Teen prankster got home in a contemplative mood. His mother was busy in the kitchen with dinner, when he arrived.
"Hey mom, where's the bubble-brat at?"
"He insisted on getting those upgrades done now, since he'll be leading the new All Star League. I'm so excited for my little boy!"
Pfft, what's so special about that? I'll be leading a team, too!"
"Oh my god, really? Let me get the camera!"
"Mom, no!"
"How can I not scrapbook this? My two babies are so successful!"
She walked into the living room, and grabbed a camera off the book shelf there. Snapping away, she inquired further.
"So, the meeting went well, honey?"
"Of course! How could it not go well?"
"I'm so happy! You looked a little down when you came in, so mother was worried for a second there."
"Oh, it's nothing... I'm just figuring out how to fill the roster."
"Can't the villains previously on the team help with that?"
"And be just like Bubble-brat, no way! Besides, villains are trickier; careful attention must be paid to the team dynamics."
"Well you know mommy is here for you, if you need help."
"I can do it myself! I mean, I want to try and do it by myself."
"Okay... Just know, I'm here for you too."
"Yes, mom," Teen Prankster replied, before going to the living room. Since the TV was already on, he simply plopped on the couch.
"Ugh, the freshman 15! Where's the remote..."
As he searched beneath the cushions, Gregory began announcing the fighters.
"Would you look at that? It appears we will have a celebrity, in this penultimate match of the day! In the circular corner..."
PEW! PEW!
The fighter, just teleporting in, managed to interrupt the announcer.
"Never fear, citizens! A good guy with a ray gun is here!"
The guy looked like he was fresh out of high school. He wore Chuck Taylors, jeans, and a Letterman jacket with white/red color pattern. In his hand was what looked like an air pressure squirt gun, possessing a crazy color scheme and everything.
Teen Prankster couldn't help but freeze, seeing such a stereotypical display. His finger hovered mere centimeters over the change channel button.
"The ultimate prank," he muttered to himself.
DING!
The match began, and Guy got down to business. It was clear he had no powers, as the other fighters could run circles around him. But, with a ray gun, it didn't matter.
PEW! PEW! PEW!
Laser beam trails filled the arena, making it look like a bullet hell shooter from above. Teen Prankster only half-paid attention, as an old conversation was currently replaying in his head.
...
"What is the ultimate prank, master?"
"Simple, inversion. All pranks stem from this concept, whether you are putting a whoopee cushion on the president's chair or swapping out all the money in a bank vault for pieces of toast."
"That doesn't answer my question."
"You're smart, think about it. What is the most horrific thing one can invert, in this world?"
"... Ideals?"
…
One fighter made it past the hail of ray gunfire, delivering a punch to Guy's ribs. The sound of their cracking could be heard even through the TV screen, but Guy did not panic.
He adjusted a nob on his ray gun, before shooting a massive cone of laser beams. The fighter who punched him instantly turned pale, as he was thrown from the platform by the blast.
…
"Now you're thinking with your head! And if the person's ideals are important to the world, you can imagine the impact of such a prank."
"You can't mean?"
"Yup, it'd be the fallen angel of our time!"
…
The two other fighters teamed up, charging at Guy together. He adjusted the nob once more, and fired into the ground. A continuous beam came out, lifting him in the air. He dodged their charge with this, before firing into their exposed backs.
"Don't call me a coward, now. It was y'all who teamed up first!"
DING! DING! DING!
"Mom, I'm going out!"
"But I just finished making dinner!"
"... Okay, just a quick meal. But then I really have to go! It's business!"
"Oh, let me get the camera!"
"Mooooom!"
Back in the arena, the final match of the day approached.
"It's time for our last fight of the day, folks!"
"That sucks, I was really on a roll," Ventriloquist commented while counting his winnings.
"I, for one, am glad. That doll is bad for business."
"So are all the rat dropping in here, but you don't see me complaining."
"You just did."
"Oh right, so I did."
"Anyway, in the circular corner! The myth! The legend! Pioneer!"
Penelope appeared next to him, on the small platform.
"Brother, can we go shopping after this?"
"Sure, I can wrap this up extra quick, if you'd like."
The crowd, hearing this, became agitated. The other fighters all glared in his direction.
"It looks like Pioneer doesn't mind making enemies!"
"I wouldn't either, If I was him."
"Are his items that good?"
"The government thinks so. Remember, we thought most of those figures were myths before he discovered that tomb."
"Which do you think he'll use today?"
"He brought the Bunyan axe out, need I say more..."
DING!
Pioneer carefully stepped onto the large platform, before holding his axe high above his head. The other fighters were all charging in his direction but, the next second, they wish they hadn't.
His axe grew in size, soon dwarfing the platform.
"Here's the drop!"
SMASH!
This platform had spun in many directions, during the matches today, so the crowd expected something similar to happen here. Instead, the massive axe sliced completely through it!
The platform, now split in two, was unable to maintain altitude. Both halves rapidly fell to earth, carrying the freshman fighters with them.
"The Pioneer is falling with them! Will this be the end of him, as well?"
As if in response, Pioneer pulled on his boot straps. Jets of glittering flame erupted from the soles, slowing his fall significantly.
DING! DING! DING!
"Winner, and our last semi-finalist! The Pioneer!"