Well, here we are: Chapter 24, and the final challenge of Total Drama Island. It's been an odd journey to this point, but I hope it was entertaining enough. And now, you can see who wins! Hope it's the person you would have been rooting for. So, without further ado, let the story go on.
Chapter 24: Finale
The morning after the semifinals, Chris got up and ran to a camera, wearing a birthday hat. "Welcome to the most dramatic, thrilling episode yet! It's been a long eight weeks at Camp Wawanakwa, and the first season of Total Drama is about to come to an end. Today, two campers remain. By sundown, only one will be left standing. That camper will be getting a check for one hundred thousand dollars! Who will it be? Brooding, untanned, alternative artist Gwen, or the former meanie queen bee turned alliance buddy Heather? Hang on tight, because the final challenge is about to begin! Now before we get started, we asked our finalists to record their thoughts in the confession cam. Let's see what they think!"
Confession Cam: Heather
"I knew I'd make it this far. I'm just surprised it worked out as well as it did. Aside from all the nasty challenges, Beth quitting the alliance and Lindsay getting a boyfriend, everything went how I expected. Now the only thing left to do is win the final challenge and get my money. I'll be glad to finally get out of here, the last eight weeks were torture. Still, at least I'll be remembered for being a good leader with a great personality."
Confession Cam: Gwen
"What was it like being here for eight weeks? It sucked. The food was disgusting, the challenges were crazy, and the people here sucked. They were nothing but a bunch of manipulative, fame hungry, dim witted, certifiably insane, really weird, criminal, redneck, overbearing, goody-goody, know it all, party obsessed, squealing and shrieking jerks! I was lucky enough to meet five people who were actually sane. I'm probably gonna be remembered for my great personality, too. Okay, I'm done here."
After that, the campers went to clearing with some bleachers at one edge of it. "Okay, it's time to welcome the twenty campers who did not make it to the finals", Chris said. One by one the losers walked up and sat at the bleachers. Katie and Sadie waved at Heather, and Trent and Cody waved at Gwen. The girls both smiled. "Would everyone who's walked the dock of shame and left camp on the boat of losers kindly take a seat in the peanut gallery of failure", Chris said. "The side you choose will represent who you would like to cheer on to victory in today's final competition." All of them went to Gwen's side except for Katie, Sadie, Courtney and Duncan.
Confession Cam: Heather
"Okay, I may not be winning any popularity contests here, but Gwen is going down. Too many cooks spoil the broth, and with all those losers trying to help her out, Gwennie won't be able to do much of anything."
"Gwen, Heather, this is your chance to tell the peanut gallery of failure what you would do with the money if you won, and why you deserve it." "Well, I guess I'm pretty proud of getting this far", Gwen said. "I mean maybe if I can survive here, the rest of high school won't be so bad." Izzy laughed. "Well I guess if I win, I'd go traveling and then to university to study art history." Leshawna cheered. "Whoo, that's it! Girlfriend's got some goals!" "Very cool", Trent said. "Wow, that's really sweet", Chris said. "Boring, but sweet. Heather?" "I'm sharing part of my money with my alliance partners if I win. And, I'm also gonna start my own show. Anyone want a starring role?" "No way", Beth said, "you're still a jerk, I'm not supporting you." "I am!", Izzy said. "I love the limelight! Sequel show, here I come!" She and Geoff ran over to Heather's side.
"Alright, it's time for the final challenge: the rejected Olympic relay race! Each of the three parts was pitched to the committee but sadly rejected as an Olympic sport. First, each of you has to put on one of these." Chris tossed a chicken hat from the first episode to Gwen, and a cow hat to Heather. They glared at Chris. "I think it's clear why this event wasn't accepted", Gwen said. "Dressed as a cow and a chicken, run to those flag poles and climb them to retrieve your flag. If you don't have the flag, don't bother coming down off that pole. Next, you will cross the three hundred meter balance beam suspended across a massive gorge, while carrying an eagle's egg." Heather rolled her eyes. "Oh, is that all?" "No", Chris replied, "below the beams, your friends the rare but real man-eating fresh water sharks! The final leg of the race is a long distance run, returning to the finish line here. First camper to arrive wins!" Gwen smirked. "Break a leg, Heather. Oh, and that only means good luck in theater." The girls glared at each other. In the gallery, the losers started cheering. "Yeah, go Heather!" "You can do it, and we want that money!" "Yeah, kick her butt, Gwen!" "Come on, Gwen, you've got this!"
"On your marks... get set... GO!" The girls ran to the poles, with their supporters right behind them. Gwen got to the pole first and started to climb hers, but kept sliding back down. "Wait, they greased these things?" Trent ran up. "Don't worry, I got this!" He pulled his shirt off and started wiping the grease away, while Gwen stared at him. Meanwhile, Geoff and Izzy tried to push Heather up. "Come on, Heather, climb faster!" "Zip it, Izzy!" She reached the top of the pole and yanked her flag down, then jumped off and started running. Leshawna yelled at Gwen, "Girl, you don't have time for daydreamin!" "Oh, right!" She stopped staring and started climbing, and soon she was running after Heather.
The girls got to the balance beams, and Trent and Geoff looked over the edge. "It doesn't look that bad", Trent said. "Yeah, you can totally do this, Heather!", Geoff said. "See you on the other side, dudette!" They and the others ran around to the other side of the beams, and the girls started walking across. Gwen looked down now. "I'm gonna die now! I'm gonna freakin' die!" "Hey, that's what I said about the cliff dive!", Owen yelled. "You're gonna be alright, just don't look down!" Meanwhile, Sadie turned to Chris and asked "What are the eagle eggs for?" He laughed. "Oh, you'll see." Then, Gwen started slipping. Several people gasped or covered their eyes. Gwen started shrieking, and Trent yelled "Come on, get your balance back and stay calm!" "Yeah, just don't think about the shark infested water!", Heather said. Gwen glared at her. Then, there was a harsh sound from up above. "What was that?" Some eagles flew down to answer. "Angry eagle parents", Duncan said, "Oh snap that is messed up!" "What, you mean you like watching this?", Courtney asked. "They could die!" "Ah, mellow out, Courtney, this is awesome TV!" Courtney sighed. "I thought you were nice enough to not enjoy this sort of thing. Why would you wanna watch Gwen and Heather risk their lives?" "This is life at its most raw. Look at Trent over there. One misstep and his girlfriend is shark bait! Now that would for an interesting song." Courtney growled, kicked Duncan between the legs and stormed off.
Meanwhile, the eagles kept flying by Gwen and Heather, trying to take their eggs back. "Okay, now what do we do?", Heather asked. "Step on it!", Gwen yelled. The girls started walking forward as fast as they could without losing balance. "You can do it, Gwen! You're the most awesome girl I've ever met!", Trent said. "In fact, I was thinking, I think I-" "Okay, I so can't deal with distractions right now, Trent!" "Then you're gonna hate this!" Sadie ripped Justin's shirt off, and Gwen started staring at him while Katie and Sadie squealed and hugged the shirt. "Heather, keep going!", Geoff said. She did so. Trent stepped in front of Justin and waved his arms. "Gwen, ignore the incredibly hot man-candy and keep walking!" Gwen shook her head and did so. Heather reached the end of the beam, dropped her egg in a nearby nest and started running. Gwen did the same a few seconds later.
Trent ran alongside Gwen, talking to her. "So just to clarify, you're not mad at me for distracting you, right?" "That's right." "And we're still dating, right? You didn't think I'd be gone forever when I got voted off?" "Well it was a surprise to see you again... but sure, we can keep dating." Trent smiled. "Awesome." Gwen smiled back. "I think you're nuts... but I like that." She kept running and passed by Heather. "Oh come on!", Heather yelled. "We can't let them win!" She started sprinting, and so did Gwen. They came into view from the peanut gallery, and their supporters started cheering. "Run, Gwen, run!" "Go, Heather!" "There they are", Chris said, "two real competitors, and if I may say, truly personifying the spirit of the reject Olympics." Suddenly, Gwen tripped. "Oh, you have to be kidding me!" Trent pulled her up, and Heather passed them. "See you at the finish line, losers!" Gwen growled and started running again. A few more feet to go and they would be at the finish line.
Finally, one of them finished the race. Chris cleared his throat. "And the winner is... Heather!" She gasped. "Really? I did it? I did it! Yes, I won! I won I won I won I won! Take that, losers!" Katie and Sadie ran up squealing and hugged her while Geoff, Courtney and Izzy cheered. "Yeah, way to go!" "Great job, Heather!" Meanwhile, Trent hugged Gwen. "It's okay..." "What are you talking about?" "You man not have won the race, but you're still a winner to me. And you won my heart." Gwen rolled her eyes. "That's possibly the corniest thing I've ever heard." Then, she kissed him. "Still sweet, though." Trent laughed. "What can I say? I try." Geoff threw his hat in the air. "Yeah, challenge is over! Let's party!"
That night, at the campfire ceremony, everyone was gathered around the fire while Chris walked up. "Here we are", he said, "the last bonfire ever! After eight brutal weeks, it is my pleasure to announce the winner of Total Drama Island: Heather!" Heather walked up to him while her few fans cheered. Chef walked up to Heather with the giant check and gave it to her. "Well, what can I say?", she asked. "I guess... thanks, Katie and Sadie, for helping me. And, Geoff and Izzy and Courtney, for believing I could do it. And Lindsay and Beth. Couldn't have gotten this far without you guys." The alliance members smiled and nodded. Trent nudged Gwen with his elbow. "Aren't you a little bit bummed?" "I guess so, but still, I came in second out of twenty two. That's pretty good, right?" "Heather, at this time I give you the ultimate symbol of survival: the final marshmallow." Chris handed it to Heather, who ate it. "Mmm... victory is sweet." Duncan stood up and looked at the others. "Yo guys, you know what it's time for?" He smirked and looked at Chris, and the others did the same. They got up and carried him over to the dock, then threw him off, laughing as he flailed in the water. Then, they went back to their cabins to rest for their upcoming trip home... or at least, that's what they thought.
Well, there you go. The final challenge is over, but the story is not. Just like in the actual show, there's gonna be a little something extra after the finale. I'm going to do a chapter based on the TDDDDI episodes, and then another surprise chapter. Be patient, I'm gonna wait a day before posting these ones.