Tournament of Champions
Everything was ready for the perfect night.
The sofa cushions nice and soft, a cold soda in his hand. The only thing they were waiting on now was the pizza.
The symbol of the Wario Ware Corporation appeared on the tv. And then the scheduled programming World Championship Wrestling.
Tails was glued in from the start. His friend not as much. Casually standing behind the couch looked at the Fox's devotion with confusion.
"I can't believe you let him watch this." Amy said." It's all Fak-" Before she could finish Sonic waved his hand back and forth from his neck in slicing motion. He couldn't let her ruin the excitement for Tails." Fantastic!" she finished with a smile.
"Yea." Tails admitted. "It's awesome."
"It'll keep him entertained." Sonic told." There's no harm in it. Later!" And he disappeared out the door and into the night in a blue blur. Amy rolled her eyes having expected more from his departure then that. She closed the door and then turned back to Tails. Who sat happily at the couch, watching with anticipation.
"Welcome!" boomed a gravely, angry voice as the man who owned it appeared on screen. Tails immediately began to boo him.
"Boo!" He let out.
"Who's that?" Amy asked crossing her arms and resting it on the top of the couch.
"That's Wario. He's the owner and promoter of the tournament. But he often gets involved and rigs matches." Amy would have said something but let Tails have his fun.
Wario now runs the Largest Entertainment Network in the Entire world. Cooking Shows, Documentaries, Sports he covered a wide variety of them. Wario himelf even appeared on a few, namely as the mechanic on the Biker show.
"Ladies and Gentlemen!" Wario announced. "I give to you, the greatest Tournament ever!" Whether they liked him or not Wario sure knew how to work up a crowd. And he knew people had a liking for violence."The Tournament of CHAMPIONS!" Wario finished. Despite his reputation his statement was cheered by the fans." Without further ado let's see our contestants!" There were eight in total.
Mario, hero of the Mushroom Kingdom.
Luigi, brother of Mario.
Sonic the Hedgehog, fastest thing alive.
Knuckles the Echidna, the Last Guardian of Angel Island.
Rudy the Clown, a green skinned clown. One of Wario's prized fighters.
Red Brief J, A bull. One of Wario's prized fighters.
Garlic Man, a heroic fighter. One of Wario's prized fighters. Yet despite his popular appeal he was the only one of the seven not present.
And lastly of course the financier of this tournament in the first place. Wario himself.
"WHAT THE?!" Amy yelled looking at the tv and seeing Sonic." Are you kidding me?!" The Hedgehog hero had given little information about why he would be out tonight. But she never would have expected this." He-He-He-He-"
"SH!" Tails shushed her trying to focus on the tv. Wario continued the introduction.
Meanwhile on the stage in the view of everyone was the very contestants. Sonic waving at the cheering fans. He turned at last from the crowd to his fellow competitors.
"Looks like the gangs all here." He said taking a step closer to Mario. Knuckles had moved up and stood beside him. While Luigi was standing behind his brother.
"Hmph." Knuckles let out." Took ya long enough. "He tilted his head to look at Sonic." You almost didn't make the opening ceremony." Sonic was too busy waving at the crowd, only half listening.
"Keeps people on the edge of their seats." He said casually. Knuckles grumbled his annoyance.
"Although many have entered only one may claim the title of GRAND CHAMPION!" The Prize was shown. A large golden trophy as bigger the Wario himself. Surely anyone worth their salt would truly love to have that trophy on their mantlepiece. Not to mention the bragging rights." So let's not waste any time and get to it!" Wario turned and tossed the microphone aside.
The crowd was pleased with this display. Happy that the annoying fat man had stopped talking and eagerly exited for the competition to begin. Images of the various fighters appeared on the two displayed screen. Their images flashed so quickly that it was hard to picture who it really was but eventually it began to slow down. Until at last the two competitors were decided.
In the first round was Wario himself. Matched off with his own cousin.
"Hey there pin Head." He smiled to his cousin. Luigi gulped down his fear. Wario tossed the microphone aside. It flew through the air until it was caught by Captain Syrup, Wario's 'business partner'. She stood on the edge of the ring in the announcer's booth.
All the other competitors had cleared the stage leaving it for only the two combatants. The ring that would be their battleground looked like an ordinary fighting ring, with twenty feet between it and front row seats. But when the lights dimmed it's special ability showed.
"Let's get ready to RUMBLE!" Syrup let out. After that was the ringing of a bell and the battle was on. And when the final bell rang the ring began to change.
Palms trees appeared inside the ring. The canvas turned into grass and dirt. Waves of water that filled the void between the ring and the front row seats moved back and forth, and if it had enough force would crash into the ring disrupting the fight. A hologram it was, but never life like.
Despite his size Wario was the first one to move. And he moved fast, darting across the ring.
"Here I come Ready or NOT!" he yelled as he charged right into Luigi. Ramming his shoulder into him, sending him flying back into the ring ropes. Luigi was sent flying back into the ropes, his arms flailing up and down. He flew back with the ropes and they tightened only to be brought swinging back where he fell flat onto his face into the ground.
Wario did not waste any time. He jumped up and came crashing down onto Luigi, flattening him like a pancake.
"HaHaHa!" He laughed as he sat on him.
"Come on!" Mario yelled at his brother from the sideline." Get up!" Wario stood up and hovered over Luigi. Only to kicked out his legs to come crashing down on him once more. Luigi reached his arms out forward and tried to crawl himself out from under Wario once he stood back up.
"Oh no ya don't!" Wario grumbled. He reached down with one arm and grabbed Luigi by the back of his shirt. Lifting him up and standing him on two feet. Mario cheered hoping this would be the chance his brother needed to turn the match around.
But once Wario had him on both feet, he hit him with an uppercut that sent the green wearing brother across the ring and into the corner. Once more Wario charged forward, sending his whole body flying into the corner and slamming against Luigi.
"OH!" The audience gasped. Mario covered his eyes unable to look. When Wario pulled himself off Luigi was standing on wobbled legs. Until at last he collapsed onto the canvas. There was no need to continue after that.
"Winner of Round One! WARIO!" Syrup let out. The Chairman jumped up and down while he pumped his arms into the air. But despite this display the crowd did not cheer him.
"Why that no good, fat son of a-" Mario began standing up out of his seat.
"Easy dude." Sonic said reaching out a hand to stop him." No use in getting riled up around it now." Mario grumbled as he sat back in his chair. If he had his way he'd be in the next round, which gave him a better chance of avenging his brother later. Observing the screen he saw Luigi being escorted out of the ring. Holding his head, clearly still woozy.
"Now onto Round Two!" Syrup said. Once more the images of the fighters was shown, though with the omitted Winner and Loser from the previous match. When it was decided Syrup spoke.
"Round Two: Sonic versus Red Brief J!"
"You know what you have to do." Wario said as he passed the bull. Who in response let out a sharp snort of air frim his nose.
"I guess our match will have to wait. "Mario said crossing his arms leaning back in his chair.
"You'll just have to wait for me in the finals." Sonic snickered to him as he reached out and poked Mario in the nose." And you not at all." He turned and did the same to Knuckles. The Echidna growled as Sonic turned and climbed into the ring.
His opponent was already waiting for him. Tall and broad Red Brief J slowly turned his head down to view Sonic.
"So little man. "He said with a flex of his chest, causing it to bounce. "Are you ready for this?!" He flexed his entire body. Causing all his his muscles to pop out.
"Oooooh." Amy let out delighted." Look at those muscles."
"Oh not bad, not bad." Sonic mused nodding back at him." But get a load of this. Ho Ha Hee Hoo!" He mimicked Red's actions. Flexing his body, then rolling over to kick his legs up. The actions which were imposing and impressive from Red only a few moments ago now made the audience laugh when Sonic did them. Red's eyes darted from left to right as he viewed the amused audience. Then he turned to Sonic with an angry snort. His hand balled into a fist.
"Now the second match. BEGIN!" Syrup let out with a ring of a bell.
At once Red rushed out towards Sonic. The heavy crash of his hooves shaking the ring. Each thunderous stomp sounding worse then the last. But on a second glance Sonic saw why.
The canvas had changed. The floor had been turned into metal. A chain-linked fence grew up on every side of the ring, caging them in.
Red charged forward and swung down at Sonic. The Hedgehog rolled into a ball and shot between the Bull's leg, avoiding him. Red had too much momentum that he couldn't stop his charge completely and instead continued on until he went crashing into the fence.
Sonic rolled onto his feet, turning his head to see Red likewise pull himself out of the fence and turned back towards him.
Once more Red swung around and this time brought his leg up, meaning to slam down and crush Sonic. But once more the Hedgehog avoided the blow and rolled out of the way. Red turned and tried again only to miss.
Again Sonic rolled to his feet. But when he felt the ground beneath him he jumped up. Flying through the air and aiming for Red's head. The Bull shifted his head just in time as Sonic flew past him. But it wasn't over yet.
The Hedgehog reached out and grabbed onto the horn on the side of Red's head. Then swung around and pulled. Which sent the giant Red Brief J slamming to the ground.
"ALRIGHT!" Knuckles cheered.
"Get him! Get him!" Mario added pumping his fists into the air. From his back Red reached out and managed to grab Sonic by his left leg. Yanking him off his horn with one easy pull. He held Sonic by his leg and tossed him across the ring like a ball. Sending him crashing into the fence on the opposite side.
Sonic slid from the fence before landing flat on his back. Red followed him. Jumping into the air and crashing onto Sonic with a dreadful body slam.
"OH!" let out the audience. Red propped himself up looking down at his exposed chest to see nothing.
"Missed me." said Sonic's voice. Red turned his head to see Sonic, standing casually on the opposite side of the ring. Red growled as he jumped up and reached for Sonic. But just as his big hand was about to close around the hedgehog he vanished." Down here!" called the voice from somewhere else. Red looked to see that Sonic was now on the other side of the ring. And once more he turned to him.
But this time Sonic did not run. The hedgehog jumped up passing between Red's outstretched arms and managed to kick him in the chin. Then bounced off his shoulder before landing behind him.
Holding his chin Red turned to see Sonic rolled into a ball and fly at him. He swung out his fist and struck the incoming blow. Sonic was sent flying back into the fence.
From there he bounced onto the ground with a distinct 'ping'. Next he bounced off the canvas and shot up into the air. Flying up and striking Red right in the chin. The Bull's head snapped back and his body went weak under him. His body followed his head as he was flung out of the ring and onto the ground. His long legs resting on the top rope.
"Winner by Knockout." Came Syrup's voice as Sonic touched back onto the ground." SONIC!" The audience erupted with excitement.
"YES!" Knuckles cheered in the back room. Watching from home Tails was jumping up and down on the couch with excitement.
"See I told you!" he cheered. Yes everyone shared the excitement. Except for Wario.
"WHOA!" He let out as he saw the conclusion of the fight.
"Something wrong 'Champ'?" Syrup said to him. Though the smile on her face made it seem as if she already knew what he was thinking.
"I-I-I didn't think he'd deal with Red so quickly." Syrup turned and poked her head over his right shoulder.
"Are you Scared? Your sweating." The idea of being called a coward was the worse thing Wario could hear. He stepped away from her.
"Scared? Ha! I'll wipe the floor with that twig-boy!" He said puffing up his chest proudly. "And this sweat I uh, I'm still sweating from that butt-kicking I gave to Luigi before."
"Hm." Syrup nodded. Though it didn't seem as if she was entirely convinced. Wario showed her his back, so as not to give away that his true feelings.
"Just- get back to announcing. What am I paying you for anyway?!"
"Right. "Syrup responded as she flipped the microphone in her hand and brought it to her mouth." NOW!" she announced." Onto the Third Bout!"
The roster had been cut in half. Where eight began only four remained. But it was still anyone's guess now as to who would fight. Finally the two were shown.
"Knuckles the Echidna vs Mario." Syrup told.
"So it looks like it's our turn." Mario said to the Echidna.
"Yea." Knuckles agreed.