#he reminds me so much of young bulma

[rottentiger-art]

Mai: this guy looks suspicious 🤨

Trunks' brain, on a loop:🎵please don't be in love with someone else🎵

[dreadsuitsamus]

hi! i’m not sure if you’ve done this before but.. could i please request a vegeta x human!reader who’s heavily tattooed (legs, arms)? i have no real idea for a plot line for it but gather it’s not something he’s seen a whole lot of since coming to earth - if at all! happy for either SFW or NSFW, completely up to you if you don’t mind the idea? have a lovely day!

For Fun | Vegeta x Reader |

author's note: this idea has absolutely made my day. it just begs for a sweet little vegeta learning moment, since normally it's him explaining saiyan culture. i have chosen the sfw path here! it's also funny bc i've been contemplating tattoos lol and a vegeta tattoo has been on the brain for some time now. thank you for your request!!!! 🩷🩷🩷

pairing: vegeta x fem!reader

warnings: sfw, reader has tattoos, some nudity but no smut or anything remotely nsfw, post-namek but pre-androids and cell

You can feel Vegeta's eyes on you as you work on his suit, Bulma's lab being the only place you feel comfortable sharing space with him in— the racket of the tools at the very least would alert somebody of something nefarious happening. Your dear sister just had to have a soft heart (or rather, quite the boner) for the Saiyan, and now it's you that suffers the consequences while you patch up the blue suit with a precise needle and thread.

"I'm not going to ruin it." You snark at him, not exactly happy to be in his presence. He's a murderer! "I've fixed it for you before without an issue." Bulma's doing her best to copy whatever material this suit is made of, but she's having trouble competing with alien technology— though she'll certainly have it figured out soon. She's a petty thing on the regular, but test her intelligence with a challenge like this and she's more stubborn than acne on an asscheek.

"Mm." He never talks much, at least. But as you stretch your arm out to pull the thread taught, Vegeta moves to take your wrist in his hand. While strong and easily capable of smashing your poor bones to smithereens, his touch is on the softer side.

"What in the world are you doing?" Are aliens unaware of personal space??

Ignoring you initially, Vegeta's gloved fingers curiously glide along your forearm, eyes focused on the artwork adorning your skin. "Your tattoos make little sense. What sort of culture is this?"

"Culture?" You repeat the word dumbly, fighting the urge that lingers just under your skin, heart rate picking up as you will yourself not to shiver at his touch.

"These flowers and symbols, what do they represent? I've been on Earth long enough to know the culture here is nothing like these— furthermore, the lab rat has none at all."

The laugh that bubbles from your chest is easy. Perhaps Earth is the only planet, or one of few, with inhabitants that indulge in tattoos for pleasure rather than cultural representation. "They aren't part of any culture, Vegeta."

"Then what are they?" His brow furrows rather adorably, his lips pulling into a pout as you laugh at his ignorance.

"For fun."

"You marked yourself permanently for fun?"

"Sure did. I got tons of 'em. Some of 'em mean somethin', but for the most part they just bring me joy."

Vegeta releases you finally, shaking his head in a way that reminds you of your father when you first started inking up. "Silly Earth woman…"

"Oh come on. Tell me they aren't pretty." You smirk softly, eyes glittering with the twinkles of mischief. This is a new light on Vegeta, one that perhaps drew Bulma's generosity his way in the first place.

"Tch." A blush rises to his cheeks and he looks away, staring a hole into the wall. "They're not ugly."

A not-so-pretty snort escapes you as you resume patching the suit up, tying and clipping off the end of the thread after the hole is closed up. "I got my first tattoo when I was seventeen. I was young and dumb and in love with a guy I thought I would be with forever." You murmur softly, pulling up the leg of your sweatpants to show off the heart by your ankle. It's old and faded by now, but your lips still pull into a smile at it.

Vegeta takes the moment to examine it, brushing a curious knuckle over the tattoo. His curiosity is sweet, and this must've been on his mind for ages now— it's not like him to get handsy or remotely talkative at all. "Saiyans never took part in these."

It makes all the sense in the world; from what you've pieced together by Vegeta's quiet, rarely spoken about tales of home and with the love for fighting that gushes from both his and Goku's hearts, Saiyans aren't exactly sentimental. "Well… You're on Earth now. You could get a tattoo just for the hell of it."

"I have no need." Vegeta looks away again, and you shrug to yourself.

"They're not for everyone, I guess." You hold the repaired suit out, feeling a tad bummed out that the sight of him in a tank top and sweatpants will be gone soon, but a lilt of surprise thrums in your heart when he sets it on the table and looks at you instead.

"Do you… have more of them?"

You laugh and tug at your t-shirt, pulling it off in the face of the blushing prince and revealing several more tattoos, most of which he's never seen before. "You got time?"

"You could certainly warn a man before you start stripping." He grumbles out, forever the prude even in the face of a gorgeous woman and her body.

"So sorry." Your tease bounces off of him as his curious fingers run along the lines on your tummy, sides and just below your breast. You're bare to him almost entirely, as you've never worn a bra at home and certainly didn't intend to start just because a man moved in, though his eyes and touch are calmly curious and genuinely interested in the artwork you're laced with, rather than the perky breasts and soft skin that would have most men acting a fool by now.

It almost has you feeling ugly, though that near-permanent tint of red that dusts his cheekbones reminds you otherwise.

"Don't forget the one on my back." Your murmur is gentle, only there to invite him further into the journey without jostling his concentration too much. And he takes your advice, stepping behind you while tracing the intricate linework of the massive tattoo, pausing at the sight of the gorgeous mural on your back. You've spent quite a bit of money on this, suffered the pain of the needle piercing and permanently scarring your skin to the patterns that'll forever mark you, and the admiration Vegeta has for your commitment alone is monumental.

Even gloved, his touch warms your skin in the lab's cool conditions and that little spot on your back, the one that had you shaking and embarrassed as your tattoo artist that, bless his resilience, dealt with with more care than a fucking surgeon to properly tattoo, flutters against the accidental tickle. You shift, muffling a laugh into your palm and there's a pause before Vegeta drags his fingertips over the spot again, and then once more.

"Your laugh isn't ugly either." He mutters and steps away, the warmth of his proximity erased and goosebumps covering your body now.

Standing ten toes down and looking over your shoulder, your lips twist in gentle glee upon catching his dark eyes with your own. It's taken some time, but you've finally found what Bulma saw in Vegeta that allowed him into your shared home.

He's flustered by such intimacy and he quickly snatches his Saiyan suit up before rushing towards the door. "Put a shirt on, you vile woman, or you'll catch a cold." Vegeta grumbles out, hightailing it towards the comfort of his gravity room and far away from whatever the hell just happened.

"Must be the first time he touched a woman." You snicker, tugging your shirt on and cleaning up the mess, lest your sister properly bitch you out for it later on.

The ghost of his touch remains, and even under the duress of several times Earth's gravity, Vegeta's palms fondly remember the feeling of your skin.

[elisajdb]

Life With You: XXXIX: Tragedy

“We must register before it closes.”

Piccolo was practical but the words were a harsh reminder of Goku’s limits on Earth.  

Bulma checked her watch. “There’s still time before the preliminaries start. Let Goku and the kids register first and while everyone else is registering, Goku can spend time with his family. We’ll meet up when registration ends.”

It was a sound plan. Goku, Gohan, Goten and Trunks got in line ahead of everyone. As they waited to register, Goku chatted with Aki and his family.  

“Goku!” Aki embraced his friend in a brotherly hug. “It’s great to see you!!” Aki wore a mustache and goatee. He still had a full head of thick, blonde hair but Goku noticed a few grey strands in Aki’s goatee.

“Good to see you.” Goku noticed the children with Aki. “You had more kids! Kala?” He pointed to Aki’s eldest daughter. “You’ve grown!”

Kala was the only child of Aki’s with a memory of Goku and the only one not shy for she ran into Goku’s open arms for a hug. “I’ve grown a lot, Uncle Goku. In a few years, I’ll be old enough to marry Gohan!”

“Gohan?!” Goku sputtered stunned. He looked at his eldest son. “You two are together? Isn’t she young?”

“We’re not together!!” Gohan screamed. “It’s all in Kala’s mind!”

“I kissed him,” Kala confessed.

“You tricked me!” Gohan screamed. Eyes of everyone but Aki, ChiChi and Gyu-Mao stared for an explanation. “It’s not like that!”

Kala winked at Goku. “I’m working on him.”

Goku chuckled at Kala’s confidence. She always had an attachment to Gohan so her pursuit wasn’t a surprise. He noticed another girl behind her. Aki also had a baby girl when he died. “Is that….?”

“Yup,” Aki rubbed Naoko’s head. “This is Naoko. Naoko, you don’t remember your Uncle Goku but he held you when you were a baby.”

“I remember the picture,” Naoko softly spoke of the picture on their family’s mantle. She waved shyly at Goku.

“This is Jun,” Aki spoke of his third daughter born after Goku’s death. “She’s four and this,” Aki took a two-year-old boy from his wife and handed him to Goku, “is Haruto.”

“And it’s the last one,” Reia told Goku. “When I was pregnant, we agreed boy or bust.”

Knowing their time was limited, Aki ushered Naoko and Jun to stand with Goku and Kala. “I wanna get a picture.” When Aki snapped the photo of Goku with Aki’s kids, ChiChi took the camera and took another photo with Aki and Reia in the picture.

As ChiChi handed the camera back to Aki, Aki noticed his son reaching for Goku’s halo. “What’s with the halo, Goku?”

“This is what you get when you die if you’re lucky to keep your body.”

Aki stared speechless before chuckling. “I thought was only for TV. Leave it to you to find out if it’s true. I’ve missed talking to you, friend.”

As Aki pocketed the camera, Goku noticed Aki and his family weren’t the only ones here from ChiChi’s village to see him. “Kaifun?” He aged more than Aki. His long black hair was short and sparkling with strands of silver. Next to him was an old grumpy lady he never expected to see again. She’s still alive?

“Hey, Goku,” Kaifun spoke as a man carrying a heavy burden. He didn’t give Goku the scornful gaze he was used to seeing. “I’m the last person you expected to see but when I heard you were returning, even for a day, I needed to see you again to apologize for how I was to you. I wasn’t a good person to you. I should’ve been a friend. I’m so grateful for what you did for us.” He held out his hand to Goku. “I don’t blame you if you don’t forgive me but I am sorry for how I treated you.”

Goku looked at Kaifun’s hand. It was strange seeing him and even stranger hearing Kaifun apologize. He held so much hatred for Goku. Kaifun never thought Goku was good enough for ChiChi and for years, waited for him to screw up so he could move in on ChiChi. Goku had no idea his death would affect Kaifun to change his mind about him.

Goku grabbed Kaifun’s hand and gave it a firm shake. Looking past Kaifun, Goku wondered if Mrs. Niver had come for the same reason. Is she gonna apologize to me, too?

Kaifun turned to his grandmother. “Grandma, don’t you have something to say to Goku?”

The seven years weren’t kind to Mrs. Niver. She was slower as her cane assisted her. Her face was very wrinkled and weathered with spots, and her once thick, white hair was thinner. She wore that same scornful, bitter expression Goku remembered when they last saw each other. “Seven years ago, I thought you were a waste of sperm. I apologize for that. When you died seven years ago, you proved you weren’t a total waste of sperm. You showed the world there was something good about you. Your sperm. It helped create Gohan and he killed Cell.” The old woman smiled revealing no teeth. “Thank you, Goku, for doing one good thing in your waste of a life.”

Overhearing, Vegeta rolled his eyes and Gohan slapped his forehead. ChiChi was grateful Goten didn’t hear as he chatted with Naoko. Aki muttered, ‘I knew it’ while Kaifun scolded his grandmother, “Grandma!! You were gonna apologize!”

“I did.” Mrs. Niver saw no wrong in her words. “I said he wasn’t a total waste of sperm!”

Kaifun was embarrassed and speechless at his grandmother. He looked apologetic to Goku who laughed. “It’s okay. I would think I’m on the wrong planet if Mrs. Niver is nice to me.”  

“Dad,” Gohan pulled Goku’s arm. “We’re next to register.”

Goku turned away still chuckling at Mrs. Niver’s burn. “It’s nice to see some people haven’t changed.”

“I wish she did,” ChiChi muttered. The death glare ChiChi sent Mrs. Niver would’ve had anyone else shaking in fear but the old woman grinned maliciously, pleased she got one last cruel remark in. “She is truly a heartless woman.”

“Great Saiyaman,” Gohan spoke his name to the registration official.

“Great Saiyaman?” Goku wondered why his son was calling himself that. Now hugs were out of the way, Goku took a real look at Gohan’s clothes. “What are you wearing?”

“It’s his costume,” ChiChi explained. “He’s a superhero and this is what he chooses to wear.”

“Superhero?” Odd. He was thought of as a hero and never had to wear specific clothes. Why does his son have to? “I never wore a costume.”

ChiChi wasn’t sure if that was a whine or envy from Goku. It was one of many things they would have to talk about during his visit. Goku signed up next followed by Goten and Trunks. Goten didn’t mind but Trunks hated that they were put in the Junior Division with the other kids and not allowed to fight the adults.

With the Son Family registered, over twenty minutes were left before registration closed. “Mom, you and Dad can talk while we wait for everyone else to register,” suggested Gohan. “Goten and I will have time with Dad while we wait for our matches to start.”

“Well, I…..” ChiChi was caught off guard by Gohan’s suggestion. “I thought we’d have family time together.”

“We’ll have that tonight.” Gohan urged his parents to leave. “Go.”

ChiChi felt a hand close around hers. It was Goku’s and he was pulling her away from everyone.

“Twenty minutes is more than enough time to get one in!” Aki cheered them on.

ChiChi clutched her chest while her face turned beet red. “I can’t believe he said that.”

Goku laughed. “That’s Aki.” He was the first person from ChiChi’s village to be his friend. He helped Goku navigate married life and was a good support to ChiChi when his friends weren’t. “It’s good to see him. It’s good to see everyone. Even Mrs. Niver.”

ChiChi thought Goku lost his mind. “You have been dead a long time.”

“Maybe.” Goku pulled ChiChi closer so her body pressed against his. “I’m happy to be around everyone again.”

They walked through the crowds looking for a secluded spot. This area was almost a second home to Goku. Some of his happiest moments occurred here. But, it had changed. It was bigger and had some familiar spots: trees and shrubs were replaced with more venues. “How about here?” Goku pulled ChiChi into a corner wall of the tournament’s entrance.

“Not away from everyone,” Goku ignored the strangers walking by as he settled his arms around ChiChi’s waist. “But away enough to do this.” His kiss was sudden, leaving ChiChi little time to prepare for Goku’s onslaught. Her back was pressed against the brick wall with her front smothered by Goku’s body as searing heat spread through her from his kiss. ChiChi expected their first kiss in seven years to be soft and tender. She didn’t expect this intensity and need. At least not now! Later perhaps….

In her mind, ChiChi told herself to push back but the loneliness of seven years compelled ChiChi to give in to Goku and her needs. She opened her mouth and slid her tongue against his. She hummed her pleasure in a throaty moan as her fingers threaded his hair. Oh, how she missed this man. She missed being held by one who could turn mountains into pebbles but hold her as if she were the most delicate flower. She missed his kisses that always left her breathless and needing more; one more kiss; one more taste; one more nip.

Slowly, reluctantly, Goku pulled back. Goku expected ChiChi to like the kiss. He did but as pleasing as it was seeing ChiChi’s breasts rise and fall and her cheeks form that cute pink blush he liked, Goku noticed ChiChi wasn’t smiling. She didn’t look angry but sad. Was he wrong? Didn’t ChiChi want this?

“ChiChi?” Worry crept into Goku as ChiChi lowered her eyes. ChiChi hadn’t moved on and married another but maybe she was still angry with his decision that separated them for seven years.

“I’m doing this all wrong,” she confessed.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re here for twenty-four hours, Goku.” Slowly, her eyes met his. “I spent the last thirty days getting ready for you. I’ve been using creams and cleansers and getting facials so I look as beautiful as I was seven years ago. I got massages…. trimmings,” she blushed hoping Goku remembered that, “so my body is ready for you, but on the way here, it hit me as much as I want time with you, it’ll be painful to cope when you are gone. I realized I should refrain from touching you too much. I should see you as a visiting friend, but when I saw you, all I wanted was to touch you again.” Tears sprouted from her eyes. “I don’t care about the pain I will feel when you go. I want you and I shouldn’t.” ChiChi covered her face. “I’m sorry. I want you to only see me smiling and I’m crying.”

Goku embraced ChiChi again. He never wanted to cause ChiChi pain but knew he inflicted a lot on her for seven years. “I shouldn’t have been so strong with that kiss, but after thinking of what you were doing while I was dead. I thought of you and ……” Goku shut his eyes. No, he won’t think that. ChiChi waited for him. ChiChi hasn’t been with another man. “When I saw you, I wanted to forget the tournament and fly you to our bed.”

For a second, ChiChi was tempted to tell Goku to do that. “Goku…..”

“I’ll miss ya when I leave so I wanna touch ya in every way possible. Making new memories will help me cope you ain’t there until I see ya again. I know it will hurt ya when I’m gone, but you ain’t alone in feeling that pain. I’ll feel it, too, and I wanna go through it since I know the next time we meet, we ain’t separatin’ again.”

Goku could be simple-minded at times but when he spoke from the heart, he knew what to say. ChiChi always believed him when he spoke from the heart. She wanted to now but she knew the harsh truth. “Goku, I can’t go where you go. You kept your body and I haven’t done anything special to keep my body. I haven’t saved the world or sacrificed myself to a wicked person like Cell.”

“There’s still time,” Goku teased.

ChiChi reproved him with a displeased glare. “Not funny, Goku.”

Maybe not but it was cute to see ChiChi annoyed. He missed that. “You ain’t gotta worry about that, ChiChi. I’ll make sure we’re together when you die. If you can’t be on the Grand Kai’s planet with me, then I’ll live on the other planet with good people. My Grandpa is there.”

But Son Gohan was a legend in his own right while ChiChi was a wife and mother. That wasn’t enough for her body to be saved. “Maybe.” ChiChi wouldn’t damper Goku’s enthusiasm with the little time they have. They lost five minutes finding this spot. “I have to say this now because I may not later, Goku. I’m not angry with you for not coming back. I’m not angry everyone got a goodbye except for me. I am your wife and mother of your children and you didn’t say goodbye to me.” Her voice broke then. She told herself she wouldn’t cry but she was. “I’m not angry,” she wanted that to be clear. “I will never understand why but I know you would never intentionally hurt me.” She wiped her tears away while apologizing. “I’m sorry. I’m doing it again.”

Goku believed ChiChi wasn’t angry but she was still hurt. “I wanted to talk to you, ChiChi. When I saw you on the floor, I knew I had to talk to you.”

“You…. you saw us? You saw when Gohan told me?”

“I begged King Kai to let me talk to you but he wouldn’t. He said it would interfere with you and Gohan mourning me. It’s the rule.” Goku hated that rule for seven years. If only King Kai let him bend the rules one more time…. “The dead can’t communicate with the living. King Kai made an exception with Cell but the world was at stake then.”

In dire circumstances like that, ChiChi understood exceptions to the rule but there was a problem. “But you talked to everyone on Kami’s Temple, Goku. The fight was over. Why did he allow you to talk to everyone then?”

“They were trying to wish me back and I had to stop them.”

“So, King Kai gave you another chance to bend the rules: to say goodbye to your friends but not your wife and mother of your children. Why?” Goku didn’t have an answer but his silence sparked another question. “Was it King Kai who didn’t want you talking to me or was it you who didn’t want to talk to me?”

Oh, boy. Goku rubbed the back of his head. It wasn’t an easy question to answer. Any answer he gave will upset ChiChi but he knew he had to. ChiChi deserved an answer. “When I chose to stay dead, I thought I could pop in and check on you whenever I wanted. King Kai told me that’s not how it works. He said it wouldn’t be fair if I checked in on you and Gohan and the rest of the dead couldn’t check in on their families.”

“It’s not enough, Goku.” Her tears were dried; her mind was clear and she wanted answers. “You left it to our child to tell me you wouldn’t be back. You knew before the Cell Game there was a chance you would die. You made a decision that affected all of us without consulting me. After seven years, can’t you tell me why?”

Oh, boy. King Kai warned him ChiChi might ask these questions but he got distracted by Olibu and the others telling him ChiChi moved on, he didn’t prepare himself for this confrontation.

“I couldn’t tell you,” he answered honestly. “You would’ve gotten mad and try to talk me out of it.”

“Of course I would have! You are not some jinx that brings psychotic murderers to Earth! You’re my husband!”

To him, ChiChi was her husband and father to their children. She didn’t see anything else. He had to make her see there was more to him than that.

“It felt like that, ChiChi. The Saiyans, Freeza, the Artificial Humans and Cell all tied to me. We had one week left and I didn’t want to spend it arguing.” It was snowballing out of him now. “There were a lot of things going on I couldn’t talk about, ChiChi. I couldn’t talk about what I knew about Gohan. I couldn’t talk about my limits. If everyone knew the truth before the fight, they would’ve panicked.”

“So, what if they knew the truth?” ChiChi didn’t care if they did. “It’s time for everyone to stop relying on you and do things for themselves.”

“Does that include, Gohan?” Goku asked his wife. “He would’ve panicked, too.”

“Then it would’ve been your job as Gohan’s father to prepare him. Since he could walk, you wanted to train Gohan. I told you to make him as strong as possible. Didn’t you do that?”

She didn’t yell which Goku found odd but damn she hit him hard with the truth. “I tried. I told Gohan when we entered that room I wanted him to be stronger than me. He didn’t notice he surpassed me. I told him but he didn’t believe me. I knew Gohan wouldn’t see how strong he is until he’s forced to.” There. The truth was out. Goku felt a seven-year weight lift off him until he saw the tears pooling from ChiChi’s eyes again.

“ChiChi?”

“It took you seven years to tell me this, Goku. Was I a bad wife to you felt you couldn’t trust me and you had to carry the burden alone? If you came to me, we could’ve talked to Gohan.”

ChiChi was sobbing now. People walking by noticed and glared at Goku as the cause. Goku tried to embrace her but ChiChi pushed his arms away. “Don’t. You kept so much from me. Dr. Sims told me and Gohan about your heart condition. We know about your limits. It hurts our problems were so bad you couldn’t talk to me.”

“ChiChi…..” There were problems in their marriage. It was building for a while. Even he noticed but Goku thought it could be fixed before he died. “I thought that week could fix everything.”

“We needed months to fix our issues, Goku. That week was a start but you died.” ChiChi wiped away her tears but they kept flowing. “It was hard being without you. I thought not getting closure was punishment for how I was to you as a wife and to make up for it, I strived to be a better Mom to Gohan and Goten.”

No. No. NO! He didn’t want ChiChi thinking this was her fault. “I’m the problem, ChiChi. Not you. I’m the stubborn one. I’m the selfish one.”

“No,” ChiChi shook her head. She wouldn’t let Goku take all the blame. “I didn’t realize I was being so hard on you.”

Goku gripped her arms. “Stop that! You had to be hard on me, ChiChi. I needed that. I wanted that!”

“And look at the cost. You couldn’t come to me when you needed someone. I failed you,” ChiChi sobbed. “I failed at my duties as your wife.”

“No, you didn’t. I failed us by not trusting you.”

ChiChi wouldn’t accept his comfort. “I made mistakes, Goku. I had seven years to reflect, too. I kept telling myself I was doing what was best for the family.”

“You were,” Goku insisted.

ChiChi didn’t think so. “When we married, we built a close connection. It was hard work but I knew you trusted me. You told me about your Grandpa. You cried before me. I felt I had your heart and all your trust. I felt there was nothing you would keep from me.”

So desperately, Goku wanted to say, ‘I do. I trust you with everything’ but he knew that was a lie. Things changed between them.

“But you died and a part of you….that trust… never came back. After Yardrat, you were different and I had to learn to love you all over again. We worked our way back but that trust wasn’t there. You kept keeping things from me, even up to your second death. The Goku I lived with the first five years of our marriage wouldn’t have done that.”

She was right. That Goku wouldn’t have kept things from ChiChi and Goku knew he wasn’t that man anymore. That man died with Raditz. ChiChi tried to adapt but she wasn’t the problem. It was him. “I thought if you knew all of what I was, you wouldn’t want me anymore. You told me you don’t care I’m a Saiyan but it didn’t feel like that to me.”

“Why?”

Goku took his hands off ChiChi’s arms and stepped back to pace as he gathered his words. No more hiding. No more secrets. It was time to tell ChiChi knew what he feared. “When you married me, you thought I was human but I thought it did bother you I’m not. Things were tense when I came back from Yardrat. I thought if you knew everything, you wouldn’t want to be with me so I kept things to myself.”

“Things were tense because I was angry at the situation, Goku. I was angry about being left out of things. I’m your wife. I should’ve been included. I was angry my husband was risking his life for everyone again. I was tired of that. Never of you or what you are.” ChiChi released a heavy sigh. With how she acted then, ChiChi understood why Goku feared to trust her. It broke ChiChi’s heart and she blamed herself.

Oh, Goku. I’ve hurt you so much. “I had seven years to come to terms with everything. There were so many things I wished we had done differently. My biggest regret was thinking we had forever, Goku. I never thought we’d only have ten years. We didn’t take advantage of the time we had.” It was that simple for ChiChi. They ran out of time and there was no guarantee they’ll be together in the afterlife despite what Goku felt.

They were silent again. Both were mulling over their thoughts and revelations that both knew wouldn’t be fully processed until they were separated again.

“Thank you, Goku.”

“Thank you?” Goku did not expect a thanks after what was said. “For what?”

“Talking to me. Finally.” ChiChi was smiling. “I got my closure. I can happily watch you and our sons fight. I’ll see you win the title and provide for your family again.” She secured her arms around his neck. “We’ll return home for a family dinner. I made all your favorites.”

“That’s everything you cook, ChiChi.”

“I know.” She smiled tenderly at him as she played with one of his spiked bangs. “We’ll make good memories today and when you’re gone, I’ll take care of our sons, see them get married, greet our grandbabies and great-grandbabies and tell them all about their Grandpapa Goku. One day my life will end and hopefully, we’ll be together again.”

One day wasn’t enough. Goku knew that now. So many changes. He expected some in Gohan and ChiChi but not this much, and he never expected another child. He didn’t want to be left out anymore. He wanted to be there for the moments ChiChi talked about.

“Goku?” ChiChi picked up his mood changing. “Are you okay?”

“About Goten…. was it painful?”

ChiChi wrinkled her eyebrows at him confused. “Raising him? No, he’s a darling.”

“I mean the birth,” Goku’s voice took a serious turn. “When you were having Gohan, you almost died.”

“Oh…..” ChiChi hadn’t expected Goku to ask about that. “Gohan gave me some of his Ki. Everything went fine but I did have Goten early.”

“Why?”

“Stress. Those months after your death were hard, Goku. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t sleep. I was almost three months before I knew I was pregnant.” Goten was fine but ChiChi hadn’t forgiven herself during the early months of his development. “I was careful the rest of the pregnancy but the night I went into labor, Gohan told me what really happened at the Cell Game. He told me he didn’t listen to you when you warned him to kill Cell. I thought it was only Vegeta and Krillin who made mistakes that led to your death. Hearing what Gohan didn’t do was too much to take.”

“Gohan….” Goku was in disbelief. “Gohan still blames himself?”

ChiChi nodded solemnly. “I’ve talked to him but he can’t let it go.”

No! He told Gohan it was not his fault. All these years… Gohan… what have you been going through?

“Registration is over!” a voice boomed over megaphones placed around the venue. “All fighters report for the preliminaries!”

“It’s time, Goku. We have to go back.”

No! He needed more time!

“We’ll talk after the tournament,” Goku promised. “I’ll fix things with Gohan. I’ll give Goten happy memories.”

“Don’t overthink it,” ChiChi advised him. “Live in the moment. Enjoy the time we have.”

“I’ll do that, and when I’m done with you…” His demeanor changed. His voice dropped and the smoldering look he gave ChiChi had her nipples hardening and her desperately wishing the fight was over and they were finally alone. “There won’t be any doubts on how I feel for you.”

He was so bad looking at her like this. His twisted grin let her know he knew what his look did to her. Two can play that game. “When I get you alone, Goku, I’ll prove you can trust me with everything.”

She was giving him that look. The look she gave him before they were intimate. The look she gave him before she took him in her mouth. “You can’t give me that look before I fight, ChiChi!”

“Why not?” her tongue darted out of her mouth delicately. “Because you’ll wonder how good my throat game has improved?”

“Throat game?” Goku repeated unfamiliar with the term. ChiChi explained playfully putting a finger in her mouth and pursing her lips together. “Oh!”

“Thirty days of practice.”

“Thirty days of…” he trailed off thinking of what ChiChi did to improve her ‘throat game’. “Hey! How did you practice without needing me?”

ChiChi smirked. “There are ways.”

Goku grimaced aware of those ways. It felt wrong to have one of those in a place Goku considered his. “I don’t like those ways.”

“Because you’re not involved?” ChiChi teased as she tapped his nose. “Then you should’ve stayed.”

She was smiling now, flirting. It was so much better to see her this way and not crying. “I’ll make you forget those seven years, ChiChi.”

“In one night?”

Goku smirked as his head dipped to hers, “You know I can,” he whispered as he captured her lips in a firm kiss. ChiChi circled her arms around Goku’s neck. With tongues dancing, ChiChi’s tongue sucked on Goku’s. Her act caused Goku to press his body firmer against hers with a hand descending to cup her bottom. ChiChi pressed harder, wanting to mold her body to his. She needed this after seven lonely years. The tips of her breasts hardened against his chest. Absence made Goku’s body quickly respond.

The knowledge they were in public with people walking by should cause them to stop but longing for each other burned away the remnants of logical thought. How far could they go ChiChi wondered as Goku’s lips left her mouth to trail down her chin. She helped him by tilting her neck and loosening her collar to allow Goku to delve deeper. His mouth claimed her neck, one hand grabbed a breast while the other kept hold of her backside where she felt the ridge of his arousal press against her. She needed him and he needed her with an intensity she hadn’t felt in years. This deep need was reminiscent of their newlywed period where new, lustful feelings of sex were awakened in both where she and Goku couldn’t wait. The kitchen. The forest. Her father’s pool. They needed each other. Could they get away with it here she wondered? Maybe there’s a secluded spot they could hide? Or Goku could fly them---

“Get a room! We got kids here!”

ChiChi jolted from Goku as if burned. His body shielded her face from the view of people looking at them. Goku grinned at the nosey onlookers. “Sorry! I haven’t seen my wife in seven years!”

The pot-bellied father shook his head and walked off holding the hand of his child.

Goku turned away to face ChiChi. His smile was infectious and ChiChi couldn’t help but smile back. “We better go before Gohan looks for us.”

“I think he’ll send Piccolo,” ChiChi joked. “Gohan’s old enough to suspect what we could be doing.”

“Yeah,” Goku shook his head still disbelieving how much Gohan has grown. “He’s grown up so much.” Arm around ChiChi, Goku stole one more kiss before he pressed his fingers to his forehead. Goku and ChiChi vanished and arrived back with the group.

“Took you long enough,” Vegeta snorted.

“They just want to spend some time together,” Bulma chided Vegeta.

“Tch!” Vegeta scoffed as he turned away and walked off.

With a final wave to ChiChi, Goku walked with Krillin and Gohan with Goten lagging with Trunks. Goku looked at Krillin as if finally noticing him. Is that hair? Goku almost touched it to see if it was real. “Weren’t you bald?”

The annoyed gaze Krillin gave him surprised Goku. “I told you before! I shaved my hair!”

“You did?” Goku didn’t remember Krillin saying that. He thought back to when they lived with Master Roshi. They lived together for months and Goku couldn’t remember one time he saw Krillin with an inch of hair. “Never saw you doing that when we lived together.”

“I was shaving whenever I spent a long time in the bathroom.”

Goku remembered that. A few times he had to go outside since Krillin took so long. “So, that’s what you were doing. I thought you were taking a long dump but Master Roshi said you were touching yourself.”

“I was not!” Krillin yelled.

“Dad! Don’t say that!” Gohan checked Goten behind them. Trunks and Goten didn’t hear them and were in a deep conversation. Gohan wondered what that was about.

“Your dead Dad looks just like you.” Trunks heard a lot about Goku from his parents. Both were excited for his return for different reasons but Trunks didn’t see the excitement. “He’s supposed to be awesome, right?” Sure he was taller than his Dad but his Ki didn’t feel strong. “He doesn’t look strong. Not compared to my Dad.”

Goten thought his Dad was strong. His brother wouldn’t lie about that. “But Big Brother said our Dad’s the strongest in the universe.”

Trunks snorted. “Do you believe everything Gohan says? Look at how Gohan’s dressed for the tournament. You can’t believe someone who dresses like that.”

“Big Brother’s a superhero. He has to dress like that to hide his identity and he wouldn’t lie to me about Daddy.”

“If your dead Dad’s a great fighter, how come he’s dead?” Goten didn’t answer so Trunks told him. “It means he lost a fight and he isn’t great.”

Goten frowned. Trunks sounded really mean now. Sometimes he got like that and Goten ignored it but this time it bothered him. “But Momma said Daddy died to save everyone.” Goten saw Trunks ready to say something mean but Goten quickly shut him down. “And if you say anything about Momma, I’ll pop you!”

Trunks closed his mouth and the two boys followed in silence staring at Goku who yelled, “18, is that you?!”

“Took you long enough.” Ironically, this was their first meeting. When she and her brother went to Goku’s house, he wasn’t there. 18 suspected Goku recognized her after Cell regurgitated her. She wasn’t surprised it took Goku so long to notice her quietly walking behind them. “Not sure why ChiChi’s worried about her appearance for you. You’re not so special.”

Goku turned defensively. “How do you know about ChiChi?”

“They’re practically best friends,” Krillin relaxed Goku. “18’s my wife. We have a daughter. That little girl you saw standing with ChiChi when we left is ours.”

Goku whipped back to Krillin. “You married 18?! That girl is your kid???” Goku saw the girl but never asked. He was naïve but he knew how to make a baby and robots couldn’t. “I mean…” Goku whispered to Krillin. “How does a robot have a baby? How do you have sex with a robot? Is it like Master Roshi and those dolls we found in his closet?”

“NO, IT WAS NOT!!!!!” Krillin yelled so loud Goku covered his ears. Krillin explained 18 does have human parts that allowed her to birth a child and sex between them is normal.

“Okay,” Goku understood but still had questions. “But how are ChiChi and 18 friends?”

“It started when we dated. We had a party at Bulma’s house and I showed up with 18. She was ignored by everyone except ChiChi. They clicked.” Krillin didn’t understand it either but he liked it. “ChiChi helped 18 plan our wedding, helped 18 through her pregnancy and helps with Marron.”

Goku was happy. ChiChi had a rough time being accepted by his friends. He knew his friends were at fault but seeing Trunks and Goten be friends and Krillin happy with ChiChi and 18’s friendship, he knew things changed for the better with them. A lot of things happened while I was dead. “Is Marron strong like you and 18? Does she fight?”

Krillin looked insulted Goku asked that. “Marron doesn’t need to do that type of stuff now. Maybe when she’s older and if she wants to learn martial arts. She’s just a kid.”

“But you and 18 are strong and you asked me the same thing when you met Gohan.”

“You did?” 18 wasn’t aware of this. “Didn’t you meet Gohan when he was four?”

“Well, I….” Krillin stammered at 18’s icy gaze. “I only asked since Goku’s so strong and Gohan’s a boy so…..”

“So, what?” 18 pressed.

“I…..I…..” Sweat perspired on Krillin’s forehead. When he held his daughter for the first time, all Krillin wanted was for her for to be happy, enjoy a happy childhood and let her do what she wanted; something he and 18 never had. Years ago, he thought it was selfish of ChiChi not wanting Goku to train Gohan but becoming a parent, he understood ChiChi’s reasons.

Krillin was saved from further embarrassment when a reporter appeared to interview them. Goku’s interview was cut short when Goku was questioned about his halo. That’s when Piccolo destroyed all the cameras.

“Why’d you do that?” Goku asked Piccolo as he walked off from the confused reporter and cameraman.

“The last thing your family needs is anyone recognizing you from the Cell Game. You were revealing too much about the afterlife. I know you were warned to not do that.”

“Yeah,” Goku rubbed the back of his neck. “Guess I forgot. Sometimes I forget Kami’s in there.”

Vegeta, Krillin and Trunks entered the locker room to change clothes while Goku, Goten, Gohan, Piccolo and 18 waited for them. Piccolo and 18 stood away from everyone. Goku stood with his sons but noticed Goten standing closer to Gohan. After that initial outburst of meeting him, Goten was eerily quiet around him. He stared at Goku but whenever Goku looked at him, Goten jumped behind Gohan’s legs.

Gohan was like that with strangers. Goten’s shyness, while cute to anyone watching, bothered Goku. He didn’t want his child shy with him. He wanted Goten as open with him as open he is with ChiChi and Gohan.

It’s my fault Goten’s this way to me but I didn’t know he existed. If I had known ChiChi was pregnant….

Goku stopped himself from dreading on the past. He had twenty-four hours and needed to make it count. “Goten,” Goku gently waved his hand forward. “Come here.”

Goten looked up at Gohan as if needing his permission to go to Goku.

“It’s okay, Goten. It’s Dad.” Gohan stepped aside so Goten couldn’t hide behind his legs.

Goten remained where he was; too afraid to move.

Gohan looked at Goten worried before addressing Goku apologetically. “He’s not normally this shy. Mom and I told Goten all about you.”

“It’s all right,” Goku assured Gohan though he was bothered by Goten’s shyness. It’s not your fault, Goten. It’s mine. Goku stepped to Goten. He was relieved Goten didn’t jump behind Gohan. “Do I scare you, Goten?” Shyly, Goten shook his head but Goku knew better. He squatted so he was closer to Goten’s level. “Good. I’m a big guy but I’m not scary at all.”

“He’s right, Goten,” Gohan spoke to his brother. “Dad’s big like me and he’s really nice.”

It was nice Gohan offered encouragement to Goten but Goku didn’t want Goten needing assurance he’s safe to approach. He wanted Goten to already know that. Goten wouldn’t need it if I didn’t stay dead. If only I’d known about ChiChi. I should’ve known she’d get pregnant. I was all over her in those final days before the Cell Game. The evidence of their coupling stared back at Goku with an innocent face. I missed your entire life, Goten. A day can’t make up for it but I’ll do what I can to give you memories forever.

“I entered the Tenkaichi Budokai as a kid, too, Goten, but you’re much younger than your Pops.” Goku ruffled Goten’s hair. “You’re so much stronger than me as a kid.”

“I am?” Goten was in awe of the confession. “But Big Brother says you’re the strongest person ever.”

“I was at one point but your Big Brother is stronger than me, and if you train hard enough, you can be stronger than Gohan.”

Goten’s eyes grew wide in amazement. “Really? Did you hear that, Big Brother? Daddy says I will be stronger than you one day.”

Not anytime soon. Goten and Trunks were farther than he expected, but Gohan couldn’t envision his little brother exceeding him. “Maybe but not for a really long time.”

“I’ll beat you one day,” Goten promised.

It was subtle but Goku noticed Gohan looking uncomfortable about that. He has that Saiyan drive like the rest of us.

“I’ll always win,” Gohan told him. “Because no one beats the tickle monster.”

Goten erupted in shrieks and laughs as Gohan suddenly bombarded him with tickles.

Goku watched the playful and competitive banter between the two enviously. Seeing the two Saiyan brothers interact fondly stirred a sad thought for Goku. He had a brother. He never played with him; he had to fight him and die with him to save his son. Goku hated Raditz for what he did and what he thought being a Saiyan represented but there were times, Goku did wonder what it would have been like if he and Raditz lived on a peaceful planet like Earth. Could they have had a brotherly relationship like Gohan and Goten?

Could Raditz have been converted to change like Vegeta? I guess I’ll never know.

“I bet you, Mommy and Gohan have a lot of fun together.”

Goten confirmed with a happy nod. “Yeah. Mommy’s a lot of fun. She gives me hugs and kisses and makes really yummy food. She made a whole lot for you, too.”

“Goten,” Gohan hushed Goten. “That’s a surprise.”

“It’s okay, Gohan. Mom told me.” Goten stuck his tongue out at Gohan. Goku distracted Goten by opening his hand. “Goten. Punch my hand with all your strength.”

“Okay.” Goten folded his fist and pulled his arm back as he summoned his strength. Goku felt Goten’s Ki rise. His son definitely had power in him. Goten suddenly paused and looked up at Gohan. “Big Brother, can I?”

Gohan shook his head. “No, Goten. We promised on the plane we wouldn’t but we can show Dad after the match.”

Goten smiled, “Okay,” while Goku wondered what that was about. Fist folded, Goten punched Goku’s hand hard.

“Whoa!” Goku rolled on his back exaggerating Goten’s punch. He sat up and shook his head. “Wow! Your punch has a lot of heat, Goten! I bet Gohan trained you to be really strong. When did you start learning martial arts?”

Goten shrugged. “I don’t know. I think I was an inch or two shorter than I am now.”

“Mom started Goten off when he was four,” Gohan explained.

Mom?! “ChiChi??” Goku wasn’t sure if he heard right. “ChiChi trained Goten?”

“Yup. She got him really strong, Dad. It shocked me how strong Goten became when I started training him last month.”

“Last month?” Goku thought Gohan was the one to teach Goten how to fight. ChiChi? My ChiChi trained Goten?

“I didn’t have to do much with Goten except teach him how to fly and build on what Mom taught him. He’s a good sparring partner. He’ll surprise you at the tournament.”

“Really?” Goku rose. “I can’t wait to see your surprises when you fight, Gohan.”

“My surprises?”

“Oh, I know you have a new trick to show your Pops. I got one, too, but I’ll show you after the tournament.”

“What kind of trick, Daddy?” Goten asked. “Is it a magic trick?”

Goku was going to tease Gohan and Goten about Super Saiyan Three but Vegeta, Trunks and Krillin stepped out of the locker room. He couldn’t let Vegeta know. Even though it has been seven years, Goku suspected Vegeta would flip if he saw him achieve a higher transformation than Ascended Saiyan.

“Not magic, but I promise to show you later.”

****

If there’s one thing the World Champion Mr. Satan knew how to do is scheme like no other. He thought of himself as a proficient liar and one to get out of any slippery situation. King Chappa pushed him against the wall but Mark knew how to get the upper hand to win. Cheat and it will be his trickiest win yet.

Being the World Champion and part of the sponsors, allowed Mr. Satan to suggest rule changes. Instead of the previous champion competing and losing before the final round like previous winners Tien Shinhan and Jackie Chun did, Mr. Satan wanted to change the rule where the winner of the previous tournament automatically qualifies for the final round. Mr. Satan wanted the rule change so he could compete at full strength, unlike the other fighters who would be exhausted after fighting through the rounds. Unfortunately, all rule changes must be voted on by the board. It was a tie with the announcer, a board member, too, making the final vote, arguing it wouldn’t be fair to make a drastic rule change so close to the Tenkaichi Budokai but relented it could be brought up to be voted on for future tournaments.

Mr. Satan did have a small victory enforcing a time limit on the matches. At the end of thirty minutes, the judges will decide the winner. Mr. Satan had enough power and financial influence to ensure none of the judges voted against him. 

To cut down possible competition, Mr. Satan suggested all fighters punch a punching machine with the ones scoring the top sixteen points moving to the next stage. This will eliminate fighting all day as they did in previous tournaments. Mr. Satan also saw it as an opportunity to rig the machine and eliminate threats to his title.

“Do you see them?” Mark stood in the mirror adjusting his championship belt he had dipped in gold. It sparkled with his expensive and pristine white teeth.

From the window of Mr. Satan’s special suite, Miss Piiza spotted three young fighters standing with King Chappa. “There are three of them including Chappa. When you set the bar on the punching mechanism, I’ll rig it so Chappa’s students’ scores are too low to make the final cut.”

Mr. Satan put on his cape. “Good. Once they are out of the way, my victory will be secured.”

“Are you sure, Mark?” Miss Piiza was still nervous about this. She went over to him and adjusted his cape. “We never had another Tenkaichi Budokai for a reason. What if among the remaining fighters, there is someone who can challenge you and take your title?”

“Won’t happen. The only ones who could take my title died with Cell.”

“Maybe,” Miss Piiza tied the strings of the cape into a nice bow. “We conned the world for seven years, Mark. Maybe we should call it a day after this. End on top. We have enough money to retire on and your legacy is secured.”

Retire? At his peak? “You worry too much, Baby. There is no one. No one here who can defeat me.”

Miss Piiza escorted Mr. Satan to the arena where after a few kisses and bolstering to the crowd, he punched the punching mechanism with a score of 137 points. It would’ve been a great photo op but the cameras were mysteriously destroyed. Mr. Satan returned to his suite but Miss Piiza stayed behind. When King Chappa’s disciples appeared, Miss Piiza pulled out a round remote disguised as a foundation compact. She opened it revealing a red button. When one of the fighters punched the bag, she pressed the button leaving the fighter to score 57 points. The fighter was shocked and wanted a second try but the judge wouldn’t allow it. The next two fighters scored 62 and 40. King Chappa argued demanding his students be given a second chance but all were denied.

Miss Piiza closed her compact. That should take care of the threats to the title but she stayed to watch the competition. So far no one was a threat. All scored below 137. Miss Piiza turned to walk off and join Mr. Satan in his suite when she heard a judge yell out, “774 points!”

774? That’s impossible. Miss Piiza looked to see who did that. A blonde woman. She doesn’t look strong. Did I damage the machine when I rigged the scores? Miss Piiza watched as the woman punched again. It was 203 the second time but still higher than Mr. Satan. The next three fighters: three men including a tall, green one all scored higher than Mr. Saiyan. Are they legit?

A short man stepped up next. Miss Piiza thought for sure he’d score below Mark but he shocked everyone destroying the punching machine with one punch. 

What the hell?

As everyone stared at the destroyed punching machine, Miss Piiza stared at the man who destroyed it. He looked familiar. She could’ve sworn she’d seen that massive forehead and arrogant smirk before. Oh, my Gods! He was at the Cell Game!

While Miss Piiza ran off in a panic to Mr. Satan’s suite, Gohan shook his head while Videl stared off shocked at what Vegeta did. “Wait to go, Vegeta,” Gohan muttered. “Guess it’s gonna be a while before they get another punching machine out. So, how’s your flying, Videl? Are you faster?”

“That’s what you wanna talk about?” How could Gohan casually change the subject after what happened? “Didn’t you see what that guy just did?”  

 “Oh, yeah,” Gohan laughed nervously. “That was crazy, right?”

Videl saw the fighters scoring higher than her Dad gather together to talk for a few moments before walking in their direction. “They’re coming,” Videl eyed them suspiciously. “Who are they?”

“Gohan, we’re gonna watch the Junior Tournament.” Goku noticed the girl beside him. “Oh, your friend is a girl.” At least Goku thought the person next to his son was a girl. She had short, shaggy hair and her form was hidden behind her loose clothes. It didn’t stand out like ChiChi’s. “That is a girl, right?”

“Good going,” Krillin cheered. “She’s a cutie.”

“Join us after you punch the machine,” Goku advised and walked off with the group.

“You know them?” Videl questioned Gohan waving goodbye to the mysterious group.

“The guy with the halo is my Dad.”

“Your Dad?” Videl looked back at the retreating man again. “The one you said is dead but divorced your Mom?”

“No, he’s dead. Didn’t you see the halo over his head?”

Halo? Why did Gohan keep saying halo? “What the hell are you talking about?”

Gohan knew Videl would find it hard to believe if he explained his father was coming back for a visit from the afterlife but thought she’d catch on once she saw the halo. “When you die, if you keep your body, you get a halo over your head.”

“Right,” Videl said, “because that makes sense.” He’s still a strange boy.

****

“Oh, I hope Goten remembers to go easy on the kids,” ChiChi rubbed her hands nervously. “He’s so excited to fight other kids. I think he’s expecting them to be as strong as him and Trunks.”

“…. The youth winner will take home ten million zeni and the runner-up will take home five million zeni.”

“Five million?” ChiChi was surprised to hear that announcement. “I didn’t know the runner-up gets money prizes, too.”

“That’s great. That means both our boys will get something. I’ll let Trunks keep his ten million.” Bulma didn’t need the money. She’ll let Trunks do whatever he wants with it but she suspected ChiChi wouldn’t be so free with Goten. “What about you, ChiChi? Are you letting Goten keep his? Can he get one toy before you spend it on books?”

It was meant to be a joke but ChiChi didn’t crack a smile.

“Hold on,” Yamcha jumped in. “What makes you think Trunks will win? Goten’s strong, too. He’s Goku’s boy.”

“Goku didn’t train Goten. He only had Gohan and….” Bulma stopped as ChiChi’s stern expression left her fearing her teeth will be knocked out of her mouth. “I mean, Vegeta never stopped training and he taught Trunks a lot. It’s nothing personal, ChiChi, but Trunks got this win in the bag.”

“Keep digging that grave, Bulma,” Yamcha teased.

“No, it’s fine,” ChiChi assured Yamcha. “I will be shocked if Goten wins. My skills are limited and Gohan only had thirty days to train Goten while Vegeta’s had years to train Trunks. It will be very embarrassing if Trunks doesn’t defeat Goten when he was trained by his father, a full-blood Saiyan Prince. Goten’s teachers were me and Gohan for thirty-no, I will say twenty days since Gohan spent time teaching a classmate how to fly, too.”

Yamcha and Master Roshi stifled their laughs while Bulma smartly kept quiet at ChiChi’s smirk.

Bulma was the competitive Mom shouting for Trunks to defeat his opponent. ChiChi was amused at Bulma’s passion. ChiChi knew Trunks will breeze through his matches but Bulma wanted her son to pulverize his opponents. Perhaps it was the snickering of others around her feeling Trunks should lose since he is smaller than his teenage opponents that irritated Bulma. The snickering stopped when Trunks defeated his first opponent with a single punch.

“Next up!” the announcer continued with the next match. “We have Ikose, age 14 and Son Goten, age 7.”

“Seven?” ChiChi questioned. “He’s six.”

“Maybe he got confused because he turns seven this year?” Bulma thought.

“No, it’s deliberate,” ChiChi knew exactly what Goten did. “Goten is obsessed with growing. He thinks if he’s older he’ll grow faster.”

“Ikose! Don’t drop your guard. Smash that ill-bred urchin!!”

Oh great. Her other child is fighting Goten. “Goten, go easy on him!” ChiChi didn’t need her son expelled for accidentally killing a child. Goten thought all kids were as strong as he and Trunks. He wasn’t aware he is half-alien. Goten knew his father is a Saiyan but Goten thought that was another race of people on Earth. ChiChi knew he needed to know the truth one day but felt that day should happen when he’s older. Goten controlled himself and easily defeated Ikosa. Bulma wouldn’t stop rubbing it in Ikosa’s mother’s face. ChiChi saw the woman losing her temper and knew hands will soon be thrown. ChiChi was tempted to let the woman fight Bulma. She had been escalating things with her mouth as bad as Ikosa’s mother but when the plump, loud woman threw the first punch, ChiChi was faster with her fist and knocked her out cold.

“Now we’ll get some peace,” ChiChi dusted her hands. “Bulma, don’t start fights with every mother here. You know our boys have the advantage.”

“She wouldn’t shut her fat mouth.” Bulma felt it was her right to troll the woman. “She called our kids ill-bred and wanted her sons to pound our boys.”

“You know that wasn’t gonna happen.”

True but wasn’t ChiChi angry at the insult to her son? “You’ve mellowed out too much, ChiChi.”

“And you need to be careful of starting fights you can’t finish. After all, our boys will fight each other.” ChiChi cracked her knuckles. “I know you don’t want to start a fight with me.”

“Touche,” Bulma agreed.

As predicted, Goten and Trunks faced each other in the final match. ChiChi and Bulma cheered on their sons while a panicked Miss Piiza urged Mr. Satan to take the warning of the stranger who destroyed the punch machine seriously.

“I’m telling you to get your ass out of the match! Make up a stomach virus! Say you pulled your groin! Say something to get out of fighting because you will lose if you don’t!”

Mark sat in his chair smoking a cigar. Ever since King Chappa’s visit, Miss Piiza has been paranoid. He eliminated the ones who could challenge his title. There was no one at the tournament who could defeat him. “Piiza, maybe it’s your fault those fighters scored higher than me. That device you used to eliminate Chappa’s students created a glitch and made the numbers go up.”

“It did not and even if it did, how do you explain that man destroying the punch machine?”

“It overloaded because of you and that device you used to rig the machine.”

“My fault.” Miss Piiza rolled her eyes. “It’s always my fault. Everything that goes wrong is on me.”

“It’s nice you finally admit that.”

“God, that ego of yours.” Miss Piiza was near her end with this man. “Ever since you liedyou defeated Cell, your ego has been uncontrollable. I was along for the ride as long as I got my cut but you’ve driven everyone away! Even Caroni and Pirozhki! We are on the verge of losing everything we built and you won’t do the smart thing and bail out to save your massive ego! You are not gonna win this tournament!”

“We?” Mark snorted. “Is it our name in the lights or mine? Is it our name on the checks or is it mine? Are we in commercials, doing guest spots in movies and TV or is that me?” He pointed to his window. “Are they chanting Miss Piiza or Mr. Satan?”

“They won’t be chanting your name after today. I’m done.” Miss Piiza turned on her heels. “I won’t stay and watch your defeat but I want a hefty cut for my silence.”

Mark pulled his cigar from his mouth. Greedy woman “You’re already getting paid on that.”

“Now our partnership is over, my price has gone up. The rigging for today. The lies over the last seven years. The real size of your dick.” Miss Piiza smirked. She had his attention now. “I know more than Caroni and Pirozhki. I can bury you. Enjoy the last taste of adulation. It’ll be gone by the end of the day.”

Miss Piiza opened the door and shut it with such a strong slam the walls shook.

“Oh, well, Mark snorted. “More money for me.” Losing Miss Piiza was big. She was his manager and biggest promoter. She brought in millions. It’s a big loss but Mark knew she was wrong about this. He’ll win the Tenkaichi Budokai. His plan was foolproof. “I’ll win today like I did seven years ago.” Mark sucked his cigar and exhaled the sweet smoke. “Today will be my biggest victory but Piiza might drain me dry if I don’t pay her enough. Shit.” Fixing a drink, Mark settled in his chair and brooded over his options when an attendant entered the room.

“Mr. Satan, two boys entered the final round of the Junior Division. They are very strong. I think you should watch their fight.”

“Two strong boys?” Maybe watching them will be a nice distraction from his current crisis. “All right. I suppose I should,” he gave in. “I’ll be fighting the winner.” Mark followed the attendant to the arena where they could watch Trunks and Goten battle. “These are the final two? They’re barely out of their diapers.” Goten caught his eye. That face and hair were very familiar. “I’ve seen that face before.”

Goten and Trunks began their battle, amazing the crowd with their skills of speed and strength. They fought like pros from previous Tenkaichi Budokai and not novices of children their age. The crowd reacted with cheers while Mark became filled with dread for he will fight one of them when the fight is over.

Those boys. They’re strong and move so fast. Who the hell are these kids?! Suddenly, Miss Piiza’s warnings weren’t anything to laugh at anymore. Did one of their Dads destroy the punch machine? Will I face him?!

On the balcony, Goku and the others were impressed with Goten and Trunks’ skills. “Wow!” Goku was full of pride seeing the fury of punches and kicks Goten and Trunks threw at each other. “Goten and Trunks are pretty good.” Goten and Trunks are way ahead of me and Gohan as kids. This was good. Very good in Goku’s eyes. ChiChi, Gohan, and even you, Vegeta, did good starting them off so young. With Gohan leading them, they’ll be ready for any threat to Earth.

It was weirdly comforting and assuring his decision to stay dead was the right one. If he hadn’t, Goten and Trunks wouldn’t have gotten so strong in this time of peace. It even squelched the trepidations he felt pondering his return. 

“Are you nervous about returning to Earth, Goku?”

“Why would I be nervous?”

Goku and King Kai were walking through the courtyard of the Grand Kai’s palace. It was something the two normally did when Goku was done training for the day. It was as relaxing as Goku’s meditation. “You stay dead so the Earth wouldn’t be a target anymore. Aren’t you worried about something happening during your return?”

“All my enemies are gone. Gohan is the strongest now. It’s one of the reasons I trained him so hard. I can’t be Earth’s savior anymore. It’s time for someone else to protect Earth.”

“Yeah,” King Kai agreed with that. “But that’s a big responsibility to put on a child, Goku.”

“Gohan’s not alone. He has Piccolo, Vegeta, Krillin, Tien and Yamcha to help him and Trunks will grow up to be a fighter, too. Gohan’s power will motivate Vegeta to make Trunks a Super Saiyan. He won’t beat Gohan’s record but maybe when he’s twelve or thirteen…..”

King Kai peeked on Earth and knew the truth but kept it to himself. “True, but aren’t you worried your presence may threaten the peace?”

Goku didn’t because he felt all threats to Earth died with him. One visit wouldn’t change that. “It’s been seven years. Gohan’s kept up with his training. I know he’s even stronger. He’ll be ready to face off any new enemy.”

Watching Goten and Trunks was assurance his sacrifice was necessary. Goten still needed more lessons since he hadn’t mastered the Kamehameha Wave but he was on his way to being a great fighter. With Gohan, Earth was in capable hands and didn’t need him. The torch was truly passed.

“Uh-oh!” Gohan worried Goten was trapped. Trunks had him in a full Nelson hold and pulled both of them into the air. “Goten may not get out of this one. Mom told me Trunks got Goten with this move.”

“Good,” Vegeta gleamed with pride. “That’s my boy. Finish him.”

Goku turned to Vegeta. He was getting a weird thrill from this. “You know it’s just for fun right?”

This wasn’t a game to Vegeta. This was a matter of pride and reflection of his teachings. No way would Vegeta accept Trunks’ defeat. He trained his son whereas Goten’s teachers were ChiChi, a human, and Gohan, a soft, half-Saiyan. It would be unforgivable if Trunks lost. Trunks can’t lose. He won’t do this in front of me. In front of Kakarrot! It can’t happen!!   

“…I can’t take credit for Goten’s training,” Gohan was heard speaking to Goku. “It goes to Mom. I taught Goten how to fly and use the Kamehameha Wave.”

“ChiChi did a good job if she’s responsible for most of Goten’s training.” ChiChi forbade him from training Gohan but she changed with Goten. I guess she did it for me. His heart filled with pride and as proud as he was with Goten, he knew Goten wouldn’t win. Once Gohan gets more training time in with Goten, he’ll beat Trunks.

Accepting Goten’s eventual defeat, Goku was stunned when Goten broke out of Trunks’ hold by turning into a Super Saiyan. “Goten can turn into a Super Saiyan?!”

“Goten, you idiot!” Gohan screamed.

“That was a cheap shot, Kakarrot! Your child is cheating!!”

Again Goku turned to Vegeta confused. “Don’t yell at me. ChiChi and Gohan trained him!” Goku looked back at Goten with his chest puffing with pride. “My boy is the youngest Super Saiyan ever!” He pumped a fist into the air. “Yes!!!”

Vegeta clenched his fists. Damn! Damn! Damn!! This damn match was pissing him off! Goten, trained by ChiChi and Gohan may defeat his son. “Oh, shut the hell up, Kakarrot!!”

Goku ignored Vegeta. “What kind of training did you and ChiChi give Goten?”

“Goten already knew a lot by the time I started with him last month. If I had more time, Goten would have better control of his powers.”

Goku nodded understanding. “How long has Goten been a Super Saiyan?”

Gohan shrugged. “Mom knows for sure. Goten changed while he trained with her.”

“Whoa!” Goku was floored. “You mean ChiChi’s training got Goten to be a Super Saiyan?”

“What’s a Super Saiyan?” Videl asked. “How can your brother’s hair turn blonde like that, Gohan?”

“Hair dye!” Gohan blurted. “Just… hair dye,” Gohan nervously went on to explain how that caused Goten’s hair change. Goku recalled ChiChi saying something similar to the villagers in her kingdom when asked why he and Gohan had blonde hair and teal eyes. If they are friends, why is Gohan keeping the truth from her?

Goku focused on the children again. Goten was good but needed more lessons. Trunks had the edge with his skills in flight and controlling Ki. Trunks will win but Goku was very impressed Goten kept Trunks on his toes. He has a lot of potential.

Goku was right. Trunks won but barely and slightly cheated on his own. Vegeta, who was on the verge of a breakdown earlier, patted Goku’s back and gloated, “Don’t feel too bad. My boy comes from better stock.”

“That ain’t it,” Goku disagreed. “Trunks became a Super Saiyan to beat Goten. Trunks knows Goten doesn’t have a lot of experience flying so he knew what Goten was gonna do when he dropped from the sky like a missile. Trunks was going to dodge at the last second but Goten surprised him so Trunks became a Super Saiyan and hit Goten with enough force he couldn’t catch himself in the air. Only the wall outside the ring stopped him.” Vegeta’s dumbfounded expression at Goku’s cool explanation brought a smile to Goku’s face. Heh. You didn’t know. “You trained Trunks, Vegeta. Most of Goten’s training came from ChiChi. Gohan only had a month to train Goten. It would’ve been a real shock if Trunks lost.” Goku grinned at Vegeta who wanted to punch the smile off his face.

Cheerily Goku walked off saying it was time for them to head for the preliminaries and wondering if they could eat before the adult division starts. I won but why does it feel like I still lost? Under his breath, Vegeta muttered, “Fuck you, Kakarrot.”

As everyone walked off, Videl felt insulted. They stayed through the Youth Division but won’t watch the winner fight her Dad? “Where are you going?” an annoyed Videl called out Gohan who was starting to leave, too. “Don’t you want to see your friend fight the champ?”

“Oh, you’re right,” Gohan laughed nervously. “We should.”

“Why?” Goku asked. “It’ll be boring.” Gohan stood by Videl showing his intention to stay which confused Goku until he remembered doing things for ChiChi. Does Gohan like that girl? Guess he’s at that age. “You can stay if you want, Gohan.”

As the others walked off, Videl was insulted with the brush-off. “What’s with your Dad and his friends, Gohan? They act stuck up. Dad will go light on your friend but it’s a big deal and an honor for him to be in my Dad’s presence. He saved us from Cell.”

Gohan laughed timidly. “Dad likes to joke.”

Videl didn’t think Goku was joking. “Is your Dad jealous my Dad is the current champ and your Dad isn’t anymore? He can always fight my Dad but he has to beat me before he can fight my Dad in the final round.”

“You think you can beat my Dad?” Gohan let a laugh slip from his mouth before he covered his hands. Uh-oh. Videl’s eyes thinned, her fists clenched and her mouth open as she screamed at him.

“What does that mean?! Your Dad is the former champ so he’s not as strong anymore. My Dad is the current champ. He beat Cell and I’m his daughter. That automatically makes me stronger than your Dad!”

Gohan’s eyebrows went up. “It does?”

“I know you got different skills than me, Gohan.” Videl wasn’t blind. Being around him, made Videl very aware of her weak points but she fixed that. “But I can fly and shoot Ki like you and I trained really hard this month. I’m at your level.” She knew she was. “You’ll see how good I am. I’m gonna knock out my opponent with one punch.”

That girl is in over her head if she thinks she’s super strong like you. For her sake, I hope her father’s lie doesn’t get her killed one day.

ChiChi’s words were an omen. Gohan finally understood his mother’s concerns. The longer Videl spends with him, his family and friends, the more questions Videl will have.

“Have you talked to Videl?”

Dinner was over and Gohan helped ChiChi clean up. As she washed the dishes, Gohan cleaned the kitchen table. He was in the middle of wiping down the table and chairs when he heard ChiChi’s question. “No. Why? She’s in training for the tournament like me. We’ll see each other in a couple of days.”

“You said she blackmailed you to enter the tournament. I don’t know who will eliminate her but when she loses, are you sure she will keep quiet you’re Saiyaman?”

Why was his Mom so worried? Gohan trusted Videl to keep her word. “She will, Mom. Videl understands my secrecy protects you and Goten, too. Videl won’t tell anyone out of spite because she lost.”

“I hope so, but I don’t think that’s the end of it.”

Gohan joined ChiChi at the sink. “End of what, Mom?” He dipped his towel in the hot water, squeezed it and wiped down the counter.

“If Videl meets our family and friends at the tournament, she’s gonna have more questions. Can you trust her with all our secrets?”

His mother spoke in riddles but Gohan understood. Already Videl questioned Piccolo’s skin color, Goten’s blonde hair and his Dad’s halo. Even if she doesn’t get all the answers today, she’ll press him later.

If after the tournament, I can trust Videl to keep it a secret I’m Saiyaman, I’ll tell her who I am.

****

“Did you find him?” With the Junior Division over, there was a break before the Adult Division began. ChiChi wanted to use the time to collect Goten’s winnings but she needed him with her. Five million zeni will help the family finances but it wasn’t enough. Gohan and Goku’s winnings combined with Goten’s winnings will save her father’s treasury, give ChiChi enough cushion to start her business and put aside enough money for Gohan’s high school and at least two years of tuition for Gohan’s college. 

“No.” Yamcha returned to his seat. “I talked to the attendants. They don’t know where Trunks or Goten went. I saw the other kids reuniting with their parents but maybe Goten and Trunks stayed inside to see Gohan, Goku and Vegeta fight.”

ChiChi sighed. She understood but she preferred Goten to be with her. “I guess that’s all right and it’s better to collect Gohan’s and Goku’s winnings together. We should get twenty million zeni. That’s enough to take care of things.”

Twenty million. Bulma calculated. That meant ChiChi thought Goku and Gohan would be the winner and runner-up. Vegeta should make it to the final rounds. Bulma wasn’t confident Vegeta could beat Goku but anything was possible. “Don’t count Vegeta out, ChiChi. He’s trained hard and hasn’t slacked off like Gohan and why are you so obsessed about the prize money?” It wasn’t that much and ChiChi was fine financially as far as Bulma knew. “It’s just money and it’s not that much. I can spend more than twenty million zeni on a shopping trip.”

ChiChi snorted derisively. “You have more than you’ll ever need but some of us need money to buy necessities.”

“Whoa!” Bulma felt slapped by the remark. “I’m rich but I’m not out of touch. You have money, too, ChiChi. Your investiture didn’t look cheap and your Dad has been taking care of you. You’re not starving.”

Bulma didn’t know the truth and ChiChi had her reasons for keeping quiet. She didn’t want pity or hear whispers she failed to support her family, but at this moment, ChiChi didn’t care if they knew. Bulma’s words stuck a nerve. “Five. Ten. Fifteen years ago I wasn’t starving. The first five years of my marriage Goku helped out. He brought money into the house. I didn’t rely on my Dad until Goku died. Goku’s medical bills after that fight with Vegeta were astronomical! While Goku was on Yardrat, Dad helped me and Gohan. When Goku came back, he didn’t work for three years because he had to train for the Artificial Humans and then he died! Again!! My Dad foot the bill for everything for the last twelve years! Do you know how much I had to spend on food every week for an adult Saiyan and a half-Saiyan child? Do you know how much it costs to take care of two growing half-Saiyans? Do you know what happens when you spend more money than you have coming in?! You go bankrupt! And that’s what we’re on the verge of! While the prize money is nothing for your spoiled child and your mate who’s leeched off your family since you took him in, twenty million zeni will save my family from going broke!!”

Everyone stared at ChiChi in stunned silence. Gyu-Mao lowered his head ashamed their family’s secret was out. ChiChi exhaled feeling some relief. “Excuse me.” She stood and left. After that release, she needed a moment.

When ChiChi was far off, Master Roshi asked, “Is it true, Gyu-Mao? Are you running out of money?”

Gyu-Mao confirmed with a shameful nod. “It’s true but we have a handle on it.”

“It doesn’t sound like you do.”

“Master, Goten winning five million zeni will help us.” No one said it but Gyu-Mao felt he was being judged. How could he the great Ox King, ruler of Fire Mountain be going broke? How could he not take care of his family and his kingdom? “It’s nothing to worry about.”

“Unbelievable,” Mrs. Niver rolled her eyes. “You let that waste of sperm drive you broke. Wouldn’t have happened if ChiChi married Kaifun.”

“Or Kenji,” Bulma muttered. No one else would dare speak it but Bulma knew they were thinking it. “He was a good guy and would’ve provided for ChiChi. We love Goku but ChiChi wouldn’t be in this situation if she married Kenji.”

Yamcha felt closer to the situation due to his friendship with Kenji. He inadvertently introduced them and knew how hurt Kenji felt when ChiChi didn’t want to pursue a relationship. “And if ChiChi married Kenji, how do you think Goku would’ve reacted to seeing ChiChi married to another man and with a kid with him?”

“That would’ve been Goku’s problem to deal with.” Bulma suspected Goku would’ve been surprised but doubted he would’ve been hurt like Yamcha was when she told him she was pregnant with Vegeta’s baby. “Goku would’ve shrugged and said it’s fine. When Goku said goodbye to everyone, you told me he said Gohan and ChiChi didn’t need him and Gohan’s more reliable. He was nine! That doesn’t sound like a man that was going to miss his family.”

“Maybe.” Yamcha couldn’t defend Goku’s goodbye. He understood his need to protect everyone but his words devastated ChiChi and Gohan. “It does explain why ChiChi suddenly wants to work.” Yamcha hated himself. He checked in on them but he never thought to ask about money. “I never noticed there was trouble. I told ChiChi if she needed anything, to let us know. I would’ve given her money.”

“ChiChi wouldn’t have taken it,” Gyu-Mao told him. “She’s too prideful and stubborn.”

Master Roshi didn’t think ChiChi was the only one. “Seems stubbornness and pride runs in the family.”

“ChiChi’s not a Saiyan but she can be stubborn like them.” They all may have to gang up on ChiChi but Bulma was going to make her take their money. “We’ll figure it out after Goku goes back.”

Discussion of ChiChi’s finances stopped when ChiChi returned. They were silent but ChiChi saw on their faces they were talking about her. The silence continued until the announcements of who will fight whom. “You’re kidding me?” Yamcha nearly dropped his drink. “Goku against Vegeta in the first round?!”

****

The matches were set for the adults. Son Goku was happy but he couldn’t shake the ominous feeling they were on the cusp of something big happening. 

All his enemies were dead but Goku couldn’t shake something wasn’t right with Shin and his companion, Kibito. He knew they weren’t from Earth but Goku didn’t feel Shin had bad intentions for him. Piccolo will face off against Shin so that will give them a chance to see what they are dealing with.

As he waited for the matches to start, Goku checked the matchups again. He couldn’t believe he will fight Vegeta first. He thought he and Vegeta would meet in the semi or final round. Vegeta’s had a metaphoric stick up his ass since his return. He was so irritable and impatient for their match to start.

I thought seven years and settling with Bulma and Trunks would chill Vegeta but he’s still obsessed with fighting me. Pride meant everything to Vegeta and Goku knew he will bruise that pride when he defeat him.

Goku checked out Spopovich and Yamu. Gohan’s friend will face off with one of them. He recently learned she is the daughter of Mr. Satan. Goku didn’t know anything about the girl except she wasn’t strong. She won’t make it past the first round. Goku bit his lower lip to not laugh at Mighty Mask. Goten and Trunks were hiding in that costume. Vegeta seemed too preoccupied to fight him to notice. Piccolo had his eyes on Kibito and Shin. Goku wasn’t surprised Krillin and 18 hadn’t noticed but why hadn’t Gohan picked up on it?

The first match came and went without drama. Krillin easily handled Punta, but Piccolo stunned everyone forfeiting without throwing a punch. Piccolo walked off the stage and returned to the waiting area. Goku followed Piccolo for information. He noticed Piccolo quietly speaking to Shin and Kibito when he suddenly froze in fear. The two men left Piccolo alone. Goku approached asking if Shin was bullying him and if he needed to set Shin straight. Piccolo panicked and advised Goku to not say anything. This wasn’t Piccolo. This was Kami. Something about those men sent him into a panic.

“All right,” Goku gave up and returned to the arena. Videl’s match against Spopovich already started.

“How is she?” Goku asked.

“Pretty good,” Krillin told him.

“She’s doing much better than the other guy,” Gohan added. “All her blows are connecting.”

Goku heard Vegeta snort. After a few moments of watching the battle, he understood why. They were thinking the same thing but Goku wondered if he, Krillin and Gohan were watching the same thing. Videl’s blows were connecting but Videl was using more energy and was flashy with her attacks. Spopovich bled but Goku didn’t feel any Ki from him and thought he was toying with the girl.

“Yeah!” Gohan cheered when Videl knocked Spopovich down with one kick. “She did it!”

No, she didn’t. Videl hunched forward and grasped her knees. She was exhausted and Spopovich wasn’t. “There’s something weird about that guy. Your friend should forfeit, Gohan.”

Just as Goku said those words, Spopovich smacked Videl with his backhand and knocked her several feet before she bounced on the arena floor. Videl got up but Spopovich kicked her again and nearly sent her outside the ring until Videl caught herself in mid-air and floated back to the arena.

“Yeah!” Gohan cheered. “I taught her that.”

Goku wished Gohan hadn’t. “It might have been better if she had fallen out. Something is off about Spopovich. He’s not bothered by the damage he’s taken and I don’t feel any Ki from him.”

“What could that mean, Dad?”

He’s asking me. Hadn’t Gohan noticed that?

“Whoa!” Krillin cringed at Videl’s kick. “Videl broke his neck!” Spopovich’s head was turned backward. “Goku’s right. Something is strange about this guy. Videl should give up.”

“No, wait. She got this.” Gohan still believed Videl could win. She was strong enough to handle humans, His Dad and Krillin were wrong.  “Whaa….?” Spopovich flew in the air after Videl and with his Ki blast, sent Videl plummeting towards the arena stage.

Inches from crashing, Videl flipped so she landed on a knee and not her back. She winced at the pain tearing through her body. How is this guy so tough? When could he fly? He never did that before.

“He’s all flash and no substance,” Krillin declared. “He fired a Ki blast but it didn’t have enough power.

“Idiot.” Vegeta had enough. Are Kakarrot and I the only ones with brains? “He weakened his Ki on purpose because he will lose if he kills her. This match is over.”

Gohan didn’t notice. “But how?”

Again, Goku wondered what was wrong with Gohan. He expected Krillin to not notice but why hadn’t Gohan picked up what he and Vegeta noticed? He taught Gohan this in the Room of Spirit and Time. “He has powers beyond his natural abilities but why?”

Whenever Videl thought she had the upper hand, Spopovich was there to knock Videl down. A smack from his bulbous arm sent Videl flying across the arena. Her body landed on the tough flooring with a loud smack. Blood spilled with every strike against her and her painful cries echoed over the arena.

Beaten and bruised, Videl propped herself on a knee. “N-never….. I’ll never… give up.”

Her determination to stay in the fight is admirable. I wouldn’t want to give up either…. but she needs to, and if she won’t, someone needs to stop the fight for her.

Goku eyed Gohan wondering why he wasn’t stepping in. Gohan wanted to help Piccolo when he was getting beaten by Imperfect Cell. Krillin told him Gohan flew into a rage watching a Namek village be massacred. Gohan was at the age of noticing girls and from what Krillin hinted, Videl was his girlfriend. I guess she’s not special to him.

“Someone make it stop!!” someone from the audience cried out.

“This is awful!” Another scream. “Just stop it!”

“Where is Mr. Satan? Why isn’t he stopping this fight?!”

Goku kept his eyes on his son. “That’s enough, Videl!” Gohan yelled. “Give it up!”

While Goku eyed his son, wondering why he wasn’t doing anything, ChiChi had similar thoughts. High in the seats, ChiChi was on her feet cringing at the beat down. Every time Videl’s body was slammed against the arena floor sounds of ‘ooo’, ‘damn’ and murmurs of Videl’s impending death were heard.

“Spopovich wasn’t this strong at the last tournament. Is he on drugs?”

“Why isn’t Videl stronger? She’s the daughter of the man who saved us from Cell.”

“Why doesn’t she give up?! She can’t win!”

That girl is in over her head if she thinks she’s super strong like you. For her sake, I hope her father’s lie doesn’t get her killed one day.

It’s what ChiChi feared. Videl’s pride, her belief she’s so strong would keep her in a fight she should quit.

“Stop the match!” ChiChi yelled over the crowd. “She’s not as strong as she thinks!!” There were too many people yelling. ChiChi’s voice mixed with the crowd. At the entrance of the waiting area, ChiChi saw everyone looking at the fight but no one moving to stop it. “Gohan!!” It was hopeless but ChiChi screamed at him anyway. “Do something!” He yells at me when he wants to go to Namek and bring back Piccolo but he won’t stop a fight where a girl who has a crush on him will get killed?

Spopovich picked up Videl by her head, punched her stomach and flung her across the arena. Videl’s head pounded, her vision blurred, she lost some teeth and she could’ve sworn she heard Gohan telling her to give up.

I can’t… I have to fight Gohan. I’m the daughter of Mr. Satan. He killed Cell. I can beat Spopovich.

“Please,” the announcer pleaded with Videl, “you should give up.”

Videl weakly pushed herself up. “Never….. I won’t give up.”

“Why is she being so stubborn?!” Gohan growled. “She’ll get killed! That jerk doesn’t care about her!”

She won’t get killed. If Spopovich wanted Videl dead, he would’ve done it already but she’s gonna be in a lot of pain until she gets a senzu bean. Hmm? Goku noticed Gohan trembling. His Ki rose dangerously. Oh, crap. Gohan was finally getting mad. Goku remembered Gohan’s explosion at the Cell Game. If Gohan unleashes that power here, everyone in the stands could be killed. “Calm down, Gohan! She’s not gonna die!”

Gohan’s Ki kept rising. Videl’s screams and Spopovich stomping his foot on Videl’s head over and over angered Gohan so much that his bandanna and cape flew off as he exploded into a Super Saiyan.

“That’s it! He’s gone too far!”

“Bad idea!” Krillin moved closer to Vegeta “Calm down!”

“Enough fooling around!!” Yamu scolded Spopovich. “End it! This isn’t what we set out to do,” Yamu reminded him. “Just win and end the fight.”

Spopovich listened, picked up Videl and tossed her out of the ring. Gohan returned to base form and rushed out to Videl.

“Does anyone have a senzu bean?” Goku asked.

“No. We came here to have fun,” Krillin told him.

“All right. I’ll go to Korin’s and get it.” With two fingers to his forehead, Goku searched for Korin’s Ki and disappeared. The cat looked the same but Yajirobe aged and wore a mustache. Goku gave a quick rundown of why he came.

“I only have three.” Korin handed Goku a small bag. “I haven’t grown any in a while.”

“He’s putting me on a diet,” Yajirobe complained.

“Keep on your toes, Goku,” Korin warned. “I have a bad feeling about today.”

“Yeah, so do I.” Shin and Kibito, Piccolo’s forfeit, Spopovich and Yamu left Goku feeling dark times were on their way to Earth again. This can’t be my fault, can it?

****

Mark was in a panic as he rushed to the medical unit. Videl lost? Videl was hurt. It didn’t make sense. Videl shouldn’t lose to anyone except him. In the final round, he predicted facing off against his daughter and defeating her.

She got too arrogant!

That had to be the reason Videl lost. Only he was stronger than her. Miss Piiza couldn’t be right there are fighters stronger than him here. If she were, could he defeat this mysteriously strong fighter?

Of course I can! I’ve been on top all this time. I can’t lose now.

“Videl!” Mark slammed open the door. “Dear Lord,” he gasped at his daughter’s broken body on the bed. “This is horrible.”

Mark was informed Gohan brought Videl here. He promised him an autograph and dismissed the skinny boy until Videl asked Gohan to beat the guy who beat her. Mark considered that his job. He took a second look at the boy and feared he and his daughter were in a relationship. Hell, no! No skinny boy is good enough for my daughter. Videl can only date guys stronger than me. I’ll turn this boy into a pretzel.

“Sir,” a staff addressed Mark. “What should we say about Videl’s injuries? The people are waiting for an update.”

“Tell them her injuries are not that serious.”

“But, sir,” the staff member could see with his eyes that wasn’t true. He wasn’t a doctor but could see Videl lost teeth so she will need cosmetic surgery. She was hooked to an IV, could barely move and with the blows she took, might be suffering from a concussion, internal bleeding and injuries that won’t show except through an MRI or xrays. “She looks ba—”

“Tell them,” Mark threatened. “Videl’s injuries aren’t considered serious.” He knew it was a lie but the world couldn’t know how badly Videl was injured. That would hurt their brand.

The attendant left while Mark wondered about the damage control he’ll have to do to fix this.  The skinny boy left but quickly returned with something to make Videl better. Mark thought it was drugs from the way Videl suddenly jumped on the bed completely healed. Before he could throttle the skinny boy for drugging his daughter, he left for his match.

Who the hell is that kid?

“Thanks for waiting,” Gohan told Kibito as they walked out together. Gohan wondered about him. His Dad warned him to not let his guard down. Piccolo forfeited against his shorter companion. How strong is he? I hope my crash training this month is enough. I have to make it to the final rounds against Dad. I can’t lose this match.

“Good luck, Gohan!!”

“Do your best even if you can’t win!!”

What? Gohan searched for the call of his name in the crowd. Oh, no! Erasa? Sharpner?! Oh, yeah. They came to support Videl. “How did they know I’m Saiyaman?” His cape. His bandanna. They came off when he was mad at Spopovich. “Great. I outed myself.” He removed his glasses. “No sense hiding it now.” Gohan grinned and waved at his classmates. Mom’s gonna kill me if this causes the media to show up at our house.

Gohan struck a pose once the announcer started the match. These matches are timed. Can I fight for thirty minutes without showing my true powers? I have to protect Mom and Goten’s privacy.

“Turn into a Super Saiyan,” Kibito ordered Gohan. “I want to see if you can help us if we need you.”

He knows about Super Saiyans. Who is this guy? Gohan was undecided if he should honor the request until Piccolo told him to.

Piccolo ordering Gohan to expose himself as a Super Saiyan got Goku’s attention. He didn’t like it. “What is it, Piccolo?” He respected Piccolo’s request to not ask what made him forfeit against Shin but now Piccolo was involving his son. “Whatever you know, tell us now.”

Shin warned Goku he and the others to not interfere. They needed to use Gohan. This didn’t comfort Goku at all. What did these beings need his son for? Vegeta didn’t like it either as he asked. “Why should we listen to you? Who are you!?”

“He’s the Supreme Kai!” Piccolo informed everyone. “He is Lord over all Kais and all Gods.”

Whoa. Even Goku was stunned by this information. “King Kai told me about you.” Is this guy as great as King Kai said? Goku still didn’t like the Supreme Kai’s interest in his son or the warning that Yamu and Spopovich will attack him, but for now, complied.

Recovered, Videl rushed to the arena. She wanted to see Gohan fight but what she saw was something she didn’t expect. Videl couldn’t translate what she was seeing but Gohan changed before her. His hair. It’s golden. His body is shining. He’s the Golden Warrior, too?! Is Gohan even human?

Gohan felt a thrill as he turned into a Super Saiyan. The surge of strength and power gave a boost to his mild-mannered behavior. Some would call it confidence. Some would call it arrogance. “I’m a Super Saiyan. What happens now? Do we fight like this?”

While Kabito was impressed with Gohan’s power, Vegeta wasn’t. “Feh. Gohan was better when he beat Cell. He slacked off his training and is a shell of himself. Peacetime has made him weak.”

“It’s still more than we imagined,” the Supreme Kai was impressed. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop this power.”

The impressiveness of the Supreme Kai began to fade in Goku’s eyes. King Kai told me about him but if he’s impressed with Gohan at this stage, then he’s not as strong as I thought.

In the stands, Gohan’s friends continued to be shocked by the secrets revealed of their mild-mannered classmate.

Erasa was almost speechless. “Is that…..?”

“Yeah,” Sharpner thought Gohan was a weakling. No wonder he bagged that college girl. “That’s the Golden Warrior. Gohan was him, too? Damn. I thought he was a beanpole.”

“I knew there was something special about him.” Erasa gleamed at Gohan’s glow. “I bet Videl knew, too. She said she was getting some secret training from Gohan for the tournament. She told me Gohan and Leska aren’t a thing anymore. I wonder… I wonder how close they’ve gotten. If Gohan’s still available, I’m going after him.”

On the other side of the stadium, ChiChi, Bulma and Yamcha heard the murmurs of civilians on Gohan’s transformation. “Weren’t there a bunch of blonde glowing people around Mr. Satan when he fought Cell?”

“Yup. Hair is different but that boy looks like one of them.”

“Does that mean we’re gonna see those special effects we saw then?” another asked. “Those boys from the junior portion did the same thing.”

“Oh, boy,” Bulma murmured under her breath. “This is not what we want.” She squeezed the bridge of her nose. “Geez, I’m gonna have TV crews all over my lawn.”

“What the hell’s Gohan thinking turning into a Super Saiyan?” Yamcha questioned. “He told everyone to not do that.”

ChiChi questioned that, too, but patiently waited for Gohan to do something and show the crowd how strong and amazing her son is. Her joy turned to horror when Spopovich and Yamu jumped into the ring. Spopovich wrapped a bulbous arm around Gohan’s neck while Yamu stabbed Gohan in his side. “Gohan!” ChiChi screamed. What were they doing to her son? Gohan couldn’t break the hold of the strange men. “Fight ‘em!” she yelled over the crowd. Gohan’s stronger than them. He should knock them off!

“This can’t be in the rules!” Gyu-Mao argued. “You can’t sabotage someone in a fight! They should be disqualified! Why isn’t the announcer doing anything?!”

Gohan’s painful scream reached ChiChi’s sensitive ears. Her baby. It didn’t matter Gohan was a young man who could take care of himself. It didn’t matter Gohan defeated Cell. Her son was in pain and needed help.

Goku! ChiChi spotted her husband with Piccolo, Krillin and Vegeta. Why aren’t you helping our son?!

If he wasn’t gonna help, she damn sure will! “Momma’s coming, Gohan!”

“ChiChi, no!” Gyu-Mao called out but ChiChi was already running down the seats, pushing and knocking over anyone in her way. “Move!” ChiChi’s booted foot stepped on a man’s shoulder. “Out of my way!” A man walking to his seat carrying food was pushed aside. “I need to save my son!” Another poor fella was tossed in the air as he blocked ChiChi’s path in reaching Gohan.

Unaware of the calamity in the stands the announcer’s commentated on Gohan’s struggle with Yamu and Spopovich. “Ladies and Gentlemen, I have no idea what’s going on but Saiyaman has been stabbed! It doesn’t look like a knife but stabbing isn’t allowed! Stop! You’re breaking the rules!”

“Fuck off!” Spopovich warned. “If anyone comes near us, we’ll kill you!”

“GOHAN!!!!!!” ChiChi was near the bottom of the seats! “Hang on! Momma’s comin’ to save you!”

“Oh, shit!” Krillin saw several people be tossed in the air by ChiChi. She was getting closer and closer. “It’s ChiChi!”

Goku saw his wife barreling down the steps and flipping over anyone in her way. She was an enraged woman on a mission. “Oh, no! This is bad!”

“No one must interfere!” Supreme Kai warned gauging Gohan as his energy continued to be drained.

“You don’t know Goku’s wife!” Krillin told him. “She can’t be stopped when her children are in danger.”

“She’s getting closer,” Goku warned. ChiChi’s strong but Goku knew she couldn’t handle Spopovich and Yamu. He would step in if they lay a finger on ChiChi. Though looking at her, one would think she can kick anyone’s ass. I should stop her but I kinda wanna see ChiChi fight.

Spopovich and Yamu were too focused on draining Gohan to notice ChiChi approaching until she kicked Yamu’s head. Similar to what Videl did to Spopovich, Yamu’s head twisted backward. Yamu dropped the device he used to drain Gohan’s energy to adjust his head. Spopovich held Gohan while ChiChi landed on her feet. She put her fists up and bounced like a boxer.

“Get your hands off my son!!!! Release him!” Yamu ignored ChiChi as he picked up his device and jammed it into Gohan again. Furious, ChiChi charged at them. “Rrraagh!”

But before ChiChi could reach them, ChiChi was suddenly lifted off her feet. A strong hand wrapped around her waist. It was seven years, but she knew that muscled body that held her before he spoke. “No, ChiChi. You can’t.”

“Goku!” ChiChi pulled on his arm. “Let me go!” Her legs kicked in the air as Goku pulled her away. “Our son needs help! Why aren’t you helping him?!” ChiChi’s hands reached back to claw at Goku’s face. “Ow. Ow. Ow,” ChiChi heard Goku whine as she grasped a piece of his hair. Good! He deserved it after watching their son be attacked and doing nothing. ChiChi wiggled her body against Goku’s. Goku always took her lightly so she knew whatever hold Goku had on her wasn’t a strong one and it was easy for her to slip out. “Let go of me!” ChiChi pulled herself free. She took two steps before Goku grabbed her and pulled her back again. “Stop it, Goku!” She wriggled and tried to wrestle her body free. “Our son----” ChiChi froze as she felt something hard pressing against her. 

ChiChi broke free and turned. She saw the familiar and meeting her husband’s face saw his sheepish grin. ChiChi smacked Goku’s chest. “Are you insane?!” ChiChi screamed. “Our son is in danger!! This is not the time to---” ChiChi was silenced when Goku pulled her against him.

The hard bulge left ChiChi speechless but the intense gaze Goku gave her, left her wet. The noise of the audience fell away. The faint sounds of her son fell silent as ChiChi only saw and felt Goku.

“Don’t do this, ChiChi. Don’t be angry. Not now,” his voice was laced with pain, lust and a plea to not push him. His eyes revealed the conflicting battle brewing in him. “ You have no idea what---”

“I know,” ChiChi finished for him. She wasn’t blind. In the years since his death, ChiChi thought of her arguments with Goku and how some started small and grew into full-blown arguments where after she calmed down, Goku wanted to make up with kissing that sometimes grew into intense sex. It took a while before ChiChi noticed a pattern of Goku instigating fights. “I know what it does, but Goku.” Gohan’s painful scream returned which caused ChiChi to release a sob. “Our son. He’s in pain.”

“He’ll be okay,” Goku promised ChiChi. “You know I’ll never let anything happen to Gohan. I didn’t with Cell and I won’t now. Trust me.”

ChiChi wept silently. She didn’t understand all of Goku’s actions but knew she could trust him to make the right decision for the safety of their family. “I do but I can’t stand our son in pain.”

Goku embraced ChiChi and shielded her from viewing and hearing Gohan’s pain. “Don’t look. Don’t listen. Close your eyes and listen to my voice. Gohan can handle it. You know that.” ChiChi closed her eyes. She gripped his arms when she heard Gohan screaming but relaxed hearing Goku soothingly talking to her. “It’s over. Kibito will return Gohan to normal. Gohan’s friend is with him. The Supreme Kai is leaving to follow those two who took Gohan’s energy. I’m gonna follow and see what’s going on.”

“What?” ChiChi broke from him. Above her, ChiChi saw the one Goku called Supreme Kai fly off. Behind her, she saw the one called Kibito leaning over Gohan. Videl was by his side, too. “Go? Go where?”

“There’s something strange going. It might be another threat to Earth.”

“No. Not again.” This couldn’t be happening again. Not on today of all days. “Why you? You can’t go. You’re only here for one day. This is our only chance, Goku.”

It might be but Goku knew he had to investigate. He needed to know why he had to stay back while Gohan got his energy drained. He needed to know what Spopovich and Yamu planned to do with Gohan’s energy. He needed to know if his return triggered bad news for Earth again.

“I guess I’ll go.” It wasn’t as if Krillin had a choice. If Goku was going, he knew he had to. “I gotta tell my wife first.”

“You’re not going anywhere!” Vegeta didn’t care when Videl and Gohan went down. He didn’t flinch when ChiChi appeared in the ring. He didn’t give a damn when the Supreme Kai followed Spopovich and Yamu but Goku announcing his intentions to leave was too damn much. “We have a duel to fight!”

Goku almost couldn’t believe Vegeta. “Vegeta, can’t you see there’s more---”

“Don’t you run out on me!” Vegeta shut Goku down. “I don’t give a damn about the Supreme Kai! I only came to this infantile tournament to settle the score between us! You will not deny me this chance!”

Wow. He’s really obsessed with a rematch. “Okay. Okay,” he gave in. “I’ll promise I fight you later even if it is not in the Budokai.”  

“Bullshit! You’re only here for one day!”

“Then come with us,” Goku encouraged him. “After we settle what’s going on, we can fight.” He flashed Vegeta a smile. It worked with ChiChi when she was angry with him. Goku hoped for the same results for Vegeta. Vegeta answered with a low growl. Ah, it was working. He was considering it.

“Enough talk,” Piccolo jumped in the air. “Let’s go!”

Goku and ChiChi went to Kibito. ChiChi knelt to Goku and stroked his hair while Goku confirmed, “You’ll take care of Gohan?”

“Yes,” Kibito promised. “And I’ll follow you. I’m sure Gohan will follow us, too.”

“No!” ChiChi protested. “Why does he have to go?”

“Gohan needs to know what’s going on,” Goku told ChiChi. “He’s the one who can protect Earth. I can’t.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m only here for a day, ChiChi. I’ll do what I can but if this can’t be resolved today, it’s up to Gohan.” There was also King Kai’s warning he do not interfere in the affairs of the living. ChiChi was too emotional right not to accept that.

“But the prize money,” ChiChi tried again to convince Goku to stay. “If you and Gohan don’t win it…..” Goten’s money wasn’t enough and the last thing ChiChi wanted was to burden Goku on the troubles at home. “Goku, I need you to win this money for us.”

“Why? Your Dad has plenty of money. You’ll be fine.”

“But, Goku…..”

Goku jumped in the air. He couldn’t stay to talk. He needed to leave. What ChiChi wanted to say had to wait. “I gotta go catch up with the Supreme Kai, ChiChi. We’ll talk when I get back,” Goku promised as he flew off.   

“Jackass,” Vegeta snarled as he watched Goku fly off. His departure lessened the chance of a rematch. It was in the cards! It was fate!! The tournament decided they will fight in the first round. It was meant to be!

Our rematch.

If he didn’t follow him, Vegeta knew he would not get his rematch and he wanted that rematch.

I’ll promise I fight you later even if it is not in the Budokai.

“Damn him!” Vegeta growled and flew after Goku. “How does he always get under my skin?!”

18 watched her husband fly off. She was worried. She wanted to go with her husband to protect him but she needed to win money for the family. He better not be harmed. She noticed her friend standing over her son worried as Kibito revives Gohan. She must be a wreck inside.

As ChiChi patted Gohan down to make sure he was all right Gohan was baffled at ChiChi being on the arena floor. “Mom?” He thought he heard her voice but thought he was delusional. “What are you doing here?” Gohan looked around and noticed everyone except 18 was gone. “Where did my Dad go?”

“Follow if you want the story,” Kibito answered before he flew off.

He was going to but Gohan turned to his mother first. He expected her to tell him to stay but she needed to know he had to go. “I know I can’t stop you,” ChiChi surprised Gohan, “but promise you and your Dad will be safe. I lost your father. I can’t lose you, too.”

“I promise, Mom, and with Dad here, you know I’ll be all right.”

“I want to come with you.” Videl didn’t want to be left out. Gohan owed her an explanation. When he changed, it sparked a deep memory from her childhood. Seeing Gohan’s Dad and his friends fly off took Videl back to seven years ago when she prayed her father beat Cell. She needed to follow to know if what she now suspected was true. “There are so many things I don’t know and I want to know.”

“Videl,” ChiChi intervened, “you almost died. You can’t go where Gohan’s going.”

“This might be dangerous,” Gohan added, but he knew she wouldn’t listen. She was too stubborn.

“I won’t get in the way,” Videl promised, “but I’ll follow even if you say no.”

Knew it. “Will you promise to pull out if it gets dangerous?”

“I will,” Videl agreed.

A worried ChiChi watched her son and Videl fly off unaware of 18 standing by. “Looks like I will be the winner. No competition.” 18 heard the conversation between ChiChi and Goku. ChiChi never said it to her but 18 suspected there were money issues. “I’ll share some of my money with you.”

“No,” ChiChi turned down her friend. “You don’t have to share with me. Goten won five million zeni. That’s enough for us. Use that ten million zeni to find a nice place for your family. Get my goddaughter out of that pervert’s house.”

ChiChi said it with a smile but the blonde was stoic. “You haven’t said anything but I know you are having money problems, ChiChi. I’ve noticed some things.”

“What things?”

“You’ve been borrowing from your Dad since I’ve known you. Now you want to grow a garden to sell food and start a catering business. Why are suddenly wanting to make money unless you need to? And…. your house is becoming run down.”

“No, it’s not!”

“ChiChi,” 18 turned a blind eye but not anymore, “the walls need painting. I’ve noticed when I visit you sit in the same seat on your sofa or it’s always covered so Marron and I can’t sit. The knobs on your bathroom sink in the hall broke when Marron used it. You are missing some tiles on the shower wall.”

ChiChi hoped no one noticed. “I told Goten to always keep the shower curtain closed when we have guests. I don’t use the washer when Gohan and Goten are home,” ChiChi confessed. “It makes loud noises. I thought about having Aki look at it but he’ll tell me it needs new parts or I need a new washer. I’ve always paid him but I can’t now. Does anyone else know?”

“No. No one’s said anything. I don’t think they’ve noticed. They seem to still gloss over things with you. I’ll keep quiet,” 18 promised, “but I’ll also help you.”

“Lazuli----”

“I will win enough for both of us. I’m not leaving with ten million zeni. I’m leaving with more.”

“But how?” ChiChi didn’t understand. “Ten million is the top prize.”

18 flipped her blonde hair. She spotted Mr. Satan from the corner of her left eye. He’s had his eyes on her ever since Videl flew off with Gohan. He was her opponent and she knew exactly what she had to do to win enough money for her and ChiChi’s families. “Don’t worry. I have a plan.”

****

Flying with Supreme Kai, Goku learned who would Gohan’s energy. A wizard named Bobbidi needed it to release Majin Boo so he could continue his destruction in the universe. He learned Earth was Bobbidi’s next target before Majin Boo was sealed and hidden on Earth when very few humans existed. This was some relief to Goku since it meant he wasn’t the cause of the evil. It had been on Earth for hundreds of years before he came. With the threat of Majin Boo coming unreleased, Earth was a target and that meant ChiChi, Gohan and Goten were in danger and he had to protect them.

“Warlocks take advantage of the evil within people. Bobbidi controls them.” The Kai explained what happened to Spopovich and Yamu. “Let’s hope he doesn’t have anyone formidable on his side.”

“Why’d you leave this Djinn lying around if you knew what it could do?” Goku understood it was safe to leave Majin Boo here when few humans existed but there were millions of people on Earth now.

“We didn’t know what could break the seal. We thought only Bibbidi could unseal Majin Boo and I killed him. Keeping Majin Boo here was the safest decision. I didn’t know he had a son. Bobbidi.”

Bobbidi can tap into the evil of people. Red Ribbon Army. King Piccolo. Raditz. Vegeta. Nappa. So many chances Majin Boo could’ve been released. Goku thought of the group with him. Vegeta and Piccolo ain’t evil but they do have dark sides. At least they’re too stubborn to fall for Bobbidi’s tricks.

“Dad!!!”

Gohan! Goku was relieved he joined them. Kibito kept his word and restored Gohan but as he felt Gohan’s Ki, Goku noticed Kibito didn’t restore all of Gohan’s power. If we had more senzu beans, I’d give Gohan one but we need to conserve the two we have for an emergency.

“Sorry, I’m late,” Gohan apologized. “Videl was with us but she decided to go back. She’ll let everyone know what’s going on.”

****

Videl felt a huge weight lift from her shoulders. She flew alone on her way back to the tournament to let Gohan’s family and friends know what was going on. She wanted to join Gohan but accepted the truth. She wasn’t strong or fast enough to keep up with Gohan and Kibito and tagging along would only hold Gohan back.

But before she parted. She finally got the truth. For years, she believed her father when he told her he beat Cell. At nine, her Dad was so strong in her eyes. Videl believed no one could defeat her Dad.

But in the last month, the Golden Warrior and Saiyaman (both Gohan) planted seeds of doubt. Gohan can fly. Gohan can create energy from his hands. All the things she saw at the Cell Game; the things her father told her were special effects were a lie. 

When Gohan changed into the Golden Warrior in front of Kibito, Videl remembered the fighters at the Cell Game. She remembered the ones with golden hair. Among them was a boy. If that boy was Gohan, then the man who fought Cell first was Gohan’s father. It had to be him but if he is Gohan’s father then….

“How long has it been since you’ve seen your Dad?”

“Seven years.”

“How many fights have you been in?”

“A few. My last one was seven years ago. Dad wanted me to fight someone I didn’t expect to fight.”

“The guy with the halo is my Dad.”

“Your Dad. The one you said is dead but divorced your Mom?”

“No, he’s dead. Didn’t you see the halo over his head?”

It made sense now. It explained why Gohan was happy to see his Dad. It explained his absence for seven years. It explained what Gohan’s friend, Leska, told her.

“I didn’t see anything in that fight with Cell to make me think your Dad beat him. He got knocked out of the ring.”

“Yeah,” Videl agreed with that, “but he came back later to beat Cell after those other people failed.”

“I didn’t see a video of that. The last video anyone saw was some kid fighting Cell after some big, blonde guy fought him. Maybe they defeated Cell.”

Videl was so angry Leska spoke so poorly of her father but the young woman spoke the truth. Gohan, his Dad and friends fought Cell. They were the ones to beat him. His Dad died in that fight. Videl didn’t know how he could be on Earth if he was dead but she knew it wasn’t her father who defeated Cell.

Dad lied and he made his fortune off what Gohan’s Dad and his friends did. Another realization struck Videl. Gohan’s mother. She was so shocked to learn who her father was. She was so angry that day.

No wonder Gohan’s mother was mad. All the money Dad’s made. It should’ve gone to Gohan’s family.

Videl felt sick to her stomach. All the times she admired her father; all the times she thought he was the strongest and beat Cell; all the pressure she felt to be as strong as her Dad. He was her motivation to get stronger. She worked with the police and fought criminals because she thought that was the training she needed to be as strong as him.  

All this time, Dad lied to me. He made me think I was stronger than what I am. Videl’s heart raced as she thought of all the times she went with the police to fight criminals. Videl never feared being shot or hurt because she was so confident she could beat up anyone. Her Dad defeated Cell so she thought she was strong, too.

”Akuji,” Videl whispered. That criminal could’ve killed her if not for Gohan. “Spopovich.” Videl shut her eyes recalling the recent beating she took. She heard the pleas to quit but didn’t because she was Mr. Satan’s daughter, the man who defeated Cell. I could’ve been killed because of a lie.

The dark truth rattled Videl. It shocked her. It angered her. Videl flew faster. She was going to confront her father and she didn’t care if he was in the middle of a match. She was going to make him confess his misdeeds and for the first time in seven years, do the right thing.

That was her plan until she saw Goten and the winner of the Junior Division flying towards her. Videl explained to the boys where their fathers and Gohan went. If she knew they were going to fly off and join the fight, she wouldn’t have told them. Where they were going was dangerous. Even they can fly faster than me.  Videl flew on. She had to inform Gohan’s mother on what was going and confront her father.

****

As Vegeta thought, the Supreme Kai and Kibito weren’t very powerful. They were the most incompetent otherworldly beings he ever came across. They needed Gohan’s power to find Bobbidi. They weren’t aware of Bobbidi hiding his spaceship underground. They were unaware of the Demon King, Dabura under his control.

Their lack of awareness convinced Goku to send Krillin away. Vegeta agreed that was a smart choice. He was the weakest among the group, but before Krillin could leave, the group was shocked by Spopovich and Yamu’s sudden death by Bobbidi and Dabura discovering them. Dabura killed Kibito and spat on Piccolo and Krillin, turning them to stone.

Vegeta, Goku and Gohan ignored the Supreme Kai and followed Dabura down the shaft to Bobbidi’s ship. They had to reverse the spit curse on Piccolo and Krillin. They used Rock, Paper and Scissors to see who will go first. Vegeta demanded they keep playing until he won. Vegeta wanted to go first. He wanted to show how strong he’s gotten in seven years.

But Pocus wasn’t a challenge. Even when Bobbidi changed the environment to give Pocus an advantage, he was still outmatched by Vegeta who killed with little effort. Their next opponent was Yakon and Goku was up next. Vegeta knew Goku trained so he was eager to see how much stronger he’s gotten. Not stronger than him. Vegeta was confident of that but he was also getting impatient. He wanted these matches to end. From what he saw, all these beings Supreme Kai feared were beneath all of them. Maybe seven years ago, they might have been a challenge but not now. Not even Dabura. His speed and strength weren’t impressive. As long as they avoided his spit, Vegeta thought he was beatable.

Yakon was fast but no threat. Bobbidi was up to his usual tricks making the environment an advantage to his stooges. He darkened the room to pitch black. Goku had a trick for that by turning into a Super Saiyan to light up the room. Vegeta conceded that would’ve been his next step, too, and it would’ve given Yakon a great advantage for he would’ve sucked the Super Saiyan power out of him like he did Goku and return him to base form.

Kakarrot will struggle against this one. Yakon is too strong to beat in base form alone. Vegeta contemplated it would be a struggle for him, too. How to beat an opponent with Super Saiyan energy without transforming into one? Even if I had the power to change again, that bastard would eat my power and get stronger.

“I’m gonna handle this myself!” Goku rejected Gohan’s offer to help and transformed into a Super Saiyan again.

What the fuck is that idiot doing? He’s gonna give Yakon more power.

“He is being stupid!” The Supreme Kai disapproved of Goku’s decision. “Why do you all insist on fighting alone! This isn’t a game!”

“He is not stupid!” Vegeta didn’t know what the hell Goku was going to do but he knew Goku wasn’t stupid. Besides, only he can call Goku an idiot. “He has a plan.” Kakarrot wouldn’t turn into a Super Saiyan unless he knew how to win. The Supreme Kai is an incompetent God and fool. Yakon sucked more of Goku’s energy but he didn’t return to base form. Goku’s Ki kept rising. He’s feeding him. Is Kakarrot trying to overload him? Vegeta kept watching Yakon grow fatter and fatter and felt Goku’s ki rising higher and higher until Goku blasted a large blast of his ki into Yakon he blew up like a popped balloon.

What….the… fuck.

“I see.” Vegeta figured it out.

“Hey! The ground opened up!” Goku returned to base form and jumped down to the next level with Gohan. A stunned Supreme Kai and Vegeta followed.

That son of a dick passed the Super Saiyan wall, too. Dammit to hell! I trained all these years and that jackass surpasses me again! If I gave all that power to Yakon, I wouldn’t be able to maintain my Super Saiyan form.

“You’re up next, Gohan,” Goku was eager for this match. “I can’t wait to see how much stronger you are.”

“Feh,” Vegeta scoffed. You’re in for disappointment, Kakarrot. “Gohan used peace as an excuse to slack off. We’re stronger than him.” And Kakarrot is stronger than me again! “But who knows how Gohan will be when he’s angry.” As soon as we beat these minions of Bobbidi, Kakarrot will want to fight. He’ll kick my ass.  

Vegeta couldn’t let that happen. He would not be humiliated again. This is my only chance to restore myself as the true Prince of Saiyans. I won’t let Kakarrot win. He has the blood of Third Class Warriors. I have the blood of royal warriors!

He watched Goku happily chat with Gohan. Vegeta didn’t understand how Goku could be stronger than him. Their first encounter caught him off guard. He never expected one from a line of Third Class Warriors to inflict pain on him; to force him to change into an Oozaru to get the upper hand. It never should’ve come to that. He never should’ve been forced to beg Goku with his dying breath to stop Freeza. It shouldn’t have been him to sacrifice himself to Cell with his son delivering the final blow. All those victories should’ve gone to him, the Prince of Saiyans. From a young child, Vegeta knew he was destined for greatness.

“Don’t worry, Young Prince. I have the edge because I’m older and you’re still a child.”

The words didn’t please young Vegeta. Being a child didn’t mean anything. He’s killed many and yet he couldn’t best Nappa, his guardian and escort. He was older and had elite blood but Vegeta felt he should’ve surpassed him by now.   

“You can still kick Raditz’s ass.” Although that didn’t mean much in Nappa’s eyes. “He is the trash of a Third Class Warrior.” Nappa checked the other Saiyan child. He was staring off into space again. He had some injuries from the last battle but had potential. His power reading at birth was phenomenal. To be a child of a Third Class Saiyan traveling with the Saiyan Prince was an honor, but lately, the child was showing weakness. “He needs to toughen up. He’s still upset about our planet. If it weren’t only us left, I’d kill him so his weakness doesn’t spill over and contaminate us.”

“Contaminate?” Vegeta knew of Raditz’s struggle. He wasn’t bothered by it. He understood. “He misses his parents. He had a chance to see his father before he left on his mission. He didn’t see his mother before he left.” Vegeta didn’t talk to his father before he left with Nappa. If he had known the last time was the final time……

“Uh!” Vegeta dropped to the floor after Nappa’s fist smashed his face. That blow rattled his body. He got hits like this from Nappa before but only in training. “What the fuck was that for?!”

“You’re being contaminated. Emotions weaken us, Vegeta. Sentimentality over the dead weakens us. That soft-hearted shit will get you killed.”

“He won’t weaken me. I only---”

“You’re the Prince of Saiyans. That means you are meant to be stronger than all of us. You are meant to be stronger than your father. It’s in your blood. To keep that strength, you need to be cold and ruthless and discard any trash or even a Third Class Warrior can knock you off your mantle.” Nappa scoffed. “What kind of Saiyan Prince could you be if you let that happen?”

Vegeta snarled as he watched the son of a Third Class Warrior who excel him again watch his son battle Dabura. How did he excel me again? The skies above him rattled as Gohan and Dabura traded punches. How did that brat excel me? I should’ve been the one to defeat Cell and this child from the lineage of a Third Class Warrior defeated him.

What kind of Saiyan Prince could you be if you let that happen?

A soft-hearted sentimental fool. That’s what Vegeta saw himself as. He had every opportunity in seven years to excel Gohan and Goku.

Where did I go wrong?

Bulma and Trunks popped into his mind.

Emotions weaken us, Vegeta. That soft-hearted shit will get you killed.

It didn’t start that way. It just happened. A fling produced a child he did not want. He didn’t bother to save the babe when he and Bulma’s lives were threatened. But in those seven years, something happened.

We have a second chance compared to ourselves in our son’s alternate future. Our future is unwritten. We can make it what we want.

I want you to teach me to be strong like you. I wanna know how to fight.

Come on, Vegeta. It’s a day in the park with me and Trunks. What’s wrong with that?

Thanks for taking me to the park, Dad.

Vegeta…. I love you.

“I won’t imagine everything you’ve been through but you do have things in common with my Goku. He was alone, too. All he knew was fighting. He was never exposed to another way of life until we married. It was an adjustment for him. It didn’t make him soft and gullible and it won’t happen to you either. It will make you stronger.”

“Stronger?”

“Goku enjoyed fighting a strong opponent but having someone to protect gave him that extra motivation to not give up. Imagine what it will do for you.”

Emotions weaken us, Vegeta. That soft-hearted shit will get you killed.

Fuck. It didn’t get him killed… yet but it did weaken him. What made it horrific is Vegeta didn’t hate the changes in him. He liked it.

Fuck. Nappa would be disappointed in him. Gohan wasted his potential but Vegeta saw the seven years as a waste of his potential. He needed to be the warrior he was before he came to Earth.

To keep that strength, you need to be cold and ruthless and discard any trash.

Bulma and Trunks appeared in his mind again. No. They weren’t trash. They were…. a slight hinderance. He can have them and still be the warrior he’s meant to be.

I need to be the man I was.

But that would take years. He didn’t have years. Goku was leaving in a day. He had to fight him. He had to defeat him.

How can I be that warrior again?

“Warlocks take advantage of the evil within people…….as he did with Spopovich and Yamu.”

Vegeta discarded that information from the Supreme Kai but now he saw it as useful. Could Bobbidi make me the warrior I was?

It went against him to subject himself to that. He didn’t take power from anyone.  Kakarrot is leaving in a day. I need to defeat him.

As Vegeta wrestled on what to do, he watched Gohan battle Dabura. After a few minutes, it was starting to get to him. Gohan was putting up a poor show against Dabura. He was missing his target and Dabura retaliated with Ki and blows that sent Gohan crashing into the ground and lakes around them. Vegeta saw the frustration on Gohan’s face. He knew he should be better and he wasn’t.

Dabura is strong but he’s beatable. Gohan at nine would’ve pummeled him. What a fucking embarrassment. Vegeta checked Goku. His eyes were focused on the battle. He revealed nothing. What are you thinking, Kakarrot? Are you disappointed in your son, too?

“So, he uses magic,” Goku said after a long silence of watching Gohan. “He’s tougher than I thought.”

You’re making excuses for your son. “He shouldn’t have this much trouble with him, Kakarrot. Pathetic.”

Goku blinked and for a second Vegeta saw a flicker of change in Goku’s eyes. Was he ready to acknowledge what Vegeta thought? “He really has been slacking.”

Slacking my ass. He’s a complete embarrassment to the Saiyan lineage! All that power! All that strength coursing through him and he wastes it! If I had his power, I could’ve beaten Freeza. I could’ve beaten Cell. I could be the strongest Saiyan and Kakarrot could never reach me!! I’d give anything to have that power!

The more Gohan and Dabura battled, the angrier Vegeta got. He saw every error Gohan made. He saw every missed opportunity for Gohan to strike back and deliver a final blow to Dabura squandered. All that fucking power going to waste. Studying. Socializing. What a fucking waste.

It was when Gohan was huffing and puffing exhausted while Dabura stood unopposed that finally pissed off Vegeta. It was no longer a matter of waiting for Gohan to beat Dabura. The Saiyan pride was on the line.

“Fuck it!” Vegeta lost his temper. “Now, I’m annoyed. I’ll finish off Dabura.” Goku tried to plead with Vegeta to wait and let Gohan keep fighting but Vegeta saw enough. “This damn fight is taking too long. I don’t care about any of this shit! I just want to fight you! That’s why I went to the damn tournament. That’s why I followed you here. I want to fight you and if I have to fight Dabura so I can get my match with you, so be it!”

I’ll even take power from Bobiddi.

Vegeta’s rant got Goku’s attention. It worried him. Vegeta was too blind and consumed with him to see what was important. Vegeta, I thought you changed.

The scenery around them returned to the waiting area of the ship. Dabura departed but left a cryptic warning a new fighter will emerge.

Does he mean me? Vegeta wondered. My outburst should’ve gotten his attention.

“Ahhh!” Sharp stabbing pain hit his head suddenly.

Hello, Vegeta.

Dark energy poured into him. He felt sickened and wanted to reject it but there was something familiar about this power. It felt…. good in a way. The power pulled memories of his past; memories of him happily slaughtering innocent civilians with Nappa and Raditz.

Vegeta… don’t you want to come to bed? You trained enough for today.

Bulma appeared in his mind again. She wore a lacy red lingerie. “Rrgh!” he willed the image away. He couldn’t think of her. If he did, he’ll think of……

I can be as strong as you, Dad. You’ll see.

No! No! Vegeta welcomed Bobbidi’s wickedness. It erased Bulma and Trunks from his mind. Ah, yes. This is what he needed. He could feel his power surging in him. He felt stronger, darker.

Vegeta could hear the Supreme Kai warning him to empty his mind so he couldn’t consume it. Gohan called out to him but Vegeta ignored them. This is what he needed. This is what he was missing. With this power, he can finally defeat…..

Vegeta…. I love you.

Thanks for taking me to the park, Dad. You’re the best.

Wow! Dad, you’re so strong!!

Vegeta… being with you, makes me happy.

Emotions weaken us, Vegeta. That soft-hearted shit will get you killed.

You’re the Prince of Saiyans. It’s in your blood. To keep that strength, you need to be cold and ruthless and discard any trash or even a Third Class Warrior can knock you off your mantle.

A Third Class Warrior.

Vegeta saw Goku staring at him. He could feel the Saiyan’s shock and fear. It thrilled Vegeta. Bulma and Trunks faded from his mind as he let Bobbidi’s power consume him. All he saw was Goku. That was what mattered. And the power he was getting will finally allow him to topple and destroy this lowly spawn of the Third Class Warrior for good.

Vegeta felt a burning on his forehead as the Majin emblem was branded on him. A small price to pay to defeat you, Kakarrot. Nothing will get in my way. Not Bulma. Not Trunks. Nothing!!!

Vegeta cackled. Ah, he hadn’t felt this good in years!!! The shock and horror on Goku and Gohan’s faces were delightful. He only wanted to defeat Goku but felt like destroying Gohan for kicks. It’d show him to now waste his latent power.

Vegeta thought the battle would take place on the ship but Bobbidi surprised them by transporting them back to the arena of the Tenkaichi Budokai.

****

Bulma rolled her eyes at Mr. Satan celebrating his victory over 18. A battle royale was decided to determine the outcome of the Tenkaichi Budokai. The finale was between 18 and Mr. Satan with 18 throwing the match for him. Bulma initially thought Goku, Vegeta, Gohan or Piccolo would overthrow that arrogant cheater. “We’ll have to hear his gloating for more years to come.”

“It’s probably the best outcome,” Yamcha thought. “You and ChiChi wouldn’t want reporters harassing you if Goku, Vegeta or Gohan won.”

Bulma complained earlier but with her compound, she was safe from reporters. She might run into issues when going out with Vegeta. He’d likely cause a scene destroying cameras and property. ChiChi lived too far out for any reporters to harass her she thought. 18 lived on Master Roshi’s island. She and Krillin were safe. “Where the hell are they anyway? They left over an hour ago.”

“I’m more concerned about Goten and Trunks.” Bulma used her name and money to bypass security and visit the arena grounds where the remaining fighters remained. They visited 18 after her loss but couldn’t find their sons. “They’re not here.” After 18 exposed them in the Battle Royale, ChiChi hoped Goten and Trunks would be here but they flew off and she had a sick feeling where they could’ve gone.

Aki stood with Gyu-Mao. “Your Majesty, do you think Goku will be coming back?”

“I don’t know but you and everyone shouldn’t wait. Go home. It’s a long trip back.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Aki looked over at his family. His son was asleep and his daughters looked bored. He checked on Mrs. Niver and Kaifun. Kaifun handed her a cup of water. The old woman looked tired. He didn’t have love for her but thought they should go home for her sake. “We’ll go. About the money….”

“Don’t worry about it,” Gyu-Mao told Aki. “It’s my problem.”

“It’s gonna be a bigger problem in a few days. You can bet Mrs. Niver will gossip about it to everyone.” Aki signaled to his family and Kaifun that they were leaving when Goku, Gohan and Vegeta suddenly appeared. “Oh, they’re back!” Aki was going to joke he could push Mr. Satan out of the ring and win when Vegeta flared up his power and knocked the announcer into the air and Mr. Satan off the stage.

No one knew what was going on but they all knew it wasn’t good. “What’s Vegeta doing?” Bulma worried as he pointed at Goku. ChiChi screamed as Vegeta fired on Goku. Goku protected himself but the power from Vegeta was pushing him out of the ring. If Goku doesn’t stop him….. “Vegeta, no!!”  Bulma shouted as Goku couldn’t contain Vegeta’s Ki anymore. He was pushed aside leaving a large group of fans unprotected as they were consumed by Vegeta’s blast. His attack went further, traveling outside the arena and destroying anyone in its path for miles. He killed them. “What’s wrong with you?!”

Bulma’s screaming didn’t reach Vegeta. Too many people were in a panic as they screamed and rushed out of the arena.

“Something must have happened to him,” Bulma tried to find a reason for Vegeta’s action. “He must be possessed. Vegeta wouldn’t knowingly kill anyone. He’s not that man anymore.”

“Are you sure?” From Yamcha’s view, he was still that man. Something was different. Maybe it was that emblem on Vegeta’s forehead but Yamcha had seen that look before when Vegeta wanted to kill him years ago. “It looks like he’s picking up from where he left off.”

Vegeta had the same feeling as he stared at Goku. He looked at the destruction he created with pride. That blast must have gone for miles, destroying any building, any car, any person in its path. It felt so good to no longer feel remorse or compassion. It felt so good to freely kill again.

And yes, it felt so good to have Goku look at him this way again. He looked repulsed. He looked angry. He looked as if he wanted to fight him again.

Now, Kakarrot, fight me. Unless you want to add more corpses to that pile.”

The smirk. The blind evil in his eyes. This aura around him. This darkness. Goku hadn’t seen this look in Vegeta or felt this energy in him since their fight so many years ago. He wasn’t like this when dealing with the Artificial Humans or Cell. Year after year, Goku felt Vegeta drifting from the dark, heartless warrior he was. He thought after seven years, seven years of peace, seven years of Bulma and Trunks……

The only reason I came to this infantile game was to settle with you one-on-one.

You’ve only got one day back in this world.

I don’t care about any of this!!! I just want to get it over with and fight you!! That’s why I went to that stupid tournament!!

Vegeta….The truth stared at Goku. You did this…. you turned your back on everything for this? The truth stared at Goku but he didn’t want to believe it. He needed Vegeta to say it. “Vegeta, did you let Bobbidi control you on purpose?

Still stalling our destiny, Kakarrot? Vegeta raised his right hand summoning a ball of Ki from it. Killing hundreds of people wasn’t enough for you, Kakarrot? Perhaps I need to hit closer to home. He extended his hand toward the audience. If they don’t move, they won’t get caught in the blast. If they do, oh, well. I will sacrifice anyone to have you fight me, Kakarrot.

“Wait a second,” Yamcha stepped back. “Is Vegeta aiming at us?”

“No….” Bulma saw it and didn’t believe it. “He wouldn’t.”

He’s bluffing. Goku could feel where Vegeta could strike. Locking eyes with Vegeta, Goku reached out to him mentally. Don’t do this, Vegeta! This is not you. You are not that man anymore!

I’m not? Let me rectify that! Vegeta hurled the destructive energy at the audience.

“It’s coming this way!” Yamcha screamed!

Aki didn’t know anything about Ki but he knew what was coming towards them was deadly. He also knew there wasn’t time for everyone to get away. He acted as a husband and father. He shielded himself over his wife and kids. They’ll be evaporated immediately. His only hope was they not feel a thing.

Kaifun was paralyzed with fear. He knew Goku and his group of friends were powerful but he never witnessed it displayed in close proximity. His eyes wouldn’t leave the gaping hole of the arena created by Vegeta. Now the one called Vegeta was aiming at them, he couldn’t make his legs move.

“Move!” Mrs. Niver pushed Kaifun out of the way. She was old and slower but had a strong mindset to get away from danger. She knew it was a bad idea coming here. She knew she shouldn’t listen to Kaifun. He wanted to apologize to the waste of sperm. That waste of sperm couldn’t save those people slaughtered by that balding fool. Mrs. Niver wasn’t going to rely on Goku to save her.

Kaifun saw his grandmother moving away with the panicking crowd. Seeing her escaping was the jolt he needed to move. “Grandma!” He called for her.

“It’s coming this way!” Kaifun heard someone say. He saw the ki of energy coming in his direction but from the angle it moved, he knew in the split second before everything changed forever, it wasn’t coming towards him. He turned, looking a few feet away, at where it will hit and who will be killed.

“GRANDMA!!!!!” Kaifun’s chilling scream was as loud as Mrs. Niver’s horrific scream as she and the group around her were impacted by the heat from Vegeta’s Ki blast. Bodies went flying in the air. Mrs. Niver’s was too close to fly. Her body was consumed with many others, vaporizing before Kaifun’s horrified eyes with only her burning cane the lingering proof of her existence.

ChiChi covered her mouth. Mrs. Niver. Oh, my….. She couldn’t believe it. She was gone. Shock. That’s all ChiChi could feel. Pure shock. Kaifun was on his knees crying for his grandmother. ChiChi and Gyu-Mao stood in stone silence as everyone else. Aki was the first to act. After checking on his family, he went to Kaifun, knelt to him and whispered something in his ear. His words got Kaifun on his feet.

“Kaifun,” Gyu-Mao tried to say something to comfort him but words wouldn’t come out. Mrs. Niver hadn’t been on good terms with his family for years but there was a time when things were good between them. No matter the things the old woman said, Gyu-Mao didn’t think the woman deserved that fate.

Goku also watched the fate of Mrs. Niver conflicted. He knew the woman had no love for him. He was indifferent to her and her hate but did she deserve that?

“Help us, Mr. Satan!”

“You defeated Cell! Kill this guy, too!!”

Mark looked around the arena. People were running and screaming but some were staying and cheering him to do something. He was the World Champ but he couldn’t fight these freaks of nature! What do they want me to do? Get killed?!

Cries and pleas for help scattered through the destroyed arena but Goku’s sole focus was on the group near Vegeta’s latest attack. Aki huddled his family close together. Kaifun was shellshocked. Gyu-Mao, Yamcha and Master Roshi were grim over the change of events. Bulma looked broken. He couldn’t imagine what she was thinking over this. Lastly, his eyes fell on ChiChi. Shock, fear and disbelief were on her face but something else, too. Lost. He felt that lost, too. The plans they had for today were lost. The happy memories they wanted to form for their family of four were lost. What they wanted for each other alone was lost.

Once again, they had to sacrifice their wants and needs for the world. Looking away from ChiChi, Goku said goodbye to that loss and opened himself to the anger and disappointment at the one across from him. Goku welcomed the rage as he transformed into a Super Saiyan.

“Don’t do it, Son Goku!” The Supreme Kai pleaded. “This is what Bobbidi wants! He’ll absorb your energy and awaken Boo.”

Goku knew that. Any scenario he thought of now led to Boo’s awakening. Was I selfish in coming back? I stayed dead to protect Earth from any future threats. On the day I return, Vegeta falls to the dark side again, many are dead and a powerful being is on the verge of awakening and killing everyone.

Goku glared at Vegeta who proudly smirked at him. The Saiyan Prince knew he had Goku against the wall, and after killing and turning his back on everything he built, he will get the fight he had been denied for years and reclaim his pride. Damn you, Vegeta. Don’t you see what you’ve done? Don’t you see what that damn pride is costing you?

Goku agreed to the fight if taken to an isolated place where no one will be caught in the crossfire of their match. The Supreme Kai tried to intervene but failed and accepted he and Gohan would do better battling Bobbidi and Dabura again. Bobbidi ordered Vegeta to kill everyone now but the Saiyan Prince’s powerful defiance only cemented to Goku how desperate Vegeta was to submit his body and soul to Bobbidi in order to fight him.

Before leaving, Goku handed Gohan a senzu bean and gave him a parting encouragement to win. He knew Gohan felt guilty about how he handled Dabura but he still believed in his son to win. He was rusty and not at full strength but a little guidance would put him on the right path.

Bobbidi honored Goku’s wish and transferred him and Vegeta to a desert. The terrain was familiar to their first match. As he faced off against Vegeta, Goku debated how to battle Vegeta. Super Saiyan Three can quickly end the fight but the price of that is his time on Earth shriveling up. Goku knew he couldn’t come back to Earth after this and wanted one more moment with his family. Dammit, Vegeta! After all these years….. I thought settling on Earth would change you like it did me.

“I don’t want to give Boo more energy so I will end this quickly at full power.” Not completed full power but as far as Goku can go without draining his time away. If Vegeta learns about Super Saiyan Three…

“I’m looking forward to seeing the fruits of your training in the afterlife.” Give me everything, Kakarrot. It won’t be enough. I’ll still defeat you!

“Rrrh!” Goku snarled summoning his Ki to raise his powers above the ascension of a Super Saiyan but below the threshold of Super Saiyan Three.

Impressive thought Vegeta but it fell below Vegeta’s new power. There was some good to his deal with Bobbidi after all. “Pretty good. You’re stronger than Gohan. Rraggh!” Sparkles of electricity crackled around Vegeta as his new power edged Goku’s. The surprise on Goku’s face thrilled and empowered him. Not so confident it will be an easy fight, are you, Kakarrot? “Come on!!!” Vegeta challenged Goku. “I’ll kill you!”

I’m already dead, Jackass. It was so tempting to become Super Saiyan Three but Goku restrained himself. He needed to conserve his time on Earth as long as possible. After defeating Vegeta, he had to get to Gohan. He knew Gohan and the Supreme Kai will need help against Bobbidi and Dabura.

Vegeta struck first. He swung his leg at Goku who put up an arm to block. The power behind Vegeta’s kick stunned Goku. Being dead, saved Goku from having broken bones and this blow would’ve fractured his arm if he were alive. It was stunning to feel this pain rippling through him in years. None of the fighters on the Grand Kai’s planet could evoke this level of pangs.

Damn! Goku cursed seeing Vegeta throw a punch at him. Instead of blocking, Goku caught it. Shit! Vegeta threw another punch and Goku caught that one. Goku thrust up a leg to block Vegeta’s kick. They were in a deadlock; hand clutching hand; leg blocking knee.

“Argh!” Goku growled as Vegeta headbutted him. His hands slipped from Vegeta’s as he was knocked back. His head rattled as one eye shut wincing in pain. I think that pierced my skin! Wait… Goku looked around. Vegeta wasn’t in front of him. He quickly turned with only seconds to react as Vegeta barreled down with another attack. Goku retaliated with a powerful kick of his own knocking Vegeta away.

The Saiyan Prince caught himself flipping in the air before dropping down for a landing. Death didn’t slow Kakarrot down one bit. He’s still sharp.

Goku mirrored the same smirk as Vegeta. You always kept me on my toes. At least that part of you hasn’t changed.

“It’s a shame,” said Goku as he caught his breath. “All that pride and you succumb to cheating to try to defeat me. Where’s that arrogant, prideful Saiyan I knew that wouldn’t stoop this low?”

“He’s right here ready to defeat you and reclaim the throne as the strongest Saiyan.”

Maybe this Vegeta was here all this time and he was too blind to see it. When he wanted something, Goku was blind to see the reality. He wanted to train Gohan and make him strong. When he got the chance, he thought Gohan would be like him in terms of fighting but realized almost too late that Gohan didn’t fight like him. When his fight with Vegeta ended all those years ago, Goku told Krillin to spare his life because he saw a potential sparring buddy. The opportunity to see that happen was lost with his death against Cell but even without it, Goku now wondered if he ever could’ve turned Vegeta into a sparring partner.

“You’re right, Vegeta. You never changed. Even from our first fight, you couldn’t handle me having the edge and changed into an Oozaru but this is worse. Do you know what submitting to Bobbidi has cost you?!”

Cost him? It gained him everything! “It cost me nothing! It got my pride back! It made me the strong, ruthless, cold-blooded Saiyan again!!!!!”

“It cost you your family!!”

Bulma’s smile and Trunks’ laugh and awe at him appeared in Vegeta’s mind again but Vegeta brushed it away. He will not think of them. He needed to focus all his concentration on defeating this low-class Saiyan! That’s all that mattered. “As if you know Bulma.”

“I know she dropped Yamcha for you. I know she put up more with you than with Yamcha because she believed you were a changed man. Everyone’s always making sacrifices for you and your damn pride, Vegeta. Even me. Do you know what I gave up to give you this fight?!”

Now Goku felt his normal cool falling and his anger rising. He had one day. One day to connect with ChiChi, Gohan and Goten and thanks to Vegeta, he lost it. His clenched fist collided against Vegeta’s face spilling blood from his mouth. “Time with Gohan!” Another folded fist impacted hard against the other side of Vegeta’s face. “Time with Goten!” Vegeta swung to retaliate but Goku disappeared and reappeared behind Vegeta with a kick to his back so hard, that Vegeta flew into a mountainside. “Time with ChiChi!!”

Vegeta wiped the blood from his lips as the mountain rubble and dirt fell around him. So, he wants to bring our women into this. “Time with your wife?” Vegeta laughed. “She couldn’t have been that good for you to give it up for seven years.” There it was. That flicker of anger. The naïve clown appeared indifferent to his wife in the few times he saw them together but he knew that deep Saiyan passion for his wife lay in Goku, too. “She should’ve given it up when she had the chance instead of being loyal to you. I was wrong to turn her away from that opportunity. What a delight it would’ve been for you when you returned.”

Goku frowned slightly as he tried to comprehend Vegeta’s words. What’s he talking about? “What are you saying?”

“You need to be prepared for ChiChi to show up with another man. Another husband,” Olibu hoped that would be clear enough for Goku.

“ChiChi doesn’t have another husband.” Goku pointed to himself. “I’m ChiChi’s only husband.”

“You were her husband, Goku.” Olibu corrected him. “But your marriage ended when you died. That allowed ChiChi to marry someone else.”

That didn’t make sense to Goku. “Why would ChiChi marry someone else when I’m her husband? That’s cheating. ChiChi wouldn’t cheat on me. We made a promise to each other.”

Olibu sighed. Goku was so dense. “Because you’re dead! When you died, ChiChi was free from the commitment you two made. It’s been seven years, Goku! You left your wife alone! You can’t think ChiChi has been single this entire time. There’s a good chance ChiChi married again.”

But there wasn’t anyone. ChiChi was waiting for him with Gohan and Goten. ChiChi never said anything but was there someone else? Did she move on with another man when I died?

Vegeta saw the pain on Goku’s face. The dolt was consumed with his precious wife heating up the sheets with another man. Vegeta used the moment to deliver an earth-shaking punch against Goku’s face and another super punch to Goku’s stomach that would’ve had him vomiting the food he ate earlier if not for his dead body.

Goku’s body ripped through a mountain. The collision of his body splintered the thousand-old structure into pieces. Vegeta caught his body among the rain of rocks and spiraled downward like a rocket until Goku plunged head first into the ground. Dirt and rocks flew everywhere as Goku’s impact created a massive hole twice the size of Capsule Corporation.

Goku lied motionless for a few moments before he pulled himself up on his knees. He spat up blood and rocks. His vision saw four hands. He closed his eyes and shook his head to will the throbbing pain in his head away. “Using ChiChi to distract me.” Goku wiped the blood from his lips. “That was dirty, Vegeta.”

Vegeta cackled. Dirty? It’s on par for him now he was back to his true self.  “Anything to get the job done.”

****

“What happened here?” Videl wondered as she flew over the Tenkaichi Budokai arena. It was in ruins with two large gaping holes. Most of the people were gone. Videl spotted a news crew and her father on the stage. She’ll talk to him later. She had to reach Gohan’s mother first.

There weren’t many people around so it was easy to spot her with Gohan’s grandfather and their friends. “Mrs. Son!”

ChiChi looked up and saw Videl descending. “Videl!” At least she was all right.

“What happened here?” Videl asked.

“It’s a long story, but it’s good to see you well. I was concerned when you didn’t return with Goku and Gohan.”

“Gohan? He was here?” Videl looked around. “Where is he?”

“Wait.” ChiChi was confused. “Weren’t you with Gohan?”

“No. I couldn’t keep up so I agreed to fly back. I ran into Goten and his friend.”

“Goten.” ChiChi gripped Videl. “Where is he?”

“I told him where Gohan and the others went. He and his friend flew off. I assume they were together. Why didn’t they come back with Gohan and his Dad?”

ChiChi released Videl. One son was off fighting another monster and another was missing. This day wasn’t going as they expected. ChiChi looked over at Bulma. She sat alone with her hands on her head distraught.

“We can assume Goten and Trunks are safe.” It wasn’t the boys that concerned Master Roshi. “Piccolo and Krillin didn’t return with Goku, Gohan and Vegeta which meant something happened to them.”

ChiChi looked over at 18 with Marron. They sat away from everyone. Marron was in 18’s lap. ChiChi suspected 18 wanted to distract Marron from the conversation and her thoughts. She saw Krillin didn’t return and had to be worried about him.

All the husbands were turning their wives into an emotional wreck. ChiChi, unfortunately, had more experience than anyone else on this issue and knew what they needed to get through it. Bulma was closer so ChiChi sat with her first. “Bulma?” she heard a sniffle from Bulma.

“I’m fine.” Bulma sniffed again. She lowered her hands and revealed her face. Her makeup was smeared. Her eyes were red and her face was slightly puffy from her crying. “I…… how could he do that, ChiChi?”

“I don’t know.” She grabbed her handkerchief from her pocket. She thought she’d be using it on herself when Goku left. Instead, she used it to dry Bulma’s tears. “Crying won’t solve the issue. It’ll mess up your face.”

“I don’t care.”

ChiChi knew better. If Bulma could see herself, she’d freak at her face. She wiped the makeup away so her face wasn’t smeared. “Goku and Vegeta will figure things out. In the meantime, we gotta do something about this. We can’t just sit here.”

Bulma thought for a moment. There was only one thing she wanted to do. “We can get the dragon balls. We can undo the killing Vegeta did here.” That would keep her focus and keep her thoughts from Vegeta. “But what about Trunks and Goten?”

“I don’t know where they are. I have to hope they are safe.”

“Right,” Bulma agreed. She couldn’t be worried about Vegeta and Trunks. That would make her like… like…  Like ChiChi. I’m a wreck over Vegeta and Trunks and it hasn’t been half a day. Is this what ChiChi felt with Goku and Gohan fighting for years? “I should call my parents,” Bulma decided. “Vegeta’s mess has to be all over the news. I’ll let them know we’re fine.”

Bulma pulled her phone from her pocket and stepped away to call her parents. With Bulma occupied, ChiChi went to 18. “Quite a day, isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” 18 answered dryly as she bounced Marron on her knee. “So, are we gonna stay here and wait?”

“No. Bulma’s calling her parents to let her know we’re okay and then we’re gonna retrieve the dragon balls to---”

“To reverse what her psychotic man did.” 18 scoffed. “It won’t reverse what was done to Krillin.”

“Lazuli, we don’t know what happened to Krillin.”

“I know he didn’t return with Gohan, Goku and Vegeta. For that matter, neither did Piccolo. We have no idea what’s happened. All I know is Krillin can’t come back with the dragon balls. I told him if things go bad to get out of there! He didn’t.”

“Maybe he tried to leave and something happened. All I know is he’s not dead.”

“And how do you know that?”

“I know how my Goku reacted when he died on Namek. His rage wasn’t out of control. Whatever is going on with Krillin, he’s still alive.”

It made some sense and it made 18 feel better about the situation. “Maybe you’re right.” 18 walked over and picked up Marron. “What about you? Goku and Gohan are still fighting.”

ChiChi wanted to cry. It was the first time anyone asked how she was feeling. “I’m going out of my mind worried about them,” ChiChi admitted with a nervous laugh. “I’m barely keeping it together. I never thought I’d be going through this again.”

And yet you reached out to comfort me and Bulma. 18 grabbed ChiChi’s hand and gave it a right squeeze. “Maybe hunting dragon balls will keep us from cracking.”

“I hope so.” It was better than sitting at home and waiting. ChiChi was overdoing that. “Let’s go.”

Videl touched down on the arena stage as the announcer and reporter were leaving. She stayed above them listening and catching up on what happened while she was gone. Goku, Gohan and the one called Vegeta returned. Vegeta was the cause of the destruction of the arena. Thousands of people were dead. Authorities were being called in to look for Vegeta. Goku and Gohan disappeared with him after the killings. The announcer assured Goku and Gohan weren’t responsible for the killing but they needed to be questioned by the police. It was a mess. Videl had to force the rising bile in her down listening to her Dad brag about winning the tournament again and how he was ready to fight Vegeta when he disappeared.

Disgusting, Dad. You’re disgusting. It sickened her to see her father as a liar and con artist who fooled the world for years.

“Baby Girl!” Mark greeted his daughter as she landed. “How are you doing that? You’re…. you’re…..”

“Flying. That’s what I’m doing, Dad. I’m flying. It’s not some trick or special effects. It’s a real martial arts skill you don’t know about.”

Mark didn’t care what it was. He was glad to see his daughter. “Let’s go home. There’ll be a proper ceremony in a few days. You’ll get to see your Old Man honored as the winner of the Tenkaichi Budokai.”

“You want me to be here when they honor a fraud?” Videl asked. “I’ll pass.”

“Fraud?” Mark wondered where that came from in Videl. Did Piiza talk to her? “Your Old Man isn’t a fraud. I’m the world champ. I beat Cell.”

“Cut it, Dad. I know the truth. I know you didn’t defeat Cell. I know you’ve been lying all this time. You took credit and made your brand off of that. We’re rich because you lied and took credit for something you didn’t do!”

Dammit Piiza. It was the only way Videl knew the truth. Money wasn’t enough. That bitch had to turn my daughter against me. “Baby Girl…..”

“I believed you. I wanted to be as strong as you. I thought I was invincible because I thought you defeated Cell. You wouldn’t teach me because you felt the training would be too intense. You made me find another way. I worked for the police because I wanted to get stronger and I wanted to replicate the good you did by helping everyone. I could’ve been killed because of your lies. I almost died today because I didn’t give up against Spopovich because I’m your daughter!!”

“Me? Videl, Spopovich was a wimp. I defeated him years ago. You should’ve taken him but you got too arrogant.”

“And whose fault was that?” Videl questioned. “I was arrogant because for years you filled my head I am stronger than everyone because I’m the daughter of the man who killed Cell. A monster that wiped out the Earth’s army.”

“Listen, Videl. You’re angry but don’t believe everything Miss Piiza told you, and if you wanna be mad at me then you should be mad at her, too. She was in it from the beginning. I made the money so we wouldn’t be living out of hotels and cheap apartments anymore. I wanted a better life for you. Piiza was a greedy woman for fame and money.  She’s just spiteful and wanna get back at me.”

“Miss Piiza.” It made sense she was in on it. She’s her father’s manager but Videl thought she was fooled into believing her father’s lies with the rest of the world. “She knew about this, too? Did Caroni and Pirozhki know? How many were in on this con?”

“Wait.” Now Mark was confused. “She didn’t tell you? How did you know?”

“The son of the man who died for us at the Cell Game told me the truth. Son Gohan. He and his Dad are the ones who killed Cell.”

Gohan? He heard that name before. “That bean pole who brought you to the medic room? He’s that pizza boy that was at the Cell Game.”

“He wasn’t a pizza boy. He was a fighter! He defeated Cell! He, his Mom and little brother lived in poverty while we lived off the money they deserved!”  

“Wait a minute now. I took credit for Cell but I was the one who made us money. I earned that for us!”

“Earned?” Videl couldn’t believe her father. “What you earned was based off lies! And if the world finds out….” Videl didn’t want to think of the humiliation. All the credibility and good fortune she developed would be gone, too. They’ll lose everything. “I….. I don’t wanna look at you anymore, Dad.”

“Videl….” Mark tried to reach his daughter. “You don’t understand.”

Videl flew away. She didn’t want to hear his excuses. She knew she needed time away from her father. She returned to ChiChi’s group. They were finally leaving the stadium. Videl didn’t know where they were going but she rather be with them than with her father.

****

The fight was dragging on longer than Goku expected. Goku wanted to end things with Vegeta’s dignity intact but he underestimated the power Vegeta absorbed under Bobbidi’s control. Being an Ascended Saiyan wasn’t enough to end this lengthy fight and Vegeta fought dirty. He used every physical and mind manipulation to distract and hammer blows on Goku forcing Goku to go beyond the limits of a Super Saiyan and inadvertently power Majin Boo’s shell.

Vegeta was also angry with the battle but not for the same reasons as Goku. He was angry with all this power, he still hadn’t bested Goku. Dammit! I should’ve defeated him by now but no matter how much I keep fighting and beating his ass, he keeps coming back. He was out of breath. So was Goku, but he was dead. Vegeta didn’t think Goku could tire like him. He could feel the battle taking a toll on his body and if he lost, what then? Will Bobbidi take his body and soul and destroy him like he did with Spopovich and Yamu?

What is the endgame with this? Vegeta knew he could defeat Dabura and Bobbidi but what happens after? Trunks didn’t know what he did but Bulma saw him maliciously slaughter thousands. Oh, there was the chance Bulma will take him back. She slept with him aware he murdered millions in his past. But he hadn’t murdered since they got together. Would what happened change things between them?

Fuck it! If I lose them, I will have this victory over Kakarrot.

Vegeta pushed off and charged on Goku again when the Saiyan held his hand out for him to stop. “Vegeta, wait!!” Goku looked away as if he felt a disturbance. “I feel something. It’s huge. I think Majin Boo has come out of his shell.”

Vegeta looked in the same direction and felt it, too. So, that’s Majin Boo. It felt powerful but Vegeta wasn’t threatened by it. “Look at us, Kakarrot. Look at how powerful we’ve gotten. That weak shit Supreme Kai wasn’t aware of our powers. Why the fuck should we care if Majin Boo awakened and pisses the Supreme Kai’s pants? His powers doesn’t match ours.”

“I don’t know about that.” Goku wasn’t so quick to dismiss the aura coming from Majin Boo. “This is abnormal.”

Abnormal. That was a word Vegeta didn’t think Goku knew. “Who the fuck cares?! You won’t be using him to get out of fighting me!”

Goku couldn’t believe Vegeta. Was he so blind and consumed with their fight, that he wasn’t concerned with what they helped release? This was more than soothing Vegeta’s battered ego and pride. Other people were going to suffer. His wife. His sons. Vegeta’s wife and son. Their friends. Everyone was going to suffer if they didn’t snuff out what they inadvertently released.

“I don’t know what Majin Boo is but he ain’t no joke.” Goku was over the fighting now. If he had to change into a Super Saiyan Three and beat Vegeta senseless to get it, he will. “We can’t waste anymore time fighting, Vegeta. Our fight released Boo before Gohan and the Supreme Kai could stop Bobbidi and Dabura. We have to stop this.”

Vegeta exhaled exhausted with Goku’s speech. He looked away at where Majin Boo was released. All right. His power has gotten higher in the last moment but Vegeta didn’t give a damn. “Who the fuck cares? Nothing will stop my match with you!”

Damn fool. “But everyone will be killed. Even Bulma and Trunks!”

What the fuck he’s mentioning them for? I don’t give a damn! But even thinking that, Vegeta knew that was a lie.

Vegeta…. I love you.

Dad, you’re so strong!!

Vegeta… being with you, makes me happy.

“Rrrgh!” I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care!!!!! “Shut up! Shut the fuck up!!” Vegeta exploded in rage. His body crackled with electricity as his ki burst from his body. “I sold my soul to Bobbidi to eliminate compassion! I don’t care what happens to anyone!!”

Who was he fooling? Not Goku. “That’s a lie and you know it. You may have sold your body and soul to Bobbidi but you didn’t sell your love for them.”

Vegeta snarled as he gritted at Goku. Fuck you, Kakarrot. He always knew what to say to get under his skin. He could always read his mind and know what he was thinking and feeling. “And how would you know that?”

“Because I’m a Saiyan… like you. I know what my family means to me. I know what I would give to reach the height of my power and I know what I wouldn’t give up. I know it’s the same for you.”

He wouldn’t give up his love for them and no matter how much he insist they finish their fight, Goku wouldn’t resume. That soft-hearted speech did tell Vegeta what he needed to do. It wasn’t your power that released Majin Boo. It was mine. I’ll end him. “Fine. We’ll put this off since you can’t focus.” He opened his hand. “Give me one of those senzu beans. We used up a lot of energy.”

Goku was relieved Vegeta was finally coming around. He reached into his pocket. “There’s one senzu bean left but we can split it. We can beat him if we work together.”

Vegeta smiled to himself. That damn fool had his back turned to him. Goku was so focus and giddy working together that he didn’t notice Vegeta clamp his hands together and swung forward with all his might to smash the back of Goku’s head so hard, that he fell to the ground completely knocked out.

That was easier than Vegeta thought. “Even you can be vulnerable when your guard is down.” He picked up the lone senzu bean and ate it. Immediately, Vegeta felt renewed. He looked down at Goku again and fought off the urge to kick him. “I let him loose so I’ll take care of him. We’ll settle this later….if I come back.”

Vegeta left Goku and went to the portal that will take him to where he expected will be his last stand. He wasn’t a fool. He felt the power from Majin Boo and knew even with the power given to him by Bobbidi, he was climbing an uphill battle. He’ll be lucky to come out of this alive.

But before Vegeta jumped down the portal, a chill passed through him as he felt someone was missing.

Gohan. He didn’t feel his Ki. Gohan is dead. So Majin Boo’s that powerful.  Dammit. Vegeta didn’t want this. He was angry at Gohan wasting his talent but he didn’t want him to die for it. “Sorry…..this is my fault.” The dragon balls should revive him but Gohan shouldn’t have died.

Vegeta jumped down the portal. Don’t worry, Gohan. Your death won’t be in vain.

****

They were making good time. Three dragon balls have been collected and they were closing in on the fourth. Despite the severity of the situation, ChiChi was in good spirits. It felt good to be hunting for dragon balls. It felt good to contribute and not sit and wait for others to do everything.

ChiChi’s good spirit was an anomaly among the others on the ship.  Bulma sat in Vegeta’s chair distraught over what he did while Yamcha piloted the ship. 18 had Marron in her lap while looking out the window. She accepted Krillin wasn’t dead but something bad happened to him. Her father sat in the back troubled. He hated what Vegeta did, too, but was also saddened by Mrs. Niver’s violent death. Their financial troubles will stay a secret but the cost was high. Then there was Videl. ChiChi didn’t hear but she saw Videl’s body language when she talked to her father. She was upset with him and ChiChi wasn’t sure why.

Did Gohan tell Videl the truth? Does she know what her father did?

“Videl?” ChiChi addressed the teen next to her. “I want to thank you for helping us to collect the dragon balls. We wouldn’t have gotten three so fast without you.”

“It was the least I could do.” Knowing the truth, Videl wanted to make up for her father’s sins. She wanted to apologize to Gohan’s mother. She wanted to give her family’s fortune to him. No wonder she hated my Dad. I bet she hates me, too. I can’t blame her. “Mrs. Son….” Videl couldn’t hold it in anymore. She wanted ChiChi to know she wasn’t her father.  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I didn’t know what my Dad did.”

So, she knows. ChiChi’s heart went out to Videl. She knew from personal experience what it felt to learn when a parent does something awful. “Gohan told you.” Videl nodded. “That’s why you were angry with your Dad.”

“You saw that?”

“The stadium was empty, Videl. It wasn’t hard to notice.”

Good. Videl was glad ChiChi saw it. She’d know she wasn’t on her father’s side. “I told him what I thought of him. After this is over, things will change.”

“If you are thinking of telling the world the truth, Videl, don’t. It’s not going to do any of our families any good. I don’t want the media circus around my family and you have your reputation to think of. A family’s name is important and yours will be tarnished for generations.”

“Not to mention the lawsuits from sponsors and everyone my Dad did business with.” It was a mess. “But I can’t let my Dad get away with it. I’m gonna make him give you what you’re owed, Mrs. Son.”

It would be a solution to her family’s financial problems but after all these years, did she want it?

“Don’t worry about that, Videl. This isn’t your problem.”

“But I want…..”

“I know,” ChiChi squeezed Videl’s hand. She was grateful for Videl’s kindness. “Let’s not worry about that. Let’s get these dragon balls.”

The dragon balls. That was another new thing. She looked at the three in the bag on the floor. “A dragon is really gonna come out when we get them all?”

“Yes. It’ll be a sight to see.”

“Hey, Bulma,” Yamcha flew the ship but Bulma had the dragon ball radar in her hands. “How close are we to the next one?” When Bulma didn’t answer, Yamcha tapped her arm. “Bulma?”

“Oh.” Bulma picked up the radar off the dashboard and read the map on the screen. She was so distracted with Vegeta they were almost passing it. “Oh, land now. We’re practically standing over it.”

She sat back in her chair and released a heavy sigh. “We almost got them all. We can revive everyone killed." Bulma worried about people talking about the massacre at the tournament. What if someone describes Vegeta? His name is on the tournament roster. What if that is released? It'll tie back to her and her family. "Maybe we should wait on reviving everyone," Yamcha suggested. "At least until after Goku deals with Vegeta. Then we can revive everyone Vegeta killed.” "Vegeta won't kill anyone else, Yamcha. Goku will stop him." "Goku couldn’t stop Vegeta from killing those people at the tournament. We were almost hit. That poor lady from Gyu-Mao’s village got killed. Geez,” Yamcha sighed. “I knew it was too much to expect Vegeta to completely change but I thought he was no longer a mass murderer." Vegeta’s behavior was on Master Roshi’s mind, too. "Goku’s return brought back memories and triggered things not settled." The old man sighed. "I guess it was too much hoping Vegeta changed. " Bulma listened carefully. Were they expecting Vegeta to become a killer again? He changed. I know he did. "Geez, Bulma," Yamcha muttered. "You had one job." He spoke so low he thought Bulma hadn't heard him but she did. "Me?" If she didn’t need it, she would smash the dragon ball radar on Yamcha’s head. "What the hell do you mean?" Yamcha jumped startled he was heard but with it out, he was going to stand his ground. “I thought being with you mellowed Vegeta like ChiChi softened Goku.” ChiChi kept her eyes looking out the window thinking of her husband and sons and wondering if they were all right. She had no interest in the conversation until Yamcha said, "Once Goku understood what being a husband and having a family meant, he settled down. I thought Vegeta would’ve settled and instead of training to kill, he’d train to protect. Maybe not protect us but at least you and Trunks. Wasn’t your love enough to change him?”

“My love?” Bulma had a lot to deal with but she’d be damned if she’s blamed for what Vegeta did. Blinded with anger, Bulma threw the dragon ball radar at Yamcha’s head. The hit startled Yamcha and forced him to hit the rudder too hard and sent the ship into a huge dive. 

Everyone bounced around as Yamcha brought the aircraft under control for a rough landing. No one wore their seatbelts so Bulma slammed against the dashboard. Videl fell out of her seat and slammed head first into the back of Bulma’s chair. 18 held onto her seat with one hand while clutching her daughter in her arm. Master Roshi rolled and hit the back of Yamcha’s chair while Gyu-Mao moved like a boulder rolling forward. ChiChi gripped the arm of the seat she shared with Videl and grabbed her father by the back of his pants and saved her father from crashing into the cockpit of the craft and caused enough damage that would’ve sent them plummeting to their deaths.

Boxes and bags of clothes, supplies and food went flying hitting the windows and people inside the shaking ship as Yamcha scrubbed the landing gear against the grass until the airship came to a full stop. When it was over, only Yamcha and Bulma managed to stay in their seats. 18 laid on the floor holding Marron to her chest with blankets dumped on them. Videl could feel a bruise forming on her forehead after smashing into Bulma’s seat. A cooler filled with ice and drinks spilled on her legs. Master Roshi’s body hung over the arm of 18’s chair. A couple of tools dropped on him. ChiChi laid out against her and Videl’s seats while still holding on to her father who was covered in food from the basket ChiChi brought with them.

Yamcha sat in his seat and took a few breaths. That was a close. They could’ve been killed. “Is everyone all right? Ow!” Yamcha hollered as Bulma punched him.

“No thanks to you, you idiot!” she fumed at him before storming off the ship.

Slowly, everyone else began to pull themselves together. 18 checked on her daughter. ChiChi and Master Roshi helped pull up Gyu-Mao. Videl picked up the dragon ball radar that had fallen on the floor through Yamcha’s rough landing. She saw Bulma holding it the entire time and directing everyone where to find the dragon ball. She was off the ship so Videl went to ChiChi in hopes of understanding it.

“I don’t know how to use this but I want to get the dragon ball.”

ChiChi took the radar and showed Videl how it functions. “Goku showed me once.”

“Thanks.” Videl grasped the radar. “I’ll be back.”

“I’ll help you,” Yamcha volunteered as he followed Videl out of the ship.

“Could you do it without sticking your foot in your mouth?” ChiChi was rightly annoyed at Yamcha who blushed nervously before bumping his head on his way out of the ship.

18 picked up Marron and carried her out of the ship. This left Master Roshi, Gyu-Mao and ChiChi alone. Master Roshi lit his pipe and blew a few puffs of smoke. “Ah, Yamcha still runs his mouth too much.”

“Here you go, Dad,” ChiChi handed her father a cool drink and sandwich as he settled down. She began putting the spilled ice back into the cooler. The last thing anyone needed is to slip and break something. “Is Yamcha still sore over what happened between him and Bulma?”  

“No.” Master Roshi was convinced Yamcha was over that. “But like any scorn ex, Yamcha, was waiting for a comeuppance. I don’t think he wanted this.” Smoke blew from Master Roshi’s mouth. “Yamcha understood it was time for him and Bulma to break up. He was rooting for her and Vegeta but he can’t help but take a shot. Yamcha got what he wanted in the worst way.”

“Well,” ChiChi picked up the spilled cans and bottles and placed them in the cooler. “Now isn’t the time for this.” In some ways, they have changed, and in other ways, ChiChi saw they haven’t. With all the ice and drinks back in the cooler, ChiChi went outside. She saw 18 watching Marron freely play in the grassy field. She couldn’t see Videl and Yamcha so she went over to Bulma who sat alone in a field of flowers.

"Bulma? Videl and Yamcha are looking for the dragon ball. They should be back soon.” ChiChi noticed Bulma wiping her eyes again. It had to have been hard seeing Vegeta become a killer again and Yamcha’s words didn’t help. "We don't know what happened." "We know enough. Vegeta turned back into that ruthless killer." "Maybe he’s possessed. He did have that 'M' emblem on his forehead like the jerk who beat up Videl." Possessed. Bulma knew Vegeta enough to know that didn’t happen. "Vegeta is too stubborn to get possessed. Whatever happened, he wanted it. I know that much about him." Bulma sniffed. "That seems to be all I know." "Bulma...." "He could've killed me!! I was so close to that blast!" "We all were but, Bulma, it was clearly a warning shot. You heard Vegeta. He did that so Goku would fight him." And that was another slap to her face. "All these years and he still hasn't changed! He's still obsessed with beating Goku. Wasn't Trunks and I enough for him to get over that?!" It should have been but ever since that talk in her kitchen, ChiChi worried Vegeta hadn’t moved on as everyone thought.  

“My Goku has kept training, too. He’ll exceed you again.”

Vegeta wasn’t surprised ChiChi boasted her husband will defeat him. “Your feelings for Kakarrot blinds you to underestimate me.” He handed ChiChi his empty bowl and silently requested she give him more ice cream.

ChiChi took the bowl and refilled it with four more scoops. “Your pride blinds you to the absolute truth. Goku always comes back stronger. Do you think Goku settled from where he was at the Cell Game? Gohan told me Goku kept his body. Goku’s body had limits on Earth but not in death.” ChiChi shook her head. “Whatever goes on in the afterlife, I know Goku trained extensively.”

Vegeta smirked. “I’m counting on it. It will make my victory over Kakarrot even better.”

ChiChi added cookies to the bowl before giving it to Vegeta. “What will you do, Vegeta, when Goku comes back stronger and you can’t beat him?”

“That will never happen.”

ChiChi expected that response from him. “I know what it’s like living with regrets. I spent seven years coming to terms with things between me and Goku.”

Vegeta munched on a cookie and a spoonful of ice cream. “Woman, don’t compare your problems with Kakarrot to my rivalry with him.”

“Vegeta, you’ve come a long way. I don’t mind if you are around my sons. I even like you and our talks. Your knowledge about Saiyans helped me understand Goku better so let me return the favor telling you there’s nothing wrong in being second.”

Vegeta would’ve smashed the bowl against the table if it didn’t get him a slap from ChiChi. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“As a Prince you were taught you are the best and everyone is beneath you. I was taught to have pride and self-respect, too. One thing we have in common, Vegeta, Goku knew how to rattle our pride. Goku forgot me and Goku showed you a Third Class Warrior can go toe-to-toe with a Saiyan Prince. You were always angry about how Goku was always a step ahead of you. It must’ve rattled your pride Gohan surpassed you when ten days before the Cell Game you were stronger than him.”

“So…….” A thick vein appeared on his forehead. ChiChi knew she touched a nerve. “Get to the point.”

“I spent seven years coming to terms with things between me and Goku but have you? You’re strong, Vegeta, and you’ve grown so much since you settled here. You have Bulma and Trunks. That’s what’s important. It doesn’t matter Goku is stronger.”

Vegeta jumped to his feet. “Kakarrot’s not stronger! He only got lucky! I busted my ass for seven years! I nearly gave up fighting after Cell but Kakarrot’s death motivated me to get stronger and I have. I have surpassed Gohan. I know I have surpassed Kakarrot! You’ll see it. You’ll all see it!”

Vegeta’s outburst didn’t rattle ChiChi. It concerned her. “And if you don’t, what then?”

“This is my final chance to show who the elite Saiyan is! My final chance to show Kakarrot who is…” Vegeta collected himself. He shouldn’t have reacted that way but he couldn’t lose again. “It never should’ve been a Third Class Warrior to defeat Freeza. I was the one who suffered under Freeza. He stripped me of my world, my people and my reign. I am a Prince in name only! I only had my pride and that damn Kakarrot was the one to redeem our people when it should’ve been me!!”

“Didn’t Trunks deliver the final…..”

“Freeza was a mutilated bastard who was a shell of himself when Trunks killed him. I had a chance to redeem myself by killing the Artificial Humans that killed me in an alternate time but I failed at that. I couldn’t even save my son’s death from Cell. It was Kakarrot and Gohan who saved us and not me! I have a chance to correct that. This time I will defeat Kakarrot! This time I will reclaim my rightful place as an elite Saiyan Prince!”

“There’s nothing to reclaim, Vegeta,” ChiChi gently told him. “It’s all in your head. You’ve come so far, Vegeta. You have a family. Your legacy is intact. Let go of this insane rivalry with my Goku or you will lose what’s really important.”

In Vegeta’s eyes, ChiChi didn’t get it. Like Bulma, she understood some things but couldn’t understand everything. It wasn’t their fault. They weren’t Saiyans. “It should’ve been me to defeat Freeza and Cell. I will make up for my losses. I will reclaim my pride. Without that, I have nothing!”

“You have Bulma and Trunks,” ChiChi reminded him. “Isn’t that enough?”

Sadly, ChiChi realized, it wasn’t enough. His decision wrecked him and Bulma.

“I don’t understand this, ChiChi,” Bulma went on, “Goku changed when he married you and had Gohan. Why didn’t Vegeta do the same?” “They’re not the same, Bulma. You can’t compare.” “They're Saiyans. They’re obsessed with fighting and being the strongest.” “Yes,” ChiChi agreed, “but they grew up differently. After defeating Piccolo, Goku was ready for a break from fighting. Marriage wasn’t on his mind but it was what he needed. We had five years to bond. Vegeta wasn’t ready to take a break from fighting. It was forced on him after Goku’s death.”

Bulma knew that was true. Vegeta was sullen and moped around for weeks before he resumed his training. Still, it didn’t excuse what Vegeta did. “Forced or not, Vegeta and I had seven years to bond. Why wasn't that enough?! Why weren’t we enough for him, ChiChi?!” ChiChi could only shrug. She didn’t have the answer. “Sorry,” Bulma apologized. “I'm just pissed. I thought he was over the killing. I never saw him doing this.” Never? ChiChi found that hard to believe. “We were all rooting for Vegeta to change, Bulma. He's come so far but even I was concerned when Vegeta visited me.” “Visit you?” Bulma wasn’t aware of this. “When did this happen?” “It was last month. He was upset I knew about Goten and Trunks being Super Saiyans before he figured it out. We talked about that and Goku's return. Vegeta was so confident he will beat Goku. Vegeta didn't want to entertain the idea of losing. He's still holding onto things.”

ChiChi’s analysis of Vegeta bothered Bulma. Her secrecy about their boys being Super Saiyans bothered her. “You knew about the boys being Super Saiyans? How could you keep that from Vegeta and me? I'm Trunks' mother.” The irony of kept secrets wasn’t lost on ChiChi. “I knew about Goten. I suspected Trunks but I was never sure. Goten never said anything.” Why was Bulma getting mad at her? “Vegeta trained Trunks. He should have noticed.” “But you suspected. You knew about Goten. You know Trunks and Goten are friends. That should've been enough for you to come to me about it!” Dammit! Bulma was angry again. How many people were going to betray her? “I can't believe you kept something so important from me and Vegeta!” ChiChi didn’t lash out. She knew Bulma was angry because of everything that happened today. “I wasn't keeping anything from you. I didn’t know. Trunks isn't my child. I'm not responsible for what he tells you.” Bulma threw her hands up laughing. “Ha! Where was this when you were mad we didn’t tell you what happened after the reunion? You knew about Trunks being a Super Saiyan. You secretly talked to Vegeta, noticed he still hasn't moved past his rivalry with Goku and you didn’t tell me what you feared. How could you keep something important about the two people I care most from me?!" ChiChi clenched her hands and exhaled. It was getting really hard to keep her temper in check. “I know you are angry right now. You had a horrible day but don’t you ever compare what happened at the reunion to my conversation with Vegeta and suspecting Trunks. It is not the same.”

No matter how many years, the aftermath of the reunion would always be a sore spot between them. It angered ChiChi Bulma would dare bring that up and compare it to what’s going on now. "What you, Master Roshi and Krillin did was ten times worse. I am on your side, Bulma, but don't take what happened today out on me. I don’t deserve that.”

Bulma remained quiet as ChiChi’s words settled in her. She was right. It wasn’t ChiChi’s fault. It was hers for not noticing and she hated that so much. “Sorry,” Bulma apologized. “I’m just pissed and Yamcha rubbing it in didn’t help. How was everyone so sure Vegeta would go back to being a killer?”

“Bulma….” ChiChi was nearly exasperated. “Between us, are you saying you never worried about Vegeta killing again? Vegeta wasn’t reformed when you invited him to live with you. You told me you saw him when you thought Freeza’s goon was gonna rescue you.”

“Zarbon.” It had been years but Bulma still remembered him. He was cute until he turned into that ugly beast.

“And when he was with Krillin and Gohan to get the dragon ball you had.”

“Two times might not have been enough to judge him but doesn’t that mean he wasn’t a killer? He was working with us.”  

“Gohan told me he killed Namekians.”

“Okay, so he was still a killer,” Bulma gave in. “The thought had crossed my mind Vegeta will kill again but I didn’t think he’d kill me. I thought if I took him in, fed and treated him to fine things, he wouldn’t kill me and wouldn’t kill anyone else and I was right. You have to admit that.”

Oh, she was trying and ChiChi gave her credit for that but she was still wrong. “Gohan told me Vegeta helped you when you thought Goku was dead. He wouldn’t have killed anyone on Earth since he was waiting on Goku’s return to learn about being a Super Saiyan.”

Okay. There was that little wrinkle. “But I still made the right choice.” Bulma wouldn’t think she was wrong about this. “Can you imagine how Vegeta would’ve been if he wasn’t given a stable home? I had to think of myself and my family.” ChiChi rolled her eyes. “What’s that eye roll for?”

ChiChi knew Bulma enough now to know she didn’t keep Vegeta around only to keep him from not killing everyone. “Bulma, you can’t fool me on this. You were attracted to Vegeta then. You wanted him to stay with you.”

“I won’t lie. I have a bit of a bad-boy fetish. Yamcha’s ruggedness and danger attracted me to him when we met.” Bulma was wistful of the meeting with her first love but when she saw judgment in ChiChi’s eyes, she got annoyed. “You let Piccolo stay with you for three years and you didn’t know all he did for Goku and Gohan on Namek. He’s family to you now.”

“It wasn’t my choice to have Piccolo live with us. It was Goku’s decision and he dropped the news on me the day he came back. I was pissed. It took weeks for us to make up and it took me months before I tolerated Piccolo and that was after I got some good hits in.”

Bulma was intrigued. ChiChi never shared this story. “You hit Piccolo?”

“Every day he left Gohan alone. Six months.”

Bulma snorted at the image of ChiChi hitting Piccolo for that long. “And what did he do?”

“Nothing.” ChiChi was very smug about that. “He knew if he put a hand on me, Goku would set him straight.”

Bulma chuckled softly before falling into full-blown laughter. ChiChi joined in laughing. It still brought a smile to her face how she hit Piccolo and he didn’t dare do anything about that. The laughter broke the tension split between the women.

“Maybe I was blind,” Bulma admitted, “but can you blame me wanting to see the best in Vegeta? He was trying. He really was, ChiChi. I can’t believe he would throw all of that away.” Bulma’s voice wobbled as the tears came again. “After all these years, don’t we mean anything to him?”

ChiChi embraced Bulma and let the woman cry on her shoulder. “He does care about you and Trunks, Bulma. Vegeta made a mistake but he’ll prove how much you and Trunks mean to him.”

****

It was over. Vegeta was ready to admit defeat. There was no way to stop Majin Boo without making the final sacrifice. Vegeta tried everything but nothing could stop him. Not even working with Piccolo, Trunks and Goten.

I really fucked things up. My selfishness killed Gohan and unleashed a beast that will destroy everyone if I don’t stop him. Bulma… Trunks…. you won’t understand now. You might even hate me for what I’ve done. In time, maybe you can forgive me.

His son stood with him, ready to join him in the fight against Majin Boo but Vegeta wasn’t going to allow that. This was his battle. This was his death.

“Trunks, take care of Mom.”

“Huh?” Trunks didn’t understand. “What do you mean?”

Decision made, Vegeta felt light as if something was removed from him. This was very different from when he died at Freeza’s hands. He felt anger and guilt then. Now he felt at peace, as if this was the right thing to do. Is this what you felt when you sacrificed yourself to Cell, Kakarrot? A vision of Bulma and Trunks appeared before him. It was when they were together at the park. Bulma took pictures as he pushed Trunks on a swing. He could hear Trunks saying, ‘Higher, Dad. Higher.’ Is this what you saw, Kakarrot? Your family as I am seeing mine?

The vision faded as Vegeta told Trunks and Goten. “You two make your escape. I’ll fight Majin Boo by myself.”

“No!” Trunks argued against that. “We’ll fight with you or you’ll be killed!”

He is my son. How ironic he thought. Trunks in this and the other timeline will grow up without him. “Trunks…. I never held you even when you were a baby.” He smiled at his son. “Let me give you a hug.” Vegeta wasn’t surprised Trunks stared at him as if he were an alien. He never showed any affection to his child. Vegeta rested his hand on the back of Trunks’ neck and pulled him forward so he can hold his son against him.

He felt Trunks resisting and grumbling, “This is embarrassing.”

Vegeta smiled. If he’s allowed to, he’ll keep this memory in the afterlife. He wasn’t like Goku. He felt it but he couldn’t say ‘I love you.’ All he could say to his son, his heir is, “Take care…. Trunks.”

He whacked Trunks on the back of his neck, rendering him unconscious. Goten screamed, demanding to know why he did that. There was so much of Goku in this young boy. Would’ve been interesting to see how he turned out. He delivered the same blow to Goten’s stomach. He fell unconscious adjacent to Trunks.

Piccolo descended from the sky and picked up the boys. “You’re planning to die, aren’t you?”

Vegeta didn’t think he had to answer what Piccolo knew. Instead, he asked, “Will I be able to see Kakarrot in the afterlife?” Maybe we can resume our match there.

Time was short and Piccolo didn’t want to mince words to give Vegeta hope of something that will not happen. “No. You’ve killed too many innocents. You will lose your body and your soul will go to a place different from where Goku resides.”

Isn’t that fucking great? “I see. Pity.” Vegeta focused on the big and pudgy Majin Boo. It was time to end this. “Then go….. now!”

Piccolo left with Goten and Trunks. He looked back at Vegeta one last time, memorizing this heroic and final act. Give him Hell, Vegeta.

For Vegeta, he wasn’t facing death mortally injured. He wasn’t filled with regrets, anger and missed opportunities. He was a man at peace, smiling as he faced death in its pink, lumpy form. He lived a good life thanks to Goku. If not for him, the oppressor of his people would still be alive. He never would’ve met Bulma who tolerated and accepted his stubborn ways and give him a son he was damn proud of.

A massive ball of Ki surrounded Vegeta. Majin Boo hopped and pounded his chest like an angry beast. “I’ve got to blow you to smithereens so you can’t regenerate again!”

Oh, that got Majin Boo’s attention. He looked worried. It was the first time he saw fear.

Vegeta smirked. He wouldn’t be around to enjoy this victory but he’ll be glad to take Majin Boo with him to the afterlife. He summoned all his power to turn himself into a ticking time bomb. This explosion will destroy everything for miles. Unlike Goku’s instantaneous death, Vegeta knew in his final seconds, he will suffer excruciating pain. Reaching the limits of his power, Vegeta mentally counted down.

Ten seconds.

The vision of Bulma and Trunks at the part appeared again. I do this for you…. Bulma…. Trunks…..

Another vision appeared as Goku joined Bulma and Trunks. The tall Saiyan smiled that endearing grin and waved him over as if encouraging Vegeta to join them.

One second.

And even you…… Kakarrot.

To Be Continued

Part 40: Revival (A lot more sooner than this update!)

It has been much too long since updated. I can’t believe it has been over a year and I am deeply sorry for that. I felt I had to take a break and get away from this story. It was meant to be a couple of months as I focused on other stories and it bloviated into a year. I had family issues to take care of this past year that slowed down my writing immensely. Things are spinning more positively now and I hope it continues that way. I deeply, deeply, thank you all for your patience and support in this story and waiting for an update. I felt guilt many times for seeing reviews begging for an update. I wasn’t sure how to respond and I am sorry about that but I appreciate all who love and support this story.

Until next time and a lot more sooner!!

In the manga, Trunks and Goten won as the winner won 10 million zeni and 5 million zeni respectively. I will treat zeni as Japanese Yen so 10 million zeni equals to 74K US dollars and 5 million zeni equals to 37K US dollars which can be a lot but not enough to live on forever.

Videl in Super is not the same as Videl in this part of DBZ I am writing. Videl was very arrogant and headstrong (not solely her fault) and I am writing her as how she acted during this arc.

I like Gohan but Gohan did slack off in those seven years. He struggled against Dabura which might have been due to not getting all his powers restored from Kibito since Gohan’s power is significant but even in the anime Vegeta broke down Gohan’s struggles was more than just strength. When Videl fought Spopovich, Gohan didn’t notice Videl was in over her head. Goku saw the match after it started and knew within a few moments something wasn’t right. Gohan facing Cell had more awareness.

I don’t know if it is canon or not but I’ve seen posts saying that Mark is Mr. Satan’s real name with Mr. Satan being his stage name like a wrestler.

The anime really dragged out scenes of Mr. Satan celebrating his win when those scenes could’ve been used to show more adventures with the gang searching for dragon balls or discussing what Vegeta did.

I’m sure there were more notes but I forgot.

[manygalaxiesinone]

What if Goku and Adell Swapped Places (Adell's side pt. 6)

((Hee ho doods, Prinnyfrost reporting for duty. Sorry I'm late on this guys but once again, had to focus on other things in life. Where we last left off, Adell and the Z Fighters agreed to join Cooler on a mission to regain Shura and Selion's home Netherworld from its current tyrannical overlord. In exchange, Cooler's forces will be granted access to the Netherworld's resources whenever he pleases. The group are picked up by Salza in a carrier ship who then takes the group to meet Cooler in his main ship that he commands. Krillin, Gohan, Launch, Puarr, Chiaotzu, and even Bulma were all in awe as the look around the ship as well as seeing them pass by all the stars in space. It didn't take long before the prince comes in to greet them.

Cooler: "I take it my vessel is to your liking?"

Gohan: "It's so cool, Mr. Cooler! I can't believe we're actually flying through space right now!"

Adell: "Try not to get too carried away. This isn't exactly a field trip."

Turles: "Let the poor boy have his fun. It's his first time traveling among the stars after all. Why not enjoy it as much as possible, right Brassi?"

Shoumei stays silent as she stares at Turles, unsure how to respond.

Tien: "So, how long before we reach the Netherworld?"

Salza: "At our current rate, it will take approximately 2 weeks."

Launch (Blonde): "Two weeks?! What's the hold up?"

Salza: "We need to keep this operation under wraps from the rest of the empire so we must hold back on our travel speed to not draw unwanted attention."

Krillin: "How come? Is there going to be a civil war in the empire soon?"

Cooler: "You could say that."

Krillin: "I was kidding..."

Cooler: "I know."

Krillin felt a very cold chill down his spine after hearing Cooler's response. The gang all decided to use their time to find a way to be productive to some degree. Unfortunately, the ship doesn't exactly have a designated area for training. Cooler kept that on one of his other ships so he won't risk damaging the main one during his routines. At most, the group decide to brush up on some basic combat training as well as go over what they should do when they reach the Netherworld, especially when Shura and Selion point out that they may still have some allies there that could help the cause. Cooler and Salza both agree that should be their first task as they mentioned time and time again, the more hands they have on deck for this mission, the better. Meanwhile, Bulma is chatting up with the scientists on the ship to see how it operates as well as some of their other machines. Some of the scientists enjoyed Bulma's company while others weren't exactly thrilled of her around, thinking she might be some sort of spy ready to leak information from Cooler's forces. Fortunately, Salza is always able to keep them in line, reminding them that if they do anything to her, neither he nor Cooler will do anything to protect them from her demon friend. Meanwhile, Piccolo is using the time to meditate. Gohan sees this and tries to talk to him, but got worried when he refuses to respond. That is until Shura tells him how meditation works.

Shura: "It's all about relaxing the mind and focusing the spirit, drowning out all outside noise. Doing this helps boost morale and keep a sharp mind in battle."

Gohan: "Wow. Could you show me how to do it, Grandpa Shura?"

Shura: "If you're that curious, then sure. Simply follow my lead, young one."

It took hours before Piccolo realized that he wasn't meditating alone, but instead of throwing a fit, he just leaves them be. Meanwhile, Shoumei uses this time to have a little chat with Turles. And by "chat" I mean demand what his end goal in all of this is and is he planning on getting revenge for the death of his squad mates. Turles kept his composure, pointing out how trying to attack them at this point would be suicide and right now he's just upholding the deal he made with Cooler. Naturally, Shoumei pressed him on spilling the beans about it. At first, he was hesitant, but then decided that...she has the right to know about what happened before they left planet Vegeta. Turles explained that the two of them are saiyans, a race of warriors that travel the stars in search of worlds to conquer, similar to demons, but you have a higher chance being invaded by them in comparison. He also explained that the saiyans used to work for the space emperor known as King Cold until he handed the throne down to the younger Prince, Frieza and how he used to work under him as a soldier. Shoumei was still a baby when all this happened and Turles would occasionally check up on her while she's inside her incubation pod, especially whenever their parents were out swiping supplies to make ends meet, pointing out how much he pitied her for when she finally wakes up only to be set up to serve as either a foot soldier or a housekeeper. That is until one day when he was out on a mission with his previous squad, he received an emergency message from Frieza to return to the planet. Having a gut bad feeling about it, Turles chose to ignore it, much to the annoyance of his other squad mates who left him behind, even destroying his ship out of spite leaving him stranded. He was left to fend for himself until he was eventually discovered and rescued by Cooler who proceeded to explain that Frieza blew up the planet with everyone on it and as such, Shoumei was presumed dead. After hearing that, Turles thought Cooler came to help finish the job and kill him and was shocked about he was actually against Frieza's plan to commit omnicide, but also had a proposition in mind. If he can prove himself useful to Cooler and take up some odd jobs every now and then, he'll keep his lips shut to his father and brother about how there's a saiyan that escaped the destruction of his planet. Knowing it was either this or death, Turles agreed which eventually led to the creation of the Crusher Corp and yada yada yada. Shoumei was understandably taken back by everything she just heard.

Shoumei: "You mean to tell me you have a life debt with the brother of the guy who blew up our planet and killed our race?"

Turles: "It does sound crazy when you put it like that. To be fair, aside from you, there wasn't really anyone I connected with so I can't say I missed all that much. Except for Bardock, maybe."

Shoumei: "Well that's pretty heartless."

Turles: "Saiyans aren't really known for sentimentality. Then again, neither are demons and you end up making a family. Perhaps this is an example of...what's that term Prince Tarble was so found of spouting...Karma?"

Shoumei: "I wouldn't go that far. If you can recall, I'm a bit of a klepto myself. I think it's more luck if anything."

Turles: "Hmph. Who know larceny was a genetic trait?"

As time passed on, the group finally make it close to the Netherworld. Cooler and Adell quickly remind everyone of the current plan, find any of Shura and Selion's surviving friends and bring them to their side and only fight if they have to for now. And that's where I'm going to leave things until the next part.))

[recentanimenews]

FEATURE: A Mom's Guide To Anime — You Get It From Your Mama

  May is one of my favorite times of the year! It’s this beautiful time of transition as the weather is more pleasant and the flowers begin to bloom … Who am I kidding? Mother’s Day is in May! This is when my family adorns me with compliments on being a good mother and pseudo-celebrity. Should they do this every day? Absolutely. Motherhood has allowed me to find myself and reconnect with my inner child. I can’t imagine my life as anything but Ian’s mom. Parenthood also gives us a unique insight into our mothers. As kids, they seem to be this mysterious figure whose thinking you don’t understand. Once you have a child of your own, it just clicks and you suddenly realize you have much more in common with your mom. In this month’s guide, we will celebrate the strong women in our lives who helped sculpt us into the parents we are today. Whether you want to admit it or not, some things you get from your mama or the women in your life. If you’re a mom, a mom-to-be, a fun auntie, or a mentor, your kids will get it from you too. 

Brains, Brawns, And Beauty From The Moms Of Dragon Ball

    Chichi, Bulma, Eighteen, and Vidal are not only amazing mothers but sensational women in their own right. Each woman offers a unique skill to the Z fighters and is the literal definition of “ride or die.” Especially you, Chichi. 

  These supermoms take care of their homes, raise and train children, and are CEOs of companies, royalty, and championship fighters. The female cast of Dragon Ball showcases the versatility of moms and how they are an integral part of not just the franchised but IRL. You may not get everything from the strong women in your life, but you do get a lot from them.

  RELATED: Celebrate Mother's Day With 9 Of The Greatest Moms In Anime!

  Freedom To Grow From The Moms Of BORUTO: NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS

      The BORUTO: NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS series is known to stir a debate or two. However, most agree that the grown-up Naruto characters have strong character development. Significantly, the characters that are now the moms of the next generation. Hinata, Sakura, Ino, Tamari, and others all know what it is like to be a young ninja who must balance school, work-life, growing up, and the overall threats to their way of life. They were legit child soldiers. 

The moms of the new generation can empathize with their children’s experiences. This is seen throughout the series when they often wish for the children to focus more on school and friendship than on missions. They are still ninjas, and so the mothers allow their children the freedom to not only grow as people but as ninjas too. As parents, we often think it would be easier if we shielded them from hardship in every aspect of their lives. That is not only detrimental to the children but to us too. Allow your children to discover who they are and remind them you’re always there for them.   

A Sense Of Adventure Like Do You Love Your Mom and Her Two-Hit Multi-Target Attacks?   

    When you become a parent, there is this immediate assumption that you become boring. That you’re supposed to double down on adulting in order to be a proper role model. NEWSFLASH: Just because we are mothers doesn’t make us boring! Mamako is a great example of a mom who still enjoys adventures, especially with her son. Even if he likes to pretend it’s annoying. 

Throughout the series, Mamako’s son starts to realize that a lot of his strengths — curiosity, compassion, and zest for life — come from his mother. There are times in parenting when other responsibilities take precedence, but kids should never forget that we weren’t always parents. So when you have a moment, share the stories of your adventures as a kid. I bet you’ll gain major cool points with your children.  RELATED: SPY x FAMILY's Yor Ranks in Top 5 of BookLive's Most Desirable Mother/Wife Character Poll  

Love, Loyalty, And Kindness Like Kaasan Mom’s Life

    What are you doing if you’re a parent and you aren’t watching Kaasan Mom’s Life? The series is “semi-autobiographical” based on the creator Rieko Saibara’s life. The main character is named Rieko, after all.  Reiko is a wife and mother who works as a cartoonist. Rieko does her best to balance deadlines, cheeky children, a laidback husband, and a mother-in-law with too much time on her hands throughout this hilarious series. As you can imagine, Rieko is often stressed out. Same, honestly. Despite having many bad days, Rieko has no shortage of love and kindness for her family. 

Honesty Like From RADIANT

      Radiant does not get the flowers it deserves. Since flowers are the most common gift received on Mother’s Day, I’m giving Radiant its flowers today! Radiant has a fantastic cast of strong female characters. Each provides Seth with the support and skill he’ll need to become a great sorcerer. However, his guardian Alma is always there to dish out a hot plate of tough love. No matter what the circumstances are, Alma ALWAYS tells Seth the truth. She knows that a lie is far worse than the villainous Nemesis monsters, even if it's a hard truth that could potentially hurt his feelings. Can you be named Nemesis and not be the villain? 

  There is the old saying, “honesty is the best policy,” and there are times when it feels like the worst policy. And I would be remiss if I didn’t admit that parents often tell “white lies.” REGARDLESS, the lesson we are trying to teach is that when you are honest, it's a show of good faith, morals, and care. As your children grow, you’ll want to create a clear line for open and honest communication.  

  Many of us get our nurturing side from our moms, grandmas, aunts, and other kind women in our lives. Like Rieko, we develop a deep sense of loyalty and do whatever we can for the people we care about, even when those very people get on your last remaining nerve. I type as I stare directly at my younger brother, who is sitting not too far from me. Love, loyalty, and kindness are part of a strong foundation for relationships. You’ll want to provide the same foundation for your children to continue a pattern of positivity.  

I wish you a Happy Mother's Day to all the moms, sisters, aunts, grandmas, guardians, and mentors who provide unconditional love and unlimited support. To my mom, who often doesn’t read these, thank you for always being there through health challenges, a teen pregnancy, and that time I tried to cut my hair. Because of you, I can be the anime-mom I am today. I love you. 

      Hey, I'm Yali! When I'm not being your friendly neighborhood single mom, I'm also a producer! Kids ain't cheap and mama has to get the bag. I'm a producer for the DB4L Podcast. It's a podcast that breaks down the Dragon Ball Manga but in a real way. It's like barbershop talk but without having to tell the barber you don't like the haircut. Give it a listen.  Dragon Ball 4 Life - Fandom Spotlite | Podcast on Spotify

By: Yali Perez

[falling-heights]

I was wondering if you can do a yandere goku hc, but like goku who didn’t get hit in the head so he’s kinda more aggressive, violent, and not so child like? basically he didn’t hit his head as a child so his personality doesn’t switch?

Okay so like, a straight answer would be for me to just tell you that this is just Turles, because that’s exactly why Turles was introduced, to be the kinda “what-if?” with Goku. But I’m not, because I love Turles too much to admit such tomfoolery. The man’s got thunder thighs that you just can’t question, alright? 

Taking Turles out of the equation makes this a much more complicated matter, and so that everyone can understand my reasonings about this set-up, I’ll explain a bit about his rewritten past first. 

 What might be surprising to you is that I don’t believe Goku’s journey would change as much. Grandpa Gohan would still find and raise him, and it’s likely that he’d still die by the same reasons. 

At this point it should be established that when Goku hit his head, he probably suffered amnesia as well, hence why he can’t remember Bardock or Gine, so by not suffering that injury, he’ll still know some their faces at the least and his own name, which would remain Kakarot.

He would still be taught about morals and honor, taking on Gohan Sr. as more of a martial arts master than a parental figure, and when Gohan died, Kakarot would want to seek out a new master. Curiously enough, he’d never have the need to destroy earth, because as it was discovered in the Broly movie, he was never sent there for that purpose. If anything, it’d be better to compare him to an orphaned and estranged young boy with no set purpose and no way to find out where he came from.

And this is why he’d go the most likely route of seeking the martial arts. Saiyans are a fighting breed, so it would make sense that he’d want to get stronger just by following his blood instinct. 

It’s unlikely that he’ll ever meet Bulma, and if he ever met Yamcha.... well, poor yamcha. 

From adolescence to late teens, he’d be taking on a multitude of masters, and learning from them until he felt that they had nothing left to offer him. His skills would be much sharper than the other goku because of how serious he takes fighting. 

A sense of pride and cockiness may develop from this over-powered strength. He thinks himself to be superior to everything else considering he’ll still know of his saiyan heritage. The only way someone would then be able to earn his respect would be by having equal strength or skill.

In his free time, when he isn’t training, he tests his battle smarts in tournaments, plus the money earned isn’t half bad. 

And this is when you come into the equation, Dearest. 

As we’ve established, Goku can only respect someone if they’re respectively strong. The same will be said about you. You’ll have to impress his ego before he’ll even consider something. 

You’d meet him as a late teen, the best bet being a World Tournament, with you as a contestant. Even something as small as landing a single punch will pique his interest, and he’ll want to push your skills to reflect his. Instead of being the student, he’ll become the teacher, whether you want his guidance or not. 

His intentions are good by default, however he’ll discover kindling desires for you the more your relationship develops, and he’ll soon be too attached to let you go.

But not to worry, Darling, he may be possessive and obsessed with you, but Kakarot is a tad more refined than his amnesiac counterpart. You’ll be happy with him. 

He’s not a traditional romantic, but let’s say... he has a more open imagination. You’ll be able to do so much more with him than regular Goku.

Just don’t make him angry. His fuse will be shorter, more things will set him off, particularly if it pertains to you. 

You see, my dear, the biggest distinction between Kakarot and Goku is guilt. Kakarot has no desire to be a merciful or kind person unlike Goku, which translates to how he treats anything that may be deemed a threat to your safety. 

If someone tries to advance on you, he’ll be there to protect you. But he’s a sadistic man, and he’ll want to teach them a good lesson on their behavior before putting them out of their misery for good. 

So, when Raditz arrives to recruit Kakarot, whatever Raditz expects to be done with you will decide if he lives or not. But the more likely outcome will be that he doesn’t care if Kakarot wants to bring a plaything. He may even recruit you if your skills hold up. The alignment won’t last, however. Goku and Vegeta have too much in common, too much to clash with, and considering Kakarot isn’t his old friendly self, you can imagine what Vegeta, Nappa, and Raditz’s fates will be. 

You’ll be free to roam the universe, Kakarot’s draw to power will lead him to eventually ruling it, most likely, and you’ll be there with him every step of the way. He has no need to prove his undying love to you because he knows just how hopeless your chances of escape are. And so do you, he’ll see to reminding you every so often.

Okay, i don’t know how this one really turned out, but more Piccolo is coming out next! Maybe later today, I haven’t decided yet...

Also! I’ve been thinking about situational hcs or snippets of actual writing instead of hcs, what do yall think?

Check out my other stuff!

[roseunspindle]

What’s the difference

Rewatching dbz and re-reading some fics and seeing clips of other stuff, I’m just reminded how much Pan is mistreated by the narrative. 

When Goku is a child, he’s confident (to the point of arrogance) and could be snippy when he wanted too. He is our protagonist though, so he wins more than he looses, he’s strong and it’s understood that he’ll get stronger and face ever stronger and more dangerous opponents. People who assume he’s weak because he’s a child get corrected.

Gohan of course starts training with Piccolo at 4, and it given by the Namek saga full respect from Bulma and Krillin (later Vegeta and Piccolo) as a capable fighter, even when his emotion get the better of him and he reveals his and Krillins presence to Frieza by rescuing Dende. The only that ever seems to remember Gohan is a child is Chichi, and a little bit with Piccolo, and then we get some good Dad!Goku moments in the time chamber. But again, his strength and competence despite his age is generally unquestioned 

Future Trunks never totally got to be a child for the most part, and was of course handed the mantle of earth protector from Gohan upon his death.

Trunks and Goten both come across as very spoiled, Trunks especially and he’s very bratty. In general though Trunks and Goten’s antics are seen as okay and hey, they are strong fighters, even if they don’t like training all that much and would rather goof off, when they do act too childish they are scolded and expected to do better, when the narrative calls them on it.

Now Pan, Pan at the end of Z was bright, sweet, very much being contrasted with young Goku, so Goku totally abandoning her to go train Uub was startling. Then there’s GT Pan, who is bratty, and treated very, very much like a child and who’s only form of training seems to come from Hercule, since no one else seems to have any interest in her at all, especially training wise. She is reminded continuously that she’s a child, her bratty, spoiledness is pointed out endlessly and she never wins many fights, and no one seems to think she’ll get stronger, she’s often put in the  “in need of rescue” role, and it’s very tiering. They point out how much she hates loosing but trunks and goten as children were just as bad and it’s not pointed out near as much as it is for pan, and often whenever pan steps into a fight to help, she’s scolded because she’s “not strong enough” or “can’t handle it” and again is never really offered training to correct this.

I dunno, it bugs me. Hopefully they’ll do better with Pan in later super chapters as she grows up. Unlike Gohan, who trained because there was always some incoming threat, but didn’t really care too, or trunks and goten who trained as play then lost interest, Pan seems to be a character who wants to train and fight, but as a girl, the narrative had no interest in allowing that.

[helpfulbug]

okay i have one final request 🙈🙈 as i was typing up my thots on your yyh post, something about kuwabara reminded me of vegeta and then i was like VEGETA... OUR MEOW MEOW MAN.. so 🤪🤪 i hav returned to ask 👉🏼👈🏼 da blorbo meme for dragon ball? 🥺

ohh sarah i had to wait until i was in the right mind set for this one...and since the mania has hit on monday im ready now >:]

GLUP SHITTO ASK MEME

blorbo (favorite character, character I think about the most)

ofc its bulma!!! (i could also put vegeta here but as you said yourself he is THE meow meow so until later bestie) shes so epic i love that she and goku meet as kids and even as a young air head teen its established that shes extremely bright and innovative. despite being a genuis shes never the "quite nice girl" she always just speaks her mind big win for women

also every bulma outfit/style ever slaps so hard she never misses and never shows up w/o being dressed to nines even w a baby in her hand (my personal fav is the big hair red stripped dress of the trunks arc)

like all other women in db she got hardcore nerfed after becoming a mom but she got it a little better than chi chi bc at least she can have some plot relevance for technical stuff but still T_T can we get a working milf in here PLS the kids are off fighting after age 2 anyways

i will touch on this later more but my GOD the power the bulma vegeta marriage has in comedy alone one of the funniest things in anime ever i was just explaining it to the bestie earlier<3

also not to bring up a whole other timeline but FUTURE BULMA wahh the way she kept on going w a little kid when all of her friends and family were dead and build the time machine that saves the earth and puts her son into knowing if he manages to change the future this version of her will cease to exist or he will die in the past and she will never see her child again damned to survive the end of the world all by herself knowing she send her own son to his death TORIYAMA u didnt need to go this hard tears im my eyes just thinking about it wahhhh

scrunkly (my “baby”, character that gives me cuteness aggression, character that is So Shaped)

i would have to say puar or chiaotzu.....i love that theyre just little guys and fiercly loyal to their besties they both also started out doing crimes and being evil for fun until they decided to be good actually so theyre quite similar in that way

tldr; theyre both shaped and i enjoy looking at them very much:)

scrimblo bimblo (underrated/underappreciated fave)

TEENAGE GOHAN hes soooo funny he saved the earth and then was just like ok time to return to school :) and then he has to use his superpowers but only in situations where he has no other choice and hes always in a hurry bc he cant be late for school! he wears bulmas lame ass superhero outfit w/o shame bc his sense of style is 10 years behind and calls himself the great saiya man so no one will recognize him as anything abnormal meanwhile he rides on a cloud to school every single day

on a more emotional note he had to help raise goten bc goku died before he was born....hes such a good older brother remember the episode where hes training and is like hey goten wanna throw rocks at me :} ? and goten almost kills him bc he doesnt know how the count down from 3 thing works anything wah wah wah wah siblings i very much enjoy thinking about^^

also he dabbed in the 90s before it was cool or uncool .... unbothered king....

glup shitto (obscure fave, character that can appear in the background for 0.2 seconds and I won’t shut up about it for a week)

shes an obscure fave in dbz only bc TORIYAMA FORGOT ABOUT HER but LAUNCH so epic so epic (i know shes supposed to be a funny take on "split personality" women but lol my city now) anyways she was so cool her design slaped and the ambush the enemy by sneezing and getting violent was always funny^^ also i thought she and tien were very sweet:) and i think there was a storyline where she wanted to get to the bottom of her condition and learn to be more controlled about it too? (iirc tho)

poor little meow meow (“problematic”/unpopular/controversial/otherwise pathetic fave)

OK HERE WE GO u all already know who im talking about the original short king (3 foot troll doll hair included) male pattern baldness icon he was pondering the orbs bc it was cool he never sets foot outside w/o the channel boots and gloves ON prince of 3 subjects the original trophyhusband his name is literally vegtable what can i say that hasnt been said..... unironically one of my fav characters ever

also his cultural impact where would we be if vegeta hadnt felt it coming in the air that night...

lets not forget no trunks gender w/o vegeta either (thank you KING)

also gt only so this is a bit obscure but hes so WIPPED for his daugther (i think hes also making up for missing most of trunks childhood) the episode where she disses his cursed mustache and he IMMEDIATLY shaves and goes through the house waiting for ppl to compliment him on it OK WORSTIE

on a more serious note vegeta orgin story MY GOD. being fully aware when his planet was blown up that being taking in and working for the guy who did dude he was like 6 wah wah wah i know its been memed to death but the namek saga scene where hes deadly wounded and PLEADS goku to kill freeza for their people MAN.

also bonus german dub tidbit but SPONGEBOB VA VEGETA i think they did it bc he sounds similar to the french one? anyways we have this cursed combo intil after the first goku vs vegeta fight iirc

horse plinko (character I would torment for fun, for whatever reason)

i would also say vegeta here but no doubles so im saying in a non joking way

master rochi DIE OLD FART

also toriyama for every shitty racists depiction in dbz wtf is mr popo bro

eeby deeby (character I would send to superhell)

well superhell is p much canon in dbz and quite a lot of ppl have been there so idk

if its for gay reasons i would say trunks he is the fruitiest dbz character for SURE

OH also mr satan just bc i think it would be funny (i dont remember if he already made it in there sorry)

also i know hes already in there but freeza can spend eternity in that cocoon on that tree

[tenshindon]

Hi :)

just some quick stuff ‘bout Yamcha and Bulma’s relationship in the manga under the cut

So I was going to save this for until after I watched the anime too but I mean that’s not going to be for a while- plus I just wanted to share what little things I ended up finding.

And when I say little things I’m not exaggerating the slightest; Yamcha and Bulma seldom appear together in the same scene, let alone even talk to or about each other. When I was getting ready to start my note taking, I actually had a number of colored tabs I wanted to attribute to specific things I found:

Blue tabs would be for anytime Bulma did or said something questionable

Green tabs would be for anytime Bulma did or said something nice/sweet

Orange tabs would be for anytime Yamcha did or said something questionable

Yellow tabs would be for anytime Yamcha did or said something nice/sweet

And throughout five-and-a-half 3-1 volumes? I only used 8, which is definitely foreshadowing how much different the anime is going to be from the manga as I can already think of at least three more scenarios involving these two.

Nevertheless, on to what I actually found. I’m going to elaborate on my thought process on all the scenes afterwards. Points with asterisks next to them mean I’m relatively indecisive as whether what they did was good, bad, or neutral.

*The first yellow tab goes to Yamcha when he reunites with Krillin and Goku at the first tournament of the series. In the specific manga I have, Yamcha mentions that Bulma was “bugging” him about how long hair was no longer in fashion in the city, so he either cut his hair himself or let Bulma cut it so it would be short.

The second tab is a blue tab about a chapter or two later when Yamcha and Jackie Chun are about to start their match, to which Bulma’s already wondering if Chun is attractive. Oolong makes a point to bring up her relationship with Yamcha, to which she retorts with “I can look, can’t I?” After Jackie Chun steps out and it’s discovered he’s an old man, Bulma is immediately disappointed and decides to cheer for Yamcha instead.

The third tab is a blue tab again; when Goku visits Bulma to have the dragon radar repaired, Panchy comments on Bulma and Yamcha’s tumultuous relationship and how Bulma was jealous of Yamcha’s popularity with girls. At that, Bulma gets upset and pledges to accompany Goku on his quest to find the Dragon Balls- either to wish for a better boyfriend, or to coincidentally find a new boyfriend while hunting for them

The fourth tab is- again, a blue tab, where Bulma openly (and honestly aggressively) flirts with General Blue as he and the Red Ribbon army pursue them for the Dragon Ball. When Blue rejects her, she doesn’t persist but rather remarks that he’s probably not attracted to girls if he wasn’t attracted to her. Later on, in an attempt to save her life, she again tries to seduce him- more so for strategic purposes this time.

Tab number five and blue tab number four happens after Yamcha just barely escapes death from fighting Bandages. While Krillin, Goku, Upa, and Puar fret over Yamcha’s safety, Bulma remarks that the fight was pathetic and Bandages was already damaged (though Krillin’s quick to point out his wrappings weren’t because he was hurt).

Things start to turn up on Bulma’s part with a couple of green tabs; as Yamcha is prepared to fight Tien, Bulma’s fairly excited to see him come out on stage. *The next tab I decided to note was Bulma covering her eyes right before Tien breaks Yamcha’s leg, and the final tab goes to her being the first person to exclaim that she would be following Yamcha to the hospital.

I actually used a purple tab for this next one since it didn’t fit either yellow or orange. It’s a small thing too as neither character actively does anything to warrant it, as for the first time in the character biographies at the beginning of the books, Yamcha is described as “Bulma’s on-and-off boyfriend.”

The last tab is one more blue tab that comes as a result of Bulma fawning over Goku’s growth and how much he had changed. Oolong solidifies that she’s head-over-heels for him by calling her a “fickle wench.”

OK discussion time class :)

1.) I put this act as questionable because I wasn’t sure if Yamcha cut his hair for Bulma’s sake or because he wanted to fit in to the aesthetic of city life and just followed Bulma’s advice. But considering he generally preferred to have longer hair for the majority of Dragon Ball/Z/Super, I’m going to wager and say he was willing to change his appearance for Bulma.

2.) So far, Bulma and Yamcha had been dating for around one year and at this point Bulma’s already prepared to ogle other men. I have a couple points I want to make on Bulma and her perception of men but I’m going to save that for The Bigger Analysis.

3.) We have no idea how Yamcha behaves around these other girls as there’s never an indication he reciprocates their affection or just ignores them, but either way trying to replace your boyfriend like he’s a used-up car is pretty bad. We can assume Yamcha doesn’t react positively to the attention considering he never positively comments on any woman in the series- Bulma included.

4.) This one’s pretty self explanatory; I don’t really need to explain this. I’ll try to give Bulma some leeway and say she and Yamcha were on a break as Panchy points out they were fighting, but “fighting” is not the same as “being on break,” never mind it is actually never explicitly stated or implied that the two go on a mutual break. The most prominent existence of a break exists in Yamcha leaving to train at Korin Tower and to train alone.

5.) Bulma doesn’t offer an ounce of care at the fact Yamcha was literally hanging over death and even insults his capability as a fighter while his friends do all the worrying for her. For someone who’s supposed to be your lover and partner, Bulma doesn’t really show any concern for Yamcha’s safety.

6.) Bulma’s actually being a supportive girlfriend during the Tien saga which was a nice relief from seeing her being so dismissive- this is the first time she’s actually cheered for Yamcha in any fight since the first tournament too (every other time, she would collectively congratulate and root for her friends). 

I put an asterisk next to Bulma covering her eyes before Yamcha’s leg is snapped in half because she could have just been scared to see it, but I want to be nice to her and say she didn’t want to see Yamcha get hurt. 

As for Bulma being prepared to go to the hospital with Yamcha, she’s the absolute first one: whether she’s grown since the Bandages fight or it just dawned on her just how much danger Yamcha was in, she now starts to show care and worry over him. This is further shown after Krillin is killed and Yamcha offers to take revenge for him, to which Bulma scolds him- both for the fact he was still recovering from his injury and reminding him of his inability to be able to do anything, and because he was willing to easily add himself to the growing body count started by Piccolo and his children.

7.) Again, no explanation needed. This change in Yamcha’s biography gives clarity on the fact Yamcha and Bulma have taken enough breaks from each other for him to be considered an “on-and-off boyfriend.”

8.) It’s been a while at this point since Bulma’s looked at another man affectionately- both manga duration wise and in-universe time. Still, it reminds the reader that Bulma’s fairly fickle when it comes to men.

Couple extra things I just want to talk about:

Like I said before, Yamcha never looks twice at another woman- he even points out that Chun’s behavior was lecherous towards Ranfan (though this could have just been portrayed so Yamcha could put the pieces together that Roshi and Chun were the same person). Meanwhile Bulma seems to be poised to pick up another man in case things don’t work out between them. I would attribute this to Bulma being young, but she maintains this behavior for years- even into DBZ where she’s in her late-twenties.

As far as we know, Bulma and Yamcha never kiss. At least they don’t kiss for as long as the General Blue saga, as Bulma points out she’s going to die before having her first kiss. Of course, you don’t have to kiss to be dating someone. I just found it a little interesting.

Yamcha attends school by the time he moves to the city with Bulma, and possibly lives with her and her family at Capsule Corp, as Bulma’s easily able to get a hold of him when she calls her dad and asks him to put him on the phone.

The majority of this list comes in the form of Bulma’s flirtatious nature with other men. Aside from that, she and Yamcha are pretty casual with each other, her only other fault being her apathy towards Yamcha against Bandages.

Toriyama’s stated in a Q&A that Bulma was a “harsh and selfish” person.

I’m fairly certain Toriyama’s pointed out he isn’t sure how to write romance and I personally can’t blame him for that: love’s a complicated thing that I don’t even know how to portray.

That’s all I have now. I’ll be back with more notes about the anime’s portrayal of these two. I think I’ll make a post like this one for the anime, then I’ll gather everything I’ve collected and write a big piece about it.

If you have any questions, comments, or just want to talk about this with me feel free to shoot me a message :)

[iamtheempress]

Cold Blooded

A Dragon Ball Horror Fic {Part 12}

☆☆☆

Not even a whole day is all it took, and goddamn was it a long day for Vegeta. Time was of the essence and gods knew how much longer they had until Frieza did anything to the Earth, and Vegeta be damned if another planet be killed under his watch by the likes of Frieza… The biggest waste of carbon life in the known universe.

Vegeta had a vendetta, for the sake of his race, and his woman, his eyes not leaving his lovers face, his fiance, his mate.. Bulma coulda sworn he watched him shed a tear. All the Z fighters were in attendance to help scout for the Dragon Balls. Words were left unspoken between the group. They haven't experienced a death so immediate in their lives as of recently. The most recent being several years and several fights ago.

Bulma came in and looked at the sullen princes back, he's cradling her like a baby.. Looking constantly at the woman that took his breath away. “Vegeta..? Vegeta, Goku is coming back now he has the last two. Everyones outside and ill walk with you.. shes my friend too.. been one for a long long time...” She muttered pushing the blonde locks from Carlies face, still teary eyed from finding her friend dead on the ground of her laboratory.

 “He took her ring… He took it from her lifeless hand. Frieza is a monster.. And if he continues to breathe the same air of this universe ill make sure everyone he encounters, know hes a monster… the…” He turned to her and  started walking back down the hallway, Bulma in tow and holding the 7 star ball in her hand. “You saw the camera footage did you…” Bulma asked, Vegeta remained silent.. He saw everything. To say he didnt feel pride in her to see her fight to her last breath would be a lie. Why did it have to be her.. Why didnt he stay with her… He blamed himself every step of the way. “She fought to her last breath… and she took her last breath into that god damned monsters mouth…” He growled adjusting his woman's corpse in his arms, she's shrouded in a blanket. Her head supported on his bicep so it wouldn't flop about seeing as though Frieza crushed it entirely flat. He didn't speak to anyone. The balcony was uncharacteristically quiet for the amount of people standing around. Bulma added the 5th dragon ball to the group and as she heard it clack, Goku instant transmissioned to Vegetas side, pat his shoulder and looked at Carlie, “I couldn't fly any longer, you needed these now.”  The moment Goku returned with the final two he spoke up. Goku added Dragon Ball 6 and 7 to the pile and looked Vegeta in the eye in that same look Goku always gives.. But this time.. Much somber and understanding. “If it was ChiChi id be the same way…” The two Saiyans looked to the small dead human… “It's all you Vegeta. Floors all yours.” Goku pat his back and backed up abit, his excitable demeanor literally pissed Vegeta off to no end, there's a reason Vegeta even considered Kakarot a friend and this was that one reason. It’s now or never.

The balcony of Capsule Corp has now seen everything and summoning SHenron here was certainly not a first. A dead woman in the arms of the prince is a first for many. “Come forth mighty Shenron.” He asked watching the sky turn black and the Dragon snakes across the sky and looks down upon Vegeta. A glorious and frightening sight to behold.

“You have 3 Wishes… What is your first wish?” It bellows, its voice booming, Godlike. “I wish for Carlie to be alive again.. And without wounds of what happened.” He asked plainly looking down at her face. “Your wish has been granted… she will return to the land of the living shortly…” Vegeta sighs in relief, that wave of ease falls upon the group as Bulma wipes sweat from her brow. “You have 2 more wishes.”

Vegeta completely was besides himself.. 2 more wishes. He gulped hard. He considered his words carefully, “If it wasnt for me she would be alive… I wish for her nothing but happiness, even if im not there.” He sounded defeated. Like hes considering leaving her.. He hated thinking on it but he wanted to give the wish a shot. The dragon blinked and spoke, “Her wish was granted many years ago. She wished for a prince, success and happiness, all in one wish.” Vegeta was dumbstruck, her one wish to him was all 3 at once.. And she got that. Even if she was dead. “Now. What are your two wishes?”

The prince grinned. “Dragon, I wish Frieza lives the rest of his days knowing what he did to her.. And i hope it hurts him like hell.. Every waking moment of his miserable life.” He snarls. Shenrons head lowers closer to Vegeta’s  view and speaks. “Your wish has been granted for the rest of his days; he will live with the scars she has given him. What is your final wish?” The mighty eternal dragon asked Vegeta, the dark sky swirling as the dragon prepared himself to return back to the center of the earth.

Vegeta grinned widely, “Make that tyrant unable to destroy the Earth. I wont let him destroy this planet.” HE growls viciously Carlies hand twitching slightly, Vegeta noticed this and looked down. “Your wishes have been granted, farewell.” The dragon announced and returned to his place in the center of the Earth releasing the sky of its complete darkness and returning the mid afternoon suns rays to bestow themself upon the sorrowful prince and the rest of the z fighters. Carlie squinted her eyes and grimaced only to open them and feel her neck and stomach, shocked and face once again filled with color. “Vegeta…! What..? WHere? I was just…-” She stammered holding onto Vegeta, Bulma ran over to her partner and kissed her forehead “No more questions alright? Your back and thats all that matters. Dont worry about your lab ill take care of that, Car.” She winked and made the blonde scientist smile and blush.

Goku rubbed the back of his neck and pat Vegetas back. “Oh yea i shoulda told you about her wish to have all that back there should I hehe!” Vegeta rolled his eyes and scoffed “Quit your babbling idiot.. Its not like she wouldnt have had all three of those wishes WITHOUT the Dragon Balls.. We were destined to meet, end of discussion.” The prince smiled and met foreheads with her feeling the warmth of her face against his made him feel alright one again.

Two spiteful wishes for the price of her coming back was worth it. Worth bringing his princess back. The Emperor on the other hand; was suffering on the outreaches of the solar system upon his ship, his once pristine white membrane tainted by deep scars in the form of golden long scratches raking in every which way. Making it look like he lost a long arduous fight with a barbed wired fence. He looked like hell and he was raising it substantially upon his ship screaming and cursing the woman who brought such a disgusting parting gift to him. The emperor fell to his knees and looked up at a wall that was completely monochromatic. His reflection was telling. The broken tooth, the long scratch on his chin down his sternum. The ones that caked his whole chest. Tainted in golden veins. He would be perfect if they werent there, but alas. Here we have the Emperor. Shedding his first tear. For a brilliant young Earthling he fell hopelessly inlove with, one who's betrothed to the one race he swore to exterminate but failed miserably. To the Warrior Prince nonetheless. This is a reminder of Frieza’s biggest failure… and that ring in his hand felt like molten hot metal, but he cant take himself to part with it at all, its too much for him.. Like he misses her with all of his being.

He in a frustrated fury looked over this ring to inspect why it burnt him so harshly.. Surely there has to be a logical reason. He read the inscription. “Strengths in our Blood.”

☆☆☆

Authors note: I really gotta thank everyone who supported me every step of the way with this fic it was REALLY fun and unique to write! I loved everyone who said that it was great and im more than happy to create more with time. I love you all expect more !!!!!

@dragonblobz @lilfriezatyrant @gallickingun @kamehamethot @gonuclear @memevember @msgreenverse @lizardhipsdontlie @thotful-writing @supremeleadershitlord​ @memevember​ @dragonball-hcs-or-sum-shit

[duhragonball]

Dragon Ball Super Movie 1: Broly (2/2)

Last time, Frieza was planning a trip to Earth to make a wish on the Dragon Balls, when Cheelai and Leemo showed up with a new recruit, Broly.   Now they’re hanging out in the mess hall of Frieza’s ship, and the strongest guy on the crew is drunkenly creeping on Cheelai.  I guess that lady in the background already shot him down, or he has a thing for the green ladies.

I like this part where Leemo tries to defuse the situation noviolently.   He’s not a fighter, and even if he were, he probably wouldn’t stand a chance here, but he’s lived his whole life surrounded by super-strong guys, and he knows how to make due with what he has.    It doesn’t work here, but it adds a lot to this scene.

Anyway, I don’t think you need me to tell you how this turns out.   Broly steps in, and he overpowers whatsisface in two seconds.   This is especially ironic in the U.S. dub, where Broly was voiced by notorious sex pest Vic Mignogna.   I kind of wonder what was going through his mind when he did this scene, except he probably didn’t even know the context.    They just told him to grunt and yell.   Still, he must have watched the movie at some point, right?  

Like how would he not make the connection that he’s the grey dude in this scenario, and Broly is getting major babyface heat by standing up for Cheelai?   Like, this whole scene was created to make Broly sympathetic, especially compared to his original 1993 incarnation.    Good guys respect women, bad guys harass them.    Did the point just sail over his head?  He was probably all: “Gosh, Broly should have stayed out of this, and donated money to the grey man for his defamation lawsuit against Cheelai.”

Oh, who am I kidding, he probably spent the whole movie staring at Cheelai’s boobs.  Or the nearest woman in the theater.

Anyway, Paragus thinks Broly’s getting out of hand, so he uses the shock collar to settle him down.    Cheelai and Leemo are outraged (again), but Paragus insists that it’s necessary to keep Broly from going nuts and killing them all.   

I’m a bit conflicted about the collar.   It’s clearly a replication of the mind-control tiara Paragus used on Broly in the DBZ movie, but this is much simpler in design.   Just an electric shock, nothing more.    I like the simplicity of it.  

However, I also liked the mind-control tiara.    It looked stylish, and I liked the mystery of how it worked and where Paragus got it from.   There was that scene in Movie 8 where he had an alien henchman run a diagnostic on the device, but there’s no telling if that guy built it or if he’s just the closest thing Paragus could find to an expert.  There was a mystique about the thing, which the shock collar just does away with entirely.   I’m not sure whether that’s a good thing or not.

But it probably serves this plot better, because Cheelai picks Paragus’ pocket while they talk, and she stomps the controller after he leaves.    Probably would have been harder to make this work with a magic device like that arm thing Paragus used to make the tiara work.   

Paragus gets summoned to Frieza’s chamber again, so while he’s gone, Broly hangs out with his new pals in... I guess a cargo room?     He thinks ordinary water is delicious, to give you an idea of how rough it was for him growing up on Vampa.   He then explains the fuzzy green thing around his waist, which always reminds me of the bathmat at my grandmother’s house.   Paragus used to make Broly provoke a giant green animal on Vampa as a training exercise, until eventually they became friends.     Broly named it “Ba” after the noise it made.  Paragus disapproved of their friendship, so he shot Ba’s ear off to piss him off good, and put a stop to that.   Broly never saw Ba again, so he kept the ear as a memento, and that’s what he’s been wearing this whole time. 

See, I like this better than Broly’s Movie 8 outfit, because it has a backstory.   I think Ba’s ear was conceived as a way to give Broly a wrap like the red one worn by the original, but someone, probably Toriyama, wanted there to be something more to it. 

Anyway, this tale pretty much defines Paragus and Broly’s relationship.   Paragus seems to genuinely care about the boy, but his main objective is for Broly to become as strong as possible so that he can prove King Vegeta was wrong to exile them.    In pursuit of this goal, Paragus has micro-managed Broly to the point where he has almost no freedom at all.   Cheelai suspect that Broly doesn’t even enjoy fighting, which sounds pretty extreme for a Saiyan, but she might be right.  I’d like to think this version of Broly would enjoy fighting, but not the way Paragus has been handling things.

Meanwhile, the good guys arrive at the ice continent to find the seventh Dragon Ball.   Frieza’s goons stole the first six and the Dragon Radar, so it doesn’t take long for Goku and Vegeta to track them down.    Here, we see them in their cute cold weather gear.    I don’t get how those coats do a damn thing in the antarctic, but I love Bulma’s spacesuit-looking thing.  

So they find the two goons, and one of them looks like an alien John Banner from Hogan’s Heroes.    They’re terrified of Goku because he’s breathing hard on the glass of their ship.   I’d be more worried about him doing a pressed fruit basket on the glass.

Luckily for them, they radioed Frieza about finding the seventh ball right before Goku showed up, so Frieza comes to the rescue.  They banter for a while, but the big story everyone wants to know about is Frieza’s backup.   He introduces Paragus and Broly, and Frieza’s plan is to have Broly do all the fighting, and he’ll let them kill Vegeta as long as he gets to finish off Goku.

So Vegeta and Broly start us off.   Broly does reasonably okay, but Vegeta seems to have the upper hand the whole time, and then he turns Super Saiyan, which freaks Paragus out, because he didn’t even know that was a thing.    That bums Frieza out, because I guess he assumed Broly could do it too?  Why would he think that?   I mean, he turns out to be right later, but he should know that not just any Saiyan can pull that off. 

Moreover, Vegeta can transform further than this.   People made a big to-do about this part, where he uses the Super Saiyan God form Goku used in Movie 14, but I don’t know, it doesn’t seem like that big a deal to me.     I mean, Super Saiyan Blue is better, and Vegeta knows how to do that one, so what’s the difference?  I mean, I’m the guy who really wanted to see Vegeta use Super Saiyan 3 a long time ago, so I get why this is a big deal for people, but it doesn’t mean much to me personally.   

At any rate, Vegeta seems disgusted with Broly’s performance, but I think it says a lot that he managed to hold out this long against Super Saiyan God Vegeta.

Around this point, Paragus tries to call Broly off, but he can’t, because he doesn’t have the remote to use the shock collar.  I’m not sure I understand what was supposed to happen if he still had it.   Was Frieza going to fight Goku and Vegeta by himself?  Was he going to just quietly withdraw and leave the Dragon Balls behind? 

Also, I’d just like to take this time to point out that Paragus looks really dumb here.   He looked cool at the start of the movie, when he was younger and looked more like his 1993 design, but then they dressed him in this green and purple number, and the pink shower curtain looks really dumb.    Also, I hate how they lightened his skin tone in this movie.  At least they brought back Dameron Clarke to play him in the dub.     I really like Paragus, and he’s mostly okay in this movie, but he’s nowhere near as cool as the ‘93 version.

As for the fight, Broly somehow gets a second wind, and holds of Vegeta, even in his god form.   Paragus suggests that Broly has somehow tapped into the Oozaru power Saiyans have when they turn into giant apes.   Except Broly’s tail was cut off at a young age, so he hasn’t turned into a giant ape in years.     Paragus seems to think that Broly’s body is using that power anyway, but without the transformation turning him into a big, bulky ape, there’s nothing to slow down his movements.   

Also, Broly is glowing green when he does this, so maybe the implication is that this was what every version of Broly has been doing, and I guess Kale too.    I’ve also seen it suggested that this ties into Super Saiyan 4 somehow.    I mean, it makes sense, because you have to be a Super Saiyan and a Giant Ape at the same time to go SSJ4, and then you shrink down into a humanoid state, with the powers of both.  Broly’s doing it in a different order, but maybe he’s worked out something similar?  

The thing is, I don’t really buy Oozaru power as a useful thing.   This franchise retired the concept thirty years ago, save for a brief comeback in Dragon Ball GT.   Hell, they didn’t even show anyone turning into a giant ape in this movie, which seems to rely onthe concept quite a bit.   If Great Ape power was so hot, why don’t they just go all in and use it?    The implication of DBZ was that, past a point, it just stops mattering, and when Goku and Vegeta became powerful enough, the form became obsolete.   But somehow Broly’s using it and he’s strong enough to throw hands with god-Saiyans.  Or maybe Paragus is completely wrong about all of this, and he’s only guessing Oozaru stuff for lack of a better explanation.  

I mean, I don’t want to rain on anyone’s parade.    There’s SSJ4 fans who really like how this movie teased at the form, and that’s great lore, even if this is as far as it goes, but it doesn’t mean that much to me.  Personally, I’m more into how Goku used the term “base form” in the script.   As in: Broly is holding off Vegeta, even in his base form.   I’m pretty sure that’s the first time it’s been used in official material.

So then Goku decides to jump in, using his base form as well, which I find pretty dumb, since Broly was beating up Vegeta in SSG mode a minute ago.    This sort of teeters on the brink of GT Logic.   I really prefer the way things were in the Cell Saga, where no one would even try to fight Cell or the androids until they were comfortably transformed.    I mean, why would you not?  

Goku uses Super Saiyan Classic for a bit, then he ramps up to his own Nacho Cheese form, and he manages to subdue Broly for a hot minute.   He tries to reason with the guy, saying that he isn’t all that bad, so why not make peace.   Notably, when Goku tells Broly he doesn’t have to listen to those bad guys at the ship, it makes Paragus really nervous, like he’s terrified that someone will tell Broly that and he’ll actually listen.

But then Broly powers up and fights his way out of it, and starts taking control of the battle again.   

The weaker bad guys lift off to get clear of the battle, while Frieza and Paragus remain behind to watch.    Cheelai is frustrated that Broly is being used to fight this sort of battle, even though he happens to be doing pretty well so far.   

Piccolo contacts Goku telepathically about this situation, and Goku plans to teleport to Piccolo’s location if things go south.    But first...

... he turns Super Saiyan Blue and tries to fight Broly that way.  

And this is where the movie uses a bunch of CGI stuff, like like in Battle of Gods and Resurrection F.   The graphics look better, like something out of Fighter Z instead of Raging Blast 2, but it still looks dumb.   What Toei doesn’t seem to understand is that this stuff ages really poorly.   This movie’s not even a year old, and it already stands out.    It’s not about improving the graphics, either.  The problem is that the poses look so robotic and lifeless.   This is especially true for this movie, where most of the animation is so fluid and expressive.   

For example.

During this part of the fight, the land gets torn up, exposing the magma below, and Paragus begins to wonder if King Vegeta had been right all along.  Maybe Broly really is too dangerous, and sending him to Vampa was the best thing for everyone.�� As it is, Goku Blue is winning, and Broly is too far gone to realize that he needs to stop fighting.    Without the remote, Paragus can only stand by and watch his son get killed.

But Frieza isn’t giving up yet.   Once he’s certain that Broly has no more miracles in him...

... he kills Paragus himself, and calls out to Broly to make sure he sees what’s happened.  

And that causes Broly to flip out and turn Super Saiyan himself.   I guess this is just Super Saiyan 1, and not some nutty alternate form, but the point is that Broly was doing very well in his regular state, so any transformation on top of that makes him unstoppable.   Goku tries to hang in there, but then Vegeta jumps in and tells him that he can’t possibly win alone.    

So they try hitting him with a Kamehameha/Gallic Gun combo, but that does nothing...

... then they lead him directly towards Frieza, and Broly attacks him instead, because I guess he’s not picky at this point.   

Then they teleport to Piccolo.   Goku’s plan now is to use the Fusion Technique, but he needs Piccolo to coach them because Vegeta’s never done it before.

Okay, so a couple of problems I have with this part.   First, I really don’t like the idea of Broly vs. Gogeta being a thing.   I first saw this idea in the opening credits for Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3, and it always annoyed me because I never cared for the idea of Broly as such a powerful threat that only fusion could beat him.    Broly’s deal is that he’s an evil Super Saiyan, so my preferred scenario is for Goku or Vegeta to beat him solo.  

Second, I’m not wild about how this movie tries to do Broly, Gogeta, and Bardock as a combination platter.   The Bardock stuff works reasonably well, since Broly’s origin story takes place when Bardock was around, and Dragon Ball Minus was already written.   And Broly was a non-canon concept, so revamping him for this wasn’t a terrible idea.    But throwing Gogeta in too just feels like pandering to me.    For years, Fathom Events has been screening DBZ features in theaters, and they always seem to go for “Bardock: Father of Goku”, “Fusion Reborn”, and “Broly: The Legendary Super Saiyan.”   I feel like a Cooler movie made the cut once, but that was a long time ago.    The point is that someone in charge seems to consider those three specials to be the most popular or best ones, and it feels an awful lot like this DBS movie is trying to cash in on that.  

And I can’t blame Toei for wanting to combine three popular titles, but it just feels a little too convenient.   Fans saw Gogeta coming, because they noticed the lineup Fathom Events had before this movie premiered, and they knew Broly and Bardock would be in this one, so it got them thinking Gogeta would make an appearance as well.  

With Bardock, you can make a case that this version is an improvement over the “Father of Goku” version.  And Broly may be better off this way than the 1993 version of the character.   But this take on Gogeta isn’t nearly as fun or cool as “Fusion Reborn”.    The boys just leave the battlefield and drill the Fusion dance until they get it right.    How does that make any sense?  

Don’t get me wrong, it’s funny how Frieza gets the shit beat out of him for over and hour, but how does that make sense at all?  

I mean, Golden Frieza couldn’t beat Goku or Vegeta in the last movie, so how can he survive against a guy who was taking them both on at the same time?  For an hour?   How did Frieza survive this?  

Really, longer than that, because Gogeta takes a minute to decide what to call himself.   It’s a cute moment, but still.   Part of what makes Fusion Reborn so awesome was that Goku had to convince Vegeta and teach him the fusion in the middle of the battlefield.    When they screwed it up, Janemba kept trying to kill them while they tried to deal with it.  This movie sucks all of that tension away.    

There is a part where Broly goes after Whis and can’t hit him, so maybe Whis kept the big guy busy for a while, but I dunno.   Anyway, Gogeta teleports in and promises to handle the rest.   

Bulma looks really cute here, by the way.

So yeah, Gogeta goes Super Saiyan and they fight so hard that it opens up a dimensional rift or something...

I don’t know what the idea here was, but it’s trippy and I like it, I guess.

Anyway, Gogeta goes Blue and punches Broly hard enough that they go back to the real world.  

But this screencap pretty well sums it up.   A blue guy and a green guy shooting green and blue shit at each other.   

Gogeta even uses the Stardust Breaker from Movie 12, but Broly survives, even though Gogeta’s at Super Saiyan Blue.   I gotta be honest, this is just a bit too wacky for me.  

Meanwhile, Cheelai and Leemo steal the Dragon Balls and summon Shenron.   She forces whatsisname to tell them how to make the wish, but it turns out you can just ask Shenron directly, so it’s not that complicated.  

See, the big twist of this movie, which is really what holds all of this together, is that Broly’s not the villain after all.   He’s the victim here, and that puts things in a whole other light now that Gogeta is turning the tables on him.   When I found out this movie would come down to Broly vs. Gogeta, I wondered how evenly matched they would be, but since Broly is sympathetic, it changes the equation.   Gogeta can just whale on the guy, and it doesn’t matter, because the real suspense is whether Cheelai can save Broly before it’s too late.

As Gogeta prepares a finishing blast, Cheelai wishes for Broly to be sent back to Vampa, and Shenron does it.   Vampa sucks, but at least Broly is safe here.

Then Leemo and Cheelai fly out of here to save themselves.  Frieza tries to blast them out of the sky.   Why didn’t he stop them before they made their wish?   Also, why didn’t Shenron offer to grant two more wishes? 

In any case, Gogeta stops Frieza from killing them, and he shrugs Gogeta off and prepares to leave.   Gogeta just... stands there and lets him?    Why?   Vegeta has always wanted Frieza dead, and Goku learned the hard way in the last movie.    This is dumb.   

Meanwhile, Beerus has done absolutely jack shit through this whole movie and he’s very pleased about it.  

In space, Cheelai plans to drop Leemo off somewhere and then head for Vampa.   She figures she’s a fugitive from the GP and the Frieza Force, so it’s about the only place left for her to go.    This definitely has nothing to do with the generous bulge in Broly’s tights, no sir.  

But Leemo wants to tag along, since he figures he doesn’t have much going for him either.  

Frieza knows that they’re all together on Vampa, but he decides to leave them be for now.   He seems to think they can make Broly stronger and better able to control his power, and that suits him for... some reason.

This line confuses me.  Is he saying he wants another nemesis, in addition to Goku and Vegeta?   Or is he saying that he wants a potential ally to help him defeat Goku and Vegeta?   Or something else altogether?

On Vampa, Cheelai and Leemo are starting to realize what they’ve signed on for here.   The only food on the planet is bitter, and everything is trying to kill them.

Then Goku just teleports into their cave and gives them a capsule house full of provisions.   He even gives them a couple of senzu beans.

Cheelai is suspicious of Goku, but he explains that he just wants them to be safe and healthy, because he wants to fight Broly again sometime.    After all, it took nothing less than Gogeta Blue to beat him, so he must be a worthy opponent.  

Cheelai still regards Goku as an enemy, but he doesn’t particularly care, since he can find them wherever they go, and Broly seems happy with the idea of fighting with him for funsies.  

So Cheelai lightens up a bit and thanks him.   Then they ask Goku his name, because they never heard who this guy is or what he’s all about.  

So he says that he’s Son Goku... and Kakarot.   I like the dub version better, where he specifically says “Broly... call me Kakarot.”   Either way, I like this ending, because “Kakarot” was Broly’s catchphrase in the 90′s, and he never says it once in this movie, because he never heard the name until this point.  So that’s pretty cool.

But more importantly, I like this as character development for Goku, who once bitterly rejected his Saiyan heritage, including his birth name.   Now, it looks like he’s come around on that, to the point where he wants other Saiyans to call him Kakarot.   It works well with my personal canon that Saiyans view this as a matter of honor.   Vegeta knows he goes by “Son Goku”, but he thinks it would be more insulting to call him that, even if that’s his preference.

And that’s the movie.   All in all, a pretty good one, probably one of the best, but not as good as my favorites.   I think it would have been better if they had used new concepts and characters instead of mining the past for ideas.   A different Saiyan could have played the Broly role just fine, but they went with Broly because of his popularity.    Some other power could have been used to defeat him, but they went with fusion because it was popular.    It get the reasoning, but I can’t help but notice how Cheelai became the breakout star of this thing, and everyone loves Cheelai and she just might be the most popular thing to come out of this movie, and lo and behold, she’s a wholly original idea.  It just makes you wonder what else they might have come up with if they hadn’t stopped with her.   

[theangrypokemaniac]

Since I rant enough about the wizening Ma and Pa received in Sinnoh it's only right to wreak bloody rhetorical vengeance elsewhere:

However harsh it may be, I'm glad Takeshi Shudo isn't alive to witness the hateful desecration of his legacy.

...

In a universe where no one's allowed to age, why are the modern Jessie and James so withered and decrepit?

Dragon Ball has been on for more than three decades. Its stars were permitted to grow up, because the head can cope with the opportunities this offers.

Yet Goku, Krillin, Bulma et al bear a greater similarity to their younger selves than these gurning invertebrates do to Team Rocket, wearing a papery approximation of their skin.

Akira Toriyama is actually concerned about his life's work, still coming up with interesting concepts, brand-new characters, and most importantly, values his audience by keeping to the established canon.

If a Dragon Ball fan reads this, I am so jealous of you.

Consider yourselves fortunate not to have seen the thing you loved the most pulverised and the resulting glutinous mass moulded back into makeshift sloppy cadavers.

Look at the state of that man! That's a good picture these days!

Why have the eyelid lines turned into upside down bags?

And why has she collected her lashes for this particular screen shot?

On eyes with a strangely feline slant...

Has she had a face lift?

Get yer money back on that one, love.

And why has he marks under his eyes and round his flapping gob to add the hint of exhaustion?

And why don't her lips reach the edge of her mouth anymore?

And why must he display Beaver Toof, as if he's only got six pegs left?

Giving it to him but not her implies she's lost the lot, needing to gum objects for a result.

And why do her low-slung ears consist only of lobe?

And why can you see his featureless lugs? Why does his barnet stand outwards in tentacles like he's taken to wearing a floppy Starmie?

What's that's meant to be, purple dreadlocks?

And why is her hairline curved and absolutely straight, like a bad wig, apart from the perfunctory bits to the side, which I guarantee won't alter their position throughout the run?

Hair used to move about, now by law there's a set pattern which cannot change. Stamp that life out immediately.

And what's that flaccid growth between his weary peepers? Is that meant to be fringe?

PFFFT!!!

And why are her digits just as thick and oblong as his?

It ain't fingers. It's trotters.

And why's he got a back to his throat, but she hasn't?

And why are we forced to witness it? You can see all the way to his dangler!

The great gaping pink cave looks like the end of Looney Tunes when Porky Pig pops up and stammers: "That's all folks!"

Remember a lack of Beaver Toof? And triangular mouths?

Remember when Meowth was a cheeky, spirited little cat, not a middle-aged human midget, an emaciated wreck bored of it all?

Remember when it wasn't deemed necessary to expose us to internal organs?

And when James was a handsome, hysterically camp dandy, not a creepy, snot-ridden science dweeb?

And when Jessie was a beautiful, stylish young girl, hot-tempered but loyal, not a sullen, cold, reptilian, Botoxed-to-the-gills gorgon?

Remember when Team Rocket were fun? And attractive?

Remember when they had joy in their hearts in spite of their poverty? And vim? And hope?

Remember them acting with flair and imagination?

Remember when their schemes had variety?

Remember when they had more than a single disguise per era?

Remember when they had many occupations? And were good at them?

Remember when they'd have a go at everything and weren't reduced to flipping condemned meat in a grotty burger van FOR THREE YEARS?!

Remember when those in charge didn't despise them, when they got happy endings?

Remember split screens? And face faults? And background tones? And purple streaks down your cheeks?

Remember big, bright open eyes, not shrunken, sagging and empty holes afflicted by glaucoma?

Remember when Jessie had eyelashes?

Remember when Pokémon was an anime?

And when James had a fringe, not a bent swelling like a balloon animal?

And when the artist could be arsed to draw Meowth's Charm properly?

Remember when the voices weren't nails down a blackboard?

When Meowth didn't sound like a wedge of coal grinding beneath an oil-deprived door?

When Jessie's dulcet tones had a wider range that just screechy, and weren't reminiscent of a cacophonous banshee clawing her way from a bog, using her own mug as a shovel?

When James speaking didn't suggest he was at best, suffering sinus difficulties, and at worst, constantly battling to swallow his own sick from looking at her?

Mind you, I'm grateful the 4Kids cast are no longer here. They deserve better, and their presence would only validate the crude bastardisations.

Every time the guttural howls reach my poor ears a chill runs through my system, and reminds me of The Pokémon Company sacking the real dub crew in preference for a job done on the cheap.

Remember speed lines? And Pokéball-throwing animation?

Remember a new motto performance in each installment, not the same stock footage reused again and again?

Remember when it rhymed?

It shows.

Remember remembering it?

Remember when Team Rocket would walk down the street in their uniforms and no one took a blind bit of notice despite the organisation operating there?

And they didn't fanny about in one scabby polyester costume every minute they were travelling, even when NO ONE KNOWS WHO THEY ARE?

Since Unova, whilst confronting Ash and this era's soon-to-be-forgotten companions, you get this exchange:

Moron-Of-The-Week: "Who are Team Rocket?"

Ash: "They're bad guys who steal other people's Pokémon."

EVERY SINGLE BLOODY TIME!!!

WORD-FOR-WORD IDENTICAL!!!

The writers have such deep appreciation for their work they're sending in cut-and-paste scripts.

Remember blasting off when something blew up, not an explosion from nowhere, or giving it the slip with a jet pack, or abduction by a Care Bear?

Remember when the eyebrows matched the hair?

Remember when he wore it long?

Remember blue shock? And sweat drop? And hammerspace? And comedy violence?

Remember her jagged hairline? And it being RED!!!

Remember proper highlights to it, rather than the odd white lump now and again, as if sweating like a pig, or their heads are infested with giant space ticks?

Remember when they were in all the episodes? And were main characters? And on the introduction sequence?

Remember when Jessie and James used to hug? And hold hands?

And bicker as only a couple can, but you knew they'd never cope alone?

Remember when they'd fly into each other's arms under the flimsiest pretext?

Remember when they meant more to one another than just being a pair of unconnected and disembodied wraiths coincidentally walking down the same road?

And they had more than civil interactions?

Remember when she loved him as much as he loved her?

And no one else could ever take his place?

And canon wasn't infected with the ruinous depiction of her as a hard, heartless bitch barely tolerating him until someone 'better' came along, at which point she'd fuck off without a backwards glance?

'Better', as in a scabby, satchel-mouthed, gormless cretin, just to add surly insult to merciless injury.

Never has such a life-long and hardcore defender of the faith flipped into an ardent Rumishipper as I did after that episode, once I'd swept up the fragments of my soul.

Remember when they were sympathetic?

Remember when they showed human warmth?

Remember when they cared about each other?

Remember when they weren't just a jangling, distorted mess of half-recollected traits?

Remember when they weren't really evil?

Remember Rocketshipping? That was a thing once, believe it or not.

Remember when they had a conscience?

Remember when actually wicked characters turned up, and Team Rocket ALWAYS sided with Ash, rather than the nauseating spectacle of suddenly being best buds with the Boss?

Remember when they had contact with the Twerps?

Remember when Team Rocket and the Twerps loved each other in secret and would endanger themselves to save their 'enemies'?

Everything that was once good and winning about them was sucked out, degree by degree, to leave the corpse, hollow and dead, strung up on wires as a grim marionette.

I'm sure most who see this will vehemently disagree, that I'm completely wrong, that THEY like them.

Yes, you like this three, but you don't like Team Rocket. This is not them. You have yours, and I have mine, but let's not pretend they are the same.

Why, if there is no difference, would I be so hostile, when they meant so much too me?

Did you ever wonder where the original fans went, why they all departed en masse? It's not because they 'moved on' or 'matured'.

They didn't leave Pokémon. Pokémon left them.

As the makers rely so heavily on repetition (sorry, nostalgia) they arrogantly expect us to still be here, having blithely welcomed our memories minced and our canon ripped up or ripped off, apparently.

We're intended to put up with watching them lay waste to ťhe series's body, clinging on for when a rotting bone is pulled up now and again and waved at us, before they chuck it aside to continue the dismemberment.

It's been eaten from the inside out, explaining the facial collapse. Behold the beauty on show:

You see what I mean, don't you?

Don't you? No, because otherwise you'd say the same.

How anyone feels able to describe three deformed freaks as 'hot' or 'cute' I will never comprehend.

The uniform collar protrudes like a solid pipe, emphasising the pencil necks.

It gives the impression of wrinkled, leathery tortoises peering out of their shells to secure a tasty lettuce treat.

Is that pretty? No.

Is it so surprising I don't care for my favourites to resemble melted waxwork skeletons of their own dæmonic counterparts?

S&M is a most fitting name, for this is torture.

In the film Death Becomes Her, Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn vie for the attention of Bruce Willis, both taking a serum giving everlasting youth and slimness.

The catch is it confers immortality, but not invulnerability, so when pushed down the stairs Meryl survives but is dead, her neck broken, thus she's zipped up in the morgue fridge.

When Goldie is shot with a canon she too rises, internal organs blown out.

The rest of the adventure involves the pair losing the war against time, patching up and painting over peeling grey skin, holding onto loose limbs as their bodies fall apart.

This obviously is the case here. The trio lapped the potion up at the close of Sinnoh, experienced a fatal accident and are now steadily crumbling to mush before us.

According to grave-diggers the head always goes first, so there you are then.

I have a suspicion that Giovanni lured all three to his crypt, experimenting on them to engineer his ultimate super soldier, which explains their flat, plastic appearance. Those since Unova began are the cyborgs, the real ones locked in his cellar.

You may notice I have about the lowest opinion possible of the current writing team, as they deserve.

Why should I have any respect for vindictive halfwits like this, who hate Team Rocket so much they're going out of their way to distort and uglify them, expressing the resentment in celluloid?

Jessie, James and Meowth lost their only defender in Takeshi Shudo. From that point they descended from loveable, hapless tragic figures to self-parodies (Hoenn) whiney, irritating divs dumping one another at every interval (Sinnoh), robotic, amoral scum (Unova and Kalos) and now physically repulsive minor additions (Alola and Galar). Is that trajectory all accidental?

It not that it's a new 'style' (for want of a better word), as were that the case, this hideousness would apply to the entire cast, but it's only done to Team Rocket. How could that be unless motivated by malice?

Given the sub thesps are obliged to prostrate themselves in the dust, begging fans to make their appreciation known, it smacks of desperation.

They wouldn't need to ask that were the trio treated as an integral component. They must sense the objections and are thus drumming up support to avoid the dole queue.

Are those in charge so resentful of their presence it manifests in mutilating them, keen to do anything that may alienate the fanbase, so at the first sign of a dip in popularity they can leap upon it as the perfect excuse to write Team Rocket out?

Why be surprised? These are imbeciles who reject their own canon at the close of every generation, so why care about someone else's?

If people have to harangue the writers with grovelling praise of their retcons, rehashes and all-round twatting about, butter 'em up sufficiently, with the implied threat of deserting the franchise should Team Rocket be ejected, taking their purses too, all so the smug, avaricious berks deign to put the trio in the next generation, that proves they don't want them, so how can what they write for their characters be objectively of any worth?

Team Rocket would've departed by now, were there not a palpable worry their absence might ring the death knell of the whole thing, turning off the financial tap, which is what matters.

Therefore they are retained, grudgingly, and only so long as the clamour continues at its current decibel level. If that drops it's over, and don't expect a romantic resolution. Why should pleasing you be a concern when you're to leave with them?

Ask yourself: how much of your devotion is based on what they are right now, and how much is from who they used to be?

How long can they live off past glories?

The offences done in Unova and Kalos were bad enough, but remarkably Game Freak found further depths to plumb, therefore it can only get worse.

I have of course retained the loveliest for last:

Be still, my beating heart.

No, really, be still. Stop infact. 

Planet of the Apes.

[mz-hide]

Trick of Might - Chapter 11

Aka: a Dragon Ball Z slash fic.

Chapter 11

A little breather from the smutfest with some plot in which Piccolo may or may not be onto something and Bulma is a barely-managing adult.

(Warning: contains a lil spicy VegeBul moment)

Summary: An ancient enemy makes a sudden comeback into Goku’s life. Long-suppressed memories surface again and it’s no longer possible for the young saiyan to ignore them. Warnings: Dubious Consent, (because of drug use) Ships & Pairings: Bulma/Vegeta, Goku/Vegeta, Goku/Turles, Goku/Turles/Vegeta, Turles/Vegeta, Raditz/Turles, Nappa/Turles, Nappa/Raditz/Turles Contains: Threesome - M/M/M, Group Sex, Polyamory, Aphrodisiacs, Secret Crush, Confessions, Enemies to Lovers, Love Triangles, Oral Sex, Blow Jobs, Anal Sex, Gay Sex, Biting, Scratching, Boners All Around, Feral Behavior, (just a tiny bit), Resolved Sexual Tension, Sexual Content

You can find the rest on my AO3 page (username: originalmonkeyhydes)

It wasn’t as if Piccolo was truly intimidated by his former enemy’s wife. Chi Chi was strong for sure, but not in comparison to a Namekian warrior. He had no real reason to fear her. Even so, he found himself flying off in the direction opposite to the Son family’s house. Bulma had made a lot of sense when she’d suggested that bringing back the news of her husband’s disappearance and her precious child’s unconscious body in the dead of the night was something she might not have taken easily. And a Namekian’s hearing was very sharp, their ears very sensitive. Piccolo didn’t need to risk making an attempt to know it wouldn’t have been a good idea. Instead, he flew to a place of peace and quite, where he could watch over Gohan while waiting for him to regain consciousness. The air was still quite warm in the wastelands. A spot on the soft, tender summer grass would have made a fine enough place for his pupil to sleep for the night. He’d been used to it during the year Piccolo had spent training him, after all. Sure, in the morning the woman would have been furious, waking up to find both her kid and her husband gone without a word or warning. But if he’d waited for the sunrise, Gohan would have been conscious again and Piccolo would not have been there to hear it when he made it back home to explain the situation. The green-skinned warrior flew at a leisure pace, constantly, mildly aware of the monstrous energy radiating from afar. Cell’s energy was still obnoxiously foreboding even at such a great distance. The bug-like android made no effort to conceal his outstanding aura. So far he’d kept his word and let time fly by without causing any more panic. The world was already shaking with the danger of the upcoming tournament that would have decided its fate. Cell would be the type for self-complacency. Piccolo could believe he would truly just sit the entire month out without even making a move to re-assert his undisputed superiority or train. He seemed to believe he didn’t need to. And, of course, he was right. Even so, the constant presence of his aura at the corners of his conscience was making Piccolo beyond uneasy. What if that monster gets bored and decides to make a move while Goku is gone? Who’s going to face him then? As much as irks me to admit it, even having Vegeta around would come in handy right now. With those two idiots gone, there’s only so much the rest of us can do. We can still count on Trunks, but… He looked at the boy in his arms and felt a familiar uneasiness take hold of him. Gohan had grown strong. He had to remind himself the boy was now stronger than him. If he was stronger than Cell, that he didn’t know. Goku was keeping the details of their father-son training to himself, leaving Piccolo and all the others in the dark. If he were a betting man, he would wager the saiyan had done that not to give his friends too high hopes. Part of him wanted to trust the man’s secrecy, part of him couldn’t help but doubt him. Goku was a capable fighter, maybe the only hope they had to save the planet from the new menace. Piccolo had grown to know and respect him over the years, he’d grown to care for his son too, so much that their unlikely new-found friendship had eclipsed his ancient unconditional hatred. But how was he supposed to trust Goku now? The saiyan had just disapeared on them without saying a word. But even that would have been fine, if the distraction hadn’t kept him off planet for so long. This is the kind of reckless behavior that almost got him killed on Namek. He can’t afford to keep behaving like this when he has the fate of the world on his shoulders, he moped, gently landing on a plateau of his liking, laying Gohan down on the soft, fragrant grass. The rock still retained a faint trace of the scorching direct sunlight it had absorbed during the day and let out a pleasant glowing warmth. Even at that height, the temperature was still pleasant and the rock formation shielded them from the strongest gusts of the desert winds. Nevertheless, the Namekian took off his heavy clock and set it over the sleeping boy’s body to shield him from the chill of the night breeze. He sat down next to his pupil and let his eyes roam the landscape, absorbed in meditation. A slight frown creased his forehead upon noticing a familiar disruption of the otherwise harmonious skyline. There was an unnatural void where once had been plateaus and mountains, as if the land had been swept clean. A lot had happened since then and he hadn’t ventured to that place, but Piccolo still remembered where he’d died. He hand’t been alive to see the mountains crumble and rock turn to dust to know that was the destruction brought about by Goku and Vegeta’s first fight. Another wave of fretting irritation washed over him. Goku’s night escapade had been just the cherry on top of a cake of foreboding signs he’d elected to overlook. Lately, the man’s behavior had been debatable, to say the least. Since Trunks had showed up to warn them about the androids, something had changed. Initially he’d seemed to take the threat seriously. He’d trained diligently, pushing Gohan as hard as he would push himself. Piccolo had found his intensity fitting for the occasion. He could have almost sworn Goku had started being considerate, possibly for the first time in his life. He had suggested not to use the dragon balls to resolve the problem, so that Vegeta would have a reason not to antagonize them anymore. That had felt like a smart idea. Piccolo saw it as the next best option to fix the mistake of leaving the other saiyan alive. He hadn’t noticed that Goku was actually just being reckless. He had forgotten to take his medicine. He had forgotten his own life was at risk. And then, even after Vegeta had proven himself unworthy of trust, he’d kept spurring him on, going to the length of telling him about the hyperbolic time chamber. All the conniving, the teasing, the flaunting and the unexplained secrecy… Piccolo was starting to think it had all been a just a game between the two saiyans. And he sure as hell did not like that thought one bit. He lifted his eyes to the sky, brooding. Now that those two had gone and took to space together, he didn’t know what to think. Especially since the faint, ominous energy orbiting about the solar system hadn’t waned nor spiked since. Knowing Vegeta, there was a good chance he was going to take the occasion to test his power and stroke his ego. Knowing Goku, there was no way he would have turned down a challenge if the Prince had presented him with one. That was the whole reason he’d spared him, even after he’d threatened to destroy his planet and kill his son. Piccolo retroactively cringed in indignation at the thought. Saying he disliked Vegeta was saying very little. Though he’d grown to understand and respect Goku, first as a worthy opponent and then as something akin to a friend, when it came to his decision to spare Vegeta, he had very little trust in his judgment. And he was starting to have little trust in his own. He’d just let the saiyan go. He’d just knowingly let the proud, overconfident, delusional Prince of saiyans get to something that could potentially make him a serious threat again. If Goku had been wrong and the tree had produced fruits, Piccolo wasn’t sure Vegeta wouldn’t have consumed one and took the chance to take his nemesis out once and for all. He would have done it, even if it had meant he would be dooming Earth to certain destruction. He had a spaceship, after all, he could decided to leave everything behind him, if he wished to. Why wouldn’t he, after all? The Prince had put the whole planet in danger before. He was the one responsible for Cell’s final form. He was the one who’d allowed him to transform. His arrogance was what had doomed them all. But, more than that, it had been Goku’s fault. He was the one who’d pushed them all down that dangerous slope the moment he’d decided not to use the dragon balls. He’d wanted it all. And he’d wanted all that, he’d put himself and all his friends though it all just to keep Vegeta on the planet. But does Vegeta even care for that? No. All he cares about is to become stronger than Goku so that he can have his rematch and beat him. And he doesn’t plan to show the same mercy Goku has showed him. If he wins, it’s the end. All he wants is to beat Goku. So, why waste the chance, when he has a way to become stronger than him right in front of him, ripe for the plucking? He gritted his teeth. One would think that, after all the training they’ve been through and ascending beyond the level of a super saiyan, it would be impossible not to feel it if those two were to fight. I can’t sense anything like that. If they’re not fighting, then… what are they both doing up there? Gohan mumbled slightly in his sleep, turning to the side. His serene sleeping face was a nice distraction from his disturbing trail of thoughts. The Namekian put his worries aside, focusing instead on keeping watch over his pupil.

Her entire body was flaring with anger. Her stupid experiment wasn’t going well, sitting in the lab had been infuriating. Once frustration had gotten to her, her hands had started shaking, her mind had stopped reasoning but she’d refused to stop. And then the damn thing had decided to explode right in her face. She was lucky she had been wearing a mask of she would have lost an eye. Or set fire to her hair. Not that it would have been exceedingly regrettable, considering it probably look awful anyway. Bulma had been feeling uncharacteristically ugly for a while. She felt swollen and possibly constipated. Her clothes seemed to fit too tight and her skin and hair seemed to be more greasy than usual, no matter what she did. When she wasn’t chewing a gum, she gnawed at her nails. And to top it all off, there was a warm, tight, stirring coil in the pit of her stomach that just wouldn’t leave her alone. After handling the rest of her day so poorly, deciding to resolve that particular issue was probably a bad idea. But she felt too pent up to care. “My room. 10 minutes”, she demanded through the intercom. The holographic screens were probably showing a face as inviting as her tone. It was a good thing Vegeta was facing in the other direction, one hand behind his back and one on the floor, pushing his weight up with seeming difficulty. Droplets of sweat ran down his sides and fell to the floor as if they’re been made of led. Gravity in the chamber must have been impossibly intense. “Not now, woman, I’m training.” Not a tone she was willing to listen to right now. “I was working the other day but I had to drop everything and indulge you when you came looking for me, didn’t I?”, she insisted, defiantly. “You liked it.” Arrogant asshole. “You’ll like it too. Now get over here.” “I told you, I’m training. I don’t have time for your stupid whims.” “If you don’t come now, I’ll turn the gravity chamber off. You know I can do it.” “You wouldn’t dare-“ Bulma shut the communication off, abruptly. She wasn’t having any of Vegeta’s attitude that day. She accessed her remote control panel and shut the power down. It wasn’t long before she heard the Prince’s heavy steps as he stormed to her room. When he got in, he was fuming as she was. He hadn’t bothered washing sweat off his face and chest, nor putting clothes on. He was still wearing a pair of training shorts and the scent of exertion. To Bulma’s satisfaction, he also wore a look of astounded surprise the moment he saw her, already naked and confrontational, arms on her hips and head held high in a defiant pose. He staggered. A hint of color showed on his cheeks, and not from anger, this time. Good. “I warned you.” The saiyan glared at her, nostrils twitching. She could read tension everywhere in the stiffness of his body and a conflicting glimmer of interest in his dark, flashing eyes. By that time she’d had plenty of fights with Vegeta to know what kind of emotions confrontation stirred up within him. She could tell when she had already won. “Dammit, woman! Do you need it that badly?!”, he growled. “You’re lucky I didn’t increase gravity enough to crush you instead of turning it off”, she uttered, drily, pursing her lips. “If you play nice you might be able to convince me to turn it back on.” But of course, Vegeta wasn’t going to play nice. He picked her up -not as girls dream to be picked up by their knights, but like a potato sack, flung over his shoulder- and threw her onto bed. Her head spun, but she didn’t complain. The rough treatment was just what she needed right in that moment. Her legs were spread open before she knew it and her breath grew hoarse when the saiyan’s hand started touching in between them. “You really needed this, didn’t you?”, the Prince asked, cruelly, as she bucked against his palm. “That’s what I call you up here for, isn’t it?” The scientist whined when warm, calloused digits flicked along her lips, finding the abundant wetness that had bloomed within. She didn’t need much more touching and teasing before she was ready to accept them inside. Her hips tilted and her thighs twitched, feeling them curl against her walls, making her gasp. Vegeta compensated for the compliance of one of his hands with the other, pinching one of her nipples, hard enough to sting. She squealed and slapped him. Her palm throbbed from the hash blow, he’d barely budged. There was a smirk on his face when he pinned both her hands over her head. She didn’t fight against his hold. But she did press a knee against his crotch and cherished the spangled grunt that earned her when she increased the pressure. “You are being bitchier than usual today. And not in an attractive way”, the saiyan hissed, his voice deep and raucous. “But it’s working, isn’t it?” She could feel him swelling against the rubbing of her thigh. “It won’t work forever.” “I beg to differ. You love being kicked around.” “Not as much as you love playing with fire. What exactly do you think will happen if you keep riling me up like this?” “How else can I get your attention, when you keep avoiding me?” “I avoid you because I can tell you’re hormonal. You’re insufferable!” “Then maybe I will stop taking the pill, you asshole! How does that sound?”, she said, surprising herself. The Prince understood well what protections were for but he hadn’t been too enthusiastic about using them. He’d agreed to get tested for any possible alien disease he might have had. After the results had been happily inconclusive, their last bag of condoms had been left to expire on the nightstand. She couldn’t deny it, as much as she enjoyed letting him finish inside her, she had grown tired of the pill. Even with the superior custom Capsule Corp version, side effects weren’t worth it. “If it’ll tone the crazy down, then fine!”, Vegeta rebuked. He sounded as exasperated as she felt.   “Alright, maybe I will!”, she threatened and bluntly yanked the saiyan’s shorts down his thighs, freeing his erection. “Fine, then!” “Fine!” She was so aroused she didn’t stop to think about what they’d just said. By the time Vegeta had slipped inside of her and made her whole bed rock under his forceful thrusts, her mind had been tacitly made up. Later, with her arms and legs wrapped around the saiyan’s sturdy built, cradling his head against her shoulder and feeling his heat spilling inside of her, her eyes had drifted to the box of pills on her nightstand and found resolve in her decision. A sort of primal, whimsical urge had found its way into her brain…

When her hand found nothing but cold sheets, Bulma’s head shot up, almost instinctively. She blinked in confusion, the heaviness of sleep still resting on her head, looking at the empty space beside her in the bed. For a moment, she’d forgotten. Vegeta never stayed afterward. He didn’t sleep in her bed anymore. Or was it she who didn’t let him? She couldn’t remember. It didn’t matter. She rubbed her eyes, trying to chase some of the tiredness away. Outside, stars had started to fade. Sunrise had just started to brighten the night sky. The day was on its way, but not quite there yet. She forced herself to slip out of her bed and look outside. From her room she could see most part of the yard. The landing strip where her spaceship had been anchored was still empty. Vegeta hadn’t come back. Or not to her back yard, at least. Judging from the time, it couldn’t have been more than four of five hours since he’d left. Still not a worrying amount of time. She diligently checked the security cameras around the house and then into Trunk’s room. No sings of the saiyan and her precious baby boy was still fast asleep. It wouldn’t have been too long before he’d woken up, demanding her milk.  Nevertheless, the late-night snack from the night before might have bought her some time. And she knew just how to use it. With a relieved sigh, she let herself fall down on her bed once more, crawling under the sheets, baby monitor in hand. She figured she could slip in a couple more hours of sleep, if luck assisted her. She would have surely heard the spaceship engine when Vegeta deigned to come back.

[sarahw-world]

Okay, first of all, I seriously doubt that Vegeta would have EVER seen someone like Frieza as some sort of a father figure. I mean, surely he must have picked up some negative traits from him, since he was by his side from such a young age, and Frieza was the only “role model” he had, but honestly, it’s pretty clear when we see Vegeta, Raditz and Nappa interacting in front of Frieza, and then talking behind his back, how much Vegeta despised Frieza, and he just couldn’t wait to get strong enough to get rid of him.

Now, about King Vegeta, I hadn’t heard this theory you’re talking about, about Vegeta being a good dad because he knew his father, but I strongly disagree as well.

Firstly, like you mentioned, Vegeta was given away at a really early age, so I don’t think he had much time to truly bond with his father, let alone to actually learn about how a good dad should behave.

And I should also add that, on a personal level, my opinion on King Vegeta has worsened a lot lately, basically due to what we learned from the new manga, and also from seeing him in the new movie.

My main memory of the King was that little flashback from DBZ, where he was explaining to kid Vegeta about how things worked in his culture, about sending away the babies with the lowest power level, etc., so I’d always thought that he would have cared enough for his son to at least spend time with him, preparing him and teaching him for his future role as a King. I’d also even overlooked the fact that he gave away his son to Frieza, because basically, the guy had no real choice, since no one was strong enough to fight Frieza anyway.

But now, seeing Vegeta saying in the manga that he basically had no one training him, and no real mentor of any kind, and now witnessing the small interaction of the King with little baby bean Vegeta in the movie, I must say that the King gave me the creeps:

This moment reminded me of something I wrote in my “Yellow Roses” fic, and I actually explored this idea long before I watched the movie, and I talked about the possibility of Vegeta feeling like an “instrument” ever since he was born, a “tool” for his race to finally be able to destroy Frieza.

And now, seeing the way the King looked at him, I DO get this really strong feeling that he saw his son as this “golden child” who’d avenge his race, but I don’t know how much love we truly see in this guy. And let’s not forget that Saiyans were a warrior race, and they probably had a different concept of love anyway.

I don’t think Trunks was a planned baby, and I believe that Vegeta didn’t actually start to bond with his son until he spent a year training together with Mirai Trunks, and it becomes clear to us that he deeply cares about him when he loses his mind, back when Cell attacked his baby boy.

So yeah, I think that Vegeta did care about Trunks from an early stage, but he wasn’t probably as affectionate as he is these days, but I doubt that he was this really cold guy either, since we see him training with Trunks, and spending time with him. And the love and admiration that his son had towards him was more than evident, so Vegeta must have been a pretty decent guy during that seven-year period.

I think the Vegeta that we see in Super is someone who became a good father because he did the work, he made a lot of mistakes along the way, and he finally understood that his family WAS way more important to him than he ever imagined.

He may not be the most lovey-dovey guy, at least in public, but he shows that he cares through his actions, like sacrificing his training in order to be by his wife’s side when she’s pregnant, etc., so it’s clear that Vegeta is willing to work hard to make it up to Bulma for his past mistakes, and many of us now consider him a good dad because he earned it.

Anyway, sorry about the long post, but this topic is truly interesting to me, so I thought I’d give my own personal opinion on the subject...

[recentanimenews]

FEATURE: A Mom's Guide To Anime — You Get It From Your Mama

  May is one of my favorite times of the year! It’s this beautiful time of transition as the weather is more pleasant and the flowers begin to bloom … Who am I kidding? Mother’s Day is in May! This is when my family adorns me with compliments on being a good mother and pseudo-celebrity. Should they do this every day? Absolutely. Motherhood has allowed me to find myself and reconnect with my inner child. I can’t imagine my life as anything but Ian’s mom. Parenthood also gives us a unique insight into our mothers. As kids, they seem to be this mysterious figure whose thinking you don’t understand. Once you have a child of your own, it just clicks and you suddenly realize you have much more in common with your mom. In this month’s guide, we will celebrate the strong women in our lives who helped sculpt us into the parents we are today. Whether you want to admit it or not, some things you get from your mama or the women in your life. If you’re a mom, a mom-to-be, a fun auntie, or a mentor, your kids will get it from you too. 

Brains, Brawns, And Beauty From The Moms Of Dragon Ball

    Chichi, Bulma, Eighteen, and Vidal are not only amazing mothers but sensational women in their own right. Each woman offers a unique skill to the Z fighters and is the literal definition of “ride or die.” Especially you, Chichi. 

  These supermoms take care of their homes, raise and train children, and are CEOs of companies, royalty, and championship fighters. The female cast of Dragon Ball showcases the versatility of moms and how they are an integral part of not just the franchised but IRL. You may not get everything from the strong women in your life, but you do get a lot from them.

  RELATED: Celebrate Mother's Day With 9 Of The Greatest Moms In Anime!

  Freedom To Grow From The Moms Of BORUTO: NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS

      The BORUTO: NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS series is known to stir a debate or two. However, most agree that the grown-up Naruto characters have strong character development. Significantly, the characters that are now the moms of the next generation. Hinata, Sakura, Ino, Tamari, and others all know what it is like to be a young ninja who must balance school, work-life, growing up, and the overall threats to their way of life. They were legit child soldiers. 

The moms of the new generation can empathize with their children’s experiences. This is seen throughout the series when they often wish for the children to focus more on school and friendship than on missions. They are still ninjas, and so the mothers allow their children the freedom to not only grow as people but as ninjas too. As parents, we often think it would be easier if we shielded them from hardship in every aspect of their lives. That is not only detrimental to the children but to us too. Allow your children to discover who they are and remind them you’re always there for them.   

A Sense Of Adventure Like Do You Love Your Mom and Her Two-Hit Multi-Target Attacks?   

    When you become a parent, there is this immediate assumption that you become boring. That you’re supposed to double down on adulting in order to be a proper role model. NEWSFLASH: Just because we are mothers doesn’t make us boring! Mamako is a great example of a mom who still enjoys adventures, especially with her son. Even if he likes to pretend it’s annoying. 

Throughout the series, Mamako’s son starts to realize that a lot of his strengths — curiosity, compassion, and zest for life — come from his mother. There are times in parenting when other responsibilities take precedence, but kids should never forget that we weren’t always parents. So when you have a moment, share the stories of your adventures as a kid. I bet you’ll gain major cool points with your children.  RELATED: SPY x FAMILY's Yor Ranks in Top 5 of BookLive's Most Desirable Mother/Wife Character Poll  

Love, Loyalty, And Kindness Like Kaasan Mom’s Life

    What are you doing if you’re a parent and you aren’t watching Kaasan Mom’s Life? The series is “semi-autobiographical” based on the creator Rieko Saibara’s life. The main character is named Rieko, after all.  Reiko is a wife and mother who works as a cartoonist. Rieko does her best to balance deadlines, cheeky children, a laidback husband, and a mother-in-law with too much time on her hands throughout this hilarious series. As you can imagine, Rieko is often stressed out. Same, honestly. Despite having many bad days, Rieko has no shortage of love and kindness for her family. 

Honesty Like From RADIANT

      Radiant does not get the flowers it deserves. Since flowers are the most common gift received on Mother’s Day, I’m giving Radiant its flowers today! Radiant has a fantastic cast of strong female characters. Each provides Seth with the support and skill he’ll need to become a great sorcerer. However, his guardian Alma is always there to dish out a hot plate of tough love. No matter what the circumstances are, Alma ALWAYS tells Seth the truth. She knows that a lie is far worse than the villainous Nemesis monsters, even if it's a hard truth that could potentially hurt his feelings. Can you be named Nemesis and not be the villain? 

  There is the old saying, “honesty is the best policy,” and there are times when it feels like the worst policy. And I would be remiss if I didn’t admit that parents often tell “white lies.” REGARDLESS, the lesson we are trying to teach is that when you are honest, it's a show of good faith, morals, and care. As your children grow, you’ll want to create a clear line for open and honest communication.  

  Many of us get our nurturing side from our moms, grandmas, aunts, and other kind women in our lives. Like Rieko, we develop a deep sense of loyalty and do whatever we can for the people we care about, even when those very people get on your last remaining nerve. I type as I stare directly at my younger brother, who is sitting not too far from me. Love, loyalty, and kindness are part of a strong foundation for relationships. You’ll want to provide the same foundation for your children to continue a pattern of positivity.  

I wish you a Happy Mother's Day to all the moms, sisters, aunts, grandmas, guardians, and mentors who provide unconditional love and unlimited support. To my mom, who often doesn’t read these, thank you for always being there through health challenges, a teen pregnancy, and that time I tried to cut my hair. Because of you, I can be the anime-mom I am today. I love you. 

      Hey, I'm Yali! When I'm not being your friendly neighborhood single mom, I'm also a producer! Kids ain't cheap and mama has to get the bag. I'm a producer for the DB4L Podcast. It's a podcast that breaks down the Dragon Ball Manga but in a real way. It's like barbershop talk but without having to tell the barber you don't like the haircut. Give it a listen.  Dragon Ball 4 Life - Fandom Spotlite | Podcast on Spotify

By: Yali Perez

[qualitytacolover]

Megan Thee Stallion Hair is a symbol of pride for black women anime fans

New Post has been published on https://www.easypromhairstyles.com/megan-thee-stallion-hair-is-a-symbol-of-pride-for-black-women-anime-fans.html

Megan Thee Stallion Hair is a symbol of pride for black women anime fans

The highly anticipated release of Megan Thee Stallion's debut album Fever (May 17) has doubled as a national holiday for your sultry and self-confident fanbase. Although hip-hop heavyweight Juicy J and newcomer DaBaby make appearances, the Houston-bred "hot girl" remains the center of the show. And that's how we like it.

Megan's rise was one of the books. In early 2017, she catapulted into fame after attending a hip-hop cipher at Texas A & M University. People all over the country quickly noticed their conscious, deep-drawn river and so their fans, called "hotties", were born. Fast forward to 2019, and you stallion has hosted your own Spotify event, found fans, Rihanna, Kehlani, and SZA, and continues to release hard-hitting freestyles and other repeatable bodies of work.

She is also the first rapping woman signed at 300 Entertainment, home of Young Thug and formerly Migos. But with each ascent comes a humming crew of haters. One of the first sightings of this sad collective, properly known as "hotties," came in March when she shared a photo of her half-white, half-radiant red hair.

TODOROKI TINA pic.twitter.com/NSuvkATAxZ

– HOT GIRL MEG (@theestallion) April 22, 2019

The title was "TODOROKI TINA", a reference to the My Hero Academia character, Shoto Todoroki. Although a considerable number of people celebrated Megan's love for anime, there were those who questioned their affinity, men. For example, Twitter user @CourtneeHendrix user wrote, "No way Meghan the stallion watch anime. Your public relations team is firing. "

@TrippyTrxv also shared, "ngga yea i want to know what anime megan you stallion watches. Why? bc i love the shI and I like you. If she does not really see it, but dresses in anime halfway cosplay, I would be hurt. I would still do your music fw maybe tho. "Ultimately, these reactions ask the question: what would the stallion gain by showing people that he has fun?

The targeted criticism of naysayers is, to say the least, frustrating. After all, she's not the only woman who shares her love for anime (look at Southern rap goddesses Bbymutha and Purp Goddess), nor is she the first rapper, male or female, ever to do it. Emcees like Lupe Fiasco, Robb Bank $ and Migos' launch are also anime fans but have not been criticized to the same extent. If flagrant racist sexism is not the culprit, then what?

After the Global History of Anime, the first anime was probably released during World War I and created by Shimokawa Oten. The short, colorless rolls of film were either "disassembled", "disintegrated" or "destroyed", so little is known about the early days of this art form. Over the next few decades, anime developed into longer animations, with sound and color to boot. A report by Marwah Zagzoug states that during World War II, the Japanese government took control of the arts by threatening the artists who had also criticized the government. Those who disagreed with the new orders were forbidden to write and pushed to the margins of society. But those who stayed were supplied with artists' companies, militarized and charged with anti-propaganda propaganda.

After the war, anime finally returned to its original purpose: an outlet for joy and honest expression. One of the first visuals that had great success was the full-length feature Hakujaden (The Tale of the White Serpent), which also produced an American adaptation in 1961. Although Global History states that this was not the first crossover, it proved that anime could be a lucrative industry. Finally, television expanded its reach and consumption ballooned in the 1980s with the release of Dragon Ball, the third best selling manga ever. The introduction of Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon in the 1990s soon followed and until then, anime had become the monolithic Global Phenomenon that continues to generate revenue and inspire people of all ages. The Black community is a proud and important part of your loyal fanbase, and women have always been just as invested as men.

The "I liked it before it was mainstream" statement is still a pretty youthful, 2011 Tumblr-era vibe.

Although easy-to-find literature and the Internet have undoubtedly enhanced the profile of this art form, the statement "I liked it before it was mainstream" is still a rather youthful, 2011 Tumbler era sentiment. Unfortunately, there are people who continue to operate out of this logic and in the case of anime, the culprit party is mostly men. When it comes to Megan Thee stallion and her hairstyles specifically, you either wanted to prove to you that she is really interested in or just did not believe that she was even interested. How dare to invest in an attractive, popular, talented black woman in it?

It's another reminder that people continue to pursue the hobbies of black women, no matter what they are. So much so that the stallion himself addressed the controversy in an interview with XXL: "You must stop thinking that way. Poor B * tches may also like anime. "Luckily, a number of supporters, Black Women, have not been afraid to defend Megan and also speak their peace.

"It felt really good to me [weil die Leute] have this misunderstanding .. that black girls did not see anime like black guys when most of us had the same channels and caught the same Miguzi or Toonami block lol after school, "says Taylor, who pokers on @ sheisresting on Twitter , "We were definitely separated from the American anime wave back then. It was fulfilling to see a black female rapper with one such..mainstream potential not only acknowledge anime, but also call himself a fan, while loosely cosplaying your favorite characters. I had the feeling that there are also many black cosplayers who are constantly being told that you can not disguise themselves as Japanese characters because you have the wrong color. "

Taylor was not alone. In fact, over 100 responded when I asked a tweet for black women who were fans of anime and Megan thee stallion. User @dualityofman wrote: ".. I thought your hair would be cool! I'm from Texas and I live in Houston, so I have a lot to do with her. Their liking anime was just another thing we had in common … .I feel like many men hate to see women happy and enjoy things. It's as if you could not call you ugly because it's obviously NOT YOU. Can not say that she is untalented because she is just near everyone [Männer]comes out. She can not insult your intelligence because she is at school. So, let's SH * t like you for anime. I'm just looking for a reason to be mad at a black woman. "

Todoroki Tina

pic.twitter.com/nXycHk0izm

– HOT GIRL MEG (@theestallion) April 1, 2019

Misogynoir is a term used by the black feminist Moya Bailey and is intended to emphasize the way black men interact negatively with black women. It is also part of the root problem Black men have with Megan Thee stallion music, looks, interests and behavior. What confuses you most is your conviction about it. You can not believe that you are interested in anime, and you hate it for it.

Also worthy of note is the close relationship of Japan to the Black community outlined by Cecilia D 'Anastasio for Vice. It has included the mistreatment of mixed-speed (Japanese and Black) people and in the context of anime, a tiny number of non-stereotypical depictions of Black people. Japan is also notorious for its ubiquitous use of Blackface, which made headlines last year. D 'Anastasio notes that regardless of all these racial crimes, blacks continue to cherish anime and honor him through cosplay and songs.

Rare moments that acknowledge the enduring power of Japanese animation and an underrated part of your fanbase should happen more often.

In 2016, writer Amber Dixon also talked about the hurtful separations she saw and experienced as a black anime fan. These include observing brown skin as a metaphor for dark energy in Sailor Moon, the minstrel – like face of Mr. Popo in Dragon Ball Z and Blackface, to cosplay black characters. Like D 'Anastasio, Dixon continues in the worship of Anime Fort and notices the early and emotional connection she felt specifically with Sailor Moon.

Twitter user @imninm adds, "I know more black girls who see anime more than any race or gender. Personally, I have anime look as I could remember, from Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Sailor Moon, Hamtaro, Dragonball Z. I never felt like it was showing a "boy" or anything like that. I just liked what I saw and I still do. "In other words, anime will always have a special place in the hearts of female viewers, including high-profile rappers like Megan Thee Stallion.

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Bulma Snow

Make up @akilaface

A post shared by Hot Girl Meg (@theestallion) on Apr 22, 2019 at 5:57 pm PDT

In November 2018, and again this past April, she emphasized her devotion with a different hairstyle inspired by Bulma, a predominant character in Dragon Ball (the first is Goku). This time, instead of an overwhelming amount of criticism, Megan's cascading, Seafoam green locks initiated a tender co-sign from FUNimation, a dubbing and distribution company. "Love the style!" Wrote the company, with a cutesy gif attached by Bulma. Rare moments that acknowledge the enduring power of Japanese animation and an underrated part of your fanbase should happen more often.

Men should be proud that such a celebrity woman like the stallion shares a common ground with you, increases solidarity, and makes room for even more people to become fans. It could also force certain men to accept that women did not want to interact with you or go out because they were nerds, but because they were unbearable. Conscientiousness, happy black, female fans and good music? Thanks, Megan. Stream fever now.