"You guys believe in miracles? Well, you will after we tell you this story. On Tuesday, The Red Yoshi got his head smashed in by one of the Armored Harriers. He wasn't expected to survive the feat, but he did! He returned to the ring yesterday afternoon and defeated the Armored Harriers, bringing the Iron Incinerators into the major league! They also moved up to 9th overall after one win yesterday. This is the team to watch, going into the last two days of Championship Week. This is Chan with sports news, back to you, Dan."

"Catch the sports story today, Red?" Paul asked as they were driven to the Glitz Pit.

"Nope, and I don't want to. Our focus today is to get at least three wins away from claiming the belt, which means we need to win all of our matches today." Red explained.

"Right. Skins, how many matches can we fight at the most today?" Paul asked.

"Let me have a look," Skins fumbled through the clipboard. "About eight at the most."

"Which means we have to win eight." Red ordered. "We're here. Let's move."

"Man, that was quite a match!" Spiky Joe commented when the Incinerators walked in.

"Those Shellshockers didn't know what hit them!" Erick bragged as they paraded in.

"Yeah, that was good." Red agreed. "One down, seven to go." Red's phone rumbled abruptly. "Let's see what we've got this time." Red read the message and showed it to the group.

"gO tO tHe WaTeRiNg HoLe OuTsIdE ThE gLiTz PiT. FrOm X"

"Says we go to the watering hole." Red glanced up. "What the heck is that?" Red asked.

"They must mean the Fresh Juice Shop!" Spiky Joe figured. "You guys better check it out."

The group walked into the small shop. The man behind the counter picked the Incinerators out. "Hey, you guys are the Iron Incinerators!"

"Yeah, that's us." Red nodded.

"Actually, I've got a package here for you. Some 'X' left it here a while ago. It's in the back."

"Thanks." Red walked to the back to see a large chest. He reached in, but fell in. "Great. What now?"

"Hey, are you the Red Yoshi?"

"Yeah, why?" Red asked.

"I'm Toadette! I spoke to your friend Robbie about the Super Boots earlier, and it looks like he gave them to you!" Toadette checked. "I'm gonna teach you how to use the Super Hammer!"

"SWEET!" Red cheered when he got his new hammer. "I've been needing a new hammer lately."

"With this hammer, your hammer attacks are stronger!" Toadette explained. "Also, you can now charge up a spinning attack with this hammer to destroy large yellow boxes you may find!" Toadette taught. "Try it out!"

"Okay," Red agreed. He wound it up like a baseball bat, and let it rip, spinning uncontrollably.

"Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it eventually." Toadette encouraged. "Well, I better be going, I'll see you next time!" Red blinked, and he was back in the room.

"Hey, Red!" Paul noticed his new weapon. "Nice hammer!"

"Thanks, it's even more powerful than my last one." Red told him. Red's phone went abruptly again. "Uh oh." Red read it to himself, and showed it to the team.

"SmAsH tHe BlOcKaDe In ThE mInOr-LeAgUe LoCkEr RoOm. FrOm X"

"Looks like we're on the move again, team." Red analyzed. "Let's go."

"Hey, Red!" Sir Swoop greeted Red as they entered the minor-league locker room. "What brings you back here?"

"Got this message telling me to smash something in here." Red explained. "There it is!" Red saw the huge yellow block. "Here goes nothing." He charged up his swing like a baseball bat, and let it rip, shattering the large block.

"What's that up there?" Aimee pointed.

"Looks like a paper." Paul analyzed.

"Brilliant deduction, Sherlock." Gyanna joked. "I'll get it. Erick, watch the door."

"Sure," Erick positioned himself by the door. Gyanna inked the wall, swam up it and retrieved the paper.

"Here, Red." Gyanna handed him the paper.

"WHOA!" Red's eyes widened. "This is something on the Crystal Stars!" Red exclaimed. "I think we found the hammer that breaks this case open!"

Sir Swoop flew over. "JOLENE! Erick told me Jolene's coming!" Red reached into his pocket and snapped a picture of the suspicious paper. "Thanks for the alert, Sir Swoop."

"She's coming!" Erick ran in. 'We've gotta hide!"

"PAUL!" We need a hiding spot!" Red ordered. Paul inked a long strip of ink. Everyone dove in. "Sir Swoop, get out of here. If we get caught, we don't need you taking punishment for it."

"Gotcha. Thanks for letting me help!" Sir Swoop flew out. Red placed the paper on the shelf as he hid.

Jolene walked in. "Where is that Red Yoshi and his friends?" She turned to see the paper on the shelf. She took it, looked it over and left.

"Wow, that was close!" Erick wiped himself off.

"But she got the paper!" Aimee realized.

Sir Swoop flew back in. "She took the paper! Do you want me to go get it for you guys? It's no problem."

"No, it's okay. We'll get back sometime." Red dismissed. "Thank you for the help, Sir Swoop."

"Glad to help, Red!" Sir Swoop answered. "See ya!" Red's phone vibrated again.

"It's Skins." Red picked up. "Hey, Skins!"

"WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU GUYS?" He yelled. "I've been trying to call you guys forever! You guys haven't had match in an hour! Let's go!"

"Right! Sorry, Skins!" Red hung up. "C'mon, guys. Fight time!"

"Boy, you really flattened those Poker Faces!" Spiky Joe laughed. "And I noticed you got a new hammer, Red! Boy, that thing's got some REAL power!"

"Thanks, Joe!" Red responded. "But I am a little bit tired after those Iron idiot Clefts interfered after our round."

"Yeah, I don't know why those guys don't just give it a rest. You beat them once, you can do again!"

"I know, right?" Red agreed. "Luckily, fighting the Fuzz gave me a chance to rest, because it required that I didn't fight, but the team did."

"Really? Couldn't tell the difference, 'cause you guys take teams down similarly quick!" Spiky Joe laughed.

"Yeah." Red laughed. "Also, I got a strange message again. Have a look." He showed Joe.

"Keep sticking your nose where it doesn't belong and you are D-E-A-D M-E-A-T."

"Wow, that's ominous." Joe agreed.

"Any idea of who it could be?" Red asked.

"Well, it could be Rawk Hawk. He may want you to stop moving so quickly up the ranks."

"What about those Iron Clefts?" Aimee interjected.

"No, they can't spell 'nose.'" Spiky Joe laughed, and so did everyone else. "Well, don't sweat it, Incinerators. Whoever it is doesn't know what they're in for!"

"Yeah!" Red agreed. "Thanks for your help, Joe."

"No prob, man!" Joe responded. "Just trying to help."

"Hey. You. Red." The Koopinator called out. "Jolene just brought in a slice of cake. Probably from a fan."

"SWEET!" Erick jumped up, and ate the whole slice. "Mmm mmm GOOD!" Erick licked his lips. "C'mon! NEXT MATCH!"

"Wow! You guys are on FIRE! Taking out both the Magikoopa Masters and the Craw-Daddy! Man! You know Craw-Daddy was on top of the league not too long ago?" Spiky Joe told them.

"Yeah, we got here the day after Rawk Hawk knocked him off the top." Red notified.

"Neat." Spiky Joe said. "Any weird messages lately?"

"No, not-" At that moment, Red's phone started to buzz.

"Uh oh. Another message." Red read the message, and then showed the group.

"gO tO tHe TeLePhOnE bOoTh OuT oN tHe PaViLiOn. FrOm X"

"I guess we're headed to the phone." Red grabbed his bag.

"Hey, Red? How about the two of us go, instead of us all?" Paul suggested.

"Sure, good idea." Red agreed. "Joe, wanna come?"

"Sure," Spiky Joe responded. "Good to get out of this smelly locker room." The group quickly ran outside to the phone. Red picked it up.

"Hello?" Red asked into the phone. No answer.

"Hey, Red? This key any bit significant?" Spiky Joe asked.

"Not sure." Red took a look at it, before receiving another message. He read it and showed it to Paul and Joe.

"gO tO tHe StOrAgE rOoM nExT tO gRuBbA's OfFiCe. FrOm X"

"Looks like we're headed to the storage room." Red figured. "Paul, go get the gang. Joe and I will meet you there."

"All right, we're here!" Erick greeted as the group ran up.

"Okay, here we go." Red placed the key in the lock.

"RED YOSHI!" A voice cried down the hall. It was Rawk. The group all rolled their eyes.

"Hey, Joe! What's the matter, trying to hang with the cool kids?" Rawk asked, sarcastically.

"Screw off, Rawk. We're busy." Joe ordered.

"Sorry, I don't take orders from pipsqueaks." Rawk laughed. "RED YOSHI! I hear you're making a push to take me on tomorrow! Just to let you know, that'll be your LAST MATCH! HAHAHAHAHAHAHARR!" Rawk turned and left.

"What a jerk." Aimee mumbled.

"C'mon, Red! Let's see what's inside!" Gyanna anxiously awaited.

"Ms. Mowz?" Red asked as he opened the door.

"Why, hello there, darling! Your gang has gotten a bit smaller, no?" She asked.

"Actually, two other members are out scoping out the location of the Gold Star." Red explained.

"How wonderful! There's nothing like a good thieving adventure to get my blood rushing!" Ms. Mowz laughed. "Well, I have what I need, so I will get going now. Here's a new badge, Red."

She ran up and pinned badge onto his shell. "This is the Power Jump. Your jumps will be stronger now, darling!" She walked to the door. "Well, I must be going. Until next time!"

"See you, Ms. Mowz!" Red waved. "All right, let's get moving, we don't have much time. Let's keep moving-" Red's phone buzzed again. He looked at the message and showed the team.

fInD tHe StAiRcAsE sWiTcH tO rEaCh ThE aTtIc. FrOm X

"Look for a staircase switch." Suddenly, the door opened.

"Eeeeeeeeh, Ma'an!" It was Robbie and Abbie!

"How did you guys get here?" Red asked.

"Well, I got the same message!" Robbie explained. "And when I went to the phone to get the key, I figured you had and were in here!"

"Well, good that you're here. C'mon, we gotta find a switch of some sort." Red told him.

"You mean this thing?" Abbie asked as she moved a box.

"Hit it, we'll find out!" Paul suggested. She hit and some stairs lowered from above. "Okay, that works." Paul agreed, as they proceeded up the stairs.

"There's a locked door over here!" Joe pointed out.

"Yeah, you're right!" Red saw it, too. "But where's the key?"

"Let's try dropping through this hole in the floor!" Robbie suggested.

"It's worth a try." Red leapt into it. "It's safe! You guys can come down!" Joe jumped down next.

"Wait! Quiet!" Joe ordered. "I can here voices.'"

"No one else come down here!" Red ordered. "Stay up there!"

"What are they saying?" Joe asked.

"There's a peephole over here. Let's listen in." Red suggested.

"Is that Grubba?" Spiky Joe asked.

"Yeah, he's talking to Jolene!" Red whispered. "Let's listen in."

"So you find no evidence of anyone in the storage closet?" Grubba asked Jolene.

"Yes, Mr. Grubba. I've taken all of the necessary precautions." Jolene confirmed.

"Good, good. We don't want any more fighters to go missing this year. King K.'s recent disappearance is most disturbing indeed. That's our fifth this year." Grubba noted. Jolene stood there in silence. "What in tarnation's goin' on? I heard some security guard saying how the Pit's cursed!"

"That is absurd, Mr. Grubba! There has to be some reason behind the disappearances!" Jolene figured.

"Thank, Jolene." Grubba thanked. Jolene proceeded to leave. "You know, Jolene. I noticed how you've been plumb disappearin' sometimes. I gotta know! Where've you disappearin' to?"

"Uh.." Jolene hesitated. "Well Mr. Grubba, you may be my boss, but I feel that is my business and mine only."

"That's all right. We all have our secrets. By the way, have you heard about the Crystal Stars?"

Jolene stopped dead in her tracks. "Ah, here we are!" Red smiled. "Our little X-Naut double-agent!"

"N-No… never heard of such a thing, sir! " Jolene dismissed. She left promptly.

"How about that! Good fighters are a dyin' breed!" Grubba complained. "The Red Yoshi and his friends there are the only card I've got left in my hand!"

Skins walked in. "Sir! The Koopinator's taking on the Rawk Hawk!"

"OOOO-EE! A match!" Grubba jumped up. "Let's go, Skins!" He bolted out.

"Here that, Red! Fighters are going missing like mad!" Joe summarized.

"Well, King K. works for us now. Not sure about the rest, though." Red thought.

"Anyway, I think that Jolene's got a dark side darker than an Octoling mafia lord's plan for Inkling elimination! We'd better tell the group!"

"WHOA!" Joe jumped as he saw the team. "Forget the Crystal Star for a second! We've got to get the Iron Incinerators to another match! It's about closing time!"

"That's right!" Red agreed. "C'mon, let's go!"

"Here we go, folks! Before we bring you Koopinator v. Rawk Hawk, we bring you the IROOOOOOOOOON INCINERATORS!"

"Can't wait to fight, Grubba! We've got friends in the audience tonight!" Red winked.

"That's great, son! The Incinerators will take on ranked 3rd in the Glitz Pit, The Great Gonzales and the Fearsome Five!"

"AW, CRAP!" Red kicked the ground.

"Great to be here, Grubba! Can't wait to take on this up-and-coming team!"

"That's right! This is the first match-up of the Inkopolis GPFC powerhouses!" Grubba reminded. "Get ready to… BATTLE!"

"Let's do this, Yoshi-style!" The Fearsome Five joined hands to form a star. They lit up brighter than Glitzville on fight night. The light faded, and they were all powered up! They had grown taller, more muscular and were more intimidating!

"Wow! Watch out, team!" Red ordered. "Be careful!"

"Fred!" How's about we try Hooktail again?" Erick called.

"It's worth a try!" Red agreed. Red took Erick to the air, and Erick rained icy ink on two of the Fearsome Five. Erick then jumped from the sky, dropping hi fists on them, taking them out.

"Two down, four to go!" Paul called, as he transformed into a Kraken and took out another Fearsome Five member. Aimee and Gyanna had pinned down the other two with ink shots, and finished them off with some Splat Bombs.

"One left!" Red noticed, still in the air.

"Let's see you take me down, Incinerators!" The Great Gonzales Jr. taunted. He rushed forward, and unleashed an incredibly fast blitz of punches on Erick. He managed to block most of them, but the ones he didn't block hurt the most. He finally collapsed, out of breath. "Who's next?" Gonzales motioned for them to attack.

"What do you say, Aimee? Let's take him down!" They rushed forward, unleashing a blitz of ink. Gonzales took to the air as they approached, and landed a kick on each of them, collapsing them.

"Who's left?" Gonzales asked. Paul snarled, as he charged up a Kraken. He transformed and dash forward extremely fast and spinning. Gonzales was forced to back up, making himself vulnerable. Paul emerged from the Kraken to lay an ink slap, which the Great Gonzales Jr. grabbed. He flung him to the side. "Ah, that's how I wanted it to end. The Great Gonzales versus the Red Yoshi!" Gonzales commented. "Give it your all!" he called as he powered himself up in a flame with a Fire Flower.

"You want to play!?" Red yelled. He ascended, took a look at Gonzales from above and descended extremely fast. He changed his course before he hit the ground for Gonzales.

Gonzales readied a Courage Shell to brace for the impact. "COME ON! BRING IT!"

"I'M BRINGING IT!" Red yelled as he charged. But, unlike he usually did, he stuck his leg into the ground to slow himself down. He grabbed the Dizzy Dial he had bought a while back, and placed it on his Super Boot. When he got close, He leapt into the air, and descended with an axe kick. Gonzales attacked with his Fire Flower, which he had condensed into a punch to counter. The two powerful forces collided, triggering an explosion. Red flew back into the air, covering the area in smoke. He cleared with a flyover, and saw Gonzales, dizzied from the dial. "FINAL STRIKE!" Red called. He did a loop through the air, and descended with his Super Hammer.

"HERE IT COMES, FOLKS!" Grubba called. "The moment we've been waiting for!"

Red charged forward with the hammer, slowed himself as he approached, and slammed his hammer into the Great Gonzales, sending him straight up. Red met him in mid air, and slammed him again, sending him into the ground. He landed with a loud crash. Red landed on the ground, and ran up to him to check on him. "Ouuch." Gonzales commented. "That hurt."

Red stuck his hand out to help him up. "C'mon. Retreat, rethink, rematch." Gonzales smiled as grabbed Red's hand to get to his feet.

"Now ain't that class!" Grubba commented, grabbing both their hands. "The winner of this round- Gonzales v. Yoshi is… YOSHI!" Grubba hoisted his hand. The crowd went crazy. "But let's give a big Glitz Pit hand to the Great Gonzales, too!"

The crowd reacted by cheering just as loud. Red and Gonzales smiled at each other, before exchanging a high-five.

"GREAT MATCH, MAN!" Joe cheered. "YOO-SHIIIII! YOO-SHIIIII!" He chanted.

"Thanks, man!" Red gave Joe a pat. "Well, me and the team are gonna hit the sack for the night." He winked. "See you tomorrow."

"Oh, boy! I'm gonna be sore tomorrow!" Red told Skins as he poured him a glass of Inkberry juice.

"Can't afford be sore tomorrow, bro!" Skins pushed. "Tomorrow, you guys take down the Koopinator and take on the Rawk Hawk for the belt." Red's phone vibrated again.

"Who could this be at… 11:54?" Red checked. "Oh, no."

"What?" Skins asked. He showed Skins.

"This is your last warning! Stop snooping around about the Crystal Star! If you don't, you'll suffer the same fate as those who have gone missing…"

"What the hell?" Skins asked.

"Skins, it's time you knew the truth." Red sat Skins down.

"…And that's why we need to win the belt." Red finished.

"Wow. I had no idea you guys were after the Crystal Stars!" Skins realized.

Robbie burst in. "You get the message?"

"Yeah, I did." Red nodded.

"The missing fighters… The Crystal Star… We'll have all the answers when we catch this guy."

"Yeah, we will." Red nodded. "You guys should get going, I need to sleep."

"Right. Night, Red." Skins waved. They closed the door as they walked out. Red walked over to his bathroom, changed, got into bed and turned out the lights. But before he went to sleep, he sent one more message to the sender of the least message.

"I will be in the ring tomorrow at 12:00 after the Championship Match. Come and get me."