The Tale of Sonic and Mario

For several years Sonic and Mario had been friends. Although they were made friends by a misunderstanding that had them starting out as enemies. They traded punches back then but in that battle it was never decided who the true winner was. Mario certainly held the strength advantage but Sonic was much faster. But that has always fueled a fire in their friendship, trying to figure out which one of them was truly better.

The two sat on a hill, the ground around them all ripped up from their most recent sparring session.

"HaHa." Mario panted as he sat down on the ground." That was a good round Sonic. Good round. You almost had me there."

"You're weren't too bad yourself." Sonic chuckled in reply.

"Mario." A cheery voiced called out." Mario." He turned and looked off into the distance, back at the castle where his wife was calling him." It's tea time."

"Well you heard here." Mario said patting Sonic on the shoulder." It's Tea Time, let's go." Mario was already on his feet while Sonic slowly began to get to his." I'll-RACE YOU!" He pushed Sonic back to the ground allowing himself a head start. He knew he'd need it. But he couldn't have taken more than three steps than he saw a blue blur run right past him leaving only a trail of smoke behind.

So it was a one-sided race and Mario had no choice but to come face to face with the victor as he entered the courtyard of the castle. Mario was red-faced and panting like a dog.

While Sonic on the other hand had his feet kicked up on the table sitting across from Princess Peach.

"More tea?" she offered.

"Oh thank you." He accepted. He looked across the courtyard to see Mario finally making his way in." Oh hey buddy there you are." He said with a facetious chuckle." We were beginning to worry about you."

"Did you go for a run darling?" Peach asked him.

"Y-Yes." Mario panted.

"Well that's good." Sonic said. "Good to see your trying to get into shape. You have gotten a bit of a tummy." He pointed to Mario's belly. The Plummer turned prince gave the Hedgehog a nasty glare.

"It's sad but true." Peach said." I've spoiled you too much Mario. But it's good to see you taking charge of these things." And Sonic couldn't help but laugh and kicked his legs off the table. Mario rolled his eyes as he walked past Sonic who continued to laugh. But he stopped laughing when Mario kicked out his legs and toppled Sonic's chair with him in it. But to Peach it looked like an accident." Are you alright?!" she asked.

"He's fine. "Mario answered as he pulled a chair up for himself." Would you pour me a cup, my dear?" He held out his empty cup and Peach began to pour.

When she was done pouring Mario brought the tea to his nose and sniffed it. The sky was perfectly blue with not a cloud in the sky. The sun was shining, the tea was hot and Mario was in good company, it was a good afternoon.

He brought the tea to his lips and began drinking. But when he took his second gulp something happened.

A sudden hissing sound rang through the air and the next thing Mario knew Sonic was laying in the rose bushes with a net tangled around his entire body. Confused Mario turned around in time to see something flying at him now. And before he knew what was going on his right arm was suddenly restrained at his wrist and he was standing against the castle.

He reached up to pull the metal restrainer off but suddenly found another suddenly shot out onto his once free arm. He struggled to get free but the restrains bound him to the stone wall of the castle. And that was something hard to break free of.

"Mario! Mario!" cried a voice. Frantically Mario looked up to see Peach in the clutches of some unknown masked man. Then with all the strength he could must Mario began to pull against the restraints. And Peach's pleas supplied him with enough strength to break free of them.

Then he quickly jumped forward and lunged at the man. He managed to grab onto him and wrestle him away from Peach. But the man was slippery as a snake. And with one swift movement pivoted Mario with his hip, lifted him up and over and slammed him onto the ground. The man reached into his belt and produced a small metal object, which when he tossed down at Mario restrained him with the same net that Sonic had.

But while he had been so preoccupied with Sonic he did not noticed the threat coming from behind. Now Sonic was free. He jumped up freeing himself from the net that held him and jumped at the assailant, knocking him onto the ground.

And this attack allowed the mask on the man's face to fall off. Now his face was out there for all to see. But when he turned to face them he was no one that Sonic or Mario knew.

His face was stern and lean and his eyes gave away nothing of what he was thinking. But if one thing was clear it was this, he had miscalculated. But he still had a few tricks up his sleeve. In one quick movement he moved both hands to his belt.

And before Sonic or Mario could react he man a new mask to cover his mouth as he tossed out something else out at them. It was a small metal ball and it landed right between the two.

At first they thought nothing of it until the ball smacked against the ground and a gas began hissing from it. Mario quickly covered his mouth with his sleeve while Sonic a gloved hand but it was little use. The gas had already gotten into their system and already began taking effect.

Visions blurred. Mario tried to keep an eye on their attack but in two quick breaths and a blink he was gone. And when Mario opened his eyes again there was no sign of the man or Princess Peach.

Sitting up and looking around he saw the toads running back and forth trying to make sense of the situation but failing. Only Sonic was around to explain it to him clearly.

"What happened?" Mario asked taking the Hedgehog by the arms." Where's Peach!"

"I don't know." Sonic shook his head." The Toads..the Toads said they saw the man take her off in that direction." He pointed a gloved finger in the direction. Mario let him go and looked for himself.

It was very little to go off of. There was many different locations in that direction and he didn't where they'd gotten to. But that didn't really matter, his choice was clear.

"Are you with me?" He asked turning to Sonic.

"Do you have to ask?" He responded.