Episode 7: Merge, Merge, Merge is the Word
Remaining Campers:
Jenn, Ai, Ben, Phillip, Patrick, Leroy, Vivian, Stella
"Last time, on Total Drama: The Mentorship: The campers went on an epic space questing adventure. Too bad for Athens that prince charming Phillip betrayed everyone, and the gentle giant Raymond was sent home. But not before Ai said some things she's regretting. (The cameras then flashed to Athens glaring at her). Hehe, it's going to be a great day, on TOTAL. DRAMA. THE MENTORSHIP!" Chris said, looking up just in time to see Heather, right as she crash landed onto him, looking surprised. The cameras then flash over to the opening credits.
The cameras then focus on Ai, who is seen taking her breakfast tray outside the mess hall and, upon looking around that the coast is clear, she sat down. She sighed at the sight of her breakfast. Thanks to going last in line, Owen ended up clearing out most of the food. Today the meal was of almost-expired English muffins. Ai got the last one, the smallest of the bunch, which Owen only left for her out of pity. No tomato juice either, or butter, to make it easier to swallow.
Just then, the steps creaked again as another person sat down to join Ai. She was surprised to see it was Patrick. "What are you doing out here?" she asked, not sure to be surprised and happy or surprised and annoyed. She never really had much in terms of interacting with Patrick, and in her state of mind right now, she could use someone friendly on her side, even if he was the supposed enemy.
"I was worried when I didn't see you at the Team Athens table yet again for breakfast." Patrick said, sounding concerned for her. "Is something wrong? Was there a fallout of some sort at the campfire ceremony last week?"
Ai bit her lip. She wasn't sure just how much she could tell Patrick. After all, she was trying to build up trust again with Jenn and Ben. "Yeah… Let's just say I said some things that I'm regretting."
"I see…" Patrick said, hoping that he was going to get more out of her. "Well, you know, just because we are on different teams doesn't mean that I can't help you. I'm always willing to talk and to listen."
Ai gave a small smile. "Thanks, Patrick."
Patrick: Hehehe, this is way too easy! It won't be much longer before I am in total control of everyone in this game. I dare say that this performance will give me a Gemmi!
"Attention all campers, meet me at the amp theater in five minutes for today's challenge!" came Chris's voice on the speaker system. Ai sighed and decided to finish eating before going off. She watched as some of the others started to leave the mess hall. For a brief moment, she looked up and her eyes met Ben's, but before anything could be said, she looked away, completely ashamed of herself.
Ai: I spent this whole past week doing my best to avoid everyone, especially Ben. You see, I got really mad last week when everyonedecided to blame their problems on Raymond and vote him off, when really, I think it was Phillip who made the mistake. I hatepeople like that! They have no place on my scroll of 120 standards. -she takes out a scroll from her bra and opens it part way- Number ten: there should never be a need for a scapegoat or manipulation in life.
Ben: I've kind of missed Ai this past week, but at the same time, I kind of don't. I don't understand what she means by standards but I don't think I want to get involved with that.
As everyone started to file into the amp theater, the mentors were surprised and appeared disappointed when Heather joined them. Chris then walked between the aisles waving like a pageant model, resulting in many eye rolls. "Welcome campers to the halfway point of the game! You guys are the final eight! That has got to feel good."
Everyone just looked at each other and shrugged. No one had anything to say to that. Today felt just like any other day.
"And because today's a special day, I'm happy to announce that there are no more teams!" Chris said, throwing up a small bit of confetti into the air.
Ai: YES! Oh thank goodness! That means I'm now safe again in the majority! … Ben and Jenn aren't going to find out I said that right?
Jenn: Well, it's been fun this far, but now things are really starting to fall into place, like a chemistry equation. Now I can focus on eliminating certain people. Ai being first and foremost.
Patrick: If I may say, I cast a good line with Ai. Now it is time to reel her and the rest of my fish in. Hehe…
"So, for today's challenge, we're going to do a tribute to Total Drama: World Tour. You guys are going to re-enact the Slap Slap Revolution! The final person standing wins immunity!"
Ai: I seriously hope that I don't have to slap Ben or Jenn… especially Ben! I'm the one who deserves to be slapped!
"Also, one of you took a microphone from a loot crate back for our spy movie challenge. That person will now go on stage and start singing for us!" Chris said, to everyone's shock.
Ai then stood up looking embarrassed. "That was me." She then pulled the microphone out from her bra. "I found it in a crate next to the bomb I had to diffuse."
Leroy: Is it just me, or does Ai keep everythingin her bra? It must be a lot bigger on the inside.
Ai then walked up on stage and gulped in nervousness. She could see Phillip looking at her, clearly infatuated with the idea of her singing. Jenn had her arms crossed and looked away, clearly unhappy that it was Ai who was going to sing. Patrick was giving Ai a look of encouragement. Ai then took a deep breath. She looked at Ben and said: "I intend to apologize for my actions… This is Girls In Trouble Don't Cry."
La la la la…
The sight of your hurt face lingers in me now
You probably wouldn't miss me if I was voted off…
I took a week to be with myself and center,
Gain clarity, peace, serenity.
I hope you know, I hope you know
That this has nothing to do with you
It's personal, me, myself and I,
I got some straightening out to do…
I'm going to miss you if I got voted off…
But I suppose that I can't cry
'Cause I'm going to get what I deserve
And girls in trouble don't cry
Don't cry
Don't cry
Don't cry
I brought all this upon myself,
So I must go alone,
Review my scroll, make it more workable…
My fairytale wish won't have a happy ending will it?
I foresee the dark ahead if I stay.
I hope you know, I hope you know
That this has nothing to do with you
It's personal, me, myself and I,
I got some straightening out to do…
I'm going to miss you if I got voted off…
But I suppose that I can't cry
'Cause I'm going to get what I deserve
And girls in trouble don't cry
Don't cry
Don't cry
Don't cry
La la la la
Ben: Wow. I'm touched at her song, but I'm going to need more than a song to convince me she's sorry.
Phillip: Oh, my beloved Ai has such a wonderful voice! Encore, I say, encore!
Phillip and Patrick clapped loudly for Ai, but she barely noticed. She thought for a split second she saw Ben give a smile. It was enough for her to count as a small victory.
Jenn meantime stood up and swiped the microphone away. "Anything else you got tucked away in there?" she snapped. "You seem to be full of secrets, Ai."
"I only keep a few tiny books and my scroll, so I have nothing that should be considered threatening. That microphone was a fluke find from the challenge." Ai said, not bothering to take the microphone back. Ai walked off stage to follow Chris and the others to the area where the Slap Slap Revolution would begin. Jenn tossed the microphone aside, having no need for it herself. Patrick, however, had lingered behind on purpose and picked up the microphone when no one was watching.
Patrick: Better hold onto this. Just in case.
Chef had just finished setting up the platforms for each pairing. Chris then carried a fishbowl full of little slip of papers to determine who would be facing who. As he pulled out each slip, he had an intern write out a chart of the match-ups.
Ai and Ben
Jenn and Vivian
Stella and Phillip
Patrick and Leroy
Ai: No! Could my luck get any worse? I wanted to apologize to him, not slap him!
Once everyone was in place, Chris pulled out a foghorn. "Alright, the only rule to this game is that the winner has to stay on their platform. Anything else goes! On your mark… get set… infirmary tent on standby… go!"
Jenn narrowed her eyes at Vivian, whom looked petrified. Jenn then gave a good whack, which nearly knocked Vivian off the platform. Vivian then gave a gentle slap back. Jenn laughed. "Is that really the best you can do?" Jenn then gave another whack, and yet Vivian still managed to hang on. Jenn then noticed that Vivian had her eyes closed and was focusing hard. "Fall already!" Jenn cried out and she slapped again. This time, Vivian lost her concentration, and her aura power snapped. She fell off and landed in the mud.
"And Jenn wins her first round!" Chris called out.
Jenn: There is something about Vivian I don't like. I just can't explain it. -she makes a note to look into the matter later-
Stella meantime was blushing hard, due to the fact that she was attracted to Philllip. Phillip merely poked Stella and she fell off the platform, and like Vivian, fell in the mud.
Stella: -she is still dripping with mud- well that was really pointless of me…
Patrick wasn't really concentrating on his slap fight with Leroy. Both guys were slapping, but Leroy seemed to be getting closer and closer with knocking Patrick off. "Patrick, you slap like a little girl!" Leroy said.
Patrick didn't really pay attention, and eventually Leroy was able to push him off the edge. He landed in the mud and groaned.
Patrick: It really doesn't matter if I had won or lost today. I have control over everyone I need to in this game.
Ai and Ben however, were merely staring each other down. "I don't want to slap you." Ai said. "I really just want to say that I am sorry about what I said."
Ben sighed. "How do I know?"
"Can we talk about this later?" Ai asked. "I don't think a board propped up above a giant mud puddle is the best place to talk about this."
Ben nodded and then was taken by surprise when the platform began to creak and then collapse. He had fallen off the platform, and landed in the mud. By sheer luck, Ai managed to fall down but land on the platform.
"And by simple luck alone, Ai won her first round!" Chris announced. "Looks like Leroy, Phillip, Jenn and Ai are moving on!"
The board was now altered so the pairings were now:
Jenn and Leroy
Phillip and Ai
Leroy and Jenn glared at each other. Jenn made a feral, almost inhumane sound, and proceeded to aggressively attack Leroy. But Leroy was prepared for this.
Leroy: At my old middle school, girls had cat fights every day. I know how this stuff works. Jenn might be some weird genius, but she's still a woman.
Leroy moved aside just in time to avoid her claws, but Jenn only landed on the platform, and did not fall off. She got up and the two proceeded to fight vigorously.
Jenn: Leroy is a surprisingly worthy opponent. I think I'm going to keep him.
Leroy soon found himself on the edge and without warning, Jenn pushed him off of the platform.
"And Jenn moves on to the final round!" Chris called out.
Ai, meantime, had her hands on her hips. Phillip was not moving at all. "Well, aren't you going to attack me, oh great one?" Ai taunted.
"Not at all, fair Ai! I would never dare hurt you!" He then jumped off the board, landing feet-first in the mud. Mud splashed onto Leroy, who had not gotten up yet. He glared at Phillip, but Phillip had taken no notice.
"And again Ai has managed to win her round without lifting a finger. But I don't think that will be the case for much longer." Chris said, sniggering at the final matchup:
Jenn vs. Ai
Jenn: Ha! Piece of cake! You're history now Ai! I can't trust you to keep you by my side any longer! I won't ever miss you when you go.
Ai: How will I ever get to apologize to Jenn now? Maybe I should submit it in writing?
Both girls stood on a much higher platform, which was surrounded by a larger mud puddle. Jenn was smirking, and Ai appeared nervous. "I don't want to slap you, Jenn. I want to apologize!"
"Are you throwing the challenge away? Are you that confident you will be immune today? Well, I wouldn't get cocky, if I were you!" Jenn retorted.
"Well, I don't feel that threatened now that we've merged…" Ai admitted. "Besides, I'm trying to apologize here! The least you can do is hear me out!"
"I did hear you out! At the campfire ceremony last week! Now, are you ready? I'm familiar with various types of martial arts. I'm not to be messed with." Jenn said, before she reached out for a kick. Ai managed to duck, but then as she stood up, Jenn reached out and started to claw at her. One claw managed to leave a small gash on Ai's cheek. Ai gasped in shock and then she started to fight back.
"You ought to give up, Jenn. You wouldn't like me if I got angry." Ai said darkly.
The two girls continued slapping and clawing each other, until suddenly they had fallen down and they each tried to roll off of each other. It just so happened that Ai's legs got cramped, and she ended up kicking Jenn off. Jenn went flying into the air, and barely managed to hang onto the platform edge. Ai sat up and tried to reach out for Jenn to help her up. But it was too late, for Jenn had now lost her grip and she slipped off and landed in the mud.
"And like that, Ai manages to win immunity!" Chris said. "Looks like you're stuck with your untrustworthy competitor a bit longer." he added smugly.
Jenn slowly started to get up from the mud and glared darkly at Ai, whom had jumped down from the platform.
After getting cleaned up, Ben was headed back for the Team Athens cabin. He was thinking about Ai, her sudden immunity, and the song she sang earlier. He now really wanted to talk to her. He found her sitting on the female side of the cabin, looking over a scroll of some sort.
"Is that the scroll you mentioned in your song?" Ben asked as he sat down next to her.
"Indeed it is. I made the scroll of 120 standards because I really dislike people who use others as scapegoats and because of ignorance… Ben, I just want to say that I'm really, really sorry about what I said. I didn't mean that you were low class or anything! I'm just so afraid of being taken advantage of that I made friends strictly by these standards…" Ai paused, her voice thinning out.
"And how does that work out for you?" Ben asked.
"Not well at all! I have no friends. And… those I thought could be my friends, no longer want me. I don't blame them either anymore." Ai said.
"Maybe what you should do is think about limiting your number of standards. Make your expectations more realistic. Maybe then we could try…" He didn't say anything else and walked back towards the male side of the cabin.
Patrick was listening from the bushes and gave a smirk.
Patrick: Hehe, I already got enough people in my control to vote how I want. Ai may not vote with me, but I consider her under my control. And the two that aren't… soon won't be around to notice what I've done.
At the campfire ceremony, Chris was putting out barf bags full of peanuts on a tray. "Since today was a World Tour themed challenge, I brought back the Barf Bags." Chris said, holding one up. "Any takers?"
"Oh oh me!" Owen cried out. Chris tossed him one, to his delight.
"Remember, you can't vote for Ai since she has immunity." He then tosses Ai a barf bag. "So, let's get this party started!"
"Oh I just love a good party!" Owen said.
"Not that kind of party, chubby buddy. It's rhetorical." Noah said, rolling his eyes.
"I don't know what that means, but it sounds delicious." Owen said.
Noah could only just facepalm.
"I must say, this one comes completely left wing. But something the ratings will LOVE!" Chris said. "Hehehe… wonder who its?"
"Get on with it!" Heather then stood up and yelled out. The other mentors looked at her. "What? Didn't you guys yell at him too while I was flying around?"
"Okay, okay." Chris grumbled. He then tossed bags to Stella, Vivian, Leroy, and Ben. Jenn, Patrick and Phillip looked at each other, Phillip being visibly nervous. This was not the first time he was in the final two. Patrick was then tossed a barf bag, much to his relief.
"And the last barf bag goes to... Phillip!" Phillip was tossed the bag. Jenn was in a state of shock.
"M-m-m-me? But how? Who did this?! I'll make you pay!" Jenn roared.
"Hehehe…" Patrick snickered.
Jenn then realized what had happened. She had voted for Patrick, and Ai had voted for Phillip. Everyone else had voted for her. "Ai? You didn't vote me off?"
"No, I wanted you to stay so I could apologize." Ai said.
"Well… well… whatever!" Jenn snapped as she walked to the dock. Noah, feeling lazy at the moment did not join her. No one walked with her and she jumped to the edge of the dock. "I WILL GET MY REVENGE!" she cried out and then she jumped.
"Will Ai ever get to properly apologize to Jenn? Will Patrick be able to maintain control over all but one contestant? Find out on TOTAL. DRAMA. THE MENTORSHIP!" Chris said as the cameras then flashed to the closing credits.