Author's Note: Another Friday, another chapter. I'd like to hope everyone's having a safe Memorial Day as well as keeping themselves safe if you're in Nicole's path. Not much to say here so let's get started.
ANNOUNCEMENT: This series has fanart! Holy crap I never knew people liked my writing enough to do that! CMR Rosa has a picture of Angel on their Deviant Art page and there's a whole bunch on Reddit. Just search Random Drama on the totaldrama subreddit. My favorite is Little Mermaid's edit to make Dave look like Victor.
Disclaimer: I don't own Total Drama, the shuffled concept or the (most of) the characters.
And to answer some reviews:
Shuffollower: Yep. I'm back. Actually, I'd assume that people who made the merge are more likely to go home in this cast. There'll be a lot of returning All-Stars in the bonus clips. I agree with you as far as Bowie and Caleb being a couple. I feel like Axel is going to a favorite and go far considering I can find a lot more official art of her than anyone else. Scary Girl's going home first though. She doesn't even have a name for crying out loud.
Guest: Chris was underground during the moon, so he avoided being swapped.
Derick Lindsay: Eh, I had some extra time. You know me, I loves me some canon allusions so Gwen had to make a comment about that. Yeah, Trent's elimination just made sense to me, though I do with I could have done more with his number nine gag. I'll be honest, I have no idea how the first four eliminated campers would've acted here. But I'm glad you liked seeing everyone act so different.
xx15: Thanks!
Gucci Mane LaFlare: Thanks! I'm glad you liked the swapped cast, I had so much anxiety about that. And I don't think Chris'll show them the footage, he'll have more enjoyment with them just not remembering anything.
LazloVader9943: It is a shame Trent had to go, but one of the alliance had to leave and Gwen and Ella are just so cute. Basically, I thought it was a pretty good idea. Eh, probably not. I didn't much like the character in canon, but I kinda like writing him this way. Plus I've got too much to do to really focus on him.
Crosshot: Wow, thanks, I was kinda worried I'd gotten kinda repetitive with how many of them turned into jackasses. Wait, that was Ezekiel's planned personality? I know there's one CampTV allusion I'll be doing in the future so that was pretty cool. If you like the couples, there's more incoming this chapter. Yeah, I kinda hate that I wasn't able to put any Trent/Kitsune friendships in. Fun fact, those two were going to be a couple in the original version of Redemption.
TheCrisanthemun: Thanks! It's good to be back. I can't really fault you for not reviewing when I was gone for over a year. But as always your first review mentions quite a bit that I can't talk about just yet.
LittleMermaid: I remember you! By the way, I just found your Random Drama edits and I love them. I heard you were stuck on Natasha's base, might I suggest Topher. I'm glad you liked chapter 4, though I'll admit it wasn't my best work. I'm so glad you like Dakota, I always wanted them to show more of her nice side in canon as well as fixing her mutation. The triple alliance was one of my favorite ides for this season. Sadie's situation is a little sad, but at least Cameron notices her. Regarding your question for Scott and Amy, canon liked to relationships like that end in dating... I'll do my best with Sierra, I actually have a bit of an idea for what I want her to do, since I'm already pretty happy with how her character developed in World Tour. I had to throw Leonard a bone. I'm actually gonna try to do that to all the people who get eliminated. The personality swap was one of my favorite ideas for a challenge. I'm honestly shocked at how fun Amy is to write. It makes her wasted potential in canon even worse because she would have been a great villain. Well there's something there with Scott and Amy, it's up to them about if they wanna be honest about it though. I've said it in a few other revies, but Britney is a mild yandere, even in canon. I can promise that it'll turn out okay for her and Dave in the end but this was always her personality. I can also garuntee more Gwen and Ella in the future.
Remaining Campers:
Ferrets of Failure: Dakota, Dave, Ella, Ezekiel, Gwen, Harold, Jaxon, Lindsay, Sam, Sky
Llamas of Loserdom: Amy, Britney, Cameron, Carly, Eva, Rodney, Sadie, Scott, Shawn, Sierra
Brains, Brawn, and Charming. Do they have what it takes?
Episode 06: As the Wheel Turns
"Last time, on Total Drama Redemption!" The recap began with shot of both teams setting up at their campsites. "The campers had to test their survival skills under the Orange Harvest Moon," he said over a clip the Orange Harvest Moon becoming active, sending its pulse of light through the sky and forest, "which turned all the good campers evil and vice versa," Scott and Amy were shown acting nice, as was Ezekiel's rudeness. "Evil Trent decided to go mess with the Llamas alongside Evil Gwen and Evil Ella," the three were shown strategizing before reaching the campsite, "but only managed to get themselves lost in the process," they were then shown arguing in the woods.
"No one remembers what happened that night," Chris chuckled over a shot of the two teams waking up in confusion, "but it all led to Trent sacrificing himself to save his alliance mates," Gwen, Trent, and Ella were shown in the bottom three, and only the girls reciving their marshmallows.
After the musician's departure was shown, the shot cut to a close-up of a pile of wood being prodded by a stick. "We're a fourth of the way through the season," Chris was shown holding the stick at the campfire pit in front of a big screen television, "and this next challenge will take some brains and brawn." the music picked up dramatically as the host's full body was shown, hitting the stick against his other hand. "And maybe a little charisma too? Who's next for the big kick? Find out next, on Total! Drama! Redemption!"
XXXXX
[The opening theme began similarly to the way it did in season six – a shift into letterbox format for a shot of a rocky forest waterfall, a broken stagelight rotating up from behind some rocks and flickering a bit before the light died. Then a rusty spotlight swings down from the unseen branches of some mossy, mushroom-ridden tree. The shot moves to a pond where a brown bear wearing a scuba mask sits in the water glaring at a frog on a lily pad, both animals looking surprised as the lily pad is suddenly lifted into the air by a duct tape covered security camera rising up from below it. A rabbit sitting on a rock on the beach is pushed away by a panel in the rock slamming down on it, another broken camera emerging from within, and a pair of white-skinned hands clap a film slate in front of the main camera.
As the film slate is pulled away the camera flies forward past the camp facilities, and over the top of the host drinking coffee in a director's chair just as the lyrics start.]
Dear Mom and Dad, I'm doin' fine;
[The camera flies through the trees and up to a cliff, peeking over to see the interns swimming away from Scuba Bear.]
You guys are on my mind!
[The camera dives off the cliff and into an underwater shot; a fully-clothed Cameron gagging.]
Ya asked me what I wanted to be,
And now I think the answer is plain to see!
[Cameron frantically swims up and grabs on to the end of an oar. The camera pans up to reveal Eva as the one rowing the boat; she pulls her oar out of the water and is startled to see Cameron clinging to it, and even more so when something starts pulling him back. But with a fierce yet muted roar, Eva manages to pull the oar away from the the thing...and in doing so, throw Cameron high into the sky.]
I wanna be...famous!
[Cameron hangs in front of the sun for a moment before coming back down into the woods. The camera pans down to Gwen drawing on a stump while surrounded by a guitar playing Trent and a singing Ella. Cameron falls from the sky and knocks Gwen down, startling Trent and Ella. The camera zooms out to show Scott watching the scene and laughing, and then again to show Lindsay crossing her arms and pursing her lips at him.]
I wanna live close to the sun!
[The camera zooms to another part of camp, showing Leonard and Gary surfing down a river.]
Well pack your bags, 'cause I've already won!
[The shot pans forward a bit, showing Harold and Sierra also on surfboards. Leonard and Gary arrive on screen, but while the three boys are busy showing off, Sierra's eyes widen and she ducks. She just barely misses getting hit by a low lying branch that the boys smack into.]
Everythin' to prove, nothin' in my way;
[The camera rapidly pans over to the outhouses. Ezekiel opens the door to one and a thick green cloud comes out of it, causing him to look nauseous and pass out. The camera pans over to the craft service tent.]
I'll get there one day.
[The camera moves in past the window to show a smirking Chef, stirring a large pot of something sickly green. He looks behind him to where Sam is sitting and playing on a handheld game console. Dakota is looking over his shoulder as he plays.]
'Cause I wanna be...famous!
[The camera pans left to show Sky and Dave chatting. Britney comes out of nowhere to separate the two and sit on Dave's lap, glaring at Sky all the while. The camera zooms pans left again to the opening of the tent and flashes to an open field. Amy knocks a bouquet of flowers out of a kneeling Rodney's hands, then pushes over Sadie as the the girl bends down to pick up a shell.]
(Na-na nanananaa, nanana-nanaa, na-nananananaa)
[A pan rightward shows Jaxon making a screen gesture with his fingers. He looks from the left to the right and rolls his eyes in irritation.]
I wanna be! I wanna be! I wanna be famous! (Na-na nanananaa, nanana-nanaa, na-nananananaa)
[Another pan to the right centers the camera on Anne Maria spraying her hair. She notices the camera on her and glares, spraying it enough that the thick cloud covers the whole screen.]
I wanna be! I wanna be! I wanna be famous! (Na-na nanananaa, nanana-nanaa, na-nananananaa)
[The cloud dissipates to reveal Carly and Shawn sitting at a campfire in front of a large full moon. They lean in for a kiss but are interrupted by Chris's sudden appearance between them while wearing a zombie mask, startling them both into running away. As Chris takes off his mask to laugh, the shot zooms out to show the other campers also sitting around the fire - Ella, Trent, Gwen, Sky, Amy, Sam, Dakota, Ezekiel, Gary, Scott, and Rodney with Carly trembling behind them on the left; and Anne Maria, Britney, Dave, Cameron, Sadie, Eva, Leonard, Lindsay, Sierra, and Jaxon with Shawn trembling behind them on the right. The zoom continues even further, showing the signboard over the firepit's entrance which now read 'Total Drama Redemption'.]
XXXXX
A deep tune began as the episode opened on the morning sun, the camera soon panning down onto the Ferrets of Failure's bunker and cutting to the boys' side.
"Alright," Dave said to himself, "I think I've finally cleaned up from that last challenge!" Jaxon rolled his eyes and scoffed.
"He would hope so," the artist bit. "You've been taking hour long showers twice a day ever since."
"I wish we knew what happened that night," Sam said as he played a handheld. "I beat this boss I've been stuck on for weeks, and I've got no clue how I did it."
"I wouldn't worry about it if were you," Harold told them. "In my experience it's never good to try and regain lost memories." The other boys looked at him. "Let's just say there's a reason I won't test any more of Scar's 'experiments' and leave it at that."
"By the way," Dave spoke up, "Has anyone checked up on Gwen? I understand what Trent did, but if she's anything like Britney then she'll be really messed up."
"But Gwen is sane," Jaxon pointed out, causing the germaphobe the scowl.
"There's nothing wrong with Britney," Dave shot back. "And I think people who speak in the third person shouldn't throw stones."
\
"I know you're upset Gwendolyn," Ella said as the camera cut to the girls side of the bunker The singer was sitting on her cousin's bed and laying a comforting hand on the goth's shoulders while Gwen was hugging her knees to her chest. "But we must persevere. Trent would want us to keep going."
"I know," Gwen said in a slightly broken voice. "Can't I just wallow in self-pity for a little while longer?"
"Take all the time you need," Ella said sweetly, grabbing her cousin into a hug. The camera panned to the other side of the room where the other girls were watching.
"Well now I feel like a jerk," Lindsay commented.
"Yeah it's times like this that really make you remember how intense this game actually is," Sky admitted. "We're basically stopping our friends from winning a million bucks."
"A bit less than that after taxes," Lindsay pointed out.
"In that case there's only one thing to do," Dakota announced. She responded to the other girls' looks with, "We just need to keep winning so none of us have to go home."
XXX
"I can't tell you guys how great it is that I made friends," Dakota smiled in the confessional. "Especially Lindsay, I just knew she'd be ticked given the role I played in her elimination last time."
XXX
"Sadie, you're pretty smart," Carly said, the shot cutting to her approaching the former sidekick in the girls' side of the Ferrets' treefort as the music became more plodding. "Can I ask you something?"
Sadie blinked in surprise. "You can see me?" she asked in shock.
"Yes," Carly said slowly before straightening up in fear. "Was I not supposed to be able to? Oh no. Are you a ghost?!" She panicked, causing Sadie to gape in shock. "Someone! Hel-"
Sadie slapped a hand over the pantaphobe's mouth. "I'm not a ghost," she said as the girl stared at her with wide eyes. "I'm just used to people overlooking me unless I'm next to Katie." She removed the hand from the girl and Carly let out a breath. "What's your question?"
"What do you think of Shawn?" Carly asked suddenly.
"A little odd," Sadie shrugged. "But ultimately harmless."
"No," Carly stated firmly. "That's definitely not true. How else would I end up in his arms?" She asked, blushing slightly at the memory
The scene immediately cut to Eva as she entered the room. "Well unless Chris shows us the challenge footage we'll never know," she said. "But if you're looking for a second opinion, I agree with Sadie."
"But he had to have tricked me or something," Carly stated. "That's the only way to explain how weird I am around him!"
The shot cut to Eva and Sadie as their brows shot up. "Explain 'weird'," Sadie said.
Carly blinked, then sheepishly rubbed her arm. "Well, whenever I see him my face gets hot. My palms get sweaty, my heart starts racing." She gasped. "It's even happening now! It's like he's giving me early onset heart disease!"
"Oh he's giving you heart disease alright!" Sadie said slyly.
Eva just scoffed and smirked. "Don't tease the poor girl," she told her companion. "It's simple Carly. You're crushing on Shawn."
Carly gasped sharply. "Nope." She said. "That's not possible."
"Have you not had a crush before?" Eva asked. "You're 18! How's that possible?! Even I hav- had one!"
"I don't talk to people!" Carly shouted. "I spend all my free time in my room where it's safe."
"One paranoid loser falling in love with another?" Amy asked snidely as she walked into the room. "Makes sense to me."
Sadie frowned. "This conversation doesn't concern you Amy."
"If you wanna talk in private," Amy said with an eye roll, "maybe don't talk in the cabin where anyone can come in."
"Oh em gasp!" Sierra's voice shouted from outside, startling all present. "Is there a new Total Drama couple brewing?!" she burst into the room and looked around. "Ooh, I'm sensing a lot of love in this room."
XXX
"As a blogger for one of the hottest shows on TV," Sierra explained to the camera. "I've got an eye for romance. And ear, and nose." She laughed. "And I can tell all my teammates are in love!"
"Now to find out who they're all crushing on..."
XXX
The footage cut to the boys' side of the treehouse, where three of the boys were getting ready for the day.
"You guys ever notice how we're outnumbered by the girls?" Scott said suddenly, catching the attention of both of his roommates.
"It's true there are six girls to our four guys," Cameron pondered. "But we are still on the same team."
"What's your point?" Rodney asked.
"My point is we should work together," at their skeptical glances he continued. "It can't be a coincidence that the two times we've gone to elimination it's been a guy that goes home. Heck, the bottom two has only been guys this whole game!"
The camera panned back to Cameron as he scratched his head.
The shot cut in closer to the schemer, smirking in victory. "Come on, what's a little alliance gonna hurt? It's not like I can afford to stab you fellas in the back anyway."
"I'll bite," Cameron shrugged. "Let's form an alliance. Rodney?" he turned to his taller roommate
The shot cut in closer to him, looking down as if in shame. "But," he said, "What about my relationship with Amy?" He motioned to the wall dividing the two sides, the shot cutting in front of him to show both boys giving him strange looks.
"What rela-" Cameron started to say before being cut off by Scott slapping a hand over his mouth.
"Don't worry big guy," he said. "We'll do what we can to avoid messing you two up. Right Cam?" he added pointedly before releasing the boy, who nodded his agreement.
XXX
"Of course he's gonna blab to Amy about this little scheme," Scott chuckled. "If I had to guess, she'll ask the girls to team up against me, but thanks to her little Protection scheme she'll be such a brat about it they'll vote for her," he explained. "Rodney plays the Idol. And my alliance votes for him so he'll go home. That'll mean Princess is left without any allies and won't try to backstab me in the future."
XXX
"I know Scott can't really be trusted," Cameron explained. "But with so many athletic people in the game like Rodney and Shawn, a guy's alliance isn't such a bad idea. This way I can make it to the merge where everyone'll pick off the stronger players. Like Rodney, or Shawn," he chuckled. "or Scott."
XXX
Any further conversation was cut off by the sudden whine of the camp's broadcasting system switching on. The Llama Boys promptly covered their ears and cringed, and shot dirty looks towards to the side.
"Morning, campers!" Chris announced, the camera cutting to the booming loudspeaker. "It's time for your next challenge!" The shot moved over to Shawn as he exited the craft tent and poked his head up to listen. "So, get your butts over to amphitheatre! Now!" He finished with a laugh.
\
The scene immediately flashed to the amphitheatre as the two teams filed onto their team's bleachers. Chris stood on stage, under a large television monitor. Above the monitor was an electronic scoreboard that read 0-0, each in the color of the logo it was under.
"You know the drill," Chris said. "Llamas to the right, Ferrets to the left. Now," he said, bouncing lightly on his feet. "You lot may not have known this, but to make it through a season of Total Drama you need a combination of brains and brawn," he announced as a light but tense theme began to play, "and a fair bit of charisma" The shot cut from the Ferrets to the Llamas , a mixture of irritation, confusion, and dread appearing on the campers' faces. "So to make sure you've got what it takes, we're doing a special challenge."
"Every round a player is chosen at random," he explained, pointing up to the monitor above him. Its screen was divided in half, with each side spinning like the reels of a slot machine – the left showing the faces of the campers; the right alternating between a barbell, an open book, or a hand mirror . The left side suddenly stopped on Shawn, and the shot briefly cut to him raising an eyebrow as the host continued. "It also chooses whether you'll do a strength, knowledge, or charm challenge. Barbell means strength," the right side of the screen was forcibly stopped on a barbell, "book means knowledge," and then to the book, "and mirror means charm," and then to the mirror
"Get a strength challenge and you have to do something physical," Chris explained as the shot cut back to him, "Get a knowledge challenge and you have to answer a trivia question about the show!" he said with a small grin, prompting confused glances from the campers. "And charm challenge require you to tell your true feelings to one of your random teammates. But the answer must be said in a way that doesn't upset the person in question."
The shot cut back to the reels, the left still on Shawn as the right resumed spinning before stopping on a mirror. "But in this case, Shawn has gotten a knowledge question." A cut to the boy in question showed him gulping nervously as he stared up at the monitor. "This means he has to answer a question revealing how he feels about one of his teammates!"
"But, uh, how will you know we aren't lying?" Harold asked, rubbing his neck nervously after Chris finished talking.
"Did you forget you're on a reality show?" the host responded. "We're always watching and have a pretty good grasp on what you kids are thinking." He rubbed his chin. "Though I guess you aren't kids anymore though huh? Anyway, we've updated the collars from season six, so they'll detect any lies you tell."
"Completing a challenge gets your team a point," he continued. "But, if you fail a challenge your whole team gets a shock."
A metallic clinking was heard as the shot cut to a close-up of Dave. "So you're gonna electrocute us again?" As he spoke, the long-banged walked up behind him and put a metallic collar around his neck, the same clinking sound heard as it locked and crackled with electricity.
"I'm not gonna electrocute you," Chris said with a happy smile. "But Chef will!" He pointed to the side, and the camera cut to Chef Hatchett sitting in a throne-like chair looking more irritated than usual. "And the girl he was rooting for on 'Date a Lonely Guy' got eliminated last night. So he's super ticked."
XXX
"Come on Aiden!" Chef complained in the confessional. "Why would you choose Betty? Don't you know that Mary was the one for you? She was the one!"
XXX
"Now let's start the game!" Chris said with a bright smile. "Shawn?"
Shawn gulped again as the camera cut to him.
XXX
"Well, this isn't good," Shawn anxiously told the outhouse camera. "What if I get a question about Amy? There's no way I'm getting out of that one unshocked."
XXX
"Shawn," Chris asked, "we all know you're a paranoid freak."
"Uhh...," Shawn said, raising a finger to objected.
"The question is," the host continued unabated, "how do you feel about your team's other paranoid freak? A.K.A., Carly."
"Umm...," Shawn murmured, tugging at his collar nervously as he began to blush. He looked to the side and saw Sadie and Eva looking at him expectantly. "You see...," he continued, his eyes snapping to Carly as stared at him with wide eyes.
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "The truth is," he began along with a drumroll, "I..." The rest of his team was shown leaning forward expectantly with Sierra looking the most interested. "...really admire her," Shawn admitted as the drumroll concluded.
The others gasped. Chef grunted at him in suspicion as a tense tune played...only for it to level off when no one got shocked.
"And that was a truth!" Chris announced as the scoreboard was shown dinging up to 0-1.
"Care to elaborate, Shawn?" Chris asked with a mischievous smile, and the music began to rise dramatically.
"Umm...well...," Shawn said, closing his eyes and looking away nervously, "we were kinda talking about this the other day," he started, getting less nervous with each word. "But Carly said she wanted to know what it was like to be brave. I got cut off before I could say anything so I'll say it now."
Sadie, Eva, and Sierra gave him sly looks, and he took another deep breath.
"Carly," he said while looking at the girl. "You signed up for Total Drama. Me, Gwen and the others didn't know what we were getting into, but you did and you went for it anyway. If you ask me, you already know what it's like to be brave."
Carly squeaked as her face turned a deep red, and she buried her face in Sadie's side to hide it.
"On that note," Chris nodded before looking back up at the monitor which promptly began to spin again. "it's time for Ella," he announced, the left reel landing on the singer, "to do knowledge challenge. And the question is...," he began as the shot cut to him holding a stack of note cards, "Who was the only person to be eliminated twice in the same season without being voted off?"
"I believe it was Malcolm?" Ella asked Gwen and Harold. "He was mauled by a bear and then quit later on."
"Correct!" Chris said, the scoreboard changing to 1-1 "Up next...!" He looked back up to the monitor, and the first reel quickly stopped on the pantaphobe, and the second on a book shortly after. "Carly! Doing a another knowledge challenge."
Carly gasped, and Chris chuckled to himself.
"Carly!," the host continued. "To earn a point for your team, you must tell me, which Total Drama All-Star was responsible for the most eliminations!"
"Uhh," Carly thought. "Can I get another question?"
"You're running out of time, Carly," Chris told her sternly.
"I, uh, umm, uhh..." the pantaphobe mumbled in panicked thought.
XXX
"I'm not great and being timed," Carly told the outhouse camera. "All I can think about is whether or not I'm running out time and can't focus on what I'm supposed to be doing."
XXX
The static cut away to her putting a finger to her lips as she looked around uncertainly.
"Answer the question already!" Amy whispered, grabbing er by the arm and pulling her over. "I don't wanna get shocked!"
"But I can't!" she shouted.
"Huh," the host said blankly. "I didn't expect her to figure it out, That was a trick question because there are multiple all-stars with a high amount of eliminations to their name. No one can claim having the most to their name. The Llamas get a point!" He motioned up to the scoreboard, which updated with a ding to show the score at 1-2.
"Next on the challenge roster," he said as the shot cut back to the reels, "Sam!" he announced as the left side landed on the gamer, "Doing a knowledge challenge," he finished when the right side landed on the book.
"Ask away," the gamer said with a chuckle.
"Please name every team that only had one original member make it to the Final Four," Chris said.
"Hmm," Sam thought out loud. "Screaming Gaffers, Team Chris is Really Really Really Really Hot, Team Amazon, Ruby Warriors, and the Heroic Horses right?"
His whole team was shocked.
"Actually," Chris spoke up after laughing at the Ferrets' pain, "I said original members. Ya left out the Heroic Hamsters from season five. How you left that one but got season three I'll never know."
"Aw man," Sam sighed as most of his team glared at him. "Well I guess I just didn't pay-"
"Yeah, nobody cares Sam," Chris interjected with a short shake of his head. "Time to move on. Up next...!" He looked back up to the monitor, and the first reel quickly stopped on the globetrotter, and the second on a mirror shortly after. "Britney! Doing a charm challenge."
"Britney," he said as the shot cut to the wary girl and the music became slow and tense, "to earn a point, you will have to give your honest opinion of Sadie!"
Britney scratched her head. "Who's Sadie again?"
The former sidekick sighed. "That would be me."
"Oh," the globetrotter said. "Um, sorry. I just don't know you well enough to have an opinion. Maybe if we were on the same season?"
Sadie growled. "We were on the same season! I got kicked off after the balloon challenge!"
Britney's eyes widened. "Now I remember you! You're Katie's friend."
"Seriously?!" Sadie shouted, throwing her arms up in frustration. She and the rest of the Llamas were shocked soon after.
"Sorry Britney," Chris said unapologetically. "But that wasn't what Sadie wanted to hear. Now for the Ferrets..." he looked up at the monitor, and the left side stopped on the goth, "Gwen, doing a..." the right side stopped on a barbell, "Physical challenge. Finally."
"Gwen," the host said as the fat intern handed her a pair of headphones. "All you have to do is listen to Gary's Cliptube music. For ten minutes."
"How bad can it be?" the goth asked with a cocky smirk
\
The footage skipped ahead to the headphones landing on the ground and shattering. The camera panned up to show Gwen, several strands of hair out of place, twitching and groaning.
"Three minutes," an impressed Chris stated. "She lasted longer than I thought she would, but she still failed. Chef pressed the button on his remote and the Ferrets were all shocked. "Score's still one-two in favor of the Llamas. And speaking of the Llamas," the monitor started cycling through its images again, the left landing on the cheerleader, and the right landing on a barbell. "Amy with a physical challenge!"
Amy rolled her eyes as the host continued. "Amy, to win a point for your team, all you have to do is," she gasped in indignation as Chef picked her up and slung her over his shoulder, and the camera flashed ahead to show her in front of the tennis ball launcher from the season six premier, "let Chef shoot tennis balls at you for thirty seconds."
"Objection!" Sam stood up and pointed dramatically to the host. "How come Gwen had to go ten minutes while Amy only needs half of one?"
"Overruled!" Chris said happily with a swift downward hand motion. "Getting shot at with tennis balls is more physically demanding than listening to music. Even if it is crappy."
The shot cut to Amy breathing heavily and looking at the cook. "Whatever," she said decisively, "Do your worst." Chef shrugged and started firing the machine. The music became deep and tense as the shot cut from him, the Llamas, to the Ferrets, to Chris looking at his stopwatch, and finally back to the cook all with Amy's cries of pain and panic filled the air.
The music became victorious as Chef stopped firing and the camera cut to the cheerleader, several welts all over her body and a dazed look in her eyes. "I did it," she cheered weakly, and the rest of the Llamas quickly joined in.
"Yeah, great job," Chris said as the shot cut back to him and his stopwatch. "One more point for the Llamas of Loserdom!" The scoreboard dinged and changed to 1-3
Amy groaned and fell to the ground. Rodney gasped in shock. "Amy!"
Chris smiled and looked to the monitor. "She's fine," he waved the farm boy off. "But the show must go on! Harold!" he said to the dweeb as the left side landed on his face. "Time to show us your trivia skills!" he finished as the right side landed on the book.
"Awesome!" Harold smiled.
XXX
"There couldn't be a better challenge for me this time," he bragged in the confessional. "I retain knowledge like a camel retains water."
XXX
"Okay Harold," Chris said, looking at a notecard. "Give the episode names and final placements for every one of Alejandro's eliminations."
The dweeb scratched his chin for a bit then raised a finger. "I Triple Dog Dare You where he took third place. Rock 'n' Rule where he took sixth, Chinese Fake-Out where he also took sixth, and Sundae! Muddy Sundae! where he went home in fifth."
"Correct!" Chris said as the score changed to 2-3. The Ferrets cheered and the monitor started spinning. "But the Llamas are still in the lead. Can you widen the gap..." the left reel landed on the bubble boy "Cameron? All it'll take is a little charisma," he finished when the right reel landed on the mirror.
Cameron gulped.
"Come on Cam," the host said slyly. "What's your honest opinion of Scott? Keep in mind he can't get mad at your answer if you want the point."
"I don't trust the guy," Cameron said. "And I'd say it to his face."
"You just did," Scott scoffed. "But I can't blame ya. My past performance left a lot to be desired."
"An insult that he can shrug off?" Chris asked. "Who knew Cam had so much tact? Point to the Llamas!" The team in question cheered as the scoreboard changed to 2-4. "Ferrets! You got some catching up to do!" The monitor stated cycling again and the left and right reels landed on Dakota and the mirror. "Can Dakota's charm put you on the right track?"
The camera cut to the girl in question shrinking nervously. "I hope so."
"Well it all depends on how you feel about Sam!" the host continued.
Dakota looked at the gamer and blushed. "Um, okay." she said to herself. "You know how you started that streaming channel?" The gamer nodded. "Well I started watching it when I found about the new season. To get information on my competition and... I kinda wound up becoming your biggest fan..."
The two, who were sitting next to each other, looked away with blushes.
XXX
"It's the truth," Dakota said. "He was just so funny and nice. Watching him game helped me forget that the internet hated me."
XXX
"Isn't that sweet? The score is three to four," Chris told the camera as it moved back to him and the capstone theme began to play. "But, we've got more of the challenge coming up! Stay tuned to find out who wins this episode of Total! Drama! Redemption!"
\
(Commercial Break)
\
The episode resumed with a shot of the monitor, the first reel stopping on Scott. "It's your lucky day Scott!" Chris said impishly just before the second reel stopped on a barbell. "Time to get physical!"
Scott just sniffed in disdain. "Just get this over with so we can win already."
Chris shrugged. "Hey, your funeral," he said before raising his next note card. "Scott... for your point... you... must..." the camera cut in on Scott, his face getting more wary as the host went on," get a massage!"
The schemer rolled his eyes. "Yeah, and?"
\
The music became deep and dramatic as the footage skipped ahead, showing his teammates looking wary and sympathetic as Scott's cries of pain filled the air.
"Do I owe you money?!" he was heard saying. "Stop! I can't take anymore!"
"And he couldn't stick it out," Chris said as Scott limped back to his team, several bruises and scrapes on his body. "And you know what that means!" Chef pressed his remote, and the Llamas were all shocked.
"I think that shock fixed my spine," Scott groaned.
"Let's ignore that he couldn't do it," Eva said after the shock passed, "why exactly are the rest of us getting shocked when we didn't do anything wrong?"
"Because you're a package deal," Chris told her. "Remember: if one of you fails, you all pay the price." A tense tune played as the camera panned across the Llamas, starting with Shawn and ending with Scott as his face fell upon seeing his teammate's glares.
"Hey, you all woulda chickened out too," Scott told them with glare of his own. "I'm pretty sure that counted as literal torture."
The shot cut back to the spinning reels. "And next up, we have..." Chris said before the first reek stopped, "Dave."
"Sure," the germaphobe said optimistically, "I'm pretty good at telling the truth."
"Doing, a physical challenge!" Chris finished as the second reel was shown stopping on a flame. Dave gulped, and Chris pointed at him with a mischievous grin. "Alright Dave," he said, "there are a lot of intense challenges here," he hunched himself over and made claws with his hands. Sky and Jaxon were shown sharing a confused look, "but none that are like this." he took out a note card.
"For a point," Chris said as the music built up ominously again, "you must... swim one lap, in the outhouse runoff."
Dave's eyes widened in fear, and he looked to his left at Sky. The gymnast raised an eyebrow. "Uhh, I can't help you here," Sky said, "you're on your own."
"Some ally," Dave scoffed. "Do I have to do this?"
"If you want the point you do," Chris answered.
"I'd help you if I could Dave," Britney told him.
Dave let out a whimper. "Thanks Britney," he said, giving his girlfriend an awkward smile. "Man I'm really stuck right now aren't I?"
XXX
"If I do it," Dave explained, "I'll be swimming in... ugh. But if I don't, I'll get shocked, my team'll hate me, and I'll be on the chopping block." He looked at the camera. "It's a tough decision."
XXX
Dave looked down and sighed. "I can't do it..." he whined.
"I had a feeling this would happen!" Chris announced, a sharp note playing as the shot cut outward to show the entirety of the Ferrets of Failure. "And since you chickened out..." The camera panned down to Chef as he pressed the button on his remote, and another sharp note played as the ten were electrocuted.
"I'm so sorry, guys," Dave apologized. "It was just so disgusting."
"Yeah, I don't blame you," Gwen told the germaphobe. "Back when Noah had to swim through sewage he stunk the rest of the day."
XXX
"Aw man!" Dave griped. "I forgot Noah did this back in season one! That's another way I'll get compared to him when I get home."
XXX
"Next up," Chris said over another close-up of the spinning reels, "Sadie! Doing...a trivia challenge," he announced as the reels stopped on the former sidekick and the book respectively.
The shot briefly cut to the girl in question perking up before returning to the host. "Sadie," he said as tense music began to build, "for the point, you must recite the entire elimination order of season three, and where each elimination took place. You have forty seconds."
Sadie gasped. "I have to go through all of that?" she repeated in shock.
"Whoa," Cameron said as the camera panned over to him, "you weren't kidding when you said you'd be testing our knowledge of the game."
Chris laughed. "Thanks, I tried. Now get on with it," he added sternly, shaking his stopwatch at the Llamas.
The shot cut to Eva and Sadie on the end of the Llama's bleacher. "Okay," Eva told her, "you got this. Just play it through your mind and repeat what you see."
"Okay," Sadie nodded to herself. She took a deep breath, then closed her eyes. "Noah and Staci in Egypt, Malcolm in Japan, Heather in the Yukon, Leshawna in Germany, Sky in France, Duncan and Kitsune in Jamaica, Harold in London, Victor in Area 51, Noah again in Australia, Zoey in Niagara Falls, Alejandro in China, Tyler in Tanzania, Sierra in Drumheller, Matthew during the race to Hawaii, with Mike losing to Scarlett in the final Hawaiian Challenge."
Her eyes still clenched shut, she opened one and sighed in relief at the smile Cameron sent her.
XXX
"Okay, that wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be," Sadie smiled in the confessional. "It looks like the others were impressed too."
XXX
"Impressive, but that pep talk ate up most of your time, so you finished a bit too late," Chris commented as the shot cut to him. "You can think about it while your team is being electrocuted."
The camera immediately cut back to the Llamas as electricity once more coursed through their bodies. All ten of them groaned as it ended. "Sorry...," Sadie said in shame.
The shot moved back to the monitor as the reels began to spin again – and soon landed on Jaxon and a mirror. "He can handle what you throw at him," the artist said arrogantly as the focus moved to him. "Art is truth."
"Jaxon," Chris began to read from his card, "out of everybody on your team, who do you hate the most and why?"
"What sort of question is that?" Jaxon answered in outraged disbelief. "Artists push their hate on society as a whole. They don't hate any-"
He was interrupted by Gwen slapping a hand over his mouth. A deep tune played as the camera focused in on them, and he glared at her. "I'd recommend thinking before you say another word, Picasso," Gwen warned him. "If I get shocked again because you wanna play up some act, you're gonna get it."
Jaxon sighed as she took her hand off his mouth. "Fine," he admitted, "if he must, he'll admit there's one teammate in particular that grates on his nerves."
"And which one of those teammates is it?" Chris asked. "Time's a wastin'!"
The shot cut back to Jaxon as he sighed again. "He has never liked Gwen, even when he was merely watching the first season."
"And why's that?" Chris egged him on. "You're running out of time."
"Because she dares call herself an artist," he explained. "Her work is boring and derivative. It has less of a soul than you do McLean."
A growl brought the camera's attention to Gwen, who was glaring at the boy. "Luckily, my art isn't for stuck up obnoxious snobs like you." Chris looked back at Chef as the cook pressed his remote, and the shot promptly cut to the Ferrets getting shocked again.
"Sorry Jaxon," Chris said from off-screen as the camera focused on the smoldering artist, "but you didn't answer that one with enough tact."
"A true artist cares not for the opinions of others," Jaxon said without an ounce of regret as the shot zoomed back out.
"Way to go, Jaxon," Dave spat, and the boy huffed and rolled his eyes.
"Ferrets, you might wanna start trying," Chris said as the focus moved back to him. "Maybe then you wouldn't be trailing by one!" he added, the shot quickly cutting away to the scoreboard showing the score was still 3-4. "In case you've forgotten, the loosing team will be sending someone home! Do you really wanna go home so early now of all seasons?" The shot cut first to the Ferrets as Jaxon looked around in a defiant sort of sheepishness, then to the Llamas to show Sadie hanging her head in shame. "But hey!" Chris said brightly. "Anything can happen! It's on to the Lightning Round!"
A fast-paced an intense challenge theme began to play as the reels resumed spinning, quickly stopping on Eva and the barbell. "Scuba Bear rodeo!" Chris announced. The footage immediately cut to a slow pan onto the lake with plenty of furious roars and snarls coming from off-screen. A snorkel flew into view, then the camera finished its pan to show Eva, bruised and scratched and smiling proudly, sitting on top of an utterly exhausted bear.
The shot cut to the scoreboard as it became 3-5, then panned down to show the reels landing on Ezekiel and a barbell again. "Kick a beehive!" Chris said with great enthusiasm, pointing to the boy and causing him to gulp nervously. The footage immediately cut to him standing nervously to the side with a couple of bees buzzing lazily around him; the camera then pulled out to show the female intern in full beekeeper's garb holding a long branch out towards him, at the end of which was a beehive. The camera zoomed in as Ezekiel hesitantly stared at and moved slowly towards the hive, only for a swarm of bees to suddenly fly out. The shot jumped back outward as he ran screaming from them, then the camera moved to her seated teammate as they all groaned. Chef was shown pressing the button on his remote, and the seated Ferrets were soon shocked once more.
The reels began to spin once again, this time landing on Lindsay and the third barbell in a row. "Give Chef a makeover!" Chris called out and the footage moved to the ditz standing in front of Chef. She frantically applied dark eyeshadow, red lipstick, and a bit of blush to the man, and he soon sat up, looked at its reflection in a hand mirror, and gave a thumbs-up. The scoreboard promptly changed to 4-5.
A pan down to the monitors showed the reels landing on Sierra and a book. "Name every episode where the advertised main antagonist of a season was eliminated." Chris asked, and the the cut to the superfan rubbing her chin and looking up in thought.
"I Triple Dog Dare You, Top Dog, Hawaiian Punch, Brains, vs Brawn: The Ultimate Showdown," she listed unabashedly, "The Bold and the Booty-ful, Three Zones and a Baby, Hurl and Go Seek, Trivial Pursuits, Fallout, and Morracan Roll."
The shot cut to the scoreboard updating to 4-6 in the Llamas' favor.
The shot cut to Chris clapping his hands together. "Well I had a few more challenges," he narrated, "but the Llamas have runaway with the game," he added thoughtfully as the camera slowly zoomed in on the depressed-looking Ferrets. "And while I could do this all day," the shot panned across the Llamas as they began to perk up before cutting to the grinning host, the remote now in his hands. He took a breath. "That means it's time for the game to end," he announced, earning a cheer from the Llamas of Loserdom. "The Llamas win!" he added with dramatic excitement, earning a groan from the Ferrets.
"Ferrets of Failure," Chris told the losing team, "time to vote one of you off the island."
The ten campers in question sighed and sagged in disappointment.
\
A flash took the scene to Sky walking through the woods apparently by herself, until Dave ran up alongside her. "Ssooo," he opened, "about tonight's vote..."
"Relax," Sky answered with a smile as the shot cut in closer, "I'm not gonna vote for you. We're allies remember?"
"Bet you're glad you didn't have to do a challenge right?" Dave asked. Sky nodded. "Well, uh, I think we should vote off Jaxon tonight. I mean," he laughed a little and looked away, "it's kinda the obvious choice. But, I mean, you're in, right?"
Before Sky could answer, Britney came out of nowhere, knocking the gymnast to the ground and grabbing her boyfriend in a hug. "Dave!" she cried. "I'm here! Please tell me you aren't going home tonight."
"There are so many more deserving people on your team anyway," she said with a glare to the fallen girl. Sky just glared at her as she stood up, then huffed and walked away.
"What was that about?" Dave said.
"Homewreckers need to know their place Dave," Britney said dangerously.
"Britney," Dave sighed. "You don't have to worry about that," he said. "You're the one I wanna be with."
Britney smiled and pulled him in for a kiss, and the camera panned left to show Scott scowling at him.
\
Another flash took the scene to the girls' side of the Ferrets' bunker, the camera again focused on Sky. She sighed, then looked up as she came upon Lindsay and Dakota– the latter sitting on her bead, the former leaning against a wall.
"Something wrong?" Lindsay asked.
"Not...really," Sky answered.
"Great!" Dakota said with a forced brightness as she scurried over. "Just, like, if there's anything you need just totally let me know."
"Uhh...," Sky said in confusion, raising a brow and looking to Dakota.
"She doesn't want you to vote Sal off," Lindsay said as the shot cut to her.
Sky looked back at Dakota, who blushed. "I've been crushing on him for a while and don't want him to go before I can work up the courage to confess," she explained.
"Well...," Sky said, looking away uncertainly.
"Hey, I'm fine with whoever," Lindsay said, walking forward. "Y'know as long is it's not me. I'm not leaving until Scott gets what's coming to him."
A deep note played as the shot cut to Sky's close-up as she stared at Lindsay, then smiled. "It would be nice to stay in the game long enough to see a villain get their just desserts," she admitted. "But who do you want me to vote for instead?"
"Dave," Dakota answered without hesitation.
"Yeah," Lindsay added with an emphatic nod. "I know you two are friends, but if he goes then Britney will just give up right after! That's a good way to get rid of their strongest player."
"I don't know...," Sky said, looking away. She looked at her arm, which was beginning to bruise from Britney's earlier attack
XXX
"I don't wanna betray my ally," Sky anxiously told the outhouse camera, "but at the same time I don't think I can take anymore of Britney's jealousy." She put a hand on her forehead and looked down and to the side, a concerned look on her face. "What do you think I should do?" she asked the camera.
XXX
The footage cut ahead to nighttime, the moon high above the island. The opening of the elimination theme was cut short as the camera cut to the campfire area, the Ferrets' logo appearing in the corner.
"The following Ferrets are safe," Chris opened. "Sam. Dakota," the shot cut to the pair sitting on a log together and happily catching the marshmallows tossed their way, "Harold. Ezekiel. Gwen. Ella. Lindsay," a close-up showed each of the Ferrets smiling as they caught their prize, "and Sky." The shot cut next to Sky and Dave sitting together on another log, the gymnast accepting her prize. The boy smiled at her, then froze and frowned in sudden realization as the dramatic music began to build.
"Dave, you could be going home because you're dating one of the other team's strongest players," the host explained from off-screen, Dave's eyes widening, "and, you're just not that good in challenges."
"Jaxon," the shot cut to the boy sitting alone and looking unconcerned, "you could be going home for being obnoxious and also not being good in challenges."
Jaxon scowled. "Hah hah," he said sarcastically.
"Well I thought it was funny," Chris said with a bright smile, "here ya go Dave!" The shot cut back to Jaxon, his eyes widening as he gasped in shock. He looked to the side, and Dave smirked at him as he caught the final marshmallow in his open palms.
\
The scene rotated to the Boot of Shame, the camera focused on a scowling Jaxon in the orb, the sombre farewell tune playing in the background. "He should have known this would happen," The Artist sulked. "His art was just to advanced for his team to appreciate."
"Yeah, that's the reason," Chris laughed as he took out his remote and pressed the button.
Jaxon was promptly kicked into the night, his scream echoing across the lake.
Chris snorted in annoyance as the shot moved back to him, and the capstone theme started up in the background. "Five players down," he told the camera with his usual fake smile. "Find out who gets to stay around. Next time, on Total! Drama! Redemption!"
(Roll the Credits)
\
\
(Bonus Clip)
The clip opened with Jaxon's orb flying on-screen with him screaming within. It rolled for a bit but didn't open. He scratched it with his hand causing to burst with a quick pop.
"Well," he said as he looked around. "This is preferable to being stuck on that island."
"Hey I know you!" a chipper voice said. "It's the artist guy that went home after I won the climbing challenge." The camera panned over to Izzy waving at him and smiling brightly.
"Now he's confused," Jaxon said. "What are you doing here?
"Nothing really," she said with a laugh. "I'm just here to give you a tour of the hotel we're using for the losers to stay during the game. Fun huh? And while I point stuff out you can tell me all about your art! I bet you're working on some really cool stuff."
Jaxon sniffed and smirked. "Well if you truly want to know, he supposes he can offer you an insight," Izzy cackled, then dragged him off with him giving a startled 'Whoa!'
Author's Note Post Script: Eh, we all knew his time here was short. Don't get me wrong, I like Jaxon. He's obnoxious but not mean-spirited. Sorry to his fans, but he's just not the kind of person than can last long in a game like this. At least he finally found someone who actually wanted to listen to him talk about art.
This challenge: eh, it seemed like a good idea at the time but, I don't know. Either way I can guarantee the next one will be a better read. We're nearing the end of the first third of the season.
But we do have some progress on the ships. Samkota: I thought it be a nice reversal if Dakota was the one crushing on Sam, I mean he's attracted to her too, but Dakota's already had her houty exterior stripped away. No need to drag that out. Sharly: Yep Carly's officially crushing on Shawn. Shawn feels the same but, these are not romantically literate people. Give them time.
And as always I'm sure I'm forgetting to mention something.
I hope you all enjoyed the episode, or some part of it.
And I'd also like to remind you guys that a TVTropes page for this series does exist and needs you guys adding to it.
With that I'm signing off
-TotalDramaFan14
RDR ELIMINATION TABLE:
24th Place: Gary
23rd Place: Anne Maria
22nd Place: Leonard
21st Place: Trent
20th Place: Jaxon