Foreword: Stronger Saiyans, stronger Namekian, stronger Half-saiyans, stronger human Z-fighters, a more skilled Lazuli (Android 18) and a stronger Videl? How will things play out at the 25th World Tournament? Find out now!
Bansuri quietly stood and meditated at the tournament venue while waiting for his friends to arrive, absently wondering how Videl took to the Spirit Control meditations he telepathically gave her knowledge of without context (besides having to do with energy control). Bansuri had already registered to participate in the tournment when he arrived to ensure he wouldn't need to rush with the crowd later and from what he could tell a crowd had certainly formed.
Bansuri took a bottle of water from his pocket dimension and opened it to take a drink, his eyes drifting to a particular direction where he sensed something that drew his attention.
Bansuri: 'Either two people earned a witches' anger and got cursed or they're using dark magic to boost their power. I hope it's the former and not the latter because if it's on purpose then nothing good can come of it.'
If that was the only thing that earned Bansuri's attention, the Namekian would have been delighted but apparently it wasn't to be since he could sense two more people, one that felt strong enough to best Frieza paired with someone not quite at that level but still far stronger than the average fighters present. What's more Bansuri could feel something that informed him exactly what he was dealing with: Creation Energy.
Bansuri: 'Those are Kais and I doubt they're here for a quaint little tournament...perhaps it's something to do with the two tainted by dark magic? Something to keep an eye on and tell the others when they get here.'
Bansuri closed his eyes and focused on his senses, a small smirk on his face as his cape fluttered in the breeze due to the fact he was wearing a weighted cape and turban like his father before him, his outfit making people think he was just a Starfall cosplayer or promoter ensuring people weren't clammoring to him and were simply taking pictures of him. He did make sure to throw a peace sign for a few photos to keep the impression up, Bansuri being found by the Krillin and Lazuli standing and smirking in a photo with two kids who bounded back to their family happily as Bansuri waved them off and approached the pair with a child in arms.
Marron: "Piccolo! So cool!"
Krillin: "Heh, playing to the idea of just being an actor huh?"
Bansuri: "After the first person took a selfie with me and gave me a fifty I just rolled with the idea. I've been here an hour and have over a thousand Zeni just for standing and smirking at cameras. Humans are strange"
Lazuli: "Not really, you do look pretty cool dressed as Piccolo. Way better than the actor anyway"
Bansuri: "Should have guessed you guys saw Starfall"
Lazuli: "I hear they're announcing a new movie at this tournament"
Bansuri: "Of course they are"
Marron made grabbing motions toward Bansuri and Lazuli passed her to him, the Namekian already well experienced in childcare carried the child as he walked with the couple to find his fellow Z-fighters. The image of Bansuri caring for a child earned a number of 'aww's as apparently he was off the clock and attending to a child, the people respecting his time and leaving him be.
The Son family and the Briefs family arrived to the tournament in a Capsule Corp plane piloted by Bulma, the discussion in the vehicle eventually leading to the agreement of the 'No Transformations' rule to avoid property damage and to avoid freaking people out. This was met with some disappointed groans from the children but shrugs and agreement from the adults, Trunks being secretly glad for the restriction since it meant Bulla couldn't just kick his butt with Super Saiyan 2 and needed to rely on skill instead.
Trunks: 'I've been fighting for longer than Bulla and Goten so I should totally be able to beat them'
After landing and putting the ship back in a capsule, the two families explored the venue and found Tien and Roshi walking around and reminiscing about the previous tournaments they took part in.
Tien: "-Goku was completely different at the 23rd World Tournament, not just in looks but also in the way he fought."
Roshi: "Yeah, Kami's training served him well against Piccolo too. I'm still amazed Krillin survived that full powered hit from Piccolo..."
Bansuri: "The fact Krillin stood up right after such an attack earned Piccolo's respect and got him to realize that humans were more capable than he first thought. I hold that respect for you too Krillin, and you've continued to prove yourself worthy of it."
Bansuri handed Marron back to Lazuli and approached the group as everyone looked surprised at the candor and Krillin looked grateful.
Krillin: "Thanks Bansuri...I needed that"
Bansuri gave Krillin a respectful nod and a shoulder pat before approaching the families of his Saiyan friends.
Bansuri: "Hello everyone, you all look ready to show the results of your training"
Goku: "We are! This takes me back to the last World Tournament I was in"
Gohan: "We all agreed not to transform to avoid as much property damage as possible as well as not freaking out the spectators"
Bansuri: "That sounds like a good idea, think I'll avoid transforming too. I may be getting royalty checks from the Starfall series and paid as a 'Personal Trainer/Caretaker/Security' but I think that money is better spent on getting gifts for the kids that I can't create...like gaming consoles and games for instance..."
Trunks: "Yessssss (fist pump) thanks uncle Bansuri!"
Bansuri and Trunks fist bump to the exasperated smirk of Bulma, and the eye roll of Vegeta.
Vegeta: "You're not a better parent than me"
Bansuri: "Of course not, I don't have kids. I'm the cool uncle that spoils them and is fun to be around"
Bansuri ruffles Trunks' hair and smirks at Vegeta which gets another eye roll from the Saiyan prince but the smirk on his face tells that he isn't too broken up about it. The group taking to friendly banter like a group of old friends until they were interrupted by the voice of a girl calling out.
Videl: "Hey G-reat Saiyaman!"
Videl jogged over to the group while waving and Bansuri quietly discerned her power and found himself impressed by both Videl's growth and current power. Bansuri did an internal comparison between Videl's current power and the power of people he knows and found that Videl had gone from stronger than the average human to being almost as strong as Piccolo was when he faced Raditz alongside Goku.
Bansuri: 'Raditz said something about father's power level being 750 and Videl is almost as strong. If I had to put a number to it, I would say 700 is about right.'
Bansuri gave Videl a respectful nod which she returned then sat about guiding the group to the check-in area, making sure the competitors got signed up before the cut-off point and revealing that the World Tournamet now has a Kid's Division much to the chagrin of Trunks, Goten and Bulla and to the relief of their parents.
Goku: "So you already signed in Bansuri?"
Bansuri: "Yep, under the name 'Majunior too"
Roshi: "That was the name Piccolo used in the 23rd World Tournament."
Krillin: "Respectful nod to your old man or a way to dodge film fans?"
Bansuri: "Both"
This got chuckles from those in the know and a confused look from Videl as the group split into spectators, adult competitors and child competitors, the fighters getting into an area for a test of strength to qualify. Watching Mr Satan give a performance of how strong he is and getting a score of 137 on the machine. There was an unspoken agreement in the z-fighters to hold back so as to avoid breaking the machine. Lazuli was the first of their group ot go up and her first score of 774 freaked out the technical support crew and made her have to take a second punch which dialed in at a 203.
Videl: 'What the hell?! just how strong are these guys?!'
Other fighters of their group stepping up to punch and very clearly pulling their punches and getting big numbers. Krillin got a score of 200, Goku punched for 190, Bansuri a 210, Vegeta a 200 and Gohan (Saiyaman) a score of 180. Then it was Videl's turn...
Videl: 'Alright! Let's see how strong I've become!' "HYAAAAA!"
*BOOM!*
*CLATTERCLATTERCLATTER*
The tech crew and Videl were shocked when the punch machine folded and exploded under the force of Videl's punch, Videl frantically apologizing to everyone for the destruction and causing many of the other contestants waiting to bail out of the tournament but drawing the attention of two men with M's on their foreheads.
Gohan: "...Maybe we should have told her to hold back?"
This was met by a set of agreeing nods as a blushing Videl joined the group once more.
Videl: "...Dad's gonna have to pay for that..."
Bansuri gave Vegeta a side-eye.
Bansuri: "Not gonna lie I was expecting you to do that"
Vegeta: "Please, I have more control than that"
Bansuri: "Fair enough"
After a new machine is brought in, Tien, Roshi as well as some people named Shin, Kibito, Yamu, Spopovich, Killa and Jewel. qualify for the tournament. The names are put into a randomizer and a bracket is formed.
Krillin vs Tien: Krillin and Tien smirk at each other as the strongest humans in the tournament and representatives of their respective schools of martial arts, they need to put on a good show.
Bansuri vs Shin: Bansuri side-eyes Shin as he recognises what he's looking at and knows that something is going on to have a Kai in an Earth tournament.
Videl vs Spopovich: Videl smirks as she's about to face someone that rivaled her father in a previous tournament but pauses as thanks to her training with Gohan and Bansuri, she can sense that Spopovich's energy feels...Off.
Saiyaman vs Kibito: Gohan gives a confused look to the man with white hair and red skin, feeling that this person is way stronger than the normal people taking part in the tournament and resolves to keep an eye on him and his purple friend like Bansuri was.
Mr Satan vs Lazuli: Lazuli shrugs but considers the possibility of getting more money than the prize on offer. She figures she can scam Mr Satan (and she's 100% correct).
Goku vs Vegeta: Goku and Vegeta smirk at each other as they realize that this would be the perfect test of skill between the two and that this will not only prove who the strongest Saiyan is but will be a fun fight in general.
Killa vs Roshi: The large boxer with a buzz cut shadow boxed and got ready to punch down an old man while Roshi simply noted the simple movements and kept calm, he knew he could beat him.
Jewel vs Yamu: Jewel posed about with flowers and flower petals while Yamu, like his compatriot Spopovich was staring at Videl. Both M's giving a malicious glow in anticipation of the power they will gain for their master.
The brackets are set and the competitors are in place, who will win this tournament and the title of "Strongest under the Heavens"? Find out next time on Some Help.
Bonus Scene: The Bill.
Mr Satan had retreated to his room after the brackets were set and was promptly freaking out. The guys that were at the Cell Games were at this tournament, including the guy that took down Cell himself; Bansuri!
Mr Satan: "Oh man! There's no way I can take those guys in a fight! I'm toast!"
Mr Satan was in the fetal position in the corner and rocking in place when he heard a knock on the door, jolting the World Champion and causing him to take a more dignified position of sat reclined on a chair.
Mr Satan: "Yeah!?"
The door opened to reveal a member of the tech crew responsible for the punching machines, they bowed respectfully as they entered Mr Satan's room with a piece of paper in their hand.
Technician: "Excuse me sir, I require your signature for a matter of monetary compensation"
Mr Satan: " 'Monetary compensation'? What for?"
Technician: "Your daughter Videl destroyed one of our punch machines by hitting it hard enough to crumple it like an aluminum can and causing it to explode"
Mr Satan gaped at the technician, the image of his little girl hitting something hard enough to make it explode? Hitting harder than he can? It just didn't compute. Mr Satan simply signed the bill away and stood in a daze as the technician left the room and closed the door behind them.
Mr Satan: "...what the hell is the world coming to!?"
