Intermission 13

Quinn

"What?" Jin asked, standing up, "You can't bring him here."

"I need to do something that generates on-TV action,"

Mario gestured to the glass, as boos were audible from the audience.

"Quinn's a hated heel," Mario said, "And putting a heel up against a new opponent will encourage people to spend money."

"What am I a heel for?" Quinn barked, "Because I went to Smashcraft R?"

Mario sighed, "Look kid, it doesn't make any sense to me either, but a good promoter-a listens to the fans-a."

Mario pressed a few buttons, the hologram projecting a social media feed into the air.

"If Bowser won't stoop that low, you know you're in trouble. #Quinnminal," a Toad had projected.

"Ken's my favorite Street Fighter uwu and you used a dirty trick to get the advantage. #Quinnminal," a strange green-haired woman in a medical mass had typed.

"That would be like me sneaking into Indigo to spy on the Elite Four. That is not top 1 percent material, #Quinnminal," a boy whose profile picture saw him posed with a Ratata on his shoulder had offered.

"I would simply ask to do what Mario asked me to do #Quinnminal" was a salaryman's offer to the hashtag.

"Enough," Rosalina said, "I will share in this if it has caused such a hullabaloo."

"I'll be Kazuya's tag team partner then," Daisy raised her hand.

"What?" Rosalina, Quinn, and Luigi barked all simultaneously.

"Look, the more I do for Kazuya, the more I can convince him to lay off all of us," Daisy explained, "Just let me do this."

"Alright, so a tag team match it'll be," Mario announced, "As for you two, rest up, you'll need it."

Quinn and Rosalina instinctually held each other's hands as Mario walked away.

Cloud

Completely disinterested in Quinn's drama, Cloud was in the middle of a phone call.

"So everybody's game to do a big walkout?" Cloud asked.

"Of course!" Tifa answered.

Cloud frowned, "I could barely hear you."

"Yeah," Tifa said with a chuckle, "Everyone's super excited, the kids included."

Cloud grinned.

"I'm sure."

The two sat in silence for what felt like an eternity.

"Tifa?" he asked.

"Yeah?" asked the martial artist, bewildered.

"Cid brought the Highwind right?"

"Yeah," Tifa said, "It's what we all came in on. Why?"

"I'd like to…" Cloud paused, "I'd like all of us to spend some time aboard when I win this round. I think it'll help to be in the place where we planned the Sephiroth assault."

"That's a great idea Cloud," Tifa said warmly, "When?"

"Well, I'm training with Bottles the Mole tomorrow …"

"YOU'RE WHAT?" Yuffie squealed, so loudly that Cloud had to pull the phone away from his ear.

"Denzel and Marlene have been playing Banjo-Kazooie, and Yuffie has become a big fan of all the characters, especially their voices," Tifa explained.

"Oh Bahamut," groaned Cloud, "I don't think barring you guys from coming would help so meet in front of Bottles' place tomorrow."

"And don't forget," Tifa quipped, "You still owe us a day in the park."

"Gonna watch some footage of them for a few days after I train with Bottles, then we should be able to do it?"

"So what, like…?" Tifa did the math in her head, "Four days from now?"

Cloud smiled, "It's a date."

"Good," Tifa concluded, "I'll see you out there."

Cloud pocketed his phone, immediately noting Kazooie's angry eyes staring him down.

Banjo-Kazooie

"CLOUD IS TRAINING WITH BOTTLES," Kazooie shrieked, "I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT PENCIL-NECK TRAITOR!"

"Kazooie, I'm trying to read a text," whispered Banjo

Kazooie turned to peek over Banjo's shoulder. Mambo was on the other end of the text conversation.

Eekum Bokum, Mumbo's text said Parade mech is ready, Phantom Thieves should get to the position

Banjo waved The Phantom Thieves forward, all of whom darted down the tunnel. Amidst the chatter echoing up the tunnel, the intermission bell rang, signifying its end.

"Cloud, my boy, you're in Tunnel A. You guys are in Tunnel B," Mario explained, pointing to Banjo and Kazooie.

"Yeah yeah we've got it," Kazooie rolled her eyes as Banjo escorted her down the tunnel.

Cloud simply waved to the cheering Smashers Box, marching straight down the tunnel.

"You seem excited about this," Peach giggled, pecking Mario on the cheek.

"This is one I've been looking forward to for a while yeah," Mario explained, "The guy who saved my life during the Smash Core battle, and two of the best fighters I've ever met."

"Those are apt descriptors indeed," Peach nodded as the video package for the next match began to play.