Round 3

Little Mac vs. Quinn

Much as Quinn had earlier, Rosalina hid a blush as the match graphic appeared on the TV. Mac and Quinn's combat stances were mirrors of each other, simple hands-up postures. The difference was that Mac had an intense, frowning expression, and Quinn bore a smile that melted her heart.

The warmth that enveloped Rosalina melted away as soon as Doc Louis began to speak. Rosalina had never known the man to be anything but jolly and welcoming, but when he spoke before a fight, he put out a cocksure, intense aura that sent shivers up Rosalina's spine, Not even Quinn's humble singing praise of the Project World Tour crew could stow the nervousness in her heart.

Futaba's prediction brought a grin to her face, the Phantom Thief predicting Quinn to come out on top.

"The video package confirms the rumors that have been swirling ever since the break between rounds began," she had said "Even with minimal training with the Street Fighter crew, he might be able to throw in enough different things to outfox Mac."

The reprieve was short-lived, however, as a funky version of the Punch-Out theme began to play, Little Mac sauntered out in his world championship gear, accompanied by Doc and a blond with thick glasses and a pink pant-suit she'd never seen before.

"Oh Lord," Wario groaned, "He must be feelin' confident-a about dis one-a if he's-a bringin' out his wife-a."

For the briefest of moments, Rosalina saw a flash of the vision she'd seen during the Gaster Incident, standing at the bay window of the Comet Observatory a vast galaxy in front of her, Quinn Marmaduke at her side.

"Is…is now a bad time?" came Luigi's meek voice.

Rosalina snapped out of her trance just as a synth-rock song she had never heard before played, heralding Quinn's entrance.

"For what?" she asked.

She heard 9-Volt say something about a Street Fighter 2 Title Screen theme before Luigi began to speak again.

"It's just a wedding venue question. It can-a wait until after the fight."

Luigi could only smile as Rosalina sighed dreamily, her eyes transfixed on Quinn's jog to the center stage, the video wall above Tunnel B displaying the "Team World Tour" logo.

"Man, Doc is really chewing him out," Chun-Li announced to the other three Street Fighters.

"Nah," Ken shook his head, "He's just playin' a character, as Zangief does sometimes."

"Oh," Chun-Li blurted, her face twisting in embarrassment, "I can never tell where the theatrics of such things end and the real martial art begins."

"Regardless," Ryu's assertive voice rang out, "Quinn is utilizing the meditation techniques Dhalsim-san taught him."

'At least the kid's a quick study," said Ken, "The more he implements successfully here, the less bitching we have to hear from Karin and that's always a good thing."

Ryu and Chun-Li nodded sagely. The traditional introductions having ended, Mills continued to talk.

"As has been agreed upon by the two combatants," announced the vector emcee, "The stage will be Boxing Ring. The rules remain unchanged. 3-stock, items medium. Smashers, are you ready?"

Both Smashers assumed their fighting stances, nodding. They disappeared from the arena, leaving Doc Louis and Alice to walk back.

Stage: Boxing Ring

Rules: 3-Stock, items medium
Music: Great Tiger (Punch-Out Wii)

3

Little Mac shadow-boxed into position, throwing away his hoodie.

2

Quinn struck a kung-fu pose as he appeared.

1

Both bounced on their toes, assuming their combat stances once again.

GO!
 Little Mac began a charge but was halted in his tracks by Quinn's palm forward shuffle. So caught off guard was the boxer by his opponent's sudden adoption of Sumo that his guard was completely open for a kick to the chest, sending Mac through the ropes.

"Man's a championship boxer and dropped his guard?" Cranky exclaimed, "He's gonna pay for that."

The commentators sat in silence as Quinn waffled a stunned Little Mac with a barrage of punches.

"In Mac's defense," 9-Volt said as Mac parried a running kick, "He doesn't exactly fall out of the ring often either."

A cocked-back straight punch sent Mac into the right entrance ramp's Blast Zone.

"See?" Cranky exclaimed, "He dropped his guard, and he ate a stock early, that's all that matters, no excuses."

Little Mac: 2

Quinn: 3

Mac floated gently to the ring to grab a recently spawned Assist Trophy.

"Listen to me!" crowed Knuckle Joe as he was released.

Just as suddenly as Quinn had bulldozed Mac, he now found himself between the lightning-fast punches of Joe, and the enormous punches of Mac, the boxer quickly picking up a Super Mushroom as it appeared. An uppercut knocked Quinn to the top of the stadium, but Quinn managed to swing on top of the lighting right as he flew, halting his momentum.

"A CLOSE CALL FOR QUINN!" 9-Volt cheered.

As Knuckle Joe disappeared, another Assist Trophy landed in the ring, this time on its outer apron. Quinn quietly thanked the universe for having longer arms than Mac at that moment, as the Trophy was easy to snatch away from the struggling boxer.

"Here I go," warned the smooth-voiced Black Knight.

Quinn dropped his guard smiling widely as Mac stood frozen in fear. However, Quinn jumping out of the ring to stand in between Little Mac and The Black Knight proved to be his undoing, as a Straight Lunged knocked Quinn to the same Blast Zone he'd sent Mac to earlier. A swing of Black Knight's sword made sure that the boxer was soon to follow, however.

Little Mac: 1

Quinn: 2

"That might be the most BS, baby's first fighting game Double KO I've ever seen," hooted Cranky.

"WILL YOU BE SERIOUS!" 9-Volt screamed in retort.

A final Smash appeared before The Black Knight, the artificial intelligence-driven replica swinging at it. Breaking the Smash Ball with ease, now Mac found himself standing on the highest point of the arena, the lighting rig, with someone ready to pull off a Final Smash anytime.

And that's just what Quinn did.

"HART RUSH!" cried Quinn

Little Mac was kicked in the air, spinning in place as he was all but defenseless against an onslaught of screaming punches and kicks. Slamming his intertwined hands down for the final blow, Little Mac bounced helplessly on the lighting rig, his resulting trip to Boxing Ring's top highest Blast Zone a quick and painless one.

GAME!
 Happily throwing Exploding Kicks in the courtyard, the splash screen declared the final decision.

QUINN WINS!

Little Mac clapped happily despite heavy boxing gloves and a right eye that was swollen shut. Looming over his charge, Doc Louis smiled warmly.

"A heroic showing in the tournament comes to an end," lamented Mister Zero as he stepped into frame, the entire screen now occupied by the three, "What happened?"

Mac shook his head, "I ain't gonna say the kid got lucky, even though that's how all them dorky pundits will look at it."

Doc Louis nodded sagely.

"He juked me with that Sumo stuff and it was all downhill from there"

"It's my bad Mac," Doc Louis explained, "Shoulda prepared you for it. My heart said he was gonna pull some Dragon Chan shit from back in my day, but my brain said he didn't have the time to learn anything substantial."

"Yeah," Mac nodded, "I think that's what's gonna eat at me more than anything, the fact that I of all people judged a training system by its cover when I made a living knocking people out who did that to me."

Doc Louis once again nodded.

"But like I always say, every loss is a learnin' opportunity, and that'll only make us train hard for just as much magic crap," said the rotund boxing legend.

Little Mac jabbed a glove at the camera, "But you an' your Street Fighters better train just as hard, you hear me, Quinn?"
"Yeah," Doc agreed, "We beat Megaman, but the only thing that'd make us happier is if you win the tournament kid."

With that, the boxer and manager walked up the tunnel.

Now, Rita interviewed an elated Quinn.

"You just upset one of the greatest underdog stories in Super Smash Brothers history, take us through it."

Quinn rubbed the back of his head,

"It's…it's like he said," Quinn stammered, "I got him with one juke basically, and whether my opponent is last tournament's runner up or one of my trainers, I ain't gonna pull be able to pull that again."
Quinn paused, taking a deep breath.
"But that said, I'm thankful for Master Hart and Team World Tour for training me, and I'm gonna train twice as hard, and you're gonna see the best version of Quinn Marmaduke next round, I guarantee it.

Quinn's entrance was just as delightful as his exit, Rosalina wrapping him in a hug once again. Ryu, Ken, and Chun-Li as well as a menagerie of other Smashers surrounded him, but their congratulations fell on deaf ears, Rosalina's embrace occupying all five of his senses in a way he could not explain.

"Clear away from the tunnel, would you guys?"

"Eh," Ken shrugged, "They're not in my way."

"Yeah Shulk," Mario agreed, not turning away from the production area, "Just switch the tunnels around."

"Well, you heard him, Lucina," Robin said, "I'm up."

"Good luck," Lucina said, kissing his cheek, "If anyone was going to carry to torch off the Fire Emblem, it was going to be you."

"Thank you," Robin nodded, "I fight with all of your support in my heart."

Corrin began a round of applause, which was reciprocated by the Fire Emblem contingent, and DLC engaged in. Robin could only bashfully wave in thanks as he jogged down Tunnel A. Ken simply fist bumped Ryu as he followed his trainee steps down Tunnel B.