Min Min gets Registered

"kzzt! Hello, Ma'am? Over here! kzzt!" A robotic voice called. Looking around for a source, Min Min's eyes fell upon a robot behind a counter. Approaching the interesting figure, it seemed very excited to see her.

"kzzt! Greetings! My database informs me that you are Min Min, is that correct! kzzt"

"Oh, yeah, that's me!" She replied sheepishly, waving cutely. She was not exactly accustomed to talking with robots.

"kzzt! Wonderful. We are so happy to have you on our island. I am a Robotic Operating Buddy, or R.O.B. for short! Me and my fellow units will assist you with anything you need during the tournament! kzzt!" Reaching under the counter, the robot produced a stack of paperwork along with a pen. "kzzt! If you could sign this, I can give you your star pieces and get you officially enrolled! kzzt!"

"Great, thanks!" The teen chirped, taking the pen and skimming the contract. Most of it was just general procedural stuff. The island was not liable for any injuries, not liable for lost belongings, etcetera etcetera. All of it she had seen time and time again and barely demanded a glance.

Then she got to the defeat category...

Min Min was not exactly looking forward to getting railed by strangers if she ended up losing. Besides being humiliating and degrading, she had only done the act a handful of times. Still, with great reward comes great risk, and she did not intend to let fear stand in the way of her destiny! With just a moment more of hesitation, she signs the rest of the contract.

"kzzt! Excellent, you are now a registered Ultimate Fighter. Here are your initial star pieces! kzzt!" Opening its robot hand, three star pieces are dropped onto the table.

With almost childlike glee, Min Min reaches out and grabs them. According to the rules, the star pieces have to be kept somewhere visible, so she affixes them to her beanie.

"kzzt! That's not all you'll need! kzzt!" The R.O.B. adds, dropping a bag on the table as well. Inside are a multitude of circular pills, the cross symbol of Ultimate Island emblazoned on them. "kzzt! These are stocks! Taking one rejuvenates a competitor, returning them to their full strength! Are you familiar with their use in this competition? kzzt!"

"Yep!" Min Min chirps, recalling the rules she read about in the invitation letter. "Each match is a three stock game, right? So we take one before the match, and one after we get knocked out of the combat area. Three stocks per game, so when we get knocked out the third time it's... game over?"

"kzzt! Exactly! You are better studied than most of our combatants today! kzzt!" Min Min blushed at the compliment, even if it was from a robot. "kzzt! Well, now that you are registered and supplied, you can wander the island as you see fit. Good luck and happy smashing! kzzt!"

Waving goodbye to the R.O.B. (can robots even understand waves?), the teen heads off towards dry land. She begins to wonder where she will head first when she is interrupted.

"So, you got your stars!" A cocky voice called, clearly directed at Min Min. "Are you ready to lose one, yet?"

Turning around, she saw it was none other than Incineroar. It seems he had just registered as well, three star pieces pinned on his flaming belt. Arms crossed, he looked down at the blonde with a contempt that made her blood boil.

"If you think I'm losing to YOU or ANYONE on this island," Min Min shot back, gritting her teeth. "You are dead wrong!"

"Then prove it!" He replied calmly, plucking a star piece off his belt and holding it between two fingers. "You and me, mono a mono. It'd be nice to start the day with four stars!"

Artist Credit: Djorjx