Disclaimer: I only own Kelaiah the ferret. Nothing else.

Well, here is the moment you've all been waiting foooooooooooooor!


Kelaiah stood alone before the stage in Great Hall, the ferret's expression just as grim and foreboding as he had been for the previous judgments. Behind the ferret were covered trays on a long table, similar to the first judging.

The twelve contestants came out, some of them solemn-faced, others looking confident.

"Behind me are eleven trays bearing all the masks you wore for the challenge," Kelaiah said, unsmiling. "I will take them out one at a time and say the name of the contestant of who they belong to. The maiden whose name is not called, is the loser of this trial."

All twelve maidens stood very still, their overbright eyes fixated on Kel.

"The first maiden whose mask that I pick out will be the contestant who won this challenge."

The male ferret paused and peered through his rectangle-shaped spectacles at the twelve beautiful females that stood before him - and once again mentally sighed, knowing that only in fanfiction could a thing like this happen to him.


The ferret took a small breath, and said, "The winner of the Vermin-Disguise Challenge is. . . ."

All were silent. Some even forgot to breathe.

Kel brought forth the first mask. . . .

"Bluefen."

The ferret gaped as the other contestants also gasped but clapped as well. They knew she'd win this one! Celandine was put out that she wasn't the one to win first place, but then again, she reasoned, at least this time she knew she wouldn't be placed low on the list!

It took a moment for Bluefen to finally come forward; it seemed incredible to her that she, she, had won a challenge! And the one challenge she thought that was rather silly for her to participate in! Surely she'd wake up any time soon?

Kelaiah smiled down at her as she carefully picked up her mask, as though it were fine glass. "You impressed every reviewer with your disguise, and your act. They loved you, they thought you were hilarious. You fooled each and every one of them, both judge and reviewer alike. Some thought it was wonderful to see you come out of your shell like that. Congratulations, Bluefen."

"Thank you," Bluefen murmured, her eyes watering.


Kelaiah turned to the other contestants, all waiting for the next mask to be revealed. He picked up the next tray.

"The next maid whose mask I am about to pull out belongs to. . . ."

The contestants silently took deep breaths.

"Celandine."

The squirrelmaid gave a gasping squeal; finally! She was near the top! She wasn't rated low this time! Celandine was so happy and relieved that she practically skipped towards Kel, who smiled.

"The reviewers thought you were amazing, that you were awesome. Even though a lot of them knew it was you, they were still astounded by your performance. Congratulations."

"Thank you!" Celandine said, and with that, she reached up kissed Kel on the cheek.

Kel's face turned red under his brown fur as the beautiful squirrelmaid went and stood by Bluefen.


"Ahem! Harrumph!" said Kel, trying to compose himself again. The contestants gave a small laugh.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah! Now shut up for a moment," Kel interrupted. "Now then, the next name I'm going to call is. . . ."

Again the females became silent.

"Dotti."

The haremaid gave a whoop and bounded forward.

"You really impressed the reviewers with your drunken act," Kel told her. "And the way how you used your flaws to make the vermin believe you were a real vermin, that was wonderful."

"Oh, thanks a heap, old fellow!" Dotti said, thumping Kel on the back (nearly flooring him).


"Now then," the male ferret went on. "The next mask I pull out belongs to. . . .

"Rose."

The mousemaid smiled and stepped forward.

"Way to go on using your voice talents," Kel said as he handed her her mask. "Congratulations."

"Thank you," Rose replied as she took her place with Bluefen, Celandine, and Dotti.


"The next contestant I'm going to call is. . . ."

"Mariel."

The mousemaid smiled, though quite as widely as Rose had, and came forward.

"You used your experience with all those searats during this challenge, and that's a good thing," Kelaiah told her. "Congratulations."

"Thanks."


"The next name I shall I call is. . . .

"Mhera."

The ottermaid came forward and retrieved her mask - and an extra prize: the tailring she wore.

"I believe this was your brother's?" Kelaiah asked her.

"Yes, but he gave it to Rosabel, who gave it to Fwirl when she entered this contest as a way of reminding Fwirl of her while she was away, and then Fwirl gave it to me for the challenge."

Kel blinked. "Oh, um, okay. Great! But you certainly pulled off a good job convincing Skalrag you were a real vermin. Congratulations."

"Thank you very much."


"The next constestant to come forward will be. . . .

"Trimp."

The hedgehogmaid walked up to Kel and received her mask.

"Some of the reviewers want to know how you knew about the flurgy twinj?" Kel asked her.

Trimp blinked at the male ferret.

"We're all fictional characters completely out of our timelines, dealing with modern-like things, and the reviewers are confused as to how I knew about some made-up disease?!"

It was Kel's time blink. "Um, yeah um . . . good point, I guess. Er, congratulations!"

"Thanks." Trimp went and stood by the others.


Kel looked at the remaining contestants: Treerose, Pasque, Fwirl, Armel, and Cornflower. All of them hadn't fooled the judges into thinking they were vermin, and delivered rather poor performances in the reviewer's opinion.

"The next name I'm going to call is. . . .

"Fwirl."

The red-gold squirrelwife let out her breath; she hadn't realized she had been holding it. She came forward, relieved and surprised she wasn't in the bottom.

"Congratulations," was all Kel said.

"Thanks," Fwirl muttered as she scampered to the others.


"Armel."

The squirrelwife also heaved a breath of surprised relief. She was very glad not to be the loser twice in a row, but still, she had been almost sure she'd be lower.

Once again all Kelaiah said was "Congratulations" as Armel made her way to the others.


Kel looked at the remaining three contestants: Cornflower, Treerose, and Pasque.

"The next name I'm going to call is . . . ."

"Pasque."

The haremaid put her paw on her forehead as she came forward. She hadn't been relishing the thought of losing yet another trial.

"Congratulations," Kel said.

"Thank you."


"Will Cornflower and Treerose please step forward?"

The mousewife and squirrelwife did so, holding each other's paw.

"Both of you stand before me for very similar reasons. Neither of you have had experience with acting or disguising. But one of you is the loser for this trial.

"I'll start with Cornflower. Cornflower, you were found out way too easily, and you even forgot your own backstory. And that is a dangerous thing to do when you're in disguise.

"And then you, Treerose, many of the reviewers rated you low for your poor portrayl of a vermin. You had a good disguise, but your mannerisms were a dead giveaway.

"You both know how the scoring is settled in this competition. All of the votes were added up and one of you is higher than the other. . . ."

Neither squirrel nor mouse spoke. Both were squeezing each other's paw tightly, both of their eyes pinned on the male ferret before them.

Finally Kel lifted the tray's lid, revealing the mask of. . . .

"Cornflower."

"Oh!" the mousewife placed her free paw over her mouth.

Treerose, her eyes watering, nevertheless gave Cornflower a hug.

"But somehow," Kel said as Cornflower took back her mask. "The scoring came out so that you were higher than Treerose."

Cornflower, wiping her eyes, made her way over to the other contestants.

Kel turned to the squirrelwife that still stood before him. "You, Treerose, sadly, are the loser of the Vermin Disguise Challenge. But don't let that discourage you. You've been rated high in the other challenges, even won the first challenge. You still have time to do a better job."

Treerose nodded, her eyes swimming. "Thank you."


Later, after all was said and done, Bluefen, as the winner of the Disguise Challenge, received her prize.

And just what was her prize? Well, you're just going to have to guess what it was, aren't you?

(If you have any ideas, PM me)


Winner of Challenge 5: Bluefen

Loser of Challenge 5: Treerose

Most Popular Contestant: tie between Bluefen and Celandine

Order of Performances: Bluefen, Celandine, Dotti, Rose, Mariel, Mhera, Trimp, Fwirl, Armel, Pasque, Cornflower, Treerose


In case anyone is curious of how the scores came out:

Bluefen - 28

Celandine - 55

Dotti - 77

Rose - 89

Mariel - 99

Mhera - 115

Trimp - 120

Fwirl - 192

Armel - 193

Pasque - 195

Cornflower - 196

Treerose - 201


Stay tuned for another chapter of Redwall's Next Top Model!