You've been waiting to see who wins it all, and will find out after more review replies.
SideshowJazz1: Nice catch on the helpers. I wasn't sure how many people would notice, but that was no coincidence as I wanted to give them more focus than canon did. Every eliminated contestant was technically present for the finale, though, even if most were only shown in balloons :P. I do however get your point on having all their faces clearly shown. It seems safe to say the writers wanted to confirm Aleheather (Alejandro x Heather) had officially become a couple. Regardless, I'm glad you enjoyed Chapter 18, and here's hoping you also like this one! Who to root for here is a matter of personal choice.
acosta perez jose ramiro: Fair point on Lindsay. Nice to know you enjoyed her actions as well as those from the other helpers.
ShadowJcreed: Feel free to root for whoever you'd like. I won't interfere with that. You guessed right on the "anyone can win" twist; that won't happen here when we don't have Zoke or Aleheather kissing in the middle of the game.
That British Guy: Cliffhangers are fun to write, what can I say?
Critica7: I wouldn't have thought of that for Al this season. For what it's worth, he would probably have better luck tricking/recruiting Lightning than Jo when she's overall smarter than sha-egotist. Too late for that now. Here's hoping you enjoy the last competition chapter (which again isn't the last overall chapter of this story).
SCOOTNEYFAN: Better late than never for catching up!
Jeptwin: I'm glad you've enjoyed my fic here :). Connections did seem to be a struggle for our time-traveler in canon, though she has a better grasp of what is/isn't worth keeping around now. Nice to know you like what I did with Lindsay! Courtney publicly admitting she knew about Mal before Chris showed that tape of him definitely would've been suspicious, which is why she was very careful on who to discuss him with. The demon would've done something bad to her for sure if he learned too soon that she was onto him. You're about to find out what follows in our finals here.
Phenomenal Ultra Instinct: See my above response to That British Guy.
Now picking up where we left off.
Chef is ready for both Scott and me, and quickly starts firing. He aims at me first, and I dodge a couple shots before ducking behind a boulder. Our cook then focuses on the ginger, who jumps over a few blasts as he runs over. Mr. McLean then says "Ooooooh, some impressive maneuvers from both Scott AND Courtney, and unimpressive shooting from Chef." as he flies in with a jetpack.
"It's a bad idea to agitate someone with armed weaponry." I warn.
Hatchet has an angry look on his face and remarks "The CIT is right." as he aims the bazooka at our host, who gulps in fear upon noticing.
It was at this moment that Chris knew he fucked up. McLean briefly groans in pain as Chef blasts him. Both of us finalists run for the sword at the same time. Chef tries to fire at us again only to find he's out of ammo. It would've been nice for Mike and Zoey if they managed to deplete his load like that (though I do know that the multi-personality teen somehow had thankfully gotten rid of Mal beforehand while in the water moat). Oh well. Anyway, my opponent and I keep running.
The first one to grab that sword is…
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Scott!
He pulls it out from the stone, proclaiming "Hell to the fuck yes!" while holding that in the air.
There it went. My chance to win is officially gone just like that. The game is over. Coming in second place behind him of all people is better than losing to anyone else, though. I feel both disappointed in myself and happy for him at the same time. At least I went further in the game than last time around to have my best season yet and am still getting half a million bucks when we agreed to split the cash if either of us won. That part feels pretty good.
"Scott wins the million dollars!" McLean announces as he walks over with the brief case containing it.
"While I obviously would've preferred winning myself, I still am proud of you and it's better than losing to anybody else." I admit and give him a congratulatory hug, prompting him to drop the sword so he can hug me back and reply with "Thanks for that."
After we release from that several seconds later and he takes the case of money from Chris, Sam compliments "Way to go on winning!" while giving him two thumbs up and Lindsay remarks "Honestly, I wasn't sure who would come in first when this was a close match, but still give my congrats." as they walk towards us.
The gamer then gives my boyfriend a fist bump once close enough. Right after that, we hear sha-narcissist complain "Lightning still wishes he could've won the million instead." as he approaches us.
Jo tells him "No matter how much you wish for that, it ain't happening." while joining the group.
Our host's phone then rings. He picks it up and complains "Ugh, it's the network" before answering with "Yes?"
It's hard to decipher the exact words, but I already know what the call is about. Chris goes "Uh-huh" followed by another "Uh-huh, OK, done!" as someone from the network continues their indecipherable speech and then he hangs up the phone to inform us "They're so happy that they want to go straight into a new season with an all-new cast!"
This of course led to Pahkitew Island. Right after he finishes this announcement, though, the ground starts shaking. Uh-oh; here's the part where our whole island sinks! Scott remarks "That can't possibly be any good!" before a concerned McLean asks "Um, what's going on, Chef?"
"What was even used to make these moats anyway?" Lightning inquires.
Our cook answers "A fracking machine."
"Bad idea; this island is too small for a giant powered drill like that!" I blurt.
"Why? What-What could possibly happen?" Chris nervously questions as water spurts out from where Scott pulled the sword.
"A sinking island, so maybe death!" Jo panics.
We all then start screaming in terror. Way to go Chef for risking land stability, and shame on Chris for probably making you do so. The moat beneath us cracks more and more before splitting. Everyone spills along with it towards the water. Our cook nonchalantly floats in the water with a drink in one hand. I manage to get on top of a cabin roof along with the ginger, the busty blonde, and the gamer. The latter two also take some poles up with them, which I suppose could help with steering like it did for Mike, Zoey, Cameron, and Gwen in the original timeline. Speaking of the goth, I need to reach out to her when I have the chance. Focusing back on the current situation, Scott somehow still has the case of money from Chris. He tells us "As much as I liked winning, I should've guessed something bad would happen today afterwards no matter who pulled the sword."
"You couldn't have known, bud, even though it is a very Chris-like thing to do." Sam assures him.
Our host can then be heard signing off the episode with "Well, that's it for our very first All-Star season, but don't worry; we're coming back with a brand-new cast and I guess a brand-new island too." and then chuckles a bit before adding "Until next time, I'm Chris McLean, and this has been Total. Drama. All-Stars!"
In the distance, I notice a boat carrying lots of animals from the island and Owen can be seen water-skiing off its back. He waves at camera and tells it "Look mom; I'm water-skiing!" right before screaming as he wipes out.
The fat guy quickly resurfaces and chuckles. I faintly hear him proclaiming afterwards "That was awesome!"
"I wish we could go back to help Owen, but it's hard to control this cabin with the ongoing water flow and he's now too far away." Lindsay tells us.
"Quite a shame really." I admit. "He really doesn't deserve to just be stranded."
A few minutes afterwards, I see him swimming very quickly along with Jo and Lightning. They all are quite scared because Fang is chasing after them! While I don't know how they crossed paths with the fatso or if he got chased last time around off-camera (though the latter wouldn't surprise me), this is a very scary sight.
"Lightning thinks he should give the shark another sha-punch!" sha-idiot stupidly suggests aloud as they swim towards another cabin roof in the distance, which is too far away for us to pass over anything.
Owen catches his breath and replies "Bad idea when I'm pretty sure that's what got him angry at you in the first place." while the trio climbs on top of it.
"Glad you have an actual brain unlike Brightning." Jo remarks once all of them are safe.
Fang angrily growls at them before swimming away.
"At least they're now safe from Fang." I tell the others on my cabin roof, who all nod in agreement.
Trying to lighten things up, Scott remarks "That island destruction was one way for Chef to be ground-breaking."
Ba-dum-tss. Not a bad pun. We snicker a bit at that. I would try to paddle over and help the others, but the current has started pulling us even further away. Better just use the poles I do have to help somewhat control it. My quartet (for a lack of a better collective description) paddles with the current as paddling against it would be futile. It lets up about ten minutes later. Some sort of land can vaguely be seen in the distance. Lindsay tells us "Whatever's over there, it can't be worse than being stranded in the water." and we make our way towards that.
On the way over, Sam ponders "Chris said something about the show's producers wanting to go right into a new season right after this one. How in the world could he get a new location for it on such short notice, and how quickly do these episodes tend to get recorded?"
"Not sure what to say about any new location, but as crazy as this might sound, the first three seasons were all filmed in the span of less than a year. This process takes place well before the episodes' weekly broadcasts. Taping for season four started two weeks before the one-year anniversary of when Lindsay and I first arrived for season one and that started being recorded. In fact, season two started about a week after the first one ended, though there was a larger gap between the end of that and the third season premiere. Five months to be specific, though the media made the time difference seem longer than it really was. Each of those seasons took place over the course of roughly two months. There was only about a month in between season three's finale taping and when you and Scott first came by to begin season four. I don't think that took more than a month to film when there were fewer episodes and contestants. Either way, this was my first season to not have any days off in between challenges. While more grueling that way, we did get through it all sooner." I tell him.
"Yeah, the network wanted to get more episodes out as soon as possible after season one had such high ratings, so we had to film the next season shortly after that ended. That larger gap between seasons two and three was because Chris and Chef were too worn out to go back at it again so soon, also us contestants were too preoccupied with our off-camera lives back then anyway to return on such short notice. I can't comment on the gap from the third and fourth seasons, though the year gap between seasons four and five of course was because of Chris going to jail. It's hard to say what recording and any time off between challenges will be like for season six. On another note, only Chris, Chef, the network, the producers, the lawyers, the competing contestants, and the contestants' family members know who gets eliminated when prior to the broadcasts. Said relatives are also required to keep a promise not to spoil it for the general public. Not even the press knows in advance what happens before the episodes air. That's how good this show and those involved in it are at keeping its content secret until the time is right." our busty blonde adds.
All I know is that Pahkitew Island has the same number of episodes that Revenge of the Island and All-Stars did, and that the new season's episodes air weekly. Maybe I'll re-watch those with Scott as they air on TV. In the meantime, better keep paddling.
It takes roughly half an hour to reach land. Once there, I spot the shapes of Owen, Chris, Gwen, Jo, Lightning, Chef, and a couple interns. One of them I now recognize was the intern that rescued Scott and me in the original timeline along with the others who weren't chosen as helpers. Too bad I still didn't get the chance to speak with the goth back then. That thankfully isn't the case this time around.
I remember us all having our own helicopters to take us back to our homes. Each of them had even been marked with our names to signify which contestant they were supposed to collect. It looks like everybody has left at this point except for the previously mentioned contestants, myself, and those who rode the same cabin roof as I did. Jo and Lightning enter their helicopters before I could reach either, which isn't a big issue as I didn't have much to say to them anyway. McLean gives our fatso a paycheck and tells him "Thanks again for stopping by to help with those balloons. Here's the payment I promised for you. Just try not to spend it all at once."
"Sure, though I still feel bad about putting people in gas traps." the big guy responds as his helicopter arrives. "See you later Chris."
Owen then gets into said helicopter and heads home. I then approach a certain goth, who still has casts on her arms, and tell her "Sorry I couldn't rescue you from your balloon, Gwen, though I of course am quite glad you still made it back here safe."
She turns to reply with "No worries. It was impossible for you to know which one I got stuck in, and I knew it was purely random who got freed anyway. Congrats on reaching the final two with Scott, by the way. I could tell you wanted to go there with him."
"Thanks. He won by a very close call, but I don't feel too bad when he agreed to share the money with me if either of us got it. Being in a relationship with him also helps." I respond.
"I'm sure it does." Gwen tells me. "Make good use of your half million."
"Trust me, I plan to." I affirm.
My boyfriend joins us a few seconds later with the briefcase of money. We then notice a helicopter arriving behind her. After reaching the ground, it lays out a collapsible staircase that she can use with incapacitated arms. The goth says "Here's my ride. Be sure to keep in touch, and Scott, kudos on winning. Wishing you both well."
"Thanks, and I will!" the ginger replies.
"Me too." I add.
"Of course. Thankfully my arms feel somewhat better since the day I got voted off, but they still aren't even halfway healed yet. I'll probably lay low for a while as they recover enough to become usable again. Goodbye now." she tells us before entering her helicopter and exiting.
I most definitely am glad I got to say goodbye before her departure. Obviously a far better way to end the season with the goth than last time around. Turning around, I see Lindsay's just getting into her own helicopter now. She calls out "Bye everyone! It was fun to compete again. By the way, Sam, sorry again for not believing you at first about the whole marshmallow ordeal." with a handwave.
Sam, Scott, and I wave back along with Chris. Mr. Gamer replies "No hard feelings, and at least you know the truth now." as the busty blonde and her helicopter take off.
"If you know about how Mal set you up for elimination there, then I'm guessing you also found out that persona got erased." My boyfriend remarks.
"I do, and Mike's a hero for getting rid of him." the gaming nut affirms as he picks up a pad of paper and pen that for some reason were lying around. "Earlier today before we got stuffed into balloons, he, Zoey, and Lindsay told me all about it and that the evil persona wiped Svetlana, Chester, Vito, and Manitoba before being taken out. They were also very apologetic for voting me off in the final six and not trusting me back then when I said I was innocent. All has been forgiven between us. I also heard that Mal temporarily took over during the final five's vote, so if Mike was in control, then Zoey probably would've gone through a tie-breaker instead of just being outright eliminated. Our bud only regained control of himself after the vote had been cast and knew he couldn't change anything, so just walked out of the confessional afterwards. Not sure who they would've jointly opted to flush. Regardless, Chris additionally showed me that incriminating tape where the marshmallow got smudged on an old game console to frame me. It's a good thing that now we all know what really happened. On another note, Alejandro and Heather got shockingly affectionate earlier prior to the balloon stuffing, even making out at one point! I guess becoming a couple let out sides to them nobody would've otherwise seen. Either way, the drastic change from their typical selves was disturbing."
Scott and I cringe upon hearing about Mr. Burromuerto and his lady love. Good thing I didn't have to witness any foreshadowing of how they'd loudly make love in apartments this time, though, and him possibly impregnating her. Speaking of apartments, that reminds me to go with something this time that isn't close to theirs once I move out (and preferably has thicker walls). Hearing their arguments is also no fun. I thankfully should be able to get my parents to look elsewhere when the time comes.
"Such unusual behavior from them isn't exactly a pleasant mental image." I add, with both guys nodding in agreement.
Shortly afterwards, another helicopter arrives. It's for Sam. He grabs the pen and paper from the ground while saying "I better get going. Dakota's having some surgery for her mutation tomorrow and I should be by her side for it. This might help restore her previous general appearance, or at least pre-mutation height. Either way, she's relieved to have regained the ability to talk normally again before I left to compete on this season. Having to speak like The Incredible Hulk for a while embarrassed her. Congrats again Scott for winning first place. I also wish you both well with your relationship." as that reaches the ground, then writes something down on two pieces of paper to give us, adding "There's my contact info if you'd like to keep in touch."
"Thank you, and farewell. Give Ms. Milton my best wishes. We'll be sure to reach out." I reply as we each take a piece right before the ginger adds "Thanks from me too, and winning kicks ass! When you get the chance, please also tell Dakota I'm sorry for going out of line last season and that I regret being a such a major jerk back then. Here's hoping her surgery goes well. While I admittedly haven't given up quite all my mean tendencies, I knew I had to tone myself down and had gone too far once Chris put Fang in the catapult with me when I got voted off then. As I was getting mauled and thought I could easily die there, I vowed to never be so evil again if I somehow survived. No joke. Thank god I didn't get killed. At least I could get myself to a level where I can make friends. It also meant a lot when you accepted my apologies earlier this season. So long, bud."
He then acknowledges that statement with "Not a problem." before getting into his helicopter, and waves goodbye while taking off.
The two of us wave back. On the papers we received are Sam's email, Skype, cell number, and various gaming IDs. I'll probably ask him how things went for Dakota after the surgery concludes. Chris then remarks "I should've guessed the finalists would be the last ones to get their rides home." while shrugging his shoulders. "Your helicopters should arrive soon."
"I would hope so." Scott replies.
"In the meantime, is there a spare suitcase or box or something I can use?" I ask. "When we're splitting the money, this will make it easier for me to carry my half."
"Not that I know of. Maybe your helicopters will have something." the host answers.
A few minutes later, two helicopters can be heard.
"About time these showed up!" my boyfriend proclaims as they approach, already containing our packed belongings.
Chef shows up and says "I'm surprised they didn't get here sooner. Every contestant should've already gotten home or at least started riding back by now."
"Better late than never." I tell him while the helicopters get closer to the ground.
Turning towards me, Scott states "Thanks for this whole season. There's nobody else I would've rather gone to the finals with. Be sure to give me your new address ASAP once you find a good apartment! I'll really miss seeing you around."
"Of course, and I'm gonna miss you too." I reply. "As you know, you were my ideal choice for finale opponent as well. Take care."
He puts down the suitcase for a moment so we can hug one last time before leaving. The two of us also lovingly share a romantic kiss that lasts for about 10 seconds before releasing. We then notice an empty box in Scott's helicopter. He asks the pilot "Can you please give me that box before I head out? There's something I'd like to fill it with."
Said pilot shrugs his shoulders and tosses that box towards us. The ginger then opens the suitcase and places half of its money within the box. I thank him with "Much appreciated."
He silently nods in response and we shake hands. I take the money box with me into my helicopter as he takes the half-filled suitcase into his. We exchange handwaves while they lift from the ground before flying off. It'll be a long ride home, so I take out my law book once more and read that to pass the time. Yes, it's a long piece that I still haven't finished yet. First place or not, I feel quite proud of what I could accomplish when reliving All-Stars. Even though I narrowly lost the finals today, I do still feel that I redeemed myself by overall being a better person and doing things differently this season, so that part of my mission is accomplished. Now I just need to get home. My parents and brothers must really miss me right now.
Sorry to keep you waiting. The revised All-Stars season has officially concluded! Next chapter will have our CIT getting back home, and I'll fast forward through time afterwards to the point where she wished for a chance to redeem herself.
Reason for winner: Right from the start, I knew that I wanted Courtney to go farther than in canon as it would otherwise be pointless to relive the season, but always planned for her to lose. A protagonist winning everything upon a second chance felt cliché, so Scott took the crown instead. I also wanted to explore the idea of her handling a loss better than she would've in the original timeline. Him of all people winning was the most plausible way to do that. Apologies to anybody who hoped she'd win the season.
Elimination Order:
Sierra (14th place), Lightning (13th place), Jo (12th place), Duncan (11th place), Heather (10th place), Alejandro (9th place), Cameron (8th place), Gwen (7th place), Sam (6th place), Zoey (5th place), Mike (4th place), Lindsay (3rd place)
Finalists:
Courtney (2nd place) and Scott (1st place)
Chapter posted: April 28, 2019.