A/N: Hi! Welcome to the start of a new adventure! I hope you enjoy! Thanks to Cutegirlmayra1 and FairyOfTheLily for writing this with me.
In a tournament of wit and brawn, mostly brawn, Smashers and a crowd of screaming fans watched in a ringed coliseum as three fighters engaged in the brawl of the century. Most Miis were dressed in Smash T-shirts and hoodies, but some of the more enthusiastic ones donned Tails, Chocobo, and Hylian outfits to support their favorite Smashers.
All eyes were drawn to the arena, glued to the semi-finals fight currently in progress. The blue blur, ex-SOLDIER, and King of Darkness all had brought their A-game. Good thing, too. They were going to need it.
"Uugh!" Sonic skimmed his shoes on the stone floor, grinding to an unsteady halt. He was having a blast in this tournament, and there was no way he'd let it end here!
The hedgehog smirked, then wound himself up into a tight ball that blazed blue. Sparks shot from his spines as he launched into a homing-attack.
Cloud saw the attack coming. At the last microsecond, he sidestepped, and the hedgehog plowed right into Ganondorf.
"Why you-!" The Gerudo rose to his feet and focused dark energy into his fist. With a burst of fury, he threw himself at the first opponent he saw and sent him flying.
"Ugh!" Cloud landed in a heap at the edge of the arena, but he wouldn't be defeated that easily. Winning this tournament was crucial. Master Hand promised a wish to the winner, anything his or her heart desired, as long as it was within his power. Since Master Hand had connections to so many worlds, Cloud figured he would know the answers to some of his questions, like where to find a certain silver-haired general that had caused him and his friends so much pain. Cloud wasn't going to let anyone stand in his way, especially his current opponents.
The soldier picked himself up and scanned the battlefield. Ganondorf was powerful, but Sonic's speed had proved to be a problem multiple times before. Cloud raised his Fusion Blade and darted towards the blue blur.
Sonic arched his back and his face scrunched into a grimace. Time seemed to slow down, which happened a lot to someone as fast as he was. Sunlight glinted off the steel blade, and the hedgehog glimpsed his reflection as Cloud swung.
He threw up his shield to deflect Cloud's blow, then bucked up his legs and slammed him in the chest.
Cloud gritted his teeth and winced in pain, but a vibrant blue glow surrounded his body, and a reservoir of energy burst free inside him.
"Limits were meant to be broken!" Cloud dove towards the ground and slammed his sword on Sonic's head.
"Offph!" Sonic grunted. "Limits? Heh… you haven't even seen me break through the sound barrier!" Stumbling to his feet, Sonic ran in place, "Too…"He narrowed his eyes and, to the crowd's surprise, sprang from his bounce-pad and spiraled downward, crashing his foot into Ganondorf's face. "Slow!"
The audience went ballistic, screaming and clapping.
"Distraction," Zelda mused, lifting a finger to her chin. "He's more than quick on his feet, but a fast thinker as well."
Link met his princess's gaze and nodded in agreement. "You've gotta think fast to be fast." he said.
The burly, blue-haired swordsman next to Link watched as Ganondorf grabbed Sonic and slammed him to the ground. "Speed isn't everything, though." Ike stated.
The fight grew more chaotic with each passing second, and so did the cheers and screams of the audience.
"Aahh!" Ganondorf screamed in rage as Cloud knocked him through the invisible barrier around the coliseum, the blast zone.
As the recovery platform hovered the Gerudo over the stadium again, an evil sneer crossed his face. He knew this was his last chance, but it didn't matter. That irritating soldier and annoying hedgehog wouldn't know what hit them, and neither would anyone else.
Savoring his brief invisibility, Ganondorf reached beneath his cloak and pulled out an Assist Trophy, which he had snuck into the arena.
Across the field, Cloud, still glowing with his Limit-Break energy, aimed a swipe at Sonic, when his eyes flicked to Ganondorf. "What are you doing?" the soldier demanded.
Sonic shifted about, eyes wide, and saw the trophy. "What?" He jolted back in alarm.
From the sidelines, two small figures watched with interest. Pikachu flicked an ear, and Kirby's mouth formed a surprised 'O' as they noticed the lull in the fighting.
Kirby wanted a closer look. The pink puffball jumped up onto the stone railing and summoned his ride in the skies. As soon as the Warp Star came close enough, Kirby jumped on and pulled Pikachu up behind him.
They floated nearer to the arena, but not close enough to disturb the match, in accordance with Master Hand's rules.
"This is the beginning of the end for all of you!" Ganondorf thundered, his deep voice echoing across the Coliseum. He raised the Assist Trophy high into the air.
Bright light poured from the trophy in Ganondorf's fist, and the crowd's murmurs and urgent whispers turned into screams and cries of alarm.
"But that's-!" Zelda leapt to her feet, realizing Ganondorf had smuggled in an item. "Link!"
Zelda summoned her magic and Link drew the Master Sword, seeing that as one rule broke, many more would follow.
Kirby and Pikachu looked out at the battlefield, eyes narrowed. Pikachu's cheeks sparked with electricity, sensing some kind of danger, but what was it?
The light from the shattered Assist Trophy faded and what first appeared to be long, billowing cloaks spiraled into existence. Tendrils of dark mist churned and twisted inside, as if restrained. Two white eyes peeked from the droopy rags, the only light in a sea of dark.
"That's a new one," Cloud muttered, staring as the mist converged within the layers of shining attire, before taking the shape of a bulky, small creature within the stacks of robes.
The mage-like figure bowed, "Good and merry day to you all! Or should I say- a good and confusing day for all! Hahaahhaha!" He danced around in an odd jig of sorts; jumping from one foot to the other and waving his arms as if he was a creepy and spontaneous carnival entertainer.
Suddenly, Dark mist filled the skies and a powerful energy rippled outward from the stadium, catching Kirby off guard. The pink puffball was blown back, his little, red feet kicking up as the Warp Star reeled backwards, staggering and shuddering in the air.
"Pikaaa!" Pikachu slipped and lost his balance. He barely caught hold of the star and hung on for dear life. "Chu-chu-chu!" He kicked his feet and hoisted himself back onto the craft.
The shadowy figure's mist moved like an entity that engulfed the crowd into a state of shocked silence. No one ran. No one screamed. All they could do was watch in mesmerized terror as the figure floated to the center of the arena.
He waved his arms opposite of each other, like windmills, calling up corrupted magic. "It's time to venture now to a world of the lost, the forsaken, the doomed! You'll all have your chance, but for now, two at a time!"
The mage parted his hands, and a whirlpool of dark matter mirroring the cosmos pulled and ripped Cloud and Sonic within its murky depths.
"Whaaa-ahhh-ahh!" Sonic shook his arms wildly as he was dragged into the swirling mass. Cloud lashed out at the mystical intruder, but the void's pull was too strong, even for his Limit-enhanced strength.
Kirby gasped at what was happening below. He squinted, looking for an opening. Pikachu hopped from one leg to the other, his hand on Kirby's back, ready for the adventurous feat of heroism.
The pink puff leaned forward and their star shot through the mist. They rocketed towards Sonic and Cloud, who struggled against the whirlpool of inky darkness.
Ganondorf noticed the little craft and its two occupants, but they were only an inconvenience. No one could stop this now. He charged forward, and with one swipe of his fist, he sent the Warp Star, Pikachu, and Kirby flying away from the stadium.
Panic, confusion, and chaos were the last things Cloud and Sonic saw and heard as the whirlpool of darkness pulled them under, away from the world they knew.
"Hehehehehe!" The robed figure laughed with twisted delight. "Is there light at the end of the maze? Is there hope even at its beginning? And what lies at the core of this world? Who knows? Hahahaha! Maybe there's only your doom! Find out soon!"
He then spun, faster and faster, until he spiraled out of existence, leaving behind an ominous dark cloud over the coliseum and it's remaining inhabitants.
A/N: Thanks for reading! Hoped you liked it. Chapter six of My Turn to Shine is coming really soon, and possibly another chapter of Brain Teasers. Thanks for your patience and support.