Chapter 9 – "A race across the ocean! Who will emerge victorious?"
The Girls Hang Out
If Uub wasn't there to help her keep a level head, Pan would've surely decked Choi in the face. But then that nagging voice in her mind reminded her she would be disqualified. "Championships mean nothing if I can't get one good hit on that brat," she muttered to herself.
"I think it's more important that you talk to Bulla." Pan distracted herself as she gave Choi the stink eye that she almost missed what Uub had said. They were side-by-side as they walked into the Pavillion. Now that the crowds were dispersing from the stands, it was time for the kids to find their families and spend some downtime until tomorrow's big event. She considered his words carefully, puzzled that Bulla would lash out like that.
"It wasn't right of her to say that to you," Pan said. "She doesn't know what you've been through."
"And that's why you should go straighten things out with her. She was blowing off more steam at her brother than at me." Their eyes met, but Pan rolled hers back.
As optimistic as Uub was, the tail end of a heated argument between siblings was more than they expected. Trunks, furious at Bulla, stormed off. "Fine! Be that way! I hope you lose badly, you jackass!" Bulla screamed.
"Bulla," Pan whispered. She hoped Uub would talk her out of this, but he insisted by moving his hands to urge her forward. With a heavy sigh, she approached Bulla.
"Um," Pan began but halted herself. She had never seen her friend look so upset before, emphasized by how often she had to wipe fresh tears from her eyes. She was ready to comfort her when Bulla reacted unexpectedly. "Sorry. I didn't see you there."
"You're not angry at us, too, are you?" Pan inquired. Despite angry tears heating her cheeks, the girl tried not to direct that hostility toward her friends. "Not really, no," she muttered.
Pan raised an eyebrow, which made Bulla's face even redder. "Okay, okay! I misplaced my anger!"
She spotted Choi pointing in Trunks's direction while bragging with Bok, only adding fuel to Pan's fire. That boy made her seethe. "Well, I haven't misplaced mine," she said, glaring at him.
Bulla followed Pan's eyes to the source of her sudden rise and grinned at the twins. Each time they looked back at her, she bashfully turned her head away. The exchange nearly took the ire out of Pan's system, replacing it with bewildered curiosity.
"You can't seriously tell me you have a crush on that brat," Pan said, arms crossed. She gave Choi another sharp look hoping he'd leave her sight. On the other hand, Bulla was waving at them casually, red in the cheeks.
"You don't think they're cute in a way?" Bulla asked. "It's like cute, but also primal in how they dress. Something's wild about that mohawk on his head, almost like he wants to blaze a path forward. If I ever fight him, I'd want to capture and harness that flame for myself."
Pan's eye twitched. Of all the boys Bulla fawned over, why the brat? Couldn't she focus more on Bok? At least he'd be a better person to become friends with. She dismissed that thought entirely, noting that making friends with Bok would no doubt include the brat in the package. Was that something worth risking?
Pan waved her hand in front of Bulla's face. "Change of topic. I want to spend some time with Arugula. Wanna come with?"
Bulla considered the offer. She leaned towards Pan, whispering. "What about Uub? Is he coming along as well?"
Pan shot the question down with a grin. "Not this time. Girls only. Let's get your mom and Arugula's mom to tag along. We'll eat ice cream and play a few games."
Bulla wanted more time to think it over, yet when she sought Bok and Choi, the twins had left. Fortunately, it hastened her decision, taking Pan's hand to draw them towards Uub.
"Pan and I have decided to ban you from hanging out with us for the rest of the day," Bulla declared, pointing at Uub. Pan stifled a laugh, which left Uub dumbfounded.
"You're going to what…?!"
"You heard us, Uub! This is a Girls' only outing! We're gonna tell all sorts of secrets that you. Can't. Ever. Know," Pan said, wagging her finger with each word like a metronome. Uub went red in the face, bringing a fit of giggles between the girls. After nearly coming to blows with her brother, hearing Bulla's laugh was a relief.
"Besides, you can hang out with Kakarrot and them," Bulla said. There was some subtlety to how Bulla dismissed Uub from their pseudo-club, insisting that he hang out with his Master. Uub weighed his options until they were immediately tipped in favor of leaving once he caught Buu approaching him. He gave a quick wave to the girls before briskly making his exit. "O-of course! I'll take you up on that offer, Bulla! See you guys tomorrow! B-bye!"
Buu rubbed his gloved hand along his temple, confused. "He ran away when he saw me. Does he think I'm scary?"
Bulla was about to say something when Pan cut her off. "No, Uub doesn't think you're scary, Buu. He's nervous about his first opponent and wanted to prepare himself mentally for tomorrow."
Pan ignored Bulla's dubious glare. She instead wrapped her arm around Bulla's shoulder, pulling her close. "We think you're cool, Buu. Right, Bulla?"
Pan stared at her dead-to-rights, insistent she played along. "Y-yeah! You're awesome! I mean, you're not that fat version, but very prepared for tomorrow!"
Buu looked elated to hear such praise. "I'm awesome! That makes me happy! I must tell Hercule!"
Following behind was Android 18, a little perturbed that Buu frolicked out of the Pavillion. "Someone sure looks happy," she said.
Pan cleared her throat before pointing at 18. "We humbly extend an invitation to join our Girls' only club for a one-night celebration. We won't take no for an answer."
18's eyebrows rose, but only for a moment before she grinned. "Sure. I'll play along. Who else is in your club?"
"Bulma, Cheelai, and Arugula," Pan listed, nodding emphatically. Bulla eased Pan's arm off her, pointing at the Pavillion entrance. "Perhaps we shouldn't keep the other new members waiting. Besides, they have to be formally invited and, er, pass an initiation to join."
"Oooh, I like that!" Pan shouted. This random idea suddenly became a beneficial work in progress for the girls.
18 seemed to be on board with this idea as well. "So what's this initiation you're thinking of?" she asked the girls.
Waiting to see if the coast was clear, Pan huddled Bulla and 18 towards her. "Okay, we each have to say one thing no one else knows about, along with our biggest quality. You go first, 18."
18 didn't even hesitate. "That's easy. My biggest quality is my never-ending energy. As for something no one else knows about? Well, other than my brother, Krillin and Marron knowing, my birth name is Lazuli."
Pan's eyes shone from the sheer awesome factor of 18's answer. And what a beautiful name, too! "Wow, your birth name sounds way cooler than 18. I wish you'd use it more often."
There was a hint of lament in her ice-blue eyes, yet she didn't let herself slip so easily. "I'm used to being called 18. Krillin and Marron don't mind and think it suits me better."
"How the hell are we supposed to top that?" Pan asked Bulla. Bulla grinned. "My turn. My biggest quality is that I made a better model Dragon Radar than my mom's. That's also my biggest secret," she said with a wink.
"I thought your biggest quality was your taste for clothing. You should see her wardrobe, 18," Pan said, motioning with her arms how big it was back at Capsule Corporation.
18 leaned close to Bulla. "You've piqued my curiosity, kid. We should go dress shopping after the Tournament so we can pick Marron's wedding dress."
Pan and Bulla's eyes widened before they clasped each other's hands, squealing. "Oh my gosh! Marron's getting married! Are we all invited?!"
18 chuckled. "Yes, you're all invited. Your uncle Goten wouldn't want it any other way."
"I knew it!" Pan cried. "Uncle Goten and Marron are perfect for each other! Ahh, I'm so happy for them!"
Pan's imagination took her to her uncle's wedding. Goten, dressed in a white tuxedo, Marron in a gorgeous white dress stitched to perfection, hair done up and tied in three light pink ribbons. She was too busy clasping her hands together to notice Bulla and 18's amused expression, emphasized by Bulla's smug grin.
"I know what your big secret is that you won't tell anyone, Pan," said Bulla, igniting the heat in Pan's cheeks.
Pan had lost herself in the image of wedding bells and beautiful dresses that she looked nervously back at Bulla. "Wh-whatever could you mean?"
"I mean that you've fallen for Uub, dummy," Bulla said. 18 pondered that statement, considered it, and eventually nodded. "Wouldn't surprise me. I say go for it, kid."
Her imagination of Goten and Marron's wedding suddenly shifted. Goten was replaced by Uub, while Pan replaced Marron in her wedding dress. She flailed her arms, dismissing the image as if dispersing a cloud of smoke.
"I'm only eleven!" Pan shouted. She quickly covered her mouth, hoping not to attract stray bystanders nearby. "I'm too young to date anyone yet! At least let me grow a little first."
"Take it from me," 18 said, patting Pan on the head. "Love hits you when you least expect it. But it's up to you what you choose to do afterward. Hold on to it, or let it go."
Pan rubbed the back of her head. She knew she was red in the face, trying to avert her eyes. But the more she tried, the more Bulla and 18 stared her down. "Okay, I admit it. I admire Uub. He's the most genuine person I've ever met besides Uncle Piccolo that I can regard as a true friend. But I want to wait a while before I decide to take it beyond that."
"That's quite a mature answer for someone as young as you," 18 said. "But now you gotta tell us your biggest quality."
"I love my friends and family," Pan said without hesitation, wearing the biggest smile she could force her mouth to make.
"Speaking of which, weren't we going to recruit the other girls to our club?" Bulla asked. Pan made a face before pointing ahead. "Lead the way, Bulla!"
They didn't have to walk very far to reach Bulma, Vegeta, and Trunks before the latter spun around. It didn't surprise Pan since Trunks had only left the Pavillion a few minutes ago while they were breaking into their new club. She expected another exchange of words between him and Bulla, but the older brother wouldn't even acknowledge her now. The cold shoulder didn't seem to diminish Bulma's warm expression, she noticed.
"Well, this was unexpected. What's got you three so chummy?" she asked.
"We formed a girls' club, mama," Bulla said. "You, Cheelai, and Arugula are the only ones invited to join."
Bulma stifled a giggle while Vegeta's cheeks reddened. "Sure, I'll join," she told them. Nudging Vegeta, she whispered something in his ear, which made him look even more embarrassed. "Tch, fine. But don't be surprised if we decide to make this into a fight away from the Island," he said. He then turned to Bulla. "Be sure to return to the hotel before nightfall."
"Don't worry. I will!" Bulla said. She took her mother's hand and led her along. "Now we just have to find Cheelai and Arugula."
Pan braced herself for Choi's presence again once they caught up with Broly's family, but he was too busy musing about the beach with his brother to pay attention. She spotted her grandfathers Goku and Hercule conversing with Uub while Piccolo was leaning against the wall, looking as though he was waiting for something. As for that strange new person Goku befriended, he was nowhere to be seen. She could sense his ki somewhere on the island, but it wasn't near any crowded areas as far as she could tell. It mattered little what that guy was up to. This girls' night would happen, and the club would have all its members. Maybe when the Tournament's over, she'll get Marron, her mother, and Chichi to join, too.
Arm-in-arm, the four approached Cheelai, who looked puzzled to see this formation. "What's all this?" she asked.
"Girls' club! Mandatory invitation!" Bulla and Pan shouted together as they pointed at Cheelai directly. They hadn't expected to say the same thing, but they were glad both could emphasize how important they wanted this club to be, despite only forming it a few minutes ago.
"You and Arugula are joining our club, no ifs, ands, or butts," Pan said. She exchanged nods with Bulla.
Lemo rolled his eyes. "Reminds me of my chatty sisters," he said, leering at them. "Nothing but pointless gossip."
Cheelai gave him a smug grin. "Well, if this so nettles you, why don't you and Broly form some stupid boys' club with Bok and Choi? Get those other two Saiyans to tag along," she said.
"Maybe I will! Maybe I'll make a better club than what you've got going on here!" Lemo declared, pointing up at Broly. "C'mon, Broly, we're making the best boys' club the Universe has ever seen. And it'll have the best chef of the cosmos to boot!" He stuck his tongue out at the girls before marching away, shouting at Bok and Choi. "Get your butts over here, you two! We're forming a club!"
"A what, now?" asked Bok.
"Never you mind the details…!" Lemo said, trailing off as he left with Broly.
Arugula stretched her arms out towards Pan. "Mama said you won, Pan-Pan!" she shouted. Cheelai lowered Arugula to the ground so she could properly greet Pan. The girl held Mr. Bronto up. "Mister Bronto said you and sissy Bulla would play together."
Bulla's face never looked redder than it did now after hearing herself be referred to as "sissy." She hid it behind her hands before suddenly wrapping her arms around Arugula. "She's so cute!"
"Did Mister Bronto know Bulla and I would face each other in the first round?" Pan asked. Arugula brought Mr. Bronto's head to her ear. "He said he saw your names beside each other on the big board."
Cheelai had a different expression on her face, however. She gave Bulma a subtle look before addressing Arugula. "Little one, do you want to play a game with your friends?"
"I was thinking we get some ice cream first," Pan suggested, which piqued Arugula's curiosity.
"Ice cream…?"
"Delicious ice cream. You can have as much as you want," said Pan, exchanging smiles with Bulla. Although they were enamored with the adorable white-haired girl, they too had been craving the dessert since they arrived on Papaya Island.
"Alright, you two, we'll go get ice cream," Bulma said, ruffling her daughter's and Pan's hair.
"And make sure you three pass your initiation," Bulla said, making Bulma raise an eyebrow.
Along the way, a random boy sprinted through the crowd, taking things out of people's hands and pockets without being noticed. He attempted to do the same and snatched Mr. Bronto from Arugula's hands. "Ah! Mister Bronto!" Arugula cried, reaching out to the boy.
"Hey!" shouted Cheelai, but the boy was quicker than her hand as she attempted to grab him. Bulla and Pan agreed that this would not stand and zipped directly in the boy's path, each grabbing an arm to force the kid into dropping his stolen loot.
The boy flailed and squirmed, trying to escape. "Let go! I'll scream if you don't!"
"Go ahead," said Bulla, leering forward with a grin. "Scream as loud as you want."
"Because if you make that little girl cry," Pan continued with an even wider grin, "we'll give you something to cry about."
Blue in the face, the boy shut his eyes. "I'm sorry! It won't happen again! I promise!" To add to his fears, his pants became wet in the crotch area. "Mommy…!"
Bulla let the boy go. "Ugh, how pathetic."
Pan shook her head. "If Grandma saw this, she'd call him a delinquent."
Pan released the kid, who dropped what he stole and ran off, sobbing. Pan dusted Mr. Bronto after picking him up, examining it. "Good thing we caught him when we did."
Once they were together again, Bulma and 18 examined the kid's loot. "Quite the little thief if he made off with this much," Bulma said, plucking a wallet from the pile.
It became a chore for the five of them to locate everyone to return what was stolen while Arugula clutched Mr. Bronto in a vice-like grip, vowing never to let him get taken out of her hands ever again. By the time they were done, they had needed a place to sit.
18 returned with ice cream cones for everyone, handing them off. "You two make quite the team," she said to Pan and Bulla. The girls knocked their fists together. "You better believe it," said Pan.
Arugula let Cheelai hold onto Mr. Bronto as she ate her ice cream, though more ended up on her than in her by the looks of her face and dress. Cheelai sighed. "Damn, Lemo's our supply hauler. He's never without something to manage a situation."
"Here," Bulma said, handing her a cloth to wipe Arugula with. "You're a lifesaver, Bulma."
"The perks of being a mom." Cheelai paused, considering what Bulma had just said and frowned. "I'm a mom too, yet Lemo acts more motherly than I do."
"Then perhaps he should join our club," Bulma suggested, causing the girls to laugh. Once Arugula was cleaned off, Cheelai straightened out her hair. "Me and mini-me," she said warmly.
"So, what's your best quality?" asked Bulla. "We still need you, mama, and Arugula to pass the initiation."
"Well," Cheelai said, tickling Arugula's chin and cheeks. "I'd say it's my love for my darlings."
Bulma pulled Bulla into an embrace, wrapping her arms around her. "Mama! Not in front of the others!"
"Oh shush," Bulma said, kissing her daughter on the head. "I love my darlings, too."
Pan and 18 exchanged looks. "I have to wait for my mom to arrive tomorrow, and Marron's far away from here," said Pan.
"Now you gotta say a secret that no one else knows," Bulla told Cheelai, who stopped stroking her daughter's hair. She blinked a few times. "I have a couple, but they're not kid-appropriate."
Bulma and 18 smirked, gauging how Cheelai might answer that, but knew they wouldn't let her reveal some adult information in front of her daughter, much less Bulla and Pan.
"We won't tell anyone," Pan said. Cheelai went red in the cheeks, beckoning Bulma close so she could whisper something in her ear. Bulma's face went even redder than Cheelai's. "You're right. It's not something Pan would want to hear."
Pan began to pout. "Aw, c'mon. I'm gonna learn about all that stuff eventually, so why not cut to the chase now?"
"No," Cheelai, Bulma, and 18 said simultaneously. Cheelai swiped her hair back and sighed. "Well, if I had a general secret, it's that I know why Broly doesn't want to fight anymore."
"Yeah, what's up with that?" Bulla asked. "Saiyans are crazy for fighting. I should know. Once the fight bug bit me, I was hooked."
Bulma glowered above her. "Not one of my finer moments as a mother to witness, mind you."
Cheelai held Arugula closer to her while she was busy playing with Mr. Bronto. "Broly still has trouble controlling his anger. Oftentimes Bok and Choi would mess around a little too much, and I can see how it affects him. He's afraid of unleashing his anger on the kids, which is why he'll go and meditate to control it."
As normal as Cheelai explained the situation, Pan could see the sadness in her lavender-colored eyes. A woman struggling to help her husband while knowing that one of her children is an undisciplined brat. It doesn't seem farfetched to believe Broly would have trouble holding his temper concerning a kid like Choi. Based on what she's seen so far, he's been quite good at it.
"That would explain his reluctance to fight," said Bulma.
"Fight, yes. He won't spar with the boys any longer than he should. He taught them how to fight and control their ki for a couple of years until they were old enough to train themselves. They were difficult years because I had to involve myself often to calm him down when his excitement got the better of him. After Arugula was born, he vowed never to fight again. It'd tear him apart if he ever lost his temper in front of her."
The mood dipped faster than their enjoyment of ice cream after Cheelai finished her explanation. Bulma jumped in. "H-hey, how 'bout I go next?"
Pan had seen anger expressed before in adults. She never shied away from them, even when it came to Uncle Piccolo and her father, Gohan. Hearing how intense Broly's anger must be painted a better picture of his children. She resented Choi even more for testing the waters, trying to conjure a storm in an ocean when it wasn't needed.
She decided to indulge in Bulma's turn. "Yeah. Go ahead. Got any embarrassing secrets about Bulla we should know about?"
Bulma and Cheelai laughed while Bulla glared at her. "No, I won't do that to her," Bulma said. "But I know that Vegeta has a favorite pair of boxer shorts only I've seen."
Pan leered forward, excited. "I gotta hear this. What kind of boxers are they?" she asked.
"Well, they're white with light pink dots on them," Bulma giggled. Bulla went red in the face. "Mama! I picked those for Papa for his birthday!"
"I know, and he's never without them when he and you had your play dates," Bulma said, which prompted more laughter.
"As for my best quality? I can practically invent anything, especially what we'll unveil at the Inventors' Convention in a couple of weeks!" Bulma proclaimed. Pan admired the accomplished look on Bulma's face, wondering how often Bulla revered her mother's achievements.
18 looked to scold Bulma but shrugged it off. "I figured you and your father weren't giving up on that."
It didn't stifle Bulm'a determination, however. "It needs to be replicated, 18. Think of the future of energy if we can harness it infinitely to power cities across the globe? Energy that never runs out! I really wish you'd reconsider and help us."
18 wrapped her arms around herself before turning to walk away. "Even if I knew how my enhancements worked, it's not something I'm giving out freely. I'm going back to the hotel. I promised Krillin I'd call him before he turns in for the night."
Once she left, Pan could sense the situation had become awkward. "So, is this all we're going to do for our girls' club?" She spotted Arugula passed out on Cheelai's lap, clutching Mr. Bronto against her. Both mothers rose from the bench.
"The downside of giving her sweets. She falls asleep quickly," Cheelai said, brushing Arugula's hair from her face. "I hope the boys aren't giving Broly any trouble, or anyone else trouble for that matter."
"And we need to find your brother, kiddo," Bulma said to Bulla. "I want you two to straighten things out before tomorrow."
"Can't Papa handle it?" Bulla whined.
"I mean it. Let's go."
Bulla rolled her eyes yet shrugged it off. "If you ever have a brother in the future, Pan, just know they get weird when they fall in love."
Pan giggled. She let the mothers take the lead before breathing a sigh of relief. Thank goodness Bulma and Cheelai didn't hear my secret.
The Boys have a Race
"A Boys' Club?" asked Uub.
"Yeah, something your friends suggested we make. I figure it must be their way of getting everyone to have a good time before the first round starts tomorrow. I'm all for it since I'll cook you a storm. None of that lower-grade Earthly garbage you ate a few hours ago."
Uub was surprised that Lemo thought the food he and Goku ate was "garbage." Then again, Lemo did come with Goku from another planet, or so they said. However, the thought of this Boys' Club intrigued him, even though he noticed that Choi was among those present.
"You never said anything about inviting him, Uncle Lemo," said Choi, pointing at Uub. Lemo looked like he was in control this time and wagged his finger in front of the boy. "I'll hear none of your complaining, Choi. I think this will help everyone get to know each other better before you start throwing punches."
"I'd rather fight, to be honest. What say you, faux-hawk? Wanna skip the rules and prove who's stronger?" Choi boasted, but his words didn't have the confidence to back it up with Broly hovering over him. "No one is fighting until tomorrow. The rules of this Tournament forbids participants from fighting outside. I want you both to behave until then."
"We will, dad. Won't we, Choi?" Bok said, looking directly at his brother to emphasize their father's words. "Fine. I won't fight anyone," Choi replied, rolling his eyes.
It was then that Goku appeared with Vegeta, the former holding onto the Saiyan's forearm. "Sorry, we're late. I had to go find Vegeta," said Goku.
Vegeta wrested his arm away, glowering at him. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"
"It was Lemo's idea! He wants us to spend time together before the first-round matches tomorrow. Explain it to him, please?" pleaded Goku. Lemo shrugged his shoulders. "I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about, Goku. Dunno why you brought Vegeta along."
"Aw, c'mon, that's mean!" Goku shouted, which brought Lemo and Broly into a fit of chuckles. Uub waved Vegeta over. "Sorry for bringing you along like that. Master was open to the idea of Lemo's club, but I thought it'd be fun to invite you too. You're a competitive person, right?"
Vegeta raised an eyebrow, looking back between Uub and Goku. "Where are you going with this?"
Uub turned to the group. "I know things have been tense since Broly and his family arrived here on Earth. There are a lot of new faces, and it can get crowded. But how about we all have some fun tonight?"
Choi was the one to raise an eyebrow, glancing at Bok. "We're listening."
Uub pointed southward. "There's a group of islands directly south from here. We start from this beach, run one lap around the largest island, and then run back here. First one to leave the water from this beach wins. Are you in?"
Bok and Choi paused to stare at where Uub was pointing. "What islands? I don't see any," said Bok.
"Oh, they're there, alright," Uub grinned. "I know these islands like the back of my hand."
Uub had been racing Pan from island to island along the ocean as part of their training. Since they had deliveries to make from one island to the next, they made a game of it by racing along the surface of the water at high speeds to stay afloat. By knowing where these islands were in proximity to Papaya Island, Uub knew this gave him an advantage.
"You believe you're faster than me? Please," Choi said, untying the pelt around his waist. He then tossed it to Lemo. "Hold onto that for me, would you?"
Bok removed the other half of the pelt that was customized to fit over his shoulders like a poncho, throwing it to Lemo. "I'm in. How about you, dad?"
"Dad's too bulky to run over water, brother. But I bet it won't be the same for those other two Saiyans unless they're too afraid to sink," Choi said, leering at Goku and Vegeta with a grin.
"What was that?!" yelled Vegeta. He disrobed until he was in his boxer shorts. "You'll regret mocking me with those words."
Uub could see how excited this made Goku when the Saiyan began giggling. "Ain't no one as fast as I am, though!"
Goku was down to his boxer shorts, as well as Uub. They all threw their clothing to Lemo, burying him in a pile. Broly casually pulled him out from underneath, leaving the poor man glaring at everyone.
Uub took center position between Goku and Vegeta, who were flanked thereafter by Bok and Choi. All five lined themselves along the shore, ready to sprint forward. "Is everyone ready?" yelled Lemo. Broly stood by, arms crossed, watching this go down.
"On your marks," Lemo began. People kept their distance, watching along with Lemo and Broly, wondering how this all started, yet couldn't take their eyes off three boys and two men ready to race across the ocean. They must've thought them crazy for trying to run along the water without sinking.
"Get set…!"
"Start…!"
All five blurs fired off from the sandy beach like a bullet from a gun. The shockwave from their departure blew sand, wind, and water everywhere, forcing Broly to shield Lemo's face with one hand while shielding his own with the other. Those who spectated were blown off several feet, and some were swept until they landed among the palm trees, hanging disbelievingly over the branches. Those unfortunate few that swam in the water had to contend with large waves that took them on a trip, while others who were in the middle of surfing adjusted their course to ride the new set of waves that tread horizontally.
It did not surprise Uub that Choi was as fast as he claimed. He took the early lead, smiling as he propelled himself across the water. Uub kept the pace but noticed that Bok began falling behind. He knew the other brother's bulkier size was not meant to keep up with a speedy kid like Choi, but at least he was confident in his own speed to stay on pace. Sorry, Bok.
Goku and Vegeta were equally matched in their speed, which Choi found annoying. He glanced at the two adult Saiyans and flexed his ki to accelerate.
"Huh? Woah!" Goku exclaimed. Vegeta scoffed. "Like I'd let some brat beat me in a race!"
Vegeta boosted his speed along with Goku, forcing Uub to keep up. Unfortunately for Bok, he decided to call it quits and fly off the water surface to watch them race onward without him.
The islands that Uub described were coming up, as he claimed. With a burst of ki, he shot past the three ahead to begin rounding the largest island, possibly bigger than Papaya Island. He remembered it was called Dragonfruit Island during his many delivery stops with Pan months ago.
Choi, Goku, and Vegeta were still neck-and-neck, gaining on Uub. Crap, even my knowledge of the islands doesn't help me move faster!
"This isn't even my top speed, faux-hawk!" Choi shouted, adding another burst to his movement. Uub's eyes widened, but only to see that Goku and Vegeta accelerated until they surpassed Uub to trail Choi. "Damn that kid! How is he beating us?!" Vegeta growled.
Both Uub and Goku knew they could've easily won with Instantaneous movement, but the excitement of a light, fun-filled race across ocean water was too good to bend the rules. Though Vegeta didn't enjoy himself, Uub knew it was fueling the Saiyan's competitive nature. On the inside, Vegeta must be having a blast.
As they cleared the three-quarter mark of Dragonfruit Island, Uub was gaining some strides on Choi. He adjusted his momentum to hang along the outside of the group before he sprung past Goku, Vegeta, and Choi.
"What the?!—"
"I told you!" Uub yelled at Choi. "I know these islands!"
Uub was in the lead again, followed closely by Choi, but it was Goku who, with another ki burst, took the lead away from the younger boys. Vegeta zipped past them, too, remarkably.
"No, you don't!" Choi shouted and created a burst of speed much like a sonic boom, with another outpouring of ki to catch up to the Saiyans. Uub followed with quick zips along the water in short bursts to meet Goku and Vegeta at the head of the group. All four were now heated up and blazing through to the end.
"None of you are faster than me!" yelled Choi.
"I'm still the fastest Saiyan in the universe!" Vegeta boasted.
"I ain't slowin' down yet!" added Goku.
"I can do this!" Uub said. His legs were like fire, doing what he could to stay at his current velocity. He knew his speed was good, but after witnessing what Choi, Master Goku, and Vegeta could do, there was still a ways to go. Yet none of that left him feeling let down.
The beaches of Papaya Island were approaching rapidly, leaving Uub with a glaring problem. Unless they flew off the beach, they would crash into the island at terminal velocity. "Guys! I don't want to alarm you, but we should fly off the island before we crash into it!"
Vegeta was the first to catch on. "Shit!" He adjusted his movement to fly out of the ocean, flying at an angle to avoid bystanders and buildings.
Uub was next, knowing he wouldn't win. Taking the loss rather than causing damage with a high-speed crash was more important and followed Vegeta's trajectory.
Goku and Choi weren't so fortunate. They were both so incredibly fast along the ocean that Goku only had a split-second moment to react and take off from the beach, shielding his face while he plowed through the roof of the bar. Choi, on the other hand, put on the brakes and tripped forward, losing his momentum. Thankfully, Broly was there to catch him, using his bulk and power to stop his son on a dime.
The effect of Choi stopping pushed a great deal of sand, much of it burying Lemo underneath until only his toque was visible from the top. Uub and Vegeta landed to pull him out from underneath, leading to a coughing fit from Lemo as he coughed and spat out sand from his mouth.
Bok returned seconds later and began helping Uub and Vegeta clear sand from several bystanders too close to escape. When all was said and done, Uub sheepishly approached the group. "Sorry, I should've accounted for what would happen on the way back."
"Don't worry about it. As long as no one was hurt, right?" said Goku, but the group clearly looked to be on the receiving end of many stares from disgruntled beachgoers.
"So who won?" Bok asked Lemo.
"Clearly, it was me. I wasn't going to let two old fogeys get the better of my speed," Choi said, which annoyed Vegeta. Goku still looked indifferent to the boy's words, while Uub wanted to confirm with Lemo. One of them must've won.
"You lot are insane," Lemo said, dusting his toque before slapping it back on his head. "But for the sake of keeping this simple, Vegeta was the first to leave the ground, so he wins."
"Yes," Vegeta grinned.
Choi glared at Lemo. "That makes no sense! I was the first to cross the beach back from circling the island! I crossed first, so I win!"
"And you done inconvenienced a lot of these Earthlings while you were at it!" Lemo yelled back, pointing to the upset bystanders while wiping sand off each other.
Choi wanted to stalk away, yet Broly held him still. "We're going to fix what was damaged before we go anywhere," he said to his son. Choi sighed, annoyed, but then saw the small crater he left from slowing himself down. "Aw, seriously?!"
"'Fraid so, brother. Let's get to work," Bok said, arm around Choi's shoulder.
Sometime later, the families reunited, with the girls astounded by what they saw. "What in the world have you been doing?!" Cheelai yelled. "You're all filthy!"
"It was faux-hawk's idea," Choi said, pointing to Uub. It didn't matter what was said since Bulma looked equally annoyed.
"Honestly, I can't leave you alone without you all getting yourselves in some sort of trouble," she said. She then dusted off Vegeta's shirt, sighing. "C'mon, everyone. Guess we're paying a visit to the baths."
Despite the commotion, Arugula was still sound asleep in her mother's arms. Broly brushed his daughter's hair from her face. The chaos that ensued after the race was over had been testing the Saiyan's temper, which Uub noticed when he sensed an increase in Broly's ki. It wasn't the first time Uub had sensed something bubbling inside Broly since the family arrived on Earth. Every moment Choi acted inappropriately towards others, Uub felt a spike in Broly's ki, though his face remained a caricature of calm. Yet as soon as he laid eyes on his daughter, his ki subsided. Cheelai passed Arugula to him. "You'll take her back to the hotel?" she asked him.
Broly accepted without hesitation. "I will look after her. Go ahead and have a good time with Bulma," he told her.
As Bulma led the group, Uub dusted off the gi Goku gave him, occasionally glancing at Bok and Choi. "I should thank you, Master," he said to Goku.
"For what?"
"For inviting them. They have a lot of competitive spirit, which I'm excited to test tomorrow." It made things easier for Uub to take his mind off of Buu for now. He wouldn't have to worry about fighting him tomorrow but knew that if he and Buu won their matches, they'd have to fight each other in the semi-finals. Yet he was still reeling from the thrill of racing his Master and the others across the water. It provided a good workout for everyone involved.
"I'm looking forward to that competitive spirit tomorrow. Remember to trust in your power, and you'll do fine," Goku reminded him. Uub welcomed the reminder, thinking over how strong he's become yet slowing down to gloss over where he had received that power. The frightening image of Majin Buu, the child-sized pink demonic entity of destruction with piercing blood-colored eyes superimposed on a void of pure darkness, grinning with a row of teeth without a thought regarding the well-being of whoever he faced. Uub inherited that power, which unnerved him each time he laid eyes on the good Buu.
It was fortunate that Hercule had seen them making their way to the public baths and humbly extended his personal invitation to a more private bathing area for men and women. It was no surprise to Uub that he'd find Buu among several monks as they soaked in the steaming hot water, along with another guest, Kelerot.
Uub hadn't expected to see the new "friend" of Goku's, yet he showed every sign of enjoyment as he lounged in the water, contentment written all over his face.
The bath went beyond his expectations. They were told that the water was sourced directly from a hot spring along the hills ascending to the top of the island. Clean of dirt and debris, each had their moment to bask in rejuvenation. Even Choi mellowed out once he settled himself in the hot water, focused too much on lounging instead of causing a disturbance with a stray comment toward someone.
"Great race, Vegeta. I honestly thought I had you beat," Goku said.
Vegeta smirked, yet it vanished once he observed Bok and Choi. "A narrow victory if that boy was of any concern."
"I know, right? Broly's got some talented kids," Goku noted. As the Saiyans mulled over the race, Uub excused himself to swim across to Kelerot.
"Hey, enjoying the bath?" he asked. Kelerot opened one eye before blinking. "Ah. Son Goku's pupil. Yes, it has been ages since I last enjoyed water at this temperature. My home had hot springs along the south Aspara mountains. My friends and I often went there before the adults scolded us for leaving our village."
Kelerot had a nostalgic grin on his face, resting one arm along the rim of the bath. He glanced around the area, taking in the sights. "This feels more like something made for the gods than for mortals. It feels like I'm at home within this area."
Uub had to see for himself. Statues of maidens pouring water from large jugs were placed on each corner of the bathing area. Bathrobes were hung neatly in a row, ready to be picked up, while much of the decoration involved tropical plants sustained within the humid climate and floral scents that aerated the room. It exceeded Uub's expectations of a tropical paradise.
Monks began leaving one by one, leaving Uub's group and Kelerot alone in the baths. Kelerot waited for the last to leave before beckoning Uub toward him. "I've been meaning to ask you something," he said.
"What is it?"
"Your Master, Son Goku. What sort of martial arts does he practice? I can sense a great deal of strength when I see him, and despite how he conducts himself, he does put forth a strong guard. I can't imagine one could land a hit on him if they could."
Uub remarked how observant Kelerot was about Goku. "You noticed all that just by looking at him? You must've had a good teacher, yourself."
"He was a practitioner of many styles. He taught my friends and me the basics until we were old enough to implement his advanced teachings. I will always be grateful for what I learned."
"As am I," said Uub. "As for Master Goku's style? He's had many teachers, from what he told me. But his specialty was the Turtle Hermit Style."
"Fascinating," said Kelerot, poring over Uub's explanation. "What has he learned from his other teachers?"
"Powerful techniques. But specifically techniques from the gods," said Uub. Kelerot grinned, glancing over at Goku. "It would make sense given his strength. His ki says much as well whenever I sense it. I've become familiar with God ki that there is much of it in this room."
Uub wondered what Kelerot meant by that, even noting that he gave him a brief look as he said it. His heart skipped a beat when he heard Kelerot say the next words. "Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but is Goku implementing a state of martial arts called Ultra Instinct?"
Uub was at a loss for words, which Kelerot caught on. "Sorry, was that too much? I had heard of something called Ultra Instinct before, which I thought was puzzling. But the way I gauged how Goku conducted himself, it could be no other state of being, could it?"
Uub swallowed. "Um, forgive me. I should go back with Master Goku. I think we've been in here long enough."
"It should be I seeking forgiveness, Uub. I've caused you discomfort with my assessment of your teacher. I meant no harm," Kelerot said, bowing with his fist against an open palm. It didn't lessen the chill that ran up Uub's back, realizing that there was another martial artist who knew of Ultra Instinct. The very concept of the technique was still much to take in, Uub believed, yet what he learned from Goku would get him through the Tournament regardless. "Please, don't let me keep you," Kelerot offered, gesturing back to Goku.
Uub didn't look at anyone else as he walked past Goku, climbing out of the baths. "Hey Uub, there's still time to relax before we go turn in for the night," Goku called to him.
"I'm good, Master. I don't want to make myself dizzy from the heat," Uub replied. He could see that drawing a sly comment from Choi but ignored it to slip on a bathrobe.
It seemed a coincidence when he left that he noticed the girls in robes leaving the women's side. Pan and Bulla spotted him, waving. Uub waved back before retreating to the change room to see that his gi had been washed and folded, along with everyone else's. It was a relief to wear clean clothes, especially those he would be wearing against Bok tomorrow.
He couldn't help but think back to Kelerot's statement about Goku. Even odder was how he looked at him when mentioning God ki. He didn't need another layer of anxiety spread over what he already had regarding Buu. But there was something mildly troubling about Kelerot that Uub hoped would not create a situation on this island.
He waited outside for the others to exit. The girls came out first, led by Bulma. "That almost felt like a vacation," she said, stretching. She also concealed a yawn behind her hand. "But too relaxing at the same time. Oh, hey Uub."
Uub waved at the group. "I don't know how much longer Master's group will be, so I'm waiting for them."
He was all for patiently sitting there were it not for Pan pulling at his arm. "The less we see of that brat, the better. C'mon, let's go back to the hotel. You can wait for Grandpa there."
"B-but I'm fine, Pan," Uub said, yet her grip was insistent that he'd accompany her, no matter what. He watched Bulla leave with her mother and Cheelai. Android 18 simply waved as she walked by, not saying a word, yet Uub could see that the baths were to her enjoyment.
Pan and Uub trailed behind, walking at their own pace. Each wore their respective gi to represent their teacher, Pan's matching that of Piccolo's. They strolled under a starlit sky.
"Wow, I didn't think how fast today went," Uub said, staring above.
Pan pointed at several constellations. "I can probably name every single one of them based on what Papa taught me."
"You don't sound so enthusiastic," Uub said, grinning. Pan blinked, waving him off. "It's not that. I wish sometimes I didn't know what they were called so I could see them as beautiful stars lighting up the night sky."
Uub raised an eyebrow. "But we've seen them countless times at my village. What makes tonight any different?"
Pan stopped, craning her neck to stare upward. "It has a different feel to it. It's the night before our first big fight. It's the night where we can look back together at how far we've come since we started our training journey." She then turned to Uub. "It's also an important night for you, Uub. You, wearing Grandpa's old gi."
The light from a torch flickered and illuminated the outfit as he inspected it. Red and dark blue still looked dimly lit against the bright flame, yet Uub tugged at the top, examining the emblem on the front. "Master Goku wouldn't want me to call it his gi. He insists that it's mine. So I guess you can say this is Uub's gi, Pan."
Pan gave him the warmest smile he had ever seen on her. "Then I agree. It's your gi, Uub."
A Plane Full of Children
Videl tapped her fingers against the steering wheel of the aircraft, tapping against the rhythm of the music playing on the radio. It was loud enough for her to listen to as a dozen children were chatting and laughing in the back, unable to remain calm during the trip.
The children represented her students, invited by her to attend the World Martial Arts Tournament so they could see actual battles between well-trained fighters. But she especially wanted them to watch her daughter Pan have a great fight.
On the other hand, she wished she could feel the excitement from her husband, Gohan. The man was still face-down in his notes, scribbling with a pan while habitually pushing his glasses back up along the bridge of his nose. Even after she coerced him into booking time off for a vacation, he was never without research material on his lap and a book to his side.
"Gohan," Videl said flatly. She glanced to see if he heard her. Scoffing, she took the small stack of pages off his lap, turning them over. "Gohan."
"I-I was almost done. I had two more paragraphs to write," he said, but Videl wouldn't have it. She tried to grab the book, but Gohan moved it out of her reach. It was another book of insects, aquatic insects specifically. "Please? I need to finish this research."
Videl sighed audibly, though she was glad her class hadn't noticed how frustrating it was keeping her handsome spouse's eyes off a single book for more than a few minutes. "Gohan, you're on vacation now. Put the books and pages away and relax for a few days. They'll still be here when you're back to work."
She laid her hand on top of his, squeezing it. "Trust me."
Gohan lowered his other hand, laying the book on his lap. "Ah. You're right. I should take advantage of this vacation, huh?"
He didn't react in time for Videl to take the book away, adding it to the pile on her lap. "Turn off your science brain for a few days and enjoy the sights of the world around you. Our daughter is competing in her second World Tournament, and if her training with Piccolo was any indication, she's going to show us some amazing things in the ring. I promised these little ones they'd get a good show."
She motioned him to the class of students. Girls and boys were glued to the windows looking outside, while some played a game of rock, paper, scissors to pass the time. One of them saw Papaya Island ahead. "Look! Look! There's the island!" he shouted.
The children all rushed to the front, forcing Videl to adjust her steering. "Hey! No crowding! Back up!"
"It's alright, everyone! You'll get a good view when we're closer," Gohan assured them. The children were still focused on the front, however. Huddling against each other, each one leaned over the other's shoulder while some hovered over the front seats.
"I can't wait to see Pan fight!"
"Yeah! Pan is Sensei Videl's best student!"
"We're gonna cheer extra hard for Pan, everyone!"
"Yeah!"
Videl saw her reflection in the window and noticed how red her cheeks had become. Heaping such praise on her and Pan? If only they could see Gohan in action. Maybe give them a show of the Great Saiyaman and Great Saiyawoman later? She eyed Gohan, who seemed to know what she alluded to when she tapped her wristwatch with the extra red button installed, emphasizing it with a wink.
After they landed, Videl whistled with two fingers in her mouth. "Class! Form a line behind me! Gohan, can you take up the rear, please?"
"Yeah," said Gohan, putting the aircraft back in its capsule. Videl waited until the children were lined up and ready to move forward.
"Papa reserved us a section in the stands next to Papa Goku, so let's not waste time," Videl instructed but was interrupted by a show of hands. "Yes, what is it?"
"Can we use the bathroom first? We forgot to go before we left after breakfast," said one of the children. Videl's eyes widened. "We? Wait, who needs to go?"
All twelve children raised their hands, which made her sigh.
The Tournament Commences
The mood was mixed in the Pavillion. A single barricade blocked much of the entrance that separated the walkway to the ring where Mister Announcer was overlooking final instructions with the Tournament Committee. Hercule and the Head of the Committee were seated along the side on the outskirts, indulging in his new role with a lit cigar in his hand and a glass of champagne in the other.
Buu sat on a picnic blanket, eating various food, while Android 18 avoided the revolting sight. "Watching Buu eat still makes my skin crawl," she whispered.
Uub was on his back, allowing Pan to stretch his legs. "I don't have to see him from this angle. I guess you two have a history?"
18 looked like she was ready to answer but averted her eyes. "I do, but that's between him and me."
Once Pan was finished, Uub was back on his feet, turning his body to continue his stretching exercises. "I feel bad for Bulla and Trunks. They're still not speaking to each other," she said. Uub glanced over to see the siblings looking away. Bulla had a good angle of the spectators filling their seats, while Trunks had his eye outside the window.
Uub offered his hand to him. "Good luck today," he said. Trunks eyed Uub's hand. "Thanks," he replied, but his tone sounded distant.
Pan went over to encourage Bulla. "Guess it didn't go as planned, huh?" she said, glancing back at Trunks.
Bulla shot a glare at her brother. "I would've liked to reconcile, but he refused to talk to any of us. Mama wanted to give him an earful, but Papa insisted he was left alone. If he wasn't ready to talk, it'd be a waste of time to bother him."
It bothered Uub to see two siblings at such odds with each other. Part of him wanted to blame Bulla for inciting her brother to such anger that made him want to distance himself from his family. But he also wanted to convince Trunks that his behavior was only hurting his family more. They must be worried about what he's been going through lately, not just with whoever this Mai was.
Yet as distant as Bulla and Trunks were, for now, Bok and Choi never looked closer. Such was the advantage of identical twins. Coco and Natta didn't have many fights with each other, mostly due to either himself or his siblings resolving the dispute. Their bond was strong, no matter what petty squabble they engaged in.
The twins then approached them. "So, ready to lose badly?" Choi asked Uub. "I can make him eat my dust every time we race, but he has the advantage in strength. Get ready to kiss the grass outside the ring, faux-hawk."
Pan scoffed, pointing at Choi's hair. "You're one to talk about faux-hawks, brat. Uub's looks ten times better than yours."
Bok couldn't resist snickering, covering his mouth. Choi glared at Pan. "Keep treading thin ice, piss-girl."
Pan stuck her tongue out while Uub pinched the bridge of his nose. "Can you all save it for your fights, please?"
"Who died and made you team lead, faux-hawk?" Choi said, smirking. "Worry about the pounding you're gonna get from my brother. Right, Bok?"
Choi waited for a high-five from Bok, but the twin politely offered his hand to Uub. "Don't worry about Choi. I expect a good fight today."
"Likewise," said Uub, shaking Bok's hand. Choi rolled his eyes, turning away. "What a waste of time. I'm taking a nap in the change room. Wake me up when it's my turn to go."
"Of all the—!" Pan started but was cut off by a hand on her shoulder. Uub shook his head. "Pan, enough. Focus on your match with Bulla. Same goes for you," he said to Bulla, who tightened her mouth.
Uub wasn't certain how Bulla approached the tense moment. Her expression read all over the place, yet he caught a glimpse of worry in her eyes when Choi boasted that he didn't want to watch any of the matches. But there was also worry about how she and Pan would handle theirs. Neither looked thrilled to fight right away.
18 was indifferent to the situation, choosing to lean against the arch next to the barricade. Uub thought it was a smart move on her part to avoid all the drama between the children.
As far as Trunks was concerned, Uub sensed a tweak in his ki and a shift in his emotional state. "Hey, you okay?" he asked. There was definitely something in the way he stared outside.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
Uub frowned. He wasn't mistaken about Trunks's emotional state. Something about Choi's ki must've intimidated the young man. His ki lacked some stability, and anxiety was trickling in his calm demeanor, even though he didn't show it directly to the others.
He then turned to Bok, nodding ahead to where Choi disappeared into the changing room. "No offense, but even I'm starting to be bothered by your brother's attitude."
Bok sighed. "I'm sorry. It may sound strange to you, but Choi isn't always like this. He's acting tough because he's confident in his strength. We've been our only opponents growing up and training, that I hope this Tournament will give him someone to show that he shouldn't be overconfident."
"That doesn't excuse him being a brat, you know," Pan interjected, hands on her hips. "He's got a lot to learn if he wants to get along with other people. To be honest, you should've been more strict with him."
Her statement brought a chuckle to Bok. "Believe me; we've tried. Me, Uncle Lemo, Mom and dad. We try our best. I think he just needs a decisive loss in a fight to show him some humility."
18 waved them over. "Looks like they're about to start."
Pan and Bulla rushed to the barricade. Pan moved her head around, hopping to the top to get a better look. "I can't see Mama and Papa anywhere," she said.
"I'm looking, myself," said Bulla, hanging off the top beside Pan. "Oh, wait! I see them!"
Uub studied the spectators, watching for a sign of Goku and company. He pinpointed where Bulla had mentioned Bulma and Vegeta were and then caught Goku seated between Gohan and Bulma. Videl and a row of children, all wearing martial arts gi, were seated beside Gohan. "Pan, your parents are beside Master Goku."
Pan checked to be sure until her face lit up when she saw them. "Mama and Papa! Yay! And she brought her class with her! Thanks, Mama!"
Uub went down the row past Bulma and Vegeta to see another figure seated between Vegeta and Broly. That must be their android. He noticed Gohan glancing over a few times, whispering something to Goku about the android, to which Goku whispered something back. Gohan's face changed to surprise and awe as he leaned forward to get a better look at the android.
Broly's family had Cheelai and Lemo seated next to each other, with Arugula on Broly's lap holding Mr. Bronto. Watching the whole row occupied by family and supporters made things easier for Uub as his match was coming up.
Another section across the other side of the auditorium had rows of Buu's Fanclub standing, waving flags and blowing instruments. Others were drumming away a steady beat, all chanting, "Buu wins the belt!"
Since this would be Buu's match to start things off, Uub wondered if 18 was in the right mindset to face off against such an opponent. She caught him staring at her, however. "I'll be fine, Uub. Worry about your match, instead."
"Uh, s-sure."
Mister Announcer, now standing in the middle of the ring, held his microphone high. The sunlight gleamed off his sunglasses as he spun to address the capacity crowd. "Ladies and Gentlemen! Children of all ages! Are you ready to see spectacular fights?!"
The crowd responded admirably and loudly.
"Are you ready to be wowed by the finest display of martial arts?!"
Another loud response.
"Are you ready to see a new Champion crowned?!"
The crowd roared, echoed even louder by Buu's Fanclub. "BUU WINS THE BELT!" they repeated over and over.
"Then, without further ado, let us commence the 30th World Martial Arts Tournament to declare the—"
"BEST!"
"UNDER!"
"THE!"
"HEAVENS!" the crowd joined in, no stranger to tournaments past and present. They deafened the ring with their cheering until Mister Announcer was ready to continue.
"Our first match features a competitor who needs no introduction! You've known him for years as the pink sensation! The emcee of entertainment! The coolest fighter you'll ever watch compete in this ring and the biggest gourmand to grace a dinner table! Please welcome Hercule's closest friend and potential successor to the World Championship title, Misterrrrr Buuuuuu!"
Uub couldn't believe his eyes and ears at how loud the reaction was when Buu's name was called. He had been so distracted by the bravado that when Buu brushed past him, he let out a yelp, nearly falling back. Pan had to jump down from the barricade to keep him steady. "Uub! Are you alright?"
Uub didn't know if he was hyperventilating or not. He was aware he had fallen to one knee while Pan rubbed his back. "Y-yeah, I'll be fine."
"Take a deep breath and relax. Let's get you back up," Pan said. Uub closed his eyes, breathing deeply. Bulla glanced down at him, frowning. "Sheesh, Uub. Keep it together."
Uub nodded. Keep it together, he repeated in his head. If it came down to him and Buu in the next round, he'd have to steel his nerves and watch Buu's fight.
"And his opponent! She's no stranger to the Tournament scene, finishing second to Hercule in the 25th Tournament after a hectic battle royale! She's the blonde beauty with a glare of ice that freezes her opponents to their very core. A talented fighter in her own right and eager to prove herself once more despite the odds heavily stacked against her, she will give her all for everyone here today! Here she comes, Contestant Eighteeeennnn!"
Android 18 stepped forward, walking methodically to the steps of the ring. Once she was on the tiles, she stared at no one but Buu, pumping himself up by flexing his arms while his cape blew against the wind.
"What will we expect when these two face off against each other for the first time?" asked Mister Announcer.
"That cutie's going down!"
"Buu wins!"
"Buu is the Champ!"
"Buu wins the belt!"
Buu's Fanclub drowned out much of what the rest of the crowd wanted to say in the direction of 18 and Buu. Mister Announcer signaled 18 and Buu to face each other at an equal distance on the ring.
"Now, as you know, our rules have been a time-honored tradition that has been a mainstay since the first ever Tournament years ago. To win, you must either knock your opponent out of the ring, and their body touches the grass outside, make them submit and say "uncle!", or knock them down until they can no longer fight after I count to ten!
He continued, "Weapons of any kind are strictly forbidden, nor is killing your opponent allowed! Any infraction like that will result in a disqualification! Once the gong is rung, the match will begin! Fighters, are you ready?!"
Uub and the others watched anxiously behind the barricade. Even Bok was getting into it, squeezing himself beside Uub. The boy couldn't resist smiling as he was about to watch his first Tournament match. Pan and Bulla were hanging off the top of the barricade to get the best view, while Uub could see the level of joy and excitement on Goku's face along with the rest of his row. He searched for Piccolo, eventually catching him at the top behind the bleachers, watching in solitude. Not too far off was Kelerot, standing with his hands behind his back, face as serene as he had come to expect.
Once Mister Announcer was off the ring, the monks began sounding the drums.
DOM
DOM
DOM
DOM
One-two, one-two, one-two went the beat. Slow at first, but then accelerating as the crowd was now waiting in silence for the gong to ring, and the match between Buu and Android 18 began. Uub's heart still raced in his chest at the sight of Buu, but he willed it to slow down, desiring only to see a good match.
When the drumming reached its apex in speed and sound, they stopped abruptly for another monk to strike the gong.
Mister Announcer then pointed at the ring, microphone in hand. "Match Number one, BEGIN!"