Disclaimer: Toei Animation, Bird Studios/Shueisha, Akira Toriyama, and FUNimation own all three Dragon Ball Series, including all the characters and attacks that appear in them. I do however own a great deal of the non-DBZ canon characters that will be used in the story... in fact all of them (save one). Nuff said.

I know I said I was iffy about writing this one, but as I write it, I find myself liking this plot more and more... So onward with it I will go.


Chapter 2: Enter The Puppet Master

----------------Unknown----------------

A vast, seemingly endless plain of gray existed between the realms of Otherworld and the mortal universe, the solemn placehousing three lone figures, two of those figures garbed in royal blue garments, the third dressed in a thick, inky black hooded robe, all three sranding before an enormous floating mirror, the glass rippling like a disturbed pond.

"Must you persist in annoying me?" Questioned the robed figure. "I am doing what is needed, now leave my realm you nuisances!"

The visibly older, heavily wrinkled purple figure stepped forward. "You are directly meddling in the affairs of mortals, we cannot allow you to continue."

The robed figured growled. "Fools! The two are disruptions in the natural fabric of time, they cannot be allowed to continue on in their existence."

"How? How do their lives disrupt reality?"

"In the true nature of time, neither of them exist. They were born of forgotten loose ends, errors, and of mistaken wishes. Through destroying them both, the natural order will be restored, and the distortion of reality, the forbidden level, will vanish forever."

The old one nodded. "I see... So you will have them do battle and murder each other? What if one survives the encounter?"

"Worry not, old Kaio, for I know of a way to assure a mutual death."

"But this direct meddling cannot continue, no matter how detrimental their existence is to the everything else."

"It will end, old one. It will end soon enough."

"Good." The Old Kaio nodded, and he and his associate vanished from sight.

Once alone, a deep cackle escaped the form of the robed one."Yes... It will all end soon enough..." Said he, his form slowly fading into nothingness…

----------------Tairo----------------

An ominous cloud crept along the soft blue sky, eating away at the azure heavens until it shrouded the world below utterly, the planet hidden beneath a veil of darkness.

With a booming crackle of thunder and several luminous streaks of lightning, the world below soon came under assault, pelted ceaselessly by a massive downpour of large, heavy droplets of rather frigid water.

The rain fell harder and faster with each passing moment, thunder crackling violently, the planet shuddering at the intense sound as brilliant streaks of lightning tore through the blackened sky, illuminating the world for seconds at a time.

A sole figure endured this rainstorm; his once light green shirt now a deep olive green, the sound soaking the downpour had given it darkened its color considerably.

With a brilliant flash of lightning and a crackle of thunder, another figure appeared, this figure's form as ominous as the black cloud, as he stood garbed in a hooded black cloak that utterly and completely hid his form from view.

"Where's Pan?" Shouted Tairo, clenching his dripping wet fists tightly. "Talk you ugly freak!"

"Son Pan…" Said the robed creature softly and slowly, his voice barely above a whisper. "The young descendant of Son Goku… A most powerful child indeed… And the love of your life, if I am not mistaken …"

A low, throaty growl tore itself from Tairo as he gritted his teeth in anger, gold sparks dancing about his form.

"But have no fear, Saiyajin," said the dark figure, hisinky black cloak sleek with rainwater. "The half-breed lives, although it is by a strand that she clings to life…"

"You animal!" Cried Tairo, a golden flame erupting about him, forcing the mess of thoroughly drenched, ebony strands hanging over his face upwards into erect, sharpened strands of gold, warping his green eyes into a brilliant turquoise, and lastly swelling his already perfectly rounded muscles a little, giving him new strength.

Before either could blink, the Super Saiyajin charged, fist balled tightly, and swung at the robed figure hard, putting every ounce of might he could muster into the blow.

The hooded figure's robe began to flutter, although the Earth's winds were not blowing, and in a movement faster than the human eye could detect, a scaly, inky black hand snapped out and grabbed the Saiyajin's fist, and slammed him into the muddy Earth.

The mucky brown soil splashed upward and splattered all over the robed figure, and he simply waved a concealed hand over himself, and mud slid off, his black robe again immaculate.

"How dare you attack me, you insignificant piece of trash! Do you know whom you try to assault!" Bellowed the hooded stranger, bolts of obsidianlight flittering about his form. "You insolent fool, had I no use for you, I would destroy you now!"

The muddied Saiyajin rolled over onto his back, his entire front, from face to foot now brown, coated by a squishy mass of grimy soil. He sprang back up to his feet and let out a fierce roar, his hair erecting itself further into perfectly sharpened gold strands, his pupils darkening to a deeper shade of turquoise, blue bolts surging through his golden aura sporadically.

"You can't beat me," roared Tairo, positioning both hands affront his body, palms facing his foe. "Now take this!" An enormous orb of brilliant, emerald green energy with bolts of black energy surging around it forged itself against his palms, its form shaking wildly due to its instability.

"Bomber Blast!" Cried the Saiyajin, and the orb rocketed forth with such intensity that the muddy ground was forced apart, creating a swirling mass of wet soil.

"Fool," said the robed figure calmly as he drew back his hood, revealing his scaly, raven colored, hairless skull. His eye sockets, void of anything, gave him an eerie, soulless and evil look as he stared at Tairo's attack.

"Nullifier Cannon!" Cried the demon, opening his mouth wide, his pearly white fangs glowing a dark amethyst purple as a massive blast launched itself from deep within him, similiar purple waves rushing forth from his empty sockets.

The two attacks collided, and in a brilliant flash of light, they dissipated, the mud falling to the ground with loud, disgusting plops. The demon drew his hood over his head again, concealing his skull from view.

The Saiyajin's eyes went wide. "How… That's not possible!"

"I have not come to do battle with you, Tairo."

Tairo narrowed his eyes, staring at the demon angrily. "Liar! You kidnapped Pan, so you must want to die!"

"It is beyond your ability to kill one such as me," said the demon, a deep sigh escaping his form. "But, as I said, I have not come to battle you. I merely wish to tell you of your beloved's location."

"Then get to talking!"

"Do you know of the Saiyajin home world, Tairo?"

"Yeah, I do," said Tairo, hisrashtone voicing his evident impatience, "What about it?"

"It is there that you will find your beloved Pan…" He paused, pulling his hood back to reveal his toothy, demented looking grin, and empty eye sockets. "In the clutches of the young Saiyajin royal… Senzaimono."

Tairo stared at the demon in utter confusion. "What? The planet Vegeta doesn't exist anymore, Frieza destroyed it! What are you talking about?"

"This Senzaimono is in another realm altogether... A realm where the Saiyajin home world has been revived."

"I... How can I go there?" He shook his head. "None of what you're saying makes sense!"

"Foolish child, I have not come only to give you this information, I have come so that you may do something about it." The demon grinned and pulled out a jewel with an odd, mixed coloring of snow white and onyx black. "Through this, the Yin-Yang stone. Forged by the first Kaioushin, it can unleash the full, untapped resovior of power hidden within a person, giving them untold strength."

"But... How does that help me get to Pan?"

"With the power of the stone, you may traverse realities."

"How...? I don't get it, stop talking in riddles!"

The demon sighed. "Look. With the stone, you would be able to achieve the fifth level of your super state without a need for a full moon or the Super Oozaru state. And in that form, you could simply transport yourself there, for the power of a Super Saiyajin on the fifth peak amplified by the Yin-Yang stone is beyond all imagination... You can literally bend time and space around you!"

Tairo's eyes widened a little. "Hand it over!"

"But do not go in haste, young Saiyajin, although you may become stronger, use of the stone has dire consequences. "

Tairo looked to the demon in confusion. "It has what?"

"For one so strong, you are not that bright, are you, young Saiyajin?"

"Are you calling me stupid!"

The demon sighed. "Do you wish for me to continue?"

Tairo growled, glaring at the demon. "Fine… Just don't call me stupid again or I'll break you in half!"

"Although my gift would transform you into your ultimate form... It would either taint your soul, turning you into the epitome of evil, or it would purify you completely, relieving you of any darkness within your body. Itdepends wholly on the current content of your soul."

Tairo stared at the stone long and hard, considering the possibilities. No matter what, it would make him stronger. But what if it tainted him? An evil Super Saiyajin of the fifth peak would make for an impossible foe…

"I do not have an eternity, Tairo. Choose now, and choose wisely."

The young Saiyajin nodded and swallowed hard, and reached his hand out, seemingly about to take the stone from the demon's scaly grasp…

----------------Senzai----------------

A dull knocking sounded as a heavy fist rapped against enormous twin doors of gold, both doors adorned with the finest jewels and trinkets.

"Enter," snapped an angry voice from deep within the room hidden by the enormous doors. The figure affront the doors nodded and began to push the right door forward, the golden door moving inward, revealing a rather dark throne room, illuminated only by a few small fluorescent lights that rested on the ceiling, about fifty meters above the floor.

The entering figure walked into the throne room and bowed, dropping to one knee, placing his fist over his heart. "My liege."

The figure atop the throne sat garbed in an armor colored with an intricate mix of gold, black, and red, with golden shoulder pads and a black cape of silk handing from his back, although at the present moment, the cape lie underneath his bottom, the king sitting quite comfortably atop it.

"Rise Norc," snapped the royal.

Norc nodded and lifted himself from his kneeling position, standing erect before his king. "My lord, King Senzaimono, I bear you news."

"Just tell me already," barked Senzai, fondling his medallion.

"Among the guards, there is much talk of a creature that walks among us."

Senzai narrowed his eyes. "Be more specific you imbecile, all sorts of creatures roam my palace."

A bead of sweat ran down the side of Norc's lightly tanned face. "Forgive me sire… I meant a creature that wasn't a Saiyajin… Or of planet Vegeta for that matter."

"Well?"

Norc, who had had his eyes lowered to the ground the entire time, stole a glance at his king. "Well… what sir?"

"What is it!"

Norc cringed and nodded his head. "Forgive my ignorance sire… But all we know is that it isn't of planet Vegeta…"

"Bunglers!" This outburst was received with yet another cringe, Norc's fear very apparent. After Serori's passing, the king had become a cold, quick to anger and wantonly destructive dictator, inspiring fear in even the hearts of the bravest Saiyajin, though none would care to admit such a thing. "You fools are useless! Get out of my sight!"

"But sire—"

"Are you still here! Be gone!" Roared the king, launching an orb of scarlet energy.

"Ah!" Norc bolted out of the throne room just as thered sphere scorched the spot he previously occupied.

"I'm surrounded by idiots…" Muttered Senzai and he rose from his throne, walking over to his chambers and entering them.

----------------Later That Night…----------------

"Wake Senzai!" Commanded a heavy voice, a robed figure gripping the shoulder of the sleeping king. "Wake up!" The man shook the slumbering royalty hard until the king's eyes opened very gradually, revealing angered eyes. With a roar, the king grabbed the arm of the man and hurled him across the room. The king threw back his sheets and stood just as the man slammed into the wall opposite the bed.

"How dare you wake me that way fool!" The king outstretched his right arm and opened his hand, facing his palm towards the man. The king growled as specs of red light began to gather against his palm, slowly condensing into a ball. "I should kill you right now!"

"Fool!" Bellowed the robed figure as he rose, unharmed by Senzai's throw. "I have a deal for you, you idiot, now be calm and hear my proposition!"

"Why should I?" Senzai questioned, keeping the red orb buzzing against his palm. "You've insulted me with your arrogance, stranger, I should kill you."

"Such insolence! Fool, do you know to whom you speak!"

The room heated up with such intensity that Senzai's flesh began to drip, sliding down his form in a manner that imitated sweat.

"Ah!" Cried Senzai, feeling his flesh start to melt.

With a heavy sigh, the room cooled off, and the breeze that had caused the hooded figure's robe to flutter dissipated.

Senzai growled. "I'll kill you!" He leapt forward and unleashed an intense flurry of punches and kicks, all aimed at different spots on the robed figure's body, who deflected theblows with an ease that only angered Senzai further.

With a great cry, Senzai exploded into his newly achieved second stage of Super Saiyajin, and began a new onslaught of rapid punches, kicks, and ki blasts.

The robed one dodged each strike, making the attack futile.

Senzai snarled and leapt back, then thrust both palms forward. "Sa…ra…da… Cannon!" Without any charging, a wave of red energy riddled with gold bolts of static electricity surged forth.

The blast plowed into the hooded figure, knocking him backward as it exploded, enveloping the entire room in a thick cloud of dust.

After a few long moments of suspense, swirling dust clouds cleared.

The robed one had vanished.

Without warning, Senzai felt an elbow driven into the back of his neck, stealing consciousness from him instantly.

----------------Just Before Daybreak…----------------

He shook his head groggily, slowly opening his eyes, his sight clouded by a hazy black. Slowly, the world came into focus, and he felt a rough, scaly hand closing around his neck, his body lifted from the ground.

The two met eyes, and the demon spoke, pulling back his hood, revealing his scaly bald head, his red and blue pupils within white eyes, and his long, pearly white fangs.

"Are you willing to listen, Senzai?"

The king nodded very slightly, the tight grip on his throat constricting the flow of air to his lungs, along with the ability of his head to nod or shake.

"Good," said the hooded one, dropping Senzai to the ground. Senzai fell to the ground coughing and sputtering,the red hand mark on his throat telling all that he'd been choked to near unconsciousness. "I know who murdered your mentor, the General Serori."

The fires of anger blazed in Senzai's eyes. "Who! Tell me now!"

"His name is Tairo," answered the demon. "And he is Saiyajin, as you are."

"Tell me where he is robe boy!" He gritted his teeth out of anger. "And I'll make sure he never kills anyone ever again..."

"Do not be so hasty, Senzaimono. This Tairo is no weakling, he did after all kill off your strongest ally with great ease. Would you not like to be prepared for his second attack?"

After contemplating it, Senzai nodded. "What've you got robe boy? And it better be good."

He grinned. "Oh, but it is." He pulled a stone out, its form a strange mix of white and black."This is the Yin-Yang Stone, created by the first Kaioushin. It has the power to give a person ultimate power, although, depending on your soul, it could taint you into utter evil, or purify you completely."

After fully regaining his breath, Senzai climbed to his feet and gave a quick nod. "Hand it over."

The robed figure handed the stone over to Senzai, and immediately, his form became corrupted by a brilliant light, just as the robed one dissipated…


Hmm... I dunno... It feelsoff to me...Oh well, I guess I'll find out when and if you, the much appreciated reader, leaves Golden a review.Please review ladies and gents,good or bad, I need to hear opinions!Okay, until next time, Golden out.