What if Tarble went to Earth: Chapter three- The Prince, The Vampire, and the Witch
Small retcon for myself, I am altering the time table from three years, to about 8 years, to all Chiaotzu to be 7 instead of being 2 per Dragon balls timeline I am using. Not that I don't think Chiaotzu would be donated to the school for what he looks like, I don't think Shen would be interested in him tell something could be shown. 7 for chiaotzu showing off psychic powers I think would be a good time.
I also do realize this was a long chapter. I will be trying to shorten them from this point forward. Making them more bite sized and episodic. I wanted to try and get to a point where I could introduce Tarble into the main storyline soon. I did put a TL; DR at the end, but if you want all the fun battle scenes you must read!
Age 745
Tarble reaching the age of eleven and grown to be a thin young prepubescent boy. Still a strong form for his age but looking under cared for. His Crane Gi clean and due to his saiyan heritage he is not made bald, not that Shen had not attempted. Tarble once more cleaning dishes after morning breakfast while Tien and Shen did morning exercises to warm them up to proper sparring. Tarble attempted to copy the moves once, only to be found by Shen and being punished for not working hard enough on his chores. Tarble's only training was enduring pain and evading attacks, and as Tien's eyes learned to focus and catch movement more and more, the attempts to evade grew more difficult. The days filled with being beaten by Tien, cleaning the Crane School, eating minimal rice, and sleeping in the open. His only thoughts were to reclaim his things but found himself constantly thwarted at every attempt.
This morning had been busy though, as Shen was excited to go on a journey. The master had heard of a child with Mystic powers. The idea of another unique prodigy was practically making his mouth water with anticipation. Tarble expected to be left behind, a welcomed thought as it would give him time away from his master and to search the grounds. His dreams thrown to the ground and stepped on as he learned he would be carrying their things and caring for them as they traveled.
The journey was long and due to Tarbles lack of training, it was apparent to him just how much he lacked. He could feel the heavy pack, stacked for both student and master walking before him. Tien having weighted wristbands and boots to be his only difficulty. He was just glad during mountain climbs he was allowed to fly, if only because Master Shen did not want to risk his own possessions, Tien instead climbing as an attempt to increase his training and gaining Shen's approval even further.
Tien smirked as he looked at Tarble out of breath, himself breathing hard but after a far more difficult training. "What's wrong? Can't keep up. You used to be so fast and sure of yourself… Guess Master Shen's teachings are really impressive. Even someone with the potential you show can't keep up." Tien said mocked Tarble.
The young saiyan held onto his anger, tightening his tail around his waist to hide his anger. Instead bowing his head and taking the verbal beating. "Your right, Brother Tien. Your Training has come a long way, I doubt I would be a match." He said almost choking on the words, his stomach growling as it normally did, and he knew it was a reason he could not summon any more of his power.
Shen had threatened to remove Tarble's tail, but Tien had said it was better to keep it attached. It allowed everyone to see what a freak he was, and Tarble never used the Oozaru form only because he knew he did not have complete control and he may destroy his own things. Now would be the best time for it, but he was worried that his half-starved body would parish by becoming the great beast. Remembering when he was young and learning methods of control. That transformations tended to drain him and make him hungry.
Traveling further they come to a small land with a palace, here rested the young Lord Chiaotzu, a young and powerful ruler that replaced his father after his passing. Shen, Tien, and Tarble enter and ask for an audience. They are received by the child ruler, who is sat on a pillow high above them.
"Great Chiaotzu, I have come hearing of your awesome power. I, Crane Master Shen, wish to take you under my wing and teach you the way of Martial Arts and Ki control." Shen said standing tall and seeming to refuse to bow, finding it beneath him. Visual upset looks glared at him from soldier and masters of martial arts.
One of Chiaotzu's teachers stepping forth in fury. "You dare claim to be the Crane Master, and do not show respect to Lord Chiaotzu? Prove yourself or be proven a fraud." The prostrating martial artist.
Shen smiled and looked up to Chiaotzu and lifting his hands. "With the young lord's permission, I would gladly show my proof. By defeating every master here, and then allowing the lord to test my pupil, Tien."
"What of the other?" Chiaotzu's spoke, many of the others covering their ears. A minister reminding Chiaotzu that he was to use him to speak to the people. "Why?" Chiaotzu just asked loudly once more confused. The minister simply asking him to comply and he would answer his questions later. Chiaotzu nodding his head. Whispering into the minister's ear.
"The lord Chiaotzu wonders, why your other pupil should not be used as a test?" The minister called down to Shen.
"Tien…" Shen said, Tien nodding as if knowing what was expected. The young warrior disappearing from sight and reappearing before the minister. Frozen in fear, the minister was open to several powerful strikes. The man falling to the ground, and Chiaotzu looking over his perch to see his minister fall to the ground.
"Master Shen does not speak to the help. Please speak with him directly." Tien said smiling at Chiaotzu, bowing slightly to the young man. Tien then leaping and flipping in the air to show off, his younger age leading him to a bit more of a showman at the moment.
Master Shen then coughed to bring attention to himself. "To answer your question though, this other person… is only a gift from my brother. He is to carry bags and clean. Not a proper martial artist, but if you want you can dual him as well. It won't be the first time he was used as a punching bag."
Chiaotzu having seen Tien's movements and smiled. He looked to his masters and motioned them to go forward. "Test him, see if he is truly as he claims." He said excited to see what Shen could do.
Chiaotzu's masters of martial arts moved to take on Shen one at a time. Readied for a fight, but Shen just lifted his hand and pointed. Suddenly a beam of energy fired forward and pierced through three instantly. As the masters looked in horror in the attack, Shen used it to his advantage to rush in. Pulling a fan from his sleeve and creating a gust of wind that toppled several more of the martial artists. Buried on each other left them open to several more blasts of his Dodon Ray attack. Shen landing before the first that claimed him not to be the true Crane Master. "You… die slowly." Shen said before kicking with what seemed to be a gentle tap, the man's leg buckling as it lost all feeling. Shen grabbing the man's arm and tapping it quickly as it tightened and refused to move. The man attempted to defend himself with his good arm, only for hit to be pinned to the ground suddenly by a thrown metal fan. Shen's wicked smile seen by the failing master, being struck in the throat and the man suddenly could not breathe. His throat closed up and he began suffocating.
Shen then composed himself and bowed his head to Chiaotzu slightly. "I do apologize… but as Master of the Crane School, your masters would have known that to battle me is to battle to the death. Shall I continue?" He motioned to the young lord's other trainers.
Chiaotzu was astounded on how quick someone beat his masters, he thought no one could do that but himself and his powers. Chiaotzu waved his hand. "No no, I want to see what your pupils can really do now." He said clapping as he suddenly floated to the air. "I will start when you are ready, Tien."
"Whenever you are, Chiaotzu." Causing a hush in the room as he prepared to fight. The room beginning to clear as the two began to pace and circle the center of the room. "Remember though, I win means your previous masters could not make you stronger."
"If you win, I will follow you and Master Shen to learn with you. I win, you both stay here and train me." Chiaotzu said, wishing to train with them anyway. He was already shown his strength could massively increase with them. Tien nodding in agreement.
"Begin" Shen announced, Chiaotzu's seeming abnormal movement shifting and changing at random. He planned on using it to propel himself into heavy strikes, but each sudden change and mad rush was met with an almost perfect block from Tien. The young boy's three eyes focusing on the young lord, watching him and every shift he did. Soon adjusting to his speed, and making return strikes that Chiaotzu narrowly dodge himself. Almost a stalemate in their strength and power, but Chiaotzu had a gift he could exploit.
"I hope you like your new rooms here." Chiaotzu said smiling as he lifted his hand and pointed at Tien. Tien suddenly freezing in place, the young lord using the forced opening to begin kicking into Tien's open spaces. Shen enjoying the ruthless advantage his new student would have. Chiaotzu sighing at the easy victory, when suddenly he heard a heavy grumble. Turning his head to Tarble, the blushing boy trying to hide his face. "Are you hungry?" He asked lowering his finger.
Tien feeling his body free, landed a hard kick to Chiaotzu's midsection. But only hard enough for Chiaotzu to be stunned for a few moments as he makes quick strikes. Barraging against the lord's small body and finally smacking him away. Tien looking at Tarble, hating that the distraction allowed him to break free. Chiaotzu growling as he flew to the air. "Go ahead… freeze me again." Tien suddenly shouted. "I will beat it myself this time."
Chiaotzu surprised, nodding as he pointed to Tien and wanting to see what Tien would do. Tien having taken a different stance, standing straight and positioning his hands as if in meditation. His eyes opened and shifting as Chiaotzu moved into attack range. Tien could not move his limbs, but as Chiaotzu moved to strike Tien's face. Tien's eyes flashed suddenly, Chiaotzu flying back from the impact of Tien's Eye beam and smacking into a wall. Chiaotzu, unsure what happened but seeing Tien can move once more. "Wow, Tien you sure are amazing."
"Thanks. You're not too bad yourself Chiaotzu." Tien said smiling as he walked to him, helping Chiaotzu stand once more before the young man flew into the air.
"As of today, I am no longer the lord of this place. I am not Chiaotzu, Crane Pupil." Chiaotzu announced to the ministers. Shen smiling as he got what he wished for, another student that could be molded into his own wants and needs. Tarble saw it as another person he would have to clean up for… and another person to be tested on.
The travel back home felt long, as Chiaotzu and Tien became fast friends. Tarble forced to carry everyone's things, but before they left a meal was presented. The first good meal in a long time, Tarble thought to stuff himself. Shen glaring from a distance though, but Chiaotzu motioning him to eat. Tarble made sure to eat well but not to stuff himself, which gave him plenty of strength for the return visit. Hiding away a few bits of Bread to stave off hunger for a bit longer.
Age750
Five more years have passed, Tarble is now sixteen. Tien practicing his four arm god style charges forward at the young saiyan but stops just before making contact. Tarble not flinching or hesitating still after so many years, Tien finding the act of using him as a punching bag to test his skills was less fun. Shen calling out for him to continue his assault. Tien instead turning to his master.
"I will not, Tarble's body can take hits but you do not allow him to fight back… this practice can be done with dummies and too much better effect. I will not continue attacking Tarble unless you train him and give him a chance to defend himself." Tien said before bowing to his long-time master. He remembered how strong Tarble was when they first met, a memory etched into his mind of being propelled into the dojo's wood working and knocked out instantly. "Please allow this one act of defiance, but it… just does not feel beneficial to my training."
Shen eyes glared at Tien through his sunglasses but smiled to pull back his ire. "Very well. You will practice with dummies then. Tarble, return to your chores." The old master said refusing to give into punishing the boy for his dishonoring the first time they met.
Tarble simply bowed, learning to sneak meals passed Master Shen, allowing him to regain some strength. Tien and Chiaotzu's training becoming such a great focusing point that it seemed easier to slip into the kitchen and take small bits of food. His body felt like it was growing stronger and stronger once more, receiving what it needed to be a saiyan warrior once more. His body still small and young looking, even though he was 16 now.
During his chores, while the others focused on perfecting their martial arts, there was a mighty howl. Tarble looking to the noon sky, as the howl was followed. It sounded like wolves having found a meal for themselves. It was Tien though who reacted, dashing away from training so suddenly that Shen couldn't call out fast enough. Tarble wondering what was going on, decided to follow. The young Saiyan leaping over the wall of the Dojo and following behind Tien.
What he soon saw he could not believe, Tien in combat with a huge pack of wolves. Fending them off, striking true to make death blows on the hungry beasts. Tarble's eyes looking to Tien's feet, noticing a small form. A child crying loudly, as the wolves circled Tien and the child. Tarble's fists clenched, shifting his hands behind him. Tien could hold of the beasts but Tarble was not sure if he could win against them all. "Galick…. Gun…" He said charging his energy into his open palms, a violet energy surrounding him. He pulled onto any energy he could muster, he didn't know why he wanted to help Tien or the child… but he could not let them die if he could stop it. "FIRE!" He let out a loud cry, thrusting his hands forward and releasing a massive beam of energy.
Trees, rock and earth, and large section of the wolves attacking were caught in the blast. Earth torn open, exposing the dirt underneath. Tien turned to see Tarble wobbling, the wolves witness to the massive destruction and taking off before whatever it was did it again. Tarble falling to his knee, Tien amazed at the destructive power the young man could pull out even after so many years of not training. Looking down to the child, who looked at him and then to Tarble.
"Come with me, it is not safe here. Master Shen will be able to protect you." Tien said offering a hand to the child, who turns out to be Yurin (From Dragon ball super). The child accepts his hand and is soon lifted up and carried due to her injured leg from the wolf attack. Tien looking to Tarble again, stepping over him.
In Tarble's vision, the shadowed figure over him reminded him of his first meeting with Tao. Tien's hand felt slow, moving toward his neck. Tarble's hand reacted instantly, grabbing his wrist and squeezing it hard. His frustration of being made weaker then him and having to save him. His eyes looked up like a beast, Tien looking down and seeing the fury in his eyes. Yurin hiding her face from him and calling him scary.
"Tarble, release my arm. I want to help you up." Tien said trying to extent an olive branch of peace, respecting the strength he just shown.
"I don't need your help." Tarble said growling, his weak body picking itself up. Visibly fatigued, sweat dripping down his face. His eyes looking hard to the Crane student. "I don't need your pity… not after how many years you help torment me."
"Tarble…"
"No! You do not get to be kind now. You don't get to decide now is the time you feel treating me poorly is wrong." He said letting his anger out. The child clinging to Tien more and more. "Half starved, beaten daily, treated as a slave. Shen despises me for no reason, my father exiles me, and no one bothered to look for me. I am alone here, weak and alone." Tarble could not handle his emotions, tears burning at his eyes. The small child left alone now in a growing adult, baring his soul to his enemy.
Tien just looked at Tarble, not having to have dealt with such honest feelings. He was not ready for Tarble to express himself, standing strongly even as his knees shook. Tien's eyes watched each shift of torment in Tarble's face expressed at last. The breaking facade of a calm boy. Tien turned himself from the crying Saiyan, walking toward the school. "You have two choices now Tarble. Come back to the school or run away. But know that running away will not give you strength. You want to be strong, sometimes you must resist. You cannot just bend the knee your whole life."
Tarble looked at Tien, hearing his words. How could he expect him to return willingly? Tarble looked away to what in his mind was freedom. But then the voice of his father came to him. 'Weak, try again.' 'A disgrace to my line.' 'Your Brother would not give in so easily.' Tarble's haunted mind, realizing if he ran away… he would remain weak. He turned to look at Tien, who was still walking away. Tarble soon following behind, but not to be a servant. He would resist Shen, make the old man aware he was stronger than he thought and force him to help make him stronger and make up for lost time.
Next chapter- The Prince and The Monkey
Power levels (For those who care)
Year 745-
Tarble- 105
Tien- 110
Shen- 120
Chiaotzu – 90
Year 750-
Tarble- 140 (regaining more and more strength due to him eating better)
Tien -150
Chiaotzu – 100
Shen- 120
Yurin (Age 5)- 3
