2- Where Am I?

"Are you alright?"

Mario didn't answer right away. He stared at the hedgehog above him before pulling a leaf from his shirt. The blue hedgehog grabbed Mario's hand and pulled him up.

"I'm fine… Thanks."

The blue hedgehog smiled. "No problem."

Mario looked around him. There were a lot of different trees and exotic plants, and he could hear a waterfall from afar. It was like a rainforest of some sort. Where was he? Was he still somewhere in the Mushroom Kingdom? Dimble Woods, maybe? No… there weren't any waterfalls there. He couldn't recall ever encountering creatures like this before. Wait a minute, this isn't the Mushroom Kingdom… What happened, and why?

Suddenly an image of Bowser popped into his mind…

…

Bowser marched over to the four with a staff in his hand. On this staff was a large purple orb, the staff itself was blue with two gold rings, One on the top of the and one on the bottom. Bowser raised the staff high into the air, the purple orb began to glow.

"This staff…someone gave it to me. It was a wizard. He said this staff can send you far away. And with this staff, that's what I'll do to you!" Mario, Luigi, Peach and Yoshi were lifted into the air by the power of the staff. They floated in mid-air while Bowser laughed wickedly.

"So long Mario! May you all have a nice trip far, far away!" Bowser shot the rod high in the air once again. The four began to spin, faster and faster they got as they were turning into stone. Yoshi was first to vanish, in seconds he disappeared into a puff of smoke. Then Peach soon disappeared afterwards. Luigi was next to disappear into a cloud of smoke. Finally, Mario disappeared in a puff of smoke…

"BWAHAHAHA!"

…

Mario's eyes widened in horrified recognition. Bowser had some type of rod and used a spell that sent him here in this bizarre world. What if Bowser's here too? Spells can backfire if one's not careful. Mario knew this since he heard of stories similar to what Bowser said about that rod. But, where is everyone else. Luigi nor Yoshi were anywhere in sight. Not even Princess Peach herself. Where did they all end up?

"Uh… you okay there?"

The sudden question caused Mario to snap out of his thoughts. "Huh?"

"You were spacing out a little…"

"Oh, yeah… I'm fine."

The hedgehog smiled again, before his smile changed into a concerned look. "So… how'd you get here? I don't think you're from around here."

"If I'd told you, you wouldn't believe me."

"Oh yeah? Just try me."

Mario tried to describe it the best and understandable way he could. The blue hedgehog starred at the plumber awkwardly. "I'm sorry, dude, but I do not believe you one bit."

"See! I knew you would think it was crazy! But I don't blame you, it did sounded crazy! It was actually crazy…" The blue hedgehog began stepping away from the plumber. Mario placed a hand under his chin before looking back at the hedgehog. "You don't think I'm crazy, do you?"

"What? Pfft! You? Crazy? Don't be silly!" Mario knew he was lying.

"Maybe I am a little crazy…" Mario dropped his head. "Maybe it was the fall, hitting too many trees... I don't know. I'm sorry about that."

"No worries. In fact, why don't you tell me your name?"

Mario took a deep breath. "I'm Super Mario! I came from the Mushroom Kingdom." He placed his hands on his hips. "What's your name?"

He rubbed his nose with his index finger before placing both hands on his hips and crossing one leg. "The name's Sonic: Sonic the Hedgehog!" Sonic paused. "There's somewhere I hafta be right now… Why don't you come with me?" He then grabbed Mario's wrist and took off.

Mario was being dragged at first, until he managed to run along with the speedy hedgehog with his own two feet. "Wow! You're really fast!"

Sonic smirked. "You're looking at the Fastest Thing Alive! I just love to run! Don't you? It feels so great!"

"I see. So… who are looking for?"

"Eggman. He's notorious for building robots to use to take over to build this lame empire, Eggman Land or whatever."

"Eggman Land? That sounds a little goofy."

"It's stupid, that's what it is." Sonic picked up a little more speed, forcing Mario to run a little faster.

...

Upon hurrying to chase the hedgehog, Shadow happened to notice a sound... a few sounds. One being the sound of something hitting the ground hard, and another which sounded like branches rustling against one another. He stopped from where he was and started to look around, assuming that it could be the hedgehog he was chasing after. Crimson eyes landed on a nearby bush, before he quickly walked over to the bush and pushed the branches aside...

Only to see a man in green laying on the ground unconscious.

He wore a green long-sleeved shirt. He wore dark blue overalls, brown shoes, white gloves, and a big green hat with the letter L on it. He had a big round nose, a big black mustache, and big ears. This was someone he has never seen before.

Suddenly, he opened his big blue eyes.

...

Luigi screamed before grabbing the black hedgehog by the white turf of fur on his chest and sent a swift punch across his muzzle. Luigi sent another swift punch across the muzzle before standing up and punched the black hedgehog once more. The punch was hard enough to knock the hedgehog down. Luigi then made a dash for it.

Shadow laid there, dazed. That guy just started punching him for no reason. It was completely unexpecting. He got up and began running after the guy.

Luigi continued to run, ignoring the hedgehog who was calling for him. He came to a large river, then turned around to meet the black hedgehog who he attacked earlier.

"Stay right there." he said. "Just calm down and tell me what's going on."

"Never!" Luigi flew up to the hedgehog and sent and uppercut, which made the hedgehog's head snap back. Then Luigi whirled around and swiftly jabbed the hedgehog in the stomach. The hedgehog bent down holding his stomach, that nearly knocked the wind out of him. Before the animal could recover, Luigi sent another swift punch across his muzzle. Luigi then jumped about four inches high and sent a kick, hitting the hedgehog's stomach. The hedgehog fell on his back once again while Luigi stood in his stance.

The hedgehog slowly got up, and wiped the small stream of blood from the corner of his mouth. Apparently, Luigi hit him hard enough to cut him. The hedgehog began to glow a faint red.

"That's it, you've asked for it!" he snarled, showing his fangs. Luigi glared, keeping his battle stance. The hedgehog held out his hand, aiming it towards Luigi before shouting, "Chaos Sphere!"

A yellow energy beam shot out of his hand and hit the green plumber. Luigi yelped in pain as he flew backwards a few feet, landing on his back. Luigi got up and held out his hand, aiming it towards the black hedgehog. He then shot a green fire ball from it which hit the hedgehog, sending him a few feet backwards. Luigi then flew up to the hedgehog and placed two fingers on the hedgehog's chest.

"Prepare to be shocked!" Shadow began to shake violently, it looked as if he was having a seizure. He couldn't do anything, he shook uncontrollably. That means the guy was somehow electrocuting him. He felt electric bolts ripping through him, he screamed in pain. Luigi then grabbed his arm and squeezed it, electrocuting him even more. The electric bolts were tearing through him harshly now. Should he beg him to stop? Beg for mercy? But does the Ultimate Life Form ever beg for mercy?

Of course not.

Finally, Luigi let go of him. The hedgehog just laid there, nearly unconscious. Luigi smiled in triumph, he had just won a fight in a new place without the help of his elder brother. He stood up and looked down at the hedgehog for a minute, before he gave a great big kicked at his side, just to put on some extra stank. The hedgehog didn't make a sound or a movement though. Yep, Luigi showed him how it was done. Yep, yep, he was the best…

But how was he going to get out of here?

...

Heh heh heh, I'm gonna win!

Knuckles ran over a wooden bridge with a huge waterfall in view. He dashed

around a huge tree to come across a wide river. There was a vine hanging from one of the tree branches. It look pretty sturdy enough that it wouldn't break. He grabbed the vine and begin to walk backwards while having a good grip on the vine. When he was far enough, he begin to run towards the river. Once he was close enough, he jumped and swung his feet, swinging over the river. He then let go and landed on one knee.

He got up and looked behind him, to see if Sonic caught up with him yet. Sonic was still nowhere to be seen. Is he stuck or something? Did he get lost? He would go look for him, but Eggman has the Master Emerald. But it was turned into a card, it's not like Eggman could use it or anything. Still, he has to go get it back. But Sonic, what if he's in trouble? Sure the Master Emerald is captured by Dr. Eggman, but frenemies come first, don't they? Sure Sonic is his rival, but that's still his pal.

Or, what if he just had a slow start? Maybe he stopped to take a quick break. No, that doesn't sound right. Sonic never gets tired during a race. Ah, oh well. Maybe he is a little slow today. But that could mean he can catch up anytime now.

Suddenly, he heard moaning. He jerked, what was that? He heard the moan again, this time, a little louder. He begin to look around to see what made that sound. There it was again! Another moan, softer this time. Knuckles looked to his right, it was coming from those bushes. He slowly walked towards the bushes, not wanting who or whatever was in the bush to run off. He then pushed the branches aside, revealing a woman in pink, unconscious.

She wore a pink dress, which was red on the bottom. Her hair was long and blonde. She had long white gloves, red pumps, blue earrings, a blue pendant on her chest which had a yellow golden frame, she had long eyelashes, a small nose, and she had a golden crown on the top of her head with res and blew gems on it. Was she a princess of some sort?

Unexpectedly, the girl's blue eyes popped opened. She screamed, Knuckles screamed.

"Wait!" Knuckles cried, before getting slapped across the muzzle. "I'm trying to help you!" She slapped him again, making his head turn sideways. "Stop!" Slap! The girl then shoved Knuckles, hard enough for him to fall and land on his back. The woman picked herself up and took off.

"Hey! Wait!" Knuckles picked himself up and ran after the girl. What the heck is going on?!

...

Peach huffed and puffed as she ran through the forest. What was that thing? Where was she? If she finds Bowser, he would be very sorry for sending her to this wretched place. She knew this wasn't the Mushroom Kingdom. She knew her Kingdom pretty well. She doesn't remember being in a rainforest like this. And she certainly had never seen such a creature! Just what was he trying to do with her? Kidnap her like Bowser? Well she won't be kidnapped that easily!

She made her way through some tall grass when she came to a huge cliff. But from that huge cliff was an amazing view of a landscape with several waterfalls pouring into one big lake.

"Wow…" she muttered in awed. "This place is so beautiful. All of the leaves on trees are so lush and green. The grass is tall and healthy. Even the plants are so healthy and pretty…What is this place?"

"There you are!"

Peach jerked, hearing a familiar voice. She slowly turned around to see the red echidna she had attacked earlier. Her eyes widened before she buried her face in her hands and slowly sinking to her knees and began sobbing.

Knuckles raised a brow, slowly approaching the girl.

He placed a hand behind his head. "Hey, look... I wasn't going to hurt you or anything if that's what you're worried about."

Peach sniffled. "No… I'm sorry. I don't know where it came from." She slowly began to stand up. "Sorry for what I did back there. It's just that you startled me, and I thought you were trying to grab me."

"No problem. I didn't mean to startle you or anything. I just heard a few noises being made and wanted to see who was doing that. That's how I found you."

"Oh, okay." Peach wiped her damp eyes. "I'm Princess Peach, Princess of the Mushroom Kingdom. You may just call me Peach, I don't mind at all. What's your name?"

"I'm Knuckles the Echidna, I protect the Master Emerald and keep it in Angel Island Zone where it's supposed to be held. But an evil scientist by the name of Eggman took it and somehow turned it into a card. That's why I'm after him so I can bring it back to the island."

"Why did he have to turn it into a card? Was it too heavy for him or something?"

"He turned it into a card for something stupid. Anyway, that's why I'm looking for him."

"Then why don't I help you? But if I do, you have to promise me to help me find my other friends. They were sent here also thanks to Bowser, an evil Koopa King who always tries to kidnap me and take over the Mushroom Kingdom."

"Are you sure?"

Peach nodded. "Positive!"

"Okay, then follow me!" Knuckles began to run, followed by Peach.

...

"Where are you Eggman?" the silver hedgehog began to look around for the evil scientist. Suddenly he heard a rustling sound from a nearby bush. He stopped and looked at the bush.

"Who's there?!" he demanded. He jolted when he saw the bush move.

"I can hear you. If you don't come out, I'm going in after you!" The bush moved again. What if it's Eggman? The silver hedgehog went over to the bush and began to count to three.

"You have three seconds to come out of this bush! One, Two, Thre-"

"Aha!" Unexpectedly, a green dinosaur jumped out of the bushes and jumped on the hedgehog, rolling across the ground upon impact. The dinosaur was on top of the hedgehog, pinning him to the ground with his legs around his waist and his hands around the hedgehog's neck tightly.

"Keep talking smack!" Yoshi pounded his fist into the hedgehog's face. "Say something else!" Yoshi grabbed the hedgehog's throat once again before repeatedly banging his head against the ground. He continued to do so with one on his hands still wrapped around his opponent's throat and used the other to strike his face.

"I don't…here you…saying…anything!" Yoshi said with each punch.

"G-Get off!" the silver hedgehog managed to say. He kicked and struggled to get free from Yoshi, which caused Yoshi to pick up the pace. Finally the silver hedgehog managed to put his hands on the Yoshi's shoulders and shove him as hard as he could.

Yoshi fell backwards and the hedgehog dizzily but quickly got up and ran off. The dinosaur quickly got up and ran after the hedgehog, throwing Yoshi eggs at the escaping hedgehog who was trying to dodge the eggs.

"You're crazy!" the hedgehog shouted at the Yoshi.

"That's right! I AM crazy! You remember that!" Yoshi called back, throwing more eggs. The hedgehog suddenly flew into the air and began flying away.

"Later you mad dino!" the hedgehog called before taking off at full speed.

"Hey! Come back here!" Yoshi screamed, picking up his speed.