Author's Notes
Welcome back, my faithful readers. Here your beloved Fantasy Lord 77 has returned with the next chapter. A chapter full of surprises that I already wanted to write for the following reason:
None of the songs used in this chapter belongs to me. I won't say what they are so as not to ruin your surprise.
But before we start, let's answer the reviews.
GirlPower54: I was already wondering if you would ever leave a review, taking into account that you are the only other author (next to Guest 1138) who has this story among her favorites (Thanks for that, by the way). I can tell you that I have big plans for the future of this story ... Big plans indeed.
Guest 1138: Interesting theories. The Hood will have a presence again in this chapter to learn more about his potential. I can assure you that the outcome of this episode will put a drastic twist on this brawl between contestants.
ZNBT: Actually, the episode is Faceplant! from Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil, although Wipeout can count too. I'm surprised you missed the video game, Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout.
Now yes, let's go to the chapter
Total Drama: Enchanted
Chapter 22 - Face the Music
Tony was flying around the island in the morning. He had to admit this undercover job was getting pretty boring, but at least he knows it's only a few days until this show is over and his partner / boss finally hands him her reward. With his broken tracking device, he has no way of finding the pieces, but at least it's a relief that one is on the island.
The underground facilities on the island did not have guest rooms, as they were not created for that purpose. However, he had no problem with it. The greatest ability of his species is to change and adapt, and he can adapt to any environment. He easily made himself a temporary home in a cave, similar to the one he usually uses during his stay on this planet.
Tony sneaks into the underground facility and arrives at the secret base of her partner, but before entering, he hears some murmurs that it belonged to her, who seemed to be angry and frustrated ...
"Idiot, fool, stupid braggart, great son of a ..."
"Sup, Karen" Tony greeted in an uncomfortable way, since he does not understand the words and expressions of humans. "Sup… Am I saying it right? Sup."
Karen just snorts and returns to her seat, running both hands over her temples, and she had a penetrating gaze that would kill anyone.
"So… what is the plan for today?" Tony asked, trying to escape the silence.
However, Karen didn't say anything. She was still quiet, as if she was thinking of some very important things that required her full attention.
Tony is silent too, and drummed his fingers on the desk he was leaning on. He averts his eyes in any direction, expecting anything, until the sight of him is caught by a crumpled and torn folder. He watches her carefully and realizes something:
That was the file he had gotten from the Spa Hotel.
Tony sneaks over to the dumped file and picks up the pieces. He can't help but notice that the photo of the hooded guy was totally wrinkled, scraped, scratched out, and ruined, as if someone had taken all of his anger out on the photo.
Karen was still furious about having to play along with her "boss", but she is too scared to challenge him. She already tried once, and the guy knocked her to the ground like she was trash. Whoever he is under that hood, he is a very skilled fighter.
At that time her gaze strays to her henchman, who was picking up the pieces of the mole's file that she had broken. She manages to notice the angry look of the alien when he recognizes the photo of the hooded guy, as if he is holding a grudge ...
"Hey Tony… exactly how powerful are you?"
"Sorry?" he arched an eyebrow, taken by surprise by a question like that.
"How powerful are you?" he asked Karen again. "In terms of fighting, how skilled are you?"
"Well, I don't like to be conceited, but I'm not Mother's favorite for nothing" he commented proudly.
"Mother?" she asks confused, but then a memory came to her mind. Was he talking about ...?
"The Queen of All Changelings: Big Momma" Tony explained, as if he was teaching a history course. "She gave birth to all of us through cocoons ..."
"I don't care how you reproduce!" she said impatiently. "Why are you her favorite?"
"Because I'm the most outstanding and skilled among all my brothers and sisters" Tony continued. "My shapeshifting ability is the most developed, not counting her of course. I'm always the one who finds the best planets to add to her star map ..."
"And how good are you at fighting?"
"Our species doesn't stand out for being warriors. We are more than elusive spies," Tony explained. "An ally of Mother had created beasts that do the job of fighting off threats."
Karen can't help but feel a chill at the memory of the robot brain and the giant insects that almost devoured her that time. Tony notices Karen's expression, assuming she is disappointed in her response.
"But… I also have some battle experience" added Tony, trying to look good. "With my ability to shapeshift, I can crush anyone in front of me in a jiffy ... Why so much interest in this matter?"
Karen looks at the information from today's challenge, then the pieces of the file in the trash can. A conspiratorial expression is born on her face.
"Tony, I have a special task for you"
Confessional
Lucas - "I'm in the final six! I'm so close to winning! ... That's good, right?"
Otis - "I really made it to the final rounds. Of all the contestants left, only Felix and Karen are a danger. Once we get rid of them, victory is assured."
Pearl - "I can't believe I got this far! Yes, I came back in the middle of the season, but I also have my own achievements, and unmasking Karen will be the last of them."
Felix - "Ladies and gentlemen! In front of all of you, the future winner of this contest!"
Ginger - "I can't believe how far I've come! I never had an interest in winning, but now that I'm here, I really have a chance."
Karen - "This nightmare is almost over. Just a few more fools to knock down, and I'll be free."
All six contestants were in the dining room. The tension had returned, denser than ever. Otis and Pearl sat together at one end of one table, staring with daggers at Karen sitting at the other table. She was looking at them in the same penetrating way, before diverting her to Felix. The blond looked with contempt at everyone present.
The only ones not included in this staring war were Ginger and Lucas, who had entered the kitchen and were watching the four of them in dead silence.
Lucas opens his mouth and it seems that he was speaking, but absolutely nothing was heard, as if everyone's ears were covered.
Ginger shows a confused expression, as she didn't understand what he was talking about.
Lucas pulls out a knife and seems to cut something in the window, leaving an open space.
"I said the tension is so dense you can cut it with a knife" Lucas commented, before sticking his head through the hole he cut to get inside the tension bubble. "I'll go with them to try to lighten things up."
Lucas positioned himself in the center of the dining room between the two tables, drawing the attention of the four contestants who looked at him curiously.
"How about I tell a joke, okay?" Lucas called. "I like my coffee the same way I like jokes about me liking my coffee… I don't!"
Lucas returns to the kitchen with Ginger while the four contestants are seen through the window arguing, yelling and throwing plates around. That joke was just the last straw.
"Wow, that was the second worst joke I've ever told in my life," Lucas commented.
"It's a shame we can't all be friends," Ginger lamented, looking out the window at the mess. "This makes me miss my friends Sonya and Maggie even more."
"And I miss Raymond and Nigel," Lucas commented.
"Attention contestants! Today is a special day! Tune your tones, find microphones, and report to the McLean Theater in 10 minutes!" Chris's voice said through the speakers before cutting off.
"Tune our tones?" Otis asked.
"Microphones?" Pearl followed.
"I think I know where this challenge is going," Felix commented.
All six contestants performed at the McLean Theater. Chris and Chef were already waiting for them in elegant suits. The host wore his classic light blue dress, and the cook wore his pink dress.
"Contestants!" Chris greeted. "Welcome to our exciting challenge today!"
"Cut the roll, McLean," said Felix. "What's so special about this day?"
"Today is a special day… because this will be the MUSICAL EPISODE!"
Confessional
Otis - "Did he just say musical?"
Ginger - "IIIIIIIIIH! I LOVE SINGING! Well, I actually like to hum while I'm working, but I'm a very good dancer."
Pearl - "This doesn't sound good."
"Your challenge is to get on stage and sing a song," Chris explained. "Your singing of him will be judged by FIVE judges, who will give your performance a grade from 1 to 10. Whoever gets the highest score will win immunity."
"Do we have to go on stage and sing in front of an audience?" Pearl asked nervously.
"No, of course not" said Chris. "They have to go on stage and sing in front of the judges, a small audience, and the entire global audience."
"What about the music?" Ginger asked. "We need a rhythm to follow."
"Is it necessary to play a musical instrument?" asked Felix.
"Instruments are optional. The only musical element you'll need is your vocal cords," Chris explained. "However, here our dear Sasquatchanakwa has offered to play the instruments for you."
Immediately afterwards, the aforementioned animal with purple fur appears on the scene with an entire orchestra in his hands. All kinds of musical instruments, wind, string and percussion, around his body.
"You guys just focus on writing a song, and the Sasquatch will make the music," Chris continued.
"And the judges? You mentioned there will be five" said Karen.
"Because for this episode there will be FOUR special guests" smiled the host. "The four of them will be the judges, including moi."
"Should everyone do it on their own, or can we form groups?" Pearl asked.
"Duos are allowed, but only up to that point. If the duo gets the highest score, the two contestants get immunity," Chris explained. "The challenge begins… now!"
Confessional
Karen - "I appreciate that Sonya is not here. We would not have had a chance against a professional."
Ginger - "Sonya would have blown away the competition here ... This makes me miss her even more."
The six contestants went to their own isolated spots to practice in peace. Everyone has taken a notebook and had a pencil on the paper, waiting for inspiration to hit them.
Otis was thinking of a song, but nothing came to mind. Despite being an inventor, he had no creativity for this challenge.
"Come on Otis, think" he told himself. "You created a giant bug-killing lamp, multiple cameras in no time, a pet hotel, and an invincible monster truck… And you can't write a song?"
"It means your luck has run out."
Otis turns to find Felix leaning against a tree, looking at him with an arrogant smile.
"Do not you have anything better to do?" he asked with a frown.
"I already have my song ready" smiled the blonde boastfully. "I only came here to study, or in this case, to make fun of the competition. As horrible as all of you are, victory is assured."
Confessional
Felix - "I always had a passion for jazz music. I am an expert in that type of song, and many have said that I have a voice like Frank Sinatra."
Otis - "Singing isn't really my thing. I can sing, and I've done it before, but singing in front of the television is something else."
"And speaking of how horrible you guys are…" Felix looks away from him to another contestant.
Otis follows her gaze and finds Pearl with a flustered expression as she scrawled on a piece of paper, threatening to tear it up.
Ginger already had a song ready and was practicing some pretty fun dance moves. She was excited to go on stage.
She at that time she finds Lucas also trying some dance steps, but it seemed more that he has noodle legs, since his steps were disoriented, clumsy and even embarrassing. He was following the steps indicated in a book about dancing.
"Hey Lucas, do you have itchy legs?" she asked, without the intention of insulting.
"No, I'm practicing some dance steps, but this guide is impossible to learn," Lucas explained, pointing to the book.
Ginger looks at the book and realizes something: the book was upside down. She lets out a laugh and turns the book over, making it more readable.
"Oh! Now I can understand it!" Lucas expressed.
"Why do you need a book to learn to dance?" Ginger asked.
"I never knew how to dance, but I try to learn to win."
Confessional
Lucas - "After a long time being called a fool, now I am determined to win this show to show everyone that I'm more smarter than everyone thinks… Now I can distinguish between a square and a rectangle!"
"Dancing is not something you can learn from a book," Ginger said. "You just have to let the music carry you. You have to follow the rhythm and let yourself go. You just have to shake it.
"I'm not much of to keep up with things," Lucas commented.
"All you have to do… is try" Ginger said, offering her hand. "I can teach you, if you want."
Lucas smiles and takes the hand of Ginger, who drags him and begins to do some dance steps, while she tells him about following the rhythm.
Pearl was nervous. She didn't know what to do now. She was so nervous that she couldn't write any songs, and she was quite creative. However, her emotions decided to play a hard time this time.
"Everything okay, Pearl?"
She turns to find Otis sitting next to her. She notices that the mechanic's sheet was blank like hers, proving that she wasn't the only one with difficulties.
"Sorry, it's just that I'm very nervous" explained the blonde.
"Why? Afraid of being humiliated? I think Chris will humiliate us all in the same way here" Otis commented.
"That's not why," Pearl said, followed by a sigh and a confession: "I have stage fright."
"Stage fright?" Otis was confused. "But you did very well in the theater challenge at the beginning of the season."
"First: I only appeared in the background in one scene and had two dialogues. Second: Not that kind of panic. It would be more about feeling nervous about being the star of a show, especially a musical."
"But you are quite caring, positive and outgoing. I am surprised that you are afraid of being the star of a show."
"It's not that I'm just afraid… It's that it brings back bad memories."
"This is a safe place," Otis said wryly. "You can tell me anything. My lips are sealed."
Pearl nods and takes several breaths before opening up.
"A musical theater play was being staged at my school, and I was lucky enough to get the lead role. However, another girl who always bullied me was jealous that I was the star and played a cruel joke on me."
Otis is silent, while he gets an idea of where this story is going.
"The play was a success, and I was so glad I acted, but before it was over a tragedy happened ... They threw a bucket of red paint on me, ruining everything about me, my hair, my dress, my performance, even my dignity, making me the laughingstock of the school. "
Pearl lets out another sigh, sinking the memories deep into her mind.
"Since then, I feel very uncomfortable acting in a play, especially when I am the center of attention… And that is also why I hate Karen and people like her, cheaters who annoy others just for fun."
"Pearl, I understand what it is to be nervous" commented the mechanic. "You think I wasn't nervous when I was appointed captain of the Raptor Falcons?"
"But you are big and strong, and you are not intimidated by anyone" replied Pearl.
"I wasn't always big and strong. That's something that I got with time and with hard effort on my part, but I also have fears…"
Pearl is silent, thinking about her options. Otis understands her and puts a comforting hand on her shoulder, remembering a phrase said by a certain Japanese boy.
"The only way to get over the fear of doing it… is to do it" Otis recited. "If you are afraid to sing, then there is only one way to overcome it ... and that way is to sing."
"Yes, you're right" Pearl said then, as her self-esteem rose. "I can do it!"
"Alright, girl" Otis said enthusiastically. "Don't worry about a thing."
Suddenly Pearl's face lights up from that last sentence, as if she has received a stroke of inspiration.
"I just came up with a song!"
"Good for you, but I still don't have anything" he commented, looking at her blank page. "At this rate I'm going to lose again."
"I'm sure you will come up with something sooner or later" Pearl encouraged him. "After all, you always manage to get ahead and overcome adversity. You are still standing, and you always will be."
Now it's Otis who gets a hit of inspiration from Pearl's words.
"Got it!"
Ginger and Lucas were practicing a couple dance moves, ironically with Lucas taking the lady's side, and Ginger the gentleman. After a few hours of dancing, Lucas had gotten used to it and could keep up with Ginger's hyperactive dances.
"I think we're ready to practice tonight's routine now," Ginger said then, turning off a radio next to her and going to work in some dance costumes.
"Wow, Ginger, I wish I could think of multiple things at the same time," Lucas said. "I can't focus on one thing at a time."
"I can thank the experience," Ginger explained. "My job as a housekeeper requires me to be attentive to several things at the same time, such as cleaning, cooking, sewing and much more."
From a distance, Karen watched the two of them practice their dance steps, while she thought of a song. She had to admit that it is fun to watch them dance so outrageously.
"Those two are incredible" she commented to nothing.
"You mean horrible."
Karen turns to see Felix, who was also watching them, but he was doing it mockingly.
"Those two have no talent at all, and surely Lucas doesn't even know what talent is" continued the blonde, before looking at Karen with a smile. "In fact, you could say that the victory is already all mine."
Karen snorts and walks away, disgusted by Felix's attitude.
Confessional
Karen - "I admit to being a bad person, but I can recognize the merits of others. Felix brags too much about himself and thinks he is superior to anyone ... I assure you that this massive ego will be Richie Rich's downfall."
Karen was in the communal bathroom, trying on some gorgeous dresses, looking for one that the judges would love.
"Nervous for tonight?"
Karen jumps up and holds onto the sink to keep from falling to the floor. She turns around and finds the hooded guy, who managed to get inside undetected.
"Hello! The ladies' room is a private place!" Karen commented in disgust. "Couldn't you at least wait for me outside like a normal person?"
"I'm anything but normal" said the hooded guy. "I just came to warn you that I will be a spectator at tonight's event. I always enjoy a good live show."
"What is the need? I can take care of myself."
The mysterious guy snorts gracefully. "You wouldn't have gotten this far if it weren't for me."
"You're giving yourself too much credit" Karen places her hands on her hips. "I manipulated Bianca, I convinced Isaac to leave, I tricked Erika, I helped bring down Chantal and Maggie, I broke the canoes and with them Agatha, I used Julien and Rita's weapons against him, I sabotaged Nigel, Sonya and Hunter's efforts … They all fell because of me."
"And for that I applaud you. You were a great help here, but you haven't won yet, and it seems you have the days counted."
After saying that, the hooded guy vanishes like he's never been there, leaving Karen alone with the intrigue. She frowns and looks at where the guy was standing.
"And you the hours counted."
Night had come, and the full moon was in sight. The McLean Theater was full of lights and colors. There was a table in front of the stage with five chairs for the judges. All six contestants were standing on stage, each wearing a suit for the occasion, except for Otis, who had no suit and was only wearing his normal overalls, but he had no complaints.
Chris was in his corresponding jury seat, eager to get started. On stage, the lights pointed to the center, where Chef Hatchet appeared and began to sing a familiar introduction:
Come close and listen hard.
It's music time for one and all.
They will sing and also dance
Make it good or you all will fly!
"Nice introduction" Chris commented, applauding his partner's brief performance. "Ok, it's time to meet the four special guests today"
Behind him appear four boys who take their places in their respective seats.
The first is a tall light-skinned boy with black hair. He wears a green shirt with a black hand drawing and camouflage print sleeves, black pants and a matching belt, and hazelnut sneakers.
The second is a short boy with light skin and brown hair. He wears a cream-colored shirt with two red and green stripes, another gray shirt underneath the previous one, long blue pants, and brown shoes.
The third is a tall red-haired boy with green glasses. He wears a blue shirt with a hamburger print, another red long-sleeved shirt underneath, green pants, and white and blue sneakers.
The fourth and last is a tall, muscular dark-haired boy with brown hair. He wears a necklace, a green shirt, long blue pants, and blue sandals. Simply put, he is a very handsome and beautiful boy.
"Meet four veterans of the franchise, who have formed their own boy band: The Drama Brothers!" Chris announced. "Trent, Cody, Harold and Justin!"
"Hey, it's good to meet you guys," Trent greeted. "When I heard there was going to be a music challenge, I knew I had to come to see them."
"The Codemeister is back!" Cody said, waving at the camera.
Justin blows a kiss to the audience and the screen. "This goes for all the fans who adore me."
"Is this island really totally artificial?" Harold asked, studying his surroundings. "Even this lawn? Or this jury table? Or even you, Chris? "
Harold touches Chris's forehead to check the temperature, but the host pushes his hand away in disgust.
"Weirdo" said the host, after finishing the main introductions. "It's time for the greatest music show in all of history! One by one, the singers will take the stage to present their song, and when finished, the four judges and I will give a final rating. Whoever gets the highest score will win."
All six contestants poked their heads out to see the judges.
"The order of presentation will be this: we will depend on the progress that everyone made in the previous challenge, but in reverse" continued Chris. "First it will be the duo of Ginger and Lucas, then it will be Otis, then Felix comes out, then Pearl follows, and for the end there will be Karen."
The stage is illuminated with the lights, managed by DJ Hatchet, when they all point back to Chris McLean, who is in charge of making the presentations.
"Welcome everyone to the new and improved McLean Theater!" Chris featured as everyone got ready for the show.
"Are you ready, friend?" asked a certain Ginger.
"Yes! Completely ready!" answered a confident Lucas, as he did some final stretches.
"Alright! Let's do this!" she takes a basket of clothes and they both go on stage.
"I present to you… Ginger and Lucas!"
The curtain rises, revealing a setting that looks like a laundry room, with various cleaning objects, such as a washing machine, a sink, and many clothes hanging around. The music starts playing, and Ginger was in front with her laundry basket, when she starts to sing.
Ginger
I stay out too late,
Got nothin' in my brain
That's what people say,
That's what people say
While she was singing, she took out a lot of clothes from the utility machine, until she took them all out and Lucas's face is revealed, who follows the song.
Lucas
I go on too many dates,
But I can't make 'em stay
At least that's what people say,
That's what people say
The five judges and the other contestants, except Felix, were enjoying the rhythm of the song, quickly applauding the show. The two singers went to the center of the stage to dance.
Ginger
But I keep cruisin'
Can't stop, won't stop movin'
It's like I got this music in my mind
Saying it's gonna be alright
Ginger gets behind the curtain, when all the props drift away. Many sounds of DJ Hatchet are present, while the lights show the silhouette of Ginger changing clothes attractively, and Lucas strikes a pose, waiting for her partner.
Suddenly the lights go up and the curtain rises again. Everyone gasps in amazement when they see Ginger in a gorgeous outfit, as the song continues.
I never miss a beat,
I'm lightning on my feet
And that's what they don't see,
That's what they don't see
Ginger poses with Lucas, who removes the props, revealing a great outfit that matches that of her dance partner, and the two begin singing and dancing together.
Ginger and Lucas
Players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off
The five judges and the other contestants also shook it while humming and singing the lyrics with the singers. Felix was the only one who was not having fun, convinced that this dance is terrible.
Ginger
Heartbreakers gonna break,
Lucas
Fakers gonna fake,
Ginger
I'm just gonna shake,
Ginger and Lucas
I shake it off, I shake it off
The two stands at opposite ends of the stage, before launching into a run toward the center with cartwheels and twists and turns until Lucas lifts Ginger over him and begins to spin before ending the song.
Shake it off, shake it off, ah-ah
I shake it off, I shake it off, ah-ah
I shake it off, I shake it off, ah-ah
I shake it off, I shake it off
They both do their poses while the song stops. Everyone launches their round of applause, and some even whistles in admiration.
"Ginger and Lucas, everyone!" Chris announced. "Time to give you a final grade! Judges?"
The five of them held up a paper with the score they give to the presentation. Trent gave an 8 of 10, Cody a 9, Harold also an 8, Justin a 7, and for the end, Chris gave a 7.
"The end result is a… 39!" Chris said. "Pretty decent score, I must say!"
Confessional
Felix - "Are you kidding me? It was like watching a jelly-like mucus dance!"
"Next is ... Otis!" introduced the host.
The mechanic and the Sasquatchanakwa moved a small piano onto the stage for the purple-furred animal to handle. Otis takes the mic, takes several deep breaths, and slyly nods to his pianist.
The Sasquatch plays a piano key to get attention ... and begins to play with excitement. Otis follows the beat, and begins to sing.
Otis
You could never know what it's like
Your blood like winter freezes just like ice
And there's a cold lonely light that shines from you
You'll wind up like the wreck you hide behind that mask you use
And did you think this fool could never win?
Well look at me, I'm comin' back again
I got a taste of love in a simple way
And if you need to know while I'm still standin' you just fade away
And don't you know I'm still standin' better than I ever did?
Lookin' like a true survivor, feelin' like a little kid
And I'm still standin' after all this time
Pickin' up the pieces of my life without you on my mind
I'm still standin', yeah, yeah, yeah
I'm still standin', yeah, yeah, yeah
The five judges and the contestants began to sing and dance to the rhythm of the music, the choir singing along with the singer with great joy. Otis began to sing with more energy and movement.
Once I never could hope to win
You startin' down the road leavin' me again
The threats you made were meant to cut me down
And if our love was just a circus you'd be a clown by now
And don't you know I'm still standin' better than I ever did?
Lookin' like a true survivor, feelin' like a little kid
And I'm still standin' after all this time
Pickin' up the pieces of my life without you on my mind
I'm still standin', yeah, yeah, yeah
I'm still standin', yeah, yeah, yeah
I'm still standin', yeah, yeah, yeah
The audience jumped up and congratulated the surprising performance. The judges and contestants applauded the song.
"A song I can relate to," Trent commented as he clapped his hands.
"Give it up for Otis!" Chris said. "What score does our favorite mechanic deserve?"
Trent gave him a 9, Cody an 8, Harold a 8, Justin a 5, and Chris a 6.
"Just a five and a six?" Otis claimed.
"I also take into account the costumes and the dance" explained Justin. "You're the only one without a costume for the event, and you didn't do a dance."
"I agree. You have a great voice, but seeing you standing around doing nothing is boring. Your final score is a… 36!" Chris said. "A good score, but not enough to beat the previous duo, and with that you lose your chance for immunity."
Confessional
Otis - "Tch, everyone is critical these days."
"He may not be big, but his ego and arrogance sure are" Chris introduced the next singer. "Receive on stage… Felix!"
"Look and listen carefully" said Felix with a smile, going to the stage. "I'm going to show you how to do this."
Everyone looks at him with hatred, especially Karen, who was not going to stay there, letting herself be crushed by a pompous child.
Confessional
Karen - "I had saved this for Pearl, but I think it will be more satisfactory if I use it with Felix."
Soft, quiet music begins to play as the curtain rises, revealing Felix, who stands by the microphone and begins to sing.
Felix
And now the end is near
So I face the final curtain
My friend, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case of which I'm certain
I've lived a life that's full
I've traveled each and every highway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way
Everyone was in awe of the beautiful singing voice that Felix had, and had to admit that he was good at this.
Regrets, I've had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exception
I planned each charted course
Each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way
Throughout that time, Karen was pointing a giant fan towards the stage, intending to send a stream of air so powerful that it would knock anyone down on their feet.
Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall
And did it my way
I've loved, laughed and cried
I've had my fails, my share of losing
And now as tears subside
I find it all so amusing
To think I did all that
And may I say, not in a shy way
Oh, no, oh, no, not me
I did it my way
A powerful current of air begins to bother Felix, who frowns when he realizes that the wind is trying to knock him down, but he will not give up so simply.
"You've got to be kidding me," he murmured, holding on to the microphone to keep from flying off, and singing louder.
For what is a man, what has he got
If not himself, then he has naught
To say the things he truly feels
And not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows
Seeing that her sabotage didn't work, Karen groans and turns off the fan, letting Felix compose himself and put a final touch on the song.
And did it
My way!
Everyone applauds the beautiful song. The judges were crying their eyes out, congratulating Felix on his presentation.
"Thank you! Thank you so much!" Felix smiled. "Oh, you are too king, really! Stop, I don't deserve all this! Keep clapping at me! "
"Gosh, that was amazing!" Harold expressed. "I will definitely sing this to my LeShawna when I get home."
After wiping his tears, Chris pulls himself together and goes on with the show. "What score does our jazz singer deserve?"
Trent rolled an 8, Cody a 6, Harold a 9, Justin a 9, and Chris gave a final 9.
"The end result is a ... 41!" announced the host. "Felix has passed the score of the first duo, and he gets a chance to win immunity again."
Felix laughs arrogantly, and the other contestants gasp.
Confessional
Karen - "Felix is arrogant, self-centered and presumptuous ... but with those abilities, I can understand that he is like that."
"Please, let's welcome the next singer, at her first live performance of hers in a long time: Pearl!"
Everyone claps with excitement, waiting for the next singer, but the blonde never made an appearance.
"Pearl?" Chris called again.
"Is she not going out?" Ginger asked concerned.
"She gave up," Felix scoffed. "She knows she can't against us."
Otis frowns and goes backstage, finding Pearl clinging to the wall with a nervous and fearful expression.
"Are you okay, Pearl? Why don't you go out? It is your turn."
"I can't do it, Otis!" shrieked Pearl. "I can't handle my nerves. I don't want to fail again."
"Pearl, if you don't go on stage in 30 seconds, you will be immediately disqualified from the contest " Chris called over the speakers.
"Give me your hand" Otis asked, offering his own hand, which she quickly grasped.
They both come off the racks and go with each other. Ginger and Lucas were encouraging her to come up on stage, Karen was just leaning against the wall without saying anything, and Felix was idly with an arrogant smile.
"Take a deep breath" Otis instructed her. "Remember what I told you: If you are afraid to sing, then there is only one way to overcome it ... and that way is to sing."
Pearl nods and takes the stage, being greeted by applause from the jury and the audience. She slyly greets the audience, but then she trips over the microphone and drops it awkwardly.
The others grimace at the shame the blonde must be feeling, except for Felix, who only laughs at the singer's misfortune.
Pearl picks up and sets the mic back in her place, and sneakily turns to her companions, seeing Otis throwing both thumbs up for support.
Pearl takes several deep breaths ... and begins to sing slowly.
Pearl
Yeah, everybody's got a thing
But some don't know how to handle it
Always reaching out in vain
Just taking the things not worth having
But don't you worry 'bout a thing
Don't you worry 'bout a thing, mama
'Cause I'll be standing on the side
When you check it out, oh
Pearl takes a last deep breath and is encouraged to sing with more energy, when the music begins to liven up and the stage lights up with color, indicating that now the best begins.
They say your style of life's a drag
And that you must go other places
Just don't you feel too bad
When you get fooled by smiling faces
Don't you worry 'bout a thing
Don't you worry 'bout a thing, baby
'Cause I'll be standing on the side
When you check it out
When you get it off your trip
Don't you worry 'bout a thing, yeah
Don't you worry 'bout a thing, yeah
Come on!
From a safe distance, the hooded guy was watching the entire show. The mysterious guy was enjoying some nice entertainment, but then ...
"SUP, YOU FOOL!"
KICK!
The hooded guy was knocked down by a kick, delivered by a certain alien boy, who wore an arrogant smile for his recent feat.
"We meet again".
Everybody needs a change
A chance to check out the new
But you're the only one to sees
The changes you take yourself through
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
The final note was so sharp and high that the wall behind it collapsed. She notices and is surprised by that, but she is greeted by applause from the audience. She smiles and just shrugs.
Don't you worry 'bout a thing, thing
Don't you worry 'bout a thing, thing
Don't you worry 'bout a thing, thing
Don't you worry 'bout a thing, thing
Pa-pa-p, pa-pa-pa-pa
Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa
Pa-pa-p, pa-pa-pa-pa
Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa
The last part of it was sung not only by her, but by everyone present, who followed the rhythm and hummed while listening to the lyrics.
Oh, don't you worry 'bout a thing
Don't you worry 'bout a thing, mama
'Cause I'll be standing, I'll be standing by you
Oh don't you worry 'bout a thing
The song was over, and everyone rose from their seats to applaud Pearl's spectacular performance.
"Well done, Pearl!" Otis congratulated her.
"Ok that was amazing" Chris admitted. "It is time to give a final result."
Trent gave a 9, Cody another 9, Harold another 9, Justin another 9 as well, and Chris closes this note with a final 9.
"The end result is a… 45!" announced the host. "Pearl dethrones Felix as the potential winner of this challenge. Can Karen change this outcome?"
Confessional
Pearl - "That felt so good! I feel so free! And the best thing is that I can win immunity. Karen will have to do it flawlessly to win me."
Karen - "Not bad, Pearl ... but it's not enough to overcome me."
"We meet again".
The alien and the hooded guy kept staring at each other, and a dead silence filled the area. The atmosphere was so dense that he could cut it with a knife like Lucas did before.
"So, you are the nefarious hidden visitor I have heard so much about" spoke the hooded guy, studying him carefully. "You don't impress me."
"You have no idea what I'm capable of. I'm much stronger than I look" Tony smirked arrogantly as he cracked his knuckles. "Karen gave me the task of exterminating you, and I admit I'm not passionate about violence, but I'm eager to hit you back."
"You're making a mistake trusting her" warned the hooded man. "She is just using you."
"As long as she gives me my device back, I don't care what she wants" Tony said. "Once I recover the three pieces, my dear Mother will be able to turn this world into our new hive."
"My master already has big plans for this world, and he doesn't want a whole swarm of giant insects getting in the way" said the hooded guy. "So you can tell your Big Fat Momma to stay as far out of this world as possible if she doesn't want to get squashed like the giant cockroach that she is."
"You dare to insult Mother's great authority!" Tony growled, his eyes glowing yellow and a green light covering him. "I'm going to show you what happens to him when you face the wrath of the Changelings."
"And I will teach you not to challenge the authority of the gods themselves."
Tony transforms into his original alien form, looking like a beast you never want to meet even for a joke, and The Hood pulls metal claws out of his arms and goes into a combat pose.
They both stare at each other for a few seconds ... before launching into combat.
"We have one last performance for you tonight!" Chris said. "Give a whole round of applause for… Karen!"
The curtain rises, revealing the Sasquatchanakwa on a piano, with Karen lying on top of it, wearing a beautiful sparkly dress.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I want to dedicate this song to all of you who support me to succeed" said Karen, when the animal begins to play the piano and she begins to sing.
Karen
Where have all the good men gone
And where are all the gods?
Where's the street-wise Hercules
To fight the rising odds?
Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?
Late at night I toss and I turn and I dream of what I need
"HIT IT!" Karen jumps off the piano and goes to the center of the stage, where a chorus begins to play and she begins to sing with much more energy.
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong
And he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
He's gotta be sure
And it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life
(Larger than life)
Despite her past actions, the contestants must admit that Karen had a spectacular singing voice. The audience began to dance to the beat of the music.
Meanwhile, the alien and the hooded guy kept fighting. Thorax throws himself at full speed on the hooded man, knocking him to the ground and making him swallow dirt, but he manages to get to his feet and the two struggle, until the guy lifts him on top of him and gives him a kick that leaves him against the ground.
Thorax quickly recovers from the kick and smiles to himself, as he spreads his bony hands like knives and lunges at his opponent like a wild beast.
As the battle progressed, Karen's song continued at the same time.
Somewhere after midnight
In my wildest fantasy
Somewhere just beyond my reach
There's someone reaching back for me
Racing on the thunder and rising with the heat
It's gonna take a superman to sweep me off my feet
Thorax kept trying to slice his opponent away, but the hooded guy blocked all attacks with his forearms without taking damage. The alien tries to sweep the ground with his legs, but the guy reacts with a jump, before catching his opponent's hair and giving him a strong head butt, followed by an elbow to the stomach, and to top it off, a punch to the face.
Thorax recoils and rubs the sore spots while he groans in frustration that his claws are not working. It's like this guy is wearing armor underneath that hood. The alien lets out a powerful roar and his eyes glow yellow, while his body is covered in an expanding green glow.
The hooded guy watches in amazement as his opponent grows in size to a true giant. The alien smiles as he towers over his opponent and tries to swat him like an insect.
Up where the mountains meet the heavens above
Out where the lightning splits the sea
I could swear that there's someone somewhere
Watching me
Through the wind and the chill and the rain
And the storm and the flood
I can feel his approach
Like the fire in my blood
(Like a fire in my blood)
(Like a fire in my blood)
(Like a fire in my blood)
(Like a fire in my blood)
The giant Thorax tries to smash his opponent with a swat, but the hooded guy dodges him in one swift movement and grabs onto the rising giant hand. The guy runs up his opponent's arm straight for the head. Thorax tries to crush him with his other hand, but the guy dodges him and continues on his way until he reaches his face, and hits him right in the eye.
Thorax backs away, his giant steps causing small tremors as he grunts in pain and tries to crush his opponent with his hands, but he gets down and lets the alien slap his face. Thorax growls in rage and finds the hooded guy on the ground, running away from him, so the giant chases him, trying to crush him with several stomps, not realizing that he was guiding him towards the stage, where the music could be heard ...
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
and he's gotta be sure
And it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life
The hooded guy led the giant onto the stage, until he lunges into the trees for safety while Thorax inadvertently sets off a classic trap, and several mines explode ...
Oh I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong
And he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
CRASH!
The giant trips over the mines and crashes into the stage, destroying much of it. Before anyone can understand what happened, a flash of green light briefly illuminates the place, before disappearing.
Everyone present gazes at the destroyed stage in amazement, before lowering their eyes and seeing who is responsible for all this. The contestants gasp in surprise when they see ...
"TONY?!"
"Idiot" Karen muttered, furious at her henchman for ruining her performance.
"What is that insect doing here?" asked Felix. "He's already eliminated! He has no right to be here!"
"And you ruined my performance!" Karen added. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"But you ordered me to stay close!" Tony exclaimed in response, but then he realizes his mistake and covers his mouth with his hands.
All present, contestants and judges, gasp in amazement, not believing what they heard.
"So they were working together, huh?" Felix folds his arms and frowns.
"Of course not!" Karen testified. "That is a dirty and fallacious lie!"
"IT'S NOT A LIE!"
They all turned to see Pearl, who seemed to be fed up with the situation. She advances onto the stage to finally face Karen face to face.
"You are the cheater who has tricked and manipulated us all this time! You tricked Bianca! You convinced Isaac to quit! You wrote that fake letter to Erika! You helped Hunter and Felix take down Chantal and Maggie! You blew up Otis's canoe, causing Agatha's elimination! You convinced Nigel to sabotage me, and then you sabotaged him! You stole the bombs from Julien to use against him! You caused that zombie apocalypse so we kick Rita out! Your mole tricks got Clover and Yoshi blamed and kicked out! Your vote was the one that brought down Hunter and Sonya! And you wanted to do the same with Raymond! "
"That last one I had nothing to do with it," Karen commented.
"There you have it!" Pearl exclaimed. "You are the cheater! You are the traitor! YOU ARE THE MOLE!"
They all fell silent looking at Pearl and Karen alternately, waiting for the answer from the girl in the dress. What disturbed everyone the most was that Karen had a smile on her face, as if she had won this battle.
"Oh dear, you got it wrong. Isaac voted himself, Julien gave me those bombs, Chantal and Maggie would still have fallen without my intervention, Nigel sooner or later would have sabotaged you himself, Tony was the one who caused the zombie apocalypse, Rita blamed Clover, and Felix blamed Yoshi, and Raymond left for injuries that I did not cause him "Karen explained calmly. "Everything else is correct."
"Are you not even going to deny it?" Ginger asked in horror.
"What for? That's the pure and holy truth" Karen confessed with a mocking laugh. "I am the traitor, I am the cheater, I am the villain."
"According to the rule book ..." Felix spoke. "Section 2, Paragraph 6. Contestants: Once the identity of the mole is exposed, that contestant will be automatically disqualified from the contest for breaking the rules"
"So Karen is disqualified?" Otis asked hopefully.
"Those are the rules" Chris replied, shrugging.
Everyone celebrates, happy to finally have discovered and defeated the mole, but Pearl notices that Karen is still calm, as if she has no problem with that. She was going to ask, when ...
"HOWEVER…"
Everyone turns to see Chris again, who had a funny smile on his face, similar to the one he usually shows when he plays a cruel prank on the contestants.
"Karen wasn't the only one who broke a rule."
"What are you talking about?" asked Felix.
"Pearl was brought back into the contest on one condition," Chris explained, handing a sheet to Felix, who reads it aloud.
"If contestant Pearl reveals the identity of the cheater to the general public, she will suffer heavy punishment for violating this one rule"
"But ... Karen also broke the rules when she confessed to being the mole" exclaimed Pearl incredulously.
"Technically speaking, Karen is not the mole" said Chris.
"WHAT?" exclaimed everyone present.
"But she just confessed that she IS the mole!" cried Felix.
"Yeah, it's too hard to explain" Chris admitted awkwardly. "But if you want a summary, Karen is narrowly safe, and Pearl is going to receive punishment for breaking that one rule."
"And what is the punishment?" Otis asked with a thread in his voice.
Chris walks to Pearl, then points to her and says a typical phrase that is not missing in every episode of this season:
"Pearl, you have been eliminated from Total Drama: Enchanted. It is time for you to leave the contest… forever."
Confessional
Karen - "And as always, I win again ... I'm really good at this game."
After being discovered, Tony was forced to leave the island as well. He was in a boat that would take him back to the Losers Beach while his hands were cuffed as a means of security in case he tries to sneak in again, but before setting sail, he saw a certain girl in a purple dress leaning on the boat.
"Thank you for your efforts Tony, but you are no longer of use to me" Karen smiled.
"Okay, this will be worth it when you pay me back" Tony held out his hand, waiting for her to hand him her reward.
"The deal was for you to help me win, and as you've seen, I haven't won yet" said Karen.
"I worked hard to get my reward" said Tony. "Give me the device, Karen."
"Why should I…?"
Tony turns her hands into monstrous claws and grabs Karen's neck, forcing her to look into his furious eyes.
"Give. It. Back."
Karen frowns and pulls the device out of her dress, then hands it to Tony, who catches it with a smile and releases her.
"Finally," Tony smiled pleased. "Now there is only one left ..."
Back then, he had a strange feeling. This device doesn't feel like the original, and it has a strange squishy and smooth texture. He sniffs it and is horrified to realize the truth.
"IT'S FAKE!" Tony yelled, knocking the copy to the ground and crushing it with his foot, breaking it into several marzipan crumbs.
"Well of course it's fake" Karen commented, as she watched the boat start to set sail.
"We made a deal!" Tony yelled angrily. "Where is the real one?"
"Remember when I said I changed the real one for a fake one? That was a lie" Karen smiled. "Let this be your first lesson on humans, Thorax."
Tony is surprised to hear her call him by his real name as the boat starts to set sail.
"NO! THIS IS NOT GOING TO STAY LIKE THAT, KAREN! I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE YOU NEVER WIN THIS CONTEST!"
Tony's ramblings were lost in the distance as the boat pulled away from the island, leaving Karen alone, completely satisfied with her feat.
All six contestants were present in the elimination zone, with Pearl sitting in the Sling of Shame.
"I'm so sorry, Pearl!" Ginger sobbed. "I always make mistakes!"
"Don't blame yourself for this, Ginger" she consoled her. "Karen is a master of deception."
"Thanks for the compliment" Karen said mischievously.
"And what happened to Tony?" Felix asked then.
"We already sent him back to Losers Beach" Chris replied.
"Excellent, one less annoyance" smiled the blond pleased.
"Any last words, Pearl?" asked the host as he took the lever.
"It was a pleasure meeting you guys" she said with a sad smile. "And thanks for all your help, Otis."
Otis nods gratefully, unable to help but feel sorry for his new friend. All her effort, and this was the result.
"I wish everyone luck ... Except you, you know" she looked at Karen, who only scoffed in response.
Chris proceeds to pull the lever, shooting Pearl through the skies, away from the island, and out of the game for the last time.
When everyone was about to go back to her cabin, Karen is suddenly pulled by the hair by Felix, who looks at her coldly.
"You have been saved this time, but now you are doomed."
Felix lets go of her hair, letting her compose herself. Karen only teases a little, showing that she is not afraid of him.
"The drama, people!" Chris smiled at the camera. "There are five contestants left. Who will manage to go to the semifinal? Who will reach the finale? And who will be the next to see their dream of winning a million dollars go down the toilet? Tune in next time for another exciting episode of ... "
"Total! Drama! Enchanted!"
CONTESTANTS
Felix, Ginger, Lucas, Karen, Otis
Eliminated: Bianca (Raptor Falcons), Isaac (Raptor Falcons), Erika (Raptor Falcons), Chantal (Rabid Rabbits), Tony (Raptor Falcons), Clover (Raptor Falcons), Agatha (Raptor Falcons), Julien (Raptor Falcons), Nigel (Rabid Rabbits), Maggie (Rabid Rabbits), Diego (Raptor Falcons), Rita (Raptor Falcons), Yoshi (Rabid Rabbits), Sonya (Rabid Rabbits), Hunter (Rabid Rabbits), Raymond (Rabid Rabbits), Pearl (Raptor Falcons)
Wow, this was the longest chapter yet, packed with various things to talk about.
Pearl's elimination was something that he was already predestined, and it was difficult to execute. In my humble opinion, a return to the game is a huge advantage for a contestant, and I find it a bit unfair to give Pearl the win for that. That was always one of the reasons why I disliked the Surfers ending in The Ridonculous Race. I always think that there were better candidates to go to the finale with the Police Cadets, like the Sisters, the Best Friends, Father and Son, the Goths, or even the Ice Dancers.
Here concludes the small arc of the teleportation device that turned out to be a fake. Did you really think that Karen would give Tony a device that would bring a whole swarm of alien insects to our world? She is much more cunning than that, and she enjoys being alive. However, I assure you that Tony will not sit idly by.
Karen's facade has finally been exposed. Now everyone knows the truth. Ginger discovered that her "best friend" turned out to be a liar, and Felix is not going to tolerate her being saved from the rules by a stroke of luck. Now everyone is against her, and we have seen how cruel Felix can be to achieve his goals. Does Karen still have a chance? Or will it be her turn to leave the contest?
In this chapter we had more special guests. On this occasion, we had the appearance of the Drama Brothers: Trent, Cody, Harold and Justin. I really had more plans about bringing in multiple contestants to be the audience, but I didn't want to lengthen the episode with scenes that I can save for another time. I hope you have enjoyed the presence of all four.
This musical challenge was already something I was eager to write about. The first four songs are part of one, not to mention my, favorite animated movie of all time: Sing. However, the last song is a tribute to another animated film. I challenge you to guess it. If you guys can't, I'll be very disappointed.
There are only five contestants left. I hope everyone already has their favorite to win, because there will be a surprise for you for the finale that I will reveal to you in the next chapter.
Ok, I think that would be all to clarify. If you have questions, leave it in her reviews and I will answer them in the next update. If you like this story, check the button to follow it and be attentive to the next chapter. If all goes well, I'll have the next chapter ready for Christmas. See you then. Bye.