Episode 12: Musical Pairs
A/N: I truly apologize for the delay, a lot has come up. School, being sick a lot, depression, having to drop a 6 credit course, dealing with uncooperative therapists... But all is well now! In other news, I have been working hard and have episodes 13 & 14 both close to done. (13 should be up on or around Halloween). Anyway, enjoy the chapter; I hope the wait was worth it :)
Remaining campers:
Ai, Hana, Phillip, Leroy, Vivian
Trent was sitting on the steps of the mentor cabin. He was lost in thought, and didn't notice an intern approaching him. The intern whispered something, and then pointed to an extra camera crew. "Ugh, are you serious? They want me to do that?" The intern nodded. "Didn't Dawn do a good job?" The intern then whispered in a more threatening manner. "Alright, alright. I'll do it..."
The intern was satisfied and went off camera. Trent laughed nervously at the camera. "Well, uh, looks like it is my turn to host TOTAL. DRAMA. THE MENTORSHIP!"
After the opening credits, Trent was seen sitting in the same position as before. "What was all that about?" came Gwen's voice as she sat down next to Trent. In an unusual display of affection, she put an arm around his shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze.
"They told me Chris wants me to host the next challenge, which is in the morning." Trent said, giving a smile in her embrace.
"Oh, that sucks, considering we were supposed to have our picnic at lunchtime." Gwen said, looking disappointed.
Trent: It totally figures why Chris wants me to host. He'd do anything to keep a happy relationship from happening... Not that Gwen and I are official...yet... -sigh- I was hoping to ask her out after the picnic.
Gwen: Trent's not the only reason why I'm upset. Ezekiel told me about what Ai did at the elimination ceremony earlier, where she pushed Ben into the Whirlpool. I have to question if Ai did that out of heartbreak or if she truly does have a dark side. I may not know my pupil as well as I think.
Trent let out a sigh as he tried to think about what challenge he could possibly come up with on such short notice. "Dawn made her challenge part of a mission she had been meaning to do herself. What on Earth could I do?"
"Like, oh my gosh! You could totally do something musical themed!" Sierra cried out as she popped out from a bush. Gwen and Trent raised suspicious eyebrows as she was holding a camera in her hands. She blushed, and tried to hide it from view.
"Didn't we already have a musical theme?" Gwen asked.
"Ai only sang one song this season, which hardly counts as a musical episode." Sierra pointed out. "Why not get everyone to sing?"
"How is that a challenge?" Trent muttered. "It would have to be an automatic elimination or some..." Trent paused, realizing what they were getting at. "Oh, yes! That would be perfect!" Trent ran into the mentor cabin, grinning.
Gwen sighed. "I hope it's nothing with a number nine theme..."
"Of course not, he totally got over that at the end of Total Drama Action." Sierra said with a laugh. "He had a lot of counseling on that too. Did you know that his cure for the number nine was a combination of shock therapy and watching cat videos?"
Gwen looked shocked. "And you know this, how?"
"Oh, that's easy, I posed as a therapist at the center he went to and..."
"Never mind, I don't think I want to know the full story." Gwen cut in. "Have you been keeping close tabs on our pupils?"
"Of course! I can tell you anything!" Sierra said with a smile. "Did you know that Raymond still sleeps with a teddy bear named Triceps? Or that Patrick has a secret crush on Ai but pretends to like Jenn so no one would suspect anything?"
"Um... Okay, I won't even ask how you got that last bit... Let me ask, what is up with Ai though? Was she always so unpredictable?"
Sierra frowned. "I really haven't been able to figure Ai out either, apart from the obvious."
Sierra: Ai is a girl who was in many horrible relationships. Like, did you know that in her first relationship, she was cheated on in the first few hours? And in her second, she was called a leech and many other horrible names? Her therapist told me she is yet to find a way to help Ai cope properly.
Gwen walked back to the female side of the cabin. She had a lot to think about.
It was around midnight, and Hana was having a hard time staying asleep. Whenever she closed her eyes, she thought she could see Raymond, but he was quickly swallowed up by a large crowd of fans, all demanding her to perform. Hana woke up, sweating, gripping her black nightshirt. She rolled over, hoping Ai wasn't too deep asleep yet.
But Ai wasn't asleep at all. Ai was sitting in bed, with a book light. Her eyes were still red because she still wore her special contacts. Ai heard Hana roll over and and looked up. Hana let out an audible gasp of surprise. "What?"
"Ai, your eyes... They are still red!" Hana said. "And where are your glasses? Didn't you bring spares?"
Ai: Oh dear... I actually forgot about my contacts. But I can't take them off, because in my anger, I broke my glasses and couldn't find anything to fix them with... Why on Earth do I let guys get to me so much?
Ai tried to give a gentle smile. "This is between us, okay? But I broke my glasses yesterday, after Ben said those rotten things to me. I was so enraged. And as for my contacts, they turn my eyes red. Never know when you need red eyes to prove a point. But now I have to use them full time because I don't have glasses." Ai gave a nervous laugh at the end. Hana raised an eyebrow at first but then she joined in.
Hana: Poor Ai. I can't imagine what Ben told her, but it must have been pretty bad...
Ai: However, I can't afford to forget my mission: Eliminate the happy couple and from there make sure everyone learns that happiness is temporary. And if that means eliminating everyone else, then so be it.
The next morning, the campers were in the mess hall. Ai was once again making breakfast; this time she was able to find a piece of steak that wasn't quite expired. The other campers couldn't help but be unnerved by Ai and her red eyes.
"I had a dream last night of those eyes. I dreamt that she was hunting people down and wearing a black cloak." Vivian said. Leroy put an arm around her. For the moment, she was in control of her ESP.
"It was just a dream Vivian. She can't be that bad." Hana said, trying to sound casual.
"I agree with Lady Jenkins." Phillip said, sounding depressed. "For Ai has broken my heart by allowing her own to be stolen by... him."
"But then Ai got her own heart broken. We are all at square one." Hana said.
"What does that mean?" Phillip snapped.
"I think that's Hana's way of saying to cheer up, Phillip. Your chance isn't gone yet." Leroy put in.
Phillip took a drink of root beer, which had been found in a keg in the kitchen the night before. Phillip had managed to drink most of it, and wasn't looking any good for it. "Bah, I have tried all the traditional ways of forgetting! Nothing helps! I am a disgrace!"
Phillip went up to go for a refill, and as he did, Trent stepped into the mess hall, holding a box of microwavable hot pockets. Hana, Leroy, Vivian and Phillip blinked. Why would Trent be bringing that? Ai by now went over to the serving window, holding up crispy strips of steak. "Make-shift bacon. Best I could come up with." she muttered, until she saw the box in Trent's arms. "Oh, you have got to be kidding me! I struggled to fry this for nothing?"
"They aren't for you guys, actually." Trent said, as he stepped into the kitchen, grabbing a plate and laying out three hot pockets on it. "Consider it a perk of being a mentor."
This was met with groans and eye rolls, and Ai resumed serving her lame attempt at bacon. Phillip ignored Ai, and resumed finishing up his cup of root beer. As Trent finished heating up the hot pockets, as if on cue, Owen came into the mess hall, following the scent. "Mmm, it smells like freeze-dried mozzarella cheese…" He sniffed again. "With a blend of watered down tomato sauce… and a dried out bread casing! It can only be one thing!" And, at this, he picked up the nearest person for a bear hug… which happened to be Ai. She groaned as he squeezed the air out of her. "Hot pockets! I must be dreaming! Chef never serves hot pockets!"
"It's not Chef serving it!" Ai spluttered. "Now put me down!"
Owen did, and Trent came out of the kitchen, holding the plate of heated up hot pockets, and set them on the table away from the pupils. Owen walked over to the plate. "Mmm, they look so yummy! What are you going to do with those?"
"You'll see, Owen. Patience." Trent said, and he cleared his throat as he stood in front of the pupils. Ai was sitting next to Hana, and they were all nibbling away at their breakfast. "I guess you probably figured out by now that I have been asked to be the host of the challenge today."
"Oh yay! Musical challenge!" Hana said, taking out her violin from the case on her back. She played a short celebratory note, until Ai tugged at her shirt, indicating she should sit down.
"Thank you, Hana, and yeah, that's right. A music challenge will be for today." Trent started digging around in his pocket, and pulled out a silver bell.
"Oooh, shiny." Leroy said, as the bell glittered.
"It's a bell. So what?" Phillip snapped, brushing back some of his disheveled hair.
"This is not just any bell. This was the bell used on Total Drama World Tour!" Trent said proudly.
"And?" Ai prompted.
"And, it will be part of your challenge for today. Today's challenge is an automatic elimination. Whenever the silver bell is rung, you have to sing. If you don't, you're automatically going to the Whirlpool."
Vivian: Automatic elimination? The pressure is on! -her eyes suddenly glow pink and the toilet paper explodes, covering her in shreds- Like I said…
"And, my lovely assistant Owen here…" Trent dragged Owen over, pulling him in front of the pupils. He frowned when he saw that Owen had already eaten up the hot pockets, his face smeared in sauce. "…Shall be the one to ring the bell and determine when everyone has to sing."
Owen gasped as Trent passed him the bell. Leroy rolled his eyes as his mentor treated the bell as if it was some sort of sacred relic. "And what will you be doing Trent? Providing guitar?"
Trent tugged at the collar of his shirt. He had been hoping no one would ask about what he'd be doing. "I have, uh… other duties to attend to."
"Don't worry about music, Leroy. I can provide that!" Hana said eagerly, once again playing a small tune on her violin.
"How long does the challenge go on?" Ai asked. She didn't want to stick around here any longer than she had to. She had no songs prepared on such short notice and she didn't want to be around Owen any more than she had to be.
"It shall go on until someone doesn't sing." Trent said. He headed towards the door, and turned back. "Good luck, I'll check on you guys later." And he ran off, leaving everyone confused, except for Owen, who was too busy staring in awe at the bell. Ai said nothing, but slipped out of the mess hall.
Phillip let out an exaggerated sigh. "She doesn't even speak to me anymore! Or acknowledge that I exist! Oh, I am a true failure!"
"Give her some more time, Phillip. She really had her hopes up and then harshly dashed over Ben. But maybe now that he's gone, the tension will ease off." Hana said quietly.
There was an awkward silence, and Vivian was about to say something, when a familiar Ding-Ding! sounded out. Everyone looked at Owen, who was grinning. "This sounds like the perfect opportunity for a song!" he said innocently.
Leroy let out an annoyed sigh. "Okay, I have an idea. I'll start off…"
Leroy:
Gosh it disturbs me to see you, Phillip
Looking so down in the dumps
Every guy on the show would love to be you, Phillip
Even when you do something dumb.
There's no man on the show as admired as you
You're on everyone's good side.
All but one girl are awed and inspired by you,
And it's not very hard to see why…
No one's slick as Phillip
No one's quick as Phillip
No one's skull is as incredibly thick as Phillip
For there's no man half as manly
You can ask Patrick, Raymond and me…
And we'll tell you whose team we prefer to be on!
Vivian:
No one's been like Phillip A king pin like Phillip No one's won as many hearts as Phillip Phillip: As a competitor, yes, I think I've done well. Hana & Vivian: There's no one as attractive or brawny! Phillip: As you see, I have biceps to spare! Leroy: You're going to be a super success! And the fans will chant P-H-I… L! Leroy, Vivian, Hana: Phillip!
Owen clapped after they had finished. "Very catchy! I'm glad you were all able to sing! I would hate if someone got eliminated so early on!"
"Why?" Vivian asked.
"Because then I couldn't hear Ai sing! Or hear what else you guys want to sing!" Owen said. He then went back into the kitchen, in hopes that there would be more food hiding around. Vivian's eyes narrowed.
Vivian: So apparently Ai managed to escape before the song, huh? She won't do that again.
Phillip had, for his part, cheered up considerably at his song. "Did you think of that special for me, Jenkins?"
"Best I could do for us on short notice." Leroy said with a smile.
"Thank you, Jenkins! I shall forever remember this noble action of how you restored my faith to win Ai's heart back! Except if it comes time to eliminate you, and then I shall intentionally forget." Phillip said. Leroy face palmed and Hana gave a giggle. While they talked, Vivian went out to look for Ai.
Back in the Athens cabin, Ai was sitting on the steps reading a book labeled Karaoke for Dummies with Tomato on her lap. Vivian walked up to her. "Well well well. So this is more important than participating in a challenge?" Vivian asked, snatching the book from Ai's hands.
Ai growled. "I want some alone time right now. I'm sure you can understand having a broken heart! I acted so stupidly yesterday…"
Vivian, caught off guard, blinked in surprise. "What's with those red eyes? Trying to intimidate us?" Vivian demanded, trying to think of anything to accuse Ai of.
"I broke my glasses and my only contacts are ones that turn my eyes red. You should be totally comfortable with that, after all your eyes glow different colors all of the time." Ai said sarcastically, taking her book back. Vivian got so angry that this time her eyes glowed red and Tomato's water bowl exploded into pieces.
"Yip yip…" came the sad whimper from Tomato.
"Ugh, now look at what you did!" Ai cried out, angry. "Tomato hasn't done anything to deserve that sort of treatment!"
"I… I'm sorry! I didn't mean it, I just got so angry…" Vivian said, in a combination of surprise and sadness.
"Now you understand fully what happened to me yesterday." Ai said, picking up her dog. "Oh poor Tomato… Don't worry, I'll find you a new bowl."
"Yip yip!" Tomato perked up at that and they went back into the cabin.
Vivian sat down on the steps, contemplating just how dangerous her ESP had started to become. If she could easily blow up plastic, what's to stop her from blowing up someone's arm or leg?
Elsewhere, Trent had finished setting up for his picnic with Gwen. He made sure that the flowers he put into a small vase were not eucalyptus. "Alright, one last check over and then it's time to surprise Gwen." he said, thinking that he was alone. But he was blissfully unaware of two sets of eyes watching from the bushes.
"Non-eucalyptus flowers? Check. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on rye bread? Check. Earl-gray tea, hot. And lastly, my song sheet of my new song for Gwen." For the last thing, Trent took out some papers from the basket and looked them over. "Alright, time to get Gwen. I'm sure nothing will happen to the basket if I just leave it here."
Meantime, Owen had put Hana, Leroy and Phillip through the song-wringer. Hana could perform songs and play her violin all day but with no motivation, even she was starting to struggle with the challenge. It seemed that after a five minute rest period, Owen would ring the bell as he ransacked the kitchen trying to find food. He wasn't picky; he ate anything, even if it looked rather questionable. At last Leroy had had enough and swiped the bell away from Owen.
"Owen, you can't just stay in here and ring that bell all day." Leroy said. "Don't you want to hear Ai sing? Or hear Vivian sing more?"
"That's a good call, Leo! Thanks Leo! Leo? Leo?"
"I swear you do that on purpose to annoy me." Leroy muttered under his breath and gave Owen his bell back. "Now go find the other two!"
Leroy: Trent, remind me again why you had to put Owen in charge?
Owen didn't have to search far to find Vivian, who was crying on the Athens steps. She sniffled and looked up as Owen approached her. "Oh, I'm sorry for leaving like that Owen…" she said, wiping her eyes.
"What's the matter Vivian?"
"Oh, it's nothing… Just stand back like ten feet and I can tell you." Vivian said, pushing him away. Owen backed away, confused. "It's my ESP Owen… I think I'm losing more and more control over it. And I blew up Tomato's water dish with my powers. I'm scared."
"No need to be scared Vivian! Just think happy thoughts! If you think positive, nothing negative can happen!" Owen said with a smile.
Vivian looked at him with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "Really?"
At that moment, Ai came out of the cabin with an evil smirk on her face. "No, not really Vivian! Your ESP is beyond hope or help. I hope for Leroy's sake that you get kicked off soon. At the rate you're going with your powers, you're likely to kill someone! Or better yet, kill him."
"Ai! That wasn't very nice to say at all!" Owen said.
"Nice? There's nothing nice about her. She thinks she's better than everyone else. Look at what she did to poor Tomato's bowl! It's ruined and now he has to drink out of an old cat litter box that I found." She said, holding up a box marked Kitty Gritty Litter on it.
Vivian started crying again. "I said I was sorry! I didn't mean it!"
"Yeah, sure." Ai walked off towards the dock.
"Wow, it sure was nice of you to make some time for our picnic, Trent. But you didn't have to go through this." Gwen said, holding Trent's hand as they walked to the edge of the cabin grounds. "Don't you have a challenge to mentor?"
"Yes, but don't you worry about it Gwen. The pupils are in good, safe hands." Trent said.
Gwen smiled. "If you say so. So what exactly did you have them do?"
"Oh, nothing too dangerous. I had them sing until one of them didn't or couldn't. It would result in automatic elimination." Trent said.
"Wow, talk about giving a tough break." Gwen said. "I wonder if Chris is going to make me or Justin host a challenge."
"Well, we can think of a challenge for you another day Gwen. For now, let's relax and take our mind off of the show and all the crap it has put us through for the past seven years." Trent said.
"Has it truly been seven years?" Gwen asked in awe. "I mean it seems like only yesterday we were sixteen and arriving here…"
"Yeah, time really flew and…" Trent broke off as they reached the picnic he had set up. To their surprise, a short little bear with a blue bow-tie and a larger bear wearing a green hat and a green tie were there, collecting everything Trent had set out. "Hey! Give that back! That's ours!"
The bears blinked. "You have the pic-a-nic basket, Boo Boo?" The large bear asked the smaller one.
"Uh, yes Yogi." replied Boo Boo.
"Run!" Yogi shouted as they ran off.
Trent and Gwen just blinked as the two bears ran off. "Um, what just happened?" Gwen asked.
"I don't think either of us want to know." Trent said.
"Well, there went our nice little picnic. They even took the blanket." Gwen said, sounding disappointed.
"I wouldn't say it was completely ruined." Trent said as he took out the sheet music. "I wrote a little song for you, and I can still play it whether we have the food or not."
Trent:
Most of my life has been a series of things getting dropped on my head
But then each and every time, I always had you.
And maybe it's drama talking or the marshmallows
But with you
Gwen:
With you
Both:
I found my place!
And it's nothing I've ever truly known before.
Trent:
And if I may say something crazy,
Love is an open door.
Gwen:
And I'll always keep coming in even if you're in the infirm.
Both:
We both have to say good bye to the past
We don't have to feel it anymore
Love is an open door!
As Gwen and Trent finished, they both blushed as they realized what they were both saying. Trent then got on one knee. "Gwen, I just have one question, will you go out with me?"
Gwen smiled. "Well, after all that we have been through, and the fact that you're still willing to like me even after all that happened in World Tour and All-Stars, I think I can only say one thing: yes!"
And then for the first time since Total Drama Island, the couple had a sweet and romantic kiss.
At the docks, Ai sat thinking about all that she had done these past few days. She knew deep down her nastiness towards Ben by pushing him into the Whirlpool and now her nasty, superior attitude towards Vivian would one day come back to haunt her. But she couldn't worry about that now, she had to worry about keeping herself in the game and exacting her revenge. She didn't remember at this point why she wanted the million; she only knew that she wanted to prove to those whom have wronged her that happiness was a fleeting, temporary emotion.
Ding-ding!
Owen's bell broke through Ai's silence. Ai turned and looked at Owen, who gave her an expectant look. Lucky for Ai, she had managed to come up with an idea to sing about and work with it.
Ai:
For years I've dealt with a life so empty
Why bother with others who aren't as smart as you?
Finally I've gotten away from it all!
It's a bit strange, but I am so ready for a change!
For the first time in forever,
I'll prove myself right!
For the first time in forever,
I can finally sleep right!
Don't know what will happen tonight,
If that girl will go home or not,
But it doesn't matter because everything will be alright.
For the first time in forever,
I'll prove myself right.
For the first time in forever,
I can finally sleep right…
Owen sighed. He was hoping, after witnessing Ai intentionally bring down Vivian, she wouldn't be able to sing.
Ai went back to the mess hall, as she was starting to get hungry. She wasn't surprised to see that everyone was in there as well, except for Vivian.
Phillip: Ah, my fair Ai! I have decided to no longer be angry at you but to forgive you… I will just play hard to get and make you miss me first, then I will talk to you again. Yes, it is the perfect plan!
As Ai went into the back kitchen, the infamous Ding-Ding! sounded out. "You have got to be kidding!" Leroy cried out as Owen stuck his head in the doorway.
"Nope! Now's the best time to do it while you're all in here." Owen said with a look of triumph. Apparently he had forgotten about Vivian.
Leroy:
Look, there she goes
That girl is strange, no question,
Always with a superior attitude and a book in her nose
Phillip:
She proves that bookworms can be dreamy!
Hana:
I'm not sure I see what's wrong.
Ai:
I wish Jennifer was here to improve my boring life.
Leroy:
Look, there she goes
I have to wonder if she's going to try to vote me off
Phillip:
I can only gaze at her with a dreamy far-off look,
With that nose stuck in her book.
All but Ai:
Ai is a true puzzle to us all.
Phillip:
Right from the moment that I saw her,
I knew that she would be the one for me
On this island, she's the only one as good looking as me
So now I have to make plans to help her over her heartbreak over Ben.
At this moment, Vivian walked into the mess hall. She blinked as Phillip finished up his verse, and just as she was about to pitch in, Ai saw her chance and interjected.
Ai:
I almost wish Jennifer was here to improve my boring life!
Phillip:
Just watch, someday, I'm going to make Ai my wife!
All but Ai and Vivian:
Look there she goes, she's strange but apparently special
It's a pity and a sin
That she can't quite fit in
That Ai!
Owen gasped as he noticed Vivian next to him. "Vivian, I didn't get to hear you sing this time!" he pouted.
"I didn't know that everyone was here to sing! And I was going to sing, but I was…"
"Now I have no choice but to have Trent eliminate you." Owen interrupted looking dejected.
Vivian: Ai… This is your fault! You saw me about to sing, and you cut me off! This isn't fair to me at all!
Ai: -she starts laughing like a maniac- at last! I have proven that love will not conquer all and forcefully separated the happy couple! –she resumes her laughing-
That evening, at the campfire ceremony, Trent stood before the campers. "Well, I heard about all that happened today. I'm honestly surprised that you didn't sing Vivian. I would have figured it would have been Leroy who wouldn't have sung so much."
"But I keep telling you, I was going to, but…"
"No one really cares what the reason behind it is." Ai said. "You didn't follow the rules of the challenge, so you're out!"
Gwen, whom was watching the ceremony from the distance, hung her head in shame. Just where did she go wrong with Ai? But now a more daunting question loomed over her: How was she going to reign Ai in and make sure Ai got her just desserts?
"Enough, Ai. Vivian, with heavy heart, you have to go." Trent said, pointing to the Whirlpool.
Leroy walked with Vivian while Dawn waited at the end of the dock. "It is for the best that you go now, Vivian. I know of some fantastic places that can help you with your ESP issues." Dawn said sweetly.
"Alright." Vivian said as she hugged Leroy. The two shared a kiss and Leroy had a tear in his eye as he watched her stand before the Whirlpool. Vivian jumped in, but not before her eyes glowed and blew up the part of the dock where Leroy was standing. He hung on to the edge of the dock and by the time he got himself safely up, Vivian was long gone.
Leroy: Oh Vivian… What am I going to do without you now? I can't keep going without you by my side! If you hear this Vivian, just know that I love you!
Trent then stood at the edge of the dock remains. "Well, looks like we're down to the final four! I have no clue who is going to host next time. I just wonder if they can do something to help stop Ai once and for all? Anyway, see you next time on TOTAL. DRAMA. THE MENTORSHIP!"
A/N: Boy, Ai is really asking for a nice kick in the pants huh? I know what's going to happen to her next episode. Looks like you guys will have to wait and see :P anyway, next thing I'll post is Letters from Home and then on Halloween I'll upload episode 13.