Family Honor
It was a dark and stormy night. The wind howled all around, the raindrops fell and cracked like bullets against the roofs and walls of the town.
Kid Muscle's shack was hardly the last place anyone would want to be. Being the both the Choujin Crown Champion and the Tag Team Champion you'd expect the IWF to put him up in a hotel like some of his friends, but alas Kid would have to make do with what he had.
Despite the weather Kid spent that Friday night like he had spent many others. With a bowl of cow and rice in his hands and his eyes glued to the tv. He paid very little attention to the weather outside and when it got to distracting he'd only turn the TV up louder.
But little did the Kid know that there was someone lurking around outside. He was to wrapped up in his tv to see the hand appear on the window and slide off. But he did notice when he heard the sounds of the garbage cans falling over outside. The noise causing him to jump up and nearly wet his pants.
He blamed the sudden noise on the wind but as the sound of stumbling flat feet was heard outside, Kid began to think otherwise. The noises kept going until they stopped right before the front door, and then the knob slowly began to turn.
Kid watched on in sheer horror as the door swung open and the silhouette of a large figure stood in the door.
"W-W-Who are you?" Kid squeaked.
"Kid." The figure groaned. The he took a step into the cabin only to fall flat onto his face. Kid managed enough courage to inch himself forward. And when the lightning flashed he managed to get a good view at whomever it was.
"Dik Dik!" Kid exclaimed. He quickly reached down and grabbed his friend by the shoulders, planning to lift him up. But upon the second he touched him Dik Dik let out a terrible cry and Kid retraced hid hands, feeling them covered in some kind of watery substance. But when he looked at his hands he found them covered in blood. The source was Dik Dik's body which had been cut all along his back in deep gashes." Dik Dik!" Kid said again. He grabbed a blanket nearby and used it to cover up the wound, wrapping it around his friend." Don't worry buddy." He said as he did so. Then Kid rested Dik Dik's head on a pillow and sat over him.
"Kid, Kid." Groaned Dik Dik in a weak voice as he rested one hand on the Prince's shoulder.
"Dik Dik." Kid said looking down at him." Who did this to you? What happened?" Dik Dik's eyes rolled all around the room, as if he was looking for his attacker.
"I-I could hardly see him." He told." He was so fast. Like he was there and then he was gone!" As he continued to talk he grew louder and nearly jumped up. Kid quickly restrained Dik Dik and step him back on the ground.
"Take it easy." He said." Just get some sleep for now. We'll worry about who did this later." Dik Dik nodded a weak replied and rested his head back. Kid took his attention off his friend for the first time since he arrived at looked to the front door. He was still open since Kid had taken care of Dik Dik and forgotten about the door.
He walked over to the door and grabbed the knob. But before closing it he looked out into the night. It was black as could be with only the howls of the wind and rain being heard. Kid turned and closed the door.
What he didn't see was two burning red eyes staring at him from beyond the playground.
The next morning Kid Muscle called up the rest of the Muscle Leaguers as well as the IWF and told them what had happened. Within no time his fellow Wrestlers along with Jacqueline McMadd and an ambulance arrived on the scene.
However the Wrestlers couldn't get a story out of Dik Dik since Jacqueline immediately pushed them out of the way to let the paramedics do their job. So instead they all crowded around Kid Muscle to hear the story from him. They all stood around the training ground listening.
"And there he was." Told Kid." Lying there in a pool of his own blood on my floor." His fellow Choujin were in awe.
"When did all this happen?" asked Wally.
"Probably around nine last night." Told Kid.
"Well I say we find the varmint that did this and bring him to justice!" exclaimed Terry slamming his fist into his open hand. The others nodded their agreement, but then the sound of rustling in the bushes behind them got their attentions.
The group all turned around and watched as a man as big as Checkmate walked out from the bushes. He wore a long black robe covering all his body except his face. His face looked much like Kid Muscle's with big lips and the crown along his head. But his skin was yellow with characteristic stripes all along his face.
Everyone stood there in silence as the stranger looked past the crowd and caught eyes with Kid Muscle.
"Do you know who I am?" he finally asked.
"Umm…No." Kid answered.
"Kid he's a Kinniku." Terry told." Look he's got the same lips and crown as you." Everyone looked and saw it to be true. The stranger nodded and replied.
"True. I am a Kinniku, born on the same Planet as the 'Prince' here."
"Vho are you?" asked Jeager." Vhat do you vant?"
"If you are looking for the attacker of your friend. Look no further."
"You're the one who attacked Dik Dik?!" exclaimed Kid. The stripped stranger smiled and nodded.
"Such vile Villainy!" said Checkmate.
"Why'd you do such a thing?" asked Wally.
"I had to test myself against your best, before I went ahead with my plan. And Dik Dik graduated best in class at the academy. But now I see he falls short of that title."
" Prepare to feel the wrath of the Muscle League!" shouted Checkmate. All the Muscle League prepared to charge the stranger but when Dik Dik walked out of the cabin all bandaged up, everyone turned to him instead.
"Dik Dik!" exclaimed Wally as he turned to his friend." You're alright!"
"For now." Dik Dik said managing a slight smile.
"That's right, for now." Said Jacqueline walking up behind him." He won't be wrestling for some time. A few months I-" She stopped as she looked past everyone and saw the stranger." Who is this?" she pointed to him.
"That's the guy that attacked me!" yelled Dik Dik.
"Yea, we know buddy." Said Terry cracking his knuckles. "And we were just about to deal some justice for you."
"Now hold on a minute." Said Jacqueline walking up and standing before the stranger." Who do you think you are, hurting my wrestlers like this! Don't you know I've got money to make, how can I do that if your hurting my assets?!"
"I'm not interested in your money or your wrestlers." The stranger said. He looked away from Jacqueline and to Kid Muscle." I'm only interested in him." He reached up a big yellow and black striped arm and pointed a finger at Kid.
"Me?" questioned Kid." Why me?"
"Do you seriously not know?" questioned the stranger." Do I not look familiar to you." Kid looked at him with his jaw half open before he shrugged his reply.
"Wait a minute Kid." Spoke up Terry." I think I know what he's talking about."
"You do?" asked Kid.
"Yea. I remember a story my pappy once told me. About when your father had to fight in a tournament to win the Crown of Muscle Planet. In the second round they had to find the Team of Kinnikuman Zebra, a wrestler with white skin and black stripes." Everyone turned and looked at the stranger." Cept for a few differences, I'd say he's the exact image of Zebra."
"Close but no cigar." The stranger said."You are right about Kinnikuman Zebra who met his tragic end in the aftermath of the battle with King Muscle. I am Kinnikuman Tiger and Zebra was my brother." The groups let out gasps of shock." And I am here now to avenge his death."
"That happened over twenty years ago!" cried Kid Muscle." Why bring it up now! I didn't even fight your brother!"
"No but your father did. And now the sins of the father have been passed onto the son." Tiger said. Kid gulped down his fear.
"The Kid doesn't have to do that!" said Terry stepping in the way of the two. The rest of the Muscle Leaguer's stepped up as well.
"Hold on." Said Jacqueline silencing everyone." I'm liking the sound of this. History repeats itself as the Scramble for the Throne continues. It's perfect!" She flashed a smile at all the wrestlers." We can market it as a team battle five against five." She turned to Tiger." You can find four other team members can't you?"
Tiger let out a deep breath." A Tiger is a solitary killer." He opened raised his arm and flashed his five sharp finger nails. Kid jumped back in fright while Jacqueline sighed.
"Very well." She said." I guess we can just do a singles match then." Tiger turned and starred down Kid with his hungry red eyes that made Kid shiver when he looked at him. And despite any protest the match was on.
One week later in a stadium not too far away was where their battle would take place. The entire arena was filled with posters of the two fighters and slogans of 'family honor' or 'sins of the father'.
And Kid was more nervous than ever last night. He paced back and forth around the locker room, twitching and rubbing his hands together. And as usual his wife Roxanne was there to deal with his madness.
" I think your taking this a little more personally than you should." She said as she watched Kid walk past her.
"Shouldn't I?" he turned back to her." This guy has a vendetta against my family."
"So have tons of other villains you've fought and you beat all of them." But that didn't seem to calm Kid down as he continued to pace back and forth around the room." You beat Pumpinator, Hollywood Bowl, and even Kevin Mask."
"I am tired of fighting villains because of my father's mistakes." Said Kid." Maybe I can reach Tiger and show him there's another way."
"Oh boy." Roxanne rolled her eyes. Just then there was a knock at the door and an official poked his head into the room.
"Kid Muscle, you're on in five." And then he left leaving the couple in the room. Kid began taking deep breaths. Roxanne got up and stood next to him.
"Whatever happens out there, I know you'll be fine." She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek." Good Luck." Kid nodded his head and with a look of determination marched out to the ring.
Meanwhile Jacqueline stood in the center of the ring with the lights shining down on her and a microphone in her hand. "Entering first, standing 5'10 weighting 185 lbs. He is the current Choujin Crown Champion as well as ½ of the Tag Team Champion. The Prince of Muscle Planet, Kid Muscle!" Kid marched out to the ring to the cheering of his fans from all around the stadium and from all around the world, for those watching on tv. Kid waved and flashed the peace sigh as he walked to the ring. Once there he marched up the steps, through the ropes and into the ring. The lights shining down on him in the center of the ring alone while everyone cheered around him.
Roxanne made her way outside and sat amongst the other Muscle Leaguers, all in the front row.
When the cheering died the introductions continued.
"And his opponent standing 6'10 weighting 352 lbs. Born on Muscle Planet, Kinnikuman Tiger!" Kid watched as his menacing opponent came out roaring like the animal he was named after. Then with a great speed and agility Kid had never seen before Kinnikuman Tiger raced from his entrance and jumped into the ring. He jumped ten feet away from the ring, rising nearly twenty feet in the air before he stomped down with two feet in the ring next to Kid.
And standing next to the size of this gargantuan enemy Kid could only feel himself shrink.
"Alright boys." Said Jacqueline as she appeared between the two, microphone in hand." Before we get this match underway, let's go over the rules. Victory is won by pin fall or submission or if the opponent is knocked out or unable to fight." Kid looked away from Jacqueline to Tiger. Tiger's eyes stared him down with great ferocity that Kid hadn't seen in any of his other enemies. He wasn't here to simply beat Kid in a wrestling match, he was here to destroy him." No count outs, understand?" Tiger nodded his head slightly while Kid gulped and nodded his head shakily." Alright! Then at the sound of the bell begin." Then she turned and left the ring leaving the two combatants inside." Begin!" she shouted as she hit the bell, signaling the start of the match.
Both combatants rushed into the middle of the ring and squared off with each other. But as Tiger kept his fist up, ready for a fight Kid look unprepared for the fight.
"It doesn't have to be this way." Kid said to him." I am not responsible for your brother's death, surely you know this." Tiger said nothing." Please, put aside your hatred. It only holds you back." Kid extended his hand as a sign of friendship.
Tiger waited calmly for a few seconds but then eventually stuck his hand out and grabbed Kid's. The two stood there silently for a second but then Tiger grabbed Kid with his other hand and yanked him in close. Tiger bent down and grabbed Kid with both arms and when he stood up he held Kid high above his head. Kid screamed as loud as he could while Tiger just growled.
"The sins of the father are passed onto the son." He said.
Then Tiger tossed Kid higher into the air and stepped out of the way as Kid came falling down from a near twenty foot high fall. Kid landed and immediately began groaning from the pain, Tiger quickly capitalized on this moment.
He walked over and grabbed Kid by his hair and held him up, then with his other hand slapped Kid right in the chest. The slapping sound rang through the stadium and Kid nearly fell over. But Tiger yanked him up once more by his air and grabbed his leg with his other arm. Then Tiger turned around and swung Kid right into the corner, with the Prince's back hitting right into the metal pole. The contact rang out once more and Kid fell to the ground groaning. Then Tiger walked over and began stomping on Kid Muscle. And all around cameras captured every minute of it.
"This has been a very intense match so for." Said Jacqueline looking into the camera." Let's go to the audience and see if their enjoying it just as much."
"Roxanne!" she said shoving the microphone in the woman's face." How are you feeling right now?"
"Fine." Roxanne replied and looked away from her.
"How does it feel to see your husband being beat right before your very eyes?" she shoved the microphone towards her again.
"Kid's always been a slow starter. But once he gets going, he goes." She shoved the microphone away.
"Are you saying you're having trouble in the bedroom?"
"What?!"
"Have you thought of couple's counseling, therapy or separating entirely?"
"FUCK OFF!" yelled Roxanne. And since this was live tv that couldn't have been blanked out. Jacqueline turned back to the camera with Roxanne fuming in the background.
"So there you have it folks." She said." Kid Muscle is apparently poor in bed." And that was heard all around the world.
In England, Kevin Mask was sitting in front of the tv watching the match and saw everything that just went down.
"I really do hate that woman." He said shaking his head.
Meanwhile Tiger now had put Kid in a sitting up position as he continued to kick him down. But then in the blink of an eye Kid dodged Tiger's kick, shot up and punched him right in the chin. The larger wrestler stumbled back creating some distance between the two.
Kid watched as Tiger slowly shifted his head back towards Kid, he was bleeding from the mouth slightly. And Kid saw for the first time, Tiger smiled. But it wasn't a friendly kind it was a malicious one. Then Tiger lunged forward and tried to strike Kid but he managed to dodge.
Looking back Kid saw that Tiger had his claws out and he had managed to slice through the three ring ropes. If he hadn't moved he'd have been sliced in half. His enemy turned and faces him swiping his claws at him once more.
But Kid managed to duck under his attack, then wrapped both his arms around him and held him in place.
"Tiger." Kid grunted." It does not have to be this way. We don't have to fight like this." But Tiger just swung his elbow back and hit Kid causing him to let go. Then the bigger man picked the smaller one up and tossed him across the ring.
"This is a battle nearly twenty years in the making." Tiger said." The Final Battle in the War for the Crown of Muscle Planet. The Tournament where your father killed by brother!" Tiger reached down and pulled Kid to his feet." I will have my revenge! I will have Justice!"
And just when it seemed as if the fight was going to take a turn for the worst a voice rang out from the audience.
"No!" Everyone looked over and saw as none other than Terryman, Terry's father and King Muscle old Tag Partner and team member in the throne tournament walk out from the crowd and into the ring. Along with him was Rammenman another wrestler who was apart of the team." It wasn't like that at all." Said Terryman." King Muscle didn't kill your brother."
"Lies!" spat Tiger as he dropped Kid to the ground.
"Do not be quick to judge." Said Ramenman." Look and see for yourself." He pointed straight ahead. Tiger as well as the entire audience turned their heads to the large display screen where the last two members of King Muscle's Team Robin Mask and Warsman stood. With the signal from Rammenman Robin pressed play on the screen and the video began to play.
There it showed the semi-finals of the Throne Tournamet. Zebra was being taken out on a stretcher, beaten but not dead. An equally beaten up team of Kinnikuman stood nearby as they watched the battle between the last three members of Teams Phoenix and Soldier.
The screen displayed Prisman a wrestler made of glass shot a rainbow from his chest. But the blast flew by Broken Jr. and to the ground below, hitting Zebra. Hitting it's mark Zebra was reduced to ash within a few seconds. And not even all the rage in Tiger's heart could alter what his eyes had seen.
"King Muscle did not kill your brother." Continued Terryman. With this new information revealing the vendetta that drove him his whole life was a life, Tiger sank to his knees while Rammenman helped Kid to his feet." And the one responsible has been dead for a long time."
Tiger took a deep solemn breath. Kid Muscle walked over and reached a hand onto his shoulder. His opponent slowly turned his head up to him.
"It's alright." Kid said." Now is your time Tiger, it's time to move on." Once again he stuck his hand out in a sign of friendship.
Tiger began by dropping his eyes from Kid and looking to the ground. Then he slowly began shaking his head." No." he grumbled." No, No, NO!" He jumped up and out of the ring and then made a run for it.
"Tiger, wait!" yelled Kid. And the Prince gave chase after him. Then following after Kid was his wife and fellow Muscle Leaguers.
"Hey my show's leaving the arena!" shouted Jacqueline as she and her camera crew followed after them as well.
Kid ran as fast as he could with Tiger always in his sights. He followed him through every turn and around every corner. Eventually the two found themselves on the outside, on the outer wall of the stadium. Tiger standing near the ledge and Kid standing several feet away by the door.
"Tiger." Kid said to him." You don't have to run you don't have to be afraid." Tiger panted his reply with tears in his eyes.
"There's no hope for me." He said." I've wasted my entire life on a vendetta that wasn't real." But as Kid tried to advance Tiger only took a step backwards, getting closer to the ledge
"You don't have to be alone." Said Kid." Join me, join the Muscle League." He could see the fear in Tiger's eyes but Kid kept a reassuring smile on his face and extended his hand to Tiger for a third time." We are a band of brothers who always lend a shoulder to lean on when one of our own needs it."
"No." he shook his head." A Tiger is a solitary animal." Then he lifted his leg up and hung it over the edge.
"NO!" yelled Kid Muscle who watched as Tiger fell over the side. Kid jumped out to try and save him but Tiger slipped right through his fingers and Kid watched as he fell to the ground below. Kid stood up and took a deep breath as for the first time the Justice Choujin's idea of friendship had failed, and it was his own fault.
Kid slowly turned around and began walking inside where he met up with those who had been following him. And of course they were a buzz with questions.
"Kid what happened?" asked Roxanne.
"What happened to Tiger?" asked Dik Dik.
"You fought him?" added Terry.
"Where is he now?" asked Wally.
"He's gone." Kid answered. The others were silent after he'd spoken.
"I should have known some no-name wrestler would be no match for the Prince of Muscle Planet." Jacqueline chuckled.
"That 'wrestler' was a living being." Kid said with malice in his voice as he lurched himself over her." And we all failed him."
The night was silent after that. The Match was canceled and everyone left to return home. Kid held his head lower than usual that night. He'd fail in what he felt was his duty as a wrestler, to inspire hope in others. As he extended his hand to someone in need that person turned to his death. Kid couldn't help but blame himself.
But as he was walking though the parking lot he saw something strange. Looking at him from twenty feet away was a large bulking figure, but that's not what stood out to Kid. What stood out to him the most was the two red eyes looking at him. Then a row of sharp white teeth formed into a smile and flashed at him. Kid himself couldn't help but smile as he saw the figure disappeared into the night.
"Kid." said Roxanne as she walked up behind him." Are you alright?" Kid continued to smile his goofy smile." What is it?"
"The Tiger is a solitary animal." He said aloud. And Kid felt better than he ever had before because he knew now he had one extra friend out there.