townsville's going downsville tonight

[snapsnapsnap]

THE MASTERMIND AU
NICK V. CN EDITION

It's time for Nick vs. CN's mastermind meme!

To those who aren't familiar, this is essentially an AU where your character is the one responsible for Nick v CN's Mutual Killing Game, and all of the carnage that came with it, from the kidnapping to the motives to the trials to the executions! And now, they have chosen to reveal themselves before the remaining members of their class at the final trial!

As such, you are free to play around with this as much as you would like; was your character just another pawn in the grand scheme of things, or did your character put everyone in the Killing Game for a different reason? What is your character's motivation for bringing despair? What do they intend to get out of this seemingly senseless killing? And what does the rest of the class have to do to stop the madness and go home?

There's probably going to be quite a bit of AUing from your character's original canon happening here to make them into the best harbingers of despair they can be, so feel free to go as nuts with it as you want to! And, of course, feel free to tag others with your character's reaction to their classmate's big reveal; it doesn't matter whether or not your character made it to endgame, have fun and mix up the survivor pool as much as you'd like!

Oh, and feel free to describe your character's sweet new Monobear-themed duds, too!!

Original meme text borrowed and modified from loveisanopendoor!

Comments

[wholovesorangesoda]

[Oh, boy, mastermind reveal! It's the big moment! Who would have thought. It's rather unfortunate none of the orphans who have survived have an idea of who the mastermind could be. None of them have no clue...

...but Monobear seems to be rather...nonchalant about that. After a short speech about how futile everyone was, not being able to pinpoint the mastermind, he decides showing it all was better than just saying words.

In the back of the courtroom, a large TV screen appeared. Looks like it's time for the show of Kenan & Kel! And that's what starts! Filmed live, apparently, there comes two teenagers! And one is wearing what seems to be a black and white suit. He...he looks kind of silly with that. At least the hat is nice. Yeah, it's Kel]

"Welcome to the show of Kenan and Kel! As you all already know, my name is Kenan!" [There's a lot of applause. The public loves Kenan, he bows and all. Kel stops forward]

"And for those who don't know, my name is Keeeeeel!" [More applause! Who would have thought Kel was so popular, eh?. The teenagers seems rather happy to be here]

"Wow! We have prepared a special show for tonight. This should be the conclusion to our-"

"Eh, Kenan?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm not entirely sure about all this. Don't you think there's something strange going on?" [Kel gestures around. Kenan does stop for a moment, thoughtful]

"I don't know, Kel, but there's not much to do about that. Let's keep going and see where it all leads. Just follow the script!"

"Oh"

[Kenan once again talks to the audience] "Tonight it'll be the reveal! And for that Kel will go and play his role!" [Cheers and applause. Kenan gives Kel sunglasses, half of it tinted red and with a deformed plastic addition to the lens. Kel puts them on, grinning]

"There we go! Now you're ready to make a good impression"

"And what will you do, Kenan?"

"I'll provide support from a safe distance, of course!" [Kenan points in the opposite direction of the entrance to the courtoom. Kenan and the audience laughs while Kel pouts] "Relax, man! I got your back" [Kenan does seem honest about that. Whether he's conscious of what's going on or not, he is going to support Kel the best he can] "So come on, Mastermind!" [And there he walks away. Kel is left alone in the stage]

"K-Kenan! I don't think they'll be happy to see me! Kenan?! What if Ren tries to eat my shirt again? I don't think I can deal with that again! K-Kenaaaan!

[He turns to the audience in mock exasperation, like usual]

Aaaaaw, here we go!

[Kel exits stage to the left, and the doors of the courtoom opens. Here is Kel in person, orphans! And with the same suit and tacky sunglasses you just saw him in the TV]

Heeeey, guys! How's it going?

[pectoralmutt]

[This is weird.

Weirdly familiar. It's weird to think that Kel's situation is almost reflective of his. Kel was just an innocent kid kinda like Stimpy, with a best friend...clearly manipulated into this. But nah, he wants to feel mad too.

Mad is good. But he's gonna be smart about his mad this time.]

I'm not going to eat your shirt, idiot.

So it was you this whole time. The painting, the bologna...

XANA!Aelita Mastermind is go!

[misseinstein]

[When the remaining orphans enter the trial room, the doors close with a mechanical slam - wait, mechanical? If they look back, the perfectly normal doors have been replaced with yellowish metal ones, and there's a strange whining sound in the background, like the nigh-imperceptible buzz of a television left on with a black screen.

Suddenly, a symbol in the center of the floor lights up in red, and the dot in the center opens, allowing a platform to rise up out of the ground. Someone is on the platform, back to the orphans, much more interested in the red digital screens that hover in the air around them, each being operated fluidly and filled with ever-changing lines of code. When the platform comes to a stop, the figure stops, pressing their hand to the center screen. Text pops up:

NAME: X A N A
CODE: D E S P A I R

And the figure turns to face the remaining orphans. They look...remarkably similar to Aelita, save for the earring, pointed ears and markings under the eyes, and the strange outfit, black with white highlights. Instead of pupils, the symbol on the floor flickers and shakes in her eyes, and the smile that grows on her face is half snarling, all cruel, but very pleased indeed.]


H͠e҉ĺlo͏,͏ or̨p̡h͞a̴ns.҉ ̷Ẁelcome ͞t̡o̕ you͝r̨ fi҉n̕àl ̷trįa̵l͠.́ ͠I ̴a҉m҉ ́X͝A͞NA.͢

[MASTERMIND TRIAL]
[START]

[trustyboomerang]

[.... Sokka isn't sure he likes the future all that much anymore. Or at least computers. Nope. Doesn't like computers anymore. Can he go back home now?]

..... so is anyone else as terrified as I am right now? Because I am very terrified.

[Maybe if this girl didn't look like she was about to eat them...]

Xana. That's... an unusual name. It suits you?

[pectoralmutt]

[This is what you get for using the internet.

Needless to say Ren has got the Herbie newbie given he's never seen anything like that.]

Criminy crap, someone find the power plug!

[boxer_brief]

Oh for- ALWAYS THE GODDAMN ANDROIDS.

[saveusfromthequeen]

[The evidence was there, undeniable. Oh, the students had tried to deny it. It didn't make sense. Jade hated Monobear more than any of them, so much so that she'd tried to take him down with her when she died. And she had died, they'd all seen it. But as the bear melts into shadows, the figure that floats forward is unmistakable. Bluer than the students remember, and wearing a black and white dress not entirely appropriate for her age...but it's Jade.

She claps, slowly and sarcastically, as she hovers into view, a look of sadistic enjoyment in her solid red eyes that might remind of a cat playing with its food. Her expression splits into a wide, fanged grin and she speaks in a warped, demonic sounding voice.]

Congratulations, orphans. You've made it far, to have earned an audience with your Queen. Are you proud of yourselves, having escaped Our game? Does it fill you with hope to see your enemy before you at long last? Or do you despair upon the true face of your captivity?

[Still, is this really all there is to it? There had been hints, here and there, of a voice that doesn't sound like this. Someone calmer, more calculating. Well, there's only one way to find out, orphans...]

[wholovesorangesoda]

[Jade. Why you doing that. Jade, stop. Jaaaaaaade]

Jade! You're alive!

[At least someone is kind of happy to see Jade]

[boxer_brief]

[Vegeta's face flickers at the Queen's entrance. Recognition. Confusion. Fear. Sadness. In less than a second, though, it settles on the old standby of rage.]

Really fucking cute. Now where's the real brat, Monobitch.

[babyhater]

[When the students arrive at the third floor, it seems to have transformed into a quaint looking cave, almost uncharacteristic compared to the horrors Monobear put them through. The only real clues were the journal entries scattered about the area. They are mostly about someone gushing about someone called "the greatest brother" adopting them, with the last entry detailing how excited the writer was that "the greatest brother" is finally letting them lead a "game".

Perhaps then it shouldn't be surprising when the students see a bear sitting on an ornate throne when they enter the trial room. What might be surprising though is that it was someone thought to be dead. Someone that nearly everyone defended when his "murderer" said that he killed him because he thought the bear was evil.

Panda.

He wasn't wearing a different outfit, but the look on his face was devoid of emotion.]

Welcome to your final trial, everyone.

[beautifulmistakeofnature]

[This can't be real.

Of all the people here, Wirt had expected Panda to be one of the last of them to actually be behind this. It was true that his knowledge OF these kinds of things were off putting at first, but he seemed so nervous and afraid that Wirt just. Believed him. What else could he do.

But here they were. And Wirt just slowly shakes his head in disbelief, trying to find something to say.]

I trusted you.

[beautifulmistakeofnature]

[This is disappointing. He had hoped, really, he wouldn't have to go through the discomfort of confronting anyone alive. Truth be told, Wirt didn't want anyone dead. He just needed them that way.

When the survivors enter the courtroom, they'll find it has taken on a more natural look to it. 'Lush' might not be the term to describe the forest they've just entered; so many of the trees seem to be barren; not dead, perhaps, but warped and seemingly old. There are leaves, but they're brittle and sparse looking things except for the highest ones that make up the canopy, a ceiling which light barely pierces and filters through. It is a dim forest, almost constantly stuck near dusk, and it is cold. And grim.

And the survivors could swear that, somewhere inside it, they can hear a voice singing they haven't heard before.

It takes a bit to get through all the foliage, and resting in the roots of some of the trees are older Monobear bots, rusted and curled into the trees, the roots and branches clinging to the bear bots which are stuck in silence. Eventually, the survivors make their way to a clearing. It's a small area, but obviously set aside for this meeting, providing enough room for the pile of logs in the middle of it - more observant survivors might note that there's a log for each of those who had died in the previous weeks - as well as a small lantern, glowing brilliantly, on top of the logs.

And then there's Wirt.

His clothes aren't very different, although they might look like the color has been drained a bit. The small branches jutting from his hair, almost like weak little horns, however, are far more different. He stares at the ground for a moment before looking at the survivors, and his gaze doesn't have any of the nervous energy, or concern or compassion they boy had shown before.

Not empty. But tired beyond belief. And, deeper than that, spiteful.]

Well.

[His voice, when he speaks, actually manages to have a little authority in it. Not the usual nervous, unsure patter Wirt usually has. No. He's very certain of whatever he believes or comes next, though it's clear he doesn't enjoy what he thinks he knows.]

I kind of hoped it wouldn't come to this. There's way less unpleasant ways to do this.

[Final Trial Start.]

[misseinstein]

[When entering the courtroom, Aelita was stunned. Such a shift in everything...were they outside? No, they couldn't be - and even if they were, the trees were too densely packed for them to get away. All they could do is go forward to where the final trial would take place.

But she hadn't expected the clues they found to lead to this.]

W...Wirt? What's happened to you?!

[pectoralmutt]

[Come on in, orphans. The trial room slams shut to reveal a strange, almost 1950s-looking replica of the Oval Office with the usual podiums. Perfectly normal, perfectly patriotic. The center of the office opens, a desk slowly rises from the darkness. Note this desk has a button labeled The Button. It's...it's Monobear?

Monobear laughs. And laughs. Laughs so hard his face splits in two. His body splits in two. It's...Ren?! That's right. Ren. Why do you think he has a placard that says President Hoek? He wears a monocrhome Commander Hoek outfit. A big stitched scar goes down the middle of his face, leaving one half of his face black and one half of his face bleach white.

He's strapped in to the chair, his hand ever hovering over The Button. This is it. This is his final audition for his new Best friend. Ever since Stimpy was gone, no one was worthy...but that will change.]

You worms...I gotta hand it to you, you're like a nose goblin that's hard to pick.

But this is it. This is your last square dance. So let's get to it!

[MASTERMIND TRIAL]

[Start]

[babyhater]

[... Honestly, Panda would be less surprised if he really didn't expect Ren to be this organized to do something like this.]

So... can I ask who the heck elected you as President?

[mightyneed]

[There should be some ceremony to these things, shouldn't there? Some kind of grand aura, full of smoke and mirrors and grand entrances and ambience. A grand finale in order to sort out and explain every single depressing moment of their nearly-two month stay in the home for orphaned bastards.

Walking into an empty courtroom only to see...what looks like a tiny bug-man eating a buffalo chicken burrito is none of these things. He's pretty engaged with that burrito, but when he shoots one pink eye open to see that the students have entered the room, he puts it down for a moment and speaks with a full mouth.]

Eh? What are you people doing here? I wasn't expecting you for another hour! Go back and wait so I can give you a more fitting introduction to my amazingness.

[ DOES THIS EVEN COUNT AS A TRIAL IT'S KIND OF A JOKE REALLY ]
[ START ]

[pectoralmutt]

[OH NO YOU DON'T

Ren scurries to bumrush the little potato bug man.]

You're the guy in charge?!

You turned me into a hot dog dog.

[bearrito]

[When the orphans come in, they'll find a clash between the other sinister designs of the orphanage. Rather than a courtroom, there is a gym, with a basketball hoop looming ominously over where each student stands. The deceased have a pink basketball crammed into the hoop.

There were clues left behind, journal entries about adoptees of this house. They failed to mention who exactly adopted some members of the house.

There were brothers, all coming under the care of a so-called 'Greatest Brother'. The floor hisses as it finally opens. It's a bear, a brown bear running an elliptical machine. He's putting a lot of effort into it. He wears black and white gym sweats and a headband. For someone leading a murder game, he looks uncharacteristically happy.]

Well alright!

Look at all these people here...good hustle, guys! Guess uh, I should introduce myself. Hi, my name is Grizz and I'm your Game Mastermind!

[MASTERMIND TRIAL]

[Start.]

[luckyspots]

[Nothing adds up, certainly not the latest evidence. Going into that room... none of them can say they know exactly what's waiting beyond the final door. Oh but they can can do this together, right? So step right up-- that cold black door framed in metal beckons them, ushering them into a circular room, lit only by the light streaming in from that circular window. It's all dark walls supported by steel all the way up to it's pointed ceiling. The door slams shut behind them and shut it remains.

Their entrance stirs a flock of white butterflies into the air. Steel podiums have been set in a circle for the trial, elaborate and beautiful yet with a jagged design.

The "city" they might be able to see from that window, should they choose to look, is in ruins. Mayhem has erupted upon it-- there are people encased in stone, broken houses, strange layers of ice, an unnatural dark sky full of rumbling clouds... one could only call the sight a true disaster.

As the students timidly settle into their labeled places, the butterflies settle, some sitting upon the podiums, others returning to the stone floor.

It seems at first as though they might be alone, however once the Orphans have taken their place, only a few awkward moments of silence settle in before soft footsteps can be heard, as a figure steps out of the shadows of the room in a despair-inducing suit of black and... white? The pattern no doubt familiar to all as that of the hero form of the girl who had just protected them and died in the trial following.]

Welcome... to your final trial. I'm so glad you could all make it. But sadly... I don't think you have what it takes to make a true miracle happen here. So I'm afraid this might be short. Still... Please do your best.

[MASTERMIND TRIAL]
[Start]

[pectoralmutt]

[A superhero going bad? What kind of sick twist is this?

Ren can't help but get disgusted at what he sees...mostly the outfit. Girl what the heck.]

Do your best?! That's all you have to say?!

Azula | Avatar The Last Airbender

[apeopleperson]

[Underground. They'd been underground the entire time. Once they emerged from the futuristic bunker - one that, according to the notes they found, was inspired by Zoey's world's technology but not exactly like it - the smell of sulfur hit them like a ton of bricks. They pathway was lined by magma and water oozing on the left and right side, respectively, the heat rising and drenching everyone with sweat.

There was a sign at end of the hallway, carved into the very rock, its characters close to indecipherable to everyone. Save one person. Maybe two. For them, the sign was all too easy to read.

BOILING ROCK.

Up a dark set of stairs. And, into a giant, circular, metal room, unlike any that had or should have existed in that world. Upon the survivors entering the darkened room, it lights up. Blue fire shoots up through a small vent which encircles the obsidian podiums - all decorated with the banners of the Fire Nation - and the doors to potential freedom clang shut. There are no windows. No light save the fire.

No escape.

She sits in a throne on a sufficiently-raised platform above the center of the podiums, dressed in the regal finery of a Fire Lord. The colors, however, are black and white along with red; her knot is perfectly put into coif with a Monobear comb, her bangs perfectly even on both sides. Flanking her is Monobear, a suspended cage with a very angry von Strangle, and a group of cloaked figures, strange masks on their faces, sitting cross-legged with perfect even numbers to each side of Monobear and the cage.

But the Mastermind is in the center.

Azula wouldn't want it any other way.]

Excellent.

Now, the fun part begins.

[MASTERMIND TRIAL]
[START]

OH MY GOD

[trustyboomerang]

[SOKKA LOOKS FREAKED THE FUCK OUT. NO NO NO NO NO NO NO.... Anyone but her! He had a feeling, a deep down sick feeling, that this might be who they were dealing with. Why did his feeling have to be right? It doesn't stop the fear from being there... It just makes it a lot worse. Azula was dangerous, and whatever she has planned will not end well.

Why does he have the vague impression that everyone else will get off easy with an execution and he won't?]

Azula... I thought you were crazy before, but this?! This is insane! Why are you even doing this?!

[And what does this mean for his future?

AND WHY BOILING ROCK?! Was she still hung up on that loss? Seriously?]

[trustyboomerang]

[This is going to be a very different trial. The courtroom is made up of four very different sections. Above each area are plaques that only a few might be able to read.

Above the arid, rocky section it reads Earth Kingdom, with the area being dry and lifeless. The survivors standing there will feel the occasional tremble, as if there was an earthquake building up under their feet. The fire section has a plaque with the words Fire Nation, hot plumes of water and steam shooting up, magma heating up the grate underneath it. At least the survivors in that section stand on cool plates. That way they won't catch on fire just yet. The most terrifying section was one labeled Air Nation. The survivors in this section simply stand on almost flimsy-looking wooden beams, where one wrong move would send them careening down into darkness. They'll feel air moving around them, at times moving quicker than others, chilling them before the wind turns gentle and warm again.

Each section is closed off by glass. Seems the mastermind is trying to keep the survivors from physically interacting till they found it to be time to do so. The last section, with a throne covered in different furs, is covered in ice and snow. Monobear stood beside it in a thick coat and hat. The other side was graced with someone who is obviously female, her face covered by her hood. Above them all is a plaque that simply reads "Water Tribe."

On the throne sits a young man who looked way too comfortable in this harsh terrain. He looks at the survivors with an almost predatory look. The mastermind stands and throws his arms out, as if welcoming his victims to their last trial.]

Welcome to my home. Yes, yes, you're all probably way too terrified to be impressed with this all. As some of you notice that the sections you're in are what I feel are appropriate for you. After all, I've been watching you all this time.

[Sokka moves his hands to his hips.]

If you haven't guess my name yet, you're idiots. I spelled it out for you several times. It's not Hakoda like you think it is. Then again, you guys were willing to kill each other for some of the stupidest motives I could come up with. I mean, come on! You really think I'd waste resources gathering your loved ones up for an execution like that? Please. Give me some credit.

[The mastermind waves his hands in the air again as the lights become momentarily blindingly bright. Podiums rise and the sound of a gavel striking wood can be heard.]

Let's get this over with. I've got a war to start.

[MASTERMIND TRIAL]
[START]

[misseinstein]

[Magma - so much magma. It's so hot and threatening and well, at least it's not standing in an abyss with nothing to hold onto? That's all Aelita can think of as a plus, but there are still friends over there and a friend standing in the ice and snow like he's been pulling the strings all along -

No. No, she wouldn't believe it, no! Aelita had trusted him, worked with him, confided in him...it couldn't turn out like this!]

No...no, stop it! Stop it, Hakoda! This isn't right - this isn't the you I knew!

[boxer_brief]

Took you bastards long enough.

[The voice of a dead man echoes through the courtroom as the surviving orphans reach an impossible conclusion, picked carefully from the evidence presented to them. Notes about gods and impossible battles. A charred corpse with a tail. And one word that kept cropping up again and again - wish.]

[The sterile white walls of the courtroom flicker into life as videoscreens, showing scenes of carnage. Cities burning, fire shooting down from the sky, entire planets exploding.]

Let's get this damned nonsense over with then.

[From the darkness above, a flash of light streaks down and blasts Monobear off his throne, scattering mechanical debris and fur over the courtroom.]

[And then Vegeta descends, suspended on nothing, hair a stark blond and eyes a cold green. His normal blue spandex replaced with pitch black, with pure-white armor featuring a red Monobear-eye insignia over his heart.]

[He alights on Monobear's throne, standing and looking down at the survivors.]

You did damn well making it this far. But this is one fight you've got no chance of winning. I'm almost sorry.

[The voting podiums light up. No keyboards or photos this time, just two words. HOPE and DESPAIR.]

[MASTERMIND TRIAL]

[START]

1/2

[tchyeah]

[It's not the first time Jade's seen someone back from the dead. She's fought immortal demons, ancient wizards and more. That's not what shakes her.

No, what gets to her is the face. He looks a little different, but there's no doubt that this is Vegeta, someone she'd slowly grown to trust and care about over the course of the murder game, right up until she'd lost him. And now...that was fake?

She's left staring in shock for a few moments, struggling to find her voice in the face of this betrayal.]

You...you...

[attentioncampers]

[When the doors to the final trial room open, the students are welcomed by a beautiful island scene, although it has been fenced in with an electric fence in case anyone wanted to try anything.

In front of the podium, there is a small room made out of bullet proof glass with a man standing inside of it. His grin is wide when he sees the students enter, obviously very excited to see them.]

Welcome finalists! Welcome to your final trial for Total Drama Murder House! As you are probably well aware right now, I am your real host, Chris McLean.

Before we get started, I just wanted to thank you all for helping me create the most successful reality show of all time! We got such good ratings that we've already been approved to do five more seasons! It might have been my idea but without you wonderful contestants this couldn't have been possible.

But now it's time for us to decide how this all will end, but don't worry, how it ends is all up to you! So no pressure!

[misseinstein]

...No.

[No. Nope. Nopearoni, nopearino, the evidence may have pointed to this but did that jackass just indicate he'd be running five more murdergames?!?]

You're sick, sir, do you know that?

[lostcontroloflife]

[Today's courtroom has gone under some renovations.

The podiums are surrounded by an unusual red fence about four feet high. Beneath the students the courtroom has been re-tiled in a gaudy blue and yellow. The walls are a chipped seafoam color, likely the cheapest paint at the bottom of the Sherwin William's bargain bin. Nothing matches. Everything is a careless mess. The person who created this has clearly lost control of their life. There are toys scattered around, some only half-constructed. In fact two of them might look familiar to the students.

One graced half of the items in their kitchen during their seven-week imprisonment.

Another was their former Housemaster... But Monobear's out of commission right now. His head has been removed from his body, revealing all of his inner wiring and circuitry. Nuts and bolts lead away from him to the seat that the bear would usually occupy. In his place there sits a familiar student, tinkering with Monobear's head.]

Ugh, blast. The damn thing never did work quite right.

[He sighs, tossing the head carelessly to the side-- giving up in typical Pickles fashion.]

Guess I have to deal out your punishments myself. Time to pay tribute to the alpha male, kids.

[MASTERMIND TRIAL]
[START]

[beautifulmistakeofnature]

...No?

[Really? Really? Of all of them, it's Stu who's the mastermind? Wirt even liked the guy a lot. He was quirky, but he was kind, and excited, and creative.

Now. Now he's just gross.]

You can't be serious about this.

[tortellini]

[The stage has been set, it's time to light the lights, it's time to meet the mastermind.

A large stage, befitting of our tentacled friend, has been set before the students. He arrives before them in a long, tailored black-and-white jacket, reminiscent of a conductor. He raises one tentacle to silence the crowd, setting down a large box before him. The box remains covered for now, but he extracts a baton and begins to tap the box, preparing to conduct his mad symphony.]

Alright, barnacleheads! We've done a great job with the show so far, but now, it's time to wrap our love-ly performance up in a nice little bow! For, you see, we have reached the end of Act 3, and our hero couldn't be happier! He's achieved everything he's ever wanted, has all the prestige and popularity he could think of, and thus, it's time for our great big emotional climax!

[The mastermind raises his hand once more, causing a spotlight to fall upon him. His name is cast in lights. ]

After years of a miserable existence, he's finally earned his happy ending, folks! So, let's give it to him!

[MASTERMIND TRIAL]
[START]

[babyhater]

[There is a long silence, then...]

This is the weirdest dream I've had in awhile.

[Nope nooope he's just not believing he's awake right now.]

[whoseclues]

[ The television flicks on, and at first... nothing. Huh. Looks like the control room monitor got switched on by itsel---

Nope, scratch that. There's a blue dog peeking over the edge of the desk. How'd she get in there? She jumps onto the chair and kicks away the ball that was just sitting there minding its own business.

Awww, how cute! But surely she can't be... ]

Baroo? Arf, bark bark arf!

[ Huh. Guess she is. Blue holds up your STUDENT HANDBOOK and points to it. ]

Bark bark! Aroo, bark arf arf bark!

[ Wow, Blue sure seems like she means business. But whatever could she want? ]

Bark bark?

[ There's no possible way of knowing. Not unless she--

Blue jumps off the chair and launches at the screen, paw outstretched. When she hits it, it leaves a blue pawprint on the screen.

Oh!! She probably wants us to play Blue's Clues! ]



STUDENT HANDBOOK RULES
Rule 1 Students must find all three clues that Blue has left hidden in her house!
Rule 2 Once the students have found all three clues, they must use the thinking chair to figure out what it is that Blue wants to do!
Rule 3 Students must sing while moving between rooms.

KITCHEN

[whoseclues]

THIS IS WHAT YOU GUYS WANTED, RIGHT.

[maybeckoning]

[The elevator takes a lot longer than usual to reach its destination, and appears to be moving sideways instead of up or down. When to the doors finally open, it's on a very different courtroom. There are seven podiums lined up in a row, one for each of you, and it would appear that the mastermind isn't on trial here: you are.

A white rabbit appears and blows on his trumpet before clearing his throat.]

Announcing His Majesty, Keeper of the Kingdom and Mastermind, Donnie Maybeck!

[A spotlight clicks on, bathing the seat at the top of the Judge's podium in light and revealing a tall, African-American boy in a decidedly not black and white outfit. He's sitting on the edge of the podium, legs crossed and smiling.]

He makes me sound like such a big deal, doesn't he? You can just call me Maybeck.

[MASTERMIND TRIAL]
[START]

[tortellini]

...Who.

[blackforestham]

[The elevator this time is a lot more old fashioned, it stops to an old hangar. The ceiling is rusted, giving way to a glass murky ceiling. Sand fills the floor, some more heavily than others. It's obvious that this place has remained untouched by time for a long while. Not the typical place for a courtroom, but there are podiums in place nonetheless. Instead of typical voting ESH, though, there are typewriters.

But perhaps the strangest of all is the massive mech parked in the middle of the courtroom. It's face is black and white, arms suggesting it was once used for flying. In the center of its chest is a cockpit. A voice comes from the small dome.]

Man is a creature that fears the dark. It is that fear that is vital to them. It drives us, moves us closer to the truth.

[Yes. The truth. Like the evidence hinting towards a possible connecting between Madame Foster and a Paradigm Corp or the connection between the tomato project and the ominous Imaginary Friend project. All part of the strange hints left from a reporter calling himself Michael Zaibach.]

It is the truth I pursued as a reporter. But it is fear, the tension between hope and despair that truly drives we pathetic creatures! Without the threat of despair, we are but mindless beings marching to the edge of oblivion!

[The cockpit opens. Out steps a man, covered in bandages.]

Michael Zaibach believed in these things, it is how he burned and was born as Scwhwarzwald, your mastermind above dogs! I hope you're watching this, Mr. Negotiator! Observe these orphans as they reach the edge of despair and burn! For it is the trial of truth that all things burn!

[MASTERMIND TRIAL.]

[Anfang]

[apeopleperson]

...

[DID SOMEONE SAY BURNING THINGS]