"How dare they?!" Goombella burst out.

Her three companions jumped. Koops asked, "W-W-What's wrong, Goomb-b-bella?"

She gestured emphatically. "Can't you see? They've gone and ruined a perfectly good temple! Probably eighteenth-century Berdaeux with inspiration taken from Old Pyrapt palace design, but I can't say for sure because SOMEONE WENT AND RUINED IT!"

Matthew hastily shushed her, "Sheesh, Goombella, keep your voice down, will you?" He glanced around the crowded lobby, but few of the patrons there seemed to have noticed the outburst. Thinking about it, he realized it was likely because everyone there was just as loud as she was - loud and excited. The noise was amplified by the size of the stone room. Fortunately, it was dampened somewhat by all the posters and banners hanging all over the walls, which upon consideration, Matthew thought was actually a smart idea. Maybe Goombella wouldn't have been so upset if the colors weren't so bright and flashy; enormous letters above pictures of what must have been fighters that screamed: SPIKY JOE! THE KOOPINATOR! RAWK HAWK! Actually, there was a lot of Rawk Hawk now that Matthew took another look around: a beefy hawk-like character with yellow hair like a buzzsaw and a smirk so cocky and belligerent Matthew could feel his glands curling up and trying to hide in a corner. This couldn't be what they called a premonition, could it? They were only here for the Crystal Star. Probably hiding in a secret room in this temple-turned-fighting arena. It wasn't at all likely that a fighter would have it... right?

Matthew nervously shook open the map and muttered, "Pleeeeease, tell me we don't have to fight for the Crystal Star."

The map didn't respond. It had gone back to its innocently ordinary map state with no markings to point the way. Once again, they were on their own on finding the Star.

"I hate you sometimes," he muttered darkly as he folded it and stuck it in his pocket again. Still, its silence didn't necessarily mean that it was in the hands of a fighter. He paused for thought. Then he made a decision.

"All right, gang, let's split up and search for that Crystal Star. See if you can find a hidden basement or something because I'm pretty sure that's where our Star is." Or rather, he pretty please hoped that's where it was.

It was Goombella, of course, who had to question him on that assumption. "Wait," she said, "did the Map tell you that?"

Matthew responded to her a little waspishly, "Something like that. Anyway, where else would it be? On a fighter?"

Koops nodded sagely. "G-g-good point. All r-right. Let's get looking."

Matthew and Koops decided to go together while Goombella and Madam Flurrie formed their own team. Between the four of them that Crystal Star would be found in no time... at least, that's what they thought. Then they hit a roadblock. After squeezing past all the patrons in line to buy tickets to see the fights and arriving on either side of the lobby to the doors leading to the backrooms of the Glitz Pit, the two teams came upon a pair of security officers, two on each side; Clubbas in dark suits and sunglasses, guarding the backdoors.

"Excuse me, sirs/ladies," said the officers on the right - one addressing Matthew and Koops and the other addressing Goombella and Madam Flurrie, "this area is strictly off-limits to unauthorized personnel."

Matthew turned pink. "Oh! Um..."

Goombella replied, "Oh, sorry, I was looking for the bathroom."

"I'm going to have to ask you to leave," said the officer to Matthew.

"The bathrooms are down that hallway to your left," said the officer to Goombella, pointing.

Koops spoke up, "Um, sir? W-we were asked to make a deliv-delivery to one of the fighters... yes, um..." he glanced up the wall, "...the T-Tiny Sp-Sp-Spinies." He bit his lip, which was curling up suspiciously.

"Oh, um, okay," said Goombella, at a loss for words.

Then Madam Flurrie stepped forward. "Sir, I don't know if you recognize me, but I am Madam Flurrie. My face is known the world over, and it so happens I have an acquaintance here whom I'd like to speak with."

The officer held out his hand. "Give me the package and I'll be sure it's delivered to them safely."

The Clubba in the suit replied, "Give me his name and I'll give him the message."

Koops turned red. "Ah! Um..." He went through his pockets and then turned to Matthew. "You, uh... wouldn't happen to have th-the p-package... w-would you?" Matthew gave him a blank look.

"Oh?" Madam Flurrie gasped, placing a palm to her forehead. "Oh my... I hadn't realized he was that busy. Well, perhaps a later time then."

The security officers gave the two teams a raised eyebrow but because they were leaving didn't pursue the matters. With their efforts stymied so early into their investigation, the two teams reconvened near the center of the foyer to report and brainstorm.

"So it looks like Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dork over there aren't going to let anyone through," said Goombella with a huff.

"They do seem to be p-pretty p-professional at their job," Koops agreed. "Those t-two wouldn't let us past eith-uh-either."

"Well, perhaps there are other areas we can explore, hm?" said Madam Flurrie. "Otherwise, we will have to think of some way to get past them." Suddenly she shivered, bringing her shoulders together and clenching her fists in front of her. "Ooh! Perhaps we should sneak in after dark?"

Matthew thought she looked a little too excited by the prospect. Remind me to never have her tell a ghost story. After mulling the problem for a while, Matthew said, "Let's try looking..."

He was interrupted when a chime went off and a voice over a loudspeaker announced, "Attention, ladies and gentlemen, the bouts are about to start. Please take your tickets and find your seats in the arena. Thank you." This caused the hubbub to increase as excitement grew and the patrons began to flow toward the double doors, which were flanked by yet two more security officers.

"Your ticket looks to be in order. Right this way," they said to each patron as they passed.

The lobby started to empty. Madam Flurrie remarked, "Shan't be long before we have this room to ourselves. Perhaps we should take this opportunity to search it for anything suspicious that might lead to the Crystal Star."

"Good idea," Matthew agreed. The group decided to wait as the arena-goers gradually drained into the stands overlooking the arena. With nothing else to do for the time being, Matthew found himself overhearing bits of conversation:

"I've worked for months to earn enough to see these fights!"

"Prince Mush hasn't made a comeback in months. It's Rawk Hawk who's champ now..."

"Are the Hoggle Hot Dogs really that amazing? Like seriously, it boosts your fighting abilities?"

"Look at the size of that star on his belt! That thing must weigh a ton!"

Matthew did a double-take. Wait, star? As in, Crystal Star?

"I'll be right back," he told the group and rushed toward the doors.

Goombella leaped up. "Hey, wait a minute, you blockhead! Where do you think...?"

Matthew was too distracted to notice. Although he did do an abrupt turn when he saw the two security Clubbas and rushed straight to the ticket booth.

"One ticket, please."

"That will be one hundred and sixty-four coins, sir."

With a clatter of coins, a flourish of a ticket, and a whoosh, Matthew was running back to the double doors where he breathlessly presented his ticket to the stern-looking Clubba. The Clubba seemed to scrutinize his ticket more closely than he had the others, but maybe that was Matthew's imagination.

"That seems to be in order," he said slowly. He unhooked the chain from the stanchion and waved Matthew through.

"Thanks," Matthew responded and he hurried on.

He followed the crowd up a set of stairs, separated by a fence that divided it in two. The stairs split going left and right. Matthew went up the left stairs. After it switched back twice, he emerged into the stands where his eyes were assaulted by searing light and his ears bombarded by piercing noise. When his senses adjusted, he was awestruck by what he was seeing.

The outside of the Glitz Pit suggested enormous. The inside of the Glitz Pit was a virtual ocean of cheering, screaming viewers. He could barely make out the faces on the other end. But if the stands were an ocean, then the arena was a cruise ship on which three lone sailors stood. He couldn't see them clearly from here, but four giant screens that faced all four sides of the stadium provided a close-up of the figures. One of them he recognized immediately as Rawk Hawk by his frill of yellow hair. The second was a dark Koopa in spiked armor. And the third between them was a large Clubba in a fedora, green vest, red bowtie, and dark shades. Judging by the microphone he was holding, he must have been the ring announcer.

"Lllllllladies and gentlemen!" he belted into the microphone. "Welcome to the Glitz Pit! An arena where fighters from around the world compete in the ultimate battle for martial arts supremacy. Many have tried their luck but very few have ever come out on top. Today, we have a special event for you. A challenger has climbed his way to the top of the ranks, and now he is set to challenge the champion for the title and the trophy that comes with it: the Championship Belt!"

The crowd roared with excitement, forcing Matthew to cover his ears lest the noise shatter his eardrums.

The announcer walked over to the armored Koopa. "Have you anything to say before we begin the match?"

The Koopa responded in a somber voice, "I fight not for glory or petty awards, but only to achieve true strength. So to you, Mr. Hawk, I say this: may the stronger warrior win."

The Clubba whipped the microphone to his mouth and began walking over to the other side of the arena. "Doesn't beat around the bush, that one! Here's hoping that quiet resolve is enough to win this match!" He reached Rawk Hawk and said, "He seems pretty confident in his abilities. He fights to achieve true strength, he says. What do you say to that, champ?"

The yellow hulk of a hawk snatched the microphone from the Clubba and in a gravelly voice spat, "True strength? Pfft! What does he know? So he's beat a couple of scrubs and now he's got a swelled head. Let me tell you this, punk! You don't get to be a champion like me based on luck! You want true strength? Then you take this belt from me!" With that, he threw down the microphone, ripped off the belt from his waist, and hoisted it into the air.

On the giant screen, the camera zoomed in on the belt, and Matthew got a clear look at it. On the belt was exactly the thing he feared he would see.

"Figures," he muttered.

...

"Well, I hope it was a good match!" Goombella said crossly when Matthew returned to the lobby. "Meanwhile, while you were busy getting your kicks off of watching sweaty guys beat each other black and blue, we searched this place high and low for that Crystal Star and want to guess what we found?"

"It's on the belt," Matthew sighed wearily.

The group looked alarmed. Koops stuttered, "Th-the Cry-Crystal St-St-Star, you mean?"

"Yes. It's on the champion's belt. I saw it plain as day."

"Th-then that means...w-w-we'll have to f-f-f-fight the champ-champion for it... doesn't it?"

Matthew nodded glumly. "It sure looks that way."

Goombella shook her head emphatically. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, hang on, before we get all gung ho about this, let's try asking if we can just borrow the Star."

"Oh, I'm sure that will go down well," Matthew sneered. "Hey, Mr. Rawk Hawk, do you mind if we borrow the Star from your belt? What, fight you for it? Well, actually I was hoping... no, wait, not the face!"

Madam Flurrie shook her head. "My dear, it won't necessarily be him we have to ask. The belt goes to the champion, does it not? Which means we just have to ask the person who gives that belt."

Hope began to flutter to life in Matthew's stomach. "Okay, that makes sense. But the question is who do we ask?"

And so the journey began to find the one with the power to give belts to champions. The first leg of this journey found itself at a ticket booth to ask the clerk there who the manager was.

"That would be Mr. Grubba," the clerk answered peppily.

"Can we talk with him?"

The clerk bobbed her head uncertainly. "Welllll... he's a busy man, so he doesn't usually answer requests directly. I'd say if you want a chance to talk to him, you'll have to talk with his assistant director, Ms. Jolene."

"Okay, and how do we talk with her?"

"Just hang on a minute and I'll page her... oh, there she is now!"

The group turned. They spotted her immediately as she was the only Toad dressed in a red business suit and horn-rimmed glasses and flanked by two security officers, who were quite effective at creating a path through the crowd by their mere presence.

"Hey thanks," Matthew said hastily to the clerk and rushed over to catch the Toad, who was busy scribbling on a notepad.

"...and once he's finished with the loose floorboard, have him take a look at light number four, it appears to be dimming. And talk to Lubba about fighter number eight, he's been throwing up more often than normal. If he's sick, he could infect the other fighters and that would throw the whole schedule..."

"Excuse me, Ms. Jolene!" Matthew cried, waving frantically as he sprinted up to her.

She looked up with a start and then blinked owlishly at Matthew. "Yes, can I help you?"

"It's about that Star on the Championship Belt. I was wondering..."

"I'm afraid I don't have time to help you with that," she said immediately and resumed her scribbling. "If you would like to know more about the Championship Belt, I recommend you talk with our staff over at the information desk."

Matthew growled in irritation, "But I don't need information, I need permission!"

She looked up sharply. "Permission for what?"

"I want to borrow the belt. Actually, I want to borrow the Star on the belt."

Her eyebrows nearly flew off her face. "Whatever for?"

At this, Matthew hesitated. "It's uh..." It occurred to him that mentioning that the Stars had power was probably a bad idea. Who knows who was listening in? And a wise move on his part although altogether moot since the shadow siren lurking in the shadow of one of the lobby's pillars already knew about the Crystal Stars and what they could do.

Then Goombella scooted up next to him. "For research, lady. In case you haven't noticed, I'm an archaeologist, meaning I study old things, and that thing on the Belt is pretty old."

"You mean to say you think the Star is some sort of artifact?" Ms. Jolene snorted. "Don't be ridiculous! It is nothing of the sort. The Belt isn't any older than ten years old and that includes the Star on it. They were made specifically as trophies. Now if you'll excuse me..." She started to leave.

Goombella hopped in anger. "How would you know that, lady? I'll bet you don't even know this arena used to be a temple! And you people turned it into some cheap, tacky fighting ring! You people don't know culture even though it's right under your nose! I'll bet you work here because you couldn't find a job anywhere else!"

The Toad wheeled around, her teeth gritted in anger. "I'm warning you, I will not tolerate being harassed by the likes of you. If you do not desist this behavior, I will have the whole lot of you thrown out, do I make myself clear?"

Matthew protested. "Can you at least let us take a look at it for a second?"

They pushed the assistant manager too far. She stomped her foot and screamed. "That's enough!" Then she snapped her fingers and barked, "Security!"

As one, the security officers came at Matthew and Goombella. Goombella cried, "Eep!" and scuttled behind Matthew. Matthew reacted by whipping out his hammer and slamming it into the Clubba as he reached for him. The Clubba toppled sideways with a heavy "Oof!" The second Clubba grabbed his wrist.

Matthew wrenched his wrist free and spun his hammer at the officer's head. The officer hit the ground with a loud smack and lay there not moving. The first officer was on his feet at this time and reached for Matthew. Matthew danced out of reach then slammed his hammer on the Clubba's foot. The Clubba howled and fell on his side as he held it. He rocked side to side.

The lobby fell into stunned silence, save for the security officer's howls of pain. Matthew's heart pounded in his chest and he felt the urge to run. What have I done? he thought in panic, I just attacked the assistant manager's security! I'm a criminal now!

Just as he was about to bolt, a loud voice declared, "Hoo wee! That was jest about the finest bit o' fightin' I ever did see! Not bad for a rookie, son!" Matthew whipped his head to the voice and saw the ring announcer approaching him. He was a lot bigger up close.

The Clubba whipped an arm around him and continued, "So I take it you're here to take part in the fights here? It'd be a shame to see talent like that wasted."

Matthew was feeling claustrophobic in the ring announcer's arm. It was as big as a telephone pole and like iron. With a single squeeze, the guy could pop his head like a grape.

"Well, actually," he rasped in a dry voice, "I just wanted to see the Championship Belt."

The announcer let him go as he belted out a great belly laugh. "Of course, you do! If you're gonna aim fer somethin', you aim fer the top! That's jest the way I would do it!" He clapped Matthew on the back, nearly sending him onto his face. "Tell you what: you just follow my lovely assistant, Ms. Jolene here, and she'll get you squared up to participate. Work your way up in the ranks and you'll be wearing that Champion's Belt in no time!"

Goombella stepped forward as the announcer belted out another laugh. "Um, excuse me, sir, we would like to speak to the manager, if you don't mind. It's of a matter of the utmost importance..."

"Well, ain't that a coincidence?" said the announcer. "You're speaking to him now."

Matthew and the rest of them gasped. Madam Flurrie cried, "You mean you're the head of this establishment here?"

The Clubba puffed out his chest importantly. "That's right! The Big Cheese of this little, ol' establishment. I'm manager, director, ring announcer, and all-around main mover of everything that goes on 'round here. The name's Bradley P. Grubba and it's a pleasure to meet all of you. I can tell we're all gonna get along just fine around here." He grinned.