Round 1:
Olimar vs. Lucario

By comparison, the match graphics of the next two combatants were extremely mundane. Olimar listlessly bobbed his head while a yellow, red, and blue Pikmin orbited around him expectantly. Lucario simply stood in front of the camera, arms, crossed, eyes closed. The freighter pilot's short video package played, mostly showing former opponents Captain Falcon, Mario, and Pacman respectively buried within a horde of attacking Pikmin. Now, he sat in the interview chair, hands fidgety and interlocked.

"Do we have to do this?" fretted Olimar, "I really have nothing to say, and my goal in Smash Bros is to bring awareness to Pikmin."

"I understand, but we've gotta have soundbites to work with here," a sympathetic Nikki explained.

Olimar sighed, "Alright."

"So, what do you think of Lucario?"

"Terribly intimidating. Being able to sense aura not only takes the mystery out of my movements but the mystery of my Pikmin as well. I'll try my best, but...

"Understood, thank you for your time."

Olimar nodded, standing up. He whistled for his Pikmin, who scuttled to his side, and they waddled off camera.

Lucario's graphic played, soon giving way to a video package of tournament wins and impressive Aura feats, such as blocking moves with his eyes closed.

The blue-furred Pokemon sat in the interview chair much as he was in his match graphic, eyes closed, arms crossed.

"Your aura betrays uncertainty, but why?" he inquired.

"Well, I was going to ask you about your origin for all the new people who may not know, and I didn't want you to be mad at me,"

Lucario's expression remained neutral, "Annoying as it is, your journalistic instincts are second to none. For you Lady Nikki, I will relay my story once again."

The two sighed simultaneously, one out of dread, the other out of relief.

"Before Sinnoh had that name, thousands of years ago, it was known as Ransei. I served as the battle arm of one of Lord Samuel's generals, Lady Ranmaru. After the great war, Lord Samuel dabbled in what we might consider the predecessor to Pokeball technology. In yet another conflict that destroyed the kingdom myself and a few others were preserved in these ancient Pokeballs for archeologists to find."

"With that out of the way, what do you think of Olimar?" Nikki poked

"His aura is pure, albeit timid. I won't question his survival instinct, but he is not a fighter like Sir Meta-Knight or myself."

"Is that who you're looking forward to fighting this time around, Meta-Knight?"

"Yes. Somehow, someway, I will have my rematch. Now, if you'll excuse me, Nikki…"

With that, he used Extreme Speed to dash off camera.

"Two fountains of charisma, them too," Cranky's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Futaba, who do you pick?" 9-Volt asked.

"Pokemon. Lucario," the orange-haired girl blurted, only on screen for a second

"And your biases show through," snapped Cranky.

"You're one to talk," 9-Volt rolled his eyes, "Anyway, down to entrances we go."

Jogging to center stage before his music hit, his Pikmin trotting behind him, a soft French lullaby played, the timid astronaut stopping to wave, acknowledging the cheers as he made it to the center.

"And here's the worst track in Brawl for the worst character in Brawl. Fitting," sneered Cranky Kong.

"This is 'Ai No Uta' a beloved lullaby in the Olimar house. Show some respect."

"Bleh. When Junior and Diddy were boys they went to sleep to Donkey Kong Arcade world record runs, and look how that turned out. Video game heroes baby!"

Frantic orchestral music played over the stage next, Lucario once again using Extreme Speed to get to center stage almost immediately, staring down at a quivering Olimar.

"He's coming out to BDSP's Major Legendary music? Hah! Talk about an ego!" explained Cranky.

"Have to agree with you on this one," 9-Volt muttered.

As if on cue, Mills Frames appeared between the two, "The following contest is a Round 1 match in the Super Smash Brothers Ultimate Tournament. The winner will move on to face either Sonic or King Dedede in Round 2. Introducing first, to my left, he comes to us from the Pikmin universe, he is the Projector of Pikmin, he is Olimar."

Waving to almost unanimous cheers, Olimar sighed.

I guess 'Veteran Astronaut' didn't pass the Sans cool test, much like Lucina's old nickname. Am I really that boring? Olimar began to fret.

"And now," Mills' baritone voice snapped Olimar back to reality, "Introducing next, to my right. He comes to us from the Pokemon universe. He is the Master of Aura, he is Lucario.

Lucario continued to stare a hole in Olimar as the crowd cheered.

"Now, you all know the rules by now. If Lucario wins the coin toss, the stage will be Spear Pillar. If Olimar wins the coin toss, the stage will be Distant Planet. Smashers call it.

What was it last time? Whatever it is, probability dictates that I must call the opposite, at least I think so. Olimar asked himself, thinking back to the last fight.

Olimar's muscles stiffened. He remembered.

"TAILS!" Olimar boomed proudly.

"Heads," Mills declared, uncharacteristically shaking his head.

Lucario felt Olimar's aura dim in embarrassment. He grinned.

"So the stage will be Spear Pillar! You all know the rules of the first round by now. Two stocks, items medium. Smashers, are you ready?"

Olimar nodded, gulping down bile. Lucario gave the smallest of nods. With that, they disappeared.

Stage: Spear Pillar

Rules: 2-stock, items medium

Music: Battle Team Galactic (Remix)

3

Olimar fumbled out of a Hocotate ship, plucking Pikmin as he went

2

Lucario flew in, roaring at Olimar

1

GO!

Lucario charged an Aura Sphere, Olimar running at him. Lucario closed his eyes, feeling Olimar's aura spike near his heart. With an audible yelp, Olimar jumped up, needlessly flipping in the air to stall, only to come crashing down to Earth. Lucario simply cast the Aura Sphere forward, it colliding with the nervous space fairer. Dashing forward, Lucario hit Olimar with a sliding kick. Panting the whole way, Olimar began to lob Pikmin at him, all of which Lucario blocked with his furry palms as soon as they were within reach. While the auras of the yellow and blue Pikmin drifted upward and out of existence, the yellow Pikmin somehow survived, crawling up his. The creature pecked at him, but this didn't break Lucario's concentration. Olimar had jumped down to the lower level, hoping the Pikmin that had lived on would serve as some sort of distraction.

Pathetic, Lucario inwardly growled.

Flicking the yellow Pikmin out of this plane of existence, Lucario trotted leisurely to the gap which Olimar would most assuredly jump from. Sure enough, the helmeted man jumped, and stood wide-eyed as Lucario cast a wave of Aura towards him. The little man's heart pounded, that much Lucario could see. But it was evident to anyone with eyes that he was flustered, hurriedly throwing Pikmin in an arc over Lucario. Olimar must've noticed it too, his essence ebbing back to an eerie neutral jumping forward and walloping The Aura Pokemon with a purple Pikmin. Even the next wave of Aura which sent two new Pikmin to the afterlife did not seem to de-escalate his opponent's new resolve. Retreating for the first time in the fight, Lucario doubled back to grab an Assist Trophy. Lucario grinned at the grunt that erupted forth. Takamaru jumped forward, slicing a now retreating Olimar with his sword. A shuriken projecting impossibly out of Takamaru's left side snagged Olimar, but it did not break his squirrely movement, managing to dodge everything sword and shuriken alike until he disappeared.

"Nevermind that shit," Cranky Kong warned, "Here comes Palkia,"

As soon as he appeared, the God of Time cast a beam of light at the lower level. This distracted Olimar long enough for Lucario to grab a box that had just appeared. Opening it, and quickly grabbing the Home Run Bat within, Lucario peeled back, hitting Olimar out of the proverbial park with a one-hit KO!

Olimar: 1

Lucario: 2

"Is it just me, or is this the most dominant Lucario has ever looked?" 9-Volt asked.

"Well yeah, anyone with eyes could see that!" snapped Cranky.

"Can you give me one," 9-Volt begged, "Like, just one?"

Olimar leaped down from the Revival Platform, immediately pulling Pikmin and wacking Lucario with a red one. As Lucario hissed from the pain, both Smashers noticed the sound of a Pokeball dropping. Lucario entering from the left, and Olimar waddling to the right, Lucario grabbed the Pokeball first, throwing it down. Mimikyu appeared, lurching towards Olimar A Smash Ball spawned just as Olimar grabbed an Assist Trophy, introducing Waluigi into the fray. Olimar and Waluigi dashed left, hoping to beat Lucario to the Smash Ball, only for Mimyku to grab Olimar with his claw and introduce him to the darkness within.

"I don't…I don't think this is rated E for everyone," Cranky winced as shrieks of unimaginable horror erupted from Mimikyu.

Meanwhile, Lucario cracked The Smash Ball with ease and, with a flourish of light, he was in his Mega Evolve form.

"MAX AURA!" he cried.

With a mighty, continued blast of aura, he eliminated the eerily satisfied Mimyku, Waluigi, and Olimar in an aggressive torrent of pain.

GAME!

"What killed him?" shrieked 9-Volt, "The Mimikyu or Max Aura?"

"Does it matter? Either way, we have a winner!"

Sure enough, as Lucario sank back into a cross-legged meditation, the splash screen declared the next Smasher to move on.

LUCARIO WINS!

Olimar, eyes wide as saucers, clapped as Mister Zero appeared to interview him.

"I know you aren't the most enthusiastic tournament fighter in the bunch, but you had to feel something about that thrashing right?"

"I mean, all I know is I'm reaching the upper limit of horrors beyond my comprehension for one lifetime. Just remember to adopt a Pikmin and if you have intergalactic moving needs, make sure to use Hocotate Freight."

With that proclamation, Olimar scuttled off camera.

Lucario sat, his arms crossed, Rita sticking a microphone in his face.

"This is the best you've ever performed! What's your secret?" she excitedly chirped.

"Miss Trainer has shown me how to train better. It took the assistance of a friend to realize what has always been true, that the aura is with me."

Lucario walked up the tunnel as Rita threw back to Cranky and Volt. Throwing open the door to the Smashers' Box, he was greeted with applause, Miss Trainer applauding the loudest.

"Great job!" cheered Olimar.

Lucario simply nodded as the randomizer kicked in, landing on…

"IKE VS. RED!" Cranky and Volt trumpeted,

As both fighters stood in their match graphics, arms crossed, the two fighters shot each other a silent glance across the room.

"Did it just get colder in here?" shivered Pichu.

"No son, I felt it too," assured a spooked Pichu.

"Ike, you're in Tunnel A, Red, you're in Tunnel B," Mario ordered

With a simultaneously, silent nod, the two Smashers headed down the tunnels.