Total Drama Endless, Episode Twenty-Six
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The warm summer sun was setting by the time they emerged from the mansion and stood perched on its balcony. The crowds below erupting into a cacophonous ecstasy at the sight of them. Peach blew them a kiss and waved politely, letting her royal instincts take charge.
She was both more fatigued and happier than she could ever remember being. It was a strangely blissful feeling.
Her fellow contestant (Or former fellow contestant as she had to remind herself) Beatrice seemed to be in a similar state. The girl still hesitant of the crowd's adoration, withdrew from the ledge. Chris Mclean standing along side them pushed her forward.
"I don't want to intrude. This is for Peach." She said.
"Don't worry about it." Chris insisted. "You did good kid."
Beatrice shuffled over to Peach awkwardly.
"You really did it." She said.
"I really did." Peach echoed. Her heart barely believed it. Even saying it aloud it still felt like a dream.
She turned to Chris hugging her prize money tight.
"I have to go see Mario! And my toads! And my kingdom! They're going to be so happy with this money. Oh I can't believe this is real."
Chris Mclean laughed at that. It was a strange laugh for him. Not tinged with malice but… melancholy.
Beatrice raised an eyebrow.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just… nostalgic."
The old host turned and gave Peach a strange look.
"You'll see your friends and family soon enough. Why don't we invite your castmates over in the meantime?"
…
Soon enough almost all the rest of the Endless cast came rushing into the mansion's foyer. The Fact Hunters smiled proudly at Beatrice. None more so than Indiana Jones.
"Nicely done kid."
Beatrice allowed herself something of a self-conscious laugh.
"I don't know why I'm getting all this praise."
"You got about as close to being winner as you can without actually touching the money." Conner O'Gleeson said walking over. "That's something to be proud of in my book."
Peach let's herself be embraced by her fellow Flower Girls. Fluttershy, Susie and even Lapis Lazuli talking over each other in excitement.
"I love you girls." She sighed.
"We knew you could do it" Fluttershy said gleefully.
"Athena's going be thrilled when she find out!" Lapis exclaimed.
"I already know." Proclaimed a commanding voice behind them.
The Girl's looked up. Athena strode into the room. Besides her another old friend, Janna. The Girl still wearing her tricorn.
Peach let out a happy cry and whet to embrace her old friends.
"But I thought you we're both busy."
"Not to busy to see our princess win." Janna insisted.
"You've fought well your majesty." Athena said.
Peach's emotions threated to get the better of her.
"Thank you! I'm so glad to see you-"
She sees his familiar face and loses all control. Several of the others turned to look, their jaws falling open. Before she knew it she was running towards him, tears flowing freeing down her face. She falls into his arms and he spun her around.
"Markus!"
Markus Obasi, back amongst the living laughed. His voice broke slightly with joy.
"Hey Peachy."
He caught an eyeful of Indy, Beatrice and Amethyst's dumbfounded expressions. Even the normally unflappable Lenny seemed profoundly shaken.
"Ya'll probably got a lot of questions."
"It doesn't matter!" Peach cried. "You're here!"
Conner cleared his throat.
"This is pushing it isn't it? Is Rick coming too?"
Markus shook his head.
"Yeong-Ja wasn't keen to come back."
Conner chuckled tiredly.
"Typical. And the Rzayevs? "
"When home early. Said they wanted to beat the rush."
"Good for them."
"Markus?" Beatrice asked deeply perturbed.
Markus winked at her.
"It'll all make sense soon enough girls. Now come on outside ya'll. I think McLean's got one last surprise before we wrap this up."
They exited the Mansion and Markus lead them through Chris's back gardens. The rapper walking alongside Conner, seeming knowing somehow where he was going.
Peach for one couldn't care. She was in paradise. Life had suddenly become too beautiful to believe.
The estate ended on at a spacious garden terrace at the edge of the outcrop it had been built on. The city glowed beneath them. A warm quilt of yellow lights in the evening haze. Above them the stars were beginning to shine.
Chris McLean stood waiting for them on a little raised dais of stone.
"Go on Peach." Conner urged.
"Actually, I thought it be nice if Beatrice came too." Chris said.
Conner nodded.
"Suit yourself."
The Princess and the forest maiden walked forward until they wear standing before him.
Chris McLean smiled broadly at the booth of them. If he was anyone else they would have swore he looked proud.
"How are you dudes feeling?"
"Confused." Beatrice admitted.
"Happier than I've ever been." Peach sighed.
Chris chuckled softly. Again, with an inexplicable sadness behind it.
"Good. I'm impressed with the both of you. You did better than I could have dreamed, but know I think it's time you opened that case Princess."
"Alright."
There was already a small stone pedestal waiting there for her. Peach set down the silver case on it and flipped open it's latches. Rows upon rows of plastic bills greeted her
"What do you see?"
Peach laughed.
"What do you mean?"
"What is that?" Beatrice said hollowly.
Peach gave her a quizzical look. Her friend was staring at the case in terror. Peach looked and again and gasped.
The interior of the open lid was mirrored. There in the reflection was the girl with the strawberry blonde hair, starring at her seemingly confused.
Peach looked from the girl to Beatrice, then her eyes wided.
"Beatrice… You... You can see her?"
"She can see herself." Chris said.
And he tilted the case, there was a new girl reflected. Black skinned with chin length hair and wearing an orange varsity jacket. The strange girl perfectly mirroring Beatrice. Chris shifted the case so that the new girl and the old girl were both in frame.
"You have one too." Beatrice breathed.
"I've always had her." Peach said. Beatrice looked startled.
"What?"
"I…" Peach began.
She turned back to Chris, stricken.
"I don't understand."
Chris placed a comforting hand on both their shoulder. He looked Beatrice in the eye.
"Kayla..."
Then the old host turned to Peach.
"Paisley..."
Chris Mclean sighed.
"You two have done amazing. But it's time to go home."
"Is this a joke?" Beatrice asked.
"I'm not joking about anything. Listen. I want you to meet me at my mansion. My real mansion. Both of you. Bring some of the others if you can. We have something to discus."
Peach looked behind her at her friends. She turned back to Chris.
"I don't understand." She repeated fearfully.
Chris McLean gave them both a reassuring smile.
"On three alright? One…"
"But…"
"Two…"
"Three."
Peach closed her eyes…
…and everything faded away.