(A Second Chance)

The challenge in Jamaica had come to an end, with Team Chris is Really Really Really Really Hot coming out on top, and Team Victory (or really just DJ by now) being sent to the elimination room for one last time.

During dinner, Heather made her way over to where DJ was sitting (his head covered in bandages and his arm in a sling after his crash landing), and couldn't resist making a jab at him "What can I say? I guess you picked the wrong team to buddy up to didn't you? You can't say I didn't try to warn you."

"Yeah, I guess you did." DJ let out a sigh and said something that caught her off guard "Sorry I didn't listen to you before."

"...Oh." she blinked as she heard this "Well that's…"

"You okay?"

"Yeah yeah, I'm just… not used to geting apologies is all." she turned around, but said something else before she walked away "For what it's worth, I would've kept you around." and then she walked away.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

(Confessional)

"DJ has Chris to thank for his departure." Alejandro stated firmly "Not only did he not allow me to have DJ on my team, but there's no merge on the horizon? I couldn't let such a threat remain for so long like that. Adios amigo, it's nothing personal." and then he let out a chuckle.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The time for the elimination had come.

"Well this is just sad." Chris wasted no time in making jabs at DJ "I mean really, three teams did seem like a good idea at the time, but wow. We've had a few crappy teams before, Killer Bass were mostly underdogs back in season one, the Killer Grips didn't fair so well in season two, but Team Victory, if it can even be called that? You guys are the worst by far."

"Can I just get my parachute?" DJ look down sadly and prepared to make a move for the door, only to be stopped by Chef holding him back "I'm the last member of my team, that means I'm eliminated right? I can just let myself out."

"Normally, you'd be right. But here's the thing…" Chris glanced over to where Alejandro and the rest of his team stood off to the side "I'm sure the team with the best name is wondering why I asked you to attend this elimination ceremony. As I'm sure you've heard by now, you guys are down a player since the giant ball of redheaded craziness that is Izzy was eliminated because of her injuries."

"Yeah we know, there was a whole musical number on it." Noah pointed out dryly.

"A pretty good one too for that matter. Props for that, Owen my man." he was met with a moan full of sadness "Anyway, combining those factors with the fact that I'm the host and can do just about anything I want, along with some input from Chef here, I came up with a solution to both of our current problems… Tonight's eliminated Victorian is tomorrow's new Hotian."

"...One more time?"

"I'm saying that starting tomorrow, or tonight if you wanna get technical, DJ is going to be a member of Team Chris is Really Really Really Really Hot." this was met with a series of shocked gasps from the others.

"But I asked you if DJ could join us earlier today, and you said no." Alejandro protested.

"That was before Izzy up and bailed on us to be a new Einstein or whatever. Anyway, the four of you, now five actually, can enjoy first class until we get to our next destination. Not sure how long that's gonna be."

"Next time skip the disco floor, you never even used." Chef grumbled as he followed Chris out of the room, but stopped in the doorway and took a quick glance over at DJ "Call that a little gift to you for standing up to me last season. I'll remember you as one of the softest and most pitiful maggots out of all of them. But also one of the ones I relate to and respect most. Good luck with the new team." and then he left the room, leaving the team alone in silence.

Tyler was the first one to break it "Welcome to the team bro!" he patted DJ on the back and gave him a thumbs up, with Owen quickly following his lead.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

(Confessional)

"Son of a-" Alejandro's brief cursing fit was drowned out by censoring, and after he was done he breathed a sigh "Evidently today did not go as planned. Now he knows about my deception, which works out poorly for me. Not to mention his confidence is shattered in regards to this foolish animal curse being reignited, and it's not as if I have a solution to… Wait a minute, that's it! Arigato sensei, you have just given me the solution to my dilemma."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

About an hour later, in first class…

"Do you have a moment amigo?"

DJ looked up from where he was tying himself to a chair, and found Alejandro standing in front of him "Sure, but would you mind fixing that last knot for me?"

"Why are you tying yourself down?"

"My animal curse is still around, I've gotta find a way to protect the animals of the world from me one way or another."

"Yes, about that…" Alejandro breathed a sigh of false remorse "I never intended to deceive you in such a way amigo, I was only trying to help."

"I know, it's just… it's frustrating, you know?" DJ freed himself from his bindings fairly easily thanks to his strength "I thought I was past my curse, but clearly I'm not. The whole thing made my old team suffer, and I don't want it to happen to my new team."

"These sorts of things take time amigo. Curses and damage to the mind and spirit are no less grave than any injuries to the body."

"I just wish there really was a way to get rid of this curse."

"The curse has a hold on your mind, and that is what plagues you so horribly. But if you'll give me a second chance, I believe I have a solution to this problem. A true solution, something that I learned during my time in Japan."

"Well, since I don't really have any other options, what do you have in mind?"

"Observe." Alejandro sat on the ground in the lotus position "Find your center, meditation will enlighten the path you need to take."

"No offense Alejandro, but I'm not really sure yoga is going to help."

"It's not Yoga, it's meditation, and it's much more effective. I have a personal mantra in mind that you can chant every time you think about your curse, one that can focus you. It will calm your mind and spirit, and ward off the effects of your curse." so with a deep breath, he started the mantra for him "Kore wa nanimo imi shinai. Kore wa nanimo imi shinai. Repeat it."

"Okay." so DJ took a breath "Kore wa nanimo imi shinai."

"Yes, now keep going."

"Kore wa nanimo imi shinai. Kore wa nanimo imi shinai."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

(Confessional)

"Excellente." Alejandro let out a chuckle "Having a father for a diplomat does have a certain number of advantages, such as learning from a variety of different cultures. Now DJ's confidence has been restored, but in me and in himself, which makes him a very valuable ally. For the time being at least, until I have no further use for him. It's as I said before. One by one, they'll all go down."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Meanwhile, with the host…

"Looks like things have taken an unexpected turn, which makes it all the more interesting and potentially life threatening for our contestants." Chris let out a chuckle "Will DJ continue to maim semi-innocent animals across the world, or will Alejandro's twisted influence actually do him a favor? And will we ever manage to get the heck off this island? Find out next time right here on Total! Drama! World Tour!"

A/N:

This fic is based on a simple idea: What if DJ lasted longer in World Tour? It started out as me planning another fic that rewrites World Tour, which I'll still get around to at some point, but I figured that for the time being, I'd explore this idea and see how it goes.

A lot of people say that Leshawna and Lindsay got robbed numerous times, but as far as I'm concerned there are two that got it even worse: Bridgette and DJ. I have a fic in mind where Bridgette would be a main character, but for the time being, I decided to explore the idea of DJ, Total Drama's Big Friendly Giant (You can't tell me that doesn't describe him to a T) getting his chance to shine. In addition to that, I'm gonna do what I can to fix the two biggest flaws in World Tour. I think you guys already know what they are.