The First Champions

**The First Champions** is the season finale of *The Challenge: The Duel*.

## Story

 The final four teams arrived to the mansion one last time and were greeted by champagne and food to celebrate them reaching the finale. Ezra and Maria were sad to have seen Cleo and Jake leave but still celebrated with the others. Lenny commended Nori on her impressive showing in the duel. She thanked her and said that it felt surreal to be in the final. Neisha and Frasier prepped each other for the final. They agreed they needed to be in tip-top shape mentally since there’d likely be a mental element. Troy and Melvin discussed the final and what it may entail. Melvin psychs Troy out and says he should be worried about the mental aspect. He gets to Troy a bit and Troy starts to worry about the final.

 The teams wake up early and meet TJ outside the next day for the final. TJ explained that the final would last three days and at the end of each night, the remaining teams would sleep in tents. TJ explained how the first day would work. The players had to hike for the entirety of the day and once they reach their location, they’ll have to rock climb up to where they’ll be camping for the night. The last team to set up their tent would be eliminated. With that, TJ blew his horn and the teams ran for it. Ezra and Maria decided to sprint right away and earned an early lead. They avoided talking not wanting to lose their breath. Eventually they cooled down to a jog once they felt they’d lost the others. Ezra said he was already feeling tired but Maria told him to keep pushing. Frasier and Neisha, as well as Lenny and Melvin were pretty neck and neck. Because of their closeness, they opted to team up and help one another. They agreed that conserving their energy was the smartest thing they could do as it was a long journey ahead. Nori and Troy had fallen behind. Troy was keeping a really good speed but Nori just couldn’t keep up. He told her to keep pushing but she insisted she was going as fast as she could. Troy stops and picks up Nori up, in a piggyback position. He then starts sprinting and tells her to hold on for dear life.

 The sun started setting and Ezra and Maria started slowing down a bit as they were running out of steam. They reached the rock wall and heard the others coming behind them. They got themselves strapped in their harnaces and started rushing up. Maria made quick work, racing up the rock wall. Frasier and Neisha got strapped in and Ezra could feel them coming behind him, making slow progressive work. This distracted him and he stepped on his other foot by accident, sending him back. He flung around from his harness and his leg smashed into the wall before he went back onto the ground. Maria gasped and asked if he was okay as she had reached the top. Frasier and Neisha looked down in concern. Lenny and Melvin started climbing, with Lenny asking if he was okay and Melvin continuing not caring at all. Production sent over medics to take a look at Ezra’s condition as he was not getting up and his leg was bleeding. Neisha slipped causing her to start over, letting Lenny and Melvin pull ahead. Eventually they became the first team to reach the top and started putting together their tents. Maria watched as the medics worked with Ezra. Frasier and Neisha also reached the top, getting to work on their tents. After five more minutes, the medics called Maria over and asked her to come down using her harness. She climbed down a bit before jumping down, letting her harness carry her over. The medic informed Maria that Ezra had broken his leg and would need to get further assistance. Ezra as well as the medics had made the decision that he couldn’t go on in the game and had to be disqualified. As a result, Maria also would not be able to continue. She took a moment to herself and stepped aside. She covered her face and teared up from frustration and sadness. Maria then collected herself and crouched next to Ezra. She said she was so proud of him for how well he’d done all season and that she couldn’t have asked for a better partner. Maria promised she wasn’t upset and that she’s glad he’s doing what’s best. Ezra started tearing up and apologized profusely. Maria cut him off and told him not to worry about it. The producers then offered for Maria to come with them in the chopper to take Ezra to treatment. She nodded along and got her stuff. Lenny, Frasier, Melvin, and Neisha clapped for them both as they left with the producers.

 Lenny and Melvin had set up their tents first, soon followed by Frasier and Neisha. Eventually, Nori and Troy caught up and climbed up the wall, with Nori taking a lot longer than he did. They set up their tent, fully expecting to be eliminated. TJ joined them and informed everyone that Ezra and Maria had been disqualified after Ezra’s injury. As a result, nobody would be eliminated in this leg. He told them all to get a good night’s rest to prepare for the next leg. The teams woke up the next day for the second leg of the challenge. TJ explained that they’d have to walk to their next destination where they’d be met with a map that features blanks with clues about players from the season. They’d need to match the clues with the faces of those players. The last team to finish so correctly would be eliminated. With that, they all raced, starting to run towards the location. The spot wasn’t too far away so all three teams made it there around the same time with minimal trouble. Nori took a big swig of water and immediately got to work. Troy looked at the clues and felt very puzzled, having no idea what any of them meant. Lenny and Melvin made fast work as both of them had been studying the past week to prepare. Frasier and Neisha weren’t 100% sure about some of their answers but moved quickly. Nori worked pretty much alone with Troy trying his best to help but just getting in the way. Frasier and Neisha asked TJ to check their board first. He looked and declared that some of the answers were wrong. Lenny and Melvin asked TJ to check theirs. He scanned it, looking over everything. He blew his horn declaring Lenny and Melvin had completed the leg and would move on to the third and final day. Things started getting serious from here. Nori tried her best to stay in it while practically working alone. She smacked faces on clues, hoping to keep up. Frasier and Neisha looked around trying to figure out where their mistake was, moving some around. Just then, someone called for TJ to check their board… Nori had shouted on the top of her lungs. TJ examined it and blew his horn, declaring Nori and Troy would face off in the third leg with Lenny and Melvin. Neisha kicked their board and shook her head. TJ looked to her and Frasier and explained that as they were last to finish, they were now eliminated.

 The players woke up to TJ and joined him outside. He explained that for the final day, they’d have to race back to the mansion while along the way answering math questions. Whenever they get a wrong answer, they face a half hour penalty. On his horn, they all booked it. The teams go for it and both succeed on the first two math questions. Melvin gets the third math question, putting him and Lenny in a penalty. This gave Nori and Troy the chance to catch up as they’d fallen behind because of Nori. Troy would carry her in shifts to help her conserve her energy. Lenny and Melvin practiced PEMDAS questions as they waited for their penalty to end. It ended and they both sprinted to make up for lost time. A few math questions later, the teams had to race down the rock wall and at this point Lenny and Melvin caught up. It was now all four players climbing down as fast as they could without winding up like Ezra. Troy and Lenny reach the end of the rock wall first, and wait for the other two. Troy offers Lenny a fist bump and said that no matter who wins, he’s proud to be in the Final 2 with one of his best friends. She ignored the fist bump and gave him a hug instead, thanking him and wishing him luck. Just then, Melvin hit the bottom and the two took off. Nori jumped off and ran with Troy, determined to catch up. With the end closer and closer and the gap closing, both teams hurried. Both got the next two math questions. Lenny and Melvin missed a number by one and had to take a penalty, worrying that it would hold them back. Nori and Troy just passed them once their penalty was three minutes away. Once their penalty ended, they raced towards the end. Going faster than Nori but hoping they could still pass them. TJ watched as he saw all four players coming from the woods, Troy in the clear lead racing towards him, with Lenny, Melvin and Nori neck-and-neck. One team managed to get both player’s feet past the finish line first… and that team was Nori and Troy. TJ blew his horn one final time to congratulate Troy and Nori. Before anyone could get too excited, TJ turned to Troy. He explained that since he was the first player to cross the finish line, he had a choice. He could keep the million dollars all for himself or split it with Nori. Troy looked at Nori and said that coming into this game, he wanted the million for himself, and after Nori struggled with some of the physical aspects, maybe he should. He then smirked and said that without Nori, no shot he would’ve made it here and that with her wit and ability in mental challenges, she helped him get to this point. Troy said that maybe he’ll regret it in a year time once he’s used it all on cologne and hair gel already, but that he was going to split the money with Nori. She hadn’t doubted him but it was still great to hear. She hugged him and thanked him. She cried and said she couldn’t believe they just won. Melvin rolled his eyes and said that he wanted to throw up. Lenny took the news better and hugged them both. She told Troy that fourth time really was the charm. Nori congratulated Melvin on still doing well and he told her to kill herself. On that note, TJ ordered choppers for all of them and thanked them for an amazing season.