When Kid returned to the hotel lobby he found that it was buzzing with excitement. Camera crews were standing around them and Jacqueline was conducting interviews. Terry and Jeager were there, Checkmate and Wally, Fiona and Okan. But wherever one looked they saw Kid Muscle was nowhere to be seen.
Kid had silently snuck his way around hoping to avoid any cameras or interviews. But his luck would soon run out. One second he was alone and the next Kid found himself surrounded by cameras. Jacqueline poking a microphone into his face.
"Kid." She said." With Dik Dik out of commission who will be your stand in?"
"Well I-" began Kid but his voice trailed off.
"Kid how will you win without a partner?" asked Jacqueline." Because you know the rules, you can't compete unless you have a partner."
"No I have a partner." Said Kid." It's um um." Now Kid began to break into a bad sweat as all the cameras continued to glare at him.
"Kid Muscle." Said a commanding voice from behind him. The cameras all backed up and aimed at the person behind Kid. Kid turned around himself and was shocked to see Kevin Mask standing over him." When is our match?" asked Kevin casually.
"Our match?" asked Jacqueline." What do you mean 'our match'?" Then she turned the microphone over to Kevin.
"Yea what do you mean 'our match'?" asked Kid just as equally confused, Kevin however gave Jacqueline no mind and kept his eyes on Kid.
"We're Tag-Team Partners aren't we." said Kevin, stating it rather than asking it. Then he leaned down and poked Kid in the chest." When is our match?" And then a dead silence fell over the crowd.
"Kid." Said Jacqueline breaking the silence and causing him to turn to her." Is this true? Is Kevin Mask your partner?"
"Why of course." Said Kid as a big grin grew on his face." You heard it from his own mouth." Then he stood there and laughed but he looked back at Kevin, hoping that he wasn't playing some sick joke on him. But Kevin stood by Kid's side and said nothing.
"And there you have it folks." Said Jacqueline as she turned back to the camera and addressing those watching it." The team of Kid Muscle and Kevin Mask will be competing in the Chojin Tag-Team Tournament."
"NO!" yelled Ikeman from his private booth as he just watched the broadcast." This can't be happening!" Then he proceeded to jump up and down and slam his fist against the walls." I must do something!" Then he stormed off out of his room and down the hall.
Kid however breathed much easier as he and Kevin walked down the hallway.
"HAHA!" he laughed." You know Kevin." He said." I was really screwed back there until you showed up." Kevin however said nothing and Kid continued his speech." You act all mean and tough, but you're really a nice guy deep down aren't ya?" Then Kid made a move to put his arm around Kevin but he was stopped when Kevin slapped Kid's hand away and put his finger in Kid's face.
"Don't." was all he said. Then he turned and tried to leave.
"Hey c'mon Kev." Said Kid as he went after Kevin.
"Don't call me Kev."
"Hey Kev." Said Kid ignoring Kevin's precious comment." We're really friends aren't we?"
"I want to make one thing perfectly clear here Muscle." Said Kevin ignoring Kid's question as he pointed his finger in Kid's face, grabbing his attention." If I'm with you, I'm here to win. And that means two things." He said holding up the number of fingers to show Kid." One we will not do any dumb, over the top entrances."
"Oh." Kid whined.
"Two." Continued Kevin." You will not blow this out of proportion. We are teaming, we are winning, and that's the end of the story." He towered over Kid hoping to frighten him with his request but Kid's answer would shock him.
"You drive a hard bargain Kevin." Said Kid with a smile." I'm sure we'll have some great times working together." Kevin was slightly shocked by this, he hadn't expected Kid to react so happily to his threatening gesture, Kid just knew how to surprise him.
"Kevin Mask, Kid Muscle!" called Jacqueline as she came running down at them.
"Oh Christ." Groaned Kevin with a sag of his shoulders.
"I just want to say boys." She said as she stood before them." That was a real good twist you pulled back there, you have no idea how much that shocked people."
"Well whatever pleases the people right." Said Kid with a smile.
"That's sure to boost our ratings." Said Jacqueline.
"Kevin Mask, Kid Muscle." Said Ikeman as he ran towards him.
"Oh great now there's two of them now." Groaned Kevin as Ikeman ran over and stood before them.
"Gentlemen." Said Ikeman." Can I see you both in my office, immediately." Kid and Kevin looked to each other confused. Then the group made their way to the chairman's office.
"You boys can't enter the tournament as a team." Told Ikeman.
"WHAT?!" yelled Kid Muscle." What are you talking about, of course we can!"
"I'm sorry but you can't." sang Ikeman as he produced a small manual from his back pocket." The rules state a team must participate in the proper ritual before being able to compete."
"But I already did the ritual." Whined Kid." I caught Dik Dik from the falling mountain and everything."
"Correct." Said Ikeman as he raised an index finger." But he hasn't." he added and pointed to Kevin, who gave a low grumble as he was pointed at.
"What are you saying?!" said Kid." What are we supposed to do?!"
"I'm afraid you can't compete." Said Ikeman as he closed his book. He let a small smile come to his face as he had finally thought he was free of Kid Muscle in his tournament." But Kevin if you'd like to team with any other wrestler, I'm sure that could be arranged."
"Now hold on." Said a Jacqueline as she stepped up." Surely you can't be serious." She said to her brother." We need the Chojin Crown Champion in this tournament, and the fact that we wants to team with his rival makes the story all the better."
"But-But the Rules." Said Ikeman.
"Forget the rules." Replied Jacqueline. The two siblings began to bicker back and forth while Kid Muscle and Kevin darted their heads between the two depending on who was talking.
"You never let me have my way." Cried Ikeman.
"Now that's enough." Vance spoke up as he walked into the room, silencing everyone.
"Father." Spoke up Ikeman. "Surely you realize that we have to follow the rules here." Vance turned from his son and looked to the two wrestlers before him.
"Kid Muscle and Kevin Mask." He said getting the attention of the two wrestlers." I have great respect for your fighting skills along with the heritage you both come from, however I'm afraid the rules are the rules." But before he could say more his daughter quickly jumped up.
"Daddy wait." She said as she moved in front of her father." You can't be serious."
"I'm afraid I am my dear." Replied Vance." Your brother's right."
"But Daddy just think about it." Said Jacqueline as she moved behind her father." Kid Muscle and Kevin Mask." She put her hands before her father's eyes and closed the two into view between them." Enemies turned friends."
"We're not friends." Spoke up Kevin. But his words didn't stop Jacqueline as she continued.
"After what all friends want." She continued." Two gold belts that will unite the two forever in a bond of friendship." Kevin looked down at Kid Muscle who was picking his nose, thinking now about being bonded with Kid Muscle forever. A quick groaned escaped his lips." And think of all the money we'd make of that." She whispered into her father's ear. And that was all Vance needed to hear.
"You make a fine point daughter." Said Vance." Very well then, the Team of Kevin Mask and Kid Muscle will be allowed to compete."
"WHOO!" yelled Kid Muscle as he jumped up and down, much to the annoyance of his present tag partner. Then Kid turned to Kevin." Give me a hug buddy." Said Kid with a smile as he held his arms out for him.
"Don't even think about it." Said Kevin stopping Kid before he could take a step closer. Kid put his arms down and hung his head in defeat.
"Now hold on a second there." Spoke up Ikeman." Father you can't just ignore the rules like that."
"But your sister brings up a fine point son." Said Vance pointing to Jacqueline." There's huge profit to be made here."
"But I'm the new Chairman." Squealed Ikeman. But his father and sister shook their heads and him and prepared to leave the topic at that. But then Ikeman had an idea. He cleared his voice and rose to his full height." Father I have a proposition."
"Proposition?" asked Vance as he raised an eyebrow and looked at his son." What kind of Proposition?"
"I'm prepared to let Kid Muscle and Kevin Mask compete." Told Ikeman." However they should complete the necessary tasks first."
"I don't like where this is going." Said Kid.
"To make sure that they are a proper team." Said Ikeman. Vance stood back and rubbed his hand along his chin.
"Very well." He said after several moments." The team of Kevin Mask and Kid Muscle may only compete if they complete the necessary task."
"Yes!" exclaimed Ikeman as he raised his arms up.
"But father." Said Jacqueline as she stepped forward to protest." There's too many task to complete and we only have until tomorrow morning until the tournament starts again.
"True, true." Said Vance."But it's only fair." Said Vance. "That any competing team completes the team tasks."
"If they have to do that." Said Jacquline." Let them just do the final task. The Trust task."
"Fine, fine." Groaned Ikeman as his sister looked at him.
"But-But that's not fair." Spoke up Kid Muscle." He's doing this on purpose!" he added pointing to Ikeman who only smiled back at him.
"It's fine." Said Kevin. Then he reached up and pushed Kid Muscle's hand down." What is it we have to do?"
Before he knew it Kevin and Kid Muslce stood before a large cliff with Ikeman, Jacqueline and Vance looking on nearby.
"You can't be serious." Said Kevin as he turned back to the McMadds.
"Oh but I'm afraid so my good man." Said Ikeman with a smile." In order to qualify as a tag team you must pass the trust test." Kevin groaned in response.
"I'm afraid he's right Kevin." Spoke up Vance." Just catch Kid Muscle and we can move on."
"That's not what I'm worried about." Said Kevin as he turned and looked at Kid who stood next to him with his knees shaking and his thumb in his mouth.
"This cliff looks bigger than the other one." He squealed. In actuality it was, another dramatic attempt by Ikeman to get Kid Muscle out of the Tournament.
"Have no fear boys I believe in you." Called Jacqueline to the two.
"Oh God. Groaned Kevin as he hung his head.
"Do it for me." She said again.
"I'd be better of just falling to my death." Kevin said quietly to himself." Okay." He said turning to Kid Muscle." Let's get this over with, I'll jump first."
"O-Okay." Kid stuttered.
"And I don't think I have to stress this, but" Said Kevin as he stood right before Kid." DON'T DROP ME!"
"Yes K-Kevin." Stuttered Kid some more, now more afraid of dropping Kevin than the heights of the mountain." You can count on me."
Kevin turned and began climbing the mountain while Kid Muscle waited on the ground ready to catch him when he jumped. The McMadds watched on with eager eyes the whole time.
Eventually Kevin had climbed up to an altitude he deemed high enough for when he looked down he could hardly see Kid Muscle. The Prince of Muscle Planet looking like an ant from the great height he was at.
"Are you ready Kid?" Kevin called down to the bottom.
"Uh-huh." Replied Kid with a nod of his head.
So Kevin stepped up to the edge of the cliff. He stood to his full height and put his arms out to his sides. Then with a great leap he jumped forward and tugged his limbs tightly to his body. And then Kevin began to fall fast.
Kid all the while ran back and forth on the ground anticipating the area where Kevin would land. But once he found one spot he thought Kevin was coming from another direction and would run over there, shouting at the top of his lungs the whole time.
The McMadds' eyes all watched Kid Muscle as he ran back and forth. Surprisingly the most calm person there was Kevin, despite the fact he was falling fast and the person who was supposed to catch him didn't know what he was doing.
Kevin finally became aware that he was coming close to the ground, so he casually closed his eyes. Kid looked up and around to try and anticipated where Kevin would fall in the small area he'd narrowed it down to.
But then Kid moved too fast and tripped over a rock causing him to fall forward. Now he was falling to the ground. The McMadds looked on with different emotions.
"Not again." Groaned Kid.
The two partners continued to fall but when Kevin came to be several feet above the ground it appeared that Kid Muscle had tripped forward and would catch Kevin anyway.
But then Kevin landed right on top of Kid. But one way or another he had been caught.
"Yes." Said Jacqueline as she jumped up and down." Now all Kevin has to do is catch Kid," Ikeman looked at his sister and scowled.
Kevin picked himself up from the ground and hovered over Kid who had been implanted into the ground.
"Are you alright Muscle?" he asked as he picked Kid's limp body up and stood him upright. But when he did Kid quickly doubled over and fell to the ground with a groan.
"Kid!" Said Jacqueline in concern.
"Oh I'm sure he's fine." Commented Ikeman with a sly smile.
Kevin picked Kid up once more and stood him upright. Kid stood up with a sleepy look on his face." Muscle." Said Kevin as he held Kid there." Can you hear me?" Kid's mouth opened wide and his tongue rolled out along with a strange noise Kevin had never heard before." Muscle can you hear me?" Another strange noise Kevin had never heard before exited Kid's mouth and caused Kevin to sigh.
"Kevin what are you waiting for?" asked Jacqueline." Tell Kid to get up there and jump." Kevin cocked his head and moved Kid out of his line of vision and looked at The McMadd woman. But when he moved Kid aside he had no support so Kid fell to the ground." OH NO!" screamed Jacqueline as she quickly ran over to Kid with her father.
"Oh no indeed." Chuckled Ikeman.
Vance and his daughter ran over and knelt down beside Kid who was being supported by Kevin.
"What's happened?" asked Vance." What's wrong?"
"I think he's unconscious." Told Kevin as he cradled Kid's head in his hands.
"Oh well that's alright." Said Jacqueline." We'll just put this off until he wakes up."
"I'm afraid not dear sister." Said Ikeman as he came up behind the group. Everyone turned and looked up at him." The rules state that once the ritual has begun it cannot be forfeited, unless of course the competitor gives up." He said with a smile.
"Well he can't continue." Said Jacqueline." He's not conscious." Then she turned to her father." Daddy do something."
"I'm afraid your brother is right." Told Vance." If Kid Muscle doesn't jump he can't compete."
"But he can't jump if he's not conscious." Complained Jacqueline.
"Then I'm afraid he forfeits." Said Ikeman. Jacqueline turned to retort but then Kevin spoke up.
"I'll take care of this." He said. Then he bent down and picked Kid Muscle up hoisting him over his shoulder.
"What are you doing?" asked Ikeman.
"I'll toss Kid Muscle off the cliff." Told Kevin." Then I'll jump after him and catch him."
"Wow Kevin let's think about this for a moment." Said Jacqueline." That's crazy."
"I will do what I must." Said Kevin. Then he pushed past them and began scaling the mountains with Kid Muscle on his back.
"This is crazy." Said Jacqueline.
"Yes." Said Ikeman." Worst case scenario he misses Kid Muscle, who falls into the ground and dies." Jacqueline turned to her brother with concern.
It wasn't long before Kevin came to the very same spot he had jumped before. He looked over the edge and once confirming it was high enough grabbed Kid Muscle and held the prince before himself.
"Alright Muscle." He said as he held his limp body there." Are you ready?" Kid made no reply since he was out cold. So Kevin turned looked straight out over the edge. Then he threw his arms back, along with Kid Muscle. Then with one great swing of his arms he threw Kid Muscle up into the sky.
Then Kevin himself jumped straight out, and then the two partners began falling together.
Kevin landed on the ground first then looked up to try and locate Kid Muscle. Soon enough he found exactly where the Kid was. Kevin quickly ran over to the spot he had determined Kid would land. Then as he arrived at the spot he held his arms up and prepared to catch his partner. Then in a matter much more graceful in what had happened before Kid fell right into Kevin's arms.
"Yes." Said Jacqueline as she jumped up in a fit of joy. Her brother however dropped his jaw in shock, then quickly turned to his father.
"Father-" he began.
"No buts." Said Vance." The Team of Kid Muscle and Kevin Mask will compete." Then he turned and walked off. Ikeman turned and buried his head in the ground while his sister ran up to congratulate the two.
Kevin held the limp Kid Muscle in his arms for a few moments before he noticed something strange. Kid's face began to twitch.
"Kid?" asked Kevin as he held him.
"Is it over?" asked Kid. Then he opened one eye and looked around himself. He saw himself in Kevin's arms and the ground a safe distance away." Oh Good!" Kid wailed." I made it. I'm sure glad you threw me Kevin, I don't know if I would have been able to jump this again."
"You were awake the whole time?!" asked Kevin. Then he quickly dropped his arms and let Kid fall to the ground. He immediately regretted that for when he did Jacqueline McMadd jumped on him.
She wrapped her arms around Kevin's head and as he stumbled back she swung around him. Then she finally landed on her feet.
"Oh Kevin." She said hugging him." I knew you could do it." Immediately after Kevin broke contact with her and shook her off him. Then with an annoyed groan he turned and walked off." He's so sensitive." Said Jacqueline. Then she followed after him.
It was at this time that Kid picked himself up from the ground.
"Hey guys." He called." Could I get a hand?" But no one answered." Kevin." He called out." Could I get a ride back to my hotel?" Kevin cocked his head back slightly at Kid Muscle but continued to walk off.
So Kid was left to find his own way that night.
