DISCLAIMER:

Greeting, chapter 19 is here, I hope you enjoy reading this chapter as much as I enjoy writing it.

If you feel like it, please leave a review or mark the story as a favorite, now let's reply to the review from the last chapter.

M: Alliances can work in an Amazing race setting, but not as we see on Ridonculous race, but is different from alliances in survivor like programs. Here you must work together and help each other, so both reach the carpet, which is harder than simply vote for someone.

Also, thanks a lot for mentioning that I have improved, that kind of comment motivates me to continue writing.

Total Drama belongs to Fresh TV and his creators. I don't own anything from the properties used in this fic


Dude Buggies

Last time on the Ridonculous race, the final eight teams went to Flores Indonesia, there were dragons (unpleasant), great displays of bravery, and a little bit of cuddling.

The Dancers made a dirty play for gold, but the Goths won by a hair(hare), which is a fancy word for rabbit, and sadly the Reality TV pros were sent home after failing to reach the carpet. But today's a new day and anything can happen because this is The Ridonculous Race.

Yesterday Chill Zone is today Starting Point, and the teams will begin in the order they finished yesterday. The Drama Team will be again starting in the 5th position.

"So, are you sure you are fine now?" Gwen asks Trent as both walks toward their position in the queue.

"Yes, the doctor said it was only a slight concussion, if I don't have any other hits on my head, I will be all right," Trent answers, smiling.

"Mmh, the part of getting hits worries me," replies the goth looking at him with a smirk, "after all, you hit your head more often than the average person, no offense."

"None taken, it's true, sometimes I have bad luck," he replies, rubbing his neck.

The goth giggles at his response as they reach their position, and after a moment, the leg starts, the teams running and taking their travel tips one after another.

Gwen take theirs and reads aloud, "Get on the next flight to Las Vegas, Nevada, and catch a Taxi to the desert, where you will find the next travel tip," she rolls her eyes, "another place I didn't wish to visit again, I only hope it's not Area 51."

The team rides a taxi to the airport, where all the teams board the same flight directly to Las Vegas.


Group Confessional: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

(Trent is seated in the left side of the room, smiling and with his hands resting on his legs, Gwen is on the right side, folding her arms with her eyes half-open as usual.)

"And, Why do you hate las Vegas?" asks Trent, looking toward Gwen, "aside from your visit during the World Tour."

"Do you need another reason?" Gwen answers him, frowning, "it was dangerous, I was lost in one of the most restricted military bases in the USA, almost died a couple of times, and my ex-best friend composed one of the worst songs I have ever heard."

"Boyfriend Kisser?" Trent put his hand on his chin "I don't think it's truly a bad song, it had a good rhythm, the melody stuck easily in your head, and also Courtney has a great singing voice-"

As Trent talks about the song, Gwen looks daggers at him.

"Sorry, you mean worst song because the lyrics bash you, right, a horrible song, truly abhorrent-"

Gwen continues to stare at him with narrowing eyes.

"I'm sorry," replies Trent looking at her and smiling nervously.


After the 18 hours flight, the teams arrive at McCarran International Airport, where they began to get their taxis to the desert. The road to the Don box it's a long one.

"Now that Owen and Noah are eliminated, we had to consider a new alliance," says Trent looking out of the window, narrowing his eyes.

"Alliances again?" Gwen chuckles, "you are starting to sound like Heather."

"Smartass, I'm serious, there are only 7th teams left, and the others probably will do the same," he then opens his window and looks out of the taxi.

"I'm not sure," Gwen replies, "at least the Goths are not into alliances, and I doubt anyone will team with de silver dancers."

Trent interrupted her, "is smoke coming out from the motor?" just as he ended his sentence, the taxi makes some noises and stops.

"Sorry, it seems something broke in the motor," explains the taxi driver, "I have called the base, and they will send another cab as soon as possible."

"So we are again in the chopping table," Gwen says as they wait for the next taxi, she knew the other teams start reaching their destination, beginning the challenge, "maybe this is our limit."

"Don't worry, the next taxi will be here soon, let's be positive and try our best," Trent tried to comfort her, but he was as nervous as the goth.


The time keeps passing as they wait, after half an hour, the new taxi at last came, and they could continue their way to the Don Box.

Gwen and Trent don't talk during their travel, they were so nervous that the atmosphere could be cut with a knife. When the taxi arrived, both jump out of the taxi and run toward the Don Box, Trent pressing the button and Gwen taking their next travel Tip.

"Is an Either/Or: dune-buggy Bonanza or magic show: Choose between either race in buggies around the sand course and collect three flags in under a minute or perform a classic trick from las Vegas magic show and make a lion disappear for the judge, complete either task and it's a footrace all the way to the Chill Zone. What do we choose?"

"Magic show," exclaim Trent, "it sounds easier than the buggies, and we are almost out of time!" as he replies, both runs in the direction where the magic challenge takes place.


The magic show challenge is in a stage built next to a cottage, the stage looks like a professional one, including the understage, backstage, and curtains, in it is a transparent cage with a lion inside, but for their surprise, the lion is not alone.

Inside the cage with the lion is Ennui. As the beast roar, he put his arm inside its mouth and, in a moment, pull Loki, the goth bunny, out of it.

Trent, Gwen, and the judge began to cheer and applaud, the last one considering the task complete, yes they didn't do the requested trick but perform a great magic trick none the less.

The judge looked like a professional mage, dressed in a black tuxedo, white gloves, and top hat, his black hair already graying, a pencil mustache, goatee, and a beauty mark under his eye. His black eyes have a sinister air in them.

Trent and Gwen go to the backstage and change their clothes for the challenge, the Goths and the Haters already passed it and left, so they are the only team left doing the magic trick.

"Is this some kind of joke?" Gwen asks from inside the dressing room, "I can't wear this!"

"Come on, Gwen, I'm sure you look amazing," Trent try to encourage her, "and we need to hurry, we are the last ones here," Trent wears his usual clothes, with a black top hat, black bow tie, and white gloves.

"Ok, but I don't like it," Gwen walks out of the dressing room, she is wearing a short purple glitter dress, long white gloves, her black tights, and black heels. She is frowning and blushing at the same time.

Trent's eyes widen, and he blushes, "Gwen, you look gorgeous!"

"Stop that," Gwen cut him, as she runs to the stage, "we have a challenge to win."

They go into the stage, and Gwen enters the cage, she and the lion are separated by a transparent wall. The trick consists in covering the cage with a curtain, pulling the lever that will open a stage trap that will make the lion disappear, then pull the lever again to remove the separating wall and finally raise the curtain.

Gwen looked calm, even with the forced smile she makes as part of the act, but inside she is nervous, not because of the lion, but because the time was against them. She looks at Trent as he lowers the curtain covering the cage, now she only had to wait while Trent does his 'magic.'

Trent did the steps, pull the lever, then pull it again, and raise the curtain, TA-DA. There is Gwen.

Or not! Trent feels a shiver runs down his spine as the color drained from his face. Gwen wasn't in the cage, only the lion, something failed, and the chick and not the beast was the one that disappeared.

Trent began to run without thinking, he's so numb by the fear that he almost can't hear himself calling her name, "GWEN, Where are you?" he repeated, but the feeling of dread grows inside of him. Was she all right? What if she was unconscious? Trent keeps running an looking for her all over the stage and backstage.

Meanwhile, as Trent feared, Gwen is in trouble, the stage trap lowered her to the understage, where she found herself surrounded by more lions.

"They had more lions down here, really!? Why someone needs so many lions?" Gwen tries to hide her fear with a snarky comment, but the felines began to surround her, she takes a chair and uses it to keep at bay the beasts.

"Maybe this is karma," she speaks aloud hoping someone hears her "It's getting back for all my bad deeds, like causing Heather's hair to be shaved, despise normal people, and of course all the kissing incident, even if they were not dating at the time!" as she kept monologuing, a lion takes a blow and breaks her chair, Gwen falls onto the platform and scream.

On the stage, Trent heard the scream and saw the open trap inside the cage, "GWEN!" he yells and runs toward the lever, pulling and pushing it "please work, please, I beg you." He looks desperate toward the cage until the trap worked and raised Gwen.

The goth is now safe from the lions under the stage, but she was face to face with the lion INSIDE the cage. Gwen screams and jumps to the exit, where Trent hugs her and takes her out with a quick movement. The lion confused by the jumping and screaming roar as the judge give them the thump up, they have passed the challenge, but none of them were thinking about that.

"Are you ok?" Trent asks with teary eyes.

"Yes, but my environmentalist soul took a hit again, now there are two species in my blacklist, bullet ants and lions," she answers snarky, but was shivering after all that happened.

"Well, then let's go, maybe we can still reach the Chill Zone before the last team," says Trent as he runs down the stage.

"Trent, it's enough, we lose," Gwen says, going down the stage and looking at him with a sad expression.

"Gwen, don't give up yet, we can't be sure we are the last ones until we get there," Trent said without looking back, he felt as if someone poured cold water over his head, but keep walking to the chill zone nonetheless.

"Trent, I know you want to be positive, but we were too slow, it's over," she walks behind him with a sad smile, not understanding why he was so stubborn if all was lost.

Trent hesitates, this was the moment to take the decision, he could keep quiet or take the thorn from his side. He took a depth breath and decide that it was enough running away, it was time to confront her.

The musician then he looks at her with teary eyes. "C'mon, Gwen, don't give up until the end, at least this time," his calm voice is in evident contrast with his sad expression.

Gwen's eyes widen, she is shocked, "What are you talking about? I never give up, I always try my best until there is nothing more that could be done!" she is surprised by Trent remark, and also outraged.

"Gwen, since the end of island you give up when it's convenient for you, or when things get out of your control, or when you need to ask for anyone else for help, not always, but when it really matters, you give up," Trent looks into her eyes with moist eyes, but to Gwen, they feel like daggers, he then resumes walking.

"That's a lie, why are you saying that? Tell one time I ever gave up, as you say? You are only angry because I don't want to keep going in a useless race," Gwen's face turns red and scowls at the musician as she follows him. She doesn't know why, but Trent's words were angering her, how can he say that to her?

Trent swallows, but now that he started, he will not stop, after hesitating, he answers her question, "It's not a lie, you gave up on Courtney when she betrays you with that chart, you gave up on Duncan when you started doubting his feelings, and you gave up on me when I became jealous of him."

Gwen's anger extinguishes as fast as it appeared, replaced by a sudden shiver and another emotion, one that she didn't want to recognize at that moment, so she continues the argument.

"That's so wrong and uncool, you don't know anything!" she reproaches him, "I didn't give up on you, or Courtney, or Duncan, I only did what must be done, Courtney lie to me even when we were friends, Duncan was obsessed with Courtney while he was dating me, and you were out of control with your obsession, I did nothing wrong, I NEVER did, even if all the people think I was the bad one then. I did what I must do."

Trent tears began to fall across his face, without him realizing it, "that's the problem, Gwen, you always said that when you give up, you always hide in your righteousness, that you are the good one. But in the end, you couldn't forgive any of us, you give up without giving you or any of us a single chance, do you truly think you did nothing wrong pushing everyone away? Are you truly the only victim? Did us, the ones that wronged you, mean so little that our faults could not be forgiven?"

Gwen was overwhelmed by the emotions, especially that one she did not want to recognize, it was not sadness or anger, but fear. The goth always thought she did everything she could to save her friendships and relationships, but as Trent said, she never tried to give herself a second chance, not with Trent, not with Duncan, not with Courtney, she convinced herself that leaving them behind was the correct thing to do.

Yes, she told herself repeatedly that she was right, and they wrong, that there was no other option but to push them away, break their bonds, but the truth was that she was afraid, afraid of trying to fix things with them and failing again. She never thought about what they were feeling, only in avoiding being hurt again.

Gwen was at lost, but before she could reply, Don interrupts them "Drama Team, you are last," Trent and Gwen look at him, without noticing it, they have crossed into the carpet of completion. Trent had red eyes, and his face was pale, Gwen, without noticing it, also started to cry, her mascara all across her face.

Don looks worried at them, and with a more serious voice continued, "I see you are really depressed by your elimination but don't worry, it's a none elimination round, so you are still in the race."

Both were surprised by the news, but Gwen especially feel like it was a dream or nightmare, Trent was right, she gave up too soon, she just decided it was all lost and tried to push Trent away.

They have too much on their minds, so the musician and the goth parted ways without saying a word.


Gwen enters her room, let the purple dress on her bed and takes a shower, trying to clear her mind and let the running water take away her doubts, but it doesn't work, Trent's words hit her core, and she didn't know what to tell him.

She is not a social person, Gwen hates trends and is a loner by her own decision, but a part of that decision was her fear to create bonds with other people and being hurt by them, that's why she never tries to fix the ones that got broken, it was ok, at least she thought it was.

The goth goes out of the shower more confused than before, she looks into the mirror and doesn't recognize what she sees in her reflection. She was a good person, always did everything she could for her friends, and never did anything wrong. But was that really true? The pale woman in the reflection looks at her, not sure about that anymore.

Tonight she didn't take her sketchbook out of her bag. She lays on her bed, trying to find an exit from the maze of her own soul. But she couldn't find her answer, not tonight, she fell asleep thinking about the past, and if she could ever give herself a second chance.


Las Vegas is over. Now what?

For me, episode 19 is one of the most important because it changes the dynamic between the best friends, so I decided to make it one of the most important chapters in my story.

I tried to explain the changes between Island and Action Gwen, and also make an analysis of her decisions, I love Gwen, but there were some mysteries on her choices, and I decide to explain like this, I hope you like it.

Teams eliminated: the Larpers, Tennis rivals, Geniuses, Vegetarians, fashion bloggers, Mother and daughter, Adversity twins, Step Brothers, Rockers, Father and Son, Reality TV Pros.

As always, thanks for reading and I hope you like it.