Yoshi has learned of a way to return to life after an uneventful fall, and is ready and up to the test. Little did he know someone was following too... Yoshi looked at the grand Loopdeswoop Galaxy. It's name could tell you clearly. It was all water, with rings in some parts, and it featured the most gravity defying water loop of the universe. It was all water, with rings in some parts, and it featured the most gravity defying water loop of the universe. "Alright! Here it is. My first test. Manta Ray Surfing." Yoshi said, and walked over to the Penguin Teacher, and soon enough, he was ready for the race. The race started, and Yoshi took off. Aside from it being a challenge, it was much enjoyable for him. "Oh yeah! Water parks need to catch up on such futuristic roads!" Yoshi said. "Although, not in the middle of the sky..." He added while taking a quick peek around. There were clouds everywhere, and the water course was certainly in the middle of nowhere's sky. Soon enough, Yoshi pulled through. It was no big deal. "And Yoshi strikes first!" He said playfully, and crossed the finish line. "What?! 01:12:356?! That's an amazing record! And for a beginner like you!" The Penguin Teacher couldn't believe it. A beginner had struck a record only professional red and green clad plumbers have ever done. "You much earned it. Have, what can be close to a gold medal." He finished, and took out a star. Just then, in the nearby podium, in first place, stood the star, and a yellow pipe with a ball as a logo on it. "Feel free to use the pipe when you're ready. No rush." The Penguin Teacher said, and looked back to the race course. "Alright... Thanks." Yoshi said, and sighed. He looked at the star. It reminded him of the time he was used for an experiment, and had to fight M. Para Koopa. He got saved by him, and he kept the star. The star that helped him repay the favors when Kamek attacked. The distant memories flew off in the bluish, sunny sky. "Oh well. Time for my next challenge." Yoshi told to himself, grabbed the star, and entered the pipe. Yoshi landed in grass. The sky remained happy, with all the clouds indicating it was all a nice day. Yoshi smiled, as for the challenge that awaited him, it all seemed so peaceful. Yoshi smiled, as for the challenge that awaited him, it all seemed so peaceful. "This place looks great. However, what do I have to do?" He asked, and walked around, until he heard a voice speak up. "Hey! You! Listen!" "Huh? Who's there?" Yoshi asked, and looked around. When the voice told to look at him, Yoshi was quite stranged to see who was talking. "Hey! What's with the odd face? Never seen a talking sign post?" The Sign talked to Yoshi. It had no face, it was just a Sign with instructions drawn on it. "You guys, never see anything. Anyway, the name's Bill Board!" Bill talked. Yoshi was still dumbfounded. "Come on! You at least must know the one, the only famous Gil Board! Jeez. Anyway, whatcha here for? Sorry for redundance." Bill asked. "I'm here to complete this challenge... Whatever it is." Yoshi answered. "Oh yeah, the ball rolling challenge. It's going to be quite a ride, heh. Welcome to the Rolling Gizmo Galaxy!" Bill Board declared. "Now, if you're here, you probably already get the basics of the art of ball rolling." "Not quite..." Yoshi said, and lightly shrugged. "Not, quite?! Oh well. Get ready, because this sign here will get ya up and rollin', if not, my name's not Bill Board!" Bill said proudly. "Okay..." Yoshi said, and just then, another voice echoed the air. "Hey Yoshi! You're, you're here!" "Huh?" Yoshi turned back, and he was briefly shocked. It was M. Para Koopa. "What are you doing here?" Yoshi asked, expecting the worst. "Well... I... I also died... Koopa and Kamek killed me... And I wanted to go back alive... I also saw you die, and it was painful." M. Para Koopa looked down. "I am very sorry for not aiding you, and worse, for defriending you under such flawed logic." A tear fell down to the floor, and then M. Wiped another. He didn't want Yoshi to notice him crying. "Don't worry... I'm sure you at least tried... And about what happened... I forgive you. I don't know what Cosmic did to you, but he surely will pay for it." Yoshi said, approaching M. Para Koopa. "... Really?" M. Looked up, and he was met with a nod. "Thank you..." "Do you think we can be friends again?" He said, and fearfully put out his hand for a shake, not looking. "Why, of course! I was hoping so the whole time..." Yoshi said, and instead of shaking his hand, he hugged his friend. He was very happy to have him back. "Me too." M. Replied, and hugged back. Everything went better than he expected. "If only signs could cry... I'd be crying a river!" Bill Board said, and the friends laughed a bit. "Anyway... Whaddya say, and we go do this, true Co-Op style!" M. Para Koopa said. "You bet!" Yoshi replied, and the duo high-fived, fully determined. "That's the spirit! We don't have another ball for the Koopa here, but I suppose I'll let it slide, and let the rollin' commence!" Bill Board declared. "Good luck, my fellow comarades!" Yoshi and M. Para Koopa nodded, and Yoshi got on top of the ball, M. Buzzing around him. "You know what signs like? They like montages!" Bill Board said to himself. "... Just imagine some sort of montage or whatever. I'm only a sign." The now reunited pair of friends quickly used wits and skill to speed around the track. M. Para Koopa cleared the path and suggested shortcuts. Yoshi executed the tasks worry free. "Argh... Come on, Yosh! This block and my shell don't mix well!" M. Para Koopa said, pushing a giant block back so Yoshi could speed in quicker. "What about the blocks over there?" Yoshi asked, and pointed to the final road. It was simple, but medium sized blocks rotated it, making it difficult to go through. "That's an easy fix... You got a hammer?" M. Para Koopa asked, and Yoshi gave him his trusty hammer. "What are you gonna do with-" Yoshi got interrupted as M. Para Koopa smashed each block, and waited at the exit. "Now, this is the Co-Op that Mario Galaxy should have! Pure fun!" M. Para Koopa laughed. Yoshi smiled and made his way through. Yoshi landed the ball in the hole and it exploded, releasing the captive Star on it. A dark blue pipe with a bubble logo on it appeared below. "Alright! Another star gotten!" Yoshi said, and looked at M. Para Koopa. "I think you deserve this one." "Nah, I only cleared the path. You did the major work!" M. Para Koopa said back. "Well, yeah, but hey, if it weren't for you we couldn't have breezed through. So please, have it." Yoshi said, and put it in front of M. And smiled. "Alright, ya got me. Thanks, buddy." M. Replied, and took the star. "Now... We got one last challenge..." Yoshi said, and looked at the pipe. "Do you know what it's about?" M. Para Koopa asked, nervous. "Nope... But we better get ready." Yoshi said, and looked at M. Para Koopa. Both nodded, and determined, jumped into the pipe. Yoshi and M. Para Koopa jumped out the pipe, and took a look around. They stood on a platform, surrounded by pipes. At all sides were more plataforms, and electric fences. The sun gleamed above the planet Earth, colored in perfect sync with the galactic sky. The final challenge was inminent. "Okay... Seems so that we're in a labyrinth..." Yoshi said, nervous. "Why yes! You guys did an excellent job back there with the Ball rollin'!" Another new voice spoke up. Yoshi looked at the sign nearby. "Oh Bill, you're here too?" "No! Bill told me. It's a me, Phil Board! And I'll be your guide for the much perilous Bubble Blast Galaxy." Phil said. "Unless, you know the basics of steering a bubble." "Hmm... I know about that! It's quite simple." Yoshi said, remembering the game. "Me, not much, I didn't get so far. I got wings though, is that valid?" M. Para Koopa asked. "Not! You must guide yourself through here with a bubble. You must be in sync with the air that guides you! And be careful to not touch anything but coins, star chips, Star bits, and air." Phil explained. "Fine." "Sounds good to me." Yoshi added. "Hey M, once you learn how to ride the bubble, let's split up to complete this." He continued, realizing what the goal was. M. Para Koopa nodded gladly. Later, M. Para Koopa had the basics cut down, and was ready to go. "Alright boy! You look fine to go now! Best of luck, friends!" Phil declared. "Here we go!" The friends said in unison and entered a separate pipe. "Have I told you that us signs like montages? Anything's possible with imagination." Phil said, to no one in particular. The duo separated to make their way around easier. Yoshi carefully floated through the moving electric field in the second area, while M. Para Koopa strategically strolled through some moving walls in the first area. Area three was quite an easy one for Yoshi, as for the floating Fire Cannons it was just a matter of waiting. M. Para Koopa, on the other hand, wasn't so fond of Amps in Area Four. "At least they don't have faces anymore... Ugh." He shivered, and continued on. Then, both friends teamed up for the last area, where the floating mines were as gone as good by simply throwing star bits at them. "Finally! We got these Star chips." Yoshi said, and then, the Launch Star appeared. "Nice! That wasn't so hard." M. Para Koopa said, and high fived Yoshi. "Congrats! You made Half 1! But, will 2 peeps be enough to clear Half 2?!" Phil Board said, and chuckled. "There's more?!" Yoshi asked, shocked. "Yeah, bud! Don't worry, it's just a stroll to the finish line! I'm a sign, so I can't move over. So, I stay here, and I wish you luck! You're gonna need it." Phil Board said, and Yoshi nodded. Then, the friends boarded the Launch Star, and left. They flew out of the first part of this, indeed perilous place. They passed through some moons made of rock and sand, each with empty crystals on them. When Yoshi and M. Para Koopa landed on the second half, they were quite surprised. It was a straight road, with Electric fences surrounding. Many Bill Blasters and floating mines stood on the edges, waiting for their target. If it wasn't enough, a black hole loomed over the place. "Guh... Let's see how this goes..." M. Para Koopa said, nervous. "We'll be alright. Let's go." Yoshi said, and both him and M. Para Koopa entered bubbles, and started to make their way across. Many close calls ensued, along with the use of Star bits to drive off the mines. The Bullet Bills all were resilient, but more was the duo. "Okay... This is the last of the area." Yoshi said, and pointed forward. Not that far, the glow of a nearby star shined clearly. "Yep. Let's get going." M. Para Koopa said, and moved forward, Yoshi following behind. Amidst the road, they were met with 5 Bill Blasters at both sides, ready to shoot. "We better hurry!" Yoshi yelled, and he and M. Continued even faster, as behind them Bullet Bills shot out, and gave chase. "We're getting there! Just make some turns!" M. Said, quickly evading more appearing obstacles. "Got it!" Yoshi replied, but then, a Bullet Bill Hit him, damaging him and bursting his bubble. "No!!! Help!!" Yoshi quickly fluttered, to no avail, and fell. "Agh! Not again!" M. Para Koopa yelled, shocked. He wouldn't let anything happen to Yoshi now. "I'm tired of this bubble! Time for freedom!" He added, and popped his bubble with a finger. His wings flapped several times, and he dashed off to Yoshi's aid. "Darn..." Yoshi looked to the black hole, but then, he felt something grab his hand. "Huh?" "Don't worry, I think I'm trained for this." M. Para Koopa said, and smiled. "Ah... Thanks. Man, first time was scary enough..." Yoshi said, remembering the time the same thing happened, and M. Para Koopa saved him. A chill ran down his spine, and looked at M. "Oh well. I think we should get out of here. The trials sure quite test us." M. Para Koopa said, and sighed. Yoshi nodded in agreement. Then, M. Flew over to the finish platform, with Yoshi. Surely enough, the star was waiting. "That one's yours, bud." M. Para Koopa said, humbly offering the star. "I know, I saved you, but I think you need it more than me." "You think so?" Yoshi asked, and was met with a nod and a smile. "If you say so." Yoshi picked up the star. Then, Rosalina appeared in front of them. "Congratulations, Yoshi, and M. Para Koopa. You have successfully cleared the Trial Galaxies, and proven you are worthy of consulting to the Star Of The Gateway." Rosalina said. "Awesome." Yoshi said. "Nice! It was tough, but we made it." M. Para Koopa added. "I know. Not everyone has the skill to surpass such tests." Rosalina replied. "Let's go." Then, a glow surrounded the three, and shortly, they were at a planet atop the Gateway Galaxy. It was some sort of shrine shaped like a star. In the center, there was the Star Of The Gateway. It looked like a normal Grand Star, with a dark blue and light yellow aura surrounding it. Rosalina stood aside. "Here it is. The star that allows balance for the cosmos, and can revive you fully. When you're ready, approach it." Rosalina explained. "So... This is it." Yoshi said, feeling ready. "Yep... We are going back to normal. To live again." M. Para Koopa added. "Well... I guess... I'll see ya there, friend." Yoshi said, and hugged M. Para Koopa. "Again, sorry for what happened. I thought I would have a hard time with it, but now that everything's together, I feel better already." M. Para Koopa replied, hugging back. "Don't worry, I'll always be here for whatever you need." Yoshi said and smiled. The friends let go, and approached the Star. "Good-bye, and may the stars be with you." Rosalina said, and faded away. The friends waved as they started fading as well, and prepared for the trip home.
Originally Written Jun 4th, 2017
