Welcome to Part 3 of this Pokémon-world episode!
Just wanted to say, if you've reached this part of the story, thank you so, so much! :D And an especial thank you to everyone who reviewed and commented on this episode so far! :D You're amazing!
In thanks to you guys for being so amazing in reviewing and commenting :) ...I HAVE A PRESENT AND SURPRISE I WORKED ON AND IT'S FINISHED! MUAHAHA! :D I will announce the new surprise at the end of the chapter :)But as for now the time being...Here is…dun dun dun...part three! Please enjoy!
Episode 4 (Part 3)
The players are greeted by a series of surprise guests. As they all travel to the most popular tourist destination of the entire Pokémon world...a robbery and a mystery suddenly sparks out.
Numbness filled the air: a feeling that encompassed emotions of loss, denial, and disbelief. But while two players, Wii Fit and Kazooie, breathed in peace...the others were angry, bitter...and most above all, scared for their loss of security in continuing in the game of "The Mole".
Two exemptions had been awarded.
Dark Pit: None of us could believe it...
DK: ...that TWO exemptions had been awarded?! Not one...but TWO?! HOW did this happen?!
Joker: A value so deadly at this stage of seven players. It was really quite unbelievable to comprehend, truly.
Lucina: And the results...were a loss and a fear which most of us felt together.
"I commend you all for playing this rather...fate-deciding mission," were Smash Host's first words. The players were gathered in the front courtyard of Lumiose Tower. The mission of towering heights...was finished. Kazooie and Wii Fit were both standing directly next to the host, giving the most innocent expressions that they could muster together. Dark Pit shook his head.
Wii Fit: Smile and wave obliviously, as I'd like to say. As if you had won a 1st place trophy in a competition...and were oblivious to 2nd Place's glare right beside you.
Dark Pit: I...was...mad.
"Joker and Lucina…" the host spoke, beginning the game's results. "You indeed reached the top of Lumiose Gym, yes? But what happened?"
"Indeed...we had," answered Joker, looking at everyone else slowly and explaining. "But, when we reached the final, metal door at the tower's very top…we were unfortunately stopped. Because the circuit to electrocute the entire tower had been closed. We had failed." Lucina turned to him.
Lucina: We had been so close. But...I felt as if we could not have tried faster. Though I was disheartened by our loss, I was not disappointed in our efforts and how hard we had attempted.
Joker: A win for nobody...except for the Mole. It was the biggest shame and I just had to get the Mole for next time.
DK: I just can't help and think, though: What if one of them purposely DELAYED at one point? Or purposely tricked the other at some point in pausing or becoming slow? We'll never, ever know! Argh...
Kazooie: If one of them was the Mole, theoretically, then yeah. I suppose they could have slowed down at one moment, juuust enough to make Wii Fit and I win. But I'm not complaining: thank you, Lucina and Joker! Cause now we're flying through to Episode 5!
"Deciding to wait for the first elevator on Floor 50...instead of skipping it and running up...may have been another misstep in your elevation to the top as well," the host noted, as Lucina and Joker turned to each other with surprised realization.
Lucina: However, I do not think we could have run the entire 200 steps. Regardless of anything…that first elevator was definitely necessary for us. We truly needed it.
"Regardless, good effort and well done. What is a Mole game without its signature running task? And you did not give up on the task and performed excellently. So, well done to you two." Joker and Lucina nodded at the host's last words, and some of the other players clapped too, still in respect.
"Petitioners," Smash Host continued, turning to the trio. Indeed, the three players were still holding their crucial clipboards and papers, looking as if they were still playing. "You all did well...but were unable to unlock the elevator obstacle on Floor 170. You failed your final petition."
"And also took a very long time to unlock some of the earlier obstacles as well, I must add," Joker laughed slightly, much to DK's immediate chagrin.
"UHHH, I think you guys are TOTALLY in DENIAL of how hard we worked...ungrateful, I tell ya!" DK sulked, frowning. He pointed to Isabelle.
"Isabelle can tell you how hard we tried! We did really well!" The little dog looked stunned.
"Uh…" she began nervously.
DK: Also, why WOULDN'T I have worked hard? It was to stop TWO EXEMPTIONS! How could I be the saboteur if I wanted so hard to win?
"We all tried our best...it was all of our faults," Isabelle tried to defend. She smiled sadly at DK and Dark Pit.
Dark Pit: Nah, I don't think it was Isabelle's fault at all. It was just mine and DK's. We sucked. Won't deny that.
Joker: Could it be denied that because of their failed efforts, we couldn't even pass most of our electrocuted obstacles in a swift time within the tower? Nope. It can't be denied, not one bit at all. Dark Pit and DK were the two saboteurs on our team of five.
DK: Oh, really!? As if, Joker and Lucina! You can't control how a crowd of people would act towards you! If anyone was the Mole, the people of Lumiose City were the Mole, refusing to cooperate!
Isabelle: But actions unfortunately speak louder than words, so I think some of DK's rowdy actions and outbursts may have interfered our efforts and success throughout most of our entire hour of gameplay.
Wii Fit: And ohoho, let's not forget Dark Pit's little mishap of getting in a fight with an actual townsperson. As the Mole himself, he truly helped me out in my victory. Well, mmm, thank you, hee hee.
Dark Pit: Hey! Not my fault there was a douchebag in the town!
"But...because the second elevator was not taken by Joker and Lucina...you were all rewarded as a group," Smash Host revealed to them all, and all their faces turned surprise at his unexpected line. Kazooie almost spit her drink.
"What...do you mean?" Kazooie spurted, flabbergasted. "They all get exemptions too?! That's crazy!" Wii Fit raised her eyebrow.
"Please don't jinx it," Wii Fit hushed to her.
"The sign on the front of each lift," Smash Host explained to them with a smile, "displayed the following message: Taking an elevator is not cheating, so there's no penalty! You won't lose money, but you won't gain any either. So...for every untaken elevator...5,000 coins from previous lost cash was rewarded back into the game, as a bonus for not taking shortcuts. Well done." The players looked a bit surprised, yet were now in slightly better moods.
"See?!" DK cried happily, jumping up and down. "Then it WAS good that we didn't complete our last job and unlock the second elevator! Lucky us! Yay!"
"Umm, and then LOSE the grand prize and give two other players unnecessary exemptions? Totally!" Dark Pit spoke sarcastically to him. "In other words...this is all worthless, DK!" The ape...looked less enthusiastic.
"Hmm...how could I be the Mole then?" Joker winked, turning to Lucina. "I inadvertently helped us gain 5,000 coins, by avoiding that second elevator. I even helped the team itself."
"Oh, I do suppose," Lucina spoke thoughtfully.
"And this all led to Kazooie and Wii Fit…winning," the host concluded in a grand voice, turning to the two players beside him. Almost looking like an unlikely duo themselves...the two victorious, triumphant females stood next to each other.
Joker: They caused our loss. The two, true saboteurs of everyone here.
DK: These two...trying to be all innocent, but they're just NOT at all! They're not innocent even a little bit! Grrrh!
"They're all staring at us evilly," Kazooie murmured cautiously to Wii Fit. Wii Fit only laughed.
"You two, Kazooie, and Wii Fit, survived one whole hour precariously on the top of Lumiose City's grandest tower," the host began to them. "By balancing under threat, and avoiding falling metal, you both persevered. But just how did you manage to close the circuit?" Before Kazooie could explain, Wii Fit stepped forwards to talk.
"By noticing a sign at the top of the tower which undeniably hinted to the red lights," Wii Fit began speaking pompously herself, almost in a bragging tone, "And also, using a rope to traverse between the structural tops...and lastly, Smash Host, I—-"
"Teamwork," Kazooie said directly, grinning widely. Wii Fit opened her mouth, startled, and at first to object...but then she just only subtly smiled.
Wii Fit: ...well, in the end of all things, I suppose she wasn't incorrect.
Kazooie: I'm always right!
"Well...those are the results," Smash Host finished. "The team pot ends a little higher...at 77,000 coins. A lucky number...what a coincidence for this game, holding right now seven of you unknowing, lost players in this deceitful game." He nodded thoughtfully.
TEAM POT
77,000 Coins
"And Kazooie and Wii Fit," the host announced lastly, holding out to each of them a green-colored card.
"Thanks, Smash!" Kazooie cheered. "I was worried for getting executed!" Stepping forwards, Kazooie and Wii Fit grabbed one each...as the other five players watched them take the green passes to the next, important final six. And at the emerged presence of the two free passes...the aura in the atmosphere slowly turned into sinking emotions of disbelief and defeat. An aura that even a Pokémon named Lucario himself would easily describe as dark and desolate. It was far from a pleasant feeling.
Dark Pit: Seeing them both get the exemptions...was one of the worst feelings in the world. They didn't deserve it.
Joker: And this, players...is how you die in the game of the Mole.
"You win an exemption each," the host concluded to the two female players. "These are valuable...more valuable than anything else before in this game. Congratulations."
"Oh no," Isabellle whispered, her face fearful.
Amidst the bustling of people and tourists who were still walking and jogging their way happily around the courtyard...most of the players were silent. Silent with ultimately displeasure and defeat.
Then, Joker began to clap, mostly to the surprise of Wii Fit, Kazooie, and everyone.
"Well done," he said, clapping, and the other six players turned to him slowly and did not know if the young man was being sarcastic or serious. "Well done."
DK: Mad, totally MAD! I just couldn't accept the fact that we lost money, and then, to add the rotten banana to the sundae on top, TWO exemptions to our enemies!? TWooo?! GRRR!
Kazooie: Who's getting executed this episode? Well, I know that it's not me! …
...honestly though, I feel a little bad for the other five.
DK: I'M SO ANGRY! LIVID!
Joker: Now, it's just time to analyze if someone on our own team was the Mole. One of the three petitioners, for instance. Dark Pit or DK themselves especially. Their delays were unforgivable, so it's really possible.
Wii Fit: Dark Pit was the Mole and helped me win that exemption, so thank you, dark angel Mole. Perhaps you're useful to me in a way after all.
Dark Pit: Pfft.
Lucina: I just couldn't believe, as I ran up those stairs reflecting, that either Joker or Isabelle could even possibly be the Mole. Joker had tried his very best in the game and expressed heavy disappointment in losing. Or Isabelle herself, trying her best gathering many signatures while she was petitioning in the plaza. Unless, the Mole is one of them and making deceitful attempts to lead unsuspecting players into the wrong direction. And for such reasons, I am wary.
Dark Pit: So everyone is ignoring...that if Wii Fit or Kazooie is the Mole…then wow, awesome! They cost 20,000 coins under the disguise of being a genuine player trying to win too! All they had to do was act like a real player. That's easy and cheating. What kind of Mole work is that?! So easy. Also, I hate everyone.
Isabelle: But, if you think of it this way! ...if either Wii Fit or Kazooie is the Mole...then our chances of surviving to the next episode was only lowered by one person, not two people! Perhaps it's only a one out of six chance to be eliminated then! So maybe things aren't so bad after all for us!
Kazooie: Maybe one of the two runners within the tower delayed somehow and helped us win...hmm, or someone committed a secret act? ...uh, like DK said, I guess we'll never know. But I'm happy Wii Fit and I won! I'm celebrating with Chansey eggs and Jelly donuts tonight.
Wii Fit: Anywho, I'm...just...quite surprised. I just could not believe that Kazooie and I managed to utilize teamwork to be the victors of the mission. Who would have thought? A bit eye-opening…but let's see how I feel about such things later on in the game.
Episode 4's atmosphere was mixed...but the players tried to make the best of it.
Two women were unpacking their belongings in one of the most supreme, fanciest rooms of Lumiose City's top-touristy hotel. It was now just after noon, and after a relaxing lunch, the players had taken the time to adjust and nestle in from their strenuous, mind-taking game.
"Wii Fit...congratulations on your win in the mission," Lucina said earnestly to her. "I congratulate you fully as the winner of our duel. It was a challenge...and I accept loss." From the mirror stand, Wii Fit turned to Lucina with a bit of surprise, but then smiled subtly.
"I must say…" Wii Fit began to her roommate, still smiling, "I am a bit disappointed that you failed to win, Lucina. You were the strong warrior who kept up to me as we ran up the mountain slopes of Green Greens, so I was very stunned when we were announced as the winners, to be honest. Quite a shame, it was..." Lucina smiled back to her lightly, taking the trainer's words as a compliment.
Lucina: I do not know why… but we had shared a bond during the Green Greens game.
Wii Fit: A bond between two women of achieved strength and power, if I say so myself. Strong bonds like these are vital in a game such as 'The Mole'.
"I did try very hard in the mission...and…" Lucina replied, "To know that I truly could not have done any better to win the game gives me a sense of peace." She looked out the windows of their hotel room, seeing an overview of the beautiful Pokémon city.
"It must give you a sense of peace, too, knowing you are safe this episode," Lucina said, a little dispirited. Wii Fit noticed her changed voice.
"Oh, do answer this question, Lucina," Wii Fit replied with a smile of her own, turning back to her mirror stand. "Just how much pride do you hold...telling others you had used a little green card to step your way to the finish line?" As she held her exemption, she frowned, the green of the card glowing to her eyes.
Wii Fit: Frankly...I really don't see the pride in these. A free cheat to the next round? Oh, how VERY honorable and prideful, don't you think? Hmm. I just don't see it at all anymore. I suppose, starting from Episode 5, I will aim for exemptions no more. An exemption-free diet.
"An exemption-free diet." Lucina couldn't help but giggle softly at the humorous phrase.
"I don't know how I will...but in the end of everything, and when this game is finally finished for us all, I just want to feel a large sense of pride...with everyone looking at me in a rather positive light," Wii Fit spoke to Lucina with a flair of confidence. "But just how? Hmm...that's a mystery in itself. Though, what is a better way to finish a game for yourself?" The warrior looked at Wii Fit carefully and with interest, thinking of her words.
Lucina: But, if Wii Fit herself is the Mole...just what does she mean by such a statement? That she aims to still be liked and viewed as favorable by others in the end...even when she reveals herself as the saboteur? If so...then it seemed sinister.
"About this exemption...please do not look at your earned exemption as a sign of weakness," Lucina said to her with thought, as Wii Fit turned to her in surprise. "It could actually be seen as a sign of... strength." Wii Fit's face was perplexed.
"Oh? ...I don't follow you one bit, but do go on," Wii Fit requested, putting on a new shirt and sighing.
"Joker was right," Lucina smiled. "You and Kazooie were able to pull through and use your teamwork. Humbling yourself down to achieve success...that was indeed a sign of strength. And that...could indeed be something to reflect on and pride yourself in as well." Wii Fit's mouth opened slightly, a bit stunned. But deep down...the trainer knew that she was right.
Joker was looking out the window of the fancy Lumiose Hotel. And Dark Pit was on the bed, sulking and arms folded. He was still not over the results of their game.
"Did you know that Clefairy was originally supposed to be the predominant, most important Pokémon over all others?" Joker said, looking out at the large city.
"What?! What does that have to do with anything?" Dark Pit replied, still looking bitter over the awarded exemptions. "We just lost the stupid game, and I think you're blindly forgetting that there are two people with exemptions, one of them a total stuck-up woman, and we're both gonna die, and—"
"A person can be greatly affected by the way they're labeled and how others view them," Joker said reflectively. "If a Pokémon is labeled legendary and great, then people see them in great light, and that Pokémon will in result act grand and illustrious. In Clefairy's case, people now just view them as nothing more than an ordinary, non-special Pokémon, since they're labeled as nothing else. And in result...Clefairy acts quite normal and typical." He turned his attention to Dark Pit.
"You often act angry and mad because you're often labeled as a dark angel of ruin. Many others view you as such, so in result, you simply act that way as well," Joker explained to him.
"Stop psychoanalyzing me," Dark Pit mumbled.
"But is that really your true self? Are you really dark-hearted? You see...I remember you showing signs of light in the first episode. You had this side to you...that wanted to win the game. Even someone like Lucario could see that." Joker smiled at him.
"But you seemed to have lost it over the last two episodes," Joker finished. Dark Pit shook his head.
"Well...it's cause everyone here sucks and hates me!" Dark Pit explained a little heatedly, looking down to the carpet ground.
"I don't think that's true at all," Joker replied, going up to the drawer. "I think the nature of this game askews our thinking. Into darker, more cynical minds." They were both silent. Joker slipped his journal into his own bag. Dark Pit sighed.
"I...got into a fight in the town," Dark Pit sighed. "This last game sucked. I even tried so hard and did my best, but still failed. Maybe... that's why my mood is bad."
"Well...I'm sorry to hear that," Joker replied. "Though Lucina and I had to suffer a countless number of stairs, at least we had a rather peaceful piece of mind while together. I quite enjoy being by her side." Dark Pit paused, then turned to stare at Joker.
"So..." Dark Pit began, looking a little hesitant, "You and Lucina...do you...like...like... her...or...something...?" Joker faced him.
"No, Dark Pit. Silly. I like you." At his words, Dark Pit stopped. His face turned red.
"...really?"
"I kid," Joker replied, peering out the window and examining passing pedestrians. Dark Pit was blank-faced.
"Aha. I know. You're joking," Dark Pit laughed to him. "Your name is Joker. Haha. Always joking." He turned away awkwardly.
"Anyways, I wonder what lame meal we're eating for dinner," Dark Pit coughed, changing the subject. "Probably Magikarp or some dumb, weird food in this strange Pokémon world." Joker turned to him with a smile.
"You don't remember what Smash Host told us at lunch?" the masked man replied. "We're going somewhere special tonight." Dark Pit looked clueless.
"Where...?"
"Where the best fights happen, but instead of everyone feeling bad after...everyone instead cheers." Dark Pit then knew, and even he was looking forward to going, as his eyes lit up. Joker grinned.
Fireworks shot into the night sky to celebrate the special event to take place within the Pokémon universe that night. The now-bright sky was filled with life and energy, as huge beams of light shined out from the large, oval-shaped structure ahead of them, grand and illustrious in power, size, and display to them all. Surrounding the large colosseum-like structure, magnificent projections shined brightly, able to be seen from miles away and possibly from other worlds as well. As the seven players headed down the road to the large structure in the distance...they couldn't help but be filled with thrills...and excitement.
That night...they were headed to a battle at Pokémon Stadium.
DK: I just couldn't believe it! Finally! Yeah! The stadium! I felt like I've been waiting my whole life!
"We're almost there!" Isabelle shouted with glee, her eyes wide and jumping. Everyone looked ready...and were in awe.
"Whoa...I didn't know the stadium was THAT huge!" Kazooie commented, peering at its immense size. "That means they have food!"
"FOOD?!" DK ridiculed. "We're gonna see the most awesomest of matches ever!" The players walked on, not believing their eyes and emotions high. Lucina smiled with a breath of relief.
Lucina: To even just walk to the stadium...it was a wonderful sight and emotion.
"Are you ready?" Smash Host whispered to them.
Walking down the bricked, crowded path together, the entrance to the grand stadium was just before them. Almost like excited guests, or rather, much like excited kids who were traveling with young hearts to see their first Pokémon match ever, the mood among the seven players was tense, in wonder, and filled with anticipating smiles.
And within moments, they grandly reached the stadium entrance and walked through its doors.
"Blaziken, GOOOO!"
The red bird Pokémon leaped fiercely on the trainer's command. The crowd gasped.
"Dodge, NOW!" As the large audience shrieked, the opposing Sandslash rolled out of the attack's line at the last second. The crowds of people then all cheered thunderously.
"Wow!"
Thousands of people filled the stands of the massive stadium. It was a monumental, gigantic circle of cheering and shouting that stretched like an entire world. The players were just a small number of six or seven among the innumerable crowd, lost in a sea of cheering spectators who were enjoying the top attraction of the Pokémon universe. Circling the center stage, the crowds cheered and shouted on, witnessing the spectacle in the middle as the Pokémon battle raged on. It was a sight for nearly anyone to behold.
"Oh...my...gosh...this is amazing!" Isabelle squealed, seeing the magnificent fight before her eyes.
"Yeah! Vileplume! You dodge him! Get that Blaziken!" DK was on the edge of his seat...in fact, not on his chair at all but already standing up, hopping up and down with excitement at the fight.
"Sit down! I can't see!" someone yelled from behind him, and DK sheepishly ducked down a bit. But the other players were also similar to DK's antics: they were all, too, in their entertained, energized modes as well, smiling ear to ear. Even Dark Pit managed a smile that lasted for most of the match.
Dark Pit: I couldn't believe it. But I guess it was all really fun to watch. Okay, maybe this game doesn't completely suck.
"LOUUUUUDRED!" The defeaning roar of the Loudred shook the stadium and seats. It was a sound that couldn't be forgotten and set the mood for the excited guests.
"I can't believe it..." They were all finally in Pokémon Stadium: an establishment of vigor and life. The views and atmosphere were stunning, a memorable sight for anyone to see. And instead of fighting...the players were enjoying as spectators.
"Oh...everyone is enjoying themselves indeed," Lucina smiled with delight, looking around at the players. "It is so wonderful." Even Smash Host himself was taking it easy and watching the fight, or rather, trying to buy Diglett-shaped hotdogs from a vendor.
"I swear, I had three credit cards to pay for this," Smash Host spoke, flustered, looking through his wallet. "Yellow, shiny...somewhere! Three cards!" Isabelle giggled at him.
"Wow, we finally get the chance to just sit back and relax, instead of us being in a fight," Kazooie laughed with humored realization.
Kazooie: Ahem. I'll stop breaking these fourth walls.
"Hey….sit down!" The voice from earlier yelled from behind them once again. At the other spectator's second outburst, DK turned around with a raged face.
"Hey, why don't you—-" DK began, turning around angrily.
Three rows behind the players...slightly above them in height...sitting contently with a smile...they saw none other than Pikachu.
"Hello, everyone," Pikachu chuckled.
Kazooie: Pikachu? Wait, OUR Pikachu?! Like...the SMASH Pikachu?!
The players were more than shocked and also pleasantly surprised to see him. Everyone looked up and behind them at the friendly, yellow Pokémon.
"I wasn't angry at all earlier!" Pikachu laughed in his now gentler, normal voice. "I was just pretending and wanted to get your attentions!" Everyone was speechless and happy.
"Pikachu!" DK yelled, bouncing and running up the stands to go hug him, almost hitting other attendees on the way up the stands. He hopped from bench to bench until he reached the yellow Pokémon safely. "MY VETERAN FRIEND!" The other players laughed from the stands below.
"And look who's here as well," Pikachu pointed out, as DK finished giving him a hug. He pointed to his very side...and a pink balloon Pokémon peeked out from behind him with a smile.
"Hellooooo," Jigglypuff called out to them all in her singing voice, winking.
"Oh my gosh," Isabelle squealed. "Jigglypuff!"
Kazooie: Wow! So. What the heck were they doing here?
Joker: Hello, Pikachu. Are you here to join our game too?
"I'm. So. Happy. You're. Here!" DK bellowed, hugging and shaking Pikachu heavily. "We've been so lonely in this game!" Pikachu laughed at DK's shows of affection, then now turned to face the six players before him.
"I heard you guys are playing in that new TV show, 'The Mole!' Pikachu spoke loudly. "That's super cool! Actually, Episode 2 just aired on television two days ago, and we've all been watching and cheering for you!"
"You're watching us on TV?!" Kazooie blurted. Most of the players looked up at him in surprise.
"Well, don't toot your own horns, but other fighters are here as well, having heard you guys were attending this stadium fight," Jigglypuff informed them with a sly smile. And as she pointed...the players realized the truth. Because in the distance...a few familiar fighters were present as well, sitting in a special section of the bleachers not very far from their own spot. Lucina stopped...and gasped.
"...could it be Corrin?" Lucina gasped, hand to her mouth. In the distance, the other swordwoman's silver-colored hair could not be mistaken.
"Is that...Captain Falcon?" DK questioned. "Princess Zelda? Inkling?! And Bayonetta?! What the heck?!" The farther-away group of other fighters, now aware that they were finally noticed, waved back with smiles.
"Don't let us down!" Captain Falcon called out to them with a salute. The players of The Mole were astounded.
"Heya!" Inkling shouted to them all, waving wildly. Below him…they even saw the tinier Captain Olimar, a small video camera in his hands. He was viewing and capturing as much as he could around him.
"What are they all doing here?!" Isabelle wondered.
Joker: ...yes. Just what were they doing here exactly?
Pikachu looked at the group of players before him...and then frowned with surprise.
"I was cheering for Lucario...but I can see I've spoiled myself...and oh...wait..." Pikachu voiced, this time with alarm and disappointment, noticing that there was a player off in the group. The players nodded sadly.
"You can't expect everyoneee to make it to the end," Jigglypuff chided to Pikachu. "Plus, they have to go on and discover the big mystery soon!"
"Of who's the saboteur among them?" Pikachu added.
"Of course!" Jigglypuff smiled. "All of you players: just simply enjoy the show! We'll just be here, sitting behind you guys." Everyone nodded back to him.
"Aww, I wanna stay and sit here next to Pikachu!" DK moaned, still not letting go of him. Seeing him, Kazooie snorted.
"Humph: it looks like DK found his new group of friends already," Kazooie sulked. Joker laughed.
"Looks like someone is jealous," the masked man smiled.
"Jealous? Of DK?! Yeah, right!" Kazooie spoke, more than defiantly.
"No, no: this is your first Pokémon battle outside of the Smash Universe: enjoy it," Pikachu chuckled, giving a reluctant DK a push back to his seat. "Keep your eyes on the fight! Don't look away!" DK moped and climbed back down to his original row...and then started jumping up and down again with reinvigorated excitement.
The battle went on. The large roar of the Loudred was heard once again, captured and recorded everywhere.
From then, from that exact moment of 7:55... five minutes of peace and enjoyment passed. From 7:55 to 8 o,clock.
Or at least...supposed peace.
Then…amidst the cheers and atmosphere of everything going seemingly perfect for just five minutes of their unpredictable time within their unpredictable game...tragedy struck.
McHallyboo cleared his throat. Even amidst the loud yelling, the seven players heard him.
"Players…" The host began. The entire group, alert and together, turned to their host. They noticed the host's changed expression...one of bad news. And the host's voice seemed so serious...the players were able to distinguish it from the roaring yells of the Pokémon and the bustling of loud cheers.
"Tonight marks the occurrence of a historic crime," Smash Host spoke solemnly, as the group gasped.
Dark Pit: What...on...Earth...
"Follow me."
Within seconds, all seven players were now hurriedly walking through the underground hallways of Pokémon Stadium….following the host himself to witness the historical, heinous act.
"I don't understand why we had to be so rudely brought out amidst the exciting match itself," Wii Fit sighed with disappointment. "Far from enough time to view a magnificent battle. A shame...and a time to be jealous of those still watching, such as that overconfident Captain Falcon or over-sensual, unimpressive Bayonetta." All seven, very confused players walked quickly with Smash Host in the stadium underground hallways: they were long, and a bit winding, and besides the occasional visitor in the hallways, they were mostly empty. Only thirty seconds had passed since they were brought away from the stadium bleachers...but everything seemed in a hurry.
"Did you not hear what Smash Host SAID earlier?! It's bad!" DK hissed loudly, looking nervous. "Something bad is gonna happen! This is not the time to be jealous of other Smash characters!"
"I remember Smash's words clearly too!" Isabelle said worriedly. "He even said a crime…oh no..."
"Someone should ask him subtly," Joker whispered.
"Why are we following you, Smash Host?" Kazooie asked Smash Host straight-forwardly, and they noticed the host walking clearly faster and ahead of them. Finally...he stopped. In front of a set of large, metal doors at the end of the hallway.
"Because you need to see...this," he answered, and he pushed open the doors.
Whoosh… It was a small room...but large in equipment and sight. The players were hit by bright lights and electronic sounds that flooded all through the room. But as they entered, they looked to the wall in front of them in shock: it was nothing but bright screens. A multitude of displays and monitors showed different parts and every section of Pokémon Stadium. They saw the fans in the bleachers, and even parts of the underground hallways, and they were mystified.
"This is the control camera security room of the entire stadium," Smash Host began. Everyone looked at the arrangement display of bright screens before them. Different parts of the stadium were displayed...the bleachers, the crowds, underground hallways...and even the Pokémon battling on the fighting stage as well.
"But there's one screen in particular...I want you all to look at…" The host pointed ever so slowly towards the top-right-most screen of the multitude of monitors which plastered the large wall.
"What is that…?" It showed the lobby of the stadium, empty and spacious, and nobody was present in the decorated, large room. But one monument stood in the lobby's center: the Darkrai Statue...given as a gift by the founder of the stadium years ago and treasured deeply by all of the Pokémon town. But more treasured than the statue itself...on the pedestal in front of the large statue...a black gem sat. The dark, sparkling stone was on display upon the tall pedestal, and even on a security monitor, the players knew right away that it was special: an expensive, priceless artifact.
But most alarming of all...at that moment upon the screen...a tall figure in a black, flowing, eerie cloak was approaching the Darkrai Statue.
"What...no way…"
The figure walked slowly, almost wobbling, and moved until they were right before the statue and gem, blocking the precious items away completely from camera view for just a few seconds. But then, as the cloaked, tall figure slowly stepped away from the Darkrai statue and its pedestal...they saw that the pedestal was empty. The gem was no more.
"They...took…" It took them just a second to realize that the dark stone had swiftly been removed off the pedestal of the statue. The players could only stare in disbelief. Smash Host sighed.
"On that security screen…" Smash Host voiced slowly and solemnly, "you had just witnessed the theft of the famous, invaluable, beyond-any-price Stadium Stone. And you were all witnesses to the crime." The players were hit with immediate shock.
"What...the hell?!" Dark Pit sputtered. "Right at this very second, we just saw a theft?!" The host nodded.
"WAIT! Wasn't that the Pokémon gem that costs over 14 million Pokedollars?!" DK exclaimed. "I read about that!" He looked at the screen and at the cloaked figure with fury.
"Yes…" Smash Host said. "That was it. I'm sorry that you had to witness the theft of the Stadium Stone on that security camera. An important artifact donated by the creator of the stadium himself years ago. Decades old...now gone." The players were flabbergasted.
"I can't believe it…" Isabelle gasped, not believing her eyes. "The famous Pokémon gem was stolen! We didn't...do anything to help..." She buried her head.
"So...wait a minute..." Kazooie pointed out flatly. "We were literally just brought down to to the underground sections of the stadium, to this weird security room, just to see an expensive artifact get stolen on the screen monitor?"
Kazooie: Uh...the host is definitely in cahoots with the thief.
"We would have been more useful upstairs surveying the crowd and area and looking for any departing, suspicious people, instead of coming down here to view the crime," Wii Fit sighed.
"I was only told by the game's producers to bring you down here and witness something terrible in this security room," Smash Host shrugged. "Sorry."
"LET'S GO!" DK exclaimed. "There's a criminal on the loose!" Everyone looked panicked...but determined, and they nodded together.
"We must take action now...with no hesitation," Lucina thought with certainty, and everyone turned to her. They all looked at the screen: the thief was still present on the screen, standing still. Yet, their face and figure...were concealed.
"Indeed…" Joker was studying a map on the right side of the monitor screens. He then turned to the clock on the wall, then finally, at his own watch.
"8:02. That is the time of the crime. We should remember that." The players nodded and acknowledged its importance: every marked time on the clock...would bring them closer to knowing the truth.
Wii Fit sighed. "I'm hoping we're all ready to run to the lobby of the stadium at top speed right now...because if we don't, I suppose we're going to have an unknown, uncloaked thief on the loose, ready to attack us at any moment. How dandy."
"THEN LET'S RUN!" DK bellowed, and the seven players all ran off to solve the mystery. The dark mystery of Pokémon Stadium's historic heist.
Four minutes later, at the swiftest of speeds, they arrived at the lobby...but even then, it was already too late. Everything...and the chaos...had already started.
A multitude of people were gathered all around the statue itself. Shouts of confusion and worried glances from passing people were everywhere and filled the air. And most alarming of all, police officers now surrounded the statue, blocking any more people from getting a closer look. All in all, the lobby of the stadium looked like a crime scene in itself.
The seven players were hit with feelings of despair: they were too late in their capturing of the criminal.
"Oh no…" Isabelle moaned, looking around at the bustling people. "The gem...is gone..."
"And the culprit escaped," DK groaned, slapping his forehead. "We were too slow!"
"I don't think it was designed for us to even catch them in time," Dark Pit thought, shaking his head with anger. "Impossible task, huh." The seven players approached the statue, walking through the confused crowd. The gleam of the Darkrai statue itself was still radiant from its metal exterior...but there was no more shine coming from the pedestal before it. The Stadium Stone was gone.
"Oh...how! Why!" Near the front of the statue, the players saw two familiar faces. It was Pikachu, holding a frantic, upset expression on his face, and Jigglypuff was next to him, looking a bit more than worried. The duo were some of the first people to arrive at the suspicious scene.
"Pikachu! Jigglypuff!" DK called out, as the seven players all ran up to them. The two Pokémon were surprised to see them, but nevertheless, smiled sadly.
"Wow, you both got here so fast, even before us!" Isabelle realized. As the seven players looked around at the messy, chaotic scene, Pikachu sighed loudly, everyone hearing him.
"I…how do I begin," Pikachu faced them, an expression of disbelief and disappointment on his face as well. "I just can't believe it! ...that someone would take the statue's stone. A symbolic treasure. A Pokémon token of integrity and honor. This really is the biggest upset ever." The yellow Pokémon, veteran Smash fighter, ended his talking with a desolate stare.
"Just can't believe someone just jumped in here and literally took it," Dark Pit expressed, looking around. "It's as if they knew their surroundings would be safe and had no worry."
"It was a really special item, and we're all just so shocked at the disappearance of this gem that's precious to us," Jigglypuff voiced to them with a tone of sorrow. "It was so important...to all of us Pokémon!" The players looked at her with compassionate faces.
"The Stadium Stone had history and we will return it to its rightful place," Lucina spoke to her softly and confidently.
"And that's where the game takes place," Smash Host began to them quietly. The players turned to the host, who had approached them from behind. They were confused.
"What...do you mean…?" Wii Fit questioned to him.
"This whole crime was staged...but there truly is a real perpetrator on the loose," the host revealed to them all. "And if you can catch this terrible person... before the next two hours is up...then you win this game. The criminal...is still here in this stadium." The players' mouths couldn't have dropped wider.
It was all a game...and the seven lost players looked around them, at the bustling, large crowd of people walking about. Someone was the criminal. Yet, who was the Stadium Stone thief?
"The perpetrator who took the gem...is here?" Isabelle gasped. "And we have to find them?!"
"Hold on...this is all a GAME?!" Kazooie exclaimed.
Joker: Am I surprised? Not one bit. I simply knew it. And we were definitely up for the challenge...the challenge to defeat the hidden Mole...the Mole not of our game...but this very sinister stadium.
"But just what do we have to do?" Isabelle asked worriedly, speaking for the group and looking at them. "This is all so crazy!" They faced the host.
"Catch the perpetrator in two hours...in your possession, captured, or surrounded...and you will win 15,000 coins." The players listened carefully...and then the host reached for his coat pocket and patted it.
"In a few seconds, I'll give you a large sheet of faces...and the criminal's face is one of them on the big sheet. For every face you circle and select...I will tell and reveal to you whether or not the face you circled was the criminal of the stadium or not."
"So let's just circle all the faces and get the perpetrator right away!" Kazooie laughed. "Easy!"
"Well, that's the catch," the host smiled. "If you can select the correct perpetrator within three circle guesses...I will add the other half of the prize to the group for the successful challenge...15,000 coins to the team. You can win 30,000 coins for this game in total." The players gasped.
"So we only have three chances to guess the criminal correctly," Lucina wondered, a bit alarmed.
"For this sleuthing game...you need to use your innate detective skills in order to discover who the ultimate thief is. But you have just three guesses."
"So we have two hours to identify the thief, and then capture them in the end," Wii Fit confirmed, nodding. "And 30,000 coins is at risk. Fair enough. I think we can be a team of detectives and beat this interesting Whodunnit game."
"But keep in mind...the criminal can capture you too," Smash Host informed them. At this new line...shivers were sent down the backs of the players.
"...What do you mean?" DK gulped.
"If the criminal corners you, and is able to stun you with their device in their hands...you are no longer a detective able to help solve this crime. You are out of this game."
Kazooie: What?! You want us to both chase a criminal and also have the chance to die? Great...buuuut, at least it sounds fun now.
"This is a game…" Smash Host reminded them. "So use everything you can to solve it. Nothing is off limits in this stadium game. Or rather...nobody is, no matter how familiar or friendly they may seem to you all. The criminal can be anyone." The players were silent at his words.
"We're ready," Joker said confidently, nodding around him.
"The timer begins now...so...here is your sheet of suspects." Smash Host handed the rolled sheet of faces to DK, who grabbed it curiously first. The ape took the large rolled-up sheet with a grin.
Smash Host looked at them all directly and solemnly.
"Find the criminal of this stadium. Two hours"
And then...the host began to walk away. The players blinked in surprise, but then knew just one thing: they needed to take action.
MISSION: STADIUM SABOTEUR
2 HOURS - TO FIND THE STADIUM STONE THIEF
"We collaborate everything that we know NOW," Joker spoke immediately. "The crime happened around 8:02. We all confirmed that in the security room, even on our own watches, right?"
"Correct and confirmed," Kazooie spoke, writing notes in a notepad which the host had given to them all.
"I agree! That means the thief left the bleachers either at the same time we did, at around 8 o'clock...or, anytime before 8 o'clock," DK spoke loudly. "If they left before us, then they hid in the shadows, waiting to prepare their attack!" DK shrugged.
"I think our best bet...is to look around this stadium and look for anyone suspicious," Wii Fit nodded. "Frankly and honestly, we cannot do anything else. I don't think the factor of time is very important."
"But there are over one million people in this stadium!" Isabelle said worriedly. "How are we supposed to know who to target first?"
"Wow, you guys are playing detective, trying to solve this crime?" Pikachu spoke with a bit of admiration, walking up to them from nearby. "Amazing! I have faith in you all...that you'll all catch the criminal. Please...the seven of you are our saviors and only hopes at this point." Jigglypuff beside him nodded sweetly.
"I do hope and have faith you'll catch the perpetrator!" Jigglypuff nodded, bobbing up and down and floating a bit.
"Learning from the best...you can join us if you want, Detective Pikachu!" DK grinned.
"Oh, no...we'll sit back and watch," Pikachu laughed with a smile. "But if Jigglypuff and I find anything important...we'll let you know." Before anyone could say anything else, Lucina made a gasp.
"The perpetrator...they must be of tall height," Lucina spoke with realization, seeing the height of the pedestal sitting before the Darkrai statue. "This pedestal and statue...is not easy to reach in height. However...they reached it with ease." The players nodded.
"Indeed...and we even saw the thief's very height ourselves on the security room camera," Wii Fit pointed out. "They were indeed a medium-tall to tall height. But we also cannot eliminate the possibility of manipulated height either."
"And the perpetrator seemed to walk slowly while on camera...almost wobbly…" Isabelle shuddered, remembering.
"Hehehe...then we can't have someone like the height of Olimar possibly committing this crime then," Kazooie chuckled. "No offense Oli...Olimar?!" Then...her eyes caught a figure in her peripheral vision as her beak dropped open. It was the little spaceman himself, walking on the other side of the lobby. Captain Olimar was there, looking lost, still holding his important camera.
"Psst, guys!" Kazooie whispered happily. "Look! On the other side of the lobby! Everyone is over there in the lobby too!" As they peeled over to the lobby's other end, they indeed saw a set of earlier, familiar faces: the same Smash fighters whom they had seen earlier in the bleachers and among the crowd were now underground with them as well in the grand lobby. The seven Mole players slowly began to walk up to them, looking relieved. The other Smashers were their friends...and they perhaps could help them solve the terrible crime which had occured.
MISSION: STADIUM SABOTEUR
1 HOUR and 55 MINUTES - TO FIND THE STADIUM STONE THIEF
"Such an unbelievable, bizarre scene...this theft," they heard Bayonetta sigh, as they got nearer to them. She and Zelda were drinking refreshments, nervous glances on their faces. Captain Falcon looked more confident than everyone else around him, almost as if he was unfazed and unaware of the theft incident which had just happened and taken place.
"Heya!" A very smiling Inkling, once again, noticed the group of Mole players first. From across the room, she waved friendlily and wildly again to them.
She, Bayonetta, Zelda, Olimar, and Captain Falcon all turned to them in surprise, mixed expressions in total. But the five Smashers seemed nonetheless delighted to see their Smash friends.
"The five of them...they must have all come down here from the bleachers after hearing the shocking news about the gem theft," Lucina realized. "But they may be vital in asking and answering questions and information, so we must collaborate with them. Any info they can give us can help us find the perpetrator...among this large, immense stadium."
"Maybe we can get them to join our detective team and help us with this stupid crime!" Kazooie cheered, walking quickly in their direction and ready to greet them fully. But then...DK grabbed her by the feathers of her neck at the last, panicked second.
"Wha—OWPH!" Kazooie halted, turning around, and snapped an angry glare at the ape himself.
"Uh…uh..." DK stammered, but Kazooie countered back.
"What was THAT rude action for?" she hollered angrily to him . But everyone looked at DK...and his eyes were wide with shock as he gulped loudly. He was now staring at the unrolled, large sheet of suspects which their host had handed to him just five minutes ago. It was a grand paper...holding many circles...and one of the faces upon the large sheet of paper was the criminal's.
"I...uhh….I don't think we want any of their...help...in solving this crime," DK said nervously with wide eyes, keeping his voice down.
"Why not?" Joker asked, his eyebrow raising at him. "We can all work together to find this criminal. Let's use their help. They're our friends."
"Yeah!" Kazooie shouted. "Why not...oh..."
And as everyone else looked at the now-opened, unrolled, exposed suspect sheet as well...their feelings and hearts dropped...and they all suddenly knew what had changed DK's mind. And the seven of them realized the unmistakable, unfortunate truth.
It was the Smash Roster.
"Because the criminal of Pokémon Stadium...is one of our friends."
:OOO
(surprised Pikachu face)
Lol pun intended. So who is the true criminal of the Pokémon Stadium heist? Take your bets! Taken...taken...gone! Hehehe. Actually, they were some subtle clues and foreshadowing for things to come in the next chapter!
And now...the announcement...
THE MOLE: DECEIVER'S WORLD OFFICIAL WEBSITE IS NOW UP! :D
That's right! This is my gift for so many people reviewing and leaving such wonderful words! And great theories and Mole guesses :) I enjoy reading every single one!
Anyways, check out the website on my profile! With my totally-mediocre website skills, I was able to muster something semi-not-completely-ugly decent xD bahahaah. (my previous fic sites were all templates and cheated, from site design auto sites, hahaha). I hope you guys enjoy it!
Some things to keep in mind: 1. THE LAYOUT IS A BIT WONKY AT SOME POINTS! I apologize if the texts and pictures don't line up completely, baha, especially on the "Players" page.
2. Oh, and if you don't hear music don't forget to PRESS THE MUSIC BUTTONS located near the tops of the pages! ATMOSPHERE IS EVERYTHING!:D If the music sounds glitched, refresh the page just once! 3.
Also, YOU CAN ONLY VIEW IT ON A PC! I haven't been able to make it mobile friendly just yet! :( Well, you can view it on your phone but it's all messed up, bahah.
So far, the main page is finished, as well as half of the Player Bios! I'll finish the rest of the players, and hopefully some of the missions page, on the next update! I'm yet to still write the host page and the missions page, and anything else, but I'll complete them soon! :) Till next update! But yeah, check it out for now and enjoy!
Anyways, stay tuned! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! And don't forget to review if you can! :) Every review helps my inspiration to continue and update so much! :)The stadium mystery resolves...next chapter!
Dark Punxysaur: Happy new year! :D Yeah, the trio is totally falling to their expected stereotype actions, baha. But….it is so interesting how you pointed to Isabelle's action as possibly suspicious, her action of suddenly getting the tourist group's signatures out of nowhere :O little things like that make you wonder. I love that you loved the Pokémon onesie girls and their costumes! :D I wanted to incorporate more Pokémon into the picture. Also, I just KNEW the choices of Pokémon and costumes would look like a clue to some readers! I was hesitating on whether to include them or not but I just had to for the cute imagery xD Oh no! Wii Fit and Kazooie raising up some elimination flags! Could it be? However...I was evil, and after your review, I edited the ending of Chapter 17 a bit to show and explicitly type out that they indeed won their exemptions and are safe. Sorry Dx! Interesting if Lucario would have ever decided to align forces with Joker or not if he was asked, hmm! That is a future alternate timeline we would never know... And lastly, true...a big "You failed!" tragic sad ending right in our face at the end of Chapter 17, hahaa :( The saddest way to end a chapter, ahahaa
Masking What Remains: Bahaha! XD I'm so glad you enjoyed the petition titles! I was trying to think of incrementally-terrible causes. I was inspired by one mission in the Australian Mole :) In one season, they had to get enough supporters, while in New Zealand, to sign for their petition, "Make New Zealand a Colony of Australia". Obviously that didn't go well xD And yess! Im glad you were surprised by the outcome of Wii Fit and Kazooie winning the exemptions! I wanted to make it as misleading as possible. Indeed, the five players now on death row do not seem happy about that win at all D: A happy new year to you too! :D
DarkSymphony777: Wait a minute...Piantissimo mentioning he's interested in getting into politics...this is canon to his true future in becoming mayor, no?! :O The detail continuity is sublime...I respect much. McHallyboo is a reality warper?! This may be something that I have to add to the canon world as well. Lol, Piantissimo's "He transpired a huge check in front of me for winning", lmfaooo, well, at least he got his money. And wow...the history between Sherry and Holly is very interesting. I wonder what will be revealed more later! I wonder how Eclair is truly doing during all this. And Dashell. I mean, Dashell, must still be going through his heartbreak withdrawal time period at this point in time xD
Cavin856: Isabelle and her mayor assistant antics are always so funny; I wonder what other fraudulent things she does behind the scenes, hmmm. Yeah! Let's just hope Dark Pit doesn't quit the game if he hits another breaking point D': I'm glad you appreciated Joker's mention of the time limit being higher than usual! :) I didn't know whether to include that or not due to wanting to avoid over-wordiness, but I'm glad I did :D On the downside, the riddle Wii Fit saw about "four yellow lights" was not clever a tall and could have been more puzzley-fun for the readers, but it totally wasn't x'D I hope this next new mission makes up for that! Bahaha. EEk! You noticed lines and suspicious stuff throughout the chapter! I was wondering when someone would pick up on it...and boy, did you pick up on it A LOT. I read all your theories and even your impressive list of anagrams! Why am I surprised at this point and did not see any of this intense theorizing coming? LOL. You theorize so well :D And I enjoyed it! You even counted the number of dots. I am a fan of morse code myself, so whether this is a true morse code clue or not, we shall see eventually!
FFWF: "A mission rigged against the players in every possible way" Sounds like a Mole game! xD Oh but seriously, your line about, "This whole game seems specifically rigged against Dark Pit", hahaha, maybe he wasn't the beeeeest candidate to have on such a show as 'The Mole', huh? I'm so glad you picked up on Isabelle excelling in the social challenge! I totally made that intentional given her background as a sociable mayor's assistant :) Oh….oh...here comes another epic symbolic, literary from FFWF: "Wii Fit and Kazooie - it's amusing; what it took for them to be friends was for them to stop being coalition partners." STOP! I can't! How beautiful can these lines be?! xD You're so right, and later on in this episode they have another conversation, so the connection between these two isn't dead yet! I like how you factored in all the possibilities of what the mission ending could have done, and you analyzed perfectly exactly what two exemptions would do: indeed, a huge, huger wedge splitting up the team. Yayyy! And your lasy words made me very happy :) I'm glad you see the story as still a mystery! There're two kinds of readers I feel: those who cement right into certain suspects, and those who keep on getting thrown here and there in different thoughts and suspicious, as if in a hurricane. Whenever I watch/read the Mole... I am a little bit of both x'D
Luiaisy: Hello! Happy 2021 indeed! :) I'm so, so glad you see a sort of character arc change in Wii Fit! She is definitely more than her one-dimensional mean side: like most "villains", they tend to change over time and as situations change. Maybe she is a bit like that? :o Hahaha, thank you for pointing out the "Isabelle can lie?" line by Dark Pit xD I guess it's up to you to truly decide and interpret what that line truly means and what Dark Pit thinks! And also, Joker has interesting lines as well, claiming he "chose" Lucina. What on earth? I guess you have to try and guess for yourselves the meaning of these sorts of lines, hmm, lol. Wow! Very interesting, unique theory surrounding DK! That he is connected to Diddy and Tiny, and thus doesn't want to endure such a stressful game as his other fellow family did in the past?! The lore thickens! I love it :D HAHAA! The list of objects showing the hidden powers that the female players have in locating objects ( Signatures, ropes, crushes, label on an apple, loopholes to get a Plus 7, signpost that has an evil Mole message in it) . The anime girls are OC! I really wanted to research actual characters found in Lumiose City, but couldn't find any that gave and matched enthusiastic, teenage-girl vibes as these onesie-dressed girls! Maybe they are hidden somewhere in the actual game? ;D bahahaha. And the highlights of your Suspect List go to DK and Dark Pit. "Please stop yelling", LMFAO. And Dark Pit being the Mole is basically the meme, "Well yes...but actually, no."
Mr. Rainbow Dude: Yessss! That happens quite a lot throughout my Mole series, of exemptions not being awarded due to broken rules! I'm thinking of the Camera game from Saboteur's Island between Wario and Vivian. Oh...now you're being sarcastic! xD Are you? "Imagine losing an exemption and being eliminated that episode". It's not like it happened to Fox...or Peach...or Lucario….cough anyways. Yeah! I like how your elimination mathematics totally were reflected by Isabelle in the latest chapter haha! And Yayy! I'm totally embracing your Wii Fit suspicion here :D She is less suspected in comparison to the other players by readers! Having a strategy of accusing others as the Mole/an imposter is an interesting one: if you don't balance it well, it can look really obvious, but if you do it just enough, maybe it could work! Or not...hahaha. And don't scream! Please don't! You'll wake up the Mole!
Cocotots: I'm sooo happy you decided to review! :D It was just the inspiration I needed it to write a large chunk of this chapter! So thank you so much :) Yes, you get verified confirmation: Wii Fit and Kazooie indeed won the exemptions! Ahaha. Nice thinking and analyzing on how Lucina and Joker's actions, on whether to take stairs vs. elevator at certain points, may have been possible sabotage! Very interesting! I'm in love with our Top 2 suspects as always, as Kazooie and DK are less sought out after among readers! :) And perfect Pokémon world analysis! Indeed, we sadly do not see Lucario...but he does get his mentioning cameo in this latest chapter :) And to think that we're gonna see everyone again in the finale...makes me so happy! I kinda always forget that little, happy fact, ahaha.
Guest: Haha! Thanks for missing me! You see...I tend to have an upload chapter rate and my speed of updates depends sooo much on how many (meaningful) reviews I get for each chapter... :) And if you think I'm exaggerating the power of reviews, you are DEAD WRONG. Whenever I get a review, it's a magic spark. A single review, and I'm pushed to write and produce ten paragraphs of inspiration like BAM! I really appreciate all of you for supporting me! and reading and reviewing :) What would I even do without you guys?