Episode 7: Part 3

     Dona entered the minecart her second time, now being pulled by the steady hauler. She started out by pushing the acceleration button, but later started pounding on the acceleration since the steady hauler increases speed so slowly. She slowed down for the first turn and took it to the left. Then, seeing as how left worked well before, also took the second left. This turn led her to a junction that ended up taking her back to the start.

     Faris took the next attempt on the steady hauler. She knew to take the first left turn, but then approached the second section and decided to ask the soldiers which way to go. Neither responded. "I'll try all rights unless I know rights be wrong." She took the path to the right and the soldier told her to slow down to let him out. She complied and barely came to a stop before reaching the barrier. She and Reina and the one remaining soldier then departed, when the soldier let her know of the cave-in up ahead. "We'd best speed up then, else we be trapped like rats!" Faris jammed on the acceleration, but due to the steady hauler's lack of acceleration, it landed them right under the cave-in. The hauler took a beating and soon stopped walking. The soldier took over the controls and led the hauler back to the station. He explained that it got hit too much and was unable to continue and Faris would have to try again later.
     When they reached the station, Faris was continuously apologizing to Reina, who seemed highly upset by the harm that had come to the hauler beast.
     "I be sorrier than a thousand sorries," Faris told her.
     "I know, you can stop apologizing," Reina said. "I just feel so bad for the hauler. I hope he's okay."
     "Aye, me too. Reminds me o' old Syldra... So misunderstood. Only helpin' people."

     "It Yenke's turn!" Yenke cheered. He told the soldier to bring him the "whimsical" hauler because he read that it "jumps far." He also read that it doesn't listen to orders, but didn't know what orders to give, anyway, so he stuck along for the ride. It found the first turn and made the correct turn to the left, then even made the correct turn to the right. The soldier asked Yenke to slow down to drop him off, but the beast would not listen to his order to slow down, so the cart went right past the soldier's drop-off point and blasted through the barrier. It made the next turn to the right, where it soon apporached a break in the tracks. The soldier told Yenke to speed up, which he did. The beast jumped the large gap, then came to a new set of track that led them back to the start. Yenke and Biran exited the minecart and high-fived from the awesomeness of jumping the tracks.

     Fran's steady hauler set out on the path, taking the left turn, then the right. She reached the drop-off point and the soldier jumped out before Fran set out on the course again. She slowed her hauler for the cave-in and took a left, then accelerated for the jump. The hauler successfully jumped and Fran continued to navigate through the tunnels, but eventually circled right back to the start.

     "Can nobody do this?" Dona complained. "This is such a horrible race."
     "It's a memory game, Dona," Barthello explained. "We have to remember where we've been and go the correct direction."
     "But it's boring, Barthello."
     "But we get to play with the cute haulers!" Reina said, joining the conversation uninvited.
     "I'm quite enjoying it, too," Ma said.
     "Well all of you have already dropped off your soldiers," Dona replied.
     "I think the Ronso are enjoying it," Zell said. "And I don't think they'll ever drop off their soldier!"
     "Ronso can drop off soldier!" Yenke said. "Biran and Yenke memorize route to soldier! Right then left!"
     "YENKE!" Biran shouted.
     "Oh, Yenke sorry."
     "Yenke so stupid. It left, then right!"
     "Biran, we should not be telling hornless ones the location! Some have not found it!"
     "Just Dona hadn't," Zell said.
     "Just what are you implying?" Dona replied. She stepped forward to get closer to Zell.
     "That you're a horrible racer!"
     "Zelly, don't," Ma urged him. She grabbed his wrist to pull him back, but he broke her grasp.
     "Like you're any better? You should've gone home a long time ago for not bringing your clue."
     "You were so desperate, you had to form an alliance with fat ol' Brahne!" Zell shouted.
     Zell and Dona continued to argue as Fran pulled into the station. Ma boarded the minecart and pulled Zell out of the argument. She picked the ill-natured hauler again and set off on the course. Zell sulked in a corner of the minecart while Ma navigated the course.
     "Gosh, she makes me so mad sometimes," Zell said. He started sparring the air.
     "Just ignore her, Zelly," Ma said as she made the first turn. "You can't let people get to you like this. It's what she wants."
     "Why? I don't get it!"
     "Because people make mistakes when they get flustered. Oh!" Ma quickly slammed on the left turn button to make the hauler go right. It barely made the turn. "See? You distracted me and I almost missed a turn."
     "Sorry, Ma." Zell sat down on the floor.
     "It's okay. Now don't sulk. Get up here and watch. There's a ramp coming up!"
     "Sweet!" Zell jumped to the front of the minecart and watched as Ma accelerated the cart to the necessary jumping speed. The hauler jumped and the minecart flew in the air behind it as Zell and Ma cheered wildly. It landed back on the tracks as Ma threw in instructions for an upcoming switchtrack. She navigated to a final area, where the hauler slowed down and stopped near an unfamiliar cave exit.
     "Is this it?" Ma asked the soldier.
     He exited the minecart and nodded. He lent Ma a hand and helped her off. Zell wiped down his hand to take the soldier's hand to get out of the cart, but the soldier had pulled it back already. Zell seemed disappointed until the soldier handed Ma the next clue.
     "Sweet!" Zell shouted. "That'll show Dona who can and can't race!"
     "That's right, Zelly!" Ma joined in the celebration. "But don't get cocky." She ripped open the clue and read it to Zell. "Travel on foot through the Bequerel Mountain path to the Pit Stop at Arias. Warning, the last team to check in may be eliminated."

<Announcer Gippal>
     "Teams must now make their way through the Bequerel Mountains and find the city of Arias. The path is fairly straightforward as long as teams do not veer off to the Bequerel Mines. The last team to check in here...may be eliminated."

<Ma & Zell: Mother/Son, Currently in 1st Place>
     "Oh wow!" Zell cheered. "We could win this, Ma!"
     "I hope we do! Let's hurry, Zelly!"
     Zell and Ma headed out of the cave to a very bland mountain. There was a lot of dirt and that was about it. A small section of the course had some fences up, but it was in the opposite direction, according to Ma. She insisted the bottom of the mountain was where they were going, so they followed the part of the mountain that sloped down in hopes that the bottom was in that direction.

     The hauler came back empty, save for the soldier that drove the cart back, causing a great stir among the remaining racers. Dona showed no emotion by words, but her face and body language showed a lot of anger. She boarded the minecart with Barthello and the two soldiers, then used the steady hauler to search.
     "That puts the boy and his mum in first, then," Balthier said. "Bravo to them."
     "We can still win," Fran replied.
     "Now, now, that's only true if we don't jinx ourselves."
     "No, it is still true."
     "Perhaps."

     Zone and Watts reached the Kirsla Caverns and grabbed the clue from outside. Both were still yawning heavily as Watts read the clue to Zone. "Make your way inside the caverns and search for your next clue."
     They entered the caverns and searched around. Like the Ronso before them, they found the room fairly easily by just following the noise of people talking. Zone found the clue box. "Last clue in the box... Roadblock: who's ready to haul asses?"
     "Could go either way," Watts said. "What do you think?"
     "I'll try it," he replied, though he sounded nervous. As he read through the details with Watts, he seemed a lot less nervous. Then more still once he entered the room and saw the tracks, which reminded him of train tracks. "I think we can catch up here," Zone said quietly to Watts. "I know we can! Trains are like, the only thing I'm not afraid of. And we have a manual to study. This is where intelligence will pay off!"
     "Don't speak too loudly, now," Balthier said to Zone. "Some of us might take exception to that."
     "People talking too much!" Biran shouted. "Yenke need concentrate!"
     "Left, right. Left, right. Left, right," Yenke repeated over and over.
     "Then again, some might not," Balthier muttered to Fran. She chuckled.
     Dona and her crew returned to the station on the hauler, though one of the soldiers was missing. "Great, they're here now," Dona complained as she lined up behind Zone.

     Faris picked the steady hauler and headed through the course. She reached the area where the soldier was dropped off, then further through the course to where they were last time. Faris had watched the man navigate them back, so she definitely knew the wrong way and instead went the opposite direction. There was one last switchpoint, so Faris chose to turn left, which was luckily the correct choice as the minecart pulled into the station at the other end of the caverns. The girls cheered as they exited the minecart and Faris was handed a clue.
     "Good job, sis!" Reina said while hugging Faris.
     "Err, thanks. Do yeh always hug when yer excited?" Faris asked.
     "If I've been around animals, then it's likely. Do you think Zone and Watts will catch up? I haven't even talked to them in a while..."
     "We c'n hope so, but right now, we got ter go! Lookit this!" Faris pointed to the opened clue. "Travel on foot through the Bequerel Mountain path to the Pit Stop at Arias. Warning, the last team to check in may be eliminated."
     "Yikes! Let's get a move-on!"

     There was more excitement at the beginning of the minecart tracks as the cart came back empty. All except for the Ronso, who were too busy memorizing the first two turns of the race. Yenke rightly chose the steady hauler and boarded with Biran.
     "We'll have to watch them when they come back," Watts told Zone. "If they come back without their soldier, then it means their directions they've been chanting are correct. Copy them if they return without a soldier. Otherwise-"
     "I know," Zone said. "I've been paying attention."
     "Don't suppose your Viera powers will be able to hear which way these beasts are going," Balthier said to Fran.
     "I won't dignify that," she replied. "But I do know the first four turns, and don't suspect there are many beyond this."
     "Just as well, then. It's been too long since we've seen a victory."
     "Indeed. Much too long."

     Yenke returned without his soldier, making it Fran's turn in the hauler. By now, everybody had figured out that the steady hauler was the best choice. Even Zone, who had yet to even ride one. Fran guided her hauler through the path, choosing the first three switches in the order she had already learned were correct, then took a left at the fourth spot, since she knew the right turn to be false. This turned out to be the last switch, as she reached the end and disembarked with Balthier. She received her clue and read it to Balthier. "Travel on foot through the Bequerel Mountain path to the Pit Stop at Arias. Warning, the last team to check in may be eliminated."
     "Nicely done, Fran. Now let's catch those groups ahead of us, shall we?"

     Ma and Zell found themselves at the bottom of a mountain near a town with large gates. It was a small, quaint town aside from the gates with a church-like building directly in the center. They entered the town and looked around at the small buildings and green foliage, when Zell, suddenly, reached out and tapped at Ma's arm. "There's a flag on the churchy building's door!"
     "Good eye!" she replied. They raced inside the building and followed an arrow pointing them to a large dining hall. At the other end of the room was Gippal. He stood beside a redheaded woman in black-leather armor. She had tattoos of strange writings and symbols across her legs and arms.
     "Welcome to Arias," the woman, Nel, said to Zell and Ma as they jumped on the mat.
     "Ma and Zell," Gippal said, "you're team number one!"
     "I KNEW IT!" Zell cheered. He lifted Ma into the air with a hug around the waist, then put her down. Gippal tried to explain their prize, but Zell was too busy dancing on the table. Once Ma finally got him to return to the mat, Gippal resumed his speech.
     "For winning this leg of the race, you've both received a two day vacation to Gemity City. Enjoy the games around the city, watch the bunny races, watch or even participate in a fighting tournament, or just relax in your hotel or in the quaint world of Elicoor II."
     "Thank you so much, Gippal," Ma said.
     "How do you feel about a win here? First time I've seen you two so early."
     "Feels great, man!" Zell said. "We're finally on the radar! A force to be reckoned with!"
     "I'm glad you're happy about that. Some teams seem to have a different strategy than yours."
     "Yeah, Zone and Watts. They're trying to lay low, but we don't mind being in everybody's faces. We've been waiting to win some prizes, you know?"
     "Not to mention the whole shebang!" Ma chimed in. "We don't plan to lose this lead, Gippal. Dinchts are winners!"
     "Yeah!"

     Zone followed the course that Yenke and his big mouth had told the whole group and found the location to drop off the soldier. He continued beyond this point for one turn, but then the hauler began heading back to the beginning. He and Watts exited the minecart and let Dona on. The cycle was moving a tad faster since everybody was now using the steady hauler.
     "Thanks for the help," Zone said to Yenke. He looked at Biran. "You, too."
     "Yenke and Biran did not mean to help," Biran explained, "but are glad to have helped friends in blue bunny alliance."
     "Alliance?" Zone whispered to Watts. He shrugged. He turned back to Biran. "Well, good luck, fellas. May the best team win. Err, at least not get eliminated."
     "Hornless tummy-man say funny things," Yenke said.

     Dona and Barthello finally reached the other side of the minetracks and received their clue. Dona read the Pit Stop clue to Barthello, then the pair hurried along the mountain path.

     "Reina and Faris," Gippal said to the girls as they stepped on the mat, "you're team number two!"
     The girls cheered. "Too bad we lost the lead, but we're okay with it," Reina said.
     "It were those horrible bunnies. Too much luck fer my bones," Faris added.
     "Still, second isn't bad," Reina added with a smile.

     Yenke directed the hauler along the mine path a second time, but failed to find the exit, though he was sure he was close. Zone hopped into the minecart and headed out on his second attempt.

     "Fran and Balthier," Gippal said, "you're the third team to arrive."
     "Not the worst we've done," Balthier said.
     "However," Gippal paused as both Fran and Balthier's expressions turned from joy to fear,"you failed to retrieve a Route Info, and I cannot check you in until you retrieve it."
     "Beg pardon?" Fran asked.
     "A Route Info. You know, one of those boring clues that don't make you do anything like a Roadblock, but-"
     "Yes, we know what they are," Balthier interrupted. "Thank you, Gippal. We'll return once we've found it."
     He gave a frightened glare to Fran, who returned the glare. Neither had any idea where to look, but raced out of the church, nonetheless, to find it. They headed back to the Kirsla Caverns' rear entrance to begin their search.

     "There we go!" Zone cheered as he navigated the hauler to the exit. He and Watts received their clue. "Travel on foot through the Bequerel Mountain path to the Pit Stop at Arias. Warning, the last team to check in may be eliminated."
     "Too bad the Ronso aren't going to make this one," Watts said.
     "Whoa, whoa, careful! Don't count the Ronso out yet! They keep beating people in footraces. We gotta get to the Pit Stop and fast!"
     "True, let's go!"

     "Dona and Barthello," Gippal said, "you're team number three!"
     "Three?" Barthello asked. "Excuse me, sir, but we had three teams ahead of us."
     "Fran and Balthier had to retrieve a route marker they'd missed," he explained.
     "I thought I saw them running the other way!" Dona said. "I just assumed they were lost."
     "Well, congrats on the upgrade," Gippal said.
     "Thank you," Barthello said.

     Zone and Watts headed down the mountain in search of Arias when they saw Fran and Balthier running in the opposite direction. Zone and Watts waved, but got no response as Fran and Balthier ran by.
     "Weird," Watts said.
     "This is crucial," Zone replied. "I think they missed something."
     "I hope we didn't miss anything."
     "Same here."
     They continued down the mountain and into the city of Arias. Zone spotted the church and they ran inside to the Pit Stop mat.
     "Zone and Watts," Gippal said, "you're team number four!"
     "Thanks, Gippal," Watts said. "We're happy and lucky to be here."
     "I wonder if this'll take Fran and Balthier out..." Zone said.
     "We'll find out," Gippal replied.

     Yenke attempted the minecart roadblock several times. He had a marker out and started writing noties on the back of his very hairy arm. After several attemps, he had written "left" and "right" so many times and had crossed out many of the words. His arms were covered in writings and even his legs slightly. Then, finally, he reached the end, where they were greeted by Fran and Balthier, as well as the soldier, who handed them a clue.
     "Good day," Balthier said. "We need your hauler."
     The Ronso were very confused. The soldier nearby hopped in the minecart and instructed Fran and Balthier to follow. He told the hauler to accelerate and took them back to the start while the Ronso read their clue.
     "Yenke is too confused to think," Yenke said. "Travel on Ronso feet through Be... Be-kwer-eel Mountains! Aha! Yenke know 'Mountain' word! Travel on Ronso feet through Mountains to Pit Stop in Arias."
     The Ronso ignored their encounter with Fran and Balthier and set off for the city of Arias.

     "I think I know what we did," Fran said as she sorted through the clues. "We know we did not stray until the clue to the Kirsla Caverns. We followed them exactly. But in this clue that tells us to make our way to the caverns to the west, we were never told to explore the caverns, and should not have found the roadblock."
     "Let's hope we only missed one route info," Balthier said. "If it even makes a difference. We may very well have fallen out of this race, you know."
     "Best to not let it destroy us. Use your brain, Ffamran. It is the only thing that will set us apart from those Ronso."
     Balthier nodded and began to look over a map. He took out a marker and began plotting their route through Elicoor II to see what they might have done wrong.
     Once they reached the other side of the mines, they both quickly hopped out. Both had already put away the documents they studied and thanked the hauler-driving soldier as they raced toward the entrance of the caverns. It was there that Fran grabbed the back of Balthier's collar before he raced too far ahead of her and eased him to a stop. She pointed beside them to a clue box that sat beside the cavern's entrance.
     "How in blazes did we miss this?" Balthier said. He took the clue out and read it to Fran. "Make your way inside the caverns and search for your next clue."
     "Let's hurry back," Fran said. This time, Balthier grabbed her by the shoulder before she sprinted away.
     "Wait. Unless we must head that direction, then I noticed on the map that we can get to Arias through the Aire Hills we started from. It means we do not have to climb a giant mountain."
     "Very good, let us hurry." They sprinted off to the south to the city of Kirsla, then headed east through Aire Hills.

     Gippal waited at the Pit Stop with Nel as the next team entered and stepped onto the Pit Stop mat.
     "Welcome to Ar-" Nel began, but was slightly distracted. "Excuse me. Welcome to Arias. Are you mocking me and my people?"
     "Biran and Yenke," Gippal said to the Ronso, "you're team number five!"
     "Wait wait wait," Nel interrupted. She pointed to Yenke's arms and legs, which appeared to have writing all over it similar to the runes tattooed to herself.
     "Yenke gets very lost," Yenke told her. "Never insult other people. Ronso kind people. Very polite to hornless, insuperior humans."
     "Biran and Yenke possibly the politest Ronso ever," Biran added.
     "They aren't smart enough to mock you and your people," Gippal whispered to Nel. "Besides, it looks like directions he's written all over himself."
     "I see," Nel whispered back. "Sorry to cause trouble."

     Fran and Balthier finally reached the church a while later and jumped on the Pit Stop mat. Nel welcomed them and Gippal stayed quiet for what seemed like an eternity to Balthier and Fran.
     "Come on, out with it," Balthier said. He and Fran were both still trying to catch their breath.
     "Fran and Balthier," Gippal said, "you're the last team to arrive."
     "We know."
     "I'm sorry to tell you you've not been eliminated from the race."
     "Say again?"
     "This is the first and only non-elimination leg and you both are still in the race."
     Both sighed a huge sigh of relief. "You sure know how to please a man."
     "And woman," Fran added. Both thought about their words, but thought best to not say anything further on the topic.
     "I do have bad news though," Gippal said. "Sometime during the next leg, you will encounter a Speed Bump. A Speed Bump is a task that only you will have to perform. You must complete the task before you continue on with the race. In addition, you will receive no money at the start of the next leg."
     "Why don't you give us something we can't do?" Balthier said cockily. Fran elbowed him.
     "We're grateful to remain in the race," she said. "Thank you."
     "Now, don't you two go and miss the Speed Bump like you did this Route Info," Gippal teased.
     "We won't miss another clue," Balthier said.
     "Knock on wood," Fran added with a smile.
     Balthier laughed. "Seems all Viera love that expression. I guess you can take the Viera from the Woods, but you can't take the Woods from the Viera." He threw his arm around Fran and walked away from the Pit Stop mat with her to join the other racers. "Won't they be happy to see us?"