Chapter One: Owen's Will: A Somber Return, Part I
The camera pans over a small boat speeding through crystal clear water on a beautiful day. Chris McLean is leaning on the railings toward the front of the boat, his black hair whipping as the wind hits his face. Chef Hatchet is steering the ship, grumbling to himself on the verge of another season of Total Drama. The boat comes to a quick halt, stopping immediately next to the Dock of Shame.
"Chris McLean here." Chris said to the camera, looking straight into the eyes of the viewers. His usual smile is clearly absent from his face. "As all Total Drama fans know, Owen, the lovable winner of Total Drama Island, sadly passed away at a young age merely a few months ago. His death the cause of his issues with obesity and diabetes." Chris lowers his head in respect.
Chef Hatchet lowers his head as well, pulling a bundle of tissues out of his pocket. He blows his nose into one and wipes his eyes. "He was so young. He- He had a whole life ahead of him!" Chris pats Chef's shoulder. "When you looked at his chubby face, he had the rosiest, biggest cheeks!" Chef mumbled, blowing his nose into another tissue.
"I know, I know, I'm so sorry Chef." Chris said softly, comforting his co-host. "I remember he was the only one that could handle your food." The camera then follows Chris as he walks down the dock. "In Owen's will, we discovered that one of Owen's last wishes was for all people that have EVER competed in a Total Drama season to return to where it all began and compete again, having fun and honoring his memory. The winner of the season will walk away with the winner's crown and an undisclosed portion of Owen's original winnings from Total Drama Island."
Upon hearing this, Chef's jaw drops in amazement. "ALL previous Total Drama players? There has to be almost forty other players, at least!"
"Well, not ALL the previous players could make it, Chef." Chris said with his hands on his hips. "But I think we'll be fine with those that could make it, after all, this is for their late friend Owen."
"Oh, right, this is for the fat boy... THEN WHO DARES NOT SHOW UP FOR THIS?" Chef shouted angrily. He takes out his knife, gripping it tighter than he ever has.
"Now, now, Chef." Chris responded calmly. "Some of them have good reasons for not being able to make it to Owen's memorial season. Let's go meet who could! They're waiting by the campfire pit." The camera follows Chris and Chef Hatchet as they meet up with the players.
"Excuse me, Chris?" Courtney said politely, sitting on a stump. "I'd like to request a postponement."
"A postponement? Right." Chris remarked, scowling. "Under what conditions?"
"Under the conditions that... this is WAY too soon!" Courtney responded with a frown on her face. "The average grieving period in humans is twenty-four to thirty-six months not three and a half!"
"Objection!" Chris retorted, crossing his arms. "You know, I wish I could go five minutes without hearing a legal term out of you, Courtney." Courtney looks to the side with her hands on her legs.
"What is she doing here?" Heather hissed, her eyes shooting daggers toward Blaineley.
"Who? Me?" Blaineley inquired, her hand waving as she spoke. "Heather! This season is for ALL parties that have EVER competed in a season of Total Drama. Which includes yours truly."
"Believe me, as much as I really hate to admit it, she's right." Chris chimed. "Owen's will clearly states anyone that's ever competed. Ever."
"This season is to honor Owen's legacy, Heather!" Blaineley pointed out. "It's not about you or I, it's about Owen and having fun and enjoying the beautiful life, together!"
"Together is fine." Heather interjected harshly. "Together plus MILDRED is where I cross the line."
"As you can see, there are only twenty-four of you here." Chris announced. "I'd like to take a few minutes to update the viewers at home why some of their favorites are not present this season."
"They BETTER have good reasons!" Chef exclaimed before sobbing again.
"Bridgette and Geoff will be returning to their hosting duties as the hosts of the Total Drama Aftermath this season!" Chris explained.
"I know Sierra is helping them out with interviews, right?" Cody piped from his seat.
"Indeed, in addition to that, Sierra is also managing LIVE feeds of the game as it's happening online." Chris continued. "Including writing extensive cast bios for all of you." The cast shudders upon hearing this. "I heard your rough draft is longer than everyone else's final drafts put together, Cody." Chris laughed, holding his stomach.
"Anne Maria has her own show!" Mike blurted. "But, I can't remember the name of it."
"Me either." Zoey added. "Isn't it about living on the Jersey shore?"
"It's not her show." Blaineley scoffed. "She's just one of the cast members. Trust me, I've written articles covering it."
"Right, and Beth is M.I.A." Chris said, sneering. "Has ANYONE seen or heard from Beth?"
Lindsay shrugged her shoulders. "I haven't talked to Beth since she won Total Drama Action and we got arrested in Paris. I think she's with Brady, but who knows."
"Hey, uh, blondie?" Duncan interrupted. "I won Total Drama Action. Remember?"
"Nuh-uh! I swear I saw Beth win Total Drama Action." Lindsay objected.
"In what alternate world?" Duncan retorted, rolling his eyes.
"Lightning has a budding career as a professional football player, PLUS his own reality show with his girlfriend, Thunder." Chris snorted, smiling.
"Lightning and Thunder! I've been covering them too!" Blaineley proclaimed. "He's thinking about buying her an engagement ring, for the win! And Eva has a job on The Biggest Schmoozer as a fitness trainer! She has her own workout DVDs and she insists she's too good for Total Drama."
"I can attest to all that." Chris nodded. "Who else skipped out?"
"I spoke to B before flying out here." Cameron muttered. "Well, I didn't actually hold a conversation with him, because he doesn't ever talk back to you... But he said he couldn't make it. Er, well he didn't SAY he couldn't. He gestured that he couldn't."
"That sounds like B." Dawn giggled.
"Ezekiel's missing, Staci's too busy with her new job of being a 'professional inventor'..." Chris revealed, stroking his chin. "Dakota's too busy enjoying her success in Japan with her monster movie gig. Sam's there too."
"Ohmigosh!" Katie smiled, turning to Sadie who was sitting next to her. "Do you remember when we watched her in The Sky Scraper: Beast of Tokyo?"
"That was like, SO scary!" Sadie squeaked. "I almost wet my pants."
"Sadie, you did wet your pants..." Katie frowned. "Remember, you had to borrow my mom's jeans for the ride home because your shorts shrunk in our washer?"
"THANKS, KATIE!" Sadie glared, throwing her hands up. "WE'RE ON NATIONAL TV RIGHT NOW AND YOU JUST TOTALLY THREW ME UNDER THE BUS!"
"Sadie, I- I didn't mean it!" Katie bumbled. "I'm sorry!"
"Ladies!" Chris snapped. "Are you done?" Katie and Sadie quickly nodded. Chef Hatchet dragged out a small TV, sticking a VHS tape into it. "And finally, we have DJ, who couldn't make it due to his volunteer work in Africa. He did have enough time to put together a quick video though."
The tape started playing, showing DJ in front of the camera. "Hey, y'all. Sorry I can't make it, I really wanted to be there, but Momma's making me stay here at my volunteer job at a company's base in Africa. I've been taking care of the sick and endangered animals here." A volunteer walks by carrying a baby lion, causing DJ to freak out and talk faster. "It's re-assuringknowing I'm helping such a good cause- AH!" He shrieks and cringes as a tiger walks by. "I'm really heartbroken to hear about Owen and I give all y'all my blessings, sorry, but I gotta run!" The camera zooms in on DJ's mouth as an animal growls in the background. "Help me." DJ whispered desperately as the tape cuts out.
Everyone gasps after the tape ends. Chef quickly pushes away the TV. "On a lighter note." Chris stammered. "Everyone else is here! Alejandro, Blaineley, Brick-"
"Reporting for duty, sir!" Brick salutes standing up from his stump.
"Sadie, at least you don't wet your pants on a daily basis." Jo taunted, her arms folded staring at Brick.
"Now, that is not true! Nope, not at all." Brick maintained. "It is a monthly basis, at best. Wait." Jo grinned, chuckling to herself.
"Cameron, Cody, Courtney, Dawn-" Chris continued. Courtney waves to the camera as Dawn sits in a meditation position. "Duncan, Gwen, Harold, Heather-" Harold performs a karate chop. "Izzy, Jo, Justin-" Justin flexes his chest and arms. "Katie, Leshawna, Lindsay, Mike, Noah-" Noah doesn't smile or move at all. "Sadie, Scott, Trent, Tyler and Zoey!"
"Good group of people." Trent smirked.
"Unless anyone else wants to heartlessly back out at the last minute and be hated by the whole world... this is our official cast of twenty-four and this season is on!" Chris winks to the camera. "Since this season is dedicated to the first ever winner of a Total Drama season, the winner will walk away with Owen's crown." Chef carries out a small pillow with a crown on top of it. "The crown is also the namesake of this season, Total Drama – Destiny of the Crown!"
"Ooh, flashy." Noah jokes with a smirk. "Did you think of that all by yourself?"
"Yes, yes, I did." Chris responds, not breaking his perfect smile. "Don't you just love it?" Noah doesn't respond, just boringly stares back at Chris.
"I think it's EPIC!" Tyler jumps out of his stump seat, sniffing the air. "It captures the - the - EXCITEMENT and DRAMA and WONDER. WHO will walk away wearing the crown? I'm feelin' it!"
"Exactly." Chris agreed, laughing to himself.
"Destiny is such a cute word AND name!" Lindsay giggled, clapping. "In first grade our class hamster's name was Destiny. On our last day before summer vacation she escaped and got run over by a minivan."
"Gripping." Noah smirked, laughing uncontrollably. "Let's hope this season's destiny doesn't end like that hamster's."
"Really? I would LOVE it if Chris gave away a car!" Lindsay bubbled, "But a sports car! Not a minivan! Yuck." Noah squinted at Lindsay after hearing her response.
"First things first, we'll need to decide the teams!" Chris held out his hand as an intern gives him a hat. "If I draw your name out of this hat you'll be one of the team choosers." Chris then drew a slip out of the hat. "Oops, someone left a blank in here." He spoke, casually tossing the paper slip onto the ground. Scott attentively eyed the piece of paper as it fell. "Let's try this again." Chris smiled, reaching in and drawing another slip. "Gwen!"
"What? I'm a captain?" Gwen grumbled. "Fine." She stood up, rolling her eyes.
"I never said you were captain!" Chris corrected. "You'll just start the team choosing." Gwen stood to Chris's left, folding her arms and hunching over. "Our other team chooser..." Chris murmured, pulling out another name from the hat. "Duncan!"
"Oh no!" Gwen blurted. "That means we aren't on the same team! Wait, hasn't this happened to me once before?" Trent rubbed his neck shyly from his seat.
"It's cool, babe." Duncan walked, stopping next to Chris. "We'll still see each other all the time."
"That's true." Gwen answered, thinking about their position. If they were on different teams, they could relay information to each other. "Oh, alright. I'll stay where I am." Gwen winked at Duncan.
"Now that that's out of the way..." Chris said, chucking the hat off-screen. "Gwen, you'll be picking a boy. After she chooses, Duncan will pick a girl. The boy that Gwen chose will then choose a girl and the girl Duncan picked will choose a boy. We'll alternate like that until no one is left."
"A boy? I guess I'll choose Mike?" Gwen said cautiously, gesturing a shrug with her hands. "I don't really know him much, but he looks like a normal guy." Scott rolls out of his seat laughing. Gwen frowns.
"Duncan, your choice." Chris declared.
"A girl, huh? I pick Harold." Duncan smirked.
"Very funny, Duncan." Harold said, crossing his arms. He puts his finger up matter-of-factly. "I'll have you know that I am ALL man."
Duncan squints in disgust. "I'll take your word for it, Doris. Let's see." Duncan moves his finger across all of the girls yet to be picked. He pauses with his finger pointing toward Courtney. She nervously looks off to the side.
"Duncan! Pick me!" Blaineley swiftly blurted. "I'm a fighter. You won't regret it!"
"I don't know..." Duncan responded, awkwardly looking away.
"I'll tell everyone why you went to juvie." Blaineley smugly grinned with her eyes closed. She opens one of them to catch Duncan's reaction.
"Okay, okay! I pick Mildred." Duncan growled, pouting. He then gives her a high-five. "Anyone who can threaten that good will be great for my team."
"Perfect!" Blaineley bragged, with one hand on her side. "I already know this team is going to be a powerhouse! Yeah!"
"I have to pick Zoey!" Mike confessed with a big smile stretching across his face. Zoey rushes to Mike and hugs him before hugging Gwen too.
"My choice is Alejandro." Blaineley purrs. "That hunky bod! His perfect hair! That smile! And a fiery demeanor! My hands are tied! What other choice do I have?" Alejandro joins his teammates. "I don't know his middle name but I'd bet my life it's 'danger'!"
"You're too kind." Alejandro said, kissing Blaineley's hand. "But I am not as dangerous as people think. I am delicate like a flower." Heather squints jealously.
"You picked that over this?" Justin protested, taking his shirt off and flexing. Blaineley rolls her eyes.
"I am the QUEEN of hip!" Blaineley declared, pointing at Justin. "You've been old news for over two years!"
"Then you need to think about switching newspapers." Justin retorted, flashing his perky smile.
"If it's my turn, I'll choose Harold!" Zoey said cheerfully.
"Zoey!" Cameron complained from his seat.
"Oh, sorry Cameron! I forgot you were here." Zoey explained.
"I'll pick the lovely Lindsay." Alejandro announced. Heather's mouth dropped in response, but she didn't say anything to argue his choice.
"Yay!" Lindsay squealed, running over to her teammates giving each of them a hug.
"I choose Leshawna!" Harold smiled as Leshawna hugged him tightly. "Ouch."
"Thank you, hun." Leshawna said happily, letting him go. Harold fell to the grass, grasping for breath. "With Leshawna on this team, y'all don't stand a chance."
"Oh, yeah." Gwen agreed teasingly, giving Leshawna a hug.
"TYLER!" Lindsay shrieked, jumping joyously. Tyler ran to her, spinning Lindsay around.
"I'M ON A TEAM WITH LINDSAY AND SHE KNOWS WHO I AM!" Tyler shouted, pumping his fist.
"I'mma choose Brick." Leshawna stated lusciously. "We need some more muscle over here and he seems loyal to the GRAVE, y'all!" Brick marches to join the rest of his team.
"Yes, ma'am! Thank you ma'am. I'll do anything for the sake of the platoon." Brick proudly exclaimed.
"Sorry to break it you, Leshawna." Jo interjected. "But if it's 'muscle' you're looking for, you would have been better off picking Cody."
"Er, thanks?" Cody awkwardly replied.
"And what's with the pants-wetter getting chosen before me?" Jo shouted brashly.
"I'll pick you Jo!" Tyler proclaimed with Lindsay around his arm.
"Oh! I - well, I thought Brick would-" Jo started to say.
"Welcome to the family, Jo!" Tyler called out encouragingly. "You seem like a firecracker! I'm getting good vibes, man. Get over here!" Jo slowly joined her team, acting happy.
"Pick a girl now?" Brick asked, looking over the girls that are left.
"Choose me Brick!" Courtney ordered, taking advantage of the opportunity. "I always give one hundred and ten percent!"
"Uh, that's good enough for me! I'll take Courtney." Brick asserted, shaking Courtney's hand.
"You're the only one." Duncan interrupted, making his team laugh. Courtney shot Duncan a menacing glare before greeting the rest of her team.
"Trent," Jo said after carefully analyzing the rest of the boys left. Trent joined his teammates.
"I'm gonna choose... Scott." Courtney smirked. Scott slyly picked up the paper slip Chris had dropped on the ground earlier as he joined his new team.
"Dawn seems really cool, I'll pick her!" Trent said with a grin as Dawn walked to her team. A pretty white butterfly followed her and flew around her as she did.
"Alright, since no one else is gonna do it," Scott started to say, "I'll pick Heather." Heather's eyes widened, realizing she wasn't on Alejandro's team.
"Ugh, fine!" Heather pouted, coldly not greeting the rest of her team as she stood by them.
"Cody!" Dawn said brightly. "Your aura looks really nervous, so I'll choose you." Cody quickly ran over to his teammates giving Dawn a hug.
"Justin, Noah, Cameron..." Heather scoffed. "SERIOUSLY?"
"Just make your choice, Heather." Chris ordered, annoyed.
"Noah." Heather decided. Noah seemed genuinely shocked hearing he hadn't been chosen last.
"Katie, Sadie and Izzy, huh?" Cody pondered.
"Izzy, girl, you've been awfully quiet." Leshawna frowned. "You alright?" Izzy's frown quickly turned into a smile.
"Yeah! I'm awesome!" Izzy beamed. Leshawna comfortingly smiled back to her.
"I'll take Izzy, then." Cody proudly declared.
"Holla!" Izzy shouted, doing a backflip and landing in front of her team. "I'm excited to get this party started! Right, guys?"
"Oh no! Sadie!" Katie said sadly. "This means we're gonna be on different teams just like the first time!" Sadie didn't acknowledge what Katie said, crossing her arms and looking away. "Sadie?"
"I'm FINE being on different teams!" Sadie countered jaggedly. "Maybe it's, like, our destiny? Remember the first time, Katie? Izzy did us a favor and switched teams! Not this time." Katie's face dropped in response, grabbing Sadie's hand.
Noah took enjoyment out of hearing Sadie stand up for herself. He looked over Katie and Sadie. "Wow, look at my options... I'll take Sadie." Sadie stood up, sharply pulling her hand away from Katie.
"SADIE!" Katie shouted dramatically as Sadie delightfully joined the other team.
"Justin!" Izzy shouted, pulling her eyelid.
"Finally!" Justin cried, elated. He gracefully walked and stood next to his teammates.
"Which means Cameron is automatically on Gwen's team and Katie is with Duncan." Chris concluded. "This ends the team choosing!" Chef handed Chris two team flags.
"Last? Really, guys?" Cameron asked dismally. Katie sorrowfully stood next to her teammates as Dawn comforted her.
"Our first team: Gwen, Mike, Zoey, Harold, Leshawna, Brick, Courtney, Scott, Heather, Noah, Sadie and Cameron!" Chris announced. "Gwen, in honor of your original team the Screaming Gophers, I dub thee..." He tossed the light green team flag to Zoey. Zoey catches and unrolls the flag. "THE SCREAMING BEAVERS!" The flag depicts a beaver flexing its arms with its tail lifted up and its teeth bared.
"Owen loved his country." Gwen pointed out. "I'll gladly take it. Aside from Owen, I did make it the furthest on that team!"
"The second team: Duncan, Blaineley, Alejandro, Lindsay, Tyler, Jo, Trent, Dawn, Cody, Izzy, Justin and Katie!" Chris said, tossing Izzy their red team flag. Izzy unrolls the flag. "Duncan, in honor of YOUR original team, you will be called... THE KILLER HAWKS!" The flag had a red hawk emblazoned on the front, its beak open angrily, wings spread and its talons stretched.
"Killer." Duncan smiled. "Hey, babe... I outlasted my whole team too you know. You're in for a rude awakening."
"It's on!" Gwen taunted.
"OH YEAH! I'M A HAWK!" Izzy screamed, looking down and admiring her team's flag.
"Congratulations, everyone, you just established teams!" Chris remarked.
"Tch! What's the catch, Chris?" Heather sneered, tapping her foot. "We all know there is one."
"Yeah, you been too quiet." Leshawna concurred. "What's your plan?"
"Well... Since you ASKED..." Chris chuckled with Chef joining him. "Twenty-four campers doesn't really sit well with me. It's a good number... but twenty-two just sounds better, doesn't it?"
"I'm not eliminated for getting picked last, am I?" Katie sniffed.
"Not necessarily..." Chris continued. "But each team will be attending a campfire ceremony... TONIGHT! Beavers first, Hawks second."
"So, there's no challenge?" Trent inquired.
"The 'challenge' is to rely on your social skills this evening and not get embarrassingly voted out first." Chris explained. "Now, I'm gonna give you the whole afternoon to move into your cabins and to make sure YOU'RE not the one getting the boot from your team tonight! Good luck."
The campers groaned, picking up their luggage and walking to the cabins. With everyone not paying attention, Scott pulled the paper slip out of his pocket, unrolling it. A wicked smile emerged on his face as he read the name on the slip of paper.
Courtney.