Happy December! How is everyone?!
I wanted to update before the holidays hit. So maybe consider this an early present! XD
Sorry for the delays like usual! Dx
I hope you guys enjoy...the start of the new episode :) Where will the players go? Let us see!
EPISODE 4
WHO...IS...THE MOLE?
NAME: LUCINA
SURNAME: Emblen
AGE: 19
OCCUPATION: Combat Instructor
…
NAME: ISABELLE
SURNAME: Leafe
AGE: 22
OCCUPATION: Mayor's Assistant
...
NAME: JOKER
SURNAME: Amamiya
AGE: 18
OCCUPATION: Student
...
NAME: WII FIT
SURNAME: Trainor
AGE: 27
OCCUPATION: Fitness Trainer
...
NAME: DONKEY
SURNAME: Kong
AGE: 30
OCCUPATION: Cargo Manager
...
NAME: KAZOOIE
SURNAME: Breegul
AGE: 23
OCCUPATION: Egg Breeder
…
NAME: DARK PIT
SURNAME: Angelent
AGE: 16
OCCUPATION: Temple Guard
Lucario, meditating into deep slumber,
Seven awake, an unlucky number.
SQUAWK...SQUAWK!
Seagulls chirped, waking up Dark Pit.
"What? It's morning already?"
Splash... The ocean water gently hit the shores nearby, and the sound was calming on Yoshi's Island. Yet still, Dark Pit covered his head with his hammock pillow.
Dark Pit: Ergh. I wish Lucario could've brought me out with him. I wanna leave! I was having fun and trying so hard in the beginning. But not anymore!
On her own hammock, Kazooie stared up at the other birds, flying free.
Kazooie: This game is awesome! Hehe. But let's be real. It's a one out of six chance at this point to be the winner, so it's not really in my chances to win. What drastic, extravagant measures must I do to get the money in the end?
"Look at those flying seagulls, Dark Pit! ...don't you feel inspired to fly too? Huh, huh?" She nudged Dark Pit, who grumbled tiredly.
"At least those seagulls didn't have to attend a TWO in the MORNING execution," he moaned, covering his face from the beach sun.
Gentle splashes could be heard from other places too on the beach of Yoshi's Island, and the sounds were indeed relaxing. But one other sound, which was soon to come, would unfortunately be louder than everything else.
"HEY! You two are missing EVERYTHING!" DK yelled, so loudly even from afar they heard him all too well. The beach-enthusiast ape himself was running up from the nearby beach shore and now stood proudly between their two hammocks, sunglasses donned, casting a large shadow over them, sporting a huge grin...and wearing a Speedo. Dark Pit and Kazooie blinked twice.
"What...the..." Dark Pit stuttered.
DK: Come on, you guys! All we did was stress, and grumble, and get angry at each other, and worry about who the darn Mole was among us. I didn't care. We just needed to relax in the sun! All I wanted was a BEACH PARTY!
Kazooie: Well, to Episode 4. The Mole: Survivor. Or Bachelor's Island.
"I just finished an entire hour yoga beach routine...and you two are still in your slumber?" Wii Fit noticed, walking up to the hammocks and joining the three other players. She was wearing a beach outfit, almost akin to a bikini itself but in style to athletic attire. "A bit of a shame, in my opinion, to spend your time in the game of 'The Mole' by sleeping." Dark Pit scowled.
DK: Why was no one enjoying themselves?! Or putting the game aside? If anyone was having fun...THEN I WAS having fun!
"...huh?" Looking to the distance, Kazooie's mouth dropped open. Lucina and Joker were walking along the shore of the beach...and Joker was holding Lucina's hand.
Kazooie: Whoa...am I in an alternate reality? We missed a LOT. Wake up, Kazooie!
"Are we finally on a vacation?" Kazooie said optimistically, looking around and seeing the beach ball in Wii Fit's arms. In the distance, Isabelle was splashing in the water and laughing, enjoying herself. "Are we finally forgetting about the game of the Mole? Are we out of this hell?"
"I am still not talking to you," Wii said suddenly to Kazooie, tossing her head. Kazooie frowned.
Kazooie: Welp. Someone doesn't let grudges go. Even after an episode ends.
Wii Fit: I have no concern in continuing our friendship.
"I guess we're not out of this hell after all," the red bird snorted .
"I wasn't the one who started this rift between us, Kazooie," Wii Fit voiced in an uncaring tone.
"Oh really? Just don't trip on your yoga mat on the way out of this game."
"Skipped your sunflowers seeds this morning, little birdie?"
"You. Guys. Are. Still. Not letting me sleep," Dark Pit groaned angrily, turning back over in his hammock as everyone else towered over him and argued.
"Hey, relax! All of you!" DK laughed, eyes wide and speaking more heartily than anyone else around him. "We literally have two hours before the game begins again! Smash Host told us to use it! He gave us this opportune time to kick back and forget about everything worrisome! Even if one of us is a traitor trying to eliminate and kill us all! BUT I don't care! I'm gonna enjoy EVERYTHING while it lasts!"
"But if you were smart, DK, you would have used these past two hours to analytically study crucial notes concerning poor Lucario's last execution," Wii Fit scoffed, smiling. "Which, by the way to all of you, is exactly what I did before my ritual morning exercise." She gave out a tall stretch, sighing.
"Usually, I prioritize my exercise before anything else...but in a time-sensitive, daunting game like this, I'm afraid I must adjust."
"Pfft! Fun is the priority over everything else!" DK huffed, not swayed by her.
"Uhh...does no one care about the money?" Kazooie perked up, confused.
"But are any of you aware of what truly is the cardinal, pivotal priority over everything else?" Joker interrupted, walking towards the group from the beach's water. Everyone turned to look at the mysterious man on the beach himself. He had survived execution barely, inching right above Lucario in the last elimination ceremony to secure his spot in the fourth episode, and was here. Under the sunny skies, he was not wearing his eye-covering mask. But though his face was fully visible...his intentions were still unclear in his expression.
"Holding other players' hands?" Kazooie breathed suspiciously, glancing at Lucina far away.
"Lucina had seaweed on her hand and I was helping her remove it," Joker explained to them. "But the point is, we have to figure out and predict just how one of you, who is very much the Mole, will be sabotaging the upcoming fourth episode." Everyone stared at one another. One of them on the beach...was not a real player.
"Don't forget: one of us is not even a real player competing...and is clearly against us all," Joker began. "He, or she, is the Mole. They believably talked with producers last night. We smartly need to predict their next actions. That's our priority."
"And if you're the Mole...we must figure out just how you're going to sabotage us next then, Joker," Wii Fit smiled with heavy eyes, a finger on her chin.
"Indeed, yes," Joker spoke to her, face unbothered. "I don't disagree with that at all." They were mostly silent.
Kazooie: The goal of the game is to find the Mole. But then who's the Mole? Ahh!
Dark Pit: I don't care. As long as the Mole stays out of my sleeping quarters.
"There's just seven of us..." Isabelle voiced, as she and Lucina finally made their way to the rest of the circle from the beach's shore. They finally finished their game of ball on the beach...and the fun was over. "But...who is it? I can't believe one of you is destroying our team..." Her face looked worried. Nobody knew who the Mole was….except for the deceiver of the group themself. They all stood in their formed circle. A circle of mistrust.
"But we're still a good team, right?" DK tried to laugh enthusiastically, but his eyes also looked troubled.
"Yeah...pfft...with one of us literally assigned to destroy us from the start of this game, hiding in this circle right now...nope!" Dark Pit muttered, grinning. DK shuddered, realizing.
Lucina: What would Lucario do?
"But everyone: we can never forget, at any point of this game, our true goal...to not be enemies of each other and to succeed and work together," Lucina voiced to everyone before her. "I know we all have our differences...and perhaps our personal enemies…" At this line, Wii Fit and Kazooie glanced at each other slightly, a bit begrudgingly and reluctantly.
"Hmmph," was all Wii Fit sounded. But her eyes were different: it was one of slight agreement with Lucina's words.
Wii Fit: ...I suppose I could indeed be playing this game a little less cutthroat. She was correct.
"Six of us is a team," Lucina reminded everyone softly, her voice earnest . "Us six are separate from that seventh person. And what we must do...is...destroy that seventh player. We should not let him or her stop us. So the rest of us must indeed work together. Do not forget the true goal; the rest of us are not enemies. We are a team." Everyone nodded...and stared at each other carefully too. Just who was that seventh person among them: the enemy trying to break them apart?
Lucina: This group will soon be six, then five, then...less...it will get smaller. Not all of us will make it there. But who will make it?
"Well, hehe...I vote the Mole reveal themself," Kazooie joked, laughing. "Step forward...now! Come on. You won't!"
"As if that person would say out loud that they have been the imposter this entire time, tasked with messing up our group since the very beginning," Wii Fit sighed, folding her arms. Everyone eyed each other slowly and cautiously. They were a team...and they needed to find the one who didn't belong. Who was it?
DK: Umm...I think the Mole is most likely someone super intelligent. They survived three episodes so far without losing pressure! Tough guy, for sure! And still unimaginable that they have been playing it cool all along.
Lucina: We lost Fox...Peach...and now, our dearest Lucario. We wanted it to end. To be truthful, in honesty...I believe we were all quite dying and desperate to finish the game. To discover who the Mole was. But...we had to wait.
"A question you all need to figure out...before it's too late for another one of you like it was for Lucario," Smash Host coughed, approaching them with a lighter blazer, sunglasses, and sandals on his feet. Everyone was now standing together.
"Did Lucario leave peacefully?" was Lucina's question. Her eyes didn't look at the host...rather, they seemed to look down sadly at the sand. Everyone turned to the host.
"Of...course he did," the host answered. "There was no other way for him to have left."
"Our trio's gone," Joker stated with a shake of his head. He motioned to Kazooie, whose beak dropped and eyes lit up with realization.
Kazooie: Wow. Joker and I had all been a triangle with Lucario, in first the Fountain Game, then the Story Book game. Now...I guess the triangle is gone.
Joker: Following after a triangle...what shape has two points? None at all.
"Next location?" Isabelle asked the host eagerly, trying to change the sad mood.
Isabelle: We're always brought to amazing places! So I didn't mind anywhere!
"Very soon," the host said, motioning to a tall palm tree. It was the tallest in their vicinity...appearing almost like an immense tower with its interesting design. The players stared at the sandy ground in front of it: it was beginning to glow.
"That's...the platform!" Isabelle realized, and the others saw that hiding and coming from underneath the sandy ground, the platform would indeed be rising soon. DK gave an unsure glance of doubt, laughing unfortunately.
"The next world will probably STINK compared to a tropical paradise!" DK realized, sulking slightly. The others couldn't help but feel slightly the same as DK himself...but the host shook his head
"I think you all will appreciate this next world...you've all been very lonely," Smash Host winked. "It's just been yourselves. Alone. Since when have you talked to someone else last? A passing civilian, for example?" Everyone turned to each other, not sure of the true meaning of his line at first.
Lucina: And then, we realized...the only individuals who we ever made communication or contact with outside of this game...were Fly Guys of Mario's land. But that was all. No one else.
Joker: We lacked a true world. Of people. Hopefully we can stay sane in this game...and perhaps by seeing other individuals and knowing we just aren't alone...I think maybe we just could.
The large platform finally rose above the beach sand ground. On the island, it was time to go. Like the two previous episodes before, each player one by one boarded the immense structure...and together...they traveled to their Episode 4.
The first atmospheric difference they noticed was the sound. It was a cacophony of bustling noise and voices which echoed in their new world. The sounds of crowds and people and creatures of different sorts echoed through the land. They saw buildings all around them, endless streets, a clear view...it was a city.
And in the area around them and on the bricked and gravel streets...there were Pokémon.
Isabelle: Oh, my...it was Lucario's world!
Together, the seven players landed in the all-embracing, large, circular center of Lumiose City. Rows of buildings could be seen all around them as they stared in awe all at their new world. People walked the streets, relaxed but also very lively, and most of them were just as touristy and new to the grand town as the seven unfamiliar players who had just arrived. Paths darted to no end between the houses and structures. They were surprised but excited.
Wii Fit: Quaint, peaceful, and large...it was really quite the surprising yet favorable location.
DK: Uhh...would WE become Pokémon!?
The new world and land which they landed in, however, was distinguished by an iconic structure that loomed very close to them. It was an unimaginable sight before their eyes.
"That tower!" The powerful establishment, Lumiose Gym Tower, stood magnificently in the city's center. Strong, blue windows decorated various parts of the front of the tall construction. It stretched to the sky in an immense display, and at its very top, a pointy top existed. The tall building was a gym, and it was the center of the city. It was a symbolic sight of strength as well as peacefulness; all seven players stared at the giant tower with awe and wonder.
"Hopefully we'll finally get to go in it," Kazooie wondered. "I mean, all we did was fight around it and stuff and almost fall off all the time."
"Or explore the town," Isabelle voiced, looking around. "We never got the opportunity for that either!"
"As some of you may very well know, this is Lumiose City," the host introduced to them all. "The main city of the Kalos region, touristy as ever and lively as ever, filled with humans and Pokémon, and prided with jolts of electricity because this gym specializes in electric Pokémon. Maybe you'll expect to see Pikachu somewhere."
"Pikachu?" Wii Fit voiced with doubt.
"Just hope the Mole doesn't side attack you with electricity, like Pikachu does, into fateful execution...much like poor Lucario had been. Our Pokémon."
"But was this Pokemon stage world picked just because Lucario was executed?" Isabelle blurted out. Smash Host was silent.
"No," he answered. "We are glad to have you all here."
"I take everything back," DK grinned widely, looking around in awe. "This place is TOTALLY cool! And all we gotta do is enjoy it! Even while still wearing a Speedo!" The sky was clear and the sounds of other people in the town also refreshed the moods of the socially-deprived players. The city was colorful as well: the rooftops of all the buildings that made up the town they were in were an assortment of red, purple, green, and blue. And some green and flora existed too, with rows of trees also existing on each street that ran through the city.
DK:Also, being in a Pokémon world means we're gonna fight at some point! Let's Melee! And Brawl! And maybe...fight again for an exemption?!
Joker:First things first, DK; you may want to change out of your Speedo first before you freeze to death. Can't quite win an exemption like that, can you?
"It all simply looks like Paris," Isabelle realized with a pleased squeal. "With the tower being the Eiffel Tower!" Everyone nodded, agreeing and looking at the beautiful town surrounding them.
"If I find my lost credit cards, I'd treat you all around," Smash Host laughed.
"I LIKE it!" DK shouted happily at the scenery. But...they had a game in store.
"For this starting mission...this beginning mission of Episode 4...you will be split into three groups," Smash Host began. "First, I'd like three people who want to see this city more and stay around this plaza."
"Like I said before, I'm all for this AWESOME place!" DK spoke excitedly. "I wanna explore!" Everyone turned to the large ape at his outburst.
"Go ahead, big guy," Kazooie chuckled. DK stepped up to volunteer for the role, looking proud, waiting for others to join him.
"Oh, I'd like to as well!" Isabelle called out with a smile. "It just looks magical. If that's okay!" Two players were selected.
"Uh, sure…" Dark Pit said, looking at DK's inviting arms for someone else to join as the third player. The team of three was chosen.
"Next," Smash Host continued, and his eyes just ever so slightly moved towards what was looming behind the players. The players knew that the host, for some reason, was looking at the grand tower behind them.
"Two players who like to live fast, and two players who like to live high," the host explained, the names of the roles now known.
"Fast," Lucina whispered, remembering the Green Greens mission and its running.
Lucina: I was remembering the Green Greens run and my few failures. So perhaps I could redeem myself.
"I will choose that role."
"Sure, princess. Sounds like a beautiful role. And I'll join you as well," Joker spoke quickly, much to the surprise of the other players. He faced her, his expression looking resolute.
"Oh," Lucina said, not expecting it and eyes wide. But she nodded, as the masked man only smiled slightly with shiny eyes as he moved to her side of the group.
"Great!" Kazooie voiced. "The teams are all chosen! That was easy." Lucina and Joker were now a pair.
"...Wait...just a minute," Wii Fit gasped, her eyes suddenly showing abject horror. But Smash Host spoke and finished first before she could. Kazooie's beak also dropped open in realization.
"That means," Smash Host declared, "that the last two players...who will be working together as the last team...will be Kazooie and Wii Fit!" The two women faced each other.
"...what...just no. I refuse it," Wii Fit stuttered, unwilling.
"Umm…maybe not the best idea—-" Kazooie began futilely, as if protesting to the host and other players.
"You guys will be absolutely perfect together!" Isabelle cheered positively.
"I agree. You'll be great," Dark Pit said with a little grin, as Wii Fit shot him a glaring look.
"Kazooie and Wii Fit, please move together so we know the groups and so that we know you're together as a working pair," the host encouraged them both. Kazooie and Wii Fit just stood in silence.
Kazooie:Well...this was awkward.
"…...o...kay," Kazooie said slowly, the bird shifting uncomfortably a little bit towards her partner's direction.
"...Hmph." Wii Fit moved a mere inch.
"Well, that settles it...all three groups are set," Smash Host said, pleased and excitedly. "I will now introduce the mission."
"Uh, what's the mission?" Isabelle asked him. The host grinned and directed their attention to the grand structure that towered over them. They all turned around: in its shadow, they saw its height and strength.
"This game..will...be called...Electrocution Tower!" The players gasped a bit.
DK:Just by that name...uh-oh. I knew things wouldn't be good! Nope!
"Two of you will be running up the stairs and scaling the very inside of Lumiose Gym Tower...all the way to the very, very top. Two-hundred floors," Smash Host explained, and as he pointed to Joker and Lucina, their eyes widened. "And if you make it to the top of the tower within an hour...I award you a prize."
"A prize?" Joker repeated. Everyone listened.
"Yep. 20,000 coins. And you prevent your enemies from winning exemptions. Make it to the top of the tower...and you win this game."
The upper lobby of Lumiose Tower had the very unexpected appearance of a modernized dance floor. The walls of the big room, illuminated and shining out colors of blue and green, made the place a bit hypnotic. But as Lucina and Joker's eyes adjusted to the walls and also as well to the lit-up floor of checkered colors, they looked around the higher-level lobby of Lumiose Tower. They were about to start their game.
"Get ready to run, Lucina…" The masked man and princess...both at a level of elegance-appearing as they were also very physically adept and skilled...were ready.
Lucina:I was not sure how we would perform together. But nevertheless...we had to run.
"Joker...according to the rules Smash Host delivered to us ten minutes ago outside in the plaza...we start here in this tower lobby, waiting to begin…" Lucina began, looking around the floor. She pointed to the end of the large lobby, at a metal door with a large green thumbprint. "And according to Smash Host, the instant our game begins...we go through that door to find the staircase of the tower."
"And then we climb," Joker finished with a ready smile. "For 20,000 coins."
"Yes...we must run," Lucina nodded, unsure of what laid ahead of her past the metal door.
"Very...very fast," Joker added with a wink, his eyes on the green thumbprint. The green glowed...as if it was the mark of the very Mole themself.
Joker: Or else we lose. And one of us...Joker or Lucina...would become just one step closer to possibly becoming executed this very episode.
"So what do we do?" DK moaned, feeling left out. The group of seven were listening to Smash Host's rules.
"In order for the two building climbers to make it past electrocuted blocked sections of the stairs and floors...that's where your job comes in... our three petition masters," Smash Host said with a little grin, pointing to the odd trio of Isabelle, DK, and Dark Pit.
"Petition...masters?" Dark Pit repeated with a stutter.
Outside the front entrance of Lumiose Tower, the air was fresh. And so was the crowd. And three particular people, lost in direction and about to start their mission amongst the multitude of bustling people, were DK, Isabelle and Dark Pit, holding clipboards, possessing walk-in-talkies, and wearing hats with Mole thumbprints on them.
"Are you KIDDING me?!" Dark Pit stammered. "We have to get enough people to sign THESE stupid petitions to help Lucina and Joker get to the top of the tower?!"
"Haha! Calm down!" DK laughed, beating his chest heavily as they all stood in the open yet busy space in front of the grand tower.
Dark Pit:Why?
"A challenge is a challenge! And I'm not gonna be socially shy and back away from persuading people to sign my PAPERS!" DK beat his chest loudly once again at a passing tourist, who looked at him and backed away, startled.
DK:A smart ape like me and two cool dogs like Isabelle and Dark Pit?! We were totally, awesomely gonna win this! Let us three SMASH this game! And no way would we let Wii Fit and Kazooie get those two darn exemptions!
Isabelle herself was carefully examining the papers on her clipboard, her eyes widening with every word she read. "Oh, I do wish these topics were a bit more...umm...favorable," Isabelle noticed with wide eyes, scanning the top heading of the pages in her hands. The name of the petition, 'TEAR DOWN LUMIOSE CITY'S BEAUTIFUL PIKACHU STATUE', shined out to her.
"And lastly...our beautiful duo," Smash Host finished, as Wii Fit rolled her eyes at his comment.
"Let me guess: we gotta dance happily together like best friends," Kazooie laughed with misfortune.
"That'd be fun to watch," Dark Pit laughed in thought. Wii Fit shot another heated scowl at him.
"Don't tell us we're gonna get to fly high," Kazooie voiced a little excitedly. "Just kidding. Cause I'd like that very much, Smash Host."
"No," stated the host. "But...you will be doing something...vaguely similar."
The chilled atmosphere over a thousand feet in the air was magnified by the metal grating that the female players were standing upon carefully. Their platform was octagonal, surrounded by two things: four tall structural supporters which protruded from the sides of the tower...and nothing else but open air. But something was indeed wrong with their platform, sabotaged by the producers of the game in a sinister manner almost like a Mole would conduct him or herself. It was as if the Mole themself had done the dastardly, dangerous action themself: parts of the metal grating were missing.
Wii Fit:With nearly fifty percent of the grating missing...it was as if the game was already against us.
Despite the chills they felt, the sun shined strongly down on them. Kazooie and Wii Fit stared at the yellow glare of the sun. They both also saw, in the very center of the tower, the tower's magnificent, large, pointy tip reflecting in the spring sun.
Kazooie and Wii Fit were standing on the metal platform at the very tip of Lumiose Tower...carefully...with parachutes on their backs.
Kazooie:Uh oh. Not the mission I was thinking of.
"This is tall…" Kazooie looked over the edge of a broken piece of the flooring, seeing the expanse of buildings and roads that made up the Pokemon world below them. The mission would begin...in five minutes.
Kazooie:After being deprived of flying for nearly two weeks in this game, I completely forgot how awesome it was to be a bird. I get to see the world that most others couldn't. Gosh! I took the sky for granted, I guess.
"But it's totally worth the beautiful view, we gotta admit," Kazooie grinned to Wii Fit.
"Do you suddenly think that we're friends again and that I have any interest in talking to you, simply because we're mission partners for this game?" Wii Fit voiced with tired displeasure. "I thought we agreed implicitly to not speak to each other." She folded her arms.
"Don't utter a word to me...unless it has something to do with this very game or related to helping me win these exemptions. Lest you distract me and I fall off before the hour is up, which would be quite humiliating and painful for me. And that truly. Is. Final."
"Sure. Got it...boss," Kazooie said jokingly. Wii Fit faced away with an annoyed shake, her eyes closed. Her half of the platform...shook slightly.
Wii Fit:I didn't need her help. Not at all...and I could save myself on my own...even if my floor dropped.
Kazooie: And as I reflected on our relationship more...I could see that we were already on the flight to lose.
Mission:Electrocution Tower
Rules:Two runners, Lucina and Joker, have to run up the stairs of Lumiose Tower in order to reach the top within an hour. In order to unblock certain electrocuted sections of the stairs to help the runners, three petitioners, DK, Isabelle, and Dark Pit, would have to obtain enough signatures from townsfolk in the plaza for absurd social causes. All five players would be battling against the duo at the top of Lumiose Tower. If Wii Fit and Kazooie could survive staying at the top of Lumiose Tower without falling off, after an hour, they could close an important electrical circuit, locking all tower doors and preventing the runners from reaching the top. They would also be awarded a grand prize of two exemptions. If one of them falls off the tower before the circuit is closed, they would not receive their exemption. However, if the two runners could reach the top of Lumiose Tower before the circuit is closed, then they would secure the ultimate win: no exemptions would be awarded and 20,000 coins would be won for the team pot.
The game of electrifying proportions was soon to begin.
Joker: We were battling Wii Fit and Kazooie. And we all knew: we just couldn't let them win. To me, they were our least trustworthy players. We needed to beat them.
Isabelle:I didn't expect us to be fighting each other...and I really didn't like it! I wanted it to be a teamwork game. But...we really don't have a choice.
Dark Pit: Down with Wii Fit! Boo! No one likes her. And the five of us would succeed over them. They suck. Losers.
Wii Fit:This was my very first chance in this game of 'The Mole' to gain an exemption. And the shame and loss I'd feel if I failed to achieve it. I just had to try my best.
Lucina:We all had to try. But we could not play mercilessly. We needed compassion for one another.
"On your mark…"
Joker and Lucina readied themselves within the lobby, eyes on the door thumbprint.
"Get set…" DK, Isabelle, and Dark Pit eyed the large crowd around them.
And Kazooie and Wii Fit...balanced to survive.
"Go!"
Joker and Lucina busted through the beginning door.
"Oh...it's..." Lucina sounded in surprise. What laid before them was an alluring sight of unexpected beauty. The stairs' left wall was all aligned with transparent, blue windows, and as they began their quick ascent up, they realized that they could see the outside world of Lumiose City as they ran. The entire view of the city became more beautiful with each flight of steps they ran up. But, they had no time to pause and enjoy the view: they needed to run.
"Let's go!" The two quick runners bolted as fast as they could up the first sets of flights of the grand tower.
"Let's reach the first thirty floors first...then relax. We won't stop," Joker ordered with full confidence. Lucina looked up; the stairs seemed endless.
Lucina: It was a seemingly never-finishing spiral of squares. But the blue shine of the windows and views of the city were inspiring enough to keep us pushing forwards. To win this game.
Joker ran besides her, the man having enough energy to still be enabled to be slightly smirking as they ran up the tall building.
Joker: It was quite the rush we needed for the beginning of a mission. And a perfect rush to fight the Mole.
And they ran.
And climbed.
And ran and climbed more.
After almost ten minutes...they finally stopped. Exhausted, Joker and Lucina took the time to relax and replenish on the thirtieth floor of Lumiose Tower. They paused on the side of the staircase, leaning against the railings, catching their breaths. They were understandably tired. But despite their fatigue...Joker could still smile.
"What if the goal of this game...is for us to relax?" he said slyly. Lucina blinked, not understanding his odd sentence.
"What are you referring to?" she replied to his odd statement.
"You see, princess…this tall castle isn't that old." He pointed a gloved hand and a grin to a displayed sign on the wall in front of them. Lucina turned and realized with relief and surprise the sign as well.
Elevator: Just Twenty Floors Up
The plaza of people was bustling in front of the grand tower. The timer had begun. And just a little nervously, yet full of some confidence, the three petitioners made their way into the crowd. They needed signatures...and courage.
"Uhh...wait...just how do we do this?" Dark Pit asked, the dark angel the most socially inept of the trio and looking a bit frazzled. DK and Isabelle appeared more willing to start, smiling to him.
Isabelle:I was still nervous, not going to lie! But over the years, I've gotten just a little more socially comfortable with talking and petitioning certain things to others!
"Pfft!" DK bellowed to Dark Pit, almost bragging. "It's easy!"
DK:Get enough signatures, help our fellow climbers, and win the game! That was it! Easy, Pikachu easy!
"Hello!" Isabelle said politely to a passing woman. The woman smiled back.
"Good morning!" the woman replied, looking friendly.
"We are petitioning for a good cause and are trying to obtain signatures," Isabelle said kindly. "Would you like to sign and help our great cause?"
"I would be more than happy to, little dog!" the woman replied, smiling as she peeked over at the clipboard Isabelle was holding.
"Thank you! If you could just sign-" But as Isabelle went to give her the pen, the woman's smile slowly vanished. Her eyes become more startled than anything.
"A petition...to tear down our beautiful Pikachu statue?" she gasped, alarmed. "Oh, NO! Good heavens! I will absolutely NOT sign this! Who are you trio of three bandits? How horrid! Hmph!" With no warning, she put the pen down, then with a shake of her head, continued her walking.
The three players were left standing, stunned.
"Well..." Dark Pit sighed with a huff. "That obviously went well."
"Ergh! We were so close!" DK grumbled, faced dropped and disappointed. "The pen was right in that woman's hand! We were RIGHT THERE!"
"Yeah. Right there to get slapped in the face," Dark Pit corrected.
"But just who would sign for a petition so...ghastly?" Isabelle said with worry, realizing their challenge. She flipped to the second page. "How many signatures do we need to unblock the first electrified section for Lucina and Joker on Floor 50?"
"Only thirty signatures...totally not a big deal," DK spoke optimistically, seeing another sheet behind their signature paper.
"THIRTY SIGNATURES?!" Dark Pit repeated.
"Hey, you're completely ruining the winning attitude!" DK yelled at him. "If you think we're going to lose, we are going to lose, Dark Pit!"
"Just being realistic," Dark Pit sighed.
"I do know one thing we can do in order to get these signatures..." Isabelle thought quickly with a smile to the other two, seeing the large crowd before them and also acknowledging that they had their own clipboard, paper, and pen each.
"And what's that, huh?"
"We split up!"
The wind blew strongly and the sun hit their eyes. Wii Fit and Kazooie had to keep their balance on the high-placed grating, as well as shield their eyes from the blinding sun, as they struggled to survive. Stranded nearly a thousand feet in the air...the game had just begun.
They didn't say a word to each other for five minutes.
And time was ticking until their exemptions would either be won...or lost.
Another minute passed.
"...Kazooie..."
"Oh, excuse me. I thought you said not to utter a word to each other unless it had something to do about the game," Kazooie said, smiling slyly. Wii Fit looked at her in disbelief.
"...I was just about to speak to you about something that was very quite related to the game," Wii Fit replied to her partner testily.
"Oh, then by all means!" Kazooie said in a light-hearted tone. "What is it?" Wii Fit took in a deep breath.
"First of all...I am only speaking to you because I am concerned for my own well-being, not because I want to rekindle our friendship in any way."
"You've made that very clear," Kazooie muttered.
"I...might need some help," Wii Fit began. Kazooie raised her eyebrow.
"Uh..." Kazooie began. "How so." Wii Fi sighed.
Wii Fit:I could not believe I was doing it...but here I was, asking her for help. It was more humiliating than anything I had ever experienced in this game.
"A part of my grating, right under my left foot...is very, very loose," Wii Fit spoke.
"So?" Kazooie replied.
"...I believe my entire side of the grating will drop soon..." Wii Fit voiced with quiet urgency. Her voice was strange, as if trying to act confident, but hidden nervousness could be distinguishable in the nuances of her quieter, softer tone. At hearing her line...Kazooie's face changed.
"...Huh? What? Are you serious?" Kazooie asked her, confused. "Why do you think that?!"
"If you move to the side just a little bit, so that there's enough room for me to jump to your side...I can get off my very unreliable, annoying side of the platform." At that second, Wii Fit's section of her grating wobbled just a little bit more. She stared cautiously at the open air below her, wind blowing strongly as her own eyes alerted with concern.
Wii Fit:I knew I would be falling...any second. And next to Kazooie was the only spot of safety left.
Kazooie:But the more I thought about it...what purpose did I have in saving her?
"And perhaps if I survive this moment...I just may be able to benefit you later in the game," Wii Fit added, almost as if reading her mind. "But it's your choice. I am just saying...if you help me, then I could owe you later." They were both silent for a second.
"All right...but how do I know you're not gonna push me off once you're on this tiny platform with me?" Kazooie stated, folding her wings.
Wii Fit sighed. "Kazooie, I'm not going to push you off—"
And at that second...the grating below her feet fell.
AHH!
A cliff...hanger. Sort of?
A tower hanger. Okay, that doesn't as cool...actually, it kind of does...
So, welcome to the beginning of Episode 4! :D
I wonder how the rest of this event-filled mission will play out! What events and discussions will occur as Lucina and Joker climb, the trio of signature getters argue, and Kazooie and Wii Fit fall?
Stay turned for the next chapter :D
Cry! If I don't see you guys before the New Year...sniff... VERY VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL! :D see you all in the MUCH better year 2021! (We can much smashing guarantee, hehe)
Dark Punxysaur: You started watching the Dutch Mole?! :D Omg! I watched Seasons 10, 11, and 12 ironically haha, right after yours. Yeah, Kazooie is totally on a greedy rampage getting everything! It's funny because they are all treating a Plus 1 as valuable as an exemption! But knowing how many times players tied on the real show, I guess Plus 1's areeee important. Wii Fit is turning a bit into the antagonist, right! I wonder if her character will stay this way or change as the episodes go :O Will she remain the same or will something happen? Yay, you took the quiz! :) Haha, dont worry, when I watch the real show, I was changing suspects every single episode. Good job suspecting Lucario as the leaving one! I guess the tradition happened again...but will it happen for next episode? Wow, very cool Suspects analysis! Especially with Lucina. You acknowledge she's a princess but then that she's still very different from Eclair. AND you bring up Season 3 and 4 of the US Mole show, and how there was a repeat of Moles. So just what is the truth here? ;)
Cavin: Still can't get over you being an official name on Fanfiction! Yay :) Soo true when you pointed out that everyone agreeing on the "exemption island" would have been super unrealistic! In a way I'm glad it went the route of Kazooie blackmailing everyone, hahaa. Noticing little things like Lucina being the one to pass fruit out for the first page is keen details like these that make you a good sleuth :) You're so on point with Dark Pit here being the edgy teenager who knows the current internet logo and would most likely say "sus" xD I like your analysis on him! And how his unwillingness and unenthusiasm in the acting mission and the game overall were probably reasons for his sword just not being high enough. HAHAHA! If Kazooie isnt the Mole, then her possible thinking of, "What exactly was the point of me sabotaging again?" would be entirely true and entirely funny. I like how she's growing on you! And I totally love how you noticed the scatterbrained rambling of DK on Question 8 of the quiz, he's really all over the place xD Isn't he? Speaking of DK, I realized him being safe breaks the intro execution curse! Phew, one theory crossed away. Yeah, Lucario being executed was TOOO obvious! My only non-regret is giving him a full arc :) My goal from now on, since everyone had time to shine in three episodes, is to executed mercilessly….muahaha! But kindly hehe!
Masking What Remains: Lucario's execution reminds me of the phrase "No good deed goes unpunished"! He did so much to help the team, saved the players and pot...yet still was attacked by the Mole in downfall :( DK's outburst about the visor was indeed a big jumper but in the end looking back it's a hilarious element xD Nice suspects! Seeing DK on your list as 2nd is refreshing. Most readers aren't putting him on the lists :) Could he actually be it? If DK's the Mole, then this is another win and strike for the Mario Universe once again :) bahaha.
Derick Lindsey: Lucario! Youre right about foreshadowing with his chat with Lucina! Also, he's an interesting character because as powerful with his aura power he is, he is still susceptible to errors that common creatures or humans could make. Yeah, cry! T.T All the peaceful players are leaving! They just got more and more wholesome: Fox, then the royal calm Peach, then Lucario, literally a Buddhist. I made Dark Pit say the "sus" line due to his angsty teenager personality image: he's most likely closest to a mobile phone or modern computer games than the other players lol. Yesss! As I was writing the end of Episode 3 about the fake ocean, I was getting serious Agent's Elevation reference vibes. Cool eye noticing out! But I assure you: the rest of this season is 99% real. LMAO! I'm laughing when you were talking about Kazooie and Wii Fit's coalition and said, "which by the way damn that coalition lasted all of 1 episode." I chortled realizing how short it really was. DK being the Mole would indeed be something amazing, right? ;) I guess we'll find out in the end. And yayy about Lucario evolving! The Pokemon series creators are obviously fans of the Mole and aligning everything together :)
Darksymphony777: Vivian seems better off now as an artist! And I love her summaries of everyone else of Saboteur's Island...except for Bobbery. He finally joined Scarlet, didn't he? ;( I'm glad and it's refreshing to see that Vivian and Lubbock are still friends! The occasional tea time is such an appropriate friendship for two people who were close friends in a reality game show. Poor Vivian and her dating life, but I support her! :) It's good to be yourself and she should be up and honest about who she is, because people would love her for who she is. (P.S Tinder sucks, I should know). And why is Piantissimo crying over watermelons? Failed Gelato Beach Episode 8?
LuaisyLover: A death chapter! You're just as excited for execution chapters as I am xD You questioning that Kazooie might not even being a bird must be your best theory yet, haha. Good question! My mains in Smash are Jigglypuff, Yoshi, Wii Fit, and Duck Hunt :) among many other second-tier used players. You have a very good point calling Kazooie truly sneakier and trickier than Joker: she did manage the Plus 1 at the end of the story island after all while Joker was like "Wut". Hahaa, you getting frustrated at Dark Pit for his "I'm the Mole" talking and wanting to hit him with a hammer xD Maybe it's not just you who wants to. Then again, you make a good point about poor Dark Pit being bullied by quite a few several other players. Yes, haha! The line "True DK-exaggerated fashion" establishes that DK already has a trope life behind him and it's very alive in this game xD Good, good eye pointing out that Wii Fit DID suspect Kazooie earlier in the chapter so she has no right to get mad at her! Her nerve. I like your quiz thinking! Especially for unknown questions like the Fly Guy flying order :) Yeahh! Lucario's death was even sadder with his "Eh no biggie" attitude indeed :'( you only miss them and cry once they're gone. Your flip note Mole series sounds so amazing and I'd like to look at a list of missions you used cause I loooove mission ideas! :D anyways...wonderful suspect list like always! The Isabelle, Lucina, and Kazooie triad stands! And I laugh at your Number 4 saying "DK/Wii Fit: Players or Moles. Who knows? Only you". Your Number 5 killed me xD. "5. Joker. Weird boy."
FFWF: I am absolutely in love with your symbolic literary theme searching! "These characters are eliminated because we can no longer suspect them". Almost teared up because the line is so beautiful :') and I won't say to how much of an extent you're right, but you are right in some sense :) I like how you described the island negotiation of Joker, Kazooie, and Lucario as having an "equitable and profitable outcome". Perfect wording actually xD and cool explaining on how it makes them less suspicious. Your Suspect/Character analyzing list is also so amazingly! (Sorry, I'm just in love with all your writing at the moment, haha). What an insightful analysis on DK and his comparison to similarities of Yoshi gives you more credibility in DK himself actually being the Mole of the game. Joker being one of the final players is a very good prediction and it just fits and makes sense as well. Your tragic writing of Wii Fit being dragged down and losing individually was pretty eye-opening as you realized just how strong she was in the beginning, but she's subtly tearing apart. And then your line about Isabelle: "She's still mostly a background figure, which I think is why she draws a lot of suspicion from readers. She rarely makes it all the way to the foreground." UMM. Can I PAY you to personally write me artistic, analytical phrases like these? Cause I'm literally reveling in them xD they're so right and accurate but they also flow off the tongue! Yes, you are right about Isabelle's odd placement in this story, and kudos to your hard-thinking about where all these characters lie. Anyways, thanks for your review :D
D4 Ghostwriter: Whenever the executions go through all the players' names, I get so tense and panicky! Dx I'm glad you were less nervewracked and felt Lucario's execution coming! Now that you say it, he really WAS very transparent and honest. There was nothing deceitful about him...except for the fact that he couldn't control all of the auras he saw. I was very sad he left :( but I love how you phrased it as "killed him off" xD. And of course, you have to think of who each executed player thought as innocent, so good reasoning on targeting the good-hearted ones: Lucina and Isabelle.
Mr. Rainbow Dude: Exemptions haunt Lucario! But oh wow :O I don't know how I missed it, but Lucario did indeed miss out on TWO exemptions. I think in my head I separated the desert Mario world from Yoshi's island paradise ahaha. I like how you acknowledge that Lucina and Isabelle are the only "kind" players in a group that is just so dysfunctional at the end of Episode 3! Will Episode 4 gain more people onto the good light side? And whoa...each Executed player DID fall off something! Oh man, what does this say about Episode 4? Uhh… (everyone ignores Wii Fit's obvious fall). Thank you for the "executed player not too obvious" advice! :) I think the biggest reason for this downfall is cause I write the story at least 2-3 chapters ahead, and at that point the executed players are too ingrained, and then I realize to my horror as the story goes that readers are suspecting them as the executed player, and I'm like "Crap!" Hopefully I've learned my lesson and things will be a little harder to predict from now on ;) And very very cool link of how when Fox was executed, they ended up going to space! Just how interconnected are these worlds?
Guest: No problem! I'm so glad to hear from you and thank you for catching up so much! :D yeahh I know! :( This is so tragic, seeing the good-hearted leader people falling! It breaks my heart to even think that the first 3 eliminated players were Fox, Peach, Lucario. Such a wholesome list of people...sigh. So pattern logic wise, you are a bit right with Lucina possibly being in danger on the chopping block! I love love your analysis on Isabelle: you are literally picking up on the truth that she is not being mentioned enough. Your three theories about her are all so valid and I wonder which one will end up being true. Is she the 1) Going to get more character development, 2) Making it as a"halfway" characte, or 3) Is the secret Mole we're all looking for? Anyways thanks for the view! :) Nice analyzing!
CocoTots: Yes, I know! With all the buildup and strengthening relations between Joker and Lucario, you would have thought they'd both make it far together :( Alas, not everything is predictable in the game of the Mole. Wow, Puerto Rico sounds absolutely amazing! :) I hope you have, or had, a wonderful trip and time there!
sixthsense6: The references! WHAT do they mean?! *dies* xD. I'm glad that you as a spiritual player in this game would have shifted your suspicions away from Lucario and survived in the game :) very cool pointing out on how usually the Mole's actions are usually not the big, huge ones but rather the smaller, subtle actions. And I just love and feel chills hearing you question the "Connected World" mystery. I got even MORE chills hearing your theory that the game is ALL taking place in the hotel/Tower, and how the Fly Guys very much resemble Snifit. IF IF that was true….just how much of a mind spin would that be?! You are the true conspiracy master here :D And as a conspiracy fanatic myself, I am in love with it all. Just how connected are the worlds!?
LuaisyLover: Shout out to your discovery of the note of the Mole's Journal being on my profile and ALSO a shout out to your shocked reaction to finding it xD Hahaha! Sadly I can't react to everything you wrote but I DID read every line of your analyzing of the Mole's Journal entry and. Wow. Just a GREAT job as always :) almost as deep as your thorough Suspects lists? :)
Guest: New reader! Helloooo! How are you and what's up these December days and also your multiple reviews pushed me through this entire week! :D I thank you so much! I love your Joker possibilities and lists, which ended with "I hope Wii Fit's not the Mole" lol. Very nice clue hunting and sleuthing in terms of DK possibly being the Mole; what I mention to other reviewers is how I love when they combine forces and you all become a team (to overthrow me I suppose xD)!. But good individual hunting pointing out how DK is the only player whose letters in their name fall to 10 letters. And very cool quiz analyzing in that if Lucina is the Mole, Joker would have passed safely due to her also being on Lucario's team very often. A reference to Éclair! I'm glad you're reading Agent's Elevation even if it's spoiled for you :) Ahaha, and once again the Wii Fit dislike hates back again ("She needs to die") LMAO. Thanks for your many reviews, which I don't mind AT ALL, and to finish off, you have a very sharp eye spotting McHallyboo's name under the AOOO website tags. Which. Must. Have. Been. A. Mistake. Obviously.