Total Drama: Harold's Hunt for Redemption
11 Years After Total Drama Started
My name is Harold. I'm not going to tell my full name since it's not only embarrasing, but depressing as well. Why did even my middle/nick/last names make me depressed?
I came up with the thought once again as I was selling hip-hop albums from my store that had hundreds of them on shelf from 70s to modern day. The customer thank me and I waved him good-bye as I grew into a sulking mood that I'd constantly attempted to avoid many times, but to no avail.
I picked up my personal album next to the cash register and stared at it for a full minute
It read: "Drama Life" by the Total Drama Brothers
"I remembered when this was a mega hit about seven years ago. I never knew or predicted that me and my former buddies would become bigger stars than ever because of this one and only album." I thought to myself and then sighed in depression again shortly afterwards.
Just then after putting down my album, a pretty blonde college girl came up to my desk. I knew this because I'd seen her around during my senior year and she was just a freshman. She looked at my name tag.
"Hi, Mr. McGrady. Do you know where I can find an album named 'Straight Outta Compton'? It's by the NWA." She asked me in a calm, yet serious voice.
"Yes, I know where it is so just follow me." I simply replied as she followed my trail to the 1980s hits.
"I know easily where this album is because those guys reminded me of the Total Drama Brothers and their rise to downfall." I wanted to say, but didn't due to a big risk of revealing my past.
While I was glimpsing through each row, the girl started talking, but mostly asking me questions and trying to somewhat learn more about me on a general level. I simply answered every question that she gave me while looking for the album in avoidance of making anybody upset anymore. I'll be honest, she was pretty annoying, yet nice, so I brushed off her blabbering characteristic.
Annoying. That's what many people at home called me after Total Drama ended. I was apparently portayed as the annoying, weird, ugly, loser nerd that made me disliked more than Ezekiel! I couldn't believe it, the producers and Chris Mclean, gosh did he pissed me off beyond boiling point, ruined my life. Not only did he, of course, try to murder me and the other campers, but I think there's a conspiracy that he spread rumors about me to the other campers that caused my reputation to be destroyed worse than before joining Total Drama.
As I finally had found the album, my mind kept on thinking about Total Drama and how I'd became a laughing stock after the humiliation I went through especially on Total Drama Island since the bullying was even worst than Action! I lasted longer on TDA than TDI, yet suffered more during the latter's filming. My mind went back to the present day as she asked something that caught my attention.
"Hey, you look kind of familiar. I think I've seen you before, on like a TV show or something?" The girl asked.
"I don't think you ever saw me on TV ever." I quickly responded. Holy biscuits did she make my heart skip a beat, in a bad way.
"Oh yeah! I actually have seen you on TV! You were on that show… what was it called again? Hmmm? Oh yeah, Total Drama Island, now weren't you?!" The girl said as my heart kept beating faster before she continued. "What was your name, oh yeah, Harold! Weren't you picked on by someone that stripped you naked in front of girls on National TV? You were also that annoying nerd most people hated right?" She asked inquistively.
"Absolutely not. I'm not Harold; I'm Henry, his older twin brother!" I replied as she looked at me believing what I'd just said. "Yes! This story can easily fool away people! Well done for BS thinking, I deserve a badge for that! Also, thanks Lindsay for those name butcherings; it actually came into good use." I thought.
"Oh, okay then. I'm sorry for the misunderstanding. You two look so much alike. Do you, by any chance know where Harold is so I can get his autograph?" She asked.
"Man, I'm surprised she never saw me around in college. I should tell her it's me, but a missed autograph is better than being exposed." I thought.
"Not really, we haven't kept in touch that much anymore ever since he started college." I said, lying my way out and giving her the album she wanted.
"Aww, oh well. Anyways, thanks for the help!" She said before giving me 10 dollars in cash directly and walking out, waving good-bye.
"That was very close!" I muttered. My mind then returned to the past again as thoughts of eating underwear, wearing a thong, and being stripped naked in front of literally everyone actually made me grit my teeth and clutch my fist in anger.
"Duncan." I mutter to myself again.
I hated him with a burning passion as he was the main culprit for my humiliation from TDI to TDA. Even worse, people actually chose to support him against me, even after I had suffered enough. He also, after looking online at the elimination table for each season, outlasted me all three times! That definitely pissed me off to the point that I'd hated him more than Chris and that's saying something! He became more popular than me and had overall, a better life except for when he got arrested in All Stars. Man, did I enjoy every moment of it! The worst and final straw was when after me and Leshawna broke up upon entering college, she decided to hook up with him! I thought she hated him for picking on me, but apparently not since I got lied to by her.
My mind returned to the present again as I was ready to close for today. It was time for me to head home though I wasn't exhausted since my job was simply to locate hip-hop albums for people, but definitely boring, yet still a good decent amount of money in my opinion.
BEEP BEEP! Just then, I got a message on my phone. It was from the only Total Drama person I was still in touch with today, Cody.
Cody: "Hey Harold! Just wanted to let you know that there's gonna be a video game night, just the two of us! It's tomorrow and I was wondering if you can make it?
"I'm so in man! See you tomorrow definitely!" I texted him back. I mean, even as a 27 year old, my love for video games along with other activities such as: Kung-fu, reading comic books, political debates, learning about conspiracy theories, and playing my keyboard hasn't changed in almost forever!
Even after the Drama Brothers disbanded, Cody still remained by my side as we easily share a lot of similarities and interests. Plus, he was one of the few people that never bullied or humiliated me during my Total Drama fame days.
Did I regret going on Total Drama? Yes and no. Yes, because my life became dog poop after the show ended. In fact, my family doesn't choose to recognize me as one of them anymore because of my portrayal and actions. I hit my kiwis, peed my pants, got defeated by ninjas, burned the oars, wore a thong, wore hot sauce underwear, ate undies sandwich, got stripped naked, pulled a move that I regretted eventually, got hurt emotionally by Leshawna, annoyed everyone, almost died, and made a fool of myself thanks to Alejandro. These were only the major examples that happened to me. Anways, I also didn't regret it since I'd also gained fans that loved my mad skillz and talents that others don't see and/or appreciate.
The moment I went back to high school after TDI and TDA ended, almost every student made fun of me. Even the nerds that were less popular than me destroyed my ego. I couldn't find any excuses for every humiliation I went through so I'd taken it harshly, yet well.
I assumed it would end after high school, but it didn't and only continued. Although bullying went down by college, people instead felt pity for me which was worse than getting bullied. I couldn't tell who was feeling sorry for me or who was actually trying to be my friend. After finally graduating from college, my life went back to normal as I opened my own hip-hop album store.
How depressed was I? I wasn't to the point of committing suicide since I knew better, but it was tough for me to endure the torture for 6 years. That's why I always grow depressed and closed from even hearing my last name since I got picked on for having Doris in there. That's why I refuse to ever talk about Total Drama with anybody and consistently lie my way out of it like I did with that girl earlier.
I finally got into my car after locking the store and took 10 minutes to reach home. I went inside and changed into my pajamas before relaxing on a couch, all by myself.
"One would think that being on one of, if not, THE most popular show in Canada's history at one point would make people like you more than before, but apparently I'm mostly wrong to the point of living by myself. I resisted going on dates since they would find out about my past and mock/leave me for it." I thought.
I decided to take a nap, but it was difficult. It was probably just too early for me, so I decided to watch some TV and get my mind away from Total Drama.
I flipped on the TV. What appeared in front of me, actually frightened me in horror.
It was Chris Mclean and the Pakitew Island contestants! Gosh, did Chris ever get more sadistic after being in jail. I actually felt bad for them since they actually had to survive in the wild without any proper food unless if you win a challenge. Hell, I would even take Chef's cooking over the stuff they have to find.
I quickly turned off the TV, escaping that nightmare past. They were still doing re-runs of every season, years after the show ended. Thinking about the people on my seasons actually drew in typical stereotypes that I'd hope it wouldn't happen.
The nerds and skinny weaklings were picked on, bad boys gets the girls and same with good-lucking people, and the jocks were really dumb, yet athletic enough to get a girl. There were definitely a lot of weird and insane people like Izzy and Owen to a degree.
I changed the channel and it showed a romantic flick about inter-racial marriage between a white man and black woman.
"It reminds me of Leshawna and I…" I muttered. Idiot! I did it again!
I kept flipping through channels, but on each of them was something that, in some way, shape, or form, reminded me of Total Drama.
This obviously wasn't helping so I decided to use my computer and maybe watch some samurai fights or something. I forgot that the background image was all 22 of us posing for the camera on the Dock of Shame. I quickly turned it off in frustration.
Not all of the experiences that I had on Total Drama, specifically, Island since that was the season I'd suffered the most of all 3 seasons I competed on, were bad. For example, I won the dodgeball and Talent Contest when people doubted me. However, most of the experiences I went through on that show were pretty horrible.
I wished there was a way to go back in time and fix my repuation. There must be a way to redo everything at the start and not end up who I am today. It had been eleven years since I got eliminated, tortured, and humiliated.
I wish people would forget about my actions and portrayal on the show. I want another chance to redeem my reputation! I wanted to become a cool nerd, rather than a pathetic one. I don't know who I was talking to since being home alone made me do things that should be unmentionable.
Harold, please shut up and take your damn nap you dweeb!
"Shut up idiot brain." I muttered, before drifting off to sleep…
A/N: Hey everyone, that's the end of Harold's Hunt for Redemption Chapter 0/Prologue! After being inspired by Noah and Cody's Redemption stories, I decided to join in with Harold's POV! Why Harold? I felt like he deserved better for what he'd been through and some of the things in canon like Duncan outlasting him all 3 times pissed me off. There will be some things remaining canon, others being new in an AU, but the writing style would be in a behind-the-scenes version instead of an episode like Fangren's. Sorry for this long author's note and I'll see you next chapter! Peace out everyone!