Round 1

Terry vs. Edelgard

Terry pointing at the camera in a finger gun gesture and mouthing "Stand Up" was his match graphic. Now he sat in the interview chair, looking relaxed.

"Yo!" shouted Terry, "My name's Terry Bogard, and my opponent is Edelgard."

"It seems DLC has no qualms about fighting one another. Is that true?" Nikki probed

"I like all the people in it, don't get me wrong. But we all knew there was a chance we'd have to fight amongst ourselves, and with that kind of money on the line, there's no qualms."

"Right. That said, what do you think of Edelgard?"

Terry laughed, "She's the glue that keeps this ship together. I'm pretty sure Altair would've wrung somebody's neck by now if she didn't keep us collected. That said, she's also stone cold and terrifying when the bell rings, so I feel like I got the raw end of DLC exploding."

Nikki giggled. Anyone, you're looking forward to fighting?" the bifocaled interviewer asked.

Terry held up three-four fingers, using his other hand to tap each one, "Ken, Ryu, Jin, and Quinn."

"Does that have to do with him breaking your nose in training?"

"Even though we always get patched up after fights, and I love Quinn to death I'm a big believer in receipts homeboy."

"Right, that's it."

"OKAY!" Terry cheered, so loudly that he clipped the mic.

Giggles erupted in the Smashers Box, as well as some playful jabs at Quinn, the Mii Fighter sinking in his seat. Next, Edelgard's match graphic played, snapping to attention, her hands interlocked neatly behind her back.

"My name is Edelgard von Hresvelg of the Adrestian Empire, and my opponent is one Mister Terrance Bogard."

"So, Terry said that you were the glue that held DLC together, but he seemed to fear you all the same. How do you feel?"

Edelgard smirked, "So Mister Bogard is more perceptive than he lets on. I bare no ill will towards Mister Bogard. In fact, the entire DLC training camp has been extremely accommodating to me despite our deeply varied backgrounds. But I fight with the hopes, the beliefs, the desires of my entire empire on my back, and a win here is a win for those. Can you say the same, Mister Bogard?"

"Well um," stammered Nikki, "Anyone you're looking forward to fighting."

"The three versions of Link helped me train when I first arrived, I want to apply what I've learned from DLC onto them. Mister Hayabusa and Mister Strife are also ideal opponents."

"Okay, that's all I have! Thank you for your time!"

Now, 9-Volt and Cranky were on screen.

"Alright Futaba, who you got?"

"Edelgard," said Futaba, "Hoes mad."

"What?" balked 9-Volt.

"Hoes mad."

"That doesn't even mean anything…" 9-Volt began.

"IDK man, you sound pretty mad."

Futaba's feed cut suddenly, while 9-Volt seethed. Cranky patted 9-Volt on the head, "See how it feels to talk to the young people son?"

"Right," shakily nodded the Nintendo nut, "Let's get to entrances."

Epic 80s guitar licks hit the speakers, followed by the grimier guitar and twang sounds of outlaw country as Terry Bogard strutted to the center stage, to increasingly loud chants of "When Terry?" and "All Night Long"

"And Terry comes out to Departure from South Town, his themefrom the 14th King of Fighters tournament, an underrated jam in my opinion," 9-Volt explained.

"What I gotta know is what cornball paid off these people to chant When Terry?"

"Well Cranky from what I hear the KOF contingent has been partying ever since Opening Ceremonies, chanting that along with many other things. Perhaps some of it's rubbed off."

"Bah," growled Cranky, "Sports hooliganism should be outlawed, that's what I say.

As Terry finally made his way to the center of the long arena, pounding drums combined with heavy stringed instruments heralded the arrival of Edelgard, waving regally her expression aflame with determination as she marched to center stage.

"This music is Apex of the World, an orchestral piece written about her final showdown with Dimitri, in both timelines."

"I can't even imagine that," lamented Cranky, "Being plucked from your young life only to be told you ascended to the throne and killed your friends, only to die yourself in some scenarios."

"Hey, if she couldn't handle it she wouldn't be a Smasher, and she seems to be determined, so props to her," said 9-Volt as Edelgard stood face to face with Terry.

Mills materialized between them, the Fighting Wire Frame;s sudden entrance hushing the well-accustomed crowd, "Now, the following contest is a Round 1 match in the Super Smash Brothers Ultimate tournament. The winner will face Banjo-Kazooie in Round 2. Introducing the corner to my left, he comes to us from the SNK universe, he is The Hungry Wolf, he is TERRY!"

Terry casually spun his hat on his finger to the adoration of the crowd.

"Introducing in the corner to my right, she comes to us from the Fire Emblem universe, she is The Future, she is EDELGARD!"

Edelgard remained neutral to the mixed reaction of the audience, but Terry noticed the reflexive grimace her facial muscles were fighting off.

"You know the-" Mills began, but Edelgard held up a questioning hand.

Passing the mic to Edelgard, she spoke, "If it's alright with you Mister Bogard, I would like us to fight on your King of Fighters Stage. That way, no mishaps will inaccurately determine who is the best between the two of us."

Oh thank God, I was thinking the same thing, Terry thought as she passed the mic to him.

"I'll cut you a break General, but just this once," said Terry with a smirk.

"Alright, both combatants agree!" announced Mills, "It will be King of Fighters Stadium. You all know the rules by now. 2-stock, items medium. Smashers, are you ready."

Both competitors nodded, and then, they were gone

Stage: King of Fighters Stadium

Rules: 2-stock, Items Medium

Music: Psycho Soldier (Overseas Ver.)

3

Terry launched onto stage mid- Power Dunk, landing fist first.

2

Edelgard appeared in a golden, holy flourish much as the other Fire Emblem dwellers did.

"Hey Edelgard, c'mon c'mon," he beckoned her as she clutched The Sword of the Creator

1

Edelgard let the smallest of grins etch on her face, which snapped Terry to an unusually stiff neutral.

GO!

Edelgard quickly pulled out Failnaught, and Terry, eyes wide, came charging forth.

He's a striker. Let him close the gap, thought Edelgard, breathing in.

Jumping as he closed in, the overzealous Terry fell victim to two strikes from the Sword of the Creator, one downward slice upon her descent, and a standard horizontal slice as she landed. Terry snapped a kick forward, booting Edelgard in the jaw.

Gods cursed Edelgard, He hits harder than Dedue does when he's angry. No matter, this is the price

Edelgard staggered backward but was conscious enough to see Terry spread his base wide, a telltale sign of one of his attacks.

"BURN KNUCKLE!" Terry cried

Just as flame emblazoned fist was about to connect with jaw, Edelgard summoned her shield, a blue bubble emanating from her Smash communicator. Terry immediately pulled back, as if having just broken his knuckle, giving Edelgard the time to roll behind him. By the time he moved to the next move in his combination, a Power Dunk, she was already gone.

"POWAH DUNK!" screamed Terry, pivoting on his heel and jumping into the air.

Luckily, Terry's most powerful assets were slow, and easily telegraphable when not done tactfully. Edelgard rolled back the way she came just before Terry's fist connected with the ground. Terry pivoted to face her faster, and two poking kicks had connected with her shins before she could even blink.

"POWAH DUNK!"

This time, she couldn't avoid it. The uppercut that rocked them both into the air, and the slamming first that sent them both down. Edelgard went flying, Terry was quick to meet her, tackling her shoulder first against the rightmost wall unique to the KOF stadium, and again when she rebounded off of it. Just as she readied Amyr, Terry bolted underneath her legs, causing her to land having done nothing in confused shock. She turned around, too late to avoid being bonked by the Bumper that had appeared.

He believes me trapped, reasoned Edelgard is the bouncy pinball part settled itself near the leftmost wall.

Edelgard avoided a Power Dunk, which in turn left her open for a Power Wave. Just as Terry stepped closer, readying his fists, Edelgard summoned Areadbhar, cleaving upward with the holy lance. She attempted to extend the Sword to pull Terry back as he flew, but the crafty scrapper was able to twist his body to narrowly avoid it. Terry landed just as the sword retracted, and the princess of an empire was once again victim to the tried and true low kick, low kick, Power Dunk combo. She hit the leftmost wall now, the invisible forcefield giving much harder than the right hand. The bright side, she realized as she landed, was that the bumper was in between them. Edelgard tensed as she saw the briefest expression of puzzlement on Terry's face.

"HEE-YAH!" she shouted, once again striking up with Areadbhar.

The force of the move, in addition to sending Terry upward, also bloomed a Healing plant. As she was briefly distracted by the heavenly warmth, Terry clocked her with another Power Dunk, sending her through the wall in what felt like an eternally painful slow motion.

Terry: 2

Edelgard: 1

"Hoo," sighed Terry, bouncing on his toes as he stood in the bask of the Healing Plant, "Ain't even gotten in 'Go' mode yet."

It was at that moment Edelgard appeared on the Revival Platform, jumping down, glancing over her shoulder, seeing a Black Hole having just appeared.

"Go get it boss," mocked Terry, still being healed "I'm cool here."

Edelgard marched over to the opposite wall, grabbing the Black Hole, charging, and throwing it, the gravitational force breaking from its bounds in the exact center of the stage.

As Terry chuckled, Edelgard pulled the musical bow of Failnaught, a full-force bolt of light striking Terry in the chest. It was at that moment that the Healing plant finally dissipated.

"Great!" snapped Terry, his gaze fierce with anger.

As if the universe heard him, a Star Rod appeared before him. Terry grabbed the weapon, "Let's see how you like it when you get hit from far away!" snarled The Hungry Wolf.

The opponents charged, Areadbhar and Star Rod connecting simultaneously. As both staggered backward, Terry cackled.

"Go sauce is on the menu bay-bay,"

"Oh shi-"

Narrowly avoiding a Power Geyser, once again the tactician found herself staggering backward. An Assist Trophy landed behind her. Edelgard clenched her teeth. Protecting the Assist Trophy was mission-critical. Just as she readied Areadbhar again, Terry managed to slide forward, fist extended. The blow connected with her chest, the blow somehow paralyzing her.

"ARE YOU OKAY! BUSTAH WOLF!" screamed Terry.

Like a ballista shot, fire reverberated through her entire chest, knocking her far away from the Assist Trophy. A swagger in his step, Terry held the item aloft.

"LEAVE IT TO HEROPON!" proclaimed the creature.

Edelgard let a staggered sigh escape her. Riki had a baffling assortment of ability, but to avoid it, she knew she must stand firm. She readied Amyr, letting the giant ax's holy power course through her, cementing her to the ground,

"ARE YOU O-!" Terry began as he attempted to connect with another Buster Wolf

WHAM!

The full might of Amyr crashed onto Terry, sending him through the opposite wall.

Terry: 1
Edelgard:1

"SLEEPY BEDTIME!" cried Riki.

And just like that, the heiress to the throne fell fast asleep.

Terry was off the Healing Platform seconds after he appeared, grabbing a Bomber, the explosive creature ambling about the arena. Edelgard awoke quickly, firing several light bolts with Failnaught, and following that up with yet another staggering blow from Areadbhar. But, much to her chagrin, Terry kept his poise, holding the Bomber aloft. As the fire exploded outward, and the white-haired woman found herself thankful she hadn't been in the epicenter of the blast, she heard another cry.

"FREEZIE!"

Frozen in a block of ice by Riki as he disappeared, she was sent hurtling upward. Luckily, the sealing on the KoF arena was high, giving her ample time to shatter from the ice. Firing Failnaught at full power, another blow staggered him. Terry lunged forward as she landed, booting her in the face. Edelgard was prepared, however, slicing at his ankles with both a quick stab from the Sword of the Creator and a spinning sweeping blow from Amyr to take out his base. As Terry flew, another blow with Areadbhar sent him crashing into the wall. Unfortunately, Terry collapsed directly into an assist trophy. Holding it aloft while flat on his stomach, a moon with a wicked smile appeared, then disappeared.

As a moon with a ghoulish face lurched towards the ground, Edelgard held the bowstring on Failnaught all the way back.

Must take the shot at the last moment, she thought.

Just as the bolt of light snapped from the bowstring, the moon collided with the earth, crashing her into the wall.

In the Smashers' Box, the audience erupted.

"Edelgard won!" declared Hubert.

"No you idiot," growled Ganondorf, "Edelgard went through first,"

"She wouldn't have been able to get the shot off if the moon had collided first."

The entire room went from jubilation to argument, each of the 100+ occupants stating what they had seen.

"QUIET!" demanded Mario, "ROB, can you analyze the data?"

"Affirmative," ROB barked.

The robot's eyes went green, its internals clicking as the entire room went silent. Meanwhile, Shulk was analyzing the last moment frame by frame on the big screen.

"Terry wins," ROB announced, his eyes turning back to black.

"Yeh," Shulk nodded, "Edelgard goes through about a nanosecond before Terry."

Mario nodded, "Yep. Call it."

"Done," said ROB.

Terry blinked as he found himself on Smash Courtyard. Scrambling to find the brim of his hat, he readied himself.

TERRY WINS!

"OKAY!" Terry tossed his hat, just as the splash screen captured the moment.
"What a hard-fought victory!" cheered 9-Volt.

"Yeah, no doubt the most knockdown drag out one in the tournament thus far

Edelgard sat in the tunnel, daintily clapping at Rita scurried up to her, "Incredible match out there, but Terry squeaked it out."

Edelgard nodded, "Yes he did. Terry is unlike any other hand-to-hand combatant I've ever fought. If I had been able to account for the items at play, I likely wouldn't have underestimated him in the beginning, rather going brute force as he did. Mister Bogard I…"

Her voice cracked. She blinked. The blanket of dread had been cast. She had lost

"I...commend you. The better warrior won. Thank you, Rita."

Next, Mister Zero was on camera with a panting Terry, "Good win out there champ! Your next opponent is Banjo-Kazooie, what's on your mind?"

"I barely won that," conceded Terry, "And those two have even more random bullshit at their disposal. I'm gonna train as hard as I can, but even then..."

Just as Edelgard had earlier, Terry paused to ponder his fate.

"Eh, either way, I'm several million dollars richer. Either way, the old saying holds true, 'Wubba wubba, I'm in the pink today boy," Terry cast a thumbs up, walking off camera.

As Terry walked up the tunnel and entered the door, he was immediately hoisted into the air and paraded back to their section of the auditorium to the applause of the other Smashers. When he sat down, Edelgard and Hubert were waiting for him.

"Know this street urchin," hissed Hubert, "If this were under any other circumstances, I would see to it that you were no longer alive."

"Of all the flavors, you chose salty," Ryuji chuckled.

"Yeah, ya big ole simp," snapped Kazooie.

"My patience with your insolence wears thin…" warned Hubert.

"Enough, all of you!" commanded Edelgard

Edelgard bit her lip, her voice had warbled. Sighing, she took on, "See here, I am none too happy that I lost either, but the better warrior won, as I said to Miss Rita, and I'll be damned if we choose not to rally around those who have won."

"She's right," Erdrick said, the entirety of DLC turning to look at him, "Eventually, only one of us will advance, and we need to make sure that whoever that is is as finely honed and prepared a warrior as they can be."

"Mister Erdrick said it more succinctly than I ever could. Hubert, will you stop your foolishness?"

"Yes ma'am," came Hubert's defeated whisper.

"Okay folks, randomizer, then intermission," Sans shouted.

"The next fight will be…" Cranky paused as the randomizer flashed through the matches remaining. With a riff of a guitar, with one final cord being struck as the match was decided.

"JIN KAZAMA VERSUS BILL RIZER!"