ch 31 goku vs Tien
The dragon crew and Carl all went to go eat something but during the meal everyone was quiet due to what just happened, Everyone but goku who ate like an animal yet again. Launch could be seen brooding over something, bulma was messing around with her food taking glances at both Carl and yamcha, yamcha tried to talk with bulma but she would give short answers, and everyone els just watched to see if something els would happen.
After the somewhat awkward meal, everyone split up with goku and Carl going to were the contestant are and the rest to were the audience was located. Entering both Goku and Carl saw Tien, who was waiting for the announcer to call them up. He seemed to have things on his mind, looking conflicted, making Carl wonder if master Roshi already had his little heart to heart with Tien. Not long later both Goku and Tien were called up onto the stage.
Once on stage the announcer started, "alright people are you ready?!" He yelled and the crowd cheers, " that's what I like to hear. We're about to start the match that will decide who will go on to face Carl in the final match. On one side we have goku, our runner up from our last tournament and disciple of the turtle school. And on the other we have Tien, student of the crane school rival of the turtle. Will Tien avenge his fellow crane student who lost to goku prior, or will Goku rise to the finals once again. Let's find out, begin!"
Right as the fight started Goku rushed Tien going for a punch that Tien easily blocked. Tien then went for a kick that Goku dodged, he then used his tail to swing off Tiens leg and was able to punch Tien in the face making Tien fall back who then flips over and jumped into the air. As Tien floats in the air Goku rushes and tries to jump kick Tien but Tien just shoots a dodan wave that knocks Goku back to the stage, crashing into it making a crater.
As the fight proceeded, Carl was a little amazed that the fight was basically going as it did in canon, even tho it was happening earlier than in canon. As the fight kept going Carl could see that it was going almost exactly like in canon. First looking like Goku was losing just for him to make a comeback and match Tien blow for blow. Goku was pushing Tien as he tried to gain distance. Goku finally managed to knock Tien down. " spectacular. I don't think a single person here would label that anything less than extraordinary. Gokus success with the mirror move image technique has left Tien face down." The announcer says. Tien gets up saying some words then gets ready to use his solar flare. Carl shuts his eyes not wanting to be blinded. After the technique was over and everyone was able to see Tien was hunched over holding his stomach and goku was wearing master Roshis glasses. Not even a second as Goku was handing them back Tien reengaged Goku.
Exchanging blows every now and then Goku would freeze up, causing him to get hit. This confused Carl till he remembered, that one guy Carl couldn't remember the name of( shen) makeing chiotzu use his telekinesis to make Goku stumble, letting Tien have an easier time hitting Goku. As Carl was contemplating using the force to try and stop it Tien seemed to relize what was going on and confronted Shen telling him not to interfere in his battle. They seemed to have an argument then chiotzu refuse to help Shen because Tien said so. Shen was threatening chiotzu causing Tien to yell out his name. Master Roshi then used the kamehameha to save chioutzu sending Shen flying far away like team rocket from pokemon. Carl could almost make out a twinkle too.
As the fight restarted and Tien let Goku get some free hits due to the cheating, Carl was a little stunned. Having things going as in canon even tho he made a few changes, carl wondered if there was a sort of worlds will thing going on. After thinking on it he decided to pay it no mind even if there was a thing as the worlds will or something like that. He was told by that rob guy he could live how he wanted not worrying about timelines and that's what he plans to do.
Carl was brought out of his musings by the entire ring exploding, makeing Carl cover his eyes. When he looked he saw that a square hole was now where the ring once was. All Carl was thinking was, 'where will the finals be now?' As he then looked up seeing that goku jumped even higher in the air than Tien to avoid the attack. The announcer was amazed at Goku who managed to avoid the blast. Goku then started using a kamehameha wave and as he was about to shoot it he use it to propel himself, useing his head, and slammed right into Tiens stomach, makeing them start to fall out of the sky. The announcer then pulled out a capsule reveling a personal typ plane as he got on it and followed continuing his cometary.
The announcer say they are falling fast with Goku slightly at a disadvantage. Everyone then hears that Goku managed to pull off another small kamehameha lifting him higher than Tien making the dragon crew cheer. After a few minutes the announcer could be heard over the intercom, "I-it's over folks. Im hovering over the city streets right now and both Tien and Goku have both collided with the side of a building, with Tien hitting the ground first making Goku the winner and going on to the final round." The entire audience cheered at the turn of events and Carl could only think that it was interesting that Goku won instead of Tien.
As everyone was leaving the arena the announcer could be heard telling the organizers to order a lot of quick dry cement to fill the stage for the final match tomorrow. The dragon crew all went to go find Goku and Carl just decided to go back to his hotel room. Thinking things with the dragon crew were a little awkward at the moment.
Getting to his room and entering he was met with HK working on some electronics. Carl was having HK work on a dragon radar that he was able to get off the data pad he got from the dragon. Carl remembers that after this tournament king piccolo should be showing up. He doesn't want him to get that wish for his youth because, one, if carl remembers right, once piccolo get his youth back his power level goes up to about 260 witch is way higher than his but Carl think in his old state he isn't a problem. And two, he was thinking of using the wish if he's able to stop him.
Working on the radar with HK Carl could hear the dragon crew get back but he doesn't really pay it any attention as he continues. After so long it was night so Carl decided to get some sleep while HK continued.
The next day it was announced that the match would take place at noon to give the ring time to dry from being fixed. After finishing his morning routine Carl made his way to the hotel restaurant and started eating. As Carl was finishing up he could make out the dragon crew and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Goku, master Roshi, oolong, blue hair launch seem to be normal but Yamcha looked dead to the world as he ate his food staring off into space and would occasionally look at bulma then continue looking into space. Puar, yamchas trusty little cat friend, could be seen trying to comfort and cheer yamcha up. Bulma was eating her food acting indifferent to yamchas plight. Carl not bothering to open that can of worms cleans up his table making it easier for the cleaning staff. Carl was excited to face Goku even if it's just his kid version. As Carl was leaving, he didn't notice bulmas gaze on his back with a look of contemplation.