Shine Sprite
The Shine Sprites are the source of life on Isle Delfino in Super Mario Sunshine. There all ruled by the Giant Shine which if something provokes it they scatter. Bowser Jr.'s graffiti has forced the Shine Sprites to leave, and Mario (with the help of FLUDD) must get rid of it. After cleaning the island, Mario returns the Shine Sprites to the Giant Shine, restoring the island.
In Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, three Shine Sprites could be traded for a partner's level-up. The Shine Sprite also makes a minor (but commonly-seen) other appearance as the icon for Mario's partners' "Attack" choice. Additionally, lining up three Shine Sprite icons in the Bingo wheel during battle would refill all Mario's and his partner's HP, FP, and SP, and every seat in the audience would be filled.
Shine Sprites also appear in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time as the result of hitting any of the semi-rare Shine Blocks.
Additionally, Shine Sprites are the focus of various mini games in the most recent Mario Kart games, namely Double Dash!! and DS. The game, based somewhat on Capture the Flag, has characters attempting to hold onto a Shine Sprite until the timer is expired. Being struck with one of the game's weaponry, including Koopa Shells, Banana Peels, and the like will cause the character to forfeit their hold on the Shine Sprite, allowing another character to pick it up. In the DS version there are nine sprites, with a timer resetting every thirty seconds or so. Whoever has or is tied for the least sprites is then eliminated. In Double Dash!! there is only one sprite and whoever holds it when time runs out wins.
