Chapter Twenty Seven: Number One Under the Moon

Ox King hurried off the plane, his boxes in hand as he rushed through customs as quickly as his legs could carry him. He lumbered on through the streets, hurrying with all his might to watch the Tournament. 'Oh, I hope it hasn't already ended!' he said 'If I miss this, Chi Chi will be heartbroken!'

On he ran, hoping against hope to get there in time.

Chi Chi stood against Master Roshi, preparing for his next assault as the old man moaned in a ghostlike fashion, moving his arms back and forth as he stepped this way and that. He looked very mysterious, and powerful as he inched closer and closer to the girl, who stared intently. Sweat dripped down the side of her face as she waited for the inevitable blow to come about. The audience watched, awestruck and riveted by the old master's power. Chi Chi gulped as the attack came towards her.

Jackie Chun's eyes flared white as he spoke in a hypnotic voice. 'You… are… so… sleepy…' He said, and Chi Chi felt it.

The girl's eyes drooped, and her stance fell away, only for her to force herself awake and to take her stance again. 'Wha… what?'

'You… are… so… tired… when… you… hear… me… speak… your… eyelids… will… drop…'

'That… that's odd…' said Chi Chi 'I feel so drowsy…'

'You… are… a… sleepy… girl…'

Chi Chi fell asleep and landed with a crash on the ring. Murmurs broke out from the crowd as everyone stared in confusion and disappointment.

'Well, that… was anticlimactic.' said Kakarot after a moment.

'She dozed off!' said Launch.

Jackie Chun relaxed his posture with satisfaction. 'The sleepy boy technique, eheheheheheh!' He turned to the audience and flashed a victory sign. 'I win!'

'Uh… hold on!' said Mr. Announcer 'That was hypnotism, you're supposed to use martial arts in this tournament!'

'Oh come on,' said Jackie Chun 'the sleepy boy is a martial arts classic. Now just count to ten, will ya?'

'But… just think about how the fans are going to react if we end the tournament this way?' asked Mr. Announcer, thinking about the possible lynchings which might occur. 'Kind of anticlimactic, y'know?'

'Who cares about the fans?!' snapped Jackie Chun 'It's the girls own darn fault for being stupid enough to fall for it! Now start counting or I'll sleepy boy you!'

'Oh gosh!' said Mr. Announcer, looking at Chi Chi and raising the mike. 'And one, and two, um… three,' murmurs of anger and disappointment came from the crowd. There would be blood tonight.

'The kids going to sleep her chance for victory away!' said Launch 'We've got to do something to wake her up!'

'I've got an idea,' said Krillen 'quick, fire your machine gun up in the air.'

Launch drew out her machine gun and opened fire into the air, causing Jackie Chun to flinch as the air was filled with the rattle of gunfire.

'four,'

Jackie Chun watched their efforts with confidence. 'They can shoot the breeze all they want. Chi Chi won't wake up until I tell her to myself.' He slipped his hands into his pockets and admired his handiwork. 'Fighting in disguise might lack the glam, but it was worth it.'

The gun clicked empty as Kakarot watched. Why did the fools even bother? Chi Chi didn't stand a chance of winning this tournament, to begin with.

'five,'

'Get another clip in there!' said Krillen.

'I'm out!' snapped Launch 'You think I have limitless ammunition!'

'six,'

Jackie Chun looked at the prone student before his feet. She had done very well, all of his students had done well. However now things were over. With Chi Chi and all the rest thinking that there was someone stronger than them, they would keep getting better.

'seven,'

Kakarot saw a figure shoving his way through the crowds, a very familiar figure. He had a beard and wore a Viking hat and a white shirt and overalls. Where had he seen him before?

'nine,'

It clicked into place. Kakarot had no idea why he did what he did next, but he did it anyway. 'Chi Chi!' called Kakarot as he leaped up. 'Your father is here!'

Her eyes snapped open just like that, and she rose up, looking around as the Ox King came to the front. 'I'm here Chi Chi, please don't be mad! My plane got delayed, and I had trouble getting my axe through customs!'

'Papa, you came!' cried Chi Chi in glee. 'I made it to the final round papa! Isn't that amazing!'

'What!' said Jackie Chun, eyes bulging out of their sockets. 'T-that's impossible!'

'That was close,' said Krillen.

'Nice thinking kid,' said Launch.

'Whatever,' said Kakarot 'she's still going to lose.'

Chi Chi and Jackie Chun renewed their battle, clashing arms, and legs as their combat went on. Jackie Chun forced her to dodge backward with a karate chop, and she backflipped some five feet away, before charging. Bringing around her fist, she clobbered Jackie Chun right on the bridge of his nose, and the old master fell backward, bleeding as he did so.

'Oh my!' cried Mr. Announcer 'Jackie Chun has gone down!'

'Yay Chi Chi!' cried the Ox King 'I'm so proud!'

Cheers echoed throughout the crowd, as the Announcer began to count. 'One, two, three, four, five,' And then Jackie Chun began to arise once more. 'Uh oh, he might get up. Six! Seven!' And then Jackie Chun was on his feet, looking quite annoyed. 'He made it! Jackie Chun is back in the fight!'

Cheers broke out anew for the martial artist. The only thing the fans loved more than a knockout, was a recovery from one. 'That last blow took a lot out of him,' said Mr. Announcer 'but he's still swinging! So here we are folks, knee-deep into the tournaments final match! On the one hand, is Jackie Chun's experience and superior technique and on the other the youthful energy of Chi Chi! The sun is sinking low, but this amazing fight has yet to be settled! Can a winner prevail before nightfall?!'

'Chi Chi,' called Launch 'stay strong, you're so close kid!'

'Yeah,' said Krillen 'I can practically smell it.'

'Is that so?' said Jackie Chun to himself. 'I have no choice but to use the technique. It's dangerous but… well… maybe it won't kill her…'

'Let's finish this match, shall we Mr. Chun?' said Chi Chi with a demure smile.

Jackie Chun dropped his stance. Perplexed, Chi Chi did as well. 'I'm sorry my girl, but you have lost the fight.'

'No I haven't,' said Chi Chi 'we're not done fighting yet.'

'I'll try to make it quick,' said Jackie Chun.

'Huh?' said Chi Chi, not at all sure what to think as Jackie Chun rolled up his sleeves.

'Chi Chi, attack him before he can use his special ability!' cried Kakarot. 'Strike him now!'

'Now that doesn't seem very polite Kakarot,' said Chi Chi 'it seems only fair to let him finish his attack before I return the favor. You have a to learn about manners.'

'I really don't like using this technique,' said Jackie sadly. it's an emergency attack when nothing else works. This is the second time I've used it. The first time was on the great warrior Gohan, Kakarot's master.'

'Wait,' said Chi Chi 'you knew Kakarot's master?'

'Of course, he knew my master, he trained him!' snapped Kakarot 'He is Master Roshi!'

'Not now, Kakarot!' said Chi Chi.

Jackie Chun raised his hands, then clapped them together. He then began to focus intently.

'I don't know if you can hear, folks.' said Mr. Announcer 'But Jackie Chun has just made a strange declaration. According to him, he's already won the fight! But… wait a second, that's my call! What's he up to!'

Electricity began to surround Jackie as his focus increased, and the sound of lightning echoed as he put forth his hands.

'Amazing! Jackie Chun is a walking encyclopedia of fighting techniques, and from the looks of it this latest technique is a finishing move!'

Chi Chi began to look worried, but still stood there and did nothing.

'Chi Chi, attack him now! Before its too late!' yelled Kakarot.

'Do it Chi Chi!' said Launch.

'Move now!' cried Krillen.

'It certainly looks powerful,' said Mr. Announcer 'but what we all must be wondering is, what exactly does it do?'

Krillen's gaze had turned away from the match for a moment as he gazed at something entirely different. Kakarot looked at him in surprise. 'What are you looking at, Krillen?'

'The moon,' said Krillen 'it's out in full this early.'

Kakarot on reflex averted his gaze. Then it struck him. 'The moon… I was looking at the moon when it happened.'

'What?' said Krillen.

Jackie Chun's eyes flared yellow as Chi Chi took a fearful step back. Then Jackie Chun yelled aloud: 'LIGHTNING FLASH SURPRISE ATTACK!' Then he thrust his hands forward, and lightning surged around Chi Chi.

The girls screamed as it took her up into the air. Her hair stood on end, as she shuddered and screamed in pain.

Bulma watched in horror. 'He… he's going to kill her!'

'Amazing!' said Mr. Announcer 'What a fight!'

'What's happening Yamcha?' asked Bulma.

'I've heard about this move!' said Yamcha 'It changes all the energy in the body twenty thousand volts of electricity!'

'Young Chi Chi really seems to be suffering,' said Mr. Announcer 'is there any hope for her!'

'Say that you give up!' cried Jackie Chun to Chi Chi in a worried tone. 'You'll die if you don't say it quick!'

Chi Chi screamed in agony. 'I… I give-'

Meanwhile, Kakarot had stopped paying attention.

'The day my grandfather died, I was looking at the moon.' said Kakarot 'The day Pilafs castle was destroyed I was looking at the moon. The monster has never shown up at any time where I wasn't doing that.'

'Kakarot will you shut up!' snapped Launch 'Chi Chi is getting fried to a crisp! Give up kid!'

Kakarot started trembling and then broke into laughter. 'All my life I've been avoiding it, never realizing the truth.' A shark-like smile came onto his features. 'Gohan was wise to hide this from me. Yet now his failure is complete.'

'Kakarot,' said Krillen, taking a step back from him. He looked afraid, and so he should have been. 'I think you've lost it.'

'The monster doesn't come out when the moon is full,' said Kakarot in a trancelike state. 'the monster comes out when I look at the moon.' Then he turned his gaze to the sky. And this time he felt the change come over him, felt the savagery consume him, yet not quite. He held on to his conscious mind, refusing to let go of it as his muscles bulged and a grew larger and larger. The ceiling and walls caved in around him as Krillen and Launch scattered to one side.

'Wake up Kakarot,' said a voice in the depths of his subconscious. 'destroy all life forms!'

A feral roar echoed throughout the ring as a gigantic monkey arose out of the backstage area. Yamcha and Bulma stepped back in fear as the creature loomed. As of yet, it had not done anything, but it was only a matter of time. 'Oh no!' he said in horror.

'It's the full moon!' said Bulma.

'What the-' began Jackie Chun in shock as his lightning trailed off and Chi Chi landed on the ground. 'What's going on? Where did that giant monkey come from!'

'It's Kakarot!' cried Krillin 'Kakarot turned into that thing!'

'Kakarot…' began Chi Chi as she stood up.

'I don't know what to say!' said Mr. Announcer 'It appears as though young Kakarot has transformed himself into a gigantic ape and disrupted the match! I've never even heard of this fighting technique!'

'It's not a technique pal,' said Yamcha.

'It's the worst thing that could possibly happen!' cried Bulma.

'And it's scary!' cried Puar.

'Tremble mortals and despair,' said Kakarot, voice echoing far and wide. 'doom has come to this world!'

Bulma paused as she realized that Kakarot was fully conscious, and was thus now aware that he had beaten his Master Gohan. '…Okay, it's the worst thing that could possibly happen except that!'

'Pitiful wretches!' roared Kakarot as he stepped into the ring. 'You will all die!'

The crowds shrieked in terror as Kakarot made his way forward, roaring sky-high as he did so. The ground shook, as windows for miles around shuddered.

'Ah!' cried Mr. Announcer. 'Run away! I would get out of here too, but unfortunately, I have to be a referee! How horrid!'

'Yeah, you think you've got it bad Mr?' cried Jackie Chun 'Chi Chi and I can't run out of the ring or we'll be disqualified!'

'The day of judgment is at hand!' roared Kakarot 'The time of ending is now, and all that you have built stands upon pillars of salt and sand! All shall be consumed before my unstoppable might! No flesh shall be spared-'

'Kakarot, stop it right this instant!' cried Chi Chi. 'We're in the middle of a match, and you're interrupting!'

'Oh like you can stop me!' snapped Kakarot 'The day I have long awaited has now come! The time when this wretched world shall be reduced to ashes as I have been commanded to do!'

'Kakarot has mentioned being sent by a mysterious dark master to lay waste to our entire world!' cried Mr. Announcer 'But who is this shadowy figure? What is he, and what is his motive for seeking our decimation?'

'What?' said Kakarot, glancing to Mr. Announcer.

'Erm…' Mr. Announcer 'I was wondering who has commanded you to destroy the world.'

'…Huh,' said Kakarot 'you know I have no idea. I always assumed it was God.'

Kami sneezed. He suddenly had the feeling that someone was about to commit atrocities in his name. 'Mr. Popo, are there any warlords calling crusades on earth?'

'No Kami,' said Popo, 'however there is a giant monkey tearing up the World Martial Arts Tournament.'

Kami sighed. 'Well disavow all knowledge of his actions and make it clear he acted without our consent.'

'Well then…' said Jackie Chun 'I'm afraid there is only one way to take care of this-' Then he dodged as Kakarot nearly crushed him underfoot. Jackie Chun scrambled back fearfully.

'Not this time, old man!' snarled Kakarot 'I now know the truth, I defeated Gohan, and now that I can control myself in this form there is no one on this miserable world who can stand against me!'

Jackie Chun backflipped a way away and fell to one knee, as Bulma came forward.

'Uh… excuse me.' said Bulma 'Kakarot I have a question.'

'Yes, what is it Bulma?' asked Kakarot quite calmly. 'I'm a bit busy plotting the end of all things so can you make this quick?'

'You do realize that the moon is only full once a month, right?' asked Bulma 'You've got until the end of today to reign havoc, and then you'll turn back.'

'…Good point' said Kakarot 'destroying this world may take longer than I expected. No matter, now that I know I can take this form, I can merely time my attacks to coincide with the night of the full moon. It might take a little while, but I think I can make it work.'

'Okay, but we'd really appreciate it if you didn't destroy the world we lived in, Kakarot!' pleaded Puar.

'I can't let you hurt people!' shouted Jackie Chun, taking off his shirt. Jackie Chun's muscles bulged out as he took on a form of maximum power.

Kakarot laughed. 'Oh, by all means, use your full strength, it will be a fitting prelude to the end of all things!'

'Kaaa… meee… haaa… meee…' began Jackie.

'Just don't expect me to give you a free hit!' roared Kakarot before surging forward, fist readied.

At that moment Yamcha leaped in from behind and gripped Kakarot's tail hard. Kakarot roared and reeled in pain, as Jackie Chun finished his incantation.

'HAAAAAA!'

There was a brilliant display of white light which blinded the eyes as everyone reeled beneath the weight of the explosions presence. Finally, the light settled, and they were left in the decimated ruins of the ring. Jackie Chun was breathing heavily in resignation, and Kakarot was nowhere to be seen.

As everyone got up, a silence fell over them as they moved forward. Krillen looked on in horror. 'K-Kakarot?'

'He can't be dead, can he?' asked Chi Chi, tears welling up in her eyes.

Bulma began to cry, while Yamcha got up from where he was lying, looking incredibly bitter. He approached Bulma, who fell into his arms. 'He was just a kid…' said Bulma.

'He can't be…' said Krillen 'You can't be gone Kakarot!'

Chi Chi broke out sobbing, while Puar's ears drooped. Little by little the crowd returned to see what had happened. Jackie Chun remained deadly silent, expression grave. 'I'm sorry, I only did what had to be done.'

'Don't leave us!' cried Chi Chi.

To save the crowds from the rampaging Kakarot, Jackie Chun has fired his strongest kamehameha wave. And so the young fighter had been quieted by his own disguised teacher. Was it true? Was this really the end of Kakarot?

Find out next time.

Authors Note:

Merry Christmas folks! And what better way to celebrate the birth of Jesus than with a giant monkey tearing up the World Martial Arts Tournament! I've always wanted to do a Christmas special, but every year when the time comes I can't think of anything to write. It kind of sucks actually.

Well, here we have Kakarot's great ape transformation. There is actually foreshadowing for various events in the future, some of which you already know about, and some of which you don't. I'm not really sure about this chapter, to be honest. I feel that I've been not giving Launch the screen time she deserves, and I feel, as I sometimes feel, that it is lower quality. Part of the problem is that I've got more characters to juggle in this story than in the original dragonball.

I'm really afraid that Launch might end up becoming a B list fighter, which is precisely the fate I want to avoid for all of my characters.

Have a nice holiday everyone, and thank you for reading!