Ticket here, and get ready for what may be the last chapter of this story!

I'll waste no time, and jump right in!

—

Final Tribal Council: Night 32

The final two, Snake and Peach, enter with their torches lit. They get to their stump and take a seat, with Jeff to their side, and the full jury ahead of them on the bench.

"Welcome to the Final Tribal Council. This is for all the marbles, and will be the most important obstacle you've faced yet. Tonight, you will pitch your game and make your case to the jury." opens Jeff. "In just moments, the two of you will give a speech about your game and time here, and WHY you should win the million." he explains.

He hits Snake first. "Snake, you're up first." After that sentence, Snake is ready to roll.

"This whole time my strategy was to sit back and move in when I needed to. The spying was a part of that, that led me to KNOW when I had to move in and do something. It helped me pre-merge, when I was a shot caller with Price and was in the loop every time. Even in failure, I've come back stronger. Whenever we failed to do a rock draw at final eight, I was in the loop on the Dante move. When it was tied, I made sure we did it at final six instead of getting flipped on. The truth is ever since Dante left I've been on fire. Each and every vote, they went my way, and each and every time, I manipulated the situation into MY favor."

A few jury members look impressed, as Snake goes on. "I caught Wesker red handed. I caught that Dante and the women were the core. Any conspiracy against me was shut down. That's not even the best part, I haven't touched the endgame yet." he points out. "At the final six, there was opposition, and I dismantled that. The five and four rounds, I used the targets people had against them. Getting sent to fire was challenging, but I had to bend the facts. Then we hit three, where I used someone's emotions to take out my biggest threat left." he reveals, and Peach gives him a dirty look.

"When it comes down to it, i outsmarted many of you, and that's why I'm sitting here." he closes, before turning to Peach. "Your turn."

Price snickers on the jury. They turn their heads to Peach in stereo. Jeff follows that as well. "Peach, it's time to make YOUR case to the jury about why you should win the million." she obliged and gets started.

"I came in balancing friendship and the strategy. I've been seen as a damsel in distress, and while it's rubbed me the wrong way my whole life, here I could use it to my advantage. After Ms Pac-Man left, just being nice wasn't going to work, so I decided to play "nice" at first." she starts. "Making people like me and want to keep me around. That alone wasn't going to help, so I decided to show I can play like the rest of you, and got in on the strategy. Anyone I wanted to go? Left." she explains.

"Anyone who went through my bag or blackmailed me, left the game at my hand. That's not all! Even if it was risky, Ripley was likely to beat me in a jury vote, so I voted her out to give myself a better chance." she elaborates. "So to conclude, the people of the jury, I should win the money because I outplayed you, whether it was upfront or not." she closes.

Zelda smiles on the jury, proud of her effort. Jeff looks at both contestants, neither with anything to say in regards to their speeches. So, he gets on with the show. "You may have gotten your speeches out of the way, but that was only the first part. Next, you'll be confronted by the jury. You had no opposition just speaking to them right there, but if you have bad blood, you're about too." Both lean back, looking to handle anything the jury throws at them.

Skarlet steps up first, as her glaring eyes b-line right to Snake!

"Snake, you didn't save me when you had the chance to take out Slade. Why?" she asks. "Slade talked to us more, and I had a better standing with him. You split off and spoke to the women. We were worried about the damage you four could do, and were right since just three did much." he replies in an effort to defend himself.

"Where was this 'manipulation' at the time? If you were so great you could have saved the both of us, but you just let me go home." she hits back. "No need, majority." he says, keeping it short. She still looks judging at the man. "We'll see where that answer gets you…" she says, headed back to the bench before Wade steps up in her place.

"Hi Peach, remember me?" he asks, waving to her. She waves back, and he hits her with a question. "Top ten was nuts, wasn't it? Someone flipped on me of all people when Price was sitting right there. Explain that." he suggests, and she does. "First of all, it was the pecking order you set. We needed T'Challa, and we made him like a scaredy cat." she says, as T'Challa raises a brow. "He wasn't going to vote out Price or Snake, but he and Dante had no problem getting rid of you. That's just how it happened." she admits.

"D mn…" whispers Wade, who quickly spins over to Snake. "Snake, I love you, but I got nothing." he says, before taking a seat and letting the next person go. Price steps up, and as he walks up he has words for Snake. "Get ready for this one." he says. Who his first question was directed to is obvious.

"I called you as a threat since we met. We worked together until the end, but tell me this: What did you do ALONE? No Mara Men, none of us." he asks, looking for something good.

"I stole idols to stop a core four." he hits. "Zelda and Dylan wanted to bring Peach and T'Challa back together, probably to take out the strategists. That wasn't sneaking by me, so I got Ripley and lead the plan to cause a division between them. One strong enough to break that trust forever." he spills, as T'Challa mouths "I knew it" on the jury. "After that, I got the rock draw I wanted. Dylan was sent out, but thanks to my plan, T'Challa had the biggest target left. If he still had his idol at five, I would be sitting with you, but thanks to that idea, I'm here instead."

Price nods, with a smile starting to grow. "You are dirty." Snake doesn't stop there though. "Bathed in it. That's not even what I managed to do. At the final four, Zelda decided Ripley was the backup plan. She didn't like that, so I went to her and she sent me into fire to take out the next "big threat." That gave me credit, but Ripley could claim the move. That wasn't happening. Peach was upset and the burn was fresh. To better myself, I stepped down and made a deal with Peach. Then, Ripley was sent out."

"You clever man."

"Do you see the common theme?"

"What is that?"

"I used their heat against them. You were not needed to have my back."

Price smiles, headed to the bench to make one last comment: "That's interestin'." Clearly having no comments for Peach, Slade steps up instead. "Don't feel neglected." he comments, facing Snake first. "No question for Snake. Big one for Peach." he says, before setting his sights on her.

"What did you even do to get here?"

Peach scoffs at that. "Someone's still bitter." she says, before getting cut off. "Not the question." he hits back, but she is NOT taking that. "I get you look down on me, but you shouldn't since I'm the reason you're gone." Dante and Dylan have a laugh. "Are you just picking a fight? You are the pettiest man I've ever met in my life." she says, cutting deeper.

"I won't be harassed by someone who rode coattails the whole time."

"It's better than blowing yourself up over a power trip!"

"Do you think that did anything?" asks Slade, before he gets a realization. "Oh wait, it sealed your fate." he says, headed back to the bench with no further comment. Peach gives a huge eye roll at the man. With Slade done, Dante rises next, brushing a strand of hair aside.

"We had the world in our hands, and you flipped. I'm not going to whine over it like crybaby over here, but I want the facts. What happened?" he asks. "We now know that T'Challa stole my half of the idol once, but his plan to take you out worked. He used me. I could have said no, but you were also a huge threat, and came out of nowhere in the challenges. If it were the other women, then it wouldn't have happened." she spills.

"Thanks for that." says Dante, who quickly moves on to Snake. "Snake, you are a mystery to me. Not the play but the person. You weren't super outgoing but you STILL got people to do what you wanted. You must have changed it up with Peach because that firemaking duel was NOT expected. Thought you were dead meat." he says. Snake shakes his head to confirm as such, and that's when Dante shifts. "Nice. You know, with how athletic you are I wonder if I could take you in a dance battle."

"…A dance battle?"

"Whenever I have company over, I gotta show 'em how it's done."

A few of the jurors snicker. "I'll show you how to actually do it." shoots Snake, as a few jurors mouths are agape. Dante raises both brows. "Oh you're ready to throw down?" he asks, and Snake confirms as such. "We'll do it after, but I'll keep that in mind." he says, headed to the bench with a smirk. Dylan rises next, and leaves the bench to speak to both castaways.

"Hi, it's me again. I'm sure you're sick of questions, so how about I take control?" he suggests, with no opposition. "Peach, you are the best hair braider on the island, and have been very sweet the whole w—mostly the whole way through." he says, as she responds with a half-smile. "When I was missing my people at home, you helped me feel I was there. Thanks."

"Awww…"

"Now Snake. You are a bad b*tch." he comments, as Dante starts cracking up. "What?" he mutters, as Dylan continues. "When I was stressing, you brought me down to earth with the plan. When the dad of the group left, you took his place. Those spy shacks you showed me, were great to lay in! That's boss stuff right there! You were just a boss, even when you pretty much sent me home." he says, backing up.

"Good luck to both of you, and hopefully the after-party isn't awkward." he closes, headed back to the bench. Peach has a smile on her face, while Snake, as usual, has none. Next up is T'Challa, who makes eye contact with Snake. He rises to his feet, and the first question is once again obvious.

"Are you in the military? The plans, spying, and combat has to be from something." he asks. "We didn't hang from that beam and kick each other because we were built like the average man." he calls back, and Snake prepares to reveal some of his backstory.

"I've had different roles. Mercenary. Soldier. Spy. That's how I've went undetected. My experience isn't what an average person goes through. There's trauma, there's violence, but there's also the skills you pick up. That's how it's been so easy." he reveals. "Called it." says Price, and Snake points the finger. "He knew it from the beginning."

T'Challa smiles, and turns over to Peach. "Speaking of, we should have saw this coming!" he teases. "That guy knew to pit us against eachother. No hard feelings, right?" he asks, and she giggles. "With you, none. A few jurors won't appreciate it though." she comments, as T'Challa nods and takes a seat.

That's when Zelda steps up, piggybacking off of this. "Do you believe your game is villainous?" she asks, giving him a stern look. "It was always gonna be. If a shot at winning makes me a villain, so be it." he answers, looking at her coldly. "Anything else?"

She just swerves over to Peach. "He owned his game, but we connected more. I love that fire in you, and you have my vote." she says, sitting down. The rest of the jury looks towards Snake, who just lightly shrugs back. His thoughts are halted when the last juror Ripley steps up and speaks with him first.

"Snake, can you clear that last vote up for the jury?" she requests, and he obliges. "She was still upset about what you did, so I came up to her and convinced her that taking you out was HER move. Little did she know, it was mine the whole time. I even threw the last challenge to her just to pull it off." he spills.

"You threw it?"

"Needed to impress the jury."

Ripley squints her eyes. "Ok." she mutters, before confronting Peach. "I have to ask you: Do you have any regrets about your time here?" she asks, and the princess has an answer. "If this is about the last—"

"I don't want an apology. It's a game. I just need an answer."

Peach inhales a piece of that oxygen. "If we are discussing regrets, I have little to call back to. The way I played got me here, and that means I did what was necessary." she answers, and Ripley puts her hands behind her back. "Thanks for your answers, good luck." she closes, sitting down. Jeff looks around at the jury members, all seemingly having their votes set in stone. Only some.

"Let's hope your case was strong enough, because it is time to vote. Skarlet, you're up first."

The first of nine jury members gets off the bench and enters the booth.

—

Skarlet: You didn't vote for me. We have no quarrel. (Peach)

Price: You killed it out here. Bravo. (Snake)

Zelda: I can't say I respect his move with your idols. There is a level of dirtiness I can tolerate. (Peach)

Wade: She's just too nice, you know? (Snake)

—

After the voting finishes, all nine jury members sit on the bench. Snake and Peach sit, the suspense killing them. The host returns with the voting urn, and sets a hand on the the lid. "Alright. Thanks for giving your time to the show, and I'll see you at the reveal…" he states, before taking the urn and leaving.

Peach's jaw drops, as she is filled with excitement. "A cliffhanger?! Oh my gosh!" she exclaims, shaking Snake's shoulder. "Hmph." Is all he can get out. The jury looks on, their votes known to themselves, but not yet to the finalists…

—

TIMESKIP: 2 MONTHS LATER

—

CBS Los Angeles Studio

The crowd erupts as we see ALL eighteen castaways seated. Two seats are held by Snake and Peach, a silver bench holds the nine jurors, and a wooden bench holds the seven pre-jurors. Jeff has the voting urn on a podium, as we get a close up of that.

In the front row of the audience, we see Mario, Luigi, Daisy, and Toasdworth in the audience, rooting Peach on! Behind them, there are girls who have tiaras, dresses, and more on!

"You go girl!"

"Rep-a-resent!"

They are labeled "Peach's family and friends." The camera pans to see a few sharply dressed agents with no name. Behind them are Snake cosplayers, with eye patches, cigarettes, and long hair.

"SNAAAKE!"

"GET THE BAG!"

They are labeled "Snake's colleagues and fans."

We then cut to Jeff, facing the camera, breaking down what's next. "We've had fights, blindsides, and betrayals, but despite all of that this is what matters. It all comes down to this. Who's going to come out on top? We are about to find out RIGHT NOW…" he says, removing the lid. The audience sits in anticipation, awaiting to see which one takes it all home.

"First vote…"

"Snake."

"Peach."

"Snake."

"Peach."

He flips over the fifth piece of parchment.

"Snake. Thats 3 votes Snake, 2 votes Peach, four votes left…"

Snake leans forward after that.

"Snake. Four votes Snake, 2 votes Peach, three votes left."

Peach clasps her hands together, looking for a miracle. Jeff looks at the parchment, and reveals it..

"The winner of Survivor: Maldives Madness, Snake!"

Snake stands up, and raises a fist, as the Mara Men on the jury head straight for him. Price and T'Challa LIFT Snake on their shoulders, parading around the stage as Snake looks dead at the camera! Peach applauds as well, as Zelda rushes up to her. The whole cast is onstage, and we finally found a winner.

To close it all off, we hear from Jeff. "Snake won a million bucks after clawing his way to the end! We'll hear from him later, but that's not all! We've had our rivalries too, as we'll hear from Wade and Slade about their time together on the island! Plus, Peach and T'Challa will speak on their feud with the half idol! That's not all, as the pre-jurors will get to speak about how they saw the rest of this game! Maybe old feuds will reignite, maybe people can make up, but who knows?" he questions, with a shrug.

"Regardless, we finally got our winner! Thank you for watching Survivor: Maldives Madness, I'm Jeff Probst, and I'll see you again soon!" he exclaims, as the camera zooms out and we see the full scene onstage.

Then the camera slowly fades to black, officially ending the season.

—

VOTES:

Snake— Ripley, Price, T'Challa, Dylan, Slade, Wade, and Dante

Peach— Zelda and Skarlet

—

Congratulations to the Snake fans! He beat Peach in a 7-2 vote, ending this season of Survivor!

I have a few questions as well for those who have reached the end:

1. Do you want a Reunion show?

2. How do we feel about another season? I'm likely to write another one anyways.

With that being said, for now, this is the END of Maldives Madness! Thank you to everyone who stuck with me through the ups and downs of this series! I'm Ticket, signing off.

Have a good one, and hopefully I can see you again soon!