S2E1 - Let's Hop Right Into This!

## Let's Hop Right Into This!

**Let's Hop Right Into This!** is the first episode of the second season of Video Game All-Stars. A new cast of twelve is ready to compete, with new hosts managing the show, ready to give their first challenge, which would determine the teams.

## Plot

The episode opens with the twelve contestants gathering at the new location, when their attention is drawn to a TV, showing their new hosts, Pearl and Marina of popular Inkopolis group Off the Hook. They direct them to their first challenge, which would be a race through several platforming sequences to decide the teams for the season. King Dedede tries to call out Pearl for forgetting the challenge, while Mario hopes the team deciding method would be different, adding that he wasn't on the best team in the previous season. Everyone seems to be excited to start, except for Big Smoke, worrying about his physique holding him back.

The first part of the race is World 1-1, where contestants would avoid Goombas. Kirby thinks they look harmless, but Mario corrects him. Dedede trips and throws a tantrum, and Mugman forgets to run, just standing at the starting line. Shadow gets a good lead, but is hit by a Koopa shell, taking him back to the start, where he shoves Mugman down for being in his way. With Shadow behind, Link and Wii Fit Trainer pull ahead. A star is available to the contestants, which Kirby tries to reach for, but Dedede takes it from him, running in the wrong direction. Monika takes the lead next, but Kirby passes her to reach the flagpole first. Most others reach it after, finding the next leg of the race is at Green Hill Zone, so they go there next.

Reaching Green Hill Zone, Shadow speeds ahead immediately, as the layout favours going fast. Daisy and Sven also pick up their pace, while Reimu has less luck, hitting a red spring that sends her flying. Badniks appear to make things more difficult, Link taking down a few with his sword, while Dedede finds the highest part of the course, asserting dominance from the top. Pearl puts more spikes across the course to make it more dangerous, but Marina balances this by adding shields, also helping Reimu get out of a wall that she was stuck in. Shadow nears the end, but as Monika, Sven and Daisy took a shortcut, they get in front of him. The other contestants still running make it, except for Dedede, still at the top of the stage. Marina helps him along to keep him moving, and he finishes as well, along with everyone else preparing for the third and final part of the race.

Marina leads them to the last part of the challenge, a street filled with pirates, which seems unfamiliar to everyone. Kirby tries speaking like a pirate, but is ignored, as everyone else tries to avoid them. Monika, Sven and Daisy get a head start as they were the first three out of Green Hill Zone. As enemies attack them, Monika successfully attempts to redirect them to her opponents, right as everyone else is allowed to start running. Shadow manages to catch up quickly, as they enter a part of Main Street that is on fire. Daisy is upset by Monika directing enemies at her, so she tries pushing her into the fire, but Monika is ready for her, avoiding it. Kirby tries floating above all of the chaos, eventually meeting a monkey with everyone else, who leads them to a ship, the source of all the attacking pirates. The monkey is revealed to be Shantae, who tells them they have to fight. Mario and Shadow see no problem with this, taking it down quickly.

With the pirates stopped, the contestants enter the final stretch of the challenge. Still floating ahead of everyone, Kirby finishes first, with Monika, Mario, Sven and Shadow following shortly behind. Daisy, Reimu and Wii Fit Trainer reach the goal next, then Big Smoke and Link arrive after a while. After a while, Dedede finally makes it, putting Mugman in last place. Marina reveals that while Kirby and Monika are the winners of the challenge, they wouldn't be picking teams, instead having them based on the challenge, odd numbers being one team and even numbers being the other. Dedede immediately tries to take charge of the team, which Kirby doesn't appreciate, while Daisy isn't happy to be with Monika. Shadow and Dedede both suggest several team names that the rest of the team doesn't agree with, while Wii Fit Trainer wants everyone with ideas to feel included, suggesting Team Rainbow All-Star Meals and a Pole, which is generally accepted. Mario suggests to call the team Triple Metal Icebergs, which is the most accepted so far, but Kirby wants more creativity, so Shadow suggests changing the third word. After a few attempts, Dedede chimes in with his own name, which Kirby and Mario decline, but as Shadow is getting tired of them, he sides with Dedede to try and overrule them. Kirby tries to object further, but Mario gives in, confirming them as the Triple Metal Dededes. With the team names decided, the hosts judge the Poles as the better name, giving them an advantage, then dismissing the contestants.

The contestants get familiar with the new location after the challenge, some checking out the trailers, and others just standing around. Wii Fit Trainer tells Dedede that he is out of shape, which offends him, so he tells her she doesn't have eyes. Monika talks to Link in the trailer, getting to know him better, as they're on the same team.