Pipsy, Bumper, and TipTup sat in the shade as Banjo and Conker played volleyball against Diddy and Timber.  Krunch swam lazily in the sun-warmed water, enjoying himself thoroughly.  "You know," Pispsy started, "I almost feel sorry for the poor kremling.  No one ever pays any attention to him and he's by himself all day long."
            "Maybe we should go swimming, so he doesn't feel so alone today," TipTup suggested.
            "Nah," Bumper answered.  "If we did that, he'd jump out of the water, say something like 'I sorry, Krunch go somewhere else,' and go sit in the shade."  Pipsy and TipTup knew it was the truth, so the three friends sat there and watched as Krunch swam contentedly in the clear water.

            The sun was low on the horizon and Banjo started a fire to cook some hamburgers for dinner.  The seven friends sat around the fire, talking happily about their time at the beach.  Krunch sat under a tree, outside the circle of light and warmth from the fire.  Being alone so much gave him too much time to think, he thought.  "Krunch want to help, but monkey Kong not want Krunch to help.  TupTop turtle nice to Krunch.  Timber tiger not like Krunch, and not do bear or squirrel, either.  Mousy, Krunch do not know about.  Krunch want mousy to like him; Krunch like miss mousy.  Krunch like badger, too.  Bumper not mean to Krunch like monkey is.  What's a kremling to do?"  The kremling watched the happy group as they chatted and laughed about the good times they've had together.  "Krunch never fit in.  Krunch should go back to K. Rool's jungle."

            "Krunch should learn to speak in first person," a voice behind him whispered harshly.  Krunch spun around and found himself facing a tall, dark-cloaked figure pointing a broad sword straight at him.
            "Help!" Krunch yelled, "someone help poor Krunch!"  As the group by the fire turned around, the figure sheathed his sword, grabbed Krunch's arms and put a dagger to the kremling's throat.
            "Don't anybody move," the figure said.  Timber, TipTup, and Bumper, who were standing to go to Krunch's rescue, stopped as they realized that the kremling's life was in danger.  Besides that, the figure was twice as tall as any of them.  "I don't mean to hurt any of you," it said.  "I came seeking help."  The figure pulled the hood back from his head.  A face with high cheekbones and fine, almost pointed features, and deep blue eyes were revealed.  Wisps of blonde hair fell down over his left eye from under a forest green cap, which did not quite cover a set of pointed ears.  "My name is Link and I have traveled a great distance to face an old foe."  He let Krunch go and the kremling ran straight into the group, toppling Banjo and Timber.  "Two of my dearest friends have come with me as well."  As he said this, a small green dinosaur wearing red boots shuffled out of the trees, followed by a mustached man wearing green overalls and a green cap with the letter "L" on it.  "This is Yoshi and Luigi."  Timber struggled to his feet.
            "If you're looking for help," the little tiger said, "then this foe you're looking for must be very difficult to beat."  Link nodded.
            "Yes, he is.  He ravaged the kingdom of Hyrule, where I am from, he trampled the Mushroom Kingdom where Luigi is from, and Yoshi is without a home for this foe has totally sunk Yoster's Isle.  His name is Wizpig."  When Link said that name, the group of animals shuddered.
            "He's here!" Pipsy squeaked.  "We're trying to get rid of him before Timber's parents come back.  He's very mean, and he kicked me and TipTup out of our homes and he took over all the racetracks, and he won't leave until we win all of them and then we have to win a race against him."  This admission had left the little mouse out of breath and she leaned on TipTup for support.
            "Then I have come to the right place.  I hereby pledge my assistance in beating Wizpig."  Luigi stepped forward.
            "I speak for Yoshi as well when I say that we will do anything we can to help you."  Yoshi made a little chirruping noise and smiled.
            "What did he say?"  Link asked Luigi.
            "Oh, he said that on Yoster's Isle all the yoshis liked to race.  It's their favorite pastime."  Yoshi smiled again and jumped up and down.  Luigi laughed as he translated Yoshi's comment.  "He also said that he's going to win the next race!"  The animals all cheered and gathered around Yoshi, asking him questions even though they wouldn't understand his answers.  Link pulled Luigi aside.
            "Do you think it was a good idea to bring Yoshi with us?  I mean, Wizpig sank the entire island; Yoshi is the last yoshi in the world, besides the three eggs he saved.  He should be in the Mushroom Kingdom with your brother Mario guarding the last of the Yoshi civilization."  Luigi gave a knowing nod.
            "I know, but this is what Yoshi wanted to do.  He wanted to make sure that Wizpig was taken care of for good."  Link gave a resigned sigh.
            "I've said it before, but so be it.  If something happens to Yoshi, though, I honestly don't know what will happen to those eggs.  No one else knows how to take care of baby yoshis except a yoshi."  The tall elf gazed into the sky at the moon as Luigi walked back to the crowd and Yoshi.  A single tear rolled down his cheek, and he hastily brushed it away.  Link walked over to the group and addressed Luigi.  "Take Yoshi back to the camp and bring our things over here."  He looked to the animals.  "We might as well get to know each other better."  They all looked nervously from one to each other and then Bumper spoke up.

            "Ok, Link.  After Luigi and Yoshi come back we can roast marshmallows!"  At that, the animals rushed back to the fire.  Only TipTup and Bumper stayed back, with Link.

            "They get excited so easily," Link commented.
            "That's for sure," TipTup added.  The three of them started to walk slowly towards the fire.  "Do you really think that we could beat Wizpig if we all worked together?"  Link nodded and looked down at the turtle.
            "Of course I do.  You all look like you've had a lot of racing experience and I know that Yoshi was the best racer on the island."  Link winced when he mentioned Yoshi's home.
            "Is it true, that Yoshi's island sank?" Bumper asked.
            "Yes, it is," Link answered.  "Please don't mention it when he's around, even though I think I'm more upset about it than Yoshi is."  TipTup pulled on Link's sleeve and stared up at the elf.
            "Is he the last yoshi?"  Link sighed.
            "Fortunately not," Link tried to smile.  "He was elsewhere when the island sank and he had three yoshi eggs with him.  It's a strange ritual.  The eggs are taken to far away places before they hatch.  I don't know the meaning of this gesture, but it's very important to the yoshis."

            Yoshi and Luigi met the group back at the fire and joined in the marshmallow roast.  Everyone talked far into the night, even Krunch.