Round 1:

Piranha Plant vs. Joker

The carnivorous monster snapped at the camera three times, smiling devilishly as its image froze, indicating that its interview was forthcoming. Sniggering could be heard around the room.

"How does one interview a plant?" Jin wondered aloud.

As if the pre-recordered footage opted to answer his question, Bowser Junior sat in the interview hot seat, while the fighter himself skulked in the background.

"So…Is this Petey Piranha?" asked Nikki.

The plant chuckled as Bowser Junior's face twisted into a bratty indignance, "No no no! He hasn't grown back yet, but luckily, his powers are back in full effect."

"Powers?" asked Nikki.

"Yeah! Papa had him bred real special, he's got all sorts of Piranha Plant genes in him, and can use a whole bunch of powers!"

"So, how do you think it'll fare against Joker?"

The plant chuckled again, but Bowser Junior remained neutral. He's pretty powerful, and I don't know what kind of monsters exist in his world, but I trained him as best I can. I know no one in the Koopa Kingdom Piranha Plant fight league will bet against him even as a kinda recent seedling. Heck, maybe he can even give The Mario Brothers a run for their money like this, who knows?"

"Alright, that answers my last question, thanks for your time."

The plant stuck it's tongue out at Nikki. Now it was time for Bowser Junior to snicker as they walked off camera.

Next, Joker's graphic played, simply tugging at his glove as his name appeared on screen, accompanied by highlights of his battle with Lucario. After those concluded Joker was sat in the infamous interview chair.

"So, how does it feel to be a Super Smash Brother?"

Joker shrugged, "Beyond words Nikki. Some weird stuff has happened this year, but this just blows it out of the water, stuff like Akechi non-withstanding."

"I actually had a few more questions for you than the usual, given all of that. How do you feel knowing that you were the only Smasher that had to formally qualify?"

"Was I?" Joker asked, eyes widening, "Well, they just found our hold world by chance didn't they? Something about evil energy? At least that's what Shulk told us all when we bumped into him in the game room one night. To answer your question though, having to jump through hoops is nothing new for us Phantom Thieves."

"Alright. So Joker, you mentioned Akechi earlier. How does it feel to have him back in the mix?"

"A relief, but I don't think the feeling is mutual."

"Besides him, anyone else you're looking forward to fighting?"

"Well, Lucario's been looking forward to a rematch. I trained a bit with Cloud, so I'd like to see what he can do at full strength. Also we've learned that we're interconnected with Bayonetta and Sonic somehow, but Futaba won't tell us why, so that puts them up on my fight list if not for the sheer mystery of it all."

"Well, you've been my chattiest interview candidate thusfar, thanks a lot."

"Yeah, I've been chattier since I got here. Maybe Mario and those guys are rubbing off on me," Joker chuckled with a nod, "Thanks for your time m'am."

"No problem!" Nikki answered.

Now, Cranky and 9-Volt had the floor, "Huh, never would've thought Joker would be that chatty, or that polite for that matter."

"Is it because of the mask?" 9-Volt asked, eyebrow raised, "Not judging people for the masks they wear is kinda the Phantom Thieves' whole thing."

In response, Cranky simply grumbled.

"That said," 9-Volt continued, moving swiftly on, "What do you think about the Piranha Plant business, basically Frankensteining…"

"Frankenstein is the name of the doctor, Frakenstein's Monster is the monster!" Cranky butted in, a smug smile upon his wrinkled lips.

With a sigh so quiet it couldn't be picked up on his headset mic, the exaggerated play by play man soldiered on, "Basically sticking parts together like Frankenstein's Monster,"

"Yer puttin' too much thought into it whippersnapper! All that science and technology and they can't even beat a plumber!" snapped Cranky.

Piranha Plant's music, whimsical chimes and the plucking of a cello providing backup to a happy flute tune, hit the speakers. Piranha Plant bounced out happily, to the cheers of many Koopa Troopas in the audience. The cheering terraformed into the cheering of women and children from all over the massive stadium as the crowd registered how cote the dog-like plant was.

At this 9-Volt's chest heaved in a heavy breath of relief as he launched into his explanation, "This is a piece by the Koopa composer Aaron Koopaland called "Through the Warp Pipe" a two century old composition about the ancient pipe maze that connects the world you and I share Cranky."

"Back in my day we didn't have warp pipes, we shared an arcade cabinet and we liked it!"

Just as 9-Volt began to zone out, his vocal cords tensing to form the next reply, the lights went out at the domed stadium. The opening, groovy baseline of "Wake Up, Get Out There" erupted over the sound system. As it did, the Phantom Thieves logo appeared over a staticky TV effect on the entire video wall, just as it had on Opening Night. Suddenly, a pounding snare drum interrupted the beat.

"We will take this tournament," proclaimed the pre-recorded voice of Joker.

The funky jam of "Wake Up Get Out There" was replaced by blaring electric guitars as the house lights came up. Joker appeared in Tunnel B, followed out by the rest of the Phantom Thieves in matching tracksuits.

Adrenaline, in my soul

Every fight out of control

Do it all to get them off their feet

Crowd is here, about to blow

Waitin' for me to start the show

Out the curtain, lights go up I'm home

(Whoa!)

By now, The Phantom Thieves had made their way to center stage, posing and waving to the crowd as they walked

And my father said, when I was younger

Hard times breed better men (better men!)

Ann, who was exuberantly leading the crowd in the song, was dipped into a kiss mid-word by the suave leader of the Phantom Thieves.

You took it all away, I give it all away
Can't take my freedom
Here to change the game, a banner made of pain

Yusuke and Joker shared a brisk handshake. He attempted to engage Ryuji in the same gesture, but Ryuji instead grabbed Joker by the face, screaming platitudes that one might here in an overenergetic locker room.

Now you bow to me
You took my dreams but not my name
You'll follow me until the end
I am my kingdom.

Each of the remaining female Phantom Thieves, Haru, Makoto, and Futaba each got soft but tender hugs. Morgana then hopped onto Joker's shoulder, prompting the music to be cut other Thieves to head for the back.

"And now," began Mills Frames as he materialized in between the two combatants, "The following is a first round match in the Super Smash Bros Ultimate Tournament! Introducing in the corner to my left. It represents the Mario Universe it is the Bloom of Your Doom, it is PIRANHA PLANT!"

The odd plant bounced up and down excitedly as people cheered.

"Next, in the corner to my right, he comes to us from the Persona universe. He is the Leader of the Phantom Thieves, he is JOKER!"

A simple wave was enough to send the stadium into a high pitched cheer.

"Joker popular with the ladies here in Smash Stadium it sounds like." 9-Volt responded

"He's popular with anyone who admires the male form! And how could you not? Geeze Laweeze," Cranky chuckled.

"At the request of the Koopa Camp," Mills announced, "We will be forgoing the coin toss as Piranha Plant can succeed on any stage."

"How cocky can you get?" snapped 9-Volt to a smattering of boos from the crowd.

"I know, this is gonna go really badly," agreed Cranky.

"The stage is Mementos, two stocks, items medium! Smashers, are you ready?" asked Mills

Joker nodded, while Piranha Plant once again snapped at the air The two disappeared at Mills' affirmative hand signal.

Stage: Mementos

Rules: 2 stocks, Items Medium

Music: "Mass Destruction"

3

Joker repelled down from his grappling hook, briefly stopping to look around at the oddly blue Mementos.

2

Piranha Plant extended its long base from out of the potted plant it laid in, somehow mimicking the sound of going through a warp pipe.

1

Piranha Plant started to growl in Joker's direction. The Phantom Thief looked unmoved.

GO!

Now seething, Piranha Plant bolted towards Joker. Without hesitation, Joker ran forward to close the gap. Much to his surprise, the wily plant leapt over him, spinning its leaves like a helicopter blade to land behind him. Joker immediately whipped around, slashing as he turned with his knife. Unfortunately it, and the subsequent three knife slashes hit nothing but the air as the spindly creature bobbed and weaved around him. A sprinkle of Eiha proved even easier to evade, as the plant scuttled backward and jumped to the overhead platform nearly as soon as Joker snapped his fingers. In the second Joker took to process the motion around him, the plant was back on top of him, slashing at him with the leaves that served as his arms.

Razor sharp, got it, Joker quickly noted the tear in his outfit.

Out of animal instinct as much as petty retaliation, Joker carved into the plant in a zig zag motion, following it up with a gun shot from his pistol. The creature snarled in annoyance, swinging the clay pot along the floor to smash into Joker's ankles. Joker bounced on his good ankle for a second. He had watched the training videos of the plant as soon as the brackets were announced, but in that moment, he could not process that a clay pot of all things was part of the anatomy of this living creature. Show any kind of weakness was a mistake as the plant slashed him diagonally with his leaf, and pounced on him as he was sent into the air. Joker attempted to draw his gun, but the plant simply snapped down on his unwillingly offered hand, tossing him up into the air and headbutting him twice.

"Wow, never expected the plant to play volleyball with Joker!" 9-Volt shouted.

The plant went for another headbutt, but Joker slashed his knife at the air between them. Rather than make contact, it was intended to spook Joker's opponent. It worked, as the thing yipped, drawing away and letting the Phantom Thief get back to the ground. Much like Piranha Plant had earlier, Joker took the moment of hesitation to strike. Three knife slashes, Eiha. It all worked, as now the plant was stunned with pain, poison aura oozing off of him. Joker reared back stepping forward to deliver a running double thrust kick. Piranha Plant must've known something was afoot, Joker cursed, as it hopped over the cobbled together martial arts maneuver , grabbing him with both leaves, throwing him into the air as its next extended to clamp on Joker's chest.

"Ooooh, that's gotta hurt!" Cranky lamented.

"But that's just if he shoots ya!" 9-Volt quipped

"Cranky growled under his breath, "Youngun, don't you start.."

Meanwhile, Joker could only wince as a spiked ball flew up out of the Piranha Plant's mouth and collided with his already throbbing chest.

"There it is!" Cranky shrieked, "Patooee!"

Joker felt the grip his mask have around his face loosen. It was time.

"Arsene!" Joker commanded, whipping off the mask and letting the top-hatted man come into being.

The plant leapt out to meet Joker as he fumbled through the air. The creature leered forward, looking to take more out of Joker, but a well-placed feint of a counter caused the plant to retreat, leaping back onto the stage proper. This allowed Arsene, meanwhile, to fly Joker up to stage.

"And Piranha Plant misses his chance," 9-Volt bellowed.

"Good feint and recovery by Joker," Cranky followed.

Joker immediately began to run as soon as he hit the ground. The curious plant looked over his shoulder and saw the shiny object Joker was running for, an Assist Trophy. A tiny whimper escaped it, as it was too late for it to take the advantage. Joker held up the Assist Trophy, and from its base exploded a jolly looking Japanese man.

"Oh! It's Doctor Kawashima! Time to get miggedy miggedy mathematical!" cheered 9-Volt.

"Boy, what in the hell did you just say to me?" snarled the old ape.

With a happy xylophone tune, the vein infected city of Tokyo was replaced by a black and white grid. Joker bit his lip as the man's head floated away. As the single digit numbers floated through the sky, the thought briefly crossed his mind if the Piranha Plant could even do basic math, let alone understand numbers at all. Shaking the thoughts away, Joker karate kicked a '4' right into a '6' that happened to be ambling by the Piranha Plant, who was struck dumb at the change in scenery. The numbers combined to make '10' before flashing threatening and exploding with the force of one of Star Fox's Smart Bombs. As the planmt was thrown into the air, Joke began to shove more numbers towards each other. In the same spot it had earlier, a '6' impacted a '4'. The limp pant could do nothing as he fell from the theoretical frying pan into the fire, caught in yet another explosion and sent to the top blast zone.

Piranha Plant: 1

Joker: 2

"And that kids, is why you always do your math homework, preferably with Donkey Kong Jr Math," Cranky explained.

"The game so good it killed the NES Education Line," 9-Volt chortled mockingly.

"Quiet you!"

As Joker dove off the revival platform, two items, a Pokeball and a Homerun Bat also appeared. Grabbing the ball first, Joker through it down. The Pokemon Tapu Koko appeared, first spinning dramatically, then opening its outer shell to smother the battlefield in lightning bolts. The plant was frozen as it was assaulted by the electrical current. Joker bound over, retrieving the bat mid-run, cocking back, and smacking Piranha Plant with a home run!

"Hey, if we're looking at home run wins, between him 'an Ritcher, which one is Mark McGuire and which one is Sammy Sosa?"

9-Volt cocked his head, "What?"

"You wouldn't understand young'un. Golden age of baseball…" grumbled Cranky.

GAME!

In the Smash Mansion courtyard, Morgana appeared, and transformed into the Mona-Car. The Phantom Thieves piled inside, last picking up Joker as they did donuts around the courtyard.

"HA! LOSERS!" screamed Ryuji out of the sliding door.

JOKER WINS

"And the ole splash screen confirms it. Joker steals this match like he's stealing a treasure, and moves on to the next round."

Piranha Plant, meanwhile, clapped for the Thieves through gritted teeth. Bowser Junior bumrushed him into a hug just as Mr. Zero walked up to them from off camera.

"Bowser Junior, thoughts on the sweep loss today?" he asked.

"I woulda rather he won, but I'm so proud of him! When you go big and strong you're gonna be even better! Yes you are, yes you are!" Junior cooed as he ruffled the Plant's head, who purred softly.

Mister Zero tapped his headpiece, "I believe the Phantom Thieves are back from their burnout. Rita, the floor is yours"

The camera cut to Rita Richards, who was standing besides the Phantom Thieves, all of whom had Joker up on their shoulder, with Morgana resting atop the human pyramid.

"Joker, how does it feel to represent DLC in the second round?"

"I'm on top of the world!" shouted Joker to the cheers of The Thieves, "With the spirit of Morgana inside me…"

"Woah, is that where Mona went?" Ryuji shouted.

"Yep. He becomes part of my soul I can give him his own sentience for taunting, but that's it."

"I always was the brains of this op anyway," Morgana scoffed, side-eying Futaba as she blew a raspberry at him.

"The wonders of Smash Brothers never cease," Yusuke mumbled, staring off into space.

"Anyway," Joker continued. "I've got Mona inside me, I've got the Phantom Thieves, and we've got DLC! There's no greater force in the universe! Watcha gonna do when DLC drops on you?" he finished, pointing at the camera threateningly.

"Cranky, Volt, back to you."

As Joker and friends paraded up the tunnel, the rest of the DLC crew was awaiting them. Gently setting down Joker and joining the huddle, Joker leaped into the air, pivoting in the air so he landed in the huddle as DLC chanted their name. The room, which had been applauding (or, in the case of the Koopa Kingdom contingent, petting a very happy Piranha Plant) fell silent. Potential matchups were flipped through with the sound of a slot machine, until it stopped at…

"ERDRICK VS. BANJO AND KAZOOIE!"

Every head in the room turned to DLC's huddle. Erdrick and Kazooie stared each other down from opposite ends of Joker, while Banjo just looked bashful.

"Banjo," Kazooie said, her tone deadly serious, "Get the banjo, this is one of those."

"Uhhh, Kazooie? Isn't the banjo in the backpack? Maybe you should get it."

"Ugh, fine,"

Pulling out Banjo's trusty banjo and handing it to him, they along with Erdrick headed to the front of the room to receive their marching orders.

"Erdrick, Tunnel A," barked Otis.

"Banjo and Kazooie my love, Tunnel B," quacked Mikey

Kazooie rolled her eyes as the DLC duo separated to go to battle.