Total Drama Island: Rewritten Chapter 7: Lines in the Sand, a total drama series fanfic

SURPRISE! Talk about a fast update, right? I was absolutely PLOWING through this thing. I took a week off after publishing the last chapter, and then when the motivation for this one hit, it hit fast and hard. I was averaging like, 2k words a day at minimum. This one's a little differently structured than the last chapters have been, but I think it really works for this particular chapter. You'll see what I mean as you read it.

Also, a very special shoutout to Space Zodiac for the reviews! I've known Space a REALLY long time, like, since I joined this fandom, so it was so awesome to see those reviews. Definitely make sure to read Space's stories: Total Drama Stardom, a SYOC, and Total Inferno Island, an All-OC story just like this one!

So, with that, I hope you enjoy!

"Welcome back to Total Drama Island: Rewritten!" Chris McLean, the show's iconic host, greeted his viewing audience from in front of the show's bonfire pit, which was still glowing red from the embers within. The light from the embers was the only thing that illuminated the host from the oppressive darkness surrounding him.

The host circled the pit as he continued to speak. "The darkness that surrounds me is sure to reflect the moods of many of our campers tonight. Why, you may ask?"

He kept walking, finding a stump to sit down on. "Our favorite resident stuntman, Weenus, thought he was on the receiving end of affection from Alessia. But, what he didn't know was that she was buttering the poor guy up like he was a delicious dinner roll. And when Weenus' friends, David and Godfrey, tried to explain the streamer's deception, all it caused was a rift between the Agency members. One that may not be mendable."

He stood and made his way towards the main area of the camp. "But, one relationship that ended up being mended was the frosty relationship between Liana and Vivi, who came together when they found out that it was, again, Alessia who had damaged their relationship by lying about Liana's personal thoughts about our resident rocker."

"And when Liana, David, Vivi, and Godfrey all came together to find out a way to get the schemer streamer out," The host began to wrap up, "it was David who had the plan to not only blindside Alessia by voting out her best friend, Marcellas, but also to use her newly-acquired immunity idol, which she got from Weenus! And, boy, was Alessia MAD!" The host laughed.

He then grimaced. "So mad, in fact, that she dressed down the lovable stuntman in front of everyone, which sent him into the woods, his friends running after him." If possible, Chris' grimace deepened. "If he hurts himself out there, Total Drama, myself, or our parent broadcasting company are NOT responsible." Procuring a slip of paper, he added, "And here are the forms to prove it!"

Slipping the paper back into his pocket, he finished up the introduction by saying, "So, what happens tonight, you may ask? Will Weenus be found? What will the fiery fallout be from last night's elimination ceremony? And, most importantly, who will be the next person to have their dreams dashed when they're eliminated from the game?"

The host dashingly grinned. "Well, you're in luck, because this is just the place to find out! Right here, on….

TOTAL!

DRAMA!

ISLAND: REWRITTEN!"

Immediately after the ceremony, the campers who hadn't chased Weenus into the forest had begun walking back to their cabins. "Well, this is me," John announced as he made his way to the men's cabin. "Thanks again for saving me, you three. It was cool of you."

Brooke, Vivi, and Liana all gave him differing goodbyes; Vivi simply gave him a wave via a flick of her hand, Liana smiled and gave him a peace sign, and Brooke gave a vocal "Good night, John." As the artist made his way into his cabin, Vivi also turned to make her way into the girl's cabin as well.

Liana did as well, but Brooke stopped her. "Wait, Liana." Curiously, the gambler turned back to the athlete and raised an eyebrow. "We need to talk."

"Sure," Liana agreed with a nod as she followed Brooke, who had motioned her to follow. The two quickly made their way to the large speaker in the middle of the two cabins. "What's up, Brooke?"

"We need to talk about our plan," Brooke seriously told her.

"Oh, don't worry about that," Liana assured her, which made Brooke sigh in relief. "We're gonna still target Godfrey next." That made Brooke's eyes shoot open in surprise as Liana continued. "We definitely had to split up the Alessia and Marcellas thing, but now that she's floating in the ether by herself, we can just scoop her up and add her as a number to our alliance!" She finished with a grin.

"No freakin' way!" Brooke snapped at her, which made Liana's grin fall and her eyes widened in surprise. "That's not what I meant at all!"

"Well, what did you mean?" Liana asked, her face conveying nothing but unhappiness at the current direction of the conversation.

"I meant that we go after Alessia next!" Brooke exclaimed. "What the heck are you talking about, Liana?"

"I mean we go after Godfrey," she responded annoyedly. "Y'know? Like our original alliance plan was?"

"Godfrey?" Brooke asked aloud, appalled. "After what that monster just did, you not only wanna keep her in the game, but you want to work with her?!"

"You don't?" Was Liana's unenthused reply.

"No," Brooke obstinately replied. "I don't."

"Dangit, Brooke," Liana groaned, starting to get irritated. "I don't like the idea of working with the girl either, but I have to do what's best for the team, the same as you do. And what's best is folding Alessia in, so we have another solid vote on our side. She has nothing right now, Brooke," Liana started to explain. "She knows that people hate her. And if we extend the olive branch, that means she's loyal to us. And if she's loyal to us? She's gonna help us get farther in this game."

Brooke glared daggers at Liana. "You seem very interested in helping someone who literally got you eliminated a few days ago."

"I'm smart enough to realize that this is a game, Brooke," Liana haughtily replied. "And that, just like in real life, you have to do things you don't want to do to advance. She backstabbed me, I fully understand that. But that's in the past; things are different, and I have a need for her."

Liana then held out her hand towards Brooke in a sign of trust. "This will help you, help me, and most importantly, help us. If we get Alessia on our side, we have an advantage over everyone here. Even the people within the alliance. We can form an alliance with her within our own alliance and be the final three! That's what we want, right?" She asked. "To reach the end of this game together?"

Brooke stared at the gambler's outstretched hand for a few moments, before shaking her head. "No, Liana," She bitterly told the girl. "Not like this. Not with Alessia. Not after what she did. I refuse."

Now, it was Liana's turn to turn flush with agitation. "So, you're done?" She asked. "Just like that?"

"Yeah," Brooke told her in response, settling a stare directly into Liana's eyes. "I am."

Not backing down, Liana said, "I don't care what you want. I'm still going after Godfrey. And you're not going to stop me, Brooke."

"And I'm coming for your new best buddy Alessia," Brooke snarkily said back. "She doesn't deserve to be here anymore. And I'm gonna make sure she won't be."

"Turning your back on me, and this alliance, is a bold move, Brooke," Liana dangerously told her, as she turned away from the basketball player, towards the door of the girl's cabin. "I hope your little gamble pays off. Because rest assured, if it doesn't, you're next."

And with that last blatant threat, Liana walked back towards the girl's cabin and entered it, leaving Brooke alone.

Static

Confessional: Brooke

The basketball star sits in the confessional booth with annoyance clear on her face. "Did everything Liana said make sense?" She asked aloud. "Yes, it did. But, even though I wanna win this game, there are lines that even I refuse to cross. And working with Alessia has become one of them."

Brooke's eyes narrow angrily. "What she did was horrible. Weenus is a good, good guy. And he didn't deserve what that evil bitch did to him, in front of everyone."

She pounds the side of the confessional booth with her fist. "She needs to be held accountable for her actions. You don't get to skate by and get far in this game after pulling a stunt like she did. Not while I'm here. And if Liana's going to reward her bad behavior with an alliance, then I'm gonna have to be the one to hold them accountable." Her face changes into one of resolve. "And, once Alessia is gone, then Liana will be held accountable too, and she'll be sent packing."

Static

Confessional: Liana

"Dammit!" Liana angrily grumbles. "All Brooke had to do was agree to the stupid damn alliance and I'd be golden! But, no, she has to be the damn morality police and act like I'm some kind of monster for wanting to just make it a bit farther in this game. Even if I don't trust Alessia one iota, the extra vote is invaluable for me and my side."

Liana then exhales heavily. "But, it doesn't matter. The alliance is broken. Brooke's chosen her side. And it's the wrong one. Rest assured, this little gamble of hers will crash and burn. And I'll be the one to benefit."

Static

"Well, look who it is," Vivi remarked as she stepped into the cabin, seeing Alessia sitting by herself on her bed. "The woman of the hour."

When Alessia didn't respond, Vivi continued. "The star of the show, and the person everyone is focused on." The rocker then sat on the edge of her bed and stretched. "I'm impressed; I didn't realize you had that much raging she-beast inside of you."

"Shut the hell up, Vivi!" Alessia rocketed back at the rocker chick, who smirked at her reaction. "I'm not in the mood, dammit!"

Vivi just laughed. "Damn, who knew you had it in you all this time? I had you pegged for an airhead valley girl. But no, under that dumbass pink hair and that sultry little grin of yours is a real monster."

Alessia huffed. "The only thing that I regret is that Marcellas is gone and that I had to use that idol. I'm not going to apologize for doing what I could to win this game, Vivi."

The rocker shrugged. "I never asked you to apologize."

That drew confusion from the streamer. "Wait…you're not mad at me?"

That just made Vivi laugh again. "Why the hell would I be mad? I don't give a rat's ass about what you did to that doofus, Alessia." She then flopped down flat on her bed, her legs still hanging over the side. "You do you sister. As long as it wasn't to me, why the hell would I care?"

Alessia looked contemplative as she stared at Vivi's prone form. "Well, if it's any consolation, I'm sorry for snapping at you, then."

Static

Confessional: Alessia

"Of course, I'm not sorry for anything I did to Weenus," Alessia flippantly says to the camera. "I'm just a girl trying to make her way in this game, and using whatever I have to do it." She then folds her arms. "But I know that I've quickly plummeted down quite a few people's lists in terms of popularity around here, so I need to start doing what I can to protect myself. And if I have to kiss ass and apologize to others, then it's what a girl's gotta do."

Static

Vivi just waved the apology off. "Don't apologize, I don't care." The rocker smirked. "If we're apologizing for snapping at people while in a bad mood, then, damn, I gotta start apologizing for every time a person's talked to me in the last 6 years or so."

That made the streamer inadvertently chuckle. "What," she amusedly asked, "are you saying that you've got a sour attitude or something? I haven't noticed."

Vivi barked a laugh. "That's one of the nicer ways of putting it I've heard!"

As the girls chuckled, a comfortable silence soon settled over the pair. "Y'know," Vivi began, "I prefer this Alessia to whatever that fake gamer crap version was."

"So do I," the streamer sighed tiredly. "I tried my streaming persona to get people to like me, and want to ally with me, so when I stabbed 'em in the back they never saw it coming, but before I got a chance, David and Godfrey ruined my game."

"I guess you don't have to do that crap anymore now," Vivi offered in reply. "If you're a bitch, then at least be an honest bitch. That's what I say." After a few moments, she then continued, "And for what it's worth, I get the whole thing about putting on a mask for when you're performing."

Alessia lightly grinned. "I figured you would, Vivi." After stopping for a few moments, she continued to speak. "And you know what, Vivi?" Alessia then added. "I haven't gotten to talk to you truthfully like this. And I'm enjoying it, surprisingly." She then smiled. "I enjoy talking to you, Vivi. We're alike in a lot of ways. More than I'd have thought coming into this thing."

Vivi offered a rare grin of her own. "Yeah, the real Alessia is someone I vibe with." She held out her hand. "Let's be allies. And, after this game, friends."

At that, Alessia offered a genuine grin. "I'd like that a lot, Vivi. If you ever come down to Cali to perform, maybe I'll check out one of your shows. Though, I prefer old-school hip-hop."

As the pair laughed, the door barged open, an agitated Liana stomping in and throwing it shut behind her. The two girls stopped their laughter and stared at the gambler, whose face was still tinged red in irritation.

"Oh great," Alessia groaned. "Looks like the-"

"Not now," Liana snapped. "We need to talk. The three of us. Now."

"Hey, don't talk to me like that!" Vivi shot back, instantly growing annoyed at the gambler.

"Pipe it, Vivi," Liana growled at her. "This is more important than whatever perceived slight you have."

At the harsh words, Vivi, rather than get mad, just shrugged. "Woah, you're really pissed off about something. Shoot, sister."

"You're damn right I'm pissed off!" Liana angrily growled, before rounding on Alessia. "Your tirade at the ceremony ruined everything! I had my alliance all set, and I even had a strong final two! And now, that's all gone!"

"Don't get pissed off at me, Liana!" Alessia aggressively defended herself. "I'm just doing what I can!"

"Unfortunately, what's done is done, Alessia," Liana continued, not even bothering to reply to what the gamer girl said to her. "The majority of the island here hates your guts. That's just a fact, I'm sorry to say."

"Oh, whatever," Alessia dismissed. "If the weak-minded want to hate me, they can hate me."

"So, Alessia, you need allies. And I need new friends, too," Liana finished, staring at the gamer girl. "We need to make an alliance. Because I know Brooke is coming for your head. And it doesn't take rocket science to figure out that Godfrey, David, and Weenus will be too."

"So then," Vivi interrupted, "What do you suggest we do?"

At that, Liana held up both her hands, fingers up and spread. "At this moment, there are ten people left on this island. Thus," she then lowered four fingers on her right hand. "The needed majority to eliminate at the next ceremony is six."

Liana then closed both her hands, then raised the thumb, index, and middle fingers on her left hand. "On this side is Alessia, Vivi, and myself." The same fingers were raised on the right hand. "And on the other side is Brooke and Weenus."

"What about David and Godfrey?" Alessia curiously asked. "They'd side with those two, right?"

Liana begrudgingly raised her ring finger and her pinkie and closed her thumb. "David will more than likely side with them too," she admitted. "I was in an alliance with David, and we were planning to get Godfrey out. But after tonight, he's more than likely joining Brooke to take you out," She responded to the streamer.

"And Godfrey?" Vivi asked in response.

Liana scoffed. "Godfrey's a scumbag. His alliances and allegiances shift with the wind. So, I think with a good enough deal, we can get him on our side."

Liana then closed all her fingers again, then raised three on her left hand again. "So, that leaves Neda, John, and Wind as the wildcard votes."

"You think we can get them?" Vivi asked aloud, fully invested in what Liana was saying.

"We don't need all of them, especially if we can get Godfrey." She then lowered one of her three fingers. "Based on what I know about Wind, she's unlikely to join us to help. But, I'm good friends with her. So, I'll just talk to her and see what she says. You never know; maybe she'll decide to help us out. At that point, we just need John and Neda. If we get them, plus Godfrey, we win the vote, six to four. And even if we lose one, that's still a five-to-five tie."

"Liana," Alessia replied in awe, "I'm so impressed. How did you figure all that out already?"

Liana cockily smirked and pointed to her temple. "Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I'm a whiz with numbers, Alessia." She pointed to a booklet that was lying neatly closed on her own bed. "There's a reason I enjoy doing booklets of math problems like that one in my spare time."

'And I'm working on my Game Theory doctorate at Stanford University, funded by my winnings on the World Series of Poker circuit, but let's keep those facts between us, hm?' She thought to herself proudly.

"So," Vivi interrupted the gambler's inner monologue by saying, "We should be focusing on Neda, John, and Godfrey."

"Wait," Alessia interrupted, suddenly confused. "We're targeting Godfrey," She realized. "How are we supposed to get him on our side, when our side wants to take him out?"

"Simple," Liana replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "We trick the guy into thinking that we're going after Brooke or something. Then, he's cut off from the pack and split from the other votes."

"So, the plan's to get him to join the alliance that wants to take him out?" Vivi asked, a smirk on her face.

"Pretty much," Liana curtly nodded. "Like I said, I'm not even going to bother with David, since he and Weenus are close. But, I'll try to get Wind. And then, we can focus on John and Neda."

The gambler turned to Alessia. "You can try Godfrey. He's most likely to be the one to not instantly laugh off the idea of working with you. Offer him whatever you think he needs to join our side. He'll take a good deal."

Alessia nodded in understanding. "You got it, Liana."

"Vivi, you talk to John. You two get along. And I'll talk to Neda."

"Sure thing," Vivi agreed with a nod of her head.

"And then, once we survive this vote, we'll be the final three!" Alessia finished with a giggle.

"Sure," Liana agreed, unenthused. "That works for me. Anyway, let's start working on these people tomorrow," she told the two. "Emotions are still raw after the vote, so let people sleep on it, and we can work our magic tomorrow."

"Sounds good," Alessia responded, which Vivi echoed with a silent nod. Sighing, Liana flopped down on her bed and exhaled heavily.

Static

Confessional: Liana

"The road ahead looks tedious as hell," the gambler groans into her hands. "There's no guarantee this works at all, and I may have hitched my wagon to the horse that will torpedo my butt in this game in record time."

She then lifts her head out of her hands, a confident smirk on her face. "But, I'm ready to risk it all on this. I either win huge or lose catastrophically. That's the game for you. Moments like these are what I live and breathe for. And it's a risk I'm more than ready to take."

Static

"Weenus!" David called as he frantically searched through the darkened forest of Wawanakwa for his lost friend.

"Yo! Weenus, buddy!" Godfrey called from behind David. David and Godfrey had opted to stick together to find their alliance mate, while Wind took Neda, lest the Superfan get lost herself.

Entering a clearing, Godfrey sighed aloud as he sat on a large fallen tree. "Damn, man," he groaned. "Where the heck did that boy get off to?"

"He's gotta be here somewhere!" David concernedly shouted. "We gotta find him!"

"Don't worry, David," Godfrey reassuredly told him as he patted the Newfie Chef on his shoulder. "We're not leaving this dumb forest without our boy. I just need a sec to catch my breath."

"Yeah….." David trailed off. "Yeah, I could use a second, too. But we gotta hurry."

As the two stood, the only sounds coming from them being their in and exhalations, David suddenly asked, "Do you think Neda and Wind are having any more luck?"

"If I knew, I'd tell you," Godfrey responded back as he stretched.

"I just…." David sighed in defeat. "I just feel bad, man."

"I know you do, David," Godfrey consoled as he patted David on the shoulder. "Weenus, of all people, didn't deserve that. I'd have taken that abuse for that boy in a heartbeat."

"Guys?"

The pairs' heads bolted to their right. Out of the forest came Weenus, a sad grin on his face. Trailing behind him were Wind and Neda.

"Dude!" David exclaimed as he rushed towards the stuntman and hugged him tightly. "You're okay! Oh, thank god!"

As David and Weenus embraced, Godfrey approached Wind and Neda. "Wind was able to find him pretty easily," Neda remarked as she watched Weenus and David's reunion, a smile on her face.

"I was able to find his trail very easily," Wind confirmed. "He had made his way to the old stage out there in the forests."

"Thanks for finding him, Wind," Godfrey told her seriously. "I appreciate it."

"Ah, don't thank me," the hippy hummed. "I was happy to find my friend."

"Hey, Godfrey," Weenus called as he approached the cocky teen. "Sorry to make you worry."

"Don't apologize, man," Godfrey replied to him. "You got nothing to apologize for at all."

"I shoulda listened to you," the stuntman sadly remarked. "You and David were trying to help me, and-"

Weenus was interrupted by the charmer wrapping him in a hug of his own. "Don't apologize," Godfrey repeated. "It's Alessia's fault. Not yours. You have nothing to apologize for, brother."

Weenus began to sniffle. "I'm really lucky to have you and David as friends, y'know? You two are the best friends a bro could ask for."

"And don't you forget it," Godfrey remarked, which made the stuntman laugh.

"And thanks to you too, Neda, Wind," Weenus told them as Godfrey released him from the hug. "You two are really cool too."

"Don't sweat it, Colby!" Neda remarked. "I'm just happy to have helped, even if Wind did most of the work!" She added with a laugh.

"Will you be okay, Colby?" Wind asked.

At that, Weenus exhaled deeply, then grinned widely. "Yeah. I will. This isn't even the first time something like this has happened to me. I'll recover, just give me some time."

"If you say so," Wind accepted with a hum. She then asked, "Would you all like assistance in getting back to the cabins?"

"I sure as hell don't know my way back, so lead on, Wind," Godfrey spoke for the group. At that, Wind began walking, motioning for the others to follow. As they did, Godfrey held Weenus back.

"Me and David talked, Weenus, and we're gonna target Alessia at the next ceremony," he explained to the stuntman.

"I won't stop you," Weenus growled.

The sun peaking over the coastline of Wawanakwa meant that yet another day of the game had begun. And for some of the island's inhabitants, this was the day to scramble for power.

At the campfire pit, Godfrey stared at the bonfire pit that held the flames that illuminated their ceremonies. Arms folded, he stared down into the pit, a frown on his face, obviously deep in thought. So deep in thought, he didn't even hear someone approach from behind.

"Heya," Alessia greeted as she stood next to Godfrey's left.

The charmer couldn't help but chuckle. "Lots of nerve talking to me after what you did to Weenus, Alessia. Color me impressed."

The gamer girl just rolled her eyes at Godfrey's jab. "What are you even doing here, anyway?" She asked aloud.

"Thinking," was Godfrey's simple reply.

When the charmer didn't expand on his thoughts, Alessia slowly replied, "About…..?"

"The game," He replied. "About the people who've left. And the people who need to leave to get myself to the end."

Alessia grinned at that. "That's funny," she admitted, "Because that's exactly what I want to talk to you about."

Not turning to face her, Godfrey simply spoke, "Let's hear it."

"Well, Liana, Vivi, and I have formed a new alliance. Apparently, Liana and Brooke have had some sorta big falling out or whatever. I don't really care," she flippantly added, before continuing, "But, I know that Brooke is gonna make her own alliance, and try to take me out. Liana wanted to keep me around, so she's forming a new one. And, anyway, Liana said that you'd be perfect to join up with us."

Finally, Godfrey turned to face the streamer, an analytical look on his face. "And, pray tell, Alessia, why should I join up with you after what you did to Weenus?"

Alessia looked wholly unimpressed. "Because, Godfrey, I'm not an idiot. I've heard about what you did to Apollo, Liana, and Brooke. They were your allies, and you backstabbed one to get him eliminated, tried to backstab the other to get her eliminated, and you threatened the last one to join your alliance under the risk of elimination, respectively. At the end of the day, you realize this is a game like me, and you do whatever you can to get yourself to the end, just like I do."

At his list of betrayals being laid out so clearly in front of him, Godfrey couldn't help but grin at the gamer girl. "Shoot, I guess you caught me. Yeah, I've been known to throw a knife or two into my friends' backs. So, what do you have to offer me, Alessia?"

Alessia grinned victoriously at Godfrey's cooperation. "You join up with us, and we're gonna be targeting Brooke at the next ceremony."

Godfrey looked at her blankly. "That's only four. Do we have the rest of the votes as needed?"

"We're working on getting them, but don't worry, all we need is two," Alessia reassured. "And we have three people that we're talking to, in order to secure their votes. But, we're planning on taking you to the end." Alessia then leaned closer towards Godfrey conspiratorially and whispered, "And, between you and me, I want to take you to the final two with me, Godfrey!"

Godfrey nodded in acceptance. "Solid, I must say." He turned and looked back at the barrel. "This whole alliance has been planned out well. Color me impressed in you all."

"Perfect!" Alessia giggled. "So, you're in the alliance, then."

"Absolutely not."

The proud look on the streamer's face dropped instantly in shock. "Wh-what?" She stumbled out, clearly surprised at Godfrey's sudden refusal.

The charmer turned back to the girl, arms folded across his chest. "I said no. I'm not joining."

"But…but why?" Alessia managed to get out, still stunned over the teen's stark refusal of her. "I thought you agreed!"

"I never agreed to join you. I said I'd listen to your terms, and I listened, and now I refuse."

"Oh, what?" Alessia snidely whipped back at him, "You're turning me and the alliance down because I was mean to Weenus?"

"No," Godfrey bluntly responded, which surprised the gamer girl all over again. "No, not because of Weenus. I don't care about that."

"What?" Was all that Alessia could blurt out, now completely lost.

"It's like you said, Alessia," Godfrey explained. "We do things in this game to advance our own positions. Some of us choose to do bad things. I'm one of those people, and I fully admit it. After all I've done to my allies, and my friends, in this thing, I'd be a massive, massive hypocrite to then hold that over your head. And while I have a problem with what you did personally, because Weenus is my friend, I don't have a problem with it professionally."

Alessia opened her mouth to speak, but Godfrey interrupted her. "No, I'm not joining your alliance because I know you're a liar, Alessia." He then smirked at her. "I know that I'm your new alliance's target. It was a nice little play, but unfortunately, it's not going to work."

Alessia was aghast, her mouth hung open in shock and her face had slightly paled. "Yes," Godfrey suddenly continued, "I know that I'm your target. How do I know, you may ask?" At that, he wagged a finger at her. "Ah-ah, I won't be telling you that. But, you can rest assured that even if I don't particularly care about what you've done to Weenus, I care greatly about my own self-preservation. And that would be greatly at risk if I joined your group. So," Godfrey said as he turned and began to walk back up the path towards the cabins, "With that, I take my leave. Ta-ta."

Static

Confessional: Godfrey

"Ah," The charmer proudly sighs as he sits in the confessional booth. "Nothing quite better than dropping a big bombshell like that!" He then eyes the camera. "And, you at home must be wondering how I knew about that secret alliance that wanted to take me out. Well, surprisingly, I was informed of it rather recently by none other than Neda. She told me of an alliance trying to get off the ground that was out to get me, and that Liana had approached her about it. And, all she wanted in return was a final two!" He heartily laughed. "And all she wanted was to go to the final two with me. Hell, I like Neda, but she's not exactly stiff competition. So, sure! I was happy to agree to take her to the end."

"And," he added, "I wasn't sure about Alessia's alliance targeting me, but my fake out worked like a real charm. Her reaction gave me all I needed. So, thanks for the offer, Alessia, but I'd much rather see you leave next time!"

Static

Neda happily hummed to herself as she made her way out of the shallow end of the lake's water near the docks. "I'm not normally one to go for a swim," she quietly talked to herself, "But I thought it'd be fun today." She then looked down at her swimsuit, a white one-piece, and grinned. "Plus," she added, "Why pack this thing if I'm not even gonna go swimming while I'm here?"

She chuckled to herself as she approached the beach chair she had laid out before going swimming, quickly grabbed the brush that she had laid on top of her towel, and began running it through her unbraided hair. "And later, I'll re-braid my hair!"

"Hi there, Neda!" A voice called. Looking up at the dock, the superfan spotted Brooke approaching her.

"Oh, heya!" Neda called as she picked up her towel and began to dry herself off. "What's up, Brooke?"

"Well, I was just wondering how it's going for you since the ceremony last night," Brooke asked. "It was all pretty crazy, wasn't it?"

"You have that right," Neda muffledly replied as she rubbed the towel on her face, before moving it to her hair. "I'm fine, but I'm more concerned about Weenus, really," she admitted. "The poor guy really got a thrashing, and he's still all smiley and stuff. I hope he's not holding that in."

Brooke chuckled lightly at that. "I'd normally agree, but it is Weenus, after all," she remarked. "I'm positive he's been through worse."

Neda sighed. "I guess," she admitted, "But still, that's stuff he agreed to do. I doubt he agreed to be dressed down like that."

"Yeah…..I guess that's a good point," Brooke acquiesced. "But still, I think that if anyone can make it through this the easiest it's that guy."

Neda smiled at that. "Now, I can agree with that. But, anyways Brooke, thanks for checking in on me!" She added happily. "It's super nice of you."

Brooke leaned in closer to the Iranian teenager. "And, I need to talk to you," she whispered. "It's important."

Neda's eyes opened wide in surprise at Brooke's clandestine tone. "Oh, snap, what is it?" She asked curiously.

"Unfortunately," Brooke began, "Me and Liana got into an argument last night after the ceremony."

"Oh no!" Neda exclaimed worriedly. "What about?"

"Liana had come up with this whole scheme to absorb Alessia into our alliance!" She exclaimed. "After all that crap she did to Weenus, she was immediately talking about adding her to the alliance! Can you believe that!?"

Static

Confessional: Neda

"What Alessia did to Weenus was disgusting," Neda began. "No one should ever be treated like that, I say. Especially if they're someone as kind as Weenus is."

Neda then folds her arms. "But, at the same time, I think Liana's got a great point. Does the idea of working with Alessia stink?" She nods. "Oh, of course! I'd feel gross the whole time I did it. But," she adds, "I'd still do it. Do you think that every winner of Survivor, Big Brother, and Total Drama did it by making it to the end of the game with all of their best friends?" She vigorously shakes her head. "Of course not! In games like this, you have to work with what you have. And if Alessia is what I have, then I'd just have to make do. It's like what one of my favorite Survivor players said; 'I'd go to the final five with four people I absolutely hated if it meant I had a better chance at winning.'"

Static

Neda's face scrunched. "She really said that?" She bewilderedly asked, to which Brooke gave a nod of confirmation.

"She did!" Brooke announced. "I couldn't believe it at all! She said that if we got Alessia into the alliance, we'd be able to have an extra vote and all that stuff, and said it'd be easier to take out Godfrey that way. So then, Liana asked if I was in, and I of course said no. And she got all offended, and we got into an argument. And unfortunately, the alliance we had is done."

"Well, that really sucks," Neda groaned.

"It does," Brooke agreed. "Liana is smart, Neda. Godfrey himself has said he thinks she's one of the smartest people here. And whenever I talk to her, I get that vibe, too. So, Liana is naturally gonna be trying to recruit people for a new alliance. In fact," Brooke remembered, "She pretty much said as such. So, if she's gonna be getting people, I have to be too. And you're the first person I wanted to grab, Neda. I really trust you. I trust you more than anyone here," she revealed. "You've had my back at every opportunity."

Neda grinned. "I've been so happy to have your back, Brooke," she said with a soft grin. "You're one of the nicest people I've met here. And I totally have your back here, too."

Brooke gave the much smaller girl a genuine grin. "I knew that if I could count on anyone, Neda, it'd be you. David is cool and all, but I always worry about him being so tight with Godfrey. But, not you. You're my number-one ally in this game."

Neda pretended to wipe a tear away from her eye. "Oh, Brooke," Neda choked out, "that's so nice of you to say to me."

"It's just the truth," Brooke replied with a pat on the shoulder. "In fact," she suddenly said, "Neda, I wanna go to the end of this game with you. I want you to be my final two."

Neda widely grinned at Brooke's sudden proclamation. 'Another final two? Why the heck not?' The superfan thought to herself, before saying, "Oh my god! Brooke! I'd LOVE to go to the final two with you!"

Brooke grinned. "Then it's settled. It's you and me, Neda," Brooke told her with a smile. "All the way to the end of this thing."

"I can't wait!" Neda squealed excitedly.

"Well, I'll get out of your hair," the athletic girl told her next. "I won't bother you anymore, go ahead and get dried off."

"I will!" Neda chirped in response. "Thanks again for everything, Brooke!" She called, as the taller girl walked away. When Neda was sure Brooke was gone, she chuckled to herself as she wrapped her towel around herself and walked up the stairs to the dock. "I love this so much," she happily hummed as she made her way towards the bathrooms.

As she made her way with a new spring in her step, she was stopped by someone calling her name. "Neda!"

Curiously looking around, she was rather surprised to see Liana standing on the front porch of the women's cabin, waving her toward her. Shrugging to herself, she quickly approached. "What's up, Liana?" The superfan curiously asked.

"Just the person I was looking for," the gambler grinned happily as she motioned for Neda to follow her inside the cabin. "C'mon, follow me for a second."

Obliging, Neda followed the girl into the cabin and was curious to see that it was empty. "Do you need something?"

"I do," Liana confirmed seriously. "I need to talk to you about an alliance."

'I feel like I've heard this before…..' Neda thought amusedly to herself as she gave the gambler a nod. "What kind of alliance?"

At that, Liana sighed in irritation. "Me and Brooke had a major disagreement on how to proceed with our group. I want to fold Alessia in so we have an extra number on our side, giving us an extra layer of safety. But, Brooke doesn't agree," she complained. "She'd rather just throw Alessia in the garbage!" She huffed. "She doesn't realize that the enemy here is Godfrey, not Alessia. He's why we started this whole damn group!"

Neda nodded. "I see."

"But Brooke just doesn't get it!" Liana continued ranting. "The girl has completely lost sight of the forest through the trees. So now, we're both scrambling for votes at the next ceremony. And, that's where you come in," She finished with a grin. "We could use your vote against Godfrey, Neda. It's gonna be a tight vote."

Neda tapped her chin, taking a few moments to think about her answer. After a few moments, she grinned. "Sure thing! I'll be happy to help. Godfrey is dangerous, more so than Alessia, if you ask me. We have the opportunity to take him out, we really shouldn't waste it."

Liana gave the superfan a wide grin at her answer. "Right answer!" She applauded. "I knew that you'd see the logic in this move, unlike Brooke," she finished by saying the athlete's name with a sour expression. "You've always been down to help out, Neda, I'm pretty relieved you're helping out again. I really owe you."

Sensing an opportunity, Neda pounced. "Well, if you owe me, I know a way you can pay me back…" she trailed off mysteriously.

"Oh?" Liana asked, intrigued. "What do you have in mind, then?"

"I want you to take me to the final two with you!" Neda exclaimed.

Liana pursed her lips in thought, before nodding. "That's more than fair, Neda. Truth be told, I'd rather go to the end with you than a lot of people here." Liana smiled at the thought. "A Neda-Liana final two. I like that a lot!"

"Ha!" Neda laughed. "I do too, Liana. I can't wait to see you there."

That made Liana snicker as well. "It's a date, Neda. Well," She finished, "Sorry to grab you while you were in the middle of something. Go ahead and go back to whatever you were up to. I'll see you around."

"Thanks, Liana, you too," Neda replied as she departed from the cabin, Liana flopped down on her bed and grabbed a packet of math problems.

As Neda got closer to the bathrooms, a large, satisfied grin spread across her face.

Static

Confessional: Neda

"So, to recap," Neda explained to the camera, "I've told both sides of this conflict that I'm for sure on their side. Of course, I'll only be able to vote one way. In addition, both Liana and Brooke have agreed to take me to the end of the game with them, as well." Neda looked contemplatively into the camera for a few seconds, then busted out laughing. "It's so perfect!" She excitedly squeals. "I have my pick of whichever side looks the strongest! And, furthermore, whichever side I didn't vote for, I can still have plausible deniability for the vote, and, if I need to, I can just lie my butt off and deny, deny, deny it!"

Neda then inhales and exhales deeply, a look of determination coming across her features. "But, I really, really need to make sure I make the right decision when the time comes. Playing the middle like this is the highest risk and the highest reward. If you get caught two-timing, you just make both sides angry at you, and they can unite together to just take you out. I've seen it plenty of times before. But….." She trails off. "If I play this situation just right, I have a real chance of getting to the very end of this game."

Static

"Yo, Lane."

John was jolted back to reality as he shot up from his bed, quickly looking around and flinging his sketchpad off his chest, the item in question flying to the floor with a thud.

Gathering his senses and rubbing his eyes, John was greeted by the sight of Vivi staring at him, his sketchpad in hand, and an amused look on her face. "You lost this."

"Thanks," The artist tiredly thanked as he grabbed the sketchpad and leaned forward, placing it on the shelf next to his bed.

"You looked comfy," Vivi amusedly remarked as John stretched and yawned. "I almost didn't wanna wake you up, but challenge time is getting close, and I'd just hate it if you slept through it."

"No, don't want that," John grumbled tiredly as he rubbed his eyes. "Wouldn't be ideal for sure."

"What, late night or something?" The rocker asked, curious to see where the conversation would turn.

"Kinda," John yawned. "We Lanes aren't exactly morning people, and truth be told, I didn't sleep the best last night." He replied as he rapidly blinked to get the sleep from his blue eyes.

That piqued Vivi's interest. "Oh?" She intoned. "Dreams of boogymen under the bed?"

The raven-haired artist chuckled at that. "Not since I was a kid. Just one of those nights, y'know."

Vivi nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I get that." She then jutted her thumb towards the cabin door. "Why don't we go grab some coffee?" She then asked. "I could go for some myself, anyways."

As if on queue, John yawned again. "Brain tired. Coffee good." He grunted.

Vivi chuckled in amusement as the artist grabbed his boots and quickly threw them on his feet, deftly tying the laces. "And while I have you," Vivi suddenly continued, "I do have something else I'd like to chat with you about."

Grabbing his red overshirt that hung limply from an open drawer of the nearby drawer, he quickly tossed it on his back and slipped his arms through the sleeves as he responded by saying, "Only talking with me when you need something? If I wasn't so tired my feelings would be hurt."

Vivi couldn't help but chuckle aloud at that. "Most people are glad that I don't talk to them too much, you know. You really know how to make a girl feel special, John."

"Flattery doesn't suit you, Vivi," John good-naturedly shot back. "Tell me something I don't know instead."

She pointed to her boots. "These boots can still kick your ass," She threatened, her eyes glinting with mischief.

"Now that, I can believe," John laughed as he made for the cabin door and opened it. "I'll be sure to stay on your good side. And out of kicking distance."

The pair laughed as they made their way to the mess hall and grabbed their respective cups of coffee, before sitting at one of the empty tables. After taking a sip, John asked the rocker, "So what's so important that you had to drag me from my nap, Vivi?"

"Well, besides the whole challenge approaching, I wanted to pick your brain on the upcoming vote," she bluntly told him before taking a sip of her own beverage.

"You too, huh?" The artist asked amusedly.

"What do you mean, you too?" Vivi asked, confusion written clear on her face.

"I got this whole spiel from Weenus already," John casually admitted. "A bunch of stuff about Alessia and needing my vote. It kinda went in one ear and out the other, if I'm honest."

Vivi sighed, annoyed. "I'm not that surprised if I'm being honest. In case you didn't notice, there's a bit of an arms race at the moment, and the weapons we all need are votes." Vivi looked at him for a second, before then asking, "You don't have a problem with working with Alessia, do you?"

"Nah," John waved off. "I really don't care. I don't really like her if I'm being honest, but I'm open for business to any side that wants to work with me."

Vivi grinned. "I figured that you'd be smart enough to see that it's about how you work, not who you work with," she told him.

"Yeah, I'm a regular genius," John dryly told her, before inquiring, "If I can be so bold, what do the votes look like?"

Vivi scrunched her face in thought. "Well, from what Liana's told me, it's Alessia, Liana, and myself to get rid of Godfrey, and Godfrey, Brooke, David, and Weenus to get rid of Alessia. And you, Neda, and Wind are the votes that fall in the middle."

"Hmm….." John mumbled in thought. "So you need, at minimum, two of the three that are left?" He asked.

"Smart guy," Vivi mocked, which made the Lane snicker. "Yeah, you got it pretty much right." She then looked at him expectantly. "So, what're you gonna do, John? Who's side are you on?"

John took a second to answer, taking another sip of his drink, the rocker starting to grow impatient at the pensive look on John's face, before he finally revealed, "Well, I already told Weenus that I'd vote with their side."

Seeing the irritation flash across Vivi's face, he quickly added, "But, I can be easily swayed."

"Name your price, John," Vivi commanded. "We really need the votes here."

John thought for a second, before revealing, "Tell Liana that I'll join if you, myself, and Liana form a final three."

"Done," Vivi quickly agreed. "There's no way that she'll refuse it." The rocker then grinned again. "Welcome to the winning team," she told him as she drank more of her coffee.

"Glad to be here," he responded, a satisfied grin on his face.

Static

Confessional: John

"Of course, I don't know what side I'm gonna actually ally with just yet," The artist shrugged as he sat in the confessional booth. "To do so now would be silly. What happens when you just willy-nilly pick a side, and it's the wrong one?"

He then slices his thumb across his neck. "That's what happens. You get cut." He then shakes his head. "And that's not happening to John Lane. What these people don't realize is that I have the power here. My vote is pivotal. I've been riding the middle this whole game, and it's worked for me damn good. And now that it's time to actually pick a side, I won't be on the losing side. So, I'm gonna wait 'till the 11th hour, scope out where the votes are, and just go with the majority."

He smirks. "And I'll keep doing that until I'm the winner."

Static

Wind was currently lying flat on her back on the old talent show stage, staring up at the sky.

'It's such a lovely day today,' the hippy happily thought to herself as she grew a smile. 'I hear the call of birds, feel the breeze on my skin, and am doing nothing but staring at the clouds. If only the whole game could be this way.'

"Hi, Wind," Liana called as she took the steps onto the stage itself. After a few moments, Liana entered Wind's field of vision, staring down at the hippy with an amused look. "What're you doing?"

"Nothing," Wind hummed.

"Nothing?" Liana asked, amusement clear in her voice.

"Nothing," the hippy answered again.

"Do you mind if I join?" Liana queried, to which Wind splayed out her arms and legs.

"Please do. There's more than enough room," Wind assured. "And I would like the company."

Liana smiled as she carefully lowered herself to the ground and lay flat on her back next to Wind staring straight upwards at the sky. "It's nice," Liana said aloud.

"I like simply laying here," Wind revealed. "Being silent, focusing my breathing, and blending in with nature. Especially when I feel that I need to get away from it all."

Liana sighs deeply. "I feel that," she agrees, before admitting, "I feel like I need to do that more and more, especially as of late."

Wind lightly nodded. "I know what you mean. This game has always been quite rough, but as of late, I feel that it has become much more personal as of late." Despite Liana not being able to see it, the hippy's face still scrunches in discomfort. "This game brings the worst out of people, I think."

"I definitely agree with that," Liana tiredly agrees, before the two fell into a comfortable silence.

After a few minutes of just staring into the sky, Liana breaks the silence. "Do you wanna hear something weird, Wind?"

Taking the silence of Wind as confirmation, Liana revealed, "I dreamed last night that I was surrounded by my friends and family. My mom and dad, my brother and my sisters, Ali, all of them were there. But, as I looked at them all, smiles all on their faces, I felt this intense feeling of…." She trailed off, before quickly continuing, "I don't even know the word. But, I felt this intense feeling of distrust in all of them. Like, that if I turned my back to them, they'd all start whispering about me. And when they looked at me, it all felt wrong. Inauthentic."

"This game's just making me paranoid," Liana rambled. "I mean, really, how can it not?" He asked aloud. "Everyone's always out to get you. Who knows when you're being lied to? Being told the truth? People are lying to your face every second of every day here. And it's just super stressful."

Wind patiently lay on the ground, waiting for Liana to finish. After a few moments of silence, the hippy took it as the gambler being done, and replied, "I know what you mean. It's partially why I just stay out of all that kind of talk myself," The hippy admitted. "I'm just not cut out for it. I myself am too trusting."

Liana turned her head to look at Wind. "That's why I like you so much, Wind," Liana smiled. "You feel like the most authentic person here. Like I'm talking to a real person. And I trust you the most out of everyone, without a doubt."

Wind turned and looked at Liana too, a smile on her face as well. "Thank you for the kind words, Liana. They were very kind."

"They're true, I trust you the most out of anyone here," Liana echoed. "That's why I need your help at the next vote, Wind."

"Oh?" Wind asked, curious. "What is it that you need help with?"

"Well, this next elimination vote is looking like it's gonna be really close, and I really need extra votes," Liana explained to the hippy. "And I trust you as someone that would be on my side, more than anyone here."

"Oh….." Wind trailed off, slightly disappointed that she was involved in game talk. But, seeing that Liana was her friend, Wind responded, "I guess I can help you with this vote." Liana's smile widened as Wind asked, "Who would we be voting for?"

"We'd be voting to get rid of Godfrey," Liana answered, which made the hippy frown.

"Oh. Not Alessia?" Wind asked.

"Not Alessia," Liana echoed in her answer. "We'd be voting with her to help us form an alliance."

Wind looked like she had smelled something unpleasant. "An alliance with Alessia?" She asked aloud. "I don't know…the way she treated Weenus was appalling. I don't know if that's someone I can help in good conscience, Liana," Wind replied.

Liana sighed. "I know it's not an exciting prospect, Wind," she told her, "But if we wanna save ourselves, I'm afraid that it's really something we're gonna have to do. Because, if we don't do this, we're all the next ones at risk."

'God, I feel like a sleazy-ass used car salesman,' Liana internally groaned as she heard herself speak. 'The things I have to do in order to advance in this game.'

Wind was silent at that. Not wanting to potentially push the hippy away from the alliance, stayed silent after that, opting to let Wind sort through things in her mind.

"If you think it's best," Wind finally agreed.

Surprised, Liana asked, "Huh?"

"I'll join this alliance of yours if you think that it is for the best," Wind explained once again.

The smile on Liana's face threatened to break her face in two. "Oh my god! Wind! Thanks so much!" She excitedly thanked her. "We really needed your vote!" Liana couldn't help but giggle. "My god, I'm just so happy!"

Though Liana couldn't see it, Wind had an unhappy look on her face. "That's good, Liana."

Static

Confessional: Wind

The hippy sits in the confessional booth, looking both unhappy and conflicted. "I know that I promised Liana my vote against Godfrey…" She trails off before sighing unhappily. "But, the thought of actually playing this game alongside Alessia makes me feel very uncomfortable. As if my whole body is covered in oil."

"But, at the same time," she continues, "I don't wish to have lied to and turned my back on Liana, as well. She is one of my good friends, and I have been on her side since the start of this game. If I did that, she would be heartbroken."

Wind sighs again. "I wish that I had not found myself in a position like this. This game is very, very cruel."

Static

"Welcome to today's challenge, everyone!" Chris announced as he and the campers stood on the beach of Wawanakwa. The campers were all dressed in their swimming gear, told to do so by the host about twenty minutes before the challenge's start. "I'm glad that you all listened to me, because we're gonna be doing some swimming, and I don't want you guys yelling at me for ruining your clothes," the host laughed.

"Anyway," he got back on track, "Today's challenge is simple. It's going to be in two parts. First, all ten of you will be starting here, on the edge of the beach. At the whistle, you all will run down the beach, and into the water, where you'll have to swim out to a floating platform, about 50 or so feet out. The first 5 of you to reach that platform will be eligible to participate in our second heat."

"Um," David interrupted, looking a little nervous. "Fifty feet out is really far. What happens if we can't make it?"

Chris smirked at him. "Well, you better hope that you can swim back, or someone is willing to drag you to shore because we're definitely not saving any of your sorry butts!" He laughed evilly.

The host then looked curious as he heard a noise coming from off-screen.

Static

Confessional: Chris

The host looks contrite in the booth, and is reading carefully from a piece of paper. "We here at Total Drama do not advocate what our host, Chris McLean, said to our campers. Please be assured that it was simply done in jest and that here at Total Drama Island: Rewritten, competitor safety is of the highest importance to all of us, and that if any of our campers are struggling out in the water during the competition, we will not hesitate to save them."

He then huffed and pounded on the door of the confessional booth. "All right, I read that disclaimer! You lawyers can let me out now!"

Static

Roughly thrown back into the camera frame by a pair of large, hairy, muscular arms, to the amusement of the gathered competitors Chris grumbled, "If you have any difficulty swimming at any point during this competition, be assured that we here at Total Drama will not hesitate to save you."

"Well shoot," Vivi snarked, "I feel safer already."

"Gonna have to tell all those fish that our water-logged corpses are off the menu," John joked right back.

"John!" Wind remarked, aghast. "Don't say things that are so dark!"

"Oh, I said that out loud?" John asked amusedly.

"Anyway," Chris loudly said to get the competitor's attention back, "When five of you reach that platform out there, you will then make your way across smaller pads towards another floating platform. However," Chris continued to explain, "there are only four lanes of pads you can take. And, if someone uses a lane to make it to the next platform, then that one is closed, so there are only three available lanes you can take across the water. That continues until all four people are across, and one person is eliminated. Also, if you're traversing across the water and fall in, you have to swim back to your current platform, and try again."

"We continue that until there are three, then two. On our last heat, once you have to make it across our floating platforms, climb a tower, and grab the flag from the top. If you do that, you win immunity!"

"Hold on," Liana asks, confused. "What happens if there's two people left and one path?"

That made Chris grin. "If that happens, then the two people on the platforms have to try to knock each other into the water!" He giggled. "Pushing and shoving is allowed, but don't punch, kick, or choke each other. If you knock someone in the water, you can keep going. And if you're pushed, then back to the start with you!"

The host then clapped his hands. "Alright! Are we ready?" He asked his gathered campers. He received a multitude of nods in return, which made him grin. "Alright! Then, everyone get into position, and on the whistle, this challenge is a go!"

As the campers got into position, Chris held his whistle aloft. "One…two…..three….." He then put the whistle to his mouth and blew.

TWEEEEEEEET!

"GO!" He exclaimed.

All the campers shot off the starting line, making a mad dash toward the water. After only a few moments, a few had already arrived.

"And Brooke, John, and Neda are our first to arrive at the water, but everyone else is in hot pursuit!" Chris narrated.

Quickly, Brooke began pulling ahead of the others as she furiously swam towards the platform.

'Ack!' John mentally spat. 'She's kicking this water right into my face!'

Meanwhile, Godfrey leisurely began swimming, taking his sweet time with a doggy paddle. Even Wind had surpassed him at this point, as the charmer just grinned.

"Brooke is quickly pulling ahead of the pack!" Chris announced over a megaphone. "But David's starting to catch up!"

Pulling ahead of John and Neda, David furiously kicked his legs in a breaststroke, which was what most of the competitors were doing.

"Brooke's rapidly approaching the platform!" Chris narrated. "And David's right on her tail! We got a big jumble in the middle, and bringing up the rear is Godfrey!"

After another minute or so, Brooke victoriously climbed onto the floating platform first, breathing heavily, but raising her arms victoriously.

"And Brooke is our first camper here!" Chris told the others. "Four spots left! You guys better hurry!"

'Dammit!' Neda internally growled as she saw other campers passing her in the water. 'If only I was a stronger swimmer!'

"And David is next!" Chris called as the Newfie dragged himself onto the platform. "David's advanced to our second stage!"

"Hey, good job!" Brooke congratulated. "Second place isn't that bad!" She added with a cocky grin.

"Hey…..thanks….." David rasped as he tried to catch his breath, still on his hands and knees.

Brooke held a hand out, and David quickly took it, still heavily breathing. "Need a second to catch your breath there, man?" Brooke needled.

"Something like that," David chuckled. At the sound of hands arriving on the platform behind them, they both turned to see Liana hauling herself out of the water.

"Liana is our third one! Two spots left!" Chris yelled out.

"So, you made it," Brooke unhappily said as the gambler rubbed water from her eyes.

"That I did," She shot back. "Try to not sound so pleased about it."

Brooke huffed as John next pulled himself from the water and, not even bothering to try, just crawled away from the edge and flopped down on his back. "Holy crap!" He groaned.

"I know how you feel, dude," David agreed as he reached his hand out to the artist. "Do you need any help getting up?"

"No," the artist rasped. "Just leave me here, I need a minute."

"It's a dead heat!" Chris called out. "Who's going to make it and claim our last spot?!"

The four on the platform watched anxiously as three different competitors swam their way toward the platform, but due to the amount of water being splashed around, it was impossible to see who it was. But, after a few seconds, an arm reached out, grabbed the platform and began to pull its owner out of the water.

"And our final participant in the second round is…..Alessia!" Chris announced, making Brooke scowl annoyedly and Liana smirk. "That means, sorry Neda, Wind, Vivi, Weenus, and Godfrey, but you're all out of the challenge."

"Shoot," Neda groaned as she smacked the water, seeing that she was trailing just a few feet behind the streamer.

After a few minutes, the five eliminated campers were all safely back on the beach, catching their breath. Having been provided towels, they were all drying off, when one carefully approached the other. "Um, Vivi?"

Removing the towel from her face, the rocker looked at the person who called her name. "Neda? What do you want?"

The superfan looked bashful. "I was just wondering if we could talk later today, before the elimination."

Vivi cocked an eyebrow curiously. "Is it important?"

"I don't know," Neda fully admitted, "But I figured that I should talk to you anyway."

After a moment, the rocker just shrugged. "What the hell? Sure."

Neda lightly grinned. "Great! Let's meet at the old stage in an hour."

"Old stage. One hour. Orders received and will be carried out." Vivi confirmed, which made Neda giggle.

Meanwhile, Wind tapped Weenus on the shoulder. "Oh, hey!" He greeted the hippy. "What's up?"

"How are you doing?" She asked as she wrapped her towel around herself.

"Oh, I'm good," Weenus declared. "That challenge was tough, and I figured I wouldn't make it to the second round, but heck, I had to try!" He added with a laugh.

Wind smiled. "That is good, but I meant how are you doing emotionally?"

That seemed to surprise the stuntman. "Oh! Um, I'm fine, I guess."

Wind looked at him curiously. "Are you sure, Colby?" She asked, concern clear in her voice. "I was very worried after the events of the elimination regarding Alessia."

He gave the girl a sad smile. "Thanks for your concern, Wind, really." He thanked. "But, really, I'm okay. It's like I told the boys, this isn't the first time a girl pretended to like me or anything. It sucks, but that's life. I just gotta keep on being me, you know?"

Wind gave him a sad grin of her own. "Your outlook on life is very admirable, Colby," She truthfully told him. "I truly doubt that I would be able to bounce back the way you have."

He chuckled. "Thanks. What happened may have sucked, but I'm lookin' at the big picture. I've still got great friends, I'm still having fun, and I'm still here. I can't complain about that, really."

"Would you like a hug?" Wind suddenly asked.

After a few moments, Weenus nodded with a smile. "You know what? I think I would, Wind."

With that, Wind quickly approached and wrapped the slightly shorter boy in a hug. "There you go," Wind giggled lightly.

After a few moments, the two released, a large smile on Weenus' face. "Thanks, Wind," he sincerely greeted. "I needed that."

Wind smiled back. "Any time, Colby. Please, do not ever forget that you are a beautiful person. You will make someone a very happy partner one day."

"Thanks, Wind," Weenus replied. "And you will, too."

As she stared at the stuntman, Wind's smile faltered slightly as she remembered her and Liana's conversation from earlier in the day.

Back on the platform, Liana, John, Alessia, Brooke, and David were all preparing for the second part of the challenge. Chris was riding beside them on a jet ski, its motor idling and megaphone still in hand. "Alright, are you guys all ready for our second part of the challenge?" Chris asked aloud over his speaker.

"Born ready!" Brooke excitedly shouted, the girl hopping up and down on her feet in anticipation.

The other competitors gave various positive answers as well. "Alright, then like before, when I blow the whistle, this thing's a go!" And with that, the host blew his whistle, quickly getting the second stage underway.

Brooke instantly took the left-most path, deftly making her way across. She grinned as she roughly shoved Alessia into the water, as she also tried to take that path. "WOAH!" The streamer screamed as she was practically thrown into the water.

Chris busted out laughing as Alessia gasped as her head rose above the water. Meanwhile, John and Liana were quickly making their way across their platforms too. David, however, only got about two platforms in before losing his balance and falling into the water.

"And Brooke is across first!" Chris announced as the athlete made her way across, closing the leftward lane. David was just crawling out of the water, and Alessia was just taking his lane.

Without skipping a beat, Brooke continued to the lanes of floating pads, traversing across those just as easily as the first. "And Brooke isn't even missing a beat!" Chris exclaimed. "She's already powering through the second round!"

"Is that even allowed?!" Alessia complained as she was about to hop onto a lane.

"I never said she had to wait, just that after four make it across, you'd be eliminated!" Chris cackled.

Meanwhile, Liana and John arrived on the second platform at roughly the same time. However, as they looked, Brooke had already cleared the second part and was already on her third.

Seeing that, John just sat down on the platform. "You're giving up already?!" Liana growled as she hopped onto the second row, desperately trying to catch up to the basketball star.

"I know when I'm beat," he shrugged.

Back at the first heat, David and Alessia were facing off on the last available lane. "Just get the hell off, David!" Alessia shouted at him.

"No way!" He shouted right back. "You're going down, Alessia." He reached out to grab her hand, but she leaned back out of his reach. Both wobbled, desperately trying to regain their balance.

After a few moments, both had gotten about as balanced as they could. "I said move, David!" Alessia growled at him. "Don't make this diffi-"

"And it's over!" Chris' excited voice came from over the megaphone. Shocked, the pair both turned and looked at the tower and saw Brooke hooting and hollering in victory, waving the flag at the top in victory. "Brooke dominated the competition and won herself another immunity challenge!"

"Dammit!" Liana stomped the third platform in anger as Brooke continued to wave around her newly won flag.

"I told you," John called as he stood from his spot behind Liana and stretched.

"Shut up, John!"

"Thanks for coming, Vivi!" Neda chirped, stepping up onto the stage and seeing the rocker chick staring at her.

"Yo," she casually greeted. "No problem, I guess. But, I'm gonna be honest, I don't really get why you needed to talk to me," Vivi perplexedly told the Iranian teen.

"Oh! Well," Neda began, "I was just asking about if you knew about that vote against you at the last elimination ceremony," she then asked. "I thought it was kinda weird that someone would vote away from the pack like that."

Vivi growled annoyedly. "If I knew about it, trust me, everyone would know about it, Neda."

Neda scrunched her lips in thought. "Hmm," she thought aloud. "Well, do you have any ideas? Maybe anyone that isn't happy with you? Someone that would want to send a message against you or something like that?"

Vivi's eyes narrowed. "I can think of someone," she told Neda, "But that wouldn't make any sense."

"Who wouldn't make sense?" Neda asked, confusion clear in her voice.

"Liana," Vivi bluntly told her.

"Wait, Liana?" Neda questioned, clearly confused. "Why her? Aren't we all working together?"

"We have…an interesting relationship," Vivi told her. "Pretty up and down. We've gotten along and screamed at each other. But I wouldn't think that she'd try to do this to me….." Vivi trailed off.

"So you two haven't gotten along?" Neda curiously asked, and Vivi nodded her head in confirmation. "Then it may not be her after all."

"But….." Vivi suddenly cut in. "At the same time, I can totally see Liana doing something stupid like this," the rocker claimed. "Liana's been shifty since the first damn day when we got rid of Daniel. And she threw a big fat cow over that random vote against her. She's totally the type to throw it back at someone!"

"But wait," Neda interrupted. "What would Liana's motivation be in doing this, do you think?"

"Like I said," Vivi told her, "We've had a contentious relationship. Maybe she was trying to send a message or something that I was next before she needed my vote."

"And you're sure it couldn't be anyone else?" Neda again asked.

"I mean, no one else really has the motivation. It coulda been Godfrey, maybe? But I dunno. That doesn't seem like his style. He'd probably just tell me he was coming after me or some crap."

That made the superfan laugh. "Yeah, he totally would do that. Being under the radar isn't something he does very well."

"And, it could have been Brooke too, I guess," Vivi acknowledged.

"It could have been," Neda admitted. "But if she did that, then why would she not be coming after you now?"

"I just don't know," Vivi annoyedly grouched. "This whole thing sucks. I still think this whole thing reeks of Liana."

Neda shrugged her shoulders. "If you say so. Well, thanks for chatting with me, Vivi. If you hear anything else, would you let me know?"

"I guess," Vivi agreed. "But why do you care so much about this vote?"

"I mean, if it's you now, who says it won't be me later?" Neda asked her, which made the rocker nod in agreement.

"Smart thinking," Vivi approvingly told Neda. "Sure, I'll keep you in the loop."

"Thanks!" Neda chirped. "Glad to be working with you, Vivi!"

"I am too, I guess," Vivi boredly told her.

"Well, if that's it, I guess I'll see you around!" Neda told Vivi as she walked off. "Bye!"

Vivi didn't say anything, rather giving the girl a simple peace sign.

As Neda left her view, Vivi's eyes narrowed in annoyance.

Static

Confessional: Vivi

"Dammit!" Vivi angrily shouts at the confessional camera. "This whole damn thing stinks of Liana being a sneak! Even after patching up one thing, she immediately goes and starts another! God, I can't stand her!"

Static

As Neda walked away, an accomplished smirk spread across her face.

Static

Confessional: Neda

"My little ruse worked perfectly if I do say so myself," Neda proudly tells the camera. "When I cast that vote against Vivi, this is exactly the outcome I wanted to get. Vivi's wondering who the vote was, and now little ol' me comes in and starts asking questions."

She grins. "That's the most important part. You have to let them come to these conclusions themselves. That way, they think it's their own idea, and not what you wanted them to think. And, you just go along with it and drive them in the direction you want them to go, and voila!"

She giggles. "And, as for why I did this to begin with? It's simple!" She exclaims. "Vivi and Liana being enemies was good for my game. If they don't like each other, then that's two people I can attach myself to and convince them to take me further. But, when they started getting along, that meant I got phased out. So, like I explained, I had to split that little duo up! I had to be careful with Vivi since I know she's…."

Neda trailed off, trying to find a polite term. "Well, she's on a little bit of a hair trigger, so I didn't wanna push the issue too much. But I think I did just enough to make her question Liana. And, as Vivi stews on it, that rift will deepen and deepen, until she's fully against her!"

Neda cheekily laughs. "Not bad for a girl like me, right?"

Static

The night had fallen on Wawanakwa. The moon hung high in the sky, and everyone was eagerly awaiting what was certain to be an intense elimination ceremony.

"So, how are we looking?" Alessia asked as she sat on her bed in the girls' cabin.

"We look good," Liana grinned. "We look really good, Alessia. I think we're gonna make this thing work."

Alessia looked very pleased. "Really? I wasn't able to get Godfrey, you know," she informed. "He shot me down really hard. He made it very clear."

Liana nodded eagerly. "Really. Even without Godfrey, we're good."

"How're the votes looking, then?" Alessia asked curiously.

"We have me, Vivi, and you," Liana told her, then added, "And, we were able to get all of the middle votes, too, Alessia."

"All of them?!" The streamer asked, shocked, to which the gambler happily grinned.

"Yeah!" Liana excitedly told her. "We got Wind, John, and Neda. It's gonna be 6-4."

"Yes!" Alessia cheered. "We really did it, Liana!"

"That we did," Liana happily agreed. "And then, it's gonna take us to the very end."

"So, how are we looking, Brooke?" David asked as he, Brooke, and Godfrey stood around the men's cabin.

"We're good, man!" Brooke happily. "We got just enough."

"You have me, for one," Godfrey told her. "Alessia asked me if I was gonna help her, you know!" He laughed.

That made the other two laugh as well. "No way!" David cried.

"She really did!" Godfrey laughed. "Oh, you two should have seen it. I had her really believing that I was gonna be working with her. How dumb!"

"So," Brooke continued, "It's me, you," pointing to David, "you," pointing to Godfrey, "And John, Neda, and Wind all agreed, too."

"Are you sure we can trust them?" Godfrey sternly asked.

"Can you trust anyone?" David asked pointedly. "The best we can do is hope we're not being lied to or anything, you know?"

"I guess," Brooke admitted. "But, I don't see a reason why they'd lie. Especially Neda, and especially especially Wind."

"People don't need reasons to lie," Godfrey shot at her. "When you throw in a large sum of money, people will do anything." He shot Brooke a charming smile. "I mean, look at me if you need any more experience in things like that!" He laughed.

Brooke rolled her eyes. "Sure, whatever, Godfrey."

"So," David asked, moving the topic of conversation back to the vote. "It looks like a 6-4 vote?"

"Yup!" Brooke happily nodded. "We're looking golden."

"That's what we think," Godfrey interrupted. "We have to be ready for any possibility."

Brooke sighed. "Why do you always have to bring the mood down, man? Can't we just be optimistic that things will work out?"

"It's what I do best, Brooke," Godfrey told her with a flashy grin. "And for the second part, you always need someone to look at things the other way. I just decided to take it upon myself."

Brooke narrowed her eyes. "I don't know, Godfrey," she threateningly told the charmer. "You seem very ready to talk about if things don't work out."

That just made Godfrey laugh. "Brooke, you realize that if Alessia doesn't go tonight, it'll be me?"

"I don't know," Brooke grumbled as she glared at Godfrey. "Who knows what kind of crap you could pull off without us knowing? Hell, look at what you did with me a while back, Godfrey!" She exclaimed.

That just made Godfrey laugh more. "I'm just a human, Brooke. Not an evil mastermind. Though, I thank you for thinking so highly of my powers of persuasion."

David chuckled as Brooke glowered. "I guess…." She trailed off, unsure.

Static

Confessional: David

"You know, I've realized something," David tells the camera. "I've really been just hanging out, having fun with this thing so far. But, if I wanna win this game, I really gotta step my game up." David laughed at his own unintended joke before continuing.

"I was the one who came up with the idea to blindside Marcellas, so I know I have it in me. I just need good allies and a dash of luck, and I think I'll be able to do it!" He grins.

Static

Tension coated the contestants and hung in the air like a thick fog. Glances of suspicion and mistrust were flung around freely as everyone awaited the arrival of the show's host. Luckily, they didn't have to wait long, as Chris arrived just a few minutes after they did, holding the plate of marshmallows that inspired nothing but dread.

"Hey there, everyone," Chris greeted his campers as he stood in front of them. "How're we doing tonight?"

Various grumbles and mumbles greeted him, which made him laugh. "You all sound thrilled!" He told them. "But, I can see why. I'm well aware of what you've all been up to recently; you're a bunch of busy bees, aren't you?" He asked aloud.

He grinned. "Well, I know you're all ready to find out the result, so I'm gonna cut the preamble and get to it right now."

With that, the host grabbed the first marshmallow and held it aloft. "Tonight's first marshmallow goes to….Wind."

The hippy hummed in happiness as she tossed her marshmallow into the roaring flames. "And, marshmallow two goes to…..

…..John."

"Yup," John grinned as he caught his treat and tossed it into his mouth. "It does taste better every time."

"Marshmallow three belongs to…Liana." The gambler smiled as she caught and ate her treat as well, while the host grabbed the fourth marshmallow.

"Alright, everyone," Chris announced. "We've got six campers left, and only five marshmallows. And we're about to be down to four because our next camper that's safe is…

….Neda!"

"Yay! Thank you everyone!" The superfan cheered happily as she caught her treat as well, and ate it.

"Who else is safe? Well, it's…..Brooke!"

The athlete caught her marshmallow with an accomplished smirk and tossed it into the flames as well.

"We're down to our final three," Chris announced to all the gathered campers. "One of you four is going home tonight. Who will it be?" He asked aloud. "Well, it's not going to be…

…Vivi!"

"Good," She grumbled as she caught her marshmallow and ate it.

"And then there were three," Chris said aloud as he looked at the three. "David. Godfrey. Alessia. One of you three will be eliminated tonight. Who will it be?" He picked up the penultimate marshmallow. "It's not going to be….David."

"Phew!" He hollered as he caught and ate his marshmallow, leaving both Alessia and Godfrey as the sole remaining to have not received a marshmallow.

Both looked supremely confident as Chris picked up his final marshmallow of the evening. "Well, it's down to you two, Godfrey and Alessia. One of you is going to be eliminated tonight."

Looking at the two's faces, he added, "And both of you seem like you're gonna stay!" He then heartily laughed. "Well, one of you is about to be sorely disappointed. Because one of you is about to leave the game. And…the person leaving Total Drama Island: Rewritten is…

…Alessia."

The streamer's eyes shot open, and Godfrey couldn't help but laugh. Faces of both shock and satisfaction held around the camp, as Alessia shot up from her seat, throwing accusatory fingers at Neda, John, and Wind. "You three lied to me! You screwed me! I hope you all get screwed next, dammit!"

And before anyone could say anything else, Alessia stormed off to the Boat of Losers, which quickly drove away from the island.

"Well, that was exciting," John rolled his eyes. "The drama queen throws another temper tantrum."

"Got that right!" Godfrey laughed. "A sore loser to the very bitter end."

"Alright, that was something," Chris told the campers. "But, you're down another contestant, so feel free to get out of here. I'm sure a lot of you have a lot of things to discuss."

As the contestants began to walk away, Chris turned to the camera. "And, you'll hear all those juicy discussions, as well as our next challenge, and see our next elimination all on the next episode of…..

TOTAL!

DRAMA!

ISLAND: REWRITTEN!"

Confessional Votes

Brooke: "Dammit," Brooke grumbled into the camera. "I hate Godfrey. Now I'm worried that things are gonna fall apart!" She then sighs. "But, until it happens or it doesn't, I gotta keep at what I want. I vote to eliminate Alessia."

Liana: "The votes should be in place, and I feel good about this. So, let's get it!" She then waves at the camera. "Goodbye, Godfrey!"

David: "Even though now seems like a good time to get Godfrey out, and I did consider it," he admits, "I think that it's in my best interest to keep him around for now. He trusts me a lot more than Alessia, so I gotta vote to eliminate her!"

Wind: The hippy sadly sighs. "I wanted to vote with Weenus. I truly do. But, Liana is my friend, and she truly needs me. As much as it bothers me, I wish to eliminate Godfrey."

Godfrey: He waves at the camera. "It didn't work. Get outta here, Alessia."

Alessia: "We did it!" She happily exclaims. "We really did it, and I'm gonna stay. Bye, Godfrey!" She blows a kiss to the camera. "Nothin' personal!"

Weenus: "I don't try to take things personally, but honestly?" He asks the camera. "This one is. I vote to eliminate Alessia."

John: "Well, I waited until the 11th hour, just like I wanted," he shrugs, "And I think I have the info I need. Looks like Godfrey's the one kicking the bucket. So, I'll be backing that side. I vote to eliminate Godfrey."

Vivi: She grumpily looks at the camera. "Well, two can play this damn game. I vote to eliminate Alessia."

Neda: "Oh, this one is gonna be really, really, close. I've really done what I could, so I guess it's just up to the reality TV gods at this point. So with that, I vote to eliminate Alessia!"

And there we go, our streamer gets disconnected from the game! The Cali Connection goes back to back, and it took a whole lot of wheeling and dealing to get her out. I always had the two of them going back to back in my plans. In fact, originally it was gonna be a double elimination! But there really wasn't a way to compellingly make it work, and as I worked on last chapter, it gave me more and more ideas for this one.

As always, thanks for reading! I'll see you around for the next one, so until then, have a happy new year!