AN: As a huge fan of not just Loud House but Legends of the Hidden Temple, I loved the episode "Legends" but didn't think it did justice to the game show. So for my maiden fanfic on this site, I decided to write about Lincoln and Lori competing on Legends, staying faithful to the original show's format. I did my best to make this as similar to a real episode of Legends as I could, and I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: Loud House and Legends of the Hidden Temple are both owned by Nickelodeon. I have no money, so please don't sue. However, out of an abundance of caution I changed the host's name, so "Kurt Bogg" DOES belong to me. The legend I use in the fic also never appeared in any real-world episode of the show—I checked—so the theme was my original idea.
For Lincoln Loud, it was like his birthday and Christmas all rolled into one.
His favorite game show, Legends of the Hidden Temple, was doing a special sibling episode and as soon as he'd seen it advertised, Lincoln knew he had to apply. He still wasn't quite sure how good his application had been, but it didn't matter. The Louds had been selected as one of the families to compete on the show! And making it even better, they were competing as the Orange Iguanas, his favorite of the show's six regular teams.
"This is AWESOME!" he said to his older sister and teammate Lori as they waited for the show to start. "This is the real deal! I'm really competing on Legends!" He waved to his parents and other sisters in the stands, all of whom were eager to cheer on him and Lori. His father, also a Legends fan and Orange Iguanas supporter, was wearing a rather silly-looking iguana costume.
"I know. We're literally going to be on TV!" Lori agreed. She thought Legends was an okay show, but saw it as her father's and brother's thing. The older girl hadn't been especially interested in joining Lincoln for the sibling special—until she found out Bobby was a fan of the show, after which she insisted on applying with her brother. Now that she was on Legends and knew her boyfriend was watching, her competitive instincts had taken over and she was determined to win.
It wasn't long before the large stone head Olmec spoke up to start the show. "LEGENDS OF THE HIDDEN TEMPLE!" he thundered. "With your guide, Kurt Bogg! And here he is now!" The audience cheered wildly as the host came onto the set. "Thank you! Thank you very much! And thank you, Olmec! Welcome to the Hidden Temple. The rooms are filled with lost treasures that are protected by mysterious Mayan temple guards. Only Olmec knows the legend behind each of the treasures in his temple. Which one are we going to hear about today?"
The giant stone head answered with "the Legend of the Missing Arm of Grendel".
"Ah, the Missing Arm of Grendel" Kurt repeated. "Well, the legend is said, and on this special sibling episode, one of these six brother-sister teams will have a chance to retrieve the arm. Will it be the Red Jaguars . . ." There were cheers from the audience as the Red Jaguars fans applauded. Kurt continued and said ". . . the Blue Barracudas . . ." eliciting more cheers from that team's fans. The next team Kurt mentioned was ". . . the Green Monkeys. . ." and their fans applauded. Finally, he got to the Orange Iguanas, and when he said their team name the Louds in the audience gave a big cheer.
"Yay Linky and Lori! Go team!" Leni cheered.
"Kick the other teams' butts!" yelled Lynn.
"Woo-hoo! Orange Iguanas rule! Go Iguanas!" their father Lynn Sr. whooped, standing up and doing a comical little dance. It earned him strange looks from the rest of the audience and a series of facepalms from the rest of the family.
Kurt went on with his introductions, mentioning the Purple Parrots and the Silver Snakes. Once all six teams had been introduced, Lincoln's eyes narrowed. As excited as he was to be on the show, it was time to focus. He had a competition to win.
Stage 1: The Moat
"They'll have to pass some pretty tough physical and mental tests, and in the end only one team will earn the right to enter Olmec's temple," Kurt explained to the audience. "But first, they'll have to cross the moat, and Olmec will tell us how they'll have to do it today". The teams were indeed standing on the edge of a water-filled moat built into the set, although the water itself was obscured by artificial fog. There were also a number of additional props, which Olmec began to explain.
"Before you hangs an abandoned fishing net, and beside it, an old vine," the rock head stated. There was indeed a climbing net suspended over the middle of the moat, and a member of each team was holding on to one of six ropes hanging from the ceiling. "When Kurt gives the signal, the first player must swing to the net, climb over it, and get out of the water. Once the first player is out of the moat, that will be your partner's signal to swing to the net and do the same. Remember: if your feet touch the water during your swing, you must go back and start again. As soon as both players are safely across, run over and hit the gong. The first four teams to hit their gongs will go on to the next round." The "gongs" referred to six special pedestals on the opposite side of the moat; hitting a button at the top caused it to light up in the team color.
For the Orange Iguanas, Lori would be the first player. That was partly because Lincoln really wanted to be the one to hit the gong, but it was also because both siblings figured it would be an advantage at the last stage. Since Lori was the taller and stronger sibling, she would have an easier time pulling her brother out of the moat than vice versa. The only problem was that her height would make it challenging for her to avoid brushing the water with her feet during the swing over. Still, she was confident she could do it. Lori took the rope in her hand and prepared for the signal.
"Okay!" Kurt said after Olmec finished giving his instructions. "Teams, are you ready?"
The six teams all cheered their approval.
"Olmec, are you ready?"
"This rock is ready to roll."
"Alright then. On your mark, get set, GO!"
As soon as she heard go, Lori quickly jumped and tried to swing across the moat, but the first time she brushed the water. She quickly rushed back and tried again, making sure to keep her feet as high as she could manage. This time she successfully made it to the net, and began climbing it. Her missed first attempt put the Iguanas somewhat behind their competitors at first, but several other teams also had problems with avoiding the water. With Lincoln cheering her on, Lori was able to speed her way over the net and to the other side of the moat. Now it was Lincoln's turn to swing over and climb the net just as his sister had, and he was able to reach the net on his first try. As he started to climb, he noticed that the Red Jaguars and Green Monkeys had already locked in, and the second players from the other teams were hot on his tail. This would be a neck-and-neck race, but he did have a slight lead.
"Come on, Lincoln!" Lori cheered from the other side. "You've got this! You can do it!"
Lincoln raced as fast as he could to get over the net, and once he was in the water Lori quickly grabbed him. As the siblings had expected, she had no problems pulling him out of the water. He ran over to the Orange Iguana gong and slammed it just seconds before the Silver Snakes slammed theirs, which was just seconds before the Purple Parrots would have slammed theirs. It was a photo finish between those three teams, and both Louds happily celebrated their success. Lincoln in particular was thrilled that his Legends adventure would be continuing.
"What a great finish at the end!" Kurt said. "That was exciting! Going on to the Steps of Knowledge are the Silver Snakes, and the Orange Iguanas, the Green Monkeys, and the Red Jaguars! The Blue Barracudas and the Purple Parrots gave it a gallant effort, and they're not going away empty-handed. We've got a great gift for them, and here's what it is". An announcer described the condolence prize for the runners-up, but Lincoln and Lori paid no attention. After all, they were still in the competition and wanted to stay focused.
Stage 2: The Steps of Knowledge
The remaining four teams gathered at the top of a stylized staircase built into the set. "As the quest continues, it's now time for Olmec to tell us about the Missing Arm of Grendel," Kurt informed them. "But teams, pay attention, because your knowledge of the legend can bring you a step closer to the temple."
"One of the most famous epic heroes in Scandinavian history was the warrior Beowulf," Olmec started. "A leader of the Geats in modern-day Sweden, Beowulf came to visit Hrothgar, king of the Danes. 'You've got to help us!' Hrothgar said. 'A monster named Grendel is running rampant all over the kingdom! We've tried to stop it, but our swords can't cut through its hide!' Beowulf merely smiled. 'Let me at him,' he said confidently. Sure enough, Grendel soon appeared and Beowulf engaged the creature in battle. With his bare hands, he ripped off the monster's arm! Grendel ran off never to be seen again, and the people cheered for Beowulf. After the battle, Beowulf returned home and was crowned king of the Geats. As for the arm, it disappeared and eventually found its way to the temple. Your quest is to find the Missing Arm of Grendel and bring it back here".
Kurt nodded. "Thank you, Olmec. So where is the arm?"
"The Missing Arm of Grendel can be found in the Room of the Secret Password".
Kurt turned his attention to the contestants. "Teams, you are now standing on the Steps of Knowledge. In a minute, Olmec's going to ask you a question. If you think you know the answer, stomp down on the ancient marking in front of you. If you're right, you're going to move down to the next level. If you're wrong or run out of time, I'll give the other teams a chance to answer. The first two teams to make it to the bottom level will be one step closer to Olmec's temple."
This was the only part of the competition Lincoln hadn't really been looking forward to. He liked listening to the legend stories as a fan since they could be pretty interesting, but having to remember things about them and give the correct answer reminded him entirely too much of school. Still, he had paid careful attention to Olmec's story and was hoping he and Lori would be able to get the three correct answers they needed.
After explaining the rules, Kurt turned to the giant stone head. "Olmec, we're ready for your first question."
"Was Beowulf's tribe called the Germans, the Geats, or the Gypsies?" Olmec asked. Lincoln racked his brain for a split second trying to remember, and the Red Jaguars ended up buzzing in first. "The Geats," they answered, and Olmec confirmed they were correct. "Good job! The Red Jaguars are on the board!" Kurt praised them. Lincoln sighed at watching the other team advance. Okay, I knew that. I've just got to be quicker to chime in next time.
Olmec asked his next question. "Was the king Beowulf visited named Harold, Hrothgar, or. . ."
He was interrupted by Lincoln stomping on the button before he could finish giving the three choices. "Hrothgar!" Lincoln answered.
"That is correct."
To cheers from the audience, Lincoln and Lori stepped down to the next step. "Nice answer!" Kurt said. "Step on down! Next question, Olmec."
"Hrothgar was the king of what people? The. . ."
Lincoln quickly stomped his foot on the actuator before any choices could be given. "Orange Iguanas?" Kurt asked. Unfortunately, Lincoln drew a blank right then and didn't remember. Lori did, though. "The Danes?" she answered.
"That is correct."
Saved by the sister, Lincoln thought with relief as they stepped down. "Great job, Orange Iguanas!" Kurt said. "They're now just one step away from the Temple Games. Remember, we need two teams. Next question."
"Why were the Danes unable to stop Grendel? He was too fast for them, his hide was too thick, or he was skilled at martial arts?"
This time the Red team beat Lincoln to ringing in. "His hide was too thick", they answered correctly, and stepped down. "Now the Red Jaguars are just one step away from the Temple Games!" Kurt said. "Green Monkeys and Silver Snakes, you can still catch up. Next question, Olmec."
"What did Beowulf use to defeat Grendel? An axe, a sword, or his . . ."
The Red Jaguars chimed in again, to Lincoln's frustration. "His bare hands", they answered correctly, claiming the first spot at the bottom. "We've got our first team going to the Temple Games!" Kurt said. "It's the mighty Red Jaguars! Alright, let's keep going. Next question."
"What did Beowulf do after his victory? Did he go home, go to Disneyland, or take a nap?"
That's easy, Lincoln thought as he chimed in. "Went home."
"That is correct."
With a cheer, Lincoln and Lori jumped down to the final level, celebrating their second success of the day. "We've got our two teams heading to the Temple Games! It's the Red Jaguars and the Orange Iguanas!" Kurt said excitedly as both teams celebrated around him. "The rest of you, come on down. It was a tough match, but you're not going away empty-handed. Here's what we've got for you". Once again, the announcer started talking about a consolation prize, and once again Lincoln and Lori paid no attention—they were much too excited about having gotten this far.
"These two teams will be playing for the right to enter Olmec's temple!" Kurt declared. "And they'll do it right after this!" The cameras shut off and the teams were given a break.
Stage 3: The Temple Games
The teams now stood on either side of Kurt, ready to restart the competition. "Welcome back to Legends!" he said. "Now, the glory goes to the fastest and the strongest. But before we get started, let's meet our teams." He turned to the Red Jaguars. "On the Red Jaguars, we have Natalie and Kyle Johnson, natives of Phoenix, Arizona. Natalie is sixteen years old, she loves animals, and wants to be a zookeeper. Her brother Kyle is twelve years old, plays Little League baseball and hopes to be a major leaguer one day. Let's hear it for the Red Jaguars!"
The crowd applauded, and Lori and Lincoln applauded as well. They'd had the chance to meet their opponents before the competition and they had been friendly. Like Lori, Natalie was a big Boyz Will Be Boyz fan, and the girls had quickly bonded over their favorite songs. As for Kyle, he and Lincoln shared a love of ARRGH, and Kyle was very impressed to discover that Lincoln lived with ten sisters. "How do you survive them all?" he had asked in astonishment. "I have enough trouble with just Natalie!" Lincoln had chuckled and said "it isn't easy".
With the Red Jaguars introduced, Kurt turned to the Orange Iguanas. "And on the Orange Iguanas, we have Lori and Lincoln Loud, natives of Royal Woods, Michigan. Lori is seventeen years old, plays golf, and wants to be a CEO someday. Her brother Lincoln is eleven years old, loves comic books and would like to one day be a cartoonist. Let's hear it for the Orange Iguanas!" The crowd cheered, with Natalie and Kyle applauding for them as well.
Kurt directed the kids to prepare for their respective contests, then faced the camera to begin explaining the rules. "In the Temple Games, teams are competing to win Pendants of Life. The winning team will need those Pendants to protect themselves from the dreaded Temple Guards as they make their way through the Temple. There are three Temple Games, and Olmec will tell us about Temple Game #1." This first Temple Game pitted Lori against Natalie, and both girls listened closely for the rules.
"When Grendel terrorized the Danes, they took refuge in an ancient castle to protect themselves. You, too, have ancient castles, and like Beowulf and Grendel, you are about to face off. Behind you are four castle towers, and between you are giant boulders. When Kurt gives the signal, push your boulders and knock over your opponent's towers without crossing the colored lines into hostile territory. You may block your enemy's boulders. The first player to knock over all four towers, or the player furthest along at the end of sixty seconds, wins."
This is going to be super tough, Lori thought. The two boulders available to use were giant foam, so they wouldn't be hard to move, but she would have to find a way to balance offense and defense at the same time. She decided to mostly play it safe and block attacks, then counterattack when Natalie wouldn't be able to throw anything at her. That seemed like the best solution.
"Okay, it's time to take down the castles," Kurt said after Olmec finished giving instructions. "Let's put sixty seconds on the clock. On your mark, get set, GO!"
Each girl ran toward one boulder and pushed it into hostile territory, then fell back to defend her own towers. Lori managed to stop Natalie's boulder from hitting anything, as did Natalie on her side. Natalie then pushed the boulder over towards Lori's castles, and Lori was able to stop it. Now that she had both boulders in her territory, Lori was able to push them back one after another, without having to worry about defense. Natalie was only able to stop one of them, and the other knocked down one of the Red towers to give the Orange Iguanas the lead. Repeating her defensive strategy, Lori was able to keep her towers up and knock over another tower right before the clock struck zero.
Once time was up, Kurt came running over. "Okay, let's check out what happened. The Red Jaguars couldn't knock over any towers, the Orange Iguanas knocked over two! The Orange Iguanas get the half pendant of life! The Red Jaguars can catch up in this next game, though. It's also worth a half pendant. Olmec, tell us about it." In this next game, Lincoln and Kyle would be facing each other, so they listened closely.
"Beowulf had to travel to Denmark from his home in Sweden to confront Grendel. It was a long journey that took many days, and in this game, you will have a long journey as well. When Kurt gives the signal, climb up on the wheel and adjust your weight to make the wheel spin. Each full rotation will represent one full mile traveled. If you fall off, we'll stop the wheel and you'll need to get back on and start spinning again. The player that travels the most miles at the end of sixty seconds wins."
Lincoln didn't think that sounded too difficult. He had learned balance from Lola, and so he was confident he'd have an edge in this game. It was just a matter of not falling off the large wheel, or his opponent would have a chance to take a lead.
"We've got a long trip ahead," Kurt remarked. "Let's get sixty seconds on the clock. On your mark, get set, GO!"
Both boys ran onto their respective wheels and began working to spin them. Lincoln just focused completely on his wheel and didn't look over to Kyle or at the number of spins—each team had an assigned spotter keeping track of the number of spins and showing them on a notebook. Once Kurt called time, Lincoln looked up and got a big smile on his face. He had successfully managed 13 spins, while Kyle had only managed ten. "The Orange Iguanas get another half-pendant of life!" Kurt declared. "They now have one whole pendant. The Red Jaguars don't have any, but the next game is worth a whole pendant. It's the third and final game. Olmec, tell us about Temple Game #3". This third and final game would be two on two and require teamwork, so all four contestants listened closely.
"Beowulf became famous as a monster killer, and in this game, you'll have the opportunity to follow in his footsteps. Before you are four monsters. When Kurt gives the signal, load a ball into your slingshot and fire at them to knock one down. Then it'll be your partner's turn. The first team to knock down all four of their monsters, or the team that's knocked over the most in sixty seconds, wins."
The "monsters" Olmec was referencing were large columns, not unlike the castle towers Lori and Natalie had fought over in the first game. Lori and Lincoln both thought this final challenge was a pretty simple concept. It was certainly less physically demanding than their one-on-one games, and all that was required was to aim balls. The only challenge would be aim and hitting their targets better than the other team did.
"It's time to go monster hunting. Let's get sixty seconds on the clock," Kurt said. "On your mark, get set, GO!"
Lori went first, and her ball completely missed the target. Lincoln followed, and he was a bit closer but still missed. Neither Loud did a particularly good job with aim, but the Red Jaguars were doing incredibly well. Likely because of Kyle's experience with baseball, he was able to easily hit a target with each attempt. Much to Lori and Lincoln's astonishment, with twenty seconds left the Red Jaguars had knocked over all four of their targets.
"That's it!" Kurt yelled as their final target fell over. He went over to the area to check. "The Red Jaguars knocked down all four of their monsters. They win the full pendant. The Orange Iguanas have a full pendant. We've got a tie! Let's bring in the tiebreaker pedestal."
The spotters brought in a miniaturized version of the gong pedestals the teams had used at the moat. There were two mini-pedestals attached to each other, and the teams took positions behind them. "Okay, let me explain the tiebreaker rules," Kurt began. "In a minute, Olmec's going to ask you a question. When you think you know the answer, hit the gong in front of you. You have three seconds to answer, and I must accept your first response. If you're right, you and your partner will be going inside the Temple in search of the Missing Arm of Grendel. If you're wrong or run out of time, I'll give the other team a chance to answer. All clear?"
Both teams nodded, but Lincoln was feeling very nervous. He remembered how well the Red team had done in the Steps of Knowledge round, and now the entire competition came down to a similar setup. He hoped that he and Lori would be fast enough to answer the question in time.
Kurt turned to the giant stone head. "Olmec, we are ready for your final question."
"Which of these modern-day countries did the Geats live in? Switzerland . . ."
Lincoln slammed his gong. He remembered this from the briefing for the second game, and he wasn't about to let the Red side get the answer. Kurt went over to them and put the microphone to Lincoln. "Sweden," he answered.
"That is correct."
With a huge cheer, Lincoln and Lori both began jumping up and down and gave each other a big hug. "The Orange Iguanas are going to the Temple!" Kurt said excitedly. "They are fired up!" Lincoln was absolutely thrilled. His dream of getting to go into the Temple was about to come true, and he still couldn't believe how amazing this day had been. Lori was every bit as excited about winning the Temple Games and loved seeing how happy her brother was. Even though she wasn't a Legends fan herself, she had to admit she was having an incredible time on the show.
Meanwhile, the Red Jaguars looked quite disappointed, but still came over to congratulate the Louds. Natalie even gave Lori a hug, while Kyle high-fived Lincoln. It was great sportsmanship on their part, and both Louds thanked them for the gesture. Kurt smiled at the scene. "Red Jaguars, it came down to the wire. This is a great team, showed great sportsmanship at the end. We've got a great gift for them and here's what it is." This time, Lincoln and Lori did stop to listen to the announcer. Their defeated opponents were getting some new sneakers, which wasn't a bad consolation prize.
Once the Red Jaguars left the stage, Kurt turned to the camera with the still-ecstatic Lincoln and Lori on either side of him. "We'll see if the Orange Iguanas can make it through Olmec's Temple and retrieve the Missing Arm of Grendel right after this!"
Stage 4: The Temple Run
"Welcome back to Legends!" Kurt told the camera after the commercial break. Lincoln and Lori were standing next to him near Olmec, and they were getting ready for the toughest and most challenging part of the show. "Lori and Lincoln have proven themselves worthy, and have earned the right to enter Olmec's Temple. But first, Olmec's going to give them some information to help them retrieve the Missing Arm of Grendel." Olmec's briefing was one that Lincoln already knew by heart, but Lori paid close attention. She still wasn't completely sure what all the rooms did or where they were, even after Lincoln had explained it to her.
"You could start by running up the stairs to the Crypt. Grab the book from the skeletons, and pass into the Pit of the Pendulum. Knock over the column, and climb into the King's Storeroom. Smash the clay pots to find the key that will lead you into the Chamber of the Sacred Markers. Match the symbols on the right to the runes on the left, and pass into the Room of the Ancient Warriors. Place yourself in the correct armor, and open the door to the Shrine of the Silver Monkey. Assemble the statue and you may be headed towards the Room of the Secret Password. Find the tablet with the correct inscription, and shout it out to open the door to the Pharaoh's Secret Passage. Climb down the tunnel to the Quicksand Bog, where you could smash through into the Dark Forest. But beware of the Temple Guards that may inhabit the trees! Find the key in the tree, and you'll enter the Jester's Court. Place yourself against the correct wall painting, and you'll gain entry to the Tomb of the Headless Kings. Pull the vines to release their bones, and attach the missing skull to its proper king. Then, race through the Pit, climb through the Ledges, race down the stairs and back to the Temple gate. The choices are yours and yours alone. You won one Pendant in the Temple Games. Who's going first?"
"I am!" Lincoln declared, and Lori couldn't help but smile at how enthusiastic he was. He had badly wanted to go first to make sure he had a chance to enter the Temple, and Lori had been happy to defer to his wishes. This was his show and he deserved it. Besides, he knew more about the Temple than she did.
"Very well, Lincoln. When Kurt gives the signal, you'll race through the gates, into the Temple, and make your way towards the Missing Arm. Hidden inside the Temple are Temple Guards, assigned to protect three specific rooms. You can trade your Pendant for an extra life and go on, but if you're caught without a Pendant, you'll be taken out of the Temple, and it'll be Lori's turn to enter and try her luck. If you can reach the Missing Arm, all of the doors of the Temple will instantly unlock and the Temple Guards will vanish. Return through the gates with the Missing Arm of Grendel in three minutes, and you will both be handsomely rewarded, and here's how!" The announcer proceeded to fill them in on the prizes they could potentially win. For just getting this far, they had won some roller skates that they would take home no matter what. If they managed to grab the Arm, they'd also get a new computer. If they got out in time, they'd go on a cruise to the Bahamas!
"That sounds great!" Kurt said. "Let's see if they can make it to the Bahamas. Get your mouthpieces in, and set the clock for three minutes. Olmec, lower your gate." The bars along the staircase slowly lowered. "Okay, you guys have just one pendant, so you'll need all the luck you can get. On your mark, get set, GO!"
Lincoln took off like a shot up the stairs into the Crypt. He knew how tricky the Ledges were, so he definitely wanted to avoid those. Three skeleton props in coffins were holding books that had to be pulled, and the second one opened the door into the Pit of the Pendulum. Lincoln got on a rope and was able to knock the room's large column over, but only one door opened, to the Chamber of the Sacred Markers. That wasn't too bad, as the objective in that room wasn't especially complicated. There were five blocks on the left side of the wall with different symbols, and all that was needed was to match a second set of blocks on the other side. He did that fairly quickly, but as he did so the central door opened to reveal a Temple Guard! Lincoln yelped in surprise and backed away from the large man wearing feathers and a blue mask. The Guard allowed him to go, but took his Pendant first.
Lincoln was shaken by his encounter with the Guard, but continued on. He had hoped that he would be able to go directly to the Room of the Ancient Warriors, but the only door that opened was up and so he'd have to take a detour through the King's Storeroom. It would eat up some time, but he had been going at a fast pace so far and hopefully it wouldn't slow him down too much. Lincoln moved up into the high room and smashed the three clay pots, finding the key. He got lucky and unlocked the entrance on the first of the three possible keyholes, and quickly rushed into the Room of the Ancient Warriors. Lincoln was getting close to the Arm, and was getting increasingly excited. He tried to unlock the door with the first suit of armor, but it wasn't that one. He then tried the one in the middle and suddenly felt arms grab his middle. It was a second Temple Guard!
"Go, Lori, go!" yelled Kurt as Lori ran into the Temple to follow Lincoln's path. She was able to quickly go through the now-unlocked rooms, and by the time she reached the Room of the Ancient Warriors there was still a full minute on the clock. She tried the final armor suit that Lincoln hadn't gotten to, and it opened the door. Almost there! Just one room away and—oh, no, this room? I'm in literally the hardest room of the Temple!
Lincoln had warned her about the Shrine of the Silver Monkey. The objective here was to assemble a three-piece monkey statue, which seemed easy but was actually quite difficult. There had been plenty of contestants who had burned precious time struggling to put the monkey together, and they didn't have much time to spare if they wanted to win. Still, Lori was determined to give it her best shot. She got the base and initially put it on the stand facing her, but then remembered it was supposed to face the other way and turned it around. The middle section was a tricky one, and it took a bit of finagling but she got it right. Next was the head, and she jammed it down to open the door to the Room of the Secret Password! The arm, actually a large Halloween prop, was right there! Lori immediately grabbed it and turned around to rush out the way she came in. Remembering that ALL the doors were unlocked, she went from the King's Storeroom directly to the Pit, bypassing the Chamber. She just hoped she hadn't wasted too much time with the monkey. "It's going to come down to the wire!" Kurt yelled as she entered the Pit. "Only ten seconds left! She grabs the rope and swings across the Pit! She enters the Crypt! Five, four, three—SHE GOT IT!"
Lincoln, who was back with Kurt, screamed at the top of his lungs and ran over to Lori, practically throwing himself at her to give her a bear hug. Lori returned the hug, picking him up and kissing his cheek. "We did it!" she told him excitedly. "We literally won everything!" She put him down and handed Lincoln the arm, which he held up like a trophy as the crowd cheered. He was so excited that tears were starting to come out of his eyes. When he had applied for the show, he had never expected to win. This was a dream come true for him, and it was a moment he'd remember for the rest of his life. Lori felt her own eyes mist up as she took in how much this meant to her little brother.
"They did it!" Kurt cheered. "They won everything! The skates, the computer, the Bahamas cruise! We've got to get out of here! Check us out next time for more adventure and another great Legend of the Hidden Temple! Bye-bye!"