Disclaimer: I don't own DragonBallZ.
Thank you very, very much to everyone who read the last chapter, and especially to everyone who reviewed, for I doubt that I'd continue without your supportive feedback! So, I raise my glass to Trugeta, animeprincess1452, Brutal2003, and Katana Midori-Fading Shadow!
To Trugeta: Thank you for the compliment, it makes me feel good on my work on that chapter! I hope you like this chapter, then!
To animprincess1452: Once again, thanks for the very much-appreciated compliment! I'm glad you liked the chapter! So I hope you like this one, then!
To Brutal2003: Thanks for reviewing, and I hope that this next chapter was worth the...short wait!
To Katana Midori-Fading Shadow: Thanks! No, rest-assured it was coming back. I took it down for some time to rewrite it, but the same basic storyline is the same. Anyway, good to hear from you again!
Here's the chapter, then, guys!
Saturday morning...
There was no possible way that the news of the tournament could escape Goku. And naturally, he had no intentions of passing up this opportunity. So that morning he was sure to get his strength up with a healthy breakfast and an intense warm-up session.
The powerful Saiyan predicted that this year's fights were going to be very interesting. There were many things he was excited to see: How well some of the contestants were going to do, for one, especially the hardworking girls Pan, Bra, and Chain. And for another, Goku was hoping that he would get the chance to fight Vegeta. The proud Saiyan Prince had worked himself to the near point of death, and the results were more than astounding. He couldn't wait to face off against him.
Goku brushed up on his techniques and his movement. He started off slowly and easily, putting one arm back and another forward with steady movement, then turned in the other direction where he balanced himself neatly in a complex position. Then, he suddenly became more focused, and struck out into the air with several swift punches and a couple of kicks.
In the meantime, Chi-Chi, who was suspiciously curious about the location of the tournament, had turned on the news in hopes to finding out a bit more about it. She switched through several of the news channels until she found what she was looking for.
She leaned in close toward the small screen on the table, supporting herself with her hands set on her knees.
"Good morning and welcome to Weather News." The anchorwoman introduced herself, and then, after a short bit about the weather over the local area, she finally brought up the subject of Hurricane Archipelago. "An uninhabited chain of islands, Hurricane Archipelago is well-known for its hot springs, geysers, and of course its annual hurricane, from which it received its name. Recently, people have been flocking to one of the islands in order to see the martial arts tournament, which is taking place later this very afternoon."
It sounded very interesting. What a place to hold a tournament; it would definitely provide an exciting background. She turned around to see her youngest son. He was wearing one of his dark blue training outfits, one in much the same style of his father's. "So you're going to the tournament, then?"
"Yeah," Goten replied. "Everyone else is..."
"But you're not enthusiastic about it?"
"Maybe when I see this place. It depends," he told her.
Then, an interesting note in the news caused them to stare back at the television screen once more. "The preliminary rounds of the tournament are supposed to be held on a separate day from the finals. Originally, the sponsor of the tournament intended to hold the preliminaries on Day One, and the finals on Day Two. However, a sudden overwhelming number of contestants have entered, and the sponsor has been forced to hold the preliminaries for several more days than expected. The actual number of days has still been undecided..."
. . . . . .
"Hm." Bulma inspected the bluish-greenish-purple spot on Chain's cheekbone. "You're just not healing quickly, are you?"
Chain pouted. The small bruise – okay, so it wasn't so small – was raw and particularly sore to the touch. Vegeta didn't know his own strength.
"Well, let's get you patched up." Bulma took out an unopened package of gauze pads and some more white bandage tape from the cabinets.
"Aw, Mom...it's embarrassing. What are people going to think when they see me enter the tournament with this huge bandage on my face?"
"I'm sure they won't think anything, dear. It's better than entering with a huge cut on your face, I can tell you that." She gently placed the thick gauze pad over the mark, and then taped it down.
"So is Bra competing or what?" the half-Saiyan inquired somewhat sulkily.
"I think so." Bulma stored the pads and tape back in the cabinets.
"When are we leaving?" Chain glanced up at her mother from the corners of her eyes.
"Just as soon as your father is ready, I guess. He's in the GR, probably warming up. You know, it wouldn't be a bad idea for you to get ready, either. Maybe your father can help you."
"No thanks..." She lightly set her knuckles upon the bandage over her scrape.
. . . . . .
Dea panted heavily where she was on her knees on the ground. Her eyes were closed in fatigue, and her brow was positively dripping with sweat. She could feel the heat of her breath at the tip of her nose every time she exhaled.
"What's up with you?" Sena asked as she crossed her arms.
Dea silently shook her head while King Kai kept over to the side.
"Come on, we're still fighting, here," the elder sister proclaimed, and went into a relaxed fighting stance.
Dea didn't get up. Instead, she stayed in her spot, and supported her upper body with her hands leaning out into the grass. She continued to pant, though the heavy inhales and exhales steadily began to slow down.
"Oh, jeez..." Sena straightened up and stared disappointedly at her sister.
"Hey, you push her pretty hard," King Kai said. "Let her have a break."
"I push her hard? Never mind..." The tall woman turned and started to head off toward the small house for a drink, when she suddenly halted in her steps.
"Hm?" King Kai glanced over to her. "Something wrong?"
Sena slowly blinked before carefully glancing over in the others' direction from the corners of her eyes. She suddenly clenched her fists, and her eyes narrowed. Her Fight or Flight instincts were suddenly rushing into her stomach, lungs, and legs, and she held her breath.
King Kai followed her gaze out into the atmosphere, and then he sensed it. An abrupt vibration through the air itself was headed in their direction. But what was it...?
Dea looked up as she, too, sensed the sudden violent wave coming at them. Something was about to happen, but what?
Before any of them knew what was going on, a strange sensation entered their insides, like an invisible hand reaching into their stomachs and yanking them forward forcefully. In their panic, they each instinctively shut their eyes and crossed their arms in front of their faces protectively, bracing themselves for whatever was about to follow.
There's the third chapter! I feel a lot better about this one than the original, but that's only my opinion. Please tell me what you think, because I always value everyone's opinion! Review!