Round 2

Pacman vs Robin

On one side of the screen, Pacman cast a lazy thumbs up at the camera. On the other, Robin held out an open palm as tomes and Levin Sword alike spun around him.

"What's the first word that comes to mind when you think of Robin?" Nikki asked Pacman

"Strategist," proclaimed Pacman.

"What's the first word that comes to mind when you think of Pacman?" Nikki asked Robin in a separate interview.

"Strategist," Robin nodded.

"My man Robin can use magic and swords no prob! Back in my day guys who could use a sword like that could only use magic like that if they sacrificed their health bar! Man, these kids keep me young I swear," mused Pacman.

"Pacman has adapted to many a crisis with a frightening levity." Robin began.

"But I can outthink him," Pacman said.

"But my arsenal can overpower any quick thinking," Robin's interview cut in.

"Stuff like his is cool but doesn't scare me," boasted Pacman, "I've taken a lot worse and then some."

"Once you've seen one of his matches, you've seen it all," Robin laughed.

"I'm gonna mosey on to Round 3," Pacman laughed.

"I'm going to Round 3!" Robin's much more determined voice cut in to finish out the video package.

"Respect and confidence, that old reliable mix in Smash competition, like peanut butter and jelly!" shouted 9-Volt.

"More like water and oil," Cranky grumbled, "Who do you think is gonna win Futaba?"

"Gotta give the duke to Robin," Futaba announced, "The only reason why Pacman made it past Palutena was because of scrolling stage cheese."

"The cheesiest of cheese," agreed 9-Volt, "Let's throw it on down to entrances.

The introduction of the Pacman arcade game played over the speakers, followed by a funky dance beat and the sound of Pacman munching on dots.

I gotta pocket fulla quarters and I'm headed to the arcade.

Cranky's gagging overtook both the song and Pacman's shuffling to the music as he jogged out.

"Ugh, not Pacman Fever by Buckman and Garcia," spat Cranky.

"Still mad about 'Do the Donkey Kong?'" laughed 9-Volt.

"Between that and Pacman selling his soul to the Fortnite people, I'm livid. I should be basking in those royalties, not the stoner."

"At least Pacman put Little and Marie through college. What were you gonna do, buy yet another hotel in Koopa's Tycoon Town?" came 9-Volt's snark

"Holla holla get dolla boy!" Cranky hooted, "If you understood that, you wouldn't be letting the fatso pay you pennies."

"HEY-A, I-A PAY DA BOY IN LEGAL TENDER!" snapped Wario at the TV in the Smashers' Box, interrupting everyone else watching Pacman dance to the song.

Luckily, Wario simmered as soon as Id (Purpose) hit the speakers, the triumphant horns blaring as Robin floated gingerly from the top of the tunnel, onto Pacman.

"Yo, that was sick," Pacman whispered as Mills began his introductions, "You gotta show me how you do that sometime dude,"

Robin felt his jaw reflexively tighten as Mills announced Pacman. Even though the yellow man turned to jokingly do the double bicep pose, he could feel his perpetually jovial eyes on him. The options laid themselves before him, step into a potential trap, or stay cold.

Robin's mood immediately lightened as his name was announced, and the cheers from Yillessians and foreigners alike came raining down. The screen panned to a sign in the crowd, of a pencil sketch of him in his fighting stance with the simple caption, "BOOKS!"

Robin nodded to Pacman, "If you win, I will," he whispered, "You'll need additional entrance fodder right?"

Pacman nodded, "Groovy!"

The two Duel stalwarts watched as the screen buzzed past stage after stage, finally landing on the Melee version of Jungle Japes!

"The rules are as follows," Mills began, "3-stock, items medium. Smashers, are you ready?"

"Yep!" Pacman said, extending a gloved hand, "You ready to knock 'em dead kid?"

Robin reciprocated the handshake, "Yes."

Hands still intertwined, the two disappeared.

Stage: Jungle Japes

Rules: 3-stock, items medium

Music: Jungle Level (Melee)

Robin appeared out of the Fire Emblem symbol as the announcer counted three.

Pacman appeared in his circular form. Even the announcer counting 2 and the rushing water beneath them didn't distract the tactician from taking in the environment around him.

The announcer counted 1. From the other side of the makeshift cabin, Pacman shot him an encouraging double thumbs up. Again, Robin's jaw clenched

GO!

Robin jogged across the base of the cabin while Pacman cycled through his arsenal of obtuse weapons, a deliberately slackjawed expression on his face. Robin jumped onto the rightmost platform, planning to eliminate Pacman's arm with the Levin Sword, but Pacman slid backward, bringing his fist up into a frustratingly inescapable barrage of uppercuts.

"And one and two and one and two," Pacman huffed to himself.

Luckily for Robin, his opponent's oafish movements were easy to time. When Pacman cocked back for another uppercut, he found himself slashed to the center platform, falling right into an expertly placed Arcfire.

"Normally I'd be a bit cheesed, for harshing my vibe," Pacman began, "But I got some use out of that aerobic boxing tape the missus got me a couple of Christmases back. You don't let a VHS that costs you a whole twenty dollars go to waste like that."

A Galaga ship dropped at Pacman's feet.

"Ha, and people say Iwatani doesn't have a sense of humor."

Pacman tossed the Galaga ship into the air while throwing his own Galaga Ship directly at a jumping Robin. The ship of Pacman's design peppered Robin in mid-air, while the Smash-provided version finally revealed its tractor beam, Robin being helplessly dragged into it. As it flew away, Pacman volleyed Robin with flip kicks.

"And one," Pacman chanted.

Keep your eyes on items spawning, Robin reminded himself.

"And t-"

Robin broke free of the tractor beam, heading for the first item to catch his sight, a Bullet Bill. Scooping it into his hand and squeezing it tight, Robin became a Bullet Bill, launching directly into a Soccer Ball, which, in addition to clocking Pacman in the face, activated a nearby X-Bomb, which Pacman also found himself in the blast radius of. Completely overwhelmed, Pacman's unconscious body fell into the water, the first stock of the match taken as the Soccer Ball plopped into the middle of the arena, and Robin rested on the rightmost platform.

Pacman: 2

Robin: 3

"Look at you doing some Back to the Future III stuff," Pacman laughed, jumping off the Revival Platform and picking up a Box as soon as it appeared.

"Back to what?"

"It's a movie, about time travel,"

Robin shuddered, "Our family has had enough time travel for one lifetime. What's more, I don't enjoy films, they aren't as stimulating as a good book."

A Smash Ball appeared right above Pacman, who effortlessly launched the Box into the Ball, breaking it, and transferring its multichromatic power to him.

"Kid, you don't have to constantly be stimulating your mind to be ON THE BALL!"

With those words, Pacman transformed into a giant pixelated version of his classic form, chomping down on the Soccer Ball, which immediately collided with Robin. Unfortunately for the mage with the silver hair. Pacman's famous chompers weren't far behind. Finding himself eaten by his opponent (and worth a parsley 200 points, apparently) he found himself only a pair of eyes, fleeing against his will to the Blast Zone, surrendering his first stock.

Pacman: 2

Robin: 2

"C'mon kiddo," Pacman laughed, "You can do better than-"

A downward slashing hit with the Levin Sword made sure the words evaporated in Pacman's lungs. A Pokeball appeared, and Robin grabbed it without a second thought, releasing the creature within.

"Chespin," purred the brown and green varmint.

Robin grinned widely. He had planned for just a scenario.

"Nosferatu!" hissed Robin

"Dark magic engulfed video games' greatest hero as Chespin's Bullet Seeds erupted around him, the round yellow man unable to do anything in response.

Tossing him away with a staggering 50 damage, he unleashed Arcfire, charging up his Thunder tome as Pacman was burned.

"Thoron!" shouted Robin.

With that, a concentrated blast of electricity enveloped Pacman, sending the stunned father to the Blast Zone.

Pacman: 1

Robin: 2

As Pacman appeared on the Revival Platform a Smash Ball appeared beneath it. Pacman chuckled, humming a funky tune as he stomped on the all-powerful orb.

"NOT AGAIN!" Robin shouted.

Cocking his sword arm back as if he looked to throw a javelin Robin tossed his Levin Sword at the Smash Ball above him in desperation…

Past the Smash Ball and into Pacman's gloved hands.

"Groovy! Thanks, kid!" Pacman called, casting a thumbs up.

Swinging the Levin Sword like a baseball bat, he cracked open the Smash Ball with ease.

Robin considered jumping into the water and letting nature take its course, but again, he found himself on the receiving end of Pacman's hungry mouth. He snapped out of the eaten ghost form quicker than expected, briefly grabbing his Elwind tome in an attempt to activate the spell, but, quicker than he could move, Pacman had bulldozed towards him, making yet another snack out of him, forfeiting him another stock.

Pacman: 1

Robin: 1

Robin immediately began to charge his Thunder tome as he stepped off the Revival platform. The Levin Sword in Pacman's hand disappeared. In a panicked, twitchy charge, Pacman leaped into the air and delivered a flip kick. The martial arts move bounced harmlessly off the mage, still invincible, charging his tome.

The tome completed its charge. Robin unsheathed his Levin Sword, and for the second time in the match, he grinned.

Pacman could do nothing in response to the onslaught of slashes. Pacman transformed into his ball form, inching forward, chomping down for three bites.

All three were parried. The final sword strike sent Pacman flying. Robin produced a green tome.

"ELWIND!" he cried.

The first slicing blast of wind sent him into the air. The second ensured he was directly above Pacman

"THORON!" proclaimed Robin.

The electric blast sent Pacman into the raging water below. The river crackled with conductive energy, a red Clap Trap yowling and hopping out of the water as Pacman was pushed limply through the rough current, down into the elusive bottom Blast Zone of Jungle Japes.

GAME!

"Hm, checkmate," Robin muttered in the Smash Courtyard, extinguishing an ember of flame

ROBIN WINS!

The splash screen declared the winner, and Pacman appeared on a separate quadrant of the screen, a thoughtful look on his face.

"A tough loss, especially as you seemed to have the upper hand for most of the bout. What happened?" Rita asked, bending to hold the microphone up to Pacman.

"I watched Robin's match with Shulk. I thought I could get him to lower his guard like did around Shulk, and I almost did it, but I underestimated him. Robin's the nicest dude here, but when that announcer says go, heart goes cold. Good luck out there kid." Pacman wheezed.

Cupping his hands and bowing, Pacman scuttled off camera. Now, Mister Zero stood with Robin.

"A hotly contested battle ends with you as the victor. Take us through your strategy."

"I knew Pacman would go in with a lackadaisical approach, and I figured if I played into his hand until the last possible moment, I could snap the trap shut. I wish I would've done a better job avoiding Final Smashes, and that Levin Sword throw almost caught me it all, but I still managed to eke out a win."

"I find it incredible that your game plan counted on waiting until the last stock," Mister Zero said, awe penetrating his unflappable demeanor.

"Well, it's as I always say," Robin smiled, "Any good tacticians will think three steps ahead,"

"Right," Mister Zero nodded, turning to the camera, "We'll be right back after a brief intermission."

Robin jogged lightly up the tunnel, Lucina flying into his arms for a hug. Brief applause erupted, led by Pacman, but Mario silenced it by clearing his throat.

"We're having a normal intermission, but those of you affected by Gaster's attack need to go for an MRI by locking your teleporters to Doctor Mario's location. Sans, if you could assist the doctor, considering you know what it looks like when this guy's been poking around."

"You got it Mustache," Sans said, teleporting out.

"I'll go with you Krystal," Fox immediately stood up.

"That would be…appreciated Fox, thank you," Krystal nodded.

"You need me to go with you boys?" Captain Falcon asked Ness and Lucas.

The boys silently nodded.

"What about you Rosa?" asked Quinn, "Need me to go with you?"

"I usually attend these kinds of things with Rosalina," Peach announced, "But your kindness is appreciated and noted Master Marmaduke,"

Rosalina silently nodded, a small grin on her face.

With that, the psychics and their accompaniments disappeared.

(AN: That's right friends, we're breaking next chapter into two parts, one in which the psychics deal with the fallout of the Gaster incident, and our normal intermission, coming before the end of the weekend!)