The Singing Competition: A Tooniverse Story

Chapter 18: The Battle for Boys

As the competition was finishing up, Darla spotted Hades walking up to her. "Whiskers and Three Eyes are missing again! Where are they?!" Darla yelled at Hades. Suddenly Hades saw Eris in the crowd. Darla noticed this and grew a sneaky. "Say Hades, why don't you sing?" Darla said. But before Hades could say anything, Darla pushed him onstage. "Thank you to our previous singers! Now I would like to take a moment and introduce to you, the one and only Hades!" Darla said as the spotlight shone on Hades. Hades gulped. "Break a leg," Darla winked at Hades as she went offstage. There were crickets in the air. A piano started playing and Hades sang:

And now, the end is near
And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I'll say it clear
And state my case, of which I'm certain
I've lived a life that's full
I have traveled each and every highway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way
Regrets, I've had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption
I planned each charted course, each careful step along the by way
And more, much more than this
I did it my way
Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way
I've loved, laughed and cried
I've had my fill, my share of losing
And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing
To think I did all that
And may I say, not in a shy way
Oh, no, oh, no, not me, I did it my way
For what is a mouse, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught
To say the things he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows and did it my way

There was a pause and then applause as Hades bowed. "That was great! Thank you Hades! Now without further ado, me and Alfonso will bring on the finale!" Darla said as she and Alberto went onstage. As they were about to sing, backstage Amber and Tom told everyone what was going on. Just then, Ercole showed up with Max. "You're all done for! Soon Darla will win and there's nothing you can do!" Ercole said as he grabbed Luca and Giulia. "Hey! Let them go!" Sofia and Jake said. But Max took the group of friends and threw them into the janitors closet except Giulia, Luca, Amber, and Tom. "You two are coming with me! Soon you two and your sea monster friend will be no more!" Ercole laughed evilly. "Not if I can help it!" Giulia said as she kicked Ercole in the crotch. Luca and her ran but were grabbed by Max. They were also thrown in the closet by Max. Giulia tried to bust the door open but it wouldn't budge. Meanwhile Darla and Alberto were up as the finale. They sang:
Alberto:
Mmm, yeah
I got a lot of things
I have to do
All these distractions
Our future's coming soon
We're being pulled
Darla and Alberto:
A hundred different directions
But whatever happens
I know I've got you
Alberto:
You're on my mind
You're in my heart
It doesn't matter where we are
We'll be alright
Darla and Alberto:
Even if we're miles apart
All I wanna do
Is be with you, be with you
There's nothing we can't do
I just wanna be with you, only you
No matter where life takes us
Nothing can break us apart
You know it's true
I just wanna be with you
Oh yeah
Just be with you
Oh yeah, yeah
Darla:
You know how life can be
It changes over night
It's sunny then raining
But it's alright
A friend like you
Always make it easy
I know that you get me
Every time
Alberto and Darla:
Through every up
Through every down
You know I'll always be around
Through anything you can count on me
All I wanna do
Is be with you, be with you
There's nothing we can't do
I just wanna be with you, only you
No matter where life takes us
Nothing can't break us apart
You know it's true
I just wanna be with you
I just wanna be with you
Everyone cheered as Darla kissed Alberto's cheek as she brought him behind the curtains. "Wait here while I do a special grand finale!" Darla booped Alberto's nose as she returned to the stage. As Alberto was standing there still in a trance, Amber saw him. Tom nodded for her to go to him. "Alberto? It's Amber, your girlfriend!" Amber told him but Alberto couldn't hear her. "You and Alberto stay hidden while Hades and I rescue your friends," Tom said as Amber understood. Tom ran to find Hades as Amber and Alberto hid from Darla. Amber heard Darla start to sing as Hades and Tom rescued their friends.

"This is useless! We'll never get out of here," Santiago said. Just then, some  lava came through the keyhole as the door melted and the door fell down. "Hades!" Madddy and Zeke yelled. "He's good now guys! He changed," Tom said. "Hurry! We don't have much time!" Tom said. But it was too late. The boys were under Darla's love trance. The girls started to worry as their boyfriends tried to attack them. Tom and Hades blocked the girls and tried to fend off the boys. "You guys find Amber and Alberto! We'll catch up!" Tom hollered as the girls nodded. The group of girls heard Darla singing:

I will be adored
Tell me that you love me
I won't be ignored
It's time for my reward
Now you need me
Come and get me
Nothing can stop me now

The girls heard Amber scream. "She's this way!" Sofia shouted. They found Amber as Alberto was about to punch her. "Chernabella! Use your wind powers!" Cecilia said. "On it!" Bella said as she used her wind powers as Alberto flew backwards. Amber ran to Sofia. "Uh guys, look!" Maddy said. The girls looked out at the crowd and saw Darla with the crowd of male toons under her control. She grew really powerful. The female toons in the crowd were really worried and concerned about their husbands, boyfriends, and friends. Darla noticed the group of girls as Bella guarded them with her wings. "Darla! Stop this insanity! This isn't right!" Sofia called out. Darla grew angry as pink lasers shot from her eyes and Bella blocked them. Darla laughed evilly. "What can you do?! I have the power to love now!!!" Darla roared. "You can't gain love! You have to earn it!" Maddy cried out to Darla. "Who cares?! I got all the power I ever wanted!" Darla cried out. Eris told all the female toons to evacuate but Darla locked them in. "Boys!!! Attack your lovers!!!" Darla ordered. Chaos continued to ensue as Bella and Darla battled it out. Amber tried to get Alberto's attention but it still wasn't working. Amber saw Ercole approach her and Alberto. "Now the sea monster will be be mine to hang on my wall!!!" Ercole hollered as he was about to cast Darla's harpoon. Then Tom knocked Ercole out cold with Zeke's skateboard. "Tom!" Amber said as she gave him a hug. They both looked out from behind the curtain as the battle kept continuing. Maddy was protecting the crowd of females from Darla's wrath while Bella battled Darla. "Darla's too powerful to stop!" Tom said. Amber got an idea. "No, she's not!" Amber ran to the front of the stage. She saw Bella and told the others to stay with the crowd and fight off the controlled men and boys. Amber told Bella to stop as Amber walked up to the stage. "Amber! What are you doing?!" Bella cried out.