SkunkyArt | C-tops — Snatcher VS Nowhere King(Hat in Time/Centaurworld)

With how their bodies are like snakey shadows, they go together really well aesthetically. I imagine them weaving around each other, Snatcher’s glowy purple contrasting Nowhere King’s tarlike, pitch black.

Obligatory brief army battle between Snatcher's Minions and Minotaurs.

I know some might criticize the dialogue potential. Snatcher is very playful and talkative while King isn’t really one to chat. That being said, I actually like the dynamic they would have initially. Snatcher offers a contract only for King to ignore it and charge right at him, prompting Snatcher to respond with something like “Oh, you’re no fun! We can’t have that now, can we?”.

The Nowhere King would initially be charging right through Snatcher’s magic attacks, but he would gradually adapt and fight smarter, something he’d have to do in order to hold his own against someone with a much more varied arsenal. This would show that while he’s prone to rage, the Nowhere King is very skilled in combat and strategy, as opposed to Snatcher, who just has minions do his dirty work for him.

Like he did to Hat Kid, Snatcher would at some point briefly shapeshift into a form resembling the King, mocking him and his appearance. This would REALLY touch a nerve, with Elktaur doing everything he did due to hating the animal part of himself.

Snatcher would be messing around, not taking the fight seriously in the slightest beyond wanting this… thing out of his forest, but that would change towards the end, which I adore the idea I have for.

As the fight gets more intense, Snatcher decides to cut to the chase and tries to simply take the Nowhere King’s soul. However, when he attempts this, he finds his way into the King’s subconscious.

I know there's no solid evidence that Snatcher would be able to do this, considering Horse only did it due to her specific “backstory magic”, but hear me out. I believe Death Battle animations sometimes take liberties with the specific functions of certain character abilities for the sake of the fight. I think there’s at least some plausibility to Snatcher interacting with memory Elk, considering him basically being a ghost that can directly interact with souls, and this would help the animation emotionally and thematically so unbelievably much.

Seeing as how Horse appeared as her old, non-magic self in Elk’s subconscious, I think it’s safe to say Snatcher would appear as the Prince. This would be the perfect opportunity for Snatcher to slow down and realize what he’s dealing with.

Prince and Elk would have a very sad conversation about their past love as Elk shows the Prince his backstory (way more briefly than in the Centaurworld finale, of course).

Maybe do it in the form of a brief musical number? Centaurworld is a musical after all.

After seeing how much he can relate to Elk, Snatcher leaves his subconscious knowing that he has to put the Nowhere King out of his misery.

The last phase of the fight is much more serious and brutal, both just trying to go for the kill.

Finally, Snatcher gets the King in a sort of chokehold before slowly prying his jaws apart, shattering the King’s skull and causing his sludge body to dissolve.

After the fight, the Snatcher holds Elk’s soul in his hand briefly before letting him go, speechless for the first time in a while.