Episode 3: Part 1

     Gippal walked down a flight of metallic stairs leading to the exterior of an underground reactor and walked to the edge of the mountain where it sat. It overlooked a small, quaint city with a less than quaint mansion in the back. "This town and reactor was the origin to a threat to the entire world of Fantasy 7 some time ago, but it has now become the second pit stop in a race around worlds. Teams began at the Gold Saucer Theme Park and traveled by broken seaplanes to an ancient temple. Some teams fell behind due to seaplane failure, but ultimately caught up in the temple, where a detour involving RC cars caused sisters Faris and Reina and test subject/researcher Celes and Cid to lag behind. A clue hidden in trash became impossible for mother/daughter team Brahne and Garnet to find and ultimately caused them to fall equally behind, while partners Reno and Rude lost the lead at a roadblock when Rude could not see the final hint through his sunglasses, enabling married couple Cecil and Rosa to claim the victory. Through an unknown alliance, mother/son team Ma and Zell were forced to wait at the new Xing delay point by friends Biran and Yenke so that Brahne and Garnet could catch up. In the end, allies Celes and Cid and Brahne and Garnet were forced to battle for last place, with Celes and Cid becoming the second team eliminated. Will the odd alliance between Biran and Yenke and Brahne and Garnet cause the two low-placing teams to rise up? Will Rude take off his stupid sunglasses? Cecil and Rosa, who were first to arrive at 11:12 am, will depart at 11:12 pm."

<Cecil & Rosa: Married, 1st to Depart: 11:12 pm>
     Rosa and Cecil stood side by side on the dark and eerie Mt. Nibel with small flashlight headbands on. Rosa ripped open the clue in her hands and pulled out the route info, which she read to Cecil. "Travel to Goug Machine City in the Fantasy Tactics verse via the International Rocket Town Airport."

<Announcer Gippal>
     "Teams must now travel to the International Rocket Town Airport by crossing through the mountains and trekking for a short distance through grassy plains. There they must find an airship to travel to Goug Machine City in the Fantasy Tactics verse and find a clue box in the rooftop of a house in the slums."

<Cecil & Rosa: Married, Currently in 1st Place>
     "You have 400 gil for this leg of the race. Okay, let's go," Rosa said. She and Cecil started down the path to Mt. Nibel with Cecil leading the way. Rosa followed the light from her headband, which reflected brilliantly off of Cecil's armor. Finally after not being able to bear it any longer, she jogged forward and walked beside Cecil to walk hand-in-hand.

<Reno & Rude: Partners, 2nd to Depart: 11:18 pm>
     Reno ripped open the clue and read it to Rude. "...via the International Rocket Town Air- umm, Air. Hey Rude, I can't quite make out that last word. It must be too bright out. Think you and your sunglasses could finish this for me?"
     "Shut up," Rude responded. "You're wasting time."
     "Ohh, I'm wasting time. That's true, y'know. Wouldn't want to cost us first place."
     Rude stared at Reno without speaking. Finally Reno broke the silence. "Oh come on, you big baby. I'm just messing. But seriously, I think we need to start being less playful and more-"
     "Like me?" Rude asked.
     "Yes, like you. Less talking, more sucking at roadblocks." Reno looked at Rude, who walked silently toward Rocket Town. "Oh come on! You're such a girl!" Reno jogged behind him to catch up and travel down the mountain with him.

<Cecil & Rosa: Married, Currently in 1st Place>
     Cecil and Rosa entered a small village of wooden homes and dirt streets. The buildings all had tall pitched rooftops. Signs hung from wooden posts above the doors to indicate the wares sold at that shop. The town was quaint except for the large, newly constructed airport behind the town. The large white building was blocky and had no charm like the town it rested behind. The only decorations were a black sign that said "International and Domestic Airport" and a large metallic claw-like object extending from the ground. The structure had formerly housed a fallen rocket ship, but now had nothing but rust.
     Cecil led Rosa through the city, continuing to stay close to each other. They reached the entrance to the airport and the automatic glass doors slid open. Inside were only two different counters. On the left was the bright green sign that read "Air Cactuar." The counter held a couple of computers, both facing inward for staff use, but nobody was at the counter. The lights above the counters were off and the lines, like the entire airport, were empty. The counter on the right had a dull gray sign reading "Highwind Airlines." It only had one very old looking computer also turned inward for the staff to use. Like Air Cactuar, the lights here were off as well and nobody was at the counter. In the back, between and beyond both counters, was a single room labeled "Travel Agency."
     "Let's try the travel agency," Rosa suggested. Cecil agreed and the pair ran to the door, only to be met with a sign reading "Hours: 4:00 am to 10:00 pm."
     "We should wait here," Cecil said. "I don't want to worry about the flights. I'd rather have somebody find a flight for us. We'll be the first in line."
     "Agreed. We'll rest until then."

<Reno & Rude: Partners, Currently in 2nd Place>
     "Figures," Reno said upon entering the airport. He thrust his hands into his pockets and walked toward Cecil and Rosa with Rude only slightly behind him. "Travel agency, huh?" he said to Rosa, who was pulling a blanket out of her bag. "Good plan. I haven't trusted them since that time they accidentally gave us tickets to the wrong destination. Make sure you two check the tickets, y'know? You sometimes don't think Midgar and Mideel sound similar when you say them, but you never know. Just be careful."
     "Thank you. We will," Rosa said. She and Cecil slid together and pulled the blanket over themselves.
     Reno and Rude walked away from the pair and leaned against the far wall next to an old pay phone. Feeling a safe distance away, Rude told Reno, "That didn't happen."
     "I know," he responded. He pointed at his own head. "I'm just trying to get in their heads, y'know?"

<Zone & Watts: Resistance Fighters, 3rd to Depart: 11:43 pm>
     Zone ripped open the clue and read it to Watts.
     "Okay, it's flights time," Watts said. "Remember: we need to make our lead here. We're smarter than the other teams. We have to take over right here and now."
     "What pressure," Zone said, clutching his stomach tighter and tighter.
     "Oh no way, really?"
     "Just joshing," Zone said, releasing his stomach. "I'm actually fairly psyched. This Goug Machine City sounds like our kind of place. I'm hoping for a challenge to build a train or something. Anything to give us technological-types a boost over our competition that has probably never seen a TV or anything electric for that matter."
     Zone and Watts heaved their packs onto their backs and headed down the mountain.

<Freya & Fratley: Reunited Lovers, 4th to Depart: 11:51 pm>
     "Ready?" Freya asked Fratley as she held the clue in front of her.
     "Yes," Fratley said. He watched as Freya ripped open the clue and smiled as she read it to him. "Sounds like a horrible city."
     "We'll be fine," Freya said. "Do you suppose we should wait for the team behind us? We could ally with them."
     "I'd rather not," Fratley said. "I don't trust them."
     "We can hear you, you know," Balthier said as he and Fran walked toward the Pit Start mat.
     "My apologies," Fratley said to Balthier before turning his attention back to Freya. "Come, dear." Fratley began to jog toward the base of the mountain. Freya quickly joined him and then even past him, forcing Fratley to jog even faster.

<Fran & Balthier: Sky Pirates, 5th to Depart: 11:52 pm>
     Fran ripped open the clue. "Travel to Goug Machine City..."
     "Traveling, I see," Balthier said. "As a man of the skies, I'd really hate to have this be our downfall."
     "Plotting our end so soon? Such talk is not befitting of a leading man."
     "A leading man is only as good as his play. Adding some tension could do us well. Perhaps we'll finally snag that first place."
     Fran and Balthier headed down the mountain after Freya and Fratley, hoping but not planning to catch up to the high jumping rats.

<Zone & Watts: Resistance Fighters, Currently in 3rd Place>
     Zone and Watts entered the airport and quickly decided it was their best bet to head straight for the travel agency. They slid in beside Cecil and Rosa and took the second spot in line. Both looked nervously at Reno and Rude.
     "Were they next?" Zone asked.
     "I'm not sure. I hope not!" Watts said.

     "Were we next?" Rude asked Reno. Neither bothered to move from their place leaning against the far wall.
     "Naw, we'll do it the old fashioned way," Reno said. "If we line up there, Crazy and Rosa won't be afraid of the travel agent anymore. And the two dorks already are afraid of us. We're fine. We only need that fear, y'know?"
     Rude nodded.

     Fratley and Freya approached the airport entrance with Fran and Balthier only shortly behind. Fratley moved in front of Freya and reached his hand out for the glass door. "Allow me," he said just before the doors slid open on their own.
     "Thank you anyway," Freya said as she stepped inside.
     "Yes, thank you," Balthier said as he and Fran jogged past Fratley and Freya. Without a second thought, the two ran to the travel agency.
     "Hey wait," Fratley yelled after Balthier. He and Freya raced after them, but lined up behind them for the travel agent. "We were first, if you don't mind."
     Balthier and Fran both sat down beside Zone and Watts and started digging through their packs for sleeping bags. "I think not. Better luck next time."
     "I was holding the door, but we were still first inside," Fratley argued.
     "The way I saw it, you were holding nary a thing."
     "I-"
     "Let it go," Freya said to Fratley. She sat beside Fran and motioned for Fratley to sit beside her. He complied and slumped to the ground. "We'll beat them despite this. Just like we did last time."
     "Touche," Balthier said.

<Reina & Faris: Sisters, 6th to Depart: 12:07 am>
     "Are ya ready, sis?" Faris asked Reina as she clutched the clue.
     "Aye aye, sister," Reina responded.
     "I can't hear you!"
     "Aye aye, sister!" she shouted back.
     Faris opened the clue and read it to Reina. "Travel ter Goug Machine City. Aye, we be sailin' in the skies again."
     "Cool."
     Reina and Faris quickly raced down the mountain and joined the others in the airport. They, like Reno and Rude, opted to wait out of line on some padded chairs down the rightmost corridor.

<Biran & Yenke: Comrades, 7th to Depart: 12:13 am>
     Biran held out the clue and ripped it open, though unfortunately he also ripped it completely in half. He shook out the two halves of the clue and held them together. He read the ripped clue poorly. "Tra-el to Goug Mach in... Clue is too broken."
     "What should Biran and Yenke do?" Yenke asked.
     "Biran will do what Biran good at. Biran wait for hornless summoner and follow her."
     "Biran so smart," Yenke said. He and Biran ran to a corner of the mountain and sat on a rock, waiting for somebody to follow to their next destination.

<Dona & Barthello: Summoner/Guardian, 8th to Depart: 12:16 am>
     Dona opened the clue and read it to Barthello. "Travel to Goug Machine City by the International Rocket Town Airport. Ugh. I can't stand airports."
     Barthello picked up his backpack, then also reached down and picked up Dona's. Then the two made their way down the mountain after Dona cast a judgmental glare at the two Ronso sitting on the rock in the dark.

-------------------------{Dona & Barthello: Interview}-------------------------

     Dona and Barthello sat facing the camera with the same mountain area as their backdrop.
     "Barthello and I had a talk at the last Pit Stop," Dona said. "We came to the mutual agreement that we work best when I decide everything. So I'm taking charge now, just like when I was on my pilgrimage and Barthello was just my lowly guardian. We're through being the nice guys."
     "I'll mostly be quiet and carry her bag. She said I'm most threatening when I don't speak. She also said I have to carry her bags because she's more able to be a bitch that way.
     "You can't be a bitch when you're carrying things. Not a good one anyway."

-------------------------{End Interview}-------------------------

     Dona and Barthello reached the airport and joined Reina and Faris by the comfortable chairs. Dona laid across several of the chairs and fell asleep while Barthello stayed awake to be her alarm clock.

<Ma & Zell: Mother/Son, 9th to Depart: 12:27 am>
     Zell eagerly ripped open the clue and read it to Ma. "Travel to Goug Machine City via the International Rocket Town Airport. Sweet, time to travel to a new world!" He raised up his hand for a high-five. Ma smiled and slapped his hand. Zell started to run off when he heard Ma clearing her throat. "What is it, Ma?"
     Ma stood with her arm straight down and her hand behind her, palm up. "Zelly, what have I told you about forgetting down low?"
     "Oh yeah! Sorry, Ma!" Zell ran to her and slapped her hand, then the two raced off to find the airport.

<Brahne & Garnet: Mother/Daughter, Last to Depart: 12:28 am>
     Garnet ripped open the clue and started to read, when suddenly something caught her eye. "Travel to... Oh no, they waited for us."
     Brahne looked around and finally followed Garnet's glare toward the two Ronso sitting on the rock. "Oh goodie!"
     Garnet quickly finished reading the clue, then she and her mother started down the mountain. Without a single word, Biran and Yenke waited for them to pass, then started cracking their comments as usual.
     "Hornless Summoner's horn was sooooo not there," Biran started.
     "How not there was it?" Yenke chimed in.
     "Her horn was so not there that she was hornless!"
     "I really don't get them," Garnet said to herself, since her mother was clapping and laughing at the Ronso's joke.

     Zell and Ma reached the airport just slightly ahead of Garnet, Brahne and the Ronso and they rightly took their place in line for the travel agent. Garnet led Brahne away from the travel agent and instead decided to wait in front of Cactuar Air. Biran and Yenke, of course, followed them. She read the sign on the counter that read: "Hours: 5:00 am to 11:00 pm."

<3:58 am: Dona & Barthello>
     Barthello nudged Dona awake and quietly pointed to the clock on the wall. Dona got to her feet slowly, taking a quick moment to stretch, then rose to her feet. Barthello also stood, then threw both of their backpacks onto his broad shoulders. They walked to the main entrance of the airport where all the other teams waited.
     Cecil and Rosa, both of whom were already awake, started getting to their feet when they saw the lights inside the travel agency light up. The door lock clicked off and a hand removed the hours of operation sign. Rosa finished putting their blanket into her backpack and started zipping it up when Dona led Barthello up to the door and flung the door open, sneaking in before Cecil and Rosa.
     "Hey wait!" Rosa shouted after them. "We were first!"
     "Doesn't seem that way to me," Dona said over her shoulder as she sat in one of the two chairs inside, opposite the man who sat behind the desk at his computer. Barthello started to sit in the other chair, but he was beat by Dona's feet, which rested comfortably on it.
     "There was a line and you weren't even in it!" Cecil argued. He and Rosa followed Dona and Barthello inside the small room, which barely fit them all, especially with Dona spread out and taking up two chairs.
     "I didn't see a line," she responded. She looked to the man at the desk. "Sir, was there a line?"
     "I'm not sure," he said, scratching his head. "I came in through the back like always, but we don't normally have lines. I don't even usually have customers."
     "See? There wasn't a line. Just a bunch of people sitting outside."
     "There... Was... A... Line..." Cecil said through gritted teeth.
     "Honey, calm down," Rosa said to Cecil.
     "Yes, honey. Please," Dona added.
     Rosa sighed. "Okay, Cece. Kill her."
     Cecil started to move toward Dona when Barthello slowly moved in his path and faced him with his arms folded across his chest.
     "People, please," the man at the desk said. The phone rang, but was barely audible over the all the screaming voices. Even people outside shouted in at Dona and Barthello for cutting in line. The man said "excuse me" and picked up the phone. He plugged his unused ear with his finger and talked on the phone while the people argued.
     "That's just cheap, guys!" Watts shouted in.
     "Race properly!" Balthier shouted.
     "Even that guy is more fair than you, come on!" Fratley added, referring to Balthier.
     The shouting continued as the man at the desk continued to try to talk on the phone. He constantly gestured for people to be quiet and waved for them to leave the room. "Yeah, okay.... I'll check.... We have a six forty... Arrives at eight...."
     The group finally began to disperse and back out the doorway, leaving Dona and Barthello alone in the room. Cecil was last out and slammed the door behind him. "Damn cheating sons of bitches."
     "Come on, sweetie," Rosa said calmly. "We'll still get the same flight as them I'm sure. Then we'll beat them fair and square to the Pit Stop. They'll get what's coming to them."

     Dona tapped her foot anxiously on the chair and Barthello started pacing slightly while the man finished up with his call. "Okay, just give them the confirmation code..... You're welcome, sir. Have a nice trip!..... Thank you. Bye then." The man hung up the phone and looked up to Dona and Barthello. "I'm really sorry about that. I would've told the man to hold, but he said it was urgent. So how can I help you today?"
     "We need the fastest flight to Goug Machine City," Dona said.
     "Oh weird, the man on the phone wanted that flight too! How neat! Maybe you'll see each other in Goug!"
     "Whatever, just get me the tickets."
     "Okie dokie. Well, unfortunately, the man on the phone ordered the last available tickets, but it looks like Air Cactuar will have a flight leaving at 7:10 am and arriving at 8:35 am. So you may not see this guy and his family. He's getting there 35 minutes ahead of you."
     "You sold the best tickets!? To whom!?"

     "Zero one eight two five," Reno said, hanging up the pay phone to his left. "We just got us the fastest eight tickets to Goug."
     "What'll we do with the extra six tickets?" Rude asked.
     "I heard another guy's scheme from before. Balthier. He had a neat strategy to get the weakest teams in the front of the pack with you. To guarantee a first place victory and possibly knock out a stronger team, y'know?"
     Reno walked over to Garnet, Brahne, and the Ronsos. "Say ladies and doggies," Reno said. "Interested in the best tickets available to Goug?"
     "Well, yes, but why do you ask?" Garnet asked.
     "I just happen to be in possession of a few excess tickets, if you'd like them."
     "I'm sorry, but I don't entirely trust you. We'd like to look on our own first."
     "Yeah, that's smart! But it's hard to pass up these direct tickets leaving only forty minutes after the airport even opens. Lands at 8:00 am on the dot! But look around. I'll have these tickets for you when you want them."
     "Thank... err.... you," Garnet said, a bit confused by what was happening.
     Reno and Rude walked off toward Faris and Reina and left Garnet to speak with her mother.
     "How nice," Brahne said. "Now those are men who know how to treat ladies!"
     "Yeah, except that I think they don't view us as competition," Garnet said. "They're mocking us by giving us these tickets."
     "We'll just have to show them we are competition, right dearie?"
     Garnet smiled. "Yes, Mother."

     "Thanks a lot," Dona said sarcastically as she took the confirmation code from the travel agent. "Next time, deal with the customer in person before the one on the phone.... Idiot." Dona turned to leave and started opening the door. "Come, Barthello."
     "Yes, ma'am," he said as he followed her out the door, where they were met with more people screaming insults at them.
     Rosa went into the travel agency and pulled Cecil in with her. They closed the door behind them and sat in the chairs facing the desk.

     "By Leviathan's whiskers, are ye serious?" Faris asked Reno.
     "You scare me," Reno responded. "But yes."
     "I knew linin' up was all fer naught! Ye'll be rewarded fer this. Faris Tycoon stays in no man's debt."
     "We should probably get in line at the counter then, right?" Reina said. "It's only a half hour until the counter opens, and we should probably be ready when it does. Such an early flight..."
     "Good point," Reno said. "Then follow us, ladies."
     Reno and Rude led Faris and Reina to the Highwind Airlines line and waited for it to open.

     Cecil and Rosa shook the travel agent's hand, then exited with their tickets on Dona and Barthello's flight. Zone and Watts entered and sat down in the two chairs.
     "If those are the best flights to Goug, then we want them too," Watts said.
     "Certainly," the man said. "There should be plenty left."

     One by one, the teams cycled into the travel agent and got their confirmation codes for the same flight. Each team upon exiting took the opportunity to glare at Dona and Barthello. Barthello remained stoic and took no criticism from this, but Dona, on the other hand, seemed more and more uplifted by each nasty glare.

     Both Cactuar Air and Highwind Airlines counters suddenly lit up and staff members manned the computers. Garnet approached the agent at Cactuar Air.
     "Hi, what's your earliest flight to Goug Machine City?" Garnet asked.
     "Let me check," the woman behind the counter said as she typed it into her computer. "It looks like our first flight gets in at 8:35 am."
     "I see," Garnet said. She looked over to Reno, who was now at the counter and looking back at Garnet, waving for her to come join him. "Thanks anyway," Garnet said to the woman at the counter as she hopped out of line and joined Reno at the counter.
     "Welcome to the front of the pack," Reno said, handing Faris, Reina, Garnet, Brahne, Biran, and Yenke their tickets.