Everyone reappeared on the other side of the portal, which was the lobby room of the Mansion.
"Woah.. This place is Huuuuge! Tails ran around the room in childlike excitement with his arms out like an airplane.
"Aww.. that's precious." Luigi watched the fox pretend to fly around the room while making airplane noises. A puff of smoke filled the room and Master Hand appeared.
"Ahh.. it's good to be home. Now then.. I sincerely welcome you to the Smash Mansion! I have been working very hard to make this place acceptable for over 100 people.. So I hope it fits the bill."
Amy looked around the place in awe. "You built ALL of this?! This is incredible! Wait.. did you say over 100 people?!"
"That is correct. I plan on recruiting as many people as possible, but so far, you eight are the only ones. Hey, wasn't there another person with you?"
Knuckles nodded. "He's technically our enemy, but.. I guess he came to tell us about this spaceship part..?" (Knuckles pulled out the piece of scrap metal)
"Oh my goodness.. that has to be.. an airship piece! I have to examine it right away.. Is anyone here good at this kind of thing?
Tails' hand shot up in excitement. "Alrighty! Anyone mind if Tails goes to investigate?
"No, we don't mind. He loves that stuff. " Blaze patted Tails on the head and he ran off giggling.
"So.. what should we do now? I could really go for a chili dog right about now.." Sonic's stomach grumbled loudly. "Oops! Sorry about that.. we haven't eaten in a bit.."
"Yeah, come to think about it.. I'm starving. Is there any food here?" Knuckles asked.
"Matter of fact, there is. There's a kitchen in back. Follow me!" Master Hand led the group into the aforementioned kitchen, which was massive. What caught Sonic's attention was the fridge.
"Ooh! Do you guys have chili dogs? Those are my favorite.."
"We don't, but we do have hot dogs and chili. Is that okay? "
Sonic was already heating up the hot dogs, much to Master Hand's amusement.
"Sonic! You should at least answer him first! Don't be rude!" Amy scolded.
"Itsdeliciouth!" Sonic said through a mouthful of food. Amy sighed in disappointment as he started making more for everyone else.
(To Master Hand) "I'm sorry.. when it comes to Chili dogs, he can't contain himself.. " Master Hand chuckled as he watched the hedgehog juggle six more plates of chili dogs in his arms.
"Don't worry, I don't mind. The truth is, I've been trying to get rid of those hot dogs for days now!"
"Lunch is ready! Come and get it!" Sonic passed out the plates to everyone, who happily accepted them.
"What is this..? Mario looked at the Chili-Covered hot dog in confusion, poking it with his fork.
"That's a chili dog. Don't tell me you've never heard of em'?"
Luigi shook his head. "No, we've never seen anything like this in our world.. let alone hot dogs." (Sonic gasped in horror)
"N-NO CHILI DOGS?! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?!" Knuckles slugged Sonic on the shoulder, which shut him up. "Ahem- I mean.. you REALLY need some variety in your food options. What DO you guys like, anyway?"
"Pasta." Both of them answered simultaneously. "Or anything Italian, it doesn't matter." Sonic facepalmed in disapproval.
"Of course.. "
"Eh, it's alright, I'll try it. It looks pretty good." Sonic's face lit up as he watched Luigi eat part of the chili dog.
"How is it?"
"It's.. actually not bad! This is really good, Sonic! " Sonic grinned triumphantly from the praise.
"Unbelievable.. Sonic, that's enough obsessing over Chili dogs.. for the love of God. " Shadow groaned. "Don't forget what we came here for.
"Right, right.. sorry Shadow.."
A little while later, everyone (except Tails) gathered in the lobby room.
"Well, now that everyone's done eating, I'd say now's a good time to prepare to go to the Inkwell Isles. I know all of you want to go, but if more than four of you go at a time, you could attract unwanted attention." Said Master Hand.
"Aww.. I really want to go.. " Sonic whined.
"Who should go?" I'm okay with going." Amy remarked.
"I'll go. Knuckles stepped forward. If there's ass-kicking, I'm always down."
"Umm.. I guess it wouldn't hurt to see what this "Inkwell Isles" place has to offer.." Luigi remarked.
"Okay.. that's two.. who else?"
Mario walked to the front. "If Luigi's going, I'm going."
Alrighty.. and one more.."
Blaze stepped forward. "Count me in. I'll go for some ass-kicking.
"Are you guys sure you'll go? It's pretty dangerous out there right now.."
"D-Dangerous..? Actually.. I think I'll pas- "
"No, Luigi. You have to be brave. I know you can handle it. Trust me." Mario gave Luigi a comforting smile, which calmed him down.
"Thanks, Mario.. I think I'm ready, now.. "
"Are you ready? I'll open the portal when you're all set."
Master Hand opened the portal once they gave the signal, which swirled in shades of white to black.
"Now, I'll warn you. This world is much different than Mobius. There's plenty of threats to watch out for. Be careful out there.."
They stepped inside.
----------------------
"Ugh.. I'll never get used to teleporting like that.." Knuckles remarked.
"Where are we..?" Mario took a look around, and it was very clear that this world looked much different than either his own or Mobius. They had arrived in Inkwell Isles, it seemed.
"This place kinda looks like a cartoon.. I wonder.." Blaze remarked.
I'll go scout out the area; see if there's anything dangerous around here.." (To Mario and Luigi) "You two stay here. I'll be back in a minute." Knuckles ran into a nearby flower garden, much to Mario's dissaproval.
"Aww.. I wanted to go.." Mario complained. Why can't we go with him?"
Blaze sat down on a nearby log, motioning for the two brothers to sit next to her.
"I'll tell you a secret. It's not that Knuckles doesn't want you to come or anything, it's just that... he thinks you guys aren't very tough. He and I had a whole argument during lunch about whether or not you two are capable of defending yourselves.. Blaze buried her face in shame. "I'm sorry, guys.. he can be pretty stubborn."
"Man.. I had no idea.. Is he always like that?" Mario asked.
"Sometimes. He doesn't mean to be offensive or anything.. You see, Knuckles is the last of his kind, the Echidna. They are a talented tribe of warriors who pride themselves in their strength and power. Where he's from, everyone's as strong as him, maybe stronger. So, as you can imagine.. he's not exactly.. used to being around people with different strengths than him. N-no offense, of course.."
"None taken. Hey, I wonder what's taking Knuckles so long.. we should check on him." Luigi was beginning to worry about the echidna, who was taking a much longer chunk of time than expected. "What if he's in danger? Or hurt somehow?"
"I'm sure he'll be fine. He IS taking a while, though..
"We should go check on him.. "
" They leapt up from the log and prepared to go into the garden.
Just then, Blaze spotted a small spec getting bigger and bigger. It was Knuckles! He was running away from something.. It was far away, so it wasn't clear what it could have been.
"Aack! G-GET OUTTA THE WAY! HE'S GAINING ON ME!"
Whatever was chasing Knuckles was fast, as he couldn't outrun it. It tackled him into the dirt, dragging him several inches into the ground.
""Ugh.. Get. .. away from that thing.. It's dangerous! Knuckles dizzily pointed to his attacker, which appeared to be some kind of botanical monster with a head shaped like a flower. Blaze fumed in rage as it continued to wrap it's tentacle-like vines around Knuckles.
"HEY! Nobody messes with my friend Knuckles and gets away with it! Prepare for fire, buster!" A fireball formed in Blaze's hand, which she promptly threw at the monster, engulfing it in flames.
Knuckles had managed to wriggle out of the limp vines before they could burn him, much to their relief.
"Geez, Knuckles! Are you okay??" Luigi ran over to Knuckles, who was bruised in some places.
"Heh. I'm managing. Ya know something.. you guys are all right. Without you, I would've been a goner.." Luigi cocked his head in confusion.
"Whaddya mean? Blaze did all the work.. We couldn't do anything!"
Knuckles grinned weakly. "Blaze may have fought the monster, but you worried enough to come look for me. People usually see me as the "tough guy" so they don't normally worry about my abilities as much. But the fact that you both looked past that and saved me.. that's real strength, right there."
Luigi pulled Knuckles into a teary hug, much to the echidna's surprise. "T-thanks, Knuckles.. that means a lot.. to both of us.."
Knuckles hugged him back. "Me too, kid. Me too. " (Motions to Blaze) "Come on, Blaze! Come join us! You DID save me, after all!"
Blaze folded her arms in disagreement. "No, that's okay.. I'm.. not much of a hugger..."
Just then, a short figure approached the group of four. Hey. I don't mean to interrupt cha' little 'moment' here, but I gotta say, that was a doozy of a battle you did there! I'm impressed!"
Knuckles and Luigi immediately stopped hugging once they heard the newcomer.
"...And who might you be?" Knuckles cracked his knuckles and spun around. Behind him stood a rather confident anthropomorphic teacup.
ns 15.158.61.21da2
