A/N: Well, it's time for another elimination episode. Up until this point, everything's been quite clear to me. But now, the rubber meets the sand. Er…road. Idk. Anyway, after last chapter, we get cooking with our triple ships. NokixBoo, BlackYoshixBirdo, and ToadsworthxZess are ready to set sail!

Will love get in the way of winning this game? Only time will tell…

Thanks be to the reviewers!

Yoshpa: Thanks! That means so much! And of course, Princess Shroob is everyone's favorite. If she was eliminated, I think there'd be riots in the streets. But…I do love a good anarchy…*eliminates Princess Shroob*

TheJirachi21: BEST SHIP EVAR!111! You thought this chapter was "okay"…YOU THOUGHT IT WAS JUST OK!? Joker, you're fired! Just kidding, you muh bud. Thanks for reviewing always ;D

TCKing12: Well of course they made the best smoothie :P She's a chef. But, she's got a lot of brass, and that may hurt her in the end. We'll see tho. Thanks for reviewing all of the time!

Princess Shroob: YOU WERE SO CLOSE. I know, but sometimes we have to let the peasants have their fun, don't we? Thanks for the review, your majesty!

EvilAbigail: I tried to think of as many fruits as I possibly can, since I don't eat a lot of fruit *looks around shamefully*, but I liked the concept of the challenge, yes. I think this one will be even better :3 Thanks for always reviewing!

ultimateCCC: Eh…he is a ghost, isn't he? But he's got some sort of material to him. In Super Mario Sunshine, you can step on them to defeat them…so they're not totally transparent…right? Anyway, thanks!

CielFury: AH IT'S THE GREAT CIELFURY! Hi, how are you? I've missed you D: Of course I remember you, silly. Thanks for all the praise X3. Everyone's raving about Princess Shroob, so I'm glad I nailed her character. Also, yeah, Don Pianta was an original character to me. I'm glad I included him. Thanks for reviewing, Ciel!

Owen96: Shipshipshipship. I've gone mad with creative power. Oh, so you liked Peach? Take that up with Yoshpa, hmm? He's a Pauline fan xD. Thanks for reviewing PIPLAP! :D

The DreamStakes!

Team Manta: Mario, Birdo, Pauline, Flurrie, Princess Shroob, Zess T., Toadsworth, Black Yoshi

Team Dolphin: Bowser, Wendy, Kolorado, Noki, Boo, Kammy, Wario, Don Pianta, Rosalina

It was morning of the next day. Everyone had already filtered out onto the pristine sands of Gelato Beach. Without either of their cosmic hosts in sight, the seventeen remaining players could relax without interruption. The morning had passed quite peacefully. Everyone had munched on a nice breakfast at the cabana, and now they all pursued their own interests on the beach.

Out on a walk, Kolorado and Mario talked about their respective teams.

"I do hope we don't lose, old boy, even though that would send you to the elimination round," Kolorado said to Mario. "However, I'm quite sure you'd survive. Myself, on the other hand…I do not know."

"What makes you say that?" Mario asked Kolorado. "Don't you have allies?"

"I'm afraid not, old bean," Kolorado said as he stroked his bushy moustache. "Even though I lead this team, I feel my fate may be the same as ol' Lakilester. Quite short…indeed."

Kolorado: Oy vey…this ol' koopa has got his work cut out for him! We're on a roll, but if we lose today, I feel it may be curtains for me!

Down by the shore, Flurrie, Pauline, and Princess Shroob found themselves sunbathing. With a disgruntled sigh, Princess Shroob assessed the worth of her remaining teammates.

Princess Shroob: The ugly Birdo thing has defected to side with the rabble. Now, only Pauline and Flurrie-slave remain loyal to me. I must concentrate their will…and perhaps dissect their brains to learn more of their individual worth in this game. Without servants…a queen is nothing.

"What a nice day, don't you think, Flurrie-slave?" Princess Shroob asked her right-hand. With a nod, Flurrie agreed with the royal alien.

"My my, I think I see a boat coming our way!" Flurrie said, pointing out to the horizon. "If I'm not mistaken, it looks like Brighton and Twila!"

"Well with your age, your eyes could certainly be mistaken," Princess Shroob spat. "Pauline, what do you see?"

Laying in the sand, Pauline let out a long exhalation of breath. Arching up onto the backs of her arms, the brunette looked out to the ocean.

"Boat…," was all she said before flopping back down into the sand.

Pauline: What am I even doing here? Even thinks I'm a jerk…just…uh…

"What's that?" Black Yoshi asked Birdo, sitting with her under the shade of a palm tree. From their vantage point, the two could see the boat approaching the shore. Noticing its approach, the duo rose, signaling to others that their hosts were approaching.

"Fabulous," Rosalina said with a sigh. "I've just started working on my tan. I get no sun in the cosmos."

"Yeah, yeah," Don Pianta said with a wave of his hand. "Ain't I heard dat somewha befo'?"

"Oh hush, you overgrown palm tree," Rosalina said with a smile. "It's time for us to win another challenge."

Rosalina: Do I think I can win this game? Of course I can. The only person with more confidence than me was Yoshi…and look where that got him. He fell off of a windmill. I for one, intend to do much more than that.

As the boat reached the shore, everyone crowded around. Wario munched on a clove of garlic, eliciting a noxious series of farts. He laughed.

"Is this your only purpose?" Wendy asked sharply, turning on the fat man. "To produce first-grade level comedic effect? I mean you don't ever even have speaking lines!"

"Neither does Flurrie, half of the time," Wario said with a shrug.

"Hey!" Flurrie shouted. "I was in the beginning of this episode, thank you very much!"

"Settle down, children," the voice of Brighton instructed, calming everyone down. "I don't want anyone to bleed or have to go to the hospital before lunch…which is why today's challenge is super violent."

"That…makes little to no sense," Wendy said, crossing her arms and cocking her head to the side. The koopaling seemed ready to thrash just about everyone in this competition.

"Violence?" Bowser asked, giddy excitement shining in his large eyes. "Oh boy! I am the King of Violence!"

"Your putridness," Kammy said with a cough. "Your blood pressure…remember your blood pressure."

Kammy Koopa: His evilness has exceptionally high blood sugar. It's induced by a diet of pure sugar and cake 24/7. Perhaps I should recommend alternative diet plans…

"Get to da point," Don Pianta said, tapping his foot. "I don't got all day."

"Well, you do, to be frank," Brighton said. "You're under contract. But…whatever. Today, we're going out to Gelato Beach's reef for the immunity challenge. The winners will of course, win immunity. The losers will have a date with me in the elimination arena, where one more of you will leave the game."

Birdo: I'd like to win today, if at all possible. We've lost the last two immunity challenges…and I think this vote would be particularly tough with lots of flipping and side-choosing. I'd just like to avoid all of that for a few more days…

"What's out at the reef?" Noki asked, sounding intrigued. "If I remember correctly, it's just a bunch…"

"Shut up, Noki," Twila said. "No one wants to hear about science right now. We came here for money!"

Boo gave Twila a cross look.

Boo: Now I think I know why Rosalina dislikes her so much…

"We'll explain the rules when we get there. For now, everyone hop on the boat!" Brighton cried. Obeying his orders, everyone hopped aboard.

"Don't fall of now, Blackie," Kolorado said to Black Yoshi with a laugh. "I know you're a poor swimmer."

"I'm a fantastic swimmer!" Black Yoshi cried, appalled by Kolorado's racist remark. Everyone filtered on, but the combined weight of Wario, Don Pianta, and Bowser caused the boat to sink. Everyone had to swim back to shore, and three hours later, a new boat arrived that was much bigger than the last.

"Not to name any names…," Brighton said. "But, I think Bowser sunk the boat."

"Your vileness," Kammy said. "Perhaps the all-cake diet…?"

"Do not take away my cake!" Bowser cried. "I'll have you hung!"

"Dear Grambi!" Kammy cried, appalled by the suggestion.

"Can the peasants quit their shenanigans so we can get on with the challenge?" Princess Shroob asked, rolling her eyes.

"Thanks PS," Twila said, returning to the explanation of the challenge.

"Don't you ever abbreviate my name, you insignificant little woman," Princess Shroob snapped, cutting daggers into Twila with her death stare. "You have no family, you have no friends, you have no land. Now remain silent for the rest of the day."

"I…ugh…," Twila began to sweat all over, becoming quite uncomfortable. Everyone fanned themselves to alleviate the awkward tension brought on by Princess Shroob's comment.

Zess T.: The air was thicker than my Triple Cream Cake! And let me tell you, that cake is thicker than Wendy's rear!

"I say we just explain the challenge," Mario said, covering his brow with his cap. Brighton nodded, continuing along.

"So, the object of today's challenge is to hunt for large red coins in the reef. You can swim around for fifteen minutes until we call time. Every red coin is worth one point. However, hidden among the reef is one green coin, which is an exemption from tonight's vote. You could go for that instead, securing your own safety…," Brighton announced, finishing the rules.

Kolorado: I need that exemption. Luck says we're due for a loss…and I feel like it'd be me if we don't win today!

"Does everyone understand?" Brighton asked. Receiving a chorus of approval from the contestants, he removed a pistol from his robe.

"Whoa!" Black Yoshi screamed. "Everyone get down!"

"Ah, thank you, Blackie!" Kolorado cried, hitting the deck. "I'm glad you're accustomed to dealing with such a situation!"

"No," Brighton said. "It shoots confetti. I was using it to signal the beginning of the challenge…"

"Oh," everyone said. Brighton held the gun high, pulling the trigger. The confetti rained down, getting in his mouth and causing a general mess.

"Pfft…g-go!" He cried, spitting pieces of rainbow confetti out of his mouth.

Flurrie: I'm an excellent swimmer! Yes, I was on the women's junior league! But that was forty years ago…now, who knows? Teehee!

"Oh, bless my old bones!" Kammy cried. "I can't swim!" She was flailing in the water, struggling to keep up with everyone.

"Come on, Kammy," Bowser said, grabbing and placing her in between the spikes on his shell. "You'll be safe up here." Bowser then swam with his belly-down, so that Kammy could ride him like a great big sea turtle.

Wendy: Daddy does too much for Kammy. If we lose today, I need to find a way to get her out. With her gone, Daddy'll be more focused on working with me instead of her lame butt.

"Mamma Mia!" Mario said, pointing towards the reef. "I see some-a-coins!" The plumber kicked into overhaul, his legs scissoring the water. He soon reached the reef, Kolorado hot in his tail.

"Come now, Team!" Kolorado cried. "Let's boogie!"

Rosalina: I don't take orders from turtles. Kolorado's got a big head…but I need to get my priorities straight. Boo is a must if we lose.

Noki was swimming well, but Boo was having trouble in the water. However, he remembered back to when he had spied on Rosalina at lunch back in the harbor. He knew if they lost today, he'd be in hot water. He tried his best, and with help from Noki, he reached the reef.

"See?" She said with a smile. "It's not that hard."

Boo: She just makes life easier…ugh…what is this feeling!?

"Come along now," Kolorado said as his team paddled over to him. "We have to find all of these coins! If we don't, we'll be in trouble!"

"Coins like these?" Flurrie asked, resurfacing. In her hand she held a sparkling red coin. "Oh my, I dare say that I've found a red coin!"

"Find those coins!" Kolorado barked, frustrated that the other team had a leg up now. Laughing to herself, Flurrie tucked her coin under her arm and dove back down for more. Wario was quick to follow her, a greedy smile on his face.

Wario: If there's one thing I know…it's money! Oh man, this is the challenge for Wario!

The plunderer laughed as he dove underwater. Now, everyone was in the reef, scrambling for coins. Everyone dashed around like mad in the water, but one player had an eye for something green.

"Noki," Boo said, turning to the marine creature. "I need to find the exemption. If we lose, I think I'm going home."

"What?" Noki hissed. "What makes you think that?"

"I…I overheard a conversation that Rosalina had with Bowser and Kammy. She was trying to persuade them to vote for me if we ever lost. I guess she feels threatened by me," he explained, looking around to see if the cosmic woman was near.

"Boo…," Noki whispered, "that's awful! Go, go, find the exemption! I'll distract everyone else." She leaned in, giving him a quick kiss.

"That was for luck," she said. "Now go!" She patted him on the back, sending him on his way. Giving her one last look over his shoulder, the phantom sojourned off on his search for the green coin.

On the other side of the reef, Mario's group was having luck. Flurrie had found a coin, but since then, Black Yoshi had found one as well.

"What a surprise," Princess Shroob droned as she tread water. "The peasant did something good for once."

"Hush it," Black Yoshi said crossly. "I don't see you doing any work!"

"Why do work, when you could have the slaves do it for you?" Princess Shroob said with a mischievous smile. As soon as she said those words, Flurrie handed her the coin she had found earlier.

"Here you go, my most majestic queen," Flurrie said. She then left, going back out to search for more coins, leaving Black Yoshi simply dumbfounded.

Princess Shroob: Mind control is just one of my many talents!

The score was getting even. However, they were running out of time. Team Manta had found three coins. Flurrie's, Black Yoshi's, and one recently found by Mario. For Team Dolphin, Rosalina had found one, so had Noki, and Wario had found two.

"Wahahaha!" The corpulent man said with a devilish grin. "This is my kinda game!"

"If only ya cud hold on ta ya money," Don Pianta said with a dour smile. "Then ya wouldn't owe me and ma business thousands a coins."

Sweating even in this water, Wario laughed nervously before diving back down in search of more coins. As he left Don Pianta, the man looked around. Furrowing his brow, he realized someone was missing.

Don Pianta: Organized crime makes ya veery observant, ya see? I looked around and immediately noticed dat Boo fella was gone…

However, before Don Pianta could alert Rosalina, Boo was already deep into the reef. He wasn't the best swimmer, but he knew he needed this more than anything. Combing through the aquatic flora, the white ghost soon found a shiny green coin tucked under a bed of coral. Smiling, he fished it out with his hand, claiming his prize.

"Yes!" He said, a bit too loudly. Covering his mouth, he looked back to where the others were just in time. Brighton called time, shooting his confetti gun into the air. Everyone paddled back to the boat, where Boo received several shifty looks.

"Well," Brighton said. "Let's see how everyone did! Team Manta, if you please," he leaned down to collect their coins, counting six in total.

"And how did Team Dolphin do?" He asked, and Kolorado shook his head grimly.

"Only five, my good boy," the explorer said. He turned to face the others when Boo spoke up. "Does the exemption count?" The white ghost said with a smile, to which Brighton answered negatively.

"It does not," he said with a frown. "Meaning that Team Dolphin must go to the elimination arena tonight. Only Boo is safe, as he found the exemption. However, was that a choice that risked the safety of the rest of his team?"

Boo scowled. He hadn't thought of it like that. Noki gave him a reassuring pat as Brighton's words sunk in. He had chosen himself over the team…

"Thanks a lot, Boo," Wario said, sticking out his tongue. "All that hard work for nothing…"

"Well," Kammy said. "We've got our work cut out for us. I say we take the rest of the day to formulate a game plan." They all got back into the boat, heading to Gelato Beach to spend the rest of the day mulling over their plans.

Night was beginning to fall. The vermillion hues of the sunset washed over Gelato Beach like a warm blanket. In the low light, people began to conspire.

"So, we can't get Boo, eh?" Don Pianta asked Rosalina, who looked furious. "Who else is da next best bet?"

"Not Noki," Rosalina said, "she's weak, eliminating her would only infuriate Boo and push him to do better. He'd go for more exemptions, and we'd all take the fall."

"Well if not her, then who?" Don Pianta asked, clearly puzzled.

"I have another option for you," a new voice said, breaking the silence of the night. "She's two feet tall, wears hideous purple robes, and has a named that rhymes with Klammy Poopa."

"Ah, Wendy," the Don said, regarding the koopaling. "It's about time you took to tha stage."

"Wh-what?" Wendy asked, sounding nonplussed. "Never mind that…tonight it has to be Kammy."

"And why is that?" Rosalina asked her. "Kammy is smart, despite her age. She could be an asset if we came across some puzzles…and her magic is yet to prove useful."

"Those are good reasons to keep her…," Wendy said, mulling the thought. "Fine. If not her, then who? Wario? Kolorado?"

"Hmm…," the Don said. "I can't say voting Kolorado would be a bad idea. Da guy has got spunk, but he's bossin' us around. No one bosses da Don around."

"Keep it together," Rosalina said, chiding her associate. "If Kolorado goes, we lose the head of the team. We're scattered…thrown into disarray. I don't know what else to do…"

Wendy, Don, and Rosalina all shared confused looks. This one would be a challenge…

Under the palm trees, Kammy and Bowser sipped oh Mai Thais and enjoyed the vacation spot. After some time, Bowser mentioned their chore.

"Who's it gonna be, Kammy?" He asked, flashing his chompers.

"Hmm…my vote is for Kolorado, your horridness. I think his bossy attitude hurts us as a team," Kammy replied, thinking wisely.

"Good point," Bowser said, toasting his aide. "Let's not worry about this and just kick it!"

"Well said, your majesty!"

As the night descended on Gelato Beach, the remaining members of Team Dolphin found themselves in the elimination arena. Nine of them remained in this game, but after tonight, they'd be a team of eight. As Brighton and Twila arrived to herald the elimination, everyone got goosebumps.

"Well," Brighton said. "It's clear that today's loss was a close one. I think everyone gave it their all."

"Except for Boo!" Wario pouted. "I'm the greediest man alive, but even I didn't go for the exemption!"

"Hey," Boo said, drawing Wario's attention. "I have my reasons. Don't give me any lip."

Wario looked cross, but he shut up. The spotlight turned back to Brighton.

"Well, just remember, you cannot vote for Boo. He is exempt from this round," Brighton explained. "Now, one by one, all of you shall vote. Let's get this over with."

Following his instructions, everyone went to cast their votes. The deliberation took some time, but Brighton returned with the votes after a while.

"Alright," he said, "I have the votes. I'll read them…so hang tight."

He opened the first piece of paper, revealing the name on it. "First vote…WARIO."

The fat man grumbled. He didn't look amused by this one bit.

"Second vote…WARIO."

Scratching his chin, Wario hoped he'd be staying. He needed more money!

"Third vote…BOWSER."

"What?" Bowser snarled. "I've been on my best behavior! Whoever is responsible for that is gonna get charred!"

"Fourth vote…KOLORADO."

"Oh dear," the explorer said. "I think may nightmares may be coming to life…"

"Fifth vote…KOLORADO."

Kolorado looked worried.

"Sixth vote…KOLORADO."

"Seventh vote…KOLORADO."

"Good Grambi," Kolorado said, dreading the next vote. Brighton unfolded it, showing the team the result.

"Fourth person voted out of The DreamStakes…KOLORADO."

"Well," Kolorado said, rising from his chair. "I had fun! It seems as if the captain of this ship is doomed, no matter who's at the helm! Best foot forward, champs, and I hope none of you ever come back to this arena for some time!"

"Well said," Brighton commented, helping the old koopa retrieve his bags. Opening the door, the host said, "After you!"

"Tally-ho!" Kolorado said as he stepped out the door. "Knock 'em dead, old beans!" Everyone watched Kolorado go, and they were left with Twila.

"Well," the hostess said. "It seems as if this team is focused on dethroning its leaders. I'd be wary of taking charge, if I were you. Goodnight," she said, bidding them all goodbye. One by one they took their leave, pondering if what they did was right…

For it might have been the wrong decision.

Soooo, no more Kolorado D: I felt he didn't quite fit in if he wasn't on the other team, and I didn't see him progressing much farther. He was fun to write, but it was his time. Thanks for reading! I hope you liked it!

-AdmiralBobbery