Round 1:
Pikachu vs. Luigi

(CW: Sexual Innuendo)

Electricity flared from Pikachu's cheeks as his match graphic dominated the screen. A quick highlight package foretold the arrival of Pikachu curled up in the interview chair earlier today.

"So, what do you think of Luigi?"

Pikachu smiled, "Well Nikki, he's a great guy, and from what I've been able to gather, he's been training with Daisy a lot. Having her here is a motivation for him to be sure, but having Pichu back is a motivation for me."

"Anyone you're looking forward to fighting?"

"I'm sure all the old codgers have said stuff about past tournaments, but for me, that's what it is, in the past. I really want to see what Galar Pokemon are all about, so I'm excited to fight Green maybe."

"Alright, thanks for your time!"

"Pika pi-" Pikachu, "Sorry, force of habit,"

And with that, Pikachu awkwardly shuffled out of the interview seat.

Luigi's contortionist planking match graphic now dominated the screen, with a bevy of tourney highlights. Now, Luigi sat on the interview chair, wringing his hands out of nervousness.

"So, what do you think of Pikachu?"

"Honestly-a, I'm a bit nervous," Luigi chuckled, "He's the most popular Pokemon, I feel like my star might get eclipsed."

"But you're Luigi!" protested Nikki from off-camera.

"You're right. Mario briefed me on the questions you'd ask, so sorry to steal your thunder, but I'm looking forward to-a fightin' The Belmonts. Those guys rock hard, and I'd love to fight them with money on the line."

Nikki laughed, "No problem Luigi, makes my life easier. Thanks as always!"

Luigi nodded, waving silently to Nikki as he scuttled out of frame.

"Do we even have to throw to Futaba for this?" 9-Volt wondered aloud at the commentary booth.

"I mean, Smashers' Box says we gotta," shrugged Cranky, "So let's do it."

Futaba appeared on screen, "Nyeh heh heh! Pikachu all the way baby!"

"Whelp, that's over with," 9-Volt sighed as he and Cranky appeared on screen, "Entrances are up next!"

The cameras did a sweeping shot of the excited crowd,

"Pika Pika!" came the intentionally bit-crushed call of Pikachu

The dramatic, rising opening synth of the Pokemon Red and Blue opening theme began to play as Pikachu bolted towards center stage.

"Everyone please rise for the Kanto National Anthem," 9-Volt beckoned.

"Eh, I don't pay taxes to 'em, so I'm not standing."

9-Volt blew a raspberry as Luigi humming a spooky tune played. The lanky plumber bashfully waved at the end of the tunnel, jogging to the center with no fanfare.

"This is the best he could do for an entrance theme? Him humming the Luigi's Mansion song? Did he cheap out, forget the music this time?" Cranky ranted.

"I've been told it means a lot to him, so I'm not gonna question it," countered 9-Volt.

As he had for 40 other matches, Mills Frames phased through the floor.

"And now," began the now iconic speech, "The following contest is a first-round match in the Super Smash Brothers Ultimate Tournament! The winner will face either Ness or Captain Falcon in Round 2! Introducing first, he comes to use from the Pokemon universe. He is the Electric Mouse Pokemon, he is PIKACHU!"

A rabid, unanimous response erupted as Pikachu did a backflip, posing for the fans.

"Breaking news, I know, but Pokemon is as popular as ever with the fans!" remarked 9-Volt.

"To my eternal befuddlement," Cranky remarked.

"Introducing next, to my right. He comes to us from the Mario universe, he is The Eternal Understudy, he is LUIGI."
Bringing his hat over his face to conceal a frown, Luigi pumped his free fist.

Understudy no more, the plumber's inner voice roared.

Luigi felt his heart pump, breathing deep to quiet the opinionated organ. When it had sufficiently shut up, Luigi re-affixed his hat. Observing the scene, he saw that the coin had already been flipped, and Pikachu's ears were flat against his skull, the tiny Pokemon's teeth gritted.

"The stage is Luigi's Mansion..." Mills continued.

Luigi felt his entire body stiffen. Had he been so in his own that he'd missed the coin toss?

Silently, Luigi relaxed, knowing that things had gone in his favor.

"Luigi? Did you hear me? Are you ready," Mills' concerned voice seemed to boom

Sheepishly, Luigi nodded, "Yeah, two-stock, items medium. I'm ready!"

And then, they were gone.

Stage: Luigi's Mansion
Rules: 2-stock, items medium

Music: On the Hunt (Gloomy Manor Ver)

3

A Pokeball launched from off-camera, and out of it popped Pikachu, taking a mocking bow.

2

Luigi leaped out of a pipe with a dramatic flourish, shouting "Let's a-go!"

1

Electricity danced across the Pokemon's signature cheeks. Luigi stretched his legs, assuming a sprinting stance.

GO!

The two charged at what another, meeting in the middle, each jumping into the air for a dropkick. Mouse paw clapped against New Donkian leather work shoes, the two combatants scrambling to their feet, glaring holes in each other.

Cranky howled with laughter, "That's what happens when you watch 20 years of tape. Good job boys!"

The two jumped up, Pikachu executing a flipping kick as soon as they launched, catching the plumber off guard. Another just made him angry, pressing his foot as hard he could into the electric Pokemon's skull. Pikachu didn't land hard, but he scrambled up, obviously shaken. Landing on his feet, Luigi extended his middle and index fingers, curling the other three into a fist, jabbing his two extended ones outward, resulting in a fleshy "squelch" sound in a very tender area.

"Ooof," hissed 9-Volt, "That's gotta hurt,"

"It becomes part of your routine medical exams as you get older," Cranky flatly explained.

"Oh…oh no," 9-Volt's voice quivered.

"Grow up! Prostate health is important boy,"

"Please stop," 9-Volt snapped, gulping back vomit.

Luigi had been wailing Pikachu with flailing punches, the final of which knocked him away from the second floor. A Skull Bash back to land was what Luigi anticipated.

"Luigi Tornado," Luigi called.

A flurry of spinning hits knocked the most famous Pokemon away just as an Assist Trophy came into view. Pikachu limberly jumped to the roof, but it was too late, Luigi had bolted for the Assist Trophy and gotten it. Holding it up, a snooty laugh was heard. Luigi breathed a sigh of relief. He'd never been so happy to see Girahim in his life. Jumping to wave to his opponent on the roof, a second past, Girahim teleporting with a snap to slice Pikachu. As he had done earlier, he used Skullbash to get back to the stage but was sliced by Girahim, then again as Pikachu flew to the right Blast Zone.

Pikachu: 1

Luigi: 2

In the Smashers Box, the veterans erupted in shocked exclamation.

"Luigi's never won a tournament match, at least one that wasn't a forfeit," blabbered Link.

"YEAH!" cheered Daisy so loudly that it eclipsed even the veteran's wall of noise, "YO PIKACHU, YOU CAN'T BE NEXT, BUT YOU CAN BE FIRST!"

Peach, meanwhile, facepalmed, "Dear, as we've talked about before, I don't think Luigi would approve of you using that catchphrase,"

"What? I let him use the…?"

"DAISY OF SARASALAND!" Peach exclaimed, "There are children present,"

"Oh shit, you're right, sorry everybody!"

"Oh good Lord," Peach moaned, massaging her temples.

Meanwhile, on the Luigi's Mansion stage, Pikachu sat aboard the Revival Platform, eyes wide with shock. Conversely, Luigi had hustled to grab an Assist Trophy that had appeared on the second floor. Luigi hoisted up, revealing Shadow the Hedgehog.

"Chaos Control!" announced the red and black hedgehog.

Pikachu had been mid-jump, but it was all for naught. Slowing amidst an aura of time slowing energy, then stopping completely, the Kanto-born Pokemon could only curse inwardly as Luigi unleashed a volley of jumping flip kicks. Then, like being awoken from a nightmare, the Chaos Control snapped away, Pikachu carrying the momentum from his previous jump like a Zubat out of Hell, flip kicking Luigi in turn, spinning in midair, shocking Luigi with an electric circular sweep. The sudden crackling apart of the entire second floor of the mansion, and the hurried scurry of the Boos that lived within the walls, obscured Luigi falling backward into a Stop Watch. For the second time, Pikachu was slowed, and for the second time, Luigi bolted to an Assist Trophy. Guile's visage emerged from the base, immediately falling to a defensive squat, Pikachu's eyes widened. He'd watched the others train. He knew what awaited him.

"Sonic Boom!"

Luigi tensed, poising for a jump. In quick succession, Pikachu had been walloped by four Sonic Booms. Victory was in sight.

He jumped, driving all his weight into Pikachu's exposed back. The spell of the Stop Watch broke, sending them both careening downward. Pikachu tensed, seemingly standing in mid-air.

"NO! NO QUICK ATTACK TODAY!" Luigi yowled in a scrambled fright.

Driving his feet downward again, Luigi propelled Pikachu the rest of the way to the Blast Zone.

Luigi sat in the Healing Pod room, completely stunned, his eyes wide, welling with tears.

He'd won.

Now, he stood in the Smash Mansion Courtyard, the unmistakable whizzing of the camera drones, he considered his predicament. The biggest win of his career, Daisy in the Smashers' Box. He knew what taunt he had to do, her favorite.

The camera drones were upon him. His back turned to them, from two imaginary holsters, he pulled two imaginary guns.

"Bang bang," Luigi flippantly said, firing finger guns.

In the Smashers Box, Daisy stood as the splash screen spelled out her man's win, clapping so mightily it seemed to split the air around her.

"YEAH BABY, YOU CAN FINGERBANG-"

"DAISY!" Peach screamed, to the laughter of 60 percent of the room, the blushing befuddlement of the other 40.

In the chaos, the final bit of Pikachu's interview could be heard.

"You got lucky Green Man, let's see how you do next round,"

Now it was Luigi's turn to be interviewed.

"Luigi!" Rita squealed excitedly, "You finally won one. How do you feel buddy?"

Luigi leaned forward from his position sat against the wall to whisper into Rita's offered microphone.

"Like I'm on a cloud. Like Daisy said before I got to the ring, my year is now."

Suddenly Luigi's eyes widened.

"If…if you'll excuse a-me Miss Rita, I gotta…I gotta go see my girl."

"And what a lucky woman she is," approvingly stated Rita, "Cranky, Volt, back to you!"

Luigi burst through the door, immediately into the arms of a waiting Daisy, her tongue immediately swirling with his. The lovebirds only saw the results of the randomizer.

"NESS VERSUS CAPTAIN FALCON!" concluded the commentary team.

This, and only this, stopped the make-out session, Daisy's eyes widening in realization

"Oh babe, it looks like you'll find out your opponents sooner rather than later. Feel sorry for you two, you gotta face my knight in denim, my big poppa, my..." Daisy ranted, her face redder as it went on.

"I uh, I think they-a get it-a honey," Luigi muttered, blushing.

Suddenly realizing what she had been doing, Daisy blushed as well, mirroring her boyfriend's gesture of rubbing the back of her head.

"You gotta…you gotta fight him," she stammered.

"I should hope so young lady," Captain Falcon said, saluting her playfully, mirroring his match graphic.

"Ness, Tunnel A, Falcon, Tunnel B," Mario announced, Captain Falcon and Ness heading towards the middle of the room.

Ness extended both his fists. In their time-tested secret handshake, Falcon knelt down, colliding his fists with Ness', the two heading down the tunnels.

"Oh yeah," Mario said, "Good job bro, but we uh…need to keep it family-friendly in here."

"Oh…oh yeah, totally," Daisy whispered, nodding with an uncharacteristic meekness as she and Luigi took their original seats.