After the fight, Jolene gave them some money. She gave them seven coins and their ranking had finally went up to 10.

Jolene commented, "Red Comet... Mr. Grubba wishes to see your team in his office. Follow me." The group followed and entered Mr. Grubba's office. She announced, "Mr. Gruuba... I've brought Red Comet's team, as you requested."

Mr. Grubba told her, "Muh-Muh-Ms. Jolene! You mind yer manners, now! We knock 'round here, missy!"

She replied, "I apologize, Mr. Grubba."

Mr. Grubba responded, "Don't you worry yer pretty li'l head about it none. Now, what'd I want again? Somethin' about Comet and his team... Oh, yeah!" He went around the table. He told them, "Comet, you ol' so-an'-so! Lemme me congratulate you all! Major league already, huh? I had a feelin' you were goin' places, and dang, I love it when I'm right! Y'all just keep puttin' tuckuses in them seats! I'm countin' on you all. I got a special li'l somethin'-somethin' for you. Go on! Take it!"

That's when he gave Mario a bag of thirty coins.

Mario commented, "Wow, thank you sir."

Goombella gushed, "This is great, thank you."

Mr. Grubba said, "Aw it ain't nothin'. But I must admit, y'all costumes ain't all that cool."

Luigi frowned, "Costumes?"

Koops stated, "We aren't wearing any though."

Mr. Grubba nodded, "Right you are, son. But if you do become champs one day, I'll get all of you new ones. Somethin' hot pink with frills or somethin'. You'll look like a sight. Anyways, that's somethin' fer another day, pard. Take a powder, okay?"

Violet asked, "Huh?"

Flurrie added, "What do you mean?"

Mr. Grubba explained, "Gettin' to that. Y'all gonna follow Ms. Jolene. And she's gonna show you somethin'."

The team did as Mr. Grubba told them and they went into the major-league locker room. Blaze was impressed.

He breathed, "Wow."

Jolene commented, "This is the major-league locker room. You will use this room from now on. The match system is the same as the minor league... but the bouts are harder. Since you have a protégé, you have to have at least two people with him at all times. That's all. Try not to get completely destroyed out there, okay, Red Comet? Well, if you'll excuse me... I must be going now."

She pushed up her glasses and out she went. But none of the fighters said a word to them.

Flurrie commented, "What? No hellos?"

Blaze agreed, "Doesn't look like it... Would it kill these guys to show a little friendliness? Sheesh!"

Violet frowned, "Suddenly missing the minor league."

Luigi stated, "They don't seem very friendly at all. At least King K was nice to everyone."

Koops added, "And everyone in the minor league too."

Goombella wagered, "Guess on they lost themselves along the way."

Mario replied, "That sounds about right."

That's when Rawk Hawk came in.

He said, "Studly guy, coming through! Listen up, losers! I've been hearing about some rising stars tearing up the league..." He looked and saw Mario with his team. He perked up, "It's you all, isn't it? Yeah! You all fit the bill! Especially your loser leader, Comet! Man, I came all this way over here for you all?! Harharhar! What a waste of time!"

Mario saw the Crystal Star on Rawk Hawk's belt.

Flurrie gasped, "There it is!"

Blaze went up to Rawk Hawk, getting rather close to him.

Rawk Hawk huffed, "What in the... Hey! You! Get too close to the Hawk and you might get RAWKED!"

Blaze turned to his teammates pointed out, "I'm not sure, but it definitely looks weird. FAKE!"

Rawk Hawk was getting upset, "Hey, you think you can just smack-talk the RAWK HALK? I DON'T THINK SO! You got some guts, calling my belt a fake, you shrimpy no-belt having wimps! Didn't your momma teach you any manners?!

Blaze backed up as Violet came over to him, "He didn't mean any harm. He was just curious about it."

He huffed, "Too curious. You're alive ONLY 'cause we ain't in the ring right now!" Luigi activated his Thunderhand, Violet had activated her Aurora Nine, and Mario activated his Firebrand. Koops, Goombella, and Flurrie looked more than ready to defeat Blaze. He further added, "Pfft. If I see you under those lights, I'll tear you apart! Remember the RAWK!"

With that, he left. Blaze turned to them.

He said, "Wow, I really pushed that dude's buttons, huh?"

Goombella replied, "Don't worry about it, Blaze. But that does bring up a question.

Koops added, "Yeah cause our map says the next Crystal Star is here in Glitzville, right?"

Flurrie confirmed, "Right and we saw that very Crystal Star on Rawk Hawk's belt - was that one we saw that day a fake as well? And where is the real one?"

That's when Mario's Mailbox SP went off.

Violet asked, "Sounds like you got an email?"

Luigi questioned, "What does it say, Mario?"

Mario brought it out and read it aloud, "If you want the Crystal Star, heed my instructions. From X."

Blaze asked, "Who the heck is that?"

Koops questioned, "And why would he want to help us?"

Goombella frowned, "None of this is making sense. It feels like this X guy won't take no for an answer."

Flurrie pointed out, "Can we even trust him though?"

Violet replied, "We have to at least try. We don't have any other leads."

Luigi responded, "That's also true."

Mario warned, "It could even be a trap too. But we don't know that for sure either. Whatever the case maybe, we need the Crystal Star to save the world. Usual stuff that we are used to. We have to stand together in ordinary to figure out what to do next."

The team agreed, "We follow you, Mario."

Luigi turned to Mario, "And you are no loser leader. You are the best leader and brother in the world."

Mario chuckled, "Hey, I'm supposed to tell you that."

To that, Luigi laughed right alongside of his brother.

...

Wishmaker1028: That ends this chapter and what a way to end it! Please read and review! And always think outside of the box!