Elwood Tenkaichi: An Arthur Story

Chapter 20: Tournament Start!

2 Unlimited's Get Ready for This blared into the clear blue sky above Crosswire Stadium. The venue was packed to the brim--the air electric with excitement and activity.

Muffy managed to pull some strings in order to give her friends Buster, Francine, Arthur, and the Brain front row seats. Naturally, Arthur had to bring D.W. with him, but he was the only one who seemed to mind.

"Not bad," D.W. admitted, taking it all in.

"It is quite impressive," Brain admitted, stroking his chin as he admired the blimp overhead.

"Yeah, yeah," Francine mumbled, arms folded as she slouched in her seat.

"You're not still mad about losing to Fern, are you?" Buster taunted.

"Alright, alright!" Arthur intervened. "Let's just be glad one of us got in."

"Arthur, look!" D.W. gasped. "We're on that TV thingy! Smile!"

One of the camera operators was pointed at the kids, focusing on D.W, as she was the most enthusiastic. Arthur hid his face as she stood on her seat and broke out into poses before dancing to the music. The crowd ate it up.

The camera operator turned to the entrance of the field as the music faded.

"You can stop now," Arthur complained to a dancing D.W.

A new industrial techno track droned as a tall, dapper man in sunglasses emerged from the entrance, holding a microphone. He walked up to the center of the ring as he was swathed in the cheers of the audience. He grinned as he raised his microphone towards one side of the stadium, then the other, hyping up the audience as he couldn't help but chuckle. After warming up the audience, he raised the microphone to his mouth.

"ELWOOD CITY!"

The stadium roared in a collective, "WOOO!"

"ARE YOU READY?"

"YEEEEAAAAAAHHH," they blared in unison.

"THIS IS WHAT YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR! IT'S ALL LED UP TO THIS MOMENT!"

Having finally found his seat, Slink joined in the audience's rapture, hollering as loud as he could. He happened to be sitting behind Prunella, who seemed more anxious than excited.

"WELCOME, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!"

The announcer laughed again as the audience boomed in euphoria.

"--TO THE FIRST! ANNUAL! ELWOOD CITY JUNIOR MARTIAL ARTS TOURNAMENT EXTRAVATACULAR!"

"WOO," Buster whooped, clapping in excitement.

"ELWOOD'S FINEST YOUNG FIGHTERS HAVE ASSEMBLED TO TEST THEIR METTLE AGAINST ONE ANOTHER TO LEARN WHO AMONG THEM IS TRULY...NUMBER! ONE! UNDER! THE! HEAVENNNNS!"

Inside the tunnel, the competitors were waiting to be announced.

"Who'da thought the whole town would want to see a bunch of kids fight?" Binky wondered aloud.

"Don't let it throw you off," Molly said coolly. "Remember what Fern said. Be on the lookout for anything suspicious."

"Right," Jenna said.

"Got it," Rattles repeated.

"Understood," Marina confirmed, tying on her blindfold.

Molly lowered her head, speaking softly to Fern as they both looked on outside.

"Nervous?"

"M-maybe a little."

She placed her hand on Fern's shoulder.