BY MARA ROBERTS
The Supreme Martial Arts Tournament
The Quarterfinals
Year 753
The Fighters' Wing
Mie waited for the next match, pacing. She wasn't worried about her battle with Goku. In fact, she wasn't thinking about the match at all. Her mind was on the tournament board. She kept herself from looking at it again. She had it memorized:
Semifinals: Fight 1
Match 1: Goku v. Chaotzu
Semifinals 1: Goku v. Mie
Match 2: Mie v. Krillian
Match 3: Yamcha v. Tien
Semifinals 2: Tien v. Gohan
Match 4: Gohan v. Jackie Chun
It wasn't the fact that Gohan had reached the semis that worried her, though that should have been well neigh impossible. It wasn't his age, which was unbelievable. It wasn't his skill, which was incomprehensible. It was his power, which was unfathomable.
How could a little boy become so strong in such short years? Oh, compared to her own might, it amounted to nothing, but she knew herself to be a special case. But the boy was a rare bird indeed, more so than she, for what he was not.
Mie tilted her head to the side as she sensed an evil presence, one she knew well… So, she thought. He finally decided to come to the tournament. No doubt he wants to study Gohan's energy. She stretched out with her senses, but the wizard was well hidden from her mind.
The Concession Stands
"Mmm-Hmm, I'm starving!"
"Goku, when aren't you hungry?" Bulma said, not really asking a question.
"Gohan, why aren't you eating? Your appetite rivals Goku's," Krillian asked.
"Oh, I'm not very hungry right now." Gohan said, glancing at Yamcha, who was studying him curiously.
Yamcha didn't notice the look, which said something for how deeply he was thinking. Gohan's anger reminded him of the 21st Tenkai Boudakai. Goku had transformed into a giant monkey under the same lightning attack Chun had used on Gohan just earlier. The only difference was Gohan didn't transform physically, and he certainly seemed self-aware when he reined in his anger. But what had made him calm down? Yamcha thought back to the incident.
The Arena
A harsh wind whipped Yamcha's hair around, bit into his face. It blinded his eyes, and the sting caused them to tear. His clothes were thrashed by the wind's might. He narrowed his eyes, straining to see.
There was Gohan, in all his rage, screaming his heart out. That scream frightened him, jarred him to the center of his soul. People cried out to the boy, begging him to stop whatever he had started. The boy heard none of those cries.
"Gohan, STOP!" That voice called out, and moments later the wind died. Awareness filtered back into Gohan's eyes, into his stance and aura. He levitated to the ground.
So, whose voice was it that commanded Gohan instantly? He played the scene over in his mind… Goku's! It had been Goku that jolted Gohan back to his senses. Was there some sort of connection between them? There were many similarities. Was there some sort of common link that –
He was startled from his thoughts by a small hand waving in front of him.
"Huh?" Yamcha asked.
"I've been trying to get your attention for five minutes," Bulma said.
"Oh, sorry. What did you want?"
"The next match is about to start. Let's go."
The Fighters' Wing
It was moments before her next fight, this time versus Goku. She noted Yamcha had drawn many similarities between the boy she was about to face and Gohan. She wondered if Goku, too, had the sort of power Gohan did, or even the potential for it. Mie decided to test him and find out just what Goku was capable of. He could prove useful, as Gohan was useful. She only hoped she could convince them of her need.
Her mind flitted back to Tien and Chaotzu. Yes, both were doing nicely, progressing steadily in the direction she had hoped they would. She checked on the Crane Master, but could do nothing for him. He was too twisted and evil in his own right before he was ever manipulated. He had welcomed the evil into his heart, however subconscious the welcome had been.
She turned her mind back to the fight at hand.
The Stands
"Do you think Goku might be afraid of girls, too?" Oolong asked.
"I doubt it," Bulma answered. "When I first met him he couldn't tell a boy from a girl."
Goku's Woods
Goku was walking home dragging a gigantic fish behind, thinking of the meal about to be had when suddenly a monster attacked, trying to steal his fish away! The monster knocked young Goku into a tree, but he wasn't losing his dinner without a fight. He charged and picked up the monster, throwing it on its side. Drawing his Nyo-boi (1) out of its sheath, he pointed it at his attacker.
"You'll pay for that, monster, trying to steal my fish!"
"Hold it kid," came a voice from within the monster's belly. "I'm not a monster; I'm a human being!"
The being stepped out of the monster to stand in front of Goku.
"A human, you say?"
"Yeah, I'm a girl."
"Grandpa told me about girls. He said I should always be nice to them and do whatever they say."
"Your grandpa sounds like a very smart man…."
"…I mean, there I was driving down the 'road' to get the next dragonball when I hit the poor kid and he attacks me! He actually thought my car was a monster; he'd never seen one before! But then he picked it up and… and I knew then that Goku was special, but afraid of girls? Hah! I seriously doubt it. Goku's not afraid of anything," Bulma finished up her tale.
"Yeah, I remember when I first met Goku and became Master Roshi's pupil, and we had to find him a girl before he'd train us. We were flying on Kinto'un (2) and there was a farmer down below us, a really fat guy, and Goku was going to pick him up for Master Roshi!"
Bulma, Puar and Oolong sweat-dropped.
"Well, the old pervert would have deserved it, anyway," Bulma declared.
The Arena
"And we're back, ladies and gentlemen, ready to start the semifinals! Lets hear a big cheer for all contestants who have advanced this far!"
The crowds obliged him.
"And now for the first fight of the semifinals, Goku vs. Mie!"
The two came out, with a marked difference in their stance. Goku was laughing; this was all about having fun. Mie, on the other hand, was dead serious. She was not laughing as she had with Krillian. To her, this was no longer a game.
Goku noticed her somber look and frowned. Why was she so serious? Why couldn't she be more happy, like Chi-Chi? Well, he'd make her laugh again when they fought. How could you not be happy when you were fighting?
Mike walked over the side of the ring and stepped off. "And… fight!"
That was all the encouragement Goku needed as he phased out of existence. In an instant he was behind Mie, though she didn't move, knowing full well he had no intention of attacking, and that if she turned around she'd see nothing but a Zanzouken – an after image. She kicked, upwards, hitting Goku in the gut.
He phased out again; her foot caught only fabric. He made to kick her in the back, but Mie was quick. She turned and grabbed his foot, intending to throw him to the edge of the ring but not out – she wanted to test him, after all.
She didn't get the chance, but Goku did pass the test. He leaned forward, bending double and grabbed on to her hands with his own even while she still grasped his foot. He pulled her hands apart and kicked at her face while executing a perfect back flip, using Mie's hands for leverage.
It was perfect despite Mie's attempt to kick Goku's lower back. Attempt because Goku's tail wrapped around her foot and unbalanced her enough for Goku to gain his footing.
Mie managed to wrench her foot free before Goku turned around and sent it flying towards his head while her lower foot went to take his legs out from under him. His tail could only block one leg.
As Mie suspected the tail went to the lower foot as Goku ducked down to avoid her upper foot. Mie quickly moved hr upper foot down, clonking Goku a good one on the head and momentarily stunning his tail before it had a chance to claim her foot again.
The respite did not last long, however. This time the meddling tail wrapped around Mie's waist and hurled her over Goku's head. Mie was sent tumbling to the ground.
Goku waited for her to regain her footing. Mie pushed herself to her hands and knees before climbing to her feet. Goku was certainly inventive, but he wasn't showing her any power as she had hoped. She decided to up her own Ki and see if he raised his in response.
The Fighters' Wing
Gohan gasped in shock. That was the Ki he had sensed earlier today! He scanned the crowd and saw Master Roshi, who confirmed what he sensed.
He spun back to the arena. Mie's power was incredible – she had just been playing with Dad all along. But to what purpose?
The Arena
Goku's mind tickled. It started when Mie did… something. He wanted to counter, but how could he unless he knew what Mie was doing? Suddenly he had no more time for thought as Mie attacked. He blocked it by the skin of his teeth and put everything into holding her arm back. His own arms trembled with the strain of it, yet Mie wasn't fatigued at all! Goku reached deep inside himself and somehow channeled power into his arms. Mie backed off, seemingly pleased. But Goku knew it wasn't because of this strength, this energy; she could have held him off indefinitely. She must have wanted to see if he could summon energy like that.
This was new, so new to Goku. Sure, he had summoned energy to create Kamehameha's and all, but never to strengthen himself. He wondered if he could do it again, and in what other ways his energy could be used.
Goku attacked, this time putting energy into himself. He realized with a shock how quickly he was moving; no sooner had he thought up the attack then it was already executed.
He tried it again, getting swifter and surer with each attack. He knew Mie could end the match while he was testing himself, learning and mastering his new capabilities, but she seemed content to wait until he was ready. He guessed Mie wanted a real fight and not a pushover.
"And it looks like Goku has Mie on the ropes! He's a human (3) blur!" Mike announced to the crowd.
Hah! Mie thought. Looks can be deceiving, but Goku knows the truth. Looks like he's getting serious now.
"Attack me!" he demanded.
And so she did. Mie obliged him with a series of Ki enhanced attacks, steadily going faster and faster, testing Goku with every move but still not at half-strength herself.
"The tables have turned, as Mie attacks Goku with a vengeance!" Mike kept up his commentary.
Goku was blocking, but each assault was harder and harder to check.
He's reached his limits, Mie thought inwardly. With time he will only grow stronger but he is too young and I am too pressed for time to help him surpass his limitations. It's a pity.
Mie continued her assault a while longer hoping that Goku might surprise her but to no avail. He could have been so much more if trained correctly, pushed harder from the beginning. But no one here could have known, no one is too blame except perhaps myself. But the other one is prime; he will be instrumental in my plan. I cannot force him to help, but knowing his heart I am certain he will volunteer. It's time to end this.
Mie straightened so Goku charged, but Mie leveled a mighty blow to his midsection, propelling him out of the ring, without time to counter or use his energy to push himself back into the ring.
"And Mie will go on to vie for the championship title!" Mike proclaimed.
The Stands
"He…Goku lost," Bulma said in disbelief. "Goku never loses, except that one time… last tournament."
"I can't believe he didn't make it to the finals…" Oolong said in a similar state of shock.
"Oh, Goku!" Puar wailed, pitying her fallen friend.
Krillian and Yamcha were speechless. They knew full well what Goku's capabilities were. What they saw was impossible. It just couldn't be… and yet it was.
"Let's go cheer him up," Roshi said. He too was surprised. Gohan he knew could have defeated Goku, but two people of such strength? And so young! Mie was a scant ten years old. He'd already gotten used to Gohan's immense power, now he had a new one to digest. It really stinks being knocked down the food chain, he mused.
The Fighters' Wing
"It was an excellent battle, Goku. Thank you."
"Thank you! I had a lot of fun. I hope we can fight again sometime."
"I hope so too. Especially because you haven't even reached the limits of your strength."
"I haven't? How can you tell?"
"Can I trust you with a secret?"
"Sure!"
Mie whispered in Goku's ear. "Sppspss ssspsppppspp".
Goku looked at her in shock, "Oh, wow! I'm gonna train harder than ever, now!"
"I'm sure. Good luck, warrior." Mie spotted Goku's friends coming over to console him so she left.
"Goku! I'm sorry you lost, man," Oolong sympathized.
"That's okay. She's a great fighter, like Jackie Chun."
"Better, in my opinion," Bulma razed the missing Jackie Chun. He reminded her so much of the perverted Master Roshi.
"Well, she is stronger and faster than him, but Mr. Jackie knows a lot more technique."
"Well, that only comes with age, y'know," Bulma said.
Roshi face-faulted.
"I guess," Goku answered.
"Ahem," Roshi coughed. "Experience is like a fine wine. It improves with age, as do all martial artists!"
"As if you could ever improve on anything!" Bulma yelled at him.
Before the two could enter an all out verbal warfare, a large rumble interrupted them.
"I'm hungry…"
The gang collapsed in anime-fashion.
"But Goku, you just ate before the fight," They all whined.
An empty tummy answered.
"Oh, all right! Here. Go and buy yourself some food, but pay first!" Bulma hollered after him, knowing full well the three hundred zeni couldn't satisfy him fully, but she was out of cash.
(1) Nyo-boi – the power-pole
(2) Kinto-un – the Nimbus Cloud
(3) LOL "A human blur" – bit of irony, there.