Previously on Nintendo Survivor:
At Velocidad Azul, Link worried about his girlfriend at camp, and it worried Navi. At the immunity challenge, Link became traumatized when he learned that Zelda had been ejected from the game by her tribe. Navi took a bold move and chose to sit Link and herself out of the challenge. A bold move indeed and it did not pay off. By taking their strongest member out, Velocidad Azul fell behind in the challenge and Energia Roja took home immunity for the very first time. Back at camp, Navi and Midna discussed the plans for tribal council, and a plan to vote out the very leader of their alliance formed. But in the end, they stuck to their original plan and Krystal was voted out in a 5-2-1 vote. Thirteen are left, who will become the Sole Survivor?
--
VELOCIDAD AZUL'S RETURN
The tribe returned to their camp, the two most vulnerable behind the pack. Falco and Luigi knew they were in deep trouble now. They had no alliance, the alliance ahead of them was too big to stop, and to top it all off, they were the only one from their game series on their tribe. With all those factors, it was hard to stop asking themselves:
"Am I going next?"
Luigi: Weakest link, a wimp, and overall, not a strong competitor. Falco: a physical threat, can manipulate in a hummingbird's heartbeat. But none of them knew what the next three days could bring.
Link, Navi and Midna led the pack. Link had put a serious looking face on and led the pack back to camp minus one member. He appeared to have recovered from what Midna had called it: "his supposed daze."
As they got back, the tribe walked into their shelter. Navi and Midna were sitting around the campfire instead.
"What did I tell you?" asked a very smiley happy Midna.
"Okay, okay, you were right. But what if you weren't?"
She paused. "I would have turned back on my word."
"You wouldn't!"
"I would have. I'll tell you why, too. Link deserves to make it to the merge, better yet, the jury. Come on, Navi, he's made all the right moves at this point: strong alliance, good friends… scratch that, you would have voted for him that tribal council."
"I just want him to be happy."
"I know. I do too."
They turned to look at their leader, asleep in the tent.
"Do you know who voted for me, by the way?" asked Navi.
"Probably Luigi. As far as I'm concerned, he wasn't aligned with Krystal and Falco. He doesn't even have a clue what's going on in this game. Must be lonely…"
Midna turned to Navi. She smiled an evil smile like a teenager who's come up with a blind date for her best friend.
"No. Midna, don't even go there."
"Oh, come on, Navi! We lure him into a false sense of security, then blindside him!"
"What good will that do? We have enough votes already."
"Sasuke."
"What?"
"Sasuke. He's willing to do whatever it takes to win. If he finds greener grasses with Luigi, he'll manipulate Hinata into their alliance, and then after we vote out Falco, if we go out to tribal again, he will definitely force a tie with Luigi and Link. And if Link loses…"
"We're next."
"So how do we prevent this? Simple: we get him in our alliance. That way, Sasuke is already aligned with him, and he is aligned with us. Sasuke will go with us and vote out Luigi."
"Midna, you are brilliant."
"I know I am."
They floated back to shelter, ready for a whole new day of strategizing and tormenting.
--
DAY 10: Stairway to Mayan Heaven
Energia Roja lined up their six members at their mat.
"Hello, Energia Roja." said Ray. As usual, hellos were given back.
"I bring in the new Velocidad Azul." On cue, the now seven members of Velocidad Azul came in. Ray explained. "Krystal was voted out at the last tribal council."
Slippy sighed and shook his head. He only assumed this.
Ray, showing no signs of emotion, only assumed that the challenge was ready to begin. "Let's get to the reward challenge. In front of you are two colored poles on a base, one red and one blue, each with six holes, for each tribe. On top are a bundle of six smaller poles. Your first task is to have one member climb the pole to reach the bundle of poles. After getting the bundle, you will have to place the six poles correctly in the holes. If you get it wrong, your entire tribe will be shot off the base. The poles will immediately drop out, and you'll have to try again. If you get it right, the pole will turn green. Have one member climb up the pole and legitimately stand on it. First tribe to do all that will win reward. A helpful hint: the smaller poles will have the names of the opposite tribe members signed on them. If you get it wrong, the people on the opposite tribe whose poles are incorrect will also be shot off the base along with you. If they don't get back on their base in time, it would be wise to observe which ones got shot off. Do you want to know what you are playing for?"
The tribes joyfully shouted, "Yes!"
"Your entire tribe will be transported by this Ford Hybrid to a remote village hidden in the Mystic Ruins. You will be treated to food, a spa, and a tribal dance from the villagers. You will also receive this note."
Ray held up a bottle, a note concealed in it.
"Before we get to today's challenge, Energia Roja, you may notice that your bundle of poles hasn't been placed at the top of the larger pole. That is because we do not know who is playing for Velocidad Azul yet. Velocidad Azul, you have one extra member. Who is sitting out? Link and Navi sat out in the last challenge, so they both have to participate in this challenge."
The tribe huddled for a minute, and then Midna raised her hand. "I will, Ray."
"Okay, we'll have a brief moment to write the names on Energia Roja's poles and then we will get started."
After said brief moment, the contestants prepared themselves for the challenge.
"On your mark… get set… GO!"
The contestants took off and immediately got on their bases. Naruto and Sasuke immediately began to climb their poles. Sasuke got their first, and threw them down to Link. Naruto got there a hair later, and followed suit. The contestants began to unravel their signed poles, and some thought logically about where they might go.
Navi came out with her suggestion. "Place Slippy at the bottom, then Peach, Sakura, Daisy, Naruto, with Mario at the top.
Energia Roja thought more randomly, placing boards wherever they felt positive. Velocidad Azul got their plan done first. A low rumble was heard in the ground, then…
BOOM!
All of Velocidad Azul was knocked off of their base, and all of Energia Roja, too.
Except for one.
"What are you guys doing? Get up! Up!" yelled a quite angry Naruto.
All of the tribe members groaned. But Navi knew something the others didn't.
She flashbacked in her head to when Ray was explaining the rules. "A helpful hint: the smaller poles will have the names of the opposite tribe members signed on them. If you get it wrong, the people on the opposite tribe whose poles are incorrect will also be shot off the base along with you. If they don't get back on their base in time, it would be wise to observe which ones got shot off."
The poles fell out. They immediately began placing them back in any random order.
"Wait!" screamed Navi. "Naruto's was right!"
"How do you know?" pressured Sasuke.
"We got everyone's wrong except Naruto's. Every one of the guys on the other tribe fell off except for Naruto. He would have never survived that blast otherwise."
The tribe silenced for a moment, then…
BOOM!
Sasuke, Link, and Hinata went flying, along with every member of Energia Roja. Mario jumped up.
"Put Navi's, Luigi's, and Falco's back where they were. Try putting Link on top, and Hinata closer to the bottom."
"Amazingly, he pronounced my name right." groaned a faint Hinata. These blasts were no picnic.
The contestants worked harder. Several contestants fell off their bases, and then…
"I get it!" yelled Sakura. "Give me the poles!"
She placed the poles in this order from bottom to top: Navi, Sasuke, Link, Luigi, Falco, and Hinata.
There was a silence.
But there was no boom. Instead, the pole turned green.
"Naruto, go!" screamed Mario. There it was, his moment of glory, and there was Link to…
Wait, that wasn't right. His pole was green, too. Sasuke was already climbing it.
"Mario, I can't get on!" yelled Naruto. He was gripping the top with his fingertips. But it was no matter.
The challenge was over.
"VELOCIDAD AZUL WINS REWARD!" The tribe celebrated their challenge win.
"Congratulations, Velocidad Azul, on your challenge win. Energia Roja, you have lost the challenge, and I have nothing for you. You may go back to camp."
Energia Roja sullenly traveled out of the challenge area.
"Meanwhile, Velocidad Azul, you have a note for you." He handed them the bottle. Link took it and opened it.
"Congratulations. If you have opened this bottle, your tribe has obviously won the challenge. You will be taking a Ford Hybrid to your destination. Choose one member of your tribe who will receive this Hybrid at the end of the show. If any of the members of your tribe sat out during this challenge, they are not eligible to receive this Hybrid."
Midna put a sarcastic poker face. "Oh, darn. I can't even drive anyway." She laughed.
"Neither can I!" Navi.
"Sasuke and I are too young to drive." admitted a modest Hinata.
"So Falco and Luigi are the candidates." said Link.
"Link, you don't want it?" asked a confused Navi.
"All I need is Epona. So which of you two wants it?"
Falco spoke first. "I already have an Arwing at home, so Luigi can have it if he wants."
Everyone stared at Luigi…
"So, who's the lucky guy?" asked Ray.
"We thought about it, Ray, and I am proud to say that Luigi is now the proud owner of a new Ford Hybrid." Link announced. The tribe applauded in Luigi's favor as Ray handed him the keys.
"Now, enjoy your vacation in Mayan heaven!"
As Velocidad Azul cheered and piled into Luigi's new Ford Hybrid, Energia Roja was doing something entirely different.
"Do you think we'll lose? The next one, I mean." asked Naruto.
"Hard to tell." Mario. He had been in a negative mood after the challenge, but he felt that there was nobody to be mad at but himself. He also didn't want to be completely pessimistic, after all, there was still another challenge left.
"Who do we vote off? Slippy, obviously, but who next? We have such a large alliance… who do we eat?" A worried Peach.
"Hopefully, that won't happen. I plan on making it to the merge, and I don't want that plan crushed." Naruto.
"But I bet we're next, anyway." Sakura, also pessimistic.
There was silence around the Mario alliance. This was going to be a tense couple of days.
Meanwhile, Luigi had navigated his tribe to the luxurious village of Echidna City. They were enjoying spa treatment from the helpful echidnas, who seemed to enjoy serving them. Either that, or they were really good actors.
Navi was taking the time to make Midna's "brilliant" plan work and talk with the star of her plan, Luigi.
"Hey, Luigi. Congratulations on your Hybrid!"
"Oh, thanks, Navi. Oh, by the way, you aren't mad about the vote I gave you last night, right?"
It was him. She had been expecting it, but still. A rage built up inside her, but she chose to bottle it up.
"Luigi, how about joining our alliance? You're a guaranteed lock for the merge, and—"
"Oh, don't give me that crap, Navi." Navi had startled herself. She wasn't expecting Luigi to turn her down, not only that, interrupt her mid-sentence. "You don't think I know, do you? You have a large enough alliance, why do you need my vote? It doesn't matter. Once Falco is gone, I'm done for."
Navi startled herself yet again. How did he know that Falco was going next? Was he spying?
"You don't think I know this game, but I'm not as dumb as you might think. And next time your brilliant leader comes up with a plan to blindside me the next chance he gets, tell him to go cry about his Zelda. If you ask me, it was the perfect maneuver for my brother." With that, he got up and stormed off.
Navi just froze solid. Midna walked up.
"What did he say?"
"Well, let's just say that it didn't go exactly as planned."
"He yelled at you, didn't he?"
"Uh-huh."
"Well, I guess it's time for Plan B."
"What's Plan B?"
"Lock Sasuke into our alliance and feed him fears that if he leaves, we vote him out."
"We can't threaten him! Then he'll certainly leave!"
Midna sighed. "So, what do we do?"
For that, Navi had no answer.
--
DAY 11: Another Attempt
After losing the reward challenge, spirits were down around camp, and to symbolize the mood, it was beginning to rain. There was no fire, but Slippy was sitting around the fire anyway. He didn't feel like going anywhere near the shelter. He needed to think.
"Mario…"
That was it. Mario: leader of the Mario alliance and a physical threat. If Slippy could only place a target on his back…
Who could be easily manipulated, though? There was Naruto and Sakura, but they were already brainwashed. Peach and Daisy would never leave him…
He needed more time to think. He needed a plan. He needed it now.
But there was no time. The immunity challenge was tomorrow, the tribal council was as well. There was no chance.
But still he kept thinking.
--
DAY 12: The Cage
Velocidad Azul and Energia Roja arrived on their mats at the challenge beach. Already there was Ray.
"Okay, Mario, you need to give it up."
Mario, sadly gave it up to Ray, who placed it on a random table.
"Immunity is back up for grabs. Let's get to today's challenge. Today's challenge is different than it will ever be. In front of you is a giant cube with pathways sticking out of it in various directions. Inside this cube and pathways are twelve keys. Grab a key, and then make your way back to the cube where you will find a ladder. Climb to the top of the ladder where you will get out of the cube. Make your way down to the bottom of the cube and you will find two colored key holders, one for each tribe. Place your key in your tribe's key holder and a flag will shoot up. First tribe to have all six members out of the cube with their tribe's flags up will win immunity."
The tribes nodded.
"Velocidad Azul, you have one extra member. Midna cannot sit out. Who will it be?"
Hinata raised his hand.
"Okay then. Hinata: sitting out for Velocidad Azul. Everyone else, get inside the cube."
The tribes climbed up a ladder and went down through the hatch to be inside a very large cube. There were four passageways. Ray stuck his face inside through the hatch.
"Playing for immunity, tribes ready…"
"GO!"
The characters shot off like rockets, choosing odd passageways to go to, some not always the closest to where they were. Sasuke, Mario, and Peach went in one passageway, while Sakura, Luigi, and Daisy went in another. Naruto, Falco, Link, Midna, and Slippy all went in the same one, while Navi traveled alone.
Sasuke, Mario, and Peach traveled across the path, but slowly, Mario realized that Sasuke was quickening his pace. Mario shoved Sasuke to the side. Sasuke hit the wall and fell to the floor as Mario and Peach ran ahead. Soon, they reached an intersection.
"Which way do we go?" Peach asked.
"You go this way, I go that way." Mario pointed his fingers left and right, indicating where they should go.
"But I can't possibly bear to be alone for that amount of time, my dear…" Peach was playfully seducing him.
"Peach, this is no time for romancing!" With that, he ran off in the passage leading left.
A scoff from Peach, and then she took off right.
Sasuke finally approached the intersection. With wild eyes looking left and right, he took off…
Left.
Luigi and Daisy traveled through their passageway. They cared about their tribes, but subconsciously throughout this challenge, they worked as a team. When it came to the intersection, they split up with Sakura and Daisy going left, and Luigi going right, but Daisy and Sakura found a key, and Sakura dismissed herself to find a key of her own. As Daisy traveled down straight, she found another key, but Luigi was already there.
"Luigi!"
"Daisy!"
There was a very brief silence.
"Here, take it." Luigi.
"Are you crazy? If you let me have that, you would be voted out! Besides, I already have one."
"Give it to one of your tribe members."
"Luigi, you'll obviously be voted out if Velocidad Azul goes to Tribal tonight—"
"No, I won't. Falco will. Link and Navi are in control right now, and Falco is definitely going home. Take it, I don't need it."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am sure! Now, go!" A kiss, and then he left.
Daisy slowly touched her cheek. Never had Luigi been that aggressive. This was the first time he wasn't such a… such a…
Wimp!
Sakura approached from the opening to Daisy's left.
"It goes around in a circle!"
"Huh?" Daisy turned around.
"You found another key? Great, let's go!" And before Daisy had time to tell her about the events of what had happened, or to ask her about anything, Sakura grabbed her arm and they sprinted towards the cube.
Meanwhile, Navi was traveling down unfamiliar routes. She seemed very lost. She could definitely guide other people, she was a fairy, but traveling in very dim light in a very claustrophobic passage would make even the strongest moblin shriek in fear.
But, Navi continued, and losing every step of the way. The light was so dim, it was hard to tell where the keys were, and she had the sinking feeling that she had already passed several keys.
"Link… where are you?"
Link was currently occupied in a more hectic situation as he was currently brawling with Slippy on a certain key.
"Let… it… go!" Link had underestimated Slippy's strength and the fight wasn't going well.
"Fine." And Slippy simply let it go. Link lost his balance and fell backwards. Slippy calmly approached him and took his key.
"Thanks. I'm going to need this. Bye!" And Slippy ran off, into the depths.
Link got up. He shook his head around, and then he noticed…
They key was not in his hand.
Navi heard a loud yell of frustration. She followed the voice to find…
"Link, what happened?"
"Slippy took my key."
"Well come on, let's look for another. You really have to stop letting things get to you."
"Well, I have a reputation to uphold."
"Of not having any lines in your games?"
"I have lines in my games!"
"With actual words?"
A brief silence. "Point taken."
At this point, three flags for Energia Roja were up. Daisy, Sakura, and Slippy had made it out safely, and were now waiting for the return of Naruto, Mario, and Peach. Velocidad Azul had one from Falco.
Over and over again, people milled about in the passageways. There were brawls, there were conversations, and there was secrets spilled by other tribes. Overall, people were beginning to lose their sanity in the cube.
Thank God it would be over soon. With Energia Roja having five flags, and Velocidad Azul having three, it seemed like the winner would emerge soon.
Only Peach needed another key.
Peach scurried across, looking around wildly, and then…
A key. It may have been rusty, but it was a key nonetheless.
A shadow approached from another passage. She looked up.
Sasuke was standing in front of her.
With a panic reflex that would have made Hinata proud, Peach dived down and grabbed the key.
Sasuke grabbed her hand. But Peach had a secret weapon.
Randomly, she took out her old frying pan from Super Smash Bros. Melee and whacked Sasuke across the face. It was enough, and as Sasuke fell limp to the ground, Peach ran off.
Peach ran towards the ladder of the cube, and climbed. The hatch was so close, so close to getting out of this claustrophobic nightmare, and then…
Daylight. Sweet, beautiful daylight. She made her way down another ladder and unlocked the final lock in the key holder.
A flag shot up. Ray reacted accordingly.
"ENERGIA ROJA WINS IMMUNITY!"
Slowly and morosely, three other figures made their way out of the cube, keys in hand.
"Sorry, Velocidad Azul, for the second time, you will join me at Tribal Council. You'll have two hours to think about who you'll be sending home."
The two tribes walked away in very different fashions. One knew there were more surprises to expect, one didn't know if there would be any surprises left.
--
PREPARATION FOR TRIBAL COUNCIL
Link, Navi, Midna, Sasuke, and Hinata were out by the river. They were discussing who to send home, even though it seemed quite obvious.
"Everyone has agreed on Falco, right?" Link asked. The alliance of five nodded.
"Then we're all set then."
"Wait, Link." Navi. The alliance was surprised to hear her pipe in to the conversation. "What about Luigi?"
"What about him?" Sasuke was using more of a sarcastic tone. "We're obviously voting him out next chance we get."
"But I mean, why not now?" The tribe gave questioning looks. "He's in this game to win, I can already tell. Something about him…"
"And that's why we're voting him out next time. Don't worry, Navi, he'll be gone." Link smiled at Navi, and the alliance exited the water.
But Navi slowly felt that the next chance they get was a little too far off.
--
THE FOURTH TRIBAL COUNCIL – VELOCIDAD AZUL
Velocidad Azul walked in and sat down in the stools set up around the Tribal Council fire. On the other side of the fire was Ray.
"So Link, why are you suddenly losing all these important challenges?"
"I don't know. It seems like… I don't know. I guess we just underestimated them after the first two challenges.
"Navi, from what I have heard, there have been many discussions on who is going home."
"Well, everyone here is a potential candidate, and nobody is safe. But from what I know so far, either Falco or Luigi is definitely going home."
"Falco, upon hearing that, are you worried?"
"Of course I am. Krystal left last time, why shouldn't I?"
"Luigi?"
"I don't think it's me."
The alliance turned to Luigi with confused looks, all asking the same question in their heads.
"How did he know?"
"Why don't you think it's you, Luigi?"
"A gut feeling." He smiled.
Navi turned to Link, and whispered. "See? Now can we change our plan?"
"No. Vote Falco. I'm as shocked as you are, but I didn't come all the way here to change now."
Ray started again. "It's time to vote. Midna, you're up.
Here were some of the votes.
Link voted for Falco. "It's only part of the game."
Luigi voted for Navi. "You think I don't know, but I know. I know more than you'll ever know."
Navi's vote will remain anonymous. "I'm going with my gut on this one."
After Sasuke's vote, Ray got up. "I'll go tally the votes."
After some moments, Ray came back with a jar. "Once the votes are read, the decision is final. Person voted out will be asked to leave the Tribal Council area immediately." With that, he took off the lid of the jar and began to read.
"First vote: Navi."
Navi sighed. Obviously, that was Luigi, and it was definitely on purpose.
"Second vote: Falco."
"Third vote: Falco."
"Fourth vote: Link."
"Fifth vote: Falco."
"Fourth person voted out of Nintendo Survivor: Mystic Ruins: Falco. That's enough; you need to bring me your torch."
Falco got up, and monotonously brought his torch to Ray.
"The tribe has spoken." He snuffed his torch. "It's time for you to go."
Falco, not even making an attempt to look back, headed into the darkness.
"Well, I suppose people who have gut feelings are supposedly correct. How long will that last? You can go back to camp."
Velocidad Azul obeyed, and left the area.
Falco's Final Words:
"Yeah, I don't have much to say. I was really doomed from the beginning, with Krystal being voted out. But I had fun, the challenges were a blast. Slippy, dear God, at least make it to the merge. You are our last hope from not ashaming the Starfox legacy! Other than that, to the remaining players, have a great time!"
Voting History:
Votes for Falco: Link, Navi, Midna, Sasuke, Hinata
Votes for Navi: Luigi
Votes for Link: Falco
A/N: An entire chapter with no music to inspire me. Sigh. Whatever. I hope you enjoy it, and I have a spoiler! There is going to be an unexpected surprise next chapter! What will we have in store? Wait and see, my friends. Wait and see… MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!