> Nerima wasn't a bad-looking city, Kailan admitted, especially for
>a farming world like Earth. The buildings were large but well
>attended, free of dirt and graffiti... *At least, in this area,* he
>thought. Some of the worst slums he'd ever seen had been in cities
>that were hailed far and wide for their loveliness. Perhaps that was
>the punishment whatever gods existed imposed on those who would create
>beauty; the more wonderful one side of a creation, the darker the
>other half had to be.
> He stopped that line of thought fiercely. Nerima was a nice town,
>and he'd enjoy himself here. First priority was the Dragonballs,
>certainly, but seeking a good time was never far from his mind. He
>noticed a group of young ladies walking down the sidewalk towards him,
>and inclined his head towards them with a chivalric air and a grin.
>They smiled back, giggling slightly. But he did not slow his pace, or
>speak as he passed by them. He already had a girlfriend. The fact that
>A) he didn't know her name, B) they weren't on the same planet
>anymore, and C) she hated him didn't mean she and he weren't still an
>item. The Dragonballs would make everything better. They had to.
> He whistled tunelessly to himself as he walked down the streets,
>taking in all the sights. Once, he thought he heard the faint noise of
>laughter over the din of cars and construction, but paid it no mind.
> When he tired of gazing at Nerima's buildings, he reached in his
>pocket and put on the pair of sunglasses there. Into the lenses was
>built a Saiyan scouter; Kailan hated the full-scale models of the
>power-gauging devices. They were so clunky. An unobtrusive one was far
>more his style. He flipped the machine on, panned the city for
>concentrations of fighting power. Then he whistled lowly to himself,
>impressed. *Lords above... a huge group of fighters, almost all of
>them above five thousand in power level! I think I need to check that
>out...*
> When he reached the building- it seemed to be a school- a banner
>over the large double doors proclaimed that inside was "A Tournament
>for the Strongest, the Fastest, the Bravest of all the World!"
>Intrigued, Kailan stepped closer. A number of men and women, some of
>them obscenely muscular, flexed or sparred on the steps outside the
>door. He politely shouldered his way through them, stopping in front
>of a sign on the wall. It read, "All fighters welcome! Any style of
>martial art, any weapon welcome! Pokémon trainers welcome! No holds
>barred; anything goes! First to knock the other unconscious or out of
>the ring wins! Fabulous prizes!"
> *Fabulous prizes? Like, perhaps, a Dragonball....?*
> He needed a good workout anyway, after his long stint shipboard.
>He entered the building, heading for an official-looking table near
>the door. The sounds of cheering and battle cries filled the air.
> The man at the table gave Kailan a glance as he approached, then
>turned his head to a number of papers on the desk. "Name?" he shouted,
>voice carrying over the din.
> "Morning, sir. Kailan Kanchestar's the name."
> "How do you fight?"
> Kailan gave the man a grin. "I fight to win, of course."
> The man glowered back. "Funny. Don't antagonize me, boy. I'll
>determine who you fight out there. And believe you me, there are some
>people here today you definitely don't want to fight. Get me?"
> "Of course, sir."
> The man glared a little more, then went back to his papers. "How
>do you fight? Pokémon, bare-handed martial arts, martial arts with
>weapon?"
> "Uhh... the latter. What're Pokémon, by the way?"
> The man looked back up at him, this time in surprise. "You don't
>know?"
> "I'm not from around here."
> He grinned in a way Kailan didn't like very much. "How 'bout you
>fight one? It'll be our first human-Pokémon match of the day. Should
>be interesting. You're up next," he went on before Kailan could
>object. "I suggest you prepare yourself."
> There was the laughter again, just on the edge of hearing. Kailan
>ignored it, and walked over to the ring. *So... a Pokémon, eh? Maybe
>it's some sort of augmented human or something. My curiosity is
>piqued...*
> The fight in progress was winding down when he reached the side
>of the ring. The two guys fighting both had pretty good moves, but it
>was obvious that one was exhausted from the physical strain of
>fighting for so long, while the other still had stamina reserves left.
>So it was a very short time indeed until his name was called.
> "Kailan Kanchestar!"
> There was polite applause as he stood, which he acknowledged with
>a gentlemanly nod. He let his eyes drift over the other fighters on
>the bench, waiting their turns.
> "Pokémon leader Misty!"
> More applause, and a girl stood. She was several inches shorter
>than him, with short red-brown hair not unlike his own and very large
>eyes. She was wearing overalls with a pair of shorts. And she was
>fairly pretty. Kailan's heart sank. *Aww, damn. I didn't want to fight
>a girl... not now...*
> He took a few steps towards her, bowed. "Good luck, miss. I'll
>try not to be too hard on you."
> She smiled tightly, eyes narrowing. "What a gentleman you are.
>I'll make sure to let my Pokémon know that. Maybe he won't maim you as
>fiercely."
> She picked a red and white ball from off her belt and tossed it
>at her feet. "Go, Blastoise!"
> A few seconds later, the biggest scary-ass turtle Kailan had ever
>seen was snarling at him from across the ring. He most certainly did
>not like the look of the two huge cannons on its back. *Hey... it's
>got guns... what kinda fight is this?*
> "Fight!" shouted the announcer.
> Kailan drew his power pole. The creature lumbered forward,
>gnashing its hooked beak. Someone was laughing again, but Kailan
>couldn't tell who.
> "Blastoise! Bubblebeam!" yelled Misty.
> *Bubblebeam? What the hell...?*
> The turtle gripped the floor with four clawed feet firmly, as if
>bracing itself. Two enormous sprays of water burst from its cannons,
>one of them catching Kailan square in the chest and lifting him off
>his feet. He flew out of the ring, mind trying frantically to
>comprehend what had happened. His body and reflexes, however, were
>quick to react. He pointed the power pole behind him, shouting for it
>to extend. It stretched out, impacting against the judges' table with
>a solid thunk. The barrier caused it to grow the opposite way,
>propelling him back into the ring. He landed rather clumsily back in
>the fighting zone, and growled for his pole to shrink to axe length.
>The crowd cheered its approval of his quick thinking, but he hardly
>noticed.
> *Bastard turtle-thing*, he thought. *My suit is SOAKED.*
> "Blade extend!"
> The halberd head flipped open, metal edges glinting nastily.
>Misty screamed angrily, and one of the judges shouted from behind him.
>"No weapons against Pokémon!"
> "What?!" Kailan hissed, glaring behind him.
> "It's the rules! No guns, explosives, swords or any other blades
>will be used against Pokémon! Such weapons could kill the animals!"
> *Well, crap.*
> He retracted the blade, reluctantly. Someone was definitely
>laughing at him now. It was mocking laughter, and he didn't like it.
> The turtle came at him, taloned forepaws swiping towards his
>face. He leaned backwards, and spun the staff in his hands, catching
>the monster twice across the face. It hardly blinked, and lunged at
>him with a wicked curved beak. He jumped straight up, pulling his legs
>under him, and struck down with all his strength. The pole simply
>rebounded off the creature's shell.
> *Crappity crap-crap crap.*
> He landed behind the Pokémon, and stomped heavily on its rear paw
>as it tried to turn on him. It howled in discomfort, and he clouted it
>on the head again with the staff. It winced, skittering away from him.
>He allowed himself a grin of triumph. So the thing could be hurt after
>all!
> "Blastoise! Water gun!"
> Two fine streams of water came from seemingly nowhere and hit him
>straight in the eyes. He yelped in pain and surprise, stumbling
>backwards as he tried to clear his vision. Through a haze, he saw a
>huge grey mass charging him, and lashed out at it with staff and
>booted feet. It jumped on his chest regardless, the weight pressing
>him down to the mat. Burning pain flared on his torso as its claws
>raked across him. Using the beast's momentum, he performed a judo
>throw that sent it careening across the ring. He shook his head, his
>vision returning. The thing was way faster than it should've been,
>given its size.
> Its eyes narrowed, and its talons clenched the ground. But Kailan
>was ready this time.
> The twin jets of water blasted right over his head as he threw
>himself into a roll towards his adversary. Still crouching, he
>sweep-kicked it in the head. It staggered at bit, dazed, and he took
>the opportunity to wedge his pole under its shell. Holding the pole,
>he stood-
> And the turtle flopped onto its back, waving its claws
>helplessly.
> There was laughter and cheering from the crowd. Kailan smiled and
>waved, exulting in the triumph. Now all he had to do was push the
>thing out of the ring. The match was as good as over.
> That turned out to be far truer than he realized.
> "Blastoise! Use the Bubblebeam!"
> The turtle fired its jets once more, despite the fact that the
>cannons were facing away from its human opponent. Water drenched a
>number of audience members, but the Pokémon didn't care. Without its
>claws dug into the floor to brace it, the force of the water blast
>sent it skidding across the floor-
> Straight into Kailan's legs.
> Not even his reflexes were fast enough this time. Kailan did a
>complete somersault in the air and landed heavily on his shoulder. He
>rolled a number of feet before finally stopping. He lay on the ground
>for a long moment, breathing heavily, trying to realize what had
>happened.
> When he stood, the match was over. He was outside the ring.
> The crowds were cheering again, but not for him. Misty knelt by
>the animal, arms around its neck, laughing joyfully. Kailan ran a hand
>through his hair peevishly, sheathing his pole.
> *Turtle bastard.*
> Someone was really laughing now. It almost sounded like cackling.
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