(A/N: Howdy everyone! Well, wanted to talk just a little bit before we got into the meat and potatoes of the chapter here. So, as a few reviewers have pointed out, via PM or otherwise, there were some issues last chapter, and with the rp in a whole. So, due to oversight, there was actually one crucial part left out of the application, the backstory. Many of you went ahead and wrote one in anyway, which is great! But, if you didn't, and you still want to, absolutely go ahead and PM me a backstory for your character. It's completely optional but helps in getting them fleshed out later. Second, a few people brought up contestants having similar names- that I really can't do much about. I did noticed it and chuckled a bit, but I thought it would be a little silly to ask for people to change the names of their competitors for this reason. Third, Nikolai made some valid points, about adding the stereotypes next to the cast members, and formatting issues. I'll address both. The first was actually an intentional decision, and one I debated about before posting the chapter. I ended up thinking, "nah, I'll just show versus tell", and figured I'd let the competitor's actions and introductions speak for themselves, but I thought it back over and decided to relent, so I went back and updated the cast list accordingly. As for the formatting, another oversight. Because of an issue with the word processor I use, the file upload method of uploading my chapters is a bit busted, and as a result, I opted to simply copy-n-paste. The issue with that is, well... the word processor's formatting vs FF's formatting don't agree with each other, and since its been a looooong time since I've uploaded, I just sorta forgot it could be an issue. Nevertheless, I tried to fix some of the formatting issues from before, and will attempt to remain vigilant of this in the future. So I know I've kind of rambled a bit here, but I thiiiiink I've said everything I had to say. Well, there's one OTHER thing, but I'll bring that up at the end of the chapter. You'll see what I mean! As for now, without further ado, the first REAL episode of Total Drama Adventures: Lost Island!)
Chris wasn't sure how long he had stood there, screaming at the top of his lungs, but it was long enough for him to run out of breath, nearly doubling over as he gasped for air, coughing a bit. He took a moment, catching his breath, only to stand back upright and resume his screaming, staring at the monster before him in wide eyed shock.
"Come on, I'm too young to die! Plus I haven't been on a cleanse in six months, I probably taste awful!" Chris yelled, borderline weeping- only to stop, taking a few shaky breathes, which quickly turned into befuddlement when he noticed the whale just... staring at him, it's jaw slightly agape. Come to think of it, it didn't look like any whale he had ever seen. It was... almost cartoonish in appearance, its eyes round and wide, lips curled.
The jaws began to creak open, and Chris yelped, leaping backward, nearly slipping and falling. The beast's jaws opened, and opened, the host able to hear gears whirring as its tongue slid out of its mouth... to reveal three robotic boys inside. They stared at Chris with dead eyes, before coming to life with movement, pulling out instruments and beginning to play. Or, at least, audio played from the mechanical means, crackling, warble-y voices singing out their greetings.
"Welcome to our land!
We hope your stay is grand!
With friends and food and rides galore!
There's magic here and so much more!
Welcome, to Magic Islaaaaaaand!"
Then, all at once, the whale's tongue retracted, its mouth closed, and the mechanical beast sunk beneath the waves once more. Chris walked over to the railing, glancing down- he could see it slipping away, guided by a track. He stared, dumbfounded... before letting out a relieved laugh.
"They should have just TOLD me we were headed to some theme park! Abandoned island, my ass!" He laughed, before realizing the boat wasn't moving; unable to progress over the railing. "...oh."
So THAT was why his interns had all gone on the lifeboats. He sighed, buttoning up his shirt, and beginning to gather his things. "I can't believe they just left me! There better still be a lifeboat open!"
There was, lucky enough for him. There was a lot of scrambling, slipping, and splashing as Chris tried and failed to climb into the small raft that awaited him in the water. A near heart attack awaited him, as well, Chris nearly relieving himself when he saw the animatronic whale peering at him from below the waves, yelping and scrambling to get into the boat.
"No one to help me to shore... worst season ever," he grumbled to himself, grabbing the boat's singular paddle and beginning to make his way ashore. There, he could see, the interns were already beginning to set up without him. He couldn't believe the nerve. Set up? Without HIM? The host of the show? It was almost like he was becoming second fiddle around here.
"Rolling in two minutes, Chris," the camera-man warned. "The boat is coming up now."
Chris sighed, waving a hand dismissively at the cameraman. It had been about twenty minutes since he had arrived on shore; no time for make up, bathroom break, or a snack. He was simply thrust into position, next to a statue of a cartoon ferret wearing green overalls and a matching hat, and told to stay still.
"Do I really have to stand next to this thing?" Chris whined. "It's creeeepy!"
"Yup. You have to," the camera-man responded. "It's for the opening. You're on in three... two..." The camera held up a single finger, then nodded, signaling Chris that filming had begun.
For his part, the host took it in stride. His grimace was replaced with a grin, immediately gaining his composure as he puffed out his chest proudly, looking directly into the camera. He was the star of the show, after all, and if there was one thing he got surprisingly little credit for, it was his sense of showmanship.
"Welcome," he announced, "to Total Drama: Lost Island!"
He gave a moment's pause for dramatic effect, letting each word sink in, before continuing.
"Welcome back viewers! It's been a few years since you last saw us at Pahkitew Island! We said sayonara to our old cast and brought some new ones in, and... who was it who won? Zombie boy, that one girl? You know, I really can't remember! But that was then, anyway, and this is now! New island, new cast, same stakes! See, we've brought in eighteen brand spanking new campers to compete for one million dollars in this abandoned resort island, of the coast of... well, we're SOMEWHERE around North America, anyway! I get paid for my looks, not for geography!" He leaned over, draping an arm around the statue next to him for support. "You wanted it, you got it; we're back for crazy challenges, break ups, hook ups, betrayals, schemes, teams, and broken dreams! Aaaand, who knows? Maybe we'll see a familiar face or two at some point? what do you think, buddy?" Chris turned to the statue, flashing a smug smile.
"And there's our boat of contestants now! So, strap in, grab a snack, and get ready for the latest season of Total Drama!
Chris watched as the boat slowly pulled up to the island- and snickering a bit as he heard a few screams when the mechanical whale made its presence known. But finally, the boat stopped at the lone wooden dock, the crew lowering the ramp. After what felt like an impossibly long wait, it was finally time.
"So... let's meet our first competitors, hmmm?"
Chris walked over, grinning from ear to ear as the first few teens began to disembark. Any trace of his foul mood from earlier in the day had been erased. After all, a new group of teens to harass and torture. What wasn't there to be happy about?
"Well... it looks like first off the boat is... well, ladies' first! It's Maxine Greyson!"
The first off the boat was a rather jolly looking girl- curvaceous, with a large bust, and a larger still gut. Her hair was a bit on the short side, only coming down to her shoulders or so, ginger colored and with a fringe, her blue eyes un-obscured. Clothes wise, she kept it simple, with a light blue, collared shirt, tied at the bottom to reveal her midriff, along with cream colored, knee-length capri's.
"Former competitive eater, and... I don't really know what else, I really only skim these applications!" Chris shrugged. "Maxine! Maxie! Maxamillion! How we hangin'?"
"I'm doing go-" she cut herself off midway with a belch, giggling a bit, and patting her stomach. "Sorry Chris! Lots of good food on that cruise! And just Max is fine for me!" she told him with a warm smile.
"...whaaaaat? My ship didn't have any food," Chris grumbled. "Crafts services is REALLY gonna hear it from me at our next meeting... next up, looks like... he was a skater boy until they said see you later boy- THEY being his family, as they wished him goodbye on his trip here- Andrew Sto- WOAH!"
Chris leapt out of the way as a boy slid down the ramp on his skateboard, pausing just before making contact with the sand. He stomped down on the back of his board, causing it to stand up, snatching it off the ground as he brushed his messy brown hair out of his eyes. "Didn't think you were so jumpy, McLean," he teased, stepping off onto the sand. He wore a black adidas sweatshirt, torn blue jeans, and a red cap, slid backward on his head.
"Andrew Stones," Chris finished, clearly annoyed. "Congratulations, you're on the list, kid!"
"Aw, come on. I couldn't resist!" Andrew protest. "And it's Andy, by the way. Can't stand Andrew."
"Don't care!" Chris snapped, glaring at him. "Now, stand over there!"
As Andy rolled his eyes, moving off to the side, a young girl stepped off the boat, with big green eyes and light brown hair braided into pigtails. She was light of complexion, with freckles on her nose, black square glasses on her face. Her outfit was simple, a white polo shirt, sneakers and shorts, with a few colorful bracelets on each arm.
"I'm so happy to be here!" she gushed, talking a bit fast. "Thank you so much for having me on! I hope I can help out my team!"
"And you must be Felicity Gray," Chris announced. "That's cool and all, kid, but we don't even have teams yet! Just go stand over there in the background for promotional shots, or something."
"Oh, come on, Chris!" Max huffed, shaking her head as Felicity shrunk a bit at the harsh words. "No need to be mean! Why don't you come stand over here, Felicity."
"O-okay!" Felicity smiled, brightening up as she stepped over to Max.
"Next up... Mitsy LeVogue... c'mon.. that's actually her real name, is it?" Chris snickered.
An attractive, girl began to strut down the ramp, scoffing a bit at Chris' comments. She wore a loose fitting white tank top, cut just enough to expose her stomach, along with jean shorts and tan sandals. She wore deep red lipstick, and blue framed sunglasses she now pushed over her head, revealing blue eyes. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail, her skin pale. "Ugh. Self branding, Chris. Ever heard of it?" She asked, rolling her eyes. "I'm a designer." She stepped on to the sand, eyeing over the other contestants, before muttering, "And it looks like this island is going to need a LOT of redesign."
"What was that?" Andy asked, frowning, Mitsy flashing him a fake smile and quickly stepping aside.
"Hmm. Lotta girls," Chris noted. "Let's get a boy here, even things out!"
Chris got his wish; the next person to appear was a latino with lightly tanned skin. He was toned but slender, with deep brown eyes, a goatee, his dark brown hair short, but a bit on the shaggy side. His outfit was a bit sporty- a blue baseball jersey over a white t-shirt, with brown jogging pants, white converse, and fingerless gloves all topped off with a gray baseball cap worn backwards.
"Uh oh, I actually made it all the way here, huh?" he chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sup guys? I'm Kyle Mora. Nice to-"
"Kyyyyyyyle! you're supposed to let meeeeee introduce you!" Chris whined, stomping his foot in the sand.
"...uh... introduce me then?" Kyle blinked, a little amused.
"Too late, you already did it! You're on the list now, too!"
Andy smirked as Kyle looked perplexed. "Hey, we're list buddies!" the skater greeted as Kyle walked over to him.
"Well, hey there, list buddy! Whatever that means," Kyle mused.
Chris shook his head, muttering to himself, turning just in time to see the next competitor. "Here we go- standing in at six feet tall, we have crazy cat guy... Gael Abel Jackson!"
Gael stood at the top of the ramp, shaking his head. "Wait, I'm not actually a... oh boy," he sighed, beginning to make his way down. He had tanned skin, his black hair being cut short on the sides, long on the top with a bit of a curl. Curiously enough, he also had heterochromia- one eye blue, the other green. His outfit consisted of a black v-neck, with ripped jeans and white converse. He wore dog tags around his neck which jingled a bit with each step. "I just work at a cat cafe, Chris... or, does that sound worse? This may have been a mistake."
Chris smirked as Gael quietly slid off to one side, standing a bit further away from the other competitors. "Ah... I love embarrassing the newbies!" Chris cackled. "Next up... ohhhhh nooo. Is that Simon?"
Chris groaned as a tall, pale, and skinny young man emerged from the boat. He had blue eyes, with tidy brown hair, neatly combed and parted to the side, and dressed well to match. He wore a white dress shirt with the top button undone, his black trousers swim fitting and dress shoes polished to a shine. His sleeves were rolled up, with a black watch on his arm. He strode down the ramp confidently, a grin on his face. "Nice to meet you, everybody! Glad I got off on the right abandoned island in the middle of nowhere!" He snickered. "Hey Chris, is that a microphone taped to your chest or are you just happy to see me?"
"Simon Graves, everybody," Chris groaned. "yeah, they warned me about your jokes."
"Hey, don't worry! They don't hurt! Worst they'll do is leave you in stitches!... get it? Chris? Do you-"
"YES FOR THE LOVE OF GOD I GET IT, JUST GO STAND OVER THERE!" Chris shouted, pointing off to the rest of the cast. Snickering to himself, Simon cheerfully joined the others. "Okay, okay. Please let whoever's next not be such a chatterbox! Looks like... Ash McCoy!"
Ash was a handsome young man, wearing a red track suit with his top unzipped to reveal his white shirt beneath. His skin was fair, eyes blue, blonde hair long and wavy. His body was fairly muscular; not a John Cena or Arnold Schwarzenegger, but just someone who worked out. He walked with a slight, almost unnoticeable limp down the ramp, giving everyone a smile.
"Hey, nice to meet you guys! I'm Ash," he said, stepping into the sand- curiously enough, he held a simple black cane in his right hand, though he didn't seem to be using it. "Don't know if you can tell by my outfit, but I'm an aspiring hair stylist. I like long walks on the beach, tea, and romantic comedies."
Mitsy looked him over, shaking her head. "I hope you're joking. With that outfit, you shouldn't be styling anything, let alone yourself."
"I was joking, yes," Ash smiled, unfazed.
"Pfft. Hey buster, that's my gimmick!" Simon teased, as Ash made his way over to the other contestants.
"Alright, alright, tough crowd. I'll stick to my day job, then," Ash chuckled. "If anyone gets hurt and needs someone with rudimentary first aid lessons instead of, say, actual medical personnel, I'm your boy."
"No he isn't, because that's how get lawsuits!" Chris corrected quickly. "Moving on, we're halfway there, because next up, its... Ingrid Glenmarie!"
An awkward looking goth girl shyly stepped into view. She was slender, her black hair cut short into a bob, giving a clear view of her face, which was covered in foundation. She had charcoal eyeshadow, dark black lipstick, and blue eyes. Her attire was a black dress, short sleeved, knee high, and a bit frilly, with fishnets that went to her thighs, and kitten heels. She looked around at everyone, giving a deep sigh.
"Uh, hi," she murmured, "...sooo. Did you guys know that you can't hum while holding your nose?"
"Um... what?" Kyle blinked.
Ingrid just gave another deep sigh, shaking her head. "Nothing, nevermind. Just... call me Grimmy, alright? Grim-ee, not grimy."
"You got it, grimy!" Chris smirked, trying to suppress childish giggles. Let it not be said he didn't have a sense of humor- even if it was incredibly petty, childish, and sadistic. "Just go over there, Grimy. You know you really should take a shower or something!"
Grimmy lowered her head a bit, ducking behind the other competitors, already regretting opening up her mouth.
"Alright! Looks like for this next contestant, we're heading to the country!" Chris declared. "Or... the country is headed to us. Look, the point I'm making is our next contestant is from a farm or something, I dunno man, there's a lot of you guys to introduce. Maya Fielder, everybody!"
"Well, howdy y'all!" Maya greeted, grinning as she stepped into view. She was dressed in the quintessential cowboy garb- a plaid shirt tied to just above her midriff, jeans and cowboy boots, complete with a cowboy hat. She had dark brown eyes, tan skin, and wavy long, light brown hair. "This island's a change of pace, that's for sure- betcha didn't expect to see someone like me all the way out here!"
She hopped off the boat, stepping up to the contestants- taking a spot between Kyle and Ash.
"You boys mind if I mosey on next to you?" she winked, flashing them a smile.
"Barking up the wrong tree," Kyle told her, clearing his throat.
"I don't know. Last girl that was this friendly to me was just trying to get me to read her literature," Ash joked.
"Whaaaat? No love for me?" Simon pouted- albeit playfully.
"Let's see, who's up next?" Chris pondered. "Hm? Oh! Looks like... Adam Jackson! No relation to Gael, just in case any of you viewers at home were wondering!"
Out stepped a tall, lanky teen with black hair and glasses, clothes adorned with all sorts of movie memorabilia. A Jurassic Park t-shirt, with pins from movies like Tomorrowland, Terminator, and Blade Runner, outfit complete with shoes that had the Gregarious Games logo.
"Welcome... to Jurassic Park!" He grinned as he looked around, surveying his surroundings as he stepped off the boat.
"Movie buff, huh?" Chris noted as he stroked his chin. "that's a shame. You, buddy, are about four seasons too late! You coulda rocked TDA."
"I think I'll do fine," Adam shrugged. "Adventure is always out there."
"...what is that? Some kind of movie reference?" Chris blinked, confused. "I don't get it. Moving on!"
Chris put a hand on Adam's shoulder, quite rudely shoving him aside. "Ahem! next up... Shelbi Debra Cage!"
Chris' confident smile was erased when Shelbi suddenly leapt into the scene- literally - crouching on all fours and sniffing the air. She growled a moment, clambering down the boat- quite the sight to see. With a black t-shirt that was a bit ripped, along with a white mini-cape, brown shorts, and no footwear to speak of, the small, caramel-toned girl crawled along, sniffing each of the contestants. She had black hair in a pixie cut, with green eyes, her nails all seeming a bit sharp, and... her teeth too, for that matter.
"So... what do you think about her, medicine boy?" Mitsy whispered to Ash.
"What, her? Totally normal. Absolutely normal things to be doing," Ash said, though he held his hands up as Shelbi sniffed him, then moved on to Gael.
"Uh... is this how other people are greeting each other these days?" Gael asked, leaning back a bit.
Shelbi came to a stop, before squatting down, shaking her head. "Oh. Sorry! Shelbi forgets some people aren't used to her acting like this!" she hummed, scratching behind her ear with her foot.
"Implying, what, some people are?" Mitsy scoffed.
"Well yeah! Shelbi's family! And the wolves!" Shelbi said, as if this were totally normal. "Her wolf family! Awooo!"
Chris watched, eyes watering up a bit as he laughed. "Oh man. I don't know if this is the best cast ever, but its definitely one of the most entertaining! Meet Shelbi, the girl... RAISED by wolves! Like for real!"
"Raised by wolves, eh? Guess you could say this show has gone to the dogs!" Simon chimed in.
"Shut up, Simon!" Chris snapped. "Ahem. Anyway! Almost done, only a couple left! Who's up next? Why... its Miriam Hakimi!"
Out walked an attractive young Arabic woman; an hourglass body, almost cat-like eyes, and long, wavy black hair pulled back in a ponytail. Her clothes were colorful, a black bikini top under a blue denim vest, a purple pink skirt and brown penny boots. She took a step further, before twirling to the center of the ramp, striking a pose, a confident smile on her face.
"Play my music- I'm here to win," she declared, strutting down the ramp like it was a runway.
"Ugh. Gag me," Mitsy remarked with an eyeroll.
"Just look in a mirror then, honey," Miriam shot back, Mitsy scowling in response.
"Or just at that outfit. Did you buy that at the thrift store, or fish it out of the garbage?" Mitsy crossed her arms, the two girls glaring at one another.
"Oooh. Gonna need some aloe for these burns!" Chris grinned. "I loooove it! Love love love it. Buuut, gonna have to ask you to save the cat fighting for later, because trust me, there will be time. Now... not so much." Chris checked his watch, sighing. "Still not done yet? I miss the days when our cast only consisted of like, thirteen people. So many less faces to remember. Good thing this show involves constant eliminations, amirite? Anyway, nexxxxt up, Leon Salvatore!"
Leon was an imposing sight- tall, muscular, with an admittedly attractive face and beige skin tone. He wore a rather garish outfit; a black, British styled unzipped winter jacket, revealing a white short sleeved shirt with a red sun mark on it. Black jeans with two zippers and a flaming lion, a belt with four chains, and all topped off with sunglasses and black finger-less gloves. "All right! Nice to meet you guys, I'm Leon!" He announced loudly, slamming his fist into his palm. "Haha, we're all gonna have a great time together! Whatever you need, just call on me!"
Andy winced a bit at the introduction. "Mind yelling a little louder? Didn't catch that," he joked playfully.
"Haha, sorry! I get carried away sometimes," Leon smiled, marching down to meet the other contestants. "But I'm sure we'll all get along great, right?"
At this, it was Chris' turn to laugh. Hysterically. "All of you? Get along great?" He wiped his eyes, shaking his head. "Oh man. First time huh? Well, doesn't matter! Moving on, we have... oh, my personal favorite- and not just because his dad is super wealthy and I'm trying to suck up- our next contestant, Aaron Mayer!"
Aaron sheepishly stepped out into view, hearing everything Chris had said, already embarrassed. "Uh... h-hey," he greeted, waving at everyone. "I'm Aaron..." He was massively uncomfortable, having the spotlight put on him like that... and he wasn't really fond of people talking so openly about his family's wealth, either. He was rather unassuming looking- skinny, with straight black hair, pale skin, with a black sweater, blue jeans and red sneakers.
"Pssst. I'm not saying I'm open to bribes, but I'm totally open to donations," Chris whispered to Aaron as he walked by, the boy slinking away even quicker. "...hmph. Kids these days. Not even trying to buy their way upward into life," the host sighed, disappointed. "Well well well, down to the last few! Stephanie Volare, you're up!"
Stephanie beamed as she stepped out. She was very slim, wearing a white t-shirt with a green hoodie and matching shoes, outfit complete by a pair of black jeans. Her hair was short and red with green eyes, the girl seeming brimming with energy. "Hey, guys! This is going to be a helluva season, huh?" She greet, hurrying down the ramp. "So, Chris? When are we getting to the good stuff? The challenges and contests?"
"Ha, my thoughts exactly!" Leon agreed, giving Stephanie a grin.
"Ease up, that'll come," Chris told her, holding up a hand. "We're almost done, just two left! With that, our final female contest, the gypsy Rosella!"
It was clear she was the youngest of the cast as she stepped out, the gypsy girl smiling sweetly. She was mocha-skinned and thin, her dark brown hair tied into a pony-tail that parted in the middle. Her outfit was unique, a white off the shoulder blouse, olive green harem pants, brown sandals, topped off with a red bandanna around her hair and a gold anklet.
"Thank you for having me on," she greeted, bowing her head a bit, before slowly making her way down... discreetly eyeing a few of the boys over in the process, though no one seemed to notice. She quietly took her place with a few other girls, smiling at them but not saying much.
"And finally," Chris began, "last, and possibly the least- who knows, maybe not, you guys are all green anyway- Peter Gramange!"
As Peter stepped out, Chris changed his tune. "Yeah, no, last AND least, changed my mind," Chris shrugged.
Imagine a nerd, and Peter's appearance is likely what comes to mind- a white polo shirt, dark khakis and brown shoes, with a pair of glasses resting upon his nose. His brown hair was combed neatly, almost neurotically, his green eyes peering at the competitors, a few books tucked under his arm.
"Greetings, fellow contestants!" He smiled, holding up a hand. "Such a pleasure to meet you all! I'm Peter, and I can't wait to meet my team and have a great time with all of you!"
"Yeah, we get it." Chris waved a hand dismissively at Peter. "You missed your Big Bang Theory audition. Get lost, nerd!"
"Oh, uh, sorry Chris! Of course I'll get lost!" Peter chuckled, flashing a toothy grin and making his way to the contestants.
"Sorry about that," Max chuckled, patting him on the back. "Chris has been giving everyone trouble today, but everyone here is super friendly! Most of us, anyway!"
"Good, good!" Peter nod. "I can't wait to get to know each of you! How many are here, seventeen plus me? Should be an enlightening experience, competing with such... interesting comrades!"
"I said shut up nerd!" Chris snapped, before breathing a sigh of relief. "Thank the lord! That's finally everybody!"
Chris looked around at the cast, sizing them up. "Hmm... that's... well, you're all something, I guess. Not quite what I had in mind, but you know what, sculptor can't always work with the best clay, right? So! I know you're eager to get to the first challenge-"
Chris was interrupted by a loud burst of static from the ferret statue. "Yup, everyone must be pretty eager to get on with it, right?" a voice asked. It was pitched down, unclear whether it was male or female.
"Holygoditsalive" Chris yelped, flailing backward and falling back into the sand, a few- okay, most of the contestants snickering at him.
"No, it's not alive. Just a speaker," the voice told him. "C'mon, you were told you had a co-host, remember?"
"My co-host is... a robot ferret?" Chris asked, dumbly.
"No. Slow on the uptake huh? Always were!" the voice mocked. "No, just a woman or a man using a PA system. See, the producers thought a mystery host would be just the thing to spice up the show!"
"Uh huh..." Miriam nodded, eyeing the statue warily. "I mean, I'm glad you're not some killer AI or something, but don't you think it would be better to just... host normally?"
"Nope!" the voice answered. "Mystery equals ratings... and not even Chris knows who I am!"
"Okay but, why a ferret?" Andy asked, frowning.
"Yes, that... seems a little unusual," Leon agreed, eyeing it warily.
"Actually... I think I know that ferret," Aaron spoke up. "Um... it kind of looks like... Franz the Ferret."
"Franz?" Maxine asked, confused. "Who's Franz?"
"Ding ding ding!" the voice chuckled a bit. "No one really knows in most parts of the world. See, back in the eighties, a small animation company started up in Germany. They wanted to rival... well, that other animation company with the mouse. Don't want to say the name and get sued, do I? It took off for a bit, had a bit of a boom in the nineties; a little company known as Wunderland. I don't have all the backround, but they wanted to rival a certain other theme park, so, they bought this island, and decided to turn it into a luxury resort! But, it got abandoned a few years into development. Now, only some animatronics, buildings, and these freaky ferret statues are still here."
Aaron nodded. "I'm German, and even I didn't know about this island..."
"Like I said- pretty obscure stuff," the voice continued. "But, that's not important. Well, it is, but not as important as me! So because I can't tell you my name, you can just call me... the Overseer."
"Overseer?" Chris stood up, dusting himself off. "Are you serious? You come in here, steal my thunder and then give yourself some lame name like the overseer?! Who do you think you are?!"
"I just told you. Mystery. Shhh." the voice snapped. "Buuut... yeah, its kinda lame. You know what? Just call me Franz for now. And you know, these statues aren't just for me to talk through this season, either! They'll also serve as confessionals! For... a bit of flavor."
"What, we just talk into them?" Maya asked. "But what if someone listens in?"
"Good question! Thing is, each of these bad boys will be surrounded by a few members of the production crew for just that reason. They'll make sure everyone waits their turn, so you don't, say, confess your nefarious plans only for someone to listen in. They'll guarantee complete privacy when you listen," Franz answered. "Or just like, whisper. you know, if you don't believe me."
"Why are you- I was supposed to explain that!" Chris seethed.
"Yeah, but I did it first," Franz responded. "Guess I'm the better host! Speaking of, better explain the first challenge, huh? Pretty simple. Two teams- and no, these aren't permanent. But for your first challenge, you'll be competing boys versus girls. Each team is given a map, and using it, you'll have to find the resort itself where you'll be staying. That's the first part of the challenge. The first team there wins an advantage in the second part, which will be explained later on. No elimination tonight- the winning team just gets a prize. Pretty important one, so just trust me."
At this, two crew members came up, handing Leon and Stephanie each a map.
"So, get going! Work together, figure out those maps, and bring home the victory for your side!" Franz exclaimed. "Or don't. Tear each other apart for all I care. Good TV either way!"
"This is weird, buuuut, that prize sounded pretty nifty," Kyle commented. "I say we get going. All apart of the show after all, right?"
"Definitely. Come on! Like I said before, Adventure is out there!" Adam smiled.
"My sentiments exactly!" Leon grinned. "Come on, guys! This way!"
"Oh, um, do let me know if you need help with that map!" Peter offered. "I'm quite skilled at reading them, you know!"
With that, the boys began to march off. "C'mon ladies. We're not letting them win, are we?" Stephanie grinned. "Let's go! Um... anyone know how to read this thing!"
"I can try!" Felicity offered. "I love reading! I mean, a map is a little different, but I'm sure we can figure it out!"
Chris stared at Franz, glaring a hole through the machine as the contestants all headed out. "You."
"Huh, I was about to say the same to you!" Franz laughed. "Well, probably something much more eloquent than just 'you', because, you know, I'm not some washed up celebrity airhead!"
"Washed u- WASHED UP?!" Chris shouted. "What is your problem with me?! Now I know you're trying to steal my thunder!"
"Guilty!" Franz laughed. "See Chris, you and I, we go way back! So when this position opened up, well, I couldn't resist! Making you look like a chump in front of the audience and the producers... oh man. This'll be the best payback I could have asked for."
"Payback? For what?" Chris' eyes widened in fear. "Waiiit. Are you some crazed fan I didn't give an autograph to? A former contestant? A stalker? The CRA? I paid my taxes this year!"
"I dunno. Could be all of those. Could be none of them! Looks like you'll just have to find out... on the next episode of Total Drama!" Franz began laughing, another burst of static indicating he had hung up.
Chris stood, staring, absolutely slack jawed. He couldn't believe it. Years after Pahkitew Island, and this is what he came back to?
"That..." Chris began, "WAS MY LINE!"
To Be Continued...
(A/N: And there we have it, folks, the first real chapter of TDLI! Well... maybe not proper exactly, this WAS still an introduction. But I hope you're all happy with how it turned out, and I promise the next chapter will have, you know, an actual challenge! Now. As for that thing i mentioned in the first author's note. So this is completely optional, but i left out one part of the application on purpose: romantic interests. That's because I wanted you to actually see the competitors before making a decision on that. And to be fair, i tried to give you a glimpse of everyone's personality, but it could still be too early to make up your mind. But that said, if you have any ideas for a romantic connection, gay or straight, feel free to PM me your thoughts. That said, I already have my own ideas. You might also be wondering the orientations of the contestants. I chose not to just... list them. I feel like that would be betraying the characters to just lump them into a few categories based on their sexuality, making a list just feels blunt. And, honestly, a straight man being attracted to a lesbian, or a lesbian attracted to a straight girl, well, things like that happen in real life. I think it would be realistic if there was a little awkwardness here and there. That's life, you know? Anyway, I digress! I really hope you guys enjoyed, and are excited for what's to come! Let me know what your thoughts are! who do you think is behind Franz? what's up with this crazy island? Who do you think will be gone first? Almost all of these... will not be answered next episode, because where's the fun in that? XD Thanks for reading!)