"That was some fiiiiine fighting out there, Red!" Grubba greeted as he walked into the locker room.

"You were great!" Abbie gave Red a big hug. "All of you guys!"

"Thanks, but I couldn't have done it without Erick!" Red thanked. "Without Erick, we wouldn't have come up so lucky!"

"No prob, Fred!" Erick admitted. "That hammer power-up was really sick though, bro!"

"Thanks!" Red high-fived. "So Grubba, where do we go now that we have the belt?"

"Actually, I'm gonna you set up in your new champ's room now!" Grubba mentioned.

"Jolene, be a peach and show the Iron Incinerators to their new room!"

"Absolutely, sir." Jolene nodded. "Champions, if you will please follow me."

"Yeah, let's go see your new room!" Joe followed.

"Here's the Iron Incinerators new room. This is where you will report you whenever you come here. Once again, congratulations, Iron Incinerators." Jolene walked out.

"WOW!" Check this place, man!" Joe checked everything. "You guys are living large now!"

"I'll say!" King K. agreed. "Never thought you'd get this big, Rook!"

"This is great!" Skins agreed. "I tell ya, you guys really paid off for me, Red. Thanks so much for this opportunity."

"No problem." Red dismissed. "Thanks for all the help along the way, guys."

"No prob!" Skins nodded. "Well, I'm gonna let you guys get comfortable in here, so see you guys later."

"Yeah, see ya!" Red waved.

"This place is great, Red!" Paul glanced around.

A security guard walked in. "Sorry to intrude sir, but Sir Swoop would like to inform you of his minor league championship victory."

"Sure, bring him in!" Red nodded. Sir Swoop flew in. "RED! Awesome job on you and your team's victory! Great win, everyone! I would have watched, but I was competing at the same time."

"Well, thanks for the support, Swoop!" Red nodded. "Congrats on your title!"

"Thanks," Sir Swoop nodded. "Well, I'd better get going, I'm headed back to my hometown tomorrow morning. So hopefully I see you guys sometime. If you're ever in Twilight Town, ask for me!"

"We will, Swoop!" Red gave him a handshake (or wingshake). "Again, congrats!"

"Thanks!" Sir Swoop waved as he left.

"We made it, Fred! We're champs!" Erick patted him on the back. Red just smiled. "What's up, bro? You don't seem as thrilled as the rest of us."

"Rawk Hawk didn't know anything about the Crystal Star at all." Red reminded. "That makes me think: who does know where the Crystal Star is?"

"Dunno." Gyanna interjected. "We still don't have any leads at all on where it could be."

"Guys, quiet!" Aimee interrupted. "Our match is coming up on Glitzville Network." They all gathered around the TV.

"It's 11:49. They still haven't come out yet!" Robbie said as he checked the time outside the Glitz Pit. "Man, this place is creepy at night."

"Let's go in." Abbie suggested. "Hey, there's Skins! Hey, Skins! Where are Red and the gang?"

"Still in there, I think." Skins looked around. "I can get you guys in to see them if you want."

"That'd be great!" Abbie agreed. Skins walked to the doors and let them in. Spiky Joe walked out form one of the doors.

"Hey, bro's! Where are you guys headed?" He inquired.

"We're going to go see the Incinerators." Skins explained. "Wanna come?"

"Sure!" Joe answered. "Let's go." They walked into the room to see the group huddled around the TV.

"Hey, Red Ma'an!" Robbie greeted.

"Hey, Robbie!" Red returned. "Any developments?"

"None." Abbie answered, sadly. "I have no clue where this thing could be!"

"Maybe Jolene already has it." Joe suggested. "Wouldn't surprise me if she was shipping it out tonight."

"Or maybe one of those voices in the other room is Jolene." Skins theorized.

"Wait-" Red muted the TV. "Do you guys hear those voices?"

"Yeah, I do!" Erick agreed. "Where are they coming from?"

"Air duct." Skins answered. "What do you think it is?"

"Maybe it's a ghost!" Gyanna teased.

"EEK!" Paul jumped. "Gyanna, you know I don't like ghosts!"

"Uh oh." Red reached into his pocket.

"Message?" Robbie asked, pulling his phone out.

"Yeah." Red read it over, showed it to Robbie.

"Yep, got that too, Ma'an." Robbie and Red showed the group the message.

"fInD tHe GhOsT iN tHe ChAmP's RoOm. FrOm X"

"I knew it!" Gyanna told Aimee. "I knew there was a ghost!"

"CRAP!" Paul complained. "I'll never sleep again!"

"Guess we have to go in there." Red figured. "Everyone in, after me."

"Dammit, it's squishy in here!" Erick complained.

"Be quiet!" Aimee whispered.

"Here we go." Red smiled. He turned his phone onto voice recordings and pressed "record."

"Hyuk Hyuk Hyuk! That's in perfect condition as usual." A voice laughed.

"Who is that?" Skins whispered.

"I'll have a look." Joe suggested. "I'm small, so I'll fit up there."

"As long as I have that baby working for me, I'll never have to worry about kicking the bucket!" The voice continued. "But I'm gonna have to watch my back more. Last time, that King K. ijit caught me, and now I can't shake the feeling that Jolene and Yoshi are onto me…Well, there comes a time to burn the bridge, and I may just have dispose of them when the time comes like I did to Prince Mush, the champ that Senior disposed of…" The voice paused. "Ha! Just keeping the business in the family!"

"Who is that?" Red mouthed to Joe.

"Can't tell." Joe admitted. Red checked his phone. 12:00. "Joe, take over for me, I got to hit up a bathroom

"Sure thing, Red." Joe whispered. Red crawled out of the vent and proceeded to the ring.

"Where'd Red go?" Abbie moved to the front with Joe.

"Bathroom." Joe explained.

"Uh oh. 12:00. Don't want to break my little appointment with Red. Better go! But first, better hide the paper in the desk drawer."

"My appointment with Red? What is he talking about?" Joe asked.

"Dunno," Abbie agreed, "But I got a feeling Red's in BIG TROUBLE!" She figured. She kicked the vent out. The group entered the room.

"Robbie, Check Grubba's desk drawer!" Abbie ordered. "Erick, watch the door!"

"Hey!" Robbie realized. "Red sent me a picture of this earlier! These are blueprints to some machine powered by the Gold Star… UNDER THE RING!"

"RED!" Aimee realized.

"All right, let's move!" Abbie ordered, "Red doesn't know it, but he's in trouble!"

Red entered the ring. It was completely dark. Red heard a rustle. He pulled out a secret N'Zap '89 he kept in his pocket, but this was loaded with more lethal ink. He looked around as best he could. "WHO'S THERE?" Red called out. "I'm here, just as I agreed, so show yourself!"

"Hee Hee Hee!" A voice cackled. "Recognize me, Red Yoshi!" The lights turned on. There was a large machine in the middle of the ring.

"GRUBBA!" Red called. "What are you doing here? Get out of here, I'm supposed to meet someone here."

"Red," Grubba explained, "I am the someone."

Red dropped the gun. "No." Red backed up. "It's not true. It can't be true! IT CAN'T BE!"

"Lemme tell you something, son." Grubba began. "A day before you and your team got here, I was told by a doctor that I was diagnosed with a terminal disease. He said I have a month to live. I was so shell-shocked by this, I had these guys construct me this machine. When it's used on you, it's like you have an extra day to live. The Gold Star, and other fighters' energy power it. That's where the missing fighters went. But King K. recovered, so it's only temporary!"

Red stood there. He picked up his weapon, and placed it in his pocket. "Grubba, we need it. There's more things at stake here. Let me call my team. Paul can build you a machine just like that, and it won't require other people's energy or the Go-"

"Sorry, son. Can't give it up." Grubba explained.

"You know I'm going to have to take it from you, right?" Red approached.

"Sorry, son." Grubba stepped into the machine, "BUT I CAN'T LET YOU DO THAT!" He pressed a button in the machine, activating it. The team ran in that instant.

"RED!" Abbie called out!

"Abbie!" Red replied. "Guys, get out of here! Grubba's lost his mind!" The group ran up to join him.

"Oh, we're not leaving, bro!" Erick proclaimed.

"You're gonna need all of our help to take him down." Joe agreed.

"Definitely." Skins agreed. He pulled out a sword made of Crystal-reinforced bone.

"Let's take him down!" Gyanna declared.

The machine began to activate. Grubba grew large, and then got super muscled up. "HAH AH HA AH!" Grubba laughed. "Fancy a beating, folks? MACHO GRUBBA can give you one!"

"Let's do this, team!" Red declared. "Let's take this giant sucker down!"

"Into the air!" Red called as he jumped into the air for a sky dash at Grubba. "Spread out!" he ordered. "Erick! Throw me Joe!"

"Sorry, Joe! Fred needs you!" Erick grabbed him and through him towards him.

"What do you want me to do?" Joe asked.

"Curl into your shell." Red ordered. Joe did so, and rushed towards Macho Grubba pointing Joe's spike right at him. "Let's end this before it begins!"

"RAAH!" Macho Grubba threw them aside. "That all you boys got?"

"Here's some more!" Erick leapt forward to deliver a powerful uppercut. "Skins! Your turn!"

"Gotcha!" Skin leapt up from the opposite side, and gave Macho Grubba a whack.

"OOOOOO-EE!" Macho Grubba called. "Time for a power-up!" He shone with light before boosting his attack greatly. "Deal with this!" Grubba rushed forward, and delivered a powerful punch to Paul, sending him sliding into the door.

"Ow!" Paul cried.

"Paul!" Gyanna ran over.

"Walk away. I'm pretending I'm knocked out to avoid more pain."

"Smart." Gyanna smiled. "Cowardly, but smart."

"That's me!" Paul laughed. "Get out there! Red needs your help."

"Oh, CRAAAP!" Skins landed near Paul. "Dammit, that Macho Grubba's a tough one!" HE stood up, and made another charge.

"Fred!" Erick called, "Let's try Hooktail again!"

"Sure!" Red flew over to pick up Paul. He flung Paul towards Macho Grubba, landing a successful punch. Macho Grubba responded by throwing Erick into the ground and… sitting on him.

"That's gotta hurt." Aimee admitted. She took a shot at Grubba's head, covering him in ink.

"AACK!" Grubba yelled. "Get this stuff off of me!" He wiped it off, and charged another attack. This time, he boosted his speed. He dashed up to Aimee and performed a massive belly flop that consumed her. He stood up, and cackled. "Who's next? Or a better statement, who's left?"

"I'm still around!" Gyanna called, taking a few shots at his face and then throwing off a few Disruptors, which slowed Grubba down.

"I'll fix that!" Macho Grubba responded. He dashed forward to attack, but Gyanna escaped via an ink trail. Grubba ended up slipping in the ink.

"Now's our chance!" Joe dashed forward and flipped over onto Grubba to hit him with his spike.

"OW!" Grubba cried, as he tossed Joe away, who ended up in the machine, dizzied.

"Eeeeeeeeh, Ma'an! Over here!" Robbie called as Grubba climbed to his feet. Robbie unleashed a few shots from his Blaster, distracting Grubba.

''Don't forget your back!" Abbie jumped up and chopped Grubba in the back.

"AAR!" Macho Grubba called out in pain. "You suckers are tough! I may just have to go full power on you!" He grabbed Abbie as she slashed at his back and threw her into Robbie. "OOOO-EE! Lookee here who still's standing all mighty and brave!" He smiled a crooked grin at Red. "Im'a gonna enjoy beating you down!" Grubba took a whack at Red with his hammer-like hands. Red evaded the blow the last second.

"Joe!" Red called. "You still up?"

"Yeah, I am!" Joe recalled, "I'm a bit dizzy from that machine, though. Wanna try another throw?"

"Sure!" Red flew over, and picked him up. "You ready?"

"You bet I am!" Joe affirmed, "Make sure you aim right, this may be our last time to take this big goon down!"

"Gotcha!" Red wound up, similar to how he used his hammer. He let Joe rip, sending him right for Grubba.

"You think that's gonna stop me?" Grubba laughed, "Watch me brush this off!" Suddenly, as Joe flew through the air, he let out a large burp. At that moment, he grew to immense size like Macho Grubba. "WHAT IN TARNATION?" Grubba called.

"I'm gonna enjoy this!" Joe called as he slammed into Grubba with is immense power.

"YAAAARGH!" Grubba called out in pain, after being struck down.

"YEE-HAW!" Joe called, returning to his regular size. "We did it, Red!"

"We did!" Red agreed. "Nice job!"

"Wuh-What happened?" Aimee asked. "All I remember was getting crushed by an abnormally fat Grubba."

"Well, thanks to Joe, we took him down!" Red explained. "Now, Grubba. How's about you hand over that Gold Star?"

"Nice work, Fred!" Erick walked up as the group reassembled.

"Well, it was definitely a team effort, that's for sure." Red agreed. "Couldn't have done it without you guys." He reached his arm forward, motioning for everyone to do the same. "INCINERATORS…FOREVER!"

"Champions!" A voice called out.

"Uh oh, watch out, guys!" Joe pointed out. "More trouble!"

"Oh, you." Red rolled his eyes and walked up. "Listen, we know about your little plot to get the Gold Star, Jolene. But if you look closely, we got it first. So you can skedaddle out of here."

"Listen, Mr. Champion…Red." Jolene approached. "I'm thankful you and your team defeated that foul Grubba. I'm really sorry I got you guys so involved in all of this, but I had to learn the truth about this arena by all means."

"Did you not here him! GET LO-" Erick began to yell.

"Erick, zip it." Aimee ordered. "Sorry, Jolene Go on." She walked up beside Red and Joe.

"Let me tell you guys a story. I had a little brother once who'd do anything for me. His name was Mush. My family was poor from the start, so he became a fighter here to haul in some coins to support all of us. One day he went missing, and it really tore up our family. I felt that someone had to investigate, so I joined the Glitz Pit as the manager. As I hunted for clues, I accidently saw Grubba transform in to his horrendous state. Seeing what stood between me and the truth about my brother, I had almost given up hope." She glanced up. "And then you guys showed up out of the blue. You guys started taking fighters down like it was a hobby. Seeing what you guys were capable of, I began to guide you."

"The messages…X!" Gyanna figured. "You're our mysterious helper!"

"Correct. With the help of Skins, I was able to gather info about the Gold Star and the machine." Jolene explained.

"Skins?" Aimee turned. "You knew this all along?"

"Guess it's my turn to tell a story." Skins stepped up. "When I was a Koopa, I was one of the most vicious fighters Glitzville had ever seen. Until the accident. Jolene knows what I'm talking about."

Jolene continued the story. "I had taken over the pit after Grubba Sr. had passed on. After that, Glitz Pit had begun to decline. My brother had defeated the Rawk Hawk for the belt, and since Rawk Hawk was such a media powerhouse, The TV networks began to stop showing matches. The Pit began to decline, and then it happened: The big fire of the Glitz Pit. An explosion due to a malfunction in the machine lit this place up."

"I was just a fighter at the time, working my way up." Skins explained. "When I heard about the fire, I made it my priority to see everyone out before me, and I did. Just didn't see myself out."

"The building blew up." Jolene explained. "Everyone thought Skins was dead, even I did. He tuned up at a hospital eventually, but all his skin was burnt off, reducing him to a Dry Bones. He led the effort to rebuild the Glitz Pit, where we met Grubba Jr. Not expecting the same from him as his father, I joined the team again to rebuild the Pit. We did, the city grew, and the rest is history. Except Mush disappeared again once the Rawk Hawk returned. Mysteriously before the Championship Match, like you guys." She walked up to the reduced Grubba. "Now, GRUBBA! I want answers! What did you do with my brother?"

"Wha-WHO?" Grubba murmured. "Don't… know…what…you're…talkin'…bout!"

"Don't play dumb with me! You know exactly who I'm talking about!" Jolene continued. "What did you do to Prince Mush?"

"The first champion of the Glitz Pit, old and new..!" Skins figured.

"He…discovered…my…power-sucking machine…and I made him disappear…any which, he ain't around these parts no more…" Grubba murmured.

Jolene stood there, speechless. "When you came here, Grubba, you said you were nothing like your father. That turned about to be a LIE! You were EXACTLY like him! You even disposed of my brother the same way!" Jolene yelled.

"You JERK!" Aimee yelled.

"You FREAK!" Gyanna added.

"You're SICK! SICK!" Paul also added. "Care to add, Red?"

"I would, but it looks like the punishment he is receiving is punishment enough." Red summed up.

"Hey, LOOK!" Erick pointed. "The Gold Star!"

"There it is, all right!" Robbie agreed. It began to spin madly.

"What's happening to it?" Abbie asked. It kept spinning, and Toad emerged from it.

"What? …Where am I? Am I back in the Glitz Pit?" he asked.

"MUSH!" Jolene noticed.

"SIS!" Mush exclaimed. "It's you again! What happened? I can't remember anything..."

"Don't worry, Mush. It's all over now. Finally, it's over." Jolene agreed. "Red, take the Gold Star. You've earned it here…"

"Gee, thanks!" Red smiled. He approached to get it, until all the light ominously went off. The room was entirely dark. Two spotlights turned on from above: One aimed at the Gold Star, the other aimed at Red and the friends.

"How touching! I think I might just cry."

"That voice!" Red growled. "I KNOW THAT VOICE ANYWHERE!"

"Good, good. Someone here is with the program!" The lights turned on, and Octolings with large Splatterscopes aimed at the team. One walked forward to greet the group. He was an Inkling, but had the tentacles of an Octoling. He wore black entirely, and sported an Octoling arm patch. "Hello, Red."

"Will." Red growled. "Will Cox." He repeated.

"WILL!?" Aimee realized. "But you died in the War for Inkopolis!"

"And you should have stayed that way." Gyanna added.

"What do you want, you traitor?" Red huffed.

"Such harsh words!" Will laughed. "I'm just collecting the Gold Star for my leader, Dr. Phun, who happens to be here, looking over the new host city."

"No. No! NO!" Red remembered. "Octopolis."

"That's right!" Will smiled. "Ding! Ding! You win a prize! You and your allies here get the honourable honour of meeting the ruler of the new Octopolis. MOVE IT!"

"Red! RED!" Aimee whispered as they were being taken away. "Who is Dr. Phun?"

"Don't know, but he sounds a hell of a lot worse than Octowser."