The bus with the Diamond Lake crew drove up to a close by field, where they found Greg standing between two lines of go karts. "Welcome kids, you've almost reached the halfway point. How are you guys feeling?"
"Awesome!" Brian cheered.
"Alright." Grace shrugged.
"O...k..." Orion and Krystal let out without looking at each other.
"Horny." Uma admitted, gaining some 'Why am I not surprised?' looks from the others.
"Anyway, time for your next challenge. A good old fashioned Go Kart race!" Greg explained as the camera view flew along the course. "Both teams will race their karts through the woods, stopping at two checkpoints to perform a different task before you can move on to the next. First full team back here wins immunity, also for the last kart to cross the finish line. That kart's occupants will be instantly eliminated."
"WHAT!?" The campers gasped.
"That's right. No vote, no marshmallow." Greg said, "Straight from the producers themselves."
"Told you guys there'd be nothing to worry about." Linka whispered to her teammates.
"I guess being a smaller team does help sometimes." Uma said.
Greg, overhearing this, added "Also, since the Grizzlies are seriously outnumbered. I figured to even things up, the Panthers will all be riding in 2 person karts."
The teams all looked to the karts, and true to the host's words the Panthers karts' (the pink ones) all had two seats while the Grizzlies' grey karts all had one. Grace and Uma looked to Linka, who put her hands up defensively "Don't look at me."
"Alright kids, before you get to your karts. A little reward for the first kart to cross the finish, three days of fully paid luxury at an 8 star spa hotel." Greg showed them a slideshow of a high end spa hotel that the author will never be able to afford. Nearly all of them oohed at the images of the occupants getting pampered. "Now get ready to race."
The teams lined up their karts, from front to back for the Grizzlies was Grace, Linka, Uma. For the Panthers, Rose and Ryo up front with the detective at the wheel. Behind them was Orion and Brian, and in the back was Maybelle and Krystal.
(BZZT)
Ryo: The way I set up the pairs, it increases our odds of victory... and also keep Orion and Krystal separate. With their awkwardness could gravely hinder our chances, so its best to keep them apart for the time being.
Orion: I really would have loved to ride with Krystal, so that way we could go to the spa together for a date. But I was still too embarrassed from last night to say anything, what happened last night really brought my confidence to an all time low.
Orion opened the door to the confessional, only to find Krystal waiting there. The meep with awkward looks before the male twin ran past her.
Krystal: (Sighs as she takes her seat) Oh Ory, if only I wasn't so scared. But right now I need to focus on winning that spa trip, I can't take another day of roughing it! Orion was the only thing that made this experience bearable, but now things are just so awkward.
(BZZT)
Krystal left the confessional, and out from behind it was Uma. "Seems to be some trouble in paradise." she snickered.
(Back at the challenge)
"Alright players, before we start. Note that along the track there will be items that will help you speed up, or slow down your opponents." Greg told them, "Is everybody ready?"
"YES!/Sort of."
"3...
.
.
.
.
2...
...
..
..
.
.
.
.
.
...1...
GO!"
The six karts raced off, leading the pack was Grace with Ryo & Rose right behind her. They led the group around the first turn, missing some item boxes, the all boy kart was able to hit an item box.
Brian held up a red shell, "Oh man, this is just like Marco Kart!" he stated.
"Hold on, we don't want to hit our teammates." Orion told him, just then Linka passed them. "Now!" Brian then tossed the shell at the girl, who spun out of control upon impact.
"Sorry!" Brian called as they took back 3rd.
"I have a lot of questions." Linka said as she was passed by Uma and the Maybelle/Krystal kart. She then got back into the race.
Greg watched over the racers on a tablet, "Its neck and neck with Ryo & Rose against Grace as they reach the forest, they'll have to weave their way through the trees in order to reach their first stop."
Ryo expertly snaked through the trees, "Dude, where did you learn to drive like this?" Rose asked.
"I've been a few high speed chases, this is no different than driving a helicopter." Ryo said as he grabbed an item, "Here." which he handed to Rose.
"A banana peal?" Rose questioned.
"Its more effective than you think."
"Pfff, whatever." Rose half-hazardly tossed the peal behind her.
"Ok, just take it nice and eas-WAH!" Grace said as her kart skidded as she ran over the peal, hitting a tree.
Hearing the impact, Rose commented "Huh, guess it has its uses after all."
The pair raced out of the tree portion, followed by the Orion/Brian kart, which had three banana peals. "Brian, tossed the peals at 8:40, 6 o'clock, and 4:20!"
"Hehe, 420." Brian chuckled as he tossed the peals at the twin's coordinates.
Uma then came out, "Nope." she said as she drove in between the peals. Then came Maybelle's kart, the lady twin also avoided the peals. But Grace and Linka weren't so lucky.
Ryo and Rose were the first kart to reach the first task, which was right at the dock of the lake. Ryo got out of the kart and headed over to the sign, "Task number 1, toss floaties onto one of your team's poles. Once you land three floaties, you may continue on with the race." Ryo read, "Stay here Rose." he told the blind girl before heading onto the dock, where were a bunch of floaties with his and the opposing team's colors.
"Hurry back." Rose said.
Ryo noticed there were only three poles for his team, figured its a pole for every kart. He picked up a pink floatie and made a toss, the thing hitting dead center of the pole.
Rose heard the sound of motors, driving up next to her was Orion and Brian, the latter going to do the task. "WOOHOO!" he said as he approached to where Ryo was, who already got two floaties on and going for his third. "This is so rad dude!" he said as he picked up a floatie.
"Yes I admit, these challenges are quite enjoyable." Ryo said as he and Brian tossed their floaties, both landing. Ryo's pole lighting up green, signifying he was done. "Good luck in the race Brian."
"Ah, you two man." Brian said as he tossed his second floatie, missing the target.
Ryo and Rose rode off as Uma drove up, "Well, first Grizzly here." she got out and saw Orion waiting for Brian to finish up, she gained a smirk before heading near him. "Hey, Ory."
Orion sighed, "What do you want now Uma?"
"Wow, you don't sound all that happy to see me."
"Don't you have a task to do?" he questioned.
"Can't a girl give some advice to a boy going through an awkward patch with his girl? Especially after what happened last night."
"How do you know about that?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Trust me, where I'm from you learn the ability to tell when and where people get frisky. Or at least attempt to." Uma answered. She saw him glare at her, "Don't look at me like that I spy on everyone."
"Look, last time I took your advice it didn't work. So just leave me alone." Orion turned away from her.
Uma murmured to herself, clearly he doesn't trust her. She looked back to see Maybelle and Krystal coming, she sighed "Fine, enjoy a relationship of awkward silences." she went over to the dock, where Brian was working on getting his last floatie on the pole.
"Yah!" he let it fly, and the pole lit up as the floatie dropped down. "Yes!" He was about to leave when he saw Uma get three floaties on her pole in quick succession.
"Boom." Uma said as her light lit up.
"Woah, how did you do that?" Brian asked.
"Lets just say I know my way around a pole." she winked before heading to her kart.
"Its probably best I don't ask." Brian said.
Maybelle drove up just as the other two karts left, "Alright Krystal, go ahead and do the task."
"Why me?" Krystal demanded.
"Because I'm driving?"
"You do it." the rich girl looked away.
"Fine, but you're doing the next one." Maybelle exasperated as she got out and went over to the pile floatation devices.
"Can't believe we're dead last." Grace complained as she and Linka pulled in.
"We're not out of the woods yet Grace." Linka replied, "Its still early in on, anything can happen." she and Grace joined Maybelle on the dock.
The top three karts were now were now going down a winding road, Uma had just hit an item box to receive three green shells. She let out a snicker as she took aim with on one of her shells. Just then she spun out of control, she shook the dizziness to see a what looked large bullet that sent the other karts crashing to the either side of the track.
"Woah!"
"What the?"
The drivers of said karts saw the bullet poof, and in its place was Grace "Woah, that was nuts."
"HEY BABE!" Brian yelled as Orion straighten their kart.
"HEY BABE!" Grace yelled back, "I'll see you at the finish line!"
"Gun it bro!" Brian exclaimed.
"You don't have to yell." Orion said as he got back in the race. Uma and team R were passed by Linka and Maybelle and Krystal before they started driving again.
Pretty soon all the karts arrived at the second checkpoint, where they all found 6 really long balance beams, three grey ones and three pink ones. Linka walked up to the sign explaining the task, "For your 2nd task, you must carry a tray of food across a balance beam that varies in width. Watch out for flying debris."
"LET'S GOOOOO- WOAH!" Brian called as he grabbed a tray and ran down the beam, before getting hit with a dodgeball. The ones running looked and saw all the named interns with various objects.
Ryo then took a tray and started his walk on the beam, carefully inching along his pink beam as he avoided some balls from the brother interns. Grace took her start on her beam, managing to avoid a blanket, but dropping her tray as a result. This means she has to start over.
Orion waited, before he was tapped on the shoulder by his sister. "Hey, Bro can you watch the kart I gotta go pee?" she asked with a cringe.
"You serious?" he exclaimed, "Why didn't you go before the challenge?"
"I didn't have to go then."
"Oh fine, just make it quick." Orion sighed.
"Thanks bro." Maybelle then ran off into the woods. As she did so, Ryo just crossed his beam.
As Ryo ran over to his kart, Krystal just finished up leaping off. With the thumbs up from the ref she went over to her kart, finding Maybelle gone. Uma meanwhile was making a show of her walk, doing some very lewd dance moves and blowing some kisses to Landon and Derrick, the latter covered his brother's eyes as Ruth tossed a beach ball to her, only to get it deflected with the Vegas girl's booty.
She then noticed Krystal approaching her boyfriend, "Hey... um... have you seen your sister?"
Orion looked down, still unable to look her in the eye. "Um... she ... had to go... use the latrine."
"Great." she sighed. "So... about last night."
"Oh man..." Orion groaned.
"Look, about what happened... I-"
"Krystal, don't. I'm the one who screwed up, maybe we were going a little too fast. Maybe I'm not really ready for this kind of relationship." Orion groaned as he dropped his head in his hands.
"Orion what are you- WOAH!" Krystal was pushed from behind onto Orion, the collision causing him to hit the gas and send them down the track.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH~"
"GAH! GET OFF ME!" Orion yelled as he tried to get the girl off him. Krystal staggered as she tried to get in the passenger seat, this rocky start paved way for Grace to take second.
Orion stopped so Krystal can make herself comfortable just as Uma pulled up from behind them, "You'll thank me later!" she called as she passed them.
Krystal glared at her, "Why you LITTLE!" she crawled into Orion's lap, much to his shock and slammed down on the gas. Linka then drove off as Brian finally finished the beam.
"Man, that took longer than expected." He then found the only kart left was empty.
"Finally, I really needed that." Maybelle returned, "Hey where's Krystal?"
"Dude, Orion's gone too. You think they ditched us?" he questioned.
"I don't think so. But we can worry about that later, just hop in the passenger seat." Maybelle said as she took the wheel.
"Sure thing lady dude." he replied as he sat next to her.
Watching this, Greg tells the audience "A surprising change in the Panthers kart pairs, but not illegal. Now its an all out race to the finish, for the spa and to not go home."
Up in front Grace was closing in on Ryo & Rose's kart, but just then she was hit with a red shell that sent her spiraling. Uma cackled as she passed her, "HEY! I'm on your team!"
"Later!" Krystal stated as she passed Grace. She picked up a red shell, her sights set on Uma, "Eat shell you wh %#!" which she tossed the shell at Uma, who smirked and backed up so that she was behind her. The shell's target changed as it went after Ryo and Rose.
"Nuts." Ryo said as he and Rose were hit.
Krystal growled at Uma, who cockily waved to her. "Uh, Krystal you better-" Orion tried to say before their kart crashed, sending them flying over a hay bail barricade- CRASH!
The two groaned from the impact, the two then found that Orion landed right on top of Krystal. Their lips meeting before the two pulled away, both of them hurt and embarrassed. "How adorable." The two then glared at Uma, who flashed a dirty smile at them.
"I'll kill you." Krystal growled at her.
"After I win." Uma cackled before leaving the two.
Maybelle drove through an item box, drawing a star. "Shall we?"
"Lets." Brian said as Maybelle activated their item, the car gaining a rainbow color as their speed doubled. The two sped past Grace and Linka "WOOOOOOO/YAHOO!"
The two's momentum was stopped when after their power up cooled out they were slipped up by a banana peal.
In the back, Orion and Krystal pulled themselves back on the track. Trudging over to the kart, but not starting it.
"So..."
"So..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"... Orion I-"
"I was scared." Krystal stopped when she heard that, "What we were about to do, I was scared to do it." he admitted. "I was scared because, what if something went wrong? What if I wasn't good enough? What if-" Orion was slapped out of his mumbling.
"Orion! Stop, you don't have to explain yourself." he blinked at her statement. "Look, I've seen couples that go through what we did. If you didn't want to go all the way now now then you shouldn't worry."
"I'm sorry, but Uma said that-"
"Of course." she groaned at the mention of the wench's name. "Should have known she'd have something to do with it. Take your own advice Orion, and don't listen to her."
"I know what I said, but what she said got me thinking. A girl like you and a guy like me, they shouldn't be dating."
"Well we are whether you like it or not, admittedly at first I would have scoffed. But that was before you showed me a life outside of the high class, you showed me friendship and kindness. I want us to work, and if you do you will you put on your big boy pants and drive like the wind. Take out anything that Uma told you, and FLOOR IT!" with each word she leaned over him deeper and deeper.
When the two straightened up, Orion shook his head and gripped the wheel. "You're right, this is my relationship. The only one that will control it is me." he stated.
"Debatable." Krystal commented.
"Let's just go." Orion stepped on the gas and they finally started moving.
Maybelle and Brian were back in 5th as they hit another item box, this time getting a blue spiky shell. "Oooooooooooooooo~" they let out.
"Throw it." Maybelle said.
"Alright." Brian tossed it. And it went soaring.
In the front, Uma drifted past Ryo and Rose's kart. Greg saw them a few miles away, "Uma takes first place, Ryo and Rose making sure its a fight to the finish."
Rose rode as her kart hit an item box, gaining a red shell. Which she held with a smirk, "You're going down Uma." Uma looked back, before stopping letting them past. Ryo was confused on her actions before seeing what flew over the Vegas girl.
"Uh oh."
"What?" Rose asked before she and Ryo were hit, the impact sending them crashing into a nearby mud puddle.
Greg grimaced at the image, "Never mind."
Uma snickered as she took first, she then looked back and saw a bullet speeding past all the other racers. Which turned out to be Orion and Krystal, making the girl let out "Oh my, back again are we?"
"Final stretch! Uma vs Orion and Krystal! Who will win the spa trip?" Greg asked the people at home.
"Come on Bro!" Maybelle cheered before she slid on another banana peal just as Brian tossed a green shell that hit Linka.
"Too late for you two." Uma giggled as she was about five karts ahead of them as she came closer to the finish line, the couple closing the distance.
"And the winner is..."
Krystal and Orion glared daggers at Uma, who gave them her signature flirty smile as she looked back in the mirror as they closed the distance...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
... "Heh." Uma let out before stopping right before the finish line, confusing the Panther couple as they zoomed over the line.
"ORION AND KRYSTAL WIN! THEY'RE GOING TO THE SPA HOTEL!" Greg called.
The two were confused as they pulled up next to the host, "What?" Orion asked.
"As the first kart to cross, you both get to spend three days in luxury." Greg told them.
"Oh my gosh! We won!" Krystal cheered as she pulled Orion in for a bone crushing hug. "And I get to be away from this run down camp!"
Orion painfully chuckled at her, he then saw Uma drive up next to them. Not caring she took second, "You're welcome." he gave her a confused look.
"Wait." Grace pulled up beside her, "Did you give up the win on purpose?" she questioned.
"Oh Gracie, what gives you that idea?" Uma feigned ignorance. "Just be happy they get to spend some quality time together." she said as Linka drove across the finish line.
"Though a Panther duo took first, the Grizzlies all take 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. Making them the first complete team, thus the winners of today's challenge!" Greg announced.
"Sweet!" Grace said.
"It was dicey, but we did it." Linka added.
"We win! We win! We win!" Uma chanted as she twerked to the only panther pair here. Krystal covering her boyfriend's eyes.
"Aw poop." Maybelle groaned as she drove past the finish line. "We lost."
"Bummergeddon." Brian said as he hopped out of the kart. "But, congrats Grace." he gave his GF a side hug.
"Thanks babe." she returned with a kiss to his cheek.
"Too bad Ryo and Rose are out." Orion sighed, "We still had more of the camp mystery to solve."
"Hold on I'm getting something." Greg said as he pressed a button on his earpiece, "This is Greg speaking. Yes... uh huh... really... are they okay?... alright." he then hung up. "Well guys, this may come as a shock to you guys."
"What's wrong dude?" Brian asked.
"Well thanks to that flying blue shell attack, Ryo and Rose crashed into a mud pit." Greg explained, "Which also resulted in a couple tires popping, good news is their fine." he then frowned, "But bad news, this means their kart is no longer in driving condition, meaning they never really crossed the finish line."
"So what are you saying?" Maybelle asked worriedly.
"No, please don't tell me." Orion shook his head.
Greg continued, "Meaning since Maybelle and Brian came in 5th place, they're technically the last ones to cross."
"So that means..." Maybelle paused, "We're eliminated?" she and Brian exchanged glances.
"I'm sorry." Greg confirmed.
"Bro! Can't you help me?" Maybelle pleaded with her brother, "Use your idol to save me! No offense Brian."
"None taken." Brian replied, who was holding a nearly crying Grace.
Orion sighed, "I'm sorry Maybelle, but unfortunately it was stolen from me."
The girl twin sighed, "Darn it." she then lifted her head up, "But that's okay, you'll just have to fight twice as hard then."
"I'll certainly try." he told his sister.
Grace then sighed, "I can't believe this. I can't believe this is how you're going out."
"Hey, that's life for yah." Brian patted her back. "I'm just glad I got to meet so many cool peeps, especially you Grace. Just promise me you'll keep being cool."
Grace wiped off a tear. "I promise."
"There we go." Brian said as they shared a small kiss.
The Panthers were seeing their comrades off. "Take care Brian." Orion shook hands with the party dude.
"Thanks man. Good luck with your lady." Brian said.
Orion then went over to his sister, "Awkward twin hug?" He held his arms out.
Maybelle did the same, "Awkward twin hug."
They embraced, "Pat, Pat." They said as they patted each other's backs.
The two then got into the Jeep of Losers, which drove off. Just then a limo came up, Krystal then spoke up "Guess that's for me and Orion."
"Seems so." Orion said as he and Krystal went over.
Ryo pulled him, "You sure you two will be okay?"
"Don't worry, we'll be fine." Orion told him as he joined Krystal in the limo.
The two sat as they rode off for their reward, "Well, it's just us for the next 3 days." Krystal said.
"I guess so." Orion chuckled lightly. He tapped his fingers on his knee.
"You're still scared aren't you?"
"A little."
Krystal sighed before she rested her head on his shoulder, he slowly wrapped an arm around her. "It's okay, I am too. But we'll get through this."
16th: Johnny
15th: Deena
14th: Paige
13th: Post
12th: Griff
On the bubble: Roman, Andrius, Brian, Maybelle.
AN: Next time, things are gonna change on the midseason finale of Total Drama: Diamond Lake. Stay tuned for the most insane Dark Forest challenge yet.