(AN: I hope all my American friends had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I have lots to be thankful for, but in terms of fanfiction I'm thankful for...
1. You wonderful readers! I wouldn't be anywhere without your support.
2. My good friends over at Super Smash Prose, a Smash fanfiction discord (Discord invite code is gDK48ua) If you wanna talk Smash fics with some cool people, join us)
Round 1:
Link vs. Samus
Link's match graphic, stabbing at the air, turning around to peer over his shoulder at the camera, played, with a mashup of his best Smash moments following it, mostly focused on the first tournament. Now, Link sat in front of the camera, looking uncomfortable.
"My name is Link, and my opponent is Samus?"
"The participants of The 12 obviously have the longest-standing relationship of all the classes in Smash. That said, what do you think of Samus?"
Link grinned, "Hell of a fighter. Gotten some of my most brutal lumps in training because of her, but I'm tougher now. I've been living off the land, and for now, the history of Hyrule has remained stagnant, so I've been able to focus on my training. It also helps to have the other two Links here and see my teachings from my own perspective, and Young Link's, in particular, shaping me, the adult version, in real-time."
"I feel like I say this to you every time we talk, but the time travel nonsense makes my head hurt."
"Tell me about it," Link laughed.
"So, who are you looking forward to fighting?"
"Nobody," Link snapped, suddenly stern, "I'm tired of being somebody for all these newcomers to prove themselves against, whether it was Cloud last time, or Bowser all the way back when he was a newcomer. I'm tired of making stars with good fights, I'm here to win."
"Mm-hm, alright," Nikki's voice squeaked at the sudden ferocity, "Thanks for your time."
"No problem, and sorry for that."
"No, you're fine, I just…wasn't expecting that."
"Yeah, but still," Link said, looking bashful as he stepped off-camera.
Next was Samus' graphic, turning towards the camera, helmet under her arm, grinning at the camera, then her tourney highlights.
"My name is Samus Aran, and my opponent is Link."
"Link says you've beaten him up worse than anyone else has in training over the years, but he's tougher now. What do you think?"
Samus nodded, "I've noticed that. He's the least brooding he's been since I met him. I'm facing a very different Link than I would have in the past, and I'm going to bring my best."
"Anyone you're looking forward to fighting?"
"Well, besides giving Ridley the ass whooping he deserves, the Belmonts are high on my radar. I've been informed recently that, in worlds where video games exist, there's a genre named after both of our adventuring styles. I have to see if they're worthy to co-bill with me."
Nikki giggled, "Fair enough. Thanks for your time."
"No problem. I typically don't like interviews, but you put me at ease."
Again, the reporter extraordinaire giggled, "You're very welcome! Best of luck to you!"
"Alright," 9-Volt announced, "Futaba, who you got?"
"I think this Breath of the Wild rebrand is what Link's needed for a long time. So, I'm pulling for him!"
"Great. Entrances are up next."
The familiar Legend of Zelda item acquisition jingle played, followed by the frantic instrumental of Monk Maz Koshia. Atop the Master Cycle Zero, Link sped down the length of the stadium to the adjuration of the entire stadium.
"Banana Bird, what is it with this tournament and motorcycles?" Cranky whined, "You'll never see my idiot kids atop one of those fowl machines, at least not in one in a mainline game anyway. Cash grabbin' spinoffs are different."
As Link screeched to a halt, his all too familiar green cap fluttering in the wind, the item acquisition music from Super Metroid played, and then went silent. Samus jogged to center stage from Tunnel B, the only backing noise being equally loud cheers for her.
Mills Frames appeared in between them, flowing right into his introduction, "The following contest is a Round 1 match in the Super Smash Brothers Ultimate Tournament. The winner of this match will face Donkey Kong in Round 2. Introducing first, he comes to us from the Legend of Zelda Universe. He is the Hero of the Wild, he is Link!"
"EEYAH!" Link shouted, pointing his sword triumphantly up to the cheers of billions.
"Introducing in the corner to my right," Mills continued, "She comes to us from the Metroid universe. She is The Bounty Hunter Extraordinaire, she is SAMUS!"
Despite the cheers, Samus' glare at Link remained unbroken.
"Now for the coin toss. If Link wins the stage will be Hyrule Castle 64, if Samus wins the stage will be Brinstar Melee. Smashers, call it!" Mills explained, flipping the coin into the air.
"Tails!" announced Link.
"Heads!" Mills proclaimed.
"Damn it," Link cursed, shrugging, "Eh, Brinstar's no different than the fire temple."
"So you tell yourself," chided Samus, "Must be that Triforce of Courage talking."
"I don't need to be courageous to fight a fancy suit of armor," Link chided back.
Samus' reply came back completely dry, devoid of wit, "Ha, good one."
"Alright," Mills barked. The stage is Brinstar Melee! The rules are the same as they've always been, 2-stock, items medium. Smashers, are you ready?"
As so many had done before, both Smashers nodded, joining the ranks of those whisked away unto battle.
Stage: Brinstar (Melee)
Rules: 2-stock, items medium
Music: Brinstar (64)
3
Link flew down on his Champions Glider, landing on the leftmost platform of the stage.
2
Samus exited a charging station on the rightmost platform of the stage.
1
Link's fingers drummed across the hilt of his sword. Beneath her helmet, Samus smirked. Link, She was already a step ahead.
GO!
As fast as lightning, Link summoned his bow, drawing back a Light Arrow. At the same time, Samus fired a missile. As soon as the two projectiles were airborne, both heroes backstepped off of their respective platforms, firing another round of projectiles, one missile, and one Light Arrow. In both instances, simultaneously, both connected with one another. In synch, they jumped, landing on the base of the stage, charging towards each other. Link managed to weave around a Grapple Beam, more intent on whipping him than insnaring him. Link's ears twitched as he heard the internals of Samus' arm cannon click and whir, an action that wouldn't register on the ears of a human, but for a Hylian, all the world was plain to see through their enhanced five senses. Link jumped, but instead of scurrying to a defensive position, Samus simply let him fall into an arching wave of her flame thrower. Link cursed, pivoting in mid-air, unsheathing his bow. Light Arrow and Charge Beam connected, the arrow blessed by the gods fizzling under the might of the Chozo's finest tech, but reducing the blast to particles along with it. Before Link could even breathe, a grapple beam had yanked him close. A toss into the air and a missile blast later, followed by another missile blast as he fell, and Link was already at 30 percent.
"It looked like they had each other's number," 9-Volt observed.
"But nothing beats that Chozo discipline," Cranky finished.
Link recovered from the fall by spinning the blade. Samus had attempted to follow, perhaps to spike him down, and had to Screw Attack to avoid a fall into the chasm herself. Slowly, Samus fell, landing on one knee, Link sliced down at her helmet, but she rolled out of the way. A boomerang and a volley of sword stabs were expertly parried, the boomerang hitting her on the way back. Link cursed in Hylian again.
All that for four percent, hissed the Smash veteran.
Samus rolled in Morph Ball mode to close the gap. Luckily, this was one of Samus' fallbacks, nothing new to Link. A jumping sword slash was enough to catch the bounty huntress off guard, following up with a Remote Bomb. The explosion somehow allowed Samus to clear the cobwebs, firing a missile, which caught Link off guard. In between them, a Drill appeared. Link beat Samus to it, immediately firing the Drill, its husk in Link's hand. Samus immediately jumped up to avoid the Drill but left her open to get clonked with the Drill's Husk. Link jumped up to meet Samus with a spinning blade, but Samus bent into a bridge pose. Link flailed, half out of shock, half out of annoyance having missed the big move.
And of course, the acid stun at his feet.
"And the acid is up!" gleefully cheered Cranky.
"You just miss the easy KOs from the first tournament, don't you?" 9-Volt teased.
"Yeah, a little," bashfully mumbled Cranky.
Link slashed at Samus on the leftmost platform. Link swept at Samus' ankles, chopping down his opponent's base, and, with a hiss of pain, sent her tumbling into the acid below. As before, Samus was immediately on the attack, snagging him with the Grapple Beam and throwing him to her left. Link, despite being hit with yet another missile, managed to use Smash's gravity to his advantage, getting in just close enough to grab the ledge with a Spinning Blade. Link flipped up, only to be snagged by the Grapple Beam again.
With a feral scream, Link grabbed her helmet from the back. An uppercut to the jaw on her non-cannon hand briefly broke his grip, but Link clamped right back on. The acid sent them both flying in to the air but Link maintained a hand on her helmet. In mid-air, the punches flew, neither Smasher breaking under the barrage of fists. Both landed on their feet on the very top platform, but a boot from Link broke up the tussle. As if being equipped by the Goddesses themselves, a Staff appeared behind Link. The Hero of the Wild cleared the cobwebs, grabbed the weapon, and lined up a beed. Samus did the same with a Charge Blast. Her arm cannon glowed threateningly, indicating the next shot would be at full power. From opposite ends of the stage, both snipers jumped. Link fired the Staff. Just as Link celebrated the fact that Samus would feel the full brunt of the weapon at max range, Link saw a Charge Shot barreling towards him.
She drew herself in so she could draw me in, Link bemoaned his fate.
Assuredly, as the Staff blast snagged Samus in the Chest, the full wrath of the Charge Beam cleaved Link's forehead, both heavily damaged fighters sent careening towards opposite blast zones.
Link: 1
Samus: 1
"A DOUBLE KO!" Cranky screamed as Smash Stadium and Smashers' Box alike clamored amongst themselves.
"Even through all the mayhem, these two veterans have each other's numbers in the end," concluded 9-Volt.
Both Smashers charged each other. Link swung his sword, but Samus simply kicked it up, causing the veteran swordsmen to stagger. A combination of spinning kicks to the stomach later, and they were both dangerously close to the edge. Without warning, the acid roared up, skyrocketing both Smashers to the upper platform, Link getting the upper hand this time and swinging his sword in mid-air at a prone Samus. Both warriors made contact with the ground, Samus rolled past a horizontal slash, but Link was wise to it, immediately turning to meet her and slash her. Just as Samus responded with an overhead chop with her free hand, a Smash Ball appeared. Link leaped backward, hoping to shift his body and slash it, but in leaping after him, Samus engulfed both he and the Smash Ball in a pillar of flame, Link fell, barely jumping in time to avoid the acid, but Samus worked on the Smash Ball still, driving her feet into it with a spinning dropkick maneuver. Link pulled out a bomb just as Samus began to charge after the Ball. However, a second before the bomb made contact, Samus dropkicked it again, transferring the power to her. For the final time this bout, Samus twisted her body, lining up her arm cannon with Link's stiff, frowning form. With a mighty whir, Samus unleashed the Zero Blast, pummeling Link from across the stage, sending him to the Blast Zone.
GAME!
Samus, now clad in only her Zero Suit, threw some kicks in the air, grunting "HA!" as she balanced on one foot. The splash screen sealed the deal.
SAMUS WINS!
"YES!" whooped Bayonetta from inside the Smashers Box.
One hundred plus pairs of eyes were on her now.
"W-what?" stammered the Umbra Witch, blushing, "I bet a lot of money on Samus."
On a portion of the screen, Link clapped, his face bearing a frown. That part of the screen expanded, and Mister Zero stepped into frame, trusty microphone in hand.
"A hotly contested matchup ended in a loss for you, any parting words?"
"Samus won because she was the better warrior, but I'll say that's one of my best performances yet," Link explained, "Even though I'm out, I can train the other two Links. That's the best thing I can do now. Samus, good luck to you, you're going to need it."
Next, in the opposite tunnel, Rita interviewed Samus, "What a win! What do you have to say to Donkey Kong?"
"Give it all you got. You're going to need it. "
Samus marched up the tunnel to the applause of the other Smashers, Link met her in the middle of the room, holding out a hand.
"That was a great fight," Link announced, grinning boyishly.
"Agreed," Samus nodded, grinning back and reciprocating the handshake.
"Randomizer!" called Sans.
The randomizer flicked through the remaining matches, a chaotic grind of guitar cords punctuating each action. On the final cord, it landed on…
"KIRBY VERSUS FOX!" the commentary team bellowed
As the matchup graphic played, Kirby striking his signature wave, while Fox crossed his arms, looking to the side and raising his bushy tail, Fox shouted, "I know," in ROB's direction, glaring daggers at Krystal as he walked down Tunnel B
"YAY! I hope I win! I'll win it for you Uncle Meta, Aunt Jiggly!" Kirby proclaimed as he flounced down Tunnel A.