Once all the fighters had finished moving in to their rooms, the scheduled matches began at a quick pace. The Ultimate Tournament was set up in a very freeform manner. Master Hand would post the fight schedule in the Smash Mansion where everyone could see when and where their matches were held. Every match was different, including one on ones, team battles, free for all's, with or without items, it seemed like the options were endless.
Regardless of the format or stage, all official fights took place in the "Multi-Colosseum" which laid in a large open area outside the mansion. These massive hi-tech arenas were suspended off the ground and housed the matches that were held each day. The stands inside surrounded a stage in the middle that would change depending on what the schedule called for, sometimes it would be Battlefield, or maybe it would be Temple. Each stage was summoned in by some sort of magic, which seemed to be the explanation for almost anything that happened around here. There was also a large screen that floated above the stage that displayed the stats for the match, as well as things like time and the rules.
In one colosseum, a Four-Man free for all with one stock was being held on Jungle Japes, between Wolf, Yoshi, Pichu, and Shulk. Any of the other smashers were free to come and watch if they so choose, and today a modest amount of people had gathered to watch. Currently, the match was still being set up, as the rolling rivers of the stage began to materialize in. So everyone anxiously stood around by the stands' railing, waiting for Master Hand to start the match.
"Alright-a everybody, step-a right up to place-a your bets!" Wario announced, standing on top of a crate next to a crudely made poster showing the fighters for the upcoming match. "You could win a butt load-a coins, it's-a so easy!" Most of the attendees paid him no mind, but he still managed to get a small crowd forming around him.
"I'm pretty sure gambling is against the rules," Robin pointed out.
"Really, I don't remember hearing about that..." Blue stated.
"It was in the extended rule book Master Hand keeps in the lobby's bookshelf, have you not read it?" Robin questioned.
"Uh, well, you see-"
"Wait there's books, with even more rules?" Bowser Junior interrupted.
"Hey, just-a listen up," Wario bellowed, "This is just a friendly… game! Totally not against any rules or anything, you just wager a few measly coins on-a whoever you think is gonna win, and you get-a even richer if you're-a right!"
"I could always use some extra coins!" Pit shouted excitedly.
"Me too! Papa won't buy me the new hammer I wanted, so maybe I can get enough to buy it myself!" Bowser Junior chimed in.
"Orange mentioned she wanted a TV for our room so maybe-"
"Hey, watcha guys doing over here?" Daisy asked loudly, interrupting Blue again.
"These three are planning on betting on the match through Wario, which I strongly advise against, as this is an obvious attempt to swindle-"
"Betting on the match? I am so down!" Daisy cheered, oblivious to what Robin was trying to say.
"Beautiful! Place your coins in these jars for who you think is-a gonna win!" Wario explained, pulling out some glass jars and placing them under the picture for each fighter.
"I will have no part in this," Robin stated with a disappointed look.
"Suit yourself 'stick-in-the-mud' I'm placing my bet on Yoshi, if he fights as good as he karts, this'll be a shoo-in!" Daisy placed a handful of coins into Yoshi's jar.
"Pfft, as-if, I beat Yoshi all the time, even at tennis too! I'm betting on Wolf, he's part of that awesome Villain club my dad's in!" Bowser Jr produced a Question Block shaped piggy pank and began shaking coins into Wolf's Jar.
"Lady Palutena told me Shulk can see into the future with his Monado, so no way he can lose!" Pit surmised, grabbing his money pouch.
"Uh I guess I'll vote for Pichu then," Shrugged Blue.
"Excellent, excellent!" Wario gathered the rest of the coins and placed them into their respective jars. "One of you is gonna walk outta here with a crazy amount-a coins!" The four betters hooted and hollered while Robin rolled his eyes.
"ATTENTION, THE MATCH IS ABOUT TO BEGIN!" Came Master Hand's booming call. Everyone in the stands gathered at the railing to watch the battle unfold. Jungle Japes had finally finished setting up and the four fighters began to teleport in. "3… 2… 1… GO!" As soon as Master Hand finished counting down the fighters wasted no time and rushed at each other.
Wolf initiated first, dashing at Yoshi with his claws, which sent the green dinosaur reeling. Meanwhile Pichu dashed past Shulk to avoid his backslash. Yoshi rebounded from the hit and began to roll into an egg, barreling into a surprised Pichu and straight into Wolf.
"Haha! Get 'em Yoshi!" Daisy shouted, pumping her fist in the air.
Shulk had used the time to switch to his speed art, likely to catch up to the faster Pichu. Both Shulk and Pichu were on opposite sides of the stage now, while Wolf and Yoshi duked it out on the middle platform. Shulk carefully jumped over the two towards Pichu, as Wolf was tearing into Yoshi's egg shield with a fierce combo. When it looked to be at its breaking point, Yoshi broke out and surprised Wolf with a tongue gulp. Trapped in the egg, Wolf fell off the stage and into the rapids below. By the time he broke out, he had already been swept too far away to recover, causing him to tumble through the water and losing his only stock.
"Aw c'mon, that's not fair!" Bowser Junior whined.
"That's Jungle Japes for you," Daisy shrugged smugly.
While Bowser Junior grumbled to himself, the battle was still underway. Shulk was having a hard time catching up to Pichu, who was employing an incredibly annoying 'run away' strategy. Shulk was just about to hit the yellow rodent with his Monado when Yoshi jumped in his way. Not anticipating the hit, Yoshi got flung back off the stage and over the rapids. Not wanting Yoshi to make it back Shulk jumped towards the airborne dinosaur, hitting him once more and sending him too far to make it back. Yoshi let out a pitiful cry as he too was taken by the river, like Wolf.
"What?! Are you kidding me?! Stupid friggin river…" Daisy stewed in anger.
"Like you said Daisy, 'that's just Jungle Japes'," Pit brought up innocently. Daisy looked over at Pit, and if looks could kill the angel would've been dead twice over.
"Come on Pichu!" Blue cheered, ignoring the others. The electric mouse had also jumped after Shulk, but had gone for a shocking downward headbutt, spiking the blonde into the churning waters. There was no chance for recovery, as Shulk was by the stage.
"THE WINNER IS… PICHU!" Master Hand came in to announce. Pichu jumped with joy as he was teleported off the stage into the colosseum's locker room.
"Awesome I guess that means I win!" Blue exclaimed, excited to have won his first bet.
"Nice, I guess I should've picked Pichu too!" Pit supported.
"Yeah, yeah, well I guess I should pick outside the people I know once and a while." Daisy admitted.
"Hmph, me too I guess, uh but for villains," Bowser Junior added. "Hey where's Wario?" The four looked around the stands and realized the fat mustached man was nowhere to be found. Only his crude betting stand was left behind.
"Oh yeah, Wario left a while ago," Robin commented, not looking up from the tome he was now reading, "I guess he just decided to take your money and run, like I expected."
The four were dumbfounded that they had gotten fooled so easily.
"Hey, here's an idea, how about we have our own match, a 4v1 against Wario!" Daisy suggested with a mischievous smirk.
"Haha yeah! No one cheats the Koopas and gets away with it!" Bowser Junior rallied with Daisy. Blue and Pit exchanged a smile and nodded.
"Alright! Let's go find us a Wario!" Daisy dramatically called to action, and with that the four rushed past Robin to the colosseum's exit.
The tactician shook his head as they left his sight, "Gambling is such a fool's game." He sighed, turning to the next page in his book.
