: “We don’t always start off with a silver spoon shoved into our mouths. Sometimes, our beginnings are a bit more humble and down-to-earth.”
: “Later on in life, there comes the opportunity to leave your simple lifestyle for a more high-end state of power; the means of which we’ve attained that status aren’t always one in the same. Sometimes we’ve grown to earn that power, other times learned to take it for ourselves.”
: “Pauline, New Donk City’s Singin’ Swingin’ Mayor.”
: “And King Knight, Pridemoor’s Keep’s Decadent Usurper King.”
: “I am Bayonetta.”
: “I’m Ariel”
: “Harley Quinn, here.”
: “And I am Margaret. And we are here to present to you the one, the only…”
: “FATED CHAOS!!!”
PAULINE
First Appearance: Donkey Kong (1981)
Former Alias: Lady
Gender: Female
Occupation: Mayor of New Donk City
First damsel-in-distress of the Mario franchise
Former love interest of Mario
Named after the wife of Don James
Theme:
: “Everyone knows about Princess Peach, gaming’s most iconic damsel-in-distress and love interest of the Jump Man himself, Mario. But it may surprise you to know that Peach wasn’t the first of Nintendo’s long-lasting catalogue. Before there the Princess of the Mushroom Kingdom, there was Lady.”
: “… From Devil May Cry?”
: “No, another Lady. The one who Mario first saved.”
: “…”
: “The woman Donkey Kong kidnapped in their first game.”
: “… Yeah, I got nothing.”
: “Oh, come now. Surely you must know who I’m talking about. Ariel?”
: “Sorry, I’m blanking here too.”
: “She means Pauline.”
: “Ohhhhhhhhh… Who?”
: “Super Mario Odyssey.”
: “Ah, right, right… Who the hell is Lady?”
: “The closest thing to a name Pauline had, until the Game Boy version of Donkey Kong came out and her current name became her permanent name.”
: “Thank goodness for that. Unless you have a giant bazooka with a grappling hook, and you hunt demons, ‘Lady’ should not be your name.”
: “Ariel plays a lot of Devil May Cry, if you were curious. Anyways, at first, Pauline was planned to be Mario’s penultimate love interest, until the inception Peach, and Pauline pretty much got shafted by Nintendo, pretty much forgotten by anyone who didn’t know how to use the internet.”
: “Yet, in some ways or another, Pauline has managed to aid her ex, Mario, in a few of his endeavours. Such as when she became his guest of honor for his theme park, which would oftentimes lead to a swift kidnapping from the older DK’s grandson, Donkey Kong, sometimes done out of jealousy or to aid Pauline for one of her endeavors.”
: “Eventually, however, her status as a Nintendo icon would be restored when her current state of affairs were made known. Through unknown means, Pauline became Mayor of New Donk City, the very that Cranky Kong, the first Donkey Kong, kidnapped her in.”
: “Since then, the residents of the Big Banana—it’s the tagline, don’t read into it—have loved their mayor and consider her to be truly deserving of her political status, doing everything she can for her city to remain in shape, and her citizens to stay safe.”
: “Dare to threaten either of them, and she’ll prove to you why that will be your biggest mistake, and why she’ll always be our 1-UP girl.”
: “… That’s what we’re leaving it on?”
: “Oh, hush, and just let it be.”
PHYSICALITY:
Strength:
-Effortlessly knocks down even physical powerhouses like Bowser
-Strikes a tennis ball hard enough to push back the opposing player, or even break their racket
-Capable of pushing back other kart racers off course
-Kicked a Donkey Kong in the shin hard enough to cause pain
-Comparable to the likes of Donkey Kong and Mario, who has punched the moon out of orbit, and picked up an entire castle and tossed it, respectively
Speed:
-Easily manages to keep pace with the likes of Peach, Luigi, and Toad
-Can maneuver her kart through multiple different racing courses, and avoid the likes of other racers
-Can weave past incoming tackles from opposing players
-Comparable to Rosalina, who has commanded the Comet Observatory to travel to the center of the universe from the Mushroom kingdom
Durability:
-Can take hits from the likes of Mario, Donkey Kong, Rosalina, and Bowser
-Typically only briefly stunned from bob-omb explosions, shells colliding with her, being blasted by ice or fire, and blown away by super horns
-Recovers quickly from being tackled by other players
-Comparable to the likes of Peach and Bowser, who endured an explosion powerful enough to destroy a castle, and survived being sucked into a black hole
MENTALITY:
Personality/Intelligence:
-A friendly, happy, and kind individual
-Enjoys music and singing
–Especially enjoys jazz and peppy music, due to them being able to bring people together
-Truly loves her city with a passion, and appreciates every aspect of it
–One of her hobbies is taking walks through New Donk City to admire it all
-Very forgiving, even to those who have done her wrong, proven when she forgave Donkey Kong in the aftermath of getting kidnapped by him
-A business-minded individual, shown by her testing the quality of the Mario Toy Company’s mini-toys
-Adept at city planning, with it being commented over how quickly she managed to get the city up and running again
-Stated to enjoy ‘good’ cake, and not the packaged stuff
-Apparently bad with machinery and flowers
-Likes Fried Mushroom and Flower Stew, but isn’t fond of Leaf Salad
-Has twice used her kidnappings by Donkey Kong to her advantage
–Once to test the efficiency of the mini-toys, and another time to lure Mario into a surprise party
-Is quick to deduce that Bowser was the one responsible for cutting out New Donk City’s power
SKILLS & ABILITIES:
Expert Singer:
-Loves to sing
-Lead singer for the New Donk City Festival
-The one who sings ‘Jump Up, Superstar’ and ‘Break Free’
Skilled Racer:
-Capable of racing alongside more experienced racers
-Knows how to use items, boost pads, and drifts mid-race
Expert Athlete:
-Skilled in sports like tennis, golf, and soccer
-Able to match more experienced athletes with little effort
Zone Speed:
-Slows down Pauline’s perception of time to the point of slowing everything down
-Lasts for a limited time, but can recharge overtime
ARSENAL & EQUIPMENT:
Microphone Stand:
-A common item that Pauline has often used as a club
-Utilised in Mario Golf and Mario Strikers
-Not afraid to sing a little into it mid-fight
Yellow Taxi:
-Pauline’s signature kart in Mario Kart Tour
-Designed in the style of a 1950’s-style yellow cab
-Comparable to most other karts in the franchise
-Has a longer Jump Boost duration compared to other karts
Fare Flier:
-Pauline’s signature glider in Mario Kart Tour
-Resembles the rear end of the Yellow Taxi
-Allows the driver to float across long distances
Mushroom:
-A beady-eyed mushroom
-Gives Pauline a temporary speed boost when used
-Can also be used to heal Pauline
Bob-omb:
-A sentient bomb that can move on its own
-Once thrown, and/or coming into contact with something, will immediately blow up
Banana:
-A banana peel with a smiling face on it
-Trips up anyone who ends up stepping or comes into contact with it
Green Shell:
-A green Koopa Troopa shell
-Once thrown, flies forward into a straight line, striking anything that it comes into contact with
-Will ricochet a certain amount of times off of walls before breaking
-Can be used as a form of defence to protect Pauline from a single attack
Red Shell:
-A red Koopa Troopa shell
-Once thrown, flies forward and homes in on whatever the closest target is
-Like the Green Shell, can be used to defend from a single attack
Super Star:
-A beady-eyed star
-Gives Pauline total invincibility, a boost in speed, and a vast increase in strength
-Lasts for a limited time
Spiny Shell:
-A spiny blue Koopa Troopa shell
-Similar to the Red Shell, homes on to the target, but creates a wider and more damaging explosion upon collision
-Like other shells, can be used as a shield from attacks
Mega Mushroom:
-A giant red-spotted yellow-cap mushroom
-Turns Pauline into a giant that gives a vast increase in strength and total invincibility
-Lasts for a limited time
Bullet Bill:
-An anthropomorphic, bullet-esque projectile
-Transforms Pauline into a Bullet Bill that rockets forward at great speed, smashing through anyone caught in her path
-Lasts for a limited time
Blooper:
–A squid-like creature commonly found in the ocean
-Squirts out ink that leaves the victim blinded for a limited time
Lightning:
-A bolt of lightning
-Calls down bolts of lightning to strike the opponents, leaving them shrunken down, and weakened, for a limited time
Fire Flower:
-A beady-eyed flower with a round face
-Throws out multiple fireballs in any direction Pauline wishes
-Can also be surrounded by four fireballs to burn anyone who comes close
Super Horn:
-A red cube with a horn on one side
-Blasts out a loud noise that repels back any foes or items coming close
–Can even repel the Spiny Shell
SPECIAL TECHINQUES:
Showstopper:
-Pauline’s Special Shot in Mario Tennis Aces
-While being cheered on by other New Donkers, summons a building beneath her feet to provide her extra height, and proceeds to whack the ball towards wherever Pauline desires
Songbird Stinger:
-Pauline’s Special Shot in Mario Golf: Super Rush
-Transforms her golf club into a microphone, which she sings the first verse for the chorus of ‘Jump Up, Superstar’ into, then uses the stand in order to strike ball forwards in a horizontal angle
-Anything caught in the balls path will get knocked away
-Also gives Pauline a short speed boost
Swing Solo:
-Pauline’s Hyper Strike in Mario Strikers: Battle League
-Kicks the ball into the air, grabs her incoming microphone stand, lays it on the ground, and kicks the stund for the head to strike the ball, leaving a trail of music noted in its wake
-The music notes will strike anyone within reach, leaving them completely shocked and paralysed
FEATS:
-Became Mayor of New Donk City
-Aided Mario in the expansion of Super Mini Mario World, and the opening of Mario Land; and aided Donkey Kong in running Mini Arcade, and planning a surprise party for Mario
-Participated in kart races on multiple dangerous tracks
-Played alongside, and against, more experienced athletes in extreme tennis, golf, and soccer
-Got Nintendo to remember her
–Jump Up, Super Star and Break Free
WEAKNESSES:
-Very little combat experience
-Invincibility items are on a time limit
-Terrible with machinery
-Became forgotten by Nintendo for over a decade
(“New Donk City really means the world to me… I just can’t thank you enough for all of your help, Mario!”)
KING KNIGHT
AKA: The Decadent Dandy, Queen Knight, King Butt
Height: Approximately 5’7″
Weight: Unknown
Affiliation: Order of No Quarter
First Appearance: Shovel Knight (2014)
Theme:
: “There are tales of many infamous knights across The Valley. The keeper of the code of shovelry, Shovel Knight; the phantasm of the Lich Yard, Specter Knight; and the crackpot alchemist of explosive proportions, Plague Knight.”
: “If you haven’t figured it out yet, these knights don’t exactly follow the typical archetype of wielding sword and shield. Honestly, I think the ‘knight’ aspect about any of them is their aesthetic, and even that tends to be a stretch.”
: “Well, considering one looks like the plague doctor, one is just burrowing in the dirt, and another is just Kite Man if DC suddenly made him cool, you’re not too far off.”
: “Exactly. Feels a little tedious for them to be called ‘knights’.”
: “Oh, come now. If we had a tried-and-true dime a dozen knight in shining armor, we’d just be playing For Honor.”
: “That’s not 100% accurate, but I get your point… somehow.”
: “Well, in a world like this, there is bound to be someone who yearns for more in their provincial life. Who sees all the land as his own personal kingdom ripe for the claim. Fueled by the belief—nay, that truth—that it is his destiny to become the monarch of this land. Clad in an armor what’s said to not be real gold: King Knight.”
: “… You’re fucking with me.”
: “I wish I was.”
: “That is… that is just… I don’t have the words.”
: “King Knight was pretty much determined to become a king, through any means necessary. Although he didn’t start off with the best dealt hands, he managed to make due. Even if he still lived with his mother, and his only real ‘subjects’ were a pack of rats that littered his home.”
: “Yeah, it’s… honestly, pretty pathetic. I mean, it’s nice that he befriended some rats, I think… but still.”
: “He calls himself ‘King Knight’? Yet, he doesn’t even have his own home?”
: “It’s called ‘fantasy’.”
: “No, it’s called ‘delusional’. I’m the psychiatrist here, so don’t even try it.”
: “What’s worse is that he actually claims his status of ‘royalty’ as his birthright, which is unlikely to be true.”
: “Oh, boy.”
: “And he went on a journey to become ‘King of Cards’, which just meant that he would be the best player of some card game called ‘Joustus’.”
: “Oh my god.”
: “He also pretty much betrayed everyone at the end of his journey. The three kingdoms who allied with him, the many allies who befriended him, and even his own mother, after receiving the offer of being a king, which only was in name, by the big bad of the series, and main reason why most of the conflicts even existed in the first place.”
: “Okay, wow. That is… that is a turn I didn’t expect.”
: “Yeah, I don’t think anyone expected it… Unless you played Shovel of Hope, and kinda’ knew that he would end up becoming a king, but never expected that it played out that way.”
: “As ruler of Pridemoor’s Keep, King Knight attained all that he desired: A throne room to lounge in, soldiers to order around, and his title of ‘king’ that he worked so hard to gain. And what did he lose in the process? The love and respect of everyone who ever cared about him, or saw him as more than just a child desperately masquerading as a monarch.”
: “I… I don’t know what to say to that.”
: “I do. King Knight will prove to us all why he gained the title of King of Pridemoor’s Keep, and how he managed to keep it.”
: “Well, now. I certainly didn’t expect that from you.”
: “Had to be something, had to be from someone.”
PHYSICALITY:
Strength:
-Can strike with enough force to shift the floor of his throne room
-Can send out a shockwave from his strikes along the ground, forcing his opponent to kneel
-Is capable of harming Shovel Knight, Plague Knight, and Specter Knight
–Shovel Knight and Plague Knight could tank meteors from an amped Black Knight
-Capable of supporting the weight of the rest of the Order of No Quarter
Speed:
-Able to dash across his throne room in a second
-Fast enough to jump across cannonballs
-Kept pace with Phantom Striker, who directly manipulates natural lightning for his attacks
–Could keep up with Shovel Knight, Shield Knight, and Plague Knight, who can all do the same
-Comparable to Shovel Knight and Plague Knight, who could react to an amped Black Knight’s meteors
-Practically doubles when utilizing the Lightweight Plate
Durability:
-Among the weaker knights in terms of pure durability, but still has impressive feats
-Took repeated strikes from Shovel Knight, Plague Knight, and Specter Knight
–Specter Knight could knock out Shield Knight, who survived the Tower of Fate’s collapse, when he was still Donavon
-Can shrug off cannonball fire
-Tanked direct lightning from the Baz and Phantom Striker
-Capable of tanking hits from the Enchantress’ magic
MENTALITY:
Personality/Intelligence:
-A haughty, prideful, self-centred, egotistical ‘monarch’ caring only to be seen as a true king
-Very much confident in his capabilities, to the point of blind arrogance
-Obsessed with becoming any kind of king possible, through any means necessary
–When given the chance of becoming ruler of Pridemoor’s Keep by the Enchantress, after not being able to gain the status of ‘King of Cards’, betrayed everyone who had aided him across his journey in order to become king
-Pretty immature and childish, considering he still lived with his mother, complained about the importance of becoming ‘King of Cards’ over fulfilling errands, and plays with the machines at the back of the Gildewing like a kid playing with toy cars
-Tends to treat most individuals with little to no respect, referring to them as either commonfolk or peasants
–The only exception would be his mother, who King Knight merely regards with exasperation over how she coddles him, but continues to run errands for her
-An avid lover of animals, with his own legion of trained rats, which he refers to as ‘starter subjects’, and showing immense joy at seeing Polar Knight’s Spinwulves
-Gets jealous very easily, as shown with King Knight’s growing aggravation at King Pridemoor flirting with his mother and their respective admiration for one another, which also ended up being one of the reasons for King Knight’s betrayal of everyone for the Enchantress
-After becoming King of Pridemoor’s Keep, became lazy and unmotivated, only ever holding galas that no one ever attends
-Rarely ever treats his servant with respect
-Prior to becoming king, excessively trained his rats, developed their propeller ropes, and constantly went through intensive strength training
-Has conversed with Treasure Knight over keeping his gold-plated armor in top condition
-After first hearing about Joustus, managed to become an incredibly adept player very quickly, soon becoming the best player
-Managed to fight on par with skilled warriors such as The Order of No Quarter, The Joustus Judges, and Shovel Knight
SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Shoulder Bash:
-King Knight’s primary method of combat
-Dashes towards an enemy, wall or obstacle and crashes into them, propelling him upward into a spin
-This spin can be used to gain height, or to attack again, which lets him dash afterwards
-With the Wealth Whirl, King Knight absorbs any nearby gold when spinning
-With the Impact Sparks, landing while spinning sends a small shockwave, though only at full health
-King Knight can convert the Shoulder Bash into a roll, which covers more distance and can damage enemies
-With the Blast Roll, the strength and energy of the roll is significantly increased
Healing Tears:
-Once per stage, King Knight can cry his heart out to actually regain Hearts
-Can restore up to 5 Hearts per stage/fight
-Can quit crying mid-way through to save unused Hearts for later
-If he’s already healed himself with any of the Hearts, can’t use them for the remainder of the fight
ARSENAL & EQUIPMENT:
Scepter:
-A golden short-staff
-King Knight’s favoured weapon of choice
-Oftentimes used to whack enemies with the head
–Also to declare his Royal Decrees
Lightweight Plate:
-Allows King Knight to run significantly faster than he’s normally able to
Vestments of Vigor:
-When King Knight damages enemies, will get Vigor back along with Hearts
Battery Brigandine:
-Can charge up a Shoulder Bash to a much stronger degree, allowing it to go significantly farther
-Can also travel up and down when using this variation of the Shoulder Bash
Rodent Regalia:
-When he falls into a pit, gets carried out of it thanks to Propeller Rats, though this costs some health
-Along with this, drops less gold when he dies
-Despite being exclusive to this armor, King Knight could use Propeller Rats similarly during Specter of Torment
Resplendent Cape:
-The shiniest and flashiest armor in the game
-Lets King Knight stylishly flip through the air when he jumps or spins
-Otherwise, is identical to his original armor
Horns of Heralding:
-Summons several horns to shoot confetti across the screen, damaging any opponents they touch
-Costs 20 Vigor
-Has a variation where they send out cards instead, which float in the air before flying off in one of four directions
Scorching Saber:
-Leaps into the air and spins a flaming swords, before stabbing it directly into the ground
-Can be used to harm enemies above and below him, as well as extent his time in the air
-Costs 14 Vigor
Bubble Frog:
-Surrounds King Knight in a bubble he can use to cross gaps
-Can exit out of a bubble with a Shoulder Bash
-Keeps some of his momentum after first entering a bubble
-Costs 10 Vigor
Healing Hammer:
-King Knight swings a hammer in an arc over his head, causing anyone who’s hit by it to drop health
-Costs 4 Vigor
Dueling Glove:
-A quick slap that can be used repeatedly with little cost
-Costs 2 Vigor
Scepter of Swiftness:
-Stands still for a moment, before quickly striking forward a long distance with his scepter
-Can be used to cross long gaps he couldn’t otherwise
-Costs 14 Vigor
-Can also be used normally as a bludgeoning weapon, and to strike the ground beneath him
Turn Coat:
-Surrounds King Knight with a barrier that protects from all damage, including spikes
-If King Knight’s barrier is attacked during this time, the Turn Coat stores it before releasing it as a projectile
-These projectiles can be anywhere from 1 to 3 levels of power depending on how strong the attack reflected is
-Costs 6 Vigor
Gyro Boots:
-Turns King Knight into a living tornado that can travel up walls
-Capable of being used again mid-animation to keep the tornado up
-Costs 5 Vigor
Rat Bombardiar:
-Summons a rat with a bomb attached to it that runs forward
-Using the Heirloom again will reverse the rat’s direction for no extra cost
-Can be Shoulder Bashed into to send the bomb flying off the rat
-Costs 14 Vigor
Propeller Blitzsteed:
-Shoots out a lance that flies forwards and pierces enemies
-Continues flying through the air until it hits a wall or shield
-Costs 4 Vigor
Decree of Destruction:
-A one-use Heirloom that can only be carried with one other decree
-Summons a Griffoth to fight for King Knight for 20 seconds
Decree of Rejuvenation:
-A one-use Heirloom that can only be carried with one other decree
-Summons a Troupple to gradually restore both health and vigor for 25 seconds
Decree of Soaring:
-A one-use Heirloom that can only be carried with one other decree
-Summons a Birder to carry King Knight across parts of a stage for up to 35 seconds
FEATS:
-Defeated King Pridemoor, the Troupple King, and King Birder in his quest to become the King of Cards
-Became a master of Joustus, being able to outplay (or cheat) nearly any opponent at the game
-In their first encounter, fought and defeated Specter Knight
-Would go on to have a rematch against him, though Specter Knight would emerge victorious
-Defeated Plague Knight and Percy in a 1-on-2 fight, though he would lose to Plague Knight in their rematch
-Managed to defeat the rest of the soon to be Order of No Quarter
-Defeated all four of the Wandering Travelers
-Defeated Cardia in a game of Joustus, and immediately after defeated Giga Cardia in a fight
-Managed to hold his own against the Enchantress
-Along with this, he beat the amalgamation of the three kings created by the Enchantress immediately after
-Was recruited as the first member of the Order of No Quarter
-Fought against Shovel Knight on two separate occasions, though he lost each encounter
WEAKNESSES:
-Has a limited supply of Vigor, and can’t use his heirlooms if he runs out
-Overconfident, and tends to underestimate his opponents
-Considered the weakest of the Order of No Quarter
-Gameplay-wise, was by far the easiest member of the Order to defeat
–Had to be removed from Plague of Shadows’ “Untouched!” Feat to keep it a challenge
-Not an actual king
(“As the embodiment of opulence, I demand tribute!“)
Pauline and Super Mario (c) Nintendo
King Knight and Shovel Knight (c) Yacht Club Games
Information regarding both combatants have been provided by, and belong to, Crimsan (A.K.A. Me) and Maddie