The sun rose slowly that morning the Kakarrot had found himself barely able to get any sleep. His dreams had been loud and his adrenaline pumping. He had noticed Tien's sleep was light too. But Tien hadn't said a word over Kakarrot late night excursion as they all got dressed. Kakarrot was quite sure that Tien didn't rat him out because he had won him over.
The long night had given Kakarrot another idea and it regarded Chiaotzu. While he was still getting dress Kakarrot approached the odd boy.
"Chiaotzu I have an idea."
"Wonderful the monkey has an idea." Shen proclaimed sarcastically.
Kakarrot turned to Shen "I'm sure master you will approve."(He turned back to Chiaotzu to say) "I don't want to fight you or any of Roshi people in the Preliminaries."
Shen brow furrowed angrily "What are you saying!"
"What I am saying Master, is if we are going to face them it should be with an audience."
Shen stopped being angry and said, "Go on."
"Chiaotzu could you rig it with your powers so that we not face them in the Preliminaries and just in the Tournament proper. When we face each other, it should be for all to witness. After all what would have been the point of all of this if we were to crush Roshi students without the right fan fair. And since I and Tien are the true strongest in this competition would it not be unfair to the world if I was to face him in the first round or semifinals it should be in the finals."
Chiaotzu had his usually vacant stare on his face but nodded 'yes'. Tien nodded in approval with a smile on his face. Shen had a grin on his face the size of a wolf's mouth. While Kakarrot was enjoying his peer's approval.
Shen deeply enjoying the moment "Kakarrot I enjoy the way you think."
Kakarrot smiling "Was that a compliment Master?"
Shen's smile left him "No monkey you just had a moment when you're not acting completely braindead."
To that Kakarrot sarcastically bowed to Shen saying, "I aim to please Master."
Shen turned and said, "Let's get this farce over with."
The ride to the Tournament this time was much faster. Police had blocked some of the roads from foot traffic. Before long they were at the Stadium. The crowds now just consisted of the ocean of fools that considered themselves martial artists.
Kakarrot was quick to spot Roshi's group. Launch had changed back into blondey and the fighters were in their orange gi. Bulma, Puar and Oolong were wishing them well.
"You stay safe kid." She patted Chi-Chi on the head. "We will be watching from the windows if they don't force us away."
"Be careful Yamcha." Puar nervously said.
"Hey when do I disappoint."
"Right?" Puar said remember all the time her master had screwed up.
Bulma angrily turns from the fighters and marches away to Yamcha's deflation and Puar sadness.
Chi-Chi seems obvious to it while Oolong is looking around and asks "Where's Roshi?" Everyone seems so caught up in the moment not to notice.
Shen says as the Crane students are entering "Don't fail me." He said as a threat and with hate dripping from his mouth. They bowed to Shen. Kakarrot wasn't afraid by his words but Chiaotzu was disturbed by them.
It was just then that Kakarrot's senses were being overloaded something that reeked worse than the Farmer worse than his barn and worse than Roshi. He looked to see some smelly giant walking passed him.
Everyone was visibly sick by the smell except of course the bald boy without a nose. Strangely enough the bald kid seemed sick after noticing everyone else's reactions to his smell.
Kakarrot in a whisper "Do me a favor Chiaotzu make sure that Roshi's cue ball that goes up against that guy."
Chiaotzu nodded 'yes' as they continued inside and then gathered around the stages.
An old man in orange came on to the stage to address them. "Welcome to the Twenty First World Martial Arts Tournament. I would like to thank you all for participating as without you we couldn't have this Tournament. Now if sure you all can tell that there are far more than eight in this room. So, we need to do some weeding. You will all take a number and be put into four blocks the best two of each block with advance to the Tournament proper. The rules are as follows, weapons are not allowed, claws are allowed only if their natural. No going for the groin and no poking of eyes. Matches in this round will last a minute and if not concluded will be decided by points. Now everyone be a good sport. You all worked hard to get here and most of you aren't going to make it to the final eight so don't gloat and don't act pissy."
With that Kakarrot smelled Roshi he looked to see a man with quite fake hair in black and white with Roshi's long white beard behind him staring with a worried look on his face. He thought "So Roshi decided to participate after all."
Kakarrot whispered "Chiaotzu make sure the man with the long beard and in black and white is in his own block to. I would hate to fight Roshi now."
To that Tien's eyes went wide upon hearing the new information "Roshi?"
"Yes he might think that hair might be enough but nothing escapes my nose. It's Roshi here to try and stop us from winning the Tournament and embarrass us in front of Master."
Tien eyes became slits and he was visibly upset. Kakarrot chuckling a bit as Tien became noticeably anger so he said to him "Don't get angry it's all to our benefit. Imagine how happy Shen will be to see him crushed."
Tien calmed and nodded "So who gets him in the Tournament?"
"Well I owe him one, but you seem see quite eager you can have him in the semi-finals." To that Tien smiled.
Kakarrot thought to himself 'No way. Tien might be strong but Roshi's has hidden strengths. I guess that just means that he will be humiliated in front of Shen. Give it a year or two more and Tien would have owned the old man but right now. Hehe. Roshi I will crush you in the final round I can assure you of that.'
After that Chiaotzu did his magic. Each one of Roshi's students got their own block along with Roshi and the Crane students. Jackie Chun as Roshi was calling himself now was staring at them. Kakarrot smiled at him. He might have known what they were doing but he could do nothing and would do nothing.
The cue ball one was begin harassed by some taller older baldies in yellow as Kakarrot took the stage the first of the Crane student to take the ring.
Before him was some big winged dinosaur creature. It had a blue back and green front. On its face was a laughing smile.
Giran the dinosaur like winged creature "Is that what they want me to fight? A kid. Kid you better run. You see these teeth." He pointed to his teeth. "I'm a scary monster you'd better run home to mommy."
Kakarrot scuffed at this creature that was mostly irritating to him "O so you're a scary monster huh. Excuse me if I don't flee in terror. To me you look more like an overstuffed toy. Let me give you a piece of advice you're the one who should be running in terror monster not me."
Giran snarled at that.
The referee blew his whistle and Giran launched himself at Kakarrot. With ease he dodged Giran first attack and kneed him in the stomach. To that Giran cried out as he retreated from Kakarrot.
"What's wrong the monster having trouble with a kid?"
Giran was fuming he didn't understand how Kakarrot's attack had hurt him so much. He swung at him again to only have Kakarrot catch the fist and toss him to nearly the edge of the ring. Giran managed to stop himself before falling off the edge.
"Still waiting on a reason to be scared."
Giran eyes became red. It was like the boy had hit him were the monk had said you can't hit. "Ow you did it now! I was going to wait to use this until later, but you have it coming kid."
Giran seemed to be spitting at him but instead of spit came out pink gummy substance that looked like it should be tooth paste. It wrapped around Kakarrot and clenched around him trying to strangle him. As it wrapped around him Kakarrot grimaced much to Giran's enjoyment.
Giran pointed "Ha! Shows you kid! That is merry go round gum. There's no way that you are going to escape from that!" Giran continued to celebrate as Kakarrot began to laugh much to Giran's surprise.
In one swift move Kakarrot broke out of the gum. Giran was panicking.
"What was it that you were saying? That it was unbreakable?" With that Giran through up his hands and surrendered.
Kakarrot scoffed "Some monster." As he walked of the stage. The others watching. Chi-Chi starry eyed while the others had a touch of concern.
Krillin then went up an against the Orin temple bullies easily wining. Much to his surprise and his friend's happiness. Easily the Turtle and the Crane won match after match. Tien took the stage against him was an Indian man. He was a buff man with determination in his eyes.
The man named Nam said, "I apologies for any injury I might cause you." He said while bowing to Tien.
"Don't worry you won't." The referee blew the whistle and the fight began.
"For my village." Tien and Nam charged at one another.
Nam chops at Tien to find Tien's hands blocking him each time while Tien's blows hit home each time. Tien knocked him away. Nam was panting but Tien wasn't.
Tien mockingly asked, "All out of steam?"
Nam then jumped into the air and yelled "I'M SORRY!"
Nam's hand crossed in front of his face and like a meteorite fell at Tien. Tien grinned and stood his ground waiting for Nam much to Nam's dismay. As Nam came towards him Tien punched so that Nam's arms and Tien's fist would meet.
Tien overpower Nam stopping him dead in his tracks and then sending Nam flying into a concrete wall. Nam's back hit the wall snapping his spine and breaking bones. He was unconscious at this point. The staff rushed over to help him and there was an audible gasp in the room.
Tien was walking off the stage with only Chiaotzu and Kakarrot happy to see him. The rest of the contestants were blue in the face. 'Jachie Chun' was disgusted along with the other Turtle students looked disgusted at him.
Tien smiled looking over to the limp body of Nam "I'm not."
Kakarrot enjoying the scene "Hehe, I don't think that guy will be able to walk again."
Tien came to his allies "Serves him right. A weakling like that trying to be a fighter."
Nam was carried off to the hospital and the rest of Tien's block quit rather than face Tien.
Roshi to himself "Another one. Shen always manages to find talent and corrupt it." He had been standing right next to his students.
Chi-Chi having overheard a little of that "What did you say sir?"
Jackie Chun hurriedly said, "Oh nothing just terrible right about that poor man!" He said while sweating bullets.
Chi-Chi looked at him ponderously "Hey. You know you look familiar. Have I meet you somewhere?"
He was panicking "Nope never met you in my life! There is no possible way you could know me! But I get that a lot! Well see yah!" And with that he took off leaving a puzzled Turtle school.
Kakarrot thinking to himself watching that little exchange "Hmm they really are fools. It might be easier than I thought to trick them. How can they not even tell it's their master?"
A few more matches happened and then Chi-Chi took the stage.
Chi-Chi's opponent was a purple haired woman with loose clothing. She had lipstick on and was quite angry. Muttering about her luck or something.
Ranfan spoke "How in the hell did a brat like you make it up to this point?"
Chi-Chi frowning and taking offence "Hey I'm no brat."
Ranfan thinking 'Okay have to do this the old fashion way.'
The referee blew the whistle and the match began. With one punch Chi-Chi knocked Ranfan out of the stage and to the ground moving faster than Ranfan could react.
Ranfan was dazed as she picked herself up. To find Chi-Chi waiting to help her off the floor.
"Sorry about that. I don't know my own strength sometimes mam." Chi-Chi helped her to her feet while the crowd clapped enjoying the sportsmanship that was happening.
"Thanks kid. Damn you have once hell of a right hook."
Tien and Kakarrot sneered at this display of compassion.
"Weaklings like to encourage each other."
Tien nodded at that and said "We'll crush them."
Kakarrot at that smiled.
Chiaotzu not noticing the tone "They seem nice."
Kakarrot glared at Chiaotzu while Tien didn't react.
Krillin took the stage as everyone in a panic fled the area around the stage as the massive smelly giant known as Bacterian took the stage. Krillin hand went to his imagery nose. To which Kakarrot sighed watching from quite a distance.
Bacterian the gross giant said "What's a matter kid smell something you don't like."
"Buddy you are a gross one. Have you ever taken a bath in your life?"
Bacterian breathing out as he did and said "Noooo." To which Krillin cringed. The match was looking over before it began but Chi-Chi spoke.
Chi-Chi from a ways away by choice yelled out to him "KRILLIN YOU DON'T HAVE A NOSE!"
Krillin took his hand from his face and said, "O yeah I guess your right!" He said as scratching his head.
A great deal of the room fell over in embarrassment and Kakarrot smacked his face.
Jackie Chun thinking "Maybe I should have given more lessons about critical thinking skills?"
The referee blew the and the match began. Without the delusion of a nose Krillin charged. Bacterian the giant might have had power, but he was slow and Krillin ran circles around him. The giant swung but all his punches missed while Krillin was delivering blow after blow.
Finally, the Giant began to collapse as Krillin had kick out his feet from under him. Krillin then kicked him sending off of the stage.
With that the last real match of the Preliminaries ended with the Turtle and the Crane proving themselves leagues above the remaining competitors. They were escorted to the fighter's lounge and met by a man in a navy-blue suit.
The man had blonde hair and he was on the young side. His tie was red and under shirt white. His black framed sunglasses gave the impression that they were on the man's face permanently for some reason. Which was complimented by a vacant smile adorn on his face.
The Announcer of the Tournament said, "Alright welcome to the finals boys and girls." He pointed his finger at them. "All right here's how this is going to go. You're going to take a number out of the box and that is going to decide what order you fight in." He pointed to the Tournament bracket. "Now unlike the last round there is no time limit in theory. At the end of each round we are going to take an intermission for both your sake and the fans that are streaming in. And because this ain't no charity. We got merchandise and junk food to sell. Also keep the harsh language down and the nudity, we don't want to get sued."
Jackie Chun, Kakarrot, Tien and Yamcha all groaned at that statement.
"Now remember to smile for the cameras and beat the living hell out of one another. Blood sells tickets and keeps people in their seats at home."
Chi-Chi raised her hand like they were in school. The announcer confused pointed to her as she childishly started waving it around trying to gain his attention.
"Mr. Announcer sir why is sex and cursing bad but graphic violence okay?"
"I don't fucking know kid. I just work here. It's called show business sweetie and old people are more okay the ladder then the former. Now let get to the bloodshed sponsored by Hatch over with." Doing the no doubt mandated commercial plug. "Hatch smell like a serial killer. Hatch!"
Roshi mumbled to himself "They didn't ask me. I'd much prefer the sex to the violence."
Yamcha in a whisper "That tag line works?"
Launch shrugged "Doesn't your girlfriends dad own that?"
Yamcha shrugged "Probably. He owns like everything."
Roshi hearing them thought 'That's stuff never works like it does it the commercial.'
Kakarrot in a whisper "Now remember Chiaotzu make it so we don't have to face each other in the first round and keep Tien and Roshi in the first four. O and keep Chi-Chi in the second block with me and you."
Krillin drew first coming up with six. Yamcha came next drawing four. Launch drew one. Kakarrot drew five. Jackie Chun drew three. Chi-Chi drew eight. Tien drew two and finally Chiaotzu drew seven. The bracket was setup and the announcer led the contestants outside to the stage.
The crowd at this point had poured in. Including Bulma, Oolong, Puar, Gero, Shen and General Green. The police were there in force there was also the UNIT agents. Shen face went sour the moment he saw 'Jackie Chun' knowing in an instant his hated rival. The contestant lined up behind the announcer as he began to spastically move.
Announcer basically shouting into his microphone "WELCOME LADIES AND GENTLEMEN TO THE WORLD MARTIAL TOURNAMENT! Joining us today is the strongest in the world came to compete to be the Champion of the world!" The crowd roared except Shen and Gero. Announcer "THAT'S RIGHT! Now the first round will be Launch versus Tien, Jackie Chun versus Yamcha…" A loud boo came from Bulma after his name was mentioned, to which Yamcha sighed sadly. "Kakarrot versus Krillin and finally Chiaotzu versus Chi-Chi. Hold on to your seat Ladies and Gentlemen because you might just fall out of it. THE WORLD MARTIAL ARTS TOURNAMENT IS ABOUT TO BEGIN! Nonstop action is guaranteed and who knows folks. The fate of the world might be on the line, so you best not touch that remote or dare look away." He did some sort of spin more tossed the microphone in the air and caught it midair. "WILL YOU ALL TAKE YOUR SEATS AND WATCH THESE EIGHT DUKE IT OUT BECAUSE IT'S TIME FOR THE WORLD MARTIAL ARTS TOURNAMENT!"
