Chris's Recap

"Last time, on Total Drama Nialasach…

"The final 8 were subjected to a ruthless capture the flag battle royale, courtesy of Zero Sum's Melody Rest! Alison found herself on the outs of the playerbase, yet again, and she attempted to take advantage of Gabriel, yet again. But the young politician is onto her tricks and is only playing along! Fortunately for our rich heiress, she won immunity in Melody's challenge and was saved from near certain doom for at least another round of the game! Monica met with Gabriel and Watts to discuss differences in perspectives and strategy, but after determining that they could not agree on the matter, their targets were firmly set on each other's backs! Ellie and Cherry, especially Cherry, worked to bring everyone onboard a plan to flush out Monica's Force Immunity Medal, in order to make Ellie's Fox Immunity Medal the last one in the game, but thanks to Phooko never having made that promise, he was able to team up with Gabriel to blindside Ellie, taking Monica's medal, Ellie, and thanks to Cherry's insistence, the Fox immunity medal, all out of the picture at once! Now Cherry has lost her closest ally, Monica no longer has a powerful medal to hide behind, and all eyes are on the dynamic duo that has been Watts and Gabriel. We're at the final 7 today, but the final 6 are all that will remain by the time we're done with them! Who will scrounge up victory today? And who will have victory snatched from their grasp as they become the next victim of this wonderfully brutal game? Find out right here! On Total! Drama! Niiiiialasach!"


*Total Drama Theme Song Plays*

As the song starts, various cameras come out of the flora and fauna all around the island.

Dear Mom and Dad, I'm doing fine, you guys are on my mind

The camera zooms around all of Crios Cath before finally entering into the Nialasach Ruins.

You asked me what I wanted to be and now I think the answer is plain to see,

Aaron is on his skateboard, skating through the ruins, and as he moves forward, Claude can be seen following him, cleaning up the dust left by his skateboard tracks so that he can clear a path for Monica, who smiles at him, but ends up rolling her eyes, annoyed, when she's sure he isn't looking, and begins to pay attention to another part of the ruins, which the camera then shifts to.

I wanna be famous

Watts is looking over Erin's shoulder at an experiment she is working on, and she seems to be attempting to hide it from him, when the ruins wall explodes, causing Erin to fall back into Watts's arms before shoving herself out of them, the two then look over to see that the explosion was caused by Ash accidentally triggering a tripwire. She smiles and waves in an attempt to make the situation less embarrassing for her.

I want to live close to the sun

Camera switches to show Alison sitting on a beach chair and relaxing before waves come crashing in and ruin her clothes. She stands up with a huff and takes the beach chair further inland, but the same event happens, and she appears to let out a scream.

Well pack your bags, 'cause I've already won

Camera shifts up to reveal that Simon and Arnold both saw Alison's ordeal, and while Simon starts to snicker at it, Arnold begins to flamboyantly tell Simon off, and Simon plugs his ears and walks away with rolling eyes.

Everything to prove, nothing in my way, I'll get there one day

Camera shifts to Upper Ceol Fields, where Zaiyrin is seen showering Cherry with all manner of gifts and compliments, and Cherry somewhat scoffs at them before blushing with a smile once Zaiyrin leaves and heading over to Ellie to talk excitedly with her about it while Ellie is working on a costume.

'Cause I wanna be famous

Rashi and Phooko both see the events with Zaiyrin, Cherry, and Ellie, and quietly laugh to each other as they both tend to a small garden of growing plants, with Phooko's plants looking quite healthy, and Rashi's plants looking unnaturally perfect.

Na na nananana nanananana na nanananana

Camera shifts to the Glas Woods, where Raul and Vanessa are sketching each other with smiles. Camera first hovers over Raul's shoulder showing a brilliantly done sketch of Vanessa, then switches over to Vanessa's shoulder, where a sketch of Raul can be seen, but Vanessa needs to keep adding wolves to the sketch as they crowd around Raul like he's part of their pack.

I wanna be, I wanna be, I wanna be famous

Mark is playing music in Cailleach Bog, but immediately rolls out of the way of a falling tree, he looks over to see an almost seething Mirai, who turns to him and begins to smile sweetly as she begs him to play. Mark is a little nervous at first but as he begins to play, Mirai begins to cheer peacefully as the camera shifts to Lower Ceol Fields.

I wanna be, I wanna be, I wanna be famous

In Lower Ceol Fields, Donny and Gabriel are engaged in a rather heated argument, and Christa and Jenae both walk up to Donny and Gabriel respectively, Christa tries to comfort Donny, but he begins arguing with her instead. Meanwhile, Jenae begins to continue to argue with Gabriel, but he stops her when he notices she's moving her hand down his chest.

As the other contestants whistle the rest of the tune around the Tine Naofa Bonfire, Gran and Zaheen both attempt to make the fire grow larger. Upon Gran's attempt the fire blows up in his face, causing Zaheen to snicker as she pulls off the trick perfectly and the flames begin to form the season title: Total Drama Nialasach.


Location: Cailleach Bog (Merge Campsite)
Contestant(s): Cherry, Gabriel, Watts

"The plan, spill it." Cherry announced as she walked up in her bathing suit to join Watts and Gabriel in the hot tub.

"Whyyyy?" Gabriel questioned.

"I struck up a deal with Watts." Cherry said. "Since he never voted for Ellie, and I did not have a deal with you, I consider myself to be your closest ally now. So, spill the plan. Who are we voting for? What are we expecting in the next challenge? I'm under the impression that was what you did in this hot tub, non?"


Confessional: Cherry

"If Phooko's logic works for him, it'll work for me too. I'm sure plenty of people thought I was in a tough spot after seeing how last ceremony ended, but I'm a contortionist. I'm very flexible, and this isn't even in the top ten of the tightest spots I've had to get out of."

End Confessional


"Is this…true?" Gabriel asked Watts.

"I mean, I guess it is." Watts scratched his head. "The idea, way back when the Final 12 team split happened, was to unite our alliances but…well, look at us now."

"Look at you two now, you mean." Cherry didn't miss a beat. "It might have been Phooko's idea for the blindside, but make no mistake about it, with every threatening item gone, what becomes the most dangerous thing? An alliance. You wear yours on your sleeve. I'm your secret weapon."

"She is in a good position to act as a spy." Gabriel turned to Watts.

"Hey, I'm not about to turn down free help. After all, we still need to get rid of Alison and Monica. We can't relax just because there aren't medals in play anymore."


Confessional: Watts

"I wasn't expecting Cherry to immediately approach Gabriel and I of all people, but it's a bold move. She's banking on a final immunity win if she's being serious, and that's one heck of a gamble. Still, trying to unite everyone else is probably a bigger one."

End Confessional


"In that case…" Gabriel shrugged. "I'll bring you up to speed as quickly as possible."


Confessional: Gabriel

"Do I trust Cherry? Hmmm….hard to say. What I do know is that I really appreciate her direct approach here. It doesn't feel like she's lying to us, so the least I can do is return the favor. With her vote, and hopefully the remaining Ebisu votes as well, we can finally get rid of one of our two she-devils."

End Confessional


Location: Cailleach Bog (Alison's Cabin)

Contestant(s): Alison, Monica

"I should have known better than to assume you were inviting me in for breakfast." Monica sighed as she noticed an empty dining table.

"Why on earth would I feed my competition?" Alison feigned offense. "I only cook for Gabriel as part of a deal. You and I are no such allies."

"Good talk, bye." Monica turned to leave the cabin.

"Ah, wait, wait, wait!" Alison quickly rushed to block the door. "I couldn't help but notice your vote for one of the wonder twins the other night. I thought perhaps we could come to a…temporary agreement?"

"And that is?" Monica crossed her arms. "I sincerely doubt you have much to offer by the way of planning given your…current state of affairs."

"I've got a better lot than you have, I do!" Alison huffed. "And the proposition is quite simple really. Split up Ebisu."

"Ebisu? Not the wonder twins in their hot tub outside?" Monica rolled her eyes. "Someone's lost the plot."

"I most certainly have not." Alison groaned. "Why did you have to play the medal? Ellie would've actually bothered to listen to me."

"Well, she's gone and I'm here so…not the greatest argument for your case." Monica snickered.

"Do you want to cause a rift in the wonder twins or not?!" Alison finally snapped.

Monica rose a brow. "You have my attention."

"Now, James, he has a soft spot for Mirai. Meanwhile, Gabriel, he's partial towards Phooko. If, through some unfortunate situation, the former Ebisu members were both on the chopping block, say, because of credit being given to them for a recent elimination ceremony, do you think tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum out there would ever be able to forsake their friends?"

"Yeah, they do give off the vibe that they wouldn't have an easy time with that." Monica nodded. "But as pretty a thought that this is…We're two out of seven. We aren't going to get the help of the Ebisu members in this, and we aren't going to get the help of the dynamic duo out there."

"There's a free agent running around." Alison shrugged. "I'm sure she wouldn't mind throwing one or the both of Ebisu under the bus."


Confessional: Alison

"The truth is, it would be far too easy to convince Phooko to just vote for Monica no matter what and call it a day. He'd be able to tear that idea between the 'twins' so easily. Mirai would throw a fit because she wants me out first and so does the nerd, but the politician is eating my breakfast so he'd be partial towards Phooko's idea, just a little bit, but enough to cause a split vote. Enter the three lone women. Easy. The problem there is…Monica is in my spotlight. I want her out of it. So I shall do my utmost to keep her from any meaningful socialization until such time comes as we can eliminate her! Damn any strategic play that doesn't put me in the spotlight, that's what I say!"

End Confessional


Confessional: Monica

"Alison is smart, but she isn't smart enough to get one over on me. I know what she's going to try to do, that's why I've thought up some failsafes. She can't keep me occupied if she's busy trying to win immunity in challenges, and I just lost what made me a big threat. I can afford to play a little risky now. She thinks sending an Ebisu home is a fool's errand, which is why she sent me on it. Little does she know that I can make it happen. I've known a lot about every contestant since the third challenge, after all."

End Confessional


Location: Cailleach Bog
Contestant(s): Cherry Mirai, Phooko

"Thanks for letting us use the charcoal, Cherry." Phooko said as he turned over some fish on the grill. "As promised, we've saved the biggest fish for you."

"How did you catch it without Monica's spear?" Cherry wondered.

"I've seen the show so I went canoodling." Phooko smiled.

A pause.

"Um…" His voice lowered. "About that ceremony."

"Don't worry about it." Cherry shrugged. "You and I had no binding agreement. It was still a…how do you say it? Dick move? On your part, but I can't fault you for it. I'll just get my revenge by winning the game."

"Not if I win it first!" Mirai beamed.

"You won't." Cherry hid a laugh.

"What's that supposed to mean?!" Mirai huffed.

"Alison hates you the most." Cherry noted. "And she has a tendency to win immunity when she wants to. Not to mention that Monica probably doesn't like the stunt Phooko pulled either, so she'll be looking to hurt him by taking you out. You are, after all, the bigger physical threat."


Confessional: Mirai

"You know…sometimes it's really hard to tell whether Cherry is trying to compliment me or insult me. Maybe I should just assume she means it both ways by default."

End Confessional


"But how much power do they even have? They're only two contestants!"

"More than enough." Cherry shrugged. "Never underestimate the value of a reliable partner. That's part of why your plan to get rid of Ellie worked. It was a foolish decision on her part to not play that medal after she showed it to you two and Monica. She could've helped snipe one of the most important players right out the game along with actually flushing the Force Medal, but she tried to hold onto that power instead of simply trusting in the work I was doing."


Confessional: Phooko

"It almost sounds like Cherry's venting about her problems to us, but uh, make no mistake viewers, Cherry's trying to tell us a fable, basically. It's like she thinks we're kids. I mean, I guess technically we all are but…well, we all are. Either way, it's actually a little worrying that she isn't making that much of a big deal about my whole Ellie blindside."

End Confessional


Confessional: Cherry

"I feel as though I can explain it to you. You listen to my confessionals, so clearly you are somewhat intelligent at the very least. I'm engaging in subterfuge. What I'm saying isn't important, it's what I'm doing that's important. More accurately, what I'm not doing. The Super HotTub Bros. are a well known duo, and while I am throwing my lot in with them, I'm not about to let any of these idiots know that. It's all about the optics. I'm so totally an underdog in the eyes of the other four players left on this island. Who do you think they'll be more likely to root for, vote for, help, etc. in the finale? Especially if they feel bitter towards a certain 'dynamic duo'?"

Cherry leaned back and rested her arms behind her head.

"Work smarter, not harder. Leave that for the meat shields."

End Confessional


Location: Lower Ceol Fields

Contestant(s): Mirai, Watts

"And snap punch! Side kick! Uppercut! High Kick! High Kick! Snap Punch!" Mirai shouted out as Watts followed directions on a crudely assembled training dummy made partially out of Mirai's canoe luxury.

"Terrible form. You aren't getting anywhere like that. Again."

"Again?!" Watts panted. "I thought that was great!"

"Compared to your last attempt? Absolutely. Good enough to compete with the dedicated athletes? Not a chance."

"We don't even know what the challenge is going to be yet."

"You're the one who told me you thought it would be physical in nature, I'm trying to help you out here. The less of a chance of Alison winning immunity the better."

"I'm glad for the help but…taking the wind out me before the challenge isn't going to do much good is it?"

Mirai didn't have a response. She sighed and started taking the dummy down. "As long as your mind is on winning."

"Absolutely."


Confessional: Watts

"There is one thing I want to avoid at all costs. Alison cannot be allowed to reach the final five. I don't know if things will work differently or not this trilogy of seasons when it comes to the final five challenge, but I do know exactly who is in charge of creating it for our season, and Alison is bound to ace any challenge they'd come up with. If my hunch is right, and similar rules will apply to the final five as the last few seasons, then for the sake of both my and Gabriel's games that can't be allowed to happen."

End Confessional


Location: Cloc Mountain Range

Contestant(s): Monica, Phooko

"Why are you here?" Monica asked Phooko as she noticed him approaching over a ridge.

"Reflection. What about you?"

"The same. More-so than you probably. This is the oldest Hayaji campsite."

"I'm not here to try and one-up you." Phooko sighed. "But I do have a question while we're both here. You didn't even try to sway anyone to vote for Gabriel along with you, why?"

"No one would listen, wasn't worth it." Monica shrugged.

"And why do you think that is?" Phooko wondered. "That no one would give you the courtesy to hear you out?"

"Because the people most willing to hear me out blatantly told me that they wanted to get rid of me." Monica answered. "And you have vowed to never work with me at all, so I don't think you have a leg to stand on here."

"I'm not trying to give you a hard time about a play you couldn't have made, Monica. I'm trying to help you see why you couldn't make it. I mean, it's not like you have much, if any, good will among the remaining players, and even teaming up with Alison will only get you so far. You're circling the drain."

"I wouldn't be so sure of myself if I were you." Monica hid a laugh. "Your stunt with Ellie proved only one thing: big moves are scary to the powers that be on this island. And you just made a giant one. I'm a free vote for anyone looking to get rid of someone known to be a schemer like you."

"Let's not act like you aren't a schemer yourself. You've turned on nearly every ally you've had. For what? To get to this undesirable position?"

"As long as I'm not out." Monica sighed. "The position I'm in right now doesn't matter. If I have to win immunity, then I'll do that. Because I know my cause is worth it."

"Oh great, this again." Phooko rolled his eyes. "If that's all you cared about, then congratulations, plenty of people have seen your calls for aid and are no doubt going to help you. What's an extra personal million from this TV show?"

"An extra school, possibly." Monica answered without hesitation. "Or recreational center, or library, or hell maybe even an open park. You're right, Phooko. I'm sure plenty of aid will come in. But if more aid is available, then I'm going to get it. Maybe I haven't played the game you'd approve of. Maybe I haven't even played a game I approve of, but I've played the game. I've got this far, and I'm not about to let you talk down to me from that high horse of yours when your reasons for being on this show are selfish and self-serving at best. I should congratulate you, by the way. You've made it way further than your sister or cousin ever could. You sure showed them!" She feigned excitement.

Phooko went silent for a while.

"I'm sorry." He finally said. "You're right, I shouldn't have said those things to you. It was rude of me."

"Well…" Monica sighed. "I accept the apology. Perhaps we can turn over a new leaf then?"

"Outside of the game, sure." Phooko shrugged. "Inside of it? I literally have no reason to trust you, like at all, and as far as I'm aware, Mirai, Gabriel, Watts, and I are going to keep working together with the votes. I made my big play, and it put me in a more powerful position than I once was. I'm not about to burn those bridges on someone who doesn't have the best track record when it comes to her alliances."

"So you'd spurn an extra vote to perhaps help elevate you come the final five?"

"I wouldn't spurn an extra vote in general." Phooko reasoned. "If Cherry had made this offer for instance, I'd be inclined to say yes. She has a better track record with her previous allies. The past is catching up to you, Monica."

"Then I hope for your sake, Phooko, that mine reaches me before yours reaches you. You are not an innocent. More liked among the others than I am, maybe, but your hands are still red."

"But not with the blood of an ally." Phooko clarified.

"Then why did you feel the need to apologize to Mirai for your Final 11 vote?" Monica wondered.


Location: Tine Naofa Bonfire Pit

Contestant(s): All Remaining

"Welcome!" Chris announced to the final 7 as they took their seats at the Tine Naofa Bonfire Pit. "To the Final 7 Immunity Challenge!"

"I don't…see any challenge equipment…" Gabriel noticed.

"Astute observation Gabriel!" Chris grinned. "Oh, Rudo!" He called. "The contestants are here!"

"Oh good!" A short, dark-skinned girl with her black hair in low pig tails walked up from behind a sand dune.

"This petite woman made the final 7?" Monica seemed surprised.

"Heck, she would've made at least final 6 if it wasn't for a correctly timed tiki play!" Rudo laughed. "I've heard this season has been having a bit of a problem utilizing their immunity medals to their fullest potential. Any stories you feel like sharing with the class?"

"None, if it'll get us to the challenge faster." Monica responded.

"Then go find the challenges scattered throughout the island!" Rudo shrugged. "I put up one in each biome of the island." She counted them off on her fingers. "The Neart Highlands, The Cloc Mountain Range, The Cailleach Bog, The Lower Ceol Field, The Upper Ceol Field, and of course, I have one here in the Ionad Desert too!"

"That's…six challenges in total, then?" Cherry asked.

"Oh yes." Rudo nodded. "After all, I can't very well let all seven of you win immunity, now can I?"

"Ohhh?" Alison's lips curved into a smirk. "Tell me more about these multiple ways to win immunity~."

"Each challenge," Rudo obliged. "Involves traversing some kind of obstacle or completing some kind of puzzle in order to retrieve a singular immunity medal." Rudo announced. "Once you successfully complete any of these challenges, that medal is yours and you are safe from elimination. However, there is nothing stopping you from completing more than one, if you're so inclined. It can help keep immunity out the hands of people you'd really rather not earn it, and it means you'll have more choices when it comes to how to cast your vote. And that's really all there is to it! Complete at least one challenge before your competition or risk your game ending at the next Tine Naofa Bonfire Ceremony. The rules of each challenge will be explained as you find them."

"What about the challenge here in the desert?" Mirai asked. "I don't see it anywhere."

"Oh, that challenge is an easy one to follow in terms of rules." Rudo held out an immunity medal in her hand. "This is the Ionad Desert's immunity medal. Take it from me, and it's yours."

"I thought this was supposed to be a hard challenge." Monica stood up and strode towards Rudo.

"It is!" Rudo smiled as Chef walked out in front of her, blocking Monica's vision.

"Your challenges are waiting!" Rudo called as she had made her way already quite far across the dunes. "Better get a move-on!"


Challenge: Gold or Go Home

Rules: Rudo has set up differing challenges of either physical or mental nature in the six different biomes of Crios Cath. Contestants must be the first to complete at least one of these challenges in order to earn immunity. Contestants already immune are free to complete other challenges that have not yet been completed as well if they want to prevent others from earning immunity. Once all challenges have been completed, the overall challenge ends. Anyone who has won immunity will be safe from elimination.


Location: Neart Highlands

Contestant(s): Gabriel

"Okay…" Gabriel was the first to find a challenge location. He looked around. It didn't appear as though anyone had followed him to the highlands. "Probably towards the fields or chasing Rudo." He reasoned before approaching a signpost explaining the challenge behind it.


Neart Highlands Challenge: You should see a herd of wild goats grazing peacefully not too far in front of you.


"Check." Gabriel nodded at the herd of goats.


Grazing among those goats is one goat that happens to have the immunity medal draped around its neck. Your job is to figure out which goat that is, and use the tools provided to retrieve the medal while standing in the marked area.


Gabriel looked over and saw fishing rods leaning against a boulder with a wooden platform nearby with an X drawn on it in chalk. "So I can't go run into the goat herd…That's…I don't know if that's good or bad. But what the heck, let's try fishing for an immunity medal and see how it goes."

It went poorly.

It was hard enough for Gabriel to get a good swing of the rod in, but he also had to intuit which goat in the herd had a medal around its neck from much further away than he would like.


Confessional: Gabriel

"So I know there has to be a trick to this…somewhere… The good news is that no one else followed me so I definitely have time, but ideally I can finish this soon and then help my allies. I'll look over the rules again."

End Confessional


"Hm….wait a minute…" Gabriel looked over the rules. "Waaaaiiit a minute! Ha! Hahaa! Yes! Okay, perfect!" He clapped his hands excitedly and rushed into the herd of goats.

They were all too busy grazing to pay him much attention.

Perfect.

"Here we are…it's you, isn't it, lil' Billy?" He asked as he approached a goat with a medal around its neck and gingerly removed it. He brought the medal back with him and dropped it just before the marked platform.

"And now…" He grabbed a fishing rod. "All I have to do is pull it up. Every rule has been followed, Rudo!"

It was not long before Gabriel had the medal in his hand.

"And Gabriel is the first to gain immunity!" Chris announced from a helicopter overhead. "The Neart Highlands challenge has been completed! He can either relax, or compete in other challenges throughout the island!"


Confessional: Gabriel
"Yes! Oh thank the island gods! I was worried when I knew my name was being written down last ceremony, but now I don't have to worry about that! And now I also know that there are tricks to these challenges. Time to find Watts and help him out with wherever he is!"

End Confessional


Location: Cailleach Bog

Contestant(s): Cherry, Monica, Phooko

"Why are there so many of us here?" Cherry asked as she noticed Monica and Phooko both arriving at the challenge site at the same time she did.

"Don't want them to win immunity." Both Monica and Phooko pointed at each other as they responded.

"Well, let's at least see what the challenge is then, shall we?" Cherry read the rules silently to herself.

"Going to share with the class, Blanchette?" Monica asked.

"Absolutely not. You're both capable of reading." Cherry scoffed. "I'm not doing this one, so I'll see you two later. Hopefully with at least one medal around my neck."


Confessional: Cherry

"If Monica chose to come here, that means that the only person possibly attempting Rudo's Ionad challenge is Mirai, and based on the rules of the bog's challenge. I have a pretty good guess as to how I can outperform our resident powerhouse in the desert. If she's even there to begin with."

End Confessional


Monica and Phooko remained at the bog and read the challenge rules.


Cailleach Bog Challenge: You will notice two jugs of water on a raised platform. One jug houses the immunity medal. However, in order to get to the medal, you must pour all the water from that jug into the other one. The only tool you will be able to use is a small spoon between the two jugs. The second jug may not overflow with water, and all the water from the first jug must be brought to the second jug. The contestant who manages to solve the puzzle will earn the immunity medal.


"Just a single spoon?" Phooko looked at the spoon. Nothing special about it. A small wooden spoon.

Monica put a hand to her chin in thought.

Phooko inspected the two jugs. "I see which one the medal's in. They both seem incredibly full of water. I guess, since I have the spoon…But wait… the water can't overflow so…"

"Hey, Phooko." Monica walked up to him. "While you're scratching your head over this, mind if I take a crack at it? If it doesn't work out for me, after, say, two minutes, I'll hand the reigns of the challenge back to you."

"Only if you swear to me that you won't try for extra immunities if you happen to win this one."

"Easily done." Monica shrugged.

"No, swear it."

"Paranoid one." Monica rolled her eyes. "Fine. I swear I won't try for extra immunities in this challenge if I happen to win this one. Can I get my two minutes?"

"Knock yourself out." Phooko handed her the spoon.

Monica tossed the spoon away and picked up the jug without the medal. She poured the water into the bog.

"That's…"

"It's not against the rules." Monica noted. "Water isn't overflowing. It's just flowing. Now then."

She picked up the the jug with the medal and gently connected the lips of both jugs together as she turned them so that the water from the medal's jug fell into the now empty second jug.

"But…the spoon…" Phooko pointed.

"Didn't matter." Monica responded. "I didn't need to use any tools."

"And Monica has won the Cailleach Bog challenge!" Chris announced from overhead in his helicopter.


Confessional: Phooko

"Shit."

Confessional: Alison

"Shit."

Confessional: Gabriel

"Shit."

End Confessionals


"Now, as promised. I won't try to win any more immunities in this challenge." Monica smiled. "But you know…I think I might want to go help out some other people complete the remaining ones faster. I'll be heading towards the fields now so I suggest you book it to the mountain range or the desert."


Confessional: Phooko

"Dammit, it was my own fault for even letting her try the challenge in the first place, but I also shouldn't have left such a wide loophole in that deal! Oh…wait a minute…are loopholes the name of the game here? Okay, in that case there's some hope for me yet!"
End Confessional


Location: Ionad Desert

Contestant(s): Cherry, Mirai

"So you were here challenging Chef." Cherry came across Mirai who seemed fresh from losing a fight with the military cook.

"Hey, Cherry…There's something I don't get. Rudo mentioned every biome on the island except for the Glas Woods. Why is that?"

"Why indeed." Cherry nodded. "You'd think if there was going to be a neutral zone with no challenge, it would be here in the desert."

"But there's definitely a challenge in the desert." Mirai stretched her muscles as she stood up.

"She went west if you're tracking her. I might head to one of the fields."

"Hm…" Cherry thought to herself. "Will I have the time if I solve this challenge to look around the woods before everyone else finishes theirs?"

"You…think you can take on Chef?" Mirai rose a brow.

"Don't be absurd. I'm not a moron." Cherry rolled her eyes. "I have no intention of fighting anyone for anything. West you said?"

"Yeah…west…"

"Very well then. See you."


Confessional: Mirai

"I don't know what she thinks she's going to accomplish, but she's going to be upset when she also ends up making sand-angels."

End Confessional


After some trekking, Cherry noticed Rudo and Chef in the distance. She smirked.

"Too easy."


Location: Upper Ceol Fields

Contestant(s): Gabriel, Watts

"Watts!" Gabriel called as he met up with his ally, who was busy looking at a medal hanging from a tall beam.

"Hey, congrats on your immunity!" Watts smiled. "Please don't take mine though!"

"Thought never crossed my mind." Gabriel smiled back. "I'm here to help! Well, as much as I'm able anyways. See, there's a trick to these challenges! All the rules have loopholes, or certain actions that seem forbidden but technically aren't. What's this challenge?"

"Oh, it's pretty simple." Watts pointed up to the medal handing from the beam. "I have to get that medal down but…It's not allowed to touch the ground."

"That's it?" Gabriel asked.

"Well, the catch is that the switch to release the medal is too far away for anyone to be able to catch it in time." Watts motioned to a far switch. "I can think of like, one person even remotely close to our age who could pull that off and they're literally an olympian hopeful so…you can see the predicament here."

"Hey…what were your luxuries again?" Gabriel asked.

"My luxuries?" Watts rose a brow. "Not sure I follow, but I mean, it's pretty obviously the hot tub we use and the towels- Oh."

"Yeah." Gabriel nodded with a smile. "Want me to get them or stand guard?"

"I'll get them." Watts volunteered. "Please stand guard."


Confessional: Watts

"Gabriel is bringing his A-game today! And like, I'm happy for it, really, but it's also kind of worrying. We have enough of a target on our back and I'd really like to not have to fight for immunities consistently. I guess right now though we need to be able to stay safe."

End Confessional


Confessional: Gabriel

"I definitely don't want a target on my back, but I sort of already have it right now thanks to Monica, so until she's gone, I'll try to divert attention away from Watts while hopefully both he and Cherry help me keep these immunities going forward. It's a big ask, but I see no reason to distrust Cherry, and I trust Watts 100%. Especially if he trusts me to stand guard over a challenge task and not complete it on my own."

End Confessional


Within moments, Watts was back with towels. The pair laid them on the ground beneath the medal. Watts pulled the switch, and the medal fell safely onto his towels.

"Booyah!"

"And Watts wins the Upper Ceol Fields challenge, becoming our third contestant to gain immunity!" Chris announced from the helicopter. "Only the Lower Ceol Fields, the Ionad Desert, and the Cloc Mountain Range have open challenges remaining!"


Location: Lower Ceol Fields

Contestant(s): Alison, Mirai, Monica

Monica arrived to see Alison and Mirai standing on various marked areas and tossing rings towards a lever to drop the Lower Ceol Fields immunity medal down to them before the other one.

"Oh, this looks interesting."

"What are you still even doing here?" Alison snapped. "You already have your immunity so help me or beat it!"

"Oh, and here I was going to help you but now I don't feel like it if you're going to be that rude about it."

"Don't help her!" Mirai protested. "She's public enemy number 1!"

"Yeah, exactly." Monica reasoned. "As public enemy number 2, I'd really like to avoid losing the one shield I have left."

"I'm not anyone's shield!" Alison protested.

"Not if you keep fundamentally misunderstanding the challenge, you won't be." Monica taunted as she read the rules. "Toss one of the provided rings so that it lands on the lever to release the medal? This one's so easy it's almost funny that neither of you have finished it yet."

"And Cherry wins the Ionad immunity!" Chris's voice interrupted Monica's taunt as he announced Cherry's immunity win.

"Wait, how?!" Mirai turned towards the sky.


Confessional: Cherry

"Alright kids, I'm about to teach you a very simple life lesson. If you want something really badly, try asking for it. Now then…let's go gallivanting through the woods, shall we?"

End Confessional


"It's just this challenge and the mountain range left." Monica warned the other girls. "Alison, my offer to help is staying open, but if you don't want it, then I heavily suggest you make your way to the other site because at this rate, Mirai is more likely to luck out than either of you are to actually solving the easier way to win this challenge."

"I'll only accept this 'help' if you confirm that you'll vote for whomever I say at this upcoming ceremony."

"Considering it's increasingly likely that we won't even get a choice, I'm very comfortable confirming this. Or do you need me to physically say 'I swear'?"

"Your word is enough for me, now give me my immunity already!"

"Very well." Monica walked up to Alison and whispered something in her ear.

"Hey!" Mirai noticed Alison leaving the marked area. "What do you think you're doing? That's-"

"Why have we been standing there?" Alison asked Mirai. "Nothing said we had to."

She tossed the ring the laughably short distance needed to land on the lever, dropping the immunity medal into her hand. "I'd run if I were you, bloody brute of a girl. Because I'm heading over to Cloc right now to put the final nail in your coffin!"


Location: Glas Woods

Contestant(s): Cherry

"And Alison has won the Lower Ceol Fields challenge, making our fifth immunity win!" Chris's voice echoed throughout the air as Cherry wandered alone through the Glas Woods.

"Well, damn." She shrugged. "It appears unless one of the Ebisu wins this next challenge, the vote will be between the two of them. I did promise Mirai that I wouldn't vote for her, therefore I'm afraid it will have to be Phooko. No real love lost in either case. It makes my integration into that dynamic duo's alliance easier. But this does pose problems about the final 6."

As she was musing, Cherry noticed that one of the trees in the Glas Woods seemed to bear unnaturally orange and yellow leaves for the spring season.

"I feel I'd have seen something like you before." She spoke to the tree. "But you're new…so what secrets are you hiding? What is going to be the reward for my curiosity here?"

She looked around the tree.

She inspected every inch of it.

"Oh?" She noticed a small compartment inside the tree trunk. "Oh, well don't mind if I do take these! Especially if no one's around to see them!"


Confessional: Cherry

"Oh, you don't get to see them either." Cherry shook her head. "But I think some astute viewers might be aware of what they are already."

End Confessional


Location: Cloc Mountain Range

Contestant(s): Alison, Mirai, Monica, Phooko

"Why are there three of you?" Phooko asked, almost enraged, as he saw Alison, Mirai, and Monica all racing towards his challenge site.

Alison ignored him and read the instructions of the challenge aloud. "Before you lies a cavernous maze. While wearing a blindfold, you must traverse your way through the maze. On the other side, you will find the medal. Taking off your blindfold means you must be sent back to the start of the maze."

"Before any of you even try." Phooko warned. "I've already attempted going around it and well…the end of the maze is actually inside the cavern, so you have to go in."

"Welp, I'm heading in!" Mirai put on a blindfold and rushed in.

"I'm not about to rush into dirt." Alison protested. "I'll go slowly, sticking near the wall."

Monica giggled.

"What's so amusing?" Alison huffed, clearly not amused.

"I'll tell Phooko once you leave." Monica said.

"Whatever." Alison walked into the maze as she put on a blindfold and began to hug the wall.

"What was so funny?" Phooko asked as he got his blindfold prepared for another run of his own.

"Oh, I suppose I'll give you a fighting chance." Monica sighed. "Her vanity led her to the answer to this puzzle. The maze is probably a predetermined path as long as you stick to the correct wall for a long enough time. Rushing in like Mirai did will just…"

"Gahhh!" Mirai ran out of the cave and took off her blindfold only to be disappointed she wasn't near the medal.

"Get you turned around." Monica smirked. "I'd run if I were you, Ebisu."

"Fuck." Phooko rushed into the cave as he blindfolded himself and began to hug the wall.

"Wait, shit!" Mirai realized what the strategy was and rushed in after them.


Confessional: Monica

"And now we wait to see who comes out on top! Will it be the rich British bitch whose vanity accidentally found the solution? The over the top and emotional girl that is just a little slow on the uptake but perhaps the most athletic of the three of them? Or the boy that sticks around like a fungus?"

End Confessional


"And Alison wins her second challenge immunity medal and the final challenge has been closed! It looks like the only contestants eligible for a vote tonight are Phooko and Mirai! I'd make your rounds now, because there won't be much time before Tine Naofa!"


Confessional: Watts

"Okay…not ideal right now. Both Monica and Alison making it into the final 6 is…not great, but the good news is that Gabriel and I, and fingers crossed Cherry is serious about aligning with us, are all sitting pretty. All that matters is that we get rid of Alison at Final 6. We won't need immunity as long as she doesn't get it. Alison in the Final 5 is a perfect storm waiting to happen and it needs to be avoided at all costs. I'll try my best to convey this to my allies after elimination…and hopefully I'll still have all of them."

End Confessional


Confessional: Phooko

"This isn't great, but at least Mirai and I don't need to feel guilty about voting for each other, since we literally have to. At least there won't be a tie with an odd number of people."

End Confessional


Confessional: Mirai

"Well, this massively bites. Just as I reconcile things with Phooko one of us is going home. Gahh! If only I'd realized the trick to that challenge sooner! I could have stopped Alison from her first immunity and then I'd be safe! Obviously I'd try to help Phooko too, but to be honest, I'm not sure I'd have been much help. Certainly not as much as Monica was by blatantly giving Alison the solution, geez."

End Confessional


Location: Tine Naofa Bonfire Elimination Ceremony

Contestant(s): All Remaining

"How's it going Final 7? Soon to be Final 6?" Chris asked the contestants as they all gathered around the bonfire. "Cherry, after Ellie's elimination and public willing to you of an immunity medal, you must feel happy to have one around your neck, yeah?"

"Eh." Cherry shrugged. "Truth be told, Chris, I'd prefer not to have anything flashy visible to the competition."

"Meanwhile…" Chris turned to Phooko. "Big play from you last ceremony, Phooko. Now you don't have immunity and the players can only vote for you or Mirai."

"Yeah, not a great situation." Phooko responded.

"Looks like his past is catching up to him sooner rather than later." Monica teased.

"Speaking of, I bet you're happy to have immunity, Monica." Chris grinned. "What with everyone joining forces to get rid of your medal, it's not hard to think they'd want to get rid of you soon after."

"I see it this way, Chris." Monica crossed her legs. "I'm a vote. As buddy-buddy as those two and those two claim to be…" She pointed to the pairs of Phooko and Mirai as well as Gabriel and Watts. "They can't all be buddies forever. I can help shift the balance of power, for better or worse, depending on who is willing to keep me around."

"Sure, sure." Alison quickly butted into the conversation. "But considering they don't want you around, best to stick with my plans, the one person keeping you here."

"Bold statement." Chris noted. "Why are you the one keeping her here?"

"Because at the end of the day, Chris. I'm more threatening than she is. The politician knows it, the nerd knows it, even that brute there knows it." She pointed to Mirai.

"Monica knows how to rile them all up and get under their skin, but I'm the one that knows how to get away with those things."

"Except we want you out too!" Mirai argued. "You aren't getting away with anything, you're just winning immunities!"

"I fail to see how I'm not getting away with it if you literally can't do anything about it." Alison sneered.

"Watts, Gabriel, you two have been quiet so far, anything to add?" Chris asked.

"Uh…" Gabriel looked around. "I mean, I'm happy I'm safe too. Getting even just the one vote last ceremony put me on edge so y'know. I'm sure we'd be having a much different conversation about who wants whom gone if I didn't have this medal around my own neck."

"I think, Chris, what we're trying to say…" Watts joined in. "Is that if this challenge had gone differently, say…one person had won every immunity up for grabs…then choice might not have been as easy as Alison or Monica are implying. With medals gone, alliances become even more powerful, and breaking them up is, inevitably, going to cross the minds of other players."

"Well said." Chris nodded. "In that case…without further delay…it is time to vote. Alison, if you would start us off…" He motioned for Alison to walk up to the voting confessional.

Alison proudly stood up and strode towards the voting podium.

She wrote a name in large, easy to read script, and placed her parchment in the voting urn.


Confessional: Alison

"This has been a long time coming!"

End Confessional


After Alison, Cherry was called up.


Confessional: Cherry

"I'm bound to vote for you right now. Sorry, I guess."

End Confessional


When Cherry returned, Gabriel took his turn voting.


Confessional: Gabriel

"This decision is actually kind of hard…but I guess I'll have to vote for you, sorry.

End Confessional


Mirai was up next.


Confessional: Mirai

"Sorry Phooko. I wish we didn't have to vote for each other, but it's not like wasting our votes on an immune person would accomplish anything right now."

End Confessional


Then, Monica.


Confessional: Monica

"Frankly, I think this is the wrong choice, but if I want to get any clout with the 'friendship' crowd, I'll need to stick to my word. This is a game about tricking other people into giving you a million dollars by the way. How did we wind up with these absurd honor rules?"

End Confessional


Phooko got up from his seat to vote as Monica returned.


Confessional: Phooko

"Sorry, Mirai. If there was literally any other person available to be eliminated we might have been able to get out of this mess, but not tonight."

End Confessional


And finally, Watts walked up to the podium.


Confessional: Watts

"I guess my voting choice is clear…but we'll see whether anything comes from this or not."

End Confessional


"I'll go tally the votes." Chris announced as Watts came back.

"Hey, uh…could I talk to all of you?" He asked.

"What is it?" Gabriel wondered.

"All of us?" Monica asked.

"All of you." Watts nodded.

"The floor is already yours, so get to using it." Cherry hurried him along.

"She." He pointed to Alison. "She really can't make it past the Final 6."

"Wha-?!" Alison huffed. "I knew you'd be thinking that, but I didn't expect you to put it out in the open, James! Shame on you!"

"Hey, yeah…" Gabriel nudged Watts. "What the heck are you doing?!"

"I'm deadly serious." Watts said, ignoring the outbursts. "We cannot let her, of all people, reach the final 5."

"Why are you telling us this now and not, I don't know, before I helped her win challenge immunities today?" Monica asked. "Also, I think we all get a say in who goes home, or have we decided to stop voting individually too?"

"I'm not trying to dictate the votes." Watts said. "This is a plea, not an order."

"You realize, James, that your ass is gone the second I do get into the final 5." Alison narrowed her eyes. "If not, sooner."

"Watts, seriously, I get it, she sucks…" Gabriel tried to reason. "But we maybe don't want people placing a giant target on your back!"

"Frankly, I don't care whom the vote is for as long as their name isn't Cherry." Cherry shrugged. "But I'm going to be far more concerned with making sure I'm safe than making sure anyone else isn't."

"And if I get rid of her before the final five, that'll just mean you lot will get rid of me at the final five!" Monica argued. "If anything, we should break up your alliance! It'll be the only one left after tonight anyways."

"Excuse you?!" Alison turned on Monica. "Are we or are we not working together here?"

As bickering erupted among the contestants, Chris emerged with a platter containing a single medal.

"I…whoa… What happened while I was tallying the votes?! Usually you guys are pretty quiet!"


Confessional: Gabriel

"That's supposed to be my line! Watts, what the heck was that about?! I'm trying to keep a target off of you here! I'll be safe enough as long as I allow Alison to keep sneaking me breakfast, but you don't have that deal going on! I'm better connected socially than you are. I can parley without turning it into a camp-wide argument! If anyone should be risking a target, it should be me!"

End Confessional


Confessional: Watts

"I cannot fathom why Gabriel keeps bringing attention to the people voting for him, but I'm not about to just let my closest ally paint a target on his back. I needed to get the idea of getting rid of Alison before the final 5 out anyways, and I was hopeful that we'd just be eliminating her tonight but apparently thanks to Monica helping her, I'm stuck pleading with everyone. Either way, everyone's anger is divided between me and them now, and not Gabriel. I have Cherry in my corner and she's proven to be smart and reliable based on my interactions with her. Gabriel only has that with me as far as I'm aware. So if any of us need to risk a target, it needs to be me."

End Confessional


Confessional: Cherry

"How fiercely loyal those two are to each other is the perfect reason to throw my lot in with them. Not only are they going to keep juggling targets between the two of them, they'll, more importantly, keep the targets away from me. I wasn't expecting a blatant plea for everyone to vote off Alison however. The final 6, whichever of the Ebisu makes it in, will prove to be interesting."

End Confessional


"Has…everyone settled down?" Chris asked after he finally managed to get the ceremony back under control. "Because, obviously, having won immunity, Alison, Cherry, Gabriel, Monica, and Watts, you are all safe."

He motioned for 5 of the Final 6 to come stand near him.

"In addition…" Chris announced. "For winning 2 immunities, more than anyone else, the inheritor of the loser's camp luxuries will be Alison."

Alison grinned. "And the rich get richer!"

"Usually, that's meant to be an insulting saying." Monica chided.

"Then feel free to be insulted." Alison shrugged. "I'm getting closer to the luxurious island life I deserve!"

"Ahem…" Chris turned everyone's attention back to him. "Mirai and Phooko, this is the final medal of the night. And it goes to…"

"... Phooko."

Chris tossed Phooko the medal.

"FUCK!" Mirai cursed from her seat.

"I was wondering when she'd blow." Alison sneered. "But don't worry, I'll be sure to take great care of your canoe and water bottles until I win the competition~!"

"Ugh." Mirai balled her hands into fists. "Not only to lose but to lose specifically to you?"

"I know!" Alison beamed. "It feels grand from over here!"

"Yeah, the rest of you kick her ass next challenge." Mirai parted with those words and headed down towards the Tomb of Shame.

"And just like that we're down to 6!" Chris announced. "Alison, Cherry, Gabriel, Monica, Phooko, and Watts! Will the plan to get rid of Alison finally work? Will Monica ever recover in the eyes of her competition? Will Watts and Gabriel keep the target off of each other's backs or will it end terribly for them? Find out maybe all and maybe none of these next time! On…

Total!

Drama!

Niiiiialasach!"


*Mirai's Final Confessional

"Fuck Alison all the way home, that dirty fucking cheating-ass bitch that she is. I don't know why getting rid of her before the final 5 is important but I damn sure want her out ASAP. I can't say I'm terribly proud of my game per se. I got led on, I got cheated on, almost every ally I ever made betrayed me, and I couldn't even outlast that british skank. Right now, I guess I'm rooting for Watts? I don't think he voted for me in the recent ceremony, and he's one of the few people that I've felt has always had my back in the game. But frankly, I don't really care who wins as long as Alison doesn't."

End Confessional*


The Votes for those who are curious

Alison voted for…Mirai

Cherry voted for…Phooko

Gabriel voted for…Mirai

Mirai voted for…Phooko

Monica voted for…Mirai

Phooko voted for…Mirai

Watts voted for…Phooko


AN: And with that, Mirai's time on the island has run out!

I really enjoyed writing Mirai, but it's not very often that you get to write a character who has their heart in the right place and definitely is one of the people more against villainous actions while also writing them as an extremely emotional and flawed character. Usually the characters who are submitted to oppose villains are fairly well put-together, and that's great and all, but it's also fun to write a character who has pronounced flaws that they wear on their sleeve. It's also not very often that you get to write the victim of a villain's plans outlasting them (speaking, of Aaron, here, not Alison, obviously). I'd say Mirai definitely needed an experience like Total Drama. Not, specifically what happened to her, no one needs that, but she definitely needed to be put in a space that would allow her to reflect on some of her own actions and behaviors and she'll have plenty of time for that in the Tomb of Shame. I'm not sure if or when we'll see her again (aside from the finale, of course), but I believe that if/when we do, she will have grown thanks in no small part to her experiences with others on the show.

For those wondering, Mirai's alignment was: Lawful Good (LG)

Proving the old adage true, that "lawful good" is not "lawful nice"

Having studied her actions throughout the season, Mirai receives the title of: Hero

I'm sure plenty of people will, at least initially, disagree with the assessment. Mirai was incredibly emotional and not very strategic in her planning. She was quick to anger and quick to become violent while angry, and she trash talked the other teams pretty consistently.

And yet,

She stood up to the actually villainous contestants more than any other eliminated player to date. If she spotted what she believed was an injustice, she devoted herself to going after it.

It was single-minded of her, driven by emotions, and generally not the best idea in order to get further in the game, but…she did it anyways. Because her trash-talking is just trash-talking, something almost every team does on these shows. Her violence was directed solely towards contestants that actively preyed on her emotions, etc. She is far, far from the typical 'hero' in these stories.

But she hasn't cheated, or stolen, or even lied. She even gets invariably angry at the people who do. Not even just to her but in general. That isn't the behavior of a 'neutral' player. So while she is definitely not a typical example, I feel Mirai has managed to check all the important boxes to earn the "Hero" title, while avoiding the "neutral" one.

But that's just all my opinion. What do you guys think?

Mirai will be back for the finale! Can she keep her temper under control to help the finalist she supports?

Conlan's challenge is up next! What do you think it will be?


AN2: We have a discord! Come check it out! The link is on my profile!


EN: Just finished reading through the chapter, and boy is it a good one. These competitors are really at each other's throat as the game closes to an end. There was recent discussion about the finales for these seasons (and I'm talking about the whole Crios Cath trilogy, minus Hud Hynafol Upright because I do not know a single thing happening there), and the Nialasach finale will be so good, so don't lose hope for any characters that have still lasted.

I remember reading Mirai for the first time… she's definitely not my kind of character to read, but she is definitely unique in her own way. I enjoyed her story through the team swaps and team charities. She has gone through one heck of a journey, and it's still not over yet!

Conlan's challenge… honestly, I envision it to be a challenge like Rudo's challenge where there are multiple things to do, but Rudo just did that… so… idk? I can't even think of some crackhead thing that Doobop might like more and might actually want to try… so we'll just have to wait and see!


AN3: And as always, thanks for reading!