The group proceeded to walk out of the giant door only for them to realize that it wasn’t just the stage that ran out of power but the whole village.
The group climbed down the ladder only to spot Mari who was holding a mini flashlight in her hands, “Hey, Hero! Catch!”
Hero quickly put up his hand in time to catch the flashlight. It was small but it could help them find their way around quicker.
Well, as fast as they could go exploring. This place was huge with sprout moles speaking gibberish on how the power outage was affecting them. Climbing up and down ladders is starting to become Hero’s worst nightmare. His legs felt like they were going to fall off his body any second. Not to mention there was always something weird in each room. Though through all of this he found out one thing.
Sprout moles really like tofu, there is a lot of it laying around.
In one of the rooms, there was a wire popping out of the ground. Omori stared at the wire as if he was deciding if he wanted to cut it or not.
“Cut it, cut it, cut it!” Kel chanted like an intrusive thought. Omori looked at him and nodded, agreeing that he should cut it.
“Guys come on we don’t even know if it is connected to the power or-”
THUD
Aubrey was cut off by a sudden thud that rang out as soon as Omori cut the wire. A creature that was below them screamed in pure agony before dying.
“WOO! BOSS FIGHT SKIPPED! UP TOP OMORI!”
Kel and Omori both high-fived each other as Kel laughed.
Hero was just glad that the wire didn’t relate to the power situation at all.
The group began climbing down more ladders until they eventually reached what they assumed to be the lowest floor. The sounds of tapping feet hitting metal as sprout moles ran on multiple treadmills.
“Pick up the pace, boys! We must make haste!” The warden mole shouted at the others.
“We’re trying our best warden!” Another sprout mole shouted.
“Yeah, this is as fast as we can go!” A sprout mole agreed.
“Ugh, I feel sick…” A groan rang out.
“Come on guys, we can do this!” Someone tried to encourage.
Hero felt bad for the dudes. If this is how they got their power then this must be torture for the ones running.
Omori seemed to care less for the sprout moles and was instead interested in his own reflection. Hero had to wonder why, maybe Omori just liked to see how he looks? Or is there a different reason? Whatever the reason, however, Hero still made his way over to the mirror with the others and stood behind Omori. Hero simply patted his head this time.
Omori seemed to flinch at the touch but then began to lean into it. That was until he abruptly pulled himself away from Hero’s hand and continued forward as if he felt embarrassed for having Hero pet him.
Hero only sighed in response. He should have seen that coming.
There were four treadmills lined up on the ground with no one running on them. There was also a socket with an unplugged plug laying nearby.
“Well, I guess we found the problem…” Hero muttered. He jumped up on the platform and tried to pick up the plug to no avail, “Hey Kel, do you think you can help me out?” Hero asked.
“Sure!” Kel jumped up next and with the brother’s combined strength they were able to plug in the lights.
“What did I say, moles? Hard work pays off!” The warden chuckled, not noticing Hero and Kel awkwardly standing nearby.
Hero and Kel jumped down from the platform and began to walk to the exit. Omori and Kel however paused near the treadmills, both turned to look at the other.
“You have the same idea as me, don’tcha?” Kel asked with a smile.
Omori bit his lip and nodded.
Kel nodded and hopped on one of the treadmills and turned it on, immediately putting it to the fastest speed and running. “This is going to be so efficient for the moles!”
“Kel are you serious right now.” Aubrey groaned as she watched the boy run.
“Oh, come on! You know you wanna join me!” Kel grinned.
Omori carefully walked up to the front treadmill and turned it on. He then made sure it was going at a comfortable pace for him to run at.
“Omori! Not you as well!” Aubrey yelled before sighing.
“...Do you want to join them?” Hero asked.
“...yeah…” Aubrey admitted before running over to a treadmill and hopping on.
Hero walked over as well, deciding to join the treadmill party as he set it to a pace he was good at.
This went on for a while and if Hero had to notice anything it was that the lights definitely were brighter than before.
“Alright guys, I think we should go now. We might just miss the show-” “I FORGOT ABOUT THE SHOW!” Kel and Aubrey both jumped off and began running to the ladder. Hero let out a tiny sigh before he got off his treadmill.
Omori got off the treadmill as well and looked at Hero before nodding. He then proceeded to follow Kel and Aubrey.
He might be going by a different name here, but he definitely acts a lot like Sunny.
Making their way back up multiple ladders the group refound themselves in front of the door to the showroom. They opened the door and walked inside the corridor only to find a panicking sprout mole wearing a top hat.
“Someone! Please, help me! I need to find a handsome young gentleman!” The mole shouted.
The mole turned around and happened to land its eyes on Hero, “Oh? You sir, in the striped pants!”
Hero had a feeling where this was heading.
“You magnificent beast! Yes! Ohohohoh~ You would do just fine!” The mole approached Hero.
Hero nervously took a few steps back in response, “Please don’t do this to me…” he whispered to whatever god was out there.
“Please, kind sir! Will you help out this poor, lowly mole?” The mole begged.
“Um, I am so sorry sir but you see I am kind of busy…” Hero muttered.
“Sir, I beg thine! I need someone to do this job!” The mole cried.
“I really can’t though! I am-” “I CAN DO IT!” Kel randomly volunteered.
“Huh?” Both Hero and the sprout mole shared the same shock.
“Yeah, I mean, cmon, you probably just need some help backstage right? I can help!” Kel offered.
“...You know what, you will do. Follow me please.” The sprout mole nodded.
Kel flashed Hero a thumbs up before following behind the mole. Hero could only feel sorry for his brother. He thinks he is in for a backstage job but Hero knows better. That man was looking for a new third contestant, not help.
“...This is going to be hilarious to watch.” Aubrey chuckled to herself.
Hero was mixed between agreeing or being disappointed.
Hero, Aubrey, and Omori sat in the front seats yet again. Hero anxious and Aubrey in suspense about what might happen on stage.
The lights dimmed yet again as the green-haired sprout mole walked onto the stage yet again. “Greetings Sweetheart fans! Sorry for the inconvenience earlier but now we are back in action!”
The crowd cheered happily.
“We regret to inform you however an accident occurred on this very stage!” The curtain opened up to reveal a photograph of the old contestant three. “We had the very sudden loss of poor contestant three here. He was a great man, he shall be remembered fondly.” The curtain closed yet again.
“THE SHOW HOWEVER MUST GO ON!”
The sign for Sweethearts Quest For Hearts lower yet again as the crowd cheered.
“May we introduce our new contestant number 3! Coming all the way from the Vast Forest, he is the one, the only, Kelsey!” The sprout mole introduced Kel as he was shoved onto the stage.
“Hey! Be careful! I am sensitive!” Kel stuck out his tongue to the moles backstage before walking to the front of the stage, “Stupid moles, not letting me work backstage…” he grumbled angrily.
“Sadly, we were not able to get Kel’s height because he doesn’t remember it. His hobbies however include playing sports and drinking Orange Joe, whatever that is…” The mole whispered the last part.
“A good drink, that’s what.” Kel grinned to himself.
“No, it isn’t.” Hero and Aubrey whispered at the same time.
“Finally, it is time to introduce the main character of the show! She emits beauty, she exudes grace, and she truly has the most pulchritudinous face! Yes, you know who we are talking about! She is now about to step foot on this very stage!” The mole shouted, hyping up the crowd.
Meanwhile, Kel, Hero, and Aubrey were whispering a silent pray that Kel doesn’t randomly get shocked by lightning.
“She is the one, the only, the magnificent-” “Ohohohohoh~!” A voice rang out from behind the curtains.
It opened up to reveal Sweetheart, looking like she just jumped out of her anime and on the stage, sitting on a red couch with roses on it.
“Ohohohoho~!” Sweetheart laughed again.
“An excellent entrance, my liege!” The sprout mole praised her.
“Ah, yes! It is me! Hello, my stupid, adoring fans!” Sweetheart waved to the crowd who cheered in response.
“WE LOVE YOU, SWEETHEART! YOU'RE THE BEST!”
Aubrey had to repress a snort at that while Hero just rolled his eyes. He guessed Sunny still saw her as a selfish person.
~~~~~~
“Sunny, may I ask you why you dislike Sweetheart so much?” Hero asked the young boy, genuinely curious, why he dislikes the show.
“...she is just...rude...all the time…to controlling as well...” he muttered.
“What makes you think that? I think she is kinda nice! Sure a little rough but she means well...” Mari wondered aloud.
“She never listens to anyone…. And she bosses around them….She is...mean….Dislike….” Sunny grumbled.
“Whatever you say, little bro.” Mari sighed, giving up on changing his mind.
~~~~~~
Sweetheart let out another hearty laugh as the crowd cheered for her.
“Sweetheart, today we brought out some of the best three bachelors we could find!” The mole smiled, “Will today be the day one steals your heart?”
“Start the questions!” She commanded and the mole nodded.
“One thing that Sweetheart values the most is complete obedience! Do you, contestant one, agree to pledge your allegiance to Sweetheart for the rest of your life?” The green-haired mole asked.
“Uh, sure? I dunno…” Contestant one looked nervously to the side.
“Playing hard to get, I see! What do you think, Sweetheart?” The mole asked.
“Just three feet tall? That is way too short for me! Send him off to The Dungeon!” Sweetheart commanded.
“H-huh?! What!? T-The Dungeon!?” The first contestant began to panic.
Two more sprout moles decked in armor walked onto the stage with swords strapped to their head. They surrounded the first contestant and picked him up (don’t ask Hero how they just did.) and walked him off stage while he screamed for help.
Hero suddenly had a very bad feeling about this.
“Now onto contestant number two!” The mole announced as if someone wasn’t just dragged to prison to rot for eternity.
“Alright, how are we bailing Kel out…” Aubrey whispered.
“We are probably going to get put into a battle…” Hero groaned.
Omori nodded in agreement.
“Contestant number two! Would you like to pledge your allegiance to Sweetheart for all of eternity?” The host asked.
“Sure! Please don’t send me to The Dungeon…” The mole whispered the last part nervously.
Sweetheart walked to the second one and stared him down, “Hm, this one...his very being offends me! Take him away!” she commanded the guards again.
The mole tried to run offstage but the guards caught him before it was too late, dragging the poor mole into The Dungeon.
Now it was only Kel remaining on the stage. He was sweating bullets that Hero could see from here.
“Contestant three! Looks like you are the last one standing!” The mole praised.
“Haha, yep! The last one standing…” Kel nervously laughed.
“The same question! Kel, do you pledge your allegiance to Sweetheart for the rest of your life?” The mole asked.
“Uhhhh” Kel looked at his friends.
Aubrey, Hero, and Omori were all shaking their heads no.
“No. I deserve my rights to do whatever I please!” Kel answered, silently berating himself because he knows he is going to be sent to the dungeon for that one.
“Ohohoho~? What is this? Someone has a little spice in them,” Sweetheart chuckled, “Hmm, he is a little cute, not as cute as the man in the crowd in stripes.”
Hero began sweating as Sweetheart winked at him.
“You know what Kel? It is Kel right?” Sweetheart asked. Kel nodded in response, “Well Kel, do you perhaps know that boy?”
“Um, yeah? He is my brother.” Kel nodded again.
“I like him. We have a winner~” Sweetheart grinned.
“WHAT AN EXCITING TURN OF EVENTS! SWEETHEART HASN’T CHOSEN ONE OF THE CONTESTANTS BUT INSTEAD A CROWD MEMBER!”
The crowd began to gasp in shock and surprise. Aubrey and Omori looked at each other and then at Hero. Hero only seemed to sigh to himself. The more he stays in this dream world the more he grows to hate it.
“A SURPRISE INDEED EVERYONE! MAN IN STRIPES, DO YOU ACCEPT!?” The mole turned to Hero.
“N-NO!” Hero yelled out desperately. He doesn’t want to deal with this at all.
“Huh. Well then Hero, guess as punishment for not dating me I shall banish your brother. Send him to the dungeon!” Sweetheart dramatically pointed at Kel.
“HUH!?!” Kel yelled out as moles with swords began to surround him.
Hero was the first one up with his Baking Pan in hand and knocked one of the knights across the room. Aubrey and Omori soon joined in as well and the next thing everyone knew was that they were fighting a hoard of Sprout Moles with swords.
Though unfortunately, when there are only four of you and millions of them the battle seems to be a bit unfair.
It wasn’t a surprise to Hero when he was whacked in the head the next thing he knew was that he was in a cell with Kel, Aubrey, and Omori.
“Morning sleepy head.” Aubrey greeted him.
“Why am I not surprised that we ended up here? Hero groaned.
The mole with the top hat that caused all of this walked to the door with a smile on their face, “Ohohohoho~ YOU FOOLS! I REMEMBER WHAT YOU DID AND OTHERWORLD AND GOT MY REVENGE! THAT IS RIGHT, I AM ROSA!” She threw her tophat to the ground laughing.
“Once again, I am not surprised…” Hero muttered as he got off the ground.
“Can’t believe we were bamboozled…” Kel sighed.
Rosa laughed in their faces before walking away, her laugh still ringing through the halls.
What a fun dream this is becoming. Well, now they need to find a way out.