Otherworlds: Dragonball

by Mutsunokami

"So you got to meet up with everybody, eh?" Goku grins.

"Yup! Just like old times!" In the background, the old
man tries to chat up the only woman in the room.

"Hoo-hoo! Are you a finalist too, young lady?" The
young lady in question just stares at him, wondering about this
powerful urge to hit the old man. She just glares at him
through the red cloth masking her face.

"WA-HA-HA-HA!! Outta my way, outta my way!" A huge, foul-
smelling man stomps his way towards them.

"UGH!! Th-that STINK!!!" Goku scrunches his face like he's
in pain. The giant man stomps past and everyone glares at him.

"Wh-who in the world is that... that giant?"

""He's one of the toughest!" Yamcha tries to take another
breath. "His strength is a legend among martial artists...
But even more powerful is the 'stench' he developed by never
taking a bath in his whole life...! Battered by the terrible
stench, one instinctively pinches one's nostrils... And in that
manner, he renders his opponent's hands useless and attacks...!"

Krillin reflects on this. "Stink-Fu, huh?"

"M-my nose is sharp as a dog's..." Goku says, tears falling
from his eyes. "So this really hurts--!"

"Now hear this! All finalists, please assemble--!" All the
finalists move over to stand near the announcer, even Bacterian,
who looms over the group. Everyone jumps away, holding their
noses. The announcer quickly pulls out a hankerchief and holds
it over his nose.

"Y-you can st-stand a little further back, please..." A
moment later, everyone is standing in a group again. The announcer
points at a chart on the wall.

"We will now draw lots to determine match-ups and fight
schedules-- when your name is called, please step forward and draw
a slip." The old man steps forward.

"Er-- ahem."

"Yes?"

"I'd like to fight this young lady." So saying he pulls the
girl over to him by the arm. She just glares at him.

"I-I'm sorry, sir, but NO...! O-okay, then... I'll start
calling your names... Uhh-- Namu-san." The dark-skinned Namu
steps forward.

"Here." He reaches in and pulls out a slip of paper. "Number
1." The announcer marks the chart with his pen.

"That would be Match 1." He looks down at the list again.
"Uhh-- "Kaiju" Giran." A large dinosaur steps forward.

"Yo!" He somehow manages to pull out a slip of paper.

"Number 3... Match 2. ...Bacterian."

"Geh!" Flies swarming around him, Bacterian steps forward
and pulls out a slip of paper.

"N-number 8... Match 4. Yamcha."

"Yeah."

"Number 2. Match 1, vs. Namu. Krillin."

"H-here, sir!!" He reaches into the box. The monk looks down
at him.

"Can you reach?" The announcer looks at the paper and marks
the chart.

"Number 6, Match 3." He looks again at the list. "Um...
...Song Oku." Noone steps forward. "Are you here, Song Oku?"
Again, noone steps forward. "That's funny-- We've got the
right number of people...," he mutters. Yamcha walks over and
looks at the list.

"Could that be "Son Goku"?"

"Huh?!" He looks up. "I-Is there a Son Goku present...?"

"HERE!!!" Goku enthusiastically jumps over and pulls out a
piece of paper.

"Number 7. Match 4, vs. Bacterian." Goku gulps and looks
nervously at Bacterian, who is grinning at him.

"Lady Scarlet." Lady Scarlet walks forward and pulls out a
piece of paper from the box.

"Number 5. Match 3 vs. Krillin. Jackie Chun." The old man,
being the last one, doesn't need to pull out a number. The announcer
lays down the clipboard and pen. "...And so, that is the schedule.
Each match will be one round with no time limit! If you fall off
the stage or cry "Mercy," you lose! And also... Attacking the
eyes or the vulnerables is a violation." Goku walks up to him.

"What are vulnerables?"

"In terms you'll understand-- your "jewels". In any case,"
he continued, "the matches will begin momentarily. So, please
wait here until further notice." Goku tugs on the announcer's
sleeve.

"Hey! What about lunch?!"

"Huh?! You want to eat... Right before the match? Wouldn't
you rather wait until aft--"

"I wanna eat!!" The announcer looks over at the monk.

"W-well then... Prepare him a lunch."

"Please, sir, step this way."

"Krillin, what about you?"

Krillin just stares at him and sweatdrops. "Y-you've got
to be kidding-- I'm too nervous to be hungry..." Lady Scarlet
walks over to Goku.

"I think I'll join you. Is that okay?" Goku just grins and
nods. Soon, both are at a table, eating. Scarlet has the cloth
unwrapped enough to eat. Goku just ignores her and asks for thirds.
Outside, the crowds are cheering at the appearance of the announcer.

*****

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience!! We now
comence with the 21st Tenkaichi Budokai!!!" He takes a breath,
building up the suspense. "ALL HAIL OUR 8 TENKAICHI BUDOKAI
CHALLENGERS!!!"

"MATCH No. 1-- Namu VS Yamcha!!" Namu, head tilted forward
slightly, eyes closed, appears next to a fierce looking Yamcha.

"MATCH No. 2-- Giran VS Jackie Chun!!" Giran roars and poses
while Jackie calmly stands nearby.

"MATCH No. 3-- Lady Scarlet VS Krillin!!" Lady Scarlet and
Krillin stand next to each other in stances.

"MATCH No. 4-- Goku VS Bacterian!!" Bacterian looms over an
angry-looking Goku.

"THE BATTLES ARE ABOUT TO BEGIN!!!"

At last... The curtain is about to rise on the Tenkaichi
Budokai... Which of the eight contenders will earn the title
"Strongest-Under-The-Heavens"?!

*****

Next time on Dragonball!

The Tournament Begins!!
It's the first match, Namu against Yamcha! Who will win? Find out
next time on... Bulma's Tale!

*****

Author's Note
(can be heard humming along with an MP3) Huh?! OH! Sorry, folks.
My muse finally got back from vacation, so I wrote a chapter! ^_^*
Seriously, though, I will try to get out those chapters as quickly
as procastinatively possible!