"And we're back to Total Drama Shuffle Party!" Chris said as he sat within the military helicopter. "In the last episode, Big Kahuna Rhiannon saw a clear option for her Sacrificial Lambs. Godfrey and Virgil were the clear biggest threats in the opposing alliance, and the two boys were selected. Both of them took the opportunity to expand their options, and Virgil bargained with Shadya, promising her final two, while Godfrey bargained with Hildegard, claiming he'd play the third wheel to her and Rhiannon. Wisdom also took the opportunity to make deals outside of her alliance.
"Rhiannon ended up winning the Divine Intervention challenge as well, and both Sacrificial Lambs pleaded for her to use it on them. She claimed that she was firm in her decision to not use it, but, after discussing things with Hildegard, she decided to take Godfrey's offer anyway, saving him and putting Shadya up as a replacement, much to everyone's surprise. Shadya, of course, was not too happy about this, but she swore that she would get the votes against Virgil.
"In the end, Shadya could not get the votes against Virgil, and those voting took the chance to get rid of the biggest threat in the game. The Big Kahuna challenge followed, and Wisdom ended up taking the win! She's worked with Godfrey and Virgil in the past, but she's also made deals with Hildegard and Rhiannon. Who will Wisdom choose as a Sacrificial Lamb? Will Divine Intervention lead to any more shocking plays? And who will be our fifth placer? The answers to all this and more, tonight! On Total! Drama! Sh-Sh-Sh-SHUFFLE PARTY!"
Rhiannon and Wisdom were the first two to eat breakfast.
"So, I guess it's kind of pathetic to tell you this now that you've won Big Kahuna, but I really would be willing to work with you going forward," Rhiannon said.
"Is that so?" Wisdom asked. "Well, you did get rid of Shadya, huh? Why would you do that if you weren't willing to explore new options?"
"Exactly!" Rhiannon affirmed. "So yeah, I don't suppose you'd be willing to nominate Godfrey and Virgil today."
Wisdom nodded. "So, it's a girls alliance, huh?"
"I hadn't really thought about it, but yeah, I guess so," Rhiannon figured. "Well, I'm definitely all about some girl power."
"No kidding?" Wisdom thought aloud. "Who would you vote out between Godfrey and Virgil?"
"I could go either way. Maybe I'll talk it over with Hildegard," Rhiannon admitted. "Unless you have a plan, in which case, I'm happy to hear it."
"I guess I'd lean a bit more towards Virgil going?" Wisdom answered. "But it's up to you and Hildegard, right?"
"It's your day as Big Kahuna. You're the boss," Rhiannon smiled. "If you want Virgil gone, I certainly wouldn't mind, and I doubt Hildegard would, either."
"I guess there's no point in insisting against just doing as I suggest if you said you could go either way, huh?" Wisdom figured. "So Virgil it is?"
"Sounds like it," Rhiannon nodded. "Man, I can't believe we're this close to the end. Does this count as the endgame?"
"It's the last island, right? What better point to call this the endgame?" Wisdom posited.
"I guess final five is a pretty 'endgame' sort of point," Rhiannon agreed. "Congrats on making the endgame! And the final four, too!"
"I guess I am guaranteed final four, aren't I?" Wisdom realized. "Things are only going to get harder after that, aren't they?"
"Who knows?" Rhiannon responded.
Confessional:
Wisdom: Rhiannon's kind of obvious, isn't she? But then, I guess she mentioned that she knew as much, huh? Still, at least she's making an effort with me, right? Has Hildegard spoken with me even once since we shuffled?
Rhiannon: Getting rid of Shadya last night was the ultimate risk, but I was comfortable taking it because I knew I always had the chance to work over the others. Or, at least Godrey and Wisdom. I saved Godfrey with Divine Intervention, and Wisdom's offered to work with me before. I realize nothing is guaranteed, but I feel relatively confident moving forward, more so than I did when Shadya was around.
Godfrey and Hildegard had gone out to get firewood.
"So, has Rhiannon spoken with you about my final three offer?" Godfrey wondered.
"Verily, hence thy safety yesternight," Hildegard confirmed. "Such a gesture should be proof positive that we are willing to work with thee."
"Believe me, I'm incredibly grateful," Godfrey assured her. "So what do you make of Wisdom being Big Kahuna? It's not unlikely that you and Rhiannon will be Sacrificial Lambs."
"Well, if that is the case, do remember thy promise unto me that thou wouldst use Divine Intervention to save me if I were to save thee," Hildegard reminded him. "I know technically Lady Rhiannon saved thee, but only because of mine input!"
"Of course," Godfrey nodded. "My offer wasn't just because I wanted to save myself or lose Shadya, it's because I could always tell you two were good people to work with."
"'Tis not befitting of a paladin to boast, but thy claims that I am a good person are certainly not unjustified," Hildegard said proudly. "Lady Rhiannon still continues the nasty cycle of lust, but that is something she wishes to stop. Er, not that it is my place to tell thee."
"Mum's the word. And I'm very good at keeping secrets," Godfrey assured her. "So, am I 'Sir Godfrey' yet, or do I have to work up to it?"
"...Thou art Sir Godfrey, but thou can lose it as quickly as thou hast earned it," Hildegard explained. "Elmer lost his title very quickly after feeling the need to be such a know-it-all!"
"I can see that happening kind of vividly," Godfrey chuckled. "Well, Lady Hildegard, I look forward to seeing where the game takes us. Hopefully to the final two."
"Thou intendeth to take me to the final two?" Hildegard asked.
"Well, that's the logical progression after the final three," Godfrey figured. "Don't feel pressured to drop your game-long relationship with Rhiannon just to say you'll take me, too. I get that I just joined your alliance."
"Worry not, I felt no such pressure," Hildegard told him.
Confessional:
Hildegard: I am still not entirely sure how much I trust Sir Godfrey, but if he is to tell me that he wishes to take me to the finale, I shall not admonish him for it. I believe that now makes two of the four other contestants who wish such a thing, assuming he is being truthful. Actually, now that I think of it, that may be quite an assumption.
Godfrey: Am I being honest with Hildegard? Well, it pays to keep your options open. If I'm not mistaken, everyone left in the game trusts me at least a little bit. I was already aligned with Virgil and Wisdom going into the island, and now Hildegard is calling me 'Sir' and Rhiannon is using Divine Intervention on me. Not the worst position I've been in this month.
Virgil later met up with Wisdom away from camp.
"So, what's the high life like, Strawberry?" Virgil asked playfully. "How do we lowly peasants look from up on high?"
"...What are you talking about?" Wisdom asked, confused.
"Ah, ignore me," Virgil dismissed. "So anyway, I wanted to see where your head was at going forward. Obviously, I'd still like to work with you and Mystery Pop going forward, since I trust you two the most out of everyone here."
"You trust me that much?" Wisdom asked.
"I definitely don't trust Spearmint or especially Cherry Pie," Virgil mentioned. "In fact, between the two, I'd definitely vote for Cherry Pie. She's definitely a bigger threat than Spearmint, plus she nominated me as a Sacrificial Lamb and then lied to me that she wouldn't use Divine Intervention. Not cool."
"Have you spoken with Godfrey about this?" Wisdom inquired.
"Not yet, and I am worried that Cherry Pie saving him with Divine Intervention is going to make him push more for a Spearmint vote," Virgil said. "Which, that's still a knock against our enemies, but it leaves them more of a chance to retaliate."
"Hildegard could win challenges, couldn't she?" Wisdom figured. "She's got armor and a weapon, right?"
"I mean, have either of those been of any use to her?" Virgil brought up. "It's almost brilliant, this knight shtick she has going on. It makes her goofy enough to not look like a threat, but having honest-to-god armor and stuff makes her just capable enough to not look like a viability, plus it makes any claims of loyalty on her part seem that much more genuine."
"Is it all an act? Or is she really just like that?" Wisdom wondered.
"I refuse to believe anyone just talks like that." Virgil shook his head. "And if she does, then I can't help but wonder about how badly she gets picked on at home."
"Didn't she mention that she does get picked on?" Wisdom brought up.
"If she did, I either wasn't there or don't remember," Virgil shrugged. "Either way, I probably shouldn't be so dismissive of her. She's made it this far for a reason."
Confessional:
Wisdom: I have quite the decision later today, don't I? Everyone expects me to choose who they want as the Sacrificial Lambs, huh? What should I do? I can't please everyone, so what will be best for my game?
Virgil: I guess Spearmint is a sort of threat by virtue of being no threat at all. Meanwhile, Cherry Pie is smart, sociable, and has been winning quite a few challenges as of late. Basically, it's Top Banana all over again: we've got to take out the strongest enemy while we can.
The final five met up at the ceremony shrine. Each of them sat in a camp chair while Chris stood behind the lectern on the raised platform.
"Welcome to the Sacrificial Lamb ceremony!" Chris began. "Wisdom, as the Big Kahuna, you must now select two of your fellow contestants to be Sacrificial Lambs. I trust you've come to your final decision by now, so please get up behind the podium and make your calls!"
Chris stepped to the side. Wisdom took the cue and made her way up behind the lectern.
"Well, no point in stalling, is there?" Wisdom gulped, cleared her throat, and then did the same two more times. "Would... Would Hildegard and Rhiannon please their seats behind me?"
The girls nodded in disappointed understanding as they each stood up and made their way to the uncomfortable wooden chairs at the back of the raised platform.
"There aren't a lot of people I could have chosen, you know?" Wisdom maintained. "So I figured, 'Wouldn't it make the most sense to keep safe the people who have worked with me longest?' That's fairly understandable, right? And hey, you can still be saved with... Divine Intervention, right?" Wisdom gulped. "That's all I have to say, I guess? We can still talk later, right?"
Wisdom stepped down from the raised platform and returned to her camp chair. Chris returned behind the lectern.
"And with that, our Sacrificial Lambs are up for the slaughter!" Chris announced. "Of course, you'll both have plenty of time to do whatever it takes to make sure you see another day in Total Drama Shuffle Party! With that, you are dismissed!"
Confessional:
Hildegard: I'd a feeling that Wisdom would select me as a Sacrificial Lamb regardless of any efforts to sway her. But it is as she said: Divine Intervention can save me or Lady Jessica! And I fully intend for this to happen! Lady Hildegard shan't bow so easily!
Rhiannon: Well, I did what I could, but I think Wisdom was set on putting up me and Hildegard. It's a shame because I was willing to work with her going forward, but I guess we never have trusted one another, ever since Kairi Island. I can still turn things around, though, and I am going to.
Rhiannon kept Wisdom at the shrine after the ceremony concluded.
"So, you really don't want to work with me," Rhiannon stated.
"Well, can you blame me?" Wisdom frowned. "There are only five of us left, what was I supposed to do? Choose one or both of my longer-time allies?"
"I don't blame you, but it does hurt that you would string me along like that this morning," Rhiannon sighed.
"Weren't you the one who approached me about working together this morning?" Wisdom pointed out. "How am I to blame, here? Aren't you the one who cornered me into a deal? What was I supposed to do? Tell you point-blank that I wouldn't work with you? Doing that would only hurt my game, right? That's only basic strategy, right? An unspoken agreement?"
Rhiannon was taken aback. "I guess that's fair, but it's also basic strategy for me to at least make an attempt to save your skin when you're in a bad situation."
"And who put you in the minority?" Wisdom challenged. "Aren't you the one who used Divine Intervention to save Godfrey? Aren't you the one who chose Shadya as a Sacrificial Lamb?"
"It was an incredibly calculated risk," Rhiannon insisted. "Maybe not calculated with perfect correctness, but I put a ton of thought into that move. Don't come talking to me about being bad at the game."
"When did I say you were bad at the game?" Wisdom frowned. "Rhiannon, I get you're upset, but would you not have selected me as a Sacrificial Lamb if you had the choice?"
"Oh, don't give me that," Rhiannon grunted. "You told me yesterday that you wanted to work with me, I told you that I wanted to work with you, and you immediately went back on your offer and put me in danger. I've done nothing to you."
"Did Kun do anything to you when he said he wanted to work with you, you said you wanted to work with him, and you immediately went back on your offer and put him in danger?" Wisdom's brow furrowed. "Rhiannon, what do you have to gain from taking your anger out on me? Do you think I'll use Divine Intervention on you if I win it?"
"Alright, fine! I guess I'm a chump and everything is my fault!" Rhiannon exasperated. "Congrats on second place."
Rhiannon walked away. Wisdom sighed and shook her head.
Confessional:
Wisdom: Rhiannon's always prided herself on being good at the game, right? So I suppose that losing all control of her position must be stressing her out, huh? Well, if she didn't want that, then why did she put Shadya on the chopping block? Did she not think that my existing alliance would stick together?
Rhiannon: (She sighs.) The worst part of that whole exchange was when she brought Kun into it. Because she's completely right. That's basically exactly how I treated Kun after the first shuffle, even though Kun and I already had a rapport from the previous island. Meanwhile, Wisdom and I have never clicked the entire game. Of course, she won't work with me if a better opportunity arises. That's exactly what I would have done in her position! Ugh, I'm such an idiot!
Hildegard tended to the campfire while Virgil sat and watched while eating a box of sour straws.
"I see that thou still refuseth to heed my warnings about thy teeth rotting," Hildegard commented.
"Sure am," Virgil smirked. "I see you're still as carefree as ever."
"If thou wisheth to lose thy teeth and wear dentures before 20, be my guest," Hildegard tsked.
"I didn't know they had oral hygiene in whatever time period you're supposed to be from," Virgil remarked.
"The fantasy genre is eternal!" Hildegard insisted. "Final Fantasy X is set in the future! Although, that's a spoiler, actually."
"Nice job," Virgil chuckled.
"It came out when we were infants!" Hildegard added defensively.
"What's the statute of limitations on that kind of thing, I wonder?" Virgil mused.
"For something as well-discussed as Final Fantasy, not long," Hildegard mentioned. "But I digress. Where doth thou stand on tonight?"
"Like, which of you Lambs I'd vote out?" Virgil asked. "I'm leaning Cherry Pie, but if she saves herself, well, there's not much I can do there."
"Dost thou think that thou would be her replacement?" Hildegard questioned.
"Honestly? It's not unlikely," Virgil figured. "Strawberry and I have known each other longer than she's known Mystery Pop, but she's worked with him longer."
"That did not stop Lady Rhiannon from putting Lady Shadya at risk," Hildegard reminded him.
"Am I a bigger threat than Mystery Pop, though, is the thing," Virgil mentioned. "He did manage to deceive everyone for most of the game about who he was, but that's never really affected Strawberry's opinion of him. And what do I have going for me that he doesn't?"
"Perhaps more loyalty to young Wisdom," Hildegard smirked.
"...You think I'm more loyal to Strawberry than Mystery Pop is?" Virgil doubted.
"How didst thou thinketh he was able to get Lady Rhiannon to save him?!" Hildegard drove home. "Because he promised the two of us final three!"
"...God damn it, he totally did, didn't he?" Virgil grumbled. "Fuck! I can't even blame him, because I totally tried to do the same thing with Top Banana and Cherry Pie!"
"How nice that thou considereth me worthy of making deals," Hildegard said flatly.
"I would have gotten to it if Cherry Pie hadn't shut me down so hard," Virgil grunted.
"Of course, I would not be averse to further deals," Hildegard hinted.
"Mm..." Virgil pondered this.
Confessional:
Virgil: The immediate idea is to make deals with Spearmint, but she's already made a deal with Mystery Pop, so what could I do to sweeten the deal? Especially when Cherry Pie hates my ass and won't work with me. I feel like, at this point, all I can do is stick with the alliance I've got and do whatever I can to make sure that alliance succeeds.
Hildegard: As a good holy knight, 'tis my duty to always be honest! (She giggles.) The fact that it could benefit my game by causing distrust against those who oppose me is an added bonus.
Godfrey, Virgil, and Wisdom met up away from camp.
"So, Wisdom, did you have any thoughts on which of the girls you'd rather see gone?" Godfrey began.
"Rhiannon, I guess?" Wisdom responded. "She's more of a threat than Hildegard, right? And haven't you noticed that she's getting a lot more confrontational? Ironic that it's her and not Hildegard, huh?"
"Yeah, I'm definitely on the Cherry Pie train," Virgil agreed. "It sounds like she actively dislikes all three of us right now. If she won Big Kahuna tonight, that wouldn't be good."
"Would it be much better if Hildegard won it?" Wisdom wondered. "Both of them would pick two of us as Sacrificial Lambs either way, right?"
"Cherry Pie is still a bigger threat, either way," Virgil stated. "She won both challenges last round, lest ye forget."
"Yeah, that's going to be tough to ignore," Godfrey agreed. "Rhiannon's definitely going to be the best bet."
"Well then it sounds like it's settled," Virgil grinned. "Now we just need to make sure she doesn't win Divine Intervention, and we're golden."
Wisdom glanced at Godfrey.
"What?" Godfrey asked.
"On the last island, didn't you suggest... making things more difficult for our opposition?" Wisdom reminded him.
"I also mentioned that I was having a moral crisis about it, but I guess that isn't as important to you," Godfrey said flatly.
"And didn't Hildegard make things harder for us while you hesitated?" Wisdom continued. "Who's to say we can't do the same? It's the final five, you know? Shouldn't we be doing whatever we can to win?"
"I mean, again, even if Cherry Pie does save herself, we could always just vote out Spearmint," Virgil mentioned.
"Do you think Rhiannon would vote for Hildegard?" Wisdom asked.
"If not, I'm pretty sure you break the tie since you're the Big Kahuna," Virgil figured.
"It'd probably be better to play it safe," Godfrey said. "There's no sense in making greater enemies out of either of them. If anything, it'd probably just spur them on to try even harder to beat us."
"You think?" Wisdom hummed.
"Better safe than sorry," Godfrey reiterated. "As Virgil said, one of them is going home no matter what. Hubris isn't going to do us any good."
Confessional:
Wisdom: What's going on with Godfrey? He keeps saying that he needs to win for the future of robotics, right? So why is he so hesitant to start playing dirty when him winning may depend on it? If Rhiannon survives, she could win Big Kahuna, right? Why is he willing to risk that?
Virgil: I mean, I definitely see where both of them are coming from. On one hand, we want to make sure Cherry Pie goes home, and that obviously can't happen if she wins Divine Intervention. On the other hand, I'm not sure it'd be the end of the world if Spearmint left instead. We'd still outnumber Cherry Pie two-to-one in the next Big Kahuna challenge, and Mystery Pop and I are no slouches, either.
Godfrey: Of course, what the Lollipops don't know is that I have a deal going with the Knights of Goodness, and trying to sabotage them by any means could mean them severing that deal, which isn't very good for me. I'm not going to stop the Lollipops from doing what they want, of course, but I need to make sure I'm still in a good position. It pays to be prepared.
The final five met up with Chris in an area with five strange contraptions and several stacks of ceramic plates, bowls, and cups.
"Good afternoon, friends!" Chris greeted.
"Friends?" Wisdom cocked her head to the side.
"I've already sent you all friend requests. You wouldn't want to hurt my feelings by turning them down, would you?" Chris sniffled dramatically.
"I don't particularly care one way or the other," Virgil said.
Chris looked stony face for a second before continuing. "Well, anyway, here's how today's Divine Intervention challenge is going to work! Each of you is going to hold onto a handle on top of a wobbly base. On the other end of your handle is a platform that you'll be balancing these plates, bowls, and cups on. I'll keep on calling out for which items you're going to be stacking. If you can't get the item stacked in five seconds, or if any of your stack falls to the ground, you're out of the challenge! The last person standing wins Divine Intervention."
"Most interesting," Hildegard commented.
"You've had to balance strength, strategy, and sociability in this game... can you balance some tableware?" Chris chuckled. "Let's get this underway!"
Confessional:
Rhiannon: One wrong move, and my chances in the challenge - and probably the game by extension - come crashing down before me. Now, more than ever, I just need to focus and keep my eyes on the prize.
Hildegard: To be a knight takes great discipline and skill! I'm certainly no noble who has practiced walking with books upon her head, but I should be able to outlast the others in this challenge!
The five contestants took their spots and balanced their handles upon their bases.
"Alright, we'll start this off easy," Chris began. "Put a large plate on your base."
The stacks of tableware were within reaching distance of each of the contestants, so they were all able to grab a large plate while keeping their handles balanced and place their plates upon their handles' platform with little issue.
"Now do a medium plate," Chris continued.
The contestants did as they were told, once again with little issue.
"Another large plate," Chris instructed.
The contestants trepidatiously placed a large plate upon their medium plates, all while keeping the balance.
"Now place a medium bowl on your stack," Chris grinned.
None of the contestants seemed enthused about this as they took their bowls and stacked them onto their plates.
"Another large plate," Chris prompted.
The contestants all had a bit of trouble figuring out the best position for their plates, and some were more centered than others.
"And now a small plate," Chris grinned.
The contestants placed a small plate upon their respective stacks, taking care not to knock over what they already had.
"This is getting tense pretty quickly," Godfrey grunted.
"'Tis no feat... for Lady Hildegard!" Hildegard insisted.
"Medium bowl," Chris continued.
The contestants managed to get their bowl on their stack in time, with the exception of Virgil, who knocked over his stack.
"Virgil is out! His chance at winning Divine Intervention is gone!" Chris announced.
"How embarrassing," Virgil spat.
"Alright, now put a large bowl on your stack," Chris instructed.
The four contestants struggled, but all of them ultimately pulled it off, albeit some better than others.
"This challenge won't last much longer, will it?" Wisdom wondered.
"I don't know about you, but I can keep going for hours," Rhiannon insisted.
"Large plate," Chris commanded.
The contestants struggled to balance their plates on their stacks, and Wisdom even knocked over her stack.
"Wisdom is out of the challenge!" Chris announced.
Wisdom nodded disappointedly.
"Three contestants remain. Who wants Divine Intervention today?" Chris grinned.
Confessional:
Virgil: I guess it's all up to Mystery Pop to make sure Sacrificial Lambs stay the same. I honestly have no idea how this challenge could go, so all I can do is hope nothing goes wrong. At least not for him.
Wisdom: Were these plates and bowls created solely for the sake of this challenge? Or were they created to serve as plates and bowls, and Chris is simply wasting them by letting them break? Have they ever been used to serve food? What would the person who made them think if they knew that their work was being used like this? It's kind of depressing to think about, isn't it?
Godfrey, Hildegard, and Rhiannon struggled with the increasing weight of their stacks but kept them held up.
"Now put a medium cup on your stack," Chris told them.
The contestants carefully did so.
"Medium plate," Chris instructed.
The contestants, teeth clenched, all managed to get their plates on top of their cups. All three remaining stacks were not as centered as their contestants would have liked.
"Hope you guys can keep it steady. I'd hate to be you if you were responsible for breaking all these nice pieces. Oh, and losing Divine Intervention might bite, too. Hehaha," Chris taunted. "Anyway, time to add a small plate."
As the contestants put a small plate on their stacks, Godfrey managed to knock over the medium plate he'd just put on, sending it and the medium cup it was atop to the ground.
"That counts! Godfrey is out of the challenge!" Chris announced.
"Well, no sense in letting the rest of these go to waste, I guess," Godfrey sighed as he began to carefully unstack his stack and put the pieces back on the platform next to him.
"It's down to Hildegard and Rhiannon! One of them will win the power to save herself or her ally," Chris commented. "Now add a small cup!"
Both girls carefully placed a small cup on top of their stacks.
"Best of luck to thee, Lady Rhiannon," Hildegard said to her friend.
"Likewise," Rhiannon nodded back.
"Well, this ain't good," Virgil muttered to Wisdom. "Don't suppose I can convince you to pick Mystery Pop as the replacement for whoever wins?"
"Can we talk later? When there's more privacy? And we don't need to whisper?" Wisdom requested.
"Fair enough," Virgil agreed.
"Alright, now a medium plate," Chris chuckled.
Hildegard and Rhiannon nervously took a medium plate and slowly began to stack it on top of their stacks.
"Three... two... one. Hands off!" Chris counted down.
Both contestants had their hands off of their plates at the count of one. Neither stack fell.
"A large cup," Chris grinned.
The contestants tried to balance a large cup on top of their stacks. One of them managed to succeed. The other dropped her stack.
"We have a winner!" Chris announced.
...
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...
"Hildegard wins Divine Intervention!" Chris called.
"Summer's day!" Hildegard cheered.
"Good job," Rhiannon sighed and then smiled.
"You'll have until the ceremony this evening to decide how you plan on using it," Chris said. "I'll see you guys then!"
Confessional:
Hildegard: Once again, the victor am I! Thou may put the great Lady Hildegard before any trial, and she shall overcome! This shall be my ticket to the final four, and eventually, first place!
Wisdom: So one of my Sacrificial Lambs won, huh? What am I going to tell Virgil? Should I tell Virgil? Should I just let him assume the worst and not start anything with him? Or would that seem too cowardly? Should I just ask Godfrey what to do? (She gulps.)
Hildegard and Rhiannon gathered firewood away from camp.
"Congrats again on winning," Rhiannon smiled. "I feel like I didn't come across as genuine before when I said that. I was more disappointed in myself for losing than anything."
"All hope is not lost!" Hildegard encouraged.
"How? How do I not get voted out tonight?" Rhiannon asked exasperatedly.
"Do recall our deals with Sir Godfrey," Hildegard reminded her. "Does he not owe you his life in the game after thou saved him previously?"
"Wisdom's in power, though, not him," Rhiannon pointed out.
"Well, let us assume that she selects Virgil as her replacement," Hildegard began. "Sir Godfrey and I will be the votes to eliminate tonight."
"And what does he have to gain from not forcing a tie for Wisdom to break - likely against me?" Rhiannon doubted. "What does he have to lose by letting me go home?"
"The respect of one Lady Hildegard, Knight of Goodness!" Hildegard insisted.
"Somehow I'm not fully convinced that alone is going to stop him," Rhiannon said.
"Mm, perhaps not," Hildegard conceded. "...But what if 'twas not I who was safe?"
"I'm... How do you mean?" Rhiannon asked, confused.
"Sir Godfrey has promised that he would take me to the final two," Hildegard boasted. "If it was I versus Virgil, mayhaps he would opt to save me over him!"
"Are you willing to bet your game on that?" Rhiannon asked, concerned. "I'm not going to ask you to. You won Divine Intervention fair and square."
"...I shall think about it," Hildegard decided. "Although I wish for both of us to make it to the next round, that may or may not be feasible."
"I trust you," Rhiannon told her.
Confessional:
Hildegard: Verily, 'twas I who won the power of Divine Intervention; fitting for a holy knight such as myself. The obvious move is to save myself with it, but if I were confident that saving Lady Jessica would mean both of us could get by, then I could save her!
Rhiannon: Obviously, I want to stay in this game and I want to win, and I appreciate Hildegard wanting to help me out, but... it just doesn't sit right, that she'd put herself in such a risky spot just to buy me another day in the game. She's told me about how many times she's applied for this show and how excited she is that she'd make it this far. I don't want to be responsible for her potential loss in any capacity.
Godfrey and Wisdom sat in the shelter together.
"So, it seems like you're going to have to pick a new Sacrificial Lamb tonight," Godfrey mentioned.
"You realized it, too, huh?" Wisdom sighed. "What choices do I have but you or Virgil? Why did Hildegard have to win Divine Intervention?"
"That's the nature of the game, I guess," Godfrey figured. "I hate to have to campaign to put Virgil in danger, but... I've been working with you for longer, and I think he's only working with you out of necessity, anyway."
"...Godfrey, could you answer me one question?" Wisdom inquired.
"Of course," Godfrey complied.
"Why did Rhiannon save you with Divine Intervention yesterday?" Wisdom asked. "She's the one who put you up in the first place, right? What could have changed her mind in such a short span of time? What did you tell her? What did you do?"
"I made a fake deal with her and Hildegard, of course," Godfrey told her. "I promised them final three if Rhiannon saved me and nominated Shadya instead. I still can't believe it worked, honestly."
"You must have been very convincing in order for her to believe you, huh?" Wisdom figured.
"What are you getting at?" Godfrey frowned.
"You've proven before that you're very good at lying, right?" Wisdom mentioned. "Is it so strange of me to wonder, even a little, if you're lying to me?"
"About what?" Godfrey winced, insulted.
"Whether or not you're not working with them?" Wisdom clarified.
"Wisdom, what would I have to gain by betraying two people I actually have a connection with for people who have consistently been working against me?" Godfrey insisted.
"But it isn't consistent anymore, remember?" Wisdom brought up. "Rhiannon saved you; is that not a pretty big red flag?"
"Alright. Then what do you have to gain by betraying me?!" Godfrey scowled. "Shadya is gone and our alliance has the majority. This is all we've ever wanted in this game. What good is it going to do you if you pick me as the new Sacrificial Lamb?"
"It's going to have to be you or Virgil, remember?" Wisdom frowned. "Wouldn't it make more sense to pick the one who I suspect might be playing both sides?"
Godfrey was at a loss for words.
Confessional:
Godfrey: Oh no, this is exactly what Rhiannon wanted, isn't it? Take out the big threat Shadya, rope me in to replace her, and then make this public so my other allies don't trust me. Rhiannon's smart - I wouldn't put it past her. Well, either way, any incentive to stick with her and Hildegard might be dead and gone. Not that they need to know that.
Wisdom: It pays to be cautious, right? Especially this late into the game? Godfrey's said before how badly he wants to win the prize money, right? Wouldn't it make sense for him to do whatever it takes to win? I have to pick someone as a replacement, you know? It's definitely the better choice at this point, no?
Virgil and Wisdom met in the Tent of Banquets
"Well, it seems like you're going to have to pick either me or Mystery Pop to be the new Lamb," Virgil prefaced.
"Do you think Godfrey is playing both sides?" Wisdom asked point-blank.
"Well damn, that's a question I didn't expect," Virgil said with an amused chuckle. "Actually, Cherry Pie sold him out to me earlier today. Can't say I can blame him, though. I did what I could to work over the other alliance yesterday."
Wisdom nodded disappointedly. "But you were a Sacrificial Lamb, right? Godfrey wasn't, so what good would it do him to go behind our backs like that?"
"Well, if Cherry Pie or Spearmint win Big Kahuna, it'd mean they'd probably prioritize us as their Sacrificial Lambs," Virgil figured.
"Why are you so calm about this?" Wisdom asked.
"Believe me, I'm not happy with the position this leaves us in, but I've had more time to digest it," Virgil explained. "Also, I probably would have done the same if I were more confident in my ability to win them over. But hey, you're in a position to send him - and the others - a message."
"I am?" Wisdom asked.
"By... By putting Mystery Pop up as your replacement," Virgil clarified, bemused. "Maybe even call him out during the ceremony."
"Wouldn't that just make him and the Knights angry at me?" Wisdom quivered.
"Eh, good point. Sneakiness aside, we do still need Mystery Pop on our side," Virgil figured. "Having a majority is going to be important."
Wisdom nodded. "Tonight isn't going to be fun, is it?"
"I imagine Mystery Pop won't be happy with your decision," Virgil told her. "You probably oughta come up with what you're going to say to him."
Confessional:
Wisdom: Who would have thought that my ideal replacement would change so quickly? Am I jumping the gun? I've been wary of Godfrey for a little while now, but Virgil's declared me as his enemy in the past, right? (She looks to be pondering deeply.)
Virgil: Obviously, I trust Mystery Pop more than I trust Strawberry, but that doesn't mean that Strawberry shouldn't trust me more than she trusts Mystery Pop. If she's considering having him be the replacement Lamb, I'm going to do what I can to convince her it's a good idea. (He begins eating a box of red licorice.)
Twilight shone over Makani Island. Hildegard and Rhiannon sat in their seats on the raised platform, while Chris stood behind the lectern.
"Welcome, one and all, to the Divine Intervention ceremony!" Chris announced. "Hildegard, you have won the power of Divine Intervention, and you can use it to save one of the Sacrificial Lambs from the slaughter! In doing so, the Big Kahuna - that'd be Wisdom - will have to choose a replacement Sacrificial Lamb. It is time to make your decision."
Chris stepped away from the lectern, prompting Hildegard to step up.
"Thou may be surprised to know that this was a decision for me," Hildegard prefaced. "And in the end, I have decided..."
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Hildegard sprinkled the Holy Water onto herself. "'Twould be in my best interest to save myself."
Rhiannon nodded neutrally. Hildegard made her way to the lower section of the shrine.
"Wisdom, you're up," Chris prompted.
Wisdom made her way to the lectern.
"Would..." Wisdom gulped. She took a deep breath. "Would...
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"Godfrey please take a seat next to Rhiannon?" Wisdom finished hesitantly.
Godfrey let out a disappointed sigh as he took his uncomfortable seat. Hildegard's and Rhiannon's eyes went wide.
"I guess you saw this coming, huh?" Wisdom prefaced. "But we've spoken about it already, right? So you understand why I've selected you? It was either you or Virgil, yeah? If there were more options, I'd pick one of them, you know?"
"If you say so," Godfrey glowered.
"And with that, Divine Intervention has been cast. I'll see you guys later tonight for the vote!" Chris established.
Confessional:
Hildegard: I truly did believe in mine own ability to stay safe tonight, but Lady Jessica insisted that I make no large sacrifice for her. Mayhaps she did not have as much confidence in me as she has in herself. Regardless, I shall take the spot I have earned in the final four.
Godfrey: Well, this came right the hell out of nowhere. At least, it did a few hours ago. Since Wisdom all but confirmed to me that I was going to be the replacement, I've been able to think about what my pitch to Hildegard for not voting for me is going to be. I think I have something.
Godfrey met up with Hildegard by a relatively large number of trees.
"Frankly, I can little believe we still have trees after what we needed to use for shelter and firewood," Hildegard said.
"I guess they found some good locations," Godfrey figured. "So... it's me versus Rhiannon tonight."
"If thou thinketh that thou can convince me for a second to betray Lady Rhiannon...!" Hildegard shouted.
"Please, just hear me out," Godfrey pled. "At least wait to react until after I've made my pitch."
Hildegard looked at Godfrey expectantly.
"Wisdom has made it clear to me that she no longer trusts me," Godfrey began. "And I'm not just saying that because she picked me as her replacement. She outright confronted me earlier today about playing both sides."
"Thou art playing both sides," Hildegard pointed out flatly.
"On the contrary. I'm making new sides," Godfrey smirked. "See, the thing is, Virgil doesn't really trust Wisdom either. He hasn't ever since the beginning of the game. He's only working with her out of necessity. If I am eliminated from the game tonight, it will be you and Rhiannon versus Wisdom and Virgil. A tough split that could lead to Rhiannon and you both missing out on the final two. But if Rhiannon goes home, I can promise you a spot in my alliance with Virgil in which we vote out Wisdom this next round. She cannot be Big Kahuna next round, and she's hardly the most qualified person to win Divine Intervention. And I intend to hold true to my offer to take you to the final two."
"So doth Lady Rhiannon," Hildegard grunted.
"Lady Rhi- er, Rhiannon doesn't have any connection to Virgil," Godfrey reiterated. "And at this stage in the game, every vote matters immensely. Next round, only one person will be casting a vote. Do you want to risk being a Sacrificial Lamb and having Virgil be your only hope, only for him to send you home? If you vote to keep me, you will be guaranteed final three, and then I'll do everything in my power to make sure we both make final two. If you vote to eliminate me, you might not even make it past the next round."
"Thou doth not know these things for sure!" Hildegard accused. "Speak not of such certainty when no such thing exists!"
"Just because this is all hypothetical doesn't mean there isn't a very strong chance of it happening," Godfrey said.
"And, again, what makes thou thinketh that I would ever betray Lady Rhiannon?" Hildegard huffed.
"You voted for Shadya behind Rhiannon's back before," Godfrey pointed out.
"That was different! Thou were not there, Godfrey!" Hildegard shouted. "And yes, thy 'Sir' status has been revoked!"
"Honestly, that might hurt worse than you refusing to vote to keep me," Godfrey chuckled sadly.
Confessional:
Godfrey: I think I made about the best pitch I could have. Whether or not Hildegard takes me up on this is entirely her decision, but I think it's a good plan that could benefit her as well as myself. I hope she realizes that she might not get a better offer in this game.
Hildegard: How dare Godfrey bring up my moment of weakness in voting Lady Shadya! As if I'm one to so easily betray mine allies if it were to benefit me! A paladin takes care of her party. A paladin is Lawful Good. Godfrey, it seems, is True Neutral, maybe Neutral Evil! Such despicably unreliable alignments!
Rhiannon and Virgil stayed at the ceremony shrine.
"Well, I don't suppose there's anything I can say to convince you to keep me over Godfrey," Rhiannon mentioned.
"Is there anything you can offer me?" Virgil asked as he nonchalantly snacked on some chocolate nibs.
"I can't offer anything better than chocolate, but we can talk about the game," Rhiannon offered.
"Dark chocolate covered ginger," Virgil smiled. "I refrained from eating them while Gingersnap was still in the game, mostly because people saying her name made me crave them too much and I didn't want to eat them all and then have people still calling her that only for me to want some more. But anyway, what can you offer me that Mystery Pop can't?"
Rhiannon paused to think about it. "Is there anything you think I could offer you that he couldn't?"
"Nothing off the top of my head," Virgil said. "Well, it was nice knowing you."
"Don't act like I'm out of it yet! Hildegard won't vote for me," Rhiannon mentioned.
"No, but if she votes Mystery Pop, and I vote you, then Strawberry breaks the tie, and I know she's never been close personal friends with you," Virgil explained.
"Virgil, please," Rhiannon pleaded. "You know how badly I need this money. You know how much it could change my life."
"Sorry, but I'm not going to just lay down and die for you," Virgil said. "All of us could use the money. We're on the cusp of adulthood, and any amount of a jumpstart could help any of us immensely."
"And what would you spend the money on? Chocolate gold coins that are covered in real gold?" Rhiannon scoffed.
"Gold as an additive to dessert is overrated," Virgil dismissed. "I'll have you know that my parents intend for me to move out by the time I'm 18. I'm 17. I'd rather not be homeless, you dig? A million dollars could mean my own place, furniture, and bills are paid for, at least until I can get a real job to start paying bills."
"Virgil, please..." Rhiannon sighed.
"I'm not bending on this. I'm sorry," Virgil insisted. "You have my sympathies, but in this game, you need to be selfish."
Confessional:
Rhiannon: I don't know if Virgil intended to or not, but he did give me a massive hint! He mentioned that Wisdom is going to break any potential ties. Of course, he's right about one thing: convincing Wisdom to keep me will be an uphill battle. But it's a battle that's sure as hell worth fighting!
Virgil: Maybe in another lifetime, where Cherry Pie and I were on the same team from the very start, or at least met up on Kairi Island, I could see myself working with her. But as it stands, especially this late into the game, I just can't bend over backward for her. C'est la vie.
Rhiannon and Wisdom were the last two to eat dinner as the sky grew dark.
"Wisdom, I'm sorry I snapped at you earlier today," Rhiannon apologized genuinely. "The stress of the game had been getting to me. I know that's not really a good excuse, but I hope we can be good going forward."
"How forward do you think you'll be going?" Wisdom asked.
"I was hoping to discuss that with you," Rhiannon said. "The obvious outcome right now is that Hildegard votes for Godfrey, and Virgil votes for me. The Big Kahuna will cast the tie-breaking vote. If I can promise you that I will not pick you as a Sacrificial Lamb and will not cast a vote for you for the rest of the game, would that be enough to convince you to let me stay?"
"Can you promise those things?" Wisdom doubted. "That's sort of a hefty promise, no? Are you willing to abandon Hildegard entirely and take me to the final two?"
"...If it will give me a shot of making it to the final two, then yes," Rhiannon said.
"Can you promise me one additional thing?" Wisdom requested.
"Of course," Rhiannon agreed.
"Would you be willing to forego using Divine Intervention on yourself if it meant I was the replacement?" Wisdom asked.
"Of course!" Rhiannon agreed. "If you would be the replacement, then you would be the sole person to cast a vote. And the other Lamb in this scenario, I imagine, would be Hildegard, since if Hildegard was the Big Kahuna I doubt she'd nominate me and Virgil rather than you and Virgil. I'm putting my trust in you. I'm putting my entire game in your hands."
"You've thought about this a lot, haven't you?" Wisdom acknowledged.
"I'm only a couple of votes away from having all I've put into this game be for nothing," Rhiannon said, trying to remain strong in lieu of oncoming tears. "I need you on my side Wisdom. I'm willing to do whatever you want. Just please grant me at least one more day in this game. Please."
"I'll continue to think about it, okay?" Wisdom told her. "This is a huge decision, you know? Nothing that can be made lightly? Can you wait until the ceremony to find out my decision?"
"Whatever works best for you," Rhiannon agreed.
Confessional:
Rhiannon: I guess you could say I have practice in appealing to one's innate desire to be in complete control. I won't act like it wasn't embarrassing having to submit completely to Wisdom of all people, but we're long past the point of hesitation.
Wisdom: So, even after I've named two Sacrificial Lambs and one replacement, my tough decisions still aren't over, hm? Can I trust Rhiannon here? Should I trust Rhiannon here? Does the risk outweigh the reward?
Night had fallen, and the final six had gathered at the shrine. Chris stood at the lectern, and Godfrey and Rhiannon sat in the seats behind him.
"Welcome to the elimination ceremony!" Chris announced. "In just a few minutes, Hildegard and Virgil will cast their votes to eliminate either Godfrey or Rhiannon! Before that happens, though, I'm going to let both of the Sacrificial Lambs plead their case to those voting. Give one last speech that might change their minds. Godfrey, you can go first."
Godfrey stood up and walked up to the lectern. "Virgil, I trust you one hundred percent. I have ever since we clicked on Kairi Island. Hildegard, I've spoken with you already about why I think you should vote to keep me, but if I may add onto that: Rhiannon has proven her worth in challenges, she has proven her worth strategically, and she has proven that she can get people on her side. I can't imagine she doesn't know what will happen in the event of a tie, so it's very likely she's done whatever she can to save herself, and that could even mean casting you aside. I implore you to consider that."
Godfrey took his seat.
"Well alright. Rhiannon, you're up!" Chris announced.
"Okay, wow, first of all, I really don't appreciate being slandered like that," Rhiannon scoffed as she stood up and stood behind the lectern. "Anyway, I'll keep this brief. Hilde, you know I love you to pieces, and I firmly believe that our friendship will last us outside this game. Virgil, we've spoken. I respect your decision, no matter what it is. Wisdom, there comes a time in this game where you need to think about yourself and what will be the best for you. Thank you."
Rhiannon returned to her seat.
"Well put, both of you," Chris grinned. "That said, it's time to cast your votes! Virgil, please begin."
Virgil made his way to the confessional booth.
After both votes had been cast, Chris returned to the lectern.
"The votes have been cast!" Chris announced. "And...
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"By a unanimous vote, Rhiannon, you have been eliminated!" Chris announced.
Rhiannon's mouth fell open, and she could not stop tears from escaping her eyes.
"Lady Jessica, I..." Hildegard choked.
"You don't get to call me that anymore!" Rhiannon cried. "Not after you just doomed me to being Rhiannon forever!"
Hildegard could not stop herself from crying, either.
"Damn, what just happened?" Virgil asked, pleasantly confused.
"Perhaps the bond between those two was not as tight as they claimed?" Wisdom said only loudly enough for him to hear.
"If you'll all follow me, we can send Rhiannon on her way," Chris prompted.
Confessional:
Hildegard: (Her face is red and tears have stained her face.) 'Twas a... (sniffle) a last-second decision. I was geared up to stand stalwart by mine ally, but... Lady Rhiannon... the more I witnessed, the easier it was to believe that, mayhaps, she might have made a deal to Wisdom to which she'd hold true. 'Tis not as though she's never... (sniffle) betrayed allies before. As she said, there comes a time where thou must consider what is best for thee and thee alone. (She begins to cry again.) Jessica, I'm so sorry...!
Chris led Rhiannon and the final four to the Elevator of Losers.
"Well, if nothing else, at least you're used to getting fucked on camera! Hehaha!" Chris laughed.
Rhiannon looked aghast.
"Yeah, that was over the line," Virgil told Chris.
"Come on, I've been waiting all season to use that one," Chris insisted.
"Fine. I guess I'm just a big fat joke to everyone!" Rhiannon scoffed. "Get the rest of your laughs out now. I'm never contacting any of you ever again."
"Lady Rhiannon..." Hildegard muttered.
"You were a worthy adversary, Cherry Pie," Virgil told her. "Don't think for a second that you weren't a massive threat to win."
"I respect you as a competitor, but things just didn't fall into place for the two of us," Godfrey told her.
"Take care of yourself, won't you?" Wisdom smiled.
Rhiannon looked to the ground, and then to the final four. "Just..." she sighed. "I don't know. I don't have any more to say."
Rhiannon stepped into the Elevator of Losers, which Chris began to lower down by the pulley system.
"With all that said and done, you guys have made the final four!" Chris told the contestants. "Let's go crown a new Big Kahuna, shall we?"
"You made the right move," Godfrey told Hildegard as Virgil and Wisdom followed Chris.
Hildegard did not look Godfrey in the eye and simply hesitated before following Chris herself.
Votes:
Virgil: It sucks being in the minority with nothing you can do about it, but sometimes that's just the game. It's not that I'm averse to the idea of working with you at all, but this late in the game, there's really no good reason to go against the grain. Sorry, but I vote for Rhiannon. Good game.
Hildegard: (She sits there silently for several seconds, looking contemplative.) ...I... ..I vote for... ...Lady... ...Jessica... 'Tis... 'Tis for the best...
The final four met Chris over by three balance beams, each of which had large containers on one side and medium containers on the other.
"Alright contestants, it's time to determine who our next Big Kahuna will be!" Chris announced. "Wisdom, as our outgoing Big Kahuna, you will not be participating in this challenge."
Wisdom nodded.
"Godfrey, Hildegard, and Virgil, your task is this:" Chris began. "As you can see, we have some massive jugs out here."
Virgil snickered.
"One jug, of course, is full of colored water, with the other being empty," Chris continued. "Your job is to use the cup next to your jug of water and fill up the other, smaller jug on the other side of the balance beam. It should probably go without saying, but just in case any of you try being a smart-ass about it, yes, you do have to actually walk across the balance beam. If you fall off, you have to start over from whichever side you started on. The first person to fill their smaller jug up to the line will be our next Big Kahuna!" Chris hesitated. "Any questions?"
"How important does a person have to be before they're considered assassinated instead of murdered?" Wisdom asked.
"More important than you," Chris retorted. "Any challenge-related questions?"
"Why don't you specify 'challenge-related questions' at the start?" Wisdom asked.
"You're not even competing in this one, but you know what, fair enough," Chris sighed. "Let's get this Big Kahuna challenge started!"
Confessional:
Hildegard: I have placed an immense amount of trust in Godfrey. Should things go according to the plan he proposed, it shouldn't matter who wins Big Kahuna, as Wisdom will be leaving either way. Still, 'twould not hurt to ensure mine own safety.
Virgil: (He is eating a bag of gummy cherries.) This one seems kind of tedious, but I like to think I'm relatively patient. This late in the game, you can't afford not to be. Besides, it'd be tight to be in absolute power, even for just a day.
Godfrey: If the last two rounds have proven anything, it's that the only person I can rely on to keep me safe is myself. People can and will turn against their friends and allies to get ahead. Not that I'm entirely innocent either, but if anything, that's even more incentive to win this challenge.
The three competing contestants each stood with one hand holding their cup and the other touching their large jug. Godfrey took the red station, Hildegard took the blue station, and Virgil took the yellow station.
"The challenge begins... now!" Chris called.
Each contestant filled their cup and headed for their balance beam. All three of them were careful not to lose their balance as each of them slowly made their way across the beam.
Virgil was the first to make it across successfully, and he poured the contents of his cup into the medium jug. He returned to his balance beam right as Godfrey made it to his jug. Godfrey made it back to his balance beam right as Hildegard made it to her jug.
"The gaps are forming. Will Virgil maintain his lead? Will Hildegard keep lagging behind?" Chris commentated.
"Methinks otherwise," Hildegard insisted as she removed her helmet and breastplate.
"Hildegard, shedding excess weight!" Chris noted.
"Thou worded that unflatteringly on purpose!" Hildegard accused.
Chris shrugged in faux innocence.
Virgil fell off of his balance beam, forcing him back to the medium jug side to start again. Godfrey successfully made it back to his large jug, while Hildegard took a slight lead over Virgil.
"Virgil has quickly gone from first to last place in this challenge!" Chris called.
Virgil shot Chris an annoyed look before focusing back on crossing the balance beam.
Confessional:
Hildegard: If Godfrey holds true, then I could be guaranteed to make it to the final two. Of course, he may not hold true, so I must be the Big Kahuna! If I am, then he will have no choice but to enact his proposal!
Virgil: Damn, one misstep, and you could drop from first place to last. I'm inclined to pick up the pace so that I can re-take the lead, but if I do, I could just fall off the beam again and fall even further behind. It's a tricky position.
Godfrey: I just need to keep my eye on the ball. Ignore all other distractions, focus entirely on the task at hand. It's how I'm able to get so much programming done, even at lunchtime back at school.
All three contestants had their jugs about half-full. Just as Godfrey was about to cross to the medium jug side, he fell off the balance beam, forcing back to the large jug side to start over. Hildegard successfully crossed the beam, pouring her cup into the medium jug. Virgil did the same shortly afterward.
"It's still anyone's challenge!" Chris commentated. "The Big Kahuna is an especially enviable position tonight. Which one of you three is going to take it?"
"Lady Hildegard shall reign supreme!" Hildegard insisted as she stepped off the large jug side of the balance beam.
"Is that so?" Virgil smirked as he refilled his cup.
Godfrey poured his cup into the large jug and quickly returned to the balance beam.
"HEY SPEARMINT!" Virgil suddenly shouted.
"Ack!" Hildegard jumped. She lost her balance and fell off the beam. "Such a lowly trick!"
"More lowly than voting out your game-long allies?" Virgil questioned.
"Wouldst thou like to join her?!" Hildegard threatened as she got back onto her balance beam.
"You'll have to win Big Kahuna for that to happen, chief," Virgil taunted.
"And do that, I shall!" Hildegard proclaimed.
Confessional:
Wisdom: Whoever wins Big Kahuna will have a lot of power, huh? The outcome of this challenge could dictate how the entire game goes, couldn't it? (She begins thinking to herself.)
All three contestants were very close to filling their medium jugs up to the line.
"It's neck-and-neck-and-neck!" Chris announced. "It all comes down to this!"
Virgil, Godfrey, and Hildegard all emptied their cups into their medium jugs, one after the other. They each returned to their balance beams.
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Virgil's foot slipped off his balance beam about one-third of the way across it, forcing him back to the medium jug side.
"Fuck's sake..." Virgil grumbled.
Godfrey and Hildegard both made it across their balance beam and re-filled their cups. They began their journey back across the balance beam to the medium jug.
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Both contestants made it across, only for Godfrey to maintain his slight lead and fill his medium jug up to the line.
"Chris!" Godfrey called.
Chris looked at Godfrey's jug to confirm that Godfrey had won.
"Congratulations, Godfrey!" Chris announced.
"Yes!" Godfrey cheered.
"You are this round's Big Kahuna!" Chris continued.
"Well done," Hildegard acknowledged.
"That's all I have for everyone tonight," Chris said. "See you guys tomorrow! Unless, I dunno, one of you die in your sleep. Which isn't likely, but I can't rule out the possibility."
"I'll sleep with one eye open," Virgil droned.
Confessional:
Virgil: I should be relieved that my best ally is the one in power instead of one of the other two, but this late in the game, nothing is guaranteed. If he puts up Spearmint, and she saves herself with Divine Intervention, she'd have the sole vote. Tsk. Guess it's time to start schmoozing some more. Eh, tomorrow.
Chris sat in the military helicopter.
"It seems like Godfrey's taken a lot of power, but does being Big Kahuna necessarily mean absolute power?" Chris posed. "Anything can happen in the final four of Total Drama Shuffle Party! Who will make it to the final three, and who will be the next to fall? Find out, next time... on Total! Drama! Sh-Sh-Sh-SHUFFLE PARTY!"
Makani Island:
Godfrey - The Mysterious Roboticist
Hildegard - The Paladin
Rhiannon - The Porn Star
Shadya - The Multi-Talented Braggart
Virgil - The Sweet Tooth
Wisdom - The Question Asker
Eliminated Apoy Island:
Ginger - The Snarky Robot
Nestor - The Total Drama Blogger
Gretchen - The Self-Proclaimed Protagonist
Bunko - The Ditzy Caricaturist
Elmer - The Brainy Boyfriend
Steve Jenkins - The Inflated Ego
Eliminated Kairi Island:
Dean - The Eternal Loser
Roxie - The Edgy Haiku Poet
Jeremy - The Passionate Mountaineer
Liberty - The Sleepyhead
Fred - The Energetic Blind Boy
Kun - The Insecure Leader
Eliminated Whenua Island:
Louise - The Brawny Girlfriend
Hiram - The Timid Mama's Boy
Kirkland - The Cynical Klepto
Rowan - The Lesser Target
Tegan - The Scene Girl
Jim - The Expecting Father
A/N: I didn't want to eliminate Rhiannon directly after she took the big risk by taking out Shadya, because it felt like the too-obvious move to make, but it ended up making the most sense with the way the plot was heading. Rhiannon was always meant to be a big factor in the game, arguably one of the main protagonists of the season, and she was always meant to make it to the final island, but she was never meant to win. Having the hot, seemingly promiscuous girl end up being smart all along isn't necessarily a groundbreaking concept - hell, I've done it before - but I haven't seen an outright porn star included in an RTV fic before, and I thought it would be an interesting take because it's a subject that people don't tend to talk about despite it applying to most people. Besides, having one of the smartest, most strategic contestants in the season be a porn star just sound fun on paper.
Of course, she wasn't just sex and strategy. Her career did have a tangible effect on her and her motivation to win, but she also had a personality that lent itself to a lot of interactions with a lot of the cast. Her interactions with Kirkland, Elmer, Shadya, and, of course, Hildegard were some of my favorites to write in the whole season. But what did you all think about Rhiannon? o: