Chapter Five: The Most Incredible Peppercorn Sauce

They arrived at the back door to the stadium, where contestants would be able to enter without being hounded by fans come to see the show, as the sky was beginning to dim to a beautiful orange glow. The car ride over had been entirely silent, and Ribbon Girl stayed continued that silence as she got out of the car.

She shut the door quietly and opened the door behind, taking her gym bag from the back seat and swinging it over her shoulder slowly. Min Min had taken this time to get out herself, coming to Ribbon Girl's side of the car to see her off properly, as they always had, with a hug, a kiss, and a 'good luck!'.

Ribbon Girl shut the back seat door and turned on the spot, without even a glance to Min Min, and began heading to the back entrance of the stadium. She got a couple of feet in that direction before she heard her girlfriend call out to her in an incredible tone that she had never heard come from her before.

"RIBBON." She shouted with something of a fury. It wasn't anger. No, more a mix of emotions built up after a long and stressful week. Frustration that she would go so long in total silence, refusing to speak much about anything at all. Exhaustion after so long of this overwhelmingly tense atmosphere lingering between them. And, perhaps now most of all, shock that Ribbon Girl would even think of leaving without a word, after all they had been through, and after all they had done for one another.

The exclamation sent a sharp shudder down Ribbon Girl's spine and her eyes widened brightly, though she kept her back to Min Min. She felt paralyzed for a moment, as if all this time she had been not quite there, in something of a state of autopilot, and it just now hit her that she was standing between Min Min and the stadium, ready to head off to her big fight without even a 'goodbye'.

Min Min's eyes began to well. "You're just gonna walk away with a word? Do I mean that little to you? " All that stress and worry and mixed emotion she had been bottling the past few days was coming back up, catalyst by the betrayal thrust upon her in just that moment.

Ribbon Girl turned right around quickly, her eyes streaming with tears. "N-NO! God, no!" She dropped her gym bag to the floor, rushed forward, and lunged a hug around Min Min. "You mean the world to me, I-I promise!"

Min Min wrapped her arms around her in return and collected herself. Part of her had expected Ribbon Girl to continue ignoring her, and the emotions that would have splurted out from a result like that would have been… Fierce. But almost instantaneously she had been, in a way, woken up - she wasn't trying to be cold to Min Min, she was just overwhelmed and shut the world out. Continuing to splash around these mixed emotions within her would just make it all worse, and would hurt Ribbon Girls' chances of winning the championship even further. That isn't what she needed right now. It wasn't what either of them needed.

"I-I've just b-been s-so…" She pressed her face against Min Min's shoulder and sobbed into it. " I'M SORRY! "

Min Min held her tightly and gently shushed her, trying to help calm her down. "I-It's okay… I understand, Ribs, I promise." She placed her hands on either side of Ribbon Girl's face, wiping tears away with her thumb. "Whatever happens out there today, just remember that I'm here and I love you!"

She nodded quickly. "I-I don't even care about this stupid tourney." She wiped her nose with a sleeve. "L-Let's just go home."

Min Min looked into her eyes. "Aw, Ribs… I don't think you mean that."

"I-I do, I just wanna b-be with you!"

"And you will be. I'll be here after the tourney - win or lose! You know that."

Ribbon Girl smiled. "Th… Thanks, Min."

She kissed her forehead. "You get into that ring and you're coming home a champion, no matter how that match plays out. That's all it'll take for me."

She nodded. "Y-Yeah. I-I don't wanna be a no show…" She sniffled. "I don't care what his fans will think. M-My fans wanna see me there, even if I do get smacked around a bunch!"

"And I'll be in that crowd too, cheering you every step of the way!" Min Min smiled back. "... And Mechanica. She'll be there to support you too."

"Y-Yeah. I'll have to make it up to her… Again…" She wiped her tears with her wrist. "She really deserves a better role model than me."

Min Min laughed. "Get in that ring and I'll see you back here right after. Okay?"

"A-And then we can get dinner a-and watch some movies?"

"Exactly!"

They both smiled to each other and exchanged a long kiss which, admittedly, was a little gross given all the tears.

The two parted ways shortly after, with Ribbon Girl picking her gym bag back up and heading into the changing rooms of the stadium, and Min Min making her way through the crowds at the main entrance to stand among them during the show.

With just moments to go before the match began, Ribbon Girl took a second to look through some old photos of her and Min Min on her phone. It helped to warm her up a bit, knowing she could always rely on her. And she really could.

But a nagging feeling sat at the pit of her stomach. She was about to go up against Max Brass again for the first time in years, facing down her biggest fear with tons and tons of spectators watching closely, ready to cheer or boo at a moment's notice. And it began to dawn on her that she did care - she cared a lot about how it would feel to be humiliated like that again, and how disappointing it'd be to be going home again without the championship.

If only the championship didn't mean so much to her. If it really, truly didn't matter whether she won or lost, then maybe she'd be able to walk into that ring feeling relaxed. She'd be able to float through the air with a hum in her heart, dancing and twirling as she threw her punches in beautiful, elegant, and effective ways, the way she could when she was up against Helix or Spring Man or any other opponent she faced. But so long as the championship looming overhead mattered so, so much to her, she was a lost cause.

She did her best to force it out of her mind before she began feeling sick. And then the bell rang, piercing through the air and making her jump. It was time for her to enter the ring.

She placed her mask to her face, curling her ARMS out to their extended beauty, and equipped a Slapamander to her left and a Sparky to her right. She headed up the stadium stairs with her heart pounding in her chest. She reached the top step to find herself instantly surrounded by a cheering crowd spread around an open ring, eager to see the finale to another incredible tournament, and no doubt eager to see their champion back in action. She headed to the ring with her heart throbbing, jumping in and taking her place in the farmost corner. She waved to the onlooking crowd as they continued cheering, trying not to let her nerves show..

A whistle sounded from the crowd to her right, catching her by surprise. She looked over and saw Min Min waving and cheering excitedly with a big smile, standing beside Mechanica, who was wearing a shirt adorning Ribbon Girl with beautiful pinks and reds. Ribbon Girl smiled and waved to them, and for a moment she felt safe.

And then, with great gusto, the crowd's cheering increased tenfold. Max Brass had ascended the stairs and the crowd was going wild. He flexed for them and they screeched. He posed for them and they began to chant his name. And then he turned and looked to Ribbon Girl, meeting her eye-to-eye, for the first time in two years.

"Well well well, what'd we have here, eh?" He laughed as he jumped into the ring, standing opposite her. "My, you're skinny like a twig! I'm afraid I'll snap ya' in half!" The crowd's laugh echoed around the room, sending a tight squeeze around Ribbon Girl's heart.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" Biff began over the intercom. "I'd like to welcome you all to the ARMS Single-Round Grand Prix Finale!" Another outburst of cheers came from the crowd. "In just a short moment we'll be witnessing the championship battle of the incredible airess, Ribbon Girl, against the return of our beloved commissioner, the legendary Max Brass!"

Ribbon Girl's legs were wobbling, and felt like they were going to give way. Brass, opposite her, stood with his head held high and a confidence unmatchable by any other man she had ever met before.

"Will Ribbon Girl take the championship? Or will Max Brass continue his era of being undefeatable? I don't know about you, but I can hardly wait to find out! So let's not wait a moment longer… Ready?"

A bead of sweat dripped down Ribbon Girl's face, and the corner of Max Brass' mouth raised into a smile.

" ARMS! "

And with that, the match was under way. Ribbon Girl shot first, flinging her Sparky toward Brass with great speed, who promptly flipped over it backwards like it was nothing.

She curved her Slapamander out to the left, but before it was able to connect with his face she was suddenly hit with his Nade - fully charged from landing his flip - and blown back in a fiery explosion. She fell face-first to the floor, right at the corner of the stage, and then slipped down to the lowered outer segment with a slow thud.

She took a deep breath and flipped herself back to her feet, taking note of his oncoming Nade and side-stepping it as quickly as she could… Only to be surprised by his charged Kablammer, launching her back again with another explosion.

Max Brass bellowed a laugh. "Sorry kid, but there's a reason they call me… THE UNDEFEATED CHAMPION!"

Ribbon Girl got to her feet slowly as the crowd cheered louder, her eyes wet with coming tears, as he flexed to them smugly.

Max sent another two fists her way, and they slammed her before she could react. She was back down to the floor with only two thirds of her health remaining to Brass' full meter. The crowd was chanting his name.

"C'mon, kid!" He chuckled. "You're makin' this too easy for me!"

Ribbon Girl's knees began to shake again as she began to feel sick.

"Can'tcha even land a single hit, lil' lady?" He laughed again. "Don'tcha like steak, eh?"

That line, more than anything, just… Confused her. She raised an eyebrow as she panted.

He laughed. "What, don'tcha know? The champ gets all sortsa free junk!" He grinned. "Blazers. Golf clubs. Laptops. Beanies. Take your pick!" He cracked his neck to one side, audibly. "But best of all? The champ eats for free!" He flexed. "B-e-a-utiful lil' place down the street from 'ere. Does the world's best steak dinner, far as I'm concerned!" Another flex. "With the most incredible peppercorn sauce!" He banged his ARMS together. "And tonight? That's where I'll be dinin'."

A realization suddenly sparked in her head, right as he lunged another charged Kablammer at her. Rather effortlessly, she tilted to one side and it slipped right past her. An incredible "Ohhhhhhhhh?" echoed throughout the crowd.

Brass seemed surprised. "Guess I musta piqued up that appetite of yours, eh lil' lady?"

"No, actually." Ribbon Girl said with sudden confidence, feet firmly on the ground, unshaken. "Win or lose… I have dinner plans already."

She lunged her Sparky forward and he blocked with with his own ARM… Only to be hit upside the head by her Slapamander, swung only a split second after the Sparky. The hit surprised Brass, which only led to him being further caught off guard for when the Sparky returned, making full contact with his face.

His smile began to fade as he realized this fight wasn't going to be quite as easy as he had planned. "Must be quite some plans." He launched another Nade, fully charged.

She flipped over it, landing square on her tippy toes, then dropping her feet back flat on the ground. "They are. Because I know I could spend this whole match with my face to the floor and she'd still be there for me." Another dodge, followed by a quick Slapamander hit. "So what does this matter? Any of this?" Dodged a grab and followed with a Sparky. "It doesn't. None of this actually matters. Not to me." Blocked a whole handful of hits.

And for the first time that week, those words rang true for Ribbon Girl. She had tried as hard as she could the night before to just stop caring, all to no avail. But now? Here? Standing in the ring faced with the man she feared the most, but with the knowledge in her heart that Min Min would be there for her win or lose? She finally, truthfully, didn't care whether she won or lost. And that was all it took.

She jumped into the air and began to hum, floating through the air like a butterfly, continuing to dance off the ground without any support. And then, with Brass holding his ARMS high, ready to strike above him at the floating target… She plunged right back down to the ground, ARMS charged instantaneously, and launched a sparky forward. Brass' ARMS fell to the floor with a thud, and in his moment of helplessness, she lunged both of hers' to him and pulled him off of the floor, twirling him around overhead and launching him straight to the ground in a powerful smack.

Max Brass brought himself back to his feet and began to pant a bit. He wasn't flexing anymore, and his grin had faded entirely. "If you don't care 'bout all this… Why not throw the fight, eh? You're throwin' some mighty punches for a gal who don't care."

That was a good question, actually. She thought for a moment, before looking back at Brass with a smile. "I think you mentioned a free beanie?." She jogged back and forth on her feet, beaming with energy. "I know a girl who'd like that beanie~"

Brass tried for another grab, but she dodged it quickly, jumping into the air and dancing around like a ballerina, dodging hits as best she could and dealing her own in majestic swings. Before long the crowd began to chant her name, with the distinct twinge of Min Min's voice being the loudest among them.

With only a sliver of Brass' health left he let out a hard grunt, and began an incredible rush attack, giving all he had in a last ditch attempt at beating Ribbon Girl. It took her by surprise, but not a second too late she pressed both her ARMS to her chest and raised her shield, absorbing every rapid hit as it came, until her shield was a sour red… But it didn't snap. Not before Brass' rush was over, leaving him stunned at her incredible reflexes.

Without another thought, she launched both ARMS forth and grabbed him by the collar, pulling herself over to him before swinging him overhead as she cheered her signature move. " Ribbonado! "

The crowd went wild as she slammed Brass to the floor, knocking that final hit point off, and sending the crowd into and eruptious applause.

"Ladies and gentlemen, an incredible thing has happened here tonight," Biff began over the loudspeaker. "The 'Undefeated' Champion has officially been defeated!" Confetti began to pour down from the sky. " And Ribbon Girl is our new champion! "

She held her head high and stuck her ARMS in the air, as the adoring crowd cheered for her to no end. After everything she had been through, she had done it. She was the ARMS champion. Her heart pounded in her chest not with fear, but with unfaulting self-pride.

Love you guys!~" She cheered out to the adoring crowd, holding her hands to over her heart.

Suddenly she felt a hand grab her wrist and turned to see Max Brass beside her, stood with a proud smile on his face and finally over the shock and awe of losing. He dragged her ARM into the air above them. "GET A LOAD 'O THIS GAL RIGHT HERE, GUYS & GALS!" He grinned. "GIVE IT UP FOR YOUR NEW CHAMPION !"

The crowd burst into another loud applause. She looked to him in awe.

"You did great, kid." He smiled at her. "One 'ell of a fight! You'll make a fine champ."

Her lip quivered, almost as if she were about to cry, so taken aback by the warmth he showed to her. She had spent so long with a distorted vision of him in her head of a man who would do anything to claim victory. A man who loved to win more than he cared for the sake of fairness, or good sportsmanship. But that wasn't the kind of man Max Brass truly was. He didn't love to win - he loved to fight . He loved to hear the fans cheer out in support, and it didn't matter if that support were for him or another, it just mattered it was for someone who fought with everything they had within them, the same way he fought each and every time he took to the stage himself.

And there, for a split moment, she began to see Brass not as a man to be feared but as the same Max Brass everyone else adored. The one who truly deserved to be the face of ARMS fighting, because he loved it more than anyone. Because he-

A roar echoed through the stadium and the crowd fell silent.
"W-Wha?" Biff stammered over the intercom. "Up in the sky! W-What is that thing?"