Muskoka, Canada. Summer 2023.
A small island in a desolate ocean bustles with life. Just past the shore, a group of sixteen teenagers all wait in anticipation. Some look ecstatic to be there. Others… not so much. These teenagers have nothing in common, except for one goal; a million dollars.
The blades of a helicopter whirring overhead get their attention. Campers look on anxiously as the helicopter lowers, and lowers, and lands on the grass below. When the blades stop, two men step out of the helicopter. One is tall and intimidating. He has dark skin, and wears a blue button-up with a purple tie. Beside him, a shorter man with black hair approaches the group with a smirk. Once he's close enough, he turns toward the camera. "Welcome back to Total Drama!" He announced. "Last season, man, that was a rollercoaster! From unfortunate phone incidents, to a thesis worthy of a defamation lawsuit, we sure have seen it all!" The man trails off. When he picks it back up, he speaks with even greater enthusiasm. "...Or have we? Last time, it was Priya who went home a millionaire! But can she keep up her winning streak? Or has one of these fifteen losers come to dethrone our champ? I'm Chris McClain, and welcome back to Total Drama Island!"
The crowd behind him cheers, and Chris finally turns around to address them. "Welcome back, campers! Hope you all enjoyed your break! Or didn't. I really don't care!" He chuckles, and pulls a folded piece of paper from his breast pocket. "Now, all alliances and teams from last season are void! I will be separating you into your new teams in just a minute, and you'll all disperse to the left or right, depending on your team! Now, to the left…" Chris unfolds the paper, and clears his throat.
"Nichelle," The actress, who was previously inspecting her nails, looked up. She exited the crowd, stepping onto a platform.
"Axel," Nichelle almost screams as Axel makes a long jump onto the platform, narrowly missing Nichelle in the process.
"Emma," The blonde nervously follows. She stands to the side, far from Axel.
CONFESSIONAL
Emma sits in the confessional, looking around from where she's seated. She cringes from the smell of the outhouse, but regains her composure quickly enough. "It's not that I'm scared of Axel! She's my teammate! It's just that… you know, she's… she's just a little…" Emma stops with a sigh. "Okay, she's terrifying. But hey!" She perks up. "At least she's on my team, right? Right!?"
CONFESSIONAL END
"Zee," Chris continues. Zee makes his way to where the rest of his team is standing. "Wassuuuuup, my peeps?" He greets them, his smile relaxed and friendly. Emma offered a tentative smile and a wave back.
"Caleb!" Zee is quickly tailed by Caleb. Caleb joins his team on the platform, and turns toward Nichelle. "Love the hair," He comments with an easygoing smile. "The pink suits you well."
CONFESSIONAL
Caleb sits with one leg crossed over the other, his hands resting beside him for support. "Last time, I got eliminated first for no reason!" He scoffs. "If I want to make it further this time around, I gotta start making some friends. Nichelle's not a bad place to start."
CONFESSIONAL END
"You think so?" Nichelle's cheeks turn pink. Caleb has that effect on people, but she shakes it off quickly enough "Well, yeah you do! I do not go out without looking my best! No, I do not!"
Chris loudly clears his throat. "If I may continue… Julia!" The girl in question looks up for maybe a few seconds. She slowly approaches the platform, her fingers moving at light speed as she types on her phone, presumably for yet another MySelfiegram post. "Julia." Chris calls after her. Julia looks up with disinterest. "I believe we've made you aware of the policies on phones here?" Julia growls, and her bored expression turns vicious. "Or… Or not." The host quickly backtracks. "She'd sneak one in anyway." Shifting back to a calm smile, Julia joined the others.
"Millie!" Priya and Millie exchange worried looks. Her fingers crossed, she made her way toward the platform without argument.
"And finally… Wayne!" Both Priya and Millie sighed, the latter uncrossing her fingers. Wayne jogged to the platform, waving behind him. "C'mon, Raji!" He calls.
"Ah-ah-ah," Chris interrupts with a smirk. "Sorry, Wayne, but Raji won't be joining you this time around." The hockey players gasp, horror morphing their features.
CONFESSIONAL
Wayne and Raj share the confessional. Wayne sits to the left, and Raj to the right. "He's separating us!?" Wayne cries. Raj sighs, and nods his head. He looks more disappointed in contrast to Wayne's anguish.
"Guess so, dude…" Raj pats his hockey teammate on the shoulder sadly.
A small smile makes its way onto Wayne's face. "At least you'll be with Bowie, hey?" He teases, offering a fist bump. Raj blushes and scratches the back of his neck with one hand, accepting the fist bump with the other.
CONFESSIONAL END
CONFESSIONAL
"Dude…" Chase brought a hand to his heart, wiping away a tear. "You can't break up that kind of bromance! That's like, one of the worst things a person could do!" He shakes his head. "I could never do something that terrible. Some people just like to watch the world burn."
CONFESSIONAL END
CONFESSIONAL
Priya shifts awkwardly, looking to the floor dejectedly. "I was hoping Millie and me could be on the same team…" She admits, her hands close to her chest. "I'm really gonna miss her…" Priya brightens up, a look of determination on her face. "But I'm still gonna give it my all! I won't go easy on her!"
CONFESSIONAL END
CONFESSIONAL
"And that, folks, is why friends and Total Drama Island do not mix." MK comments with a chuckle. "Thing One and Thing Two'll get over it." She smirks. "Probably."
CONFESSIONAL END
"Caleb, Nichelle, Zee, Julia, Wayne, Emma, Axel, and Millie. The eight of you will be the Royal Rhinos. And the rest of you, to the right please! You'll be the Jagged Jaguars from here on out! Look around, campers. These will be your teams for the rest of the season. Now chop chop, you know where the cabins are! Rhinos, you'll be taking the Frog's cabin. Jaguars, you're in Trout! Now get moving!" Chris blows the horn. Several contestants wince or cover their ears, and everyone begins the trek to the cabins.