A/N: Hey guys! The first in this series of one-shots was the beginning of Mario and Luigi's plumbing career, with the misadventures they had faced before starting their own business and ending up in the Mushroom Kingdom! This chapter is an Easter special! Happy Easter, everyone! I've also seen the Super Mario Bros. Movie on Sunday night with my sister, her boyfriend Giuseppe and a couple of her friends, and it was awesome! Although he wasn't involved in the way many expected, it was cool to hear Charles Martinet's voice again. He voiced two minor characters: Mario and Luigi's father and Giuseppe, the old man in the Punch-Out! pizzeria, in several languages, which include English, Italian and Spanish. Let's begin!

Chapter 2: Yoshi's Easter Eggs

(''Resting in Toad Town- Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey OST'')

It was a sunny Sunday morning in the Mushroom Kingdom. After getting dressed, Mario went down to the kitchen and saw Luigi waiting for him. It was not a morning like any other: Easter had arrived. ''Hey, Luigi! Happy Easter!'' he greeted him.

''Good morning, Mario! Happy Easter to you too!'' said Luigi.

''So, what do you plan to do this morning?'' asked Mario, while his brother served him an omelette for breakfast.

''There was supposed to be a party at the castle today, but there was something unexpected. The lights suddendly malfunctioned last night and the Toads are still working to solve the problem.'' replied Luigi.

''Oh, no! Too bad!'' Mario was very disappointed. He never liked having to change plans because something unexpected had caused the cancellation of an event.

''You didn't want to go to the party just to stuff yourself, did you? Sometimes you're a little obsessed with food.'' joked Luigi.

''Hey, I'm not like Yoshi, you know!'' the man in red replied. Luigi didn't seem very convinced though. ''OK, maybe you're not entirely wrong. I like to eat and I get hungry to look at food on the table, that's all.''

''Speaking of Yoshi, let's see how he's doing.'' the man in green said.

The two brothers left the house and went looking for Yoshi. They didn't find him, but they saw a letter and read it.

''I'm on my island. I told Princess Peach to meet me there. Mario, Luigi, if you are reading this letter and looking for me, come too.

-Yoshi''

''Yoshi's Island, huh? I wonder what that means.'' said Luigi, intrigued.

''Does this place remind you of anything?'' asked Mario.

''If you're referring to when we were still babies, I don't think so.'' Luigi replied.(1)

''Good, because we'll be back here! Yoshi is waiting for us! Let's-a go!'' declared Mario.

The two brothers went to Toad Town's port and took the ship, leaving for Yoshi's Island.

(''Resting in Toad Town- Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey OST-s'')

Two hours later...

(''Yoshi's Island- Mario & Luigi Partners in Time OST'')

''Hey, Mario? I was thinking about something. Why did Peach go to Yoshi's Island? I get Yoshi, since his species lives there, but what about the others?'' asked Luigi.

''Good question. I was just going to ask myself the same thing.'' said Mario.

The journey was longer than Mario wanted, wondering if he and Luigi should go to Daisy and leave with her cruiser.(2) As he was thinking this, he had a feeling. ''Luigi, I think I understand! Maybe Yoshi has plans for Easter!'' he exclaimed.

''I think you're right. No one knows eggs better than Yoshi.'' said Luigi.(3)

The ship reached Yoshi'sIsland about ten minutes later. Mario and Luigi got off the ship, and saw many Yoshis of different colors in the nearby clearing. As they tried to find the Yoshi they knew and loved, they found Toad, Blue Toad, Yellow Toad, and Toadette.

''Hey, guys!'' Mario called them.

''Mario, it's you! Oh, and you're there too, Luigi! Happy Easter!'' said Toad.

''The princess is just ahead. If you're looking for Yoshi, he's with her.'' added Toadette.

''Nice, thanks. We were on our way to visit him this morning.'' said Luigi.

''Did Peach want to do something for Easter at the castle? A party?'' asked Mario.

''Yes, but last night the lights malfunctioned. The princess was a little disappointed, and had to change plans right away.'' Yellow Toad replied.

''Having to review projects like this is really annoying, let me tell you.'' said Toad Blu. He still seemed disappointed by the unexpected of the night before.

Together they made their way through the forests of the island until they reached the village, where they found Peach.

''Mario! Luigi! I'm glad to see you've come! Happy Easter!'' said Peach.

''Thank you. I never expected what happened last night.'' said Luigi. ''Lousy inconvenience, right?''

''I know, I don't like it when it happens. That's why Yoshi was to help me prepare something for Easter.'' the princess replied. ''I was looking for eggs to paint, and Yoshi is helping me work on them. He's in the nearby village.''

The village was across the plains, and there were even more colorful Yoshis. Yoshi'sIsland had always been a paradise, among verdant clearings, mountain forests, jungles full of life and snow-capped mountains.

''Ah, Yoshi's Island. I love places like this.'' said Mario.

The Yoshis welcomed everyone warmly, and were decorating colorful eggs. Luigi saw a green Yoshi and recognized him. He was coloring an egg with some brushes, and the egg he was working on was a beautiful light blue color with what appeared to be the sun on top. ''Hey, Yoshi! We're here!'' he called him.

Yoshi turned around, and was happy to see his old friends again. (''Hello, Mario! Hello, Luigi! Happy Easter! I see you have read my letter! I'm really glad you came to me!'') he said, enthusiastically.

''Hi, buddy! Happy Easter to you too! I see you're keeping yourself busy.'' said Mario.

(''Yes. Princess Peach asked me to help her make plans for Easter after what happened at the castle. The other Yoshis and I found a lot of eggs and things for Easter, and now we have to color and decorate them.'') Yoshi explained. (''The brushes are in my house. Would you help me?'')

''Of course!'' replied Luigi.

''Let's-a go, everyone!'' declared Mario.

(''Yoshi's Island- Mario & Luigi Partners in Time OST-s'')

(''Main Theme (Super Mario World)- Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games OST'')

Everyone went to Yoshi's house to get the colored brushes, and Mario and Luigi were the last to leave, showing up with white overalls and a beret to look like artists. They began to paint and decorate the eggs with bright colors and drawings, and Yoshi used his tongue as a third hand, even going so far as to paint his tail of another color. Mario had painted three eggs red and blue, and Peach with pink, white and violet.

While working, however, they had to make sure to keep at bay the Ukiki, a group of mischievous monkeys trying to the steal eggs and Easter bunnies. One of the Ukikis had even stolen Toadette's egg basket, and Blue Toad and Yellow Toad had to drive it away. Some of them even went so far as to throw Spinies eggs and Koopa shells at them.

''Those monkeys are mischievous!'' Yellow Toad commented.

''Ukiki often play pranks on people. I'd rather this than get robbed by Klepto.'' said Mario.

To everyone's surprise, a dog with a long tongue and big yellow lips lunged at Yoshi and began licking him, drooling his entire face. (''Hey, Poochy! I know, you're happy to see me, but I'm kinda busy now.'') he told him.

''You know this dog?'' asked Toad.

(''Yes, his name is Poochy. Pretty cute, huh? He is easily distracted when it comes to eggs or balls, but it's better for you not to call him stupid, he may be offended. (4)'') replied Yoshi.

''I have to say that his mouth is pretty strange, but he is kinda cute.'' said Luigi.

Poochy made to grab an egg with his mouth, but Mario stopped him. ''No, no, no, Poochy. It's not for you.'' Mario told him, and the dog pouted until Yoshi gave him a ball to play with.

(''Main Theme (Super Mario World)- Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games OST-s'')

One hour later...

The several dozen eggs were ready, and Yoshi had something in mind. He immediately called all the members of his species and gathered them at his home. (''Alright, guys. Everything is ready for the egg hunt! Let's hide all the eggs and then find them!'') he declared, and all the Yoshis cheered.

''Let's split up and search for them all!'' said Toadette.

Everyone split up to look for all the hidden Easter eggs and bunnies. Yoshi was the first to find one, a yellow and blue one, and Peach found another one, which was orange and violet. Since everything was hidden everywhere, it took a while for them to find what was most well hidden. Yellow Toad ended up digging up an Easter bunny, and Toadette found an egg hidden behind a waterfall, while Luigi found another one on top of a tall tree in the jungle. Given his jumping skills, it was a walk in the park for him to catch him, but the branches were narrow, making it difficult for him to climb and stay balanced. The Fuzzies of the island also caused whoever they stung to become groggy and disoriented, so it was even more difficult than expected, but Poochy spotted the remaining eggs for everyone.

(''Kamek's Theme- Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island OST'')

Later, everyone gathered at Yoshi's house to eat and start the party, but a spell destroyed a table. ''Who was that?!'' Blue Toad exclaimed.

Someone on a broom swooped down and barely missed Peach, who hid. It was Bowser's right-hand man, Kamek.

''Starting without me? Oh, what a pity! For you!'' said Kamek, laughing.

''Kamek?! You are not invited, and we have no time for you! Go away or we'll force you to!'' Mario shouted.

''I really want to see, pipsqueaks!'' Kamek replied, stealing some of the eggs with magic.

(''Kamek's Theme- Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island OST-s'')

(''What nerve from Kamek! It was not enough that he trespassed my island and caused trouble as usual, now he even ruins the party'') snapped Yoshi, annoyed. Poochy also didn't seem in his usual good mood.

''Was he really such a nuisance with you?'' asked Toadette.

"Yoshi told us that Kamek and Bowser have been causing trouble on his island for a long time, but Kamek is the one who bothers him the most. It's been over than twenty years that he's been making things difficult for him and the other Yoshis. Let's say that Kamek is his archenemy.'' replied Mario.

''Where did Kamek go?'' asked Peach, coming out of hwe hiding place.

(''I think he climbed Yoshi Mountain. Follow me. Come oo, Poochy, come with us.'') Yoshi replied.

(''Yoshi Mountain- Mario & Luigi Partners in Time OST'')

Everyone began to climb Yoshi Mountain, followed by Poochy. Although the Toads could keep up well with the others, the climb was not easy for them because they were not as skilled in jumping.

''I never thought Kamek was causing trouble even then.'' said Peach.

(''Now you know. Although Bowser constantly attacks the Mushroom Kingdom, it has been going on for even longer.'') Yoshi replied.

They found an egg, which was in the hands of a Ukiki. Luigi tried to get it back, but the monkey threw a coconut at his head, and then spat out watermelon seeds until he managed to snatch it from its hand.

''And the monkeys have to stand in our way, of course,'' commented Toad.

''Those Ukikis sure are mischievous.'' said Luigi.

(''Yoshi Mountain- Mario & Luigi Partners in Time OST-s'')

Suddenly, Poochy began to smell something, perceiving a peculiar smell. ''What's wrong, Poochy?'' asked Luigi.

The dog took everyone higher, and they saw that the forests of the mountain had caught fire. ''Oh, no! A fire!'' exclaimed Mario.

(''It must be the work of Kamek! I won't let him raze my island!'') Yoshi declared.

''We need some water!'' Yellow Toad cried.

''Over there!'' exclaimed Luigi, locating a spring.

Mario swallowed water from the spring and then spat it into the tree, putting out the fire around it. ''We have to put out that fire! Find some soil, rocks or something else to contain the flames! I will use water.'' he said, drinking more water and holding it in his mouth.

''OK, but don't open your mouth while doing it.'' his brother told him.

Yoshi went to get some soil, put it on the trees and kick it towards the fire, while Luigi and the others went looking for rocks in an attempt to make the fire as isolated as possible. Poochy also lent a hand, running around and spreading the soil around the area, but despite this, it took a few minutes to put out all the fire.

''Is the damage serious?'' asked Toad.

Yoshi began to examine the surrounding area, looking carefully at the trees and soil. (''The damage is not serious, but it will take a while for the area to return to normal.)'' he replied.

''Bowser is just like his guardian.'' commented Luigi.

(''You can say that again. After all, it's Kamek who raised him, and I'd say he did a very bad job at that.'') added Yoshi.

After a long climb and finding the stolen eggs, Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Peach, and the Toads reached the top of Yoshi Mountain. (''Stop hiding, Kamek! Show yourself!'') shouted Yoshi.

Kamek showed himself by swooping on his broom. ''Well well well, look who's there. I should have imagined that this pathetic dinosaur caricature had something to do with you.'' he said.

Yoshi was caught off-guard, and Poochy growled at Kamek. Mario put his hand on Yoshi's shoulder and stepped forward. ''I don't care what you say. Leave our friend alone and get lost!'' he blurted out.

''You've been causing trouble on Yoshi's Island for too long. This has to stop.'' said Peach.

Poochy lunged at Kamek and began biting him, then Yoshi threw an egg in his face.

''Let's shoo this nuisance!'' said Luigi loudly.

Due to Poochy continuing to bite him, Kamek could not control his flight very well. ''Get off of me, you mongrel!'' he shouted, kicking him in the face, grabbing him by the tail and casting a spell at him that hit him in the face. The dog yelped in pain and fell to the ground, causing everyone togasp in horror.

(''POOCHY!'') screamed Yoshi, running towards Poochy to check how he was doing. (''Poochy, are you okay?!'')

The dog whimpered in pain. He was injured in one leg.

''Oh, mamma mia!'' exclaimed Mario, shocked.

''Oh, no! No, no, no, no, NO!'' yelled Luigi in rage, taking his hammer from the pockets of his overalls. Since he had the Polterpup, a ghost dog, he took it personally. ''You'll pay for this, Kamek!''

''Yeah, right.'' Kamek commented sarcastically. ''And then you'll beat me up right, spa-''

''Shut up! Don't let yourself say that word, there are children!'' shouted Mario, punching him in the mouth before he could finish the insult.(5)

''We'll make you eat your words!'' shouted Toad, but Kamek created five clones of himself.

Peach took her parasol and hit a Kamek, but it was one of the copies.

''I can't see the real Kamek, it could be any!'' exclaimed Toad Blu, trying to find the right Kamek.

''We need an area attack!'' said Luigi. He hit with a spinning hammer attack, dissipating three more copies, and Mario fired a fireball that hit the real Kamek.

''Now, Yoshi! Get him!'' ordered Mario.

Yoshi nodded, and seeing red, hit the Magikoopa with a series of kicks, then ate a Spiny egg to make a Yoshi Egg and hit him with a ground pound. (''Kamek, you went too far this time! You always cause me trouble on my island!'') He kicked him in the face. (''You ruined my Easter party!'') A tail swipe. (''You set the mountain on fire!'') He smashed the egg on his head. ''But what I don't accept is that you dare to hurt Poochy!'' he headbutted him.

And Luigi also joined him, snatching the broom from Kamek's hands and slamming it on his head like a rake. ''Go away or I'll stick this broom in your eye!'' he threatened him.

''No! No! Mercy! Mercy!'' yelled Kamek.

''You're terrible! After all that you have did to me and my island, after your continuous attacks on my island, after what you have done to Poochy, you beg me for mercy?! You disgust me! Now get out of my sight!'' Yoshi screamed back at him.

''Alright, I'm outta here! You haven't seen the last of me, Yoshi!'' Kamek snapped, teleporting away.

''Finally! I couldn't stand him anymore!'' commented Mario.

''Mario...? Have you ever seen Yoshi get this angry?'' asked Luigi, a little nervous.

''I guess you're right, Luigi. It's not for him to get angry like that.'' Mario replied.

''It's best if we go back to the village.'' said Peach, and everyone agreed.

Yosh didn't move initially. (''Will Poochy be okay?'') he asked, worried about Poochy.

Mario approached Poochy and looked at his wounds. ''His left front leg has a small bruise, but nothing serious. He will just need to rest for a while. But he also has burns on his face. It is not serious, but if you lick it, it would hinder the healing process. I would put an Elizabethan collar on him until the wounds heal.'' he replied, picking up Poochy in his arms.

Poochy didn't like that answer. Dogs and cats did not like to wear the Elizabethan collar because it looked ridiculous, so it was also known as "the cone of shame".

(''Flower Garden- Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island OST'')

Now that Kamek was out of commission, Yoshi was greeted triumphantly by the other members of his species, though he admitted that his friends had also helped him. There was also concern for Poochy when a Yellow Yoshi saw him injured, but hearing that he will be fine left all the Yoshis relieved.

''Now the Easter party can begin!'' declared Mario and Yoshi, and everyone cheered. They started opening Easter eggs and bunnies and eating.

''You know Mario, I had completely forgotten about this place.'' said Luigi.

''Yoshi's Island is beautiful, huh?'' asked Mario.

''Yes. It's been too long since I went here.'' replied Luigi.

(''Then you and Mario come back to visit us sometime. Thanks for the help.'') said Yoshi.

''Of course we'll be back.'' Mario told him.

The party lasted the whole afternoon, and when sunset came, it was time to go home.

''It's better if we go, it's late.'' said Toad.

''The party was really fun. You did a really good job, Yoshi.'' said Peach.

(''Thank you! I'll stay here and keep an eye on Poochy. See you soon, my friends!'') said Yoshi, as everyone boarded the ship home.

''Bye-bye, Yoshi! See ya!'' Mario said loudly.

(''Flower Garden- Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island OST-s'')

Back in the Mushroom Kingdom, Peach and the Toads left Mario and Luigi to return to the castle, while they returned home. Night had fallen, and Luigi began to prepare dinner.

''What a great party!'' said Mario happily, while putting two large Easter eggs in the fridge.

''Yes, you said it bro.'' said Luigi, putting the water in the pot to boil it. ''It was great to go back on Yoshi's Island. Planning everything with Yoshi? Peach sure had a great idea.''

Mario agreed. There was no one like Yoshi who knew about eggs, so Peach had seen thought well to consult with him for Easter. ''Oh, yeah! They improvised very well, given what happened yesterday!'' he exclaimed. ''I put these two Easter eggs aside in the fridge. We'll eat some after dinner, and I think there's a surprise.''

For dinner, Luigi had prepared a plate of pasta and lentils. When they finished, Mario took the two chocolate eggs from the fridge and put them on the table.

It was then that Luigi saw the paper around the eggs. The first egg was wrapped in red paper, the other in green paper. A certain feeling came to his heart, quite a coincidence! He went up to his brother and hugged him. ''Thank you, Mario... Happy Easter...'' he murmured.

''Happy Easter to you too, Luigi.'' said Mario.

The two brothers removed the paper around an egg, split it in two and broke it into even more parts, starting to eat it. There had been some unforeseen events, but this had been a truly memorable Easter!

A/N: And this Easter special is over! Yoshi has always been associated with eggs, so giving him an important role in an Easter episode came naturally to me. What do you think? Let me know! See you in the next chapter!

(1): In Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Kamek tried to kidnap Mario and Luigi when they were infants, but only managed to capture Luigi, while Mario fell on Yoshi's Island.

(2): Daisy has a cruiser that appears quite frequently in some spin-offs, and is introduced in Mario Kart: Double Dash! as one of the tracks, returning in Mario Kart 7 in the Leaf Trophy.

(3): Yoshi has always been associated with eggs. He can make eggs when he eats enemies, and a Yoshi egg is his symbol. In both Mario Kart: Double Dash! and Mario Kart Tour, he has an egg as his special item which acts similarly to a Red Shell, except that it drops an item if it hits something.

(4): Poochy is a recurring character who appears with Yoshi when he got his own series, and acts as his sidekick. Recently, with Mario Kart Tour's Yoshi Tour, introduced for this Easter, he was introduced as a playable character. The sentence here is a reference to an extra level from Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island that is unlocked with a perfect score in all levels of the first world. The title of the extra level is ''Poochy Ain't Stupid''.

(5): The European English version of Mario Party 8 was censored because of a word spoken by Kamek: in Shy Guy's Perplex Express, there's an event in which Kamek alters the order of the wagons with magic, and in the European English version, he uses the word ''spastic''. In the UK, this word is a severe insult to the disabled, especially those suffering from celebral pancy, and as a result, the copies were withdrawn and the game's UK release was delayed by three weeks to change the word to ''erratic''. This happened merely two weeks after a lawsuit because of a Ubisoft game for the Nintendo DS, a Brain Age clone called Mind Quiz, in which horrible results in minigames resulted in the rating ''Super Spastic'', and an Irish woman who had lost her son a few months earlier to celebral pancy filed a complaint against Ubisoft. She won the case, and as a result, that game was never released again in the UK.