Author's Note: Don't worry Ridonculous fans, chapter three of that will be posted on Saturday. Hopefully I can get out two chapters a week for the run of the race.
Disclaimer: I don't own Total Drama, the shuffled concept or the (most of) the characters.
And to answer some reviews:
Nicky Haugh: Thanks!
That British Guy: She's not likable at first. I'll admit.
Guest #1: Oh, in that case it's Luan from Loud House.
Phenomenal Ultra Instinct: Dakota's the type of person who's better served as an early boot.
Tempokeep: Dakota's a pretty obvious early boot. But I gotta say, I don't much like the term plot armor. It makes it sound like the plot's built around keeping them in the game. But thanks for the reassurance on chapter length.
StarHeart Specials: I almost decided to ship Dakota and Topher, but he's too self-absorbed for what I want to do with her. I thought people would notice Mitch's height. I'm glad you like Lindsay and Leonard's friendship. And their ship will be answered this chapter. I can say that the shadow is not Matthew.
Derick Lindsey: I think you guys are gonna like where Dakota goes this season. I see Danger Island being set toward the end of the race. Yeah, Mitch has a brain to back up his brawn. He's pretty much a male Jasmine.
Critica7: Who's to say Dakota and Lindsay won't hang out when she's an intern? Mitch is about a head taller than Jasmine.
Guest #2: Nah, Conbecca's happening. I just like being cryptic. Glad you like Lindsay and Leonard.
Gucci Mane LaFlare: Thanks. Glad you like the Jasmitch and Owen/Contessa friendship
Red Rain: Glad you like Jasmitch. But I have to point out that Lindsay actually was smart in canon, she just never had a chance to show it. Plus, it makes sense to eliminate Dakota second just like in canon. There's quite a bit I can't comment on, but I hope you like the rest of the season.
Remaining Campers:
Jade Dragons: Beth, Carly, Contessa, Mitch, Owen, Rebecca, Rodney, Terrance
Ruby Warriors: Jasmine, Leonard, Lindsay, Olivia, Scott, Topher
Today isn't so much a grueling challenge as it is a dueling challenge.
Episode 03: The Shocking Truth
"Last time on Total Drama Danger Island!" Chris opened over a long-distance shot of Wawanakwa, the recap montage starting soon after, "the teams had to duel," he paused to chuckle over a shot of Owen and Leonard's 'fight', "with a combat challenge," Olivia and Carly were shown reacting to their names being called.
"Losers got to see some vicious sea life up close and personal," Chris continued as Leonard was shown jumping out of the water after being attacked by jellyfish, eels, and pirhana.
"Some fights were fun to watch," Chris continued over a clip of Terrance and Lindsay's duel. "Others, not so much," a Carly screaming was shown, followed by Topher falling into the water. "And it all came down to an intense showdown between Mitch and Jasmine," several clips of their duel was shown.
"The Jade Dragons won again," Chris said over a shot of resurfacing in the water, followed by the eight teens celebrating their win, "and Dakota's fame-mongering and uselessness in challenges got her kicked off." Footage of the blonde appearing on her team's front porch was followed by her failed attempt to escape her elimination, and then her being flung by the Trebu-Shame.
"But all was not right with the Dragons," Contessa was shown walking out of the washrooms, "when Owen revealed that Contessa was in the closet," their conversation was shown, followed by a shadowy figure watching them. "He promised not to say anything, but really? How likely is that to be true?"
"Speaking of truths," Chris asked the camera as it cut to him in front of the cabins. "We've got a shocking episode for you today! And you won't wanna miss a second of it! On Total! Drama! Daaaaaanger Island!"
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[The sequence begins much as it did during the first season, with an open into letterbox format as the camera focuses on the tops of a few distant barren pine trees. A barnacle-covered stage light rotates up and turns on; then the shot changes to a seaweed-covered spotlight swinging down and turning on as well; then a small security camera popping out of a small water-filled hole; then another camera bursting out of a tree hollow, a small deluge of water flowing out with it; then a pair of fair-skinned arms clapping a film slate in front of the camera which switches to a shot of the island, then flying forward down the dock and past the run-down buildings, passing the host as he handed a roll of duct tape to the fat intern and pointed off to the left.]
Dear Mom and Dad, I'm doin' fine;
[The camera flies through the trees and up to the largest cliff, peeking over to see two rings of buoys laid out in the water.]
You guys are on my mind!
[The camera dives off the cliff and into an underwater shot; Owen is swimming through the water with a large grin as a fish swims by. He farts, and the gas bubbles kill the fish.]
Ya asked me what I wanted to be,
And now I think the answer is plain to see!
[A cut to the surface, where Olivia is in her swimsuit sunbathing on a pink inflatable raft. The fish surfaces, and she sits up with a look of pure disgust. A bird swoops down and picks up the fish, and the camera follows the bird as it flies away.]
I wanna be...famous!
[The scene lingers on the bird in front of the sun for a moment before it drops the fish. The camera pans down to Topher sitting on a stump and admiring his reflection in a mirror; the fish lands in his hair and he runs away screaming and wiping away his hair. The camera zooms out to show Scott watching the scene and laughing, and then again to show Terrance also laughing, the two boys slapping five as Scott wipes a tear from his eye.]
I wanna live close to the sun!
[The camera zooms to another part of camp, showing Leonard and Lindsay sitting in canoe and about to go over a waterfall. As he was too busy casting spells and she was too busy being impressed, they notice too late and scream as they go over the edge.]
Well pack your bags, 'cause I've already won!
[The shot pans down to the bottom of the waterfall, showing Rodney standing on a broken log suspended between two rocks with a blank look on his face. Though he does not see Leonard or the canoe falling behind him, he does see Lindsay and catches her. She smiles wide and hugs him, and he drops her with a lovestruck expression.]
Everythin' to prove, nothin' in my way;
[The camera rapidly pans to the right to the outhouse confessional, where Rebecca is spray painting something to the side. The camera pans out to show Jasmine leaving the confessional unaware as to what Rebecca is doing, then pans over to the Main Lodge – Chef's silhouette is visible in the window.]
I'll get there one day.
[The camera moves in past the window to show an irritated Chef, arm deep in a large pot of something sickly green. He looks behind him to where Max and Carly are sitting; the former with his arms raised and in the middle of an evil laugh, the latter trembling in fear next to him.]
'Cause I wanna be...famous!
[The camera pans left to Mitch sitting with his feet on the counter. He tips his hat to the camera, and it zooms out past another window to show the edge of the docks. Contessa notices the camera and gives a short and shy wave.]
(Na-na nanananaa, nanana-nanaa, na-nananananaa)
[Dakota moves the camera onto herself, and kisses the lens. She waves as the female intern quickly wipes away the smudge, then types something into her cellphone. Moments later, five other men appear on the docks with cameras, snapping pictures of a rapidly-posing Dakota.
I wanna be! I wanna be! I wanna be famous! (Na-na nanananaa, nanana-nanaa, na-nananananaa)
[The camera pans down the docks to show Beth giving a wide toothy grin and wave to the camera.]
I wanna be! I wanna be! I wanna be famous! (Na-na nanananaa, nanana-nanaa, na-nananananaa)
[Beth steps back and twirls a flaming baton while passing it back and forth between her hands, then tosses it in the air. The camera follows the baton as day becomes night. The camera lingers as the baton falls out of frame - a few embers still flying up - and pans down across the stars and dead trees and full moon to Mitch and Jasmine, sitting at a campfire together. They lean in for a kiss but are interrupted by Owen's sudden appearance between then, an arm around both of them and an oblivious smile. The shot zooms out to show the other campers also sitting around the fire and whistling the last few notes of the theme song - Max, Carly, Olivia, Rodney, Contessa, Rebecca, and Lindsay on Mitch's side; Beth, Scott, Leonard, Dakota, Terrance and Topher on Jasmine's side as Chris watches on Jasmine's side and Chef watches on Mitch's. The shot continued to zoom out until a signboard was shown marking the presumed entrance to the fire pit; it read 'TOTAL DRAMA DANGER ISLAND' in block letters, the third word being the largest and the last word relegated to a board tacked on at the end]
XXXXX
The episode opened on Camp Wawanakwa's lodge and mess hall, the camera panning to the left to show the communal bathroom and, more importantly, a cluster of bushes. The shot zoomed in as one of them began to rustle, and a a spigot of water spat out of them.
The music peaked sharply as water began to pool around the bushes, then the whole cluster sank. The camera panned back to the mess hall, then cut inside.
The camera, situated high on the right wall relative to the entrance, showed the two teams eating and the lodge itself in a state of near disrepair. The floor had become a patchwork of different colors and styles; one of the front windows had been broken and halfheartedly boarded up; there was a gaping hole in the roof over the other front window; a few planks were missing from the far left wall around the fireplace; and a bit of wallpaper was peeling on the partition dividing the kitchen from the rest of the lodge.
The eight members of the Jade Dragons sat at the forward table, to the left of the camera, while the six Ruby Warriors sat closer to the kitchen; and although the former team's table had a grimy and tattered table cloth, both teams had only logs to sit on.
Carly, with Jasmine and Topher just visible over her shoulder, hesitantly stuck a spoonful of the grayish food they'd been served into her mouth, cringed, and spat it back into her bowl. "What is this stuff?" she asked, picking up the bowl and peering at it more closely. "It doesn't very good..."
"That's gruel for ya," Rebecca said dryly, the perspective inverting to show her idly stirring her own bowl of breakfast. "Low-fat. Low carb. No taste."
XXX
"Eh," Rebecca shrugged. "It's not the worst food I've ever had."
XXX
The shot cut to Topher and Olivia at the right end of the Warriors' table, their backs to the kitchen. "Do you think this gruel is low-carb?" the fan asked, picking a hair out of his spoonful.
"I think it's insulting that I'm even in the same room as this stuff," Olivia answered before looking up from her own breakfast, noticing something just off-camera, and nudging Olivia with her elbow. "But there's something I need to tell you," she said in a low voice, leaning in to whisper.
"So there we were," Leonard said to Lindsay as the perspective changed to show them eating side-by-side, Rebecca and Contessa and Owen and Carly visible just over the wizard's shoulder, "after an eight-hour trek and what should block our path, but an umber colossus."
"Wow," Lindsay gasped. "I like, can't believe that happened. What'd you do?"
The perspective changed again, now showing Jasmine and Scott eating across from Leonard and Lindsay. The tall girl opened her mouth to say something, but frowned and turned her attention to Scott, who was sighing at his bowl of gruel. "What's the matter, mate?" Jasmine asked. "I know the gruel is terrible, but it's important to at least get your stomach filled."
"What?" Scott asked in a slightly offended tone. "The gruel's not terrible. It's just like the stuff my Ma makes back home."
"Ohhhh," Jasmine said in comprehension. "I get it. Homesickness can creep up on you at times."
XXX
Scott rolled his eyes. "I don't know why Jasmine's gone into Team Mom mode, but I don't like it. It'll make it harder to pin one of our losses on her."
XXX
Scott opened his mouth to say something, but an ominous rumbling grabbed everyone's attention. The camera cut to Carly trembling, Owen and Contessa clutching each other in fear, and finally Mitch looking at the roof with shock and alarm.
"Everyone needs to get out of here!" he commanded. "NOW!"
The scene moved outside the lodge as screams of terror filled the air. All the campers fled out the front door as dramatic music played, and a section of the mess hall's roof collapsed as they paused to catch their breath.
The whine of the intercom turning on caught their attention, and the camera cut to an upward shot of the loudspeaker. "Attention, players!" Chris announced. "You have one hour to head to the amphitheater for today's electrifying challenge!" He laughed as the shot cut to the campers giving each other confused and wary looks. "That'll make sense when you get here."
\
The scene flashed ahead to the Contessa entering the girls' side of the Dragon cabin. "Hey Tessa," Rebecca's voice said suddenly, causing the girl to yelp as the camera zoomed out to show the Rebel leaning against a bunk with a smirk on her face.
"Why does everyone sneak up on me here?" Contessa asked.
"Not gonna apologize," Rebecca told her, slowly walking over to her. "I like the element of surprise."
The cut to Contessa backing against the door and blushing. "Wh-what do you mean by that?"
"You're not as subtle as you think Tessa," the rebel smirked, holding a hand over the door to keep Contessa from opening it. "I've seen the looks, and I'm interested too."
Contessa looked positively mortified. "I'm not. That's not. You've got."
Rebecca's face fell. "Oh," she said seriously. "I'm so sorry. I thought you were..." she trailed off. "Well this is embarrassing."
"Wait," Contessa said slowly. "You... liked... me?"
"No need for the past tense," the rebel scoffed. "And don't act so surprised. We've only been here a little over a week but you've got a good head on your shoulders. And you look great in those yoga pants."
"Uhh, well," Contessa replied with a heavy blush, "you're not wrong about me being... or well liking... you."
"That's the best news I've heard since we got here," Rebecca smiled. "So how about we go out sometime?"
"Wait. What?" Rebecca said, almost falling forward in confusion; the shot cut to show Rebecca smirking then back to Contessa. "But, we just met. We can't."
"Why?" the rebel said, eyes narrowed in annoyance. "'Cause some old dudes decided it'd be 'improper'," she asked sarcastically, throwing in a stereotypical upper-class British accent. "I like you. You like me. Easy yeah?"
Contessa smiled shyly and blushed. "Well, I mean. I guess that makes sense. But is it okay if we don't tell the others? I just. I don't know how the girls would react to-"
"Two smokin' hot chicks dating each other?" the rebel asked, smirking again when her words made Contessa blush. "Yeah, I don't mind being someone's dirty little secret." Without warning, she kissed the hopeless romantic on the lips. "See you at the challenge Tessa," she said with a wink, leaving the cabin shortly after.
Contessa eyes went wide. "Holy crap..." she said breathlessly, looking around in shock.
XXX
"Did that just happen?" Contessa asked with the same wide-eyed look.
XXX
The footage skipped ahead to a shot from behind the campers; they had assembled on team bleachers in front of a small outdoor stage - the Dragons on the right and the Warriors on the left. The perspective inverted to show Chris and Chef on opposite sides of an electric chair, the cook wearing a hockey mask.
"Campers!" Chris said, clapping his hands together as he smiled for the camera. "Welcome to your third day of competition. Today we're putting a twist on an old favorite of mine," he announced as a light but tense theme began to play. "You guys remember the Aftermath specials? And maybe a little game called Truth or Electrocution?" The shot cut from the Dragons to the Warriors, a mixture of confusion and dread appearing on the campers' faces.
"Every round a player is chosen at random," he explained, pointing up to the monitor above him. It was spinning like the reels of a slot machine showing the faces of the campers. The screen suddenly stopped on Contessa, and the shot briefly cut to her laughing softly and anxiously and looking around as the host continued.
"Once you're chosen," Chris explained as the shot cut back to him, "you'll have to sit in this chair and answer whatever question we ask you. Truthfully," he said with a dark and vicious grin, provoking a gasp from the Dragons and an ominous musical riff. "Telling a truth gets your team a point," he continued. "But, if you tell a lie, you get a shock. Any questions?"
"How will you know if we're lying?" Jasmine spoke up.
"The shocks aren't enough to k-k-kill us right?" Carly whimpered.
"Is there another way to do this that won't risk messing up my hair?" Topher asked.
"So no questions then!" Chris said with a bright smile. "Oh, and this is hooked up to the lie detector from season two. Chef's getting feed the info in his earpiece. Let's start the game!" he said, turning to the other side. "Contessa?"
Contessa gulped as Owen gave her an encouraging pat on the back. "You got this Contessa," he told her. She took a deep breath and nodded.
XXX
"No big deal," Contessa said nervously. "I mean it's not like I'm hiding a secret or two that could get me voted off or anything."
XXX
"Contessa, the question is," the host continued as the footage skipped ahead to the hopeless romantic in the hotseat, "what contestant would you be stuck in the same room as the least?"
Contessa looked to her team and saw all but Terrance giving her encouraging smiles or hand gestures. "Well..." she said in a pensive tone.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "I'd have to say Terrance. He's kind of a jerk. Sorry," she added sheepishly.
The others muttered their agreement. Chef looked at her in suspicion, staring deeply into her eyes as a tense tune played...only for it to level off as he grunted in confirmation.
"Chef says, that was a truth!" Chris announced as the scoreboard was shown dinging up to 1-0.
"Sorry again," Contessa told her teammate from the chair.
"Yeah, your opinion ain't gonna hurt my feelings," the basketballer told her bluntly. "I'm not here to make friends."
\
"Next up," Chris said before looking back up at the monitor which promptly began to spin again, "is Rodney," he announced, the reel landing on the country boy ."And the question is...," he began as the footage skipped ahead to Rodney in the chair, "Who is the most attractive girl on the island?"
Rodney gasped, and Chef leaned into his face with a demanding growl.
"Uhh, could I get a different question?" Rodney asked, pushing Chef out of his face and leaning forward to whisper at Chris. "I can't hurt those gals like that! Just look at those loving faces." As he spoke the shot cut first to Rebecca, almost falling asleep due to boredom, then to Olivia crossing her arms and glaring.
"You're running out of time, Rodney," Chris told him sternly.
"I, uh, umm, uhh..." the country boy mumbled in panicked thought.
XXX
"I know I should pick Olivia, but I don't wanna hurt Rebecca!" Rodney told the outhouse camera. "Then there's the whole 'dating someone on the other team' thing. Maybe I should pick someone else as an obvious joke, but who?"
XXX
The static cut away to him putting a finger to his lips as he looked around uncertainly, the shot shifting to follow his gaze across the girls – first to Lindsay who perked up and smiled, then to Beth who pulled an awkwardly flirtatious move, then to Jasmine who raised an eyebrow. "Just answer the stupid question already," Rebecca warned, and the shot cut back to Rodney as he stiffened.
"Dude, come on!" Owen yelled out. "Just be honest! I don't wanna lose!"
"But.. but.." Rodney tried to say.
Chris cleared his throat, and the shot cut to him looking annoyed. "Get on with it, Rodney!" he told the country boy, and Chef added an annoyed growl of his own.
Rodney gulped, and looked to the left at Terrance, Rebecca, and Mitch all watching him irritably, then back to Chef as he growled again. "Okay," he announced, closing his eyes. "The most attractive girl on the island is...is...," he sagged. "I don't know!" His teammates gasped as the music spiked dramatically. "I can't decide, okay? I'm sorry."
Chef looked him right in the eyes, then shook his head at Chris. The background music turned tense as he was shocked.
"Sorry," the host said impishly. "Chef smells a liar!"
"Uhh, hello," Olivia objected. "How am I not the most attractive girl here?"
Rebecca snorted. "Probably 'cause I'm here too. I'm really good at attracting people," she told the actress with a smirk.
Owen raised an eyebrow at Contessa's deep blush.
"Actually, Rebecca," Rodney spoke up as an emotional tune began to play, "I have something to tell you." He paused, and sniffed. "I-"
"Yeah, nobody cares Rodney," Chris interjected, the music scratching to a halt as he gave a short shake of his head. "Time to move on. Up next...!" He looked back up to the monitor, and the first reel quickly stopped on the athlete, and the second on a flame shortly after. "Topher!"
\
"Topher," he said as the shot cut to the confident man smirking in the electric chair and the music became slow and tense. "What is your biggest aspiration in life?"
"Well Chris," Topher began smoothly. "I've only got one goal in my life. One that's inspired heavily by you I might add."
Chris took out a stopwatch. "You've got thirty seconds," he said, pushing its button. The background score immediately sped up, the clock ticking over it. "Stop trying to butter me up."
"I want to host my own show one day," the fan told his idol seriously. "I have so many ideas on how to be the best TV host in the world. Just like you."
Chef looked the boy over, then nodded at Chris.
"An obvious truth if I've ever heard one," Chris announced to a mildly triumphant tune. "Point to the Warriors!" He motioned up to the scoreboard, which updated with a ding to show the score at 1-1.
XXX
"Of course what I didn't mention is that the show I'll be hosting... is this one..." Topher confessed with a smug grin.
XXX
The Warriors cheered while the Dragons groaned. "We're gonna need to step up our game," Rebecca told her team. "I'm not losing this challenge."
"Okay everyone," Jasmine told her team as the shot cut to them in a huddle. "We just need to tell the truth and we'll have this challenge in the bag. Alright?"
Leonard immediately held up his hand. "You shall hear no falsehoods from me today."
"Me neither," Lindsay said, slapping five with the wizard.
Scott grunted. "Yeah, yeah..." he said.
XXX
"Great," the schemer groaned. "Another challenge I can't throw. If I'm the only one that lies and we lose, it's bye-bye Scotty."
XXX
"It's a 1-1 tie," Chris told the camera as it moved back to him and the capstone theme began to play. "But we're not done exposing these guys's deepest darkest secrets! Stay tuned to find them out, on Total! Drama! Daaaaaaanger Island!"
\
(Commercial Break)
\
The episode resumed on a close-up of the reels on the monitor spinning. It landed on Olivia.
"It's your lucky day Olivia!" Chris said impishly as the shot cut to the actress rolling her eyes. "Truth time!"
\
"Just get this over with so we can win already," Olivia scoffed as the footage skipped to her in the chair.
Chris shrugged. "Hey, your funeral," he said before raising his next note card. "Olivia, for a point: who would you consider your biggest enemy this season?"
"I don't have any enemies," Olivia answered with a smug and matter-of-fact pride. "Everyone on this island simply adores me."
The music became deep and dramatic enough as Chef was shown growling in her direction, then looking toward the smiling host and shaking his head. Chris pressed the button on the remote he was holding and the actress was shocked.
"How dare you say I was lying?" Olivia asked in outrage, standing up and storming to the cook. "I am a celebrity! Of course people love me! Right teammates?"
The camera panned across her team, all of which were trying not to meet her eyes except for a smirking Scott.
XXX
"Maybe I can botch this challenge," Scott snickered.
XXX
The shot cut back to the spinning reel. "And next up, we have..." Chris said before the first reek stopped, "Terrance."
"Whatever," the basketballer said dully, "Not like I make a habit of lying anyway."
\
"Alright dude," Chris said as the footage cut to Terrance sitting in the hot seat, "what is your favorite song that you don't want anyone to know?"
"Pretty much anything from T-Swift," Terrance answered seriously.
Chris's eyes widened in surprise, and he looked over to Chef. The cook nodded his head with a shrug.
Chris let out a breath. "Guess that's a truth," he said, giving the boy a blank look. "I just thought you'd have a harder time admitting that." The monitor dinged and the score updated to 2-1.
"Not at all sorry to disappoint you," Terrance told the host.
XXX
"Seriously, this challenge is the reason why I'm so honest," Terrance scoffed. "People can't use the truth against you if you're open to telling it."
XXX
"Okay!" Chris said happily as the footage resumed on the reel. "Next up for the hot seat is... Scott!"
"I've got nothing to hide," the schemer said deviously.
\
"Okay Scott," Chris said as the footage skipped ahead. " Would you consider yourself a leader? Or a follower?"
"I'm a natural-born leader," Scott said smugly, groaning when he was shocked a moment later.
"Yeah, that wasn't even close to being the truth," Chris laughed. "The Dragons still hold the lead."
Scott shrunk under the glares of his teammates.
XXX
"Okay I like taking orders," Scott admitted. "I got no problem admitting that. But now that we're down, I can work on getting the others to vote out Olivia. Or Leonard I can't decide. I'm like a kid in a candy store full of suckers. And I'm gonna like..." he paused to think of a finish for his metaphor, "break 'em and stuff," he finished with a snicker.
XXX
"Next up," Chris said over another close-up of the spinning reels, "Lindsay," he announced as the reel stopped on the attractive girl.
The shot briefly cut to the girl in question perking up.
\
A flash took the scene to the girl in the chair. "Alright Lindsay," Chris said, "why don't you tell us what happened when you and your sister took a vacation in France..."
"Whoa," Owen said as the camera panned over to him, "this sounds pre-tay jui-cay." he rubbed his hands in anticipation and chuckled.
Chris laughed. "Trust me, it is. Now get on with it," he added sternly to the ditz.
The shot cut to Lindsay squirming uncomfortably in the chair. "Okay," she said bashfully, "I may have accidentally ruined a priceless painting and got my while family locked up in a Parisian jail for a week and a half."
All the other campers gasped.
XXX
"Lindsay did jail time?" Rebecca asked in shock. "Girl just moved up a few rungs on my approval ladder."
XXX
Chris sighed as the footage resumed to a shot of him holding the notecards. "I was hoping you'd go into a little more detail, but that's my fault for not being specific. Point to the Warriors." The monitor updated to 2-2 and every one of the Ruby Warriors save for Scott cheered.
The shot moved back to the monitor as the reel began to spin again – and soon landed on Owen. "Uh-oh," the optimist chuckled nervously as the focus moved to him. "Maybe it won't be too personal?"
\
"Owen," Chris began to read from his card but he never got a chance before Owen screamed.
"In third grade I cheated on my math exam!" he admitted to a playful tune as the scene shifted to a crayon drawing of a young Owen changing his 'F' to an 'A'.
"In fourth grade I stole my Uncle Max's toupee and glued it to a goat's butt at the petting zoo," the crayon Owen did exactly that.
"In fifth grade I kicked one of my brother's down the stairs," the cartoon Young Owen kicked a boy that looked similar to him down a flight of stairs, "and then blamed it on my other brother," a grey-haired woman glared at him, and he pointed to another boy that looked like him.
"In sixth grade I broke into school and ate the soccer team's whole bake sale in one night and blamed it on the crotchety old janitor," the young Owen, with crumbs all over his mouth, pointed his finger at a scowling elderly janitor.
"But the worst thing I ever did was make a jar of fake puke," he was seen putting fish into a blender, "take it to school hidden in my backpack and pretended to puke all over the nu-hu-hu-huns!"
\
"Owen!" Chris interrupted as the music abruptly ended and the scene shifted to normal. "That's not what I was gonna ask! But it was waaaay better!"
"Oh," Owen said bashfully. "Do I get the point?"
"No," Chris said just before the boy was shocked. "From here on in, I'm gonna suggest being truthful," Chris said as the focus moved back to him. "Maybe then then the score will get higher than 2-2!" he added, the shot quickly cutting away to the scoreboard. "Remember what's at stake. The loosing team will be sending someone home! And while I don't know who that could be there's already a couple good candidates on each team." The shot cut first to the Warriors as Scott and Olivia looked around in a defiant sort of sheepishness, then to the Dragons to show Owen and Rodney hanging their heads in shame. "But hey!" Chris said brightly. "Anything can happen! It's on to the Lightning Round!"
A fast-paced an intense challenge theme began to play as the reel resumed spinning, quickly stopping on Mitch. "Any hidden hobbies?" Chris asked.
"I like to watch figure skatin'," Mitch answered with a tip of his hat.
The shot cut to the scoreboard as it became 3-2, then panned down to show the reel landing on Rodney. "If you could only save one camper's life, who would it be?" Chris asked with great enthusiasm, pointing to the boy and causing him to gulp nervously. The camera panned across his mostly glaring team as he darted his eyes around nervously. Chef shook his head at Chris, and the seated boy was soon shocked once more.
The reel began to spin once again, this time landing on Jasmine. "Worst childhood memory?" Chris called out and the footage moved to the shuddering amazon.
"I once got locked in a closet back when I was a kid," she explained. "Took me two hours to jury-rig an escape."
The scoreboard promptly changed to 3-3.
A pan down to the monitors showed the reel landing on Beth. "Who is your best friend back home?" Chris asked, and the the cut to the dorky girl smiling brightly.
"I have lotth of animal friendth back home," she explained unabashedly. "But my abtholute favorite hath to be my pet pig! Her name ith Bertha and thee has the cutetht little curly tail you''ve ever theen!" As she spoke the camera panned to the left across her shocked teammates, all smiling in adoration or sympathy, or slight mockery in Rebecca and Terrance's case.
The shot cut to the scoreboard updating to 4-3 in the Dragons' favor.
Then the reels landed on Rodney again, and the shot cut to the boy in question as he stammered nervously.
The footage skipped over the question and inevitable failure, and the shot immediately cut to him and him being shocked.
A cut back to the reels showed them landing on Leonard. "Okay Leonard, to get a point," Chris said as the scene moved to the nervous wizard sitting in the chair, "tell me: who is your favorite person on the island?" The camera briefly panned to Lindsay as she perked up.
"Lindsay," Leonard answered immediately. "I rather enjoy all of our conversations," as he spoke the camera cut the ditz blushing. "She reminds me of my best friend back home Tammy." At that Lindsay stopped blushing and started scowling.
The scoreboard updated to 4-4.
The reel was shown again, this time landing on Carly. The pantaphobe whimpered.
"Most embarrassing memory?" Chris asked.
"I don't want to answer that..." Carly said, she was shocked moments later.
"After all this pain and anguish," Chris continued, the shot cutting outward to show him and Chef and standing on stage as the three interns pushed the chair away, "you're still tied. I gotta say, I really thought you guys would try harder," he added thoughtfully. "And while I could do this all day, it's time for the game to end," he announced, earning a sigh of relief from the Dragons. "Right after the Sudden Death Round!" he added with dramatic excitement, earning a gasp from the Warriors.
"A player from each team will go head-to-head," he explained. "Winner's team gets immunity. Loser's team gets shocked, and, sends someone home," he said with a sly smirk.
The shot cut to the monitor, the real only containing the faces of the Dragons. After a couple seconds it landed on Rebecca.
"Me?" the rebel said in surprise, standing up and stepping forward. "I was wondering when I'd have to go."
Terrance crossed his arms and scoffed. "Try not to blow it."
Rebecca scowled at him. "Team killing's not my style."
"Guess you better be telling the truth," Terrance smirked. "Unless you wanna ride the trebuchet tonight."
"Whatever," Rebecca said with a roll of her eyes.
XXX
"Yeah," Terrance shrugged. "I like ticking people off. I think it's a fair trade-off for all the annoyances I'm forced to deal with."
XXX
"Terrance is such a jerk," Rebecca scowled. "But as long as he's here, that's just a bit more safety for me."
XXX
"And for the Warriors..." Chris said as the shot cut back to the reels, now showing only the faces of the Ruby Warriors, "Lindsay!"
A deep note played as the shot cut to Lindsay's smile. "Yay, I won!" she said as she walked to the stage to join the host and Rebecca. "What'd I win?"
Rebecca raised an eyebrow at her.
Chris held up two remotes with a single button – one green and one red. "The game is simple," he explained with his usual smile. "I'll be giving out embarrassing secrets about your fellow campers. You'll be pressing this poorly wired buzzer and guessing who you think it is. First person to get one wrong loses today's challenge."
The shot cut outward as he handed the red remote to Lindsay and the green one to Rebecca. "Starting now." he declared, and a deep and tense challenge theme began to play.
"Last name Bytheway?" Chris asked.
Rebecca immediately pressed her button and got shocked. "Owen."
"Correct. Cat named after Chef?"
"Uh..." Lindsay struggled. "Tyler, no! Topher!"
"Correct!" Chris announced. "Got a tongue stuck to a pole?"
"Beth," Rebecca answered, shrugging off the shock she was given.
"Correct!" Chris turned to Lindsay. "Got beat up by a cat?"
"Jes- Jasmine!" Lindsay said with a quick shake of her head, ignoring the shock she was given.
"Bullied because of their orientation?" Chris asked Rebecca.
Rebecca looked from the host, to the pale and terrified looking Contessa and back to Chris. "Beats me," she lied, letting the remote drop to the floor. A hammer swung down from the ceiling and knocked her on her butt with a groan.
A triumphant tune played as Lindsay's eyes widened in realization and she smiled. "And with that, the Ruby Warriors win for the first time this season!"
The shot cut to the team in question as everyone cheered and celebrated, while Scott scowled.
"That means that the Jade Dragons" he turned to the other team, "have to vote someone off the island."
The eight teens and sagged in disappointment.
The host began to walk off the stage, but was interrupted by a sudden screaming from off-screen. The camera quickly panned up to show none other than Dakota strapped in to a hang glider and rapidly approaching the set. "What the...?!" Chris exclaimed as the blonde crashed through her former team, landing on a certain actress.
"Hey Olivia!" Dakota smiled as she detached herself from the glider and removed her pink helmet.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Olivia asked in outrage.
"Excuse me, Dakota?" Chris called out, looking annoyed. "You're no longer in the competition, remember?"
"I don't care about the money," the heiress said as the camera turned back to her in the middle of removing her harness. "Like I need it. I just want, umm, close-up please?" she waved the camera forwards, and the person behind it obliged. "Thank you." Dakota continued, clasping her hands against a cheek. "I just want camera time! People need to see my sparkly adorableness if I'm gonna get my spin-off reality series."
She winced suddenly, and the camera zoomed out to show that Chef had appeared beside her and grabbed her by the arm. The large man lifted her up and took her over to the stage, where Chris waited. "You know how you were flung from the Trebu-Shame last episode?" he told her. "That means you're done, for-ev-er."
"No, please, I'll do anything!" Dakota squealed.
"Listen, Princess, this is my show," his rant was interrupted by a sudden call on a cellphone he extracted from a pants pocket. "Huh?" he answered, smiling when he heard a voice on the other end. He cupped the mouthpiece and told the captive girl, "It's your daddy!"
The shot panned over to Chef and a smiling Dakota as the host continued the call. "Hello, Mr. Milton!" the shot cut back to Chris as his eyes shot open and grin enlarged. "How much money?" The camera zoomed out to show all three as the host ended the call and stowed away his phone. "You're back!" he told the blonde.
"Yes!" Dakota cheered, turning to the camera and smiling cutely. "Thanks, Daddy!"
"As an intern!" Chris finished happily.
"An intern?" the rich girl whined as Chef carried her off stage, "NOOOOOOO!"
\
A flash took the scene to Rebecca walking through the woods apparently by herself, until Contessa ran up alongside her. "Ssooo," she opened, "crazy day, huh? I mean, I told you a secret you kissed me..."
"Yup," Rebecca answered dully as the shot cut in closer.
"Uhh, thanks for not telling everyone by the way," Contessa said seriously. "I mean, I hate that it's the reason we lost. And I promise I'll do what it takes to keep you in the game," the rebel perked up at that. "But it means a lot that you chose to keep my secret over winning."
Before Rebecca could reply Contessa suddenly kissed her on the cheek to a light fluttery tune. The rebel looked at her in mild shock and let out a chuckle at the deep blush on the girl's face. "So yeah," Contessa said shyly. "Thanks. Again." With that, she ran off to the campgrounds, leaving Rebecca to stand there with a smirk on her face.
"Not a bad catch Rebecca," she chuckled to herself.
\
The footage skipped ahead to the front of the Dragon cabin, where most of the team had gathered. "Man, I can't believe we lost." Owen lamented.
"I told you not to blow it," Terrance scoffed with crossed arms as he glared at Rebecca. "And you said you had it."
"Don't look at me!" Rebecca said immediately. "How was I supposed to know who here might swing that way? And Rodney went up there like five times and didn't answer one question!"
The camera briefly cut to Olivia watching the argument with a smirk.
XXX
The actress flipped her hair and laughed haughtily. "Time to work my magic."
XXX
The shot switched to Beth close-up. "I don't think thith wath anyone'th fault," she said placatingly. "Tho maybe we thould thtop fighting?"
"I'd like that," Carly nodded.
"Without deciding who we vote for?" Terrance interjected with a raised eyebrow.
"Personally, I'd prefer it if we didn't talk about these things in the open." Mitch spoke. "Ain't no point in goin' around hurtin' folks's feelin's
"Please," Terrance scoffed. "If you're worried about your feelings, you're on the wrong show."
The team's attention was pulled to the side as it Olivia walked over. "Rodneykins!" she said sweetly, running over to the boy and hugging his arm. "Oh, I hate that you're voting someone off tonight," she pouted.
Rodney just stammered.
"I hope this isn't what you meant when you said you'd help me from being eliminated by my mean teammates," she said with false worry.
"Back that up a minute," Rebecca said, seemingly gaining the actress's attention. "Rodney said he'd keep you from being kicked off?"
"Isn't my Rodneykins the sweetest?" she asked obliviously. "Oh, well I have to go. Good luck at elimination tonight sweetie!" she cheered falsely as she darted over to her team's cabin. The camera lingered to catch seven pairs of eyes glaring at a blushing country boy.
XXX
"Thanks to me, one of my swell teammates is going home," Rodney said. "I wonder who it's gonna be?"
XXX
A deep, sharp note opened the ceremonial music as the scene cut to the usual moonlit shot of the island. "Welcome to your first elimination ceremony Dragons," Chris said, the Jade Dragons' icon appearing in the corner of the screen as the scene moved to the fire pit. "The following players are safe," he continued as the shot cut in close and he picked up the first of seven marshmallows from the tray that Chef Hatchet was holding. "Owen," the camera quick-panned over to the backrow to show the boy in question happily catching his prize, "Contessa, Mitch, and Rebecca." A pan to the side showed the hopeless romantic, cowboy, and rebel all catching their marshmallows with smiles.
The shot cut to the front row as Terrance scowled and everyone else stiffened in fear.
"Beth and Carly? You girls are safe," Chris said matter-of-factly as he tossed two more marshmallows at the campers.
Beth smiled and Carly let out a breath of relief. Meanwhile Terrance scowled at his team.
"And the final marshmallow goes to...," Chris said, the music reaching its tensest part as Terrance turned a shocked and terrified look his way. The host closed his eyes and picked up the marshmallow, and the music peaked... "Terrance." He opened his eyes, and tossed the marshmallow away.
"You all don't know how lucky you are," the basketballer said seriously as he caught the final treat.
"Rodney, you're out," Chris said from off-screen, the camera panning to Rodney as he stood up.
\
The screen flipped around, transitioning the scene to the Trebu-Shame with Rodney already loaded in. "So long everyone," he said as the somber farewell theme played. "I'm sorry I let my relationships get in the way of the game," he said, closing his eyes and nodding slowly solemnly. "Rebecca, I can only hope you forgive me for breaking your heart." The camera cut to the confused rebel.
His eyes popped back open and he smiled. "Hey, actual words came out that time!" he said with a glimmer of excitement.
"Too bad they're the last one's you'll ever say on this show," Chris said simply as the shot cut to him pulling the lever on the Trebuchet. Rodney was fired off into the night with a yell, and the shot cut to his former teammates watching him leave from the edge of the elimination area.
"I think I sank somebody's battleship," Chris said smugly as the shot cut back to him, smirking as the opening beats of the capstone theme played. "Will the Dragons dominate the next challenge? Or is this the start of the Warriors' comeback Find out next time, on Total! Drama! Daaaaaaanger Island!"
(Roll the Credits)
Author's Note Post Script: Some more repeating themes. And not a lot to discuss.
This episode is the official start of Conbecca. As you can tell, it's the most different of all my previous ships. But I'm tight lipped for now.
Also I decided to forgo the double elimination til a later episode. There's just no way to pull it off here.
By the way, don't forget that a TVTropes page exists for this series and could always use some love from fans like you.
And as always I'm sure I'm forgetting to mention something.
I hope you all enjoyed the episode, or some part of it.
With that I'm signing off
-TotalDramaFan14
RDDI ELIMINATION TABLE
16th Place: Max
15th Place: Dakota
14th Place: Rodney