Disclaimer: I don't own DragonBallZ.
Thank you so much for reviewing the last chapter, guys! You don't know how much those mean to me, because they always keep me motivated! So here's to Trugeta, animeprincess1452, and Katana Midori-Fading Shadow!
To Trugeta: I'm glad I was able to bring out the humor in the chapter! Chain's in for a real 'treat' once everyone sees her, I bet I can say that. Also I'm glad that the whole tournament issue is easier to understand now. Thanks!
To animeprincess1452: Thanks again for your wonderful compliment! Yes, they're ready to head out to 'battle.' Hope you like this chapter!
To Katana Midori-Fading Shadow: I'm glad that this story is doing a better job than it was at first, thank you for letting me know! It makes me happy!
Here's the chapter, then...
Sena, Dea, and King Kai finally opened their tight-shut eyes to view their surroundings. But where they expected to see a large patch of grass all the way to the horizon, and beyond that yellow-white clouds and the long stretching path of Snake Way, they now looked upon a violent geyser not five feet in front of them.
Hot boiling water shot up into the air, and a misty spray of hot liquid blew out at them in a small breeze. They were standing a little too close to this geyser for comfort.
As they backed off casually, though, their steady pace slowed down uncertainly as they found that there were people staring at them. The small group circled around the hot geyser appeared to be tourists. What were tourists doing here, though? Or, a better question might have been, what were they doing among the tourists?
They stood for an uncomfortable amount of time in the midst of the small group, just letting the stares flow over in their direction. None of them said a word, until finally Dea gave a small 'humph' and walked away.
'I wish I was as brave as her,' Sena thought, and hesitantly followed her young sibling, hoping that soon the scarlet hue in her face would fade away.
"Hey...wait...!" King Kai called, and shuffled along after them.
On the other side of the island, two ambitious soon-to-be competitors had just arrived, and stood staring out at the setting. Trunks and his wife, Demi, glanced from right to left. "Well, what do you think?" he asked her.
"It's not that bad," she replied. "Could be worse."
Suddenly, a huge geyser that was very close to their right erupted, and huge drops of water splattered out near their feet. They moved off to the left in order to keep some distance between them and the landmark. "Yep," Trunks remarked.
"Is anyone else here, yet?" She gave a general search for Ki over the island, not sensing any of her friends. Luckily for two certain women (and maybe even herself), she'd overlooked a couple of important people...
Trunks followed her example and sensed for the energy of his friends. Having just about the same luck as Demi, he shrugged. "I guess not. We must be the first ones."
"So what do we do now?" she asked, folding her arms at him as her dark purple hair fell over her shoulder.
"Let's just hang out for a while. We're not in a hurry." He looked down at her to make sure she approved.
Demi nodded at him, and the young couple headed off down the dirt path. All around, more geysers and bubbling geothermal springs caught their eyes. The small, colorful, blooming flora growing next to them gave a rather wild but lovely impression for the setting. 'Yeah,' Demi thought as she grinned to herself, 'this place isn't so bad. Now I just wonder what the stadium is like?'
Trunks glanced down at his wife. "What are you smiling about?" he asked her. She normally didn't allow such moderately pleased expressions to show, though she did a bit more these days.
Immediately, her grin vanished, only to be replaced by a frown. "Nothing." She stared ahead, hoping he'd ignore her, and soon an opening in the dirt path caught her attention. A clearing not several meters ahead provided space for a more recognizable venue.
Shops on every corner were set up, mainly souvenir shops and food stands. People gathered around the small attractions, browsing at items on display as well as menus. Now this was more of a familiar setting.
"We'll stay around here. For all I know about your friends, they'll end up coming around here to eat or something. Better chance of running into them that way," Demi said.
"Yeah," he nodded, and the two proceeded to browse half-interestedly at the shops.
Not long after, the Sons arrived on the island. Goku was the first to suggest where they head to first, recommending one of the food stands.
'Where else?' Goten thought sarcastically, and silently followed his parents out along the path.
Soon, everyone else showed up in their own sweet time. Gohan, Videl, and Pan took a look around for any familiar faces, while Vegeta, Bulma, and Chain all minded their own business. The more independent Bra, who'd shown up alone, was hoping to find that Pan might already be on the island.
The small groups stayed together, but wandered about nonetheless in hopes of finding one another. They all had the same idea, though: Stay around the food stands. Where else would a group of probably hungry (demi-)Saiyans go while they waited for the start of a tournament?
"Any idea what's going on?" King Kai asked Sena and Dea.
They both glanced around, taking in what they saw. Lots of people on an island, seemingly waiting for something to arrive or begin. Not too far off was a huge metal wall...
"A tournament," Sena answered.
"Hm." King Kai browsed about himself before finally coming to the conclusion that she must be right. "Tournament, eh?"
"I think I might enter." Sena looked at her sister. "How about you?"
Dea nodded. After all, why not? They weren't really going anywhere, and they didn't have anything else to do while they were here. Whatever the reason of their presence was, that is...
"Sure," King Kai consented (although he knew they'd do whatever they wanted regardless.) "Let's see how well your training's paid off."
And so they each went onward to search for the entrance of the stadium – wherever the entrance was on the huge building– to enlist and compete, unknowing that this tournament was to be one of the greatest tournament in the history of this planet...
Chapter four finished! How was it so far? Review, please!