Author's Notes: Give a hip-hip-HOORAY for Gwen and Courtney beginning to form a friendship in World Tour! WWWOOOOOOOOOOTTTTT! Finally, one of the things I've wanted to see in this season has slowly begun to happen. Too bad it's probably all going to fall apart at the DxG kiss. Damn it. I seriously need to finish this story before that happens because I know that when it happens I'll be too angry at Duncan to even type his name down. Cheating on my favorite character, how dare he!
Okay, back to the story discussion…
Let's see, after this chapter there should be about four chapters left. Jeez, I'm going to miss this story so much. I really want to finish it before I move into college in September.
Well, on with the some review replies!
CarmillaD: It's true that Heather might be behind the kiss to break up Gwen and Courtney. Right now, it's obvious that she's on thin ice with the two. If Gwen and Duncan got together, then Heather would have both Courtney AND Cody on her side. Can't forget Cody's little crush on Gwen. I still hope that, by the end, everything will work out for our favorite CIT and Goth team.
Anywho, I'm glad you liked the adaptations as well as Molotov. He's such a sweetheart to write especially compared to the rest of the cast. Don't start suffering yet! There's still a couple more chapters to go…
DramaRose13: Thanks for the notice on the PMs. Courtney squealing with joy was my favorite part of the chapter too.
Ribbonfly: Thanks for the congrates! Animation is my top major, but I might change it to Sequential Art (storyboarding and comics) or Film and Television. It just depends on where my talents lie at the end of freshmen year. As for your story comments- I'm really not sure what you would pay moths with; originally, the moth was going yell out "But you paid my twenty bucks…!" before Duncan kicked him away, but I remembered that Duncan didn't have any money with him and changed the Yes, my goal was to make Duncan say the most awkward thing I could think of which is tough because Duncan isn't an awkward, romantic guy like Geoff or Trent. I'm glad the line I put in actually worked out.
Now enjoy the latest drama-filled chapter!
Not everyone was in such a deep state of distress as Duncan, Courtney, and those unfortunate few who knew the unbelievable truth of the magical conspiracy that had gradually unfolded in these last two days. Of course, if some of the other contestants had known about the elaborate scheming revolved around Heather, Justin, Duncan, and Courtney then there was still a good chance that they would not be in a state of distress simply because they did not give a rat's ass about those four people to begin with. There were actually quite a few people in that category.
Tyler was one of those few people.
It was not that Tyler was a heartless or cold person but merely because he, despite being on the same team as Duncan and Courtney, the talentless jock had not formed any sort of bond or friendship with either of his two teammates during his stay on the show nor did he clash much with Heather and Justin. The only person on the show that Tyler had really forged any deep-rooted bond to was with his beautiful, naïve Lindsay. Lindsay, despite her lack of smarts, was truly the girl of Tyler's dreams and was, hopefully, still saving a seat for him next to her at the award ceremony that was about to start.
Knock! Knock!
Tyler banged a fist forcefully on the hotel room, whining in an impatient voice to the person preoccupied in the room, "DJ! Hurry up! The ceremony's about to start!"
"Hold your horses, man! I'm almost done." the Jamaican-Canadian teen replied loudly, but not in an unfriendly way. It would take a lot more than door-banging and whining to get a gentle giant like DJ riled up. Right now, DJ was currently finishing up one of his favorite pastimes...
Shamelessly doting on his pet bunny.
DJ set down the brush that he had been gently brushing his beloved pet's grey fur with and set the tiny creature down on the pillow of his bed. Giving the adorable rabbit a loving smile, DJ affectionately cooed, "I'm sorry Bunny, but Chris said no pets allowed at the ceremony but don't worry, I'll be back as soon as it's over!"
There came more knocking. "Come on man! I need to get there before Lindsay forgets who I am and gives my seat to Justin!" Tyler whined pleadingly.
"Man, when has that ever happened?" DJ asked his friend and roommate from behind the door with a scoff.
There was a slight pause. Then, "About five times!"
In the room, DJ gave a sigh of agreement and slowly and reluctantly exited the room, leaving behind his pet Bunny. He grumbled to his ex-teammate, "I don't see why you're worried. I haven't seen a trace of Justin all day!"
As the two friends walked down the hallway to make it to the theater where the reward ceremony was going to be heard, Tyler answered rather exaggeratingly, "That's because he's just waiting for a chance to snatch Lindsay away from me! You saw how all over her he was in this season!"
As the pair turned a corner into the elevator, DJ shook his head. "Man, you're becoming as paranoid Trent."
As the elevator closed, both boys missed a small, grey, long-eared creature exit the elevator, hopping unseen between their legs. Bunneh's overly-large eyes were narrowed with focused determination as he hopped his way towards DJ's room.
Paws clenched into tiny fist, Bunneh let out a deep throated "HI-YAH!" and hopped up, kicking the door with all his might. The door flew open, revealing the shadowy silhouette of a very pissed off Bunneh.
"Now…" Bunneh growled, his expression dark with wrath as he stomped into the room, "Whoever that's son of a jackrabbit that stole MY human and stole MY spotlight on the show, you better speak up right now!" Glancing, around, Bunneh spotted the other bunny taking a snoozing on the bed, curled up on DJ's white pillow.
"Hey Long-Ears!" shouted Bunneh up to the dozing rabbit on the bed, "GET DOWN HERE SO I CAN KICK YOUR TAIL ALL THE WAY TO ALBUQUERQUE!"
The bunny on the bed slowly opened its eyes and shot the individual on the floor a look of snobbish disdain.
"My name," the bunny said in a voice clearly feminine, "is Bunnie, not Long-Ears, you noisy, piece of vermin!"
A noise similar to that of a record being scratched instantly sliced through Bunneh's mind, cutting off all further thoughts. His long ears flopped toward the ground and his large pupils shrunk down to tiny, black pinpoints as he stared up at the other rabbit in a state of shock. His jaw had all but dropped to the floor.
"Ahh…You….DJ…urrr….ahhhh….wha…giggity…."
It was at that moment that the truth was made clear- neither Duncan nor DJ had any stinking clue how to tell a boy or girl rabbit apart.
Bunneh was not the only creature in a state of complete shock at the moment. For Courtney, time itself seemed to have frozen over. Was it only seconds that ticked by as Duncan and Heather strutted forward, arm in arm, smiling as if they were the happiest couple in the world? Even so, Courtney knew the image would burn in her mind and heart for a lifetime.
"How could you?" the girl whispered to Duncan though she knew he couldn't hear. After all they've been through…after everything he had done for her and she for him…after all that he transformed back to human without her? And went with Heather?
As Duncan and Heather took a seat next to each other in the benches, Courtney placed a front leg over her heart, feeling it crack beneath her touch. Flooded with her own sadness and jealousy, the purple and brown tarantula didn't even hear Molotov as he approached. He towered behind her, watching the entire scene with black eyes stretched with surprise.
"This can not be." He growled in complete disbelief at what he and Courtney were seeing. "My old eyes must be pulling tricks on me! Bratka cannot be…"
"But he is!" Courtney snapped, whirling around and tilting her head upwards to glare up at the bear, "Turns out, he didn't need Beth to change back! He found himself another princess instead!" A lump had risen in the back of her throat at the word 'princess'.
Molotov shook his brown, shaggy head, not believing a word of it. "Net! Shishka, Duncan would not…"
"Stop calling me that! No more nicknames!" Courtney cried, waving her front legs in fury. Hearing Molotov's affectionate pet name for her only reminded her of the ones Duncan immaturely used- Sweetlegs, Sunshine, Princess…
She bowed her head. The lump in the back of her throat became too painful to swallow.
Molotov raised one paw and reached out to gently raise Courtney's chin so that the little spider was looking up at him. "My little Courtney, do not despair. What you and I have seen…well…that has to be some explanation. It is as my dear Evangeline always says…"
Courtney jerked around from Molotov's, eyes narrowed into angry slits. All the sorrow, disbelief, and anger inside of her erupted as she spat out hatefully at the kind bear, "Oh will you shut up and get a reality check? Evangeline isn't real, Molotov!" She furiously threw her front legs up towards the night sky, gesturing towards the stars. "She's nothing more than a bunch of stars a million miles away! She doesn't even look like a bear for goodness sakes! She's a dipper! A BIG FRINKING DIPPER! Nothing else!"
In a sad, forlorn voice, the bear said, "You do not really mean that."
"YES I DO!" With a sharp cry of outrage, Courtney turned away from bear, not daring to look at his face, and began to crawl away, saying spitefully, "Forget Duncan, I'll find a way to change back on my own!"
Molotov got up to follow her. "I shall help you."
"NO!" Courtney cried, voice still iced with fury. "I don't need your help! I don't need Bunneh's help and I don't need Duncan's help or anyone else's! I've learned my lesson!" She continued talking, ignoring the stinging in the back of her eyes or how misty her vision was becoming. "Teaming up with others doesn't help you at all! It doesn't get you a million dollars! It doesn't help you win on the debate team! And most of all…" her next words came out in a strangled sob, "it doesn't make you happy!"
Not able to trust herself to not cry, Courtney began to crawl as fast as she could away from her giant friend.
"No, Shishka! Wait!" the bear called, urging to allow him to help.
"Go away!" Courtney cried, unable to bear being near the compassionate creature, especially after the hurtful things she had said to him. Why couldn't he just hate her like everyone else? Suddenly, a shadowy figure swooped down like a hawk and snatched the female tarantula in its grasp. Courtney only had enough time to let out a scream before she was airborne.
"COURTNEY!" Molotov let out a snarl of outrage before launching himself, claws extended and ready to kill, at the shadow being that had Courtney in its talon-like fingers…or at least her shadow.
The shadow being hissed and speedily floated away from the open theater, heading towards where the hotel was. Molotov was right on its trail, shaking the earth beneath his paws as he ran. Anger and protectiveness for his smaller friend caused a dramatic change to overcome the bear. With black eyes narrowed and teeth bared, he looked every inch a primitive killing machine. Even the demonic shadow creature felt a unfamiliar sense of fear as the beast pursued him across the lawn.
Still holding a struggling Courtney in its grasp, the shadow spirit slipped through the glass doors of the hotel. Molotov slammed through the glass doors with enough force to have them slam into the walls and shatter into a million, jagged pieces.
"Yo German bear!" yelled out a familiar, obnoxious voice. Bunneh, oblivious to the kidnapping that had taken place, hopped over to his large friend with a dopey, love-struck grin on his face.
"It's Russian." Molotov growled. He snarled as he caught sight of the shadow disappearing up the emergency stairway. Lips curled back to reveal deathly fangs, Molotov bolted after the shadow in a surprisingly swift manner for one of his mass. Still not realizing what was going on, Bunneh hopped after him.
"Dude, Moli, you would not believe what just happened!" Bunneh said delightedly as he hopped up the stairs step in step with Molotov.
"Really not the time!" Molotov growled.
"You know that bunny was going to beat up for stealing DJ?" continued Bunneh, completely ignoring the urgency and anger in the bear's voice.
"No." came Molotov's curt response.
"Well, she's a GIRL! And she's HOT!"
The first stairway came to an end on a small platform with a second stairway on the right. The shadow being paused at the stairway platform and hovered in the center of the wall; Molotov took that moment to attack, leaping over the remaining stairs and towards the shadow being. At the last moment, the shadow being bolt away, slithering up the second stairway to the right. Molotov crashed head-first into the wall and fell to the ground, grumbling angry oaths and rubbing his aching noggin. Bunneh, still unaware of anything amiss, hopped next to Molotov, still gossiping about his crush.
"Her name's Bunnie! And she's like, totally into me!" Bunneh excitedly said before muttering in an undertone, "Well, she didn't say so out loud…but I could tell! I mean, what chick can resist my rugged, masculine charms? I mean–" The talkative rabbit was silence by a giant paw covering his mouth and a dangerous glare from Molotov.
"Shut your buck-tooth jaws for ten second and listen, you little dorak!" Molotov growled in threatening tones. "Courtney is in trouble! She was captured by the evil shadow minion!"
Bunneh's eyes went with wide at Molotov's words. He pushed away Molotov's paw and cried out with outrage. "No way somebody steals one of our chicks and gets away with it!" He got into a fighting stance, hopping from footpaw to footpaw, with little fist pumping. "Where is this wiseguy? I'll show him! Thinks he can pick a fight with a little spider? Well wait til he comes fist to fist with a real mad hare!" Bunneh made a move to hop up the stairs to catch up with the shadow being, but was halted by Molotov grabbing him by the scruff of the neck.
"No! I will follow the shadow! You must go find Duncan and warn him! Tell him to hurry up and change him and Shishka back already!" Molotov ordered, "Do you understand, da?"
"Duh is right!" Bunneh said, throwing both his left paw and ear into a salute.
Resisting an eye roll, Molotov pointed a claw and growled, "Then go!"
Bunneh went as only a rabbit could, hopping away as if a fox on chasing after his tail down the stairs.
When Bunneh was out of sight, Molotov turned and lifted his head up toward the second staircase where the shadow being had gone up. He could see the shadow-like demon at the top of the staircase, grinning evilly with Courtney still trapped in its grip.
Molotov slowly rose to legs and glared at the demon, fangs bared in a vicious growl.
"You and I have unfinished business, demon!" the bear snarled.
The shadow being narrowed its eyes as if saying, "Bring it on!"
With an animalistic snarl and a demonic cackle, the chase was resumed.
"Got you."
The voice that spoke did not sound as sinister as Duncan imagined it would be- actually, it sounded quite friendly and slightly relieved. After hearing such a voice and feeling the crushing pressure being lifted off his back, Duncan decided that it was probably safe enough for him to open his eyes.
Still in a cowering position, crouched down with his head buried under his arms and his butt in the air, Duncan dared to open one eye. The other three flew open in surprise at what he saw looming above him.
"Harold?" Duncan croaked in disbelief at the sight of the red-headed dork. So he was the one that had captured him?
"I'm proud to say the one and only!" Harold proclaimed to the tarantula cowering in the palm of his hand. The glasses-wearing teen was holding his tarantula friend safely in his hands as he stood alone in the middle of one of the hotel hallways. As soon as Harold had caught the delinquent spider, he had taken him away from Heather's or Justin's prying eyes. When he lifted Duncan to face-level, the tarantula was not hesitant in giving the nerd a hard punch to the cheek. "OW! What was that for?"
"WHAT THE CRAP? I thought you were one of Heather's shadow goons!" Duncan angrily said. "You nearly gave me a heart attack!"
Harold sniffed and flicked the wrist of his free hand, asking, "Hey, why are my palms wet and stinky?"
Duncan fell into an embarrassed silence.
"…..it's sweat?"
Harold sniffed again. "It doesn't smell like it."
"Forget the smell!" Duncan snapped, "Look, Harold, you have to take me to Beth!"
Harold looked perplexed. "Why?"
"I have to kiss her!"
"You have to…" the dork pulled a scrunched up face of disgust. "Eeeewww! Why would you want to do that? I've kissed her before and it wasn't one of my memorable experiences. Not like with LeShawna…" he added with a lovesick sigh. Looking at Duncan he said, "If you're that desperate for a girlfriend after breaking up with Courtney, I have an older sister who's single, but I'm not really sure whether mohawks are her thing…or eight legs."
"No, it's nothing like that!" Duncan retorted, pulling a face at the thought. "I have to kiss her to change me and Courtney back to normal!"
"Why her?"
"Lame fairy tale rule about dolls and princesses."
"Oh."
"DUNNNCANNNNN!"
Duncan whirled around and pushed back some of Harold's fingers to see an exhausted and panting Bunneh hopping towards them.
"Bunneh? What are you doing here?" Duncan asked, looking down at the rabbit from Harold's palm. "I thought you were off kicking DJ's other bunny's ass?"
"What other bunny?" Harold asked, puzzled at why Duncan was talking to DJ's pet Bunny. "Isn't that DJ's bunny?"
"She's a chick man!" Bunneh gasped, taking in huge gulps of breath. "A hot, gorgeous chick!"
"Really?" Duncan blinked, "Okay…well, that's an odd surprise. Did you make out?"
"What's an odd surprise? Who's making out?" Harold asked. Unlike Duncan, he couldn't understand animal speech and had no idea what the rabbit was saying to Duncan.
"Not yet, but soon my brother!" Bunneh said. Then he remembered what he was there for and quickly gave his head a vicious shake, snapping into mission mode. "But that's not what I came here to tell you! There's trouble!"
Duncan's expression grew serious at the urgent, panicked tone in Bunneh's voice. "What is it?" the tarantula demanded.
"It's Courtney, dude!" Bunneh cried. Duncan's expression grew more and more horrified as the rabbit continued with his report. "Those creepy shadow things took her! Molotov chasing after them and sent me to tell you! Dude, if you're going to get smooching with that Beth girl then now's the right time to be smooching!"
"What's happening? Tell me!" Harold asked, annoyed at being left in the dark. Even he had noticed the grim expression filling Duncan's face.
"No! Saving Courtney comes before smooching!" Duncan snapped to Bunneh. He paused and added, "Unless it's Courtney I'm smooching."
"Courtney's in trouble?" Harold guessed, slowly piecing together the puzzle. "Is it Heather?"
"Heather's evil shadow minions!" Duncan said with an angry growl, slamming a fist into his other front leg.
"Evil shadow minions? Like in Silent Dark War Siege 2: Quest for Immortal Glory?" Harold wheezed before pumping his fist into the air with an excited yell. "AWESOME!" Pulling off a heroic stance with his scrawny chest puffed out and eyebrows furrowed with determination, Harold proclaimed loudly, "Do not fear, Lady Tarantula, for I, Dragon-underdash-Warlock-underdash-Apprentice345, shall go forth and rescue you like in the level 15!"
The nerd immediately tripped and fell flat on his face. Moaning, Harold raised his head up and fixed his slightly cracked glasses back into its regular position. He took a glance down to his feet and saw that they were tangled up with spider web.
"Ooww, do you really think now's the time for pranks?" Harold rather irritably asked Duncan, who had crawled up to stand in front of Harold's face.
"It's not a prank! Bunneh and I will go save Courtney ourselves." Duncan said.
Harold shook his head as he began to stand up, not understanding what Duncan was saying. "You two can't go by yourselves! Do you really think that a bunny and a spider can take on the beautifully, evil Heather and her minions?"
"I have to go!" Duncan urgently said, "I have to tell Courtney the truth in case anything happens!"
"What truth?" Harold asked with Bunneh standing by his shoes, watching Duncan curiously.
"The truth that…" Duncan faltered, feeling too embarrassed to say it in front of Harold and Bunneh. Really, this wasn't something guys are supposed to tell others guys! Only sensitive pussies like Trent did that!
The tarantula looked beyond Harold's shoulder and spotted a window that showed the clear night sky where Molotov's love Evangeline shone brightly. The delinquent swallowed hard.
"The truth that Courtney is like LeShawna is to you." Duncan said, grinning as he gazed through the glass window and into the twinkling stars. "She's my Evangeline."
Bunneh let out a loud, heart wrenching sob, bailing his eyes out. He was learning against Harold's leg and used the dork's pants to blow his nose.
"Who Evangeline?" Harold asked. "Is she hot?" he added hopefully.
Duncan chuckled. "Dude, forget it, she's waaaay too far out of your league. Seriously."
"Okay, then what do you want me to do?" Harold asked.
"You have to stall the ceremony!" Duncan said. "No matter what, make sure that Justin and Heather don't get their hands on my million! Until Courtney and I show up! And if you have a chance, explain to Beth that I have to kiss her!"
"I can't stall the ceremony." Harold said. "Justin will kill me!"
Duncan would have laughed out loud if the situation wasn't so serious and instead let out a loud scoff. "You're afraid of Justin? Dude, that guy wouldn't even touch you in case he bruised his fingertips!"
Harold shook his head in disagreement. "Not anymore! With your body, he's taken over your role as head bully! I've spent the best part of these two days hiding from him! He's ten times worth than you ever were! See!" He lifted up his shirt to reveal bruises all over his belly and chest. "I have bruises on my bruises!" He then turned his back to Duncan to show off how high his underpants were. "And this wedgie's so bad that I can taste the fabric!"
"Harsh." Commented Bunneh.
"Dude, stealing my body AND my position? Not cool!" Duncan growled, clenching his front legs into first. He addressed Harold, "Harold, you have to stall the show for me! Please!"
"How?" Harold asked in a deflated voice, looking sorrowfully down at his shoes. "I'm just a dork that nobody listens to and is the punching bag of the entire crew! How can I distract everyone before you and Courtney arrive?"
"You'll think of something! You're like a mad genius!" Duncan told his former teammate.
Harold looked up, surprised by the compliment. "I am?"
"Duh!" Duncan said grinning and giving Harold a friendly punch in the shoe. "Granted some of your ideas are pretty lame, but at least you're creative enough to come up with stuff! Forget about Justin! You may be the world's biggest dork, but you have guts! You stood up to me on life television, didn't you? That takes courage, my dorky friend! And don't let Justin or anyone else…besides me…tell you different! Got that?"
A smile spread across Harold's face along with an expression of keen determination. "I got it, my friend," Harold said with an air of heroic confidence, slamming a fist into the palm of his hand. "I COMPLETELY GOT IT!"
"Now that's what I'm talking about!" Duncan said, swept up in the building excitement.
"WOO-HOO!" Bunneh yelled, leaping up in the air, pumping his fist, "Go Team Spider-Bunny-Dork!"
"Don't worry about the ceremony!" Harold called to Duncan and Bunneh as he sped down the hallway towards the hotel exit. "I'll handle it! You take care of Courtney!"
"You can bet on it!" Duncan yelled back. The tarantula climbed up on Bunneh's back and clung on to his friend's long, velvet-like ears. He stared on straight ahead, blue eyes narrowed and flashing with anger.
"I'm coming Princess!"
"MOLOTOV!" Courtney screamed, struggling against the unseen forces that were holding her. The dark being holding her hostage wasn't actually touching her, but somehow had a grip on her shadow. "This doesn't make sense!" she snapped. "I DEMAND TO TALK TO A PHYSIC PROFESSOR! I-" Her words were cut off by a very annoyed shadow being placing a clawed hand over her head shadow. The words coming out of her mouth were now muffled.
A boiling roar echoed through the air as massive bundle of brown fur, snapping teeth, and slicing claws came barreling down the hallway in hot pursuit of the demonic shadow.
Even the demon from a hell felt a sliver of fear at the sight of the colossal bear thundered towards it, its entire massive frame radiating in wild, untamed power and fury. Molotov's black eyes were red with blood-lust for the one responsible for stealing his friend.
The shadow demon unleashed a howl into the air and darted into one of the janitor closets in the hallway. Molotov snarled and rushed in after it. As soon as the enraged Russian bear was inside the closet, the shadow being carrying Courtney slid out and slammed and locked the door behind it.
Another shadow being came floating towards Courtney's'; it had been summoned by its companion's howl. Courtney's captor pointed at the door and screeched something to the other shadow. The new shadow being nodded and slid into the door of the janitor's closet, cloaking the door in darkness.
Despite all of Molotov's strength, no matter how many times he slammed into the closet door, the darkened door would not even budge an inch.
The shadow being holding Courtney let out a victorious cackle. It slithered away as Molotov's upset roars of anger loudly echoed behind it.
"Welcome everyone to the dramatic conclusion to Total…Drama…ACTION!" Chris yelled out, flashing a dazzling smile to the camera.
The award ceremony was now about to begin. The lights on set were on and glaring down a golden halo upon the stage, particularly on Chris, showing off how handsome the raven-haired host looked. Unfortunately, the lights also showed off some rather offensive aspects of the grand stage…
"It's a little early for Halloween, don't you think?" Noah commented with a sarcastic smirk.
Cody chuckled in agreement. "Dude, what's with all the spider webs?"
Indeed, for some reason or another, many parts of the stage were covering in large, clearly noticeable cobwebs of all shapes and sizes.
Chris scowled, secretly hoping that they hadn't been too noticeable. "Unfortunately, somebody had the idiotic idea to unleash a bunch of spiders all over the entire set…IZZY!" He glared pointedly at the insane, red-haired girl. "And insect control couldn't make it. So watch your step and try not be bitten by spiders."
LeShawna let out an ear-shattering shriek. "SPIDERS? WHERE!" She looked down and screamed. "SAVE ME!" The large-bootied girl jumped on top of Trent, crushing him and causing him to fall to the ground.
Gwen got a closer look. "Uh, LeShawna? It's just a dust bunny."
"Oh." The plump black girl shot the boy beneath her large bulk a sheepish look. "Sorry sugar."
"Ow…my back…Ooow." came the musician's muffled reply.
"Anyway…" Chris continued, shooting the interrupting teens an annoyed, shut-the-hell up look. "The reason we are all gathered here to reward one of the few not-losers here their well-suffered for reward!" He threw his arms out wide, yelling, "ONE MILLION DOLLARS!"
Not a single person clapped.
Chris continued to be frozen in that particular position for a couple seconds more, obviously waiting for applause. When none came, he pressed a button on the top of his stand and wild applause suddenly blazed out from no where. He smiled smugly, allowing the applause to go one for a minute or two before he pressed the button again and the area was, once again, silent.
"And here to claim this reward," Chris continued, holding up a large suitcase, supposedly filled with cash. Justin, disguised as Duncan, smirked and began to walk up the stage as Chris finished, "here's Dun…."
"WAIT!" Harold threw himself in between Justin and Chris, who had the money suitcase in his hand.
Everyone in the audience let out a gasp of surprise.
"Harold?" Gwen cried, unable to hide her surprise.
"YEAH HAROLD!" Izzy whooped, jumping up in her chair.
"Baby?" said LeShawna, blinking.
Heather curled her fists and growled venomously, "The dweeb!"
"Uhhh…dude?" Chris asked, glaring and slightly flinching away from the dork, still holding the metal suitcase close to his chest, "What are you doing?"
Harold stood alone in the glaring spotlight, in the middle of a stage with two glaring people on both sides of him and an audience staring up at him. Sweating nervously, Harold fumbled and stammered, darting his green eyes back and forth as he tried to think of solution.
"Uhhh…well…you see….er…" The red-haired dork rubbed the back of his neck, beads of sweat already dripping down his forehead. "We can't give out Duncan's reward until…er…" his green eyes fell on a Guilded Chris Reward and an idea sprang to life.
"Until we give out the Loser Consolation Reward!" he proclaimed.
A lapse of confused silence fell after his announcement. A cricket could be heard chirping.
"What the crap?" Noah finally said, voicing about everyone else's own opinion.
Izzy bounced off her seat and onto the stage next to Harold, pulling the dork into a tight, one-armed hug. "Duh! Of course we need to give out the Loser Consolation Reward!" Grinning like the mad-woman she was, Izzy rummaged through her…skirt…and pulled out a trophy figure, rather badly made out of twigs. "See? Isn't it beautiful? And it's in the shape of Taylor Lautner!"
Once again, there was a relapse of cricket-filled silence that was only broken by Noah, "Okay, I'll say it one more time…what the freaking crap?"
Gwen was the first one to catch on to Harold's plan. It was obvious that he was trying to stall the ceremony for one reason or another. Perhaps the real Duncan was on his way?
The Goth girl abruptly stood up. "Yeah!" she rather reluctantly shouted, holding a fist up. "Er… go Loser Consolation Reward?"
LeShawna stood up as well. "That's right baby! Tell us who won!"
Harold found himself grinning at LeShawna's shouts of encouragement. Ignoring Chris' annoyed grumbles, Harold swiftly turning his back to the audience, he bent down, and quickly scribbled on a piece of paper. He slipped it to Izzy, and said loudly, "My lovely assistant, Izzy, will read out the winner!"
"Just make this quick!" Chris ordered, angrily crossing his arms and glaring at the dork.
"Muewahahahah!" Izzy insanely cackled as she read out the winner, "And the winner of the Loser Consolation Reward…for having the least screen time than any other contestant in ANY season…." Izzy threw the paper and her arms up in the air and shouted.
"ZEKEY COME ON UP! WOO-HOO!"
The spotlights spun around and flashed over at Ezekiel's shocked face as colorful confetti rained over him and celebration music pounded the speakers. All the contestants slowly and unsurely clapped a few times. Two ridiculously hot and beautiful women in bikinis came down the red carpet and escorted the delightedly surprised prairie boy up the stage.
"Where the heck did all the confetti, music, and hot girls come from?" DJ asked Tyler. The jock just gave a clueless shrug.
"Hey! All that's supposed to be for Dunca…er…I mean for me!" Justin complained, angrily glaring at all the flashy celebration going on.
With tears of happiness in his eyes, Ezekiel took the twig-made statue from Izzy. "I dun't noo what to say!" the farm boy sniffled.
"Speech! Speech!" Harold shouted. The chant was taken up by everyone else in the audience.
"SPEECH! SPEECH! SPEECH!"
Izzy backed away from a large grin on her face to allow Ezekiel to take the stand.
"Go Homeschool!" Tyler shouted. On the stage, Justin crossed his arms and bitterly grumbled.
"Eh, when I first came to the shoo'w." Ezekiel tearfully began, clutching the wooden reward tightly in his hands, "I ne'ver expected to win such a rewoord!"
A piece of Taylor Launter's arm promptly fell off.
"There're so many people I want to thank, eh!" Ezekiel continued, "I'd like to thank my murther, for shelter'in me from the real world my entire life! And I'd like to thank my Pa's for making me believe gurls were inferior, eh! I'd still be in the show if it weren't for you! Whoo! I also want to thank…"
In her seat, Heather gave a pissed off growl, leaning back and folding her arms irritably across her chest. "Is this idiot going to take all night?"
Suddenly, as silent as a serpent, one of the shadow being slithered over to where Heather was and deviously whispered into her ear. An evil smile slowly spread across her face.
While everyone else was listening to prairie boy's speech, nobody noticed a certain raven-haired girl silently sneak off, with a strange shadow trailing behind her.
You guys have no idea how long I've been waiting to write down Ezekiel saying his ridiculous speech. For me, it's one of the highlights of this story, no matter how stupid it is.
Another favorite part of mine to write was Courtney's heartbreaking speech with Molotov. Courtney really is my favorite character of the series (and not just because she's paired with Duncan). To me, she's a very admirable, well-rounded character who truly deserves more credit than she gets. It was nice to write about her different sides, even if this particular side shows her more emotional and heartbroken side.
And for those who don't get the Taylor Launter joke, he plays Jacob Black in the Twilight film series and for those who have read the books….well…let's just say that he needs a Loser's Consolation Reward very badly, lol.
Anywho, hope you guys enjoyed the chapter! Please read and review…especially review! You know you want toooo…..