Tournament of Champions part 4

Knuckles had watched the entire scene play out from the stands. When he heard Sonic's match was coming up he had left his search for Garlic Man on hold and instead choose to check out who he could be fighting in the finals. But that turned out just as poor an endevor as his hunt for Garlic Man. He had hoped for another intermission before his match to continue this hunt but evidently not. He would have to use his limited information and learn during the fight. That time was now.

Knuckles jumped up from his place into the air. And then began gliding across the open stadium and into the ring. His sudden apperance excited the crowd even more.

"Instead" Syrup said. "We have Knuckles the Echidna literally flying into the ring! Quite the entrance." Knuckles placed himself in the middle of the ring and crossed his arms. Now he waited. He hoped Garlic would show.

He entered to the sound of great cheers and applause. Children screaming with joy, ladies cheering with delight. Even though Garlic Man looked less then a hero. Pulling up his pants as if keeping them in place as he sprinted to the ring.

Wario certainly couldn't pass this match up. Not if he was going to complete his master plan. Previously as Garlic Man he'd won a battle royal and become Heavy Weight Champion of the World. Making him even more the fan favorite then he already was. And now when he won this Tournament he was going to increase his value even more. All he had to do was defeated Knuckles here and now.

The husky hero made his way down the ramp and down to the ring to cheers and cries of adoring fans.

"Now this should be good." Shadow commented leaning back into his seat, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Hm?" Rouge replied chewing on popcorn." See your getting into it now."

"I'm leaning towards fatty." Rouge swallowed the popcorn then turned to him.

"Why?"

"Cause I don't want the Echidna to win."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want him to win." Shadow grumbled looking at Knuckles image on the tv.

"We'll see, We'll see." Rouge said setting into her seat.

Sonic, Mario and Luigi shuffled themselves into their seat.

"Okay. "Sonic let out with a huff." Let's hope for the best on this one."

"Knuckles doesn't stand a chance." Tails commented.

"What?!" Amy said confused.

"Garlic Man is the best fighter in the World. Nobody can beat him. He's undefeated."

"Well that's a tall order." Amy admitted." Sonic could have beat him. But someone like this and Knuckles?" She looked to the tv. "I don't know."

Garlic Man dipped between the ropes and into the ring. For the first time this night Knuckles was to get a good look at his opponent.

"So here we are." Knuckles said when they came eye to eye.

"That we are." Garlic Man said in a heroic voice. The two observed eachother in silence.

"I think we're alot alike you and I." Knuckles commented." I'm looking forward to this." Knuckles and Garlic Man were the more domineering of the fighters gathered for this tournament. Who used their supieor strength as an edge over their opponents. "Let's have a good fight." Knuckles said offering his hand. Garlic Man stood and observed it casually. He ignored his instinct to go for a cheap shot. The Hero Garlic Man would never lower himself to just a cheap trick. He won his matches fair and square. He would just have to trust his plan. That Knuckles was still too tired from his last match and that he would be too weary to stand a continued assault from him.

"And now" Syrup said." The Last Semi-Final Match: Knuckles vs Garlic Man. Ready, Set, GO!" At the sound of her voice the bell rang and once more the ring transformed.

Knuckles had begun to charge forward while Garlic Man stayed on the ground, solid and sturdy ready to meet him. However as Knuckles jumped into the air his attack was stopped. Not by anything on Garlic Man's part but because of the changing of the ring.

Great rock formation grew from the ground turning their battleground into a canyon.

Knuckles pounded his fists into the stone as he was pulled higher into the sky. Looking dead ahead he saw Garlic Man standing ontop of a similar rising stone pillar. However there was a gourge between them.

Only a minor setback for Knuckles. He easily pounced off his place and glided across the distance between them. Garlic Man would have tried to keep him away but there was little room to move his large frame.

Knuckles came down with a swinging punch that Garlic Man was too slow to dodge. The blow staggered him and sent him stumbling back. Knuckles with both feet on the ground now followed with another blow, an uppercut to the chin.

"Not turning out like you'd hoped." Rouge snickered to a scowling Shadow. The Echidna landed another blow to the Masked Hero. Each blow sent him back and closer to the edge, the fear of falling over the side kept the fans on the edge of their seats.

Knuckles reared back his fists for another dreadful blow. He aimed for the big, twisted nose sticking out from the mask. But Garlic Man had taken enough of a beating. He brought his own fist up and to the surprise of the crowd caught it.

"Gah!" Rouge gasped.

"Here we go." Shadow commented. As expected the big charged forward with all his weight and plowed into Knuckles. He wrapped his great arms around Knuckles and began to squeeze.

"Gotcha!" Garlic Man let out. But Knuckles quickly flung his arms up breaking his grip. While the big man stood there with his arms spread out his body was left open. And so Knuckles punched him right in his stomach. It felt just like jelly.

Garlic Man's belly shook like an earthquake as he stumbled back. Knuckles charged forward to press the assault. He came out swinging with another blow meant for Garlic Man's head. But the man kept stumbling and that caused him to avoid the blow by coincidence. Although not all took it that way.

"He's light on his feet for such a big guy." Amy commented.

"See." Tails pointed." That's why he's the Champion."

With Knuckles arm stretched out before his head Garlic Man reached out and grabbed it. He continued to stumble and when he did lose his footing completly and fall over the side of the cliff he took Knuckles with him.

"WHOA!" cheered the crowd. Even watching from home they couldn't believe it. As they watched both fights fall to the ground. They were now covered by surrounding stones but a floating camera would still allowing the fewers to watch. They twisted and turned in the air. Bouncing from stone to stone on their way down.

Garlic Man recieved the worst of it. Their tuning caused him to land and soften the blow for Knuckles. He was sprawled out across the ground while Knuckles had come down ontop of him. Looking up the Echidna was rearing his fist up for another blow. Garlic Man reached back for his cape and before Knuckles could swing down his vision was blocked. He swung his fist anyway at where he thought Garlic Man was but the masked wonder had moved.

And when he did he reached up and punched Knuckles in the face.

"Oh!" Syrup commented." It seems Garlic Man is getting desperate." Garlic Man rose to his feet and punched the blinded Knuckles once more." It seems we're seeing a new side to the hero tonight." And by the sounds of it the crowd did not like it.

Garlic Man jumped up and punched the blinded Knuckles into the stone wall. He hit him with another blow but was distracted by the sounds he heard.

The booing. The Masked Hero stopped the assault to view the origin of it. It was coming from the stands. They were booing him, they were booing their Champion. How? This had never happened before.

Wario became so distracted he'd nearly forgotten about the fight entierly.

"No?" He let out confused as he took a step back." No! No!" As he stepped back his cape dropped from Knuckles face. He'd taken some good punches from that trick but the playing field was even now. The Echidna narrowed his angry eyes onto his opponent infront of him.

"OHhohoho." Rouge laughed." I've seen that look before." Watching from the floating camera they could see Garlic Man looking around aimlessly seemingly unaware that Knuckles was back in the fight before him.

"No! No!" Garlic Man let out." Don't Boo! Don't Boo!" As if they heard his cries and understood they began to cheer." HaHa!" He let out in a cackled laughter. "That's better." He turned only to see what they were really cheering at. Knuckles had re-entered the fight and was ready to pay Garlic Man back in full. His punched landed right between the eyes. The crowd cheered like they had never cheered before.

Once more Knuckles was on the offensive and Garlic Man was on the receiving end of it. Another punch hit Garlic Man across the face. When another followed the Masked Fighter was ready for it. He ducked under the blow and after it had flown over his head he punched Knuckles in the face.

"Oh!" Syrup let out." It seems like Garlic Man isn't out yet." With that the big man charged forward, pushing out his big belly to take Knuckles off his feet. As the Echidna stumbled back he charged in again with a punch of his own. Now it was Knuckles turn to avoid the blow and responded by punching Garlic Man in the chin. The big man's head spun from the hit so much so that it twisted his mask so that his big, crooked nose was poking out of the eye holes. "Oh how the tables have turned." Syrup laughed.

But Knuckles took the higher road then his robust opponent. He reached out and grabbed Garlic Man by the end of his mask, just under his chin. And when he yanked the mask both Garlic Man's eyes were back in their proper place. Though he could only look for a second before Knuckles hit him once again right between the eyes.

At the same time he released the big man forcing him to stumble back. Tripping over a rock, falling over himself and ultimately over the ropes and outside the ring. His thunderous crash was heard al throughout the stadium and the fans cheered it.

"We have our WINNER!" Syrup announced. As if on quo Knuckles himself appeared out from between the great stone and into view of the crowd. " Knuckles the Echidna advances to the Final Round where he will face Wario." The Echidna stepped out to the cheers of approval of the crowd. He dipped his head and gave a sheepish wave back to them. The crowd continued to cheer him all the while forgetting Galic Man. Noone noticed while he slithered off back to the lockers like a snake." We'll be taking another break while the two final competitors prepare for the final round. Stay tuned for that epic confrontation!"

"See!" Rouge said pointing to Shadow. "I told you." In order to silence her nagging he grabbed the nearby pillow and covered his head with it.

"I...I.. don't believe it!" Tails let out shocked.

"You know Knuckles is tough." Amy told." You shouldn't be surprised. He's beaten bigger guys then that." she pointed.

"He cheated." Tails let out.

"What?" Amy asked.

"Garlic Man." He continued." He cheated. He's... He's supposed to be a hero."

"Well." Amy said with shrug of her shoulders." You can't judge a book by it's cover."

"That cheater!" Tails let out. "He's no better then Wario." Although nobody knew it yet the two were one in the same.

Garlic Man or Wario stumbled into the locker room. His body beaten and brusied from his battle with Knuckles. It certainly hadn't gone as planned. Under normal circumstances the CEO of Warioware Industries wouldn't be afraid. But after that savage beating he doubted if he could take it again. It was time for plan B.

Rudy the Clown and Red Brief J had been eliminated early in the tournament. As such they'd be the most well-rested of the fighters. After they'd lost the hadn't expected to fight again tonight. But their employeer had other plans.

"YOU!" Wario yelled as he kicked open the door knocking it off it's hingest and fell flat onto the ground. Both fighters jumped out of their skin. He was battered and bruises strange since he'd hardly been touched in any of his fights tonight. His eye wide and bloodshot, foaming at the mouth. They'd never seen him so angry before." Get out there!" He pointed over his shoulder.

"What do you mean boss?" Red asked. Angrily Wario grinded his teeth together.

"I'll double your pay for tonight!" he proclaimed. "If Knuckels the Echidna doesn't reach the RING!" The two goons didn't need to hear anything more then that.

"Haha!" Sonic laughed as he jumped into Knuckles as he descended the ring." Who would have thought you had it in ya big red?" Knuckles grumbled at his comment.

"I did for one."

"You know Tails really likes that guy." Sonic continued." You might be in for a mouthful from him when we get home." Knuckles rolled his eyes at him.

"Let's keep our attention on the matter at hand!" Mario said cutting in." You'll be facing my cousin next. And he's definatly the most unscrupulous character here."

"Are you expecting some kind of tricks?" Knuckles asked.

"Of course." Sonic cut in." The same kind he used on me. "He pointed a finger at himself." So you'd better stay here Knux." he said pointing him to the ring." So he can't count you out like he did me."

"No need to worry." cut in a more feminine voice. The four turned to see Syrup walking towards them." The Chairman would hate to spoil the audience of their finale. Another count out? How underwhelming."

"At least we all agree on that." Knuckles said. He pushed himself past Sonic.

"Where are you going?" Mario questioned.

"Bathroom." Knuckles responded dryly.