Round 3:
Lucario vs. Wolf

On the left side of the versus graphic, Lucario stood with his eyes shut, his eyes clasped in prayer. Wolf stood on the right, his arms crossed, a bemused grin on his face.

"Hah, so ole fuzzy refused to get interviewed?" hooted Wolf, "Good, no one wanted to hear what he had to say anyway."

Wolf paused, grinning at the camera, pausing for jeers he knew he would garner.

"Ya know, I gotta admit, when I first got the call for this tournament, I wasn't expecting much. Legally beat the shit out of Fox and the bird, make a couple million, go on with my life."

Wolf's grin morphed from a grin to a tobacco-stained toothy smile.

"But ya know what? Three rounds in and I'm starting to feel myself. Be afraid Aura geek, be very afraid."

"And that's all we've got," Cranky announced as the video package ended, "Futaba, what do you think? Is Lucario not wanting to speak to Nikki a sign of confidence or fear."

"Lucario doesn't afraid of anything," Futaba declared, an entirely too pleased smile on her phase.

In a reversal of the usual antics, 9-Volt was the one to lay his head on the desk in embarrassment.

"Oh Seven Stars" he mumbled.

"No, but seriously," insisted Futaba, "When you've got an ability like Aura, you don't fear much."

"So that's one for Lucario eh?" Cranky concluded, "Whatever you say kid, let's throw down to entrances."

Much as it had during Round 2, the beginning shamisen plucks of Magikarp Festival barely had time to be heard, as Lucario used Extreme Speed to jet to his position at the center of Smash Stadium. Thus, the orchestral theme of Star Wolf began to play, three Wolfens flying above the giga-stadium, Wolf ejected from his at the front of the past, skydiving down to Smash Stadium.

"Copying Star Fox's entrance eh?" Cranky tutted, "Someone's insecure."

"Yeah, totally," snickered 9-Volt.

Whereas Lucario stood unblinking during his entrance, Wolf raised his arms to the crowd when his name was called. They booed. Smiling, Wolf flipped them off.

"If you could please direct your attention to the video board," Mills Frames asked, "We can determine the stage!"

The video board flared to life as both fighters looked on. Flipping through a myriad of stages, itt landed on Wrecking Crew!

"So, we all know the rules by this point," Mills began, "3-stock, items medium. Smashers, are you ready?"

The furred combatants nodded, disappearing as they did.

Stage: Wrecking Crew

Rules: 3-stock, items medium

Music: Wrecking Crew Medley

3

Lucario appeared in a blast of Aura

2

Wolf ejected out of his Wolfen

1

Both glanced up, taking in every bomb, barrel, and load bearing wall they could see.

GO!

The two met in the middle of the second-to-last rung of this eternal building, Lucario's measured strikes quickly overwhelmed by Wolf's flurry of claw swipes. Lucario ducked shot his trusty Blaster over Lucario's shoulder, causing a bomb behind him to explode. This caused a chain reaction, the floor above them giving way, and a barrel encasing Lucario.

"Not a good start for Lucario," 9-Volt lamented, as a smiling Wolf spat on the ground.

Wolf meanwhile, assumed his usual crouching combat stance, "Whenever you're ready chicken shit,"

Lucario burst out of the barrel, Wolf lazily jumping to meet him with a duet of arching swiping blows. Lucario growled in shock, creating distance between himself and Wolf, only for Wolf to shoot his blaster at yet another bomb, causing it to explode in Lucario's face.

"What?" Wolf taunted, "Is that all you've got?

Lucario used Extreme Speed to bridge the gap between them before Wolf could blink. Victim to a punch-punch-kick triage, Wolf slumped backward, pulling himself to the other side of the barrel behind him. Completely unphased by the obstacle that now stood between them. Lucario began to unload on the metal barrel with a barrage of punches, a final kick dislodging it from its place, careening it into Wolf's jaw.

The next six words out of Wolf's mouth were censored. His tirade left him open for a running sweeping kick. But the crafty space pirate was up before Lucario could even ponder his next move, sending him into the air with another arching claw swipe, leaving him open for Wolf's patented kick manuever, as he executed a handstand, clamping his legs shut as Lucario made contact with his metal boots.

Amongst the clamor of the Smashers' Box, Quinn remarked, "I gotta ask him how he does that."

Falco turned slowly, an irritated frown on his face as Extreme Speed was met with a signature Wolf Flash, "You really wanna try socializing with that friggin' guy?"

"Something…" Quinn stammered, "Tells me I shouldn't."

Falco nodded, turning back to the TV.

"Smart kid," he muttered.

On the battlefield, Lucario's palm strikes and Wolf's frantic claw swipes connected in equal measure. Lucario gripped Wolf's throat, pivoting him and throwing him off stage. With a simple jump, Wolf was able to clutch the stage's edge. Lucario used Extreme Speed to spook Wolf off the edge. However, with yet another simple, jump, Wolf was above him, kicking him down into the unforgivingly close Blast Zone.

Lucario: 2

Wolf: 3

"Wolf's a sneaky bastard," grumbled Cranky, "Lucario had better change his strategy if he ever hopes to win."

Two Smash Balls appeared, one real and one fake. Lucario's proximity to the real one combined with Wolf's tepid avoidance of the explosive fate meant that the mystical power was an easy grab for the Sinnoh native.

"Behold my power,' warned Lucario.

As Lucario exploded into the flourishes of his Mega Evolution, Wolf ducked behind a load bearing wall.

"MAX AURA!" Lucario roared.

The wall was a serviceable shield from the cataclysmic blast. By the time Lucario shifted his blast to more accurately target Wolf, its power had faded, only burdening the Lylatian outlaw with an additional twenty percent damage.

"Oooh, a close call for Wolf," 9-Volt announced.

Cranky chuckled, "This just proves that survival is 90 percent luck and 10 percent skill."

The top most floors of the building collapsed under the sheer magnitude of Max Aura, but it didn't matter to Wolf. A quick Wolf Flash allowed him to traverse two floors, stealing an Assist Trophy right from under Lucario's nose.

Lucario could only blink wearily as Wolf unleashed the Assist Trophy right in front of him. A Chain Chomp barked threateningly, immediately gnashing Lucario in its fanged mouth. Meanwhile, Wolf was able to crouch behind it, activating an X-Bomb that had just appeared.

"It sucks to be Lucario right now!" 9-Volt commented as he winced.

A stunned Lucario charged Aura Sphere on instinct, his vision so blurred by pain that he didn't notice Wolf pick up a Hammer right in front of him, it's first swing exploding in a blue diamond as it connected with Lucario sending him to the Blast Zone.

Lucario: 1

Wolf: 3

The Chain Chomp's final lunges before it disappeared bounced off the invincible Lucario. As Lucario met with Wolf on the bottom level, Wolf waved mockingly, jumping over the edge and into the Blast Zone.

Lucario: 1

Wolf: 2

Lucario's eyes widened, "What is this foolishness?"

Wolf shrugged, "Gotta know when to fold 'em, when to hold 'em."

"I am unfamiliar with gambling customs," growled Lucario.

"Figures. I just need to be fresh to beat you, one stock or another doesn't matter to me. You understand?"

Lucario huffed, "So be it."

Extreme Speed netted Lucario a Hothead that had been idling on the field ever since Lucario had spoken. Wolf had been so busy conversing with the Pokemon that he hadn't noticed it. He barely had time to curse under his breath before Lucario activated the Hothead. A Force Palm landed upon both Wolf and the Hothead, only powering up the latter as it excreted an electric blast.

"And just like that, Wolf is on the backswing with 45 percent damage!" 9-Volt hollered.

"I wouldn't count him out just yet," Cranky argued.

Lucario was unprepared for the Wolf Slash that hit him full force. Or the second that Wolf achieved by simply turning around and launching himself to the same spot. Or the third.

"WOW!" screamed 9-Volt, "This is as lethal as that attack has ever looked!"

The all-too-familiar arching claw swipe sent Lucario the Blast Zone.

GAME!

"And just like that it's over!" 9-Volt concluded.

Cranky cackled, "He looked that loser in the eye and said, 'Can't let you do that you overhyped JRPG freak!'"

"I don't think Wolf would be too happy with you putting words in his mouth."

"What's he gonna do," Cranky quipped, "Hit me with an FX Chip? Or with a Star Fox 2 cartridge! That's right, he can't, because that's only on the SNES Classic because a bunch of furries too snotty and unpleasable for World of Tanks clamored for it."

"Um…" 9-Volt stammered, "That aside, let's go to the Smash Mansion Courtyard for the official decision."

The camera feed in Smash Stadium cut to the Courtyard, an indignant Wolf stood with his arm crossed.

"Weaklings, the lot of you." Wolf snarled

WOLF WINS!
 Lucario stood arms crossed as Mister Zero walked up to him.

"A lot of people had you pegged to win the tournament outright, but you were outclassed. What happened?"

"I underestimated Wolf," Lucario grumbled, "I must meditate on this."

Using Extreme Speed for a final time, he jetted up the tunnel.

Now Rita was in the opposite tunnel with Wolf, his arms crossed once again, but showing fangs in a Chesire Cat-like grin.

"An..interesting win for you Mister O'Donnell. You would be in the three stock club had you not willingly forfeited one."

"That shit's for nerds who take this thing too seriously."

Rita frowned, "Be that as it may, you now face Red, who has a renewed confidence after a victory against Green. Any words for him?"

Wolf laughed, "Boy, you may have beaten those goobers Team Rocket, and even beat 'em again when they got juiced up and turned into a buncha…"

The next word was censored.

"...With the rainbow branding, but to quote one of my favorite Milky Way musicians, you ain't never met a Lylatian boy like me."

As Wolf sauntered up the tunnel, paying no mind to a disgusted Rita, Ryuji hollered loud enough for the tunnel to hear, "Did he just quote Kid fucking Rock?"

"Oh God," Ann groaned, sounding sick to her stomach, "I was hoping he meant Aladdin, but he did say musician and not movie did he?"

Makoto sighed, "Yes."

Wolf entered to silence. He flipped off the auditorium at large as he retreated to the back of the auditorium.

"Hey kid," Fox announced, clasping Red on the shoulder, "I've got some friends in the Cornerian military that can give you info and footage on this asshole."

"I'll take it," nodded Red.

"It isn't gonna help kid," snapped Wolf.

"Enough," ROB barked, "Quinn and Little Mac are next. Mac you are in Tunnel A, Quinn, you're in Tunnel B.:

"Let's get to steppin' Mac." Doc Louis ordered his charge.

Silently, the boxer jogged up to the front of the room and down Tunnel A. Quinn followed suit, but Rosalina grabbed his hand.

"Quinn," she said, standing up, "You have this,"

With that, Rosalina wrapped him into a hug, which Quinn reciprocated as soon as the jolt of shock wore off.

"Yeah kid!" Ken joined in, "You've got this! You've been killing training."

"Seconded," nodded Ryu.

"Thirded," Chun-Li declared.

The hug now released, a blushing Quinn ran as fast as he could, offering a stammered thanks to his new trainers as he headed down the steep incline of Tunnel B.