Disclaimer: I do not own Total Drama nor any of its characters. They all belong to Fresh TV and I do not claim ownership over them. I only own any OCs that I may or may not introduce into this story!
A/N:So, it's been a while eh? I know I've flip-flopped in the past about rewriting and resuming my other fanfics so far, but I've decided that I'm going to take the plunge and seriously rewrite my first fanfiction. Veterans might know if it and how…underwhelming it was, especially compared to similar stories written by other authors at the time. I'm looking to rectify that and revamp the original concept, especially now that I've grown as a writer!
I can't promise that updates will be constant or regular, since college is about to start back up for me and I am working part time as a welder, but I'm hoping I can work on this as a side project and get the ball rolling. With some self-kicking in the butt and encouragement from my friends and siblings, perhaps I can complete this. But enough jabbering, time for the prologue of Total Drama: Phoenix!
The head executive of Fresh TV sat from behind his desk, giving a rather heavy sigh as he pondered over the paperwork in front of his desk. Today would've been another normal day at the studio; filling out paperwork, listening to other executives pitch movie or show ideas, filling out more paperwork, dealing with fans or critics calling him about his current shows, filling out even MORE paperwork.
That wasn't exactly the case today, however.
His eyes peered through his glasses at the folder that sat in front of him, surrounded by other paperwork he had been working on earlier. In summary, it was a pitch for another season of Total Drama. Twenty (mostly) underdogs from both casts would compete on a revitalized Camp Wawanakwa for, not one, but five million dollars. And the person hosting the show would be no other than Chris McLean.
A grimaced look formed on the executive's face. After the events of Revenge of the Island, Chris McLean had been locked up in prison for polluting the island with toxic waste and mutating the local fauna and flora, on top of mutating one of the contestants and endangering the rest. Chris McLean's and, by extension, Fresh TV's actions had drawn a good deal of legal scrutiny and criticism despite the season's overall success.
The thought of releasing that man and putting him in charge of a show again threatened to give him a migraine, considering Fresh TV had only just begun rehabilitating its image. He and the other executives had been planning on possibly doing another season of Total Drama, just with a different host and having it be a race around the world. Similar to World Tour, but with some fresh faces and new locations.
But for whatever reason, albeit a change of plans from his coworkers or outside influence, this pitch now sat in front of his desk, waiting to be delivered to the person who would need it most. While he did loathe the idea…the executive had to admit that the fans would probably love it more. Having the underdogs from each cast return for one more season, wanting to duke it out for an even larger prize and wanting to have a chance in the limelight. The fans would almost certainly eat it up-
The sound of his office door opening up snapped the executive out of his thoughts and he looked up. Standing at the door was none other than Chef Hatchet, who didn't quite look like a chef right now. He had some casual attire on, wearing an Hawaiian shirt and some tan khakis. The tall Afro-Canadian had looked like he just got back from vacation, yet still had that iconic scowl on his face.
"You…wanted 'ta see me, boss?" Chef Hatchet asked, closing the door behind him as he looked over at the executive.
The man behind the desk simply gave a nod and gestured to the seat in front of him. "Please, take a seat."
Chef Hatchet nodded back in compliance and took a seat across from the man. The chair creaked slightly under his weight, but held as he looked back at the executive. "So what was it ya wanted 'ta see me for, fool? Err, I mean boss, sorry." The chef apologized, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.
"Please, dispense for the formalities. Hearing you call me 'boss' makes me feel old." The two shared a small chuckle over that, with the executive smiling momentarily before a more serious expression formed on his face. "But I wanted to see you because I have a pitch I need you to deliver. It's for another season of Total Drama…and I need you to deliver this to Chris?"
"Chris? Ain't da fool locked up in prison right now for fudging up the island?" Chef Hatchet questioned with a raised brow, crossing his arms.
"That is he, yet it seems the person behinds this pitch wants to see him as host again…and as much as I loathe the man for the headache he's created for everyone, he does draw in the ratings." The executive admitted, glancing to the side and frowning. "And the media's been begging me to bail him out, considering much of the industry still adores him."
"Pffft! Of course that's why." Chef Hatchet grumbled, rolling his eyes slightly. "But why me? You want me 'ta cook for those brats again?"
"Well yes and no. Your…skills…" The executive started to speak, consciously wary of how to address the big man's cooking, "Will certainly be needed, but we also need someone who will keep Chris from getting in over his head. The last thing we need is to deal with any more major lawsuits because one of the contestants went feral or mutated or suffered any serious injuries. And you're more than likely our best bet."
"So if you're up to it…would you like to deliver this pitch?"
For a few moments, Chef Hatchet kept his arms crossed as he lowered his head and hummed with thought, frowning slightly. Tapping his fingers on his bicep for a few moments, he then looked back up at the executive and swiped the folder with an exasperated sigh. "He's still at the same prison, right?"
"That would be correct, yes." The executive replied, adjusting his glasses and looking up at Chef Hatchet. "Just tell them I sent you for Chris McLean and they should let you through"
"Very well, I'll be heading over then. I'll see ya soon." Chef Hatchet then turned around and began to make his way out of the office. Before he stepped out however, the large man paused in his tracks and he glanced over at the executive, raising a brow. "Is there another reason why ya needed me again? I'd thought you were planning something involving another host…something without me."
The executive looked up at Chef Hatchet for a moment, his lips pursed slightly, before he gave another sigh. "It was a last-minute change in plans, don't worry too much about it." The executive simply responded.
With his brow still raised, Chef Hatchet then shrugged slightly and made his way out of the office, firmly closing the door behind him. After the door was closed, the executive then took his glasses off and, setting them on the desk, gave his sinuses a tired rub. He already had a feeling he was going to regret this decision already…but alas, time to make a few calls, he supposed.
"I'M INNOCENT, I TELL YOU! INNOCENT!"
Chef Hatchet had to keep his distance away from the cells as the psycho killer (complete with chainsaw and hook) from season one yelled at him, grasping the bars tightly. The killer in question was glaring at the chef as another inmate made kissing noises from the adjacent cell.
The noises and gazing slightly unnerved the chef as he lowered his head a bit, dodging a paper airplane flying across the hallway. The large man didn't enjoy being back inside of a prison, despite looking like he could snap a skinny person in half himself. If anything, it was starting to bring back memories, both good and bad…
"And the Crusty Cockroaches have taken the lead over the Soiled Stinkbugs!"
"Ahhh shove it, McLean!"
The back-and-forth snapped Chef Hatchet out of his thoughts as he looked over in the direction of the first voice's cell. And as he had expected, Chris was sitting inside of it, stuck behind a sturdy looking Plexi-glass wall. The former host was now wearing an orange and black jumpsuit like the rest of the prisoners, albeit he still had that iconic haircut and winning smile.
"Oooh, Duncan has managed to slip past Lightning, the heat is on! Yeah look at that, that's what I'm talking about!" Chris cheerfully announced to no one in particular, watching an actual cockroach and stinkbug "battle" each other. As Chef Hatchet warily approached the cell however, Chris noticed the shadow lingering over him and looked up. The sight of his former co-host immediately made the former host scowl as he promptly stood up, putting his hands on his hips. "Well, well, well! Look who finally decided to come and visit me after a whole year! Having fun without your ol' pal Chris, huh?"
Chef Hatchet merely gave a sigh and rolled his eyes at Chris's antics. "Come on now, ya finished yo' sentence for dumping that toxic waste." Chef Hatchet explained, crossing his arms with the folder still in hand.
"Yeah yeah, whatever." Chris seemingly waved Chef Hatchet off, shaking his head slightly. "Think I'll stay right here, got everything I need, including Chef 2.0."
"See, I made him from a cashew!" Chris then proudly held up a small cashew, which did look somewhat identical to Chef Hatchet's face. The man in question then shook his head with exasperation before sliding the folder through the small slot in the wall. Chris took notice of the folder and snatched it up, furrowing his brows curiously at it. "What is this?"
"Yo' contract…or pitch, I should say. The producers of Total Drama greenlit another season and they need you to host it again." Chef Hatchet explained, crossing his arms as he watched Chris look through the folder. He personally still questioned the decision, but hey, he wasn't the guy who made decisions. He was just the guy who got the paycheck for carrying those decisions out…or whatever paycheck he did get. "So, you in?"
Chris seemingly looked through the documents within the folders for another few moments, seemingly lost in thought. Not after long however, he then looked up at Chef Hatchet and his previously neutral expression turned into that all too familiar host grin. "Oh, it is on!" Chris exclaimed, his pearly white teeth gleaming and eyes lighting up noticeably.
It had been a while since he got to torture these campers and mug the spotlight, considering the amount of time he had spent in this cell. Prison was no place for a host like himself to be in. The air was bad for his skin and he didn't like the way some of the prisoners here looked at him.
But from the looks of it, all of that was about to change.
Another A/N: So, did ya like the prologue? It is a little bit on the short side, but it was mostly just meant to stretch the ol' writing muscles and see how you all liked the writing style. That, and I wanted to give you all a taste of what's to come in the hopefully near future.
If you liked it, hated it, wanted to leave some constructive criticism and/or leave some praise, please leave a review! Next chapter you all shall meet the cast for this season and shall see the start to the first challenge, at the very least. Stay cool and stay positive til I post again, dudes and dudettes!