50 Minutes until the Tournament of Time

"Woah."

It was all Goku could think to say, but it suitably echoed everyone else's thoughts. The six of them plus Beerus had just walked out into a circular area, cordoned off into six separate areas sectioned off by waist high walls, each furnished by a few comfortable looking seats and a hallway identical to the one they had just exited through. Six waiting areas for six timelines. Goku thought it was somewhat considerate that they each had their own little space to spend their downtime in.

His gaze was then drawn to the centre of the arena in front of them, where the ring laid. The appearance was familiar. Circular in form, tiled with a material that resembled marble but was more than likely something far stronger, and large enough to be usable but small enough to not waste space. In other words it was perfect.

But what truly drew Goku's awe was the stands, or at least the sheer size of them. They enveloped the ring and were bustling with life, being filled with all manners of creatures and moving forms. At the moment they were still looking quite sparse, but given the Tournament had yet to begin, they would likely be filled with time.

"I wasn't expecting this many people…" Gohan murmured, also in shock at the sheer number of those in attendance so far.

"Losing your nerve?" Vegeta asked, humoured.

Gohan straightened his posture. "Not on your life."

Vegeta grinned. "Good to hear."

"It seems Whis and the other angels have been busy," Beerus chimed in. "Only they would be able to get this many people into the Null Realm this quickly."

"Hey look!" Goku then proclaimed, staring into the stands before breaking out into a wide grin and pointing excitedly. "I can see a few of the guys from the Tournament of Power up there, they must've come to watch us fight!"

Gohan and Vegeta followed Goku's finger and were just as surprised by what they saw. Up in the stands, it appeared as if various members from each of the other eleven universes were present in the seats above them. Easily identifiable were the Pride Troopers of Universe 11 and the Saiyans of Universe 6, but various others were also spread about the stands. Even each God of Destruction and Supreme Kai was there, sitting at the very top of the arena overlooking the mortals they were entrusted with.

Beerus was suddenly very self-conscious. I will never hear the end of it if one of these three don't win this. The entire multiverse is watching!

While Beerus pondered silent thoughts, Goku leapt into the air to greet the spectators. His family and friends were filling into seats just above the fighters waiting area and he waved to them as he flew past. He gave a salute to the Maiden Squadron of Universe 2 and a wink to the Super Saiyans of Universe 6. Cabba nodded, Kale waved and Caulifla flipped him off.

Further up Goku, found the Pride Troopers and nodded in greeting. "Sup guys? Glad you could make it." He looked from left to right; more Pride Troopers were present than he was acquainted with but he settled his sights on the two who'd given him the most trouble in the past. "Hey, Top, still holding out of that God of Destruction job I see?"

Top smiled beneath his moustache. "All in good time, Goku. Lord Belmod still has a few good years left in him." He slowed his words and took on a kindred tone. "It is good to see you again, for once under less drastic circumstances."

Goku hummed in agreement. It had truly been too long since he'd seen some of these warriors again. He looked to Top's right, where a content looking Jiren the Grey sat.

"Jiren."

"Son Goku," Jiren replied, arms crossed imposingly, yet his eyes said something different. "I look forward to your battles, I hope you don't disappoint."

"Don't intend to," was all Goku needed to say in reply. He gave one last wave before darting back down the stands. He passed a floating Vegeta on the way, who was currently approaching the warriors of Universe 6.

"I trust you three have been keeping up on your training?" Vegeta said to the trio of Saiyans he recognised, having drawn to a stop in the air in front of them.

"Absolutely, Master!" Cabba responded enthusiastically. "It is a shame we're not able to participate in this tournament, I'm sure we would have been more than a match for you."

"Don't bet on it, boy," Vegeta snapped, though it was obviously in good humour.

At Cabba's side, Caulifla was leaning on the railing. "Trust you guys to have all the fun." She placed her hands behind her head and leaned back in a slouch. "Oh well, you'd better give us a good show, old man. Don't make me regret getting out of bed this morning."

Ten years on and they still act like teenagers. Vegeta huffed and turned his back. "I'll make sure to go slow so you can keep up."

"I think you're slow enough already, but maybe that's just your arthritis acting up."

"Caulifla, don't be rude," pleaded Cabba.

It was a testament to how much Vegeta had mellowed out over the years that he allowed for a comment like that to be made to him and the person saying to get away with it. Then again, perhaps Bulla's habit of being unintentionally hurtful with words had hardened him to it.

With nothing more to say he too returned to the fighters waiting area alongside the others.

Goku was giddy. "I never thought there'd be such a huge turnout, now we can show off to the others just how much stronger we've gotten!"

Vegeta gave him a glare. "Hmph, the only one who will be showing off is me when I'm standing over your corpse!"

Unable to contain a gasp, Gohan couldn't help but voice his disapproval. "Vegeta, don't say things like that! Our kids are watching."

In actuality Pan and Bulla were standing off to the side, looking and pointing into the stands, but Gohan wasn't concerned with that at the moment, he felt the more pressing issue was Vegeta's threat to kill his father.

"Oh don't look at me like that, boy. This is probably the only chance we'll ever have to go all out with no repercussions. Whis said anyone who is killed gets revived immediately by Zeno."

"That doesn't mean you should be aiming to do it!"

Placing himself between the two with a calming if uneasy expression, Goku held his hands out to separate the pair as they'd involuntarily gotten too close to each other. "Easy guys, no one's killing anyone. Besides, a knockout is just as good, we just have to keep our opponents down for thirty seconds to win."

Vegeta grumbled. "I won't let some arbitrary rule keep us from this, Kakarot. Admit it! You want to kill me just as much as I want to kill you!"

Goku pouted. "I don't wanna kill you, Vegeta. We're friends now, I couldn't do that."

"Then I relinquish our friendship!" Vegeta turned his back in an exaggerated act of aggression. "We are now enemies until one of us kills the other, until such a time there shall be no more camaraderie."

"Sheesh you're in a mood," Goku scratched the back of his head, seeming to ponder something for a moment. "This Tournament isn't interrupting your Daddy-Daughter day with Bulla is it? I know you don't like to miss those, you always skip out on training to…"

Goku was silenced by Vegeta clamping his mouth shut. "You idiot! I told you never to say that out loud!"

Goku mumbled an apology.

At some point during the two elder Saiyan's antics, Gohan had gone to stand next to Piccolo, who had taken some time to look through the stands and had now directed his attention towards the other five areas surrounding them, all of which were currently empty of any and all fighters. "We appear to be the first ones here."

"Yeah," Gohan replied, his look soon turned firm and his tone grew solemn. "But it's strange. Do you get the feeling that something's going to happen? I have to admit I'm a little worried about who we're going to be up against."

"Until such a time as we see them enter the ring, we'd only be guessing who or what." Piccolo looked down to his former student, who'd far since surpassed him. "Be patient. It won't be long now."

In fact it was sooner than they thought.

The five Saiyans, Namekian and God of Destruction snapped their heads towards the area to their left. A collection of energy signatures had suddenly appeared in that direction, but what stood out to them all was not their sudden appearance or how strong they were, it was the fact they recognised all of them.

The group ran to the far end of their walled off resting area, Pan and Bulla jumping up to lean on the wall while the others took to standing behind it. Eyes fixed at the hallway across from them, identical to the one they themselves had exited out of not too long ago.

The energy signatures within the hallway appeared to break apart from each other, with some heading down one way, and the rest heading in their direction.

"It appears I'm just in time," a voice sounded out from above, but only a few of the group looked up to confirm it was indeed Whis, now accompanied by both Supreme Kai Shin and Elder Kai. "The other timelines have begun their arrival."

"Whis, this energy…" Gohan stated, shocked and even alarmed. "It feels like, it is like…"

"Yes," Whis murmured. "Quite so."

Everyone present didn't even have time to be shocked any further as three forms appeared out of the hallway. Pan gasped as a girl as tall, as old and seemingly as strong as herself walked out in a lazy stride. Flanking her was a man that caused Vegeta to splutter, as it was a face he would recognise anywhere. Meanwhile Goku was silent as the third member walked out; he may have appeared taller, broader and most certainly stronger, but Goku would recognise Uub anywhere.

"Whis, who are they?" Beerus asked, sounding far more inquisitive than normal.

"Designated Timeline 2. Vegeta, Pan, Gohan, perhaps you should go say hello to yourselves."

Behind the trio of Vegeta, Pan and Uub from the second timeline followed more faces recognisable to those watching. Gohan singled himself out in an instant; his doppelgänger may have been dressed in a well pressed suit but other than an out of place lock of hair they were essentially identical.

A version of Goten and Trunks followed on, and when Gohan looked to the seats above, he saw multiple familiar faces. Familiar yet ever so slightly different. Just as noticeable as those in attendance was the faces of those who were not. Compared to their own universe, the other had quite a few notable absences.

Beerus however was concerned with one in particular. "What's the hold up, Whis? I want to go meet myself, I could use some decent company for once." Beerus proclaimed, having come to the conclusion that the timeline they were observing was one quite similar to yet subtly different from their own.

Whis responded with an uncharacteristic bout of laughter, appearing to be far more genuine than he usually sounded. "You may be in for a surprise, my Lord." His laughter continued. Beerus didn't get a chance to enquire further.

"No way!" Goku suddenly exclaimed, as four more figures appeared at the rear of the group. No doubt the deities of Timeline 2. There was Old Kai of course, likely freed from the Z Sword under similar circumstances. An alternate Whis was next, identical in all manners. The first surprise was Kibito Kai; the fusion Goku had almost forgotten had occurred at all seeing as it had been so many years since he'd seen it. The biggest surprise however was the imposing form that towered above the rest that followed on last.

"It's Top!"

A man identical to the Pride Trooper Top was the last to exit, clad it the signature attire of the Gods of Destruction.

Beerus was irate.

"GOKU!" Beerus' fury drew all eyes to him, including those of the newly appeared timeline. "What did you do to me!?"

"I didn't do nothing, Lord Beerus!" Goku managed to gasp out despite the chokehold Beerus currently had him in. "Honest! I don't even know what I didn't do!"

"My my, what a pleasant surprise. It is very good to see you again, Lord Beerus." The voice of Whis caused Beerus to pause, he had known it long enough to notice the subtle differences in tone, enough to realise it wasn't his Whis speaking. He released Goku and looked across the wall; everyone was staring at someone different, each as shocked as their counterpart.

"How very exciting, a whole other universe almost identical to our own." Said one Whis to the other.

"Quite, and I believe we have yours to thank for bringing us together. Whatever your universe's mortals have been up to seems to have been enough to gather the Omni-King's attention."

Whis nodded in affirmation to his counterpart, before turning to the rest of his universe and smirking. "Well then, I suppose introductions are in order."