[6]
Link held his hand out to the blue hedgehog, helping him up. As Sonic got up, he shook his head wearily.
"That Shadow seemed like he was out for blood. I don't think he would've shown me any mercy. Thanks for helping me, I owe ya one"
Link nodded, then pointed his sword towards Super Mario Land.
"Good idea, we should tell Mario though, he'll know what to do. The three of us together can do anything; Tabuu taught us that much."
Link nodded once more then jumped onto his horse, named Epona, offering Sonic a ride.
Laughing, he answered, "Don't worry, I'm sure I can still- Aack!" exclaimed Sonic as he attempted to run, yet tripped and fell. Link rode over to him, overhearing some angry muttering about stupid game developers and their decision to include the ability to trip. Link offered Sonic a ride again.
Sonic hung his head low and sighed sadly as he nodded and accepted the ride. "Soon as I'm back to full health, I'm going back to running, alright?"
-Later-
After a while of traveling, they came to Hyrule Temple, one of the transportation points which could transport them to any other stage. They rode down to the old ruins, specifically to the one floating ruin near the bottom of the stage. As they got to the Battle Arena [which they nicknamed the center portion of the stage, where combatants could get heavily damaged, yet not die easily] they found a blue cyborg-type thing. It looked at them once, then jumped down towards the ruins and teleported away. Sonic and Link exchanged glances then shrugged, about to do the same when something teleported directly in front of them, scaring Epona, who leaned back and caused them both to fall off. She then ran away from the dark winged puffball.
"Well there goes our ride" grumbled Sonic. "Hey, what's the big idea?"
The dark winged puffball ignored Sonic, turning towards Link, "I hear you are a good swordsman. Therefore, I must challenge you to a duel!" The puffball took out a small yellow sword with two spikes on each side. He quickly slashed the air in front of him, demonstrating the agility of his blade.
"You want to battle Link? We don't even know your name!" exclaimed Sonic.
"My name is Meta Knight. Wough!" He disappeared into his dark wings, which doubled as a cape, then reappeared behind them.
"Hmm, ya think you're fast? I'd challenge you if I hadn't just gotten out of a match just now."
Meta Knight shook his head, "I do not fight porcupines."
"I'm a hedgehog, and don't you forget it, bud!"
"No matter. I fight only swordsmen. Link! Draw your sword and we shall match blades!"
Link nodded and unsheathed his shield and sword, ready for battle.
Sonic hmph'ed, then went to sit next to the ruins. "I hate delays."