Chapter 11: A Fishy New Friend

After their lucky escape from the zookeepers, Luigi and friends continue to hike up the mountain. Unfortunately, because Luigi sent Mario flying awhile ago, they had to keep an eye out for him as well as for Yosheta's missing father.

"That fire attack was really cool," Oshi spoke, breaking the silence. "What's your secret?"

"Internal fire glands?" Waluigi joked. "That's gotta be it."

"Ha ha. Very funny, Waluigi," said Luigi, not too thrilled with what had been happening lately.

"I know I don't talk a whole lot," said Redy, who really wasn't a big talker. "But why don't you do that to the zookeepers?"

"Yeah. I don't get it," Orangey agreed.

"I'm trying to get you guys to safety," the leader replied. "Randomly frying people isn't going to help me accomplish that. What? You guys like it when I roast someone?"

"Sure," said Pinky. "I don't see why not."

"Of course," Bluey nodded.

"No," Waluigi blurted out. "Well, not when I'm the one that's roasted anyway."

"Alright then," Luigi went on. "If we find Mario and Mini Bluey, I'll see if I can do something about those bumbling buffoons. Meanwhile, all we can really do is run. Let's keep moving, shall we?"

Everyone agreed with Luigi's little proposal and continued to follow him. Sometime later, they stumble upon a fairly high ledge.

"Hmm..." Luigi pondered aloud as he inspects it. "I hope all of us can climb this."

Yoshis are known to be good jumpers and the cliff proved to be a cinch for them. Except for one.

"It's a bit too high," Blacky groaned. "I think I'm getting too old for this."

"Nonsense. You don't look that old," the man in green tried to assure him. "But if you really don't think you can make it, then let me give this a try. Just hold still for a moment."

Luigi took a hold of Blacky's tail, then he swung him around in a few great circles before launching him. Luigi wasn't actually very good at throwing things this way, but Blacky landed at the top completely unharmed. Then Luigi went ahead and did the same to Birdo, thinking that she needed assistance as well.

"Urf!" she grunted after a rough landing. "Watch the lift-off, will you?!"

"Well?" Luigi looked at Wario and Waluigi who made no attempt to climb the cliff.

"Yeah. About that," Waluigi nervously tried to explain. "Wario and I were planning on taking a different route. We'll catch up with you later."

"No, you two. We really need to stay together."

"Hey! I have rights, you know!" Wario bellowed. "I don't have to follow a dork like you around if I don't want to!"

"But what about the yoshi's rights? Like their right to be free?"

"Sorry, pal, but that's your problem. Not mine."

Tired of Wario and Walugi's lollygagging, Luigi summoned a fireball and threw it at them without saying a word.

"Okay okay!" Luigi's rival shouted with fear. "We'll come! Just don't do that again!"

"That's better. I want to at least find Mario before sundown," Luigi said as the two humans came up to join the yoshis. "He can't be too happy about what I did."

After climbing the cliff himself, Luigi and the herd follow the winding mountain trail once more. About an hour later, fatigue began to set in and everyone decided to take a short break. The yoshis ate some of the fruit that Wario had in one of his sacks while Luigi enjoyed a soda pop that he had in his back pack.

Oshi eyed his friend curiously as he drank. "What are you doing?"

"Drinking some soda," he replied, handing the bottle to him "You want some? It's almost empty,"

Oshi looked at the bottle for awhile, then tried to drink from it like Luigi did. His large nose got in the way a bit though. Instead, he tilted his head back, opened his mouth, and poured the contents in.

"How do you like it?" the human asked.

"Tastes kinda funny," Oshi said after swallowing.

"Huh. That was orange soda. I guess it's just because you're not used to carbonated beverages."

"Probably. Whatever that is."

Wario and Waluigi decided to take a moment to check out a nearby lake before Luigi made them keep going with the rest of the herd.

"You think there's anything around here?" Waluigi asked as he skipped a stone across the lake.

"Sure," Wario answered, slipping into the lake and swimming a few strokes. "People sink treasure in lakes and such all the time. Makes it hard to find. It's almost a cliché really."

Luigi figured that it was time to hit the road again. "Okay, guys. Better get moving. Where is Wario and Waluigi?"

"I saw them go that way," Yellowy pointed toward the lake.

Luigi and the herd walk a short distance to the lake where Waluigi was standing on the shore, unsure of what to do. Wario is nowhere in sight.

"Hey, Luigi! Help me out here! I think Wario is stuck down there!" Waluigi actually seems worried for once.

Before Luigi could ask what was going on, Wario got out of the water and high-tailed it down the trail that Luigi just took.

"Yeah, you better run!" a grouchy voice called after him. "I don't know what kind of jerk attacks fish that mind their own business. But you, sir, have problems!"

Everyone looked at the lake where the voice came from and saw a purple Cheep Cheep that clearly wasn't happy. Wario probably thought that it was protecting treasure and attacked it.

"Do any of you know that guy?!" the Cheep Cheep questioned.

"Yeah. He's sort of an acquaintance..." Luigi said meekly.

"Hmm. You look a bit familiar," the fish said and swam up to Luigi. "Green hat. Large nose. You're Mario's brother, aren't you?"

"Yeah. Sure. And you are...?"

"The name's Sushie. You remember me, right? I'm Mario's swimming buddy."

Luigi had to think for a moment. During Mario's last adventure, he visited Luigi at home every so often and it seemed like he had a new friend in tow each time. Sushie was one of these allies.

"Ah. I remember now. What brings you here?"

"I got a report about you and a bunch of yoshis in trouble here. I'm just heeding the call."

"Cool. But how did you know about that?"

"Oh, that would be me," Birdo spoke up. "I forgot to mention it, but I had a Paratroopa take a letter to Lavalava Island. I was hoping I'd get a fast enough response."

"Well, I certainly got the message," said Sushie. "So tell me, what's the matter?"

Luigi told the fishy friend about what had been happening during the past few days. He told her everything. From when he came to the island to visit, all the way up to him accidentally knocking Mario somewhere. Sushie listened carefully. She was in tears by the time he finished.

"That's just terrible," she sobbed. "Why do people insist on doing such horrible things? I mean, I guess I could understand. These guys are just so cute."

"Yeah. They are, huh?"

"I don't think I've ever seen a sea-green yoshi before," Sushie said as she looked at each of the yoshis. "Such coloring. Don't black yoshis usually hang out in dark places? Wow..."

"Yeah. They're sure something, aren't they?" Luigi nodded.

"There's one thing I don't quite get about the story though. How did you become the leader of the herd?"

"It's simple really," said Blacky, the former leader. "I challenged him to a courtship fight and lost."

"Is that so? Well, I suppose if that's the case, then that's alright. Anyway, I'd like to see a happy end to this story, so... Da-da-dum-da-dum! Sushie has joined the party!"

Everyone just gazed around in confusion. They didn't quite know what to think.

"You...joined the party?" Waluigi questioned as he scratched one of his pointy ears.

"Sure. Look, at where I come from, Lavalava Island, I help take care of yoshis. So I feel that it's my duty to help you here."

"Well, that's fine by me," Luigi extended a hand. "Welcome aboard."

"Great!" Sushie shook Luigi's hand with one of her fins. "Let's get started!"

"How about we do it tomorrow?" the leader asked as he noticed the setting sun.

It would appear that a combination of running for their lives and getting to know a new friend made time seem to pass quicker than usual. Everyone including the new recruit, Sushie, found a crevice to sleep in overnight.

Elsewhere on the mountain, Mario was rather annoyed about what Luigi did to him. Knowing that he wasn't coming soon, he made a campfire for himself using a fire flower.

"Great," he said aloud. "I guess that brother of mine doesn't have a sense of humor. Sheesh. Was punching me like that really necessary? I still feel that. Ugh..."

Mario was just about to lie down when he heard a twig snap.

"Is that you, Luigi? Wait! Not you! Arrrrrrgh!"