Round 4: Day 3
Luigi
830
Smash Mansion
Residency Hall
Riiing, riiiing
Luigi rolled from his back to his side. Daisy reflexively grabbing the bed's covers to hog them all for herself, but Luigi didn't care.
I'm probably not gonna get in bed again anytime soon of people are calling me this early, he thought.
Pressing the 'accept' call button on the touch screen, Mario's face appeared in hologram form.
"Hey bro, what's up?"
"When Daisy wakes up, tell her she's the best."
"Damn right I am future bro-in-law." muttered Daisy as she curled under the covers.
"The diplomatic meeting went that well huh?" Luigi asked, grinning.
Mario grinned back.
"Yeah, all it took was Daisy showing interest in Kazuya's fighting animals to win him over."
"She always has been good at making the freaks feel included. I mean, she's dating me for god's sake."
Mario suppressed a laugh at that one.
"I mean, I was going to-a say that it's the root cause of the Waluigi problem we all have in our lives, but you supplied that one for me."
"Yeah, it's my bad," muttered Daisy, half asleep.
"But what that means is, we have a direct line to the Mishima Zaibatsu,"
"Wait," Luigi scratched his head, "I thought they had a Smashcraft,"
"They do, but it's for the peons to live it up. The top guys are all in Conker's dimension, one of which is a corporate saboteur aligned with Kazuya's G-Corporation,"
Luigi sighed, "So what did we find out?"
"That it's as bad as we thought," Mario explained, "King K. Rool's observations are officially corroborated-a. This is our Conker we're dealing with, and the Smash Core is corrupting him."
Daisy rolled over to look at the hologram.
"Ugh, does that mean we gotta fight Master Edges or whatever the hell the Hands turned into at the end of the last one?"
"That, or some other monstrosity."
"Great," Daisy sighed.
"But we knew that from the beginning," said Luigi, "Nothing we can't handle."
"You're right. Plus, I have other reasons to be grateful."
Luigi raised an eyebrow, "Like?"
"Well, the Smashers appearing at the wrestling event was a huge success. Touchdown versus Ventura is looking to be the biggest gate any of the promotions in the conglomerates have ever seen, and that's after a profit split."
"Seven Stars,"
"Right?" Mario agreed, "Plus, Sylvia and Travis are civil again. Always nice to have a lady in control of assassins on your side."
"So, she went from assassin kingmaker to wrestling promoter?"
"Yeah. But what that means is I'm going to lift the unauthorized public appearance ban The Hands had in place after this round."
"YO!" Daisy bolted up right, "We can go on that chicken wing eating interview show We Spicy Few" she cheered.
"Captain Falcon's talked up Phoenix and QQQ's Smash podcast for so long that I've always wanted to make an appearance."
Mario smiled, "I'm glad you all have ideas, I'm sure we'll see some-a nonsense when they don't have to run it by me."
Mario's eyes suddenly widened.
"Daisy, is that a Toadstool Tour shirt? Haven't seen one of them in years."
"Yeah," she said, "The merch makes good pajamas, even if it is a 20 year old shirt."
The holographic face of Mario suddenly looked downcast.
"20 years since the Toadstool Tour? Seven Stars, we're getting old."
The three sat in silence for a few seconds before Mario piped in again, "Anyway, I'mma let you guys get back to bed. Us old-timers need our sleep yeah? Bye bye!"
As soon as Mario's image disappeared, Luigi rolled to Daisy, giving her a kiss.
"Peach was right, there's nothing we can't do."
Daisy nodded, kissing Luigi back, "Yep."
Luigi sighed.
"Ya know, I'm good with this being our day."
"Yep," Daisy repeated, "If it's alright with you, I'd like to watch some of those Tekken tournaments. Kazuya's a cool dude, and I wanna have something to talk about next time I see him."
"Sounds good babe," Luigi nodded, fumbling for the TV remote.
Donkey Kong
1130
Smash Mansion
Stage Floor
King of Fighters stage
Donkey Kong had been off his game since the sparring session had started. Terry Bogard was not as he'd expected.
The sparring session had not started with the loud bravado he'd expected. Terry had silently picked the music and brought the stage to life.
Even more befuddling was his demeanor. The man did not flinch as he winded his arm for the Giant Punch, nor in the face of his connecting strikes. An impish smile remained on his face throughout
"POWAH DUNK," Terry cried.
Sweep, sweep Power Dunk. Sweep, sweep Power Dunk.
Donkey Kong gritted his teeth. He'd been priming for this exact moment.
"GIANT PUNCH!" roared Donkey Kong.
Parried. Terry got into the infamous stance.
"ARE YOU OKAY? BUSTA WOLF!"
Terry snapped forward, plunging a fist into DK's chest. The burst of fire sent him into the back wall, crashing through it.
GAME! TERRY WINS!
As Donkey Kong reappeared, Terry shook his head.
"I coulda had a birthday watching you throw that Giant Punch big man. Luigi's gonna have you for breakfast! Like a breakfast taco! And it'll have you honkin' bro!"
"I get it," snarled Donkey Kong, "You wouldn't be the first person to say that. But you'd be the first one to help me if you agree to help me tomorrow."
Terry nodded, "OKAY! Think about how to jazz up that Giant Punch big man. Me and Corrin are gonna grab tacos,"
Donkey Kong nodded back as Terry strutted out of the Training Room.
Zelda
1000
Smash Park
The clouds rolled in. A storm was impending, as Zelda sighed. She thought back to the frequent cloud cover of Hyrule, and how a treaty with the Pokemon world had allowed them to receive a Pokemon that made the sun shine, thus changing the bounty of crops each season.
Reflexively, she pulled her harp from her satchel beginning to pluck the royal lullaby, a song that had been passed down since the foundation of House Hyrule.
"What are you doing?"
Every muscle in her body fired, snapping to the source of the voice. Erdrick sat on the park bench with her, confused.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she laughed, "Some date I am."
"Do not worry Zelda, this is a new experience for me as well."
The two sat in an uncomfortable silence, the only noise being the sound of leather boots on the walking paths nearby as the three Links stood guard.
"But yes…you um…play music?"
"Yes," Zelda said, "Something that I'm required to learn as princess. Some of my ancestors have found it to be more recreational than others."
"Aye," Erdrick nodded, "So, where do you stand?"
"I wish for it to become more of a hobby for me, but The Links have their own lives and…"
Rummaging into a bag himself, Erdrick pulled a lute.
Zelda's eyes widened, "You are musically gifted as well?"
"That would be an…extremely generous conclusion Zelda."
Zelda waved a hand dismissively, "Oh come now! If we are both novices, perhaps we can teach each other, and carry each other to new heights."
"Yes. Perhaps that's true," Erdrick mused. You all played a song at the campfire a few nights before I got here correct? Lead me in that, and I'll play it by ear."
"I have the music sheet if you'd like it," Zelda offered.
Erdrick found himself grinning, his burning with a childlike warmth. How sweet this woman was, that she would traverse a park and a mansion so that they may play together1
"Erm… are you well, Erdrick? You're beet red!"
Erdrick shook himself back to reality, "Yes Zelda...erm…playing by ear will be just fine."
"Right then, follow my lead," Zelda nodded.
Zelda plucked slowly, the sounds instantly familiar to his lute-playing mind.
Erdrick slowly yet confidently replicated the cord.
"Good!" Zelda said, "Now we can move to the more complicated sect-"
Zelda was caught off guard by Link clasping her on the shoulder. The princess wheeled around to see Young and Link had their bows primed at the distant roof of the Smash Mansion.
"What in the name of the Three-" Zelda began to demand.
Slowly, she followed the direction of the arrows. They were primed at Ganondorf, who stood on the roof holding a pair of high tech binoculars.
"I will not have violence at the Mansion," ordered Zelda, "Stand down, all three of you!"
Exchanging confused glances, Young and Toon eventually lowered their arms.
"Perhaps we shall take this inside?" Erdrick asked.
Zelda's regal posture sunk, "Yes. I was hoping we could take advantage of the beautiful day."
"We will tomorrow, at Nintendoland!" proclaimed Erdrick.
Zelda straightened, grinning, "If you're sure."
The grinning couple stood to leave the park, the Links following dutifully behind them.
Ganondorf
1010
Smash Mansion
Roof
Sephiroth raised an eyebrow as Ganondorf smiled wide.
"The elven idiots have gone inside. Was this reconnaissance not meant to provoke violence?"
"No," Ganondorf hissed, licking his lips, "It was to promote understanding. Understand why I hunger for the Triforce so. For you see, it's complete."
"Complete?" said Sephiroth.
Ganondorf laughed, "Yes! For all of our years intertwined in this dance of godly power, Zelda has never been in love. She doesn't know it, but she's at her most powerful."
"Would that not be good for the tournament?" Sephiroth asked, much more annoyed this time.
"No, it will be great. Perhaps exerting my full self will allow me to quiet this hunger."
Sephiroth shrugged, "Wario will be happy the two of us have made it this far."
Ganondorf rubbed his chin in thought, tucking away his binoculars into a satchel, "Why do you believe people want to win this tournament?"
Sephiroth's forehead wrinkled in confusion. Ganondorf took that as an invitation to continue.
"You see how the champions are treated. Mario inherited this operation because of his work. Roy got the opportunity to defy the Hands' orders, skipping out on a tournament. Cloud is one of Mario's closest confidants, and Kirby is among our little group's most beloved. Imagine if you or I were to attain such a power."
Ganondorf frowned as Sephiroth continued to stare at him. Beneath them, The Links, Erdrick, and Zelda walked through the mansion's grand doors.
"You've been to every one of these tournaments but the first, you attempted a coup twice and failed. Why beat a dead Chocobo?"
Ganondorf frowned deeper, "It's the power of the Triforce, and victory in this tournament in my sights that has me spouting this foolishness. Thank you Sephiroth."
Ganondorf held out a hand, Sephiroth reluctantly shaking it. Releasing his grip, and nodding, Ganondorf jumped off the roof, heading inside.
Red
1500
Trophy Hotel
Hinawa and Flint's suite
The weather machines that kept the nebulous planet Smash City stood upon had opted for rain this evening. Thunder clapped. Maybe that's why the stew Hinawa had prepared, and the warm hug he'd gotten on the way in, made him feel so at home.
"So, these Pokeyman," asked Flint, "Do you folks use 'em for farm work?"
Red glanced up from his stew. Lucas, Ness, and Cuphead all looked upon him expectantly. Cuphead's curiosity he understood, but had he never talked about it with Ness or Lucas? Green's glances around the table indicated that the two Pokemon Trainers were on the same page.
"Not mine specifically, no. Mine and Green's are more bread for battle, but you can raise them for work. Farmers all around the world use Pokemon for anything you'd use an animal for."
"Especially in Galar, where I've spent a lot of my time," Green added, "There are a lot of open fields, so we account for a lot of agriculture around the world."
Flint grunted in acknowledgement, while Hinawa smiled warmly.
"I love the harmony that your world seems to have," she said, "It's something we had before Porky invaded Tazmilly, and something my Lukey Loo is working towards, aren't you honey?"
Ness and Cuphead snickered, the latter nearly choking on a carrot. Meanwhile, Lucas blushed.
"That a childhood nickname for you or something?"
Lucas nodded, "I haven't heard it since I was a toddler. It feels...good."
"All this feels good," Cuphead nodded, "Makes me realize I've been avoiding my family."
Hinawa's forehead wrinkled, "Why is that?"
Cuphead shrugged, "I dunno. Just caught up in the rigamarole of Smash life, catch my meanin'?"
Hinawa nodded as Cuphead dug into his stew, "I understand work is important but…please…make time for your family, all of you. They won't be around forever."
Somber nods permeated the table.
"Yeah…just uh…scorch Wolf one for me will ya?" Claus broke the silence.
"Claus," snapped Hinawa, "It's one thing for Red to win his match, but to wish violence on another human being is entirely too far."
As Flint stoically nodded in agreement, Claus whined, "But it's Wolf! That guy's a no good scoundrel, just like that no good Porky Minch."
Flint's expression darkened, "Ness, I've been meanin' to ask ya, but do you think there's any fixin' that Minch boy?"
Hinawa sighed, "I really wish you wouldn't have brought this up at dinner."
Flint put an arm on Hinawa's shoulder, "I know you've been avoiding it all night darlin' but I can't help but wonder."
Ness shook his head, "Not much to wonder about, he was an asshole…"
Ness immediately froze as he saw Hinawa glaring daggers at him.
"Sorry, language," Ness mumbled.
Hinawa's expression immediately went back to its usual warmth.
"Very good. Now, continue what you were saying."
"He was…um…a jerk when I knew him, even before he got involved with Giygas."
"A shame, truly," Hinawa said, "Could the same be said for Wolf?"
"Fox sees some good in him," Ness said in between the final slurps of his broth, "Dunno why."
"Fox sees good in everybody," Green concluded, "Bit him in the butt a few times, got him in more trouble than a man of his skills should be in, but still."
"Perhaps it's better to see good where there's none than see evil where there's none," Hinawa mused.
To this, Green nodded, "Indeed."
"I just hope Wolf has a family to go home to," Hinawa said, suddenly sounding worried.
"He does, those Star Wolf creeps," Ness explained.
"I wonder what he's doing right now?" Green wondered aloud.
"Not training, I can tell you that," said Red, grinning mischeviously.
"Yeah," Flint nodded, "Probably participating in hedonestic pleasures of the flesh, if his interviews have been anything to go on."
"Now Flint, we shouldn't judge Lucas' co-workers so harshly," scolded Hinawa.
Wolf
2300
Smash City
"The Fang Guys" Casino
Star Wolf had always been regulars at Game Guys' casino, even before the merger with Fang The Sniper, an associate of Sonic's. They'd come here tonight for the same reason they'd always had. Good atmosphere, one of the few places in the sections of the city belonging to Mario's ilk that you could smoke indoors in, and the finest dancers this side of Lylat. But, the second he'd flashed a Smash Coin, the dumb polar bear enforcer of Fang's had appeared.
"Right dis way boys," the bumbling bear shouted.
Just like that, it was a work event.
Camera's flashed as Star Wolf was brought to an arena comprising of two Chain Chomps, each with cake in front of them.
"Place yer bets, place yer bets," squawked Bean the Dynamite, the other enforcer of Fang.
Wolf took stock of the situation, "Put me down three Smash Coins on the bigger one."
Fang nodded, grabbing the three Smash Coins from Wolf's pinched fingers.
"Right, bigger one, double yer bet, double yer bet," yammered the excitable green-feathered fellow.
"That'd better increase mine too," Isabelle's growl was somehow audible over the perpetual jazzy music.
"Damn it, we're betting against the secretary, we're gonna lose." Wolf snapped.
"Boss, how can you be so…" Leon began.
"All bets placed, all bets placed, unleash the Chomps," declared Bean.
Immediately, the smaller Chain Chomp devoured its cake, while Wolf's charge happily licked the frosting off of its cake, smiling as it hadn't done anything wrong.
"Oh," Leon blurted in shock.
"YES!" Isabelle cheered, "Times 16 again!"
"You won at this son of a bitch more than once?" blabbered Wolf.
"Yep!" Isabelle sai;d, placing her hands on her hips pridefully, "Between the Smash win and this, being a secretary for Mister Mayor is absolutely a hobby now."
Panther whistled, nodding impressively, "Panther needs a sugar daddy."
Isabelle immediately shrank down, nervously cracking her wrists, "I'm taken, sorry Mister Caruso."
Panther turned to Wolf and Leon, "You could stand to call me Mister Caruso more often."
"We're getting out of here before you make an enemy of Sonic, or an ass of yourself," growled Wolf, "Let's go."
The three didn't have to journey far to hit the Roulette. Snake and five of his ilk sat around the roulette, including the computer nerd, the ship captain, and the colonel that each Smasher had interacted with at least once.
"Put me down on the Game Guy space, we're fighting up boys." Wolf proclaimed, flipping a Smash Coin onto the table.
Two of the occupants at the table, Snake, and a man with an eyepatch that looked just like him, grumbled thoughtfully.
"Oh great, I thought I smelled somethin' rank."
Wolf's glance snapped up. At the opposite end of the table, Daxter stared him down atop Jak's shoulder.
"We're spinning the wheel now," monotonally said a red and black cat woman.
The roulette spun, landing on Boo, a times 16 multiplier.
"YES!" screamed the computer nerd, "Finally, my luck is coming up!"
The eyepatched man cracked his knuckles, "Whelp, I think it's time for ole Venom Snake to hit the hay," what about you all?"
"Oh no," Wolf snarled, "I gotta beef with the elf boy and his weasel."
"Oh do ya?" snapped Daxter.
"Yeah. In my world, we fight when little pissboys run their mouths off."
"In mine," Jak hissed, "We challenge each other to Combat Racing. There's a big race tomorrow, and we're always hopin for entrants. You bozos in?"
"Hell yeah," Wolf said.
"Unfortunately for you, we modified our Wolfens for racing and ground combat after the Atlas conflict."
"The what?" Daxter asked.
"Oh, it's from the game Battle for…" Otacon began.
"No one asked you four eyes!" snapped Wolf.
As the Metal Gear contingent hurried away, Wolf continued, "All that matters is that we're ready."
Jak nodded, "Good,"
As Jak saluted them, and Daxter flipped them off, they too headed towards the front of the casino.
"Bah," Wolf spat a mouthful of chew on the ground, "This night's a waste, let's go."
Banjo-Kazooie
830
Smash City
Persona Section
Cafe Le Blanc
The door to Cafe Le Blanc swung open, ringing its bell. Sojiro let a small grin form as he finished cleaning the glasses for what was sure to be another day of a packed house open to close.
"Ah, you're back," he blurted.
"AHHHHHH!" Kazooie squealed, "HE SAID THE THING!"
In came the Phantom Thieves, followed by Banjo and Kazooie.
"So this is where the magic happened eh?" squawked a star-struck Kazooie.
Ren could only grin, "Yep."
"Man, it's weird that we're like, video game characters to video game characters, ya know?" Ryuji observed.
"I'll admit," Makoto nodded, sliding into a booth with Akechi, "I've not quite wrapped my head around the multiverse concept yet. Maybe I'll ask Ryu next time I see him."
Futaba, Ren, and Akechi all groaned simultaneously.
"Please don't ask Ryu," moaned Akechi, "He won't shut up if you ask."
"I'll summarize it for ya," Futaba explained, "All fiction will soon be assimilated by Fortnite, all with the assistance of one country bumpkin. The end."
"Futaba," lectured Banjo, "That's not a nice thing to call someone."
"You're just hot about it because you get it all the time Banjo," Kazooie muttered
As Ann and Haru giggled to one another, Futaba's hands curled into frustrated fists.
"Hey, you guys are junior members, so watch how you talk to your senpai."
Akechi leaned over and whispered something to Makoto. She bristled, laughing nervously.
"Akechi," snapped Ren, "What have I said about talking about killing people in here."
"I'm just saying," Akechi snapped back as Sojiro brought Futaba her coffee, " If she'd ever spoken to me that way, I would have…"
"Oh, trust me," Futaba said, "I'm keeping my power level in check. I coulda gone SSJ weeb fangirl if I wanted."
Just as she sipped her coffee, the door opened, ringing the bell once again.
"Is this Cafe Le Blanc?" said a familiar voice.
A cartoonish spit take of her bean water later, Futaba squealed flapping her arms in the air,
"OH MY GAWD," she said.
"You willed this into existence Akechi," hissed Yusuke under his breath.
Completely ignoring the banter of his charges, Sojiro nodded towards the door, "Ah, Mister Strife, how much space will we need?"
"Party of 13,"
A throaty chuckle could be heard as the entire Final Fantasy 7 contingent walked through the door.
"You've giggled at that joke every time Cloud's said it Red, and it gets less funny everytime," Yuffie insisted
Sojiro chuckled, "I'm glad I applied for that space extension. I've been having to take reservations."
"Yeah, I guess this city works by SimCity logic huh?" Futaba observed.
"Ah, that city management game you were showing me on your laptop," Haru remembered.
Futaba nodded, "The very same,"
\"Man, Smash City is such a crazy place. Imagine if all cities ran like that. Then there'd be no such things as homelessness or hunger ever again," Makoto began.
"But douchebags like Shido would definitely use the power to do something shitty, so maybe it's best this stays here," mused Ryuji.
"Speaking of here," Sojiro interjected, "You guys fight each other in a couple of days, are we gonna be civil?"
"Yeah," Cloud nodded, "We're all just here for coffee."
Sojiro nodded back, "Does everyone take it black. I've got a big pot brewing for the kiddos, and…"
"If that's what easiest for you, yes Mister Sojiro," Aerith piped in.
Sojiro cast a thumbs up, dutifully fussing over the massive vat of black coffee. Kazooie suddenly flared up, "So how do you plan to deal with the awesome might of Banjo-Kazooie spikey boy?"
"Dude, cringe," Banjo, Futaba, and Ann said at the same time.
"Same way he always had clucky," Barrett said, "Full force, takin' no prisoners along the way. Mm-hm."
"Did you just call me clucky? I'm not even a chicken! It'd be like if I called you Mister T."
Just as Barrett's face began to contort in rage, Cloud interjected, "Will you two shut up? If anything I'm gonna go to the Trophy Hotel and read your trophy description."
"HAH!" Kazooie hollered, "L plus ratio plus bro works out at the library."
"We really do gotta talk about how much time you spend on the internet," Banjo muttered.
"Yes. Although we all fall into that web of untruth and evil when we first meet Oracle," Yusuke explained
Futaba stuck her tongue out, "You think it's sexy though, the whole internet gremlin thing."
"I do find it alluring for reasons I do not quite understand." Yusuke said, blushing.
Silence permeated the cafe as Sojiro brought everyone their coffee.
"If we're all done being computer-addicted morons, we need to come up with a battle plan." Akechi growled, "We have no ideas of how to train the bear and the bird."
Futaba shrugged, "Why not hit the Gold Saucer?" That's how we grinded in the game."
"It's a hell of a challenge," Tifa said, sipping the coffee.
"MMM!" Wedge declared, "This coffee is so goddamn good."
Sojiro nodded to him, but Kazooie ignored him.
"Ever done Grunty Industries on one life? That's hard. Dystopia Disneyland ain't got nothing on anything that dumb witch cooked up."
Despite Kazooie's ranting, the rest of Le Blanc's occupants sipped their coffee, the Phantom Thieves and AVALANCHE occasionally sharing small talk. . Kazooie's realization that she was being ignored was slow, her rant quieting to a mere rumble, finally falling silent as she glared daggers at Cloud. Silently, the rest of the crew finished their coffee.
"We'd uh," Ryuji began, stretching and yawning, "We'd better get outta here so we don't hold up tables for Boss. You wanna go play darts Banjo? How about you kazooie?"
"That sounds great," Banjo said.
As the Phantom Thieves stood up to leave, Kazooie ranted, "You think you're so fuckin' cool, with your fuckin' half sleeve Tetsuya Nemura ass shit and your fuckin' sad backstory and your fuckin…"
The Thieves left the cafe, Kazooie's rants blending with the sound of the exact creation of Shibuya's noisy streets.
"Any idea what that was about?" Vincent asked Sojiro.
"None. Futaba's still playing coy about how we all connect, and based on Kazooie talks to people, I don't think I wanna know."
Cloud nodded, "The coffee was delicious sir,"
Strutting up to the counter, he flipped a Smash Coin into the tip jar.
"Keep the change,"
Sojiro's eyes widened, stammering, "Y-yes sir!"
"We'd better get goin. Eventually Marlene an' Denzel will look up from their gaming systems and wonder where we've gone."
"I know the feeling, I've got a gamer myself," Sojiro said, "You have a great day all,"
"You too," said Tifa waving as the group departed.
Jessie, the last one out, asked, "Does anyone else thing Banjo's kinda cute, in that quiet country boy way?"
"GOD DAMN IT!" shouted Yuffie, "We were so close to going some place without being weird."
As the door closed, Sojiro examined the Smash Coin, chuckling to himself.
Ken
1030
Kanzuki Holdings Smashcraft
Above Smash City
"That's 100 situps on the bar," Guile said, "Now give me 100 more boys!"
Ken's entire body loosened. Glancing at his brother-in-law, Gunloc, who'd done the same thing, made Charlie Nash look up from reading a gossip magazine to chuckle.
"Ken, Gunloc, did I say it was nap time? Maybe you wouldn't have lost the World Championship if you hadn't taken so many damn naps 'Loc. Do I make myself clear?!"
"Sir yes sir!" shouted Ken and Gunloc together.
With that, the rush to 100 upside down situps began. Having lost his concept of pain 50 crunches ago, Ken's mind began to wander back to simpler days…
Ken ran the treadmill at the Hotel, a letter sprawled across the console. Maybe staring at it would make the bullshit less real. Maybe it was all a dream? Ken looked at the TV playing for the nearly empty gym. The news displayed the date, January 3, 1987.
Ryu walked into the gym, his signature bag slung over his shoulder.
"You know you can just leave your crap in your room right? You don't have to carry it with you!"
Ryu nodded bashfully, "I know. It's just a force of habit."
As Ryu mounted the treadmill next to his, uneasily tapping at the buttons, Ken spoke up, "Did you get the letter?"
Ryu nodded, "Yes. Shadaloo doesn't want two representatives from our dojo in the tournament, so we must fight one another immediately before fighting this Retsu character."
Ken noddedz. Yeah, it's probably beef from the Alpha tourney series, where you and I cleaned up."
"That is as logical a conclusion as any," Ryu nodded back.
Ken felt a blast of cold wash over him, imagining having to defeat his friend to even enter the tournament proper.
"Somethin' a matter Ken?" asked Gunloc, "You looked really sad for a bit there?"
Not even breaking from his sweat, "Ey yo Guile, do you remember that tournament in '88?"
"The one half of us boycotted because of the dumbass prelims? Yeah, why?"
"I think I lost that one because I held back on a training partner. I can't do that with Quinn."
Nash raised an eyebrow, "What makes you bring that up?"
"You saw him at the wrestling thing last night," Ken explained, "This is his tournament to win. The momentum feels the same here as it did then. Quinn's gonna use this to hit me harder and faster than he ever has before."
Nash and Gunloc shot each other unconvinced glances through the situps.
"I see where you're comin' from Masters," Guile reassured his grunting companion, "I don't think that Geki guy ever recovered from that one-Shoryuken KO. haven't seen him on any databases since."
"I plan on being in databases for a long time to come!" Ken declared, releasing himself from the hanging bar."
"I don't think that's a compliment Masters'" grumbled Gunloc.
"You know what I-"
Ken's words caught in his throat as a TV repelled from the gym's ceilings. The TV switched on, showing Sakura, Makoto, and Karin snuggled in a velvet-adorned bed under covers, the blond dancing her fingers across Makoto's stomach.
Ken covered his mouth to hold in the laughter.
"Jesus," sighed Karin, "You could grind meat on those abs of yours."
"Only the finest for you mommy," purred Makoto.
"Hey!" blurted Sakura, running a finger through her messy bedhead, "We all benefit from Makoto being a smoke show."
The girls all giggled. Suddenly, Karin looked at the camera, her eyes widening, her cheeks flushing beat red.
"GOD DAMN IT SAKURA YOU HIT THE BUTTON AGAIN!" shrieked Karin.
Sakura thrashed out from under the covers in some weak defense. Unfortunately, it revealed her nudeness to the men on the other side.
"Oh my God," moaned Sakura, "Can they see?"
"Unfortunately Miss Kanzuki," Guile stepped in, "We can,"
Karin sighed, "Well, since we're here, do you have anything to report?"
"Um…yeah," Ken said, "We think Quinn has the most momentum out of anyone in the tournament,"
"Yeah," interjected Gunloc, coughing, "Yeah, he's got the heart of an iron man, probably the next challenger for the title once Travis and Ventura get done with each other."
"Those sons of bitches," Karin cursed, "They awoke his endurance. Honda will be the winner of our little wager at this rate."
Sakura began to cuddle Karin instinctively, but Karin shoved her away.
"Yeah, not the time, I get it," she muttered.
"But, there's a drawback," explained Ken, "His moves are pretty predictable, and we think a lot of the prodigy stuff Zangief was throwing around last round was more connected to Sans being easy to throw off if anything."
"With your near limitless kicks and the items at play, we will stand a better chance against the Mii than I originally thought."
"Can we be dismissed, please?" begged Ken, "This is worse than any board meeting I've ever sat on."
"As you were," she said
There was a pause as Karin shifted back to Sakura.
"Now you m'am, have been a bad girl. And Makoto, I'm mad now, so I'm on top,"
Makoto giggled, "Yes mommy,"
Sakura hurriedly pointed at the camera over Karin's shoulder.
"Wha- OH SON OF A BITCH!"
The camera clicked off.
"Holy shit, I need a break," sighed Ken.
"Yeah, me too," Gunlock sighed.
Charlie laughed again, "You guys wouldn't survive a day in the Force if that kind of debauchery flummoxes you."
Nodding silently, Guile shared in his laughter.
Ken muttered some half hearted barrage of curses, stumbling out the balcony. The airspace reserved for Smashcrafts was a noisy one. A den of near constant partying, music of all kinds blasted from the makeshift neighborhood of luxury ships.
"Hey, it's that karate Smasher," said a man from the Smashcraft adjacent there's.
"Yeah," said his partner, "Ken Masters,"
As the two cheered him, Ken glanced at their crew cuts8 and the logo that their ship bore. They were Galactic Federation cops, likely from Samus' neck of the woods.
"Yeah, thanks for your service," Ken saluted the two.
The men cheered louder.
"If you make it that far," shouted the nosy man's partner, "Kick Wolf O'Donnell's ass for me. That fleabag got away from me on a chase and I'm still mad about it."
"Will do man, will do,"
Just as Ken said that, he caught a glimpse of the Smashcraft that loomed above them all, one with which he was intimately familiar with. The sight of the veritable city in the sky, Smashcraft R, reminded him of something.
"Shit, I got a meeting tomorrow. Take it easy guys,"
With that, Ken slunk back into Kanzuki Holdings' Smashcraft tapping a series of buttons on his watch.
"Eliza will be pissed if we don't do lunch at some point today, see ya!" Ken blurted, practically diving through the portal as it opened.
Quinn
1200
Smash Mansion
Cafeteria
Quinn took a bite of his burrito, the only sound in a crowd of people. In the center, Bowser Junior and Peach sat, each holding a Nintendo DS. Sweat trickled down Bowser Junior's forehead. Quinn briefly wondered if reptiles could sweat as the game began.
"Drat," Peach shouted, "I got cocky on the timer,"
"Woo hoo!" cheered Bowser Junior, "This is my chance."
"This is the snaking technique," Rosalina whispered to Quinn.
Quinn watched Bowser Junior, humming in rhythm as he pressed the buttons with precision. Peach meanwhile tapped the buttons with a stern stare.
"No doubt!" Roy Koopa cheered, "You can win!"
"You'd better win," Wendy sneered.
Peach's frown twisted into a sly grin on the second lap, "I've caught up to you Junior."
"You won't win!" Junior snapped, "I've trained too hard for this."
Judging by their ever-changing expressions, they traded the lead for the entirety of the second lap.
"JUNIOR WILL WIN! MORTON BELIEVES!" Morton roared.
"Keep quiet Morton," ordered Ludwig, "You are distracting from the creation of this masterpiece,"
"Yeah," blurted Iggy as the final lap began, "Shut up"
"Beautiful commentary," sneered Travis.
"I'm a prince," shrieked Iggy.
"Yeah," snapped Travis, "You're like 8th in line you idiot."
Despite the bickering, Bowser Junior and Peach stayed firm, Bowser Junior's quivering as his character crossed the finish line."
"YES!" screamed Bowser Junior, "I did it!"
Peach nodded, "You've improved since we began playing together dear. I couldn't be prouder."
"That means a lot to me Peach, thanks," Bowser Junior nodded back.
"HURRAY!" Morton cheered, "MORTON WIN BET,"
"Oh my gawd you're so embarrassing," grumbled Wendy.
"I think we're obfiscating an important point here, the princess games?" Travis balked
Peach shrugged, "What else is there for a girl to do when she's kidnapped?"
"So you just play multiplayer with the pipsqueak over here?" Travis gestured to Bowser Junior.
The little Koopa nodded, "Yeah, and she's really good!"
Just as Peach cooed at the compliment, Fox stood from his seat.
"Hey Junior," Fox said, "You've got steadier hands than I thought. I can take you to a flight simulator if you ask your dad."
Bowser Junior smiled wide in glee, before his face scrunched and his head tilted, "Don't you gotta train with Red."
"Not until tomorrow, Red and Green said they were gonna spend today together."
Bowser Junior's face soured.
"Ew," was his decree on the matter.
Fox and Krystal, who sat next to him, shared chuckles.
"He reminds me so much of Prince Tricky."
"Who's that Miss Krystal?" Bowser Junior asked.
"A friend of ours. But let's find your old man so we can get to the flight simulator."
"Morton wanna go!" cried Morton,
The largest Koopaling's cries were ignored as Bowser Junior and Fox ascended the staircase.
"We can simply ask Daddy to have one built at the castle," Wendy tutted, "For now, we're due aboard the Koopa Kingdom Smashcraft."
"Yeah," Larry rolled his eyes, "For your zillionth spa appointment."
"We can find something else to do," Iggy jittered, "We can watch the Battle Royal again."
"Yeah!"
As the Koopalings each leaped through a portal onto the luxury liner, the gaming crowd dispersed, all except for Rosalina and Quinn, who sat in the fresh silence, eating their burritos.
"Ya know, that ain't a bad idea," Quinn remarked, "Wanna take this party to my room? Sans is training Dante, and Altair's out with his future descendants again…"
Quinn caught a mischievous glint in Rosalina's visible eye, which stopped him cold.
"I have a better idea," she said, "Has Zangief or given you any pointers?"
Quinn shook his head, "Nah, it's me, Zangief, and Mika against Ken and the rest of 'em and they're not trading secrets."
"Then perhaps we should go where secrets about Ken and his ilk are the most bountiful."
Quinn sat frozen in thought, unsure what she meant. Then, it clicked.
"You mean Smashcraft R?" Quinn balked, "That place is invite only, and you have to be directly linked to Ryu to be invited. How can we get in?"
Rosalina held her middle finger to her lips with one hand, rummaging through a matching sky blue purse with the other. From the purse, she produced a shrunken down Launch Star.
"The Star Fox Team and I determined that Launch Stars have great stealth applications," whispered Rosalina, "You'll fly below Smashcraft R's radar, practically arriving on their front door. Mario's a friend of mine, who owes me a favor saving him from Bowser's galaxy generator."
"Saving the Power Stars wasn't the favor?" Quinn asked.
"No. I restarted the universe afterwards. Every kingdom owes me a favor."
Quinn sighed, "Alright, if you're confident you can get me outta the shit this'll put me in, let's do it."
Rosalina grinned, "Great, tomorrow then. Word on the street all of Ryu's ilk will be there for a big meeting, it'll be perfect."
Again, the Mii Fighter's sigh echoed across the empty cafeteria , "Can we go read a book to the Lumas or something? Like to take it easy before I do espionage."
Rosalina giggled, "That would be wonderful."
Before Quinn could stand, Rosalina had taken him by the hand, easing him to his feet and pulling him into the foyer, and then up the massive staircase.
Dante
1300
Smash Mansion
Stage Floor
Battlefield Room
Dante walked into Battlefield's training room to find Sans, eating a hamburger, his back to him.
"You know," Sans began, not looking at him, "When you told me you wanted to train my way after I told you what I had to do to Chara, I thought you were joking."
"That was, what, one of the first anime nights you me and Travis did?"
Sans finished his hamburger, "The second one."
\ Dante raised an eyebrow, "You remember that?"
Sans laughed, "In my years, I've learned that you can tell a lot about people by how confident they say things. Your complete non-hesitance showed me you were made of completely different gravy than all the others around here."
Dante took a combat stance, "I'm gonna need to be to fight Sephiroth ain't I? Give it all ya got bud."
Sans snapped his fingers. Dante's world went dark, as the shadows of five Gaster Blasters. Dante flipped around the cross shapes, squares, Sans left for him in his barrage, jumping ove the last bolt as it cut through the middle of the arena.
"Let's go girls," huffed Sans.
Dante jumped the gaps in the pillars of bones that sprang out from the ground, completely unwavered as they began to dart too and fro.
Dante stood still as blue pillars barreled his way. He'd heard the story of Papyrus discovering his blue attack far too many times to be juked by it. Stepping over the smaller bones, he again jumped through the gaps in the pillars that went high as the sky, slashing at Sans as he went, to no avail.
"You're too good," Sans shook his head, "Gotta vary up this next bit I think."
Now on a platform in a sea of bones, Dante jumped from platform to platform, ducking the occasional Gaster Blaster fire.
"Damn dude, you gotta have Nintendo Power or something, the way you're fighting through enemy fire like this.
Dante fired a single shot of his pistol, which Sans weaved around.
'Oh, so you like bullet hells huh?"
With a snap of his fingers, bones jutted up from the sea of bones beneath him. Dante stood still on the platform, weaving across the launching bones as the platform slowly etched past them.
"You're an action platformer hero, I know what this training exercise needs."
With snaps of his fingers, the world went black. When Dante came to each time, Battlefield with ladent with different variations of bony obstacles, each of which Dante dodged.
"Damn it," Sans snapped his fingers, "Thought thre QTE would get ya."
Dante wordlessly fired both pistols, Sans ducking and weaving around them effortlessly.
"Damn, I feel like an Agent!"
Dante raised an eyebrow, to which Sans manifested an eyebrow to raise back at him.
"What? You've never seen The Matrix? Probably one of, if not the best film of the last century."
"We should watch it next time we hang," Dante concluded.
Sans nodded in agreement, "You can never watch The Matrix too many times. I'd say it's available on HBOMAX, but with the merger that might be closed down by the time this chapter comes out."
Sans waved his hands, Dante floating into the air, and nearly being thrown agains a pillar of bones as they erupted from each Blast Zone. In response, Dante fired his pistols, Sans once again weaving around everything. A veritable army of Gaster Blasters appeared, Dante dodging them all. Sans let him go, the Devil Hunter returning to earth as his left eye flashed a flaming blue color. The Gaster Blasters manifested into a giant one, spinning around.
"For once, I'm on the backfoot!" Dante yelped, running away from the blasts.
"Go ahead and try to hit me if you're able, guess you figured now that mercy's off the table." Sans sang as the Blaster spun.
"Hey, that sounds like Ryu's friend Gar-"
A Gaster laser clipped him in the foot, causing Dante to spin around.
"Oh that's it!" Dante snarled.
"This is where it stops , this is where it ends, if you want to get past me, you'd better try again," Sans continued.
Dante briefly wondered how Sans could sing the song of a person from dimensions away as he took to the air, slashing Sans once.
Sans crashed down to Battlefield, shouting, "Stop code, ABZR!"
The room became white and featureless, Dante staring down at his healing friend.
"Seriously," Dante asked, "How do you know that song. They've been on Smashcraft R the entire time, you can't have possibly-"
Sans shrugged, "Long, memey story,"
Dante rolled his eyes, "Of course it is. I'm gonna have to tell her about you when we all meet up tomorrow."
Sans nodded, "Yeah tell them to find me if Smashcraft R gets deployed, I'll have their back just good as their buds from back home."
Dante nodded back, "Sure thing bud."
The two walked out of the training room together, "So, pizza on me?" Dante asked.
Sans laughed, "Sounds awesome, I'm starving."
And so, the two friends headed up to the cafeteria at the top of the winding stairs
Sephiroth
500
Smash Mansion
Roof
Sephiroth's usual order was broken by the sound of a trenchcoat fluttering in the wind. But, unlike the other breaks in this world's perfect order, he grinned. He welcomed this one.
Leather boots hit the roof.
"You summoned me?" beckoned the voice of Vergil.
"In fact I have. I wish to pry you for all the information on Dante you have,"
A grin beset Vergil's face, "So you fear him?"
Sephiroth's expression did not waver.
"Don't be absurd" scoffed the One-Winged Angel, "I simply wish to be as prepared as I can be."
Vergil nodded, "I've been quite bored since the end of Krystal and I's relationship. Interrupting Dante's road to the title may be just the hobby I need to quell the boredom. Shall we meet tomorrow at 300 hours, for the purpose of not drawing suspicion.
Sephiroth nodded. A wordless smile punctuated their conversation, Vergil leaping off the roof.