(A/N I actually started this fic in 2011 but already stopped after one chapter, now I'm actually going to finish it and update regularly. I rewrote the first chapter and replaced some of the characters so it would fit in the story better. This is basically a Total Drama version of the movie and book (based on the movie) Zoop In India so all rights belong to the creators and writers of that movie.)
It seemed like a normal day in Toronto Zoo. LeShawna and Harold were talking (and kissing) on a bench. Heather was checking her make-up and Trent and Gwen were walking around hand in hand. Without the rangers knowing, someone opened the goats' cage. The perpetrator quickly drove off in his car. One by one the goats left the loft. In less than 5 minutes the goats were spread around the entire area.
LeShawna and Harold were the first to see the goats, they warned the others who took their bikes and a little later all the rangers went across the entire zoo. They were now divided in two teams and each team searched in a part of the area. They raced through the mud, jumped over puddles of water and benches like acrobats. There was only one way that counted: the fastest.
The rangers climbed and scrambled through the zoo. Luckily, the animals felt so familiar with the rangers that they didn't struggle when the rangers took them back to their loft. They didn't need much time until all the animals were safe again being locked in their shelter. The rangers swept the sweat from their faces.
Behind them they heard someone clapping. When they looked around they saw someone stepping out of a car. It was Duncan. He opened the gates. He wanted to test how fast the rangers could get the goats back in their loft. Their mouths fell open but there was no sound. "Good work" he said "Nobody can catch animals as fast as you guys can!"
"Duncan, you're back!" Gwen yelled.
All the rangers ran up to him to give him a hug. Trent's stomach turned when he saw Gwen embrace Duncan. He was pretty happy to see Duncan again but also scared to lose Gwen to him again. When Duncan looked at him he simply waved. He tried his best to be nice.
"Tired of the bears?" he asked. "Well, that's been two years, I was in India last year" he said as he hugged Beth and Geoff. "I don't want to ruin the moment, but why did you test us on how fast we can catch animals?" he asked. "Come with me, I'll show you."
Duncan took the rangers with him through the zoo. The most of them followed him silently and a little nervous. What would the problem be? Harold started telling them all the random facts he knew about India. Heather finally had time to put on some mascara, now that she was finished with her lipgloss.
Duncan stopped at a picnic table. "I need you guys to get something in India" he said.
"India…" LeShawna mused. She figured herself in the Indian jungle, between wild animals.
But Duncan went on. "Friends of mine lost…something. And they asked me to bring it back"
He took a couple of pictures from his backpack and showed them to the rangers. "These are my friends, they live in a small village in the jungle." The rangers took a good look at the pictures. There were pictures of the jungle, the village, Duncan's friends and of course Duncan himself.
Beth grabbed a picture which showed Duncan and an Indian boy. "Who is that?" she asked.
"That's Bhadrak. He is the son of the headman and he's also a good friend of mine."
"There's still something I don't understand" Trent said "What do you have to bring back to them? And why can't they do that themselves?" "They can't do that because the harvest failed. They're impaired and they have to work extra hard to still make some money. And that's why I offered them to do it myself." He puts the pictures back in his backpack and continues walking. Trent still wasn't satisfied. "What did they lose?" Duncan smiled mysteriously. "Elephants!"
It was silent for a few seconds.
"Elephants?" Harold asked. "Yep, elephants" Duncan repeated. "Their elephants disappeared. Into the woods. Nobody understands how it happened. Do you guys want to help me to bring them back?"
LeShawna immediately hooked her arm in Duncan's. "Elephants playing hide and seek? That has to be easy!" she said. Harold was equally enthusiastic. "What a chance to see the Elephas Maximus in his natural habitat!" he yells "Of course I'm coming!"
"The Elephas who?" Heather asked. "And he lives in a habitat? What is that?"
"The Elephas Maximus is the Latin name for Asian elephant" Harold told her. "And 'habitat' means environment, literally it means 'he inhabits', but…"
Gwen wasn't really interested in Harold's facts about elephants. She was worried about Trent. He wasn't himself. He acted grumpy and hadn't been nice to Duncan at all. She silently walked up to him. "It's over between me and Duncan" she whispered in his ear "or don't you trust me?" "I do trust you" he whispered back. It was true, he did trust Gwen but he didn't trust Duncan.
Gwen took Trent's hand in hers. "We already wanted to go on a holiday together. And I think India is beautiful" Trent sighed. "Alright then!"
"Duncan! We're coming too!" Gwen called. Duncan kindly winked at Gwen.
"Wait" Heather said. "I do not know whether I have to go to such a primitive country. Do they have good hotels there? With a hairdryer in the bathroom?" She stepped aside.
"Good" Geoff said "Glad you're staying here, someone has to clean all the cages and lofts and scoop all of the poop"
Actually, they weren't planning on doing that but it worked.
"Okay, okay, okay, I'll sacrifice myself." She joined the group.
Duncan laughed satisfied. "Well, what are you guys waiting for? Go pack your bags. We're going to India!" "To India!" the rangers shouted.
"Am I vaccinated?" Harold worried. "There are so many nasty diseases there, like malaria, diarr-". LeShawna interrupted him "I must renew my passport ".
"I'll take my laptop" Geoff said "Time to make music! Jungle music of course."
Everyone walked towards the rangerhome. Only Beth was left behind. She had been quiet the whole time. She had been quiet because she knew she couldn't come with them.
LeShawna saw her. "What's wrong?" she asked. "I can't come with you guys. I have to go to Hamilton with my parents and sister."
"Oh, that sucks" LeShawna said. She put an arm around Beth to comfort her. Then she saw the other rangers enter the rangerhome. She ran after them but turned around one more time.
"But Hamilton is pretty nice too" LeShawna yelled.
Beth was left alone.