Fire Tribe

As he arrived in camp, Kirby wanted immediately to run and hide from the accusing eyes of his former alliance. He had been thinking about his choice throughout their walk, debating whether it was worth the sacrifice. Whether it was worth the trust of his friends. He walked quickly when the others stopped, hoping to outrun them and escape, but Yoshi caught up to him and forced him to stop. Their eyes met, one fearful and one furious.

"You aren't going anywhere," Yoshi said, not bothering to hide his rage. "You are going to explain."

"I… I don't want to…" Kirby whispered meekly. Yoshi wasn't fazed. He pushed Kirby toward the others, who were watching.

"I appreciate your decision," Lucario said. "You made the right choice."

Bowser turned to him. "It's done, though. He can join."

Lucario nodded. "He's welcome if he's willing."

Bowser sighed in relief. "Hope to see you, puffball."

Nobody else shared his relief. Hearing them made the decision all too clear.

"You betrayed us so you could join them," Yoshi said flatly. "Kirby… you made a terrible choice."

"I can't believe you'd do this," said Pokémon Trainer. "You'd do this to all of us! We're your friends!"

"I know!" Kirby said. "I really do! I just…"

"What?" Yoshi asked. "What could possibly be worth betraying your friends?"

"Clearly a stronger alliance," said Fox. "I don't blame him. I'd do the same thing."

"Of course you would," said Pit. "You know how strong we are! You'd do anything to be a part of us!"

"Shut up, both of you," Bowser grumbled. He had realized the trouble he had put Kirby in, and he didn't want them getting any angrier at him. "Not the time."

"They're mad at him," said Fox. "But he'll get over it when they're gone."

"What?" Kirby asked. "They're not going to leave…"

"What choice do we have?" Yoshi asked. "What else can we do?"

Kirby didn't have an answer. He looked at them, distraught, wishing he had made the other choice. "I didn't know. I-"

"How could you not know?" Mario, who had been silent the entire time, staring at Kirby with confusion and mistrust, finally spoke. "What did you think would have happened? I don't understand why you would make this choice. There was no reason."

"I wanted to save Bowser," Kirby muttered.

"Bowser?" Mario repeated. "You wanted to save Bowser…"

"You would've eliminated him next!" Kirby explained. "I didn't want that to happen."

"We weren't going to eliminate him," said Mario. "We would've eliminated him… last…"

"What?" Kirby asked, shocked. "But they said…"

"Oh Kirby," Pokémon Trainer sighed, shaking his head. "You poor, poor naïve soul. All you had to do was ask us and we would've listened."

"But," Kirby's voice was much weaker now. "They said…"

"They lied to you," Yoshi said bluntly. "Whatever they said, they said it to get you to vote with them. Nothing more."

"That's not true," Bowser said angrily. "I meant every word. You never once showed that you valued Kirby's opinion, so how could he trust that you'd suddenly listen to him."

"You don't know anything about our alliance," said Pokémon Trainer.

"Clearly, neither does Kirby," said Yoshi. "They deserve each other."

"I made a mistake," Kirby tried backtracking and apologizing. "I'm sorry! Please forgive me!"

"It's far too late for that," said Yoshi. "You made your choice."

Yoshi sighed, shook his head, and walked away. Pokémon Trainer and Mario also left just as silently, and Kirby was left with his thoughts. Bowser patted him softly.

"You have us," he whispered. "You're not alone, Kirby."

"Welcome to the alliance," said Fox. "The alliance who's now winning this tribe. When they're gone, you'll feel better."

Kirby looked at him, tears in his eyes, and pulled away from Bowser. He started bawling, and he ran away to be alone. The others watched him escape, some saddened, some emotionless. Pit turned to the others.

"Poor guy," he said. "Choice must've killed him inside."

"He made it, and he has to live with it," said Fox. "I'm just glad he made the choice that benefits us."

"We should have more faith in Lucario," Pit added. "He knew from the beginning."

Lucario smirked, knowing full well that he was at the mercy of Kirby, yet said nothing. He enjoyed keeping this persona of mysterious omniscience, and he didn't desire removing it for the sake of sympathizing with them.

"I had a plan," was all he said.

Pit suspected nothing. "You and your plans. One of these days, Lucario, your plan won't work."

Lucario had no doubt in his mind that was the case. "We shall see."

Day 48

Ice Tribe

After breakfast, Mewtwo called the alliance together for a short meeting. He was still concerned with the votes of his fellow members, and he wanted assurance so that he could relax for the next few days.

Pikachu, to Mewtwo's frustration, teased him by explaining it to the others when they had gathered. Falco smirked. "Someone's a bit paranoid."

"Could you blame him, though?" Pikachu asked, realizing quickly that his teasing went a bit too far. "After what happened last time."

Falco shrugged. "I doubt there are any of those necklaces remaining. There's no need to worry."

"It isn't only the necklaces," said Marth. "It's us."

"There's no trust here, is there?" Falco sighed. "You guys just need to relax. Just stick with the people you've been sticking with, keep the numbers, and coast through until the end."

"That's an optimistic point of view," said Marth. "I'd love to share that opinion."

"It shouldn't be an opinion," said Link. "It should be how the game is played."

"That'd be so boring," said King Dedede. "Betrayals keep things interesting. Besides, if you don't think your alliance is trustworthy, it's best to strike first so you don't lose."

"That's the attitude I hate," said Falco. "You guys all try to outthink and outplay and outsmart each other, and you all suffer because of it."

"Have you not been paying attention this entire time?" Marth asked. "That is exactly how the majority of us have survived this long."

"Maybe the North Tribe made me naïve," Falco conceded. "There wasn't much strategy going on there."

"I can agree with that," said King Dedede. "It was so peaceful there."

"Consider yourself at a disadvantage," said Mewtwo. "But don't attempt to push your ideals on us, Falco. We won't believe them."

"…fine…"

"If that is all that you'd like to say about the subject," Mewtwo continued. "I would like confirmation as to who we are all voting for."

"You already asked me, didn't you?" Link asked. "Why would you want me to repeat myself?"

"Assurance," Mewtwo replied. "I would like all of us to vote for the same player, so that an accident doesn't occur."

"We agreed on Diddy Kong," said Falco. "Is it really that hard to imagine that we'd all rather vote him out?"

King Dedede coughed. "Actually, I've been talking with him lately. He seems really upset that you all think that way."

"He brought it on himself," Falco replied.

"I like him too," said Pikachu. "But I like him less than Snake."

"Even though Snake betrayed us?" King Dedede asked.

"To be fair, his problem was Metaknight," Pikachu reminded him. "It had nothing to do with us. He could've gotten any of us eliminated if he wanted, but he chose Metaknight for a reason."

"I would like to thank Snake though," Link admitted. "I doubt Marth and I would be with you guys if he hadn't pulled his trick."

"That is not a guarantee," Mewtwo said.

King Dedede immediately sensed something wrong, but he knew he couldn't eloquently bring it up. He stared at Mewtwo suspiciously, knowing full well what Mewtwo was implying.

"Really?" Link, however, seemed relieved. "I'm glad you were thinking that way."

"We like to keep our options open," said Pikachu.

"You aren't the only ones," King Dedede said.

"I'd hope so," Pikachu replied. "I'd be disappointed otherwise."

"What options could some of us possibly have?" Falco asked.

"That isn't our problem," said Mewtwo. "And it would be ridiculous of us to give advice like that."

"What about helping your teammates?"

"I would help if it would not allow you to have an unnecessary disadvantage."

Falco spat. "You and your damn secrets are annoying."

Pikachu chuckled. "It really isn't a secret. Just pay attention around camp and you'd figure it out."

"It might be best if you let things happen and don't try to influence anything," Marth suggested. "I mean no offense. I would simply prefer you stay in the alliance."

"As opposed to what?"

"Making a fool of yourself and getting kicked out," Marth replied flatly.

"I'd never do that."

Marth patted him on the shoulder. "Of course not."

Falco ripped his shoulder from Marth's grip. "Don't patronize me."

"My apologies."

"Are we done here?" King Dedede asked. "Is there anything else to talk about?"

"We came to a consensus," Mewtwo said, more to himself than anyone else. "That was the purpose… yes, we're done."

King Dedede nodded and left without a word. Falco paused and then followed him. Link nodded to Marth before taking his leave, and Marth was left alone with the Pokémon.

"Am I right in guessing that the meeting isn't finished?" Marth asked.

Mewtwo nodded. "You sensed that, I'd assume."

Marth nodded after the birds. Pikachu looked between them curiously.

"You two have some sixth sense I don't know about?" Pikachu asked.

"Falco's disdain was obvious," said Marth. "But King Dedede certainly didn't appreciate your comment about Snake."

"Why?" Pikachu asked.

"He knew what I was implying," Mewtwo smirked. "That I would have betrayed Metaknight given the chance."

"Oh, that," Pikachu had the same realization. "Hopefully he never finds out. I like pleasant King Dedede, and I don't want that to go away."

"I made the implication intentionally, Pikachu. I want him to grow suspicious. He isn't clever enough to plan ahead of us. He'll show us his skilled at this game he truly is."

"Weren't you friends?" Pikachu asked. "Why do you want to test him like this?"

"To see if he truly deserves to win," Mewtwo replied. "He understood my clue, and that is the first step. The next will be his reaction to it."

"But you were just saying that you didn't want to give anyone an unnecessary advantage," Marth reminded him. "Giving King Dedede that clue is doing exactly that."

"It isn't unnecessary," Mewtwo replied. "For King Dedede, it will be absolutely necessary."

"You're strange, Mewtwo," Marth shook his head and sighed. "You're confusing and clever and strange."

"Which is why it's best for you to have me as an ally," Mewtwo replied. "Having me as an enemy would not end well."

Fire Tribe

Pokémon Trainer was the first to wake up. He rubbed his eyes. It was still early morning, so the sun had yet to rise above the horizon, and the sky was a deep shade of purple. He got up quietly and crawled over to Kirby, who had slept in the sand a fair way away from everyone else. He stared at Kirby for a while, noticing his reddened eyelids, his sniffling breaths, the moisture still clinging to his body. Pokémon Trainer himself had stayed up several hours staring at the sky and listening to Kirby's sobs gradually change volume as he paced back and forth in the night. Pokémon Trainer couldn't sleep, and he knew Kirby couldn't either.

He tapped his friend awake. Kirby blinked groggily, and then he recognized him. There was a brief flash of fear across his face, and then it passed.

"What are you doing here?" Kirby whispered. "It's so early!"

"I wanted to talk," Pokémon Trainer replied as calmly as he could.

"I don't," Kirby muttered. "I don't want to be yelled at."

"I'm never going to yell at you," said Pokémon Trainer. "Talk sternly, maybe, but never yell."

"Last night you were stern…"

"You're right, I was. All of us were. You understand why, I'm sure."

Kirby nodded silently.

"I want to know why you did what you did," said Pokémon Trainer. "We're friends. Even with what happened yesterday, we're still friends. We've had too many great moments for that to be ruined by just one."

Kirby smiled slightly. "Thanks."

"So, as a friend, tell me why you voted for Olimar."

Kirby stared at Pokémon Trainer silently for what felt like an eternity, and then he gave a brief summary of Lucario and Bowser's manipulation over the past few days, including the conversations yesterday. Pokémon Trainer listened intently, nodding, trying to remember everything. When Kirby finished, giving a large sigh, Pokémon Trainer remained quiet.

"Did I make the right choice?" Kirby finally asked.

Pokémon Trainer blinked. His friend was staring at him with fear in his eyes, as if he was hoping for an answer that he knew wouldn't come.

"No, you made the wrong choice," Pokémon Trainer said.

Tears quickly came to Kirby's eyes. "I know," he whispered. "I know I made a bad… I know. I wanted to change my vote. I wanted to immediately. I couldn't…"

"It's just something we have to live with," said Pokémon Trainer.

"I want to apologize to him," said Kirby. "It's all my fault."

Pokémon Trainer shrugged. "If you see Olimar again, you should."

"I'll quit," said Kirby. "It's what I deserv-"

Pokémon Trainer stood up quickly. "No," he said firmly. "You can't, and you won't. Not while I'm still here."

Kirby blinked, tears falling to the sand. "What? But-"

"We're friends, Kirby," said Pokémon Trainer. "And as friends, we have to support each other. So I'm going to support you through this. You aren't quitting, and you don't deserve anything except to win."

"I don't!" Kirby said distraughtly. "I betrayed everyone! They all hate me!"

Pokémon Trainer couldn't take it anymore. He couldn't hold a façade of tough love anymore. He dropped to his knees and hugged Kirby as tightly as he could, tears betraying him. "It's okay," he said softly. "Everything's going to be okay, Kirby. We'll get through this."

Kirby was stunned. "Pokémon… Trainer…"

Pokémon Trainer shushed him quietly. "Don't cry, Kirby. I can't handle you crying."

The pair sat there in each other's embrace, silently enjoying their comfort. The sun started to rise behind them, and their tribe members were beginning to stir. They slowly broke apart.

"I know you don't want to hear this," Pokémon Trainer admitted. "But we can't be in the same alliance for now."

"But-"

"But if the two of us get far enough," Pokémon Trainer added. "If the others somehow get eliminated… or something happens… we're friends. We're allies until the end, okay?"

Kirby smiled. That last statement was the best thing Pokémon Trainer could've said. He had an ally again. No… he had a friend, a friend who'd be with him no matter what he did.

"Until the end," Kirby agreed.

An hour later, everyone was awake. They finished their meal and split into groups. Kirby watched his old alliance leave him and turned to face his new one.

"Welcome," Bowser sighed. "Welcome to this thing we have."

"You should be happy," Pit frowned. "You and Kirby are together again in an alliance who'll support you. That's the best deal you could hope for."

"I just wish Kirby was happier about it," replied Bowser. "Poor guy looks awful."

"He had to make a tough decision," Lucario explained. "It's no surprise it's weighing on him."

"I'll be okay," said Kirby.

"Of course," said Pit. "If you need anyone to talk to, I'm here. I'll listen."

"Are we going directly into strategy?" Fox turned to Lucario. "Or are we going to take a break for once?"

Lucario was observing Kirby. He didn't take his eyes off him as he replied: "I have no say."

"Really…" said Fox in disbelief. "You're holding up your bargain?"

Lucario nodded. "I have nothing if not my word. I will listen, and I may vote along with you, but I will not include myself in your plans."

"So if we vote for someone you don't agree with, you won't vote with us?" Fox asked.

Lucario shrugged. "You have the numbers. You won't need my assistance. However, I make no guarantees as to whether I will help you."

Fox smirked. "Maybe we should take the opportunity and vote you out."

Lucario didn't take the bait; he kept his eyes on Kirby. "You and I both know that will not happen. Not yet, anyway."

"Can we…" Kirby said quietly. "Can we not… vote anyone out?"

"You may want to sit this one out, Kirby," said Pit.

Fox glanced at Lucario. "I'm with the puffball. These past few days have been nothing but annoyance. I'm all for a break for today."

"No planning?" Bowser smirked. "Pinch me, I'm dreaming. I thought that's all you people were."

"We can have fun, too," Pit said, offended. "You should hear me teasing Fox."

"No, they shouldn't."

Pit stuck his tongue out and winked. "You know you love it."

Fox shook his head. "I'm stopping this meeting." He walked away.

Pit sighed. "He's just no fun."

Mario, Yoshi, and Pokémon Trainer watched the other alliance disperse.

"They got done quickly," Yoshi noted.

"Must not have much to talk about," Pokémon Trainer said.

"Unanimous decision, then," Yoshi said. He sighed. "Who do you think they chose?"

"Probably me," said Pokémon Trainer. "Let's be honest, I'm the worst in challenges. I just hold you back."

"Don't say that," Mario said. "You're certainly as valuable as the rest of us."

Pokémon Trainer smiled. "I appreciate it, Mario, but I'm not blind. I'm usually one of the first out in challenges."

"Keep that positive attitude," said Yoshi. "We'll need it."

"They aren't giving us our free vote," said Pokémon Trainer. "I knew he wouldn't keep his end of the bargain."

"Of course not," said Yoshi. "Why would he? They have the numbers."

"Maybe we could try asking Kirby for his help," Mario suggested.

"I'd love to," said Pokémon Trainer.

"But he made his choice," said Yoshi. "He wanted to be with Bowser, and he chose him over us. There's nothing we could do."

"Can we talk with Lucario?" Mario asked. "Maybe we could get his help."

"That's ridiculous," Yoshi sighed. "But why not? We don't have much to lose."

"Hammer Bro's coming," Pokémon Trainer. "After the challenge?"

Yoshi nodded. "I want to ask him why he isn't keeping his word, anyway."

Reward Challenge

The two tribes met on the East beach, noticing their curious-looking challenge floating a few feet out to sea, anchored by a single rope dug into the ground. Two giant wooden boats were made of several logs that were hastily sawed into a vague ship-like shape, with leaves tied together to create sails. Two Shotzos were situated on the ships' sides, and a single Bullet Bill cannon rested on bow of the ship. Master Hand floated above said challenge, watching their expressions with silent amusement.

"This is as ridiculous as those mechs," Falco scoffed, shaking his head. "You guys outdo yourself."

"We accept your compliment," Master Hand replied. He paused, composing himself, and then began in his booming voice: "Welcome to your next Reward Challenge, Survivors. As you can see, Olimar was eliminated in last night's Tribal Council. Your next challenge, as you have no doubt noticed, is floating in front of you.

"You will climb onto these ships and use the cannons – and only the cannons - to knock your opponents off their ship. Quite a simple challenge, to be sure. The last tribe with players on the ship will win. This means, however, that flying into the air will result in a disqualification, as will clinging onto the sides of the ship. There will be only round to this challenge, as with the weaponry we have given you I have doubts that the ships will last longer than a single round. Your prize for winning will be quite special. It will give the winning tribe a familiar taste: a crate full of various spices and herbs that can be used to add flare to your meals." He paused, interrupted by the tribes breaking into thankful cheers. After the cheers died down, he continued with a certain happiness in his voice, "I'm sure you're all sick of eating the same tasting food, so hopefully this will help raise your spirits."

"We gotta win this, guys," King Dedede said. "I won't accept defeat."

"The tribes are even, so climb onto your ships. The challenge will begin once everyone is secure."

The sixteen players entered their boats, and the anchors were released, sending the boats floating freely. The boats were too tall for the Survivors to paddle, and there were no steering wheel or oars, so they were at the mercy of the waves. After a few seconds, given so that the Survivors could adapt to the ships' motion, Master Hand floated above them.

"Survivors ready?" He announced. "Begin!"

Bowser had rushed to the bow of the Fire Tribe's ship and was forcing the Bullet Bill Cannon toward his enemy. Mewtwo had taken it upon himself to mirror him. The Cannons fired, brushing past each other. The Ice Tribe's Bullet Bill crashed into the port side of the Fire Tribe's ship, sending splinters everywhere and knocking Pit off the side. The Fire Tribe's Bullet Bill, however, was reflected by Mewtwo and careened into their bow, causing another large shockwave.

With two giant holes in it, the Fire Tribe's ship started to tip over. The tribe desperately attempted to offset the weight by rushing to the lighter side. They were at a huge disadvantage immediately, but the reflection had taken so much out of Mewtwo that he was on his knees, holding his head in pain. Bowser took the opportunity to fire a second Bullet Bill. This one hit its mark, causing a dent in the Ice Tribe's ship but sending nobody overboard.

Snake replaced Mewtwo, firing his second. He aimed for his enemy's weak spot, causing the large hole to get even larger. Nearly half the Fire Tribe's ship had been destroyed, and the surviving wood was beginning to crack. Pieces were crumbling off, and one of the Shotzos had already sunk to the ocean floor.

Bowser fired one last desperate Bullet Bill, aiming directly at Snake. Snake dove aside as the Bullet Bill hit its mark, sending the Cannon flying into the ocean and taking out a large chunk of the Ice Tribe's bow.

Both ships were spinning. The Fire Tribe's ship was in much worse shape, as it was still sinking despite its passengers' best efforts. Its Bullet Bill Cannon had fallen off after that last attack, and its one remaining Shotzo was pointing uselessly into the air. Several of its passengers had fallen off and those who remained were standing or sitting precariously on the parts of the ship still out of water.

It was only a matter of time, and the Ice Tribe felt no need to prolong their victory. When their ship had spun appropriately, Falco fired a single Shotzo bullet, which crashed into the Fire Tribe's ship and cracked it in half. It sunk, leaving the Fire Tribe in the ocean.

"The Ice Tribe are the winners!" Master Hand announced. "They will receive the crate of spices!"

The Ice Tribe cheered, eager to test out their new ingredients. All players swum or flew to the beach, said their goodbyes, and departed for their respective camps.

Ice Tribe

As soon as the tribe entered camp, they set the crate down and starting digging through the spices, excitedly picking out familiar or interesting ones and naming them.

"Fire Flower Flakes," said Falco. "Bet these will make things hot."

Diddy Kong snickered at his. "Pikachu Paprika," he said, smirking.

Pikachu stared at him expressionlessly. Diddy Kong responded by tossing the bottle to him, and after looking at it he sighed. "I didn't sign for this…"

"Popstar Powder!" King Dedede said excitedly. "This stuff is the best. I used to drown my food in it back home. I can't wait to use it!"

"Don't drown my food in it," said Link. "I'd rather have edible food than food with too much spice."

"There's no such thing as too much Popstar Powder," King Dedede replied. "Just you wait. You'll love it."

Marth wordlessly tossed a bottle to Falco, who caught it and looked at it in disgust. Marth chuckled. "You don't approve?"

"Corneria Cumin is disgusting," he said. "Slippy used so much of it cooking that I lost all taste for it."

"If you find any Cordelia Cinnamon, don't give it to me," said Pikachu. "That stuff is far too sweet for its own good."

"Sweet cinnamon?" Diddy Kong echoed. He licked his lips. "It sounds delicious."

"Superspicy Curry is terrible," said King Dedede, picking up a bottle. "That stuff will burn your entire body if you eat it. Kirby loves the stuff. I think he's nuts."

"Any dried banana flakes?" Diddy Kong inquired. Snake nodded and handed him a bottle, which he cradled protectively. "I'll hoard this."

"Be my guest," Marth replied. "Personally I find the stuff revolting."

"You're nuts," Diddy Kong shook his head.

They had finished digging through the box, and all of the several dozen spices were laid out on the sand waiting to be used.

"Do we have a place for them?" Pikachu asked. "I'd rather not leave them on the beach."

"I'll make one," Mewtwo offered. Pikachu immediately shot that down.

"You're exhausted," he said. "You rest. We'll take care of it."

Mewtwo glared at him, insulted that Pikachu would even suggest such a thing. He opened his mouth to speak, but Marth interrupted.

"We all saw you at the challenge, Mewtwo," said Marth. "We'll make sure a place for the spices is built. Please rest."

"That helmet is messing with you," said Falco. "We understand it isn't you."

King Dedede nodded. "You can't help it. Ain't your fault."

Mewtwo sighed. "You have no clue how embarrassing this is. How much pain I am in."

"We don't," Pikachu agreed. "But we do know that you aren't yourself. You can't use your powers a lot… but you won us the challenge, and we're grateful. Again, just rest."

Mewtwo slowly nodded, sitting down to meditate as the others started getting wood together. After an hour of work, a small shelf for the spices was made, and several of the spices were already getting use in their next meal. Despite their zealousness displayed earlier, the chefs of the meal kept the spice usage low in order to appeal to everyone. The added taste was a welcome inclusion, and many claimed this was the best meal they'd ever had.

Eventually, everyone separated, the excitement from their spices long over, and went back to their typical planning and scheming. Diddy Kong decided to visit King Dedede. He found him resting against a tree and called out to him.

King Dedede opened his eyes and waved slightly. "What's up?"

"How great was that?" Diddy Kong asked excitedly.

King Dedede eyed him. King Dedede himself had nothing but praise for the meal, and he knew he had repeated himself quite a lot. "Great," he replied with less enthusiasm than Diddy Kong had hoped.

"Wasn't it?" Diddy Kong replied. "Kind of wish there was more banana, but that's for next time. Best not to overdo it on one meal, eh?"

"Very true," King Dedede replied, softening quickly. "Then again, I could say the same for the Popstar Powder. Although I doubt the two spices would mix well."

Diddy Kong shrugged. "We could always test it tonight."

King Dedede chuckled. "I don't know if my curiosity is worth ruining a meal."

"What's fun without a little risk?"

"Starving isn't exactly fun."

"You're too negative!" Diddy Kong exclaimed. "This isn't the King Dedede I know and love!"

King Dedede smirked. "The King Dedede you know and love doesn't go hungry."

The smiles faded, and the conversation quieted. King Dedede was watching Diddy Kong expectantly, knowing full well he didn't come searching for him just to talk about spices.

Diddy Kong finally brought up his purpose. "Do you trust your alliance?"

King Dedede thought long and hard about his answer. Finally he said, "the important ones."

"So not everyone."

"Would you trust everyone here?"

"If they were keeping me in the game, I'd have to."

"Well I'm not as trustworthy as you."

"Would you trust me?"

"No."

Diddy Kong blinked, surprised by the bluntness. "Would you… trust me more than your alliance?"

"No."

Diddy Kong coughed awkwardly. "You aren't giving me much to work with," he admitted.

"Good." King Dedede sighed. "I'm going to shut you down. I don't want to work with you. Good luck talking to anyone else."

"You're dooming me," Diddy Kong pleaded. "Come on, give me a chance!"

King Dedede got up. "Don't make this more painful."

"You're my only chance!" Diddy Kong said, nearly crying. "If I can't work with you, I can't work with anyone."

"Sorry to hear. I can't help you." He walked away, leaving Diddy Kong helpless and alone without a second glance.

Fire Tribe

The Fire Tribe, however, returned to camp empty handed, saddened by the loss of potential flavor. They cooked their own meal which, to them, was bland and tasteless and ultimately disappointing. They quickly separated.

Yoshi took the opportunity to confront Lucario, who was leaning against a tree and staring at the ocean.

"What brings me the pleasure of your company?" Lucario asked.

"An accusation," was Yoshi's blunt reply. "You said that your group wouldn't scheme if Olimar was voted out."

"I said specifically that I would not 'scheme'," Lucario replied. "I cannot and did not say anything about my alliance. They are free to choose whoever they wish, and I – honoring my agreement – will not speak with them about the game."

"You said we would get a free vote," said Yoshi. "That we'd be able to vote for whoever we wanted."

"That may have been your interpretation, but I assure you that is not entirely accurate," Lucario replied. "Of course, I cannot stop you from voting how you wish, but I also cannot stop my alliance from voting how they wish. To attempt to do so would be foolish."

"We made the sacrifice-"

"Kirby made the sacrifice," Lucario quickly corrected him. "I sincerely doubt anyone else in your alliance had a part in it."

"-and you should honor it."

"And I will."

"All of you should."

Lucario stared at him blankly. "I understand you're upset, but I do not believe you are naïve as your friend."

Yoshi glared at him. "You hold the power in your alliance. You can tell them not to vote together."

"I can, but they would not listen," Lucario replied. "I do not deny that I have influence, but it would be foolish to believe I have the power to deny them of their rational thought. I have already given my position on the issue to them, so they will not listen to me."

"You could at least feel guilty for what you did to Kirby."

"I feel no guilt for the things I have had to do. My purpose is survival, and I – like everyone else here – will do everything in my power to achieve it."

Meanwhile, Lucario's alliance was conversing without him. The topic of their discussion was brought up immediately: their vote for tomorrow.

"What should we base it on?" Pit asked. "We usually just go with who Lucario says, and we don't have his advice this time."

"We shouldn't try to emulate his thinking," said Fox.

"We aren't smart enough," Bowser agreed.

"What if he doesn't approve of our choice?" Pit asked.

Fox shrugged. "Tough. I'm not looking for his approval. I just want enemies gone."

"Don't… call them that," Kirby muttered.

Bowser looked at his friend nervously. "Should Kirby be here? This might be hard on him."

"If he doesn't want to say anything, he can leave," Fox replied. "We don't need his input."

"I'm fine, Bowser," Kirby assured him.

"Getting back on topic, I suggest basing our vote on challenge participation," continued Fox. "My reasoning is that normally – this applies to Lucario's choices as well – we would choose the largest threat. None of them are threats, so we'll choose the one who would harm us most in challenges."

Kirby already didn't like where this was going. "Lucario is a threat, right?"

Fox blinked, surprised to hear such a thing coming from Kirby. "You're right. He is. I wasn't going to mention it, but in theory we could…"

"I'm shutting that idea down immediately," said Pit. "That's not something we're going to do right now."

"Yeah, I don't feel safe enough to vote Lucario out," said Bowser.

Fox shrugged. "It doesn't have to happen now. There's a whole tribe of people who hate him. It'll happen eventually."

"Right… so worst in challenges? It has to be Pokémon Trainer, then," said Pit.

Fox nodded. "By far the most obvious choice."

Kirby panicked. That was the exact conclusion he had hoped they wouldn't reach, but he didn't know how to veto the decision appropriately. Instead, he shook his head violently and yelled, "No no no! Not him! Don't vote him out!"

The other three were surprised to see such a violent reaction. "Why not?" Pit asked.

Bowser was recalling their relationship on the West Tribe. "Oh!" He said. "They're buddies."

"Buddies?" Fox repeated. "Is that your only reason?"

Kirby nodded, embarrassed at his outburst. "I like him. He's a good friend."

"Didn't he yell at you last night?" Pit asked.

"He apologized," Kirby explained. "We forgave each other. Don't… don't choose him. Please!"

"He did just sacrifice his old alliance," Pit whispered to Fox. "Practically everything, really. Maybe we should let him have this one."

Fox nodded. "Sure. We won't choose Pokémon Trainer." He could barely hold his annoyance. He had been irritated at Pokémon Trainer's progress in challenges since the Merge, and he had hoped to be rid of him. But, like with Lucario, he believed it would come eventually. He turned to Kirby. "Are you friends with Mario and Yoshi?"

"Yes," Kirby said, and then he quickly backpedaled. "But… but I'm okay if we chose them instead. Just not him."

"How about Mario, then?" Pit suggested. "He's our leader, but during the Tribal Switch he'll have a lot of power."

"Very true," Fox admitted. "I'd nearly forgotten about him. Mario is probably our greatest threat." He looked around. "Objections?"

Bowser shifted uncomfortably. He couldn't forget the moment he and Mario had shared after Luigi's elimination. He certainly would feel bad eliminating him. He opened his mouth to object, but then an incredibly selfish thought occurred to him. If he didn't object and they eliminated Mario tomorrow, he himself would have succeeded in beating his rival. Something that had happened only a handful of times.

Bowser finally looked at Fox. He shook his head, staring with determination and commitment. "Nope."

Day 49

Ice Tribe

The tribe woke up sans Snake at around the same time. They waited for nearly an hour before cooking breakfast, but their tribe member was nowhere to be found.

"We could go look for him," Diddy Kong suggested. "Like you did with me."

Falco snorted. "I doubt Snake would get caught with his tail in a tree."

Diddy Kong winced and then glared at Link. "I thought you promised not to tell anyone."

"I don't think we promised," Link recalled.

"It was implied," Diddy Kong muttered, defeated.

"We'll search for him after breakfast," Marth decided. "I presume he can fend for himself."

And with that, they cooked their breakfast, ate, and then decided who would search. Marth and Link were the only ones to volunteer, but as they left the camp Diddy Kong crept up behind them.

"I want to return the favor," Diddy Kong explained when they asked him. Marth and Link looked at each other, shrugged, and brought him along.

A few hours later, after they had searched nearly the entirety of their half of the island, they gave up. Exhausted and hungry, they cut down a few fruit from a nearby tree and rested.

"Challenge is going to be soon," Link sighed. "We'd better start back."

Marth shook his head, disgusted. "Such a waste of time. Snake was likely back hours ago."

"Why did we even search for him?" Link asked. "We know he can take care of himself, and he exercises before eating."

"Might've broken a leg," Diddy Kong suggested.

"They'd know about it back at camp," said Link. "We should've waited."

Diddy Kong chuckled. "But isn't it nice to be out in the wilderness, free from all of these betrayals and this drama."

Marth shrugged. "Perhaps. I think I prefer it to a fruitless search."

Diddy Kong raised his food, smiling expectantly, but Marth ignored him and he dropped the food and his smile.

"I must ask," Marth continued. "You must be aware of your position, correct? Why would you want to leave the tribe?"

"Oh, I was talking with you guys about the alliance hours ago," said Diddy Kong. "Remember?"

Link nodded, but Marth blinked in confusion. "I'm… sorry…" he said in confusion. "I must not have been paying attention."

Diddy Kong nodded. "Oh yeah, I figured that out a long time ago, so I dropped it. Honestly, you two were my last hope, and you guys won't even listen to me."

Diddy Kong's gaze dropped, and then after a moment he sighed and rested his head against the ground, staring at the sky. "This is defeat… I don't feel it often. I can't win this game."

"There's still a chance," said Link. "You can't give up."

"As I said, you were my last hope. I have nobody else I can talk to. I've tried… everyone here."

"There's still the Tribal Switch," said Link.

"Maybe," Diddy Kong admitted. "Maybe I could beg to be switched. But then what? I survive to the final ten, merge, and get eliminated because five of you guys are still here. I'm out. Switching would just be delaying the inevitable."

Link looked to Marth for support, but Marth shrugged.

"I'll admit," Diddy Kong continued. "In hindsight, my plan was dumb. I think playing dumb was a good idea, and I think I would've lasted longer if I was on the other tribe. But when I was called out… I panicked, and I made an idiot of myself."

Link nodded silently, and Marth nudged him, glaring.

"So… yeah… I'm to blame for my own situation. I've accepted that. I've accepted I played the game poorly and lost. Best to let better players make it farther and make it interesting."

There was a silent pause, and then Diddy Kong chuckled. "You two aren't even trying to inspire me to stay."

"I'm terrible at inspirational speeches," Link admitted.

"I understand your position," said Marth. "I'm glad you've accepted it. It will make eliminating you easier."

Link blinked. "Is that all you can say?"

Marth smiled softly. "Link, I truly don't know Diddy Kong other than what I've seen from him on the boat and on this tribe. I agree with everything he's said. He's accepted his defeat, so I can congratulate him on taking it gracefully." He looked directly at Link. "But I'm not going to inspire him to pursue a lost goal. It would be wasted words."

Link looked between the two. Both seemed resigned, seemed content. He still felt like he had a duty to make sure everyone gave their all, but he couldn't find the words to do so. He opened his mouth, closed it, thought, and opened it again. Only silence came through.

Diddy Kong smiled. "Link, you're going to have an aneurysm if you keep acting like that."

"I just…" Link said finally. "I guess I don't understand. I couldn't give up. Not when I've gotten so far."

"That's fine," said Diddy Kong. "Keep that attitude. I don't share it. Maybe when you're in my position, you'll understand."

Marth got to his feet and stretched. "We're really late, now," he sighed. "We've got a long walk ahead of us."

"We're close to the center of the island," Diddy Kong suggested. "I'd bet good money that the challenge is in the center. If it isn't, we'll be pointed in the right direction."

Marth shrugged. "I don't see why not."

"I don't have the bobble head," Link said.

"No need to waste it," said Diddy Kong. He gave another sad smile. "Win or lose, it doesn't matter."

Link shook his head. "That isn't acceptance."

"No… I guess I'm not truly ready to leave. But it happens, so I'm embracing it while I can."

"If it helps," said Link. "You did well to get this far. You should be proud of yourself."

"Thanks," said Diddy Kong. "I… I appreciate it."

Fire Tribe

After breakfast, the two alliances split one final time. Yoshi, Mario, and Pokémon Trainer sat at the table, watching the others leave simultaneously and disappear into the trees. Pokémon Trainer shook his head with a mixture of disappointment and disgust.

"They might as well just stay here," said Pokémon Trainer. "We'd be just as little of a threat."

"Think of it as a sign of respect," Yoshi smirked. "They aren't taking any chances."

"Kirby never talks to us," said Mario.

"Think he's been brainwashed?" Pokémon Trainer asked.

"He's scared," Mario replied. "Too scared to fight them."

"Let's not talk about Kirby," Yoshi sighed. "Unless we're voting for him, I don't want to mention him."

Pokémon Trainer blinked. "Vote for him?"

Yoshi shrugged. "Tribal Council's tonight. We should at least discuss our vote."

"How much good would it actually do?" Pokémon Trainer asked.

"It wouldn't," Yoshi replied. "We have no influence now."

"But in the future, if there's a tie, our votes would matter," said Mario.

Yoshi nodded. "Exactly. One of us would go home tonight, but our votes could cause one of them to be eliminated in the future."

"Then we shouldn't vote for Lucario, right? We've voted for him so many times."

"I wouldn't be surprised to hear that he got a lot of votes in the past," Yoshi agreed. "We wouldn't be making a difference if we voted for him."

"Can I recommend… not Bowser?" Mario suggested. "I don't think he'd vote for me after what we shared."

Yoshi and Pokémon Trainer glanced at each other, and then back at Mario. "Sure," Yoshi said. "Not Bowser."

"And not Kirby, either," said Pokémon Trainer. "I still have hope for him."

Yoshi sighed. "Not Kirby. Then just Pit and Fox."

"Fox," said Mario, and Pokémon Trainer nodded.

"Fox it is."

Lucario had called the meeting to get a summary of their votes for tonight. When they told him their target, he nodded approvingly.

"There," Pit grinned. "We got his approval anyway."

"You're thinking logically," said Lucario. "I will be voting for Mario regardless of your decision, but I am pleased that we agree."

"Wonderful," Fox said. "Is that all?"

"No. I may not be speaking to you about our next vote, but I made no promises to the others that I would not discuss the Tribal Switch with you."

"Ah," Fox said. "That thing that always ruins plans. "Well, let's hear your plan."

"If my plan were to succeed perfectly, we would lose today's challenge, eliminate Mario tonight. One of us would be the new Tribe Leader, and we would send Yoshi and Pokémon Trainer to the other tribe. We would secure our place in the final ten."

"So we should throw the challenge?" Pit asked.

Lucario snapped to him. "I will not allow it. If we are to play, we will do this fairly. Throwing a challenge is a cowardly way of getting what you want."

"Cowardly?" Fox repeated. "Never thought of it like that."

"It's an action that players take when they want to guarantee their plan succeeds," Lucario explained. "They're afraid to let their tribe's skill determine the victor. It's a coward's play."

"So… no throwing the challenge," Pit confirmed. He nodded. "Then what happens if we win?"

"They'll switch one of us during tomorrow's Tribal Switch," said Lucario. "There's nothing we can do about that; it will be Mario's decision. We will have the majority, but the likely choice will be me. So, seeing as I won't be part of the tribe, you will decide on the second player."

"Our choice again, eh?" Pit said. "We're getting a lot of freedom. It's exciting."

"Don't make a big deal of it," said Fox. "It's on us if we get it wrong. We can't blame him." He nodded to Lucario. Lucario made no motion of recognition.

"Should we decide now?" Pit asked.

"Might as well," said Bowser. "We won't have much time to talk tonight if we lose."

"Alright," Pit stepped forward. "Pokémon Trainer. Solves every problem we have. He won't be here to set us back in challenges, and he won't be eliminated by us. Whatever he does on the other tribe, that's his own problem."

Bowser shrugged. "I'm okay with it. I like Yoshi, anyway."

Fox nodded silently, and then all eyes were on Kirby. He shuffled quietly, wanting extremely to speak out against it. But in the end, after several moments of internal debate, he realized he had asked for too much already. He nodded slowly, and the matter was settled.

"He'll be fine," said Pit. "He's gotten this far."

"The others have grudges they need to settle anyway," Bowser agreed. "They'll worry about each other before they worry about him."

Fox looked at Lucario. "Do you approve?"

"What does it matter?" Lucario replied.

"It doesn't. Do you?"

"I suppose. I would have recommended Yoshi instead."

"Another personal grudge?"

"He's a threat," Lucario replied. "Much more of a threat than the other two. I would prefer him on a separate tribe."

"Doesn't seem that threatening to me, but I'll trust your intuition. We'll vote him out soon."

"I hope that you're correct."

Immunity Challenge

The Immunity Challenge did indeed take place in the center of the island, which had the familiar chalk circle drawn into the grass and dirt. The Ice Tribe was the first to arrive and were collectively surprised to see Link, Marth, and Diddy Kong waiting for them. As the trio had predicted, Snake had returned from his run shortly after they had begun the search, so he was walking with the rest of his tribe. Surprised and somewhat bemused, the tribe listened to the trio explaining their failed search. Shortly after, the Fire Tribe arrived, and from seemingly nowhere Master Hand descended onto the arena.

"Welcome, Survivors, to your next Immunity Challenge," he announced. "Today's competition is an appropriate one, and one that could only come about because of luck. Both tribes have an even number of players, and there are sixteen players remaining. What better way to celebrate such a scenario than a tribe versus tribe Battle Tournament?

"We weren't sure we would be able to host this challenge. It was, of course, a guaranteed even match when the game began: ten players in four tribes, of course. But this challenge is a special occasion, and it will be the only challenge which can occur under these circumstances.

"So the goal of the challenge is as follows: there will be a random draw for fighters, one which will occur after I have finished. If, after the first round, a tribe has a majority of players still remaining - say, for example one tribe has five winners and one only has three – then that tribe will win after only eight matches. However, if both tribes have the same amount of winners, the winners will fight in a second round of the tournament. This will continue until a tribe has a majority.

"If there are no other questions, the draw will begin."

Falco nudged Link and whispered, "Yo, you got a bobblehead?"

Link hadn't brought it, but he had to make an excuse. He put a confused façade on and replied, "I'm not going to use it in a tournament. That'd be dishonorable."

Falco shrugged. "Fair enough. I'm okay with that. Still, it'd be nice to have." He grinned, but the draw had begun and the first two players had been chosen, so their attention shifted to the arena.

Pit and Mewtwo stepped into the circle; the former was smirking confidently while the latter was as cold as ever. They stared at each other in silence, waiting for their host to begin. The host began the countdown, and when he shouted, "Zero!" the fight began.

Pit leapt into the air, his wings surrounded in a blue glow. He pulled out his bow and fired an arrow at his opponent. Mewtwo's eyes glowed briefly as he lifted his arm to the side, causing the arrow to narrowly miss him. He then aimed at Pit, his hand engulfed in a purple haze as he fired one, and then two, and then many Shadow Balls. Pit dodged the first easily as well as the pair, but when the barrage came he had to drop to ground level in order to avoid them all. He righted himself and used his momentum to dive bomb Mewtwo. But Mewtwo was prepared. He kept his arm aiming at Pit and his eyes began to glow. Pit felt himself being carried against his will, and he was helpless to fight Mewtwo's power. Mewtwo threw his arm behind him, and Pit tumbled against the ground, rolling until he crossed the chalk outline of the arena.

"Mewtwo has won!" Master Hand announced. "The Ice Tribe is 1-0!"

Another drawing was held, and Yoshi and Snake were the combatants to step forward. Master Hand floated above them, holding out three fingers. Both competitors were determined to win this.

"Survivors ready? Three! Two! One! Begin!"

Yoshi pulled out an egg and threw it. Snake charged forward, ducking underneath the egg and taking Yoshi off guard. Yoshi leapt into the air as Snake got near and prepared to dive him. Snake saw it coming, however, and moved quickly out from under him. Yoshi crashed into the ground, sending dust and dirt everywhere in a cloud. Yoshi closed his eyes, holding his breath, waiting for the dust to settle, but he felt something strong and fast tackle him. He opened his eyes to find his world flipping in every direction. Yoshi felt the ground beneath him and then above him, finally resting on his stomach. He got to his feet only to find that he had been thrown out of the circle, with Snake standing victoriously inside.

"Ice Tribe is 2-0!" Master Hand announced.

Kirby and Pikachu were the next to step up. As their match began, Pikachu seemingly disappeared for moment only to reappear right next to Kirby. Pikachu grabbed Kirby, somersaulted backward and threw Kirby toward the edge of the arena. Kirby righted himself quickly, floating in midair, surveying his opponent. He released the air within him and dropped to the ground, where Pikachu waited. Pikachu leapt at Kirby once more, but Kirby jumped just out of reach and then transformed into a stone, crashing into the ground. Pikachu tried to dodge, but he got knocked away by the shockwave of the impact and skidded to the center of the arena. Kirby transformed back into his pink self and smiled. Pikachu shared the smile and then disappeared. Kirby, however, was prepared, and grabbed a hammer from nowhere. He swung right where Pikachu would reappear, knocking the Pokémon out of the arena.

"The Fire Tribe successfully claim their first point," Master Hand announced.

The next two to fight were Pokémon Trainer and Diddy Kong. They, as former allies, didn't want to fight, but they knew they had no choice. They bowed respectfully, waiting for the countdown to conclude. Master Hand called, "Begin!" and Diddy Kong charged immediately. Pokémon Trainer held up his fists defensively, watching his nimble opponent serpentine as he charged. When Diddy Kong reached him, he threw a punch, but his opponent ducked underneath, grabbed his legs, and threw him. He tumbled and rolled, stopping several feet away. He tried getting to his feet, but Diddy Kong was already on top of him. He lashed out on his back, kicking wildly, but Diddy Kong kept clear of his feet and grabbed his shoulders. Pokémon Trainer swung his arms just as violently, but Diddy Kong stayed away from the danger and kept a firm grip. He threw him again, and Pokémon Trainer skidded to a stop dangerously close to the edge. He got to his feet as quickly as he cold. Diddy Kong charged at him again, but Pokémon Trainer was ready. He went for the most grab able thing Diddy Kong had: his tail. He dove at it, catching it, and threw as hard as he could. Unfortunately, Diddy Kong had predicted this and reacted accordingly. He had turned and grabbed Pokémon Trainer's shirt, so that even though his lower half was trying to fly out of the arena, his upper half was firmly planted inside. He used the momentum to swing Pokémon Trainer out of the arena.

"The Ice Tribe earns their third point!" Master Hand announced.

After a few minutes, the next two competitors had reached the center of the arena. Marth had unsheathed his sword and Fox his buster. The countdown ended, and they charged at each other. Marth swung, and Fox ducked underneath and kicked. Marth pulled his sword back to block, so Fox twirled and aimed a kick with his other boot. Marth managed to swing his sword around and deflect the kick, and then he grabbed Fox by the vest and threw him to the ground. Fox caught the ground with his hand, using the momentum to roll forward and dodge Marth's stab. Fox turned around and fired two quick blasts into Marth's face, stunning him and giving Fox the opportunity to throw his gun. The gun smacked Marth's face, sending him recoiling in surprise. Fox ran forward, grabbed Marth, and threw him away. He caught his gun and threw it after him. Marth caught the ground and slid to a stop, kneeling and rubbing his face. He opened his eyes and was immediately hit by the gun. Fox, running quickly behind it, grabbed the stunned Marth and threw him one last time. Marth tumbled over the line, while Fox managed to catch his gun and sheath it once more.

"The score is now 3-2 in favor of the Ice Tribe!" Master Hand announced.

Bowser chuckled to himself, watching his opponent flexing at him and grinning confidently at Fox, assuring him that he'd be facing him in the next round. He knew that the bird didn't have the strength to beat him, and he was going to enjoy rubbing the smug grin off his face. The match soon began, and Falco pulled out both of his blasters. The lasers bounced harmlessly off Bowser's shell, and even when they hit his face they had little impact. Meanwhile, Bowser was walking toward him, not faltering in step or flinching, stomping the ground intimidatingly. Falco's smirk had dropped quickly, and he was grimacing in concentration, stepping backward to keep distance between himself and Bowser. He kept firing, and he kept his eyes firmly on Bowser. Bowser glanced at the chalk outline that Falco was quickly approaching, sure that he would unintentionally cross it and eliminate himself. But Falco was fully aware of the size of the arena, and he began to turn, traveling along the outline in a smooth circle and keeping pace with Bowser. When he saw that his strategy wouldn't work, Bowser grew impatient and charged. He saw Falco's smirk return, and he became distinctly aware of his opponent's plan. When he got close, Falco leapt into the air, aiming for the back of Bowser's shell. But even Bowser was prepared for that move, and he began to spew fire at the airborne bird. Falco kicked his reflector out, blocking a lot of the flames but little of the smoke, and landed on the ground. He coughed and turned around, his vision obscured by the soot, only to be met with Bowser's claw. With one motion, Bowser threw him over the line and eliminated him.

"And with that, the tribes are now even in points," Master Hand announced.

With Fox laughing hard at his partner's defeat, his ally Lucario stepped into the arena to face his opponent. Link followed, breathing deeply. He readied his bow, aiming directly at Lucario, one eye closed. The countdown ended, and Link aimed quickly into the air and fired an arrow. The arrow soared through the air and landed harmlessly in the distance. Link blinked in confusion, sure that he had predicted Lucario's attempt to dodge, but as he lowered his gaze on his opponent, seeing him in the same spot, he chuckled. He put his bow away and unsheathed his sword, and at that moment Lucario charged at him. Link swung, and Lucario blocked. Link swung again, and Lucario dodged and gave him a light kick. Link blocked the kick with his shield and swung a third time, but Lucario was prepared and the swings slashed through the air. Annoyed, Link pulled out his hookshot, but he was unprepared for Lucario circling behind him and pulling his arms to the side. Link struggled, but Lucario ripped the hookshot off his arm and flung it outside the arena. Link got the message immediately, and he kicked Lucario's knee. Lucario lessened his grip, and Link stumbled away. He stood up straight, faced his opponent, and nodded in understanding. Lucario nodded back and leapt into the air. Link stabbed his sword upward, but Lucario daintily landed on the sword tip and jumped off it, slipping in the air and landing a few feet away. Link charged, shouting angrily and scraping his sword off the dirt. His uppercut was ducked underneath and he took a punch to the chin in retaliation. He recovered quickly, swinging horizontally, but Lucario jumped over it and kicked Link's head. Link crashed into the ground and skidded, but before he stopped he felt himself getting grabbed. He gave one last desperate swing before being lifted into the air and being thrown outside the arena.

"The Fire Tribe has taken the lead!" Master Hand announced.

The final match was soon to begin. Mario and King Dedede faced each other excitedly, ready for their fight. The countdown ended, and Mario ran at his opponent. King Dedede had no reason to move; he knew Mario's only projectile wouldn't do anything to him, so he had to get in close, which is where King Dedede shined. Mario got within range, and King Dedede swung his massive hammer. Mario ducked underneath the swing and circled behind him, grabbing the scruffs of his robe. He started pulling, trying to swing him, but was surprised by his massive weight. King Dedede used this to his advantage, swinging quickly and hitting him dead on. Mario flew to the edge of the arena, sliding and digging his hands and feet into the dirt. He stopped just before the edge and sighed in relief, glancing at the ground to admire how close he was from defeat. He looked back up at his opponent and was met with a giant Gordo. He couldn't react in time, and he took the blow hard. He flew over the line and crashed into a tree, dazed but otherwise unhurt.

The Fire Tribe let out a collective disappointed groan, knowing full well what the loss meant. Meanwhile, the Ice Tribe were cheering for their final victor.

"Perhaps unsurprisingly," Master Hand announced. "The first round of the tournament has concluded with four winners on each tribe. A tie. What this means is that a second round will be fought. The matches will be determined by the order of the previous rounds' matches, and they will continue throughout the tournament. There will be a five minute break to allow everyone to compose themselves, and then the next round will begin."

The five minutes came and went, and the first competitors were called forward. Mewtwo floated across from his opponent. Kirby could only stand and stare nervously, having experienced firsthand Mewtwo's power. Mewtwo rubbed his head in annoyance, unconsciously tapping the helmet. It was bothering him again, and he wanted to make this match quick before it truly began to affect him. Kirby tried waving, hoping to soften the scary look in Mewtwo's eye, but the look didn't change. The countdown began and ended, and Mewtwo immediately grabbed Kirby kinetically. Kirby struggled as he was lifted into the air, seeing himself move toward the edge of the circle. He shouted in panic and started swallowing air. The invisible hand on him seemed to loosen its grip as the puffball expanded. Kirby swallowed as much air as he could stuff, making himself twice as large, and then released it all instantly. He got a brief instant of freedom and used it to transform into a heavy rock. He crashed into the ground, sending a small shockwave outward. Annoyed that Kirby had escape, Mewtwo floated over to the rock to give him the strongest possible grip. Kirby saw him coming, and his transformation wore off. He pulled out his hammer as soon as he could manage and swung. Mewtwo calmly blocked the hammer and wrenched it from his grip. He threw it aside, grabbed Kirby, and threw the struggling puffball forcefully out of the arena.

"The Ice Tribe wins their first point!" Master Hand announced.

The next pair came forth. Fox readied his pistol, keeping it pointed at ground but with a tense arm able to draw immediately. Without such a weapon, Snake kept lower to the ground, arms raised in front of him. Master Hand ended the countdown, and Fox drew and fired. Snake raised an arm in front of his face and ran forward. The laser glanced off Snake's arm, singing the suit but otherwise doing no harm. Fox clicked his tongue in frustration and fired a round of lasers over Snake's entire body. Snake's suit showed the damage, but Snake kept charging forward. When Snake got within a few feet, Fox holstered his pistol and readied a battle stance. Snake kicked, punched, and Fox blocked each shot. The combatants fought closely, blows glancing off each other, but nobody got a direct impact. Fox swept under Snake's feet, but Snake saw it coming and leapt over it. Fox took the opportunity to spin kick, knocking Snake away. Snake rolled to a stop and got to his feet, knowing full well his opponent would be on top of him. He punched, landing a direct blow into Fox's stomach. Fox, surprised at the prediction, took the impact poorly and dropped to his knees. That one moment sealed his fate, and Snake grabbed Fox's shoulder, pushed him into the ground, and kicked him out of the arena.

"The Ice Tribe wins their second point!" Master Hand announced.

Diddy Kong groaned when he saw his opponent. Bowser looked bored, and it was frustrating because Diddy Kong knew he couldn't do much about it. He sighed in defeat and readied himself anyway. The match shortly began, and Diddy Kong pulled out his peanut popguns. He fired, and they bounced harmlessly off Bowser's shell. Bowser chuckled to himself and walked forward calmly. Diddy Kong shrugged and charged. He jumped onto Bowser's shoulder and pulled with all his might, but he couldn't move the hulking Koopa. Bowser humored him for a few moments until he accidentally poked Bowser's eye. Bowser winced, growled, and grabbed the monkey's tail. He leered at him, and Diddy Kong grinned apologetically, before he threw him away.

"The Fire Tribe scores their first point of the round!" Master Hand announced. "The challenge may be decided by this match!"

The last two competitors entered the circle. King Dedede slammed his hammer into the ground, grinning slyly and winking at his opponent. Lucario remained unfazed, his eyes fixated on the hammer, thinking to himself. King Dedede noticed this, but completely misinterpreted the concentration as intimidation. He slammed his hammer into the ground as hard as he could. The ground shook at the resulting shockwave, but it gave Lucario the last bit of information he needed. He nodded slightly to himself and got into a battle stance. Master Hand finished the countdown, and Lucario leapt into the air. King Dedede was apprehensive, believing that he wouldn't risk such a frontal attack without a strategy. He didn't swing, and this allowed Lucario to kick him in the face. He stumbled a few feet, rubbing his beak in annoyance. When Lucario leapt again, King Dedede swung overhead. Lucario jumped onto the hammer as it swept the air, pushed off slightly, and then kicked King Dedede in the face as he was facing the recoil from his hammer crashing into the ground. King Dedede lost his grip and tumbled away, and Lucario took advantage by grabbing the shaft of the hammer and throwing it just outside the arena. With his one weapon gone, as King Dedede got to his feet, he knew he had lost right there. However, he swatted at Lucario desperately, refusing to give up, every time Lucario got close. Lucario ran close and punched, jumped out of range, ran in once more, ran out. He did this until King Dedede started to sweat, and then pant, and then collapse in exhaustion. King Dedede could do nothing more than groan as Lucario rolled him slowly out of the arena, where he immediately fell asleep.

"And…" Master Hand seemed somewhat apprehensive at the result of that last match. "…And with that victory, both tribes have tied once more. There will be a third round! Mewtwo will face Bowser, and Snake will face Lucario!"

And after another five minute break, Mewtwo and Bowser entered the arena. The two waited patiently for the match to begin. "Zero!" Master Hand shouted, and Mewtwo grabbed Bowser. Bowser felt himself getting lifted and struggled violently. He ripped himself from Mewtwo's weakened telekinetic grip, and the stress caused Mewtwo to wince and drop to one knee. Bowser refused to let Mewtwo regain his strength and charged. Mewtwo pulled his arm upward, causing the sand beneath his feet to bellow upward, creating a thick cloud that forced Bowser to stop his charge. Bowser spewed his flames, hoping to clear the air. The sand wasn't melted, but the cloud was pushed away by the hot air, giving Bowser enough room to squint and find his opponent. Mewtwo had floated behind him and grabbed his tail. Bowser grunted in frustration as he felt himself getting lifted. He spewed more flames directly into the ground, sending another cloud upward. The suddenness of the cloud caused Mewtwo to halt and momentarily release his grip. Bowser took the brief moment to stomp the ground, sending a surprised Mewtwo flying into the air. He recovered quickly only to be met by Bowser leaping into the air and grabbing him. He slammed him into the ground and ran up to the edge of the arena, throwing him with all his might. Mewtwo stopped just above the ground, safe, but well outside the arena. As soon as he realized this, he dropped to the ground and held his throbbing head.

"Bowser has won the Fire Tribe's first point of the round!" Master Hand announced.

The final pair stepped forward. A rivalry that had existed throughout the game. Lucario and Snake had nothing but respect for each other, so they faced each other expecting them to give their all. The countdown concluded. Snake and Lucario ran forward, meeting in the center. They exchanged a quick, even barrage of punches and kicks before backing off. Lucario leapt into the air, and Snake crossed his arms above his head. Lucario kicked into his arms, jumped off, and landed away. Snake was unfazed, and he ran at Lucario once more. Lucario reacted quickly, blocking Snake's several jabs. Lucario managed to connect a punch with Snake's shoulder, but Snake quickly shrugged it off and exchanged a punch into Lucario's chest. Lucario stepped back, surprised at the power, and could do nothing but defend Snake's next barrage. Snake stepped back, pulled out a grenade, and pulled the pin. Lucario glanced at it, confused, until Snake threw it into the air. The grenade exploded harmlessly, but the sudden noise startled Lucario, giving Snake another opportunity. He kicked Lucario's chest, and Lucario slid back a few inches. Lucario charged a small Aura Sphere and fired it. Snake dodged it carefully, but Lucario was ready with another Sphere. He fired it, and Snake blocked it with his hand. Immediately, he knew something was wrong, and he felt his arm grow limp. He struggled to lift it, but it was useless. Lucario charged another Sphere and then grabbed Snake's hand. Snake tried pushing him off, but Lucario kept a firm grip and fired the second Sphere directly into Snake's back. Snake dropped to the ground, and Lucario lifted him into the air, carried him to the edge of the arena, and set him gently outside it.

"Lucario won the Fire Tribe's second point!" Master Hand seemed disappointed that there wouldn't be a final round. "The Fire Tribe wins Immunity!"

The Fire Tribe cheered, grateful that the long tournament had ended. The Ice Tribe was preoccupied with Snake. They lifted him to his feet, and he stared at his useless hand. Snake flexed and felt his hand regaining feeling. He looked at Lucario and noticed the guilt.

"I will admit that that victory wasn't fair," said Lucario, before the tribes left the arena. "I took advantage of a weakness I planted weeks ago."

"What's done is done," said Snake. "If you refrain from using this weakness, I'll consider our next fight to be our true fight."

Lucario nodded. "I shall agree to that."

The pair exchanged brief glances before separating. The Fire Tribe was walking back home, but the Ice Tribe was facing their next Tribal Council.

Tribal Council

It was pitch black, and the tribe was exhausted after their battles. The defeat stung them, and they kept silent throughout their walk. The sight of Master Hand and the fire that shown them so many eliminations made the whole experience worse.

"Welcome to your next Tribal Council," said Master Hand. "One of you will be going home tonight. The rest shall be experiencing the final Tribal Switch of the game. I hope this is something you have been thinking about for a while. If not… then you will not have much time."

"I hope he's been thinking about it," said Falco.

"Do not worry," Marth assured him. "I have spoken with him."

"He did," Link confirmed. "I've thought a lot about my choice."

"Then make the right one," said Falco. "That's all I ask."

"It's a bit early for that, isn't it?" Pikachu asked. "Can we focus on tonight before thinking about tomorrow?"

"Don't make me humor you," Falco sighed. "I'm tired. It's been a long day. The less we talk, the quicker we vote, the more sleep I get."

"That didn't answer my question," said Pikachu. "We're eliminating someone tonight. Doesn't that warrant even a bit of consideration?"

"If the choice wasn't obvious, sure," said Falco. "But I'm not going to pretend that tonight was the slightest bit difficult. It wasn't. I'm too tired to pretend otherwise."

"You just aren't any fun," said Diddy Kong. "We're on a show, remember? We should give the audience a good performance."

"If the audience cares the slightest bit after that challenge, I'd be surprised," Falco replied. "But it was a very… very long tournament. They're probably as exhausted as I am. We're talking way too much as it is."

"The audience will wait as long as they need to," said Master Hand. "Please do not focus on them. Focus on the game. Falco, why do you believe tonight will be easy?"

"We decided our vote long ago," said Falco. "There really isn't much else to say."

"You can never know what's going on behind your back," Pikachu grinned. "Maybe we decided to vote you out."

Falco shrugged. "Maybe I'd be mad if I wasn't so tired."

"You don't have a right to be tired," Marth argued. "You only fought a single match."

"Yeah, how's Mewtwo doing?" Pikachu asked. "His helmet was really hurting him."

"I'm fine," Mewtwo replied. "I'm translating for you without issue, am I not?"

"And you nearly collapsed after your fight," said Pikachu. "I've never seen you do that."

"Bowser's too fat," said King Dedede, smirking. "Anyone would be exhausted after trying to lift him."

"Not Mewtwo," Pikachu muttered.

"I will be fine, Pikachu," said Mewtwo. "There is no need to worry."

"We'll worry anyway, if that's okay," said Link.

The conversation dissipated. Master Hand waited a few moments before beginning. "Very well. Pikachu, if you may begin with the voting."

Pikachu nodded, walked up to the voting urn, and threw his bobble head into it.

Mewtwo went up to vote.

Snake went up to vote.

"I am disappointed that I lost. However, this outcome is inevitable."

Link went up to vote.

Diddy Kong went up to vote.

King Dedede went up to vote.

Marth went up to vote.

"I apologize that you must leave on such a poor note. At least you have accepted it."

Master Hand brought the voting urn back onto the podium. As he began his speech, Diddy Kong got to his feet, his hand firmly on his torch. Master Hand watched him in confusion, and Diddy Kong only smiled.

"I will now read the votes," Master Hand concluded and pulled out the first vote. He soon realized what was going to happen. "The first vote is for Diddy Kong."

Diddy Kong lifted his torch up, walked over to the leftmost player, Snake, and shook his hand.

"The second vote is for Diddy Kong."

Diddy Kong walked to Snake's right and shook King Dedede's hand.

The next four votes were the same. Diddy Kong shook each one of his tribe members' hands in turn. He thanked them for tolerating him and wished them the best of luck in the game. To each one he gave a large, apologetic, sincere grin. Finally, he reached Link and Marth. To Link, he gave a thumbs up. Marth, he hugged.

"You were the kindest to me," Diddy Kong whispered. "I really… really appreciate it. Good luck, my friend."

Marth was stunned. He patted Diddy Kong on his back and replied, "Thank you." He smiled himself.

The next vote was for Snake. Snake seemed relatively unsurprised, but he glanced at Diddy Kong suspiciously, wondering why it was for him of all people. He remained silent, however, and watched Diddy Kong bring his torch over to Master Hand.

"The final vote is for Diddy Kong," Master Hand finished, turning to face Diddy Kong. "It seems even you were aware of the outcome." He snuffed the torch.

Diddy Kong shrugged. "I did it to myself," he said. "I deserve it. I shouldn't… be surprised." He turned to face his tribe, waved one last time, and exited Tribal Council.

"It seems this game can still bring surprises," said Master Hand. "Tomorrow will bring even more. Prepare yourselves for the Tribal Switch. It will affect everyone's role in this game. Good luck, and I hope not to see you again in these ruins."

With that, the remaining members of the Ice Tribe grabbed their burning torches and exited Tribal Council, ready for the night to end and the true game to begin.

"So it happened," Diddy Kong said in an overview. "My plan failed. It was probably doomed from the start, but at least I made it far. I'll be able to see Donkey Kong again, so that'll be nice. Hopefully my old East Tribe buddies make it to the end. I like Marth, but in the end they're my true friends."