The Ancient Yoshi dipped his head slowly. "Aye, and so I am," he rasped. He took one feeble step toward them and Snowie Jr had thought that he was about to fall. The Ancient Yoshi stuck a hand through his other sleeve and pulled out a dusty, black book. It was blank and had no writing on the cover.

"How old is that walloping thing?" Skipper gasped.

"Older than you would ever know." Ancient Yoshi replied, faintly.

Jazz reached out for the book but Ancient Yoshi brought it closer to himself. "Before I hand you this book, I'll tell you about a long tale…"

Snowie Jr gulped, waiting for what bizarre tale was about to come out of Ancient Yoshi's bearded lips.

"I fear that you won't believe it," croaked Ancient Yoshi, sadly.

Jazz frowned. "Tell it to us," he assured.

Ancient Yoshi cleared his rusty throat, holding the book out in his hands as he began. "Long ago, there were three ancient lords that ruled over three separate realms," continuing, he ignored Jazz's apathetic yawn. "Once was a water dragon, the other was a fire dragon, and the third a winter dragon. Water ruled Ocean Zero; Fire ruled Magma Turf, and winter ruled Silent Village. They happily lived over their respectful citizens, until a Dark Force had crumbled them to their knees."

After countless years of isolation in each realm, there was no more meaning to the citizens. They turned to slaves and died as slaves. No one resides in the realms anymore. Some were even fortunate enough to escape and start families of their own.

Later two nights ago I was told in a dream that the three dragons will be reborn to have another chance. They were to be the colors of black, blue, and white." Ancient Yoshi paused and exchanged confused glances with the three lost yoshis.

Snowie Jr's breath was hollow, afraid to speak but went anyway. "So you mean that we are the dragons reborn?" he squeaked. His arms were shaking. His feet were shaking. His mind was shaking. And he couldn't stop the nervous tremor.

Ancient Yoshi quickly looked over his shoulder, as if he heard a noise. "I can't tell you any longer. Here, take this book." He finally gave the eager Jazz the ancient book. "Read it and it will guide you to your destinies. Long live the Three Dragons!" Without any further ado, Ancient Yoshi vanished into thin air like a young, blown dandelion.

Skipper, who was speechless the entire story, opened his mouth. "Open the clabbering' book." Skipper demanded flatly.

They formed a close semicircle and Jazz opened to a random page (around to the heart of the book). All the pages were an ancient yellow, dust motes flying around as they flipped pages. Their eyes searched the random page as Jazz ran his finger across word by word, reading it aloud.

"It says 'to start your chosen destiny, follow the river upstream to the East'."

They gave each other nervous, but blank, gazes. Snowie Jr was honestly still lost in the mist of confusion but he pretended like he knew what to do. Why does pretending feel so accurate? They nodded in silent approval as they, while the book stayed open, followed upstream to start their biggest journey yet.