[woman] Taxi.
Ah. My precious.
The pride of my collection.
Uncle G, you talking to your cheese again?
No. Well, maybe.
Benjamin, this contains the most pungent--
Uh, you mean stinky.
--cheese in all the world, the Goffenburg Blue.
[chuckling]
Stinking-burg blue.
[chuckles mockingly]
Laugh if you want, but this cheese
saved your Grandfather Shortpaw from a bear.
-Really? -Oh, yes.
One whiff knocked the bear out.
So, if you hear someone yell, "Goffenburg!" pinch your nose.
[knock on door]
-[gasps] A cheese thief? -Uh, thieves don't knock.
Polite ones do.
Hello? Hello?
Run!
[whimpering]
This cheese is loaded and I'll use it.
Huh?
Ah. Oh.
[chuckles] Thank you.
Wow, so cool. You all right, Uncle G?
Uh... Um...
Certainly.
[groans]
♪ Who's the mouse who's fun and witty Scoops the news for New Mouse City ♪
♪ Geronimo ♪
♪ He's amazing, he's terrific Watch out world he's cheddarific ♪
♪ He's outta site and in the know ♪
♪ Go! ♪
♪ He's the one we call Geronimo ♪
Oh. Thank you, I'm feeling better.
Go ahead, open it.
"To Geronimo Stilton.
You and your family are invited to the Circle of Honor."
The Circle of Honor. What's that, a game show?
Oh. It's a martial arts championship. It's very exclusive.
Geronimo, you'll be the first journalist to attend. This is an honor.
-Where's it being held? -At something called a dojo?
-That's a martial arts school. -Cool.
It says here it's at the top of Frozen Fur Peak.
Frozen Fur Peak?
Hey, that karate mailman looked like these guys.
A Masked Rat-Jitsu? Incredible. Rat-Jitsu are a sect of martial artists.
Masters of stealth and rarely seen,
but always attend the Circle of Honor.
Um, that's way up high in the mountains.
Come on. Up. This is our one chance to interview a Rat-Jitsu.
Uh, second chance. Geronimo blew his first letting the masked mailman get away.
Traveling in the mountains is dangerous. There's avalanches, snow, and...
Yaks? Nobody said I'd have to ride a yak.
[shivering] Maybe we could stop until the storm blows over and build a fire.
Hang in there. We're almost there.
Ha! Coz, we made it.
[groans]
Okay, I'm no longer cold, but I'm soaking wet and I...
Smell like yak. Ew.
[grunting and shouting]
Awesome. Did you see that?
[scoffs] Anybody can do that, Benjamin. It's a trick. Watch.
It's all in the wrist.
[yells]
Greetings. I am Caretaker of the dojo.
And I am Geronimo Stilton. This is Thea.
You are welcome to rest, but you may not stay long.
Outsiders are not allowed.
Ah, but we were invited.
You are guests of the Rat-Jitsu? That changes things.
You are welcome and honor us with your presence.
Those Rat-Jitsus carry a lot of weight.
[sneezes]
[all grunting and shouting]
[cheering]
Come on, come on. Oh, yeah. Ooh.
-Sure you have enough snacks? -Plenty. Fried scorpion?
Uh... Ugh.
-Um, no, thank you. -They're crunchy with a soft center.
[coughing]
Whew. Stinger caught in my throat. Ha!
Man, these karate guys really know how to put on a tournament.
[scoffs] This isn't just for guys. Girls participate, too.
I just don't see any around.
Fun to watch, but I don't know much about it.
Well, all I know about martial arts is that the food is excellent.
[thud]
[shrieks] Hey, I was eating that.
And the winner is... Big Chop!
[all gasp]
He is gone.
Hmm.
And that is why I'm very worried.
You have three champions in addition to Big Chop missing?
This is no coincidence.
Maybe the champions just wanted to get away.
You know, kick back and relax?
I noticed a figure in the rafters after Big Chop's match.
-What if we followed him? -She might lead us to the champions.
It is too dangerous. The Rat-Jitsu are to be feared.
It would be impossible for someone to get that close to one.
Not if that someone was in the Circle of Honor with them.
-Thea, you're not suggesting-- -Yes, I'll enter the tournament.
And I am going to enter the kitchen.
You could get seriously hurt, my lotus flower.
I am not your lotus flower.
Not you. Her.
Oh.
Thank you. I'll be careful.
[cheering]
Great Gouda, your opponent is a brute. Thea, you don't have to do this.
Relax. I know what I'm doing.
[fighters grunting and shouting]
Yeah, that's it, Thea, give it to him. Sock it to him. All right.
Oh.
Wow, cool. She did it without breaking a nail.
[gong chimes]
Apparently, Thea can handle herself. Come on, let's have a look around.
[indistinct shouting nearby]
If I were a Rat-Jitsu,
where would I hide those snacks with the sweet and salty crunch?
[sniffs] Oh.
Creamy mountain yak cheese.
Ow!
That was my sneaky-grabby-hand.
You, to your post. There's dishes that need washing.
[stammering] But I'm not--
Are you questioning my authority?
I did not think so.
Now wash!
[gasps]
[Trap grumbling]
I can't believe I have to do this on vacation.
[audience cheering]
[gong chiming]
-We haven't found a clue. -Ugh. Nothing. The Rat-Jitsu are good.
Uncle G, look.
That's our rat. Come on.
[whimpering]
-I'm not liking this. [gulps] -He's gonna get away.
Finally, done. Finished. Been nice knowing you.
Where are you going, dish boy?
Uh-- Eh-- Oh...
Wrong, you are now potato boy.
Peel!
[gasps]
-Maybe not such a good idea. -There he is.
[grunting and whimpering]
[gasps]
The champion of the match is...
Um...
Thea.
Uh, no.
Iron Flower!
[all gasp]
-Thea. -Now she's missing, too.
I have to admit, this guy's good.
Uncle G's worried about Thea. We gotta do something.
Well, we can--
Hide.
Where is potato boy?
Who?
[chef] Aha.
Back to your post.
Now you are mop boy.
-Oh, man. -Silence!
Ow, ow, ow!
-I've put together the pieces. -And...?
-Nothing. Not a single lead. [sighs] -Only the Rat-Jitsu know where she is.
Brilliant. That's a great idea.
What idea?
I will disguise myself as a Rat-Jitsu, blend in, and find Thea.
[all cheering]
-Are you sure about this? -Uh, not really.
Ah. Master Rat-Jitsu, there you are.
Your match is about to start.
[Geronimo] What? But...
[Caretaker] Begin.
[Geronimo] I should've stayed home.
Fight him, Uncle G.
[audience gasps]
Don't fight, Uncle G. Run!
[shouting]
[gasping and whimpering]
[panting]
-Yeah! -[audience cheering]
The winner.
I did it. I actually--
[all gasping]
Uncle Geronimo.
[Geronimo] Hello? Anybody there?
Anybody else? Maybe someone not so evil-looking?
Greetings, Rat-Jitsu champion, I am King King Pow.
I was banned from the Circle of Honor long ago.
You have proven yourself to be worthy to compete here.
And where is here?
You are below the dojo, in the forbidden chamber,
where I have lived in secret these many years.
Here, only the best champions are brought
to compete to join my army.
-Army? -Yes.
I will have my revenge on the dojo,
and then I will take over all of Mouse Island.
Now, you can prove if you are worthy to join me.
-Uh, is there an application I fill out? -Silence. You must fight another champion,
or be thrown into the pit of despair.
-Not much of a choice. -Now you fight my champion.
Oh, no.
"Clean this up, mop boy, do this, mop boy."
I hate being bossed around.
Come on, Uncle G's missing.
-I can't. The chef guy won't let me go. -I'll think up a diversion.
[grunting and coughing]
-[Geronimo] Okay, stop, I give up. -Geronimo?
-Thea? -Yeah, it's me. I've been forced to fight.
-Or the pit of despair? -Yeah.
[grunts] No talking, only fighting.
-[Geronimo] We have to find a way out. -He wants us to fight.
-I don't know how to fight. -Just play along. Do what I do.
-Make it look like we're really fighting. -Oh, right.
[grunts]
[both grunting and shouting]
[laughing]
Good thinking. Nothing like a crab stampede as a diversion.
Mop boy, where are you?
[sighs] That was close.
[gasps]
-A dead end? That's weird. -And where did those guys go?
The hallway continues. It shouldn't be a dead end.
I think your electronic gizmo's wrong on this one.
[shrieks]
They've got me!
Um... You're attacked by a curtain.
[gasps]
Oh. I knew that.
-Ha. Told you it shouldn't be a dead end. -Mop boy!
[whimpering]
I can explain. The crabs got away on their own.
-What are you doing here? -We don't have time for this.
My aunt and uncle are in trouble.
Shh! Benjamin, don't make him angry.
-Ah. Then we must help. -But it's locked.
Hmm.
[shouting]
You should see him make scrambled eggs.
Ah. The Rat-Jitsu.
[Geronimo] Oops, sorry.
Here.
Stop the fight! What do you think you're doing, Master Rat-Jitsu?
Me?
A Rat-Jitsu would never help their opponent.
Impostor. Guards!
There are too many of them.
Throw them into the pit of despair.
[pit hissing]
Um, we could talk about this over tea, perhaps?
-The Rat-Jitsu. -Uncle G.
The Rat-Jitsu knew King King Pow did this.
-That's why you got their invitation. -Enough explaining. Get them!
[guards shouting]
Quick, Trap, follow me.
Hey.
Hey, he's getting away. Someone.
Cheddar chunks, looks like I have to do it.
Oh, no.
Benjamin, Goffenburg!
Goffenburg!
Quick, pinch your nose.
Trap, look out.
Ah.
Oh, man, that was the stinkiest, bestest cheese I've ever smelled.
And rarest. No snacking.
Do you know those guys?
We, the Rat-Jitsu, are dedicated to protecting the honor of the dojo.
You with your honor. You do not know how true victory is achieved.
You deserve the most horrible punishment there is.
-The pit of despair? -No.
He will work for me in the kitchen.
No, no, anything but that!
Wow, that's harsh.
[chef] Thank you all for helping us.
Today, you are champions in the Circle of Honor.
Cool... but creepy.
Great scoop, Uncle G.
-One with more adventure than I expected. -[door opens]
I just have to have one sniff. Just one delicious--
[all] Trap, no!