Thank you for choosing to read this story! It's always appreciated! Also, PLEASE don't look at the others' reviews. They contain spoilers. Thank you, and good luck finding The Mole!


Monty Mole, the host of The Mole, looked out to sea where a boat was fast approaching. "Here come the contestants!", he told to the viewing audience. "They have all signed up to be the winner of 320,000 coins – except one. The saboteur. The double agent. The traitor. The mole. His or her job is to sabotage the efforts of the group. Knowing who he or she is, is vital to stay in the game. So the question is...who is the mole?"

Being a hydrofoil, by the time this speech had ended the boat had docked onto the port, and out stepped the ten contestants.

The first person wore a green cap and overalls, and had a thick mustache. He was instantly recognised by many.

Luigi Mario

Species: Human

Occupation: Plumber/Hero

The second person was a tall, beautiful woman with a turquoise dress and a wand.

Rosalina Star

Species: Human

Occupation: Galaxy guardian/kart racer

The third person was a toad with a blue mushroom cap with white spots.

Toadbert Kinopio

Species: Toad

Occupation: Royal scientist

The fourth person had a distinctive pink dress and a crown symbolizing royalty.

Peach Toadstool

Species: Human

Occupation: Princess/sports star

The fifth person was a female Koopa with a unique pink shell, shoes and a green cap.

Kylie Koopa

Species: Koopa Troopa

Occupation: Reporter

The sixth person had bulging muscles and an imposing body. Many of the competitors instantly recognized him as the champion of the Glitz Pit.

Rawk Hawk

Species: Hawk

Occupation: Professional wrestler

The seventh was a small, agile monkey.

Diddy Kong

Species: Monkey

Occupation: Strikers Captain

The eighth person was a light blue luma.

Lumalee Lumabop

Species: Luma

Occupation: Star child/Unemployed

The ninth person was a girl toad with unique pink mushroom-shaped plaits.

Toadette Shroome

Species: Toad

Occupation: Royal stylist/chef

The tenth and final person was just a regular clothed Koopa Troopa, albeit the bandage on his nose.

Koops McShell

Species: Koopa Troopa

Occupation: Town mayor


The contestants surveyed their surroundings. They were in some kind of sheltered bay, and a town could be seen on the other side. The boat instantly departed and the contestants were left figuring out what to do.

"Now what?", moaned Toadbert, still in his lab coat. "I don't like it here."

"Well then why did you sign up!", asked Rawk Hawk loudly.

"Geez, don't be so angry", retorted the annoyed toad.

"Well quit being so annoying!", remarked Rawk Hawk, and started to show off his muscles to the others – especially the girls. "I'm a professional wrestler. I don't care what obstacles get thrown at me, I can handle it!"

"I know! You're like my biggest fan!", Toadette girlishly shrieked.

"How about we leave this for later and figure out what to do?", thought Rosalina, the star princess.

"I dunno. Wait for the host, I guess?", replied Koops.

"Yeah, lets wait for the host", concluded Luigi.

Right on cue, Monty Mole revealed himself to the contestants. "Welcome, contestants, to the latest season of The Mole! I am Monty Mole, and I am your host."

"Nice to meet you!", greeted Lumalee.

"Anyway, you will be competing together in various challenges both physically and mentally. If you succeed, money would be added to the team pot."

"Money? I wish Wario was here", Kylie sniggered.

"Too easy for me", boasted Rawk Hawk.

"It may seem easy", continued Monty, "but nothing could be further from the truth. For one of you is not what you think he or she is. He or she is a saboteur, a mole, and he or she was hired by us to deceive you; to ruin your money-making efforts."

There were many gasps.

"So I guess we'll need to figure out who this mole is? To stop him?", asked Rosalina.

"Yes, and that is not the only reason. You see, at the end of each episode, there would be a quiz on the identity of the mole. The competitor with the lowest score would be executed."

Rawk Hawk's grin had, by then, practically faded.

"So I guess we can't trust anybody?", said a disappointed Diddy.

"If you wish so, yes. Or you can form coalitions and alliances with other players. Its all up to you."

"When is our first challenge, then?", asked the eager Lumalee.

"I'm glad you asked. Right now!"

The sound of a helicopter could suddenly be heard by the contestants, and one of them noticed a speedy boat. A ladder made of rope was hanging from the chopper.

"Do we have to do what I think we have to do?", groaned Toadette.

"Dammit! And I thought this all had to do with strength and endurance!", complained Rawk Hawk. Many others laughed.

"It seems as if you guys have guessed it", said Monty Mole. "But just to clarify, for this challenge you will be on the boat travelling at high speeds, and your job would be to climb the ladder and onto the helicopter. For you to complete this challenge – which is worth10,000 coins – at least half of you have to climb to the top and not fall. But if even one of you decide not to compete, the challenge would be unsuccessful. Game over. 0 coins."

Toadette and Koops cringed at the thought.

"Oh, and one more thing. The fastest contestant to the top would receive an exemption."

"A what?"

"Basically, that means you are safe to the next round. The quiz doesn't apply to you if you receive it."

"I'm getting that exemption no matter what!", announced Rawk Hawk.

"Who is going first? Any volunteers?"

"I guess I'll go sooner or later", reasoned Luigi. "I'll be first, then."

And so Luigi was taken onto the boat and it sped off across the lake. The helicopter came and the rope was lowered. By using his legendary jump, he'd managed to jump to the third rope-rung before starting the journey up.

Despite the sea breeze blowing onto his face, Luigi progressed steadily. Soon, he was halfway up and despite almost slipping a couple of times, he'd managed to make it to the top.

"So there's one!", said Monty Mole. "Four more till you succeed."

Lumalee was next. The star child was as energetic as ever, but since she was so small she had to literally jump from one rung to the other. She had only made it to the second rung when the breeze brought her tumbling into the sea.

Strong, muscular Rawk Hawk then gave it a go. Fearlessly he clambered up, the flying ladder not giving him a bit of trouble, and he was soon at the top.

"Two at the top! Already!", said Monty Mole, clearly impressed.

Challenge Update

Gone and succeeded: Luigi, Rawk Hawk

Gone and failed: Lumalee

Still to go: Rosalina, Toadbert, Peach, Kylie, Diddy, Toadette, Koops.

Diddy Kong put his hand up next. The monkey made steady progress, but a careless move had him tumble to the bottom.

"I was that close!", said a wet, dripping Diddy. "That is so much harder than it looks! I'm practically exhausted!"

Koops reasoned with himself and also climbed up…before back falling down. He'd literally stayed on one rung for seven minutes before fatigue had finally taken over.

Soon, all the rest of the contestants were the less eager ones: the two princesses, the two toads and also Kylie Koopa.

No-one put their hand up; all were reluctant. "Thirty more seconds to decide before its game over!", said the host, Monty Mole.

Luigi was trying to keep the challenge alive. "Come on! It is not as hard as it looks!"

Ten more seconds. "Please! All our efforts will have been wasted!", pleaded Lumalee.

"And it would be all your fault!", accused Rawk Hawk. All the others glared at him.

"I-I'll g-go", stammered Toadette finally.

Monty Mole patted her on the back. "Congrats. It takes a lot of courage, you know." He led her onto the boat, and soon it was time for her to start the challenge.

"TO-DETTE! TO-DETTE!", the rest of the contestants yelled from the banks.

Urged on, Toadette stepped feebly onto the first rung…and almost lost her footing. Not only was the ladder blowing wildly, it was also incredibly slippery. She tried again, and by some miracle she succeeded.

"Way to go!", hollered Luigi. "Great job!"

Toadette then clambered onto the second rung, and soon she was on a roll. The water below just didn't seem like a threat anymore to the girl toad. She grinned widely and soon she was onto the chopper, being helped by the Koopa operators.

But as the rest of the challengers cheered, the mole cursed silently. No-one noticed it, though.


Challenge Update

Gone and succeeded: Luigi, Rawk Hawk, Toadette

Gone and failed: Lumalee, Diddy, Koops

Still to go: Rosalina, Toadbert, Peach, Kylie.

"Out of the four of you, at least two have to make it for the challenge to be successful!", said Monty. "And so far, the fastest is Rawk Hawk!"

"Yeah!", screamed the wrestler, and showed his muscles again.

Kylie Koopa the reporter then stepped onto the plate, although she needed a fair bit of convincing. She actually exceeded everyone's expectations and made it all the way to the top…beating Rawk Hawk's time in the process.

"Curse you!", hollered an angry Rawk Hawk. "I want that exemption!" Kylie just grinned sheepishly.

"Any more volunteers?", asked the host. There were none.

"We'll, thirty more seconds and…"

"I'll go", announced Rosalina finally. She took off her dress to reveal a skimpy cyan-coloured bikini inside, prompting several whistles from the males.

Rosalina, with her incredibly tall frame, found the individual rungs easy. But an extra-strong gust of wind swept her off-balance, and she tumbled to her fate.

"Two more!", said Monty, the host. "And one must make it to the top for the coins to be obtained!

Everyone stared at Toadbert and Peach, waiting for a response. "You go", said Peach to Toadbert. "You're probably the stronger climber."

And so, it was agreed. Toadbert didn't go very far, though – his short height was a huge disadvantage.

"And so everything rests in the hands of the Princess of the Mushroom Kingdom!", re-capped the literal mole and host. "Can she do it? We'll find out soon…but first, an ad break!"

Challenge Update

Gone and succeeded: Luigi, Rawk Hawk, Toadette, Kylie

Gone and failed: Lumalee, Diddy, Koops, Rosalina, Toadbert

Still to go: Peach

Peach was incredibly nervous as she started out, the boat cruising across Mushroom Bay. She knew that if she failed, although some would comfort her, others would suspect her to be the mole, such as Rawk Hawk. They would also dislike her and refuse to form a coalition with her – and being off the suspect list in this game is crucial. So determination outweighed fear as she made her way to the ladder.

Her first few steps were good and steady, and she was making excellent progress. The wind was a hindrance, no doubt, but not so much. She knew it would be hopeless to try and beat Kylie's time. She was doing it for the team.

Over the fifth and sixth rungs. Four left to go. Soon, four became three, and three became two. There was a sudden moment when she temporarily lost her footing, but she soon recovered and made it to the chopper.

Team Pot

0 coins

+ 10,000 coins

= 10,000 coins

Exempted: Kylie Koopa

The contestants were assembled at the bay again, and as a bus arrived to take them to their residence as Monty recapped. "So, contestants, did you witness any suspicious behavior today? You'd better remember it, and to help you with that are these books!

There were ten green books in total, each with the image of a Monty Mole on it.

"From now on, these are your diaries, and they are certainly the most useful tools. But wait, here comes our bus!"

A black bus showed up and all the contestants boarded. Rosalina sat with Lumalee, Rawk Hawk with her fan Toadette, Koops with Diddy, Toadbert with Peach and Luigi with Kylie Koopa. They all discussed the day's events.

"Maybe the Mole had already tried to sabotage this?", said Koops. "Or maybe he or she made it to the top, to avoid drawing suspicion to himself or herself. What are your thoughts?"

"I really don't know. Everyone seemed to be genuinely trying today. Rawk seems like the mole-ish type, but he made it to the top. Rosalina, on the other hand, with her height advantage, should have made it, but she didn't. Maybe it was because of weak strength, maybe because of bad luck. But its surely suspicious to me," said Diddy.

"I am writing that in my diary! Thanks!", said Koops.

Meanwhile, Luigi and Kylie discussed their thoughts.

"I think it is Rawk Hawk", stated Kylie matter-of-factly. "That loudmouth. I hate him."

"Well, he is Rawk Hawk", rebutted Luigi. "He's always like that. Lumalee is simply too short, but Diddy, Koops and Rosalina should've made it. They're on my suspect list for now. Toadette and Peach are definitely off though, no-one expected them to do it but they did."

"Or maybe deep down they knew they'll succeed, since they're the mole, and so they faked it?"

"That is most certainly a thought."

Rosalina and Luma were sharing their thoughts at another row.

"The mole? Who is the mole? Isn't that the question everyone is asking?", laughed Rosalina.

"Yeah, well…I thought you could provide some information", admitted Lumalee, the light-blue star child.

"You're not exactly off my suspect list", Rosalina reasoned. "I think it is only fair that I don't tell you all of my thoughts, in case you can use it against me."

"True, true", muttered Lumalee.

Toadbert and Peach sat together.

"I would like to thank you, Peach, for practically saving our challenge. You're definitely off my suspect list for now," commended Toadbert.

Peach was inspecting her diary. "Cool, this is like the journal I always carry around with me on trips!" Suddenly, a piece of paper fell out. "What the!"

Who is the mole? Where is he or she? No clues should be ignored.

"Just another useless clue", Peach said, tossing it away.

"So, on top of figuring out where we are, looking for the mole, completing the challenges and not getting executed, we now have to look out for clues!", laughed Toadbert.

"This was harder than I thought", muttered Peach.

Rawk Hawk and Toadette didn't talk much, except for occasionally sharing their suspects. "Most definitely Toadbert. He had the nerve to argue with me! Remember, I completed the challenge and he did not!", accused the hawk.

Toadette didn't want to point out that it wasn't actual arguing. "He's probably doubting you, ya know."

"So what? You got a problem?"

"Seriously, Rawk, you don't have to try and offend all the contestants! You have to form coalitions sooner or later."

The bus came to a halt outside a grand building on the outskirts of Toad Town. All the contestants stepped off and saw a bright neon sign: Mushroom Hotel.

"And this", said the host, being the last to step off the bus, "is where you will be staying! Two to a room. You'd better start choosing your roommates, or else I'll do it for you!"

And so it was decided:

Room 101: Diddy and Koops

Room 102: Luigi and Peach

Room 103: Rosalina and Lumalee

Room 104: Toadette and Toadbert

Which left the leftover contestants:

Room 105: Kylie and Rawk Hawk

Dinner was served shortly afterwards, and then all the contestants retired to bed. Some wrote in their diaries, others instantly fell asleep, knowing that there would be another challenge on the next day. Many wondered what it would be like, except for the mole.

The mole.

Who do you, readers, think is the mole? Reviews please!