Bash at Big Battlefield: The Rematch

"It's a rematch. What more do you want me to say?"

That's what Cloud had told Nikki the interviewer before striding away. As best as Cloud could tell from in front of a closed door, Robin had babbled on about some strategy or another. Cloud couldn't care less. All that mattered was warming up in the SOLDIER-approved style, doing squats. Not even the spring breeze atop Big Battlefield broke him from his warm up, or his gaze at Robin, who flipped through the pages of one of his ancient tomes.

"The music is Id (Purpose) (remix). Three, two, one, GO!"

Robin slowly jogged to the center, Cloud did the same. The two circled.

"Most interesting," observed Robin, sighing wistfully, "They redid the instrumentation of the ballad of Chrom and I's triumph."

"You're angling for a distraction," Cloud grunted.

A grin befell Robin, "Astute, but I thought I'd give it a try. Oh well,"

On instinct, the two lurched forward. Levin Sword and Fusion Sword clashed against each other. After a brief test of strength, the two jumped backward, landing on platforms on opposite ends of the stage. While Cloud hopped across each one, Robin jumped to the ground, charging forward.

As Cloud bopped Robin from above, Hubert chuckled, "Sir Robin is on the back foot,"

The rest of the Smashers' Box watched Robin step backward to avoid the first slash of a Cross-Slash, Edelgard simply said, "Robin is thinking two steps ahead."

Almost on cue, Robin launched Elfire. The jolt of flame sent Cloud up to the platform above them, allowing Robin to do a flipping slash from underneath. Cloud was on his feet before anyone could blink, slamming Robin back down to the floor with an annoyed cleave of the Fusion Sword.

"Mother mercy," Wario gasped, "Keep your eyes on this one Sephiroth. He's really been putting in the training."

Sephiroth had had his back turned to the screen for the entirety of the event, but he shot a look over his shoulder to see Cloud immediately launch into a Cross-Slash after being zapped with Elthunder. The One Winged Angel chuckled.

"If he'd truly been putting in the training, he'd have won by now," Sephiroth huffed, "The only difference between now and the last tournament is he isn't holding back anymore."

Ganondorf shot a scowling glare over his shoulder, "What do you mean?"

Sephiroth only grinned at the action on screen, the two competitor's swords clashing, and then Cloud flipping backward to grab a Pokeball.

"It's his friends," Sephiroth explained, as Robin scuttled away from what the Pokeball revealed, Keldeo, "With them here, he's actually trying."

"Yeah, I'm sure what you have to say is important and everything but," Sans pointed to the screen, "I just think it's funny Cloud just smoked Robin with the underwhelming sword deer."

Everyone's focus returned to the television in just enough time to see Robin falling in the background and blipping away.

Cloud: 3

Robin: 2

A Cross-Slash followed by Keldeo's last hurrah greeted Robin as soon as he stepped off the Revival Platform. Through his haze, Robin saw Cloud break away to retrieve a Smart Bomb.

I have to time this just right, thought the mage.

Robin squinted. He imagined the hand gesture he needed to make.

"THORON!" cried Robin.

The blast of electricity sliced through the Smart Bomb, both jolting Cloud and triggering the bomb. Cloud stood no chance, of being launched into the Blast Zone!

Cloud: 2

Robin: 2

Robin backpedaled as Cloud immediately ran to his position swinging wildly at him.

"THORON! ELFIRE!"

Lightning and fire erupted onto Cloud simultaneously, but a fully charged Blade Beam collided with Robin through the chaos.

"When did he build that up?" guffawed Daisy.

"I'd heard rumors that Cloud had worked on his Limit Break, but considering the source, I didn't believe it to be true," Hubert explained

"Kazooie?" was Altair's snappy response.

Hubert grinned, "Kazooie,"

The bear and the bird, who had entered the auditorium and gone right to sleep, jolted awake.

"Wazzat?" Kazooie grunted, "Wednesday Adams talkin' shit?"

Banjo shushed her as the auditorium turned again to watch the action.

"My my," Robin smirked as he danced around errant sword slices, "I thought you'd give up on that from now."

"I don't give up," Cloud spat, "Especially when I'm pissed."

"I've worked with many people like you, and it's admirable, except when they walk right into the enemy trap."

Robin scooped up something that lay on the ground behind him, a Spiny Shell.

A million thoughts flooded Cloud's mind. When did it spawn? How long had Robin known? Cloud saw Robin's coy grin just as his world went blue and he hurtled towards the Blast Zone. He'd pay for that.

Cloud: 1

Robin: 2

Robin was knocked up to the platform above them by a Cross-Slash, and an upward cleve made sure to send Robin to the top Blast Zone!

Cloud: 1

Robin: 1

Cloud grabbed an Assist Trophy. Robin fell into the sword slashes of Samurai Goroh and Cloud's Cross-Slash. Everyone in the auditorium winced as Robin's damage counter climbed higher and higher. Robin eventually broke away, waiting for Goroh to disappear before he cleaved downward with the Levin Sword. Cloud bounced up, electricity coursing through his veins, unable to block a jumping upward cleave of Robin's signature sword. Cloud leaped up, a Smash Ball appeared between the two clashing swords. Slashing at each other and the Smash Ball, the outcome remained uncertain.

"Cloud's got it!" hooted Kazooie, "Always bet sword,"

"But honey, they both have swords," complained Banjo.

"Always bet on anime sword." Kazooie snapped.

Sure enough, the Omnislash Version 5 clobbered Robin, its final blow bouncing Robin off the floor and into the top Blast Zone.

GAME! CLOUD WINS!

A camera cut to the tunnel, Robin walked up the lonely runway with a grin on his face.

"I put my best mind into this, and still lost," Robin explained, "I believe he will be the winner of this tournament."

In contrast, Cloud shrugged to the camera, "It's just another win. Nothing personal."

Everyone applauded when Cloud entered, aside from Sephiroth, who stood with his back turned and arms crossed.

"You," Sans pointed to Sephiroth, "I'm tired of you. We're next. That's not all jackass, I'm an admin so I make the rules. We're gonna try out Stage Morph. Your stage and my stage. We'll see if you can deal with it."

Sephiroth shrugged without looking at him, "If you want to throw a tantrum, it does not matter to me."

"I'm simply giving you what's yours. Come to the Snowdin stage."

Sans disappeared with the rest of the DLC. With a chuckle, Sephiroth disappeared with Wario and Ganondorf.