It was another day outside the convenience store where the teens usually hung out. Nick, Bucky, and Chuck were eating a dish of mini veggie tacos as Nick reached for the last one with his good arm.
"Anyone want the last taco" Nick offered as the two shook their heads as Nick popped it in his mouth. chewing on the crunchy taco.
"Nick, when does your cast come off?" Bucky asked sipping a slushie as Nick shrugged.
"About one week left" Nick responded washing down the cheesy snack with a bottle of water as Han left the store holding a bag of chips.
"Hey guys, would anyone consider coming to watch me in the martial arts tournament?" Han asked tearing open the bag of chips getting the attention of the other boys.
"What tournament?" Bucky asked slurping his drink. finishing the red beverage he tossed it in the trash.
"What tournament, the 25th annual Zootopia martial arts tournament when fighters from the city come to display there various styles amongst each other, I've been going for the past three years" Han replied shocked as the boys looked at him.
"Wait, How come I've never heard of this, we've trained together for 8 years and you never thought once to tell me about this" Nick replied a bit pissed, not that he could participate anyway with his arm the way it was.
"I assumed it was common knowledge" Han replied in defense as Nick rubbed his chin.
"It's a bit sudden but what the hell, I'll be there," Nick said eager to root for his friend.
"Me too," Chuck said standing up clenching his fists excited.
"Not me," Bucky said throwing the paper tray away as the two looked at him.
"What, my mother abhors violence, no way she'll let me go to a fighting tournament" Bucky replied in defense as the boys looked down.
"Okay, well, I'll see you two Friday," Han said walking off.
The week passed as Nick glanced it his cast. It was the only reason he could not participate in this contest which was a real shame. Nick had trained very hard and a chance to display his skills. He and Chuck quickly found their seats sitting down.
"Ladies and gentle mammals, Kits of all ages, welcome to the 25th annual ZMA, every year, mammals from across the city come to display the fighting prowess and only walks home a champion if all the fights could line up on the mat, we can get this started," The announcer said.
Nick and Chuck watched the fights, enjoying the animals fighting each other. various mammals of different species displaying a wide array of fighting styles. the two were watching a fight between a horse dressed in leather and a bull dressed in cowboy attire. the bull was using a punching style as the horse did a spin kick knocking the bull down as he hit the ground landing on the mat. the crowd cheered.
"That was Awesome" Chuck exclaimed spilling his popcorn.
"I probably could have taken him" Nick stated as the bull got up shaking hooves with the horse.
"Next Fighters are Han Malcolm, fighting, and his opponent is Jeremy Henson" the announcer called out.
"Kick his ass Han" Chuck called out as Han walked on the fighting mat wearing a black karate gi with flames painted down the legs. he bowed at the panther who was his enemy wearing wrestling shorts and a tank top and spotting boxing gloves.
"Best of Luck" Han stated as the panther stood still. the bell rang as Jeremy quickly put Han in a headlock. Head smirked flipping the panther over. He attempted to stomp Jeremy but the enemy jumped up uppercutting Han. the tiger swiped with his paws landing some hits. The two were sitting in the audience on the edge of their seats.
"This is the toughest fight yet, by the looks of it" Nick stated bitting his knuckle as Chuck was clenching his paws in excitement. the two were well matched as Jeremy struck Han right in the face. The tiger backed up running across his nose. seeing a red stain on his fur he brought his paw to his nose taking a deep breath he shot a huge red glop from his nasal passage rushing back into the fight switching to a kicking style. Han made short work of Jeremy flipping a kick to his chest sending him back first on the mat.
"And the winner is Han Malcolm who goes on to the finals," the announcer said as the tiger stroke a pose earning applause from the audience walking off the mat for the next fight. he walked to Nick and Chuck sitting beside them in the bleachers.
"Dude, that was awesome" Chuck exclaimed admiring Han's legwork.
"I honestly thought you were gonna lose for a second" Nick stated as Han smirked wiping his nose with a tissue.
"You sure you should continue, maybe get that looked at," Nick said eyeing Han's nose.
"Just a bloody nose, never killed anyone" Han stated stuffing tissues up his nose. the three watched the last Semi-Finals fight between a Lion wearing a cargo outfit and a panda wearing a blue gi with white pinstripes. the fight was for the most part even as the Panda gave the Lion a huge bearhug falling on the mat, spinning around so the Lion would hit first.
"Yuri Miko is the victor and Alexander King is eliminated, the final match will be Han Malcolm Verses Yuri Miko," the announcer said as Han took a deep breath walking to the mat as he bowed with Yuri.
"I see your Pandanese by your outfit, always a pleasure to meet someone of the same culture" Han complemented as the two took their fighting poses as the bell rang.
"You should have seen the fight, It was awesome," Chuck said excitedly to Bucky and Dawn outside the store before he turned to Han.
"Tell them how awesome it was" Chuck praised the tiger.
"She was formidable" Han replied with an ice bag on the jaw.
"It was AMAZING, was all WACHOW and Yuri was all YAYAYA" Chuck went out imitating fighting moves.
"Wish I could have seen it," Dawn said sipping an iced tea sitting beside Nick.
"It sounds Epic, shame you didn't get to participate," Bucky said to Nick as the fox shrugged.
"Maybe next year" Nick sighed as Han chuckled.
"Just make sure you do it before you turn 18, that's the cut off age" Han stated holding the Icebag.
"The Panda messed you up," Bucky said to Han.
"It was a very, very close match" Han replied impressed as Nick noticed him acting like that.
"What's with you?" Nick asked Han as he set his Ice down.
"I've never met such a worthy opponent, for the first time I felt like I did not have to hold back" Han complemented the trophy.
"Wait, so she won?" Dawn said confused at the talk.
The two were fighting. Han was giving it everything he had. punches, kicks, spins but she was matching everything he had to dish out. the two were matched as the two were breathing heavily as Yuri sighed putting her paws on Han's collar falling over as they both hit the ground. Yuri landed on Han exhausted. earning a gasp of shock from the audience.
"It looks like both Han and Yuri are unable to continue fighting, we have no choice to call a draw," the announcer said.
"It was a TIE?" Bucky said confused as the Tiger nodded.
"The best fight I ever had, I'll never get to see her again to find out who is the better fighter," Han replied.
"Aww, you have a crush on the Panda girl" Bucky teased as Han held his half of the trophy in his lap.
"I do not have a crush. I admire her as a fighter that is it" Han explained in defense.
"Please, you two would probably make a nice couple, just like Nick and Dawn," Bucky said as The two spit out their drinks.
"Whoa, we are not together" Nick replied in defense claiming there was no relationship between him an Dawn. as Bucky looked at him along with Chuck.
"Really, with all the time you two spend together I figure you two were all boyfriend and girlfriend" Chuck added.
"No, we're not, There is nothing romantic between us" Nick responded as Stood up, clearly shaken by the comments.
"I have to go, This is getting awkward," The ewe said walking off.