Chapter 29: The Chao Olympics Part II: The Tournament Begins
E/N: Guess who's back?
Sorry it took so long, I've just been working really hard on the climax of the story and I want to make sure it's just right. This isn't it, but it's coming soon!
For now, enjoy the next part of the Chao Olympics!
The preliminaries were over and now the real tournament was about to begin. Sonic walked over to Macaroni, who was playing with a rubber doll. "Ready for the next round?" he asked.
Macaroni pumped her fist into the air. "Chao!"
Sonic walked back over to Amy, who was reading a Parenting magazine. "Man, these Chao are scary, especially that Demon dude."
Amy seemed glued to her magazine. "Did you know that in a woman's first pregnancy she has a tendency to be cranky, wild or rude?" she informed.
"Tch, no kidding," Sonic said under his breath.
Amy looked up. "What was that?"
"I said, 'Oh really'," Sonic changed, plastering a smile on his face.
Cream walked in with Cheese in her arms. "Hi, everyone."
"Hey, Cream," Sonic and Amy both greeted.
"Great match, Macaroni," Cream congratulated. Macaroni blushed and turned away. Cheese hopped out of Cream's arms and started playing with her daughter.
"So how is your pregnancy going?" Cream asked, sitting down next to Amy.
"Pretty good," Amy answered. "I think I might be getting used to the vomiting and weird cravings."
"I'm not," Sonic coughed into his hand. Amy smiled.
"So, what're you reading?" Cream asked.
"Stuff about pregnancies," Amy answered. Cream looked over at the magazine, seeing a picture of a mother cat snuggling with her kittens. They both awed.
Sonic rolled his eyes. "Feels like I'm in a doctor's office..."
The first round of the tournament Chaolin and Demon. Demon struck first, attempting to hit her in the chest. Chaolin quickly blocked. Demon tried again with several more hits, but Chaolin dodged or blocked each one of them, being a much stronger enemy than Sad. Demon growled in annoyance.
Chaolin grinned and rushed at Demon. Thinking that it would be a low hit, Demon blocked low. Quickly changing position, Chaolin delivered a powerful hit under Demon's chin. The Dark Chao went skyward as the crowd cheered crazily. He came crashing down to the ground. Chaolin grinned, thinking victory.
Omachao spoke. "And this game's winner is...wait! This match isn't over yet!"
Demon got up and spat on the ground. He smiled dementedly. "You just made the biggest mistake of your miserable life!" he said with a deep voice that reverberated across the stadium.
The crowd gasped in amazement. "Did...did that thing just talk?" Sonic said in amazement.
Amy's jaw dropped, along with the magazine she was reading.
Chaolin looked momentarily stunned. That was all the time Demon needed. He ran towards Chaolin and started punching him rapidly. Demon grabbed him, grinning madly as a small explosion followed. Chaolin was sent flying into the air. Demon bent backwards, his hands on his head as a gleam twinkled in his eye. He threw his arms down, sending up a huge pillar of blue fire. Chaolin was sent higher into the air and came down in a smoking heap. He was still alive, but unable to continue. The crowd started murmuring with sparse cheers.
"Wow..." Omachao breathed. "This game's winner is Demon!"
"What—surprised?" Demon said to the crowd. He grinned when no one responded. "Chao can say more than just the name of their species, you know." When he walked back to his Master in the cloak, everyone moved away from the aisle, as if just being within a few inches away from him would result in instant death.
The fourth match of the tournament was Angel and Macaroni. Both immediately jumped away in the defensive. They came at each other with ferocity, punching and dodging each other's attacks. The crowd cheered wildly at the fight. Macaroni faltered for a second, giving Angel an opening. She elbowed him in the chest, following up with an uppercut that sent Macaroni into the air. Macaroni came down hard on the ground, sliding towards the edge of the arena. Angel ran towards her, preparing a kick that would send Macaroni out of the ring.
"Come on, Macaroni!" Sonic yelled. "Get up, dude!"
Macaroni got up at the last second, grabbing Angel's leg just as she was about to kick her. Getting up, Macaroni twisted around several times before letting Angel go out of the ring. The crowd cheered for Macaroni's victory. "And the winner is...Macaroni!"
Once she was sure the match was over, Macaroni jumped out of the ring. She held out her hand to Angel. Angel smiled and took her former foe's hand. The crowd cheered even louder.
"The next part of the tournament will be held June 5! Swimming, intelligence, speed, strength—all will be tested! We will see you then!" Omachao announced.
Amy had her arms wide open for Macaroni. She jumped into them. "Congratulations, Macaroni!" Amy congratulated.
"Sweet job!" Sonic said, eating a chili dog. "You're in the tournament!"
"Chao!" Macaroni said.
"Say, when did you get that chili dog?" Amy asked accusingly.
Sonic looked at it as if he had just noticed it. "I got it at a stand while you were waiting for Macaroni to come back to you."
"And you didn't think to get me any?" Amy said dangerously.
Sonic continued eating. "Uh...no?" Amy punched him in the shoulder. "Ow! What's that for?"
"Go get me one...in fact, get two," Amy demanded. "Now."
Sonic sighed as he got up, as if he had on one-hundred pound weights on his shoulders. He ran to the stand and back in a few seconds with the two hotdogs. "Feels like I'm getting slower," he said with a smile.
Amy took the two dogs and handed one to Macaroni. She devoured it as if it would vanish at any moment. "Dang, is she evolving again or something?" Sonic asked.
"She eats just like you do," Amy said, digging into her hotdog.
Sonic scoffed. "Pfft, I don't eat like that." He proceeded to scoff down the rest of his hotdog even faster than Macaroni. Amy giggled.
"You know, Sonic," Amy began. "There's something weird about you."
"What do you mean?" Sonic said absently.
"You never want to give up anything with the word 'dog' in the name," Amy pointed out. Sonic did not respond. "You could at least look at me."
"Huh? Oh sorry," Sonic apologized. "It's just that Chao...Demon, I think and his trainer. I've got a strange feeling about them."
"I know what you mean," Amy agreed. "There's just a...strange feeling whenever I look at-" Amy looked back at where the figure in the hooded cloak would be sitting. "They're gone."
Sonic looked behind him. The two mysterious competitors were indeed gone. "Huh. Not very social, are they?"
"I feel better anyway with them gone," Amy said, petting Macaroni.
"It's not over yet," Sonic reminded. "I'm sure Macaroni will still have to go against him in the finals."
"I'm not sure I want Macaroni fighting him," Amy admitted. "There's just something...not right about him."
Sonic chuckled. "Macaroni can handle that freak, right?"
Macaroni looked up, nodded and said with determination. "Chao!"
E/N: It's almost time and I've come to my decision!
The next two chapters are supposed to be about a baby shower for Amy. First off, I absolutely HATE baby showers. Just a bunch of women sitting around "ooohing" and "awwing" over every unnecessary gift that gets opened, and that's basically what the next chapter will be. Well...the chapter after that. The next chapter will be about getting ready for that. Its Warped Violet Roses' LONGEST CHAPTER.
Sorry, Warped Violet Roses, but this is where we part ways.
Next chapter, we go STRAIGHT to the finale! What exactly is Dr. Eggman's plan? Will Macaroni prevail against the viscous Demon? And speaking of Demon, how can a Chao talk? And who is his mysterious owner? Find out in the next climactic chapter of A Rose that Blooms in Adversity!
