Total Drama X: Ultimate Islands!
Episode 39: The Four Island Challenge
Dante, the guy who joined an actually evil alliance to get ahead in the game, saw some regrettable actions by its evil leader, backstabbed him through the middle of the game, helped his team out and played a fair and honest game since the final merge (if you don't count Miko's elimination)
Pit, the season's mostly golden boy with a love that's just as golden and innocent as he is, yet he competes in challenges twice as hard as anyone else would to make it here. Also, was part of the late-game Girlfriend Squad, if you want to know.
Ochako Uraraka, probably the most overlooked player to be in the finale maybe aside from Beth and this time, she might have had the "Short Ladies" for a short time, funny how that works, but like Pit, she's generally been a nice person (even if some of her votes were a bit pragmatic.)
Nicole, who consistently was a strong player even through getting forced be in said evil alliance and after dealing with the chicanery of the final merge, decides to use alliances for good (i.e. just trying to get ahead), making sure to not sabotage anyone else even if she was playing a bit shady!
All of these player really represent the four corners of the game and you know, there has been four islands in the game (the two halves of Rushall, that McLean Island, Pahkitew & Boney) and you know what the finale is, you read the title, get ready for it.
Memeking: It's truly over when this chapter's uploaded, since you'd be reading! That being said, Dante's probably got the best story out of the four, so I can't blame you for cheering him on
Swooce: Wasn't expecting ya to be a lurker, but I respect the Nicole choice. Real game player, real nice person and would probably deck Chris if she wasn't on TV!
No intro, as per usual, since the four of them were casually chilling with each other on beach chairs and it would be one more challenge until some people went home with a whole bunch of money.
Or one guy went home with a stupid amount of money, but Chris was being real coy about it, as they basked in the clear blue skies that this place didn't often get until this season.
That being said, there was a whole work week in between this prison and the four-island finale for Uraraka's short therapy session that meant she was back to being willing to kick all kinds of butts.
"So, what do you want to do with that three and something million? Buy a lot of pizzas, do some random charitable acts of kindness?" Pit asked, as the other three looked at him. "Do something stupid with it until you're happy?"
"Why are you asking like you don't know what you're gonna do?" Uraraka said. "Because I'm gonna help out my school of U.A., my family and...do some other stuff?"
"Huh, that's nice...and yeah, I definitely know what I'm gonna do. Throw the biggest party to ever partied with drinks that I could drink and figure out who to give the rest to!"
"Really?"
"Yeah, really, I live in a world without money or something."
Pit managed to get the attention of Dante and Nicole, who were looking out at the weirdly un-dreary sky of their currently home island.
"No way! I would like to live in that Skyworld...but I wouldn't mind doing a whole lot of work." Nicole said, as Pit gawked. "For some purpose in my life, since I wouldn't like to be lazing around."
"Wow, that's boring."
"You wouldn't understand." Nicole sighed, as Pit realised something.
"If I had all that money, I would help my lady get some more pizza for her buck and...give the rest to some of you guys."
Dante just chuckled, as Uraraka grinned at the angel's generosity.
"Then give me some if you want to." Dante said. "Rent's crazy."
"So are you if you think I'm giving you some money!" Pit declared. "Because I beat you fair and square and you're still kind of a bad guy."
"You are talking like me trying to make sure that Coachman's in jail or at least, getting wrecked by everybody who's been eliminated or who has been troubled by him..."
Dante was thinking about stuff, as Pit was taking a bit of some stolen pizza that he had gotten.
"...Actually, it was kinda really obvious, but you wouldn't have known what I know about him."
"It's a whole lot of rumours, though I might believe it! There's something about him that makes him feel like one of my country's big villains." Uraraka said. "Like scary on a level where he can convince you that he's a good guy."
"I knew he wasn't a good dude, just that he was a serious player!" Dante justified his decision.
Uraraka wanted to say something, but Nicole stopped him.
"This man is an idiot, but unless you can find a good reason for defying him, you would end up in his clutches, alliance or not." Nicole seethed, trying to hold back her anger. "...and I was in his alliance, actually."
Uraraka definitely had more to say.
"I'm only saying that I would refuse because I don't think that he's the type of guy to even have good strategy, nevermind good morals." Uraraka said. "I'm sorry, guys."
"I wouldn't even approach him because I'm cool-" Pit tried to say something, as Dante grumbled.
"Can you guys stop talking about that piece of shit. Can we agree that the guy's probably wearing a dress or some other type of torture anyways?" Dante asked, as the rest of the final four looked at him. "Sorry, thinking about him pisses me off."
"Good...it should." Pit stated like he was trying to create a catchphrase. "But you shouldn't swear because Chris doesn't swear."
Someone had to bring him up.
"Where is Chris?"
The four of them walked around to get a nasty surprise around the cafeteria, mostly because Chris was a little bit peeved at them...and also because Chris was wearing the most 80s light blue tuxedo that was literally all flash.
"Dudes, where were you? I was all prepared for this extra painful challenge."
"We were on the dock? You might have seen us." Dante snarked, ready to finish it with a quip.. "...Hopefully avoiding whatever torture you cooked up for today."
"No way, you all signed up, survived and even thrived in this season of mostly torturous challenges and really annoying campers! Of course I ain't going to go easy."
"Well, at least you confirmed it." Nicole sighed.
"It's okay, that means it's going to be an awesome challenge!" Pit shouted, as Uraraka wasn't surprised. "Do you guys like the more boring stuff?"
"We were in prison a few days ago, I don't think there have been many boring challenges!" Nicole remarked.
"That's just-"
"Okay, okay, yeesh!"
Chris finally got everyone's full undivided attention, as he had prepared this final challenge for a long time and already there was a massive tarp that was actually being moved by Chef's impressively strong golf cart.
"I bet you're wondering, what's up with this massive tarp we've got on these mysterious things! Well, they're an important part of this challenge...since you've got an assortment of actual friends this time for the most brutal challenge yet!"
"Are they cages?" Uraraka incredulously asked.
"Well, yeah, but they do contain actual friends from your original teams! The teams that all of you represent with your games and some of them are real flashy!"
The four contestants had lights shining on their faces.
"Dante, the last remaining Rough Rhino, did really betray his team by teaming up with Coachman's alliance of evil and weirdly stupid moves, but after betraying that alliance...and a whole bunch of bad guys, he's really become a hero of this season, if you ignore Miko's elimination!"
Dante was understandably frowning at the introduction.
"Pit, the last remaining Crafty Crow, ironically wasn't very crafty, but was the consistent challenge beast if that even exists here and got bitten by the love bug for Miko and through awkward kisses, miscommunications and romantic moments that I can't stand, pushed his way through literally everyone else in the friendliest way and is here right now!"
Pit was raising his fist and doing that one pose where his two fingers stick out.
"Ochako Uraraka, the last remaining Daring Deer, basically was a nice girl the whole season until she made a voting block with a supervillain...and then she continued being a nice girl till the final merge, where she just kept on avoiding elimination until she got smart! Smart enough to get here!"
Uraraka was trying not to hear it.
"And Nicole, the last remaining Striking Swordfish, kinda had an unremarkable run until she got dragged into the mega-alliance that turned into a black hole of bad strategy, somehow outlasting Coachman and Azula through being nicer! So, she teamed up with Bayonetta to make her one that kinda got exposed in top 16 and ever since, she has not been messing around one bit like breaking prison walls!"
Nicole had to raise an eyebrow at the passive-aggressive statements that Chris was making.
"All of you kinda represent your original teams and those friends really do represent them!" Chris announced, as he had to lift the tarp. "See ya guys at the finish!"
Of course, he lifted the tarp through someone else driving the cart, which was a genuinely random intern that looked quite dissatisfied with his working life and uh, what was under the tarp wasn't really that surprising.
"Hold the phone, Chris wasn't lying for once?" Pit asked.
"...Are you stupid?" Miko asked. "I don't think Rapunzel knows you that well."
"MIKO!"
"PIT!"
Pit basically pulled the door down for Rapunzel and Giovanni, who grinned at seeing the angel do their thing and finally, Sir Daniel Fortesque, who was congratulating Pit in jawless language.
Miko and Pit were still kissing, as the other three people were excited for the relationship.
"Finally, the esteemed Pit will claim victory!" Daniel proclaimed.
"What's wrong, why would he make you ew?!" Rapunzel viciously held her pan, as Sir Daniel showed his hands.
Team Pit/TMP: Pit, Miko Kubota, Rapunzel, Giovanni Potage & Daniel Fortesque (the skull knight with no lower jaw, armour and a sword)
Dante had his work cut out for him, as the sheer presence of Iori Yagami alone made him think twice about what he would use him for...even if all of his other friends were in here.
Sol Badguy stood strong, Pinstripe Potoroo opened the door and Basil wondered what a mouse detective would be doing here.
"Don't worry, I can understand if you guys were pissed off because you're being kidnapped." Dante remarked slyly.
"Uh, you have a strange definition of friends, if you think a man such as Mr. Yagami over there would be a friend." Basil said. "Though, this is Christopher's fault."
"Fair point." Dante said. "Pinstripe, you gotta apologise for him."
"I'm sorry that Coachman fucked him over like it was nobody's business...doesn't mean I have to like a pretentious man." Pinstripe answered, as Basil definitely heard that. "...Fuckin' sorry."
"That's as much of an apology as I would accept."
Iori and Rock were hangin', by the way, albeit a bit angry, as they all waved goodbye to the mouse detective
Team Dante/TDE: Dante, Pinstripe Potoroo, Sol Badguy, Iori Yagami & Rock
Ochako Uraraka wasn't surprised to see Tanjiro or Yuri, seeing as they were kinda homies at least...and a little surprised to see Tiana be fine, seeing as they were straight up friends.
She was really surprised that Aisling didn't just maul her in the beginning.
"Oh, I miss most of you guys! Sorry, I don't know you that much, Aisling." Uraraka said, trying to not cry.
"Hah, you're just lucky that I know the power of the forest!" Aisling had to brag.
"Hey, don't brag...you are way younger than me!" Yuri interrupted.
"You ladies...and guy!"
Uraraka was clearly in tears, as Tanjiro was pleased that his former teammate was in a good mood for this challenge.
Team Uraraka/TOU: Ochako Uraraka, Tanjiro Kamado, Yuri Sakazaki, Tiana and Aisling
Nicole may or may not have drawn the short straw, as having a blonde glowing soldier paired up with a redhead fashion-loving detective wasn't the problem.
The problem was the two guys on the team, since Oikawa was very much a decent guy and, uh, Lowain was also one that stared right through the cat mom.
"Yeah, you're not getting that past me." Lowain remarked.
"Look, Lowain, I know that you and that cat lady had differences, but we're here to win the game and I don't care how much your girlfriend makes, team work makes the dream work." Cassie explained, probably just as tired of the challenge as Lowain was.
"Bro, don't pull out the cliche, I got screwed over, man." Lowain replied almost sheepishly.
"You better make the dream work or else I'm gonna break your back!" Nicole shouted, as the door was off somewhere else. "...Actually, I'm not, but I might."
Lowain shook his head at speed, as Oikawa and Daphne knew better than to mess around with a mother that wanted better things for her kids.
Team Watterson/TWS: Nicole, Lowain, Cassie Cage, Daphne Blake and Tohru Oikawa
"Okay, now that you've got your teams together, all you have to do is go through the final obstacle course, get a big canoe, carry it and get off Boney Island to make it towards Pahkitew!" Chef announced through the speakerphone. "My challenge ain't for a while, but Chris is busy for some reason."
Each of the quintet group of old teammates weren't wasting any time in Chef's mad game of random obstacles on Boney Island, as while it wasn't really a real challenge, it was still a pretty tough prelude to the real action happening on the other islands.
"Get over there, Pinstripe!" Sol commanded.
"Move it, Cassie, time's a-wastin!" Nicole shouted.
"Alright, let's go, the rest of you guys!" Pit shouted from a balance beam.
"Uh...we're here too."
Uraraka didn't really have that much to say because her team were wisely keeping some distance from one another, although they were getting acquainted with the course.
Team Uraraka were taking it slow and steady, while Team Dante was kind of the opposite despite Pinstripe being real careful on the piranha platforms, as everyone else kinda caught up to him.
"Guys, guys, chill out, we're in a race, but we also need to not fall off." Rock said.
That was true only because there was a massive wall below the final four-lane wide platform.
"Easier said than done, man!" Rock huffed, having a piranha on his leg.
Team Dante was now taking it slow and steady, which was a problem when Team Pit was keeping it fast while taking those turns, which worked out for Pit and Miko.
"Alright, let's do this, Sir Dan!" Pit declared, as Sir Daniel wisely didn't run on ahead. "Seriously, you can hear me right?"
"Yes, I can!" Sir Daniel moved between the widely spaced wrecking balls. "Do not be hasty."
"...Dude, come on!"
Sir Daniel was joined by Rapunzel using her hair in ridiculous ways.
And Team Nicole was...pretty solid, as Nicole, Cassie and Oikawa had made it, Lowain was in the process of it with Daphne waiting for the obstacles to get less obstructive, which was going to be a problem.
"Uh, you sure that the obstacles are going faster?" Lowain asked.
"Are the balls going in circles?" Daphne answered with insistent annoyance.
Lowain made it through the awkward balancing balance beam, as Daphne was crawling through the challenge.
*Daphne's confessional*
She huffed.
"Honestly, I came here to get away from mysteries that might kill me! This show might kill me and this has been a real mystery...like it is real and it sure is a mystery!"
*Confessional cut*
That might have been a great move because Giovanni Potage was about to get sent by a wrecking bell off the course and forget his name-
"My name's Giovanni, ball!"
-Oh good, he remembered his name, but that meant Team Pit would be behind and no-one even noticed that Team Uraraka somehow made it all of the way with every one of her team.
"Good work, Tanjiro." Tanya said.
"Thank you, weird child!" Tanjiro replied, as Uraraka was a little pissed.
Tanya smirked at Uraraka.
*Uraraka's confessional*
"I have no idea what her problem even is, but it is quite big! At least we're in first place!" She grinned.
*Confessional cut*
Team Uraraka went into the temporary wooden structure that housed one important box with an important thing, a colour-coded piece of paper that showed "Pahkitew Dock 1A"
"That sure is a prize." Yuri commented. "I bet we're way ahead of everyone else!"
The door definitely required five different hands, as the door basically opened with Team Nicole falling down on top of each other and Team Uraraka almost disappeared from the place then.
"Was it just a piece of paper?" Cassie asked, as Nicole looked unimpressed.
Team Nicole opened the thing, as Team Dante also got in and Team Pit was finally in there and they all heard about-
"Pahkitew Dock 1A...it really was a piece of paper." Cassie answered, now aware of her surroundings. "It was a lie."
*Cassie Cage's confessional*
The blonde soldier had her face in her hands
"...Please tell me you're doing better in another universe, Dad, because I made my final team be in last place."
*Confessional cut*
Team Uraraka were sprinting away from the other teams, the quintuplet of ladies (and Tanjiro Kamado) were trying to find the docks once again, completely understanding the location.
Mostly because it was those damned Larrys again blocking the path for seemingly no reason, but luckily there was someone that could fight them and that someone was not Aisling.
Aisling had one thing.
"Come on, guys, we're part of the same forest, let me through!" Aisling shouted.
"These guys are controlled by Chris." Uraraka said. "I don't think they respect the forest."
"Then they're gonna listen to me!"
Aisling was standing there strongly, as the Larrys were trying to grasp her and then she had the other animals beat them up or rather, they came to beat up the animals.
"Go, go, go!"
This team was desperately sprinting all of the way towards the canoe boats, as the other teams were already doing some canoe action at speed...and their boat was stuck inside the building.
"Damn, Larrys, you did a good one!" Chris laughed. "This challenge I had cooking up, so these guys don't know what they're in for!"
Uraraka pulled off the boat, carried it and the team had to speed to even catch up to the other three teams.
'
The four teams finally reached Pahkitew Island's Dock 1A after a long canoeing and this time around it was very apparent that, while Team Dante had a pretty big headstart and extending it further towards the second challenge, the second challenge would be a bit of a problem.
Mostly because it was weirdly inspired after a long lift ride towards the top of...something.
"Team Dante, welcome to the second challenge of the finale and uh, have you ever seen one of those human pinball things?" Chris asked, as most of them nodded. "Good, because Dante's gonna be one of them, so all you have to do is get down into the hole, killer obstacles and all and the rest of your teammates can help. Sounds good?"
"Not really, but I expected better." Dante quipped. "Gonna have myself a pin-ball of a time!"
"You get points for being optimistic." Sol remarked.
"Cool."
All five of the guys drove themselves into the pinball without questioning and they were off, as Team Pit arrived and sprinted towards the yellow pinballs.
"Wait, Team Pit! Pit's gonna be a human pinball!"
"Awesome! Guys, just keep me in check." Pit said. "This isn't going to be easy."
"We will!" Miko shouted. "There's even cameras here for us to watch."
Pit hopped in there, following after Dante and then Nicole arrived with her crew and-
"Nicole, you're gonna be a human pinball, while everyone else watches!"
-realised that it was going to be one of those challenges.
"Don't worry, we all gave ya w00ts and wishes for the dub!" Lowain shouted. "Which should be easy!"
"I'm going to win and it won't be easy!" Nicole declared.
"That's the spirit, man!" Lowain yelled. "Or ma'am."
And finally, after a pretty long five minutes, Team Uraraka arrived a little worse for wear and feeling surprisingly good.
"Uraraka, welcome to being a human pinball. Your teammates can only watch-"
"Yeah, I got it, we're in last!" Uraraka interrupted Chris tersely.
"Don't interrupt me, dude." Chris spoke with annoyance.
Uraraka got into the pinball, as she waved everyone their temporary goodbyes.
It was infinitely worse in the painballs, as Dante, Nicole and Pit were fighting for first place and to not die on the time-honoured classic of a normal looking slope with a ton of bullshit.
Like explosives that sent the angel far upwards and forwards and only provided a bump boost for Dante, who was trying to control himself.
"Geez, it's gonna-"
Dante then ran into some thorns and it didn't really stop the ball, but slowed it down just enough and Nicole was angry, which was all that needed to be said.
It was truly something that Pit finally landed at speed, Dante was trying to out-speed Nicole and Uraraka regretted it instantly, being right back at the start and already out-of-control.
Pit only had the wide open space in front of him, even if he couldn't stop rotating inside the ball that had an absurd amount of momentum that rolled him downhill into cactus that seriously slowed down the ball.
Dante was going a little too fast for his own good, his ball ending up hopping over a broken van...and a tree with a ton of leaves, but he got back in control of the slipperiest ball ever known.
Nicole's ball was covered in oil, ending her control of the giant pinball and going over a bunch of random rocks that bumped her ball every which way on the big rock slope that was formed.
Unsurprisingly, Uraraka caught up at a ridiculous speed thanks to getting bumped by an explosion that was directly behind her...but it meant that she was spinning through a stupid amount of obstacles, having vomited on that one mud pile.
*Uraraka's confessional*
The hero was still green.
"I really feel like most of these challenges are-"
She was about to up-chuck.
"-most of these ones are painnnnn-"
She kinda just threw up a bit.
*Confessional cut*
Strangely enough, Pit managed to get into the hole into the pinball slowdown zone with a flat metal surface, rolling right onto the bottom of the small building that he finally arrived in.
The angel then rolled out of the pinball like a literal human pinball out of pure dizziness, before getting up like he was doing a tuck 'n' roll, as Nicole and Dante were arriving.
"Wow, you guys are dizzy!" Pit proclaimed.
Dante and Nicole finally opened their pinball and immediately, the effects of a ten-minute pinball ride downhill opened up their senses and caused them to do a little bit of vomiting, Pit taking the opportunity to run towards the box full of the next island's locations.
Pit got the info with some ease.
"Dude, that was sick, quite literally too!"
Pit's confessional*
"Gonna be honest, Lady Palutena, I think I might be able to win this easily." Pit commented on his current situation.
"Be careful, Pit, most of these challenges come from a madman's mind and this one probably tests your will, since the first challenge was about speed." Palutena advised.
"...Strength, probably, since he really doesn't like us." Pit said uneasily.
"I think that Chris really likes seeing his contestants in pain, not really the same thing, Pit." Palutena remarked. "Even if it doesn't matter much."
Pit got the info to go towards "Sports Island, Dock 2A." and soon enough, Dante and Nicole got up after recovering from their quick vomit, which meant that Uraraka was not only behind, but also lost a decent amount of time to the vomit...but she did unsteadily walked towards the box.
"Team my name, we're way behind!" Uraraka shouted. "Also, I think the box made some weird sound to alert everybody."
Uraraka, at least, got the location.
The rest of them were sprinting all of the way down through the signs towards their new boats, making sure that their other teammates were clearly behind them in their go karts.
Which were not even that much faster than the pinballs, which was ridiculously impressive for even go karts, but the karts were clearly catching up to the final four, Uraraka riding one with her team.
"Uh, later losers!" Yuri shouted.
TOU's kart was speeding towards the wooden docks, no regard for whatever was in their way as Yuri was behind the wheel and no-one else could really drive.
"So, what do we do? Get a barf bag?" Yuri quipped.
"No, we're gonna win this challenge." Uraraka squeaked out, still carrying on the nausea.
"Yeah, sure, you're about to up-chuck some more." Yuri replied.
The first place kart was directly drifting their way onto the dock with style, Yuri and Aisling were plainly confident in their lead and tied slowly, as the other three untied their second boat as fast as possible.
Tanjiro looked nervous about using his demon-slaying sword, but he definitely cut the rope through easily and Team Uraraka noticed the other teams coming down quite quickly.
"Team Uraraka is the first one out of there, vomit and all and Team Dante's-"
Dante literally cut the ropes in one swing.
"-keep it stylish in second place like he should!"
"Nah, buddy, lemme do this one thing!" Pinstripe carried the boat. "...I ain't playing with my friends."
"Wait, I'm nobody's friend!" Iori shouted, helping him out. "This guy just deserves it more!"
Team Dante was doing good, as Teams Nicole and Team Pit were plainly neck and neck with each other to getting the boats out and well, they were doing slightly better in terms of teamwork.
But that did not count for much.
The third challenge was quite the simple one, as Dante managed to predict it quite easily while he was the last one to arrive on Sports Island, ready to do some serious catch-up on his work.
By the way, McLean Island was plainly swanky for obvious reasons, since it wasn't just a place where Chris was hanging in, but it was a pretty good sports facility as it contrasting with the theme park forest feeling that the whole island had.
"I think this is where we did the volleyball thing, if I'm right?" Sol remembered. "Yeah, those were bad times."
"Dude, we won this one!" Rock happily reminisced. "Plus the challenge was pretty cool, hopefully like this one!"
"Get that damn hope outta here, Rock."
Team Dante didn't have much of a lead, as Team Uraraka was already looking at all of them.
"Welcome top two teams to your challenge of strength, obviously! The challenge is actually pretty simple and might be relaxing for some..."
The two finalists and eight helpers expected some kind of painful addition.
"...and for the rest of 'em, somewhat like torture! All you have to do is make it to the other side of the island with the rock-filled backpacks together! The only way to unlock your final boats is with that kind of weight anyways and no, you can't stand on the buttons...it lifts up anyways, so backpacks only!"
"Not another one of these, man!" Rock complained.
"I'm sorry that you forgot to change your expectations." Tanya added.
"Also, there are traps along the paths and my cottage is blocked off!"
"Why is it like this again?" Tanya had to ask.
"Because I put them there...and it's entertaining! Go, campers!"
Team Dante and Uraraka were slowly crawling out of the starting area, which was just the split paths between the courts and the tropical-esque forest to the left and the other two teams were noticing their colour-coded backpacks.
"Welcome, loser teams, carry those backpacks into the forest and put them onto some button to weigh 'em down and you get a boat! And there's traps."
"Okay...what is wrong with you?" Pit asked.
"That's probably cliche to him." Squirrel Girl answered.
"Yep...you loser teams are behind, though!"
Team Dante was trying to be as fast as he reasonably could into this obviously minefield and Team Uraraka knew that they were walking through a minefield, so they took it slow.
"Hahaha, bye, suckers!" Pinstripe taunted the other teams. "...I'm not gonna lie, this does feel good."
"Oh, I bet it does for you." Sol growled. "I don't respect your bullshit."
"Eh, that's fine..."
Pinstripe awkwardly stepped over a mine.
"...Kinda got used to it."
And the team wasn't really super attentive because Dante and Pinstripe definitely stepped on a mine and somehow got blown completely backwards, when Team Uraraka noticed all of that and still slowly crept on with their own two feet.
Not only that, but Sol, Rock and Iori were practically forced forward mostly because the rocker was surrounded by strong guys that kinda ran through a minefield.
Rock wasn't lucky.
As for Team Pit, they were trying to get creative with trying to not get completely blown up in the minefields with one of the five people immediately getting his foot toasty.
"Dang, that's some hot feet!" Pit shouted.
The five of them were not carefully moving, but they were definitely avoiding all of the currently exploding mines and though Rock was looking at Team Pit's hastiness and heavily considering it, Sol and Iori beckoned him only with the commanding eyes.
"I know, man." Rock spoke wistfully. "Dude, team angel's kicking our butts seriously!"
Team Pit was somehow speeding through it without hitting a single mine, until they all did and got bumped into another big mine...and then another one, as Team Dante was mesmerised by the multi-explosion show.
Team Nicole looked at this and realised that the only viable option was to go "we ball" and go around all of the mines on an obtuse path, but you know, they didn't explode.
Team Pit managed to blow their way towards the end of the minefield, running with their confidence.
*Pit's confessional*
He was quite cooked.
"Imagine that I'm in the finale and I still get blown up to my own advantage...I really did get lucky! Wonder if it could work."
He took a second to think.
"Nah, I really got lucky!"
*Confessional cut*
While Team Pit was slowly walking through, tiring themselves down a bit, Team Nicole walked around the outside with sheer consistency and Team Uraraka had the all time solution.
"Hold on, my quirk just kicked in!" Uraraka shouted.
"You sure it did?" Yuri questioned, as Tanjiro used his breathing to ran through the field.
They were running as fast as they could, which was not very fast, but they did get through the open path that Team Pit mostly opened up pretty decently.
Either way, Team Nicole, Pit and 60% of Team Dante were at the end of the minefield and Team Uraraka-
"WHY!"
-got completely blown up in different directions.
Sol and Dante had the strength to make it fast, anyways.
"Go, go, go, guys!" Dante shouted.
The rest of Team Dante were waiting for the toughest guys to catch up anyways and well, these two were plainly catching up at speed somehow and-
-While Team Dante was definitely behind, they were not that far behind Team Pit and Nicole with the path of many random traps that were either hard to see or hard to dodge with those backpacks.
Like water.
Mainly just water, but the weight of the rocks, though?
"Oh god, it is that heavy." Nicole strained to say, lifting herself up.
"Stay down, guys, the backpacks messed up our balances as well!" Cassie shouted. "...He's practically an Olympic-level torturer."
"I doubt he isn't proud of that." Nicole said.
Team Nicole slowly got up, as Team Pit kept it real.
"Thanks for the compliment, though you're still not done with Chef's strength challenge."
Team Dante somehow caught up (besides Rock) and they were pissed off, the most 2000s form of strength that made them deal with the traps with a strange amount of adrenaline.
"Let's do this, we've got...skills!" Miko grunted.
"Agreed, we have the-" Sir Daniel started, before slipping.
The quintet of Team Pit had a little bit of toon force, which meant that they were sliding on the slime forwards towards a more circuitous path, while Team Nicole was drenched but standing strong.
"W00t w00t, we might actually win this one!" Lowain shouted.
"Don't count your chickens before they hatch, though." Daphne remarked.
The whole team was slowly walking through the next section of hard-hitting obstacles that weren't just literally picked up from other challenges, with the wheels that forced them to crouch.
*Lowain's confessional*
Nicole was knocking on the door.
"Come on, man, there's multiple paths now? Team Pit must either be way ahead or a bit behind and that would be a bummer, since we're not OP as hell."
*Confessional cut*
Team Dante was back-to-back with Team Nicole, while Team Pit had slightly different problems that may or may not have helped depending on who hated bugs the most.
"AHHHHHH!" Miko screamed.
"...I can relate to hating bugs, but how are you still screaming?" Squirrel Girl asked, covered with insects.
"Are you seeing this?!"
Squirrel Girl didn't want to answer because the answer would definitely come out as a squeal, as the other three kept themselves silent through the definitely easier path.
"Listen, dudes, do you want to know what these bugs these are-"
"NO WAY!" Squirrel Girl squealed.
"-sheesh, you really don't appreciate my hard work."
Those three quintets were doing relatively okay
As for Team Uraraka, they realised something kind of hilarious during getting pelted with water and looked through the trees to see something that shouldn't be there this early.
"I could be completely wrong, but that has to be Chef, right?" Tanjiro noticed.
Uraraka took a good look at where Tanjiro looked.
"Actually, I probably am wrong."
"Then let's go, guys!" Uraraka cheered the team on.
Tanya had her eyes locked towards her left AKA northwest and she definitely saw something, as the other four were unwisely shouting at her.
"What are you talking about, Tanjiro's actually right?! Do you want to be in last place for longer!" Tanya shouted, seeing Chef relax in military gear. "Wake up, Uraraka, we don't need to follow this specific path, it even looks like there's traps there!"
Tanjiro and Uraraka leapt right into the thin patch of forest that separated the course and the beach that went around the entire island, the other two begrudgingly following them and Tanya.
"If I misled you, I will apologise!" Tanya shouted.
*Uraraka's confessional*
The hero in studying had an apprehensive look.
"I know I don't really trust her that well due to her being kind of a villain, but she has the right idea and plus Chef's now staring at us."
*Confessional cut*
Chef Hatchet was now watching Team Uraraka find the shortcut and be led into another sandy explosion and he was keeping a good eye out on them.
"I suspected that some dudes would try out the beach eventually! Glad I put a little something there!" Chris shouted over the speaker.
As for Team Pit, they were covered with all kinds of bugs and their backpacks were covered with bugs, which might have helped when they put their bags down on the sat.
It fully opened the door to their boat.
"You people pass." Chef said, turned towards Pit's crew.
"Aw, thank you!" Pit complimented Chef.
"I do not want to see your faces here again!"
Team Pit got the full brunt of it, carrying their final boat towards a location that got carved onto the side of the boat...Rushall Island, where the whole show started all these months ago (and the whole fanfic nearly three years ago).
Team Uraraka were getting their butts covered with snakes, as Team Nicole pulled up all covered in feathers and tar that was recently applied on in some challenge.
"Kind sir, how do you get this stuff off?" Nicole questioned.
"Get in the dang water-"
Team Uraraka successfully landed with snakes and a mole on each player's head and those backpacks were surprisingly hardy considering this is Total Drama.
They got to putting their backpacks on the weighing machine and Tanya saluted Chef, who was stunned into silence.
"-You five ain't giving me no respect."
"Gotta say, cooking bad is a skill that you have." Cassie tried to put one out there.
"I thought y'all had no time to waste!"
Team Nicole got their backpacks off and immediately it was apparent that there...barely not enough rocks for the boat to fit through horizontally and they still had to get the tar off.
Team Dante may have been last, but they were looking rather mad and put their backpacks on the scales and opened the door up a little bit more.
*Nicole's confessional*
"From first to last in one challenge because we took the seemingly intended path...Does Chris really love to see my face of anguish?" She asked.
"You know the answer to the question!"
*Confessional cut*
Three out of the four teams were getting themselves to Rushall, the OG ultimate islands and there was a whole lot of bumping to be had with these boats.
"Guys, be nice, we're competing for a million dollars!" Uraraka panic shouted, having been bumped by Dante's team five times.
"First off: It's three million and second: I ain't shooting ya or anything." Pinstripe replied, as Uraraka stared right at him. "Don't even have a gun."
"Don't know why that would come up." Uraraka incredulously answered, using her oar to shove the red team's boat. "But okay!"
The competition was mean, sometimes lean and they sure were feeling green with the oddly wild waves that were sending them all up or down, but they definitely made it towards the original deck that brung at least 110 of the players here.
Also, Nicole and co. was speeding on the water, which isn't a crime, but did get Chris a little bit spooked.
"Okay, I'm gonna wait for Team Nicole to get here because I don't want to end up in a hospital!" Chris saw that the team landed on the beach. "That was actually disappointing!"
"Would you want your hotel to have a boat in there?" Tiana asked rhetorically.
"It looks boring, though!" Aisling whined.
"Come on, kid, it's hotel business! It looks awesome, plus there's my face on there, just so you know who had the idea for a Total Drama hotel!" Chris shouted. "Besides, your final challenge is just to get there...with your senses!"
Team Nicole was understandably confused and tired.
"You'll be racing blind while your other teammates interfere with the other finalists from the sidelines, helping or hurting them! Nothing serious, just put up some fences so that I don't get sued and the episode doesn't go too long!"
"So, that's what the giant box gate was for!" Pit shouted.
"Yeah, the blindfolds are in the gate only for the final four! GO, GO, GO!"
For obvious reasons, he did that just to startle the final four and their merry bands of supporters, since this challenge definitely wasn't cobbled together.
Every one of the final four had blindfolds and every one of them would have their ears assaulted, as the course was both winding and a little bit too long for comfort.
...This is the wrong show for comfort.
*Pit's confessional*
The brown-haired angel already had a bunch of debris on him.
"Lady Palutena, what am I supposed to do in this challenge, actually? It's like my nightmares decided that I didn't have a hard enough time or something." Pit said.
"Don't worry, Pit, just listen out for the sound of your girlfriend's voice."
Pit got a bit spooked, before having a bit of time to think about it.
"Got it!"
*Confessional cut*
Pit did what he was going to say in the confessional and jogged through the many rakes and whatnot that Miko genuinely warned him on, but he was definitely hearing cries of:
"GO THIS WAY, PIT!"
"THERE'S SOMETHING IN A RAKE, PIT!"
"Pit, there's a whole hacked 3DS in there!"
But while he was mid-rake smash, Miko came in for real.
"Don't listen to those weirdos! Just dodge a bunch of rakes and stuff!"
Pit got that stuff up and slowly dodged the rakes that faded into the section of random junk blocking the obstacles, as even Nicole suffered more than a few rake hits.
Speaking of Nicole, she might have had power, but she couldn't really see stuff properly, rake smacks and random voices that swarmed around her slowing her down significantly.
"OW, WHAT THE!"
Nicole got hit by her 9th rake and got pissed-
"AGAIN!"
-to hit her 10th.
Nicole got tired, walking through another rake that ended up in her face and then casually waving around the rake to beat the rest of 'em, even if it was a slow one.
Dante wasn't even doing good here, which was definitely a commentary on how he'd be wrecking the rest of the challenges, as he got himself spinning thanks to all of the other voices judging him as an threat and Iori Yagami wasn't helping with his passionately angry shouts about that one Kusanagi guy.
He was feeling the rakes at this point, as is one thing: "Goddamn rakes, dude."
Uraraka was doing hilariously okay, even with the rake kind of stuck on the top of her head, basically dodging through the rake section with only the rake still stuck on her head...and some serious marks on her face.
And Chris had a good chuckle at the manic rake-smashes that hit every time, enjoying his good time.
"Believe it or not, Pit's in the lead! Ain't a surprise, other finalists!"
Pit was trying to move through the random garbage thoughtfully, even if there wasn't a lot of thought put into it with him accidentally climbing through a massive pile at the point, Nicole doing much better because she had mom instinct and was mad.
Two things that would make Nicole run through it without a problem, somehow climbing the same mountain of trash that Pit was.
Uraraka had the most efficient strategy, taking in the shouts of her actual friends in her mind and going around the piles, mountains and molehills of garbage that was strung along the second section.
Dante cut through it because the sword is strong or something.
*Dante's confessional*
The white-haired demon hunter was covered with garbage.
"I'm gonna be honest, if I was less strong, I want to kick Chris' ass. But I kind of don't really want to because someone's going to do that eventually." Dante huffed, not really seething just yet.
*Confessional cut*
Either way, the race was still pretty close with Dante still absolutely smothered with garbage, Nicole definitely in the lead, Pit was literally behind her and Uraraka wasn't doing well at all, still far behind and being in a state similar to the demon hunter's.
Also, there was a third section that was an arena AKA where everybody else, host, contestants, Olivia, Kurapika, Axl and Mako included, was anticipating the blind fight between the four contestants and a certain unique thing and that was way ahead of them.
"YOOOOO!" was being heard to distract specifically Uraraka, rolling through the big dirt that would hurt.
Lowain was responsible for that, since there was about four different distractors in the way, most of them too uncaring about distracting the other players.
"Oh my god, this is a stupid part of the challenge." Nicole remarked.
"I know, right? Doesn't mean I can't beat you!" Pit bragged.
"Say your words!"
"I am saying them with confidence!"
Uraraka was focused on getting way ahead of Dante, who was doing his classic speedi-ness that would win challenges, mud somehow helping him...or so she thought.
"Geez, this shit's dirty."
Dante was in last, covered with some mud and some garbage, plain tired of the challenge and also mostly pissed.
*Dante's confessional*
The demon hunter.
"I'm gonna need to change that previous confessional."
*Confessional cut*
Either way, these four finally arrived at the back of the Resort McLean with the most impromptu of impromptu arenas, reminiscent of Revenge of the Island's finale, except that was one battle arena that they couldn't really see.
The final four arrived at the final challenge, a fanfiction classic at this point and Chef casually removed the blindfolds to reveal the sumptuous as it could be for a bullfighter-style arena albeit with wrestling ropes, ready for the final challenge.
"Welcome to my humble abode...or an under construction version of it anyways! All of you fought your way to the finale, some through betrayal, some through sheer power and some by being Japanese Beth and like many before mine and worse, you're going to need to bring your fighting game on! Though since you've already fought each other...like kinda often, I've got something better!"
The four guest stars slowly walked out of the entry hall and they were all kinds of different, most friendly, one a bit less so.
No-one could mistake the kinda short Japanese spiky-haired white angry kid with nitroglycerin coming off his skin, especially since he was wearing a tank top.
"Hold on, Bakugo, I thought you were out!" Uraraka shrieked in surprise.
Secondly, was Dark Pit, who was mostly wearing a mirrored or black version of Pit's outfit minus his staff.
"...Are you going to be on next season?" Pit said.
Thirdly, was Yuki wearing a white gi that was kept in prime condition, her being a cloud woman with long hair and also Japanese and Nicole wasn't scared of her.
"Sorry that we had to meet up like this, but I did make it this far." She remarked.
Fourth was...definitely from the family, being another spiky white-haired kid though with one arm, American and being taller than Bakugo by not that much.
"Damn, Nero, can't believe Vergil really wasn't available! You still could kick my butt!" Dante commented.
"You could've just asked, I'm down to kick your ass!" Nero replied with a quip.
"Each of you will fight your real life rivals in a relatively cramped space and the first one to defeat their rival wins the big moolah, the three and a half million dollars! Second and third do get some money and fourth gets no money, but something different!" Chris announced. "Anyways, get yourselves prepared!"
"After all that, do you not think I'm prepared?" Dante asked.
"We went through four gruelling challenges, tell me something that's true!" Pit bragged.
"I was talking about outfits!" Chris replied in annoyance. "Besides these guys aren't ready!"
EVERYBODY WAS HERE, but I don't exactly have the time or the writing chops to get into it, but aside from the previously mentioned 16 other former helpers, there were quite a few friendly faces gathered into one side of the bleachers.
"I'd easily say that Nicole has a great shot at winning this!" Lowain shouted. "If Dante doesn't take the dub first."
"Somehow I don't think you believe that." Cassie remarked.
"I believe that 100%!" Lowain proclaimed. "Anyways, let's get real for a second, Nicole isn't as crazy as Dante in most areas and that AI Vergil thingy was mad OP already! That being said, Yuki seems relatively normal compared to mister one arm."
"Really, it doesn't sound like it." Yumeko said. "Your analysis is probably off. Dante has an incredible amount of power with people that can't challenge him, while Nicole is fighting against life and fought against her karate rival once not that long go. It's about equal!"
"Nice one, babe...uh, who are you cheering for?"
"Well, that's a..."
Scott Pilgrim looked at them like he saw way too much of himself in Lowain for one reason, distinctly away from said side of the bleachers.
"Isn't she 17 and him 22? Like you guys got on my case for that-" Scott Pilgrim started.
"And we still will!" Daisy shouted. "I'm glad you admitted that dating a chick in high-school was lame...I wonder if Lowain's gonna realise that as well."
"Huh, seems like Yumeko's going to be the first one to realise. Plus she kinda has him by the balls...well, it's kinda." Scott Pilgrim said, as Daisy gave him a weird look. "Besides I'm cheering for Pit 'cause he's cool!"
"Yeah, gotta be behind my fellow Smasher." Daisy said, as Luigi pointed at Pit. "Plus Luigi's cheering him on."
"Real cool!"
As for other people, they had weirdly differing opinions for some reason and there was someone else, just to keep a villain from burning a place down.
"Even if I think she is too nice for her own kindness, Nicole really deserves the victory. Pit has no mind to use, Dante seems to be only a soldier, even if he would be an exceptionally powerful one and Uraraka is the weakest out of all of the finalists." Azula explained, clearly stuck in some earth. "You think you can tame you with your metal?!"
"I mean it's working on you, so yeah." Toph casually remarked. "Sokka, I can't believe you got eliminated just before this, when you got so far for a non-bender!"
"Thanks...but I wouldn't want to fight Azula or even you right now. Proud that I got there with only my own head!"
Azula complained, but Toph closed the metal helmet.
"Wouldn't have won the war without you, but I would still beat you easily!"
"Come on, I've changed!"
Azula screamed in pain.
And then there was the major villain thinking about it-
"Oh please, it wouldn't be anyone else but Dante!"
That stunned the hell out of Shulk, who was walking about.
"Really, after all that you did to him, after the betrayal, the many insults between you and him and not to mention, his many apparent taunts as well?"
"Yes, really! Why would it not be him...I did have a bet on him!" Coachman replied with a weirdly sincere grin.
"Oh I thought you'd grown an heart." Shulk said.
"I have a heart and it says that I respect that demon hunter!" Coachman spat out. "And that he would make a good bet, as well, so you know, a little bit of monetary grin as well!"
Shulk looked at him with disgust, as the old villain laughed.
"What, do you support any one of those do-gooders or something?" Coachman chuckled, as Shulk still looked disgusted.
"Come on, I support Dante because he essentially made you quake in your villainous boots and he's quite a good guy to be with." Shulk explained. "More important, he proved why you're not really worth it to be around or why you wouldn't do well next season."
Shulk then moved that not that towards the many Dante supporters, as Coachman was stunned into seething silence by the reasonable statement, knowing that his reputation within the game was irrepairable.
Well, the finale wouldn't be just yet.
"Sorry, Total Drama fans and Total Drama X fans, these fights really deserve their own spotlight, since it's going to be brutal, painful and fun for the whole family, if they manage to get through the whole season! Yeah, sorry for cutting it off at this point, but we've got the final four!"
"Who's gonna take it? Dante, the friendly demon hunter? Uraraka, the zero-gravity floater? Pit, the flightless and kinda mindless angel? Or Nicole, the somewhat over competitive mom? Find out after the break!"
Besides, the leaderboard's too frickin' big to just let it lay around in Episode 40, which is just the fights, the ending and whatever else was laying 'round in my head!
1st: ?
2nd: ?
3rd: ?
4th: ?
Tied for 5th (Episode 38): Sokka & Squirrel Girl
Tied for 7th (Episode 37): Lowain & Tanjiro
Tied for 9th (Episode 36): Bayonetta & Sandy Cheeks
Tied for 11th (Episode 35): Reg & Joseph Joestar
Tied for 13th (Episode 34): Miko & Mikhail (Heavy Weapons Guy)
Tied for 15th (Episode 33): Reigen & Nobara
Tied for 17th (Episode 32): Yumeko Jabami & Scott Pilgrim
Tied for 19th (Episode 31): Mai Shiranui & Pinstripe Potoroo
Tied for 21st (Episode 30): Azula, Crimson & Muscle Man
Tied for 24th (Episode 29): Cassie Cage, Terry Bogard & Tanya Von Degurechaff
Tied for 27th (Episode 28): Basil, Ryuko Matoi & Mikasa Ackermann
Tied for 30th (post-final merge, Episode 27): Deadpool (Wade Wilson), Rock & Iori Yagami
Tied for 33rd (eliminated in the ceremony, Episode 26): Kyo Kusanagi, Samurai Jack & Samus Aran
Tied for 36th (eliminated mid-challenge, Episode 26): The Coachman, Kyo Kusanagi & Miles "Tails" Prower
Tied for 40th (Episode 25): Mr. Smee, Yuri Sakazaki, Catalina Alves & Riley Freeman
Tied for 44th (Episode 24): Leshawna, Rapunzel, Shego & Clover Ewing
Tied for 48th (Episode 23): Giovanni Potage, Sakura Kusagano, Sol Badguy & Hsien-Ko
Tied for 52nd (Episode 22): Solid Snake, Kipo Oak, Tiana & Tifa Lockhart
Tied for 56th (Episode 21): Min Min, JFK, Michiru Tamegori & Sammy
Tied for 60th (Episode 20): Kasumi Todoh, Luigi, Legoshi & Aisling
Tied for 64th (Episode 19): Darkness, Satori Tendou, Noah & Penny Proud
Tied for 66th (Episode 18): Storm Shadow & Khun Aguero Agnes
Tied for 70th (Episode 17): Eva, Dawn, Tiny Tina & Soma Yukihira
Tied for 74th (Episode 16): Tohru Oikawa, Riku, Piccolo Jr., Harley Quinn & Riku
Tied for 79th (Episode 15): Tron Bonne, Hank Hill, Genos, Judy Hopps, Robyn, B(everley), Ram, Falco Lombardi & Daphne Blake
Tied for 88th (Episode 14): Carmelita Fox & Arle Nadja
Tied for 90th (Episode 13): Gum, Snufkin & Captain Amelia
Tied for 93rd (Episode 12): Lynn Loud, Sienna Continello (Squigly) & Haida
Tied for 96th (Episode 11): Tobio Kageyama, Owen, Spike & Sonja
Tied for 100th (Episode 10): Julia Chang, Bugs Bunny & Kristoff
Tied for 103rd (Episode 9): Wario, Askeladd, Shulk & Donkey Kong
Tied for 107th (Episode 8): Princess Daisy, Connor & Jennifer "Pepper Ann" Pearson
Tied for 110th (Episode 7): Gloria & Noel Vermillion
Tied for 112th (Episode 6): Sugar & Soos
Tied for 114th (Episode 5): Fred Flintstone, Gintoki Sakata & Kate Alen
Tied for 117th (Episode 4): Sir Daniel Fortesque, Tomo Takino & Jude Lizowski
Tied for 120th (Episode 3): Joey Wheeler, Lord Hater & Chloe Bourgeois
And tied for last place, lmao (Episode 2): Panchito, Albedo, Hayley Smith & Haohmaru