Bash at Big Battlefield: Battle of the Bros

High five, high five, fist bump, itsy bitsy spider fingers up the ladder, double high five.

"Eyyyy!" The brothers said together.

Time seemed to stand still as the moments passed. Luigi's hands tingled nervously. That secret handshake had been their thing since they were docile enough to move their hands…or was it? The sensation of his perception of the universe changing in real time bereft of anyone's consent never ceased to bother Luigi, despite the scant few times it had happened to him in the Smash Dimension. How Ryu and his affiliates handled these things with such grace on what was seemingly a daily basis was completely beyond him.

While a million thoughts skittered through Luigi's mind, Mario snapped into his combat stance, bobbing with that confident, stern expression Luigi had seen a million times before. Even though he'd been out of the tournament for a while, he saw this as a test every little brother had to pass before they went on to other things, surpassing their big brother.

At least, that's what Mario had said in the pre-fight interview anyway.

Luigi had expressed joy that finally, he'd be able to fight his brother with the camera on. But as the intrusive thoughts slithered on, even that caused him to worry. Was something wrong with his approach? Was Mario in a more appropriate mindset than he was?

"The music is "Tournament 1st Match/Game Point (Mario Tennis) by GaMetal! The match begins, in 3, 2, 1, GO!"

Luigi immediately smiled, kicking Mario directly in his left shin.

"AH! YA ROTTEN PIECE OF FAZOOL!" Mario yelped, "The hell was that for?"

"That was for cheating in our little race earlier ya dried-up piece of rigatoni."

The brothers began to circle, Mario smiling back, "Fair enough."

The two jumped to two platforms angled across from one another, backflipping expertly through the air, and firing fireballs. Red and green flame clashed at the center point between them, fizzling each other out. Luigi ducked down, darting across the lowest level of Big Battlefield, while Mario went high snipping him with fireballs. Luigi dipped and ducked, dodging the initial triage. Luigi saw Mario underneath him. He jumped without hesitation, executing a flip kick, only to meet ruffled denim and air as his boots scraped Mario's chest.

"I know you too well to fall for that old trick, c'mon," Mario shouted, half teasing, half disappointed.

Both brothers snapped kicks in the other's direction, steel-toed boot connected with cheek as the two retreated. Luigi squatted down, his body vibrating with anticipation.

"GREEN MISSILE!" he shouted.

He shot through the air, only for Mario to grab him at the last minute.

"All that new flair might have scared your previous opponents," Mario said, his voice a nearly inaudible whisper.

"And now all the others do too," Luigi said, gulping.

"Yep," Mario sighed, "Better you find that out from a-me than on the other end of a Warlock Punch."

Mario tossed him up into the air as he thought of what to say next. A Mario Tornado in the air laid him out across the top platform, but when Mario retreated downward, Luigi snapped to his feet, not following. Mario leaped up without hesitation. As soon as his body phased through the platform, Luigi unleashed a bevy of low kicks. Mario broke off, jumping to and fro in an effort to confuse Luigi. Luigi followed suit.

In the Smashers Box, the crowd was abuzz.

"Wow," Pikachu remarked, "It's like me and the boy doing Quick Attack practice out there."

"I haven't seen Mario exert himself this much in a long time," Peach said, concerned.

"It's gonna be fine Peach," Daisy chortled, "He's Super Mario. Besides, even not having worked out in a while, he can push Weegee to the limit, which is exactly what he's gonna need if he wants to go further in the tournament."

Kazuya huffed, "This is an odd temperament for you, Your Highness. Usually you don't speak critically of him."

"Because he's all too aware of his faults already Mishima. But this…this just feels like we're on the cusp of something great, ya know?"

Kazuya huffed, this time disapprovingly, crossing his arms again.

Meanwhile, on Big Battlefield, Mario and Luigi had found each other at the massive stage's rightmost edge, two kicks colliding with their opponent. As the two landed on the ground, Mario pulled back to throw a punch, but Luigi was faster, clocking Mario with two jabs and a hip thrust, knocking him off the stage.

"Not finished yet bro, not by a longshot," Mario warned through gritted teeth, "SUPER JUMP PUNCH!"

Mario flew through the air, grabbing onto the ledge, vaulting himself over, and immediately grabbing Luigi by the overalls. Mario slammed his younger brother into the ground without hesitation, jumping to meet him as he bounced off the floor, but both were immediately executed in an aerial ballet of flip kicks.

"Are they about to…?" Quinn asked from the Smashers' Box.

"Ladder combo each other?" Travis balked, finishing Quinn's thought.

The looks on the faces of the brothers indicated that they were catching on to the other's trick. Mario opted for the Mario Tornado, but Luigi backflipped away, willingly putting himself on the backfoot. Luigi smiled as soon as he saw the fireball ignite in Mario's hand, the speedy plumber having vaulted underneath it by the time it was cast in the air.

"YES!" Daisy cheered from the auditorium, "HE DID THE RUNNING PUNCHES!"

Kazuya frowned, "I've seen toddlers throw better punches."

Daisy frowned back, "Well I like it, and you're going to let me have my fun."

"Whatever," was Kazuya's only response.

Rosalina tapped Quinn on the shoulder, "They're bickering, it should make things easier."

"Yeah but," Quinn pointed to the TV, "Look/"

In the bickering, no one had noticed Mario launching fireballs as fast as his muscles could move to conjure them.

"You just gonna put up with this?" Mario asked in the mocking tone only an older brother could produce.

Luigi channeled his chi, parrying a fireball.

"Only for as long as it takes you to get complacent," Luigi said with a mischievous smile.

Luigi charged once again, a bevy of Mario's fireball produced in response met by the armor of Luigi's chi, leaving the red-clad plumber open for the green-clad plumber's signature barrage of punches.

The first item of the match, a Rage Gun, fell to the top platform. Luigi was able to jump and retrieve it while Mario was still reeling. Jumping back down, Luigi aimed to fire the blast point blank at Mario. Upon pulling the trigger, Mario ducked down, swinging his legs at Luigi's ankles, knocking him off stage. Flailing shocked through the air, Luigi used his Super Jump Punch technique too late, falling limply to the Blast Zone below.

Mario: 3

Luigi: 2

Luigi emerged on the healing platform, hands on his hips.

"Did you just beat me with the fuckin' coffee grind?" Luigi asked indignantly.

"Ey, you made fun of me for pickin' up break dancing in high school and that's what you get."

Luigi sighed, "Fair enough I guess."

Mario charged to meet him, Luigi dipping down to execute a drilling kick. A Smash Ball spawned underneath him, causing the move to be directed into the Smash Ball.

"Argh, you lucky bastard," Mario griped, flailing weekly at the Smash Ball.

"You know what they say, it's all about 50 percent luck and 50 percent skill," Luigi laughed.

"Seven Stars," Mario grunted as the Smash Ball broke, its power flowing to Luigi.

"What?" Luigi asked.

"Introducing you to Snake's world's music and movies was a mistake," chuckled Mario.

A flip kick rocked Luigi, then another as he flew into the air.

"POLTERGUST GO!" shouted Luigi.

Luigi's signature ghost vacuum appeared. As soon as Luigi clicked it on, Mario was sucked in, at the mercy of the galeforce winds that were also sucked in. With a 'pop,' Mario was flung into the Blast Zone!

Mario:2

Luigi: 2

A Special Flag fell to the ground, and Luigi grabbed it quickly and easily.

"Oh no you don't!" Mario shouted.

He jumped down to the platform as Luigi held the Special flag high. Mario jumped, cocking his fist back, only to overshoot his brother and the flag, falling to another platform as the Special Flag became a new stock.

Mario:2

Luigi:3

Mario scrambled to his feet, putting his hands on his hips, "And that's why that item is not used typically."

"Sounds like you're belly itchin' big bro" Luigi mocked.

Mario jumped up, a fire ladened punch clocking Luigi on the jaw, sending him to the Blast Zone.

Mario: 2

Luigi: 2

"How's that for belly itchin'?" snapped Mario.

"You little snot?" Luigi snapped back immediately after appearing on the Revival Platform.

The two met in the middle of Big Battlefield, swinging punches at one another, Luigi took the advantage, his flailing punches putting Mario on the backfoot further and further, eventually knocking Mario off of Big Battlefield. A full-force clubbing blow knocked the elder Mario brother into the Blast Zone, Luigi following soon after.

Mario:1

Luigi: 1

Two Assist Trophies fell to the very center of Big Battlefield. Mario and Luigi jumped down, each taking one for themselves. Mario chose Sukapon, whereas Mario spawned Mother Brain.

Amidst the chatter of the auditorium above, Link gasped, "Yes, Sukapon! My newest adventure has awakened an appreciation for the funny little lad. All technology is built on anti-gravity linking, making diagnosing and addressing problems as easy as swapping out a child's building block."

Daisy giggled, "I like this new Link. Reminds me of Weegee when he gets into history stuff."

"I don't," snapped Kazuya, "I prefer my R&D briefings to be brief and direct."

"I just think this is all cool," Link whined.

"And it is, my dear friend," Erdrick assured, "In fact, I'd love to take you out to lunch to discuss."

"But then," Link worried, "Who will be in the company of the princess?"

"I can bring the princess with us. I believe Mipha would like to go too."

"You think she would?"

"Of course Sir Link!"

Daisy's communicator pinged, and a text from Peach read.

Anyone with eyes can see that poor girl is in love with Link. Thank the Seven Stars Erdrick can read these things. Link wouldn't know what to do, even if her feelings were spelled out across Star Road

Daisy immediately glanced in Peach's direction, the sarcastic indignance on her face cutting through her like a knife. Daisy was caught off guard by such an uncouth expression, cupping a hand to her mouth to suppress a laugh.

While hearts were aflutter in the auditorium, on the two sides of Big Battlefield, the Mario Brothers were being pummeled by enemies each had sicked on the other, Mother Brain's lasers cutting Luigi, while metallic punches rocked Mario's core. Luckily for them, they had disappeared.

"Well," Mario huffed through the pain, "This next blow is gonna decide it,"

"Yeah," Luigi wheezed, gritting his teeth, "That means you'd better make a good one!"

"Let's make this interesting," Mario grunted, "Loser buys pizza."

"For a month," Luigi added.

"Deal!"

With the new stakes finalized, the brothers charged. Luigi ducked Mario's punch ducking in close.

"SUPER JUMP PUNCH!" Luigi shouted.

This time, a shriek erupted as soon as Luigi's fist met Mario's jaw. Time seemed to slow as Mario was suddenly enveloped in fire, rocketing Mario to the Blast Zone for the final time.

"Hm, so that's two very powerful moves at his disposal," Ganondorf pondered.

"What do you mean?" Pikachu asked, his cheeks crackling with aghast electricity, "He's been able to do that since Day 1."

"Yes, but it is seldom used," Ganondorf muttered to himself, "No matter,"

A thoughtful hum turned every head in the room. Yoshi stood at the elevator.

"So, the galoot has finally arrived," Ganondorf chuckled.

Yoshi's eyes remained transfixed on the TV, which now showed the Mario Brothers in the same tunnel, joking and playfully trading headlocks.

"Are you...alright, Yoshi?" Peach asked.

"Yeah Your Highness," Yoshi nodded, still watching the television, "In fact, I've never been better."

At that moment, the elevator brought Mario and Luigi up.

"Ah, Nonno," Mario said, "What brings you up here?"

Yoshi shrugged, "Just caught the fight in my room, thought I should come down myself and congratulate my two favorite sons."

"Thank you, Yoshi," The Mario Brothers said in unison.

"So, uh," Sans asked, "Who's going next?"

Red stood up, "You ready to go Incineroar?"

"The spaceship has been loaded with the rocket fuel brother."

"Love the enthusiasm," chuckled Sams, "Kanto versus Alola is next."

Yoshi stepped aside, letting the two Pokemon representatives into the elevator. Quinn couldn't help but chuckle at the contrast between the two competitors as the elevator descended. Red stood still, almost statuesque, while Incineroar posed for as long as he could, yapping about one muscle or another until he was out of sight.