The silence was deafening, not a single soul stirred in their seats. The champion, the one whom the city had been named after, had been defeated in the centre of the ring. Through their minds they could all contemplate what had occurred but it was unbelievable. Chichi neither boasted in her victory nor did she relish the fact that she had taken down the 'strongest man in the world.' Not only were the people at ringside stunned, but all those across the globe tuning into the event had their mouths gaping open.

Bookies rejoiced in the fact that the champion had fallen. The martial arts tournament was always a good way for poor saps to make money and only those chasing long shots wouldn't have bet on Hercule. As such, they quickly worked away trying to figure out who the next favourite would be. The obvious choice would fall onto Chichi's shoulders but at the same time there were a number of other competitors who hadn't even had their first one on one match. Looking at the line up there were many possible favourites, including the past champion Tien Shinhan. A few people instantly picked him as favourite as he was one of the veterans of the ring. That and the fact nearly every time he entered the ring it was destroyed in some way shape or form.

Chichi walked down the stairs, proud of the fact that she had gotten revenge. After all, if it wasn't for that loud mouth, arrogant bastard it would have been totally plausible for her son to have taken the rewards that were rightfully his. Had those news reporters not been so stupid to realise that there was no possible way for Hercule to win the battle against Cell everything could have been different. Everything could have been perfect.

Videl was the only person in the audience who hadn't seen this as a major upset. While it still came as a shock that her father had been defeated in the ring, she could see how Chichi's tactics had won the battle for her. Only she knew the truth that her father had not be training in the slightest for this tournament and this was his punishment. Meanwhile Chichi was well known for her drastic training techniques but she had vanished after the tournament where she had made her best result. Videl had researched that fact well, she had left the tournament hand in hand with the champion of the tournament, Son Goku. Since she had married one of the strongest men on the planet, of course she was going to get stronger herself. But that raised one very important question.

"Where's Goku?"

Videl had asked the question out loud but nobody was really paying attention as her father was being taken out of the ring by officials. All these questions she would have to figure out at a later date because the announcer was summoning her to the stage along with the pint sized Marron. With the loss to her father, Videl had forgotten the fact that she was scheduled in the next match against an opponent a quarter her size and age. How am I meant to go into this fight? If I beat her up then people will dislike me but if I give up then people will lose their faith in me. Videl was deeply confused; she couldn't mentally prepare herself to be in a fight in front of millions of people with a little girl. She was so deeply in thought that she hadn't realised that her body had acted on its own and now she was standing centre stage. The ding of the bell brought her back to reality and she quickly got into a stance.

"Yay! I get to fight," squealed the little girl in delight and all eyes fell on the four year old blonde girl who wanted to fight. There wasn't a single person in the audience whose heart didn't give in to the joy of the young girl.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" asked Videl making sure that Marron had every intention of going through with this.

"Are you strong?" asked Marron.

"Yes, of course I'm strong," boasted Videl. Dear Kami I sounded like my father.

"Then yes, I want to fight you," stated Marron getting into a stance. Videl tried to analyse a weakness in the young girl's stance but for a girl so young her defence looked impenetrable. Videl was slightly taken back when the young girl charged at her at a speed which shouldn't be possible for one so young. Jumping off the ground, Marron got remarkable height as she kicked at Videl's head. Totally unprepared, Videl could only barely lift her arm to take the blow but it was not enough of a defence to prevent her from getting knocked back a few steps. However what was most shocking to the audience was watching the little girl drop a metre and a half and land flat on her back.

She's four years old and doing more advanced moves than what I knew at twice, maybe even three times her age, thought Videl before she realised that Marron wasn't moving and her eyes were closed. The crowd gasped as they realised that the little girl must have hit her head on the way down and knocked herself out. "Hey are you alright?" asked Videl lowering her guard and crouching next to Marron. She reached out with her right hand just as Marron's eyes shot wide open. Before anybody realised what had happened, Marron grabbed at Videl's wrist and twisted it behind her back before using her legs to gar at Videl's free arm and effectively tucked her feet under Videl's exposed shoulder. Without any forward support Videl collapsed face first into the tiles in a very painful submission perfectly suited for Marron's short size.

"Mummy told me to never show weakness in front of the enemy," grunted Marron as she applied more pressure to the hold. Videl was dumbstruck, not only was she being given lessons by a four year old but she had been bested by that very girl on live television.

She tricked me the little witch, thought Videl as she struggled to get to her feet. Despite Marron's small stature her grip was firm and she would not let go of the hold. Videl could feel Marron's shoes pushing up against her shoulder socket which prevented a great deal of blood flow to her arm. Videl could only see one way out of this hold and even though it was dirty she needed to pay back the girl for playing such a dumb trick on her. Without hesitation, Videl started rocking her body and got enough momentum to roll onto her back.

Videl had thought that Marron would have taken the opportunity to escape but when she was able to feel the pintsized body underneath her she couldn't help but be afraid. Although a sharp pain to her shoulder quickly made her realise that Marron still had the hold in place, in fact the hold had gotten tighter than before. Videl bit back a scream of pain as she sat up, hoping that gravity would pry the girl loose, but alas, to no effect.

"Do you give up?" asked Marron, her cute voice clashing with her strong persona.

"I won't give up," said Videl through gritted teeth.

"If I apply anymore pressure to your left arm it will likely pop out of place," said Marron showing her extensive knowledge of the human body. While Krillen and Eighteen had been teaching Marron how to fight in order to fend off the island pervert, Gohan had taught her most of a human's weak points and how to use them to her advantage. Her knowledge on this had come quite in handy in her spars with Goten. Even though she always lost she was able to weaken him significantly. Becoming stronger was her passion and living on a solo island with only a few other inhabitants meant that there weren't many other distractions.

"I said I won't give up," shouted Videl believing that the little girl wouldn't go through with such a rotten plan. A sharp jolt of pain and a scream escaping from her lips told her otherwise.

"I warned you," said Marron as she leapt from Videl's torso to land safely on the ground. Videl couldn't help but scream in pain as she jarred her shoulder back into place. It was painful and the arm hurt like all hell but at least it was able to move again. Videl got into her stance, now knowing the little girl's capabilities. She could hear the crowds screaming for more action, cheering for either of the two female warriors.

Videl went on the attack and charged forward but came to the realization that all of her attacks were designed for people taller than her since she was actually quite small for her age. So she threw a punch down at the little girl who just watched the punch come at her. Moving by the barest of margins, Marron evaded the blow as Videl's arm followed through. Using her opponent's momentum to her advantage, Marron grabbed at Videl's forearm with one hand and used her other hand to push Videl's legs up. The crowd watched stunned at Videl was flipped forward and landed painfully on her back.

Dazed and confused, Videl felt her weakened arm being lifted off the ground. "You're not that strong," mocked Marron as she held onto Videl's arm prepared to deal another blow. Videl felt utterly insulted that this girl not only had wiped the floor with her but now she was saying that she was superior in strength. Videl reached up with her free hand and grabbed at Marron's wrist and pulled with all her might yet the girl wouldn't budge. What's going on? It's not like she weighs anything, is it her own willpower holding her firm?

"Just for you I'll end this now," said Marron and before Videl could act Marron drove her foot into the base of Videl's neck. As the blow connected Videl's world sunk into darkness.

...

"Where...where am I?" asked Videl groggily as light pierced through the slits between her eyelids.

"Ah you're awake," said a nearby nurse as she checked a clipboard. "Much earlier than your father I might add."

"My father," said Videl not understanding.

"Yes, after his battle he lost the will to struggle and simply slipped into an unconscious state," explained the nurse. "Don't worry; he'll be up within an hour or two."

Videl threw the sheet covering her body off and found her arm resting within a sling. Part of her wanted to argue against it but she knew that her 'adjustments' may have just made the damage even more severe than what it already was. "So... what have I missed?"

"They're up to the second semi-final I believe," said the nurse. "You're free to go and watch but just don't overdo yourself."

Without a moment's hesitation, Videl was on her feet and charging out of the infirmary, but a nearby explosion caused the ground to shake and she lost her footing. "A terrorist attack?" she quickly thought causing her to charge towards the ring as she got back to her feet. She rounded the final corner into the backstage arena to find all of the members of the 'special squad' as she had named them, standing near the arena entrance watching the battle. Videl quickly wondered if they had even felt the shockwave when she felt something tug on her leg. Looking down she saw the cute face of Marron staring back at her.

"I'm sorry I hurt you," Marron apologized.

"It was a fight, that's what is meant to happen," said Videl.

"Yep, that's why I like fighting so much," said Marron with a broad smile.

Before Videl could counter another voice entered the fray. "Marron quick you've got to come see this," beckoned Goten who was sitting on top of Gohan's shoulder. Marron quickly ran over and as if sensing her peril, Eighteen picked up Marron and held her in her arms. Videl got a clear look at the backs of all the fighters and found that Yamcha's shirt had been badly torn, revealing a tattoo imprinted on his back. Videl couldn't tell what it was since the remains of his shirt covered most of the tattoo but the parts which weren't covered simply showed a circle, identical to the one that Gohan had.

...Flashback...

"You want the simple version or the extended version," said Gohan with his back to them. Videl couldn't help but see what looked like a large tattoo imprinted on his back. There was too much blood to see what it clearly was but it looked like a circle or something of a similar sort.

...End Flashback...

"And the winner is Tien Shinhan!" shouted the announcer as the winner was announced. The crowd roared ferociously, they were getting the show of a lifetime.

"I guess experience is the winner," muttered Krillen who had been analysing the battle.

"Although I will say that Trunks put up one hell of a fight," added Yamcha.

"Would those warriors backstage please come to the centre ring?" asked the announcer and the group walked forward with Videl trailing a little behind them. Videl couldn't help but notice that she was the only one outside of this small group, the other competitors having been beaten too badly to walk without support.

Videl stepped onto the stone ring, following the group who lined up along the ringside edge nearest the entrance they had come through. Standing in the centre of the ring was Tien and opposite him was Gohan. Videl however cared very little as she looked at the ring or what remained of the ring. Giant chunks of concrete lay sprawled across the ground and more than a handful craters were situated across the top of the ring. Parts of the surrounding wall had begun to collapse as well, but most impressively was the giant split which had clean severed the ring in two.

"What the hell happened here?" swore Videl under her breath.

...

Sorry to say I'm going on a little holiday for the weekend and as such it will be unlikely that I will update before next Thursday. There's still the chance that I might update, knowing the speed which I am capable of updating but at the same time I don't want to rush myself. Anyway please review and if you would be so kind would it be possible for all those who read to answer the poll on my profile page as it will affect my next batch of brewing stories. Much obliged.