A/N: 1 review!! I got 1 review!!! I feel so special! :p But, I guess it's a
start. I said these next chapters would be better, so maybe then I'll get
more reviews! ^_^
Sage: They'd better give you some damn reviews. Who wouldn't like ME in this fic?
Quiet, boy. They don't know enough about you yet. -_- Anyways, here we go, episode 2 time!! ^_^
The Brolly Saga
Episode 2: Kamehameha?!! No, it's not Cell, it's Sage!!
In the main arena, the audience was getting restless. Fans were screaming for the fighting to start. In a high building above the area, a familiar World Champ was resting in a chair.
"I'm glad I decided not to participate in this tournament. I mean, I think I've given enough money to the poor already! Ah ha ha!" Hercule talked such nonsense as this to himself as he watched the crowd below from a huge bay window.
"Daddy! Daddy, has the fighting started yet?"
Hercule smiled as he swung around in his swivel chair. A young teenage girl was behind him; she looked bored.
"I'm am SO booooooreeeed! Make them start the fights!"
Hercule smiled politely at his daughter. "Calm down, honey. Things will get underway as soon as the opponent's are chosen! I promise!"
The girl sighed and slumped down in another chair. "I hope so..."
Hercule chuckled and turned around, just as a computer screen above him started to beep.
"Ah, look there, we're receiving the identities of our participants right now!"
Hercule's daughter looked up in slight interest. After another beep, a headshot of each competitor appeared on the screen.
"Hmmm...EH?!!"
Snot began to drip out of Hercule's nose when he saw the pictures of some of the Z Warriors. His face began to get very pale. *Oh god, please...not them, anyone but them!!*
His daughter was meanwhile just staring at the screen. When her gaze passed by Gohan's picture, she suddenly moved back and stared only at his picture. As Hercule held his head, trying to hold back the headache he was beginning to receive, she walked forward and looked closer.
"Ehh...something wrong, dear?"
Little tiny hearts suddenly formed in the girl's eyes. "Wow...he's a cutie!" (A/N: I know, she's just so OOC there, but I couldn't resist! ^_^)
Hercule fell over from that remark. Then he got up in an instant, looking pissed off. "What?! You think that boy is...CUTE?! Do you even know who that is?!"
"N..no, do you know?"
"I do indeed! He's...OH!!" Hercule immediately stopped himself from continuing. *What am I doing?! Was I really about to tell her that he is the guy who beat Cell?! No...no, of course I wasn't. That's rich, so funny. Ha ha!*
"...Daddy?"
"Ehh...oh! Um, actually, I don't know who he is, sorry!" Hercule said, desperately trying to find a believable answer.
His daughter looked at him strangely, then she shrugged. "Oh, alright. Well now...says his name is Son Gohan. That's an odd name, but he's still cute!"
Hercule got a sweatdrop as he grinned stupidly at her.
A little later, still in the main arena, the announcer guy was running to the ring. He jumped onto it and spoke into his mic. "HEEEELLLOOOOOO...MARTIAL ARTS FANS!!!!" A huge roar came up from the crowd as he spoke.
"WE'VE WORKED OUT EVERYTHING ALRIGHT, AND NOW WE'RE READY TO BEGIN THE COMPETITION!" A bigger roar came up as he said this. "BUT BEFORE WE BEGIN THE FIRST MATCH, LET ME EXPLAIN A FEW THINGS ABOUT THIS SPECIAL TOURNAMENT!"
Off to the sidelines, the fighters were sitting around in their little area below the stands. Gohan and Trunks looked out eagerly into the crowd as Piccolo and Vegeta just leaned against the wall. Krillin sat on the floor, and the other fighters were doing other things.
Trunks looked over at Gohan. "Think you can handle being in the first match, Gohan?"
"I'm actually excited. I get to show all the people how strong I am!" Gohan grinned and started stretching his arm.
Krillin looked up at Gohan with a half-hearted smirk. "Well at least SOME of us are enthusiastic. But not me, I have to fight that Sage in the second match!!"
Piccolo opened an eye and looked at Krillin. "Well, you'll be able to tell us how strong he is if you fight him."
Krillin's eyes widen. "Yeah, sure, but it's just...he seems really strong...
"Don't worry. I felt a good bit of power from him, but from that alone, I conclude he isn't even as strong as you. You should be fine." Piccolo twitched a little as he said this. *Unless he can control his battle strength like us too...*
Back out at the ring, the announcer continued to speak. "NOW, SINCE THERE ARE 12 COMPETITORS, THE LAYOUT OF THE FIGHTS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT! THERE WILL FIRST BE 6 QUARTERFINAL MATCHES, FOLLOWED BY THREE EXCITING SEMIFINALS MATCHES! AFTER THIS, THE THREE REMAINING FIGHTERS WILL DO SOMETHING YOU CAN ONLY SEE IN THIS SPECIAL TOURNAMENT, A BATTLE ROYAL IN THE RING WITH ALL THREE FIGHTERS AT ONCE!!! THE LAST MAN STANDING WILL BE DECLARED THE HONARABLE TITLE OF SPECIAL WORLD CHAMPION, WHICH OF COURSE DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH HERCULE'S PLACE WHATSOEVER!" The crowd exploded in excitement. But then the announcer held a hand up and quieted the crowd down a bit. "BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, I DO MEAN IT WHEN I SAY THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE TO SEE THIS BATTLE ROYALE! APPARENTLY ARE TOURNAMENT ISN'T "SPECIAL" ENOUGH TO BE TELEVISED BY ANY TV COMPANIES! BUT, AT LEAST YOU CAN STILL TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT YOUR GREAT EXPERIENCE!"
"Well, there being no broadcast of this is fine. I wouldn't want anyone to recognize us from the Cell Games." Gohan said with relief.
"Yeah, but what about the people here? They could notice some of us, right?" Krillin wondered.
"Probably not. I think most of us have changed enough to not be noticed. For one, I was in Super Saiyan mode through the entire Cell Games. And I won't do it here, that's for sure. And you, Krillin, I think it's obvious what's different about you."
Krillin blushes and rubs his head, which has a bit of black hair on it. "Yeah...now I'm much better looking then I was back then..."
"I already have a history with this tournament, so maybe the fact that I was at the Cell Games won't attract too much attention," Piccolo added on.
"And I've recently cut my hair, so I shouldn't be noticed," Trunks joined in. "That only leaves father, who hasn't changed a bit..."
Vegeta spit on the ground. "Like I give a crap if someone recognizes me. I only care about beating Gohan."
Gohan groans. "Yes, we all now, Vegeta."
"LET'S NOT WASTE ANYMORE TIME! THE FIRST MATCH, SON GOHAN VERSUS SHOUTO!"
"Ah! That's my call!" Gohan grinned and began to walk out to the arena. "Wish me luck, guys!"
Piccolo smiled. "Go get 'em, kid."
The other fighter, Shouto, a skinny man wearing a tank top and grey sweatpants, walked forward and followed Gohan. He gulped as he stepped onto the ring.
"THESE TWO ARE BOTH NEWCOMERS TO THE TOURNAMENT SETTING, SO LET'S GIVE 'EM A WARM WELCOME!!"
Trunks had started looking into the stands. "Krillin-san, where are the others? Gohan's mother, and mine? Didn't they want to see you guys fight?"
"Frankly, the idea of entering this tournament didn't interest them at all. They said we could go, but they'd rather not come. Chi-Chi said it's a waste of time, but Gohan can do it because he's on his "school break", according to her." Krillin laughed as he said the last part.
Trunks smiled indifferently. "She still teaching him to death? Sheesh, she should just send him to school one of these days..."
Above the arena, Hercule and his daughter looked down from the large bay window. She suddenly got hearts in her eyes again.
"Ah!! That Gohan boy is fighting first!" she giggled as she watched the scene below. Hercule gulped. *I hope they don't get carried away...*
In the ring, Gohan now had a serious look written on his face. Shouto looked quite scared as he watched Gohan. *Man, this stinks. Why did I have to face him first?! I wanted to at least get to the second round, but now I have to fight that little terror!!*
*FLASHBACK*
Shouto remembers how easily Gohan beat up the boxer earlier.
"I promise to be careful against you."
"You...I've had enough of your jabbering!!"
"Super Dragon Chop!!"
"EH??!!"
"Gosh sir, I tried to warn you."
"There, it's over now."
*END FLASHBACK*
*What'll I do?! This isn't fair!* Shouto began to tremble.
"FIGHTERS, BEGIN!!"
Gohan immediately went into a fighting stance. Shouto's eyes widened and he began trembling more when he did so.
"Are you ready?" Gohan called out to Shouto.
Shouto was close to freaking out. He covered his face with his arms. "Don't hurt me! Please, I beg you!!"
Gohan eyes perked up in confusion. Shouto suddenly began waving his arms around. "Look, nothing personal, but I'd prefer to not get my bones broken, so I don't wanna fight! You win, okay?! We'll make it easy!!"
Gohan stares at Shouto for a moment, then he falls over, as does the announcer and the entire audience. A moment later, Gohan was walking back to the sidelines.
"WELL, THIS IS QUITE A SURPRISE! SHOUTO HAS FORFIETED HIS MATCH, SO GOHAN WINS BY DEFAULT!!" the announcer guy said nervously. The crowd was booing because of lack of action.
Up above, Hercule wiped his forehead in relief. *Lucky. We didn't have to see him fight.* Unlike him, his daughter looked disappointed. "Aw, I wanted to see how he fights..."
Entering the sidelines, Gohan also looks disappointed. "Piccolo, that was no fun. He just gave up before we even started."
"That's because of your little display in the beginning of the eliminations. I warned you about that, now they're all scared of you." Piccolo scolded Gohan.
"I'm sorry..."
Trunks put his hand on Gohan's shoulder. "Go easy on him, Piccolo. This his first tournament, remember? Don't worry, Gohan, I'll give you a good match in the semi-finals, alright?"
Gohan smiled. "Alright. Thanks, Trunks."
Trunks then walked out along with his opponent for their match. As he left, Vegeta smirked with closed eyes. "You should be glad that someone would forfeit against you, brat. It proves your superiority to them."
"That is not something to be proud of, and you know it, Vegeta!" Krillin said, slightly annoyed.
Vegeta opened his eyes. "Ah, what do you know?! If you were a Saiyan, you'd understand."
Krillin glared at Vegeta, who had closed his eyes again and leaned against the wall. After a moment, he smirked again. "Then again, I wouldn't want YOU to be a Saiyan. That would be an embarrassment to our race."
"WHAT?! Take that back, you little shit!" Krillin barked at Vegeta. Vegeta opened his eyes in a flash and glared angrily. "Oh, I'M a little shit?! How dare you call ME by such a name!!!"
Piccolo's fists suddenly flew forward, each one hitting Krillin and Vegeta in their heads. Piccolo returned his arms to normal size as he glared at them. "Stop acting like children, both of you! You're making us look like idiots!!"
Krillin grunted and turned away from Vegeta. Vegeta shrugged and closed his eyes again. "Whatever..."
During all of this, Gohan had been looking out at the arena. Sounds of Trunks' opponent trying to attack him could be heard.
"Haa! Erngh! Ha ha! Hiiiiiii...~"
"Winner is Trunks!"
The crowd cheered some more as Trunks slowly made his way back to the sidelines. Vegeta eyed Trunks suspiciously. "You only beat him with THAT much ease? Come now, boy, did you not train in your time?"
Trunks frowns. "Well, I haven't had time, honestly. I came back here from a year later in my time, and I spent that entire year helping to rebuild the Androids' destruction."
The announcer guy meanwhile took out a sheet of paper and read it. "NOW, NOT WASTING ANYTIME, LET'S BEGIN THE THIRD MATCH! IT'S KRILLIN VERSUS SAGE!"
Krillin breathed in slowly, then released. He stood on his feet, but then his face faulted in annoyance. "Man, why do I have to face him?! This isn't fair!"
Piccolo lightly pushed Krillin forward. "Don't be a crybaby, just get out there. If you hadn't noticed, your opponent already has done so."
"Erngh...alright, I'm going now!" Krillin puffed up his chest and tried to look tough as he walked out to the ring. As he went out, he noticed that Sage had a look on his face as if he was trying to hold in a laugh. "Psh...thinks I'm funny, does he?"
Krillin entered the ring and stretched his arms nervously.
"IT'S QUITE A SURPRISE TO HAVE KRILLIN FIGHTING HERE, FOLKS! HE HASN'T PARTICIPATED IN TOURNAMENTS FOR MANY YEARS, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE HE'S FINALLY MAKING A COMEBACK! ON THE OTHER HAND, SAGE IS A NEW-COMER TO THE TOURNAMENT SCENE, AND NOTHING IS CURRENTLY KNOWN ABOUT HIM! HE'S OUR MYSTERY FIGHTER, I GUESS!"
"...you know, it's interesting to finally meet you in person, Krillin," Sage suddenly said pleasantly.
"Hmm?" Krillin looked at Sage in confusion. "What do you mean? I've never met you before in my life..."
Sage just continued to give Krillin a pleasant smile. Suddenly, Krillin smirked. "Oooooohhh, I get it. You must have seen me on TV during some of the earlier World Tournaments," Krillin closed his eyes and smiled slyly. "I was pretty good, eh?"
"I wouldn't know. I never knew you participated in previous tournaments."
Krillin began to get a sweatdrop. "Then...where do you know me from?..." Krillin suddenly began to sweat. *Does he recognize me from the Cell Games? That would be suck...*
"FIGHTERS, BEGIN!!"
Krillin went into a fighting stance. Sage simply did nothing.
"Now we'll see..." Piccolo said calmly.
Sage smirked. "It would suck, wouldn't it? But don't worry, I didn't plan to tell."
Krillin's eyes became big in shock. "WHA.....W.....HH.....HOW....HOW DID?!..." Krillin was so shocked that he almost missed Sage's next action, when he suddenly ran forward and aimed a punch. Krillin came back to reality at the last moment and somehow jumped to the side slowly, barely avoiding the swing. He landed on the ground again and started at Sage. "..."
"Excellent! Your dodge is as I expected it to be. But look out now, you're unguarded." As he said this, Sage throws a punch to the side, hitting Krillin dead on. Krillin flew to the other side of the ring and managed to land safely.
"Would ya' look at that...that guy actually hurt Krillin-san!" Gohan said with surprise. The others were just watching silently. Even Vegeta had gotten up to view Sage's fighting skills.
Krillin rubbed at where Sage hit him and he stared in awe. *An awesome power, Piccolo wasn't kidding after all. This may be tricky.* Krillin then shook some dust off him and pointed at Sage. "Okay now, what was that supposed to mean?"
"I simply informed you that you were unguarded, something wrong with that?" Sage asked innocently.
"No, the thing you said before you attacked me! What did that mean?"
"Oh, that." Sage grinned and shook his head. "Not yet, I will not tell you what that ment yet. To be frank, I'd much rather end this fight quickly than talk. You see, I am eager to fight Vegeta and Gohan in the finals."
Krillin looked at Sage angrily. "You...shut up! You think yourself to be so smart!!" Krillin pulled his fist back and began charging for something. "Well, if you're that smart, figure out how to avoid my next attack maneuvers!!"
Krillin thrust his hand forward and sent an energy burst at Sage. When the small attack made contact with Sage, he shimmered and started to ripple around. "No!!" Before he could react, Krillin was kicked high into the air by Sage from behind.
"Auugh!" Krillin powered up to slow his ascent and he eventually stopped, floating in midair. The audience ooed and aahed in surprise at his technique.
Piccolo rubbed his neck. "Well...I'd say he's showing some decent skills so far. I wonder if he'll beat Krillin."
Vegeta raised an eyebrow at Piccolo. "Hnh, you're obviously not thinking clearly. Krillin can beat this amateur is he just focuses a little more."
Piccolo just looked at Vegeta for a moment, then he turned back around to the ring.
Sage stared into the sky and called out to Krillin. "Krillin!! I'm sorry, but I must finish our battle now! You'll thank me later, trust me!"
"Oh no, you're not getting out of this that easy! How did you know what I was thinking before?! Tell me now!"
Piccolo's ears perk up in surprise. *What he was thinking? Telepathy?...*
Sage frowns. "Gosh, you're persistent. I said I wouldn't tell yet!" Sage put his hand to his chin and thought, then he smiled. "But...I'll give you a little teaser."
Krillin looks utterly confused. "T..teaser?..."
Sage concentrated for a moment. Then he calmly brought his hands forward, suddenly clasping his palms together. Krillin's eyes widened a little. They widened even more when Sage slowly brought his clasped palms down to his lower-right side.
"Wh...what?...no..."
Gohan's eyes were also wide. "P..piccolo-san...is he...well, you know..." Piccolo was just gritting his teeth in shock, not even listening to Gohan.
"...Ka..."
Krillin shuddered. He just continued to float in midair, not sure what to do.
"Me...ha..."
Vegeta had his hands clasped tightly to the wall as he stared. "No! He is not doing what I think he's doing!!! Piccolo, he is not doing this, right? RIGHT?!" Piccolo just continued to grit his teeth. "But that's absurd!!"
"..Me..." Sage sighed as he prepared to continue. *I'm sorry to humiliate you like this, Krillin. Beaten with your own attack...*
Gohan began to twitch. "Gosh, that's a lot of power coming from him! This is crazy!
"HHHAAAAAAA!!!!" Sage thrust his arms forward and fired the mighty turtle wave up at Krillin. Krillin just stared at it with a blank expression on his face, with some snot dripping out of his nose.
"BAKA! DON'T LET YOURSELF GET BEATEN BY THIS NOBODY! DEFEND!!" Vegeta screamed at Krillin. But Krillin didn't listen. The blast hit him head on.
"ERNGH!" Krillin plummeted to the ground with his eyes still wide, not seeming to care that he was about to fall out of the ring. He crashed into the ground hard, and the announcer quickly ran over to him. Krillin appeared to be not badly damaged, but he just stared at the ground the whole time.
"...oh! WINNER IS, SAGE!"
The crowd cheered with excitement. Krillin suddenly stood up, and he slumped over to the sidelines, still looking at the ground. Sage was still looking up in the air with his arms still facing up. *Again, I am sorry, Krillin-san.* Sage then powered down, and he exited the ring as well.
"AND WE WILL BEGIN THE NEXT MATCH MOMENTARILY!"
Krillin stepped into the sidelines and passed right by the group. "Krilli..." Gohan started, but Piccolo stopped him. "I don't think he wants to talk with anyone right now."
Just then, Sage entered the area as well, and he also passed by everyone else. The Z Warriors besides Krillin just stared as he walked off. "Damn chrome dome, now our reputation is ruined." Vegeta grunted.
"We don't even have a reputation, tousan." Vegeta snarled, "Shut up, boy!" Piccolo just ignored them as he looked at Sage. "Well, this certainly changes the situation."
Gohan gulped as he nodded. "Yeah, he used a Kamehameha Wave, didn't he?" Piccolo nodded. "Yes, he did. And I have no idea how. My first guess would be that one of us taught this guy."
"Well, sure, but who? Roshi? I doubt it. Although it is possible that my dad met this guy in space, and..." Gohan noted.
"I'm at a loss for ideas with this one, Gohan. We'll just have to wait and see what develops."
In the back of the sidelines, Krillin was slumped down on the floor, looking quite glum. Suddenly, a figure walked up to him.
"I'm sorry...to have humiliated you like that."
Krillin said nothing, just slightly glanced up at him.
"Blame my heritage. It makes me act...sneaky, sometimes."
Krillin suddenly looked fully at Sage, seeming to be intrigued by that statement, but then he quickly ignored it.
"So...just know this, you will learn the truth in time. I promise, there is a reason to all of this. Alright?" Sage held his hand out to Krillin. Krillin just stared at it for a minute. "...Alright." Krillin brought his hand forward and shook Sage's.
"Very good. I thank you." Sage turned around to walk off. "And...this conversation did not take place."
Krillin smirked. "If you want. But tell me...you are one of Goku's friends, right? I just know, you must be..."
Sage chuckled and turned his head around. "I have met him once. Just once. Pity he had to go and die like that. I wanted to talk with him again."
"So then you know what happened at the Cell Games..."
Sage smirked and nodded. Krillin began to ask Sage something else, but he had already walked off. Krillin looked at him with wonder. *What a mysterious guy...*
A/N: Ooooo, mystery! ^_^ See, I told ya' it gets better! No intense fighting yet, but it'll get there.
Random Ranter: Why aren't you referring to Videl with her actual name?
Ah yes, I thought you'd never ask. ^_^ The truth is, you're really not supposed to know who Videl is yet at this point in the series, not until 4 more years would pass. And since I'm trying to stay true to the series, well, Videl is known as "Hercule's daughter" and "she". ~_O Alright, enough of that nonsense. CLICKITY CLICK CLICK! :p
Sage: They'd better give you some damn reviews. Who wouldn't like ME in this fic?
Quiet, boy. They don't know enough about you yet. -_- Anyways, here we go, episode 2 time!! ^_^
The Brolly Saga
Episode 2: Kamehameha?!! No, it's not Cell, it's Sage!!
In the main arena, the audience was getting restless. Fans were screaming for the fighting to start. In a high building above the area, a familiar World Champ was resting in a chair.
"I'm glad I decided not to participate in this tournament. I mean, I think I've given enough money to the poor already! Ah ha ha!" Hercule talked such nonsense as this to himself as he watched the crowd below from a huge bay window.
"Daddy! Daddy, has the fighting started yet?"
Hercule smiled as he swung around in his swivel chair. A young teenage girl was behind him; she looked bored.
"I'm am SO booooooreeeed! Make them start the fights!"
Hercule smiled politely at his daughter. "Calm down, honey. Things will get underway as soon as the opponent's are chosen! I promise!"
The girl sighed and slumped down in another chair. "I hope so..."
Hercule chuckled and turned around, just as a computer screen above him started to beep.
"Ah, look there, we're receiving the identities of our participants right now!"
Hercule's daughter looked up in slight interest. After another beep, a headshot of each competitor appeared on the screen.
"Hmmm...EH?!!"
Snot began to drip out of Hercule's nose when he saw the pictures of some of the Z Warriors. His face began to get very pale. *Oh god, please...not them, anyone but them!!*
His daughter was meanwhile just staring at the screen. When her gaze passed by Gohan's picture, she suddenly moved back and stared only at his picture. As Hercule held his head, trying to hold back the headache he was beginning to receive, she walked forward and looked closer.
"Ehh...something wrong, dear?"
Little tiny hearts suddenly formed in the girl's eyes. "Wow...he's a cutie!" (A/N: I know, she's just so OOC there, but I couldn't resist! ^_^)
Hercule fell over from that remark. Then he got up in an instant, looking pissed off. "What?! You think that boy is...CUTE?! Do you even know who that is?!"
"N..no, do you know?"
"I do indeed! He's...OH!!" Hercule immediately stopped himself from continuing. *What am I doing?! Was I really about to tell her that he is the guy who beat Cell?! No...no, of course I wasn't. That's rich, so funny. Ha ha!*
"...Daddy?"
"Ehh...oh! Um, actually, I don't know who he is, sorry!" Hercule said, desperately trying to find a believable answer.
His daughter looked at him strangely, then she shrugged. "Oh, alright. Well now...says his name is Son Gohan. That's an odd name, but he's still cute!"
Hercule got a sweatdrop as he grinned stupidly at her.
A little later, still in the main arena, the announcer guy was running to the ring. He jumped onto it and spoke into his mic. "HEEEELLLOOOOOO...MARTIAL ARTS FANS!!!!" A huge roar came up from the crowd as he spoke.
"WE'VE WORKED OUT EVERYTHING ALRIGHT, AND NOW WE'RE READY TO BEGIN THE COMPETITION!" A bigger roar came up as he said this. "BUT BEFORE WE BEGIN THE FIRST MATCH, LET ME EXPLAIN A FEW THINGS ABOUT THIS SPECIAL TOURNAMENT!"
Off to the sidelines, the fighters were sitting around in their little area below the stands. Gohan and Trunks looked out eagerly into the crowd as Piccolo and Vegeta just leaned against the wall. Krillin sat on the floor, and the other fighters were doing other things.
Trunks looked over at Gohan. "Think you can handle being in the first match, Gohan?"
"I'm actually excited. I get to show all the people how strong I am!" Gohan grinned and started stretching his arm.
Krillin looked up at Gohan with a half-hearted smirk. "Well at least SOME of us are enthusiastic. But not me, I have to fight that Sage in the second match!!"
Piccolo opened an eye and looked at Krillin. "Well, you'll be able to tell us how strong he is if you fight him."
Krillin's eyes widen. "Yeah, sure, but it's just...he seems really strong...
"Don't worry. I felt a good bit of power from him, but from that alone, I conclude he isn't even as strong as you. You should be fine." Piccolo twitched a little as he said this. *Unless he can control his battle strength like us too...*
Back out at the ring, the announcer continued to speak. "NOW, SINCE THERE ARE 12 COMPETITORS, THE LAYOUT OF THE FIGHTS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT! THERE WILL FIRST BE 6 QUARTERFINAL MATCHES, FOLLOWED BY THREE EXCITING SEMIFINALS MATCHES! AFTER THIS, THE THREE REMAINING FIGHTERS WILL DO SOMETHING YOU CAN ONLY SEE IN THIS SPECIAL TOURNAMENT, A BATTLE ROYAL IN THE RING WITH ALL THREE FIGHTERS AT ONCE!!! THE LAST MAN STANDING WILL BE DECLARED THE HONARABLE TITLE OF SPECIAL WORLD CHAMPION, WHICH OF COURSE DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH HERCULE'S PLACE WHATSOEVER!" The crowd exploded in excitement. But then the announcer held a hand up and quieted the crowd down a bit. "BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, I DO MEAN IT WHEN I SAY THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE TO SEE THIS BATTLE ROYALE! APPARENTLY ARE TOURNAMENT ISN'T "SPECIAL" ENOUGH TO BE TELEVISED BY ANY TV COMPANIES! BUT, AT LEAST YOU CAN STILL TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT YOUR GREAT EXPERIENCE!"
"Well, there being no broadcast of this is fine. I wouldn't want anyone to recognize us from the Cell Games." Gohan said with relief.
"Yeah, but what about the people here? They could notice some of us, right?" Krillin wondered.
"Probably not. I think most of us have changed enough to not be noticed. For one, I was in Super Saiyan mode through the entire Cell Games. And I won't do it here, that's for sure. And you, Krillin, I think it's obvious what's different about you."
Krillin blushes and rubs his head, which has a bit of black hair on it. "Yeah...now I'm much better looking then I was back then..."
"I already have a history with this tournament, so maybe the fact that I was at the Cell Games won't attract too much attention," Piccolo added on.
"And I've recently cut my hair, so I shouldn't be noticed," Trunks joined in. "That only leaves father, who hasn't changed a bit..."
Vegeta spit on the ground. "Like I give a crap if someone recognizes me. I only care about beating Gohan."
Gohan groans. "Yes, we all now, Vegeta."
"LET'S NOT WASTE ANYMORE TIME! THE FIRST MATCH, SON GOHAN VERSUS SHOUTO!"
"Ah! That's my call!" Gohan grinned and began to walk out to the arena. "Wish me luck, guys!"
Piccolo smiled. "Go get 'em, kid."
The other fighter, Shouto, a skinny man wearing a tank top and grey sweatpants, walked forward and followed Gohan. He gulped as he stepped onto the ring.
"THESE TWO ARE BOTH NEWCOMERS TO THE TOURNAMENT SETTING, SO LET'S GIVE 'EM A WARM WELCOME!!"
Trunks had started looking into the stands. "Krillin-san, where are the others? Gohan's mother, and mine? Didn't they want to see you guys fight?"
"Frankly, the idea of entering this tournament didn't interest them at all. They said we could go, but they'd rather not come. Chi-Chi said it's a waste of time, but Gohan can do it because he's on his "school break", according to her." Krillin laughed as he said the last part.
Trunks smiled indifferently. "She still teaching him to death? Sheesh, she should just send him to school one of these days..."
Above the arena, Hercule and his daughter looked down from the large bay window. She suddenly got hearts in her eyes again.
"Ah!! That Gohan boy is fighting first!" she giggled as she watched the scene below. Hercule gulped. *I hope they don't get carried away...*
In the ring, Gohan now had a serious look written on his face. Shouto looked quite scared as he watched Gohan. *Man, this stinks. Why did I have to face him first?! I wanted to at least get to the second round, but now I have to fight that little terror!!*
*FLASHBACK*
Shouto remembers how easily Gohan beat up the boxer earlier.
"I promise to be careful against you."
"You...I've had enough of your jabbering!!"
"Super Dragon Chop!!"
"EH??!!"
"Gosh sir, I tried to warn you."
"There, it's over now."
*END FLASHBACK*
*What'll I do?! This isn't fair!* Shouto began to tremble.
"FIGHTERS, BEGIN!!"
Gohan immediately went into a fighting stance. Shouto's eyes widened and he began trembling more when he did so.
"Are you ready?" Gohan called out to Shouto.
Shouto was close to freaking out. He covered his face with his arms. "Don't hurt me! Please, I beg you!!"
Gohan eyes perked up in confusion. Shouto suddenly began waving his arms around. "Look, nothing personal, but I'd prefer to not get my bones broken, so I don't wanna fight! You win, okay?! We'll make it easy!!"
Gohan stares at Shouto for a moment, then he falls over, as does the announcer and the entire audience. A moment later, Gohan was walking back to the sidelines.
"WELL, THIS IS QUITE A SURPRISE! SHOUTO HAS FORFIETED HIS MATCH, SO GOHAN WINS BY DEFAULT!!" the announcer guy said nervously. The crowd was booing because of lack of action.
Up above, Hercule wiped his forehead in relief. *Lucky. We didn't have to see him fight.* Unlike him, his daughter looked disappointed. "Aw, I wanted to see how he fights..."
Entering the sidelines, Gohan also looks disappointed. "Piccolo, that was no fun. He just gave up before we even started."
"That's because of your little display in the beginning of the eliminations. I warned you about that, now they're all scared of you." Piccolo scolded Gohan.
"I'm sorry..."
Trunks put his hand on Gohan's shoulder. "Go easy on him, Piccolo. This his first tournament, remember? Don't worry, Gohan, I'll give you a good match in the semi-finals, alright?"
Gohan smiled. "Alright. Thanks, Trunks."
Trunks then walked out along with his opponent for their match. As he left, Vegeta smirked with closed eyes. "You should be glad that someone would forfeit against you, brat. It proves your superiority to them."
"That is not something to be proud of, and you know it, Vegeta!" Krillin said, slightly annoyed.
Vegeta opened his eyes. "Ah, what do you know?! If you were a Saiyan, you'd understand."
Krillin glared at Vegeta, who had closed his eyes again and leaned against the wall. After a moment, he smirked again. "Then again, I wouldn't want YOU to be a Saiyan. That would be an embarrassment to our race."
"WHAT?! Take that back, you little shit!" Krillin barked at Vegeta. Vegeta opened his eyes in a flash and glared angrily. "Oh, I'M a little shit?! How dare you call ME by such a name!!!"
Piccolo's fists suddenly flew forward, each one hitting Krillin and Vegeta in their heads. Piccolo returned his arms to normal size as he glared at them. "Stop acting like children, both of you! You're making us look like idiots!!"
Krillin grunted and turned away from Vegeta. Vegeta shrugged and closed his eyes again. "Whatever..."
During all of this, Gohan had been looking out at the arena. Sounds of Trunks' opponent trying to attack him could be heard.
"Haa! Erngh! Ha ha! Hiiiiiii...~"
"Winner is Trunks!"
The crowd cheered some more as Trunks slowly made his way back to the sidelines. Vegeta eyed Trunks suspiciously. "You only beat him with THAT much ease? Come now, boy, did you not train in your time?"
Trunks frowns. "Well, I haven't had time, honestly. I came back here from a year later in my time, and I spent that entire year helping to rebuild the Androids' destruction."
The announcer guy meanwhile took out a sheet of paper and read it. "NOW, NOT WASTING ANYTIME, LET'S BEGIN THE THIRD MATCH! IT'S KRILLIN VERSUS SAGE!"
Krillin breathed in slowly, then released. He stood on his feet, but then his face faulted in annoyance. "Man, why do I have to face him?! This isn't fair!"
Piccolo lightly pushed Krillin forward. "Don't be a crybaby, just get out there. If you hadn't noticed, your opponent already has done so."
"Erngh...alright, I'm going now!" Krillin puffed up his chest and tried to look tough as he walked out to the ring. As he went out, he noticed that Sage had a look on his face as if he was trying to hold in a laugh. "Psh...thinks I'm funny, does he?"
Krillin entered the ring and stretched his arms nervously.
"IT'S QUITE A SURPRISE TO HAVE KRILLIN FIGHTING HERE, FOLKS! HE HASN'T PARTICIPATED IN TOURNAMENTS FOR MANY YEARS, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE HE'S FINALLY MAKING A COMEBACK! ON THE OTHER HAND, SAGE IS A NEW-COMER TO THE TOURNAMENT SCENE, AND NOTHING IS CURRENTLY KNOWN ABOUT HIM! HE'S OUR MYSTERY FIGHTER, I GUESS!"
"...you know, it's interesting to finally meet you in person, Krillin," Sage suddenly said pleasantly.
"Hmm?" Krillin looked at Sage in confusion. "What do you mean? I've never met you before in my life..."
Sage just continued to give Krillin a pleasant smile. Suddenly, Krillin smirked. "Oooooohhh, I get it. You must have seen me on TV during some of the earlier World Tournaments," Krillin closed his eyes and smiled slyly. "I was pretty good, eh?"
"I wouldn't know. I never knew you participated in previous tournaments."
Krillin began to get a sweatdrop. "Then...where do you know me from?..." Krillin suddenly began to sweat. *Does he recognize me from the Cell Games? That would be suck...*
"FIGHTERS, BEGIN!!"
Krillin went into a fighting stance. Sage simply did nothing.
"Now we'll see..." Piccolo said calmly.
Sage smirked. "It would suck, wouldn't it? But don't worry, I didn't plan to tell."
Krillin's eyes became big in shock. "WHA.....W.....HH.....HOW....HOW DID?!..." Krillin was so shocked that he almost missed Sage's next action, when he suddenly ran forward and aimed a punch. Krillin came back to reality at the last moment and somehow jumped to the side slowly, barely avoiding the swing. He landed on the ground again and started at Sage. "..."
"Excellent! Your dodge is as I expected it to be. But look out now, you're unguarded." As he said this, Sage throws a punch to the side, hitting Krillin dead on. Krillin flew to the other side of the ring and managed to land safely.
"Would ya' look at that...that guy actually hurt Krillin-san!" Gohan said with surprise. The others were just watching silently. Even Vegeta had gotten up to view Sage's fighting skills.
Krillin rubbed at where Sage hit him and he stared in awe. *An awesome power, Piccolo wasn't kidding after all. This may be tricky.* Krillin then shook some dust off him and pointed at Sage. "Okay now, what was that supposed to mean?"
"I simply informed you that you were unguarded, something wrong with that?" Sage asked innocently.
"No, the thing you said before you attacked me! What did that mean?"
"Oh, that." Sage grinned and shook his head. "Not yet, I will not tell you what that ment yet. To be frank, I'd much rather end this fight quickly than talk. You see, I am eager to fight Vegeta and Gohan in the finals."
Krillin looked at Sage angrily. "You...shut up! You think yourself to be so smart!!" Krillin pulled his fist back and began charging for something. "Well, if you're that smart, figure out how to avoid my next attack maneuvers!!"
Krillin thrust his hand forward and sent an energy burst at Sage. When the small attack made contact with Sage, he shimmered and started to ripple around. "No!!" Before he could react, Krillin was kicked high into the air by Sage from behind.
"Auugh!" Krillin powered up to slow his ascent and he eventually stopped, floating in midair. The audience ooed and aahed in surprise at his technique.
Piccolo rubbed his neck. "Well...I'd say he's showing some decent skills so far. I wonder if he'll beat Krillin."
Vegeta raised an eyebrow at Piccolo. "Hnh, you're obviously not thinking clearly. Krillin can beat this amateur is he just focuses a little more."
Piccolo just looked at Vegeta for a moment, then he turned back around to the ring.
Sage stared into the sky and called out to Krillin. "Krillin!! I'm sorry, but I must finish our battle now! You'll thank me later, trust me!"
"Oh no, you're not getting out of this that easy! How did you know what I was thinking before?! Tell me now!"
Piccolo's ears perk up in surprise. *What he was thinking? Telepathy?...*
Sage frowns. "Gosh, you're persistent. I said I wouldn't tell yet!" Sage put his hand to his chin and thought, then he smiled. "But...I'll give you a little teaser."
Krillin looks utterly confused. "T..teaser?..."
Sage concentrated for a moment. Then he calmly brought his hands forward, suddenly clasping his palms together. Krillin's eyes widened a little. They widened even more when Sage slowly brought his clasped palms down to his lower-right side.
"Wh...what?...no..."
Gohan's eyes were also wide. "P..piccolo-san...is he...well, you know..." Piccolo was just gritting his teeth in shock, not even listening to Gohan.
"...Ka..."
Krillin shuddered. He just continued to float in midair, not sure what to do.
"Me...ha..."
Vegeta had his hands clasped tightly to the wall as he stared. "No! He is not doing what I think he's doing!!! Piccolo, he is not doing this, right? RIGHT?!" Piccolo just continued to grit his teeth. "But that's absurd!!"
"..Me..." Sage sighed as he prepared to continue. *I'm sorry to humiliate you like this, Krillin. Beaten with your own attack...*
Gohan began to twitch. "Gosh, that's a lot of power coming from him! This is crazy!
"HHHAAAAAAA!!!!" Sage thrust his arms forward and fired the mighty turtle wave up at Krillin. Krillin just stared at it with a blank expression on his face, with some snot dripping out of his nose.
"BAKA! DON'T LET YOURSELF GET BEATEN BY THIS NOBODY! DEFEND!!" Vegeta screamed at Krillin. But Krillin didn't listen. The blast hit him head on.
"ERNGH!" Krillin plummeted to the ground with his eyes still wide, not seeming to care that he was about to fall out of the ring. He crashed into the ground hard, and the announcer quickly ran over to him. Krillin appeared to be not badly damaged, but he just stared at the ground the whole time.
"...oh! WINNER IS, SAGE!"
The crowd cheered with excitement. Krillin suddenly stood up, and he slumped over to the sidelines, still looking at the ground. Sage was still looking up in the air with his arms still facing up. *Again, I am sorry, Krillin-san.* Sage then powered down, and he exited the ring as well.
"AND WE WILL BEGIN THE NEXT MATCH MOMENTARILY!"
Krillin stepped into the sidelines and passed right by the group. "Krilli..." Gohan started, but Piccolo stopped him. "I don't think he wants to talk with anyone right now."
Just then, Sage entered the area as well, and he also passed by everyone else. The Z Warriors besides Krillin just stared as he walked off. "Damn chrome dome, now our reputation is ruined." Vegeta grunted.
"We don't even have a reputation, tousan." Vegeta snarled, "Shut up, boy!" Piccolo just ignored them as he looked at Sage. "Well, this certainly changes the situation."
Gohan gulped as he nodded. "Yeah, he used a Kamehameha Wave, didn't he?" Piccolo nodded. "Yes, he did. And I have no idea how. My first guess would be that one of us taught this guy."
"Well, sure, but who? Roshi? I doubt it. Although it is possible that my dad met this guy in space, and..." Gohan noted.
"I'm at a loss for ideas with this one, Gohan. We'll just have to wait and see what develops."
In the back of the sidelines, Krillin was slumped down on the floor, looking quite glum. Suddenly, a figure walked up to him.
"I'm sorry...to have humiliated you like that."
Krillin said nothing, just slightly glanced up at him.
"Blame my heritage. It makes me act...sneaky, sometimes."
Krillin suddenly looked fully at Sage, seeming to be intrigued by that statement, but then he quickly ignored it.
"So...just know this, you will learn the truth in time. I promise, there is a reason to all of this. Alright?" Sage held his hand out to Krillin. Krillin just stared at it for a minute. "...Alright." Krillin brought his hand forward and shook Sage's.
"Very good. I thank you." Sage turned around to walk off. "And...this conversation did not take place."
Krillin smirked. "If you want. But tell me...you are one of Goku's friends, right? I just know, you must be..."
Sage chuckled and turned his head around. "I have met him once. Just once. Pity he had to go and die like that. I wanted to talk with him again."
"So then you know what happened at the Cell Games..."
Sage smirked and nodded. Krillin began to ask Sage something else, but he had already walked off. Krillin looked at him with wonder. *What a mysterious guy...*
A/N: Ooooo, mystery! ^_^ See, I told ya' it gets better! No intense fighting yet, but it'll get there.
Random Ranter: Why aren't you referring to Videl with her actual name?
Ah yes, I thought you'd never ask. ^_^ The truth is, you're really not supposed to know who Videl is yet at this point in the series, not until 4 more years would pass. And since I'm trying to stay true to the series, well, Videl is known as "Hercule's daughter" and "she". ~_O Alright, enough of that nonsense. CLICKITY CLICK CLICK! :p