Round 2
Luigi vs. Captain Falcon

Luigi planked on one side of the screen, while Captain Falcon saluted, mouthing, "Show me ya moves."

Luigi was in the interview chair, sighing wistfully, "Ya know, I always kinda admired Captain Falcon."

The camera cut to Captain Falcon in the same chair, chuckling lightly, "I've always admired Luigi, I really have."

"Ever since the first four-way we did," Luigi reminisced as the camera cut to him.

"That first four-way, for that last bye in The 12," Captain Falcon sighed, "I learned a lot of things that day, chief among them that Luigi had scary potential. He always has."

Cut back to Luigi's interview chuckling, "I won that one! I don't count it because we were all like-a baby ducks learning to walk, but I'd be lyin' to-a you if I didn't walk with my chest puffed out a bit after that. I mean, I beat a real-life superhero!"

"He's had a worse losing streak than me, but I'm so glad he's finding his step,' Falcon's voice boomed proudly, his grin transforming into a frown, "This is another heartbreaker because a treasured friend has to go through me after a fine run."

"But ya know," Luigi pondered, "I wonder if, the way things I've been going for me, I can do it again?"

"Let's see if he can do it again," Captain Falcon shrugged, walking off camera.

"Ya know," 9-Volt mused as he and Cranky appeared on screen, "To me, this is what makes Smash so fun. Two heroes colliding with everything to lose."

"Bah, both of 'em are gonna get ate by my boy, so it doesn't matter anyway,"

"Well,"9-Volt sighed, "Let's take it to someone who isn't gonna show bias. Futaba Sakura! Oracle, the floor is yours!"

"Thanks, Volt ole buddy!" chirped Futaba behind her desk, "This one I genuinely can't call. Both Smashers are at their top form, it could be anyone's game."

"Wow, so we finally stumped the walking video game encyclopedia," Cranky cackled, "I knew that armor'd crack eventually, showing the inexperienced Generation Z underneath."

"Hey! Like you boomers are so great!" 9-Volt shouted.

"We are! Let's throw it down to entrances!" shouted Cranky.

"If it'll shut you up, by all means," grumbled the Warioware employee.

Hmm-muh hmm, hmm yah hmm yuh,

Luigi strode out of the tunnel, pausing to take notice of the crowd, who hummed along to the music. An ear-to-ear smile formed on Luigi's lips, who began to mime conducting as he walked.

"Look at this," Cranky mocked, "Player 2's got some personality after all. He's either super confident with how training went, or he's got something new up his sleeve."

"Or both!" quipped 9-Volt.

As Luigi got in position, drums and electric guitars played over the speakers.

In this world, you've got to be strong

You've got to fight to keep your spirit alive

The Blue Falcon jetted out of Tunnel B, Falcon ejecting and landing mid-ground punch.

"Yes!" 9-Volt cheered along with the crowd, "There's the electricity!"

"Does this mean Falcon's not sweating Luigi, or that he's not gonna hold back like he almost did with Ness? We'll find out I suppose!" pondered Cranky.

Mills Frames appeared from the floor, "The following contest is a Round 2 match in the Super Smash Brothers Ultimate Tournament!"

He paused to let the crowd cheer before continuing.

"Introducing first, to my left. He comes to us from the Mario Universe, he is the Eternal Understudy, he is LUIGI!"

Arms folded behind his back, Luigi kicked at the ground, smirking up at Falcon, who smirked back.

"And introducing next, to my right," Mills continued, "He comes to us from the F-Zero universe, he is the Space Race Ace, he is CAPTAIN FALCON!"

Dramatically, Falcon jumped into a 'come hither pose.

"C'MON!" he shouted.

Then, he closed his hand into a fist.

"You ready my man?" he asked in his normal voice.

Luigi returned the fist bump, fire sparking between the two, "As much as I'm ever gonna be,"

The two shared a chuckle as the video wall lit up, scrolling through all the stages in a random order, landing on…

"The stage is Mushroomy Kingdom! Rules are three-stocks, items medium. Smashers, are you ready?"

Both nodded to Mills, disappearing.

Stage: Mushroomy Kingdom

Rules: 3-stock, items medium

Music: "Dire Dire Docks" by GaMetal

3

Luigi jumped out of a pipe, firing finger guns as he uttered, "Let's a go!"

2

Captain Falcon jumped out of the swerving Blue Falcon

1

Luigi dropped to a squatting position. Falcon cocked his fist back.

GO!

Immediately, Luigi rocketed forward in a fully charged Green Missile,

"FALCON…PUNCH!"

Fire collided with fire resulting in an explosion. When the dust cleared, Luigi was using short jumps to hammer on Falcon's helmet, the F-Zero racer already staggered. Falcon scrambled into position for a Raptor Boost but misjudged the distance, leaving him open for a Luigi three-fingered jab. An immediate Falcon kick collided with Luigi, and now, the chase was on as the screen scrolled, Luigi jogging away from the ultra-fast Bounty Hunter to find an item. Punching the first item block he saw, the universe gifted him one, a Smoke Bomb! Luigi threw it just as the F-Zero Racer jumped over a pipe to meet him.

"And Captain Falcon is a mere punching bag, with all the smoke and nowhere to go,"

Luigi jumped, Falcon attempted to flip kick up and out, but Luigi was already four pipes ahead, his eye firmly on a Stop Watch. Touching the item, the desert wasteland of a province once-beloved gave way to a purple vortex. Falcon, now slowed to a crawl without his consent, could only cry out in slowed down dismay as he was engulfed by the Blast Zone.

Luigi: 3

Captain Falcon: 2

Luigi broke open a box as Captain Falcon jumped from the Revival Platform, the large box containing nothing but a single bag of popcorn. Thankful for the snack, Luigi gulped it down, feeling some of his damage dissipate. Aa Luigi jumped to meet Falcon who stood on the pipe above him, he was met with a flip kick, jolting him upward. Falcon struck a pose, measuring Luigi no doubt for his signature upward spinning kick, but a quick hammer fist put an end to that plan. Once again, Luigi was on the run, getting nipped by increasingly frustrated flip kicks, finding himself atop an item block. Brushing his foot against it, a Spiny Shell. Luigi tossed into the air, the possessed shell sawing its way through the rotting blocks of the land to make its way up to Captain Falcon. The F-Zero racer stood braced, shield up.

And then, just as Luigi jumped to meet him, he jumped towards him, cocking his fist back.

"FALCON-" began Captain Falcon.

The shriek of the Super Jump Punch and the explosion of the descending Blue Shell was so loud the sheer volume knocked Luigi back. Luigi smiled as he saw the explosion of the Blast Zone. The risky maneuver had done its job.

Luigi: 3

Captain Falcon: 1

Luigi swiftly picked up an Assist Trophy, unleashing the Metroid inside. But Falcon's vengeance was swifter, stomping Luigi into the air as he fell, and then nailing the plumber with a wordless Falcon Punch, knocking the winded Luigi into the Blast Zone

Luigi: 2

Captain Falcon: 1

Captain Falcon jumped and backpedaled to avoid the Metroid, leaving himself completely open to an exploding Capsule thrown by Luigi. But then the Metroid disappeared, dissatisfied with its lack of a meal. But, a Smash Ball appeared on the final series of platforms before the flag, Falcon easily breaking it open with a sweep while colliding his heel with Luigi's head in the process. Falco jumped up, hitting Luigi with a series of flip kicks. Luigi smacked Captain Falcon down desperately, Luigi running through the looping level to avoid Falcon, Falcon charging to avoid the encroaching Blast Zone. As if he had willed it, a Banana Gun appeared before Luigi just as Falcon snapped into form for a Raptor Boost.

"Hasta la banana baby," Luigi said to the camera as suavely as he could muster.

With a squeak, Luigi fired the single banana bullet. The potassium explosion engulfed Falcon, sending him so far that he smacked the camera, the stunned masked man peeling off of it and collapsing into the Blast Zone.

GAME!

Smashers Box

Most of the crowd, both in the stadium at large, and in the Smashers Box erupted in cheers for the loveable green plumber's win, but Princess Daisy was beside herself with laughter. Unlike Krystal's earlier, which had been filled with hate, this was genuine, humor-filled chortling.

"Oh my Gawd," Daisy wheezed, "He said the thing."

"What?" Peach asked, baffled.

"Terminator," came the dry reply of four people, Mario, Bill, Ryu, and Snake.

"You remember how we've been working our way through the movies from Snake's universe?" Daisy prompted Peach, wiping away her tears of joy.

"Well, we were watching Terminator a few tourneys back, and somehow Luigi misheard Arnold's catchphrase as "Hasta la banana," and it's something that cracked me up ever since. And last night a jokingly said if he found a banana in a fight he should say it. I didn't think he'd like…do it."

Peach's befuddled expression became a warm smile, "Well, his true aim does seem to be making you happy dear."

"Dude's a real sonofabitch in a fight I'll tell you," Bill sneered through a mouthful of chewing tobacco.

"You've fought him as well?" excitedly shouted Ryu, "He is a great warrior, albeit a tough one."

"Oh, the robot with the red eyes," Master Chief asked, "Yeah, he was tough,"

Ken snapped a glare at Chun-Li, "Island?"

Chun-Li nodded, "Island."

Together, they took half of a sip from their flasks

Meanwhile, Luigi was flailing his arms at the camera, pausing to catch his breath just as the splash screen officially declared his win.

LUIGI WINS!

Captain Falcon clapped, a perturbed frown tugging at his facial expression. Mister Zero walked up to interview him, and the scowling racer became the full screen.

"What happened out there champ?" demanded Mister Zero, dejected.

"Items are important training tools," Captain Falcon began as Mister Zero brought the microphone closer, "They train you to stay on your feet and adapt as they're used against you. I didn't do that, and Luigi did. So good job my friend. If anyone's going to take this tournament. I hope it's you. You've been putting the work in and it shows. Good luck to ya!"

Now, Rita interviewed a still wheezing Luigi. "Another one in the 'W' column. What're your thoughts?"

"Had a couple of good training sessions really," Luigi laughed, "It's strange to feel…confident ya know? And I think training alongside Daisy and watching her improve has motivated me."

Rita suddenly frowned, "Speaking of, what happens if you fight her in the next round?"

Luigi shrugged, "Nothing. We've competed in just about everything through the Olympic partnership, and we've come out of it with a healthier respect for each other, and I have no reason to believe Smash will be any different."

With that, Luigi walked up the tunnel to an immediate bear hug from Daisy, "You did it! And you got the banana gag in!"

A devilish smile found its way to Luigi's face.

"LUIGI MARIO," boomed Peach, "DO NOT!"

Luigi's posture deflated, much to the eternal laughter of Daisy.

"And we, my dear," Peach continued, "Are up next."

Daisy's laughter suddenly ceased, as the rest of the Smashers whispered amongst each other.

"You got dis," Luigi mouthed.

Pecking Luigi on the cheek, she jumped over the barrier of the auditorium, meeting Peach at the front of the room.

"Peach, you are in Tunnel A. Daisy. You are in Tunnel B," ROB droned.

"Blech," Daisy spat, "I'm always second fiddle to you. But that changes today,"

"It wasn't intentional my darling, just how the brackets worked out," Peach assured, albeit with the smallest grin on her perfectly manicured lips.

"Easy to say when your boyfriend is the head honcho," Daisy shot back.

The only noise in the Smashers' Box was Sans munching popcorn out of a Gaster Blaster-shaped bag.

"Regardless of that. May the best princess win!" said Peach, offering a hand.

Daisy slapped it away, "Don't worry, she will."

Sans summoned additional Gaster Blasters. Popcorn was now raining onto the skeleton.

Peach's face puckered into a frown, spinning around and walking down her designated tunnel, as Daisy did the same.

"Yo Weeg, you think they're gonna be alright?" Falco asked, genuinely concerned.

Luigi laughed, "Oh totally, Peach is just a master of head games, and Daisy's too bullheaded to see it."

More popcorn rained down as more Gaster Blasters appeared, spewing the snack down onto Sans.

"THERE'S NOT ENOUGH POPCORN TO BREAK THIS TENSION!"

"That's more than enough, I think," growled Mario, crossing his arms.

Sans snapped his fingers, the Gaster Blasters and avalanche of popcorn all disappeared.

"If you ever do that in our room," Altair snarled, "I will kill you outright,"

Quinn laughed as Sans shrugged.

"Noted," the skeleton blurted.

"Don't mean to be rude," Luigi interrupted, "But I wanna watch this,"

And with that, the room fell silent. The battle of the princesses was set to begin.