A long time ago in the year 1997, there was a hotel famous for being the very best for cartoons of all kinds. It was called the Animation Resort (known by its nickname "Hotel Toon"), and every toon had spent time there at least once in their lives — and probably more, since once they arrived they never wanted to leave!

One morning Mint, a visitor at Hotel Toon, was going downstairs to hang out with her friends, who were known as the Toon Squad. Mint was a time traveler from the future sent to stop a great evil that would plague the world in the future. It had been five years since Gaston's defeat in the previous episode. The Toon Squad was made up of the toons who were at the Animation Resort most often: Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, , Fred Flintstone, the Chipettes, the Nestle Quik Bunny, and Mario. "Hey Mint," said Bugs when she arrived. "What's up, doc?"

"Oh, nothing much, Bugs," Mint replied with a shrug. "Same old, same old."

"You seem happy this morning," said Fred.

"Yes," said Mint. "That's because I'm ordered something in the mail."

"What is it?" asked Mario.

"An N64! I can't wait to see it."

"That's cool," said Brittany. "I've always wanted one. I'm jealous."

"I won it for free in some sweepstakes," said Mint, "and it's supposed to come today!"

"That's wonderful!" Mario exclaimed. "I love the N64. One of my favorite games in that system is Super Mario 64. Since it has me in it, it's obviously one of the best. But Mario Kart 64 is another good one. You can't go wrong if I'm on the cover!" He winked to show that he was just kidding . . . for the most part.

"So you got an N64," said Bugs, ignoring Mario. "That's great. I only have a Super NES. But I don't usually play video games that much."

"Super NES has lame graphics," Daffy scoffed. "The N64 is so much better. I had one, but it broke."

"That's because you threw it when you lost," Bugs said.

"Bugs," Daffy shot back, "shut up."

"The N64 is great," said the Quik Bunny. "I heard it's brand new. It only came out last year. My friend Tony the Tiger has one and he lets me play it sometime. You're gonna really like it!"

"Well Mint," said Bugs, "once you get it, tell me what it's like. Maybe some time we can play together."

"Certainly!"

"What about me?" Daffy asked.

Mint looked him up and down thoughtfully, then shook her head. "No."

"Why not?" he whined.

"If you broke yours, I don't really trust you playing mine."

"Oh come on! A duck can make one mistake. Don't worry, I won't break yours. I promise."

"I still don't trust you." Mint had known Daffy for long enough that she knew his promises weren't very reliable.

"Come on!"

"I said no!"

"Ahhh man," said Daffy, pouting. "You're no fun."

"Hello, guys," said a voice from behind them. It was Rio. "I should've known you'd be here."

Rio was also a time traveler from the same time period Mint was trying to stop the great evil.

"Oh hi, Rio," said Bugs. "What's up, doc?"

"Always saying that line," Rio said, shaking her head with an affectionate smile.

"Yes," Bugs agreed, grinning.

"Rio," Mint interrupted, bouncing up and down in her excitement. "I just won something!"

"What did you win?"

"An N64!"

"That's cool," said Rio. "My brother got one for Christmas last year and got hooked on it because of the new 3D graphics. Says it's better than the Super NES."

"Yeah," said Mint. "The Super NES is so old school. The N64 is the best."

"I don't have one," said Fred, a little disappointed. "I have a Sony Playstation instead."

"I've heard of that one," said Mint.

"Playstation sucks," Mario added, giving Fred a playful slap on the back. "Get an N64. You won't regret it."

"So," said Rio before anyone could start arguing about video game systems, "what would you like to drink?"

After the Toon Squad ordered their drinks, the conversation returned to video games. "So Quik Bunny," said Mint. "Which console do you like better: N64 or Playstation?"

"Well it doesn't really matter," said the Quik Bunny, glancing around nervously because he didn't want to get involved in the argument. "I like both."

"The N64 is still better," Mario insisted.

"I like Playstation better," said Fred.

"I don't know which is better," Brittany said. "The thing is, I don't own the new consoles yet. I still own an NES."

"NES?" said Mint. "Wow, you're very far behind."

"Yeah, I know," said Brittany. "I'm not that into video games, but Alvin absolutely loves them."

"Yeah," agreed Eleanor. "They play for hours."

"When we ask them if we could play, they don't let us," said Jeanette.

"Those boys just don't share!" Brittany said indignantly.

Bugs said, "I'm usually so busy with acting that I don't have time for video games."

"Well, you're so famous," said Mint.

"That's right." Suddenly he was distracted by the piano player in the corner. "Well," said Bugs. "It looks like the piano player is playing again." They heard the opening notes of "Fur Elise."

"Yeah," said Fred. "We always hear him playing when we're here."

"Hey," the Quik Bunny suggested. "Let's go see him play."

Agreeing, they all went over to him. "Hey there, doc," said Bugs. "Nice playing."

"Thanks," said the player. "I always like to entertain the guests.

"Can I make a request, Mac?"

"Yes."

"Would you please play 'Axel F' for me?"

"Certainly," said the player, and as the last notes of "Fur Elise" died down he began playing Bugs' request.

Then Bugs sang a song. As he finished, his friends burst into applause. "Wow, Bugs!" said Mint. "I didn't know you were good at singing."

"That was very good bravo," Mario agreed.

"Well," said Bugs, trying to look modest, "I do the best that I can."

"Hey," said Daffy. "What about me? I can sing too. My name is Daffy Duck and I am . . ." He trailed off as everyone gave him weird looks. "Very funny," he grumbled. "Let's all laugh at the duck."

"Well, well, well," said a voice from behind them. They turned to see Severus T. Ratigaurus. He was the owner of the Golden Rat Resort in Las Vegas — another, less popular, hotel for toons. Ratigaurus was jealous of the fame the Animation Resort had so he always tried to steal the hotel's secret documents so that he could make his better and shut down the Animation Resort.

"What do you want Ratigaurus?" asked Bugs, who'd spent enough time at Hotel Toon to know Ratigaurus's plans.

"What I always want," Ratigaurus, replied, lighting a cigar and puffing it. "I want this hotel. It's in the way of my success. But this time I would like to make a bet with old Craig Walker." That was the owner of the resort, and Ratigaurus's oldest rival.

"What kind of bet?" asked Daffy.

"You know, a game," said Ratigaurus. "Bring him down right now." No one wanted to argue with Ratigaurus, because he could cause all sorts of trouble, so Mint found Rio and sent her to go get Walker as fast as she could.

He came running into the lobby with Rio at his heels, looking around for the giant rat. "Ratigaurus! What are you doing here?"

"I came to make a bet with you," said Ratigaurus.

"What kind of bet?" asked Walker. raising his eyebrows.

"Well," said Ratigaurus, who had clearly thought this through. "In this bet you need to get a whole bunch of Toons to play different challenges all across the Hotel. I'll have some toons on my team too. If your team wins, I'll give you 10 million dollars. But if my team wins, then you have to give the Animation Resort to me. Do we have a deal?" He held out his paw for Walker to shake.

He hesitated for a moment, but $10 million was a lot of money, and the hotel could always use it. "Deal," he said, returning the handshake.

"Meet me tomorrow at 8 am sharp — and don't be late." With that, he turned and strode out of the hotel, leaving everyone staring after him.

"You really shouldn't have done that, doc," said Bugs.

"Are you kidding me? I want to get that 10 million dollars."

"I have a bad feeling about this . . ." said Mint.

"Yeah, me too," Rio added. "I hope that we don't lose."

Fred shrugged and said, "We'll just have to be ready for anything tomorrow."

"Yeah," Bugs agreed. "The Toon Squad will win that bet for you, Walker."

"Thank you all. I know we'll get that money no problem!"

Daffy shook his head and muttered under his breath, "I hope so."

The next morning, the Toon Squad was ready for the challenge. They met outside the entrance to the hotel, where Ratigaurus and his team were waiting. "Alright everybody," the rat began immediately. "Here are the rules to the game: we'll compete in three challenges. Whichever team wins two out of three wins the bet."

"All right," said Walker. "So what's the first challenge?"

"A game of billiards. Does this Hotel have a pool table?"

"Yes," said Bugs, "in the lounge."

"All right, good," said Ratigaurus. "Let's go."

Once they were in the lounge, Ratigaurus wanted to start right then and there. "Who here is good at billiards?" asked Ratigaurus.

"I'll go," said Daffy, lifting his chin and striding forward confidently.

"Wait a minute," said Bugs, holding out his arm to stop the duck, "you're not good at pool."

"Yes I am! I play really good."

"Well," Bugs corrected. "The last time you played with me you lost every game. You couldn't even get one ball in a hole."

"Bugs, shut up," Daffy hissed. "I can do this."

"I have a really bad feeling about this," said Bugs, but let Daffy pass since he was so determined.

"All right, duck," said Ratigaurus. "Your opponent will be Gaston."

"Gaston?" asked Daffy with a snort of derision. "He's not that tough."

"Don't worry Ratigaurus," said Gaston. "I can beat this duck."

"Good. Now let the game begin."

So Daffy and Gaston played pool . . . or tried to.

"Oh my gosh," said Mint, as Daffy accidentally poked himself in the eye with his cue. "This pool game is really boring. Nothing's happening."

"Yeah," said Rio. "They can't even get one ball into a hole."

"I told you Daffy was bad at pool," said Bugs. They all gasped as Daffy finally took his shot . . . and then groaned as the ball bounced off the table and onto the floor.

"Well if you tell me," said the Quik Bunny, "this really isn't a game at all."

"I know," said Mario, watching Gaston break his pool cue when he missed, forcing Ratigaurus to give him another. "I can play much better than these guys. Even Bowser can!"

"Yeah," said Fred. "I'd rather watch a football game than this."

"They are trying hard, though," said Brittany.

"But nothing's happening. This really isn't a game at all," said Jeanette. There was a moment of silence, as turn after turn neither player managed to get even a single ball into the hole. "It's almost impressive . . . I didn't know it was possible to be this bad."

"How long is this gonna take?" asked Eleanor.

The clock continued to spin as hours passed, but the game still went on and nothing happened.

"All right," said Daffy. "I'm almost there. I just need to get one ball in this hole."

"Aha!" Gaston suddenly exclaimed, as he finally managed to tap one of the balls into the corner pocket.

"Oh no you don't," said Daffy. "I can get one too! I just got to try." Then suddenly Daffy collapsed, exhausted from the effort and hours of playing.

Ratigaurus smiled, tapping his fingers together sinisterly. "It looks like Gaston wins."

"What? I won?" Gaston repeated, shocked. Then a huge triumphant grin spread across his face and he punched his fist in the air. "I won! Woooooo hoooooo! Yeah, that's right! I'm the man!"

"Well, Walker," Ratigaurus gloated. "It looks like I won this round."

Walker nodded, nervously chewing his fingernails. "Looks like it."

"Onto the next challenge," said Ratigaurus. "The next challenge is a shooting game. To the arcade!" He led them across the hall into the room, where they all gathered around a shooting game. "Whoever gets the most points wins this round. Who will play?"

"I will," said Bugs.

"Your opponent will be Marvin the Martian."

"Oh boy," said Marvin. "It looks like we meet again, Bugs."

"That's right," said Bugs, determined to beat his rival again. "You against me."

"Winning this game will boost my reputation," said Marvin. "Evil makes me so angry."

"Let's begin," said Bugs. Luckily both of them were very talented, so this game was far more exciting than the first challenge. Every time one of them would get a point, a second later the other one would catch up. It was neck-in-neck, and everyone knew that Bugs had to win or they'd lose the hotel forever.

"Wow," said Mint. "Bugs is good."

"Yeah." Rio nodded, biting her lip and glancing at the score. "Bugs is doing very well."

"I can say this," said Mario. "He's a lot better at shooting games than I am. I'm only good at my own games — and none of them involve shooting."

"Wow," said the Quik Bunny. "The two of them are going at it. They both really want to win this."

"They're both good . . ." said Fred. "Too good."

"Even though I don't like gun games," Brittany sniffed, "I think he's going to win this."

"Yeah," said Eleanor. "Bugs is much better at this than Daffy was at pool."

"Hey!" said Daffy, who'd recovered in time for the next challenge. "I played pretty well! Pool isn't that easy."

"So, Marvin," said Bugs, racking up another point. "Give up yet?"

"Never," said Marvin, immediately shooting down another alien and evening the score. "I will never lose to the likes of you."

"You haven't won yet. I'll make sure this hotel stays with Walker."

"That will never happen! I'm good at shooting games which means I'm gonna win."

"In your dreams," said Bugs. "I'll do this for the hotel." Motivated by his desire to save the Animation Resort, he began shooting even faster, knocking down enemies almost before they showed up.

Finally the game ended. Marvin had 3000 points and Bugs had 5000. "Well, doc," said Bugs with a sigh of relief. "I win."

"This isn't over earth creature," Marvin scowled. "If we were using real lasers I totally would've won."

"The score is even, Ratigaurus," Bugs added, turning to the rat.

"Well, well," said Ratigaurus, nodding in approval. "Not bad. But you won't win the final challenge."

"What will it be?" asked Rio.

"You'll see," said Ratigaurus with an evil smile. "Come with me." Having no choice, they all followed him to the back of the Hotel into the woods behind it. "This is the final challenge. While you were playing the first two games I did some work down here, making these woods into an obstacle course. There are some traps and dangers throughout it. Whoever wins this challenge wins the game. Who's next?" To be Continued...