Power of the Stars

Mario and Luigi did their best to trek the large hallways of Twilight's castle, and seemingly wandered for what felt like an eternity. The brothers could tell that it was getting late and that they should probably rest before beginning their search for the Power Stars. The red-clad plumber eventually spotted a door that looked familiar to him. He opened it finding his room.

He could tell since the Power Stars he aquired were plainly lying on the floor. "Finally." sighed Luigi, sitting on the floor, "My-a legs were getting a little-a worn out."

"Mine too." Mario commented, lying on his bed, before turning to his stomach and looking out the window. The night sky illuminated Ponyville, bringing Mario to peace. "I-a hope we can-a find the Princess soon." he sighed.

Luigi nodded, "Me too. We still-a don't know where Bowser-a went." he realized.

Mario crossed his arms, "It's just a matter of-a trying to find out where he could-a go. We weren't that-a far behind him. How did-a he even find this world?" he wondered aloud.

"...And that's how I helped Mario on Dinosaur Island." Yoshi finished explaining, following Fluttershy across Ponyville. They were almost t their destination. And to pass the time, the dinosaur told the story of how he and Mario reunited on Dinosaur Island to foil Bowser's plans to capture the species.

Fluttershy frowned, "I had no idea there were more of you. Bowser sounds so cruel to do that to all of you."

Yoshi sighed, "A whole island of us. I'm glad Mario and Luigi were there to stop him as fast as they did." he complimented his oldest allies. "You said they were here?"

"Oh, yes. Mario fell from the sky somehow and Luigi showed up later. They're at Twilight's castle." Fluttershy explained.

Yoshi raised a brow, "A castle? Your friend is royalty?"

Fluttershy nodded, "Yes... But she really doesn't want to be treated as such."

Nodding, the dinosaur spoke, "Okay. Do you want to hear the time we went to space?"

The pegasus smiled, "Yes. If you don't mind."

Yoshi went on to describe the time Mario, Luigi and he travelled across the cosmos and find Bowser before he could rule not only the Mushroom Kingdom, but the universe. It kinda brought the dinosaur to thinking about why their old foe decided to warp to this world of all placed, but he knew he was going to get answers soon enough once they actually find the person behind all of this.

But eventually, the two made their way to the crystal castle that towered over the small town. Yoshi was reminded of Toad Town back on his world, but he pushed those thoughts aside for the moment, seeing the yellow pegasus slowly knock on the giant doors that towered over them as well. 'Why are the doors this big?' the dragon wondered.

Silence was passed between the two for a moment. They heard quiet footsteps getting louder, until the sound of creaking and a moving door got their attention. Yoshi smiled, recognizing the duo clad in red and green. The brothers also grinned at the sight of their old friend, relieved to see him. "Yoshi!" Luigi called out.

"Mario! Luigi!" Yoshi cheered.

Mario tipped his hat, "It's-a so good to-a see you. We were-a worried about you, but we didn't-a know where to go." he explained to his dinosaur friend.

"Is he the only friend with you?" Fluttershy questioned.

Luigi nodded, "Mm-hmm! Now we-a have to find-a Bowser."

"I had a feeling Bowser was here too." Yoshi groaned.

Fluttershy raised a brow, "W-What makes you say that? D-Did you see him?"

Shaking his head, the green dinosaur answered, "No, but his minions were looking for Power Stars. Sounds like they knew we were here." his stomach rumbled, "--Is there anything to eat? I'm starving!"

The sound of more footsteps got their attention, they saw Spike and Twilight sprinting to the door. "Oh..." Spike said simply, seeing Yoshi and Fluttershy, a scroll in his hands. "Uh, who's this?"

"This is-a Yoshi!" Mario introduced. He knelt down, "What's-a the problem you-a two?"

Twilight panted, "While I'm glad that you found your friend, we have a big problem. In Manehattan, there are reports of somepony vandalizing and destroying the city. Celestia heard the reports going on all day and sent a letter to me and Spike. We have to get there as soon as possible."

"Does it-a say what the person-a doing this looked-a like?" Mario asked.

Spike reopened the letter, "Uh... It says that it was a bipedal creature with a paintbrush that creates a strange goo that burns to the touch."

"That-a sounds familiar...." Mario hummed.

Twilight raised a brow, "It does? Is it Bowser that's doing this?"

Luigi shook his head, "Wait a minute, bro... When you went to Isle Delfino, didn't Bowser Jr use-a E. Gadd's paintbrush? It could-a be him using it here." he reminded his brither, who nodded in agreement, "He-a may be looking for-a one of the Power Stars." he added, raising a finger.

"Power Stars? What about them? They're here too?" Yoshi asked, his stomach rumbling again. "Aw, and I wanted a quick snack before we left too."

Twilight said, "Sorry, Yoshi. But we have to find our friends before-- Wait, did you say Bowser Jr?"

"Bowser has a s-son?" Fluttershy asked in disbelief.

Mario nodded, "Yes. I-a first met him in Isle Delfino... Where he-a used the paintbrush to frame me... He-a may be doing that again to spite-a us."

"I hope-a the goo isn't as-a dangerous as you-a said." Luigi gulped.

"What do you mean?" Spike asked.

Mario sighed, "The goo from-a the paintbrush were-a able to create small creatures and-a hurt to the touch. If-a only I brought-a Fludd with-a me..."

Manehattan was covered in strange multi-colored goo. The ponies cowered in fear at the sight of the strange being that attacked their city out of nowhere. In his hand was a strange star, which he obtained fairly easily from a pawn shop mere moments ago. A paintbrush was wielded in his other hand. Passing by another building, he decided to swipe his brush in various directions on the wall, creating a giant 'M' that arched.

Some ponies ran off, seeing more goo get spread across the city. They wondered what it was that appeared, but the figure was silent and continued to vandalize the city. Some even felt the burning sensation of the multicolored goo that lay on the streets. Luckily, some guards in the city already alerted the princesses of the strange phemonenon and all they had to do was wait and hold him off in the meanwhile until either they or Twilight and her friends showed up.

The figure in question was blue, transparent as water, and looked like Mario right down to the smallest detail, inc,uding hid mustache and cap. Once he was in the shadows, the fake Mario changed his form, revealing to be Bowser Jr as he lowered his bib with teeth drawn on it, who laughed in glee over what he's done. "Pa is gonna be so proud of me when he sees what I did!"

Feeling proud, the son of Bowser put his bib back in and swiped he paintbrush in various directions, changing back to Shadow Mario. He knew that if Mario was gonna come, he'd be framed for the crimes. After all, he only moved in the shadows and so fast, they could only tell his general shape apart.