Paper Mario X: The Thousand-Year Door

Chapter 24: Follow Me to Glory

"Wow…you can see everything up here!"

"We ARE flying high!"

"You already USED that one…"

The gang kept their faces pressed against the window, staring at all there was to see. Eventually Koops pointed out a few balloons floating past them, and everyone ran up to the front.

"Ai! There it is!"

"It's beautiful!"

"IT'S AWESOME!"

"It's so bright…"

They looked on as the blimp flew to their destination. It flew over the city and let the passengers down into Glitzville. The five all walked a few paces forward, taking in the sights.

"Ummmm…yeah, this would be Glitzville all right. How do they make it float?" Koops stated.

"How do people not fall off?" inquired Link.

"I mean, it hasn't, you know, plunged from the sky or anything, has it?"

"…"

"Now you've got me scared."

"Yeah, thanks Kooper!"

"I'm KOOPS!"

"Time to hunt down that Crystal Star! I know I'm ready!"

"Let's do this!"

"My guess would be that it's in the arena, so let's head in."

Mario nodded and climbed up the steps. Link desperately tried to get a Shine Sprite, but it was floating just out of his reach. Eventually he hit the ground in frustration, made a block appear, snagged the Sprite, and followed Mario in.

----

"Wow this is so cool!" shrieked Koops.

"Hey!" Goombella pointed out. "This poster is talking about some crazy new fighter who's going to battle for the Major League!"

"Sweet! I gotta see it…" Link chattered anxiously.

Mario: Crystal Star?

"Aw Mario…there's always a catch to these things! It's not going to be easy, so we might as well make the most of it!"

Mario couldn't argue with that. Link nodded, until they saw Ms. Mowz right next to them. Goombella and Flurrie groaned as Link and Koops' hearts raced. Mario walked over and said hi.

"Well, hello Mr. Mustache and Mr. Pointy Ears! We meet again!" she squeaked.

"She acknowledged me!" Link cheered.

"Lucky you…"

"I don't have much time to talk right now. But…if you care to watch a match, I'd head to the balcony. Great seats!"

"A girl that likes wrestling…sweet…" Link and Koops sighed at the same time. So they headed up a flight of stairs and entered the arena from there to get good seats. The current battle was Champion Rawk Hawk vs. Number 1 Koopinator.

"We came at the right time! The highlight of the day!" Link yelled over the cheers.

The Koopinator was on the ropes, and Rawk Hawk knew it.

"That's right! Unh! I think it's about time for you to FEEL THE RAWK!" he roared.

He jumped and kicked the Koopinator down, leaving the armored turtle with an "Ow…"

"Stay down pincushion! You don't want more of this! Why'd you even show up? Yeah, you heard me talking wimpy! Stay outta the ring or feel the burn, baby! I'll give you another world-class spanking and send you crying to your momma!"

"What a jerk…"

"Tell me about it."

The ringmaster stomped up to Rawk Hawk, not unsurprised by his victory. "Hooooo-WEEEEEE! Champ! That was a grade-A whoopin'! Yer thoughts on the match?"

"You call that a match? Ain't there a fighter out there who can challenge me? No! No one can! Hear me? Ain't a fighter out there that can even make me sweat! They're all a bunch of little cry babies running around in stink diapers! You got a bone to pick? Come fight me! Bring it! I'll take on anyone!"

"Headstrong?"

"Headstrong."

"You weaklings might as well stick to video game fighting. Cause I'll hurt you. YEAH! NUMBER ONE BABY! RAWK HAWK IS THE CHAMP!"

He flashed out his champion belt, which sent the crowd cheering, but Mario's group leaned in closer. Was that…A Crystal Star?

"…but…that doesn't make any sense at all. Why would a Crystal Star be on the guy's belt?"

Link nodded. "Yeah…something that powerful shouldn't be on some band! Looks like we'll just have to belt it out, eh Mario?"

Mario: Why me? -.-*

They headed out of the arena and into the lobby to think things over.

"Boy…I don't know Mario…It's not like we can just steal that guy's belt…or can we?"

"Of course we can! It's for the good of the world!" Link insisted. "Steal that thing!"

"Ummmm…listen Link. I think the world of you, but really…we can't steal it."

"Oh all right…we'll battle! That'll be fun too!"

"We gotta fight our way to the top and win that belt fair and square!"

Everyone jumped up and cheered.

"So…let's find the sign-up sheet and get started!" Goombella started. Mario nodded, and just as they were about to leave, Link heard another brawl starting.

"Ooh! It must be that newcomer against the Major League! I gotta see this…"

He crashed through the door, the others sighing and shrugging.

"In one corner…" the announcer announced. "Ranked 10 in the Glitz Pit, We have the twins of terror, the duo of defense, and the attackers of anger…the ARMORED HARRIERS!"

Two large iron rocks with spikes came thundering onto the stage with Grr faces.

"And in the other corner, already Ranked 11 in the Pit after a few days, we have the fastest thing alive, your Priority One Hedgehog….the BLUE BLUR!"

Link and Mario nearly fell off the balcony trying to get a closer look at Sonic suddenly running into the arena.

"He came HERE?!" Link guffawed.

"Is that one of your friends?" Koopa asked.

"Heck yes it is! I can't believe he made it this far already…KICK SOME BUTT SONIC!"

Sonic's ear twitched at the cheer of a familiar voice, but he needed to focus on the single most important battle ever. At least, until he reached the champ stage. The twins had iron bodies, and mysterious defense, meaning that they were probably stronger than he was…

"I have to at least try…again. For the ninth time in a row…" Sonic told himself with a groan. He gave the first twin and excellent kick, but only ended up nearly breaking his toe. Again.

"Hahahaha, stinkwad!" the red shoed one cackled. "You still can't hurt us! But WE'RE going to pound you!"

He rammed into Sonic, taking away 6, then his brother did the same amount of damage. Sonic, already taking 12 damage in the first round, automatically knew he wasn't going to beat them.

"Gonna try to hurt us again sissy?!"

"We DARE ya!"

Sonic scowled a "Shadow" scowl, clenching his fist. These guys were impossible! His hand slightly shook from anger, frustration, and the thought of a dent in his ego.

"Urgh…I HATE running away from battles…" he grumbled, taking off.

"The Blue Blur has forfeited, making the Twins the Winner!"

Link and Mario gaped, amazed that Sonic lost a battle.

"Wow…they must be pretty tough!" whistled Goombella.

"Especially if Sonic can't hurt them, and they just wail on him like that!" cried Link. They left as the next match started, their spirits slightly down.

"Well, let's sign up for the Pit!"

Link nodded and smiled. "C'mon! Follow me to glory! Let's get that belt and maybe help Sonic out!"

Mario agreed as they went to talk to the door guard, who allowed them to pass to talk to Grubba…

---

"I think this is it!" Link said when they were standing in front of a very important looking door. Mario pushed it open, which Grubba wasn't expecting…

"Who in tarnation are you, sons? And who let you in?!? This is Grubba's office!" he yelled. "Yep, that's me, Grubba, and you, yer some rude dudes coming in here without knocking!"

"Paranoid…"

Mario walked up to his desk and explained that they wanted to become fighters. Everyone nodded in simple truth.

"You wanna be fighters?"

Mario: Oh yeah!

"Hoo-WEE! That do change a thing or two son! I always got time for an up-an-comer!"

"Awesome!"

"Yep this place is packed to the gills with young fighters, all primed and a-rarin' to go! I gotta admit, you're both a bit skinny for my tastes but I'm willin' to give you a shot! Now, play me straight. You wanna live the glamorous life of a champ don'tcha?"

"Darn Skippy!" yipped Link.

"All right! All right! I heard where you're coming from, loud an' clear!"

Link sat down on the couch with Koops and Goombella while Mario and Flurrie listened intently to Grubba's life story.

"Guh, I'm sick of listening to rants! Can't we do some action?" Link murmured.

"I'd hush! I don't want to get caught again!"

"But it's so not interesting…"

"…you reading me here?"

Mario looked around, then simply nodded. Link let out a sound.

"…Let's have a little walk n' talk. C'mon."

Grubba inched toward the door, and the duo had no choice but to follow. They headed next door, into the Champ's Room.

"Now how do you like THIS pard? Just feast yer eyes, go on! This…is the Champion's Room."

Mario: O-O

"UUeeerrrmmm…"

"Isn't it a sight? Deee-lux!"

"It's a sight all right…"

"You become the Champ son, and you'll get the key to this room! That ain't all, of course! That's on TOP of the big money and screamin' fans!"

Link's eyes sparkled. "Ah, the fame…"

"Yeah, no doubt about it son! Apply yourself an' a life of wealth an' comfort awaits!"

The next room he showed them was the Major League Room. It was nice, but not as flashy as the Champ's. Finally, they toured the Minor Leagues Room, which was really horrible…

"Hey…shouldn't Sonic be in here?" Link whispered to Mario. Mario nodded. They looked around Grubba to see the fellow Minors whispering.

"Yeah…I heard that dawg say that he ain't fightin' anymore!" a yellow Koopa explained.

"Wow…those Major Leaguers must be a challenge. After all, he breezed through us!" a green bandit huffed.

"…won't miss Big Blue…"

"Too bad BOMB! I wonder where he BOMB went…" a bomb wondered. Link and Mario exchanged glances.

Back at Grubba's office-

"Now, I'm sure you know this already son, but there ain't but one world champion. Clawin' you way to the top an' takin' the belt to become champ ain't an easy thing…but that's the point! Wouldn't be worth it if there were no challenge!"

"Then why did he quit…" Link murmured under his breath.

"I can see you got the fire for it too pard! You got the eye of the tiger, there! Yer gonna be champ, I can just FEEL it!" he cheered. "I ain't ever been so sure about a fighter…except Big Blue, but he's been really flumping' his fights with the Armored Harriers…"

Link stomped his foot. "Well we're going to avenge him! Bring it on!"

Grubba smirked and whipped out two registration papers. "Oh, hey, one other thing…You gotta sign an itty-bitty contract to be a fighter. It ain't no thing, just take a sec or two of yer time. Just jot your name here, ok?"

Mario and Link shrugged and signed up.

"Now, yer Mario?" he asked the red plumber. Mario nodded. "Ain't a bad handle…Still, I gotta say, pard, it lacks a little punch as a fighter's name, get me?"

"No…c'mon! MARIO!" Link wailed. "…hmmm…it COULD use some sprucing up. Link! Now that's an exciting name!"

Goombella snorted.

"Lemme see here…bam! HOOOOOO-WEEEEEE! I got it! From now on, you're going to be…the Great Gonzales and The Missing Link! Hoo! Ain't they beauts? Dang! Ain't that a stroke of genius! Names like that only come around once in a lifetime! "

Mario jumped up while Link protested. "What?! What kind of a tough, macho name is that?! I was thinking Hackinator myself…"

Grubba shrugged. "Either the Missing Link or my personal choice, Link-Squeak!"

Goombella exploded in laugher with Koops, Flurrie, and Mario stifling giggles. Link blushed and said, "I'll take the Missing Link…"

"Yes, everyone will bow before the Great Gonzales!"

Link muttered something nasty.

Mario: …

"Jolene? Could you come in for a moment darlin'?"

A female Toad in a red business suit with a strand of blonde hair hanging on the side quickly trotted in. She adjusted her glasses and clutched her clipboard as she said, "Yes, sir? You wished to see me?"

"Sure did hon. Jolene, this is the Great Gonzales and The Missing Link, our newest rising stars! Be a peach and take them down to the minor league locker room, all righty?"

"Right away sir." she nodded. Jolene turned to the new fighters. "Mr. Gonzales and Mr.… Missing, if you would be so kind, please follow me."

Link threw up his arms. "Are you serious? Mr. Missing? This is going to be a loooong chapter…"

"Remember-avenge Sonic!" Koops stated eerily. Link straightened up and headed out the door.

"To Glory!"

On the way to the locker room, Jolene ranted on about some rules, like you must follow Grubba's conditions, you can't quit until Grubba says, and other little things. Naturally Link tuned everything out, cursing Navi for his hatred of rants. So Mario took note of everything in case they came back to bite Link in the butt. Upon opening the door, Link wrinkled his nose in disgust.

"Ugh, did I mention it smells in here?" he gagged.

"If you don't like this dingy room, then I suggest moving up in the ranks…" Jolene retorted. She went on to explain how to use the terminal to schedule a match. Link instantly ran up to go first.

"Well Howdy Missing! Ready to get your fists dirty, huh? There ya go son!"

Link danced around in a fighting stance. "What extremely tough foe am I up against?!"

"Yer first battle's gonna be against the Goomba Bros.!"

Link grinned evilly. "I shall enjoy this…"

"Don't worry 'bout 'em. They'll be a piece of cake! Just mop 'em up, okay son?"

"No problem!"

"Hey, we wanna get everyone fired up, so appeal at least once!"

"Okay…I guess I can treat the crowd to a little piece of Link!"

Mario: Dear Lord, save us now!

"Good luck pard!" Grubba disappeared from the screen. As Jolene explained a few things to Link, Mario signed up for a match right after him. The guard escort suddenly pushed open the door, knocking an excited Link to the ground.

"Missing! Match time. Follow me Bub."

"Try not to get completely destroyed out there."

Link snorted at her. "Thanks for the words of encouragement there! Let's go clean up Kooper!"

"Sigh…My name is Koops, but whatever…."

Mario headed up to the ring to at least watch, someone else following close behind him…

And here we officially go with Chapter 3! Yes, Sonic's still at the Pit (I made you think it was Samus, didn't I?), and no the "mysterious figure" isn't the same one at the end of this chapter, Eventually, Sonic gets a little more spotlight in this chapter and Link gets pushed back (not much though) but the same thing'll happen for Kirby and Samus in the 'arrival chapters'. Just a little note for the future ;)

On a different note, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!

Natalie (my little sister): And a happy New Year!

Yeah, I won't be updating until next year either! Ha ha!

Natalie: That joke is so over-used...

It's something Link would say!