"Roomies 3: Digital Frontier," written by Freedom Fighter Almost home... just two to go! Disclaimer: I do not own any of the anime series, characters, or locations represented in this fanfic. I also do not own any of the reality show elements presented as well. = = = = = = = = = = Tenchi: (VO) 16 contestants from 12 anime shows. 42 days living by themselves in the wild Digital World. But only one will walk away with a grand prize of one million dollars. (Begin theme song, showing each of the contestants one at a time for 1.5 seconds each) - Tally, working with partner Riley as they boot up the Juggernaut program - Yugi, putting together the Millennium Puzzle - Amy M., studying for high school entrance exams with her friends - Rally, driving her Shelby GT down the highway at more than 120 mph - Yusuke, facing off against the three-eyed demon Hiei - James, being swindled by the Magikarp seller - Takuya, diving out of the way of a truck that spins to avoid hitting him - Keith, observing a duel between Yugi and Kaiba atop Pegasus's castle - Rini, chatting with her own Moon kingdom kitty, Diana - Amy R., freeing her idol Sonic from a cage upon the Death Egg - Jet, piloting the Bebop as Spike looks on from the side - Nabiki, standing in front of the Anything-Goes Martial Arts dojo - Trunks, practicing how to fuse with Goten - Trowa, slipping on his circus costume - Whitney, ordering Milty to roll down and back up a hill - Haruka, showing the dilapidated Hinata Summer House to the Hina crew (Show scenes of Keith walking to Salt Lake City, Haruka in a giant Bowser suit, Takuya sitting in a square, and Amy M. carrying a tent building kit.) Tenchi: (VO) Some of them will become the best of friends. Others will develop grudges against those they hate. But only one will walk away with up to a million dollars or more in cash and prizes. (A log cabin appears in the background.) Tenchi: (VO) These men and women are... Roomies! (End theme song, with a picture of all 16 contestants standing with Flame Terminal behind them in the background.) = = = = = = = = = = Episode 17 - Time to Play Dress-Up (06.10.03) Day Thirty-Four Morning has come, and once again most of the Roomies are slow to rise and slow to work, especially when it comes to keeping the cabin clean. Luckily, Haruka's around to keep everyone busy. Haruka: Yusuke and Yugi, let's get that trash collected off of the floor! James, stop watching TV and come help Rini fix breakfast! Keith and Trunks, clean the bathroom! Keith: Come on! Why do we have to work? Couldn't we just do it tomorrow? Haruka: Nope. You'll start attracting bugs if you leave things in a mess. Yugi: Think of it this way, Bandit Keith... at least when we're done, you won't have to worry about stepping in someone's leftovers... or worse. Haruka: You have to admit... without me, nothing would get done around here. Yusuke: Trust me, Haruka. We'd prefer it that way! Keith: Hey... wait a minute! You're not the boss of me! I don't have to do what you tell me to do! Haruka: Okay... but do you really want everyone here thinking your too lazy and that you didn't do anything deserving of winning the grand prize? Keith: Better that than being a backstabber several times over! Keith walks out of the cabin, leaving the others to pick up the slack. Haruka: (CC) Keith should realize that people will forgive me for what Jet, Tally, and I did. He should also know that people won't forgive him for all the terrible things he's done here. ====== Meanwhile, over at the campsite, things were much more calmer. Everyone was pitching in without having being told to do. The most important work was being done by Trowa, who was cleaning up small piles of Digi-sludge, which resembled pink blobs of shaving cream. Amy M.: (CC) We had some unexpected visitors last night. It seems they left behind some souvenirs for us. It's not the type of gift I'd appreciate, though. Trowa: Are you sure that these things are dangerous? Tally: I don't know about dangerous, but we still need to get rid of it. That's Digimon waste. It'll start smelling funky after awhile. Rally: I'm surprised this hasn't happened until now. You think the Digimon are getting tired of us? Tally: I wouldn't be surprised if they are. That is, unless these are from Digimon that were just passing through. Takuya: (as his shoes emit a squishy sound) Eeewww... Trowa, I think you missed one. Trowa: Where? Takuya: I just stepped in it. Rally: Just be glad you didn't mistake it for hair gel and put it in your hair. Takuya: Now, who would be stupid enough to do that? Just outside the camp boundaries, the same crate that was used by Whitney to wash Miltank and Trunks after the incident with the Raremon weeks ago was in use again. This time, Whitney's giving Amy Rose a bath. Amy R.: I don't see why I have to take a bath. Couldn't I have just washed my hair? Whitney: You also put it on your quills! Amy R.: (sighs) How was I supposed to know what that was? Whitney: Didin't your mom ever tell you not to pick things off the ground and put them in your hair? Geese... kids these days. ====== Later on in the day, there seems to be some discussion amongst alliance members as they decide what to do. Keith, Yusuke, and Trunks had all managed to finally get away from doing work so they could have a little chat. Yusuke: Okay, so far, so good. We're in great position to take this game! Trunks: Finally! It feels like we've been waiting forever! Yusuke: I know. But we're getting down to the final few days, and we need to start making moves in order to solidify our positions in the finals. Keith: So, what's first? Yusuke: First, get rid of Nabiki, Keith! We don't want her! Keith: Why not? She's our pawn in negotiations! Yusuke: She's your pawn, not ours! Second, get rid of Rally! Keith: What do you have against her? Or are you just limiting the alliance to male members? Yusuke: I don't trust her, okay? And no, the alliance isn't limited to just guys. I could have one of the girls in here if I wanted. Keith: So why don't you have one? Yusuke: If I choose to have one, I'll invite her in! Trunks: Besides... girls are icky. Yusuke: And thirdly, I'm the leader of this team, so I make the decisions! In addition, we make them as a team! I have the final say, but I won't go through with it unless we all agree to! Keith: What are you yapping about now? Yusuke: I never agreed to eliminating the Adult Alliance that way! Keith: You were going to anyway. What's wrong with the way I did it? Yusuke: That's just it... you did it! You only told us your plan the day it all went down! We didn't even get to vote on it! Keith: So? I know what I'm doing! That was a brilliant move, admit it! We wouldn't be in the position we're in now without me! Yusuke: I could care less! You're leading us down a path that's going to get us all screwed! I will not stand by and watch you run this alliance into the ground like you did with the Adult Alliance! Keith: If you want to win, you'll let me do whatever I want! Yusuke: Well, do it with someone else! It's all for one and one for all until the finals, or nothing at all! Keith: Fine. If that's the way you feel, I leave you two be. But trust me... you're making the same mistake Jet and those girls made. You'll regret dropping me! Yusuke: Don't be making threats you can't back up. Besides, you know that given the chance, Trunks and I can beat the snot out of you. Trunks: Yeah! So don't threaten us! We're the ones in charge! Keith scoffs as he walks up. Once he's out of sight, Yusuke and Trunks high five each other. Yusuke: Did you see the look on his face? We really pulled one over on him! Trunks: This is fun! We finally got rid of him! But... what do we do about Nabiki and Rally? Yusuke: Nabiki doesn't even register as a threat. As for Rally, well, I'm sure her mind's on other things. And if she wants to work with us, that's fine with me. Otherwise, we don't approach her. If she's allied with Keith, there's the chance she could try to get revenge on us for him. Trunks: Then that's it? We're in the finals? Yusuke: Not yet. We still have to persuade a few people to vote for us. We're going to have to swallow our pride, but this is nearly a million dollars we're talking about here! Trunks: Okay! So, what do we do first? Yusuke: Go back to the cabin and finish cleaning up the joint. Trunks: (as Yusuke starts heading back) Um... that's not exactly what I had in mind. ====== While one alliance at the cabin shrinks by one, an alliance at the campsite is getting back together after breaking up just the other day. Tally: I swear on my life, Takuya! This time it's just you and me, no strings attached! Takuya: I still don't know if I can trust you, Tally! Tally: Just give me another chance! We can work out a new plan! Takuya: Haven't you forgotten that we still have the Digimon challenge coming up? We haven't had it yet, and remember, we're opposing captains for it! Tally: That's just one instance... we can each try to win it to help our standing. But other than that, we have to help each other! The way I see it, only the strongest bonds will hold at the Final Four vote next week! Takuya: Our bond isn't strong. It's not even weak! We don't have one at all! Tally: We have a week! That's plenty of time to repair the damage that I did! Look... I'm truly sorry for everything that happened in the Adult Alliance. But believe me... no matter what, I was going to honor our partnership and vote you in! Takuya: What good will that do now? That's just one vote out of fifteen! Tally: We can get more! We just have to show everyone that we're worthy of a shot at the money! Takuya: How do we do that? Tally: We've got to start playing the other side of the card here! We need to concentrate on the remaining challenges and get through them with great results. Our performance and grit should be enough to pull us through. Takuya: And what's if it's not? Tally: Gee, I thought you were the leader of the fourth season Digidestined! Aren't you supposed to be the guy that's always optimistic about things? Takuya: Yeah... when I have confidence that it'll work out! Tally: Takuya... give me until Tuesday. If by then we don't have a good chance of making it, you're free to go off and work with someone else. But I swear... I'll do whatever it takes to get us both in! Takuya: Alright. But my fate's lying in your hands. You'd better not let me down! The two Digimon representatives shake on their deal. They're back in business. ====== Day Thirty-Five The Roomies at the campsite get a pleasant, albeit unexpected, surprise when they awaken from their slumber. Amy M.: (holding a gift) This was by the water tank this morning. It's for you, Amy. Amy R.: (pointing at herself) Me? Are you sure it's not for you? Amy M.: There's a photo on top of it. That is Sonic in it, right? Amy Rose glances at the photo. Indeed, Sonic is in it. The other Knothole Village Freedom Fighters are there too... Sally, Tails, Bunnie, Rotor, and Antoine. Whitney: What are you waiting for? Open it so we can see what they got you! Tally: Yeah, girl! I bet it's a great present! Amy proceeds to rip the wrapping off. What's left after all of that's gone is a small, wooden box. Stranger still is the fact that the box has started glowing. Takuya: (shielding his eyes) What's with the bright light? Amy finds the latch that opens the box. Once open, she dances around in glee as she sees that the present is a power ring. Trowa: What's that? Nabiki: Is it worth anything? Amy R.: It's a power ring! Sonic uses these to travel really, really fast! It helps a lot when he has to get us away from Robotnik! Amy M.: Can you use it? Amy R.: (shakes her head) No. Sonic's the only one who can use them that way. But a power ring can be used for other things. For example, it's a great temporary power source. Takuya: (reaching into the box) Hey, there's a note here under the ring! Takuya grabs the power ring with his left hand and the note with his right. He hands them to Amy, who immediately starts to read the letter aloud. Amy R.: We heard from Tails that you needed a little perking up, so we sent you this power ring. Hopefully, it'll last long enough so that you can enjoy it for a day or two. Anyway, consider this our gift to you! We wish you the best of luck, and we hope that you come home with the big prize! Better yet, we just hope you come home, stronger than you left! From your friends, Sonic, Sally, Tails, Rotor, Bunnie, and Antoine! Amy M.: You must be glad to have friends like them. They care so much about you! Takuya: I wish my friends cared that much about me! Amy R.: (hugs the power ring) I'm going to hold this ring until it melts away! Rally: You've got to be the luckiest girl in the world! Amy R.: I must be, huh? (smiles) I'm just so happy! This really made my day! Amy R.: (CC) This definitely IS the best thing that could ever happen to me! I promise that I won't let any of you down! Especially Sonic! I'm winning this for you! ****** Night Thirty-Five It's a peaceful night in front of the campfire. Only two people are still up this late: Rally and Tally. Everyone else had already turned into the night, but since the duo wasn't sleepy at all, they decided to have a peaceful chat around the fire. Tally: We've only got a week left here. Thank goodness! Rally: I agree. I miss home already. Tally: You miss your partner, huh? Rally: Well, yeah... but I was more worried about the gun shop and my car. Tally: They mean that much to you? Rally: It's practically my life. Tally: At least yours sounds remotely normal. I'd tussel with hitmen and drug dealers anyday over trying to figure out how to stop a digital blob that absorbs everything in sight. Rally: Maybe you should drop by my place in Chicago sometime. I'd make you an honorary Gunsmith Cat for a day! Tally: Okay, I'll think about it. Of course, I'll leave all of the gunslinging to you. The two women share a hearty laugh. Tally: I'd invite you to sneak a peek at my job... but after what happened with Riley a few days ago, I might not have one when I get back. Rally: I'm sure your boss'll realize you were just joking around. Besides, I wouldn't mind taking a tour of Tokyo with you. Tally: It's agreed! I'll have my people call your people. Rally: (raising an eyebrow) You have people? Tally: (winks) You know what I mean. Rally and Tally continue to talk for a little while longer before turning in for the night. ====== Day Thirty-Six It's the beginning of the sixth and final week of the game, and as usual on Mondays, a new batch of supplies are waiting for the Roomies when they wake up. We head to the campsite, where Trowa and Tally are about to go through the crates and see if they have anything new. Tally: Do you have the crowbar, Trowa? Trowa: (holding it up) Right here. Let's see what we have this time around. Using the crowbar to break open one of the crates, the lid flies off and they take a peek inside. This happens to be the crate with several gallon jugs of fresh water to put into their tank. But there's something extra in it... a stack of softcover notebooks, each filled with a packet of some sort. They are all tied together, and a note can be seen on the front of the binder on top. Trowa: Here's something new... Trowa reaches in and pulls the stack of notebooks out. He kneels down and puts it on the floor. As he reaches for the note, Tally comes over to untie the stack. Tally: So, what's it say? Trowa: It says here that it's for our next challenge. Tally: I'd better go wake everyone up then. ====== A few minutes later, everyone in the campsite is up and standing by the crates. Tally finally manages to untie the rope binding the notebooks as Trowa reads the note out loud. Trowa: Here's your chance to pick out your dream boy or girl. Take one of the notebooks, the guys get the blue ones and the gals get the pink ones, and study it. Each person must pick one dream date by five o'clock today. Make a list of everyone's choices and then have one person bring the list to the Challenge Field at five. Note that the challenge is tomorrow, so that we have ample time to prepare for it. Good luck matching up! Nabiki: Really? That's what it said? Trowa: Wait... there's one more part. It says here at the bottom that you are not allowed to pick anyone from your own series. Amy R.: (snaps her fingers) So much for picking Sonic. Whitney: (sweatdrops) This ought to be a boatload of fun. ====== Over at the cabin, the group there is having some similar reactions. Yusuke: You mean we can pick any girl we want to go on a date with, as long as she's not from our own show? That's great! Keith: (rubbing his chin) Hmmmm... I wonder whom I should pick. Haruka: (right behind him) Think about dating me and you're on chore duty the rest of the week. Keith: (laughs) Of course not, Haruka! I wouldn't endanger our friendship like that! Jet: What friendship? We've hated you since day one! Rini picks up one of the pink notebooks and flips through it. Rini: Come on... it's just for fun! It's not like they're asking us to marry our dream date. Yugi: But Rini, aren't you too young to get married? Rini: Yugi... I didn't mean it like that! Trunks: (sighs) Let's just get this over with, okay? This is so lame... ====== Tally: So, since you can't date Sonic, who are you going to go after? Amy R.: (shrugs her shoulders) I don't know. As long as he's as cute as a button and my age, then I'm fine with it. Nabiki: That's pretty much half the men in the book. You've got to be more specific than that! Whitney: Leave her be, Nabiki! She's never ever thought of adoring anyone but Sonic, so going out with someone else is pretty hard for her. Tally: As opposed to you, who has the choice of any guy she wants. Whitney: I'd trade that type of popularity for anything. It's hard to do your job when you've got hundreds of guys' peepers all over you. Amy R.: Ooh, how about this one? Seven years old, a fighter, and he has spiky golden hair. He looks absolutely dreamy! Nabiki: (reading the name of the selection) Goten? Hmmm... he still looks like he's in his diapers! Tally: (glancing at Amy M.) Amy... you've been awfully quiet. Amy M.: Oh... sorry about that. I'm just studying a few of the choices, that's all. Whitney: Studying? Men aren't like books, Amy. They refuse to divulge their secrets, flaws, and other stuff that they're embarassed about. Amy M.: I have to study. Besides, I want to make sure that I choose the right guy for me. Tally: Amy? It's just a game... we're not getting mail-order husbands here. The five of them continue going through the books, though they seem to have trouble committing to one choice each. ====== While it seems women like to debate amongst themselves, the guys, especially those at the cabin, are more prone to make their own decisions. Yugi: (in one corner) This girl looks cute. And she's got a nice personality too. But she can't cook and she's got a temper. Ah, here's another one. Cute, nice personality, and she can't cook and has a temper. (sweatdrops) All of the monster anime girls are the same. Jet: (sitting in the kitchen) Don't they have any women my age? I'm not exactly comfortable with dating someone half as old as I am! Wait, here's one... oh wait, she's too old. Yusuke: (out on the porch) Why couldn't they make this simpler? Or better yet, allow us to pick more than one? There's so many girls here to choose from! Okay... let's see... redheads tend to be bossy and yell a lot, so cross them out. Crap, I just cut out most of the hot looking girls out already! Damn it! James: (in a tree) Ooh, I love this girl's outfit! She's got great fashion sense! Maybe she could give me some great fashion tips! ====== Five o'clock comes, and two people head to the Challenge Field to deliver the list of names and dream dates to Tenchi. The two lucky people turn out to be Rally and Yugi. Tenchi waits for them with a small shoe box in hand. Tenchi: Good afternoon, Rally, Yugi. Rally: Okay, what's the deal? Something's up, right? Yugi: I have that same nagging feeling. Tenchi: Well, you would be right. But first things first... please slip the list into the slot here on top of the shoe box. Rally and Yugi fold their lists up and do so quickly. Once that's done, Tenchi reaches into his pocket and pulls out two pieces of paper, each folded in half and taped shut. Tenchi: Take this back to your respective areas and share the information on the paper with the rest of the group. Do not open this before you get back. Yugi: That's it? Tenchi: That's it, Yugi. I'll see you and everyone else bright and early tomorrow morning. The two shrug their shoulders, then head off back towards the cabin/campsite. ====== Yugi gets back first, as he sees Yusuke waiting on the porch. Yusuke: So, what's the news? Yugi: (holds up a piece of paper) Right here. Everyone has to come out to here this. Yusuke: (yelling in through the window) Hey! Get your butts out here! Little Yugi's got an announcement to make! The group slowly files out and sees Yugi standing just off the porch, with a piece of paper in hand. James: What's that? Yugi: These are the instructions detailing tomorrow's challenge. Keith: Well then, open it already! Yugi does so quickly and nearly doubles over in shock. Rini: Wha... what's wrong? Yusuke: Yeah, spit it out! Yugi: Well... it says here that tomorrow we'll be competing in a cosplay challenge. It'll give us the chance to be within our dream dates. Yusuke: How about putting it in terms that we can all understand? Keith: What he means is that we're all going to end up dressing up as the person we listed as our dream date! (gets angry) What? Yusuke: You're kidding! I'm not going to dress up as a girl! Jet: Who's crazy idea was this anyway? Trunks: (looking down) As if things couldn't get any worse... Yugi: (CC) Needless to say... we were all surprised at that. The guys are all freaking out, distraught that come tomorrow, they'll be dressed up as women. ****** Meanwhile, Rally was breaking the news to those at the campsite. Their reactions were somewhat similar... Tally: We have to dress up as guys? That's a new one. Whitney: (shakes her head) Why didn't you tell me that before? I should've picked a guy with a more comfortable outfit! Nabiki: Yours is nothing compared to one I'm going to end up wearing! Takuya: My mom's definitely not going to approve of this! Rally: Oh, will you all put a sock in it? It's not going to be that bad. Nabiki: (to Whitney) Five percent says it will be. Whitney: Deal... hey, stop trying to swindle people! ====== Day Thirty-Seven Early morning... the sun's not even up yet, but someone in the cabin is already up and about. Haruka yawns as she gathers a change of clothes and her toiletrie bag and heads for the restroom. Haruka: (CC) We have to be at the Trailmon station at 7:30, so I had to get up at 5:30 to make sure we all got there on time and that there was enough time for me to cook breakfast. Fast forward to 7:00, as most of the group in the cabin is sitting down and eating breakfast, while Takuya, the last person to wake up, was banging on the bathroom door. Takuya: Hurry up, Rini! You've been in there four minutes already! That's way too long for just a shower! Jet: Poor fool. Doesn't he know that it takes women three times as long to shower than men? Yusuke: How'd you figure that? Jet: I live with one, that's why! And usually three times longer is on a good day! ====== Both crews make their way to the Trailmon station, where they will be taken to the place where the challenge is going to take place. The ride is pretty much uneventful, as everyone wonders what they've just gotten themselves into. Their Trailmon stops in a barren wasteland right in the middle of nowhere. The group disembarks one at a time and makes their way down a marked path to a trailer park about half a mile's walk away. It's actually a very large trailer park, as there seemed to be numerous trailers all over the place. Not too far away is a makeshift stage. Off to one side is a grouping of four folding chairs, each with a small notepad on it. A table was placed in front of the chairs so that whomever sat there had a place to write on. But all the focus was on Tenchi, who was waiting in the middle of the park. Tenchi: Morning, everyone! Ready for today's challenge? Yusuke: Just be lucky that we can't walk over there and kill you. Tenchi: I'm not the one who comes up with the ideas for the challenges! Honest! Rally: (rolls her eyes) Let's just get this over with. Tenchi: You see the stage behind me? Well, in a few hours, you'll have to strut your stuff for a panel of four judges. You'll be dressed in the garb of your 'dream date,' as you all determined yourselves yesterday. We've got a ton of hairstylists and costumers to help you look the part. Takuya: You mean you're serious about the dressing up part? Tenchi: Of course! In addition, you have to do more than just look like your 'dream date.' You'll have to learn how to act as if you were that character. To help you out, each of you will be watching DVDs of your selected character. Later on today, you'll be judged on both of those factors on stage. The top male and top female impersonators win this challenge's prize. Amy R.: And that is? Tenchi: (takes out a photograph from his pocket) A 2003 Honda Civic, complete with spoiler and body kit. A sweet little car that costs quite a chunk of change... $21,000, to be exact. Two of you will win one for yourselves today. Rally: That's it? You couldn't come up with a better car than that? Yusuke: What are you talking about? That car looks real fast... and I'm willing to do anything to win it! Tenchi: Very well then... you'll now be split into pairs of two and be sent off to different trailers to get into character. ====== We peek in at some of the Roomies getting ready. We first check in on Yugi and Takuya, who are getting one heck of a hair job. Hairstylist A: Well, if we're going to dress you up like this girl, we need to wash your hair and undo all of that hair gel so that I can fix it! Yugi: My hair's going to be so messed up! I'm going to be the laughing stock of my school! Takuya: At least in the end you'll have a neutral hairstyle. My outfit involves getting my hair tied up into ponytails! Hairstylist B: (picks off Takuya's goggles) You won't be needing these... Takuya: Hey! My goggles! Yugi: I wish there was some way out of this. Then again... I want to win this car for grandpa so he doesn't have to walk to just go out somewhere. ====== Over to a different trailer, where Nabiki and Whitney are already in the process of getting their hair done. Nabiki: I've never envisioned myself as a black-haired person. It's too dull, if you ask me. Whitney: I agree. How are people comfortable with it? (to her hairstylist) The dye's not permanent, is it? Hairstylist C: It'll last for 24 hours. By this time tomorrow morning, you'll be back to your normal hair color. Hairstylist D: No worries... we're professionals! We know what we're doing! Nabiki: As long as I don't start looking like Pippi Longstocking, I'm fine with that! ====== To the dressing rooms, as we see Jet and Yusuke checking out costumes. Well, Jet anyway... Yusuke's hiding in the dressing room, embarrassed to come out and show what his costume looks like. Jet: Oh, don't be a baby! It can't be that bad! Yusuke: (from behind a dressing room door) I'm not coming out in this get-up! Jet: Who did you pick anyway? Dresser A: You wouldn't believe it if I told you. Jet: Try me. The dresser whispers who Yusuke is cosplaying as. Jet doesn't seem to react... and for good reason. Jet: Who the heck is that? Dresser B: How would he know anyway? The guy's, like, 60 years old. Jet: I'm only in my mid-40s, thank you very much! Yusuke: You know, forget the car! It's not worth it! Jet: (shakes his head) Alright... I'm sure the rest of us will be glad there's one less person to compete against. Yusuke: Yeah, you'd all want that! Okay, I'm back in! Jet: Then you'd better come out so that your wardrobe chooser can see you. Yusuke: I'll come out when I'm good and ready... and when you're gone! ====== The stage is set, and a small crowd of assorted Digimon is gathered. Sure, most of them may not know who the Roomies cast is or why they should care, but they don't mind watching in hopes of getting some laughs. There are four humans observing the crowd of Digimon; they are serving as the judges of the competition. They will be introduced momentarily, once the host comes out to start the show. Backstage, the Roomies are slowly being brought together. It is here that they are seeing everyone in costume... and are trying to figure out who is whom. We start with Amy Rose [dressed as Goten Sonn (Dragonball Z)] and Rini [as Manta Oyamada (Shaman King)], who are watching someone come up to the stage. Amy R.: (laughing) Who's she supposed to be anyway? Rini: I think she's a doctor of some sort. Or maybe a professor. Enter the person they are glancing at... it turns out to be Haruka, dressed as Professor Elm (Pokémon), complete with brown hair and lab coat, as well as a Pokéball in hand and a pair of glasses on her face. Haruka: (unenthusiastic) Greetings, beginning Pokémon trainers! Trowa: (trying to keep from snickering) You've gotta see this! Several people are gathering around Trowa [as Melfina (Outlaw Star)], including Tally [as Quatre Raberba Winner (Gundam Wing)], Trunks [as Ryoko (Tenchi Muyo)], and Amy Mizuno [as Ken Ichijouji (Digimon Adventure)]. Tally: Is Nabiki wearing an armored suit? Sure looks like it to me. Trunks: How is dressing up like some rich guy count as a costume? Amy M.: I think they look great... just like everyone should! Enter Yugi [as Rockna Hiragi (Mon Colle Knights)], Nabiki [as Shinji Ikari (Evangelion)], and Whitney [as Roger Smith (Big O)]. Yugi: Couldn't I have been someone easy, like Akane? Nabiki: I doubt my sister would like having a guy dress like her. Tally: You going to be okay walking around in that suit, Nabiki? Nabiki: I made it all the way here, didn't I? (sighs) The only bad thing about it is that it itches all over and I can't scratch myself! Whitney: It can't compare to how much I'm itching in this tuxedo! The rest of the guys enter, and they're all embarassed by their outfits. Jet enters first [as Rain Mikamura (Mobile Fighter G-Gundam)], Takuya [as Princess Sasami (Tenchi Muyo)], Keith [as Nami Asagi (Digimon Tamers)], Yusuke [as Motoko Aoyama (Love Hina)], and James [as Sakura Kinomoto (Cardcaptor Sakura)]. Okay, so maybe James isn't as embarrassed as the others... Jet: (sweatdrops) I've never been more embarrassed in my entire life. Keith: I was never fit to be a teacher! Liked staring at them though... Takuya: Other than being dressed like a girl, at least I don't look as bad as the other guys. James: Ooh... I love the cool breeze that blows underneath my skirt! Yusuke: (holding a finger up to his head) Botan, don't bring me back this time! Trunks: (pulling Yusuke's finger down) Hey, you've got to go through this like the rest of us! Only one person is missing, and that happens to be Rally. Nobody knows where she is, even the person that she was paired up with... Amy Mizuno. Amy M.: She was still getting her hair done. Hers involved a whole lot of fixing it up. Takuya: So... who did she end up being anyway? Rally enters, and to the shock of some, she's dressed as Vash the Stampede (Trigun), complete with the red coat and the blonde needle-pointed hair. Rally: Why do I have to wear a coat? It's like 85 degrees out here! Trunks: Deal with it... all of our costumes aren't exactly comfortable to wear. You think I like wearing this pink and green dress? Tenchi appears backstage to see if all of the Roomies are ready. Tenchi: Hello everyone... whoa! Okay, some of you don't look right. Keith: That's the understatement of the year! Yusuke: (clenching his fist in anger) When I find out the person who suggested this stupid challenge... Tenchi: The show will start in a few minutes. You'll be going out from shortest to tallest and in male-female pairs. Remember, you need to prove to the judges that you can not only look like, but also act like the character you're portraying. James: (holding a baton) I'm used to being in disguises, and this one's no different. I'll do anything to prove I'm the best magical girl in the world! I am the Cardcaptor! Takuya: Oh yeah? Well, you're not the only magical girl around here! Watch me transform into Pretty Sammy! Rini: (about to cover her eyes) Hey... some of us are too young to see a guy in the buff! Tally: (stopping Takuya) You two are taking this way too seriously. Amy R.: (tugging at Haruka's pant leg) Professor, how come when girls transform, they have to do it without any clothes on? I don't have to take my clothes off to change into a Super Saiyan. Yusuke: (holding up a wooden sword) Will you all knock it off before I secret arts you guys to kingdom come? Tenchi: Can you guys at least save all of the impersonations for the judges? Nabiki: (now struggling to move) I can't walk in this suit! How did those girls do it again? Tenchi quickly walks off before things could get any weirder. With Tenchi gone, the group now has a few final minutes to practice their routines as they begin to line up in the order Tenchi told them. Yusuke: (CC) If anybody at home laughs, including you, Kuwabara, I'm gonna punch your lights out when I get back! Rally: (CC) I'm portraying the $$60 billion man, but the only thing I'm worth is that car that I can see myself driving through the streets of Chicago in! Even if it is just a Civic... Takuya: (CC) Okay... the pressure's mounting. I've got to pull of a great performance! Playing a little girl can't be too hard, right? ========================= End Episode Seventeen ========================= Tenchi: (VO) Coming up on the double-length season finale of Roomies... Yugi: This is it! This is for all the marbles! Tenchi: (VO) Two challenges left! Who will win the cosplay challenge? Yusuke: (raising his sword over his head) Secret Arts Wind Technique Splitting Sword! Rini: (freaking out) What? How can you do that? You can actually talk to ghosts? Tenchi: (VO) How will the judges react? Whitney: (CC) Hey! I followed his personality to the letter! He should've scored me higher! Jet: That's got to be the worst performance ever! Tenchi: (VO) The big battle has arrived... which Digimon will reign supreme? Takuya: It's all you, Gatomon! Tally: You can beat 'em, Guilmon! Tenchi: (VO) The final money tally is announced... will it sway the vote? Haruka: Don't you think that the four that earned the most money should be the ones who should be given a chance to win it? Tenchi: (VO) It's decision time. Who will be this season's winner? Rally: Whatever happens... we just promise to still be friends afterwards, alright? Tenchi: (VO) Find out next week, on the finale of Roomies 3: Digital Frontier. Trowa: It couldn't have ended a better way. ==================== Additional Author's Notes ==================== And so the end draws near... Just to note that in most cases, I assigned who each Roomie would dress up as by whomever I could come up with off the top of my head. There were a few that I did think of myself that I wanted them to be as. The hard part is making sure that the portrayal of said characters is somewhat accurate. We'll see if I can pull that out next week. Next week, it's Episode 18, Uncut Session 4, and the Reunion Special, all in one sitting! Season Three finally comes to a close this coming Tuesday!