Round 6: Day 2
The Crew Battle
Smash Stadium
Team Quinn's locker room
Quinn winced. The pyrotechnics shook the walls of the arena. On the big monitor installed in the room, the jib camera swept the crowd, staying on a sign that was a drawing of Quinn's face, half of it metallic, the eye on that side red,
Masters Foundation presents The Quinninator the sign read.
Snickers echoed around the Team Quinn camp, as the camera cut to Cranky and 9-Volt, an instrumental of We Are One by 12 Stones playing behind them.
"Welcome to a one-of-a-kind event, the Super Smash Bros Ultimate Crew Battle! I'm your host 9-Volt, here with the Godfather of Games, Cranky Kong."
"Despite the nonsensical way of deciding a bye, this is an offer you can't refuse," Cranky said, "14 of the top Smashers and Team Chaotix going head to head to apparently decide who gets a bye."
"What?" huffed 9-Volt, "You'd rather Sephiroth just be given a bye?"
"At least he presents a challenge, worthy of the title of champion," Cranky proclaimed, "I could play Luigi's Mansion blindfolded and Wrinkly could become the best Wii Sports player in the world, and she's a ghost."
9-Volt sighed"At least we've only got this one fight to commentate. Anyway, roll the video."
After the fancy Crew Battle logo, an orange-bolded typeface on a blue background appeared, and a black-and-white recording of Mario explaining the rules began.
"You thought you were going to get a bye this round, you clown?" Mario shouted, face as red as a tomato, "Well, you're going to have to pick a crew to earn it. All three semi-finalists will. It will be a five-on-five-on-five team tag match,"
Sephiroth announced his team, Masamune at Wario's throat, each of the villainous quintet getting a brief highlight reel.
"Stamina elimination rules," Mario's voice from a few days ago proclaimed.
Next was Quinn picking his team. In real-time, Quinn felt the bile rise in his throat at his brief appearance in the video. He hated his face.
Reflexively, Quinn began to move, hopping on his toes.
"You warming up kid?" Sans asked, "We'll take care of that,"
Quinn deflated. His one respite, the one tool he had against his own brain, the power to mold his body, and step in the ring, gone, at least for now.
Luigi's appearance on screen caused a cheer to reverberate through the walls of Team Luigi's locker room and into there's. Quinn sighed.
"Huh, they're devoted," was Joker's observation.
"That's one way of putting it," sighed Makoto.
"Look," Terry said, addressing the room, "I get that Luigi's team are all thicker than blood at this point, and they're going to go hard, but that just means we have to go harder. Okay?"
"OKAY!" was Futaba's response, causing grins from the Phantom Thieves.
"Okay!" Sans cheered.
"GYUH-HUH!" Banjo said, casting a thumbs up.
"What my man here means is, okay!" announced Kazooie.
Everyone looked to Altair, who stood squatted in a corner of the room. With everyone's attention on him, the assassin hopped to his feet.
"Okay," he said.
The team cheered just as someone pounded on the door.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the monotone voice of a Wire Frame announced, "Entrances ready."
With that, Team Quinn headed out the door and just a step away from the foreboding light of Smash Stadium.
"So uh," how do we look?"
Everyone spun to see Banjo and Kazooie wearing domino masks to better fit in with their Phantom Thieves counterparts.
"Like a million bucks," Quinn said.
"Hell yeah," Kazooie squawked, "I told you you could pull off the look big boy,"
As Kazooie began to rub Banjo's head, the mighty bear blushed beneath his fur. Quinn opened his mouth to chide him for it, but the Wire Frame began to speak.
"Your entrance will be last, as you have individual components."
Kazooie tutted, "Hey Max Headroom, how are we supposed to watch the other entrances?"
The Wire Frame snapped its fingers, electricity sparking from the contact. A panel in the wall to their right slid open, revealing a TV. The TV flared to life. The TV showed headlights getting closer and closer to the camera.
"Is that a car?" asked Altair.
"No," Makoto shook her head, "It's a van."
Sure enough, a brand new yellow van ambled down the ramp, the Mario Bros Plumbing logo shining brightly on its paneling.
We're the Mario Brothers and plumbing's our game
We're not like all the others who get all the fame,
When your sink's in trouble, you can call us on the double
We're not like the others, you'll be hooked on the brothers, unh.
Luigi stepped out of the driver's seat waving to the crowd, while Mario exited the passenger's side doing the same. At the same time, Sonic, Isabelle, Peach, and Daisy filtered out of the back doors.
"It's a family affair, bringing back the old business!" 9-Volt cheered.
"Bah, my sources tell me they were C-Grade plumbers anyway," grumbled Cranky
"You and I might have the same sources, although I don't believe them at this particular avenue."
Just as Luigi began to pull to reverse the van up the ramp, the raucous guitars of the Team Chaotix theme began to play.
"Team Sephiroth is using these goober's theme?" Kazooie spat.
Just as the loudmouthed Breegul spoke those words, a sped-up version of the One Winged Angel intro began to play. Now, the lyrics of Team Chaotix's theme played in tandem as crocodile, chameleon, and bee lead the pack, Ganondorf, Ridley, Dark Samus, and Akechi trudging out behind. The cheers of females were drowned out by boos.
"Wait, if they're out there, where's…?" Ann asked.
The camera cut to Sephiroth, who was already seated on his throne, with Wario beside him.
"Not even going out with his team," Yusuke tutted, "How conceited,"
Ryuji shook his head, "You've got that right bro."
"Team Quinn," barked the Wire Frame, "Your entrance is next."
The upbeat guitars and drums of Big Shot began to play over the arena speakers.
"Guess that's my cue," Terry said, running towards the light.
Sans sighed, "I guess that means…"
The unmistakable guitar of Megalovania began to play.
Sans disappeared with a comedic pop, appearing beside Terry. They opened their hands, pulling them in for a slow, dramatic handshake.
"MEGAPOWERS! YEAH!" Terry and Sans cheered together.
With that, the mysterious drums of Access the Animus thundered over the speakers of Smash Stadium. In one brisk movement, Altair had leaped into the light, rolling behind Terry and Sans, and posing with them.
\ "Hey Banjo," Kazooie's voice quivered as the guitars of Persona 5 Scramble's Last Surprise began to play.
"Yes dear?" asked Banjo, his voice just as shaky.
"WE'RE PHANTOM THIEVES BABY!" she cheered, the bear and bird charging out to make their entrance.
Morgana shook his head from atop Joker's shoulder, "Those two. Phantom Thieves, move out!"
As if they had done this a million times before, The Phantom Thieves filed out, striking a signature group pose.
Next, the legendary drums of Terminator 2: Judgement Day's theme hit.
Quinn sighed, "Ken really went all the way in with all this Terminator rebrand didn't he?"
With that thought, he too stepped into the light. Now, standing behind his team, the motley crew marched down the remainder of the ramp. For the first time, Quinn took in Smash Stadium from the floor. The stadium stretched for seemingly hundreds, no, thousands of miles, with every race one could imagine.
Again, Quinn sighed. He'd miss this when it was all done.
Quinn was brought out of his stupor by bumping into Altair's back. Team Quinn stood in front of a red Subspace Door. Just as he processed that, a Wire Frame tapped him on the shoulder.
"It's time for you to go," commanded the automaton, opening a portal to the viewing platform with a wave of its hand.
Quinn looked back at his team, every eye looking back at him.
"I'd say fight well, but I know you will," Quinn said with a salute, stepping through the portal.
He looked to his left as soon as the portal closed. Now he stood near the top of the stadium, the eyes of millions of Smash watching him as he walked over to Luigi's throne, the two sharing a wordless handshake. Not even bothering to look at Sephiroth or Wario, he took his place on the rightmost throne.
As The Phantom Thieves who weren't fighting left through a portal to Smash Mansion, Mills Frames raised from the floor.
"You know the teams Smash fans, so here are the rules," Mills explained. Each team will walk through their door to tag in and out on the stage chosen by the Smash Board of Directors, Battlefield. Each team will have five seconds between tags to replace their previous member. When each team member's stamina depletes, they will be eliminated. The last team standing earns a bye for their captain. The music played will be "Menu" the instrumental of this tournament's closing theme, which will be sung before the finals ceremony. Smashers, are you ready?"
A cacophony of affirmatives made the answer clear.
"Would the starting team members please step inside the door so we can begin?" asked Mills.
Mario stepped through the door without hesitation, while the other two teams huddled. Eventually, Joker stepped through Team Quinn's door. Team Sephiroth continued to bicker, but Ridley begrudgingly stepped through the door.
3
From the door on the uppermost platform, Ridley sneered
2
On the leftmost platform, Joker crossed his arms, a cocksure grin etched on his face.
1
Standing on the rightmost platform, Mario bounced on his toes, ready for the impending fight.
GO!
As the triumphant orchestra of The Ultimate Tournament's closing theme hit Mario jumped at Ridley. The reptilian pirate turned, leaving himself completely susceptible to Joker's grappling hook, which hooked itself on one of Ridley's sharp fangs. Ridley screeched in pain, Joker ascending the length of the hook's cable and hitting Ridley with a flying kick. Their biggest obstacle down, the other two began to stomp on a kneeling Ridley.
"And already, alliances have formed!" 9-Volt announced.
Cranky blew a raspberry in response.
"Just wait for it," spat the aged simian
9-Volt grunted in confusion, "Wait for-"
Ridley's mighty tail whipped across the ground. Joker was swept out at the ankles, but Mario jumped over it.
"Bowser tried that when we last-a fought Lizard Lips," Mario taunted, "Try a little harder,"
Again, Ridley's tail whipped on the ground, and again, Mario jumped to avoid it. But before Mario could blink, Ridley's claw was around his throat, having slammed him into the ground. Ridley's eyes scanned the stage for Joker, who had already limped to his corner's door.
"Bring in whoever you want," crowed Ridley, "No one in this nonsense is as powerful as me.
Mario made his way over to the Team Luigi door, stepping through simultaneously with Joker.
"1," Mills began to count, "2,"
Without a word, Isabelle and Banjo-Kazooie stepped forward to represent their teams.
"Oh ho ho," Ridley snarled, "The undeserving fan favorite and the grappling secretary. This should be…"
Before Ridley could finish speaking, Isabelle had one arm around Ridley's waist, the other hooking his wings shut.
An evil grin befell Kazooie's maw as their opponents struggled against each other.
"C'mon Banjo," Kazooie ordered, pointing a talon at the action, "Let's go join in the fun.
"You got it, babe," Banjo nodded.
Talon Trotting up to the action, Banjo hooked his arms around Isabelle's waist,
"AND WE'RE GOING UP!" declared Kazooie.
Sure enough, she took to the air, everyone still interlocked.
"AND WE'RE GOIN' DOWN!" Banjo shouted.
The entire ordeal flipped upside down, Banjo and Kazooie throwing themselves down.
BOOM!
Banjo-Kazooie and Isabelle stood from the crater of dust the impact left. Banjo immediately pivoted on his heel, turning their backs to Isabelle.
"GRENADE!" screeched Kazooie.
Kazooie excreted a grenade, which Isabelle pocketed and threw back. The process repeated itself another five times.
"KAZOOIE MY LOVE," Banjo cried, "STOP SHITTIN' GRENADES!"
"Just gotta wait for tall, purple, and gruesome to get up, then we can do our thing!" Kazooie reminded him.
Through the pain, Banjo nodded, "Right,"
As if on cue, Ridley found his way to his feet.
"You fools," he hissed, "You should've gone for the head if you wanted to defeat the great Ridley."
"NOT IN THE PLAN ASSHOLE!" Kazooie shouted, "Banjo, NOW!"
Banjo-Kazooie began to cross Battlefield, walloping Ridley and Isabelle with Wonder Wings. On the fourth Isabelle collapsed, leaving Banjo-Kazooie to charge into Ridley. Clasping a claw on Kazooie's wings, he managed to throw Banjo and Kazooie into Isabelle, who was knocked back down.
"When in the hell did he get that strong?" bemoaned Kazooie.
"Well, he has tanked Samus' missiles…" Banjo mused.
"Blah, he is a boss, you're right," Kazooie grumbled, "This is our last shot, so let's make it count."
"Gyuh-huh," Banjo nodded, "Let's do it."
Kazooie placed her wings over Banjo, the pair charging forward with a golden hue. Unfortunately, Ridley's charged Skewer attack pierced Kazooie's wings, and Banjo's chest, knocking their stamina down to zero.
"BANJO-KAZOOIE HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED!" Mills' voice thundered through Smash Stadium
Terry went through Team Luigi's door shoulder first.
"HEY!" he said, pointing at Ridley, "SANTA'S BRINGIN' THE GIFTS, BUT HE AIN'T GOT TIME TO DELIVER THE COOKIES!"
"ENOUGH BLATHERING, YOU MOOK!" screamed Ridley, "BRING IT ON!"
The two charged, but Terry closed the gap faster. A one-two jab combination followed by a Power Dunk sent the space pirate to one knee. Terry turned, only for a rising Isabelle to clasp her arms around Terry's abdomen and throw him over her head. She marched towards Ridley, turning him around, clasping his wings, and throwing him over her head.
"Isabelle taking her opponents to Suplex Island, you love to see it," hooted Cranky.
"Yeah, I'd hate to end up in that island's Resident Services building," 9-Volt laughed.
As Isabelle turned back to face Ridley, the snarling beast scrambled up, grasping Isabelle by the throat. Terry vaulted over Isabelle, only to be caught in Ridley's other claw mid-Power Dunk. Stereo kicks to Ridley's stomach caused the hold to be broken. In response to this, Ridley flew back to his door and passed through it.
As soon as he passed into Smash Stadium, Ridley shot beady, yellow glares at Team Chaotix as Ridley began to count.
"At least she won't be able to suplex you three idiots," Ridley snarled.
The trio nodded, passing through the door. As soon as Isabelle saw Team Chaotix, she sprinted for her own team's door. She barely had time to pass through it before Sonic zipped in.
"ALL RIGHT, YES," 9-Volt shouted, "I've been looking forward to this. Supposedly, Team Chaotix surpasses Captain Falcon's run speed.
Sonic and Team Chaotix paced back and forth, waiting for someone to make the first move. Then, all four's glances snapped to Terry. They began to run around the Hungry Wolf, eventually moving so fast that it created a tornado strong enough to pick up Terry. Espio and Charmy spun atop Vector's snout as Terry found himself falling.
"HAMMER DOWN!" roared Vector.
With that, the crocodile spun and jumped into the air, clasping both his hands, and smashing Terry down.
"Oh great," Cranky groaned, "An axe handle. Totally worth the wait boys."
"Will you stop?" moaned 9-Volt. Plus, we're gonna get some Sonic on Sonic action in a minute."
9-Volt's prediction could not have been any more true. The four Mobius residents darted around the arena, effortlessly moving from side to side, taking potshots at their opponents when their paths happened to cross.
"I don't think I've ever seen as even, or as fast, an exchange as this one," 9-Volt observed, "They're chipping at each other's stamina at a perfectly even clip,"
On the next pass, Vector scooped his spinning companions, throwing them with such ferocity that they caught fire, knocking Sonic to the ground in mid-sprint.
"STEERIKE!" cried Cranky, "I was wrong earlier, I love these guys."
"Look," 9-Volt cried, "Terry's tagging out."
Terry left, and Joker replaced him.
"Ah, the thief," said Espio, "I'd be lying if I said we weren't looking forward to facing you,"
Joker simply nodded, miming a 'come hither' gesture with a cocky grin on his face.
Once again, Espio and Charmy began to spin. Vector tossed them as he had at Sonic, only for Joker to tank them with swaths of darkness.
"And Rebel's Guard negates the legendary Fireball attack."
"Legendary?" shouted Cranky, "A pitcher from the Yankees vs Cardinals game at the end of the week could do that!"
Vector charged. Swipes of Vector's claws and Joker's knife were countered via the channeling of chi. Joker jumped into the air, pointing his guns down, firing on Team Chaotix just as Sonic conked Vector on the head with a Homing Attack from behind.
"An impromptu double team staggering Team Chaotix," 9-Volt announced.
The words had barely finished leaving 9-Volt's mouth as Sonic sped through his team's door. Replacing him was Daisy. She immediately plucked something from the ground, a Bob-omb. Team Chatoix was just standing up from yet another onslaught of strikes from Joker when they were blown up by a Bob-omb from behind. A Daisy Bomber depleted the rest of their HP.
"TEAM CHAOTIX HAS BEEN ELIMINATED!".
Team Sephiroth's door opened, and Ganondorf's visage appeared on the other side but was replaced suddenly by Akechi. The Detective Prince turned his back.
"JOKER IS MINE!" growled Akechi, "What are you doing?"
"You aren't powerful enough to take on the girl," Ganondorf shouted, " Only my Warlock Punch can stand against her accursed turnips."
As the argument raged on, Daisy charged Akechi.
"HI-YA!" she shouted
Daisy's hips connected with Akechi's back, causing the two squabbling Team Sephiroth's skulls to collide. Daisy dragged Akechi back through the door, lifting him high, and throwing him at Joker's feet.
"He's all yours, hun," Daisy said, plucking a Bob-omb from the ground, "And if you need some backup, Aunt Daisy's got ya covered."
Joker frowned as Akechi sprang up, firing a single blast from his gun, blowing up the Bob-omb.
"This battle is between Joker and I wench," Akechi yelled, "See yourself out."
Daisy pulled another Bob-omb.
"Oh, you little-" she began through gritted teeth.
This time, it was a single bullet from Joker's gun that blew up Daisy's Bob-omb. Two blasts from a Bob-omb in quick succession had depleted her stamina. The princess fell backward in an unintelligible string of curses and disappeared.
"DAISY HAS BEEN ELIMINATED!" the announcer rang out.
Joker held out a fist to a surprised Akechi.
"Phantom Thieves?" he asked.
Akechi returned the fist bump, a wicked grin on his face, "PHANTOM THIEVES"
They heard a burning wick sailing through the air amidst the celebration. Each stepping backward, they avoided yet another exploding Bob-omb. They both glanced in that direction, seeing Peach, smiling, all while casually twirling a golf club.
"Now boys," she said, "I hope I'm not interrupting a celebration."
Akechi shook his head, "No. You're interrupting the sowing of a truce."
Peach's expression didn't waver.
"Neither of you scare me," she said frankly, "As they say, bring it on."
In their two-pronged charge, Akechi went low, Joker went high. Despite the bullets coming from all directions, Peach channeled her chi to block them all, waiting until they got within range to spin her bladed dress, tacking on the damage for them both.
"Sah-weet!" she cheered.
In one swift movement, Peach plucked a stitch-faced turnip from the ground, throwing it into Joker, Peach vaulted forward, grabbing the mighty vegetable before it hit the ground, lobbing it into the Phantom Theif, again and again. Joker jumped for his team's Tag Door, vaulting inside. An unsuspecting Terry was completely unprepared for the Bob-omb that hit him square in the chest. In a burst of light, Terry was gone.
"TERRY BOGARD HAS BEEN ELIMINATED!"
"I WILL NOT BE IGNORED!" bellowed Akechi
Akechi had leaped onto Peach's back. In response, Peach attempted to thrash him off of her.
In the fracas, no one saw Sans exiting through Team Quinn's Tag Door, his yawn, or the ever-growing Charged Shot that followed it. They heard Sans fire it. Akechi dove away to avoid the impact, but Peach took her last direct hit of the match, disappearing in a burst of light.
"PEACH HAS BEEN ELIMINATED!"
"Oh ho ho," Akechi laughed evilly, "I've been looking forward to silencing you."
"You, beat me?" Sans taunted, "I don't lose to third-rate Tohru Adachis."
Akechi growled, charging. Laser bolts and charged shots filled the air, each man's stamina dwindling as they tanked each other's poultry attacks. Sans was the first to be beamed in the back of the head by a returning Sonic's Homing Attack, Akechi soon after.
"Hey, sorry to break up…whatever this is," Sonic chuckled, "But Team Quinn has a tournament to win."
In a pillar of blue fire, Akechi's costume changed from white to black, and his Persona changed from Robin Hood to Loki.
"I'll make him, and you, regret the day you were ever born."
"If you wanna scare me," Sonic grinned, "Stop stealing your lines from Eggman."
Akechi's white-hot anger froze him up for a split second, but it was all Sonic needed to land yet another Homing Attack.
"YOU'RE TOO SLOW!" Sonic crowed, running in place.
Screaming in anger, Akechi jumped through his team's Tag Door, Ridley bounding onto Battlefield in his place.
"YOU!" roared Ridley, pointing a claw at Sans.
Before the skeleton could even think to react, Ridley was dragging Sans across the ground. Sonic charged but found himself being dragged along the ground before he could even muster a defense.
"What got into Ridley?" balked 9-Volt from the commentary booth.
"Spending more than two seconds in the presence of Sonic and Sans will do that to you," Cranky laughed, "Why do you think I have Sonic and that Earthworm Jim character's stuff in my 'no hope' bin back home?"
Ridley had spent the commentator's bickering taking turns dragging each of his opponents along the ground, leaving them broken heaps. No, he had Sans by the throat.
"What do you say, you loon?" Ridley hissed.
Sans winked, "Hit me with your best shot. Fire away-ay-ay-ay,"
Ridley opened his maw. The fire began to bellow in his throat. The flames erupted directly onto Sans…
"SPACETIME CONTINUM HOO-AH!"
As soon as the flames touched Sans' eternally smiling face, his health regenerated in full/
"You…YOU IDIOT!" roared Ridley.
"Honestly," Sans said, pointing up, "I'm not the one you should be worried about."
At that moment, the sound of a Smash Ball breaking could be heard, Sonic absorbing the power.
Just as Ridley was registered what was going on, Sans had clasped a calcified hand over Ridley's throat, rising to his feet. Just as Sans tossed the space pirate into the air, Sonic became gold in a blast of light. Light streaked across Battlefield, sending Ridley to the top Blast Zone.
"NOOO!" shrieked Ridley as he fell into the background, disappearing in a star's twinkle.
"RIDLEY IS ELIMINATED!"
The Chaos Emeralds dispersed, Sonic slowly floating down to Sans.
"Do you mind if I tag out?" asked the hedgehog
"Of course not," Sans shook his said, "Sonic does what Sans'nt."
Sonic smirked, speeding towards his Tag Door. Team Sephiroth's new representative, Ganondorf charged at Sans just as Mario stepped through the door. The plumber closed the gap quickly, jumping over Ganondorf to club Sans in the head. In anger, Ganondorf swung wildly at the spry plumber, but jumps, rolls, and cartwheels saw Ganondorf's thrashing be for naught. Much like before, Sans stepped back from the scuffle, charging a Charge Shot. Just as Sans fired, Ganondorf slapped Mario, the mustachioed man staggering into the Charge Shot, and then into a turning Warlock Punch. In a flash of light, two of Team Luigi's members remained.
"MARIO HAS BEEN ELIMINATED!"
Isabelle stepped through Team Luigi's door just as Ganondorf retreated through Team Sephiroth's. Dark Samus blasted out of the door, immediately charging a Charged Shot, Sans followed suit, and both guns turned on Isabelle, who, despite the overwhelming odds, stood firm. Sans was the first to fire, only for Isabelle to pocket the blast.
"Man," Sans sighed, "I feel like in another world that would've won you the…"
His own charged Shot whizzed past him.
"Yikes!" yelped the skeleton.
"Look at this," erupted 9-Volt, "The projectiles are a-flyin'! This is Smash baby!"
"Eh, poppycock," Cranky grumbled, "My barrels would be more powerful, not saying I would even need 'em to whip you, and all the other youngsters, into shape."
Isabelle boarded a Sprocket, ducking past the next two Charged Shots, Dark Samus collapsed into her Morph Ball form, dodging the blow entirely. Meanwhile, Sans backpedaled through Team Quinn's door, and Joker jumped in, only for the Sprocket to beam him in the chest, causing Arsene to awaken. Dark Samus growled, charging a Charged Shot.
"NO ONE SURVIVES ME!" Dark Samus roared.
A fishing line wrapped itself around Dark Samus' cannon arm.
"Survive this!" Isabelle yipped.
Throwing the dog effortlessly, Dark Samus shot the Charged Shot.
"MAKARAKAN!" Joker commanded.
As the beam of light was reflected, Dark Samus could only yowl in confusion as its full power was directed back at it, the Phazon monster disappearing on impact.
"DARK SAMUS HAS BEEN ELIMINATED!"
Team Sephiroth's door seemed to be a revolving one, as Ganondorf and Akechi took turns coming out of it, more upset with each other each time. In the confusion, Joker retrieved a Smash Ball. Unfortunately for Ganondorf, he was the one whom Joker charged into.
"ALL OUT ATTACK!" called Joker.
The Phantom Thieves cris crossed Ganondorf with their weapons. Sparkles excreting from a fresh wound in his neck, Ganondorf was the next to disappear.
"GANONDORF HAS BEEN ELIMINATED!"
Like a bat out of hell, Akechi was through the door, charging at his opponents.
"ENOUGH!" shrieked Akechi, "MEGATON RAID!"
An explosion of white light enveloped the other two fighters. Despite being knocked to the ground, they pulled themselves to their feet. While Isabelle charged, Joker retreated, exiting through Team Quinn's door. Sans burst through it, already charging a Charged Shot. He fired it, but Akechi grinned in the blast of plasma's direction.
"MAKARAKAN!"
Much like Dark Samus had before him, Sans could only watch in horror as his participation was ended by his own move.
"SANS HAS BEEN ELIMINATED!"
By this point, Isabelle had used her fishing line to pull Akechi close, clawing at him with all of her might.
"DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY HOURS OF SLEEP I LOST STUDYING LAW FOR YOUR UNGRATEFUL ASS!" Isabelle shouted.
At that moment, a Bob-omb fell from the sky, Joker catching it.
Joker tossed it, but Akechi pivoted, reflecting it with his back using Makarakan, Yet again, another Smasher bit the dust, hoisted by their own petard.
"JOKER HAS BEEN ELIMINATED!"
Isabelle used the confusion to limp to Team Luigi's Tag Door, Sonic charged but was immediately eliminated via Akechi's Brave Blade.
"SONIC HAS BEEN ELIMINATED!"
"Looks like Atlus does what Sega…doesn't," Cranky's joking tone became frothing angry, "AW CRACKERS YA GOT ME DOIN' IT NOW, AND IT DON'T EVEN MAKE SENSE!"
Altair leaped through Team Quinn's Tag Door, immediately unsheathing his Hidden Blades. At the same time, Akechi reverted back to his white costume, and Loki was replaced with Robin Hood.
"OH," squeaked 9-Volt, "I forgot about him."
"Your absolutely pants memory aside," sneered Cranky, "We're down to one person from each team, Isabelle representing Team Luigi, Altair representing Team Quinn, and Akechi representing Team Sephiroth."
Altair unsheathed a rapier. Akechi and Isabelle slowly advanced on their guarding opponents, immediately overwhelmed by the sudden and violent nature of his takedowns.
"Altair overwhelmed the other two bozos with classic swordsmanship. As the kids say, you love to see it," Cranky narrated.
Isabelle and Akechi found themselves on the receiving end of a few more takedowns. Suddenly, Isabelle sprang up, gripping Altair's waist from behind. She hoofed him over his head, keeping her paws around his waist. As she hoisted the assassin up for more Alolan Suplexes, a Killing Edge fell into Altair's hands. A thrusting kick from Akechi to the back of Isabelle's head allowed Altair to wiggle out, the secretary left staggering. As if by fate, the blade glowed purple. Altair swung with all his might.
"AND ISABELLE SKYROCKETS TO THE BLAST ZONE!" 9-Volt called
The canned announcer confirmed it to the arena, "ISABELLE IS ELIMINATED! LUIGI MUST COMPETE IN THE SEMI-FINALS."
Much like in Smash Stadium itself, the viewing room in the Smash Mansion was in an uproar. Bowser's uproarious laughter and Daisy's screams of protest were the two loudest things. Rosalina could only sink in her seat as Altair and Akechi circled.
Meanwhile, at Smash Stadium, Altair jabbed Akechi with a few swipes of his normal rapier, switching to the Killing Edge when it glowed purple.
"You've done it now," cackled Akechi as he transformed into his usual pillar of blue fire, "BRAVE BLADE!"
For the first time, all match, Altair's guard was broken by the blade of light, the assassin's usually impenetrable stance broken, reflexively stepping backward.
"MEGATON RAID!" screamed Akechi.
A nuclear blast of light sent Altair to the Blast Zone.
"ALTAIR HAS BEEN ELIMINATED! QUINN MUST COMPETE IN THE SEMI-FINALS!"
"YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST, IN TWO WEEKS IT WILL BE LUIGI VERSUS QUINN IN THE SEMI-FINALS, AND THEN THE BELT ASCENSION CEREMONY" 9-Volt's voice boomed over the speaker.
Smash Stadium erupted in both cheers and boos. But in the Smash Mansion, one voice was heard above the rest
"Ey yo," Falco boomed, "Thought the belt thingy was tonight."
"President Mario spoke in anger and gave incorrect information," Marth explained
"That's not smart," Falco tutted, leading to uneasy snickers around him.
In the back of the Mansion's cafeteria sighed in relief as Quinn and Luigi shook hands on the screen, completely ignoring Sephiroth and Wario's glares.
"You gonna be alright?" Yoshi asked concernedly.
"I will, partially because I don't have to do a public appearance today, and Quinn is putting on a brave face."
A smug smile crossed Yoshi's maw, "Was I wrong that he reminds me of Mario?"
"You're not," Rosalina said with a small grin, "Now if you excuse me, Quinn will probably want to work out, so I must change."
"Have a good one," Yoshi said, his tiny arms approximating a wave.
With that, Rosalina stood, striding into the basement levels.
