MYM Challenge of Ambition Entry B

Warning! Challenger Approaching!

Bubble Witch Marin


Introduction

Marin is the protagonist of her own, hypothetical game; a metroidvania with some Mega Man inspiration. A new student of the world's most illustrious magical academy, daughter of a renowned hero known for triumphing over terrible beasts through her underwhelming medium, and bearing her own flavor of easily underestimated medium herself, Marin desires nothing more than to make her own mark on the world at large and exceed the 'pedigree' people hold her to.

Temperamental, a little anti-social, and most of all ambitious, Marin may not be the most heroic figure, but she's the best hero for the situation that soon consumes the hallowed halls of learning around her we have- and a perfect fit for the mindset of the Challenge of Ambition if nothing else.

In the setting, everyone has some medium they are 'attuned' most strongly to, simply an innate trait rather than a learned one. There's nothing stopping one from using another, but they will always have a much harder time developing their skill with that medium than the one they instinctively are drawn to.

Marin's mother's medium was the humble flower, and she became well known for the sunflower staff she used as a focus. Marin's medium manages to be even more underwhelming on initial viewing: Bubbles. Her staff, a modified version of one of her mother's, vaguely resembles an oversized bubble wand with its ring-shaped headpiece. Though carrying and using this keepsake seems at odds with her desire to move out of her mother's shadow, it is equal parts a symbol of respect and comfort- Marin may wish to overshadow her, but she still loves and admires her mother dearly- and a declaration of her intent to do everything her mother had done, better.



The Goal:

Marin's deepest desires are hardly noble, and this extends to one of her main tricks. The Capture Bubble is a spell Marin perfected in order to both capture the assorted monsters roaming the halls of the academy and to non-lethally restrain her fellow students, driven to extremes by the excess of life energy flooding the halls. In concept it's heroic enough, and Marin is hardly lying when she says that was her intent, but there is a side of Marin who revels in the idea of extending control of her medium over a supposed 'better' to overwhelm them.

The Capture Bubble is a unique state inflicted through Marin's Side Special. It's not as slow as Ganondorf's Warlock Punch or even Captain Falcon's own Falcon Punch, and its reach is far better, but the input is hardly easy to land. Exacerbating the situation is Marin's own innate frailty, her weight easily among the lightest of the Smash Bros roster. In short, it's a high risk high reward option that is unlikely to succeed without some careful planning.

Marin makes use of her Bubble manipulation abilities and spells to fight, and both provide ample opportunity to land the input successfully in spite of its shortcomings, to protect herself from foes as it had in her last contest appearance, and to impose her will onto her foes.

Once she has her opponent within the Capture Bubble, Marin is at a great advantage. The opponent is free to move around despite being confined, albeit they'll find their aerial movements floatier, their weight reduced, and Marin's Bubble Magic a constant hindrance. What's most frightening is the helplessness it inflicts. While in this state, they cannot properly fight back. Their attacks may stretch and strain their prison, but until its stamina is reduced to 0% by a combination of time and their nullified blows, they will not hit Marin or anyone else.

Marin's Bubble Magic may is not as effective on a Bubble with additional 'baggage', only half as much in fact; enemies can push against it and win every time, though with their movements counter to the directions she gives halved in turn. The level of control she gains over an opponent desperately flailing away to escape their prison means she is free to tear into them and force them into ideal positions for her stronger spells without retribution. Marin is particularly strong in the air, and foes will find themselves simultaneously being knocked around much easier and having a much more difficult time of getting back on the ground in a timely manner.

While far from an instant win, the Capture Bubble immediately and decisively inflicts a disadvantage state on her opponent as the formerly frail and vulnerable Bubble Witch is now a titan they must avoid until they can properly fight back. Marin's assorted tricks and tools to defend herself double as excellent ways to corner opponents before and after successfully capturing them. She need not succeed in this goal to win, it is merely a means to an end for her ambitions at large, but it is far and away the most powerful weapon she has when the Smash Ball is nowhere to be seen.