Hey guys! JMbuilder here.

And... Holy Drama! What a start! Just in ONE chapter, I got 9 favorites, 10 follows, and 6 reviews. Wow... That's... Good. Thank you all! This proves that the first chapter of this story was well made (despite a mistake I will mention in the reviews).

In this chapter, we will see how Ezekiel will behave in the first episode. I had taken some breaks due to my worries about making things OOC and all of that stuff.

Now... Reviews:

- Jss2141: Good to know! Ezekiel really had a bad ending on his side. He might have been sexist in the first season or, in the canon third season, annoying but his fate shouldn't be like that. It should have been of redemption. On another note... Sorry but I don't plan for him to date anyone. I want him to focus on doing things right. If I ever decide (Which won't probably happen but we will see) that I wanted... I don't have many options. One of the known ships is with Izzy, which I don't see it happening. I doubt Ezekiel would be able to handle her, unlike Owen (At least at the start of this season and in the first two seasons). Another known one is with Bridgette, which I don't see it happening to. I don't mind reading stories about it but I want to treat Ezekiel's crush on her as something short-lived and that he already was over it completely.

- MatiasND: Thanks for the opinion. And... Well... Thanks for the correction too. It's a confusion of mine. When I released the first chapter of "More Than Just Me In My Head" (You will see the relation with what you reviewed to me), one comment pointed out said mistake. However, I misread and thought he reviewed that it was Chet and not Chef (Which I had wrote mostly Chef and once or twice Chet). And it keeps going until I have gone to Total Drama's FANDOM page and saw that it was Chef all along. I will correct it.

- Team Gophers: Thanks!

- Anthony Staffenhagen: Oh... Hi, my regular reviewer on my stories! Anyway, thanks for reviewing your opinion.

- Albedo of the Galvan: I will try to complete it! And thanks for seeing potential here.

- SilentSinger948: Thank you too! You will get more. I can't guarantee but I will try!

Before going, I want to thank Jss2141 for suggesting better lyric changes to the song in the first chapter. I already changed them. With that, if you want to help me fix what I rewrite on the lyrics, PM me. At some point, I might request help to rewrite most of the song due to what happened on this World Tour version be different. But we will see.

And now... Read. Enjoy!

Chapter 2 - Walk Like a Mummy, not Like Egyptian

A desert is one of the hottest places in the world. It feels like walking on asphalt barefoot, due to how hot we feel. And tends to not have anything there: Just sand. Especially in Africa.

The ones from Egypt aren't much different too but, on the positive side of it, it isn't near to the Equator line soo, in terms of temperature, it could be worse.

This would explain how the contestants wearing more or longer clothes aren't sweating. For now, at least.

Talking about them, they are all in the front of the plane as they all posed for a promotional photo taken by some intern. This time, without delays or post-accident like it happened in the first season of the show.

The homeschool remembers it happening but he wasn't on the photo as he initially was eliminated BEFORE the first challenge. In any case, he just waved to the camera with a smile while being between Harold and Owen, where the former, for some reason, was wearing an aluminum hat. Surely Ezekiel and I would get answers about that later.

Anyways, with the photo taken, he runs to send them to the marketing team. And, as soon he wasn't seen anymore, Chris appears wearing a Pharaoh outfit, laying on a lounger, that was being carried by two other interns, being slaves. And no: I didn't mean "Making look like they are slaves". By how Chris would treat them, it would even show that are LITERAL slaves.

Coming back to the story...

- "You guys ready for a little fun? Huh?" - Chris asked rhetorically to the contestants with a smile. - "Wow. It's a scorcher out here, huh?" - As I look to see what "scorcher" means (Which its definition is "A day or period of very hot weather"), he takes a sip of his drink on a glass. After that, he continues talking: - "I call today's challenge of 'Pyramid Top and Bottom'!"

Ezekiel got confused at the name of the challenge. He remembers it being "Pyramid Over Under". Maybe he heard wrong or the timeline started to change due to not being kicked off the plane.

- "An 11-hour flight, Chef's in-flight cuisine, a forced musical number, and now we've got a challenge?!?" - Leshawna listed and protested.

- "Don't you love this game?" - The hots asked in response to the said protest. Then, he points to some start line and orders: - "Everybody on the starting line there while I get down from here."

The contestants did what they were ordered, with obvious reluctance. Ezekiel himself could remember how much Egypt bring him bad memories due, to the previous timeline, he was voted out in the same episode the challenge happened. To be fair, all of that was his fault except for a thing that will be mentioned later but still...

- "Shoot man..." - Harold told to himself as all the contestants reached the starting line while feeling sweaty due to the temperature finally starting to bother him. - "It's like we're being cooked in a giant oven..."

- "It might help if you weren't dressed like a giant baked potato!" - Leshawna commented with a frown, referring to the Aluminum hat.

- "Aluminum foil means the aliens can't read your brains. It's a real problem in this area..."

Does he believe in that ridiculous theory about aliens creating the pyramids and not the people?

- "They did?" - Ezekiel asked me at hearing me saying this.

No. Also, aliens aren't real. I thought you knew.

- "I heard about aliens due to some folk on my town swearing that he saw one on the sky, eh. I later also heard that it was actually some toy from a rural tourist or something like that."

Ok ok... The doubt is already answered the-

*PANG!*

I was interrupted by Chris calling the contestants' attention by crashing some cymbals. After that, he commented:

- "Man... That's satisfying." - Then, he throws away the said cymbals to after announce: - "Alright! 'Pyramid Top or Bottom' already spoils what it is about. It means that you choose how you'll get to the finish line. Either over (Top) or under (Bottom) the pyramid. Got it?" - All contestants nod at him, meaning that they understood, as they prepared to start running. - "Okay! Ready! Set! GO!"

GAME ON! All the contestants run either to the entry of the bottom of the pyramid or to climb to the top of the said structure.

At this, Ezekiel thought about what to do. Do the bottom, like last time, or the top, to be different from before? After some thought, he remembered about the curse after one of his teammates, which he didn't remember who caused, crush some dog mummy, which ended up making the Victory Team be wiped out before the merge. In this, he decides to just climb it up. In that way, maybe it would be different? He hopes. It may still not make difference but still... Just to be different.

In this, he ends up reaching Tyler, Lindsay, and Bridgette, where they were looking at how tall is the pyramid. At least that's what he thought they were doing. In the case of the athlete, it seems so as he inquired to his teammates:

- "It is too late to go under instead?"

- "Alejandro's doing okay." - The ditzy blonde pointed out while looking up, to reveal the Spaniard climbing up easily. - "He's like the super cutest mountain goat in the world!"

- "Wait! I can be a goat too!" - Tyler let out, at seeing how he's losing her before Alejandro came back to the bottom to lend the girls a hand.

- "May I be of assistance?" - He asked, which was replied by Lindsay and Bridgette being helped by him.

- "Lindsay! I'm a goat!"

Then, he tried to imitate one but was too late due to them being already too far, which made the homeschool feel bad for him.

- "That sucks, eh." - He commented.

- "More than agreed." - Tyler told him with a sad frown. - "Let's just be fast on climbing."

With this, Tyler and Ezekiel start climbing to pyramid. And it was hard, even for the so-called athlete. Their luck is that they were able to catch the others, where the ditzy blonde and the surfer girl were literally sitting on the Spaniard's shoulders. One for each shoulder.

- "Lindsay!" - Tyler tried to call her while climbing. - "Wait up for me- OW! MY HANDS!"

This yell was due to a scorpion stinging him, which also made him fall on the ground... And that's what would happen if he didn't grab one of Ezekiel's legs. With this, they fall only two "steps" down on the pyramid.

- "Thank you..." - Tyler thanked Ezekiel in a hurt tone. - "I would have fallen to the bottom if I didn't grab your leg."

- "You're... Welcome, eh?" - The homeschool told to him in confusion as he didn't know what exactly happened.

After this, they resumed their climbing. After some more time, they finally are reaching to the too, where they see the others, with the addition of Bridgette, for some reason, taking out a random post from the top.

- "I can surf!" - They were only able to hear it from the surfer girl.

- "Me too-" - Tyler was commenting when he and the homeschool finished his climbing.

*WHAM!*

He was interrupted by Bridgette accidentally hit on his head with the stick of the post when taking it out, making the athlete fall down the pyramid. Unfortunately, this time, he wasn't able to grab Ezekiel's leg soo...

- "You just hit Tyler and sent him to the ground, eh!" - Ezekiel said to the surfer.

- "Ops! My bad! Sorry, Tyler!" - She answered in regret with a yell to Tyler.

- "Tyler?" - Lindsay asked, as she was starting to remember the name.

- "Yeah, eh." - Ezekiel answered. - "Dressed like an athlete, red clothes, brown hair, told you to call him when you freaked out about a bug on the first season, eh..."

- "Tyler? Tyler is here?!? I thought he wasn't participating..."

- "It was only on last season!" - Bridgette replied about her doubt. - "He's coming back to participate, this time!"

- "Really? YEAH!" - The ditzy blonde cheered with one of the biggest smiles ever. Then, she started running while yelling to him: - "I'M COMING, TYLER!"

- "WAIT! WATCH OUT-!"

It was too late for any of them to warn as Lindsay just fell and tumbled down the pyramid. Shoot... You all need to watch out for where are you going!

- "I know, eh." - Ezekiel agreed with me as we see Tyler and Lindsay talking and then kiss each other while hugging.

- "At least she doesn't look hurt." - Alejandro told to them.

- "Then let's surf down!" - Bridgette replied as she put the sign/post down. - "Come on! Hop on!"

The male teens on the top did what she ordered, where the surfer also got above the said sign. Then... They surfed down the pyramid.

They all yelled. Bridgette of shock that it is working and a hint of excitement, Alejandro with a hint of fear as he held on her to not fall from the sign and Ezekiel of pure excitement as he was holding himself while sitting on Alejandro's shoulders. From all of his life, the last time he got excited was when a cow on his family's farm gave birth.

Finally, they reached to the ground, making all of them jump down, with Ezekiel getting out of the Spaniard's shoulders.

- "We did it!" - The surfer girl celebrated.

- "Yeah!" - The homeschool agreed as he let out said sound while raising his hands to celebrate too.

- "Now... Ladies after me." - Alejandro told to Bridgette.

She smiled as she left to cross the finish line first, being followed next by Ezekiel and Alejandro. After that, Chris sent the surfer and the homeschool to Team 1. The Spaniard was going to do the same but the host stopped him:

- "Not so fast! In this season, there are three teams. Bridgette and Ezekiel stay on Team 1. Alejandro, you're the first member of Team 2."

- "In Egyptian, it's athnan!" - Harold made us know about a curiosity.

- "If it's any consolation, you do get them." - The host added while showing to him Noah and Owen getting out from the bottom of the pyramid, yelling of fear and running for their lives and passing them. - "Congratulations!"

- "That's... Wonderful..." - Alejandro reacted with a fake smile.

With time, Sierra, Cody (Where he was being held by the former) and Heather came out from the pyramid next, where Chris sent the first one to Team Two and the second and the third to Team Three, much to the crazy fan's sadness. Also, Harold had to be shut up when he kept giving translations to the numbers in Egyptian. Come on... I was interested!

Also, at the same time, Cody asked about Gwen, they all suddenly hear some heated discussion. Looking to the top, they see Gwen, Courtney, and Duncan arguing with each other as Lindsay and Tyler pass by them and get to the other side. Seeing this...

- "Oh... Kids!" - Chris told to the contestants arguing with a megaphone, that came out from nowhere.

*BING BING!*

- "Recognize that sound?" - The host added. - "Time for what was not finished yet and that are fighting in words to give us a little musical reprise!"

- "You said one song per episode!" - Duncan protested with a frown.

- "Yeah... But this is a reprise. Not a real song. If you don't sing, you're out! Now... Let's hear it-"

- "You know what? NO!" - Then, he jumped down step by step on the pyramid while repeating the word "NO!", making the goth and the "Former CIT" being dragged down due to being tied to him by a rope. When they reached the ground, the delinquent continued his protest as the jock and the ditzy blonde got down too: - "Three hours of these two squawking on this stupid pyramid in this stupid heat and you want me to sing?!? Forget it!"

- "Dude! You have a contract so-"

- "Eat it, McLain!" He said before taking out a pocket knife from his pocket to cut the rope tying him to girls. - "I'll be on the plane waiting for a ride home, 'cause I'm OUT! Done! I QUIT!"

This received faint gasps from Courtney and Gwen as Duncan left to the plane while still fuming.

- "Whatever... Courtney and Gwen, you're on Team Three. Tyler, you are on Team 2. And Lindsay, you get to stay on Team 1."

With this, they all get to the indicated teams, where Cody even helped Gwen getting up. As soon it was done... Izzy came out from the pyramid... Holding what looks like a MUMMY?

- "Izzy, no!" - Owen let out in shock at seeing his girlfriend carrying the mummy.

- "You're carrying the undead!" - Noah warned next.

- "Cool!" - Izzy reacted. Then, he told to the "mummy": - " Bite me and I can be your undead friend like Frankanste-"

She didn't finish as, due to shaking too much, the "mummy" broke down, turning in a pile of paper and ashes, much to the crazy girl's disappointment.

Well... That was disappointing for me too.

- "Anyway..." - The host continued to move on. - "Izzy, you go join team-"

- "Talata. Or Three." - Harold interrupted.

- "Good guess." - The host complimented sarcastically him. - "But, yes: Team 3. With that done... Okay, everybody! Talk amongst your teammates and determine a team's name. You have three minutes while I enjoy this ice cream."

True to his words, he got from nowhere an ice cream.

- "Okay... What should be our team name?" - DJ asked.

- "How about... Team Victory?" - Leshawna suggested.

- "Nice..." - Harold commented. - "I like that one."

Ezekiel decided to make a change on this one. Initially, he also liked the team's name, like everyone else. But now... Not soo much.

- "Actually... I think this team name is bad, eh." - He asserted.

- "What do you mean?" - Lindsay inquired at this, in a confused expression. - "I don't see nothing wrong here."

- "The problem of the name is about irony, eh. Calling ourselves "Team Victory" will be like promising that we will win ALL challenges. And if we lose at one, this team name will make no sense anymore."

- "That... Makes sense. I went ahead about the idea without thinking much, to say the truth." - Leshawna admitted.

With this, they tried to figure out a team name harder. The homeschool didn't know now what they should be called. Think... Think... Think...

- "Okay, Zeke." - The homsechool thought. - "Try to get a idea, eh... What each member of my team has shown in previous seasons, from what I could remember...?"

And then... After some more time...

- "I got it!" - Ezekiel said out loud, getting attention from his teammates. - "From what I remember from the last seasons, we all had to figure out a way of completing a challenge, eh. The blonde, uh... Lindsay... I remember she was able to figure out that detective challenge last season, in the case of Harold I heard that he killed in a talent challenge with his beatbox improvise, DJ tried to improvise on trying to make himself woken up on the sleeping challenge and how him acting like a deer in that paintball... challenge made his attacker run out of paintballs, Leshawna hid on the water to gain immunity on the hide and seek challenge, Bridgette just recently surfed down the pyramid with me and Alejandro and me... Uh... I will probably show my skills on this or further challenges, eh."

- "True. But... What is your idea then with that?" - The surfer girl asked him.

- "I was thinking about Team... Creative."

- "Team Creative?" - Lindsay said.

- "Yeah. That's what I thought. Not bad, no, eh?"

- "Well..." - Harold was saying while thinking about it with an uncertain expression.

- "I actually like the idea." - DJ commented.

- "Really?" - The homeschool asked in surprise.

- "Of course, man. Team Creative is perfect for us!"

- "I also agree with this team name." - Leshawna added. - "And your explanation made all sense about it. With the challenges looking to get harder too, we have to be creative on what we should do to win."

- "Thanks, eh." - Ezekiel thanked.

- "Anyone has anything to counter about this?" - Leshawna asked the rest of the teammates, where they all shook their heads, except Harold, that was still think. After some time, he finally made up his mind and also shook his head. - "Okay, then. Our team's name is decided."

- "Times up!" - Chris warned the teams. - "Please, each one of the teams tells your name!"

- "Team Creative!" - Ezekiel's team announced in unison while raising their arms.

If you were seeing it on tv, you would see that the team's badge was yellow and the symbol was a lightbulb, which looks like from the cartoons.

After this, Ezekiel waited for the other teams to announce their names. Team 3 looks to have already decided and ready to announce. And he remembers very well what would be their team's name idea. It's-

- "Team Blaze!" - Team 3, where almost all teammates were female, with the exception being Cody, announced in unison.

- "Eh?" - Ezekiel let out in a low volume.

He wasn't expecting this. First, the first challenge's name is changed and now Team 3's name is different too? He doesn't know how it passed from Amazon to Blaze. Or Cody had the luck to convince them or they didn't think about the "Amazon" name at all.

Meh. Probably the second one.

In any case, if you were seeing this on tv too, the team's logo is red and with a fire symbol.

Team 2 didn't decide the name as they were still discussing ideas, with all of them being rejected by the majority.

- "Come on, Team 2." - The host told them with an impatient tone and frown. - "Or you make up your mind or I will choose the name myself."

It didn't help them make up their mind as they continued to discuss ideas but faster. When Chris was almost giving up and decide the name himself...

- "I got it!" - Sierra announced with a smile. - "Team Chris Is Really Really Really Really Hot!"

- "Team Chris?!?" - The rest of the team, exclaimed, as the logo... It is the same as in the canon.

- "All right! Best team name ever!" - Chris complimented at Team 2's new name. - "And here are your rewards!" - He said while pointing to a camel and a cub. - "Team Blaze, you get a camel. Team Chris Is Really Really Really Really Really Hot..."

- "I think there were only four really." - Alejandro interrupted and pointed out, which was ignored by the host.

- "You win a cub!" - In the middle, the cub runs to the team that got him and hit on Tyler, sending him way far ahead. - "And Team Creative..." - At this, he takes out from nowhere a... Big stick? - "Here you go!"

- "So the guys who came in last get a camel and we got a stick?!?" - Leshawna inquired in protest with a glare.

- "All will be explained. I mean... If I feel like it." - Then, the host turns to the camera to announce to the audience: - "Next time, right here on... Total! Drama!" - Finally, he sang the last part: - "WORLD TOUR!" - When the camera stopped recording, he cleared his throat to inform the contestants: - "Okay, gang! You have a break while everything is set up for next challenge. Meanwhile, I will check on Duncan McQuitty Pants."

With this, the host runs to the plane to do what he told the contestants, not without throwing the stick near the Team Creative. After a while, some interns came to set the teams' mats on the finish line and put the rewards on the respective mats. When Harold noticed the mat's color, he complained:

- "Why the heck is our mat yellow? We are no cowards!"

- "Relax, sugar." - Leshawna calmed him down. - "The mat's gold 'cause Team Creative's in the first place!"

- "You have a point..."

*PANG!*

The contestants look behind them to see Chris sitting on an intern's back and eating some grapes and Chef, revealing to be the one making the sound by playing the cymbals.

- "I don't know about you guys but I am loving Egypt!" - Chris told to the contestants. Then, after eating another grape, he continued: - "And I'm gonna love it, even more, watching you enjoy your second challenge: 'The Amazing Camel Race'!"

- "Where are the other camels?" - Harold asked.

- "There are no other camels. It's a CAMEL Race. Not a CAMELS Race."

- "Yes!" - Heather celebrated.

- "WHAT?" - Alejandro sounded in disbelief, where the goat took it personally.

- "We won last time! But they get a camel or a goat and we get a STICK?!?" - Leshawna protested.

- "Each reward has its advantages. You just have to be CREATIVE about it. Trust me. Heh heh..." - Team Creative rolled their eyes due to their team's name being used on a pun of his. In Ezekiel's thoughts, at least it's better than Team Victory. - "You'll be racing to the world's most infamous waterway: The Nile! Teams must bring their rewards to the finish. You have 60 seconds to strategize."

The homeschool now had to ensure that he didn't make a mistake on this challenge like last time. But, before that, he had to dodge Harold looking to attack him with the stick.

- "On the bright side, I can use this stick to defend us from deadly sand snakes!" - Harold pointed out while moving around with the stick. - "They could be anywhere."

Of course, this caused the girls squeal of fear with the addition of Leshawna jumping on Harold's arms, with him guaranteeing that he will protect her. Like last time, he got worried but ducked down before Harold could hurt his eyes with the stick accidentally again. DJ quickly intervened by taking the stick from him to not to hurt anyone. And, when he decided to throw the stick away, he accidentally knocked out a bird.

The homeschool knew how the stick would be useful: It was a divining rod. But it raises a doubt: How he will suggest it without sounding suspicious? Shoot... The first difficulty of trying to redeem himself just appeared now.

- "All right, teams!" - Chris told the teams. - "Nile's in that way. Kind of big... Blue... And watery... Can't miss it. Or I guess you can but then you'll die. Probably get killed by the local scarab beetles. It's mating season and they get all... Killy... When they're in heat."

- "I am glad there aren't any out here." - Leshawna commented with a hint of fear on her facial expression. - "Those things are nasty."

- "I'll tell them you said so."

After that, Chef throws a vase to the ground, which ended up revealing some beetles getting out from it. And considering Chris's explanation...

- "AHHHHH!" - Leshawna yelled of fear and ran back to her team.

The chaos was revealed here: The whole Team Creative was jumping around to not touch on the beetles with their feet, Team Blaze was hopping on the camel and Team Chris (Not using the full name) was all above the goat, all stacked. At some point, Lindsay went too far with her stereotype and jumped on the stick for safety, where it wouldn't help at all.

*BING!*

- "Oh... Time for a song!" - Chris announced while above a... Skeleton? Oh, wait... It was an intern... Sorry. - "Think of it as a mini-challenge."

- "Agh... Three bad things happening right now..." - Ezekiel thought, with the third thing revealing to be DJ being above him and his hat being pushed down, making him cover his eyes.

- "Music can soothe the savage mate-seeking scarab so... Make up a good song and maybe they won't kill you. Or don't and get disqualified like Duncan."

Yeah... They wouldn't be disqualified like him SINCE HE WOULDN'T DIE DUE TO BEETLES.

Oh, wait... In this story, he can't hear me. Dang...

All the contestants groaned at this, except Izzy, that cheered. Also, Ezekiel tried to remember what he did wrong here. He knew that he did something wrong but he couldn't pinpoint what exactly.

Oh well... Good luck to him.

- "Thank you..." - Ezekiel thanked me with sarcasm for looking to not care. YOU FORGOT THAT I WANTED TO YELL AT CHRIS?

Lovin' Time

(DJ, Cody, Alejandro, Tyler, and Noah start the song by dancing at the music's rhythm)

Alejandro:

No need to get crazy.

It's lovin' time at last...!

Cody, Noah, Tyler, DJ, and Alejandro:

You don't wanna eat us all!

Owen:

We're mostly full of gas!

(Some beetles start covering him for some reason, making him scared)

No! No!

Heather, Courtney, and Gwen (Also dancing):

It's mating time for scrabs!

Leshawna (While joining two beetles together on the ground):

So whatcha waitin' on?

Izzy (With Cody singing "Ooooooo..." and her holding a beetle):

Just ignore us, humans...

All the contestants:

And make out till the break of dawn!

Yeah!

Cody and Alejandro:

It's lovin' time...

Courtney, Heather, and Gwen:

Lovin' time, lovin' time...

Alejandro:

Scarab mating season!

Cody and Alejandro:

It's lovin' time...

Gwen, Courtney, and Heather:

Lovin' time, lovin' time...

Alejandro:

Scarabs... Get busy now...

Harold:

It's lovin' time...

Heather, Gwen, and Courtney:

Lovin' time, lovin' time...

All the contestants (Except Ezekiel):

Scarab mating season!

Cody (While he and everyone else walk away slowly):

It's lovin' time...

Gwen, Heather, and Courtney:

Lovin' time, lovin' time...

All the contestants (Except Ezekiel):

Scarab mating season!

Ezekiel:

Till the season-

- "No no wait!" - Ezekiel let out, realizing he mistook on the lyrics making everyone stop in fear of what will happen next.

And what happened next? The beetles stopped mating at not hearing any song and got mad, making them chase the contestants, that they all start to run away, except the homeschool.

With this, Zeke now remembered what he did wrong at this song: He mistook and stopped singing to try to correct it.

EZEKIEL! STOP THINKING! THE BEETLES ARE TRYING TO GET ON YOU!

At hearing my warning, he looked on his clothes to see that it was true and screamed, making him run away before getting devoured by them as Chris announces the start of the challenge with a foghorn.

Sometime later, Zeke finally didn't had the beetles anymore on his clothes as he and his team tried to find the Nile, while the other teams were far away from them.

- "Shoot... We are soo far behind!" - Harold complained.

- "Are we even going in the right direction?" - Lindsay asked to confirm.

- "Chris said that it is in this direction so... That is the only clue we have." - DJ pointed out.

Dang... You are lost, aren't you?

- "I think, eh..." - Ezekiel answered me. - "By this rate, we will be last again..."

Zeke, remember: In this challenge, it doesn't matter if you are last. Remember the mistake that made you be voted out.

- "I remember, eh."

How about you try to have some conversation with one of your teammates?

- "I'll try..."

With this, the homeschool ran faster to catch his team and he was kinda far from them. After that, he decided to start a chat with the nearest contestant: The surfer girl.

- "This is taking too long, no eh?" - Zeke asked Bridgette, trying to break conversation.

- "Huh?" - The surfer girl turned around and sounded at hearing Ezekiel. - "Uh... Yeah. Too long. How much more we all have to run?"

- "I don't know but I guarantee something: I'm starting to hate Egypt."

- "Me too... Kinda..."

- "Yeah. And it was a mistake for me not to continue to sing, with or without the wrong lyrics, eh. Sorry about that."

- "No harm. Especially since nobody got hurt after they restarted the attack..."

- "Except the intern... Poor him."

- "Agreed."

- "Anyway, eh... What you plan to do with another opportunity on getting one million dollars?"

Bridgette didn't answer, making Ezekiel confused for a moment. Then... She sighed, which just raised more his confusion. Luckily, she justified that sigh:

- "Sorry... It's kinda awkward talking with you, considering... We didn't start well."

- "True, eh..." - Zeke let out while looking down, running, and remembering his first season's mistakes. - "Again, sorry for that comment on girls and on trying to get close with you in the Plaza des Losers... In the first, I didn't know how society works, and in the second... I was acting stupid when trying to be cool, eh..."

- "It's okay... That now is part of the past. To be fair on the first one, I didn't remember when Chris talked with you about how you were raised."

- "It still doesn't excuse what I said, eh. I could have just shut up."

- "What matters now is that, at least, you regret doing that. We learn from mistakes. That's what makes us humans, no?"

- "Yeah..." - Then, he smiles at her while adding: - "Thanks for understanding, eh."

- "No need to thank." - The surfer girl answered with a smile too. Then, she notices something, making her tell him and everyone else from her team: - "Changing the topic of conversation, didn't we pass that cactus 10 minutes ago?"

- "Oh yeah!" - Lindsay answered in her cheerful and ditzy personality. Then, she tells the cactus: - "Hey pointy!"

- "I think I see the problem!" - Leshawna declared while stopping running with a shocked face. - "We've been running in circles!"

At hearing her, everyone else from Team Creative stopped running and groaned, for making themselves lost on the desert.

- "Now what?!?" - Harold asked, not knowing how to solve this. - "It is guaranteed that we will lose now! With or without this stupid stick. *BLEEP!*"

At this cursing, he took off his aluminum hat and throws it to the ground in frustration.

- "Cursing won't help us find the way to the finish line, Harold." - DJ pointed out.

- "DJ is right. We just need to find a way of finding the right way." - Bridgette agreed with DJ about this.

- "The only thing I know is that we are in the middle of nowhere." - Lindsay added.

- "Lindsay, not helping." - Harold told her.

- "What? I just read what is in that sign!" - She said while pointing in a certain direction.

At this, they all look to where she was pointing to reveal a sign literally saying "Middle of Nowhere", which made them surprised.

- "What the heck? What kind of people call this place like that?" - Harold let out in shock.

- "Well... At least, we aren't lost, no?" - DJ said with an awkward smile. [Ref.1]

- "True. But it still doesn't give us the directions for the end of the challenge."

Well... Now it was time for to Zeke think about how to show his team that the stick is a divining rod without being suspicious. But how? Saying this as a guess is already crossed out as it would be suspicious.

Let's see... What to do... What to do...

Ah-ha! He found it!

- "Maybe I could trip and fall with the person. The stick would break, no eh?" - He thought.

Asking me won't make you know the answer. You need to do it.

- "Okay okay, eh..." - Then, he starts walking, faking that he was giving in to the heat while mumbling to his team: - "Agh... This heat is killing me... I can't... Take this anymore- OW!"

This yell of pain was due to him bumping on purpose on Harold, that got the stick after Lindsay gave it to him, making both falls on the said stick, which the homeschool hoped for it to break.

- "AH!" - The nerd (Sorry if it is insulting to him) reacted while falling with Zeke. Then, as he tries to get up with Ezekiel doing the same with some fake difficulty, he told him: - "Gosh darn, dude! Watch out where are you going!"

- "Sorry, eh... The heat made me too tired to notice you..." - The homeschool apologized.

- "Yeah yeah... Just be care-" - Harold stopped talking when he heard something vibrating. Looking down, he sees the stick broken into three pieces, with one of them being the reason for the sound. At this, he lets out: - "What the- Why it-?" - Suddenly, he gasps at realizing what it is as he picks the piece of stick vibrating making him warn his team: - "Guys! It's a divining rod!"

- "I don't want to be struck by lightning!" - Lindsay let out in worry.

- "A divining rod helps you find water!" - Leshawna clarified Harold's words to the dumb blonde.

- "Chris said that the reward has its advantages!" - DJ pointed out. - "I thought he was kidding but he wasn't. That stick will lead us to the Nile!"

With this, Team Creative cheers at this good news, with Bridgette commenting that it was awesome.

- "What are we waiting for?" - Harold asked rhetorically the team with hope. - "Let's go!"

With this, the team runs to where the divining rod is pointing. Good acting, Ezekiel. Now, let's hope that you are faster than the others!

- "I hope so." - He answered me.

After a lot of running, they see the Nile. However, they have bad news: The other teams got there first than them.

- "Wow! They already got there?" - DJ asked while still running with his team.

- "The camel and the goat helped, I guess." - Lindsay pointed out.

- "The goat maybe, eh. But the camel would take longer!" - Ezekiel added.

- "Less discussing. Let's focus on being first again!" - Leshawna closed this conversation.

When they finally got to where the other teams were either finishing the boat or getting on another boat, Chris, that was sitting on tv set chairs with Chef, yelled by a big megaphone:

- "We have a basketball out of reeds. Road to the finish. Yadda Yadda Yadda..."

I guess that he wants to focus on watching basketball rather than hosting the show.

And yes: I know that it was obvious by his words.

- "You heard the man! Yada Yada!" - Leshawna declared to the team, making them start making a boat.

The good news for them is that the other teams were having a hard time making the boat go. In the case of Team Blaze, Cody couldn't get the camel on the boat, making the rest of the team, which for some reason, Sierra was there instead of Izzy, help with slow progress. In the case of Team Chris, they still didn't finish the boat. With this, Team Creative had enough time to make a boat very fast.

- "Ha! Who's happy to have just a stick now?" - DJ inquired at seeing the other teams being too slow.

- "Who's happy Leshawna knows her way around?" - Leshawna asked her team with a smile.

- "We are!" - The rest of the team cheered.

Their time to try to stop being behind ended as the other teams already were ready to make the boat go and with their rewards. In the case of Team Chris, they had to make the other side of their boat in the rush, which luckily floats. As for Team Blaze, they had the luck that Alejandro wanted to win fair and square and ordered Izzy to talk to the camel, which made the Team Blaze's camel get on the team's boat.

- "Come on Harold!/Get in, Harold, eh!" - Ezekiel and Leshawna, respectively, ordered in unison, as all the team except the member they are calling is floating on the water.

It was revealed that Harold was still on the coast, making him run with his paddle and do like on the Olympic Pole sport, making him fly to the inside of the boat. While he accidentally pierced the boat with his feet, as long he didn't take them off until the end, the team would be fine.

- "PADDLE!" - Leshawna ordered the team, making all of them do what she ordered.

- "Well now." - We heard Chris' comments about this challenge. - "Clearly this part of the challenge isn't hard enough. So..."

*BING BING!*

- "Time for a musical reprise!" - The host announced to the teams, making all of them groan. - "Hey! If you finished the song for the first time, you wouldn't be here now. Blame Zeke for that."

All teams glare at Ezekiel, making him make an awkward smile. Luckily, due to the talk before, Bridgette didn't do the same soo that's a relief.

- "But the other people's glares overshadows, eh..." - Zeke thought to send a message to me.

Yeah... Makes sense.

- "Start singing!" - Chris added. - "And put your backs into it!"

Looking behind, all teams see crocodiles getting out from underwater, making all of them sing in reluctance and with fear.

Rowin' Time

Alejandro (While holding the goat):

Crocodile amigos...

What you swamped for?

(At here, Owen hit a crocodile with his paddle)

Courtney (As another crocodile jumps from one side to the other of her team's boat):

We don't mean to bug you

Gwen:

Please let us get to the shore!

(The camel makes some sounds, looking like it is singing)

Lindsay:

The crocs are getting killy!

Harold:

Just bop them on the nose!

This was it. The moment that Ezekiel made his team lose and made himself be voted out. The homeschool now needed to make something different.

Well... He'll regret singing but... Whatever.

Ezekiel (Holding the stick):

But I don't wanna get a bite in the hand

And we need to keep the reward, eh!

- "I didn't mean using the reward, gosh!" - Harold complained while rolling his eyes.

Luckily, DJ accidentally hits one of the crocodiles with his paddle, which made him shocked for hitting another animal.

Alejandro:

It's rowin' time...!

Everyone else (Singing and paddling faster):

Vanquishin'! Vanquishin'!

Everyone (Now with Alejandro):

Crocodile season!

DJ:

It's rowin' time...!

Everyone else:

Crocodiles! Crocodiles!

DJ (As his team's boat is bitten in the two edges and made them start sinking):

Tell me I'm not sinking!

Cody:

Yeah, it's rowin' time...!

Everyone else:

Shinkin' in, shrinkin' in!

Everyone (Now with Cody):

Crocodile season!

Alejandro (As Team Blaze passes his team):

It's rowin' time...!

Everyone else:

Rowin' time! Rowin' time!

Sierra (As she and her team get to the other shore, get out from the boat and cross the finish line):

'Till the Blaaaaaazzeees'...

Team Blaze:

Wiiiiiiiin! Yeah!

When the song ended, Team Blaze continued to cheer for winning. While Team Chris was emotionless for losing the first place, Team Creative was falling on the ground, all wet due to almost shrinking on the water.

At the same time, Chris walked to them to inform them:

- "Congrats! You're alive! And... As long you all brought your reward across the finish line, there will be no elimination ceremony!"

Team Blaze showed the camel while Alejandro shows the goat on his hands to show that Team Chris is safe. Team Creative looked at the homeschool, as he was the last one with the stick. Then... He said, while his hands were behind his back:

- "Sorry, eh... I lost it on the water." - This made his team groan. Before Chris could tell that they are being sent to the said ceremony, Zeke laughed and showed the stick that he hid behind his back while adding: - "I was kidding! Here it is, eh!"

With this, Team Creative cheered, except DJ, that cleaned his forehead due to being nervous at the idea of being sent to the ceremony.

- "Alright... Jokes aside..." - Chris said with a frown, as he didn't like Ezekiel lying to make said joke. - "With you showing the rewards, what I said is confirmed. Everyone board on the plane!"

Later, the Total Drama's plane is flying again. Inside, while Courtney, Gwen, and DJ were giving the last goodbyes to Duncan, as he was going to take the Drop of Shame, according to Chris and the rest of Team Blaze were on the First Class, Team Chris and the rest of Team Creative were at the Economy Class. Each team had its own side of the room.

The homeschool was the happiest one here. He just avoided elimination. A crossed step on his redemption arc. What a relief...

As for DJ, he was the saddest one.

- "What's wrong, DJ?" - Bridgette asked him in a concerned tone, noticing his sad expression - "We got safe from having to vote one of us!"

- "I know I know..." - DJ answered. Then, he covers his face with his hands while continuing: - "But I just hit on animals! I always loved them by heart and now it makes me a monster..."

- "But it was an accident. You didn't mean it."

- "True... But still..." - He stopped talking to whimper. Then, he gets up and walks away, not without telling his team: - "I need to make a confessional."

- "Poor Dylan." - Lindsay commented with a worried expression while mistaking his name.

The whole team agreed with this by nodding.

After some time, as DJ came back and was being comforted by Bridgette again and by Leshawna too, Ezekiel took the opportunity to make a confessional himself. Luckily, nobody was their soo he git inside and closed the door.

Ezekiel never did anything like this soo... Good luck.

Ezekiel's Confessional

- "Is this necessary, eh?" - Ezekiel asked me as I announced who was making the confessional again.

Yes, it is.

- "Okay..." - Then, the homeschool turns to the camera, which started to record, to tell: - "Normally I don't make these confessionals... But I might start doing it, eh. I'm happy for not being voted out today. Last time, wrong words of mine made me be voted out on the first episode. This time, I will guarantee that I will go further. Sure: I can't predict the future but I will try, eh!"

End of Confessional

That was it. Ezekiel's first confessional ever.

He... Liked to do it, to say the truth. I will truly do more.

The first step of his redemption is done. Now he has more steps to do: Help his team win and make it to the merge, try to defeat Alejandro, try to make true friendships with any contestants, considering his talk with Bridgette making her initially feel uncomfortable and make it in the season as further as possible. Oh, and also see what major changes will happen with him making minor changes.

- "I will do that last part, eh?" - Zeke asked me.

Yeah. One thing I know about time travel is that one minor change might change something major.

- "Ah... Thanks for the information."

You're welcome.

Now... The destiny is in his hands. He can't make any mistakes. He got a second chance. He won't waste it just because he got safe on the first episode. The future... Will be uncertain.

CUT! That's it for this chapter!

For now, the changes weren't enough to cause any different elimination (Not counting Zeke avoiding being voted out) or changing any canon story arcs. But this is just the beginning. Next chapter, things might change.

One thing I admit is the fact that I might have taken inspiration for an idea from the canceled Ezekiel's Time Tour but, in the rest, it was original or from the show's canon.

[Ref. 1: I saw the joke on a comic of Monica's Gang. I found it funny and I thought it would work here.

And... That's it. Thanks for reading. Favorite, Follow, and Review.

With that... See you soon! Bye!