Teams
Superior Snowstorms – Iggy, Tony, Nicky, Tess, Ji-Soon, Winnie
Sunny Snowflakes – Lucien, Jacque, Tsu, Letty
Gleeful Gingerbreads – Char, Marco, Brandon, Bonnie, Aditi, Elodie
"Last time on North Pole Showdown!" Embarc began to narrate. Flashbacks of the previous episode occurred. "The teams participated in a classic snowball fight to determine who rules supreme over the others. For many it was all about strategy to figure how to hit others with a snowball easier. Some plans were successful while others fell flat. The Gleeful Gingerbreads were not being so gleeful as tension began to rise on the team. Tsu and Letty proved to be effective together, melting the piles of snowballs with hair dryers they found in the toy shop. In the end the Superior Snowstorms collapsed during the challenge. Resulting in the team's first loss of the season and Ben being voted off for sticking in the shadows way too long."
The flashbacks ended. Embarc stood outside Santa's workshop.
"Christmas is always a time to be nice, but what happens when the contestants have to be naughty for a change?" Embarc said to the audience with a smile on her face. "Find out now on North Pole Showdown!"
(Intro Plays)
Three cameras pop up from their hiding spots. One from outside the igloo ceremony, another coming out of an evergreen tree with snow on it, and the last one popped up from a toilet. The camera drone showing footage flew into a window to get out of the bathroom.
Dear Mom and Dad I'm doin' fine,
The camera drone displayed Embarc in her office with papers pasted all over the walls. The papers had pictures of the contestants on them and red arrows all around for Embarc to figure out what kind of ships the hostess could do with the cast.
You guys are on my mind.
Ketch stood next to Embarc and saw the camera drone inside her office. He poked Embarc's shoulder with a finger to let her know. The hostess tried to grab it to remove the footage, but the drone evaded her and went out a window.
You asked me what I wanted to be
The drone caught Tsu hugging his Clover Warrington body pillow in the cold snowy weather. A polar bear took the body pillow from Tsu to hug it for itself.
And now I think the answer is plain to see,
Tsu demanded the polar bear give back his body pillow, but the creature roared at him. Tsu ran away while the polar bear gave chase on two feet. Iggy laughed at Tsu's predicament from a distance. He was then pelted by a snowball at the back of his head.
I wanna be famous.
The culprit who hit Iggy was revealed to be Winter who leaned on a wall of a wooden house. She turned around with a smile and noticed Jacque observing her with his arms crossed and a suspicious look on his face. The camera drone went inside the wooden house.
I wanna live close to the sun,
Elodie showed taking baked cupcakes out of an oven and placing them onto a table. Paul and Andrea sat at the table with the former wanting to swipe cupcakes for himself despite a 'Do Not Touch' sign being next to the sweets. Andrea slapped his hand away.
Go pack your bags, 'cause I've already won,
At the other side of the table, Tess painted some happy little trees on a piece of paper held by an easel while Nicky sat on a wooden chair to play her violin.
Everything to prove, nothing in my way
The two girls were startled by Dominic, Tony, and Brandon breaking a hole in the wall with each of them racing each other on a snowmobile. The camera drone followed them after the three made another hole in a different wall to leave the house.
I'll get there one day.
The three boys crashed into a giant pile of snow. Marco recorded them with a camera nearby while Lucien and May were each sleeping peacefully on a snow angel that someone must have made on the ground.
Cause, I wanna be famous!
Aditi observed penguins waddling next to her outside Santa's workshop with a snowman right by her. Bonnie came out of the snowman which prompted Aditi to run away from her. Bonnie frowned and Char came to pat her shoulder to make her feel better. Which got the redhead to grin.
Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na!
Winnabelle excitedly rode on Rudolph the red nose reindeer in the field of reindeer that was fenced. Ben and Letty watched Winnabelle making noise which caused the two to stop reading a book they each had in their hand. The former looked at the pageant disaster with annoyance while the latter dismally sighed.
I wanna be, I wanna be, I wanna be famous
Ji-Soon displayed one of her cosplays for Santa's elves on an outdoor wooden stage. Striking poses for delight. One of the elves took a picture of her with the camera's flash on in his hand.
I wanna be, I wanna be, I wanna be famous
Santa Claus dragged Sasha by the arm out of his fridge because she started eating his ice cream with a spoon. The contestant held onto a bowl of ice cream as the jolly man brought her outside in the snow with the rest of the cast sitting. The entire cast whistled as the song finished. The camera drone zoomed out to reveal the show's title on a wooden billboard.
(End Intro)
The episode started with Tony and Iggy jogging together around the outside of Santa's workshop in the snow. Once they slowed down and stopped Tony put his hand on the wooden wall.
"Hey, remember when you asked me a bunch of times to join you in an alliance?" Iggy asked his teammate.
"Oh, now you want to become partners," Tony replied as he leaned his back on the wall. "What if I don't want to now? I know that cocky smirk you gave me at the igloo ceremony meant you didn't care at all so what changed?"
"Is because the votes were super close last time and we're the only two guys left on the team. Another igloo ceremony can cost me to be eliminated," Iggy explained.
"Ah, so the team up is for your own safety, good to know," Tony smirked.
"Is for your safety too," Iggy rolled his eyes.
"I know, I'm just messing with you because I was right along," Tony said with smugness. "And I will only agree to do this alliance if you admit I was right and that you need my help."
"What? Seriously? I'm not saying that," Iggy refused. "We are both equal here, one needing the other. Even with us working together we still need at least one vote from one of the girls to make sure a tie at least happens."
"Nah, I can get by," Tony acted cocky. "Isn't that what you do? Get by without being worried for them voting you off? You didn't get any votes last time and…"
"Okay I get it," Iggy interrupted, annoyed he had to do this. "Tony you were right and I need your help so that I can keep going in the game. There, happy?"
"Absolutely," Tony grinned. "Now, about the chick we got to secure a vote from. It can't be Nicky, she sucks."
"You think all your teammates suck," Iggy deadpanned.
"Not true," Tony shook his head side to side. "Remember that I think you're alright and Winnie has gotten my respect after the eating challenge. You however think everyone one of us sucks."
"Eh," Iggy shrugged. "More like they all are levels beneath me."
"Point still stands," Tony stated. "We need a chick that is stupid and naive on our side."
"Isn't that all of the girls in our team?" Iggy joked.
Tony laughed. "Yeah, so we have three options then."
"Let's see how this goes," Iggy grinned.
Both Superior Snowstorms shook hands.
Confessional - Iggy - Superior Snowstorms
"I wanted to kind of play solo this whole run without making alliances since I'm capable of doing that. But now that I think about it almost all the previous winners had at least one ally backing them. I don't trust Tony but for the sake of survival I have to depend on him for now. Getting Ji-Soon on my side shouldn't be too hard."
Confessional - Tony - Superior Snowstorms
"So now that Iggy has finally realized he needs me I have a total of four allies and three alliances. As long as I don't get voted off in the team phase I say I'm pretty stable for the early merge. Now I have to get Winnie on my side. Shouldn't be too hard."
End Confessionals
In the festive lounge, Char read one of his romance novels in silence at a table with nobody around. That is until he heard the doors to the festive lounge open. He looked up from his novel to see Nicky closing the doors before approaching him.
"Hey there Nicky," Char greeted kindly and closed his book. "What can I do for you?"
"I need ad-advice," Nicky revealed as she sat on a chair next to the table Char was at. "And I had to m-make sure you were alone and that none of my teammates found me with you."
"So you've been spying on me?" Char joked.
"Huh? No, not at all," Nicky answered nervously as she raised her hands slightly in the air.
Char chuckled. "Relax Nicky, just joking around. Now, what do you need help with?"
"I might have this cru-crush on Tess but I'm not sure if she likes me that way too," Nicky confessed, rubbing an arm with her hand to express how worried she was. "I blush a lot when she compliments me but when I did it once to her she did not say a word."
"Hmm, well there are different reasons for that. She probably does not think she herself is cute or she does not know how to recuperate someone calling her that. People tend to react to being complimented," Char explained. "Is also possible she might have been focusing on something."
"She was painting," Nicky remembered. "But still what do I do about this potential crush I have on her?"
"If you have a potential crush on her already it means you like her like Nicky," Char smiled. "In this type of game relationships usually form when both parties are interested in each other but sometimes being upfront is the best thing to do."
"I don't know Char what if she doesn't like me like that?" Nicky questioned. "Maybe I should keep waiting and see what happens."
"There's a possibility you might not get the chance if either of you get eliminated while waiting. Really is up to you to decide on the matter. Do you want to wait to see if she feels the same way as you two bond or do you ask her now and get the results?" Char conversated, trying to offer the best advice he can.
Nicky frown as she looked down at the table.
Confessional - Nicky - Superior Snowstorms
"This is way too difficult," Nicky admitted, unsure what to do.
Confessional - Char - Superior Snowstorms
"I was honest with her. With the amount of romance novels I have read and the people I have helped hook up with the couple that forms usually creates a bond together before making it official or one confesses their love and the partner decides to give it a try to see what happens. Both have their pros and cons depending on the angle you look at it. Nicky is just going to have to figure out which is the best option."
End Confessionals
Elodie opened the doors of the mess hall to enter. Brandon and Aditi walked in following her.
"Are you going to tell us now as to why you wanted to speak with both of us?" Brandon asked Elodie.
All three Gleeful Gingerbreads stopped walking. Elodie turned around to look at her teammates.
"Yes, before I go make breakfast for you two and our team," Elodie answered sweetly. "I think is best for all of us that if our team ever loses again we vote Bonnie off together."
Brandon and Aditi glanced at each other before looking at Elodie again, not convinced.
"I think is a splendid idea. She's been creeping us out. Always staring where she's not supposed to. I could go on," Elodie explained her reasoning.
"Yeah, she does freak me out a bit at times," Brandon admitted while rubbing the back of his head. "But she's part of the reason we won two challenges in a row now. Doesn't feel right voting off someone who's contributing a lot to the team."
"I myself prefer not to engage in any strategic talk. Our team gets along well with minor issues, and this will develop into a big one," Aditi denied helping Elodie. "If you have issues with Bonnie you should probably talk to her about it. Express yourself."
Elodie bit her lip, wanting to make a retort to that but went against it. "I'll make breakfast then since this discussion is over," She said and made her way to the kitchen.
The speakers around inside and outside of Santa's workshop turned on.
"Attention teams," Embarc spoke through the speakers. "Report to the new created house with many chimneys on it near Santa's workshop in the next three hours to start today's challenge."
Confessional - Aditi - Gleeful Gingerbreads
"If we ever lose I might have to consider voting off Elodie. If she doesn't set things straight with Bonnie that conflict will have a negative impact on our team."
Confessional - Brandon - Gleeful Gingerbreads
"Man, between having to keep a secret for now what Tsu did and Elodie gunning for Bonnie the competition is getting stiffer. Guess that's to be expected since one third of the cast is gone. Still though, I might need to tell Bonnie about what's going on because I don't think Elodie is going to take Aditi's advice."
Confessional - Elodie - Gleeful Gingerbreads
"Maybe I shouldn't target Bonnie after all. At least, not until my team actually loses a challenge."
End Confessionals
All three teams gathered in front of a grandiose wooden house with many doors around the building and sixteen chimneys on the roof made out of red bricks. The house was decorated with Christmas lights all over that were on and shined beautifully. There were four trampolines, two on each side of the house's longer walls. The symbol for each team appeared on screen. Embarc stood in front of one of the doors, observing the remaining contestants happily.
"Congrats to all of you contestants for making a third of the way into the competition," Embarc commended.
All of the players cheered joyfully. This got a chuckle out of Embarc.
"I wouldn't celebrate so soon," Embarc warned. "With only sixteen of you that remain the challenges are only going to get tougher from here on out. Speaking of challenge, time to explain the one for today."
"Definitely need that considering what I'm looking at," Jacque admitted.
"Today's challenge is all about unleashing your inner grinch," Embarc grinned mischievously. "Teams must jump on any of the trampolines in order to get on the house's roof. Once on the roof everyone can go down a chimney of their choice. Inside the room of the chimney you go down to are a bunch of gifts color coded to a team's color under a Christmas tree. Grab as many gifts as you can while avoiding traps to make your way to the door of that room. Leave the gifts outside and repeat in that order until thirty minutes are up, or all the gifts have been taken out of the house."
"So the team that has the most gifts collected wins the challenge?" Char asked nicely.
"Correct Char," Embarc confirmed happily. "Now, before I start the challenge there is one more announcement to make."
"We're merging?" Marco wondered.
Embarc blankly stared at him. "No Marco, the merge isn't today. Today is the day that this challenge will have a double elimination."
Everyone gasped, surprised by this revelation.
"That's right," Embarc enjoyed seeing their reactions. "Coming in second place is not an option this time around. The team that wins today's challenge is the only team that has immunity. The other two teams will have to vote someone out."
"You really weren't kidding when you said the challenges will be tougher," Iggy thought Embarc was bluffing.
"I don't joke around Iggy," Embarc smiled contently at him. She then chuckled. "Actually I do, but this is not one of them. The challenge starts now everyone, so get trampoline jumping."
Confessional - Tsu - Sunny Snowflakes
"Sixteen chimneys? Ha, I already know what I'm going to do," Tsu spoke confidently. "And if Letty helps me as well this team isn't losing today's challenge. Shame I don't have time to make a grinch cosplay. Would fit this challenge well but that might make my methods look too obvious."
Confessional - Char - Gleeful Gingerbreads
"My team has won the last two challenges, so we have the momentum in our favor. I just hope this time when I partner people up, they understand why I do it. For the benefit of the team," Char said calmly.
Confessional - Ji-Soon - Superior Snowstorms
"I should start making Christmas theme outfits. Why haven't I thought of this before?" The cosplaying queen wondered. "Char can pull off Santa Claus well."
End Confessionals
The Superior Snowstorms were the first to take action. Specifically, Ji-Soon who bounced on a trampoline repeatedly to gain height. After bouncing enough, she used the momentum to make a big leap onto the roof of the house.
"Come on Nicky, let's go together," Tess grabbed Nicky's hand, causing the violinist to mumble uncontrollably while being flustered.
Tess jumped onto the trampoline with Nicky. The trampoline bounced the two onto the roof. Tess landed perfectly while Nicky's face planted onto the roof.
Nicky groaned in pain. "Ow."
On ground level Tony and Iggy waited for Winnie to get on the trampoline. When they noticed she would not jump Iggy began to grow impatient.
"What are you waiting for?" Iggy asked Winnie. "Jump on the trampoline already."
"But, stealing presents is wrong. I do not want to be naughty," Winnie frowned.
"Is just a challenge Winnie you're not actually stealing presents from anybody," Iggy tried to convince her to participate.
"It still doesn't feel right. Thinking about doing it makes me feel dirty. And I get plenty of dirt on me back in the farm," Winnie did not budge.
"Come on, don't start being useless. Pull your weight," Iggy demanded.
Winnie brought her head down shamefully. Iggy felt a bit guilty for calling her that.
"Hey, help me out," Iggy whispered to Tony. "I'm not good at lifting up spirits."
Tony gave him a thumbs up. "I got this dude. Just get on the roof already capisce?"
Iggy ran to the trampoline as Tony approached Winnie.
"Hey," Tony put a hand on Winnie's back. "Don't let what he said get to you. You can still help the team out without going up there."
"I can?" Winnie looked up at her teammate.
"We don't know if some of the bad people on the other teams will try to steal our presents when dropping them here. Your job is to keep the presents our team collects safe," Tony instructed, using a softer tone than his brash one. "Can you handle that?"
"I guess I can do that," Winnie was still unsure about participating in the challenge but what Tony said sounded better.
"Good, I'll see you shortly," Tony went to the trampoline and jumped on it.
Confessional - Tony - Superior Snowstorms
"Not how I normally act but I got to get on her good side for a potential vote. Chances of losing today are higher so being goody-goody benefits me."
End Confessional
Jacque noticed Winnie not going to the roof and squinted his eyes before looking back at his team.
"Letty, you stay outside," Jacque ordered. "Us guys are going inside."
"Hear you loud and clear," Letty was not enthusiastic in doing this task but she was not going to say anything about it.
"Wouldn't it make sense to have all of us going down the chimneys?" Tsu asked Jacque. He wanted Letty to tag along so that he can use her.
"We need to make sure theater burner over there doesn't take the gifts away that we collect," Jacque answered his teammate. "Or anyone else for that matter."
"Makes sense," Lucien agreed to Jacque's plan. "Come on, no time to waste."
The three Sunny Snowflakes boys jumped onto a trampoline at the same time to get on the roof. Jacque stood on the roof once he landed. Tsu barely managed to land, almost falling to the ground since he was close to the edge and Lucien landed flat on his back on the roof.
"That didn't hurt at all," Lucien said sarcastically.
Char noticed what the other teams were doing and then looked at his team.
"Alright team, I'll stay outside to keep an eye on the gifts we get," Char told his teammates. "Try to sometimes be in groups of two to have a better time getting gifts."
"On it," Brandon nodded and went to jump onto a trampoline. He cheered as he went to land on the roof.
"Right behind you," Aditi was next of the Gleeful Gingerbreads to get onto the trampoline and used it to get on the roof. She did a backflip before landing nicely.
Brandon clapped for her.
"Oh yeah, this is going to be great," Marco was streaming as he jumped onto the trampoline. Due to not being focused because of streaming he sprung himself at a wall of the house, hurting his head in the process. "I'm okay," He said in pain. He slid down the wall.
Elodie, Bonnie, and Char winced at seeing that happen.
Confessional - Bonnie - Gleeful Gingerbreads
"I'm hoping we can open those gifts once the challenge is over. I'm not expecting much that I'll like but I'll take what I can get," Bonnie said happily.
End Confessional
Iggy was the first to be shown going down chimney. He landed on his butt in the fireplace hard.
"I shouldn't be surprised there's no cushion for our fall," Iggy said annoyed. He crawled out of the fireplace and then stood up to look around the room he is in.
The room was set up nice and tightly. The floorboards were yellow and the walls beige. At one of the corners of the room is a Christmas tree with a bunch of gifts under it in various shapes and sizes. The colors of the wrapping of the gifts were blue, red, or green. The door to the room was on the opposite side of where the Christmas tree is.
"Don't see any traps here," Iggy observed around. "Shouldn't be too hard to get over there then but I better keep on the lookout."
"Are you talking to yourself?" Tony questioned, a camera showing him standing next to Iggy.
"Yes," Iggy did not deny. "Now go check to see if there are any traps around."
Tony simply walked to the Christmas tree without bothering to check for traps. When he stepped on a certain floorboard it rose up with a spring under it that launched Tony back to Iggy. Tony landed on the ground with a thud.
"There's traps all right," Tony said, laying on the floor.
"Thanks for the confirmation," Iggy mused. He looked at the floorboards. He had no idea which floorboards had traps in them or not. "If I run fast enough the springboards will not launch me."
Iggy decided to test his theory. He jogged in motion to pick up speed before sprinting into action. This resulted in him with a floorboard having a spring under it to launch him back where he was. Like with Tony, Iggy fell to the floor on his back.
"Okay, we're going to have to figure something out," Iggy admitted.
"Really? I had no idea," Tony snarked.
Lucien and Jacque went through a different chimney. Both exit out of the fireplace. The room they were in appears similar to the one Tony and Iggy took.
"There's the gifts," Lucien pointed at them under a Christmas tree.
Jacque glanced around. "I don't see anything that looks like traps but be cautious."
Both Sunny Snowflakes carefully walked slowly to the gifts. Jacque stepped on a floorboard that caused a purple smoke to come out underneath it. Jacque quickly stepped to the side to not breath the purple smoke.
"What does that do?" Lucien wondered as he stepped to the side as well.
"Don't know, don't care," Jacque answered. "Let's grab our gifts and get out of here as soon as possible."
The two quickly made their way to the tree and grabbed all the gifts that had blue wrapping paper. When they turned around to go to the door, they saw the purple smoke getting bigger and bigger. Both decided to book it and go through the door, getting caught in the smoke.
Once outside they put down the gifts to Letty.
"You two okay?" Letty asked. "Both are looking drowsy."
"Crap, that was sleep gas," Jacque realized before falling and going to sleep.
Lucien quickly drank coffee from his thermos mug to keep himself awake.
"This is bad, the challenge just started and we're already down a player," Letty said to Lucien.
Lucien glanced at Winnie and Char waiting for their teammates to arrive with gifts.
"We're just going to have to risk you tagging along," Lucien told Letty. "Come one, let's get on the trampolines."
Marco and Aditi were in a room together going to get their team's color wrapping gifts under the Christmas tree.
"Chat says we're guarantee to at least provoke one trap," Marco commented to Aditi as they make it to the tree.
"Chat? We're not chatting right now," Aditi told the streamer as she grabbed some of the gifts. "Actually, we are… right now. I'm not understanding what you mean."
"When I mean chat I mean my chat on stream," Marco showed his stream playing live on Tsu's phone.
"But isn't chatting having a conversation with someone or more?" Aditi felt confused.
"Yes, but chat can also refer to the people watching my stream live," Marco repeated. "You should try streaming outdoor stuff," He suggested.
"I prefer to cherish the memories exploring the beauties of the world by myself and those around me instead of letting people know where I am," Aditi replied kindly.
"That's fine," Marco smiled. "Let's get these gifts back to Char."
Marco grabbed a gift that a string attached to it. When he pulled on the gift, he accidentally activated a trap. Bugs were launched onto him and Aditi. Both Gleeful Gingerbreads drop their gifts and screamed from having bugs crawl all over them.
Tsu entered a room by himself. "Perfect," He smirked. He went to the gifts under the tree and opened one of them with green wrapping paper. It revealed to be a bat and he snickered.
Confessional - Tsu - Sunny Snowflakes
"Got to make sure my team wins and that the others don't have a shot at all."
End Confessional
Tsu smacked all the gifts in the room minus the blue ones with his acquired bat, damaging them. Then he took the blue gifts and happily walked to the exit door. One of the floorboards he stepped on activated a trap that activated an alarm. Tsu glanced around to what was going to happen and saw an elf rushing up to him. He wasted no time heading to the exit door and escaping.
Tsu ran to where Letty was but instead of seeing the vacant virtuoso, he saw Jacque sleeping on the snow. Without saying a word, he put the gifts he collected next to Jacque and went to jump on a trampoline.
"Any particular reason as to why you went down the same chimney with me?" Bonnie asked Elodie as she observed the gifts under the Christmas tree in the room both were in.
"Apparently I need to have a one-on-one conversation with you," Elodie answered, sounding sweet and sour at the same time.
"Thought it would be an actual one on one for a second there," Bonnie said half-jokingly.
"The sooner we finish this challenge the better," Elodie spoke, already deciding not to tell her teammate how she feels about her.
"I have an idea," Bonnie smiled.
"I also have an idea," Elodie said before taking out a cupcake from under her beret. "And it will prove more effective. See if any of those gifts wrapped is a potato sack."
"I don't think making explosions is a good idea," Bonnie warned.
"Is going to work, trust me. We'll win in no time," Elodie assured, not thinking of the consequences.
"I think we need to work together for this," Brandon said to Ji-Soon, the two being in a room together as both looked at the gifts on the other side of the room.
"We can do that?" Ji-Soon questioned.
"I don't see why not," Brandon shrugged with a smile on his face. "Just because we're competing against each other doesn't mean we have to be enemies all the time."
"Cool," Ji-Soon expressed joy. "Got anything in your toolbox that will help us out?"
"I was wondering if you have any idea how to avoid the traps," Brandon sheepishly admitted.
"Nope," Ji-Soon simply said.
The room became quiet with the two not talking.
"You're a mechanic, right? What tools do you mostly use?" Ji- Soon asked. "Any vehicles that are harder or easier? What made you become a mechanic? Is there other things you like? Do you name your tools? Ooo, how about…"
Brandon watched Ji-Soon continue to ramble and ask questions. His eyes widened from the number of questions he was getting from her.
"If only Jacque didn't break that special paintbrush of mine, I could have built us a bridge to avoid the traps," Tess said to Nicky while looking at the gifts under the Christmas tree.
"Speaking of special, you're a sp-special girl to me Tess," Nicky confessed, stuttering and blushing a bit.
"Awe, thanks," Tess smiled.
"You're so special th-that I mi-might have a crush on you," Nicky revealed to the traveling artist.
"Oh, oh," Tess blushed. "I… I'm sorry Nicky, but I don't think it will work out."
"H-huh? You're not even going to try?" Nicky instantly felt heartbroken.
"I rather not hurt you in the long run when I know it won't work out. I have issues when it comes to relationships. Specifically with one that I kept going on and off with," Tess explained her reasoning. "I don't want that same thing to happen to us."
"B-but it won't happen. I can promise that," Nicky assured.
"But I can't. Is better that we stay as friends Nicky," Tess said gently.
Before Nicky could continue trying to convince Tess that they should be together an explosion occurred, breaking down a wall that leads right to the room's Christmas tree. The building began to shake as more sounds of explosions happened.
"Let's go," Tess grabbed Nicky by the arm and exited the door with the violinist.
All contestants were outside as they watched the building collapse from their very own eyes.
"What just happened?" Embarc came by, shocked to see the building destroyed.
"Elodie's explosions happened," Bonnie answered, holding a small potato sack that was full.
"Elodie, no more explosions," Embarc ruled. "Do it again and you're out of the competition."
Confessional - Elodie - Gleeful Gingerbreads
"I was never expecting to get on the host's bad side. At least, I'm positive thanks to me we won the challenge," She tried to look at the bright side.
Confessional - Tsu - Sunny Snowflakes
"That girl is dangerous."
End Confessionals
Bonnie opened her potato sack and showed Embarc all the green wrapped gifts in it. Embarc looked at the gifts and then the Sunny Snowflakes' pile.
"Considering Elodie blew up the building and destroying all the gifts that were in it inside left the challenge is over," Embarc announced. "And the winners…" She sighed. "Are the Gleeful Gingerbreads once again for having the most gifts."
Elodie cheered victorious. She stopped when she saw the rest of her teammates not cheering with her.
"Come on guys, we won. Isn't that great?" Elodie smiled sweetly at them.
"Half of the team was inside when the explosions went off. If they didn't leave in time they would gotten seriously injured," Char told Elodie, disapproving the way she won it for her team.
"I.. I didn't consider that at the moment," Elodie admitted, realizing what she did.
"Tried to warn you," Bonnie said.
Elodie watched her teammates leave. She frowned.
"Ouch, but deserving nonetheless," Embarc said to Elodie before looking at the Sunny Snowflakes and Superior Snowstorms. "I'll see you all at the igloo ceremony tonight. First the Superior Snowstorms and then the Sunny Snowflakes."
Confessional - Iggy - Superior Snowstorms
"Third place twice in a row? Ugh, how am I supposed to avoid elimination now?" He wondered nervously.
End Confessional
Inside the Superior Snowstorms' bedroom, Nicky lied on her stomach on her bed feeling dispirited. Ji-Soon entered the room.
"Nicky? What's wrong?" Ji-Soon asked.
"Tess doesn't want to be with me," Nicky answered sadly. "I told her how I felt and she does not want to commit."
"Oh, that's terrible. I was shipping you two together," Ji-Soon frowned. "Are you going to vote her off tonight?"
"I'm voting for Tony," Nicky responded. "As much as my heart is broken, I don't have it in me to vote Tess off. I'll be petty if I do that."
"Is this the first time a girl rejected you?" Ji-Soon wondered.
"Not in the mood Ji-Soon," Nicky stated emotionless.
"Have you ever done sad songs with the violin?" Ji-Soon questioned.
"Ugh," Nicky put her own pillow over her face.
"I'll talk to you later then," Ji-Soon left the bedroom by existing out of the door.
Winnie, Tony, and Iggy were in the snow near Santa's workshop.
"Why am I voting for Nicky?" Winnie asked her teammates. "No one got any gifts back to me in the first place."
"We're looking at from a survival of the fittest type of angle," Iggy explained.
"Yeah, Nicky is the weakest link on the whole team," Tony added.
"Even though I honestly think is Tess not Nicky, but Tony has something against the kid so yeah she's got to go," Iggy said.
"But everyone on the team has a specialty that proves themself to stay," Winnie spoke, not wanting to vote off a teammate. "There are qualities Nicky has that others don't."
"If that quality is sucking big time is not that useful," Tony stated. "Iggy has been having that quality. Got to get rid of the kid that is rubbing that on him."
Iggy gave Tony a side eye glance for that.
"I'll think about it," Winnie said so that she does not have to discuss this any further.
In the festive lounge, Jacque shot hoops from the basketball arcade machine. Tsu approached him.
"Better come up with a good reason why you shouldn't be voted off," Jacque told Tsu seriously while continuing shooting hoops.
"Tony and I are in an alliance," Tsu revealed to the shiesty dude.
Jacque stopped throwing basketballs. "Go on."
"It will be better to keep me because I have an extra player on my side. The merge is bound to happen soon," Tsu added to his case.
"And what makes me believe that you won't double cross me at the elimination ceremony?" Jacque questioned, turning around to look at Tsu.
"I can say the same for you too," Tsu responded plainly.
The two did stare down at each other.
Night arrived and the Superior Snowstorms entered the igloo ceremony, each member sitting on a stump. In the front row were Nicky, Winnie, Tess and Ji-Soon. In the back were Iggy and Tony. Their team's symbol appeared on screen. Embarc stood near the campfire holding five candy canes in one hand.
"Superior Snowstorms, all of you have already casted your vote," Embarc said. "Time to reveal tonight's lucky loser. Before that though, naming those are safe. The two who received no votes were Iggy and Ji-Soon."
Ji-Soon and Iggy happily caught their candy cane.
"With one vote, Winnie and Tony get to stay," Embarc tossed the next two candy canes.
Iggy and Tony were surprise Winnie got a vote.
"Nicky and Tess, both are you in the bottom two. Tess, you're in this position because you broke Nicky's heart. And Nicky, some of your teammates consider you a liability," Embarc explain their reasonings for being in the bottom.
"I wonder who," Nicky pretended to not know while controlling her sobbing.
Tess frowned at seeing Nicky like this.
"The final candy cane goes to…"
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"No one yet. We have a tie," Embarc announced excitedly.
The Superior Snowstorms minus Nicky and Tess gasped.
"Hmm, I guess tonight can be a triple elimination. Or a tie breaker," Embarc thought.
"No need," Tess stood up from her seat. "I'll volunteer to take the chimney of shame myself."
"What? Why?" Nicky got up from her seat.
"Because I care about you Nicky. And if I need to prove to you that I care about you by doing this then I will," Tess answered sincerely. "I want to be friends with you Nicky. Not only you are cute but you're amazing. And the fact you can calm beasts with the music you play on your violin is awesome. So make sure to win this game for us."
Nicky smiled a bit. "I'll do my best."
Tess gave Nicky a quick hug before exiting the igloo.
"Now that was sweet," Embarc enjoyed the touching moment. "The rest of you can leave the igloo."
The Sunny Snowflakes were now in the igloo ceremony. All the members sat in the front row. Embarc had two candy canes in her hand. Letty already had one in her hand.
"Now this," Embarc chuckled. "This is exciting. One of you boys will be leaving the competition. That one will be…"
All three Sunny Snowflakes were nervous on who will stay and leave.
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"Lucien, you are eliminated," Embarc declared. She tossed a candy cane to Jacque and Tsu.
Lucien got up from his seat. He looked angry. "Well, I tried," He said annoyed, leaving the igloo without saying goodbye to his teammates.
Confessional - Lucien
"And I thought I'll be able to beat Jacque and Tsu. Oh well, those two are going to fail in some way. And I'm looking forward to it."
Confessional - Jacque - Sunny Snowflakes
"Dang, I really thought I was going home thanks to Tsu. Guess he found me more useful than Lucien. But I'll make him regret that choice," Jacque smirked. "He really is a sucker."
Confessional - Tsu - Sunny Snowflakes
"Lucien staying instead of Jacque would have been the more optimal play. But I'm not here for the optimal play. I'm here to crush the hopes of everyone. Lucien thinking he could have gone far for May? Please," He rolled his eyes. "Enjoy your stay for now Jacque."
End Confessionals
"Why the long face?" Tess asked as Lucien as the two were now next to the chimney of shame.
"I thought I would be able to well, win the game," Lucien answered sadly.
"I believe the experience is worth more than the money," Tess told him, trying to comfort.
"Yeah, I guess the experience wasn't so bad," Lucien smiled.
After Tess took the chimney of shame Lucien followed right after.
Embarc stood nearby watching. She looked at a camera to end the episode. "Fourteen contestants remain! We're nearing the halfway point viewers. How will the performance for the Gleeful Gingerbreads be now after what Elodie has done? Can the Sunny Snowflakes get a win with only three people left in the game? How will the Superior Snowstorms deal with the loss of Tess? Find out next time on North Pole Showdown!"
Teams
Superior Snowstorms – Iggy, Tony, Nicky, Ji-Soon, Winnie
Sunny Snowflakes – Jacque, Tsu, Letty
Gleeful Gingerbreads – Char, Marco, Brandon, Bonnie, Aditi, Elodie
Placements
24th - Paul
23rd - Ketch
22nd - Dominic
21st - Winter
20th - Andrea
19th - Sasha
18th - May
17th - Ben
16th - Tess
15th - Lucien