This was difficult to write, partly because... well, you'll see. Keep an eye out for the next challenge
P.S. I did edit the last chapter a little, if you want to reskim it. It's just easier to tell who what afraid of what and why.
Sixth Campfire Ceremony
The campfire seemed to be burning extra hot that night on the faces of the Iguanas, being the third time in a row that they were at the fire. Of all the eight remaining campers, only one did not look the least bit nervous, and that was Walter. He knew he couldn't be voted off.
Confession Cam:
(Genevieve) "Even though I know I can't be voted off today, I'm still nervous about the rest of them. It was really difficult to make a choice, especially since I don't want any of them to go home."
(Nessa) "There's no way they're about to vote me off, but Manny is at risk." She bites her lip. "I really like him a lot, and I can't stand the thought of him leaving, especially because I couldn't have done my part if it wasn't for him. Anyway, I have to vote for Erik."
(Erik) "I guess last challenge I was close to going home, and seeing I'm on the chopping block again… but I'm seriously the most athletic player we have right now. It'll only be a major loss to them."
(Zak) "Really, we only have three good players to vote against. I mean, Nessa and Brooke have yet to mess up, so add that to the fact that they both got points, they can't be voted off. Genevieve and Walter have immunity. And, well, I also completed my challenge, and even when I think I'm going home, I somehow don't get many votes. Take our first two losses; I was the first to stop walking and the lowest score in karaoke. Walter insists that it's my intellect that they're keeping me around for. That may be true, and the fact that once it's every man for himself, I won't be able to perform as well in the physical challenges, so it'll be easier to vote me off later.
"But, back to the topic at hand, so, our only three choices are really Erik, Phoebe, and Manny. This may be our only chance to vote off Manny, but he's probably the nicest of the three. Erik has turned out to be a lot like another Tyler, and Phoebe, well, I can't tell if she's shier or just meaner than more or less the other girls. She seems to get along well with Autumn. Granted, both Erik and Phoebe are more prone to spending time with the other team. Ashlynn might be using Erik to gain an advantage on us… but Phoebe, she might be weakening Autumn and Bex to feel for our team… Granted, Bex seems more likely to be doing that. We should train Brooke to use Todd… that's if he's not already using her…"
(Walter) "Seriously, if you got hurt by those punks, you could have sued the show penniless, Manny."
(Chris) "Actually, he'd only be able to sue the actors we hired to play the punks, and they're all broke, which is how we got them for twenty bucks and air time each."
(Manny) "Well, Rufus beat the clown… and I saw those dogs Phoebe would have had to pet. She probably would have been lucky if she only lost two fingers trying to pet them. I'm going to have to vote off Erik."
(Phoebe) "This is the second challenge in a row he royally screwed up. And he fell off a cliff. He probably has brain damage by now."
(Brooke) "I'm going to say… Manny. I mean, half of them were smaller than he was."
(Rufus) "So, I tricked Brooke into thinking that Todd is threatened by Manny, and we know she doesn't want Todd to leave. I just made sure she overheard me talking with Jamie about who they were voting off. Jamie only agreed to help because I finally gave him back his pants."
"Tsk, tsk, Striking Iguanas," Chris said as he appeared with a plate of marshmallows. "Three losses in a row. Well, you know the drill. The first marshmallow goes to…"
"Wait, you're not going to go through that horribly long and obnoxious speech?" Phoebe asked.
Confession Cam:
(Phoebe) "I should have kept my mouth closed."
"Well, since you insist…" he smiled as if he knew someone would bring that up. "I have here seven marshmallows, but there are eight of you before me. The camper that does not receive a marshmallow must immediately walk the dock of shame, board the boat of loser, and leave camp Wawanakwa 2, and you can never… ever come back. The first marshmallows go to Genevieve and Walter." The two stood and received their marshmallows, Genevieve stuffing hers into her mouth to keep her from chewing on her thumbnail anymore. "Brooke, Nessa, and Zak." The three walked up and grabbed their fluffy treats. "Phoebe, Erik, and Manny, none of you were able to complete your tasks and face your fears. The next marshmallow goes to… Phoebe." Phoebe let out a long sigh before retrieving her marshmallow. "The last marshmallow goes to… well, what do you know, for the first time in Total Drama Island history, there is a tie between two campers for the final marshmallows."
"What!" everyone yelled.
"Yep, that's right," Chris said. "So, we have a special live videocam message from one of your old teammates, Christie!"
"Why her?" Nessa asked.
"Because we didn't allow her to give immunity to Eddie, we thought it would be fair… and she was the last voted off, so we figured she's still probably pretty pissed at you all," Chris said. "Christie, are you there?"
A small television crackled to life and Christie's face appeared. She was twirling her blade between her fingers. "I read you loud and clear, Chris. What do you need?"
"Well, we have a tie between Manny and Erik getting voted off, and we want you to make a final vote."
"Oh, really…" she said with a smile. "Interesting how it came back to me, isn't it?"
"Just vote Erik off already," Nessa said. "He is seriously loosing this game for us."
"And here, I thought I had been losing the game for you," Christie said. "And if Erik is so bad, then why is Manny on the line as well?"
"Because some people are idiots," Phoebe said.
"You're probably right," Christie said. "So, have fun voting Erik off next time you lose. My vote is for Manny to be off the island."
"What? Why me?" Manny asked.
"Because I want you guys to lose after voting me off," Christie said. "And, I'm really getting annoyed with your girl. This is more against you, Nessa."
Nessa balled her hands into fists. "I'll kill you when I get off," she yelled.
"Well," Chris said turning off the television. "There you have it. Here's your marshmallow, Erik. And Manny, it's your turn to take the walk."
Manny looked down, then looked back up and smiled at his team. "Hey, I'll still be rooting for you all. Just do me a favor and kick the Toucans' butts for me."
"Will do," Zak said with a nod. Manny turned and headed to the Boat of Losers.
"Manny, wait," Nessa yelled and pulled him into a hug. "Thank you for everything," she said. She then stood on her toes and kissed him. Manny embraced her and returned it.
"I'll miss you most of all," he said after they broke apart and he boarded the boat.
Near the tents, the Toucans were waiting for Chris and their prizes. As promised, a box was dropped off with new shoes for everyone.
"Awesome," Gail cried pulling on her new gym shoes. "Now I can actually run!"
Most of the campers had been practical. If they had gyms shoes with them, they got sandals. If they didn't, they got gym shoes for the challenges. Granted, Madison was not like most campers. She had insisted that she get a new pair of the exact same boots, which were no longer actually in production. They told her that she would have to wait until after the show before she would get her replacements, and therefore, she was stuck with her old, charred boots until then.
The Iguanas came back into the camp in three groups. Nessa and Phoebe made up one. Erik and Walter another. And Brooke, Genevieve and Zak, the ones who weren't taking sides, made up the third group.
The Toucans watched in surprise. "You guys actually voted off Manny?" Autumn was the first actually be able to speak.
"If by, you guys, you mean them and Christie, with Chris's permission," Nessa spat.
"Chris let Christie pick?" Jamie asked. "Dude, what the hell is he smoking, and where is he hiding it?"
"Shut up, Jamie," Phoebe said.
"Wow, I really didn't expect you guys to vote him off," Alex said.
"Yeah, that's a bit of bummer," Todd said. "Manny was cool."
Rufus chucked from where he sat just outside his tent.
Confession Cam:
(Brooke) "I feel really bad now. If I had known… Manny shouldn't be the one leaving…"
(Rufus) "Their most cool-headed and more or less team spirit… gone. I love it."
"Hey, Gen," Brooke said to Genevieve. She had all her things. "Mind if I share with you? I gave my tent to Zak, seeing as Walter and Erik have more or less become an alliance against the rest of us."
"Oh, I'd love the company," Gen said.
Brooke smiled. "Thanks."
Now, raise your hand if you saw that coming. That's right, I didn't think. In fact, I didn't even see that coming without a little help from ThekidVince.
