Not the Same

A/N: I don't ever get why I do A/U's all the time. I guess I just enjoy the freedom of writing a story without having too many constraints but keeping the focus of the DBZ story line makes it easier to write because there's a set timeline to how things work. Well I hope you guys like the chapter!

It was a beautiful day for a tournament, the sun was up it was a nice eighty degrees and with a gentle cool breeze blowing through the day could have not of been more than perfect as Goku walked up the steps for his first match. An old opponent and former winner of the tournament not that it would be any competition for this sayjin warrior. The two squaring off against each other Goku in his bright white pants and red sash with gold plated accents and the other the darker skinned with black puffed up hair with a yellow garb King Chappa.

"Remember gentlemen you have five minutes, otherwise it will go to our score table to determine the results. No killing, no dirty blows, and no weapons remember that please." The referee said looking to both men.

"I don't require weapons when I have hands like these. I am here to reclaim my title Son Goku. I do hope you are prepared for it, the disgrace you caused me when you beat me in the 21st tournament still needs to be wiped away." King Chappa drew his foot up as both hands clacked and drew into his eight arm fighting style. His eyes all but focused on his opponent.

Goku said nothing as he kept his arms at his side and merely stared down his opponent who swallowed for a second unnerved by that piercing stare.

"Come on Goku show us how strong you are!" Yamcha called out trying to get a spark out of Goku who had been acting really weird. Sure the kid had always been an odd ball but now he was acting like a whole new person.

"Do you really want to see?" Goku chuckled feeling oddly fine with flaunting his power.

His sayjin blood was pumping at all the testosterone flowing through him, his tail also ebbing on more and more that he should be showing off his strength. He was a sayjin warrior, and his eyes caught sight of Chi-Chi and her eyes which were brightly looking at him, she was happy seeing him up there. Did she want to see too? Why not? Show off a little bit let your wife know that she'll never have to fear for her life again. That you will be there to protect her with all of your strength. His memories of how his past wife had felt so secure after Buu seeing just how strong he was that there would never be another reason to worry because she had full confidence in his strength that she and their children would be safe.

"I doubt you can be that impressive. You have no idea how strong I've gotten." A new voice and figure said looking at the sayjin with that of a bitter rival.

It was Ma Jr. The embodiment of King Piccolo, not the one he had grown to be a close friend with but no this was the one who desired to dominate the world and kill him. The young piccolo wearing his white training weighted clothes and headband were still there along with a smug looking green face of a Namekian even though he didn't know what he was. Goku new… The sight of his former friend now glaring at him.

"You think so? Ma Jr." Goku grumbled surprising the green alien with the roughness of his voice. "Let me give you just a taste then!"

Bracing his feet Goku clenched his fists as he focused and began to channel his strength. His was nearly squatting as his hands raised up over his head and he unleashed just a bit of his strength. It was almost strange as if he stepped out from his body and looked to the side becoming a spectator in the world around him. "I am the Legendary! The strongest warrior ever born in the universe and I will grant all of you just a brief look at what your defeat will look like!" He threw his head back and screamed his hair rising upwards in a ray of spikes making a crown around his head of golden hair as the hair on his back rose above his shoulders in every other direction. "I am the greatest sayjin to have ever lived!" A new voice snarled as his head went backwards and screamed, startling all as a golden aura flared all around him his eyes becoming a burning teal.

With a burst of dust the glowing warrior remained just breathing slowly as he looked at his opponent King Chappa who took a step back completely overwhelmed by what he saw. Never had someone just transformed in front of them.

"Prepare yourself…" And then it was over before it even began as King Chappa exploded off the platform, Goku standing there his hair glowing brightly as he hadn't even used his fists just a ripple outwards from his power and blasted the former world tournament champion completely away. He impacted against the wall with a thud before hitting the ground.

"Match! The winner is Son Goku by ring out!" The referee announced though having no real idea as too what had happened.

Piccolo stood there his eyes slightly worried as he felt Goku's aura alone. It was immense just how had he gotten so strong!

His friends and all of the other spectators all gulped in unison seeing Goku's transformation and not understanding its significance or what he had really said. "Incredible." Tien gasped as the golden light slowly faded and dropped from around his friend as his eyes slowly closed and return to their black form.

"No kidding. He's really gotten strong." Yamcha admitted with awe as his friend walked down from the platform into the arms of his future wife who jumped into his chest happily and he laughed picking her up feathering her with light kisses and whispers of some kind.

"Life just isn't fair…" Krillin moped looking jealously at his 'former' best friend because he couldn't just believe what was going on. Not only had Goku gotten incredibly powerful, well beyond anything he had expected in such a short time but here he was about to get married too some beautiful girl. This just didn't make any sense as he turned away from the sight.

Goku felt a little strange as he held Chi-Chi that experience was so weird. It had felt like he had plucked out of his body for a moment which was bizarre, but he choose to ignore it for now. Right now he had to go watch and support Chi-Chi in her first preliminary match, noting with some satisfaction as those around him parted as he walked with Chi-Chi sitting on his forearm. All of the fighters talking in hushed whispers and tones to each other as the fighter in red and white walked past by, all of them taking note of just how intimidating he was just from appearance alone and without even touching a former world champion he had blasted him from the ring completely.

As the couple stopped at the side of her match platform her opponent a large furred warthog of sorts gulped looking from her to the man carrying her. The woman in his arms that had been carried along missing the glaring look from the man, having just watched King Chappa get blasted from the ring without even getting touched by the man now looking at him with a blazing intensity as if daring him to touch his woman.

Goku felt something coming over him it was like his body was going on auto pilot or something actions were just happening without his consent or will as Chi-Chi moved into her fighting stance against her opponent but he just felt a cruel smirk form over his lips as his arms crossed over his chest. His lips moving on their own accord silently mouthing a response, I Dare You!

"Begin!" The referee announced shocking the surprised warthog who missed his defense as Chi-Chi caught him flush in the stomach with a fast kick sending him to the ground. Snorting from embarrassment he rolled to the side moving to get into a stance blocking Chi-Chi's next two punches but as he did the warthog saw the man on the other side of the ring looking at him with that same creepy look.

Caught off guard again Chi-Chi swept his leg knocking him flush on his back then dropped an elbow square into his gut making him hack and cough. "What's the matter? Are you not even trying to fight me because I'm a girl?" She growled noting just how distracted her opponent was as she stood back up.

The warthog rolled back up his chest stinging painfully from the blow landed on his stomach leaving him looking over towards the dark haired man who just kept glaring at him directly.

Chi-Chi followed his line of sight looking back to Goku who was just standing there giving her a quizzical glance, what did I do?

"Oh I see. You men are so full of yourselves!" She lunged forwards catching him again flush in the guy drilling in ten hard punches before finishing off with a heavy uppercut into the air knocking her opponent.

"Ring Out! The winner is Lady Chi-Chi!" The referee announced as the humanoid barely got up still dazed from the blow.

Everyone around not giving their applause feeling out of place but one man happily clapped his hands. "Nice job Chi-Chi, you're something else." Goku said approvingly as she walked over to the side and hopped down.

"Goku did you do something?" Her stare casting upwards towards him almost accusingly.

"I didn't do anything except watch! I promise Chi-Chi." Goku lied. Why Am I lying about it? Wait why did I even do anything when she fought I never did that before.

Chi-Chi cast him a suspicious look over wondering just what exactly he was doing, sure he hadn't moved from his spot that she had noticed but still there would've been reason for her opponent to be so unprepared for her and keep looking over towards Goku the entire time. Perhaps it was he was so intimidating, she didn't want any free passes here at the tournament she would do this on her own! She didn't want anyone saying she had been given a handicap she was the daughter of the Ox Queen!

"Goku from now on you are going to be away from me when I fight, I don't want you watching until the finals. Understand?" She said adamantly her hands on her hips as she leaned up into him not one bit nervous making the larger man lean back slightly.

"S.. Sure no problem Chi-Chi" Goku swallowed still even in her younger form he felt intimidated by her.

"Good!" She said spinning in her heel and walking away from him without even so much as a good-bye. No one was going to take this away from her! She was going to win and win it on her own!

Goku wanted to say something but he told himself not too, it would be better for a minute as he needed to regain some clarity. Something was wrong with him. He had started acting strange as he had powered up feeling the rush of power and everything that came with it like he was awakening something inside of him that wasn't just his ki and sayjin strength but something else. His head began to pound slightly giving him a small headache as he wondered just what was going on with him.

"Problems son?" A cheerful voice said approaching the massive warrior without fear while others didn't even feel safe within ten feet of him. It was Kami aka Hero.

"Just a headache." He grunted rubbing his forehead.

Truthfully there were a ton of problems but none of them that he wanted to go telling anyone, what would Kami do if he found out he wasn't really Goku from this place. But one thirty years in the future inhabiting the body of a rival and selfishly trying to make amends with the wife he felt that he had betrayed and now was having strange moments where he felt as if he wasn't in control of this body. It was like there-!

"Oh no." Goku was hit with another possibility as Kami raised an eyebrow at his remark.

"So there is a problem?"

"No- No there's not a problem just remembering something." He tried to lie but it was clear Kami didn't buy it as Goku tried to move his teacher moved in front of him.

The smaller man housing the planet's guardian placed his hands behind his back watching his student's expression carefully. There was something wrong with his student beyond the physical changes he had seen it when he had transformed into that bright glowing warrior. It was something like he had experienced before becoming the Guardian of earth. There was something else inside of him, a darkness that was there and it was festering looking for a way out.

How that could've happened in such a short time, in all the months he had worked with Goku at the lookout never had anything like this been felt but in less than a month this great feeling of dread was ebbing out from such a bright person. "You don't have to lie to me. I sense there's a problem come let's go talk about it."

Goku looked away from him not wanting to admit that he might be right. "It's fine, just going through a lot of things. You know that 'he' is here." Doing his best to shift this conversation away from him and towards what was supposed to be their other real opponent Piccolo.

Kami nodded having taken notice of Junior or Piccolo. He was indeed here and looking for a rematch, of course Kami had been preparing for all of it with his time spent training Goku well on how to deal with his evil alter ego. "Of course he would be here, but please don't worry too much I'll have him taken care of. I just worry about you Goku, I've never felt anything like what happened to you before. It was incredible and dangerous at the same time. Where did you learn such an ability?"

"It sorta happened. I don't remember." Doing his best to not think about when Frieza killed his two best friends and threatened to murder him and his son. That was still a bitter moment. "It was just a response to a need to and well I became that."

"Hmm I see" His mentor added looking over his pupil thoroughly. "Goku once this is all done I want to sit down and talk with you. I am concerned about you. Your actions today are not the student I let go from the lookout. Please come see me once these matches are over I want to be sure you are fine." He said patting him on the arm.

"Alright but away from everyone else." He added to which the old man smiled and nodded before padding away slowly to go his own match.

I need a moment to think. He phased away before anyone noticed outside giving himself just a few minutes of alone time as he came to a possible realization that there was something wrong. Not exactly with him per say but with this body that he now had. "Broly… is there still some part of you inside of here?" He asked looking at his hand, he had full control over himself right now. What he would say would be total control but he knew for a moment in the ring he wasn't doing anything except watching his body react. He had to find out if there was another person inside of him, maybe this was more like Vegito. That somehow he had fused his mind with Broly's body and the two had become one possibly?

No that couldn't be it. He brought his hand to his chin, him and Vegeta when fused shared thoughts and minds but clearly there was no one else in this body. He hadn't heard Broly's thoughts or experienced any of his memories so what had happened while he was on the match against King Chappa?

He closed his eyes and looked inside, sensing inside of himself for something anything that might explain how he somehow lost control but as he looked throughout himself he found nothing. There was nothing there! It was just empty and all that was there was his own energy and spirit.

"So why? Why did I lose control of my actions?" He asked himself his hand running through his hair finding it strange as it wasn't the one he was used too. It sloped backwards and off his head leaving his hand scratching the air. "I just might not have full control over myself then. It's possible I mean this has never been done before. Maybe I'm just not used to having full control of this body…"

"You know when you talk to yourself it's like you are not you. Is it Goku?" A voice laughed.

Goku didn't need to turn around he knew who it belonged to. "It isn't nice to eavesdrop Piccolo." The sayjin didn't bother turning around as he felt his tail snail around him and twist around his waist uncomfortable.

Piccolo only chuckled. "It's not eavesdropping if you can hear half the world talking Goku, or are you not Goku? You mentioned a Broly there. Who is that?" He laughed mockingly as Goku snorted turning on him.

"What do you even want Piccolo, you clearly didn't come out here to joke about my ramblings. So what do you want?" His arms crossed on his chest as he gave his once former friend a hard challenging stare.

Piccolo only grinned. "I saw how strong you were Goku, and I felt that little snip of darkness inside of you. It was quite entertaining really to watch you blast that weak human across the room with such violence! It was really something to see. So I came out here to make you an offer. One time only, join with me and I will allow you to live and serve me as my subordinate while I rule the world. I am going to conquer this world and avenge all the wrongs it has caused me and while I might hate to admit that the thought of working with you practically makes me sick to my stomach I also know your strength would be a great asset to my plans. So what do you say Goku? Agree to serve me and I'll spare you."

The Namek expected the answer of no but he wanted to at least give him the chance to serve him and if not later possibly kill him later but right now he had a lot of things on his plate and eliminating one of those obstacles now would be great boon to his plans.

"Not a chance Piccolo. I'm going to beat you here in this tournament and stop whatever foolish plans you have of dominating the earth. It won't ever come to pass. So thanks but no thanks. "He waved him off before turning around.

"Not that I didn't expect that response, just be sure to look after your friends and loved ones. They might have to pay for your insolence later." Piccolo moved to leave but slammed into Goku who had phased in front of him.

His face moved just an inch from his, those coal black eyes giving a stare into his opponents very soul. "Go near her Piccolo… and I will teach you the meaning of Pain!" A new voice added but the sayjin didn't realize it, he was pressed to do so by something inside.

Piccolo was never used to being intimidated it was always the other way around, him scaring the wits out of people but here it was being almost done to him. "Tough talk Goku, but once I defeat you and all your friends your little threats will cost you." He jumped into the air avoiding his rival. It didn't matter he'd prepared enough for Goku and his strange new form. He would kill him and everyone else and then the world would be all his.

Goku watched Piccolo fly back to the matches not at all amused with what would become his friend's attitude towards him and his friends. He knew that Piccolo would become a good guy but this wasn't that one that he knew. No that was a different one and he needed to beat him and begin showing him mercy and then things would work themselves out. His tail unwrapped from his body and almost looked up at him. "What?" He asked the furry tail which moved back behind him and pointed back towards the staging area.

"Oh is she fighting?"

The small brown tail bobbed up and down. "Thanks tail, he said patting it before it wrapped back around his waist. Ah the wonders of having his tail again! He really missed his tail, it was awesome to have, now he could wash his back again without having to use a scrubber awkwardly anymore! He smiled as he walked back towards the preliminaries all but putting his troubles from his mind for a moment.

He moved back to the edges of the crowds and just watched, having entered the grounds the referee told him that his next opponent had forfeit leaving him to not have a match. So here he stood half way across the tournament grounds as Chi-Chi demonstrated her fighting ability, scoring blow after blow onto her opponent without so much as receiving a strike in return. It was impressive to watch her fight, having only so often the two had sparred together and even by then it was already a great gap in their abilities and it only expounded from there.

It was such a shame too, his wife was so strong and capable fighter she never even learned how to properly fly or use ki attacks and yet she was at least a match for his friends. Given more time and proper training he was sure she could be one of their equals if not greater. Oh that would be amazing to see, but that wouldn't happen. His wife would become a housewife, putting away her fighting stances for cooking utensils and cleaning skills. No glory as a proud female fighter and probably one of the best on the planet at the moment, no she would give it all up to be a mom.

It made Goku think about his future with her, he could change all that. His wife should know more than just the life of being a mother and house caretaker all the while he traveled the universe with uninhibited freedom. Fighting and coming home without so much as being able to help around the house. His lips dipped into a frown as his finger gently tapped his bicep.

It was something he realized when older, Chi-Chi never got to experience the life he had lived! Sure she had been with him sometimes when they were younger but never had she come with him on his journeys in space or come to train with them and share what had brought them together. Fighting had made them a couple, not lovers but friends. It brought them close and eventually made them closer after the tournament, why did he never see any of this? Because you were too naïve too know, you just went along with everything not stopping to appreciate your actions… He told himself as Chi-Chi hopped off the platform having won again.

It was sometime later he really had fallen in love with Chi-Chi. At first it had been like a game, one game filled with pleasure but a game none the less to him. Unlike Chi-Chi who had been serious from the start not realizing just how much Goku didn't understand things. Once Gohan was born he grew more attached to her than just a lover and friend, but it had taken coming back from the fight from Buu to where he had understood everything that Chi-Chi had meant to him. How her smile and happy demeanor had been something he had taken for granted. Not knowing that she was concerned for him because she cared deeply for him and he had never been able to replicate such a feeling for her until that time, it was why he didn't come back after sacrificing himself for Cell.

Had he been in love with her as he had been before she died he never would have parted company from her, no he just moved on thinking she would be okay with it and not just how much she suffered from his loss because she truly loved him and he just thought of her as a very close friend that had his children not really a soul mate but more of the woman who cared for him and he cared for her. Damn! I am such an idiot! He swore at himself, he couldn't believe just… just.

"Hey man what's eating you?"

It was Yamcha as Goku turned to look at him. "Thinking."

"Scary, you never used to do a lot of that. Hey man there's a break for lunch you in? Me and the others are going to grab something." Gesturing towards Tien, Krillin, and Chaoutzu who all waved him over.

"Sure, but go ahead of me I'm going to be bringing someone." He said looking over toward Chi-Chi who was talking to someone but he couldn't tell who it was they were obstructed by view but it didn't concern him as she laughed. It wasn't anything to get worked up over.

"Ah yeah your pretty new fiancée! Sure thing man, but don't make us wait too long!" He joked making even Goku laughed.

"Can't promise that." He laughed back as Yamcha patted him on the back.

"Right! Right, man Goku you are really different. Anyway catch up with us in a bit we'll be waiting on you!" He said waving before walking to join the group giving them the signal to head out.

This left Goku waiting for a bit as he looked back to see whoever Chi-Chi was talking too having moved on as she came towards him. Her eyes beaming with pride and self-confidence and as he looked into her eyes he knew that he wanted those eyes to stay that way not just for him, but for her. She wouldn't become just a housewife… No not again.

R&R

Thank you all for the reviews I appreciate all of them it's what keeps me writing. Believe me!

MB