Fanfic / Candy for Your Thoughts?

Candy For Your Thoughts? is a Total Drama fanfiction written by Strix Moonwing.

Originally a oneshot, it starts right after Courtney found that Duncan cheated on her with Gwen, and vents her anger and grief alone in the cargo hold. Cody pays her a visit and tries to comfort her. Soon, Cody realizes that he's developing feelings towards Courtney, but he's unsure if the CIT will return those feelings. Meanwhile, Alejandro, Duncan, and Gwen are planning to have her eliminated.

The story focuses primarily on the interaction and blossoming romance between Cody and Courtney, but also focuses on Ezekiel still trying to win the big prize, Duncan wondering if he did the right thing by dumping Courtney for Gwen, and Alejandro's schemes. The story is now complete.

The one-shot (aka the first chapter) had an unfinished sequel - The Lawyer, The Snoop, and the Scandal.

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This story provides examples of:

• Action Girl: Courtney takes this up to eleven. Sierra also has her moments.
• Adaptational Intelligence: While Ezekiel's still feral in the fic, he actually retains some degree of sapience this time around - enough to actually speak and outright rhyme - while in canon he was little more than a feral animal who pointedly couldn't speak.
• Adaptational Villainy:
  • Alejandro grows increasingly amoral, arrogant, and backstabbing as the story goes on, to the point where in the climax he tells Duncan he is Above Good and Evil while attempting to murder him (even brushing off a quick moment of remorse he feels when slashes Duncan's chest and causes him to bleed). Likewise, Heather has none of her Character Development in canon, and is reduced to simply being Alejandro's mistress.
  • Duncan and Gwen start off as much less pleasant than they were in canon due to their extreme bitterness towards Courtney and Cody's budding romance, with both constantly claiming Never My Fault when the rest of the cast gets mad at them for their affair behind Courtney's back (Gwen even tries to deflect criticism by saying everyone should be mad at her friend Bridgette instead for falling for Alejandro early in World Tour). However, Character Development helps both of them get better.
• Adapted Out: Although they still occur in-universe, the Sweden, Easter Island and Drumheller challenges are skipped over for the sake of storytelling.
• Almost Kiss: Whenever Cody and Courtney are about to kiss, something interrupts them.
• Always Save the Girl: When Courtney almost falls into the volcano in the final challenge, Cody chooses to stay and rescue her despite her encouragements to go on without him and beat Heather.
• Arch-Enemy: Played for Laughs. The Zodiac Rooster from the China challenge really, really hated Alejandro.
• Animals Hate Him: Alejandro, who gets attacked by animals whenever they appear.
• Animal Motifs:
  • Alejandro and snakes. Ezekiel refers to him as such when he told Courtney "beware the snake", and he appears as a giant snake in Duncan's nightmares. His boots are even described as being made of snake-skin.
  • Duncan and lions. He's compared as such in-text and the Serengeti episode shows some clear parallels between his story and The Lion King (1994), specifically Simba's quest for self-redemption.
  • Duncan is also paralleled with dogs in the story, as represented by his adoption of Mohawk the Chow mutt. Ezekiel even calls him "the spiked dog" of "the snake" (Alejandro).
• Ascended Extra: Alien Cody goes from a One-Scene Wonder in canon to a hilarious recurring character.
• The Atoner: Duncan and Gwen toward the end of the story.
• Berserk Button:
  • Just don't dare to insult Courtney in front of Cody.
  • Duncan hates it when people call him short.
  • Blaineley is the only person who can genuinely make the peaceful and gentle Bridgette furious, to the point where she beats the snot out of her for exploiting Duncan and Courtney's drama.
• Better as Friends:
  • How Cody sees his relationship with Sierra. She doesn't take it well at first. But later she does.
  • Also, subverted in chapter 4. Cody is expecting Courtney to say this when she's having doubts about their relationship, but she says that she wants to give him a chance.
• Big Bad: Alejandro, as per canon.
• Big "NO!": Sierra after Cody and Courtney's "wedding" in the Niagara Falls challenge.
• Bittersweet Ending: Cody doesn't win the million dollars due to Ezekiel accidentally throwing the Heather doll into the volcano, but he and Courtney are perfectly happy since they've officially become a couple, Ezekiel gets the money and a big feast, and all the contestants have fun at the after-show party. Duncan breaks up with Gwen after they realise their attraction was only skin-deep, but Geoff and DJ decide to take Duncan on an around-the-world trip and Gwen makes amends with Leshawna, Bridgette and Courtney.
• "Blackmail" Is Such an Ugly Word:
  • "Lying is such a strong word. I prefer flirting to your own advantage."
  • Courtney NEVER hides, but she does believe in strategically waiting in a secure location until it's time to strike.
• Blatant Lies: Cody telling Sierra that Noah likes her.
• Breaking Speech: Alejandro gives one to Duncan during the final challenge. It doesn't work as well as he hoped though.
  Alejandro: INSANE? I'm the one insane? What about you? At least my actions will be rewarded by satisfaction of seeing my enemies defeated...not to mention gaining the affections of the lovely Heather. But you…you have nothing! What will you gain by doing this? The money? You gave up on it! Courtney? You lost her to a weakling! Your reputation? Gone the moment you voted yourself off!
• The Bus Came Back: Noah is brought back for the Niagara falls challenge instead of Blaineley. After that, he's eliminated, along with Owen. However, he proved to be vital for the chapter, as he sang a musical number with Owen that eventually got Cody to confess his love for Courtney.
• Butt-Monkey: Alien Cody gets ridiculed a lot and is at the brunt of a lot of misfortune whenever he appears.
• Character Development: Everybody got some, but Cody, Sierra and Duncan get most than anybody.
• Cluster F-Bomb: Cody loses it when he learns that Duncan trusted on Heather and Alejandro.

• Crossover: Briefly with the author's other Total Drama fanfic, "The Princess and the Spider," in chapter 7.
• Dance Party Ending: The epilogue ends the contestants enjoying themselves at a massive party with Courtney and the Drama Brothers performing a Triumphant Reprise of "Come Fly with Us".
• Dark Horse Victory: "You're the winner of Total Drama World Tour, Ezekiel. Congratulations!".
• Digging Yourself Deeper: This exchange:
  Cody: I didn't come on the show to win the money!
  Courtney: Then why did you?
  Cody: To pick up girls!
  [Courtney scowls at him]
  Cody: Er…well...I mean not a lot of girls…mostly just Gwen…
  [Courtney's scowl deepens]
• Earn Your Happy Ending:
  • After days of pain, backstabbing, broken hearts and manipulations Courtney and Cody finally find happiness in each other.
  • After all the crap he went through, Ezekiel wins the million dollars.
• Eastern Zodiac: During the China challenge, Chris releases animals from the Chinese zodiac to make the race across the Great Wall more intense for the contestants. Notably, the animatronic monster from Action appears as the dragon.
• Elvis Lives: And apparently, so does Michael Jackson. And both inside the stomach of a giant crocodile.
• Even Evil Has Standards: Duncan may be a tough, mean juvenile delinquent who was unafraid of cheating on Courtney at the start of the story, but even he is enraged and disgusted by everything Alejandro did in the season when he learns the full story and as his Character Development grows after he is eliminated.
• Exact Words:
  • Courtney remembered something that Chris said back in London that reveals that a contestant eliminated a long time ago was still technically in the game and thus legible to win the million dollars.
  • In the Niagara Falls challenge, Owen of all people manages to find a crucial loophole to help Cody prevent Courtney's elimination.
• Fan Disservice: Cody is horrified and disgusted by the sight of Owen dressed up as Courtney during the big guy and Noah's musical number. Also, Owen in a wedding dress. Both are Played for Laughs however.
• Final Love Duet: "Love Goes On."
• Fix Fic: The fic addresses the Courtney/Duncan/Gwen love triangle, but also fixes other things, such as toning down Alejandro's Invincible Villain qualities (here, he Screams Like a Little Girl and Animals Hate Him), throwing Ezekiel a bone and overall having a happier and more satisfying ending for everyone (except Alejandro and Heather).
• Flat Character: Heather here has none of her character development from canon and remains just as cruel and shallow as ever, as well as a close ally of Alejandro. She's basically demoted to Alejandro's sidekick.
• Fluffy the Terrible: During the wrestling challenge in Africa, Sierra wrestles Duncan, Cody wrestles Heather, and Alejandro is forced to wrestle Cupcake... who happens to be a fully-grown male lion.
• Foe Yay Shipping: Invoked when a pairings poll conducted in the show has Alejandro/Duncan as one of the more popular pairings. Duncan was really far from amused.
• Forgiveness: A theme of the fic.
• Give Geeks a Chance: Scrawny, tech-savvy nerd Cody is paired up with the pretty and competitive Go-Getter Girl Courtney.
• Go-Go Enslavement: Part of Alien Cody's plans.
  "[Courtney] I shall keep alive as my pet...like a hamster running in a ball...a hamster that wears a bikini."
• Green-Eyed Monster: Duncan certainly has his moments. He learns to grow out of it, though.
• Guile Hero: Of all people, Ezekiel.
• Hurt/Comfort Fic: Started off as one for Courtney as Cody sympathizes with her over what Duncan and Gwen did. It soon develops into a full-on romance between the pair.
• Idiot Ball: Duncan makes the mistake of trusting in Alejandro to get rid of Cody in China. It's explained here that he had no knowledge of what Alejandro was really like due to quitting early and having no access t the show as he was on the run, but even in canon, Duncan is usually a lot savvier than that.
• I Take Offense to That Last One: After Cody tells Duncan off with practically every single swearing word of the English language, the only insult that actually offends Duncan is calling him short.
• I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: This trope is used intensively:
  • Sierra is the most straight example. At one point, she finally accepts Cody's feelings for Courtney. At that same point, she also realizes of her distorted version of love, outgrows her obssessive fangirl stage and still wants to help Cody to win the game and Courtney's heart. A major point for her Character Development.
  • Also Duncan accepts that Courtney won't be his anymore, but feels happy for her when she hooks up with Cody.
  • Still, it's Deconstructed in Cody's case. He broke up with Courtney because she still had feelings for Duncan, who regretted cheating on her and seemed that he wanted a second chance, since Cody thought that he had no chance against Duncan. Later, after Duncan's tricked by Alejandro into eliminating her, Cody calls Duncan an idiot for letting such a wonderful girl like Courtney go. He then realizes that he did exactly the same thing.
• In Spite of a Nail: The contestants' order of elimination remains identical to canon, with the notably exceptions being Noah's return in Niagara Falls and Cody replacing Alejandro as a finalist with Heather.
• Is It Something You Eat?: Lindsay thinks "CoCo" (Cody/Courtney) refers to cocoa and that "Duncney" (Duncan/Courtney) is a food.
• Lampshade Hanging: Of the nature of the season's musical numbers. During the aftermath chapter, a viewer named Philip accuses the show of being scripted.
  Philip: Oh please! If this is reality television then where the hell does the music from each episode come from? And how is it possible that you guys can sing the exact same song, at the exact same time, in perfect unison without any kind of rehearsal or script involved…and WHEN YOU ARE IN DIFFERENT PLACES AS WELL? IT'S IMPOSSIBLE!
  Geoff: …Cause the music's from the heart, bro…it's from the heart.
• Large Ham: Alien Cody is a shining example. Owen becomes one in the final, when he is throwing the game for Cody.
• Love Dodecahedron: Cody used to like Gwen but he's starting to develop feelings for Courtney, whom she also seems to return those feelings, but she still misses Duncan, who's currently with Gwen but hasn't gotten over Courtney yet, and lastly, there's also Sierra crushing on Cody.
• The Mentor: Chef, of all people, gives Duncan some much-needed advice when he realizes he's screwed up with Courtney.
• My God, What Have I Done?:
  • Duncan after learning the truth behind Courtney's elimination.
  • Alejandro's initial reaction when he slashed Duncan with the knife. However, he quickly brushes it aside and continues with trying to kill him.
• No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: Duncan gives one to Alejandro for everything he's done throughout the season.
• Noodle Incident: How Owen and Noah survived falling out of the plane without parachutes. Noah mentions "blubber padding" and Owen brings up a giant tub of green jello, but the most we get otherwise is all the other contestants looking utterly baffled by their story.
• Never Smile at a Crocodile: Duncan and Cody are swallowed by the real-life, semi-legendary, giant, man-eating crocodile Gustave during the Africa challenge.
• Never My Fault: Gwen starts off this way in regards to her cheating with Duncan. Character Development ultimately helps her realize she was in the wrong.
• Odd Friendship:
  • Bridgette and Duncan develop one towards the end, as Bridgette sympathizes with Duncan over the guilt of cheating on their significant other during the season.
  • Courtney and Ezekiel form one, as Courtney spends time in the cargo hold with only the feral Ezekiel as company while she grieves over Duncan's infidelity.
  • Noah and Owen carry this on from canon, especially during the Niagara Falls challenge.
• Pitbull Dates Puppy: Alejandro compares the Cody/Courtney pairing to a kitty dating a mountain lioness. It's also the reason of why nobody believes that such a relationship can last.
• Point of Divergence: Cody's choice to come and comfort Courtney after Duncan cheated on her with Gwen causes the story to snowball into a totally different series of events.
• Replacement Goldfish:
  • Discussed and ultimately Reconstructed. When Cody realizes that he's starting to develop feelings for Courtney, he himself thinks that maybe he just sees her as a replacement for Gwen, whom he has a longtime crush on but realized that she'll never return his feelings.
  • In less romantic terms, Duncan adopts Mohawk, a Chow mutt from the China challenge, who reminds him of his old dog Petey and his recently-lost tarantula Scruffy.
• Screams Like a Little Girl: Alejandro again.

• Ship Tease: Noah and Sierra get a little bit of this at the end of the story.
• Shipper on Deck:
  • Owen, Noah, Ezekiel and Sierra support Cody/Courtney, while DJ and Geoff support Duncan/Courtney. Nobody seems to like Duncan/Gwen due to the circumstances behind its establishment (which also reflects the author's hatred of the pairing).
  • During the musical number about shipping, Courtney said that she liked Noah/Sierra.
• Shipping: Invoked in-universe when Izzy sang a whole song about it.
• Shoo Out the Clowns: Owen and Noah both get eliminated after the Niagara Falls challenge. The story starts to become more serious (though still comedic to an extent) from this point afterwards, as Cody and Courtney now have to deal with the combined wraths of Duncan, Alejandro, Heather and Sierra over the course of the next few challenges.
• Shout-Out:
  • When Owen meets Alien Cody, he says, "So, if you're an alien your hair turns blond and spiky when you get angry?"
  • Also, Courtney kissing an upside-down Cody may be a reference to Spider-Man.
  • Sierra says that Courtney's favorite pony is Twilight Sparkle.
  • During the fight between Alejandro and Duncan in the final challenge, Owen starts cheering for the latter. When the former reminded Owen that he should be cheering for him instead, Owen starts cheering with Flat Joy. This is a reference to the climax of Aladdin, which had the Genie doing the same thing as Aladdin battled Jafar.
• Sick and Wrong: Noah yelling "You guys are SICK!" after a poll revealed that Noah/Cody is the most popular pairing.
• Single Woman Seeks Good Man: After her experiences with a bad boy, it's not a surprise that Courtney's taste in boys would take a 180º twist.
• Spanner in the Works: Noah and Owen become a massive one for Alejandro and Duncan during the former's brief return in Niagara Falls.
• Spared by the Adaptation: Alien Cody, who in canon exploded after being hugged by Sierra moments after his creation, survives and makes recurring appearances in this story.
• Team Pet: Mohawk, a Chow mutt that Duncan befriends in the China challenge.
• Übermensch: Alejandro, who claims to be Above Good and Evil in the middle of his Breaking Speech.
• This Is Gonna Suck: Noah after Sierra starts flirting with him.
• Token Good Teammate: Owen is forced into joining Heather's team along with Alejandro for the volcano challenge against Cody, Courtney, and Duncan. Despite this, he's perfectly happy to act as The Millstone for Heather in the hopes of helping Cody win.
• Took a Level in Jerkass: Duncan, Gwen and Alejandro. The former two got better. The latter got much worse.
• Tranquil Fury: Courtney's elimination
  Courtney: One day, Duncan, you and I are going to look back on this moment and one of us will regret it. And that person won't be me.
• Triumphant Reprise: "Come Fly With Us", done by Courtney and the Drama Brothers. And what a reprise it is.
• Unholy Matrimony: Alejandro and Heather carry this on from canon, but their rivalry is downplayed and they are much more loyal to each other.
• The Vamp: Gwen tries to charm Cody so he'll vote for Courtney in the next elimination ceremony. It backfires.
• Villain Song: Alejandro's "One by One, They All Will Fall".
• Villainous Breakdown: Alejandro during the final challenge while fighting Duncan.
• What Happened to the Mouse?: Blaineley vanishes after the Aftermath chapter and is never seen or mentioned throughout the finale in Hawaii.
• You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Inverted. At one point, Duncan decides to quit his alliance with Alejandro, but Ale still plans to use him more, even if he wants it or not.

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