Here's Chapter 14! Enjoy!
(Tribe Passion)
The four remaining castaways walked back to camp. All had different expressions about the vote as they were all silent.
However, Ace decided to break the ice.
"WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED!?"
"Seriously. Xigbar was supposed to be 3-2 harmlessly. Suddenly, he and Swiper started to exchange insults with each other." Ace said to the camera. "Something happened and from the look of things, I am the only one in the dark!"
"What the heck, man?" The brunette said looking down at Swiper. "What was that about? Why did you called out Xigbar like that?"
Swiper simply smirked as he crossed his arms. "You would had done the same thing when you found out what he did to Mark."
Ace's eyes widened before looking at the cheetah who nervously scratched the back of his head.
"I was the swing vote last night. I had to choose between Swiper and Xigbar." Mark said to the camera. "Personally, I would had gone either way because they did a lot of mean things. However, Xigbar's way of trying to get me to flip was very harsh."
"It was okay until he started to bring up Eduardo's elimination." The sprinter admitted.
"So you trying to get you to flip by making you vote emotionally." Ace said narrowing his eyes.
"That's pretty much it." Swiper nodded.
"I overheard Xigbar's plan yesterday before Tribal Council. He thinks I am undeserving to be in the Final 4 because of the schemes I did." Swiper said to the camera. He then smirked. "Sorry, man but your hands have blood on them too. All I have to do is call you out and your demonic side!"
"I am sorry that Xigbar did that to you, Mark." Fuuka apologized.
"It's all right. It doesn't matter now." The young man said shaking his head.
"Well, he is just lucky I just found out." Ace said crossing his arms. "But you're right, Mark. It doesn't matter now. Come on. We have a big day tomorrow."
Mark raised an eyebrow. "We do?"
"You mean you actually lost count?" Ace said surprised before chuckling. "Tomorrow's Day 37! We are the finale, kiddo!"
Mark's eyes widened. "Oh, yeah! We have an Immunity Challenge first thing tomorrow!"
"That's right." Swiper nodded. "This is where we have to put all of our skills to the max."
"Well, I admit I hit a couple of speed-bumps along the way but I am in the finale." Swiper said to the camera. "It wasn't easy but I made it! Now, to see I could wiggle my way to the Final 2."
"Come on, guys." Ace said stretching his arms. "Let's rest up."
Mark, Swiper and Fuuka nodded as the four walked off to the shelter to rest. Fuuka was bringing the rear.
"Well, I think it goes without saying but I am obviously the next target the next time we go to Tribal Council being the last Kremling left." Fuuka said to the camera. "Which is weird because if I wasn't kidnapped on Day 3, I would had the first one out. And yet, here I am in the Final 4."
The teenager narrowed his hers.
"If I am gone anyway, I want to say to put up a fight when handing in my torch."
(Day 37, Immunity Challenge)
The four contestants stood on the mat ready for their next Immunity Challenge.
Tinyrocket flashed a wide grin. "Morning, contestants and welcome to your next Immunity Challenge! You will all play a different version of squash."
The four looked at each other in confusion when the host said this.
"Here are the rules. You will each me given a racket and stand on a court in front of a wall. On top of the wall are balloons with your faces on them. Also on the wall were vines heading to the top. And a bunch of Claptrap climbing up the vines holding the vines trying to eat your balloons. The rules are simple. The panels can be flipped by a well-aimed stroke. Once that happens, the Claptraps will go on a different path to the top. If your balloons gets popped, you are out. Last one standing wins Immunity guaranteering an one-in-three shot of winning. Ace, give me the necklace and we will draw for position on the court and on the wall."
Later, after everyone got into positions with their new rackets, a bunch of Kremlings stood at the side posing as ballmen in case a ball bounces out of play.
"All right! For Immunity, are you ready?" Tinyrocket said. "GO!"
A Kremling threw the first ball over to Ace. The brown-haired man swung his tennis racket hard striking a panel making it flip over. It then bounced over to Swiper who swung the racket with all of his might sending the tennis ball flying towards a panel on bottom hitting it. As he did so, a Claptrap started to climb up the vines heading all the way to the balloons.
Fuuka ran at the ball as it was coming to her and swing it. Only to miss completely and fall on her behind letting it bounce out of court.
"This is too hard. Even for a Survivor Challenge!" The green-haired girl exclaimed.
"Hey. Consider yourself lucky." Tinyrocket said with a smirk. "It was either this or hitting barrels with baseballs."
The contestants grumbled as another Kremling threw in a ball. Mark wasted no time hitting the ball towards the panel making it flip.
This went on for a while. The ball kept being hit against the wall flipping panels here and there. The Claptrap continued to climb on taking different routes. Soon, it started to reach the balloons. Ace's eyes widened when he saw that the Klaptrap was heading towards his balloon.
"Not on my watch!" The mercenary snapped before lunging himself at the ball.
With one good swing, he hit the ball straight at the the Klaptrap. However, it missed hitting another panel instead. The Klaptrap climbed to the top and bite Ace's balloon.
POP!
"Ace is out!" Tinyrocket shouted.
"Crud..." The mercenary grumbled. "And I was loving that necklace around my neck too."
"Ace, you are unable to win Immunity but you are still in the Challenge trying to see if you want to try to help or hinder someone?"
Fuuka frowned not liking the sound of that before hitting the ball back attacking a panel as another Klaptrap started to climb up the vines. Ace narrowed his eyes as he hit the ball. If he can't win Immunity, he might as well make sure the outsider didn't get it.
The game continued onward. Everyone was actually getting the hang of the Challenge.
"You all seemed very good at this." Tinyrocket said.
Fuuka shook her head. "The only reason I am doing decently is because most of the shots going towards me are easy ones."
"Hey. You can more or less REACH most of them." Swiper shouted jumping up to hit the ball.
The Kremling continued to climb up the vines, taking different paths as it does so as it headed towards the balloons. Soon, it reached the very top. Unfortunately, the ball went out of play before another could change the path. All the owner of the balloon could stare in horror.
POP!
"Fuuka is out!" Tinyrocket shouted.
The young girl frowned at this. "Oh, dear..."
The other three smiled knowing that she wouldn't be able to win Immunity now.
"All right! It is between Mark and Swiper!" Tinyrocket said.
Mark narrowed his eyes as he gripped his racket tightly waiting for the ball to go back into play. However, it went to Swiper instead.
"That necklace is mine!" The fox smirked before hitting the ball.
"A little cocky coming from a little guy?" Ace said with a smirk.
"Said the guy who got out first."
The man's smirk vanished.
Mark smirked. "Well, you are more than welcome to try!"
With that, he hit the ball into the ball. This is it. This could end the game and give either anthro the Immunity Necklace. The four continued to play the game. Tinyrocket watched in awe excited to see who will win. The last Claptrap continued to climbed up the wall towards the balloons.
Fuuka saw this. Suddenly, her eyes widened in realization when she saw it was heading towards Mark's balloon. Suddenly taking a rush towards the ball as it bounced towards, her swing underhanded with all her might.
The ball flew straight to the air towards the panel hitting it making the Klaptrap go towards Swiper's balloon instead. Everyone looked in shock at the Klaptrap opened his jaw.
POP!
Tinyrocket stood a little stunned before realizing what happened. "Um... MARK WINS IMMUNITY!"
The three men looked in Fuuka in shock.
"Um, thanks..." Mark said a loss of words.
"Um, you welcome." Fuuka said not believing what she just done.
Swiper narrowed his eyes at the girl. However, he glared not of anger but suspicion.
Swiper, Fuuka and Ace watched as Mark stood in front of Tinyrocket.
"Well done, Mark. You won Immunity giving you a 1-in-3 shot of winning." The host said.
"I can't say I earned but yeah, I take it." The cheetah shrugged.
"As for the rest of you, the game is over for the three of you." Tinyrocket said. "You may head back to camp. I will see you at Tribal Council tonight."
(Tribe Passion)
Ace, Mark and Swiper sat around the fireplace talking to each other.
"Well, THAT was interesting." Mark said.
"I'll say." Ace nodded.
"Today I won Immunity. However, it was because Fuuka somehow saved me at the last minute." Mark said to the camera. "I don't know what came over her."
"Seriously, what was up with that?" Swiper asked.
"I don't know." Ace said shaking his head. He then smirked. "Maybe she just hates you and didn't wanted to see you win Immunity."
Mark chuckled as Swiper got an anger mark on his head.
"Oh, har-har." The schemer said sarcastically. "Look, speaking of Fuuka. We are all in agreement?"
"3-1 Fuuka? Yeah." Ace nodded.
"All right, cool. Bros to the end." Swiper nodded as he got up. "In the meantime, I am going to take a nap."
"K." Mark said. "We'll wake up if we need to go to Tribal."
"I'll appreciate it." Swiper said walking off.
"The vote should be simple tonight. Vote off Fuuka. Considering she is the only outsider, it is an obvious choice." Ace said to the camera. "However, we soon found out that it won't be so easy."
Fuuka walked over to Ace and Mark as they were talking.
"Hey, guys." She said.
"Hey, Fu." Mark greeted.
The high-school student took a deep breath. "I am just going to ask you guys. I am next to go?"
"Yeah..." Mark said scratching the back of his head. "I mean, you ARE the last Kremling standing."
"I know..." Fuuka frowned looking at her feet. However, she looked back up. "But may I say something?"
"Um, sure." Ace said.
"It may be true that I am the only one in the majority. That is the ONLY reason I could see for you to vote for me." Fuuka said.
"One of the main reasons I somehow helped Mark win Immunity was to stop Swiper from winning it." Fuuka said to the camera. "It won't be easy but I think I am make the Konami stars flip and vote off Swiper."
"I mean I do horrible at the Challenges and I been riding on Xigbar's coattails since the merge." The young girl explained.
"True." Ace said with a raised eyebrow.
"If I somehow get into the finals, I would get very few votes." Fuuka explained. "Swiper on the other hand, had been playing the game smartly even before the merge started. You two must admit he had been the most moves out here."
"Yeah." Mark nodded.
"But making the most moves also means backstabbing the most people." Ace pointed out. "Sure, he played a great strategic game but jury-vote wise, he didn't do very well.
"While a traitor, Swiper is not arrogant and rubbed it in everyone's faces." Fuuka said shaking her head. "He said tons of times that it wasn't personal."
"Also true but you would most likely get Xigbar, Lilo and Hank's jury votes if you make it to the finals." Ace explained.
Again, Fuuka shook her head. "I may be close with them but not that close. Look, all I am asking is that you at least think about it."
Ace and Mark looked at each other before looking back at her.
"Um, okay. Fu." Mark said.
Hearing this made the Persona-user take a deep breath. "Thank you."
"I made my plea. Not the best one overall but certainly a good one." Fuuka said to the camera. "I just hope they would at least consider it."
With that, the green-clad teen walked off. However, when she went out of sight, Swiper came out of nowhere.
"Hey, guys." He said making his fellow Kongs jump in fright.
"Swiper? Are you done with your nap already?" Ace asked shocked.
"You can say that." The purple-clad fox said narrowing his eyes.
"I am not stupid. I know that Fuuka gave Mark Immunity on purpose so that she could plot to get ME out." Swiper said to the camera. "Sorry, sweetheart but your pal, Xiggy tried to same night just last time and that didn't work too well."
"I know that Fuuka was talking to you guys about getting me out, wasn't she?" The schemer said narrowing his eyes.
"What? Were you spying on us or something?" Ace said sounding upset.
Swiper acted as he didn't heard that comment. "Look, guys. Fuuka may be a non-entity physically AND mentally but she is still a threat."
"Jury threat?" Mark asked.
"That's right! Xigbar, Lilo and Hank will vote for her by default!" Swiper pointed. "Three votes without even pleading to the jury yet? That's too much of a threat in my opinion."
"But if we let you slip through the cracks, you would get votes based on gameplay." Ace said with a smirk.
"Very funny." Swiper said. "Look. The jury hates me. I backstabbed Eduardo and Lilo. I definitely think Clover hates me. After last night, I may have to wear a bullet-proof vest when this game is over. I was even partly responsible for my partner's elimination. While Fuuka didn't do anything complex for the majority of the game, she didn't do anything to backstab anyone."
"True." Ace said stroking his chin.
"Think about it. It doesn't matter if he stinks at sports or not, keeping her would be stupid." Swiper said walking off.
"All right, man." Ace said watching the fox walk away.
"So... What do you think?" Mark asked.
"Hmm... Both have their strengths and weaknesses for thinking safe." Ace mused. "Swiper is a mental threat while Fuuka is a jury one. Either one could easily win the finals."
"So we have to figure out whether to stay loyal to Swiper and get rid of him once and for all." Mark said.
"Yeah." Ace nodded.
"Vote off Swiper. Vote off Fuuka. Once again, I am in the position of the swing vote and it is definitely not easy." Mark said to the camera. "Either one could make or break someone in the finals and I don't think we would know that until we voted off someone."
"Ugh... I am pressured with having the role of the swing vote." Mark groaned holding his head. "Ace, you know this game better than me. Why don't you choose?"
"Me?" The mercenary said with a raised eyebrow.
"I think you would have a better choice on who will win." Mark nodded.
"Well, what do you know? For the third time this game, I am the swing vote. Only this time, I am not here to keep my friends safe but whether to choose who would I would have a better chance against in the finals." Ace said to the camera. "Swiper played the best game out here and Fuuka have at least three automatic votes. No matter what choice I would choose, I would regret it."
(Tribal Council)
The four contestants walked into the cave where their host was waiting.
"Welcome, contestants." Tinyrocket said with a smirk. "Sit."
Everyone did what they were told.
"We now bring in the jury." Tinyrocket said. "Eduardo, Clover, Hank, Lilo and Xigbar who was voted off at the last Tribal Council."
The castaways looked at the jury coming in. Xigbar wore a tan trenchcoat with a matching fedora, a lilac button-up shirt, black trousers and black boots.
"Remember, you are not allowed to address the jury. They are merely here to observe." Tinyrocket said. "Swiper, I have to ask, what was with the verbal-assault between you and Xigbar?"
"Oh, apparently he was resorting to low blows to get Mark to flip and vote me out of emotion." The fox said with a smirk. "However, I managed to catch him in the act. All I needed to do was insult him a little and let Mark see his horns."
"That's still no reason to say some of the stuff you said." Lilo said crossly.
"Meh. Some stuff like that bounce off like a water off a duck's back." Xigbar shrugged.
"Mark, if what Swiper says is true, you were the swing vote right?" Tinyrocket asked.
"Right. I could either go with Swiper and Xigbar." The cheetah explained. "I went with Xigbar because he was kinda mean."
"How did that miserable cat get to be the swing vote if he didn't DO anything?" Hank said in disgust.
"Fuuka, how the look of things you are the outsider. Are you nervous?" Tinyrocket asked.
"Yes..." The teenaged girl said. "Unless I do something, I would be gone."
"Ace, is it smart to get rid of Fuuka now?" Tinyrocket asked.
"Well, she isn't very good at Challenges and she's not much of a mental threat either." The womanizer explained. "However, she is a Jury threat. She got three votes automatically."
"Considering OTHER people I would not bring up still in the game, that doesn't surprise me." Hank said narrowing his eyes.
"I didn't really do anything for the entire game and just sat back and watched things unfold." Fuuka explained.
Swiper narrowed his eyes when he said this.
"Swiper, you seemed ticked by this." Tinyrocket said. "Why?"
"Well, she didn't exactly call me out but she is beating around the bush saying that we should vote off the biggest move-maker." The schemer said.
"But you are the biggest move-maker." Fuuka said. "Therefore you are the biggest threat."
"Fu, I don't know what you are talking about." Swiper said. "The majority of the jury hates me."
Clover raised her eyebrow. "Swiper does got her there."
"Ace, one more question before we go to tonight's vote. How will tonight's vote will go?" Tinyrocket asked.
"Well, whoever I feel will gives us big trouble in the finals will go." The brown-haired said.
Swiper and Fuuka both looked at each other when he said this.
"Right, Mark, you have Immunity." Tinyrocket said. "You wanna give it up?"
"No, I'll think I keep it." The young man said.
"All right. I can't vote for him. Time to vote. Mark, you're up." Tinyrocket nodded.
The cheetah nodded before he got and darted off into the cave before writing down a name and heading back.
Next was Swiper. Narrowing his eyes, he marched into the cave knowing who to vote for.
"Sorry, sweetheart. I am here to stay." He said holding up the name "Fuuka" to the camera.
Next was Fuuka. Taking a deep breath, he walked into hoping to write down a name.
"It is either you and me." She said holding up the name "Swiper" to the camera.
Next was Ace. Punching his palm knowing quite well that he was the swing vote, he walked into the cave.
"It's definitely wasn't an easy vote but I think this is the best choice." He said before writing down a name.
After putting the name in the jar, he walked back and Tinyrocket got up.
"I'll go collect the votes." He said before going to collect the urn and walking back.
"I'll read them out. First vote, Fuuka."
Fuuka sighed not surprised by this at all.
"Second vote, Swiper. One vote, Fuuka. One vote, Swiper."
Swiper crossed his arms with narrowed eyes knowing the next vote will tell the outcome.
"Third vote... Swiper. Two votes, Swiper. One vote, Fuuka. One vote left."
Fuuka's eyes widened in shock.
"Thirteenth person voted out of Survivor and sixth member of our jury." Tinyrocket said "Is Swiper with three votes."
"Yes!" Xigbar said clenching his fist as the others besides Hank looked happy.
Fuuka shook her head in disbelief not believing that she was still in. Swiper however looked a little ticked off. He looked at Ace who was smiling brightly waving to him with his finger.
"Swiper, your torch, please."
"All right. Fine." The fox said. "I see how it is."
With that, he grabbed his torch and walked over to the host putting the torch in front of him.
"Swiper, the tribe had spoken." Tinyrocket said putting his snuffer on the flame extinguishing it. "It is time for you to go."
"I just hope your decision doesn't bite you in the butts." Swiper said walking off.
"So it seems that you decided to vote off the mental threat over the jury threat. That could either be a good move depending on the situation. We'll see how it turns out. You may now head back to camp."
"When I saw my name come up for the second time, I was absolutely furious. However, when I walking away, I actually got over it." Swiper said to the camera with a small smile. "I mean think about it, I played the best game out here. I was manipulating people without them knowing it. I had grown so much as a person since being here and it's a little reassuring to know that I got voted off because I am a threat."
RESULTS
Swiper: Mark, Fuuka, Ace
Fuuka: Swiper
So just like that, the story's main villain had left the building. Swiper was definitely an interesting character to write for. He was calculating, schemer and ain't afraid to plant a knife into one of his allies' back to get further in the game. And at the same time, he was a complete jerk about it. And not only did he played the biggest game but he also got the most development in my opinion. I had a ball writing for him.