A/N: Woo! We're stacking up the reviews! Thanks everyone! Oh, also, if you haven't checked it out, be sure to read Yoshpa's "Superstar Road" it's very good!

In this chapter, we'll continue the round in Bianco Hills, figure out who's going to replace Yoshi and Ballyhoo, and play the immunity challenge!

Thanks to those who reviewed!

TCKing12: I'm reviewing those OCs at present, and I'm not sure how they'd fit into the story at this point. Otherwise, thanks so much for reading and always being so loyal!

Princess Shroob: Precisely, Ballyhoo was too much "the other guy" that I felt it was necessary to rid of him. Thanks so much!

ultimateCCC: Carnage O.O Thanks for enjoying the twist so much!

Yoshpa: I know xD I liked him, but he didn't make it that far. I really like Princess Shroob as well. And you sure do like all of the females :D Is Kolorado evil, or just smart?

Owen: Thanks :DD Everyone loves Birdo, Boo, and Noki. Thanks for the review!

CrazyKids21: Thanks so much! Knowing that I inspire others to write is such a wonderful feeling!

TheJirachi21: Ahh Joker :D Thanks for reviewing! Another fan of Birdo, Boo, and Noki (I'm going to get massacred if those three ever leave).

RedLumas: Thanks for reviewing again! I hope you continue to read and enjoy :D

The DreamStakes!

Rosalina opened the door to her villa with a smile on her face. The morning was here, and her favorite thing to do with a new day was to watch the stars melt away into the vermillion hues of the rising sun. The thought made her miss her home in the constellations above, but she was here for a reason. She needed to net this money to fund more research and expedition for the Comet Observatory.

Her thoughts were broken by the rising voices of the other competitors. A new day was upon them, and as the sunlight penetrated their rooms, they began to stir. One by one, everyone soon found themselves basking in the warmth in the grassy fields of Bianco Hills. It wasn't long before everyone started to get hungry.

"Where's the food around this joint, eh?" Wario asked.

"Probably inside of that pudgy stomach of yours," Princess Shroob commented off-hand. "Perhaps if I dissected your entrails, I'd find a meal!"

Wendy: Princess Shroob is honestly the scariest person I think I've ever met.

"Don't worry, you sloppy sacks of cow crap," Brighton said with good spirit. "It's a new day, meaning new challenges!"

"I'm not doing jack until you point me to the food," Boo said, folding his tiny arms over his white orb of a body.

"Fine, fine," Brighton said with a sigh. "You'll get your food…," he added a maniacal cackle, "…eventually!"

"What is that supposed to mean?" Zess T. asked in a rage. "I'm a chef! I've got to be cooking, eating, or doing both at all times!"

"Someone call up Gourmet Guy," Mario said, fishing for his phone in his overall pockets. "I'm sure he's got plenty of food for all of us…"

"Don't do that!" Brighton cried, smacking the phone out of Mario's hands. The device hit the pavement, cracking into a million pieces.

"You-a-owe me a phone!" Mario yelled in sheer anger.

Brighton: It's fine, fine! Production covers damage cost! Not a cent out of my pockets!

"So what's the deal with the food, hmm?" Pauline asked. "You sound rather clandestine about it."

"About the food…," Brighton mused. "You'll get it. Or you might not. It all depends on your willpower."

"Willpower, eh?" Toadsworth asked. "Sounds like a game, if you ask me!"

"I ain't got da time for dis," Don Pianta said with a snap in his tone. "Just spill da beans, bright boy."

"It does have to do with your challenge, but I can't explain until Twila gets here," Brighton said.

"Well tell her to hurry the hell up!" Wendy snapped. "I'm starving! I can't think straight!"

"Wow, Bowser sure did teach her manners," Flurrie said, filing her nails.

"Why thank you, Flurrie!" Bowser beamed, not detecting a single hint of sarcasm in the actress' tone.

Soon, Twila could be seen coming over the hill. Behind her, two new players towed her wake. One was rather large, and the other…not quite so large.

"Ah, there's my sister!" Brighton said with a smile.

"Where?" Rosalina asked. "All I see is a washed up has-been," she said with a smile.

Ignoring Rosalina, Twila hugged her brother and wished him good morning. Behind her, the two new faces looked rather confused.

"Ah, the new competitors!" Brighton said with a smile. "Everyone, I'd like you to meet…"

"I dnt ned nu intrduckshen u lil % #&*," A large bee with tiny wings incoherently said.

"Not her!" Kolorado protested. "She's literally in every Mario fic now, and she speaks the same in all of them!"

"Cls tht ugly mth lil trtle r gt wrkd m8," the bee said to Kolorado, folding her arms in saucy protest.

"This is Queen Bee," Brighton explained. Next to Queen Bee, a Yoshi stood smiling. He wore shades and had a gold chain wrapped around his neck. Fashionable purple boots accompanied his otherwise naked body.

"And this is Black Yoshi," Twila said.

"Excuse me?" Black Yoshi asked. "My name is Stanley. I'm Yoshi's cousin, and when he got hurt I came here immediately to…"

"Pipe down, Black Yoshi. No one likes a jibber jabberer," Brighton instructed. "If you all know your video games, you'll know Black Yoshi recently made his racing debut in Mario Kart 8, where he and his eight other cousins all hit the track!"

"I thought they were just different skins," Peach commented.

"Different skins?" Black Yoshi asked. "Oh, now come on ya'll. That's just racist!"

"So both Queen Bee and Black Yoshi will be joining Team Manta," Twila explained. "Go on now," she said, shooing the regal bee and the discriminated Yoshi away.

Black Yoshi: My name is Stanley. I'm a salesman from Mushroom City. I do not wear chains or shades. Production gave me these ridiculously racist items to wear when I arrived. I think I just might file a lawsuit. First, my cousin is sent to the hospital, and now I'm being discriminated against!

"Welcome to Team Manta, Black Yoshi and Queen Bee," Mario said with a smile. "I'll be your master, Mario," he said.

"M-master?" Black Yoshi asked. "What the hell kind of show is this!?"

"I ant gt nu mstr u hr mi," Queen Bee said to Mario. Ignoring the both of them, the hero in red turned back to face the hosts.

"Today's game is simple. In lieu of our disastrous prize challenge yesterday, today's immunity challenge will also involve winning money for your vaults. Bianco Hills is noted for the many wires which transport electricity. We think it'd be a good idea to have you bounce around on those wires…,"

"This-is-a so easy!" Mario cried. "I bounced on these wires all-a-the time back when this island was a mess!"

Everyone shot him a death glare, minus Peach and Pauline, who both looked at him with unconditional love.

"For every ten minutes you stay on your wire, you earn 1,000 coins for your vault. But be warned! Every so often, a shock of electricity will zap down the wire, and you'll have to jump to avoid being hit. Last person standing wins immunity for their team!" Twila cried.

"Sounds easy enough," Birdo said.

"Shut up, Birdo," Pauline snapped. "You always try and act high and mighty. You're so inconsiderate."

Birdo: What…why…what did I even do?

"Be careful, Boo," Noki said to the ghost. He smiled at her warmly, watching her go and climb up on her wire. Meanwhile, Toadsworth and Zess T. used one another's shoulders to boost up to their wires. The two elderly Toads were getting along quite well.

Toadsworth: Zess T. is my closest ally. If you asked me who I trusted here, she's my gal!

Zess T.: My little toodletoes and I are getting along famously! Oh! Don't let him know I called him that!

Everyone was soon balancing high on the wires. Below them was a large area of water, so if they fell, they'd be saved…hopefully. The timer began to tick down, and Brighton cued the beginning of the game.

Up high on her wire, Princess Peach could see the intense stare of death Pauline was giving her at present. Becoming slightly uncomfortable, the princess held her hand over her brow, trying to get a better look at Pauline.

Peach: Since the beginning of the game, it feels as if Pauline wants me to die. I don't know what it is…perhaps it's the way she comes into my room at night at whispers murderous thoughts to me?

"I can see her from here," Pauline spat. "That dumb broad. I can't wait to use Princess Shroob's galactic empire to sack her castle."

"Excuse me, what was that you said just now?" Asked Toadsworth, who was balancing on the wire next to Pauline. Pauline brushed off the royal minister, keeping her musings to herself.

Five minutes had passed, and already, the high wires had claimed several victims. Toadsworth and Zess T. had fallen quite early, along with Kammy. This was not a challenge for the elderly. Bowser and Don Pianta's weight had caused them to fall, along with Wario. Fourteen remained.

The first jolt of electricity surged through the wire, coming down the line like an approaching shark. The contestants all jumped, most experiencing good results.

Only Flurrie was zapped by the power line, falling off a crispy mess.

"Ouch," Birdo said, eyeing the fallen actress.

Ten minutes had passed, and everyone remaining on the lines won 10,000 coins for their vaults.

Kolorado: It feels good to know, that if I'm next, at least I won some money!

The game continued, with thirteen up on the lines. Suddenly, a rogue wind whooshed across the sky, claiming Queen Bee as a victim. Her wings were caught by the gale, and with a string of elegant curse words, the rapper queen fell.

"Fk dis sht lt mi tl u somthn I fkn h8 da wnd t lwyz rns muh hur," she said, trying to fix her adornments.

Twelve were left, and as fifteen minutes passed, the second surge ran down the line.

"Mariohohoho!" Mario laughed jubilantly. "I could-a-do this all-a-day!"

"You're such a hero, Mario," Princess Peach said with a laugh. From her line, Pauline imitated vomiting. Next to her, Birdo scowled.

Birdo: I'm beginning to think Pauline is more about driving a wedge between Mario and Peach than she is about winning this game. That concerns me…

"Fall, peasants, fall!" Princess Shroob ordered. "Listen to your queen!"

"Pls," Queen Bee guffawed from the ground, "m th nly qn rnd hre,"

"Be silent, slave!" Princess Shroob shouted. As she looked at the ground to curse the buzzing monarch, the space queen fell to her demise, splashing into the water.

And then there were twelve.

Twenty minutes passed, and those remaining accrued another 10,000 coins.

"We're winning so much money!" Noki said with a cheery smile. Beside her, Boo gave her a warm look.

Boo: Noki and myself aren't like most of these celebrities and royals. We're just plain citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom, so this money means a lot to us. It's adorable to see her so happy…

"How are you holding up, Black Yoshi?" Kolorado asked the newcomer beside him.

"Now hold up," Black Yoshi said. "I said my name was Stanley!"

"Whatever you say, Black Yoshi," Kolorado said with a laugh. The explorer twirled his moustache waggishly.

"Why I oughta…," Black Yoshi made to shove Kolorado, but he lost his balance. Toppling into the water below, he was out of the game.

"Someone help him!" Peach screamed. "Everyone knows his kind can't swim!"

"EXCUSE ME!?" Black Yoshi screamed from below.

Peach: I'm very concerned for the well-being of all of my citizens, be they black or white. Except for Shy Guys. You can't see their faces and that just creeps me out.

As Peach considered segregating Shy Guys from the rest of her kingdom, Rosalina was pirouetting on her line. The cosmic princess found this a very easy game, and she was determined to win the second prize challenge.

Rosalina: It's very important to establish yourself in this game. The Don and I are close allies, but I know if I keep winning challenges, people will want me on their side.

"You go Rosa!" Don Pianta cheered for his teammate from below.

Wendy was having trouble keeping her balance. Her shell and golden bangles weighed down her body in odd places, and as the next jolt came down the line, she couldn't time it properly.

"Darn," Bowser sighed. "I knew Iggy should've signed up and not this worthless runt."

"Dad!" Wendy cried, horrified by his speech.

Bowser: Iggy is a wonderful son. He makes me pancakes every morning, did you know that? Man, I bet if Mario had a son, he wouldn't make him any pancakes!

As the minutes progressed, the remaining players scooped up another 10,000 coins. With just half of the contestants remaining, the stakes were getting higher. The progression of time claimed none. Those who remained held their balance well.

After thirty three minutes, Birdo jumped from her line.

Birdo: My legs were getting wobbly. I simply couldn't hold it out…

"You're so pathetic, Birdo," Pauline hissed. "I wish I had a better teammate…"

Birdo looked like she could die.

Mario, Peach, Pauline, Kolorado, Noki, Boo, and Rosalina remained. Forty minutes passed, and know they had raked in 40,000 coins apiece.

"I have a proposal!" Twila announced from the shore. "In my hand here, I hold an exemption! It will allow you to evade the vote if your team loses, granting you personal immunity to the next round. If you jump now, the first person to reach the shore shall have it!"

Boo: This was quite interesting. It showed who believed themselves to be in danger…or who was more self-invested and not in this to help their team.

Only Pauline jumped. The other six hesitated, and the woman made it to shore quickly. Mario instantly became cross, doing the math in his head.

Mario: We were-a-outnumbered! Our team had-a-three, and they had-a-four! When Pauline-a-jumped, the outnumbered us by-a-two!

"Nice one, Pauline," Peach commented from above. "Thanks for sinking our team."

On the shore, Pauline fanned herself with the green ticket.

"Well when we lose," Pauline said with a devilish grin, "We'll see who's really sinking."

Her words were ominous, like black thunderclouds in the distance. Too buried in those words, Peach found herself ignorant to Mario's warning as she got zapped by the next jolt. With a scream, she tumbled into the water, eliciting a howl of laughter from Pauline.

Mario narrowed his eyebrows. He would win this for his team, no matter the cost.

"There's four of us, Mario," Rosalina tried to argue. "Our team has this."

"Do you know?" Mario asked with a smile. He was a hero! He could do this all day!

Until a rogue wind blew him off.

"That's it!" Brighton called. "Team Dolphin has won the challenge!"

"Yeah!" Bowser roared, blowing a celebratory stream of fire into the air. Don Pianta high-fived the fiery king, both of them celebrating. Wendy hugged her father in ecstasy, while Kammy Koopa and Wario looked pleased as well.

Kolorado, Noki, Boo, and Rosalina hopped off the line. As they swam to shore, Boo and Noki hugged. Rosalina smiled at the Don, eliciting a nod from the Mafioso. Kolorado led his team to victory, proving himself a much more effectual leader than Lakilester.

"Team Dolphin, you are safe from tonight's vote," Brighton said. "Team Manta, the same cannot be said for you. Tonight, you shall vote someone out, but it cannot be Pauline. Other than that, everyone else is fair game. Meet me in the elimination villa here in Bianco Hills at seven o'clock sharp. Don't be late."

With that, their two hosts left them. Sulking, Team Manta knew they would lose a player tonight.

Black Yoshi: I'm ready to go. I hate these people, I hate this game, I hate these hills. Please, please, please vote me out!

Mario: Pauline should-a-go, but she's-a-safe! How awful!

Pauline: My alliance runs this team. Now, I just have to convince those two newcomers to side with me, and the other four are toast.

On the walk back to the villas, Toadsworth held up his cane.

"Stanley, my good man!" He said. "Come have a spot of lunch with Zess T. and myself. That Brighton chap said food had something to do with the challenge, but my intuition believes he meant we had to complete it to be fed."

"Fatigue," Zess T. said with a nod. "The hungrier we got, the harder it'd be to balance."

"What'd you call me?" Black Yoshi asked the elderly toad.

"Stanley, eh wot? Isn't that your name, my good egg?" Toadsworth asked.

"It…it is…," he said in reply. "I'd be delighted to join you!"

Toadsworth: It's important to make the new competitors feel at home. Their votes are crucial tonight, and it's vital to get to them before anyone else does.

"Queen Bee, was it?" Toadsworth asked. "My, my, what splendid wings!"

"Thnks, u ugly ol td," Queen Bee said to Toadsworth. "Wnna mk sum hney?"

"Good heavens!" Toadsworth said in shock. Feeling scandalized, the old toad hobbled away.

Queen Bee: H's jst jlus f dese crvs.

Meanwhile, Mario and Peach tried to reason with Birdo, who was having second doubts about her alliance.

"While we can't-a-touch Pauline, her second in-a-command would be a good –a-choice, no?" Mario asked Peach and Birdo.

"You mean vote out Princess Shroob?" Birdo asked. "But she has such a hold on everyone else. You think we'd be able to pull it off?"

"You, me, the princess, Toadsworth, Zess T., and Stanley," Mario said. "That's six votes."

"What about Queen Bee?" Peach suggested. "She's stealing my limelight!"

"True, true," Birdo said with a nod.

Birdo: Despite not liking my alliance, I don't know if I could betray them. However, I don't want to vote for Peach or Princess Shroob. I think Pauline should leave…but she can't. Ugh! Why is this so complicated?

Pauline and her group had successfully swung Queen Bee in their direction. With a seemingly large group of five, Pauline began to order her group to vote.

"Birdo, it's very important you vote for Princess Peach," Pauline said. "She has to go. Then, Mario is mine!"

"What about Mario?" Princess Shroob asked. "Why is he so important to you? He foiled my plans! I say he's gone!"

Everyone began shouting out names they wanted to see leave, and before long, seven o'clock rolled around, and no one was set on who to vote for.

As the ten members of Team Manta entered the elimination villa, doubt and mystery clouded their minds.

"Welcome to your first team elimination," Brighton said. "Although some of you won money and safety today, one will go. One by one, you will vote on who you wish to see leave this game, and then I'll read the votes. Toadsworth, you're up first."

"Aye, aye," the minister said.

One by one, the contestants voted. Some took longer than others, and the process was long. Eventually, they finished, and Brighton brought the box over. Twila opened it, handing it to her brother so he could read the votes.

"Any votes for Pauline will be ignored," Brighton reminded everyone. Despite how stupid it'd be to vote for her, it was a formality they had to address. From her seat, Pauline smirked confidently.

"First vote," Brighton said, unfolding the parchment. "…PEACH."

Princess Peach nodded with worry, hoping it wasn't her time.

"Second vote…QUEEN BEE."

"Wtf," Queen Bee said in dismay.

"Third vote…PRINCESS SHROOB."

Princess Shroob looked fit to boil the whole kingdom. She was not happy with seeing her name at all.

"Fourth vote…MARIO."

Looking surprised, Mario saw his name on the paper. In disbelief, he shook his head.

"Fifth vote…PEACH."

The second vote with her name on it, Peach looked upset. She wanted to play this game more.

"Sixth vote...PRINCESS SHROOB."

"What is this coup!?" Princess Shroob shrieked.

"Seventh vote…QUEEN BEE."

"Wtfh," Queen Bee said in greater despair.

"Eighth vote…QUEEN BEE."

"Ffs," Queen rolled her eyes. "Ya'll suk."

Brighton unfolded the final sheet of paper.

"Second person voted out of The DreamStakes…QUEEN BEE."

"Bai h8rs!" Queen Bee spat. She spewed honey all over everyone, thoroughly grossing them out. Grabbing her bags, she gave the whole team the middle finger. Sauntering out of the room with Twila escorting her, she buzzed away. Ducking into the cab waiting for her, Queen Bee cussed out Twila and made a very elegant departure.

"Well," Twila said, dusting off her hands. "That's that, I suppose."

She turned to face the night sky. Team Manta had just voted out a newcomer and their first teammate. The beginning of the game was setting in for real…and it would only get harder from here.

Voting Results

Queen Bee (5): Mario, Peach, Toadsworth, Zess T., Black Yoshi

Princess Shroob (2): Queen Bee, Birdo

Peach (2): Pauline, Flurrie

Mario (1): Princess Shroob

That was a tough one for me. I really liked Queen Bee's character, but I have more planned for Black Yoshi than I do for her. The other members of the team serve more of a purpose in the plot, so Queen Bee had to go.

Thanks for always reading and reviewing! See you next time on…The DreamStakes!

-AdmiralBobbery