Round 6: Day 9

Smash Mansion

Luigi and Daisy's suite

The night before

1900

"ALTHOUGH WE'VE COME, TO THE END OF THE PATCH, IT'S UNNATURAL," sang the speakers on Luigi's stereo.

"End of the Patch," by Boys II Pumpkins had completely dominated the Mushroom Kingdom charts around the time Mario and the crew had dispatched The Smithy Gang, and ever since, it had been one of Luigi's favorites.

To this day, people who couldn't be bothered to listen past the refrain have mistaken it as a breakup song. What it was was a declaration of love in the darkest of times.

Luigi's mind flashed back to when he and Mario lived together, and the constant prodding he'd received from his older brother.

He shook his head but found himself grinning as he turned the music off. It'd been so long since they'd lived together that he could laugh about it now.

Just as he turned to head back to the lounge chair, the door opened. Daisy sauntered through, holding two transparent plastic bowls of spaghetti.

"Yo," she said, her usual vibrancy back, "Brought home Donkachino's. Woulda brought back a pizza, but they were out of dough by the time I got there."

"Out of dough?" Luigi asked,

Before Daisy could answer, he had cleared the distance between them, scooping the containers out of her arms, and setting them down at the kitchen table. As he scrambled about, getting cutlery and napkins, he continued his thought.

"Business must be good for Uncle Al if he's running out of pizza dough."

Daisy took her seat at the table, opening her communicator.

"Oh it is," she said slyly, "Especially because…"

She pressed a button. The image that projected outward was that of the Donkachino's oning, with a hastily scrawled sign stating, "Preferred pizza place of Ultimate semi-finalist Luigi!"

Luigi laughed, "That's just like Al,"

"I asked him if he had your permission to say that, and he changed the subject," Daisy explained an annoyed lilt in her voice.

"Eh, he doesn't need it," Luigi shrugged, "He practically raised us as kids, when Mom and Pop were too busy working."

"I…uh…figured that," was Daisy's bashful reply, "It sort of just slipped out before I even realized what I was saying."

\ Finally, Luigi sat at the kitchen nook.

"Sorry," she said, "It's a royal thing. If I don't speak up, nobody's gonna, especially not about you, you know? I just…"

A gentle hand took hers. Daisy looked up to see Luigi smiling warmly at her. Daisy immediately felt her worries wash away. Luigi was on her side, it was all she needed

"How'd the Sonic Tournament go?"

Daisy's eyes widened, beaming with excitement

"Great," she said, " I made a new friend."

"Oh really?" Luigi asked, "Who?"

"Yuffie, Cloud's friend," Daisy explained, "She took the tournament with Espio. She practically swept all of us. Edelgard's girl was there too, Dorothea. Me and her got eliminated in losers, so we ended up just eating popcorn and chillin'."

Just as the couple simultaneously popped open their spaghetti containers, Daisy stiffened again as a memory came to her.

"Oh, dude!"

"What?" Luigi asked.

"You'll never guess who I ran into."

"Try me,"

Daisy took a deep breath.

"Captain Syrup and Waluigi," she declared loudly

Luigi coughed, nearly choking on a meatball before he swallowed it.

His voice cracked, "Like, together?"

"I know, right?" she said, "They're an item now."

"Wario's happy about that?"

"That's the thing, apparently treasure changed hands, and now Waluigi's life debt is paid, and all of us gals are gonna hang out in the future."

"That sounds fun," was Luigi's quick reply.

The two silently chowed down on their spaghetti.

"So," Luigi said, "I feel like we've both been stressed lately, ever since the ball game."

Daisy nodded, still eating.

"So I thought," Luigi continued, "We could go to a new Canteen in the Monster Hunter section that just-"

Daisy pounded the table in excitement.

"FUCK YEAH!" she shouted.

Luigi barely contained his giggles as he continued, "It's called the Upper Astara, based on some northern cuisine. and supposedly the food there has magical properties."

"I've wanted to try once since Duel. Glad we're doing it."

And thus, Daisy was unable to sleep that night, the thoughts of a ridiculously bountiful meal dancing in her head. Luckily, Luigi was happy to take charge of their morning routine while the Princess of Sarasaland delayed getting ready for the day. Luigi had even procured the outfit she was going to go with from the closet, a pair of sweatpants, a tank top, and an Isle Delfino baseball cap worn by age. Luigi wore a green floral shirt, sunglasses, and khaki shorts with elastic on the waistline.

"You've been thinking about this for a long time haven't you?" Daisy said, her tone full of lustful admiration.

Luigi shrugged, "Not much to think about. I know what you like to wear when we go out to eat and…"

An intentionally loud kiss on the cheek cut him off.

"That's why you're my man," Daisy concluded, "Now, let's head out."

Luigi quickly created a portal, the couple stepping through it arm-in-arm. Despite it being a mere 800 hours, the line to the elevator was long. Luigi took in the sights and sounds of the Monster Hunter section of Smash City as they waited. Everything was warmly lit, the light bouncing off of the oddly mechanical structures that composed this section of the city. The entire experience was a den of noise, the line's inhabitants trading stories of hunts past, and the restaurant above them teeming with both conversation and foot traffic. Luigi glanced at Daisy, a warm expression on his face.

"Jazzed already?" asked Luigi.

"Yeah," Daisy sighed, "All this chatter reminds me of the hunts my dad used to go on."

Briefly wondering how the line could move so quickly despite the massive amount of people, something occurred to Luigi.

"You haven't been on a hunt in a while. Any interest, now that you're Queen?"

Daisy shrugged, "It wasn't like I was good at it, plus it wouldn't be the same without Dad, ya know?"

"Do you mind if I interrupt?"

The man in front of them, a man whose raven hair was matted by having worn a helmet, had spoken. He spun around, his right eye covered by a mechanical eyepatch. His good eye widened in realization.

"Oh…oh my,"

Years of practiced synchronization led to the royal couple putting a finger to their respective lips.

"Oh," the man's voice quivered, "Anyway, you don't have to be some brute to be good at Hunting. In fact, that's quite frowned upon."

"I don't think the hunts we do are quite as…intense as the ones you do," said Daisy.

The one-eyed man shrugged, "Beasts are the same in every corner of existence, you have to figure."

Luigi nodded as the line advanced forward, offering the man a smile, "I like the attitude. What do you call ya kid?"

"Malakai Danger is the name, Monster Hunting is…my game, as of very recently," he grinned, offering a fake curtsy.

"Pleasure meeting ya Malakai," Daisy said, "You said that hunting's a pretty recent endeavor for ya, do you come to this place often?'

Malakai nodded, "Oh yeah! The way one of my first missions turned out, the Felyne that runs the place owes me a favor. I'll even walk you through the food so that you can be at your best when…you know."

"Right," Luigi nodded.

The newly formed trio was silent until it was their turn came to board the elevator, with what Luigi estimated to be thirty other people.

They're so excited, they haven't noticed Daisy and me. Thank the stars, Luigi thought.

With a sudden jolt, the elevator's gears began to crank, taking them up to the Upper Astara. The warm lighting of the outdoor area seemed even warmer inside. People in similar armor to Malakai already sat along a long, C-shaped bar, a bipedal cat hastily taking everyone's orders.

"Is that…" Luigi asked, taking a seat next to Daisy.

Malakai took the seat on his opposite side, "Sanitary? Yeah, Felynes don't shed like domesticated cats."

"Good," Daisy said with a laugh, "Though I feel like I've had more disgusting dining experiences in Diamond City."

The cat was already staring at him before Luigi could even muster the thought to ask when Daisy had been to Diamond City.

"What do you want?" snapped the creature.

"I'll take it from here Popcorn," Malakai said, "So what're you looking to gain, going into your next fight."

"More endurance for Sephiroth I guess?" Luigi said, "I can out-trick Quinn, I have to be able to stand against Sephiroth

"Alright Pop," commanded Malakai, "Get me our finest Resilience plate."

"I'm not giving away one of my finest plates just because you asked me to!" snapped Popcorn, this time even more angrily.

"I'll pay you double once Luigi takes the tournament," Malakai said, an assured grin on his face.

Popcorn seemed to eye Luigi up and down, blinking one eye at a time.

"You really think this string bean can do it?"

Malakai opened his mouth to speak, but Luigi interrupted.

"I know I can, but I can only do it with your plate."

Popcorn frowned, straining every muscle in their face to show their displeasure.

"Fine, but if Sephiroth or the Mii win this, it's your ass."

With that, the cat disappeared into the restaurant's cavernous back room, stomping up the stairs.

"I hope you're ready to eat," Malakai said. "Because, by Rathalos, are we ever gonna eat."

At that moment, the door swung open

"HOLY FUCKING SHIT!" Daisy cried

The most insane smorgasbord Luigi had ever seen wafted towards them. An entire grilled bird the size of an eagle, what appeared to be all the fat from a fish creature topped with mushrooms in portion sizes Luigi couldn't even begin to imagine was plopped down in front of him.

"Oh-oh my," Luigi stammered

As if to add to the madness, a familiar smell invaded his nostrils as Popcorn plopped down a fishbowl's worth of green liquid in front of him.

"Tequila?" Luigi moaned, "At 8AM?"

Daisy flashed her communicator, "Slipped old Popcorn an extra 20 bucks to get us McFucked Up."

Luigi briefly glanced over at Malakai, wolfing down an even more nonsensical platter. The fresh-faced Hunter stiffened as he saw he had eyes on him.

"Okay so," Malakai began, "This'll toughen ya up. Not the most variety, but it'll do the job.

As Daisy scooped up the fishbowl, pulling it close to her mouth, Luigi shrugged.

"When in Rome," he said to no one in particular.

Following Malakai's lead, he began to wolf down his food. With each bite, he felt healthier. His heart beat at a more even keel, the world around him felt more clear, his thoughts sharper.

"I'm coming for you Sephiroth," Luigi declared, once again speaking to no one in particular.

"That's the spirit," Malakai cheered, "You two would make great Monster Hunters. You like one…"

"Hey, Popcorn!" Daisy called as she discarded of the now empty fish bowl, "Get us three Tater Muds, on me!"

Malakai jerked a thumb to Daisy, "And she drinks like one!"

Luigi laughed, sending Mario a text with one hand as he shoveled food into his mouth with the other.

Can Peach get the Lethal Lava Land painting?

Luigi sighed. He'd known that she had put the legendary paintings in storage after the Power Star incident, knowing that the Magikoopa spells done to create the worlds within were so wicked and thorough that they could not be undone, but they had to try.

It had been a half hour of drinking and merriment before Mario got back to him

Yeah, they're in storage with the rest of the weapons in the sublevels of the Mansion, why?

Quinn

Smash City

ARMS Section

ARMS Stadium

500

"Mister Marmaduke, right this way," a security guard shouted.

A barricade swung open, revealing the VIP entrance to him. Quinn waved his thanks, jogging right through, bolting through the rest of the parking structure with the greatest of ease He cast a glance around him as he went through the first door. Glossy pictures of ARMS legends lined the hallway, the curtain he needed to go through just ahead.

"Good thing all stadiums are designed the same way across the universe," he mused as he pushed through the curtain.

Suddenly, he got a text from Captain Falcon, the text projecting on the hologram.

Just got a text from Don. Meeting rescheduled for tomorrow.

He took his first step on the stairs that led to the elevated stage, and the sound he heard gave him pause. Were those...cheers?

He walked up the rest of the way, pushing through the curtain. The sound of a sold-out stadium cheering his arrival nearly knocked him backward.

Removing his jacket and walking down the rest of the catwalk, he found Max Brass grinning at him.

"I didn't think we'd have an audience," Quinn shouted.

The grin morphed into a big smile his teeth so white and perfect that they admitted a brief gleam.

"When these people heard they'd be able to see the Commish…"

He flexed his biceps, and the crowd cheered.

"Live and in the flesh, they took up the opportunity immediately!"

Quinn nodded, letting a brief flash of jealousy over being so loved to pass him by.

"Well," Quinn declared, smiling brightly, "I'm ready whenever you are!"

"Remember my friend, this is ARMS rules, best of three, knockout only. Let's see if you adapt as well as your sensei thinks you do!"

Quinn simply nodded. Max nodded back, snapping his fingers.

"READY? ARMSU!" declared a PA announcer.

Quinn charged, but as soon as he closed the gap, Max jumped. Quinn couldn't stop in time, so the full weight of the hulking man landed on his head. Max flipped off of Quinn's head, delivering a flying kick straight out of a martial arts movie. Quinn answered back with a left straight punch, The brief pause was all Quinn needed to go into his signature rapid punch combination, ending the flurry with a kick.

"Heh," Max grunted as he jumped backward, "You hit hard for a little guy."

Quinn charged again, but Max charged even faster, closing the gap between them first, and hitting a flip kick to Quinn's jaw.

"Unfortunately," Max said as Quinn staggered, "I hit harder."

Quinn snapped back into his fighting stance, "Do you?"

"I like your attitude boy," laughed Max, "Let us continue!"

Quinn flipped into the air, a blue aura overtaking him, launching into his flying kick, but once again, Brass was faster on the draw, hitting Quinn with another flip kick. Jumping into the air, Max followed up with a stretchy punch, fast-moving metal clanking Quinn on the jaw.

"As usual, my decision was correct," Max declared, "This is exhilarating!"

Quinn smiled through the pain, Max was still gloating when Quinn fell to the ground again. Kipping up, he charged forward.

"SUPLEX!"

Tangling up the spindly arms of his opponent, Quinn jumped into the air, spiking Max on the ground as he fell. A barrage of mounted punches, and a whistle blew.

"KO! Quinn wins!" shouted the ARMS announcer.

The crowd gasped as Quinn rolled to his feet, Max doing the same.

"Ah," grunted the commissioner through labored breath, "I couldn't believe it until I felt it for myself, but you short-armed people are tenacious."

Quinn cast a thumbs up as another whistle blew

"READY? ARMSU!"

Before Quinn could blink, Max's left arm had extended, a dragon-shaped gun firing a laser out of it. Even through his signature sunglasses, the light was enough to blind him. Before he could get his vision back, something circular and metal pounded his stomach. Both arms grasped at his shoulders. Quinn was dragged close with no effort, and left open for a flip kick.

"There we go!" cheered Max.

Whatever was on Max's right hand pelted Quinn as he fell through the air, another laser shooting him as he limply fell to the floor.

"KO! Max Brass wins!" screamed the announcer.

Ignoring that the woman had announced Max's win with significantly more zeel, than his, Quinn eased his way to his feet.

"READY! ARMSU!"

"Now my friend, we get down to brass tax," shouted Max

Ignoring the crowd's cheers, Quinn charged. Quinn saw his opponent's right arm extend.

Just gotta wait for it…

The wrecking ball was so close that Quinn could smell the metal. As soon as he could, he jumped, charging up the coiled arm,

"What the…?" blurted Max.

Quinn scurried his way across the sturdy cable walking like a circus acrobat across a tight rope, snapping into a familiar stance as soon as he was within foot's reach of Max's perfect jaw.

"EXPLODING KICK!"

With that one move, Max collapsed, and Quinn found himself in a familiar position, mounting a completely defenseless opponent.

It took six mounted punches before something clamped the back of his gi. Quinn let a string of curses fly as the dragon's head clasped harder, throwing him into the air. However, unlike all the other times Quinn had been thrown aloft in ARMS Stadium, he collided with something metal. He was tossed away as a yellow aura rained down on Max, the man smiling as big as ever as he was shown with a yellow fire.

"THIS IS IT!" screamed Max.

The wrecking ball pelted Quinn, and the dragon head pelted him with an unending laser. Quinn dropped to one knee before blacking out and flopping to the floor.

The announcer's decree was immediate, and joyous, "WINNER! MAX BRASS!"

A green light rained on Quinn, and in a few minutes, he felt good as new. Still, the cheer of the crowd and Max's posing made him feel heavy. Finally, Max turned to him, extending his arm across the length of the ring.

"Good job," Max said, "If the Brawler School students are all as tough as you, they're welcome in the ARMS circuit at any time."

"Good," Quinn nodded, "Good,"

Pressing a code, a portal shot out of his communicator. With a final wave, Quinn stepped through to the Mansion. As soon as the portal closed, Quinn flopped down on the lobby couch. As soon as he did, Fox and Krystal came up the stairs out of the basement. Quinn sat up.

"Hey Fox," Quinn called, "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure kid,|" he nodded, "What's up?"

"I've got something going on tomorrow, but the day after, I'd like to train with you. Gotta work on dodging projectiles if I'm ever gonna beat Luigi."

"Good plan kid. We train early on this team, so you'd better be ready for an early morning."

Quinn cast a thumbs up, "Gotcha,"

Fox and Krystal walked past, and Quinn found himself settling into a nap.