We have more questions popping up, a chance to show musical talent, and a surprise elimination all in one crazy chapter.
Even with all that, this chapter is pretty much the calm before the storm. Eventually, you will see why.
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Chris' recap: "Last time on Total Drama Everything 2, I decided to be lazy for once and simply rehash a previous World Tour challenge. And you know what? I don't regret it, because it was awesome. We stopped at Niagara Falls, where everyone ended up married. Not really, but you get the idea. While some pairs weren't bad, like Gaz and Double D, and Leo and Ruby managed to handle it well, others fell apart, like Lammy and the brainwashed Yusei. And Zelda? She got unlucky by getting paired up with a piece of wood known as Plank. Somehow, she actually managed to make her way to the final round, where she battled Yusei and Lammy for the victory. During the fight, Lammy had heard enough of both Yusei comparing her to Ivy, and everyone else's pleading to do something about it. So for the umpteenth time this season, Yusei was slapped back into reality and quickly got his head in the game, and he and Lammy defeated Zelda. With Ivy still immune from last time, everyone decided to boot Zelda, mainly because of her threat level but also as a slap in the face (not literally this time) to Ivy, who really wanted a crack at the princess. We're down to seven competitors, and things are getting more hectic. Will Yusei and Lammy stop being awkward? Will Ivy continue her reign of terror? Will other strange things come into play? All this and more, right here. On Total. Drama. Everything 2!"
*theme song*
"All of you, be prepared. I am coming."
Those red eyes, surrounded by the black fog...those glowing blood-red eyes...nearly everyone found themselves in the fog, looking at those eyes…
"I am coming"
...and everyone in Economy woke right up, looking around.
Leo, Ruby, Gaz, Ivy, and Double D looked at each other. It was still the middle of the night. The look on their faces told each other all they needed to know.
"You guys too?" Leo whispered.
Everyone nodded, while Ruby muttered, "Yeah."
They sat in silence for another second, then Ivy shrugged and went back to sleep. But for everyone else, they knew sleeping would be trouble now.
(Meanwhile…)
Yusei looked out the window at the starry sky, trying to understand the dream he had just woken up from. Those red eyes seemed to go right into his soul. And the way the woman's voice said "All of you…", it made him wonder if more people had the same dream. He had the strange feeling more people on the plane had indeed seen those eyes.
Hoping for an answer, he peeked his head up from the reclined first-class chair and saw Lammy, way at the other side of the room. She was still sound asleep. 'Lucky,' Yusei thought.
Laying back down, Yusei tried to get the image of those eyes out of his head. 'It's just a dream,' he thought. 'Nothing more.'
Even so, he had the strange feeling that he was just lying to himself.
(The next morning…)
Everyone except Lammy was in the cafeteria. And with the exception of Ivy, they all looked worn out. Double D yawned for the third time that morning, and things were quiet.
"Wow, you guys look like you've just sat through a really long history lesson," Ivy said, looking at everyone as she filed her nails.
"I wish," Double D said wearily. "No kidding. I really wish I had just sat through a history lesson."
Yusei looked at him. "Well, so do I. Better a history lesson than some dream with glowing red eyes."
"Red eyes?" Leo asked, suddenly interested.
"Don't tell me you had the same dream," Gaz told Yusei.
"Where the voice of some woman said she was coming?" Ruby asked. "Yusei, did you have the same dream the rest of us did?"
The duelist nodded. "Looks like it. She sounded like she meant it, that's for sure. But why would all of us have the same exact dream?"
Gaz shrugged and said, "Who knows? But I do want to know one thing."
"What's that?" Leo asked.
"Ivy, you had the same exact dream, right?"
Ivy smirked. "No, really? Maybe me waking up at the same time as you guys wasn't obvious enough."
"Well, how come you actually slept through the rest of the night after that?" Gaz asked.
"She's right. I don't think any of the rest of us were able to sleep with those eyes in our memories," Double D said.
Hearing this, Ivy just said, "Unlike the rest of you, I don't let myself get disturbed by silly dreams. Besides, that was nowhere near the most unsettling thing I had ever seen or heard."
"Except we don't think that was a silly dream," Leo told her. "Remember that."
At that moment, Lammy walked into the room. Somehow, she actually looked well-rested.
"Top of the morning, guys," she said cheerfully.
Gaz shook her head and told the lamb, "Easy for you to say."
That remark made Lammy take notice of the tired looks on most of the others. "Is everything okay?" she asked. "You all look like you just sat through a really long history lesson."
"That comparison has already been made," Double D stated.
"You mean you also managed to sleep despite that weird dream?" Ruby asked Lammy.
"What dream?"
"The one with the red eyes?" Leo asked.
Lammy shook her head, but seemed more alert about the situation. "I didn't have a dream like that. Glowing red eyes?"
Hearing this, the other six looked at her. Even Ivy seemed surprised this time. "Wait, so you didn't have a dream involving black fog and glowing red eyes?" Double D asked.
"And the woman speaking?" Ivy asked.
The point about the woman speaking in the dream made Lammy pause. "Woman speaking?"
"Yeah, the rest of us all had that dream," Leo said. "And the voice, she said we had to be prepared, because she was coming."
All of a sudden, Lammy was looking nervous. "And did she say her name?"
Everyone shook their heads. But that wasn't enough to quell Lammy's anxiety.
"Uh, Lammy?" Yusei asked cautiously. "You okay?"
"Oh, I'm fine," Lammy said. Then she looked at the clock on the wall. "Oh, look at the time. It's time for me to give my guitar its daily polishing. Everyone, I enjoyed this conversation, but I'm afraid I'm busy. Bye!" She hastily left the room, leaving everyone confused.
It seemed like forever before Ruby broke the silence. "What was that about?"
"I don't know," Yusei said. "But I wonder." He stood up and went after Lammy.
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"Things have started to hit a really interesting turn," Leo said. "This dream we all had, it's nothing to ignore. The oddest part about it is that almost all of us had the same exact dream last night. Except for Lammy. Why didn't she have it?"
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Lammy sat in the cargo hold, sighing in relief. "That was close," she muttered, sitting against the door. She then pulled out the ruby necklace. The one that had been stuck on her since Egypt.
This time, there was no denying it. Whatever it was that had connections to this necklace, it was starting to make its move. While she was telling the truth about not having the dream last night, she had been having these recurring dreams ever since she came back into the competition. Those eyes, the fog, and the voice. All were there.
Suddenly, a loud banging on the door made Lammy jump. She heard Yusei's voice. "Lammy? Are you in there?"
Lammy groaned. Yusei was the last person she wanted to talk to. But ever since Niagara Falls, a sort of peace had emerged between the two. While they were still uncomfortably awkward around each other, at least they were on speaking terms again.
Slowly, Lammy opened the door. "Sorry, it's just that if I don't polish my guitar, I'm going to go nuts."
"I guess that makes sense, but the way you left doesn't make me that confident," Yusei said.
"You should know how worried I get when my guitar is not looking its best," Lammy reminded him.
Knowing she was lying, but deciding not to press the subject further out of fear of making things worse, Yusei backed away. "Alright, I was just a little concerned," he said as he closed the door.
Good thing that was over. Lammy looked at her necklace, sighing.
"I have to find my way to get rid of you, and fast," she said to the ruby.
(Meanwhile…)
Wakko was carrying a small box with a message device on top. "Special delivery for Gaz and Double D! Special Delivery for Gaz and Dou-"
"SHHHHHH!" Double D and Gaz shushed Wakko, knowing if Ivy heard, she would have an excuse to get them kicked off. Luckily, Ivy was in another room.
"Are you trying to get us eliminated?" Gaz whispered.
"Oh." Smiling, Wakko handed them the device and box. "Let's see who it is this time," Double D said, turning on the device.
(Gaz and Double D's message, submitted by Storygirl000)
(We open in a room filled with notebooks and stacks of paper, all apparently related to the supernatural. In the center of the room are Story and Dib; the former is furiously scribbling something into another notebook, while the latter is using a tablet to video-chat with someone.)
Dib: ...so yeah, we're starting to get a pretty good idea of what this thing is. Thanks again, Sam.
Sam: (V.O.) Any time.
(Dib shuts off the tablet and turns to Story.)
Dib: We're rolling.
Story: We are? (turns to face the camera) We are! Hey, Double D and Gaz! Story and Dib here, with an update on what's going on with Lammy.
Dib: Hey, sis. (waves, then picks up a notebook) So, you and Double D may have had the same weird dream last night, and we might have figured out the cause.
Story: Spoiler alert: it's Lammy's necklace.
Dib: Thanks to the assistance of several other paranormal experts and several days of research, we currently have two different hypotheses on what the necklace actually is. Story?
Story: (holds up a picture of the necklace, apparently trapped by iron bars) Our first hypothesis is that the necklace is a prison for some sort of ancient evil. When Lammy found it and put it on, said evil being started to regain their power, and they might be able to escape the necklace if they're not stopped soon. We recommend launching the necklace into space if this is the case.
Dib: (holds up a picture of the necklace with a drawing of Lewis Pepper coming out of it) Our second hypothesis is that the necklace is possessed by a malevolent spirit who can manipulate the minds of others, and is planning on fully possessing Lammy to do something generically evil. Our recommendation in this case is to kill it with fire, which is why this message comes with a lighter and a full can of hairspray. You could also use it on Ivy in a pinch.
Story: We hope that our research helps you guys get further in the competition. Oh! And–
(Suddenly, the wall behind Story and Dib is blasted open, revealing Zim in full combat mode.)
Zim: DIB! YOU WILL PAY FOR TRAPPING ME OUTSIDE IN THE RAIN!
Story: (pulls out baseball bat) COME AT ME, ALIEN BOY!
Dib: (sighs) Good luck, you two.
*end*
"I have to admit, she really knows everyone," Double D said, looking in the box and pulling out the lighter and hairspray. "Thy do know we can't burn the necklace or throw it into space because Lammy can't take it off, right?"
"What's weird is that Dib normally wouldn't help me with this kind of stuff. We usually can't stand each other."
Double D already knew that; he had heard Gaz complaining about her brother all the time. "So why is he trying to help here?"
"My guess is either he's helping because this mess is supernatural stuff written all over it, which he loves, or he hopes that, by me winning the competition, he thinks I will give him some so he can finally get the funds for his latest plan to expose Zim as an alien."
Double D held up the lighter and hairspray. "So what do we do with these?"
"Well that idea of using these on Ivy appealed to me."
"Please don't."
"Chill, I would only use it to scare her."
The nerd nodded. "Oh, okay. Still messed up, but better than the alternative."
Then the intercom turned on, making them jump. "Hello, final seven! I need everyone to head into the cafeteria, and get ready to get your creative juices flowing."
Double D laughed a little. "Well, we're already in here. That was easy."
So they simply waited for everyone else to walk back into the room. Once everyone was in there, Chris walked in, followed by Chef and the Warners.
"First of all, let me say my congratulations to you all for making it to the final seven," Chris said. "Around two-thirds of your fellow competitors are gone, and you are all that's left. You should be patting yourselves on the back for making it this far."
"Quick question," Ruby asked. "Did you have the same dream as most of us did? Black fog, woman's voice, red eyes?"
Chris shook his head. "Nope, but I know what you're talking about. I got calls from most of the others involved with the show, like Deadpool and Maya, and apparently they all had the kind of dream you just mentioned."
The competitors looked at each other, shocked. Everyone? The same dream?
"No big deal, huh?" Leo asked Ivy.
"Shut up."
"But now is not the time to worry about it, because it's time for your next challenge. And this time, it's all happening right here on the plane. No destination this time."
Yusei asked, "No destination? Then what are we going to do?"
"I'm glad you asked. Now follow me."
Everyone stood up and followed Chris as he walked down the hall and into the cargo hold. As they walked in, they saw Chris walk to a seemingly innocuous wall. Chris then tapped on the wall three times with the palm of his hand. A microphone suddenly popped out in front of him.
"Password required," said a robotic voice coming from the wall.
"Chris, awesome TV host."
Behind him, Gaz snorted. "Dude, really?" she asked.
Nonetheless, the wall suddenly started to fold away. "Accepted. Welcome."
The wall became fully out of view, and everyone stood in awe. What they saw was an impressive-looking recording studio and booth, with all the required instrumentation and everything. Several musical instruments and other music-making machines sat at the side.
"You have got to be kidding me," Leo said.
"Nope," Chris said. "When I got this plane as a replacement for the old one, I didn't want things to be exactly the same as what came before it. So I asked for a few...changes, so to speak."
Lammy couldn't hide her admiration. "This is super cool," she said.
"So what are we doing with this?" Ruby asked.
"Isn't it obvious? For today's challenge, you're going to be writing your own song and recording it. On top of that, the song you write is indeed going to be hitting radio stations across the multiverse. The Warners will be the judges, there to decide which song they think is the best. The person with the best song will win invincibility, first-class, and a very big responsibility."
"Which is?" Ivy asked.
"The winner of today's challenge will be responsible for casting the sole vote to eliminate one of the others."
This announcement made everyone's mouths drop. It also brought joy.
"Now, in order to make the instrumentation, you may use the instruments or the music machines provided. However, you must create the lyrics yourself, and you must provide the vocals. Luckily, while a good singing voice wouldn't hurt, the Warners have promised they wouldn't take it fully into consideration. So even if you have the worst voice ever, you can win if the song itself more than makes up for it."
"But I still hope none of you bust my eardrums," Yakko said. "It's bad enough hearing you as a group, but now each of you bozos have your own song. Your own piece of torture for the rest of us."
"Hey!" everyone exclaimed.
Chris started laughing. "He's not wrong. Anyway, you guys have until six o'clock in our current time zone (which we will make sure to not leave until the challenge ends) tonight to make your songs. Don't worry, many famous artists have written hit songs in less time than what you have. When six rolls around, you will all come in here to record what you have made. The studio itself will be open until then, as will all areas of the plane except my cabin. That said, good luck."
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"Nothing to make me happier than playing a little bit of music," Lammy said happily.
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"I really have no idea what kind of song would fit me," Leo stated.
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"I don't really feel like sabotaging the others today," Ivy told the camera. "I have my own ways of winning."
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"This is so cool," Ruby said. "I have always wanted to write my own song."
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"I wonder if I can make a hardcore heavy metal song," Gaz said. "And the more it's against Ivy, the better."
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"Something subtle, yet interesting," Double D said. "Shouldn't be too hard."
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"This may actually be a good thing," Yusei stated. "There are things I can't say normally, but I think a song will help me get them out."
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Ivy walked out of the studio and cargo hold, carrying a few machines so she could get to work. Once she was outside, Leo quickly beckoned everyone else to hang back. The group looked at him.
"If any of us wins this," he whispers, "I want to make sure we're all in agreement. No matter what, we're getting rid of Ivy."
Everyone nodded. "As if it weren't right in our faces," Gaz whispered.
They all then split up, each heading to different areas of the plane. Lammy stayed in the studio; Leo went to the far end of the cargo hold (so as not to disturb Lammy); Yusei went to first-class; Double D and Gaz went to the cafeteria; Ruby went to Economy; and Ivy decided to stay in the hallway.
When he got into first-class, Yusei immediately sat down, paper and pencil in hand. He already knew the kind of song he wanted to write. The same was said for Lammy and Leo. However, others were more stumped.
"Writing a song can't be too difficult, right?" Double D asked.
(Twenty minutes later…)
Gaz and Double D were both surrounded by several crumpled up pieces of paper.
"How many ideas does that make?" Gaz asked.
"I do not know. I lost count."
Then Gaz picked up one of the pieces of paper. "Guess it really is harder than I thought." However, she noticed Double D had turned his attention back to trying to write lyrics. Hatching an idea, she threw the paper, and it bounced off his head.
"Hey! What was that for?"
"No reason."
Rolling his eyes, Double D took another piece of paper and threw it at Gaz. Right on target. Gaz looked at him, amused.
"Oh, so that's how you want to do it, huh?" she asked. "Alright then."
She grabbed another crumpled paper and threw it on Double D, who was hit in the stomach. Laughing, they kept throwing the discarded ideas at each other, having a blast.
"You suck at throwing," Gaz said.
"Oh, ha ha."
As they had their paper fight, Ivy heard the commotion from the hallway. Curious, she tried taking a peek through the window to see what was making the noise. What she saw made her scream in delight. Gaz and Double D, having fun together. Gaz was even laughing. She never laughs!
Whatever the case, Ivy began to wonder. Were these two already together? Even if they weren't, they certainly weren't doing what they had been doing when the season started: Gaz thinking of Double D as a complete nerd, and Double D thinking of Gaz as this dark child who could scare him without even trying.
To be fair, both those assumptions were accurate.
At any rate, Ivy decided she would have to find out more. If these two were indeed more than friends, she would have the excuse to get rid of her biggest threat in the game.
Back in the cafeteria, Gaz and Double got tired of throwing all that paper around and sat down, both still laughing.
"Who knew you could laugh?" Double D asked.
"I know. It's scary."
"We should probably get back to work, though."
"Yeah."
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"Not one word, Dib," Gaz threatened.
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Lammy had decided to forego the use of her own guitar for the challenge. Instead of making some sort of rock song, she wanted to do something calmer. So she was strumming an acoustic guitar, hoping to find the right melody for the lyrics she came up with.
"How are you doing over there?" she asked Leo, pausing her strumming to look over at him.
"Brainstorming. You?"
"Pretty much the same thing."
"Okay, cool."
The lamb went back to strumming the guitar. She already knew what song she wanted to do. This was her chance to get it through to Yusei's head that even though she loved him, her issues were something she had to face by herself.
Leo, on the other hand, decided to do a little something happier: ever since the last challenge, he had been thinking about Julie more often than he normally would. This was the perfect chance to write the kind of love song he figured she would like.
(Meanwhile…)
Ruby hastily jotted down the lyrics she came up with on a piece of paper. She was excited to finally be able to get her own song out there.
As she wrote, she suddenly noticed Yusei walking in. "Oh, hey," she said. "What are you doing in here?"
"Oh, just taking a quick break. No big deal."
Yusei sat down, and then asked, "Hey, I have a quick question, Ruby."
"Sure, what is it?"
"How do you think I should approach this song? I am kinda hoping to use it to get a response out of Lammy. Something that should convince her to tell the truth."
Ruby stared at him confused. "Okay, why the heck would you come to someone like me for this? Pretty sure Leo knows more on the subject more than I do."
"I thought the same thing, but…"
"But he's working in the same room as Lammy?"
"Yeah."
This made Ruby shrug. "I guess music would be the most effective way to get the message to her, since she is a musician. I say don't go for some angsty rock song. Instead, something simple. Easy as pie."
"Figured it would come to that. Thanks."
(Montage time since I can't think of anything else to fill up the story until we get to the songs…)
The competitors made great progress as the day rolled on. Everyone tested out several melodies with the instruments and machines to see what would be the best one. Gaz and Double D gave each other a few ideas, since they had agreed to help each other out. Yusei kept mouthing his lyrics to himself so he would get them memorized. Leo was trying to use a pencil as a drumstick, thinking of an idea. Ivy seemed relaxed as she worked. Lammy was perfecting her guitar melodies. And Ruby clapped her hands, happy that she had something excellent to present for the challenge.
(Montage over…)
Everyone walked back into the studio, all of their songs prepared. Chris stared at them, waiting.
"Alright guys, it's time for this competition to get underway," he said. "As I told you all earlier, each of you will take turns playing your songs in the recording booth. The Warners will give you comments on how good the song is, from lyrics to sound. Remember that these songs will also be going out across the multiverse, so I hope you don't have something that will humiliate me or you. The one whom the Warners have deemed to have the best song will win first-class and the right to choose the unlucky person to be eliminated tonight. Simple as that."
Everyone looked at each other, nervousness all around.
"To determine the order of who's going when, we're simply drawing names from a hat," Chris continued. "When I call your name, it will be your turn. Is everybody ready?"
"Yeah, okay, whatever," Gaz told him. "Let's get this over with."
"Sheesh, don't have to be so grouchy about it. Anyway, Yakko, may I see your hat?"
"You got it, boss," Yakko said, removing his hat from his head. Chris dropped in several slips of paper, each containing the name of a competitor. After mixing them, he handed the hat back to Yakko, who pulled a slip of paper out.
"Here we go," Chris said as Yakko handed him the paper. He unfolded it and read what it said. "And the first person to play their song is Ruby!"
Everyone looked at Ruby, who smiled. "I was hoping I would get to go first." She handed Wakko a CD she made of the instrumentation for her song, and walked into the recording booth.
"Okay, here goes nothing," Ruby said as she stepped to the sound mic, and Wakko put in the CD.
(Author's Note: The first one off the bat is our favorite Huntress-in-training, Ruby. In figuring out what kind of song she would match, I ultimately decided to have a happy pop-like tone, to match her childlike but carefree and brave personality (again, before Phase 3). It's also a nod from Ruby to Sonic, personally my favorite new couple this season. This song is called "Where The Wind Blows".)
Ruby: Don't want to be nailed down
Can't stand another sorry frown
Never to be stuck in place
Stagnation is a big disgrace
Gotta make my very own path
Other people may have laughed
But I know what it's all about, see
Not the destination but the journey
Humans and hedgehogs know all this
And I'll tell you why.
…
We are drifters
We are free spirits
Our hearts beat fast, we cannot sit
We cannot rest
Nor can we cry
Or we might as well just give up and die
No matter what we go through
We all know where to go
Where the wind blows
…
Where the wind blows
…
This all may just sound so weird
But you gotta give the time to hear
I can only live one way
Live today like it's my last day
Why bother just sitting on that couch
If all it does is make you a shouch?
I gotta fly, and I gotta move
Nothing for me but to get in the groove
Humans and hedgehogs know all this
And I'll tell you why
Yeah, I'll tell you why
...
We are drifters
We are free spirits
Our hearts beat fast, we cannot sit
We cannot rest
Nor can we cry
Or we might as well just give up and die
I can't sit down
I can't be shut
Gotta just keep looking up
Just keep running
Never give in
Because then we all will win
No matter what we go through
We all know where to go
Where the wind blows
…
Where the wind blows
…
Where the wind blows…
The music stopped as Ruby sang the final line, and the competitors all clapped, impressed.
Chris nodded in appreciation. "That wasn't bad. Judges?"
Yakko started. "What I noticed is that the song definitely appeals to our own carefree and awesome lives, but it more perfectly matches you. You're a sweet, carefree girl, but also not afraid to step in if need be."
"I agree," Wakko pointed out. "While I felt the lyrics didn't make sense a couple of times, it gave us all a moment of just feeling good and having no worry. Staying optimistic, no matter what happens."
"And while we think the instrumentation might have been better, and I mean that it seemed a little too quickly put together," Dot added, "we like the message most of all. Personally, I just want to get out and see if I can be blown by the wind outside."
"Please don't," Ruby said. "I didn't mean it literally."
"Darn. But it was fun to listen to. And the slight nod to Sonic was a nice touch."
Ruby smiled. "Thank you," she said, stepping out of the booth.
"And with that, Ruby has set the bar respectively high, making her song the one to beat," Chris told the group. "Let's see if our next singer can do any better."
Taking the cue, Yakko put his hand in the hat and drew another slip of paper out, then handed it to Chris, who unfolded it and read the name.
"Our next person to sing is...Yusei!"
The duelist nodded. "Alright," he said.
Not even looking at anyone, he handed his instrumental CD to the Warners and walked into the booth. He grabbed onto the mic and waited as the music began to play.
(Author's Note: As opposed to Ruby's lighthearted and happy tune, now we get to the other side of the spectrum. Yusei has been looking for a way all season to tell Lammy his own feelings regarding their falling out. What better way than to sing about it? This song is meant to have an acoustic, bluesy sound, something that Trent from the original Total Drama would write. So here's "So Cold".)
Yusei: I try real hard to be whole,
But I can't fill the gap in my soul.
We were happy together
Happy as could be
But then it got so cold
...
Now it's haunting me and I can't sleep
Sometimes my mind is going in too deep
Can't deal with this forever
So I must try and see
How it got so cold
…
Don't you see what you mean to me
You should know what this has all been for me
Maybe I should just give in, but I know
I can't give up, I cannot let you go
Don't you see what we used to be
Before it all came crashing down on me
But why?
Well, I don't know.
…
I understand the truth is hard to say
But it still haunts me everyday
Everytime I think of you
I try to understand
Why it got so cold
…
I know it's hard to tell me all
Lest you break, and we both fall
But all that I can do
Is get you to understand
Tell me how it got so cold
…
Don't you see what you mean to me
You should know what this has all been for me
Maybe I should just give in, but I know
I can't give up, I cannot let you go
Don't you see what we used to be
Before it all came crashing down on me
But why?
Well, I don't know.
…
Lammy wasn't deluded. She knew what Yusei was trying to do. Pretty clever. Get something out of the musician by way of music. The lamb had to admire the effort. In fact, she also knew Yusei was bringing out every single feeling he had bottled in himself since the break up. It was a little shocking, knowing she had done this to him. It almost made her want to tell him the truth and relieve him from the anguish.
Almost.
Yusei: There's not a day that I
Don't think of that very night
That brought an abrupt end to our history
Now the truth is within my range
But only you can make that change
Or it will always be a mystery
…
Don't you see what you mean to me
You should know what this has all been for me
Maybe I should just give in, but I know
I can't give up, I cannot let you go
Don't you see what we used to be
Before it all came crashing down on me
But why?
Well, I don't know.
…
Please just listen to me
I need to know
How it got so cold…
The song ended, and Yusei gave a sigh of relief, glad it was over. Everyone outside the booth applauded him, somewhat louder than the response Ruby gave.
"That was definitely something to listen to," Chris said. "Judges, what did you think?"
Yakko gave the duelist a thumbs up. "That, my spiky-haired friend, seemed like the kind of song you've been waiting to do all season. It sounded smooth, cool, you name it."
"We all admit you don't have the best singing voice in the world," Dot stated. "But that song more than made up for it. I got goosebumps. Anyone else?"
"Heck yeah," Wakko told her. "Normally, I hate break up songs. But this one, I think it has won me over. It almost seemed a little to obvious, but other than that, well done."
Chris nodded. "Well done, indeed. Now, the big question is-"
"Oh, we have that answer." Dot said, interrupting him. "We've decided that Yusei has pushed Ruby out of first place, and is now in the lead. Congrats, dude."
The judges clapped, and Yusei stepped out of the booth. "Thanks," he said, walking back to the chairs to sit. As he did, he passed by Lammy, and took a quick glimpse of her face. If she had any emotions regarding the song, she wasn't showing them.
"Nice try," she whispered, only loud enough for Yusei to hear. He, of course, pretended not to as he sat down.
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"Well, that backfired," Yusei said.
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"After that, Yusei's song is now in the lead," Chris said. "We still have five people who hope to overtake him, so let's keep the ball rolling. Yakko?"
"On it," Yakko said as he drew another piece of paper from the hat.
Once Chris was handed the paper, he looked at the name on it and said, "It's your time to shine, Leo. You're next up to bat."
"Might as well," Leo said, standing up, handing his CD to the Warners, and walking into the booth.
Once he had the mic ready, he said, "This goes out to a special girl I met in the beginning of the season. I hope she's watching and listening. Julie, this is for you."
(Author's Note: Predictably, Leo decides to do a song for Julie. Such a sweetheart. Hey, I can't blame him. Anyway, this song is supposed to sound like a rock/pop sound, and is in the slow to medium range. So without further ado, here's "You're My Love Song".)
Leo: I guess it is very very strange
For my normal life to change
Never thought I would find that song
But then you came along
My eyes were on you from the moment we met
My brain was focused but my heart was set
Never have I felt like this
Never have I had something to miss
This may seem like my love song
My heart all in one tune
But you couldn't be more wrong
And I'm telling you the truth
That you are every note
Every lyric that I wrote
Everything that's outta my throat
Saying you are my love song
You are my melody
Your voice is my symphony
Our hearts are in harmony
And I'll keep loving you
Right down to the last note
…
This may sound too cheesy
Saying what I feel is not easy
And even singing it gives me a fight
Hoping that I do it right
Rest assured that my love is not misplaced
I will make sure it's not replaced
I promise you can count on me
I will be the guy you deserve to see
This may seem like my love song
My heart all in one tune
But you couldn't be more wrong
The truth is, that is you
'Cause you are every note
Every lyric that I wrote
Everything that's outta my throat
Because you are my love song
You are my melody
Your voice is my symphony
Our hearts are in harmony
And I'll keep loving you
Right down to the last note
…
You are every note
Every lyric that I wrote
Everything that's outta my throat
Because you are my love song
You are my melody
Your voice is my symphony
Our hearts are in harmony
And I'll keep loving you
Right down to the last note
Once the song finished, Leo bowed his head as the group applauded. "Thank you," he said.
"Julie is officially one lucky lady," Chris said. "Judges, what did you think?"
"Personally, I thought some of the lyrics were out of place," Dot said. "But past that, I could tell you meant every word. I'm jealous of Julie right now, I'll tell you."
Wakko laughed. "So am I. The only time someone ever wrote a song for me was when they were making the Animaniacs theme song. As for this one, the lyrics did seem a little weird, but that chorus was really good."
"The instrumentation wasn't bad either," Yakko told the Nohrian. "It felt nice and smooth, but I do have to agree with the others. You kinda suffered when it came to the lyrics."
"Now we get to the big question," Chris told them. "Was Leo's song enough to beat Yusei?"
Yakko shook his head. "Leo, you weren't bad, but the lyrics let you down, and it wasn't enough. Yusei's still in the lead."
Leo shrugged and got out of the booth. "At least it's over," he said, sitting back down.
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I can't believe you had the guts to reject that guy at first, Julie," Double D said.
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"Julie, I meant every word of that song," Leo stated. "And while you can clearly see I'm not the best songwriter, I hope you liked it all the same. Miss you and love you."
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Chris laughed. "Yeah, over for you, but we still have four singers remaining, all hoping that their song will kick Yusei off the leaderboard."
Yakko handed him a piece of paper from the hat. "Here you go, boss," he said.
"This should be interesting," Chris told everyone, looking at the paper. "The next person to perform their song is Gaz."
"Me already?" Gaz complained. "I was hoping I would get to go last."
"Too bad," Chris said. "In you go."
Gaz grumbled as she handed her CD to the Warners and stepped in the booth. "Before I begin," she said, "I should warn everyone that this song is not quite mine. This is a song I love listening to, and I just thought I would do a cover. Is that okay?"
Chris shrugged. "As long as you make the cover different from the real thing, knock yourself out."
(Author's Note: I did say that I would be writing my own songs for the competitors, and for the other six, that is still the case. But one guest (whom I thank for giving me the idea) pointed this song out to me, and I decided to use it because it seemed to fit Gaz perfectly. Unlike the real version, Gaz will be doing a more rock thing, and in a different key. Oh, and I do not own this song. With legal stuff out of the way, here's Gaz's cover of Alex C and Yasmin K's (or Nightcore, depending on what version of the song you know the most) "Angel of Darkness".)
Gaz: Angel of darkness
Angel of darkness
The world is in your hand
But I will fight until the end
Angel of darkness
Angel of darkness
Don't follow your command
But I will fight and I will stand
...
When darkness falls
Pain is all
The angel of darkness
Will leave behind
And I will fight
...
The love is lost
Beauty and light
Have vanished from garden of delight
The dreams are gone
Midnight has come
The darkness is our new kingdom
Yeah, yeah
Angel of darkness
Angel of darkness
The world is in your hand
But I will fight until the end
Angel of darkness
Angel of darkness
Don't follow your command
But I will fight and I will stand
...
Ivy was mildly impressed. Gaz really was giving a decent rendition of the song. She also had guts. Normally, Ivy would think Gaz thought of herself as the so-called "angel of darkness". Not in this case. Here, it seemed like Gaz was calling something else the angel. Most likely, Gaz was saying that against Ivy herself. Saying she would stand up against her no matter what.
Not bad. Now if only Ivy could break Gaz's resolve.
...
Gaz: Hunt goes on deep in the night
Time to pray down on your knees
You can't hide from the eternal light
Until my last breath I will fight
I will fight
I will fight
I will fight
I will fight
...
Now realize
The stars they die
Darkness has fallen in paradise
But we'll be strong
And we will fight
Against the creatures of the night
...
Angel of darkness
Angel of darkness
The world is in your hand
But I will fight until the end
Angel of darkness
Angel of darkness
Don't follow your command
But I will fight and I will stand
Yeah, yeah
Gaz gave a small smirk as the song ended, and the group gave their applause.
"Okay, that wasn't bad for a cover," Chris said. "Let's go over to the judges."
"That song definitely fits you," Wakko said. "I can see why you decided to do it instead of writing one. And yet, I also felt like you didn't put enough effort into the song."
"Besides, I think I would've preferred you to write your own material," Yakko added. "Otherwise, if you do a cover, there's not much to judge."
"What they said," Dot told Gaz.
The goth girl just shrugged. "Whatever," she said. "Truth is, I wasn't even thinking about the competition when I picked that song."
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"Ivy had better watch out," Gaz said. "There's only room for one 'angel of darkness' in this game. And this angel's playing right."
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"I think it looks like the judges' decision is clear," Chris said. "Gaz, it looks like your idea to do a cover backfired, and Yusei is still in the lead with his song."
Once Gaz was back in her seat, she looked at Double D.
"I thought it wasn't bad," Double D told her.
"I hate singing."
Everyone turned their attention back to Chris. "It looks like Yusei continues to hold the lead, but there are still three competitors left to sing. Now let's find out who's next."
Yakko handed him a piece of paper from the hat, and Chris read the name on it. "This should be fun. Lammy, you're up next."
The lamb smiled, got up, and grabbed an acoustic guitar from the side. "I'm doing the instrumental all right here," she told the group as she walked into the booth. "I hope you guys like it."
(Author's Note: I think it would fit Lammy perfectly to play this song while playing the guitar. Nothing too fancy, just an acoustic guitar to back up her voice. Her song is supposed to bring up issues she has faced all season, but at the same time, prove she can handle them. So here's her song, "Fine".)
Lammy: We once were in perfect tune
Your heart, I will not forget
Now we're just shells of ourselves
Walking around like we had never met
I can't say it wasn't my fault
I know deep down I am to blame
But I did what I had to do back then
I know it hurts you all same
But don't think for a second
That I have forgotten your name
(humming)
You're still my beating heart
My wonderful inspiration
I still wish you were mine
But please don't worry about this part
Understand our separation
I will be just fine
Be just fine
Just fine
I know this may seem hard to believe
That my love remains
I've thought about you ever since that day
Parting from you was a pain
But no matter what becomes of us
I hope you understand
The matters that came between us
Was all part of my plan
And no matter what we've both been through
My feelings aren't a total sham
You're still my beating heart
My wonderful inspiration
I still wish you were mine
But please don't worry about this part
Understand our separation
I will be just fine
Be just fine
Just fine
Lammy finished with a final strum on the guitar and nodded her head as the group applauded, their loudest cheer yet. As they cheered, Lammy looked at Yusei, who was clapping his hands and nodding at her appreciatively.
"I think that one was one of the best ones yet," Chris said. "Judges?"
"That was awesome!" Wakko exclaimed. "It's like the music perfectly matched the lyrics and your voice."
The other two Warners nodded in agreement.
Chris nodded. "I think it's clear, Lammy has pushed Yusei off the podium, and her song is now in the lead."
Everyone kept cheering as Lammy sat down. "Thanks, guys," she said.
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"How about that?" Lammy asked. "He writes a song regarding his feelings on the matter, and wants answers. I write a song regarding my own feelings, and it tells him not to worry about me. I don't know if this is hilarious or it sucks."
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"I know exactly what that song is supposed to be about," Yusei said. "She knew I would try and ask for answers through my song, so she pulled out a counter. Not bad, Lammy. Not bad."
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Chris looked into the hat. "There are only two people left to sing, and since I'm getting bored of this drawing thing, Double D and Ivy are just going to play rock-paper-scissors to determine who goes next."
The two aforementioned competitors shrugged and got ready. "Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!"
Double D pulled rock, while Ivy pulled scissors.
"That settles it," Chris said. "Double D's up next."
"Dang it!" Ivy exclaimed. "I hate being last."
"Too bad."
Once Double D handed his CD to the Warners and walked into the booth, he smiled at the others. "I hope this song doesn't disappoint you guys too much."
(Author's Note: Knowing Double D, he would likely have a song reflecting his own shortcomings, like his lack of brawn, and what makes up for those shortcomings, like his brain. And that's what we have here in this pop/electronic song, except there may also be a hint of his feelings for Gaz in here. Subtle, but not quite unnoticeable. So here's "The Way You See Me".)
Double D: I think it's plain to me
I am no sight to see
I can barely open a pickle jar
But I know what's inside my head
Is just as tough and strong as lead
My brain is what will raise the bar
I am not Willis
I am not Cruise
I am not Schwarzenegger or DiCaprio
I just have my brain
And my brain is ready to go
Not a superhero
Or an athlete
I'm a nerd, that's plain and true
But it doesn't matter to me
I hope it doesn't matter to you
No matter what you see
I hope you like
The way you see me
…
I am not Willis
I am not Cruise
I am not Schwarzenegger or DiCaprio
I just have my brain
And my brain is ready to go
Not a superhero
Or an athlete
I'm a nerd, that's plain and true
But it doesn't matter to me
I hope it doesn't matter to you
No matter what you see
I hope you like
The way you see me
"Thank you for listening," Double D said once the song ended. Once again, everyone cheered enthusiastically.
"That was a really good one," Chris said. "Judges, what did you think?"
Dot eagerly clapped her hands. "That sounded really good. I couldn't stop listening if my cuteness depended on it."
"Or my unbeatable appetite," Wakko said.
"I think you get the idea," Yakko added.
"I think that means a clear leading change. Double D, you have officially taken the lead. All you need to do is beat Ivy and you'll have invincibility."
"No pressure or anything," Double D said as he sat down next to Gaz.
"Good job," she whispered.
"Thanks."
However, Gaz's whisper was heard by only one person. And that phrase bounced in her head.
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"I knew she had a crush on him," Ivy said. "But has she already revealed it to him? Hmmmm."
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"Ivy, it's all up to you," Chris said. "All you have to do is give the judges a song that will knock their socks off, and that sole vote will be yours tonight."
The villainess smirked. "Then let's get to it," she said as she handed the Warners her instrumental CD and walked into the booth.
(Author's Note: We finally come to the competitor you all know and love to hate. As predicted, Ivy has a song suited for an evildoer like herself, with a sick rock vibe. There's not much else to say on this one though, so here's "Surprise".)
Ivy: You all think I'm on my last rope
That's wishful thinking, one can only hope
You all think you can win, but you are sorely wrong
It's in nature for the weak to bow to the strong
I can see it clear, my path to victory
No way am I ever gonna slow
It's time you all give up, there is no hope for you
It's time for you all to go
'Cause I'm destiny
I'm mythology
Don't dare look into these eyes
I'm unbeatable
Irreplaceable
Don't take it as a surprise
But I'm unstoppable
…
How I got here, I admit it wasn't very clean
Had to push people aside, had to be super mean
But it's all I know to do, and it's not gonna stop
Hate to burst your bubble, but that bubble has to pop
I can see it clear, my path to victory
No way am I ever gonna slow
It's time you all give up, there is no hope for you
It's time for you all to go
'Cause I'm destiny
I'm mythology
Don't dare look into these eyes
I'm unbeatable
Irreplaceable
Don't take it as a surprise
But I'm unstoppable
…
If I could hold my own
Against a dark and moody bat
This endeavor should be a cinch for me
You're all a mouse, and I'm the giant cat
...
'Cause I'm destiny
I'm mythology
Don't dare look into these eyes
I'm unbeatable
Irreplaceable
Don't take it as a surprise
But I'm unstoppable
Yeah, unstoppable
Don't take it as a surprise
But I'm unstoppable
Ivy finished the song and opened the door of the booth, and she quickly blew a kiss at Yakko and Wakko while everyone else was preoccupied with their cheering (they were all required to cheer no matter who was singing) However, Gaz managed a quick glance.
"Now that was a good way to close out the challenge," Chris said. "Judges, was that enough for her to-?"
Yakko interrupted. "She wins!"
"I agree, she wins," Wakko said, nodding his head. Then, both boys leaned over to her. "HELLLLLOOOOO, NURSE!"
Dot shook her head. "Boys."
Then Double D noticed Gaz sitting next to him, and she looked furious. "Uh, Gaz, are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Gaz snapped.
"Okay, but please don't do anything stupid."
Yakko pointed at Ivy. "She's the clear winner. I won't have any other winner but her."
Chris sighed, then shrugged. "Okay, fine. She's the winner, I guess."
Hearing that, Gaz's mouth dropped. Then, she got up.
"That's it!"
Double D gasped. "Gaz, no!"
Ignoring him, Gaz walked up to Chris. "I saw her blow a kiss at the Warners. She's brainwashed them with her pheromones!"
"Actually, I know," Chris said. "But I don't care."
Gaz's mouth dropped. "She cheated! I saw it!"
"Yikes, temper much?" Ivy asked.
"Oh, shut up, you jerk," Gaz snapped at her. "We both know you brainwashed Yakko and Wakko."
"I won't say I did, and I won't say I didn't."
Leo rolled his eyes. "We all know you did," he called.
"Shut up! Anyway, not like you to make a big deal out of this, Gaz."
The goth glared at her. "And how do you know what I make a big deal out of?"
"I mean, you were already not going to win the challenge. Why make a big deal out of-?"
It was then that Ivy realized something huge. She knew Gaz's weakness.
She smiled. "Oh, I get it now. I remember now who it was that would've won the challenge if I didn't." She turned to look at Double D. "Hello, Double D. How are you doing?"
"Gaz, just walk away," Double D whispered.
"Listen, little girl," Ivy told Gaz. "We all know you like him. You're aware that Mandy and I knew for ages. And did you know your former teammates had a bet on whether or not you would admit it to someone? Why do you think Leo's in trouble with his father right now and Deadpool's in debt? Why do you think Deadpool crashed a motorcycle through an expensive glass window?"
Double D kept whispering. "Gaz, walk away. Please turn yourself away from the hostile situation."
But Gaz wasn't going to give Ivy the satisfaction. She turned to everyone. "I admitted it to Double D not long ago, guys. Happy? If I just keep my mouth shut, Ivy would win. And we all know that."
She turned to Ivy. "No matter what you do to me, whether or not you choose to vote me off tonight, remember this: I'm better than you in every way. Everyone else is better than you in every way. I may not be all sunshine and rainbows, but I know better than to backstab allies. And Double D? He may be a wimp, but he's more than capable of taking your sorry *censored* down. So go ahead. Vote me out tonight. I know you're going to. But you're not going to win this show, no matter how far you get."
Everyone looked in awe at Gaz. "Dang," Lammy said.
Ivy drank in what Gaz just said, then nodded. "Alright. I think I know who I'm voting off tonight."
"Guess you do," Gaz said.
"Well, on that note, Ivy has won the challenge and first-class, and will decide on who will be eliminated tonight by herself. Everyone, might as well go and await your fates."
As everyone left the studio, Ruby asked Leo, "Wait, if he knew Ivy had cheated, why didn't he punish her or something?"
"My guess, she's ratings dynamite for the show."
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"In a show this sadistic, it's no surprise if the higher-ups play favorites," Leo said. "If a competitor is popular with the audience, this show will do whatever it takes to keep that person around as long as possible."
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"Gaz made a big mistake telling off Ivy like that," Double D stated. "I love her courage, but she's now she's doomed."
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"Mandy, it looks like I haven't fully avenged you after all," Gaz said. "But I hope you're satisfied with the seeds I planted for her demise."
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"I guess this is it," Double D said. He and Gaz were both sitting alone in Economy, and he was writing something down on a piece of paper. "Look, what you did back there was admirable, but now there's no way she's not going to eliminate you tonight."
Gaz nodded. "I know."
They both sat in silence. "At least I won't have to deal with her for much longer," Gaz said.
More silence.
"Hey Sockhead, can you promise me something?"
Double D looked up at her. "Sure, what is it?"
"When she eliminates me tonight, I'm not going to be around to protect you from her. You have to protect herself. And quite possibly the other competitors. But if I didn't think you were capable of such a thing, I would have never fallen for you. So promise me that no matter what, you'll do what you can to beat her. It's not just about us winning anymore, it's about her not winning. Promise me you'll be strong and stand up to her."
The nerd smiled and nodded. "I promise," he said.
Gaz nodded back, then gave Double D a quick kiss on the cheek. Then Double D looked back at the paper he was writing on. "Dang it, he said. "I just realized I had misspelled something." In frustration, he ripped the paper out of the notebook, rolled it up, and threw it at the trashcan, where it just missed and hit the floor.
"Someone's never going to be a basketball player," Gaz said.
(Later…)
Everyone sat silently in the elimination room, waiting for Chris to walk in. While they waited, Gaz and Ivy kept glaring at each other. Everyone else looked back and forth at the two enemies.
Chris finally walked in, smiling. "Seven is about to turn into six, and those six will be one step closer to one million dollars. But now it's time to see who will be the unlucky person left out. Ivy, have you made your decision?"
"Obviously," she said, smirking.
Gaz shook her head. "Can I just grab the parachute now, or do you want it to be official?" she asked insolently at Ivy.
"Oh, I want to make it official," Ivy said. "Better that way."
Annoyed, Gaz rolled her eyes.
"Ivy, will you do the honors?" Chris said.
The plant girl nodded in response. Then she looked at the other six, all of whom looked calm. Finally, she looked at Gaz.
"Gaz…"
Hearing this, Gaz raised her head higher, planning to go with dignity.
"...it's your lucky day. You're not getting eliminated yet."
All of a sudden, all six of the others looked around, confused. They all thought Gaz would go. But Gaz was the most confused. If Ivy wasn't choosing her…
Ivy gave a nasty smile. "However, your boyfriend is."
Ruby gasped. "She didn't…"
A deafening silence filled the room. Even Chris was shocked. And both Gaz and Double D's mouths dropped to the floor. Double D seemed too shocked to speak.
But Gaz was at least able to stammer something. "But...but...w-why would…"
Ivy simply smiled. "You know why."
Finally, Double D managed to find his voice. "Gaz, I-"
Before he could say anything else, Ivy roughly grabbed him and pulled him to the terminal door, shoving a parachute into him along the way.
"Sorry, but you don't get to speak."
Gaz looked at Ivy. "Hey, he did nothing to you. Ivy, eliminate me instead. I'm the one you want gone."
"You're defending him? That's the reason I'm doing this, hello."
Double D tried to fight it off, but he couldn't. All the while, Gaz was running towards him.
"Gaz, listen. I-"
But before he said anything else, Ivy successfully shoved him and the parachute out the door and into the open air. Gaz ran to the door upon seeing this. "Double D, no!" But by the time she had reached the door and looked down, Double D was out of sight.
She stared in shock for several moments, then turned around and looked at Ivy. "You monster! How could you?!"
"Strategy, darling. Strategy."
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"I knew Gaz would think herself doomed, and that she would talk to her nerd boyfriend, telling him to fight for the both of them," Ivy explained. "That, I believed, would strengthen Double D's resolve as well as everyone else's, and they would all fight against me on Gaz's behalf. Besides, Double D has no muscle or backbone, but make no mistake, his brains label him as a threat.
"So instead of eliminating Gaz, I decided to demoralize her by the use of her one weakness: Double D himself. By eliminating him and not letting him speak for Gaz, the poor girl will lose the will to fight. And so will everyone else. They will be too shocked by what I did to fight back from here on.
"It's just like I said in my song. I will do anything to win, because I'm unstoppable."
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Everyone looked at the open terminal door for several moments. Leo gently pulled Gaz away from the door, where she had continued to look down after hearing Ivy's remark, too in shock to care.
But they were unaware of something else going on. While everyone looked at the door in one way, Lammy looked at it in another. Her necklace was glowing. Suddenly…
...she made a bolt for the door, hoping to jump out herself. "Hey!" everyone else yelled at her as she ran, screaming.
However, she was five feet away from the door when Yusei grabbed her wrist and pulled her away. "Chris, close the door!" he yelled.
Alarmed, Chris did exactly what he said and pushed the button, while Lammy continued struggling to break free of Yusei's grip.
"Let go of me! I have to do this!" She screamed at him, crying at the same time.
"Lammy! Calm down! What the heck are you talking about?!"
"It could be the only way! It could be the only way to-!"
"Only way to what?" Yusei asked. "Please answer me!"
Just like that, Lammy snapped out of it and stopped struggling. She realized she had said too much. She noticed everyone was looking right at her, all with worried expressions on their faces. Even Ivy and Chris showed a hint of alarm.
"I...I just….I was a little shocked by what happened to Double D. That's all. I wasn't thinking clearly."
Quickly, she got up and left the room, running to the cargo hold. She had just closed the door when she started crying.
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"First Double D getting pushed off, now this?" Leo asked. "Everyone else looked like they had just seen a ghost, and I probably did too."
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"This is starting to get out of hand," Yusei said.
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Once everyone had calmed down from the shock of Lammy trying to throw herself off the plane, Gaz went back to Economy, where the shock of Double D being eliminated returned to her full swing. Even what Ivy did to Mandy paled in comparison to this.
Ruby and Leo walked in soon after. "Gaz?" Ruby asked. "Are you okay?"
"What do you think?" Gaz asked, glaring at her.
"Look, Gaz, if you want to talk about it, we all could," Leo said.
Silence. Then…
"It's my fault, you know. Sockhead tried to tell me not to stand up to Ivy. If I had just kept my mouth shut, maybe she would've just eliminated me instead."
"Gaz, it wasn't your fault," Leo said. "Any of us could've done what you did. If it's anyone's fault, it's Ivy's."
Gaz shook her head. "I should've been the one eliminated tonight. Double D didn't deserve that."
Then she noticed something in the corner of her eye. It was the trash can, with the balled-up piece of paper Double D had scrapped earlier.
"I wonder what he was trying to write," she said to herself as she went to the trash can and picked it up. Then she flattened it out to see what it read. She gasped.
"Guys, you might want to see this," she told Ruby and Leo, who walked over to her and looked at the paper. On it was a letter, and without a single misspelled word.
Gaz,
If you're reading this, Ivy bamboozled everyone and chose me as her next victim instead of you. In truth, I suspected things might end up that way, so I planned accordingly. My look of shock was rather convincing, wasn't it?
I am writing this now because while I know you're strong, I am taking into account what's happened to other relationships this season (*cough* Yusei *cough* Lammy *cough*), and I am telling you to keep that strength. If you don't, my elimination will have been in vain. That is the same to everyone else Ivy has unfairly defeated. She makes Nom Nom look like a genuine good guy (he may have redeemed himself, but I don't trust him nearly as far as I can throw him, and I can't throw him at all).
No matter how my elimination may have affected you, don't let it defeat you. Instead, use it as your motivation moving forward. Use it as a rallying point against Ivy. I trust you may already be aware of all this, but if Ivy keeps me away from saying this to you personally, precautions are necessary.
I don't know when I will see you next, but I hope from here on out, you will be taking the fight right to Ivy. You have to finish the job. Not just for me, but for Mandy and everyone else Ivy eliminated. Nay, for everyone remaining in the competition and who has already been eliminated, whether or not Ivy played a hand. Basically, for everyone who ever competed this season. And most importantly, for us.
Good luck. Wherever I end up, whether it be Peach Creek or somewhere else, I will be watching.
-Eddward (aka Double D, aka Sockhead)
Gaz put the letter down and breathed in as Leo and Ruby looked at her. Somehow, Gaz felt a huge weight being lifted off her thanks to the letter.
She wasn't going to let him down.
"Do you guys still want revenge on what happened to Julie and Sonic?" she asked.
"Of course," Leo said.
"You bet," Ruby added.
"Then you guys are officially in an alliance with me," Gaz told them.
Leo looked at Ruby, then back at Gaz. "I can live with that."
"Me too."
Gaz looked at them, then nodded. "We're going to make her pay."
(Meanwhile…)
Yusei walked into the cargo hold, knowing Lammy was still in there. He saw her in the far back of the room. She wasn't crying anymore, but she was absentmindedly strumming the strings on her guitar.
"Hey, are you okay?" Yusei asked.
Lammy looked at her. "I'm fine. Thanks for asking, I guess."
They looked at each other for a long time, the awkwardness already starting to seep in. Yusei was about to ask her what she had been trying to say earlier, in the elimination room.
"Hey, Lammy?"
But when he looked at her eyes, he knew she just wanted to be alone.
"Nevermind," he said, then he turned to leave the room, but stopped at the doorway.
"If you need anything, I'm not far away," he told her, then he left.
Lammy looked at the door, wishing she could call him back and tell him everything. She looked down at her guitar.
There was no denying the fact. Yusei had saved her. He had kept her from running right out the door of the plane. She probably should have expected as much from the guy who had stuck by her side, even if she didn't want him there.
But if Yusei believed that would mean she owed him answers, he had another thing coming.
Lammy looked at her necklace. Her resolve was the same. As long as the necklace had a hold over her-as long as the thing inside had a hold over her, she would keep her mouth shut. As long as she had a hold on Lammy, Yusei couldn't get involved.
But now that she had been desperate enough to throw herself off the plane, she knew things were getting way too dangerous. Looking at the necklace, she knew she had only two options: either Yusei would have to get eliminated, or Lammy would have to get eliminated.
Lammy just hoped either would happen before it was too late.
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New record for longest chapter I have ever written! Hooray!
I consider this elimination to be the equivalent of Yusei's from last season. Double D has suffered a similar fate: Ivy chose him as her victim and eliminated him in a unique way (like the vote switching from last season). Like last time, this one involved cheating because Ivy made sure she would get invincibility (something Double D would have gotten otherwise). And once again, there is a reminder to the victim's closest ally (Gaz) that they must remain strong for the both of them and take the villain down.
Either way, this goes down as Ivy's cruelest move yet, and one of my favorite eliminations of all time. As for Gaz, she is now joining forces with Leo and Ruby, all intent on defeating Ivy once and for all.
Everyone warmed up their vocal cords and got their creative juices flowing to create their own songs, which are now going out to radios across the multiverse. Hopefully, I didn't mess up too badly. And why I chose an actual song for Gaz to sing, it just fit.
Some revealed their feelings, others hid their feelings, and a lot went down, from Yusei's request for answers to Ivy's bold claim she's unbeatable. Personally, I consider Leo's song my favorite one that I wrote for this.
As for Yusei and Lammy, they will not stop getting complicated, will they? First, they reaffirm their intentions to each other through their songs. Yusei wants answers, Lammy wants to handle it alone. Then comes Lammy's desperate move near the end that makes her see that Yusei truly will be there for her always, but that she needs to make a move before the necklace makes a move for her.
And now everyone has had that weird dream, further scrambling things. By this point, everyone wants the truth, even you all. And don't worry, you will soon get it.
This is where I usually bring up the next chapter, but I'm not doing that. Why? Well, I am about to do a huge 2-part event. Questions will be answered, and a major plotline will be resolved. This 2-part event is so big, so epic, so awesome that I can't say anything else about it. But not to worry, I will release a little trailer soon to get you interested.
Until then, remember to read and review, fave and follow, send in challenge ideas and locations, give me good-luck messages and audition tapes, vote on my Favorite Character Poll if you haven't, and let me know in the reviews which song was your favorite from this chapter. And if you pick Gaz's just because it's a song by a professional, I will consider you a cheater. Sorry, but I write stories, not songs. So if you liked that one the best, that's fine. But not that kind of bias, please.
Wow, that was a lot to say, so I will see you soon. TheMasterKat out!
