Survivor: Dewford Islands

by Gomamon

Sixteen castaways are about to begin an adventure of a lifetime. For thirty nine days, they will be stranded on the islands of Dewford with a minimal of protection and assistance against the harsh environment. Who will be the Sole Survivor?

12. Episode 12: Common Enemy

Survivor: Dewford Islands
By: Gomamon

Last Time on Survivor:

Takuya and Rika devise a strategy called 'Divide and Conquer', which is supposed to create doubt amongst the Huntail alliance and cause them to turn against each other. Meanwhile, Huntail pressures James to betray his original allegiance to Gorebyss in order to secure one more vote at tribal council. If James fails to vote with Huntail, he will lose three potential votes in the jury.

While Takuya uses his charm on May to persuade her vote, Drew and TK grow suspicious of the pair's close relationship. Added to his athleticism and strategic unpredictability, Huntail agreed to target Takuya for being a dangerous threat. However, May starts to have second thoughts about the plan, seeing as her best interests are not met. With little warning, she rebels against her alliance and changes the necessary votes against Rika. The icy Tamer is voted out of the game in a 4-2 vote. Five remain, who will be voted off next?

Episode Twelve: Common Enemy

Clamperl: DREW – JAMES – MAY – TAKUYA – TK

- - -

DAY 34

Voting out Rika was not easy, but it had to be done. Or at least that was how James justified last night's decision in his head. In no way did he enjoy writing his ally's name down, nor did he feel proud about betraying his allegiance to her. But he didn't have the power to change an inevitable outcome. Rika would have been voted regardless of who he voted for. At best, James could have forced a tie and hope that someone else changes their vote. It was a risk that he didn't dare to take. In the end, James believed he made the best decision possible. He only hoped Rika would understand.

James: Don't ask. I don't know. I…I hate this game. No, it's not the game…it's the people. This game brings out a substantial amount of selfishness from all of us. I've never seen a more selfish group of people than the Final Five here. And trust me on this one…I say this having been around Jessie and Meowth for years!

He smiled humourlessly at the cameras.

James: I was under the threat of losing from three potential jurors and I…uh, I panicked. I mean, I can't afford to lose even one jury, let alone three! So…so I got selfish. I submitted to Huntail's blackmailing. I had no other choice. I was forced to vote for Rika, even though I didn't want to. I'm sorry.

At this point of the game, James had no idea what to do anymore. Not that he had a concrete strategy coming into the game, but he never felt as clueless and flustered as he did now. Even the rocky days in Huntail seemed more tolerable than this. It was one thing to be ignored by your tribe members. It was another to be hated by them. For what James did to the Gorebyss alliance, he figured that Takuya must despise him. As do May. As do TK. As do Drew. Everyone in Clamperl must have hated James, but the Team Rocket member wouldn't be surprised.

Sometimes, he hated himself.

His guilty conscience probably contributed a lot to his burden, but James found it difficult to face Takuya after tribal council. From angry outbursts to resentful remarks, James could not predict what Takuya's reaction might be. It was why James tried avoiding contact with the volatile Frontier this morning, but Takuya was insistent on following the Team Rocket member around. In fact, Takuya wouldn't leave the proximity of James until the two of them were in the forest together, alone at last.

"Hey." Takuya said in an uncharacteristically quiet and subdued voice. "What's up?"

James did not know what to say to Takuya. Feeling embarrassed about his prolonged silence, he flashed a weak smile at the Frontier.

"I just want to know why." Takuya continued, "Why did you vote for Rika last night?"

James shook his head reluctantly, as if to indicate that Takuya was fighting a losing battle. But the forceful Frontier was not about to give up.

"Tell me, James." Takuya said. He intensified the eagerness in his voice, although it did not sound angry. As an afterthought, he added, "Please."

"You're not going to like this," sighed James.

"I can handle it," said Takuya, patting his right fist on his chest.

"I was…forced." James replied. Feeling ashamed, he avoided eye contact with Takuya or the cameras around them. "Huntail blackmailed me. They told me that if I didn't vote for her, I'd lose their votes in the jury."

"Oh really?" Takuya widened his eyes in surprise. He nodded his head to himself. James studied the Frontier carefully, but he couldn't distinguish if Takuya's reaction contained surprise or disbelief.

"I didn't want to vote Rika out. I swear on my Team Rocket membership that it was not my intention to vote her out." James shook his head in rapid motion. "That's like…that's the last thing I'd ever want to do…if I had a choice."

He lowered his head in shame.

"But I was selfish." James muttered, kicking his left foot on the dirt. "I did it so I could make it further in the game."

"So, they blackmailed you?" Takuya asked, narrowing his eyes at the Team Rocket member.

"Yes." James raised his head and stared into Takuya's hazel brown eyes. "I wanted to tell you about it, but I didn't know how you'd react."

"Ah…" Takuya pressed his lips together to make a sucking sound. James interpreted it as a sign of disapproval.

"Are you angry at me?" James asked meekly.

"Huh?" Takuya winced. "Well, you could have at least told us. The three of us would've discussed about it and…and we would've worked something out."

"I'm sorry." James mumbled.

"We had your best interest, James. We had your back." Takuya said as he folded his right hand into a fist. "You were one of us, but…"

An emotional Takuya let his voice trail off into unintelligible mumbling. He was at a loss of words.

"Do you hate me now?" James asked.

When he asked this question, James was expecting the worst case scenario to happen. Takuya could end their friendship right there. There could have been some nasty exchanges between the two men until they stomped angrily away in their separate paths. An unpleasant fight might even have erupted if things grew too out of control. But surprisingly, none of these things happened.

Instead, a gracious smile slowly appeared on Takuya's boyish face.

"Nah. Don't say things like that. I don't hate you," said Takuya. As soon as he heard this, a bright smile spread across James' face. "I mean, I'll admit that I am a littledisappointed. But hey, I'm the one who voted out JP…" Takuya paused and let out a small sheepish laugh. "I'd be a hypocrite if I criticized you for doing the same thing."

"I…I'm just so sorry, Takuya." James muttered. "I'm sorry about everything."

"Don't worry about it, buddy." Takuya grinned. He placed a comforting hand on James' shoulder. "We're cool."

Takuya: It's a game. As long as you don't make it personal, it's just one stupid game. That's why I'm not angry at James. It doesn't mean that I necessarily liked what he did, but I won't hold a grudge against him. Nothing I do or say can change the fact that Rika is gone, so…I might as well make the best of a bad situation. After all, one more friend is always better than one more enemy. Am I right?

"I told you this when I first met you, James. I don't like the way Huntail treats you. I don't like to see outsiders being excluded." Takuya said. His boyish grin was slowly fading away. "I just hate it when…when they'll use you and then throw you aside when they don't need you anymore. It's unacceptable. Those people at Huntail never gave you the respect that you deserve."

"Thank you…" James muttered, bowing his head to Takuya in a dignified manner.

"You don't need to thank me. I'm just saying what I feel." Takuya shrugged his shoulders. "Anyway, there's three of them and only two of us. Things don't look too good on our side."

"What should we do?" James asked.

"Good question." Takuya grinned mischievously. "Let's continue my strategy from before. Divide and conquer."

"Okay…" James muttered. There was a hint of uncertainty in his voice. "How are we going to do that?"

"I know this sounds crazy, but…let's stage a fight," said Takuya. He raised his fist in the air to emphasize his point.

At first, James thought the Frontier was joking, but the genuine enthusiasm in Takuya's face indicated otherwise.

"Yeah, you heard me right." Takuya nodded his head. He pointed his index finger at James' chest. "You and I need to act like we hate each other's guts."

"I'm not sure I understand how this is going to work…" James muttered, scratching his head.

"Look, we can't let Huntail find out that we're still working together. If we make it obvious that we're working with each other, those three losers will band together and target us. We're a solid voting bloc at the Final Four and they know that," explained Takuya. "But if they think that we despise each other, they won't see us that big of a threat individually. If they don't have a clear common enemy, they'll turn against each other instead."

"Uh-huh…" James mumbled.

"That's why we need to go undercover. And the best way to do that is to stage a fight. A big fight where all hell breaks loose," Takuya giggled excitedly.

"Oh, oh! I get it now!" James chuckled.

"I'm going to try turning May against those guys. I'll play the guilt card. I'll do anything I can." Takuya continued, grinning broadly at the Team Rocket member. "And you go work on Drew. You try to convince him that May is defecting from their alliance. Anything you can to cause dissent in their group. Once they start to doubt each other, their whole damn alliance will fall apart."

Takuya snapped his fingers.

"Then, they'll be begging us to vote with them. That would be the best case scenario ever!"

Takuya: James and I are going to stage a fight in front of the tribe. We want to make them think that we aren't working together anymore. Of course, that's not really the case, but everything in this game is about appearances. As long as we appear like we hate each other, they won't think that we're a threat. They'll even be stupid enough to keep us around.

Takuya slammed his fist into the palm of his hand.

Takuya: And then, bam! It's going to hit them when James and I are sitting in the Final Two together. They'll be looking at each other and going, 'Oh shit, did we really let those two idiots outsmart us?' Except we aren't the idiots – they are.

"That sounds like a plan!" James laughed. "I think it's going to work, Takuya!"

"Listen, we might say some nasty things about each other during the fake fight. But they won't mean anything." Takuya said, "I want you to know that we're going to remain friends no matter what happens."

"Yep. Our friendship is unconditional." James agreed.

"Damn right!" Takuya exclaimed. He shared a hearty laugh with James. He patted the Team Rocket member on his shoulder, which eventually turned into a brief friendly hug. "You and I to the end, buddy."

- - -

Takuya's plan was set into motion. They had only one chance to make an impression, so it was crucial that all three Huntail members were present for the staged fight. Fortunately, Clamperl always made a habit of gathering together when they ate lunch. James and Takuya realized the perfect opportunity when they saw one.

The time has arrived. This performance should be no problem for James, who aspired to be an actor ever since he was a child. Yet, he felt nervous and light-headed at the moment. He could feel the pressure of the possible consequences weighing on his shoulders. If he or Takuya made even one slip-up during their act, the observant Huntail members will discover their scam. And they'll band together to vote out a common enemy. And they'll vote James and Takuya off without hesitation. And then, it was over.

There was no script. There were no rehearsals. Whether James and Takuya were ready or not, their fates in this game now relied on how believable their improvisational skills were.

Takuya: I'm not giving up without a fight. I'll do whatever I can to stay in the game, even if it means I have to recycle old clichés in my confessionals. It's even about winning the game anymore. I…I just want to avenge for Rika. I want to win back my pride.

He pounded his right fist over his chest.

Takuya: James and I should be able to fool those suckers. They won't suspect a thing. Hell, we may even win some acting rewards for our performance, heh! Alright, alright, I'm ready. Let's do this. Let's stir some shit up!

There was a restful atmosphere hovering over the Clamperl tribe. As the five players gathered for lunch today, their conversations were surprisingly casual and light. Not once did they tread on the topics of tribal council or anything game-related. Each player behaved in an almost overly polite manner, cautious of not offending anybody with their carefully chosen words. Even Drew was acting cordial today, laughing and chatting in an energized manner that nobody had seen him before. Overall, there was a pleasant vibe around camp today, something this game lacked for a very long time.

"I checked with the medical team this morning." TK announced, smiling broadly on his face. "They told me that they'll remove my bandages later today."

"Oh my god, how awesome is that?" May squealed in excitement. She leaned over and squeezed TK's left hand.

"Yeah, that's great news." Drew added, "Considering what happened, you made a pretty swift recovery."

"Well, it has been over three weeks since my accident." TK grinned. His handsome face beamed with a glowing radiance. "I…uh, I kind of feel overwhelmed right now, to be honest with you guys! I…I feel like I've been through hell and returned in one piece. It's…it's amazing."

"They don't call you the 'Golden Boy' for nothing, you know." Takuya laughed.

"I'm really happy for you." May smiled at the rest of her tribe, "We all are."

"Here's a toast to one of the strongest survivors ever." James added, raising his cup of water in the air. "To TK!"

A humble smile spread across TK's face, although he looked a little uncomfortable being in the centre of the tribe's attention.

May: I thought it was really quiet and peaceful around camp this morning. But you know what they say. It's always calm before the storm…

"Hey, you know what? It's not just TK who deserves all the credit here! We…we are pretty tough for making it this far in the game!" Takuya pumped his fist into the air enthusiastically. "Hell yes! The four of us are true survivors!"

"Four of us? Is that a Freudian slip?" Drew snickered.

"Well, I would've said five, but Rika isn't in this game anymore." Takuya shrugged his shoulders. "Wait a second here…you're not implying that you think all of us here is a true survivor, right?"

As soon as Takuya said this, there was a subtle shift in the tribe's light atmosphere. The players might not realize it yet, but the tribe's brief moment of harmony was over.

"Someone here obviously doesn't deserve to be in the Final Five." Takuya announced.

Drew smirked. He wondered if Takuya realized the blatant irony in that statement.

"Takuya, what are you talking about?" TK asked. He had a confused smile on his face. "We made it this far in the game. We all deserve to be here."

"I don't have any respect for backstabbers in this game, especially the ones who think they can fly under the radar and go unnoticed." Takuya rolled his eyes. He gestured his hand at James. "Am I right, James?"

"Takuya, I told you I was sorry…" James muttered.

"No, I should be the one saying sorry here," said Takuya. He shot a deadly glare at the Team Rocket member. "I'm sorry that I ever trusted a two-faced liar in this game. And I'm sorry that I…I thought this no-good weasel was actually my friend. I am so damn sorry for all of that!"

"I did not backstab you!" James shouted.

"How can you even say that with a straight face?" Takuya scowled angrily. "What a crock of shit!"

"Don't make a scene. It's not worth it." James shook his head.

"We had your back this whole time, James! We would have never betrayed you!" Takuya roared. He leapt up from his seat, but May grabbed the Frontier's arm and pulled Takuya back to his seat. "Instead, you sided with those people over there!"

"I was in an alliance with you…" James tried to explain, but his sentence was cut off by Takuya's loud and interruptive shouting.

"Let me clarify something. As far as I'm concerned…" Takuya made a slashing gesture with his left hand. "You and I don't have an alliance anymore."

"That's perfectly alright with me!" James said, folding his arms across his chest. "Whatever!"

"Go to hell!" Takuya retorted.

"Grow up, Takuya!" James spitted his words with seething anger. "Stop acting like a child every time you don't get your way!"

Having said his final words, James got up from his seat and stomped away in a huff of anger. Takuya responded the only way he can. He saluted the Team Rocket member with his middle finger. The rest of Huntail exchanged uneasy glances with each other, all speechless and stunned. Drew stared at the Frontier with a disapproving frown.

"What?" Takuya asked, sounding irritated.

"You have issues, Takuya." Drew muttered.

The Pokemon Coordinator sighed softly as he rose from his seat, chasing after James who ran into the forest. TK also got up and followed Drew, leaving just May and Takuya around the campfire by themselves.

"Emotions were flying high back then." May said, struggling to find the right words to comfort the Frontier. "I'm sure both of you said things that you didn't really mean."

"Don't try to defend him, May." Takuya warned as he shook his head. "He betrayed Rika. He betrayed me!"

"I'm not defending anyone." May said. She leaned over and gently stroked Takuya's back "I…I just think we all need to calm down. Everyone here is under a lot of stress."

"I hate this game," muttered Takuya.

TK: Takuya launched a personal attack on James today. He totally overreacted. At the end of the day, James is…uh, James was his friend. Takuya needs to understand that Survivor is just a game. It's not a matter of life or death. Uh, I thought he acted out of line today. It confirms what I already thought of him from before…he's a sore loser. That's all I have to say.

TK sighed softly to the cameras. The ends of his lips curled and formed into a disapproving frown.

TK: On the bright side, this should guarantee that James will stay loyal to Huntail, if out of nothing else but necessity. That's a good thing. It means that we've the numbers now. As long as Huntail stays together, I've no doubt that we can take over the entire game.

- - -

May was the last woman standing.

It was the first time she took note of this astounding accomplishment. Never in a million years could she imagine that she'd become the final female player in the game. After all, this was the same girl who began Survivor on a tribe with seven men. They could have easily voted her out then, considering that she was not athletic or particularly useful around camp. But through her pleasant attitude and natural charisma, May found a way to survive despite having the odds against her. And she continued to survive for eleven tribal councils without receiving a single vote against her.

May: I began the game on a tribe with all men and I'm about to end the game on a tribe with all men. How fitting is that? Oh my god, I still can't believe it. I can't believe I'm the only girl here. I mean, I'm like the last of my species. That's like, so…so weird!

May laughed. She clasped her hands together and put them against her mouth.

May: I guess I feel honoured that I'm the remaining female in a sea of testosterone. I don't know…I wish there was another girl here to keep me company! But uh, I'll cope with it. Yeah, I made it this far and I'm not going to let anyone down. I mean, most importantly, I can't let myself down! For all the girls out there, I have to beat the boys. I must, I must, I must!

Perhaps her fate would have been different had she started out on the Gorebyss tribe. The luck of the draw was the sole reason why May began her game on Huntail. But it was strange how things worked out for her in the long run. By switching to Huntail early on, May avoided attending four consecutive tribal councils that eliminated half of the female cast in the game. Her Huntail membership was also why she stayed in a majority after the merge.

Yes, being in Huntail benefited May in numerous ways. She was extremely thankful to all the Huntail men who have helped her make it this far in the game. But there came a time when May needed to draw a line between tribe loyalty and her personal interests in this game.

And right now, May was ready to cut loose one of her allies from Huntail.

If May could have her way, Drew would become the twelfth player voted out of Survivor: Dewford Islands.

She believed that she finally had the numbers to oust her arrogant archenemy out of this game. With the help of Takuya and TK, two people who she built a strong rapport with, May knew she could pull off one of the most significant moves in this game. Hell would freeze over before Drew would take May anywhere near the Final Two. The sooner the crafty Pokemon Coordinator was gone, the better May's chances of winning this game would be.

Later in the day, May found an opportunity to have some alone time with TK around camp. The two Huntail allies were sitting by the fire as they boiled a pot of water together. Normally, this mundane task only required one person on the duty, but TK volunteered to keep May company so she wouldn't feel lonely. Trivial actions like this always distinguished TK from the rest of the men. He was so friendly, so gracious, and so endlessly optimistic. It was difficult for May to find one reason to dislike TK even if she tried.

"Let's vote out Drew," whispered May.

"What?" TK reacted sharply to May's sudden comment. She nodded her head and smiled at him. That was when he realized May wasn't joking at all.

"All you have to do is say yes." May continued. She kept her voice low in fear of anybody overhearing this conversation. "I know Takuya will agree to vote with us if we ask. That's three votes right there."

"May, why are we voting out Drew?" TK asked, trying to whisper but his words sounded more audible due to the apparent anxiety in his voice.

"Why aren't we voting out Drew?" May said. She paused for a small chuckle. "He's a dirty, dishonest schemer. He'll backstab us when he gets the chance."

"I thought we were targeting Takuya!" TK shook his head in protest.

"We can't vote him out yet." May said, widening her eyes. She was trying so hard to convey the obvious message to TK, but it didn't seem to be going through. "Takuya…he can help us vote Drew out."

"But we had a plan! We're supposed to vote out Takuya next!" TK nervously bit his lips. He carried a worried expression on his face. "May, you promised us that!"

May sighed in frustration. She sensed that TK didn't understand the bigger picture. For all the virtues in his personality, TK could sometimes be too loyal and stubborn to a fault.

"I…I agreed to those things because Drew was there with us. I didn't want him to suspect me," explained May.

"So, you were being dishonest with us…" TK muttered.

"No, don't take it the wrong way!" May gasped. She tried to quickly steer the conversation in the right direction. "But just between you and me, I think Drew needs to go. He's too much of a snake!"

TK: I want to trust May, but I find that I can't do it anymore. She's drifting further and further away from us. I think she has been very conniving lately. First, she blackmailed us into voting Rika out, even though it should've been Takuya's time to go. Now, she wants me to vote Drew out! What about our alliance? What about our Final Three pact?

He nervously bit his lips.

TK: It's…it's totally unacceptable. I feel like she's not even part of our alliance anymore. She's just doing her…own thing. May needs to realize that she's not always going to get her way. No matter what she says, I know we can't afford to keep Takuya around any longer. We have a common enemy. His name is Takuya. He has to go.

"The three of us have to stick together!" TK said as he pounded his hand onto his palm, hoping the gesture would emphasize the importance of his words. "Don't you see, May? That's what Takuya wants us to do. He's trying to tear us apart!"

"No!" May exclaimed. The frustrated Coordinator was no longer whispering. "We can't trust Drew. You might think he's your friend, but he's really stabbing you in the back."

"You don't know that." TK responded in an undignified manner. He turned his head away and gazed elsewhere.

"How many times have Drew promised us something that he didn't do?" May said, "He's a snake and he can't be trusted."

"If we vote out Drew now, we're leaving Takuya and James in the game together. Do you know how dangerous that is?" TK muttered.

"You witnessed their fight. Takuya and James want nothing to do with each other!" May argued. "If we're in the Final Four with the two of them, we can control how the vote will fall."

"I don't know…" TK muttered dubiously.

"I know the truth hurts, but Drew is one of the smartest players in this game. And he's playing all of us to a tee. He is the puppeteer and he's controlling all of us." May said, "Please, TK…please do the right thing. Just…at least consider it, okay?"

Closing his eyes, TK nodded his head without a verbal reply.

May flashed a concerned glance over the blonde. She tried reading his blank and enigmatic face with little success. She could see that TK was thinking over her words. She only hoped that he would believe her, trust her, and vote with her. In her opinion, the main obstacle of earning TK's vote was his friendship with Drew. The two men bonded over the past few weeks, so TK must feel an obligation to stay loyal to the Pokemon Coordinator. If only she could show TK what a dishonest and devious liar Drew was…

- - -

May's accusations against Drew might seem harsh, but they were completely true.

What made Drew such a tactical player in this game was how he always planned moves a few steps ahead. There was no point of making it far in the game if he stood no chance of winning in the end. Drew knew that if he was in the Final Three with his current alliance, he will not win. He won't win against May, a likable and popular player who always remained pleasant despite her precarious circumstances. He also won't win against TK, a persistent and friendly competitor who endured a serious injury by keeping an optimistic attitude. He joined an alliance with the two of them out of necessity against the Gorebyss tribe, but it was about time to abandon his allies and look for better options.

May and TK should not be surprised to learn this fact, but Drew never intended on keeping his allegiance to them past the Final Five.

Drew: James is the key person in my strategy to make it to the end. For a while, I've set him up as sort of a scapegoat…someone who I can dispose of at any time of the game. But James has another purpose. Now, he's a pivotal vote that I can use and manipulate to get whatever outcome I want in the next tribal council. And now that Takuya has made a complete ass of himself, it's the perfect opportunity for me to solidfy my alliance with James.

Like the rest of the tribe, Drew was blissfully oblivious to the shrewd little ploy set up by Takuya and James. At this moment, Drew still thought that there was animosity between the two former allies.

Drew: At first, I was worried that aligning with James meant Takuya had to tag along in the alliance. I don't trust Takuya and I never will. Fortunately, dumb and dumber had a huge argument today. So now, I don't have to worry about James and Takuya teaming up if I keep both of them in the Final Four. Ahh…it just seems so easy!

Drew grinned arrogantly at the cameras.

Drew: My top priority is getting either May or TK out of this game. I can't beat them in the finals, so they're just hindrances to my strategy. If I've a choice, I'll choose to vote May out first. She…she's a sneaky one. She's not as loyal and trustworthy as TK. And she's a lot closer to Takuya than I feel comfortable with.

If Drew could have his way, May would become the twelfth player voted out of Survivor: Dewford Islands.

The most important part was making the right pitch to the right people. Drew just needed to convince two players and he'll have a majority at tribal council. Drew had not decided yet whether the second person would be TK or Takuya. But he knew for certain that James, who was Drew's ideal Final Two partner, must be included in this alliance of three.

Drew brought James to Shipwreck Island after the staged argument. Drew said that it was to help the Team Rocket member cheer up, but the real motive was to prey on James during his most vulnerable time.

"Are you feeling better?" Drew asked.

"Yeah." James nodded his head. He flashed a polite smile at the Pokemon Coordinator. "Thanks for bringing me to Shipwreck Island."

"Just forget about Takuya. He's a jerk. We all know that," said Drew.

James nodded his head silently. He averted his gaze elsewhere to avoid making eye contact with Drew. He ended up staring at a blubbery Seel that was a few feet away from where James and Drew were sitting. It was sleeping soundly on the sand.

"It's been a long time since I've been here." James grinned. "Remember when we used to come here when we were supposed to be fishing?"

"Yeah. This place was our little hideaway from Huntail," said Drew.

"We hide because we want to escape from the truth." James muttered. He paused and added, "Or at least, that's why I come here."

"Is there supposed to be a hidden meaning that I'm not getting?" Drew asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Noooooo…I'm just trying to be profound. I know, I know. I'm failing miserably at that." James chuckled.

Drew turned to him with an amused smile, interpreting James' laughter as an opening to state his proposal.

"James, have you thought about the finals?" Drew asked.

"Sometimes, I do." James admitted.

"Have you thought about the most obvious outcome of this game?" Drew asked.

"Huh?" James turned his eyes back to Drew. The Team Rocket member looked confused. "Uh…I don't think so."

"I think May is going to win this game." Drew replied. A disapproving frown spread across his face. "That's my conclusion after watching how everything is unfolding."

"You…you think so?" James asked, sounding intrigued.

"Think about it. The jury is littered with her friends." Drew explained, "JP and Casey, just to name a few. She's friends with everyone. They'll all vote for her to win the money."

"I noticed that she hasn't made any enemies in the game." James added.

"That's because she hasn't been playing the game." Drew scowled. "She has been riding on everyone's coattails and hiding behind the bigger targets."

"I know. She doesn't really deserve to be here..." James nodded his head.

"Unfortunately, I don't think the jury will see it that way." Drew sighed in exasperation. He picked up a small rock and tossed it in the air. It landed perfectly in his hand. "They're going to vote for the lesser of two evils. And May has set herself up quite nicely for that position."

"She's playing such a sneaky game!" James protested. He made a face to indicate his dissatisfaction for May's strategy. "She tries so hard to come off as this sweet and innocent girl, but…"

"But her actions suggest otherwise." Drew finished the sentence for James. The Team Rocket member nodded eagerly in agreement. "She manipulates people without being too obvious about it."

"That's what makes her soooooo sneaky!" James said, stressing the syllables of his words to emphasize his point.

"And she's going to keep getting away with it unless we stop her." Drew said with a subdued smirk.

Drew and James exchanged glances with each other. A smug smirk began to form on Drew's face.

"What do you think, James?" Drew asked.

"I think May needs to go." James replied without any hesitation.

"I'm in." Drew grinned. "And I'm sure that I can convince TK to do the same."

"But I thought you've an alliance with her." James muttered in uncertainty.

"It was temporary." Drew said in a dismissive tone. "I don't want to stay in an alliance with someone I can't trust."

"Okay, okay." James nodded his head. He stared at Drew as if he was searching for some type of reassurance in his face. "So, just to confirm…we aren't going to vote out Takuya?"

"Takuya is a harmless idiot." Drew said this in a matter-of-fact voice. "Don't worry about him. If you want, we can vote him out next. Let's take care of May first."

Drew extended his arm to James and offered him a handshake. Carrying a wide smile on his face, James shook Drew's hand with a mixture of excitement and eagerness. And just like that, a new alliance was born.

James: If Drew is willing to vote May out, then I'm just peachy with anything he proposes! I can't believe it happened, but Drew promised me that he's going to vote her out. Wow. I…uh, I didn't think it would be this easy! I didn't even have to say or do anything. But uh…the Huntail alliance is no more!

James waved his arm giddily in front of the cameras as a small and preemptive celebration.

James: Takuya's plan is working. They don't see us as threats anymore. As long as this charade continues, we're going to be the ones in power. And we'll get to decide who goes home at the next tribal council, hehe.

- - -

DAY 35

Ever since the infamous bear attack, TK was required to check in with the medical team every three days. For the most part, it was just standard procedures, such as applying treatments on his injury and changing the bandages on his leg. TK also received hours of sessions from the game psychologist, who tried easing the emotional trauma of his attack. She gave him constant reminders that he could leave the game whenever he desired. In fact, the medical team strongly discouraged him from continuing the game at first. However, the persistent blonde refused to quit (not that TK would have much of a choice, had the doctors deem his conditions too severe).

TK Takaishi might be a lot of things, but a quitter was not one of them.

As most of TK's acquaintances would discover, his perpetual optimism was highly infectious. Eventually, the medical team's concerns turned into empathetic support. Although the doctors and the nurses were supposed to maintain a neutral standpoint about the game, they were secretly rooting for the blonde to win. In their opinions, there could be no truer definition of a survivor than TK Takaishi. He was the boy who survived a deadly bear attack. He was the boy who survived these horrendous and painful treatments without any complaints. He was the boy who survived the harsh game dynamics despite his apparent hindrances.

No diagnoses were needed. All the doctors and nurses would unanimously agree that TK Takaishi was a true survivor.

TK: They took the bandages off my leg yesterday and uh…it feels great! I'm so grateful to the doctors and nurses who took care of me. I…I couldn't say thank you enough times to represent the amount of gratitude I have for them.

The gracious blonde grinned toothily at the cameras.

TK: Everything is back to normal now. My leg is still in one piece…I'm still in one piece! What more can I say? I'm thrilled!

This morning, TK began his typical jog around the island. Except this time, he wasn't walking at the pace of a snail. He was really jogging. And once he began running, he never wanted to stop. He felt so free. Free of bandages, free of medicine, free of injuries. And then, there was the movement, the sweating, and the breeze of the chilly morning air. These were all familiar sensations that TK didn't experience for a very long time. He felt as if he could live in this glorious moment forever.

But as surreal as these feelings might be, TK realized that he was still playing a game. There were still five difficult days ahead of him and there was no room for him to be complacent. His celebrations could wait. For now, TK needed to plan his next moves in this game.

"Keep it together." TK muttered to himself.

In the last couple of days, something had been bothering TK. Or to be more precise, it was a somebody. Somebody with a head of green hair, a pair of green eyes, and a signature smirk that made TK feel a little green. May's spiel to him had sunken into TK's head and took its effect. Now, the blonde couldn't even look at Drew without feeling a certain amount of doubt in his head – and that made him feel very guilty. Unfortunately, there was no other emotion that Drew could detect better than guilt. As soon as TK began behaving differently in front of the Pokemon Coordinator, Drew knew that something changed. Something happened that he wasn't aware of. And he immediately knew he had to patch things up with TK, regardless what the problem might have surfaced in between their relationship.

"Hey there," Drew said as he ran up to TK and tapped the blonde on the shoulder.

"Good morning." TK forced a faint smile on his face. "I'm getting treemail."

"Mind if I accompany you?" Drew asked.

"The more the merrier," said TK. "It's not that exciting though. I hope I don't bore you."

Drew chuckled. He began running alongside with the blonde in silence. Occasionally, TK would point out several species of wildlife in their surroundings and Drew would briefly explain about their details. In a matter of minutes, the barriers were dropped and the two men began laughing and cracking small jokes like old friends. They were completely at ease again.

"Ah, I see that you're wearing shorts today. That's a rarity," said Drew.

"I know. I want to show off a little." TK chuckled. He patted his hand over his lap. "I want everyone to know that I'm not wearing bandages anymore."

"Well, that's certainly something to be proud of." Drew nodded. He leaned down to examine TK's left leg. "Cool. I can't even see any cuts or scars on your leg."

"It still hurts a little. And I can't move as fast as I used to," admitted TK.

"Make sure you don't tire yourself out. You've just recently recovered." Drew warned, "Baby steps, TK. Baby steps."

"I'll try to remember." TK nodded his head in comprehension. "But now that I've recovered, I…uh, I'd really like to win a challenge. An immunity challenge, preferably."

"Your performances in the past leave a lot to be desired though," said Drew jokingly.

"I want to redeem myself. I want to win a challenge." TK said with a boyish and enthusiastic grin on his face. "And if it counts for anything, I feel really determined about this."

"Hey, go for it. There's nothing stopping you." Drew shrugged his shoulders. In a more sarcastic tone of voice, he added, "Except Takuya."

"He's strong, but he's not invincible." TK laughed nervously.

"That's true. If you can prove that Takuya isn't as great at those challenges as he claims to be, I'll tip my hat to you." Drew smirked.

"I'm going to give it my all." TK smiled as he clenched his fist together in a determined manner. "Yeah!"

Drew: No one can say a bad thing about TK. He's just a genuine guy. What you see is what you get. But there comes a point when you can be TOO likable and it'll make you a threat in the game. The jury loves TK. They'll all vote for him in the end. I know I don't want to sit next to him in the Final Two. I don't think anybody does. The only way TK can make it in the finals is…is if he takes himself there. So, good luck with those challenges!

Drew smiled thinly at the cameras. There was a hint of disappointment in his face, although the Coordinator tried very hard to conceal that emotion.

Drew: Right now, I can afford to keep TK around for a few more days. The best thing about TK is that…he's a very trustworthy ally. Unlike May, I know that TK won't stab me in the back. And that's what puts him higher on the hierarchy than May. He's loyal, she's not. She's plotting something, I can sense it. Can't blame her, I'm doing the same thing. I just have to catch her before she catches me.

"TK, there's something I have to tell you." Drew said, sounding hesitant. He glanced around their surroundings to make sure they were alone. "It's about May."

TK raised his eyebrows in interest, but did not say anything.

"She's planning to vote you out," whispered Drew.

"Wow." TK muttered in surprise. That was the only word that could come out of his mouth right now. He paused for a few seconds before his vocabulary eventually returned to him. "Seriously?"

"From the sound of things, it seems like she already recruited Takuya." Drew explained, "And she wants me to be the third vote in her plans."

"You didn't say yes, did you?" TK asked.

"No, no. Of course not." Drew shook his head. "Or I won't be telling you this otherwise."

"You're not lying to me, are you?" TK asked, staring into Drew's emerald green eyes. "I don't want you to lie to me, Drew."

"I'm not lying," lied Drew.

"That's not enough." TK said, shaking his head slowly. "Promise me. Promise me that…that you're sincere."

"I swear on my father's life that I'm being one hundred percent honest right now." Drew said, raising his right hand in the air. He stared at TK with a blank expression. "Is that good enough?"

TK tried reading the ambiguous expression on the Pokemon Coordinator's face, but he had little success. The blonde would have to believe Drew for now.

"Okay. I…I have a revelation to you too." TK muttered, looking sheepish. "May told me that she wants to vote you out too."

"I'm not terribly surprised," scoffed Drew. A faint smirk spread across the Coordinator's smug face. "You know what that means, right?"

"Hold on, Drew. Don't rush to conclusions yet." TK said, grabbing the Pokemon Coordinator gently by his shoulders. "I didn't tell you this so you'd go around and make the same mistake as May."

"Enlighten me with your thoughts," said Drew. His words carried a sharper edge than he intended.

"I'm thinking that we need to stay together. The three of us, the Huntail alliance…we're falling apart and I don't like the looks of things." TK explained in a slow and cautious manner. "I still don't trust Takuya or James. They're our biggest enemies in the game."

"TK, wake up. May is playing both of us!" Drew snapped. "May wants the two of us to turn against each other…"

"And it's not working, is it?" TK interrupted with an abrupt question.

"We're together," said Drew, nodding his head.

"In that case, May's plan is a failure." TK explained, "But we can't vote her off yet. We still need her vote."

"She's the third wheel in our alliance. She can be replaced," responded Drew.

"I don't trust James and Takuya. And I'm not telling you to trust May either, but…but we can't let our alliance fall apart because of Gorebyss," argued TK.

"At least we know where Takuya and James stand in the game." Drew said, "But May can pull the wool over our eyes. And in my eyes, that makes her a far more dangerous threat than anybody else. Takuya and James are…well, they're stupid. They can't do anything even if they tried."

"We can't underestimate our enemy." TK warned.

"May is our enemy." Drew retorted.

"She's in our alliance and we need her." TK said, trying to sound as persuasive as possible. "The three of us can talk things out. As long as you understand that the two of us are still working together, don't worry about May. None of her tactics will work. She can stay, for now."

"That's a critical mistake, TK. I can't let us do something so stupid." Drew shook his head.

"We have to do this," said TK. "We have to work together…the three of us. That's the only way somebody from Huntail will win this game."

"She's a traitor! She…she's a manipulator!" Drew protested. "Don't you see, TK? If you don't vote May out now, you're going to regret it for the rest of your life."

"That's a risk I'll have to take." TK said coldly.

"Don't do it." Drew muttered.

Drew: My plan backfired on me. I lied to TK, hoping that he'd agree with me and vote May out. It turns out that he has a little agenda of his own. He…he wants the Huntail alliance to work together and vote Takuya out. But frankly, I don't care what TK thinks. I've wanted May gone before I found out that she's plotting against me. I don't know if she's my worthy adversary or if she's just a stupid opponent. Either way, it's official. She's a goner.

- - -

The Clamperl tribe entered the reward challenge knowing it was the last one for the rest of the game. What they didn't know was that the prize would be the biggest one yet.

"Welcome to your final reward challenge, players." Professor Birch greeted the tribe of five with a friendly smile. "Congratulations to all of you for making it this far."

"Do we get to win a car?" Takuya asked in a giddy voice. "Do we? Do we?"

"No, but the reward is just as satisfying." Professor Birch grinned. He ignored the disappointed expressions on several players' faces and continued, "Drew, you were here for the first reward challenge. Do you remember what you were playing for?"

"A motorboat," replied Drew.

"That's what you were playing for in the first reward challenge. And that's what you'll be playing for in the last reward challenge." Professor Birch's grin grew wider. "That's right! The winner will get a license to a brand new motorboat – the same kind that you have in your camp! Is this reward worth playing for?"

The players' reactions only seemed half-enthusiastic and half-sincere. Most of them anticipated the grand price to be a brand new car, so winning just a motorboat was a few steps down from their high expectations. Still, a reward was a reward. And all of the players wanted to win this challenge.

"Here's the key that will unlock the motorboat." Professor Birch held up a small silver key in his burly hand. "Who wants it?"

"I do!" Takuya's arm rose instantly.

"Here, Takuya has the key." Professor Birch tossed the key to Takuya, who easily caught it in his hand. "Now, we begin the challenge. Behind me is a gigantic hedge maze. There's only one entrance and only one exit."

The players nodded their heads as they studied the blocks of green hedges behind the Professor. A few of them didn't realize that it resembled a maze until the professor informed them about it.

"The person with the key is trying to leave this maze. So, if Takuya successfully leaves the maze, he'll win the reward." Professor Birch explained, "The rest of you will be trying to catch Takuya. If you manage to tag Takuya on any part of his body, Takuya is out and that person will be the new key holder. He or she will be trying to leave the maze without being caught. It's like a game of tag in the maze. Get it?"

"So it's the four of them against me?" Takuya asked with a lopsided smile.

"You should be used to it by now." Professor Birch returned the smile back to the Frontier. "Anyway, you'll get a head start in the challenge. The others won't enter the maze until two minutes later. This challenge will end once someone with the key leaves the maze, or there is only one person remaining in the competition."

"That sounds cool." May smiled graciously at the professor. "Let's get started!"

As the holder of the key, Takuya was let into the maze for a head start. The other four players had to wait outside for two minutes before they were allowed to enter.

"Time is up. Survivors ready?" Professor Birch raised his hand high in the air. He dropped it in a swift gesture. "Go!"

The four players dashed into the maze, none of them leading or trailing in particular. At the first intersection, Drew was the only person who turned right, whereas James, May, and TK all turned left. It didn't take long before the Pokemon Coordinator retraced his steps when he had walked into a dead end. Feeling frustrated, he turned around and ran in the opposite direction, hoping he could catch up with the rest of the group.

Elsewhere in the maze, Takuya was struggling to make progress. Ten seconds into the challenge, it was clear that Takuya had absolutely no sense of direction. He didn't realize that he had been walking around in circles for the past few minutes, despite the fact that he encountered the same dead end for three times. However, what the athletic Frontier lacked in navigational skills, he made up in speed. He still advanced further in the maze than any of the other players, but they were soon catching up.

"Shh. Let's be really still for a second." TK whispered as he held his index finger to his mouth. "If we're close to Takuya, we might be able to hear his footsteps."

James and May, who were traveling with the blonde, nodded their heads in obedience. The three of them stood in silence for a brief moment as they tried listening for any noise in the maze.

"I hear somebody!" James said, widening his eyes.

"I think we're getting close!" May added.

"Which way is it coming from?" TK asked.

"Behind…behind us." James said, although he sounded uncertain. "That's strange. Takuya shouldn't be behind us…"

"That's because it's not Takuya," declared a low and masculine voice. The three players, startled, turned around to identify the origin of the voice.

James sighed when he caught the sight of Drew, who was lagging behind ever since a wrong turn at the beginning of the challenge. The Pokemon Coordinator finally caught up to the rest of the group.

"Those were your footsteps?" May asked.

"Obviously." Drew rolled his eyes.

"Let's get moving. We're losing valuable time," whispered TK.

The four players continued traveling as a pack until they encountered another intersection. Drew turned left, May turned right, while James and TK went straight ahead. For at least one of them, they were one step closer in the right direction.

Several minutes passed by and Takuya had no clue where he was. By now, he was certain that he passed this route before, for he noticed the odd twig sticking out in one of the walls. But knowing that he was lost only made the athletic Frontier more frustrated. For a few seconds there, he let his guard down and he didn't even realize when one player sneaked up behind him and tagged Takuya on the shoulder.

He was out of the challenge. Another player was holding the key now.

Meanwhile, James and TK were still navigating in the hedge maze together. Based on just appearances, these two seemed like an unlikely pair to work together in the reward challenge. But James' keen eyes and TK's strong sense of direction made them a formidable pair. In fact, it was the combination of these attributes that led the two men directly to Takuya.

"There's Takuya!" James exclaimed as he made a quick dash to the Frontier. TK was right behind him, struggling to catch up to the agile Team Rocket member.

"Give it up, guys. I don't have the key anymore." Takuya said, slowly shaking his head. James and TK slowed down a little, although both men still seemed wary about the Frontier's truthfulness. "I'm out of the challenge. Somebody caught me. I…I'm just trying to find my way out of this stupid maze."

"Who has the key?" TK asked.

"Why should I tell you two?" Takuya grinned mischievously.

Just then, they heard the sound of a whistle blow. Takuya smirked, knowing that this sound was the signal for the end of the challenge. Somebody just won themselves a brand new motorboat.

"We have a winner!" Professor Birch's voice declared.

At the exit of the hedge maze, a joyous May was leaping up and down in excitement. She held a tiny silver key in her right hand, the same key that she took from Takuya when she eliminated him from the challenge.

"Congratulations, May! You've won the reward challenge!" Professor Birch grinned at the jovial Coordinator. "You've just won a motorboat!"

"Oh my god…" May laughed. She clasped her hands over her mouth. "I can't believe it! Oh my god!"

Soon, the men were evacuated out of the complex hedge maze. They politely congratulated May on her victory, although several of them didn't look too impressed. James, in particular, felt annoyed that the Pokemon Coordinator won this reward challenge due to blind luck. Not only did her undeserving victory bother James immensely, it also confirmed a suspicion that lingered in his head for the past couple of days.

What if Takuya and May were working together?

What if Takuya purposely let May win this reward so that he could build a foundation of trust with her?

What if Takuya and May struck a deal and promised to take each other to the Final Two?

Although these questions were solely fabricated by James' wandering mind, the Team Rocket member couldn't help but wonder. How loyal was the Frontier? As much as James wanted to believe that Takuya was an honest ally, the athletic Frontier had pulled off shady and underhanded moves in the past. If Takuya really wanted to avenge for Rika, anything was possible. There was a fair chance that Takuya had set James up to look like the biggest fool in this game. And no – James would have none of that!

The more he thought about this, the clearer James' vision became. He realized that there was only one thing he could do. This one action will allow him to erase all those burdening doubts he had about Takuya. This one action should be the solution to all his problems.

James must eliminate the parasite in his strategy.

And that meant May had to leave this game.

- - -

As a child, May always thought the less she knew, the happier she would be. She first learned this ideal when she was eight years old. That was when her parents' marriage reached its rockiest slump. Several times, May would accidentally catch her father flirting with the local nurse at the Pokemon hospital. Of course, he would always fabricate some excuse about his actions. No, May…Nurse Joy wasn't feeling well, so that's why you saw daddy massage her shoulders. But May believed him, even though there were often flaws in his reasoning. That was because May knew the truth was always hurtful, and it led her to a plague of paranoia that she never enjoyed experiencing. She would rather believe an idealistic fantasy than face the brutal truth. Ignorance was bliss.

Unfortunately, she could not play Survivor the same way. In this game, being ignorant was the same as being stupid. And being a stupid and ignorant player would not win May the million dollars. So, May was always on the alert. She suspected every player, and she often second-guessed herself in the game. Sometimes, her instincts were wrong and she trusted the wrong people (like JP, for example). But even then, May was aware that she had to rely on herself. After losing two valuable allies, May had learned this important tidbit the hard way. Nobody can be trusted.

May: I'd like to believe that Drew, TK and I have a solid Final Three pact, but I know that's just a figment of my imagination. There's no way they'll honour that deal. Well, TK might…but Drew is a whole different story! He lied to me too many times. And I believed him, like a big sucker. He's the reason why Brock isn't here. He's the reason why Takato isn't here. He's the reason why I'm fighting so hard. I…I have to take Drew down. I must, I must, I must!

For a while, May figured that she was in danger if she stuck with the Huntail alliance. But she would be surprised to find out the abundant amount of scheming done behind her back – all of which she was still blissfully ignorant about. Luckily, May at least had an idea that her archenemy, Drew, was up to no good. And it was clear that she had to jump ship. But how?

Strangely enough, she found herself seeking a solution from Takuya Kanabara. He might be as big of a liar as anyone else, but he was also the only person who endeared himself to May. Despite his evident abrasiveness, Takuya can be very charming when he wanted to be, especially with the ladies. May laughed at his jokes, listened to his stories, and blushed as he sang praises to her ears. Their friendship might have experienced its highs and lows, but for the most part, they remained very friendly and civilized with each other. In a sense, they were like two business partners in a shaky alliance. He used her as much as she used him. And now, it was time for May to find leverage with Takuya once more. He was her only option left.

"Congrats on winning that reward challenge, May!" Takuya grinned. He put his right arm over May's shoulders. She smiled sweetly back at him. "I mean, holy cow! You've just won a fricking motorboat!"

"I know! It's…it's so exciting!" May giggled.

"Damn. I better watch out. You're becoming a beast in these challenges!" Takuya teased.

"No, I'm not!" May laughed. She jokingly pushed the Frontier away from her. "You're exaggerating again, Takuya!"

"Yeah, you used to be this cute girl-next-door, but now you're some sort of exotic challenge machine!" Takuya joked. "I'm on to you!"

"All kidding aside, I have something to talk to you about." May said, using a more solemn tone of voice. The wide smile on her face faded away.

"We're alone." Takuya nodded his head. "And I'm all ears."

"I think we should vote out Drew." May whispered. She scanned his face for his reaction. "What do you think?"

"Hell yeah!" Takuya laughed. He clapped his hands in delight. "You know what, May? I think it's the best damn idea in the world!"

"Wait. Aren't you like…angry at James?" May asked, narrowing her eyes at the Frontier suspiciously. "Are you sure this is okay with you? Is it okay if we…we won't vote him out until the Final Four?"

"Yes. He…he's uh, he's not a threat." Takuya cleared his throat.

"I'm glad you're so understanding!" May laughed.

"Well, I am glad that you're so smart!" Takuya grinned. "I really thought you were brainwashed by those boys in your…alliance." Takuya held up his hands and quoted the word "alliance" as he said it. May shook her head and chuckled. "But I know you'd see through them! I just know it!"

"So, it's a deal? You have no problems with voting Drew out?" May asked.

"Let's shake on it." Takuya extended his right hand to the Pokemon Coordinator. She grabbed it and smiled. "I promise."

"A promise is a promise." May grinned.

Takuya: May and I had an alliance way back, but I think it's really weird. Sometimes, we're together. Sometimes, we're not. It's like we're dating and we have an on-and-off relationship, you know? Anyway, we're back together again. I hope it lasts this time, because I feel really bad lying to her before. She's a…a sensitive girl. I still think she's awesome though.

The athletic Frontier ran his hand through his hair. He laughed.

Takuya: And on a completely unrelated note, she's hot as hell.

"Yeah, baby! Drew is gonna get his ass served on a platter!" Takuya laughed. He paused for a few seconds as his laughter subsided. "Wait, we have the votes secured right?"

"I'm trying to convince TK. He's probably going to be the swing vote," explained May. "Don't worry. I'm working really, really hard to make him see the bigger picture."

"I see." Takuya nodded. He had a mischievous smile on his boyish face. "Let me know if there's anything I can do."

"Actually, there is one thing." May smiled. "I…I'd like to extend my deal with you."

"Huh?" Takuya grunted.

"I want to make a Final Two agreement with you, Takuya." May continued. Her smile grew wider and more confident as she spoke each word. "Let's promise to take each other to the Final Two."

Takuya felt a rush of emotions arising within him. He felt startled that May just proposed to take him to the Final Two. At the same time, he was also delighted. But it was the third emotion – guilt – that Takuya felt the most confused about. The athletic Frontier could still remember the Final Two pact he made with James yesterday. That was the original plan, but now there was a new option available in front of him. Takuya didn't know if he should accept the deal, even if he wouldn't be completely loyal to May. He was hesitant to respond back.

"I…I'd uh, I'd love to." Takuya forced a weak smile on his face. "I mean, that's amazing! Watch out world, May and Takuya in the Final Two!"

"Thank you so much, Takuya!" May gasped. She wrapped her arms around Takuya and embraced him in a friendly hug. "You…you're awesome. I know I can count on you."

"How can I say no to you?" Takuya laughed.

"I hate to ask you this, but…" May muttered into Takuya's ear. She still had her arms around his body, but her grip on his shoulders was growing tighter. "But are you being honest with me? You…you aren't going to lie to me, right?"

Takuya gulped. Had May taken one glimpse of his face, she would see exactly how guilty and nervous he looked at the moment.

"I won't lie." Takuya confirmed.

May: He says he's honest with me, but I…I still can't trust Takuya with all my heart. But then again, I don't have that many options left. I'm forced to trust him, whether I like it or not. It's really a gamble at this point.

"Because you disappointed me before, Takuya. And it still hurts me to know that you've lied." May mumbled. She slowly pulled herself away from him. She was trembling. "I…I don't like liars."

"You…you have to trust me." Takuya stammered.

"I do trust you. I just don't want you to lie to me. Not anymore." May said. "So, if there's anything you haven't been honest about, now is the time to tell me."

"I'm a cleansed man." Takuya grinned. "I have no secrets."

A small smile spread across May's face. From her delighted expression, Takuya could tell that it was the answer she was looking for. In his head, Takuya pictured himself breathing a huge sigh of relief. He was safe.

For now.

- - -

It was midnight. Some of the players were sleeping soundly. But not every tribe member was present at camp as one would expect. In the midst of darkness, two players were having a secret rendezvous in the forest. Despite the unusual time, the game of Survivor never stopped for some players. Nobody understood this better than James, who knew that the real schemers came out during the night. Ironically, the brooding darkness was also the safest place to scheme and strategize around camp. This was especially true for those who cannot be seen associated together during daytime.

For the past two days, James and Takuya worked hard to maintain the façade that they despised each other. Most of the time, they simply avoided each other. It was the best way to evade any awkward encounters or worse, accidental slip-ups that would blow their covers. The most amount of communication they had were a few silent glares at each other's directions. Even then, those only lasted a few seconds before the two men were forced to turn away, fearing that they'd become too suspicious.

Although their ploy was working so far, James and Takuya soon realized that there was a huge drawback as secret allies pretending to be fake enemies. They had no way of talking to one another without attracting unnecessary attention. And therefore, they had no way of knowing how what progress they have made or what target to go after. It was why Takuya arranged a meeting with James tonight. They needed to talk at least once before tribal council. They needed to know where the other person stood in the alliance.

"Can you see me?" James whispered. Holding a flashlight in his hand, he was scanning the ocean of trees for the athletic Frontier. The weak radius of light was barely enough to illuminate his hands, so it was extremely difficult to detect Takuya in the darkness. "Where are you?"

"Dude, I'm on your left. Anyway, it doesn't matter. We just need to talk, we don't need to see each other," muttered Takuya.

"Right." James nodded. He cautiously waved his flashlight to his left, but he still could not see Takuya. "How's our plan?"

"May wants to vote Drew out." Takuya reported.

"And Drew wants to vote May out," said James.

The Team Rocket member finally located Takuya with his flashlight. Although his figure was barely visible, James could identify a toothy grin on Takuya's face. The two men shared a moment of tranquil silence with each other. And then, they snickered.

"Everything is going according to plan." James chuckled softly. "It's soooooo perfect!"

"They don't suspect a thing," boasted Takuya.

Takuya: Right now, I'm set for finals. I…I can picture May, James, and myself in the Final Three. All I need to do is lose the final immunity challenge, so I won't have to break my deal with either of them. On paper, that's what I should do anyway. But I won't lose that challenge on purpose. I don't throw challenges. That's not my thing.

Takuya shook his head. He smiled sheepishly at the cameras.

Takuya: To be honest, I feel more loyal to James than I do with May. Uh, don't get me wrong…she's a great girl and everything. But James and I have been through so much together. It's only fitting if we end up sitting next to each other in the finals. That's how much I value my friendship with him…and I know James feels the same way.

"If we pull this off, it's gonna be one of the best moves in the entire game," giggled Takuya.

"Yeah, it's going to be pretty up there!" James laughed. He turned to Takuya with a bright smile. "So, just to confirm…we're voting out May, right?"

"What? No, no…May is cool with us." Takuya frowned in disapproval. "We need to vote Drew out."

"I don't…uh, I don't know about that." James muttered.

"What do you mean?" Takuya asked. He narrowed his eyes at the nervous Team Rocket member. "Drew is the biggest manipulator in this game. It's obvious that he should be the first to go."

"May is more manipulative in a…a more subtle manner. She's a sneaky little bugger," explained James.

"Are you kidding me?" Takuya scoffed.

"I'm being serious, Takuya!" James said. "We need to vote out May first!"

"Oh my god, I can't believe you're saying this to me." Takuya scoffed. "You…you've fallen for it. It's Drew. He brainwashed you too, didn't he?"

Takuya slapped his hands on top of his head.

"Wake up and smell the coffee, James!" Takuya exclaimed. "Drew is far more dangerous to us than May ever will be!"

"I don't understand why…why you're always defending May. Every time we want to vote her out, you…you're always there to protect her." James muttered.

"That's because she's not a threat!" Takuya argued.

"You've been saying that for weeks. And here she is, in the Final Five." James' voice trembled with a mixture of nervousness and discomfort. "And from the looks of things, she's going to make it even further. She could possibly win this game."

"Buddy, buddy…listen to me." Takuya shook his head. "You don't know how ridiculous you sound, right now."

"You don't want to admit it, but it's true." James said. "She has been manipulating you…so that you could do…do all her dirty work."

"I'm not being used by anyone!" Takuya snapped.

"She made you throw the reward challenge for her today!" James argued, "It was soooooo obvious, Takuya!"

"What are you talking about? She won that challenge fair and square!" Takuya stared at James in sheer disbelief. "Is that what you think? You…you think she manipulated me to throw the challenge to her?"

"I think she persuaded you to let her win the challenge." James suggested, "And in return, she'll join an alliance with you."

"Stop making stuff up!" Takuya shouted.

"Admit it, Takuya! Can you look me in the face and…and say that you don't have an alliance with her?" James asked.

Takuya didn't reply back. He glared angrily at the ground.

"Answer me, Takuya." James repeated. "Do you or do you not have an alliance with May?"

"Yeah." Takuya replied. He stared defiantly at James. "Yeah, I do."

"Then, I'm sorry. I have to vote out May." James muttered.

James: I can't vote Drew out. Takuya wants me to, but I can't do it. Not…not when I know he's in an alliance with May. I'm not a gambler. And I can't risk my entire game just because Takuya says he is loyal to me. Actions speak louder than words. The only way I'm guaranteed to have Takuya's allegiance is if…if May is taken out of the equation.

"You're the one who I'm loyal to, James." Takuya mumbled, shaking his head in disbelief. "You of all people should know that."

"But I don't know that, Takuya." James said. He closed his eyes and sighed. "As long as you keep May in the game, I'll always doubt where your loyalty stands with me."

"Don't do this, James. Don't do this…" Takuya's voice was almost reduced to a whiny whimper. "For the sake of our friendship, don't vote May out…"

"I'm voting her out because she's the one who's tearing our friendship apart," replied James. "I…I'm not voting out Drew at the next tribal council. Let's settle for May."

"No, no, no…I can't agree to that." Takuya shook his head. He glared at the Team Rocket member. "James, if you don't vote for May, then I won't be able to trust you." He paused. His voice actually cracked a little as he spoke the following words. "And I can't promise to be your friend anymore."

"I'm sorry, Takuya." James said.

James turned off his flashlight, but not before he caught a glimpse of the rueful expression on the Frontier's face. Remorsefully, the Team Rocket member began heading back to the shelter. Takuya was left abandoned in the darkness, pondering where it all went wrong. What began as a fake argument had now turned into an actual fight. And now, there was no more acting. No more alliances. No more friendships.

Takuya was alone again.

- - -

DAY 36

TK could sense that something changed in the tribe dynamics. Most noticeably, his alliance was falling apart right in front of him. May had approached him to vote out Drew, and vice versa. No matter how hard TK tried to keep the Huntail alliance together, it was imploding without any control. Everybody was rebelling and turning against each other. All TK wanted was a Final Three consisted of Huntail members, but that goal looked less likely to happen as each day passed.

Still, the blonde was persistent that he could mend his alliance together, no matter how shatter it might appear. This morning, TK arranged an emergency meeting between the three alliance members. If they could talk things out and clear any misunderstandings amongst them, TK believed there was still a slim chance they could work together once more.

"Are we still voting for Takuya tonight?" TK asked.

Drew and May exchanged glances with each other. Neither of them replied back. TK sighed, looking very concerned about the unresponsive expressions.

"We talked about this a few days ago. And we promised each other that we'll vote Takuya out at the next tribal council," said TK. He eyed both of the Coordinators with doubt. "Does this deal still hold true?"

"I'm fine with voting Takuya out," said Drew, shrugging his shoulders as if it didn't matter to him.

May pressed her lips together. She looked hesitant to reply back to the two men as they turned towards her.

"Why Takuya?" May asked.

"Why not Takuya?" Drew smirked smugly. May shot a disdainful glare at him, but he turned away just in time.

"We were supposed to vote him out three days ago, but it was you who changed your mind in the last second." TK explained. He tried to sound as neutral as possible, although a hint of annoyance was beginning to surface in his voice. "We went over this a lot of times in the past, May. He's an enormous threat to all three of us."

"I know, I know." May said. She tilted her head slightly to her left. "But I don't want to vote him out."

"Go figure," scoffed Drew.

"I…I don't think it's the best option for us." May continued, ignoring the scornful remark from Drew. "I think we should target James instead."

"Voting James out only benefits you, May," said Drew.

"I don't agree." May muttered. She glared angrily at the Pokemon Coordinator standing in front of him. "James has won more immunity challenges than Takuya. People underestimate him all the time, but he is the best athlete in our tribe."

"James is meek and harmless. What can he do to harm us? Dig a hole?" Drew rolled his eyes. "On the other hand, Takuya will make our lives absolutely miserable if we keep him around. That boy just won't give up."

"It's true. The most dangerous player is one with nothing to lose." TK nodded his head.

"I…I'm not convinced." May mumbled, shaking her head in disagreement.

"I think you're getting a little too confident, May. If you keep on protecting Takuya, it's only going to come back and burn you." Drew warned, "You're basically attaching yourself to a bomb that will explode at any time."

"I'm not going to vote out Takuya. I've already made up my mind." May said. She stared at TK as she said this, hoping that he would catch her hint. "You know who I'm voting for." She paused as she turned her gaze towards Drew. "I think we should vote out the biggest backstabber in our tribe."

"If you can see it from my standpoint, you'd realize how ironic your statement was." Drew chuckled.

"Game on, Drew." May smiled sweetly at the Pokemon Coordinator.

TK sighed in frustration. This meeting wasn't going anywhere near the direction he wanted.

"Please don't argue, guys." TK said, forcing a weak smile on his face. "Let's focus on the positives."

"Like it or not, I didn't betray you guys," said May.

"And the sky isn't blue…" Drew muttered under his breath.

"Look, I don't know what happened. But I notice there's some animosity within our group." TK said, choosing his words very carefully as he spoke. May and Drew glared at each other without saying anything. "I think this is the perfect time to talk things out. Let's sort our differences here."

"Don't you think there's an obvious traitor in our group, TK?" Drew asked the blonde.

"The three of us have to stick together!" TK said, strengthening the forcefulness in his voice. He frowned in disapproval. "Traitors or not, I don't want Huntail to break apart."

"I'm really sorry, TK. I've made up my mind." May said.

"Nothing I say or do will change it?" TK asked hopefully. May shook her head. "Well then, at least consider an alternative option…"

"She's trying to blackmail us to vote her way again," said Drew. He smirked. "Don't you have another trick up your sleeves, May?"

"It's time for the challenge, you guys." May said, ignoring Drew's remark. She averted her gaze from the two men. "Let's talk about this afterwards."

TK sighed. Nothing was resolved in the last couple minutes. If anything, the relationship between the three of them only grew worse after this meeting. May still wanted to vote Drew out and the feeling was mutual both ways. It almost seemed impossible for the Huntail alliance to revive itself again.

TK: I don't want to give up. I think it's still possible to unite the three of us together. We can't fall apart that easily. I…I just don't understand why we aren't voting Takuya out. He's our common enemy! We should be going after him, not each other.

TK frowned at the cameras.

TK: Anyway, I think I may be able to convince May to switch her vote. But first, I need to make sure that Takuya doesn't win the immunity challenge. If he wins, then it's over. That'll be the final straw for our alliance. So, when all is said and done, it's crucial that Takuya doesn't win immunity today.

Unfortunately for TK Takaishi, some things were easier said than done.

- - -

As the players arrived at the immunity challenge today, one person clearly stood out from the rest. There was a radiant smile on Takuya's boyish face, one that was bursting with enthusiasm and excitement for the upcoming challenge. While the other players looked nervous (on in Drew's case, a little bored), the athletic Frontier seemed the most ecstatic about competing. As always, he felt confident about his chances today. Takuya could feel it in the air; luck was on his side today. It better be.

"Welcome to the immunity challenge," said Professor Birch. "First things first, I need the necklace back."

James nodded his head obediently. He removed the immunity necklace and handed it over to Professor Birch.

"Immunity is back up for grabs." Professor Birch said. He flashed a homely smile at the five players. "For today's challenge, you'll be competing in a…" He paused as his smile grew wider. "A trivia challenge."

TK beamed at the prospect of a mental active challenge. His chances of winning just got a little higher.

"There are four rounds to this challenge. Every round, I'll ask you a question about something that has happened in this game." Professor Birch explained, "The answer is always a number. Once I ask the question, the five of you will go into the forest and try to find the number of Pokeballs that correspond with your answer."

The beefy professor paused to catch his breath before continuing.

"These Pokeballs are randomly scattered in the forest behind you." Professor Birch said, gesturing his hand straight ahead. "Once you think you have the right number of Pokeballs, come back here and present me with your Pokeballs. I'll tell you whether you got the right number or not."

He gave another brief pause.

"If you have the right number, you move on to the next round. If you're wrong, you're eliminated from the challenge and the next round starts. Everyone else will be able to compete in the next round instead," said Professor Birch. "If everyone gets it right, then the last person to give me a Pokemon will be eliminated."

"So, one person will be eliminated each round no matter what?" May asked.

"Yes." Professor Birch replied, "The last player remaining after four rounds will win immunity, guaranteed a spot in the Final Four. If there aren't any more questions, let's get started."

Professor Birch took out a deck of cue cards from his lab coat. He shuffled them in his hand before he randomly pulled one out.

"The first question," Professor Birch read. "Out of all the remaining players here, how many did not compete in a reward challenge before the merge?" His eyes swiftly shifted to the players. "Go!"

At the signal, the five players raced to the forest. Their objective was to retrieve the same amount of Pokeballs as the answer of the question. Drew, who often studied trivial game statistics in his head, immediately knew that the answer was three – only Takuya and Drew participated in a reward challenge before the merge happened.

The Pokemon Coordinator looked around, scanning his enigmatic green eyes everywhere in the forest. In theory, the red and white spheres should stand out in a background of green and brown. But as Drew experienced himself, it was always more difficult to find something when under pressure. Answering the questions would be the easy part for him, but finding the right amount of Pokeballs was a different matter.

"Got one!" James said to himself. He plucked a Pokeball that was hanging underneath a branch and shoved it in his pockets. "I need one more…"

Nearly a minute later, James retrieved his second Pokeball, hidden discreetly in a thick bush. The Team Rocket member nodded as he counted over his collection. Two, yep…that's right. Thinking that he had the right number of Pokeballs, James ran back to Professor Birch for the tally.

"I'm sorry, James. That is incorrect." Professor Birch shook his head sadly at the Team Rocket member. "The right answer is three. You're eliminated from the challenge. Everyone else moves on to the next round."

"Oh no…" James muttered.

Before the second round began, the four remaining players were retrieved from the forest. Professor Birch instructed them to drop all their Pokeballs on the ground. What they collected previously could not be carried over to the next round. Therefore, all the players were competing on an even playing field at the beginning of the new round.

"Second question…how many players were unanimously voted out of the game?" Professor Birch asked.

As soon as he heard the question, Takuya was already running in the forest. He tried to recall each tribal council outcome in his head, but he found it difficult to think and run at the same time. He almost tripped on a rock, but Takuya caught himself before making a painful fall on the ground.

Damn it, I've got to concentrate! Takuya cursed to himself in his head. Let's see…Casey was voted out unanimously…and…and…who else?

Before he could figure the answer out, Takuya sighted a Pokeball near a tree trunk. He grabbed it before he resumed his thought process.

And then there's Delia…we all voted for her back then. Right? Takuya thought. For a few seconds, he was second-guessing himself, but he quickly shook the doubt out of his head. Yeah, I'm positive. Positive.

A short while later, Takuya spotted two Pokeballs hanging on top of a tall elm tree. The athletic Frontier gave a forceful kick at the tree and both Pokeballs dropped on the ground. Takuya grinned as he picked them up from the ground.

Just what I needed…three Pokeballs. Takuya thought to himself. Mimi's boot makes three. Yep, that's the right answer.

When Takuya made his way back to Professor Birch, he was surprised to see TK standing next to the Professor. Judging from the content smile on the blonde's face, Takuya figured that TK already moved on the next round. Nevertheless, Takuya ignored his bruised ego and ran over to Professor Birch, presenting him with his results.

"Three is the right number. You move on to the next round, Takuya." Professor Birch nodded. "There's only one spot left. It's a race between Drew and May."

A minute or so later, Drew returned with three Pokeballs in his possession. Thus, May was eliminated from the challenge. Only three players remained.

"Next question," Professor Birch said, "In what day was the first immunity challenge held?"

Of the three men, the first to return was Takuya. He returned with three Pokemon, which was the right answer. He was now one of the finalists in the challenge.

A few minutes later, TK arrived with three Pokeballs as well. Drew was out of the challenge. It was now a competition between Takuya and TK for the coveted immunity necklace.

"This is for immunity." Professor Birch stated in a very solemn voice. "How many votes did Cassidy receive when Takato was voted out?"

By now, the players noticed a very evident pattern in the questions. Once again, the answer to the professor's question was three. Both Takuya and TK knew this answer, so the competition came down to who can find three Pokeballs first. This task wasn't as easy as it sounded, since most of the visible Pokeballs were already taken in previous rounds. Takuya and TK had to rummage through the forest if they wanted to find anything at all.

Five minutes later, Takuya Kanbara found two Pokeballs. He just needed one more to complete a full set.

And then, he saw it.

In the river nearby, there was a small Pokeball caught in between two of the rocks. An enthusiastic grin spread across the Frontier's face as he ran over and retrieved the Pokeball. It was his third and final Pokeball that he needed for the victory.

An eager Takuya dashed out of the forest, hoping he was fast enough to beat his other competitor, TK Takaishi. The Frontier lost a bit of time getting lost in the forest, but he eventually found his way out. The sight of Professor Birch was like a glowing light at the end of the tunnel. Takuya could also see the immunity necklace in the professor's hand. In a matter of seconds, that was his.

In the midst of his excitement, Takuya accidentally dropped one of his Pokeball on the ground. When he bent down to pick it up, he must have reacted too slowly, because another hand stretched out and grabbed the Pokeball before Takuya could even touch it. Shocked, Takuya immediately turned to the thief who stole his Pokeball. It was TK Takaishi, who flashed a wide grin at the Frontier before he ran towards the professor.

"Hey, give it back! That was mine!" Takuya shouted as he chased after the blonde.

"Finders keepers, Takuya." Drew laughed. He, along with the other eliminated players, had been watching TK sneak up behind Takuya this entire time. And now, to see TK steal the victory right under Takuya's nose was going to be absolutely priceless.

But Takuya was determined to get back what was rightfully his. He picked up his pace and closed the very short gap between himself and the blonde. And then, in a moment of desperation, he tackled the blonde with his entire body. TK fell to the ground, but he still clutched his Pokeball very tightly in his hand.

"Give it back!" Takuya shouted. He tried ripping TK's hands apart, but the persistent blonde was not about to let go of his Pokeball.

"St…st…" TK was having a difficult time pronouncing his words. He was breathing very heavily as he spoke. "Stop…"

"Don't make me punch you. I swear I'll do it!" Takuya snapped angrily. "Come on, give it back to me!"

"N…no." TK grunted.

"Stop that! Stop immediately!" Professor Birch shouted. He was some distance away, but he could detect that a heated problem arose between TK and Takuya. It looked like an unpleasant fight was about to erupt. And he was right.

By the time Professor Birch arrived, Takuya already planted his right fist on TK's left cheek. The Frontier raised his hand in the air, looking as if he was about to deliver a second punch at the blonde.

"I said stop!" Professor Birch yelled angrily. He pulled Takuya away just in time. "No fighting!"

"I got it, professor," muttered Takuya. He turned to the professor, holding up a scratched Pokemon. In his other hand, he was carrying two others. "I have what I need."

Professor Birch stared at Takuya's hands for a few seconds. Reluctantly, he gave a nod of head.

"Takuya wins immunity." Professor Birch announced without enthusiasm. He handed the immunity necklace to Takuya, which the Frontier gratefully accepted.

"Yeah!" Takuya shouted, pumping his fist excitedly in the air. "Final Four! I made it! I made it!"

Takuya's celebration would have lasted longer, but he soon noticed that none of the other players shared his enthusiasm. James, May and Drew all got up from their seats and ran past Takuya without uttering even one word of congratulations. Feeling a little miffed, Takuya turned around. He was surprised to see the group of players, including Professor Oak, huddling around TK Takaishi. The blonde was still lying on the ground.

"Hey, what's going on?" Takuya asked. He approached the crowd with caution. "Is something wrong?"

"Oh my god…" May muttered. Her words were not directed at Takuya, but a mixture of fright and panic was noticeable in her shaky voice. She put her arm on Drew's shoulder, leaning on the short Pokemon Coordinator for support. "Oh my god."

"Did something happen?" Takuya asked.

"He's bleeding, Takuya!" James cried. Only when Takuya looked at his face could he see that tears were swelling in James' eyes. "TK's leg…it's bleeding!"

As soon as he heard those words, Takuya froze on the spot.

"Can you move your leg, TK?" Professor Birch asked in a gentle voice. The husky professor kneeled on the floor, examining the blood coming out of Takuya's left leg. He looked uncertain if he should put his hand on TK's leg or not.

"It…it hurts." TK winced.

"Stay calm. The medical team is coming." Professor Birch told him. He turned towards the other players. "Clamperl, please go back to camp. We'll inform you about the status of the game later on."

Some of the players nodded their heads and turned away. Only Takuya remained still on his spot. He found himself unable to move any part of his body. He could not move. He could not think. He could only feel – and the only emotion Takuya felt right now was fear.

"Let's go, Takuya…" James muttered, tugging on Takuya's arm. The Frontier shook him off.

"Somebody tell me what's going on!" Takuya demanded.

"When you pushed him on the ground, TK…he…he must've cut his knee on a rock or something," mumbled Drew. "You were so focused on getting that Pokeball! You didn't…didn't even know what you did to him."

"Wh…what?" Takuya stammered. "Is he going to be okay?"

"We don't know, Takuya." James replied solemnly.

"Please don't…don't' tell it's that leg." Takuya said, widening his eyes in fright. "No…"

"Yes, it's the same leg that he broke a few weeks ago." Drew nodded.

The immunity necklace slipped from Takuya's limb hand and fell to the ground.

Right now, immunity was the last thing on his mind.

- - -

Few words were exchanged when the Clamperl tribe returned to their camp. There was nothing to talk about. Most of the players were still in shock over the traumatic outcome of the challenge. They just wanted to be alone and bury themselves in their anxiety, so they hid in desolate areas scattered across camp. For some players, they can only cope with tragedy through silence and isolation. It was the only way they knew how.

For May, she found herself walking aimlessly around the island. Staring up at the gloomy grey sky, she tried appreciating the majesty of Mother Nature, just as TK the nature lover would. May thought this technique would ease her mind, but her trembling and her tears indicated that it was clearly ineffective. The emotional Pokemon Coordinator was still paranoid, still worried, and still as lost as ever. As if her feelings weren't chaotic as they were, May did not look forward to the impending tribal council in a couple of hours.

But at this stage, it was unclear if TK's injury would cause tribal council to be cancelled tonight. Even worse, May didn't know if she should be wishing against this or not.

May: Oh my god, a horrible…accident happened today. TK hurt his leg at the immunity challenge and…and we don't know if he's okay or not. I'm trying to stay optimistic. I'm trying not to freak out. But I'm really worried about him. I hope he's going to be okay.

May swallowed nervously. She flashed a shaky frown at the cameras.

May: In the guidelines, it states that if a player cannot attend a challenge or tribal council due to any non-game related circumstances, they're removed from the game by default. So, if TK's condition is so severe that he can't…can't go to tribal council, he'll…be kicked out of the game. And that just sucks.

For nearly half an hour, May walked around the island in circles. She eventually stumbled upon a sulky Takuya, who was hiding in the shelter. He was covered underneath a blanket, although his feet were sticking out. May sighed softly under her breath. Out of everybody here, the incident left an impact on Takuya the most.

"Hey." May said as she sat down next to Takuya. He did not acknowledge her presence, so she continued. "Do you want to talk?"

"Leave me alone." A stiff response came from the Frontier under the blanket.

"Takuya, you can't act like this for the rest of the game." May sighed.

In one swift motion, she yanked the blanket away from Takuya. The Frontier was curled up on the floor, his long skinny arms wrapped around his knees.

"I messed up bad." Takuya muttered. "I…I suck."

"It was an accident. It's not your fault, Takuya," said May in her most genuine voice. "Don't…don't blame yourself for what happened."

Takuya slowly pulled his body from the floor. He flashed a gloomy frown at May before he buried his face in his knees. Just from one brief glimpse of his puffy red eyes, she could tell that the Frontier has been crying.

"I'm a horrible person." Takuya mumbled under his breath. He could barely talk without his shaky voice cracking up. "I…I don't deserve to win immunity. I don't even deserve to be here."

"You won that challenge fair and square, Takuya." May said.

"No, I didn't…" Takuya shook his head slowly, but May gently placed a hand on his shoulder and stopped the Frontier from talking.

"This isn't the Takuya that I know." May said, flashing a weak smile at the Frontier. "I don't like what happened to TK, but I hate to see you act like this."

"He just recovered, May. He was so happy about it too." Takuya said, gulping. "And then, I went and…and broke his leg again."

"You didn't do anything, Takuya." May said. She drew a huge exasperated sigh. "It was an unfortunate accident, but it wasn't intentional. Nobody wanted that to happen to TK."

"If I didn't push him, he wouldn't have fall." Takuya muttered.

"You have to get over it. You have to think positive." May said. She grabbed Takuya's right hand and squeezed it tightly. "Where's your energy? Where's your fire?"

Takuya tried shaking May's hand away, but she wouldn't let go.

"You have a lot of faults, Takuya. But one of the things I love about you is your ambition. You put a hundred percent in everything you do. You're a true competitor." May continued, "If you haven't put all your effort in that immunity challenge, I would've looked less of you as a person. Because that's not the Takuya I know. He will never disappoint me by giving up. He will never disappoint me by letting some…some incident extinguish his competitive fire."

"You're bullshitting." Takuya grunted.

"When I first met you, I took an instant liking to you. It's because you were so…so enthusiastic. You radiate this warmth and energy. Whenever I'm around you, I feel motivated. I feel encouraged. And for the first time in a long while, I feel good about myself." May said. She smiled sweetly at the Frontier. "You have an amazing ability to make people smile. That's what you do best. And I…I don't want you to give that up."

"May, I can't…I can't do anything for him." Takuya muttered.

"Before you can do anything, you first have to snap out of it." May said, letting Takuya's hand go from her clutch. "You're a warrior, Takuya. Warriors never surrender. You have to fight back."

"I…I'm…I…" Takuya stuttered. He lowered his head in shame. "I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything. In fact, I like you a little better when you're not shooting off your mouth," said May.

It took a few seconds before a small dainty smile spread across Takuya's face. He glanced at May, looking amused.

"I knew that would make you smile." May giggled.

"Thanks, May. I needed that." Takuya said, smiling weakly at the Coordinator.

"I just don't want to see you unhappy." May explained.

"I can't believe I cried. How embarrassing," said Takuya as he wiped his hands against his puffy eyes.

"And it only took you thirty six days to break down." May smiled sweetly at the Frontier. "Welcome to the club."

"The last few days…no, the last few weeks have been so tough on me." Takuya said, shaking his head. "I lost Zoe. I lost Rika. And I've lost James…"

"You can still patch up with James," suggested May.

"No, no…you don't understand." Takuya continued shaking his head. "James and I…we staged an argument. We didn't want you guys to know that we still have an alliance." He paused and looked sheepishly at May. "And…and I thought I could convince him to vote Drew out, you know, just in case TK…TK doesn't vote with us. But I lost him. I lost him forever."

"Oh…" May said. She thought over Takuya's words for a few seconds before a genuine smile spread across her face. "I guess it's just the two of us then."

"May, I'm sorry that I…I didn't try hard enough." Takuya sniffled.

"Don't give up yet. We might still have TK's vote." May said. Before Takuya can open his mouth to dispute, May cut him off. "And don't tell me that TK won't be at tribal council. Because I know he will. I know he's okay."

"How can you be so sure?" Takuya asked.

"Just call it…" May grinned, "A woman's intuition."

- - -

Attending tonight's tribal council was actually good news for the Clamperl tribe, since this confirmed that TK was in a condition well enough to continue this game. As much as everybody wanted to make it to the Final Four, none of them wanted to achieve that goal at the expense of TK's wellbeing. This sentiment was evident when the Clamperl tribe arrived at tribal council tonight and burst into a unanimous cheer when they saw TK sitting on a bench already. The blonde was wearing a pair of black track pants, which covered up any evidence of his injured leg.

"I know what you're all thinking. TK is okay." Professor Birch announced, "None of his bones got broken or anything like that."

"That's a relief!" James sighed.

"TK, would you like to speak about it to your tribe?" Professor Birch asked.

"I'm sorry that I worried you guys. It was just a…a minor cut." TK smiled modestly at the players. But most of them knew TK well enough to know that he downplayed his actual injury so they wouldn't be worried. "Thanks for your support."

"We're just glad you're okay…again." May smiled.

"With that out of the way, let's get tribal council started." Professor Birch clapped his hands together. "We'll now bring out the members of our jury."

Cassidy, JP, Casey and Rika came out and sat down on the jury benches. None of them were smiling, although Rika's face features softened when she saw the immunity necklace around Takuya's neck.

"Now, the jury members don't know what happened at the immunity challenge today." Professor Birch said, "Would anyone like to give them a brief overview about it?"

"It was me." Takuya voluntarily raised his arm in the air. "I got too aggressive at the immunity challenge today and I…I did some things that I regretted." He paused and shot an apologetic glance at TK. "I'm really sorry."

"It's okay." TK nodded in comprehension.

"Please elaborate, Takuya." Professor Birch said.

"I dropped a Pokeball on the ground and TK took it, so I wanted to get it back. I…uh, I tackled him on the ground, but he still won't let go. So…I kind of punched him in the face so I could get my Pokeball back…" Takuya said.

A few members of the jury looked at each other in astonishment and began whispering. Professor Birch quickly shushed them.

"Takuya, you're aware that physically injuring another player is against the rules, right?" Professor Birch asked.

"Yes. I'm really sorry," said Takuya, hanging his head in shame.

"The producers and I have discussed about removing you from this game, Takuya, under the guidelines that you made inappropriate contact with another player." Professor Birch explained, "However, TK Takaishi insisted that this issue should be dropped."

"We just got in the moment, that's all." TK interjected.

"You don't need to defend him," quipped Drew.

Professor Birch shot him a glare and silenced the Pokemon Coordinator.

"Since the victim didn't file a complaint against the offender, in addition to the producers' acknowledgement that this challenge could get very physical in nature, Takuya is acquitted of his charges." Professor Birch concluded.

"Thank you," mumbled Takuya. He looked hesitant for a moment before he raised his hand in the air again. "And uh, I'd like to add something, if I may?"

"Go ahead." Professor Birch replied.

"I want to give my immunity necklace away to TK, because I…I don't think I deserve it." Takuya said.

"I don't want it-" TK said, but he was interrupted by the professor's voice.

"I'm sorry, but that's against the rules." Professor Birch responded in a stern tone. "And you've broken enough rules as it is already."

Takuya obediently nodded his head. He lowered his arm from the air.

"Okay, let's get to the vote." Professor Birch said, "Since Takuya has immunity, none of you can cast a vote against him." He paused and gestured his hand to the Team Rocket member. "James, you're up first."

James got up from his seat and headed towards the podium. He picked up the black ink marker and wrote May's name on the parchment. He held it in front of the cameras and smiled.

"To be honest, I've been waiting for quite some time to cast this vote! You're a sweet girl, but uh…I feel as though you never respected me in this game. Not just as a player, but also as a person. Like, I've noticed you never talk to me unless you have a favour to ask me. And no, I don't sit well with that."

He shrugged his shoulders and dumped the vote in the urn.

"But it's okay. I don't have a lot of respect for you either. I think you're very conniving and manipulative, but you try to hide it behind your pretty face." He paused and then shrugged his shoulders again. "And sorry, but I'm afraid there's only enough room for one pretty face on this tribe."

Takuya was the next person to vote. He didn't hesitate as he scribbled a certain Pokemon Coordinator's name down on the parchment.

"I'm voting for Drew because I don't like him." Takuya explained as he held up his vote to the cameras. "What an ass."

Drew received his second vote of the night, predictably from May. She smiled sweetly as she wrote four letters on the parchment.

"When all is said and done, you're an okay guy. I wish you the best of luck, Drew."

And unsurprisingly, Drew cast a vote against his rival May.

"Nice try, but the cat always catches the mouse. See exhibit A." Drew grinned as he held up his three-lettered vote to the cameras. "I know I'm not going tonight. Unlike you, I've spent the last thirty six days winning over TK's trust. And all my work will be evident when he votes with me tonight."

He paused as he folded his vote in half.

"You see, May, the difference between you and me is that I'm a ruthless player and you're not. You came here to make friends, but I came here to make alliances. You came here trusting too many people, but I came here trusting nobody at all."

Drew dropped his vote into the urn. He looked up at the cameras and smirked.

"You came here to get fifth place, but I came here to win."

TK Takaishi was the last person to vote tonight. He got up and began walking over to the voting shrine. The limp on his leg was very noticeable, but TK did not complain even once. Many of the jury members cast sympathetic gazes as the blonde crossed the floor. Even Cassidy looked somewhat empathetic, which was a rare emotion for the normally feisty vixen.

Finally, TK arrived at the shrine.

- - -

After tallying the votes, Professor Birch came back with the voting urn in his hands. In a few minutes, another player would be voted out of Survivor: Dewford Islands.

"Once I read the votes, the person voted out will be asked to leave tribal council area immediately," said Professor Birch solemnly. He gave a soft sigh as he opened the lid of the voting urn. "I'll read the votes."

He pulled out the first parchment and unfolded it.

"First vote…" Professor Birch said, turning the piece of parchment over. "Drew."

The Pokemon Coordinator nodded his head once. He stared at the girly handwriting on the parchment and immediately recognized that this was May's vote. He smiled thinly at her, but she didn't respond back.

"Second vote…" Professor Birch turned over the second parchment. "May."

She clasped her hands over her mouth, out of nervousness more than shock. She was not too surprised to see her name written down tonight, although the sight of those three letters made her feel very queasy in the stomach.

"Drew," said Professor Birch as he read the third vote.

Takuya grinned. He nudged May in the shoulder, hoping to encourage her to stay optimistic. She could merely muster a weak smile at him.

"May." Professor Birch declared, "That's two votes for Drew and two votes for May."

The bottom of TK's lips curled to a disapproving frown. The blonde knew he cast the deciding vote tonight, since only his vote had not been read out yet. The fact that one of his ally's fates was sealed by TK made him a little uncomfortable, and also a little guilty.

We had such a good thing going too. TK thought to himself in his head. We had an alliance. We could have been the Final Three.

But it wasn't meant to be.

TK bit his lips and turned away. He was not anticipating the announcement at all. From the corner of his eyes, TK caught a glimpse of the professor's hand reaching into the urn. A vote was pulled out. Professor Birch unfolded it. And a fate was sealed.

"The twelfth person voted out of Survivor: Dewford Islands…"

Professor Birch paused for a few seconds before he turned the vote over.

"May." Professor Birch said, smiling sadly at the female Pokemon Coordinator. "Please bring me your torch."

Sighing softly, May slowly got up from her seat. She nodded her head as if she was trying to reassure herself that everything was okay. Before she walked to the Professor, Takuya grabbed her hand and squeezed it. May smiled faintly at the Frontier and mumbled something inaudible. And then, she walked over the Professor with her torch. The flame was barely lit.

"May, the tribe has spoken." Professor Birch announced as he snuffed the flame on her torch. "It's time for you to go."

"Bye, guys." May said, waving her hand at the Clamperl tribe.

Drew watched the female Coordinator turn around and march into the forest. Within a few seconds, he could barely distinguish her figure from the shadows of the trees. In a blink of an eye, he could not see May anymore. Drew smirked a little to himself.

"Well, this has never happened before in Survivor history. I must admit, I'm surprised to see that the Final Four is consisted of four men," said Professor Birch. He raised an eyebrow at the men. "But remember, there are also four women on the jury. And they'll be the ones deciding who wins the million dollars at the end."

Sitting on the jury benches, JP looked a little miffed at the professor's speech. Either Professor Birch excluded JP from the jury, or he included JP as part of the women. The chubby Frontier wasn't impressed.

"Nonetheless, I'll congratulate the four of you for making it this far in the game. You are the Final Four." Professor Birch said, "Get a good night of sleep. Tomorrow is waiting."

James rose from his seat first. Tonight's results occurred exactly as he had hoped. May was who the Team Rocket member considered as his largest threat, and she was now out of the game. As he went to grab his torch, James smiled proudly at the strong dash of flame in front of him. The fire was symbolism of everything that he worked for in the past thirty six days. To make it to the Final Four was a gigantic accomplishment for him. James couldn't be more thankful.

Feeling slightly less humble about his experience, Drew was the next person to leave his seat. There was a satisfied smirk on his face, almost as if he was silently gloating to an invisible audience. Like James, the arrogant Coordinator got the outcome that he wanted tonight. Although May tried to vote him out, Drew proved that he played the better game, considering that he was still in the game. Now that his biggest hindrance was removed from the game, Drew felt very confident about his chances of winning. The rest of the players were just puppets at his disposal.

TK had some trouble leaving his seat, but he was assisted by James and Drew. TK silently thanked the men as he leaned against them for support. Out of everyone, he suffered the most pain and trauma today, physically and mentally. The medical team spent hours patching TK up, running through various tests to make sure that he could still walk (which he could, albeit every step he took was layered with a numbing pain). But nonetheless, TK persevered. The more pain he suffered, the stronger his willpower grew.

Finally, there was Takuya. He was the last person to leave his seat tonight. As he stood up, there was a defiant smile on his boyish face. On first sight, one would assume that the Frontier had no reason to feel jubilant tonight. May's departure marked another loss in Takuya's strategy and another roadblock in his game. Just when he thought things couldn't get any worse, his chances of winning took another nosedive after tonight.

Despite his odds, Takuya felt motivated to play the game. May's elimination did nothing more but fuel his enthusiasm. The competitive Frontier saw himself as a lone Gorebyss warrior battling against three Huntail sharks. And he would never surrender to his enemies.

Even though he was fighting with an army of one, Takuya was still determined to win this war.

- - -

May's Final Words

Am I disappointed that I'm out of this game? Surprisingly, the answer is no. I feel proud for making it this far. Sure, I'd like to go further, but I'm happy with what I got. May be it was best if I left the game now. Over the past few days, the game brought out a deceitful side of me that I didn't like. I was plotting, I was lying, and I even did a little backstabbing. And I'm not a dishonest person, so I didn't like those aspects of myself. I want the old me back. And it's back!

Other than that, I thought this game was so much fun. Oh my god, I wouldn't trade this experience for anything in the world! Then again, I haven't eaten properly for thirty six days, so my judgment might be a little impaired…

- - -

Next Time on Survivor –

The game comes to an end.
Professor Birch: Survivors ready?
Who will win the one million dollars?
Professor Birch: Go!
Will it be Drew, who orchestrated many shocking demises?
Drew: I played the best game.
Will it be James, who scored a perfect tribal council record?
James: I'm doing this for my friends.
Will it be Takuya, who overcame some unbelievable odds?
Takuya: You can't take me down.
Or will it be TK, who endured hurdles like a true survivor?
TK: Never give up.

All this and more on – Episode 13: When Plans Go Haywire

- - -

Author's Notes: I hope you enjoyed the latest chapter. Just one more chapter to go! Who's your pick to win it all? Review - I'd love to know! Also, don't forget to take the survey for the final episode!