DISCLAIMER:
Hello, chapter 16 released, As always I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing them.
As usual, thanks for reading the chapter, also if you like to write a review, I will answer it in the next chapter. Talking about that.
M: Yes, it was a hard decision, about making Trent go through all the stages or not, and I decide not to, it was not the same for him that it was for Devin, and I wanted to write some things differently. I hope it didn't disappoint anyone.
Total Drama belongs to Fresh TV and his creators. I don't own anything from the properties used in this fic
Little Bull on the Praire.
Last time on the Ridonculous race New Zealand took many of our remaining teams on a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows, Dwayne tried to impress his son with a tattoo, cool, but that's for girls only. Noah and Emma hit a roadblock when she put the brakes on their romance, ouch!
But Trent, thanks to the cheesy power of friendship, recovered from his own personal drama bringing the Drama Team up from the bottom three to second place. Someone's bound to be going home tonight, but who? I can't wait to find out on this episode of The Ridonculous Race.
Yesterday's Chill Zone is today Starting Zone, Trent and Gwen are already waiting in the 2nd place of the queue, behind the Ice Dancers, but the thoughts of the team are not in the team ahead of them, but on the team in the last place.
"Noah still looks so depressed. I wish we could do something for him," said Trent gazing at him with sadness, "did you ever saw someone so sad?"
"Actually yes, a musician friend of mine who I used to team up in a race for a million dollars was like that not long ago," she answers in a snarky tone, looking into his eyes.
"I was that bad?" says Trent averting her eyes.
"Actually, you were much worse," she replies nonchalantly, looking at him with her half-closed eyes.
Trent looks at Noah, despondent and being carried by Owen in one arm, and turns his face toward Gwen "I am really sorry about what happened and thanks for taking care of me during that time," he joins his hands and bows a little to remark his gratitude.
Gwen's eyes went wide and blushed before she also apologizes, "it was only a joke, please Trent don't thank me like that, I didn't do anything special, we are friends after all," she chuckles and smiles nervously.
The stage starts, and the Drama Team takes their travel tip after the Ice Dancers, "Go to Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump, taking a flight to Lethbridge airport in Canada, then drive one of the trucks in the airport to the marked location. It looks like we are going back home."
"O Canada, our home…" began singing Trent. Gwen smiles and punches him lightly, as both go to take a taxi.
Taxi confessional: A friend in need
(Trent is seated in the left side of the taxi with his arms resting at his sides, while Gwen is sitting in the right side with her arms folded)
"When we get in the plane, we need to cheer Noah. Emma was his first girlfriend, so it's pretty hard," says Trent with a concerned look on his face.
"Trent, maybe I will sound a little cold-hearted but, are you even Noah's friend? I mean, yes, we were in the same team in the past, but he was very snobbish, and you never see each other again in the later seasons. You don't have to go out of your way to help him," she said, raising an eyebrow.
"We are not that close, but all men are brothers when you are heartbroken," he said putting a hand in his heart and looking upward "also it's not only for him, it's also for Owen," he adds that last part smiling and putting his hands on his knees.
"Ok, if it is for Owen," answers Gwen with a small smile, "but are you sure we will be on the same flight?"
"Of course we will," replies the musician "We have been together in our last flights, this time will not be different," he smiled confidently, folding his arms.
"And of course, Noah misses the plane and gets in the next one, how is that possible?" says Trent disappointed, he and Gwen are already on the first flight to Lethbridge.
"Only because you jinxed it," replies Gwen nonchalantly, looking for something to watch at her seat's personal TV.
"Wait, do you believe that?" Trent asks, narrowing his eyes.
"The universe is a zero-sum game, so if you use your energy to desire something to happen, the universe pushes a little to the other side, it's like karma," she said confidently.
Trent's eyes widen, he opens his mouth to say something but decides to don't pursue the matter.
As they arrive at Lethbridge Airport, the teams began to get on their trucks, and the race to Head Smash Buffalo Jump begins. For our team, Trent takes the wheel and Gwen is the navigator.
"Wanna drive this one?" asks Trent before starting the engine.
"No, I only have a learner permit, and I don't like driving that much," she answers, crossing her arms over her chest.
Trent turns on the engine and quickly speeds up to catch with the first teams, "you don't like driving?" he asks, looking at the road with a surprised expression, "I thought everyone love driving."
"It's not like I hate it, it's only that I get nervous. Also, my obnoxious brother says that I drive like an old grandma," she frowns, folds her arms, and leans in her seat.
"Now I really want to see you driving," Trent chuckles as Gwen gives him a light punch in the arm.
The race to Buffalo Jump is a close one, The Drama Team arrives first in a tie with the Surfer Dudes, leaving behind the Goths and the Haters.
"Where are the Police Cadets and the Silver Dancers?" asks Gwen aloud as they get out of the pickup.
"They were abducted by aliens," answers Brody, after a moment, the surfer looks toward the sky and yells, "thanks, aliens."
Trent and Gwen only look to each other astounded and keep quiet until the Surfer Dudes take their travel ticket from the Don Box, which is in front of a restaurant. Then they also took their tip.
"All in: tip your hat, split your jeans and eat like a cowboy," reads Gwen aloud "By all means working together teammates must eat an entire pot of pork and beans, at the bottom of the pot you'll find your next travel tip, I really hate food challenges."
"Don't be so negative, Gwen," comments Trent, "It's only pork and beans. How bad could it be?."
The challenge is inside the restaurant, they enter and take a seat, the waitress puts on the table a huge soup pot full of pork and beans, Trent and Gwen's eyes widen, then she looked at him narrowing her eyes.
Trent does a small smile and rubs his neck, "I jinxed us, right?" Gwen nodded.
"I'm sorry," he replies.
They start eating, the challenge was not only finishing all the pot but also a race to finish it fast. Gwen and Trent take spoon after spoon of the stew, as quickly as they could, dirtying their faces with the beans, but none of them was a strong eater.
When they have eaten half of the pot, they heard Geoff tell "Done!" at the same time Brody let out a big burp, the Surfer Dudes had already finished the challenge.
"We are too slow," says Gwen, irritated for the grease around her mouth "we need to think someway to eat faster, or we will lose."
"I have an idea," says Trent, taking off his belt, "quickly tie my hands to the back of the chair."
Gwen looked at him confused, "Are you sure? I hope your idea doesn't involve you striping."
"Don't joke and hurry up," Gwen tied his hand behind him and to the chair, as he continues explaining his plan, "now you need to force feed me the rest of the pot."
"Are you crazy?" says Gwen raising her voice, "This sounds like some kind of torture."
"Don't worry, when I was a child, my parents used to do this to feed me broccoli, so it's fine. And remember, no matter how much I scream or beg, you have to continue feeding me the beans," Trent looked at her full of determination.
"After hearing that it sounds even more like torture and also I want to punch your parents," says Gwen scowling.
"Stop worrying and do it," said Trent wanting to end this before his resolve falter.
Gwen sighs, she then took Trent's spoon and began to quickly put the pork and beans forcefully in his mouth.
"Wait, Gwen, it was a bad idea after all, *chomp*," Trent begs as she gives him another spoonful.
"Gwen, please wait, you can't do this anymore, it's so cruel *much*," the musician tries in vain to discourage her.
"Kill me, just kill me *gulp*," Trent raises his voice, looking at her with teary eyes as she gives him another spoonful.
"Done, and this is the last time we ever do this," says Gwen in an upset tone, with misty eyes and full of anguish, "next time we come with a different plan, or we lose," she adds as she takes out the next travel tip from the bottom of the pot, and untie the musician, Trent nods in agreement.
"Random Botch or Watch: This ride is no bull: whoever isn't holding the tip has to ride the mechanical bull, riders have to stay on the bull for eight full seconds, once you complete the task, leave thru the exit door and follow the mountain path to the Chill Zone," she lifts up her eyes and looks at Trent, worried, "can you do it?" she asks him.
"Don't worry *burp* I can do it," he says looking nauseated for a moment before recovering composure, just at that moment, the mechanical bull throw Brody painfully toward a wall.
"I will go and die up there," he adds while walking toward the mechanical bull, taking off his shirt.
"Trent, why are you removing your shirt now?" asks Gwen, starting to think that Trent doesn't like to wear shirts at all.
"This time is part of my plan," he says, quite confident.
Trent ride the mechanical bull after the Surfer Dudes wins the challenge, he put the security helmet, and instead of grabbing the handle, he put his shirt across the machine neck, and hugged with all his strength, while grappling the body with his legs, the violent movement of the bull weakens his grasp, but he endures 9 seconds.
"Whoa!, you did it," exclaim excited Gwen (well, as excited as she can be), but Trent didn't hear her, as soon as he goes down form the bull, his face turned green, and he ran out of the building to throws up, after all, he has a weak stomach and riding the mechanical bull was like a roller coaster.
Gwen go after him, and when Trent felt better, they run in the mountain path to the Chill Zone, closely followed by the Haters, both teams began a fierce race to the end of the path, passing the Goths.
Trent and Gwen go ahead, then Ryan and Stephanie overtake them, and then the Drama Team recover the lead again, it was a battle for the second place, as the Surfer Dudes already won first.
Don was waiting at the other side of the completion carpet, announcing
the winner when both teams step reach it, "Ryan, Stephanie, you are in second place, Trent, Gwen, you are third."
"Yeah! in your face third place!" yells Stephanie celebrating their team 2nd place. Gwen then looked an icy stare at her, who added, "Ah, no offense," then she and Ryan go into the Chill Zone.
"Well, not bad considering that food challenges are our weakness," says Gwen with a smirk "do you want to go and relax a little?"
"Go ahead, I will wait for Noah, I am still worried about him," replies Trent with a worried look on his face.
The teams arrive one after another, 4th the Goths (who stay a little alongside Gwen, our goth greeting and talking to them, Trent don't understand why she even tries if they never reply,) Police Cadets in 5th, Ice Dancers in 6th and Sisters in 7th. If Noah and Owen don't come next, they could be eliminated from the race.
"Hello, Trent, Gwen," greets Kitty, "this is my older sister Emma." The Drama Team knows her by sight, but never actually talked to her, Emma was facing distressed to the mountain path.
"Is she all right?" asks Trent.
"Yes, she is worried about Noah," answers Kitty, at this moment Gwen decides she didn't care anymore, the three-day girlfriend who broke with him yesterday was worried about him, come on this is worse than a love comedy.
Then Owen came into sight, dragging Noah by one leg toward the Chill Zone, as soon as they enter Don announce their placement, "sort of congratulations," he said, "Reality TV Pros you are in eight." As soon as he ended Owen collapse tired for running all the way pulling his little buddy.
Emma walks fast toward Noah, and crouch at his side, he was despondent with empty eyes and a blank expression.
"Noah, I am so sorry I broke you," she says, with her hand in her chest, "I didn't mean to, I still really like you, and want us to be together."
The light returns to Noah's eyes as he gasped.
"You- You do?" he replies with a trembling voice full of hope.
"Just I can't do the romance thing until the race is over," she says, biting her lower lip, and adds with a more gentle expression, "but after I win, you and I are so on," she takes his head in her hands.
Kitty and Trent were happy for them and smiled as the couple gets back together, Gwen was also kind of happy, after all the 3 days couple reconciles after less than 24 hours, what a love story.
"Great, so when one of us wins-" tells Noah, but suddenly, she drops his head and interrupts him.
"Are you not listening, when MY team wins," Emma stands up and goes away with Kitty, the little sister waving goodbye to Trent and Gwen.
Group confessional: Love story
(Trent is again at the left side with teary eyes and a little flustered, Gwen is at his side frowning, folding her arms.)
"I am so happy for Noah, there is nothing like a happy ending for a love story," he tells, smiling, touched by Noah and Emma patch up.
"Well, yeah, but she said they will come back if she wins, that means if she loses, they stay apart, right? That's doesn't sound so romantic," she says, raising an eyebrow and touching her chin.
"It's a love that endures the adversity, they will become stronger, it's so beautiful. I think this inspires me to finish that song I began writing in Zimbabwe, a romantic ballad about a love that burns in the flames of the competition," Trent tells pretty excitedly by this new song.
"Sometimes, I think nobody hears me. It's like I am invisible or something," Gwen says looking down and holding her head with both hands.
The last team arrives and is eliminated, they were Dwayne and Junior, as all the eliminated teams, they have to go without entering the Chill Zone, but Gwen could at least say farewell to her young friend.
"You did great, I am sure you will grow to be a cool man," says Gwen as she hugs the blonde boy.
"Thanks, Gwen, just wait in some years I will be better than Trent," he says proudly, before going away with his father.
"I am sure you will," she replies, smiling.
The Drama Team expend the end of the day relaxing and talking, Trent wanted to be with Owen and Noah, and all they spoke about was Noah relationship with Emma, Gwen tired of this subject, decides to go her own way and relax along Ennui and Crimson, they introduced her their new partner, Loki, a black bunny, sign of destruction and mayhem, that they adopted in Australia.
Trent parts with Noah and Owen after dinner. Once in his room, he finishes his new song idea, 'Race romance' was the provisional name. The musician then decides to relax a little, since recovering from his shock about the debut album, he was not the same, something bothered him, but he chooses not thinking about it right now because it would ruin this day with negative feelings, he goes to sleep happy for Noah and Emma, and rests before the next round.
Alberta is over and Noah and Emma have patched up, it seems that right now all is going well to our team and their friends.
This episode was fun because the challenges were normal, so normal I had to imagine how Gwen and Trent would tackle it, in the original Devin and Carrie do all the work in a very straightforward way, and Devin was depressed, so I wanted to avoid that route, I hope you enjoy it.
Teams eliminated: the Larpers, Tennis rivals, Geniuses, Vegetarians, fashion bloggers, Mother and daughter, Adversity twins, Step Brothers, Rockers, Father and Son.
As always, thanks for reading and I hope you like it.