This is the next chapter, once again, sorry for not updating sooner. Enjoy!
Erm...admittedly this isn't one of the best challenges I had thought up. Although it is better than the diving one.
The airplane, a nice, new Toad Express-shaped one operated by Delfino Holidays Airlines, hit the runway with a soft bump. Inside, sitting on the rows of seats, the faces of the remaining seven contestants looked on in awe and amazement at the exotic, tropical landscape. Delfino Airstrip was not a giant airport or anything, so soon the contestants left the plane without going through Customs and all that time-consuming stuff.
Monty Mole, who apparently was familiar with the sunny island, led the contestants on a walk, to their location. There was a row of shops, selling all sorts of stuff, from fishing equipment to food and beverages.
"I advise you to keep an eye out", whispered Toadbert to Diddy.
"I know!", said Diddy. "This place looks good! Like paradise…"
"No, not that", replied Toadbert. "The producers might have sneaked in a few clues. They always do that. Wait…I think I just spotted one!"
Between one of the shops, in an alley which led to the beach beyond, there was a signpost with a red mole on it. It read:
THE MOLE IN LATIN IS ?
Diddy looked confused. "We might have just found a clue but…what does it mean?"
"The mole in Latin, obviously."
Kylie was walking nearby, chewing some gum. "Damn, I used to learn that language but now I totally forgot!"
Toadbert rolled his eyes. Then there was the second suspicious sight of the day. A plane was drawing letters in the sky, which looked faintly like:
? EST LA TAUPE
Toadbert pointed to the others, a couple of pianta children were also looking at the letters. "So 'the mole in latin' is translated to as 'est la taupe'?"
"No", said Kylie. "I don't think that is Latin…or if it is a clue at all. French or Italian or some other language, maybe? And to think that I constantly got A-pluses in my childhood years…"
"Fail."
Lumalee was salivating at the number of cakes and other snacks displayed at a local food store, it also definitely smelled nice. "Yum…I'd like to taste them all…"
"Which would make you more gluttonous than a giant Yoshi!", insulted Rawk Hawk, who was marching up front. Lumalee, who was clearly offended, drifted back a bit and joined in a convesation between Peach and Rosalina, which went from politics to tennis to trivia…and then all sorts of stuff.
"I'd like to go shopping there", remarked Rosalina, pointing to a nearby shopping mall labelled Coconut Mall. There was a giant golden fountain up front.
"Yeah, that was a course in a Mario Kart tournament", replied Peach. "It was also your first, don't you remember?"
"Yeah…it isn't something I'll forget in a hurry", agreed the star princess.
"Why does she get all the exciting events and never me…", whispered Lumalee to herself.
Monty Mole, who had kept quite during the journey, spoke up. "And we're here!"
"No way!", gasped Kylie, looking at the sight. "We're going in Pinna Park? That's, like, the largest amusement park in the kingdom!"
"You got that right!", said Monty. "And also it's the location of our next challenge!"
The contestants walked in through the park's gates. A couple of nokis were grumbling due to the fact that they did not need to pay the entry fees (everything on Delfino was inappropiately expensive, as it was a resort). There was a huge roller coaster, a large revolving ferris wheel, some fearsome pirate ship themed rides which swang in entire circles, and even a 'Yoshi-Go-Round': basically a merry-go-round with Yoshi-themed seats. But Monty instead led everyone inside a particularily large tent, which he said was prepared especially for The Mole.
Entering inside, contestants found a floor littered with holes. Monty Mole explained that they were whac-a-mole holes.
"What", said Lumalee, giggling at its name.
"You don't know? Well then let me explain", offered Monty. "It is a popular carnival redemption game, and there are several holes where plastic moles would pop out, and the player's objective is to hit them back inside with a soft mallet. Each time there is a hit the score is added. If the player does not hit a mole out of its hole for a period of time it would sink back in with no score. Normally they are small ones in stalls, but this is a full-scale one built especially for us, and instead of using mallets you would be using…your feet."
"Not exactly hygenic when you consider some of the contestants", complained Peach, looking at Rawk Hawk and Diddy (who went barefoot) in particular.
Monty Mole chuckled. "This game is harder, however. If you let a total of three moles escape unhit, then the game is automatically over. You guys need to survive for three and a half minutes. Each minute, someone needs to volunteer to leave the game. The challenge is worth 10,000 coins"
"Quite hard when you consider the size of my "feet", said Lumalee. The star child was correct.
"Oh, sorry", said Monty. He tossed a normal mallet of appropiate size to the star child; she was the only one who needed to use of of those.
The contestants walked onto the hole-littered floor. The game started, and things were frantic.
Rawk Hawk stamped two plastic moles in one hit, whilst Peach and Toadbert each got one. Lumalee took care of another with a hit from her mallet. Rosalina struggled a bit but also caught one. Almost immediately afterwards, however, most contestants started to bunch up in a section of room, and the first error happened.
"Two chances left!", announced Monty. "And only twenty seconds has elapsed!"
By then, some of the stronger contestants at the game was shown to be Lumalee and Diddy. Soon the first minute came, with only one error, and so of course someone had to leave. The game was stopped for 10 seconds as the decision was to be made.
"I'll volunteer", said Peach. "This really isn't for me…"
"Nah, I'll go", replied Toadbert. "This is hard with my short legs…or feet, since I don't have 'em at all." The toad walked off to the side of the tent on his own.
Gameplay resumed, and the plastic moles started to pop in and out faster. With one player gone to take care of it, the sight was similar to a game of twister…except that people were bashing with their feet. But by then their rhythm had also improved, and a game of wac-a-mole seemed like child's play. On the second minute, another was to walk out.
"Alright, its me this time, no matter what", said Peach, and left.
At the outside of the tent, Monty Mole led Peach and Toadbert towards the tent's back, without the remaining players' knowledge. Standing before them was an arcade-like machine, with several buttons.
"This is the control machine for the whack-a-mole game", explained Monty. "In a moment, I will have you guys take manual control. Pressing a button here causes a mole to rise up. Of course, you can choose to make it exceptionally easy for them, or you can try and make them fail this. If you do, and succeed, you two will then partake in a dice-based card game and an exemption will be rewarded. When only seven of you are left, exemptions are exceptionally important now, don't you think?"
Peach: Everyone deserves a fair game…right? You shouldn't put yourself in front of others…right?
Toadbert: Imagine what that team pot could do to my scientific studies! I automatically thought to go for it.
Monty handed the machine to the two. Immediately, Toadbert started pressing buttons all over the place. Peach did not do much, either because Toadbert was occupying all the room or that she felt guilty to be actually a part of all that. Soon, and quite easily, the game was lost.
Rawk Hawk: Things suddenly became to hard for I, champion of the Glitz Pit, to handle. What I can't handle, the others obviously cannot as well…
Kylie: Two words. The. Mole.
The disgruntled contestants headed out of the tent, where Monty Mole had a big smirk on his face. He promptly told them what had happened which caused them to lose.
Then the others looked on as Toadbert and Peach would contest the exemption. "There will be three dice rolls for each player, and the totals are added. The player with the higher total will be given an exemption."
First Dice Roll
Toadbert's number: 5
Peach's number: 2
Toadbert had a faint smile, but knew that it was not over. An exemption was a huge reward in games such as the mole, and thus there was much tension.
Second Dice Roll
Toadbert's number: 1 (total: 6)
Peach's number: 5 (total: 7)
Peach now had the edge. Monty Mole prepared the dice to be rolled for the third and final time...
Third Dice Roll
Toadbert's number: 5 (total: 11)
"Toadbert now has eleven. A very high total. Peach, are you ready?"
The princess nodded, obviously. There was no other option.
Peach's number: … 6 (total: 13)
Monty smiled. "And it seems as if we have our winner! It is... Peach!"
Team Pot
72,000 coins
+ 0 coins
= 72,000 coins
Possible: 160,000 coins
Exempted: Peach Toadstool
"Now, I know that most of you guys are rather excited to be here", said the host. "And so, for the rest of today, you are free to spend time on Isle Delfino."
"Yes!", everyone shouted.
As they were in Pinna Park, Toadbert and Lumalee thought that it was not a bad idea to have a bit of fun on the rides, and it was just what they did. First was the frightening rollercoaster, and then the huge ferris wheel which commanded a view of half the island, then the pirate ships, which swung higher and higher until they went in complete circles. They even went on the Yoshi-Go-Round, even if it was meant for…children.
All the other contestants had a great time on the island that day. They assembled at Gelato Beach at sunset. Sunsets on Isle Delfino are always beautiful, and this one was no exception. Then there was Monty's speech.
"The first of two exemptions have already been handed out. The second one would be done so right now."
"How? What challenge will we get?", asked Kylie. "Something to do with the beach?"
"Nothing of that kind. All you have to do is to vote for the person you think deserves an exemption the most. You cannot vote for yourself."
"Oh…"
Rosalina's vote: Lumalee
Rosalina: Normally I'd go for Peach but since she is already exempted, there really is no point. Lumalee is just someone who should win this game, and has all the qualities of doing so: alertness and curiousity. Besides, she's a nice person as a whole…
Toadbert's vote: Rawk Hawk
Toadbert: I guess the others really don't understand the meaning of this. I'm voting for the person I think is the mole, as the mole will always pass regardless and thus I have a smaller chance of being executed.
Peach's vote: Rosalina
Peach: I like Rosalina and she's one of my best friends. She will go far in this game, I know she will.
Kylie's vote: Rosalina
Kylie: What can I say…I like Rosalina, especially now with Peach safe to the next round.
Rawk Hawk's vote: Lumalee
Rawk Hawk: Diddy, Kylie and Toadbert either hate or dislike me so I'll never help them! Rosalina's not that bad…but Lumalee is one person I actually don't really mind having around most of the time.
Diddy's vote: Toadbert
Diddy: Koops is gone. I miss him; I think I'll go for Toadbert on this one. He doesn't exactly have the best temper, but he did help me with the clues today…
Lumalee's vote: Rosalina
Lumalee: It is simple – Rosalina is kind, and I know her very well. I hope she makes it far!
Monty Mole said mysteriously, "I have all your results. I know who will get an exemption. But, instead of telling you immediately, I'll say who doesn't have it, and get to the winner via a process of elimination."
"Kylie and Diddy, you two have no votes at all. And thus eliminated."
Kylie: No-one likes me. Ouch.
"Toadbert and Rawk Hawk, you each have one vote, but sadly that is not enough."
Toadbert: I wonder who voted for me.
"Which leaves only two of you left in contention: Rosalina and Lumalee. One of you has two, the other three. Who is the victor? It is…Rosalina. Please step up and accept your reward."
Rosalina: I'm lucky in that I've already gotten a handful of exemptions so far. I'm moved that the others like me so much…
"Which ends the activities for today. You will be staying tonight at Hotel Delfino, your roommate the one you always have."
Hotel Delfino was an old building with three floors. The reception desk had a large basket of fruit, and as the contestants retired to their rooms, they knew fully that the execution was tomorrow, and that they were not safe. No-one was safe – except for the mole.
And the tenth chapter is finished! Who is the mole? Who might be the next victim of the mole? What relation do the clues have with the mole's identity? Would someone accept a bribe and leave the game in order to earn coins, and if so, who? Next chapter coming soon.