Thanks for the reviews! & I'm glad I eventually managed to upload. Stupid network server thingy…the site didn't allow me to upload this chapter for a while either. grumbles
Chapter 44: tournament starts!All of the combatants had returned to the waiting area for the first fight along with two proud parents. Gohan and Videl were helping their daughter prepare for her fight as well as encouraging her.
The other fighters were spread out around the room getting focused and the three teenagers entering stood against the far wall, Trunks and Goten discussing their opponents while Zara stared over at the family gathering in the middle of the room.
"Have fun and be strong but be careful as well honey." Videl said.
"Yea have fun and stay loose. You'll do great." Gohan told Pan who nodded to both.
"Ok." She answered.
"Could Pan and Wild Tiger come out here? It's time for round one to begin!" the announcer called from outside. Pan said bye to her parents and skipped out with Wild Tiger grudgingly behind. Trunks watched them then looked at Zara.
"You ok?" he asked. He had seen her watching the family moment. She glanced at him then looked back at the entrance.
"Yea, I'm fine." She said quietly. Trunks didn't believe her.
"You sure? You looked upset about something."
"Yea, you can tell us!" Goten added, earning a glance from Trunks. Zara looked at Goten and frowned slightly.
"I'm fine and don't want to talk about it." She told them and walked off to join Vegeta at the entrance. Trunks watched her and after an annoyed glance at Goten he went to watch the fight.
Pan and Wild Tiger had both entered the ring with a brief introduction from the announcer. Pan smiled innocently at her opponent who scowled back. The monks at the side of the arena beat their drums signalling the start. A gong sounded and the fight began.
Wild Tiger advanced on Pan, planning on knocking her out easily but he was in for a big surprise. Pan jumped up high into the air so that she was level with his face and slapped him to the far side of the ring where he skidded to a halt. He attempted to get up, his face searing with pain but Pan was already right next to him and with one simply kick he was thrown into the wall outside of the ring.
The announcer quickly checked on him and declared Pan the winner. She bowed to each of the stands and then skipped right back inside. Once there, a bundle seemed to fall off of the level above. It was Hercule and he ran inside to check on Pan.
"Are you ok? Did the mean man hurt you?" he started asking but stopped when the others laughed.
"Don't worry Hercule. Pan's fine. You shouldn't worry about her." Trunks told him. Hercule frowned a little and apologised, retreating back to his dressing room.
"It's time for the next round! Goku and Uub are needed in the ring!" The announcer called again from the ring. Goku grinned.
"Alright! This should be good!" he grinned and quickly stretched. He then walked out with the highly nervous Uub. Goku stared down at him.
"Hey, don't be so nervous. Relax, ok?" he told the boy who nodded but didn't calm down. They entered the ring and Goku surveyed the little boy.
He really is nervous. He'll never be able to fight decently if he's that nervous…looks like I have no choice…the saiyan thought and took a deep breath.
"Hey kid! How come your dad's not here? Is he too weak to fight so he has to send you instead?" Goku asked, surprising everyone, the group of Z warriors in the waiting area especially.
"What's dad doing?" Goten asked as he watched from over the screen. Trunks was on his right and shrugged.
"I dunno, I've never seen Goku act like that before." He replied. Zara was leaning against the wall next to Trunks.
"I've seen this before. It's a tactic normally used to make your opponent attack. I guess the new Buu doesn't fight well." She said. Goten laughed.
"A Buu that can't fight? Yea right…" he said and they went back to watching the fight.
Uub frowned at Goku.
"What was that?" he asked.
"You heard me. Is your father really that weak that he has to send a little kid to do his work?" Goku asked, making Uub glare.
"You don't even know my father! He is NOT weak!" Uub yelled, his power fluctuating. Goku smiled; it was working.
The saiyan charged forward.
"I don't need to know him! I can see it! He was too afraid to do this himself!" Goku declared and kicked Uub hard. The small boy bounced across the tiled floor of the ring and only just stopped in time.
"Shut up!" the boy yelled and jumped to his feet, his power level soaring to new heights. Uub lunged forward with speed he didn't even know he had. He threw two punches at Goku who blocked them both with on arm. Uub threw one more punch and this one made contact with the saiyan's face, knocking the saiyan face first into the ground. Goku winced as he lifted himself up.
Impressive…he thought before having to leap across the ring in a movement Uub couldn't see as he charged from above. The ten year old looked around then spotted Goku and dashed towards the saiyan. Uub once again attacked but Goku blocked the blows and grabbed Uub's arms. Goku flew up into the air while still holding Uub and hurled him down into the ground, making a large impact crater and a spray of tile chips.
Uub eventually looked up, out of the hole he was in to see Goku standing over him, smiling mockingly. Uub's face contorted in fury as he stared at Goku. He then flipped himself up, out of the hole and into a fighting stance.
I mustn't give up! The village is counting on me to bring the prize money home! The small boy thought.
This time Goku was the first to attack. He swung round, hitting Uub across the face and came round for a devastating blow to the gut that Uub some how managed to block. Goku kept on the attack and managed to land a few more hits and drive Uub backwards but the boy was managing to put up a good defence against most of the attacks.
The boy managed to grab Goku's incoming hands and they both entered a stale mate, both fighting to push the other backwards. As energy bolts streaked between them they both attempted to kick the other at the same time, their legs meeting and clashing together, neither combatant was able to gain the advantage.
They both finally parted and went back to throwing fists at incredible speeds at the other. This time Uub seemed to have the advantage as he slammed into the saiyan. He then grabbed Goku's arms and flung him into the air where he appeared and laced his hands together to beat Goku back into the ring, creating yet another impact crater.
The whole audience was on the edge of their seats as they waited to see if the fight was over when the ground under Uub's feet began to violently shake. A large energy could be sensed emitting from the crater and flashes of light began to flash over the ring as Goku emerged from his hole looking completely fine and in his usual cheerful mood. He simply sunk back into a stance as Uub looked at him in horror.
The fierce battle continued with Goku charging as Uub quickly re-gained his composure and put up a defence. They clashed and were soon only blurs appearing at odd moments round the ring as they hit each other.
Goku appeared slamming his foot into Uub's back and sending the boy to the floor. Uub shakily got up repeating to himself 'I won't lose!' He started to scream in rage as he got up and his power burst forward to new heights. His violent aura managed to lift rocks as it violently whiled round him like a hurricane. The rocks were thrown at Goku. Goku evaded them just as Uub flew forward, charging with all his might but Goku evaded him and to Uub and the audience's astonishment appeared in the air above Uub with his hands cupped to his side.
"Ka…me…ha…me…" he stopped half way through and scratched the back of his head.
"I guess I got a bit carried away there." He said and landed, helping Uub back to the middle and away from the crumbling edge instead.
Goku surveyed the boy in front of him for a moment then spoke.
"I'm sorry for the insults I threw at you before but it was the only way I could get you to fight properly. That was your first time fighting like that, wasn't it?" he asked. Uub looked at him in surprise but also slightly in suspicion.
"Yea…" he said slowly. Goku chuckled lightly.
"Thought so. Well then you have the power just not the skill. I'm surprised that you didn't find a great martial arts master to train you." Goku determined then looked thoughtful.
"How about I train you? You'll get a lot stronger." He suggested and Uub's eyes went wide.
"Really you'll do that?" he asked then stopped himself. "I'm afraid that we won't be able to. I was supposed to bring back some prize money for my village." He said and looked down.
"Don't worry. I'm friends with Hercule and he'll easily be able to afford to give you guys money. It'll be fine." Goku told him. Uub looked shocked as he thought of it and finally agreed.
"Good, I better just clear it up with my family and friends first." He said and flew over to the windows of the room Chichi and the others were in.
"Hey Chichi, I'm going to be training Uub for awhile so I'll probably have to stay with him for a while. I don't know how long it will take, might be a few years." He told her and she stared.
"What? But Goku! You can't just run off like this! You'll be imposing! And what about us?" she asked but Goku waved it off.
"Don't worry, it'll all be sorted out. I'm sorry but I need to do this." He said and floated down to the others where he told them the same thing. Pan ran forward and jumped into his arms.
"No! Don't go!" she sniffed and he smiled down at her.
"I'm sorry Pan but I have to. But I'll come visit as often as I can." He told her as Goten stepped forward, scowling.
"Why do you have to? I mean come on dad! You've only been here for part of my life and now you're leaving again? and for what? someone you just met?" he asked and glared over at Uub who was still in the ring. Goku sighed.
"I'm sorry Goten but it is something I have to do." He told him Goten frowned. He didn't want to lose his dad again.
"Why do you have to?" he asked.
"Because if he doesn't then who knows what'll happen." Came Zara's voice from behind him he turned round and stared at her.
"Look if he doesn't then that kid won't learn how to control his powers. If he can't control them then who can tell how much damage he'll do when he gets really mad. He was one of the greatest villains ever after all." She pointed out Goten frowned but said nothing.
Goku put down his granddaughter and went back to Uub then, after one final farewell, he flew off with the boy on his back, leaving the others to watch them slowly disappear from sight.
......
A/N: well that would have been the end of Z but I'm not done yet & I'm now past where I had been when I started re-writing. Yay!
So what's next I hear you say, well you'll find out next chapter.