Part 2 of chapter 1 has arrived! In this part, the competitors are facing their first challenge of the season while the teams will be determined. During the challenge, old friendships and rivalries will be revived while new ones will be formed…
Q&A:
CMC, thank you so much for your feedback, it means a lot to me that you are already enjoying it! I also really enjoy all the challenge concepts you posted. There are some really good ones among them. I already have come up with a few challenges of my own but not enough for the whole season obviously. Challenges are also the part of the story in least enjoy writing, (I like writing interactions and interesting storylines between characters more), meaning I might will get inspired from your list!
Cake cake, who knows if Brick or Bridgette will win this season, guess you must stick around to find out! ;)
The Total Drama franchise is owned by Fresh Tv and its creators. This is a fictional sequel that takes place after Total Drama Pahkitew Island, season 5b of the franchise.
Total Drama Exiled episode 1: Returning cast-aways, part 2
The contestants followed Chris through the grim forest of Boney island, heading towards their first challenge of the season. Normally around this time of the year nature would be flourishing. Blooming flowers and sprouting leaves brightening up the place with the sound of chirping birds on the background, just returned from the warmer weather in the south. But even during summer, the forest inside Boney Island was a quiet and eerily place surrounded by a rocky landscape and dead trees. And while most of the campers looked at the deserted landscape around them, chatting with old friends at the same time, at the far back of the row walked one of the campers isolated from the rest of the group, more focused on the two persons walking in front of her, than on the nature surrounding them.
Gwen walked alone at the back of line, glaring at Courtney and Bridgette walking in front of her, listening in on their conversation about the summer. Ugh, can't she leave Bridgette alone for 5 minutes, the goth girl thought to herself, wanting to catch up with the surfer girl herself without Courtney's presence.
Cody, who was walking in front of the two girls, noticed the lonely goth girl walking at the far back of the row and slowed down his pace, letting the two girls pass him so Gwen would catch up with him.
"Gwen! Fancy thing meeting you here…" the geek greeted her awkwardly, walking next to her and rubbing his neck while laughing sheepishly. "How's your summer been?"
Gwen looked at the sky and sighed in annoyance, not appreciating the conversation the brunette boy tried to start with her. "Fine, my summer was fine." The loner replied bluntly, hoping the brunette would understand the hint.
"My summer was also fine," Cody answered over-excitedly even know the goth didn't return, not realizing the hint. "Actually, it was more than fine!" he continued, counting on his fingers what he already had accomplish the summer. "I finished my first year of college, broke up with Sierra, went on a road-trip with my family, broke up with Sierra, and oh, did I already mention I broke up with Sierra?" the brunette boy summed up to her, making sure the goth girl understood the last part.
Gwen rolled her eyes at the geek and crossed her arms. "I'm sorry to hear." The pale girl in black said in an extremely exhausted tone.
"No don't be, I'm finally free!" Cody said in an overloudly and celebrating way, before lowering his voice, thoughtful. "Um, I mean… sure, it was rough to break her heart like that, but we concluded it would be better if we were just friends. You know, for the health, um… I mean… for herself!" Cody corrected himself while laughing sheepishly, before he smirkingly finger gunned at his crush. "I hope we're on the same team again. But even more important, now that I'm single again, maybe you and I could start… you know… Gwen?"
"Hm?" Gwen replied stunned, hearing her name but not the rest of the story. The goth girl was more concerned about the two women walking in front of her again, than she was with her conversation with Cody. She moved her eyes back and forth while she tried finding the right words. "Oh, um… well… bummer to hear. But great to hear you're doing fine." The goth girl replied generically, gazing in front of her.
Cody narrowed his eyes at the goth in confusion. "But what about…" before the short guy could finish his sentence, he bumped into Courtney and was interrupted by Chris, not noticing the rest of the row had already stopped walking. "We're here!" the host announced triumphantly from a distance while Courtney rubbed her elbow in pain, glaring at the geek, who laughed awkwardly at the former CIT, revealing the gap between his teeth.
[Confession 2, day 1, Cody]
Cody sighed in disappointment, holding up his head with his hand. "Maybe it wasn't a great idea to try asking her out the first day back after a whole year of being apart, even though I really missed her in the meantime. She didn't even listen to me…" the geek said in a lower voice, bowing his head to the ground. "But this time, I won't give up!" the Codemeister said sitting straight, regaining himself. "This season she will say yes!"
Chris and the contestants arrived at the starting point of their first challenge located at the eastern side of the island, a few yards away from shore. The contestants were surrounded by forest and Chris stood in front of them next to another giant black man holding some kind of rope made from leaves, glaring at the 18 competitors.
Izzy jumped in front in between, laughing mischievous. "He he he, may we meet again." she said fearless to him.
Most of the contestants looked uncomfortable at the tall man, knowing him all to well. If his crisp white apron didn't give away his identity, the chef's hat he wore on his bald head surely would. The cook in front of them was nonother then the Chef Hatchet, co-host, and sidekick to Chris.
Chris laughed at the tension between the players and Chef before giving the ex-military his well-earned introduction. "Looking at the faces of you I guess you guys haven't forgotten Chef or his gourmet food."
Duncan chuckled, crossing his arms, "Pfft, gour-met? More repulsive-met," he ridiculed him, before the tall guy swinged aggressively the leaf-made rope he was holding in the air like a lasso, throwing it around the delinquent and capturing him.
"What the…" before Duncan could process what had happened, the cook yanked at the rope, sending the bad boy flying over to him before grabbing him at his collar.
"Don't start with me boy." The cook told him in his face in a deep and slow voice, releasing his grip and pushing the boy back in line.
Duncan sat on the ground, glaring at the c-host who smiled evilly at the teen. Chris laughed at the scene before he interfered. "It´s challenge time!" Chris announced, snapping his fingers.
Immediately after the sign of Chris snapping his fingers and looking at Chef, the cook tossed his lasso over at Topher the same way he did to Duncan, who was unsuspecting fixing his hair in the back, getting startled by the rope´s knot around him. "Hey!" Topher shouted confused, but before he knew, Chef pulled the pretty boy to his side, holding the dirty-blonde guy by his upper arm. "You're hurting me!" the Chris-wannabe yelled overdramatically, while he tried escaping from Chef's firm grip.
Chris walked up to Topher, holding a bundle of papers. "Contract, anyone?" he said to the teen while smirking at him, stopping the host wannabe's struggling who loosened up his muscles instead, looking sad at the ground in a defeated manner.
[Confession 1, day 1, Topher]
The dirty-blonde guy fixed his hair before he started talking confidently at the camera. "I'm stooked to be back on this show! Sure, it took a lot of persistent to get invited back on this show after trying to steal Chris's spot as host…" Topher said smilingly, before bending over his spine, looking much less confident while he signed. "Fine... Chris only accepted me back if I agreed to demonstrate the challenges beforehand for him. Hm, now I think of it, probably just to humiliate me…" the wannabe said holding his chin in a thoughtful matter and looking worried, as if he had just figured out that part of the deal.
Topher's entire body had been completely wrapped up in vines, almost resembling a caterpillar's cocoon, unable to move his body. His face was covered in vines also, restraining him for seeing, hearing, or speaking. The only pars still visible were his hair, shoed and nose, making it possible for him to breathe. A soft mumble from Topher can be heard on the background, trying to move his body while the other contestants looked horrified at him.
"Thanks for demonstrating the challenge, Toph!" the host thanked him ungratefully, enjoying the condition of the boy while smiling.
"Is wrapping up somebody like that even safe?" DJ questioned the host, looking mortified.
Chris shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know, but we made sure he can still breath, see?" the host explained while pointing at the open area around his nose, unsuccessfully comforting the other competitors who also will be wrapped up like Topher later.
"No way am I letting myself tied up in vines!" Jasmine shouted, pointing intimidated at the host.
"Yes, yes you are. It's in your contracts." The host said not impressed before walking towards Topher, placing his elbow on the guy's shoulder, and leaning on the guy. "Alright, time to explain todays challenge. Just like good old' Toph here, each contestant minus the two team captains will be wrapped up in vines and tied up upside down in trees in pairs of two."
As Chris explained the challenge, Chef walked up to Courtney and Brick, handing out a map, machete, and matching belt to each of them. "It's your job to locate these trees by using the map and cutting 1 of the 2 campers down with the machete that you prefer to be a part of your team. But choose wisely, because the camper you decide to leave hanging will automatically be placed on the opposing team." The host explained while Courtney looked mortified at the blade of the machete and Brick was securing his to his belt after looking worried at each other.
"The goal of this challenge is simple. Courtney will take the right path into the forest, Brick will take left," the host explained, gesturing at the paths behind them. "Each team will come across 4 trees with campers hanging in them, that is, if you follow the map correctly of course. At the end, both trails will cross each other at the heart of the forest where a 5th tree is located, bigger and taller than any of the trees around it. There's a backpack attached at the top of the tree with a red flag attached to it. First team who successfully cut down 4 teammates, and the backpack, will win todays challenge!"
Courtney raised her arm, the same arm she was holding her machete with. Brick took a step back to make sure he would escape the blade of the machete just in case. "What's in the backpack?" The brunette girl asked the host, frowning at Brick's overdramatic step back.
Ella's eyes began to sparkle and gasped in excitement, raising her arm. "Oh, maybe it's a surprise? Like one of those invincibility statue thingies?" the princess guessed innocently.
"Pfft, knowing Chris probably bombs." Scott replied negatively. "Hm, or zipline gear…" the redneck continued, holding his chin and thinking about former challenges in past seasons.
Chris chuckled, amused by Scott's bombs suggestion. "Nah, just a few camping supplies that could come in handy during this season. You know, since there're no cabins and you guys have to find your own shelter from the rain, remember?" The host helped the contestants remember, resulting in them looking daggers at him.
Chris, who was still leaning on Topher's shoulder, walked back at the other campers. "Now, if there're no other dumb questions, let the challenge begin!" The host announced, snapping his fingers again. Suddenly, several interns appeared from out of the forest, walking towards the contestants while Chef grabbed Duncan and Samey by their shoulders and startling them. Ready to wrap them up in vines too…
30 minutes had past, and both team captains were standing at the starting point in front of their designated pathway inside the eerily forest. While Brick prepared the challenge by doing a warming-ups, Courtney on the other hand decided to inspect the map they were given closely, trying to remember which turns she must take over the snaking pathway and what to expect along the way. Both paths looked about the same length, and like Chris mentioned, both paths will intersect with each other at the end in the middle of the forest, marked with a X, the CIT thought to herself.
Courtney was concentrated on every little detail on the map that she got startled by an unexpected voice speaking at her. "All set?" Chris asked the two players, standing in between them carrying a red airhorn with him.
"Good luck, ma'am!" Brick wished the future lawyer luck, saluting from a distance. "May the best man, or woman, win!"
Courtney chuckled, rolling up the map in her back pocket and looking at the cadet arms-crossed, smirking. "Good luck?" she asked before raising her eyebrow. "You are aware this is a competition, right? Besides, I don't need luck, this challenge is in the bag." the brunette girl said, standing confident. "But good luck anyways."
Brick smirked at her, lowering his eyebrows. "We'll see about that." He replied, standing in starting position.
Chris looked with his airhorn raised up in the air at the fierce brunette girl. "Ready!" Courtney shouted at the host while she kneeled in starting position. The host then turned his head to Brick, who nodded at him, indicating he was ready as well. Chris nodded back at the fit military, smiling.
"Good luck campers. This challenge will begin in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…" as the host counted down, he held one of his fingers in his ear and pressed the trigger of the airhorn, releasing a high-pitched annoying sound like the one used in sport events. "Go!" the host shouted, giving the starting sign to both captains, who stormed off inside the dark forest and thereby declaring the official start of the season.
On the right trail, Courtney sprinted towards the first tree that was circled on the map without looking at it, she knew exactly where it was!
Alright Courtney, focus! the former CIT thought to herself. Looking at the other guy, she knew her priority was to pick the most athletic build competitors like Bridgette, the tall Australian girl, or even Eva, judging the guy was a military guy with probably military training experience.
On the left trail, in contrast to Courtney, Brick was running a lot slower, saving up his energy while he looked at the map to figure out where to find the first tree. Unlike Courtney, Brick had other qualities he sought in picking teammates besides physical fitness.
Teamwork! The cadet thought to himself, thinking about strategies. Brick isn't focused on individually strong players and prefers teamwork over it, even if meant the person in question would be psychically weaker compared to the other.
Less in mind and now more focused on his surroundings, Brick looked at the cold-colored scenery around him. The cadet has been to Boney Island before in revenge but didn't notice the grim atmosphere the forest had back then. Probably because he was more focused on saving Lindsay in that challenge back then… but still. It was vastly different compared to the forest back in camp Wawanakwa. But at least this time, he luckily doesn't have to deal with toxic moving plants and mutated forest animals, the soldier thought to himself.
Courtney began also investigating the forest around her. Almost all the trees looked the same making it an easy place to get lost at. The forest felt depressed and unpleasant, even though it also gave the brunette memories about the past, when she and her former teammates walked around the same woods and won because DJ pushed their canoes back home. Hmm, DJ… he would also be a strong team member despite his coward-ish nature. The Latin girl thought to herself, seeing him as a potential teammate.
The future lawyer tried to memorize the first part of the map back inside her head. Hm, Courtney thought again to herself, All I must do is taking this corner, and if I'm not mistaken, the first tree should be…
Courtney passed the corner and stopped perplexed, gasping at the scene in front of her in the distance, leaving her mind. She had found the first tree with two big in vines wrapped cocoons hanging upside down from it, 2 feet from above the ground.
The brunette rushed over to the cocoons having already taken out her machete. "Oh my god, are you guys okay?" the Latin girl asked worried. "Oh right," she followed, unable to understand their mumbling and realizing the two couldn't use their senses besides smell. "You can't hear me… Wait…" Courtney took a closer at the two cocoons, trying to identify the persons stuck in them. Their brown and dark-blonde hair were still visible sticking out of the vines just like their shoes. Also, the vines were so tightly wrapped around the two boys' bodies that their silhouettes were easy to recognize, especially considered one of them was in the past on the same team with her.
"Cody and… that Chris clone?" the former CIT said frustrated while identifying Cody and Topher. "Argh!" The Latin girl groaned, How the hell am I supposed to pick the strongest between these two pushovers? She thought to herself, placing her hand on het chin. Her and Cody were on reasonable terms back in world tour, but the geek was obsessed with that two-faced backstabbing goth face. However, she also has seen Pahkitew Island and the other guy's self-absurdness and untrustworthy. The brunette girl raised her machete, it became clear for her who would be the better pick…
[Confession 2, day 1, Courtney]
Courtney sat crossed armed inside the cave, looking uninterested at the camera. "Back home I re-watched every single season of Total Drama. And for the record, no, I didn't watch them because I like this crappy show. Pfft, as if, who actually enjoys it? I re-watched them to get more insight on my opponents and their past behavior, giving me an edge during the competition." The Latin girl explained proudly, before have a moment of silence and moving her eyes, staring silently at the cave's ground.
Courtney cut one of the ropes holding up the cocoons in the air. The cocoon fell on the ground while a scream was heard in the background. The cocoon was torn a apart on impact, loosening up the vines around the boy stuck in it, revealing his face…
"My face!" Topher panicked while sitting on the forest ground, moving his hands across his face. "Not my face! Please tell me my face is alright!" he asked the brunette in a high voice who raised her eyebrow at the overdramatically guy.
Courtney reached her arm to help the dirty blonde on his feet, clearing her throat. "Sorry, I didn't quite get your name…" she said politely.
Topher accepted the Latin's girl help to get up, fixing his hair with his other hand. "I didn't remember saying it, but Topher." He said nonchalantly, dusting off his pants.
"Nice to meet you Topher, I'm Courtney…" the former CIT said over-politely, before she turned her politeness into rage. "The person who will ensure you get the first boot if you keep it up like that and don't get your act together!" The Latin girl replied in a harsh tone, speaking out louder after every word and unintentionally swinging aggressively her machete in the air.
Topher gulped and looked mortified at the enraged Latin girl and her machete, feeling relieved as the brunette put away her machete back in her belt and runs ahead. "Now move it if you value your face so much, or else!" the brunette girl yelled at him from behind, resulting in the pretty boy running after her, worried for his life.
Brick still ran on the left trail through the forest in search for the first tree, looking confused at his map. When he looked in front of him the military guy sighed in relief, he finally spotted the first tree in the distance.
Brick arrived at the tree, looking up at the two cocoons hanging from it astonished. Just like the other team captain, Brick was in shock too at the condition of his fellow competitors wrapped up in vines. Phew, did I dodge a bullet or what? The cadet thought to himself before shaking his head and getting his mind back into the game. Brick took out his machete and had a closer look at the two persons trapped in the vines. He immediately noticed it were two girls shown by their silhouette, and their long hair. Brik placed his hand on his chin, thinking. Both girls were athletic with one visible more than the other, but the other was better known socially. After putting some thought in it, it was an easy choice for him which one of the girls he should cut loose, after all, it was teamwork he preferred…
After Brick cut down one of the ropes an iconic high-pitched too the bone scream was heard in the background. The girl fell on her knees to the ground, placing both hands on the leaves that had fallen on the forest's earth, catching herself. Her blonde ponytail reached the ground from aside, and when she looked up, it became clear the girl in question was the surfer girl, Bridgette.
Bridgette's hair got messy and blew one of her hair strands away from her eyes, "Though landing." The blonde girl said composed in a raspy voice.
Brick offered the surfer girl a hand, helping her up. "Welcome on the team soldier!" he saluted her seriously.
Bridgette accepted the military guy's hand gratefully. "Thanks," she said, looking confused at him. "Soldier?" the blonde girl chuckled, "Um, thanks for having me captain?"
The cadet smiled proudly at the girl, taking out his map to take another look at it. "The next tree is not far from here, let's hustle soldier!" the cadet said, running ahead. Bridgette saluted at him foolingly with a smile on her face for calling her soldier, but when she looked aside, she noticed the other cocoon and the other person in it was Eva. Her smile turned into a frown, making her think about the past while running after Brick.
[Confession 1, day 1, Bridgette]
Bridgette sat crossed-legged in front of the confession-cam, rubbing her upper arm. "Being back on this show brings back so many memories. But unfortunately, not only pleasant ones…" the surf girl said, sighing while looking at the ground. "Well, at least I won't be on the same team as Eva, that's a relief." The blonde girl added, placing her elbow on her thigh while supporting her head with her hand, gazing in front of her silently.
"Are you sure we're going the right way?" Topher asked the brunette girl puffingly as the two were running. Courtney chuckled at the question the dirty blonde guy asked, looking at him from behind. "You're questioning me?" she asked him rhetorically, closing her eyes and smiling proudly. "I was a CIT you know and soon to become lawyer. I always succeed."
"Pfft, lawyers don't always succeed." The host wannabe replied, crossing his arms, and rolling his eyes at the former CIT.
Courtney gasped in disbelief, looking offended. "Excuse me!?"
"Even if you're a good lawyer, you won't successfully win every case." The dirty blonde replied omniscient to the brunette's loud gasp after raising his finger in the sky with. "So, it's not such of a successful profession if you really think about it. Besides, I don't get what being a lawyer has to do with going the right direction…" Topher wondered, not realizing the provoking he unintentionally caused.
Courtney groaned frustrated, ignoring the last sentence of the boy. "Ugh, I meant succeeding in life, moron." The Latin girl replied aggressively, looking daggers at the host-wannabe. "Besides, you should talk. If I'm not mistaken, you were the one trying to steal Chris's job last season. Like being a TV host is a lifetime 'success'." The enraged Latina girl continued, air quoting the last part. "I can't even believe you're sucking that jerk's behind like he's some kind of role model to you."
"Um, getting into the showbiz and becoming famous is probably the most successful achievement out there?" The pretty guy replied, glaring at the brunette before looking sad at the ground, frowning. "And Chris is definitely not my role model. But the only way to get into this business is by either having strong connections, or being a total suck up, unfortunately…"
The former CIT looked behind her and noticed the frown on Topher's face had turned into sadness as he kept looking at the ground while the two ran. The Latina girl felt lightly sympathetic towards the guy, moving her eyes around the place to find the right words, before looking back at the pretty boy. "Hey, don't worry," she said to the guy, who looked up to her. "If it's really something you want to accomplish in your life and set your mind to, I'm sure you will get there eventually, making everything act worthwhile." The future lawyer reassures, giving him a small smile. "And besides, it's never too late to find your true calling.
The host-wannabe returned a small smile back, but before saying anything back, he gasped. "Look!" the dirty blonde guy said open-eyed, pointing in the distance.
Courtney turned her head back in front of her, looking to what the pretty boy was pointing at. "Yes!" she cheered, noticing their second tree before taking a sprint towards it, leaving Topher behind her. Courtney immediately inspected the two cocoons hanging from it, not losing any time. One guy hanging from it was a broad guy wearing a white skull cap, which made it obviously it was in fact DJ, the lovable big guy. Courtney placed her hand underneath her chin, thinking. She knew she was considering him on her team earlier, but it was a tough choice choosing between him, and the other person…
Topher arrived at the scene a few seconds after Courtney, exhausted. He bent his knees, catching his breath. When he looked up, he noticed a familiar person stuck in one of the cocoons. "It's Jasmine!" The pretty boy gasped, pointing at his former unofficial team leader who's easily recognizing due to her tall posture and hat.
Yes, finally some muscle! Courtney thought to herself, before looking doubtful. The brunette turned towards Topher who was still trying to catch his breath. The future lawyer rolled her eyes at the guy's stamina. "Hm, Topher?" she asked the pretty boy curious, "You we're on the same team as that tall girl, right? How's she like? As a competitor?" the Latina asked him eyebrow-raised, trying to uncover some more information before making a choice.
Topher stood up on his feet, putting his hand underneath his chin to think about last season, back when he was still part of team Kinosewak. "Hm, she's nice but can be quite intimidating. Also, very resourceful and a great leader, we won a lot of challenge because of her."
"That's what I was afraid of…" The former CIT said, placing her hands on her hips and narrowing her eyes at the Australian girl.
"Afraid of what…?" the pretty boy questioned her expecting an answer, but instead, the brunette had already raised her machete and cut one of the cocoons down to the ground without saying more.
[Confession 3, day 1, Courtney]
The brunette girl sat up straight towards the camera, both hands raised at her sides. "Jasmine was a strong player last season, a born leader who basically dragged her own team to victory. And even know I predict possible tension between us alpha's, I can't risk giving up a top tier player to the other team. That would be just foolish." The future lawyer said, crossing her arms and looking the other way thoughtful.
Jasmine got released from the vines by Courtney, but instead of falling to the ground, the Australian barely caught herself up using her hands and feet, making it a softer landing. "I can get behind the idea of hanging in tree's, but I have to give credits to the bats for doing it upside down." The survivalist said, standing up and dusting off her clothes. "Anyway, thanks for releasing me, um…?" the tall girl said, sticking out her hand to the brunette girl for a handshake and learning the girl's name.
Courtney stood with her hands on her hips, looking at the Australian's hand while raising one of her eyebrows. She accepts the handshake with a firm tight grip, taking it as an opportunity to show her strength and dominancy towards the girl. "Courtney. Jasmine, right?"
"Yes, nice to meet you. And nice grip!" Jasmine complimented her. Standing behind the brunette stood a familiar boy who also competed in Pahkitew Island, waving at the tall girl. It was not the guy she hoped for, but nonetheless she greeted him with respect. "Topher. Guess we're on the same team again mate." The survivalist said, colder than usual.
Topher noticed the colder tone and looked away awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head. "Jess, hey, nice to see you again…" he welcomed her silently while avoiding eye contact, thinking back about the lost he cost his team las season in the same episode he was eliminated in…
In the meantime, Courtney looked at the map, interrupting the awkward silence between the other two. "Enough chitchat!" the brunette said in a loud voice before folding up the map back in her pocket. "We got a challenge to win!" the former CIT informed, continuing her run and leaving the other two behind.
Jasmine smirked at the brunette. "Right back at ya!" she replied, admiring Courtney's determination as her and Topher followed the type-A deeper inside the eerily forest.
"Seeing any trees?" Brick asked Bridgette, inspecting the map while both ran on the same pace next to each other. Unknowingly, they were behind one team member compared to the other team.
"Trees enough, just none with persons in them." The surfer girl replied, looking around. The dense and monotonous forest made the blonde girl cringe a little, thinking about all the worst scenarios that could happen to her inside it.
Brick looked away from the map and noticed the paranoid expression on the blonde girl's face. "Something wrong?" the cadet asked, raising his unibrow curiously at her.
Bridgette moved her eyes silently at the ground, thinking of an answer to reply. When she looked up, the blonde girl gasped, and her anxiousness quickly changed into happiness. "Up ahead!" the girl shouted, having found the second tree for their team.
Brick dropped the conversation earlier and smiled, nodding. Both arrived on the same time, looking up into the tree. They noticed two girls and the boots they wore, one wearing black ones, and the other white. The recognizable misery-blue colored hair of one of them was a dead give away to her identity. "It's Gwen!" Bridgette said triumphantly, before raising an eyebrow at the other cocoon. "And… a cheerleader…" the blonde girl examined while rubbing the side her neck, looking unsure at brick. "Twins, right? One was nice, the other mean?"
The cadet mimicked the blonde girl, also rubbing his neck unsure. "She seemed nice back on the beach… but it also could've been a trick?"
Bridgette held her hand underneath her chin, thinking. "Well… I do know Gwen. Me and her are friend and I know I can trust her, so…"
"Say no more!" the cadet interrupted the surfer, revealing his machete and walking to one of the cocoons. "Trust is of the most importance." The military-guy said raising his machete, cutting down one of the vines in a clean cut.
A loud and deep scream can be witnessed as Gwen hit the ground face-first. The goth raised her head, spitting out dirt from out of her mouth, grumbling. "Argh, I've had it with this show!"
Bridgette walked up to the pale girl, chuckling. "Nice seeing you again too Gwen." The blonde girl said playful, assisting the goth girl back on her feet, wiping off some dirt from her.
"Well, would've been nicer to catch up somewhere other than here like the park," the girl dressed in black said grumpy before smiling at the blonde girl helping her. "But all things considered, I'm glad you're back." Gwen welcomed her old friend, hugging her. "And I'm glad that this time we'll be on the same team of course!"
As Gwen hugged Bridgette, she noticed a military guy saluting at her. "Welcome to the squad!" Brick greeted her. The goth chuckled and saluted the guy back during her hug with Bridgette, smiling.
[Confession 2, day 1, Gwen]
Gwen sat arms-crossed in front of the camera, swaying back and forth on the rock she was sitting. "It's possibly… that perhaps… maybe being back on Total Drama won't completely suck after all…" The goth said while she looked around, before glaring straight into the camera. "But knowing this show, watch me regretting my decision in no time."
On the right trail, Courtney and Jasmine stood in front of the 3rd tree which they already had located, waiting for Topher to arrive who was running behind them, both glaring arms-crossed at the pretty boy from a distant. The boy struggled to keep up with the others. Afterall, it was not his condition that was his best attribute, but his looks.
Inside the vine wrapped cocoons behind Courtney and Jasmine were two girls, one with wild ginger colored hair while the other had a classier black updo, holding in place with a fluorescent pink bow on top. Courtney let out a big groan of irritation. "Urgh, what's taking him so long!"
Jasmine turned to the Latin girl, "You know, I'm kinda surprised you picked Topher," the Australian said wonderingly, before holding her hands in a defensive way. "I mean not to come over rude, but sometimes he can be quite… frustrating."
Courtney sighed. "Unfortunately, he was the best choice at the time." She said, placing one hand on her hips and looking irritated at the sky. "But so, we agree?" the brunette girl asked the Australian, who already had talked about their choice in the meantime.
The Australian girl crossed her arms again, looking at the two cocoons. "I don't know, she's a wild card. I still believe we should go for…"
Topher arrived at the scene, falling on his knees exhausted trying to catch his breath. "Made- it-" he said while breathing heavily, falling down face first to the ground.
The future lawyer glared at the pretty boy laying down on the ground. "About that time." She said, having already taken out her machete and racing towards the cocoons.
"Wait!" Jasmine shouted after her. "Maybe we should think this through?"
"What's there to think about?" the brunette said, raising her machete. "Like I said, one's just crazily weird while the other crazily annoys us with her songs," the Latin girl explained coldly, cutting down one of the vines, leaving Ella behind.
As the ginger-haired girl fell to the ground, she quickly jumped up over-excitedly after, revealing the person Courtney picked, Izzy. The psycho began laughing hysterically. "Who! What a rush!" the crazy girl shouted loudly while the other three looked confused at her. "Izzy's finally free again!"
Courtney rolled her eyes at the nutjob. "Pfft, free while it lasts…" she said in a cold tone, putting back her machete. "Alright, let's hustle people!" the former CIT said fiercely, "And that includes you, layabout." The Latina added, directing at the dirty blonde, still laying exhausted on the forest ground.
[Confession 2, day 1, Topher]
Topher sat in front of the camera, looking exhausted and breathing heavily. "I- I- I really should invest more time into fitness." The dirty blonde guy said while holding the side of his body in pain, catching his breath. "And n- not just for appearance."
On the other side of the forest, Brick, Bridgette, and Gwen were running over the forest trail, following the mapped-out route on the map. Brick was running in front of the two girls, searching for the next tree while nonchalantly eavesdropping on the two girls behind them, chatting about the season so far.
"Sure, the island isn't an ideal place to be," Bridgette replied to Gwen while running, who grumbled about being back on the show. "But winning 1 million dollars surely makes up for it. Besides, there're friends ensuring you're stay will be more pleasant. Me, DJ, Cody…"
The goth girl sighed, interrupting the blonde girl's summary. "I know there're friends like you out here, brightening up every day I'm stuck on this godforsaken Island, but It's the people I got dissention within the past I'm worried about. Courtney, Duncan, Trent…"
"Trent?" Bridgette asked surprised. "I thought you guys remained friend?"
"I'm not sure…" Gwen replied, looking unsure at the ground. "I haven't talked to the guy since the last aftermath show, over 2 years ago. I'm sure it's gonna get awkward between us… Same with Cody by the way."
"Cody?" Bridgette asked, confused about why it would be awkward between the two.
"Yes, Cody." The pale girl repeated, frowning. "I mean, Yes, I consider Cody as a friend, but nothing more! He's a good guy and all but he just doesn't understand all the hints I gave him that I'm not interested in him, even after all this time! In the first 5 minutes I sat foot on the island, he already tried to get my attention."
"Well, I think it's sweet." The blonde girl said, returning a small smile.
"Not if it's you who he's constantly tries to impress. Know what's ironic?" Gwen said, turning to Bridgette. "Back in world tour, he found it annoying that Sierra was stalking him all over the place, and yet, he unaware does the same to me!"
Bridgette raised her eyebrow at her friend's comment. "I think there's a huge difference in the level of… stalking… between him and Sierra." The surf girl said as polite as she could.
Gwen sighs. "I guess, but…" before the goth girl could reply to the surfer girl, both were interrupted by a loud cheer of excitement.
"Yes! We located the third tree team!" Brick cheered, pointing at it from a distance. The other two looked at the direction and smiled, dropping their conversation while they speed up.
Bridgette ran harder than Gwen and arrived at the tree at the same time as Brick. Both looked at the cocoons and gasped, looking awkwardly at each other. Gwen joined the two and looked at them with a confused expression. "What?" the goth girl asked, unaware of the looks on their faces. But when the pale girl redirected her eyes at the cocoons, she understood their reaction immediately and sighed. "I just had to jynx myself." The girl said in an overly calm voice, discovering that the two guys hung up in the tree were both of her ex-boyfriends on the show, Duncan, and Trent.
Bridgette grabbed the machete out of Brick's belt and handed it awkwardly out to the goth girl. "Um, I think it's better if you make the decision Gwen…" the blonde said, looking sympathetic at her.
Gwen accepted the machete and looked up at the two cocoons, raising an eyebrow. Then she looked at the blade of the machete, frowning. "Urgh, I'm sure Chris mapped out this challenge on purpose to spite me.?" the goth girl said while walking directly towards one of the cocoons, cutting it down, without any consent from her other two teammates.
A raven-haired guy fell to the ground, hitting his elbow on the ground during impact. "Thanks for the warm welcome guys!" Trent said smilingly while standing up, rubbing his elbow in pain.
"Welcome on our team Trent. Are you okay?" Bridgette asked the cool guy, noticing the rubbing.
"Hm? Oh, Just a scratch. I'll survive!" The musician replied to the blonde girl, until his laid eyes on Gwen, noticing the machete she was holding. "I guess I have to thank you personally for releasing me from that tree, Gwen." The musician said in a calm voice.
Gwen looked wide-eyed at her former boyfriend and the machete she was holding, before awkwardly handing back the machete to Brick with a worried expression. "Um, it was a team's decision, nothing personal." She replied rapidly before crossing her arms and avoiding eye contact. "Don't feel all bigheaded."
As the raven-haired guy smiled at the goth girl, he got taken out of mind by another fellow team member. "Welcome on the team soldier!" Brick welcomed him while saluting the guy.
"Hey Trent!" Bridgette welcomed him with a smile, waving at him.
Trent raised an eyebrow at the saluting cadet before he burst out in laughter, hitting the cadet playfully on his back. The military guy moved forwards from the unexpected hit, lowering his saluting arm. "Thanks for having me captain!" he replied to the cadet, looking up at the other cocoon, noticing Duncan. The musician looked back at Gwen and smiled at her, still avoiding any eye contact and standing in the background behind the military guy.
[Confession 1, day 1, Trent]
The musician hanged against the rock wall of the cave, looking dreamingly at the ceiling. "Apparently Gwen chose me over Duncan." Trent said confidently, before scratching his head and looking suspicious at the camera. "I'm just unsure if that means we're on good terms, or if I'm slightly less aggravating to her compared to Duncan?"
At the other side of the forest, Courtney, Jasmine and Izzy with Topher in the back, continued their search. Courtney, who was running in front while looking at the map, stopped suddenly. "Urgh, where is it!" the brunette said, looking frustrated around her. "The map states it should be around here somewhere!"
"May I have a peek?" Jasmine asked politely, reaching her arm.
Courtney ignored the Australian's question and instead, shouted to the dirty-blonde boy in the back, running exhaustedly in the distance. "Hurry up Topher!" the brunette yelled at him irritated. Urgh, I know I should've picked Cody. The former CIT thought to herself.
"T- Trying!" Topher yelled back at her, before he collapsed exhausted on to a tree, catching his breath for the 100th time.
Courtney groaned at the pretty boy for taking another pause, before she got startled by Jasmine, who was tired of waiting for an answer and yanked the map out of the future lawyer's hand. "Let me see that!"
Courtney placed her hands on her hips, looking daggers at the tall girl. "I'm sure it has to be here somewhere! Did we already walk past it? I mean, it's not like trees can disappear like that!" the brunette girl said aggressively, raising her voice after every sentence.
"They can if they're mechanical." The outbacker said while inspecting the map thoroughly. "But you're right though, it should be here somewhere…"
"Oeh! Maybe aliens took it!" Izzy suggested excitedly while the two other girls looked annoyed at the psycho. "You know, for scientific experiment?" the ginger-haired girl explained, thinking the others looked at her that way because they didn't understand why.
In the distant, Topher was hanging at a three, holding it while resting. Suddenly, the host-wannabe heard a mumbling sound. "Who's that!?" the pretty boy asked started. When he looked up where the mumbling came from, all became clear. "Ehm girls…" Topher shouted at the others. "I think I…"
"Not now Topher!" Jasmine answered loudly, looking at the map with Courtney while Izzy was looking at the sky, in search for UFO's.
"Smell the flowers our something and try not to pass out!" Courtney yelled back cold-toned, more interested in the map than the pretty boy's problems.
Topher held one of his hands next to his mouth. "I think I found it!" he boy shouted, pointing above him.
Courtney and Jasmine both looked at Topher's direction, gasping at what the guy was pointing at. "The tree!" the two girls screamed in sync, racing back towards the pretty boy and leaving behind Izzy, still daydreaming at the sky.
As Courtney and Jasmine arrived at the tree, the tall Australian gave the host-wannabe a smack on his shoulder. "Nice work Toph!" she compliments him while as guy got teared up, holding his shoulder in pain.
Courtney rolled her eyes at Topher's reaction before looking up in the tree. "No wonder we couldn't find it. These ones are hanged higher than the others." Courtney sighed, crossing her arms. "Explains why I couldn't find them. Now just to find a way to get…" Suddenly, Jasmine grabbed the machete out of Courtney's belt and jumped on the tree, climbing rapidly to the branch where both cocoons were hanging from.
[Confession 2, day 1, Jasmine]
Jasmine sat crossed-legged, looking thoughtful in front of her. "Courtney looks like a strong and capable leader. However, she's too… rational. I wasn't there when she picked Topher, but she was quickly convinced in picking Izzy over Ella. Not even listening to the input of other team members. This time, I will be the one making the final decision. That way, it's not only her opinion that counts."
"What are you… wow…." Courtney said, looking astonished to the outbacker who was already hanging from the tree. "Who are they?"
"A small girl with platinum hair and a bigger guy wearing a cap." The tall girl described, inspecting the two cocoons. "The big guy can only be B, right?"
"Yeah," Courtney shouts back, "And if the girl has light blonde hair it would be either Samey or Dawn, not Bridgette."
"Sammy!" The survivalist corrected the former CIT. "And no, It's not her, it's Dawn. I'm 110% sure of it. So who do we pick?"
"I say we should choose B." Topher suggested. "He's smart right? And you know, another male would balance out the team more evenly…"
"What!?" The Latin girl interrupted, looking provoked at the pretty boy. "You're not implying us girls need 'manpower' to make our team stronger?" the brunette said suspicious, air quoting 'manpower'. "You were the one troubling keeping up. Mentally, yes, but I doubt the big guy would be any better… physically than you."
"I think we should go for Dawn!" The tall Australian interrupted from above, defusing the commotion between Courtney and Topher.
Courtney looked above. "And why's that?" she asked, even know she was also in favor picking Dawn above B.
"Well… this maybe sounds weird…" Jasmine replied thoughtfully, "But this island is giving me the heebie-jeebies. And my gut tells me I will feel more reassured with Dawn around, considered she's close with nature and stuff. She could know things about the island that others don't.."
The brunette held her chin, thinking at the Australian's arguments. "Hmm, I agree." She said, nodding to the survivalist. Jasmine nodded back and cut down the rope.
At a high speed, the moonchild was plumping towards the ground, caught by someone just in time before she hit the forest floor. Dawn opened her eyes, looking at the man who caught her, Topher, who was smiling at her while putting her down on the ground.
Dawn looked saddened at the thorn up vines on the ground, before turning towards Jasmine, who had already climbed down to the ground. "Why did you cut down me from the vines?" The moonchild asked, looking sad again at the ground. "We were bounding…"
Everyone looked confused at the aura whisperer, unsure what the girl meant. "You mean you liked being wrapped around in vines?" Topher asked, unsure.
Before Dawn could answer the dirty-blonde's question, Jasmine raised an eyebrow, looking around her. "Wait… where's Izzy?"
"Pfft, beats me." Courtney coldly replied. "Can we go now? Only 1 tree to go!" the Latin girl said fiercely, running ahead.
"Wait!" Jasmine shouted after the already gone former CIT. "Aren't you afraid we get penalized if she's not there?"
[Confession 3, day 1, Jasmine]
Jasmine sat crossed legged again, glaring at the camera while raising her arms. "Like I said, too rational!"
On the other trail, Bridgette and Brick were running in the front while looking at the map in search for their last teammate. Both had a high stamina level, making long distance running easy for them. At the back of the row ran Gwen, struggling and panting. Unlike the two frontrunners, the goth girl didn't spend her spare time at the fitness center or the beach, making it a lot harder for her keeping it up.
Trent, who was running in between, looked behind him and noticed this. At first glance he hesitated, but decided to slow down his pace, catching up with his ex-girlfriend. Gwen glared at the musician who came closer to her, already figured out what the raven-haired guy was up to.
"Hey Gwen," the musician said awkwardly, running next to her, "How are you holding up?"
The goth rolled her eyes "I'm f-fine. Thank." She replied coldly, stuttering from the running.
"No I mean regarding the challenge..." The musician said, rubbing the back of his head doubtfully. "You know, I can help you if you…"
"I don't need your help." Gwen answered curtly while looking in front of her, avoiding eye contact.
Trent uncomfortably moved his eyes around at the ground. "Are you sure?" he asked, looking back at the goth girl. "I mean you look quite dehydrated and sweaty, and…"
Gwen looked at Trent wide-eyed. "I'm looking what!?" the goth girl said, surprised by the unexpected remark, when suddenly she slipped over something green and fell face down on the ground.
"Gwen!" Trent shouts while he stopped, startled by the incident. "Here let me help…" The musician said, stretching out his arm to help her up. But instead, Gwen pushed away his arm irritated and interrupted him.
"I said I don't need your help!" The goth girl shouted back while getting back on her feet herself and picking up the item she slipped on. "And what the hell is a beanie doing in the forest anyway!?" She yelled, getting the attention from Brick and Bridgette who run over to the accident.
"What happened?" Bridgette asked, looking worried at the two.
"Nothing, I just fell." The girl dressed in black said irritated, rubbing her wrist in pain. "Can we go on now?"
Brick and Bridgette looked confused at Gwen and Trent, before looking confused at each other. "Um, right…" Brick replied, breaking the silence. "Actually, according to the map we're already there…" the cadet said, taking another look at the map.
Suddenly, a mumbling voice can be heard above them, making the 4 look up and gasp. Just like on the other team, the last two cocoons were also hanging higher above ground into the tree. While three of them cheered, Brick immediately jumped on the tree instead, climbing to the cocoons with his machete and ready to cut one of them down.
The cadet inspected the cocoons, he recognized one of the guys in them immediately, but had troubles figuring out the other. "One of them is Scott and the other an unidentified brunette boy." He shouted back to the others, letting them know.
"Maybe Cody?" Trent said, scratching his head unsure while looking at the two other girls.
Gwen looked at the moss-colored beanie in her hand, having a hunch. "Wait!" she said, raising the beanie in the air. "It's that stoner looking guy that stood next to the tall Australian girl. He was wearing this beanie, right?"
Bridgette gasped. "That's true! But who do we choose?"
"The guy was last season's finalist, right?" Brick asked from above.
"Yeah, making it a strong team member," Gwen said thoughtfully, until her thoughtful expression turned into a mischievous smirk. "It would also be a strategic move sending Scott over to the other team. I bet he would drive Courtney crazy, especially also with Duncan on their team…"
"That's a terrible thing to consider!" Bridgette said, placing her hands on her hips while glaring at the goth.
"Well, I mean, the guy in the beanie still would be the better choice…" Trent jumped in to defend Gwen, who was looking irritated at both comments the other way.
Brick nodded at his teammates and cut one of the cocoons down. He heard enough and was relieved with the team's decision. Especially considering Scott's past behavior.
Shawn fell from above in some bushes while the other three took a step back to avoid collision. "Thanks for the soft landing, teamies." He said sarcastically while getting out of the bushes and fixing his bodywarmer. He then walked to Gwen and snatched his beanie out of her hands, putting it back on.
"Pfft, you're welcome." Gwen said coldly, crossing her arms. "Also nice meeting you…"
"Shawn." The zombie expert added, fixing his beanie. "My name is Shawn."
Brick slides down the tree, landing next to Shawn. "Welcome to the team!" he said, putting back the machete in his belt before saluting him.
"Thanks for having me." Shawn replied gratefully, looking at the others. "So, I guess this is the first half of our zombie apocalypse team?" Hmm, could be worst. The zombie expert thought to himself.
While the beanie guy was rating the others in his head, the four of them look at each other confused. "Did he just say Zombie?" Bridgette asked, making sure she wasn't the only one who heard him saying that.
"Yeah you know, the specific roles a person fits during the apocalypse." The zombie expert clarified, pointing to the others one by one and predicating their designated 'roles', starting with Bridgette. "Medic, brawler, speed fighter and team leader…" he said end with Brick, narrowing his eyes at the cadet after assigning him team leader. "For now…"
[Confession 1, day 1, Shawn]
The zombie expert sat crossed armed, staring directly at the camera. "He might be team leader for now, but when the zombie apocalypse starts, he definitely will become the guy who dies first." Shawn said, raising his index finger. "Rule number one never trust the government! Including their military puppets!"
Brick raised his eyebrow at Shawn who was still glaring at him, but before he could say anything, someone else had already broken the silence. "Wait," Trent announced, holding his chin. "Shawn makes 5 right? So that means this was the last tree before the final one?"
Brick took out the map to look at it before smirking at the musician's comment. "That's correct!" he said proudly, putting away the piece of paper. "Only one tree in between us and victory!" he said triumphantly. "Let's go soldiers!" he shouted, running ahead while the others followed him.
Shawn raised his eyebrow. "Soldier?" he asked to himself, before following the rest of his team towards their last destination, the heart of the forest!
Both captains have assembled their team and are ready to cross paths with each other at the heart of the forest, claiming that backpack and their victory. Which team will arrive first, and which team will place first? Will the team of Brick work together despite the old breakup between Gwen and Trent, and will the team of Courtney be disadvantaged with the disappearance of Izzy? And when will both teams be united under an official team name? Find out in the next part of Total Drama Exiled!
End of episode 1, part 2: Returning cast-aways.
Note:
I know this part of the challenge wasn't as excited, but it was more meant to shape some relationships and storyline between the characters and their past as they're heading into the season. I also know some characters weren't really involved in this part, but I promise, the end of the challenge will be a lot more exited, and the characters not that much involved in this part, will be guaranteed in the next!
For more information or fanart about Total Drama Exiled, visit my Deviant page: totaldramaric
Team A: Brick, Bridgette, Gwen, Trent, Shawn, Cody, DJ, Ella, B.
Team B: Courtney, Topher, Jasmine, Izzy, Dawn, Eva, Samey, Duncan, Scott.
Eliminated: TBD
Thank you for your time and have a great day! Do not forget to leave a comment (if you want to of course), giving your feedback or questions. I try to respond to every one of them, without spoiling anything of course!