S2E6 - A Party Gone Wrong

A Party Gone Wrong is the sixth episode of the second season of Video Game All-Stars. Tensions are still rising on both teams as the merge draws ever closer.

Plot
Kirby reflects on the previous challenges, upset that he wasn't strong enough to win two challenges despite being the last one standing. Shadow just ignores him, but after being the first to lose in the previous challenge, he admits he may need to train more. Wii Fit Trainer agrees that being a weak link is bad, getting Link's attention, but she tells him it's a metaphor, before offering Shadow a balance board. He leaves, but Link accepts one, then the two train. A day later, Shadow returns, saying he finished training in the mountains. Wii Fit Trainer asks him if they're even allowed to leave the set, to which he says he doesn't really care. Kirby prepares for the challenge as well, complaining again about the loss last time. Shadow doesn't even face him, still upset about Reimu being eliminated, but lets him know he's still going to try to win himself.

The contestants gather for the challenge, Pearl tells them they will be going to some islands, that look like they're set up for a board game. They are told that they would be traversing the board and playing minigames in order to get stars. Shadow isn't exactly thrilled to work with the team, but Mugman likes the idea. Monika says a few words to unite the team, wanting to work together. King Dedede wants to roll first, but Marina tells him they already decided the orders, letting Team Rainbow All-Star Meals and a Pole roll first, then Triple Metal Dededes after. Dedede calls this rigged, but he's ignored again. Both teams roll and move across the board, the Triple Metal Dededes getting a combined roll of twice the Poles. Marina decides the board isn't working, just having them play the games.

The first minigame would be Bucket-O-Rings from Sonic Shuffle, where one person would gather rings in a bucket, then relay it through the whole team to put them in a cart. Kirby picks up five rings, while Monika gets seven, and they both pass it to their next members. Shadow gets the bucket, throwing it at Mario, while Mugman more gently passes it to Link. Mario and Link pass to Dedede and Wii Fit Trainer, and they place it in the cart. Kirby gets another five rings, and Monika gets six, going through the process again. For the next cycle, Kirby gets eight, and Monika gets nine, passing it slower due to the extra weight. Kirby gets eight more rings and passes them to Shadow again, but Mario is already busy with one bucket, slowing them down as Monika passes another eight rings through the team. Kirby grabs eight more, but time runs out after he gives it to Shadow, so Shadow just tosses the bucket aside, knowing they lost. The Poles are nine rings ahead, so they win the first point.

The second minigame is Maths of Glory, where the four members would get a number between one and six, their combined power hitting the opposite team's tower, which can take 45 hits worth each. The Triple Metal Dededes go first, rolling a sixteen together, then the Poles roll a 18, putting them ahead by only two points. Kirby starts getting upset about being behind, but Shadow tells him it's a waste of time as it's a luck based game. In the next round, they roll a 15, and the Poles roll a 13, putting them at an equal 14 health on each tower. In the next round, the Triple Metal Dededes hope for the best, rolling 14 exactly and winning a point. Pearl says that now the scores are tied, the winner of the final minigame would take the challenge.

The final minigame is Hammer and Sic 'Em, where a chosen representative would be given a balloon, and must avoid it being popped. To help them pop the other team's balloon, everyone is given a hammer. Shadow knows the one chosen would have a lot of pressure on them, so he nominates Kirby, knowing he's desperate to win and would take it in an instant. He is correct, as Kirby agrees. Link offers to take the balloon, but Monika gives it to Mugman, telling him he did good in the previous challenge. Mugman sees Link get sad about being denied again, so he tries to let Link take it, but the challenge is already about to begin. Shadow takes a moment to tell Kirby to stay clear of the other team to avoid them reaching his balloon, while he and Mario would go for Mugman, which Mario agrees to. Mugman sees Kirby staying away, deciding to do the same as Shadow runs towards him. Link tries to stop him, but Shadow swings his hammer. Link tries to counter, but they end up just knocking each other down. Mario tries using fireballs, but is told they aren't allowed, drawing Monika's attention as she goes to swing the hammer at him.

Kirby stays alert while watching them fight, noticing Mugman running towards him with a hammer, dodging out of the way. Having missed, Mugman just runs away again, with Mario in pursuit. Shadow gets up, pushing Link out of the way and going straight for Mugman as well, although Wii Fit Trainer also tries to stop him. Kirby also starts running away, chased by Link. Shadow distracts Wii Fit Trainer, telling Mario to keep going, but she sees right through their plan, going after Mario as well. Kirby is upset about being chased, feeling like he's going to lose again, so he breaks down, yelling at everyone about how much he feels like he needs the win. Shadow is interested in his dark side, but instead helps Mario in an attempt to corner Mugman. Kirby throws his hammer at Link to stop him, still running from Monika. Just as Monika is about to strike Kirby's balloon, Mario and Shadow finally get Mugman in a corner, both popping his balloon, winning the point and the whole challenge. Kirby talks about being happy to win, but both Monika and Mugman are clearly angry at him, Monika going as far to tell him not to act so entitled before leaving. She passes Shadow on her way out, who wishes her good luck, respecting her for standing up to Kirby.

At elimination, the Poles gather, sad about the loss. Wii Fit Trainer says that everyone fought well, to which Monika and Mugman agree. Marina give idols to Monika and Wii Fit Trainer, as they didn't get votes. It is then revealed neither Link or Mugman will be eliminated yet, for the vote was a tie. For the tiebreaker challenge, they would have to play another minigame, Over the Rainbow, where they would copy Marina to advance, the first to finish all the actions staying in the game. The battle is hard-fought from both sides, but Link clears the course first, staying in the game. He offers Mugman a handshake, which he accepts, not minding the loss. Mugman wishes everyone good luck and hops onto the heli as he's taken away to the New Albacore Hotel.

After saying goodbye, Wii Fit Trainer returns to the set, where she sees Shadow drawing something. Being interested, she asks what it is, to which he reluctantly shows her he's been drawing things inspired by things that happened during his time on the show, finding it embarrassing because he doesn't want to care that much about it all. Wii Fit Trainer just compliments his drawing and recommends he tries yoga to relieve stress. In a confessional, Monika reveals she never cared much for Mugman, saying the strategy challenge just delayed the inevitable for him, then adding that she really hates Kirby for how he acted, saying that he doesn't know the pain others went through, yet acts like he deserves so much. Trying to hold back tears, she returns to the trailers, where Wii Fit Trainer sees her, trying to cheer her up with Pearl's help. It seems to help her slightly, appreciating the encouragement.