The Corridor of Time
BY MARA ROBERTS
Chapter 7The Supreme Martial Arts Tournament
The Quarterfinals
Year 753
"Yamcha, way to go! You were great! I'm so proud of you!" Bulma said to him excitedly.
"Bulma, you do know I lost?"
"Yeah, but you still put on a great show! You did better than I ever thought you could. 'Sides, you'll get 'im next tournament."
"You bet."
Tien walked over and introduced himself to Bulma. "Greetings. I am Tienshinhan. It is a pleasure to meet you. You must have been Yamcha's strength; he would not have lasted as long if he hadn't been fighting for you."
Bulma and Yamcha blushed.
"Uh…thanks," Bulma stammered out.
Tien turned to his rival. "And it was an honor to face you, Yamcha. You are a worthy contender for champion."
"The honor was mine. I still have much to learn."
"You're focus on strength and lack of style were your weaknesses. If you had brushed up on technique my chances for victory would have been tentative at best."
With those last words Tien walked over to the fighter's wing, awaiting the match between Gohan and Roshi.
The Fighters' Wing
Chun was also waiting, contemplating his match with the young but fearsomely strong Gohan. He knew he would lose; he just hoped he wasn't embarrassed in front of the ladies.
Gohan was thinking, as usual. Why was Roshi disguised? Apparently it wasn't his first time; he had entered last tournament too, and defeated his students. Gohan also knew that Roshi was fully aware of the futility of this next match; Roshi didn't stand a chance. So why fight it? Then it came to him, in a moment of epiphany (1). The sun would set on his time, and rise on his own, or if not his, whoever would claim championship. It was only fitting and meet that he should do so, that Roshi hand the title over so no questions remained.
Gohan nodded in understanding. In return for Roshi's valor, he would make it a good match. He understood also the desire to not be completely humiliated. He'd show his master all the new technique he had learned; honor Roshi by defeating him with his own tactics. He'd prove the faith and pride Roshi invested in him was well put.
And he would do it by winning.
The Arena
"And now for the last fight of the quarterfinals! Please extend a hearty welcome to six-year old prodigy, Gohan! of the Turtle Hermit School. Gohan is the youngest ever to compete in the Supreme Martial Arts Tournament, at half the age of Goku who faced Jackie Chun in the finals last competition. And that is exactly whom Gohan faces now, the veteran and former champ himself!
"Let's welcome our two contestants, Son Gohan and Jackie Chun!" Mike finished with the roar of the crowd.
The two walked out, side by side.
Mike went up to Chun. "So, Jackie, how does it feel to be back?"
"Great, never better."
"And how do you think this battle will go? Obviously young Gohan is very powerful to have made it this far and be so young, but can his experience possibly match yours?"
"Gohan is indeed a formidable adversary. However, I will do my best as I'm sure he will."
"And Gohan, how does it feel to be the youngest contestant ever for the championship?"
"I'm a little nervous. I've never fought in front of a crowd before."
"And how did you come to be such a master of martial arts at such a tender age?"
"My parents were both martial artists," he said simply, focusing more on the battle at hand.
"Okay, then. I'm sure our audience is eager for this battle to commence. So, begin!"
'Jackie' wasted no time getting started, charging towards his pupil with combination punch. Gohan dodged easily, not wasting energy with a block. He retaliated with a kick of his own. Chun eluded.
Minutes passed as both contestants waited for the other to get serious. Roshi wondered why he wasn't already out of the ring. Gohan wondered why Jackie wasn't giving it his all. Just because a battle is futile doesn't mean you shouldn't give it everything you've got!
Roshi picked up the thought immediately, and understood what his pupil desired of him. He realized Gohan was trying to honor him, to show him at his best before he fell. He was grateful to his student; Gohan's honor and humbleness surprised him.
Roshi threw a punch, "Rock!"
Gohan blocked.
Roshi made his left hand flat and went to slap Gohan's face, "Paper!"
Gohan dodged.
Roshi made his right hand similarly flat and brought it down onto Gohan's head. "Scissors!"
It hit, but Gohan was unfazed. Roshi had expected as much.
He continued his Jan Ken approach, intending to do to Gohan as Goku had done to him in last tournament's finals.
He attacked with rock. He shouted 'paper'.
It didn't work. Gohan hadn't even been listening to what he was yelling out, instead watching his body language to see how he would attack next.
Damn.
All right then. It was time for the mad-cow technique. "Moo…ba… crazy cow. Crazy, crazy…hehehe."
Gohan frowned in puzzlement. What was going on? He relaxed his stance. Big mistake, Roshi thought. He attacked, a quick jab to Gohan's hip. It connected, and the momentum caused Gohan to sidestep. Gohan's eyes narrowed. Roshi was trying to be unpredictable. He didn't think he'd ever seen such a crazy attack!
Gohan shut down his hearing, not allowing any distraction to get through. He concentrated on how Roshi balanced his weight, looking for a pattern, a flaw. He found one; Roshi had turned his back.
He must have forgotten about my speed, Gohan thought to himself. He ran forward, a blur to the other contestants, invisible to everyone else. He lightly kicked Roshi in the rear. Of course, 'lightly' for Gohan is a hammer-blow for everyone else.
Chun was sent flying out of the ring.
Oops.
Roshi cringed in embarrassment. He'd heard the thought. The kid hadn't even meant to send him flying; it had been a mistake! Sheesh.
He idly wondered if he should just let it end now, when he shook his head. No, he had promised to give this fight his all. And so he would. He powered up and chanted, "Ka…Me…Ha…Me…HA!"
The Ki blast propelled him back towards the ring. He used his forward motion to deliver an al-mighty double kick to Gohan's face. Gohan stumbled back a step and stopped. To Roshi's chagrin, Gohan was merely bruised.
Roshi planted his feet firmly on the ring. He powered up to his fullest and readied his most lethal technique. Quickly checking that it was still noon and that Gohan was tailless (he shuddered, recalling Goku's transformation) he prepared his lighting attack.
"Bangkok Hi Keri Shu Attack! (2)"
It hit Gohan full on, lifting him into the air, electrocuting him until Gohan surrendered.
Goku saw the attack and winced. He remembered it – it had hurt. A lot. But something was wrong, this time. He studied Jackie. No, the problem wasn't there. He looked at Gohan. That was it. But what – besides the obvious, was wrong?
Mie frowned. She probed the boy's mind. Gohan was hurting, but it wasn't the attack; he wasn't even aware of it. It was a memory of forgotten pain. A distant place, an explosion, a need, pain never-ending, then… nothingness…
Gohan's mind reeled with the emotional blow Roshi had unwittingly sent him. All he could think of was Namek, exploding, and Frieza… he had to be stopped! He'd destroy, he'd destroy…No! Gohan wouldn't let him. He powered up in an amazing scream of pain, rage and determination, dispelling the lightning attack which surrounded him. He created a wind tunnel so powerful clouds scurried away for miles around. People toppled over, chairs went flying. Pandemonium (3) rose.
Roshi was shocked, he had not expected such a reaction, but he had no time to think as the wind picked him up and threw him bodily out of the ring.
He hit the wall with a crash and fell to the ground.
Gohan, was still going strong.
Goku was worried. Gohan had won, why didn't he stop? He had to stop, but what could he do. He cried out in fear for the people around him. "Gohan, STOP!"
Gohan latched on to a voice – his father's voice. It told him to stop. Stop what? Vaguely he realized he was powering up to the extremes and there were people around. He quickly gained control of his Ki and powered down, levitating himself to the floor.
Mike shakily mounted to his feet. "Well, there you have it. Gohan's the victor."
Absolute quiet answered his words before a cheer started up from somewhere. "Go-han. Go-han. Go-HAN, GO-HAN! GO-HAN, YEAH!!!"
The gang took up the chant enthusiastically, celebrating their little buddy's success.
"Hey, kid, way to go!" Bulma yelled
"Yeah, wo-hoo!" Krillian hollered.
"I never doubted him for a minute," Roshi said sagely. In all that chaos, Jackie Chun had disappeared and Roshi was once more himself.
Gohan stared at the crowd, realizing with a rush of pride they were cheering for him. He looked to Master Roshi thankful he hadn't been hurt.
Roshi nodded to him and Gohan smiled.
"Yeah, I won!"
"Well, folks, we're going to have to delay the semifinals a bit while we clean up the ring. May I suggest you go take a restroom break, stretch your legs and maybe visit our concession stands while we wait. And when we come back, it'll be Goku vs. Mie! A fight to remember, I'm sure.
"And now for that thirty minute break."
A Shadowy Realm
Year 753
Halfway around the world, a small being stirred. That power… he had to have it! But how to obtain it? And to what use should it be put?
He summoned his servant; it was time to plan.
He glanced behind him to his father's legacy. He had waited so long… so long…
HELL
where time doesn't exist
A being glanced up, but his eyes were closed in tight concentration. His son was up to something. The being smiled. Soon… soon he would be avenged. He opened his eyes and glared at the Heavens. The beings that roamed there would soon tremble at his creation
Otherworld
where time doesn't exist
Yemma glanced up. Something was brewing in H.F.I.L. "Kibuto!"
"Yes, King Yemma?"
"What is that disturbance?"
"I don't know, sir."
"Well, find out! I don't like it. I don't like it at all."
(1) epiphany– sudden realization
(2) Bangkok Hi Keri Shu Attack – Bangkok Surprise Prize (the lightning attack)
(3) pandemonium – chaos