Title: Dragon Ball FN
Saga: Piccolo's Melody
Chapter 1: A Child-Bat from Hell

Disclaimer: Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z are not own by me. I do not gain any profit from creating this story. Please enjoy.

Story Background: The 22ond World Martial Arts Tournament had ended with Tien Shinhan as the Champion with Goku the second runner up. Tien had offered to pay for dinner for the Turtle group that evening using the money he won from the tournament. As they were heading over there, Goku realized that he forgot his power pole and his dragon ball. Krillin offered to get them for him since he was best friends with Goku. The group continued on ahead as Krillin rush back to retrieve the missing items.

Krillin hummed to himself in a happy tune as he scanned the vacant lot that used to hold the preliminary rounds just that morning. In the setting sun's glow, he spotted the red pole wrapped in a brown cloth and strings leaning on the wall right next to a small bag. Skipping in delight in finding his friend's stuff, he went over to retrieve them. Just as he snatched the items, a yelp along with a crash alerted him. Looking over to the source of the noise, a body flew through the opening and landed hard on the empty floor. He was the announcer guy.

The announcer guy looked like he just shit his pants in fear with his askew glasses and messed up hair adding to the effect. His black suit was roughly handled and slightly dirtied. He continue to stare at the opening he had passed through with nerves wracking through him. Krillin wasted no time facing the entrance to see what had shook him up so badly.

At the doorway, Krillin saw a green being around his height with bat-like wings standing there. In one hand, a stack of papers were seen as the strange being tucked them in the shirt. The other hand reached down to a lower pocket and brought out a round device. Krillin got over his shock and eased himself in a defensive position as he asked, "Who are you? What do you want?"

A click was heard as the device in hand flashed along with a beep. The red eyes look up from the device to the bald monk. "Is that bag has the dragon ball?" a child's voice around 3-year-old asked.

Krillin blinked at the unexpected speech and grew wary of the child. "Even if it was, what are you going to do with it?"

"A gift," the strange child replied, smiling. "My mom would be very happy to get it."

"It's not my place to give it to you. You're going to have to wait."

The child's smile was gone and in place was an upset frown. The red eyes narrowed at him. "Give it to me, or I'll kill you for it."

"A kid shouldn't go sprouting things that he can't do," Krillin said, dismissively.

The only warning Krillin got was a low growl from the child. Shock covered the bald monk as the child sped up to him and promptly kicked him. He realized that the child wasn't kidding. There was a real power behind that kick. He had dropped the items he was going to bring to Goku and hit the hard floor. He tried to get a lungful of air, but the airway was blocked. He coughed as he clutched his pained chest. He heard the whooshing sound before his blurry vision saw the child flying out the entrance. He barely saw a small sheet of paper floating down as blackness overtook him.

Goku was enjoying his big feast along with his friends and former enemies. He barely noticed the others' disgust or loss of appetite due to his rambunctious method of eating. The only thing that would make the night better would be the arrival of his best friend Krillin with his power pole and the dragon ball. He had just finished his third round of food and was waiting for more when a dreaded feeling slowly steeped in. The missing Krillin hadn't returned. Goku tried to push it off that he must have misplaced it causing Krillin to search for it longer than usual.

His thoughts were interrupted by sounds of heavy running and panting as a disheveled blond male ran into the dinner. The group instantly recognized him as the announcer guy. He was panting too hard to make coherent words as he looked around. When he finally spotted the group he was looking for, he stumbled his way there mumbling something. The room quieted as they watch.

The announcer guy finally made it to the group with Goku and the others and took a lung full of air. "I-it was awful! That thing took off with the list *pant* of previous finals of ... the tournament. *pant* Then, he ... Krillin was there. *pant* Tried to fight off the monster. *gasp* Knocked out. He took the bag!"

As the horror of the situation dawned on the group, Goku stood up and shouted, "WHAT!"

The group ran back to the empty tournament room after the announcement. The announcer guy decided to stay at the dinner to hold their table. Goku had already reached the room and was trying to wake his best friend. Krillin shifted for a moment and managed to take enough air before coughing again. Just as his friend started to worry, Krillin spat out a mix of blood and mucus. He panted from the effort and near lack of air in his lungs as his body shook.

"Krillin! You're alright!" Goku hugged his best friend with relief. By this time, the rest of the group had arrived and was relieved that Krillin was fine and alive. Goku then released the bald monk and asked, "What happened?"

"A monster child," Krillin told them, "wanted your dragon ball and attacked me for it!" His eyes started to well up as he tried not to cry. "I'm sorry, Goku, but he was too fast and gotten away with it."

"Don't worry, Krillin!" Goku told him to cheer his best friend up. "I'm sure Bulma has the dragon radar. He shouldn't have gotten far." He grabbed the dropped power pole and strapped it on. "Bulma, can I borrow the dragon radar?"

"Sure, Goku," Bulma replied as she grabbed it out of her pocket.

"Thanks!" Goku grabbed it and ran out. "Nimbus!" he called as he clicked the radar on. As the yellow cloud flew to Goku, he hopped on and sped away. He checked the radar for a moving dragon ball.

"WAIT!" Roshi called out, but Goku was already out of earshot. "That impulsive boy!" He had a bad feeling about this situation and feared for Goku's safety if he was correct.

Krillin watched his best friend leave before realizing he was forgetting something. Looking around, he spotted the paper he vaguely recalled the child dropped. He picked it up and looked at a strange circle around a kanji saying demon. "Uh, Master Roshi? You might want to take a look at this," Krillin said as he turned to him.

"What is it?" Bulma asked as the group gathered around except Roshi. "That's weird. That's demon in a circle. Are those pointed things at the sides of the circle supposed to resemble ears?"

Roshi dashed to Bulma's side and said, "Let me see that!" in a frightened manner. Bulma barely gave it to him when it was snatched. Sweat started to pour out as the old man stared in horror at the image. "O-oh, no! This can't be! It's not true!" On the page was a kanji symbol of devil with a circle around it. The circle has pointed ears on either side. The old man's hands shook at the memory he had so long suppressed. His feeling of dread quickly spread to the group as they asked the issue was. "I-it's a mark: the emblem of the demon Piccolo!" He glanced at Krillin. "That monster child was no 'he', it's a 'she'."

Krillin's eyes only widened in surprise at the news.

As the commotion happened at the tournament, nearly half way around the world away was an airship. The sun was high in the sky casting such light on the airship. Inside the flying vehicle, sat an individual unlike anyone had seen before. Green skin covered the humanoid body with pink patches over most of the visible major muscles with dark red lines around them. Purple lines coiled on the wrists and ankles to separate the smooth skin of hands and feet from the ridged skin of arms and legs. The head possessed two long antennae above the brow, pointed ears, and sharp looking red eyes.

It was a perfect description of a demon except Piccolo wasn't in her prime years. Age had settled on the smooth skin of the head causing many wrinkles to appear. The beautiful green had darkened. The pink patches had dulled into a reddish orange with the dark red line into maroon. The strong purple lines on the wrists had faded to a bluish tint.

The chair Piccolo sat on was white with decorative skeletal wings on both sides and navy cushions. It sat between two groups. Facing Piccolo was a misfit of a tall human female, a short bipedal dog, and a blue imp: Mai, Shu, and Pilaf. To one side of Piccolo was a five-year-old demon with a tail leaning on the chair, and the other was an intelligent one-year-old demon sitting on the armrest.

Piccolo wore a navy robe with her symbol on the chest area with a dulled red cape and black chinese shoes. Her five-year-old child wore a navy gi with a hole for her tail and the symbol on her left pant leg. An orange sash tied around her waist and black sandals on her feet. Her one-year-old child wore knee length navy pants with light blue sash around the bottom of the pants and around her waist, gi top with the symbol on the back and black chinese shoes. She was holding a stuffed toy.

"The world had gotten a bit tame while I was gone," Piccolo said. "A bit of chaos would liven things up."

"Yes, of course, Your Majesty!" Pilaf exclaimed, hoping to keep in favor of Piccolo's good will. "The world will soon be ours for taking!"

"…Yes, of course. The world's fate will soon rest on the palm of my hands. I am grateful for your information regarding to the dragon balls."

"Good thing we are a team. Freeing you those short years ago was not easy. You're lucky we didn't give up." Pilaf stood shaking in front of Piccolo afraid of the raw power emitting from the ancient being.

"I remember you giving your services to me. Is there a reason for this… reminder?"

"Ah, yes! You see, we would like a part of the world to rule over ourselves. Would half of it be fine?" Pilaf quaked under the stern gaze of Piccolo and cracked. "No, I'm sorry; perhaps half was a bit too much. A third, then? Or, maybe a quarter? A small land not worth your notice?"

A light chuckle sounded the quiet room as Pilaf and his gang stood terrified. They hadn't yet decoded if the noise Piccolo made was a good one or not. "Its part of the agreement that I decide how much land based on how well you three served me, isn't that correct?"

"Yes, yes! I simply wanted to know the rough amount!"

"Contain your excitement. We barely have begun to put our plans in fruition after all those years of planning and waiting. I will notify you when we have completed the planned objective: the collection of dragon balls and the extermination of all those who pose a threat to my existence."

"Right, I apologize for my behavior, Your Majesty." Pilaf bowed along with his two minions. Even with a healthy fear towards Piccolo, Pilaf couldn't help but feel excited that Piccolo would still reward him. However, Piccolo was not thinking about the promised reward since her middle child should have completed the first step and waited for her arrival. A smile graced upon Pilaf who had misunderstood its meaning.

The winged child flew with glee at her success of her mission given to her by Piccolo. All she had to do now was to fly back to her mother and show her the items obtained. The black bag that held the orange 4 star ball was cradled between her hands. The mood was shattered when a voice called out behind her, "Hey you! Stop right there!" It was difficult for her to remain in flight after her shock, but she managed to stop herself and turned around. Goku had finally caught up to the monster child with his dragon ball.

"Give me back my dragon ball!" Goku yelled at her. She faced the orange gi wearing monkey boy standing on his yellow cloud. Goku faced the monster child from the setting sun. She wore a backless and sleeveless navy gi top allowing free movements to her bat-like wings, orange sash and a navy pants to her calves. Her feet wore black sandals. The symbol was on the end of the sash.

"I don't want to," the child told him. "It's a gift to my mom." Goku was close enough to see the black bag that held his dragon ball in her hands as well as details on her arms and legs that was difficult to see from afar. Three light purple rings decorated her wrists and ankles, semi-bold pink patches where two on both forearms, on her biceps, triceps, and calves with a red ring outlining each, and ridges along her green skin between the wrists to shoulder and ankle to the length of her upper leg. Her face looked relatively normal except for green skin, pointed ears, and a line of flexible spikes from the center of her forehead to the back of her head flopped over to one side looking like hair made from her skin.

"Oh, your mom? Does she know there are seven of them?" Goku asked, looking very curious.

"Yes she does. Her health is declining and only the dragon balls could make her better."

"If that's so, I suppose you can have it for a little while. Oh, I nearly forgot, I'm Goku! What's yours?"

She blinked at the question, thinking whether to answer him or not. "I-I'm Timbrel," she replied hesitantly.

"Timbrel? That's a nice name!"

"My mom likes it, and I like it, so, yeah." She desperately wanted to get away but was afraid that he would follow. She had to lose him somehow. Then she noticed the cloud he was on. "What's you're riding?"

Goku looked down at where she pointed. "Oh! My cloud, Nimbus. He's a brave little cloud. Only those with pure of heart can ride it!" He gave the cloud several pats and smiled. "Do you want to try?"

"No. You're bothering me," Timbrel growled. She had gotten over her fright of Goku and couldn't believe that Goku would allow her to have the dragon ball. Goku's behavior hadn't matched up what her mother had told her, and it was irritating. She had a mission to complete and Goku was bothering her task.

"Oh, that's okay. I suppose my friends must be worried about me." Goku looked back to where he came from wondering how fast he could go.

Timbrel was in a small state of panic. There's no way she could allow him to get his friends and somehow find her again. "You're going nowhere!"

Goku looked back at her in confusion when she directed a blast of ki at him. "Whoa!" Goku jumped up to avoid it and saw the blast had dispersed his Nimbus. "No! Nimbus!" He looked up in anger when her foot had connected his skull, sending him downward. "Ouch!" He clutched his injured head as he fell.

"I hope the fall kills him. If I had to see him again, it'll be too soon!" Timbrel growled to herself as she flew off.

Goku, on the other hand, didn't see her go as he nursed his several bruises sustained by his fall to the ground.

"Demon Piccolo?" Bulma and Yamcha asked in surprise. They have no idea who she was nor heard tales about her.

"I have heard that Piccolo was a demon who loved chaos, but I hadn't heard that demon was a she," Tien told the group. "Is she really back?"

"If this paper and that child is the proof, then yes, she is back. I don't know how, when, or why she is, but she is. I have a hard time believing this myself," Roshi said. "Piccolo was a nightmare when she terrorized Earth. She was very cruel and powerful demon. She took much pride in her monsters of children as they ravished the lands. Her defeat lays at the hands of my master, Mutaito. The crane master and I were students of his, and we saw his secret technique that stopped Piccolo from going any further. He called it "Mafuba". Once he trapped the demon inside the Mafuba, he trapped her inside a rice cooker. That process had cost him his life. I had that cooker thrown in the sea. I do not know how she was able to escape or when. If she decided to strike now, she must have more than one child and had something planned.

"She must have a wish for the dragon, but I do not know what. As for the champion list, she probably planned to get rid of them. Martial Artists were her downfall last time. She would not make the same mistake again. I'm afraid we have to wait and hope Goku returns. If he's not back by dark, we are going to have to expect the worst and continue without him."

"You mentioned "Mafuba". I never heard Master Crane saying anything about it," Tien said.

"Probably because it doesn't suit the style of the Crane School. If you know so little about Piccolo, Mafuba wouldn't be mentioned along with her. It's a dangerous technique, but I do not remember how it went. Sorry, Tien, I do not have anything about Mafuba other than what it does and the risk of losing you own very life on it."

"Is there any way to fight her?" Yamcha asked. "I'm sure if we team up, she would be no problem."

"In your dreams!" Bulma yelled at him. "Do you have a death wish?"

"She'll come for us anyway since Tien and I are on the list."

"Oh, man, what if she has stronger children beside the one I saw?" Krillin asked in fright. "I'm also on the list, so we're doomed!"

"I don't know, Krillin," Roshi said. "I hope the time she was inside the cooker would weaken her. If she has strength still after birthing them, we may be in trouble. Right now, there's not enough information to know what's going on other than her return and one child. We will return to my place with or without Goku. It's soon to be dark here."

They stayed a few hours more, well into the night searching fruitlessly at the sky for any signs of Goku's return. At Roshi's words, they gave up waiting for him and went to Kame's House, forgetting about the meal they had left earlier.

AN: I believe you all figured out what "FN" stands for by now. I honestly couldn't think up a good title (the original was Piccolo's Melody but decided it better for the Saga rather than a title). I am open to suggestions about the title. So, drop a review for me, please? It doesn't have to be about the title.

I came up with this idea from thinking about gender-bended DB stories (there's two I think in FF) and was thinking up reasons why Namekians were female. Then, I thought, I don't HAVE to do a complete gender-bended story. I can keep everything the same except for the Namekians. More details about them will come (Namek Story Arc). For now, please bear with me as we go along the Demon King -I mean Queen- Piccolo Saga!