Chapter 2 - Starring Star
"This is going to be like taking candy from a baby!"
"Cinnamon, didn't we already do that? When we did find a baby with a dragonball, and took it from him?"
"Well yeah, but Pepper this time it's a figure of speech!"
"...But there are babies down there. Is it still a figure of speech?
"Will you two shut up?"
"You shut up Ginger!" The other two shouted, quite loudly at the other. Luckily the trio were in the stratosphere, away from eyes and ears. Ginger, the self proclaimed leader of the group is a dark olive skinned creature known as a Makyan, a humanoid with an off color and an odd shaped bulbous head, adorned in a red cloak. Pepper, the dumb muscle (though all of them aren't quite bright) is a grey skinned Makyan with a head shaped like a dill pickle, with pink flowing locks of hair, and wearing black heavy armor. Then finally the dandy one, Cinnamon, a light blue Makyan, who's head isn't quite as disturbingly different as the other two, with a full head of grey hair, wearing fabrics that could best be described as African or Indian garb.
These guys are definite bad news. But oddly enough, you could say they are the best smelling hulking creatures you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley.
Below the Makyan trio, in a field of daffodils and lilies were in fact small children, or "babies" as Pepper called them. Two dozen in all, playing tag, hide and seek, and overall roughhousing as all precocious younglings would, surrounding a young woman who was playing catch with a well coordinated boy of nine. The ball was a speckled mess of red, blue, and green, and was rubber and smooth to the touch.
"The woman has the dragonball." Ginger said, after finally quieting down his comrades. "Let's get it and go." The three descended slowly from the heavens. Some of the kids who were laying down and guessing the shapes of clouds immediately saw the Makyans and started to scream in fear. This alarmed the other children, and soon the young guardian was swarmed by tiny crying eyes. She looked up, but unlike the children, her face had an unreadable expression.
"Granny Milk, what are we going to do?" the youngest of the girls cried out. A blood vessel threatened to pop from the young woman's head, but a sweet-if not shaky-smile crept up on to her face.
"It's Aunt Chi Chi sweetness." She said. "And just because someone looks mean and scary, doesn't mean they are." She assured them. "Never judge a book by its cover." As the Makyans landed on the ground, she silently gulped through her smile. It was obvious they were looking for trouble, and they were no pushovers either. How would she keep the children safe?
"Looks like someone works out." Cinnamon said with a devilish smile on his face, as Chi Chi walked forward in front of the children. "I like a woman with...definition."
"Thank you, I do my best." Chi Chi muttered, trying not to grimace at this creatures pass at her, though he wasn't wrong: Underneath her yellow chinese dress and black tights were a sculpted lithe physique of muscle, from years of intense training and meddling in affairs against dictators, assassins, and the occasional demon. "Now what is it you want?" She said, her eyes staring at these potential enemies with as much fire as she could muster. "If you have no business here, then go."
"You talk big words for such a tiny broodmother." Pepper said gruffly. "You afraid we're going to eat your babies?" Ginger and Cinnamon looked to their dumb muscle, utterly confused to why he was taking offense, and trying to pick a fight. Chi Chi stiffened at this, and started reaching for the staff on her back, knowing that the children were watching, and hoping that the worst was not to happen.
"Please ignore my friend." Ginger said. "He is an idiot." A murderous growl started to escape from Pepper's lips, but a glare from Cinnamon shut him up, and he went docile. "We're not here for a fight."
"Well then, what is it you want?" Chi Chi looked to Pepper, who was still doing his best to ignore him.
Ginger held out his hand, a smirk started to creep on his face. "Give us the dragonball." Chi Chi made no reaction. She looked to the kids, who stared back at her, shivering though they were not cold. Chi Chi required lodging, but with no money, she had to strike a deal with the village; babysitting the village younglings should have been no trouble...If these kids weren't here, Chi Chi could just fight, or run. But if she does something stupid...
She reached into the back of her sash, and held it out, looking at it...It had four glittering stars, and the sunlight reflected off the orb in such a manner, that you could see a small prism rainbow. The ball was special, to her...to him...
"There you are." Chi Chi tossed the ball into her Ginger's hands lightly. He caught it easily. "If there is nothing else..." Chi Chi stopped speaking, easily conveying she wanted the Makyans gone.
"Lord Garlic Jr. thanks you for your assistance." Ginger replied. Pepper nodded and Cinnamon winked at Chi Chi as they started to ascend, and then they took off to the Northlands. As the Makyans flew off, Chi Chi was swarmed by the children again.
"Granny Milk! What did those jerks want?" The youngest girl asked sincerely. Chi Chi's lips pursed at this, and took a deep breath before speaking again.
"They...wanted to borrow something." Chi Chi said. Chi Chi went into the back of her sash, and pulled out...the four star dragonball. "Sorry Tomez, they needed your rubber ball."
Location - Northlands - Makyan Fortress
One Star. Two Star. Three Star. Five Star. Six Star. And finally, the Seven Star Dragon Ball. A Makyan of diminutive stature, Garlic Jr. was by far more powerful then he let on. He has spent the better part of a fortnight having the dragonballs gathered for him by his peons; and soon, his immortality will be attained, and then the world will be his. He slowly caressed the balls with his nubbly little fingers. A creeping smile growing on his face as they shined. Stepping away from the dragonballs, Garlic looked to the pool next to his throne. Like Ginger he too had an unusually large head, with green bald spots throwing off his teal colored skin. He was adorned in a royal garb and cowl but he wasn't a King or Emperor...not quite yet.
"Lord Garlic Jr!" Ginger called out as the Makyan trio stepped through the throne room doors. Garlic turned to the trio, an evil grin growing from the smirk on his face.
"Give it to me! Give it to me now!" In a half second Garlic Jr was in front of Ginger, hopping on his tippy toes like a child. Feeling proud of himself, Ginger turned to Cinnamon who was also all smiles, and looked to Pepper who held out a thumbs up. Ginger went into his pocket...
And pulled out a smooth rubber ball that was a speckled mess of red, blue, and green. Ginger's olive color, paled at the sight. Pepper and Cinnamon's eyes widened. Garlic Jr stopped hopping, face a complete blank.
"Lord Garlic, Sir." Ginger started, gulping some air as he spoke. "We all saw the dragonball. She gave it to me, it-
"Who?" Garlic Jr said. His words were quiet but his body was violently shaking.
"She must have been a witch and used magic to throw us off!-
"WHO!" Garlic leapt up and grabbed Ginger by his face, sending him reeling on the throne floor as he held him. Cinnamon and Pepper shrank away at the sight as their Lord digging his nails into the whimpering Ginger.
"The witch! The dragonball that was in the Westlands, she had it!" Ginger wailed. "It was in my pocket the whole time! It felt like the other balls, it was the same weight, when it was in my pocket, it gave off the same energy signature as the other balls! Please my Lord have mercy!" Finally hearing what he needed to hear, Garlic Jr. let him go. He looked to his other minions, slowly allowing himself to relax.
"Of course I will be merciful to you. To you all." Garlic Jr said, "After all, you must redeem yourselves." Garlic Jr calmly flew to his throne and sat down. "Find the dragonball and the witch. Bring her to me alive, and make sure she has the dragonball on her before she returns. Now go." In an instant, the Makyan trio were gone.
"It took me centuries to return to this planet, and two weeks to get almost all of the dragonballs." Garlic Jr said, looking to the 6 glittering orbs. "I can wait a few moments more."
"Pick up pick up pick up!" Chi Chi was shouting into the village elder's phone. "Please pick up you-
"Hello hello?" Master Roshi said. "Sorry about that, I was on the commode!"
"I'm in the Westlands, coordinates 48 Degrees North 68 Degrees East. I need Krillin's help now!"
"Chi Chi?" Master Roshi queried over the phone. "Krillin sensed a monstrous power level and went to investigate. I have no idea where he is. What's wrong?"
"Some demons wanted the dragonball I had, I...didn't think it would have been a good idea so I glamoured them into taking something else. But they'll be back looking for me." Chi Chi started scratching the tip of her nose. "I would have just high tailed it out of the region, but I was near a village, they'd probably just kill everyone there if they can't find me."
"Damn." said Master Roshi. "How many demons?"
"Three, and I know I would have my work cut out for me with just one."
"And I'm on the other side of the world with nothing fast enough to get there in time" Master Roshi grimly stated. "I'll call Bulma. If Yamcha is there, he might be able to sense Krillin and find him, and give him the coordinates. D-do you think you can hold out?"
"I have no choice." Chi Chi said, and hung up without a further word. She headed towards the elder's kitchen, finding a pair of scissors. Grabbing those and stepping outside of the elder's house, she walked to the front of the village, where the kids and their parents were without a clue, walking to the market, playing, or even giving a greeting to the young woman.
It was better this way, Chi Chi thought, knowing that saying something would have have started a panic. Now at the village gate, first, Chi Chi took the scissors, cutting off a portion of hair from the back of her head, hoping that if she survives this, no one will ever notice the plug. It was a useful spell, but to mar her looks each time, made it her most hated spell. Infusing her cut hair with her own chi, she brought the hair to her mouth, and blew. As the locks fell to the ground, they started to shimmer and grow and change.
"Are you sure you sense the Dragonball?" Cinnamon inquired. The trio were not too far from the village where Chi Chi was
"Yes, I'm sure of it." Ginger said. "It's there at the village." The trio first flew back to the Westlands where they met Chi Chi, deciding not to use Ginger's sensory abilities at the moment, for fear of being tricked again. After seeing that no one was there, (prompting a little 'Scorched Earth' from Pepper) Ginger decided to try his internal radar sense again.
"Why is she at the village?"
"She probably think we're demons, and that we'd throw a temper tantrum and destroy the village if we can't find her."
"I would have done that and I'm not a demon" Pepper called out.
"Yes Pepper, we know." Ginger said, quite annoyed. Cinnamon stifled a giggle, but then took notice from afar.
"Ginger, the witch has been a bit busy." Pepper and Cinnamon peered where the village gate was. Chi Chi's. Hundreds of them, staff in hand, ready for a fight. The Makyan trio landed. Seeing that one of the warriors wasn't looking ready to beat them to death, Ginger figured that was the genuine article.
"That was a funny trick, earlier" Ginger said.
"Thanks, I try. Now leave, or you'll fall to more of my tricks." Chi Chi responded.
"We can't do that dear." Cinnamon said. "Our lord doesn't like being made a fool of. He requests an audience with you." He threw a winning smile, as if to say, there would be no problems if we do as you say. "Oh, and this time, we need the dragonball."
"No." Chi Chi said, clenching her fist. "I'm not going anywhere." Without a movement from her, 3 clones attacked Pepper, staff outstretched to stroke. Pepper dodged all three strikes, and in an instant, sent three attacks at the three clones, who all reformed to hair strands. Chi Chi started to grit her teeth, but other than that there was no response.
"Is this is how you're going to win?" Ginger asked, chuckling a bit. "Not to be a douchebag, but that was pathetic."
"No." Chi Chi said softly. "This is not how I would win." She brought her hands together in the symbol of a ram, and the three hair strands became women once again. A surprised and off guard Pepper was tackled to the ground, and before anyone else could react, The hundreds of clones attacked, though soon they were thrown like rag dolls and turned to hair. but a little chi was all that's needed to resurrect the strands to become a woman again, and no matter how hard they hit, or how much energy was expended, a hundred strikes from all sides were imminent. The genuine article watched the battle, dropping bullets made of sweat. She's never had to use so much energy at once, on so many strands, but she had no choice.
"This is not how I would win." Chi Chi repeated. "This is how I would buy time."
And that is chapter 2. Believe it or not, Chi Chi held me back. I planned that her skill set would be unlike anyone else, (Dragonball used to have a twinge of magic after all before the series shifted to DBZ) but I did not know what her skills would be. Now that the writer's block is gone, I think I can move forward story wise.
Review Responses- Some Chapter 1, Some Chapter 2-
To enarmonios- Maybe, No, and yes, but he didn't take him on.
To Lady-Ravenhawk and EvilFuzzy9- Thanks alot. Hopefully I can try and keep a steady schedule (from now on) and keep you interested in reading more.
To Anon- The only reason why Vegeta and Nappa came to Earth in the first place was for the dragonballs. Nothing about the balls were said, so they won't be coming...so soon. Vegeta and Nappa will meet the Z Fighters. Question is, when?
To Elvis Strunk- Thank you for your kind words. First off, haven't seen 'John Dies at the End' but I'm sure I can find it on Netflix, thanks for the recommendation.
On Goku, you're right on the money. Canon Goku never cared about Raditz or Saiyans, but a part of me could see why. On Earth, He had a wife, a child, and friends, and lived as an Earthling would for five peaceful years. But here, he's given that all up. Due to his time in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, he's been training almost non stop for ten years, having only taken a break once before to fight in 23rd Tenkaichi. He won't be the same person he would have been settling down, mentally or emotionally, and now he's by far the strongest man in the world a hundred times over, and lastly, he finds out he's an alien and has a brother in only a few moments after completing his training. He will still be a hero, and Earth's savior. but he'll be a Goku like no other
On to Raditz, I apologize I wrote this story with the primary reason of not adding Raditz to the cast. Not a dig on Break Through The Limit, I love that series, but since its popularity, there have been alot of "Raditz joins the Z Fighters." fics, and I wanted to give everyone something different. That said I long ago planned for Raditz to make some sort of appearance because someone would have to exposit. As for the minor characters, everyone gets a part to play in the ensemble, and though short, I hope you liked Chi Chi's time in the story, more on her soon. Finally I am going to expand the Universe beyond the manga and anime. What will I look into adding Beyond the Dead Zone? You'll see.