Charz : You hate 'Avalanche!'? Lol, I love this mini-game even though it's way too easy now since the layout of the course never changes. All you have to do is spam the A button and position yourself so you won't hit any rock and you won. I lol'd at your remark about Toad. XD Well, thank you for your review and congratulations for beating Champ in your little TAR competition. XD
Guest : Mmmh, I didn't really get what you were saying, but maybe there was a misunderstanding. When I said 'end of the adventure', I was actually thinking about the 'end of the game', reunion show not included. And yes, I might make a second story though I'm not really sure. It takes a lot of time after all. Thanks for your review. ^^
Champ : Lol, yeah, exactly. I actually decided to execute Jojora because she wasn't very liked and wasn't really suspicious to people, while Bootler, Noki and Toad were all suspected more or less heavily at one point of the adventure. It wouldn't be fun if there was a final with the super suspicious Mole and two Mario. XD I'll give you the result of your quiz at the beginning of the next chapter if you take it. XD Thanks for the review!
Cyan Comet : Lol, I didn't get the new system either until a week ago. I thought unregistered people were now forced to have the username 'Guest'... *facepalm* Yes, I don't know why, but I never put the name of a species in plural, it just doesn't feel right to me. Maybe because most of the time, I consider there is the Yoshi people and the Yoshi, for example. Since the name of a species in the derivative of the name of a character, I don't put 's' at the end of the words. I'm glad you liked the chapter and thanks for the review!
Previously on the Mole, the players were still looking for stars that they would later bring to Monty Mole at an unknown location, hoping to add fifty thousand coins to their team pot. After they had completed their task at the Duel Tower, they were off to Yoshi's Tropical Island to play a round of 'Mushroom Mix-Up'. Unfortunately, once there, Bootler misdirected the team, mistaking the two parts of the island. During the mini-game, it was Toad who made the team fail, pushing his friends into the water before taking a plunge himself. Now in possession of their second star, the group located Bowser's Nightmare and drove to the left tower of this bad dream in order to play a game of 'All Fired Up'. This time, Noki blurted out the plan the players had come with and jeopardized their situation, but the team redeemed itself and won the mini-game thanks to Monty's generosity. Afterward, they were heading to Snowflake Lake – more particularly the chair lift of Snowflake Lake – when they were arrested by a policeman, telling them that they had a flat tire. Toad stayed behind to fix the car while the two remaining contestants, Bootler and Noki, rode the chair lift to try the mini-game 'Avalanche!'. Bootler did horribly and when it looked like Noki would win, she was stopped dead in her track by a snowman. With only thirty eight minutes remaining to their timer as well as two mini-games to complete and a secret location to find, the players could not allow any more mishap. Would their endeavors be rewarded?
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
33 : The Mystery Ends
Remaining Time : Fifteen minutes
A blue car could be seen in the distance, outside of Goomba's Greedy Gala, a famous casino where you could become wealthy or simply lose everything. It was also there that Mario and his friends had one of their parties. Today, three particular players would gamble for high stakes : depending on the results of their upcoming task, fifty thousand coins would or would not be added to their team pot. Bootler, Noki and Toad were ready to tackle everything thrown in their way. The final three players were ready for anything. Or were they? One of them was not who they seemed to be and could have had another objective.
The car stopped and three figures made their way to the casino with haste. "Look at that," Noki whispered in awe. "The most famous casino of the world! Everything glitters and sparkles, it's a girl's dream coming true!"
The wealth of the establishment was ostentatious, neon lights were flashing and shining on the players as they entered the building. Inside, they were even more marveled by what they saw. Everything was in perfect condition, the tables made in wood dazzled them, the soft purple fabric on the floor was impeccable and spotless, all the mirrors were clear, they were not used to such an environment.
Shielding his eyes from the luminous spotlights, Bootler commented on the beauty of the casino. "I am impressed. I never knew of this wonderful place. I wonder how much the production spent to let us in."
"Probably more than we could ever imagine," Toad answered, still taken aback by the place. "I swear, it wasn't this beautiful last time. It's probably because there isn't anyone but us at the moment."
"You may be right," Bootler nodded fully. "I doubt I would have liked it if it was swarming with people," he justified, walking ahead of the other players. "However, we are not here to sight see, let us move onwards."
Noki : I was really disappointed because we couldn't stay at the casino. I knew we were timed, but we should appreciate every little moment on this show, because we won't have the same opportunity twice.
Toad took a brief look at the map he had found near the entrance and led the group toward the purple area. They came across the biggest roulette they had ever seen. "Oh, I remember this," the mushroom reminisced. "Players could bribe Goomba to reach the area with the star."
"A bribe during a party? My, this is clearly surprising," Bootler could not help but utter, a look of incredulity displayed on his face.
"It's because the goal of their parties is to earn the most stars, and the stars each cost twenty coins," Noki explained smartly.
Bootler raised an eyebrow. "You sure did your homework."
"Yes I did, I'd rather be prepared for what's coming next. Wouldn't you?" she asked, winking in the process.
"I suppose," Bootler smiled, nodding.
"Hey guys, is that the flag?" Toad questioned, pointing at a green board on which was written something he could not decipher. Taking a closer nod, he clapped his hands together. "Yup, it is!"
Toad ran toward a stack of giant cards, the others right behind him. After their sprint, they met the owner of the very own casino as well as one of his employees who was also a Goomba. Goomba was wearing his pink top hat as well as his sparkly pink vest, whereas the employee had donned a green ensemble. "Good afternoon! You are from The Mole, correct?" Goomba inquired.
"You are quite right," Bootler answered, touching the tip of his mustache. "I suppose you have a game for us?"
"Yes, it will be a game of luck. This game is called 'Deck Hands' and it requires nothing but pure luck. I will be displaying thirteen cards in front of you. One after another, you will pick one. After you've each picked three cards, we'll see who has the most points. If one of you three wins, twenty minutes will be added to your timer," Goomba explained calmly.
Bootler : Oh, the irony. All our hopes were resting on our lucky stars, we could do nothing but wait for the good or bad news. As you can see, I am not very fond of all those luck-based things. They do not require knowledge or strength, you cannot control your luck, which is why I hate the concept.
"Toad, you go first," instructed Goomba.
"Mmmh, okay." Toad picked a card at random and scored a thirteen, the highest card value.
"Awesome," cheered Noki excitedly. Goomba looked at her.
"Your turn."
Noki obliged and chose one card. "A twelve!" exclaimed the girl joyfully. Bootler massaged his temples.
"Well, this is not that good. This means that Toad won't be able to add twelve to his total score," Bootler told her. Noki's smile did not leave her face.
"Yes, but now this guy won't be able to add twelve to his score either. I understand what you mean but it's not like we can decide our destiny this time. You just have to make the best of what you have. Think optimistically."
"Bootler, if you will," Goomba motioned for the cards lying on the green tablecloth.
"Of course," came the immediate answer of Bootler. Studying the cards before him, he chose the one situated on his farthest right. The number four decorated the card. "Oh well."
Noki : Bootler didn't do much during the challenges which was quite strange. He was almost always the first one out of the games and just didn't seem to try. I didn't know what he was trying to accomplish, but come on, this is the final challenge, you want to do your best, don't you?
Toad : Then I noticed how our opponent was dressing. Oh boy, this guy was really superstitious. A horseshoe, a four-leaf clover, a rabbit's foot... He just had every little lucky charms I knew of and possibly more on him.
"Eh. I'm the luckiest worker in this casino, no way you'll beat me guys!" boasted the arrogant employee, choosing a card. "Take that, eleven!"
Toad and Noki rolled their eyes while Bootler coughed lightly. Goomba spoke up again. "Now, we're going to start the second turn. Bootler, since you had the least points during the first round, you choose first."
Bootler picked a seven. "I have two cards and still less points than them," he sighed, shaking his head in disbelief.
"It's my turn now!" smiled the Goomba. "A nine! Awesome!"
Noki pouted slightly as she saw the card he had chosen. "Well, let's pick a card..." She cringed as soon as she saw her card. "A three, this isn't good at all..."
Toad shrugged and chose another card randomly. "Well, it's a luck based mini-game, we can't really do anything about it unfortunately. And it seems that I've earned a five... Which means that we're not in the lead anymore. Ugh," Toad complained.
Goomba gave a vigorous nod of the head. "Now, we're going into the final round of this game. So far here are everyone's standings: Luckee is first with a total of twenty points. Toad is right behind him with a total of eighteen points. Then comes Noki with fifteen points and finally Bootler has a measly eleven points. But this is a luck mini-game and everything can change. Bootler, you will now pick your final card."
Bootler acquiesced as he chose his card, which was a two. "This is all a big joke, isn't it? Toad had the same amount of points with only one card!"
Noki shook her head slightly. "Well, it's not your fault Bootler, you couldn't have guessed which cards held the most points." She leaned forward to grab yet another card. Six points were added to her total. "I have twenty-two and I'm in the lead for the moment..."
"Let's hope for a good card!" Toad crossed his fingers as he reached for one of the last three cards. "And it is...eight!"
"This is the moment of truth. You win if Luckee pick the card marked by a one, you lose if he chooses the one which has a ten on it. What will it be? Luckee, if you please," Goomba spoke up, staring intently at the remaining two cards. His employee waited for a moment before choosing one of the cards.
"This one," he muttered, pointing at the one on his left. Goomba revealed the card and soon people were cheering.
"We won!" Noki laughed as she saw a big one on the card their opponent had chosen. Bootler and Toad soon joined her in her laughter, all glad to know that they were not loosing the final challenge after all. Luckee was not as exultant as them, but still clapped for their victory.
"A promise made is a promise kept," Goomba announced, smiling to the winners of the mini-game. "You have just won another star as well as an additional thirty minutes to your timer! It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance," stated the owner of the casino.
Remaining Time : Thirty Eight minutes
Toad : We were all psyched when we learned that the game wasn't over after all and decided to give it our all! We were only missing one star and the place Monty Mole was at, so I thought we could make it with relative ease. If the Mole didn't try to impede our progress, of course.
The players waved goodbye while rushing out of the luxurious Casino. They had added thirty minutes to their timer but that did not mean they could loiter around. Time was money, and they could not afford to waste it. Bootler opened the passenger's door on the right of the vehicle and jumped inside, his eyes already scanning the map booklet he had bought earlier that day. "Let us make this quick, we must hurry."
Meanwhile, Toad and Noki had also entered the car. While Noki fastened her seat-belt, Toad gave the final mini-star to Bootler. "You can have it."
Bootler nodded calmly, reading the inscriptions situated on the star. "So, '3 – SP – Oasis'. Well, it does not take a genius to figure out we need to head to the oasis of Spiny Desert which is behind Gate Three," Bootler enunciated clearly, showing a spot located under a white cloud on the map.
Bootler : The clues were not particularly hard to understand, but then again we already had our hands full with the challenge. My guess is that the producers did realize that it would probably be too much for three people alone. Winning the challenges, deciphering the clues, driving to where the clues would lead us, I assume they knew the final challenge was already difficult as it was.
"Okay Bootler, I need you to direct me to that place! The game's almost over!" Noki giggled, reversing the vehicle and driving out of Goomba's Greedy Gala parking lot.
"One more mini-game and we're done! Finally!" Toad joked. The players could not help but smile as they realized their journey was coming to an end.
…
Remaining Time : Twenty one minutes
The players all put on sunglasses to protect their eyes from the wind, which carried little grains of sand. The heat was once again too much for the three of them and they were forced to open the windows of their blue car to sense the some fresh air against their faces.
"Sooo," Toad started, "do you think we're nearly there?"
"I hope so," Noki wished in a hushed tone, "We've been driving for a while," she added, glancing at Bootler with the corner of her eyes.
Bootler gave another thorough look at his map. "Well, the bank should be visible by now and the oasis is right next to it."
"It's strange how the sand is a dark shade of blue over there," Toad pointed out awkwardly.
"I think we might have deflected from our path," Bootler realized. "Could you take a sharp left, Noki?"
"Mmmh, why not?" replied the blue-shelled inhabitant of Isle Delfino. She turned the steering wheel and started to move away from the dark area.
"I should have been more careful," Bootler shook his head in disappointment.
"Don't worry about it," reassured Toad. "I don't think we were too far from our real destination anyway, from what you had told me earlier."
Noki let out a small squeal. "I can see the bank and the oasis!"
"What if it's a mirage?" Toad wondered.
"The map does not lie," Bootler chimed in. "It indicates an oasis near the bank and the bank is quite real as you can see."
"Oh yeah, there's even a board with a black thumbprint," Toad declared.
"Well, let's check it out," Noki demanded before parking the car neatly. Bootler, Noki and Toad all went out of the car and jogged down a sand dune to reach a pink Bob-omb. He was wearing a thin white T-shirt and regular brown shoes.
"Hey everyone!" waved the Bob-omb, grinning. "You're the Mole players?"
"You're correct," Noki replied.
The small bomb nodded to himself. "Well, let's get started then! Follow me to the oasis!" The four curious characters proceeded to walk toward the oasis, where a blue Ukiki wearing purple lipstick was waiting in a wooden tub. She was also had a sailor cap on. Using a paddle, she moved the tub farther in the oasis. "May the odds be with you."
"Err... Yeah, she will be your opponent," the Bob-omb claimed, sounding slightly embarrassed. "Anyway, this game is called Bob-omb Barrage. The three of you will be throwing Bob-omb at my colleague, if you manage to sink her tub, you add twenty minutes to your timer and you obviously get a star. If you don't, you'll just get the star. You'll have one minute to sink her boat, so good luck!"
Immediately, Bootler turned to his friends. "I have a plan for this challenge."
"Really? Let's hear about it!" Toad responded eagerly.
"Well, I am not a very good shot, so I was thinking that I should act as a lure during the challenge. If I manage to get her attention, I will throw a Bob-omb next to her position. Then, she should normally react and move opposite of my shot. That is when you will throw bombs at her," Bootler explained carefully.
Noki seemed dubious. "I think we should simply throw our bombs at the same time. I doubt she can change her course easily since she is paddling."
"I should know that," Toad grumbled, recalling his experience during the Three Question Game.
Bootler rubbed his chin. "If we do what you suggest, she will have an easier time avoiding our projectiles. Unless we throw them around her," he added in an afterthought.
"Whatever you say, Bootler," Toad shrugged. "A nice strategy would be to throw bombs real fast kind of randomly. She will probably tire after a while and that's when we'll strike!"
Toad : We all had an idea as to what to do to win this challenge, and to be honest, we all had good strategies. I wasn't sure we'd need a strategy, though, since the game seemed pretty easy. Three against one? Our opponent didn't stand a chance.
The small group chose its position at the edge of the oasis and was careful to keep the bombs near. A disembodied voice yelled the word 'Start' which encouraged the players to begin the game. Noki was the first to make a move, but she did not put enough strength in her throw and the bomb exploded once it reached the surface of the water.
"The bombs aren't light!" she exclaimed, surprised. She then looked up and saw a bomb flying high in the sky.
"Whoops! I guess I threw it a little too hard," Toad commented as he watched the projectile fly away.
"Take this!" Bootler yelled as he also threw his bomb. It landed near the female Ukiki who suddenly paddled as if her life depended on it. Bootler had scared her and she was not feeling as secure as before.
"Wow, that was nice!" Toad laughed as he prepared his second bomb. The mushroom boy threw it and barely missed the tub. He did a small victory dance and picked yet another Bob-Omb.
Meanwhile, Noki was focusing on the task at hand and she was trying to find a good angle before throwing her weapon. As she finally made her choice, a loud explosion rang out and she was left in a daze. "Ow!"
Bootler and Toad both looked at Noki and at their bomb in quick succession before gulping. They certainly did not want that to happen to them. The two previous coalition partners hurled their bombs toward the Ukiki but missed completely.
"She's way too good," Toad complained. "Let's try Bootler's strategy!"
Noki nodded and as soon as she regained her senses, she flung her Bob-omb at her opponent. The Ukiki began to paddle with all her might and successfully avoided the bomb, however she was trapped by her momentum and could not change her course. Bootler's and Toad's bombs grazed her boat. "Oh no, you won't beat me!" The Ukiki smirked.
However, she was wrong, as the three players fired a salvo of Bob-omb which managed to reach her boat. She dived in the water to escape the bombs and resurfaced a few seconds later, looking angry. She refused to say goodbye to the players as an embarrassed Bob-omb rewarded the players with their final star. "What a sore loser," Noki could not help but say, an eyebrow raised.
"Yeah, she can get very competitive," the pink Bob-omb admitted. "In any case, I am very happy to give you this star! Since you won this challenge, you also added twenty minutes to your timer, so congratulations! Good luck, I hope you'll manage to win the challenge!"
Remaining Time : Thirty eight minutes
"Thank you very much!" Bootler bowed politely.
Toad absorbed the star in his hands and gave the Bob-omb one of his best smile. "Yeah, thanks! Now we have a complete set of six stars!" he shouted, overjoyed.
"But still no idea as to where Monty Mole should be," Noki noted as they returned to their car.
"Oh shoot, you're right!" Toad realized, putting his hand over his mouth. "I had completely forgotten about him..."
"I suggest we return to Pipetown for the time being," Bootler directed, acting like the leader of their group. The other two agreed to follow his lead and the three of them entered their car, a little worried about what was to come.
Noki : We were so busy trying to find the locations where the stars were waiting for us, elaborating strategies to win the mini-games and navigating to one place to another that we simply forgot the most important point of the challenge. We had all the stars in our possession but we still didn't know where Monty Mole was located. So we basically had only completed one half of the challenge and with less than an hour to go, we were very agitated.
…
Remaining Time : Thirty three minutes
Noki was driving the car back to Pipetown while Bootler and Toad were trying to figure out where their last destination was, directing Noki at the same time. The Boo and the Toad were clueless and had no idea, the group had reached a dead-end.
"C'mon, we can't be failing now," the mushroom sighed. "Not when we're just missing one little thing..."
"I am afraid I do not know what to do," Bootler panicked, skimming through the map booklet.
Bootler : That was definitely one of the worst moments of the game. To know that we were so close yet so far at the same time... The feeling is quite frustrating and there is nothing you can do about it.
Noki gasped suddenly. "Toad! Bootler! Do you remember the letter Monty gave us?"
"Yeah? What about it?" Toad inquired, interested in Noki's reaction.
"Well, I was thinking... In it, I recall that Monty mentioned that he gave us three clues."
"Please continue," Bootler requested, intrigued by Noki's reflection.
"Clue number one, Monty led us to the car which meant that we had something to do with it. We found out that we needed the car in order to navigate in the Party World with relative ease. Well, we didn't need to be genii to know that, but that was definitely the first clue," Noki took a deep breath and pursued. "Then, the second clue was about certain items we needed to collect and bring back to Monty Mole at an unknown location. Obviously, these items are stars since that's what people gave us. However, we never found the third clue and I'm almost one hundred percent sure that it's somewhere in the letter," she concluded.
Bootler pondered on her statement. "That is very true. As far as I recall, Toad searched the entire car but did not find anything related to our final destination, and he would have told us if he had found something."
"And, nobody ever gave us clues concerning the place Monty's waiting at," Toad finished. "So the final answer must be in the letter! You're a genius, Noki!"
Bootler reached for the compartment where he had put away the letter and read it aloud. "Let us find the passage we need... 'My location will remain a mystery, an enigma, just like the game you have been playing this whole time'."
"So much for that," Noki sighed to herself. "And here I thought I was onto something... Even though the way Monty insisted on the words 'mystery' and 'enigma' was strange."
Toad was thinking furiously. "'My location will remain a mystery'? Wait, enigma, mystery... An enigma in a mystery? No, that's not it..."
"What's happening, Toad?"
"Do you know where we should be headed to?" Bootler wondered.
"I have an idea... Bootler, look at your maps... One of them should be called 'Mystery Land'! If I recall correctly, there was something about an enigma there!" Toad exclaimed excitedly. "What if the answer had been given to us this entire time?"
Bootler's eyes grew wide. "Why, it seems that you are correct!" the old butler responded in surprise. "There seems to be a gray cross which looks like a junction, and above it there is something called the 'Enigma Square'. This tourist guide says that legends have it that it was the abode of a powerful monster in the past. This monster would ask you a single riddle. Should you fail to answer it, he would gobble you down. It is also said that no one found the answer to the enigma for two thousand years," Bootler described in detail.
Noki smiled. "I guess we're going there. Do you agree?"
"Well, it's our last and only chance," Toad grinned. "So I'd say yes."
"I am usually against gambling, yet I do not see any other possibility, which is why I am going to say that yes, we should go there," Bootler gave them his opinion, a confident smile on his face. "I will give you directions, Noki. Toad, keep your eyes peeled."
Toad : I was glad we were able to communicate together efficiently in the end even if there's a Mole in our group. Everyone screwed up during the challenge, but everyone helped too. I'm happy we were able to put the competition aside for a moment and enjoy our final challenge together.
…
Remaining Time : Nine minutes
The players were tense as their car bolted toward their final destination : Mystery Land. They knew they did not have much time left, so it would be a race against time. Nobody could think of a better name for this Party Land, everything about it being mysterious. Ancient dolmens were protruding from the ground, mist was ubiquitous, rumors said that a mysterious monster was living in a nearby lake – even though people had claimed that the 'mysterious monster' was none other than Dorrie – and it was also said that there was a hidden castle in the forest which only appeared at midnight every Sunday. Mystery Land contained every oddities one could think of, from crashed planes to pyramids without forgetting steles which bore a testament to other civilizations.
"I don't think we're going to go far with a car in these conditions," Toad realized. "We should just go there by our own means, I think we'd be faster..."
"Yes, however, we need to hurry," Bootler agreed wholeheartedly. Noki hesitated for a second but she eventually pulled out the key from the car and exited the vehicle.
"Let's follow this path!" Noki suggested, running as fast as she could toward her objective. Toad and Bootler followed suit although the latter was lagging behind. The group passed a strange house decorated with the mask of a Shy Guy and were also cautious not to fall in a ravine as they passed by a strange pillar.
"I hope we'll arrive in time!" Toad wished as he rushed forward and jumped to a higher place. He helped Noki and Bootler up and together, the three players ran at full speed toward the enigmatic square.
"Is this really the place?" Noki asked, uncertainty displayed on her face.
"I would assume so," Bootler confirmed, walking forward. "Yes! I see Monty Mole!" he pointed out in the distance where a very short recognizable mole stood.
"Hurry guys!" Toad yelled, already sprinting toward victory.
"Yes! It's really him!" Noki jumped with joy as the three players halted in front of Monty Mole and another guest. Bootler collapsed to the ground, regaining his breath.
"Finally!"
Monty Mole grinned ever so slightly. "Well guys, congratulations, you found me! Before announcing the results of this challenge, I would like you to meet Lays Terryns, the saboteur of the previous season!"
The blue Yoshi wearing trendy clothes shook the players' hands and introduced himself. "Hello everyone, it's me, Lays! I'm glad to see you've completed your final challenge despite the fact that you had a Mole in your ranks. Now, let's see your results, shall we?"
Monty Mole put on his poker face and nodded. "Well, as you may have realized during the challenge, you were to find me at Enigma Square with six stars in your possession under a time limit of two hours. May I see the stars?" the host questioned.
Toad let out the stars from his body and gave them to the host, who nodded in confirmation. "Well, it seems that you found me and were able to bring back six stars with you, which means that the only thing which would prevent you from adding fifty thousand coins to your pot is your remaining time."
The players suddenly grew tense, looking at each other in fright. They had no indication of time during the challenge, so they did not know whether they had arrived in time or not. "Please tell us, Monty!" Noki besought.
Monty Mole crossed his arms. "You started with two hours and were able to add two more hours thanks to the mini-games you won, so you basically had four hours to reach me..." Monty marked a pause, raising the suspense.
"With three minutes and twenty-two seconds remaining, you won the final challenge! Congratulations, guys!"
The three players jumped up and down in joy at the announcement. "We did it!" they cheered loudly.
"Oh my god, I can't believe we were so close!" Noki exclaimed, falling to the ground in a sitting position.
"I daresay that was a close call," Bootler chuckled lightly, still tired after the challenge.
"This was the hardest challenge thus far and we won it! I'm impressed in ourselves," Toad laughed, he was in awe.
Lays was also clapping for the victorious players. "Ah, it reminds me of my own adventure... It was also a close call but we eventually won it! It feels really great to win the hardest challenge! That's what Kylie told me too!"
Monty Mole was also grinning from ear to ear. "Well, with that said, you added a grand fifty thousand coins to your team pot, bringing it to two hundred fifty eight thousand coins! Once again, congratulations! This pot will go the the winner of this game! Quite a big sum of money, wouldn't you say?"
Challenge's Results :
Money Won : 50 000
Team Pot : 258 000 coins
"The pot is so huge!" Toad could not help but say.
"It would be a dream to win it all," Noki smiled cutely.
"Ah, but for one of us, this dream will become reality," Bootler told them.
"Yeah, except the Mole who can't win the money," Lays reminded them. "Anyway, you don't have much time before the quiz, I suggest you read over your notes carefully 'cause now, the quiz isn't about finding who the Mole is but knowing as much information as you can about them. Knowledge is the key to success!" the blue dinosaur exclaimed, a huge smile plastered on his face. "I'll see you later!"
"Players," Monty Mole's voice resounded, "you will take your final quiz in two hours, which should give you ample time to prepare yourself. I want you all before Gate Six at eight PM sharp. You are free to return to the hotel to eat and do what you must. Well, this is it! Later!" Monty waved as he and Lays returned to Pipetown.
"You guys don't mind if we eat together one last time?" Toad asked after a moment of silence. "It wouldn't be fun to sit at a table alone at this stage of the game."
Bootler chuckled heartily. "Do not worry, I did not intend to eat alone either. Noki, would you mind joining us?"
"Of course not," she responded politely, smiling at her two friends. "But I want to eat as soon as possible, four hours of challenge really made me hungry."
"Yeah, you're right, let's grab something to eat somewhere nice."
"Well then, let us go back to our car!" Bootler exclaimed joyfully.
…
The players had eaten together, but then, each of them had decided to focus for the upcoming quiz. In order to do that, they had to isolate themselves from any source of disruption.
Bootler, the old butler, had decided to study his notes near the fountain he and Lady Bow, the princess he vowed to protect, had enjoyed when she came to visit him. Bootler, the eldest player of the game, showed us that he was not as weak as he looked during the game. At first looking a bit out of his element with his loved ones missing, Bootler managed to get his act together and stay in the game for several episodes, succeeding beyond his wildest expectations. Showing smartness, calmness and levelheadedness, the Boo drew strength from his inner self which propelled him toward the latest stages of the game. Although he came a bit short in the physical prowess department, his willpower allowed him to reach the final.
Bootler : I will do what I must do to win this game. I think winning the game would be extraordinary, it would definitely make the experience complete. It is not so much about winning the money, but rather achieving something on my own.
Noki, the young air hostess, returned to the library to study her notes. She needed to concentrate and knew the place would be perfect for her. In a way, the place was exactly like her. Calm, smart, knowledgeable, weak and emotive, those were the traits Noki showed throughout the game. At the beginning, the frail Noki was withdrawn into herself, feeling she was never meant to be part of the group. However, episodes after episodes, she became closer to Birdo, an ally of choice who would later become one of her best friend, resulting in her breaking out of her shell. Trying her best to fit in, Noki amazed everyone with her incredible intelligence, and even though she would always struggle when the game threw anything physical at her, the inhabitant of Isle Delfino knew that she had found her place. And what place, a spot in the final episode of the game, no less!
Noki : This is the opportunity of a lifetime. Winning this game would mean so much for me, to say that I was the winner of such an amazing game show would make me feel so proud, not to mention that winning the money could possibly change my life forever.
Toad, the young gardener working at Princess Peach's Castle, decided that he would be better in his natural habitat, around vegetation. Taking his journal in his hands, he started studying hard to possibly win the game. Outgoing, friendly, honest, those three words clearly defined Toad's personality. While some people took the game seriously, Toad never once forgot that it was just a game. Trying to have as much fun as he could, he tried his best to help his team, even when he was feeling down. Experiencing the game for what it was, Toad was one of the most dependable people in the show, trying his best to cheer everyone up when they needed it the most and doing his best at the challenges, even when he was clearly overwhelmed by its mental aspects. Showing enthusiasm and spreading joy around throughout the whole game, Toad earned a spot in the final three.
Toad : I'm really really really happy to have made it thus far, it was an incredible experience and I'll be missing it once everything is over. I just wished we could play indefinitely, alas, all great things have an end. Life seems dull when you compare it with this game. I want to win and amaze everyone!
The three players showed up at eight o' clock in front of Gate Six, like they were instructed to by Monty Mole. Their host had donned a tuxedo and the players saw that Lays, who accompanied him, was also dressed for the occasion. The players themselves had put their best clothes and jewels on.
Monty Mole beckoned to them without a word and walked toward a Warp Pipe the players had not noticed before. He jumped inside and Lays followed suit. The players could not help but smile to each other as they hopped inside.
They landed on a strange car which had enough place for a conductor and passengers as there was a couch serving as seats. Monty Mole took his place behind the steering wheel while Lays and the players sat behind.
"Are we even in the Party World?" Bootler inquired. "I do not remember if this place figured on my map booklet or not..."
"We're in a Party Land to be," Monty Mole declared mysteriously, grinning as he did so. "However, I don't want to spoil you so don't expect precisions. Princess Peach and your friend Mario told us that we could use this place which is somehow significant to you guys. You've been playing this game for a while, and your quiz awaits you at the end of the road. But no one knows what is beyond that road, it will be your job to write the end of this history, and for one of you, it will change your life forever," Monty exclaimed, using some of his witty sentences to add more mystery to the atmosphere.
Lays decided to speak up since Monty Mole was finished. "As he said, you'll be taking your final quiz at the end of the road, but for now please look around and comment on what you see," he told them, as if he was acting as the replacement of Kooper.
"Well, so far I see a blue warp pipe, two tree stumps and a windmill in the distance," Toad commented.
Lays laughed. "No silly! I wasn't talking about the scenery but-"
Noki cut him off. "Look at the picture stitched to the tree! It's Kooper in his pirate outfit!"
"Oh yeah! It was during the second challenge, when we had to find something in a pirate ship," Toad recalled. "Man, it was so long ago..."
"Aww, true... I miss Kooper. To be honest, I kind of think his elimination was rigged, it was so unfair to give him a minus one," Noki lamented.
"Well, I would not go as far as to say that his elimination was rigged. He took his chance when he opened the envelope containing a minus one and he had to pay the price, unfortunately. Who knows, if he had not taken it, he would probably be here instead of one of us," Bootler pointed out smartly.
The car drove silently for another moment, with the players trying to see other pictures in the distance. Toad found the next one, which was located behind fences made of wood. It was a picture of Donkey Kong wearing clogs and farmer clothes, looking repulsed as he read a slip of paper. A white sheep was taunting him from behind.
"I didn't really like Donkey," Noki spoke up. "He was nothing but mean toward Flurrie, she didn't do anything to be treated like he did. Besides, he always accused her of sabotaging the games but he didn't do any better himself." Noki still resented the fact that Donkey had been so rude with her friend.
"Ah, come on, Donkey isn't that bad actually. He can get pretty competitive, though, and I'd be willing to bet that he was actually kind of manipulated by Jojora. Well, maybe not manipulated but influenced. He reacts strongly but he's a good guy, you should give him a chance," Toad admonished.
"Well, I agree with the both of you. On the one hand, he was unnecessarily rude and obnoxious, but on the other hand, he did not have time to show us his other side. He was not so bad when he was calm. I suppose he let the game go to his head, which is truly unfortunate," summed up Bootler.
Next, the players went along a small pond and glanced at their reflection for a moment. They kept on driving until they reached a small mushroom house and a red windmill. Bootler realized that there was a picture on the windmill. The picture represented Flurrie in a car, slaloming expertly between cars to avoid tomatoes.
Toad immediately laughed as he saw the picture. "Oh I remember that game, she drove like a mad woman! Flurrie was really fun to have around, she was a great girl and I missed her character when she decided to take that bribe."
"I admit that she was quite the character, however, I am glad to know that she did not leave the game empty-handed. She played the game as a greedy person, but I cannot blame her for she might have needed the money," Bootler stated.
"Flurrie was one of the best players on this show. She protected me from a possible red screen that fateful night and Birdo later told me that she needed to money to fix the Great Boggley Tree, home of hundred of Punies," Noki recalled. "Maybe you thought she was selfish, but in my opinion she was just trying her best to win the money."
Monty drove the car up a natural winding stairway and Toad localized the next picture which was Pauline's, attached to a vine. The lady in red was seen looking utterly scared as she pointed to a falling spotlight, she was situated above the floor.
"Pauline was an awesome player, I thought she would be going real far into the game because she was kind of mole-ish," Toad smiled. "She seemed to have an okay strategy too, so she would have been a great ally I think."
"I also suspected her to an extent, to be honest," Noki admitted. "It's a shame she scored the lowest because I also think she could have potentially won the game. We never realized it, but she was actually a big threat."
"Well, not to toot my own horn, but I was wary around her, I knew there was something fishy about her. That did not prevent me from liking her, of course. Like most of you, I also selected her during some quizzes. She would have been a great Mole," Bootler noted, nodding to himself.
The players ascended more and more until they reached a castle looking slightly dilapidated and decrepit. There, Noki took notice of Mario's picture. The Mushroom Kingdom's hero was seen looking pensive, as he was probably pondering on the theft of the Perplex Express. He was in the train near Holly Koopa's seat, head tilted and arms crossed.
"I felt horrible after his execution," Noki sniffled a bit. "Mario was the best player of this show, he was always playing for the team, showing concern for his teammates and, well, being himself, Super Mario," she grinned. "I can't apologize enough for what I've done. He could have won two exemptions but he wouldn't sacrifice the money we earned as a team and... I executed him... It's my fault he was executed, I took away his exemption!"
"Wow, chill Noki! You did what you thought was best as the time, it wasn't your fault he didn't know who the Mole was at the time!" Toad comforted her. "Mario played an awesome game as a leader, but a very poor one as a player. He should have been a little more egoistical."
"I agree," Bootler confirmed, thinking along the same lines as Toad. "Mario was always putting the team before him, he was trying to make us stay as a group. However, he completely forgot about himself and was executed because he was a team player. It is a shame, but it cannot be helped."
As the vehicle was going to cross a bridge, Lays decided to ask the players something. "So, what's your strategy for this final quiz?"
Noki put on a sly smile on her face. "I'm going to take it as fast as I can. In case of a tie, I should win that way. I've been studying my journal like crazy and I think I know almost everything about the Mole, so I shouldn't worry."
"As for me, I believe that slow and steady wins the race, and I do intend to prove it once again. I have never rushed while taking questionnaires and I believe it is what allowed me to stay in the game," Bootler announced.
"Well, I don't know. I guess I'm voting for the Mole but I don't have a strategy," Toad answered. "To me, if you're going too fast you have more risks to make mistakes, but if you're going too slow you can lose in case of a tie with the other finalist. And it would suck to lose by a few seconds."
"Funny how each of you has a different strategy, I think you complete each other well!" Lays complimented.
The small car became silent again. It descended a small mountain and landed on the ground where it continued to advance. Bootler located the next picture on an island shaped like a nine. On it, Birdo was seen kicking a football with great strength as the ball soared toward the goal in a blur.
"Ah, Birdo," Bootler smiled, remembering the pink dinosaur. "She was not the smartest tool in the shed, however she had a big heart and would always make us laugh. I wish I had interacted more with her because she was a surprising individual with many tricks up her sleeve."
Noki clasped her hands together, smiling broadly. "Birdo was my best friend on the show, I was utterly devastated when it came down to the both of us... It's too bad she didn't get to experience the final episode, I'm sure she would have loved it!"
"Birdo was suspicious, but she was a great player. I mean, sometimes it looked like she wasn't giving everything she had, but that wasn't true. From what I've heard after the 'Floral Composition' challenge, she was the one who saved the day by running for a long time on a gigantic wheel," Toad reminisced.
Going further down the path, Monty Mole turned right, passing next to a mushroom house. Right after the house was a cannon on which was a picture of Jojora. The ice fairy was seen making her masterpiece, a frown on her face. Many materials were scattered on the floor by her feet. Toad caught sight of her picture.
"Well, Jojora was a weird one. I don't think she's actually bad but I don't know why she was acting like an ass around us," Toad stated. "I mean, she was smart and quite athletic, if she had been likeable she would have been an awesome player."
"I think we're all thinking the same thing here. When Chucklissa came, she told Pianta how gentle, kind and good-hearted Jojora was and I was kind of wondering whether Chucklissa was blind or deceived by her friend. But you know, she wasn't so bad at the end of the game," Noki realized.
"In my opinion, she was acting like that so that we would not like her. It could have been her strategy. Oh well, we will probably have some answers when we meet again at the reunion show," Bootler shrugged.
Finally, the team arrived before a small isle on which was a bigger picture, taken right after their success during the challenge they had completed a few hours ago. Bootler, Noki and Toad smiled as soon as they saw the picture, but did not comment on it as they were approaching a clearing where three computers were waiting for them. Monty Mole jumped off the vehicle and faced the players.
"Players, you will now take your final quiz which will be longer than usual," Monty Mole's voice boomed, the host looked more serious than usual. "Twenty questions about the Mole, the one who obtains the best score will become the sole winner of two hundred fifty eight thousand coins. Whatever happens here, in this clearing, the game will be over as soon as you complete your quiz. This questionnaire will test your intelligence, your memory and your knowledge about the Mole. Players, I wish you good luck."
All of a sudden it felt colder. Monty's speech had sent a chill down the players' spine, they were looking as anxious as ever. Febrile and impatient, they could not do much but wait for Monty to finish. The wait was unbearable.
"Noki, you will take the desk on your left. Do not do anything else until I say so," Monty told her, showing her to her seat. The small Noki was terrified and she gulped as she took her seat, trembling in anticipation.
"Toad, the middle desk, if you please," Monty ordered as the mushroom hurried over to his seat, fidgeting with his cravat. Much like Noki, Toad was very anxious.
"Bootler, take the final desk, please," the host demanded, showing the remaining seat. Bootler nodded and calmly walked to his seat, keeping a cool head as he stared into Monty's eyes.
"Noki, are you ready?"
"Y-yes, I am!" she declared with defiance in her eyes.
"Toad, are you ready?"
"Yeah... I hope so!" the mushroom hesitated slightly.
"Bootler, are you ready?"
"When am I not?" the Boo retorted, a smile on his lips.
"Very well then, you can begin your quiz!" Monty Mole allowed them, turning back and leaving them behind.
…
1. At the beginning of the show, the Mole arrived in...
-The Red Helicopter
-The Yellow Helicopter
-The Blue Helicopter
-The Pink Helicopter
-The Green Helicopter
Toad : When we took our first steps in the show, I was thinking that there was absolutely no way that Noki or Bootler could be the Mole, because they didn't have as much presence as, say, Jojora or Mario. I would have never guessed at that point that it would all came to this... Noki or Bootler is the Mole, and that's what it is.
Noki : Who would have thought we'd be the final three? I bet everyone expected Mario, Jojora and Pauline to reach this ultimate episode, but the truth is that first impressions are always wrong. Toad and Bootler didn't look suspicious at all at the beginning of the game, and the Mole wouldn't want to be suspected as soon as the game starts, would they?
Bootler : I admit that Noki and Toad were not at the top of my Mole list when we first began to play the game. However, as my suspects suddenly disappeared from the game and the number of players began to dwindle, I was forced to reconsider my choices. My two friends were messing up more openly than I did but they still managed to weave toward the second half of the game rather unsuspected, a very good attribute for a Mole.
2. During the 'Mixed-Up Luggage' Challenge, how many items did the Mole label correctly?
-2
-4
-5
-8
-9
Noki : I remember that Bootler had done a very poor job during this challenge, something that would definitely look out of character if we were to look at his progress throughout the game. Bootler always seems to stay in the background, he failed during many challenges or did not help us at all, but we didn't notice him since he wasn't in the spotlight as opposed to Flurrie, Jojora or Donkey, for example.
Flashback Monty Mole : Bootler found four items out of ten, so he will add one thousand coins to the pot. (Bootler shakes his head, disappointed in his performance)
Flashback Birdo : Needless to say, Bootler's performance was a let down for all of us.
Toad : Bootler could definitely be the Mole. He has never been overly suspected by anyone, and his discretion and fatherly figure could be the perfect disguise for the Mole. There are tons of challenges he sabotaged and managed to get away with it rather unsuspected.
3. During the 'Treasure Hunters' Mission, where did the Mole have to retrieve their clue?
-Shy Guy Pirate Boat
-Chomp Jail
-Pirate Town
-Skull Cavern
-Pirate Land's Jungle
Bootler : Noki could very well be the saboteur we have been looking for since the beginning of the game. Her shy demeanor and fragile stature are two weapons the Mole could have used to her own advantage. She is not as physically fit as the others, which is a great advantage when it comes to sabotaging physical challenges, and her smartness helped her sabotage mental challenges, using her friends as scapegoats.
Flashback Mario : Wait a second. If Birdo did it, then... That means that Noki also lied...? (Mario looks confused after the thief of Holly Koopa's emerald his revealed)
Flashback Jojora : (tapping her feet on the floor) Isn't that obvious? Birdo doesn't need an exemption, but who else needs it? (catching a glimpse of Noki's smile) It was your plan, wasn't it?
Toad : Noki did weird things throughout the adventure, from abandoning Birdo in the windmill to pleading me not to choose her when the Three Question Game became too personal, but all those things had something in common : they were intended to make us lose money.
4. During the first mission of Episode two, which group was the Mole's?
-The Twenty Thousand Bucks Under The Sheep group
-The Floral Composition Group
Noki : Toad might seem like an innocent player, but if I recall correctly, he made us lose twenty thousand coins in the second mission of Episode three thanks to an underhanded trick. I think that was a deliberate sabotage on his part.
Flashback Monty Mole : (pointing at a spot on the car Flurrie was driving) May I direct your attention to this spot, over here? Do you see it now? This is a scratch. Thus, you lost the challenge.
Flashback Flurrie : But I never- Oh wait, was it you Toad? (she realizes as Toad grins)
Bootler : Toad did mess up many challenges as far as I can recall. During Episode two, he did not find every letters he needed to give Mario to win five thousand coins and we obviously lost this sum of money because of his mistake. And what is even funnier is that nobody reproached him anything because we were all focused on Pauline's and Jojora's fraud.
5. During the 'Split Homework' Challenge, what was the role of the Mole?
-Person who likes to be the center of attention
-Person who has keen eyes
-Person for whom school brings back memories
Toad : Noki is unnaturally smart, or is she? Being the Mole, she would know every answers to every challenge and could play accordingly. It has always flabbergasted me to see she knew all the answers to all the riddles the game was throwing at her. No one, as smart as they are, should know that much about the game. Maybe she was the Mole trying to redeem herself?
Flashback Monty Mole : That is correct. Three is indeed the right answer. Assuming three of the candles are blown out, only seven of them remain lit and as such, they will continue to melt until they are no more. (Flurrie, Birdo, Bootler and Donkey look at Noki, a dumbfounded expression on their faces)
Toad : I don't know, everything about her sounds supernatural.
6. During the 'Feet Versus Wheels' Challenge, what was the Mole's group?
-Teamwork group
-Driver group
-Havoc group
Noki : I remember how hard Toad and Bootler were making this mission for us. I would bet that Toad was in charge of the physical obstacles while Bootler was creating the enigmas. They were both to blame in the end. Toad might have vandalized the car as a last minute idea, but Bootler was the most suspicious. How did he create those hard riddles in such a ridiculous amount of time? Unless he was prepared beforehand, there was no way he could have done it.
(flashback of Noki, Mario, Jojora struggling to resolve the first enigma Bootler had left them, with Pauline, Birdo and Flurrie equally wondering what the answer was.)
7. During the third execution, when did the Mole had to face their screen?
-First
-Second
-Third
-The Mole never faced a screen that night
Bootler : As much as I like him, I must admit that Toad was the reason why we won the exemptions and thus lost the challenge. Throwing a rock at Flurrie's car insured that we would win the exemptions, and that is of course extremely suspicious. But there was another way to sabotage the challenge without raising suspicions and it would not make sense for him not to take this opportunity if he were truly the Mole.
Flashback Toad : DUCK EVERYONE! (Toad tosses the projectiles at Flurrie's car while the inhabitants throw themselves on the pavement)
8. During the 'Family Problems' Mission, who was the Mole up against?
-Luigi
-Lady Bow
-Grace
-Toadette
-Pianta
-Chucklissa
-The Mole didn't play in that game
Toad : While Noki appears suspicious, Bootler isn't to forget. I remember his blatant sabotages, and the Family Problems one was definitely fishy. Bootler decided that he would face Lady Bow in a persuasion challenge only to stay mute afterward? I don't know, that just screams suspicious. It wasn't the only time he screwed up big time, I still remember the one thousand coins penalty which could have been avoided with ease...
Flashback Bootler : You never told me that I would be able to speak with the loved one situated behind Gate Eight. (Jojora and Mario are startled by his claim)
Flashback Jojora : Wait, don't tell me you said nothing?
Flashback Mario : What? Bootler, you must be joking. What kind of negotiator negotiates without saying a thing? That's utterly stupid!
Toad : Everyone thought it was dumb and very out of character.
9. During the challenge 'Under the Spotlight', what was the task the Mole was originally assigned to?
-Singing
-Creating a videotape
-Creating decors
-Creating a musical arrangement
-Directing everyone
-Taking care of the lights
-Sewing a costume
Noki : The biggest mystery of this challenge is still left unanswered. Who did erase Toad's remix? Everyone could have done it, and while I believe the Mole is most likely the culprit, I can't help but think that there's the distinct possibility that a player decided to tamper with it. Anyway, Bootler had a position of choice during the challenge, since he was located right next to Toad's computer. This could mean that he erased it, but there was another person who had the perfect opportunity to do so, because we gave them too much leeway. That person was Toad. It was his computer, it was his remix. Could it have also been his sabotage?
(flashback of Toad yelling as he discovers that his remix vanished from the computer)
Toad : I hated this challenge. We were doing so good when the Mole sabotaged my work... Now, Noki fell 'accidentally' on my computer just before I came back from the restroom, and I told everyone that it couldn't be her fault if the remix had disappeared since the computer had suffered no damage. But what if she fell on purpose to make everyone think that the Mole wouldn't draw unwanted attention to themselves when they had sabotaged subtly, thus dismissing her as a suspect? I also have my obvious suspicions on Bootler as he was the one who could have had an easier time erasing my remix.
(flashback of Bootler moving to where Toad is sitting and asking the mushroom if he can stay with him)
Bootler : There is one thing that I absolutely want to be cleared once the game is over, and it is the mystery pertaining to the missing remix. Now, I know that both Noki and Toad could have erased it with ease but if memory serves me right, Pauline was also lurking and asking different questions... She could have erased it... Although it makes much more sense if the Mole is the one who sabotaged this challenge, which would point to Toad, the creator of the music, and Noki, the one who made herself extremely suspicious by falling on the computer. I do not know who did it at that point, however, I have my doubts.
(flashback of Noki tripping on the table on which Toad's computer is sitting, making the both of them tumble on the floor)
10. During the mission 'Mansion Nightmare', when was the Mole eliminated?
-The Mole never got eliminated
-First
-Second
-Third
Noki : Toad's actions during the challenge made me doubt him. Birdo told me that, at the end of this game when she, Mario and Toad were alive, Toad suggested avoiding the tranquilizers' darts and to run up the stairs as fast as they could. Thankfully, Mario disagreed with his proposition as he saw that there was a strange mechanism on the wall linked to the ultimate door.
Flashback Toad : Maybe we should avoid the darts. (Birdo and Mario are dubious as they look at the wall in front of them)
Flashback Mario : Toad could have made us lose. During the ultimate part of the challenge, when we had to face the tranquilizers, he suggested that we should avoid them. Yet, we later found out that if one dart connected with the wall it was game over for us, so that kind of makes me have doubts about Toad...
Noki : One little sentence could have made us lose fifteen thousand coins.
11. During the mission 'Instrumental Search', which instrument did the Mole need to bring back?
-Guitar
-Saxophone
-Trumpet
-Violin
-Flute
Bootler : In that mission, Noki brought back a musical instrument to the room which looked like a violin. However, it only looked like a violin, because it was a viola. She made us lose money that day...
Flashback Carne (Noki's Musician) : She did bring me here, with what looks like a violin! Too bad it only looks like a violin, because that thing is a viola.
Flashback Noki : What? But it looked like a violin! (putting her hand on her mouth)
Flashback Carne : They look similar, but a violin is lighter and smaller.
Bootler : Noki would be a great actress for she knows what to say, when to say it, and where to say it. Everything she does seems calculated and programmed in advance.
12. Who was the Mole paired up with in the 'Arts Versus Craps' challenge?
-Jojora
-Toad
-Noki
-Bootler
Toad : Noki and Bootler saw each other during that challenge, but they never told me or Jojora, which was very weird. Also, Noki had the perfect opportunity to warn the other team that they were going to make us fail... She later said that she did, but... In my opinion, she didn't try hard enough because Bootler explained to me that she wasn't convincing.
Flashback Noki : (staring at Bootler) Bootler, you need to stop working on your project.
Flashback Bootler : Well, I would be prone to trust you, however, since you already tricked someone before on this show, I am afraid that I must refuse your offer. I strongly believe that you and Toad might have been offered something which could put myself and Jojora at a disadvantage.
Toad : On the other hand, Bootler's claim didn't make sense. Two players earning an advantage right before the final? This is simply impossible.
13. What was the Mole's role in the 'Antic Relics' challenge?
-They were looking for clues in the Mansion
-They were looking for items in Horror Land
Bootler : When Toad refused the exemption, I was both happy and confused. Happy because that meant that our team pot would grow, but surprised because he could have been the one eliminated that night.
Noki : Toad was alone during the challenge, he could have sabotaged and no one would be the wiser. The only way to communicate with him was to use a walkie-talkie.
Toad : Bootler and Noki were both in the haunted mansion looking for clues and I didn't know what they were doing until they contacted me via the walkie-talkie. They were making me run from one place to another without giving much indications. Sometimes, I had the feeling they were wasting time.
14. When Kylie Koopa offered the players to bid for the Mole's dossier, how much did the Mole bid?
-25 000 coins
-25 001 coins
-30 000 coins
Noki : Bootler's bid was really odd. I mean, why would you put an additional coin to your bid like that? Usually, people don't bother with units and like round sums so I thought it was a little fishy, especially since he beat my bet with only one coin.
Flashback Bootler : I will say that I would pay twenty five thousand and one coins for this book. (Bootler nods to himself, pleased with his choice)
Flashback Monty Mole : With a bid of twenty five thousand and one coins, Bootler, you won this prize. (Monty Mole shows the Mole's dossier to Bootler)
15. How many bonuses did the Mole win throughout the game? Bonuses being exemptions or plus ones.
-0
-1
-2
-3
Noki : I think we all got the same number of bonuses. We each won one exemption, but that's about it. Thinking about it, Flurrie and Birdo were the luckiest ones, even if most exemptions and plus ones were accessible to everyone.
Toad : I can't really say that someone used the exemptions and plus ones as excuses to sabotage the challenges, since we all received one. Coincidentally enough, all our exemptions cost twenty thousand coins to the team.
Bootler : Well, if you talk about the bonuses we all received, then I must admit that it is a tie. However, if you look at the things the players could have won, you will come to realize that Toad and Noki were more advantaged than me. They were both eligible for the exemption roulette and Toad also had the possibility to exchange an exemption against fifteen thousand coins during the penultimate stage of the game.
16. During the mini-game 'Deck Hands', how many points did the Mole score after three cards?
-Thirteen
-Twenty-One
-Twenty Six
Bootler : Noki was close to make us lose the 'Last Journey' challenge on more than one occasion. It was all thanks to luck that we succeeded in our mission and added fifty thousand coins to our pot. Giving away our plan to that Hammer Sis was not smart at all, unless she is the Mole.
Flashback Noki : Hey! That's a perfect occasion! Let's push her! (the Hammer Sis hears her and steps away from the group)
Bootler : On the other hand, Toad apparently pushed Noki during Mushroom Mix-Up and while he did not exactly push me into the water, I was surprised when he flailed his arms around and tried to dodge but I fell in the process.
(flashback or Toad swinging his arms as he trips over his own feet, surprising Bootler and making the both of them tumble into the water)
17. How many siblings does the Mole have?
-Zero
-One
-Two
Bootler : I have two opponents left. I have outsmarted, outplayed and outlasted seven others before them and I believe I can do it again. Only one of us can win, and I want to be this person.
18. How many languages does the Mole speak?
-One
-Two
-Three
-Five
Noki : Nobody wants to be the loser, and neither do I. True, I am glad to have reached this point of the game, but I don't want to be the second best. Winning might not be everything, but almost.
19. What is the Mole's occupation?
-Butler
-Air Hostess
-Gardener
Toad : No matter what happens, I can be proud of myself for making it to the very end. I would obviously be disappointed if my opponent beats me, but at least I know that I did my best and it's all that matters.
20. Who is the Mole?
-Bootler
-Noki
-Toad
…
Night had eventually settled in, plunging everything into darkness. The players had finished their questionnaire for some time and were currently relaxed. Their final ordeal was over. The host looked at them and began to speak up.
"Players, you have now finished your final quiz," Monty Mole started, glancing at the shining moon. He could not distinguish the players' face anymore but he knew they could hear him at such close range. "Your answers have been tallied and we know that one of you is the sole victor of the game. One of you will become two hundred fifty eight thousand coins richer in soon time. Another one will be known as the runner-up, losing the game in spite of their hard work. And the last one will be uncovered as the Mole, the double agent that has been ruining your efforts since the beginning of the game."
Some stars finally appeared in the sky, and the players could only hope that somewhere, their lucky stars were looking out for them.
"And finally, we'll have an answer to the question that has been tormenting our spirits for so long..."
"Who is the Mole?"
There you go, the players took their final quiz and one of them has become two hundred fifty eight thousand coins richer... However, the mystery doesn't truly end there for there are still some stuff to take care of. The players themselves still don't know how their adventure ended and there are quite a number of things left to solve, like some players' strategies, the hidden clues and much more.
Next chapter is the revealing of the winner, the runner-up and the Mole! You can stil vote for who you think the Mole is and say who you want to win this show if you haven't done so yet.
Now, sorry for the long wait and the long chapter, there is something which has been troubling me for some time in my life.
Thus, I would like to dedicate this chapter to Max, my dog, which won't be there anymore when I'll update this story. Thank you for sixteen years of complete happiness and I hope you'll be at a better place...