Here we have the fourth story of my Saga! The remake of Mario & Luigi: Dream Team! As I said at the end of my previous story, this game is the only one I've played. Because of that, I'm actually replaying this game while writing this story so that I can follow along! As such, more characters will be added, including veterans and new ones.

Once again, another female guide will show up, but this time, she'll appear much earlier compared to the previous remakes. She'll even be mentioned in this chapter, and if you recall my Super Paper Mario remake, you'll definitely know who she is!

Alright, let's enjoy Dream Team! ;)

Chapter 1: Welcome to Pi'illo Island!

It has been a year since Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Wario, Donkey Kong, Peach and Bowser, the seven Star Children, saved the Mushroom World from plunging into an eternal darkness by defeating Fawful and the Dark Star. After that adventure, this group just started living their own normal lives.

One day… At Peach's Castle in the Mushroom Kingdom…

Today was a very special day: at the skies above Peach's Castle, a blimp arrived and came down towards the opening in the main tower. Broggy, the block-shaped dog, was standing on the blimp's platform with a letter on his head. The blimp's bridge comes out of the platform, connecting it to the opening.

An invitation to Pi'illo Island was delivered in style.

How about we take a look at Broggy's letter?

'-To Princess Peach Toadstool, Her Subjects and the Superstars-

An island of luxury awaits:

PI'ILLO ISLAND!

My staff and my new friends I've invited wish to meet you! Some of them might be familiar to you…

We're waiting for you at the castle. Come! Take a vacation with us!

-From Princess Jewel Morning'

The princess and some of her staff decided to take the trip to the island.

Of course, Princess Peach didn't hesitate and invited some of her Toad staff and Toadsworth onto the blimp's platform.

But little did they know what awaited them there… Oh, yes! Of course! We can't forget these guys!

We all know who are missing: obviously Mario and Luigi! Mario came out of the opening by jumping onto the blimp's bridge before walking to the platform. But, wait… Where is Luigi?

Turns out that the man in green had arrived too late as the bridge started to retract back into the platform, resulting in Luigi comically pedaling in the air as he cries out in panic. Then, as soon as he began to fall, Luigi, for some reason, manages to swim into the air upwards and grab onto the platform's edge. The blimp, called the Zeeppelin, departs, with Luigi letting out a "Mama mia…" as Mario helps him climb on the platform.

As the Zeeppelin was flying peacefully into the skies, everyone was admiring the view as a sightseeing tour. However, Toadsworth was the only one unsure about the invitation:

"Pi'illo Island… Hrm… Can't say I've heard of it…" he turns to Peach: "Princess! I feel rather uneasy about this trip! I mean, remember what happened back at Delfino Island? We still have time! Let's return home!"

"BROOF!" Broggy snarled at Toadsworth.

"AAH!" Toadsworth screamed and ran behind Peach.

"Oh, Toadsworth! Don't be silly! I'm pretty sure nothing will happen! Plus, Delfino Island was quite close to the Mushroom Kingdom, and this Pi'illo Island seems further out." Peach said.

"She has a point. With that, it will take time for Bowser to find us." Mario threw in.

"*sigh* if you say so…" Toadsworth sighed before coming out of hiding.

Broggy then turned around and a monitor appeared in his back, showing an elderly-like person, catching everyone's attention.

"Who's this?" Luigi wondered.

"Mm-yes, hello. Nice meeting you. I am the proprietor of Pi'illo Island! I am Dr. Snoozemore anzzz…" the person named Dr. Snoozemore spoke…until he fell asleep.

"Is he…asleep?" a Toad tilted his head.

"Oops! Please excuse me… As you may have guessed, I am researching the science of sleep. Mm-yes, and on Pi'illo Island… There's a special power that makes you sleep soundzzz…" he falls asleep again.

"A special sleep power?! What poppycock!" Toadsworth scoffed. "Scoundrel! Wake up and explain yourself!"

"Mm-heh heh… This is no time for a lecture. Now, I ask that you relax… Be at ease until you reach the island, and enjoy your trip… Mm-heh… Yes, relax with the dog… Your fellow passengers… And that OTHER passenger… He is VERY interesting… Mm-heh…" once he finishes, he falls asleep once again and Broggy shuts down the monitor.

"Other passenger? What did he meant by that?" Mario asked.

"I don't know. But for some reason, I'm getting a bad feeling about this…" Peach trailed.

Suddenly, a purple pillow-like thing fell onto the platform.

"What's THAT?!" Toadsworth's eyes widened.

Just then, purple smoke came out from the pillow, and a pair of hands shoved almost everyone out of the blimp. Luigi was also caught in the middle, but luckily, he managed to hold on to the side of the platform. Next, a pair of yellow eyes appeared within the smoke before turning into a sinister dark figure that did not look friendly at all.

"I don't know who you are, but you're going to pay for what you've done to the ones you flung out of the blimp!" Mario glared at the dark figure while standing in his fighting stance.

He quickly leaps into action and stomps the dark figure's head. Then, on its turn of attacking, the dark figure splits itself into many bats, who started to fly after Mario, but he dodged them and stomps its head again once the bats combined themselves again into the dark figure.

After a bit more stomps, the dark figure faces defeat in front of Mario. However, when it seemed that it was over, the dark figure flies into the blimp's balloon, creating a hole in it and one of its ropes snapped. Everyone who remained on the blimp paled by that.

"Uh oh…" Luigi sweatdropped.

In an instant, the blimp starts to fall down straight to the island, only that the clouds were in the way.

"OH NOOOO!" Mario panicked.

The Zeeppelin, Mario, Luigi, Peach and Toadsworth, which were the only ones who remained, were falling down as smoke was coming out of the hole in the balloon. In the middle of this event, Broggy came down, showing the monitor with Dr. Snoozemore announcing:

"NEXT STOP, PI'ILLO ISLAND!"

"NOT HELPIIIIIIIIING!" Peach yelled.

Once the clouds cleared out, we can see a brief view of Pi'illo Island from above, with a forest to the east, a desert to the southeast, a tall mountain to the north, a port to the west, and a beach coast to the southwest, with the castle residing in the very middle. The blimp fell closer…, closer…, and dangerously closer to the island's Blimport, where it crashed. Sounds of sirens echoed as the screen turned black.

However, all of this turned out to be a nightmare from Luigi. In truth, the Zeeppelin landed safely and normally on the Blimport. Luigi was lying on the blimp's platform, moaning and groaning while shaking uncontrollably and making erratic hand and leg movements, since he was having that nightmare we just witnessed.

Then, Luigi woke up in a startle. He was so frightened by the nightmare that he ends up running back and forth on the platform in panic…until he accidentally tripped on the platform's edge, and he faceplants on the ground. Three Toads went to him, and one of them asked:

"Luigi! Were you dreaming again?!"

"Sounded like an epic nightmare…" another Toad remarked. "YO! We arrived at Pi'illo Island! Luigi! Dude! WAKE UP!"

"Mm, yes… Here at last!" Toadsworth exclaimed. "What shall we do first?"

"Well, first of all, we should meet Princess Jewel at the castle, as her letter said so." Peach said.

Then, a group of block people came to them, and the female one welcomed:

"Welcome to… Pi'illo Island! We've been waiting for you to arrive! Allow us to show you around! Let's head to Pi'illo Castle, where the princess and her friends are waiting for you!"

"Wait a moment!" Toadsworth called out. "I understand the proprietor is one Dr. Snoozemore, correct? Humph! Yes, well, Princess Peach traveled far for this visit… And I must say, I find it a touch rude that he's not present to greet us."

"Please, Toadsworth, it's no matter…" Peach shook her head.

"Ah yes, that reminds me! I should've mentioned… Regrettably, Dr. Snoozemore is away on a business errand. He's traveling far and wide by the order of our highness to spread the word about her homeland. You know, to boost tourism!" the female Brock explained.

"Oh, we understand." Mario replied.

"As such, he asked that I mention that it will be a short while before he can greet you in person. Well, just follow down the road to reach Pi'illo Castle! Don't keep our princess waiting!" she then leaves.

"Ooh, how very exciting! Let's go, everyone!" Peach squealed.

"Okey-Dokey!" Mario nodded as everyone went down the road. "I just hope Luigi wakes up soon… He's missing all the fun in here!" Mario thought as he took one last look at Luigi, still downed on the floor, before following the group.

The road was filled with all sorts of the Pi'illo Island's staff, creating a path for the group, cheering as they pass by. Soon, they've arrived at an area where some kind of quiz was happening. There was a large green panel with a checkmark on the left, and a large red panel with an 'X' taking the other half. The quiz's host was none other than Broque Monsieur as he begins to speak:

"PEOPLES! YOU WISH TO SEE ZEE PI'ILLO CASTLE, HONH?"

"YEAH!" the crowd around him cheered.

"YOU DESIRE… ZEE COINS?"

"YEAH!"

"YOU FEEL… ZEE PASSIONS?"

"YEAH!"

"Zen off we go! Zee 612th… PI'ILLO ISLAND WELCOME QUIZ!"

"YEAH!"

"Allez! Let us not delay, honh? Zis is Pi'illo Island's Welcome Quiz! I am, how you say, zee MC… I am also zee tour guide… Zat squarish fellow with zee golden hue! Oui! Zat is moi, Broque Monsieur! Welcome, très jolie Princess Peach! …And other, less jolie people, also." Then, he looks at Mario. "Honh? Ah! You over zere! In zee red, with zee mustache… Oui, I feel we have met before, vous and moi…"

"You think so?" Mario asked.

"Oui… But zis does not matter… For now is island-game time!" he pulls out some golden coins. "You crave zis, honh? Oui. Zen answer correctly! Ah, but do not fear zee failure! Zere is no penalty for wrongness! At worst, you will learn zee fun island facts and win a coin or deux! Zis sounds like zee very pinnacle of fun welcome activity, oui?"

"How delightful! How fun!" Peach giggled.

"Oui, what fun indeed, honh?! Zen let zee fun begin! For zee appetizer… ZEE CHECK-X QUIZ!"

"YESSSS!" the crowd cheered.

"Allez-vous! Here we go! Check-X Quiz go time!"

Mario and his friends step back a bit, as Broque Monsieur begins his first question:

"Question 1! Zis island is named Pi'illo Island!"

"…That's obvious." Mario said as he, Peach, Toadsworth and a Toad went to the green panel, while the other four Toads went to the red one…for some reason.

"Zee correct answer is…Pi'illo Island!" Broque Monsieur announced, and offered the first stack of coins to the winners.

"Really? This question was so easy! Why did you all went there?" the Toad who got the correct answer questioned.

"Sorry, dude… Something slipped off our minds…" one of the Toads replied.

"All right. We move on, oui? To question 2!" Broque Monsieur says the second question as everyone stepped out of the panels: "Zee proprietor of zis island…is called Dr. Sneezemore!"

"Ha! We got this one in the bag!" a Toad exclaimed as he, two more Toads, Toadsworth and Mario walked to the red panel, while the other two Toads and Peach went to the green panel.

"Zee correct answer is…Dr. SNOOZEmore!" Broque Monsieur announced, offering the rest of the coins to the winners.

"I got wrong again?!" a Toad who also got wrong previously complained.

"My… That one got me. I didn't even realize the small mispronunciation…" Peach sighed.

"And… Zee Check-X Quiz ends!" Broque Monsieur said. "We hope zis was fun, honh? A fun welcome! We meet again at zee Pi'illo Castle, where zee princess waits. Oui! Au revoir, peoples!" he leaves to the road below.

"Yes, we should hasten to Pi'illo Castle as well! I just can't wait to meet another princess!" Peach exclaimed.

Everyone nodded and moved on. Once they were nearly reaching the castle, suddenly, both paths were blocked!

"Oh hoh!" they heard Broque Monsieur's laugh. They looked at him, but he looked different…his head was upside down and a dark aura was surrounding his body. "Impressive, to see you come zis far… I applaud zee spirit!" he spoke in a dark tone. "But zee happy times, zey end right NOW! Now is supper time! And zee supper…is you!"

"Dinner? Us? What drivel!" Toadsworth huffed.

"Honh honh honnnnh… Ah oui, for zat is why we brought you here… You will be served to zee hongry monsters! Voilà!"

A cage opened up, freeing two Grombas as Broque Monsieur continues:

"Zey are famished! Ah, oui! Zey honger!"

"Dear man… You're mad!" Toadsworth flinched.

"Non! YOU are mad! And I repeat, you are… MONSTER SUPPER!"

"Surely, you jest!"

"Mais non, zis is no jest! Succumb to zee fears! All will be monster-snacked! Zee hongry beasts will feed! OH HONH HONH!"

"EEEEK!" the Toads shrieked before backing off.

"Princess! We must flee!" Toadsworth panicked as he and Peach stepped back, leaving Mario to fight the Grombas by himself.

By using his stomping abilities at the Grombas, Mario easily defeats them.

"Boy, what's the meaning of this?" Mario questioned confused. "He can't possibly mean to feed us to monsters…"

"If so, then we are in dire straits indeed!" Toadsworth stated. "Master Mario! Things have taken a turn for the rather dangerous!"

"Oh honh! Dangerous indeed!" Broque Monsieur's voice came from up ahead. The group approaches him slowly, and he speaks: "At last you come! I am kept waiting for too long! Zat did not quite go to plan either… Non… But zee backfire has only made mon wrath grow! Voilà!"

Another cage opened up, releasing another Gromba.

"Seriously? Another one?" Mario sassed.

"Oui! But zis one is stronger! Oui, and ravenous! Prepare for nibbling! Zis ends only when zee last morsel is snacked! Now! Bitez him!"

Mario braces himself for the attack…only for the Gromba to fall asleep.

"Oh… Ah! Mm? Wake up! Now! Lazy monster! Zis is not nap time!" Broque Monsieur growled.

"Too bad for that!" Mario smirked before stomping the Gromba, and then kicking it into the water.

"Well, zat is zat…" Broque Monsieur settled, removing his head and flipping it back to how he usually looked like. "Zere were mistakes here and zere… But zis was quite zee spectacle, non?"

"Wait, are you telling us that…this was an act?" Toadsworth asked.

"But of course! Zis was but one of many events prepared for vous! You felt zee passions, non? Monster supper, indeed!"

"Oh, I'm so relieved! My heart almost stopped!" Peach said in relief.

"Honh, oui, zat is satisfactory. Now, let us stop wasting time and continue onward! And sorry for pulling vous legs!" then, both pathways open again. "Princess Jewel, she lies just before us! We are un moment away! Come!" he went on ahead.

"Ahh, looks like we shall reach proper lodging at last." Toadsworth smiled.

"Mario, thank you for seeing us here safely." Peach thanked.

"You're welcome." Mario replied. "Although… Now that I think of it, whatever happened to my brother?"

"I dunno. Might he still be dozing?" one of the Toads guessed.

"You're kidding! Luigi wouldn't ooze THAT much, come on."

"Well, then... How about we go on ahead?" Peach suggested.

They all agreed with her and moved on, ready to meet the princess and the group she invited.

To be continued…

So, there's the introduction! So far, no new characters appeared in here, but the gang will all show up in the next chapter! Some of those characters that'll be part of the main team might surprise you! Until then! Don't forget to review!