Total Drama Pizza Party Much Like The Food Here, That Was Fast, a total drama series fanfic

Chef and Chris stood before the fountain in the plaza.

"Last time on Total Drama Pizza Party!" Chef began. "With the Anchovy Gray Pair eliminated, the stakes were set, n' our players looked to get the jump on everyone else. We all saw what happens when ya slack off!"

"Right you are, Chef, and we even saw more efforts from players like Jenna and Dede who've been riding the waves up until now," Chris added. "Not that Panic noticed Jenna's efforts any."

"Mm, there was some infightin' among the Jalapeno Green Pair, not to mention Ichabod's alliance," Chef confirmed. "The Sausage Brown Pair have both always been touchy, but Ichabod's runnin' the ship as tight as he can, despite all that."

"It wasn't all strategy all the time, though," Chris mentioned. "Panic found themself thrust into an odd friendship with Veronica, while Orson held some cordial conversation with some of the people who threw his pair under the bus last round."

"Brynleigh also shared an incredibly tragic backstory of hers to Charlie!" Chef laughed. "Somethin' tells me it ain't exactly true, but hey. Ya never know!" Chef laughed even harder.

"Most proactive of all, though, was Alex," Chris claimed. "Nervous about her standing in the game after receiving votes, she reached out to the others to try and get a grasp on what was going on."

"Of course, the folks who voted for her in the first place weren't so quick to hand out info like that," Chef chuckled. "Which just tripped even more red flags for her. Red flags that she considered greatly when the Bacon Pink Pair won the Pineapple Challenge!"

"That's right, Chef," Chris nodded. "Our challenge saw one player from each pair running in a big hamster wheel to power a machine, and the other solving a simple word search on that machine. Of course, there was no 'save' feature, so if the machine ran out of power... hehaha."

"Cheese Yellow n' Mushroom Blue came close, but Lazarus found the last word just in time!" Chef recounted. "One thing he couldn't do just in time, though: get a big alliance together. Usin' her deduction skills, Alex figured out that Pepperoni Red, Jalapeno Green, n' Onion Purple all voted to keep her pair safe last round, n' solidified an even bigger alliance than the Red/Green/Pink thing Lazarus had already tried. And that Jenna also tried to establish, despite knowin' it was already a thing."

"That's how it is when you've never seen the show before, Chef," Chris chuckled. "Can't fault Jenna for trying."

"Guess not, but she wasn't happy about havin' her thunder stolen," Chef mentioned. "At any rate, tonight's challenge is for Invincibility, n' the power to send one pair directly to the Half n' half Challenge! It just might... shake things up, heh heh."

"Chef, what did we just talk about with making puns before everyone knows why they're puns?" Chris sighed.

"Hey, who's the lead host here? Hm? Is it you? I don't think it's you!" Chef scolded. He cleared his throat. "Stay right there! It's Total! Drama! Pizza Party!"

Ichabod, Charlie, Pavel, and Dede met up in the park.

"Alright," Ichabod began. "The circumstances are dire, but not insurmountable."

"Yeah, it's just a disadvantage in the next challenge," Dede smiled. "If anyone can overcome that, it's Ichabod and Charlie!"

"I appreciate your faith in us," Charlie told her. "Helps me hold some faith in myself."

"Haha, yeah, of course, no problem," Dede blushed, fidgeting her fingers.

"I fear that the Bacon Pink Pair may no longer be salvageable for our purposes," Ichabod continued. "But that still leaves the other three pairs. Our goal today is to turn the Pepperoni Red, Jalapeno Green, and Onion Purple Pairs against the Bacon Pink Pair. Make it clear that it is in their best interest to see Alex and Lazarus eliminated posthaste."

"What exactly should we say?" Dede wondered. "I'm a lover, not a... throw-people-under-the-bus...er..."

"Hm... Well, what are the pros of eliminating the Pink Pair?" Charlie prompted. "Besides the fact that they're clearly against us. That wouldn't really work on the others."

"They're decent in challenges?" Pavel suggested.

"True, but so are Blue and Brown," Charlie chuckled. "That's probably not an angle we should take."

Pavel's eyebrow twitched. "Alex is a social threat? Lazarus is annoying?" he listed.

"Again, both of those things can apply to people in our alliance," Charlie turned down.

"Okay, genius! What's something they've got that we don't then?!" Pavel shouted.

"There's no need to shout," Charlie frowned. "I want to make sure this works just as much as you do. We're on the same side."

"Yeah, well it sure don't feel like it!" Pavel grunted.

"Calm down, Pavel," Ichabod instructed. "Charlie is correct. The idea is to redirect the others' attention away from us, and onto the Bacon Pink Pair. In order to do that, we must highlight their negative qualities which we lack."

"Alex is already rich," Dede brought up. "She's a prolific actress, right? That could be something."

"It's not the most solid foundation, but it's something," Ichabod hummed. "Does anyone know many details about her television program?"

"I'm... honestly not sure what it's even called," Charlie admitted. "I think her character's name is Cherry, or Sherry. I should have made more of an effort to talk to her, so that's on me."

"Psh!" Pavel scoffed. He turned and left.

"Pavel! Where are you going?!" Ichabod called.

"To go not put effort into things, clearly!" Pavel shouted, throwing his hands up as he left.

"Did I say something that might offend him?" Charlie wondered.

"Not that I noticed," Dede answered.

"Many things offend Pavel," Ichabod claimed. "I do not believe the fault lies with you."

"Hm..." Charlie emoted doubtfully.

Pavel: "How come every time I do my best and try to help the alliance, Charlie has to shoot me down and make me look like some kind of idiot?! And the others just let him get away with it, too!" He took a deep breath. "I can't let myself get angry. That part of my life is behind me. Charlie's testing my patience, but I've worked on this! ...I don't know. I'm in no mood for this right now."

Charlie: "This is hardly the first time something I've said has set off Pavel, and I don't like that this keeps happening. Pavel's an ally and a friend, and I want to understand what's upsetting him so we can work through it and avoid having it happen again. It's becoming an issue, but I'm still not sure how to address it." He sighed and shook his head. "Nobody said recovery is ever easy."

Later, Alex and Lazarus entered the common area. Lazarus flopped onto the couch and put his hands behind his head and Alex stood nearby.

"Well, that went well," Alex affirmed. "It was the right move for us, I think."

"Oh man, did you see the look on Charlie's face?" Lazarus laughed. "I don't think that idiot saw it coming! He was really confident that he could just muscle his way through the game, huh?

"Mhm," Alex mumbled, seemingly lost in thought.

"And what was it that Ichabod said, 'If you think I'll take this, you're sorely mistaken', or some shit?" Lazarus mocked. "What a blowhard! Fuck them, maaaan!

"I guess it's the expected reaction for a team who got blindsided like that," Alex admitted. "If we had gotten blindsided there, I bet your reaction wouldn't have been much better."

"Nuh-uh!" Lazarus disagreed. "My reaction would've been a lot more mature than their stupid drivel!"

"Just like your reaction to winning the Pineapple?" Alex teased.

"Shut up," Lazarus huffed, looking away and crossing his arms.

Alex giggled. "Anyway, I'm just glad it seems like we've recovered after our rocky start there."

"Rocky start?" Lazarus raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, I'd say almost going into the first Half n' Half Challenge is pretty rocky," Alex continued.

"Well it wouldn't have been if people had just taken my alliance seriously from the start," Lazarus shook his head. "Stupid Green and Red not even listening to me made the first round more difficult than it needed to be for all of us."

"Well, it's alright," Alex comforted. "Regardless, we're all on the same page now and things are looking good for us. Shouldn't we be happy about it?"

"Speak for yourself," Lazarus grunted. "I won't be satisfied until that million bucks is in my pocket! And I won't be letting these idiots hold us back from that."

"Now our alliance members are idiots?" Alex asked.

"Always have been!" Lazarus exclaimed. "I find it hard to believe we'll be able to get this alliance unscathed to the end, and when the time comes to betray, you better believe it won't be us going home first."

"We just formed the alliance, we're in a good spot," Alex sighed. "I don't think it's really smart to rock the boat immediately."

"It's not rocking the boat, it's preparing a lifeboat just in case the boat decides to crash itself into an iceberg for no reason!" Lazarus defensively reacted.

"Well I think I'll just decide to put trust in our alliance members," Alex retorted. "Since that's what an alliance is for, after all."

"I'm glad that you feel comfortable here, because I don't," Lazarus stood back up. "And I'd appreciate it if you took this a little more seriously and took some precautions for once!"

Lazarus stomped out of the common area and back out into the park, leaving Alex standing in the middle of the room.

"Geez, even when we win, he's upset," Alex shook her head.

Alex: "Truthfully, I don't really understand why Laz is so upset! We just won a challenge and put in a massive threat who had been actively pursuing us as a target. We're even in a majority alliance now! Honestly, I think things are going pretty good from my perspective. I guess you know what they say, some people can never be happy."

Lazarus: "It's easy for Alex to be happy when she is receiving credit for MY brilliant planning! Mine! I made that alliance basically day one! And they didn't listen to me! Why is that? I have no idea! I'm a sensible, reasonable person dammit! Suddenly Ms. Actress walks up and everyone is in love with the idea! I need to make a name for myself in this game, one way or another!"

Panic took Jenna to the Fast Food Festa.

"Alright, what's the plan?" Jenna sighed.

"Well, that's what we're here to discuss," Panic told her. "What do you make of the big alliance we got roped into? Do we stick to it? Throw them under the bus? Ride it out until we find something better?"

"You tell me," Jenna shrugged.

"Don't give me that," Panic sighed. "I keep telling you, I can't carry the both of us. You need to pull your weight, too."

"Well, I tried, and I have nothing to show for it," Jenna claimed. "Why put in the effort when it seems like everyone else is willing to keep me going anyway?"

"Do not get me started, Jenna," Panic groaned. "The game is picking up, and we need to be able to keep pace. You said you tried. What did you do, exactly? Besides make final twos with everyone?"

"Well, I checked in on Sawyer and Lazarus to see if that alliance was still good," Jenna mentioned. "Of course, Alex had to show up and throw Purple into the mix."

"You were also late to that meeting," Panic pointed out.

"That's not entirely my fault," Jenna denied. "I was on my way, and I got caught up when Sunshi- OH MY GOD SUNSHINE!"

Jenna immediately ran off.

"Hey! Get back here!" Panic called out.

"Panic? Is something up?" Orson asked as he approached.

"Too much," Panic told him.

"Jenna's not taking the game seriously again, I take it?" Orson guessed.

"She says she's trying, but as always, it seems like I'm the only one who really cares about getting anything done," Panic huffed. "It's not just in the game, either. My band practices are just like this too. Not to mention, you know, the crumbling state of society thanks to greedy, incompetent billionaires running the world."

"That does sound frustrating," Orson empathized.

"I just... really want this to go well," Panic sighed. "I'm grateful that Jenna picked me to be her teammate, but ever since then, it feels like she's almost given up entirely."

"Still a better ally than Peter, it sounds like," Orson chuckled.

Panic managed a smirk. "True. Low bar, but true. How's the wicked witch treating you?"

"Sawyer?" Orson recognized. "Well, she's calmed down now that we're not in the line of fire. 'Calmed down' being a very relative way of putting it."

"I'm surprised she isn't demanding you help her put together a new four-pair alliance that she can be in charge of," Panic teased.

"Maybe she already figures she's in charge of this one," Orson proposed.

"If she's there, then she's inherently in charge," Panic played along. "That's how these big-business types think."

"Honestly, I think you're right," Orson laughed.

"What was that?" Panic asked.

"I said I think you're right," Orson repeated.

"Huh?" Panic put a hand up behind their ear. "Sorry, didn't catch that."

Orson smiled. "I said you've always been wrong about everything, ever."

"That sounds more like the society I know!" Panic nudged Orson.

"Hey, Rome wasn't restructured to benefit the masses in a day, right?" Orson assured them. "You'll get there. I can tell you won't give up until you do."

"I try to maintain some sense of realism, but I'll certainly try," Panic nodded. "Thanks for letting me vent for a bit."

"Hey, what are friends for?" Orson smiled.

Panic cleared their throat, fighting a blush.

Panic: "Don't... look too deep into anything between me and Orson. I appreciate that someone in this game takes me even a little seriously. You would too, if you had to deal with... well, everyone else. Even Veronica thinks I'm a joke, and she's trying to be my friend! It's just... nice to have someone I can actually confide in. Someone I can be open to. It... doesn't happen often."

Orson: "I guess a part of me can sympathize with Panic feeling like nobody ever listens. But I won't dwell on that. In any case, I'm glad it means so much to Panic that I can lend an ear. I think they just might be a valuable ally down the line. Well, stay an ally, I guess. We have technically been aligned for most of the game now." He rubbed the back of his head.

Veronica walked through the park, looking around at large groups of people.

"Oh, wow, the common folk tend to simply intermingle as one unit!" Veronica remarked to herself. "No butlers or bodyguards as far as the eye can see! Absolutely barbaric! How quaint!"

A few passersby looked at her. Veronica smiled blankly as they did.

"Hey, geek!" A voice rang out from the crowd. "Over here, stupid!"

Veronica looked around and noticed Brynleigh standing behind a large pillar, motioning for her to join her.

"Felicitations, my cohort in reality television!" Veronica greeted. "What brings you behind this large column on this fine day?"

"Oh, you know, just killin' the time," Brynleigh replied. "Waiting for Chef to call us for our next stupid, lame ass challenge."

"I see! That is also what I am doing currently, although perhaps I would've stated it a bit more tactfully…" Veronica giggled.

"Yeah, I bet," Brynleigh rolled her eyes. "Anyway, I noticed you kept looking at all these people around, why?"

"Excellent question, my small friend!" Veronica smiled. "You see, I wish to learn the way that the economically challenged act in their everyday life, I need to expand my horizons, as they say. This felt like a sound way to do so without having to leave behind my life!"

"So you just wanna mingle with the poors huh?" Brynleigh smirked.

"Precisely!" Veronica exclaimed.

"Well, that sounds like a great idea!" Brynleigh clasped her hands together. "I can help ya if you'd like!"

"Oh, would you?" Veronica asked. "I find this so difficult, I can't hardly glean any information by simply observing, I wish to join the action!"

"Then I have the perfect thing for you," Brynleigh smirked. "Wanna learn how to do a common dance trend?"

"Yes, absolutely!" Veronica nodded.

"Alright, excellent," Brynleigh said.

Brynleigh then proceeded to showcase the "dance", which included the motion of putting on gloves, pulling out two finger guns, and pretending to shoot them. For the final motion, she fell to the ground and then jumped back up to her feet. Veronica studied her movements intently.

"You got that?" Brynleigh said, dusting off her back.

"What a peculiar dance trend, I never would've guessed!" Veronica admitted. "What is this intriguing set of moves called?"

"It's called The OJ Simpson," Brynleigh stifled a laugh. "Wanna hear another thing about it, something very important?"

"Do tell!" Veronica responded.

"People tend to do this dance in the middle of crowds," Brynleigh explained. "And usually they loudly announce they are doing it. Gets as many people to see it as possible!"

"Is that so?" Veronica questioned. "People simply begin this dance wherever, whenever?"

"Yep!" Brynleigh smiled. "If you wanna try, it looks like there's quite a crowd around here right now!"

"Oh, well then I simply must!" Veronica said resolutely. She stiffened up and began to walk out from behind the pillar. "Brynleigh, are you joining me?"

"I would, but I just kinda pulled a muscle in my back showing you," Brynleigh lied. "Don't worry, you'll do great!"

"Alright then!" Veronica nodded and walked out into the middle of a large crowd, and shouted: "Attention Fantastic Feast Faire goers!"

People from all around Veronica stopped and looked at her. Brynleigh grinned maliciously from behind the pole.

"I will be showcasing the common dance known as "The OJ Simpson"!" Veronica announced. She then began to do the dance in the middle of the large crowd. People stared at her. Eventually she dropped to the ground and hopped back up, and then the crowd went silent.

"How delightfully embarrassing!" Brynleigh snickered.

The crowd then immediately erupted into cheers. Brynleigh looked on, confused, as people began to try to mimic the dance.

"Wow! How interesting! I simply must do the dance!" A random spectator said to his friend.

"Me too! I don't know why, but I feel the compulsion to do the same thing immediately!" The spectator's friend said.

"Oh, then I shall teach you all the ways of dance!" Veronica exclaimed, and the crowd cheered again.

"Oh my god," Brynleigh muttered as she cupped her head in her hands.

Brynleigh: "I did that stupid dance to make her embarrass herself because I thought it would be funny! Not to make her suddenly become some sort of pioneer of dance for the idiots who apparently are the majority of the people who go to this stupid faire! Unbelievable! I just wanted to have a little fun." She pouted.

Veronica: "It appears to be even easier to entertain the masses than expected! The dance routine that Brynleigh taught me has proven to be quite useful and fun! So many people wanted to learn The OJ Simpson that I had to make people form a line! How delightful! Although I'm not sure why people needed to learn, Brynleigh did say it was a common dance trend…"

Remi sauntered through the park, humming to himself, when he noticed Sawyer sitting at a small table alone with a paper coffee cup.

"Yo! Today's Tom Sawyer!" Remi called out.

"Hm?" Sawyer noticed Remi waving. "Oh, great..."

Remi ran up to the table. "What's up? Is this seat taken?"

"What if I said yes?" Sawyer challenged.

"Then I'd ask you who the lucky lady is," Remi winked.

"I'm already spoken for, thank you, not that it's any of your business," Sawyer leered. "Do you need something, Remi?"

"Well hey, we're allies now, right?" Remi beamed as he took a seat across from Sawyer. "We should probably be on speaking terms in that case. I don't know if we've ever really chatted before."

"That's because I prefer to hear myself think," Sawyer claimed. "The game, much like business, is always moving. I need to plan for any contingency."

"Hey, if that's your speed, then consider this, like, advertising yourself... to the people working with you... so we trust each other better," Remi attempted.

"Networking?" Sawyer said.

"Aw, there's already a word for it? Sweet, that makes it even easier!" Remi grinned. "What are you planning right now, anyway?"

"Should the Pineapple be enough to cost Mushroom Blue the challenge, I'd like to know how to proceed depending on who wins the challenge and whom they select for the Half n' Half," Sawyer explained.

"What happens if Onion Purple wins?" Remi asked excitedly.

"Then hell freezes over," Sawyer answered.

"Uhuhuh. You're actually kinda funny," Remi complimented. "Don't count us out entirely, though. Remi and Roni always try our best!"

"With little to show for it, I'm afraid." Sawyer took a sip of coffee. "Optimism and a quarter are only worth twenty-five cents."

"Aw, we'll get there," Remi assured her. "Hm, what else? Oh! The most important question of all! What was the last concert you went to?"

"I guess that was inevitable," Sawyer sighed. "Lucia Micarelli. A violinist of some renown. A far cry from Imagining Dragons, or whatever you occupy yourself with, so don't hurt yourself trying to relate to me on that level."

"C'mon, give me some credit," Remi insisted. "I've listened to my share of old-school prog. The violin's a damn cool instrument. Then again, I can't think of many instruments that aren't damn cool." He rubbed his chin. "Maybe the triangle. But I'm not sure."

"Name one band known for its use of the triangle," Sawyer challenged.

"Uh... uhhh..." Remi thought about it. "I'll get back to you on that."

"Because you're right. The triangle is not a 'cool' instrument, and I suspect it never has been," Sawyer continued. "You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who aspires to be a world-renowned trianglist. Guitars, drums, pianos, and yes, violins are glamorous instruments. Even I might be able to name multiple people who specialize in them."

"I guess," Remi scratched his head. "But hey, just because I don't know anyone who plays hurdy-gurdy off the top of my head doesn't mean it isn't cool, too."

"My point is that keeping your finger on the pulse of what people want to buy is the key to success," Sawyer told him. "You're in a grassroots band yourself, if I'm not mistaken. Keep my advice in mind."

"Actually, does Loreena McKennitt play hurdy-gurdy, or am I thinking of something else?" Remi wondered.

"This conversation has not been a total waste of time," Sawyer told him as she stood up. "I suggest you pay better attention should we have another."

"Huh?" Remi blinked.

Sawyer walked off without another word.

Sawyer: "The Onion Purple Pair does not particularly factor into my plans. They've shown little ability in physical or strategic matters, so I don't see how they can help me beyond offering the alliance their vote. Remi caught me in a relaxed mood, having coffee, but investing in him doesn't suggest any long-term returns, therefore I will not."

Remi: "Wait, Rush totally uses the triangle, what was I thinking?!" He smacked his forehead. "Anyway, I hope Sawyer remembers to take a breather now and again. I know how the serious types are with their routines and stuff, but you gotta be spontaneous sometimes, you know? She doesn't know squat about the soul needed to run a band, but hey, I appreciate that she gave me advice anyway. Maybe she's not so bad."

Sunshine sat at the same table she sat at the previous night, seemingly having not moved all night. She stared forward and smiled, hands clasped on the table still. Jenna then ran up with a pizza box and two drinks in hand.

"Hey Jenna!" Sunshine greeted cheerily. "Welcome back! I waited for you!"

"Really?" Jenna asked. "You sat here… all night?"

"Yep!" Sunshine nodded. "You said you were gonna get food and come back, so I waited for you to do that!"

"Huh," Jenna grunted, setting the pizza and drinks down. "Hope you like Pepsi, it was all they had."

"Any drink or food is good with friends!" Sunshine grinned. "I'm sure it'll taste great!"

"Hopefully, I had to wait in a stupid long line for this," Jenna remarked, as she took a piece of pizza. "So, uh, what did you want to talk about?"

"Whatever you wanna talk about!" Sunshine said. "I'll like, totally talk about anything with anyone! I love hearing what people are thinking about!"

"Can I be honest and vent for a second then?" Jenna asked.

"Of course!" Sunshine confirmed. "I am here not only as a friend, but someone you can trust to help you when you're feeling down. That's what friends are for!"

"Alright, thanks then," Jenna said awkwardly. "It's just about Panic."

"Are you two having troubles?" Sunshine asked.

"Yeah, they just don't seem to take me seriously, and even when I tried to play the game harder, they didn't even recognize or seemingly even notice my effort!" Jenna complained. "Heck, I even tried forming an alliance, but when Alex made the same alliance, she got all the credit! How lame is that?"

"That is unfortunate!" Sunshine sympathized. "I'm sorry that you're not getting the recognition for your efforts, I know that can be tough."

"It really is," Jenna shook her head. "It feels like I'm just back at work, getting bitched at by someone else because they think I'm not doing my job properly or something, even when I am."

"Aww, this game should be fun!" Sunshine replied. "I wish I could do more to help! I'm sure that you're doing all you can, though."

"I think I am, I don't really know the whole strategy of the game very well, honestly," Jenna admitted. "I've never even seen this show before, so I'm kind of playing from behind, but I'm trying."

"And sometimes all you can do is try your best!" Sunshine smiled. "If you keep trying your best, your efforts will be seen eventually. Panic will eventually come around, I'm sure of it! Sometimes you just have to keep trying!"

"I hope so," Jenna sighed, taking a bite from the pizza. "You know, I do appreciate the pep talk, Sunshine."

"You do?" Sunshine brimmed with excitement. "Well, I'm always here for you! If you need to talk about your feelings, just let me know!"

"...Thanks," Jenna smiled slightly. "Oh, and one more thing on the topic."

"Yes?" Sunshine asked.

"Don't mention this to Panic, please," Jenna asked. "I don't want them thinking I'm talking behind their back or anything."

"Your secret's safe with Sunshine!" Sunshine giggled.

"Awesome. Hmm, this pizza isn't half bad, actually," Jenna said, taking another bite.

Sunshine: "I'm so happy that Jenna's decided to trust me with her problems! It shows that our friendship has grown stronger, and that's what life's all about to me! So as long as she needs my help, I'll always be there for her!"

Jenna: "I wasn't really expecting much talking to Sunshine, really. But I honestly do appreciate her positivity in such a stressful game. All this talk of strategy and stuff that I'm just not very knowledgeable about really gets me down sometimes. So it helps to know someone seemingly just wants to help you wholeheartedly."

Panic walked through the park, closely followed by Veronica and Remi.

"Excuse me, Panic? I simply must know!" Veronica called out. "Teach me about the life of a rock n roll musician!"

"The life of a rock n roll musician?" Panic raised an eyebrow.

"Correct!" Veronica nodded. "I have heard all about the debauchery that is typically involved in these situations. Pharmaceuticals, fornication, the like! That part I am less interested in, truthfully. However, I would like to know about everything else!"

"Well, I'll start out by saying I am not simply a 'rock n roll musician'," Panic said. "I am an activist and creator of punk music, as to bring about the greater good. Those who decide to just fill their lives with pointless excess like you're describing are not who I associate with."

"Well dang, Roni, if you'd just wanted to know about the life of a rockstar, you just had to ask!" Remi commented, laughing. "Although I bet Panic's got a lot of stories too, right?"

"Yeah, it is true," Panic replied. "When you play music on a regular basis, even if it isn't typically with meathead rocker crowds, you get some strange stories. "

"Hold on, what's 'punk music'?" Veronica asked.

"This is gonna take a while," Panic commented.

Veronica: "Oh, how I have much to learn! Panic appears to be so knowledgeable about music that they even wear shirts with the names of bands that I have never heard of on them! They say that rock and roll music is all about forming one's unique self, and I wish to learn how to rock!"

"Well you see, punk music is sorta like rock music but angrier!" Remi explained.

"I'd say that's grossly simplifying the situation…" Panic began, but looked over at Veronica who was listening intently, and sighed. "But you know what, it's probably mostly right."

"Exactly," Remi winked. "But yeah, rock music is all about self expression, and being yourself!"

"Oh, I see!" Veronica nodded.

"Remi is right on that one," Panic agreed. "The most important thing in rock music is that you be your true, authentic self."

"See, told ya I know some things!" Remi smiled as he tapped the side of his head.

"Who would simply tell you that you don't know things?" Veronica asked.

"Some teachers mostly," Remi remarked. "They always said 'you're throwing your life away with that music stuff!', thankfully my parents were always supportive!"

"That's good," Panic nodded. "My parents just wouldn't understand my music, so I don't even bother with them!"

"Ah, the joys of supportive parental figures," Veronica sighed. "Alas, my parents were not quite mirthful at my decision to join this show!"

"If you wanna learn the spirit of rock, you gotta learn to disrespect the parental units," Panic said. "So hey, good first step."

"You really mean that?" Veronica asked. "There is a hope for me to become a true rebel, a punk rocker?"

"Heck yeah, girl!" Remi affirmed. "I think you totally got this!"

"Hooray!" Veronica jumped up and cheered.

"Now remember, punk is more than just an aesthetic," Panic reminded Veronica. "It's an entire ethos, a lifestyle to guide your life. Are you sure you wanna pursue that?"

"Hmm…" Veronica pondered. "Do you happen to have this ethos in writing? If so, might you forward to my butler, Mortimer? That way he can comb through it."

"Oh, trust me, I do," Panic smiled. "See me after the show for literature."

"Splendid!" Veronica clapped her hands together.

Panic: "It appears that my discussions with Veronica are working, which frankly is quite the surprise for me! Normally people like her tend to brush off the plights of the less fortunate… Perhaps I was too quick to judge from the overdone hair and air of wealthy ignorance. Even if she is a bit confused, I do think she seems to actually have the right spirit."

Remi: "Y'know, it's cool to have so many people to be able to just sit around and talk music with around here! Between Panic and their band, Veronica wanting to know everything about the rock n roll vibe, and Lazarus who clearly is a massive music fan, even if he doesn't wanna admit it. I got my hands full with rock n roll right now!"

Charlie sat on his usual bench in the park, head in hands as he watched people walk by.

"Do I even know anything...?" he muttered to himself.

"Hey, Charlie," Orson smiled as he joined Charlie on the bench. "People-watching again, huh? Have you seen anyone interesting?"

Charlie sighed. "Orson, can I talk to you about something?"

"Huh?" Orson blinked. "I mean, yeah, of course. What's up?"

"Well, you know how I aspire to be a therapist someday, right?" Charlie established. "I want to help people, I really do."

"Right," Orson listened along.

"So when I sense that someone is upset, or struggling with some kind of emotion, I try to assist them through it," Charlie continued.

"That makes sense," Orson nodded.

"But... I don't know, nobody seems to take my help all that seriously?" Charlie said unsurely. "Either they just don't listen to what I have to say, or they make light of it, or they misinterpret my intentions and get upset with me... I just don't get it, Orson. What am I doing wrong here?"

"Is there anyone specific you're having trouble with?" Orson asked curiously.

"Well... I don't know if I should say who outright," Charlie hummed. "One friend of mine in particular has accused me more than once of talking down to him. And I can tell it genuinely upsets him, which is the exact opposite of what I want. Do I come across like I talk down to people?"

"...I'd be lying if I said you never come across that way," Orson admitted. "Obviously, I'm not there when you and your friend are talking, so I can't give any objective feedback there."

"I suppose," Charlie conceded. "It sucks, because I'm not trying to condescend to anyone. I just want everyone to know that they don't have to be upset, or confrontational, or anything like that. Things can and will get better, even if they never get... better." He tightened his grip on his cane.

"That does sound frustrating," Orson understood. "Do you want advice, or just a listening ear? I'm willing to be either."

"If you have advice, it certainly couldn't hurt," Charlie laughed hollowly.

"Sometimes, it's not just about what you say or how you say it," Orson told him. "There are other factors, too. Some people need a little more help to come out of their shells. Although most people don't want to feel like they're being interrogated, if that makes any sense."

"Have I been doing that, too?" Charlie worried.

"Again, I don't know for sure," Orson told him. "What I'm getting at is that maybe you should go out of your way to gently nudge someone in the right direction, rather than going for the straightforward approach."

"I thought that's what I had been doing..." Charlie said frustratedly. "I guess I can try even harder, though. Couldn't hurt, at this point."

"You'll figure it out," Orson smiled. "After all, if there's one thing people like talking about, it's themselves."

"That is true," Charlie chuckled. "Thanks for listening. Have you ever considered being a therapist? You're a pretty good listener."

"Me?" Orson chuckled. "I wouldn't go that far, but I appreciate the vote of confidence."

"Don't underestimate yourself. That's my advice," Charlie nudged.

Charlie: "Even if Orson and I aren't working together in the game... well, some things go beyond the game. We can still be on friendly terms even despite that. I almost feel kind of bad for putting Pepperoni in so much danger last round. I mean, we're still playing a game, but... maybe I'll push more for Bacon as targets next time."

Orson: "I'm kind of pleasantly surprised Charlie trusts me so much. We haven't talked a lot, though I guess we do have one or two things in common. That can be worth something, especially in situations like Charlie's. I hope my advice makes a difference. I'm still not sure I know what I'm doing, but hey. He seemed to appreciate it at least."

Sunshine frolicked through the park, humming a tune. She looked around and noticed Dede sitting in a boat on the "Tunnel of Loaf", sulking.

"Hmm, that's not good!" Sunshine thought aloud. "I know! I'll go help her!"

Dede stared down at the water. She then looked up and noticed Sunshine rushing towards her.

"What's shakin', Sunshine?" Dede said, sadly.

"I wanted to come check on you because you seem sad!" Sunshine worried. "Please, tell me what's wrong!"

"Well I would, but the boat is floating aw–" Dede began, before Sunshine immediately jumped from the sidelines into Dede's boat. "Never mind then!"

"See? I'm serious, I wanna help!" Sunshine exclaimed.

Dede sighed. "Well, our last alliance meeting didn't go too hot. The guys got into it again, and they seem to be less and less happy to be working together every time we meet up."

"Aww, that's terrible!" Sunshine replied.

"It feels like our alliance is just falling apart!" Dede buried her face in her hands. "And the worst part is that it just feels like there's nothing I can do to stop it."

"Well that's not true!" Sunshine comforted. "I'm sure if the guys knew how much the alliance meant to you, they'd stop!"

"I'm not sure if it's that simple, Sunshine," Dede sulked. "They seem to have some sort of issue with each other that needs resolving."

"This feels like it could be my fault!" Sunshine frowned. "I should've been there to spread positive vibes the whole time, and not let things get like this."

"Oh, honey, it's not your fault," Dede assured. "It doesn't feel like it's that, I think they may just not get along as much as they thought they would."

"Are you sure?" Sunshine asked.

"I'm sure, I promise," Dede nodded. "It's not on you."

"Well, regardless, I shouldn't have left the burden of the alliance solely on your shoulders," Sunshine said resolutely. "So I have an idea!"

"Oh yeah?" Dede asked.

"From now on, I'll always be there for you and our alliance! No more letting you guys just do all the work!" Sunshine cheerily responded. "I'll always be there for you when things get tough!"

"I thought the alliance meetings upset you?" Dede responded.

"They do," Sunshine nodded. "That hasn't changed, but seeing you so stressed and upset upsets me more, and if there's a way for me to help with that, I will, I promise!"

"Well, thanks Sunshine," Dede smiled.

"Aww, bring it in!" Sunshine exclaimed and pulled Dede into a hug.

As the two hugged, a worried expression washed onto Dede's face.

Sunshine: "Everything I said to Dede I mean whole-heartedly! I will not force her to brave the hard parts of this game by herself any longer! I know I'm not very good at the strategy part, but it's not right to make her do all the work! She won't need to worry as much if both of us are doing it, right?"

Dede: "I appreciate Sunshine, I know she's trying her absolute best to make me feel better and help out our team, I just don't know if it's going to help… or if it's too late… or… agh!" Dede rubbed her face. "It's just so stressful seeing everything you've put effort into in this game on such shaky ground. Maybe it's not too late… but–ugh, I don't know."

Meanwhile, Jenna sat in the rest area, boredly staring around at the room.

"Man, I knew this place was secretly really crappy behind the scenes but this is ridiculous," Jenna muttered to herself.

As Jenna stared around the room, Lazarus opened the door from one of the bedrooms and slowly began walking towards the exit of the rest area.

"Hey jerk," Jenna called to Lazarus, who froze in place. "I have eyes, you know, you're not slick."

"What do you want?" Lazarus asked, turning towards her.

"I wanted to say it wasn't cool that you didn't go to bat for me during our first alliance meeting," Jenna chastised Lazarus. "You knew it was my idea to make that damn alliance."

"That's where you're wrong, pizza girl," Lazarus sneered. "It was actually my idea at first, mine! Before you came along and stole it."

"And now look where the both of us are sitting," Jenna rolled her eyes. "With no credit for it, and little Miss Goody Two Shoes is the one who got all the credit for it."

"I know," Lazarus twitched. "I cannot believe that the others just went for it the second she of all people said it, her! The stupid actress girl!"

"It's really frustrating," Jenna agreed. "I feel like I just wasted so much of my time trying to get that put together, and then she just comes along and does it in like, one day? I don't get it."

Lazarus walked over to the couch Jenna was sitting on and sat down. "People probably listen to her because she's famous or something stupid like that. Most people take the opinions of celebrities seriously for no reason."

"I could see that," Jenna snickered. "Seriously though, what's it take for a girl to get some damn credit for anything around here? Panic certainly seems to think that I'm just an anchor to their 'revolution' or whatever."

"Oh, Panic?" Lazarus stifled a laugh. "Please, they're a joke. All they do is go around and act all high and mighty about everything all the time! Who would go around thinking they're better and smarter than everyone else?"

Jenna stared at Lazarus for a second.

"What?" Lazarus asked. "Why are you staring at me?"

"Oh, nothing," Jenna smirked.

"Well regardless, it seems like the two of us are playing second banana to someone we both picked for our damn teams!" Lazarus threw his hands up. "And I'm angry about it!"

"Yeah, it is annoying," Jenna agreed. "Y'know, it is nice to be able to vent my frustrations to someone who feels the same."

"Shockingly, I agree," Lazarus replied. "This conversation hasn't been a complete and utter waste of my time!"

"Right," Jenna sighed.

"Just take the damn compliment," Lazarus shook his head.

Lazarus: "I'm surprised that Jenna actually has any sort of feelings about the game considering how little she seemed to give off the impression that she cared in the first place! Now even though she clearly doesn't have the passion that I have for this game, I can at least take solace in having someone I can complain to about Alex, that stupid, dumb, idiot! Taking my ideas, I hate her!"

Jenna: "Even though Lazarus is… Lazarus, it was nice to actually have someone to talk to who felt the same way as me, with the whole feeling like we're getting passed over on our accomplishments. I don't think I harbor the same level of resentment he does, but I do get where he's coming from… kinda."

Ichabod found Sawyer sitting on a bench in the plaza.

"Sawyer. Anticipating our upcoming challenge, I presume?" Ichabod acknowledged.

"Yeah. I ran out of things to do, so I'm just waiting here and letting my thoughts wander a little," Sawyer said.

"I never took you to be the daydreaming type," Ichabod noted.

"You don't become successful without big ideas," Sawyer claimed.

"Perhaps," Ichabod considered. "Actually, there's something on which I am interested in hearing your thoughts."

"Is that so?" Sawyer patronized.

"As of late, I've wondered if it's truly possible to attain perfection when the results of your endeavors rely on others," Ichabod explained. "Sure, one can put the effort into better understanding those others, but when time is of the essence - or even if it is not - there is no possible way to consistently ensure that others do exactly what's necessary."

"Have you never had to work with others before?" Sawyer scoffed. "How is this news to you?"

"It is not," Ichabod leered. "But I am someone upon whom high expectations are placed. Anyone in whom I place my trust is my responsibility. If they do not meet expectations, then neither do I. And I cannot accept that."

"Then maybe you should have picked more competent allies," Sawyer smirked, crossing her legs comfortably.

"What?" Ichabod reacted. "This is not about the game."

"Ichabod, please," Sawyer chuckled. "I know your head is up your ass, but there's no possible way you think I'm stupid."

"I beg your pardon?" Ichabod scowled.

"I was like you, once, I suppose," Sawyer said wistfully. "A bit worried about the future of the game when it seemed like the odds were stacked against me. But I didn't blame others, Ichabod."

"You blame Orson for things on a daily basis," Ichabod denied.

"But oh, who was it who put me in danger in the first place?" Sawyer pretended to forget. "I'm sure it will come back to me later."

"Furthermore, I've already established that I consider the actions of those in whom I put my trust to be my responsibility," Ichabod continued.

"So this is about the game, then?" Sawyer teased.

Ichabod clenched his fists. "This conversation has been a thorough waste of my time. I see that my previous judgment towards you was correct. Do not expect to hear from me again."

"No, please, don't leave," Sawyer laughed. "I'll be a good girl, I promise."

Ichabod walked off, stewing in anger.

Ichabod: "So much for making amends with the Pepperoni Red Pair. I'd hoped that someone who carries herself as a professional would be more mature, but Sawyer shows her age just as much as the rest of the players in this game seem to. If anything, this proves that I cannot truly rely on anyone but myself. I will maintain my alliance to the best of my ability, as always. I simply need not put so much faith in the others to maintain themselves."

Sawyer: "I don't know what Ichabod wanted from me, but I'm certain that he did not and will never attain it. I could not owe the man less, after he and his cronies hand-picked me as their target not once but twice. But now that the shoe is on the other foot, I see no reason not to revel in the tables turning. He'd certainly do the same, even if he won't admit it."

Pavel came across Brynleigh as she participated in a throwing-balls-at-stacks-of-bottles game.

"Come on! This is so rigged!" Brynleigh complained. "The ball hit the bottles!"

"Didn't look like you threw it hard enough," the guy working the stand shrugged.

"You were looking at your phone the whole time!" Brynleigh argued.

"I have shockingly impressive peripheral vision," the guy claimed.

"Yeah, well you also have shockingly impressive being dumb and annoying skills!" Brynleigh retorted.

She stormed off, only to notice Pavel watching her.

"I take it you're not having a great day, either," Pavel noted.

"Sometimes it feels like the world is just out to get me for some reason," Brynleigh claimed.

"Tell me about it!" Pavel agreed. "I just got out of another alliance meeting. In other words, I stood around while Ichabod and Charlie shot down my ideas and Dede just kind of stood there awkwardly enabling them."

"Tch. Why do you bother with those dweebs anyway?" Brynleigh scoffed.

"Because they're my allies? Our allies?" Pavel established.

"I could tell by looking at the Blue Pair for five seconds that they were both up their own asses," Brynleigh mocked. "How is this news to you?"

"Look, I really don't need you kicking me while I'm down," Pavel grunted.

"How are you down?" Brynleigh doubted. "What, did Charlie hurt your feefees over here? You're bigger and stronger than both of those bozos. If they have you by the balls this bad, then that's your own fault."

"It's not that simple, Brynleigh!" Pavel argued. "I can't just retaliate every time someone gets under my skin! It... doesn't end well."

"Oh, look at the Inoffensive Hulk over here!" Brynleigh laughed. "I remember being 14 and posting 'You wouldn't like me when I'm angry' on Instagram, too. Wait, no, even at 14 I had more self-awareness than that."

"Do ya?" Pavel's eyebrow twitched.

"Pavel, why do you think I don't go to those meetings in the first place?" Brynleigh snickered. "Ichabod tells us what he wants us to do, and doesn't accept any alternatives. Rinse and repeat until the Blue Pair shockingly wins the entire game because people like you and Dede are brainless simps who just do what the pretty boy says."

"Oh, and I'm sure you have better ideas of what the hell we're supposed to do?!" Pavel snapped. He took a breath. "Like it or not, Brynleigh, those guys have our back. Nobody else does."

"It sounds like they don't, if you walk away from every damn meeting feeling like you have to tell me why they're such big meanie-faces," Brynleigh dismissed. "Talk to me when you have an actual problem. Being too much of a pussy to stand up for yourself is not an actual problem."

She walked off with a nonchalant wave. Pavel grit his teeth and clenched his fists.

Pavel: "What, not even my partner has my back in any of this?! I mean... yeah, she's Brynleigh, not exactly the most empathetic person in the world. But come on! You just know that if Charlie or Ichabod said something to piss her off, she'd be telling me all about it like you'd think they kicked her dog or something! I'm sick and tired of all this bullshit!"

Brynleigh: "Pavel needs to realize that the world is not here to coddle him, alright? And Total Drama is especially not here to coddle him. You think I have the patience to deal with him blubbering to me whenever something doesn't go his way? Please! I'm a girl of many, many talents, but I am not your damn shrink!"

Later that day, the fourteen remaining contestants gathered back at the Fast Food Fiesta for their next challenge. Chef and Chris walked out from behind a large curtain, obscuring part of the area.

"Alright, it's time for y'all's next challenge, this time for Invincibility!" Chef announced.

The cast looked at the large curtain Chef and Chris were now standing in front of, with mixed reactions.

"Say, Chef, what's behind the curtain?" Remi asked.

"Well I'm glad ya asked, Remi!" Chef condescended.

"Yeah, excellent question!" Chris agreed. "Now if Chef will just reveal it for us…"

Chef looked at Chris and crossed his arms. "Still my show, Chris man, you gotta do the dumb stuff now."

"Oh, right… yeah," Chris rolled his eyes, and quickly grabbed the curtain and ripped it back to reveal a large milkshake standing,

"It's a milkshake!" Veronica exclaimed.

"Astute observation, where'd you go to school, the smart school for smart people?" Brynleigh laughed smugly and crossed her arms.

"Awww, thanks for having faith in me, but I actually got rejected from the Smart School for Smart People," Veronica explained. "I had to go to St. Vincent's Academy of Arts and Sciences instead…"

Brynleigh's expression contorted into one of frustration.

Brynleigh: "Why is it impossible to make fun of her?!" Brynleigh pulled on her pigtails and stomped angrily.

"Anyway," Chef asserted, looking angrily at the two. "This is y'all's next challenge, and here's how it works."

"You will be standing in a circle around this milkshake, holding onto ropes between each other," Chris explained. "And you will have to keep steady while jogging around this milkshake, because if you fall, you're out!"

"Also, if y'all let go of your rope, or touch the milkshake in any way, yer also out!" Chef pointed a thumb behind his back. "Last man standin' wins it for their team!"

"Last person standing, you mean," Panic rolled their eyes.

"Yeah, sure, whateva," Chef rolled his eyes.

"So what, no disgusting food product being poured on us this time?" Sawyer asked. "I'm surprised, Chef, I thought you'd make a harder challenge."

"I told you they should've been covered in condiments!" Chris whined.

"We can't just make every challenge y'all getting covered in gross food stuff, it'd attract the wrong crowd," Chef explained. "I'm sure ya get what I'm saying."

"...Good point," Sawyer concurred.

"So what about our punishment?" Charlie asked.

"Ah, right, the Pineapple!" Chef exclaimed. "Y'all's punishment won't be anything impeding y'all's ability to do the challenge so to speak, but while the challenge is normally run individually, if one of you two drop, you're both out!"

"No obstacle is too insurmountable," Ichabod nodded solemnly.

"Sounds like it'll suck for you guys," Lazarus chuckled. "Given Charlie's… y'know."

Charlie frowned.

"I will hear nothing of it, Charlie is capable regardless of any physical impairments he may possess," Ichabod asserted.

"Alright, if there ain't any more questions, take y'all's positions!" Chef exclaimed.

Charlie: "This isn't good, while I do like to think I am capable of doing things like this, I know it's possible that I just hold Ichabod back here and lose us the challenge. And right now, that just isn't something we need considering we already seem to be on the backfoot…"

Lazarus: "It's extremely important right now to keep the power out of that damn Blue team's hands, and back into my hands! Mine! If it goes back to them now, that would be an absolute disaster! I can't go back to playing on the backfoot in this game, I simply can't! I refuse!"

Panic: "Great, another challenge based solely on our physical capability. Real original, production team. Why not throw a bone to the people like myself and Jenna who aren't hulking roid ragers? Huh? Nah, that'd be too cool of you guys." They crossed their arms and scoffed.

Ichabod: "This is no longer simply a carnival game, it is mission critical for us. It is imperative that both myself and Charlie are standing at the end of this challenge. I will do whatever I possibly can do to assist Charlie in any way. After all, his shortcomings are my shortcomings in this game, and vice versa. Where he may falter, I must pick up the slack."

The contestants linked up around the giant milkshake, holding onto the short ropes that would connect them for the challenge. Each player stood opposite of their partner in the big circle.

"A'ight, we're goin' clockwise for now," Chef informed the players. "If someone's out, y'all can stop just long enough for the people on either side of who dropped to reconnect, then it's back to business. Are y'all ready?!"

"Yes!" Sunshine chirped.

"Go!"

A cheerful, upbeat song with corporate-sounding ukulele, piano, and claps began playing as the contestants jogged in a circle. Veronica immediately tripped and let go of both ropes.

"Veronica's out!" Chef announced.

"Much like the food here, that was fast!" Chris laughed.

"Which way is clockwise again?" Veronica asked. "I fear I may have gone the wrong direction. May I get a do-over?"

"No you may not!" Chef denied.

"Hohhhhhhhhhh," Veronica whined as she headed to the sidelines.

Orson discarded his now-empty rope and took hold of Panic's now-empty rope. With the music still playing, the contestants resumed their clockwise motion.

"I guess they don't teach you how clocks work at St. Vincent's School for Rich Assholes," Panic snickered to Orson.

"What, and cut into all the accounting classes they're definitely teaching?" Orson played along. "If only the other St. Vincent had an academy."

"You read my mind!" Panic laughed.

Jenna caught a glimpse of the two from beyond the milkshake.

"Is Panic actually smiling?" Jenna muttered to Remi. "I didn't know they could do that."

"Everyone can smile!" Sunshine interjected. "And if they won't, I'll show them how!"

"Ah, Panic's just one of those moody musicians," Remi figured. "Even Trent Reznor feels good sometimes. Everyone's a person deep down."

Lazarus, from the other side of Orson, noticed him and Panic bantering, and pulled hard on his and Orson's rope. Orson stumbled a bit, but kept hanging on. A less fortunate Panic stumbled and let go of their rope.

"Damn it," Panic grumbled. "Well, I wasn't the first one out, at least..."

They retreated to the sidelines. Orson discarded his rope and reconnected with Dede.

"Do not think you can attempt the same trick on me," Ichabod sternly told Lazarus.

"What do you mean, maaaan?" Lazarus asked innocently.

"You know very well that to which I refer," Ichabod frowned.

"I dunno. All that weed might have fried his brain," Brynleigh snickered from the other side of Ichabod.

"Drugs?" Ichabod scoffed. "Well, if that were the case, it may explain a lot, actually."

"Yeah, haha, that's me, Mr. Drugs McGee, don't wear it out," Lazarus laughed. His eyebrow twitched.

Veronica: "I'll have you know that I've learned a lot at St. Vincent's Academy of Arts and Sciences! For example, the time coordination that sets all the clocks on our computers, phones, and other devices has been around since last century! So you'll have to excuse me if I don't bother to remember which way old, archaic clocks tend to move!" She huffed.

Jenna: "I don't get what Panic sees in Orson, or what Orson sees in Panic for that matter. I guess that's one less team who'll vote us out, but I feel like we should be closer with our actual partners? Since we win or lose together? That makes sense, right? I'm not missing something big over here?"

The contestants continued spinning for a short while with no issues and very little talking. Sunshine then began giggling loudly.

"Golly this is so much fun!" Sunshine beamed. "It's like holding hands with everyone all at once! I just wanna sing!"

"Don't," Sawyer winced.

"Yeah, that'd be too much joy for you, I bet," Jenna smirked.

"Finally, someone gets it," Sawyer replied.

"Even though I am one for gaiety and merriment, as I'm sure you are all aware," Ichabod began. "I would request you do not sing, I need to concentrate."

"Aww," Sunshine frowned, then immediately smiled again. "It's okay! I'll just sing later!"

"That's the spirit!" Dede smiled. "We can sing to your hearts content whenever we're do–"

As Dede spoke, she tripped over her feet, nearly knocking into Pavel and falling to the ground.

"Ouch!" Dede rubbed the back of her head.

"Is she alright?" Charlie asked Pavel as he dropped his rope and grabbed onto Orson's.

"Wouldn't you like to know," Pavel grunted and began spinning again.

"I–" Charlie began, before stopping and looking down.

As the cast continued spinning, Brynleigh's face began to look pained.

"So… dizzy," Brynleigh muttered.

"You could always try to close your eyes!" Sunshine said. "If you feel dizzy, doing that or focusing on one point in space could help!"

"Oh yeah, let me just do that real quick and stop being already dizzy!" Brynleigh furrowed her brow.

"It couldn't hurt," Remi smiled.

"Chances are if she's already having trouble, it won't improve from here," Sawyer pointed out. "She may as well just give up now. Nobody would be particularly surprised if she dropped out of the challenge this early."

"Why you!" Brynleigh snarled. "If I'm gonna get out, I'm gonna try to take you with me!"

Brynleigh then dropped her ropes and lunged at Sawyer, however, she hit Remi instead, who managed to maintain his balance.

"Dang, I got a better core than I thought!" Remi remarked.

"Nice try, little girl," Sawyer smirked. "Maybe next time."

Brynleigh balled her fists in anger and punched the ground.

"Sawyer, I'm also getting dizzy, does this mean you think I can't recover either?" Orson asked.

"Why are you admitting you're already struggling?" Sawyer asked. "Show no weakness, what do I keep telling you!"

"I was just asking a question," Orson sighed.

"Anything's possible if you just keep trying," Charlie replied back.

Orson nodded and kept moving, however before long he lost his balance and let go of one of his ropes.

"Damn," Orson said.

"Great, now I have to win yet another challenge for us, Orson," Sawyer chastised. "Real nice."

"I'm sure he was just trying his best," Pavel glowered. "There's a lot of people who don't think people's best is enough."

"Yep!" Lazarus replied gleefully. "Glad I'm finally getting some recognition around here."

Ichabod shook his head. "Just ignore him, it will make this exercise easier."

Sawyer: "Great, once again, Orson drops the ball in a challenge. I swear, his challenge weakness will be the death of us one day if doesn't shape up immediately. Unlike the real world though, I can't simply fire him when he's outlived his usefulness. How… irksome."

Dede: "Dang! Another challenge where I just totally bomb! It's kind of embarrassing just being unable to compete on the same level physically as all these strong… attractive people… but I know Sunshine's got it in the bag! She's stronger than she looks!"

Ichabod: "This challenge is proving to be more than simply a test of physical prowess. If it was, there would be no doubt Blue would come out on top due simply to our physicality. It's becoming more of a test of willpower, and while the other teams may not take this seriously and throw their spots away to try and eliminate others, I will not falter under the pressure. It will take much more to surmount me."

"Right now, Pink and Blue are entirely intact, while the other pairs are still fighting strong with one member still in it," Chris commentated. "What do you think of that, Chef?"

"Ain't a huge surprise, given how these things have already gone before," Chef nodded. "But anythin' can happen, Chris, n' that's why the challenges are so much fun."

"I hear that, Chef," Chris agreed. "This season in particular, a challenge win can make even more of a difference, and these kids know it!"

"I'd say most of 'em won't bend too easily, but I've seen how some of 'em can be," Chef chuckled.

"Charlie definitely bends too easily, if you know what I mean," Brynleigh snickered to the others on the sidelines.

"I do not, but it sounded humorous, so I shall politely laugh along!" Veronica proclaimed. "Ohhhhhhohohoho!"

"It really wasn't that funny," Panic claimed.

"Yeah, and if anyone knows humor, it's Panic, am I right folks?" Brynleigh sneered.

The circle of contestants - now smaller - veered closer to the big milkshake in the center. Lazarus backed up a bit, pulling the other side of the circle closer to the obstacle.

"Whoa!" Remi reacted, veering to the right in order to dodge the oncoming milkshake.

"No no no!" Alex pleaded, only to collide with the milkshake.

Chef blew a whistle. "Alex touched the shake! She's out!"

"Did someone pull this side of the circle on purpose?" Sawyer scoffed as she and Charlie connected.

"I suspect so," Ichabod responded, glaring at Lazarus.

"Good, now I don't have to worry about anyone complaining that I'm about to play dirty!" Sawyer grinned.

She suddenly pulled back, forcing the circle in the opposite direction.

"Wait! Wait!" Lazarus shouted, but to little avail. He ran into the milkshake, eliminating him with another blow of Chef's whistle. "Leave it to big business to take the little man's ideas and turn them into their own, maaaan."

"Jealousy will hardly make you any more sympathetic," Sawyer claimed.

"That's half our players down!" Chef announced. "Don't get comfortable now!"

"Was anyone ever comfortable during this challenge?" Jenna questioned.

"I'm always comfortable! It makes brightening everyone's day that much easier!" Sunshine claimed.

"Rock on!" Remi beamed.

"I'm... managing," Charlie chuckled. "I didn't use to carry a cane at all, right after I got hurt, so it's kind of like that, haha."

"I will not be caught dead giving into weakness," Ichabod claimed. "Persistence on everyone else's part is admirable, yet misguided."

"Hey, you sound just like that guy who writes poetry in the corner of the lunchroom!" Sunshine told him. "Except you don't use as many bad words, and I can tell you've been to the gym before."

"Whoa, I had a girl like that in my lunchroom too!" Remi enthused. "She went to my band's first gig, and I haven't seen her since then. I think she moved in with her stepdad in Connecticut or something."

"Oh my gosh, we should have had our resident poetry enthusiasts meet each other!" Sunshine squealed. "That would be so so so so SO SO SO SO CUTE!"

Jenna, positioned between Sunshine and Remi, let go of her ropes and put her hands up.

"I tried. I stuck it out for this long," she insisted as she headed to the sidelines. "I dare anyone here to do better."

Panic glared at Jenna. Orson squeezed their shoulder supportively.

Sunshine: "It can be disheartening sometimes, thinking about the people in my life I haven't made smile yet. But hey, good things always come eventually! I won't give up on Ichabod, or the creepy poetry guy, or anyone! That's a Sunshine Swear! As in, like, a promise, not a bad word." She giggled.

Remi: "Even though Onion Purple hasn't won a challenge yet, that doesn't mean we never will! Just gotta keep at it! Sure, Roni was out first, but as long as I outlast everyone else, then sweet victory will be ours, baby!"

"And just like that, we're down to our top six in this challenge!" Chris announced. "Man, I wonder if anyone's gonna try to seriously hurt someone to get this all too important Invincibility win!"

"Great question, Chris!" Chef chuckled.

"Even the likes of Sawyer surely wouldn't stoop to such levels of depravity that would include voluntarily hurting someone to win," Ichabod replied.

"What makes you so sure of that?" Sawyer smirked. "You don't even know what I'm capable of."

"I'm sure you're capable of great things," Charlie said, as he began to wince in pain.

"Oh, is that a sign of weakness I spy?" Sawyer asked rhetorically.

"Come on man, it's just a game!" Remi appealed to Sawyer. "No need to go on exploiting his foot."

"I'll be fine," Charlie sighed. "What's a little pain? I've been through much worse."

Pavel laughed bitterly and Charlie looked over at him.

"What?" Pavel asked.

"Nothing," Charlie shook his head.

At that moment, Sawyer began to lean towards Remi slightly, to pull Charlie's rope tighter. Charlie began trying to adjust.

"We all can see your attempts to play dirty, Sawyer," Ichabod chastised. "I am remiss to inform you that it simply will not work. Charlie is much stronger than you give him credit for."

"Thanks, man," Charlie grimaced in pain as he began to bear more weight onto his bad foot.

"Who am I to ignore a perfectly good deal?" Sawyer taunted. "From my perspective, Charlie being eliminated is a two for one special."

As she continued to lean to the side, Remi began to try and distance himself from her.

"You're cramping me over here," Remi informed Sawyer.

"So?" Sawyer asked. "You're my competition, I don't care how you feel, frankly."

"Well that's just rude," Remi muttered.

"That's the name of the game, bud," Sawyer shrugged.

In that moment, Sawyer began to lose her balance and fell directly into Remi, knocking him over as well.

"Dammit!" Sawyer yelled.

"Does this mean I'm out too?" Remi asked.

"Yep, sure does!" Chef replied. "Them's the rules, you let go of your ropes, don't matter why you let go of them!"

"Well that stinks," Remi said.

As the final four reconnected and began to spin again, Sunshine giggled again.

"Well good job boys!" Sunshine congratulated. "We made it to the end of the challenge! May the best person win!"

"Yes, quite," Ichabod nodded. "I suppose that it is rather impressive given the childish antics that have been going on."

"You'd think they're childish," Pavel remarked under his breath.

"I beg your pardon?" Ichabod asked.

"Nothin'," Pavel spat.

"I don't believe it's nothing," Ichabod continued.

"Why's 'nothing' an acceptable answer when Charlie says it, but not me? Just leave it," Pavel narrowed his eyes at Ichabod and looked away. Pavel then began moving faster.

"Hey, why are we moving faster?" Sunshine asked.

"Not sure," Charlie replied.

"It's okay!" Sunshine reassured. "I love the extra challenge!"

Immediately after saying this, Sunshine lost her balance and fell to the ground, dropping her rope.

"Ouchie! I'm okay!" Sunshine smiled. "Guess I'm out, good luck boys! Have fun out there!"

Ichabod: "Now all that stands in my and Charlie's way of winning Invincibility is Pavel, and despite him being within our alliance, I still play to win. I will not simply give him the win, if he wishes to win, he will have to earn it just like the others. I do not intend on going down easily."

Charlie, Ichabod, and Pavel ran around the milkshake, all dangerously close to touching it due to the decreased perimeter of the player circle. The cheesy music continued to chip away at their minds as victory or defeat loomed over them.

"Hey, Pavel..." Charlie said. "It's just us now. If there's anything on your mind... well, I won't pry."

"There isn't," Pavel said gruffly.

"You can trust me, Pavel," Charlie told him.

Pavel grunted.

"I just want to help you, Pavel," Charlie told him. "I know I've made some missteps, and I'm sorry about that, but..."

"Tch. Don't talk down to me," Pavel growled.

"See, that right there!" Charlie insisted. "I don't know what I'm doing to come across like that. I want to reach an understanding."

"Yeah, whatever you fuckin' say," Pavel scoffed.

"Charlie, now is hardly the time," Ichabod told him.

"I just can't handle the knowledge that I'm upsetting a friend," Charlie claimed.

"A friend?!" Pavel laughed. "Have you ever had a friend in your life, you patronizin' piece of shit?!"

"Good, now we're getting somewhere," Charlie smiled. "There's a connection here between friendship and-"

Pavel jerked his and Charlie's rope in an awkward direction, causing the latter to stumble and fall. He cried out in pain and clutched his leg.

Chef blew his whistle. "Charlie is out! And thanks to the Pineapple stipulation, so is Ichabod, meanin' the Sausage Brown Pair wins Invincibility!"

"You don't know the first fuckin' thing about friendship, Charlie!" Pavel shouted. "You don't give a flyin' fuck about anyone but yourself! All this fuckin' talk about wantin' to help people. Fat fuckin' chance! Everyone knows you're just copin' that you can't play ball anymore! Tryin' desperately to find some new thing, even though you're just makin' things worse for everyone!"

"Pavel, the challenge is over," Ichabod told him. "Congratulations on your win."

"No, I'm not fuckin' finished yet!" Pavel roared. "Because I'm sick and goddamn tired of Charlie's sanctimonious ass pretendin' like he actually gives a shit! 'Oh, I can't handle that I'm upsetting someone. I've made mistakes. I want to know what I'm doing so I can reach an understanding'! It's all so blatantly fuckin' transparent!" He looked down at Charlie, still reeling from his bad leg. "Newsflash, jackass! Nobody's fuckin' impressed! Nobody actually thinks you're that smart or takes you that seriously! Everyone just thinks you're an asshole!"

"Pavel, this is far over the line," Ichabod reprimanded.

"Oh, here we go again!" Pavel laughed. "Hey everyone! Ichabod's here to tell everyone that he thinks we're out of line again! Just like when anyone in our alliance tries to offer an idea he didn't already come up with! Yeah, that's right! I'm actually aligned with these motherfuckers! The Yellow Pair, too! I guess that makes me the biggest clown of all, huh? That's why they all look down on me! Why they all think I'm just some idiot! The fuckin' gang I used to run with had more honor than Ichabod will ever know! They took everyone seriously! They're the ones who encouraged me to make a better man of myself! Ichabod just talks to everyone like they're in his way, like he's only aligned with anyone out of obligation! Am I fuckin' wrong?!"

"Gh! How dare you..." Ichabod seethed.

"Alright, as funny as this is, it's getting old," Brynleigh claimed as she approached Pavel. "Let's just pick our target so we can go rest on our laurels."

"Oh! Oh! Don't think you're fuckin' immune from any of this either, you little shit!" Pavel scoffed. "My own fuckin' partner who doesn't give a single fuck about anyone but herself. 'Aw, there goes Pavel, he's good at winning challenges for me, but he's a big emotional idiot, better watch out'! Because everything just has to be handed to Brynleigh on a silver plate, doesn't it? She's daddy's little girl, who can't do anything wrong, and anyone who gets on her nerves is just some bozo who doesn't matter!"

"Okay, that wasn't necessary dude, let's just-"

"Oh, so now speaking your mind isn't 'necessary'?!" Pavel shouted in disbelief. "Because as I recall, the only fuckin' thing you're good for is just goin' around and bein' a big toxic drain on everyone's lives! And I gave you the benefit of the doubt! I picked you as my partner! Guess that's another big dumb mistake for big dumb Pavel! Little did I know that Brynleigh's just as much of a shallow, unlikable, petty, useless, bratty, spoiled bitch as she looks! What, worried that actually giving a fuck about something will make you all sad when you lose it? Because you will lose it, princess! You're always going to lose everything, because you're a fuckin' loser! When you die miserable and alone, with no friends or family, you'd better not be surprised, because you always made everyone else miserable just by bein' here! But hey, as long as you get to feel superior to everyone for a minute, I guess it's all worth it, right? Same as Charlie, same as Ichabod, you're just fuckin' pathetic, Brynleigh! Almost as ugly inside as you are on the outside!" Pavel rubbed his forehead for effect, then spat on the floor.

Brynleigh stood still, mouth agape.

"Anyone else have somethin' to say?!" Pavel asked as he looked around at the others, opening his arms.

Nobody responded.

"Well, if there ain't anythin' else ya got, it's time for Sausage Brown to pick a pair to compete in the Half n' Half Challenge tonight," Chef informed.

"Mushroom Blue!" Pavel established.

"Brynleigh? Any thoughts?" Chris coaxed.

Brynleigh hugged herself as she looked at the floor.

"I didn't hear a disagreement," Chris chuckled.

"Mushroom Blue Pair will compete in tonight's duel," Chef confirmed. "Y'all have until later tonight to figure out who they're gon' be facin'. Have fun, heh heh heh."

Ichabod's fists clenched and his teeth grit. Charlie remained kneeling on the ground, his expression unreadable.

Alex: "Wow, that was... uncomfortable. I knew those guys were in an alliance, but I didn't know things were like that. All game aside, I hope they can work this out. Sounds like the kind of bad blood nobody deserves to have." She sighed. "At least my pair isn't at risk, I guess? No, no, that's in poor taste."

Remi: "Totally uncool on Pavel's part! Yeah, I know what it's like when someone talks down to you, but getting that personal was way over the line!"

Dede: "I... I knew Pavel felt undervalued in the alliance, I just..." She choked up. "Now I wish I had said something. And now Charlie and Ichabod are vulnerable tonight, and, and..." She laughed nervously. "Oh boy. Ohhhhh boy. We're in crazyville tonight, cool cats. Haha..."

Orson: "Sometimes all you need is to give someone a little nudge to get them to do something. Even if that thing doesn't necessarily benefit them." He smiled. "Interesting, isn't it?"

Later on that day, the alliance of Alex, Jenna, Lazarus, Orson, Panic, Remi, Sawyer, Veronica met up in a secluded sitting area of the park. The eight sat in mostly silence, looking uncomfortably at one another.

"I think I can speak for all of us when I say I don't think we saw that coming," Alex broke the silence.

"Don't speak for me," Sawyer retorted. "He seemed tense and uncomfortable for a while, I feel like it's surprising it took this long for him to blow, frankly."

"I hate to agree with that, but I do," Jenna nodded.

"Well hey, look on the bright side guys!" Lazarus cheerily said. "The other alliance just completely combusted and given Pavel's outburst, I see no way they ever reconcile! So congrats on the easy next few rounds, guys!"

"This isn't really a good time to celebrate," Remi frowned. "I know it's a game, but like, they're people too! I hate to see them all like that, man."

"How dare he yell at Brynleigh like that!" Veronica protested. "She's shown me kindness in this game and to see her be treated so poorly makes my blood boil!"

Veronica stamped her foot angrily and the others looked at her.

"You're not serious, right?" Sawyer asked.

"Even if she's obnoxious and terrible, she didn't deserve to be screamed at by some big dumb brute like that," Panic shook their head.

"Exactly!" Remi agreed. "Well I mean I wouldn't have worded it like that but–"

"I suppose if there's anything that this incident has shown us, it's that we have an extremely easy and justifiable vote this round," Orson interjected. "Yellow is aligned with that team, and despite the blow up, we need to make sure that we all stick around here."

"Well, of course," Lazarus rolled his eyes. "That much should be obvious, maaaan. Gotta keep the foot on the gas!"

"Make sure they don't have a chance to make something happen," Sawyer unwrapped a lollipop and stuck it in her mouth.

"Is it possible to simply vote Pavel in, and not Brynleigh?" Veronica asked. "It isn't fair that she is punished for his wrongdoings."

"That's not how the game works," Orson explained. "In other seasons, it would be easier to dispose of one problem, but in this season, every person is actually two."

"Doesn't mean it doesn't suck," Panic replied.

"It doesn't, no," Orson nodded. "It is unfair, unfortunately."

"Everything about this is unfair," Alex sighed.

The eight sat there in awkward silence again.

"Welp! Sounds like we just need to break this up now, maaan," Lazarus said. "It appears that nothing productive is going to come of this anyway, Blue is already in and Brown is immune. That leaves Yellow, should be easy enough. Alright?"

Assorted mumbles emitted from the others.

"Excellent, meeting adjourned." Lazarus smiled.

Jenna: "This is rough, I know that Yellow is the only team outside of our alliance eligible but like, I actually do appreciate Sunshine's presence here more than most people in my own alliance. It's just the easy game move, but is it the move I wanna make? I don't know."

Sawyer: "As horrifically uncomfortable as it was watching Pavel trauma dump a bunch of nonsense and project his issues onto others, this has more or less put our alliance firmly in the driver's seat in this game, barring any stupid moves from the others. Now it's time to formulate a plan for the long game as we pick off the remnants of the old three pair alliance."

Ichabod and Dede met up in a different area of the park.

"So... only the two of us remain," Ichabod noted.

"Oh! Uh, ahaha, so it is, so it is..." Dede blushed. "Sunshine told me she was going to cheer Charlie up. I get it if he's not feeling up to planning. ...How are you feeling, Ichabod?"

"More anger than I realized I was still capable of," Ichabod growled. "But I will cast that aside, because we need to take action!"

"Yeah, Pavel totally sold out the alliance to everyone else," Dede fretted. "And since Brown have Invincibility, and Blue are already dueling, then that... that just leaves..."

Dede began breathing heavily.

"Assuming the other pairs exclusively stick together, then yes, the Cheese Yellow Pair would be their only option," Ichabod stated. "However, the other pairs do not have to stick together, and that is what I wish to discuss with you."

"Huh?" Dede blinked. "Do you think that will work?"

"It must work." Ichabod clenched his fist. "My assignment for you this evening, Dede, is to converse with the Pepperoni Red Pair, and promise them that voting for the Bacon Pink Pair tonight will ensure our continued loyalty. I will do the same with the Jalapeno Green and Onion Purple Pairs."

"Can we really stay loyal to that many people?" Dede asked.

"In the long term? Almost certainly not," Ichabod said. "But that detail simply won't come up in discussion, understood?"

"Oh! Oh, we're cheating on people now. I mean, well, not cheating in the sense that we're together, but..." Dede laughed awkwardly. "I don't know how good at that I'm going to be. My heart's an open book."

"I'm well aware, but if you wish to remain in the game, you will put that aside and do what is best for yourself," Ichabod told her. "Because not only is it best for yourself, it's best for Sunshine, and Charlie, and me as well. These people are relying on you."

"That is true!" Dede realized. "You're right. I can't just stand around being a square! It's time to, uh, not be so on-edge. Because squares have edges. And, um, I'll be the gnarliest darn circle this alliance ever had!"

"See to it that you actually do quell your emotional tendencies," Ichabod expected. "Nobody will trust you if you sound like you're trying to convince yourself more than them."

"Yes it's true, yes it's true," Dede nodded. She took a deep breath. "You're a cool cat, Dede. A foxy, far out, cool cat."

She paced back and forth.

"So, are we going to keep working with Brown after tonight, or did Pavel put the kibosh on that?" Dede asked.

"If things go according to plan, we will no longer need to work with the Sausage Brown Pair," Ichabod snorted. "And good riddance, might I add."

"Okay. Gotcha," Dede nodded. She took another deep breath. "I can do this. Circle Dede is ready to roll!"

"Mm," Ichabod acknowledged.

Ichabod: "Let it be known, on no uncertain terms, that I now have my sights set on the Sausage Brown Pair. Never in my life have I been so disrespected by someone for whom I've done so much! Pavel has certainly made a target of himself, and Brynleigh has been doing the same all season. The Mushroom Blue and Cheese Yellow Pairs can and will make it past this debacle, and turn the power back in our favor!"

Dede: "Ichabod's right! ...As always, heehee... He's relying on me, and so is Charlie, and Sunshine! That's four whole people whose games are riding on my ability to get Sawyer to believe that I have her best interests in mind... haha... But that's okay, because I can definitely do it! I just need to do it! How hard can that be?" She fidgets with her hands.

Brynleigh sat alone at a table in the back corner of The Breakfast Nook, staring blankly at the tablecloth. A plate of fruity pancakes with unhealthy toppings sat untouched before her. Some passersby glanced at her, but ultimately left her to her own devices.

"He's just a... big dumb idiot," she sniffled.

Brynleigh moved to grab her fork and knife, but stopped and let her hands fall to her sides. She quietly ugly-cried.

Brynleigh: "Don't worry about it, okay? I was just caught off-guard because he yelled at me. It spiked my heart rate or something."

Meanwhile, Jenna and Panic sat near the food trucks, eating tacos and talking. As the two talked, Ichabod strided towards them and put his hands on the table.

"Um, excuse me?" Panic raised an eyebrow.

"If you two have a moment, might we talk about this upcoming vote?" Ichabod asked.

"Honestly I'd rather just detox from that utter fucking nightmare that happened at the challenge," Panic shook their head. "I know it's before the whole vote and all that, but with the circumstances, I don't really want to think about it."

"I understand," Ichabod replied. "Pavel's display fills me with a rage that you cannot imagine. Even beyond the accusations that he slung at my alliance, the way he treated Charlie and even his own partner was reprehensible," Ichabod's fists shook in anger. "I wish I had known the type of person he was earlier, I never would have enabled him up to this point."

Panic sighed. "Well then, I guess we can agree on one thing at least."

"Well, I'm willing to hear you out," Jenna nodded.

"I do appreciate that," Ichabod sat down at the table. "I suppose I will simply get to the point. Yes, my pair and Cheese Yellow have been working together in this game. I would be insulting your intelligence if I tried to imply otherwise, frankly. However, while we are working together, we now have very little else to work with in this game."

"Because your other friend just sold you out," Jenna continued.

"Precisely," Ichabod concurred. "It leaves Blue and Yellow in quite an interesting place, as while we are certainly strong in challenges, we can also be a valuable asset for any pairs that may be interested. If we could pull a power move against a team such as Bacon Pink, it would certainly change a lot."

"Y'know, that is a tempting offer for sure," Jenna pondered. Panic looked at her, confused. "I'll seriously consider it, because you make a lot of good points."

"What say you, Panic?" Ichabod inquired.

"Well, that's a lot to throw out at once," Panic shrugged. "I guess I'll have a lot to think about as well."

"I would appreciate your consideration," Ichabod said, standing up from the table. "My pair is certainly not in a position to be asking much more than that. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to prepare for this duel."

Ichabod hurried off, leaving Panic and Jenna sitting at the table.

"Jenna, why did you give him so much false hope?" Panic asked. "You're not seriously considering turning on our alliance already, right?"

"I dunno," Jenna pondered. "There is a lot to consider there, Blue and Yellow are quite strong, you know."

"Yeah, I do know," Panic replied. "That's why it's smart to get rid of them. They're clearly just trying to stabilize! They've barely even talked to us before! We have a solid alliance finally."

"Didn't you hate the red pair like, just a few days ago?" Jenna asked.

"I-I still do, but things change," Panic turned away and crossed their arms.

"Riiiight," Jenna rolled her eyes.

Panic: "It's ridiculous to even consider turning on our alliance, a MAJORITY by the way, and go with Blue and Yellow, who never even considered us before now! Like yeah, people like Sawyer and Lazarus suck in our alliance, but at least we have an alliance now!"

Jenna: "I know that Yellow and Blue are really tight, definitely tighter with each other than me and Panic, but also I don't really trust a lot of people in our alliance already. Like even beyond the obvious like Lazarus and Sawyer! I don't know when Orson got so close to Panic either, so maybe getting rid of this alliance and keeping Yellow, who I like better, isn't the worst idea for me."

Ichabod: "I have done all I can do with Green, onto the next prospect… I can only hope that Charlie and Dede are doing the same, and steeling themselves for the storm that is coming. Things will not be easy, but putting forth the highest amount of effort is all we can do."

Meanwhile, in the rest area, Charlie laid alone on the couch, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"How could I have been so blind…" Charlie muttered to himself. He covered his face with his hat.

Shortly after, Sunshine opened up the door to the rest area and noticed Charlie laying on the couch. She then skipped in and sat across from him in a chair.

"Hey, Charlie?" Sunshine asked. "Are you alright? I hate to see my friends be upset!"

Charlie jumped slightly and removed his hat from his face, revealing his red, puffy eyes. "H-How long have you been there?"

"Maybe a minute!" Sunshine smiled. "I saw you over here by yourself and figured you'd maybe need someone to talk to!"

"Oh, um," Charlie stammered. "I know you don't really like talking about negative stuff, are you alright with talking about all that?"

"It's okay! I don't mind one bit!" Sunshine replied. "I guess the real question is, are you okay talking about it?"

"I… don't know," Charlie looked back at the ceiling and cupped his hands on his chest. "I just feel… lost. How could I have not realized what I was doing was hurting him? Clearly it was causing him a great deal of distress, how did I not realize it had gone that far?"

"Charlie, don't beat yourself up for that!" Sunshine reassured him. "You're not a mind reader, everyone's got their own set of emotions and feelings at all times!"

"I guess, but how can I call myself someone who wants to study and help people with their emotions if I can't even see Pavel's meltdown coming?" Charlie shook his head. "It just makes me feel like a failure."

"Now you are NOT a failure!" Sunshine huffed. "Everyone makes mistakes, and you're a part of everyone! Just because you may have made someone upset, it doesn't mean you need to stop what you're doing entirely!"

"Well, I appreciate the kind word on that," Charlie shrugged and gave a faint smile before turning back to stare at the ceiling. "This is just a lot to process at once, I thought Pavel was my friend, but it's clear my actions caused him so much pain he doesn't want anything to do with me anymore… it feels like I ruined a potential friendship."

"Friendship is hard to understand sometimes," Sunshine's smile got a bit weaker. "Sometimes no matter what you do, some people just have to grow otherwise. They're just… not ready for that type of friendship yet! It's okay to not be able to understand everyone always!"

"You're definitely right," Charlie nodded. "I still have a lot to sort through in regards to this situation, though. It's making me do some serious re-evaluating."

"And that's okay," Sunshine's smile returned. "Take as much time as you need! As long as you bounce back eventually, we'll be here for you, always!"

Charlie sat up and smiled back at Sunshine. "Thank you, I appreciate your unwavering positivity. I probably don't say that enough, but I really do."

Sunshine: "I'm so happy to be able to help Charlie! I know it can be hard feeling like you've done everything you can to help a friend, only for them to explode and say something not so nice to you, but a little encouragement can go a long way to turn that frown upside down!"

Charlie: "Part of me feels bad for initially being a bit dismissive of Sunshine early on and not taking the opportunity to really get to know her. She's a kind soul and seems to genuinely just want the best for people around her. Something a lot of people could probably learn from, myself included."

Sawyer and Orson met up at a secluded spot of the park, each with a cardboard coffee cup.

"I appreciate the gesture, really, but I would have preferred some kind of sweetener," Orson told her.

"Time is money, and requesting additives is a waste of time," Sawyer denied.

Orson sipped his coffee anyway. "You must have a lot on your mind if you're taking me out for a coffee date."

"We all do, whether we'll admit it or not," Sawyer claimed. "Any major change requires major re-evaluation. I'll start with the obvious: we should no longer have to worry about the alliance between the Blue, Brown, and Yellow Pairs."

"I already wasn't worried," Orson said. "Even beyond their lingering tension, we have the majority now."

"True, but consider that we may not need to be a part of that majority much longer," Sawyer claimed. She took a sip of coffee. "We can form a new alliance, one which suits us better."

"What did you have in mind?" Orson asked.

"That's what I wish to discuss with you," Sawyer said. "Even if we were to stick with them for the following rounds, there is no guarantee we would keep our position on the top. We need to ensure that we do."

"Well, who do you trust, Sawyer?" Orson wondered.

"...Therein lies the issue," Sawyer begrudgingly admitted. She took another sip of coffee. "You're an ordinary, middle-class young white male. An incredibly lucrative demographic. Your input may provide more insight than I expected."

Before Orson could answer, Dede strolled up to the two.

"H-Hey hey! What's going down in Funkytown?" she greeted.

"Oh, hey Dede," Orson smiled. "Honestly, we're just taking a break after all that went down at the challenge."

"Golly, I know, right?" Dede rubbed the back of her neck. "Pavel totally freaked. I'm still bugging a little bit myself. Like, helloooo? Get with the program!"

"I suppose you intend to convince us why we shouldn't vote for you?" Sawyer pressed impatiently.

"No! I mean, well... Maybe?" Dede stammered. "I mean hey, Pavel blew the whole thing wide open, right? So, I was thinking, if you and your folks, and me and my folks got together... hey, the Pink Pair might not see it coming."

"You'll have to be more specific than identifying the nebulous concept of 'folks'," Sawyer told her.

"Well, me and my folks are Yellow and Blue," Dede said. "Like, no doy, that probably goes without saying. You and your folks... that can be whoever you feel like shacking up with, dig? Except for Pink, because Ichabod's already kind of committed to getting them out."

"That could make for a pretty interesting turnaround," Orson acknowledged. "What do you think, Sawyer?"

"Orson and I will discuss it, thank you," Sawyer stated. "Our answer will come in the form of our vote."

"Cool beans, cool beans," Dede chuckled. "Well, in that case, I'll, uh, catch you on the flipside."

With a wink and finger guns, Dede left the two alone.

"What do you know? I guess opportunities do fall into our lap sometimes," Orson joked to Sawyer. She glared at him.

Orson: "I mean honestly, there are pros and cons here. Sawyer and I historically haven't worked well with the Brown Pair, so if Blue and Yellow are primed to get rid of them down the line, that could benefit us. That said, the Blue Pair is pretty strong in challenges, so they could be a big threat if left unchecked." He chuckled. "It pays to think long-term."

Dede: "In hindsight, I probably should have been talking with the others this much all along. But, but, but, I get so flustered when everyone is soooo good-looking. It's almost like they were cast for a TV show or something, heh." She clapped her face. "But I won't be complacent now! I've got a mission, and I'm going to accomplish it!"

Veronica and Remi stood in the amusement park area of the park, holding cotton candy and drinks. They looked around, expectantly.

"When did he want us to meet up again?" Remi asked Veronica.

"I thought you were keeping track!" Veronica shook her head. "Ohhhh, this is most unfortunate."

As she said this, Ichabod appeared from the crowd and walked up to them.

"I see you arrived early," Ichabod commented. "That reflects well on you, I see I chose the correct pair to discuss this."

"I was taught from a young age the importance of punctuality!" Veronica smiled proudly. "However, if I wish to prove I can act on my own… maybe I should start arriving tardy to plans! I will be back shortly!"

Remi put a hand on Veronica's shoulder as she turned to run away.

"I would appreciate if you did not do that," Ichabod explained. "I have a very important strategic discussion to present to you here."

"Well, alright!" Veronica agreed. "Just this once, though!"

"...Alright," Ichabod shook his head disapprovingly. "Anyway, I figure it is not particularly worth mincing words here. I wish to target Pink today and eliminate them from the competition, and I need votes to do that."

"So you want us to help with that, then?" Remi asked.

"Very perceptive, that is correct," Ichabod nodded.

"Why should we do that?" Veronica asked. "I don't recall us being aligned with one another?"

"Roni's got a point," Remi agreed. "Although, we've never really butted heads or anything… so I guess it could be either way."

"Precisely," Ichabod said. "Despite myself and Charlie's inaction, I am willing to propose a compromise in regards to this agreement."

"And what's that?" Remi asked.

"Well, as my pair and Yellow are clearly aligned, I believe it would be best if you two chose another pair to help us with this plan as well," Ichabod continued.

"What if I would pick Pink?" Veronica asked.

"Would you actually?" Ichabod raised an eyebrow.

"I dunnooooo," Veronica looked around. "Maybe! Maybe not!"

Ichabod rubbed his brow with one hand. "Well then, I suppose that would be information I would need to know."

"Alright, but what's in it for us?" Remi asked. "I mean you guys get Pink in the game, but what do we get for it?"

"I believe the fairest thing to do would be to eliminate Brown from this game, remove the problem from the game outright," Ichabod replied. "And for you guys it would be protection from Brown. Blue and Yellow are valuable assets in removing them from the game, as we are both very strong teams who can accomplish challenges, which will be needed."

"Are you trying to imply we can't beat them?" Veronica asked, irritatedly.

"Past performance would show very clearly that Blue and Yellow are the best bet to eliminate Brown," Ichabod retorted. "It is nothing personal, simply facts."

"Excuse me, I take offense to that!" Veronica huffed. "I believe I can win a challenge all by myself, thank you very much!"

"It wouldn't just be yourself but–" Remi began.

"I did not mean to imply you were not capable," Ichabod cut in. "It is simply the current statistics that I drew my observation from."

"Well, um, I'm still not happy with you!" Veronica looked away and scoffed.

"I am sorry that you feel that way," Ichabod sighed exasperatedly.

Remi shrugged. "I dunno man, I think we might just have to discuss this ourselves, Roni's mad so she probably won't listen to anything else."

"When you say it like that, it sounds unreasonable!" Veronica griped. "But you are correct, I wish to disengage for now."

"Sorry, man, we'll get back to ya," Remi said, and then he and Veronica turned off to leave.

Ichabod groaned angrily and balled his fists.

Ichabod: "I realize that what I did there could be considered a gaffe on my part, however it is not my fault she took my simple observation so personally. Any reasonable person would take that at face value, but I suppose as we've learned today my competitors are not 'reasonable'." Ichabod crossed his arms.

Veronica: "Yeah, sure, we haven't won any challenges yet, sure we haven't done amazingly in them, but by golly, I now wish to prove him wrong! I will win a challenge and then rub his ears in it! That will show him not to mess with Veronica Adelheid Remi Gaspard!"

Elsewhere in the park, Pavel exited the men's restroom to find Sunshine standing outside.

"Oh! Pavel!" she called.

Pavel breathed out through his nose. "I'm not in the mood right now."

"Pavel, please!" Sunshine beseeched.

"How did you even know I was here?" Pavel grunted.

"It's the only place I couldn't look," Sunshine said. "...Pavel, you really hurt a lot of people. My friends. Our friends!"

"They ain't my friends, kid," Pavel said. "If they were, they wouldn't have pushed me over the edge."

"Pavel, they always stuck by you!" Sunshine insisted.

"Well they got a damn weird way of showin' it," Pavel said.

"It's just a misunderstanding. Even the best of friends sometimes fight..." Sunshine acknowledged. "You should talk to Charlie. Ichabod and Brynleigh, too."

"...I've said enough," Pavel told her. "With any luck, I won't hafta talk to Charlie or Ichabod ever again."

"What about Brynleigh?" Sunshine frowned. "You were the meanest to her, and she's your partner. She'll always be with you."

Pavel sighed.

"I just don't want to see friends drift apart," Sunshine sniffled. "It's the worst! I know you're scared because you lost your temper, but aren't your friends worth the consequences?"

"That ain't the real world, and that ain't the game," Pavel told her. "Maybe you didn't notice, but they weren't exactly nice to me, either. I don't owe 'em shit. If that costs me a million bucks, then so be it, but I won't let negative influences take over my life. Because... well, you saw what happens."

Pavel headed off.

"Pavel!" Sunshine called. He walked past, ignoring her and leaving earshot. "...I'm sorry I haven't been a better friend to you."

Pavel: "And to think, I stood up for those guys as early as this mornin'. I haven't freaked out this bad in years. Part of self-improvement is makin' sure you can overcome your worst aspects, but another part is knowin' when it's time to stop lettin' others take advantage of you." He sighed. "I don't know."

After closing time, the fourteen contestants met up in front of the Burger Boy statue in the plaza. Nobody said a word while they waited for Chef and Chris to proceed.

"Y'all have cast your votes n' made your decisions," Chef began. "The team with the most votes against 'em will face off in the Half n' Half Challenge against the Mushroom Blue Pair for the right to stay in the game."

"I'm sure you guys had a lot to talk about tonight. Hehaha," Chris laughed, earning him a few glares.

"First vote... Bacon Pink," Chef listed.

"Tsk," Lazarus reacted.

"Second vote... Cheese Yellow," Chris continued.

Dede took a deep breath.

"Third vote... Bacon Pink," Chef revealed.

Alex frowned.

"Fourth vote... Cheese Yellow," Chris smiled.

Sunshine took Dede's hand.

"Last two votes are for the same pair," Chef established. "The ones facin' off against Mushroom Blue tonight will be..."

...

"The Cheese Yellow Pair!"

Dede squeezed Sunshine's hand as she took another breath.

"Hey, we're still in the game, right?" Sunshine assured her. "We just need to beat the other guys!"

"You mean our strong allies? Our friends?" Dede fretted.

"Just, uh... think of them as rivals!" Sunshine told her. "Rivals are just friends who you're allowed to beat in games!"

"Grrr... How disappointingly cowardly," Ichabod murmured as he side-eyed some of the other teams.

Charlie smiled sadly as he looked at the floor.

Charlie: "It's been a rough day, to say the least." He forced a smile. "All this self-doubt, compounded even more after the challenge, and now I have to face two of the sweetest people I've met in a challenge that will determine who gets to keep playing? Well, I'm back in that competitive environment I missed so much from my rugby days, if nothing else."

Sunshine: "Of course I don't want to eliminate my friends! That's why I let Dede cast the actual votes every time! But... I need to support Dede, too! I know this game means a lot to everyone, but it wouldn't be fair if I didn't try my best, too!"

Several interns set up the challenge in the background as Chef spoke up.

"Today's Half n' Half Challenge will be a game of care and finesse," Chef said. "As y'all can see, there are keys hangin' from posts inside these cages. The object of the challenge is to open the cage door. Which can only be done with the key."

"But wait! There's more!" Chris said.

"Each pair will also be supplied with solid plastic drinkin' straws," Chef mentioned as he gestured at the piles of straws sitting before lines of tape. "In order to retrieve your key, you'll hafta tie your straws together usin' the string also provided. If done right, you can create a long enough straw to reach through the cage n' hook the key, all while standin' behind the line."

"Should be a quick one in theory, but hey," Chris chuckled.

"Any questions?" Chef asked.

...

"Good! In that case, pairs, take your positions!"

Ichabod: "My mind is not on the consequences of working to eliminate Dede, who has unexpectedly become the person I can rely on most besides myself. My mind is on making sure I stick around long enough to overcome those consequences."

The pairs took their spots at their stations. Chef raised a hand with an airhorn into the air.

"Alright, on ya marks, get set…" Chef announced, then blew the airhorn. "Go!"

Mushroom Blue and Cheese Yellow got to work on their pole. Ichabod began to bundle multiple straws together at once. Charlie looked at what Ichabod was doing and began to imitate.

"Remember, the less time that we take making fruitless attempts, the less likely we lose," Ichabod commented as he tied more straws together. "Creating a strong pole will be a better use of our time here."

Charlie continued to put together straws, silently.

"Charlie, are you listening?" Ichabod asked. "I know that today has been hard on us but–"

"Don't worry, I'm doing alright," Charlie looked back and smiled at Ichabod as he continued to bundle straws together. "Rest assured I'll be giving this challenge my all. I'm still the same competitive by nature guy on the inside, after all."

"I expect nothing less," Ichabod briefly smiled and got back to work.

Meanwhile, Dede and Sunshine quickly tied together straws using the string, forming a very long pole in quick time.

"Do you think it's ready?" Dede asked Sunshine, who was happily tying together straws.

"Looks pretty long to me!" Sunshine smiled. "Give it a go!"

"Well, alright!" Dede gulped.

As she began to stand up and grab the end of the pole, the entire thing began to shake. She looked at it, uneasily, and began to reach out.

"That'd be quick if they pulled it off already!" Chris announced. "Dede and Sunshine are going for it!"

As Chris said this, Dede's pole began to buckle and fell to the ground. She frantically began pulling the straws back towards them.

"Ah, and jus' like that, Yellow's back ta square one!" Chef announced.

"Oh no, oh no," Dede muttered. "Sunshine we lost our progress! What do we do now? Surely we don't, oh no…"

"It's okay!" Sunshine said, putting a hand on Dede's shoulder, who began turning red. "Look at me! Everything is alright, just take a deep breath! We have plenty of time."

Dede nodded and took a few deep breaths, calming herself down.

"T-Thank you!" Dede squeaked.

"It's what a partner's for, right?" Sunshine grinned.

Charlie: "Despite all that's happened today, I'd be doing Ichabod a disservice if I curled up in a ball and just accepted my fate today. This isn't just an individual game, so no matter how I feel, I gotta put up something. Y'know, for the team. For a friend, even."

Dede: "The way Sunshine just was able to calm me down there… it was incredible! I get in my own head a lot and having someone like Sunshine around to help me when those moments happen is really great. She's the best partner a gal could ask for!" She began to blush again.

Charlie and Ichabod had tied every straw together, creating a sturdy pole.

"Excellent. Now we have but to retrieve the key," Ichabod nodded. "Please, do the honors."

Charlie smirked. "I think I will."

Standing behind the line, Charlie reached out with the makeshift pole. Despite having used every resource available, the straws had been tied too close to their centers, rendering the tool far too short to reach.

"Blast," Ichabod grunted. "What else can we do?"

"I guess they expect us to tie them closer to the ends," Charlie figured as he retrieved the pole.

"We saw how well that went with the Cheese Yellow Pair," Ichabod hummed. "But I suppose we will simply have to do better."

"It's what we do, right?" Charlie chuckled awkwardly.

"...I suppose you are correct," Ichabod nodded.

The two untied their straws and began anew.

Meanwhile, Dede tied her pair's straws together slowly and methodically.

"Just relax, Dede. Don't rush, don't freak out, Sunshine has your back," she told herself. "You're not a square. You're Circle Dede, rolling with the punches. Because circles roll. Heh..."

"It looks like the Blue Pair is re-doing everything!" Sunshine announced as she looked up from also tying straws together. "We can do this, Dede!"

"Really?!" Dede gasped. She immediately picked up the pace, only for straws to slip between her fingers and go flying in all directions. "Ack! Sorry!"

"We haven't lost, so there's nothing to be sorry for!" Sunshine insisted. "The only ones you'll have to apologize to are Charlie and Ichabod when we beat them!"

Dede took a deep breath. "You're right, you're right. Sorry. Er, I mean, not sorry, but..."

Dede opted to retrieve the straws she'd accidentally sent in all directions.

"Both pairs have shot their shot, n' had to re-think their approach," Chef commentated. "It's still anyone's duel."

"That's right, Chef, and even from here, I can tell tensions are high on both sides," Chris chuckled. "Who knows how things will turn out between these two allied pairs?"

With their pole reconstructed, the Mushroom Blue Pair slowly inched it towards the key. Not too long afterward, the Cheese Yellow Pair reconstructed their own pole, and directed it towards their objective as well.

Sunshine: "If there's one thing I don't do, it's give up on those I care about! And I care about everyone, but for the sake of the game, I care about Dede just a liiiiiiittle bit more. But don't tell the others I said that, though!"

Ichabod: "This challenge was far more frustrating than it had any right to be. What should be a simple task led to numerous instances of the key being too far away, or the pole not being able to support its own weight, or other such hindrances. It was incredibly frustrating, but I did not give up. I never do."

Ichabod and Charlie continued to inch their pole towards the key. Ichabod hummed to himself. "Steady now… Steady now…"

"We're so close," Charlie muttered. "Just a little bit further…"

Meanwhile, Sunshine and Dede were very close to their key by now, and were now attempting to hook it onto the pole.

"It's long enough!" Dede exclaimed. "Quick! We need to get the key!"

"We're almost there!" Sunshine cheered.

The Cheese Yellow team hooked their key, leading to murmurs from the crowd. Charlie momentarily looked over at the duo.

"Don't focus on them," Ichabod said, not looking back. "If we lose concentration, that's how we lose."

Charlie nodded and kept pushing towards the key, eventually hooking it.

"Both teams now have their keys hooked to their pole!" Chef exclaimed. "Now it's just a matter o' getting the key back!"

Dede began shaking as she and Sunshine kept pulling their pole back.

"Don't worry, Dede!" Sunshine called from behind.

Charlie and Ichabod began to move back slightly quicker, getting their key ever closer.

"We gotta hurry!" Dede exclaimed, as she began to move back very quickly.

As the two tried to pull their pole back in, it began to buckle under the weight of the key and broke. Dede began hurriedly attempting to piece together the part of the pole that had broken.

"No, no, no!" Dede anxiously repeated to herself.

Meanwhile, the Mushroom Blue pair had by then fully brought their pole back and grabbed their key.

"Do the honors," Ichabod said, handing the key to Charlie.

Charlie smiled faintly and walked up to the door and opened it. The Mushroom Blue pair then walked through the door and Chef sounded the airhorn.

"And that's the challenge!" Chef announced. "The winner of the challenge is the Mushroom Blue!"
Polite applause emitted from the others, except for Pavel, who looked away from the others and crossed his arms.

Ichabod: "Today has proven to be immensely difficult, but we have prevailed. Now it's time to pick up the pieces and start anew. It may prove to be difficult to stabilize, but I will not stop."

Charlie: "Ultimately, I do still feel responsible for causing this mess in the first place. If we won this challenge as a means to give me more time to fix my relationship with Pavel and set things straight, then I consider that a win. It still hurts that the only way to accomplish this is to send home our closest allies and friends in this game in the process, though." He frowned.

"Unfortunately, this means that Cheese Yellow, you've been officially eliminated from the competition!" Chef announced. "Join me and Chris up here."

Dede covered her face and began sniffling. Sunshine turned to look at her.

"What's the matter?" Sunshine asked.

"I ruined it for us!" Dede held back tears. "I should've just been calmer and maybe we would've been able to win that! I knew I'd mess things up–"

"Stop!" Sunshine exclaimed. Dede became silent. "Listen to me! You did your best, and that's all I could've possibly asked for! You did everything you could, you let me skip out on our alliance meetings because you knew they upset me! You tried your best to keep us in a good position even when things got hard! You did not mess things up for us! I'm so happy to have had you as my partner, and I would've wanted to play this with nobody else than you!"

Sunshine then hugged Dede, who returned the hug.

"Thanks, Sunshine, I'm so glad I picked you as my partner on day one," Dede shakily replied.

"Well isn't that sweet?" Chris smirked.

"Alright y'all, it ain't gettin' any earlier and I wanna go watch my stories!" Chef scolded.

Dede and Sunshine giggled and walked back over to Chef and Chris.

Dede: "So this is the end of the line, eh?" Dede sniffled. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't wanna keep going, but I did meet some awesome people and had a lot of fun doing it. Some real cutie patooties you guys cast! Maybe next time I'll go a little further, right? Wink wink? Nudge nudge?" Dede laughed and snorted slightly.

Sunshine: "I'm sad to be leaving all my friends behind here on Total Drama! But I'm just happy I got the opportunity of a lifetime to come here and meet so many people! A lot of people may say they just want the money and stuff, but making nineteen friends for life is worth so much more than that! Truly what can put a price on friendship? It's worth the world!"

As if on cue, two Burger Boys of Shame rushed in and picked up Dede and Sunshine.

"Bye everyone!" Sunshine waved frantically. "Keep in touch! I'll miss you guys! I love you all!"

"Goodness, you are so toned, you are able to just throw me all around…" Dede muttered to herself before clearing her throat quickly. "Um, catch y'all on the flipside! Peace out, girl scouts!"

"I wonder how many people will actually keep in contact with Sunshine, I mean I probably will, but y'know," Jenna chuckled.

"Dede must be mistaken, I was never a girl scout!" Veronica heartily laughed and slapped her knee. "What a 'knee slapper', as they say!"

Everyone looked at Veronica, awkwardly.

"Alright y'all, that's all for tonight!" Chef announced. "Meet back up here tomorrow mornin' and do not be late! Got it?! Good! Dismissed!

The remaining twelve contestants went their separate ways.

Later that night, Chef and Chris stood in the plaza, alone.

"Wow, Chef, what a dramatic round this one proved to be!" Chris laughed. "These kids have fight in 'em!"

"More'n I thought they would, just lookin' at 'em!" Chef laughed. "And with that, our second team has been eliminated! What will our remaining cast face next time as we go to another wacky food based location! Will it take its toll on 'em, or will they rip each other apart before our challenges get the chance to? Only one way to find out! Tune in next time to Total! Drama! Pizza Party!"

Votes:

Yellow: Red, Purple, Green, Pink

Pink: Yellow, Blue

Pepperoni Red Pair:

Sawyer - The Businesswoman

Orson - The Ordinary Guy

Onion Purple Pair:

Veronica - The Sheltered Heiress

Remi - The Superfan Drummer

Jalapeno Green Pair:

Jenna - The Last-Second Recruit

Panic - The Disillusioned Punk

Sausage Brown Pair:

Pavel - The Reformed Gangster

Brynleigh - The Brat

Mushroom Blue Pair:

Charlie - The Aspiring Therapist

Ichabod - The Terse Perfectionist

Bacon Pink Pair:

Lazarus - The Offbeat Hippie

Alex - The Friendly Actress

Cheese Yellow Pair:

Dede - The Retro Romantic

Sunshine - The Lover of All

Anchovy Gray Pair:

Peter - The Surly Cynic

Aoi - The Complacent Model

Not Picked:

Flick - The Isekai Survivor

Jacqueline - The Proud Nerd

Kiko - The Mushroom VTuber

Toby - The Optimistic Reporter

A/N:

Asujoll: Another totally dramatic episode! It just goes to show that just because you were in the first alliance, doesn't mean you're necessarily good to go for the rest of the game. Dede and Sunshine, despite not being the most strategically proactive pair in the game, just kinda found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time, and paid the price for it. It's not necessarily fair, but games like this seldom are. You can't say they didn't try at least a little by the end there.

The two were always meant to be supporting characters, more or less, and if memory serves this is pretty much always the exact point they were going to go home, so they could be weird for a little, maybe grow a bit, and then make way for the grander narrative. I'm glad people enjoyed the two as much as we did - especially Sunshine, the little menace - but there just wasn't space for the Cheese Yellow Pair beyond this point.

But hey, even without these two, a lot is still going on. What do you think will happen next?

Max: And there goes the Yellow pair, in a whirlwind and definitely the most dramatic episode yet! Exciting and definitely shaking up the established dynamics pretty significantly. Who knows how things will go from here?

Dede was always an interesting character to me, definitely had a lot of angles to play. While she was a hopeless romantic, it was never supposed to be a "to-a-fault" style of character trait. It was noticeable, and definitely clouded her vision in regards to options, but it wasn't her sole characterization. Similarly her anxiety and retro speaking shtick weren't ever overbearing character qualities. While I don't know if she truly was fleshed out as well as she could've been, I had a good time writing for her as a piece of the greater whole in this story.

Sunshine on the other hand was exactly one character trait the entire time, cranked up to 100. I've always been a fan of "super positive character isn't exactly super positive" types of characters and Sunshine was my own personal take on the idea. Even though by the end she definitely started coming off more positive and dynamic, it was always just the same old Sunshine, just how people took to her overbearing kindness and fixation on friendship.

Like Asujoll said, Yellow was an interesting pair, and definitely ended up suffering from being stuck out in the open at the wrong time. A pair people didn't really dislike, but saw little reason in keeping around given the revelation of their alliance with others. It wasn't necessarily fair for them, but all's fair in Total Drama, right?

Anyway, thank you for reading as always, and stay tuned for the next chapter!