View source for 2700/WMAT 2015 Opening Ceremonies

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/07/30
|Location=Papaya Island - Stadium
|Synopsis=Mister Satan and Mistress of Ceremonies Mizuki kick off the World Martial Arts Tournament with a special opening ceremonies event!
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=1, 7, 95, 140, 162, 180, 183, 215, 232, 255, 289, 369, 395, 430, 454, 575, 583, 750, 756, 760, 776, 781, 785, 802, 824, 838
|Tinyplot=WMAT 2015
|Tinyplot2=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:289|Mister Satan (289)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> <span style="color:yellow">(FOR SANITY'S SAKE: Please remember to keep your poses SHORT. Also, please keep any OOC chatter to +o-tp once the scene begins, and keep your IC chatter to WMAT1 -- that's +radio/init WMAT1=900.1, for those of you who don't have it.)</span><br /><br /> <span style="color:pink">(I will not be able to respond to pages in this window! Please direct any important WMAT-related pages to BEERCAT.)</span><br /><br /> <span style="color:green">T H A N K * Y O U !</span><br> <br>

:'''{{#var:289|Mister Satan (289)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> <span style="color:yellow">(FOR SANITY'S SAKE: Please remember to keep your poses SHORT. Also, please keep any OOC chatter to +o-tp once the scene begins, and keep your IC chatter to WMAT1 -- that's +radio/init WMAT1=900.1, for those of you who don't have it.)</span><br /><br /> <span style="color:pink">(I will not be able to respond to pages in this window! Please direct any important WMAT-related pages to BEERCAT.)</span><br /><br /> <span style="color:green">T H A N K * Y O U !</span><br> <br>

:'''{{#var:289|Mister Satan (289)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> WELCOME BACK TO TOURNAMENT STADIUM!<br /><br /> Summer is at its height, and it's time for another World Martial Arts Tournament! Is your blood already boiling as hot as the summer sun?! Is your heart beating fast enough to outpace the tropical wind?! Have you been forced to your feet by all the spine-tingling excitement?!<br /><br /> One look at the frenetic crowd jammed into the stadium's overfilled stands and you'd find out -- the right answer is YES! YES! YES! And it's not only the people in a celebratory mood. Fireworks streak the sky in multicolored sparks! Music blasts from the stadium's speakers! Swirling spotlights dance across beaming faces! Everyone and everything contributes to a cheerful cacophony that's infectious enough to be dangerous.<br /><br /> Only a few might have the discipline required to remain aloof to the evening's festivities. Why, even Mister Satan can't stop grinning, waving, posing, and cheering, though you'd think a martial arts master of his repute would have it in him to remain restrained! He stands in the middle of the stadium's decorated fighting square, leading the crowd in various chants while waiting for the clock to strike the right hour. Some video screens not dedicated to playing highlights from last year's tournament keep track of Mister Satan's antics while also displaying a countdown timer. If only those zeroes would appear!<br /><br /> Those who are registered participants in the tournament are have been invited to gather together either inside the stadium's locker rooms, or outside the facilities on the arena's interior lawns. Whether stoic or nervous or bored or thrilled, only combatants and volunteers are gathered in these locations, providing an excellent opportunity to anybody hoping to size up the competition.<br /><br /> The timer continues ticking toward the tournament's official start...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:232|D (232)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The tall, black-draped youth known for his stoic face and swordsmanship can be found in one of the stadium's less-populated locker rooms. D -- a man who goes by no other name -- stands apart from any crowd as he usually does. He gives the room's display screens no attention; instead, he just listens for what he's here to learn.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:750|Rebound (750)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This is the first WMAT since Rebound's arrival in the Multiverse, and she couldn't be happier about it. She's bouncing with antipation in the locker room, "C'mon, who do I have to fight. I hope it's somebody awesome." She seems to be rubbing her hands together as she waits for the ceremony proper to start, but she's really looking foward to the bracket announcements.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:760|Allenby Beardsley (760)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Outside on the lawn, Allenby Beardsley, Gundam Fighter for Neo-Sweden, can be found milling around. Despite her apparent profession, there is no signs of a Gundam anywhere in sight nor is the group of scientists that follow her around anywhere to be found. She looks around at everything and everyone excitedly with childlike enthusiasm.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:162|Zephyr Windstar (162)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Zephyr is here, somewhere. She'd be easy to spot, with her brightly coloured Barrier Jacket and the big purple axe held across her shoulder in a relaxed posture. The girl waves at the crowd, earning a few cheers of ZE-PHYR ZE-PHYR from the diehard fans of last year.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The tournament has been a mainstay for awhile, and Iria's here again. She's looking around but not showing much emotion on her face. Beside her, Kei looks at her with a worried look of expression on her face. "Iria, what's with you? You're not upset about what happened before, are you?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"No, Kei," Iria replies. "I'm just thinking."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"About what?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"That's yet to be revealed."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:802|James Rogers (802)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>James Rogers happens to have picked the same locker room as D to check out the facilities and wait for the anouncement of the brackets. It being his first such event since he unified into the Multiverse he's checking out the lockers and the showers as well as the other competitors present.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:838|Taylor Scott (838)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Somewhere else not far from the Stadium, near the coast, Taylor Scott sits on the shoulder of his Armored Core watching the fireworks, listening to the jams, and observing things from a bit. Drinking his drinks and enjoying his distant view. Cause seriously, not enough room for an Armored Core right now!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:583|Mantigora (583)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Like some sort of alien contradiction Mantigora would count both as thrilled and stoic. Thrilled simply because the Draken loved a good challenge, and this would provide her with several hopefully. Not to mention that it reminded her of the gladitoral combat her people often held as part of training and cultural ceremony.<br /><br />Stoic because the bounty huntress was maintaining her usual demeanor, leaning against a wall with her arms folded and a flat expression that showed none of the aggressive anticipation brewing beneath. The only indicator of anything at all would be the occasional flick of her cat-lizard tail around her legs.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:756|Shin Tokuyama (756)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Shin is here! He's hanging out near one of the backstage video screens, watching it curiously. He reaches into the inside pocket of his suit and takes out a small notebook with a pen attached. He flips to one of the pages in the back that seems to have a bunch of checkboxes next to them. Among them are: <br /><br />[X] Origin Story <br />[_] Find Second Sifu <br />[X] Otherworldly Adventure Arc <br />[_] Tournament Arc <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As the announcements begin and the crowds gather, he checks off that last box and closes the book, putting it away and watching the screen again.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:785|T-elos (785)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>T-elos is one of those participants who chose to wait on the lawn. What use does she have for a locker room today?<br /><br />She stands alone, having not come with anyone else who qualified to make it onto the fields, and has been waiting impatiently with one hand on her hip. Her visor is currently up rather than covering her eyes, but it has dropped down a couple times - whenever anyone showed up she felt like scanning.<br /><br />T-elos has few fans because almost nobody here has seen her before, and she's certainly never been involved in a tournament, but she's not completely ignored either - she's hard to miss, even at a distance. <br /><br />She's kind of eager. She hasn't gotten to fight anyone who could put up a challenge in weeks. That may explain the slight upward curl of her lips. That, or an incoming smirk.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:824|Fiora Laurent (824)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Fiora is, of course, here. Along with a contingent of a dozen of Demacia's finest, as a sort of honor guard. She's representing her home country in this tournament, and so she appealed to have a bit of a statement made. Two of them are carrying standards, one featuring the winged sword of Demacia's ruling house. And the other a white rose, the arms of Fiora's house. The whole entourage is wearing armor similar to hers, silver with gold trim, and they march with precision behind the woman competing.<br /><br />"Good evening, fellow competitors. Humble audience. Fiora, of House Laurent, representing the Kingdom of Demacia." Her accent is.. French? It's elegant, whatever it is. With that, she offers a bow to Mister Satan, being the one who's arranged the tournament, and then the gathered crowd. She waves a hand to the men behind her, four of whom are carrying two large chests, which they stand around once they're dismissed.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:289|Mister Satan (289)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> Mister Satan is quite surprised to be directly addressed, but also very pleased! Is that a youthful pink blush spreading across his cheeks? Oh, what would Videl think! He returns the bow before he gets back to the serious business of warming up the crowds.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:140|Ryuko Matoi (140)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ryuko is sitting in the locker room, dressed up in Senketsu, with a hand over her chest. "Ready to give this another shot?" She asks, the sentient sailor uniform's 'eye' glancing up at her. &lt;&lt;Do you need to ask?&gt;&gt; With a smile, Ryuko just nods. Of course he is. Rarely is he ever not.<br /><br />"We got it this year. Totally. We're gonna take it all."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:454|Mortimer Balman (454)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And out on the interior lawn is Mortimer, who has finally gotten off his lazy butt and, after months of PT, gotten himself into the tournament! He's kept his head-flames turned off for now- if only to keep bookies and spectators guessing- and is mostly just standing there looking.. Well not quite /stoic/ but rather calm. Placid. Almost a Jimmy Carter-like serenity, aside from the slightly impish smirk across his face. Plumes of smoke from a well worn old pipe in his mouth waft away as his eyes follow the spotlight and the crowds. <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This will be a good year for a scrap, yea. Satan's antics reminded him much of the old days of his homeworld's Pokemon Tournaments, the raw /hype/ given off by the roaring throngs of onlookers feeding his anticipation for the fightin' to begin. Mmm.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:781|Rocket (781)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Rocket and Groot are attending together, which would surprise absolutely nobody that know the pair. In order to avoid problems among people typically twice his size, Rocket is riding on his friend's shoulder directing him though to a vantage close to the front of the crowd despite people around them complaining about the arboraform's height blocking their view.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1|Kirito (1)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;One year after his previous run, and Kirito is nowhere to be seen despite saying he'd try again.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The young man probably doesn't want anyone to recognize him as he is now anyways, because he looks pretty girly. He's in the competition though, dressed all in billowing black to match the long black hair swishing behind him.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"This time I -will- make it past the first round."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:430|Satsuki Kiryuin (430)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The discipline to remain aloof? Of course Satsuki Kiryuin has it. Calmness and self-control are her first and foremost weapons! Though she is a competitor, the Student Council President is also the daughter of a major sponsor; waiting in a mere locker room simply won't do! And since she stands now in a private booth where all the crowd can easily see, only the height of poise and composure is allowable. All the pomp and circumstance? Meaningless to her, to an extent. The battle to come is what she's interested in.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:255|Setsuko Kaminagi (255)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The discipline to remain aloof? Such things come naturally to Setsuko Kaminagi, waiting in a locker with quiet calm. She has long since become a reserved person, accustomed to playing her cards close to her chest in all situations; with the result that she often seems cool even to those who she calls friends. Her time in the Union has thawed that exterior some, but she still remains disciplined and stoic even in the festivities of the WMAT... though the divine side of her is simmering with anticipation.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:369|Shizune Nakamura (369)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The discipline to remain aloof? Shizune has it in spades... but like hell she's going to indulge it here.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This is the World Martial Arts Tournament. A meeting of masters, a battle of the best! For a martial artist, this is the kind of competition that makes it all worthwhile, and the opportunity to test her fist against the strongest the Multiverse has to offer, ensures that Shizune is high-spirited and smiling even in her locker area.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:575|Ayako Hasekawa (575)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ayako is here! Well, not outside. Stupid summer heat. But yes, she's seated comfortably in the Medical area of Papaya Stadium and is watching several video screens showing what's going on. This is the first WMAT she has seen since unification, so of course she's excited to see what's going to happen!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She's also absentmindedly bottling Healing Water of various colors as prep work. Always a good thing to be well stocked!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:183|Mizuki (183)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Finally, the countdown reaches its final few moments. The lights in the stadium begin to dim as the counter reaches 20. The powerful ticks of the metronome behind the clock seem to become louder as it descends further and further to 17, 16, 15... but is it /really/ getting louder? It could certainly be the imagination of the audience, or it could be that that audience has in fact grown quieter. The bold, exuberant hues that echo off of the screens bearing the telltale numerals shift and echo with every new tick. 14, 13, and 12 pass by, each one more powerful than the last, each one seeming to draw every person within the stadium closer and closer to the stage at the center. With the passage of 11, the lights have gone completely, and a dim glow has overtaken the podium.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ten, nine, eight...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The crowd begins to chant with the numbers.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Seven, six, five...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That light upon the crucible grows brighter.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Four! Three! Two...!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It won't be long now, and...!<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;One.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In the deafening silence, there is a sudden, loud click. Two floodlights focus on the heart of the stage, and the podium seems to ignite. The crowd roars! The timer resounds a cry of victory! Of passion! Of excitement! In that moment, the screams are rancorous enough to deafen the untempered ear, and yet... and yet...<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There is no one there. Mizuki is nowhere to be seen.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For several, painful seconds, it seems that something has gone horribly awry. Did she not make it? Was the strain and attention too much for her after all? And after all this anticipation! After all this hype! What are they to do now? Will the Champion have to come out on stage and steal the show? Or -- wait. Wait, something is happening. From far above the stage, a massive clock emblazoned with Roman numerals falls. The hour hand points to VII and the minute hand to IV - 7 and 4 - and there's a sudden... chime. A mighty, resounding chime pours out of the clock's face, echoing and vibrating all across the stadium. Then in the confusion, as the lights scatter anew beaming a hundred different hues, as two silhouettes bearing scythes appear at either side of the stage, as the crowd is spellbound with awe...! In that instant, a new silhouette appears without warning directly behind the podium. And there, finally, is the Master of Ceremonies.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-There- she is! And she does not arrive alone -- she arrives in the beginning of a melody which is somehow both perfectly dissonant and in tune with the atmosphere at once; she arrives in the first minute of Fantasie Impromptu: ( http://tinyurl.com/cewbw7b )<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"WELCOME, dearest Multiverse," Her finger points toward the bleachers, her eyes glint in the monitors that line the sides of the stage, and her opposite hand goes to stylishly brush a bang out of her face -- all according to plan, it seems. "to the twenty-eighth annual WORLD MARTIAL ARTS TOURNAMENT!" She gives the crowd their due time for cheers. She keeps both her hands held skyward, her right palm turned up in invitation, her left hand gripping the microphone tightly. "Last year you saw Ariel, the tiny unicorn, triumph in Bracket A! Then you saw Homura Akemi, the /other/ mistress of time, wrest victory in Bracket B! Then finally, in the last, seething moments, you saw the stoic magister of darkness, Material S, win it all in Bracket C! They attained glory, but more than that, they won your hearts! They shook the fundaments of the fields upon which they fought! And they carved their names irrevocably into a slab of history which will be remembered, kept, and cherished by the whole of the Multiverse -- forever!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:183|Mizuki (183)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"So as I said at the gala before --" Mizuki renews her point, scrolling her gaze, her hand across the crowd, "WHO will rise to the challenge this year? WHO will invoke the same fire in our spirits, conjure the same lode-stars in our eyes as they gracefully swing through the competition, as they, too, pen their names in eternity's chronicle?" She balls her fist, now. "Will it be YOU? Do YOU have the courage, the wherewithal, the strength, and the PASSION to become another part of the WMAT's legacy?" She touches two fingers to her forehead, bowing her gaze for just a moment before emerging with another, exuberant, wide spreading of her arms.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"MANY will seek to prove themselves! FEW will emerge wearing the vestments of victory! And this is why it is important that you members of the audience pour into them your love! Your energy! Your wishes, hopes, and dreams! And this is why you commentators must give your words to their strikes, that you may ignite in them a fire! IMBUE your every syllable with your own passion for battle! Then, of course, this is why you healers must dedicate yourselves to their recovery -- that they may never lose heart! That they may persist, endure, and march on! So THANK YOU, one and all! Every person standing before me makes this dream -- this tournament -- a reality!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"And now," She holds her right index finger aloft, "I turn you all over to the one, the only, MISTER SATAN! He will now leave his own impression upon you, once again, and ensure that you never forget the pride that compels warriors to stride forward! The integrity and honor that is so integral to this performance! Please, my friends, join me in welcoming him. To. The. Stage!" With that, she twirls around. Her hair, that impregnable veil of black, faces the crowd, the microphone now rested upon the podium. In that instant, she vanishes again -- vanishes, to return when she is needed once more.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:289|Mister Satan (289)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> The spotlight shines on Mister Satan again as the furor over Mizuki's introduction starts to lapse. As soon as he clears his throat, the noise from the crowd diminishes even more, making his next words perfectly audible. "Welcome, indeed. Our Mistress of Ceremonies, everyone!" He gestures to Mizuki, beckoning for more applause! Of course, he gets it, because he's Mister Satan and this is his adoring planet.<br /><br /> ALSO BECAUSE MIZUKI DESERVES IT!<br /><br /> "Before we begin, I need to address something very important!" He nods to emphasize himself. "I want you to know -- the rumors are true! The format for the tournament has CHAAAAAANGED!"<br /><br /> Grins all around. What Mister Satan's revealed isn't exactly a secret! All the news headlines have covered the tournament's new approach. "In order to bring you more action -- and to give our contenders a greater chance of advancing through the tournament -- we're introducing QUALIFIERS!" Cheers, or confusion?! What do the fighters think about that?<br /><br /> "Each bracket will go through TWO ROUNDS of qualifiers! Only those who collect the most wins during the qualifiers will advance into the main tournament!"<br /><br /> The display screens update to depict an example of what the progression. "As you see, in these three-man qualifying groups, each combatant must fight the other two combatants once! The combatant with the most wins advances through to the main tournament."<br /><br /> The example updates: The contender with 2 wins advances to the main tournament, while the qualifying group's two 'losers' move forward to the second round of qualifiers.<br /><br /> "Our second round of qualifiers will be given to those who failed to advance in the first round of qualifiers. Again, those with the most wins will advance to the main tournament!"<br /><br /> The example updates: Winners from the second round of qualifiers advance into the main tournament. The sample tournament bracket is then populated with 31 contenders!<br /><br /> "As you can see, we've tried to make the main tournament more simple and direct by starting with a round of 32 contenders. But wait, we only have 31! Who will have the honor of this last spot?!" Suddenly, a silhouette sporting a heroic cape and a flashy background of fireworks appears on the screen. A championship belt is wrapped around the silhouette's waist. The silhouette shrinks down, until it fits into the 32nd bracket slot.<br /><br /> "Why, it's last year's WORLD CHAMPION! He's gotten a free advance into the main tournament as a special reward for all his or her hard work!"<br /><br /> Mister Satan dabs sweat from his brow in an exaggerated gesture. "Don't worry, all this math confuses me, too. If you're confused by the progression of things, it should be made clear as the tournament advances."<br /><br /> He pauses. "One other thing to make clear -- because Bracket B contains so many more contenders than the other brackets, the competition for Bracket B starts in advance of the other brackets. After the first round of Bracket B qualifiers concludes, the first round of qualifiers for Bracket A and Bracket C will begin!"<br /><br /> "Now I'll turn the floor back over to Mizuki for an overview of this year's PRIIIIIIZES!" Cheer!!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:785|T-elos (785)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>T-elos seems unimpressed by the changes.<br /><br />She has an excuse: she never saw them any other way, being too young to have experienced a previous WMAT, and it doesn't seem too complex to her to have qualifying rounds. She, of course, is proud enough to not be especially concerned about them.<br /><br />Surreptiously, she drops her visor down over her eyes for a few seconds, scanning the crowd and, more importantly, the participants. Nothing major - but she wants images for her records, especially of the ones she's going to fight.<br /><br />It slides back up afterwards as she looks into the audience, this time. She focuses on one person in particular she can see clearly for about five seconds. It is probably a little unsettling, but her attention wanders soon enough, back to the participants.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:183|Mizuki (183)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As she is given the cue, Mizuki appears out of nowhere - directly beside Mister Satan - stealing the microphone away and giving it an elegant, 360-degree twirl before raising the sound piece to her mouth. "NOW," She raises that oratory right finger skyward again, that glint in her eyes returning in full luster, "the moment you've REALLY been waiting for! Now, I shall divulge the, as my cherished compatriot Arthur Lowell would put it, DEETS! I will share with you the spoils, the crowns that signify martial KINGSHIP! For each bracket there is a gleaming gem, and for every contestant - every one - a prize! So prepare yourselves as my confidant, Palora, tells you what could be yours by the end of this tournament!" With that, she lays her hand flat off to her left, where the first scythe-bearing silhouette had stood before. With a clearing of her throat and a brandishing of a paper, she begins.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"HEEELLLLOOOOOO, MULTIVERSE!" She quite literally throws her scythe down, letting it twirl across the stage while she raises her right hand to make a wide, rock-W with her index finger and pinky. She gives the crowd /copious/ amounts of time to cheer her on -- this pink-haired girl almost seems to revel in it. "Kay, SO! Let's start with third place. Those cool people who come in third place will be leaving here with twelve MILLION credits! You hear that, people? Even if you don't win, you still get enough money to, like, buy a SPACE FRIGATE or a REALLY BADASS video game console! Think about that and let it sink in -- that's a LOT of shooters! Like, a lifetime!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"And those guys or girls who come in second place," She continues, "will be getting FIFTEEN million! -Fifteen million credits-! Dude, that's a lot of money! I'm talking enough to swim in, if that's your thing. You could build a pool biodome in SPACE and fill the whole stupid thing with your leftover BILLS! Then for you INSANE-Os who make it to FIRST PLACE? You wanna know what -they- are gonna get? Well, do ya?? C'mon, gimme a sign!" Palora cups a hand around her ear and listens intently -- quite intently -- for that renewed flood of CHEERS that soon comes to her. When she can't take it anymore, she finally yields, saying, "Okay, okay, so you want to hear it! And here it is: my first place peeps are gonna get twenty. Freakin'. Million. Twenty million credits. That would buy a lot - a LOT - of soda. But lemme turn this back over to Mimi so she can tell you about the other stuff we've got goin' on up in here. Mimi?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Palora takes a step back, and the spotlight returns to Mizuki. Mizuki offers her 'confidant' a nod, receiving a thumbs-up from her in kind, before she rolls right along. "But it isn't /all/ about the money, is it, dear Multiverse? YOU want to know what these champions will be getting for their victory in earnest! You want to know of their CROWN -- that thing that distinguishes them, that sets them apart, that tells the world that they rose above! So you want to know what they will get here that they could not have received anywhere else: you want to know about the GRAND PRIZES!" Mizuki pauses again, raising her arms and allowing the crowd time to gush. When she's satisfied, she finally allows the revelations to escape.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:183|Mizuki (183)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"FIRST," She swivels her finger across the podium as though it were some instrument of magic, "participants from Brackets A and B will receive a Custom Knight Motorcycle from Blue Oni Garage! Tear across the streets in style, that you may brandish your accomplishment for all wise enough to derive its meaning! Then, absolute victors from each bracket will receive one weapon from the armory of the Red Corsairs -- the Berserker's Hellblade, the Lash of Torment, and the Plague sword for A, B, and C respectively! Winners from the final bracket will even be given a MMS Type Tentacles Shinki. It even comes with its own sales pitch: 'Win a shinki of the same type as the vicious half of the popular Omestrada combat commentary duo, Mary! Bloodlust not included nor recommended.' ... gracious!" That title may make her betray a series of flustered blinks toward the audience, but no more! No more before she mosies right along.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"But that's not all! There is a bevy of other prizes yet to be named as well, including but not limited to Electromagnetic firearms and specialized body armor from the ReGenesis corporation, and custom armoring for said shinki model! Are they not tantalizing, one and all? Have these rewards not made your heart BURST FORTH with excitement?? If they have not, then Mister Satan certainly will -- as he informs you as the exciting changes coming into effect in the WMAT this year!" With that, she turns the mic over again. She doesn't dissapear this time, thankfully -- she just sinks slightly off to the side, and behind. Her arms fold, and she takes a deep breath...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:781|Rocket (781)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>As the announcement of the prizes are made Rocket's eyes go wide. Groot says, "I am Groot?" ((Why did you decide I shouldn't compete again, Rocket?))<br /><br />Shakeing his head, Rocket says, "I do not know... I truly don't buddy," in response to Groot's question.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:838|Taylor Scott (838)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Taylor watches everything from his tablet like phone as he takes a bite from a hamburger. Watching the details about how the Tournament is going to be laid out. To new to know better, he has no opinion beyond the grin on his face. "This is going to be great!" That grin becomes a boyish smile with excitement!<br /><br />Then when the prizes are listed his eyes are glued to the screen, like a little kid. So many different things he never seen or heard about. It has his attention, less so the money-- he'll probably toss that to charity.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:776|Tommy Oliver (776)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Whether Tommy Oliver has been here for forever or he just got here, who knows. All that really matters is that the not-quite-mullet haired teenager is decked out in about 50 shades of green from the bandana wrapped around his head to the green and black sneakers on his feet. He's got a duffle bag hanging over his shoulder as he leans up against the nearest solid thing to check out the festivities.<br /><br />Totally 90's.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:289|Mister Satan (289)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> Mister Satan once again basks beneath the baleful glare of a well-aimed spotlight or twelve. "Don't those prizes sound fantastic?! I'm told there will be much in the way of advertising to help everyone understand exactly what's on the line this year! Astounding prizes, really -- thank you to all our sponsors!"<br /><br /> Eyes a-sparkle, he leans toward the nearest camera, and drops a teasing wink: "More on those sponsors in just a few minutes, too." He straightens back up, throws his free arm out wide, and announces in his most boisterous form, "LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE BRACKETS!"<br /><br /> The audience explodes!<br /><br /> "Now, I've already mentioned that our brackets this year are starting out with qualifier rounds, so you shouldn't be surprised by how different Bracket A looks on paper! Again, this is just the first round of qualifiers, with all losers given a second shot in the second qualifier round."<br /><br /> All display screens shift to the same picture of eight groups containing three blank slots. Each group is given a different title -- Group A, Group B, Group C, and so on, to Group H -- and as Mister Satan reads off names, each empty space in the bracket is populated.<br /><br /> "In Bracket A's qualifiers we have eight groups of three competitors! Group A is...FUDOU MOTO! IVRAALA! And REBOUND!!" Action shots of the three named competitors fly by in quick succession.<br /><br /> "In Group B it's...THE COMBAT VAGRANT! SHIZUNE NAKAMURA! And DEX ALRUIN!!" The Combat Vagrant? Must be a codename. The crowd cheers for him anyway, and for return competitors Shizune and Dex!<br /><br /> "In Group C it's...SHIGURE! MOKUBA KAIBA! And THE DESERT MARVEL, N'RAHA!!" Again, tough-looking pictures rotate through the screen. It's hard for a ten-year-old to look truly fierce, but Mokuba gives it his best try. Shigura looks like she must be one of those ship girls...<br /><br /> "Continuing to Group D we have FUKI! IKA MUSUME! And MANTIGORAAA!" More pictures shuffle past. Fuki's small, but she looks mean with that scythe!<br /><br /> "In Group E -- MADELINE VANCE must face RHAPSODY and JAMES ROGERS!" James looks a bit outnumbered by those women he's flanked by in the promotional shots.<br /><br /> "In Group F it's...SHADUMBRA! IRIA! Annnd CORTEX!!" 'Cortex' of course being associated with Demetrios Vasilikos. Shadumbra appears to be a large cat. Iria is a more familiar face.<br /><br /> "In Group G -- NONON JAKUZURE! METAL MAN! And VERRRVI!!" Even the favored face of MMS technology finds it hard to match Nonon for pizzaz, but the promotional shots make everyone look good, including Metal Man.<br /><br /> "Lastly -- in qualifier Group H -- it's CELESTINE! DOPPELGANGER! And NAAATASHAAA!!" 'Doppelganger,' huh? What a weird name. Celestine and Natasha will have their hands full with that one!<br /><br /> "Our World Champion, ARIEL, will be advancing into the main tournament, so you'll have to remain patient if you're here to see her fight!" Ariel is displayed on screen looking adorable as ever. (Shut up, I'm biased.)<br /><br /> Mister Satan beams into the microphone. "At this time, I would like to thank a few sponsors for their support of this year's tournament. My own Satan Enterprises has donated a great deal of money to the prize pools, but of course, my contributions are humbled by the likes of Stark Industries, REVOCS, and the Beifong Family! I also remind you to contact The New Vegas Board of Tourism for all your vacation needs!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:215|Iria (215)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Upon having her name announced, Iria smiles a little. Kei, however, seems a bit surprised by this. "They're doing three-way matches, Iria. Are you sure you're up for that?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh Kei," Iria replies with an evil smirk. "You're asking the same girl who took on Zeiram and came out a victor. You really think that's going to challenge me majorly?" She laughs. "You're joking, right?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh... um, of course I was, Iria!" Kei says, sweatdropping but trying to force a smile all the same.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:802|James Rogers (802)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>In the locker room, when the Bracket A competitors are announced, James looks at who he was paired up with and starts subvocally repeating their names for a bit to lock them in... probably intending to look them up later.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:583|Mantigora (583)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Mantigora merely raises a barbed brow at the names of her competition. She has to fight two allies? Oh well. It is as good to know the abilities of one's battlemates as it is one's enemies.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Kotone Yamakawa has just come to join in the fun really she's going to be workng for a good deal of this tournament doing announcers she listens ttill how the layouts are going to be and Mr. Satan as ever is proving himself to be a hell of a showman. She was very much enjoying this.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:183|Mizuki (183)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mizuki happily accepts the mic back from Mister Satan, reestablishing her place on the stage with a swift flip of her hair. Her locks glide on on the providence of unseen wind for several seconds before, finally, she returns the soundpiece to its rightful place in front of her. "Now, I will begin announcing the intrepid contestants hailing from Bracket B! Callia, if you would please?" Suddenly, a girl with an unerring smile and stark white hair appears behind Mizuki, offering her another piece of paper. Mizuki snatches it away in a flourish, taking a deep breath before she begins.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"First," She begins, "we shall witness the duel between MAKO MANKANSHOKU, the up-and-comer from Honnouji Academy, and FASSAD, the Hero of Arcadia! Good luck to both of you!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Then," She continues, "we will see GENGHIS REX, the Warlord of Reptilon, meet his match in the form of XIAO LI YU, the dauntless researcher from Ifrit! This is SURE to be a match of searing souls -- flames against scales!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Next, THE BLOODY CROW will find eyrie in the stadium, setting her claws against the problem solver -- the catboy wonder, STAREN! It's a classic clash of bird against feline in this epic bout!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"We transition next to a swirling whirlpool! A cataclysmic undertow! Darkness beats against the waves in this brawl between MOONFIN of the Starbound Flotilla and the BLACK KNIGHTMARE! Goodness, howsoever could I stand to miss such a festival of wordplay?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"But this will never overshadow the following contest between the legendary witcher, GERALT OF RIVIA, and the mythical servant, SABER OF SILVER! Tales will come to life in this incredible fight to the finish!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Then we arrive at the fight between the capital battleship, NAGATO, and the cyber swordsman, KIRITO! Another clash of the waves -- but here, reality itself may blur!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Another member of Nagato's fleet, the 'new face' KONGOU, seeks to rise up against BARDOCK, the SAIYAN OF TIME! What a whimsy that one ought to be!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Then, as if in sequence, the saiyan TAYLITA will test her fists against MS. FORTUNE, whose entire body is the deadliest of weapons! I certainly hope the latter will be able to keep herself together!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Directly following that is a clash between MORTIMER BALMAN, the time marine, and DUKE, the wonder summon! Both have made their way across the dimensions of space and time especially for YOU!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Then the steel of the veteran monster hunter YSABEL THIBAULT will call sparks to the fore when it collides with the weapon of the soul reaper, KIRIKOU RUNG!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"And their fight will pave the way for the advance of RYUKO MATOI, another returnee from Honnouji Academy, and the ever mysterious MASKED KNIGHT! Will Ryuko find her retribution this year, or will the Masked Knight claim victory?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Then ALICE OF THE DOLLS, the mystical woman from Gensokyo, will set her strings against DOROTEA GRAN, student of the ever-prevalent Alexander Academy!" She flips through her paper to the next page, allowing for a brief pause...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:180|Taylita (180)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Taylita crosses her arms over her chest as she hears who she is facing. "Ms. Fortune? Who's that?" she says, looking around to see if her competitor is also nearby. She smirks lightly as she looks. "Fighting someone who I know nothing about should be interesting.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:838|Taylor Scott (838)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Taylor enjoys his shake as they Bracket B is listed off, hitting a 'ignore' button his phone as someone tries to call him.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Given how difficult it is to lose Sagat in a typical crowd, the only real reason why he might not have been spotted earlier was that he wasn't actually sitting where anyone was looking for him. In fact, the towering Thai fighter seems to have just emerged into the stands - and rather than trying to take a seat somewhere, he's leaning against the edge of the doorway or something. That keeps him from blocking anyone else's view, although he may have to move to avoid blocking other people from coming in (or going out). His arms are folded loosely over his scarred chest, and his face is largely expressionless as he listens to the names being announced.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:802|James Rogers (802)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Having found one of his first round competitors, James Rogers approaches Madeline Vance and offers his hand to her in greeting.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:183|Mizuki (183)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"THEN," Her voice picks up with renewed volume, "REKER, another pro player from the infamous Sword Art Online will set against RICHARD STADLER, the anti-zombie commander! TWO have risen to the challenge of resisting armageddon, but only ONE shall leave the ring!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Then the mini magical girl, daughter of Nanoha, VIVIO TAKAMACHI will use mystical device and attempt to triumph over the demi-fiend, HITOSHURA! It's a classical battle of magic versus magic! The willpower of youth and innocence against the temperance of the near-devastation of one's world! Which will prevail?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Then the shrouded digital enforcer, GAONOIR, will test his mettle against the globetrotting challenger, WESLEY WILSON!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"And SATSUKI KIRYUIN, the queen of the aforementioned Honnouji Academy, will come to blows with ALLENBY BEARDSLEY! Will the woman of steel once again prove the strength of the school she represents, or will Miss Allenby carve her name into legend? The answer will be with us ere long!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Next, the WIND DANCER, obfuscated commandant of the atmospheric current, will attempt to blow TARGET SPARKTAIL off their course! But which of them shall emerge from the ensuing hurricane, in the end?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"And FIORA LAURENT, elegant bladeswoman and duelist hailing from the league of legends, will finally meet a worthy opponent in EZREAL, the youthful adventurer from that same company of heroes! Here, they meet for an entirely different sort of Tournament, but still give their all to see prove their might!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Then MORDRED, the knight of legend, will rise against BLURR, the robot whose breakneck motions truly make him worthy of his name! Will Mordred be able to catch their quarry this time?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Winding down but still not finished, we find THE COWBOY COURIER, master of the West come to lay claim in the frontier of the Multiverse! But to do this, he shall have to surmount the challenge posed by VICTORY, another digital warrior - a digimon - with eminent skill in the realm of swordcraft!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Then TOMOE, the iron lily herself, will come to blows with the aptly named exalted BITTER MEDICINE! Will the latter give Tomoe the wake-up call that her name promises, or shall Tomoe stand and prove her wherewithal?"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Finally, then, we come to the match between REINA KINNEY, the GUARDIANS operative, who shall come to blows against... my goodness! FRANKEN STEIN himself! Will Reina be able to make it through Stein's barrage of horror? This is a fight you absolutely cannot miss!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"And now," She says, as if out of breath, "I shall return the announcements to Mister Satan, who will at last reveal the combatants in Bracket C. Mister Satan?" She hands over the mic at last before receding behind him and... perhaps, wiping her forehead.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Phew.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:289|Mister Satan (289)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> Mister Satan puts on his cheesiest of grins. "Before I get to Bracket C, we need to thank some additional sponsors! ProgTech Chrome Industries is a NEW sponsor this year, joining the exalted standards set by Multi-Movable Systems and The Izzet League!" The display screens show off recognizable logos for all three organizations. "We're also thrilled to welcome Blue Oni Garage and The Red Corsairs as additional sponsors!"<br /><br /> Both of these groups have rather menacing logos...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:289|Mister Satan (289)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> And the scene keeps on rolling! Mister Satan joins in the applause for several moments before his booming voice again echoes above the crowd-generated noise. "Fabulous! Many proven names in this contest, but just as many names are new! Shall we find out who populates Bracket C?!" He cups his hand around his ear, and leans out to be heard. "What's that? Do I hear a YES?! I'm not sure I -- "<br /><br /> The noise that follows is nearly enough to strip the Champ of his hairdo.<br /><br /> The display screen resets. Once again, eight blank groups of three titled Group A through Group H appear, waiting to be populated by the names Mister Satan prepares to announce. "As with Bracket A, these qualifiers won't begin until after the first round of Bracket B's qualifiers have finished! Sorry! You'll have to remain patient!"<br /><br /> The first face to appear on the screen belongs to none other than Seikou Starks. Was it mentioned that a particular statue is still present in the arena tonight? No? It's there -- Seikou Starks standing in competent pose beside Homura Akemi, both girls shaking hands in an act of utmost respect for one another. The statue's quite large, made of marble, and it sports a shiny golden plaque that catches the eye.<br /><br /> "Last year's World Champion, SEIKOU STARKS, will advance to the main tournament's single elimination rounds, of course! Maybe this year she'll be beaten?" He chuckles. "I guess we'll find out if anyone has the superior mettle!"<br /><br /> "In the qualifiers, we've got eight groups of three contenders! Group A starts us off with THE MAGICIAN against NOBLE SIX and the great SETSUKO KAMINAGI!!" Three action shots blaze by and take up the empty bracket spaces.<br /><br /> "In Group B -- FATE TESTAROSSA tests herself against FATE T. HARLAOWN and TAKAMACHI NANOHAAA! Some...striking similarities in this group, hm?" Mister Satan boggles at the monitor. "W-well...continuing on!"<br /><br /> "In Group C we're honored to witness ARTHUR LOWELL in duels against KREZENTIA EINJAGER and the Abyssal SAMAR!" Samar's pale skin and glowing red eyes is a stark contrast to the almost-normal-looking Arthur and the deceptively-sane-looking Krezentia.<br /><br /> "In Group D it's the fun-loving BEELZEBUMON against TAYLOR SCOTT and SAGAT!!" Taylor is pictured in the cockpit of a mech. It's a good thing he's fighting such powerhouse opponents.<br /><br /> "In Group E, SARAH duels Vampire Hunter D and T-ELOS!!" Stoic, stoic, and then anything but.<br /><br /> "In Group F, Pokemon Master LUTE will face SAKURA KINOMOTO and MAAAYAAA!" Lute is surrounded by his Pokemon. Kinomoto is surrounded by cards. Maya doesn't even need those tricks!<br /><br /> "In Group G -- almost to the end -- we'll see TOMMY OLIVER test himself against TOPH BEIFONG and GOHAN!" Tommy is pictured as himself -- no Green Ranger uniform, here. Toph looks rarin' to go, and Gohan is stern, but almost shy, too.<br /><br /> "Last but not least, it's Group H -- VEGETA! BAHAMUT! And JEANNETTE THOMPSONNN!" Vegeta's shown without his transformation. Jeannette presents a no-nonsense face to the tournament. Bahamut is...well, to out-fierce a dragon would be challenging, hm?<br /><br /> "And that's all for the qualifiers! With this bracket, we thank our sponsors Solanda Songsteel's Textiles, ReGenesis, Kaiba Corp., Tomoyo's Boutique, and an individual named Skitter! Your contributions to the tournament will make this one of the best yet! Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:781|Rocket (781)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>After Mister Satan calls out Toph's name Groot yells out "I AM GROOT!!!" ((Go Toph!)) and Rocket, using two fingers in his mouth to do so, whistles loudly. Unfortunately few understand which of the trio of names that were said they are cheering for!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:824|Fiora Laurent (824)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Fiora merely stands there, silent, but with a very amused smile on her face, as the brackets are announced.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:776|Tommy Oliver (776)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Tommy just offers a bit of a smirk as he hears and sees the announcement of awesome. He takes a moment to adjust his duffle bag and just looks as normal as possible. His regular guy self is just standing in the midst of all these people and creatures and everything else. "Cool."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:838|Taylor Scott (838)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Once Bracket C is listed, Taylor looks at the two and goes to search up the info as Sagat speaks up. His teal blue eyes glance over what little he can find and takes the final bite of one of his fries. Then he goes to stand up as he at last takes the call, "Yes Carol?" a pause, "I'm glad everyone is watching back home... what did you need earlier?"<br /><br />Taylor kicks off the dust off his boots. "Yeah, that is fine. Just let Timmy know he is holding the fort and if anything funny comes up, just leave me a message alright?" pause again. "Thanks Carol." He then hangs up the phone as he hops back on down inside the core and closes the hatch.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:781|Rocket (781)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I think we aught to beat the crowds out of here Groot," Rocket tells his arboroform friend. Rather than answering, Groot simply nods and then begins to move though the crowd.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:95|Sagat (95)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>And that's what Sagat was more or less waiting to hear.<br /><br />Beelzebumon is something of a known quantity to the Emperor of Muay Thai; Taylor Scott, on the other, is new and unknown. It doesn't take long - just a brief chat among competitors - to discover that Taylor is a giant robot pilot ...<br /><br />Which makes Sagat frown in disdain. Granted, this won't be the first giant (robotic or otherwise) Sagat's gone up against, whether within the context of a tournament or not.<br /><br />Either way, it'll be an interesting challenge. With that thought foremost in his mind, Sagat packs his disdain up and sets it aside.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:824|Fiora Laurent (824)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With the end of the bracket announcements, Fiora has one of her own. She turns to the entourage of soldiers she came in with, and snaps her fingers. "Gentlemen? If you please. To the stage." Snapping to attention, they pick up the large chests they walked in with, and along with the standard bearers, take them up onto the stage and set them out. "As I am a newcomer, I wish to show my gratitude, for the provision of such a grand stage, upon which all.. myself included, may showcase their talent and skill."<br /><br />Another snap of her fingers, and the lids on the chests are removed. And inside? Gold. A lot of it. Each one is filled full with coins. "As such, I intend to sponsor this tournament. This is my money. House Laurent does not, however, intend to /lose/ this money. I am quite intent on winning every coin of it back."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:289|Mister Satan (289)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> Mister Satan gawps as Fiora strides up to the stage with her swollen chest of unbelievable wealth. "Another sponsor?!" A rather unorthodox way to announce one's sponsorship, but it's still pleasing. Mister Satan beams his gratitude. "Delightful! Add HOUSE LAURENT to the list of sponsors at once! I hope your family is prepared to lose some of this wealth -- you never know how you might fare in competition, Miss Laurent! Still -- quite a gauntlet to throw down! I like your CONFIDENCE!"<br /><br /> A few tournament officials approach to work out the details on the sidelines as Mizuki returns to the spotlight.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:183|Mizuki (183)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"But wait," Mizuki says, holding up that finger again, "there's MORE! For not only do we have the fights between competitors from the Brackets to look forward to, but the WMAT also plays host to something else. Something exciting in its own right for the exclusivity, the personal nature of things; this year, I am proud to share with you the first ream of officially scheduled EXHIBITION MATCHES!" Cheers flood the stadium once more, albeit somewhat more quietly now -- even the loudest voices have likely begun to wane now, as long as this ceremony has be going on. Nevertheless, Mizuki flips to the next page of her paper just as before, clearing her throat before calling them one-by-one.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"First," She begins, "we shall witness impassioned brawl between BRACHIO and REBOUND! One is a gladiator, another denizen of the planet Reptilon, and the other a kangaroo vigilante! Many are their talents, I'm sure, and it will be a delight to see them fight to a resolution! I believe I speak for the entirety of the stadium when I wish you both the best of luck!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"The next fight shall be a battle for the ages. Those tiny servitor robots which we know and love, the Shinki, will have the stadium to themselves in the clash between the team of VERVI, the Shinki belonging to the good general Nathan Hall and LIZBET, the blazing red Vic-Viper, and their opponents FUKI, the ninja-type, and her Abstractum SILENT BLACK! Whatever the outcome, I am certain they will all make their respective masters proud!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Then... oh, goodness! It seems a MYSTERY CHALLENGER will rise from the depths to fight last year's Bracket A Champion, ARIEL! I wish you the best of luck, Ariel -- you may well need it! None can know what to expect from this surprise match, but we shall pray that your hope, and the hope of all your loved ones, will carry you onward!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Then, of course, the bender of Earth and Steel alike, TOPH BEIFONG, will shake the ground beneath the final entrant from the League of Legends, JINX! Will Toph's stone barriers be enough to repel Jinx's bullet barrage? Or will the latter's rockets be the end of Miss Beifong? We will all simply have to wait until the fated time arrives to find out!"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Now," She says, turning back to face Mister Satan again, "the Champion himself will divulge the rest of the exhibition matches. Prepare yourselves!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:289|Mister Satan (289)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> "Indeed! Thank you, Mistress of Ceremonies! These aren't the only exhibitions we'll be watching..."<br /><br /> Mister Satan chuckles. He sounds eager for the shows to come! "We'll also be treated to a demonstration of rare power as the Confederacy's own Field Marshal DRACULA VLAD TEPES has accepted a challenge from none other than WALTER BERNHARD, master of his own spooky castle! Is it Castlevania that reigns supreme, or will Bernhard surprise the Multiverse?" Thinking about the match, Mister Satan gets a nervous knot in his belly. He wipes his brow -- it's the lights making him sweat, of course it's just the lights!<br /><br /> "In a duel between damsels -- a match between maestros -- we'll witness the musical talents of NONON JAKUZURE attempt to serenade the famous songstress YUNA KAGURAZAKA to her defeat! These ladies share a passion for the arts that's only rivaled by their apparent dislike of each other!" That one's easier to contemplate. Mister Satan laughs. "You won't want to miss a moment of this symphony of destruction!"<br /><br /> The display screens update. Two silhouettes fade into view as Mister Satan announces the names of the exhibitors. "A mother-daughter duel?! VIVIO TAKAMACHI seeks to prove her strength and independence! FATE T. HARLAOWN is ready to offer the ultimate trial! Vivio will have to demonstrate all she's learned and mastered if she wants to defeat her own mother in combat!"<br /><br /> The screen fades one more time. Two more silhouettes appear; one sports a very familiar rotund hairstyle. Mister Satan takes a deep breath to puff out his chest, making every hair on it stand briefly on end. "I HAVE ANSWERED A CHALLENGE MYSELF! As a former World Champion, I could do nothing less! When this strange girl approached me, at first I was confused, then astounded by her courage! SUMMER POWERS -- " The display updates. " -- has decided to compete against me for the right to borrow...my MUSTACHE!" Gaaasp!<br /><br /> Mister Satan strokes his mustache, and his stubbly jawline, too. "Well, there's a great deal to be coveted here, isn't there?"<br /><br /> He smiles. "That's all I can share at this time. Additional exhibition matches may be held before the tournament is over! Keep watching for all the excitement yet to be revealed! It's not just PRIZES we're keeping mysterious, no!"<br /><br /> Swinging his hand out toward Mizuki again, he nods. "With that, I'm afraid it's time to darken the lights and bid farewell for the evening! Mistress of Ceremonies?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:232|D (232)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> D has heard all he's wanted.<br /><br /> He leans away from the wall, and begins to walk away from the locker room, pursuing a quiet exit through the fighter's ward he hopes will be free of crowds. His sword rattles once as it settles against his shoulders, and then he is away, pursued by the faint jingles of his spurs.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:395|Amalthea (395)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A dark figure as black as the night finally moves. It had been so motionless and silent it could have been mistkaen for an empty suit of armor before. But then the announcement of the brackets earns a shift. A soft keening screech of metal on metal as helmeted head turns to a slow, curious, bird-like angle; the gleam of an icy blue eye visible briefly from the faceless plating and visor.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But when the exhibition matches are announced, it's as dark as it was a moment ago. A rasping, wraith-like, breath gusts tomb-like mist from the vent grill in the faceplate, and with a methodical turn, The Black Knightmare's dark cloak flourishes, as it heads towards one of the locker rooms, chuckling darkly.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:183|Mizuki (183)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As Mister Satan wraps up his final round of announcements, Mizuki takes a deep, deep breath. Immediately after accepting the microphone again, she finally exhales, opening her eyes just as she begins to speak one, last time. "For all my words," She begins, her voice far quieter than it had been at the start, as close to somber as any announcer would allow themselves to be, "I have little else to say that would serve you lot well in this competition, but know this: years from now when time has worn down the ground upon which I now stand, when the shape of the universe has changed, when so many of the people with us now have passed on, it will not matter whether you won or lost. It will not matter what prizes you won, but what memories you formed."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"So," She continues, "fear not the threat of loss, in battle or otherwise. Instead, treasure the memories you make as a part of this tournament: allow the people with whom you exchange blows to leave an impression upon you. Allow them to teach you. In the midst of battle, one finds many things, and among the most precious of those things are companionship and respect. There is nothing in any of our many conjoined worlds which any warrior should hold in higher regard than their ability to respect those who best them, and to likewise take gracefully to victory. And this is not done just to appease those who cannot be victorious, nor to curb the cries of those who had hoped for that person to win. This is done so that both fighters may understand the gravity of the event that has just transpired, and so that they may ever hold it sacred, years and years into the future."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Last year, I was allowed to commentate on these grounds. I firmly believe that, because I was given this opportunity, I have also been allowed to make many friends. Because of this tournament, I was allowed to know and cherish my relationships with many of the people whose names you heard announced in the brackets of this event. So I ask you not only to compete to the best of your ability, but to do so with honor. With grace, and with a degree of austerity that will help you to reflect, to learn, and to maintain. Go into the battle expecting not to win, but to -compete-. Allow the memories you accrue here to be your trophy rather than gold, or platinum, or any other material. And allow those same memories to temper you, to improve you, that you might find more and more riches in the memories you find tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after. This is our tournament, but this is your day to better yourself. I implore you all: make the most of this opportunity you have been given."<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With that, she steps away from the podium, off to the lower part of the stage. She gives a low, sweeping curtsy and allows for as many moments of silence as the crowd is willing to afford her before, finally, her usual smile returns to her face. Then her sleeves fly into the air again and she says, loud as she can, "GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL, combatants of the Multiverse! Though Mister Satan and I christen this event, it is YOU who will pen the pages of this chapter! Thank you, and good night!" With that, the lights shut off.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;... and she is, of course, gone as quickly as she had come.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:289|Mister Satan (289)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> Mister Satan, too, exits the stage, though without as much flair, stepping out to join the bustling officials collected around the sidelines.<br> <br>


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