The ground opened up in a big circle beneath them, leaving only a small patch of floor around their podiums for them to stand on. Each platform slowly rose up until they were halfway between the ground and the high studio ceiling. The non-floating cameras were left behind as the show became entirely dependant on the floating lakitu clouds for broadcast. Below them, where the stage had opened up, was a giant pool of water which rippled ominously.

"What's this?" asked Count Bleck suspiciously.

"Well, see, now the rules have changed a little bit," said Chuck Quizmo. "Every time you guys get a question right, you'll go up a notch. Every time you get it wrong, you go down. The objective is to stay dry."

"That's... moderately interesting," said Dimentio.

"Oh, it is. Question six: What treasure is hidden in Star Haven?"

Count Bleck hit his buzzer. "The Star Rod." This time, in addition to the big O, his platform rose one notch, approximately thirty centimeters.

"Question seven: What does a Red Essence do?"

Dimentio buzzed and called out, "Increases your speed."

Immediately, his platform fell by the same amount Count Bleck's had risen. "Oh, I'm so sorry," said Chuck Quizmo. "That is incorrect. Anyone else want to try?"

Tippi was the only other one to answer. "It grants invincibility for a short amount of time."

"That's right!" Her platform rose to be equal with Count Bleck's. Dimentio, now two notches lower, pouted.

"Question eight!" Chuck Quizmo tapped his notecards.

Dimentio saw a flash of white movement and looked down at the water. There was a fresh ripple expanding from below him, but nothing was there now.

Apparently Count Bleck had answered the question correctly, because his platform went up. Dimentio tore his eyes away from the water and got his head back into the game.

"Question nine: What are the ingredients in Lemon Candy?"

Dimentio hit the buzzer: "Lemon and... Super Soda."

"Ooooh, I'm sorry, nope," said Chuck. Again, Dimentio's platform dropped.

A Jean de Fillet jumped out of the water and plopped back in with a splash. "What was that?" asked Count Bleck, catching the tail end of it.

"Don't worry about that," said Chuck Quizmo. "Question ten: Where does the Trumpet Plant grow?"

"It was a Jean de Fillet," said Tippi to Count Bleck, "similar to the Fish Bones, related to Cheep Cheeps."

"Interesting trivia, but unrelated," said Chuck. Tippi's platform dropped.

"What else is down there?" asked Dimentio, glaring suspiciously.

"Where does the Trumpet Plant grow?" Chuck Quizmo matched his glare.

"Jade Island," said Dimentio. "What else is down there?"

"Just some other fish," said Chuck. "Nothing for you to worry about. Fish live in water. It's no big deal."

Dimentio didn't take his eyes off Chuck as his platform jumped up a notch.

"Question eleven: What is King Wart's real name?"

"Wait, wait, wait!" Tippi interjected. "You said round one was only ten questions long!"

"There's been a slight change in programming. More dead air to fill, you know? So we're carrying over a few questions from the next round while the producers shuffle things around a little more."

Dimentio tapped his podium impatiently. "So what you're saying is, this is going to take far longer than twenty minutes."

"That's how it works in show biz sometimes. You got a schedule, you got time to fill, sometimes things change. Anyway, I believe I just asked a question. For people who are in a big hurry to get out of here, you sure aren't doing your best to get out of here by the most direct route."

Dimentio hit his buzzer, narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Chuck, and said, "Dr. Topper." His platform went down right away."

"You knew that one," whispered Count Bleck.

"It's Mamu," Tippi answered at the same time.

Dimentio nodded to Count Bleck. He dropped back down another notch. Once he was lower, he peered over the edge. As he did, Boss Bass jumped out of the water, grazing the bottom of his platform. "Just what is going on here?!" he demanded.

"I told you I was going to make it interesting," said Chuck. "Isn't adding a ravenous fish or two... or twenty... interesting enough for you?"

"A bit too interesting, if you ask me," said Count Bleck. "Count Bleck refuses to take part in this."

"Ooooh, sorry, that was the wrong answer," said Chuck. "I'm afraid you're locked in for the duration." Chuck mashed a button on his own stand. Immediately, a set of bars burst out of each of the platforms and a lid dropped down on top of them, forming a cage around each of the contestants.

"Bleh heh heh heh... you picked the wrong contestants if you wanted to trap us in a little cage. Master of Dimensions, show him what Count Bleck means."

Dimentio clicked his fingers. Nothing happened.

"Bzzt! Wrong. Sorry, but I know all about you. And you know I know how your magic works. You saw how we all got here. Did you really think I wouldn't take that into account?"

"He's right," said Dimentio.

"You fiend!" Tippi shouted. "How could you?!"

"It's just showbiz, friends," said Chuck. "And now it's time for the next innnn-teresting twist. Let's bring out last week's big winner! Give it up, everyone, for our returning champion..."

Another cage descended from the rafters at nearly freefall speed, slowing and stopping when it was level with everyone else. Inside the cage, huddled in a corner with his hat over his eyes, was...

"Luuuuuuigiiiiii!"

"Mr. L?"

"Luigi?"

"What is the meaning of this?! Demanded Count Bleck!"

"Here's where it gets good," said Chuck Quizmo. "Every single time you get an answer right, you still move up. BUT! Now, last week's champ, here, moves down. So either way, someone's getting eaten."

"You're a monster!" Tippi's outburst was even stronger than before.

"That may be, but at least I'm a boss monster. I've got great stats, check out my trading card." He turned to one of the cameras. "Well, that's it for round one! We'll be right back after this short break! Stay tuned for these messages from out sponsors!" Chuck kept on grinning until the red light on top of the camera in front of him went out, and then his face fell. He slid off his platform and crawled away to a small backstage area, where from the cages they could barely see a coffee machine.

"Luigi," said Tippi gently, "how have you been?"

Luigi looked out from under his hat. "Awful," he said. "I was in town buying badges for me and my bro's next big adventure, when I met up with that worm... thing. Mario used to talk about him, how he won a whole lot of star pieces playing his game and how he and his assistant were just so nice and friendly, so I figured why not? I know a guy who collects star pieces. But the game was awful! I'd never been so frightened!"

"What happened to the other contestants?"

"There weren't any," said Luigi. "It was just me, trying to get the right answers. When I got to the top I thought it was over and I'd be free, but instead he just threw the cage backstage and told me to hold tight until the next episode."

"Have you really been here for a week?"

"No, only a couple of hours. He said something about taping in advance before tossing me aside. He's crazy. Absolutely out of his mind."

It fell quiet between them. The only sound coming from the stage was the occasional splash of fish in the water below. But because of that, just offstage, they could hear Chuck Quizmo talking softly.

"Uh-huh... just taping up the last episode. I promise. It'll be a nightmare. Gotta go. We're back on in 5... well, no, I mean, it's not live but we're still on a schedule. Yeah. That's how it works. And she's okay, right? ... Because you promised! Okay... yeah, I get it. Bye."

Chuck Quizmo slithered back and hopped on his stand. "You guys ready to go?"

"Count Bleck demands to know what happens to the winner. Is he or she just going to stay locked up until the next show where you toss them out to die?"

"Oh, no, no, no," said Chuck Quizmo. "This is just a very special episode. I assure you, whoever wins will be free to go."

"Prove it."

Chuck Quizmo sighed. Then he reached into his podium and pulled out a giant key. "Okay, see this? This is the key to your cages."

"Prove it."

"Jeeze, you're not very trusting." He tapped the key on the podium. "See? Bump, notch, notch, bump, notch, bump. Feel your locks."

"I can't very well-"

Tippi peered into the lock. "He's not lying."

Count Bleck turned to her, bewildered "How can you-?"

"Information pixl."

Count Bleck stared, agape, and then said, "Very well. I concede. You most certainly are more knowledgeable than I am."

"Thank you, but we're not through this yet."

"You get that key, you can open all the cages," said Chuck Quizmo. He took the key in his worm tail, pulled back, and hurled it straight up. It landed on the catwalk. "Except, of course, for the poor cage that fell into the water. That one's getting eaten."

Luigi went pale and curled up even tighter.

"What are we going to do?" whispered Tippi.

"Don't worry," said Count Bleck. "Just play the game. Get to the key. Count Bleck will not let anything happen to you."