Hey guys!
Thanks to all who are reading. I love seeing anyone enjoy my writing even if it's just a single person!
Onto more important matters. My plan is to try and update within 2 weeks of each chapter posting but that is not set in stone. Chapters can can take any amount of time less depending on how fast I write!
Now please enjoy the second chapter!
"Welcome back to Total Drama!" Chris greeted, standing in front of the campers who were still figuring out which pieces to take. "We just finished introducing our new batch of campers, and they are now battling it out in the first of many challenges! Moving a series of large heavy puzzle pieces up to the top of the iconic cliff!" He turned to watch the campers panic, sadism creeping into his eyes. "I can't wait to see what happens."
"Listen up team!" Dhillon climbed up a piece. "I'll be leading us in this challenge! Musclehead you're on the big piece!" He pointed at Jordan.
Jordan raised an eyebrow. "I mean, I already was gonna grab it." He said, crossing his arms. "But who decided you would be leader of the team, boy scout?" He stood up fully, meeting Dhillon eye to eye despite the scout's high ground. Jordan leaned in, and Dhillon leaned away, like a deer in headlights.
CONFESSIONAL
"Wait why am I backing down?" Dhillon shook his head. "I'm a senior patrol leader of the fifth-place troop at last years National Jamboree!" He declared, nodding incessantly to himself while he spoke. "I am not gonna let football for brains push me around and let this team crumble! Not. A Chance!"
CONFESSIONAL END
Dhillon stiffened his eyes and lips, and got right back in Jordan's face. "We can decide the team leader after this challenge but right now we don't have the time! Get to lugging!" He demanded, his voice carrying spit out of his mouth.
Jordan took a calm breath. "Fine." He grabbed a piece nearly the size of himself, and hoisted up over his shoulder. The rest of the Killer Kitten's gawked at the athlete's impressive display of strength as he walked off towards the woods. They didn't stay slack jawed for long as they grabbed their pieces and starting moving, following the athlete.
CONFESSIONAL
Jordan sat relaxed with his legs crossed. "I've dealt with guys like him before. Think they are the biggest, toughest guy on the field." He closed his eyes for a moment, seemingly reminiscing. "But being the best kid on your middle school flag football team doesn't mean a damn thing once you get up to the next level. And unlike him, I can lead by example."
CONFESSIONAL END
Manny looked around the pieces. He paused for a moment, watching while Jake struggled pulling the massive hulk of rubble. The lesser twin's hands slipped, and the boy fell back first into the sand, the tiny course rocks cushioning his fall. The taller twin contemplated a single moment, before swiftly grabbing the smallest piece just before Francis, about as big as either of their heads.
"Oi I was going to take that piece!" Francis complained, throwing his hands to the side and pouting his lips. "Any bigger a piece and I will damage my outfit! Aren't you supposed to be some strong man?"
"Yes, I concur!" Said Emma, just managing to lug a piece the size of her torso before dropping it in the sand. "It would be much more valuable for you to carry the largest piece!" She argued, watching the rest of her team try and move their pieces mere pittances at a time.
"Yeah, yeah I get it." Manny gestured with his hands for his teammates to let him speak. "But someone has to come back to help him after delivering their piece!" He pointed his thumb back at Jake, who fell into the sand again, barely having moved his piece a foot.
"Don't worry guys I got it!" He raised a shaky thumbs up to Manny, who flashed a fake grin and a thumbs up back.
"See? We lose immediately if someone doesn't get to the cliff and back soon." Manny reasoned.
"Eh? But my clothes!" Francis complained, gesturing to the gold lining present across his outfit. "This alone costs more than your entire bloodline!"
"Manny's correct." Emma shook her head at Francis' whining. "You need run as fast as you can. We can't lose on day one." Manny nodded in agreement and took off into a sprint, disappearing into the forest while the rest of the team pulled their pieces out of the sand.
CONFESSIONAL
"I'm used to Jake being…" Manny paused, unsure of his next choice of words. "Challenged. Let's just say he's challenged at doing basically anything. Most sports, homework, tests, socializing." He listed each aspect of life on his fingers. "I'm pretty prepared to make sure his screw ups aren't going to get him eliminated. After all, what kinda big bro would I be if I didn't make he didn't get into the finale with me?"
SWITCH
Emma pressed her index finger against her temple. "This team is frankly dysfunctional." She said, glaring into the camera. "Francis is whiny and Jake is dead weight. I'm not sure which is worse." She paused to think for a moment. "I might have to take charge as team leader. I am a class president after all!"
END CONFESSIONAL
The Killer Kittens were all making good pace, slowly but surely moving their pieces through the forest. Jorden led the pact, having slowed down to stay with his team, but was easily the least strained by the challenge. In the rear, Evan took cautious slow steps despite carrying easily the smallest piece of the group. He made sure to tentatively test each step before committing, like he might set off a landmine. In the middle, Camilla carried another small piece, while Riley and Sam both had larger pieces held under their arms.
"You two are sooo strong for girls!" Camilla said, pushing between them.
"I just naturally built it doing tricks when skating I guess." Riley shrugged, adjusting the piece under her arm. "But man, these pieces really are heavy."
Sam flexed her free arm. "Yeah well, carrying a guitar and amp everywhere really builds the upper body strength." She bragged, sending both Riley and Camilla a flirty grin. "It's built me a fanbase in the local music scene."
"Hey let's speed it up a little!" Dhillon called back. He had the second largest chunk of the emblem in the group, though it didn't hold a candle to Jordan's. "And make sure to stay with a buddy! Keep an eye on each other" He reminded them.
Manny came to a halt at the bottom of the cliff and paused, taking a deep breath. He turned towards the cliff. "Finally here! Now to just- WHAT?!" He jumped out of the way as a boulder came crashing down, nearly crushing him. Manny hopped back to his feet. "Of course the challenge wouldn't be so simple!" He complained before beginning his ascent up the cliff.
At the summit, Chris sipped on a cold glass of lemonade, while Chef lined up a series of boulders, each of different sizes. The host turned towards the camera. "Oh, did you think I'd make it so easy for them? To scale the cliff each camper will need to dodge a series of boulders!" He looked down the cliff for a moment watching as Manny quickly ascended the precarious slope. "Uh, Chef, the boulders aren't hitting him."
"I am trying!" The assistant pushed another boulder that Manny simply sidestepped, before leaping past the finish line.
"Now can I go help my teammates?" Manny asked, setting his piece down on the red rug. Chris gave him a thumbs up, and Manny took off back down the cliff, letting gravity carrying him to the bottom. He skidded against the dirt before breaking into an all-out sprint back to camp.
Jake has just managed to push his piece off the beach, barely managing to get to the edge of the forest. He paused, taking a moment to catch his breath. He looked back at the gargantuan hunk of plaster. "AGHHHH" He yelled, stomping his foot against the ground. "Why did I go and touch this piece! You absolute worthless piece of trash!" He kicked the piece and instantly regretted it. The shorter twin held his bruised foot while hobbling around. "And now my foot hurts. This is just fantastic!"
Manny came out of the shrubbery. "Let's get that piece moving!" He loudly ordered, giving Jake a slap on the back. This sent the boy to the ground.
"But I can-"
"No, you can't. I mean look at those noodle arms. Now get pushing this before you get eliminated." Manny cut him off, and the two brothers put their backs into the giant piece.
CONFESSIONAL
Jake held ice on his bruised foot. "I came on Total Drama because I wanted to prove myself." He said, flinching. "I've always been the weaker twin. Manny was the first to be born, the first to talk, the first to make friends, and is always getting better grades." He sighed. "But he does look out for me, in his own way I suppose."
CONFESSIONAL END
Emma looked up from her piece, and her eyes went wide. "Guys look! The hill!" She ran forward, only to get the same dangerous greeting Manny did. She looked up to where Chef cackled before pushing down another boulder. "What the hell Chris?!" The class president shouted up the cliff.
"How did they even get those up there?!" Kenneth threw his arms out to his sides. "That's like a 10000-foot climb!"
"Maybe for you fools!" Jamie laughed as she pulled out a jetpack from her backpack. She slid her arms between the straps and clicked in.
"How does that even fit in your bag?" Kenneth raised a quizzical eyebrow.
"Oh, it's a personal bag of holding!" Jamie explained. "See you at the top!" The eccentric inventor blasted into the air, hurtling for the top of the cliff. "WOHOOOOOOOO!"
"Alright Ducks, lets get these pieces to the top… and hope Manny gets that next piece back in time…" Emma looked back towards the forest nervously.
CONFESSIONAL
"So I made the jetpack to get out of having to walk to school y'know," Jamie started explaining. "But then the school was all like, 'we can't let you ride a dangerous vehicle to school' type deal." She said in a mocking tone. "But this ain't school! I can use my inventions all I want!" She grinned manically.
END CONFESSIONAL
Emma, Minh, and Brent had made headway, nearing the halfway mark, with Brent constantly yelling words of encouragement to his teammates. Kenneth and Minh were lagging, but making steady progress with their pieces and avoiding the incoming boulders. Francis on the other hand, was stuck at the bottom as he ran away from a boulder.
"Oh, come on!" Kenneth yelled back. "Just avoid it!"
"Dude yelling at him isn't going to help." Brent said back.
"If he got squished by a boulder, do you think he'd get like condensed into a gold bar?" Minh asked, eliciting a chuckle from Kenneth and Emma.
The Killer Kittens appeared from the woods as they watched Francis trip over a small rock. "Oui my outfit!" He cried, frantically wiping dust off his larger-than-life shirt. "I won't let it get dirty! It's worth too much!"
"The Ducks are getting ahead!" Dhillon yelled back to the Kittens. "C'mon pickup the pace!"
"I do not observe all their members though." Ashley noted, squinting her eyes, and counting the number of Ducks climbing the massive hill. "The boy with the giant piece has yet to arrive! We should take our time and avoid making mistakes! If their weakest member has not caught up, we are ahead on average!" She explained cohesively. "And also…" She pointed towards Francis, who'd made no progress. "We have no need to rush."
Dhillon nodded, watching the Ducks avoid another boulder. "You have a good point, Glasses!"
"It's Ashley."
"Here's what we'll do!" Dhillon ignored the bookworm and pulled everyone into a huddle.
CONFESSIONAL
"Big. Loud. Obnoxious." Ashley listed; her eyes glued to the pages are a large novel. "Those are the traits of a pig. Or Dhillon apparently."
END CONFESSIONAL
The Killer Kittens started their ascent. Their weakest members – Evan, Camilla, Kelly, and Ashely went in front, while their stronger members brought up the rear. A boulder caused the group to spread out, but Evan tripped. The cursed child rolled face first down the steep hill. With a swift hand, Jordan grabbed onto Evan's wrist, and brought him back to his feet. All this, and keeping his gigantic piece from sliding down the hill.
"Don't worry, I got you!" Jordan shot Evan a thumbs up.
Evan steadied himself, and ran back up to the front of the pack. "See I told you this was a good idea!" Dhillon rubbed his upper lip with his index finger. "Weaker members take point and we stay back to make sure they don't fall behind! Maybe I should be the leader-"
"We'll talk after we win!" Jordan cut him off.
"Do we even need a leader?" Riley scoffed, with Sam nodding in agreement. "This team seems much stronger than the Dumb Ducks." Dhillon clenched his teeth but didn't respond, opting to push his piece a bit faster.
At the top of the hill, Jamie, Emma, Brett, Minh, and Kenneth had begun assembling their pieces. With less then successful results. On the ground they had two halves that didn't match in the slightest.
"I mean, you can kinda see the idea of a duck." Kenneth shrugged.
"Y'know I can kinda see it!" Brent nodded with an enthusiastic grin.
Emma stomped her foot. "We aren't going to get anywhere unless we get Francis' and Jake's pieces up here! Brent and Jamie go help them!" She ordered.
"No can do!" Jamie shook her head, her chaotic grin persisting. "I'm all outta rocket fuel!"
"Fine! Brent, come with me!" She ordered before sprinting down the hill, the child guy chasing after the student president with the same fun grin as always.
At the base of the hill, Jake and Manny finally pushed their piece out of the trees. The lesser twin had the face of a dying man, contrasting against the better twin's tired determination. "And now… for the hard part." Manny said in between deep but controlled breaths.
"You're supposed to say, 'time for the easy part' Manny!" Jake whined.
Manny watched as another boulder sent Francis running away. "Yeah, unfortunately not the case here Jake." He walked over to where Fancis was hyperventilating. "And why are you still at the bottom of the hill!" Manny yelled at the erudite.
"I refuse to ruin this majestic outfit!" Francis wailed.
"The only thing you are ruining are our chances of winning!" Manny growled. "Now start moving, or you'll be the one getting voted out when we lose!"
Francis gasped. "You would dare threaten a member of the de Elcair family!"
"I don't care what family you come from!" Manny said, pushing Francis. "I didn't sprint across the island twice to lose this challenge. So, get the hell up that hill. NOW!" He yelled as Brent and Emma reached the bottom of the hill.
"We're here to give you a hand!" Brent ran over towards Jake, helping him up to your feet. "Just a bit more little guy!" The short boy nodded, slapping both of his cheeks.
"Let me help Francis!" Emma offered. "You boys get that final piece up as fast as possible! The Kittens are almost at the top!" She urged, pointing out the other team's consistent progress. Emma grabbed Francis' wrist and pulled him along, despite his vocal objections.
"I don't need your help!" Francis protested, unable to free himself from Emma's grip.
"Yes. You do." Emma replied, wielding her words like a knife.
"Alright! Start pushing!" Manny ordered. With the combined weight of the two and a half men, the large piece made quick progress up the hill. For the first time all challenge, the Duck's were gaining ground, and fast.
"Ohhh, and it looks like the Duck's are really starting to catch up to the Kitten's! This could be anyone's race!" Chris watched on with a bright excitement in his eyes. "This is what Total Drama is about people!"
As Brett, Manny, and Jake passed the halfway-mark, the Kittens pushed their pieces over the final ridge. "We got our pieces here first! We win!" Camilla cheered, throwing her hands in the air.
"Not quite!" Chris shook his head. "Still gotta assemble them!" The host pointed to the red rug nearby. "Once it's assembled there, you win!"
The Kittens rushed to get their pieces on their rug as Emma appeared over the ridge, Francis in tow. "Jamie try to fit that piece in!" Emma yanked the piece from Francis as they reached their carpet. She ran over and handed it to Jamie. The inventor quickly inserted the piece, creating a nearly complete image, save for the massive gap in the center. "We still have a chance! We just need the others to arrive!" Emma pleaded to no one in particular.
"Where do these pieces go?!" Dhillon tried forcing together two small chunks that had clearly no matching sides.
"Let me do it!" Ashley offered, taking the two small pieces. She attached them to different ends of the largest piece, creating a more complete image. She worked fast, finding where to put each piece without needing to pause. At the same time, Brent, Manny and Jake finally reached the top and into the final zone. The smaller twin collapsed onto the ground face first, while the other two pushed the piece the last few meters.
"We just need to insert this last piece in the center." Kenneth explained while the two lifted the piece. As they lowered the final piece, Camilla shot up. "We finished! For real this time!" She jumped up and down while clapping.
Chris walked over and examined the large kitten emblem. "Hmmm, a bit sloppy, but I'll allow it!" He judged. "This Killer Kitten's win!" He announced loudly to an eruption of cheers. He turned towards the other team, a more sinister grin forming on his face. "They win extra comfy mattresses for their bunks for the rest of the summer! And Ducks, I'll be seeing you at the fire pit! You are sending someone home!"
Manny silently dropped the large piece, causing it to shatter with the other pieces on contact. Francis simply wiped dirt of his shirt. The rest of the team looked around at each other, unease spreading amongst them while the Kittens high fived each other.
CONFESSIONAL
"Puzzles are quite simple once you've completed 300 of them." Ashley said with a self-satisfied smile on her face. "My parents wouldn't let me play video games, so I ended up finding puzzles to be an enjoyable past time."
SHIFT
"Well now I need to figure out what my play is." Manny said to himself. "The obvious play will be getting the team to turn on Francis. After all, I need Jake if I'm going to make my plan to win the million work!" He smirked into the camera.
SHIFT
Dhillon adjusted the merit badges on his sash. "With such a clean victory, the rest of the team will have to choose me as their leader!" He bragged, doing a little fist pump. "There's a reason why I won the last Senior Patrol Leader election with 100% of the vote. Besides no one else running."
SHIFT
"What an absolute travesty of a team!"Emma complained. "Jake put us behind from the start, and Francis is basically just dead weight! I can't tell who to vote for."
CONFESSIONAL END
On the way back to camp, Manny tapped Emma on the shoulder. She stopped and turned around. "What do you want?" Emma asked, her voice sour. "Let me guess, you want me to not vote for your brother?"
Manny chuckled. "Guilty as charged!" He raised his hands defensively. "But lets be serious, he did his best!"
"His best cost us the challenge!" Emma reminded him. "Actions have consequences!"
Manny looked down for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "But any one of us could have made that mistake! And imagine if we are put in a postion where you have to rely on Francis or Jake, who would you take?"
Emma didn't immediately answer. "I guess Jake did try his best." She admitted. "And Francis wouldn't even climb the hill until I made him." Manny held back a smirk as she spoke. "Fine, I'll vote with you against Francis."
"I appreciate it." Manny simply nodded. He started walking again, but Emma stepped in front of him, her scowl intensifying.
"But if Jake messes up again don't expect me to be so lenient!" Emma warned, before walking off.
The Kitten's were gathered around a table in the mess hall, celebrating their victory with one of Chef's 'dinners'. "Todays challenge went really well." Jordan said, side eyeing a spoonful of slop.
"Well of course!" Dhillon said before downing a mouthful of food. "You had me as leader." He declared, pointing to his Eagle Scout badge.
"I still don't think we need a leader." Sam mumbled off to the side.
Jordan rolled his eyes. "I guess I don't mind letting you take the reins for now." He admitted. "You had a good plan to get everyone up the cliff."
CONFESSIONAL
"I knew Jordan would come to see reason!" The scout nodded to himself. "They just needed a bit of time to see it!"
SHIFT
"It's not too bad to let him take over being a leader for now." Jordan shrugged nonchalantly. "Best case scenario he wins us all the challenges and is a great teammate. Worst case scenario he loses us challenges and gets sent home." He reasoned. "I don't mind either way."
CONFESSIONAL END
The sun had fallen beyond the horizon and the stars had taken their place on a moonless night. The Deadly Ducks walked up a forest path and entered a clearing with 8 tree stumps. In the center burned a large, ominous bonfire. It illuminated the otherwise dark island. Chris stood in place holding a platter of fluffy white marshmallows, wearing his patented McClean smile. Each camper took a seat on the stumps. They all sent each other uneasy glances, save Manny and Francis, the latter of which was checking his outfit for any rips or tears. Jake easily looked the most nerve wracked, as he bit at the nail on his thumb.
"Can't be easy losing your first challenge?" Chris asked, taking a moment to relish. "But that's why it's so satisfying to watch! Welcome to the elimination ceremony. You've all casted your votes, and they've been tallied. Those who are safe will receive a marshmallow." He started explaining, closely watching each camper's reactions. Francis pulled out a mirror, and shot a confident smile into it. "If you don't receive a marshmallow, you are out of the game. Forever… unless I feel like it." Chris shrugged. "The following campers are safe for tonight. Manny." The athlete walked up and grabbed his marshmallow with a smirk. "Emma. Kenneth. Minh." The three practically rushed to grab their treat. "Brent, and Jamie. You all are safe!" Brent took his time grabbing his marshmallow, while Jamie had a robot arm extend from her backpack and grab the marshmallow, and toss it into her mouth.
Chris paused for a moment, allowing Jake to panic while Francis checked his watch. "Just give me the marshmallow monsieur!" The elite boy demanded.
The host ignored him. Tonight's final marshmallow goes to…" He watched as Jake started hyperventilating, and as Francis' confidence cracked. "Jake! You are safe! For now." The small teen practically collapsed before getting up to grab his marshmallow. He smiled at the fluffy blob, before tossing it into his mouth. "Francis, you are eliminated." Chris said plainly.
"Impossible!" Francis said, getting up and stomping his foot. "I demand a recount! I am too important to be eliminated!"
"And I demand you get off my island!" Chris countered. Chef walked forward and grabbed a struggling Francis, lifting him over his shoulder.
"The first elimination always feels so special!" Chris wiped away a tear as he walked across the dock of shame. Chef throw Francis into the Boat of Losers, despite the boy's protests.
"My family will ruin you Monsieur McClean!" Francis vowed as the boat moved away from the island. "You will regret this dayyyyyyyyy!" He cried, the boat driving out of distance.
"I certainly regret bringing him on the show!" Chris said before cackling. "One camper down, and fifteen remain! Who will be the next person to ride the boat of losers? Tune in next time to find out on the next episode of Total Drama Island!"