There were only two fights before Marth's: One between Link and Captain Falcon, and the other between Mario and Mr. Game and Watch. He went to the floating stands to watch his friend Link fight on the stage Brinstar. Marth hated that arena; more serious injuries happened there than in any other stage. Boiling lava rose from beneath the floating chunk of rock, which often led to burns that got through the Smart Shields. If there was a burned patient in the Recovery Room, they had likely had a fight on Brinstar.
"You know what I think would be cool?" Roy said next to Marth, watching Link dodge another Falcon Punch. "If three of the Four Swordsmen got to duke it out in the final round."
"Of course, one of us wouldn't be there," Marth said, "but you're right, it would be kinda nice."
"Chances are that won't happen," a surly voice said from behind him. Marth turned around to see Falco, his first opponent. "Twenty-four fighters in the tournament, some with more skill than others. Now, I'm not saying that I'm more skilled than you are," he added, "but I'm just saying, likely, none of us will make it there. But I'm determined to make it past the first round. So be prepared, sword guy."
"I will, gun guy," Marth replied. "And hey, if one of us loses, no hard feelings, right? Just a match, right?"
"Just a match with really high stakes involved," Falco muttered. "But you're right, no hard feelings. If I lose, I just have to train harder until I can kick everybody's butt at once."
Marth turned and flinched as a colorful fighter flew at them and hit the boundaries. Link stood on the top platform of Brinstar, beaming.
"Well, that's two of the Four Swordsmen moving on," Roy said. "I hope it's three. Good luck on your match."
--
Marth got to watch Mario and Mr. Game and Watch beat each other to smithereens. Because Mr. Game and Watch was invisible if looked at from the side, he was extremely lightweight, and was knocked off the Kongo Jungle stage easily.
"And the winner of this match is Mario!" Master Hand announced. "Congratulations, Mario! You will move onto round two. The next match is between Marth and Falco!"
Marth glanced uneasily at Falco and gave him a thumbs-up. Falco returned the gesture with a feathers-up. They were teleported back to the academy. The next match wouldn't take place for about half an hour, which gave them a very brief intermission to get ready.
Falco was a difficult opponent. Marth had a sword and could only attack at close-range; Falco had a Blaster which fired lasers, a "Reflector" that bounced back projectiles, and a Fire Cloak which launched him in a burst of flames. The trick to beating him was to dodge all of his projectiles, duck under his melee moves, and strike. Which was easier said than done.
"Your match is ready," Fox's voice said from behind him.
"Already?"
"Yeah. Falco's getting impatient. He doesn't have what we call a long fuse, so you should probably get going before he starts getting all whiny."
Marth ran with Fox to the Teleporter and pressed the button for Fourside, as that was where his match would take place. He warped and wound up on the top of a tall building. He saw Falco on a building opposite him.
"About time, slowpoke," Falco complained.
Marth unsheathed his sword as Master Hand began the announcements. "Welcome to the ninth battle of the Ultimate Tournament! Our fighters here are Marth and Falco, ready to duke it out to move up on Fourside City! Are you two ready?"
"I've been ready," Falco grumbled, glaring at Marth.
"Yeah, I'm ready," Marth agreed.
"Then let's get started! Three...two...one...go!!"
Falco was down on Marth's building in a second. He ducked his head under Falco's kicking foot, then swiped him in the leg. When he jumped towards Falco to deliver a powerful blow, he saw it coming and flipped up backwards, kicking Marth in the chest and sending him over a gap and into another building, missing falling to his doom by inches. The ledge he stood on was maybe a foot long. Not much room.
Marth shifted his head as Falco's foot collided with the wall his head was just in front of. He lost his balance and tumbled off the building. When he regained his sense of balance, he used his Dolphin Slash to propel himself back up using the move's momentum. The next thing he knew, he was enveloped in fire by Falco's Fire Bird move. He landed on his back on the building he had started on. He tried to kick Falco in the stomach with both of his legs, but Falco grabbed them, swung Marth under him, and began firing lasers into him using his Blaster.
To escape, Marth slammed his sword into Falco's back, then rolled backwards and flipped Falco behind him and off the building. He stood, sword in hand, waiting for Falco to use his Fire Bird to come back on. Instead, Falco zoomed forward at blinding speed using his Falco Phantasm, knocking Marth off his feet and into the air. He received a double-kick from Falco and soared higher. Lights burst in front of his eyes, so he didn't have time to prepare himself for Falco kicking him over the tall central building and onto the one next to it.
Wow, is he good, Marth thought as he struggled to his feet. Falco was already over the building and working his way toward him. He pulled out his Blaster and fired several lasers at him. Marth dodged these narrowly, then leapt at him. Falco aimed his Blaster at Marth as the flying fighter came closer, but at the last second, Marth switched the angle of his body, dodged the laser, and smashed him twice with his sword. While Falco was still down, he got him using his Dancing Blade.
"I was beginning to think this would be too easy," Falco said. "Good. I finally get a challenge out of you."
"Well, don't get overconfident. That's one key to losing."
Falco twirled around and swung a leg at him. Marth blocked it using his sword and countered it, swinging his sword at Falco. He brought his sword crashing down at Falco, who flipped up backwards, kicked off the building's wall, and slammed into him. Now Marth was falling down another gap between buildings, trying to regain his equilibrium again. He used another Dolphin Slash and grabbed onto the building's edge again. Falco's boot met his fingers, and Marth fell again. He climbed onto the opposite building and was sent flying forward yet again by another one of Falco's kicks. He was knocked far off the building, heading towards the blast line.
"Marth! You can do it!" came a voice from the stands. Marth didn't look up to see who it was, because he was currently tumbling, battered and exhausted, down towards the bottom boundary. He worked up a last bit of strength and resolve and used another Dolphin Slash to climb onto the building's edge. Before Falco could attack him again, he smashed him with his sword, then jumped at him. He was met by one of Falco's lasers and fell backwards. Falco stood back up and walked over to Marth, who attempted to kick him using both legs again. Falco saw it coming, but so did Marth; when he grabbed his legs, Marth thrust his sword at Falco, then kicked Falco towards the edge of the building and hit him with the tip of his sword, where it was strongest. Falco went soaring but used his Fire Bird to try and come back on. Marth leapt into the air above him and sliced his sword downward, doing a "Meteor Smash" and sending Falco crashing down quickly to the bottom blast line. He climbed back onto the building.
"And the winner of this match is Marth!" Master Hand shouted. "Congratulations, Marth! You have won the match and will be moving onto the second round! That brings you one step closer to your goal! The next match will be between Luigi and Bowser!!"
--
"Hey, nice job, Marth!" Roy congratulated. "I thought he was going to beat you for a second. You kinda took a beating there."
"He was very tough," Marth remarked dryly. He noticed Falco out of the corner of his eye. "You did well, Falco. You almost had me beaten for a second. You may have to train until you can kick everybody's butt at once, but you won't have to train long."
"Yeah, thanks," said Falco. "Well, not everybody can make it to the second round. I guess you beat me fair and square." He glared at Marth. "But when this round is over, you and I are having a rematch, just the two of us. Got it?"
"Yup."
Falco walked away. Marth sighed. "I am really tired. I'll watch the other matches, but after that, it's a nap for me."
"You're not in need of Dr. Mario, are you?" a friendly Italian voice called.
Marth turned and smiled at the short plumber. "No, I think I'm fine. Just a nap. And something to eat. I'm starving."
"You can have some potato chips or something during the next match," Roy said.
Marth was puzzled. "Potato chips? What are those?"
Roy was incredulous. "You honestly have not tried a potato chip."
"No. Do they make you hyper like coffee?"
"No, but they make your fingers greasy. Come on, Marth! What else haven't you tried here!?!"
"Well," Mario suggested, "we could always bring all sorts of things out for the First Round Party. You know, pretzel rods, chocolate bars...pasta...."
"Wait a minute," Marth said, "there's going to be a party?"
"Sure there is!" he exclaimed. "Mamma mia! You haven't seen Peach working like a crazed cook? Where do you think she's been?"
"Alright. Roy, go ask Samus what else there is to eat that they can bring out for the party."
Roy shrugged and trotted off. Marth realized he still had his sword out and sheathed it.
"Hey, Marth!" Link called. He and Zelda were trotting up to him. "Congratulations. That makes three of the Four Swordsmen moving onto the second round."
"It probably would have been four," Young Link said, appearing out of nowhere like he always did, "if I hadn't been paired with Mewtwo. The guy's supposed to be the strongest Pokemon in existence, for crying out loud! And I have a sword about the length of a butterknife!"
"We'll make it up to you during the party," Link promised.
"Am I the only one not in the know?" Marth asked. Everybody else shrugged. "I'm gonna go take a short nap. Wake me when the next match happens."