Round 1: Jigglypuff vs. Peach
Jigglypuff graced the jumbotrons first, twirling gracefully on her feet before striking a ballet ending pose.
"My name is Jigglypuff, and my opponent this year is Peach."
"Now, you've gone on record in previous years saying you don't like to fight, but you've logged a ton of training hours this year. What's changed?"
"Nothing really," Jigglypuff admitted happily, "It just feels much more intense than it ever has. When you've got people like Bayonetta to contend with, who can dazzle with how flashily she kicks ass, you'd best be in tip-top shape."
"Why is this setting in now? When we talked during Duel you kept the whole nonchalance thing going…"
"Because it's like that everywhere now. We've got, 30 or so new fighters, each bringing their fighting styles to Smash completely uncompromised. Such is the drawback of The Hands being gone I suppose," the puffball finished, suddenly looking downcast.
"That aside, how do you feel about fighting Peach?" Nikki asked
Jigglypuff's eyes lit up, "Very excited! The queen of the horizontal plane vs the queen of the jump, me. I think I can win, but it'll be interesting."
"One more thing," Nikki concluded, "Anyone you're looking forward to fighting?"
"Any of the newcomers of guess. Gotta show 'em us old-timers still got it. Gotta show that new-fangled Melee recruit Peach we've still got it too," Jigglypuff teased, winking.
"Alright, that's it, thanks for your time."
"Oh, no problem," giggled Jigglypuff, "We'll have to get together for brunch sometime."
Peach's image appeared next, royal-waving at the camera before it was her turn in the hot seat.
"Greetings. I am, of course, Princess Peach, and my opponent is Jigglypuff."
"How do you feel about getting to fight her? Jigglypuff was quite excited." Nikki explained.
Peach nodded, giggling, "The feeling is very mutual. I've put some thought into it ever since the brackets were released, and Jigglypuff and are quite a bit alike, even if we don't always run in the same circle. In it for the thrill of it, the social aspect…not the best fighter."
Peach looked sad for a fraction of the second before her downcast expression gave way to firey determination.
"However," she began, "I've been selected to represent the Melee class against The 12, and I shall do so to the best of my ability."
"Alright," said Nikki, "Anyone you're looking forward to fighting against?"
"Well, I've got scores to settle with Falco, Pit, and Wario from the last tournaments obviously," Peach explained, a grin slowly forming, "But I'd be lying if I said I haven't been looking forward to tussling with Daisy in this format since we became aware of it. And that will be my motivation above all else, to have her in the ring, so to speak, next round."
"Alright, thank you, Peach,"
"No, thank you for the wonderful interview. I must take my leave now," she stated, skipping off camera.
"Firey interviews from otherwise mild-mannered competitors. Cranky, what do you think?" 9-Volt asked the cameras in Smash Stadium back on them now.
Cranky's expression was an uncharacteristically warm smile, "Princess Peach is a friend of Kong Island, I hope she does well."
"You just have a weakness for blondes don't you?" sniggered 9-Volt.
Cranky's expression immediately snapped back to its normal scowl, "Why you insolent little brat. I oughta tan your hide."
"Later," 9-Volt blurted, still smirking, "Futaba, you're up."
"I'm not even gonna mess around this time," Futaba explained as soon as she was on screen, "Princess Peach is the original pastel girly-girl icon, up there with Hello Kitty and Barbie. I'm pulling for her."
"Fair enough reason as any," 9-Volt shrugged.
"Agreed," Cranky nodded.
"Will you- wait what?" 9-Volt stammered, "No sarcastic quip?"
"Nope," Cranky declared with a shake of his head, "This should be a good fight."
The distorted voice of Jigglypuff singing her name, followed by a raucous dubstep instrumental to the beat of the simple song. Jigglypuff stepped into the public view, bouncing and twirling as the crowd cheered her on.
"Nevermind my positive attitude from earlier, that's gone now. God, I hate this song," Cranky growled.
"What're you talking about? This is a Newgrounds Music classic," 9-Volt protested.
"Shoulda stuck to sprite animation if you ask me," grumbled the other commentator.
As Jigglypuff floated in the air, waving up at the cheering fans up above, soft, classical music played.
"Ahhhh, the Peach's Castle theme from the Power Star adventure. Classic music" sighed 9-Volt.
"For once I agree kiddo," Cranky said, sounding just as enchanted.
Carrying her trademark pink parasol, Princess Peach strode elegantly to the center ring, pausing occasionally to royally wave at some overly raucous Mushroom Kingdomites who'd made their way to the front of the massive stadium to press up against the glass.
"Bah," Cranky spat, "You'd never see such behavior out of Kong Islanders."
"Wanna bet a Smash Coin on that?" 9-Volt asked pryingly, an ear-to-ear smile on his face.
"Yer on squirt!" decreed Cranky
By now, Peach was face to face with Jigglypuff, exchanging warm smiles that were so far unique to the face-offs the crowd had seen before.
"The following contest," began Mills as he teleported in, "Is a Round 1 match in the Super Smash Bros Ultimate Tournament. The winner of this match will face Princess Daisy in Round 2."
For the briefest of seconds, an ear-to-ear smile overtook Peach before she went back to her neutral, warm expression. Jigglypuff gulped. Peach was extra motivated.
"Introducing first," Mills continued, "From the Pokemon Universe, she is the..."
Suddenly, an idea occurred to Jigglypuff. Floating up to Mills' level, she whispered something into his ear.
"I've been asked to inform everyone that she is the Ambassador of Float, she is JIGGLYPUFF!"
As Puff waved her nubs at the crowd, she caught a flash of surprise come over Peach. Hands suddenly firmly pressed on hips, she nodded, her expression registering discontent at her opponent's new audacity. The Balloon Pokemon could only grin.
"And now, in the corner to my right," continued Mills, as the cheers of Jigglypuff's fanbase quieted, "From the Mario universe, she is The Princess of Toadstools, she is PEACH."
Jigglypuff had expected a normal wave, but Peach's glare at her remained unbroken. Again, Puff broke into a grin.
"Now, if Jigglypuff wins the coin toss, the battle will take place at Pokemon Stadium 2. If Princess Peach wins the coin toss, however, this will take place on the Melee version of Princess Peach's Castle. Smashers, call it!"
"Heads," decreed Peach, still not breaking her gaze.
"And heads it is," Mills concluded after examining the coin on the floor, "You all know the rules by now. Two stock, items medium. Smashers, are you ready?"
"Yes," both girls responded simultaneously.
With that, they disappeared.
Stage: Princess Peach's Castle (Melee)
Rules: 2-stock, items medium
Music: Princess Peach's Castle (Melee)
3
Jigglypuff's body unfurled as she struck her ballet finishing pose
2
In a brilliant flash of pink light, Peach appeared, waving, and sheathing her parasol.
1
GO!
The two stood on opposite ends of the castle in combat stances, poised in an uncomfortable stalemate.
"If you're such an ambassador of float, why don't you float on over here," Peach taunted, "Or are you afraid?"
An annoyed grunt later, Jigglypuff was in the air.
"Oh wow, Jigglypuff falling for an obvious trap, who coulda guessed," guffawed a sarcastic Cranky.
"Would you not?" demanded 9-Volt, "You saw the interview, she's putting it all forward, nothing to lose."
As soon as she was in striking range of Peach, who had struck a sturdy combat stance, her fists clenched and signaling readiness, Puff launched a dropkick at her. Blocking the blow with a startled grunt, Peach unclenched her dominant hand, her left, slapping Jigglypuff with an open palm. Bouncing like a basketball off the center spire of the castle, she careened right into an upward palm thrust,
"Oooh, a dominant start for the Princess," commented Cranky.
Jigglypuff scrambled in midair to the middle platform of the spire, her foot slipping off as soon as it touched the surface. Faceplanting, Jigglypuff found herself being checked against the stone protrusion, with a pink heart exploding in front of her,
"Peach's low-level magic adding oomph to an otherwise lacking move set," 9-Volt explained.
"Talk like that won't get you invited to any of Her Highness' parties, yer darn tootin'" shrieked Cranky.
"We literally established at the top of this that you've been invited to none," 9-Volt dryly reminded Cranky.
"Respect your elders young man!" snapped the ape in return.
Again, bouncing off the spire, she bounced right into one of Peach's signature moves. The Double-Edged Gown. Spinning the bottom-most layer of gown turned her dress into a sawblade of barbed lace. Jigglypuff gritted her teeth, but poised her arm, ready for when Peach was facing away from her.
"Puff!" Jigglypuff shouted.
"And Jigglypuff uses Pound!" announced 9-Volt to the mixed crowd response of Smash Stadium.
"Puff!" Jigglypuff hit the move as Peach's body instinctually readjusted itself from the whiplash.
That was enough to send her into the air. Jigglypuff smirked.
Welcome to my yard, she thought.
She thrust outward for another Pound, Peach twisting her body to avoid the move. The singing Pokemon could've sworn to Arceus the cheeky princess winked at her before she planted firmly down on the ground, just as Jigglypuff went for another pound. Stumbling as she connected with nothing but air, she floated downward, turning, only to be met with the toe of Peach as she used a ballet kick to thrust her likely-expensive shoe into Jigglpuff's lower half. Next, a stunned Jigglypuff felt a golf club crack at her frame, sent bouncing into the center spire again.
"What would you call that Cranky? Eagle worthy?" 9-Volt joked.
Stone serious, Cranky replied, "I wouldn't know. Golf is the sport of the bourgeoisie.
In the interim, Jigglypuff had fallen for a body check into a Double-Edged Gown as she had before, landing this time on one of the floating platforms. As Jigglypuff determinedly jumped to her feet, a scythe radiating evil energy appeared in front of Peach.
"Do come grab this as if you think you can, But I'm afraid I'll pop you if you run all gally-ho into these barbs again my dear."
"You wanna try me?" sneered Jigglypuff.
Peach tutted, disappointment written on her face, "So be it."
Jigglypuff leaped down, Peach's spun her dress. Peach caught a jaw full of the Pokemon's feet nubs, the crafty balloon creature grabbing the scythe in the process.
"Oh wow, how things change!" mocked 9-Volt as Peach scurried backward, falling on her butt in the process.
Playfully, Jigglypuff poked the distressed princess with the scythe, the normally bubbly blonde emitting grunts of pain and frustration all at once. With her other nub, she playfully wound up another punch.
"Puff!" she cried.
Up in the air Peach went. Jumping up to meet her, moving another nub in a chopping motion the princess was knocked further into the air. Peach's body was completely limp as Jigglypuff hit another. As she closed in another one, Peach righted herself, kicking down at the unsuspecting Pokemon, stomping her out of the air as the princess came to a graceful landing on top of her. Grabbing the stunned Jigglypuff by the ear, Peach held her in front of her. First using her free hand to pry the Death Scythe from Jigglypuff's nub, then open hand slapping her.
"And Jigglpuff goes fly-"
"SHE'S NOT DONE," gleefully howled Cranky.
Indeed, Peach struck an odd stance, standing to the side, her hips poked out as she bent. Thrusting to the side, she met Jigglypuff mid volley, hips colliding with the Pokemon, sending her out to the blast zone.
Jigglypuff:1
Peach: 2
"PEACH BOMBAH!" screamed Cranky as Jigglypuff appeared on her platform, standing poised.
"Don't you have a wife?" sneered 9-Volt.
"She's a ghost, what's she gonna do?"
"Haunt you. My mom's half-demon and she does it all the time."
"Oh Banana Bird, you're right. I'm sorry honey," Cranky meekly apologized.
Meanwhile, Peach playfully rested her hand on her chin, remarking, "Uh-huh!" and winking.
"Geez, Peach is ruthless this go-around. Do you think she's trying to show up Daisy?" asked 9-Volt as the revival platform dissipated due to its clock winding down, the Balloon Pokemon heading to once again confront Peach.
"No doubt!" Cranky replied, "Show her old buddy what she's up against."
Peach grabbed the Scythe just as Jigglypuff was in her vicinity. With a limp, dismissive throw, Peach tossed the Scythe away. However, it bounced off of Jigglypuff, whose blue eyes flashed yellow for a microsecond.
"And she counters!" declared 9-Volt.
Peach's jaw dropped for a second, and that was all the time Puff needed to close the distance with a grab. Lifting the bewildered princess over her head, and dropping both of themselves to the stone roof below. Jigglypuff leaped into the air just as Peach was thrust upwards, chopping the air above her as she had done before. Another, and then another sent the princess further up. Just then, a Smash Ball appeared in the air. Jigglypuff closed a nub around Peach's throat, whose throat gurgled in shock.
"You will be here for the Puff Up, I'll make sure of it," she hissed.
With her free nub, she paint brushed her choking opponent as hard as she could, as many times as she could. On the sixth, Peach's body went limp, her right hand extending out behind her. Jigglypuff was so caught up in her fury that she didn't notice a Super Spicy Curry appear, falling right into Peach's outstretched hand.
The scream that resulted in flames jutting right into Jigglypuff's unsuspecting bulbous eyes prompted a horrified gasp from the crowd.
Peach meanwhile, fell to the floor the Smash Ball in the space between them, gagging on the unexpected invasion of spice strangling her tonsils. By the time she was aware enough to point the flames at the Smash Ball, Jigglypuff had been flailing at the rainbow orb violently, Peach's flames only to serve to make it easier upon a final swipe, in which Jigglypuff broke it open.
"Is it Puff Up time?" asked 9-Volt excitedly.
"I think it is!" Cranky shouted, equally as excited.
The sky darkened, and Jigglypuff began to grow,
And grow.
And grow.
And grow.
The mayhem crescendo was marked by a mighty "JIGGLY!" as the freshly unblinded Jigglypuff shrunk to normal size.
Meanwhile, Peach squatted casually, kicking a red button that had appeared on the roof. A red exclamation mark box appeared, which Peach broke open just as Jigglypuff became vulnerable.
The ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom covered her mouth to hide her glee. A Poison Mushroom had appeared from the block. And Jigglypuff couldn't avoid being snared by the trap.
Leaping up just as her foe shrank, Peach gripped her nine-iron, lining up the shot as she floated to the Pokemon's level.
"FOUR!" she shouted, swatting the even-tinier Jigglypuff into the blast zone.
GAME!
PEACH WINS!
On the Smash Courtyard, she twirled like a ballerina, transitioning into a confident pose, waving her dominant hand while her other hand was placed on her hip. However, the pomp, the circumstance, and the inevitable splash screen weren't what the attention was on in The Smashers Box. The attention was on Daisy.
"Oh my God," she had whispered to Luigi, "It's happening."
"What are you on about?" Ganondorf had made the mistake of sneering.
"IT'S HAPPENING! OH MY GAWD!"
She had forced Luigi to his feet, jumping up and down with him in a tight hug, "THIS IS ALL I EVER WANTED! ME VERSUS PEACH IN SMASH!"
Meta-Knight meanwhile, sat stoic, eyes fixated on the screen. Jigglypuff was being interviewed, and he sensed a fire in her that he'd never seen. She spoke the truth, she had had that match in the bag, and she had gotten lucky.
In fact, recalled Meta-Knight Daisy got lucky with Bowser's fiasco as well. Interesting to see how they take this loss.
Daisy's loud euphoria became an eerie silence when Peach was being interviewed. She had quickly given her best to Jigglypuff but was now pointing at the camera.
"Darling. This is what you wanted. The ultimate test. You, me, Smash Brothers. I know you're more than capable of rising to the occasion. I also know you have the tendency to be an aloof blowhard. You have a few days to decide which one you shall be when we stand across the ring from each other. Ta-Ta," she waved, briskly walking off camera.
Peach and Jigglypuff walked through the tunnel doors simultaneously. Peach waved to the applauding Smashers, shooting a glance at Daisy, who nodded knowingly. Exchanging a hug with Mario, she took the spot she had been in all afternoon long.
In contrast, when Jigglypuff came through the door, Kirby froze in horror, seeing the frustration etched on her face. Dedede, completely failing to read the room had engulfed Jigglypuff in a hug, only to be hit with the mysterious sonic boom that came when the puffball executed rest, sending him spiraling to the opposite walls. Roy and Marth, who had been having a relatively low-tempo conversation, merely created some distance with a smooth step backward each. as Dedede splatted against the wall against which they stood.
"Urgh…what?" Jigglypuff shook herself awake, eyes widening as she saw Dedede's twitching form against the wall, "Oh my Arceus Dedede I am so sorry. I reacted on instinct and I…"
"Ain't no problem darlin'" wheezed Dedede, "Ain't the first time I've been kayoed, not the last."
With that, he eased himself off the wall, limping to a chair and passing out.
"Should I force-feed him a pill?" asked Doctor Mario.
"If you could please, yes," Marth commanded, examining the passed-out penguin along with Roy.
As Doctor Mario got to work, the randomizer appeared, landing on...
"PORKY MINCH VS. GORO AKECHI!" announced the commentary team together.
"WAHAHAHAHAH!" Wario laughed, "Remember-a to do the Wario Family-a Wah-Fice proud!"
Mario raised an eyebrow, "The Wah-Fice?"
"Yes, ze Wah-Fice-a! Couple of us, Ganondorf, the detective boy, ole Seph, and my brotha Mister Minch are putting our prize money into a community pool, with the winner getting fifty percent of the profits."
"Dare I ask where…"
"YOU-A DOLT," Wario bellowed, "THAT-A PRIZE-A MONEY GOES TO A-ME WARIO"
"And you guys are…okay with this?" piped in Sans.
"I have no use for money," explained Sephiroth.
"Wario promised me an irrigation system for Gerudo Desert, that is all I desire," muttered Ganondorf.
"AND ME AND PRETTY BOY ARE ALREADY MINTED! AHAHAHAHAHA!" chortled Porky.
"Alright-a, then it's allowed, idiots-a," Mario whispered the last part.
"You pout-a Mario, yet you know how much my princess can tug at Daddy's wallet," smirked the greedy blob of fat.
Mario pointed an accusing finger at Wario from across the room,
"You two," he looked to an Akechi and Porky, "Up the tunnel now. And Wario, if you bring up that-a crap again, you'll be disqualified."
A moment's silence was interrupted by Quinn as Porky and Akechi wordlessly headed down Tunnel A and B respectively.
"Holy shit, what was that?" asked Quinn.
"There's…erm…some complicated history there." Rosalina, sitting next to him, explained as she softly stroked her Luma, "It's for the best that you ignore it."
"What, that Mona chick?"
Rosalina shushed Captain Falcon, the F-Zero racer also receiving the deadliest of all glares from Mario, as the next hype package began to play.