Ness entered the dining hall the next morning; it was empty. She started to head to the cafeteria line, when she heard humming from the kitchen.

Peeking in through the serving hatch, she saw Melissa flipping pancakes. Melissa smiled and waved. "Hey Ness...how are you feeling?"

"Terrible," Ness admitted. "But it looks like I'm doing better than the others."

Melissa nodded. "I understand. It seems every morning the hotel is empty and quiet now. Everyone's just so sad."

Melissa turned back to the stove and flipped another pancake. "I thought I could make some breakfast to serve some smiles. Any requests?"

Ness shook her head. "I don't know if I'm hungry anymore. I wanted Lita to come down with me. She isn't hungry either."

"It's not like her to miss a meal," Melissa admitted. "Maybe I could make her something special for breakfast, and you can take it to her. Just to make sure."

"Thank you Melissa," Ness replied. "You're too sweet."

Melissa smiled, then frowned. She shifted uncomfortably for a moment. "Ness...could you please come into the kitchen for a second?"

"Um, sure," Ness replied. "But I'm not really good helping in the kitchen. Like with ovens. Or stoves. Or bowls. Especially bowls. Honestly, standing in the kitchen is pretty dangerous fo-"

"It's important," Melissa stated. "Please?"

Ness nodded and entered, following Melissa towards the pantry in the back. Melissa closed the door behind them.

"Why are we in the pantry?" Ness asked.

"For privacy's sake," Melissa replied. "So no one could see or overhear me showing you..."

Ness gulped. "Uhh-"

"This."

From her pocket, Melissa revealed her golden immunity flash-drive.

Ness gasped, stepping back...and tripping...into a shelf of food. "You found the golden immunity flash drive!"

"No," Melissa admitted. "I received it from a reward. The other two could still be hiding."

"So there might be three of them in play?" Ness squeaked. "That's a little much. But, why are you telling me?"

"Because I trust you," Melissa admitted. "And I like you."

Melissa put the flash-drive away, then helped dust Ness off. "Really, I wanted to ask...how would you feel about a girls' alliance?"

Ness stepped back again, though Melissa grabbed her before she could trip.

"A girls' alliance?" Ness asked.

Melissa smiled and nodded. "You and your roommates have been really kind to me, especially when I felt like I've needed it. So, I'm proposing a girls' alliance!"

"But what about your old Eagles?" Ness asked.

"I would want Diamonique to join," Melissa replied. "She's someone else I trust. I know she'd love to be part of a girls' alliance."

"And the other Eagles?" Ness asked.

Melissa sighed. "I genuinely like the boys. But I don't trust them. They didn't tell me about the votes for Diamonique, Hayden...Aiden, and now Griswold. I also sadly suspect one already betrayed the team and sent out Cynthia."

"I don't blame you for not trusting them," Ness admitted.

"And while I don't like to be suspicious," Melissa continued. "The boy Eagles have all voted together. It's possible they've already formed a guys' alliance."

"Maybe," Ness said. "Those tend to form around...now actually."

"Then this maybe a preemptive strike," Melissa said. "I feel like once the Fireworks are gone the boys will vote me out. But the teams are over. I want to work with someone I trust. So...what do you say? You, me, Lita, Riley, and Diamonique team up! I'm happy to use the golden flash drive to help any of us!"

"Um...considering we didn't vote with Riley last time, I don't know if she would join forces with us."

"That's true," Melissa replied.

"And I'm...I'm not sure," Ness admitted. "I should probably talk about this with Lita first."

"Of course," Melissa replied. "I admit I am a bit hesitant about a secret alliance. No pressure! And if not, no hard feelings. I still appreciate everything you've done."

Ness smiled. "Me too! I promise no matter what, I'm not planning on voting for you anytime soon."

"I wasn't expecting that out of Melissa," Ness admitted. "But I don't know. On the one hand, this alliance could be really helpful. It would at least a lot of votes going another way. The icing on the cake is that Lita and I have the Firework's flash drive...meaning we could use it thanks to Melissa's golden flash drive. That's two immunities to help our alliance! I really like Melissa too. She's sweet, helpful, and I think a little too lonely too."

Ness slumped in the chair. "But if we do join...what about Riley and Ignacio? I don't want to abandon them! And I don't want the Fireworks to really be over..."

Knock, knock.

Kalino yawned as he walked up to his door. He threw it open, to see Ignacio standing there. Ignacio averted his gaze; Kalino was nude naturally.

"Iggy?" Kalino asked. "What are you doing up at this hour?"

"It's eleven in the morning," Ignacio replied.

"That early?" Kalino asked.

"Kalino, do you remember the other day when you offered to help me?" Ignacio asked. "You know with the whole…"

"Your nudey fear?" Kalino asked.

Ignacio blushed. "Yes, that. I...I think I need it."

"Sure mannnnnnn," Kalino replied. "But, why now?"

"It's impairing my challenge abilities," Ignacio said. "It's cost me quite a few challenges before. Now, I almost caused mine or my friend's elimination because of it."

Kalino nodded. "I gotcha. Well, let's get going."

Kalino started walking and heading to the stairs.

"Where are you going?" Ignacio asked.

"To get something to eat," Kalino replied. "Then we're going to work on this. So come on!"

"But...but your not wearing any…"

Ignacio sighed and followed.

/

In the lobby, Weston was on his knees. He peered at the carpet, scratching his chin. He hold up a pizza cutter to his face and squinted. He nodded, pulling a notepad out of his pocket and writing on it. "Hmm...yes, yes. This is a carpet."

"I've decided I'm going to become a detective," Weston explained, "That way I can figure out which Eagle betrayed Cynthia and avenge my sweet little slayer. I'm looking for clues. I couldn't find a magnifying glass, but this looks like one. Now, where am I going to find a clue?"

At the same time, Jasper was knocking on someone's door. Lita opened the door; her hair was disheveled and bangs were hanging from her eyes.

"Oh," Lita replied. "It's you Jasper. What's up?"

"I wanted to talk," Jasper stated.

"I'm...not really up for it right now," Lita admitted. "But...it is you. Is it important?"

Jasper nodded.

"Come on in," Lita replied.

Jasper followed her. He seemed sweaty, and looked away from Lita. "Are you okay? You seemed really upset last night."

Lita sighed. "I'm the biggest idiot here Jasper. I don't think I've done one thing right on this show."

"I don't think you're an idiot," Jasper stated.

"I was so focused on revenge," Lita said. "So single-minded in it...and because of that my friend is gone."

"It's not your fault," Jasper said.

"No," Lita replied. "It is. If I had made sure we voted together then-"

"It's my fault," Jasper said.

"What?" Lita asked.

"I...I voted for Griswold," Jasper admitted. "That's why I'm here. I want to tell you I'm sorry..."

Lita started at him, but sighed. "I can't be mad at you. I told you to vote for what was best for you."

"I wanted to vote with you," Jasper admitted. "But let someone talk me into Griswold. That it would be...better for you."

"You voted off Griswold for me?" Lita asked.

"He was your ex," Jasper said. "If he and Riley hooked up...I didn't want you to see that."

"You didn't think to talk to me?" Lita asked. "Run it by me before you do it on my behalf?"

"I wasn't thinking," Jasper said. "I'm really sorry. I didn't want to hurt you."

Lita turned away. "I'd like to be left alone, okay?"

Jasper nodded and let himself out.

The door opened.

"What are you still doing here?"

"Uh...I live here?"

Lita turned to see it was Ness. "Oh Ness...sorry it was...nothing."

"I brought you some breakfast," Ness replied. "Melissa whipped it up special. Plus, we need to talk about something…"

Jasper facepalmed. "I'm such an idiot! The only person to remember my name...and I backstab them. Now she'll never talk to me again. I knew voting Griswold wasn't smart. But Kalino...I can't blame him. I just thought about how Griswold could date someone like Lita and then break her heart. If he dated Riley, he'd just break Lita's heart again."

Jasper blushed. "I guess I was a little jealous too. He just had everything...how couldn't I be?"

Ignacio followed Kalino through a busy street in Washington. Kalino sat down at a bench, patting the spot next to him. Ignacio sat next to him, then moved away slightly.

"So what have you devised as a way to help?" Ignacio asked.

Kalino took a lotus position. "Meditation mannnn. One of the oldest forms of self-discovery."

"You want me to meditate?" Ignacio asked.

"Trust the system Iggy," Kalino replied.

Ignacio sighed, but took the lotus position all the same. He closed his eyes.

"Try to focus on something," Kalino explained. "It can be breathing or just a thought that makes you happy. Focus intently, tuning out everything else. Don't be upset if your thoughts stray; it means your mind still works. Acknowledge it, then return to focusing."

Ignacio nodded and the two sat in silence as they started meditating.

After about ten minutes, Kalino spoke up. "You feel relaxed?"

"Very," Ignacio admitted.

"Sweet," Kalino replied. "Now strip."

Ignacio's eyes shot open. "What?"

"We should probably start slower," Kalino replied. "It is our first time. Just take off your shirt."

"Why?" Ignacio asked.

"How are you going to learn to be comfortable?" Kalino asked. "If you can focus on meditating while shirtless, then we're making progress. Now, stay relaxed."

"Alright," Ignacio conceded. He began removing his shirt, till someone whistled. He immediately lowered it. "Maybe we should try somewhere less busy."

"That's why I chose here," Kalino replied. "How do you model?"

"That's different," Ignacio said. "Then I just have to focus on why I'm modeling; the money. To help my family."

"That's why you want to win this show, right?" Kalino asked. "So focus on that in challenges."

"I try," Ignacio sighed. "But it's not the same controlled environment. Also...I'd like to be able to handle myself, even when not in a challenge."

Kalino nodded. "I see. You know, I used to be uncomfortable about my body."

"You?" Ignacio asked. "Really?"

"Oh yeahhh," Kalino replied. "For awhile I thought I was too skinny, too lanky. Then I realized I liked who I was and my body. It wasn't like everyone else's but it was mine. I embraced it!"

"That's an understatement," Ignacio replied.

"Not to mention being attractive is a cultural standard," Kalino stated. "It just illustrates your wealth and is reinforced by that same consumership."

Ignacio started at Kalino. "Huh?"

"I mean think about it," Kalino continued. "In the past, being obese was seen as attractive because it was a sign you could afford to eat. In the same way, ivory skin was a sign of beauty in Medieval Europe. That's because the rich didn't have to work, so they weren't in the sun getting a tan."

"I never thought of it like that," Ignacio said. "You're full of surprises Kalino."

"Like a mystery flavored Oreo," Kalino agreed. "Point is, how your body looks doesn't really matter. Bodies naturally age anyway. What matters is you accept it cause you can't trade it."

That's true," Ignacio replied. "It's not that I necessarily dislike how I look. I just want people to stop treating me like…"

"A special on meat at the butcher's shop?" Kalino suggested.

"Yeah," Ignacio said. "I...I'm trying to be more comfortable with attraction. I don't want to be ashamed for having feelings and being attracted, but it's hard when people view me as that."

"Kind of like a child star," Kalino said. "They can't explore being adult and being sexy without being condemned on one side and the other side defining their sexuality and forcing their agenda."

"In a way," Ignacio replied. "I also know that there are people who have the same problem to a much adverse degree."

Kalino shrugged. "I think the only thing you can do is try to ignore them. Easier said than done."

"I suppose," Ignacio sighed, throwing off his shirt and trying to meditate again.

"Just remember that your desires are your's dude," Kalino replied. "So is your body. Self-confidence is the key."

A small crowd began forming around them, some even taking pictures of Ignacio shirtless.

"What do you focus on when you meditate?" Ignacio asked.

"A little island," Kalino replied. "It's small but someday...I'm going to own it."

/

That night, Melissa whipped up some of her special dishes to draw everyone out to dinner. It worked, with all the newcomers coming out but somewhat divided.

At their own table, Xidorn and Vance were drawing sketches of traps.

"Our snare was a complete bust," Vance stated. "It was worse than a catfish in a henhouse. That book was bonkers if it thought that would catch a horse."

"Maybe," Xidorn admitted. "But I'm really proud of how much you've improved at your reading."

Vance blushed. "I haven't done that well."

"Are you kidding?" Xidorn asked. "You're a champ!"

"Well, I owe it you," Vance replied. "Now then, let's catch this pony punk before the next challenge!"

/

Lita and Ness exited the cafeteria line and sat across from Diamonique and Melissa in the corner.

"Sup girls," Diamonique greeted in-between bites. "I've heard about the deal on the table. You takin or you flakin?"

"Again, there's no pressure," Melissa added. "It's a lot to ask. So if you prefer not to then we sincer-"

"We're in," Lita stated.

"Really?" Melissa asked. She beamed brightly.

"It sounds like what's best for our game," Lita replied. "So, let's form a girl's alliance."

"Yup," Ness said.

Ness looked over at the other table where Ignacio sat. He noticed, smiling and waving at her. She forced a smile of her own and waved back.

/

"Thank you again for another wonderful tour Rolly! I'll show myself out."

That old lady, Ms. Holmes, entered in through the dining hall.

"Oop," Ms. Holmes said, "sorry to interrupt your meal dears."

"Hey!" Riley said. "Aren't you that old lady I hit with my moped the other day?"

"I certainly am," Ms. Holmes replied. "Say, would any of you youngins care for some hard butterscotch that's been sitting in my purse for awhile?"

"Heck yeah!" Kalino replied.

Ms. Holmes started handing out treats to the few takers.

"If you don't mind me asking," Xidorn said, "I've noticed that you seem to be around The Pentagram a lot. Do you work for the show?"

"Oh no," Ms. Holmes replied. "I'm just an admirer of architecture. Use to sell houses before the Housing Market collapsed. I've actually been writing a book about it."

"A book?" Jasper asked.

Ms. Holmes nodded. "I was just so inspired since Rachel let me tour it! It like's I feel the ghosts of the victims screaming. The owner watching me, guarding his treasure."

"That's a horrifying thought," Lita stated.

"Wait, take two steps back," Diamonique said. "There's treasure in this hotel?"

"Just the owner's most valuable possession," Ms. Holmes stated.

"What?" Xidorn asked.

"Chicken butt," Kalino whispered to Vance, who snickered.

"No one knows," Ms. Holmes replied. "But many rich and famous people lived here and had their valuables stolen...along with their lives."

Lita gulped, grabbing Ness for comfort.

"Do you mean that no one has actually found it in this place after all these years?" Tessa asked.

Ms. Holmes shook her head. "Many people have looked; cops, treasure hunters, young kids who want to get rich quick. None of have found. Some haven't been found since."

Lita grabbed Ness even tighter, strangling her neck.

"Of course, when the owner died he said it was in the heart," Ms. Holmes added. "But that he cursed the hotel to be haunted by his spirit and the spirit of all his victims. If anyone ever tried to find his treasure, he would ensure they'd help guard it...forever."

Ness' face was starting to turn blue now.

"Wow," Kalino said. "That treasure could be worth more than even the two mil."

"Did you not hear the spooky, scary, serial killer ghost crap?" Lita asked, finally letting Ness go.

"You're right," Kalino said. "Plus, it's probably super hard to find."

"Be safe dears," Ms. Holmes said. "If you see a man in a top hat, don't go near. It's the owner's ghost. Now I'm off to bridge club!"

Ms. Holmes shuffled off leaving everyone to their meals.

/

From outside the doors, Rhonda and her co-horts listened. They smiled and followed Ms. Holmes as she exited.

"Wonderful job Ms. Holmes," Rhonda said. "You read the script almost perfectly."

"Oh thank you Ricky," Ms. Holmes replied. "I always wanted to be on TV! Now I can say I've been on one of my favorite shows. Did I act well?"

"Oh yeah," Jenny giggled. "They ate up that ghost story."

"Wonderful," Ms. Holmes replied. "Although I am a bit perplexed. Why did you want me to share the legends with those sweet kids?"

"Just to help set up something," Rhonda replied with a smirk. "They'll find out soon enough…"'

/

The next day, everyone seemed to be moving a little more. Everyone except Riley. Tessa returned to their luxury suite.

"Hey, I'm back," Tessa greeted.

Riley sat on a massage table. Her special attendant, the blonde shirtless butler from the promotional video, seemed to be giving some kind of deep back massage. Riley looked up with pineapple slices over her eyes.

"How's that Special Florian Island Back Massage?" Tessa asked.

"It's amazing," Riley replied with no tone.

"Tameron dear, could you get us some lunch?" Tessa asked the butler.

"I will prepare it myself," Tameron replied. "What may I serve you?"

"What are you feeling like Riley?" Tessa asked. "Maybe burritos?"

Riley buried her face in the massage table and sighed heavily.

"Maybe not," Tessa replied. "How about just some good old pizza?"

"With jalapenos," Riley whispered.

"It would be my pleasure," Tameron said.

The butler bowed and exited the door. Tessa turned to Riley and opened her mouth, before closing it again.

"Ruff! Ruff!" someone barked outside of the door while knocking on it.

"Hello?" Tessa asked.

Tessa opened the door to find Weston smelling the floor. "What are you doing?"

"Sniffing for clues," Weston replied. "All the detectives I've seen do it."

"What detectives?" Tessa asked.

"Well," Weston replied. "There's Scooby Doo, Mcgruff the Crime Dog, Jack Russell the Dog Detective…"

"I get it," Tessa replied. "Did you want something?"

"I have a few questions," Weston replied. "Where were you the night of February 14th, 1642?"

"I wasn't born," Tessa replied.

Weston snapped his fingers. "There goes my black magic theory...for now."

"Am I done being insulted?" Tessa asked.

"One last question mam," Weston said. "Did you vote for Cynthia?"

"That's what this is about?" Tessa asked. "No, I didn't. I voted for Kalino. I was under the impression the other Fireworks were and I hoped he would go home. But we can't have nice things. Can I go now?"

Weston wrote this all down on his notepad. "Okay, but don't leave the country."

Tessa slammed the door in his face. She turned around, but was startled to see Riley right behind her. "Ahh! You scared me…"

"You know," Riley said. "The day before the challenge, Griswold and I talked about your vote."

"You don't believe me?" Tessa asked.

"I believe you," Riley replied. "But I also believe that you're hiding something about it..."

Tessa gulped. "What? Why would you say that?"

"Are you working with Diamonique?" Riley asked.

Tessa sighed. "How did you figure it out?"

"Diamonique was the only one Griswold told about our plans to vote Kalino," Riley replied. "You mentioned some eliminated peeps weren't happy with him. They were on the same team. So she told you about the plan."

"Yes," Tessa sighed. "The first night we returned we made an alliance. She said we had a common enemy and I was desperate. That night she told me she couldn't betray the Eagles, but if I voted with y'all…"

"Then Kalino would go home," Riley surmised. "Sadly, she didn't hear about the changes in plans."

"Otherwise that punk wouldn't be here," Tessa said.

"Do you...do you think Kalino orchestrated Gris' elimination?" Riley asked. "Gris didn't like him or trust him."

"That's because Griswold is smart," Tessa stated. "I hate to sound crazy and blame Kalino for every nasty elimination in this game...but I think Kalino was behind every nasty elimination in this game."

Riley shrugged and flopped down against the bed.

"Are you going to be okay?" Tessa asked.

"Yeah," Riley replied. "Soon I'll be back to my chill myself. I just need a little bit a time. But I'm going to keep fighting."

"Hmm," Weston said, scratching in his notebook. "Tessa was going to vote for Kalino, just like we feared. But then again, Kalino said he had a plan and wasn't worried. Was his plan to vote off Cynthia? But...why would he tell us to vote together? And if the Fireworks were voting for Kalino like Tessa believed, why would the Fireworks work with him? This doesn't add up, and not just cause I'm bad at math…"

The next day, early in the afternoon, Vance and Xidorn walked into the hotel carrying a cage together.

"I can't believe it!" Vance shouted, dropping his end of the cage.

Xidorn fell over. "I told you I didn't think this trap was a great idea."

"Well it was in that stupid book," Vance replied. "We stocked it with all kinds of bait; carrots, oats, Equestrian magazines."

"To be fair it did take the bait," Xidorn admitted. "The horse just stole it...and left us an IOU. I'm pretty sure it's taunting us at this point."

"We've been outsmarted by a pony," Vance said. "I've never been so humiliated."

"Really?" Xidorn asked. "What about on the show?"

Vance scoffed. "When would I have been embarrassed on this show? I did make the merge."

"What about the time Lita beat you? Or you threw up? Or Weston fed you with his feet...and you threw up again? Or that other time Lita beat you? Or that other, other time that Lita beat you? Or-"

"-I don't remember any of those," Vance stated. "Must be confusing me with Ness or something. Anyway, that horse doesn't even have thumbs like us! Or six fingers on it's hand neither!"

"We-"

"Let go! I said I hav t' see dat lying, no good, rotten *******!"

Xidorn turned to see Toby escorting some redheaded lady out, as Rhonda and Jenny followed. She was dressed in a pink bathrobe and slippers, with curlers falling out of her hair and heavy makeup on her face. Most of her teeth were gone, and her face looked much older than she was.

"I have no idea who you are lady," Rhonda replied. "but this is private property!"

"What's going on?" Xidorn asked.

Vance's eyes widened. "I think I left the stove on in my bathroom. I think we should-"

The woman jerked her head around and sneered. "You!"

Vance froze, staring at her. "Uh...who? Me?"

"Don't you play dumb, you pig!" she shouted. "This where ya ben hidin' Vancent?"

"Vancent?" Xidorn asked. "Vance, do you know her?"

"I'm his sister Cheryl!" the woman yelled, breaking free from his grasp. "I came here for my free stay!"

Rhonda rolled her eyes. "For the last time, you don't get a-"

"I heard 'bout your episode," Cheryl stated. "Them other kin of your little circus got to come. Well, I wasn't invited! So I want me free room!"

She turned to Vance, stepping towards him and pointing her finger in his face. "And you! I want the money you owe me!"

"Owe you?" Vance asked. "I don't owe you anything Cheryl! Uh...especially because I don't know who you are stranger."

"What's going on?" Xidorn asked. "Are you from the ranch Vance grew up on?"

Cheryl turned to Xidorn. She started laughing and shaking her head. "Oh lord...is that what this idgit done tell ya? He ain't from no ranch! Heck, he used to be scarred o' pigs!"

"No I wasn't!" Vance shouted. "That's a lie!"

"A lie?" Cheryl asked. "Ya grew up in a trailer park! Ya ain't got no ranch, no money. He done ain't even finish school! He's a joke!"

"N-no!" Vance shouted. "That's not true!"

Cheryl rolled your eyes. "Pa knew you ran away. He don't care; knew you wasn't smart enough to do nothin'. But now it turns out ya have been working and living at a rodeo all these years? Ya haven't sent us a single penny!"

"We don't have time for this," Rhonda stated. "We have to get to the challenge on time. Kick her out already."

Toby nodded, grabbing Cheryl and hoisting her off. She tried to claw at Vance, but he stepped back and tried to get at him.

"You hear me Vancent!" she screamed. "I want my money!"

"I'm...I don't owe you anything!" Vance yelled, wiping his eyes. "I don't know you! I've never know you!"

"You can lie to all these people," Cheryl shouted. "But no matter what you do, you'll always be a screw-up. You know that."

Toby took her out through the doors. Rhonda shook her head, telling Jenny to announce the challenge over the intercom before leaving to pull around the bus. Vance just stood there for a moment.

"Vance," Xidorn said. "Are you...are you-"

"It ain't true," Vance stated, starting to tear up. "She...she's lying. You know that, right?"

Vance looked up at Xidorn, but his friend couldn't meet his eyes. "Vance, it's not that-"

"Challenge time weenies!" Jenny announced. "Be at the bus in five minutes! Or you won't make the final cut…"

Vance ran out of the door before Xidorn could say anything else.

/

The newcomers traveled through the streets at Washington. Xidorn looked to the back of bus, where Vance sat isolated from everyone else.

"Is Vance okay?" Weston whispered. "He looks...sad. I don't think I've ever seen him sad before."

"It's...hard to explain," Xidorn replied, turning away. "I need to talk with him...when he's ready."

"Okay," Weston said. "Maybe it's just because I'm a detective now, but I think something is wrong with Vance and it has to do with Xidorn. Maybe Xidorn wants to die Vance's mustache? Ooh! It could be light green and we could call it a pistach!"

The bus pulled up through some kind of movie or television studio.

"Are we doing a film challenge?" Xidorn asked.

"It's not the aliens again?" Tessa sighed while cringing.

"If only," Xidorn replied. "Maybe then you'd be voted off again."

"Not to mention those aliens were super cool!" Weston stated.

"Sooo cool," Xidorn swooned. "But I'm guessing this might be a send up to a previous season. Our season has done a lot of those, especially to the original 'Golden Age' seasons."

"Golden Age?" Lita asked.

"That's a fan term for the original six or seven seasons," Ness replied. "It's when the show was at its peak popularity."

"It was so big it had a spin-off, an aftermath," Xidorn recalled, "and even a trading card game."

"So those foremost seasons are the most beloved?" Ignacio asked.

"More like the most well-known and remembered," Xidorn stated. "I'm mixed to hate on most...but I admit to being pedantic fan."

"I liked most of them," Ness admitted. "Well...except season five."

"There were a lot of seasons after that," Weston stated. "I remember Easton and I use to marathon them till 2 am on Saturdays…"

"Did they ever do an American season before this?" Ignacio asked.

"I remember reading rumors on the Reddit page and the Wiki," Xidorn recalled. "But the plug was pulled. Apparently it was bad. They even had-"

"Don't talk about it."

Everyone turned to look at Rhonda. "I just...we don't want the audience to associate America and Total Drama as bad. We just got the ratings up!"

"Cut this bit out then," Diamonique replied. "What was it?"

"One season had a contest where a fan won the chance to compete," Xidorn stated.

Weston cringed. "Wait, that first boot? They were on the American season?"

"First boot?" Diamonique asked. "You mean the fan?"

Ness nodded her head. "This fan was the first American to be on the show in years...and they didn't have a good time."

"Viewers call them 'The First Boot Fan," Xidorn added.

"Creative," Tessa said.

"Rumor is the first boot was a part of the American reboot...I assume for promotional reasons," Xidorn concluded.

"Exactly how many seasons are there?" Lita asked.

Ness tapped her chin. "Well, that depends on if you count spin-offs. Or the current airings seasons in Canada."

"Man, this show started airing when we were kids," Riley stated. "That just makes me feel old."

Melissa scratched her head. "I thought Miss Rhonda said this was a reboot? The first season in years?"

Rhonda shifted in the driver's seat. "Uhh...I never said that. I mean, well...those recent Canada seasons haven't aired in the US. Most new TD seasons haven't for along time. So, this is kind of a reboot for the States!"

"But I thought you said that-"'

"-Nope," Rhonda replied. "Never said that."

"Total Drama did stop airing for a period," Xidorn stated. "Ever since the original host disappeared. But they aired the first new season in a long time last year."

"You were working on the sequel to that season earlier this summer, right Rhonda?" Ignacio asked.

"Don't remind me," Rhonda replied.

Ness blushed as she stared off in the confessional. "I really liked Canada's last season. It was Christmas themed actually. And there were some uh...really cute guys. I heard a few were on the new season. I wonder if Rhonda could introduce us someday...for an autograph of course!"

"So you think this challenge will be based on an old one?" Diamonique asked.

Xidorn shrugged. "The second original season was themed around movies. It's not loved by the fans, so I'm predicting this may only a tribute to the season."

Rhonda slammed her foot on the brakes, throwing everyone out of their seats. "Once again, you're correct Xidorn! A lot of old movie props that belong to the Total Drama brand are being moved to Japan. But first, they're passing through here! So we're using them for a challenge. I'll explain more after you've changed."

"Changed?" Ignacio asked. "Please don't say we're-"

/

Ignacio now stood outside a studio, wearing only a leopard print loincloth and a bone necklace like a caveman. "-wearing costumes."

"I like them," Lita stated. She was dressed in some kind of skin tight superhero suit, complete with a domino mask. "What's not to love?"

Ignacio pulled down his loincloth. "I can't imagine."

Everyone had been dressed in a different outfit representing a movie genre.

Riley wore a tuxedo and dark sunglasses like a spy. Vance was dressed like an adventurer, including a a pith hat, big glasses, and an oversized, grey mustache over his own. Weston was a noir detective, even coated in makeup that made him look like he was in a black and white film.

Ness was dressed as a Christmas elf, befitting her size as the smallest newcomer. She had pointy ears, pointy shoes, and a pointy hat with a that was just a little too big for her head. Melissa's was also a perfect pick, looking like a Disney princess in her pink ball gown and matching crown. Xidorn wore some kind of sci-fi space uniform, with makeup done on his forehead to make him like alien. He called himself a 'knock-off Klingon'.

Diamonique was done up like a Western cowboy, but you could tell from the rhinestones on her outfit she added her own flair. Tessa was dressed like something from the sword and sandal genre, evoking a gladiator. Kalino meanwhile was a pirate, with an open puffy shirt, an eyepatch, a hat with a feather, and even a fake parrot on his shoulder.

Finally Jasper was dressed for a 'Beach Movie', which was apparently just wearing jams or swim trunks.

Jenny snickered, snapping photos. "I think you guys have never looked better."

"Right?" Kalino asked, petting his parrot.

"As you can see you each have a different outfit from a different film genre," Rhonda explained. "Because this challenge is a movie genre mash-up obstacle course!"

Everyone stared at Rhonda.

"I was waiting for clapping or gasping," Rhonda stated.

Everyone kept staring.

"Fine," Rhonda sighed. "Point is, beyond this starting line are different movie studios. Each studio has a different scene from a different movie genre, serving as obstacle. When you finish a scene, you'll come across two doors leading to two different studios. Eventually, one studio will lead you to the final scene...a pirate ship."

"You got an entire pirate ship?" Weston asked.

Rhonda nodded. "On the pirate ship there is a mast for each of you, with your own Jolly Roger. You'll have to hoist it to the top. Whoever gets through the movie obstacle course and hoists their flag to the top first wins!"

Rhonda grabbed a clapperboard and clicked it shout. "Now...Action!"

The teens raced right over Rhonda and into one of the different studios. Rhonda twitched on the ground. "A...a little help."

Jenny and Toby didn't turn around as they sat in directors' chairs and started eating cheeseburgers. "Sorry, lunch break! Union rules."

/

Ness stopped as she came to the edge of a bubbling tar pit. It was some kind of prehistoric film set. The tar pit took up most of the floor, with dinosaur bones slowly starting to sink in.

"Phew," Ness sighed. "I wouldn't want to-"

"Geronimo!"

Weston rushed in, sliding and knocking Ness straight into the tarpit. "Oopsie. You okay?"

Ness emerged, coughing up tar. "Yeah...fine."

Weston scratched his chin. "Hmm...as a detective, my deductive reasoning will help me solve this problem. Now the tarpit takes up the entire room...so we must have to swim through the tar!"

Weston dives into the tarpit.

"Uh...I think we were supposed to hop on the bones," Ness said. "Like stepping stones."

Oh," Weston replied. "That makes more sense."

"At least there-"

"Caaawww!"

Some kind of animatronic pterodactyl circled the tarpit. Weston and Ness shared a look before sinking back into the pit.

/

"Hmm."

Melissa eyed some kind of large, metal platform in front of her. It was on a slope and looked like concrete, but was decorated with traffic cones, tires, and monkey bars.

"I'm not sure what genre this is supposed to be from," Melissa admitted. "Is there a genre for traffic safety?"

Melissa started running up the slope...which began to shake underneath her. She just barely grabbed onto a flagpole.

"Oh dear," Melissa said. "Well, it could be worse right?"

Suddenly, steaming red liquid started flowing.

Melissa climbed the pole. Taking off a glove, she dipped it in the red liquid. She removed it; the glove was fine.

She sniffed the glove, then licked it. "Is this...tomato soup? This must be to warn against eating scolding foods while driving. How thoughtful!"

"It's a disaster movie."

Ignacio ran by, trying to hold down his loincloth. "Earthquakes, lava, floods...that kind of stuff."

"There is a whole genre for natural disasters?" Melissa asked. "Is it to teach safety?"

"That's one way to look at it," the cave-stud replied.

Ignacio jumped up on a climbing wall to avoid a splurt of tomato soup. Large fans popped out of the ground and created a heavy gust, blowing Ignacio down...and his loincloth up.

"I'm beginning to think the idea of free choice is an illusion," Ignacio admitted. "All of life is predestined. There is no way I was not going to get this costume or studio, was there?"

Riley and Xidorn raced each other into a studio, and right into a sandcastle. They looked out to see the next doors across an ocean set.

"Aww sweet!" Riley stated. "Why a beach though?"

"Probably the teen beach movie," Xidorn replied. "Which means s-"

"Surfing!" Riley cheered, grabbing a surfboard from the side and diving out into the water.

"Well yes," Xidorn stated. "But given this show, I was gonna say sharks."

Riley turned around, only to see a shark missing a tooth waving at her. "Oh, sup SharkTales? Wait...have we met before?"

The shark snapped its jaw, tearing Riley's board in half.

"Uh oh," Riley stated.

"Have fun with that," Xidorn stated as he surfed by.

Riley glared at him. The shark snarled, but Riley simply punched him in the nose before paddling on.

"Xidorn seems like a cool dude," Riley stated. "But...I think we have a rivalry? It's nothing personal of course…"

"...it's just almost every challenge she tries to show me up," Xidorn said. "For somebody who seems so chill…"

"...He's kind of feisty," Riley admitted. "It's a little annoying...but kind of fun, you know? The little Haley Broel Osment."

Vance rushed in an Old-West type saloon. Cardboard cutouts of cowboys popped up and down throughout the set. Vance frowned. He sat down at the bar.

Diamonique entered, then saw Vance and rolled her eyes.

"Giving up already?" she asked. "You must already know you won't win."

"Just get out of here," Vance replied.

Diamonique shrugged and strutted on. A cardboard cutout popped up. As soon as Diamonique walked in front of it, she was shot by a water gun. She slid across the floor into a piano.

"If I was feeling better I would have laughed at that," Vance sighed.

Lita ran into a studio, filled with painted sets of a pastel forest. She raced up a slope, but stopped as she approached a rope bridge suspended over a ginormous drop. She turned to a sign.

"Welcome to Ye Olde Obstacle," Lita read. "You must cross this bridge...while wearing glass slippers?"

There was a cloud of pink, sparkling smoke that revealed a pile of shoe boxes.

She shrugged, kicking off her boots and pulling out a box. She saw the slippers inside and tried to shove her feet in...shattering them.

"Stupid princesses," Lita complained. "They should just shop at Foot Locker like everybody else."

Through the entrance, Tessa flew through and landed on her face. She stood up and shook the soot off her. "Running through a minefield? Really?"

"Oh **** no," Lita said, trying to shove her feet in the slippers.

Tessa raced up the hill, just as Lita got a toe in. "Oh... hey Lita."

"Don't bother," Lita replied.

"Look, I think we should talk," Tessa said. "Especially after last night's elimination."

"I don't need you rubbing it in my face," Lita replied.

"I'm not going to do that," Tessa said. "I get why you voted for me. I'm not upset about it."

"Thanks for your permission," Lita replied. "I'll be sure to vote you off next time."

"I-"

Lita managed to get her last foot in and ran off onto the bridge.

Tessa's eyes grew wide. "Wait, Lita!"

"I'm not waiting and listening to your fake apology," Lita shouted.

"But this bridge, it's a-"

Suddenly Toby and Jenny descend from the sky in their own costume. They stand on tall stilts, with a single pair of large, 'peasant' clothes over them. They're two heads stuck of the shirt and their faces were painted green. There was a large club in Jenny's hand.

"-Troll's Bridge."

"We prefer the term ogre," Toby stated.

"As in, it's all ogre for you!" Jenny laughed.

She swung her club at the surprised Lita, knocking her to the edge of bridge. She grabbed on with one hand, dangling over the edge. The tr...ogre stepped closer but was hit by a slipper.

"Hey, over here you diseased gnome!" Tessa shouted.

Jenny and Toby turned and started racing towards Tessa. She ran forward.

"Fe, Fi, Foe, Fum," Jenny snarled. "I smell a loser who is dumb!"

She threw her club towards Tessa who ducked and grabbed it from the air. "And I'm the dumb one?"

Tessa ran forward, knocking their stilts with the club. The two stumbled, falling over the bridge. "I blame you for this Tobyyyyyy!"

She reached over and grabbed Lita's hand just as she the knockout lost her grip. She hoisted Lita up onto the bridge.

"You saved me?" Lita asked.

"Of course I did," Tessa replied. "I was a jerk, but I'm not a monster. I'm just not going to let you fall over a bridge!"

"What about us?" Toby called.

"What about you?" Tessa said.

Lita stood up and walked on. "Thanks...but don't think this means it changes anything."

"Yeah," Tessa sighed.

"Okay, but it has to change something right?" Tessa asked. "I mean I got a thanks. That's progress, huh?"

"I don't know what's more humiliating," Lita said. "Being rescued by Tessa or attacked by a monster with Shrek puns."

Melissa trudged through mud and under barbed wire on her hands and knees.

"I will say that these sets are very intricate," Melissa said. "They did such a wonderful job making this stressful and uncomfortable! I hope they get a raise…"

"Ahhhhhh ****!" Kalino screamed as she was launched in the air from an explosion.

"Landmines?" Melissa asked. "How authentic!"

/

Jasper gulped, frozen in place as he balanced on one leg. He was in some kind of fancy, metallic vault. A drop of sweat fell from his forehead, revealing a red laser directly underneath him.

"I really shouldn't hold it during challenges," Jasper sighed.

/

Xidorn swung from a vine of a jungle set into the Western saloon set. He stopped, catching his breath, when he saw Vance sitting glumly at the bar.

"Another drink bartender," Vance called.

A cardboard cutout popped up and sprayed him with a water gun.

"Thank you kindly," Vance replied.

"Vance?"

Xidorn sat next to him. "Vance, we need to talk."

"What do you want me to say?" Vance asked.

"The truth for starters," Xidorn stated.

"The truth?" Vance asked. "The truth is...everything you heard Cheryl say is true. I didn't grew up on a ranch, I'm not an expert farmer or rancher or hunter...I'm just a poor, stupid kid who ran away from home to join the rodeo. I'm a fraud."

"Why did you lie to me?" Xidorn asked.

"Why would I want you to know the truth?" Vance asked. "That I'm so poor redneck trailer trash? I'm a nobody from nowhere! You know why my full name is Vancent? It's cause my dad couldn't spell Vincent right! That's where I come from...how could I be truthful if everyone knew that?"

Vance turned away. "That's the truth. I'm a stinkin liar and a loser. So, you can go."

"I'm not going," Xidorn replied.

"What?" Vance asked.

"I'm not leaving you," Xidorn said.

"Aren't you mad?"

"I'm furious you lied to me," Xidorn admitted. "But...I get why. Still, I don't care that you didn't come from the best home or that your family sucks. I care about you."

"But I'm still-

"-What your sister said today is not true; you aren't a screw-up," Xidorn said. "You aren't nothing either. You're better than the people you came from. You're funny. You're a rodeo champ. You've improved yourself. And you've been my friend."

"Am...am I still your friend?" Vance asked.

Xidorn playfully knocked Vance's forehead. "Duh! You're still my friend...and I'm still your deputy. As your deputy, I'm here to tell you to get back on your horse and go be the fearless, reckless, Western tough guy you are! I'll be right there with ya."

Vance jumped up from his seat. "You're right! Forget Cheryl or any of them. What defines me is what I've done, what I do! Right now I'm not gonna give up. And...I'm going to be honest. Let's go deputy; the challenge is still on!"

Vance ran forward, getting sprayed by everyone standee on the set and slipping out of the door.

"He's back," Xidorn laughed.

/

Riley shoved through the door. "Dude, yes!"

In front of her was a purple pirate ship. It looked like it been salvaged from a wreck. On the side of it were faded letters that said, "Pillaging..." On deck it was clear that more masts had been installed recently. While they were all purple, they weren't as worn as the rest of the ship.

From the same doors, Melissa rushed out. She patted the ruffles of her dress, putting out a small fire. "Oh my! What an amazing set. It almost looks like a real, sunken pirate ship!"

Riley and Melissa turned and stared directly at each for a moment. They nodded, then raced towards the pirate ship. Rope ladders had been thrown over the side, each choosing and climbing up one onto the deck. There were twelve masts, each with a flag.

Riley raced through, until finding a green flag that depicted a skull with several piercings wearing a wolf hat.

"They really captured my features well in this," Riley admitted. She began hoisting the rope attached to the mast.

"What a cute little skeleton," Melissa sighed, admiring her pink Jolly Roger that depicted a skull with her pigtails. She began hoisting it herself.

Rhonda and her cohorts raced in from a back entrance. "Looks like we've got a flag flying race. But only one flag can fly! And that is..."

Ding.

A bell sounded off as Melissa's flag reached full mast. Her mast rained down confetti as her Jolly Roger dancedd in the sky.

"Melissa!" Rhonda cheered. "Congratulations! You've won the movie genre mashup obstacle course!"

"Eeeeeeeeeee!" Melissa squealed, jumping up and down. "I did it, I did it, I did it! I actually did it! I won a challenge! Eeeeeeeee!"

"Eeeeeeeeee!" Melissa continued squealing. "I'm just so, so, excited! I didn't think I would ever win a challenge. But I did it! It just goes to show you can never give up. I'm not giving up now, no siree bob...and I think maybe could win the whole show? I mean, if I can win a challenge, why not?"

The newcomers gathered back outside of the studio, no longer in their costumes.

"Congrats again to Melissa!" Rhonda announced. "You have the penthouse suite. As an extra reward to tie into our movie project, you'll be having a special starring role in a future project!"

"Wait, you mean I'm going to be acting in a movie?" Melissa asked.

"It's a very hush-hush project," Rhonda replied. "But the director insisted that the winner of the challenge would get to play an important role in the production. More details on that in the future.

"For the moment though, what's most important is that you also have invincibility! I'd want to be you, because tonight you all will be sending someone home. You won't have much time once get back to the hotel, so act quickly..."

/

At the Haunted Internet Cafe, Rhonda eyed the newcomers.

"This tray has eleven cups of lime sherbet flavored coffee," Rhonda said. "It doesn't taste as bad as it sounds; it's actually worse. Still, after this will once again be down to half of you. The first cup goes to today's winner Melissa."

Melissa caught her cup in the front row. With her young roaches in her lap, she opened the coffee and let them have a whiff.

"Next is Kalino."

He smirked and raised his cup to Tessa.

Lita, Vance."

The two caught their cups.

"Ignacio, Riley."

They nodded at each other.

"Diamonique and Weston."

Weston inspected his coffee cup with his 'magnifying glass'. He took a sip and immediately spit it out on Diamonique.

"Ness and...Jasper."

Jasper finally exhaled. Having been eliminated at his third ceremony last time and with no immunity this time, he had been crossing his fingers and praying before the ceremony. Rhonda took note and made sure to call him second to last.

"Finally, the last cup goes to…"

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

"...Tessa. It's bye, bye for Xidorn."

"What?" Vance exclaimed. "What in tarnation is this about?"

"Crap," Xidorn sighed. "I was worried it was me."

"You knew?" Vance asked.

Xidorn shrugged. "Something was up when Kalino got the early coffee. I figured Tessa would vote for him."

"You don't seem that sad," Weston said.

"Oh, I'm devastated inside," Xidorn admitted. "I just...it's silly. But even coming home like this, I'm still kind of happy I actually got on my favorite childhood show."

"I'm sorry," Tessa said. "And honestly, I'm sorry about a lot. You're a really sweet guy."

Xidorn sighed. "I...I'm going to believe that was genuine. Good luck."

Tessa smiled a little, but was immediately knocked over by Vance and Weston jumping up.

Weston hugged Xidorn. "I'm going to miss talking about old horror movies with you."

"Me too," Xidorn replied. "But we'll talk about them after the show."

"Promise?" Weston asked.

"You know I never lie," Xidorn replied.

"Ooh, maybe we can go on a double date with Seraphina and Cynthia!"

"Yeah…"

Kalino and Xidorn fistbumped. "You're were a righteous dude."

"Right back at ya," Xidorn replied. "Thanks for being there for me."

Vance grabbed Xidorn and pulled him into a hug.

"Are you crying Vance?" Xidorn asked.

"What?" Vance sniffled. "I'm not...yeah. Yeah, I'm crying."

"You're going to make me tear up," Xidorn admitted.

"I can't help it," Vance replied. "I'm losing my little deputy...and my best friend."

"No, you're not," Xidorn said. "It sucks leaving like this, but we're going to hang out after this. You said it yourself, we're best friends. We're never going to lose each other."

Vance smiled. "Thanks Xi. For everything."

"I still don't get why Xidorn though," Weston said.

/

Before the elimination ceremony...

Lita, Diamonique, Ness and Melissa met inside the luxury suite.

"So it's official then?" Melissa asked.

"Mmmhmm," Lita replied.

"Yeah...I think so," Ness said. "Let's do it."

Melissa held out her hand. The others proceeded to join theirs on top of her hand. They threw them up in the air together, shouting "Girls' Alliance!"

"This is so thrilling," Melissa laughed. "So um...now what?"

"We decide which boy to boot first," Diamonique replied.

"Not Ignacio!" Ness blurted out. "Uh, I just mean-"

"No I get'cha ya," Diamonique replied. "We have to keep those abs around. They'll motivate us."

"I don't want us to vote off our friends right away," Melissa said. "If we can help it. Personally I'd love to keep Vance around."

The other ladies turned to Melissa.

"He's actually very sweet," Melissa explained. "Out of the old Eagle Boys, he's been very respectful and supportive to me."

"Okay," Lita replied. "But like, is there someone else on your team named Vance? Like Xidorn or Kalino are actually named Vance and went by their middle name to avoid confusion?"

"Maybe we could all just vote Tessa again," Ness suggested.

"We need numbers," Diamonique stated. "Which means we need to vote off the boys till they're too late to realize our alliance. It's got to be a guy going home tonight."

"So...which guy?" Ness asked.

Diamonique smirked. "I know who. Someone we know doesn't have a flash drive, meaning they can't save themselves."

"How will we know?" Melissa asked.

"Because they say so," Diamonique replied. "And they never lie…"

/

Diamonique barged into Tessa's room, who was talking with Riley.

"I'm here to talk game and eat churrios," Diamonique stated. "And I already eat all the churros."

"Could you knock first?" Tessa scoffed.

"Fine," Diamonique replied. "Then I guess I won't tell you how I've heard your name tonight."

"You just did," Tessa replied.

"I just want to help you out Tessa," Diamonique said. "We may have never worked together before-"

"-I figured out you two were in an alliance," Riley stated.

"Oh," Diamonique said. "Well...you want to join?"

"Really?" Riley asked. "Just like that?"

"The more the merrier," Diamonique replied. "If Tessa likes you, then I'm down."

"I'm not sure how to feel about Diamonique," Riley admitted. "Except about her beret; that's just cool. But it wouldn't hurt...at least I could find out more info from her."

Riley shrugged. "Sounds cool dude."

"So Tessa's name has been thrown around," Diamonique said. "But I've also heard Xidorn."

"Why Xidorn?" Tessa asked.

Diamonique shrugged. "He's a social threat I guess. Xidorn maybe our best bet tonight."

"What do I have to lose at this point," Tessa replied.

"Aww, I kind of enjoying kicking his butt," Riley admitted. "Oh well…"

/

At the elimination ceremony...

Diamonique shrugged. "Who can say?"

"I get you are all sad and stuff," Rhonda interrupted, "but I do have to pay the driver, so can we start wrapping these up quicker?"

Vance tossed his coffee cup at Rhonda's head. "I hope you blow the whole budget on it."

"She's right...for once," Xidorn admitted. "I need to go. I'll tell everyone you miss them! Good luck, don't stop fighting. Honestly...it's been the best thing I've ever done!"

He waved goodbye one last time, giving a thumbs-up to Vance before exiting the door.

Vance sighed, placing his cowboy hat over his chest. "I was worried after...after I told Xidorn the truth, we'd never see each other again. I just go back to the rodeo and he'd keep living his life until he forgot who I was. But I know we will. He promised we would. And he doesn't lie."

/

Xidorn took a seat in the front of The Public Transportation of Losers.

"I wonder," Xidorn said out loud, "how was I eliminated? Maybe the remaining Fireworks actually teamed up and voted for me. Not sure why me though...maybe instead of the biggest threat, they went with the easiest option. They'd still need a swing vote. The guys wouldn't vote for me, so...probably Diamonique. I should have been proactive with strategy I guess…"

He sighed and slumped against his chair, before shrugging. He grabbed his backpack from the ground, when a letter fell out. Reaching for it, Xidorn frowned.

"Oh yeah," Xidorn said. "My dad's letter. He said read it when it felt right…"

Xidorn opened the envelope, pulling out a letter.

Dear Xidorn,

I I'm not the best at speaking. I'm not the best with feelings. I never have been. Now, I regret it. Because I want to let you know something. How proud I am to be your father.

I know we don't always get along. But I'm proud of the person you are. Watching you on this show, I was reminded how kind, smart, and passionate you are. You don't give up in your beliefs or who you are. Too many people do. I did once. Never stop being who you are.

You've grown up so much. I'm proud of the man you are. I'm proud you're my son.

From,

Your Father

Xidorn lifted up his glasses and wiped his eyes. "I love you too dad."

Author's Note

Well, this took way too long to post. Sorry about that everyone. Life gets in the way sometimes. I'm going to try and continue posting as soon as I can, but I'm not going to try and make a promise as to when anytime soon. I don't want to disappoint anyone if I don't make a deadline.

As for the chapter itself, my thoughts on it are...it's fine. It's fun, but maybe my least favorite merge chapter. But that's also because I think they're all really good or have something special. I feel most of it was setting up some very important plot stuff. I like the character moments here though. But let me know what y'all think.

I did debate cutting down on the exposition dump about the history of the show. I like referencing canon and it's fun to imagine Total Drama as a real show like Survivor or other reality shows, how it was received and the way fandom formed about it. It was also sort of made as a way to retcon any other fanfics as possibly existing in the same universe, especially the Canadian version (that will be relevant eventually...). I worry it's not as fun to read as it was to imagine, but I told myself I wouldn't cut things. This is how the chapter was, this is how it'll be presented.

As for Xidorn, he's probably one of the hardest characters to write. I feel like parts of his personality I really like, like his nerdy fanboy status, but I don't know if I ever got him to work. Still, I got to give him a nice ending and give Vance some focus, so that's nice.

Next time though is possibly my favorite chapter, and a few readers from the wiki as well. I can't wait to share it!

Appendix: Elimination History

Bethany (Eagles)- 22nd

Diamonique (Eagles)- RETURNED

Jasper (Fireworks)- RETURNED

Tessa (Fireworks)- RETURNED

Zipporah (Fireworks)- 21st

Hayden (Eagles)- 20th

Frannie (Eagles)- 19th

Aiden (Eagles)- 18th

Pascal (Fireworks)- 17th

Easton (Fireworks)- 16th

Seraphina (Fireworks)- 15th

MERGE

Cynthia- 14th

Griswold- 13th

Xidorn- 12th