Previously, on the Mole, the ten players of the game were revealed. Birdo, Bootler, Donkey, Noki, Jojora, Toad, Mario, Pauline, Toad and Flurrie. The game immediately started as they entered Pipetown : they had thirty minutes to learn more about their rivals. After those thirty minutes, Monty Mole called them for their first challenge, the 'Mixed-Up Possessions' during which they had to pair up an item with a tag on which was written a player's name. Now, Monty Mole is going to announce the first challenge's results. Will they succeed ?

First name : Birdo

Surname : Ribbon

Birthday : May 15

Job : Fashion Designer

First name : Bootler

Surname : Majordome

Birthday : September 6

Job : Butler

First name : Donkey

Surname : Kong

Birthday : March 12

Job : Glitz Pit's Fighter

First name : Noki

Surname : Delphis

Birthday : August 7

Job : Air Hostess

First name : Toad

Surname : Phalloïde

Birthday : June 1

Job : Gardener

First name : Jojora

Surname : Teeheena

Birthday : December 27

Job : Sculptor

First name : Pauline

Surname : Celeste

Birthday : June 16

Job : Model

First name : Mario

Surname : Mario

Birthday : January 22

Job : Plumber

First name : Flurrie

Surname : Cumulia

Birthday : October 29

Job : Actress

First name : Kooper

Surname : Shelic

Birthday : July 7

Job : The Mole's Assistant

2 : Giving the Cold Shoulder.

The players were impatiently waiting for their host to finish his thing, siting on comfy chairs in the Moonlight Hotel's lounge. Monty Mole was taking an awfully long time to check the players' guesses, so they were getting more and more impatient by the minute.

"What's taking him so long ? That shouldn't be hard to see if we're right or wrong !" complained vehemently Donkey Kong. The ape was not the only one bored. Noki was showing signs of nervousness.

Noki : Waiting is something I'm not used to. As an air hostess, I always have to do something to please our customers, so it was kind of difficult to stay here doing nothing at all. Donkey's and Jojora's behaviors didn't help either.

"You better have not taken any exemption at all !" threatened Jojora. Flurrie gulped.

Mario tried to calm down everyone. "Come on, I'm sure Monty Mole is nearly finished, no need to be angry." Birdo nodded.

"He's right guys, it has already been ten minutes after all, he shouldn't be long now."

"Relax while you can," advised Bootler. "I have a feeling that everything will change after this challenge's results." Kooper raised an eyebrow but did not make any comment.

Kooper : The way Bootler acts and talks makes me think that he's hiding something. He always makes strange remarks about the game, as if he knows what will happen next. I'll keep an eye on him. Just because he's old doesn't mean he can't be the Mole.

"Look ! There he is !" exclaimed Toad happily.

"It was about time," grumpily muttered Donkey.

Pauline saw that Monty Mole was carrying bags. "Mmmh... What are you doing with these ?"

"I will just let you have them, as a reward for your awesome work," winked the host. The contestants looked puzzled and did not know whether he was ironic or whether he was not, so they chose to remain silent. "We will all go to room number one, Jojora was here for your information," he told them.

"Jojora, will you please come with me ? So everyone will see what item you gave them ?" Jojora nodded and accompanied Monty Mole. "Jojora messed up on some things, but she did label correctly five out of ten items, so she adds one thousand coins to the team pot. Now, you can take your item."

As Birdo was reaching for her diamond ring, Monty Mole interrupted her. "No, no ! I said : 'You can take your item.'. This is not yours but Flurrie's."

"What are you talking about ? I know that's mine, I put it in my luggage," contested a confused Birdo.

"Or is it ? Your name isn't on it, so it isn't yours. You have the purple eyeshadow, Jojora put your name on it after all."

"Are you kidding me ?" asked a more than disappointed Birdo. Her face dropped as she saw that Monty Mole was serious.

"You have to take the item Jojora thought was yours, obviously," smiled the host at the dumbfounded players' faces.

"Why did you gave me Bootler's towel ?" questioned Noki.

Jojora shrugged. "I thought Bootler had the journal because he's old, you know. Maybe he would like to write his memories, I thought."

"But it had my name on the first page," pointed Noki. Jojora put her hand to her mouth.

"I didn't open it. I never considered it, actually."

Toad : Noki made a good point. Jojora is the kind of player who doesn't really care about the others' feelings, so I expected her to at least take a glance at the journal. That's very suspicious.

Then, the little group moved to room number two, Toad's room. Toad went with Monty Mole while the host was explaining what he did.

"Toad did great, but unfortunately, he only found eight items out of ten, so he will not make you entirely win the game. However, he did win two thousand coins for the team !" applauded Monty Mole.

"That's particularly funny. I don't remember bringing a fan with me," declared Flurrie.

Pauline's reaction wasn't similar, however. "Toad, next time watch what you're doing. I mean, look at this dress ! You can fit three Pauline in here, and I'm being nice."

Pauline : Toad's mistake didn't make any sense in my mind. Okay, that's indeed a red dress, but it's huge ! So huge that I can't believe it's a mistake.

Flurrie : My, my ! I hope the others found my belongings ! I can't live without my precious jewels.

The team opened room number three's door, where Mario had tried to label the things the others had brought with them.

"Just like Toad, Mario will only add two thousand coins while he could have won the full twenty thousand."

"Which things did I got wrong ?"

"You mixed up Jojora's and Noki's item."

"Well, they were both blue, and since Noki lives on Delphino Island, I thought she wouldn't need a sailor sunhat," explained Mario.

"Actually I'm kinda glad you messed up, I will probably need it," told him Jojora.

"And I kind of like your dress," tried Noki.

"Let's go to room number four," ordered the host. The players followed him, and Noki stayed at his side. "Noki was close too, too bad she didn't made it. Two players' possessions were inverted."

"I like these gold bangles, there are...?" asked Jojora.

"There are mine," answered calmly Flurrie. "I have to say that your tiara's not so bad either."

Jojora smiled. "Maybe I misjudged you..."

Mario : What I find funny is that the girls' belongings were the reason why we were wrong most of the time. Maybe it isn't just a coincidence.

"Let's go to my room, number five," suggested Pauline. They made their way toward Pauline's room, and searched for any errors.

"She got five guesses right out of ten, so she won you and additional one thousand coins," announced Monty Mole. Many players were disappointed in Pauline's performance.

Kooper : I'll admit that I kind of expected more than that from her. She seems very calm and collected, but maybe it's just an act.

"Moving on to the sixth room, Bootler's one !" stated clearly Monty Mole. Everybody followed him, but Bootler was lagging behind, knowing that he did poorly in this challenge.

Bootler : I'm a butler, Lady Bow's butler to be more exact. My job requires extreme attention to little things, I will admit it. But I am not, and I will repeat it, I am not a fortune teller. This challenge just was not made for me, as I am not some kind of fortune teller.

"Bootler found four items out of ten, so he will add one thousand coins to the pot." Bootler shook his head, seeing the disappointed faces of the competitors.

Birdo : Needless to say, Bootler's performance was a let down for all of us.

After that, the group went to Kooper's room, number seven.

"How well did I do ?" asked an impatient Kooper. Monty Mole smiled.

"You did well, but it wasn't enough. You mixed up Flurrie's and Bootler's items."

Bootler raised an eyebrow. "I don't want to intrude your conversation, but aren't those woman's shades ?"

"Maybe," responded Donkey. "Or maybe I just don't care. Let's continue, it's getting boring." Monty Mole nodded and led them into room eight, Birdo's room.

"Birdo correctly identified nine items out of ten," started the host.

"How is that even possible ?" retorted Toad. "Even if you make one mistake, two items should be wrongly labeled."

Monty Mole confirmed. "That's right. But when I went to verify, I noticed she forgot to label her own item. I'm sorry, but this mistake counts, so Birdo adds two thousand coins to the pot."

Donkey : Basically Birdo could have made us won, but she screwed up. She raises very high on my suspects' list.

"Let's go to Donkey's room, number ten," directed the host.

Mario reminded them of something. "What about Flurrie and her room ?"

"We'll get to that later," assured them Monty Mole. Donkey Kong led the group and held the door for everyone to enter.

"What do you think of what you did Donkey ?"

"I did terrible," confessed the ape. Monty Mole nodded.

"You only got two items right, so no money will be awarded for your work." Some players groaned knowing fully that Donkey did not even try.

Toad : I'm not even sure he thought about it at least one second.

"And now, here comes the big news !" grinned the host. "Flurrie, could you tell us what you did during the game ?"

"Alright, I'll confess !" dramatically yelled the actress. "I saw something telling me that I could win an exemption if I was to sacrifice three thousand coins from the team pot... I took it, I'm really sorry," apologized Flurrie.

"What a great start," commented Pauline while rolling her eyes.

Bootler shook his head. "I guess it couldn't be helped, it's in our nature to be greedy."

"Anyway," proceeded the host, "when she took the exemption, Flurrie sacrificed the ten items in the room, you will never see them ever again."

"WHAT ?" yelled in shock the ten players.

"Don't 'What' me Flurrie ! You agreed to exchange our belongings against your stupid exemption ! You knew what would happen ! Now you will pay the price fat cow !" screamed an unnerved Jojora.

"I swear ! I wasn't aware !" cried Flurrie.

"You can shove your **** exemption down your throat for all I care !" shouted Donkey.

"Anyway, you won eight thousand coins, not so bad for a first challenge !" tried to lighten the mood Monty Mole.

Challenge's Results :

Money Won : 11 000 – 3 000 = 8 000

Team Pot : 8 000 coins.

"Whatever, I'm outta here," declared Donkey as he threw his hands into the air.

Jojora followed. "Fresh air will do me good."

One after another, the players left the room. Some did not even cast a glance at Flurrie as they left, while others gave her apologetic smiles.

Noki : I felt bad for Flurrie, she seemed to be truthful when she said she wasn't aware of such a twist. And well, it's the Mole. Anything can happen anytime... Jojora shouldn't have told her all of these things... Oh, but just because I sympathize with her doesn't mean I think she isn't the Mole.

"Why can't I have normal players for once ?" complained Monty Mole.

The players had the rest of their day off, so they departed in different directions. Flurrie stayed in the hotel not wanting to go out after the recent outburst of Donkey and Jojora. Everyone but a small party consisting of Toad, Birdo, Noki and Kooper scattered in Pipetown.

"Only day one and things are already hectic," reminded them the mushroom.

"Don't tell me about it ! I didn't thought the fights in the game were that hard. Usually, I was just laughing at the players' stupidity, but now I know I won't laugh anymore." Birdo was hit with realization.

"Oh yeah, I totally forgot you already played the game before !"

Noki corrected her. "No, he only helped preparing the game."

"That's right. During the first season, we also had a few fight, mostly between Rosalina and Draka. In the second season, we only had one between Gamble and Angelina. The second season was funny because the players were always launching barbs at each other ! Ah, good times..."

Birdo giggled. "You're talking as if you were an old person !" Noki sighed deeply.

"You okay ?" asked her Toad. Noki looked at him sadly.

"It's just... We're here laughing and at the same time, Flurrie is probably depressed because everyone hates her." Birdo nodded slowly.

"I know the feeling. It's not your fault but you can't do anything but to feel guilty. I really thought she didn't deserve it." Toad simply smiled.

"Maybe... Maybe she should go, to see her ? She will probably be happy to see us."

"Yeah... But I think she's the Mole," hesitantly cut in Kooper.

"Nobody asks you to think she is a normal player, we will just tell her that we don't hate her, then maybe we will make a few jokes, just to lighten the atmosphere, you know ?" explained the mushroom boy.

Toad : My intention isn't to sound mean to anybody, but when Kooper told us he suspected Flurrie to be the Mole, I found that dumb. Maybe it doesn't seem like it, but we are in a competition. If he tells everyone what he thinks, he won't last long.

This noon, during dinner, all the players were reunited around the table, eating their meals together. Jojora and Donkey were still a little upset about the incident from before, but they tried not to show it. Flurrie herself seemed livelier than before, certainly because Birdo, Kooper, Noki and Toad visited her this afternoon.

"So..." began Monty Mole, "We are finally reunited, like a big family !" Donkey sent him a nasty glare.

"Well, you could say that. After all, we are going to be together for a long time," smiled Pauline.

Toad looked up from his plate and joined the conversation. "Yeah ! We'll all learn things about each other as the time will pass !" Jojora cringed.

"Yeah yeah, whatever."

"Monty Mole, you don't happen to have something important to tell us or to give us, do you ?" wondered Bootler, his fork resting against his plate

"Why, you are very right Bootler ! I have your journals ! In these, you will be able to write your thoughts about who you think is the Mole. They will probably be your best friends in this show."

"I doubt it," winked Birdo at Noki.

Mario : Bootler seriously surprises me. Whenever he says something strange, Monty Mole announces us that something will happen, or he gives us directions or things, like the journals. In my mind, I think that even an obvious Mole can be the Mole of this game show.

Bootler : I remarked that whenever Monty Mole was starting a conversation, it was not uninterested. This time too he said something out of the blue, and in the end, he gave us the journals. I am just being myself, an intelligent and observant old Boo.

Strangely enough, the players all took the journal which had the same number written on it as the door they faced only hours ago.

"Wait, wait, wait !" stopped them Monty Mole as some players began to leave. "You have to share a room with someone ! You can choose the person with who you will share the room, obviously."

"I'm taking room thirteen, who wants to room with me ?" asked Toad as he picked a key.

"Not me, I'm rooming with Noki," responded Birdo. The two girls took the key opening the fourteenth room's door and left.

"Let's go Jojora !" advised Donkey Kong as he took room number eleven, while Toad was joined by Kooper.

"I'm going with you buddy !" finally answered the Koopa. Toad and him exchanged a high-five and left the last four together. Pauline smiled at Mario flirtatiously. He gave a blink in response.

"Come on Mario ! It will be just like the old days !" pleaded Pauline.

Mario sighed in defeat. "Alright, alright, you won dollie ! Just remember that's the past is the past." She rolled her eyes.

"I knew that already." They friendly bickered and went to room twelve.

"Well, room fifteen, here we go !" cheered the cloud spirit, glad she was with someone who could understand her.

Bootler gave her a positive response. "I say, we better go now if we want to be fresh for tomorrow."

Flurrie : I'm glad Bootler didn't make any remark about the other time. He is such a gentleman !

In room 11, Jojora and Donkey were talking quietly among themselves. They were already conversing about their suspects and such things.

Jojora : Although I like Donkey Kong, I won't let him stand in my way of getting the coins. The more confused everyone will be, the more easy it will be to earn the victory.

"So, who do you suspect ?" casually questioned Donkey.

Jojora thought about it a little and gave him an answer. "I have my obvious suspicions on Flurrie because it looked like she was putting an act when we kind of went overboard."

"How does it point to her being the Mole, though ?" inquired Donkey as he raised an eyebrow.

"Think about it that way, the Mole has to be good at hiding stuff. Flurrie is an actress, she can perfectly hide her true motives behind a facade. You get my point ?"

"Yeah. But I also suspect Pauline. Something's just fishy about her. She labeled correctly only five items out of five and didn't really take the blame since all eyes were on Flurrie. She looked as if she didn't care about our belongings."

"Yeah... Dang that's just too hard pinpointing the Mole at the stage of the game !" shouted a frustrated Jojora.

Room 12 welcomed Mario, Pauline and their luggage. Mario immediately slumped onto his bed, tired after such a day. The brown-haired woman laughed.

"You are already that tired ? I'm sure that even Bootler isn't having any difficulties at the moment."

Mario sighed. "I know, it's just this game... It's really pumping all of my energy. And it's only the first day, ugh."

Pauline put her hands on her hips. "You'll see, you will get the hand of this, in a few days you will forget all about the game's tiring aspect. Say, what do you think about this Mole-thingy...? Got any clue ?" innocently threw in Pauline.

Mario : I know Pauline, she always gets what she wants by acting like that. I mean, she knows how to play the game. She can be a great ally...as she can be your worst enemy, it all depends of your point of view. I'm not suspecting anyone at the moment though. I think tomorrow's mission will be more significant than this one because we will certainly see what the other players did with our very eyes.

Toad and Kooper were already engaged in a friendly talk as they entered their room.

Kooper : Toad is a fun and nice guy, really. I hope we will go far, and who knows, maybe I'll ask him about a secret alliance ? Just joking, it's way too early to think about that.

The jumpy Toad put his clothes on his bed and watched carefully every corner of the room. "It's so awesome here ! I could live here forever ! Can you believe that we were chosen over hundred of players ?" exclaimed excitedly the mushroom boy.

Kooper chuckled. "Well, personally, I can. However I'm a little disappointed to see that my professor didn't make the cut..."

"Your...professor ?"

Kooper opened his suitcase. "Yep. Professor Kolorado, you might have already heard about him, he's pretty famous after all. He is an archeologist."

"Wait, you know the famous Mario, you know the famous Monty Mole, you know the famous Kolorado... Who else do you know ?"

"I have a close friend of mine, her name is Bombette. She won a game going-" Toad interrupted him.

"Wouldn't it be the Shroob Threat ? Because there was a girl named Bombette. She was playing low on the first days, but in the end, she waited for Gardevoir to reveal herself so they would eliminate my close ally, Peach, a Shroob. Then during the night I eliminated her, because she was the Neutral, or the Amanita as they call it in this game but Gardevoir also found me out because I sided with Peach. That was really well-played on her part !" recalled Toad.

"You see I'm not the only lucky one !" told him Kooper.

Birdo and Noki, the two kindred spirits of the game, joked as they entered the room fourteen. Both shared many things in common, so it was only natural for them to feel like their were at home.

"You know, maybe I will ask Jojora if I can keep her blue dress, it's really pretty," truthfully stated Noki.

"I bet it would look good on you. I just hope Flurrie won't want to keep my ring... They're all unique in the world, you know ?"

"Yes, plus they're pretty big... They must have cost you a fortune, haven't they ?"

"They did," replied Birdo. "You know, I think I'll probably not sleep tonight. I'm so excited about tomorrow ! What will we do ? What will the Mole do ? Will I pass the first questionnaire ? My head is so full of unanswered questions..."

"Well, I can relate to that. But try to sleep, we need to be in a great shape tomorrow if we want to win the challenge."

"Don't worry, I will."

In room fifteen, Flurrie was not feeling comfortable, she had not succeeded to establish a contact with Bootler yet.

"Hmmm..." tried the floating cloud spirit.

"Yes, what is it young lady ?"

"N-nothing, sorry !" apologized Flurrie.

Flurrie : I'm really not fit for these kind of things. Usually, people bow before me and now, I'm the one who has to crawl before another individual. I shouldn't have taken this exemption... Oh well, whatever. I'm safe for this round anyway.

"You do not need to force yourself to give us apologies if you were not informed of such an event," pronounced Bootler.

Flurrie smiled. "Maybe I'm not the most humble person, but I would have never taken this exemption had I known it involved such a twist. I may be selfish, but I am not that egoistical."

"I understand. Good night Flurrie." The actress looked puzzled.

Flurrie : It wasn't much, but I knew we reached a common ground. Bootler is a strange person, but I realized that he had many good qualities ; he is smart, understanding, logical, and he stays in the background. He will be a fierce competitor, despite his age, I know it.