Black paws hit the leaf-covered forest floor without a sound as the owner fled through the forest. On his heels were two more, though they were slightly louder. One glided over the ground, the tips of his metal feet tracing a path through the leaves, only for the other to mess up that path by crushing the brown leaves with his boots. The one in the lead stopped in front of a tree, and turned around. He was very thin, with wider hips. He had a black stripe that ran down his navy blue face, and split to mask his piercing red eyes. On the back of his head were two pairs of teardrop-like black 'antennae.' Hs paws were black, as were his feet, and from his neck down to his waist was tan. Under the tan, ran a black 'belt' of fur, and ringing the shoulders were black. He had three ivory spikes—one on each front paw, and one on his chest.
He bent over, locking his paws together to give one of the other two a boost. The second, who had been gliding, refused the offered help. He was also navy blue, but wore a silver mask over his face, the only part visible being his yellow eyes. Folded on his back, posing as a cape, were two bat-like wings, purple with slightly lighter membranes. His feet were a purple to match, metal that would hurt when kicked by, if the short blob were capable of kicks. In his right hand was a golden sword, with a ruby implanted in its pommel.

As he jumped into the sky, spreading his wings, the third figure took the offered boost that the first still held. The last one was short, only half the size of a normal human, with small pointed ears. He wore a green tunic and cap, and a brown belt with a golden buckle adorned with a swirl. He had a strangely patterned brown shield, and a blue hilted sword. His black eyes were grateful as the first figure helped him up to the platform, where the winged one already waited. The first figure then leapt, and though he couldn't reach the platform, he held on to the tree, and acted as a sentry.

Below them, two figures stopped at the base of the tree. One was shorter and stockier, with a red hat and shirt. At the front of the hat was a white 'M'. The man wore blue overalls, and had brown shoes. He had a rather large brown mustache, to match the hair that was visible from under his hat. The second was much like the first, only taller and thinner, wearing green, with an 'L' hat. The two brothers looked around, then continued past the tree where the three were hiding.

The figure below the others, who was gripping the tree, grabbed the edge of the platform, and did a handstand, then a back flip, landing beside the green-clad elf. The winged one took a step forward, toward the navy blue one, making the crowded space seem smaller. When he spoke, his voice slightly echoed from within the helmet.

"Nice job, Lucario! You almost got us caught! If it weren't for Rayquaza, they would have gotten us ages ago! You can't navigate near as well as you can fight."

Lucario, the tallest one, remained calm, but anger could be seen flaring up in his eyes. He merely inclined his head to the shorter, winged companion, and leapt backwards from the platform, doing a back flip in the air, and landing on his feet. He looked up at the two.

"No, I have a great sense of direction, Meta Knight. Would either of you had known where this tree was without me? I think not. Now, who will join me?"
The shortest one, the elf, nodded and jumped, throwing his grappling hook, no more than a chain with a pointed end, at the platform. I caught him before he hit ground, and he released it, falling a safe few inches to the ground. Meta Knight kicked the pointed tip, and it dislodged from the wood, right down to its waiting owner. Lucario pat a paw on the elf's back.

"Nice to have you with me, Toon Link. I suspect they'll be sending Link out soon to get us. Let's hurry."