Survivor - Emperors vs Knights
Chapter 46 - Day 38
(Sorry for being late again. Honestly, this chapter was supposed to be posted a few hours ago, but I was at a restaurant for a while with family. Though fortunately, this chapter was actually a bit easier to make, now that we only have four players left, so here it is! Next chapter should be even easier!)
Alright, everybody. I'm back. Time to get to the final immunity challenge for this season. Afterwards, the final boot is going to occur, and we will officially have our final three. Following Shovel Knight's elimination, we have four castaways remaining: Marth, Sheik, Zelda, and Luigi. After four knights went home all in a row, we are now down to two emperors and two knights (kinda funny after most of the emperors were at the bottom at merge lol).
Historyfan15: Yep. Because Marth would have easily went against the more strategic player, so Sheik did in fact get luck in a way. Hmm... A Zelda, Marth, Luigi final three? That's certainly not impossible. Ooh, you apparently have a Fanfiction account now due to me getting notifications of you favoriting and following this story! I guess I can reply to your reviews via PM now.
(As for everyone else that reviewed the latest chapter, I haven't forgotten about you. I'm making a note to get to you shortly.)
Let's get to it!
~KF
FINALE - PART II
Master Hand was seen back in the arena talking to the audience once again.
"Hello, Survivor fans! Welcome back to the season finale of Survivor - Emperors vs Knights where Shovel Knight just got eliminated after Marth had to choose between himself and Sheik. Now, there are only four people left in the game: Luigi, Sheik, Marth, and Zelda."
"Nonetheless, the finale is only just beginning. We still have one more immunity challenge to get to. Then, we'll have our Final Tribal Council where they where the winner will be decided for the season, and there's still the live reunion show we need to get to, as well as discussing about our next season. Who, will, win, this, game? It is the season finale of Survivor - Emperors vs Knights!"
Bikutā
Night 37
Luigi, Zelda, Sheik, Marth
-/-
Sixteen boots down, only one more boot to go, whether every single Survivor contestant of the season was a part of every single vote off or not. Just one more vote one of these people had to survive, and then they were set to be in the final three to win it all. The question was simple: not counting the winner, which of the other three people had to leave to enjoy all the food at Ponderosa?
Definitely not Shovel Knight since he already had the experience of being voted off.
The waves sounded from the beach as Zelda, Sheik, Marth, and Luigi all placed their torches against the same tree as usual. Yet when Luigi placed down his, he was too upset at Shovel Knight's departure to pay attention to how he placed it. Consequently, all four torches came crashing down on the ground, Sheik's torch actually hitting an unsuspecting Marth in the head.
"Ow! What the-..."
"Ah! Oops!" Luigi placed both of his hands on his face in panic. "Sorry! I-I'll get it! It won't happen again!"
"No, no, calm down, Luigi..." Marth rubbed his head nimbly getting over it, even going as far as picking up Luigi's torch himself, as well as the one that attacked him from behind. "It was an accident. Keeping the torches by the tree is Survivor tradition. They are bound to collapse once in a while."
Though Luigi knew that Marth was never really annoyed at him about it, he still sighed and took his time walking away from the rest of the characters and headed straight for the shelter.
"Alright, then. ...I'll... L-Let me get the first started... Thirty-eight days, I know how to do it by heart now..."
...
Literally all three of his competitors exchanged eye contact, Marth appearing guilty to the women.
Sheik waved it off. "He'll be fine. Judging by the events of this game, I'm pretty sure we all know how it feels to lose a close ally. Let him take his time. If he doesn't respond much, then I suggest not bothering him. It typically means that he doesn't wanna talk..."
"I feel like a big part of this game for a lot of these people including myself have gotten quite used to losing our close relationships." Zelda thought out loud. "Marth lost Roy, Foxy lost Bonnie (as well as his entire alliance), and I lost... I might as well count on my fingers... Peach, Pac-Man, Roy as well,... alright. Only three. I was going to count Ghirahim, but he clearly didn't care for me, and I... hate to sound arrogant, but I sort of never cared for him. But anyway, I suppose it's Luigi's turn. ...How saddening, though. Who would want something bad to happen to Luigi? He's down to earth, he's open enough to share his flaws with the rest of us, and he's not afraid to try new things to try and make a name for himself... Going against Shovel Knight means that we've gone against Luigi... If that is enough to make his followers pave the rest of us as villains,... I actually would not blame them. Luigi is such a kind soul..."
Upon getting the fire ready for the night, with the plumber having quite a bit of trust to everyone else to tend to the fire, he headed right off to bed.
"Of course I am sad that Shovel Knight is gone. I was the only one left out of the vote, and now he is not here anymore. Like I said before, at times he did very well remind me of Mario. Those two are very alike in their personalities, so I did see him in that light. And now that he has been eliminated, it's like if both me and my brother were on the same season and he was just voted out... Or even worse..."
Not only was he completely facing away from anyone (though with no intended disrespect), he even had his cap over his eyes. He really wished to fall asleep as soon as possible and move on. One more challenge to get to and it will be done and over with, until he had to go to the next Tribal Council.
"What I mean by my worse case scenario is..." He sighed and hung his head down for a bit. "Give me a minute... Okay... I'm scared of losing my brother... Alright? ...That reward challenge which was the family visit really meant a lot to me, and I know it meant a lot to him too. We always have times like that, you know? ...But naturally since I'm younger than he is, I know most likely he is going to... pass away first. And I'm not gonna lie: I am completely terrified at that. Yes, I know we are all going to pass away someday, but after all that Mario has done for me, since he also heads on a few adventures alone, not only I am petrified that something might happen and I might not be there, but it is the thought of losing him in general... I can't even begin to imagine what I would do without him. Yet at the same time, I kind of have to... I am probably going a little be too dark about this, but it's my truth... Mario gone would completely destroy me... Alright, I have to go... before I get too emotional out here again..."
While he was getting ready to fall asleep, with Marth staring at the fire alone, that left Zelda and Sheik alone for at least a few minutes.
"Well..." Zelda smiled.
"We did it!" Sheik grinned back with arms out, quickly embracing Zelda. "Well... Marth did it, actually. I'm still here and you're still here. Just one more challenge and one more Tribal Council to go to... If I actually get there."
"Understandable." Zelda nodded. "You're still being seen as a threat. ...In honestly, if Marth doesn't target you at this point, I'd be quite surprised."
"I agree." She bobbed up and down as well. "I absolutely agree..."
"The good news is that Shovel Knight is no longer here on the island." Sheik stated. "However, the bad news is that it doesn't really change anything for me because I am still a target anyway. And now, I am actually a bit target now, more than ever. They probably do think I have a legitimate shot at the title of Sole Survivor. Maybe even Zelda... Or maybe not... I don't know about her at the moment. She's acting like she is still with me (which I do appreciate her loyalty by the way), but... before I came into Zelda's life in the game, even before the swap, she had Marth... It's like she has to choose on who she thinks should be her best friend because to some people, you can't have two best friends. Luigi, I'm not even so sure about either. Even though he clearly is gonna get more motivated to help vote me out, he knows that me and Shovel Knight helped each other, as well as the three of us plus Greninja starting on the same tribe. Thus, if me and him are planning on taking each other to the end, and if Zelda somehow chooses to stay with me, we have no reason to keep Marth anymore... So clearly it's gonna be between me and him. Looks like I have to fight again..."
Day 38
Final immunity challenge time.
For the final challenge of Survivor - Emperors vs Knights, there was nothing but a giant maze that faced the remaining contestants. Yet it was simply all that was needed for a final immunity challenge.
"...Okay, we're gonna be blindfold are we?" Sheik guessed.
"You're right." Master Hand suddenly commented before he even actually greeted the players.
The other three survivors laughed.
"...Oh, okay then!" Sheik grinned. "Thanks for letting me know."
"So... You guys ready for it? This is your final immunity challenge. Zelda, let's get this out of the way. I'll take back the necklace once again."
The Hyrulian complied with a nod and calmly made her way over, even going as far as unhooking the necklace herself and giving it to the master.
"Thank you..." Back on the post it went. "For the final time this season, immunity is back up for grabs. For today's challenge, as Sheik guessed, all of you are gonna be blindfolded. You are gonna be blindfolded as you will go through a large maze. There will be posts scattered around that can be used to guide throughout as you all will head to four stations grabbing one medallion each. First person that reaches the finish and actually grabs the individual immunity necklace wins immunity, guaranteed a spot at the Final Tribal Council where you will get a chance to plead your case to the jury on why you are worthy of winning the title of Sole Survivor and the million dollar check that goes along with it. ...Shall we get to it?"
"I am."
"I'm ready."
"Let us begin."
"Let's-a go..."
-/-
"Alright, this is it!" Master Hand raised a finger in the air, even floating above the center of the maze. "Here we go! For immunity, and a guaranteed spot at the Final Tribal Council. Survivors ready?"
They all each had one hand holding onto a piece of rope at the start of the maze, the four of them being blindfolded by their own black buffs.
"...GO!"
Even though when it came to giving them the okay to start with the shouting of his voice, for obvious reasons, no one chose to run. Every last one of them had their arms extended while either wandering all over, or walking in a straight line, only to bump into something within seconds.
Unfortunately, Luigi happened to be the first victim of the latter.
"Ow! Hey!"
"Use the rope to guide you along until you get to your first post." Master Hand suggested.
He still never knew exactly what he meant at the time until he actually felt a post himself.
"Uh..."
Feeling around, he eventually came to a point where he fingers fumbled on what he assumed was some sort of arrow.
"Hmm..."
Finally getting the picture, he wandered straight ahead, Marth and Sheik doing the same. Zelda on the other hand used the same strategy, though she ended up in a different direction somehow.
"...I... think this is it..."
The final male of the original Knights tribe was the first to feel out a box-like station. With arms still extended, he touched nothing but air until he found his hands on a red medallion.
"Luigi has his first medallion! ...Sheik has her first medallion! Marth has his!"
The only one that had yet to score any points at the time giggled to herself. "What about Zelda?"
"For the most part we're off to a good start so far!"
Luigi, Sheik, and Marth slowly began to separate upon reaching their second post. Sheik took off in one direction, while the other two headed off in another.
"Zelda has her first medallion!"
Upon retrieving hers, the brunette actually began to wander toward the station her competitors were.
Wanting to get to his second station as soon as possible, Marth chose to use the rope as his strategy, speeding ahead of Luigi by just a little bit. However, he accidentally made a wrong turn, even actually making his way over to another post.
"...Huh?" He felt around. "This one is different... Ugh... I'll get back to the other one later..."
"Luigi seems to be at his second station. After thirty-eight days, it is Luigi that is leading a challenge. Would he actually win his first immunity this season?"
The answer had to be put on hold not just for obvious reasons, but because of the fact that Marth also approached a second station, whether it was the one he intended to visit or not. And at that point, all four players were at four different stations. That being said, there was quite some time backtracking that needed to be done.
"Sheik at her second station! Zelda still looking for her second station! Both Luigi and Marth have their second medallions, now! Zelda and Sheik trying to stay in it!"
"Aw, come on, Sheik..." She honestly was a bit disappointed in herself. "You're a ninja... You know better than this..."
The plumber was now at the same post as Marth was before as Zelda finally approached her second station, the one that was abandoned by everyone else upon their time of arrival, putting everyone tied in first, yet not quite based on the fact that there were people that grabbed their second medallion some time before.
"Luigi and Marth are both on their way to their third station! Sheik and Zelda on their way to her next post!"
From that point on, the remaining survivors got the hang of how the challenge worked: walk around aimlessly, find a guide post, walk in a straight line (even using the rope as guidance), find a station, touch around, grab a medallion, rise and repeat three more times, and poof. Immunity!
...Then again, if it was not a race, and if there were not one, not two, not three, but four immunity necklaces, then no one would have to be voted off. Regardless, there would have been no point of the game in general if everyone always had immunity. Things just had to go the hard way for the players.
"Come on... Come on... Ooh, here it is..." Marth immediately grabbed the medallion as soon as he felt a string, hanging the orange medallion around his neck as he speed-walked out of his third station, Luigi at another end of a challenge grabbing his own black one.
"Luigi and Marth are on their way to their final station..."
"Okay, it is this way..." Zelda said with a sigh. "I should just follow the rope at this point..."
Grabbing the orange necklace, Luigi was on his way out of the final station, Marth picking up his black medallion just a few seconds later.
"Luigi and Marth have all four medallions! They're getting ready to go to their final post and retrieve the immunity necklace!"
"Crap..." Sheik mumbled. Though at that time, she was on her way to her own final station. She only needed the color yellow. The four medallions did in fact represented all four tribes through the season, including the color of the post-merge tribe and the Motobu buff.
Now the emperor and the knight that were leading everyone else approached a more narrow section of the challenge after feeling out their last guide post, realizing that they were both near each other. Thus, they both began to use the rope on opposite sides to guide them along as they picked up some speed.
"It is gonna be close..."
Eventually, Marth's hands ended up on the post first. Thinking quickly, he almost instantly extended his arms, both actually reaching through the immunity necklace.
Nevertheless, it still counted.
"MARTH WINS FINAL IMMUNITY! GUARANTEED SPOT AT THE FINAL TRIBAL COUNCIL!"
Sighing with great annoyance, Sheik immediately removed her buff from her eyes and shook her head greatly with disappointment. Not at Marth personally, though more at herself.
Zelda calmly took off her blindfold as well to see Marth actually hooking the immunity necklace on.
Lowell himself could not have been more elated, even shedding a few tears of joy in celebration. "That was for Altea. All of it... Oh..."
It just occurred to him that he barely beat Luigi at the necklace. "Good job, Marth. You deserve it."
He grinned back. "Thank you, Luigi. It seems that we were both leading the challenge the whole time. ...How far were you from me?"
"...Inches?"
"Darn..." He turned his head away for a bit. "...That makes me feel guilty... You have never won immunity out here, or even any challenge in particular..."
"Psh…" The green-capped Mario brother waved it off. "Don't worry about it. Immunity is nice to have, and I'd like to have it just as much as the next person, but whoever won the necklace deserves to win the necklace."
"Thank you."
"Alright, Marth." Master Hand floated towards him. "I don't even need to put the necklace on you since you've already done so yourself. No matter who hangs it around you at the challenge though, you know you've won and earned that immunity. You are not only safe tonight at Tribal Council, you have officially taken up one of the spots in the final three. ...And now you're crying a little..."
"I'm sorry..." He talked, nimbly wiping those tears away forcing himself to cry no more. "I am alright... It is just... It is just that my game has been a wild ride for a while, now. Due to me eliminating Shovel Knight at the previous Tribal Council, I do not know if I'm even needed any more when it comes to the tribe, so I really was not aware if they still desired to keep me here or not. ...Yet all thanks to this necklace right here, now I am relieved."
In spite of unintentionally putting the rest of the players on the spot, they all still congratulated him on his win.
"Marth, you are not going anywhere. And I know that you know that. As for everyone else, even though you have made it thirty-eight days into this game, you still know what's to come next. For one of the three of you: Zelda, Luigi, Sheik, somebody's Survivor adventure will be cut short by just one day. I'll give you guys the afternoon to think about who the final boot of the season is gonna be, and I will see you all tonight at Tribal Council."
"My chances of being eliminated tonight were already high enough. But now, guess what happens: Marth wins immunity. The one person that had the biggest chance of leaving tonight beside me is not safe. So now I have to work even harder to stay alive. No one wants to be eliminated on the second to last day on Survivor..." Sheik sighed out of being overwhelmed by the situation. "I can't believe I have to target either Luigi or Zelda now..."
Bikutā
Day 38
"Nicely done, Marth."
"I thank you."
"Even though I didn't win, that maze challenge was a little fun."
"I am very thankful that I've won the challenge today." Marth leaned back against a rock ignoring the waves. "Not something I expected, but I did indeed hope that I would win today. Being in the final three of the game against all odds, even the fact that I have outlasted sixteen, soon to be seventeen people in a game like this is overwhelming to say the least."
Instead of separating into different directions, for the first half hour, the group of four simply sat around the fire. Though silent at first, it eventually evolved into casual conversation.
"I can't believe of how many bugs that are here..." Luigi commented. "How many of them have you guys seen today? I feel like every time I turn around, there is a bug right near me that I know I don't like."
"Well, I know arachnophobia is quite common among everyone. But for me personally, I've gotten use to it at this point." Sheik admitted. "Sometimes though, when I spot one, I feel like sometimes the moment I stare at them, they freeze in place not knowing what to do."
"Though the number one reason why I feel like I desperately needed it for tonight is that I feel that if I did not win, there was a chance that today would have been my very last day on Kodai Island. Since both Foxy and Shovel Knight are gone, it is now me, Luigi, Sheik, and Zelda. Of course Luigi and Sheik to this day have been close allies. Zelda and Sheik have been in the same alliance for a while now, and then there's me... I strongly believed that those three felt that I was not needed any longer, and Sheik probably would have convinced Zelda to turn and flip on me. So now that I have won immunity, the biggest threat remaining probably for all three of us is Sheik. She even knows that if she gets to the end, there is a high possibility of her winning this game."
Almost a minute after he finished that confessional, Zelda came by to check on him.
"Hello..."
"Hello, Marth..." She greeted him back and sat next to him in the sand. "...Well, this is it, isn't it? You're in the final three."
"I suppose I am." He replied. "...Though, since I've won the necklace and I am already guaranteed a spot, I think it is in my best interest that you have a spot as well. I see no reason to vote for you."
She smiled at that. "Thank you, Marth. I... want to believe you. I really do."
"I do not blame you."
"If this was outside of Survivor, I would most likely believed you. But since this is Survivor, it is not as if everyone's word is their truth. However, if I am not the one being voted out of the game after all after the master reads the votes, I shall thank you again."
"Well,... to be honest, Zelda, I would feel rather... happy inside if you are there with me in the final three." He smiled warmly. "I mean... On both of our ends,... we have been through a lot together. Wouldn't you say? Since there are not one, but three spots at the end, what is the point of just myself being in the final three if there is no one to share it with?"
"Yes. That I can agree on."
"...However," Marth just had to come out of nowhere and bring Zelda news that she not only might be already aware of, but also something that she might not have wanted to hear. However, perhaps it was something that she had to be reminded of. "I am going to warn you about this..."
"...I'm listening..." She immediately began to frown looking away.
"...You know I'm writing Sheik... right?"
The brunette sighed. "Yes... I've already thought about this before we even came back from Tribal Council last night..."
"Oh, alright... I mean, I would say that the vote is going to be between me and her,... but I am afraid that since I have the necklace for the night, and you might be a threat that others would have to eliminate,... you might need to write down Sheik..."
"..." Zelda simply exhaled once again. "If... If I have to, than I will not my emotions get the best of me..."
"It is an absolute pain that I most likely have to vote Sheik out, even though she helped me all this time... But Marth is right. Not only Sheik is a threat to win, but now, Marth won immunity. Luigi actually being eliminated from the game... could somehow be possible, though highly unlikely. Me on the other hand, I am pretty sure I am being labeled as an underdog by the jury at this moment, which is not that surprising, considering the events of my game. Though if I'm the threat that Sheik needs to get rid of just so she can sit herself next to Marth and Luigi at the final three, than of course my only option is to do the same... And she knows it."
Speaking of the ninja, she of course had a million thoughts flowing through her mind as she stayed with Luigi at the shelter.
"It honestly breaks my heart that my option is to vote Zelda out." She stated. "On paper it sounds like there was no point of protecting her in the first place if I'm just gonna vote her out right before day thirty-nine. Though, my worst case scenario occurred: Marth won the challenge. If I have any shot at making to the end even with these circumstances, voting out Zelda is pretty much my only choice... And she knows it."
And so, since Luigi was already at the shelter, Sheik took the perfect opportunity to strategize with him.
"...What are your thoughts if Marth was actually on the jury?" She asked him.
"Well,... I guess even thought it would have been a bummer since I did grow to like him, it would have not been a bad move." He opinionated. "Since this is the last boot off of the season, we kinda didn't need him anymore... But he went from that to being the only person that is guaranteed a spot at the Final Tribal Council..."
"I know." She nodded in reply. "I wash honestly expecting somewhat of a different answer, but that's true also."
Luigi looked up. "What do you mean?"
"Well, we can't vote out Marth because he has immunity, even though it is not necessary to keep him with us at this point since there are going to be no vote offs after this. However, what do Marth and Zelda have in common? What's the first thing that pops into your head?"
"...They're both emperors?"
"Exactly." That was the response she hoped to hear. "The emperors were almost nothing at merge, and look at them now? Four knights have been sent home one by one. If another knight goes home, there would be more emperors than knights on the jury. But in order to prevent that,... what is our only option?"
"...Vote out Zelda?"
"Right again."
"Sheik's saying that I should help vote out Zelda so that there would be more knights at the end of the game, since an emperor hasn't left the game since the Freddy vote, and now is our final opportunity to send one more emperor home because Marth won immunity." Luigi relayed to the audience. "...Now, that does sound good on paper, but when you look at it, it's almost certain that Sheik is only saying this so that she stays. ...And I'll be honest. It does feel weird to target your own allies, but then again, Sheik went after Shovel Knight last Tribal Council. So at this stage in the game, I think that I'm less hesitant to help vote her out, just because of me personally thinking that she is the biggest threat to win."
Now she is in talks with Zelda herself.
"...So now what do we do?"
"...Well,..." She sighed. "I guess literally our only option is to vote for Luigi, just so that the two of us can be in the final three together with Marth, even though Luigi doesn't appear to be as much of a threat."
"Good point..." Her new friend placed a finger beneath her chin, before suddenly snapping her fingers. "But you know what, remember Knuckles? On how he was never a threat to actually win, but more of a threat to get to the end due to challenge strength?"
"That's pretty much why we voted him out." Zelda remembered. "Yes."
"Well, to be honest, I really have no idea how much of a shot Luigi has when it comes to winning Survivor... no idea at all." Sheik had to admit. "There might be all types of jurors here. I doubt they would be bitter,... but say if they are? And besides, out of all of us, Luigi has the highest chances of getting to the end anyway. He probably didn't even need to win the immunity. He could have even sat out the final immunity challenge and it wouldn't even matter."
"Luigi... I really don't know how the jury is going to react to him at all..." She facepalmed herself. "It bothers me enough that I might have to vote for him of all people. When Marth won today, I was already preparing myself to vote for Zelda the moment we all walked out of that challenge. But lately, I'm feeling like that I might have to vote for Luigi if Luigi is not buying what I'm saying about Zelda. I mean, he's not stupid. He probably sees right through my plan. So if Plan A doesn't work, Plan B would be to actually vote him out. Not only that he's the biggest threat to get to the end, he is probably... somehow a threat in general. Think about it. How would the jury react? Now, we all really got to know each other a lot out here, so I kind of already have a hint of how they are going to react to my game if I get to the end. But, Luigi? Out of everyone here, he's the most unpredictable. No offense to Luigi, but I really don't know what was his overall plan or strategy out here. Like Shovel Knight, he's not really that much of a strategic player. Yet also like Shovel Knight, he's the only one that has not made anyone mad on the jury. It wouldn't be surprising if Shadow and Knuckles were and still are mad at Zelda and possibly Marth. Knuckles still might have a couple bitter feelings towards me. But Luigi? ...What does anyone have against him of all people?"
For the second to last time, the group of players all picked up their torches and began to make their way to tribal.
"Not saying that the jury for this season is going to be a bitter jury, especially given the fact that it's been so many seasons of the show, people are starting to think it would be foolish if someone is bitter for no reason. However, you have to plan ahead every five seconds when it comes to the game, which includes always expecting the unexpected. Therefore, if it is somehow going to be a bitter jury, then Luigi would be the most likely person to receive jury votes. He already has his story revolving around him being an underdog in life compared to his brother. But the bottom line is that,... if anyone leaves tribal besides me, then that's it. One of my worst fears when it comes to this game is to go all the way out here the whole way, only to be voted out one day before Tribal Council. So here goes nothing..."
Tribal Council
Night 38
Sixteen boots, one more boot left to go. Though last, it was certainly not least in any way, shape, or form.
Zelda, Sheik, Marth, and Luigi all entered the Tribal Council area, setting their torches down before sitting down in the four seats, the men sitting the back while the women took the front two seats.
"We'll now bring in the members of our jury..." Master Hand stared to his left. "...Shulk, Roy, Shadow, Greninja, Freddy, Bonnie, Knuckles, Foxy,... and Shovel Knight voted out at the last Tribal Council."
Still happy as ever, the shovel wielder eyed the remaining players one by one, everyone smiling at him in exchange.
"...So..." The hand was ready to begin. "First things first, before we really start to discuss about who's going to be final member of our jury for Survivor - Emperors vs Knghts, what I would like to say is that we have quite an interesting situation here. When we started this game back on day one, we had ten emperors, ten knights. And now, here on day thirty-eight, the numbers somehow managed to be even as we speak: two emperors, two knights. Just something that I'd like to point out."
Sheik smirked. "Interesting. Isn't it?"
"Yes." The hand laughed. "I'm not entirely sure if this was the overall plan for some of you guys, but nonetheless, you guys lost two immunity challenges each pre-swap, causing the numbers to be even prior to it, which doesn't exactly happen on every season of Survivor of course. Then when we all merged, we had seven knights against six emperors, putting the emperors at a disadvantage right out of the gate."
Marth nodded remembered that situation all too well. Being on the bottom was typically not entertaining, especially given the fact that it was never asked for by any of the contestants that were in Marth and Zelda's shoes.
"Three emperors in a row were eliminated one by one even though it appeared to be that they were in different alliances."
Shadow blinked and Freddy simply sat still.
"However, one tribal after another, people from the original Chatan tribe began to get their torches snuffed one after the other, and here we are now. Kind of a neat highlight to this season."
"I agree." Marth understood where he was coming from. "It was definitely something, especially how things turned out to be post-merge. The knights were the ones controlling the emperors."
"Zelda, you agree with that?"
"I do. I really do." She nodded. "Whether you are an emperor or a knight, there are some of us who lived up to our names quite well. ...Me in particular though, I feel as if I am one of those people this season that got to experience on what it is like on the other side. For example: I was labeled to be an emperor at the start of the season. And yet, I feel that I got to experience what it is like being a knight, or an underdog even. I feel that I have been for a few Tribal Councils. But,... shockingly, I've made it this far to day thirty-eight."
"Welcome to the underdog club." Luigi commented with a smirk, placing a hand on the Hyrulian's shoulder. "Don't worry. I know what it's like."
"Sheik, on the other hand, based on what has happened on this season, do you consider yourself to be an emperor in some way?" Master Hand questioned out of curiosity.
"Hmm. Good question, master." She said. "...But I feel like I was a little bit of both: an emperor and a knight. Sure, I was clearly a knight back at the final ten where I was on the bottom before I came back in the majority. But ever since then, me and my alliance made sure that we stayed in the majority. So... kind of a topdog as well. ...Shovel Knight over there got to experience, and Luigi got to experience it as well."
"Well,... you're probably right about that." He chuckled a little bit, Shovel Knight shaking his head with a big grin wanting to do the same. "It was definitely something that I was not used to. That's Mario's job. However, if I think if I was ever going to get an opportunity to be Mario for a day, then if it is like this, now I'm starting to have some kind of feel of what he goes through... So... I guess I can thank you master for that."
He laughed. "No problem, Luigi. So anyway, now let's get onto it. Day thirty-eight, four of you left, Marth barely manages to beat Luigi at immunity,-"
Shovel Knight widened his eyes in shock.
"Marth, how does it feel? You are literally on your way to day thirty-nine." And he was not at all exaggerating. "I would even tell you that you could just leave the Tribal Council area right now and head back to camp for a good night's sleep so you can starting working on your Final Tribal Council speech, but then again, you are set to vote tonight."
He chuckled in response. "That's one way to look at it, master."
"And there have been multiple ways of how people usually vote for the final members of the jury. What would you base your vote on?"
"Well, for me personally, I think it is within my best interest to simply help eliminate the biggest threat remaining in this game."
"Me."
"...You, Sheik?"
"Well," She heaved a heavy sigh. "I think voting for Shovel Knight last tribal was the final nail in my coffin. I've won a couple challenges, I've made a couple strategic moves here and there, and now I'm being perceived as the biggest threat when it comes to the other players. It is honestly fine if people think that way, since that's how this game is supposed to be played, but... quite a big 'uh-oh' for me."
"And what would base your vote on, since you are apparently considered to be a big threat to win?"
"I guess to answer that, I could basically say the same thing Marth is saying: by getting rid of who's the most threatening." She explained. "However, sometimes it is not that black and white. A threat can literally mean anybody or anything, depending on certain aspects of how one plays the game. Some people rely on their social skills to make it through, some play this game more aggressively and strategically, and some fly under the radar to avoid being targeted. All types of threats out there, you know? Long story short though, I guess anybody's vote can very much be for anybody. We're pretty much all threats."
"...Was there at least any talk of a fire making challenge?"
"...Actually,..." She even took the time to think about it. "no... I mean, if I don't get my way tonight, I'm either sitting next to Shovel on the jury, or I'm making a fire tonight. I don't remember being told by anyone that there was a possibility that I could be making a fire, but if it's what I need to do to save my live, I'm willing to do whatever it takes. I've been a knight before, so I can be a knight again."
"Luigi, have you been told that you could be making a fire tonight?"
"Not that I know of..." He placed a thumb beneath his chin. "All I've been told is that who could I vote for tonight just to make sure that I'm here tomorrow night. It would be a dream come true of course, but fire? ...If my name comes up twice and it is a tie against somebody else, then I would say I would be completely caught off guard."
"You're saying that you'd be quite surprised if your name comes up tonight?"
"Absolutely, master, because it would be something that I never would have expected. That's why even though this is the final four, final elimination Tribal Councils could sometimes be the scariest."
"Let me ask Zelda, now." He faced the brunette. "Zelda, since you are the only other person vulnerable for the votes, have you caught word by anyone that you could be making a fire."
"I don't remember catching word of it all." She shook her head with honesty. "Like Luigi, I would be surprised as well if I had to make a fire in order to survive until the very last day of this adventure. I don't even know how it would work out for me. I've made fire before a couple times at the camp, yet I doubt I am the most talented when it comes to it. I think pretty much any of these people could beat me in a fire challenge. Nonetheless though, if it's the one thing that I need to do so I can reach the end of the game, then I will give the fire making challenge a hundred and ten percent."
"Alright, then. Now Marth," The host of Survivor finally got to the blue-haired man. "even though you won your second necklace today, there is still a possibility that the vote could not go your way. It could be a unanimous vote for example if that's what you are planning on tonight, though it could be a 2-2 vote, and now somebody has to make fire, which as a result, can go against your plan."
"That is true, master. Just because it is the final four does not always mean that things are completely easier. It is still possible to get blindsided this late in the game, and you already told us that we are... quite talented at does." He had never forgotten about that. "So if a plan goes through and I am not on the loop on that, it could mean trouble for my game. Since the person that I intend on voting for could be very well sitting at the final three, with the person I wanted to stay being out and going to the jury... So it is quite a scary situation."
...
"Well, no matter how the vote turns out for anybody tonight, I know that one of you will be the final member of the jury, and the other three of you will never have to worry about being eliminated in this season again. Let's this show on the road." He concluded the Tribal Council discussion. "It is time to vote. Luigi, you're up."
With a big sigh, the plumber got up from his spot and calmly made his way over to the urn.
Following the knight, was the emperor, Marth Lowell, taking his time in heading to the voting booth for his vote to be cast.
"This is the plan that I personally believe will go through... And if things somehow doesn't, then... Well, this wouldn't be the first time I've been told one thing with something else occurring last minute..."
Sheik was the next up.
"Anybody but me. That's all I got to say."
Once Zelda cast her vote, she sat back down, Master Hand then being ready to count the four votes.
"I'll go tally the votes..."
...
With nobody having much to say, they all simply awaited for their master to return.
"Once the votes are read, the decision is final. Person voted out will be asked to leave the Tribal Council area immediately. I'll read the votes..."
He uncapped the urn.
...
"First vote... Sheik."
She nodded as if it was what she expected.
Marth took a glance in her direction, only to shift his eyes back at the master.
Luigi adjusted his cap.
"...Zelda."
Sigh.
"One vote Zelda, one vote Sheik."
Marth lifted an eyebrow in reaction as the jury remained watching in anticipation.
"...Sheik. Two votes Sheik, one vote Zelda, one vote left..."
Luigi had his hands clamped together in his lap, folding his lips back by just a bit, Marth's eyebrow readjusting afterwards.
Impa's student on the other hand already had a hand on her bag.
"...Seventeenth person voted out and the tenth and final member of our jury. Sheik. You need to bring me your torch."
Exhaling once more, she calmly stood up. "I suppose this is my fate... Good luck to you all."
Receiving a hug from Luigi and especially Zelda, she took her time retrieving her torch from behind.
"I can't believe it..."
"What?" Freddy asked Knuckles who was near him on the jury bench.
"Luigi of all people outlasted all the other knights in the game."
"Oh..."
Luigi himself faced the jury bench, though mainly at Shovel Knight in particular, who was raising his fist in the air to represent his support.
"Sheik, the tribe has spoken."
Snuff.
"Ouch..."
"Time for you to go."
With a hand in the air, she was off. "Good luck, you guys. See ya tomorrow!"
"Bye, Sheik."
"We'll see you again."
"Good luck."
And with her being out of sight, all eyes were now facing the official final three of Survivor - Emperors vs Knights.
"Well,... you guys have done it. You three have gone as far as you can possibly go in this game." Master Hand congratulated the three. "You outlasted all the others, and here you are. The three of you are going to see day thirty-nine. You have one more day to go on Kodai Island, and then we will have our Final Tribal Council. Hopefully you all will get a good night's sleep. You're gonna need it. Grab your torches, head back to camp. Goodnight..."
"Aw, darn... I really didn't want to be voted out tonight. Being voted out just one day of making your dreams come true is something that doesn't exactly sit right with me. However, I had a great time out there. I've made real relationships with others, won challenges, helped others if they needed everything, and I've made for thirty-eight days. If I am not winning, I guess this is more than enough of what I can get out of Survivor. I loved each and every second of it. So now, I get to have a say of who we're giving a million dollars to. And honestly, that's exciting all by itself!"
Votes:
Zelda - Sheik
Marth - Sheik
Luigi - Sheik
Sheik - Zelda
4th Place: Sheik
-/-
3-1
SURVIVOR FINALE
Once again, there was Master Hand on the main stage, the audience clapping for Sheik out of respect.
"Well, after being known for that move she made at the final nine against Marth, Sheik, who is considered to be one of the main strategic players of the season is the final boot of the season. But the fun doesn't stop there: we now officially have our final, three. Zelda, Luigi, and Marth. They will all have their shot at the Final Tribal Council where they will face the jury and explain to them why they think they are the most worthy of earning the title of Sole Survivor and the million dollar check that goes along with it. So stay tuned! You do not wanna miss it!"
...Well, it's official. The final three of Survivor - Emperors vs Knights is going to be Zelda, Marth, and Luigi. Two emperors, one knight. And guess what? In the end, in spite of the circumstances, the emperors still managed to outnumber the knights. Though I guess that's only a minor thing here.
Now it's time for the final two castaways to be revealed for next season... Wait a minute, I forgot to say that Jet and Rosalina were the final two characters to be revealed, didn't I? lol. (Here's the full cast: Brain Tribe - Funky Kong, Espio, Isabelle, Plague Knight, Golden Freddy "Golden", Jimmy Hopkins / Brawn Tribe - Incineroar, Katt, Jet, Ryu, Tifa, Specter Knight / Beauty Tribe - Rosalina, Daisy, Bandanna Dee, Panther, King Knight, Chica)
Anyways, I guess I'll use this time to make some announcements for this one. The first thing is that since this story has surpassed the number of reviews Kodai Island had, not only this is my most reviewed Survivor story, not only this is literally the most reviewed story in the "Game X-Over x Super Smash Brothers" Crossover section, this is now my most reviewed Fanfiction ever. Thank you to every last one of you who reviewed! Even though I have been on this site for nine years, reviews are always appreciated!
Questions:
1. What do you think of Sheik's elimination?
2. What do you think would have happened if Zelda or Luigi was actually eliminated instead?
3. Now that the full cast has been revealed for season three, what are your thoughts on these eighteen players?
4. What are your thoughts on this season's final three?
You know, the usual. Vote for your favorites on my poll, watch my YouTube intro if you haven't already and I'll see ya next chapter where we will get started with the Final Tribal Council for Survivor - Emperors vs Knights! (More Ponderosa chapters will be up shortly, so if you haven't already, go check the first seven chapters out!)