Round 1: Subject Zero vs. Krystal
Smash Stadium
Krystal's sneering, obscene gestured gif was given the screen to itself, as all the other fighters' poses had, with her name enshrined underneath.
"My name is Krystal," growled the pre-recorded Krystal, her posture on the interview bench tense and rigid.
The video cut to her running through a kata with her staff alone on the Lylat Cruise stage.
"I am the last survivor of a planet called Cernia," narrated her voice, "I was on a quest to find the perpetrator of my people's genocide, who I found out was a disgraced Lylatian named Andross. I was ambushed and captured. Then I met…him,"
The footage on-screen was replaced by various newspaper clippings. One showed Fox speaking to a press conference, Krystal in a bathrobe standing nervously next to him, the title reading "McCloud returns, saves Sauria, Cernian found."
The next was Krystal posed seductively, laying sideways on a docked Arwing, the headline reading, Krystal passes Class C flight test, joins Star Fox Team"
The next was a clip of the Star Fox team, waving to a crowd, "Star Fox Team repels Aparoid invasion."
"I was something of a celebrity for my work," said Krystal as the camera was back on her on the interview bench, "But then the tabloids started sucking our blood.
A barrage of newspaper clippings filled the screen.
"Fox and Krystal caught holding hands on Aquas getaway, love in the air?"
"Fox and Krystal targeted by pirates in Corneria, assassination attempt repelled."
"22-year-old arrested in Krystal stalking case, police find manifesto."
"Krystal seen at bar with Lombardi, infidelity afoot?"
"Krystal nearly shot down in escort mission, is Krystal a competent pilot?"
"It was at that point Fox decided to kick me off the team to protect me," Krystal said, her teeth clenched.
"Krystal leaves Star Fox, McCloud not taking interviews."
"Krystal spotted with playboy Caruso, is she Star Wolf bound?"
"We saved Lylat from the Anglars, and what did we get?"
"Cornerian Parliament rejects rescinding Star Wolf bounties.
"And then…"
"Krystal disappears,"
"Now," Krystal said, "Lylat, your favorite scourge is back. My ultimate goal is to embarrass Fox in front of his legions of drooling fangirls as I did in training,"
After a brief cut to Krystal taking out Falco and Fox in their training session on Day 4 of Physics Week. It cut back to Krystal. Now, the azure fox was grinning, murderous intent in her eyes.
"Subject Zero, whoever you are, I do not care. You're just a meat shield blocking me from McCloud. Nothing more, nothing less. And you will…not…win!" she hissed.
Subject Zero's pose was next as he annoyedly took inserted his earbuds.
"My name is Subject Zero, and…I don't know much else honestly. I'm still finding out about myself," he said in his pre-recorded interview.
"Well…just give me what you can," Nikki's off-camera voice encouraged.
"I…I was utilized for a war effort. As a result, I was made addicted to a drug called Chronos. How it works in its unaltered form is that I can slow down and speed up time, always, even if I die. The modified version I've been gifted by Smash, however, only allows me to slow down the flow of time in my own head. As I understand, it's similar to Bayonetta's Witch Time."
"Anyone you're looking forward to fighting?" Nikki prodded.
"The swordfighters honestly. Seldom do I get to clash blades with someone in a fair, non-lethal environment."
"What do you think of Krystal?"
"She's a bitter veteran of war. Like a lot of my friends."
"She's not interested in being your friend, from the sounds of it." Nikki winced.
"Oh, I know," deadpanned Subject Zero, "They never are, but I hope after this is done, we can listen to one another,"
"That's a jarring change of pace, considering some of the interviews I've had today."
"Not to be rude, but Elizabeth will probably be up soon, and I want to make sure she has breakfast and gets dressed before we leave."
"No problem!"
The footage broadcasted to the arena was now a live shot of Cranky and 9-Volt, "That's so wholesome!" swooned the Warioware employee.
"There are very few things that warm this cold heart, and one of those things is fatherhood darn it!" agreed Cranky with a nod, " Futaba, the floor is yours."
All eyes were on Futaba now, her brow furrowed in thought "This one took a little deliberation. Who wins, the telepath or the time manipulator. And I gotta think the telepath wins every time. Sorry Zero, but Krystal's got this."
"Not often you see a gal like Futaba stumped," 9-Volt said as the feed flipped back to the commentary desk.
"Most certainly not, Alright, let's throw it down to our referee for entrances, who I'm being informed has been given the name Mills Frames."
"Who came up with that?" gasped 9-Volt, a deep frown setting in at the pun
"Who do you think?" snarled Cranky.
"Ah, you're right," 9-Volt muttered.
Subject Zero was out first, coming from the left tunnel to subdued electronic dance music. The crowd, who'd been animated up to now, was relatively silent.
"We're told that the song you're hearing right now is "Third District" by LudoWic, which serves as an anthem for where this kid hails from," Cranky explained.
9-Volt's cast a downward glance at the desk in confusion, "What I'm more interested in is this reaction. Do you think it's because he's an assassin? My sources tell me that he's not known by Subject Zero by very many, even in his universe"
"Socks to yer sources! It's because of one of those dern indy games boy. In my day, indy games stayed where they belong, in the musty basement of the people who programmed them!" cackled Cranky.
"Not at all what I was talking about, you old coot," muttered a downtrodden 9-Volt.
"Old coot? Boy, I oughta…"
"Please for the love of the Seven Stars throw down to Mills, please!" 9-Volt begged.
The camera cut to Tunnel B as a hymn in an incomprehensible language began to play. Krystal appeared out of the tunnel, holding her staff out in front of her grabbed at the middle point, magic gem pointed up, her face stoic. Stopping in front of Mills' podium on stage to kneel, mumbling a brief prayer. As soon as she stood, the music stopped.
"The next contest is a Round 1 match in the Ultimate Tournament!" began Mills Frames "The winner of this match will face either Travis Touchdown or The River City Girls in the next round. Introducing first in the corner to my left, from the Katana Zero universe, Subject Zero!"
Subject Zero stared coldly ahead, the crowd barely reacting.
"And introducing in the corner to my right, from the Star Fox Universe, Krystal!"
As the crowd erupted into boos, Krystal simply raised her middle claw into the air, amplifying the boos even further.
Yelling over the boos, Mills continued, "If Krystal wins the coin toss, the contest will take place on Orbital Gate Assault. If Subject Zero wins the coin toss, it will be contested at Club Neon! Smashers, call it!"
"Heads!" shouted Krystal.
The coin fell to the floor, landing on one side, Krystal immediately snarled as Mills made visual contact with it. Being telepathic meant being hit by bad news at the worst times.
"Tails! The stage will be Club Neon. The rules are, two stocks, items all, low. Smashers, are you ready?"
Krystal flipped off Mills while Subject Zero gave a quick nod, not breaking his stare from his opponent. Both Smashers were teleported away.
Rules: 2 Stocks: Items: All Low
Stage: Club Neon
Music "Hit the Floor" by DJ Electrohead
As the fighters appeared on the opposite end of the club, Krystal was immediately overwhelmed. The pulsating individual squares of the dance floor and the lasers that came from the ceiling creating a sickening rainbow barrage of lights, the thumping bass music, and the smell of cheap cigarettes and cheaper booze. These all brought back terrible vivid memories, being dragged to such places by Fox and Panther, both to be paraded around as arm candy. But what Krystal hadn't expected with the abundance of thoughts. Krystal's forehead wrinkled.
Smash arenas typically don't have bystanders in them, do they? Are they real? wondered Krystal.
3
2
1
GO!
Krystal held her ground, hoping Subject Zero would get snagged moving through the crowd, giving her an opening, but the bathrobe wearing assassin waded through the crowd confidently, never breaking his cold, steely gaze from her. Krystal raised her staff into her fighting stance, the gem shining a blinding blue, awaiting her command. Subject Zero removed something from his breast pocket, throwing it to the ground in front of her. Whatever he had thrown was now spewing smoke
"Smoke grenade, shit!" spat Krystal.
Raising her staff in front of her in a blocking stance, she felt her eyes sting, and her lungs fill up with noxious smoke. But a Cernian warrior was taught to never beak their guard in defense unless offensive opportunity was assured. And so that's what she did until the smoke stopped spewing. The thoughts remained consistent with vapid consumerist joy despite the fact a smoke grenade went off in a club.
So, these people are automatons? I should've figured, but I couldn't be sure without observation, the Cernian deduced.
Making it a special point to crush the accursed thing under her heel, she quickly scanned what she could see of the club, finding no sign of the assassin. Shoving her way through the crowd, batting away the vapid thoughts of club-goers, she snarled. She would come every inch of this club as she had to. The bastard couldn't hide forever.
Suddenly on her wade through the fourth cluster of bobbing twenty-somethings, she felt, not the fine silk of a suit or dress, but the tattered frayed silk of a bathrobe. She turned but felt something sharp and wet slap against her cheek. Krystal blocked a second slap with her wrist, glaring down at it. The fur on her wrist was no longer azure, but as technicolor as the lights of the club.
Paint? inwardly balked the blue fox.
The next thing she knew, an enormous claymore sword sliced across her, knocking her back through the crowd of people, falling onto her behind.
"AND SUBJECT ZERO SWITCHES SWORDS BETWEEN TWO OF HIS SPECIAL SWORDS, THE PRISM SWORD, AND THE CLAYMORE AFTER USING HIS OTHER SPECIAL MOVE 'THROW OBJECT,' WHICH JUST HAPPENED TO BE A SMOKE GRENADE!" Cranky explained.
"The paint allowed Subject Zero to do the extra damage, as it will when Torri Gachi enters the ring later on tonight," added 9-Volt.
Krystal sneered as the bright paint dematerialized off of her wrist. A blue laser came whizzing across the club, which Krystal blocked with her staff. Krystal glanced up seeing Subject Zero skipping across the heads of the crowd, who appeared to be never the wiser. Subject Zero jumped off the last clubgoer, bearing yet another sword down onto her, this time, a fire area of effect protruding out as he swung. Thinking quickly, the Cernian froze the fire with her staff's Ice ability. Luckily, the spell was powerful enough that, instead of reducing the fire to a mix of steam and water, it froze the fire solid. Kick the fire apart, the ice shards collided with Subject Zero, who winced in unexpected pain. Krystal took the momentary distraction to land a thrust kick to Subject Zero's jaw, knocking him through the nonplused dancing crowd as she had done to him earlier. Krystal's eyes had adjusted to the blinding neon that no doubt got the club its name, so she saw Subject Zero get a Super Scope as he tucked and rolled into the crowd. Krystal raced after him, swinging the staff as she ran. But as she connected with him, her perception of the world began to warble into a neon hell, everything, including her, slowing down. Krystal felt several Super Scope laser blasts belt her, but Subject Zero's thoughts relayed to her what this was. He had power over time, but no power over time could prevent what Krystal had planned.
"Quake!" she commanded as the flow of time returned to normal.
The ground shook, Subject Zero flailing for balance as it did. A vertical bonk on the head, followed by a barrage of sideswipes, ending in a jumping twisting slice knocked Subject Zero further away. Krystal grinned, shooting an ice blast at the dark-haired assassin, encasing him in a block of ice. Kicking him out of it and up the stairs, away from the flashing lights of the dance floor, into the standard neon lights of the small bar area. Before Subject Zero could get to his feet, she incased him in another block of ice, kicking him in the ribs, shattering him from the ice, and out the club doors to the blast zone.
Krystal: 2
Subject Zero 1
Krystal collapsed onto a stool in the bar as she waited for Subject Zero to appear. She could see him wading through the crowd.
Like a bug to a zapper, she sneered.
Subject Zero leaped through the air, surpassing the stairs entirely in his lunge. Krystal took the moment before contact to admire the young man's vertical leap before he made contact with her. Krystal rolled into the momentum as the two collided flipping him over into a motion similar to Ken's Hell Wheel, nearly sending him out the door. Krystal sensed the man cycling through which sword to use in his head.
Perfect, the vixen snarled inwardly.
She picked up the stool, freezing the tall, cushioned chair in midair. Subject Zero sliced the thing clean in half with his Claymore, but his wide eyes betrayed the fact that he had expected to slice metal and pillow fluff, not crystallized water. He had swung too hard, and now his sword was stuck in the ground. Krystal charged, running up the central ridge of the massive sword, proclaiming "BOOST" as she reached its edge, carrying her across the rest of the blade and allowing her to kick Subject Zero out of the door to the club, into the blast zone.
"KRYSTAL WINS!"
"WOW! THERE YOU HAVE IT FOLKS, OUR FIRST SWEEP OF THE TOURNAMENT." 9-Volt screamed.
"Improvise, adapt, overcome. Krystal just happened to embody those principles better this day, and in just an instant" Cranky mused.
Meanwhile, on Smash Mansion's courtyard, Krystal pointed her staff directly at the camera, swinging it behind her.
"You're not ready yet," she threatened as she swung it behind her, sheathing it on her back just as the splash screen declared her victory. Subject Zero meanwhile, stood in another room, arms folded.
Subject Zero was interviewed by Mister Zero first.
"Tough loss out there, she seemed to have your number." said the scummy backstage reporter, putting his microphone up to Subject Zero who was sat against a wall.
"I let her decide the environment. I've never fought against an elemental warrior before, and I failed. I need to train more," said Subject Zero without looking at the camera, pushing himself up and walking down the tunnel.
Meanwhile, Rita ran to meet Krystal, who was breathing heavy but bore an ear to ear smile.
"Congratulations on your-"
"Oh a woman interviewer, thank the Gods," Krystal sighed,
"That non-withstanding how-"Rita continued but was cut-off by a now yelling Krystal.
"I hope that any man who thinks they can control me was watching. I hope every man that thought they needed to protect me was watching. I will come for you McCloud and prove that it was not me holding you back, but the other way around. You'd best step up your game little boy because I will not rest until we have our encounter," she screamed, running up the tunnel.
"Well, that was one of the easiest interviews of my life. Cranky, 9-Volt, back to you."
As Cranky and 9-Volt bought time for the Smashers Section to settle. Elizabeth was already hugging Subject Zero, who had knelt to greet her. Judging by the grin on Subject Zero's face, the little girl was probably showering her with praise.
But Krystal could not care an iota.
Instead, she glared out at the crowd that was clapping out of politeness, instead of rushing to greet her like the other winners had received. A few, like Samus, Fox, and Falco refused to clap at all, arms crossed in their seats, McCloud visibly pouting.
What a jealous little bitch, Krystal smirked to herself as she took her seat.
"Haha, Krystal stole your victory pose didn't she bro?" she heard Dante laugh from the middle of the room.
Krystal snapped over to the source of the noise, only to see the icy blue eyes of Vergil staring at her.
"Uh, bro? Earth to Vergil?" asked Dante, snapping his fingers in front of Vergil
Krystal and Vergil snapped their gaze away, Krystal embarrassingly retreating to her seat, while Vergil hissed unintelligible curses at Dante.
The randomizer had been in full swing for a few seconds now, each Smasher glued to the television in anticipation of who would be the next two Smashers to step into the ring.
"LITTLE MAC VERSUS ROSALINA AND LUMA!"
Sure enough, Little Mac shadow boxed while a Luma pirouetted across Rosalina's outstretched arms and shoulders, striking a ballerina's ending pose while Rosalina put up a hand to cover a giggle as the gifs froze in place.