A/N: So now that we're back on track with this gameshow, I wanna give a big thank you to everyone who is reviewing and following! It means a lot! So this time, another Immunity Challenge will be played and…DUN DUN DUN, someone will be voted out! Will Team Manta face elimination, or will it be Team Dolphin? And at the end of the day…who will be the sixth person voted out of the DreamStakes?

Thanks for reviewing :D

Yoshpa: I'm glad you liked the challenge :D Idk if you meant Kammy or Wendy there because last chapter had a lot of Wendy hate and Kammy just sorta hung with Bowser so idk. When talking about Black Yoshi, I think he's realizing that if he's been bungled into this game, he might as well play it to win.

ultimateCCC: That's exactly right. Mario's won back to back prize challenges, and his team avoided elimination last time. Even though he might be Black Yoshi's target, he's strong enough to deflect elimination for a good little while.

TheJirachi21: Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed both the chapter and the challenge! And while you have your suspicions, they could be true, or I could just be framing things that way. Either way, you'll find out who goes this time!

TCKing12: Thanks for coming back to the story :D Your encouragement means a lot to me!

ShinyStoutland: Yay thanks for reviewing! I know you follow the story but for you to drop a review meant a lot! I love it when followers become reviewers! Thanks so much!

Space Dimentio: Thanks for the three reviews! It means a lot you always review these things from the bottom up and not just the last chapter. I enjoy the variety as well :P I think including Princess Shroob was a good move, as everyone seems to love her. I like to keep the chapters shorter as well, but lately, I've been stretching from around 3,000 words to 5,000. I might shorten them again since it makes reading things convenient, but idk. Thanks again meta :D

The DreamStakes!

Team Manta: Mario, Birdo, Pauline, Flurrie, Princess Shroob, Bowser, Kammy, Black Yoshi

Team Dolphin: Toadsworth, Zess T., Noki, Boo, Wendy, Don Pianta, Rosalina

The following day, the players in this diabolical game of money and madness found themselves back in Pinna Park. Having been here for a few days now, they'd already completed one immunity challenge here, but it was now time for a second. Meeting Brighton and Twila by Pinna Park's fabled rollercoaster, the fifteen remaining players oohed and awed at the sheer size of the monstrous metal ride.

"Good morning!" cried Brighton with a smile. "Isn't morning the best?" he asked them, trying to milk his opinion in front of Twila. Folding her arms, the crescent moon harrumphed.

"Night is obviously better," she said with a pout.

"Oh no," said Rosalina swiftly. "I do love daytime. It's so nice to feel the rays of the sun."

"See!" exclaimed Brighton. "Someone agrees."

"Whatever," Twila said sourly, sticking her tongue out at Rosalina who rudely flipped her the bird. No one saw it however, and the cosmic princess just chuckled to herself while Twila fumbled to get the attention of the others.

"Pipe down, Twila," Brighton instructed. "I've got to explain the rules of today, because this challenge is a doozy."

A chorus of groans arose from the crowd.

"Oh be quiet," Twila said sternly. "Go ahead," she said to Brighton.

"Thanks," chirped the sunny host. "Today, each of you will ride Pinna Park's famous rollercoaster in an attempt to shoot the other cart traveling along the rails. In rounds of two players each, one from each team, both players will be deployed from the shooting stations and sent whirling around the track. Once you reach a certain point, the track will reverse, so each team will only occupy about one half of the twisting rails at a time. The carts have been mounted with cannons that shoot water missiles. If you shoot your opponent, the round will end and you'll earn a point. The first team to four points wins Immunity!"

"Sounds pretty straightforward," remarked Pauline. "There's gotta be more to it."

"Oh there is," Twila said with a maniacal grin, "we're just not going to tell you."

Her ominous comment made everyone gulp. Turning to one another, they began to determine who would ride first.

Bowser: Oh man! I love rides! I also love shooting missiles! This is a challenge for the Koopa King baby, just like last time. Keep these silly immunity games comin' my way!

Rosalina: Well, according to my calculations, the optimal point to shoot the missile would be right before the track reverses. It'd be slower at that point, so the operator's aim would be much more efficient.

Pauline: Now that I've got my head back in the game, scheming and winning challenges is what I'm about. We won last time, and I'm confident we can do it again. I don't think either of those old Toads or Noki will be able to handle the spinning track and the aim of the missile scope at the same time.

With the choices made, Team Manta and Team Dolphin presented their first riders. Due to his eagerness, Bowser had decided to go for Team Manta. For Team Dolphin, Don Pianta stepped up against the burly Koopa King.

"We at it again, huh?" Don Pianta asked. "This time I'll get ya, Bowsa!"

"Don't count your Yoshis before they hatch, Don," said Bowser proudly. "We'll see who scores the first point."

Both of them hopped into the carts, and soon, they were off. Both men hunkered down inside the cart, their girth preventing them from jostling about the ride. Squashed down inside the ride, they moved like they were part of the machine themselves. Both of them held a firm grip on the water missile cannon, and as the ride picked up speed, they began to fire away. The twists and turns of the railway made it so that most of their initial shots missed. From the sidelines, their team members watched anxiously.

As the coasters turned up and went over a small rise, Don Pianta took his chance. Aiming as the cart slowed down, he moved the cannon in front of Bowser's cart and fired away. Having accounted for the motion of both rides, Don Pianta smiled knowingly as his missile connected with Bowser's cart. The water exploded upon the surface, spraying his vileness with an arc of falling water.

"What?!" cried Bowser in surprise. "No way!"

"Oh yeah!" shouted Don Pianta, pumping his orange arm into the sky in victory.

Brighton reversed the rides and brought both the Don and the Koopa King back to the beginning of the ride. Giving the mobster a furious glare, Bowser stomped away with a snort of smoke.

"Your rudeness!" shrieked Kammy. "Don't forget your blood pressure!"

"That's one point for Team Dolphin," said Twila. "Who's next?"

"I'll go," offered Rosalina for her team. Pauline quickly volunteered to ride for her team.

"Pauline versus Rosalina!" shouted Brighton enthusiastically. "Let's see who comes out on top! Ladies, please enter the carts." As she did so, Rosalina gave Pauline a peculiar look. It was the look a lion would give its prey before pouncing. Somewhat intimidated by the look Rosalina gave her, Pauline timidly entered he cart. She wanted to avoid Rosalina's gaze, so she kept her head down for just a moment. That moment was enough…because Pauline spotted something at the bottom of her cart. A green coin…

Unhooking one of her earrings casually, Pauline let it drop to the floor of the cart. "Oh!" she shouted. "I dropped my earrings. Hold on for just a second."

"Typical," spat Rosalina, and Twila rolled her eyes in annoyance. Neither of them knew what Pauline was truly up to. As she bent down to retrieve her earring, she stuffed the green coin in the front of her shoe and stood up quickly.

"Got it!" Pauline announced. "I'm ready now."

"It's about time," Brighton droned. Starting the ride, he sent both women off towards the other end of the railway. Their match didn't last long however. Rosalina's fine understanding of what went into physics allowed her to blast Pauline out of the competition in just a few moments, but the auburn beauty didn't mind. Their carts came back, and she tried to act upset.

"Oh gosh," she said. "I tried my best! Oh well!"

Birdo: I-I don't know if it was just me…but Pauline seemed awfully suspicious when she stepped off of the ride. I didn't have much time to think about however, because Mario was jumping into his cart and I wanted to keep a close eye on him.

"Mariohoho!" exclaimed the mustachioed hero. "Let's-a-go!"

Toadsworth would be his opponent, and the old steward was rather excited to ride the rollercoaster.

Toadsworth: This one's on my bucket list! When I came to these islands with Master Mario and the princess, we barely had any time to actually enjoy things. We stayed on Delfino for a little bit after the whole Shadow Mario fiasco, but we never came back to Pinna Park. I've always wanted to ride this rollercoaster.

Toadsworth's wish soon changed as the rollercoaster rocketed away from its starting point. The g-force was too much for him, and he spit all over his face and screamed like a madman. "Aggggh Grambi on a tricycle what depth of hell is this awful ride from!?" shouted Toadsworth as the ride spun and spun into oblivion.

"It's-a-me!" shouted Mario, firing like mad at the poor steward. Missile after missile grazed by Toadsworth, causing his shouting to reach a raucous boom.

"By my great aunt's glasses what in tarnation is going on!?" screamed Toadsworth like a belligerent drunkard. Spittle flew everywhere as he wildly flew about the cart. On the other side of the track, Mario sang merrily in Italian as he fired missile after missile at poor Toadsworth. Eventually, the man in red connected, and the ride was brought back to safety with a hyperventilating Toadsworth on it. As he arrived, Zess T. made to comfort him, but Toadsworth pushed past her and fell into the bushes to vomit everywhere.

"That's two points to Team Dolphin and one to Team Manta!" announced Brighton. "Who's up next?"

Toadsworth: I'm going to find whoever made that awful death machine and sue the life out of them!

"There, there, Toodletoes," Zess T. said in a comforting tone as she patted the brown-capped Toad's back.

For the next round, it was going to be Black Yoshi against Boo. Both of them were friends, so they envisioned this round as nothing more than friendly competition, but as they approached their carts, Black Yoshi whispered something so only Boo could hear.

"I need your team to win," he hissed. "Mario's overstayed his welcome if you ask me."

Boo looked a bit surprised by this plan. However, he simply nodded. Floating into his cart, Boo was prepared to help his friend achieve whatever diabolical goal he had in mind. Brighton launched the ride and the round began.

Boo: I was a bit surprised that Stanley approached me about this, but I had to agree. I thought he was allies with Mario, but I don't know everything going on over there, so if this is what he wants to happen, it's obviously for the best.

Black Yoshi: I know that what I'm doing could be considered rash…but I've thought this through. Tonight, Mario's-a-racist ass is-a-going home!

Their rides spun for some time, and Black Yoshi tried to show a valiant effort, but eventually Boo got him. Just like Pauline, he faked sadness upon his return. It seemed that more than one person on Team Manta was looking forward to a trip to the elimination ring.

"Alright, so Team Dolphin has 3 points and Team Manta just has 1," said Twila in summary. Mario visibly scowled at this.

"Oh-a-come on!" he cried. "We have to-a-win!"

"That's just like Mario," hissed Princess Shroob. "Even though I'm on your team, I don't like it when heroes think they deserve to win just because they're heroes."

"But I-a-always win!" argued Mario confidently. Wanting to get away from the narrow-minded plumber, Princess Shroob volunteered to go up next. Wendy would be her adversary.

"Oh come on," said Princess Shroob with a wry grin. "The adopted child of Bowser?"

"I am not adopted!" Wendy yelled in rage.

"Who knows?" Bowser asked no one with a shrug. "I sure as hell didn't plan on having you."

Wendy: Props to Birdo for enduring such ignominy for so long…because I don't know how much more of this I can take. At least I'm not as hideous as her.

Wendy was too busy sobbing like a big baby during her turn to shoot at Princess Shroob, so the alien queen easily netted a victory for her team. Bringing the score up to 3-2 in favor of Team Dolphin, she felt quite triumphant about her turn.

Princess Shroob: I'm an expert with shooting mechanisms of all kinds! Rayguns, space cannons, and even rocket launchers! I love them all, mwehehehe!

The next round consisted of Birdo against Noki. Both of them were close, just like Black Yoshi and Boo, but Noki was barely tall enough to operate the missile launcher, let alone aim. Struggling with the firing mechanism as the ride began, she soon found herself blown away by Birdo who fired a lucky second shot in her direction.

"Yes!" chirped Birdo in glee.

"Wow Birdo, real cool," said Pauline. "Bullying small defenseless sea creatures. I didn't know you'd ever stoop so low."

Feeling awful about scoring the point, Birdo sank into Black Yoshi's arms upon returning as the aforementioned dinosaur shot Pauline a dirty look.

"So we appeared to be all tied up," noted Brighton. "This must be written or something. Anyway, who's up next?"

It was revealed that the two old crones, Kammy Koopa and Zess T., would battle it out for the win. Their weak arms and clogged arteries would surely come in handy during this high-speed and demanding challenge. Boarding their carts, they bid their teammates adieu and began the spiraling journey down the railway.

"You're mine, you trashy piece of fungus!" bellowed Kammy as she took the first shot, missing.

"Can it, freakshow!" shouted Zess T., firing a shot that also missed.

"You aim about as well as my grandmother!" Kammy shouted in a condescending tone, firing another shot and missing.

"Oh? When did she die? 1750?" guessed Zess T. as she fired her second straight miss.

The comment enraged Kammy, and she fired quicker than she should have as they rose over the slow hump. She missed Zess T., and the old chef took her opportunity to seal the deal for her team. Firing away, she blasted Kammy with a water missile and ended the game in Team Dolphin's favor.

"Drat!" shouted the wet Kammy. "I was certain I'd get you."

"Next time," said Zess with a wink. "Provided you survive tonight." Her ominous comment made Kammy uneasy as they rolled back to the starting line. Earning disappointed looks from her team, Kammy sulked back to her side while Brighton announced the end of the Immunity Challenge.

"So, with four points, the victory goes to Team Dolphin!"

They all cheered as Team Manta looked sad, but some of them didn't look as sad as others. Mario and Kammy in particular looked pretty bummed, but everyone else seemed alright with the fact they had to go face elimination. Dismissing everyone to roam around Pinna Park for the rest of the day, Brighton and Twila took their leave and went away to go do outer space things. Meanwhile, while some players got their theme park on, others made some crafty moves.

"Speak, knave," commanded Princess Shroob as she met Black Yoshi by his requested spot. He had whispered to her on the sidelines to meet him by the merry-go-round, and while Princess Shroob normally didn't deign to speak with the rabble, she found Black Yoshi to be smarter than most.

"Alright," he said, "I want to take out Mario and I need your help to do it."

"Well that'd be rather stupid of you, dark peasant dino," said the Shroob.

"No, it wouldn't," argued Black Yoshi, getting a little annoyed with her. "I know you don't want to work with Bowser and Kammy for too long, and if the four of us, meaning you, me, Birdo, and Pauline, all align, then they'll never see it coming."

"I have no interest in working with that hideous traitor," Princess Shroob said in reference to Birdo. "But I shall accept this offer. If it helps us take out Mario, then it is a deal I am willing to make." Black Yoshi eagerly shook her hand, but neither of them were aware of the lurking Pauline and the green coin wedged in the bottom of her shoe. Hearing their conversation, she had a thought.

Pauline: If there ever comes a point in time where I have to own up to my actions in this game, then everyone will view me as Princess Shroob's lapdog. She's my closest ally, but I have to make a big move that'll guarantee me recognition before her. Besides…no one takes out Mario but me!

Finding Mario dancing around on the musical shell ride, Pauline pulled him to the side.

"Don't-a-touch me you harlot!" Mario cried in disdain.

"Shut up and just listen to me," snapped Pauline as she removed the green coin from her shoe. "This is an exemption. I've had one before so we all know how they work."

"Mamma Mia!" exclaimed Mario. "Where did you-a-find that?"

"Doesn't matter," she snapped again. "Just take it. Everyone's planning on booting you tonight."

"What!?" Mario cried. "But I've got-a-Flurrie, Birdo, and Black Yoshi on my side."

"Apparently not," said Pauline as she folded her arms. "A few people on our team went behind my back to conspire to get you out. I'm the only person allowed to do that, so this is how I'm repaying them. Just play it tonight and say you found it in the rollercoaster."

"How do I-a-repay you?" Mario asked her, wiping the sweat off his brow.

"Toss your vote at Kammy," Pauline instructed. "She's useless in challenges as evidenced by today. I'll tell Princess Shroob the same." Mario nodded as he watched her stalk off, actually thankful for once that Pauline was involved in this game.

"W-what?" Princess Shroob asked Pauline. "You're sure!?"

"Positive," said the slim woman with a nod. "Mario showed me the exemption himself. We can't touch him tonight."

"Darn," said Princess Shroob. "Who else do we go for then?"

"I'd say Birdo," Pauline said, keeping her cards close to her chest. This was opposite of what she had told Mario, but no one knew.

"True!" piped Princess Shroob. "That ugly little traitor thing has met her end!"

Princess Shroob: I don't care about my deal with Yoshi-slave! If Mario's untouchable tonight, the deal is off! Black Yoshi can go back to the hood!

Right before voting, Pauline approached Black Yoshi and Birdo.

"So," she said, "I heard about your deal with Princess Shroob." Birdo looked scared, but Black Yoshi replied for the both of them.

"Is everything alright?" Black Yoshi asked. "The deal is good, yeah?"

"It's off," said Pauline with a cold stare. "Mario found himself a secret exemption. So, he can't be voted out. Sorry, but you're of no use to us anymore." She stalked away, smiling mischievously. Stunned, both Black Yoshi and Birdo exchanged a glance.

Black Yoshi: Well if the deal is off and Pauline's going to be rude…I'm going to send her home!

Everyone assembled at the seaside voting ring where Team Dolphin had convened for Wario's elimination. As they sat down, Flurrie piped up.

"Well I've been irrelevant all episode!" she exclaimed. "Guess I was getting too much screentime in the other episodes."

"Yeah, and that made ratings plummet," Brighton explained while faking a gag. Crestfallen, Flurrie stayed silent for the rest of the night.

"Alright, you know the drill," Brighton said. "We vote, and if anyone has an exemption, play it after the vote."

"Wait!?" Birdo cried. "When was that a rule? Last time, Pauline played her exemption beforehand."

"Well if you had one, Birdo," Brighton said with a roll of his eyes, "which you obviously don't, you'd know there's a little note that comes with it. It explains that the policy on exemptions has changed."

"O-oh…," Birdo said.

Mario: P-Pauline did not hand me such a note! What's-a-going on?

"Alright," said Twila with a clap of her hands. "Let's get to it!" Everyone was really confused, but Pauline knew all. With a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, she watched as Flurrie got up to vote.

"I have no idea who to vote for," said Flurrie, scribbling down a random name. When she returned, the process of voting continued along, and once everyone was done, Twila brought the box back.

"So, does anyone have an exemption?" asked the cosmic host.

"I-a-do!" beamed Mario, as everyone expected from Pauline's gossip earlier. He presented the green coin to Twila, who accepted it. Giving the coin a rub…she smudged off green marker.

"What is this trick!" shouted Twila. "A fake exemption!" She tossed the coin into the fire by the shore. "How rude!"

Mario had no idea what to say.

"I happen to have the real one," said Pauline, rising and stalking past Mario with a grin. Handing it to Twila, she watched with glee as the hostess confirmed the authenticity of this exemption.

"This," she said, "is a real exemption." She paused to give Mario a glare. "Any votes for Pauline will not count."

"W-what?" Mario asked, turning to Pauline wildly.

"Oh hush," shushed Pauline. "Just watch it all unfold."

Everyone looked to Pauline in worry, wondering what in Grambi's name was about to unfold. Twila opened the voting box and began to read the votes.

"First vote…KAMMY."

Mario: I saw-a-my handwriting on that one. I voted like-a-Pauline said to, but what is she-a-cooking up?"

"Second vote…PAULINE," said Twila, throwing it away. "That doesn't count."

"Third vote…PAULINE," remarked Twila with wider eyes, tossing that one out as well. "Doesn't count either."

"Fourth vote…PAULINE," Twila said, her eyes growing wider. She crumpled it up and tossed it away. "That's three in a row, good on you, Pauline."

Pauline smiled confidently as everyone whispered to one another in confusion.

"Fifth vote…BIRDO."

Birdo's eyes lit up in surprise as she saw her name come up. Since all three of Pauline's votes had been thrown out, Birdo was tied with Kammy for the possibility of going home.

"Sixth vote…FLURRIE."

"Oh my," remarked Flurrie. "What is going on?"

"Seventh vote…FLURRIE."

"Another vote!?" shrieked Flurrie. "Who is responsible for this?"

Twila unfurled the eighth and final vote. "Sixth person voted out of The DreamStakes…FLURRIE. Three votes is enough in this situation Flurrie, so please collect your bags."

"What!?" cried Mario. "What just-a-happened? Pauline!" Mario turned towards the devilish woman. "You told me I was-a-safe? You-a-gave me the exemption!"

"A fake exemption, darling," Pauline said with a giggle. "I kept the real one for myself. I knew once I burned the bridge with Black Yoshi, he'd gun for me. So, I took out another one of your allies."

"But why me?" Flurrie asked Pauline sadly. "I was on side for a long time!"

"Because," Pauline hissed, leaning in close to Mario. "I'm saving you for last, plumber. One by one, you'll watch your friends fall and then I'll knock you right out of this game." Mario's eyes widened, and everyone sitting around realized what had just happened.

"The villains clinch the majority now!" Kammy said with a cackle. "Prepare to meet your end, Mario!"

Mario, Black Yoshi, and Birdo all exchanged frightened looks as Pauline, Princess Shroob, Bowser, and Kammy high-fived. Gathering her bags, Flurrie made to leave, but not before telling her allies goodbye.

"Thank you, Mario," said the wind spirit, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "You helped me open up my eyes. I had a lot of fun with you, and at least we won those two prize challenges."

"That's right," said Brighton. "You won't be leaving empty-handed Flurrie." He handed her a check for 80,000 coins. "Take this," he said with a smile. "Your vault has been cleared out now that you've been eliminated."

"Thank you," said Flurrie with a small smile. Accepting the money, she waved goodbye to everyone and started walking down the beach with Twila towards the boat. Brighton then addressed the seven remaining players of Team Manta.

"Well," he said, swallowing. "Tonight was certainly eventful. Looks like Pauline managed to outsmart nearly everyone here. Stay on your toes, Team Manta." As he said those words, everyone looked towards Pauline. The woman in scarlet smiled triumphantly as she left the elimination ring, knowing her plan had been a total success.

But behind her, Mario walked with fire in his eyes. Pauline had wronged him twice now…and he'd be damned if she did it again.

Vote Results!

Kammy (1): Mario

Birdo (1): Princess Shroob

Pauline (3): Flurrie, Black Yoshi, Birdo – Did Not Count.

Flurrie (3): Pauline, Bowser, Kammy

So this was a difficult elimination for me, because I bounced around the victim in my head several times. It was originally going to be Mario, but then I changed it to Kammy, and then I decided Flurrie had completed her journey. I also give her little to no appearance in this episode to sort of make you forget about her while bigger personalities (such as Pauline and Mario) took the stage and you might've thought they'd be eliminated. In the end, I thought Flurrie had fulfilled her purpose as she woke up from Princess Shroob's women's alliance and joined Mario.

So there you have it! Let me know what you thought in a review, and thanks for always tuning in! See you next time on…The DreamStakes!