Tournament of Champions 3

At that time Knuckles made his way through the stadium. On the look-out for his next opponent unaware that he was actually in the opposite end of the stadium. And the farther he walked the farther he got away from him. Although he would bump into someone.

"Oh!" she let harshly. "Watch where your going!" she snapped to Knuckles in a such a dramatic tone that you'd expect she was hurt. But all he did was nudge against her. The Echidna jerked back aghast." Do you know how much this dress costs?!" she let out looking to see if it had been torn.

"I'm sorry." Knuckles answered." Excuse me." Syrup picked up her head and gave him another look.

"Oh!" she let out which confused Knuckles since he hadn't moved from his spot, so he couldn't have bumped into her. "Your one of the competitors."

"That's right." Knuckles said dryly. He would have thought that would be obvious. He was the only Echidna in the room after all.

"Set to face Garlic next." She explained as if he didn't know it already. "He's the prized fighter of the company, you know."

"Is that right?" Knuckles asked. She nodded.

"Yea. I guess you could say the Chairman has an eye for... talent." She finished with a laugh. Knuckles did not join in as he didn't find it very funny. Then he realzied if he couldn't find Garlic then he could at least speak to the announcer. She seemed to have useful information.

"He must be." Knuckles agreed. He disbatched that clown pretty easily. That did not lead into the seg-way that Knuckles had hoped for. In fact Syrup only laughed some more. Knuckles shook his head and prepared to leve.

"You know" Syrup let out putting her hand out to block his path. Knuckles raised an eyebrow as he looked back up at her." We're always looking for more talent here. If you win, you could get a contract to fight for us full time." she told.

"I don't fight for money." Knuckles told.

"Then why fight at all?" Knuckles lifted his head and smirked at her.

"For fun."

"Ohh. "She answered." I like that." She pointed to him." That's the kind of intensity people lack around here." She leaned down closer to him." And the kind we need in our Champion." By the sound of it she was still trying to offer Knuckles a job here.

"Not interested. "He told.

"You don't need to fight for money. That way you can just give all the money to your manager." Syrup told. Knuckles looked up to see her still smiling at him. He rolled his eyes and walked away ready to continue his search for Garlic. But Syrup had something else to say for him. "You might want to check the buffet." Knuckls has paused when she spoke but then continued on.

"Syrup! Syrup!" she heard her name being called from behind her. But the announcerwoman rolled her eyes at the sound of them." Syrup." She rolled her tongue in her mouth as the voice grew louder. Then just in time she turned around to see the Chairman down at her feet." SYRUP!" He boomed.

Immediatly she had to cover her noise.

"Ah!" she let out." How much garlic did you eat?" She let out a wicked smile." Better be careful. If Captain Garlic finds you've eaten them all he might come after you. "She finished with a snicker.

"Shut up!" He demanded." Start the next match." She blinked her confusion at him.

"The Intermission still has fifteen minutes." She said pointing to her wrist for lack of a watch.

"All I'll need is ten seconds." Wario told. With that said he turned and began marching towards the ring. Syrup could only roll her eyes at him. If the Chairman had his way then the final round would feature Wario vs Garlic Man only to have another count-out. Leaving the fans unfullfilled as two of the Seven bouts to be decided as such. But he wasn't paying her to think although it might save him some trouble to do so.

"Ladies and Gentlemen!" she said into the microphone. It rang throughout the stadium except for the dinning hall." The First Match of the Semi-Finals is underway. Currently in the ring is the CEO of Warioware Industries WARIO!" Those who had remained in their seats booed his very appearance. Some even dared to throw their garbage at him. But the rest of the fans all rushed to their seats. Eager to not miss the next action packed bout. All except for the competitor.

"AH!" Sonic let out in blissfull glee." Lemme tell ya." He shoveled another Chilli Dog into his mouth." I couldn't go a day without his stuff." He took another big bite of one.

"You haven't tried ANYTHING!" Mario said boldly." Until you've tried some of this." He showcased a piping hot dish of Lasagna. It seemed as if Wario had done right by his fighters. All their favorite foods were here. Chilli Dogs for Sonic. Lasagna for the Mario brothers. There was even a bowl of grapes for Knuckles. Although the Echidna wasn't here to appreciate it.

Sonic leaned down and took a big sniff of the Lasagna.

"Doesn't smell too bad." He admitted looking to Mario.

"Try a piece." The Plumber pressed him. But Sonic was easily impressed.

"Pizza, Spaghetti it's all the same. Cheese, tomato sauce-"

"Try it!" Mario said pushing the plate closer to him.

"Okay, Okay, Chill." Sonic said taking the plate.

"It seems Sonic the Hedgehog isn't here." Syrup said into the microphone. She paused to glance around at the crowd." Where could he be?" She put her free hand above her eyes as if to look. But she was really looking into the ring. Wario's arms were crossed but he freed one of his hands to tell her to move the process along." I guess we'll have to start the Count." The crowd booed their response." One!"

"Where is he?" Amy questioned to the tv.

"Don't worry." Tails said." There's no way Sonic would ever be beaten by something as stupid as this." At that time Sonic was too preoccupied with another task.

"Try." Mario said offering him a fork full of lasgana. Sonic raised an eyebrow still clerly very skeptical." Try." He said pushing the food closer to him. Reluctantly Sonic dived his head forward and bit down on the entire mouthful of lasgana." There you go!" Mario clapped.

"Hmm, HMMM." Sonic hummed clearly very pleased. He was so distracted by the food and Mario too busy building off this success they didn't notice Luigi in the background. Watching from a nearby television screen. He saw Wario's scheme playing out in full.

"Three!" Syrup announced on it.

"Uh Mario." he called back over his shoulder.

"You taste that?" Mario questioned to Sonic." The sauce? The Cheese."

"Ooooohhh the cheese." Sonic agreed. Luigi took a step away from the television to his brother.

"Mario." He said but still he was not heard." Mario?!" He said taking him by the right shoulder and shaking him.

"What? WHAT?!" the elder brother announced turning to him.

"The Tv, The Tv-" Luigi stammered as he continued to shake him.

"We've too buy here." Mario pointed to Sonic. The Hedgehog swallowed the entire mouthful.

"Ah!" He let out refreshed." Now that was something. What else ya got?"

"Glad you asked. "Mario said to him."Porchetta comes next!"

"Sounds fancy." Sonic admitted. He turned to follow Mario down the buffet table but Luigi blocked his path.

"N-No Sonic." He let out. "You can't!"

"Why not?!" Sonic asked confused.

"The tv!" Luigi pointed over his shoulder." The-The Match!

"Match?!" Mario and Sonic said together. They reached looked around one of Luigi's shoulders to see for themselves.

"SIX!" Syrup announced.

"Their trying to count you out." Luigi told.

"SEVEN!" Syrup continued. Mario had turned his head to blink at Sonic and then saw him dissappear. Only to swiftly reappear to grab a handfull of meatballs before he vanished again.

"Come on!" Mario yelled running after him.

"EIGHT!" Syrup continued. Wario was all ready to go. Victory was just within his grasp. Only two more seconds. "NINE!" she continued leaning towards Wario in the ring." Nine and a Half!" And the soud of that Wario fumed and turned to her. His face bright red, his mustache looking like fuses. She couldn't help but laugh into the microphone as she gave the final count." TEN! Winner by forefit: WARIO!" The Chairman pumped his fists into the air. Gloating as if he'd won the match on his own hard-work.

"HAHA!" He laughed in the middle of the ring. "I love it when I win." Now he'd secured his way into the finals. This Tournament was going to be his, one way or another.

"Wario moves on to the Final Round of the Tournament!" Syrup let out." Stay tuned to see who he will face!" Upon finished her statement she loosened her grip on the microphone. Allowing it to fall from her hand so she grabbed it by the cord. Then she began slowly swinging it back and forth.

"Hey!" called a voice." HEY LADY!" Syrup turned with a smile to see Sonic the Hedgehog of course. Close behind him was the other losers, the Mario brothers. "Who do I complain to around here?" He demanded slamming a fist onto her podium. Syrup smirked as she pointed to the ring. Wario continued to cheer for himself despite the negative reaction of the crowd. Sonic narrowed his eyes before dissappearing in a blue blur. "Good luck." Syrup laughed at him.

"Sonic." Mario let out as he appeared at the podium." Sonic!" But the Hedgehog had gone.

"HaHaHaHa!" Wario laughed at the upset crowd. He had now exited the ring and began walking down the ramp back towards the locker room. He had to get ready for his next match of as he jumped down from the ring and onto the ground he came face to face with Sonic." GAH!" He let out, startled to see him.

"Hey guy!" Sonic said pointing to him." What's the big idea here?" Wario sneered down at him.

"What do you want?" He asked.

"I'm here for my match so let's have it!" He said boldly." It's not like I was late on purpose." The crowd cheered their approval. Of course they wanted to see Sonic fight. And they wanted to see him beat Wario. The Chairman's eyes shifted nervously from the cheering crowd to Sonic. And then to make matters worse Mario and Luigi had arrived to stand beside the Hedgehog. "So whaddya say big guy? Let's give the people what they came for." Once more the crowd cheered.

But Wario had a plan set into motion. And he was not going to adjust it and give up his chance of at the fortune.

"We have rules for a reason!" Wario answered. Shifting forward and looming over Sonic." You were late and suffered a count out. Don't blame your lateness on me." He grumbled. Of course the crowd booed and that made the Chairman even madder.

Syrup had her own little joke to play.

"Introducing first!" she began." CAPTAIN GARLIC!" The people had already forgotten their displeasure at Sonic's lose and quickly began cheering for their favorite Champion. They all turned to the rampway looking for the pink wearing Champion. They expected him after his name had been called but after a few seconds he did not appear.

A thick sweat suddenly started running down Wario's forehead as if he had actually been fighting. The people wanted to see their Champion. And the longer they waited the worse it would be.

Wario swung both arms forward, grabbing both Sonic and Wario.

"GET OUT OF MY WAY!" he demanded as he shoved them aside and then began running down the ramp. When the crowd saw his ugly butt instead of their favorite fighter they booed him.

"That guy." Grumbled Sonic.

"I'll bet he had something up his sleeve for this." Mario said.

"OH!" Tails let out." The cheater!" He yelled pointing to screen.

"CHEATER!" Amy yelled louder as she flipped over the table before them.

Others found the situation much more enjoyable.

"HAHAHAHA!" Shadow laughed. He'd been laughing for the last ten seconds. He laughed the loudest when Sonic was officially disqualified. And laughed even harder when he appeared on screen trying to save his place in the tournament.