Chapter 11: Quarterfinals, Piccolo vs. Vegeta
"FOLKS IT LOOKS AS IF WE'RE IN FOR A REAL TREAT FOR THIS MATCH, PREVIOUS TOURNAMENT COMPETITOR MA JUNIOR CAME VERY CLOSE TO WINNING THE 23RD TOURNAMENT LAST TIME AFTER A FIERCE BATTLE WITH SON GOKU, CAN THIS NEWCOMER VEGETA HOLD HIS OWN AGAINST SUCH A HIGH LEVEL OPPONENT?"
Neither Vegeta nor Piccolo said a word, both stood stoic and impassive, like two mountains that stood across from one another.
"We both know who's going to go on to fight Kakarot in the next round," Vegeta said with a smirk as he pointed his thumb at himself. "But I'll tell you what, just to make this match more interesting, I'll keep my end of the deal about not transforming and remain in my base state. Who knows, you might actually even win!"
Piccolo simply remained silent and ignored Vegeta's taunts as he took to the Demon Style stance and readied himself mentally for battle.
Vegeta, face still smirking, took a much more casual fighting stance as he shifted his arms and legs into position.
"GENTLEMEN, YOU MAY BEGIN!"
Piccolo was the first to make a move as he vanished from view for a moment, only to reappear in front of Vegeta a second later, delivering a smashing blow to the Saiyan's face with his elbow. With a mighty cracking sound the blow connected and Vegeta found himself skidding on the soles of his boots.
Vegeta's mouth twitched into a slight frown. That blow… stung more than I thought it was going to. The Namek has become stronger these past seven years than I thought he had. He looked up and saw Piccolo coming towards him, or to be more precise, Piccolo's elongated arm.
Letting out a small grunt, Vegeta took to the air only for the limb to trail after him. As had happened many times in the past, Vegeta's arrogance had gotten the better of him, and he had forgotten over the years of Piccolo's ability to stretch out both of his arms. Which made the sheer look of shock as he felt a four-fingered hand grip his blue spandex clad leg all the more priceless.
Vegeta was then yanked from the sky like a balloon with a lead weight attached to its string. He had half a mind to just blast the damn limb away when arm number one snuck up and wrapped itself around him like a cobra trapping its prey.
The result was Vegeta crashing into the arena floor hard and fast as tiles cracked from under the sudden force. Piccolo's limbs slunk away and returned to their original size and shape as the Saiyan Prince let out a slight groan of pain.
Mind buzzing and vision still spinning slightly, Vegeta staggered to his feet and shook his head a few times to clear his mind.
Forgot… the blasted slug could do that sort of thing, he thought as he turned his attention back to Piccolo. Vegeta narrowed his eyes as he thoroughly looked the space slug over. Piccolo simply stood there, seemingly waiting for the prince's next move.
Yes, it was clear now that the Namek was stronger than Vegeta had given him credit for. Not strong enough to beat him if he transformed into even the first Super Saiyan level, oh heavens no. But in just his base state… That would be a bit more of a tall order by itself. With his senses cleared and his mind now sharply on defeating the goal that stood between him and Kakarot (as if that buffoon of a scar faced human was really going to win), Vegeta suddenly shifted his body into a fighting pose and shot forward at Piccolo with a sudden burst of speed that made the Namekian warrior's eyes go wide.
"My turn," Vegeta said, his signature confident smirk having returned to its rightful place.
Before Piccolo could even react, Vegeta shot his knee up forward and kneecap and dark green jaw collided, sending Piccolo's body flying straight up into the air as a result.
Vegeta then vanished from view, only to reappear like Piccolo had done to him above the Namekian's head. Fingers interlacing and locked together Vegeta then delivered a double-handed hammer smashing blow to Piccolo's skull.
Like Vegeta himself had done moments before, Piccolo went crashing back down to the ground where it was his turn to experience for himself what white tile tasted like.
Vegeta folded his arms together at the chest as he continued to float effortlessly in the air. "COME ON NAMEK! COME BACK UP HERE SO I CAN KNOCK YOU BACK DOWN LIKE THE OVERGROWN SLUG THAT YOU ARE!"
Elsewhere in the stands, Videl looked on with a look of pure and utter shock. This was easily the strangest day in her short 17 year old life.
People coming back from the dead (the sheer implications of that one were so big that Videl just accepted it as is to avoid the hours of headaches that would have resulted otherwise), people placing scores much, MUCH, higher than her father.
The sheer fact that you could learn to fly and shoot energy out of your hands (that one was admittedly a month old but still…).
And now here was the son of the great King of Demons (Videl was seriously starting to question why Gohan's friends had never thought to tell the world that the son of the guy who had once temporarily taken over the world through sheer physical force of strength, had become a good guy over the years. That was generally something that people should have had the right to know about), getting his green butt kicked by that somewhat short jerk with the giant widow's peak and bad attitude that made Sharpener on his worst day seem like a saint by comparison.
She felt a hand on her shoulder and Videl felt herself jump slightly in surprise, even though she knew it was Gohan.
"I know what you're thinking Videl, but don't worry, Piccolo can handle himself against Vegeta."
Videl looked at him with a puzzled expression. "Gohan, what sort of person can take on and go toe to toe with the son of the Demon King? I know that if that Veggie guy turns blond like he was at the Cell Games, then Piccolo's chances of winning get a lot slimmer-"
"Well both Piccolo and Vegeta have gotten a lot stronger since then and- … I did it again, didn't I?"
Tien turned his head in Gohan's direction. "Again? And did you just-"
"Long story.," Gohan said with a sigh. "And yea, I think I more or less spilled the beans there. Sorry guys."
Everyone's attention was temporarily changed from Piccolo (who was still on the ground gathering ki into both of his hands) to Videl.
"Y-You aren't going to tell anyone, are you?" Krillin asked with a gulp.
Videl shook her head. "No. I figure that if you guys didn't want to come forward in the seven years since the Cell Games, you must have your reasons. Besides, I've seen what fame can do to a person first hand, and that's the sort of fate I wouldn't wish on anyone."
"Good," 18 said in her typically icy tone. "Because the last thing we'd need is a bunch of annoying reporters buzzing around us like flies."
Just then, 17 began chuckling. "Well, well, looks like he's giving THAT little number another test run. Interesting."
At this, everyone returned his or her attention back to Piccolo and Vegeta's fight.
DBZ
Vegeta frowned. The Namek had been standing in that one spot for the better part of two minutes. Just what in the blackness of space was that slug doing? Then it happened. A ball of ki came zooming past his head. But it was not alone as it was followed by many of its spherical siblings as they came in machine gun like fashion. One after the other, all missing Vegeta and all of them coming in so fast that the Saiyan prince couldn't move without the risk of coming into the line of fire and being blasted.
Then, as suddenly as they had started, the balls of ki stopped.
"Is that all you have Namek?" Vegeta called down. "Your eyesight must be going, not one of those attacks hit me even once!"
"LOOK AROUND YOU!" Piccolo roared back.
Vegeta had only glanced to the side slightly before realization quickly set in.
DBZ
18 chuckled, which by itself was as rare as a non ki or technology using pig flying. "So that's what he had planned? Not bad. Will be nice to see what that move can do against someone who CAN'T just wipe up a force field, eh 17?"
17 simply grumbled as he shoved his hands into his front jean pockets. "Just watch the match."
DBZ
The smirk was now on Piccolo's lips, as he knew that he had the Saiyan right where he wanted him. He swung both of his arms forward and all of his dozen upon dozens of mine like ki orbs drew themselves towards Vegeta's body like a magnet.
The aftermath was a giant ball of smoke, light, and explosive sound that was felt all throughout Pappaya Island as both spectators and warriors alike closed their eyes, turned their heads away, and covered their ears.
Moments passed and the smoke and dust settled. One by one, members of the audience turned their heads back upright, opened their eyes, and saw to their amazement that the one called Vegeta was still in one piece and alive! Even more amazing was that his trick wires were somehow still working in spite of those fancy lightshow bombs from before.
Amazement of the masses aside, Vegeta's body was smoldering quite literally as smoke rose from the wounds on his body. His blue suit now had holes in it (where a source of most of the smoke was rising from) while his face was buffeted by scrapes and bruises and other mild injuries.
While his whole body stung something fierce, Vegeta was for the most part unharmed. No, what had really been injured from that stupid stunt had been his pride, which he was going to make the Namek pay for in drops of purple blood.
Seething with rage Vegeta floated back down the ground where he landed only two feet away from where Piccolo stood.
"Namek so help me I will wring your neck! I'll-"
But Vegeta never got to finish his statement as Piccolo snapped out a sudden, powerful straight jab at Vegeta's face that connected with a successful SNAP! noise.
Piccolo followed up the face blow with a powerful punch to the Saiyan's gut, which caused Vegeta to double over slightly. A strong swift kick to the chin completed the three hit combo and the Saiyan was sent sailing up into the air. Piccolo followed and continued hammering him with a hurricane of punches and kicks as the two continued to climb higher and higher into the air.
His smile still smirk like, Piccolo glided back a few feet before shooting forth a powerful beam of energy at the Saiyan, but the attack was not to succeed.
"Missed me." Vegeta's voice was now behind Piccolo. Before Piccolo could even turn around and react, a sudden swift kick struck him in the back and he went flying into a nearby wall.
It was only by his ability of flight as he hovered inches above the tournament grass that Piccolo managed to stay in the fight. Granted, having felt Vegeta's kick first hand (or foot really), Piccolo knew that his odds of winning were very unlikely at best.
Even barring the Super Saiyan transformation, even with his Hellzone Mine Field attack having worked, even with the whirlwind of blows he had delivered to Vegeta's whole body, there was the simply irrefutable fact that Vegeta was stronger than Piccolo was. A kick of that magnitude proved it. Still, that didn't mean he couldn't continue to give that arrogant son of an ape a good run around before giving in.
Piccolo refocused his efforts and began his mad melee as he shot back in the air at Vegeta, elbow raised back ready for a striking swift chop.
The chop was blocked by Vegeta's own forearm, who in turn summoned a ball of blue ki with his free hand and blasted Piccolo with at point blank range. The smoke quickly faded moments later, showing Piccolo with an equal amount of burn marks and scorched injures running all across his arms, face, and torso, though a determined smile remained on his face in spite of these wounds.
"Alright then, round two it is."
The son of the Demon King then managed to deliver a powerful punch to Vegeta's stomach, forcing him to double over, however unwillingly, as a result. Before Vegeta could react, Piccolo followed up with a quick uppercut to the jaw, which forced Vegeta's head to snap upward. Left and right jabs were then thrown with blurry green speed as Vegeta's head was turning into Piccolo's own punching bag.
This continued for a good number of seconds before Vegeta manged to whip up a powerful blast of ki based wind that forced Piccolo to pause in his punches long enough for the Saiyan Prince to counter with a powerful left hook of his own.
Gloved fist meet green facial skin and Piccolo was sent sailing back and nearly crashed into the white concrete wall before he stopped himself in mid air, his green lips were twisted into a battle lust smirk as he wiped a bit of purple blood away from his mouth with his left knuckles.
Vegeta floated down in front of him, his breathing heavy and labored as sweat dripped from his widow's peak.
"I must say Namek, I'm honestly somewhat impressed. I didn't quite expect your blows to hurt as hard as they did, even with all the training I've done these past seven years…" Vegeta said as he slowly hovered his way towards Piccolo.
"You're not the only one with a monopoly on training.," Piccolo replied. His eyes narrowed sharply as his gaze refused to let go of Vegeta for even a moment.
Vegeta's expression changed into his ever so signature smug smirk.
"Maybe not, but as I said before you and I both know it is I who will be facing Kakarot in the final round Namek."
Piccolo grimaced as he settled his body down into the pose of the Demon fighting style once more. "We'll see."
Vegeta's only response was for the ends of his smirk to twitch slightly before he vanished from view. His mind racing, Piccolo tried to brace himself mentally and physically as he turned his head back and moved his body on the off chance that Vegeta went for yet another blow to the side of his back.
A sharp pounding pain in Piccolo's ribs told him otherwise as he just barely caught Vegeta's boot slamming into his chin, sending the Son of Kratas flying up in the air. Vegeta followed the dazed Namek and both of them stopped when they were far out of sight of the audience.
Piccolo gave his head a hard shake, doing his best to ignore the flying child Gohans that were circling his vision just now, and gathered his senses just in time to doge an incoming swift kick that would have sent him flying well outside the island grounds had it connected.
Piccolo remained mute as he instead began firing off Makankosappos as quickly as he could summon them and to his credit, Vegeta was forced to block and bat away every single one of them with an intensity that made his eyebrows furl in an ever growing annoyance.
"ENOUGH!" With that a golden flame shaped aura flowed from Vegeta's body as his hair turned a golden blond. To hell with the promise, given how high up they were, the Announcer would be the only one of the normal humans to make out the Super Saiyan's signature golden appearance.
"You are skilled Namek. And I will admit you are stronger than I gave you credit for, but I will NOT be denied my battle with Kakarot! I AM ENDING THIS NOW!"
Suddenly Vegeta vanished from view and for a moment Piccolo's eyes darted frantically around. Where is he? Piccolo thought. He's not behind me, below me, to my sid- Above!
But Piccolo had realized Vegeta's location a second too late as the Saiyan Prince delivered another double handed hammer strike to his foe's green skull.
The resulting force of the blow sent Piccolo sailing straight down to the ground where he crashed into the out of bounds grass. It took the Tournament Announcer a moment to gather himself as he (like many in the audience) had become too enthralled with the fight to pay full attention to the rules.
"W-WELL IT LOOKS AS IF THE NEWCOMER VEGETA MOVES ONTO THE NEXT ROUND, BUT LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO GIVE MA JUNIOR A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR SUCH AN AMAZING MATCH LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!"
Picking himself off of the ground, Piccolo rose back up into the air and made his way to the balcony with the others. Though he had never been very social by nature, or a seeker of the limelight, a small part of him did appreciate the applause in the wake of his loss.
"NOW FOR THE NEXT MATCH WE HAVE TWO LONG TIME FIGHTERS FACING OFF. YAMCHA, GOKU, COME ON DOWN!"
AN: So, another week, another update. Thanks to NatNicole for adding Ribbon to their favorites list, means a lot. Speaking of things that means a lot, at the risk of sounding like I'm begging for reviews, is a bit of feedback too much to ask for guys? I mean, I can only ASSUME that the (currently) 9 people that are following my story are liking it but I would like SOME feedback and what people are liking about the story. What don't you guys like about it (contrivance of the premise aside)? Is it flowing too fast for everyone?
Are my fights doing DBZ justice? IS my characterization any good, I mean, I think it's good sure, but what do you guys think? I... It's just dishearten that something I've spent over a year writing and editing (Thanks Ness Frost) isn't getting that much in the way of feedback. Granted, it's not like I expected this to reach Bring of Death levels of popularity, but I'd hope for a bit more then just five reviews in 11 chapters ya know? So, if you've read the story (and I can see that at least a bare minimum of 50 of you have for each chapter), PLEASE feel free to write up a quick little something something and tell me what you like or dislike about the chapter or overall story.