[center][img=http://i.imgur.com/W3nWtqY.jpg][/center] "The [i]DUMP![/i]" The boy shouted in response to the mechanics verdict of his not so hovering hoverboard, "Awh, donuts! It's like the coolest thing i've ever seen." He crossed his arms in irritation whilst letting out a huff, causing his bangs to briefly shoot upward in the process. "I wanted to hang it up in my room or something. Err, or should I say hover it up in my room? Or uh, float it up in my room?" Toby gave Ashton a perplexed as he struggled to find the correct terminology. The Mechanic merely chuckled in response as he lifted the hoverboard into the air and began to examine it. [center][img=http://i.imgur.com/rdppzEU.jpg][/center] "Heh, well since it's pretty much damaged beyond repair it doesn't look all that 'cool' anymore, at least not to me." Ashton set the board back down before placing his hands on his hips and letting out a definite sigh, "Sorry kid, but it's pretty much safe to say this hoverboard is totaled." Toby kept his sights trained on the hoverboard as he perked his lips in thought. He couldn't help but recall the moment just before his hoverboard was shot, when he and Yves locked eyes momentarily. Just the thought of that snob Nobody was bothersome enough, this was all his fault. "So does this mean i'm out of the competition?" "Well, we don't have any extras in stock, but-" as if on cue, Riley popped up from out of nowhere and spun the boy around. Niran was right beside her. Toby greeted the two with a radiant smile, glad to see his friends were still in the race. His eyes lit up at the sight of the jet shoes "Radical, nice find Ran!" So he was still in the competition. Good. It was time for some payback. He followed Riley and Niran to an area where the trio could safely fly off and make their way back into the race. Quickly Toby began to slip on the shoes just before Riley shot up and into the air. Even though she kinda yelped while doing so, it still looked fun. With haste he stood up straight and squeezed his eyes shut. [i]Fly![/i] he thought to himself. Immediately the jet shoes came to and the boy shrieked in confusion. For the third time he found himself hanging upside down in the air, his arm and hair moved about helplessly and his clothes fell downward, revealing his belly "Oh, cmon! What's with me?" The boy began flailing about as he attempted to fix his posture. As he found himself now hovering beside Riley it was quite noticeable how much easier it was to handle the jet shoes instead of the hoverboard. Even so, Toby thought the hoverboards were a lot cooler. He was quite eager to find Landon and Yves so he exact his revenge upon them. "Uh, sorry to go all lone wolf on you guys, but i've got a score to settle with some other competitors. I'll catch you guys later, give Ace my regards!" With that, the boy sped upward and back into the race. [center][img=http://i.imgur.com/f9tpTwX.jpg][/center] [center][img=http://i.imgur.com/ln7YTk3.jpg][/center] The two veterans soared through the city at a particularly high altitude. Cannon's fired at the duo frequently but to no avail, the pair maneuvered their way around the blue balls with little to no effort. "This key business is interesting, I don't think we've ever had to deal with it before. We'll have to get our hands on one sooner or later," Landon stated. "This year has been quite hectic, humans are so troublesome." Yves looked below in search of competitors. Being eliminated in the first round was not an option for the nobleman. "Landon, let's remedy this key situation immediately." The Nobody pointed towards a competitor that had managed to obtain a key and was now heading towards the maze. "It seems our luck has not yet ceased to run out, the prey has come to us this time." Landon smirked, "Let's not waste any time than chap," Landon gradually began to descend until he was leveled with the rider that had obtained a key. The two eyed eachother for a moment and the Nobody simply waved with a smug grin, causing the rider to tense up and prepare himself. Usually when two competitors were leveled one would try to ram the other, this was doubly true if one of the competitors had a key. But rather than attack, Landon merely began stood up straight and placed his hands behind his back. "Evening," he said aloud, the rider merely responded with a puzzled look and tightened his grip on the key. Just as he was about to speak, Yves dove downward towards him like a hawk and rammed his shoulder into the tail of the riders hoverboard causing it to shoot upward and launch the competitor off. Landon swooped in and grabbed the key. The move was executed so smoothly, it was obvious the pair had conducted it numerous times. However, the rider had yet to release his grip on the key and dangled beside Landon who was unwillingly keeping him from falling to elimination. [quote=Announcer Goomba]Well, this is....interesting. I don't think i've ever seen teamwork like this before![/quote] Landon and the rider were now being broadcasted on the screen. "Oh come now, it's over for you! Let go!" The Nobody tried his best to swerve side to side at an attempt to have the rider release his grip, but it simply wasn't going to happen. It was pretty much life or death. Not literally, but letting go meant he was out of the competition. Yves flew beside his partner and laughed aloud at the spectacle. "Bugs can be quite clingy, ay old sport?" Landon scolded the competitor, out of irritation he lifted his leg and drove his foot into the riders face. In unison the audience let out an "Oooooooooooo!" As his foot made contact and the rider finally released his grip on the key and fell towards elimination. Landon began to brush himself off as if his clothing had become dirty. [quote=Announcer Goomba]Oh my! What a dirty move! It seems one of the keys has changed hands ladies and gentleman! Keep an eye out for this scholarly pair, with power hungry moves like that they just might win it this year![/quote] Toby frowned at the sight of Landon obtaining a key. He had been watching the scuffle on the screen as he soared through the sky. He couldn't help but mimic the motions of a [url=http://i.imgur.com/V0tFq5w.jpg]superhero[/url] he admired long ago. He wasn't really planning on progressing to the next leg, he was more so determined to take out Landon and Yves as soon as possible, them having a key would only make things more difficult. The boy slowed down and eventually came to a stop. Floating in midair he pondered how and where he could procure a key of his own. [center][img=http://i.imgur.com/tRE3r6B.jpg][/center] [i]"yoohoo!"[/i] The boy's eyes grew wide at the familiar voice. He turned to see Namine approaching him on her hoverboard, eventually she came to a halt. The boy was reminded how much he missed his own board. "Oh geez, it's you." He said sarcastically. "What's that supposed to mean, huh?" She placed her hands on her hips and bent forward as she spoke with an attitude, which was when she realized Toby was wearing jet shoes. It wasn't a surprise, considering Yves shot his hoverboard to the point of no return. Even so she hadn't anticipated he would obtain another means of transportation. "Where'd you get those shoes?" Toby crossed his arms and glared at the girl. "What's it to you, jealous or somethin?" He recalled what Riley had said earlier and couldn't help repeat it. "Hoverboards are so yesterday," Namine scoffed, "Gosh, you're kinda rude. And here I was, about to offer you my assistance," Toby's eyebrows perked and he un-crossed his arms, "Assistance?" he asked curiously, "Why do you want to assist me? That's kinda weird," "Dummy! I don't know if you noticed, but a bunch of people around here are teaming up with eachother. And, well, it was interesting how you fought me for that item box. That was the first time someone tried to steal it back after I swiped it from under their nose. You seem useful, even though you got yourself shot. I don't know about you, but [i]I[/i] want to win this thing, so you're gonna be my partner." Toby couldn't help but smirk, he admired the girls attitude. It reminded him of his troublesome friends. Not to mention the fact that two is always better than one, especially since he wanted to take on Landon and Yves " Fine, but only because you're kinda cool. Just so you know, i'm trying to eliminate those two british speakin dudes. I want some payback since they pretty much trashed my awesome hoverboard. I was planning to take it home and hang it up in my room...or...hover it in my room. Or uh-nevermind" "Didn't those two just get a key?" The girl asked "Yeah," Toby started to scratch his head and scrunched his face, "They're kinda good at this stuff, but i'm gonna kick their butts anyways." Namine slightly chuckled at the statement. "Well, either way we're gonna need a key. Got any idea where we can find one?" Once again Toby scrunched up his face, "Er, no. But, maybe my friends do! Let's go find em!" Before Namine could say anything Toby turned around and sped off and backtracked in search of his friends. "Wha? hey! Wait up!"