them here because of it. But hey, it'll come back to bite them eventually and I don't really want any bad blood between us. They played the game and beat us here."
Alex & Aubrey: Friends (Boo's Tree Houses)
"This sucks." Alex said, as he and Aubrey climbed to the tree houses.
"Dude, we got this." Aubrey said. "We'll kick some a**."
Stacey & Tiny Tina: Friends (Haunted Tunnels)
"Girl, what are you doing?" Tina asked. Stacey was running around the tunnel, chasing Boos.
"Playing with my babies!" Stacey said, excitedly.
"Girl, we gotta hustle!" Tina said. The Boos flew through the wall in front of Stacey and it vanished, revealing the exit.
"See? My babies helped us find the way out." Stacey said.
"Creepy." Tina sang. The two quickly climbed the ladder and emerged on the shore of Boo Lake.
"BLUE!" Stacey shouted, rushing to a blue car and grabbing the clue. Tina grabbed it out of her hands and ripped it open.
"Drive yourselves to Boo Lighthouse and search for your next clue. Caution: U-Turn Ahead." Tina read.
Fox & Krystal: Married (Boo Woods)
Team Star Fox pulled up to a small shack just off the road. Sitting outside were a pair of old Mushroom people.
"Excuse me, we're trying to find Luigi's Mansion." Krystal said.
"Just keep following this road." One of the old men said.
"Excuse my husband. He's bad with directions." The other old man said. "You need to take the left when you come to the old well. Follow that road until you reach the run
down general store. Bear left and follow that road. Can't miss it."
Kirby & MetaKnight / Ash & Pikachu / Alex & Aubrey (Boo's Tree Houses)
"(Left.)" Pikachu said. The Boo flipped a sign, revealing a race flag.
"Correct. Proceed." The Boo said, as the Star Warriors and Team Kanto continued down the path.
Not far behind, the Nature Sages reached a fork in the path.
"Right." Aubrey said.
The Boo flipped the sign, revealing a red "X" that quickly changed to a race flag. "Proceed." The Boo said.
DK & Diddy / Athena & Janey (Boo Lighthouse)
The two teams pulled into the parking lot and rushed out together.
"That sucks. Alex and Aubrey got U-Turned." DK said. The two teams grabbed their clues.
"Roadblock… Who's up for a climb?" Diddy read. "Climbing? Sweet, this is right up our alley. I got it!"
"This should be easy." Athena said. "I'll take it."
Fox & Krystal: Married (Luigi's Mansion)
Team Star Fox pulled up to the mansion, jumped out and rushed to the mat.
"Welcome to Boo Woods." E Gadd said.
"Thank you." Krystal said.
"Fox and Krystal." Toadsworth said. "You're team number three."
Fox & Krystal: Married – 3rd Place / 7:35 PM
"That's a turnaround." Krystal said. "Last to third. Just goes to show, you're not out until you're out."
"You made the choice to use your U-Turn on Aubrey and Alex." Toadsworth said. "Why?"
"They offered to work together on the Detour in Mushroom City and then they just took off as soon as they found their coin without helping us." Fox said. "We felt betrayed by
that and we knew this was an opportunity to put at least one team behind us. And since we teamed up again at this Detour, we were confident that they were behind us
when we reached the U-Turn."
Kirby & MetaKnight / Ash & Pikachu / Alex & Aubrey (Boo's Tree Houses)
"(Right.)" Pikachu said, as Team Kanto and the Star Warriors reached another fork.
"Correct." The Boo said, revealing a race flag.
"Right." Aubrey said.
"Continue."
"We're making good time." Aubrey said. "We'll catch back up quick."
Diddy / Athena (Boo Lighthouse)
"204… 205…" Diddy said as he reached the top.
"I got 210." Athena said.
"Did you see the year the lighthouse was built?" Diddy asked.
"1754." Athena said.
"Welcome to Boo Lighthouse. What is your answer?"
"1959." Diddy said.
"1964." Athena said. The Boo cackled and handed a rolled-up painting to Diddy.
"Please return to the bottom and try again." The Boo said to Athena.
"Damn." Athena said, as she and Diddy started heading back down the stairs.
"Hey, you know the answer now." Diddy said. "Just head back up and cream it."
"Thanks." Athena said. Before long, the two reached the bottom and Diddy rushed out, clue in hand.
DK & Diddy: Best Friends – Currently in 4th (Boo Lighthouse)
Diddy unrolled the painting.
"Isn't that Luigi's Mansion?" DK asked.
"That must be where our next clue is." Diddy said.
"Let's go!" DK said. As they climbed into their car and drove away, Stacey pulled up.
Stacey & Tiny Tina: Friends (Boo Lighthouse)
"Aw, my trophy wife got U-Turned?" Stacey asked. Tina grabbed the clue.
"Roadblock… Who's up for a climb?" Tina read. "Girl, I gots dis."
Athena (Boo Lighthouse)
Athena rushed to the top of the lighthouse.
"What is your answer?"
"1959." Athena said.
"Correct." The Boo said, handing Athena a painting. Athena rushed downstairs, reaching outside as Tina was approaching the lighthouse.
"Tina, the answer is 1959." Athena said as she ran out.
"Thanks girl." Tina said.
"I figured since it's so early on, I'd help Tina with the Roadblock." Athena said (After-Leg). "Everything she's dealt with on Pandora… It's not that I pity her, but we've both
been through so much. She lost her parents, I… lost my sister. And I think us Pandorans need to stick together to some extent."
Athena ran over to Janey and unrolled the painting.
Athena & Janey: Engaged – Currently in 5th
"I'm guessing this is where we're going next?" Janey wondered.
"Probably." Athena said. "Let's ask around and see where it is."
Kirby & MetaKnight / Ash & Pikachu / Alex & Aubrey (Boo's Tree Houses)
The Star Warriors and Team Kanto approached a fork in the path. Just beyond it was a long bridge leading to a ladder, and beyond that was Boo Lake.
"(Um… L…eft?)" Kirby questioned, dragging the "L" sound. The Boo flipped the sign, revealing a race flag.
"Proceed." The Boo said. The two teams rushed to the left, along the bridge, down the ladder and quickly arrived at Boo Lake. They grabbed their clues and quickly jumped in
the cars before tearing the envelopes.
Kirby & MetaKnight: Friends/Star Warriors – Currently in 7th
Ash & Pikachu: Trainer/Pokemon – Currently in 8th
"Drive yourselves to Boo Lighthouse and search for your next clue." MetaKnight read.
"Caution: U-Turn Ahead." Ash finished.
Alex & Aubrey: Friends (Boo's Tree Houses) – Currently in Last Place
"Left." Aubrey said. The Boo flipped over a sign, revealing a red "X".
"Damnit. Of course." Alex said. The "X" vanished and was replaced by a race flag.
"Proceed." The Boo said.
"Thank the gods." Alex sighed.
"Being U-Turned was rough, and we had the feeling throughout most of the leg that we were in last place." Alex said (After-Leg). "I get that it's a competition, but I'm not
entirely sure why Fox and Krystal targeted us specifically for the U-Turn."
Tiny Tina (Boo Lighthouse)
Tina rushed to the top of the lighthouse, jumping from the top step to the final landing.
"Welcome to Boo Lighthouse. What-"
"1959!" Tina said excitedly, cutting the Boo off mid-sentence.
"Correct." The Boo said, grabbing a rolled up painting. Tina took off, quickly running back down the stairs.
Stacey & Tiny Tina: Friends – Currently in 6th (Boo Lighthouse)
Tina rushed out of the lighthouse, painting in hand.
"Yay!" Stacey said. "That was quick."
"Athena told me the answer." Tina said, unrolling the painting.
"Ohmygod, that's Luigi's Mansion!" Stacey said. "That must be where we're going! Yay!"
Athena & Janey: Engaged (Boo Woods)
"I wonder which way it is." Athena said. The Pandorans had pulled to the side of the road near a small garden. In the garden were a few different colored flowers, and walking
around it was an odd green bulb-shaped creature with a big nose, red shoes and a flower atop its head.
"Ask that funny looking guy." Janey said. Athena ran over to the bulb creature.
"Excuse me, we're looking for this place." Athena said, holding up the painting.
"Oh, Luigi's Mansion?" The creature, a Bub-ulb, asked. "Follow the road until you see an old well, then take a left, follow it until you reach the general store. Bear left at the
general store and keep going. Can't miss it."
"Thank you." Athena said.
Ash & Pikachu: Trainer/Pokemon (Boo Woods)
"Hey, you guys are back!" Ash and Pikachu found themselves back at Bloo's Cookout Tower. Bloo, the familiar blue Boo, floated back over to the car. "What can I get you?"
Pikachu sighed. "(We just want to find the lighthouse…)" He said.
"Oh, that's easy." Bloo said. "Head up the road this way, take a left at the end and follow that road. It'll bring you right there."
"Thanks." Ash said.
Alex & Aubrey: Friends (Boo's Tree Houses)
"Right." Alex said. The Boo flipped over a sign, revealing a red "X".
"Sorry. Return to the beginning." The Boo said.
"Of course…" Alex said.
? (Luigi's Mansion)
E. Gadd and Toadsworth watched as a team pulled up in front of the mansion, jumped out their car and rushed to the mat.
"Welcome to Boo Woods." E. Gadd said.
"Thanks."
"DK and Diddy… You're team number four." Toadsworth said.
DK & Diddy: Best Friends – 4th Place / 7:55 PM
"One better than last leg." DK said.
"That's good, I guess." Diddy said. "But it also sort of means that we're consistently behind the best teams."
"I mean… I guess." DK said.
Kirby & MetaKnight: Star Warriors/Friends (Boo Lighthouse)
The Star Warriors pulled up to the lighthouse and rushed to the clue box.
"Alex and Aubrey got U-Turned." MetaKnight said. "Glad it wasn't us."
"(Roadblock… Who's up for a climb?)" Kirby read.
"I'll do it." MetaKnight said.
"(Okay.)" Kirby said. MetaKnight scanned the area, making quick notice of the sign.
"1754…" MetaKnight said. "Ok. Now I just need to count the steps."
Alex & Aubrey: Friends (Boo's Tree Houses)
"Left." Alex said.
"Correct. Proceed." The Boo said, after flipping a sign and revealing a race flag.
"We'll get this." Aubrey said.
"Yeah, but we're probably in last." Alex said. "We should be ready to be eliminated."
? (Luigi's Mansion)
Another team rushed to the mat, jumping onto it.
"Welcome to Boo Woods." E. Gadd said.
"I wanna play with the ghost doggie."
"Stacey and Tina… You're team number five." Toadsworth said.
Stacey & Tiny Tina: Friends – 5th Place / 8:18 PM
"Fifth, Sixth and Fifth…" Stacey said. "This sucks."
"Girl, we'll catch up and blow the other teams out of the water." Tina said.
"I was very athletic in middle and high school, so I can get very competitive." Stacey said (After-Leg). "Coming in with the middle of the pack every leg is upsetting, because
I'm not sure if we can actually win this."
Ash & Pikachu: Trainer/Pokemon (Boo Lighthouse)
"That stinks. Alex and Aubrey got U-Turned." Ash said.
"(Yeah but it means there's at least one team behind us still!)" Pikachu said.
"Roadblock… Who's up for a climb?" Ash read. "You do it. I've already done two."
"(Ok.)" Pikachu said.
MetaKnight (Boo Lighthouse)
MetaKnight reached the top of the lighthouse and bowed to the Boo.
"Welcome… What is your answer?" The Boo asked.
"1959." MetaKnight said.
"Correct." The Boo said, handing a rolled up painting to MetaKnight. MetaKnight rushed downstairs, quickly reaching Kirby, who was waiting outside.
Kirby & MetaKnight: Friends/Star Warriors – Currently in 7th
"(That's Luigi's Mansion)." Kirby said.
"Then let's move." MetaKnight said.
"We've frequently held matches of our Super Smash fighting tournaments at Luigi's Mansion, so we had a decent idea where it was." MetaKnight said (After-Leg).
? (Luigi's Mansion)
"Welcome to Boo Woods." E. Gadd greeted another team on the mat.
"Thank you."
"Athena and Janey. You're team number six."
Athena & Janey: Engaged – 6th Place / 8:33 PM
"Ouch. That definitely could've gone better." Janey said.
"But we fight another day." Athena said.
Alex & Aubrey: Friends (Boo's Tree Houses)
"Left." Alex said. The Boo flipped the sign over, revealing a race flag.
"Proceed." The Boo said.
"After we were U-Turned and we had to restart the Tree Tops detour, we started to really get the feeling that we were in last and it wasn't a good feeling." Aubrey said
(After-Leg).
Pikachu (Boo Lighthouse)
"(203… 204… 205…)" Pikachu said, reaching the top.
"Welcome to Boo Lighthouse. What is your guess?" The Boo asked.
"(205.)" Pikachu said.
"I'm sorry. That's not correct." The Boo said. Pikachu ran back downstairs.
"Did you get it?" Ash asked.
"(I thought I did.)" Pikachu said. "(I gotta try again.)"
Kirby & MetaKnight: Friends/Star Warriors (Luigi's Mansion)
The Star Warriors jumped out of their car and rushed to the Pit Stop.
"Welcome to Boo Woods." E. Gadd said.
"Thank you." MetaKnight said.
"Kirby and MetaKnight. You…" Toadsworth paused. "…Are team number seven."
Kirby & MetaKnight: Friends/Star Warriors – 7th Place / 9:20 PM
"3rd to 7th… Quite a drop." MetaKnight said.
Alex & Aubrey: Friends (Boo's Tree Houses)
"Left." Aubrey said, approaching a fork. The Boo flipped the sign, revealing a red "X".
"Damnit, not again!" Alex said. The sign vanished and changed to a race flag.
"Proceed." The Boo said.
"We're almost there." Aubrey said. "I can see the lake in the distance."
Pikachu (Boo Lighthouse)
"(208… 209…210)."
"What is your answer?" The Boo asked.
"(210)." Pikachu said.
"I'm sorry that's incorrect." The Boo said.
"(But there's only 210 steps, including landings! What am I missing? Argh!)" Pikachu stormed back down the stairs.
"Did you get it?" Ash asked as Pikachu ran out of the lighthouse.
"(No! I still can't get it!)" Pikachu shouted. "(I know I counted right, so it should be one of the answers I've given, but he says they're both wrong!)"
"Maybe you read the clue wrong." Ash said. Pikachu skimmed over the clue.
"('Add the total steps to the year the lighthouse was built.')" Pikachu read. "(Of course.)"
"(When I realized what I was doing wrong at the Roadblock, I was upset with myself.)" Pikachu said. "(It was such a simple task and I was messing up because I didn't read my
clue.)"
"(Ok, now I just have to find out what year the lighthouse was built.)" Pikachu said.
>
Alex & Aubrey: Friends (Boo's Tree Houses)
The Nature Sages approached the final fork.
"Choose a path." The Boo said.
"Which one should we pick?" Alex asked.
"It's a game of chance." Aubrey said.
"There has to be a method." Alex said.
"The method is the signs are haunted and random." Aubrey said.
"Let's go with the right." Alex said. The Boo flipped the sign, revealing a race flag. "Oh thank the gods." They rushed down the final path, down the ladder and back to their
car.
"Back to the lighthouse." Aubrey said.
"Once we finished the second Detour and got back to our car, we knew we were in last." Alex said (After-Leg). "No other cars were parked at the lake, so we knew it was time
to prepare for the worst."
Pikachu (Boo Lighthouse)
"What is your answer?"
"(1964.)" Pikachu said.
"That is incorrect." The Boo said.
"(Okay, so now I know the answer.)" Pikachu said, running down the steps. "(I just need to run to the bottom and climb back up.)"
Alex & Aubrey: Friends (Boo Lighthouse)
"Roadblock… Who's up for a climb?" Alex read.
"I'll do it." Aubrey said. Aubrey ran toward the lighthouse, quickly stopping as she noticed the sign outside marking the year the lighthouse was built. "1754. Got it. Now I just
need the number of steps."
Pikachu (Boo Lighthouse)
Pikachu rushed to the top of the lighthouse, excitedly jumping up in front of the Boo.
"What is your answer?"
"(1959.)" Pikachu said.
"Correct." The Boo said, handing him a painting. He rushed back down, passing Aubrey on the way and made his way to Ash.
"When I saw Alex and Aubrey at the Roadblock, it was a huge relief because it assured us that there was a team behind us, even though we already suspected it." Ash said
(After-Leg).
"Seeing what I assumed was the clue in Pikachu's hand at the Roadblock was it." Aubrey said (After-Leg). "I was all but sure that we were in last."
Ash & Pikachu: Trainer/Pokemon – Currently in 8th
Pikachu unrolled the painting, quickly realizing what it was.
"(Luigi's Mansion!)" Pikachu said. "(That must be where we're going next!)" They rushed to their car and sped off.
Aubrey (Boo Lighthouse)
Aubrey soon reached the top of the lighthouse.
"What is your answer?"
"1959." Aubrey said.
A Girl of the Future Page 10