Mario's Mailbox SP went off again.

Mario read the email a loud, "Smash the blockade in the minor-league room. From X."

Flurrie perked up, "The blockade?"

Blaze asked, "Whatever for?"

Violet questioned, "You don't think that there is something behind the wall?"

Koops shivered, "T - there is only one way of finding out..."

Luigi stated, "W - we have to use our new hammer to take down that wall."

Goombella replied, "Right you are."

Mario responded, "Come on, everyone. Let's head back for now."

...

Once they got to the minor-league room, Mario smacked down the wall. The only thing there was a secret room.

Blaze asked, "What in the world? A secret room?"

Flurrie picked up some paper from the floor, "And the mystery continues."

She gave the paper to Violet. Violet took it from her and looked at them.

Violet told the team, "These are scientific paper on the Crystal Stars."

Koops frowned, "But who else besides the X-Nauts be interested in them?"

Luigi added, "And they even added pictures!"

Goombella thought a loud, "Who would even leave paper like this behind? Something doesn't add up."

"You again... Mr. Comet, what are you doing in here?"

Mario hid the paper in his pocket, "We're just looking over the minor-league locker one last time. That's all, Ms. Jolene."

Jolene sharply pointed out, "This is the minor-league locker room, you know this. Major-league athletes are forbidden. If you want a stroll down memory lane, it will have to wait. Even if they weren't, it's hardly appropriate to bash down our walls, hmm?" Mario didn't say anything to that. Ms. Jolene came over to them. She added, "I'll just be confiscating THIS, thank you very much." That's when she took the papers from Mario's pocket and left without saying another word.

Blaze shouted, "What in the world was that all about?! We just busted our humps getting that information!"

Flurrie pointed out, "You know, she acting the same way earlier too."

Violet replied, "At least we know the Crystal Star is here."

Koops frowned, "But that's all we know."

Luigi responded, "He's got a point."

Goombella stated, "We better get back to the major-league room for now."

Mario said, "Yeah let's go."

...

The group went back to the major-league room, Mario went to schedule another fight.

"Welcome to the automated match-reservation system. What is your command?"

Mario had selected 'Reserve a Match'. Mr. Grubba had appeared on the screen.

He told them, "Well, dog my cats! If it ain't the great Red Comet! Fixin' for a fight, huh?"

Mario confirmed, "Yes we are."

Mr. Grubba chuckled, "Hoo-wee! Yer gonna love this! Yer next opponent is... Ranked 7 in the Glitz Pit... The Shellshockers! Now listen: in this battle, I want you to avoid using your hammer. Not even once. I wanna see how you do when you ain't got somethin' to beat a fella with. Now get in there an' let's see some acrobatifyin'."

Mario agreed, "Got it. This time around I want Green Thunder and Icy Punch to go next with Glaze."

With that, Mr. Grubba nodded and the screen went off.

Luigi teased Violet, "Can you keep up with me?"

Violet teased, "You know that answer as well as I do."

Blaze laughed, "That's funny."

That's when security came in and took the three of them to the next fight.

...

Mr. Grubba announced, "For our next battle, we got the Merciless Executioners; Icy Punch, Blaze, and Green Thunder! And... The Turtles of Hurtle... Yep, a fight to the finish with The Shellshockers!"

Blaze cheered, "Let's do this!"

Violet activated her Aurora Nine, "We're ready when you are!"

Luigi activated his Thunderhand, "A - and ready to fight!"

One of the Shellshockers taunted, "So-called Green Thunder! Don't think I'm gonna take it easy on you, baby!"

Mr. Grubba commented, "Let's get yerselves ready to...battle!"

The gong went off as the fight begun. Luigi Blaze, and Violet avoided using their hammers and before long, they finally took out the Shellshockers.

Mr. Grubba stated, "We got ourselves the winners! Icy Punch, Blaze, and Green Thunder!"

Luigi gave Violet a victory kiss as Blaze gave off a victory pose.

"Green Thunder!" That's when the Iron Adonis Twins came on the stage.

Mr. Grubba announced, "Whoa, nelly! I don't believe my eyes, folks! The Iron Adonis Twins are in a rage!"

Red huffed, "You, your brother, and that Yoshi - you made us look like suckers the other day, and now you're going to pay for it!"

Luigi started to protest, "B - but..."

Red interrupted, "Aww... a little tired from your match, Great Stinkwad? Too bad! Prepare for pain!"

That's when the gong went off again. The fight, rather unexpected, begun.

...

Meanwhile, watching this from the stands, was a very worried Mario. Granted, both Luigi and Violet had Blaze with them to deal with those two but Mario couldn't help it. He felt like he should have been there with his brother, fighting against the stupid Iron Adonis Twins. Instead, he was stuck on the sideline yet again. And this was giving him a lot of unwelcomed deja vue. Mario was sobbing, trying to get back his breathing. He hadn't had heard him yet. But like the ghost he was, Mario could feel the goosebumps on his skin.

"Mario...?"

Mario looked up, seeing Koops there.

Koops tried to reassure, "Luigi will be okay, you know..."

Mario replied, "I - I know... He is every time he's ever faced Bowser or him... But that was all my fault! I should've listen to Elvin in the first place and stayed away from the mansion. But no, I couldn't even do that. I had to be curious. I had to check it out cause it didn't sound right to me."

Koops responded, "You wanted to make sure that he was safe before he got his hopes up about that mansion." Mario slowly stopped crying as he nodded in confirmation. He could still feel the goosebumps on his skin. The group had yet to tell Blaze about the mansion incident. Koops added, "Then if anything, you were just checking for your brother. I mean, wouldn't you want to keep him safe?"

Mario replied, almost too quietly, "You know I would. I love mi fratello."

Koops reassured, "And he loves you too, Mario. Never forget that."

...

Wishmaker1028: Never forget that indeed. Please read and review! And always think outside of the box!