Crap! This chapter is short! I'm so sorry about this! I hope you enjoy it overall.

Sonic and co owned by SEGA

Strike, Aqua, Axel and Sally owned by me

Other OCs owned by respective authors

Sonic the Hedgehog:

Tournament of the Stars

Chapter 23

Last time, Jet and Armand defeated Big and Mario. But Mario went crazy and threatened to kill Armand. Damien managed to stop him, surprised that the hedgehog had let out his emotions. Mario then ran off, shocking the golden dog. No one seemed to notice as Round 2 was still continuing.

"Our next fight is Marisa VS Axel!"

The human girl and hedgehog swordsman entered the arena and shook hands. Both knew of the other's tactics. Marisa knew that

Axel was an expert swordsman and focused on attacking while Axel knew that she was a mage. He also remembered that she beat Strike and the yellow hedgehog's mangled body in the medical wing came to his mind. He shuddered.

"Hey, are you alright?" Marisa asked.

Axel remembered where he was and drew his sword. "Yeah, I'm fine. Now let's fight!"

Marisa smirked and immediately fired a bolt of lightning at Axel. He knew he couldn't block magic with his sword so he rolled out of the way. He made a dash for Marisa and swiped out with his sword, which barely missed Marisa, cutting off a bit of her shirt.

In the audience, Sonic saw Larcen's fists tighten as Axel attacked. Something was definitely going on between those two.

Back in the arena, Axel was recklessly swinging out with his sword but every time, Marisa dodged whilst sticking her tounge out at him. Getting infuriated, he made a dash, his sword aimed straight at her but, with amazing grace, she flipped right over him and kicked him in the back, knocking him to the floor.

He got up but found himself bombarded with fireballs, which singed his fur. He ran as fast as he could while Marisa began to throw more fireballs at him. Deciding to take her by surprise, He began to run across the wall before jumping off and aiming his sword at her. But, she surprised everyone by firing a wind spell. It was shaped like a spinning disc and it went straight through his sword, instantly breaking it. As Axel stared at his broken weapon, he failed to notice Marisa launching another lightning bolt at him. It hit its target, sending Axel back into the wall. He slumped back down, holding his head. He still had enough energy to fight but without his only weapon gone, he raised his hands in surrender.

"Axel has given up, making Marisa the winner!"

The crowd let out a cheer for the girl while she helped Axel up. Neither was damaged that badly and returned to their seats. Sonic saw Larcen congratulating Marisa again while Axel looked slightly disheartened.

"Sorry about your sword, bro" he said.

"It's OK. I'm sure I can get it fixed once I get home" Axel responded.

Sonic noticed that his brother was in deep thought about something. He'd been like that ever since Strike was injured. Strike? Axel wasn't worried about him was he? He was about to ask when the commentator spoke again.

"Our next fight is Kera VS Crisis!"

Kera and Crisis entered the arena, both looking confident. When the met in the arena, Crisis extended his hand as a sign of sportsmanship but Kera didn't take it. She had seen what he did to Bark and she wasn't happy with it.

Crisis took back his hand and brought out his sword, which Kera copied.

"Be on your guard, tanuki!" Kera threatened.

"Likewise" Crisis retaliated.

The two instantly charged at each other and exchanged blows with their swords, clings echoing through the arena. Crisis backed off and performed his Hell Flame Strike, the same attack used to defeat Bark. But Kera managed to neutralize the attack by turning her sword blue and firing a torrent of water at the tanuki, sending him crashing into the wall.

Looking smug, Kera's sword changed again, this time to red, and as she fired the blast of fire at Crisis, she yelled "Let's see now YOU like it!"

The blast completely engulfed Crisis, and the ensuing explosion made everyone worry, even Kera. It looked like she had just killed him, when the smoke parted to reveal a very pissed off Crisis.

"THAT'S IT! I'M DONE PLAYING!"

He pulled out a petrol can out of nowhere and dumped the contents all around him. Kera was confused at this but her eyes widened when he pulled out a match and struck it, letting it drop. As it came in contact with the petrol, it erupted into flames, which Crisis somehow absorbed. He then condensed the flames into his palms and rushed at Kera with amazing speed. He slammed his fist into Kera's stomach, releasing the flames. The explosion would've sent Kera out of the arena if Crisis didn't quickly grab her, punch her again, blasting her into the ground with a destructive sheet of flame. Kera was seen embedded in the ground, covered with burns and unconscious.

"Crisis wins!"

The crowd didn't cheer, after seeing him now decimate two fighters. The tanuki immediately regretted what he did, knowing he shouldn't have let his anger get out of control. He pulled the unconscious hedgehog out of the ground and laid her onto the stretcher that the medics brought. He then left the arena.

Knuckles seemed worried about Kera and decided to make sure she was OK, leaving a very annoyed Shade. Amy, with a sly grin on her face, shifted closer and said in Shade's ear "Knuckles and shade sitting in a tree…"

That was as far as she got when Shade shot her a glare that would give Mephiles a heart attack. The pink hedgehog quickly stopped and retreated several metres. Shade sighed after she left and thought to herself "She has a point. That echidna isn't like anyone I've met before. I better tell him how I feel by the time this is over."