A/N: Chapter five is here! I absolutely love the wonderful amount of support this story is getting! 4-5 reviews a chapter is really good! In this chapter, the contestants feel the aftermath of voting out Lakilester, they prepare for the next prize challenge, and a bit of sabotage and strategy takes place!
Thanks be to the reviewers!
TCKing12: Thanks for being so loyal and always being so kind! Kolorado was largely responsible for voting out Lakilester, as we'll see in this chapter.
Princess Shroob: Ah! It's the real Princess Shroob! How is everything, your majesty? I did not expect you to pay me such a regal visit xD. Anyway, thanks for reviewing, and I think it's rather obvious you're rooting for Princess Shroob ;D
ultimateCCC: There might be, there might not. You'll have to wait and see ;) Thanks for always reviewing!
Yoshpa Kong: Princess Shroob is so kind xD. She got a lot of attention last chapter! Lakilester was a pain to write, so I'm glad he's gone too. Thanks for reviewing!
RedLumas: Thanks for reading again! It's good to know you're following the story :D And ohoho does Flurrie have a rather large stage presence. Sexy Goddess Queen Wendy? Ohmy, I've never heard such a saucy reference before xD Thanks for reading and reviewing!
RetroKoopa: Oh hello! I was reading old reviews the other day and saw yours on my Big Brother stories! Lots of people are talking about Boo and Noki, and I think they're cute too :D
Owen96: OWEN! *glomp* THANKS SO MUCH FOR REVIEWING EVERYHING! :D You da best Piplup. I'm glad you enjoy everything, have hopped on the Birdo Bus and think it's funny! Your kind words mean so much due to the success you've had in your stories! Thankies :D
ALSO YAY THE GREAT FFN CRASH OF 2015 IS OVVAAA!11!
The DreamStakes!
Team Manta: Mario and Peach, Pauline and Birdo, Flurrie and Princess Shroob, Zess T. and Toadsworth, Yoshi and MC Ballyhoo
Team Dolphin: Bowser and Wendy, Kolorado, Noki and Boo, Kammy Koopa and Wario, Don Pianta and Rosalina
As morning rose over the hotel in Delfino Plaza, Kolorado woke up in an empty room. With a satisfied sigh, the explorer basked in the relaxing nature of the silence. The room still smelt of the Lakitu's habits, but they would soon leave…
Kolorado: Yes, I must say it was I who spearheaded the elimination of poor Lakilester. Despite being our team's leader, I found him…ineffectual, to say the least. His habits and mannerisms were dragging our team down, and with him gone, I say we shall do smashing!
Kolorado made his way to the breakfast area, joining Mario and Peach at a table for breakfast. Near the fruit bar, Toadsworth carefully selected the ripest chunks of cantaloupe and honeydew for his eating. Near him, Zess T. whipped up an omelet on a griddle. Instead of using the full-service breakfast bar, she preferred to cook her own meals.
The table was round, with two open seats. Toadsworth sat next to the princess, as always, and Zess T. joined him. The table was full, with the five of them talking about the previous day and how exciting the game was becoming.
"So, how did everything boil down last night?" Mario asked Kolorado, munching on a link of maple sausage.
"We had to give ol' Lester the boot. He's a good chap, but I don't think he was meant to take part in this game," Kolorado explained. The four members of Team Manta didn't seem surprised by his statement. Everyone had seen Lakilester's poor performances as of late.
Peach: While Kolorado was talking, more people came into the dining room. I waved at Pauline as she entered…but she didn't wave back. Perhaps her hand is broken?
Everyone sat around, eating breakfast, not doing much of anything when Brighton and Twila walked in.
"Good morning, you poor souls," Brighton said with a rude chuckle. "Today, we're going to begin our second prize challenge!"
"Already?" Boo asked. "We just woke up!"
Boo: I'm not a fan of waking up early in the first place…but to do a challenge so early? I just want some yogurt…
"Pipe down Boo, you're just the worst," Brighton said with a laugh. Boo frowned.
"Now pack your bags!" Twila commanded. "We're shipping out! The game is moving to Bianco Hills, because there's really not that much to do in this plaza!"
Noki: Hmm…Bianco Hills. I'm not too familiar with the place, despite being a resident of Delfino. I live in Noki Bay, and most of my business brings me to the Plaza or Pianta Village. I've only been to the hills a handful of times….
Don Pianta: Bianco Hills, eh? Can't say I've eva dun much business on dat side a town. I keep most of my operations in Rogueport now, ya see.
From her table, Kammy Koopa eyed Bowser and Wendy. The father and daughter looked as if they were ameliorating things from the team selection on the first day. Thinking back to the words she shared with Yoshi, Kammy frowned in deep thought.
Kammy Koopa: After sitting-out in the last immunity challenge, I've made it a priority to do more work in the upcoming games! I just wish there was some way to win back his repulsiveness favor after my slip-up in the prize challenge…
Wario: Just because that putrid hag is my partner, Wario's not waiting around for ol' bones to sharpen up! She screwed up the prize challenge, and was useless in the immunity challenge! Next chance we get…Kammy's out of here!
While everyone busied themselves with packing their bags, Pauline met with her alliance in the hall. Princess Shroob was ordering Birdo to carry her luggage. Flurrie was floating about the hall, nit-picking the way Birdo was handling the bags.
"Ladies, gather around," Pauline said, crowding in Princess Shroob and Flurrie.
"What about me?" Birdo asked, her voice muffled by all the luggage teetering in front of her grotesque mouth.
"Just be quiet, Birdo!" Pauline snapped. "We're having an intelligent conversation…you wouldn't understand!"
Pauline: Now that the game is rolling, I've begun my main quest of capturing Mario's heart and destroying Princess Peach once and for all. I have a simple seven-step plan to complete this mission. First, I must separate Peach from her magistrate…then, I'll cook a seven-layer ziti for Mario…after that…
"Now listen up, ladies," Pauline said to Princess Shroob and Flurrie. "Today, we have to stop Princess Peach from winning any money!"
"Why would we ever do that?" Flurrie questioned. "The princess is a wonderful woman, and she's so sweet and kind…"
"Hush now, Flurrie-peasant," Princess Shroob said to the actress. "I sense great evil within the princess!"
"Great evil!?" Flurrie asked, sounding concerned.
Princess Shroob: Oh, how the plebeians are so easily manipulated…
Flurrie: An evil princess is running our kingdom? I must end her now! Think of all the fame that would bring me…I could make my big return to the stage!
Soon, everyone was packed and ready to head out. With one less member, Team Dolphin boarded their bus to Bianco Hills as a unit of nine. Kolorado twirled his fine moustache, bidding goodbye to Mario, Peach, Toadsworth, and Zess T. Sitting down at the front of the bus, Kolorado smiled. He now had leadership of his team, and he was determined to prove himself more effectual than Lakilester.
Brighton was on Team Dolphin's bus, and Twila was on Team Manta's. The latter refused to go anywhere with Rosalina.
The buses rolled forward, leaving behind Delfino Plaza and heading for Bianco Hills…which begs the question how any gets around without the portals from Shadow Mario's paint…meaning he really did the island a service if you think about it…
After a long time of driving via Delfino's new system of bridges…because that'd make sense for them to drive on…yeah…anyway, they made it to Bianco Hills after a short drive over these majestic bridges. Upon arriving, everyone fell out of the buses and landed in a bloody heap of broken bones.
After a trip to the hospital and several days in recovery, the game was ready to move on.
"Well, welcome back!" Twila said with a smile.
"Oh just shut up," Rosalina hissed under her breath at the cosmic host. Twila looked appalled, but no one else had heard a word Rosalina had said.
"Did you hear that hussy!?" Twila asked Brighton.
"Stop PMSing, Twila," Brighton spat. "It's time to tell everyone about our prize challenge!"
"Well fine, bah, whatever," Twila said, sounding cross. "Today's prize challenge goes like this. Bianco Hills is a large, natural area with many villa homes and wonderful windmills. The locale is sublime. For your challenge today, you will be enduring the very structure that Bianco Hills claims its fame from. The Windmill! Get to the top of that windmill, and more will be explained!"
"Go, go, go!" Brighton cried, lifting a pistol into the air and shooting it.
"What in tarnation!" Zess T. screamed, covering her eyes. Everyone eyed Brighton with complete fear.
"Well get going!" Brighton said, lowering the gun.
"Ah!" Everyone screamed, ducking down and shielding themselves as he pointed the gun at everyone.
"Jesus Brighton!" Twila shouted. She took the gun out of his hand, firing it into the air once more.
"Go!" She screamed. Everyone was going to leave, but Twila shot down a bird with her random fire. It splattered onto the ground, repulsing everyone.
"I…just…get to the windmill," Twila ordered. Heeding her instructions, everyone bolted from the starting line, desperate to get away from the horrid scene.
Rosalina: Leave it to Tipsy Twila to do something so stupid. Oh? You don't know where her name came from? Well you see…we were in the Honeyhive Galaxy for Queen Bee's coronation, and Twila couldn't keep her grubby paws away from the champagne! Ohoho, what a sloppy woman!
Everyone ran for the windmill, easily seeing the structure in the distance. Yoshi ran with MC Ballyhoo on his back just like before, tearing up the dirt.
"Whoahoho!" Ballyhoo roared. "How thunderous! We're in first, Yoshi!"
Ballyhoo was right. The dirt they kicked up drowned out the competition. Yoshi was quicker than light.
Yoshi: Did I mention I'm a three-time track champion?
Mario and Peach were doing their best to run, but Peach kept on falling over.
"Mario!" She cried. "Someone tied my shoes together!" It was true. Her laces were double knotted together…someone had been into her personal belongings on the bus ride!
Pauline: Well duh it was me…I hate that woman.
"So long, Mario!" Bowser roared with laughter. He and Wendy jogged by the plumber, laughing with snobby taste.
Wendy stuck her tongue out at Peach, giving the plumber the bird as well.
"How-a-rude!" Mario cried out, trying to help Peach with her shoes. The knots were tight, and Peach had been so stupid she hadn't seen them when slipping into her shoes.
"Mamma Mia Peach, you're-a-so stupid!"
Boo and Noki were walking peacefully together. Knowing Twila's vague instructions meant something more would have to be accomplished after reaching the top of the windmill, the brainy duo were letting the other teams do the work. They watched with tiny giggles as Kammy zipped by with Wario on her broomstick, the garlic-munching man weighing down the magic stick.
Noki: I'm quite glad Boo and I spent the morning walking around the hills together. We knew something more would happen…so why waste the energy?
Meanwhile, Pauline was being carried around by Birdo, who was crawling on the ground on all fours. The pink horror was busy sobbing into the grass as she crawled, her spine cracking under the pressure of Pauline's bottom.
"Mush! I said mush, you useless sack of cow manure!" Pauline hollered. As Birdo trudged along, she could only weep.
Birdo: I…I just…I just don't know how much more of this I can put up with…
And so, everyone, with the exception of Noki and Boo, rushed for the windmill. Kolorado, who was without a partner, soloed the trek.
Kolorado: Not having Lakilester around doesn't mean anything in regards to the prize challenges! I was already a team of one, wouldn't you say?
Running top speed, Yoshi dashed up the rise to the windmill in a hurry.
"Whoa! Slowdown!" MC Ballyhoo hollered. "You'll get us both killed!"
"Yoshi!" Yoshi chirped, crying out his name in a disgusting form of animalistic quality. "I know what I'm doing! I'm the King of the Mushroom Kingdom!"
Ballyhoo: Whoa! Yoshi's gone mad with power! It's all gone to his head!
As Yoshi and Ballyhoo sped for the top, they reached the summit of the windmill. Standing there was a local pianta, ready to give them instruction for the next part of the challenge. However…Yoshi was still running. His little orange boots ate up the ground, sending dirt and stone flying in all directions.
"WHOA!" Ballyhoo roared, fearing for his life. Yoshi screamed in horror, trying to plant his feet to stop his kinetic energy. The sudden weight of the force threw him off balance, and both dinosaur and host flew off the edge of the windmill, careening into the water below. They fell for several stories, hitting the water with a sickening splat.
"Oh my Grambi," Rosalina said, having been just behind them.
"Look at that butt," Flurrie sang, arriving as well. "Oh my Grambi, look at that butt."
"Flurrie!" Mario cried. "This is no time to be singing. Did everyone see that?"
"Hold up! Hold up!" Brighton yelled, arriving on the scene. "We've called the medical team. Currently, they're being fished out of the water with a big net."
"How exciting!" Wendy cried, clapping with joy. "Perhaps we'll have roasted dino tonight!"
"Oh man, that sounds good," Wario commented, rubbing his gut in anticipation.
"Everyone calm down!" Twila ordered, arriving as well. "Yoshi and Ballyhoo have been removed from the water…but…something horrible has happened."
"Did their eyes fall out?" Zess T. asked.
"Uhm…no…," Twila answered. "They're both in critical condition from the fall. Neither one of them will be able to complete this competition."
"We'll that's good, they should rest for the immunity challenge," Mario said, nodding his head with the counsel he held as team leader.
"No," Twila whistled. "That's not what I meant. Neither of them can complete this entire competition. Both Yoshi and MC Ballyhoo have been medically removed from the game."
"What!?" Mario cried. "That means we're two men down! Mamma Mia!"
Peach: Mario's such a stand-up guy, thinking about the good of his team.
Don Pianta: Dat Mario's a reeeeal jerk if ya ask me. Two men take a tumble, and he starts worryin' about da numbers? Man, I'm just worried if dey's gonna live for chrissakes!
"No, no, everything's fine!" Brighton sang. "We're going to get two more contestants to fill their places. It would be unfair if we let your team sink like that, Mario."
"Oh good!" Peach said with a clap. "New people! I love meeting new subjects!"
"Oh, they're both so kind," Noki murmured, eyeing Mario and Peach with distrust.
"Just because they're in control of the kingdom doesn't mean they have to be such jerks," Boo spat. He was clearly unimpressed with the monarch and her man.
Pauline: This is bad, very, very bad. New competitors could really shake up the game. Plus, Mario's getting bad publicity right now! I can't be seen with a man the media hates! What am I going to do!?
"The new contestants will be coming in later tonight," Brighton advised. "For now, we're going to declare this prize challenge null and void. Instead, tomorrow's immunity challenge will also have money on the line. So get to the villas we rented out here and rest up! Tomorrow's gonna be a grueling day!"
Brighton's sage words went with all of them as they walked. Most contestants talked among themselves, worrying for the safety of Yoshi and Ballyhoo. As Pauline rode the back of Birdo into the villa district of Bianco Hills, she could only think of how she would crush that princess and win Mario back.
Today's events had given her the perfect opportunity. However, one question nagged the minds of the players. Who would replace Yoshi and Ballyhoo? While Ballyhoo had certainly been a bland character, Yoshi's arrogance was so charming and cute. Who could replace that?
However, that wasn't the only thing on everyone's mind. Well…just one mind. As she hobbled behind Bowser and his chatty daughter, Kammy Koopa thought to herself. Just a day ago, Yoshi had given her valuable advice, and now he was gone. Thinking to herself, Kammy knew one thing.
It was advice she would have to act upon.
So much drama and spice in this chapter! Princess Shroob and Pauline have launched their smear campaign against Peach, and it's working rather nicely! Kolorado's plan seems to have panned out for now, but will he remain on top of Team Dolphin? Will Pauline's plans to capture Mario's heart pan out, or will Don Pianta's loathing of the plumber get in the way? How will Kammy act upon Yoshi's final words, and how will this affect her relationship with Bowser and Wendy? Will Boo and Noki become this story's must beloved ship? Or is in love hiding in other corners? So many questions…so many answers…next time on The DreamStakes!
P.S. Sorry to those of you who liked Yoshi. I liked him a lot, but his removal from the game was necessary for a few reasons that will become clear as the story goes on.
Thanks for reading and reviewing!
-AdmiralBobbery