Green vs. Snake

Green and her Pokemon stood on one side of the match card graphic, their hands clasped behind their backs. Snake meanwhile, stood firm in his CQC stance.

"DIS 'ERE TEAM, HAS BEEN ASSEMBLED TO REPRESENT GALARIAN EXCELLENCE," roared the pre-recorded voice of Rillaboom.

Snake grumbled unimpressed in the interview chair, "Zealous patriotism is a weakness, as is an inflated belief in your strength."

Green sat in the interview room next, her Pokemon standing beside her, "I've read into Snake's work and I can see how he could misunderstand Galar as a whole. Military discipline might make it look like we're playing army. But it isn't make-believe. It's what's required to face the unforgiving wilds, not to mention Gigantimax Pokemon. Don't underestimate us, we might just shock you," she winked.

"There's no way a girl that young is as grizzled as she thinks she is. Prepare to be neutralized," Snake warned.

As the video ended, the cameras shone on Cranky and Volt, the latter quivering with anticipation.

"This is something I've been looking forward to this last round. If there's anyone that can stop the blitzkrieg that is Green's Galar brood, it's Snake."

"I sure hope she does, so I don't have to hear Galar hooligans and weird Sword and Shield defenders for three days," grumbled Cranky, "But I'm sure Futaba disagrees."

"And you'd be right," chirped Oracle as she entered the conversation, "Pokemon all day err day foo,"

"HOW DARE YOU STAND WHERE MISTER T STOOD!" Cranky screamed.

"Holy shit." mumbled a stunned 9-Volt.

A squeal of electric guitar followed by triumphant drums heralded Green's entrance.

I wanna be, the very best.

Like no one ever was.

To catch them is my real test, to train them is my cause.

The blend of Galar soccer chants plus those attempting to sing along to Green's new entrance music did not seem to perturb the quartet, trainer, and Pokemon alike striding confidently towards center stage.

"It looks like Green heralded your criticism Cranky, although I'm sure several angry pieces of official Gym Leader Associations' fanmail didn't hurt either."

"Like this is any better!" Cranky whined, "The anime is so, as the kids say these days, mid."

"You're never gonna be happy with the Pokemon contingent are you," snidely remarked 9-Volt.

"I wish Pokemon didn't exist at all so all them socially stunted adults would play real games, like Donkey Kong," snapped the bearded monkey.

"Wowwwww,"

Once again, 9-Volt was stunned to silence, not even remarking as the lights went out in Smash Stadium. A spotlight shone on a cardboard box, the crowd cheering as Snake emerged from underneath it. The lights turned back on as Mills Frames appeared.

"The following contest is a second-round match in the Super Smash Brothers Ultimate tournament. Introducing first to my left, she comes to us from the Pokemon universe. She is The Very Best, Like No One Ever Was, she is GREEN!"

Green pumped her fist along with the hooligan chants. In contrast, her Pokemon barely moved a muscle.

"Introducing next, to my right," Mills began as the chants subsided, "He comes to us from the Metal Gear universe, he is the Legendary Mercenary he is SNAKE!"

As Snake did not seem to react, the camera cut briefly to a group holding up the individual letters of the phrase "IT'S SHOW TIME!" before cutting back to the Smashers on the field.

"Now, please direct your attention to the video board,"

\ Flashing past many other stages, Garreg Mach Monastery is the image the video board stayed on.

"The rules are three stock, items medium. Smashers, are you ready!" asked Mills.

Green and Snake nodded to one another. Rillaboom managed to get out the first syllable of some trash talk before they all disappeared

Stage: Garreg Mach Monastery

Rules: 3 stock, items medium

Music: Blue Skies and a Battle (remix)

3

"GO RILLABOOM!" shouted Green as she threw a Pokeball, the mossy gorilla beating his chest as he appeared on stage

2

Through the electricity of a water-logged cloaking device, Snake appeared, rolling from all fours onto his feet.

1

Once again, Rillaboom pounded his chest. Snake did not even flinch

GO!

Immediately, Rillaboom slid towards him, grass growing underneath him as he did. The smallest of wry smiles tugged at Snake's lips, waiting for just the right moment to jump over the speeding primate. Jumping as lightly as he could, Rillaboom couldn't correct his course as he slid underneath him, or defend himself as Snake dropped a C4 pack, its sticky underside supplanting onto Rillaboom's back.

"THERE!" Snake shouted as he pressed the detonator.

Rillaboom's back spasmed at the explosion, grinding his teeth and groaning as he slowly turned to face Snake, only to get an RPG to his massive chest.

"Amazing job," Green encouraged as she swapped Rillaboom for her next Pokemon, "CINDERACE!"

The monkey took his larger companion's place, planting himself on the ground.

"PYROBALL!" Green called.

A flaming ball appeared at Cinderace's feet, the orange creature lobbing his weapon at Snake quickly. The soldier tilted his head to avoid it but was knocked asunder unexpectedly when the ball bounced off a suit of armor, rocketing back and hitting Snake in the back of the head.

"Oooh, some classic trick shooting by Cinderace," 9-Volt commented.

"A fancy move indeed, too bad Snake's not gonna fall for it again," scoffed Cranky.

As Green switched Pokemon, this time to Inteleon, Snake hurriedly attached some C4 to himself. The smug blue lizard got in firing range, making the infamous finger-gun…

"NOW!" Snake cried.

Rocketing up into a tackle, Snake shifted his weight so he was on top of a Brazilian Ju-Jitsu style guard when the two fell to the floor. Green recalled Inteleon, and suddenly Rillaboom was his opponent. Before Snake could even react, Drum Beat rocked his equilibrium. As the soldier sat stunned, Rillaboom grabbed him by the throat. Now, Rillaboom was replaced with Cinderace.

"HIGH JUMP KICK!" shouted Green.

As Snake collided back first with a merchant's stand, Cinderace's foot buried itself in Snake's stomach.

"Overheat!"

Pinned helplessly between the merchant's wares and Cinderace's sturdy frame, Snake found no refuge from the spiral of flames that engulfed the Pokemon. Gritting his teeth, he unearthed another glob of C4.

"THERE!"

Both were caught in the blast in equal measure, the stage changing to the open air above the mountains that protected this holy place and both Smashers careening into the Blast Zone.

Green 2

Snake 2

Snake bolted towards the middle of the stage, as Green released Inteleon. Inteleon bridged the gap on all fours in mere seconds, but Snake had expected that already mid-dive when the Pokemon was in range. Getting on his back and jerking him up into the Sleeper Hold, Snake was momentarily caught off guard when Inteleon suddenly became wet, slipping from Snake's grasp, and firing a Snipe Shot up into Snake's jaw. Despite nearly falling backward, Snake was able to retrieve a grenade from his utility belt, but another Snipe Shot saw the green-shelled weapon explode in his hands, causing him to stagger even more.

"ICE BEAM!" shouted Green.

And now, he was encased in a block of ice, much like he'd been for the last several years.

"DARK PULSE!" the Pokemon Trainer ordered.

A blast of darkness sent the frozen Snake out of the mess hall the stage had landed in and into the Blast Zone.

Green: 2

Snake: 1

Snake unearthed his Remote Missile Launcher as Green unearthed Rillaboom, the ape using Grassy Glide to slide towards, and eventually, through the missile, Snake was prepared, trapping the Pokemon in another sleeper hold before it could even blink. As she had before, she swapped Rillaboom out of the hold to put Intelleon into it, the blue amphibian using its tail to kick Snake's legs out from underneath him. Snake next found himself juggled in the opening movements of Pyroball, the ball flying across the stage buried into his chest, the smell of burning kevlar only ceasing when The Blast Zone came.

GAME!

Cinderace cockily spun a flaming ball on his finger as Green pumped her fist in the air in victory.

GREEN WINS!

Snake clapped, his usual frown replaced with an amused grin.2

"You found some chinks in the armor," Rita began as she walked up to Snake, mic in hand, "But I'm afraid it wasn't enough. Your thoughts?'

Snake chuckled, "I can't say I've ever had opponents put themselves in and out of a sleeper hold for a tactical advantage. That said, I was wrong. You've got the grit, more than I thought. Lucas, you've got your work cut out for you, and I'm sure Red already knows."

Snake walked off-camera. Now, Mister Zero was with the Galar quartet.

"Another win for the relatively new Galar Pokemon," announced Mister Zero, "Green, what's your secret?"

"Brute force," Green shrugged, "Snake almost got it right, turning into a human Electrode using Explosion, and he almost got me. Take notes boys!" Green winked once again.

The four marched confidently up to the Smashers Box to the applause of their peers. Now, it was Green's turn to whisper Red instructions, much more smuggly than Red had earlier. Red whispered something back, something meant to mock something she'd said directly judging by the tone of voice. Green remained cocky, whispering something right back, before pausing and punctuating her point with a single word and a wink. The slightest groan could be heard from Red as he turned to shake walk down Tunnel A. Lucas meanwhile, received final instructions from Ness as he walked down Tunnel B.

"What the hell was that about? I thought they were pretty chummy," Quinn whispered

"Difference of opinion on training, or so my Lumas say." Rosalina whispered back, "It does not surprise me, they argued at this exact point in the tournament last time too."

"But it sounded like some conceding was being done too, judging by Green doing something so Red-like that he had to mock her for it."

Rosalina giggled, "Yes. I admire them for that. They always come back to the middle no matter how often they argue. And now that I think about it, I really admire how you pick up on the little things."

Quinn nodded, doing his best to hide his blushing face as he turned to watch the screen. A muffled giggle confirmed that Rosalina had seen it, having tried and failed to cover her mouth.

Damn it. They both thought.