Disclaimer: I don't own DragonBallZ.
NOTE: I may not be able to update as quickly as I have been lately. I need some time to think and give my chapters more quality. Anyway, I'd rather update less often and present well-written chapters than update every day and present bad ones. Sorry!
Thank you so much to everybody who's been reading, and most of all to everybody who reviewed! You guys are all awesome, and your reviews always support me! Thank you to Trugeta, Spring Rain of Harusame, Katana Midori-Fading Shadow, TIGERGRRrr, animeprincess1452, Western Master 3, and Bluddu4hel!
To Trugeta: Thank you! I'm glad to hear that it was well-written, and I thought you might appreciate the fact that Dea and Chain identify with one another. And I know you must be impatient to find out who the 'match' is, but hang in there, because it's just about here!
To Spring Rain of Harusame: Thank you! And yes, I would have to say that Dea is a challenge for Chain, so she got a good sparring match! Hope you like the chapter, then!
To Katana Midori-Fading Shadow: Well, what kind of interesting did you mean, there? Anyway, I hope you like this chapter, I'm going to try hard not to have any spelling mistakes...I hate those...
To TIGERGRRrr: They do seem alike, don't they? Anyway, sorry to keep you in such suspense, but I am glad that you like what's happening. Thank you!
To animeprincess1452: Thank you very much! I'm so glad you liked the sparring in the chapter! Well, I hope you like this chapter, as well! Thanks again!
To Western Master 3: Intriguing! I had no idea you were a virus...
To Bluddu4hel: Thank you for the compliment! I always try to make my stories good, especially this one. Thanks for reviewing, and I hope you like this chapter!
Okay, then...
Later that morning, Goku and the others all headed out to the coliseum, ready to begin the finals in the tournament. Again, Bulma, Chi-Chi, and Videl all bid their families good luck and headed up to their reserved seats.
Everybody was keyed up for this day, though not all of them may have shown it. Vegeta simply fixed his gaze on the empty arena, arms crossed, while Dea kept her eyes shut.
Tears were literally flooding from her eyes now, and she had altogether given up trying to keep her cheeks dry. Sena was concerned about this, of course, but knew it was best not to bring the subject up.
The multitude seated in the coliseum was thrilled about today, too, and a general hum of ardor filled the atmosphere.
Bulma looked out across the ring to the side of the platform and glued her eyes on her family. They were undoubtedly prepared. Then she glanced at the large group of people in the seats, noticing the manner in which they were unable to just sit still. "Wow, everybody's raring to go, huh?"
"Well, yeah," Chi-Chi answered. "This place is even more notable than the stadium at the Tenkaichi Budokai. It gives a more regal impression."
Bulma gave a small laugh. "You should tell that to Vegeta..."
. . . . . .
"Today's the day," the eager girl squealed, staring out of her window to the fighters below. "Finally, the best fights ever! And I'm just dying to see the look on their faces once our 'guests' come out."
"But something is also bothering you," Morgan replied. "I can tell."
"Well, I'm just a little apprehensive as to how our equipment is going to hold up out there. Mainly our cameras."
"You needn't be concerned about the cameras. I took the liberty of instructing some of our employees to attach a Ki Device to them, which shall protect them from any interference in both the quality of the shots and physical harm."
The girl's interest was hooked at these words. "Go on..."
Morgan displayed a picture of extensively planned blueprints for a small, circular gadget on his screen. "I invented the Ki Device myself, even though I couldn't personally put it together. It's a special piece designed specifically for protecting any vulnerable gear." He switched to another blueprint picture. "You will notice the complex inner electric planning; this allows the Ki Device to contain and store energy from living beings. When the cameras are turned on, it will promptly be activated, and 'fight fire with fire' so to speak."
"So you're saying..."
"First of all, you ought to know that normally when two attack energies meet at the same point, the result is combustion...or an explosion. However, because of the intricate electrical structure inside our device, our own harmless Ki will break incoming Ki up into exceptionally small energy waves, and in doing so, eliminate the destructive energy. And voila. No damage."
The girl smiled in delight. "Morgan, you are a genius. I like it when you get ahead of my thinking."
"Don't mention it. Well, why don't we check the time?" He displayed the numbers for the time on his large, high-definition screen. "Only a few minutes left. You know what to do, right?"
"Yeah, yeah. Be sure to sound professional and knowledgeable, and above all, do not arouse more suspicion than is necessary. You've told me over and over..." She picked a cordless mic up off of the table in the room. "Well, I'm ready."
. . . . . .
Vegeta was growing slightly impatient. His indifferent expression changed to a subtle scowl, and Chain recognized that look. She nervously glanced back out to the center of the ring, hoping things would move along a little...
At last, the announcer, firmly gripping his mic once again, stepped up onto the platform and waved an arm out to the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience, and welcome to the finals in Hurricane Archipelago's Martial Arts Tournament!"
They cheered enthusiastically, throwing confetti out over the seats.
"Our fighters have proven their skills, and now only a few remain to battle it out in the last day of this marvelous event! However, before we let them begin, our sponsor would like to say a few words." With that, he lowered his mic and stood still.
"I wonder what the sponsor could have to say," Gohan told the others, and Trunks shrugged.
After a short pause, a small female voice echoed across the stadium, surprising almost everyone who was present. Goku snapped his head in the direction of the speakers in astonishment, while Vegeta frowned in suspicion.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming. First of all, I would like to cordially thank each of our contestants for participating in our tournament. You have all fought well, contestants, and have earned your way to the finals. But before I bid you good luck, I do believe an introduction is in order. We have some new arrivals, of which I'm sure you'd be most interested to meet."
At the opposite end of the coliseum, a colossal pair of double-doors began to creak open. The rumbling of their steady and gradual movement echoed through the amphitheater, creating tension in both participators and onlookers.
Bulma, Chi-Chi, and Videl leaned all the way forward to catch sight of what was behind the doors, while their family and friends were standing in total apprehension.
Finally the doors stood wide open, revealing a gathering of fighters. But they weren't just any fighters...
"Please welcome our distinguished guests that have come here straight from the depths of Hell. Let's try to make this time as interesting for them as we can, please."
The less-terrified onlookers were extremely confused. "Who are those people? They look really weird..."
"What the heck is that guy supposed to be?"
"What are they wearing?"
The human fighters, completely dumbstruck and horrified at the sight of these strange-looking people, didn't know what to do. That is, until the sponsor spoke back up. "For those of you who have a great fear of dying, I suggest you forfeit immediately."
They didn't need to be told twice! With those intimidating words (and the intimidating glares from the newly arrived competitors), the human participators turned on their heels and retreated. Goku, Gohan, Trunks, Pan, Bra, and Chain glanced back to the fleeing figures in perplexity.
Vegeta scowled in revulsion at one of the opposing fighters. 'So, he has the nerve to come back and show his disgusting face?' The Royal Saiyan was most seriously displeased.
Sena and Demi were far from glad to see two particular people. They wanted nothing to do with those two...
One in the group, though, was plainly dumbstruck. Dea, with her red eyes widened (though no longer flowing with tears) and her mouth fallen open, was staring at someone she'd never seen before. A particular tall man that accompanied the rest of Hell's fighters was standing with his arms crossed and an impatient glare on his face.
She continued gawk at him, until suddenly she felt herself losing her balance, and had to slump forward and lean on the railing to keep on her feet. That man was...well...he just made her feel...
He suddenly met her gaze, looking directly into her eyes. Dea felt shivers run up her spine and down her arms, and she gasped under her breath. Whoever he was...he...
I'm sorry to have left you all in suspense, especially to you newer readers and those who have been eager to know who Dea's Lucky Man is. But I thought leaving it like this would be better...Review!
A note to those who read the original: I think you all will be surprised to see some new faces from Hell, and the new matches. I even did a drawing of names, and there's going to be matches where bad guys face off against other bad guys!