Author's note: Well I thank you all for the patience, and I like to see how the few reviwers from the past came back to add review, welcome back everyone. Also I would like to say this interlude chapter I wrote everything that came from my mind. If there was something missing, sorry, but it didn't came to my mind. Now I want to focus into editing the former chapters, since I received help from another user who is pointing out all my grammar mistakes, which I need to fix them soon. Anyway.
Like I said before CodeTalker69 created a TV Tropes of Reality Collides, and me and him have been trying to come up to update the most tropes as soon as possible, the characters tropes and even the chapters ones as well. That's why I offered help, but anyway. Let's have some fun. Reading this chapter will blow the mind of many, and I can't wait to read your reviews. XD
Now for answering the reviews:
Elderlicht . You can bet your ass, that's right, we are so back XD
Benny Farr. Who knows? Things will be interesting and chaotic from now on. XD
CodeTalker69. Oh they will, have fun reading this chapter.
nickvan2024. Have fun reading the chapter XD
OdaTheToaster . LTE'S GET READY TO RRRRRRUUUUUUMMMMMMBBBBBBLLLLLEEEEEE! OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Mr. E Guest. Jude has a knack of learning things that nobody ever thought before. On the first episode Jude counted how many stores are around the mall since he was bored so he literally counted one by one. Which that's how I portrait him knowing the path on where the studios are.
Just guest. Yep, Harold is annoyed by Beth, but the things he would do for his family, it's crazy, but yeah let's see how the studies of Owen's bacterias will go until the end of the show.
Hyper LOL Guest. I hope you like the new chapter I have been prepared to write XD.
Just a wee guest. What Chris has in store? Oh, a lot of things, it's more than 22 movie genres, it's going to be crazy, and let's not forget the prizes and eliminations challenges, things will be chaotic.
Guest . This season will be as chaotic as it can be, you never know how the effects and how the riple effects will causes after everything you saw at the trailer. Have fun.
Le Quack . Well have fun reading the new chapter XD.
HeavenlyMark . You asked and you shaw receive XD
Cafe-Pasion41 . I'm so glad that you liked it XD
xXwolfsterXx644 . Well there you go. XD
djinn . Oh you are going to be waiting for a few chapter, but have fun with this one XD.
Guesthouse. Oh the cadets are going to be punished for that, and oh boy, I don't want to imagine on what the interns will suffer after such events, but who knows? Jude is a person you get to start to like in the future XD. Maybe Jude will grow on Chris, who knows? XD Have fun.
Crazy Mad Guest. Well Ezekiel cannot give ideas or suggestions, the only thing he asked for Chef was for him and Izzy knows the movie genres, since they don't want to create suspicions of themselves. Which will be amazing on the next challenges which they will have to act like themselves in every genre. XD
Just guessing. Well have some fun reading the new chapter. Things will be interesting from now on XD.
Sleepy guest. Well you will see on how things will be different from now on, I'm glad you liked the chapter, have fun with everything that's going to happen XD
Ghostly Guest. I'm glad you liked this chapter, I hope you are ready for what's coming, have fun. XD
Now that's settled, enjoy the interlude everyone. XD
The crisp chill of winter had settled over Beach City, its usual sunny shores blanketed in a rare frost. Inside the Crystal Gems' kitchen, the scent of mashed potatoes and something sweet filled the air, chasing away the cold that lingered by the windows. Greg Universe stood at the counter, humming a tune as he worked.
"Oh, potatoes and molasses, if you want some, just ask us.
They're warm and soft, like puppies and socks.
Filled with cream and Candy Rocks.
Oh, potatoes and molasses.
They're so much sweeter than algebra class.
If your stomach is grumblin'
And your mouth starts mumblin',
There's only one thing to keep your brain from crumblin'."
Greg sang softly, tapping a wooden spoon against the edge of a bowl in rhythm. His voice, warm and lilting, carried through the kitchen. Despite the silly lyrics, there was a tenderness in the way he sang, like an old memory brought to life with every note.
"Oh, potatoes and molasses.
If you can't see 'em, put on your glasses.
They shine and large, like a fisherman's barge.
You know you've eaten enough when you start seein' stars.
Oh, potatoes and molasses.
It's the only thing left on your task list.
They're short and stout—
For potatoes and molasses… for potatoes and molasses."
Steven peeked his head around the corner, wrapped in a thick blanket that trailed behind him like a cape. "Dad? Are you singing the potatoes and molasses song again?" His voice was curious, laced with the kind of fondness only Steven could manage.
Greg turned to him with a grin, scooping another spoonful of molasses into the pot on the stove. "Guilty as charged, kiddo. It's the perfect song for the perfect dish. You've got your warm, creamy potatoes. He gestured theatrically to the bowl of mashed potatoes, as if unveiling a masterpiece.
Steven giggled, pulling a chair closer to the table. "I don't know why, but it makes me happy every time you sing it."
Before Greg could answer, Pearl approached, her usual air of mild exasperation in tow. She folded her arms, watching Greg work with a puzzled expression. "I don't understand why you keep bringing mashed potatoes every single time you visit us in the winter, Greg. It's… unusual, to say the least."
Amethyst, however, was already digging into the food with gusto, crumbs and molasses smearing her face. "What's there to get, P? Mashed potatoes are awesome."
Steven chuckled as he took a plate of his own, his breath visible in the cold kitchen air. "It's more than just food, Pearl. For my dad, mashed potatoes mean a lot during the winter."
Greg paused for a moment, his smile softening as he stirred the pot. "He's got it right. Sometimes, when it's cold and things feel a little heavier, mashed potatoes and molasses make it all a bit sweeter. They remind me of when things were simpler, you know? And hey—what's life without a silly song to go with it?"
Pearl sighed, though the corners of her mouth hinted at a faint smile. "I suppose... if it's important to you, Greg, I can't argue with that."
Greg ignored Pearl's slight jab as he continued setting the table, humming softly under his breath. The warmth of the kitchen seemed to wrap around everyone, but just as he placed the last dish down, a sharp, insistent tapping broke the moment.
Everyone turned toward the window, where a small bluebird trembled on the frosted pane, its tiny beak tapping frantically against the glass.
"That's weird," Amethyst muttered, tilting her head. "Birds don't usually—"
Before she could finish, Greg froze, his expression shifting from his usual easygoing demeanor to something tense and focused. Without hesitation, he rushed to the window and flung it open, letting the icy wind rush in as the bird fluttered inside, landing shakily on the counter.
"What's that about?" Steven asked, stepping closer, but Greg didn't respond. His full attention was on the bird as it let a small, rolled letter drop from its beak before collapsing in exhaustion.
Greg carefully scooped the bird into his hands, wrapping it in a dish towel to give it warmth. Amethyst, meanwhile, wandered over to the letter, picking it up with a curious glance. "Uh, this is for you, dude," she said, holding it out.
The room's attention shifted to Greg, who accepted the letter without a word. His face was unreadable as he unrolled it, but the moment his eyes scanned the page, his expression hardened. The warmth and humor that usually radiated from him vanished, replaced by a cold, stony resolve.
"Greg?" Pearl ventured cautiously, sensing the shift.
Greg held up a hand to silence her, his tone firm and cutting when he spoke. "Pearl, you know I usually stay out of the Crystal Gems' business. But there are some things—even when Rose was here—that were never meant to be part of your world. This is one of them. I'd appreciate it if you didn't ask questions."
The room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by the faint chirp of the recovering bird. Greg turned his gaze to Garnet, his voice steady but laced with urgency. "Where's the axe? And the lantern?"
Garnet adjusted her shades slightly, her tone matching his seriousness. "The axe is under the stairs. We don't have the lantern anymore."
Greg nodded, the weight of her words settling on him, but he didn't press further.
"I will grab a lantern at the van. So you don't have to worry about it."
"Dad?" Steven's voice trembled slightly. "What's going on?"
Greg turned to his son, crouching to Steven's level. He placed a firm but gentle hand on his shoulder, pulling him into a hug. "Steven, listen to the Gems while I'm gone. I'll be back in a few days—maybe a few hours if I'm lucky. But no matter what, stay away from any trees. Do you hear me?"
Steven blinked, confused. "Trees? What do you mean? What's—"
"No questions." Greg's tone softened slightly as he looked into Steven's wide eyes. "This isn't a request, kiddo. It's important."
Before anyone could protest further, Greg stood, the bird still nestled in his arms. He grabbed his jacket from the chair and made his way toward the stairs, where the axe rested.
As the front door opened, a gust of cold air swept through the house. Greg paused in the doorway, his silhouette framed against the icy backdrop of Beach City.
"I'll be back soon," he said quietly, his voice carrying a weight none of them could decipher.
And with that, he disappeared into the winter night, leaving a lingering unease in the air.
But then Steven could see the letter simply flying as he slightly took it… But at the time he was going to read... Suddenly his voice became deeper and more sinister.
"Gregory… I'm back…" Steven shut his mouth as he immediately released the letter, and suddenly the paper transformed into leaves, which soon disappeared. "Wh-at…"
While a few steps away, Greg took teapot. And placed as a helmet.
"Wirt, wait for me; I hope you are alright." Greg said as he took the lantern and with his axe, he crossed between the forest… which soon the darkness behind him showed a form of a tree, following him. While his lantern remained on... And by walking over the forest on the Beach City... Greg Universe traveled on the woods, into the direction of the Unknown.
"What kind of chapter is that?" Jade asked as she was curious on what that meant; she always thought Steven's father was just a human, but somehow there was something deeper behind that scene. "On the next few chapters, Greg seemed to return like nothing just happened, but then some chapters before his return, the Crystal Gems seemed to have missions in which none of them had any interaction with trees. Sky, what do you think it just happened?"
"I don't know, but I'm seeing on Forum that there was something secret in regard to Steven's dad, and the final chapter was so good and so amazing." Sky said as she raised her arms while she also felt frustrated. "But somehow, this chapter feels a lot off, since Greg is just a human, but... something is odd... I'm looking at the forum, and they said Greg has a tendency of sometimes a father and a mother always approaching him, like they were in gratitude of something happening?"
"Do you think Greg's a ranger?" Jade asked as she doesn't know what happened, but she saw Greg as a silly and yet a father who is doing his best to be responsible.
"It's possible, but this chapter is unique, and he sometimes feels underappreciated on the Gem's mission since they are aliens, but when it comes about the forest, Greg doesn't care if it's Pearl, Amethyst, or even Garnet; it feels like on the forest it's his own responsibility." Sky deduced as she saw the theories on the Total Drama Forums debating on which theories were related to Greg... "Also, Gregory Universe, it's a strange name; maybe that's why they always told the name of him being Greg, but I'm curious on who is Wirt."
"Must be someone very important to Greg." Jane nodded her head. "Do you think it's a supernatural villain that the gems had no idea who was it, but only Greg knows?"
"Well, that's kind of obvious, but it's related to the trees and possibly darkness." Sky debated as both sisters loved every single chapter, especially the final chapter when it comes to the future clash between the gems and the aliens from space. "Supernatural and Universal problems? Ezekiel is really making me want to read the next book as soon as possible."
"Wizard powers are so cool... I want ALL THE STAR BADGES!" Finn shouted in excitement, ready to take on all the challenges of learning how to be a wizard.
On Level 3, Finn and Jake must balance pencils on their lips.
"Excellent."Bufo said as Finn and Jake are rewarded with their third stars and the power of hair creation. Jake chuckles and makes himself a mustache.
On Level 8, Finn and Jake spin coins by flicking them. Stars are rewarded.
"Well done." Bufo commented as Finn and Jake were rewarded with the power of mayonnaise creation. Feeding themselves with mayonnaise in joy.
On the next challenge, Finn flips a hammer and is rewarded with a star; on the succeeding challenge, Jake puts an orange slice in his mouth to create a fake smile and is rewarded with a star. On the next challenge, Finn and Jake both balance themselves on tilted chairs. On Level 15, Jake is rewarded with Beauteous Wings. On Level 27, Finn is rewarded with the Vorpal Hand. On Level 31, Finn and Jake are granted the power of firework creation. They laugh and cheer as they blast fireworks into the night sky.
"All we're missing now is the big star!" Finn commented as he pointed on the missing spot of his robes, which he never thought he would be so excited to become a master wizard. "You ready to complete the set, man?"
"Nah, I'm good." On that moment when Finn thought his brother was up to take the challenge like him, Jake's answer made Finn have his eyes wide open in disbelief.
"WHAT?! How can you stop now?" Finn shouted in disbelief as the dog simply dismissed his worries.
"Eh, I've got everything I need. A limitless supply of mayonnaise, this captivating new hairstyle... Jake explained as he made his whole hand transform into a mug, while he used his finger to fill the mug with mayonnaise, and continued to give the point on why he was fine with giving up on the end, "And I just learned the best spell of all!"
"What's that?" Finn asked as he crossed his arms in curiosity.
"Sleep." Jake happily explained before making himself fall asleep by shooting himself with the spell.
…
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, that's so true. Hahahahaha," Dwayne Sr. laughed as he narrated the story for his son, who tilted his head in disbelief.
"Why sleep is the best spell?" Junior raised his eyebrows as his father simply chuckled.
"Son, you will understand that when you become an adult, man, how much I envy Jake right now." Dwayne Sr. chuckled as he for the first time was reading the chapter for his son to sleep, which a few days his son wanted him to read the chapters for him before sleep, and he was thankful for the writer saying he didn't go overboard for writing the Adventure Time, and while it sounded a bit scary for the Apocaliptic World, the drawings and the colors over the chapters really eased him up and made him enjoy much more to have his son with him appreciating the story time.
"I don't get it." Junior raised his eyebrows as Dwayne Sr. patted his head with a good smile.
"In due time, boy, but let's see what Finn is going to do with the responsibilities." The father said as he made his son gets more comfortable going to sleep, as he once showed the drawing of Finn and Jake dressed as wizards, which the boy looked weirdly at his father, but then accepted him to continue the story for him.
I always thought I might be bad
Now I'm sure that it's true
'Cause I think you're so good
And I'm nothing like you
Look at you go
I just adore you
I wish that I knew
What makes you think I'm so special
From inside the apartment around Canada, Ella was happily singing the song as she was playing on her computer, since on the forum created cover versions of Love Like You as the people named the song for Ezekiel, since Courtney had done an amazing job by singing while playing the violin.
Ella was happy to take care of Bunny as DJ took the journey to finally arrive on season 2 of Total Drama. Nobody knows how the season will go, if there will be a new island for them to participate, or if it will be completely different than what people expect.
Ella was quite glad she had a good time visiting her cousin's birthday as she prepared herself to read the book she bought nearby her apartment. Since she couldn't ask many questions in regard to the book, she was quite excited when she learned that a good part of the book would also have some lyrics for future songs that will be presented in a possible audiobook.
If in any case the songs would be published in one of the episodes of the song, she would like to see the fans also doing covers as a way to see how the song would be fully made. It was a good and interesting way for the fans to share their love for their favorite book.
"I always thought I might be bad. Now I'm sure that it's true, 'cause I think you're so good, and I'm nothing like you." Ella started singing as she noticed a few birds even chirping on the tone of the song as she giggled to continue to sing. "Look at you go, I just adore you I wish that I knew, What makes you think I'm so special."
The relentless sun was beginning its descent over the vast Australian Outback, painting the horizon in fiery hues of orange and crimson. Jasmine stepped into her family's modest, weathered home, wiping sweat from her brow. Her boots left faint traces of red dust on the floorboards as she set down her well-worn backpack. The smell of eucalyptus mingled with the faint aroma of dinner wafting from the kitchen.
"Mom? Dad? Why is there a wrapped box on my bed?" Jasmine called out, her voice echoing through the quiet house. She towered slightly over the doorway as she entered her room, her height a testament to her growing years, already surpassing her parents in stature. Her muscles ached pleasantly from the long day spent trekking through the sunburnt terrain, scouting wildlife, and navigating rugged paths.
From the kitchen, her father's deep voice replied, "Your cousin sent it from Canada. Said it's an adventure book—thought it'd be your kind of thing."
Curiosity piqued, and Jasmine approached the neatly wrapped box sitting atop her bed. The bedspread, adorned with earthy, desert-inspired patterns, added to the rustic ambiance of the room. Carefully, she unwrapped the package, the crinkling of paper breaking the tranquil silence.
Inside was a hardback book with bold, embossed letters on the cover that read "Adventure Time". Its cover depicted a landscape of rugged mountains and vast forests, a stark contrast to the dry, arid beauty of the Outback. Then Ice Mountains and a Candy City and Kingdom, which showed a lot of imagination. Jasmine ran her fingers over the textured cover, her dark eyes lighting up with excitement.
"Adventure Time, huh?" she murmured, a small smile tugging at her lips. The title alone sparked her imagination, conjuring images of far-off places and thrilling escapades. Her cousin had always known how to pick the perfect gift.
As she flipped through the pages, vibrant illustrations and tales of daring journeys of a human and his dog greeted her. Outside, the distant calls of kookaburras filled the air, harmonizing with the rustling leaves of the gum trees swaying gently in the warm evening breeze.
"Tell your cousin thanks when you get a chance," her father added, now standing in the doorway. His wide-brimmed hat hung in his hand, and his face bore the same sun-kissed complexion as hers.
"I will," Jasmine promised, already engrossed in the book. The cool, smooth pages felt comforting against her calloused fingers—a perfect escape from the scorching Outback for just a little while.
Princesses, an evil king, a brotherhood between a human and a magical dog, indeed made Jasmine interested in reading the book after a long, exhausting day she had. She read the author's name, which never rang a bell, maybe since it was from a person in Canada, but she would be interested to ask her cousin about the writer since the content of the book really opened her imagination.
She couldn't wait to read the whole book.
"Oh Simon…" Dawn shed a few tears as she hugged the book in her arms, never imagining how much suffering a person would have taken as little by little left the sanity slip away from the mind. "How many years had been? Decades? Centuries? In search of your wife that you forgot, a princess in your heart, and now you are trapped into a labirint inside of your own insanity?"
quack* *quack* *quack*
Dawn calmly looked at the duck, who looked at her with annoyance, as Dawn sheepishly looked away.
"I know I promised Ezekiel that I would wait until Christmas; however, after reading so many chapters, I lost the track I was on in the last chapter." Dawn justified herself as she cleaned up the tears; she never thought or even imagined to meet a person so complex, someone that she even thought of as an annoying type of person, a terrible villain, but then, in the final chapter, she couldn't help but feel extreme pity and sympathy for the villain, who simply had no idea what he was doing. "He never killed, or never greatly hurt anyone, with exclusion of Ricardio since he creeps me out, but Simon clearly showed how a choice of making a mistake would lead to eternal suffering, and now he had no choice but remains with the crown on his head."
Dawn calmly walked at the Forum of Total Drama, and as many people were curious about debating about Ezekiel books, she found some that even gave spoilers of the Adventure Time book. The title was something that could really summarize the suffering and insanity of Simon Petrikov.
"Heavy is the head that wears the crown." Dawn nodded her head, a fitting title for the King, who now she wished to know what plans Ezekiel had for Simon as soon as it was revealed his past in the first book of Adventure Time. "Well, at least we are going to watch the first episode of the new season of the total drama, guys. I will check if there will be berries for each of us."
Howard quacked happily as the group of squirrels, rabbits, and birds also agreed for the moonchild to prepare something for them to eat. Since they had never watched television before, with the new owner of the house, they were curious about what more they didn't know until they met the girl blessed by Mother Nature.
Who knows how crazy their future will be now that she chooses to live among them?
Topher sat near the window of the train, the hum of the engine and the gentle swaying of the car creating a calming rhythm. He was dressed casually in a green hoodie and jeans, his brown hair falling slightly over his forehead as he leaned over his lap, focused on the papers in his hands. Each note held scribbled observations, questions, and clues—anything that might help him uncover more about the man he admired most: Chris McLean.
His mother's voice echoed in his memory, though it had long since lost its sting. "That man is your father," she had said one evening, as though it were the most ordinary thing in the world. To her, perhaps, it was—a fleeting comment in a long line of neglected conversations as she pointed her finger at the person on the television. But to Topher, it had been a revelation, one that reshaped his entire understanding of himself. Ever since, he'd poured every ounce of curiosity and determination into learning more about Chris, memorizing every episode, every guest appearance, and every bit of trivia about the famous host.
The train hissed as it slowed at a small station, the sound snapping Topher out of his thoughts. He glanced out the window, his reflection faintly overlapping with the passing scenery. "I'll find out everything," he murmured to himself.
As the train continued its journey, Topher adjusted the loose stack of notes in his hands, but in his haste, a single sheet fluttered to the floor. His eyes widened, and he immediately lunged to grab it, only for a small hand to beat him to it.
"Is this yours?" a soft, curious voice asked.
Topher looked up to see a young girl, no older than seven, sitting across the aisle. She was wearing a blue plaid dress with short sleeves and a white collar, accented with a red ribbon tied neatly at her neck. Her black hair was styled into two pigtails with red ties, and bangs framed her wide, inquisitive eyes. A blue backpack rested on her shoulders, and she clutched the paper in her small hands.
"Give me back." Topher quickly took it from the girl, who was also sitting alone on the seat by his side, and even as uncomfortable he was from seeing a girl looking curious.
"Are you looking for him too?" The girl asked, which made Topher blink from the sudden question. The girl played a little with the shoes she was wearing while she was sitting on the chair. "My mom said for me to stop asking for him. And he had been a bad person."
"Do you know him?" Topher said as he felt hesitant to ask the little girl, but even as his young age, he couldn't help but hope. "That's my dad."
The girl stopped as she blinked, but with also a hope in her voice.
"Your dad too?" The girl asked, to which Topher blinked, as he never thought to see a girl that young at the train.
"Where's your mom?" Topher asked as he was surprised to meet the girl who had been with the same resolve as him.
"My mom is at home; I'm going to visit my godmother." The girl commented, as the boy was curious about the girl on his side. "It's Chris Mclean, the name of my daddy."
"You too?" Topher asked in surprise, as he never thought he would find a little girl who was also in the same resolve as him. "Does that mean... we are siblings?"
"Yes?" The girl blinked as she didn't know what to say. "I always asked for a sister, but I think that's the first time I have a boy in my family. My name is Kristal; what's yours?"
"My name is Topher." The boy commented, as he could see the girl feeling more comfortable. "Aren't you too young to be taking the train alone, Kristal?"
"I'm fine; my Godmother is waiting for me, and she always said for me to not talk to strangers." Kristal replied, as the boy nodded his head, but Kristal slowly blinked but also addressed the boy. "But family isn't strangers."
…
Topher blinked as he gave a small smile at the girl nearby him.
"Yeah, you're right. Family isn't." Topher smiled, as he never thought he would find a good clue in the direction to find Chris, or at least, to know more about his family. "Someday I will meet him, Kristal; mark my words."
"I hope you do Topher." Kristal commented, as the duo were in silence while the train was taking them to their destiny.
"Alright boys, place the plasma screen TV in that area. Also be sure to connect the cable right; I don't want any static on the television, am I clear?" The black-haired woman dressed in a casual and elegant suit pointed in the direction of where the new furniture would be placed on the property; as the time she got there, the entire area was empty; however, the lawyer of the owner of the property was holding the instructions for the architects as they were debating on what would be for the best to make sure there would be usage of 100% of the property. Which, as the time she showed her new identity, Shego as Mrs. Go, she was now taking the lead in the bedroom where she would be staying, her daughter's friend returns.
Who said she wouldn't abuse the hospitability of the person by having a VIP master suite just for herself?
Sadly, she couldn't use the money of the boy since both the lawyer, the accountant, and even her own daughter would be against her. Which Shego decided to take the second best choice? Use the government money since those cretines had been using her as a spy and trapped her into the last mission; she felt she deserved some rewards, and hilariously, she knew the numbers and the passwords of some politicians who tried to hide their money on the Maldives islands.
Poor idiots, they thought they would hide their money forever; however, they are very amateurs, which for Shego she found it really easy to trace, exchange the account number to her name, then hide the traces into 10 different locations while she remains incognito for a while. Like since after the 70's. People became lazy and sloopy, and with that, she took advantage of them.
"Yes, Mrs. Go, what about the bathtub with spa treatment?" One of the employees asked loudly, and the former spy rolled her eyes.
"Right there, also place the billhard pool on there, a library section right here, and also the kitchen should be right here." Shego commented as she pointed out that for some of the workers who had to remodel the entire suite for her, by using the money of her own—err, the investors pocket—she was enjoying the idea of having her own space on an island, which, while the name was called Playa Del Losers, she thought it could have a better name. But sadly, the island isn't hers. "Alright, I will be going to check the catalog to see if the couch colors would match with the paint you all are doing on this room. Also, I will check my boat that I will be using in the future; don't screw up, boys. It's money you guys want, and the more you mess up, the less you get paid."
"Right Mrs. Go."
As soon as Shego left the room, she had a great smirk on her face.
"I love my life." Shego smiled as she was happy to have a great family, and she loved her children so much that now she felt she was being spoiled, and she doesn't even care a bit.
Around Eaton Centre Mall, where the movement of the mall remained the same after the events of the popularity of the Total Drama Contestants visit, seems to made the movement across the mall finally slow down in a certain percentage.
Nikki, Caitlin, and Wyatt were at a Mexican restaurant named El Sporto. Which mixed the themes of both sports and Mexican food. A waitress in a yellow and black uniform brought the Nachos while she was dressed as a rollerskater.
"One Kitchen Sink Nachos. Knock yourselves out." The waitress laid the tray over the table, which Nikki smirked as she was happy to see the food.
"I think you are my favorite person in the whole world." Nikki said it as a compliment; however, such things didn't phase the waitress as she was focused on her work.
"That's real nice, honey. Know what'd be nicer? A big tip." The waitress complained as she left the trio, and Wyatt looked at both girls.
"So which one of us is going to give her a tip?" The musician commented as both he and the girls still had a very large amount of money since a good friend of theirs gave them as a way for them to enjoy the mall.
"Leave to me." Nikki said as she took 50 bucks and placed them on the tray, "I can't believe you already spent all the money, Caitlin."
"Well, I paid a part of the credit card, but there's still a lot I could pay; however, the blouse I wanted so much to buy was on sale, and I couldn't resist it." Caitlin squealed happy, which made Nikki and Wyatt roll their eyes with a smile. But then she took a look at her friend, who was enjoying the nachos. "And how are you dealing with your unemployment, Wyatt?"
"Well, technically, I'm officially employed now." Wyatt explained as he even took a few papers from the pocket. "I got my contract from the mail at home, and my parents got very happy that I will be officially making music for an audiobook or any future song Ezekiel will be preparing to create from now on."
"How did Serena take you quitting your job?" Nikki, even though she had to be that person, had to make the question as Wyatt now had to deal with one of the former coworkers and even the boss as he took his unemployment.
"Well, better than I expected, it still sucked on having to give the same talk on I'm quitting my job, but I at least could say that I have never had to deal with Country-Music for the rest of my life." Wyatt said happily until Cailtin gave the bad news.
"But what if Ezekiel had one scene of the book that would require a country song?" Caitlin's question immediately made Wyatt freeze, and then he stared at what would be his worst nightmare.
"He wouldn't do that, would he?" Wyatt asked hesitantly, but then he shook his head. "No, I mean, he could do that, but I think we should give him the benefit of doubt; as long he wouldn't go at the Country Cliche of the same lyrics as most of the others, I think I can take it. I mean, it's a book, infantile books; it could work somehow."
"Now that's the spirit." Nikki said with a smirk as she then looked at Wyatt. "Did you use the payment to buy more instruments, right? You said to Ezekiel that you could play a lot and could learn to help on the songs."
"Yeah, I said that, so that's why I will be buying CD players of music genres for me to see how to study depending on the genre. And the instruments—I bought all of them yesterday, and I think I have enough to make my personal studio in my bedroom; I can give it a try." Wyatt said as he was feeling Ezekiel let everything be prepared for him to start doing the soundtrack songs, even by giving some voice recordings on how he wanted the song to be done, and even as eccentric and weird it would be for Ezekiel describing the song by humming, scats, and snaps of fingers, Wyatt couldn't deny he had fun on the book signing day. Ezekiel really passed the whole day sitting and signing the books for all the kinds of fans.
As Nikki and Caitlin continued to eat, suddenly Jen appeared as she walked towards the table.
"Hey guys, What's up?" Jen asked as a way to disguise her tone as she started cramming several bites of the nachos into her mouth, surprising everyone with the out-of-the-ordinary way she was acting.
"Not much, Jaws." Nikki replied as she gave the comment of Jen eating the nachos as a ferocious shark like in the movie, which immediately made Caitlin look at her friend in worry.
"Is everything okay?" Caitlin asked as she could see Jen looking very annoyed, especially for one reason.
"It was… until she came back." Jen said in a venomous tone, to which Caitlin was surprised, while Nikki had a smirk on her face.
"Uh oh. Courtney's back in town?" Nikki gave the comment, which made Caitlin immediately ask.
"One of the Pillars of Killer Bass? Isn't she supposed to be on the first episode of the show today?" Caitlin asked, which made both Nikki and Jen blink from the comment of one of the blonde lemonade sellers.
"Jen's older sister." Wyatt commented, which made Caitlin raise her eyebrows at him. "No, Jen literally has a sister named Courtney, which isn't the one who came here a few days ago."
"Ohhhh," Caitlin understood, to which Jen simply rolled her eyes.
"I wish Courtney from Killer Bass was my sister instead of her." Jen crossed her arms as she looked at Nikki, giving a smirk at her. Which made her raise the finger at her. "Don't."
"But you said it. You admitted it. She's your twin sister." Nikki joked as Wyatt chuckled from the brunette, who simply rolled her eyes.
"Having almost the same personality and being responsible for the others isn't a thing that would make us twins, Nikki." Jen commented unphased as Nikki didn't dismiss the chuckle, which she simply sighed at her place. "If was that Courtney, I at least know that she has her own flaws; I mean, she's a great girl, and I know why many people like her, but come on, she was very bossy sometimes. And she now is in a relationship with Duncan, which would make her more flaws but also more qualities, differently than my sister, who Make that Jen's prettier, does everything better than me, everyone loves her more older sister."
"Okay Jen, I think maybe you need a Duncan in your life." Wyatt decided to help Jen, but then she raised her finger at him.
"Zip it." Jen said as she was getting a bit annoyed for the fact people are saying that her qualities are almost exactly like the Total Drama star, which she was fine with; being honest, she never thought all the Killer Bass celebrities were very chill and patient clients.
"Come on, Jen, you are just as pretty as she is." Wyatt said the comment as it made Jen raise her eyebrows.
"Which one of them?" Jen asked with her eyebrows raised.
"Does it even matter?" Wyatt was smart as he played safe, which Jen simply rolled her eyes at but gave a small smile.
"Thanks; I needed that. To be honest, I feel like she always wants to come here to ruin my life." Jen gave such a comment, which Caitlin couldn't help but ask.
"How come I haven't met her?" Caitlin asked, which Jen simply commented.
"She's been away at -" Jen decided to use her fingers to make air quotes: "University."
Before she would continue to tell more about her sister, suddenly Jonesy came around as he found the group eating Nachos.
"Hey guys, did any of you get in contact with Jude this morning? I tried to call him or even give a text to him, but nothing; I got no call and no answer from him." Jonesy explained as the group blinked, but it had been most of them also getting worried.
"He said he was going to give the sticks for Courtney before she would go at the new season of Total Drama, and until now he didn't call me, he told me he was going to call when he finished the task. And yet, nothing as well." Jen said it also in a grim tone, and Caitlin looked even worried.
"Do you think he's fine?" Caitlin asked, as Nikki, even as worried she would be, tried to give hope.
"Come on guys, it's Jude; maybe his cellphone is out of battery and he's on his way to return home; we can call his parents to see if he got home tonight. I mean, he probably didn't get in danger." Nikki said as slowly the group nodded their heads in agreement.
"Yeah, you're right. But still, I think the mannequin he used as a substitute isn't going to take much longer, since I had to fake some calls to the boss, and I don't know how long I can cover up." Jonesy said as he was doing his best to make sure his friend wouldn't get fired from the job at the mall.
"I think that's too risky, but I hope you don't do something stupid, Jonesy; it's Jude's job after all." Jen said as she somehow remembered that things didn't always resolve around her, but also she was worried about her friend. "I just hope he's fine."
The group remained in silence as they started eating the nachos together, wondering what just happened to their friend. Not realizing their answer would be the surprise at the time they would get home and watch television.
ROARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR*
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh" The loud, happy shout was done as once again the matriarch in the forest had enjoying a good time with her husband. Since sometimes it had been a great experience into a mating season for her home.
5 minutes later.
"You are a despicable minx; are you aware of that?" Thorn said as he was shaving his own beard, since there were times he enjoyed working as a ranger and even growing up his beard; depending on the season of the year, both Mother Nature and his wife would be nagging him to shave the beard.
"But that doesn't mean if you didn't enjoy it." Serenity commented as both could hear Mother Nature giggling.
"Whatever you say, my muse." The ranger druid simply scoffed as he could see the wrecked chambers of both husband and wife passed the entire time having fun. Since with the ausency of their daughter, the empty nest effect clearly had affected them, to the point the matriarch was quite insistent on having fun.
"Well, fun aside… We gotta receive a call from our daughter in approximately... right now." Serenity commented as both husband and wife looked at the telephone, which started to ring.
"It's funny when it's with the others, dear, but with Mother Nature warning us Dawn was about to call us, it gets old quickly." Thorn said as he ignored the adorable pout of his wife. "Hello, my little Moonchild."
"Father," The sweet voice of his little girl reaching towards his ears made the ranger finally release a sigh of relief, knowing that his daughter was fine. "How are you? Is that your day off?"
"It's a time for the rangers to bring their family for camping Dawn, which means I will be with a few days off from work." Thorn explained as he could see his wife still laying on the bed. "Your mom says she loves you."
"Oh, is she sleeping?" Dawn's confusion voice was heard, as she could hear her father humming in amusement.
"Yes, she is." The patriarch said as he could see his wife hissing at him, which he simply ignored and continued to focus on his girl. "Mother Nature says you managed to find a good place to stay; how are the natives of the forest doing?"
"They are very patient and kind." Dawn clearly showed how much she was getting used to the new home she found for herself over her journey, and the father was doing his best to remain calm and collect. "Mother Nature said you are envied of where I am living."
"It's not envy," Thorn corrected as he glared at the trees outside of the window, knowing how annoying Mother Nature sometimes was snitching about all their lives. "I'm very happy after you discover such a wonderful place for you to pass, but remember to be thankful for the owner of the property who gave it to you."
"Will do that…" Dawn voice said as Thorn waited in silence for a few seconds... "A-"
"Gotu Kola Leaves, Ginkgo Biloba Leaves, Holy Basil (Tulsi) Leaves, Dried Rosemary, Dried Mugwort, Saffron Threads, and Raw Honey." Thorn interrupted his daughter even before she could say the next word. Which immediately put the girl in silence. "Mother Nature already explained to me your true intentions, and as much as I would like to ask the reasoning for such a request. It's for the better if I don't question until it's time."
"..."
"Beware Dawn, this recipe is like opening a Pandora Box; it requires much inner strength, patience, and an unbreakable will to Bear the pain over this recipe." Thorn explained as he could hear his little girl gulping in hesitation. "He didn't ask for it, but you offered it…"
"Daddy, did you really have to use a Bear pun to explain that?" Dawn's voice came, which made the druid roll his eyes.
"Don't you have a few plants to send it out for the boy you crush on?" The father rebutted, which made the girl squealed.
"I- It's it's not…"
"Good luck, my daughter; may Mother Nature help with the choice of future you decided to take." Thorn quickly said before turning off the telephone.
"I'm surprised you didn't ask the reason why the boy wanted to have all his memories back." Serenity, who finally managed to get up from the bed, approached calmly at her husband, and he stared calmly at the sweaty and messed-up hair of his wife. But then he simply shook his head.
"It would be for the best for we learn at the time we meet him personally." Thorn explained as he could see the leaves of his flowers slowly degrading, which was a signal of them wanting water. Made the druid go to the sink and carry the right water to bring and take out the thirst of the plants in his house. "Dawn and Mother Nature could have revealed to us what the secrets behind his 2 auras were at any moment; however, they felt it wasn't necessary for us to know."
"Then why you still gave the recipe of your family tea?" Serenity raised her eyebrow as the ranger simply shrugged.
"I don't know, but I think my instincts are telling me this will be for the best of everyone." Thorn explained as he suddenly saw the pile of tarot cards on the table as he suddenly blinked from seeing a card on the table in a horizontal line. "Wow, it's been decades since I saw that card."
"Which one?" Serenity asked as she suddenly blinked from seeing indeed a rare card. "Indeed, I thought it had been a while since the last time I saw it. Did one of our native forest friends bring it to help me fix my pile of cards missing?"
"I don't know, but this card itself is probably a definition of what a person can be in the future." Thorn said as he mused for a few seconds. "Do you remember the last time this card was pulled?"
"I think it was when my mom told us about my grandma, giving the future for a general from the United States who wanted to seek the future of how to win World War II." Serenity explained as Thorn nodded his head in understanding. "My mom told me it was the first time our family managed to pull up a card that went horizontal instead of upwards or upside-down. Alongside with a tarot card of a Smoking Snake,"
"Hmm, I still find strange how your grandmother insisted on creating a card of a Snake Smoking, since that was not to be done with a member of the forest." Thorn, as a ranger, was always uncomfortable with the said card, but seeing his wife giggling at him made him deadpan at her. "They could produce fires on the forest with that stupid idea."
"Honey, sometimes you take your job too seriously." Serenity giggled as she patted the head of the druid patriarch. "Some of tarot cards meant something more than a realism, but more like an ideal... and you know what a smoking sneak would mean for someone in the World War II."
"Yeah, I know. A symbol of pride for those who were challenged, which means something almost impossible is about to happen, and when it happens, it will cause a lot of problems for those who challenged it." Thorn mumbled as he remembered the former user of the tarot of the family, who cackled on those who took that card, which means their pride and honor would be challenged, and those who challenged the person are going to have the worst headache of their lives. "But seeing that card more times than this one is very surprising."
"Yes, it was... but at least I feel the deck is finally complete. Especially for seeing this card once again." Serenity smiled as she never thought to see such a card again.
The ranger nodded his head, as the clear view of the Tarot Card remained the same.
The card features a striking illustration of a wolf on one side and a coyote on the other, symbolizing the duality of primal instinct and cunning adaptability. The wolf stands beneath a glowing full moon in a dense forest, representing loyalty, intuition, and raw power. The coyote is depicted under the stars in an open desert, surrounded by scattered bones and a smirking expression, embodying wit, playfulness, and the ability to adapt.
"The Wolf and The Coyote, humph... Maybe Mother Nature is trying to tell us the future." Thorn mused as he could see his wife nodding her head.
Cameron sighed as he never thought he would pass more and more time inside of his little house, with a woman so overprotective like his mom, the only thing he could be doing inside of his safe house, protected against all bacteria, germs, or even types of dangers.
Boredom had been an issue that he tried to overcompensate with studying and sighing.
But when his mom came at home holding 3 new books for him to enjoy, it had been the first time his mom wanted him to work on his imagination and have fun knowing that there was indeed someone who never went to school and managed to work fine in life and be a good writer.
It was her way of saying studying at home was a beneficial way for him to remain inside the house and continue protected.
But from the books his mom brought at him, it clearly opened his mind to things he never imagined before: the concept of horrors inside a farm house, a group of aliens who work up as defenders of planets, and also a boy and a dog with a magical mutation who were able to explore the challenges across the biggest world of the unknown.
But what has been the most impactful message was from the writer, who clearly made him read those books not just once or twice, but 5 times already, with only one exception, the final chapter of Adventure Time. He promised his mom that he would read the final chapter of the book at Christmas, even as he was trying to come up with a lot of profiles of the characters in notes.
What would be the biggest mystery of the ending of the book? He doesn't know, but also the cliffhanger done by Steven Universe book made him anxious and with a lot of theories on what would be the colorful diamond in the descriptions and drawings at the wall. And why Jasper wanted so much to destroy Pearl and Rose Quartz, there was a reason why she wanted to destroy them. Something personal.
And yet what made Cameron more open-minded was the message written by the author of those books.
He was also a boy inside the bubble, and the day he literally left it was the best day of his life. Getting out of comfort zone and taking all the dangers and treasure them as experiences of life… Cameron couldn't help but admire him and even feel fear for him.
Getting in danger in purpure for the sake of learning and acquiring experiences? Was something that he felt fear about, but he would be lying after reading all those books; he wouldn't be curious about those feelings of adventuring himself to the unknown. How must it feel like punching someone, running away in fear, and being heroic once or twice?
Even as the drawings really made him have better dreams about his entire life, something more vivid, imagination and weird usually were words that he would feel uncomfortable and not sure on how to respond to, but seeing more and more, reading more and more, he did something that his mom isn't aware of... He managed to hack the television and managed to make a screen in his bedroom, where he could be watching the episodes of Total Drama by himself, and usually when his mom was leaving to do the groceries at night. He timed it perfectly to be able to watch the whole episode by himself.
He wondered what kind of chaotic and dangerous challenges Ezekiel must have put throught at the day he left his bubble, and he wondered if he would also have motivation to do it as well.
The Anderson home was usually a quiet place, but today, the air was tense. Mrs. Charlotte Anderson, Jay and Mickey's mother, sat by the phone with a look of exasperation as she ended her call with the detective. Her voice, though steady, carried a mix of relief and frustration as she turned toward her boys, who were anxiously waiting on the couch.
Her sister, who had been on a cruise with both her husband and son, had been calling her countless times trying to figure out what happened to her eldest son, since it had been a unique opportunity for both the psychologist and the teacher to have vacations to enjoy with the family. However, Cody somehow managed to get himself in the show named Total Drama, which at the time they were on a cruise that would take a few more months. They had the call of the police, which showed how serious things were.
Thankfully, there was a detective who managed to make sure it was everything a false alarm. However, that didn't stop worrying the whole family. Even their sibling from the United States discovered about the disappearance of Cody Emmett Jameson Anderson. But things could have been easier if they actually received a call from Cody from where he was. Since this whole mess was created without his knowing.
"Well, it's sorted out," Charlotte began, letting out a sigh. "The detective confirmed that Cody is safe. He's staying at Katie's house—apparently this whole time, they have been dating since after the show. And Katie's mom seemed to have invited Cody to stay with her for a few days before he goes to season 2 of Total Drama."
"Cody? Dating?" Jay raised a brow. "Huh, good for him, I always thought he would have more chances of getting hurt on that crazy show... But it seems he went out fine."
"Fine? Did you see that beast Eva throwing the dodgeball on his kiwis?" Then a shy and terrified voice made the twin brother look at him, who gulped and had sweat on his face. "I think she is far more scarier than wolves."
That comment alone made Jay gulp and pale from remembering what she did with the bear and the monster known as Saskwatchanakwa. But the Mickey wasn't done.
"Wait, what about the calls?" Mickey piped up, nervously clutching the edge of his helmet.
Charlotte Anderson crossed her arms, her expression growing stern. "That's the part I need to talk to you about. It seems this... Sierra Girl has been using my name after her call, saying she was a telemarketer, and somehow also took Lynda's as well to file reports about Cody being missing. And it wasn't just a one-time thing. She's been making a mess of things, pretending to be family!"
Jay tilted his head. "So, some random girl's running around claiming to be you? That's... weird."
"Not just weird," she emphasized, "dangerous. The detective said they dismissed the report once they confirmed Cody was safe, but the fact that someone used my identity like that is a serious problem."
Mickey's face paled, and he clutched his chest dramatically. "Identity theft?! Oh no. Oh no, no, no! That's it! That's gonna be a new phobia, I can feel it! Phonophobia! Telephobia! No, wait—Caller ID Theft Phobia!"
Jay rolled his eyes. "Calm down, Mick. Mom just said the cops figured it out."
Mrs. Anderson gave Mickey a reassuring pat on the shoulder before her tone became firm again. "This is why I need both of you to be careful. Don't just pick up the phone for anyone, and if something feels off, hang up immediately. People like this Sierra might seem harmless at first, but they can cause real trouble if you're not careful."
Mickey whimpered. "What if they call pretending to be someone we know? What if they say something like, 'Mickey, this is the President! You've won a million dollars! Give me your Social Security number!'"
Jay smirked. "You don't even have a Social Security number, Mick. We're Canadian."
"That's not the point!" Mickey snapped, clutching his helmet tighter. "It could still happen!"
The mother stifled a small laugh but quickly composed herself. "Listen, boys. Just stay vigilant. And Mickey, don't let this become another phobia. We've got enough to deal with as it is."
"I can't make promises!" Mickey screeched, flailing his arms.
Jay groaned, leaning back on the couch. "Great. Add another phobia to the list. At this rate, we're going to need a separate room just for your fears, Mick."
Mrs. Anderson shook her head, smiling despite herself. "You two may drive me up the wall sometimes, but at least you keep life interesting."
The boys exchanged a glance before Mickey muttered, "Interesting isn't the word I'd use."
The room fell into a brief silence, broken only by the sound of the phone ringing again. Mickey shrieked, diving behind the couch, while Jay calmly reached for the receiver.
"Relax, Mick," Jay said, lifting the phone. "It's probably just Lynda checking in—"
"DON'T ANSWER IT!" Mickey yelled, peeking out from behind the couch.
Jay gave him an amused look before answering anyway. "Hello? Oh, hey, Aunt Lynda... Yeah, it's fine, Mom's here." He smirked at Mickey. "See? Nothing to worry about."
Mickey groaned, crawling out from his hiding spot. "I need a vacation from this family..."
Charlotte chuckled, ruffling Mickey's hair. "Good luck with that. You'd miss us too much. Also, you could have gone with Aunt Grace, but you would have been with seasickness if you didn't get used to it."
"Oh…" Mickey said as he had a sad look on his face.
"Maybe someday we will do that, hon, don't be too hard on yourself." Charlotte said as she slightly gave a hug to the boy. Knowing that even as her children would have adversities, she had a feeling in the future they would make her proud.
Jay offered the telephone for the mother, who simply smiled and decided to leave her children alone.
"Hi Lynda, yeah, Grace finally can enjoy the rest of her trip with James and Zack; I think having her son in the reality show really made the whole trip chaotic for her." Charlotte commented as she was talking with her sister on the United States; even as a mother of two as well, it seems the Andersons had a knack of always having 2 kids, which was an inner joke for the trio of sisters.
"Mom… can we watch the new season of Total Drama?" Jay called as she looked on the clock, and from seeing the time, it was almost up to the new season of the show. The woman could relax as she would see how her nephew had been doing all this time.
"Sure, but try to not make the volume too loud for both of you." Charlotte explained as she continued to talk with her sister.
The Anderson family had been in such chaos because of that scammer telemarketer, which she now regretted giving her name and even saying a little story or 2 of Cody's childhood.
The first day off before the next challenge wasn't what Ezekiel expected, since he couldn't have a glimpse of sleep at all. Ezekiel, usually the first to rise on most days, he as a writer had created a routine for himself whenever it comes about writing his books, he was usually the first to wake up on the mornings, to train his body and his mind whenever comes for him to write an action scene. Using only his typewriter, his body movements, a notepad, a pencil, and his imagination.
However, at the Total Drama Action... things became way different than he expected. Since the last encounter with Chef, the time he woke up wasn't 5 a.m as he was used to, but 3 a.m, which now will be part of his new routine. His body had been sore since the Monster Cash challenge, and Chef refused his body to even have a night of sleep; he wanted Ezekiel to surpass the limit for at least 1 day before giving the right schedule for him to rest his body.
And since Ezekiel found himself into the alliance between Izzy and Chef, the duo explained to the writer that the only part of the weakest link over his part was his own body, Since the last season he lost because of sickness, and the first challenge made him lose all his stamina, he needed to improve himself on his health… Which was bad news since Ezekiel saw the smirk on Chef's face saying he knows a way to do that.
Chef, in his infinite wisdom, had declared that 6 a.m. was breakfast time, but for Ezekiel, the day's first challenge began at 5:20 sharp. That was when Chef demanded Ezekiel eat the best rations available to "prepare him for the horrors" of the contestant's breakfast.
It wasn't just a matter of eating two breakfasts—one amazingly good and one terrible—it was a test of his endurance. Chef's philosophy was simple: soldiers needed to be tough, and the unpalatable slop served to the contestants was, in Chef's words, "just what the body needs to toughen up." Ezekiel could barely stomach the idea, let alone the food itself, but he pushed through. Each bite was another step toward strength, Chef had said, though Ezekiel wasn't entirely convinced.
Izzy, of course, as a good friend she was; even as she was his biggest ally and friend, she didn't need a personality since she thrived in the chaos. She was awake alongside him, not out of necessity but sheer enthusiasm. If Ezekiel groaned at the thought of two breakfasts, Izzy upped the ante by turning every task into a personal challenge. Whether it was scaling the walls of one of the sets that doesn't have cameras before breakfast or even reminding Ezekiel to use all the weights Eva ordered him to keep on his body, she, as a way to motivate him, also decided to place weights on the training just to help the writer. She pushed herself—and Ezekiel—harder.
He sometimes loves and hates her for her chaotic behavior, but it's Izzy, so you must be prepared for everything she was doing, even acting like a crazy girl, knowing that deep inside she was a far more experienced soldier and knew what she was doing. But sometimes he could swear she was doing that because she wants to mess with him and have fun, which he believed it was both.
Chef didn't change the weights of Ezekiel's body because not even Chef would dare to see the glares of the bodybuilder who managed to take down a serial killer and make bears afraid of her. He even respected the crazy woman who is making the homeschooled boy push himself harder on the Playa Del Losers.
The boy has talent; Chef cannot deny that, but talent alone wouldn't do anything; he was going to push the boy into breaking his body and make him a strong soldier; he and Izzy were his ticket to have a better payment and more luxuries over the show from now on, so he must make them strong enough to deal with all the chaos. Even being paranoid, just like them, into checking if there were all kinds of cameras and even interns wandering around.
Ezekiel now must adapt a new routine for himself... Training, breakfast, sleep 1 hour or 3, then wake up, finally start writing his new chapters, then when it comes about it, try to sleep early and then wake up for the training again.
Which is easier said than done, but thankfully Chef promised Izzy and Ezekiel they wouldn't need to do heavy training on the morning of the challenge, just stretches and warm ups after hearing the next genre. Ezekiel blinks a few times but accepts the outcome. With the MVPA points ready to gather, their plan was to start doing that when the teams were made.
But that doesn't mean he couldn't have some fun.
.
.
.
"So you already wrote 15 thousand words in just a few hours?" Noah blinked as Ezekiel nodded his head as he was feeling well by writing down on the laptop.
"Yep, it's a good thing since I have been practicing by using my typewriter for so long, that in the end all the effort of exchanging paper, correcting mistakes, or even rewriting the pages really was cut from just using a program, which I can use to edit easily now." Ezekiel explained as he continued to write as the bookworm approached the boy, who was clearly writing down another page.
"So, this new book, Over the Garden Wall, what will be about?" Noah crossed his arms as he checked the drawing done by the boy, which showed nothing more than 2 kids dressed weirdly, a boy with suspenders wearing a teapot, and another boy dressed as a gnome.
"A dark fantasy, about two half-brothers getting inside of a magical forest and trying to find their way home. With a focus of never judge the book by it's cover." Ezekiel explained as he could see Noah staring at him weirdly. "When I get the few chapters done, you will understand what I mean."
"No, I get it; however, I'm surprised that you find so much energy into writing even after we wake up in terrible conditions after Owen farts at our trailer." Noah rolled his eyes as he pointed at the enormous boy still having problems while he drank more laxatives to eliminate all the fake food he ate on the last day.
"Well, we have just 2 days to enjoy before the next challenge, so I think using all this time wouldn't be bad. Now, I need to conclude the first chapter if you don't mind." Ezekiel commented, as the bookworm gave space.
A few minutes later, more of their friends appeared, and even some were trying the breakfast done by nobody other than Chef, who was making terrible food for most of them.
.
.
.
"Who would win a fight between Godzilla and King Kong?" Tyler asked as the group was talking about the last challenge, since it was related to giant monsters. Tyler heard both Harold and Cody debating about the movies they watched.
Ezekiel was enjoying making the conclusion of the first chapter of his new book, even as the strongest coffee Chef prepared for him to drink at 5:20. He doesn't know how, but he was able to keep writing, but he knew in a few hours his mind would be begging for him to sleep later. But nothing like a good juice wouldn't help him as well.
"Godzilla." Harold said, to which Cody nodded his head.
"Godzilla, easily,"
Psssssssss*
Ezekiel spat on the juice away from the laptop as he looked at both the nerd and the geek like they had lost their minds.
"What the hell?" Ezekiel said in tone of betrayal as he blinked at the duo who looked surprised at him, Katie, Courtney, Gwen and a few of their circle of friends who were eating their breakfast, look at Ezekiel, who just made a scene. "Okay, now I understand why Lindsay said the messed-up plot of Indiana Jones; if that's the core mentality of the fans of movies, then those fandoms just lost their minds. Guys, I expected better from you both."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Noah, who was just sitting nearby, raised his eyebrows as he used his sarcasm to discuss even further. "It's just a giant gorila against a giant lizard who launches radioactive laser beams; how is that comparison?"
"Wha-... Noah, you from all people. I thought you understood the concept of the movement; you betraying it like that? Wow, you really aren't smart as you think you are." Ezekiel said as Noah narrowed his eyes, and Cody and Harold were now in utter disbelief.
"Wait, how do you think King Kong would beat Godzilla?" Cody asked as Izzy even rolled her eyes.
"Boys, what you both are saying is absurd." Izzy commented, as she even couldn't believe the nerds would haven't thought about it.
Ezekiel decided to use the final judge.
"Okay, let's bring the true expert... Lindsay." Ezekiel called the name of the blonde bombshell who was bringing her tray of food, which was followed by Beth and Heather. She looked at the boy who decided to call her. "Between a giant monkey named King Kong and a giant lizard who shoots laser beams like Godzilla, who would win?"
Lindsay passed a few seconds in silence, but then blinking, she couldn't help but ask.
"Aren't monkeys more evil and dangerous?"
"THANK YOU." Ezekiel threw the arms as a way to prove a point. "That's why you're the champion. Thanks Lindsay."
"You're welcome." Lindsay smiled as both Heather and Beth looked weird as Ezekiel continued the discussion.
"What does even mean?" Harold asked, to which Ezekiel sighed.
"Do you have any idea on how monkeys can be evil?" Ezekiel explained as it made the group blink as he decided to continue. "Do you know what monkeys do when they are pressured and against the wall? When the monkeys are without limit? You don't want to have Godzilla's face covered in monkey shit or semen on him. Because Godzilla couldn't take that."
Duncan started laughing at the absurd as Cody and Harold paled with the mental image of indeed a monkey doing that.
"You don't want that because if he wanted, he would be doing that, even smocking yet." Ezekiel created enphasis as some contestants who were on there listening to the absurd starting to laugh.
Which Noah nodded his head.
"Shit bath I agree with you. Because I got one monkey shit bath at Zoo, that shaped my character." Noah hated to admit the bad memories of how he was just a simple guy when suddenly a monkey threw poop on his face. Since that day, he doesn't give a damn about anything. "But do you really think they would make a movie of King Kong and Godzilla fighting and King Kong throwing shit everywhere?"
"I don't understand the point of what's the meaning of such stupid debate." Eva scoffed as then she looked at Ezekiel.
"Eva, Eva, Eva, Eva… listen to me…if someone threw shit in your face in a fight… Tell me you weren't going animalistic, and the battle isn't going to be like you would usually fight; it would be a fight for life and death." Ezekiel explained as Eva blinked slowly as she shivered into how disgusting it would be.
"I would kill them all."
"There you go." Ezekiel commented as he smiled, since he proved a point. "A normal fight wouldn't exist at the first slap of shit on the face; there's no way someone would fight professionally if a shove of shit was threw on your face."
"Couldn't we just have a normal conversation?" Courtney said as she was disgusted and yet annoyed for a conversation going to that point.
Ezekiel simply shrugged and continued to write the chapter of his new book. Noah returned to read, and Izzy continued to eat her breakfast. Cody and Harold returned to their conversations, while Tyler blinked.
"So King Kong won?"
"Pratically, now go back to eat." Eva commanded as the jock nodded his head, and the contestants appeared to eat on their seats on the craft services tent.
While on the internet, the Pay-Per-View debate would cause a lot of debates between the fans of Kaiju Monsters, a clash of ideals between who could win, Godzilla or the without limits King Kong. Nobody knows if in the future the new movie Godzilla vs. Kong would be different with that new idea. But who knows what could potentially change with the ideals clashing from the ripple effects of a reality show? What would be the best victory—a fight one? Or the moral one after having such a terrifying move hit in your face? Nobody knows, and there would still be a lot of debates around it.
The next day, the group reunited at their usual spot in front of The Big Squeeze, the juice bar buzzing with its usual mall traffic. But today, their usual lighthearted energy was nowhere to be found. Instead, an awkward silence hung between them as they sat around the circular table, each trying to process the surreal revelation from the night before: Jude was now part of Total Drama Action.
Their smoothies and juices sat untouched, condensation trickling down the sides of the cups. Every so often, one of them opens their mouths to say something, but immediately they close because they literally have nothing to say.
Until Jen couldn't take it anymore.
"I still can't believe this," Jen finally said, breaking the silence. She had her arms crossed and a pinched look on her face, like she'd been holding in her frustration all morning. "How does Jude accidentally end up on a reality show? He was just going to give the sticks to Courtney, and not just ended up on the television, but he ended up on the Total Drama Action!"
"Right?" Caitlin said, leaning forward with wide eyes. "I mean, I knew Jude was laid-back, but who just signs a contract without even reading it? Didn't Ezekiel say to read the contract before signing? Specially that kind of contract?"
"Yes, he said it." Wyatt commented as he was drinking the matinal coffee, which he desperately needed. Since then, he had no idea what to do. "I'm asking my parents to add Pay-Per-View at home, just to be sure Jude's fine."
"Yeah, me too. Daddy said since I paid a part of the credit card debt, he was willing to do that favor for me and let our home have the Pay-Per-View; if you guys want to watch, you can come home." Cailtin explained as Jonesy nodded his head.
"I accept, as much as I would say I would like to watch for the girls, Jude really scored for becoming now a celebrity on here." Jonesy said as he was being optimistic about now his best friend becoming a celebrity.
"You're acting like this is some kind of achievement. Did you even watch the episode?" Jen rolled her eyes. "A freaking giant robot was the genre of movie, and the group had to literally escape from it; also, there were explosives and bears around."
"It was the last day of contract for the bear, so that animal isn't going to bother anyone for a while." Nikki said as she decided to explain her point of view. "You are worried about him; I got it, we all are, Jen, but now the only thing we can do is just hope for Jude not to hurt himself and probably win the 1 million dollars."
"Ohh, man, I wish it was me to have such an opportunity, stay nearby sexy girls, and then win a million bucks." Jonesy said into a dreaming smile, but then Wyatt had to break with the harsh reality.
"You forgot the show is about dangerous, disgusting challenges that would lead people vomiting and even hurting themselves." Wyatt said as he was even in concern but trying to remain calm about everything. "Guys, we all know Jude can do it; even if he will be eliminated, all we can do is cheer for him to maybe win the game."
"Yeah, I hope so." Jen sighed, as much she was happy to see her friend again. "Now it will be 44 days before we see him again."
"That if he wins, but I don't know if the elimination we can see him." Wyatt explained as he was finishing his drink. "Maybe when the lawyer contacts me in the name of Ezekiel, I can ask a few questions. I heard there will be the chance I talk with him by telephone."
"Really? What do you mean?" Caitlin asked in curiosity, but all she received was a shrug by the musician.
"I don't know. But I will keep an eye on my cellphone until he calls; maybe he can answer what could happen on the show and even answer a few questions from us." Wyatt suggested the idea as the group nodded their heads in agreement.
"So how has been your first impression of participating in the show Jude?" Bridgette asked as she watched both the blonde boy and the party boy doing a few skate tricks. Now she was wearing more comfortable clothing since she was now wearing a light blue cropped jacket with rolled-up sleeves over a purple and white striped shirt. They are also wearing light green shorts and dark blue sandals. To complete the look, Bridgette is accessorized with a blue star necklace.
"Well, dudette, I have to say it had been awesome." Jude said as he gave a high five to Geoff, who also seemed to have a liking for the skateboard boy. "And how was the trailer?"
"Oh yeah, I wanted to ask about it." Geoff commented as he also stopped with his skateboard and looked at his girlfriend, who was in a delighted face. "The trailer really was that great?"
"Oh sure it was; Chris told us there was a plasma screen for us to watch television; however, fighting over the control remote became way more hard when you have everyone wanting to watch a different show." Bridgette explained as she could see both boys staring at her in surprise. "Also, the snacks are great; if you want, I can bring some and we can eat together. But the best part was the private hottub for us to enjoy; sadly, we couldn't do it like we did at the Aquarium, but at least you guys were nice into giving that to us."
"Hey, it's for you, Bridge; of course I would do that without thinking twice." Geoff, as he followed the example of the Ezekiel idea, felt he was rewarded way more than he should, losing something but also making something he was willing to give to her, which made him not actually lose but also get rewarded for just being supportive. "Want to make out?"
"Of course, Jude, can you cover for us?" Bridgette said she didn't like to be spotted by the group or even receive the water spray with hot sauce on it.
"Sure, dude, I will be in that area, and I will be watching if someone is coming." Jude said as he used his skateboard to give a good space for both blondes to have a time for themselves.
"Man, I'm glad Jude is Courtney's childhood friend, because I think he somehow belonged here." Geoff said as he could see Bridgette nodding her head.
"Yeah, I felt the same. But at least now we have some time alone just for us. Now kiss me." Bridgette said her boyfriend didn't need to be told twice.
"And that's how you do a liver blow," Eva explained, demonstrating her stance with precision. With a single punch, she struck the massive punching bag in front of her. The impact was so powerful that the bag swung violently, straining against the heavy chains securing it to the ceiling. Ezekiel, standing nearby, could only gawk at the sheer force behind her hit. He still couldn't fathom how Eva had managed to drag a punching bag of that size and hang it so securely next to the girls' fancy trailer.
"You need to do that at least fifty times, on each side," Eva continued, her tone firm. "Do it slowly, especially with the weights. Slow movements will strengthen your inner muscles over time."
"Okay," Ezekiel replied, forcing a small smile. On the outside, he looked willing, but on the inside he was screaming in agony. His body was already sore, his arms heavy like lead, and he couldn't shake off the overwhelming desire to collapse and sleep. Yet Eva insisted he use his free time to learn the basics of martial arts, starting with boxing. And somehow, she'd convinced him that this was essential.
For hours Ezekiel practiced. Jabs, hooks, direct punches, and finally, the liver blow. Over and over, the grueling repetition consumed his evening. By the time he glanced at the clock, it was past 9 p.m.
.
.
.
"I'm so exhausted…" Ezekiel muttered, his body sore and his mind foggy with fatigue. His legs felt like jelly as he trudged toward the trailer. He wasn't sure he'd even have the energy to talk to anyone from his group. "I want to marry my bed," he groaned, collapsing onto the sheets, letting the soft fabric envelop him. For the first time all day, relief washed over him, and sleep claimed him almost instantly.
.
.
.
SPLASH!
A cold, wet sensation jolted Ezekiel awake. "Hmmmmmmm!" He tried to scream, only to find his mouth muffled. Disoriented and drenched, he blinked rapidly, realizing he was no longer in bed. Instead, he was sitting on a chair... at the water tower. Again.
"Good morning, Ezekiel!" Izzy chirped, standing before him with her usual chaotic energy. "Sorry for the surprise wake-up, but we needed you up for training. It's already 3 a.m., and we didn't want you to scream and wake the others."
Chef stood beside her, arms crossed, his expression unreadable but clearly not sympathetic. Ezekiel's eyes darted between the two of them, a mix of horror and disbelief on his face.
"Trust me, the first few weeks are going to suck," Izzy said sheepishly, though her grin remained unwavering. "But you'll get used to it. It's for the best, I promise!"
Ezekiel blinks, his body aching as he processes her words. His exhaustion was so overwhelming that it felt like he'd only closed his eyes for a second before waking up to this madness.
"Dammit," he muttered under his breath, realizing there was no escape. The day's training was about to begin again, far earlier than he ever thought possible.
And with that, the cycle continued.