"Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind." ― William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream
"Last time on Total Drama Sci-Fi Showdown..." Chris started as he was standing outside the Drama Dome. "The contestants faced their greatest fears in a way only a sci-fi world would put it." Kelly joined him in a rather bored manner.
"Yeah and they did stuff for the challenge." She shrugged nonchalantly.
"Be more enthusiastic, you're the acting host for this episode, you know." Chris pointed out to the cheerleader.
"Fine fine fine." Kelly groaned and rolled her eyes. "Some faced theirs bravely and others chickened out. Special guests were even forced- I mean introduced in the challenge to spice things up a bit." She forced a smile and Chris just sighed in response.
"In the end, the Silver Terminators secured a victory, breaking the Cyan Protoss' winning streak." Chris took over. "They were given the entire night to think of their vote and it looked like everyone was hell bent on voting for Cyrus the next morning."
"But they were too stupid to realize that he has an Invincibility Statue, which sent Ivy packing home instead." Kelly laughed. "You should have seen their faces!" She laughed harder.
"I'm pretty sure the viewers saw it crystal clear, Kelly." Chris said irritably. "Both teams are down to seven members each, putting them on equal footing again."
"And I'll be the host for this episode because Chris here sucks and won't do his job." Kelly retorted.
"Will Tatiana be able to get Terrance's attention without any competition?" Chris exclaimed.
"Will Marvin agree to Desmond's alliance offer?" Kelly added.
"Can Cyrus survive without his Statue?" Chris smirked.
"And will Lucy make bigger plays now that her other half has taken control?" Kelly wondered out loud.
"Find out now or in the next few episodes of Total..." Chris started.
"Drama..." Kelly said in sync.
"Sci-Fi Showdown!" They both finished in unison.
(Silver Terminators)
Desmond was eating an apple by the back of the outpost when a tired Sarah approached him.
"Good morning." Sarah greeted him with a yawn.
"Same to you, but you look tired." Desmond noticed as he saw her wild hair and eye bags. "We had the day off yesterday but you look like you didn't sleep at all."
"Oh I slept alright." Sarah told him. "It's just that I've been thinking about our alliance strategy all night. I think I only got five hours of sleep since yesterday."
"I know that we're in the minority right now." Desmond nodded in understanding. "But don't stress yourself over it. We'll just have to win the next challenge and avoid elimination."
"Yeah but what if we lose!? What then!?" Sarah exclaimed in panic. "I'm the alliance leader here. I can't just let us get eliminated one by one." She paced around.
"Calm down, will you?" Desmond sighed.
"No I won't calm down! This is important." Sarah insisted.
Just then, Jane approached them.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Is this an alliance meeting?" Jane asked with a smirk as she glanced from Sarah to Desmond. "It doesn't look like it since the numbers are a bit thin." She added.
"Shut up. We'll turn this tide around." Sarah countered defiantly. "The crowd will cheer for us!"
"Well the crowd is about to be disappointed." Jane shrugged before leaving them alone.
"Arrogant piece of-" Sarah started angrily but Desmond stopped her.
"Don't let her get to you." Desmond said sternly. "The leader has to focus."
"Okay." Sarah breathed and then yawned. "Okay. I think I just need some rest for now."
"But the challenge might start soon." Desmond pointed out to her.
"Then just wake me up when it does." Sarah said dismissively as she went back inside the outpost. Desmond chuckled to himself once she was gone.
~Confessional~
Desmond: Sarah's alliance is doomed to fall. I hope Marvin considers my offer very well because I'm definitely going to need it when merge comes. I need to keep myself secured, not drown in a sinking ship.
Jane: This is almost too easy. I didn't know Sarah was this easy to beat when it comes to strategy, and I'm not even one for doing that kind of stuff. Desmond really chose the wrong allies.
Sarah: *she yawns* Is strategy always this tiring? I know Arnold said that I should take it easy and not think about it unless its necessary, but I want to be a great alliance leader like I am as a band leader.
~End Confessional~
Marvin and Phoebe walked around the forest area, hand in hand.
"The team owes you again for winning us that last challenge, Phoebe." Marvin praised the doll faced girl as they reached the clearing in the woods.
"W-Well, it was nothing really." Phoebe said meekly. "I w-was only confident when y-you guys started cheering for me. I g-guess that made me realize h-how much I'm needed to win it."
"You're a valuable asset to this team. Just because you're not physically strong like the others doesn't mean you're useless. Shane is strong but he got voted out." Marvin pointed out to her as they looked at the colorful birds nearby.
"But it w-would still be nice to help in physical c-challenges." Phoebe said softly. "M-merge is coming up soon."
"You're right." Marvin agreed. "But we have a strong alliance, don't we? We'll be fine." He said the last part a bit distantly as he looked away.
Phoebe tilted her head as she tugged on his arm. "You look l-like you're thinking o-of something."
"Yeah, actually." Marvin conceded as he turned to face her again. "How would you like to make a final two deal with me?"
"A f-final two d-deal?" Phoebe stuttered out in surprise.
"Think about it, we need each other in order to survive the merge." Marvin explained, looking around to see if anyone was eavesdropping. "Jane and Cassie may be our allies, but they are both strong and can easily win invincibility challenges."
"S-So what you're saying is…" Phoebe trailed off but her expression indicated that she knew what he was going to say.
"We should eliminate them at the best time." Marvin said finally with a sigh. "I know they're your friends, but I'm trying to think for the both of us. We'll never stand a chance if they continue to play."
"But w-we're in an alliance with them." Phoebe pointed out with a frown. "We can't d-do that to them. And Jane a-also saved you during the last elimination we w-were in."
Marvin looked taken aback by that statement. He started pondering for words before nodding to himself. "I know I owe Jane for saving me, so we can at least keep them around until sometime in the merge."
"Voting o-off our allies is s-sad." Phoebe said sadly.
"I know, Phoebe. But it's the only way for us to stand a chance at winning." Marvin told her. "They have their strength, so we need to use our intelligence to win."
"That m-makes sense." Phoebe nodded in understanding. Marvin sighed again but gave her a confident smile.
~Confessional~
Marvin: I'm simply looking out for the both of us. Phoebe has been trying so hard to make it far in this game, so I don't want it to go to waste just because of a couple of challenge threats, allies or not. That reminds me, I'm also going to need a plan to take out the challenge threats in the other team. I could always consider Desmond's final three offer, but I'm not so sure about that just yet.
Phoebe: I'm going to l-leave it up to Marvin to m-make the strategy for us, but I-I'm surprised he considered voting o-off our allies. I mean I k-know it's going to happen s-someday, but he looked like he isn't g-going to hesitate. Should I t-tell Jane and Cassie a-about this?
~End Confessional~
Arnold was eating a heavy breakfast inside the outpost with Cassie.
"Ya sure are eating a lot." Cassie noted. "Getting gluttonous after a win?"
"Shut up." Arnold growled. "I can't let Ray get the better of me. That's all."
"Still pissed off from last time?" Cassie asked.
"You don't get it. You have Lucina there and she was more of a benefit than a disadvantage." Arnold said bitterly as he kept eating.
"But we won in the end, right?" Cassie pointed out.
"It's not enough. I'm a physical asset in this team so I have to always be at top shape. As team captain of the Green Bolts, the same thing goes." Arnold explained as he got more food.
"Relax, Jane and I are still here ya know." Cassie countered as she drank some water.
"We're on opposite alliances. When we lose, it's a different thing for Sarah and I." Arnold sighed and drank as well.
"But we're still on the same team." Cassie pointed out. "I want to win as much as y'all do."
"Then all the more reason I should pick up my game." Arnold went back to eating. "We're teammates, not allies."
"It's all because y'all wanted Phoebe gone." Cassie glared at him. "She won us the last challenge and yet ya still gunning for her to go."
"It was Shane's and Desmond's idea." Arnold rolled his eyes. "Sarah just had some sort of theory behind it which is why I was agreeing to it in the first place."
"What theory?" Cassie narrowed her eyes at him.
"Nothing important." Arnold said dismissively as he finished his food. He stood up and left the outpost.
"Something's fishy here." Cassie said to herself as she watched him leave. She turned back and noticed that there was only one pixel cube on the locked door. "I really wonder what's behind that door there."
~Confessional~
Cassie: Arnold is definitely someone to keep tabs on. We're on opposite alliances but he's a really good player in challenges. I've watched a couple of soccer games so I can only imagine the kind of skills he has on the field. Maybe we should eliminate him before merge? I don't know. I've never been good at this strategy stuff.
Arnold: The only real way for me and Sarah to make it to the merge is to make sure we win every challenge until then. I know it's not easy since the Cyan Protoss were able to win twice in a row but we won the phobia challenge which isn't a physical challenge at all. We might still have a chance to turn the tides around.
~End Confessional~
(Cyan Protoss)
Nelly woke up to find Lucy changing clothes in the bedroom. She noticed the other girl's right eye which was color red. For a moment it glowed and Nelly widened her eyes.
"That isn't sore eyes at all." Nelly sat up suddenly and pointed and accusatory finger at Lucy. "What's wrong with your eye!?"
Lucy sighed and turned to fully face her with confidence in her gaze. "I don't actually know what this eye means, but what I do know is that you're not talking to the old Lucy."
"The old Lucy?" Nelly repeated. "What do you mean by that?"
"It means that I'm a whole new personality separate from what you know of Lucy." Lucy said simply. "You're a nerd, you can understand that."
"Well yeah I do understand it, but it's still freaking bizarre." Nelly pointed out. "Even if it IS virtual reality."
"Now you're probably wondering how much better I am than that soft spoken good for nothing girl, right?" Lucy smirked. "Well for one, unlike her, I have a proposal for you."
"Really?" Nelly raised her eyebrow. "You're the girlfriend of Jude and the friend of Nataline. Why should I trust you?"
"Because you'll need me for a clear majority." Lucy explained. "Unless of course, if you're willing to trust Cyrus."
"He'll be the next one gone." Nelly said immediately. "We don't have to talk about anything."
"And once he is, what next?" Lucy asked her.
"We're taking out Nataline." Nelly told her. "She's rich so she doesn't have any real reason to compete."
"What you say is true, but you're thinking of the short term and the worst case scenarios." Lucy said matter-of-factly. "This is under the assumption we lose two challenges in a row, since I'm pretty sure the merge will start once we're half the cast. What happens to your strategy when we do reach it?"
"Well that's..." Nelly was at a loss of words for once as she looked away. Lucy walked closer to her and held her chin.
"Listen to me, you're going to be at a disadvantage if you continue this line of strategy." Lucy said seriously. "If you do as I say, I can guarantee you'll get far in the merge. You and Terrance, that is."
"Wait, Terrance is in on this?" Nelly asked in disbelief.
"Yes. How else was Wesley eliminated?" Lucy grinned evilly and Nelly gasped in shock.
"What!? You helped him do it?" Nelly's eyes widened. "Well if he's in and I guess I'm in too. Not much options with such few people on the team."
"There's still Cyrus." Lucy laughed and Nelly just groaned.
~Confessional~
Lucy: This is perfect. I'm basically in two alliances now. This means that both Tatiana and Cyrus are useless to me. Except that I can still use Tatiana's feelings to get me far. The question, is how?
Nelly: Damn it, Lucy makes such a good point and it's stressing me out. She was just a soft spoken girl who did not much on the team. Now she's basically running the whole team from behind the scenes. I'm pretty sure no one will believe me if I tell on her and I can't risk going home this late in the game.
~End Confessional~
Jude saw Terrance and Tatiana heading towards the direction of the Red Sith outpost and decided to go over to them.
"Hey guys, where are you going?" The marksman asked as he caught up.
"We forgot some things back in the old outpost and we're just gonna get it." Tatiana answered and Terrance rolled his eyes.
"He doesn't have to know that, Tatiana." The techie boy said.
"But he's our teammate. What if challenge starts and we don't know about it?" Tatiana pointed out.
"Fair point." Terrance conceded. "I still think it's a bad idea to go now. Kelly might be there."
"What's with you and her anyway? It's obvious you both don't like each other." Jude noted.
"She's a cheerleader in our school. A popular one, of course." Terrance told them as they continued walking. "I remember that most of the nerds and geeks in the school get bullied by her and her team a lot."
"That's awful. The cheerleaders in my school are very nice." Tatiana frowned.
"Almost all my bad memories there are simply because of them in general." Terrance sighed as he adjusted his glasses.
"Well I got your back if we do see her there." Jude patted Terrance's back. "I know we don't talk much and you probably hate me because I spend time with Nataline, but I hate bullying. If Kelly is gonna be difficult, then might as well respond properly too."
"Yay! A three man mission and the party is ready." Tatiana cheered as she pointed ahead. "Onward, troops!" The other two chuckled at her cheeriness as they continued going there.
~Confessional~
Jude: Last challenge, Kelly was the special guest for Terrance's phobia challenge and she was so annoying! To think that we had to watch it from the outpost and that we couldn't do anything to help him is sick. I even recall seeing Nelly pace back and forth with an angry face, muttering to herself as she watched. Bullying really sucks and it takes the joy out of every school experience. I wonder why people even do it but I'm not psychologist or something.
~End Confessional~
After a few minutes, they made it to the door of the Red Sith outpost. Jude went first and knocked on it, and Ray opened the door with a frustrated expression.
"Oh it's the losers from last challenge. What do you guys want?" The other soccer player said irritably.
"We're just here to get something we left behind. We won't be long." Terrance answered as he narrowed his eyes at Ray.
"Wait, is it this?" Ray went back inside for a while then emerged again, now holding a hexagon-like item. It glowed in multiple colors depending on the side they look at, and seemed to have two cords sticking out of it.
"Yes, that's the one!" Tatiana exclaimed and reached over to grab it but Ray pulled it back out of reach.
"Who said I'm gonna give it to you?" Ray snickered. "No way am I gonna give something for free to a bunch of losers."
"Watch it." Jude came up to his face as he opened the door wider. Ray did the same with similar confidence. "We just want the item."
"And I'm saying that you're too weak to take it from me." Ray retorted. "How about this? I'll give this to you if you win the next challenge. If you don't, then you can forget about ever taking this back."
"Hey that's not fair! We-" Terrance was interrupted when Tatiana stepped forward and placed her hands on her hips with confidence.
"We accept the challenge!" The gamer girl exclaimed. "We'll win that from you or my name isn't Tatiana the Chocobo Slayer!"
"Are you crazy? He doesn't even have the right to keep it." Terrance told her. Tatiana just shook her head.
"But it's fun to accept the terms. It's like a game." She reasoned.
"Well this is a virtual world so this is technically one big game." Jude agreed. "Alright, we'll do it. We'll win the next challenge for that item."
"You're seriously going to help us?" Terrance turned towards the marksman.
"I told you that I have your back and I still do. Ray is just as bad as Kelly anyway. Plus we're still a team." Jude explained.
"Hey what do you mean I'm as bad as Kelly? That cheerleader is pretty good, you know." Ray pointed out.
"You would know." Terrance muttered under his breath which only Jude heard and he snickered as well.
~Confessional~
Terrance: Seriously, is Tatiana always like this? Well anyway, it looks like I'm doubling my efforts in this next challenge just for that one thing we need for the next thing we're gonna invent.
Tatiana: I always like to see things as some sort of game. It makes it more fun to do and gives me motivation to do it. Like, I compete with my sister whenever we do house chores to see who can clean it the most by the end of an hour. The winner gets more pizza when mom brings home a box or two. See? It's fun!
~End Confessional~
Cyrus was busy searching for something in the living room when Nataline passed by after going to the bathroom.
"Come on...There has to be something..." The emo writer muttered to himself in frustration as he searched under a couch but cursed when he found nothing.
"What are you looking for? Your earring?" Nataline raised her eyebrow.
"I'm looking for anything to write on and a pen or pencil or something." Cyrus gave a huge sigh as he sat down. "I haven't wrote down anything for like a week now or something."
"And that bothers you so much?" Nataline shook her head. "Maybe there will be writing materials in the resort when you lose." She smirked.
"Don't make me laugh." Cyrus glared at her. "I'll outlast you, and get some inspiration from your humiliation. Hey that rhymed."
"Please," Nataline scoffed. "Nobody likes you. You may have had an Invincibility Statue to save yourself, but it's gone now. This next vote should be unanimous."
"I can turn the votes around. People are bound to vote with me after what I did to get Ivy out." Cyrus said confidently.
"What?" Nataline asked, confused by his statement.
"I voted the weakest link we have. You saw her in the phobia challenge, immediately backing out like that. I eliminated her so that she won't hold back the team anymore." Cyrus explained. "I'm playing strategically, so people are bound to keep me."
"That's nonsense. Next to her, you're the most useless one here." Nataline countered. "They'll definitely see that."
"Nelly said something similar and it's seriously getting old." Cyrus sighed. "Maybe I should push for you to go." He grinned evilly.
"I have an alliance. What do you have?" Nataline challenged.
"Whatever." Cyrus just grunted as he stood up and brushed past the noble girl.
~Confessional~
Cyrus: Okay so now I gotta find a way to vote out Nataline. Or maybe I should go focus on another target? Damn it, this is difficult and without my Statue, my chances of staying here is slim.
Nataline: Cyrus is making desperate attempts to throw me off guard but it isn't going to work. He doesn't have an alliance and nobody likes him. The vote is obvious and he knows it as well, just too prideful to admit it.
~End Confessional~
Kelly's hologram appeared in the living room of the two outposts, looking bored and unmotivated but she is holding her pom poms.
"Attention everyone." She said in a bored tone. "Go and meet me in the Red Sith outpost again like the last challenge. Obviously it's because your next one is located there too."
"She does not sound like she likes this job." Marvin wondered out loud from his team's outpost.
"I mean she and the other guests were literally just supposed to be guests." Jane said. "I'm wondering why they are still here."
"I s'ppose that means I can see Lucina again." Cassie grinned.
"Seriously, when are they going to leave?" Nelly groaned from his team's outpost.
"We have to win this challenge, whatever it may be." Jude said as he narrowed his eyes at Kelly's hologram. Nataline glanced at him and then thought to herself.
"This should be fun!" Tatiana cheered.
After some time had passed, the contestants were all gathered once again outside the Red Sith outpost. Kelly, Ray, and Lucina were all standing and waiting for them, and there was a large portal also in the area.
"Finally. Took you guys long enough." Ray grunted.
"It is a rather long walk from here to their outpost." Lucina said to the other soccer player.
"Then why didn't they run?" Ray rolled his eyes.
"That would use up their energy that could otherwise be used for the challenge." Lucina pointed out in a calm manner.
"Shut up, both of you! I'm trying to host here." Kelly interrupted as she waved her pom poms at them.
"Why are you hosting? Can't you let Lucina do it?" Ray turned towards the cheerleader.
"We are going to be part of the challenge, that's why." Lucina told him. "Kelly will be the acting host for now."
"That sucks." Terrance muttered under his breath.
"For once, I agree with you." Nataline added.
"What's your role in the challenge?" Cassie asked Lucina.
"I cannot say at this moment, sorry." Lucina apologized with a shake of her head.
"W-Where is Chris?" Phoebe asked no one in particular.
"Nobody cares, Phoebe." Cyrus retorted harshly.
"Shut up already so I can explain the challenge!" Kelly demanded as she glared at everyone which got them to be quiet. "Okay so I'm only going to explain it once so you better listen up. Past that portal is the battlefield for your challenge. The challenge is to collect colored orbs scattered around the field. Red ones give one point, green ones give two points, and blue ones gives three points. Got it?"
"Sounds easy enough." Jude shrugged.
"But there's a catch." Kelly smirked. "Ray and Lucina will be stopping you from collecting those orbs."
"What? How?" Jane asked.
"You'll find out later." Kelly said dismissively at her. "The challenge is over when all the contestants have been wiped out."
"So they're going to kill us off in order to prevent us from collecting more orbs?" Lucy clarified. "But that means they have weapons."
"Yes and you guys don't." Kelly told her. "All you guys will have is armor that will help you sustain more damage."
"We can't use our assets then?" Tatiana frowned. "That's not fun."
"Maybe not for you, but it is for us." Ray grinned. "Let's get started already."
"Be patient because they may still have questions." Lucina pointed out. Kelly scoffed.
"Well I don't care if they do." The cheerleader declared as she pointed at the portal. "Hurry up and get in!"
The contestants obeyed and one by one, they entered the portal while Kelly was the last to enter. Ray and Lucina remained behind.
"Guess we should gear up." Ray shrugged as he went back inside the outpost as Lucina followed him.
When the two teams emerged on the other side of the portal, they were already wearing a light alloy suit and a helmet with a transparent front so their faces can be seen. The field around them was that of a ruined city with debris and fallen buildings all around them. There is no other sign of life except for themselves.
"I don't remember putting this on." Desmond noticed the suit he's wearing.
"Magic of science I guess." Sarah shrugged. Nelly heard this and scoffed in a disapproving manner.
"So there are still some people who put magic and science in the same sentence." The nerd sighed.
"Shut up." Arnold glared at Nelly. "You're just trying to get in our heads, what with us being faster than all of you." He bragged.
"Hey, I'm in this team." Jude interjected.
"And just because I don't have my chocobo doesn't mean I'm slow." Tatiana added. "We'll win this game as a team!"
"B-But we have t-teamwork too." Phoebe defended. Jane glanced at her and shook her head. "O-Oh."
"We're the physically stronger team." Desmond said. "You should double your efforts."
"If you guys are the physically stronger team, then why did you lose the challenge before the phobia one?" Lucy smiled as her right eye glowed red in a sinister way.
Desmond flinched as he couldn't think of a comeback. Cassie stepped forward and cracked her neck.
"Good luck y'all. May the best team win." The rancher girl said as she turned away from the Cyan Protoss and faced front, seeing Kelly standing there now.
"Glad that you all hate each other." The cheerleader laughed. "Now, we begin in 3...2..." She counted down while holding her pom poms high above her.
Jude and Nataline took the front of their team as they leaned forward in a running start position. Cassie, Jane, and Arnold did the same for their team as they all glanced at one another.
"...1! Go!" Kelly ordered as she let down her pom poms. Both teams took off running and began searching for the orbs.
Jane, Marvin, and Phoebe went together as they searched in a street with broke down vehicles.
"There's gotta be one here." Jane muttered as she opened car doors.
"This is a likely place to put a couple of orbs." Marvin agreed.
Phoebe opened a car door and saw a green orb inside. She grinned as she took it.
"I f-found one." She exclaimed to the other two.
"Good work, Phoebe." Jane gave her a thumbs up as she kept searching.
"I found one too." Marvin held up a red orb. Just then, both Phoebe's orb and Marvin's orb dispersed in flickering lights. "What?"
"Oh, I forgot to tell you that the orbs disappear after you grab them. Lucina insisted that you guys shouldn't have to carry them as you go." Kelly voice boomed around them like a distant echo.
"Well that's convenient. Thanks, Lucina." Jane called out to no one in particular. She then found a red orb inside a phone booth. It disappeared after she grabbed on to it.
"Let's keep going and-" Marvin was cut off as a an explosion happened behind him, knocking him forward as car parts flew. Phoebe got hit by a couple and fell down as well.
"E-Eeek!" The doll faced girl exclaimed in shock as she and Jane looked towards where it had come from. On top of a nearby building was Ray, holding down a soccer ball with his left foot. The ball seemed to glow brightly.
"It's Ray!" Jane growled.
"Sup. I'm here to stop you and all that junk." Ray shrugged with a small chuckle as he kicked the ball beneath him, sending it crashing down on Marvin just as he was about to stand up. Smoke covered the area and when it cleared, Marvin's avatar was gone.
"M-Marvin!" Phoebe covered her mouth as she backed away fearfully.
"Run, Phoebe!" Jane commanded and the doll faced girl snapped back to reality and ran in the opposite direction of the broke down cars. Jane decided to head straight for it instead and parkoured over the vehicles, dodging the next shot Ray sent.
"Hold still." Ray sneered as blue lights shone beneath him and formed another ball which he kicked, sending car parts flying towards Jane but the latter dodged it as well.
"You're too slow." Jane laughed as she went out of range.
"Damn it." Ray cursed as he pressed a button on the new bracelet he is wearing and his avatar flickered out of the area.
~Confessional~
Jane: So that's how they're gonna stop us. Well as someone who knows how to survive in both the wilderness and the city, this should be easy.
~End Confessional~
Terrance, Jude, and Tatiana were together as a group, moving from alley to alley in search of orbs. Currently, only Jude had gotten a green orb.
"Let's search around here." Jude suggested as they came up at a park, now with withered down trees and plants, broken benches, and a dried pond.
"I wonder how Lucina and Ray are supposed to stop us." Tatiana wondered out loud as she searched a patch of dried grass.
"If I know this game, it definitely has something to do with making our avatars flicker out of the challenge again." Terrance adjusted his glasses as he searched the dried pond and found a blue orb. "Hey I got one." He took it and it dispersed afterwards.
"I'm glad you found that out." Lucina said and the three Cyan Protoss members whipped their heads around to see the special guest standing on the other side of the park, wearing light armor and an open helmet. She is holding a plasma rapier in her right hand. "You're correct. Our job is to make sure you don't acquire any more orbs."
"Go on without me, guys." Tatiana ordered as she stepped forward to block Lucina's path. "I'll stall for time while you gather more."
"Are you sure? I can be the one to do it if you want." Jude offered as he stepped forward as well but Tatiana held out her hand to stop him.
"But you got a good eye." Tatiana pointed out. "We need that to win this challenge."
"She's right so let's go." Terrance urged as he started to run away from the park. Jude glanced towards Terrance and then at Tatiana before nodding to the gamer girl and then following the other boy.
"You will stay and fight? How brave." Lucina remarked with a nod as she entered the fencing position. Tatiana held her ground firmly as she smiled.
"Yeah! There is no way you can beat me in melee combat if that's what you're using." Tatiana said confidently as she took on an offensive stance.
"We shall see. En garde!" Lucina lunged forward and got the gamer girl by the shoulder. The latter flinched back but managed to grab Lucina's wrist and pull her forward, making her imbalanced and fall on the ground, face first.
"Hah!" Tatiana grinned and went to deliver a low kick at the other girl. Lucina rolled out of the way and jumped back up before doing an advance lunge, catching Tatiana by the gut now. "Gaah!" The gamer girl yelped in pain as she moved away to lengthen the distance, staggering back while clutching her side. Lucina continued her attack and stabbed directly through her chest, making her avatar flicker out of the challenge area.
"She should have tried her luck at running away." Lucina muttered as she touched a button on the side of her helmet and her avatar flickered out as well.
~Confessional~
Tatiana: *she is pouting* Well how should I know she was a master fencer?
~End Confessional~
Arnold and Desmond searched together inside an empty hotel lobby. Neither boys have found an orb yet and so they started moving things around to thoroughly check it.
"Orb...Orb..." Arnold muttered to himself as he looked under a couch. To his surprise, there was a blue one underneath. "Got one!" He exclaimed as he held up the orb before it disappeared from his hand.
"Same here." Desmond told him as he checked around the receptionist area and held up a red orb. It dispersed as well.
"And I got another one. Dude this is easy." Arnold said arrogantly as he held up another red orb from behind a potted plant, which dispersed.
"So what do you think of our chances at winning?" Desmond asked him as they went up the second floor. "Do you think we can win this?"
"Of course we can." Arnold looked at him weirdly. "We just have to think positive and give it our best shot!" He exclaimed.
"Maybe you're right." Desmond sighed. "It's just that I can't shake this feeling that losing again would make things messy for us. I just need to do my part to make sure we don't go to elimination tonight."
"I admire your optimism and your resolve." Lucina said from behind them as they were walking down a hallway. "But I'm afraid it ends here. En garde." She pointed her rapier at them and prepared to lunge. Both Desmond and Arnold moved out of the way when she did. Lucina did a short feint and then stabbed Desmond in his side, sending him staggering to the side.
"Go and keep searching in the rooms." Desmond ordered. "Get as many as you can because we won't last long here." He said in between pants as he regain his balance and dodged another blow from Lucina.
"Got it." Arnold ducked inside one of the rooms but found no orb. By this time, Lucina lunged again and Desmond retaliated by crouching then tackling her to the ground.
"Not so fast." Lucina said as she activated the electric shock in her suit. Desmond got electrocuted as his body made contact with her suit. He twitched and spasm for a few moments before his avatar dispersed.
Arnold was searching in another room when Lucina blocked his way out.
"Darn it. I wasn't finished here yet." Arnold groaned as he turned around and saw her.
"Don't worry, you won't be searching around for long." Lucina told him as she did an advanced lunge. Arnold quickly stepped back and saw the broken window beside him that leads down below.
"Well I can still escape you by doing this-" Arnold made a break for the gap and jumped off from the second floor and down to the ground. He landed with a hard crash and struggled to get up.
"That was ungraceful." Lucina remarked as she jumped down after him, placing her foot on a small ledge in the wall and using it to lessen the fall's impact as she landed on her feet. She strode to where Arnold lay down on his stomach, groaning in pain. She calmly stabbed through his chest and made his avatar disappear.
~Confessional~
Arnold: That could have gone better. *he rubs his back painfully*
Lucina: I fail to see how that could have gone better.
~End Confessional~
Cyrus, Lucy, and Nelly were all walking together to search for orbs by the ruins of an apartment. Cyrus had recently found one red orb while Lucy found one green orb.
"Ugh, remind me again why we have to travel with you?" Nelly groaned as she glanced at Cyrus with disdain.
"Lucy said that the more the merrier." Cyrus shrugged. "But I feel the same way, because why would I consider travelling with a nerd like you?"
"I know you're trying to sound like a mean and cool jock, except yours is less intimidating and overall pretty pathetic." Nelly retorted.
"And I didn't say 'the more the merrier', I said that we would have a better chance at finding the orbs if we remain as a group." Lucy explained irritably. "Honestly, I hate you too, Cyrus."
"I miss the old Lucy." Cyrus rolled his eyes. "The old Lucy would just speak softly and just mind her own business."
"Well you're gonna have to get used to the new and improved one." Lucy smirked arrogantly.
"And it's not like your personality is any better either." Nelly pointed out to Cyrus.
"I'm used to being insulted like that." Cyrus waved his hand at her dismissively as he walked ahead. Nelly was about to make a comeback when she saw a blue orb hiding behind some pillows by the bed.
"There's one over there." Nelly went over to grab it.
Lucy looked out the window and saw Ray atop another apartment across from it, preparing to kick a charged soccer ball in their direction. "Look out!" She warned Nelly.
It was too late, however, since the ball soared right towards where Nelly was and exploded, making her avatar flicker out just before she could even touch the orb. The bed got destroyed but the orb remained unharmed, now rolling across the floor to which Cyrus picked it up and made it disappear.
"Got the points." Cyrus told Lucy as he made his way out of the apartment.
They made it out and found Phoebe running towards them as well.
"Is that Phoebe?" Lucy squinted her eyes.
Ray dropped down from the apartment he was in and calmly walked towards them while dribbling the ball.
"Hey, look who else dropped by." He noted as Phoebe came to a stop.\
"Y-You're here already?" The doll faced girl looked shocked at his appearance. She then took notice of the other two with her. "Lucy a-and Cyrus, it's you guys."
"No shit." Cyrus deadpanned.
"Good, the more you guys are, the easier this gets." Ray smirked as he pressed down on the ball with his foot.
"Oh yeah?" Lucy's right eye glowed red as she suddenly tackled Ray. He was caught off guard and stumbled backwards with her.
"I w-wanna help." Phoebe stepped forward but was a bit afraid.
"Then you can help." Cyrus snickered as he went behind the doll faced girl and tripped her, before running away.
"Eek!" Phoebe said in shock.
"Get off me, you piece of-" Ray cursed as he pushed Lucy off him then stood up, kicking the ball right in her chest.
"Oof.." Lucy said in pain as she was knocked back, her armor cracking as well.
"H-Hey, that's wrong." Phoebe said timidly as she got up.
"I don't care." He said simply as he kicked another ball at the doll faced girl, which exploded and made her avatar flicker out completely.
"Not showing mercy to even little girls, huh?" Lucy remarked as she slowly got up. "Looks like Cyrus got away. Typical coward."
"You're one to talk. That persona of yours is pretty weak, if you ask me." Ray glared at her. "Acting soft and then using visual effects to act tough by making your eye do...that." He pointed at her right eye.
"I don't know how it does that." Lucy shrugged honestly. "But I can tell you that this was always me. The real me." She growled and charged at him again, albeit a bit slower due to the injury. All Ray did was deliver another kick to a newly formed ball towards her. This fully broke her armor and made her avatar disappear.
"Sometimes I wonder why girls bother acting tough when they're so weak." Ray rolled his eyes as he remarked to himself.
~Confessional~
Ray: To those girls offended by what I said, come at me and show me what you got. Actions speak louder than words, you pathetic feminists.
~End Confessional~
Cassie and Sarah were walking down another street when they saw Jane run up to them in a hurry.
"Howdy, Jane." Cassie greeted.
"No time! We have to keep moving." Jane told her as she grabbed her arm and began running down an alley. Sarah looked confused by followed them anyway.
"What's up? And weren't you with other people?" Sarah noted. "I remember seeing Phoebe with you."
"We got separated and right now we need to find more orbs quickly." Jane glanced over her shoulder at Sarah before continuing to run.
"What's the big hurry? Is it Ray and Lucina?" Cassie asked.
"Yeah, we encountered Ray earlier and they're gonna stop us by killing off our avatars one by one." Jane answered as she panted. "That's why we have to keep searching while we still have time."
"Well I got a green orb earlier so I'm being helpful." Sarah smiled.
"It was on a ledge and I still gave you a boost." Cassie pointed out.
"Right." Sarah laughed sheepishly.
"Well we let's go find more and-" Jane stopped as she saw a red orb by the trash bin. "Here's one." She grabbed it and made it disappear.
They began running again and soon ended on another street. They saw Nataline, Jude, and Terrance up ahead, with Nataline picking up a green orb.
"It's the Cyan Protoss." Sarah exclaimed, a bit too loud. The other team turned around and saw them.
"Looks like we all decided to gather here then." Jude smirked as he stared down the other team.
"Not to mention there's only three of you left." Nataline added.
"Shut up. There's more of us. Just. Around." Sarah insisted unconvincingly. She then lowered her voice into a whisper to her teammates. "Right?"
"Marvin was eliminated but I don't know about Phoebe and the rest." Jane shrugged.
"Jude, you have to go ahead and find more orbs for us." Terrance told the marksman. "We'll make sure they don't pass."
"You know that's what Tatiana said earlier right?" Jude pointed out to him. "I can help you instead."
"But we might be the only people left. We have to make the most of it." Nataline said. "I say we all avoid them and go our separate ways."
"What, and risk getting caught by Ray and Lucina?" Terrance retorted. "Jude should go alone. He's strong and has good eyes. He'll be fine."
"The other team will overwhelm us in a short time." Nataline pointed at the three Silver Terminator members.
"Are they arguing or something?" Sarah squinted their eyes at them.
"I guess teamwork isn't their strong suit after all." Cassie tipped her hat forward and shook her head.
"You'll be surprised how one little argument can soon change everything about them, Cassie." Lucina's voice came from behind the Silver Terminators.
"Lucina?" Cassie's eyes widened as they turned around and saw the fencer standing there, her blade pointed at them and her face neutral.
"You guys better make up your mind fast or none of you will settle for any game plan." Ray smirked as he appeared behind the Cyan Protoss members.
"How did you-?" Jude said in shock as everyone from the team turned to see the other soccer player standing there, hitting the ball with his kneecap.
"I love being one of the admins." Ray laughed as he kicked the ball towards them in a straight line. Everyone from the Cyan Protoss managed to moved to the side in time, making the ball go ahead and landed on the ground near the Silver Terminators. It exploded which sent their members scattered about.
"Aaah!" Sarah said in pain as she fell to the ground, her armor showing cracks.
"What!?" Jane tried to find her footing but tripped and landed hard on the ground.
Lucina charged forward at Cassie while the latter was stunned and stabbed her arm. Screaming in pain, the ranch girl used her other arm to grab Lucina's wrist and fling her away. The fencer gracefully landed and prepared to lunge again.
"So I finally see you fence, huh?" Cassie said weakly as she backed away.
"Are you impressed? I wanted to learn this since I was little." Lucina told her as she lunged again.
Meanwhile, Ray was preparing to hit the ball another time but Jude did a slide tackle and managed to catch him off guard, stealing the ball in the process.
"You guys should go! I think I saw more orbs down the street." Jude pointed ahead of him. Terrance got up painfully and nodded, then began running to the place he pointed at.
"Godspeed, Jude." Nataline nodded to the marksman as she followed the techie boy.
Sarah and Jane saw this and glanced at each other. "You thinking what I'm thinking?" Jane asked.
"Yep. Let's rock." The rocker girl sprinted down the street, chasing after the Cyan Protoss members while Jane took one last glance at Cassie fighting Lucina before following her.
"You're faster than usual." Lucina noted as she feinted and lunged but Cassie dodged to the side.
"Must be my time here, ya know." Cassie laughed a bit before dodging another blow and delivering a low kick, to which Lucina back flipped away to avoid.
"But will it be enough? You should be out looking for more orbs, yet you're here and locked in combat with me." Lucina gave a small smile. Cassie blushed a bit.
"Hey, I like our time together. Also..." Cassie spread out her arms to indicate that her teammates aren't there anymore. "They decided to abandoned this fight for the challenge." Lucina noticed this and narrowed her eyes, before beginning her assault again.
"You think you can beat me!? Huh!?" Ray glowered as he called forth another ball and kicked it at Jude, which he narrowly dodged. The shock was enough to send him off balance, but he managed to kick the ball he stole earlier right at the other boy's chest. "Tsk!" He fell backwards but his avatar didn't flicker out. "What a weak kick."
"Well sorry for not being good at this soccer stuff. I only do archery." Jude frowned as he got back up on his feet.
"So you're only good with your arms and eyes." Ray raised his eyebrow and then smirked. "Guess that means you don't stand a chance against me without the right tools." He kicked another ball in his direction which caught him by the legs, making him fall backwards and cracking the armor on the leg part.
"W-Well...At least I'm doing a good job buying some time." Jude smirked back then used the last of his energy to get up and punch him in the face. Ray widened his eyes before receiving the hit and stepping back.
"Why you-" The other soccer player pushed Jude away then kicked a ball directly at his face, cracking his helmet and soon his avatar disappeared.
Meanwhile, Cassie was clearly losing energy and started catching her breath.
"Are you tired, Cassie? At least you held out long enough." Lucina said before lunging one last time at her, stabbing her through the stomach.
"Gahh...Well, ya won this one...Lucina." Cassie smiled at the other girl before her avatar faded away in blue lights.
"It was a good fight." Lucina said softly to herself before facing Ray. "Come on, we need to give chase."
"Yeah." Ray nodded and the two of them went down the street and after the ones who escaped them.
~Confessional~
Cassie: So Lucina can handle herself like that, huh? It may be a virtual world but her skills are pretty cool. *she blushes a bit*
Jude: I just hope Terrance and Nataline win this for us. I wonder how the others are doing, because I really want to know our score right now.
~End Confessional~
Nataline and Terrance went to search for more orbs and came across one on top of a car. It was a red orb and Nataline snatched it before running again.
"You think we're in the lead?" Terrance adjusted his glasses.
"I think we're about to lose it if we don't keep going." Nataline answered as she glanced behind her and saw Sarah and Jane gaining on them. "They're faster than us after all."
"Don't worry, I have a plan. It's obviously better than whatever it is you're thinking right now." Terrance smirked.
"I wasn't even thinking of one yet." Nataline pouted.
Meanwhile, Jane and Sarah were giving chase while searching around for more orbs but found none.
"Why did they go here if this place is empty?" Sarah wondered.
"Maybe they took it already." Jane answered. "Hurry up and tackle them down so we can bait Ray and Lucina into getting them."
"Nice plan." Sarah grinned and they both ran faster towards them. Just then, they saw Terrance and Nataline go opposite directions, with Terrance going left and Nataline going right. "What? What are they doing?"
"Who cares!?" Jane snapped. "Just follow one."
Sarah looked back and forth for a long moment before finally deciding to follow Nataline. Jane went left to chase down Terrance. who ducked down in a short dark alley.
"You won't escape me, Terrance." Jane smirked as she started to close the distance.
"We'll see." Terrance grunted as he ran through the alley. Jane was about to duck in as well but then she saw a blue orb among the black trash bags and decided to get it first.
"Nice." She praised herself as the orb dispersed in blue lights. She looked back at the alley and didn't see Terrance anymore. "What? Where did he go?" She looked on in confusion before continuing her way down the alley.
She looked around the dark path as she walked, making sure she didn't trip over the trash bags and bins around her. Not noticing Terrance stick his foot out ahead of her, she tripped and fell forward.
"Ah!" Jane screamed. Terrance emerged from the darkness and stepped on her as he ran ahead.
"Sorry, nothing personal." The techie boy called out as he left her there.
"Well at least he improved since last time." Jane groaned with a smile as she got up and started to run again.
Meanwhile, Sarah gained on Nataline and was about to jump at her but the other girl saw this and moved to the side, making the rocker fall down.
"Darn it." Sarah cursed as she banged her fist on the ground then stood up.
"Watch your language." Nataline giggled and ran again, seeing a red orb and picking it up in the process.
"That was supposed to be mine." Sarah pouted as she chased after her again. This time, she staggered to the side when she felt a rock hit the side of her helmet. "Hey!" She whipped her head to the source and found Cyrus standing in the distance with another rock in his hand.
"Hey yourself." The emo boy snickered as he threw it at her, cracking the glass of her helmet and making her stagger back more.
"Stop that!" Sarah yelled and charged towards Cyrus instead, the latter being shocked by the sudden action and got pushed back hard. He landed against the open window of a car and got stuck. "Ha!" She laughed at his misfortune.
"Thanks, Cyrus." Nataline nodded to the boy with a smirked as she went ahead.
"Well don't leave me here!" Cyrus screamed but Nataline didn't listen. Sarah gave chase which left him alone. "Great. Just...great." He groaned.
After a while, Lucina passed by and saw Cyrus stuck in the car.
"Are you stuck? Do you want me to help you out?" She asked him.
"Yes please now just do it. My back hurts." Cyrus sighed. Lucina nodded and went towards him but didn't help him out. Instead, she brought out her sabre and calmly stabbed him through the chest. "Agh..." Was all he said before his avatar started flickering out.
"There, I helped you out." Lucina said with a small giggle. Cyrus just glared at her before he completely disappeared.
~Confessional~
Cyrus: Seriously? And they say I'm the mean one.
~End Confessional~
Terrance turned at an intersection and down another road when he saw a red orb atop a pile of debris. He also saw Nataline come up from the other side.
"There!" He pointed at it. "Grab that!"
"I got it." Nataline said as she made a beeline for it. However, a figure leaped high into the air from atop a building and landed in front of her, revealing to be Ray.
"Not so fast." He growled and kicked a soccer ball at her. She tried to block with her hands but it still pushed her back further away from the orb.
Terrance saw this and grunted. "This is bad." He ran faster but someone pulled him back by the hood of his hoodie and he tripped.
"Nothing personal." Jane smirked as she ran past him. However, Lucina came out from an alley and made her stop dead in her tracks. The fencer pointed her blade just inches from her helmet.
"Sorry but I won't let you pass." Lucina said calmly.
Sarah arrived at the scene and stopped a few meters away after seeing all of them. "Whoa, major party going on here." She remarked.
Nataline glared at Ray and muttered something in Belorussian before charging at him and knocking him to the side.
"What the-" Ray said in surprise as he was knocked to the side and lost control of his next ball. Nataline stole it and quickly kicked it towards his face, makinga small explosion and stunning him.
"Almost there." Nataline said to herself as she climbed up the debris.
Meanwhile, Jane had ducked down to avoid Lucina's high lunge and sweep her feet off the ground. The fencer fell and the other girl kept moving forward to climb the debris as well.
"Not yet." Terrance adjusted his glasses with a scowl as he made his way forward again and grabbed Jane by the ankle, trying to pull her down.
"We're not gonna lose!" Sarah exclaimed as she finally joined the scene and began throwing rocks at Nataline, slowly her progress.
"Hey, stop that!" The noble girl ordered to no avail. Sarah used this time to close the distance and begin climbing as well.
By this time, Lucina had already stood up and lunged at an unsuspecting Terrance, making the techie boy's eyes go wide as he felt a stinging pain through his chest. His grip on Jane's leg loosened and was soon gone when his avatar flicked out in blue lights.
"Finally." Jane sighed in relief as she began climbing up again.
"Meanwhile, Ray snapped back into reality then called forth another ball, to which he aimed at Sarah and kicked it immediately without activating the explosion command. The rocker girl was too busy climbing to notice the incoming ball, and was soon knocked out by it.
"Gahh!" Sarah exclaimed as she fell hard to the ground, the force being strong enough to knock her avatar out of the challenge.
"I'm not gonna lose." Nataline said to herself as she doubled her efforts to try to catch up to Jane.
Both girls are neck to neck as they neared the highest point of the debris and towards the red orb. Ray grunted as he called upon another ball and allowed it to charge up for the maximum explosion effect. Lucina saw what he was doing and decided to stay where she was.
"Fire it, Ray." The fencer ordered.
"Not yet." Ray grunted as the ball glowed brighter and brighter.
Jane and Nataline were at the top now and saw the red orb sitting there. They glared at each other before reaching out to grab it. Ray shot the ball at them the moment their hands were close to the orb. The entire top pile of debris was blown apart by a brilliant explosion, affecting both girls and sending their avatars out of the area. When the smoke cleared, the red orb was nowhere to be found.
"One of them got it." Lucina concluded as she confirmed that the orb was not there anymore.
"Then Kelly knows who won. Let's go back. I hate this dump." Ray said as he pressed the button on his wrist bracelet which made his avatar flicker out. Lucina pressed the button on the side of her helmet for the same effect.
Ray and Lucina returned to the Red Sith outpost to find Kelly and the contestants gathered around by the large blue hologram.
"You're just in time. We're gonna see who won." Kelly told them.
"Cool." Ray remarked nonchalantly.
The blue hologram showed the scene where Jane and Nataline both grabbed for the orb. Kelly commanded it to play in slow motion to see whose hand touched it first. They saw that just before the explosion happened, Nataline's index finger touched the orb followed by her middle finger before Jane's index finger touched it.
"Yes! We won!" Tatiana suddenly cheered.
"Well that was random. But yes, you guys are today's winners I guess." Kelly shrugged indifferently.
"No way. We lost again." Arnold sighed in frustration. "But it was a good team effort."
"Y'all did your best and so did I. We can get 'em next time." Cassie tried to encourage.
"What are you talking about? You all sucked." Ray chuckled and the Silver Terminators glared at him, which made him raise his hands in mock surrender as he left the outpost with a smirk.
"Jerk." Sarah scoffed under her breath.
"Well he's not wrong there, and you know what happens when you lose, right?" Kelly raised her eyebrow at them. "Elimination site. One hour. Go!" She ordered and everyone filed out of the outpost.
"Perhaps you were being too cruel. They did their best." Lucian reasoned with Kelly once they all left.
"But degrading will help them get better. That's what coach said." Kelly shrugged as she prepared to leave.
"I still don't agree with you." Lucina sighed as she walked out of the outpost.
"Well you're not the acting host, now are you?" Kelly called out before she left.
(Cyan Protoss)
Tatiana roamed the forest area with her mecha chocobo when she saw two figures by the clearing. It was Lucy and Terrance talking while sitting down on the bench there, their backs facing Tatiana. The gamer girl stopped and tried to listen in on their conversation.
"Looks like we still have time to plan the votes." Lucy remarked. "Good." She grinned evilly.
"What's your plan now?" Terrance asked.
"The same. We vote out for Nataline when we get the chance. That WAS always the plan, right?" Lucy narrowed her eyes at him. "You were the one who dodged that plan in the first place."
"Well that's because Cyrus was getting on my nerves." Terrance argued back.
"And so what!?" Lucy snapped which made him widen his eyes. "We need to play more logical if we want to win. Cyrus holds absolutely no power in this game. None! My statement still stands that he should go home in the merge."
"If we win the next challenge, we'll be taking both of them to the merge." Terrance pointed out.
"You sound like it's such an ideal situation for you." Lucy noticed. "What's wrong? Lost your anger?"
"Not really." Terrance looked away. "Okay maybe a little. Nataline and I worked together in the challenge and that went well. I can't say the same for Cyrus."
"Then you're dumb." Lucy spat.
"Hey! Don't call him dumb!" Tatiana suddenly burst forth, riding her chocobo and pointing accusingly at Lucy. "Terrance isn't dumb." She defended with a pout.
"Were you eavesdropping?" The techie boy asked her.
"Don't listen to her, Terrance. This possessed girl is gonna eat your soul." Tatiana roughly grabbed Terrance's hood and pulled him up the chocobo. The techie boy helped himself get in but wore a confused look.
"What do you mean?" Terrance asked in disbelief.
"This girl is unbelievable." Lucy rolled her eyes.
"You're unbelievable! You're telling him to do what you want. It's like you're seducing him or something, and you have Jude so why would you do that!?" Tatiana accused.
Lucy just blinked and then shook her head in disbelief and began walking away. "If that's what you want to believe." She left them alone. Tatiana immediately ordered her mount to turn back and take her and Terrance away from the forest area.
"We were just talking about strategy." Terrance tried to reason. "I even wanted to put you in it."
"We can be in one party, but she can't be in it." Tatiana insisted. "She trapped the real Lucy and took over her body."
"But she's a part of Lucy." Terrance explained.
"No she isn't. The Lucy we know is kind and soft spoken." Tatiana frowned as they made it out.
"Fine." Terrance just sighed.
~Confessional~
Tatiana: There is no way I'll let Terrance get corrupted by that witch! That was the only thing I was focusing on the whole time I was eavesdropping. He'll definitely thank me for that later and maybe notice me. *she blushes*
Lucy: It's his choice if he doesn't want Nataline gone sooner. I know it's a good idea because I can't risk her getting more allies from the other team. Not to mention that there's a possibility of there being returnees this season.
Terrance: Honestly I don't know what just happened. I hope Tatiana didn't hear the part where we were talking about voting off Nataline since she's her friend. Actually, I hope she didn't hear that whole strategy talk.
~End Confessional~
Jude saw Cyrus sitting on a large rock outside their outpost, muttering to himself.
"What, you've gone insane now?" Jude smirked as he approached the emo boy. "Maybe you should eliminate yourself and just relax at the resort."
"Shut it, I'm only trying to remember the inspirations I get." Cyrus glared at the marksman.
"You get inspired by what? Being the worst?" Jude rolled his eyes. Nataline left the outpost and found them.
"What's going on here?" The noble girl asked.
"This guys was muttering to himself earlier." Jude laughed.
"He was also looking for something earlier this morning." Nataline added.
"None of you would understand real inspiration anyway." Cyrus scowled. "You both have no artistic vision."
"Artistic vision? You?" Nataline raised her eyebrow.
"Yeah, I do have one. It involves you losing horribly later on." Cyrus spat.
"He's making threats. But honestly, I'm sure he knows how screwed he is." Jude shrugged towards Nataline, who nodded in response.
"I agree. He told me that he played strategically and specifically voted out Ivy to help the team." She looked towards Jude.
"He should have used his vote to take one of us out. Might have helped him more." Jude gave a condescending grin.
"I swear, I'm going to get you both for this." Cyrus grunted under his breath.
"Hey, is there an issue going on here?" Nelly joined the scene and glanced at everyone else.
"Just some unnecessary bullying." Cyrus answered nonchalantly.
"Ironic that you say that despite the prank you pulled on me last time." Nataline glared at him.
"It was funny. Nelly laughed too." Cyrus pointed at the nerd girl. "So did Terrance."
"But then I told you I still hated you and I'm pretty sure Terrance stopped laughing first." Nelly rebutted.
"He did?" Nataline looked surprised. "I thought he'd be laughing for hours."
"Don't ask me." Nelly shrugged. "I just saw him stop then leave the table."
"Well anyway, we won so it's no use talking as if we're gonna vote you out tonight." Jude sighed as he began to walk away.
"Hey you're the one who started the argument." Cyrus called out angrily as Nataline and Nelly shook their heads and left him alone too. "I hate these people..." He grunted to himself.
~Confessional~
Nataline: Looks like I just confirmed my assumptions that nobody really likes Cyrus. *she smirks*
Jude: Okay so maybe I did bully Cyrus a bit and I'm so sorry for that, it's just that I feel like he deserved it and all.
Nelly: I may not like Jude and Nataline much, but Cyrus really takes the cake. A part of me wishes we lose the next challenge so that we can vote him off, but the other part of me just wants to listen to Lucy and see what she has to say.
Cyrus: The people here are hellbent on getting me eliminated, so I hope we don't lose the next challenge as well. *he sighs*
~End Confessional~
(Silver Terminators)
Jane and Phoebe were eating dinner inside the outpost in silence. None of them wanted to start a conversation mostly because of their loss.
"So..." Jane cleared her throat. "Who are you voting for tonight?"
"D-Desmond." Phoebe answered simply. "Marvin told me t-to consider voting for h-him tonight."
"Well I guess we can vote for him tonight." Jane shrugged. "He's in the opposite alliance so it only makes sense."
Phoebe nodded and was about to say something else when Sarah went downstairs from the girls' bedroom and went over to them.
"Guys, before you decide on who to vote tonight, you all should know that Marvin is playing two alliances. Desmond told me that he and Marvin are in a final two deal." Sarah glanced from Phoebe to Jane.
"And how sure are you about this?" Jane narrowed her eyes.
"I saw them talk at the back of the outpost. They were talking a bit loudly and I had the window open." Sarah explained.
"M-Marvin would never betray me like t-that." Phoebe said defiantly. "You m-must be lying." She accused in a timid voice.
"What? Phoebe, I'm your friend. I would never do that to you." Sarah looked taken aback.
"But you're on a different alliance, one that wants Phoebe gone for being weak." Jane reminded her. "I'm sure Phoebe knows that."
"W-Well.." Phoebe stuttered out as she glanced from Jane to Sarah, both glaring at each other now.
"Hey guys, what's up?" Arnold exclaimed as he entered the outpost. He felt the tension in the atmosphere and tilted his head. "Uh, what's happening?"
"She's accusing me of being a bad person." Sarah exclaimed.
"I'm just saying that your alliance wants Phoebe out. Seeing as how you're a part of it, it doesn't take a genius to know you think the same." Jane argued back.
"Actually, she's the one who keeps insisting that we don't vote for Phoebe." Arnold told Jane as he stood beside his girlfriend. "She's the leader of our alliance anyway."
"They didn't actually have to know that." Sarah pointed out to him.
"Oops." Arnold said with regret.
"Well anyway, I'm being honest here. Desmond and Marvin are up to something." Sarah insisted.
"M-Maybe you're right." Phoebe glanced towards Jane for support, who shrugged in response.
"We'll look into it ourselves. The choice is still ours." She said.
"Fine." Sarah grumbled as she stormed outside and Arnold followed.
~Confessional~
Jane: I still don't fully believe her story so I'll go see what Cassie thinks of all this first. Phoebe can go talk to Marvin.
Phoebe: Marvin w-wouldn't betray me, r-right? Right? *she looks around anxiously*
Sarah: I didn't actually see them and that was all a lie. But I'm really desperate to try anything right about now. It's almost elimination time so they wouldn't have time to chat.
Arnold: I wonder if saying that Sarah is our leader made her a potential target. Nah, that's impossible. She's too awesome to be eliminated.
~End Confessional~
Marvin was walking alone down the riverbed, thinking to himself.
"The ceremony is about to start soon and yet nobody wants to talk about strategy." He pondered out loud. "Is it because they're tired of doing this?"
"Maybe they are simply disheartened. Everyone gets that sometimes." Lucina approached him suddenly.
"Oh, hey Lucina." Marvin greeted. "Have you seen the others?"
"Just Desmond. He asked for a favor." Lucina explained. "He told me to tell you that if you already made up your mind about his offer, he wants you to vote for Cassie with him."
"Cassie? Why her? And why are you telling me this if you are her friend?" Marvin asked.
"I'm part of the host team, which means I cannot be biased." Lucina said matter-of-factly. "I cannot show favoritism while I'm here, although personally I wish Cassie would win, of course. But this is besides the point, which is why I told you how Desmond is voting."
"Well thanks for the information. I still need to know who else are targets before i cast my vote, but time is running short." Marvin sighed.
"Walk with me." Lucina began walking down the riverbed. Marvin tilted his head in confusion but followed her anyway. "You play as the strategist for Phoebe's sake as well, right?"
"Yeah, that's right." Marvin affirmed with a nod. "I'm not strong and not too social. But I can at least try to play smart."
"It's good you know your limits. It may help you in the long run." Lucina told him. "But remember this, not everyone thinks as you do. Total Drama is a game where people with different personalities clash to see who is the greatest. You may find your grand scheme ruined by just the simplest of slip-ups."
"Thanks for the insight. I just wish things would go smoothly for me." Marvin sighed as the walked more.
They soon saw Cassie sitting down cross legged, playing a tune from her acoustic guitar as a few animals gathered around her to watch her play.
"That's the only thing you can do, wish things would get better despite the hardships." Lucina told the boy. Cassie's tune started going louder and faster.
"Then it's my job to make sure I make it through the merge with Phoebe, and eliminate those in my way, even my allies." Marvin said the last part in a slight whisper. More animals gathered around to watch Cassie play.
"Be prepared, because you are no the only strategist in this game." Lucina pointed out. "Play your cards right, and maybe you'll yield good results." Cassie's reached the climax of her song as the strumming became faster and more intense.
"Then I know who to vote tonight." Marvin declared just as Cassie did one final note that scared the animals off with its intensity and volume. The ranch girl turned towards them, surprised to see them standing there.
"Howdy, y'all!" She tipped her hat forward.
~Confessional~
Marvin: I hope this works. I need to make sure the merge is set for me and Phoebe.
~End Confessional~
(Elimination Ceremony)
The members of the Silver Terminators sat down in the center seats in the elimination site while the Cyan Protoss sat at the sidelines. In front of them were the three special guests, Ray, Lucina, and Kelly. Ray was holding the space food containers while Kelly held the paper which contained the votes.
"Alright, so welcome to your last day in this game and blah blah blah." Kelly said in a bored tone. "Silver Terminators, you guys are such losers and so you need to vote someone off and hopefully be less losers." She shrugged.
"Try to be nicer." Lucina scolded.
"No promises." Kelly rolled her eyes. "Time for me to read the votes and for Ray to throw those things at your heads."
"Couldn't have said it better myself." Ray smirked as he readied a container.
"Phoebe." The doll faced girl cowered in fear as Ray threw a container at her, which Jane caught to save her as she glared at the other soccer boy.
"Arnold." He deftly caught his container.
"Jane." She caught hers easily too.
"Marvin." The boy wasn't able to catch his and was knocked back.
This left Sarah, Cassie, and Desmond in the bottom three.
"Okay, so each of you has received at least one vote." Kelly announced. "But the sucker who is safe is...Desmond!"
Desmond sighed in relief as he got his container.
"What?" Sarah looked surprised.
"This is bad, y'all." Cassie tipped her hat forward lowly.
"And the final container goes to..." Kelly paused.
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"...Sarah!" Kelly announced.
"W-What!?" Phoebe was in shock.
"Cassie...was eliminated?" Jane's mouth was agape.
However, the ranch girl simply smiled and Lucina gave a small smile as well.
"Sorry but I ain't goin' anywhere." Cassie declared as she fished out her Invincibility Statue and handed it to Lucina.
"Well look at that. Guess the real loser tonight is you, Sarah." Kelly declared.
"But why!? Why would you guys vote for me?" Sarah glanced at everyone in her team as Arnold stood up and hugged his girlfriend tightly.
"Yeah, Sarah didn't do anything to you guys!" Arnold added.
"Well technically the majority of the team voted for Cassie so it's not really your fault." Desmond pointed out.
"Shut up! I wanna see you get eliminated just so you know how it feels." Sarah snapped while hugging Arnold back. "Win this for us, baby." She whispered to him.
"I will." Arnold whispered back as Sarah pulled away. The beam of light started charging up above her.
"Any last words or whatever?" Kelly asked nonchalantly.
"I just wanna say, rock on guys!" Sarah tried to sound optimistic as she pumped her fist in the air. Arnold followed suit.
"Yeah!" The soccer player cheered. The beam of light shone down on the rocker girl and her avatar was taken out of the virtual world.
"You can go now because I'm too damn sleepy to continue." Kelly said dismissively with a yawn. Everyone stood up and began to file out.
"I wonder who voted for me though." Cassie noted to Jane as they walked back together. Lucina looked towards Marvin and he glanced back at her with a neutral expression on his face.
~Votes~
Cassie: I vote for Desmond because he doesn't like Phoebe to be here which I can't accept.
Phoebe: Jane t-told me to switch the v-vote to Sarah, so I'll do it.
Marvin: I vote for Cassie just as Desmond said. If she stays any longer, it's just going to ruin my game.
Jane: I'm voting for Sarah now. If we can take out their leader, then their alliance would be scattered.
Desmond: I'm going to have to vote for Cassie, since she is more social than Jane. That way, it gives me more opportunities to make more allies.
Arnold: Babe says we're voting for Cassie since Desmond suggested it. Got no problems with that actually.
Sarah I vote for Cassie and I really hope this works. *she sighs*
~Eliminated~
(24th place) Richard - The Maestro
(23rd place) Delilah - The Serpent
(22nd place) Felix - The Prankster
(21st place) Harvey - The Chill Guy
(20th place) Betty - The Phone Addict
(19th place) Nicholas - The Detective
(18th place) Wesley - The Blue Blood
(17th place) Valerie - The Energetic Flirt
(16th place) Shane - The Lone Wolf
(15th place) Ivy - The Distant Cloud
(14th place) Sarah - The Rocker Girl
The special guests remained at the elimination site.
"Well this is our final night here." Lucina remarked.
"So let's actually do this right this time." Ray groaned.
"Okay, I'll begin" Kelly declared. "Despite their last victory, the Silver Terminators faced defeat again and Sarah got eliminated."
"The numbers are thinning, and the merge is near." Lucina said as well.
"Who will win the next challenge?" Ray spread out his arms.
"Who will have the greatest control when merge comes?" Lucina spread out her arms.
"And who will b e the next unlucky sucker? Find out next time on Total..." Kelly started.
"Drama..." Lucina chimed in.
"Sci-Fi..." Ray said as well.
"SHOWDOWN!" They said in unison.
I once expected that Sarah would be good for the merge, but then I realized that she would make the biggest impact as a late pre-merge boot instead. This is because her line of strategy failed and so did her alliance, but I didn't feel like Desmond and Arnold's story was about to end sooner than Sarah's so it's time I let her go. She was fun to write since she and Arnold are the first couple in the game. I personally feel indifferent to her character but she made a few impacts on the game. Sorry to all the Sarah fans, but like she said, rock on! XBloodLegendX