"Congratulations to the top 8 Mario Kart teams!" Toadsworth announced on the PA at Rainbow Road, as the semi-final race of the season concluded. "The top 8 minor-league Mario Kart teams in the world are:

#8- Boo and King Boo
#7- Peach and Daisy
#6- Wario and Waluigi
#5- Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong
#4- Yoshi and Birdo
#3- Dry Bones and Dry Bowser
#2- Bowser and Bowser Jr.
#1- Toad and Toadette

"Good luck to all top 8 teams, and we'll see you next Saturday, at the minor-league championship race in Dry Dry Desert!" Toadsworth said, and walked away. Toad was relieved upon seeing the standings on the leaderboard. He was the #1 team in the world, and he had another chance at being invited to the- wait a second… The one thing that Toadsworth didn't mention was that the champion was invited to the major-leagues. Toad ran up to Toadsworth.

"Toadsworth, I think you forgot to mention that the champion gets invited to the major-leagues. You should probably say that to the newcomers since they're... well, new," Toad said.

"Oh no, my dear," Toadsworth replied. "That was a one-year offer only. We won't be having that offer again for a couple more years!"

"What? But… how could you give-"

"If you listened to the reports last year, we felt that there were many deserving racers in the league. We just don't feel the same way this year. That was never meant to be a yearly offer."

Toad, lost for words, stormed away, angry and in shock. His anger turned to grief, and he sulked all the way home, knowing that he might not go to the major-leagues for another few years. He turned back, and headed back to Luigi Circuit to find Toadsworth.

"Okay, Toadsworth, I've decided that I'm not interested in racing anymore. I want to quit. Yeah, that sounds good," Toad said to himself on the way back.

"Hey, wait up there," A voice whispered from behind him. A creature walked out from the bushes. He was a big, hooded creature, with a big black robe. The back of it had many holes in it. He had a very deep voice.

"Um... I work for the Mario Kart committee, and heard what you just said. I'm your biggest fan, and it has been my dream to see you riding on one of those major-league courses. The whole committee agrees with me. So, how about this, let's make a deal: You win the minor-league championship, and I'll talk the committee into letting you in the major-leagues."

"Who are you, and why are you wearing a robe?" Toad said.

"My name isn't important. And I'm very sensitive to the moonlight." the creature replied back. Toad looked up at the sky. The moon was clearly out , and it was nighttime.

"I see…" Toad said skeptically. "Anyway, isn't that illegal? You can't just change the rules!"

"If I can convince the committee to do it, then it's not illegal, is it? And believe me, if you win, I will convince them."

"But how do I know you won't just trick me and not do anything?"

"Hmm… how about this: I'll convince them to bring up the same offer they had last year, where the winner goes to the major-leagues. The only catch is, you're gonna have to win this time if you want to go to the major-leagues."

"Don't remind me." Toad grumbled. "And if I lose?"

"Well then, I guess the winner of the race will go on. It's all in your hands; I'll do the convincing."

"Well, I am on the #1 team this year… but it's too big of a-"

"Well okay then, see you next year at the start of the minor-leagues!"

"No, wait! I'll… I'll take it."

"Good choice, Toad. And good luck at the race!" The creature shouted back to Toad as he ran home happily. Toad couldn't belive his luck. He had just accepted a deal where he could live a dream, or live miserably.