Hello there! This is where the teams settle in before the first day of the competition.

Team Crossover Racing

Chapter 2: Settling In

Inside the garage where the tournament cars are held, Coco Bandicoot is giving hers a tune-up for her team's first race. She wheels out from under her kart.

"Okay, that takes care of the hydraulics. And now to check the tires for problems." Coco said to herself. Before she could get started, she saw Mal of Team Descendant talking with Owlette and Krystal. She puts her tools down and goes over to them.

"Krystal, Owlette, Mal."

"Hiya, Coco." Owlette greeted the bandicoot.

"I heard you three talking. What was it about?" Coco asked.

"Oh, Mal was just talking about her friends from her school, Auradon Prep." Krystal replied.

"When she told us that she's Maleficent's daughter, it almost scared me out of my suit." Owlette claimed.

"I get that a lot from those who don't know much about me." Mal said.

"What about your teammates?" Krystal asked.

"Evie's having a little walk with Judy and my boyfriend Ben's probably with your brother Crash." Mal replied. "I invited Jay and Carlos to join my team, but Jay's too busy with studies and Carlos turned the invitation down."

"Bummer. Hey, when this is over, we should head to Auradon Prep, see what it's like." Coco suggested.

"Best idea I've heard all day." Owlette smiled.

"Well, I better get back to tuning up my kart." Coco waved goodbye.

"I better go, too. Falco promised I'd meet him and Fox at the track later for a practice race." Krystal said.

"And I need to get some parts for Catboy and Gekko's karts." Owlette added.

"Okay, I'll see you later." Mal said goodbye as Krystal and Owlette left.

Meanwhile, outside in a clear field, Team Black Dragon has gathered the members of the villainous teams, save Team New Era.

"Okay, why did ya call us out here, Kano?" Pinstripe asked.

"Have a listen." Kano said as he pressed the play button on his spy recorder. Then they hear Dodon Pa's voice.

"With this new competition, I'm sure to gain a lot of research for my project."

"What about this project of our host?" Oxide asked.

"Think for a moment, Oxide: With that mystery project in our hands, not only we'll we rule the tracks, we'll make billions once we sell it to the highest bidder." Kano explained to them.

"Assuming we actually win." Cortex scoffed.

"Oh, we will win, Cortex." Erron Black spoke up.

"And if we work together, our victory's guaranteed." Kano smirked. "Now, here's what we're going to do." He then whispered his plan, unaware that Gekko has been using his Super Gekko Camouflage to listen in on the plan without being detected. Having heard enough of the plan, Gekko slips back into the shrubbery, the rustling alerting Pinstripe.

"What is it, Pinstripe?" Cortex asked.

"I musta heard something. Oh well." Pinstripe shrugged.

Hours later, everyone is gathered in the mess hall for dinner. Gekko meets with his teammates Owlette and Catboy, along with Team Earthrealm. Gekko appears to be concerned about something. "Is something on your mind, young hero?" Raiden asked.

"Oh, uh, it's nothing." Gekko said.

Owlette noticed Gekko's behavior. "Gekko, you can tell us. What is it that's bugging you?"

"Well, I was having a stroll in the field not far from here when I heard some of the other teams conversing over something." Gekko admitted. "I think it has to do with our host."

"You heard some of the other teams talk about Dodon Pa?" Catboy asked.

"What is it they said?" Sub-Zero asked.

"Well, the one they called Kano mentioned something about a secret project Dodon Pa is working on." Gekko said. "I'll bet they were plotting to steal it once the races are over."

"This is troublesome. Kano has lived a life of thievery and deception." Raiden said.

"If their plan succeeds, there will be no more races. We need to tell everyone!" Owlette suggested.

"No, Owlette. If everyone knows of Kano's plan, everyone will panic." Catboy rebutted. "For now, we let the contest run its course."

"The young cat is correct. It is best the other competitors find out for themselves." Scorpion agreed.

Later that night, while everyone else is asleep, Coco is seen coming out of the restroom. "Whew! That's the last time I drink four bottles of Wumpa Juice before bed." On her way back to her room, she spots Mal gazing at a moonlit lake. "Mal!"

"Oh, Coco." Mal greeted.

"Why are you out here at this hour? The races start tomorrow morning, remember?" Coco asked.

"Yeah, I was just thinking." Mal said as she continued to stare at the stars.

"What is it about?" Coco asked.

Mal stared at the lake solemnly. "Uh, sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

"It's okay. I think I should tell you anyway." Mal said before breathing a deep sigh. "Remember what I said at the garage this morning? When I said my friend Carlos couldn't make it to the race?"

"Yeah, you told me." Coco nods.

"Well, here's the thing. Around three months ago, I got a call from my school, Auradon Prep." Mal explained. "They told me that Carlos stopped breathing. They said his epilepsy kicked in while he was asleep. The paramedics did all they could to save him, but it was already too late." She then began to shed a tear.

"You mean…?" Coco said in total shock.

"Yes. My friend Carlos, he…" Mal restrained herself from breaking down into tears. "He's dead."

Coco fell to her knees when she heard the news. "No way. Seriously?"

"Yeah. And yet, deep down, I'm glad he chose not to race." Mal admitted. "We'd be out of the competition if that happened here."

"Well, consider your first race a chance to honor his memory." Coco reassured as she stood up. "Sure he's gone now, but Carlos must be smiling down on you from the heavens."

Mal looked up at the sky and saw the stars forming Carlos' smiling face. She smiled when she saw his constellation. "Thanks, Coco. I shouldn't mope now. Not while there's a race to win. We may be on different teams, but that doesn't mean we can't be friends."

"I feel the same way, Mal." Coco said as she shook Mal's hand. "See you tomorrow."

"Good night, Coco." With that, Coco left to turn in for the night.

The next morning, the stands were already full race fans. Dodon Pa flies in on a hovering pedestal. "Greetings, one and all to the first annual Team Racing Invitational!" Dodon Pa's announcement caused an ear-splitting cheer to echo across the track. "Now here are the rules of the contest. The teams are split into eight groups of four teams, with each group of four teams racing around our specially-designed tracks. Points are added to your team's overall score based on your individual rank in the race. With twelfth place earning one point while first place earns an astonishing fifteen points! The team with the most points by the end of the final race will win an astonishing prize!"

"And that prize will soon be mine." Kano's thoughts ring in his head.

"So without further delay, let the Team Racing Invitational begin!" Dodon Pa announces as the countdown to start the first race began.

3…

The engines started up in unison.

2…

The revving of the engines filled the air.

1…

The racers focused on the road ahead awaited the signal. Mal, inside her kart, looks over to Ben and Evie. They nod to her with a smile.

"This race is for you, Carlos." Mal thought in her head, remembering her talk with Coco last night.

GO!

The karts accelerate in a rapid pace, beginning the start of the Invitational.

I know this chapter is a bit overdue, but it was worth the wait. And Cameron Boyce's passing in July inspired me for the heart-to-heart talk between Mal and Coco. Anyway, reviews are welcome. Excelsior!

RIP Cameron Boyce
May 1999 - July 2019