Round 3

Zelda vs. Lucina

While the arena had been full of jubilee with Luigi and Daisy's engagement, intensity wafted back into the arena as the next match graphic came up. Zelda conjured Din's Fire, while Lucina stood stone-faced in her family's familiar combat stance.

"You know," Zelda began, arms laid in her lap as she sat in the interview chair, "I really admire Lucina for stepping out of her comfort zone in her training. But she's going to need to rely on everything she knows in order to beat me."

"I have to pull out all the stops to beat her," Lucina declared, "For my people, for my father, for my husband, for everyone."

"I have to advance onward, for Hyrule." Zelda finished.

"Not big on interviews this time are we?" mocked Cranky as the camera was on the commentary desk once again.

"I mean, Lucina's generally not a big fan of the pomp and circumstance, and Zelda's more focused than I've ever seen. Futaba what do you think?"

"Sometimes a good arsenal will camp out even the best swordie, and something tells me that's what's gonna happen here."

"Heh heh," Cranky chuckled, "Swordie."

"You're really gonna participate in that competitive dweeb language?"

"At the expense of the anime characters, yes." Cranky nodded.

"God," 9-Volt shook his head, "Let's throw it to the entrances of our next two competitors."

Zelda's Lullaby was accompanied by an all too familiar den of sights and sounds. The hooting of hooligans, and the waving of Hyrulian flags in the air. Zelda, who had in rounds past taken the time to wave to her people, ignored the fracas and marched to the center of the ring.

Similarly, Vs. Lucina lead to cheers and the waving of Yillisian flags, and Lucina marched forward, unaffected.

"Oh wow, I'm really gonna have it rough aren't I?" Pit fretted as Mills Frames went through the introductions.

"Pit, if you can defeat Medusa and Hades, you can defeat her," Palutena reassured.

Pit opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by Ganondorf's uproarious laughter. A sush from Peach put an end to that. It was only then that those distracted noticed the stage, Jungle (Contra)!

"It's nice to see one from my era, based on Contra's iconic jungle stage," Cranky explained, "Unfortunately, it's a scrolling stage. Stupid gimmick if you ask me."

9-Volt could only laugh indignantly as Mills explained, "So you all know the rules, three-stock, items medium,"
After a dramatic pause, the Wire Frame referee asked"Are you ready?"

Both Smashers nodded, staring each other down. With that, they disappeared.

Stage: Jungle (Contra)

Rules: 3-stock, items medium

.Music: Contra Jungle Level (NES)

3

Lucina appeared first, spinning in mid-air on the Fire Emblem crest, then gliding gently to the ground.

2

Zeldaappeared in a brilliant flash of light.

1

Lucina raised an eyebrow as Zelda genuflected in prayer, hopping to her feet almost as quickly as she had knelt.

GO!
Immediately, a phantom began to form as the Blast Zone began to encroach from the left, and behind Zelda. Lucina bit her lip, briefly assessing the risks of the situation as Robin had taught her, and charged. The Phantom snapped forward in its full charge. Luckily, the suit of armor was as predictable as it was powerful, Lucina countering the blow easily.

What she hadn't expected was the Din's Foot that broke the armor apart, clocking Lucina in the jaw. Zelda bolted forward as her opponent flew, another Din's Foot putting her into the Blast Zone effortlessly.

Zelda: 3

Lucina: 2

"WOMBO COMBO" cheered 9-Volt.

"Even if I found such language becoming of a young man," Cranky began to rant, "That's not even what a Wombo Combo is. You kids and your meme culture, just making references that don't apply. In my day…"

Those that weren't subject to Cranky's crowing saw Lucina jump right onto Zelda from the healing platform, applying the vaunted choke. In a flash, she'd transformed into Sheik, dropping a circle of Bouncing Fish around the azure-haired princess. In the time it took for the explosives to go off, Shiek was already Zelda, once again pelting Lucina with a barrage of Din's Fire blasts to bounce Lucina into the rightmost Blast Zone.

Zelda: 3

Lucina: 1

The bridge on which Zelda stood collapsed in a trio of pixelated explosions, Lucina saw her chance, diving down, only for her sword to hit the water, Zelda having teleported away. In the oddly sludgy water, the sharpened sword met an unwavering open hand, the two princesses exchanging blows as the Blast Zone scrolled ever closer. A counter of a slap and a well-timed bullet from a canon mounted in the valley above them sent Zelda into the Blast Zone.

Zelda: 2

Lucina: 1

Zelda was now Sheik, having briskly stepped off the Revival Platform, beckoning Lucina to the top rung. Unfortunately for Zelda, when her foe arrived, she learned that the swings of her sword were just as fast as her vaunted Shiekah Jab, fist, and sword bouncing off one another. Sheik grabbed an unsuspecting Lucina, kicking her across a gap. Lucina and Sheik charged across the gap, jabs connecting with their opposition's both princesses retreating to their side of the gap.

"Look at 'em exchanging blows, but too afraid to Meteor Smash down these gaps," Cranky observed as the two clashed above two gaps, only to jump back to safety.

"I don't think either of them has a Meteor Smash," offered 9-Volt.

Cranky snapped, "And that's what's wrong with video games today,"

With the toll of an alarm, they were now faced with the boss of the level. Lucina countered the first bullet for her, but Zelda was caught off guard. Lucina charged, slashing at the vulnerable Zelda into the Blast Zone.

Zelda: 1

Lucina: 1

Sheik turned into Zelda, immediately hitting Din's Foot, throwing her into a hive of bullets. Her damage climbed and climbed, and the final blast from the boss' top laser bay rocketed her into the Blast Zone.

GAME!

Creating a Phantom and giving a defiant, sweeping hand gesture, the screen reinforced the obvious.

ZELDA WINS!
 Lucina clapped, a grin on her face as Mister Zero came up to her to interview her.

"Tough loss out there Lucina. Take us through it."

Lucina frowned, "The simple matter is that she trained harder than I did Mister Zero. She went back to what makes her the warrior she is. I tried to stray away from what carried my family through the generations, and for that, to say that I'm ashamed would be an understatement. But, I've learned my lesson, and I wish Zelda the best of luck,"

With a nod to Mister Zero, Lucina journeyed up the tunnel. The feed flipped to Rita standing with Zelda, who had an arm over the petite woman's shoulder.

"I'm here with Zelda winner of the…" Rita began.

Zelda pointed a gloved finger at the camera, "Pit, Ganondorf. I'm coming for you,"

She then untethered herself from Rita, walking up the tunnel.

Zelda emerged from the tunnel to the cheers of her peers, peaking over a group hug from the three Links to see Lucina in a tender embrace with Robin. The silver-haired mage whispered in her ear, and through her tears, she smiled. Zelda grinned at the emotional support, but the grin turned into a frown when Ganondorf's laughter pierced the room.

"Boy," Ganondorf warned Pit, marching up to Tunnel A, "Your goddess cannot save you now."

"I don't need saving," Pit snapped, "Especially not from you pig man."

"Actually Pit," Palutena corrected, "Ganon was created by Ganondorf upon being banished to mess with Link's timeline."

"Oh right," Pit nodded, "Different timeline, boom boom."

"Testify!" cheered Sans.

"Let's not confuse the normal people," Palutena scolded.

Pit could only blush.

"I…" he yammered, "I like it when you scold me."

Palutena laughed, "I'll remember that for later."

"Can we please head down the tunnel?" Shulk begged.

Ganondorf nodded, "This is the first time you and I have ever agreed. Their romance makes me sick."

Pit frowned, but Palutena teleported behind him, kissing him on the cheek, "He has a harem. Don't listen to what he has to say. Good luck Pit."

"Thanks, Lady Palutena," Pit nodded, taking flight and zooming down Tunnel A.

Ganondorf simply rolled his eyes, marching down Tunnel B.