*Chris's Recap*
"Last time, on Total Drama Nialasach,
The teams each got to know themselves a little better. Team Ebisu found itself split into three close pairs, Team Inari's Cherry and Ellie befriended each other and allied under the Fox Immunity Medal, Team Hayaji saw tensions rise between Donny and Christa, thanks to Monica's constant interference, and Team Fudo's Jenae managed to find and secure the Sword Immunity Medal, even under the watchful eyes of both Mark and Watts. The challenge, courtesy of Zero Sum's very own skunk of at outcast, Alcott, was two-fold! First, the teams scoured the island to find the most disgusting and foul-smelling things they could find in order to make a Traditional Crios Cath Energy Shake, which they then all had to drink for the second half! Even though Inari won the advantage and the first challenge, it was Ebisu that once again took first place, along with the last place team Hayaji's canoe. During the Tine Naofa Bonfire Elimination Ceremony, despite only having six members on the team, a total of 10 votes were cast, putting Donny and Christa in a stalemate. After delivering a scathing insult in spanish to her opponent, Christa managed to best Donny in the traditional first-tiebreaker staring contest, and Donny, the God Emperor, became the second contestant to enter the Tomb of Shame. Now we're down to 22, and you can bet we'll be down to 21 by the end of the episode! Which unlucky contestant will lose their composure and fall prey to the manipulations of the others? Find out right here! On Total! Drama! Niiiiiiiiialasach!"
*Total Drama Theme Song Plays*
As the song starts, various camera come out of the flora and fauna all around the island.
Dear Mom and Dad, I'm doing fine, you guys are on my mind
The camera zooms around all of Crios Cath before finally entering into the Nialasach Ruins.
You asked me what I wanted to be and now I think the answer is plain to see,
Aaron is on his skateboard, skating through the ruins, and as he moves forward, Claude can be seen following him, cleaning up the dust left by his skateboard tracks so that he can clear a path for Monica, who smiles at him, but ends up rolling her eyes, annoyed, when she's sure he isn't looking, and begins to pay attention to another part of the ruins, which the camera then shifts to.
I wanna be famous
Watts is looking over Erin's shoulder at an experiment she is working on, and she seems to be attempting to hide it from him, when the ruins wall explodes, causing Erin to fall back into Watts's arms before shoving herself out of them, the two then look over to see that the explosion was caused by Ash accidentally triggering a tripwire. She smiles and waves in an attempt to make the situation less embarrassing for her.
I want to live close to the sun
Camera switches to show Alison sitting on a beach chair and relaxing before waves come crashing in and ruin her clothes. She stands up with a huff and takes the beach chair further inland, but the same event happens, and she appears to let out a scream.
Well pack your bags, 'cause I've already won
Camera shifts up to reveal that Simon and Arnold both saw Alison's ordeal, and while Simon starts to snicker at it, Arnold begins to flamboyantly tell Simon off, and Simon plugs his ears and walks away with rolling eyes.
Everything to prove, nothing in my way, I'll get there one day
Camera shifts to Upper Ceol Fields, where Zaiyrin is seen showering Cherry with all manner of gifts and compliments, and Cherry somewhat scoffs at them before blushing with a smile once Zaiyrin leaves and heading over to Ellie to talk excitedly with her about it while Ellie is working on a costume.
'Cause I wanna be famous
Rashi and Phooko both see the events with Zaiyrin, Cherry, and Ellie, and quietly laugh to each other as they both tend to a small garden of growing plants, with Phooko's plants looking quite healthy, and Rashi's plants looking unnaturally perfect.
Na na nananana nanananana na nanananana
Camera shifts to the Glas Woods, where Raul and Vanessa are sketching each other with smiles. Camera first hovers over Raul's shoulder showing a brilliantly done sketch of Vanessa, then switches over to Vanessa's shoulder, where a sketch of Raul can be seen, but Vanessa needs to keep adding wolves to the sketch as they crowd around Raul like he's part of their pack.
I wanna be, I wanna be, I wanna be famous
Mark is playing music in Cailleach Bog, but immediately rolls out of the way of a falling tree, he looks over to see an almost seething Mirai, who turns to him and begins to smile sweetly as she begs him to play. Mark is a little nervous at first but as he begins to play, Mirai begins to cheer peacefully as the camera shifts to Lower Ceol Fields.
I wanna be, I wanna be, I wanna be famous
In Lower Ceol Fields, Donny and Gabriel are engaged in a rather heated argument, and Christa and Jenae both walk up to Donny and Gabriel respectively, Christa tries to comfort Donny, but he begins arguing with her instead. Meanwhile, Jenae begins to continue to argue with Gabriel, but he stops her when he notices she's moving her hand down his chest.
As the other contestants whistle the rest of the tune around the Tine Naofa Bonfire, Gran and Zaheen both attempt to make the fire grow larger. Upon Gran's attempt the fire blows up in his face, causing Zaheen to snicker as she pulls off the trick perfectly and the flames begin to form the season title: Total Drama Nialasach
Location: Upper Ceol Field(Team Inari's Campsite)
Contestant(s): Ash, Cherry, Ellie, Gran, Zaiyrin
"May I have your attention, Inari?" Zaiyrin called everyone on the team over to where the team's grill lay, unusable.
"Yes, oh glorious leader?" Cherry asked, the sarcasm incredibly strong in her voice.
"Fret not, my beloved." Zaiyrin responded almost as though he was reciting a line. "I will not take up much of your time at all."
"Why are we being called here so early though?" Gran yawned as he stood up from his hay bed.
"We are to conduct an expedition today!" Zaiyrin exclaimed. "That last challenge has brought to my attention that we do not know the layout of this island nearly as well as some of the other contestants on opposing teams, and that cannot be allowed to continue. One should always know their battlefield!"
"Yeah, let's all split up and let the strategist go off on his own!" Cherry continued her sarcastic remarks. "That will certainly not come back to bite any of us later!"
"I never said that I would be alone, Cherry. After all, you and Gran are coming with me! Ash and Ellie will be the other group!"
"Not that I mind, but…" Ellie cocked her head and crossed her arms. "How exactly are we supposed to conduct such an expedition? We don't just pick a direction and walk do we? I feel like that might waste too much energy."
"We can tell by the sun-" Zaiyrin pointed at the rising sun "that we're in the northwest of the island. As such, there is likely nothing northwest of our camp, but there is more than likely noteworthy locations both south and east of us, and we already know that the Ionad Desert and the Tine Naofa Bonfire are in the center of the island. With all this in mind, one group will go south, and the other will go east, and we can all meet up at the southeasternmost area of the island, where we shall rest until the next challenge is announced."
"I wonder what it's going to be…" Gran pondered.
"Nothing good, I'm sure." Zaiyrin pondered for a brief moment as well, before shaking himself out of the stupor. "In any case, Cherry, Gran! We're heading south! Ellie, Ash, the two of you go east! Team Inari...break!"
"Break!" Ellie almost reflexively played along.
Cherry allowed her lips to curve into a smile as she sighed.
Confessional: Zaiyrin: Team Inari
"Ah, but this is in fact helping me with my own strategy, for if there is no clear villain on my own team to wrap a leash around, then there must be one on another team! I need not have them on my own team to work on defeating all of them!"
End Confessional
Confessional: Gran: Team Inari
"So I guess...we're exploring the island sort of? Hey, I don't mind it. It just came a little out of the blue. I'm going to keep my eyes open for any foxes that might be running around this place."
End Confessional
Confessional: Ash: Team Inari
"So, expedition time! I'm glad Ellie's the one going with me, because I don't think Cherry would be very supportive if I had an *ahem* 'Ashident', You know? Gran's patience with them also seems to be wearing a bit thin, especially considering he's already got that bad luck when it comes to his magic tricks. Oh, but I'm not trying to feel sorry for myself or anything! I'm just saying sending Ellie was probably the best choice. Zaiyrin might be weird, but he does know what he's doing!"
End Confessional
Location: Cloch Mountain Range(Team Hayaji's Campsite)
Contestant(s): Claude, Monica, Zaheen
"Claude, do you want any help cleaning?" Monica asked sweetly as she entered the cabin and began to help Claude clean before he could answer, though when he did, he allowed it.
"So, I'll just sit out here in the cold and tend to the fire then, darlings?" Zaheen called back to the two in the cabin.
"Zaheen, you're welcome to switch places with one of us if you want to clean instead!" Monica responded in the same sweet tone.
Confessional: Monica: Team Hayaji
"Look, I didn't get a clue to any immunity medal, but I know that someone on this team has it. I doubt it was Donny, as he would have likely made an effort to look for it instead of sit on his ass at camp all day. That means it's Claude, Zaheen, Christa, or Simon with the clue, and what better cover for going through their belongings than that of cleaning the cabin? That said, I can't appear suspicious or too demanding of my team yet. I have an image to maintain after all. That's why I have to let Zaheen clean if she wants to."
End Confessional
"Clean the warm cabin? I would love to do that instead of tending this fire, darling." Zaheen smiled as she tipped her hat while walking through the doorway. "Thank you for offering!"
Confessional: Zaheen: Team Hayaji
"My team intrigues me. Not as much as a team like Ebisu mind you, but they intrigue me all the same. From what I can tell, nearly everyone on this team aspires to be somewhat of an illusionist. I am the only one with spells at her disposal of course, but spells are not the only illusions in this world. Still, some illusions are more easy to maintain than others." Zaheen smirks as she tips her hat at the camera. "Even more so with all these cameras, darling."
End Confessional
As Monica sat by the fire, making sure it never went out, she used a stick to draw in the dirt.
"If it's a physical challenge, we should probably have Simon and me up front, doing the heavy lifting. A mental challenge...I think Claude and Zaheen would be able to pull their weight in terms of leading, but Simon would do fairly well in them as well. And then there's those obscure challenges that require more instinct than anything else. That's me for sure, and I think both Christa and Simon would-...Hey wait a minute…"
Monica looked through her dirt drawings, her eyes moving around each challenge plan she had concocted.
"Simon...you're too well-rounded for your own good, buddy." She sighed. "Well, I guess it's good that I have a hierarchy now. I guess if Christa has the Immunity Medal already, I can just eliminate you instead…"
She brushed some dirt over her pictures of Simon.
"Oh, but that would put too much pressure on me to win challenges. Maybe Claude is physically fit enough to pull his weight in physical events?"
"Lady Monica, I would strongly advise against playing in the dust." Claude announced from the doorway.
"Ah, Claude, perfect timing!" Monica smiled. "How strong would you say you are? Like, how much could you lift if we had to lift weights for a challenge?"
"As much as my master desires, if I had one." Claude bowed. "I'm a butler after all. I fulfill the requests of whichever master I serve. Nothing more, nothing less."
"And have you found anyone here you'd want to be your master?" Monica decided that while Claude was out, she might as well make some small talk and improve his opinion of her.
"If I had to give a rough estimate as to who I would chose? I would say that, of those on Team Hayaji, Christa is the most likely to receive that request."
"Yeah, I can see where you're coming from." Monica nodded. "She's really nice, and was even really patient when Donny kept trying to paint her as some sort of villain."
"No. Christa is no villain." Claude laughed slightly. "I'd say our team has no villains left on it, now that Donny is gone."
Confessional: Monica: Team Hayaji
"Oh? That's a relief. Now, don't get me wrong. I'd definitely classify myself as a villain in terms of this show, but it's not like I plan to use the money for anything selfish. I've got a town than needs redevelopment. So what if I play the game in a tricky and ruthless way? I say the ends I seek justify the means I'll be taking. Either way though, It's good to know Claude doesn't think there's anyone inherently scummy on our team. It means my mask is working and that my teammates are predictable."
End Confessional
Location: Nearth Highlands(Team Fudo's Campsite)
Contestant(s): Alison, Ash, Ellie, Erin, Gabriel, Jenae, Mark, Watts
"You've got to be fricking kidding me!" Alison exclaimed as Gabriel finally managed to shove her off of him. "We're being visited again? Like, again?'
At this, Gabriel turned to see what was going on, and noticed Ash and Ellie both meandering up the highland road towards the campsite. "Inari, what is it? Why are you here?" He asked, on guard.
"We come in peace!" Ash laughed as she held up her hands and almost tripped before Ellie caught her. "We're just, you know, exploring the island...We'll be on our way if you don't want us to stay."
"Yeah!" Alison snarked. "We don't want you to stay!"
"Now hold on, hair products…" Jenae glared at Alison as she walked up to Gabriel's side and put a hand around his shoulder, causing him to tense up even further. "Let's let our team leaders decide who can and who can't stay. Why don't you go play with Mark?"
Confessional: Jenae: Team Fudo
"Maybe then he'll stop being so hawk-eyed around me! Plus it'll get rid of the bitch trying to get with Gabriel when I'm the one-...*ahem* When this is a competition and we should treat it as such. Not a speed-dating service."
End Confessional
"I mean, you're welcome to stick around for as long as you want…" Gabriel scratched the side of his head as he meekly had Jenae remove her arm from him as well "But we can't exactly share any luxuries with you. I don't think it works like that."
"Well that's fine." Ash smiled. "Less stuff for me to accidentally break too, am I right?" She joked as she managed to get a laugh from Gabriel, lightening his mood a little.
"So…" Ellie finally felt comfortable enough to talk. "How have you guys been fairing?"
"Well enough, I suppose." Gabriel sighed as looked over at where Mark was staring starry-eyed at Alison who was talking her head off about how much she didn't like Jenae or Watts.
"There's...a couple things that still need ironing out before we can be considered a fully-functional team, but we should be able to get there eventually."
"But enough about our team." Jenae butted in. "How's life among Inari?"
"Losing that first challenge was tough." Ash admitted.
"It was so scary!" Ellie exclaimed. "I had no idea who was going to go home, my heart was beating so fast!"
"Wait, did something happen?" Gabriel cocked his head.
"No, nothing out of the ordinary happened!" Ellie responded. "It was just nerve wracking to be on a team of complete strangers and having to know that one of those strangers would be voted off!"
Confessional: Ellie: Team Inari
"I didn't want to lie about the whole three-ways tie and the re-vote rule, but that's very important information that I don't think another team should know. Sorry, Fudo. You seem like a nice bunch, but you don't seem like that nice a bunch."
End Confessional
Confessional: Gabriel: Team Fudo
"I know Ellie was lying about it not being eventful. I can tell if someone is lying like its nobody's business. That said...I still have no way of knowing what the truth behind that first elimination was that would cause her to lie like that. Maybe she's just an untrustworthy person, She did lie after all. Ah well, this is all stuff to keep in mind I suppose. For now though, I have a person's brain to pick."
End Confessional
As Ellie and Ash continued on their way, Gabriel walked over to where Watts and Erin were both huddled over a couple of rocks that appeared to be moving around.
"So, the ants are carrying them?" Watts asked, somewhat in disbelief.
"Yes." Erin replied bluntly, with a sigh, giving off what she felt was a clear enough indication that she wanted to be left alone.
"But, won't they get crushed?" Watts pondered.
"Meh, probably." Erin shrugged. "I can't test the limits of their strength without taking the lives of a few of them anyway."
"That's...sad." Watts responded.
"It's necessary for science. You wouldn't understand it. You aren't a scientist the way I am."
"I didn't say it was wrong, Erin...I said it was sad."
"Well, yes, I suppose it is sad." Erin stepped back from her rock carrying ant experiment and turned to look at Watts. "If you're an insect."
"Geez, what's her deal?" Gabriel asked as Erin stormed by him.
"I wish I knew." Watts shook his head. "I guess I'll find out eventually though. She kind of reminds me of- Oh wait, nevermind. You're one of the ones who hasn't seen Zero Sum, right?"
"That's actually what I came to you for." Gabriel replied. "You're a fan of it. Probably one of the bigger fans on this cast. Possibly rivaling that Aaron guy on Ebisu, or maybe even Zaiyrin on Inari."
"Enough flattery, what do you want?" Watts furrowed his brow.
Confessional: Watts: Team Fudo
"Look, I'll tolerate anyone up to a point. But there are two kinds of people I don't like. People who are rude to others for no good reason, and people who feel like they can lead a team and give orders just because they say so. As far as I'm concerned, no one has done anything to prove themselves worthy of being called a team leader, so I don't appreciate Gabriel and Jenae running around acting like they are. That said, I was willing to hear Gabriel out. He, at the very least, doesn't strike me as a bad person, which is more than I can say for the others I've named here."
End Confessional
"It's about the upcoming challenge."
Watts put a hand to his mouth and thought. "Well, we've come to an area where I'm unsure of what will happen. Because the next contestant from Zero Sum to be eliminated after Alcott was a girl named Freya, but she was also in The Cursed Island, last season, and while her vain and emotionally manipulative personality stayed more or less the same, her strategy was far more insidious in that season. So I'm not sure whether the challenge will be based on Freya as a person, or Freya as she performed in Zero Sum."
"Which one are you personally hoping for then?" Gabriel asked.
"I'm hoping for the Zero Sum one." Watts replied without hesitation. "Oh, you also might want to brace yourself mentally. I don't think we'll get through this without some sort of dramatic conflict."
Confessional: Watts: Team Fudo
"But that's just going off of what I know. Others may have a better idea on what to expect."
End Confessional
Location: Glas Woods
Contestant(s): Christa, Raul, Simon, Vanessa, Zaheen
"I'm not sure what I expected…" Simon said as he and Christa happened upon Raul scouting through the forest, followed by a wolf cub with its own throat injury, followed by Vanessa, followed by five more wolves. "But it definitely was not that."
Confessional: Christa: Team Hayaji
"Simon has proven to be a sensible and trustworthy friend to me, so we've elected to form an alliance with each other. He's going to help me find the Force Immunity Medal, and together we're going to toss it into the ocean waters. I refuse to let anyone use the kind of evil power that an Immunity Medal might grant. The game I play shall be a wholesome one!"
End Confessional
"Raul?" Simon asked. "What are you doing?"
Raul stopped and noticed Simon, smiled, and began to write down in a notepad before handing him the paper.
"I'm looking for fruit-bearing trees along with Vanessa. Rashi wants to plant some in the garden. We told her it wouldn't grow in time for anyone to make use of it, but she still wants to plant one anyways."
"So that's what the two of you are doing." Christa responded as she finished reading over Simon's shoulder. "But why are all those wolves following you?"
Raul put his hands up in the air with a somewhat exaggerated shrug to let both Simon and Christa know that he was wondering the same thing.
"Well, just don't let them eat all of your food." Simon responded before turning to Christa. "I suppose we better get going."
Confessional: Simon: Team Hayaji
"Christa and I have formed an alliance for the time being. After the events of our recent elimination, I at least know I can trust her, and that she's willing to work for the good of the team. If I can get more info on Claude, I'd like to see about having him join up as well, but I also want to convince Christa to let me hold onto the Force Immunity Medal should we find it. I believe that these 'immunity idols' aren't any scarier than whoever holds them in their hands. I watched the Nui Kaua trilogy after all. These immunities can save someone from an unjust or unfair elimination when used correctly. To refuse to make use of a tool you've been given, in this context at least, is foolish. I hope Christa realizes that."
End Confessional
Location: Lower Ceol Field
Contestant(s): Cherry, Gran, Rashi, Zaiyrin
"And as the fish swam back upstream, she noticed three foxes walking along the river bank." Rashi mumbled to herself as she noticed Cherry, Gran, and Zaiyrin all walking through the grassy fields. "Yo! Inari! What are you guys doing all the way out here?" She called with a wave.
"Cherry, Gran, the two of you engage in diplomacy with their diviner!" Zaiyrin commanded. "I shall trudge towards the main base and prepare them for your arrival!"
"We're being made to walk half the circumference of the island, thanks to our oh so intelligent leader." Cherry snarked as Zaiyrin rushed off towards the Cailleach Bog.
"Not sure why he wants us to have such a thorough knowledge of the island's biomes right away either." Gran sighed. "It's not like our camp is going anywhere. We're stuck in the wheat fields."
He turned to Rashi. "In any case, what are you doing here, Rashi? Isn't your team supposed to be in the bog?"
"They are in the bog!" Rashi grinned. She bent down into the waist-high grass and with a mighty heft, lifted up the canoe that Ebisu had won as the reward from the last challenge. "I was just about to see how well this bad boy fared in the water!"
"The ocean water?" Gran's eyes widened. "That's insane! The shores here are too rocky for that boat to not get punctured!"
"Yeah, that was the concern of my teammates too…" Rashi admitted. "That's why I'm out here alone!"
"I say go for it." Cherry encouraged. "Who knows, you might find something interesting along the coastline."
Confessional: Cherry: Team Inari
"And if she just happens to total the canoe and injure herself, it's one less Ebisu member to worry about. Hey, I'd be a little worried about her if that happened, don't get me wrong, but stupid is as stupid does, and if there's one person I refuse to lose to, it's a stupid person."
End Confessional
Location: Cailleach Bog(Team Ebisu's Campsite)
Contestant(s): Aaron, Mirai, Phooko, Zaiyrin
Confessional: Aaron: Team Ebisu
"And so, it begins...The game proper. Two have been eliminated, from different teams, and Ebisu has won both challenges. It was around this point in the game that Zero Sum's main antagonist began to show his true intentions and colors, which means if I pay attention enough, I ought to be able to pinpoint threats in the game. Furthermore, there is zero chance the challenge we're about to face doesn't have some kind of social aspect thrown into it. I'm also curious as to whether this next challenge's creator will make an in-person appearance or not. I suppose right now would be a good time to think back to my idol's strategy. He'd already created an alliance by this point, so I should focus on doing that, and I know just who to ask and how to ask him. First though, a stray fox has found his way into our swamp. Likely to prey on fish no doubt. Thankfully…" Aaron clutches his shark tooth necklace and holds it up to the camera. "I'm more of a shark than a bony fish, I think."
End Confessional
"Zaiyrin!" Aaron exclaimed, beginning the conversation before Zaiyrin could announce his arrival at the camp. "Phooko, Mirai, look! Zaiyrin's paying us a visit!"
Confessional: Zaiyrin: Team Inari
"I ran off ahead for one single reason." Zaiyrin smiles at the camera. "And that's to determine for myself which of Ebisu might be a good candidate to keep a tight leash on. So far, this trench coat detective is my number 1, if only because he's proven to be more devious than he lets on. I can't say with certainty yet as to whether he's truly a villain however, which is why more time around this camp is necessary."
End Confessional
"What's going on?" Mirai asked as she skipped out of the chicken coop and snuggled up to Aaron's arm before looking at Zaiyrin, stepping away from Aaron's arm, her smile turning into a frown as her brows furrowed. "Why have you come here?" She asked seriously. "This is Ebisu territory, and you're trespassing."
"I'm on a quest to explore the island! Cherry and Gran have accompanied me, and they are currently talking to Rashi, who seemed ready to canoe."
"Wait, she's still going to try to go through with that?" Phooko asked, somewhat worried. "I'm...going to make sure she doesn't hurt herself."
"That's a flag." Zaiyrin snickered as Phooko ran off towards the Lower Ceol Fields.
"Well, we'll let you be on your way then." Aaron motioned for Zaiyrin to leave the campsite and head further into the bog.
"If you'd just be so kind as to let me rest my weary legs here for a short moment-" Zaiyrin negotiated. "I would be quite thankful to the both of you."
"Fine." Mirai clicked her tongue unapologetically. "But you better not do anything strange! I'm watching you, for both my and Aaron's sake!"
With that, she grabbed Aaron by the arm and pulled him towards the chicken coop.
"I'm sorry about her." Aaron apologized to Zaiyrin. "She's a bit of a handful sometimes, but she is just doing what she thinks is best for the team."
"No need to apologize, for I know all too well about love interests that are handfuls." Zaiyrin laughed.
Just as Mirai was about to slam the door to the coop shut however…
*BEEEEP*
"Attention campers! The next challenge is about to start!" Chris announced over a loudspeaker. "Come gather at Lower Ceol Fields where we got there just in time to stop a canoe from capsizing in the water. Also, I'd be quick about it if I were you guys. Freya doesn't like to be kept waiting!"
Confessional: Zaiyrin: Team Inari
"Ahh, so she is here. That's good to know. I might be able to supplement my knowledge of romance from simulations with the experienced emotional manipulations of a bona fide master. The social game is one of the most important aspects of this show after all, and should never be overlooked.
End Confessional
Location: Lower Ceol Field
Contestant(s); All Remaining
"Ladies and gentlemen, contestants and victims," Chris grinned as Chef landed the helicopter nearby in the field and helped a young woman out of it. "The violet-eyed, platinum blonde banshee of the violent quakes herself, Freya! Here to present her challenge!"
Freya slowly walked through the field, as her outfit consisted of a tight-fitting hot pink tank top and incredibly short khaki shorts, leaving her stomach and midriff completely bare, she had to constantly push the large grass blades aside with her hands and feet, whose fingernails and toenails were both painted a light green. She stopped in front of the contestants and fixed her straight long hair as she moved it behind her ear, showing off her emerald heart-shaped earring.
"Alright.' She sighed. "Let's get this over with."
Confessional: Watts: Team Fudo
"That...was not the tone I expected her to take with this."
End Confessional
"I wasn't allowed to do what I originally wanted to make you guys do, because apparently we can't afford to risk it on a TV show with our rating." Freya explained. "So you'll have to settle for the next best thing I could think of. It's called 'Will of the Wiles' and…"
Freya's lips finally curved into a smile. "I'm sure you'll all be learning some very interesting things about people you may not have even talked to yet before this challenge is over. The rules are very simple. You don't have to run all over trapped ruins, you don't have to look for or drink disgusting things, all you need for this challenge...is a way with words. Your goal is rather simple as well; You will each be assigned a contestant on another team. Your goal is to make them blush with embarrassment. How you go about it is up to you, make them angry, make them nervous, flirt with them, flatter them, berate them for something they're self-conscious about, nearly anything goes, but you may only use words. No force, no gift-giving, and no physical contact of any kind. The first team to have all its members complete their task before the time limit of 4 hours expires will gain the opportunity to spin the Wheel of Reward, while the last team to have all its members complete their task will be sent to the next Tine Naofa Bonfire Elimination Ceremony. In the even that no teams finish all their tasks completely, the team closest to completion will be declared the winner, and the team furthest from completion will be declared the loser. Ties in this regard will be decided by a tie-breaker challenge of my choosing. Finally, I'll also be participating in this little game as a...a bonus challenge, I suppose. If you so desire, you may attempt to make me blush in embarrassment. Succeed, and I'll inform you the contestants that received Immunity Medal Clues in the first challenge. The only catch there is, if you want to know, you'll have to make me blush before you work on your target, and I can be pretty-"
"Shameless?" Phooko offered.
"Not what I would have said." Freya narrowed her eyes at Phooko. "But you get the idea. It'll be harder with me than with many of your targets. Any questions? No? Good, then let's get this challenge started!"
Challenge: Will of the Wiles
Rules: Each contestant is given a contestant on an opposing team and must make that contestant blush with embarrassment before the 4 hour time limit expires. The only catch is that the contestants must complete this task using kind words alone. No insults of any kind may be uttered, or the contestant risks failing the challenge. The last team to complete their task, or, if no teams complete the task, the team with the least amount of members to complete their own assignments will head to the next Tine Naofa Bonfire Elimination Ceremony, as well as give up one of their Camp Luxuries to either the first team to complete the whole challenge, or, if no teams complete the task, the team with the most amount of members to complete their own assignments. Finally, if anyone can get Freya herself to blush with embarrassment, she'll tell them exactly who got the clues to the immunity medals during the first challenge, as a special reward. However, they must make her do this before they complete their own task.
Contestants: Who their target is
Claude: Jenae
Zaheen: Erin
Monica: Ash
Simon: Watts
Christa: Mark
Aaron: Zaheen
Rashi: Gran
Mirai: Cherry
Phooko: Gabriel
Raul: Monica
Vanessa: Christa
Ash: Simon
Zaiyrin: Rashi
Cherry: Vanessa
Gran: Alison
Ellie: Aaron
Mark: Raul
Erin: Ellie
Gabriel: Phooko
Jenae: Mirai
Watts: Claude
Alison: Zaiyrin
Time Remaining: 4 hours
Location: Lower Ceol Field
Contestant(s): All Remaining
"Well then…" Freya smiled as a couple of interns brought out a small circular table, a couple of lawn chairs, set them all on a picnic blanket, and brought out one last chair that amounted to a small wooden throne, which she herself sat on as a couple more interns began to pour tea into five different tea cups sitting on the table, one of which Freya gently picked up. "Only one member from each team may join me for a lovely talk over tea at any given time."
Her eyes narrowed as a devious grin widened. "Any volunteers?"
Monica and Zaiyrin both rose their hands before making their way to two of the four empty chairs around the table.
"Aw, come on, Zaiyrin?" Alison immediately saw opportunity as she knelt on the picnic blanket and looked up at her quarry with the best goo-goo eyes she could muster. "Don't you want to spend any time with me?"
"I-I happen to be pursuing someone else at the moment!" Zaiyrin immediately crumbled under the pressure as the color rushed to his face. "And I would like to obtain some information to further the Inari cause in this game so-"
"Forget it, nerd." Alison grinned as she stood up. "You blushed, I got my point, so I'm going to see if I can't go get a tan."
Raul, noticing Alison's strategy, slowly tapped on Aaron's and Vanessa's arms and pointed to Monica, who was busy taking a sip of tea, and then at the empty Ebisu spot on the table.
Vanessa bit her lip, unsure of what the best course of action would be, but Aaron seemed to know right away.
"I say go and sit there, if she's your mark." He smiled, encouragingly. "Who knows, Freya might just slip and give you an idea. And if you're lucky, you get information from her anyway."
Confessional: Aaron: Team Ebisu
"Plus, Raul is already privy to the whereabouts of at least one of the medal clues, isn't he?" Aaron laughs as he shakes his head. "I figured it out a little while ago, and I already know how to handle it so it doesn't become some big thing, which is why sending him up there is the best decision I can make. I don't need another member, like Mirai, finding out he has the clue and causing a whole bunch of unnecessary drama. That's the outcome Freya's hoping for with this setup."
End Confessional
"Oh, we have another guest, good." Freya looked up and down Raul. "And a handsome one."
"Island gods give you strength, buddy." Aaron sighed as he looked around. "Now, where is Zaheen?"
"It appears no Fudo is joining us. That's a pity." Monica pouted.
"I really think I should focus on finding wherever Phooko went instead." Gabriel mentioned to Jenae, who kept urging him towards the table.
"No, as a team leader, you need to know who to trust and who to be wary of, don't you?"
Confessional: Jenae: Team Fudo
"Go to the table, Gabriel, and learn first-hand that Watts and Mark are your true enemies! Then your ass is mine!...I-I mean your vote! Your vote is mine!"
End Confessional
"Ah, oh, actually, I think I see Phooko over there!" Gabriel quickly sprinted off, into the bog.
As Jenae chased after him, Watts saw his chance, and sat in the Fudo seat.
Confessional: Watts: Team Fudo
"I don't need to know who found the clues for the other immunity medals, though it would be nice, so I suppose I'll make a small effort on that front. All I really want from Freya, however, is a good way to make Claude embarrassed. You want to learn how to do something you have no clue how to do? You get a master to teach you."
End Confessional
"So…" Freya smiled as she, Monica, Zaiyrin, and Raul were joined by Watts, rounding out the table as the other contestants spread themselves throughout the island. "How are you four liking the show so far? Don't worry, no one's going to judge you for being honest here. Not like the rest of your teammates'll find out anyway."
"You're trying...really hard...to get us to gossip." Watts observed.
"Of course I am." Freya admitted. "It's a big island, and you all came here to this table for specific information, but rather than that, I think it would be far more...impactful, if you left this table with more knowledge than you bargained for."
"Well, I'm certainly listening." Zaiyrin nodded. "Speak on, wretch."
"What about you, strong and silent?" Freya brought her eyes back to Raul. "Feel like sharing anything? Anything you might want to get...off your chest?"
Monica turned her head towards Raul.
"Is she just flirting with you, or is there actually something you know that she has the ability to tell us?"
Raul sighed, and scribbled down on a notebook page. There was clearly no getting out of this for him.
I have the Fish Medal clue.
"Oh!" Freya giggled. "What a gentleman, giving up the information willingly, before anyone even made me blush! I don't suppose there's anyone out there who would like to repay this kindness." Her eyes darted back to Watts.
"No." Watts shrugged after a deep breath. "I don't suppose there is, but Freya...I was wondering something. My target is Claude, and well...I don't suppose there would be a good way to embarrass him would there?"
"Well." Freya's lips parted with a widening smile. "I believe we have a teammate of his right here, so perhaps she could tell you."
"I personally, would just like to say though, Freya." Zaiyrin spoke up. "That you are far far less attractive in person."
"So are you." Freya shrugged.
Confessional: Zaiyrin: Team Inari
"So aggression doesn't seem to be working, and there is no way feeding that ego compliments will do the trick either, so I suppose it will have to be scare-tactics that wins me the information I need, though it is nice to already know that Raul was the Ebisu to possess that teams clue. It makes that trench coat detective easier to chain if he turns out to be...unsavory."
End Confessional
"I'm not going to just betray my team like that." Monica almost laughed. "What could you possibly know or have that would make me help you like that in any way?"
Watts grinned.
"I know how to make Freya blush."
"No you don't." Freya replied as she took a sip of tea, before setting the cup down on the table. "What a weak bluff. I'm disappointed. Your info said you watched Zero Sum, and liked Zastin, so to see you be somehow lamer a nerd than him is disheartening."
"Oh, that's actually exactly why I made this." Watts held up a polygonal rock that had numbers etched onto it. "Not quite as neatly done as a professional 20-sided die, but it'll work."
"What are you doing with that?" Freya rose a brow.
"We're going to play a friendly game of D&D." Watts smiled, trying his best to hide his excitement.
Confessional: Watts: Team Fudo
"You can't compliment or insult someone like Freya. She thrives off of attention. Instead, you look for things that scare or embarrass her, and what's more embarrassing to a girl like her than being seen playing the quintessential 'nerd-game' on international television?"
End Confessional
"Okay, okay, you win!" Freya was already shielding her face from the camera. "I'll tell you who received the medal clues, just don't make me play that! Especially not on television!"
Confessional: Zaiyrin: Team Inari
"Here I was about to startle her, when this Watts character succeeds with successful embarrassment. I had a similar plan in mind of course, but now I know that this Fudo member requires further observation."
End Confessional
"Now that I know the information, Monica." Watts turned to Monica. "Care to help me out a bit? You do want to know who got the Force Medal clue, don't you?"
Confessional: Monica: Team Hayaji
"He's got me there. I do want to know that."
End Confessional
"You give me the information first, and I tell you how to deal with Claude."
"I think we both know that it isn't going to work like that. What's important is that I know who found which clue. I'm sure I can convince someone else to tell me how to deal with Claude if you want to stay with Freya, but I'm also sure that you probably won't be able to do what I just did."
"Watts, Fudo mage." Zaiyrin stood up. "I happen to have information of my own that I would be willing to trade with you for your own."
"You still not ready to talk, big guy?" Freya asked Raul as Zaiyrin and Watts began to walk off.
Raul cocked his head towards Monica.
"I see." Freya smiled. "I'm eager to see how you handle it."
"How he handles what?" Monica asked.
"Oh, making you blush, nothing really important. In any case, you two still want the information overload, don't you?"
"I certainly do." Monica nodded.
Confessional: Monica: Team Hayaji
"Because in this game, the more you know, the more powerful you are. I'm surprised that shark-tooth detective from Ebisu isn't here."
End Confessional
Location: Upper Ceol Field
Contestant(s): Aaron, Cherry, Claude, Vanessa, Watts, Zaheen, Zaiyrin
"Sorry about that, Zaheen, but it needed to be done." Aaron said as he returned Zaheen's hat to her.
"It's fine, darling." Zaheen sighed as she returned her hat to her head. "Is there anywhere I might be able to find Erin, or am I asking the wrong guy?"
"Wrong guy, unfortunately." Aaron laughed.
Meanwhile, Watts was walking around, searching for Claude, while Zaiyrin tailed him.
"I happen to be an excellent judge of character, Watts." Zaiyrin boasted. "And I can tell that you are the most like me out of all your teammates. You think. Your stock is in your strategic ability. Perhaps you aren't quite on my level, but you may be fairly close."
"I really don't have time for this." Watts sighed. "I'd like to find Claude as quickly as possible and just be done with this challenge before anything bad happens."
"He's over there, I believe." Zaiyrin pointed to a smiling Claude as the butler watched a snake slowly swallowing and digesting a mouse.
"And consider yourself lucky to receive such praise from moi." Cherry patted a blushing Vanessa on the back as she headed up to Zaiyrin while Watts left to go get Claude.
Confessional: Vanessa: Team Ebisu
"I understand Cherry's words of encouragement to me were only part of the challenge, but it makes me feel more confident in myself all the same. I'm more pumped up to win than ever now, so I'm off to go find Christa to pass on the praise to her! I bet she'd like that!"
End Confessional
"I'm disappointed, strategy man." Cherry flicked Zaiyrin in the forehead. "The challenge had only just begun before you were so easily tempted by another woman."
"Hardly." Zaiyrin shook his head. "I was imagining a reality where you were the one who said it instead of bratty one. I was so lost in thought that I gave them an early lead."
"Your empty words ring hollow, strategy man. My mind is no game to be played with."
"I would never do such a thing." Zaiyrin shook his head again. "I have eyes only for you, my most beautiful acrobat! And to prove it to you, I will impart some knowledge that I've gleaned.
The Fish Immunity Medal, I know who has it's clue! It was Raul, the large one that remains silent! Furthermore, Watts, the Fudo mage, knows the finders of the other clues as well. This is what I was able to cipher from my time spent at that table."
Confessional: Cherry: Team Inari
"Ah, I see. So it appears the 'Fudo mage' as our de facto team leader put it, is finally about to start making big plays. I had a feeling he was biding his time for something. I suppose if he knows Ellie found the Fox clue, he'll be interested in certain alliances, or perhaps non, but regardless, it is him and the muscular man from Ebisu who are shaping up to be our fellow competitors, or perhaps competition, going forwards. I am aware that the Hayaji, Monica, was also seated at that table, but her and Hayaji's endeavors do not concern me. Our games are worlds away. Mine being on the correct world, of course."
End Confessional
Location: Cailleach Bog
Contestant(s): Ellie, Erin, Gabriel, Jenae, Mirai, Phooko, Simon
"So...how would I go about embarrassing you?" Erin pondered to herself as she watched over Ellie.
"You could start by blabbing science non-stop at her." Jenae joked as she came up behind the scientist.
Erin stood up quickly, before just as quickly regaining her composure.
"It's rude to sneak up on others. It's ill-befitting of a self-professed team leader. So what's your angle? Why have you decided to bother me with conversation?"
"Well," Jenae shrugged as she brought a heavily blushing Mirai over. "Me and my new give-it-your-all bestie over here were talking, and we think you ought to get more pumped up during the challenges, you know?"
"I understand your concern, and dismiss it as foolish." Erin returned back to observing Ellie from her hiding spot.
"I'm not the one who would rather try to get a tan than aid her teammates."
Confessional: Erin: Team Fudo
"Admittedly, the main reason I'm not like that is because science takes priority in everything I do in life, but I also burn easy, and, I suppose, I'd rather not be the one on the outs if I can help it. Strictly from a strategic perspective of course."
End Confessional
"And so that's when I sprinted over, and got there just in time to stop her from jumping down into the rocks just offshore!" Phooko laughed as he and Gabriel exchanged pleasant stories with each other after easily making each other blush through compliments.
"Oh, man, that's amazing!" Gabriel grinned. "Definitely beats the time I had to help Alison the Annoyance out of thorns and vines alongside Donny. Man is that a story to tell, or I guess show…"
Confessional: Phooko: Team Ebisu
"Gabe's alright! I hope he makes it to the merge, since I bet he'll be a great ally to have. He strikes me as a leader type, so where he goes, the Fudo loyal to him are sure to follow, and with me and Rashi, and hopefully the rest of Ebisu, we'd be a freaking amazing powerhouse alliance~. Yeah, I know I'm thinking far ahead, but a boy can dream, can't he?"
End Confessional
Confessional: Gabriel: Team Fudo
"Out of all the Ebisu I've had the pleasure of directly interacting with, Phooko is undoubtedly the most open and honest. If there was anyone I'd like in my team in place of a few of our less desirable members, Phooko is that person.
End Confessional
As the two continued to talk and laugh, Simon rushed up to them.
"Oh man, she's not here, either? That's not good."
"What's not good?" Phooko asked.
"Are you looking for Watts?" Gabriel inquired.
"No, I'm looking for Monica. She sat down with Freya, and isn't there any more, and I haven't found her anywhere near her target yet."
"I knew that one was up to something." Gabriel clicked his tongue.
"Well, I hope you find her man, good luck." Phooko shrugged.
Simon nodded before heading off again.
Confessional: Simon: Team Hayaji
"I don't know what Monica was doing, or what she found out at that table, but it can't have been anything good, and I'm not about to turn the other cheek and ignore it like Christa did with Donny. He was blatantly cheating and almost got her sent home. I should probably convince her to find the immunity medal sooner rather than later.
End Confessional
Time Remaining: 2 hours
Team Standing:
Hayaji Still Needs: 4 (Christa, Monica, Simon, Zaheen)
Ebisu Still Needs: 3 (Mirai, Rashi, Raul)
Inari Still Needs: 2 (Ash, Gran)
Fudo Still Needs: 1 (Erin)
Location: Cloch Mountain Range (Team Hayaji Campsite)
Contestant(s): Claude, Monica, Raul, Simon, Zaheen
"Oh shit." Simon said as he found Monica, showing off a scroll to Claude and Zaheen.
"I was just doing a dustup of the cabin, and this fell out of her bag!" Monica exclaimed as she practically shoved the medal clue in Claude's and Zaheen's faces. "Don't you see what this means, you two? Donny was actually right! Christa is against this team! She should have shared it at the beginning when she found it if she truly cared about us!"
"No, no, no, shit!" Simon began to run as fast as his legs could carry him.
"Simon, perfect timing!" Monica noticed him. "I found this while cleaning the cabin! I think we know what needs to be done now. We can't have medal hunters on our team. They'll only divide us further."
"It's such a shame, too. I almost thought Christa would make a good master to serve…" Claude lamented.
"Christa was such a darling, darlings" Zaheen agreed "but when faced with proof like this, well, it's not something I can simply ignore."
"I think you're all jumping to conclusions a little early." Simon crossed his arms as he stood still. "Christa hasn't done anything to warrant suspicion in the time that she's allegedly possessed this clue, but you're already trying to send her home? I think we ought to hear her out first. After all, we did that when Donny acted up, and we all voted for him, so we know for a fact that he was cheating to get her eliminated back then."
"I seem to remember you lending Christa plenty of aid back then as well." Monica tilted her head. "It's almost as if the two of you are working together, in some sort of alliance."
Simon was not amused by the playful jab of Monica's.
"But very well." Monica conceded. "Let's go find Christa and inquire into her thoughts on the matter, but first…" She turned towards Raul, who had just been standing near the edge of camp, silently, this whole time.
"What do you want?" She called.
Raul sighed, disappointed, before taking off his shirt, revealing his muscles and tattoos.
Monica went red and immediately turned away.
Confessional: Raul: Team Ebisu
Raul scribbles something down on a piece of paper before shoving it in the camera.
"I'm happy about completing my portion of the challenge, but I wish I could've gone about it in a way other than the one that Freya kept suggesting. I guess that's a drawback of having an injured throat. Less natural charisma."
End Confessional
Location: Lower Ceol Fields
Contestant(s): Ash, Christa, Mark, Monica, Simon,
"Keep trying at it, and I'm sure you'll get through to her." Christa encouraged a blushing Mark. "You are a kind, handsome and skilled musician, and I'm sure if she knew that, she'd warm up to you quite quickly."
"Christa." Simon waived her over to himself and Monica as they headed towards her. "Something troubling has come up."
"Care to explain the medal clue that was found in your bag?" Monica crossed her arms. "We were cleaning the cabin and when we went to move your stuff, it just fell out."
"Ah, I suppose I should not have hidden it from you, I'm sorry." Christa smiled. "Yes, that's a medal clue, but I don't ever intend to use the medal once I find it. It is only to keep such power away from those who would abuse it."
"I wish I could believe you…" Monica sighed as she continued her lie. "But this isn't the first time you've appeared suspicious. To make matters worse, there's been talk that you and Simon have formed an alliance, so I'm afraid we can't trust him either."
"I'm going to go find Raul and repeat some of my more mesmerizing song lyrics to him!" Mark piped up, momentarily stopping the serious conversation. "There's no tomorrow without today, after all!"
"Last I saw, he was up in the mountains, taking off his shirt at people." Monica informed him.
"Why did you just lend aid to another team?" Simon asked, his suspicion only growing deeper.
"I think you're looking for excuses to paint me as a bad guy, Simon!" Monica gasped, feigning offense. "I promise you, I meant no ill will towards us. Besides, knowing where Raul is doesn't mean Mark can make him blush. And in the more important matter at hand, this whole medal clue business, I'm only looking out for my team's well-being!"
Simon sighed. He knew something was up, but there didn't appear to be anything he could do about it.
Confessional: Simon: Team Hayaji
"This doesn't look good for my alliance. I should have urged Christa to find the medal sooner, because now she's on the chopping block again. Sorry, but even though she's nice, I don't think I can continue to support an ally who routinely makes the same mistake of honesty and caring in a quite literally zero-sum game. I do, however, still have a problem with the way this whole thing is being handled, as someone whose seen the last trilogy, and I ought to at least warn Monica to not let this behavior lead her down the same path it led a certain someone else down."
End Confessional
"Fine. I'll drop it." Simon surrendered as he stepped back. "But we should both be looking for our targe-ommph."
As Simon turned around, Ash charged right into him.
"Up, that's physical contact." Monica noted. "I guess you're out, huh Ash? Bummer, and it was so easily avoidable too. All you had to do was look where you were going."
"Nice try, Hayaji." Ash grinned as she stood up and gave a thumbs up "I'm not going to get worked up over this so easily though! Good luck getting me to blush at all."
"My trouble will be more in finding my target…" Simon looked around. "I have no clue where he could be."
Location: Ionad Desert
Contestant(s): Alison, Cherry, Ellie, Erin, Gran, Mirai, Rashi, Watts, Zaheen,
"Damnit!" Alison whined as Gran's failed magic trick nearly buried her sand, though thanks to her fast action, she was able to nimbly avoid being entombed. However, Gran had managed to succeed in getting her embarrassed enough to blush.
"What would I have done if that had ruined my hair?"
"Are you seriously more worried about your hair than suffocating?" Cherry asked, as Mirai's constant praise towards Cherry went almost wholly ignored.
"Stop ignoring meEEE!" Mirai shrieked, causing the contestants in the desert to all turn towards her.
"Oh, whoops, sorry, it just came out of me~." Mirai giggled as all the eyes now rested on her.
"You, Gran!' Rashi pointed at Gran as she walked up towards him. "Magic is stupid. Fortunes are where it's at!"
"That's making me angry, alright." Gran turned to face Rashi. "But I'm not giving you the satisfaction of making me blush. Your dumb fortunes should have predicted that."
"You can't predict your own future." Rashi rolled her eyes. "But it doesn't take a seer to see that your tricks belong in a backalley parlor!"
"Coming from a crazy druid lady, none of what you say holds any real merit."
"Look at them, Erin." Zaheen said as Erin tried her hardest to ignore her and focus on how to get Ellie, who was now chatting with Cherry, to blush.
"Fighting like children, unaware that my illusions are truly the only thing magical here."
"While they may be illusions, they aren't magical. It's simple sleight-of-hand science. Or if it's a televised event, the audience is in on it too. No go away."
"But you perform the greatest magic of all, darling! Science is constantly correcting itself, inching ever closer and closer to true understanding, and there is no greater illusion than fooling oneself into thinking they know how the universe works."
"Science isn't an illusion! It's a legitimate and extraordinary undertaking into trying to determine the laws of the universe and how we, as humans fit into it! It's fucking work!"
"Ooohoohoo!" Chris laughed as he appeared on a dune buggy, being driven by Chef.
"Nice buzzer beater by Zaheen." He applauded as he held up a mirror to Erin.
"Looks like she managed to break you down!"
Erin looked at her red face and her brows furrowed further, before she stormed off.
"Be sure to head to the Lower Ceol Fields after this!" Chris called after her. "The challenge is over, and we need everyone together to go over the scores!"
"For what it's worth," Watts said as he approached the storming off Erin, "I agree with you."
"Thanks for the worthless words then." Erin sighed bitterly.
Confessional: Watts: Team Fudo
"Now, 'worthless' can be interpreted in two ways, and while I'm sure she meant the negative one, I think I'll interpret it as the positive one instead. I mean, she's obviously here because she wants the money, and clearly wants to invest it in scientific study, which is a great goal as far as I'm concerned. Hopefully she'll realize that if she lets me support her, we can both get farther in this game. An alliance of two did last throughout pretty much the entirety of the first Zero Sum after all. And I already have a friendship with Mark, and that's half the team right there."
End Confessional
Location: Lower Ceol Fields
Contestant(s): All Remaining
"And now for the team standings…" Chris smiled as everyone reconvened. "In first place, with a whole 5 points, and only one team member to not get her target to go red, is Team Fudo! You've broken Team Ebisu's winning streak. However, both they and Team Inari are tied for second and 4 points each, which of course means…" Chris turned to the downtrodden Hayaji members.
"Team Hayaji, you are once again heading to the Tine Naofa Ceremony, but…"
Chris turned as Freya brought out the Wheel of Reward. "Not before Alison, the first member of the winning team to complete their portion of the challenge, spins the Wheel of Reward!"
A wicked smile grew across Alison's face as she walked up to the wheel.
"Hey Hayaji." She sneered as she spun the wheel without looking, and held back a laugh as she watched their eyes go wide when the wheel landed directly on the cabin. The only thing keeping Hayaji from the snowy mountain elements.
"Thanks for the cabin." She curtseyed before heading back to Fudo.
"Man…" Mark lamented. "Sucks to be stuck in the mountains without a cabin…"
"Oh, they'll manage." Alison dismissed his concern. "Now...what was this you were telling me about you being a musician?"
"And with that…" Chris turned to Team Hayaji. "Hayaji, I say it's team we head to Tine Naofa. I hope you're ready to vote off your second player in a row! The rest of you, you're all safe. Try to enjoy it as best you can. Hayaji! Let's go!"
As the other teams all left for their campsites, Hayaji was ushered back towards the Ionad Desert.
"You aren't going to get to the finale if you do things like this." Simon mumbled as Monica walked by him while a distressed Christa avoided glares from Claude and Zaheen as she got ready to head to Tine Naofa.
"I'm sorry." Monica replied as she stopped to turn and face him sincerely. "If there was a better way, I would have taken it, but my town takes priority over your tuition, and since you allied yourself with her, everything you say will be dismissed as scrambling. I can't build a powerful repoir with others if I'm not the one in control of my own team. I need the driver's reigns."
"You'll drive us into the ground, and rule over a team of no one." Simon. "You're repeating a doomed history."
"We'll see." Monica put a hand on Simon's shoulder as she looked up at him. "Just know that none of this is personal."
Confessional: Simon: Team Hayaji
"Interesting...I never mentioned to Monica that I was going to use the winnings for my tuition. She must have learned more information than Freya offered us at the beginning of the challenge. I guess I'll need to be careful going forwards."
End Confessional
Confessional: Monica: Team Hayaji
"I learned quite a lot of valuable information from Freya, none of which was the holder of the clues, since I couldn't make her blush. But I did get to learn a few secrets. Let's just say that, as far as Simon is concerned...I truly do have a 'leg up' on him."
End Confessional
Location: Ionad Desert, Tine Naofa Bonfire Elimination Ceremony
Contestant(s): Christa, Claude, Monica, Simon, Zaheen
"Hayaji, Hayaji, Hayaji…" Chris shook his head. "You can't have eliminations all to yourselves you know! Let another team end up here once in awhile, alright? Monica, Simon, you are the two that couldn't get your targets to blush, either from not having enough time to get under their skin, or perhaps not being able to even find them. How safe do either of you two think you are?"
"Quite safe actually." Monica answered. "Because Claude, Zaheen, and I are voting for Christa tonight."
"Christa?" Chris's eyes widened as he turned to face her. "It looks like you've found yourself at the center of team strife again. Anything you want to say?"
"A few things, actually." Christa smiled. "I just want everyone to know that I'm sorry I couldn't find the force medal in time for you all to see me destroy it in the fire, so I won't be able to prove to you all that my intentions were pure. I would also like to give words of encouragement to each of you, as I can understand completely why you may feel the need to vote for me."
"Christa, it sounds like you're giving up." Chris cocked his head. "Are you forfeiting?"
"No, I am not going to quit." Christa smiled as she both answered Chris and continued to look at her teammates. "But I'm not going to run either. If playing the game the way I feel the game should played places me all the way down here, then so be it. I of course, believe voting for me is not the correct choice, but I want to support my team. Hayaji is better than this. We've managed to come close to winning a challenge before, and we can do it again. Our team symbol is a tornado, and like one, we can achieve powerful plays and accomplish great feats. I may not believe voting for me to be the best bath, but more than I believe in myself, I believe, truly, in each and every one of you."
"I suppose…" Chris seemed a little disturbed by how well Christa was handling this. "If there is nothing more to say...Claude, why don't you vote first?"
After everyone had voted, and Chris had left to go tally the votes, Simon turned to Monica.
"So, what did you learn from Freya? Because it wasn't the information she advertised at the beginning of the challenge."
"Oh, just a few secrets, really. Nothing major. I know a whole lot about everyone on this team."
Confessional: Monica: Team Hayaji
"Because now it's my team."
End Confessional
"Alright." Chris returned. "The votes have been tallied. I have here with me four medals. If I call your name, come up and receive a medal. If you do not receive a medal, you will be forced to leave this game via…" Chris pointed over at the small cave hidden in the dunes. "The Tomb of Shame!"
He turned to face the contestants.
"Claude, Zaheen, come up here."
"Hey, Monica." Christa tapped Monica on the shoulder.
"Simon, you're safe too." Chris announced as Simon walked up to receive his own medal.
"What is it?" Monica asked.
"And the final medal of the night goes to…"
"You're playing a hard game, so no matter what happens-" Christa threw her arms around Monica in an unexpected hug "Promise me you won't ever give up."
"Monica." Chris announced. "This medal is for you."
Monica, shocked by Christa's support, struggled to stand up, and staggered over to Chris, who then turned to face Christa.
"There was no rigging of the votes this time, so sorry Christa. I'm afraid this means you have to go."
"I understand." Christa nodded as she stood up herself. She stopped just before entering the Tomb of Shame. "By the way, Hayaji...please remember to find or build a good shelter. I wouldn't want any of you to catch a cold!"
As Christa, having said her final words, walked into the Tomb of Shame, Zaheen noticed Monica's hung head.
"Are you...crying, darling?" She asked, worried.
"We had to do this for Hayaji." Monica replied "But, I wish it was someone else's bag housing that medal clue. We just- just voted off our team mother. *sniff* I'll miss her!"
Confessional: Simon: Team Hayaji
"Wow...she's hamming it up out there."
End Confessional
Confessional: Monica: Team Hayaji
"I...I really will miss her, a lot. I have a feeling...I think she knew the whole time, what I was doing, but she didn't even try to fight with me while she was going tooth and nail with Donny. Why is that? Why is she giving me so much support even after eliminating her?"
End Confessional
"And with that...we're down to 21.' Chris announced to the camera. "Will Team Hayaji be able to stop their losing streak? Will Erin ever bond with her teammates? What's the deal with Zaiyrin and Cherry? And who will be the next contestant to enter the dreaded Tomb of Shame? Find out next time...On Total!
Drama!
Niiiiiiiiialasach!"
*Christa's Final Confessional:
"I forgive Monica for both everything she's done so far, and whatever she may do down the road. I do not condone such actions, but I understand that she is not comitting them out of hate or malice, unlike Donny, who I am glad I placed higher than. There is peace for me in knowing that. I wish I could have spent more time here, and I wish that my team put more faith in me, but I know that simply wishing for things to have happened differently cannot change the past. I hope Hayaji succeeds moving forwards, because these ceremonies do not suit us at all. Claude was an excellent butler, Zaheen an endearing personality, and Simon a wonderful ally. Monica, I hope, blossoms into a great leader in the future. I don't think I have much more to say...other than that I'm proud of the game I played. I suppose then, hasta luego."
End Confessional*
The Votes(for those who are curious)
Christa voted for… Monica
Claude voted for… Christa
Monica voted for… Christa
Simon voted for… Monica
Zaheen voted for… Christa
Bonus Scene:
Location: Cailleach Bog
Contestant(s): Aaron, Raul
Not staking out the area had proved to not work out in Raul's favor, as Aaron approached his digging place. "I had a feeling you'd look for it at night, when we're supposed to be asleep." He announced.
Raul stood up quickly and turned to face the detective. "Why...are...you...here?" He managed to choke out, realizing that writing down on a notepad wouldn't be helpful if it was dark out.
"Relax, I'm not mad, or here to tell you off or anything, I'm here to deliver some news, and a friendly offer." Aaron smiled warmly. "I believe that you aren't the kind of person who would use the medal in an unsavory manner. You have standards, and that's something I value in allies, which is why I'm going to be completely honest with you: I've already found the Fish Medal. I noticed you looking for it earlier, and I obtained it during the challenge, while you were talking with Freya. Don't worry though, we can share it, because I want to form an alliance with you. You're strong, you're smart, and I trust you, what do you say man, to the end?"
Raul grinned as he took Aaron's outstretched hand and shook it, before heading back to the campsite.
Confessional: Aaron: Team Ebisu
"Man, that was some grade-A diplomacy, if I do say so myself. It can be hard getting a stoic, slightly standoffish, and rather distrusting player to agree to an alliance with you. Now I know what it's like though, so that's a plus. I wonder if it did my idol proud. I sure hope so, at any rate. Oh yeah, I never told you guys who he was, did I? I guess it's late enough at night that no one will interrupt me this time either. He made it incredibly far in the original Zero Sum, almost to the very end, and was constantly battling adversity. He only had one true ally as well."
Postpone Confessional
When Aaron was sure Raul was gone, he quickly dug up the Fish Immunity Medal that Raul had almost managed to take for himself.
Though the darkness, Aaron grinned at the camera, and moonlight reflected of his shark-tooth necklace, creating a second, decidedly more malicious-looking smile.
Resume Confessional
"I am, of course," Aaron lies back in the seat "Referring to the most cunning man to step foot in this game, Oswald Pamesi." Aaron snickers as he holds up his ill-earned medal to the camera.
"But let's keep this a secret between us, okay?"
End Confessional
AN: So...Christa…
First off, a huge thank you to LeFabulosoWriter for submitting Christa-The Selfless Mother. Out of all the 'Good' aligned characters, she was one of my personal favorites. Unfortunately for her, as with most of these early eliminations, she suffers from a severe case of Wrong-Team, Wrong-Time syndrome. Her selfless actions would have been a great advantage if she was on any of the other teams, however, thanks to the luck of the draw, she was placed on Team Hayaji, home to both Donny and Monica (even Zaheen to a lesser extent might have caused problems for her down the line as well), and no amount of selflessness can save you when your team is being turned completely against you. All this said, she may be able to prove how blind her teammates were when she comes back for the finale, so let's hope so!
For those of you wondering, Christa's alignment was Lawful Good. She followed the rules and even personal codes she set for herself, never cheated, and even tried to rid the game of an immunity medal because she thought it would corrupt whoever had it.
Having gone over her actions this season, Christa has been awarded the status of: Hero
Why?: Similar to how I could point you to nearly any scene with Donny to showcase villainy, I have a wide array of Christa scenes to show how heroic she truly managed to be in so little episodes. She only lost her temper once, despite being attacked unfairly for her entire time on the show, and during that one time, she spoke in Spanish so the person she was angry at wouldn't even understand her. But honestly, it was this episode that really solidified it. She was trying to rid the game of an item that she herself had the best chance of finding, because she thought it would make the game unfair, and while her logic certainly wasn't the best in that regard, when it turned out that Monica had taken the immunity medal clue and began to frame Christa for being as bad as Donny said she was, she didn't even get mad. Instead, she actively encouraged Monica to go as far as she possibly could in the game. And while she was sure to express displeasure in Monica's actions during her final confessional, she had the mental maturity and kindness to forgive her, and even continued to root for Hayaji as a whole. Her final line to her team, about not wanting them to catch a cold, I think is a good indicator of exactly how much she prioritizes her morals and empathy over her own personal well-being. She was just, kind of unfairly, voted off, but is still doing her best to look after the very people that just eliminated her.
Christa's best moment?: Honestly, despite just touting her as a hero, I personally thought Christa's best moment was telling Donny off in Spanish at Hayaji's first Tine Naofa Bonfire Elimination Ceremony. Mainly because even though she was telling him off, she was using respectful pronouns instead of informal ones, making it sort of an equivalent of something like this "I would appreciate it very much if you would please go fuck yourself".
But that's all just me. What do you guys think of Christa? What status would you give her? What do you think her best moment was?
Davon's challenge is up next! What do you think it'll be?
Any predictions for what might happen in the future(Especially now that you've seen that bonus scene)?
And as always, thank you for reading!
