“Last time,” Pinkie Pie said into a heavy crosswind, “On Withstander: Corvidae Islands! The eat gross stuff challenge happened, CMTR lost, and they finally voted off Rarity! How badly will CMTR lose their next challenge? What will Apple Bloom do to avoid getting voted off? Both of these questions will be answered in a very roundabout way tonight on Withstander: Corvidae Islands!”

“So how’re we on the food and water?” Rainbow said to Twilight.

“We’re good on water, but we’re almost out of rice.”

“Can’t we just not give Apple Bloom any?”

“No. What if she’s useful in a challenge?”

“Nopony’s gonna be useful in a challenge if they don’t ‘ave enough food.”

“We’ll be fine, Rainbow.”

“Fine....”

“Yes, fine.”

“So how’re we on the food and water?” everyone said to Lyra, who was cooking rice with magic.

“Not good. Or we could just not give camerapony #3 any since she hasn’t been useful to us.”

“Ah suggest that,” Applejack said.

“+1,” Big Mac said.

“Sounds good,” Octavia said.

“What if I die of starvation?”

“That sounds like your problem,” Lyra said, “Not mine.”

“Twahlaht! Rainbow!” Apple Bloom said, running out of the forest at moderate speed.

“What?”

“We got mail.”

“Then let’s hear it,” they still said at once.

Apple Bloom unnecessarily cleared her throat. “Come ta Raven Ahsland.”

“Yeah?”

“That’s all it says.”

“Hello, Withstanders,” Pinkie said. “Did you hear that? ‘Hello’. It’s so fancy for me. Anyway, you’re merging! Your new home is at the Jambalaysland, but first, the invulnerability challenge!”

“Can we get over the shock of merging first?” Lyra said.

“No. Here’s the challenge: you will compete in a tournament of plastic lightsabre duelling. The lightsabres are plastic, not the duelling. Whoever wins the tournament wins invulnerability. The matchups will be based upon—see, upon. That’s another word I would never use if I wasn’t on a script. Anyway, upon romantic relationships. Twilight and Rainbow, you’re up first.”

After about a twentieth of a second, Rainbow pwned Twilight with amazing dexterity speed powers.

“Rainbow Dash wins! Next up: Applejack and Big Mac!”

“Hidoi nihongo ni honyaku!” Applejack said, making an attempt at blocking which involved holding the lightsabre diagonally and not much else. Big Mac tapped her on the head.

“Big Mac wins! Next up, Octavia and Lyra!”

Lyra took Big Mac’s lightsabre and poked Octavia before the match started.

“That doesn’t count.”

Five seconds later...

“Go!” Pinkie said. Lyra poked Octavia on the leg. “Lyra wins! Next up will be Apple Bloom and camerapony #3.”

Five seconds later...

“Go!” Pinkie said. Apple Bloom jumped into the air, getting whacked across the chest by camerapony #3 during the jump. She came down from her jump unspectacularly, unhurt since it was like a metre tall if that and onto some particularly soft sand.

“There will be a two-hour break for the competitors to recover,” Pinkie said. “The semifinals will be contested between Rainbow and Big Mac, and Lyra and camerapony #3.”

TWO HOURS LATER!

“Start!” Pinkie said. Rainbow flew high into the air.

“How will you hit me from there?” Big Mac said. Rainbow threw the lightsabre downwards and it hit his back.

“Rainbow wins! Lyra and camerapony #3!”

“Is it cheating to—” Lyra was halfway through her question when camerapony #3 poked her in the leg.

“Camerapony #3 wins! There will be a two-hour break before the finals.”

Two hours and five seconds later!

“Commence!” Rainbow flew up into the air once again. Camerapony #3 tried to throw her lightsabre in the air, but she was too high up. A leisurely nosedive won her the round.

“Rainbow Dash wins invulnerability! Your newly merged team will also receive some boxes of Zatarain’s yellow rice and some nearly brackish water!”

“So who’re we votin’ off?” Applejack said.

“I’ll ask Rainbow Dash,” Lyra said. She walked a bit. “Hey, Rainbow Dash.”

“Yeah?”

“Should we vote off Twilight or Apple Bloom?”

“Twilight’s better at camp stuff.”

“Okay.” She walked a bit. “Twilight’s apparently better with camp stuff, so we’re voting for Apple Bloom.”

“Sounds good,” Octavia said.

“lolk,” Applejack said.

“Sounds good,” Big Mac said.

“lolk,” camerapony #3 said.

“Welcome to Teamal Council,” Pinkie said. “Only eight of you are left. Even though that’s two thirds, it’s still only anyway. I don’t feel like all this question stuff, so just vote. We’re going by size tonight, so Apple Bloom, you’re up first.”

Voting ensued. And there’s actually a reason not to give details this time.

“I’ll tally the votes,” Pinkie said, if by “tally” she meant “retrieve”. I’m still annoyed by that. “If you get more votes than anypony else, you lose. First vote: Apple Bloom.”

There was a shot of Apple Bloom looking content.

“Second vote: Twilight.”

Twilight looked indifferent.

“Apple Bloom.”

Apple Bloom’s expression changed from contentment to worry.

“Apple Bloom.”

Apple Bloom would’ve started biting her nails if she had any.

“Apple Bloom.”

Apple Bloom looked sad instead of content.

“Fifth pony voted out of Withstander: Corvidae Islands: Apple Bloom.”

Apple Bloom walked up to Pinkie.

“Apple Bloom, all your friends hate you.”

She left the island forever.

“Will Twilight and Rainbow somehow be able to withstand?” Pinkie said. “There’re only three ways to find out. Good night.”

Next Chapter: Chapter 143: Butterscotch Needs a Two-way Ship, But Who the Fuck is Going To Be With Butterscotch Estimated time remaining: 8 Hours, 14 Minutes