Chapter 0: Head-Cha-La

"I...cannot marry you." A defining silence rang out through out the spectators, the World Martial Arts Tournament announcer, judges, spokesmen, and every single one of the contestants. Even Piccolo-er-"Ma Junior" broke his meditation to see what has ceased the endless prattle.

"Not that I do not think you would be a great person to marry, Chi Chi." Goku continued. He internally gulped-Chi Chi's intense gaze was a healthy mixture of pain and betrayal, with a large portion of hate. "But...I didn't realize this as a kid, but there are a lot of bad people out there. Some as bad as even King Piccolo…for all we know, there could be others even worse than him." he rested one of his hands on the back of his head, a nervous tic that came natural to him. "I want to protect my friends and people I care about from guys like that so I have to get stronger, and marriage might…" he winced as Chi Chi's face started to turn red with anger "...Get in the way...of that."

Once he finished, Goku did the only thing he thought of to cool the situation down: he held his hand out to her for a handshake, an amicable way to end bitter feelings at the cost of awkwardness. He left himself completely unguarded, Chi Chi noticed. She could seriously wound him with a punch to the gut. Even if an internal organ wouldn't rupture, he would still be in too much pain to continue in the Tenkaichi...

"It's okay Goku, a girl like her is probably too high maintenance any ways." Krillin said, slapping his friend's shoulder as he slumped next to him behind the tournament ring. "I was so sure she was going to hit you!" Goku smiled weakly and said nothing, his mind processing the two words Chi Chi muttered before she walked away, leaving him at the World Martial Arts Tournament.

"You promised..."

When someone like Goku is the glue holding everyone and everything together, their actions and motives may unconsciously change the satellites around them. Perhaps if by agreeing to marry this woman he only met once before, effectively settling down, friends and family would as well settle down in a sense. But in a proclamation that evil is afoot and that he must be vigilant, what would his friends and family do? For Goku, not much has changed; After barely winning the 23rd Budokai, Son Goku continued his training. He went back Kami's lookout, where he will finally receive God's training. But the others?

Goku's prophetic words, coupled with his humiliating defeat, kept the young Piccolo enraged for a long while. Without a moment's sleep, he trained. Mountains, pyramids, and the occasional abandoned castle were all annihilated. A week later, finally exhausted, and no longer feeling sore about the past, Piccolo calmed his mind, placed his body into the sitting lotus position, and began to meditate.

What was to be the return of darkness, even under the rules of that flimsy tournament, turned into a humiliation. Son Goku know who he is now, what he is capable of, and worst of all, has literally declared war on evil. Then the way his friends had proven their abilities at The World Martial Arts Tournament opened Piccolo's eyes to them as well. They all needed to be neutralized, but the obvious way would be nothing less than suicide. One strike against his friends and Goku would be ready for another go...And he would not closely fall as easy as their first encounter; (and the first encounter was very, very difficult to cause) he would be ready for him now. If Piccolo attacks Goku instead of his friends or kills Goku in self defense, Piccolo would be beaten, worn down, and at his most vulnerable; he would have nowhere near enough energy to perform the Mafuba Counter if one of his weak friends jumped him after Goku is defeated, and then of course the Dragonballs would be gathered as if nothing had happened. So, how? How would the son of the Great Demon King gain dominion? For a day and a half, he meditated upon this, before opening his eyes, an epiphany dawning on him; it started with a low moan, a horrible groan even. A lump formed in Piccolo Jr's belly and it rose at a slow pace, the lump gradually making its way up to his throat, and out of his mouth. An egg.

"Father had the right idea." Piccolo said smiling, staring at the egg warmly as one would look at a dying rattlesnake they had struck. "But I will proceed on a larger scale, and when my spawn are numerous enough to block out the sun, no one will be safe, not even Son Goku." he let out a menacing cackle as the egg began to crack.

Out of everyone, Goku's words affected Krillin the most. Ever since he was killed, brought back to life, and told multiple times how livid Goku became along with how he sacrificed everything to avenge him, Krillin felt he finally understood what true friendship was, and it humbled him to have a friend like Goku; And now Goku's doing it again; sacrificing what may have been a happy life with a beautiful wife and potential children, just to protect his friends from threats like Piccolo. It did not take Krillin long after to declare the same: He too, will sacrifice everything possible to protect his best friend in the whole world. Wishing guidance, Krillin brought his thoughts to Master Roshi, who was more than happy to help. He Mentioned that he did not earn the right to be known as 'Master' until he envisioned, learned, and mastered the Kamehameha Wave, a game changer against his foes when he was still young. Master Roshi explained Krillin too, must take time and bring forth new abilities and techniques if he is ever to get stronger.

For Chaozu, not much has really changed. Whether or not Goku proclaimed that a vigil is needed, he would continue as he did, which was defer to Tenshinhan, and train. But for Tenshinhan, after a week's rest from the tournament, Tenshinhan traveled to Korin's to gain permission to formally meet and train with Kami like Goku had done; yet he was refused. When Tenshinhan attempted to head to the lookout anyways, he was immediately struck by an unknown force and sent hurtling back to Earth. Dejected, he felt simmering feelings he long thought he put away, feelings of envy, and resentment of Son Goku. His own humiliation in the Budokai against Goku did not help either. These feelings started to manifest inside Tenshinhan, until he slowly started to lash outward upon the world, just as he did long ago. Chaozu said nothing to this development. All Chaozu did, was defer.

The wedding of Yamcha and Bulma was quite a surprise, especially to Yamcha himself though he was the one who proposed. Indeed, Son Goku's words also affected Yamcha, though in an unlikely way-the thought of a constant vigil against evil, frightened him. And as Yamcha stared at his bedroom ceiling every night for a month after his defeat to Kami, thinking of Piccolo Jr, and King Piccolo, and some abomination even worst than them, he wept a bit. Yamcha knew he could do nothing against those freaks, every major fight he has been in shown him that. Son Goku is the only one who could keep anyone safe, and if he were to ever fall, Yamcha would want his last moments to be with the first woman he loved.

So over the course of a month, Yamcha cut ties with all his secret paramours, went to Krillin to teach him the Spirit Ball (as he no longer had a need for it), and being against the idea of loafing around jobless at Capsule Corp, joined the King's Army as a martial artist instructor. Finally another 13 weeks later, he went back to the Capsule Corps heiress and asked for her hand. With that, the dreaded wolf of the desert retired.

And finally, Chi Chi. Oh how the princess hated Son Goku, and hated most of all being rejected. For the next three years she endlessly trained, intending to meet Goku at the next Budokai, and utterly crush him. However, due to the murders associated with the 22nd and Ma Junior destroying the ring in the 23rd, the 24th World Martial Arts Tournament was placed on an indefinite hiatus. And so Chi Chi traveled the world, hoping to find Goku and defeat him. As of now, she's still searching.

Now with all the pieces on Earth set, a spaceship of circular design is heading towards Earth...

Chapter One: Raditz dies at the End. Coming Soon.