Androids101/PrincessRosalinaFanboy (1) : Yeah, they all failed miserably at the challenge, but maybe one of them is indeed more to blame? I like your reasoning and it seems that you don't know for sure who's the Mole. You still have time to choose one of them before the final, lol! By the way, I think I'll refer to you as your new pseudonym.
Charz : Lol! Yeah, Jojora is also one of my favorite characters. And she's just the best in M&L:SS. Well, except for Peach, that is. So it seems that you moved your suspicions toward Noki, but apparently everyone but Jojora is high on your list. And lol at your ending statement. :p I also like your reasoning as well as the way you make your Mole list.
PrincessRosalinaFanboy (2) : So you changed your mind and picked someone as the Mole? That's good, it's fun to have a suspect (even if mine tend not to be the Mole)! ^^ And it's also smart to take another look at what everyone has done so far, it can give ideas as to who the Mole is. ^^ To answer your postscripts : Yeah, I've always thought that she would be a good air hostess. Thanks for the avatar, I made Jojora myself. I wanted to make a group picture, but seeing as I don't know how to make Donkey, I scraped the idea. DX And don't worry, I don't mind people reviewing many times the same chapters, unless it's someone who RPs as the characters... If you see what I mean, lol.
Previously, on the Mole, Bootler refused to listen to Noki when she asked him to stop doing his masterpiece. The two groups finished their work and then, an art critic going by the name of Mason Coles Hallyboo compared the two creations and decided that the one of Jojora and Bootler was the best. But the players were not finished yet with their challenge. Indeed, the second part of their mission was to pick, out of seven creations, the one the other group did. Noki and Toad successfully discovered that the cycle of life was Jojora's and Bootler's creation, but those two thought the heart-shaped creation was simple enough to be that of Toad and Noki, and lost ten thousand coins. Blaming each other for their unsuccessful game, the four remaining players headed back to their hotel where Monty Mole was waiting for them. Another challenge was in sight. The players had to identify which executed player was the author of the journal entries Monty Mole read aloud. They had already made two mistakes, and they needed three more correct answers to win the money, would they be able to do it?
First name : Bootler
Surname : Majordome
Birthday : September 6
Job : Butler
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
26 : Scavenger Hunt
Jojora, Noki, Bootler and Toad were all sitting at a table, trying to determine whom had written the different excerpts Monty Mole was reading aloud. So far, they had only gotten one correct, the one written by Pauline.
"Let's remember that Donkey and Pauline can't have written the next few journal entries," reminded them Toad.
"Yes," nodded Bootler. "We should be extremely careful. Do not forget that if we give a wrong answer, we are done."
"Yeah, whatever," Jojora snapped, still unnerved after she had discovered that someone had sneaked in her room. "Just ask us already, Monty!" she yelled.
Jojora : I swear, Pauline is the worst dumbass I've ever known. Who the hell invades your privacy on a TV show? God, she's stupid alright. She should be thankful the Mole eliminated her, otherwise she would have faced my wrath.
"Okay, next one!"
Day one! Awesome! I'm so excited to finally play instead of just watching the players compete in the various challenges! Here's to hoping that I won't be the first one out, I really want to play as much as I can and hopefully win the money! Still, if I were to win, I'd still be part of the team. I mean, the game's so great I wouldn't be able to quit it. The game has only begun and I'm already suspecting Flurrie. Her going for journal nine out of the blue raised-
"Obviously Kooper," Toad stated immediately.
Jojora raised an eyebrow. "And you're so sure why...?"
"Actually, I can answer that one," smiled Noki. "Right after the first challenge, while you and Donkey Kong decided to go out because you were upset, Toad, Birdo, Kooper and I stayed together and we discussed the first challenge. And Kooper revealed to us that he thought she was the Mole," she finished, taking a deep breath.
"Very well then, if the two of you are so sure, we should answer Kooper. Monty Mole, we think that Kooper wrote this journal entry," enunciated Bootler.
The host looked at his sheet in a dramatic way. "That's correct!"
"Yes, I knew it!" laughed Noki. "Two more to go!"
"Technically, we only have to guess correctly which person wrote this one, to win the challenge," objected Bootler. "It should be crystal clear."
Bootler : It seems that I have underestimated my coalition partner. He is obviously way smarter than he looks and it seems like his social game was perfect, while mine could definitely cost me the game. I have not socialized much throughout our journey, for the sole fact that I did not want to be involved in the many fights that have broken out.
"Yeah, yeah, excellent yoohoo!" Jojora snorted, irritated. "Can we get on with the game?" Toad imitated her and Noki laughed at his impression.
"Focus, people!" ordered Bootler gently. "Do not forget that we have not won yet."
"I have another one for you," told them Monty Mole.
I can't believe Toad and Jojora would threaten us to lose challenges just so their names would figure on the wheel! I almost wanted to throw the challenge just to make them regret what they did, hopefully, I didn't. I wonder what's going to happen now...
"It must must be about the exemption roulette but I wonder who could have written this excerpt," pondered Noki, unsure about what their answer should be.
"How about Mario?" considered Toad. "As far as I remember, he was pretty reluctant to give someone an exemption."
"Yes," agreed Bootler. "He was also the only one who did not want to play this challenge. I would also say Mario."
"Well, it's between him and Birdo, anyway," noted Noki. "They are the only possibilities."
"How convenient," Jojora rolled her eyes. "The two people for whom we don't have any clue..."
"Let's just go with Mario," suggested Toad. "We all seem to think that he's more likely to have written that than Birdo, so we might as well valid this answer."
"Is Mario your answer?" questioned Monty Mole.
"Ye-" Noki was interrupted by Jojora.
"No, it's not Mario, it must be Birdo's!" she exclaimed. Bootler was skeptical.
"How can you be so sure? There is no clue leading to Birdo," he remarked smartly. Jojora waved her finger in front of them.
"That's your opinion. To me, there's a rather big clue in this journal entry," she retorted. "Mario and I began our coalition during episode four. So now, explain to me why he would want to sabotage the challenge so that his ally wouldn't get an exemption?"
"The wording is tricky," mused Toad. Jojora shook her head.
"Not really. Besides, Mario was pissed off when Birdo got the exemption, because he thought that she didn't deserve it at all. And I must say that I agreed fully with him at the time."
Noki defended her fallen friend. "How can you say that? Birdo is really a sweet person!"
"So what? We're in a game! This isn't the Amazing Friend but the Mole and Birdo didn't deserve to win the exemption because she made us lose tons of money and she wasn't even the traitor! So yes, she might be cool and everything, and I'm pretty sure Mario's good friend with her outside of the show, but the fact remains that she was a pretty useless player here," ranted Jojora.
Noki frowned. "You are entitled to your own beliefs. I know for a fact that Birdo tried her best."
Toad : Well, Bootler and I didn't intervene because both of them made a good point. But still, it's kind of annoying that Jojora's always diverting us from the challenges. I wish she would stop because frankly, she isn't innocent herself.
"The point is that Birdo wrote this journal entry," Jojora decided.
"Well, to spice things up, I won't tell you whether you were right or wrong," the host announced slyly. "Last one!"
This mission was tricky, I'm glad we managed to make it all the way to the end of King Boo's Mansion. I feel very proud of myself because I'm the reason why we won the challenge. I suppose I could thank Lady Luck for that but... Anyways, this episode was very short, I'm disappointed to see that we only competed in one big challenge, as fun as it was, but I presume Monty Mole has to respect some kind of schedule which would explain that-
"Mario," claimed the four players at the same time.
"Birdo made it to the end," recalled Toad, "but as far as I remember, Mario was truly the hero during this game. He led us through the various rooms and managed to decipher the secret code."
"I suppose you were correct," presumed Bootler, scratching his chin. "So, Monty Mole, did we win?"
Monty Mole put on his most dramatic face, which worried greatly everyone. "I'd say that...you did a pretty good job," he flashed them a smile. "I forgot to say it earlier, but the challenge was worth fifteen thousand coins! Congratulations!"
Challenge's Results :
Money Won : 15 000
Team Pot : 178 000 coins
The players clapped happily out of politeness and cheered lightly. One of them being hypocritical.
"And to think that this money could be ours," daydreamed Toad, thinking of the possibilities which would be offered to him if he were the victor of this game.
Bootler chuckled. "It will be someone's, I know that much."
Noki : It sure sounds like a dream right now, to believe that the money could be mine. It seems so unreal... I suppose I never really thought of what I would do if I were to win the whole game.
"Well, it seems like you made up for your earlier loss today, so far for this episode, you won twenty five thousand coins out of fifty five thousand. You almost managed to win half of the money at stake! Not to mention that we still have one more challenge for you guys, but it won't begin right now, so feel free to relax in the meantime," Monty Mole announced, sounding pleased.
"I'm just glad we finally added more money into the pot," pointed out Jojora. "So far, we haven't been very efficient and since the end is near in sight I think we should aim to add as much money as we can into the pot." She paused, looking at the other three. "After all, one of us will go back home with that money so we might as well try to earn a big check."
"Wow, you're actually being a team player for once!" let out Toad. "Shocker!"
"Shut up," retorted Jojora scowling.
Everyone began to laugh, heading back inside the hotel. The next day, they would have to be in shape if they wanted to win the last challenge of episode seven, as well as pass successfully the last obstacle before reaching the final. Everyone was anxious as to what was to come. Everyone but the Mole, that is. Their only worry was to sabotage subtly and put as much doubt as they could in the others' mind.
…
The next morning, the players were left alone as Monty Mole told them he had some business to attend to. That left the players puzzled, although a majority of them simply supposed that he had to check some details for their upcoming mission. The players took advantage of that time to write in their journal and relax in the numerous facilities left at their disposal.
Bootler and Toad were resting in a hot spring, discussing the game.
"Aaah... This warm spring is very pleasant," Bootler could not help saying.
Toad nodded energetically. "Oh yeah! I feel totally revitalized!" Then they were silent for a moment, before Toad broke the ice. "Say Bootler..."
The old Boo turned to face Toad, raising an eyebrow in the process. "What is it?" he questioned, sensing that Toad was a bit uncomfortable.
"Well, you know how we're in a coalition and everything, right? I was wondering... What's going to happen to the two of us once we reach the final?" asked the mushroom.
Bootler laughed slightly, his mustache twitching. "Well, first of all, I think we would need to reach the final episode, and we should not count our chickens before they hatch. Who knows, one of us could be eliminated tonight."
Toad shrugged. "Nah, I think we're pretty much settled for the final episode," he refuted, winking.
Bootler grinned. "Well, I will not turn on you, you have my word. However, it is unfathomable for me to think that we will be working together. If anything, we will be working against each other."
"I see... Well, I won't turn on you either, it wouldn't be nice after everything we've been through. It's just too bad that only one person can be the winner..."
Bootler sighed. "Unfortunately, such is the nature of this game."
…
Jojora and Noki were located in the library of their hotel. The two girls who had almost nothing in common decided to utter a few words together, instead of just ignoring each other's presence.
"You know Jojora, I was wondering if you regretted things from time to time. Things that you've done throughout the game," she added, when she saw that the fairy was looking at her quizzically.
"That goes without saying," answered Jojora, writing down something in her journal. "But all in all, I think I've made the right choices at the right times and that's what matters right now."
"And... If you were to play again, would you change something?"
"Like what?" inquired Jojora.
"Like your strategy or something."
"Of course I would. What kind of dumb question is this?" Jojora jotted down a few more things in her journal. "Besides, who would want to play the same game over and over again? I sure wouldn't."
"Personally, I think I've played a good game."
"That's great," Jojora replied, completely uninterested.
Noki rolled her eyes. "You're impossible, you know that?"
Jojora only grinned.
…
After lunchtime was over, the players were waiting outside of the hotel, eager to start their next challenge. They had been told by Monty Mole that it would begin as soon as they were finished with their meal and true to his words, Monty Mole did show up, albeit in a rather strange manner.
"Oof!" Monty Mole yelled, tripping over the sidewalk. While Bootler, the oldest player of the game, was very concerned about Monty's safety, the others held back their laughter.
"Do you need help?" questioned Bootler. Monty Mole stood up and gave him a smile.
"Don't worry about me, Bootler, although it was kind of you to ask. Unlike some people here," he glared at the other three playfully. "Anyway, we'll soon start the last challenge of this episode, but before that, I need you to write down a list and put it in the urn over there," he explained, his hand motioning toward an ancient vase standing on the edge of a wall.
"A list of what?" inquired Jojora. The others were wondering the same thing.
Monty Mole cleared his throat. "A list of the other players' names, the one at the top being the name of the player you'd like to see progress further into the game, and the one at the bottom being the name of the player you'd like to see eliminated before the final episode," he developed.
Jojora : Every time Monty asks you something like that, you have to determine in what way it could influence the game. Like, will the player at the bottom get a minus one? Or will they have an important place in the challenge? Will the player at the top obtain a free pass to the final? You never truly know what's going on in this game, unless you're the Mole.
Jojora made her choice rather quickly and went to the urn. She displayed a look of confidence on her face.
Toad : Prior to this game, people were always telling me that I should think more before making a decision. After it's over, I bet they'll tell me that I'm overthinking everything.
Shortly after Jojora had made her choice, Toad ran to the vase and put his paper in it, smiling to himself in the process.
Noki : You can't help but wonder how the list will be used against you, since most of the time it's what happens. I was hoping the lists wouldn't be revealed afterward. I didn't want us to fight over petty things like this.
Noki took a long time to make her list. She read it one last time and decided it was for the best. The next thing she did was placing it inside the urn.
Bootler : I was very conflicted when it came to choosing the top and bottom persons. Depending on the way the list affected the game, the two names would be switched. Alas, I did not know what was the way chosen by the producers and had to rely on my instincts.
Finally, Bootler reached a conclusion. He wrote the three names like he was told to and let his paper fall inside the vase.
"Well, since you all finished, I'm going to study your lists, please stay here in the meantime," ordered Monty Mole as he waddled his way toward the urn.
Jojora watched him walk away and frowned when he picked up the vase. "I hope we didn't just decide of who would get the final exemption of the game."
Noki smiled sweetly. "I honestly think it isn't the case. I think we've determined our roles for the next mission."
"Was there an instance, in the previous seasons, where the players had to do something of the sort?" questioned Bootler, looking at Toad and Jojora. The two concerned players glanced at each other.
"In the first season," Toad replied. "But it wasn't exactly the same thing."
"Yeah, they had to say who they trusted the most. The most and least trusted players would then have an important part in the challenge, but I don't think we'll be playing the same game. That would be pointless," Jojora noted.
"Players! Come here!" shouted Monty Mole, waving at them in the distance. The players walked or floated toward their host, ready to hear the results of their votes.
"What happens now?" asked Noki.
"Well, I won't read your votes aloud so you can rest assured," Monty Mole reassured them. "No, what I'm interested in is the name of the player who you would like to see with you in the final episode of this game."
"What about the one the players don't want to see progress further into the game?" questioned Toad.
"Don't worry about this person, as I said, I'm only interested in the one who should make it to the final episode. And Toad is that person," finished Monty Mole, looking at the mushroom. "Toad, you will be brought to a secret location and will be blindfolded. You must keep the blindfold on for the duration of the ride. Please enter this car." The host pointed toward a conspicuous deep blue car.
Toad : I was glad to be chosen by the other players, but at the same time, I can't help but wonder why they chose me. Personally, I thought Bootler would be elected. I put him at the top of my list, after all. Obviously, Jojora was at the bottom of everyone's list.
Toad nodded and followed the host's order. He glanced one last time at his fellow contestants, smiling, and entered the car. The others could see in the distance that he was blindfolded by another person. The conductor started the engine and the vehicle began to move away. They gazed at it until it was nothing but a little dot in the horizon.
"Is this the hostage mission?" Jojora mused. Monty Mole replied by shaking his head.
"Not quite, actually, it's the exact opposite of the hostage mission." Jojora raised an eyebrow, puzzled. Bootler and Noki looked at each other, befuddled.
"So, um... What are we supposed to do?" Noki could not help but wonder.
"Why, we're going to start your next challenge!" exclaimed Monty Mole, a smile gracing his features. "Follow me!"
Just then, Bootler asked the dreaded question. "What about the costumes?"
Monty Mole looked at them, grinning slyly. "I don't want to spoil the surprise." Jojora groaned, Bootler gulped and Noki sighed.
…
Meanwhile, Toad was still in the car, wondering where the producers were bringing him. He came to realize that his destination was near, as the car slowed down and the ride became less bumpy. The driver pulled the handbrake, stopping the car altogether.
"Hey, you can remove your blindfold now. And please step out."
Toad complied. At first, he thought he would be blinded by light, however he was surprised to see that he was in a very dark area. "Where am I?" he questioned, knowing full well that he would never receive an answer.
"Sorry, can't tell you," said the driver. He fished something out of his pocket. "Here, Monty Mole told me to give you this." He handed Toad an envelope as well as a flashlight. "Don't open the letter until after you hear a signal. Also, I would suggest staying on that bench in the meantime."
"Hum, okay, I guess I could do that," Toad responded, taking the items from the hands of the producer.
"Well, that's all I can tell you. Good luck."
"Okay, thanks, I suppose," Toad thanked him, feeling awkward. The producer nodded and returned to his car. He then drove off, leaving Toad by himself. The mushroom switched on his flashlight, as the only other source of light, the headlamps of the car, was gone.
"Sounds like fun," he muttered sarcastically.
…
"I look like a fool," Bootler complained, tilting his sorcerer hat over his eyes in shame. "I do not like to play dress up," he continued.
"Oh well, I've always liked sorceresses," Noki smiled. "And it could be worst to be honest, at least we have nice-colored outfits. Yours is white, while ours are blue."
"I suppose it would have been most unpleasant to wear a pink costume," Bootler mused. "I am sure that everyone in the Boo Mansion would have laughed at me if that was the case."
"I like mine too, but that's not the point. Monty, are we there yet?" Jojora inquired in an annoyed tone.
The players had been following Monty Mole for ten minutes now, and the host still did not tell them what their challenge was about. Needless to say, Jojora was starting to be quite frustrated since she did not like doing nothing.
"As a matter of fact, we are!" Monty Mole turned to the players. "Welcome to Horror Land!"
Bootler coughed loudly. "I do not want to rain on your parade, but I find this place quite beautiful. The peaceful melodies sung by the crows are soothing my mind." The girls looked at him weirdly.
"Right, whatever you say," Jojora replied.
"I don't feel good," Noki gulped. "Look at all those spooky trees and pumpkins. They look like they're watching us!" she whimpered, easily impressed by her surroundings. Jojora scoffed.
"Oh please. Even kids would be braver than you!"
"Well, to be fair, depending on their age, they would not be conscious of the danger," Bootler pointed out. "Nevertheless, that is not the main point of this meeting. We need to focus on our mission."
Monty Mole clapped his hands. "Right! Let's get down to business, shall we? As I told you earlier, we are in Horror Land, a place featured in 'Mario Party 2'," he reminded them. "Now, none of you have heard of this place before, so let me enlighten you. Horror Land is very peculiar."
"How so?" Bootler wondered aloud, putting his hand on his chin.
"Well, for starters, every three hours, day becomes night and night becomes day."
Noki frowned. "How is that even possible?"
"This place is magical. Anyway, now that that's out of the way, here's the basis of this challenge : Toad must reach Mystery Mansion before night becomes day. This is Mystery Mansion, as well as the place where you will reside for the next few hours," he told them, pointing at the grand building next to their location.
"Not as grand as King Boo's Mansion," Bootler noticed, looking at the building from a distance.
"The challenge is called 'Mystic Relics' and is worth twenty five thousand coins," Monty Mole announced.
"Awesome!" cheered Noki excitedly.
"You three will guide Toad so that he makes his way to the mansion before his allotted time – a little more than two hours – is over, however, this task isn't as easy as it seems," Monty Mole declared mysteriously. Jojora cast him an annoyed glance while Noki sent him a questioning look. Bootler simply waited for the host to continue. "You see, Toad reaching this place alone won't be sufficient to win the game. He will have to bring five relics with him, if you want to add the full sum of money into your pot. Naturally, each relic is worth five thousand coins."
Jojora rolled her eyes. "Of course, it would have been too easy otherwise."
"Indeed," agreed Bootler. "However, the game would not be as interesting if the missions were all dull and painfully easy to complete."
"I guess I see your point."
"I'm wondering, so far, we've talked about Toad's job. What about us?" questioned Noki.
Monty Mole looked at her and grinned. "You see, Toad doesn't know what he should bring here, nor does he know where those relics are located. Your job is to find the answer to those questions and to relay the information to him through a walkie-talkie. Now, if Toad paid attention to what was said to him, he should still be near the place where we hid this mean of communication. Toad's only tools are a map and a flashlight."
Monty gave Noki the walkie-talkie. He then proceeded to open the doors of Mystery Mansion. "Well then, you know everything important, good luck!"
Reluctantly, the three players entered the house which hosted many parties, wondering if there was an easy way to win the challenge or not.
Noki : The further we're going into the game, the harder the missions become. Most of the missions require that you trust more or less your opponents, but you can't do that, which is paradoxical. Actually, the whole game is nothing but a giant paradox when you think about it.
…
Toad was waiting patiently, sitting on a bench near a small pond. He looked at the water, seeing the clear reflect of the moon and began to tap his fingers against his seat. "Oh man, it's so boring..."
Suddenly, he felt rather tense. "Hello? Is there someone around?" he asked, not sounding pleased one bit. There was a noise coming from behind him which sounded like a voice. Shining his flashlight on a spot of grass, he let out a breath, noticing that nobody was behind him. He went back to the bench but suddenly he heard another thing. However, this time around, the voice was not the same.
"Okay, I'm starting to lose my patience here. Show yourself!" he shouted, waving his flashlight around. "Well, apparently no one's here..." He took a few steps forward and heard the voice. Only this time, he knew who it was.
"Bootler! Are you playing tricks with me?" questioned Toad. "You're a little too old to play hide and seek, you know?" He then stopped talking to discern the place from where the voice was coming. Armed with his flashlight, he swept the soil with it until he found something strange.
"What's that... Oh! A walkie-talkie!" he yelled, not bothering to check his surroundings anymore. Toad picked up the hand-held communication device and spoke into it. "Hey, is that you, Bootler?"
"Why yes!" answered the ghost through the walkie-talkie. "For this challenge, we need you to find five specific items and to bring them back at Mystery Mansion. You should have a map with you, it would help if you knew where your final location was."
Toad was confused. "I don't have any map with me."
"Oh, really? Monty Mole told us that you did... That is quite strange."
Then, Toad slapped his forehead. "Silly me, I had completely forgotten about the envelope." He tore it open and retrieved a map as well as a pen. "Okay, so... Mystery Mansion... I found it!" he smiled, although Bootler could not see him. "So, what's my first item?"
Bootler was taken by surprise. "Well, we are currently working on it."
"Huh?"
"We do not know either, we only have clues littered everywhere which should help us but they are not easy to understand at all. Noki tries to decipher their meaning but she has no success so far."
"What about Jojora?"
"Well," Bootler started, feeling embarrassed, "she says that there is supposedly an exemption somewhere in the mansion, so she is looking for it as we speak. Yes, basically, she does not help at all. If anything, her ruckus makes it hard for Noki to concentrate on the task."
Toad rolled his eyes. "Figures. Are we timed?"
"Yes. I think we have more or less two hours, which is exactly why we need to find the first clue as fast as possible."
Toad : I find it funny that Jojora isn't helping us because she wants to find an exemption, while she blamed Flurrie at the beginning of the adventure because she was too selfish. Now, don't get me wrong, I didn't really like Flurrie's way of playing the game but Jojora's game is so erratic that it's not funny anymore.
…
Noki : As I was trying to find the meaning of the clues, I couldn't help but look at what the others were doing. Jojora was being noisy and Bootler was taking an awful lot of time talking to Toad via the walkie-talkie. I was persuaded that at least one of them made us lose time on purpose. I mean, why would the producers hide an exemption in this mess? And why did Bootler talk to Toad like a schoolgirl telling her best friend about her crush?
Bootler made his way to Noki carefully, the device in one hand. "Did you find anything?"
"Not really," Noki replied. "There are a lot of things, and I somehow doubt that they are all relevant to our scavenger hunt. Come with me," she demanded gently. Bootler followed her until they reached a formation of music instruments.
"How coincidental," Bootler smiled to himself. "But what is so important about those?" he questioned.
"That's the thing. I managed to protect the instruments from Jojora because I'm more or less sure that it's a clue, but I don't know what it could possibly mean."
"How would you know that that is a clue? You cannot be one hundred percent sure."
Noki shook her head. "No, I am convinced that it's our clue. Why else would the instruments be disposed so neatly while the rest of the stuff is scattered everywhere? And don't tell me that it's her fault, we both know that the room wasn't very clean when we entered."
Bootler made his way to the instruments in question. They were four of them and they formed a strange shape. There was a trumpet located near the wall. Closer to Bootler and a little on his left was a violin. Even closer than the violin were a tuba on the left and a guitar on the right.
He frowned and opened his mouth, only to shut it right away after Jojora let out a scream. "I got a clue!"
The other two raced toward her position and examined what was supposedly a clue. It was located on the other side of the map which was on the wall. Jojora took it in her hands carefully, trying not to rip it in the process, and presented it to Noki and Bootler. "Oh great, more anagrams," Jojora complained.
niviseiedc
ztykul
cllneae
atinogire
rwhnie
luasgel
"Oh well, that could be worse," Bootler remarked. "Let us work hard to uncover the hidden words."
Jojora took a pen and started to write on a piece of paper that she had found earlier. "I was never good with anagrams, you know?"
"I have one!" Noki cheered. "'Klutzy' is the second word."
Jojora : I was honestly wondering how Noki did to find one right off the bat. I mean, it's impossible to come up with an answer like she did, unless you have an I.Q of at least one hundred and seventy. That wasn't the first time that she displayed her intelligence like that and I can't help but believe that somehow, she knew the answers beforehand.
"Challenge for the third one?" Jojora wondered. Bootler shook his head.
"No, it is impossible. There is no 'h' or 'g'. And I found the fifth one, which is obviously 'Whiner'," the ghost declared.
"How about 'Nacelle'," Jojora questioned. Noki looked at the word.
"It might be that," she confirmed.
Jojora rolled her eyes. "It might be or it is right?"
Bootler ignored her. "I think the last one means 'Seagull'," he noted.
Noki smiled as she soon found another word. "The fourth one is 'Originate'. I'm one hundred percent sure." Jojora looked at the different words they had managed to recreate.
"What the- That doesn't mean anything!" she exclaimed.
Bootler rubbed his temples. "Well, there might be more than meets the eye."
"Are you even sure that we needed to unscramble them?"
"No, there is no way to know that for sure, but that is the first thing that comes in mind when you see that," replied the Boo. "Besides, what else could we have done?"
"First word is 'Indecisive'," Noki finished.
"Great, now what?" Jojora snarled. "Those words have nothing in common, are we even sure that it's a clue?"
Noki rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Jojora, you were the one who told us that you had found a clue, so if anything, blame yourself and not Bootler and I."
Sensing tensions raising, Bootler was quick to give everyone another plan. "Let us look at the map in detail, we might be able to link one of those words with a location."
"What about the item? Remember that Toad doesn't know what he has to find either," Noki pointed out as she looked another time at the words. "I doubt he has to find a seagull."
Bootler seemed to be at a loss for an explanation. "I do not know, unfortunately."
"We're wasting time!" Jojora exclaimed loudly, kicking a piece of furniture in the process. "Let's skip this clue." Bootler sent her an incredulous look.
"We will not skip it. I am sure that the answer is right in front of our eyes, it would be extremely foolish of us to ignore it, especially after all the time we spent looking for an answer. However, if you do not want to help, feel free to look for other clues," Bootler declared, sure of himself.
"Let's call Toad!" suggested Noki. "He has been here before, maybe he knows something that we don't. And even if he doesn't, we have nothing to lose."
"Except for time," Jojora snapped. Noki glared at her, clearly unnerved by the fairy's attitude.
Bootler : We were in a predicament. Nobody knew what we were supposed to do, nor did they know how to succeed in this mission. We were abashed because we did not have much instructions to begin with and Toad, the only one who had previous knowledge of the area, was separated from us.
"Fine, I will call Toad if I must," Bootler gave up. "Meanwhile, please try to find the meaning of this clue."
While the players wonder what they are supposed to do, time is ticking away! Will they manage to find at least one item before the challenge is over? Only time will tell!
One of them is only delaying the inevitable, though, for they will meet their demise next episode...
I tried to add more descriptions, but I don't know if it's visible or not. Hopefully, you will find the story more enjoyable that way. ^^
If you didn't vote on the poll located on my profile, now is the last possible time to do so as I will reveal the results at the end of the next chapter. ^^
Until next time !