I'd like to note that I do not own Diddy Kong Racing or any of the characters in this story.

            After Wizpig took over Timber's parents' racecourse, the friends gathered together to try to beat him.  "It's all right, Pipsy," TipTup said, comforting the tiny mouse.  "We'll find Drumstick and he'll beat Wizpig.  Then you can go back to your house."
            "Thank you," she squeaked.  "You're such a kind turtle.  Of course, I've never met a mean turtle before, um, what I mean is I've never met many turtles at all, and the turtles I have met, well, they all seem to be very nice, at least they're not really mean, of course…" TipTup let her ramble.  Ever since Wizpig evicted her and her family from the racecourse housing, she hadn't been feeling like her normal self.  TipTup turned to Diddy and the rest of the gang.
            It really was a strange group he found himself in these days.  Bumper the badger was always keen on racing and speed.  Diddy Kong was there because he was friends with Timber, and when a friend is in trouble, Diddy will be there.  There was Pipsy the mouse, whom you have already met, and Banjo the bear.  He liked going after adventure and more often than not found more trouble than he had planned.  Conker the squirrel lived for adventure.  The peaceful life of a squirrel didn't suit him at all.  The last of the bunch, Krunch the kremling, was there by default.  He followed Diddy through the jungle and decided to stay and race to keep an eye on the meddling Kong for K. Rool, at least that was his excuse.
            TipTup himself wasn't one to go looking for trouble, and he enjoyed his life in Boulder Canyon.  He was a turtle, for crying out loud!  Turtles don't particularly like going fast in the first place, but since Timber was his friend he would do the best he can.

            The best and fastest racer, Drumstick the chicken, had gone off to race Wizpig and try to beat him and free the racecourses.  But that had been two weeks ago and he hadn't been seen in any of the racetracks since then.  The champions of each racing world were all hypnotized by Wizpig and ordered to win at all cost.  For TipTup, the whole racing thing gave him a headache.  First you had to win in all the tracks in each world, and then you had to beat the champion.  After that, you had to do all the tracks again in a silver coin challenge.  Then you had to beat the champion again, then win a gold medal in the trophy race.  "Hey, Timber," TipTup said.  "Explain to me what a silver coin challenge is again."  Timber looked about to puke and barely got out, "Bumper, would you please tell the turtle what the heck a silver coin challenge is… again!"
            "Sure thing," Bumper replied.  Out of all of them, Bumper was the coolest one about the whole thing.  "First of all, TupTup, you have to collect all of the silver coins that are placed throughout the course.  After all that, you've gotta come in first place.  Does that clear things up now?"
            "Thanks Bumper.  I think I'm getting it now."  Conker scampered up to TipTup (how else do squirrels get around?).
            "Come on TupTup," he urged.  "Diddy and I have just beaten three tracks in Dragon Forest.  Boulder Canyon is the last one left.  You know that course like the back of your, uh, flipper?"
            "Thanks, guys, but I'm not the best.  Even Krunch could get ahead of me."  TipTup, being the self-abashing turtle he is, tried to shrug off the burden of racing under pressure.  It didn't work, though, as Krunch picked him up by the back of his shell and carried him all the way to Boulder Canyon.
            "Everyone know that Krunch is dumb, but even Krunch know TipTop turtle best to beat this one," Krunch growled.  The rest of them nodded in agreement as Banjo dropped the nervous turtle into his hovercraft.  "In ya go, little buddy," he added.
            As the rest backed away from the starting line, Bumper whispered to TipTup, "just do the best ya can, all right?  There's no penalty for losing.  I'm countin' on ya, we all are."  He ran from the start and joined the others in the stands.  Wizpig's minions suddenly appeared on either side of TipTup, always ready for a race, night or day, wind or rain, etc.

            From out of nowhere, a loud voice boomed, "Get ready…" TipTup leaned on the throttle.  "Go!!!"  The little turtle burst ahead and cleared the first log jump like a pro.  Two little pigs closed in and passed on the right.  "Hey!" he yelled, "This is my natural habitat, and I won't let you pollute it with your stinkin' attitudes!!"  TipTup picked up the speed zipper and flew ahead down the castle tunnel, leaving a slippery mess of oil behind him for the next piggy to slip in.  Three laps and a first place later, the mighty turtle was still gripping the steering wheel of the hovercraft, his eyes shut tight.

            "TupTup," Bumper started, tapping the turtle on the shoulder.  TipTup yelped and nearly fell out of the vehicle.  "Sorry, but I just thought you might like to know that you beat all the pigs."  TipTup looked amazed.
            "You came in first place and opened the champion's door for us!" Timber squealed.  At the realization of that statement, the poor little nervous turtle fainted on the spot.  "I guess he couldn't handle the truth," Timber laughed.  The rest of the gang cheered, even though the hero couldn't hear, and Banjo and Krunch picked up TipTup between them and they all headed back to the main lobby.

            After TipTup came to again, it was well after dark, and everyone was in their sleeping bags already.  He walked to the edge of the lake and stared into the water.  Even after winning that race, he didn't feel very cheerful.  He knew that there were so many races to win, and just not enough time before Timber's parents returned.  "It's hopeless," he whispered to himself.  A reflection in the water to his left caught his eye.

            "No it not," Krunch replied.  "TipTop turtle beat piggies and then he will beat more piggies now."  The kremling sat down next to TipTup and patted him on the back.
            "I thought kremlings were supposed to be mean?" TipTup asked, knowing what Diddy told him about K. Rool and his underlings.
            "Not Krunch," he said.  "Krunch defect from K. Rool.  K. Rool not nice and not fair to kremlings.  Make them do all the dirty work.  Now Krunch help little Kong and Timber tiger.  Help turtle, too," he offered.
            "What could anyone possibly do to help me?" TipTup asked the air.  "I'm so scared of everything and all I want to do is go and swim in my Canyon.  I was hatched there, you know."  At once, he almost regretted telling the ex-kremling that bit of information, but, amazingly, Krunch seemed to know exactly what he was talking about.
            "Turtle right to want home back.  If K. Rool not in Crocodile Isle, Krunch would go back to home, too.  Krunch have memories of own hatching grounds, too.  Krunch not totally unfeeling.  Kong monkey not like me, but I try to be good now."  Thinking he had said too much, Krunch got up and walked back to his sleeping bag, outside the encampment the others had set up.  TipTup stayed by the lake until the sun came up over the ugly stone carving of Wizpig that had magically appeared after he took over.