Chapter 16
Gwen looked out the window as the bus drove into an airport to drop them off at whatever death trap Chris had prepared for them. The news that someone in the cast had become an Avatar to a rogue spirit known as Nebula, the Stalker in the Stars who happens to be an associate to Carlos's target did not sit well with her at all. She avoided supernatural dealings when she was on the show during the last two seasons but only because she had not taken the Star Necklace with her and Kurt was monitoring spiritual activity in her absence. She looked at Dawn and Elliot who sat with her and then looked at the others on the bus.
Who could be the Avatar of Nebula?
Just about anyone of them could have taken the contract with Nebula and not known what they had gotten themselves into. She thought long and hard about who it could be.
Ezekiel was impressionable and naive, he might have agreed if Nebula disguised it as some kind of offer to become cool.
Cody might have done it to increase the popularity of his band...or do it so he can have another chance to flirt with her.
Lindsay...no matter how desperate Gwen thought Nebula was to hide she wouldn't believe that Nebula would be able gain anything with Lindsay as his Avatar. Lindsay might have still been in France when Nebula was being hunted.
LeShawna is someone Gwen had badly hoped did not take the contract and become Nebula's Avatar. The idea of her or Bridgette becoming the Avatar of Nebula meant that they were in great danger based on what she heard from Dawn and Elliot about Nebula.
Noah had been Chris's assistant the whole time so thankfully it was unlikely that he would have taken the contract because he was too busy sucking up to Chris.
DJ had been with his mother most of the time but if Nebula had tricked the jolly giant into accepting the contract if it could help him and his mother Gwen might have to consider that DJ's mother had been marked her life energy may be leaking out and giving Nebula an increase in power.
Izzy...It's possible but she wouldn't have the patience to be as stealthy as Nebula would want.
Owen might be gullible enough to manipulated as shown in previous seasons but he didn't have the physical prowess stand up against a Spirit Avatar even if he had become one.
Tyler is just as unlikely to be the Avatar as Lindsay or Owen.
Harold might be a possibility, he can be fooled if Nebula tricked him into believing the contract would allow more people to see his 'mad skills'.
Duncan...Gwen didn't want to believe it but the chance of him being Nebula's Avatar was among the likeliest possibilities. He was smart enough to keep his emotions hidden and he was physically capable.
Courtney would sign anything that looked like it could benefit her fame and career in any way plus she had the stubborn determination to win at any cost. If Nebula knew that there were three Avatars Courtney might be one of the people he would pick.
Heather was just as likely as Courtney as she liked to make alliances and use them as bait to keep people from voting her off. If Nebula wanted cover Heather might be the most likeliest person, even though Gwen's reasoning might be based on her dislike for the queen bee.
As for the new people, Sierra and Alejandro she didn't know them well enough to make an accurate judgement.
Gwen felt like rubbing her head but she felt Andromeda's presence reaching out to her to keep her calm. She let out a quiet sigh, grateful that Andromeda was here. She might go insane from this new season. She just had to remember not put herself in the spotlight with her Avatar powers.
Xxx
"First, we have Courtney!" Chris announced as the bus stopped and the contestants began getting off. "Duncan, Heather, LeShawna, Lindsay, DJ, Owen and Harold!"
DJ walked off carrying Owen in a vice like grip while Owen was mumbling things no one could hear.
"He's afraid of flying remember?" DJ asked.
"Aerophobia, from the Latin, instead of Aeronausophobia, fear of air sickness." Harold explained as he stepped out of the bus.
"Wow, keep up the interesting facts and I will be aeronauso all over you!" Noah said as he walked out.
"And returning favorites Noah, Cody and..." Chris was interrupted as Ezekiel came out.
"Yo! This year's is in the house! Hey, where's the plane?" Ezekiel looked around.
"I know, right? Let's fly!" Izzy jumped on Ezekiel's shoulder causing them to fall over onto the pavement.
"Yep, Izzy is back!" Chris said as Tyler came out. "Also returning is Tyler."
He stuck an Olympic pose before tripping over and falling over Izzy and Ezekiel.
"And host of Total Drama Aftermath, Bridgette."
Bridgette came out and tripped like Tyler and fell on the pile of teens.
"Yo, Chris. You forgot to introduce me!" Ezekiel looked up at the host.
"Fine, and Ezekiel." Chris seethed but his smile returned. "And to keep things fresh we're adding four new contestants. He's an honor-roll student with a diplomat for a dad and an amazing ability to charm the pants off most species. Alejandro!"
The young Spanish man stepped out with his sunglasses covering his eyes. He took them off and reached down to the pile. "Perhaps I can assist you."
He lifted Bridgette and Izzy up, making them stand on the fallen males.
"Wow-ie!" Izzy mumbled.
"I-I have a boyfriend!" Bridgette stuttered.
"And, amigos, allow me." Alejandro helped Tyler and Ezekiel up.
"Wow, eh." Ezekiel said.
"I like girls!" Tyler exclaimed.
"Our next contestant's a sugar addicted super fan with sixteen Total Drama blogs! Sierra!"
The purple haired fangirl rushed off the bus with a squeal. "OH MY GOSH! I love you guys! This is the greatest day ever!" She started to hyperventilate. "Anybody got a paper bag!" She ran towards Cody. "Oh my gosh, Cody! I've dreamt of this moment! Only you weren't wearing a shirt!"
Cody only stepped back with an awkward look on his face.
"Our next newbies are close friends of returning classic contestant, Gwen, who should have gotten off before the rookies!" Chris said, a little annoyed.
"Bite me!" Gwen scoffed as she got off. "Just tell me there are reserved seats so I can pick the furthest one from the pony butcher."
"My extensions are human hair!" Heather growled.
"You learn something new every day." Duncan replied, earning a smirk from Gwen.
Courtney scowled when he saw Duncan smile at Gwen but the goth girl turned away as Elliot leapt off the bus.
"I am here! We made it! Thank you so much for letting us come, Gwenny!" Elliot hugged Gwen. "Only known each other for a few months and you have given me an early birthday present!"
"My pleasure." Gwen sighed as she patted Elliot on the head.
"And our last new contestant, Dawn."
"I really hope your plane is environmentally friendly." Dawn came out of the bus.
"It's friendly...to me!" Chris laughed.
"Hello, senorita, allow me!" Alejandro offered his hand.
"No thank you, I'm afraid your attempts to charm me to aid you in winning will not work." Dawn stepped off the bus and walked next to Elliot and Gwen.
Alejandro dropped his hand and stared at Dawn with a small look of surprise. With introductions finished Chris simply waited for the plane to arrive which it did a second later as he pointed behind the contestants for them to see...
"What a piece of junk!" Elliot shouted.
Elliot was right as they looked at a giant plane with turbines spewing all kinds of smoke, holes visible in some parts that were covered by weak pieces of wood, and they could see Chef in the cockpit sitting in the pilot seat. There was a giant painting of Chris's face wearing a pilot's cap that was the only thing looking new.
"Excuse me, but I'd like to express some concern about the safety of our plane." Courtney raised one hand.
"Relax, it's perfectly safe!" Chris replied, just as a piece of the plane fell off. "Now boarding!"
"No! I can't ride in that! Call the United Nations, call a cab, call my Mom! I'm not doing this, I'm out! This is unethical!"
Annoyed at Owen's babbling Chris whacked him over the head with a frying pan.
"Mommy." Owen fell to the ground and Chris looked at the rest of the cast.
"Anyone else got a problem with it?" Chris glared.
"No!" Cody shook his head.
"Love it!" Lindsay added.
"Dibs on the window seat!" Bridgette said.
"Now boarding on a voyage to a million big ones! We're saving you a first class seat for all the action! Right here on Total! Drama!"He started to sing."Woooorld Tour!"
"Seriously?" Gwen and Duncan asked at the same time, getting a scowl from Courtney.
Xxx
After the theme song of the show ended the cast was now inside the plane. It looked just as messy as it did on the outside with a leak on the ceiling even though it wasn't raining. They were in the economy class but there were no seats, only a long bench on each side with seat belts against the wall.
"Singing? Really? I thought Chris was joking about that." Gwen sighed.
"Well I don't have a problem with it." Courtney replied.
"Yeah, cause you like singing!" LeShawna pointed out.
"Well, I don't! Girls sing. Little birdies sing. Ha-ha! Duncan do not sing!" Duncan said angrily.
"Think I'll get to beat box?" Harold asked.
"I'll beat you if you try!" Duncan waved a fist at Harold.
"I guess an in-flight movie is out of the question." Elliot joked.
"The day Chris does something nice for us is the day the Apocalypse happens." Gwen rolled her eyes.
"Why thank you, Gwen. As I was saying singing reality shows are a hit and worse the singer the higher the ratings meaning there will be no rehearsal, no vocal coaches, and no warning!"
Almost everyone grumbled.
"Any who this is the dining area," He gestured to the three tables. "Where you will enjoy flight meals."
"Not for long eh. Prepare to lose to Zeke!" Ezekiel proclaimed.
"Okay, Ezekiel, not to be mean," Gwen put her hand on his shoulder. "But don't you remember that you were the first to be kicked off last time."
"Word. And I spent every minute since making sure that don't happen again! I'm stronger, faster, smarter-"Ezekiel was cut off by Chris.
"Chattier, blabbier, can't-shut-upier... now zip it and let me finish this tour so we can get this bird in flight!"
"What are you, four?" Elliot asked.
"Nice!" Gwen snickered.
She and Elliot had in battles of wit and sarcasm with Bobby and they had enjoyed it so much. Apparently Bobby's wise ass attitude had rubbed off on them.
"Ouch!" Duncan laughed, liking Gwen's friend for her attitude.
"Is there a ladies room?" LeShawna asked.
"Just through there." Chris pointed down the hall.
"Good, cause I gotta make a deposit!" LeShawna walked into the restroom and they could hear her shout. "There's a camera in the potty... AGAIN?! UGGH! Can't a sister get a little privacy on this program?!"
"OMG, Chris, I am just LOL!" Sierra squeled.
"We should hit the winners' compartment, eh? Cause I ain't never gonna sit back here! Hah, never!" Ezekiel said loudly.
"Is "never" your policy on mouthwash too, homeschool?" Noah stepped back.
"If you don't receive a barf bag full of airline-issue peanuts..." Chris started but was interrupted.
"Losing team will enjoy the luxurious economy class accommodations, where the losing team will stay between destinations." Chris continued as he led them through the class.
"You do know that a plumber is a guy that can fix this?" Elliot asked.
"Where are our beds?" Lindsay asked.
"Owen." Chris pointed to large teen who was still knocked out and strapped to the wall by two seat belts leaving him sleeping upright and not looking very comfortable.
"Why am I not surprised?" Gwen asked.
Chris then led them into the next cabin that looked so much more nicer than the economy class.
"This is the first class cabin. The domain of each challenge's winners." Chris said.
The first class made it look like they were on a luxury plane, with large comfy seats, a couch and a small bar.
"Ah!" Elliot jumped and landed on a soft chair. "Oh this is nice."
"I guess Chris is capable of doing something nice for us." Gwen commented as she sat down next to Elliot.
"So as long as you win." Chris replied.
"These chairs are so comfy that you could fall asleep on them." Dawn sat in the chair on the opposite side of Gwen and Elliot's chairs next to Izzy.
"Now this is the accommodations that a lady deserves." Alejandro said, making Lindsay blush.
"That guy is as smooth as momma's gravy." DJ commented.
"Lindsay is supposed to like me." Tyler groaned.
Gwen tuned out the rest of the conversation as she looked out the window and tried to enjoy the nice looking cabin while she had the chance.
Chris led them into the last cabin which was even nicer than the first cabin.
"What is this room?" Cody asked as he saw the piano and the hot tub!
"My room, get out!" Chris closed the door.
He led them away from his room and back into the mess hall.
"That's it for the tour, other than the storage area and the galley. And I am sure you all remember the elimination ceremony." Chris pulled out several worn out bags. "You will receive barf bags filled with airline issue peanuts-"
"I got a peanut allergy, yo... or more like a sensitivity." Ezekiel spoke up.
"...you'll be forced to take the Drop of Shame." Chris gritted his teeth when he was interrupted.
"Okay, I just don't like—"Ezekiel spoke up again.
"Kinda like this!" Chris went to grab him but Dawn pulled him out of the way.
"Violence is not the way to solve this." Dawn said, keeping Ezekiel out of arm's reach. "If he's that annoying just say he can't speak or he is kicked off!"
"..Fine, the next person who interrupts me is kicked off! Got it?" Chris growled.
Everyone nodded and sent a warning look to Ezekiel to keep quiet which the boy smartly did.
"Now I'm going to relax in my hot tub as we head for our first destination. Don't bother me." Chris walked back to his room.
Xxx
Gwen quickly used her Omni-Glove to draw the Dimension Seal Method on the table she was at and time instantly froze for everyone except the three Avatars.
"I can't believe this, being forced to sing?" Gwen rubbed her head.
"It's not all bad, Gwen!" Elliot sat down. "I can help out!"
"Singing is not the worst thing, Gwen. Even if you don't want to you can always sing back up." Dawn tried to reassure Gwen.
"I suppose you two are singing experts?" Gwen asked.
"I did a little singing in school plays." Elliot replied.
"I see...Okay, which of you guys think Nebula is the Avatar if he's on this plane and just how come everyone's frozen." Gwen looked at the others. "I thought all Avatars and Spirits were able to move freely in the Dimension Seal Method."
"They are but the Stalker in the Stars is a very cunning rogue spirit. There's a possibility he's already created a Method that gives his Avatar the presence of a normal human meaning they are frozen in time under the Dimension Seal." Dawn replied. "I didn't think it would be that easy."
"So now what? How do we find out if the Avatar really is here?" Gwen asked.
"The only way would be to force Nebula to reveal himself and his Avatar." Elliot said. "He won't wait long if he's addicted to Life Energy as much as any other rogue spirit, he'll need to mark someone."
"And if he does?" Gwen asked. "What happens then?"
"Well Gwen, Kurt was working on a Method to restore Life Energy to people who have lost their own energy but unfortunately even the Avatar of Merlin is having trouble with that. However...he did come up with something else." Elliot grinned. "Reversing Nebula's Method."
"Reverse it?" Gwen raised an eyebrow.
"Essentially for any person who has been marked we place our on mark on Nebula after we break the connection with his Avatar. If he wants to survive he'll revert back to his true form to escape three Spirit Avatars and if he's marked anyone and using their energy to get stronger we place our own mark on him supplied by Kurt and instead of him draining Life Energy the energy is channelled back into the people he stole it from." Dawn explained.
"We need to watch everyone as the show goes on. Nebula will see to it that you are all kicked off as soon as possible." Luna's specter form manifested out of Dawn's bracelet.
"Agreed. Even if he doesn't know you three are Avatars there is a chance he suspects that we are on to him." Andromeda spoke up.
"What does the mark look like?' Gwen asked.
"It's essentially the same as a tattoo except only an Avatar can see it." Elliot answered.
"You should also stick together. Nebula might try to separate you three and get rid of you individually." Lancelot gave his two cents. "Even if you are on separate teams Nebula will try to engineer your deaths if he suspects you three."
"Does he know of us?" Gwen asked.
"Possibly." Andromeda answered. "An Avatar's identity is usually kept secret but that doesn't mean you are safe."
"So we got a spirit is specializes in hiding, has a human as its Avatar and is keeping itself hidden until the right chance to slip away. By that I mean when Chris kicks them off the show and Nebula slips away, probably after killing said Avatar." Gwen shook her head. "Carlos better appreciate this."
She dispelled the Method and time resumed its normal pace. Unfortunately things around here had gotten boring before she had cast the Method. It had been hours since the plane took off and they were all bored out of their minds.
DING!
Everyone looked up to see Chris moon walk out of his room wearing a bowler hat and suit.
"Ah! My eyes!" Gwen covered her eyes. "I thought mooning was illegal!"
"Burn!" Elliot laughed. 'Her corruption to the crazy side is almost complete!'
"Every time you hear that friendly little bell, it's music time! So let's hear it!" Chris chuckled.
"But, what are we supposed to sing?" Courtney asked.
"You have to make it up as you go. Wouldn't be challenging otherwise now, would it?" Chris smiled.
Music started playing and Courtney decided to start the first song.
Come Fly with Us
Courtney: Up!
Courtney and Izzy: Up!
Courtney, Izzy, and Sierra: Up!
Courtney, Izzy, Sierra, and Lindsay: Up!
Harold: Sing!
Harold and Cody: Sing!
Harold, Cody, and DJ: Sing!
Harold, Cody, DJ, and Tyler: Sing!
Heather, Leshawna, Bridgette, Courtney, Izzy, Sierra, and Lindsay: We're flying.
Alejandro, Noah, Harold, Cody, DJ, and Tyler: And singing.
Everyone except for Gwen, Duncan, Ezekiel, and Owen: We're flying and we're singing!
Sierra: Come fly with us!
Sierra was pushing Cody down the aisle on a cart.
Sierra and Cody: Come fly with us!
"We've got a lot 'o crazy tunes to bust! Haha!"
Izzy stuck her head out of an overhead compartment.
Bridgette: Come fly with us!
She and Lindsay stood on chairs in first class.
Bridgette and Lindsay: Come fly with us!
Alejandro: It's a pleasure, and an honor, and a must.
He pulled them down next to him and smiled which earned him a smile and blush from both girls.
"Dudes, this is messed. You're singing in a plane." Duncan remained sitting at the table with his arms crossed.
Harold: What did you expect? Chris is freaking insane. Ah!
Gwen: Anything that makes us look stupid on TV!
Gwen didn't want to sing but she had been encouraged by not only Dawn and Elliot but her partner Andromeda as well.
Courtney: Haven't you always wanted to? It can't just be me!
The CIT danced around Gwen with a big smile.
Elliot: I think it is! I think you're alone!
Dawn then set a hand on Courtney's shoulder as she glared at Elliot.
Dawn: She's just being silly, there's no reason to moan.
DJ: Come fly with us!
DJ and Leshawna: Come fly with us!
Ezekiel: Chris thought he could leave me and depart, but this man's got winning in his heart!
Noah: Come fly with us! Come die with us!
He was looking out the window with a nervous look.
Owen: We're flying?! I hate flying! Stop the plane!
Anymore complaining was cut off as he received another whack to the head from Chris's frying pan.
Sierra, DJ, Cody, and Heather: Come fly with us! Come sing with us!
Duncan: No!
Chris McLean: Anyone care for a copy of the season three rules? Because in order to escape instant elimination-
Bridgette stole the contract and read while singing.
Bridgette: All contestants must sing in each show!
Courtney: Duncan, do it! Let's go!
Gwen: Or make a jump out of this show!
Duncan looked at Gwen surprised but he saw the small smirk on her face. She was daring him to quit before the first challenge even started.
Courtney: Duncan, come on! Please?
Between Courtney's pleading look and Gwen's daring look Duncan's resistance crumbled as he held up both hands and sang the final note of the song.
Duncan: This sucks!
Everyone except for Duncan, Owen, and Ezekiel: Yeah!
Xxx
Gwen sighed in relief as she sat down on one side of a table with Elliot and Dawn on the other. Izzy was busy consoling Owen who was still terrified of flying.
"That was fun! I can't wait for the next song!" Elliot laughed.
"I guess one of us has to." Gwen sighed.
"Oh come, grump. Singing is not the worst thing he's made you do and I know because I watched the show." Elliot scoffed.
"Gee thanks." Gwen sighed.
"It wasn't so bad, Gwen. I thought you sounded great, if a little grumpy." Dawn giggled slightly.
"That's my girl!" LeShawna patted Gwen on the back as she sat next to the goth. "I knew you wouldn't bail."
"That makes one of us." Gwen shook her head. "The idea of being forced to sing for their mop head of a host for the whole season...I think I should be looking for the nearest parachute."
"Not interested in the million dollars? Oh well, more for me." Duncan laughed he stopped at the table. "Nice to know you're cheering me on."
"How do you know that?" Gwen raised an eyebrow.
"The way you dared me to sing the last note of the stupid song." Duncan smirked. "The way you were staring at me, I may hate to sing but backing down from a fight is one thing I never do, even from a hot chick."
Courtney frowned as she listened to the conversation.
"Well I thought I'd try and encourage on you since you most likely spent most of the prize money from before on Courtney, taking her out to fancy restaurants, hiring a lawyer when you two were fighting over that pet raccoon, paying for the tattoos, who knows what else she had you pay for." Gwen smirked.
"That and I spent a bit of it on a nature preservation group like I said I would." Duncan smirked Gwen's smirk was replaced with a look of surprise.
"You did?" Gwen and Courtney asked at the same time.
"Yep, gave them a couple hundred." Duncan chuckled.
"You never told me about that!" Courtney exclaimed.
"Why would I? It's my money." Duncan shrugged. "Plus I promised I would if I won the money."
Courtney glared but Duncan waved her off and went to sit a table that happened to be closest to the table Gwen was sitting at. Courtney threw Gwen one last glare and stomped over to Duncan's table.
"I honestly wasn't expecting him to do that...go figure." Gwen shook her head.
"Anyone can be surprising, Gwen, no matter how predictable they are." Dawn said wisely.
"Guess so." Gwen nodded.
"Room for one more?" Bridgette asked as she sat on the left side of the table on Gwen's side. "I feel a little lonely without Geoff around."
"Look on the bright side." Gwen smirked.
"What's the bright side?"
"You won't get kicked off for making out endlessly again." Gwen chuckled as Bridgette blushed in embarrassment.
"I never had a boyfriend before and Geoff was...good." Bridgette stuttered earning a laugh from everyone at the table.
"So good that you two sucked face as you walked to the limo when you were kicked off the last season?" Elliot laughed.
Bridgette's blush brightened until she resembled a tomato with blond hair.
"Enough with the singing back there fruitcakes! We are now beginning our descent into Egypt so strap yourself in." Chef announced and then grumbled. "Musical numbers, worst idea ever. Chris is such an idiot...Hey why is the PA still on. Oh sh-"
Xxx
'How the hell did Chris get permission from the Egyptian Government to land here?' Gwen thought as they came out of the plane. 'It's a good thing I used a Cooling Method to keep the heat from roasting me.'
Spirit Avatars were blessed with numerous Methods meant to protect them from environment if it was too hot or cold. So Gwen, Dawn, and Elliot were probably the only ones without a problem that had to do with the heat.
"Wow! It's a scorcher out here. Let's get to the challenge!" Chris was dressed like a Pharaoh and was being carried by two interns. "I call this one, Pyramid Over and Under!"
"How did you get permission for us to go in there? That pyramid is a historical landmark!" Dawn said.
"Relax, it's a really nicely designed prop built by our producers." Chris said.
"Under is right, under paid more like it. After the Jacuzzi and piano it's a wonder there was anything in budget left to build that piece of crap." Elliot commented. "What'd you use? Cardboard?"
"I'm beginning to regret letting you on." Chris grumbled. "Anyways the challenge is simple that you have to get to the finish line on the other side of pyramid by going over or under the pyramid. Everybody understand?"
"Going over in this heat? No way!" Heather exclaimed.
Gwen rolled her eyes and had to bite her tongue to keep herself from making an insult. Andromeda had taught her to keep calm even when with people like Heather but it was hard.
"Why not? Going the pyramid looks like fun! Plus the view!" Elliot looked at the top.
"On your marks! Get set! And..." Chris struck a gong and the contestants were off running to the pyramid.
Gwen decided to go over the pyramid rather than going through it since Chris probably had all sorts of traps set up. When Andromeda was training her Gwen had gone through all sorts of physical exercises including running until her feet felt like falling off, climbing until her hands were red with bruises and cuts, and all sorts of physical exercises that rivalled Chris's life threatening challenges. She looked up and saw Alejandro was climbing up the pyramid like a pro.
'Okay, one point for the newbie.' Gwen thought and saw Tyler falling down the pyramid. 'Ooh!'
'That had to hurt.' Andromeda commented mentally.
Gwen started to climb and flinched when she felt the rough stone scrape at the palm of her left hand while her right hand was protected by her Omni Glove.
'Not as bad as Andromeda's exercises.' Gwen thought as she slowly started to climbing.
'I should hope so. If you had trouble with this I would have had you climbing up the training course for seventy two hours straight.' Andromeda mentally replied.
'Combined with the heat and rough stones ordinary me would have a harder time.' Gwen thought as she climbed a little a faster. 'But with a Cooling Method and experience thanks to sadistic spirit who easily heals my bruises makes it easier. This is kind of why I left you behind the last two seasons, feels like cheating.'
'As opposed to how several other contestants behaved.' Andromeda pointed out.
'Yeah, don't remind me.'
She looked up and to her shock Dawn was already ahead of her, sitting cross legged on the stone half way up with Elliot whistling next to her.
"How'd you two get up here so fast?" Gwen asked.
"Oh, we took a shortcut." Dawn replied, mysteriously.
'And people think I am mysterious.' Gwen thought and asked. "You sure you two didn't have something getting you up here."
"Oh, don't worry Gwen, we wouldn't resort to cheating!" Elliot laughed. "Hey, you want an easier way through this?"
"Like what?" Gwen climbed up to them.
"How'd you three get up here so fast?" The three looked down and saw Duncan and Courtney climbing together with a rope tied between them.
"I'm good at physical exercises!" Elliot replied.
"I took a short cut." Dawn answered.
"The determination to get this over with." Gwen started to climb again but stopped when she heard Duncan make a wolf like whistle.
"Still wearing purple huh? Looks cute!" Duncan laughed.
Gwen immediately blushed red she realized Duncan could up her skirt and instinctively tried to lower it with one hand. Unfortunately the distraction made her loose her grip and she slipped and fell down on her back.
"Crap..." Gwen groaned as Dawn landed next to her.
"Are you all right?" Dawn concernedly looked over Gwen for any injuries.
"Yeah." Gwen sat up as Duncan and Courtney pulled themselves up to the two girls.
Courtney looked very annoyed with Duncan for looking up Gwen's skirt and considered untying the rope and pushing him off the pyramid. She looked to see Dawn and Elliot help Gwen up as the goth rubbed her head.
"Sorry, couldn't resist." Duncan said sounding apologetic.
"Just don't look again." Gwen sighed.
"Would you like to rappel with us?" Courtney asked earning looks of surprise from Duncan and the three other girls.
"Why?" Gwen asked.
"I'd prefer to keep you in sight so Duncan doesn't look up your skirt again."
Gwen sighed and shook her head from the suspicious glare Courtney was giving her.
"Oh, possible cat fight." Duncan grinned.
Gwen and Courtney's both glared at him making him sweat a bit.
"I believe I know of a solution to solve this." Dawn said, hoping to break up the tension.
"What's that?" Gwen asked.
Dawn leaned and whispered into Gwen's ear. The goth's ear went up in surprise as she stared at Dawn.
"You're more devious than you look." Gwen remarked and looked at the CIT. "No thanks, Courtney, I got a better way to get through this pyramid and Duncan won't be near it."
"That's good. See ya!" Courtney started climbing again.
Duncan threw Gwen a glance and started climbing again. Gwen smirked as she shook her head.
"Sometimes I wonder if they pay attention to how little Chris cares about rules. Shall we?" Gwen asked.
Dawn and Elliot nodded as they started moving but they didn't go up the Pyramid...They started going around the corner of the part of the pyramid they were on. Chris said they had to be on the Pyramid and make it down or through it. He didn't say that they only had to go up and over the Pyramid.
They walked over to the corner and onto the right side of the pyramid and proceeded to the other side where they needed to go down to reach the finish line.
"You don't think Mr. Mophead is going to be mad at us?" Elliot asked.
"So as long as he gets ratings he won't care." Gwen replied.
"Indeed, Chris's aura shows that he is very self absorbed about himself and his fame." Dawn nodded,
They just made it to the corner as they saw Alejandro, Bridgette, and Lindsay on a giant sign surfing down the pyramid. A second later Tyler came after them, tumbling down the pyramid while letting out shouts of pain.
"I like that guy. He may get hurt a lot in any sport he plays but he keeps getting back up." Elliot laughed.
"You know any doctors? All the times he hit his head I am sure he will have some form of brain damage." Gwen commented.
"He has an unbreakable will to compete." Dawn said.
"Nice, not too smart but nice." Gwen sighed in amusement.
"IT'S NOT SAFE!"
The three girls looked up and saw Duncan and Courtney arguing at the top of the pyramid.
"Rappelling down is a bad idea! You know why? Because if someone trips they fall and everyone gets hurt!" Duncan shouted.
"I know what I'm doing! We have to rappel down!" Courtney shouted back.
'Not again.' Gwen sighed at them fighting again.
"And we have five people left!" Chris said through the microphone as the bell rang. "You heard the bell so you all have to sing!"
"But you said only one sing per episode!" Duncan shouted angrily.
"This is a reprise! Sing or you are out!"
"You know what? No!" Duncan started jumping down the pyramid, dragging Courtney with him. "No, no, no, no, no, no!"
Gwen, Dawn, and Elliot ran after him to finish the challenge and they ran past the finish line just as Duncan stomped up to Chris.
"Three whole hours of this girl squawking on this stupid pyramid, in this stupid heat, and you want me to sing? Forget it!"
"We all finished the challenge and sang, Chris. Just put us on a team and let us move on!" Gwen decided to save everyone from singing again. "We all ran past the finish line so there's no need to sing now."
"Fine! I'll let this one slide but you, Duncan, owe me a song in the next challenge."
"No promises."
"All right, Duncan, Gwen, Dawn, and Elliot are on Team 3 with Heather and Cody."
Cody walked up to Gwen and offered his hand.
"Hi, looks like we're teammates again." Cody smiled.
"Looks like it." Gwen shrugged. "Try to keep up."
Xxx
Confessional: Cody
"Girls on the rebound are the best! They cry, and then get to buy them a pop and listen and then, well, they still won't go out with you but you get to buy them a pop!"
End Confessional
Xxx
"Now who's not here yet?"
His question was answered when Izzy came running out of the pyramid with...a mummy?
"Finally!" Chris smirked.
"Izzy no!" Owen screamed.
"You're carrying the undead!" Noah hid behind Owen.
"I know! He's going to introduce me to his mummy friends! I might have him bite me so I can join his undead crew!" Izzy laughed.
However it wasn't a real mummy, you didn't need to be a Spirit Avatar to figure that out. The mummy freed himself from Izzy and pulled the bandages off his face to reveal Ezekiel.
"Thanks for all the help ya knobs!" Ezekiel shouted.
"Izzy you go join team-"
"Tatala, or three." Harold interrupted, demonstrating his knowledge of the Egyptian language.
"And Ezekiel, you're on team one."
"Whoo-hoo! Ezekiel cheered.
"Now for names, talk amongst yourself and determine a team name."
Team One composed of LeShawna, DJ, Bridgette, Harold, and Ezekiel picked their name: "Team Victory!"
Gwen, Dawn, Elliot, Courtney, Heather, and Izzy picked their team name before Duncan or Cody could say anything: "Team Amazon!"
Team Two's team name was a suggestion by Sierra but no one wanted it. "Team Chris is Really Really Really Really Hot!"
"All right, best team name ever!" Chris smiled while the rest of Team Three protested. "All right, Team Amazon wins a camel. Team Chris is Really Really Really Really Really Hot."
"I think there are only four 'reallys'." Alejandro replied.
"You win a goat." Chris continued. "And Team Victory, here you go."
He tossed them a stick that LeShawna caught. "So the team that came in last got a camel and we get a stick?"
"All will be explained if I feel like it. Next time on Total. Drama. WORLD TOUR!"
Elliot was about to another sarcastic remark when the ground and the sky turned blue along with everything and everyone around the Avatars.
"Say wha-" Elliot looked around. "Who cast the Dimension Seal Method?"
"Not me!" Gwen and Dawn said at the same time.
"Then why...LOOK!" Elliot pointed behind them.
Gwen and Dawn spun around to see mummified humans and animals coming out of the pyramid.
"I thought the whole thing was a prop!" Gwen exclaimed.
"Those look to be real, Gwen." Dawn held both hands out. "I can feel an Unauthorized Method at work here."
"All right! Total Drama and Spirit Avatar work! Whoo-hoo!" Elliot cheered.
"Don't be so quick to celebrate, Elliot. Mummified beings are much like zombies, corpses powered by Life Energy however they can be endowed with special Methods make them more lethal." Sir Lancelot spoke up. "Do not look them in the eye or their Method may activate."
"What kind of methods are we talking about?" Gwen asked.
"Unfortunately you might ask young Elliot to answer that...had she the ability to speak right now." Lancelot sighed, his Avatar frozen stiff as she stared at a mummy which was shuffling towards her.
"Well that answers that question." Gwen flexed her Omni Glove clad hand and summoned her katana. She caught the weapon as it appeared out of thin air in a flash of blue light and sliced through the mummy approaching Elliot with one quick slash. She cut through it at the waist and then spun, slicing upwards between the still walking legs so that they could not attempt to continue their futile effort to get Elliot.
"Allow me," Dawn sat down, cross legged and shut her eyes as her aura began to flare around her. "Please hold them back for the next one hundred and twenty seconds while I prepare."
"A hundred and- oh that had better be some kind of method you're planning to use!" Gwen said as she looked down at her feet to avoid meeting the eyes of the approaching mummies. Elliot was now free and had summoned a two handed sword which she somehow easily wielded with one hand despite it being even bigger than Gwen's katana.
"Ohhh you just made me mad!" She said. "Nobody hypnotizes me! NOBODY!" She then swung her sword once, and released a wave of energy which sliced through half a dozen of the mummies and left the two halves of each to slowly burn.
"That was impressive," Gwen admitted.
"I practice it all week!" Elliot grinned.
However more mummies kept on coming out of the pyramid, replacing the ones they had destroyed. However Gwen and Elliot had bought the needed time for Dawn use her Method.
"You have been summoned against your will by an unknown force, vandalizing your resting places. Such a crime is unforgivable in the eyes of Mother Earth. I am the student of a spirit of nature, Luna the Heavenly Light. Mother Earth has deemed this Method a crime and shall be cured!" Dawn's eyes glowed bright as a blast of bright lightning blasted from her and covered everything. "Heavenly Judgement!"
Gwen, Elliot and the frozen humans were unaffected by Dawn's Method but when it collided with the mummies they disintegrated into particles of light. When it was done everything was quiet, like the mummies had never even existed.
"Woooow...!" Elliot's jaw had dropped.
"Dawn...no offense, but I'm a little scared of you now," Gwen admitted.
"I get that quite often when people see me use that method." Dawn shrugged as she stood up. "It destroys the Method used by rogue spirits that affect the environment in a negative way, like using corpses as puppets. Luna may be a pacifist but she knows how to destroy evil."
"I guess since a Method was involved this is the work of the Stalker in the Stars." Elliot's sword disappeared.
"I didn't see anyone cast a Method." Gwen looked the frozen contestants.
"We went above the pyramid, Gwen. Even if there were cameras on them Nebula's Avatar could have left something behind without anyone knowing." Dawn replied.
"Should we check the others and see if they were marked?"
"Yeah. I'm on it!" Elliot ran over to the check the cast out.
"I guess we get to check the pyramid." Gwen sighed.
They had spent a whole hour checking the pyramid but no signs of any symbols used to cast the Method that created the mummies. They still had not discovered the identity of Nebula's Avatar or the person who cast the Dimension Seal Method. At this point they had no choice but to dispel the Dimension Seal and continue the show.