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, boy howdy, Comet! Fixin' for a fight, huh?"
Mario confirmed, "Yes we are."
Mr. Grubba chuckled, "Well, guess what? Your next match is... The Title Match! Hoo-wee! Darn tootin'! You're up against the champ, Rawk Hawk! Now, I wanna see a fair an' excitin' match, so don't you let me down, now, you hear? Now listen: in this battle, I want you to use at least one special move, okay? Hand powers included. The crowd needs somethin' flashy, you catch my drift? Give 'em a good show! Now get in there an' blow the roof off, son!"
Mario agreed, "Yes sir! This time, I want the Green Thunder and I to go. Blaze will watch this time."
Mr. Grubba nodded as he turned off the screen. Mario turned to Luigi.
Luigi asked, "Si?"
Mario questioned, "You ready?"
Luigi answered, "Always fratello."
To that, Mario smiled. Violet gave Luigi a quick kiss on the cheek just as security came in to escort them to the fight. Or so they thought. The security guard took them around to the minor-league room.
He instructed them, "You two wait here."
With that, he left the room.
Luigi stammered, "M - Malleo, why did he bring us here?"
Mario frowned, "And where is everyone in here? It's totally empty, Weegie!"
Luigi looked and true to his older brother's word, it was totally empty.
Luigi shivered, "Y - you don't think they ended up like Bandy Andy and King K?"
Mario admitted, "I'm not sure honestly."
Luigi stated, "H - how we know that they won't do the same thing to us?"
Mario looked over at his baby brother. Luigi was shaking and twitching up a storm.
Mario sighed, "I don't know Weegie. But whatever happens, we have each others backs. Right?"
Luigi stammered, "A - Always Malleo. A - Always. B - but we are going to miss our fight!"
...
Meanwhile, the team was waiting for the arrival of Mario and Luigi.
Mr. Grubba announced, "Now fer today's main event! The top dog of the major league...the Red Comet and the Green Thunder... is finally gonna throw down with the champ! The one... the only... Rawk Hawk! First to enter the ring! The Feral Nuclear Reactor! Rawk Hawk!"
That's when Rawk Hawk came in. The crowd started to cheer loudly.
"R-A-W-K! H-A-W-K!"
Mr. Grubba went over to him, "Hoo, doggies! Champ! How're you feelin', son? Yer challenger's a handful!"
Rawk Hawk commented, "They don't want a handful of THIS! Unh-unh! There's only one champ...and it's ME! Even if this Red Comet and Green Thunder wusses ever shows up, what are they gonna do, huh? NOTHING!"
Mr. Grubba pointed out, "But the Red Comet and his team made it to the top of the majors faster than anyone, ever! He even got up there faster than YOU did, Champ! What you got to say about it?"
Rawk Hawk stated, "What do I have to say?" That's when he blew a raspberry. He added, "THAT'S what! Who cares what this guy and his team did to a bunch of chumps?! 'Cause now he and his brother are about to gets RAWKED!"
...
Back with the brothers, Mario and Luigi were getting worried. Mario didn't want to show his worry.
He suggested, "How about I see what's holding them?"
Luigi stammered, "N - no! I'm not letting you go alone!"
Mario smiled a bit as he tried the door. It was locked.
Mario groaned, "The door is locked! We are indeed trapped!"
Luigi stated, "W - what?!"
...
Back on the stage, Mr. Grubba turned.
He added, "And now for our challenger... The Merciless Executioner... THE RED COMET AND THE GREEN THUNDER!" But Mario and Luigi didn't come on the stage. He stated, "...hold the phone, folks! What the hey is going on? What happened to the Red Comet and the Green Thunder?"
Goombella whispered, "Something happened to Mario and Luigi!"
Blaze was worried, "Do you think they are okay?"
Rawk Hawk laughed, "I'll tell you what happened! They fear the RAWK!"
Violet hissed, "Never!"
Mr. Grubba turned, "Hoo-wee! What a stupefyin' development folks! Did the Red Comet and Green Thunder really turn yella an' fer the hills like dogs?! I tell you what, folks. If they don't show soon, they are going to forfeit the match!"
Koops stated, "We better go and try to find Mario and Luigi!"
Flurrie frowned, "Yes but we have no idea where they are!"
...
Back with the brothers, Mario got out the super hammer. He winded up the hammer, busting open the door. The brothers ran out of the minor-league locker room and ran to the stage.
Larry commented, "Hey Mr. Comet! Mr. Thunder! You two better get in there. The crowd is going berserk."
Mario was furious, "You tricked us!"
Larry repeated, "Tricked you? I didn't trick you! How dare you say that! I have no idea what you are talking about!"
Luigi added, "Y - you brought us to the minor-league room, left the room, and locked us in!"
Larry warned, "You'd better watch your tone!"
The brothers had dropped the issue as they ran onto the stage.
Mr. Grubba announced, "The moment you been waitin' for, folks! The Red Comet and the Green Thunder have just entered the arena!"
Violet let out a breath that she didn't know she was holding. She looked and saw both Mario and Luigi safe and sound.
She commented, "Thank goodness."
The crowd was cheering twice as loudly now as Mario and Luigi stepped onto the stage.
Mr. Grubba announced, "Just listen to this crowd hoot 'n' holler for the challenger, the Red Comet and the Green Thunder! Will their hammer of hurt 'n' harm be enough to rock the Rawk Hawk's socks?! Now, at long last, the battle to end all battles is here! Let's keep it clean, boys!"
That's when the gong went off and the fight had begun at long last.
...
Wishmaker1028: Hmm I wonder who did that dirty trick? Guess we will find out in chapter 50. Please read and review! And always think outside of the box!