Contestants did battle with the notorious Lord Crump and claimed victory over his malicious X-Naut army and his piece of scrap metal he calls a machine. At the episode�s end, they entered a portal to the final challenge that will eliminate one more player. They passed through a vortex of dark energy, the likes of which were very creepy. The castle in which they will be staying is no better however, so they must be on their toes to survive. Who will win? And who will be food for the monsters of the castle grounds? We now bring you Episode 8 of Nintendo: The Mole:
Yoshi, Bowser, and Ganondorf emerge from the swirling portal of darkness into a strange, familiar-looking room. They look around them and identify it as the castle lobby.
�Hey, I�ve seen this place before,� says Ganondorf. �In a video game.�
�Yeah, it was Donkey Kong 64,� replies Yoshi. �It was a good game too.
�Nah, it stunk. Guess that�s because I wasn�t in it,� says Bowser laughing insanely.
The trio glances about the room. The floor is stone-cold and there is no way out. A lava river fills the chamber and a bridge connects the gap it forms in the floor. A guardian-like creature stands before the castle entrance, with the number 80 and a banana symbol engraved in its chest.
�Oh great. How do we pass him?� asks Ganondorf.
�I think we need 80 golden bananas,� states Yoshi. �Then we can get past the gate.�
�Your right, but there�s one problem with your plan: HOW ARE WE GONNA FIND 80 GOLDEN BANANAS IN A ROOM LIKE THIS???� shouts Bowser. His shouts echo throughout the castle lobby and have such a dynamic effect that they cause particles of the ceiling to plummet down on his head painfully.
�I have no idea,� says Yoshi. �They wouldn�t be just lying around here.�
�Maybe we can sneak past that guard,� offers Ganondorf.
�One of us will need to serve as bait, a distraction,� says Yoshi.
�Thanks for volunteering dude� says Ganondorf, scheming up a way to use Yoshi as bait to get them past the guard. �You da man!�
�Oh great. Me and my big mouth,� mumbles Yoshi under his breath. Bowser and Ganondorf grab him, but he does not struggle against them, as he is outnumbered and he knows it is the only way to get them into the castle. �What shall I do?�
�You see, it�s quite simple,� says Ganondorf. �This one�s my personal favorite. You see, all you gotta do is put on this here steak suit,� he says, pulling the costume out of his bag with a big grin. �You dance around like you�re a tempting piece of meat, while me and Bowser sneak past the guard. Once we�re past him, I�ll punch him out so you can slip by. We�ll all go through that portal together.�
�Is this best plan you can come up with?� asks Yoshi, annoyed.
�I know, I like it too,� replies Ganondorf. �It�s amazing, right. Pure genius. Now let�s do it!�
Yoshi tosses on the steak suit and walks up to the guardian. �I have nothing to lose,� he mutters.
Meanwhile, Ganondorf and Bowser approach the guard from the other side of the room. Luckily, the guard does not see them yet, so all three of them cross the room safely. Bowser and Ganondorf approach the guard first. Up close, they see he looks more like an owl than a dog. �Wonder if they like steak?� thinks Bowser at this.
�Shh,� says Ganondorf, motioning with his hands to be quiet.
�Huh?� muses the guardian, looking around the room suspiciously before going back to sleep.
�It�s asleep. This�ll be easier than we thought.� says Ganondorf. �Let�s go guys.�
�You shall not be going anywhere,� says the guardian, awakening from its slumber without warning. All the doors and windows slam shut instantly as the trio of contestants is trapped staring right into the eyes of the guardian. �You not pass without bananas,� it says, emphasizing the word �bananas�. �80 golden bananas needs you,� it says, again putting major emphasis on the word.
�Ah, ha,� says Yoshi. �You�re B-Locker. The gatekeeper to all these levels.�
�Correct. Where be your bananas, boy?� interrogates B-Locker.
�Don�t worry about that. We got �em,� snaps Yoshi.
�Well you better tell me where they are, dino-boy, or it�ll be the big museum exhibit in the sky for you!� retorts B-Locker, cracking his knuckles.
Yoshi backs away form B-Locker and looks to Bowser for help. After a few moments of silence, Bowser just blurts out the truth.
�Uh, we don�t have any,� confesses Bowser. �Please don�t eat us!� he whimpers.
�I wouldn�t eat you if you were the last source of food on Earth! Bleah,� the guardian replies. �Repulsive piece of filth.�
�But you know what�s not repulsive?� asks Ganondorf.
�What?�
�Steak.� replies Ganondorf, motioning towards Yoshi.
Yoshi dances out in Ganondorf�s steak suit. The guardian licks his lips hungrily and his eyes are on Yoshi instantly. Their plan is working. Meanwhile, Ganondorf and Bowser creep behind the guardian to the gate, which they find is locked. They bang on the door, but to no avail. It remains bolted shut. B-Locker begins to grow bored of Yoshi�s steak routine and turns his attention to Bowser and Ganondorf, who begin to kiss his feet and beg for mercy. Yoshi, however, steals B-Locker�s gate key from around his belt and unlocks the portal before jumping into it, beckoning for Bowser and Ganondorf to do the same. The guardian slashes at them with is hook-like claws before they scramble into the large �DK� portal and enter the true Creepy Castle.
The three emerge in the cold, wet, dark, and eerie atmosphere of the castle courtyard. They are shivering and huddle together for warmth. Bowser uses his fire-breathing skills to heat things up a bit.
�Thanks,� replies Ganondorf. �That�ll help.�
�Yeah, good thinking for once, Bowser,� remarks Yoshi.
�It sure is spooky out here,� says Bowser.
�Yes, but we can�t let that distract us. Let�s explore!� says Yoshi.
IngRaider�s voice pops out of nowhere and echoes loudly throughout the castle grounds. �Nice job on making it into the courtyard,� he says. �I will meet you in the Ballroom,� he adds, before his voice vanishes into nothingness.
�Guess we look for the Ballroom,� says Ganondorf. �Let�s get going.�
Yoshi, Bowser, and Ganondorf begin to walk along a dirt path and explore the courtyard. There is a big tree, completely submerged in water, along with several bridges, drainage grates, and moving platforms to ascend the castle walls. The walls are built of a sturdy brick material that is gray in color. Rain falls from the sky, thunder rumbles, and lightning flashes.
�We�d better hurry up. There�s a storm,� says Yoshi.
Now they begin to move a little faster, at a brisk walk that is almost a run. The wind howls eerily and keeps them on their toes. That, along with the look of the courtyard and the moaning of ghosts and rotting corpses, makes for a horrifying atmosphere. The group comes to a crypt lined with a creepy mist and bats clinging to the ceiling. They take flight unexpectedly, chasing the intruders out.
�Ballroom�s not in there,� says Bowser, running out of the room in fear.
�Oh come on, they�re only bats,� taunts Yoshi. �How bad can they be?�
�True, but the Ballroom is higher up anyway,� responds Ganondorf. �Let�s move only upwards from now on. No turning back or going down.�
He is answered by the cries of the crypt�s inhabitants, but the group manages to escape their assault. The wind is now howling very loudly, as if the cries of a rabid dog. Yoshi looks up and sees a dog chained to the castle wall, barking at them from above.
�We have to get past it?� complains Bowser.
Suddenly, it breaks loose from the chain and runs toward the group, showing its menacing fangs and claws. It jumps at Bowser, assailing him ferociously in a shower of tooth and nail, before he pulls it off his face. Now the dog is angry and it growls with a vengeance, staring at Bowser with the unmistakable looks of death. Its barks echo chaotically throughout the courtyard, summoning the rest of the pack. Now, about twenty or thirty dogs surround the group, all hungry and anxious to get a piece of the contestants. As they approach, the group notices that the dogs are actually only skeletons with pieces of rotting flesh on their bones, which adds to their ferocity.
�Eww!� shouts Ganondorf in a feminine voice. �They still have pieces of dead skin on them.�
�Get over it, G-Man,� says Bowser, shaking him. �What are we gonna do now?�
�Let�s just back away very slowly,� whispers Yoshi. �No sudden moves guys.�
�I have an idea,� says Ganondorf. He throws a fresh piece of steak off the cliff that they stand on. All of the dogs jump to get it and end up falling off the level.
�Someone has an obsession with steak,� remarks Yoshi. �You carry a steak suit, a steak�..say, what else have you got in there?� he says, pointing at Ganondorf�s bag.
�Nothin�,� replies Ganondorf. �Just the usual. Let�s get moving. The top of the castle awaits.�
The three continue to ascend the castle. The walkway spirals around in circles, winding its way around the castle exterior. Suddenly, they come to a giant wall and notice there is no way up.
�I guess we have to enter the crypt,� gulps Yoshi. �It must take us to the castle�s other side, where we can continue to scale the castle.�
�Or we can just climb this wall!� says Ganondorf. He climbs it with ease, as does Yoshi. Bowser is having trouble hanging on, so Ganondorf and Yoshi throw him a rope, which he climbs.
They know they are getting closer to their destination now, since they see a bunch of rooms with signs indicating which rooms they are.
�Library. Museum. Ballroom. Bathroom.� reads Yoshi in a monotone. �BALLROOM?� he repeats. �I found it!�
�Let�s go in,� says Bowser.
�Hold on,� says Ganondorf, trying to open the door. �This door won�t open.�
�Must be locked,� says Yoshi. �But how to open it?�
�Oh, I know,� chimes in Bowser. �You have to simian-slam this switch,� he says, flipping up a damaged board in floor and revealing a red switch with Diddy Kong�s picture on it.
�We can�t do a simian slam,� says Ganondorf. �We�re not freakin� monkeys.�
�Hmm, Diddy weighs like 100 pounds or so.,� says Yoshi. �If we put that much weight on the switch, it might open. I�m the lightest, I�ll slam it.� Yoshi does a ground-pound, but the door refuses to open.
�The heck with that, I�m breakin� this door down!� shouts Bowser with rage. He rams into the door several times unsuccessfully. Bowser then just breathes fire at the door, burning it down and allowing the group to enter. They proceed down the gloomy, dark hallways of the castle. Within five minutes, Yoshi, Bowser, and Ganondorf reach the dance floor and are surprised at what they see. Spine-tingling creepy music is playing and several ghosts are dancing to it. IngRaider descends from the ceiling in a ghost-like form, before assuming his regular appearance. The contestants gasp in amazement.
�Special effects,� IngRaider admits. �Nothing to it. But congratulations on making it to the Ballroom. It is quite an accomplishment. I�m sure what we�re doing here will totally surprise you. This challenge will test your wits, cunning, courage, bravery, and your ability to lie and deceive. You see, we�re having a Poker tournament. The last one remaining wins and is immune. I�m sure you all know how to play Texas Hold�em. (The group nods in unison.) Then let�s go.�
The room rotates and Poker tables with pre-stacked chips shift into the room. The players notice there are six positions at the table.
�Oh wait. One more thing.� says IngRaider. �We�re bringing in some more players to fill up the table. Say hello to former contestants, DK and Link, and newcomer volunteer, Samus. Now let�s play some Poker!�
Everyone starts out with $50,000 worth of chips. (Not that they get to keep that money if they win.) They can check, call, raise, or fold on their turn. A player can go all-in at any time. The first hands are dealt out: Yoshi with Pocket Aces, Bowser holding 10 9 of spades and Ganondorf folds away his 2 7 of clubs. The hands of DK, Link, and Samus cannot be seen and they all fold. Yoshi is already in for the Big Blind (a forced bet before the start of a hand) and he doubles the bet to $8000. Bowser calls him and the flop is Queen King Ace. Yoshi has a set, giving him Trips, but Bowser has a Straight-Draw. It�s the nuts, though, and the chances he hits it are very slim. Yoshi pushes All-In, betting all his chips now. Bowser calls. Turn card is a Jack and Yoshi is beat. So quickly too. It�s down to five now.
The next hand begins. Ganondorf has 2 5 offsuit, but makes a small raise. Bowser with Ace 9 and he�s gonna call. Once again, the other three fold. The flop is 7 6 6. Ganondorf bets big like he has something, possibly a Full-House, but it�s a complete bluff. Bowser calls. Turn card is a Queen. Ganondorf bets even more, but Bowser still calls him, knowing he will come out on top. The River card is a 5, giving Ganondorf Two-Pair. He raises intensely once again and Bowser folds, allowing Ganondorf to win a big pot.
Hand #3: Bowser: 9 9 (raises)
Ganondorf: 7 7 (calls)
Samus: A Q (calls)
DK: 2 3 (folds)
Link J 10 (calls)
Community Cards: 9 7 A Q K
Link claims victory with a straight. Samus has bet all her chips this hand and is out of the game.
Hand #4: Bowser: A 7 of hearts (checks, calls)
Ganondorf: 5 5 (checks, calls)
DK: 10 10 (raises)
Link: 6 6 (calls)
Community Cards: 10 6 5 A 7 (10, 6, 5 of hearts)
Everyone has bet tons of chips because they think they have the best hand, Link, DK, and Ganondorf with Trips, but Bowser with a Flush, takes the pot and eliminates everyone, claiming immunity.
�Nice game,� says IngRaider. �Bowser, you are a fabulous Poker player. Now, let�s begin the elimination procedure. Bowser, you are immune from the Mole�s clutches. Or are you the Mole? That is the question. You will all vote for who will be eliminated. Bowser cannot be chosen and the Mole has 2 votes. You will vote before each other. The Mole will be revealed right now. Yoshi and Ganondorf, one of you is about to leave. Now, let�s vote:
Yoshi (the Mole): Ganondorf (x2)
Ganondorf: Yoshi
Bowser: Yoshi
�Hmm. Looks like a tie. Revote. If there is still a tie, we�ll do something else.�
The results remain the same.
�Alright, if you can correctly identify the Mole, he will be eliminated. But if you�re wrong, the Mole will eliminate one of you as usual.�
Ganondorf and Bowser team up against Yoshi and say he is the Mole. They are correct and Yoshi is eliminated.
�Sorry Yoshi,� says IngRaider. �You�ve played a great game and we have some great 3rd Place parting gifts for you. Some nice prize packages. As for you two���,� he says to Bowser and Ganondorf. �next episode will be very tough. You will find out the truth about this game and the events of it. One of you will win 1 million dollars. The other will suffer a humiliating defeat at the hands of their opponent and get our 2nd Place prize. Rest up guys, the contest will begin tomorrow. Good luck to you both.�
On the next Nintendo: The Mole:
The next episode will be the last. It is the grand finale that you�ve all been waiting for. Bowser will go head-to-head with Ganondorf for a shot at the million dollars. Who will emerge victorious? Find out next time on Nintendo: The Mole.