Luigi took the first item box, while Mario got the second and Rosalina the third. This race was far more intense, due to it only having two laps (although not technically correct, as the line-up was decided before the race was postponed). Mario smashed a red shell at Luigi, who easily blocked it by putting his single green one behind his kart. Rosalina found a blooper, which targeted Mario, and yet, due to his expertise, didn't bother him one bit. The cavern part came and went, and an automated mine kart forced Luigi to turn left, thus allowing Mario to edge ever-so-closer. He continued to gain on Luigi who took the turns carefully, and attempted to overtake Luigi from inside on the final turn!

Luigi showed his older brother no mercy and instantly pushed him, sending his back right wheel over the cliff. The fly guy rescue crew had already positioned themselves underneath the Red Racer should he fall. Luigi thought about giving the front another little bump, but Rosalina was now alongside him, and so he ignored Mario and continued to race.

Rosalina and Luigi. Racing side by side. Rosalina took the centre item box of the final lap, while Luigi went for the left. The cosmic princess got triple green shells, while the L Charger got triple red ones.

Rosalina was not content with coming in second, so she took a huge gamble and came charging at Luigi. Two of her green shells took out two of Luigi's red shells, knocking all four out. However, Luigi still had his third shell right beside the Rainbow Comet, while Rosalina's was on the other side. So Rosalina lost.

Luigi happily cruised the rest of the cavern part, and was now on the home straight. He punched his fist up in dignity. He had won again.

…when a blue shell smacked him up just inches from the line!

"NO!" Luigi screamed, his kart facing the wrong direction.

Yoshi and Donkey Kong came around the bend, followed by Mario and Bowser Jr. Luigi had a plan - but it had to be executed absolutely perfectly. As Yoshi came closer to the finish line, thinking that the L Charger was broken, and his grin widening, it came back to life and drove right at the Yoshi Egg! Luigi was careful on having enough speed for Yoshi to not avoid him, and yet not go as fast as him, and the Yoshi Egg pushed Luigi's L Charger over the line and the green machine came first! But Yoshi had lost too much speed, and Donkey Kong easily took second place. However, the dino's car was too broken and couldn't complete the race. Luigi suddenly knew what he had done, and felt sorry for Yoshi. He decided to return the favour that night, and suddenly he wished he didn't start the collison.

Both the L Charger and the Yoshi Egg had crumpled front ends, however luckily Luigi (and Yoshi) sustained no serious injuries, and was perfectly fine when he went back to Toadiko. A sledge bro led Yoshi back to the office at Wario's Gold Mine, where he got some minor treatment, meaning that, although he could compete at the next race, which was in the Special Cup, his score for this one would be a zero and 3rd would be given to Mario.

The times flashed - and as for the time, the racing time of the first half of this race (before postponing) did not count, and so it looked very short.

Lakitu was broadcasting the news.

Racer: | Kart: | Time:

Luigi | L Charger | 2:13:47

Donkey Kong | Konga Kart | 2:13:50

Mario | Red Racer | 2:15:23

Bowser Jr. | Koopa Chaser | 2:15:56

Wario | Gold Buster | 2:16:43

Rosalina | Rainbow Comet | 2:17:11

Waluigi | Purple Buster | 2:18:09

Bowser | Koopa King | 2:18:44

Peach | Heart Kart | 2:19:55

Toad | Mushroom Dynamite | 2:20:01

Daisy | Flower Power | 2:20:23

Koopa Troopa | Shell Smasher | 2:21:33

Diddy Kong | Banana 1 | 2:22:12

Birdo | Pink Powerhouse | 2:39:18

Toadette | Pink 'Shroom 2 | DNF

Yoshi | Yoshi Egg | DNF

It was an unique table - not only is it the closest Mario Kart race in this tournament so far, it also was the first time in this tournament that Yoshi didn't get a point at all - he's got a "did not finish". Toad, also, would get his very first point.

"Now, lets look at the score, shall we?" Lakitu said, and then nodded to the worker who was controlling the scoreboard.

Driver: | Kart: | Score:

Luigi | L Charger | 53

Mario | Red Racer | 49

Rosalina | Rainbow Comet | 45

Bowser Jr. | Koopa Chaser | 40

Yoshi | Yoshi Egg | 34

Wario | Gold Buster | 22

Donkey Kong | Konga Kart | 21

Peach | Heart Kart | 17

Toadette | Pink Shroom 2 | 15

Waluigi | Purple Buster | 13

Bowser | Koopa King | 10

Daisy | Flower Power | 7

Toad | Mushroom Dynamite | 1

Diddy Kong | Banana 1 | 1

Koopa Troopa | Shell Smasher | 0

Birdo | Pink Powerhouse | 0

Luigi was pulling further in front. Toadiko was waiting for him impatiently while Luigi did a victory lap around the course, pleasing the crowd very much, before the L Charger back into the pits.

Toadiko continued to complain as Luigi went through the post-race mechanical work - he didn't want that toad getting her hands on his machine - especially when she thought of it as, as she stated, "C-R-A-P". Everything was in order, except for some tiny dents here and there, plus a bucket load of dust from the cavern - something normal for Wario's Gold Mine.

Despite Toadiko's objections, Luigi still couldn't go home - it was time for the festivities to celebrate the end of the Shell Cup and the start of the prestigious - yet extremely hard but rewarding - Special Cup. The winner with the most score would then take home, at the end of that final cup, the marvellous trophy, made out of the finest gold in the kingdom, and his or her name would be engraved on a special tablet located just outside Princess Peach's Castle. Mario had already won it lots of times, but for Luigi, it would be a dream come true.

That night, Mario, Luigi, Peach and Daisy, along with Rosalina, Toad (who jumped and down excitedly, in his usual manner) and Yoshi (still a bit upset after the loss) went out to eat at the Italian restaurant, le Goomba's Pizzeria Ristorante, known for the excellence of its cuisine and is widely regarded by the majority of the population as the finest restaurant in the kingdom. As always, booking is required for entry, but, due to the importance of the guests (or, more appropriately, the importance of Mario, the hero, and Peach, the ruler) the waiter, a shy guy, did not hesitate to give the crew the best seats and service - a table for 7. It is located on the second floor, and gives a grand view of night-time toad town. There was scarcely anyone out in the streets at that time of day, and beautiful flood-lights illuminated the largely identical building plus the amazing castle, and bathed them in greens, reds and purples, as well as pink (official color/colour of the kingdom).

Both Mario and Luigi had three large slices of delicious pizza plus a large-sized bowl of spaghetti served with sauce. Peach had two slices, Daisy had three, Rosalina had three, Toad had three, and Yoshi (being a Yoshi, of course) devoured one entire pizza and a half with 9.

"Thank you, Luigi. That was very filling" Rosalina commented on the food. "Yoshi-yoshi!" Yoshi nodded in agreement, and then continued to stuff himself with dessert. By then, it was 9:00 at night and most of the diners had left the building, and Toad Town was dark and quiet - not a sound was to be heard outside. Peach paid, and after the group left the building, the pizzeria closed just afterwards.

Peach, Daisy and Toad made way for the castle, escorted by some toad guards (Daisy was staying at Peach's castle during the duration of the Mario Kart tournament) and walked up the deserted Toad Town's main street. Yoshi waved goodbye (all negative thoughts about the race now out of his mind) and set off for his own home (Yoshi's Island was too far away) just a few streets distance. Rosalina smiled at Luigi and then walked off to the launch star leading up to the observatory in orbit, leaving Mario and Luigi alone on the street.

"Well, we'd better get going, then" Mario pointed out cheerily, and the bros turned right. The inhabitants of Toad Town were all in bed, and the occasional streetlamp cast eerie shadows across the streets. Mario whistled and wasn't bothered at all, but Luigi kept looking around, he had been troubled by darkness ever since he had to rescue his bro from King Boo's mansion. Mario himself lived in a mansion, which is the largest non-government related house in the town, while Luigi occupied a slightly smaller one.

By then, Toadbert had fully recovered, and was already waiting for him inside the house. Luigi was too tired to chat and prepared for bed; Toadbert did the same. The clock red 10:29.

The next day was just as bright as the previous, and all the toads were already up and doing their daily business like clockwork. Trumpets sounded from Peach's castle. Luigi and Toadbert were also up early, and had some leisure time - the Special Cup was only a minor worry, and one that was still two days away.