To The Toph

Lights! 'Several lights fall down from the rig' Camera! 'The camera falls off its tripod' Action! 'Someone gets his hand stuck in the clapper' Well that's a poor way to start a new story! Again!

As I said in The 5 Steps To Freedom (Still bearing its stupid title), here's a fic starring Topher! We follow his way full of pitfalls to the top of the Canadian entertainment world and whoever he has to work with to achieve it!

For those people who like couples, yes Topher will get a girl (Or a guy?), but I doubt he'll date her/him for the love. There's a clue in the aforementioned story on who it is! Check the final chapter!

This sounds really cheap saying this, but even if you don't like Topher, I urge you to read this story, as it sheds a light on a side of his that you're not familiar with!

If you like this story, keep in mind that I first want to get the next chapter of Total Drama Vengeance ready before I really begin working on the next chapter!

The story will balance between T and super T. This chapter too is rated T because of slightly edgy remarks.

Chapter 1: Spread My Wings

Sitting between 2 arguing men, too busy with their discussion that they forgot that I'm still here, but that always happens on this show.

I'm in the studio of a regional channel, I, Topher Fontaine, am the host of 'Grain of Truth', a show where local businessmen can settle their disputes. That sounds like it is something prestigious, but most of the time it just ends up with both parties reaching anything but a solution, and that for the about 53 people who are interested in watching it.

No, I thought my life would take a turn for the better after Total Drama Pahkitew Island, but the producers weren't convinced of my hosting skills. At first I thought that they hadn't been shown enough, so I 'Borrowed' Mom's money and bought a plane ticket to their main office, but all that got me was a restraining order. Luckily (But I really doubt if I can call it that), the TV station in my county, Okanagan County Regional Broadcasting Company, or OCRBC needed a young face with the knowhow. That sounded great back then, but after a few humiliatingly bad commercials for Darwin's Food Safari, I began realizing that cow suits weren't going to be a step up to the national TV studios in Toronto or the Total Drama producer board in Vancouver, far from in fact. But I stayed because I had nothing else, and I kept hoping that 1 day, someone would notice my charms and my charisma. [1]

But 10 years later and I'm still here, Topher Fontaine, 27 years old, stuck on a dead end job that's a laughable rip-off of my biggest wish.

I sigh and wipe my face as I lean back a little more in my couch. I glare into the crowd and they seem just as bored with the conversation between a chicken farmer and the orchard keeper living next to him. I can't remember what it was about, a chicken pen being built on 2 inches of the orchard keeper's land I think. I can't take this anymore, I have to spice this conversation up a little.

''Hubert.'' I say, turning to the keeper and interrupting his rant. ''You shouldn't hold Reed here responsible for building a chicken pen slightly on your land…'' I defended the chicken farmer as I slapped a comforting hand on Reed's shoulder, who of course smiled contently from my support. ''Because if you spend more time with your chicken then with your wife, then you easily disregard parcel laws when you build a love nest for your chicks!'' I suavely told Hubert. There are a lot of small towns in the county, but none of them are close to the redneck type. Of course, Reed was fuming with anger, but the crowd looked a little interested again.

''He got that right!'' Hubert agreed, laughing a bit.

''You mother-'' Reed bellowed before he tried to hit me with a wide swing. The small distance between him and Hubert however resulted in reed hitting the orchard keeper. Hubert, believing that Reed assaulted him instead of me, retaliated by diving towards him and grabbing him by his throat. By now, the crowd was cheering and chanting and the 2 entrepreneurs rummaged over the stage while the few security guards the studio could afford tried to break the 2 up. I leaned back again and sighed happily, causing this riot felt incredibly relieving.

For obvious reasons, Floyd, the manager of the station summoned me to his office after the broadcast. I took a seat in his cheaply furnished office and laid my arms behind my head, let the lecture begin.

''Toph, you flat-out insulted one of your guests and started a riot that resulted in severe damage to the set.'' Floyd calmly lectured me, sitting behind his desk.

''Can I help it that Reed threw Hebert through the décor?'' I laconically responded. Really, he can't possibly hold ME responsible for it. And even so, it's a poor cheap décor anyway.

''No, but you didn't have to kickstart a riot again Topher! Grain Of Truth is-'' Floyd solemnly began explaining. I sighed miserably, he gives that same speech every time I cause trouble, which has happened a lot the last few weeks. I just can't stand these poor gigs anymore.

''Yeah yeah! Grain Of Truth is a program about local entrepreneurs settling their differences in a calm environment!'' I bitterly interrupted him.

''Exactly! If the viewers want to watch violence, then they watch boxing, or wrestling, or-'' Floyd hesitantly named a few examples. He never was a fan of real entertainment, that's probably why Knitting With Granny Graham has received a 3-hour time slot. Floyd isn't the type that likes violence and sticks with the safe options, and family friendly programming. Not my taste.

''Have you ever noticed that they already watch that?'' I bitterly cut him off again, shooting up and leaning on his desk. ''The viewers want actuality! Sensation! Action! Humor! Any of those, or all of them combined!'' I continued as I walked back a bit and used my arms to emphasize. ''All of which this channel and its programs really lack, that's why we don't get as many viewers and we are heavily in debt!'' I pointed out, pointing at a few bills on Floyd's desk. ''So I spice the stuff up a little to attract attention!'' I sat and leaned back in the chair.

''You're supposed to stick to your role and the topic of the program Topher!'' Floyd sternly told me, pressing his finger on said paper laying on his desk.

''I can't follow these rules and regulations! I need my creative freedom!'' I defended myself.

''If that's so, then we can't afford to have you around anymore!'' Floyd stuttered, nodding his head slightly. After Floyd had said that, the chair broke and I fell on the floor.

''What?'' I stuttered leaning on Floyd's desk again.

''Unless you want to stick to the script, then we can't afford you in this studio anymore.'' He repeated more confidently.

''But if I do then this channel's doomed!''

''Your choice.'' Floyd mumbled.

I stare around the office for a few seconds. It's a tough choice, should I stick with this regional channel or should I leave?

''Goodbye Floyd.'' I greeted him before I walked out of the office before he could react. I've quit my because OCRBC doesn't have anything good to offer my career anymore, it never did, only the opposite. But I don't feel as happy as I should feel with that in mind, as I'm still jobless now.

I'm driving in my mother's hatchback over the highway as I'm heading home early in the evening. I can't afford a car myself, which is pretty humiliating. My pay is, I mean was too low and I couldn't borrow anything from mommy either, she's a single mom and needs every penny she earns to keep a roof above her and my head, for this reason I can't borrow money from the bank either. If I could buy my own car, I'd buy a grand tourer. Masculine, but still refined looking.

I take the exit and drive into Osoyoos, the town where I had lived my entire life. No wonder that no one ever discovered my talent, I'm living in a place almost no one knows exists, the Canadian desert..[2]

I drive past the police station and wave at the sheriff, Derrick, a dark skinned overweight man. His son Sid and I have been friends since childhood and I get along with him as well. In fact, he's grown to me as a replacement dad a bit, as I don't know who my real father is.

I park the car on the driveway of our house and walk to the front door, glancing over at the grave of Chef, my pet cat as I bow down next to it.

''I wish I'd have given you a nicer name.'' I whispered as I rubbed the dirt in front of the homemade gravestone. After Total Drama, I quit being such a fan of Chris, and that needed time to get used to. After all, I watched everything starring him since I was a kid and afterwards, I pretended to be him. I briefly shudder at that memory as I try to open the door, which is locked. Mommy isn't home yet so I retrieve the key from a flower pot hanging on the wall by lifting up the plant and taking the key hidden under the clump of dirt underneath. I unlocked the door and entered my house. It's a small and a little old 1 story house, but we got to buy a TV satellite and everything works, so I guess that's okay.

I looked into the small mirror hanging by the door and adjusted my forelock a little and rubbed my face. I sighed at my reflection, the stress makes my skin look old, and I am already not the youngest anymore. Maybe watching some TV will make me feel better.

I plumped down on the couch and turned the TV on.

''Coming soon on CCN.'' An announcer said. I usually don't watch the Canada Conservatives Network, but I'm curious what program is coming. ''They have no manners...'' [3]

''You have 10 seconds left to get off that John before I let you stay there!'' An all too familiar female voice squalled. Sugar?! She looked even bigger than I remembered her, and she had fallen even further down the beauty scale too. I leaned forward out of curious horror.

''They have no grace…'' The announcer stated.

''You want me to do my business here on the floor?'' Sugar threateningly asked someone off-screen.

''And they follow up on their parent's mistakes.''

''I'll wipe the floor with those harlots!'' A young girl looking a lot like Sugar told the camera.

''You said it Honey!'' Sugar proudly complimented the girl as Sugar did her hair. Poor girl, Sugar's her mom. That can't be good.

''Behold! Here comes Honey Poo Poo. Coming soon.'' The announcer finished. I stared baffled at the screen as another commercial played. I furiously threw the remote on the couch and crossed my arms. Everyone's getting a show these days. Everyone but me!

After a while I picked up the remote up and began channel surfing until I came across The Late Evening Show, hosted by Clay Lennon, another idol of mine. I leaned forward again out of excitement. Clay Lennon is a gray haired man with a thin face and a small gap between his front teeth and is always dressed in a dark red suit with a matching tie. He is everything I want to be, successful, charming, famous, rich and handsome for his age, but I know that I'm handsome too. And of course, he has his own show! Seeing him is exactly what I need to distract me from today's misery. [4]

Clay is currently interviewing a fairly muscular brown-haired guy in a red and white tracksuit, probably an athlete.

''But Tyler, soccer hasn't always been your prime sport hasn't it?'' Clay asked the athlete. I frown slightly. What a bummer, they're talking about soccer! I don't like sports much but if there's 1 sport I absolutely hate it's soccer! And what's even worse is that the world cup is coming to Canada in 2026, next year. Terrible, even in this remote corner you won't be able to get around it. [5]

Now I remember who he is. Tyler Nixon tried to become professional in many sports years ago, failing humorously each time, they even made a pretty funny show out of it. Eventually, people discovered that he was very good in soccer and went on to play somewhere in Europe, and now he's the captain of the Canadian team.

''No man, I've been in every thinkable sport from football to water polo.'' Tyler responded.

''Your girlfriend must've enjoyed that sport more than you!'' Clay noted.

''Why so?'' Tyler confusedly asked after a second of silence.

''Wouldn't any girl enjoy watching a wet muscular guy in a small skin tight swimsuit wrestling with other men in a pool?'' Clay cheekily asked, to which the female crowd in the studio cheered loudly.

''My girlfriend never came to watch. She kept on forgetting.'' Tyler answered, sulking a bit. This response was met by a sympathetic aww from the crowd. ''But that didn't matter, because we've been happily married for several years now!'' He happily added.

I remember that too, it was widely publicized, they called it 'A golden Total Drama marriage going for gold', But I think that he just married her for the publicity like what happens so often in the bizz. Wow that I recall that, I remember that he was on Total Drama too. I never paid much attention to the contestants, only to Chris and Chef, in hindsight another pretty big mistake.

The door behind me opened and I turned my head to see mommy coming into the room, wrestling with a few grocery bags. My mother is a short, portly woman with the same hair color as me she usually had in a curly hairdo. She currently wore a teal floral shirt and orange pants.

''Evening mom.'' I greeted her as I returned to watching TV.

''Hello Topher.'' She affectionately greeted back as she stumbled towards me and managed to get a hand free and used it to rub my hair, much to my dislike.

''Mom, don't mess up my hair!'' I complained. I spend 30 minutes a morning shaping it, I can't afford another 30 minutes of my precious time to get it back in form!

''Sorry Topher!'' She apologized as she stumbled into the kitchen and began to prepare our dinner while I watched the final moments of The Late Evening Show, called that because it's currently 10 PM in Toronto, where it's broadcasted from, and where I hope to stand someday.

Mommy and I were eating our dinner in silence, cauliflower stew. Tasty.

''You were home early Topher.'' Mommy noted.

''Yeah I know.'' I casually answered before taking a bite. But then I realized that I had to tell her that I quit. But how? I began to sweat a little. ''I took a leave.'' I added a little nervously, I should really train myself not to come over as nervous, I'd be an embarrassment if this was live TV.

''A leave?'' Mommy replied surprised, looking up from her plate.

''Yeah, a rather long leave of let's say…Permanent length.'' I uncomfortably spat out. She laid her fork down and gazed at me wide agape. ''Have you been fired from the channel?'' She asked.

''No, I quit!'' I corrected her. Though I wasn't far from actually being fired.

''But why? Did they hold back your pay again?'' She asked again. They regularly did that, they are in serious debt after all.

''No I left because-'' I explained before I stopped briefly to dramatically breath in, now I'm going to tell her how I feel about my life. ''Today I finally realized that I have gotten too big for a regional channel like OCRBC. Besides, I have to leave this place as a whole if I ever want to get discovered by big TV scouts! And not even a horribly lost one ends up here in the desert!'' I explained. I got up and walked around the dinner table. ''I wanna go to Toronto! Where every channel is important! I…'' I stopped both talking and walking for emphasis.

''...I have to spread my wings! I just don't wanna waste my life here, where hosting the bingo in the retirement home being the best gig I can get!'' I concluded my plea in a sigh. Mommy just stared a little…I don't know, sad at me. And it made me quite nervous.

She got up from her chair and walked into the kitchen. ''I knew this day would come eventually.'' She dispiritedly sighed. She opened the cupboard under the sink and crawled into it. I heard some tape letting go and mommy came back to the dinner table with a thick envelope.

''Here...'' She said as she handed me the envelope. I accepted it, not knowing how to respond, as I didn't even know what was inside of it.

''What is this?'' I asked.

''A couple thousand dollars.'' She answered while I opened the envelope to indeed find a wad of bills, a lot for this household. Mommy worked in the supermarket and didn't earn that much, how long must she have been saving this?

''But…Why?'' I stuttered.

''You're right Topher. You're too big to stay here. Ever since as a child you wanted to be a big one.'' She answered as she embraced me. as I was pretty tall, she buried her face into my chest. ''Those days that you and Sid played in the backyard only seem like yesterday.'' She sentimentally continued. Sid and I often pretended that we were shooting a TV show. I was the host and he the cameraman, and the crowd, and the grip and pretty much everything else but mainly the cameraman. Until he one day looked up with his camera and swore that he filmed a UFO, since then he's been into aliens and space and such.

''The last 10 years I've saved every penny I could miss for this day.'' She pointed out, on the verge of crying. So she began saving it when I was on Total Drama, at least it has been good for that. I pat her back as I take another glance at the money, it must be over 5000 dollars in there!

''My mommy's too good for me, you know that?'' I told her, which pushed her over the edge and made her cry. Good lady, she bent herself in all directions to give me the boost I need. When I'm gone she can live her life a little better, now that there's soon another mouth less to feed. I still can't believe it's happening, I'm on my way to the top! I should start packing tonight because there's A LOT to pack!

A few days later, I was waiting on the nearest train station with mommy, Derrick and Sid, about the only people who really cared about me in Osoyoos. Mommy was beyond emotional and embraced me to let Derrick take a few pictures of me with her. I believed some of them were rather embarrassing but I let mommy do her thing, she kind of deserved it. The train that'd take me to the nearest airport arrived and mommy was now bawling as Derrick tried to pry her off of me.

''Well sonny, this is it.'' Derrick said. He always called me sonny.

''Yeah, I guess it is.'' I mumbled slightly emotional, nodding my head a little. Of course I was happy that I was moving forward in life, but I spent my entire life in this county!

''Don't go with strange men Topher!'' Derrick advised me, slapping my shoulder lightly.

''And stay far away from the suits, man!'' Sid added, sounding serious. Oh I forgot that, he's into these weird conspiracy theories too. Sid looked just like his father but instead of being nearly obese, he was pretty thin. In fact, his wide yellow shirt made him look broader than he was.

''Thanks dude.'' I thanked Sid while simultaneously glancing over at Derrick with a easy smile.

''And don't forget…'' Mommy said to me out of the blue as she took my hands and folded them into hers. ''Don't you ever use others as stepping stones! Because if you use others for your own good, then you'll go to hell!'' Mommy kindly warned me, I was taken aback slightly by this grave warning in a kind package.

''Of course I won't.'' I replied. I won't use others for my own good indeed, unless it helps me.

The train blew its horn a few times and I quickly embraced mommy. ''I'll contact you soon!'' I promised her as I quickly hugged her, one last time.

''Promise?'' She answered as she was getting emotional again.

''Promise!'' I called back as I ran into the train before it left. I found a seat at the deck side and waved at my biggest fans until I couldn't see them anymore, after which I sat back in my chair and grinned deliriously (Spooking the man sitting across me a little), I was finally going somewhere with my ambitions!

And Boom! Another new story from me rolling off the presses! I'm boiling with inspiration these past few months!

[1] Not really a channel and not based on one either.

[2] Did you know Canada has a desert? Neither did I until I found out they have! That was a shock! Apparently, this mythical place is in British Columbia.

[3] Not a real channel either.

[4] Clay Lennon is meant to be a nod to Jay Leno by name, but his appearance is meant to reference David Letterman, as is the latter's show.

[5] At least I hope they go there…

Ah man! Uploading this feels gooood!

Next chapter Topher settles with his new life in Toronto, and comes across a few familiar faces already! Some monstrous, some EVIL!

So…Did you like it? Suggestions? Tips? You want some juicy details? Leave a review if you like!

Until next time!

;:D,

L.W.