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PREPARE YOURSELVES! SHIT IS ABOUT TO GET REAL!

After a night like yesterday, Gohan was more excited than he had ever been. "It's been so long since I've seen everyone," Gohan said, donning his weighted, purple Daimao outfit with a long, flowing, white cape with broad shoulder pads and brown moccasins. "Are you guys excited?" he asked his fellow Titans.

"I will be when I can find the place!" Cyborg said, looking on his computer's map for Korin's tower. "All I'm finding is a white totem pole in the middle of who knows where-"

"That's it!" Gohan said, peaking around Cyborg and pointing to the totem pole.

"The tower is a totem pole?" Robin asked. "We can't even see the top from here. I doubt anyone lives up there."

"You'll find out when we get there," Gohan said. "Robin, Cyborg, you guys will need a way to fly. Kami won't let you up the tower unless you can get up there yourself. We don't have the time to wait for climbing."

"Already taken care of," Robin said, revealing the thrusters in the bottom of his shoes. "We made sure both of our rocket boots worked last night."

"Then let's go," Gohan said, grabbing his suitcase.

The Teen Titans grabbed their belongings for the trip and followed Gohan out of the tower. Gohan squinted as the early morning sun rose in the east, creating a beautiful variety of orange and pink colors in the sky. Cyborg pulled out his car keys. "Y'all ready?"

"Road trip!" Robin shouted. "Shotgun!"

Cyborg clicked a button and the T-car, a car built and designed like its cyborg builder, rolled out of the garage and stopped in front of them. A long, metal bridge rose from the water and connected the island to the mainland of Jump City. "There are only five seats," Gohan said.

"You doubt my abilities, young Gohan!" Cyborg said in a bad, British accent, clicking another button on the remote. The car's tires expanded and the traction on them became more like hooks made for tearing through rough terrain. The car's body grew in height, length, and width as the ceiling raised, a third row with two wide seats appeared from the back, and a spacious trunk allowed for a lot of storage. Tinted windows prevented anything from seeing the inside. "I present to you, the T-ruck!"

"I still call shotgun!" Robin exclaimed. Cyborg and Robin threw their bags into the back and hopped into the black leather, front seats.

Gohan opened the side door to the middle row with two connecting seats centered in the middle of the car and a thin space for the people sitting in the back row to get to the doors. He took Starfire, Raven, and Beast Boy's bags and threw them in the back. "I'll get into the back," Beast Boy said, taking the left window seat in the back with collapsible cup holders. He turned to the middle and right seat and sighed. She was supposed to be here.

Anger swelled in Raven's stomach. Beast Boy still felt like it was his fault, even after all this time. When I see her again, it will not be a happy reunion. She climbed into the middle seat next to the saddened shape-shifter, putting her books in the right seat.

"Are you not to enter the car?" Starfire asked.

"Ladies first," Gohan said, letting her into the car first. He stepped in and closed the door. "Are we ready?" Cyborg asked. "Because I'm going to go!"

"Where is this tower?" Starfire asked.

"Northeastern Montana," the T-ruck's automated GPS said. "Estimated time is twelve hours, thirteen seconds. Current time is five fifty-nine, forty seven seconds-" An orange light on the dashboard started to beep. "Gas at thirty percent. Change soon."

"I filled this thing up yesterday!" Cyborg shouted, angrily driving into Jump City. "What happened to it?"

Beast Boy chuckled nervously. "About that," he said.

"Darn it, Beast Boy!" Cyborg shouted. "Where did you take my car?!"

"Nowhere, master Cyborg," the GPS said. "He sat in the front seat listening to the radio and pretending that he was a race car driver.

"You're paying for gas!" Cyborg said, turning left into a gas station.

"I'll tell the cashier what pump we are next to," Gohan said, taking Beast Boy's wallet and opening the door. "Does anyone want anything?"

"Hey!" Beast Boy exclaimed. "That's my money!"

"I'd like a jumbo bag of beef jerky," Cyborg said, grinning deviously. "The sixteen ninety-nine bag!"

"I will accompany you," Starfire said, getting out of the car. "I crave the spherical orbs of multicolored fruitiness."

Starfire and Gohan headed toward the small gas station store. "Sorry," A tall, muscular man in a ski mask with a deep, scratchy voice said. "I'm afraid I can't let you in."

Gohan looked into the window, seeing the guard's lanky partner holding the scrawny, teenage cashier at gunpoint with a submachine gun. Gohan frowned and took the guard out with one solid knee strike to the stomach. Starfire rushed into the store and disarmed the gunman before he could react. Gohan tapped his pupil, knocking him to the ground. The pimply cashier nearly crapped his pants. "Seventy dollars on pump three, please," Gohan said, placing a hundred-dollar bill in front of the boy.

"Will that be all?" he stammered.

Starfire dumped an assortment of candy and snacks and drinks on the table, along with Cyborg's ten-pound bag of teriyaki beef jerky. "No," Starfire said. "We're getting this-"

"Just take it for free," he said, his knees still shaking.

"Are you sure?" Gohan said, getting his change back for the gas. "We have the money to-"

"It's my treat," he said, "for saving me and stuff."

"Okay," Gohan said. "Thanks."

The cashier nodded and bagged the items.

Gohan and Starfire walked out of the store and back to the T-ruck. "What took you so long?" Robin said as he put gas in the truck.

"We had to beat up two goons," Gohan said, reaching into Robin's open window and tossing Beast Boy his wallet with the change. "The snacks are free."

"Nice!" Cyborg said, immediately digging into the beef jerky.

The Teen Titans got back in the car and drove off with a full tank. "Now the road trip begins!" Beast Boy exclaimed.

Twelve hours had passed quickly, except for the various stops at restaurants or in the middle of nowhere for Beast Boy's bladder. "Turn left in the next fifty feet," the GPS said.

Cyborg looked left, seeing nothing but dark, dense forest and a tall, white pole in the far distance. "Turn left?" Cyborg said. "There is no road!"

"Kami wasn't very social," Gohan said. "I'll carry the car over the forest."

"Wasn't?" Beast Boy said.

"No need," Cyborg said. "T-ruck, engage the MALL Program!"

Large clubs sprang from the front of the car, quickly clearing a path for them to the base of the tower. "Here we are," Gohan said, seeing the seemingly endless height of the tower. They stopped at the base and hopped out of the car.

Gohan reached into the trunk and opened his bag, pulling out the Power Pole. "Why do you need that?" Raven asked.

"This is the key to getting into the lookout," Gohan said, looking up at the evening sky. "Kami will zap you from the air if the key isn't in its hole." He closed the trunk and started floating into the air.

"T-ruck, engage the camouflage!" Cyborg ordered.

The T-ruck vanished as its cloaking device initiated. Cyborg locked the doors and activated his rocket boots.

"Let's do this!" Beast Boy exclaimed, morphing into a large, green, condor.

The six Titans took off into the sky, flying above the clouds. A yellow ring of energy caught Gohan's attention near the huge, red, upside-down dome shaped lookout. "What is that?" he said, watching the ring get higher and higher.

"I see it too," Cyborg said, opening a panel on his arm and zooming in on the floating ring in the dark. A chunk of rock floated in the center of the ring, and long, flowing, blonde hair could barely be seen from the camera. "It's Terra!" he exclaimed.

Raven's eyes widened with shock. What is she doing here?!

Beast Boy screamed in delight and burst higher into the air, flying right next to her. She's as beautiful as she was before, he thought, growing hearts in his eyes. The only difference about Terra was in the way she did her hair, having it fall over one eye now.

"Beast Boy!" Terra gasped. She looked over the rock she floated on. "Hi, guys!" she shouted, waving at the other Titans.

Gohan smiled and waved back. "Our friend!" Starfire exclaimed. "You have returned!"

"Beast Boy's going to start acting normal again," Robin said.

"What are you doing here?" Raven asked sternly.

"I've been working on controlling my powers over the past few months," Terra said. "I was told by some locals that this kid with spiky hair climbed the tower to learn how to hone and strengthen his powers, so that's what I want to do."

"I have the key," Gohan said, flying around half of the lookout until he found a tiny hole. "Here!" he said, pushing the hole staff inside. "Power Pole: extend!" he shouted, hearing the pole rattle as it grew to its full length. A bright, blue force field revealed itself on the top of the lookout and then quickly faded, granting them access. "To the top, guys!"

The seven supers landed on the white, marble floors of the tropical-themed lookout with long stretches of green grass with palm trees growing on them. Evergreen trees surrounded the edges of the tower except for the back of a large, hourglass-shaped building that's back was near the edge. Two smaller buildings shaped like hourglasses sat in a triangle with the main building. While standing on the tower, the sky looked like it was still daytime. "You made it," the other Saiyan half-blood said, exiting one of the small buildings. Trunks walked up to Terra. "I don't think I've met you."

Terra held out her hand confidently. "My name is Terra."

Trunks grinned, shaking her hand. "Nice to meet you."

"How did you get in here?" Gohan asked.

"I used the Power Pole from my dimension," Trunks said. "Let's introduce your friends, Gohan."

Seven warriors, all unique in appearance, emerged from the same small tower Trunks came out of. An extremely tall, green-skinned humanoid with big, pointy ears, purple antennae on his forehead, and pink, oval-shaped patches of skin on his arms and large hands grinned at Gohan. "I see you are taking pride," he said, wearing the same outfit his student wore along with a white turban.

"Mr. Piccolo!" Gohan exclaimed. "You're joining the tournament too?"

"Yeah," Piccolo said. "I'm also taking the opportunity to teach one of the other Titans."

"Are you not going to say hi to us, Gohan?" a tall man with tanned skin, long, black hair, and a scar over his right eye and on his left cheek said. He wore an orange vest with the kanji for "bandit" on the front over a dark blue tee-shirt and orange pants. He and the extremely short, bald, nose-less man with six dots on his forehead and big eyes wore similar outfits with black Chinese shoes. However, the short warrior's kanji said "monk" on the front.

"Yeah, Gohan!" the short man said, grinning at his best friend's son. "Don't be rude."

"Sorry Yamcha," he said, bowing to the scarred bandit. "Sorry, Krillin." He bowed to the short martial artist.

"Hey, Gohan! Long time, no see!" A tall, bald, muscular man with a third eye with a small pupil on his forehead walked up to the Saiyan, patting him on the back. "You remember Chiaotzu, right?"Tien said.

Gohan bowed to the tiny, thin, childlike psychic with pale white skin and bright red cheeks. Chiaotzu and Tien both wore green vests with yellow, long-sleeved shirts underneath and black pants with Chinese martial artists' shoes. Both of the kanji on the back of their uniforms read "crane".

"I remember when you were as tall as I am!" Chiaotzu said in a high-pitched voice. "What happened!"

"It's good to see you too, Chiaotzu," Gohan said.

"Alright," the short, tanned man with dark brown, spiky hair said, rolling his onyx eyes. His hair came to one tall point at the end, adding seven inches to his overall height. Despite his size, he was well toned and muscular. He wore the same uniform as Trunks, except his uniform had a strange, red emblem over his heart inside a ring of strange, alien phrases. "Enough with the introductions."

"And then there's Vegeta," Krillin said, sounding like he was tolerating Vegeta more than anything else.

Finally, two strange humanoids emerged from the large hourglass at the other side of the lookout. One was short and thin, but being of the same race as Piccolo, he had green skin, antennae, and pointy ears. The other man was of average height and had coal-black skin with full, red lips and round, beady eyes. He wore an open, red vest revealing his portly physique with white, baggy pants and a white turban with a blue pearl on the front. "I am Mr. Popo," he said in an eerily calm tone, "and this is Dende."

"Hello, Gohan!" Dende said, running up to him in glowing, white robes. "It's so good to see you again!"

"Don't forget about me!" the oldest-looking warrior wearing red sunglasses, a Hawaiian shirt, sandals, and a bronze turtle shell on his back said, rubbing his long, white mustache. "How are you doing, Gohan?"

Terra's jaw dropped. "No way!" she said, bowing to the old man. "It is such a huge honor to meet you, Muten Roshi!"

"It's nice to meet you too," Roshi said, taken back by the young person's respect.

"Sorry," Terra said. "After all of my time traveling around, I've heard a lot about you."

"Mostly good things, right?" Roshi said. "Good things from women, sexy women, most likely."

"Alright, maggots!" Popo said, silencing the fifteen heroes of Earth and Dende. "Listen up! Popo's about to teach you the pecking order."

"The pecking order?" Dende said. "I wasn't aware of any-"

"It goes you," he said, pointing to the fifteen warriors in front of him. "The dirt," he continued, grabbing a handful of dirt under the grass by the palm trees and whipping it at the Teen Titans with such force that it knocked an Evergreen tree off of the lookout. "The worms inside of the dirt."

Beast Boy flinched, but Popo threw nothing else.

"Popo's stool, Dende, then Popo," Popo finished. "Any questions?"

Beast Boy raised his hand. "Does that mean that we're first or if you're first or-"

Popo fazed out, slapping Beast Boy across the face. Beast Boy sailed off the side of the lookout and through the air, falling thousands of feet. Popo reappeared in his original spot in a split second. "Enjoy the climb back up, bitch!" he shouted.

The other Titans were too scared to move.

"Any more questions?" Popo asked in his calm voice again.

No one dared to say a word.

"Good," Popo said, watching a bruised, green bat fly onto the lookout. The bat morphed into Beast Boy who was still dizzy and holding his cheek. "Now we can begin."

"Gohan, you and the other Titans get into a line," Trunks said. "Popo can only take one student at a time, and it will take six months for one to complete his training."

"Show us what you can do, Robin," Popo said, falling into stance. "I will then select your teacher."

Robin charged toward Popo. "Try this!" Robin said, throwing a volley of quick punches toward the deity.

Popo caught Robin's fists and forced him to the ground. "Your technique is sloppy."

"Sloppy? I'm a minimum of seventh degree black belt in twenty different martial arts!" Robin exclaimed, throwing a sweep kick. Popo hopped over the kick and returned his own into Robin's cheek, sending him tumbling into a palm tree. Robin hopped to his feet.

"You will be taught by Krillin and Yamcha," Popo said.

"What?!" Robin said. "I demand a rematch!"

"Trust me, kid," Yamcha said, "you do not want a rematch."

"Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" Raven shouted, throwing a palm tree at the supernatural martial artist.

Mr. Popo flipped over the tree. "Kamehameha!" he exclaimed, quickly firing a blue wave of death. Raven flailed rapidly in the air until she caught on to the top of an Evergreen. "Tien and Chiaoztu."

Raven looked at Chiaotzu. "He is going to train me?"

"It would be in your best interest not to underestimate me," Chiaotzu said.

"My turn!" Cyborg said, letting out a battle cry as he rushed toward Mister Popo.

Popo flipped back, already analyzing the way Cyborg ran and how his body worked. Popo darted forward, tapping a spot on Cyborg's chest, stomach, and neck. Cyborg fell to the ground. "Trunks, show Cyborg how to battle defensively."

"Are you going to help me up?" Cyborg asked.

Popo tapped Cyborg's back. "Beast Boy, you are next."

Before Beast Boy could morph, Popo had already hit him three times. "No fair!" Beast Boy said, shaking the spots out of his eyes.

"Piccolo, you know what to do." Popo gestured toward Terra. "Face me."

Terra's aura spiked, making the lookout rumble. She raised both of her hands, lifting both stretches of dirt with the palm trees into the air. Popo charged, sending a punch into her stomach. Terra snapped her hands downward, coating Popo in dirt. Her friends started clapping. She was the first one to land an attack on him. "How did I do," Terra said, staggering back from the first attack.

Popo knocked her to the ground with a swift kick. "Roshi will teach you to break the human barrier, much like your fellow Titans."

"I need more influence than that!" Roshi said, folding his arms.

"While traveling through this part of the United States, I've come by some stores that I think you'll like," Terra said.

"Done!" Roshi exclaimed. "Just no mermaid magazines, alright?"

"Mermaid?" Terra said, confused at her new teacher's words.

"My pupils have done some weird things," Roshi said.

"Starfire, you're next," Popo said.

Starfire's eyes started to glow green. Vegeta's eyes widened. "Princess?" he muttered under his breath.

Popo knocked Starfire to the ground with a palm strike. "Vegeta, you can train Starfire."

"Koriand'r," Vegeta said, making Starfire's eyes widen. "There is much we need to discuss."

"That leaves you with me," Popo said, charging toward Gohan.

Gohan clashed with Mister Popo, disappearing in a flurry of furious exchanges.

"I see," Popo said, easily blocking a series of attacks. "You are much stronger than your father at his age. Your training will be more intense."

Gohan doubled over as Mr. Popo kicked him in the stomach. "When do we start training?" Robin asked.

"Tomorrow morning at five," Krillin said.

"Koriand'r and I are leaving now," Vegeta said, pulling a strange remote out of a pocket in his jumpsuit. He pressed a green button, and two, small, circular pods with round, red windows crashed into the center of the lookout. "Inside your pod you'll find Saiyan armor and a red scouter. We initiate our training tonight."

"Where are we going?" Starfire asked while being pushed into her pod.

"The real question is where are we not going to go?" Vegeta laughed, climbing into his pod. "By the time Koriand'r comes back, she'll crush all of you!" he said, bursting into space with Starfire.

"That was strange," Yamcha said. "I've never seen Vegeta do something like that before."

"What do you mean?" Terra asked.

"Vegeta was nice." Gohan thought it over. "If Vegeta could be nice, that would be nice."

"Maybe he has the right idea," Piccolo said, grabbing Beast Boy's wrist.

"Why are we leaving now?" Beast Boy asked.

"They're feistier at night," Piccolo said, bursting into the air.

"What's feistier?" Beast Boy screamed, disappearing from view.

"There is something I can't wait to show you," Trunks said, flying off with Cyborg.

Tien stuck his tongue out at Yamcha. "Raven's gonna kick Robin's butt!" Tien taunted, grabbing Raven by the wrist and rocketing into the air.

"I doubt it!" Yamcha said. "Robin, we're starting our training tonight!"

Yamcha snatched Robin's arm and raced for the edge of the lookout. "Wait!" Robin shouted. "All my stuff is down there and-"

Krillin shoved Robin off the tower. "See you guys soon, I hope." Krillin fell off the side.

Roshi laughed, but his face showed a bit of pain. "I remember when Tien and Yamcha first met; they absolutely hated each other. When Goku brought them together, they became the biggest rivals I've ever seen." Roshi's eyes filled with sadness, despite his grin. "Why don't you show me to these stores you talked about."

"Tonight?" Terra said. "But we just got here!"

"I won't train you otherwise," Roshi said. "It was the same for Yamcha, Tien, Chiaotzu, Krillin, and-" He paused. "And Goku."

"Who is Goku?" Terra asked.

Roshi frowned and his bald head started to sweat. "Let's go," Roshi said, hopping over the side of the lookout with Terra's hand in his.

"That leaves you with me," Popo said, staring at Gohan. He started to chuckle, his laughter growing until he had gone full maniac. All the while, he remained staring at Gohan, refusing to blink even once.

Gohan now understood why the name "Popo" gave his father the chills.

I want to hear what you guys think! Do you think that the Z-Fighters will be good teachers to the Titans? What strange teachings will Mister Popo have in store for Gohan? How does Vegeta know Starfire's real name? Who is Goku?