Round 2
Isabelle vs. Joker

Joker pulled on his glove, a familiar smile capping off his match graphic. Isabelle, meanwhile, had traded her cardigan and skirt for a red and black hoodie, with matching sweatpants, her sweet smile replaced with an unfeeling scowl, her tiny body rigidly snapped into a fighting stance.

"I've got one thing to say brother," Incineroar growled, pointing a claw at the camera, "Send Belle,"

Now, it was the Phantom Thieves' turn to be interviewed.

"So what if we couldn't train, so goddamn what?" hooted the young man known as Skull, "You think me and Joker haven't been rasslin' around since we became friends? Don't make me laugh! Whatever brain worms Incineroar planted in Isabelle, Joker can beat it,"

Joker nodded in agreement, and just like that, Cranky and 9-Volt were on screen.

"And just like that, we're gonna throw it down to entrances," announced a shocked 9-Volt.

"That just means the entrances are gonna be longer than usual," Cranky huffed.

The lights went out, and the Phantom Thieves logo appeared on every video screen in Smash Stadium.

"Dang it, they are," Cranky groaned.

An organ instrumental accompanied by soft chimes began to play. Panther skipped out, doing a slow, deliberate ballet routine to the music. She kneeled in prayer as foreboding strings overtook the music. Joker marched out next, carrying a mic stand, lip-synching into the unplugged microphone. Ann took his arm, and the two walked to the center of the stadium together.

Mayonaka sugi no tokei no hari wa mugen no ai wo hikisaku

Owari wo tsugeru kane no ne wa ima

Yasashiku kaze ni tokekomu

As Ann gave Joker one less kiss before disappearing, 9-Volt began to speak"And we'd like to thank the band Moi Dix Mois for letting us use 'Pageant,'

"Seeing Panther and Joker all over each other like that, I wish they hadn't."

The lights went up, and another organ tune began to pay, this one much heavier and less refined.

Yeah (You don't even know me)
Yeah yeah, ah (You don't even know me)
Ah-ha (You don't even know me)
It's me, yeah (You don't even know me)
Isabelle power walked out, scowling at the crowd as she walked. Meanwhile, in the commentary booth, Incineroar appeared,

"NO DOUBT NO DOUBT BROTHERS! MISTER MCMARIO SAID I COULD BE ON COMMENTARY FOR THIS MATCH!"

"Is that an Action Bronson song by the way?" asked 9-Volt.

"YES, IT IS. ACTION BRONSON IS A FRIEND OF MINE AND A FRIEND OF BELLE!"

"Belle?" Cranky asked as Isabelle got to the center of the ring.

"YEAH, BROTHER! WRESTLING FANS SPEAK IN IN EXCLUSIVELY ONE-SYLLABLE TERMS THESE DAYS!"
Mills Frames appeared from the floor. Isabelle turned away, hunching down

"The following contest is a Round 2 Match in the Super Smash Brothers Ultimate Tournament. The winner will face either Banjo-Kazooie or Terry Bogard in Round 3! Introducing first, he is from the Persona Universe, he is the lead of The Phantom Thieves, he is Joker!"

Joker waved to the crowd.

"And introducing next, to my right. She is from the Animal Crossing Universe. From Saint Nook's Place, she…is…Belle!"

Isabelle remained stoic.

"Per agreements made between The Alola Combat Club and The Phantom Thieves, the stage will be Boxing Ring and there will be NO ITEMS. The rules are 3-Stock, Items None. Smashers, are you ready?"

Both Smashers nodded and disappeared.

Stage: Boxing Ring

Rules: 3 Stocks, Items None

Music: Starrcade (WCW vs. NWO Revenge)

3

Joker jumped down from the ceiling, adjusting his gloves one last time as he stood.

2

Isabelle jogged into position, Hindu squatting a few times before striking her fighting stance, balling her paws into fists, and putting them up.

1

Joker began to hop on his toes, a self-assured smile on his face. Isabelle stood firm.

GO!

Joker was the first to charge, picking up Isabelle with ease and planting her into the nearest ring corner. In response, Isabelle shoved him, knocking him down. A perplexed expression took over Joker's masked face for a split second, but the smile returned. Turning away from Isabelle to scurry back up, he turned back around only for a charging Isabelle to blast into his stomach. A few of his ribs were immediately broken, and Isabelle curled into a ball, wheezing as he tried to breathe. Isabelle was ready, squatted in the ring corner directly across from Joker's prone form.

"YEAH! JUST LIKE HOW WE TRAINED!" cheered Incineroar.

Joker eventually got back to his feet, only to suffer the same fate. Joker rolled through the ropes, Isabelle simply stalking after him. Joker wobbled to his feet, breathing heavily. Isabelle hooked Joker into a Headlock, picking him up, raising the Phantom Thief over her head, and holding his prone form upside down. Letting him go and then grabbing him again to control his descent, Joker's back clattered against the metal floor. Isabelle hooked his leg to keep his shoulders down, slapping the mat three times. Then, hoisting him up like garbage, she tossed him into the Blast Zone.

Isabelle: 3

Joker 2

In the Smashers' Box, all those present clamored, some regretting their bets. Amongst the chaos, The rest of the Phantom Thieves sat back, completely unphased.

"He still got this?" Makoto asked.

"Yeah," Ryuji nodded, "I wouldn't be surprised if those were the only moves that idiot cat trained her on."

Back in the ring. The two charged, Joker, executing a roll with his long legs clocking Isabelle in the head. Stunned, she staggered to the bottom left corner of the ring as Joker leaned back in the opposite one, completely poised. With a running start, Joker launched into a cartwheel, the momentum carrying him into yet another kick. Isabelle staggered forward, throwing a wild punch and falling roughly onto her stomach. With that, Joker ascended the turnbuckle, jumping off so that his feet landed on Isabelle's sternum.

"So," Joker asked, "You ready to stop playing wrestler?"

Isabelle slowly rose to her feet, shaking her head and beckoning him forward

In response, Joker bolted towards her, annihilating her with the brunt of his extended forearm.

"AND THAT'S WHAT WE CALL A CLOTHESLINE BROTHERS!" bellowed Incineroar.

Heaving her to her feet, Joker hit another Clothesline. Again, she was heaved to her feet. Scooped up and slammed down back first, Isabelle could only spasm on the mat. Shaking his head, Joker watched as Isabelle rolled through the ropes, much as he had done earlier. Mirroring his opponent's earlier disposal of him, Joker tossed Isabelle into the Blast Zone.

Isabelle: 2

Joker: 2

"It's okay kid," Incineroar encouraged, "It's just a stock. You got this."

Isabelle planted her feet in the ring, jumping off the Revival Platform immediately. Joker stood on the ropes, bouncing off of them…only to get tackled out of mid-air!

"And Isabelle back on the offense!" 9-Volt shouted as Incineroar erupted in laughter.

Isabelle set the prone Joker to his feet, locking him in the same headlock she had earlier, hoisting him vertically, and then dropping him straight down onto his back. This time, Isabelle pitched the prone Joker over the ropes with a running start, throwing him into the Blast Zone once again.

.Isabelle: 1

Joker: 2

Isabelle retreated to a corner, stretching her arms out behind her. Meanwhile, Joker eyed her from across the ring, miming a boxing stance. The Shih-Tzu started the proceedings, running to meet Joker in his corner. Punches from her tiny paws did nothing, but Isabelle was quick to grab Joker by the hair, throwing him down to the mat. Joker rolled to his belly, but that didn't stop the onslaught. Without warning, Joker jumped to his feet, now carrying Isabelle on his shoulders. Hoisting her to his right and dropping, Isabelle's face spiked off the mat.

"Since when did that kid know how to throw an F5?" Incineroar demanded.

"But look at Isabelle!" 9-Volt shrieked.

She had rolled to the ropes, but her head stuck out, clearly seeing stars. Joker, who was still on the ground from having hit the move, could only shoot her a bewildered glance. Standing up, he strode over to her prone body.

"You wanna play wrestler?" Joker asked, bouncing on his toes, "Then we'll play that game."

Snapping her up by the waist, Joker bent backward, taking Isabelle to the mat next first.

"Uh, the Alolan Suplex is my move brother, ya carny jabroni," growled Incineroar.

Another Alolan Suplex led to a knee to the ribs. A pained yip lead to a throaty growl. Isabelle stood, pushing Joker into the turnbuckle. A knee to the bruised ribs cut the flurry off immediately. Isabelle tried to backpedal, but Joker kept his grip synched on her, driving another knee in. She crumpled to the ground. Slowly, agonizingly, she made her way to her knees, only to receive another knee shot to the ribs. Five back-to-back releasing Alolan Suplexes found their mark. Joker tugged on his glove, causing Morgana to briefly appear.

"Lookin' cool Joker!" cheered Morgana.

"If the Phantom Thieves think this is cool then-" spat a furious 9-Volt.

"Cool your jets," Incineroar snapped, "We invited this, and accept the consequences. That's why I took Isabelle under my 15-inch python brother,"

Now, Joker had Isabelle up on his shoulders again, preparing for yet another F5. But Isabelle wriggled out, kicking Joker in the stomach and locking his head, lifting him up n the fashion that had now become familiar. Joker's body wriggled, grabbing Isabelle by the waist for yet another Alolan Suplex. Unlike the others, Joker did not break the grip when he completed the move, leaving her trapped for three additional ones.

"Man, it seems like Joker's a more astute student than your pupil," said Cranky.

"I'd expect nothing less dude," agreed Incineroar, "He's been watchin' tape like a good wrestler should."

As the commentators were speaking, as Joker was glaring down at her, Isabelle suddenly sprang to life, tripping Joker, hooking the leg, and using both paws to pull on his neck.

"THAT'S THE STEP-OVER FACELOCK, OR THE STF!" screamed Incineroar.

Crying out in agony, Joker crawled to the ropes, eventually dragging them both through it, Isabelle unwilling to relinquish the hold. Joker rolled to his side, and squirmed free, Isabelle was quicker to react though, dropkicking Joker in the chest and into the Blast Zone.

Isabelle: 1

Joker: 1

Isabelle bolted back into the ring just as Joker stepped off the Revival Platform. The two circled each other, meeting in the middle of the ring to lock palms, each pushing against the other for dominance, Isabelle was faster, tripping Joker with her legs and applying a headlock as Joker lay prone on his stomach.

"Yeah, baby! Get technical! Get technical as we practiced!" excitedly ordered Incineroar.

Joker stood up, Isabelle still doggedly keeping hold. As Joker began to wriggle, Isabelle took Joker's arm and tossed him over her shoulder. Joker, in response, kipped to his feet, smacking Isabelle's wrists to release the hold, but as soon as he did, Isabelle snatched him again, with another throw over the shoulder. Isabelle yanked Joker up for another, but Joker responded with a chop to the chest. As the snapping of hand against chest echoed through the arena, Isabelle slowly released her grip on him, but with a look of indignance

"YOU JUST MADE THE BIGGEST MISTAKE OF YOUR LIFE JABRONI!" roared Incineroar.

"What?" asked 9-Volt and Cranky together.

"WE TRAINED FOR THIS, EXACTLY THIS! ALOLAN STRONG STYLE BABY!"

Isabelle beckoned Joker forward.

"C'MON!" she yipped.

Another chop.

"C'MON!" she beckoned again.

Another chop.

"YOUR TURN!" Joker shouted, beckoning Isabelle forth in the same way.

Isabelle chopped Joker's chest, the impact of her weaponized hand on his flesh just as meaty as it had been with the roles reversed.

For three minutes, the two traded chops to the chest, neither relenting in their ferocity nor retreating. Joker reeled back for a particularly sharp one that sent Isabelle backpedaling into the upper-right ring corner. Now free to do what he wanted, Joker chopped Isabelle as hard and as fast as he could. Joker stopped to smile at his handwork, but Isabelle grabbed him by the shoulders, reversing their positions, and laying in a pelt of unanswered chops herself. On chop number eight, she stopped, extending both middle claws.

"FUCK YOU!" she screamed.

Joker picked her up by the shoulders, switching their positions, rapidly firing chops.

How're those for size miss secretary?" mocked Joker,

Isabelle fired back with a chop and kept chopping him until Joker fell head-first out of the ring. As she usually had, she beckoned him up, but Joker slid under her legs, chopping her as she stood up. Each successive chop staggered Isabelle backward, a final, revved back chop, sent Isabelle into the Blast Zone for the final time.

GAME!

In the Smash Mansion's Courtyard, the Morgana had pulled up in his car form.

"Ha ha! Who's next?" asked Ryuji as Joker slid open the van door, and stepped inside. As The Phantom Thieves did their celebratory donuts around the courtyard Isabelle rapidly clapped, a huge smile on her face. Rita stepped in to interview Isabelle as she became the center of the camera's attention.

"You're happier than I imagined you would be. Why's that?"

"Because it was awesome," Isabelle chirped, her usually cheery, sweet voice intact, "Mister Roar said my friends might worry about me, but I told him I needed to get the full training if I had a hope in heck of beating Joker. I got in the best shape of my life, and what's more, I almost did! Good match Joker, I wish you the best of luck against your opponent next round, whether that be Banjo-Kazooie or Terry,"

With that, Isabelle skipped merely off.

"Huh," Mister Zero said as the live feed cut to him and The Phantom Thieves, "I'm here with Joker. You pulled off an incredible win with no way to train. How'd you do it?"

"Some of us Thieves get together to watch wrestling occasionally, and Ryuji and I used to train in the gym just in case I ever needed to Suplex a Shadow in the Metaverse,"

"Do you plan on operating that way in all your remaining matches?" Mister Zero asked.

Joker shook his head, "Banjo-Kazooie, Terry, whichever one of you I meet in the finals will be a good old-fashion Smash tournament match. We don't need to send you a calling card to tell you to prepare."

The Phantom Thieves logo took over the screen before it threw back to Cranky and 9-Volt for their analysis. The Thieves walked up the tunnel to a louder-than-usual ovation.

"Mama mia," crowed Wario, "You twerps are incredible,"

"Thanks," Joker snapped, rolling his eyes.

They walked through the crowd, eventually finding Isabelle in a group hug.

"I'm so sorry I worried everyone," whispered Isabelle.

"You keep saying that, it's fine!" Snake whispered back.

"Yeah!" Sonic agreed, "I'd rather deal with you at worst than Shadow at his best anyway.

Isabelle giggled, "Thank you Sonic. I owe you a date. Maybe that chili dog place you tried to take me to last time?"

"Sounds great!"

"Banjo and Terry, you're up," came Mikey's unusually quivery announcement, "G-good luck Kazooie."

"Holy Stamper Brothers Mikey, I can smell the desperation on you."

"Sorry," the duck hung his head.

"You best be," Kazooie snapped, making a fist with her wing in Banjo's direction, "Let's get it,"

Banjo pounded Kazooie's waiting fist, silently making his way up to Tunnel A.

"OKAY!" Terry shouted, "Wish me luck!"

"Good luck Terry," Corrin squeaked quietly.

"Good luck man," Ken cast a thumbs up, "I'm running low on martial artists out here."

"I'll do my best rich boy," Terry laughed.

He gave Corrin a peck on the cheek, who began to blush a deep crimson, before jogging down the auditorium stairs and Tunnel B.