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Baby Mario was woken by the sound of the goonies flying overhead. It was not the most pleasant sound to wake up to, but then again, there wasn’t anything much better in this area. He rubbed his tired eyes, and then looked around at his surroundings. It was a bleak, misty morning, and ground was covered in dew. The yoshi he was currently riding on was Violet, with the others all around. Two, the red and the orange, were playing with a melon-bug, rolling it around. The poor creature occasionally uncurled and made a break for it, continually squealing in dismay, but it’s little legs never got it far, and the yoshis soon caught it. However, it attempted to continue to run, not realising it was caught.

Orange yoshi: You’ve been caught again.

Melon-bug: Ah. Dang.

Four of the other yoshis were immersed in conversation, while continuing to trudge slowly through the long, wet, grass. The blue one was walking alone, while gobbling down a delicious-looking apple. But not the core. Of course.

Mario: Violet, where’s Blacky?

Violet: Him? Oh, he’s riding on his father. Why do you ask?

Mario: Well, let’s think, who have I been playing with EVERY month for the last week?

Violet: Good point. I’ll take you over if you want.

Mario: That would be nice, thank you.

So she slowly walked over to where the four yoshis were talking quickly and muttered something to green yoshi, who then correspondingly turned round to reveal a black, baby yoshi. He was only one year old. Mario was at least a year older, but as Blacky had been brought up in the wild, he already knew a great deal more about the world. He had a slick, shiny body and cheeky features.

Blacky: Hi Mario! What brings you here so early in the morning?

Mario: EARLY? Blacky, it’s hardly early!

Blacky: Ah, well then I suppose you want to play?

Mario: Yep!

Blackly: Ok then!

Mario jumped of Violet’s saddle and land nicely on Blacky’s, holding onto his oversized hat as he did so. Blacky immediately took off; running as fast as his little legs could manage. Mario now had to hold onto his hat and the saddle. Blacky raced past bushes, fields, trees and rivers. He ran past koopas, shy-guys, goonies and piranha plants. Blacky enjoyed this; he didn’t get tired because he was going downhill. Also, it was good exercise. Mario never tired of going on this ride either. At the bottom of the hill they found a small chomp-rock, which they rolled around and played all sorts of games with. They chased it; they ran from it, they tried to sit on it. They pretended to cook it, they chased it again, and so on. Eventually they tired of this and headed uphill, not running this time. When they reached the top Green, Blacky’s father, told them it was lunch and they settled down to eat melon and roast raven.

Green: Now kids, I should tell you that this afternoon we will be approaching the cliff that’s above the jungle. It’s much hotter there, and you must be on your best behaviour. Its not that high, but if you fell off you would be hurt and probably lost.

Yellow: Time for your lunchtime nap kidos! You’ve got a big afternoon ahead of you!

Blacky: Bye Mario!

Mario: Bye Blacky!