Disclaimer: I don't own DragonBallZ.
NOTE: To newer readers, the name Hiro is pronounced high-row.
Now, I would like to thank everybody who has been reading, and most of all everybody who has reviewed! Your reviews mean so much to me and I truly appreciate them, so here is my great thanks to Spring Rain of Harusame, animeprincess1452, Trugeta, Katana Midori-Fading Shadow, TigerGRRrr, and Western Master 3! You guys are spectacular!
To Spring Rain of Harusame: What? No! Ick! That's just terrible, I would never think of doing something like that...But thanks for reviewing anyway! I think you'll be...er...relieved to know who Dea's match actually is.
To animeprincess1452: Thank you for the compliments! What can I say, it's good to know that you really enjoy the story! Thank you, and I hope you like this chapter, too!
To Trugeta: Thank you for the compliment on the idea! And it's good to know that it did make sense, for I struggled with it for quite some time. As for Dea's 'match,' now you can finally find out!
To Katana Midori-Fading Shadow: Thank you! Well, yes, less updates and more quality are better. Plus it takes a load off! By the way, that's a pretty good guess as to Dea's interest, but you can finally see by reading!
To TigerGRRrr: Thank you! It's nice to hear that I'm good at suspense, at least, and I do seem to be doing that quite often, don't I? Thank you again, and I hope you enjoy the chapter!
To Western Master 3: Boy, that's quite an ambition! Well, good luck taking over the world!
Now the chapter...
Goku, Vegeta and a few of their friends and family had recovered from their shock quickly enough, and their puzzled expressions rapidly changed to offended, dark glares. These 'new arrivals,' as the young sponsor had so mentioned them, were none other than their unwelcome former enemies...
The sponsor continued. "I am pleased to present to you some of the greatest fighters in history: The two great creators and scientists, Drs. Romano and Brakes; the two extremely powerful androids, Sixteen and Seventeen; the exceptionally formidable Demon, Demelza; the violently fierce Buu; the notorious ruler, Frieza; and last but certainly not least, the four great Saiyans, Hiro, Nappa, Raditz, and Turles."
King Kai noticed the sudden change in Sena's manner. With her arms folded and her eyes reflecting a piercing hatred, he saw that she was scowling in aversion at the aforementioned Demelza...her own mother.
Trunks saw that Demi shrank away from the gaze of one of the enemy fighters, and soon found that that gaze belonged to one of the Saiyans. He could only assume why she seemed so anxious, and that would be because that particular Saiyan...Hiro...was her father.
She had only mentioned her father twice to him before, and reluctantly, at that. In her opinion, the man was not worth remembering. But now he was back – in the same stadium, even! – and Trunks could only try to calm her...
Chain looked up at her father in wonderment, studying the look on his face. She could feel a sense of acute dislike, and glanced out to the enemies. As if purposely following Vegeta's example, the young half-Saiyan narrowed her eyes at the foes she'd never met before in her life.
Goku and Gohan weren't in much more of a comfortable state. Both father and son glowered at Raditz, the one man who was supposed to be their relative, but had plainly not lived up to that fact.
Dea was still staring at the man she'd laid eyes on, barely breathing. She had been so locked and...entranced by his dark eyes that she hadn't even heard his mentioned name, thus was still left pondering as to who he was.
Of course, Goku and the others weren't the only people to be shooting dark looks and frowns. Hell's fighters were just as offended if not eager to get revenge as the sponsor had promised them, and cast threatening scowls to their adversaries...
Except for one, who was currently preoccupied with a pair of shining, black eyes. There was a woman with a halo at the opposite end of the platform who seemed to be staring at him. Her eyes were somewhat red and a bit swollen; she'd either been crying or her eyes were burning. But Turles wondered why she'd been watching him so, and who she was.
. . . . . .
Dende, intently watching what was going on below, grinned in triumph, and continued to congratulate himself. 'Dende, my good man, you are a genius. Dea is hooked, there's no doubt about it! And from the looks of it, that Turles guy is a little...dare I say interested...in her, as well. I just knew they would be a good match for one another!'
And now he would just sit back and let everything take its own course. However, the Kami of Earth couldn't wait to see what would ensue. He might even get a laugh out of the situation! Yes, Dea was going to eat her words very soon...
. . . . . .
With a startled jump (except for the enemy competitors), everyone looked back up at the speakers when the sponsor suddenly resumed what she was saying. "So, contestants, good luck. Because you are all going to need it..."
"Does she mean us?" Pan asked anxiously, and when everyone stared wide-eyed at her, she turned red and laughed nervously.
After everything finally registered with them, Bulma, Chi-Chi, and Videl suddenly scowled down at the group of unwelcome visitors. "What are those...those monsters up to?" Bulma snarled.
"Yeah! Just what do they think they're doing here?" Chi-Chi asked, putting her hands on her hips.
Videl crossed her arms. "Well, they don't know what they're getting into..."
"You got that right. None of these morons stand a chance against our husbands."
"Or our children for that matter!"
At that moment, the sponsor recommenced with speaking to the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are ready to proceed with the finals! Because of our newer contestants' late arrivals, there will not be a drawing of names, but instead, our computer will randomly match each participator with one another, and determine who is to face off against whom!"
"I'm all for a bit of a challenge," Brakes grinned, gazing up at the computer screen as she folded her arms.
"You would be," Seventeen snapped back, not bothering to glance at her.
She grimaced. "Do I know you...?"
"So, we have to fight them?" Bra wondered.
Pan clenched her fists. "Fight them? Are you crazy? We can't just fight them in a tournament like there's nothing strange about it, just pretending like everything's okay that they're here. That just doesn't make sense...does it?"
"I don't think we have much of a choice," Gohan replied. Pan raised an eyebrow at him in confusion. "Think about it, Pan. Sena, Dea, and King Kai are here, and obviously not by mistake. Now an entire group of our dead enemies arrives to battle it out. And let's not forget about the sponsor..."
"Oh, right," Goten nodded, listening in. "The sponsor; to say that hearing her was odd would definitely be an understatement."
Pan glanced up at them. "Look, I get what you two are saying about all of this being unusual, but I still don't understand what you're truly hinting at."
"Someone deliberately wants us to fight them," Goten answered with a serious expression and tone. "And I don't think they're going to let us ease our way out of it..."
There! I got the chapter done, and I hope you all enjoyed it! Now the actual battles are just about here, and will begin soon! Review!