Author's note: About time I made this chapter, eh? And what's taking Mat so long?
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Chapter 9: Huh?
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AFTER THE SHOW - RPGAMES BACKSTAGE AREA
Alex got out her X-powder and contacted Jerry. "Hey, Jerry. How's it coming?"
"Leo was right to be suspicious, or so it appears," Jerry responded. "All the RPGames contestants seem to have vanished without a trace after losing, and Tina D.'s signature is recognizable as the handwriting of none other than the former Toy Island owner Dan Ti."
I gasped. "Knew it! What do you suggest we do?"
"There's no clear way to expose him, so just play along for now. See if you can get your chance. Ta-ta." Jerry hung up, and I contacted Clover and explained everything to her.
SPIES' VILLA
"I've always wondered something," Normi told Clover a few minutes after my call. "What does the D. in Tina D's name stand for?"
"Well, I'll let slip a secret," Clover replied. "It really doesn't stand for anything. Tina D. is actually a man, using voice alteration technology to sound like a woman. You tend to find out these things when your best friends are on the show."
Normi was speechless (which, as Clover might say, was a first). Then, the doorbell rang. It was an RPGames employee, and he wanted Clover to come see her friends live on the show the next day. Clover agreed promptly. Normi was a little sore that he wasn't invited, but managed to hide in the trunk as the employee drove off with Clover.
THE NEXT DAY - ON THE SHOW
Hello, everyone, and welcome back to RPGames! The group has just conquered the Earth Temple. Where will the next branch of their journey take them? Let's find out!
We exited the Earth Temple. "One ring down, three to go," Alex reminded us. "Looks like there's another one to the northeast, in Mirage Desert. Let's get moving; the sooner we get that ring, the sooner we complete the adventure."
The conquering of Earth Temple had somehow caused a barrier behind the temple to crumble. We headed down the path and entered a desert. Needless to say, it was very hot. "What I wouldn't give for a glass of lemonade about now," Sam finally said.
"Yes," I concurred. "Make that two glasses. Hey, there's an oasis right over there." We approached, but the thing turned out to be a mirage. Figures. On top of that, a fierce-looking dragon attacked us. The troupe of three has just encountered a Fire Dragon! Looks like trouble. Let's find out whether it can be conquered.
I got the first move and shot an arrow, which only did 1 damage. Sam cast an Electric Bolt spell, which did 1 as well. Alex played it safe and used Camouflage. The dragon then unleashed a HUGE fire blast, just as it had done as we'd seen it the previous week. Sam and I were KO'd instantly, but Alex was fine.
What? Alexandra had the foresight to protect herself with Camouflage? Drat! This isn't good… and it'll take a while to charge up another fire blast…
Clover gasped. "Tina D. wants my friends to get a GAME OVER? Should've known. I'm going to barge down that announcer's door right now!" She got up, her resolution made.
Meanwhile, Alex was beginning to panic a little. "Don't I have any Phoenix Downs or something? There's got to be a way to revive my friends!" She checked her item list on her X-powder, but a Magic Vial 1 and Healing Vial 1 wouldn't do any good. None of her moves were good revivers either. She had no choice but to finish the battle on her own.
Or did she?
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This is a little shorter than my other chapters, but that's no problem. I'm aiming for two more chapters, plus an epilogue.