Tournament of Champions part 2

The stadium lights all honed in on center stage. The cameras aimed and ready. Everything was read for the next bout of the tournament.

Sonic said eagerly beside a much less enthusiastic Luigi.

"Now this outta be good." Sonic said munching away at his chili dog. Luigi sat beside him. Holding his head with one hand while the other wiped away Chili chunks that landed on his shirt.

"Hey!" Luigi let out grabbing for his hat. Sonic was too quick for him. Turning Luigi's hat upside down and emptting his drink into it. Most importantly the ice.

"thereyago!" He said slapping the hat back onto Luigi's head. Namely the bruise he had been keeping his hand on.

Knuckles stood on one end of the ring with his arms crossed over his chest. A stern look across his face, his eyes closed. Mario mimicked this pose. Though his hands were rested at his side. His fingers strumming out and stretching out against his thighs.

E-123 Omega sat on one side of the couch. Shadow next to him while the other side was still unoccupied. But not for long.

"Hot, Hot, Hot, Hot, Hot." Rouge the Bat muttered as she walked back into the room. A fresh bag of freshly popped popcorn in her hands." There." She said setting it down before her on the table. Shadow raised an eyebrow at her arrival." Now we're ready for a comfortable night in. "She sat herself down like so." What did I miss?" She took a handful of popcorn and began eating.

"The third battle is about to commence." Omega said to Shadow's right. His eyes turned from Rouge to him when he spoke.

"Oh good." Rouge said observing the tv for herself." Knuckles is about to fight."

"Why are we watching this?" Shadow questioned pointing a knife-hand at the screen.

"Because it's my turn to pick what we watch." Rouge said showcasing the remote in her hand. When that answer did not satisfy Shadow she continued." I can always turn on a chick-flick." Shadow accepted this fate as the lesser of two evil. He let himself sink into the couch." That's what I thought." Rouge said reaching for more popcorn.

"And now. "Syrup began. "The Third Round of the Tournament of Champions. Ready, Set, GO!" At the end of her statement came the ringing of the bell. And when the bell tolled thrice Knuckles' eyes snapped open.

"Here I come!" Knuckles announced. He wasted no time in darting across the ring and Mario moved to meet him. But just as the two were about to clash a gust of sand blew in the middle of the ring halting them. Knuckles grumbled as he stepped back. Mario jumped to the side.

Their battleground it seemed was to be a desert. Sand storms were blowing both in and outside the ring.

"Oh!" Knuckles groaned bringing his hand up to shielded his eyes." What the heck is-Oh!" His opponent however was quicker on his feet. With nothing but distance between them, the plumber put up his hands and began shooting fireballs from them.

"Here's a Power SHOT!" Mario let out. He swung his flaming fist forward and shot a ball of fire at Knuckles. The Echidna met the incoming flame with a punch, putting out the flame. Then the Guardian charged forward, bursting through the dust and sand to pound his fist into Mario's face.

Mario rolled onto his back. As Knuckles was over him he pressed his foot into his chest sending him up and into the air. The sandstorm suddenly took him, sending him higher into the air.

Mario shielded his face behind his hat. Looking up into the air to see Knuckles flying above him. The guardian quickly made use of his natural skills and began to glide on the current of wind given to him.

Mario aimed both his hands to the sky and began to shot fire into the skies. Knuckles looked down to see the balls of fire at him. He swung to the side allowing one ball to fly past him. When he glided back into place he avoided the next one. Knuckles then followed the current. Using the weaker gales like a path to fly back down into the fight. He spun left then right but always continued down. Avoiding Mario's fireballs all the time. Until at last he finally descended onto the plumber.

Knuckles wrapped both arms around Mario as he crashed into him. Then took him down into a sand dune. He grabbed the Plumber by his overalls and lifted him overhead then slammed him back into the sand. Only to hold him up and do it again. When he lifted him again Mario swung out his foot and kicked Knuckles in the back of the head. The Echidna loosened his grip and Mario came crashing down ontop of him. Once more they rolled across the sand. Grunting, groaning, kicking and punching as they went.

Suddenly a gust of wing picked up and pulled the two fighters apart. But as soon as it took them up it dropped them down. Knuckles crashed onto his back while Mario dived face first. Both were quick to rebound and jump back into battle.

They met once more in the middle of the sand covered ring. And there they met in earnest.

Knuckles landed a heavy hit on Mario's face. Only to be swiftly repaid one in turn. The Guardian evened the score to punch Mario once more. The Plumber returned the favor and struck him as well. Knuckles followed with a left hook then an uppercut.

Until at last a crushing blow from Knuckles' fist not only took Mario off his feet but out of the ring as well. He had only to fly beyond one of the four corner posts to find himself outside the ring. As soon as he passed that limit the sands disappeared and he was on solid ground again.

"WAHOO!" Rouge cheered kicking her legs off the table and pumping her arms into the air. Punching the bag of popcorn into the air when she did.

"I enjoy this violence!" Omega agreed mimicking the flurry of punches shown. In-between them was Shadow the Hedgehog. Clearly unimpressed by the display shown. And then annoyed when the popcorn landed on his head.

Mario's head was swimming when he picked himself up. And even though it was all gone, he thought he could taste sand in his mouth. He opened his mouth and spat but the taste never left. He looked up to see a big white glove stretched out before him. And attached to it was Knuckles.

"Good Fight, Mario." he said to him." That was fun." Mario smiled and took the outstretched hand. Knuckles pulled him to his feet.

"Well now that was a fight." Syrup agreed. "You should be lucky they fought eachother there." She nodded to Wario. Although he didn't see it since his back was to her. He didn't answer her and instead stood up and walked off.

"Where are you going?" Syrup questioned with her hands on her hips.

"None of your business!" Wario yelled at her from over his shoulder." Just announce the next match. I'll be back. "He said no more and waddled off. Syrup only rolled her eyes as he left. She didn't get paid to do nothing so she did what she was expected to do.

With the other six contestants already decided it left only two more. There was little need to announce them but the formalities were still done.

"And now we come to the fourth and final match of the first Division." she said."Introducing first Rudy the Clown!" He was already waiting and ready. Leaning against the ringpost while waiting for his opponent.

"And his opponent!" said Captain Syrup."GARLIC MAN!" The audience erupted into cheers and applause greater then any heard that night.

"Here he comes!" Tails said excited. Stepping out into the camera's view was a man of average height but with tremendous girth. Purple spandex that clung to his body, a cape and mask to match. An image of a roll of garlic on his chest.

"Who is that?!" Amy said disgusted.

"That's Garlic Man." Tails told." He's the Number One Good Gut Fighter of the Corporation." The massive Garlic Man walked with his large gut dragging him down, his big arms swaying from side to side.

"Has he ever heard of cardio?" Amy stated." Or dieting?"

The Robust Garlic Man put both hands on the bottom rope, stretching it and then using it to propel himself up into the air. Soaring like a bird before before he came crashing down into the center of the ring. The crowd cheered madly for him and so did Tails.

The Heroic character turned and looked at his opponent leaning on the cornerpost opposite of him.

"You'll see." Tails said to Amy." Captain Garlic is only the best fighter ever. You'll see after he beat this guy."

"This guy is fat." Shadow commented." No way he wins."

Knuckles and Mario walked side by side back to their seats.

"Hey, Hey!" Sonic said jumping out of his seat at their arrival. "There they are. The two warriors." He dropped his two Chili dogs and moved closer to them. "Southpaw! Southpaw!" He announced throwing soft jabs at Knuckles. The young Guardian took his blows as sincere and avoided them as such. Ducking his head left and right. Mario decided instead to return to his seat.

"Oh." He groaned. "My head." He sat down beside his brother. Snatching his hat from his head before placing it on his own.

"Soni-"

"Southpaw!" Sonic let out throwing another punch at Knuckles which the Echidna dodged.

"Soni-"

"Southpaw!" He let out doing the same again.

"If you don't stop I'm gonna-"

"Southpaw!" Knuckles begn to grind his teeth together.

"Why you-"

"WHOA! KNUX!" Sonic let out putting his hands up defensively. "You'd better stop playing and take a good." Sonic said pointing him to the ring." That's the guy you'll have to fight next." Knuckles turned and watched.

Garlic Man ran from one side of the ring, then to the other. Running into the ropes and bouncing off them. Using this momentum to propel himself across the ring and into his opponent taking him to the ground.

The crowd cheered for him. And even louder when he emerged with his foe on his shoulders. Garlic Man spun around before tossing his opponent into the air and then out of the ring. Eliminating him.

"YES!" Tails cheered. "YES!"

"Okay." Amy admitted still in shock." That was impressive.

"WHOA"! Shadow let out jumping out of his seat. "How did he do that?!"

"I thought you weren't watching?" commented Rouge. Grumbling Shadow sat back in his seat.

"Captain Garlic wins the match!" Syrup announced." And moves onto the Semi-Finals!"

"WHOA!" Knuckles let out shocked." That was a short fight."

"He made short work of that guy." Sonic agreed." And if your not careful Knux, you'll be next."

"I Won't!" He declared.

"Didn't leave you much to work with. Maybe if you had been watching from the beginning you'd be better prepared."

"We will now break for intermission." Syrup announced.

"ALRIGHT!" Sonic let out." You know what time it is?!" He asked his bemused friends as he pointed to them." CHOW TIME!"

"You shouldn't eat a big meal before a fight." Knuckles commented.

"You gotta eat something to keep your strength up." Sonic said. Knuckles turned and began to walk away. "Knux! Where are you going?"

"I don't know about you." Knuckles answered." But I want to know more about this guy I'm fighting."

"Why?!" Sonic scoffed with a laugh." I've got an endless supply of knowledge right here." He turned and pointed to the Mario Brothers." What's say we talk it over a couple of chili dogs?"

"Make it some Lasagna and it's a deal." Mario agreed.

"Come on Knux!" Sonic called." Fun train is heading this way!" He pointed in the other direction.

"The business train is heading that way!" Knuckles pointed in the direction he was already heading.

"Knuckles! KNUX!" Sonic called.

"Let him go. "Mario argued." Let's head to the buffet. If there's anything Wario knows it's food. And we gotta get there before his fat butt does. Come one." He strode forward, leading the way. Sonic followed after with Luigi trying to keep up on the pace. "C'mon Luigi!" Mario called from the front hurrying him.

Of couse this trio weren't the only ones with food on their minds. Everyone who got up from their seats were either thinking of the bathroom or food. As such when the three arrived a large crowd had gathered.

"Oh!" Mario let out." There's already a line." They covered every inch of the room. Pushing and shoving like wild beasts.

"You'd think they'd have a Fighter's First policy." Sonic added. As they continued to watch the spectacle something became clear to them. The crowd wasn't surrounding the food. In fact looking over their heads the food seemed to be untouched. No it seemed they were more interested in something else. As they continued to watch it became clear what that was. Or rather who.

Stepping out between the crowd was the stout pink wearing fighter, Garlic Man. The people were more then willing to part for him, shouting his praises as he did. Garlic Man waved at them politely with one hand while the other held a plate full of food.

"What's your dinner of choice Champ?!" someone asked.

"Steak! Chicken! EGGS!" He answered proudly." For Protein! Broccoli and Carrots for vitamins! For remember to eat your vegetables kids." At the sound of that one bold little boy stepped up to him.

"Will you sign this for me, Garlic Man?"

"Sure thing figlio." Garlic Man answered. With his free hand he signed away. But when one request came others were sure to follow. Now he was hounded with requests for autographs. He signed one after the other as he continued to walk forward. Only to be faced off with more people. Except this trio weren't fans. "Ah!" Garlic let out." Fellow Competitors." He looked from Sonic who had won his respective bout, then to the Mario brothers who had not." One and All."

"Good Fighting Cap." Sonic said." I've never seen someone your size move that fast."

"Grazie. Grazie." He responded. He ran his hand along his mustache as he spoke.

"You'd better look out for my buddy Knuckles." Sonic continued." He's got a mean right hook." Garlic man blinked a few times. Hiding his hesitation behind his mask.

"I have no doubt." He finally said." That was an excellent fight. "He finished with a hearty chuckle." I welcome his spirit."

"Hey G. "Sonic said leaning towards him." Would you mind signing this." He held a napkin out to him." A little buddy of mine watches all your matches. Just put 'To my friend Tails'"

"Certainly." He responded. And signed it just as requested. Again the crowd began to hound him with requests." Now please, no more." He said turning to them. " I must uh go and prepare for my next match." He bid his loyal fans goodbye with a friendly wave as he waddled off. Sonic turned down to the autograph.

"Man Tails is gonna love this!"

"Seems like a cool guy." Mario stated." We should invite him to the Castle sometime."

"Come on." Luigi said." Let's go and get some food." As the trio turned into the dinning hall they found the crowd had already gone.

Garlic Man continued on to his dressing room. He was all smiles and cheers when infront of his fans. But the second the door closed his smile quickly turned into a scowl.

He dropped his healthy dinner to the garbage before he reached for his real snack. A clove of garlic of course. He wasted no time in removing his mask to reveal himself as none other then the sponsor of this entire event. While Wario himself had entered, his "Alter Ego" was entering as well.

Wario had used this disguise to great avail before. While the crowd hated the CEO of Wario Ware Industries they loved Garlic Man.

Syrup decided the pairings of the tournament but Wario of course had stipulations of his own. Neither Wario or Garlic Man could face one another and he had instructed his own fighters to lose if they face Garlic Man.

Rudy had played the part well. But Wario had never expected Red to lose in his opening match. Knuckles had been tired out from his slug fest with Mario was Garlic Man was not worried about winning. He was instead focused on Sonic.

"Hmm." Wario mused as he took another huge bite of his garlic." What'll I do about you Hedgehog?"