A/N: Back again. Sorry for the late update. I just have to finish the next chapter for Bandicoot Hearts. Now, we're back and this is the 3rd round. I promised someone that after the 4 round, I made do a romantic chapter featuring the couples I have chosen. Anywhere, please enjoy this chapter and please don't flame and review.
Chapter 4: The 3rd round: What, again?
Mario and Naruto had treated Peach and Sakura well and had managed to get them to be well again. Now they are outside talking.
"Sorry that you girls has to lose" Mario said.
"It's OK, Mario. At least we don't get to fight you in the finals" Peach smiled "but please win it for me and Sakura."
"Sure we will" Naruto said "So far, Goku, Link, Pikachu and Guilmon made it to the finals. So we should as well. After all, we hate to lose."
"That's like you, Naruto" Sakura smiled.
Meanwhile, Guilmon and Goku were talking by the pond.
"This is all too confusing" Goku said "as if someone is actually wanting us to win."
"Yeah" Guilmon said "but who? Hey, Goku. Shouldn't we be meeting Pikachu and Link at the tournament entrance?"
"Whoops. Yes you're right. Let's go."
In the dining room, Link and Pikachu were thinking the same line as Goku and Guilmon. Zelda and Yoshi looked at them worriedly.
"Pikachu, please don't be sad" Yoshi said "I don't really like it when you're sad."
"Link, I know the tournament's too confusing but that's fine" Zelda said "we just have to get along with it."
Link looked up "Yeah… but we were also confused on why it didn't happen to us".
Pikachu looked at the clock. "It's almost time. We have to go." They all got up and went to the stadium.
Meanwhile, Samus was talking to Yugi, Sailor Moon and Trunks.
"Do you have the funniest thing that in this tournament someone or something is watching us?" Samus said "It doesn't feel right."
"I know what you've mean, Samus" Yugi said "Most of the warriors got attacked while Link and the others didn't do anything."
"Even Anna, Young Link and Luffy seemed weird" Sailor Moon said "it's like they were hiding something."
Trunks looked at the clock. "Hey, I don't want to spoil this talk, but it's time for the next match. We have to go!"
They all nodded and rushed to the arena.
At the tournament stands, most of the characters sat down. It was a long wait. In backstage, Kakashi, Game and Watch, Young Link, Anna, Roy, Yoh, Kirby and Ichigo were waiting. Then Naruto and Mario ran in.
"You're almost late" Kakashi said to Naruto.
"Sorry, but you know me and food" Naruto chuckled.
"And you know me and pasta" Mario also chuckled.
"Right…" Yoh said "well, may we all try our best. But you know I might win. Heh, heh, heh."
"Oh yeah?" Ichigo snorted.
"We'll just see about that" Roy said.
"Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen, and now the third round will begin!" The announcer said.
As the team all came out, they get into their fighting stances.
"What will happen this time?" asked Link.
"Mm-hm" the others agreed as they nodded.
Mario and Kirby were smirking at each other, finally been able to settle the score on who is better.
"READY?" The announcer said "GO!"
Mario leapt in the air and attacked Kakashi. Kakashi knocked him back, but Mario grabbed his hand. Roy ran up to Kirby, but Kirby dodged and then sucked him in. He spat him out knocking over Naruto. But it wasn't actually Naruto, it was a log. Kirby and Roy looked confused and looked up to see 5 Narutos jumped at them and kicked Kirby to Roy. Young Link leapt from Game and Watch and fire some flaming arrows. Game and Watch collected them with his bucket. Anna and Ichigo goes at it as Ichigo swished his sword which almost slashing Anna. Yoh protected her by blocked Ichigo's sword with his sword. Roy got up and then grabbed Kirby and threw him, knocking Mario and Kakashi down.
"Wow!" Vegeta said "This match is getting interesting."
But in the shadows, Orochimaru and Bowser were watching.
"So what do you think these devices will do next? We have lighting and ice" Orochimaru said.
"Hmm… I don't know" Bowser said and he smirked "I know. Let ask the controller." He pressed the button.
As Roy ran up to finish off Mario, he screamed.
"My leg! It's on fire!" Roy screamed.
"What?" asked Mario.
Sure enough, Roy's leg is on fire.
"WHAT THE…?" Everyone gasped.
"First thunder and ice and now fire?" asked Renamon.
Mario then saw his chance and punched Roy 3 times before grabbing him and throwing out the stage.
"ROY!" Yoh called.
"My leg. It was on fire a moment ago" Roy said as he looked at his leg.
"That's too strange" Ichigo said.
The warriors ignored the confusion and continued fighting. Naruto was about to attack Game and Watch but Bowser pressed the button causing Game and Watch's arm on fire. Naruto confused at this, knocks him out. Kakashi goes in and attacked Kirby. Kirby swallowed him and transformed using Kakashi's hair and mask. Kakashi got cross at this and moved in for an attack but Kirby leapt out of the way and saw Mario. He grinned and charged towards it. But Bowser pressed the button again causing Kirby's head on fire.
"OW!" Kirby said and tried to roll it off.
Mario looked down confused and said "I didn't even use my fireballs. What is going on here?"
"We would like to know too" Luigi called to Mario.
Mario sighed "I'm-a sorry, Kirby" and he kicked him in the air sending him out of the ring KO-ing him.
Naruto and Kakashi goes off in the air. Naruto cloned himself into 50 and attacked. Kakashi was about to launch his ultimate attack until Bowser pressed the button again and Kakashi had fire on his arm. Naruto kicked him sending him out. As Kakashi was outside the ring, Naruto just stood there looking confused.
"Why is everyone getting fire on themselves?" asked Pikachu, "It's like someone is making them set themselves on fire."
"NARUTO!" Mario called "WATCH OUT!"
Naruto managed to move out of the way just in time as Ichigo attacked. He has just Ko'd Anna by sending her out of the ring. Yoh was knocked out too by Young Link and he just helping her out. Naruto sat on Ichigo's sword, taunting him. Ichigo snarled and Naruto got off before Ichigo attacked again. Young Link ran up to attack Mario but Bowser pressed it again and Young Link's hand was on fire.
"Argh!" Young Link cried as he fell to one knee.
"YOUNG LINK!" Zelda gasped.
"Young Link, are you're alright?" asked Mario.
"My hand…" Young Link said as his hand was still on fire.
Mario just stood there, shocked.
"MARIO! WATCH OUT!" Naruto cried as Ichigo ran towards Mario, but Mario leapt up and Young Link was knocked off the arena by Ichigo.
"Ichigo!" Guilmon called "Don't attack any more! You will have the same effect as Young Link and the others!"
"Don't tell me what to do!" Ichigo snarled and ran towards an confused Mario and Naruto.
"Sorry carrot head" Orochimaru smirked "You lose."
Bowser pressed it again and Ichigo felt pain as fire was shown on his leg.
"D…DARN!" Ichigo cursed.
Naruto sighed "I am so sorry, Ichigo." He then kicked Ichigo so hard that he fell out of the arena.
"GAME SET!" The announcer said "This game winner is… MARIO AND NARUTO!"
The crowd cheered. Peach and Sakura sobbed because their lovers had won. Mario and Naruto however, fell to their knees, very confused.
Back at the lobby, the opponents who was just set on fire was healing lovely thanks to Dr. Mario's treatment.
"So first their lighting" Trunks said.
"And then it's ice" Veemon said.
"And now fire?" Marth pondered.
"Anna, are you alright?" asked Yoh.
"I'm fine. Thanks Yoh."
"Young Link, you really had us worried" Link said "Sorry you lost."
"It's ok, big me" Young Link said.
"But what is going on here?" asked Falco.
Meanwhile, Mario and Naruto were outside, trying to get something out of their heads. Goku and Pikachu watched. Then Sakura and Peach came in.
"I'm so glad you won" Sakura said "but what is the matter?"
"It just the tournament is too confusing" Naruto said "Many of our friends are losing by these attacks and then we, Goku, Link, Guilmon and Pikachu take all the victory. It's like this tournament is a trap."
"A trap?" asked Peach.
Goku and Pikachu caught onto this and listened.
"Yeah, a trap" Mario said "like there is someone out there trying to make us win."
Sakura and Peach smiled and hugged them. "You're imagining things" Sakura said "remember, we kicked our villains out of Jump Superstars."
"And we defeated ours in Super Smash Bros Melee" Peach said "so come on. Don't be sad. You're in the finals alongside Link and the others."
Mario then smirked "Yeah, you're right. Link can't have his title forever."
Naruto smirked "Yeah. I don't think Goku will be keeping the title forever."
Sakura and Peach smiled and kissed them on the cheek. As they gazed upon the stars, Goku smirked and so did Pikachu.
"So you're not scared about losing your title?" asked Pikachu.
"No. But it won't mean I won't hold back" Goku said.
"That's the spirit and be careful, because me and Guilmon may take the title from under your feet" Pikachu smirked.
Goku smiled at his young friend "Yeah well Link and I will make sure that you don't."
They laughed and watched the 4 in silent.
Fox and Luffy were talking alone.
"Hey, Luffy. Is something the matter?" asked Fox "You seemed quite all the time. Usually you're loud and…"
"Oh it's nothing, Fox. I am calm" Luffy said and he decided to change the topic "Are you ready, because we will wipe out the contesters and enter the finals."
"Yeah and we will take the title from Goku and Link for sure!" Fox said "let's do this for Nami and Krystal!"
"Yeah!"
They didn't see Andross and Crocodile hiding in the shadows listening to them.
"They WON'T be a final" Crocodile smirked.
"Not after we're through with you and your little friends" Andross cackled.
They went away into the shadows.
Meanwhile, Bowser and Ganondorf were standing before Broly and Orochimaru.
"Sir" Bowser said "we managed to get Kakarot, the boy, the dinosaur, the mouse, that plumber and that ninja boy in the finals".
"Now we just get that fox and straw hat to win and then we proceed in phrase two, capture their loved ones" Ganondorf said.
"Good, good." Broly said "and make sure nothing goes wrong! If we were found out, then we failed and I am blaming this on all of you! GOT IT!"
"Yes sir!" Ganondorf and Bowser saluted and walks away.
"Hmhmhm. It appears everything is according to plan" Crocodile.
"Yes, Crocodile and after we got rid of Kakarot and our enemies, we will crush the remaining fighters and conquer the world!" Broly cackled "And no one will interfere including that would happened to their loved ones. UWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"
They laughed evilly. In the shadows, Pichu and Luigi, who were listening, gasped and ran.
"So they ARE here!" Pichu cried "they are doing this to the others."
"We gotta tell Luffy and the others tomorrow before it's too late!" Luigi said.
Luigi and Pichu kept running back to their rooms.
To be continued…
A/N: Now Luigi and Pichu knows, huh? Hopefully I will let Anna and the others reveal the villain's plans soon in the next chapter (and not the winners, afraid). Anywhere, please tell tell me what you think and I'll try to update the next chapter.