The classic introductory tune of The Aftermath plays as an animated logo appears on screen: a globe crisscrossed by railroad tracks, with the words Total Drama Express Tour: The Aftermath in the middle. The camera then shifts to a familiar stage—the presenters' couch, where Chris Jr. and Emma are seated. They both greet the audience with enthusiasm, though Junior is visibly nervous.
"We're back! Welcome, everyone, to Total Drama Express Tour: The Aftermath!" Emma raises her arms in the iconic Chris McLean style. "And we're not the only ones returning—say hello to your beloved Peanut Gallery!"
The set erupts in applause as the camera pans over the audience, revealing the contestants seated in the bleachers: Lionel, Ken, Ursula, Sammy, Aislin, Sam, Kevin, Kira, Celia, and AJ. The atmosphere is noticeably more relaxed than it was during the competition—everyone seems friendlier now. Even Kevin and Sam appear calmer.
"Ken Nation, how we feeling?!" Ken shouts, standing up from his seat.
"Wassup?" Celia calls back, flipping off the camera.
Emma chuckles. "How's everyone doing? Besides, you know, not being in the competition."
"I think my life is much better outside of that show," Sam says with a smirk, exchanging a high-five with Celia.
"Yeah, at least I'm doing great—working on a ton of projects!" Kevin exclaims, pounding his fist on the bleacher.
"One of those projects being therapy for your clown phobia, or…?" Sam smirks at him.
"I see many of you are making good use of your newfound fame," Aislin comments, scrolling through her phone.
"My makeup line just launched, and sales are doing pretty well!" Kira announces, nodding cheerfully.
"And I—" AJ starts, but Kevin immediately jumps in front of him, pulling off his shirt to reveal a white T-shirt with Fitcher written in bold letters.
"I present to you… FITCHER!" Kevin flexes his muscles. "The new sports drink from the one and only Kevin Fitch—so you can be a true beast on the field!"
"Yeah, I'm sure anyone who buys that is just as dumb as a beast," Sam quips, raising an eyebrow.
"Who in their right mind invested in that?" Ursula asks, staring Kevin down until he stops posing.
"...Unfortunately, I did," Lionel mutters, pinching the bridge of his nose in embarrassment.
"What?" Kira tries to hold back her laughter.
"Yeah… We had a contract because of the show, and, well… while my teammates drink water, I drink… Fitcher." Lionel looks so mortified that he's almost as red as his hair.
"Don't be ashamed, Lionel! It's the drink of champions!" Kevin shouts.
"Alright, let's move on with today's agenda. I don't think we need to give Kevin any more attention," Sammy says with a shrug.
"Thank you," Sam sighs in relief.
"Wait, wait! Before we start—Kira, how's the whole L-word situation going?" Aislin asks hesitantly.
"The L-word?" Kira frowns.
"You know… Lawsu—"
"Don't say it!" Ken interrupts, covering his mouth.
"Oh, the lawsuit!" Kira rolls her eyes, clearly frustrated. "It didn't go anywhere. Turns out that Mr. Romaniconti is extremely well-protected, so my lawyer got scared and dropped the case."
"Wow, has anyone ever wondered where he gets all that money from?" Celia asks.
"Either way, there's a dark aura surrounding that guy…" Ursula adds, narrowing her eyes.
"B-But, um, maybe we should move on," Junior murmurs, causing the room to fall into an awkward silence.
Before the show, Emma had spoken to the group, asking them to listen to Junior more so he could gain some confidence. They had all agreed.
"That's right, today's schedule is packed! Besides our usual segments, we'll be welcoming the eliminated contestants, and later, we'll have the Second Chance Challenge!" Emma announces with excitement.
"Guys, I apologize in advance because I'm going to kick all of your asses," Celia says with a mischievous grin.
"We'll see about that," Sam smirks.
"Yeah, we'll see," AJ gulps, clearly unsure but unwilling to back down.
"But before we find out who the lucky winner will be, let's start with our first interview! He's a tough guy, tall, and Spencer's best friend—from Japan to the world, please welcome Ryuuko!" Emma announces.
The audience bursts into applause as the tall Asian contestant walks onto the set. Ryu tries to maintain his composure, but a small smile escapes as he takes in the crowd's warm reception.
"Welcome, Ryuuko! It's great to have you here," Emma leans forward eagerly, resting her arms on her lap.
"Honestly, I was rooting for you," Sammy admits, resting his elbow on the desk, clearly disappointed.
"And… among all the competitors, Ryuuko was one of the ones who most… you know, deserved it?" Lionel says, sounding skeptical.
"Is it that hard for you to say someone deserves the prize?" Sam teases.
"It's just… none of those idiots really deserve all that money," Lionel crosses his arms and leans back in his chair.
"Speaking of that, since you've been pretty quiet, Ryuuko—who are you rooting for to win the half-million?" Emma asks.
"Lucas, of course."
"Lucas! Right, I'm still getting used to it," Sammy notes.
"That was a huge surprise!" Ken shouts, holding his head in disbelief.
"Nah, I saw it coming," Kevin crosses his arms.
"Really? Because the other day you told me you thought Lucy was attractive. So… did you find a guy attractive?" Celia asks, struggling to hide a smirk.
"I never said that," Kevin mumbles at lightning speed, barely audible.
"Don't worry, Kev, there's nothing wrong with experimenting a little!" Sammy winks at him, causing Kevin to sink into his seat with a horrified expression.
"Back on topic—Barbara's emotions exploded and made such an important secret come to light. There's no way this won't have consequences," Ursula explains.
"Now that we're talking about Lucas, are you mad at him for your elimination, Ryuuko?" Emma asks.
"It's… complicated." Ryuuko adjusts himself in his seat. "I get that he felt threatened, but he could've talked to me about it. If I felt comfortable enough to open up to him, it bothers me that he didn't do the same for me."
"Exactly!" Kira exclaims. "You have every right to be mad—I hate when people overcomplicate things for no reason."
"We also wanted to ask if you'd like to talk about the whole Roy situation you mentioned to Lucas," Emma asks cautiously.
"Not really," Ryuuko responds bluntly, crossing his arms.
An uncomfortable silence settles over the set for a few seconds. Neither Junior nor Emma expected such a short, dismissive answer.
"You're not very good at interviews, are you?" Kira asks, raising an eyebrow at the Asian contestant.
"Nope."
"Uh… w-well, is there anyone you'd like to give a shoutout to?" Junior asks, trying to salvage the moment.
"I guess so. My friend Jolt is probably watching right now—she's helped me a lot lately. So, hey Jolt." Ryuuko raises his hand toward the camera.
"How did you meet Jolt?" Emma seizes the opportunity to get Ryuuko talking.
"I had to show her around the school when she transferred, and, well… I guess our energies just clicked or something," Ryuuko shrugs, downplaying it.
"Nothing like a good friendship," Emma comments, giving Ryuuko a warm smile. "Now, if you don't mind, I have one last question for you—do you want to participate in the Second Chance Challenge?"
Ryuuko barely blinks before answering. "Not a chance."
"Oh."
"Don't get me wrong, I think I could win the prize if I came back… but I'd rather save myself the trouble."
"Not even for five million dollars would I go near Chris McLean again. Well said, Ryu." Kira rolls her eyes. "Although, I have to admit—the idea of winning the prize right in his face is tempting…"
"Oh, just imagine it! The first contestant eliminated makes a comeback and wins! You'd be the most badass player the show has seen in years!" Aislin gasps dramatically, placing a hand on Kira's shoulder.
"Want to take my spot?" Ryuuko offers, tilting his head slightly.
A wicked smile spreads across Kira's lips as she locks eyes with him. "If you insist."
"Alright then! Kira will be joining our Second Chance Challenge!" Emma announces, clapping her hands together. "And now, we have a special segment. There are some guests who are going to clear up a lot of the mystery surrounding Lucas! Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Fiona, Cathy, and Jasmine Holiday!"
As the audience erupts in applause, a large screen lights up on the set, displaying a video call. On the other side of the screen, three girls wave at the camera—or, well, two of them wave, while the third remains seated with her arms crossed.
The girl at the front, full of energy, has jet-black hair styled into spiky layers and a toned physique. But the real attention-grabber is her outfit: a bright pink leotard paired with a matching tutu.
"Hi! I'm Fifi Holiday! Lucas's sister!" she exclaims, beaming.
"And I'm Jaz!" The second girl greets the audience with noticeably less enthusiasm, clearly trying her hardest to appear cute on camera. She's smaller in stature, with a delicate, doll-like face—a button nose and big, round eyes. But once again, her outfit steals the spotlight: a French maid costume. "And this here is Cathy!"
"Wassup." The third girl, in stark contrast to her sisters, is taller and curvier, with dark hair tied into a high bun and bold, dramatic makeup. Just like her sisters, she's wearing a bunny suit.
"Holy shit, the whole family is hot," Ken mutters to Celia, who's sitting next to him—only to realize, a second too late, that he said it way too loudly.
"That's disgusting," Cathy states flatly, her eyes narrowing as she stares at where Ken should be on the screen.
"P-Pardon," Ken shrinks into his seat, suddenly intimidated.
"But you're right—it seems good looks run in the family," Emma jokes, flashing a grin.
"Thank you!" Cathy's stern expression instantly melts into a pleased smile.
"And the crazy genes too. Why the hell are you all dressed like that?" Lionel asks, his expression caught between confusion and horror.
"Halloweentown is two blocks down, girls," Celia deadpans.
"There's a reason!" Fifi raises her palm toward the camera, trying to regain control of the conversation. "We're not just here to talk about Lucas!"
"Oh no, they're about to do product placement," Sam sighs, rolling her eyes.
"We have a beautiful initiative—Cosplay Services! It's a charity show where we provide entertainment and services while dressed in themed costumes! We thought this would be a perfect opportunity to promote it!"
"That's so cute!" Aislin exclaims, clasping her hands together.
"That's right, everyone! If you'd like to donate to Cosplay Services, you can do so through our official , which will be shared across all our social media!" More applause fills the set.
"Thank you, thank you!" Fiona beams. "Now, as promised, we're here to talk about Lucy—well, Lucas."
"Please, the last episode left us with so many questions. What's this about his mother forcing him to present as Lucy?" Emma asks, leaning forward with interest.
"Well… Lucas's situation is relatively new to us too," Jaz admits.
"Exactly. Lucy was about… what? Fourteen or fifteen when he told us?" Cathy recalls. "We had no clue—Mom always said we were just four sisters."
"Yeah, apparently, Mom had convinced Lucas that he was just a regular girl and that his name was Lucy. It wasn't until he started taking Sex Ed that he realized the truth and finally told us. It's really, really disturbing—I can't imagine how hard it must have been for him." Fifi lowers her hands to her face, looking both embarrassed and sad.
"God, that's so messed up," Ryuuko mutters, pinching the bridge of his nose, visibly shaken.
"Although it did save him from growing up to be an idiot like the rest of men, so he should be grateful," Cathy adds, prompting Fifi to turn and glare at her disapprovingly.
"What?"
"Oh no, she's a damn feminazi! I got this!" Kevin suddenly jumps up. "What's wrong, no father figure?"
Kevin's mocking tone causes Cathy to push her sisters aside and move closer to the camera, her arms now resting on the desk in front of her.
"Thanks for proving my point, dumbass. Who are you supposed to be? Andrew Tate's number one fan?"
"Uh, yeah. That's why I'm an Alpha," Kevin shrugs casually. Sam, sitting next to him, can't help but stifle a laugh.
"What the hell is wrong with you?! God, what a pathetic, ridiculous little man. And here I thought the most emasculated guy I'd see today was Chris Junior."
Junior shrinks into his seat, looking utterly horrified.
"Cathy! Can we not do this right now?!" Jaz places a hand on her sister's shoulder, attempting to de-escalate the situation. "We're on the internet."
"Ugh, fine," Cathy finally relents.
"Well, thank you so much for joining us, girls! And don't forget to donate to Cosplay Services!" Emma says cheerfully.
Fifi and Jaz wave at the camera, saying their goodbyes, while Cathy simply leans back with a disinterested expression.
"Hah! Did you see how I made her mad? I like them feisty," Kevin boasts, smirking.
"You cannot be real," Sam mutters, utterly exasperated.
"Alright, that definitely cleared up a lot about Lucas's situation, but now it's time for our next interview!" Emma announces, cutting the video call from the screen. "Let's give a big round of applause to the greatest knight Total Drama has ever seen—ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Pedro!"
The audience bursts into applause again as a tall, well-built African contestant walks onto the set. He greets them with a polite smile before taking a seat on the interview couch beside Ryuuko.
"Good evening, everyone. Once again, thank you for having me," he says, his voice steady and composed.
"Pedri!" Kira calls out, offering him an enthusiastic wave. "I was really rooting for you—sorry about your elimination."
"Yeah, Pedrito was great," Celia admits with a shrug.
Pedro visibly tenses at the nickname, pressing his lips together, though he remains composed.
"Thanks for being here, Pedro. Tell us, what have you been up to since your elimination?" Emma asks.
"Well, I think it's no secret that I have a deep devotion to politics and community service, so I've been hosting a series of livestreams to raise funds for my home country, Equatorial Guinea."
His explanation earns another round of applause, and Pedro smiles modestly, nodding in appreciation.
"That's probably the nicest thing anyone is doing with their newfound fame," AJ comments, clearly impressed.
"Helping those in need will preserve your soul for eternity, Pedro," Ursula adds, clapping softly with just the tips of her fingers.
Pedro blinks, momentarily caught off guard by her words. He studies Ursula for a second before offering a polite, if slightly wary, smile. "Uh… Thank you?" He clears his throat. "Forgive me, miss, but I don't believe we've been introduced."
"They call me Akuma. I am the spokesperson for the spirits," Ursula replies, her voice smooth and enigmatic.
Pedro stiffens slightly, his expression a mix of curiosity and unease. Out of pure politeness, he nods but opts not to comment further.
"Ehmm… Pedro, who are you rooting for to win the competition?" Junior interjects, steering the conversation back on track.
"Right now… I wouldn't say I have a clear favorite. After watching the show again on my way home, my perspective changed quite a bit. But if I had to pick someone, I'd say… Miss Cordelia or Mr. Mackenzie." Pedro folds his hands neatly in his lap. "Both have played a relatively clean game while still maintaining their values and morals."
"Now that you mention Cordelia, there was a lot of drama between you and Sophia because you defended her," Emma says, shifting in her seat. "Can you tell us what was really going through your mind at the time?"
"Of course, I can explain," Pedro says, nodding. He pauses for a moment, as if carefully selecting his words. "At first, I saw Sophia as someone I had a lot in common with. We both seemed interested in diplomacy—or at least, that's what I thought when I saw how strongly she defended democracy within our team. That made me want to get closer to her. I trusted her, sometimes blindly, and even helped her become captain. But in the end… I was disappointed."
Pedro exhales slowly, lowering his gaze briefly before continuing.
"Sophia seemed determined to eliminate Cordelia for no reason other than a personal grudge—not because it was what the team actually needed. That made me question her judgment. She took that skepticism as a threat and, well… here we are."
"Who would've thought Sophia wouldn't be a great captain?" Kira rolls her eyes, dripping with sarcasm.
"Well, at least I give you credit for realizing you screwed up," Celia says, shrugging.
"I owe both of you an apology for trying to take your positions away. But at this point, I have no shame admitting that I should have taken the leadership role much sooner," Pedro says, offering a small, confident smile.
"And no apologies for me?! I was captain too!" Kevin complains, throwing his hands up.
That earns a loud laugh from Celia. "Dude, your elimination was legendary. You told Sophia to her face to go to therapy! She's never gonna recover from that!"
"It was simply iconic," Sammy adds, grinning.
"It wasn't meant to humiliate or hurt her. It was real advice," Pedro explains, his tone calm but firm. "She showed clear signs of immaturity. She must have a complicated family background—you can see how she constantly tries to be something she's not ready to be yet."
"Finally, Pedro, we wanted to give you the opportunity to join the Second Chance Challenge to return to the competition. What do you think?" Emma asks, tilting her head slightly in anticipation.
Pedro's lips curl into a satisfied smile. "Well, what kind of man would I be if I turned down such an invitation? I accept."
A fresh wave of applause erupts in the studio, though not everyone is thrilled.
"You're not excited to see Pedro back in the show?" Aislin teases, nudging Kevin with her elbow.
"I wanted him to give me his spot! Kira got one!" Kevin pouts.
"Because I'd rather relax at home than return to that torture camp," Ryuuko mutters, leaning back in his seat.
"Don't worry, Kevin! Maybe one of our two next special guests will give up their spot for you!" Emma teases. "But first, it's time for one of our most anticipated segments—Talking Strategy! Give it up for our three hosts!"
"T-three?!" Lionel frowns, suddenly looking alarmed. "I thought it was just the other idiot and me."
"But Lionel, I present alongside you!" Ken grins, slinging an arm around Lionel's shoulder.
"You are the other idiot!"
"Ooooh, now I get it."
"What happened is that Kira very politely asked me to let her join in. And, well, who am I to say no?" Emma flashes Kira a knowing smile.
Kira smirks. "You flatter me, Emma."
"Ugh, one more idiot, one less idiot," Lionel grumbles, rolling his eyes.
"Emma, can I join too?!" Kevin suddenly jumps up from his seat, eyes sparkling with hope.
"Uh… Let's talk about that after the show, okay?" Emma maintains a forced smile, avoiding eye contact.
The screen behind them changes to display a starry night sky with the faces of the twelve remaining contestants. Lionel, Kira, and Ken step into the center of the stage.
"Welcome to Express Analysis! The hottest reality show analysis program on the web!" Ken announces in his signature YouTuber voice.
"And also the only one…" Lionel mutters.
"I'm Kira Knightly, and today I'm joined by web star Ken Campbell and world football prodigy Lionel Keane!" Kira steps confidently into the center.
"We're not just your co-hosts, Kira—wait, did you call it football?" Lionel's eyes light up.
"Today, we'll be reviewing each contestant still in the game and their odds of winning," Ken explains, pointing at the first face on the screen—Harlan. "Let's start with the only original captain still standing, shall we?"
"Harlan's in a rough spot," Lionel muses. "His only ally is Levi, who's mad at him. Just more proof that relationships only cause trouble."
"You're desperate for a girlfriend, man," Ken laughs.
"If Harlan has the right social skills—which I think he does—he can get out of this," Kira chimes in. "All he has to do is convince Ashley and Gretchen to vote for Charlie. How hard can that be? He doesn't even need Sophia's vote!"
"And Gretchen has to be this close to realizing that Charlie is not actually her friend. There's no way she can be that dumb, right?" Ryuuko asks.
"How sure are you about that? I mean… it is Gretchen," Aislin says hesitantly, wearing a guilty smile.
"If Spencer woke up, anyone can," Ryuuko shrugs.
"Harlan's in a good position to win if he gets rid of Charlotte quickly, that's clear," Lionel adds. "But I'd say Levi's in an even better position. He's much more cynical and serious when it comes to making decisions—and that is very important."
"I get it—if you want to win this game, you have to be the worst person possible," Kira concludes.
"Exactly! You're getting the hang of it, Kira!" Emma claps.
"Alright, over on Team Friendship, we also have Ashley and Gretchen—two girls who've spent the entire game doing absolutely nothing," Lionel says, his frustration evident. "I mean, Ashley at least won a couple of challenges, but Gretchen? She's just been stumbling her way through the game, flying under the radar."
"The only reason she's still in the competition is because she's clueless and extremely easy to manipulate," he continues, shaking his head.
"Or… that's what she wants us to think! So we don't suspect that she's actually the leader of the Bermuda Triangle alliance!" Aislin exclaims, standing up from her chair with dramatic flair.
"I'm going to assume that was a joke," Lionel mutters, rubbing his temples. "What do you guys think?"
"Honestly? I think Gretchen and Ashley just came on the show to make friends. Nothing more, nothing less," Ken says. "Although now that Ashley knows how awful Jennifer is as a sister, things could change quite a bit…" He pauses before pointing at the next contestant on the screen. "Anyway, let's move on to Charlotte."
"Oh, she's screwed," Kevin declares, arms crossed. "Harlan and Levi hate her, Lucas—or whatever his name is—hates her, Barbara hates her, Corey hates her, and Spencer hates her!"
"Looks like her reign is finally coming to an end," AJ murmurs, trying to hide the fact that he's actually enjoying this.
"I'm honestly shocked she made it this far despite being so unpopular," Pedro muses. "She's played her cards well, but now that she's up against the Bermuda Triangle, there's nothing she can do."
"Speaking of which, when are we finally going to talk about them?" Pedro adds, his tone serious.
"Give us a sec! We still need to go over the last member of Team Friendship—Sophia!" Ken reminds him. "I feel like… she's never been this calm in the game, right?"
"That's what happens when you focus on helping your team instead of constantly trying to overthrow your captain. Right, Pedro?" Lionel smirks, clearly teasing him.
"I wouldn't be so sure," Pedro counters, his voice steady. "I know Sophia is planning something. And if I'm allowed to make accusations, I'd bet she's the true leader of the Bermuda Triangle alliance."
The audience erupts at this bombshell.
"Oooooh! That actually makes a lot of sense!" Kira leans forward, intrigued. "But in that case… who else is in the Bermuda Triangle? If we're going to point fingers, we need three names."
"My suspicions point to Jennifer," Pedro continues. "That would explain why the Bermuda Triangle wanted to eliminate Ryuuko—to keep her safe in their team."
"That actually makes a lot of sense," Ryuuko admits, now fully invested in the conversation.
"Shit, Pedro, you're connecting everything! How do you do it?!" Celia exclaims, impressed.
"There's no such thing as a perfect crime," Pedro says with a knowing smile.
"Oh, I definitely know a perfect crime—how the hell is Spencer still in the game?!" Lionel gestures dramatically at the screen. "He's a burden to Team Alpha! The only reason he's still here is because the captain is his friend!"
"Well, he's actually been playing pretty well. And he's not that bad in challenges," Ken tries to defend.
"Yeah, sure, whatever," Lionel grumbles. "But I do want to point something out—Cordelia's in a really good position in the game, isn't she?"
"I mean, she seems very close to Spencer, she's friends with Barbara, and she's slowly earning Jennifer's trust," Kira observes.
"Trust?! That's more than trust, believe me—I can spot a confused heterosexual from a mile away," Sammy declares, smirking.
"But I want Jennifer to end up with Mac!" Aislin exclaims. "That way, Corey is free to be with Celia!"
"Did someone say my name?" Celia suddenly perks up, clearly having zoned out when the conversation drifted away from strategy.
"Forget it," Sam sighs.
"I like that you all got that out of your system because, unfortunately, we won't have time to discuss couples today," Emma announces with a hint of regret.
"You can't do this to us!" Aislin whines dramatically.
"Well, if you really want to talk about couples, you'll have to do it with our next guests. I have a feeling they're going to give us quite a show! But first, we'll take a short commercial break!" Emma raises her arms enthusiastically—almost smacking Junior in the process.
[CUT TO COMMERCIAL BREAK]
The next scene opens like a typical documentary, with the camera focused on an empty chair. A few seconds later, someone walks into frame and takes a seat. Classic, cliché opening. The person is none other than Blaineley Andrews.
"When I was approached about producing this new season, I knew it was going to be a huge challenge—the biggest of my career," she says dramatically. "That's why, when I saw him directing, I knew he was the perfect person for the job."
The screen cuts to a muscular young man sitting on a couch, wearing a beret and sunglasses. The text at the bottom of the screen reads: Liam Wong, Director.
"When Mil—I mean, Blaineley—called me, I wasn't entirely sure what to do," Liam admits. "I mean, I'm just a guy who came out of a reality show into a whole new world. But I think the real success came from having such talented actors. We ended up creating something really unique."
The next cut introduces another person. The text reads: *Kira Knightly, 'Rosa' in What We Hide as Latinas.
"Honestly, after my success in modeling, it was time for me to make the big leap to television. I'm really proud of this project, and of being the first choice for the role," Kira says with confidence.
The camera then cuts back to Liam.
"At first, I wanted Celia as the protagonist, but she turned it down, so I'm glad Kira stepped up," he admits.
Finally, the scene shifts to a young Asian man. The text reads: *Ryuuko, 'José' in What We Hide as Latinas.
"So, why did you choose to appear in this series?" the interviewer asks.
"They paid well," Ryuuko states flatly.
"What do you find most interesting about your character, José?"
"Who's José?"
"You know… your character. You."
"Oh. That explains a lot," Ryuuko says, nodding to himself.
The screen fades to black before revealing the title: What We Hide as Latinas 2: Love Between Mountains.
[BACK TO THE AFTERMATH SHOW]
"Did you guys like what you saw? That was an exclusive sneak peek at Blaineley's new telenovela!" Emma grins. "Luckily for us, she won't be joining us today—but we do have the honor of interviewing her director and writer! Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Harvey Davidson and William Wong!"
The audience claps as Harvey takes a seat in the interview chair, while Liam enthusiastically rushes over to greet everyone in the Peanut Gallery.
"Guys! I missed you so much! You're all here—Ryu! Sam! Celia! The ghost kid!"
"Uh, my name is AJ," the redhead corrects.
"AJ!" Liam pulls both Emma and Junior into a big bear hug. "Thanks so much for having me, guys! You have no idea how happy I am to be here!"
"It's our pleasure, Liam," Emma chuckles, though Junior seems to be struggling for air.
"I-I can't breathe…" Junior wheezes.
"Alright! Fire away with your questions!" Liam exclaims, practically bouncing in his seat. "I wanna talk about my time on the show, my hobbies, my dog, my—"
"Liam," Harvey cuts in, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I, uh… don't think they're going to ask us about that. They're probably more interested in, you know…"
"Barbara," Celia finishes for him, smirking as she crosses her arms.
"Oh, right," Liam mutters, suddenly looking a bit less enthusiastic.
"Exactly! Tell us, guys—how was the whole Barbara situation? It was pretty intense to watch," Aislin leans forward with interest.
"Really? I didn't see it that way," Liam shrugs. "Barbie and I got along, but she just wasn't available to date me."
"I thought she was, you know… special," Harvey admits, scratching the back of his head. "We had similar interests, and I thought she'd help pull me out of my creative slump. But in the end… it was me who pulled myself out of it!"
"You were looking for someone else to fix a problem within yourself," Ursula observes. "That's one of the most common mistakes people make."
"That's not how I saw it," Lionel interrupts, clearly enjoying himself. "I think Barbara liked the popularity and safety that came with Liam, and she liked the attention Harvey gave her. That's why she never told either of them that she had a boyfriend."
"Yeah, and she was super unsubtle about it," Sammy adds.
"I don't want to agree with Lionel so quickly, but what he's saying actually makes a lot of sense," Pedro chimes in. "Barbara seems like a very immature person. During my time on her team, I noticed she had a constant need to be the center of attention."
"Wow, really?" Celia responds sarcastically.
"Don't say that!" Liam protests. "Barbie made a mistake by not telling us about her boyfriend—yeah, I get that. But that doesn't mean she's a bad person! Everyone makes mistakes!"
"There's no way you're this naive," Lionel rolls his eyes.
"I'm not naive!" Liam argues. "I just believe that people can change! That we all have good and bad sides!"
Lionel makes a dramatic gagging motion while Liam talks.
"Right, Harvey?" Liam turns to his friend for support.
"Uh, yeah, I guess… She was just being immature, but that doesn't make her a bad person—as long as she learns from it," Harvey replies, still unsure.
"God, you guys are so corny," Emma chuckles.
"Alright, she might've been immature in her relationships, but what about the Bermuda Triangle alliance? You can't defend her on that!" Lionel presses.
"But she didn't do anything that bad, did she?" Liam frowns. "I mean, I don't really get the whole Bermuda Triangle thing."
"I think they just… eliminated a couple of people," Harvey shrugs.
"They eliminated me!" Kira exclaims.
"And me," Ryuuko adds, raising a hand with little enthusiasm.
"Technically you too," Celia points at Liam. "Oh, and Sam."
"That one was on you," Sam reminds her, arms crossed.
"I said technically, didn't I?" Celia shrugs.
"They eliminated me too!" Kevin interjects dramatically. "They had to conspire to take me out of power!"
The entire studio—including the audience—falls into a stunned silence.
"What?" Kevin looks around, confused.
"Honestly, I think this game just brings out the worst in people," Harvey says. "I mean, everyone wants to win."
"That's true," Liam nods. "So I guess I'm a little disappointed in her, too."
"Exactly! What Harvey said!" Liam throws an arm around Harvey's shoulder.
"If it makes you feel better, it's clear she's just a pawn to the rest of the Bermuda Triangle. That's why they didn't hesitate to throw her into the whole mess with Charlotte," Pedro notes.
"Alright, moving on from Barbara—so, we know Liam's working on telenovelas, but what about you, Harvey? What's next for you?"
"I'm finally working on the first drafts of my anime!" Harvey announces proudly. "Blaineley is helping me finance it in exchange for my writing skills on her telenovela. So yeah! You guys will get to see it very soon!" He puffs out his chest with pride. "It'll be a work that destroys the stigma around the Otaku community! Men of culture will finally be able to say they love anime with pride!"
"I'm really happy for you, Harvey," Junior says with a shy smile.
"Being on Total Drama is a miracle. Everyone who's been on the show ends up achieving their dreams," Ken declares.
"I'd say it's more about leaving the show that makes them achieve their dreams, but if you wanna see it that way…" Celia remarks.
"Alright, anything else you guys wanna ask?" Liam stretches his arms behind his head.
"Not really," Emma says, reaching under her chair and pulling out two pairs of boxing gloves. "We were going to have you two fight for a spot in the Second Chance Challenge, but since you seem to be such great friends, maybe that's not such a good idea…" She sighs. "I still have a long way to go before I can be as bold as my dad."
"Cruel. The word you're looking for is cruel," Kira corrects.
"I'd never hit Harvey!" Liam exclaims.
"And I'd never let him hit me! Not after what he did to Harlan…" Harvey mutters, shuddering slightly. "But honestly, I don't really want to go back to the show. Liam can take the spot."
"For real? Thanks, man!" Liam punches the air excitedly. "Another chance! Now that's what I'm talking about!"
"Alright, that completes our lineup for the Second Chance Challenge!" Emma announces.
"No way!" Kevin shouts in frustration.
"And now, since we need to fill the time that was going to be used for the boxing match, I think I can give you guys a little treat," Emma says, turning toward Aislin and Sammy, who immediately perk up in excitement.
"Yes!" Aislin practically jumps out of her seat. "There's so much to talk about, but let's focus on the active contestants."
"I think the biggest couple right now is definitely Harlan and Levi, right?" Sammy grins.
"I don't want them to break up! This is something they could fix with communication!"
"The problem is Harlan, girl. He cares more about his public image than his boyfriend. Very unfortunate," Sammy rolls his eyes.
"And what's wrong with that?" The entire set turns to Lionel. "I mean, I would prioritize my own public image too. Why would I screw up my career for someone who doesn't bring me anything?"
"I feel like you're wrong, but at the same time, you kinda have a point," Celia admits, scratching her head.
"If you're in a relationship, it's because you want to give that person unconditional love," AJ comments.
"Nobody asked, nerd," Kevin interrupts.
"Well, at least we can all agree that if anyone needs to apologize, it's Harlan!" Sammy concludes. "And maybe, if Levi realizes he deserves better, I could take him out for coffee."
"Ah. That explains a lot," Aislin smirks. "Then there's Corey, who, as we already mentioned, has been messing around a lot with Spencer, but I don't think it'll actually go anywhere."
"Totally. I don't like calling people manipulative, but Corey is definitely using Spencer the same way as Charlie used him!" Sammy shakes his head dramatically, full of sass.
"And Corey has to end up with Celia!" Aislin shouts excitedly.
"Cut it out!" Celia yells back, sinking into her seat to hide the redness creeping onto her face.
"And Jennifer with Mackenzie! It just feels right, doesn't it? They're the two nerds of the season, and they could totally help each other!" Aislin continues.
"That could actually work! They're my team committee!" Liam exclaims enthusiastically.
"Yeah, because dating a mentally stable girl is so overrated," Kira rolls her eyes.
"Hey! Mac and Jennifer are equally stable!" Liam stands up, suddenly defensive.
"Alright, I think that's all for today's couple talk! I'll hand it back to our incredible host so we can move on to the Second Chance Challenge!" Sammy redirects the focus to Emma, passing the spotlight back to her.
"Alright! I'm going to ask Kira, Liam, Lionel, AJ, Sammy, Sam, Celia, and Pedro to step up to the center of the stage, please!"
As Emma calls out their names, two stagehands roll in what appears to be a massive spinning wheel, decorated with the faces of the twelve contestants still in the game.
"The challenge will be the classic Total Drama Island Wheel of Torture!" Emma announces. "But this time, the challenges will be themed around each contestant still in the game!"
"I can't wait to get Barbara's challenge, where I'm forced to listen to her irritating voice for five more minutes," Lionel smirks sarcastically.
"The difference is that everyone has to complete the challenge. If you fail, you're out. No excuses, no skipping. Understood?" Emma explains.
Everyone nods with determination—well, almost everyone. AJ looks like a nervous wreck.
"I wish you all the best of luck, my friends," Pedro says, scanning his competitors.
"Not that I need it," Sam shrugs.
"Alright, let's spin the wheel for our first challenge!" Junior steps forward and gives it a strong spin.
The wheel slows down… and lands on Sophia.
"Politics trivia, right? Damn it, damn know-it-all," Celia groans, immediately launching into a rant about Sophia.
"Actually, no," Emma smirks. "See, Sophia has always been very proud of her family's traditional recipe…"
Several stagehands step onto the set, each carrying a covered tray. Once they reach the contestants, they remove the lids, revealing…
"Extra spicy Villanueva family enchiladas!"
The crowd gasps as thick steam rises from the plates.
"Your goal is to finish two enchiladas without throwing up or bursting into tears!" Emma declares.
"I take it all back, Sophia. I take everything back," Celia says, practically salivating as she grabs an enchilada, shoving it into her mouth the second a stagehand allows it.
"Bon appétit!" Liam cheers before taking a huge bite.
"This is ridiculously easy," Lionel scoffs, picking up his fork.
"You sure about that?" Sam smirks, finishing her first bite. "I'd think your British palate is only used to potatoes and fried fish."
"Not funny at all, hobnocker," Lionel mutters, visibly struggling to swallow.
Celia, Liam, Sam, and Kira seem completely unfazed, finishing their plates with ease. Meanwhile, Lionel, Pedro, and especially AJ are struggling to handle the heat. Sammy, on the other hand, sighs in defeat and puts his plate aside.
"Come on! You were so close!" Sam shouts, trying to hype up her brother.
"Sorry, but that thing is, like, insanely spicy. It burns a lot," Sammy mutters, his face red and eyes watery.
"And with that, we're down to seven contestants!" Emma announces. "Let's see what the next challenge will be!"
Junior spins the wheel again. This time, it lands on Gretchen.
"Oh, Gretchen's challenge can't be that bad," AJ sighs in relief, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
Emma grins mischievously. "Well, Gretchen values friendship above all else! So, this game will test how friendly you all are! Everyone, get in a circle!"
The contestants obey, standing shoulder to shoulder.
"When I shout go, you'll have to grab hands with another contestant. If you end up without a partner… you're eliminated!"
"We're seven people, Emma," Sam points out. "That means someone is guaranteed to lose."
"Exactly!" Emma claps her hands. "Alright… On your marks… get set… GO!"
Pure chaos erupts on stage.
Liam immediately grabs AJ's wrist, lifting him into the air like a ragdoll.
Celia and Lionel link hands—only for Sam to shove Lionel aside, forcing him to let go of Celia. The girl barely resists.
"What the hell?!" Lionel shouts, scrambling to find another partner—only to see that Kira and Pedro are already holding hands.
"Lionel, I think you're out," Emma says sympathetically, as the remaining contestants celebrate.
"Lionel! What are you doing?! You're embarrassing my brand!" Kevin yells from the bleachers.
The redheaded footballer turns so red he might as well burst into flames before storming back to the Peanut Gallery.
"I'm guessing Lionel isn't thrilled about his contract with your radioactive drink," Ursula comments.
"Fitcher is NOT radioactive!" Kevin protests.
"And now, time for the next game!" Emma spins the wheel once more. This time, it lands on Lucas.
"Oh, Lucas is an athletic guy, isn't he?" Pedro says. "I suspect this will be a physical challenge…"
"That's right!" Emma nods. "For this challenge, you'll split into two teams. The losing team will be eliminated!"
"Amazon alliance, assemble!" Kira calls, immediately joining forces with Celia and Pedro.
"Looks like one of the old Amazon members is guaranteed to return," Pedro notes, shaking hands with Celia and Kira.
"I can't believe Barbara lasted longer in the game than us," Celia grumbles, rolling her eyes.
On the other side, AJ looks terrified as he glances between his teammates—Liam and Sam. His eyes dart around nervously, unsure of what to do.
"AJ!" Liam suddenly grabs the redhead by the shoulders and shakes him back and forth. "I believe in you, buddy! You got this! Just imagine the rope is... uh… a ghost! Yeah!*"
AJ blanches, looking even paler at the suggestion. Fortunately for him, Sam steps in, giving Liam a light shove.
"You're not helping," she mutters. Then, turning to AJ, she sighs. "Just let us do the heavy lifting, okay?"
"I-I can do this… I can do this…" AJ takes a deep breath, trying to convince himself.
"The challenge is simple—tug of war!" Emma announces, as two stagehands bring out a massive rope and set it between the two teams.
The massive tug-of-war rope stretches across the stage, separating the two teams.
"But… something's missing," Emma muses, tapping her chin. "What would my dad do?"
A mischievous glint flashes in her eyes before she gestures to the crew. Suddenly, a huge pool filled with mud is rolled onto the set, positioned right in the center of the rope.
"Perfect!" Emma grins. "Now, the losing team will be completely covered in mud! Although… maybe this is too tame. Dad would've used sharks, but I don't have sharks." She giggles, while Junior looks absolutely horrified.
Kira glances down at her carefully curated outfit.
"We can't lose. You hear me?" she warns.
"Well, physically speaking, Liam and Sam do have an advantage—"
"We can't lose, Pedro!" Kira cuts him off sharply.
Both teams grab onto the rope, taking their positions. But before Emma can even count them in, Kira, Celia, and Sam instantly jerk the rope toward their side, catching their opponents off guard.
"Pull on three!" Sam commands. "One, two— PULL!"
Liam digs his heels in and pulls with everything he's got. AJ tries to follow his lead, but he's clearly struggling to match their strength.
That's when Celia locks eyes with him.
AJ freezes. His grip weakens slightly.
She knows he's nervous.
A devilish grin spreads across her face as she shifts the rope side to side, destabilizing everyone holding it.
"Miss Celia?" Pedro questions, struggling to keep his balance.
"Just go with it!" Kira yells, already adapting to the strategy.
"Good lord, my wrist!" Liam yelps as his grip slips, the unexpected movement throwing him off.
"NOW!" Kira shouts.
All at once, the old Amazon alliance yanks as hard as they can, sending Sam face-first into the mud pit.
AJ, however, is sent flying.
"And Celia, Kira, and Pedro move on to the next round!" Emma announces.
"Take that!" Celia laughs, celebrating right in Sam's muddy face.
"We did it, Pedri!" Kira cheers, slinging an arm around Pedro's shoulders.
Pedro, ever composed, simply nods. "Yes. A well-executed plan."
"Don't celebrate too much! Because it's time for a new challenge!" Emma spins the wheel again. Meanwhile, Liam helps Sam and AJ to their feet.
"Eh, you got a little something on you," Liam gestures to Sam's now completely mud-soaked outfit.
"Gee, thanks," Sam mutters, deadpan.
"I'm sorry," AJ sighs, defeated.
"Nah! Bro, you didn't do anything wrong! That was all on me, man—you did great!" Liam claps him on the back, pulling him into a tight hug. AJ, though startled, seems to relax a little.
Emma, meanwhile, grins at the new result on the wheel.
"Spencer!" she announces. "Spencer has shown inhuman resistance to extreme temperatures throughout the season, so for this challenge… you'll have to endure buckets of freezing water! The first to tap out is eliminated!"
Before the contestants can even react, stagehands drench them in ice-cold water.
"What the hell?!" Kira yells, soaked from head to toe.
"Three point one four one five nine two six—" Pedro starts muttering, hugging himself for warmth.
"Y-You guys are so weak…" Celia grits her teeth, visibly shivering but refusing to show it.
Two more rounds of ice water follow. None of them move. But by the third bucket, Pedro swears he feels something solid hit him.
"T-THAT'S IT! I'M OUT!" Pedro shouts, throwing his hands up. "I'm done!"
"Thank you, Pedro! You backed out so we could compete! You're such a gentleman!" Kira gives him a weak, trembling smile.
"Y-Yeah. Sure. That's totally why," Pedro says, immediately straightening his posture.
"Alright, Celia. Kira. One of you will return to the McLean Express and rejoin the competition. Are you excited?"
"I can't wait to go back and kick ass," Celia smirks, hugging herself for warmth.
"I have so many plans for when I return. Sorry, Celia! But I won't hold back!"
"Alright! The final challenge is… Mackenzie? That's so anticlimactic." Emma sighs, visibly underwhelmed.
Two stagehands approach Celia and Kira, attaching small wires to their temples.
"And what is this for?" Celia asks, eyeing the wires warily.
"Mackenzie's challenge is…" Emma sighs again. "Animated movie trivia."
"You know, I really thought it was gonna be 'talking to a girl without suffocating,'" Ryuuko mutters. Then, realizing how rude that sounded, quickly adds, "Sorry. Old habits."
"Bad habits die hard," Ursula gives him an understanding smile.
"Okay, but what are the wires for?" Celia presses.
"Oh, that?" Emma looks a little guilty. "I thought it'd be a nice touch to electrocute you if you get an answer wrong."
"Of course," Celia mutters, swallowing hard.
Both girls stare each other down, neither particularly confident in their movie knowledge—but both making a great effort to hide it. In front of them sits a large red button. Whoever presses it first gets to answer.
"First question: What is the name of the rat in Ratatouille?"
Celia lunges for the button.
"Remy!"
"Correct!" Emma claps. "Remember, the first to get a question wrong loses. If neither of you answer correctly, we'll give the spot to Kevin!"
"WHAT?!" both girls shout in unison.
"Just kidding," Kevin slouches in disappointment.
"I swear I thought the rat's name was Ratatouille," Kira mutters under her breath.
"Next question! Who is 'Bruno' in Encanto?"
A long silence fills the stage.
"Come on! You're Mexican, you have to know this one!" Kevin yells.
Kira glares at him.
Then, taking a deep breath, she hesitantly presses the button.
"Uh… He's the bad guy… but not really the bad guy?" she guesses.
"I suppose that's correct," Emma shrugs. "Next question! What show popularized the phrase 'Oh my god, they killed Kenny!'?"
"South Park!" Celia slams the button. "That's a really good show."
"What is the name of Disney's founder?"
Both girls scramble for the button, but Kira barely gets there first.
"Walt Disney!" she shouts proudly.
"Perfect! Next question—"
"You'd think the questions would be harder…" Aislin whispers.
"In what page of the original Coraline novel does Wybie first appear?"
A heavy silence falls over the set.
"Uuh, that's a tricky one," Celia mutters. "I'll let you take this one, Kira."
"No, you go first, Celia," Kira counters, smiling way too sweetly.
Both girls stare each other down. Then—
Celia grabs Kira's wrist and slams it onto the button.
"Yes, Kira?" Emma smirks.
Kira's expression of pure horror says it all.
"Uh… Can I at least know how many pages are in the book?" she asks, desperate.
"Sure! 160."
"One in 160 odds! Sounds great to me!" Celia grins.
"Uh… fifty?" Kira blurts out.
The studio lights black out instantly.
The shock from Kira's punishment—combined with the water-soaked floor—causes a full-on electrical short-circuit.
"IS EVERYONE OKAY?!" Emma shouts, trying to regain control of the chaos.
"It hurts…" Kira groans weakly. "I'm definitely suing."
"BUT DID I WIN OR NOT?!" Celia yells.
"Uh—y-yeah! Celia is officially rejoining the Express Tour! And—uh—Junior! Go check the fuse box!" Emma orders in a panic.
"What a disaster, what a disaster…" Junior mutters.
"Three point one four one five…" Pedro mumbles, dazed. His concerned voice is the last thing heard as the screen cuts to black.
OH. MY. GOD. This chapter is finally done.
It's been over six months since my last update, and I can only hope you guys are still here, interested in my story—I bet some of you thought I had canceled it, LOL. Writing sequels is always tough for me, but this one was especially difficult. I can't even explain why.
I've had a ton of university work keeping me busy, leaving me with little time to write. And honestly, I just didn't feel motivated to work on Total Drama, especially with how much the franchise has faded in the latter half of 2024. (Disventure Camp is fine, I guess, but it just doesn't hit the same for me.)
At best, I was managing to write maybe two hundred words a month for this chapter, and that's being optimistic. I was completely stuck. And it's weird because it wasn't the characters' fault—they're actually really fun to write! I just couldn't find motivation for this chapter in particular.
Luckily, I finally found it! A huge part of that was thanks to reading an amazing Total Drama fic, Nights at the Hazy Museum by Day by Daw (so yeah, you guys should thank them). That story reignited my excitement for writing this fic, and after just a quick reread, I was back in sync with this peculiar cast. So yes, I'm back—and I can't wait to wrap up all these great storylines!
Now, about the chapter…
The biggest news is that Celia is back in the game! I love Celia, and even though I've changed quite a few things about this season's structure, having her return was always part of the plan. Her elimination was more of a pause to let some storylines develop without her presence. But now, Celia is stepping into a very different game than the one she left, so it's going to be really interesting to see how she adapts.
Since I'm really eager to publish this, I won't be responding to reviews just for today. But leave your thoughts! Not just about this chapter, but about the whole story so far—who's your favorite guy? Your favorite girl? Who do you want to win? I wanna hear everything! I'll be responding in the next chapter:
Chapter 13: Until Twilight