Hey everyone! Thanks for waiting :) I'm really glad to see everyone again! Oh dang, it's June already?!
Anyways, just a short spiel. So lately I've been a bit slow in updating…just due to lower motivation and confidence. Just over the past month or two, as much as out of my control it is, there's been an absence of reviews and feedback lately for the last few chapters, and as much as it shouldn't affect me...I realize motivation and continuing of this story really did take a hit on me.
I know it's nothing I can control though... XD though... I would be lying to say that the absence of thoughts and words from readers recently haven't been a cause in my delays and gaps of writing......But in the end of everything, that's just okay! Perhaps there's not much I can do on that : ) and honestly, maybe I shouldn't be so downhearted.
Anyways, I hate complaining about such…it makes me feel like a brat haha xD We should write cause we enjoy, not because we need to be compelled to through other means. So I always try to keep those feelings low and my spirits high-spirited up :)
Thank you all for those who are STILL continuing to support my story and continuing this adventure and journey with me! :) You have no idea when I say that this is the reason I was able to finish this chapter today!
Also…if you have Netflix (or even if you don't)…THERE IS AMAZING NEWS RELATED TO THE MOLE! :) Not even kidding! Stay tuned to the end of the chapter :D !
Anyways, enjoy! The middle adventures and drama of the episode awaits!
Episode 5 (Part 3)
An argument in the usually-peaceful Hyrule town brings up old...and new...mysteries. At a bay of water and long-lived lands, all six players must work with an ancient creature to win.
"Whaaat?! You want MEE to come spy on them with you? No way, Kazooie!"
In the very old….yet still under an aura of royalty...town beneath Hyrule Castle, DK and Kazooie were conspiring within the refined room of the Castle Town's Inn. With thick-enough stone walls to hide conversations, the room was perfect for planning anything conniving and for machinating any secret, covert tasks to take place in the summer night. Outside the window, the sky was dark and the once-bustling town was now quiet with still air, the moon shining high in the clear night. DK was still looking at his teammate incredulously at her spoken request.
Kazooie: I needed DK. Well...if I wanted to survive.
"Why not?" Kazooie replied, taking one of DK's pillows and relaxing on the textiled inn bed. "I need someone by my side to spy on Joker and Lucina with...anddd you'd be perfect to have as a partner!"
"But why me? I don't want to get caught! If Joker or Lucina somehow discover we're there, I'm TOTALLY dead meat!"
"See, that's the point!" Kazooie reasoned, getting up excitedly. "You're the strongest player in our group! So you can fight them off and give us protection if they do catch us!"
"YOU WANT ME TO FIGHT?! Heck no!"
"Shhh! No...I want you to protect me in case I have to fight. And, I trust you the most out of all people here, DK. So that's why I'm choosing you. So...whadd'ya say? This short task will be over before you know it! I swear!" DK looked flattered, grinning. But then, his face dropped...the ape skeptical.
"I...don't know about this!" he considered again, loudly moaning.
"Hey…come on….." Kazooie turned to him, having already finished gathering her assortment of objects: a lantern, an extra jacket, a secret book, and a light pointer, all extraneous items for her mini-expedition. And along with her items...she had a face of determination and eagerness. "This is a spy mission! Spy missions are exactly what we have to do in the game of 'The Mole' to survive! This game is DESIGNED to be of all sneaky espionage and subterfuge. Even if neither of us are the Mole...we still have to do these kinds of things as normal players, right?" Kazooie smiled to him.
Kazooie: You need to take risks. That's how you play. If you don't, you can't win this game! DK wasn't taking any. But I was going to.
DK: Then, I thought: I'm here for an adventure! Not a boring time! Also, in this mission, maybe I can find the Mole. Thanks for making me remember, Kazooie!
"Hmm….you're kinda sounding right there…just a little..." DK nodded in consideration. He slung a knapsack onto his back. And then, DK turned to her fully...face more positive than before and eyes of adventure.
"Ready?"
"Okay, Kazooie," DK said, looking even more excited than he was before, grinning fully now. "I'm ready to...DESTROY...THAT...MOLE DATE!"
DK: I didn't know until after that I'd end up regretting the whole thing. What else didn't I expect? Well...you see...getting betrayed by Kazooie herself.
Sneaking out behind the stony, old-architecture edifice that was the large inn itself, Kazooie and DK both walked around its back together, exiting from the secret rear exit of the building and making their way around its sides to the front. Walking on tiptoes, they traversed towards the hotel's front...watching cautiously left, and right, and at every corner of the town they saw. Finally, they reached the front of the inn...and saw empty streets before them. The moon was high in the Hyrule air and sky. No one noticed them.
"We avoided the front entrance and the hallways...and reached the main path," Kazooie breathed with a sigh, looking back at the inn's wooden, closed entrance doors. "Nice. We're avoiding any other players as well. We're doing pretty good here."
DK looked in relief, a little on edge. "Phew! Hopefully no one comes and—-"
"YEEOWWWW!" DK turned and crashed right into someone. It was their teammate.
"What the HECK are you guys doing here!?" Dark Pit yelled, almost falling back onto the concrete inn front steps. The dark angel looked bedazzled. Kazooie and DK blinked with worry.
Kazooie: Sneaky mission...failed.
"What? What?! No no no….We're...not….uh….you see…" DK stammered, face obviously guilty. Dark Pit folded his arms.
"Mmmhmm," Dark Pit frowned. "You're sneaking out. To do something."
"You won't tell anyone you saw us totally sneaking out of the inn, will you?" DK pleaded, eyes nervous to him. Dark Pit smiled evilly.
"Hmm...it depends," he grinned.
"Stop that nonsense," Kazooie stated flatly. "We're gonna walk out of here anywhere, and you better not say anything to anyone else, or your wings will be on tomorrow's menu."
"Whatever. Fine with me. Bye." Dark Pit headed towards the inn's entrance...then he stopped to turn around.
Dark Pit: Suspicious stuff. I wanted answers.
"What...weeeeeere you guys planning to do anyway tonight?" Dark Pit asked suspiciously.
"Maybe he can help us," DK whispered to Kazooie.
"Nothing." Kazooie smiled shiftily.
"Really?" Dark Pit asked.
"Yep!" Kazooie replied. But she was subtly smiling, annoying the dark angel.
"Tell. Me. What's. Going. On!"
"Okay...since you're so, so curious...we're on a little spy mission," Kazooie began. "And you're totally invited." Dark Pit raised his eyebrow at her.
"What exactly is going on?" he asked her, annoyed. "You're leaving out all the details."
Kazooie faced him...with a sly smile. "We're spying...because Joker's going on a date with Lucina." At her words...Dark Pit's face changed.
"...did you say he's going on a date with Lucina?" he uttered, shocked.
"Yeah! What's wrong?" Kazooie asked, seeing his changed face. "So... you're in to join us?"
"Yeah! Wanna come!?" DK asked excitedly. Dark Pit was silent for a moment.
"No. I don't care," he snapped, looking away and shaking his head angrily.
"Huh? Really? You don't want to come?" Kazooie piped up, confused, noticing his face change.
"I said no! Geez! What would I even care a rat's butt about all that?!" he yelled loudly and heatedly. "I don't care about spying on people, or DUMB romance stuff, or whoever Joker is DATING, or who he likes or whatever stupid stuff! Stop wasting my time and life! Bye!"
"Whoa! Haha, take it easy, man!" DK laughed, holding his hands up in defense. "We were just wondering! Don't worry! We'll let you be. Just...see ya later!"
"Yeah, we'll update you on any juicy stuff if so," Kazooie told him, winking. "And whether we catch any info. Or...maybe the Mole."
"Whatever. Losers." The duo then started walking away.
"Hehe...that was close..." Kazooie and DK walked away, shrugging shoulders, then continued down their way on the main stone path of the town.
"Seemed a bit agitated when we mentioned the plan to him," Kazooie commented, amused.
"Yeah, totally!" DK agreed to her. "Do you think he's the Mole and doesn't want players like us spying everywhere and without permission? Undermining his possible Mole plans?"
"Maybe," Kazooie replied, "But...I think maybe he's just an edgy, sad, moody teen."
"Oh," DK thought, hand on his chin. "That was centuries ago and years, years, YEARS back for me. Man. I wasn't even throwing barrels then!"
The town was quiet at night, even across different parts of the town, and the moon was shining in the air: it was a full moon. The fountain in the square's middle was still running, amplifying an aura of peacefulness in the town that spread to every corner of the civilization. The only sounds in Hyrule Castle Town were the town square's fountain water flowing gently….and glasses and silverware being set on tables by two diners. It was nine-thirty at night, and Joker and Lucina were partaking in their planned meeting together at the town's cafe.
"I am more than pleased with the quietness and quality of this cafe," Lucina spoke with appreciation, taking a look at the cafe's location. Tables were situated outside on a wooden elevated platform that made up the dining area. A blue umbrella-shaped covering was above their table, protecting them from any sun or rain if there were any. But there was nothing else present...except for calm feelings. She and Joker were the only two patrons at the cafe.
"I sense...a pleasant aura," Lucina whispered.
"You are sounding like someone we both know," Joker nodded, taking a sip of his tea, smirking. "An aura...like Lucario." Lucina gasped...then smiled slightly, sadly.
"It's just been two episodes ago...but I feel like my memory of him was slowly being overshadowed by all the new worries and stress of this game...Lucario was strong, yet peaceful in keeping the balance for so many days and weeks...thank you for not letting me forget those who have fallen in the past."
Lucina: The ones who have fallen...they are the ones I respected the most.
"We're all going to fade eventually," Joker spoke nonchalantly, setting his cup down and sighing.
"Yes...so, I am happy we have this peaceful time to relax in this game," Lucina spoke. "Thank you for bringing me here to enjoy."
"Indeed...and I believe it is something you very much deserve...to relax in such a game like this," Joker added to her, winking.
"A game as mind-strenuous and stressful as 'The Mole'…indeed, needed," Lucina said quietly. A waiter came to them with their second main entrée.
"Your prime poultry curry," the waiter greeted, and the two diners nodded with thanks. But Lucina was quiet, not yet eating her food.
"I'm curious...there are six people left…do you think the Mole is doing a sufficient job hiding? And do you think...just like us five genuine players...they are having a lot of stress and nervousness within themself too?" Lucina asked Joker.
"Hmm." Wiping his mouth, Joker was still...and then responded to her with a thoughtful look and thoughtful eyes. "If they volunteered to jump for the very role of the Mole in the first place...I believe that person had already very, very much set themselves in preparation...mentally and physically...for the upcoming stress of such a dastardly role. I would say they are doing rather fine." He laughed. "You aren't feeling sorry for the Mole, are you? They don't deserve such sentients from you."
Joker: It only just made sense. Only the strongest can take the role of a saboteur in a tricky, daunting group of dwindling numbers. One must never lose their cool. Yet...has one already? Has one of us slipped? Are they perhaps showing themself? One thing is certain, however: I had no pity for the Mole at all.
"Things are just very...unpredictable here," Lucina thought. "And perhaps they did not expect such difficulties before they had chosen the role as the traitor...maybe they are under distress."
"One thing you have to know, Lucina: the Mole isn't a god or a goddess. They have their fallacies. So...you should relax." Joker smiled deviously.
"Relax...in what sense?"
"In knowing you can perhaps beat them," Joker responded, leaning back into his chair and looking at her carefully. Lucina nodded in thought too, and then began eating her dish.
From the opposite end of the town square...two players had finally entered in under the archway entrance and into the center of the ancient town. Crouched on the ground and looking to their sides cautiously every second that they breathed, Kazooie and DK were almost crawling like animals on the stone-riddled floor as they made it closer and closer to the middle fountain, chins almost on the hard, dusty flooring. The occasional, still-awake villager was able to cover their tracks and keep from anyone else spotting and discerning their conspicuous bodies right away. Then...spotting two people they had been looking for sitting at the cafe from the opposite side of them….Kazooie gasped.
"That's...them…!" she whispered, hissing to DK. "Lucina and Joker...over there! DK!"
"Yeah!" DK said loudly, then covered his mouth as his eyes shot wide open at his mistake. Kazooie turned to him with a disbelieving, annoyed countenance.
"Really?!" But luckily, Lucina and Joker were too far away from them to hear them.
The two hiding players observed them for a minute from the opposite side of the square
"They look...peaceful," DK noted.
"Hmm." Kazooie was thinking hard. The red bird's face looked conflicted...contemplating...thinking…
"What's wrong?" DK aske his question in seeing Kazooie's changed expression. Her eyes were sharp, looking at the two diners...but not as angrily or spiteful as before.
"What if the date is...actually genuine…?" Kazooie spoke, almost softly.
Kazooie: But...I couldn't take any chances.
"What are you thinking we should do…?"
"Slight change of plans," Kazooie spoke quickly, turning to him. "We go up behind them and listen to them. If all seems well, we don't disrupt. But...if something is amiss...we interrupt."
"By jumping out and surprising them?!"
"No…" Kazooie glanced to the side...and something caught her sight on the ground. Something big...and larger than the other spheres around it. It was a giant stone, larger than the rest, among the other rocks located on the stoned floor.
With her new idea, she smiled...mischievously.
And slowly, every-so-crouching, they headed over to the back of the café to listen more.
"So who do you think the Mole could be?" It was a question that made Lucina stop sipping her tea. They had fully finished their main entrees...but the conversation between them continued. And so did the listening and spying of two players who had just reached near their spot.
"I do not know," Lucina answered in reply to Joker's question. "Or rather...I have an opinion. But I do not wish to tell you." The caped man just nodded in acceptance.
"I feel like that's an unfair question to ask you," Joker replied, smiling a bit. "After all, we're not in a coalition, or close in teamwork…"
"But I do appreciate your openness in asking," Lucina said, then the princess stopped. "If you think such a question is permissible to be asked and answered...Joker, why don't you answer the question first?" Joker paused for a second, surprised at her counter...then he grinned greatly.
"Of course," Joker began. "It may be a surprise to you, as I'm sure she feels closest to you of all people here...but I do suspect Isabelle a bit. A small dog... her character of intelligence yet naivety in a great combination...just what secrets can she be hiding? I find her continual innocence rather off-putting."
"Innocence...innocence that you're assuming is fake?" Lucina replied, surprised but listening to him. "Isabelle..."
"You never know," Joker said, leaning back and smiling. "She can just be pulling off an act. Someone like Isabelle is used to stressful situations as an assistant mayor of an entire village. She always. Has. To put an act. For her villagers. For everyone depending on her and thinking she's calm and happy-spirited." Lucina thought silently.
"Putting an act...not just her," Lucina whispered. "All of us have been at times. Maybe me, even."
"Another person I suspect...DK," Joker continued. "I didn't start suspecting him until the last episode. In Episode 4...did you know that he was too eager and scaring off civilians when he tried to garner petition signatures in front of the Lumiose Tower?"
"I did not know," Lucina said, surprised.
"Dark Pit told me...it's the things you find out when you get people to trust you." Lucina was silent.
"Dark Pit...you have his trust?" Lucina asked him.
"Do I have yours?" Joker and Lucina looked at each other.
"Isabelle...DK...Dark Pit...we have suspects…so who is the correct Mole?"
Three tables over...and behind the elevated wooden platform of the cafe that held all the tables and chairs...Kazooie and DK were listening with alerted ears and focusing eyes...and mixed feelings.
"This is really intriguing to listen to...and a bit fun...but we can't lose focus," Kazooie whispered, her eyes beady and staring at the two patrons. "If we decide we have to end the date, you know what to do: throw the large rock at the café sign on the opposite side of the platform...and make them so scared and suspicious, they'll run away and end the date for good. We'll save Lucina."
"Joker...suspects me?!" DK stammered, face shocked and staring at the man on the cafe platform.
"Yeah, but don't let that rile you," Kazooie whispered, peering over the edge and looking at the two players closely.
"I wanna jump on that stage and beat him to a pulp!" DK said angrily, his gruff voice going above just slightly above a whisper.
"Hey!" Kazooie used her wing to whack him with her feathers, as DK ducked down a bit in acceptance and humiliation to shut up. "First of all, you should be happy you're a suspect! That's a good thing for you! Speaking in the situation that you're not the Mole, that is. And second, we have to see if Joker says anything else. Anything bad. Anything worse…"
"Worse...like what?" DK asked her.
"Well, worse. And suspicious. Such as-"
But Kazooie's answer was cut short, because Joker said one more line...a sentence that made the bird freeze and face towards Joker from many tables away with widened, shocked eyes.
"Lucina…" Joker began, as he began to lean closer to the princess from within his chair, as Lucina was silent, stunned.. "If...I told you I was the Mole...because I liked you very much and wanted you to win this game...would you believe me?"
Lucina gasped. "I..." she answered.
And then Kazooie snapped into action.
"DK...fire your rock now!" she hissed. "At the cafe sign…!"
Kazooie: That was the line. A line...of nothing but trickery and ill-will. We had to end this.
"Got you…" DK whispered excitedly, standing up. He mustered up his strength, bringing up his large arm back to throw the rock. He took his aim with a determined, focused face of rushed calculation.
"Three...two…"
"One…!"
"Fireeeee-Ahhggggg!"
DK stumbled, losing his momentum and balance in a moment of panic and frustration.
And instead of throwing the rock...DK himself fell right onto the wooden platform, slamming down onto it, face down to the wood with a loud THUDDDDDDDDDDD!
It was a thud that anyone in the entire Hyrule Castle Town Square could hear.
Lucina and Joker immediately stood up with surprise...faces beyond confusion...and saw DK on the ground behind them. DK was sprawled on the platform behind them, a stunned expression on his face. The three of them were silent.
"What...in the world-" Joker began.
"I...shooooot…" DK began, a sheepish grin on his face. "I can explain…" Joker and Lucina just stared at him. The air was silent and still...even worse than it was before.
"Uhh...give me a second to think and explain!" DK yelled, panicked.
"Yes...please explain...why you are here amidst our secret date," Joker replied, eyebrow raised, expression bewildered and caught off guard.
"You mean amidst your secret attempt of deception?" came another voice, and Kazooie entered into the picture, rising and revealing herself from behind the wooden platform and stepping towards them. Lucina and Joker both gasped.
"...Kazooie?" Lucina whispered, shocked, seeing the red bird. Kazooie looked at them with a triumphant smile.
"Yep, we're both here...bird out of the bag," Kazooie replied, then turned snarkily and angrily towards Joker, "because SOMEONE here is not as innocent as they're trying to appear." Kazooie locked eyes with the masked man.
"I...CANNOT...believe it..." Joker looked back at her, shaking his head quite madly.
Kazooie: I wasn't going to lose sight of him. Even if he tried to go off and escape. Nu-uh, thief!
"DK, make sure he doesn't leave!" Kazooie ordered him. DK looked frantic.
"I'm not going to leave," Joker sighed to her, laughing.
'Good," Kazooie smirked.
"Just for what reason are you so rudely interrupting our peaceful date for?" Joker said to her with a heavy roll of his eyes. "Obviously, this is all rather awkward. And were you truly spying on us? This just is rather all inappropriate, truly."
"I came here...to save you," Kazooie said with truth in her voice, and she was looking at Lucina. Lucina's eyes widened.
"...me?"
"You don't deserve to be tricked by people playing with your heart just for their own benefits."
"Oh, please!" Joker laughed out loud in reply to her sentence. "You're calling this all a date of deception...but only you are the deceived one, Kazooie, because you are delusional in your declarations. You have no grounds, or proof, or anything. Nothing tangible...nor intangible, that I am tricky."
"Oh, really?" Kazooie's large eyes shined. "No proof, you say? Nothing...tangible? Oh...just wait..." DK stepped back with surprise, seeing Kazooie unearth something from the knapsack of many items from upon her back. She reached over with both wings to grab it from behind, and now...the object was in her possession. Everyone stared at the small, rectangular object, leather object...something that she carefully kept since the second episode of the game. In her wings...was a journal. A green journal that didn't belong to her...but someone else.
Joker stared at his journal.
"That's...the journal that Joker lost in Episode 2, wasn't it!?" DK gasped himself, seeing Kazooie holding it. "You had it, Kazooie?!"
"Ah...you thief," Joker said with a face displaying shock. "How dare you. That's...that is my journal."
"Your acting is really terrible," Kazooie chuckled lightly, then, her face turned serious to everyone.
Lucina: What was the truth?
"Three episodes ago…" Kazooie explained, holding the journal and staring at it with memory, "Wii Fit approached me and claimed to have found this forgotten journal in the hut of the Fountain of Dreams. A journal...lost and misplaced by Joker. And she and I used it to see into his mind and based our gameplay on it. We thought we had the upper edge. However…" Kazooie closed her eyes...then spoke again, determined. "It was all fake. This wasn't a real journal at all. Not. One. Bit. It was a completely fictional…. fake journal...with all this elaborate made-up information...that you purposely left behind to trick someone else in the game." At her last sentence of accusation...Lucina and DK both gasped.
"...WHAT?!" DK exclaimed, looking with bewilderment at Joker. Joker frowned...but still slightly smiling.
"All false accusations," Joker replied. "Don't believe her, DK and Lucina."
"Then why did Smash Host," Kazooie said carefully, smiling with memory, "at the beginning of Episode 3 tell you that the maximum of allowed journals were three?" And at her sentence...Joker's smile vanished.
Kazooie: I knew he couldn't run. Physically, or mentally.
"It...yes, I remember, it was true," Lucina said suddenly, remembering. "Smash Host did say that...three journals were the maximum allowed...you must have requested two extra on top of your real one...and made a fake one to plant as a trap..." Lucina turned to Joker...shocked.
"Lucina, don't you see it?" Kazooie tried to tell her convincingly, almost pleadingly. "He's not here to take you on a fancy date, or eat delicious food, or show you beautiful views of this Hyrule town. He's here to trick you! Trick you in the game of the Mole, as a genuine player, to vote for him." Kazooie paused...then spoke again with new thought.
"Or if he's the Mole...even worse...he's going to do everything in his might and mind to make you vote for someone else." Lucina was frozen at Kazooie's words.
"Ri...di...cu...lous," Joker sighed, looking at Kazooie with anger and exasperation. "Absolutely ridiculous. Lucina, let us go and leave these two buffoons. I'd like to show you Hyrule Castle, truly."
"Oh, nice. Where you could show her another fake journal?!" Kazooie spoke with accusation.
"Hmm, if you insist...!" Joker looked at her, vexed, stepping up to her.
"Uhh...I'll go now...maybe I have nothing to do with this…!" DK butted in, looking the least comfortable in the entire scenario of players, slightly backing off the café patio himself.
"You have everything to do with this! You and your extended family mystery!" Kazooie blurted.
Everyone was silent. Kazooie covered her beak regretfully.
"...EXCUSE ME!?" DK yelled, his face shooting into a combination of defense mode and shock to her. "What are you talking about, Kazooie?!" Joker himself even stopped for a second, his face no longer in anger, but confused. Kazooie's eyes were wide with regret.
"What do you mean...extended family?" Joker asked, suspicious.
"Nothing," Kazooie murmured, shaking her head.
"I…" Lucina spoke. Everyone turned to her. She was, in a way, the center of the previous conversation. Kazooie then offered a wing to her.
"Lucina...don't go with him," she whispered. "From female player to female player...and having been through all this guy stuff myself...I feel it's my duty to help you. Come with me."
"And I implore you...come with me," Joker told her, looking at her with his set of alluring eyes. Lucina was silent.
"I...I believe…" the princess began. Everyone looked at her. And then, she spoke finally.
"I believe I will go back to my inn room…and end the night for now," she said quietly, yet firmly. "I...I think we should all go back to our own rooms and rest. We should end this night." Kazooie and Joker were silent...but couldn't help but nod as well.
"Yeah, we should ALL call it a night!" DK laughed nervously, stretching and giving an exaggerated yawn. "I'm...phew...tired!" He slapped Kazooie on the back, laughing heartily. "Let's forget any of this happened, right? Let's just...forget this all."
DK: Nothing happened tonight. Nope!
Kazooie and Joker stared angrily at each other...not budging for a second.
"...yeah, I suppose you're right," Kazooie finished, ruffling her feathers and sighing, and lastly turning around, getting her eyes off of her enemy finally. "I feel like I did my mission. Ending this night of trickery and deceit."
"Hmm…the trickery and deceit really never ends," Joker said slyly, before stepping off the cafe platform himself. He turned around and began to walk away from the rest of the players. Lucina was silent, then began to do so too...but she then faced Kazooie before she did so...and bowed to her gently. And Kazooie nodded back to her as well. The two female players looked at each other, and walked off. And after a few seconds, DK walked away too.
And within two minutes...no players were left in the town square. The fountain water flowed...replacing the sounds of fighting and mysteries with its rushing water.
In the morning, the sun shined brilliantly and high over the beautiful Hyrule Castle.
Everyone met outside the inn of the town, and it was a very different atmosphere from the night before. Some of them had slept well...while others had not slept well at all. All six players by ten o'clock met in front of the inn, either refreshed or groggy. The streets were now full of walking villagers and carts bringing merchandise and items to different parts of the big town. Sounds were bustling around them...and so were the minds of the remaining players in the game from everything that had happened from the night before.
"Well, I'm glad to see everyone!" Isabelle turned to look at everyone else in her group...a little amused at their muddled expresions.
Isabelle: Oh, so I did hear that I missed some drama from the night before. Why, I found it really funny actually! Usually in my town, as assistant mayor, I am the one caught in all the drama between villagers and their fightings and their requests. It felt good, for once, just for once! ...to not being in the middle of all that ruckus! I really didn't want a stressful time in this game anyway...like I already do experience in real life!
The host welcomed them all, tipping his hat to them.
"Good morning," he said.
"Good...heh," Joker snickered. "What an assuming word."
"Hey, I slept well!" DK shouted, looking at everyone happily. "I didn't think a stoney, Renaissancey Rome-y room would be comfortable, but here I am! Ready to tackle the rest of the day, and any mission!"
"And any people," Kazooie spoke, her beak in a slight smile.
"I hope you've enjoyed Hyrule Castle Town," Smash Host spoke to them, "because we will be leaving soon."
"Already?" Dark Pit asked. The other players looked surprised too.
"Yep, already," the host said. "But this game is always fleeting." He paused. The players...felt the same.
Lucina: I suppose...it was true.
"We always go to new locations before you know it and leave before you know it...don't we in this game, always? And...people are always leaving before you know it, too." The players couldn't help but feel unnerved a bit, shuffling uncomfortably. In a day or two, by the end of their current episode, soon to come, soon...one of them would be leaving out of the game forever at the end. Indeed...the game was fleeting…
...fleeting for everyone except for the Mole.
Across the glistening water, the small wooden sailboat holding the six players glided swiftly across the ocean. The air's scent was that of a magnificent, ancient sea as they entered the new world of Termina: a place once again of Link's travels in his exploration of wild land. And like Link himself, the players were simily, also in their continuous exploration of discovering not just new locations...but the answers to the mysteries surrounding their game. The unknowing players stood on the wood of the small boat, happy and content, wind in their faces, and very glad that they were in a universe of beautiful ocean water that stretched for miles. For nearly an hour, they only stared at the endless horizons of blue. And finally, after a breath of relaxation, they saw the large mass in front of them that hosted multiple lands, different civilizations, and a grand bay: the location for their next mission that was Termina itself.
The long bay that they were approaching seemed to stretch from one end of the land's West side to the other. Mountains and valleys made up a majority of Termina's expanse back, but their large bodies and grey colors contrasted strongly with that of the lush, green smaller flora and trees closer to the shores of the land, the area which they were approaching. The players took a wide look at the large shore that greeted them as their boat floated closer and closer to their next destination. A few huts and palm trees were located on the beach that they were headed to, but a few hundred yards in front of the sandy beach itself, an odd arrangement of platforms upon the water and a sphere-shaped house made up what the players recognized as, not the marine research laboratory it was, but as a fighting stage they had seen before.
"So nice to be here…" The wooden boat, after sailing for so long, finally reached on the shore. And though one could argue a few similarities, the beach-like land seemed distinct and entirely different than that of Yoshi's island: the new land was more historic-looking...more real...and one with mysteries and unknown areas to be explored in the land. One by one, the players stepped off the boat and onto the sand. DK jumped off the boat with a grin, amazed.
"Wow!...seeing everything in real life is just...so COOL!" DK realized, kicking and punching at the sand on the ground and laughing. A few houses existed on the beach, and villagers and fishermen were walking amuck, some of them smiling at the arrived players. The players smiled back, happy to see others. Palm trees gave them shade and also gave them comfort, in addition to the Zora creatures that greeted them.
"I don't get it…why do we have rights to visit and teleport to some lands when we fight, while other locations have to be virtual and fake when we fight upon them? Hmmm?" Kazooie questioned, looking at Smash Host.
"I have no idea," the host answered, laughing. "I am not a fighter."
"We're DLC," Joker smirked to Kazooie. "We're new."
"Yeah, too bad some of us are limited by that fact," Kazooie chirped slyly.
"Welcome to the Great Bay Region…" Smash Host took in a breath of ocean-fresh air as he spoke to them. "A large shore here in Termina. This is home to the aquatic race of the Zoras, whose name should sound familiar...they have a river based on them...a river that some of you had the very fortunate chance of falling into just the day before today." At this sentence...DK shuddered. Isabelle let out a sound of dismay. Kazooie laughed.
"Also, there are Gerudo Pirates here usually, but today, it's just you six and a few villagers of the Zora tribe. But nevertheless, the hot weather here and clear-ish waters of the sea are enough to make you all enjoy this place...and also play a game." The players seemed ready and already expecting for their second mission of the episode.
"I wonder what the game will be here," Isabelle wondered, looking around at the large bay.
"Before we begin, however," Smash Host began, smiling a little, eyes glancing to behind the players at the large ocean behind them, "I'd like to introduce...someone else that will play a vital role in your next game."
"Someone...else?" The players turned around slowly to look at the sea as well. The six of them faced the blue ocean and saw nothing amidst the still water, and thought the host was only playing a trick. But all of sudden, before their very eyes, the surface broke, and some of them stepped back with surprise at the sudden emergence of...something unexpected and odd. A large body of land immediately rose into existence, the produced waves hitting the shore and surprising them. But it wasn't a new island that suddenly appeared...even though it looked like it. They all were stunned.
Joker: It was a shelled friend, of course..
"A big...turtle!" The players gasped, then laughed. The giant creature floated before them, gentle and old. Its expression was calm...but they could sense that the turtle itself was also happy to see the players.
"Please welcome this kind, elegant creature for your next game," the host said grandly. "This beloved, centuries-old Giant Turtle. There's no name for him, though villagers here nicknamed him Raphael, others Selaphiel, yadda yadda, but it doesn't matter. Just make sure to be a good guide for him." The ancient, giant creature opened its mouth to yawn. Isabelle laughed.
"Does that mean we'll get to ride him?" she asked excitedly.
"Yep," Smash Host said, his voice turning into host mode. "In fact, I need two turtle riders." Everyone looked at Isabelle, acknowledging her as one from seeing her excited face, then at each other.
"Okay...fine...I'll go," Kazooie declared, raising her wing up. "I want to make turtle soup for myself anyways." Everyone stared at her in disbelief.
Kazooie: I'm kidding!
"Two teams of two," the host continued. The remaining four players looked at each other.
"Dark Pit, let's work together," Joker said to him with a smile. The angel turned to him in surprise.
"Sure! Let's….I mean…you better not trick me," he said with an angry voice, folding his arms. "Whatever."
"Lucina, let's DOOO this!" DK said excitedly, running over to her. Lucina smiled, optimistic for their pair.
"This game today at the Great Bay, in the land of Termina…will be called, "All Aboard the Turtle," the host declared to them.
MISSION 12: ALL ABOARD THE TURTLE
"Two turtle guiders, Kazooie and Isabelle, will be aboard the turtle for this entire game duration," the host explained, as the two female players looked at each other excitedly. "The creature will begin from the West side of the Great Bay within the middle of the water. As soon as the game begins...the turtle will start swimming towards Stop 1. That." He pointed to the multitude of structures and platforms that sat directly in the water in front of the shore they were on. A series of built platforms made up a construction...situated on the water, and a sphere-ish house laid upon it, a signature hook protruding from its top. The house...was the Marine Research Laboratory."
"Duh...we fight there virtually!" DK laughed to the host. "I'm familiar with it!"
"Two players will be located at Stop 1: the Marine Research Laboratory," the host explained. "Their job will be to find as many Zora Eggs hidden in the lab as they can before the turtle comes. When the Giant Turtle passes the laboratory, you must transfer as many of the ten hidden Zora eggs as you can onto the turtle. Each egg that makes it aboard the turtle will be worth 1,000 coins."
"Ten thousand coins right there," DK said nervously, scratching his head.
"Expensive eggs," Kazooie noted.
"Who would like to be at the lab stop?" Smash Host asked. Lucina raised her hand.
"We have familiarity here," Lucina nodded, looking at DK. Smash Host nodded, then continued.
"Stop 2: the turtle will then circle around the ocean until it stops at this very village shore we're standing on," he explained. The players looked around at the various huts, many villagers, and the small marketplace that existed upon the Great Bay they were on.
"Civilization, everyone," Joker smiled. "Nice to not be alone."
"I don't need anyone else," Dark Pit muttered.
"Dark Pit and Joker: you two will be on this beach, and when the turtle passes…you have to transfer as many pieces of dark chicken meat onto the turtle as you can. Each piece is worth $1,000, and there are ten slabs in this market. You're allowed to ask the market people for help. The species of Zora are very kind creatures."
"Why dark meat?" Joker asked, laughing. "I thought white meat was more expensive."
"I don't know. Maybe the Mole doesn't want you to get money," Smash Host winked. "Or maybe...another reason." He turned back to the other duo, DK and Lucina.
"The turtle will then circle around the bay to Stop 3. That will be the Marine Laboratory, once again. DK and Lucina: you must board the turtle to win your portion of the game." Their eyes widened.
"Board it?" Lucina questioned.
"You must retrieve tickets for the turtle…hidden somewhere in the lab," the host nodded.
"I hope we can board it in time!" DK said, flustered at the rules but excited for the game. "And let's hope poor Mr. Turtle over here doesn't sink due to my weight!"
"Stop 4: the shore once again," the host continued, "and Joker and Dark Pit, like the other team, you must find tickets to board the turtle too."
"Oh yeah!" Kazooie squawked with excitement. "All aboard the turtle! Turtle party in the end! It's gonna be fun!"
"It's gonna be crowded," Dark Pit moaned.
"For every player that successfully boards the turtle as it reaches Stop 5...an island on the opposite side of this shore located in the middle of the ocean…that is 5,000 coins to the pot. Also, any eggs or meat that make it to the final island location will count as money. This mission in total…is worth 40,000 coins in total." Everyone gasped.
"That's…that's…" DK began, counting.
"That's the largest our money amount we've ever been offered!" Isabelle gasped. Everyone turned to each other, stunned. But excited.
Lucina: This was our biggest mission yet. It was, yes, very unnerving, but also very exciting for us all. We had the potential to win it all, together.
DK: We were more than halfway into our game….so duh! Finally, it was about time NOW that the missions became larger!
Joker: But would we succeed? Or fall to the Mole? Like we have so many times?
"Hey!" Kazooie noticed, looking around irately in realization. "What do we get to do? Just ride the turtle? I feel unaccomplished! I wanna do something!"
"I wouldn't mind just relaxing upon it," Isabelle commented.
"Kazooie and Isabelle: your job will be to delay the turtle as much as you can," Smash Host said, as they both turned to each other, and then to the turtle, with curiosity. "You have a few tools…a fishing rod, a pungent plant with a bad odor, and a whistle. These tools can help slow the turtle down as much as possible as it continues its trained, guided path. You want it slow down to give your other teammates enough times to find their food and tickets. Also...after Stop 4...you two will be the captains in guiding the turtle to the final island."
"Nice…" Kazooie responded, satisfied and folding her wings. "I'm digging this captain role!"
"I'm really sorry, turtle!" Isabelle said. "I hope we do well! Even if we distract you from your set path!" The turtle didn't seem to mind.
The sun was bright. The waves splashed….and the water was ready to be sailed.
"Ready…to begin your game of the Great Bay?" Everyone looked at the host…then at each other….then to the giant turtle.
A game awaited. And they had to do the best they could to win. Even with a Mole at bay.
Mission: All Aboard the Turtle
Goal: To put as many things on the living boat as you can...even yourselves.
Rules: A large turtle will sail around the Great Bay region and make four stops. For Stop 1, two researcher players must find as many Zora eggs and deliver them to the turtle. On Stop 2, two market players must deliver as many slabs of meat onto the turtle as possible. On the third and fourth stops, players at each location must find and locate turtle tickets in order to be allowed to board the turtle. For every boarded player and for every object upon the turtle at the very of the game, money will be added to the pot. Two turtle riders will ride the turtle the entire time and are instructed to distract the turtle as much as they can from finishing the route, as well as must guide the turtle to the final island destination.
Kazooie and Isabelle were upon the turtle, ready to begin their game.
"Okay, turtle! Be easy on us!" Having just stepped upon it, Kazooie and Isabelle's feet were wobbly on the slippery, wet shell, but overall ready.
"The game will begin!" Smash Host told them, as the boat he was on began to drift away from them. Camera men and producers also waved them goodbye, signaling the start of their game. "You two are the Turtle Captains! I hope you two have a splendid journey! Just remember: don't fall off, or you'll be penalized too."
"Nice," Kazooie replied sarcastically. "I can't wait to."
"Are you ready!" From far away, at the dock of the Marine Research Laboratory, DK and Lucina gave their thumbs ups and waved, before entering the lab. Far away at the shore, Dark Pit and Joker's bodies could be slightly made out.
Isabelle and Kazooie faced the host with a nod, ready to begin their water ride.
"Three...two...one...
"Go! Sail off!" The game began.
MISSION START
The turtle immediately swam off. At the same time, the large animal adjusted itself from feeling its new passengers, making the two players upon it both uneasy with unbalance as it turned and rotated slightly around. Isabelle and Kazooie yelped with sudden surprise.
"Whoooaa…!" Kazooie ducked and gripped onto the turtle's back as hard as she could. She stared down at the turtle she was riding. "This is worse than a rocking baby eagle! Hey turtle, stay still!"
Kazooie: I knew the turtle itself probably couldn't understand us, but it could have been gentler! Argghh!
"Oh my gosh...the game hasn't even started, and we almost fell off!" Isabelle laughed nervously. But after a few seconds, they adjusted themselves as well. The three of them all began drifting across the water at a steady pace, calm, collected, and quaint. Isabelle looked out at the ocean as the turtle moved across it, heading slowly to the Marine Research Laboratory.
"It's so beautiful!" she squealed out loud, staring at the sea of Termina. "I just love this relaxing turtle boat ride!"
"Yeah, I'd be enjoying this too….if this wasn't a mission also," Kazooie sighed with panic, and they turned their attention to the items between them on the floor. On the back of the turtle with them were several objects: a fishing rod, a whistle, and an purple-looking plant.
"We have to deter the turtle from making its way to the research marine labo-pee-YEWWW!" Kazooie gagged, turning away from the pungent plant. "WHAT IS THAT SMELL, A ROTTING RODENT?!"
"Oh, this plant might be good to distract the turtle...it smells so bad, it'll definitely avoid it!" Isabelle thought, giggling and studying it. Kazooie picked up the whistle, looking at it peculiarly.
"Hmm...I wonder if this will help too," Kazooie wondered to herself, silver whistle in possession, and she grinned. "Wait a minute...this looks like a kazoo! Like me! Kazooie!"
"Oh!" Isabelle said happily. "Will it work? Maybe it'll be good to try?"
"Let me try…" Kazooie placed the whistle to her beak and blew as loud as she could.
Fffwwwweeueeeeee!
And at the sharp sound….the turtle began to thrash violently.
"AHHHHH!" Kazooie and Isabelle both gasped as they tried to keep their bodies on the turtle as much as they could, crouching down and screaming as the large creature began bobbing up and down on the water, strongly affected by the terrible sound. Water splashed into the air and hit them. They held on for dear life.
And the purple plant toppled off the back of the turtle's shell, into the sea. And whether Isabelle or Kazooie would follow soon after to a watery grave...was up to them.
On the outside, the Marine Research Laboratory looked small...but inside, the walls were lined with blue walls and floors that fit an aquatic feeling and made Lucina and DK feel like they were in the depths of the ocean themselves. Numerous tables and bookshelves were everywhere, along with computers and various technological devices, but the thing that caught their eyes first were the large aquarium tanks that were located in almost every corner of the room. To their shock, one entire side of the wall of the laboratory was a glass window...a tank full of water, and various large fish swam within it. DK and Lucina turned to each other, rather lost in the artificial sea.
"Our game has begun...where...are the eggs?" Lucina asked quietly. DK scratched his head.
"How do I know?! I know nothing about fish!" DK exclaimed back, laughing.
DK: But Lucina was smarter than me, so I had no worries! Yeahhhh. No blame to fall onto me: we couldn't fail!
He looked around at the blue place around him. "But I'm gonna pounce this lab until I find something!" He began jumping about, looking through book after book, laboratory item after laboratory item, and anything he could find, as Lucina couldn't help but smile with amusement at his antics.
"Perhaps we don't need a plan," she replied, and she began her searching as well. She began looking through the bookshelf to her immediate left.
"Ooh...these fish...are so cool...and pretty...and whoa!" DK was admiring a small fish tank, his eyes wide and gleaming as he grinned. The fish were following each other, an order of red, green, purple, and blue of the four fish in succession. They seemed like a family.
"Hmm…" Lucina noticed a book, green, slightly glowing and laminated. She reached into the bookshelf to grab it out, and seeing the cover, her eyes widened. From its cover, she could immediately tell it was about the Giant Turtle...the very animal arriving to their lab location in approximately ten minutes.
A minute passed by. DK stopped in his tracks. But...so did Lucina.
"Uhh, Lucina...there's a transparent box here with two Zora eggs inside!" DK realized, seeing a metal box at the end of the room. "And there are four colored dial slots...what the heck...!"
"DK…" Lucina gasped. She was staring at the page she was reading. The confused ape walked his way over to her next to the bookshelf. His eyes turned to the book, then to her, not understanding the urgency. The princess seemed disconcerted.
"What's the matter?!" DK laughed. "Why are you all worried-looking and all that-?"
"This." She opened to a page within the book. Words about the turtle were seen by DK, as he read them too.
At exactly 12PM each day, the turtle is known to routinely dive down to the depths of the sea at noon. Reaching to the bottom of the ocean floor, it disappears.
The two of them were silent. A blue clock on the wall displayed the time to them both: 11:34 AM.
"They're not supposed to distract the turtle," Lucina whispered. "We...we have to stop them from slowing the turtle. Right now."
"Wait...what...why...?" DK gasped.
Lucina was silent, then continued again. "We have a death time limit. If the turtle doesn't reach its final destination by 12 o'clock...and Kazooie and Isabelle distract it too much from reaching the finish in time...then everything will be lost." She turned to DK, her eyes solemn.
"Our entire 40,000 coins...the largest potential amount we've ever had the chance to win...an amount the Mole would whole-heartedly desire in their heart to disappear...will be lost."
"And...we'll be lost as well," DK gulped.
And at that second...the door of the laboratory had locked shut.
Oh nooooo! Game danger! D:
Was the game looking too relaxed and peaceful? Muahaha. Well, actually...it still seemed tense in some areas xD
How will the players do? Will Kazooie and Isabelle survive till the end of the turtle ride? What other surprises will the players uncover? Stay tuned for next chapter! :)
And now...the good news!
On Netflix….starting next week….THE OFFICIAL MOLE TV SHOW WILL BE AVAILABLE AND COMING TO NETFLIX! :D AHHHHHH! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!
I'm just...so excited :') Also so unexpected!
This is a miracle...after nearly 20 years...not only will it be available to see in perfect HD...but it will hit a mainstream service that will garner MANY, many new fans.
Anyways, if you haven't watched the real actual show...I KID YOU NOT. YOU. WILL. LOVE. IT. This is the smartest show on the Earth. And the best. Obviously, because it inspired my entire Mole story and series, haha.
Anyways, by the time I see you guys next, 'The Mole' will probably be streaming, and I'd probably have already done personal mutiple marathons of the show to refresh and revitalize ideas for my story xD To be continued! :) See you guys soon!
Dark Punxysaur: Hello Punxy! Sabotage and suspicions indeed! You have a very great point in analyzing Lucina's action of holding Isabelle on the bridge: "losing her grip"...hmm :O No one would be able to tell if she let go accidentally or on purpose because NO ONE was there and could see what she was doing. And shedid do a second sabotage with the off tick with the metronome too. Great clue hunting! :D and trying to associate the Roman Numeral with someone or something! It does make sense that Lucina's game and story setting would use Roman Numerals...Fire Emblem is so royal and Roman-ish to me xD Yes, Joker is indeed a charming man! Bahaha, Which is good reason to think that he might be doing both an actual date while at the same time still playing the game. Thanks for your great hunting/predictions and review Punxy! :D
Masking What Remains: Interesting theory! That DK's fall would be too obvious as a Mole sabotage! Thus you think he did a genuine fall of overconfidence….is the monkey of our jungle the saboteur or just too proud? Haha. And our beloved secretary! :) She did indeed shine during the game, with her clue solving...up until her fated last jump, ahahaaa :(. Oh so true! If I was playing this game, I'd fall flat on my face on Jump 2 xD Maybe Jump 3 LOL! And don't most dates lead to misunderstandings all the time? Haha! I wonder what things the players will discuss and argue amongst each other! :)
Salamander: Nice to see you again! I hope your internet is good and back again! Dx Haha! Oh so true, I didn't realize it when you pointed out that the best jumpers and the worst jumpers across the bridge were the ones to fall! I wanted to exaggerate the appearance of the golden podium at the end lol, just to make it appear and symbolize truly as an accomplishment for making 6 courageous leaps...and to congratulate the players fully. :) They deserved it. Yeah, Kazooie shining in the final puzzle really made me like her! :D She sometimes did show her smart side albeit rarely in the actual Banjo games sometimes. And oh wow, oh snap, the potential sabotage of putting the boots on the best jumper instead of the worst! If that was a true Mole sabotage, what a good one that'd be! And ah, the date! I'm laughing, cause now so many potential people would want to spoil it xD When you mentioned Dark Pit, i was like, "Hmmmm ;)" hahhaa. Isn't it just fascinating? The potential existence of a romance story in a Mole story? I never thought it would have ever been possible if I didn't write Agent's Elevation. So the question is, where exactly do Joker and Lucina stand? Just how and what do they feel? Is there a genuine connection, or is there not? I guess the mystery is like the Mole themself!
Cavin856: 2 much sabotage! 2 much sus! Lmaooo. Attributing DK's failure to incompetence and even surprisingly some of the players' mistakes in the Metronome game! Cavin is being very forgiving here, I see! Very interesting theory however with Lucina grabbing onto Isabelle! If Lucina was the Mole, DID she want to possibly make herself fall off the bridge as well as a double elimination in the bridge game? In that scenario, maybe she realized that eliminating two players would look too suspicious :o Hahaha! Kazooie falling is actually very very mental image I have and visioned maybe 30 times I wrote this chapter: in Banjo Tooie, there were so many times I tried to flap with Kazooie alone and she would fall too short in reaching a platform and fall to her death LOL! And interesting date theories! What you mentioned would be such an odd scenario actually...Joker spying on Lucina while she's alone? Oh wait, that sounds like a horror movie! xD And yes, you're thinking very correctly in the mind of Kazooie: she indeed would spy and be smart instead of disrupting. Again, the mystery of the host's "the Mole would get you in the end"...what did it apply to? And great great analysis on Kazooie with the boots! Why did she decide to wear the boots, knowing she was the lightest? Could sabotage have taken place there too?
Darksymphony777: Aww, the relationship between the characters is so deep….Sherry and Holly holding on to each other. It really warms the heart. LOL, Eclair throwing up. I am crying cause this is the best image ever. xD Going from the Mole to victim of a terrible travel, hahaha. They're toasting! Aww, this is so sweet. But oh no, they're toasting to….the final goodbye of Snifit?! You can't be serious. I really wanna cry now...sniff...and also join the toast with the others (pops open a bottle of champagne for myself) haha. Ah, the host's invitation to the final three players! They truly have made a connection with him, haven't they. And seeing Sherry off? Ah, the mysteries and story will finally end!