Ticket here, and I've gotta say: Thanks for getting this story for over 1K views! It's satisfying to see that some people still keep coming back even though they don't leave reviews. This is on par with "Maldives Madness," which had another cast that I really enjoyed writing, featuring people like Deadpool, Deathstroke, Dante, Peach/Zelda/Ripley, and the infamous Idol Burn from Solid Snake. "Smackdown in Samoa" wasn't bad because it had people like Metal Sonic, Diana, Shane, Qwark, Nefarious and more, but it wasn't the most creative I've gotten.

Merged Tribe

Day 34

Sonic, Gordon, Bandana Dee, and Kabal

The hedgehog and kombatant are trekking back to camp…with food items in their arms. I'm talking peanut butter, chips, anything imaginable.

"They never had a chance!" Sonic boasts.

"Leave it to us to get away with it. Gordon's back would break trying to run back." Kabal says, getting a little mean.

"He's too clean to do that."

They officially hit camp, and the Fatu spot those items in hand. Gordon cracks a smile, he just can't help himself anymore.

"What did you lads get into?" The chef asks.

"We borrowed from a camp elsewhere." Sure you did, Sonic.

"Better to steal than starve." Gordon says, having a seat next to his waddle dee. He looks over the items again. "Is that chili sauce?"

"Don't judge."

"You don't have any hotdogs with you…"

Good point.

"Well I can just put it on the bread we took."

"Oh bloody hell…"

The waddle dee looks on at this nonsense.

Bandana Dee: Wow um…I didn't expect someone like him to do that. But, I'm starving so I can let it slide.

After enjoying the stolen goods, an elephant in the room needed to be addressed. Everyone knows it too.

"Gordon…I know the whole throwing thing was for the game, but I can't respect that. I've played a little dirty myself but that just feels like a d*ck move man." The hedgehog calls him out.

"If I gave us a reward, you'd be too fresh for immunity. I'm not going to sit down and give the game to you, that's not how I operate." Gordon snaps back. "Just business."

"Just business? You're sounding a lot like Kano right now…game-wise."

"DON'T compare me to that d*ckweed! He would've thrown it and spat in your face. I'm just breaking it to you." Oof, that struck a nerve. "Just because we both played dirty doesn't make me as bad as him."

"Yeah, but how's the jury going to feel?"

"The jury? Mate there's a good chance I don't even make it to the finals if people keep coming for me, so that's not going to work on me." Gordon clearly doesn't care. "I'm doing what I can to stay alive, and if I have to sabotage you, so be it."

"Wow…"

"Remember this hedgehog: you jumped the gun. Thats always been your fatal flaw. You get careless, make a move, and then make this harder for yourself." Wow Gordon, you don't have to do him like that.

"I don't WANT an easy win. Risks just make things much more interesting!"

"But taking a big one can end you. I took one and it worked because you can't fuel up." Gordon responds. "Just strategy."

"Yeah yeah, whatever…" Sonic mutters. No love's been lost.

Sonic: It's not cool to do someone like that. I wouldn't do that to Gordon even IF it's the "smart thing to do." You've gotta be a nerd to constantly think about the smart thing, just relax!

What about Gordon's take on that?

Gordon: If Sonic doesn't like how I do things, he can cry about it. I'm a dead man walking so if he and his buddy are safe, I'm toast. It's my duty to stop that from happening.

Soon they all grow quiet. After digging into their goods some more, Kabal breaks the silence.

"My throats drier than the Sahara. Anyone wanna go get some water?" He asks, and the waddle dee stands up. "I'll go. Are you two going to be ok by yourselves?"

"Yeah."

"Betcha."

With that, Kabal and Dee head out leaving Sonic and Gordon alone. However, the focus isn't going on them this time…

..because waters not actually on Kabal's mind.

"Your friend and Sonic are the biggest jury threats left. They are going for each other, and won't be looking to take out the three of us anytime soon. You know what that means?" Kabal asks.

"W-what?"

"We're free to control the endgame."

Oh…oh dear…a hot pitch for the waddle dee.

The waddle dee blinks in response. "Wait..you're not about to make me backstab Gordon are you?"

"Him? No, Matt and Sonic are the bigger priorities. We'll be keeping Gordon around as long as you want." Kabal clarifies. "BUT…if he's still here by the final four, it's probably going to be a tiebreaker."

"Ok, um, that's a lot to take in." Dee responds, still unsure. "So you and Mei are basically like, a final two?"

"We're like you and Gordon. Except we HAVE to be a pair. Mac and Kano are gone, we've lost any close allies we've had over the five weeks we've been here. It's out of necessity." Kabal points out, and it's pretty easy for the waddle dee to understand.

"Yeah..if Luigi and Gordon went super early I'd probably have to do the same thing. Anything to stay here." Dee replies. "It must've been hard for you to lose everyone."

"You we're apart of the mob, you should know." Kabal says, the waddle dee frowning on the inside. "But as much as I hate to admit it: it was the smart move. The three of us flip flopping would've hurt anyone in our way."

"So basically…don't trust a Black Dragon?

"Pshh, nobody trusted us from the start. It was my job to keep the Yoshi comfortable."

"Wait..so you DO know their species!"

"Never called them that for the gag." Heard it here first: disrespecting a species is just a gag for him.

Kabal: Here's the rundown folks: i need the Fatu to make a pact with us. Then when we reach four, we slaughter them in the tiebreaker. Then all I need to do is win final immunity, and kick the last Fatu off this island. Then it can go anywhere between me and Mei.

One issue..

Kabal: In a ideal world, Matt and Sonic wouldn't be an issue, but they aren't really all that anymore. We have them on the ropes.

Spaghetti Dinner

Day 34

Matt and Li Mei

The two reward winners arrive to see one plate of spaghetti piled on, and a note right next to it.

"What's this about?" Mei asks.

Matt doesn't say a word and grabs the note, reading off for some clarity. If this is supposed to be a reward, why is there only one plate?

"In front of you is a plate of spaghetti, and some champagne…but there's a twist. You will have to choose one person to eat first. They can eat as much as they want, and then the next person will come in and finish it off." He reads.

"It's a shame we don't have our own plates." Li Mei comments.

"Sucks, but we're close to a sanctuary. At least we get to stay the night." Matt, staying positive.

"True. Going home to a bamboo bed would put a sour taste in my mouth."

Li Mei: This reward does not feel like a reward. One plate for two people? This is not a romantic evening. Something isn't right.

While Matt waits outside the tent, Li Mei takes out half of the spaghetti, doing her best to make sure it's a 50/50 split. She decides to leave the tent, and it's Matt's time to eat.

He mows through the spaghetti like it's nothing. What's Mei going to do, stop him? She already had her half. After he's done, he doesn't just leave the tent. He raises the plate, and loves what he sees! It's a idol clue!

"Oh my lord.."

He pockets it and leaves the tent, making a passing comment to Li Mei. "That was good sh*t."

"I bet it was."

In confessional, Matt pulls out the clue in all its glory.

Matt: "Through the island, find a tall tree. Climb on up, and then you'll see." Huh, that's vague.

He smacks his fist against the grass below. Doesn't hurt one bit, but it's not shocking at all given it's the ultimate Mii.

Matt: Vague but that's what I'm talkin' about! The hope I needed cause I'm still alive, but if there's no idol, I'm a deadman.

With the spaghetti dinner done, the two head to a shack seen in the distance. While they walk, Matt shifts the focus to saving his own life in the game.

"Mind if I start rambling strategy?" Matt asks.

"Go ahead. I cannot turn you down."

There's the green-light.

"I know I'm a threat, but I'd be a good shield to have. As long as I'm here, you don't have to worry about being a target. That's a fact." Matt pitches. "You and your boy Kabal will have an easy path to the end. Kabal usually beats me in challenges anyway."

"He does…"

"Gordon's won more immunities than I have. I stand by the fact he's still a bigger threat than me. Even if he's taken out, you still have time to split us up." The Mii could be cooking right now.

"The jury will respect him more if he manages to get to the end. His biggest competition would be Sonic." Li Mei notes. "Could pull off a great 'cockroach' game."

"Yeah, and can I be honest about Sonic?" Matt..what are you doing?

"Did he do anything bad?"

"No, no he's a cool guy. He's been my homeboy since day one, but Gordon's the only one who has a chance to beat him at the end." Wow Matt, openly throw him under. "I don't see how I'm supposed to be leaving over the two biggest threats."

"You are making many good points. Can I be honest about your future?" Li Mei asks.

"Are you considering?"

"Your case is strong. I have no choice but to." Not a 'yes' or a 'no.' Average swing vote activity.

Li Mei: Matt's promising her the realm, and there are bigger threats in the game than Matt. He's even willing to betray his number one if it keeps him here another round. Yet, I still need to regroup with Kabal. He has a bad history of betrayal, he just did it to Blu, but I need to trust someone. The Fatu and RoTwo will not budge on allegiances, so we're going to make them pay.

Ok so Matt is starting to get through to Li Mei again. They did used to have a secret alliance that never went anywhere because she wanted to split up a trio. Trios are dangerous in the late-game, especially if they make it to the final six. Instead, we have a game of THREE duos…well, Matt's willing to throw Sonic under the bus, but the hedgehog still trusts him with his life.

Ticket out, have a good one.