Disclaimer: I don't own Mario.
If one were to look out of their window at Mushroom Kingdom on Christmas Eve, they would see a sight that could only be found on this night of the year.
A figure dressed in red was travelling through the snow-bound lands. He sat back comfortably in his sleigh as it was pulled along by his faithful animal companion. A large sack was by his side. It was filled to the brim with lots of toys - and it was this person's job to deliver every one of them to all of the children of the kingdom by daylight.
"Hurry up, Yoshi!" Mario shouted, pulling down the fake beard he wore on his face as part of his Santa Claus outfit. "We haven't got all a-night! We have to get all these a-pressies to the children by morning!"
Yoshi frowned irritably. He wasn't pleased with the role Mario was making him play out as part of his annual festive duties. It was irritating enough to carry the Italian Plumber on his back - but to pull him along in a sleigh with fake antlers on his head and his nose painted red was utter humiliation for the long-suffering reptile.
They arrived on the snow-covered rooftop of the first house they were to visit. Mario climbed out of the slight, carrying the sack of toys on his back as he approached the chimney.
"Going through this will be a-no problem!" he remarked. "It'll be just a-like jumping down a pipe!"
Ready to enter the house through the only way Santa could do so, Mario climbed onto the edge of the chimney, clutched the sack of toys tightly, then proceeded to jump.
Flump!
Mario blinked. He was not descending into the inside of the house. He remained at the top of the chimney - where he had just gotten himself stuck.
"Mamma Mia!"
Mario tried to wriggle free. He attempted to push himself downwards into the house. - but he was well and truly caught within the sides of the chimney. It had a firm hold on his large stomach - likely due to him eating extra Christmas cake which Peach had baked for him that evening.
From the sleigh, Yoshi observed the dilemma Mario had gotten into. He couldn't help but snicker to himself, finding it very amusing.
"Yoshi!" Mario called to him. "Help me out over here! I'mma stuck!"
Yoshi unfastened the harness which had attached him to the sleigh before walking over to the chimney. He gazed at the stuck human who was in clear need of his help to get free. The scaly animal climbed up onto the chimney to stand over Mario - before starting to jump up and down on his head.
"Oof! Aye! Ow!" Mario yelped in pain from being stomped on by his pet. "Don't! Help! Me! Like! That! Yoshi!"
Yoshi took no notice. He just continued to bounce roughly up and down onto Mario's head. With each landing on his head, he forced the Santa substitute further down the chimney - before he finally came unstuck with a loud pop.
The next thing Mario knew, he was falling downwards, just like he did whenever he jumped into a pipe. He smiled as he readied himself to enter the house. He was all prepared to fill it with lots of presents to make the children who lived there very happy.
"Here we goooooooooo!" he shouted, holding onto the sack of toys.
With a loud thump, Mario came to land inside the house's fireplace. He found himself gazing into the dark vacant lounge. He was just looking around for the Christmas tree so as to know where to leave the toys in his sack - when his large nose picked up a strange smell.
"What's a-cooking?"
There was a strong aroma in the air, like something was being burnt. Mario remained where he was as he tried to work out what was making the smell. His round nose continued to sniff before his eyes widened upon realising it was coming from the logs in the fireplace - on which he happened to be sitting…
"OWOWOWOWOW!"
The heat the logs had picked up from being set alright earlier that evening was enough to burn Mario. He yelped in horror and agony as he leapt back up through the chimney. Yoshi was astonished to see him burst out through it and into the air. The Italian plumber flew several feet into the air before falling back downwards. The music which played whenever he lost a life in his games filled the wintery atmosphere as he came crashing down into a big pile of snow.
Yoshi shook his head with a sigh. He had tried to warn Mario to fill up on Mushrooms instead of cake before starting their mission that night, but the know-it-all plumber wouldn't listen. He only had himself to blame for what had just happened to him.
It just went to show that Mario was better off sticking to his usual duties. He was far better off being a plumber and a hero - than he was at being Santa Claus.
THE END