Edited by hi ace50

Far away from the crowds and the ears of her friends, Hero (Kami) and Chi-Chi found a place to talk. It is a cold and sterile room in the bowels of the Tournament backstage, a room for perhaps meant for the wounded. No natural light reached the inside, the only other occupants of the room were a white sheeted bed and some medical supplies.

Hero looks at her in a sad way and says, "It was wrong of me to give you this responsibility. I will deal with it."

Chi-Chi barks out a question "What?"

"I made a real mess of things. I should have handled this on my own from the start. Your job is over. You can leave if you want."

"Is this about what I think it's about?"

"Not at all. It's just well… in light of recent events perhaps it best that you are not… well the best mind set to make some calls that require… clear judgement."

Chi-Chi nervously says, "I knew it. I made a mistake that I regret but I'm learning from it." Bitterly and angrily she then states in her fury. "Kakarrot is scum. I'll never let him touch me again."

"That's my point. Your angry, humiliated and ashamed. You're going to act without thinking things though. Yes, he needs to die, but acting recklessly is not going to help the situation. I don't know what is happening, but there is some sort of plot in motion here and you can't just go stumbling into it."

"I already know all of that. You think I'm stupid? He has some sort of scheme in mind. I will crush Piccolo again and put an end to it."

"Cheech you're not listen to me."

"I am, and what I'm hearing is that you don't trust me anymore." She then stormed out of the room.

Hero sighed and said to himself "It's not you I don't trust."

A while later the Announcer got on the intercom and said on it "Will everybody come back. The Tournament is about to continue."

Bulma and the gang came back they seem in good spirits laughing and joking having ate their fill. They are soon followed by Tanman, Kakarrot, his henchmen and a bunch of security guards that attempted to stop him from performing some lewd acts in the men restroom. They did not succeed.

Chi-Chi comes back to the sidelines having not even close to being cooled off. She stands side by side next to Tien who looks at her puzzled by her fury. She looks at him and sighs then nods her head.

"Welcome back everyone. In here and out there to the World Martial Arts Tournament. We have a special treat with this next match. These two were the winner and runner up respectively of the last Tournament. Chi-Chi Ox Queen of the Ox Kingdom and Tien Shinhan of the Crane school. Last time these two fought the ring was blown up, doppelgangers were made, and a car was made into a pancake. It was a long-fought fight. Let's hope these two allow the ring to stay intact for all of our sakes."

As he spoke Tien and Chi-Chi came out onto the stage.

Tien smiled and said to her "Been a while."

Chi-Chi smiled back at him "Yeah but this time I won't need a car to help me win."

"Oh, so you think you're going to win this?"

"Think it? I know it friend."

"I'll be glad to prove you wrong."

They got into position and stance. The drum beat down and the Announcer yelled out "Begin fight!"

The two charged at each other and both came out swinging. They were moving faster than the audience could see went they swung at each other, neither gave ground and neither seemed to take much damage.

Kakarrot said to Green as they were watching "They are playing with one another."

Tien jumped back as Chi-Chi seemed to give a harder punch that he dodged. He fired a dopon ray at her that she deflected into the air. She throws a blast at him the he easily deflected as she closes the distance between them. Both land some blows midair and at the same time they kick off each other.

The two took position as the skidded to a stop on the tile. The crowd cheered as they took a breathier.

"Well I'm surprised those punches actually hurt."

"Your surprised? I'm surprised that you were even to keep up with my movements."

"Well I guess then were both full of surprises. Probably because you're not taking this seriously."

"I will when you do."

Kakarrot smacked his hands together and yelled out "Called it!"

Chi-Chi snarled hearing his voice as Tien charged her. Their fists met, and a burst of wind came from the spot. The two seemed to put everything into this as energy crackled from their bodies. Despite putting everything into this however, Tien was being pushed back.

Kakarrot thought to himself 'And now she is playing with him.'

Tien jumps back only to be followed by Chi-Chi. Mid-air she uses his chest as a punching bag before kicking him to the tile. He lands with a thud creating a crater.

Launch yelled out angry to Chi-Chi "You better not have killed my baby-daddy cheech!"

Chi-Chi lands on the stage looking at the spot where Tien landed in a smile, she says to him "Get up, that wasn't powerful enough to knock you out. Stop playing possum."

Tien got up. Blood was coming from his mouth. He looked a bit cut up. Clearly, she had hurt him a little.

"You have one hell of a punch Cheech."

"And you thought it won't even hurt you."

"That was some false bravado on my part. I knew you won't be so easy to beat."

"And who says your beating me?"

"I say I'm beating you."

Two more arms sprouted from his back and his know four index fingers pointed at her. He opened fired as she took to the air. In the air she dodged the first set of four and then three of the next set of four. The last one she grabbed in her hand and chucked to the ground.

Like a torpedo, headfirst she went speeding at him. Using his four arms he caught her, and another battle of wills began. He was then once again being push back as he tried to hit her head to stop or slow her. It didn't work.

He was driven back to the edge of the ring. As quickly as he could he dropped to the ground then tried to toss her to the grass. But instead she grabbed ahold of him. She pulled him above her then throw him to the grass. Before he knew it, his ass was on the grass and the match was over.

"Tien is out of the ring. Chi-Chi is the winner of the match and will advance to the final round. The next match will begin shortly after we fix up the ring."

Tien was laid out on the grass looking a bit shocked. He looked at Chi-Chi and asked her, "How much were you holding back?"

"Is that something, you really want to know right now?" Said as she held her hand out too him.

Tien grabbed her hand and pulled himself up and said "That much huh? Well I guess training with Kami has some real benefits."

The crowd cheered as both of Tien's and Chi-Chi eyes went to Kakarrot's sarcastic slow clap as he grinned at them.

"Is it odd that he still looks like my brother after all this time."

"He's good at worming his way into your head."

Tien then chuckled and said "Everyone but you."

Chi-Chi face went sour and said, "Let's get to the sideline."

On the sidelines Hero and Piccolo were staring at each other.

Chi-Chi and Tien walked up to Yamcha and Krillin who were watching this stare down.

"Yeah they have been doing this for a while know. Something tells me these two have some sort of beef or something."

"Yeah it's kind of a long story. Let's just say they hate each other."

"I could have told you that."

Tien whispered into her ear "When are you going to tell them?"

Chi-Chi whispered back "When I need to."

Quickly the monks when to work fixing the stage. As the two had a face off.

Kami thought to himself 'If I can take Piccolo off the board. Maybe beating Kakarrot won't be such a longshot.'

Piccolo thought to himself 'I bet he thinks he can stop me and save these worthless humans. Well he is in for devastating reality check.'

The stage was fixed as the two flew out to the stage landing in the right spots.

"Why did you pick such an ugly disguise?"

Hero said while taking stance "You shouldn't be so judgmental. Considering the way, you look."

Piccolo growled while taking stance and the Announcer said as the drum picked up "The next match Prince versus Hero." He yelled out. "Begin fight!"

The two stood like statues staring at one another as the crowd got restless.

Roshi watching this thought to himself 'I don't like this. I hope who ever this is understands who he is up against.'

Kakarrot thought to himself 'Piccolo better have this under control. If he fucks this up, slug tasting or not I'm taking a bite out of his head."

Bulma thought to herself 'Why do I always feel like I'm missing something? Why do I feel like an epic battle is happening right know and I'm just staring at two guys staring at each other?'

Launch thought to herself 'I knew that asshole looked familiar. He's King Piccolo just smaller and younger. Why didn't Chi-Chi say anything.'

Oolong thought to himself 'Why do I feel like my life is yet again in mortal danger? Why do I even hang around with these people? Maybe I should run?'

Puar thought to itself 'Oolong going to run I can feel it.'

"Could one of you please throw a punch?"

He asked as the sky went dark. An unearthly glow came from the two. Purple from Piccolo, Blue from Hero. Thunder clapped in the sky as the two moved up towards one another midair.

The two met in a hurricane of punches. Energy seemed to seep from the two as some of the garbage on the ground seemed to levitate. The blows from the two seemed to be felt by the crowd as they were struck with silence.

Piccolo side swiped Hero buried his fist into his gut then kick him to the ground. Hero hit the ground hard. As the ground gave a good shake at the blow dust came from it.

Chi-Chi thought to herself 'What are you doing Kami? I'm the only one with a chance against either of them. Piccolo is a lot stronger than you. You said it yourself so what are you doing?'

Piccolo landed on the tile and said to the crater "Old man what are you doing? This is hopeless. Your old and weak. You barely trained a day in your life. While I have been training since I was born. I have been training for this day. Face it. This time I win. This world is going to face a fate worse than death."

Out of the dust came Hero without a scrape on him but a little out of breath. In a glare he looked at Piccolo and said, "I may not be a spring chicken but that arrogance of yours will be your downfall little prince. It's the same arrogance your father had."

Piccolo grinned at well sort of himself "Maybe it's arrogance, but it's still the truth you see. Dad didn't have a very good teacher like I do." He while still looking at him with his thumb pointed to Kakarrot.

Hero looked to Kakarrot who gave him a two-finger salute.

Hero said in serious tone "He's betrayed everyone else. Why won't he betray you too?"

Piccolo laughed at him and said to him "Interesting, trying to get in my head. Quite pathetic considering we share the same mind. I know that's an empty bit of self-serving paranoia."

Hero smiled at him and said, "Maybe but it wasn't me who was thinking it."

Piccolo growled then charged him angry. He easily started to kick the old man around, rag dolling him. He seemed intent to kept him away from the edge. Hero seem incapable or unwilling to defend himself as Piccolo kicked him around.

Hero began to take damage as all he seemed focused on doing was sticking around to take all the punishment that Piccolo could dish out. The crowd all seem shock and scared watching this with the exception of all but a few.

Kakarrot laughed and said "You know I should be angry with him for not finishing this like now. But I'm have a hard time caring because it's a lot of fun watching him kick this helpless old man around."

Green laughed at that "Yeah this is kind of hilarious."

Tanman joined in with the two laughter, despite clearly not being amused with it in the least.

Launch and Bulma gave their group a dirt look, which they didn't notice or care about if they had.

Hero was coughing up blood as Piccolo stood over him smiling and clearly enjoying himself.

"What did tell you? You didn't stand a chance against me. You can't imagine how much fun this is for me, can you."

"I imagine it was the dream that kept your monstrous brain alive for these last couple of years." He got to his feet. "They'll also have to keep you sane I imagine for the next hundred or more years or so yet."

Piccolo sighed rolling his eyes "And what's that supposed to mean?"

Hero took out a little jar that must have been made of some really strong stuff considering it had been kicked around with him. On it were some wards. He chucked it to the center of the ring as a green aura surrounded him. In his hand was a cork. Piccolo's eyes went small much to Hero's joy.

"You're reign of terror ends before it begins. Time to show you to your new home for the rest of eternity."

He moved his hands and the green energy of the wave surrounded Piccolo leaving no room to escape.

Chi-Chi gasped and shout out to him "Don't do it! You'll die Kami!"

All her friends asked at once "Kami?"

"Feel that Piccolo. It's all over!"

Piccolo smiled at him and said "You know that we work on the same mind, right? And that we have the same kind of powers?"

The energy reversed its flow know encircling Hero who looked both shocked and confused.

"If you know how to use it, I know how to use it too, except I'm a lot stronger and not an old cripple."

Hero dropped the cap and was suck into the air as Piccolo cackled. He yelled out "What a fool I've been. I'm sorry Chi-Chi you'll have to face him on your own. But I won't have this man share my fate."

He shed the man that he was apparently possessing. Kami was then sucked into the bottle. Faster than lightning Piccolo picked up the cap and placed it in the bottle sealing it. Piccolo was panting like it had taken something out of him, but he was still standing.

The crowd was shocked not having understood a single thing that had happen all except Kakarrot. He stood up and began to loudly clap like he had seen a ground-breaking play or movie. He then whistled and yelled out "Encore!" a few times. Piccolo took a bow to this absorbing the adulation of his master.

Announcer began the countdown not realizing that the fight had already over. Announcer "And Ten. Well that's its folks. Hero loses by knock out. Prince has won the match and it will be Chi-Chi and him in the final round of the Tournament. We will now take a short break before the final match and decide who the world champion is."

Chi-Chi however was stunned. She was angry with him but all that was gone now. Piccolo was coming to the sidelines. Tien at her side and Krillin and Yamcha at her back. He came towards them holding the bottle in his hands.

"Hand it over."

Piccolo grinned at her and said, "You didn't say please."

"Alright. Please hand it over."

"Well when you ask like that…" He tossed it into the air and then ate it whole as the others cringed. "I guess if you want it, you'll have to go digging. Sorry about that. I'm just so clumsy. I guess this means you won't have him as backup. You'll just have to rely on these 'fighters' you call your friends. I'm going to love hearing you scream and watching you bleed."

"I'm going to kick your face in and pull Kami out of your throat."

"Good luck." He walked away slowly trying and succeeding to irritate her.

"Okay I'm kind of tired of being left in the dark here. Who is he?"

"Yeah. What going on Cheech?"

Chi-Chi sighed and said, "He's King Piccolo." They gasped. "Well his reincarnation. He was raised by Kakarrot and came here to kill me I guess."

Krillin and Yamcha asked simultaneously "You have to be kidding me?"

Chiaotzu gasped having mental read Tien's mind and heard what she had said.

Yamcha in an accusatory tone asked, "Is that all?"

"What?"

"Is that all you have to tell us?"

She looked at him questioningly.

"I feel like there is something else you're not telling us. Is there something that we need to know?"

So that's a cliffhanger. Let's hope she makes the right choice. The fate of the Earth is on the line next time and to raise the stakes. This will now be the second to last chapter of a first part of the three part Red Son story.