This will be quite the challenge," Watts said. "But as a Forest Owl, I'm prepared for anything."
     "As am I," Zone said, clutching his stomach but still standing to face the camera. "Well, not quite as prepared, but prepared nonetheless."
     "We don't have the physical edge over most of the teams I'm sure, but we definitely have the brains. We'll plan the crap out of this race and win it with strategy, much like how the previous winners won."
     "We've analyzed all the footage from last round and found all the elements that led to their victory as well as every team's individual wins."
     "We'll be watching all the other teams and taking notes," Watts said. "We'll exploit weaknesses and do all that we can to walk away with a million gil."

     "Cecil and Rosa Farrell-Harvey: married couple from Baron in the Fantasy 4 verse."
     Cecil, a man with long silver hair wearing decorated armor, stood with his arm around Rosa, a woman with a blonde ponytail wearing long white clothes complete with a white cape. The two stood on a tall castle ledge overlooking an ocean.
     "Rosa has been a wonderful companion and wife," Cecil said. "She has stood beside me though all sorts of ordeals and changes and I could not see doing this race with anybody else. Except maybe Kain."
     "I anticipate a win out of this race because we are so strong and compatible," Rosa said. "He has the strength and the willpower to go on, whereas I have the mental strength and the heart to keep us balanced."
     "I have always counted on my friends. With Rosa I foresee a victory and possibly a few new friends at the end. And nobody else could help me achieve such a victory. With Kain we could have made them beg before declaring the win as our own."
     "Cecil, honey, please," Rosa said. She pulled a small compact out of her shirt pocket and opened it, pointing the mirror at Cecil. "I see a bit of darkness reflecting. Remember your training."
     Cecil stared at the mirror for a minute, then looked back at Rosa. "Sorry, sweetie. Cameras make me so nervous."
     Rosa put away the compact and looked at the camera. "Again, with me to keep him under control, we should have no problems riding this to victory."
     "Kain cou-"
     "Kain couldn't do crap!" Rosa yelled at Cecil. She regained her composure immediately dusted her clothes off and smiled prettily for the camera.

     "Barret Wallace and Dyne: friends and fathers from Corel in the Fantasy 7 verse."
     Barret, a large, muscular black man with tattoos and a large gun grafted where his right hand should be, sat beside dyne, a large, muscular white man with purple hair and a gun grafted where his left hand should be. They sat on the edge of a rusty platform in the middle of a rundown area. Tents littered the background.
     "Me 'n Dyne go way back," Barret explained. "Ever since we were kids. We grew up together an' stuff, lived in this godforsaken town. Then all dis crap went from bad to horrible an' long story short, I ended up raisin' Dyne's girl, Marlene, when Dyne went all crazy and sh-"
     "Don't make me out to be that crazy," Dyne said.
     "You wanted to kill Marlene so she could keep yo' dead wife company."
     "She was lonely," Dyne whimpered.
     "Look," Barret pointed at the camera and stood up. "Me 'n Dyne, we gonna win. We'll do whatever it takes to win this money so little Marlene can have a good life. Skinny-punk Cloud kept usin' all of Marlene's college money, and we gettin' that money back."
     "Word," Dyne said.
     "Shu'up, Dyne," Barret said, kicking him in the leg.

     "Ma and Zell Dincht: mother and son from Balamb in the Fantasy 8 verse."
     Zell, a spiky haired blond with large jean shorts and a black and red jacket, stood center-screen doing martial arts in the air. He stood in the middle of a small house. He punched the air and suddenly stopped when Ma, an older woman with brown hair wearing a dress and an apron, grabbed his shoulder.
     "Zell, what did I say about martial arts in the house?" Ma asked.
     "Sorry, Ma," Zell said. "I was just showing them my moves so they know what we're bringin' to the party. A force to be reckoned with! I'll put Seifer in his place and show him and the entire world that he is the chicken-wuss. He wouldn't even come on the show and-"
     "Zell, you're babbling again," Ma said. She looked at the camera and shoved Zell aside, almost out of frame. "My adopted son, Zell, has everything it takes to win this race, but he needs some discipline, so he brought his mother along."
     "Or because none of my friends wanted to race," Zell mumbled.
     "What'd I tell you about being smart?" Ma asked.
     "I won't be?"
     "But what else?"
     "Don't let my dumb mouth get us into trouble?" Zell said.
     "That's right," Ma responded.

     "Fran and Ffamran "Balthier" Mid Bunansa: friends and fellow sky pirates from Eruyt Village and Archadia in the Fantasy 12 verse."
     Balthier, an elegantly dressed man with short blonde hair, relaxed against a rock. Fran, a seductive bunny-eared creature known as a Viera, wearing a revealing black outfit, climbed the rock Balthier leaned against and finally sat atop the rock with one leg hanging down by Balthier.
     "You're trying to upstage me with a single leg," Balthier said to Fran.
     "It's impossible to do such a thing, is it not?" Fran asked. "Upstaging the leading man?"
     "Impossible, yes, but still, your attempt is still present."
     "We have nothing to say," Fran said to the camera. "We cannot lose and look forward to the journey."
     "I hope there is a team or possible two that actually give us a run for our money. Or at least a jog for it. Though I don't exactly mind easy money."
     "I do this for my sisters in my village. We cannot leave the Eruyt area, and I have been outcast for doing exactly that. I hope to show them my strength and give them strength to realize that the outside world should not be foreign to us, nor should we be punished for leaving."
     "I'm doing it more for the money," Balthier added.
     "As am I. If my village does not accept me back, then I'll just have to live in luxury in the outside world."
     "Sounds horribly dreadful," Balthier said.

     The twelve teams disembarked from their sand gliders and walked to form a quarter arc behind Gippal. On the other side of Gippal were twenty-four backpacks, every other pack had a yellow and black Amazing Final Fantasy clue resting on top of it.
     Gippal faced the camera with the racers behind him. "Can these teams stand up to the pressure of traveling for countless miles together? And who will come up with the right combination of strength, speed, intelligence, and teamwork to win the one million gil prize? These are the questions waiting to be answered as we get ready to begin: The Amazing Final Fantasy Race." He turned to face the racers. "Welcome everybody. In just a few minutes you'll be leaving on a race around worlds. Now there are eleven legs in this race. At the end of each race there is a pit stop. Nine of these pit stops are elimination points, so you need to get to each of them fast because if you are last, you will be eliminated. Now your first clue is waiting on top of the packs you brought with you. When I give you the word, you can run over to your bags, read your clue, and take off to the next destination in the speeders we've provided. The first team to cross the finish line after eleven legs will win the one million gil. Is everybody ready?"
     "Yes!" Ma shouted. She looked to her son, Zell, who was red in the face, but still smiled to support her.
     "It's still better than last time," Gippal said. "The worlds are waiting for you. Good luck. Travel safe..." he raised his hand into the air and scanned the teams with his eyes. He then thrust his hand down and shouted "Go!" 
     The twelve teams all ran frantically to their packs, though some fell short as others sprinted on ahead. Zell tried to make a quick move for the front of the pack, only to have his gap closed by Biran and Yenke, who ran past him like large angry trucks.
     "Pitiful human," Biran said loudly to Yenke. "He even thinks he has horn."
     "Hair horn!" Yenke shouted at Zell. "Pitiful fake human horn made of hair. Ronso horns made of marrow!"

     "Not already," Watts said.
     "Sorry," Zone said. He clutched his stomach and crawled along the ground toward the packs.
     "I thought we trained for this." Watts grabbed Zone by the arm and pulled him to his feet. "At least this part is fairly unimportant. Just get to the speeder and I'll take it from there."

     Freya and Fratley were the first complete team to reach their clue. Freya grabbed the clue and ripped it open.
     "Fly to Midgar using one of three flights at the Home Spaceport," Freya read.
     "I'll drive," Fratley said. He hopped on the front of the closest speeder, which was basically an ATV built for two, but instead of wheels is moved by sliding on skis and propelling itself by a large exhaust jet in the back.

     "I really get to drive this thing?" Reno said. He hopped onto the speeder and clutched the controls.
     Rude slid onto the back and looked around for anything to hold onto, but seeing as Reno's waist was his only option, he opted to pinch his legs tighter on the speeder's body and sit up. "I'd rather not get bugs in my face."
     "Sweet, then here we go," Reno shouted. He pulled his sunglasses down and fired up the speeder. He jumped on the accelerator, but quickly switched to the brakes as he was cut off by another speeder.

     "Woo!" Celes shouted. Her speeder shot across the sand while Cid behind her battled her hair that flapped in his face.
     "I think you nearly hit somebody," Cid said, just prior to getting a mouthful of hair.
     "What?" Celes shouted back to Cid. "I can't hear you. These things are so noisy. Not as noisy as that Magitek Armor, but still very noisy."
     "I had nothing to do with the crummy suits themselves," Cid said with a laugh. 
     "What?"

     "Horrible machina," Dona said as she revved up the speeder. "Why do we have to use this heathen contraption anyway? It completely eliminates one of our advantages."
     Barthello sat behind Dona on the speeder and looked for something to hold onto. "I think they always use machina at first." Barthello finally gave up his search for any handles and he hesitantly reached forward and gently clutched Dona's waist.
     Dona sighed. "Barthello, please. If you're going to do it then just do it." Dona put her hands on top of Barthello's and forced his fingers to clasp her tighter. "Now let's go."

     "Fly to Midgar," Barret read. "Should be a good advantage when we get there."
     "Better advantage than somehow getting stuck behind that large woman while running to our packs," Dyne said.
     "Don' worry. We'll still get da best flight an' keep da lead."
     Barret and Dyne tossed their packs on their speeder and boarded it with Barret as the driver. He looked at the controls, which were entirely hand controls with the accelerator on one side and the brakes on the other.
     "Yo, Dyne?" Barret said. "I got a little hand brake, but I think I got a problem."
     "What is it?" Dyne asked.
     "I can accelerate, but I can't brake. Not sure if I can drive dis."
     "Wait, brakes? Mr. Wallace I'm disappointed."
     "You right, Dyne. Sit the hell down!" Barret fired up his speeder and pulled violently on the accelerator.

     "Goodness," Brahne said as she watched Barret and Dyne drive off.
     "Something wrong?" Garnet asked. She picked up both packs and handed one to Brahne.
     "Thank you, dearie," Brahne said. "I'm so sorry if I've been caught up in the moment, but those two have stolen your mother's heart."
     "Not this again," Garnet said. "You're always claiming you've just met the love of your life."
     "Never like this, sweetie," Brahne said. Garnet mouthed the words along with Brahne. "I vow to make them mine. All mine."
     "Okay, let's do that by catching up to them first. You drive, mother."
     "Such a sweet girl," Brahne said. "Who taught you to be so sweet?"
     "Maybe Doctor To-"
     "Now now, don't go and flatter your mother," Brahne said.
     "I wasn-"
     "Enough!" Brahne shouted. She coughed lightly and sat lightly on the speeder. "I mean, enough flattery, dearie. Your mother can only take so much love."

     Faris and Reina drove their speeder along several hills of sand. Reina clutched Faris tightly as they both squinted into the bright desert in search of Home.
     "Lady Sand, yer no ocean, but equally deceiving," Faris muttered.
     "We can do it!" Reina encouraged her sister. "We just need to keep following the N on the compass, right?"
     "Yar."
     "Well we're doing fine then," Reina said. "I'm being sure to twist this compass top and put the N on the tip of the needle everytime it moves!"
     Faris twisted the brakes hard and turned quickly back to look at Reina. "What tales ye be tellin' me?"
     "I'm doing fine," Reina said. "See?" She twisted the top of the compass, putting the big red 'N' on the tip of the needle.
     Faris grabbed the compass away from Reina and pulled it in front of her. "By Neptune's trident... Navigation is not meant for a princess. Castle walls c'nnot teach these things."
     "I'm sorry," Reina said with a quivering lip. "I didn't-"
     "Show the waves beneath no sorrow," Faris said. She wiped a tear from Reina's cheek. "The compass be an important tool. I'll teach you its ways at our next stop. No more blubbering over lost direction. Yer aside the greatest navigator the world has ever seen!"
     Reina hugged her sister tightly. "Thank you."

     "Zell?" Ma said as she clutched her son tightly. She rode as the passenger on their speeder.
     "Yeah, Ma?" Zell said.
     "Is this what your missions were like? Your SeeD missions. Did you do things like this?"
     "Sometimes," Zell responded. "Why?"
     "It's fun! I'm wishing I'd signed up. I would've signed up if I knew this is what you did."
     "There's also fighting and killing involved."
     "Rats," Ma said. She looked into the distance to her left and saw another speeder racing in the same direction. "Can we beat them?"
     "I think so."
     "Good. Let's do it. Hit it, Zelly!"
     "I- umm, Ma? Can you keep it at just 'Zell'? People are watching. People I know."
     "People I know too," Ma said. "So gun it! I don't want them to see me lose!"
     "Right!" Zell said, pulling the accelerator harder.

     Cecil and Rosa sped toward Home, which barely started to appear over the waves of sand ahead of them. Cecil drove with Rosa clutched tightly to him.
     "There's another team to our right," Rosa pointed out. "I think that means we're going the right way."
     "That's good news," Cecil said. "I just hope we beat them to this Home place."
     "It's not the point to worry about that now," Rosa said. "Let's just get there and get our tickets and hope for the best."
     "You're right," Cecil said. He looked to his right again, then did a double-take. "Did they just speed up?"
     "They- umm, no. Maybe. I'm not sure. These heat waves make things look like illusions. Let's just get there and-"
     "They did!" Cecil shouted. "They're racing us!"
     "We are in a race- err, but Cecil, don't do this. Don't race them. We'll get there safely and-"
     "We can beat them," Cecil said. He leaned in on the handles, his body shaped like a cat ready to pounce.
     "Oh God, Cecil," Rosa muttered. "Just be safe, okay?"
     "Whatever."
     Home began to come more and more into focus as Cecil eased the speeder not only toward Home, but also closer to the Dincht speeder to their right. He was almost within shouting distance of them, when suddenly he noticed two speeders already parked in front of the Home entrance.

<Fran & Balthier: Sky Pirates, Currently in 1st Place>
     "The ride was a bit bumpy, but hardly worth complaining when you're in first," Balthier said. "Gives a whole new meaning to 'leading man', wouldn't you say?"
     "Not for too long," Fran said. She folded her arms and stared at the other team joining them for a first place tie.
     "Ridden our coattails long enough, wouldn't you say?" Balthier said to the other team.
     "I wouldn't say that," Watts responded. "You were following us the whole way. You just gave it a little extra in the end."
     "And that'll be what sets us apart I imagine," Balthier said. "Feel free to fall just behind us the whole race."
     Fran waited for a response from Watts, but finally turned her attention to Zone, who was hunched over on the ground. "Is he okay?"
     "He does this," Watts said. He looked at Zone. "Stomach pains again?"
     "Stomach?" Zone asked. "Oh. Right. Yeah. Sure." He glanced at Fran's legs and followed them up her body. "So pretty."
     Balthier glanced into the distance. "Hate to break up our conversation, but four's already a crowd, so another four cannot be good at all." He looked to Fran and started to hop toward the entrance. "Frannie, if you would be so kind as to join me. We've antagonized our runners-up long enough."
     Fran nodded and jogged to catch up to Balthier. The two entered Home and began looking for the nearest ticket desk.