The cameras were diactivated, and the cameramen were given the day off. Interns bustled about with various radio broadcasting equipment, and Sirius had been contact to broadcast the challenge.

However, despite the racket downstairs, Chelsea and her cronies were working at might and maim trying to locate information on the Globe. They might have made decent progress, had Tonya not walked in. Jackson was beside himself attempting to cover it up. He was right in the middle of explaining how they were merely trying to assemble a coffee maker when Tonya held up a silencing hand.

"All the pieces of the Corona are in this mansion, that much is true." She whispered, as if the pieces could hear her. "However, the Rings are thrust through the mountains, and the lost ones are teethered to them."

Before deciphering the phrase, however, the girl was gone.

Zachery, who'd been studying some of the star charts, suddenly came up with a solution:

"Maybe the Globe of Fates means we have to make a circle of-"

Chelsea silenced him with a punch to face, lest he say something Total Drama's deactivated censors would have otherwise stopped.

A sunbeam tickled Cherri awake, despite the ever-freezing air in the house. She had to get a quick barring of her surroundings, realizing she was in Derrick's bed, she was aware their was a teddy bear in her arms. It was soft, bringing a soft smile to her red lips. It seemed slightly odd to her that it had a movable tounge, that almost seemed to move on it's own. Almost like a-

"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK"

It seemed that Pepe the armadillo had burrowed into his way into the sleeping girls arms.

Oddly as if Cherri's shriek had brought in on. Apollo's sleeeping form stirred. Head cocked in curiousity, Cherri went over to the boy, who thrashed ever so slightly. Mother Dreamtime's voice echoed softly in her ears.

"Maybe looking into his memories will help you reach him, every cold heart has to have frozen at some point, they don't just happen."

Cherri laid both her hands on Apollo's clammy forehead, trying to picture him having a warm heart at any point. "Show me your dream, Apollo."

The mark on her neck flashed momentarily, and as if it was her own dream, she saw it all...

"Okay, Graverobbers!," Chris called out happily. "Who wants to sing first?"

To everyones surprise, Mara's hand was the first in the air. Chris, throughly taken aback, motioned her onto the stage.

Hesitating for exactly two seconds, Mara sang out with a voice unknown to the others. Withing moments, Mara had captured everyone with "My Immortal" until there were virtually no dry eyes in the small stage Chris had produced. Mara's own eyes filled with tears as the song ended, and after a few shaky breaths, she left the stage, applause radiating like the sun.

"How'd you learn to sing like that?" Dominic, throughly astounded, had pushed through the crowd. Mara, however, was full to the brim with sorrowful memories. In a deludge of tears, she flung her arms around Dominc, where she continued to sob. A shocked Dominic returned the embrace, albiet with less tears and much more shock.

"I-I never said goodbye..." Mara choked out.

"Whatever's wrong, just...relax." Dominic said back, not really used to giving comfort.

Mara continued to break down, tears running freely into her hair and on Dominic's chest. Dominic looked over at Chris, who mouthed 'Take her inside."

Dominic never took his arms away from the girl, and they both made it awkwardly inside.

For the second time that day, Cherri had to get a baring of her surroundings. She seemed to be in some sort of boarding school, flags and banners lined the walls and uncomfortable-looking furniture lined the floor. On closer inspection, it seemed to be somebodies bedroom; a soft looking bed sat on another end of the bed. Cherri's eyes roved across the room, beside the bed there was a spiky looking instrument that Cherri knew was Apollo's shamisen.

Just as she reached for it, a somewhat young looking figure entered the room, eyes red and puffy. Shaggy brown hir matted his head, and large blue orbs peered out from a chubby face. Cherri opened her mouth slightly, she was looking at a ten-year-old Apollo...

"A-Apollo?" Cherri whispered, the room was immaculate, he must've just been admitted. Hearing his name, he lifted his head; and just as he did, the surroundings changed again...

The next thing Cherri new, the room had changed again, everything now looked older. What looked like a very young vulture roosted on a crudely made perch. The Apollo she saw now was thinner and taller, his eyes had taken the familiar blacked tone the real Apollo had. She percieved two more people in the room, a man with Apollo's hair and thin lips, and a woman with his large blue eyes. Both people had pleading expressions, as if they were trying to convince a lost kitten to come to them, so they can love it.

She didn't dare to believe it, these two people must've been Apollo's parents, but they still had emotions, so why didn't Apollo?

The woman forced her blue eyes into her son's darkened ones, his paleness contrasting with her beige skin. Her voice was feathery, as though she was fearful.

"We can't take you home without your consent." She whispered. "You know you want to come home with us, to see Elliose again."

"I want to go home, but I won't run the risk of being sent away again,"

The man that was his father nearly flew into a rage, knocking the vulture from her perch, his son stood as well.

"Stay here forever, then." Apollo had clearly touched a nerve. "It's been much better at home without you, anyway."

Apollo gathered the shocked vulture in his arms, and set it down on his bed. He took his shamisen in his hand, and played for it.

"Get out..." His voice was barely audible.

"Apollo..."

"I asked you to leave!"

"He didn't mean it!" His mother put a hand on the boy's shoulder.

"LEAVE ME!" Rage overtook the boy, and he pulled out of his parents reach, as though they had killed his firstborn.

And as if the reverbaration of his voice was a strength in itself, the vision dissolved. The last thing Cherri saw was Apollo curling around his instrument...

"Next up, lets have a hand for Chelsea!"

Chelsea, now wearing a periodical cocktail dress, began to sing. She had, unlike Mara, made the stage her own. There were lights, streamers, pyrotechnics, and multi-colored curtains. She had even put two female interns, Rebecca, and Chef Hatchet in tiny miniskirts and halter tops, much to everyones chargin.

Her song, "The One That Got Away," was a hit. Her dancing was flawless, and her voice was actually really good, too. The was, however, one catch: the stage itself. It seemed that she had worked so hard on her set, it seemed strange that it had faltered, but the stage was hastily built, after all.

And so, it came to pass. Right as her big finale turnd the corner, the now-decorated stage collapsed. Chelsea was unfortunate to be right in the middle of the wreckage.

Derrick heaved a sigh. It was time, he decided, to let the old life go. He was in charge of himself now, his parents and their rules could go screw themselves. He was going to gain weight. He was going to be like Dominic, who bulged with muscle, or Apollo, who lived in stoic strength.

But then it hit him: he could be even better. He was tall for his age, anyway. A little bit of fat, maybe some working out, and he could be built like the Terminator in six months flat. He was going to start working out now, but first, he needed fat. As if on cue, Rebecca, now changed back into her ginghem dress, walked by carrying a platter of large plates decked with fried chicken.

"Rebecca!" Derrick caught up to her quick.

"Hello, sweety."

"Can I have those?"

"Well, actually..."

"I'll trade you this key to Chris' liquor cabinet."

"Here ya' go." With that, the plump woman was off. "What a kind boy," she thought. "He really must've wanted to throw those away for me. After all, Misty put them in the sun for goodness-knows-how-long. That girl..."

Rebecca was busy carting out bottle upon bottle of Captain Morgan, when something hit her.

"Oh Lord, he's going to eat that chicken..."

She knew she should have found him and stopped him, but when she realized she still had her ethanol, she decided against it. She wasn't exactly mother of the year, and she never exactly figured out why.

Dominic had Mara seated on the couch, she had managed to control herself long enough to wait while Dominic went to make hot chocolate. SHe took a few deep breaths and streched out, feeling oddly exhausted.

So, anything you wanna talk about?"

Mara took a deep breath, and recounted her tale.

"My sister was my best friend growing up, she was like a second mother to me. My own parents favored her, anyway. She was drafted to the Middle East, and I lost her completely. She seldom wrote, or called...then she stopped.

"I haven't head from her in three years, I don't know, even today, if she's alive or dead."

Mara flung her arms around Dominic, sobbing harder. There was a bitter sweetness in the falling tears, Dominic made her ffeel less alone, somehow.

She lifted her head and stared into his face, she never noticed how deep his eyes were, how gentle his face seemed. She didn't have long to think, she just acted. Her red lips went closer to his, and as though they were magnets, the lips met. Quick and simple, but deep and meaningful. When they finally broke apart, something incredible happened. It may have been because she had just kissed a really hot guy, or because Dominic had a smear of red lipstick on his mouth, or anything really. But, whatever the cause, Mara smiled.

"Lets have a hand for Misty!"

Misty curtsyed and left the stage amidst the applause. It was Derricks turn, and he was ready. He had eaten a platter full of that chicken, and spent the afternoon lifting rocks as dumbells. He actually looked a little healthier now, they're was definetly some muscle in his skinny form now.

"Get on the stage!" Misty called at him. Everything was fine, until...

"Hey, I left a plate of fried chicken by the lake yesterday, and now I can't find it." She told him. "I was trying to see how much mold I could get on it. You think one of the animals got into it?"

Derrick would have responded, but a loud, angry growl from his stomach silenced him. "I think I might know where it is." He winced "You'll see it again pretty soon."

Misty, not taking the hint, smiled. "Cool, break a leg up there." She pushed him in the direction of the stage, jarring his insides dangerously.

"Alright Derrick," Chef said absentmmindedly. "Start went your read-OH, DISGUSTING!"

The fried chicken, along with a nickel Derrick ate when he was six, came up with a vengance. Sadly, Chris happened to be in the way. Slipping and sliding, Chef left the room. Chris, however, glared daggers at the vomit on his cape.

Derrick wiced at the look Chris gave him. "Heh, sorry..."

"Alright, graverobbers." Chris hissed, since everyone performed, everyone runs the risk of being voted off." Everyone groaned loudly.

Chris, more angry then sadistic, didn't take it. "Yeah, yeah, great."

"Chelsea...

Apollo...

Misty...

Chelsea...

Zachery...

Mara...

Dominic...

Jackson...

Tonya...

Derrick and Gabriella, you both run a risk of elimination.

Gabriella stared at Chris. "Where the freak have I been all chapter?"

Chris, not caring, pulled the lever of Derricks chair.

Gabriella stared down the hole. "Well, that answers my question perfectly."

At the end of the day, all was quiet, Derrick and his things were on his way to Playa Des Losers ("They have a gym, he'll be fine." Jackson had said.) , and both Apollo and Cherri wee walking by the lake. Mara and Dominic snuggled together, while Gabriella shot them disgusted looks. Everyone had gathered around the television, watching a new episode of iCarly, when the phone rang.

"Hello?" Misty said, picking up the reciever.

"How'd the chicken incident go, dearest?" The graveled voice asked. THe phone immediately turned to speaker.

"Master Reious," Chelsea whispered. "What do you want now?"

"I know your looking for the Rings of Atropos, I want you to know that they're are some in the house you're in."

"How do you know that?" Dominic barked.

"Because, boy, I put them there."

Misty slammed the phone down, not wanting anymore drama. But, the stirring feeling inside her heart alerted her of something.

"What the heck are the Rings of Atropos?"

Down at the lake Cherri guided Apollo to her secret hiding spot, and took a thin flask out of her purse, inside the bottle clear liquid sprakled in the moonlight.

"What is that?" Apollo asked.

"Some of your tears..." Cherri said absentmindedly. Apollo looked shocked, since earlier, emotion had begun to show in his face again.

"Mother, I have brought him." Cherri called, pouring the tears onto the lake, turning it a crystalline white.

Answering her call, Mother Dreamtime lifted from water, like an angel. She turned clear eyes on Apollo.

"My son..." She whispeed tenderly touching his face. "You have come home..."

Apollo inhaled, and smiled broadly at the woman, not caring that her mark was forming on his neck.

"Yes, Mother..." He whispered, Cherri took Mother's hand. "Your little boy his come..."

And, smiling her unsettling smile, Mother Dreamtime pulled her children into a hug, before vanishing back into the lake, until her was no more then a eerie white reflection of the moon above.

Looks like Mommy Dreamtime just got a henchmen out of Apollo...

Alright, I know I must seem like the most biased writer ever, but now tha Dreamtime has her clutches in him, I don't have to focus on his so much. (That's good, because my OC is a pretty big downer.)

I'm really sorry to eliminate Derrick, bunnies43, PLEASE don't be upset with me! I am also very sorry that I changed Mara's secret, but I don't think I can write about rape.

I am now opening up the option for your OC's to use reviews as a confessional session, so I hope that encourages more reviews.