Round 6: Day 1

Smash Mansion

Master Hand's Office

700

Mario's fingers drummed on the oaken desk. The cup of black coffee on the desk stood full. He'd figured he needed it with the notice he'd woken up to, but upon further reflection, the last thing he needed was to be livened up during this meeting. Sighing, he opened his communicator for seemingly the thousandth time, re-reading the message he'd gotten, in some mundane hope the notarized nonsense had been a mirage. Alas, it wasn't. Just as he shut the communicator down, Quinn, Rosalina, Luigi and Daisy walked into the room.

"What's up bro?" Luigi asked timidly.

"Yeah, usually you don't call for meetings here," Daisy observed, a hint of trepidation in her voice.

"Yeah, well," Mario sighed, "Wario has hired former Isle Delfino District Attorney Lycurgus Shrum,"

Quinn could only watch as the other three bristled.

"The jackass that locked you up for Junior's shit?" Daisy exclaimed, "What did Wario hire him for?"

"He's…" Mario gulped, presumably choking back vomit, "He's filed a discrimination lawsuit against the Super Smash Brothers."

"For what reason?" Rosalina demanded.

"Well, he believes that, as an asexual man, Sephiroth is at a disadvantage when people have their significant others as their corner-people. Sephiroth signed it as well."

"So that means…" Luigi said.

"Yeah. I don't-a even want this going to court, even if we do have a pretty solid legal team, so Rosalina, Daisy, you're banned from serving in Quinn and Luigi's corner."

"UGH!" Daisy bellowed, slamming the oaken desk, "Mario, you know this is bull! Wario knows he's going to get evaporated if he defects, so he's just messing with us in every way he can."

"I'm no fan of it either," Mario grumbled, "Anti-discrimination measures are meant to help, not hurt. However, the close allegiance with Sephiroth means it's better to just placate. Luigi, if it's any consolation, I'll serve as your cornerman."

"Yeah, that'd be great," Luigi nodded.

"So that's that," Mario sighed,

He took a slurp of coffee puckering as the room-temperature concoction slid down his throat.

"I assume," Mario cleared his throat, "That we're all training?"

"Yeah," Quinn said, "My team's already waiting."

Luigi sighed, "We gotta wait a couple hours. Isabelle says it's like pulling teeth to get Sonic out of bed this early."

Mario huffed, "Well Quinn, it looks like you're more ready than we are, so take to it."

"Yes sir," Quinn blurted.

Taking Rosalina by the hand, he headed for the door.

"I swear, why couldn't Wario have been quiet like that cousin of his, Booster?" Daisy asked the rest of the Mario contingent.

"Because that witch Valentina won't let him get into politics," Peach giggled, "Money spent towards politics is money not spent on her."

The chuckles mixed with Daisy's grumbling cut off as soon as Rosalina and Quinn shut the door behind them,

"So," Quinn sighed, "What're your plans?'

"Miss Trainer invited some of the girls to play tennis. Krystal and Nana are going to double up against us.

"A psychic and a girl who can suplex a polar bear, that sounds fair." Quinn muttered, watching his feet as they descended quickly down the spiral tower.

Rosalina shrugged, "You get used to it the more you socialize with people."

"You say that like you aren't reading books to the Lumas half the time."

Silence hung in the air as they continued down the stairs.

"That was…low," Quinn shook his head, "I'm sorry,"

Rosalina lay a reassuring hand on Quinn's shoulder.

"No, it's fair," she said, "I'm not the most social, but I need something to distract from your crew battle."

"Yeah, I can't say I'm not nervous about leaving my fate next round to other people, but I've assembled the best team I know."

Rosalina turned to look at Quinn as they reached the bottom of the spire, walking into the main hall.

"I know you have," Rosalina said, pecking Quinn on the cheek.

Someone gagged nearby. Nana stood to their immediate right, arms crossed, a tennis racket in the back sheath that normally held her mallet.

"Oh give me a break," Rosalina said, half-teasing, half annoyed, "Like you aren't all over Popo all the time."

"That's because we can't be when we're back home," Nana grumbled, "You can do it any time, and you choose to do it in front of me."

Quinn eyed Nana. who crossed her arms. Her dry, snappy wit combined with an invincible poker face made her hard to be around.

"Salutations!" said Miss Trainer from the top of the grand staircase.

"Where's Krystal?" Nana asked.

"Already out," Miss Trainer explained, "Star Fox had to do some sort of Q&A regarding the Anglar War, so she'll be meeting us there."

Nana shrugged, heading up the stairs. Rosalina unclenched her hand from Quinn's, following after her. A portal opened, and they stepped through it, disappearing.

Quinn watched the portal close, heading down to the sublevels, down to the training room. Quinn navigated the length of the enormous room, heading to Travis' stage, Thunder Ryu's gym. As he pushed through the door, Kazooie was whining, and Banjo was consoling.

"We haven't even turned the stage features of babe," whispered the bear, "It ain't even that bad yet."

"I know, but why are we here? Like I know the stage is going to be Boxing Ring but why couldn't we get that?"

"Because Mario's team has it booked all day, and Sephiroth's team has King of Fighters Stadium booked," Quinn announced.

The occupants of the room turned to him. The eyes of Sans, Altair, Terry Banjo, Kazooie, and the entirety of the Phantom Thieves were on him.

"Oh, I forgot you're all buddy-buddy with Principal Mario," Kazooie scoffed,:" But that doesn't save you from meetings with the big guy does it?"

"Aren't you buddy buddy with him? Sans asked.

"Nerds obsessed with the Nintendo 64 think we are," Kazooie said, "But King Jingaling does most of the politics for the Isle. Besides, Banjo's more of a friend by association, considering the crap on Tiger Island."

"For someone calling it "crap", you sure do talk about it a lot," Futaba muttered.

"Diddy Kong Racing needs to be on the NSO damn it!" Kazooie squawked.

"Enough," Quinn said, "We need to plan for this thing,"

"Yeah," nodded Terry, "We need to get serious,"

Quinn nodded back, a smile on his face.

"Joker," he said, turning to the Phantom Thieves, "I think you'll be our ace here. Not only can you improv against Akechi, but Arsene will keep you in the fight longer."

Joker grinned and saluted.

"That said, Terry, you're the best counter to Ridley and Mario that I can think of."

"Is he?" laughed Kazooie, "Florida Man himself against a fire-breathing space pirate."

Terry shrugged, "Can't be no worse than Geese. Plus I'll be the one to handle Isabelle if she goes full pro wrestler on us."

"So that leaves the princess and the hedgehog unaccounted for," Altair said.

"I've got the best projectiles, I'll take him out unavoidable chin move style if he takes his eyes off Team Chaotix for even a second," Sans said with a wink

Kazooie and Futaba giggled, but the rest shot each other uneasy glances.

"Altair, I'm thinking we use your stealth to your advantage. We keep your profile as low as we possibly can so we have somebody undamaged when the field thins out."

Altair nodded, but Banjo cleared his throat.

"Don't mean to intrude but…where does that leave us?"

Quinn shot a cocksure smile at the bear and bird, "Wonder Wing and pray,"

Kazooie rubbed her talons together, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Now you're speaking my language," she said.

"Alright," Quinn said, "We're gonna do a few sparring sessions, and then put things into action once everyone is sufficiently warmed up."

"You got it boss," Joker nodded.

As Quinn's heart unexplainably fluttered, the Phantom Thieves' Panther leaned over, pecking Joker on the cheek.

"And we'll be cheering you on, like always," she said, "Go Team Quinn!"

With that, The Thieves headed up the elevator. In the time it took for them to do so, Sans had already found his way over to the stage's console.

"Sweet," he said, "Megalovania's still on here."

"Alright," Quinn said, "Start it up, and let's go."

The sterile room became a sweaty, ragged gym in an instant. Quinn sighed, he was in for a long day.

1200

Boxing Ring

Luigi stood in the center of Boxing Ring, Daisy's hand firmly gripped in his. Mario stood across from him, eying Peach nervously, the princess tapping her foot impatiently.

"I try to emphasize as much as I can with the plight of the commoner," Peach began, "But why is Sonic always late? Has he no regard for other people's time?"

"Why do you think I'm always late girl?" Daisy asked, a mischievous grin forming, "Because I'm always up on my man."

"I'm…well aware," Peach sighed, "But I'm afraid he's dragging down poor Isabelle as well."

Mario shrugged, "I've done enough business with Sonic to know that he arrives…"

As if on cue Sonic darted into the room, Isabelle carried bridal style in his arms.

"Just when you want him to," Mario finished.
Sonic guided Isabelle to her feet, who bounced eagerly on her leg nubs.

"Running with Sonic always gets me so amped," Isabelle proclaimed, "I'm so ready to go!"

"I'm glad," Luigi said with a smile.
As quickly as it had come, his smile was gone.

"I've been thinking about the other teams and what they bring to the table," hr began, "Isabelle, you'll be our grappler and our powerhouse. You'll more than likely be up against Ridley and Terry,"

Mario raised an eyebrow, "Terry's their powerhouse?"

"I," Luigi stammered, "Oh yeah, Banjo and Kazooie are there too. Sonic?"

The hedgehog perked up, "What's up?"

"You're the only one who can outspeed Joker. Plus you know Team Chaotix better than anyone else on the field."

"Glad you aren't underestimating 'em champ," Sonic cast an approving thumbs up, "They're just as fast as me, it's just a shame they got such a raw deal in the first round."

Luigi nodded, "Sephiroth saw something in 'em too. They wouldn't be on his team if he didn't."

For a while, the only sound was Isabelle furiously taking notes on a piece of paper attached to a clipboard.

"Other than that," Luigi said, "Keep a low profile,"

Sonic frowned, but Luigi remained undeterred.

"I foresee us needing a Spin Dash or two at a critical juncture, and not even Chaotix can close a gap like you can."

As Sonic chuckled, Isabelle patted him on the back reassuredly, "You'll have closed the gap on Team Chaotix before they can even get into formation."

"Yeah," Daisy spoke up, "What's the deal with that?"

Again, Sonic chuckled, "A lot of Metal Sonic's traps were based off of formations Tails invented for the three of us, me and Knuckles that is. Everyone else had to follow as best they could."

"I'm happy to be fighting an imitation," Peach sighed, "But I'm worried about how helpful I will be."

Daisy raised a fist in solidarity, Mario laughed.

"I feel the same way-a," Mario sighed, "Feel like all the new kids left ole Mario behind."

"Guys, you're mi familia," Luigi finally spoke. "I didn't just choose you for that reason. You are all the finest utility players here. Through all the Phantom Thieves gimmicks, or that 'Go' thing Terry does, or all of Sans' crap, you all can pull Bob-ombs out, you can reflect projectiles with the cape and combo fools like nobody's business."

Again, the air was silent.

"Yeah," Daisy proclaimed, nodding vigorously, "Yeah, we can."
"I know you all can," Luigi nodded back.

"Regardless," Mario said, "You're gonna win this thing."

Luigi bristled, "You seem confident,"

"We'll talk about it later," Mario suddenly shook his head, "What should we do next coach?"

Luigi rubbed his chin thought.

"Well damn," he said, "Usually you're the one coaching me."

Daisy raised her free hand, "Well, if I know Quinnie, his team's probably running drills."

"Forever the athlete eh?" Luigi said with a sigh, "We'll keep it light, as I trust all of you to work out individually in a way that best works for you.

Sonic zipped to the center console, "Can we throw on Super Macho Man's theme. It's like, the only good Punch-Out song."

"Besides the Ga-Metal remix," Daisy interjected.

Sonic nodded, "Well yeah, that goes without saying, but…"

"Daylight's burning folks," Luigi interjected.

"Right," Sonic agreed.

A sterile room became a packed boxing arena, complete with a wild cheering folks.

"Let's put our backs into it," Daisy shouted as the announcer counted down, "Like we're the ones going to the finals.

"Right!" all of Team Luigi shouted as the canned announcer voice gave the go-ahead.

1230

Inside the Smash Mansion's computer network

What was this unease ROB felt? Was it nervousness?

ROB looked down at his virtual form. Dressed in a tweed jacket accompanied with a full suit, much like Professor Hector had in his free time, this was the first time he'd ever bothered to upload his consciousness into the computer network.

All for the woman standing before him.

Cortana stood in a t-shirt and shorts, hands on her hips as the Mansion's occupants fluttered beneath them as if they walked along a transparent bridge.

"Well, how do I look?" purred Cortana.

"Wonderful," ROB shot back, "The question is, how do I look?"

"Like a hot college professor," Cortana said, "Just my type."

With a human avatar came human internals, and his heart skipped a beat.

"Well," ROB said, "This was your suggestion, what shall we do?"

Cortana stepped within arms length of ROB, pulling him into a hug

"You'll have plenty of time before you're needed by Mario or Sans. Let's just…enjoy the moment."

"A-affirmative," choked ROB.

As she had commanded, the two sat in silence for a few moments.

"Hey ROB," Cortana said, "What do you think the chances are that Team Akechi wins this thing?"

"Calculaitng," ROB announced.

Cortana nuzzled into his virtual chest. Again, his heart skipped, his brain running the complex math despite it all.

"I believe Team Quinn has the best shot based off of sheer power. However, there are x-factors we must consider, such as the Mario contingent's ability to come out victorious no matter how disagreeable the situation, plus the relative unknown that is Team Chaotix on Sephiroth's team."

"That's all Team Sephiroth has going for it?" balked Cortana.

"These are only the things I cannot calculate."

"Whelp," Cortana sighed, "If Team Quinn has all the raw power, I'll switch Chief's bet from Team Sephiroth to Team Quinn."

"Master Chief approves of you spending his money?"

Cortana scoffed, "I do the software updates, and Chief is trained to deal with all the mechanical stuff. He doesn't need money. Hell, he's still got a year's worth of pay from when he was on ice."

"If you're sure,"

With that, the two continued to snuggle.