The lights were turned down to signal the final round was about to begin. Soar walked on stage to make an announcement. "Espio has a pinched nerve in the neck, but nothing is irreversible. Our final match is more one of grappling instead of striking. Our teams have come to an agreement: the competitors are allowed one hit while the opponent is down. Mighty and Tangle; it's time."
Mighty and Tangle walked onto stage slowly and synchronised. They met in the middle and shook hands.
"Are you sure you wish to compete?" Mighty asked, his deep voice reverberating.
"You should be asked that after my last performance." Tangle laughed.
"Very well. I am ready to begin." He grunted.
Soar separated the competitors. "This is it! Get ready! ENGAGE!"
Tangle turned to face the audience and lashed Mighty's right leg with her tail. He grunted but jumped to get over her next attack. He dove at Tangle, grabbing her right wrist as she blocked. His momentum pushed her over and he rotated her wrist to snap the joint.
She used her left hand to wave Whisper in. She ran bounding towards Mighty. Whisper got him to dodge a lower kick before turning for a question mark kick, striking the armadillo in the head. He then dove at her also, taking her down. Whisper landed gently on the stage with her hands still on Mighty's shoulder. He stomped her down to the stage. Whisper trudged away.
Tangle tried to swing top down at Mighty, but he knew to block her disabled right hand. He quickly landed a jab at her stomach and advanced on her. Mighty grabbed Tangle's right shoulder and tugged. He kicked her down to the stage and pulled her right shoulder out. Tangle reached up with her leg and kicked Mighty up the pants. She grabbed his ankles to pull him to her level.
Mighty and Tangle engaged in a grappling match on the stage floor, earning them some more illumination. After over ten seconds of wrestling, Tangle managed to stand up first. She stomped on Mighty's right knee, hyperextending it with a loud crack. He roared in pain as Soar showed up for the ten count.
"CHARMYYY!" He cried. The bee zoomed toward Tangle, dropping to the stage as she tried to grab him with her tail. He swept under her legs. Charmy dropped on Tangle as she was down, piercing her exposed midriff.
"We have an open wound." Soar said. "Our medical staff is on standby."
Tangle grabbed Charmy with her legs and smacked him in the face. He left her to face Mighty again. She righted herself quickly. Mighty punched her square in the jaw.
Infuriated, Tangle rushed Mighty's left leg. She grabbed his ankle and took him down, inconveniently on top of her. Tangle wrapped her legs around Mighty's left leg and spun his left ankle until she was sure he wouldn't get up. She took several more punches and kicks in the process. She stood back up after snapping his ankle, proud of her work.
Soar began to deliver the ten count. Try as he could, Mighty was unable to stand. "...Nine. Ten!" Soar announced. "Team America has won it all! They will be advancing to the semi-finals against our next winning team!"
Medics rushed to Mighty for his torn ligaments and joints. Others rushed to Tangle for her bleeding wound and right arm. Both teams surrounded their final combatant, either sympathetic or cheering. The audience cheered as a camera was pointed towards them.
"We will see you all next week!" Soar concluded as the video cut out.
End of program.
