Round 3

Robin vs. Ken

On the match graphic, Robin's tome and Levin sword orbited around him, a small smile on his lips. Ken was much more openly jovial, throwing kicks and eventually settling on his karate stance, his million-dollar smile there for all to see.

"I've studied a lot of karate," Robin's interview began, "But Ken might be a cut above that. He certainly could beat any brawling bandit back home."

"Robin isn't the first magic person I've fought before, not by a long shot," Ken explained as his interview cut in, "But my record isn't super good against 'em, but what can I do besides just throw my best into it?"

"No offense Mister Masters," Robin said, "But you'd better pray the stage trades in your favor. As good as you are, your Hadoken is no good against my magic."

"None of these Smashers have seen me in that zone, at my best," snapped Ken, uncharacteristically serious, "Be warned, magic man."

"That's a killer line," swooned 9-Volt.

"Yeah, if your sense of humor consists entirely of Will Ferrell movies," Cranky grumbled.

"Every time with you," scolded 9-Volt, "Do you ever have any fun?"

"Yeah, playing Game and Watch, the best Nintendo system!" Cranky pumped his fist.

"Futaba, please give us your prediction before we all choke on the boomer musk in here," begged 9-Volt.

"It's Ken," Futaba quickly concluded, "I've seen enough competitive Third Strike to know Ken's got dis."

"She's on the Masters Foundation payroll, I just know it!" Cranky shouted.

"Let's do the entrances before Cranky can perpetuate more conspiracy theories!"

The explosions of three Elwind blasts hitting the arena floor were heard as Id: Purpose blared over the speakers. As Robin floated down, the camera cut to a sign held by a female Bob-omb that read, "Elwind my fuse out Robin!"

"Oh my gawd," blurted a shocked Cranky.

No sooner had Robin touched down did the opening to Ken's thrashing metal theme play over the speakers. Women squealed as Ken strutted out, headbanging along to the theme as he walked to the center of the ring.

This seemed to relax the reserved Robin, who, upon being introduced to the crowd, threw up the horns and began to headbang. Ken clapped at his name was called, flashing a thumbs up to the cheering crowd. Without prompt, the Smashers turned to the video board. The gigantic screen flipped through the stages, landing on.

"The arena is PICTOCHAT!" Mills Frames excitedly declared, "You all know the rules, 3-stock, items medium. Smashers, are you ready!"

Both men nodded, grinning at each other. With that, they disappeared.

Stage: Pictochat

Rules: 3-stock, items medium

Music: Pictochat

3

Robin appeared in the Fire Emblem symbol.

2

Ken walked onto the stage, assuming his stance.

1

Robin began to thumb through his Thunder tome. Ken smiled wide, bouncing on his toes.

GO!

Electricity began to course through Robin's ancient tome, leaving him open to a running jumping kick from Ken. Robin rolled underneath the still-flying Ken, but the misdirect didn't even phase the karate champion. Jumping into the air, he unleashed a trio of kicks on the grounded Robin. The blows to Robin's face were enough to rock him off the stage, a barrage of Elwinds allowing him to land safely.

"Ken with a barrage to start!" 9-Volt shouted.

"But Robin looks none the worse for wear," Cranky added as the two fighters circled, "I wouldn't expect any less from a Duel semi-finalist."

` Ken charged again. Robin ducked the flying kick, hitting him with a Levin Sword slice as he turned around.

"Oh God, it begins," moaned Cranky.

A tornado appeared, launching both men into the air. Robin pivoted in the air.

"ELWIND!" he cried, launching the green blasts of air into the sky.

The air pushing against him meant Robin fell faster, grabbing an Assist Trophy that lay dormant on the floor. Holding it up, a fly swatter appeared, accompanied by the vicinity being swarmed with flies.

"What the hell?" asked Ken as he fell.

Ken landed on the ground, firing a Hadoken at Robin, but that left him open to being swatted multiple times by the Mario Paint hand. Robin leaped into the air, electricity crackling within the pages of a tome once again.

"ELTHUNDER!" Robin commanded.

A blast of lightning cut through Ken. As the blond fell, Robin jumped into the air, firing off Elwind once again. Ken jumped into the air for another combination of mid-air kicks.

"Looks like Ken wasn't as winded as Robin thought!" announced 9-Volt.

Robin launched another Elwind launching him into a spawning Homerun Bat. The two charged towards each other, Ken charging a Focus Kick while Robin readied his homerun swing. The two collided, Robin collapsing, but Ken being launched into the Blast Zone.

Robin: 3

Ken: 2

"A dynamic move by Robin puts him in the lead." 9-Volt cheered.

"But Robin's looking rough," tutted Cranky.

Ken jumped off the Revival Platform as soon as he appeared, throwing a bevy of kicks at a weekend Robin. To make matters worse for the tactician, a Lightning Bolt fell from the sky, landing on Ken, and making Robin tiny.

"Oh no," groaned 9-Volt.

Despite his notable disadvantage, Robin pelted Ken with a barrage of wind strikes from his green tome. Robin flew away via Elwind while Ken darted away, picking up a land mine and throwing it where he figured Robin would land. Much to Ken's delight, Robin landed right where he thought he would, launching Robin away to the Blast Zone with an explosion.

Robin: 2

Ken: 2

A seesaw appeared on the battlefield, the two darting back and forth to find their footing. A Pokeball appeared on Ken's side, the national karate champion knew immediately to throw it down.

"Ditto!" squealed the cute pink blob.

"Hey swordie," Cranky laughed, "Did you like those kick combinations earlier? Well, it's about to get way worse!"

As the old ape predicted, Robin was left defenseless against double the karate kicks. A fire spell and a Levin Sword stab separated them. Unfortunately for the weakened tactician, it launched Ken into another Pokeball, which Ken threw.

"ABOMA!" roared Abomasnow.

Dual Tatsumaki's and an Ice Punch sent Robin flying, but Robin broke out of his icy encasement with Elwind. A shocked Ken was left open for another stab of the Levin Sword, sending him to the Blast Zone.

Robin: 2

Ken: 1

"Wow, an unexpected stock loss from Ken." 9-Volt cried.

"Yeah, but much like last stock," Cranky explained, "Robin's still getting his ass whooped out there, which'll make the difference."

A Tatsumaki from Ditto and a Blizzard from Abomasnow were their sendoff. However, Ken pounced, Focus Kicking the weekend Robin, the first Shoryuken of the match sending Robin to the upper Blast Zone.

Robin: 1

Ken: 1

As he fell from the Revival Platform, Robin charged his Thunder tome.

"ELTHUNDER!"

To Robin's horror, Ken channeled his chi, blocking the entire bolt.

"Can I say it?" 9-Volt pleaded as Ken charged the befuddled Robin.

"Sure, but that counts as your gift for Gift Day," Cranky sneered.

9-Volt cleared his throat just as Ken got in striking distance.

"LET'S GO JUSTIN!" screamed the commentator.

That was the cue for Ken to launch into an onslaught of kicks, Robin defenseless against the coup de grace, a Tatsumaki into a Shoryuken for the upper Blast Zone KO!

GAME!
 Ken flashed the camera a thumbs-up as soon as it found him in the Smash Mansion Courtyard.

"YO, ELIZA, MEL, I DID IT!" he shouted as the screen declared the result.

KEN WINS!

Robin clapped in the smaller quadrant of the screen reserved. Rita silently snuck into the frame, she and the tactician becoming the screen's central focus.

"An upset win for Ken. Your thoughts?" asked a somber Rita.

Robin shook his head, "It wasn't an upset. Ken played his stocks masterfully, making sure I was open whenever he lost a stock. Power, skills, that doesn't matter if you can adapt to Smash's rules. But, it was a valuable lesson learned, and I thank Mister Masters for that."

Robin walked up the tunnel, Ken's smiling next to Mister Zero in the opposite tunnel.

"Another great win for you Ken Masters. What do you think of having to fight your trainee Quinn Marmaduke?"

"Kid's good," Ken admitted, "But not as good as me. I definitely feel bad for the members of Operation World Tour who pick Quinn's side, because they have four days to mold him into a warrior competent enough to beat a Street Fighter champion. Good luck to ya!"

With a flash of his smile and a thumbs up, Ken sauntered up the tunnel.

"Picking sides?" asked Quinn as soon as Ken appeared.

Ken nodded, "Karin and I agreed on it if this happened, that we'd split into two teams and train together."

"I can't wait to work more closely with Mika and Zangief. It's gonna take grabs to take you out."

"Zangief's lost to me plenty of times, Mika even more than that."

"But I'm not them," Quinn snapped, pulling off his signature sunglasses, "I'm better."

Ken laughed as Otis interrupted, "Cloud, Ritcher, you're up."

Cloud nodded, "Nothing personal Ritcher,"

As Cloud moseyed up to Tunnel A, Ritcher laughed, "I could say the same to you, my friend."

Cloud snapped his head back, raising an eyebrow, disappearing out of sight down Tunnel A. Meanwhile, Ritcher didn't notice Simon tutting, solemnly shaking his head as he strutted down Tunnel B.